The Canterbury Tales

Electronic Text Center, University of Virginia Library

http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/etcbin/browse-mixed-new?id=Cha2Can&images=images/modeng&data=/lv1

/Archive/mideng-parsed&tag=public

About the print version
The works of Geoffrey Chaucer
Geoffrey Chaucer 2nd. ed.
editor: F.N. Robinson xliv, 1002 p. : ill. ; 25 cm. : Houghton MifflinBoston, Mass. 1957
Note: Canterbury tales: p.17-265

Page 17

The General Prologue

1: Whan that aprill with his shoures soote
2: The droghte of march hath perced to the roote,
3: And bathed every veyne in swich licour
4: Of which vertu engendred is the flour;
5: Whan zephirus eek with his sweete breeth
6: Inspired hath in every holt and heeth
7: Tendre croppes, and the yonge sonne
8: Hath in the ram his halve cours yronne,
9: And smale foweles maken melodye,
10: That slepen al the nyght with open ye
11: (so priketh hem nature in hir corages);
12: Thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrimages,
13: And palmeres for to seken straunge strondes,
14: To ferne halwes, kowthe in sondry londes;
15: And specially from every shires ende
16: Of engelond to caunterbury they wende,
17: The hooly blisful martir for to seke,
18: That hem hath holpen whan that they were seeke.
19: Bifil that in that seson on a day,
20: In southwerk at the tabard as I lay
21: Redy to wenden on my pilgrymage
22: To caunterbury with ful devout corage,
23: At nyght was come into that hostelrye
24: Wel nyne and twenty in a compaignye,
25: Of sondry folk, by aventure yfalle
26: In felaweshipe, and pilgrimes were they alle,
27: That toward caunterbury wolden ryde.
28: The chambres and the stables weren wyde,
29: And wel we weren esed atte beste.
30: And shortly, whan the sonne was to reste,
31: So hadde I spoken with hem everichon
32: That I was of hir felaweshipe anon,
33: And made forward erly for to ryse,
34: To take oure wey ther as I yow devyse.
35: But nathelees, whil I have tyme and space,
36: Er that I ferther in this tale pace,
37: Me thynketh it acordaunt to resoun
38: To telle yow al the condicioun
39: Of ech of hem, so as it semed me,
40: And whiche they weren, and of what degree,
41: And eek in what array that they were inne;
42: And at a knyght than wol I first bigynne.

The Knight's Portrait

43: A knyght ther was, and that a worthy man,
44: That fro the tyme that he first bigan
45: To riden out, he loved chivalrie,
46: Trouthe and honour, fredom and curteisie.
47: Ful worthy was he in his lordes werre,
48: And therto hadde he riden, no man ferre,
49: As wel in cristendom as in hethenesse,
50: And evere honoured for his worthynesse.
51: At alisaundre he was whan it was wonne.
52: Ful ofte tyme he hadde the bord bigonne
53: Aboven alle nacions in pruce;
54: In lettow hadde he reysed and in ruce,
55: No cristen man so ofte of his degree.
56: In gernade at the seege eek hadde he be
57: Of algezir, and riden in belmarye.
58: At lyeys was he and at satalye,
59: Whan they were wonne; and in the grete see
60: At many a noble armee hadde he be.
61: At mortal batailles hadde he been fiftene,
62: And foughten for oure feith at tramyssene
63: In lystes thries, and ay slayn his foo.
64: This ilke worthy knyght hadde been also
65: Somtyme with the lord of palatye
66: Agayn another hethen in turkye.

Page 18

67: And everemoore he hadde a sovereyn prys;
68: And though that he were worthy, he was wys,
69: And of his port as meeke as is a mayde.
70: He nevere yet no vileynye ne sayde
71: In al his lyf unto no maner wight.
72: He was a verray, parfit gentil knyght.
73: But, for to tellen yow of his array,
74: His hors were goode, but he was nat gay.
75: Of fustian he wered a gypon
76: Al bismotered with his habergeon,
77: For he was late ycome from his viage,
78: And wente for to doon his pilgrymage.

The Squire's Portrait

79: With hym ther was his sone, a yong squier,
80: A lovyere and a lusty bacheler,
81: With lokkes crulle as they were leyd in presse.
82: Of twenty yeer of age he was, I gesse.
83: Of his stature he was of evene lengthe,
84: And wonderly delyvere, and of greet strengthe.
85: And he hadde been somtyme in chyvachie
86: In flaundres, in artoys, and pycardie,
87: And born hym weel, as of so litel space,
88: In hope to stonden in his lady grace.
89: Embrouded was he, as it were a meede
90: Al ful of fresshe floures, whyte and reede.
91: Syngynge he was, or floytynge, al the day;
92: He was as fressh as is the month of may.
93: Short was his gowne, with sleves longe and wyde.
94: Wel koude he sitte on hors and faire ryde.
95: He koude songes make and wel endite,
96: Juste and eek daunce, and weel purtreye and write.
97: So hoote he lovede that by nyghtertale.
98: He sleep namoore than dooth a nyghtyngale.
99: Curteis he was, lowely, and servysable,
100: And carf biforn his fader at the table.

The Yeoman's Portrait

101: A yeman hadde he and servantz namo
102: At that tyme, for hym liste ride so,
103: And he was clad in cote and hood of grene.
104: A sheef of pecok arwes, bright and kene,
105: Under his belt he bar ful thriftily,
106: (wel koude he dresse his takel yemanly:
107: His arwes drouped noght with fetheres lowe)
108: And in his hand he baar a myghty bowe.
109: A not heed hadde he, with a broun visage.
110: Of wodecraft wel koude he al the usage.
111: Upon his arm he baar a gay bracer,
112: And by his syde a swerd and a bokeler,
113: And on that oother syde a gay daggere
114: Harneised wel and sharp as point of spere;
115: A cristopher on his brest of silver sheene.
116: An horn he bar, the bawdryk was of grene;
117: A forster was he, soothly, as I gesse.

The Prioress' Portrait

118: Ther was also a nonne, a prioresse,
119: That of hir smylyng was ful symple and coy;
120: Hire gretteste ooth was but by seinte loy;
121: And she was cleped madame eglentyne.
122: Ful weel she soong the service dyvyne,
123: Entuned in hir nose ful semely,
124: And frenssh she spak ful faire and fetisly,
125: After the scole of stratford atte bowe,
126: For frenssh of parys was to hire unknowe.
127: At mete wel ytaught was she with alle:
128: She leet no morsel from hir lippes falle,
129: Ne wette hir fyngres in hir sauce depe;
130: Wel koude she carie a morsel and wel kepe
131: That no drope ne fille upon hire brest.
132: In curteisie was set ful muchel hir lest.
133: Hir over-lippe wyped she so clene
134: That in hir coppe ther was no ferthyng sene
135: Of grece, whan she dronken hadde hir draughte.
136: Ful semely after hir mete she raughte.
137: And sikerly she was of greet desport,
138: And ful plesaunt, and amyable of port,
139: And peyned hire to countrefete cheere
140: Of court, and to been estatlich of manere,
141: And to ben holden digne of reverence.
142: But, for to speken of hire conscience,
143: She was so charitable and so pitous
144: She wolde wepe, if that she saugh a mous
145: Kaught in a trappe, if it were deed or bledde.
146: Of smale houndes hadde she that she fedde
147: With rosted flessh, or milk and wastel-breed.
148: But soore wepte she if oon of hem were deed,
149: Or if men smoot it with a yerde smerte;
150: And al was conscience and tendre herte.
151: Ful semyly hir wympul pynched was,
152: Hir nose tretys, hir eyen greye as glas,
153: Hir mouth ful smal, and therto softe and reed;
154: But sikerly she hadde a fair forheed;
155: It was almoost a spanne brood, I trowe;
156: For, hardily, she was nat undergrowe.
157: Ful fetys was hir cloke, as I was war.
158: Of smal coral aboute hire arm she bar
159: A peire of bedes, gauded al with grene,
160: And theron heng a brooch of gold ful sheene,
161: On which ther was first write a crowned a,
162: And after amor vincit omnia.

The Second Nun's Portrait

163: Another nonne with hire hadde she,
164: That was hir chapeleyne, and preestes thre.

The Monk's Portrait

165: A monk ther was, a fair for the maistrie,
166: An outridere, that lovede venerie,
167: A manly man, to been an abbot able.
168: Ful many a deyntee hors hadde he in stable,
169: And whan he rood, men myghte his brydel heere
170: Gynglen in a whistlynge wynd als cleere
171: And eek as loude as dooth the chapel belle.

Page 19

172: Ther as this lord was kepere of the celle,
173: The reule of seint maure or of seint beneit,
174: By cause that it was old and somdel streit
175: This ilke monk leet olde thynges pace,
176: And heeld after the newe world the space.
177: He yaf nat of that text a pulled hen,
178: That seith that hunters ben nat hooly men,
179: Ne that a monk, whan he is recchelees,
180: Is likned til a fissh that is waterlees, --
181: This is to seyn, a monk out of his cloystre.
182: But thilke text heeld he nat worth an oystre;
183: And I seyde his opinion was good.
184: What sholde he studie and make hymselven wood,
185: Upon a book in cloystre alwey to poure,
186: Or swynken with his handes, and laboure,
187: As austyn bit? how shal the world be served?
188: Lat austyn have his swynk to hym reserved!
189: Therfore he was a prikasour aright:
190: Grehoundes he hadde as swift as fowel in flight;
191: Of prikyng and of huntyng for the hare
192: Was al his lust, for no cost wolde he spare.
193: I seigh his sleves purfiled at the hond
194: With grys, and that the fyneste of a lond;
195: And, for to festne his hood under his chyn,
196: He hadde of gold ywroght a ful curious pyn;
197: A love-knotte in the gretter ende ther was.
198: His heed was balled, that shoon as any glas,
199: And eek his face, as he hadde been enoynt.
200: He was a lord ful fat and in good poynt;
201: His eyen stepe, and rollynge in his heed,
202: That stemed as a forneys of a leed;
203: His bootes souple, his hors in greet estaat.
204: Now certeinly he was a fair prelaat;
205: He was nat pale as a forpyned goost.
206: A fat swan loved he best of any roost.
207: His palfrey was as broun as is a berye.

The Friar's Portrait

208: A frere ther was, a wantowne and a merye,
209: A lymytour, a ful solempne man.
210: In alle the ordres foure is noon that kan
211: So muchel of daliaunce and fair langage.
212: He hadde maad ful many a mariage
213: Of yonge wommen at his owene cost.
214: Unto his ordre he was a noble post.
215: Ful wel biloved and famulier was he
216: With frankeleyns over al in his contree,
217: And eek with worthy wommen of the toun;
218: For he hadde power of confessioun,
219: As seyde hymself, moore than a curat,
220: For of his ordre he was licenciat.
221: Ful swetely herde he confessioun,
222: And plesaunt was his absolucioun:
223: He was an esy man to yeve penaunce,
224: Ther as he wiste to have a good pitaunce.
225: For unto a povre ordre for to yive
226: Is signe that a man is wel yshryve;
227: For if he yaf, he dorste make avaunt,
228: He wiste that a man was repentaunt;
229: For many a man so hard is of his herte,
230: He may nat wepe, althogh hym soore smerte.
231: Therfore in stede of wepynge and preyeres
232: Men moote yeve silver to the povre freres.
233: His typet was ay farsed ful of knyves
234: And pynnes, for to yeven faire wyves.
235: And certeinly he hadde a murye note:
236: Wel koude he synge and pleyen on a rote;
237: Of yeddynges he baar outrely the pris.
238: His nekke whit was as the flour-de-lys;
239: Therto he strong was as a champioun.
240: He knew the tavernes wel in every toun
241: And everich hostiler and tappestere
242: Bet than a lazar or a beggestere;
243: For unto swich a worthy man as he
244: Acorded nat, as by his facultee,
245: To have with sike lazars aqueyntaunce.
246: It is nat honest, it may nat avaunce,
247: For to deelen with no swich poraille,
248: But al with riche and selleres of vitaille.
249: And over al, ther as profit sholde arise,
250: Curteis he was and lowely of servyse.
251: Ther nas no man nowher so vertuous.
252: He was the beste beggere in his hous;
252.1: (and yaf a certeyne ferme for the graunt;
252.2: Noon of his bretheren cam ther in his haunt;)
253: For thogh a wydwe hadde noght a sho,
254: So plesaunt was his in principio,
255: Yet wolde he have a ferthyng, er he wente.
256: His purchas was wel bettre than his rente.
257: And rage he koude, as it were right a whelp.
258: In love-dayes ther koude he muchel help,
259: For ther he was nat lyk a cloysterer
260: With a thredbare cope, as is a povre scoler,
261: But he was lyk a maister or a pope.
262: Of double worstede was his semycope,
263: That rounded as a belle out of the presse.
264: Somwhat he lipsed, for his wantownesse,
265: To make his englissh sweete upon his tonge;
266: And in his harpyng, whan that he hadde songe,
267: His eyen twynkled in his heed aryght,
268: As doon the sterres in the frosty nyght.
269: This worthy lymytour was cleped huberd.

The Merchant's Portrait

270: A marchant was ther with a forked berd,
271: In mottelee, and hye on horse he sat;
272: Upon his heed a flaundryssh bever hat,
273: His bootes clasped faire and fetisly.
274: His resons he spak ful solempnely,
275: Sownynge alwey th' encrees of his wynnyng.

Page 20

276: He wolde the see were kept for any thyng
277: Bitwixe middelburgh and orewelle.
278: Wel koude he in eschaunge sheeldes selle.
279: This worthy man ful wel his wit bisette:
280: Ther wiste no wight that he was in dette,
281: So estatly was he of his governaunce
282: With his bargaynes and with his chevyssaunce.
283: For sothe he was a worthy man with alle,
284: But, sooth to seyn, I noot how men hym calle.

The Clerk's Portrait

285: A clerk ther was of oxenford also,
286: That unto logyk hadde longe ygo.
287: As leene was his hors as is a rake,
288: And he nas nat right fat, I undertake,
289: But looked holwe, and therto sobrely.
290: Ful thredbare was his overeste courtepy;
291: For he hadde geten hym yet no benefice,
292: Ne was so worldly for to have office.
293: For hym was levere have at his beddes heed
294: Twenty bookes, clad in blak or reed,
295: Of aristotle and his philosophie,
296: Than robes riche, or fithele, or gay sautrie.
297: But al be that he was a philosophre,
298: Yet hadde he but litel gold in cofre;
299: But al that he myghte of his freendes hente,
300: On bookes and on lernynge he it spente,
301: And bisily gan for the soules preye
302: Of hem that yaf hym wherwith to scoleye.
303: Of studie took he moost cure and moost heede,
304: Noght o word spak he moore than was neede,
305: And that was seyd in forme and reverence,
306: And short and quyk and ful of hy sentence;
307: Sownynge in moral vertu was his speche,
308: And gladly wolde he lerne and gladly teche.

The The MAn of Law's Portrait

309: A sergeant of the lawe, war and wys,
310: That often hadde been at the parvys,
311: Ther was also, ful riche of excellence.
312: Discreet he was and of greet reverence --
313: He semed swich, his wordes weren so wise.
314: Justice he was ful often in assise,
315: By patente and by pleyn commissioun.
316: For his science and for his heigh renoun,
317: Of fees and robes hadde he many oon.
318: So greet a purchasour was nowher noon:
319: Al was fee symple to hym in effect;
320: His purchasyng myghte nat been infect.
321: Nowher so bisy a man as he ther nas,
322: And yet he semed bisier than he was.
323: In termes hadde he caas and doomes alle
324: That from the tyme of kyng william were falle.
325: Therto he koude endite, and make a thyng,
326: Ther koude no wight pynche at his writyng;
327: And every statut koude he pleyn by rote.
328: He rood but hoomly in a medlee cote.
329: Girt with a ceint of silk, with barres smale;
330: Of his array telle I no lenger tale.

The Franklin's Portrait

331: A frankeleyn was in his compaignye.
332: Whit was his berd as is the dayesye;
333: Of his complexioun he was sangwyn.
334: Wel loved he by the morwe a sop in wyn;
335: To lyven in delit was evere his wone,
336: For he was epicurus owene sone,
337: That heeld opinioun that pleyn delit
338: Was verray felicitee parfit.
339: An housholdere, and that a greet, was he;
340: Seint julian he was in his contree.
341: His breed, his ale, was alweys after oon;
342: A bettre envyned man was nowher noon.
343: Withoute bake mete was nevere his hous
344: Of fissh and flessh, and that so plentevous,
345: It snewed in his hous of mete and drynke,
346: Of alle deyntees that men koude thynke.
347: After the sondry sesons of the yeer,
348: So chaunged he his mete and his soper.
349: Ful many a fat partrich hadde he in muwe,
350: And many a breem and many a luce in stuwe.
351: Wo was his cook but if his sauce were
352: Poynaunt and sharp, and redy al his geere.
353: His table dormant in his halle alway
354: Stood redy covered al the longe day.
355: At sessiouns ther was he lord and sire;
356: Ful ofte tyme he was knyght of the shire.
357: An anlaas and a gipser al of silk
358: Heeng at his girdel, whit as morne milk.
359: A shirreve hadde he been, and a contour.
360: Was nowher swich a worthy vavasour.

The Guildsmen's Portrait

361: An haberdasshere and a carpenter,
362: A webbe, a dyere, and a tapycer, --
363: And they were clothed alle in o lyveree
364: Of a solempne and a greet fraternitee.
365: Ful fressh and newe hir geere apiked was;
366: Hir knyves were chaped noght with bras
367: But al with silver; wroght ful clene and weel
368: Hire girdles and hir pouches everydeel.
369: Wel semed ech of hem a fair burgeys
370: To sitten in a yeldehalle on a deys.
371: Everich, for the wisdom that he kan,
372: Was shaply for to been an alderman.
373: For catel hadde they ynogh and rente,
374: And eek hir wyves wolde it wel assente;
375: And elles certeyn were they to blame.
376: It is ful fair to been ycleped madame,
377: And goon to vigilies al bifore,
378: And have a mantel roialliche ybore.

The Cook's Portrait

379: A cook they hadde with hem for the nones
380: To boille the chiknes with the marybones,
381: And poudre-marchant tart and galyngale.
382: Wel koude he knowe a draughte of londoun ale.

Page 21

383: He koude rooste, and sethe, and broille, and frye,
384: Maken mortreux, and wel bake a pye.
385: But greet harm was it, as it thoughte me,
386: That on his shyne a mormal hadde he.
387: For blankmanger, that made he with the beste.

The Shipman's Portrait

388: A shipman was ther, wonynge fer by weste;
389: For aught I woot, he was of dertemouthe.
390: He rood upon a rounce, as he kouthe,
391: In a gowne of faldyng to the knee.
392: A daggere hangynge on a laas hadde he
393: Aboute his nekke, under his arm adoun.
394: The hoote somer hadde maad his hewe al broun;
395: And certeinly he was a good felawe.
396: Ful many a draughte of wyn had he ydrawe
397: Fro burdeux-ward, whil that the chapmen sleep.
398: Of nyce conscience took he no keep.
399: If that he faught, and hadde the hyer hond,
400: By water he sente hem hoom to every lond.
401: But of his craft to rekene wel his tydes,
402: His stremes, and his daungers hym bisides,
403: His herberwe, and his moone, his lodemenage,
404: Ther nas noon swich from hulle to cartage.
405: Hardy he was and wys to undertake;
406: With many a tempest hadde his berd been shake.
407: He knew alle the havenes, as they were,
408: Fro gootlond to the cape of fynystere,
409: And every cryke in britaigne and in spayne.
410: His barge ycleped was the maudelayne.

The Physician's Portrait

411: With us ther was a doctour of phisik;
412: In al this world ne was the noon hym lik,
413: To speke of phisik and of surgerye
414: For he was grounded in astronomye.
415: He kepte his pacient a ful greet deel
416: In houres by his magyk natureel.
417: Wel koude he fortunen the ascendent
418: Of his ymages for his pacient.
419: He knew the cause of everich maladye,
420: Were it of hoot, or coold, or moyste, or drye,
421: And where they engendred, and of what humour.
422: He was a verray, parfit praktisour:
423: The cause yknowe, and of his harm the roote,
424: Anon he yaf the sike man his boote.
425: Ful redy hadde he his apothecaries
426: To sende hym drogges and his letuaries,
427: For ech of hem made oother for to wynne --
428: Hir frendshipe nas nat newe to bigynne.
429: Wel knew he the olde esculapius,
430: And deyscorides, and eek rufus,
431: Olde ypocras, haly, and galyen,
432: Serapion, razis, and avycen,
433: Averrois, damascien, and constantyn,
434: Bernard, and gatesden, and gilbertyn.
435: Of his diete mesurable was he,
436: For it was of no superfluitee,
437: But of greet norissyng and digestible.
438: His studie was but litel on the bible.
439: In sangwyn and in pers he clad was al,
440: Lyned with taffata and with sendal;
441: And yet he was but esy of dispence;
442: He kepte that he wan in pestilence.
443: For gold in phisik is a cordial,
444: Therefore he lovede gold in special.

The Wife of Bath's Portrait

445: A good wif was ther of biside bathe,
446: But she was somdel deef, and that was scathe.
447: Of clooth-makyng she hadde swich an haunt,
448: She passed hem of ypres and of gaunt.
449: In al the parisshe wif ne was ther noon
450: That to the offrynge bifore hire sholde goon;
451: And if ther dide, certeyn so wrooth was she,
452: That she was out of alle charitee.
453: Hir coverchiefs ful fyne weren of ground;
454: I dorste swere they weyeden ten pound
455: That on a sonday weren upon hir heed.
456: Hir hosen weren of fyn scarlet reed,
457: Ful streite yteyd, and shoes ful moyste and newe.
458: Boold was hir face, and fair, and reed of hewe.
459: She was a worthy womman al hir lyve:
460: Housbondes at chirche dore she hadde fyve,
461: Withouten oother compaignye in youthe, --
462: But therof nedeth nat to speke as nowthe.
463: And thries hadde she been at jerusalem;
464: She hadde passed many a straunge strem;
465: At rome she hadde been, and at boloigne,
466: In galice at seint-jame, and at coloigne.
467: She koude muchel of wandrynge by the weye.
468: Gat-tothed was she, soothly for to seye.
469: Upon an amblere esily she sat,
470: Ywympled wel, and on hir heed an hat
471: As brood as is a bokeler or a targe;
472: A foot-mantel aboute hir hipes large,
473: And on hir feet a paire of spores sharpe.
474: In felaweshipe wel koude she laughe and carpe.
475: Of remedies of love she knew per chaunce,
476: For she koude of that art the olde daunce.

The Parson's Portrait

477: A good man was ther of religioun,
478: And was a povre persoun of a toun,
479: But riche he was of hooly thoght and werk.
480: He was also a lerned man, a clerk,
481: That cristes gospel trewely wolde preche;
482: His parisshens devoutly wolde he teche.
483: Benygne he was, and wonder diligent,
484: And in adversitee ful pacient,

Page 22

485: And swich he was ypreved ofte sithes.
486: Ful looth were hym to cursen for his tithes,
487: But rather wolde he yeven, out of doute,
488: Unto his povre parisshens aboute
489: Of his offryng and eek of his substaunce.
490: He koude in litel thyng have suffisaunce.
491: Wyd was his parisshe, and houses fer asonder,
492: But he ne lefte nat, for reyn ne thonder,
493: In siknesse nor in meschief to visite
494: The ferreste in his parisshe, muche and lite,
495: Upon his feet, and in his hand a staf.
496: This noble ensample to his sheep he yaf,
497: That first he wroghte, and afterward he taughte.
498: Out of the gospel he tho wordes caughte,
499: And this figure he added eek therto,
500: That if gold ruste, what shal iren do?
501: For if a preest be foul, on whom we truste,
502: No wonder is a lewed man to ruste;
503: And shame it is, if a prest take keep,
504: A shiten shepherde and a clene sheep.
505: Wel oghte a preest ensample for to yive,
506: By his clennesse, how that his sheep sholde lyve.
507: He sette nat his benefice to hyre
508: And leet his sheep encombred in the myre
509: And ran to londoun unto seinte poules
510: To seken hym a chaunterie for soules,
511: Or with a bretherhed to been withholde;
512: But dwelte at hoom, and kepte wel his folde,
513: So that the wolf ne made it nat myscarie;
514: He was a shepherde and noght a mercenarie.
515: And though he hooly were and vertuous,
516: He was to synful men nat despitous,
517: Ne of his speche daungerous ne digne,
518: But in his techyng discreet and benygne.
519: To drawen folk to hevene by fairnesse,
520: By good ensample, this was his bisynesse.
521: But it were any persone obstinat,
522: What so he were, of heigh or lough estat,
523: Hym wolde he snybben sharply for the nonys.
524: A bettre preest I trowe that nowher noon ys.
525: He waited after no pompe and reverence,
526: Ne maked him a spiced conscience,
527: But cristes loore and his apostles twelve
528: He taughte, but first he folwed it hymselve.

The Plowman's Portrait

529: With hym ther was a plowman, was his brother,
530: That hadde ylad of dong ful many a fother;
531: A trewe swynkere and a good was he,
532: Lyvynge in pees and parfit charitee.
533: God loved he best with al his hoole herte
534: At alle tymes, thogh him gamed or smerte,
535: And thanne his neighebor right as hymselve.
536: He wolde thresshe, and therto dyke and delve,
537: For cristes sake, for every povre wight,
538: Withouten hire, if it lay in his myght.
539: His tithes payde he ful faire and wel,
540: Bothe of his propre swynk and his catel.
541: In a tabard he rood upon a mere.

542: Ther was also a reve, and a millere,
543: A somnour, and a pardoner also,
544: A maunciple, and myself -- ther were namo.

The Miller's Portrait

545: The millere was a stout carl for the nones;
546: Ful byg he was of brawn, and eek of bones.
547: That proved wel, for over al ther he cam,
548: At wrastlynge he wolde have alwey the ram.
549: He was short-sholdred, brood, a thikke knarre;
550: Ther was no dore that he nolde heve of harre,
551: Or breke it at a rennyng with his heed.
552: His berd as any sowe or fox was reed,
553: And therto brood, as though it were a spade.
554: Upon the cop right of his nose he hade
555: A werte, and theron stood a toft of herys,
556: Reed as the brustles of a sowes erys;
557: His nosethirles blake were and wyde.
558: A swerd and bokeler bar he by his syde.
559: His mouth as greet was as a greet forneys.
560: He was a janglere and a goliardeys,
561: And that was moost of synne and harlotries.
562: Wel koude he stelen corn and tollen thries;
563: And yet he hadde a thombe of gold, pardee.
564: A whit cote and a blew hood wered he.
565: A baggepipe wel koude he blowe and sowne,
566: And therwithal he broghte us out of towne.

The Manciple's Portrait

567: A gentil maunciple was ther of a temple,
568: Of which achatours myghte take exemple
569: For to be wise in byynge of vitaille;
570: For wheither that he payde or took by taille,
571: Algate he wayted so in his achaat
572: That he was ay biforn and in good staat.
573: Now is nat that of God a ful fair grace
574: That swich a lewed mannes wit shal pace
575: The wisdom of an heep of lerned men?
576: Of maistres hadde he mo than thries ten,
577: That weren of lawe expert and curious,
578: Of which ther were a duszeyne in that hous
579: Worthy to been stywardes of rente and lond
580: Of any lord that is in engelond,
581: To make hym lyve by his propre good
582: In honour dettelees (but if he were wood),
583: Or lyve as scarsly as hym list desire;
584: And able for to helpen al a shire
585: In any caas that myghte falle or happe;
586: And yet this manciple sette hir aller cappe.

The Reeve's Portrait

587: The reve was a sclendre colerik man.
588: His berd was shave as ny as ever he kan;
589: His heer was by his erys ful round yshorn;

Page 23

590: His top was dokked lyk a preest biforn
591: Ful longe were his legges and ful lene,
592: Ylyk a staf, ther was no calf ysene.
593: Wel koude he kepe a gerner and a bynne;
594: Ther was noon auditour koude on him wynne.
595: Wel wiste he by the droghte and by the reyn
596: The yeldynge of his seed and of his greyn.
597: His lordes sheep, his neet, his dayerye,
598: His swyn, his hors, his stoor, and his pultrye
599: Was hoolly in this reves governynge,
600: And by his covenant yaf the rekenynge,
601: Syn that his lord was twenty yeer of age.
602: Ther koude no man brynge hym in arrerage.
603: Ther nas baillif, ne hierde, nor oother hyne,
604: That he ne knew his sleighte and his covyne;
605: They were adrad of hym as of the deeth.
606: His wonyng was ful faire upon an heeth;
607: With grene trees yshadwed was his place.
608: He koude bettre than his lord purchace.
609: Ful riche he was astored pryvely:
610: His lord wel koude he plesen subtilly,
611: To yeve and lene hym of his owene good,
612: And have a thank, and yet a cote and hood.
613: In youthe he hadde lerned a good myster;
614: He was a wel good wrighte, a carpenter.
615: This reve sat upon a ful good stot,
616: That was al pomely grey and highte scot.
617: A long surcote of pers upon he hade,
618: And by his syde he baar a rusty blade.
619: Of northfolk was this reve of which I telle,
620: Biside a toun men clepen baldeswelle.
621: Tukked he was as is a frere aboute,
622: And evere he rood the hyndreste of oure route.

The Summoner's Portrait

623: A somonour was ther with us in that place,
624: That hadde a fyr-reed cherubynnes face,
625: For saucefleem he was, with eyen narwe.
626: As hoot he was and lecherous as a sparwe,
627: With scalled browes blake and piled berd.
628: Of his visage children were aferd.
629: Ther nas quyk-silver, lytarge, ne brymstoon,
630: Boras, ceruce, ne oille of tartre noon;
631: Ne oynement that wolde clense and byte,
632: That hym myghte helpen of his whelkes white,
633: Nor of the knobbes sittynge on his chekes.
634: Wel loved he garleek, oynons, and eek lekes,
635: And for to drynken strong wyn, reed as blood;
636: Thanne wolde he speke and crie as he were wood.
637: And whan that he wel dronken hadde the wyn,
638: Thanne wolde he speke no word but latyn.
639: A fewe termes hadde he, two or thre,
640: That he had lerned out of som decree --
641: No wonder is, he herde it al the day;
642: And eek ye knowen wel how that a jay
643: Kan clepen watte as wel as kan the pope.
644: But whoso koude in oother thyng hym grope,
645: Thanne hadde he spent al his philosophie;
646: Ay questio quid iuris wolde he crie.
647: He was a gentil harlot and a kynde;
648: A bettre felawe sholde men noght fynde.
649: He wolde suffre for a quart of wyn
650: A good felawe to have his concubyn
651: A twelf month, and excuse hym atte fulle;
652: Ful prively a fynch eek koude he pulle.
653: And if he foond owher a good felawe,
654: He wolde techen him to have noon awe
655: In swich caas of the ercedekenes curs,
656: But if a mannes soule were in his purs;
657: For in his purs he sholde ypunysshed be.
658: Purs is the ercedekenes helle, seyde he.
659: But wel I woot he lyed right in dede;
660: Of cursyng oghte ech gilty man him drede,
661: For curs wol slee right as assoillyng savith,
662: And also war hym of a significavit.
663: In daunger hadde he at his owene gise
664: The yonge girles of the diocise,
665: And knew hir conseil, and was al hir reed.
666: A gerland hadde he set upon his heed
667: As greet as it were for an ale-stake.
668: A bokeleer hadde he maad hym of a cake.

The Pardoner's Portrait

669: With hym ther rood a gentil pardoner
670: Of rouncivale, his freend and his compeer,
671: That streight was comen fro the court of rome.
672: Ful loude he soong com hider, love, to me!
673: This somonour bar to hym a stif burdoun;
674: Was nevere trompe of half so greet a soun.
675: This pardoner hadde heer as yelow as wex,
676: But smothe it heeng as dooth a strike of flex;
677: By ounces henge his lokkes that he hadde,
678: And therwith he his shuldres overspradde;
679: But thynne it lay, by colpons oon and oon.
680: But hood, for jolitee, wered he noon,
681: For it was trussed up in his walet.
682: Hym thoughte he rood al of the newe jet;
683: Dischevelee, save his cappe, he rood al bare.
684: Swiche glarynge eyen hadde he as an hare.
685: A vernycle hadde he sowed upon his cappe.
686: His walet lay biforn hym in his lappe,
687: Bretful of pardoun, comen from rome al hoot.
688: A voys he hadde as smal as hath a goot.
689: No berd hadde he, ne nevere sholde have;
690: As smothe it was as it were late shave.
691: I trowe he were a geldyng or a mare.
692: But of his craft, fro berwyk into ware,
693: Ne was ther swich another pardoner
694: For in his male he hadde a pilwe-beer,
695: Which that he seyde was oure lady veyl:

Page 24

696: He seyde he hadde a gobet of the seyl
697: That seint peter hadde, whan that he wente
698: Upon the see, til jhesu crist hym hente.
699: He hadde a croys of latoun ful of stones,
700: And in a glas he hadde pigges bones.
701: But with thise relikes, whan that he fond
702: A povre person dwellynge upon lond,
703: Upon a day he gat hym moore moneye
704: Than that the person gat in monthes tweye;
705: And thus, with feyned flaterye and japes,
706: He made the person and the peple his apes.
707: But trewely to tellen atte laste,
708: He was in chirche a noble ecclesiaste.
709: Wel koude he rede a lessoun or a storie,
710: But alderbest he song an offertorie;
711: For wel he wiste, whan that song was songe,
712: He moste preche and wel affile his tonge
713: To wynne silver, as he ful wel koude;
714: Therefore he song the murierly and loude.

715: Now have I toold you soothly, in a clause,
716: Th' estaat, th' array, the nombre, and eek the cause
717: Why that assembled was this compaignye
718: In southwerk at this gentil hostelrye
719: That highte the tabard, faste by the belle.
720: But now is tyme to yow for to telle
721: How that we baren us that ilke nyght,
722: Whan we were in that hostelrie alyght;
723: And after wol I telle of our viage
724: And al the remenaunt of oure pilgrimage.
725: But first I pray yow, of youre curteisye,
726: That ye n' arette it nat my vileynye,
727: Thogh that I pleynly speke in this mateere,
728: To telle yow hir wordes and hir cheere,
729: Ne thogh I speke hir wordes proprely.
730: For this ye knowen al so wel as I,
731: Whoso shal telle a tale after a man,
732: He moot reherce as ny as evere he kan
733: Everich a word, if it be in his charge,
734: Al speke he never so rudeliche and large,
735: Or ellis he moot telle his tale untrewe,
736: Or feyne thyng, or fynde wordes newe.
737: He may nat spare, althogh he were his brother;
738: He moot as wel seye o word as another.
739: Crist spak hymself ful brode in hooly writ,
740: And wel ye woot no vileynye is it.
741: Eek plato seith, whoso that kan hym rede,
742: The wordes moote be cosyn to the dede.
743: Also I prey yow to foryeve it me,
744: Al have I nat set folk in hir degree
745: Heere in this tale, as that they sholde stonde.
746: My wit is short, ye may wel understonde.
747: Greet chiere made oure hoost us everichon,
748: And to the soper sette he us anon.
749: He served us with vitaille at the beste;
750: Strong was the wyn, and wel to drynke us leste.
751: A semely man oure hooste was withalle
752: For to han been a marchal in an halle.
753: A large man he was with eyen stepe --
754: A fairer burgeys is ther noon in chepe --
755: Boold of his speche, and wys, and wel ytaught,
756: And of manhod hym lakkede right naught.
757: Eek therto he was right a myrie man,
758: And after soper pleyen he bigan,
759: And spak of myrthe amonges othere thynges,
760: Whan that we hadde maad oure rekenynges,
761: And seyde thus: now, lordynges, trewely,
762: Ye been to me right welcome, hertely;
763: For by my trouthe, if that I shal nat lye,
764: I saugh nat this yeer so myrie a compaignye
765: Atones in this herberwe as is now.
766: Fayn wolde I doon yow myrthe, wiste I how.
767: And of a myrthe I am right now bythoght,
768: To doon yow ese, and it shal coste noght.
769: Ye goon to caunterbury -- God yow speede,
770: The blisful martir quite yow youre meede!
771: And wel I woot, as ye goon by the weye,
772: Ye shapen yow to talen and to pleye;
773: For trewely, confort ne myrthe is noon
774: To ride by the weye doumb as a stoon;
775: And therfore wol I maken yow disport,
776: As I seyde erst, and doon yow som confort.
777: And if yow liketh alle by oon assent
778: For to stonden at my juggement,
779: And for to werken as I shal yow seye,
780: To-morwe, whan ye riden by the weye,
781: Now, by my fader soule that is deed,
782: But ye be myrie, I wol yeve yow myn heed!
783: Hoold up youre hondes, withouten moore speche.
784: Oure conseil was nat longe for to seche.
785: Us thoughte it was noght worth to make it wys,
786: And graunted hym withouten moore avys,
787: And bad him seye his voirdit as hym leste.
788: Lordynges, quod he, now herkneth for the beste;
789: But taak it nought, I prey yow, in desdeyn.
790: This is the poynt, to speken short and pleyn,
791: That ech of yow, to shorte with oure weye,
792: In this viage shal telle tales tweye
793: To caunterbury-ward, I mene it so,
794: And homward he shal tellen othere two,
795: Of aventures that whilom han bifalle.
796: And which of yow that bereth hym best of alle,
797: That is to seyn, that telleth in this caas
798: Tales of best sentence and moost solaas,
799: Shal have a soper at oure aller cost
800: Heere in this place, sittynge by this post,

Page 25

801: Whan that we come agayn fro caunterbury.
802: And for to make yow the moore mury,
803: I wol myselven goodly with yow ryde,
804: Right at myn owene cost, and be youre gyde,
805: And whoso wole my juggement withseye
806: Shal paye al that we spenden by the weye.
807: And if ye vouche sauf that it be so,
808: Tel me anon, withouten wordes mo,
809: And I wol erly shape me therfore.
810: This thyng was graunted, and oure othes swore
811: With ful glad herte, and preyden hym also
812: That he wolde vouche sauf for to do so,
813: And that he wolde been oure governour,
814: And oure tales juge and reportour,
815: And sette a soper at a certeyn pris,
816: And we wol reuled been at his devys
817: In heigh and lough; and thus by oon assent
818: We been acorded to his juggement.
819: And therupon the wyn was fet anon;
820: We dronken, and to reste wente echon,
821: Withouten any lenger taryynge.
822: Amorwe, whan that day bigan to sprynge,
823: Up roos oure hoost, and was oure aller cok,
824: And gradrede us togidre alle in a flok,
825: And forth we riden a litel moore than paas
826: Unto the wateryng of seint thomas;
827: And there oure hoost bigan his hors areste
828: And seyde, lordynges, herkneth, if yow leste.
829: Ye woot youre foreward, and I it yow recorde.
830: If even-song and morwe-song accorde,
831: Lat se now who shal telle the firste tale.
832: As evere mote I drynke wyn or ale,
833: Whoso be rebel to my juggement
834: Shal paye for al that by the wey is spent.
835: Now draweth cut, er that we ferrer twynne;
836: He which that hath the shorteste shal bigynne.
837: Sire knyght, quod he, my mayster and my lord,
838: Now draweth cut, for that is myn accord.
839: Cometh neer, quod he, my lady prioresse.
840: And ye, sire clerk, lat be youre shamefastnesse,
841: Ne studieth noght; ley hond to, every man!
842: Anon to drawen every wight bigan,
843: And shortly for to tellen as it was,
844: Were it by aventure, or sort, or cas,
845: The sothe is this, the cut fil to the knyght,
846: Of which ful blithe and glad was every wyght,
847: And telle he moste his tale, as was resoun,
848: By foreward and by composicioun,
849: As ye han herd; what nedeth wordes mo?
850: And whan this goode man saugh that it was so,
851: As he that wys was and obedient
852: To kepe his foreward by his free assent,
853: He seyde, syn I shal bigynne the game,
854: What, welcome be the cut, a goddes name!
855: Now lat us ryde, and herkneth what I seye.
856: And with that word we ryden forth oure weye,
857: And he bigan with right a myrie cheere
858: His tale anon, and seyde as ye may heere.

The Knight's Tale

"part" 1

Part I

859: Whilom, as olde stories tellen us,
860: Ther was a duc that highte theseus;
861: Of atthenes he was lord and governour,
862: And in his tyme swich a conquerour,
863: That gretter was ther noon under the sonne.
864: Ful many a riche contree hadde he wonne;
865: What with his wysdom and his chivalrie,
866: He conquered al the regne of femenye,
867: That whilom was ycleped scithia,
868: And weddede the queene ypolita,
869: And broghte hire hoom with hym in his contree
870: With muchel glorie and greet solempnytee,
871: And eek hir yonge suster emelye.
872: And thus with victorie and with melodye
873: Lete I this noble duc to atthenes ryde,
874: And al his hoost in armes hym bisyde.
875: And certes, if it nere to long to heere,
876: I wolde have toold yow fully the manere
877: How wonnen was the regne of femenye
878: By theseus and by his chivalrye;
879: And of the grete bataille for the nones
880: Bitwixen atthenes and amazones;

Page 26

881: And how asseged was ypolita,
882: The faire, hardy queene of scithia;
883: And of the feste that was at hir weddynge,
884: And of the tempest at hir hoom-comynge;
885: But al that thyng I moot as now forbere.
886: I have, God woot, a large feeld to ere,
887: And wayke been the oxen in my plough.
888: The remenant of the tale is long ynough.
889: I wol nat letten eek noon of this route;
890: Lat every felawe telle his tale aboute,
891: And lat se now who shal the soper wynne;
892: And ther I lefte, I wol ayeyn bigynne.
893: This duc, of whom I make mencioun,
894: Whan he was come almoost unto the toun,
895: In al his wele and in his mooste pride,
896: He was war, as he caste his eye aside,
897: Where that ther kneled in the heighe weye
898: A compaignye of ladyes, tweye and tweye,
899: Ech after oother, clad in clothes blake;
900: But swich a cry and swich a wo they make
901: That in this world nys creature lyvynge
902: That herde swich another waymentynge;
903: And of this cry they nolde nevere stenten
904: Til they the reynes of his brydel henten.
905: What fold been ye, that at myn homcomynge
906: Perturben so my feste with criynge?
907: Quod theseus. Have ye so greet envye
908: Of myn honour, that thus compleyne and crye?
909: Or who hath yow mysboden or offended?
910: And telleth me if it may been amended,
911: And why that ye been clothed thus in blak.
912: The eldeste lady of hem alle spak,
913: Whan she hadde swowned with a deedly cheere,
914: That it was routhe for to seen and heere.
915: She seyde: lord, to whom fortune hath yiven
916: Victorie, and as a conqueror to lyven,
917: Nat greveth us youre glorie and youre honour,
918: But we biseken mercy and socour.
919: Have mercy on oure wo and oure distresse!
920: Som drope of pitee, thurgh thy gentillesse,
921: Upon us wrecched wommen lat thou falle.
922: For, certes, lord, ther is noon of us alle,
923: That she ne hath been a duchesse or a queene.
924: Now be we caytyves, as it is wel seene,
925: Thanked be fortune and hire false wheel,
926: That noon estaat assureth to be weel.
927: And certes, lord, to abyden youre presence,
928: Heere in this temple of the goddesse clemence
929: We han ben waitynge al this fourtenyght.
930: Now help us, lord, sith it is in thy myght.
931: I, wrecche, which that wepe and wayle thus,
932: Was whilom wyf to kyng cappaneus,
933: That starf at thebes -- cursed be that day! --
934: And alle we that been in this array
935: And maken al this lamentacioun,
936: We losten alle oure housbondes at that toun,
937: Whil that the seege theraboute lay.
938: And yet now the olde creon, weylaway!
939: That lord is now of thebes the citee,
940: Fulfild of ire and of iniquitee,
941: He, for despit and for his tirannye,
942: To do the dede bodyes vileynye
943: Of alle oure lordes whiche that been yslawe,
944: Hath alle the bodyes on an heep ydrawe,
945: And wol nat suffren hem, by noon assent,
946: Neither to been yburyed nor ybrent,
947: But maketh houndes ete hem in despit.
948: And with that word, withouten moore respit,
949: They fillen gruf and criden pitously,
950: Have on us wrecched wommen som mercy,
951: And lat oure sorwe synken in thyn herte.
952: This gentil duc doun from his courser sterte
953: With herte pitous, whan he herde hem speke.
954: Hym thoughte that his herte wolde breke,
955: Whan he saugh hem so pitous and so maat,
956: That whilom weren of so greet estaat;
957: And in his armes he hem alle up hente,
958: And hem conforteth in ful good entente,
959: And swoor his ooth, as he was trewe knyght,
960: He wolde doon so ferforthly his myght
961: Upon the tiraunt creon hem to wreke,
962: That al the peple of grece sholde speke
963: How creon was of theseus yserved
964: As he that hadde his deeth ful wel deserved.
965: And right anoon, withouten moore abood,
966: His baner he desplayeth, and forth rood
967: To thebes-ward, and al his hoost biside.
968: No neer atthenes wolde he go ne ride,
969: Ne take his ese fully half a day,
970: But onward on his wey that nyght he lay,
971: And sente anon ypolita the queene,
972: And emelye, hir yonge suster sheene,
973: Unto the toun of atthenes to dwelle,
974: And forth he rit; ther is namoore to telle.
975: The rede statue of mars, with spere and targe,
976: So shyneth in his white baner large,
977: That alle the feeldes glyteren up and doun;
978: And by his baner born is his penoun
979: Of gold ful riche, in which ther was ybete
980: The mynotaur, which that he slough in crete.
981: Thus rit this duc, thus rit this conquerour,
982: And in his hoost of chivalrie the flour,
983: Til that he cam to thebes and alighte
984: Faire in a feeld, ther as he thoughte to fighte.
985: But shortly for to speken of this thyng,
986: With creon, which that was of thebes kyng,

Page 27

987: He faught, and slough hym manly as a knyght
988: In pleyn bataille, and putte the folk to flyght;
989: And by assaut he wan the citee after,
990: And rente adoun bothe wall and sparre and rafter;
991: And to the ladyes he restored agayn
992: The bones of hir housbondes that were slayn,
993: To doon obsequies, as was tho the gyse.
994: But it were al to longe for to devyse
995: The grete clamour and the waymentynge
996: That the ladyes made at the brennynge
997: Of the bodies, and the grete honour
998: That theseus, the noble conquerour,
999: Dooth to the ladyes, whan they from hym wente;
1000: But shortly for to telle is myn entente.
1001: Whan that this worthy duc, this theseus,
1002: Hath creon slayn, and wonne thebes thus,
1003: Stille in that feeld he took al nyght his reste,
1004: And dide with al the contree as hym leste.
1005: To ransake in the taas of bodyes dede,
1006: Hem for to strepe of harneys and of wede,
1007: The pilours diden bisynesse and cure
1008: After the bataille and disconfiture.
1009: And so bifel that in the taas they founde,
1010: Thurgh-girt with many a grevous blody wounde,
1011: Two yonge knyghtes liggynge by and by,
1012: Bothe in oon armes, wroght ful richely,
1013: Of whiche two arcita highte that oon,
1014: And that oother knyght highte palamon.
1015: Nat fully quyke, ne fully dede they were,
1016: But by hir cote-armures and by hir gere
1017: The heraudes knewe hem best in special
1018: As they that weren of the blood roial
1019: Of thebes, and of sustren two yborn.
1020: Out of the taas the pilours han hem torn,
1021: And han hem caried softe unto the tente
1022: Of theseus; and he ful soone hem sente
1023: To atthenes, to dwellen in prisoun
1024: Perpetuelly, -- he nolde no raunsoun.
1025: And whan this worthy duc hath thus ydon,
1026: He took his hoost, and hoom he rit anon
1027: With laurer crowned as a conquerour;
1028: And ther he lyveth in joye and in honour
1029: Terme of his lyf; what nedeth wordes mo?
1030: And in a tour, in angwissh and in wo,
1031: This palamon and his felawe arcite
1032: For everemoore; ther may no gold hem quite.
1033: This passeth yeer by yeer and day by day,
1034: Till it fil ones, in a morwe of may,
1035: That emelye, that fairer was to sene
1036: Than is the lylie upon his stalke grene,
1037: And fressher than the may with floures newe --
1038: For with the rose colour stroof hire hewe,
1039: I noot which was the fyner of hem two --
1040: Er it were day, as was hir wone to do,
1041: She was arisen and al redy dight;
1042: For may wole have no slogardie a-nyght.
1043: The sesoun priketh every gentil herte,
1044: And maketh hym out of his slep to sterte,
1045: And seith arys, and do thyn observaunce.
1046: This maked emelye have remembraunce
1047: To doon honour to may, and for to ryse.
1048: Yclothed was she fressh, for to devyse:
1049: Hir yelow heer was broyded in a tresse
1050: Bihynde hir bak, a yerde long, I gesse.
1051: And in the gardyn, at the sonne upriste,
1052: She walketh up and doun, and as hire liste
1053: She gadereth floures, party white and rede,
1054: To make a subtil gerland for hire hede;
1055: And as an aungel hevenysshly she soong.
1056: The grete tour, that was so thikke and stroong,
1057: Which of the castel was the chief dongeoun,
1058: (ther as the knyghtes weren in prisoun
1059: Of which I tolde yow and tellen shal)
1060: Was evene joynant to the gardyn wal
1061: Ther as this emelye hadde hir pleyynge.
1062: Bright was the sonne and cleer that morwenynge,
1063: And palamoun, this woful prisoner,
1064: As was his wone, by leve of his gayler,
1065: Was risen and romed in a chambre an heigh,
1066: In which he al the noble citee seigh,
1067: And eek the gardyn, ful of braunches grene,
1068: Ther as this fresshe emelye the shene
1069: Was in hire walk, and romed up and doun.
1070: This sorweful prisoner, this palamoun,
1071: Goth in the chambre romynge to and fro,
1072: And to hymself compleynynge of his wo.
1073: That he was born, ful ofte he seyde, allas!
1074: And so bifel, by aventure or cas,
1075: That thurgh a wyndow, thikke of many a barre
1076: Of iren greet and square as any sparre,
1077: He cast his eye upon emelya,
1078: And therwithal he bleynte and cride, a!
1079: As though he stongen were unto the herte.
1080: And with that cry arcite anon up sterte,
1081: And seyde, cosyn myn, what eyleth thee,
1082: That art so pale and deedly on to see?
1083: Why cridestow? who hath thee doon offence?
1084: For goddes love, taak al in pacience
1085: Oure prisoun, for it may noon oother be.
1086: Fortune hath yeven us this adversitee.
1087: Som wikke aspect or disposicioun
1088: Of saturne, by som constellacioun,
1089: Hath yeven us this, although we hadde it sworn;

Page 28

1090: So stood the hevene whan that we were born.
1091: We moste endure it; this is the short and playn.
1092: This palamon answerde and seyde agayn:
1093: Cosyn, for sothe, of this opinioun
1094: Thow hast a veyn ymaginacioun.
1095: This prison caused me nat for to crye,
1096: But I was hurt right now thurghout myn ye
1097: Into myn herte, that wol my bane be.
1098: The fairnesse of that lady that I see
1099: Yond in the gardyn romen to and fro
1100: Is cause of al my criyng and my wo.
1101: I noot wher she be womman or goddesse,
1102: But venus is it soothly, as I gesse.
1103: And therwithal on knees doun he fil,
1104: And seyde: venus, if it be thy wil
1105: Yow in this gardyn thus to transfigure
1106: Bifore me, sorweful, wrecched creature,
1107: Out of this prisoun help that we may scapen.
1108: And if so be my destynee be shapen
1109: By eterne word to dyen in prisoun,
1110: Of oure lynage have som compassioun,
1111: That is so lowe ybroght by tirannye.
1112: And with that word arcite gan espye
1113: Wher as this lady romed to and fro,
1114: And with that sighte hir beautee hurte hym so,
1115: That, if that palamon was wounded sore,
1116: Arcite is hurt as muche as he, or moore.
1117: And with a sigh he seyde pitously:
1118: The fresshe beautee sleeth me sodeynly
1119: Of hire that rometh in the yonder place,
1120: And but I have hir mercy and hir grace,
1121: That I may seen hire atte leeste weye,
1122: I nam but deed; ther nis namoore to seye.
1123: This palamon, whan he tho wordes herde,
1124: Dispitously he looked and answerde,
1125: Wheither seistow this in ernest or in pley?
1126: Nay, quod arcite, in ernest, by my fey!
1127: God helpe me so, me list ful yvele pleye.
1128: This palamon gan knytte his browes tweye.
1129: It nere, quod he, to thee no greet honour
1130: For to be fals, ne for to be traitour
1131: To me, that am thy cosyn and thy brother
1132: Ysworn ful depe, and ech of us til oother,
1133: That nevere, for to dyen in the peyne,
1134: Til that the deeth departe shal us tweyne,
1135: Neither of us in love to hyndre oother,
1136: Ne in noon oother cas, my leeve brother;
1137: But that thou sholdest trewely forthren me
1138: In every cas, as I shal forthren thee, --
1139: This was thyn ooth, and myn also, certeyn;
1140: I woot right wel, thou darst it nat withseyn.
1141: Thus artow of my conseil, out of doute,
1142: And now thow woldest falsly been aboute
1143: To love my lady, whom I love and serve,
1144: And evere shal til that myn herte sterve.
1145: Nay, certes, false arcite, thow shalt nat so.
1146: I loved hire first, and tolde thee my wo
1147: As to my conseil and my brother sworn
1148: To forthre me, as I have toold biforn.
1149: For which thou art ybounden as a knyght
1150: To helpen me, if it lay in thy myght,
1151: Or elles artow fals, I dar wel seyn.
1152: This arcite ful proudly spak ageyn:
1153: Thow shalt, quod he, be rather fals than I;
1154: And thou art fals, I telle thee outrely,
1155: For paramour I loved hire first er thow.
1156: What wiltow seyen? thou woost nat yet now
1157: Wheither she be a womman or goddesse!
1158: Thyn is affeccioun of hoolynesse,
1159: And myn is love, as to a creature;
1160: For which I tolde thee myn aventure
1161: As to my cosyn and my brother sworn.
1162: I pose that thow lovedest hire biforn;
1163: Wostow nat wel the olde clerkes sawe,
1164: That "who shal yeve a lovere any lawe?"
1165: Love is a gretter lawe, by my pan,
1166: Than may be yeve to any erthely man;
1167: And therfore positif lawe and swich decree
1168: Is broken al day for love in ech degree.
1169: A man moot nedes love, maugree his heed.
1170: He may nat fleen it, thogh he sholde be deed,
1171: Al be she mayde, or wydwe, or elles wyf.
1172: And eek it is nat likly al thy lyf
1173: To stonden in hir grace; namoore shal I;
1174: For wel thou woost thyselven, verraily,
1175: That thou and I be dampned to prisoun
1176: Perpetuelly; us gayneth no raunsoun.
1177: We stryve as dide the houndes for the boon;
1178: They foughte al day, and yet hir part was noon.
1179: Ther cam a kyte, whil that they were so wrothe,
1180: And baar awey the boon bitwixe hem bothe.
1181: And therfore, at the kynges court, my brother,
1182: Ech man for hymself, ther is noon oother.
1183: Love, if thee list, for I love and ay shal;
1184: And soothly, leeve brother, this is al.
1185: Heere in this prisoun moote we endure,
1186: And everich of us take his aventure.
1187: Greet was the strif and long bitwix hem tweye,
1188: If that I hadde leyser for to seye,
1189: But to th' effect. It happed on a day,
1190: To telle it yow as shortly as I may,
1191: A worthy duc that highte perotheus,
1192: That felawe was unto duc theseus
1193: Syn thilke day that they were children lite,

Page 29

1194: Was come to atthenes his felawe to visite,
1195: And for to pleye as he was wont to do;
1196: For in this world he loved no man so,
1197: And he loved hym als tendrely agayn.
1198: So wel they lovede, as olde bookes sayn,
1199: That whan that oon was deed, soothly to telle,
1200: His felawe wente and soughte hym doun in helle, --
1201: But of that storie list me nat to write.
1202: Duc perotheus loved wel arcite,
1203: And hadde hym knowe at thebes yeer by yere,
1204: And finally at requeste and preyere
1205: Of perotheus, withouten any raunsoun,
1206: Duc theseus hym leet out of prisoun
1207: Frely to goon wher that hym liste over al,
1208: In swich a gyse as I you tellen shal.
1209: This was the forward, pleynly for t' endite,
1210: Bitwixen theseus and hym arcite
1211: That if so were that arcite were yfounde
1212: Evere in his lif, by day or nyght, oo stounde
1213: In any contree of this theseus,
1214: And he were caught, it was acorded thus,
1215: That with a swerd he sholde lese his heed.
1216: Ther nas noon oother remedie ne reed;
1217: But taketh his leve, and homward he him spedde.
1218: Lat hym be war! his nekke lith to wedde.
1219: How greet a sorwe suffreth now arcite!
1220: The deeth he feeleth thurgh his herte smyte;
1221: He wepeth, wayleth, crieth pitously;
1222: To sleen hymself he waiteth prively.
1223: He seyde, allas that day that I was born!
1224: Now is my prisoun worse than biforn;
1225: Now is me shape eternally to dwelle.
1226: Noght in purgatorie, but in helle.
1227: Allas, that evere knew I perotheus!
1228: For elles hadde I dwelled with theseus,
1229: Yfetered in his prisoun everemo.
1230: Thanne hadde I been in blisse, and nat in wo.
1231: Oonly the sighte of hire whom that I serve,
1232: Though that I nevere hir grace may deserve,
1233: Wolde han suffised right ynough for me.
1234: O deere cosyn palamon, quod he,
1235: Thyn is the victorie of this aventure.
1236: Ful blisfully in prison maistow dure, --
1237: In prison? certes nay, but in paradys!
1238: Wel hath fortune yturned thee the dys,
1239: That hast the sighte of hire, and I th' absence.
1240: For possible is, syn thou hast hire presence,
1241: And art a knyght, a worthy and an able,
1242: That by som cas, syn fortune is chaungeable,
1243: Thow maist to thy desir somtyme atteyne.
1244: But I, that am exiled and bareyne
1245: Of alle grace, and in so greet dispeir,
1246: That ther nys erthe, water, fir, ne eir,
1247: Ne creature that of hem maked is,
1248: That may me helpe or doon confort in this,
1249: Wel oughte I sterve in wanhope and distresse.
1250: Farwel my lif, my lust, and my gladnesse!
1251: Allas, why pleynen folk so in commune
1252: On purveiaunce of god, or of fortune,
1253: That yeveth hem ful ofte in many a gyse
1254: Wel bettre than they kan hemself devyse?
1255: Som man desireth for to han richesse,
1256: That cause is of his mordre or greet siknesse;
1257: And som man wolde out of his prisoun fayn,
1258: That in his hous is of his meynee slayn.
1259: Infinite harmes been in this mateere.
1260: We witen nat what thing we preyen heere:
1261: We faren as he that dronke is as a mous.
1262: A dronke man woot wel he hath an hous,
1263: But he noot which the righte wey is thider,
1264: And to a dronke man the wey is slider.
1265: And certes, in this world so faren we;
1266: We seken faste after felicitee,
1267: But we goon wrong ful often, trewely.
1268: Thus may we seyen alle, and namely I,
1269: That wende and hadde a greet opinioun
1270: That if I myghte escapen from prisoun,
1271: Thanne hadde I been in joye and perfit heele,
1272: Ther now I am exiled fro my wele.
1273: Syn that I may nat seen you, emelye,
1274: I nam but deed; ther nys no remedye.
1275: Upon that oother syde palamon,
1276: Whan that he wiste arcite was agon,
1277: Swich sorwe he maketh that the grete tour
1278: Resouneth of his youlyng and clamour.
1279: The pure fettres on his shynes grete
1280: Weren of his bittre, salte teeres wete.
1281: Allas, quod he, arcita, cosyn myn,
1282: Of al oure strif, God woot, the fruyt is thyn.
1283: Thou walkest now in thebes at thy large,
1284: And of my wo thow yevest litel charge.
1285: Thou mayst, syn thou hast wisdom and manhede,
1286: Assemblen alle the folk of oure kynrede,
1287: And make a werre so sharp on this citee,
1288: That by som aventure or some tretee
1289: Thow mayst have hire to lady and to wyf
1290: For whom that I moste nedes lese my lyf.
1291: For, as by wey of possibilitee,
1292: Sith thou art at thy large, of prisoun free,
1293: And art a lord, greet is thyn avauntage
1294: Moore than is myn, that sterve here in a cage.
1295: For I moot wepe and wayle, whil I lyve,
1296: With al the wo that prison may me yive,
1297: And eek with peyne that love me yeveth also,
1298: That doubleth al my torment and my wo.

Page 30

1299: Therwith the fyr of jalousie up sterte
1300: Withinne his brest, and hente him by the herte
1301: So woodly that he lyk was to biholde
1302: The boxtree or the asshen dede and colde.
1303: Thanne seyde he, o crueel goddes that governe
1304: This world with byndyng of youre word eterne,
1305: And writen in the table of atthamaunt
1306: Youre parlement and youre eterne graunt,
1307: What is mankynde moore unto you holde
1308: Than is the sheep that rouketh in the folde?
1309: For slayn is man right as another beest,
1310: And dwelleth eek in prison and arreest,
1311: And hath siknesse and greet adversitee,
1312: And ofte tymes giltelees, pardee.
1313: What governance is in this prescience,
1314: That giltelees tormenteth innocence?
1315: And yet encresseth this al my penaunce,
1316: That man is bounden to his observaunce,
1317: For goddes sake, to letten of his wille,
1318: Ther as a beest may al his lust fulfille.
1319: And whan a beest is deed he hath no peyne;
1320: But man after his deeth moot wepe and pleyne,
1321: Though in this world he have care and wo.
1322: Withouten doute it may stonden so.
1323: The answere of this lete I to dyvynys,
1324: But wel I woot that in this world greet pyne ys.
1325: Allas, I se a serpent or a theef,
1326: That many a trewe man hath doon mescheef,
1327: Goon at his large, and where hym list may turne.
1328: But I moot been in prisoun thurgh saturne,
1329: And eek thurgh juno, jalous and eek wood,
1330: That hath destroyed wel ny al the blood
1331: Of thebes with his waste walles wyde;
1332: And venus sleeth me on that oother syde
1333: For jalousie and fere of hym arcite.
1334: Now wol I stynte of palamon a lite,
1335: And lete hym in his prisoun stille dwelle,
1336: And of arcita forth I wol yow telle.
1337: The somer passeth, and the nyghtes longe
1338: Encressen double wise the peynes stronge
1339: Bothe of the lovere and the prisoner.
1340: I noot which hath the wofuller mester.
1341: For, shortly for to seyn, this palamoun
1342: Perpetuelly is dampned to prisoun,
1343: In cheynes and in fettres to been deed;
1344: And arcite is exiled upon his heed
1345: For everemo, as out of that contree,
1346: Ne nevere mo he shal his lady see.
1347: Yow loveres axe I now this questioun:
1348: Who hath the worse, arcite or palamoun?
1349: That oon may seen his lady day by day,
1350: But in prison he moot dwelle alway;
1351: That oother wher hym list may ride or go,
1352: But seen his lady shal he nevere mo.
1353: Now demeth as yow liste, ye that kan,
1354: For I wol telle forth as I bigan.
Explicit prima pars.

"part" 2

Sequitur pars secunda.

1355: Whan that arcite to thebes comen was,
1356: Ful ofte a day he swelte and seyde allas!
1357: For seen his lady shal he nevere mo.
1358: And shortly to concluden al his wo,
1359: So muche sorwe hadde nevere creature
1360: That is, or shal, whil that the world may dure.
1361: His slep, his mete, his drynke, is hym biraft,
1362: That lene he wex and drye as is a shaft;
1363: His eyen holwe, and grisly to biholde,
1364: His hewe falow and pale as asshen colde,
1365: And solitarie he was and evere allone,
1366: And waillynge al the nyght, makynge his mone;
1367: And if he herde song or instrument,
1368: Thanne wolde he wepe, he myghte nat be stent.
1369: So feble eek were his spiritz, and so lowe,
1370: And chaunged so, that no man koude knowe
1371: His speche nor his voys, though men it herde.
1372: And in his geere for al the world he ferde,
1373: Nat oonly lik the loveris maladye
1374: Of hereos, but rather lyk manye,
1375: Engendred of humour malencolik,
1376: Biforen, in his celle fantastik.
1377: And shortly, turned was al up so doun
1378: Bothe habit and eek disposicioun
1379: Of hym, this woful lovere daun arcite.
1380: What sholde I al day of his wo endite?
1381: Whan he endured hadde a yeer or two
1382: This crueel torment and this peyne and wo,
1383: At thebes, in his contree, as I seyde,
1384: Upon a nyght in sleep as he hym leyde,
1385: Hym thoughte how that the wynged God mercurie
1386: Biforn hym stood and bad hym to be murie.
1387: His slepy yerde in hond he bar uprighte;
1388: An hat he werede upon his heris brighte.
1389: Arrayed was this god, as he took keep,
1390: As he was whan that argus took his sleep;
1391: And seyde hym thus: to atthenes shaltou wende,
1392: Ther is thee shapen of thy wo an ende.
1393: And with that word arcite wook and sterte.
1394: Now trewely, hou soore that me smerte,
1395: Quod he, to atthenes right now wol I fare,
1396: Ne for the drede of deeth shal I nat spare
1397: To se my lady, that I love and serve.

Page 31

1398: In hire presence I recche nat to sterve.
1399: And with that word he caughte a greet mirour,
1400: And saugh that chaunged was al his colour,
1401: And saugh his visage al in another kynde.
1402: And right anon it ran hym in his mynde,
1403: That, sith his face was so disfigured
1404: Of maladye the which he hadde endured,
1405: He myghte wel, if that he bar hym lowe,
1406: Lyve in atthenes everemoore unknowe.
1407: And seen his lady wel ny day by day.
1408: And right anon he chaunged his array,
1409: And cladde hym as a povre laborer,
1410: And al allone, save oonly a squier
1411: That knew his privetee and al his cas,
1412: Which was disgised povrely as he was,
1413: To atthenes is he goon the nexte way.
1414: And to the court he wente upon a day,
1415: And at the gate he profreth his servyse
1416: To drugge and drawe, what so men wol devyse.
1417: And shortly of this matere for to seyn,
1418: He fil in office with a chamberleyn
1419: The which that dwellynge was with emelye;
1420: For he was wys and koude soone espye
1421: Of every servaunt which that serveth here.
1422: Wel koude he hewen wode, and water bere,
1423: For he was yong and myghty for the nones,
1424: And therto he was long and big of bones
1425: To doon that any wight kan hym devyse.
1426: A yeer or two he was in this servyse,
1427: Page of the chambre of emelye the brighte;
1428: And philostrate he seyde that he highte.
1429: But half so wel biloved a man as he
1430: Ne was ther nevere in court of his degree;
1431: He was so gentil of condicioun
1432: That thurghout al the court was his renoun.
1433: They seyden that it were a charitee
1434: That theseus wolde enhauncen his degree,
1435: And putten hym in worshipful servyse,
1436: Ther as he myghte his vertu excercise.
1437: And thus withinne a while his name is spronge,
1438: Bothe of his dedes and his goode tonge,
1439: That theseus hath taken hym so neer,
1440: That of his chambre he made hym a squier,
1441: And gaf hym gold to mayntene his degree.
1442: And eek men broghte hym out of his contree,
1443: From yeer to yeer, ful pryvely his rente;
1444: But honestly and slyly he it spente,
1445: That no man wondred how that he it hadde.
1446: And thre yeer in this wise his lif he ladde,
1447: And bar hym so, in pees and eek in werre,
1448: Ther was no man that theseus hath derre.
1449: And in this blisse lete I now arcite,
1450: And speke I wole of palamon a lite.
1451: In derknesse and horrible and strong prisoun
1452: Thise seven yeer hath seten palamoun
1453: Forpyned, what for wo and for distresse.
1454: Who feeleth double soor and hevynesse
1455: But palamon, that love destreyneth so
1456: That wood out of his wit he goth for wo?
1457: And eek therto he is a prisoner
1458: Perpetuelly, noght oonly for a yer.
1459: Who koude ryme in englyssh proprely
1460: His martirdom? for sothe it am nat I;
1461: Therfore I passe as lightly as I may.
1462: It fel that in the seventhe yer, of may
1463: The thridde nyght, (as olde bookes seyn,
1464: That al this storie tellen moore pleyn)
1465: Were it by aventure or destynee --
1466: As, whan a thyng is shapen, it shal be --
1467: That soone after the mydnyght palamoun,
1468: By helpyng of a freend, brak his prisoun
1469: And fleeth the citee faste as he may go.
1470: For he hadde yeve his gayler drynke so
1471: Of a clarree maad of a certeyn wyn,
1472: With nercotikes and opie of thebes fyn,
1473: That al that nyght, thogh that men wolde him shake,
1474: The gayler sleep, he myghte nat awake;
1475: And thus he fleeth as faste as evere he may.
1476: The nyght was short and faste by the day,
1477: That nedes cost he moot hymselven hyde;
1478: And til a grove faste ther bisyde
1479: With dredeful foot thanne stalketh palamon.
1480: For, shortly, this was his opinion,
1481: That in that grove he wolde hym hyde al day,
1482: And in the nyght thanne wolde he take his way
1483: To thebes-ward, his freendes for to preye
1484: On theseus to helpe him to werreye;
1485: And shortly, outher he wolde lese his lif,
1486: Or wynnen emelye unto his wyf.
1487: This is th' effect and his entente pleyn.
1488: Now wol I turne to arcite ageyn,
1489: That litel wiste how ny that was his care,
1490: Til that fortune had broght him in the snare.
1491: The bisy larke, messager of day,
1492: Salueth in hir song the morwe gray,
1493: And firy phebus riseth up so bright
1494: That al the orient laugheth of the light,
1495: And with his stremes dryeth in the greves
1496: The silver dropes hangynge on the leves.
1497: And arcita, that in the court roial
1498: With theseus is squier principal,
1499: Is risen and looketh on the myrie day.
1500: And for to doon his observaunce to may,
1501: Remembrynge on the poynt of his desir,
1502: He on a courser, startlynge as the fir,
1503: Is riden into the feeldes hym to pleye,

Page 32

1504: Out of the court, were it a myle or tweye.
1505: And to the grove of which that I yow tolde
1506: By aventure his wey he gan to holde,
1507: To maken hym a gerland of the greves
1508: Were it of wodebynde or hawethorn leves,
1509: And loude he song ayeyn the sonne shene:
1510: May, with alle thy floures and thy grene,
1511: Welcome be thou, faire, fresshe may,
1512: In hope that I som grene gete may.
1513: And from his courser, with a lusty herte,
1514: Into the grove ful hastily he sterte,
1515: And in a path he rometh up and doun,
1516: Ther as by aventure this palamoun
1517: Was in a bussh, that no man myghte hym se,
1518: For soore afered of his deeth was he.
1519: No thyng ne knew he that it was arcite;
1520: God woot he wolde have trowed it ful lite.
1521: But sooth is seyd, go sithen many yeres,
1522: That feeld hath eyen and the wode hath eres.
1523: It is ful fair a man to bere hym evene,
1524: For al day meeteth men at unset stevene.
1525: Ful litel woot arcite of his felawe,
1526: That was so ny to herknen al his sawe,
1527: For in the bussh he sitteth now ful stille.
1528: Whan that arcite hadde romed al his fille,
1529: And songen al the roundel lustily,
1530: Into a studie he fil sodeynly,
1531: As doon thise loveres in hir queynte geres,
1532: Now in the crope, now doun in the breres,
1533: Now up, now doun, as boket in a welle.
1534: Right as the friday, soothly for to telle,
1535: Now it shyneth, now it reyneth faste,
1536: Right so kan geery venus overcaste
1537: The hertes of hir folk; right as hir day
1538: Is gereful, right so chaungeth she array.
1539: Selde is the friday al the wowke ylike.
1540: Whan that arcite had songe, he gan to sike,
1541: And sette hym doun withouten any moore.
1542: Allas, quod he, that day that I was bore!
1543: How longe, juno, thurgh thy crueltee,
1544: Woltow werreyen thebes the citee?
1545: Allas, ybroght is to confusioun
1546: The blood roial of cadme and amphioun, --
1547: Of cadmus, which that was the firste man
1548: That thebes bulte, or first the toun bigan,
1549: And of the citee first was crouned kyng.
1550: Of his lynage am I and his ofspryng
1551: By verray ligne, as of the stok roial,
1552: And now I am so caytyf and so thral,
1553: That he that is my mortal enemy,
1554: I serve hym as his squier povrely.
1555: And yet dooth juno me wel moore shame,
1556: For I dar noght biknowe myn owene name;
1557: But ther as I was wont to highte arcite,
1558: Now highte I philostrate, noght worth a myte.
1559: Allas, thou felle mars! allas, juno!
1560: Thus hath youre ire oure lynage al fordo,
1561: Save oonly me and wrecched palamoun,
1562: That theseus martireth in prisoun.
1563: And over al this, to sleen me outrely,
1564: Love hath his firy dart so brennyngly
1565: Ystiked thurgh my trewe, careful herte,
1566: That shapen was my deeth erst than my sherte.
1567: Ye sleen me with youre eyen, emelye!
1568: Ye been the cause wherfore that I dye.
1569: Of al the remenant of myn oother care
1570: Ne sette I nat the montance of a tare,
1571: So that I koude doon aught to youre plesaunce.
1572: And with that word he fil doun in a traunce
1573: A longe tyme, and after he up sterte.
1574: This palamoun, that thoughte that thurgh his herte
1575: He felte a coold swerd sodeynliche glyde,
1576: For ire he quook, no lenger wolde he byde.
1577: And whan that he had herd arcites tale,
1578: As he were wood, with face deed and pale,
1579: He stirte hym up out of the buskes thikke,
1580: And seide: arcite, false traytour wikke,
1581: Now artow hent, that lovest my lady so,
1582: For whom that I have al this peyne and wo,
1583: And art my blood, and to my conseil sworn,
1584: As I ful ofte have told thee heerbiforn,
1585: And hast byjaped heere duc theseus,
1586: And falsly chaunged hast thy name thus!
1587: I wol be deed, or elles thou shalt dye.
1588: Thou shalt nat love my lady emelye,
1589: But I wol love hire oonly and namo;
1590: For I am palamon, thy mortal foo.
1591: And though that I no wepene have in this place,
1592: But out of prison am astert by grace,
1593: I drede noght that outher thow shalt dye,
1594: Or thow ne shalt nat loven emelye.
1595: Chees which thou wolt, for thou shalt nat asterte!
1596: This arcite, with ful despitous herte,
1597: Whan he hym knew, and hadde his tale herd,
1598: As fiers as leon pulled out his swerd,
1599: And seyde thus: by God that sit above,
1600: Nere it that thou art sik and wood for love,
1601: And eek that thow no wepne hast in this place,
1602: Thou sholdest nevere out of this grove pace,
1603: That thou ne sholdest dyen of myn hond.
1604: For I defye the seurete and the bond
1605: Which that thou seist that I have maad to thee.
1606: What, verray fool, thynk wel that love is free,
1607: And I wol love hire maugree al thy myght!

Page 33

1608: But for as muche thou art a worthy knyght;
1609: And wilnest to darreyne hire by bataille,
1610: Have heer my trouthe, tomorwe I wol nat faille,
1611: Withoute wityng of any oother wight,
1612: That heere I wol be founden as a knyght,
1613: And bryngen harneys right ynough for thee;
1614: And ches the beste, and leef the worste for me.
1615: And mete and drynke this nyght wol I brynge
1616: Ynough for thee, and clothes for thy beddynge.
1617: And if so be that thou my lady wynne,
1618: And sle me in this wode ther I am inne,
1619: Thow mayst wel have thy lady as for me.
1620: This palamon answerde, I graunte it thee.
1621: And thus they been departed til amorwe,
1622: Whan ech of hem had leyd his feith to borwe.
1623: O cupide, out of alle charitee!
1624: O regne, that wolt no felawe have with thee!
1625: Ful sooth is seyd that love ne lordshipe
1626: Wol noght, his thankes, have no felaweshipe.
1627: Wel fynden that arcite and palamoun.
1628: Arcite is riden anon unto the toun,
1629: And on the morwe, er it were dayes light,
1630: Ful prively two harneys hath he dight,
1631: Bothe suffisaunt and mete to darreyne
1632: The bataille in the feeld bitwix hem tweyne;
1633: And on his hors, allone as he was born,
1634: He carieth al the harneys hym biforn.
1635: And in the grove, at tyme and place yset,
1636: This arcite and this palamon ben met.
1637: Tho chaungen gan the colour in hir face,
1638: Right as the hunters in the regne of trace,
1639: That stondeth at the gappe with a spere,
1640: Whan hunted is the leon or the bere,
1641: And hereth hym come russhyyng in the greves,
1642: And breketh bothe bowes and the leves,
1643: And thynketh, heere cometh my mortal enemy!
1644: Withoute faille, he moot be deed, or I;
1645: For outher I moot sleen hym at the gappe,
1646: Or he moot sleen me, if that me myshappe, --
1647: So ferden they in chaungyng of hir hewe,
1648: As fer as everich of hem oother knewe.
1649: Ther nas no good day, ne no saluyng,
1650: But streight, withouten word or rehersyng,
1651: Everich of hem heelp for to armen oother
1652: As freendly as he were his owene brother;
1653: And after that, with sharpe speres stronge
1654: They foynen ech at oother wonder longe.
1655: Thou myghtest wene that this palamon
1656: In his fightyng were a wood leon,
1657: And as a crueel tigre was arcite;
1658: As wilde bores gonne they to smyte,
1659: That frothen whit as foom for ire wood.
1660: Up to the ancle foghte they in hir blood.
1661: And in this wise I lete hem fightyng dwelle,
1662: And forth I wole of theseus yow telle.
1663: The destinee, ministre general,
1664: That executeth in the world over al
1665: The purveiaunce that God hath seyn biforn,
1666: So strong it is that, though the world had sworn
1667: The contrarie of a thyng by ye or nay,
1668: Yet somtyme it shal fallen on a day
1669: That falleth nat eft withinne a thousand yeer.
1670: For certeinly, oure appetites heer,
1671: Be it of werre, or pees, or hate, or love,
1672: Al is this reuled by the sighte above.
1673: This mene I now by myghty theseus,
1674: That for to hunten is so desirus,
1675: And namely at the grete hert in may,
1676: That in his bed ther daweth hym no day
1677: That he nys clad, and redy for to ryde
1678: With hunte and horn and houndes hym bisyde.
1679: For in his huntyng hath he swich delit
1680: That it is al his joye and appetit
1681: To been hymself the grete hertes bane,
1682: For after mars he serveth now dyane.
1683: Cleer was the day, as I have toold er this,
1684: And theseus with alle joye and blis,
1685: With his ypolita, the faire queene,
1686: And emelye, clothed al in grene,
1687: On huntyng be they riden roially.
1688: And to the grove that stood ful faste by,
1689: In which ther was an hert, as men hym tolde,
1690: Duc theseus the streighte wey hath holde.
1691: And to the launde he rideth hym ful right,
1692: For thider was the hert wont have his flight,
1693: And over a brook, and so forth on his weye.
1694: This duc wol han a cours at hym or tweye
1695: With houndes swiche as that hym list comaunde.
1696: And whan this duc was come unto the launde,
1697: Under the sonne he looketh, and anon
1698: He was war of arcite and palamon,
1699: That foughten breme, as it were bores two.
1700: The brighte swerdes wenten to and fro
1701: So hidously that with the leeste strook
1702: It semed as it wolde felle an ook.
1703: But what they were, no thyng he ne woot.
1704: This duc his courser with his spores smoot,
1705: And at a stert he was bitwix hem two,
1706: And pulled out a swerd, and cride, hoo!
1707: Namoore, up peyne of lesynge of youre heed!
1708: By myghty mars, he shal anon be deed
1709: That smyteth any strook that I may seen.
1710: But telleth me what myster men ye been,
1711: That been so hardy for to fighten heere

Page 34

1712: Withouten juge or oother officere,
1713: As it were in a lystes roially.
1714: This palamon answerde hastily,
1715: And seyde, sire, what nedeth wordes mo?
1716: We have the deeth disserved bothe two.
1717: Two woful wrecches been we, two caytyves,
1718: That been encombred of oure owene lyves;
1719: And as thou art a rightful lord and juge,
1720: Ne yif us neither mercy ne refuge,
1721: But sle me first, for seinte charitee!
1722: But sle my felawe eek as wel as me;
1723: Or sle hym first, for though thow knowest it lite,
1724: This is thy mortal foo, this is arcite,
1725: That fro thy lond is banysshed on his heed,
1726: For which he hath deserved to be deed.
1727: For this is he that cam unto thy gate
1728: And seyde that he highte philostrate.
1729: Thus hath he japed thee ful many a yer,
1730: And thou hast maked hym thy chief squier;
1731: And this is he that loveth emelye.
1732: For sith the day is come that I shal dye,
1733: I make pleynly my confessioun
1734: That I am thilke woful palamoun
1735: That hath thy prisoun broken wikkedly.
1736: I am thy mortal foo, and it am I
1737: That loveth so hoote emelye the brighte
1738: That I wol dye present in hir sighte.
1739: Wherfore I axe deeth and my juwise;
1740: But sle my felawe in the same wise,
1741: For bothe han we deserved to be slayn.
1742: This worthy duc answerde anon agayn,
1743: And seyde, this is a short conclusioun.
1744: Youre owene mouth, by youre confessioun,
1745: Hath dampned yow, and I wol it recorde;
1746: It nedeth noght to pyne yow with the corde.
1747: Ye shal be deed, by myghty mars the rede!
1748: The queene anon, for verray wommanhede,
1749: Gan for to wepe, and so dide emelye,
1750: And alle the ladyes in the compaignye.
1751: Greet pitee was it, as it thoughte hem alle,
1752: That evere swich a chaunce sholde falle;
1753: For gentil men they were of greet estaat,
1754: And no thyng but for love was this debaat;
1755: And saugh hir blody woundes wyde and soore,
1756: And alle crieden, bothe lasse and moore,
1757: Have mercy, lord, upon us wommen alle!
1758: And on hir bare knees adoun they falle,
1759: And wolde have kist his feet ther as he stood;
1760: Til at the laste aslaked was his mood,
1761: For pitee renneth soone in gentil herte.
1762: And though he first for ire quook and sterte,
1763: He hath considered shortly, in a clause,
1764: The trespas of hem bothe, and eek the cause,
1765: And although that his ire hir gilt accused,
1766: Yet in his resoun he hem bothe excused,
1767: As thus: he thoghte wel that every man
1768: Wol helpe hymself in love, if that he kan,
1769: And eek delivere hymself out of prisoun.
1770: And eek his herte hadde compassioun
1771: Of wommen, for they wepen evere in oon;
1772: And in his gentil herte he thoughte anon,
1773: And softe unto hymself he seyde, fy
1774: Upon a lord that wol have no mercy,
1775: But been a leon, bothe in word and dede,
1776: To hem that been in repentaunce and drede,
1777: As wel as to a proud despitous man
1778: That wol mayntene that he first bigan.
1779: That lord hath litel of discrecioun,
1780: That in swich cas kan no divisioun,
1781: But weyeth pride and humblesse after oon.
1782: And shortly, whan his ire is thus agoon,
1783: He gan to looken up with eyen lighte,
1784: And spak thise same wordes al on highte:
1785: The God of love, a, benedicite!
1786: How myghty and how greet a lord is he!
1787: Ayeyns his myght ther gayneth none obstacles.
1788: He may be cleped a God for his myracles;
1789: For he kan maken, at his owene gyse,
1790: Of everich herte as that hym list divyse.
1791: Lo heere this arcite and this palamoun,
1792: That quitly weren out of my prisoun,
1793: And myghte han lyved in thebes roially,
1794: And witen I am hir mortal enemy,
1795: And that hir deth lith in my myght also;
1796: And yet hath love, maugree hir eyen two,
1797: Broght hem hyder bothe for to dye.
1798: Now looketh, is nat that an heigh folye?
1799: Who may been a fool, but if he love?
1800: Bihoold, for goddes sake that sit above,
1801: Se how they blede! be they noght wel arrayed?
1802: Thus hath hir lord, the God of love, ypayed
1803: Hir wages and hir fees for hir servyse!
1804: And yet they wenen for to been ful wyse
1805: That serven love, for aught that may bifalle.
1806: But this is yet the beste game of alle,
1807: That she for whom they han this jolitee
1808: Kan hem therfore as muche thank as me.
1809: She woot namoore of al this hoote fare,
1810: By god, than woot a cokkow or an hare!
1811: But all moot ben assayed, hoot and coold;
1812: A man moot ben a fool, or yong or oold, --
1813: I woot it by myself ful yore agon,
1814: For in my tyme a servant was I oon.
1815: And therfore, syn I knowe of loves peyne,
1816: And woot hou soore it kan a man distreyne,
1817: As he that hath ben caught ofte in his laas,
1818: I yow foryeve al hoolly this trespaas,

Page 35

1819: At requeste of the queene, that kneleth heere,
1820: And eek of emelye, my suster deere.
1821: And ye shul bothe anon unto me swere
1822: That nevere mo ye shal my contree dere,
1823: Ne make werre upon me nyght ne day,
1824: But been my freendes in all that ye may.
1825: I yow foryeve this trespas every deel.
1826: And they hym sworen his axyng faire and weel,
1827: And hym of lordshipe and of mercy preyde,
1828: And he hem graunteth grace, and thus he seyde:
1829: To speke of roial lynage and richesse,
1830: Though that she were a queene or a princesse,
1831: Ech of you bothe is worthy, doutelees,
1832: To wedden whan tyme is, but nathelees
1833: I speke as for my suster emelye,
1834: For whom ye have this strif and jalousye.
1835: Ye woot yourself she may nat wedden two
1836: Atones, though ye fighten everemo.
1837: That oon of you, al be hym looth or lief,
1838: He moot go pipen in an yvy leef;
1839: This is to seyn, she may nat now han bothe,
1840: Al be ye never so jalouse ne so wrothe.
1841: And forthy I yow putte in this degree,
1842: That ech of yow shal have his destynee
1843: As hym is shape, and herkneth in what wyse;
1844: Lo heere youre ende of that I shal devyse.
1845: My wyl is this, for plat conclusioun,
1846: Withouten any repplicacioun, --
1847: If that you liketh, take it for the beste:
1848: That everich of you shal goon where hym leste
1849: Frely, withouten raunson or daunger;
1850: And this day fifty wykes, fer ne ner,
1851: Everich of you shal brynge an hundred knyghtes
1852: Armed for lystes up at alle rightes,
1853: Al redy to darreyne hire by bataille.
1854: And this bihote I yow withouten faille,
1855: Upon my trouthe, and as I am a knyght,
1856: That wheither of yow bothe that hath myght, --
1857: This is to seyn, that wheither he or thow
1858: May with his hundred, as I spak of now,
1859: Sleen his contrarie, or out of lystes dryve,
1860: Thanne shal I yeve emelya to wyve
1861: To whom that fortune yeveth so fair a grace.
1862: The lystes shal I maken in this place,
1863: And God so wisly on my soule rewe,
1864: As I shal evene juge been and trewe.
1865: Ye shul noon oother ende with me maken,
1866: That oon of yow ne shal be deed or taken.
1867: And if yow thynketh this is weel ysayd,
1868: Seyeth youre avys, and holdeth you apayd.
1869: This is youre ende and youre conclusioun.
1870: Who looketh lightly now but palamoun?
1871: Who spryngeth up for joye but arcite?
1872: Who kouthe telle, or who kouthe it endite,
1873: The joye that is maked in the place
1874: Whan theseus hath doon so fair a grace?
1875: But doun on knees wente every maner wight,
1876: And thonked hym with al hir herte and myght,
1877: And namely the thebans often sithe.
1878: And thus with good hope and with herte blithe
1879: They taken hir leve, and homward gonne they ride
1880: To thebes, with his olde walles wyde.
Explicit secunda pars.

"part" 3

Sequitur pars tercia.

1881: I trowe men wolde deme it necligence
1882: If I foryete to tellen the dispence
1883: Of theseus, that gooth so bisily
1884: To maken up the lystes roially,
1885: That swich a noble theatre as it was,
1886: I dar wel seyen in this world ther nas.
1887: The circuit a myle was aboute,
1888: Walled of stoon, and dyched al withoute.
1889: Round was the shap, in manere of compas,
1890: Ful of degrees, the heighte of sixty pas,
1891: That whan a man was set on o degree,
1892: He letted nat his felawe for to see.
1893: Estward ther stood a gate of marbul whit,
1894: Westward right swich another in the opposit.
1895: And shortly to concluden, swich a place
1896: Was noon in erthe, as in so litel space;
1897: For in the lond ther was no crafty man
1898: That geometrie or ars-metrike kan,
1899: Ne portreyour, ne kervere of ymages,
1900: That theseus ne yaf him mete and wages,
1901: The theatre for to maken and devyse.
1902: And for to doon his ryte and sacrifise,
1903: He estward hath, upon the gate above,
1904: In worshipe of venus, goddesse of love,
1905: Doon make an auter and an oratorie;
1906: And on the gate westward, in memorie
1907: Of mars, he maked hath right swich another,
1908: That coste largely of gold a fother.
1909: And northward, in a touret on the wal,
1910: Of alabastre whit and reed coral,
1911: An oratorie, riche for to see,
1912: In worshipe of dyane of chastitee,
1913: Hath theseus doon wroght in noble wyse.
1914: But yet hadde I foryeten to devyse
1915: The noble kervyng and the portreitures,
1916: The shap, the contenaunce, and the figures,
1917: That weren in thise oratories thre.

Page 36

1918: First in the temple of venus maystow se
1919: Wroght on the wal, ful pitous to biholde,
1920: The broken slepes, and the sikes colde,
1921: The sacred teeris, and the waymentynge,
1922: The firy strokes of the desirynge
1923: That loves servantz in this lyf enduren;
1924: The othes that hir covenantz assuren;
1925: Plesaunce and hope, desir, foolhardynesse,
1926: Beautee and youthe, bauderie, richesse,
1927: Charmes and force, lesynges, flaterye,
1928: Despense, bisynesse, and jalousye,
1929: That wered of yelewe gooldes a gerland,
1930: And a cokkow sittynge on hir hand;
1931: Festes, instrumentz, caroles, daunces,
1932: Lust and array, and alle the circumstaunces
1933: Of love, which that I rekned and rekne shal,
1934: By ordre weren peynted on the wal,
1935: And mo than I kan make of mencioun.
1936: For soothly al the mount of citheroun,
1937: Ther venus hath hir principal dwellynge,
1938: Was shewed on the wal in portreyynge,
1939: With al the gardyn and the lustynesse.
1940: Nat was foryeten the porter, ydelnesse,
1941: Ne narcisus the faire of yore agon,
1942: Ne yet the folye of kyng salomon,
1943: Ne yet the grete strengthe of ercules --
1944: Th-enchauntementz of medea and circes --
1945: Ne of turnus, with the hardy fiers corage,
1946: The riche cresus, kaytyf in servage.
1947: Thus may ye seen that wysdom ne richesse,
1948: Beautee ne sleighte, strengthe ne hardynesse,
1949: Ne may with venus holde champartie,
1950: For as hir list the world than may she gye.
1951: Lo, alle thise folk so caught were in hir las,
1952: Til they for wo ful ofte seyde allas!
1953: Suffiseth heere ensamples oon or two,
1954: And though I koude rekene a thousand mo.
1955: The statue of venus, glorious for to se,
1956: Was naked, fletynge in the large see,
1957: And fro the navele doun al covered was
1958: With wawes grene, and brighte as any glas.
1959: A citole in hir right hand hadde she,
1960: And on hir heed, ful semely for to se,
1961: A rose gerland, fressh and wel smellynge;
1962: Above hir heed hir dowves flikerynge.
1963: Biforn hire stood hir sone cupido;
1964: Upon his shuldres wynges hadde he two,
1965: And blynd he was, as it is often seene;
1966: A bowe he bar and arwes brighte and kene.
1967: Why sholde I noght as wel eek telle yow al
1968: The portreiture that was upon the wal
1969: Withinne the temple of myghty mars the rede?
1970: Al peynted was the wal, in lengthe and brede,
1971: Lyk to the estres of the grisly place
1972: That highte the grete temple of mars in trace,
1973: In thilke colde, frosty regioun
1974: Ther as mars hath his sovereyn mansioun.
1975: First on the wal was peynted a forest,
1976: In which ther dwelleth neither man ne best,
1977: With knotty, knarry, bareyne trees olde,
1978: Of stubbes sharpe and hidouse to biholde,
1979: In which ther ran a rumbel in a swough,
1980: As though a storm sholde bresten every bough.
1981: And dounward from an hille, under a bente,
1982: Ther stood the temple of mars armypotente,
1983: Wroght al of burned steel, of which the entree
1984: Was long and streit, and gastly for to see.
1985: And therout came a rage and swich a veze
1986: That it made al the gate for to rese.
1987: The northren lyght in at the dores shoon,
1988: For wyndowe on the wal ne was ther noon,
1989: Thurgh which men myghten any light discerne.
1990: The dore was al of adamant eterne,
1991: Yclenched overthwart and endelong
1992: With iren tough; and for to make it strong,
1993: Every pyler, the temple to sustene,
1994: Was tonne-greet, of iren bright and shene.
1995: Ther saugh I first the derke ymaginyng
1996: Of felonye, and al the compassyng;
1997: The crueel ire, reed as any gleede;
1998: The pykepurs, and eek the pale drede;
1999: The smylere with the knyf under the cloke;
2000: The shepne brennynge with the blake smoke;
2001: The tresoun of the mordrynge in the bedde;
2002: The open werre, with woundes al bibledde;
2003: Contek, with blody knyf and sharp manace.
2004: Al ful of chirkyng was that sory place.
2005: The sleere of hymself yet saugh I ther, --
2006: His herte-blood hath bathed al his heer;
2007: The nayl ydryven in the shode a-nyght;
2008: The colde deeth, with mouth gapyng upright.
2009: Amyddes of the temple sat meschaunce,
2010: With disconfort and sory contenaunce.
2011: Yet saugh I woodnesse, laughynge in his rage,
2012: Armed compleint, outhees, and fiers outrage;
2013: The careyne in the busk, with throte ycorve;
2014: A thousand slayn, and nat of qualm ystorve;
2015: The tiraunt, with the pray by force yraft;
2016: The toun destroyed, ther was no thyng laft.
2017: Yet saugh I brent the shippes hoppesteres;
2018: The hunte strangled with the wilde beres;
2019: The sowe freten the child right in the cradel;
2020: The cook yscalded, for al his longe ladel.
2021: Noght was foryeten by the infortune of marte
2022: The cartere overryden with his carte:
2023: Under the wheel ful lowe he lay adoun.
2024: Ther were also, of martes divisioun,

Page 37

2025: The barbour, and the bocher, and the smyth,
2026: That forgeth sharpe swerdes on his styth.
2027: And al above, depeynted in a tour,
2028: Saugh I conquest, sittynge in greet honour,
2029: With the sharpe swerd over his heed
2030: Hangynge by a soutil twynes threed.
2031: Depeynted was the slaughtre of julius,
2032: Of grete nero, and of antonius;
2033: Al be that thilke tyme they were unborn,
2034: Yet was hir deth depeynted ther-biforn
2035: By manasynge of mars, right by figure.
2036: So was it shewed in that portreiture,
2037: As is depeynted in the sterres above
2038: Who shal be slayn or elles deed for love.
2039: Suffiseth oon ensample in stories olde;
2040: I may nat rekene hem alle though I wolde.
2041: The statue of mars upon a carte stood
2042: Armed, and looked grym as he were wood;
2043: And over his heed ther shynen two figures
2044: Of sterres, that been cleped in scriptures,
2045: That oon puella, that oother rubeus --
2046: This God of armes was arrayed thus.
2047: A wolf ther stood biforn hym at his feet
2048: With eyen rede, and of a man he eet;
2049: With soutil pencel depeynted was this storie
2050: In redoutynge of mars and of his glorie.
2051: Now to the temple of dyane the chaste,
2052: As shortly as I kan, I wol me haste,
2053: To telle yow al the descripsioun.
2054: Depeynted been the walles up and doun
2055: Of huntyng and of shamefast chastitee.
2056: Ther saugh I how woful calistopee,
2057: Whan that diane agreved was with here,
2058: Was turned from a womman til a bere,
2059: And after was she maad the loode-sterre;
2060: Thus was it peynted, I kan sey yow no ferre.
2061: Hir sone is eek a sterre, as men may see.
2062: Ther saugh I dane, yturned til a tree, --
2063: I mene nat the goddesse diane,
2064: But penneus doghter, which that highte dane.
2065: Ther saugh I attheon an hert ymaked,
2066: For vengeaunce that he saugh diane al naked;
2067: I saugh how that his houndes have hym caught
2068: And freeten hym, for that they knewe hym naught.
2069: Yet peynted was a litel forther moor
2070: How atthalante hunted the wilde boor,
2071: And meleagre, and many another mo,
2072: For which dyane wroghte hym care and wo.
2073: Ther saugh I many another wonder storie,
2074: The which me list nat drawen to memorie.
2075: This goddesse on an hert ful hye seet,
2076: With smale houndes al aboute hir feet;
2077: And undernethe hir feet she hadde a moone, --
2078: Wexynge it was and sholde wanye soone.
2079: In gaude grene hir statue clothed was,
2080: With bowe in honde, and arwes in a cas.
2081: Hir eyen caste she ful lowe adoun,
2082: Ther pluto hath his derke regioun.
2083: A womman travaillynge was hire biforn;
2084: But for hir child so longe was unborn,
2085: Ful pitously lucyna gan she calle,
2086: And seyde, help, for thou mayst best of alle!
2087: Wel koude he peynten lifly that it wroghte;
2088: With many a floryn he the hewes boghte.
2089: Now been thise lystes maad, and theseus,
2090: That at his grete cost arrayed thus
2091: The temples and the theatre every deel,
2092: Whan it was doon, hym lyked wonder weel.
2093: But stynte I wole of theseus a lite,
2094: And speke of palamon and of arcite.
2095: The day approcheth of hir retournynge,
2096: That everich sholde an hundred knyghtes brynge
2097: The bataille to darreyne, as I yow tolde.
2098: And til atthenes, hir covenant for to holde,
2099: Hath everich of hem broght an hundred knyghtes,
2100: Wel armed for the werre at alle rightes.
2101: And sikerly ther trowed many a man
2102: That nevere, sithen that the world bigan,
2103: As for to speke of knyghthod of hir hond,
2104: As fer as God hath maked see or lond,
2105: Nas of so fewe so noble a compaignye.
2106: For every wight that lovede chivalrye,
2107: And wolde, his thankes, han a passant name,
2108: Hath preyed that he myghte been of that game;
2109: And wel was hym that therto chosen was.
2110: For if ther fille tomorwe swich a cas,
2111: Ye knowen wel that every lusty knyght
2112: That loveth paramours and hath his myght,
2113: Were it in engelond or elleswhere,
2114: They wolde, hir thankes, wilnen to be there, --
2115: To fighte for a lady, benedicitee!
2116: It were a lusty sighte for to see.
2117: And right so ferden they with palamon.
2118: With hym ther wenten knyghtes many on;
2119: Som wol ben armed in an haubergeoun,
2120: And in a brestplate and light gypoun;
2121: And som wol have a paire plates large;
2122: And som wol have a pruce sheeld or a targe;
2123: Som wol ben armed on his legges weel,
2124: And have an ax, and som a mace of steel --
2125: Ther is no newe gyse that it nas old.
2126: Armed were they, as I have yow told,
2127: Everych after his opinioun.
2128: Ther maistow seen, comynge with palamoun,
2129: Lygurge hymself, the grete kyng of trace.

Page 38

2130: Blak was his berd, and manly was his face;
2131: The cercles of his eyen in his heed,
2132: They gloweden bitwixen yelow and reed,
2133: And lik a grifphon looked he aboute,
2134: With kempe heeris on his browes stoute;
2135: His lymes grete, his brawnes harde and stronge,
2136: His shuldres brode, his armes rounde and longe;
2137: And as the gyse was in his contree,
2138: Ful hye upon a chaar of gold stood he,
2139: With foure white boles in the trays.
2140: In stede of cote-armure over his harnays,
2141: With nayles yelewe and brighte as any gold,
2142: He hadde a beres skyn, col-blak for old.
2143: His longe heer was kembd bihynde his bak;
2144: As any ravenes fethere it shoon for blak;
2145: A wrethe of gold, arm-greet, of huge wighte,
2146: Upon his heed, set ful of stones brighte,
2147: Of fyne rubyes and of dyamauntz.
2148: Aboute his chaar ther wenten white alauntz,
2149: Twenty and mo, as grete as any steer,
2150: To hunten at the leoun or the deer,
2151: And folwed hym with mosel faste ybounde,
2152: Colered of gold, and tourettes fyled rounde.
2153: An hundred lordes hadde he in his route,
2154: Armed ful wel, with hertes stierne and stoute.
2155: With arcita, in stories as men fynde,
2156: The grete emetreus, the kyng of inde,
2157: Upon a steede bay trapped in steel,
2158: Covered in clooth of gold, dyapred weel,
2159: Cam ridynge lyk the God of armes, mars.
2160: His cote-armure was of clooth of tars
2161: Couched with perles white and rounde and grete;
2162: His sadel was of brend gold newe ybete;
2163: A mantelet upon his shulder hangynge,
2164: Bret-ful of rubyes rede as fyr sparklynge;
2165: His crispe heer lyk rynges was yronne,
2166: And that was yelow, and glytered as the sonne.
2167: His nose was heigh, his eyen bright citryn,
2168: His lippes rounde, his colour was sangwyn;
2169: A fewe frakenes in his face yspreynd,
2170: Bitwixen yelow and somdel blak ymeynd;
2171: And as a leon he his lookyng caste.
2172: Of fyve and twenty yeer his age I caste.
2173: His berd was wel bigonne for to sprynge;
2174: His voys was as a trompe thonderynge.
2175: Upon his heed he wered of laurer grene
2176: A gerland, fressh and lusty for to sene.
2177: Upon his hand he bar for his deduyt
2178: An egle tame, as any lilye whyt.
2179: An hundred lordes hadde he with hym there,
2180: Al armed, save hir heddes, in al hir gere,
2181: Ful richely in alle maner thynges.
2182: For trusteth wel that dukes, erles, kynges
2183: Were gadered in this noble compaignye,
2184: For love and for encrees of chivalrye.
2185: Aboute this kyng ther ran on every part
2186: Ful many a tame leon and leopart.
2187: And in this wise thise lordes, alle and some,
2188: Been on the sonday to the citee come
2189: Aboute pryme, and in the toun alight.
2190: This theseus, this duc, this worthy knyght,
2191: Whan he had broght hem into his citee,
2192: And inned hem, everich at his degree,
2193: He festeth hem, and dooth so greet labour
2194: To esen hem and doon hem al honour,
2195: That yet men wenen that no mannes wit
2196: Of noon estaat ne koude amenden it.
2197: The mynstralcye, the service at the feeste,
2198: The grete yiftes to the meeste and leeste,
2199: The riche array of theseus paleys,
2200: Ne who sat first ne last upon the deys,
2201: What ladyes fairest been or best daunsynge,
2202: Or which of hem kan dauncen best and synge,
2203: Ne who moost felyngly speketh of love;
2204: What haukes sitten on the perche above,
2205: What houndes liggen on the floor adoun, --
2206: Of al this make I now no mencioun,
2207: But al th' effect, that thynketh me the beste.
2208: Now cometh the point, and herkneth if yow leste.
2209: The sonday nyght, er day bigan to sprynge,
2210: Whan palamon the larke herde synge,
2211: (although it nere nat day by houres two,
2212: Yet song the larke) and palamon right tho
2213: With hooly herte and with an heigh corage,
2214: He roos to wenden on his pilgrymage
2215: Unto the blisful citherea benigne, --
2216: I mene venus, honurable and digne.
2217: And in hir houre he walketh forth a pas
2218: Unto the lystes ther hire temple was,
2219: And doun he kneleth, and with humble cheere
2220: And herte soor, he seyde as ye shal heere:
2221: Faireste of faire, o lady myn, venus,
2222: Doughter to jove, and spouse of vulcanus,
2223: Thow gladere of the mount of citheron,
2224: For thilke love thow haddest to adoon,
2225: Have pitee of my bittre teeris smerte,
2226: And taak myn humble preyere at thyn herte.
2227: Allas! I ne have no langage to telle
2228: Th' effectes ne the tormentz of myn helle;
2229: Myn herte may myne harmes nat biwreye;
2230: I am so confus that I kan noght seye
2231: But, -- mercy, lady bright, that knowest weele
2232: My thought, and seest what harmes that feele!
2233: Considere al this and rewe upon my soore,
2234: As wisly as I shal for everemoore,

Page 39

2235: Emforth my myght, thy trewe servant be,
2236: And holden werre alwey with chastitee.
2237: That make I myn avow, so ye me helpe!
2238: I kepe noght of armes for to yelpe,
2239: Ne I ne axe nat tomorwe to have victorie,
2240: Ne renoun in this cas, ne veyne glorie
2241: Of pris of armes blowen up and doun;
2242: But I wolde have fully possessioun
2243: Of emelye, and dye in thy servyse.
2244: Fynd thow the manere hou, and in what wyse:
2245: I recche nat but it may bettre be
2246: To have victorie of hem, or they of me,
2247: So that I have my lady in myne armes.
2248: For though so be that mars is God of armes,
2249: Youre vertu is so greet in hevene above
2250: That if yow list, I shal wel have my love.
2251: Thy temple wol I worshipe everemo,
2252: And on thyn auter, where I ride or go,
2253: I wol doon sacrifice and fires beete.
2254: And if ye wol nat so, my lady sweete,
2255: Thanne preye I thee, tomorwe with a spere
2256: That arcita me thurgh the herte bere.
2257: Thanne rekke I noght, whan I have lost my lyf,
2258: Though that arcita wynne hire to his wyf.
2259: This is th' effect and ende of my preyere:
2260: Yif me my love, thow blisful lady deere.
2261: Whan the orison was doon of palamon,
2262: His sacrifice he dide, and that anon,
2263: Ful pitously, with alle circumstaunces,
2264: Al telle I noght as now his observaunces;
2265: But atte laste the statue of venus shook,
2266: And made a signe, wherby that he took
2267: That his preyere accepted was that day.
2268: For thogh the signe shewed a delay,
2269: Yet wiste he wel that graunted was his boone;
2270: And with glad herte he wente hym hoom ful soone.
2271: The thridde houre inequal that palamon
2272: Bigan to venus temple for to gon,
2273: Up roos the sonne, and up roos emelye,
2274: And to the temple of dyane gan hye.
2275: Hir maydens, that she thider with hire ladde,
2276: Ful redily with hem the fyr they hadde,
2277: Th' encens, the clothes, and the remenant al
2278: That to the sacrifice longen shal;
2279: The hornes fulle of meeth, as was the gyse:
2280: Ther lakked noght to doon hir sacrifise.
2281: Smokynge the temple, ful of clothes faire,
2282: This emelye, with herte debonaire,
2283: Hir body wessh with water of a welle.
2284: But hou she dide hir ryte I dar nat telle,
2285: But it be any thing in general;
2286: And yet it were a game to heeren al.
2287: To hym that meneth wel it were no charge;
2288: But it is good a man been at his large.
2289: Hir brighte heer was kembd, untressed al;
2290: A coroune of a grene ook cerial
2291: Upon hir heed was set ful fair and meete.
2292: Two fyres on the auter gan she beete,
2293: And dide hir thynges, as men may biholde
2294: In stace of thebes and thise bookes olde.
2295: Whan kyndled was the fyr, with pitous cheere
2296: Unto dyane she spak as ye may heere:
2297: O chaste goddesse of the wodes grene,
2298: To whom bothe hevene and erthe and see is sene,
2299: Queene of the regne of pluto derk and lowe,
2300: Goddesse of maydens, that myn herte hast knowe
2301: Ful many a yeer, and woost what I desire,
2302: As keepe me fro thy vengeaunce and thyn ire,
2303: That attheon aboughte cruelly.
2304: Chaste goddesse, wel wostow that I
2305: Desire to ben a mayden al my lyf,
2306: Ne nevere wol I be no love ne wyf.
2307: I am, thow woost, yet of thy compaignye,
2308: A mayde, and love huntynge and venerye,
2309: And for to walken in the wodes wilde,
2310: And noght to ben a wyf and be with childe.
2311: Noght wol I knowe compaignye of man.
2312: Now help me, lady, sith ye may and kan,
2313: For tho thre formes that thou hast in thee.
2314: And palamon, that hath swich love to me,
2315: And eek arcite, that loveth me so soore,
2316: (this grace I preye thee withoute moore)
2317: As sende love and pees bitwixe hem two,
2318: And from me turne awey hir hertes so
2319: That al hire hoote love and hir desir,
2320: And al hir bisy torment, and hir fir
2321: Be queynt, or turned in another place.
2322: And if so be thou wolt nat do me grace,
2323: Or if my destynee be shapen so
2324: That I shal nedes have oon of hem two,
2325: As sende me hym that moost desireth me.
2326: Bihoold, goddesse of clene chastitee,
2327: The bittre teeris that on my chekes falle.
2328: Syn thou art mayde and kepere of us alle,
2329: My maydenhede thou kepe and wel conserve
2330: And whil I lyve, a mayde I wol thee serve.
2331: The fires brenne upon the auter cleere,
2332: Whil emelye was thus in hir preyere.
2333: But sodeynly she saugh a sighte queynte,
2334: For right anon oon of the fyres queynte,
2335: And quyked agayn, and after that anon
2336: That oother fyr was queynt and al agon;
2337: And as it queynte it made a whistelynge,
2338: As doon thise wete brondes in hir brennynge,
2339: And at the brondes ende out ran anon

Page 40

2340: As it were blody dropes many oon;
2341: For which so soore agast was emelye
2342: That she was wel ny mad, and gan to crye,
2343: For she ne wiste what it signyfied;
2344: But oonly for the feere thus hath she cried,
2345: And weep that it was pitee for to heere.
2346: And therwithal dyane gan appeere,
2347: With bowe in honde, right as an hunteresse,
2348: And seyde, doghter, stynt thyn hevynesse.
2349: Among the goddes hye it is affermed,
2350: And by eterne word writen and confermed,
2351: Thou shalt ben wedded unto oon of tho
2352: That han for thee so muchel care and wo;
2353: But unto which of hem I may nat telle.
2354: Farwel, for I ne may no lenger dwelle.
2355: The fires which that on myn auter brenne
2356: Shulle thee declaren, er that thou go henne,
2357: Thyn aventure of love, as in this cas.
2358: And with that word, the arwes in the caas
2359: Of the goddesse clateren faste and rynge,
2360: And forth she wente, and made a vanysshynge;
2361: For which this emelye astoned was,
2362: And seyde, what amounteth this, allas?
2363: I putte me in thy proteccioun,
2364: Dyane, and in thy disposicioun.
2365: And hoom she goth anon the nexte weye.
2366: This is th' effect; ther is namoore to seye.
2367: The nexte houre of mars folwynge this,
2368: Arcite unto the temple walked is
2369: Of fierse mars, to doon his sacrifise,
2370: With alle the rytes of his payen wyse.
2371: With pitous herte and heigh devocioun,
2372: Right thus to mars he seyde his orisoun:
2373: O stronge god, that in the regnes colde
2374: Of trace honoured art and lord yholde,
2375: And hast in every regne and every lond
2376: Of armes al the brydel in thyn hond,
2377: And hem fortunest as thee lyst devyse,
2378: Accepte of me my pitous sacrifise.
2379: If so be that my youthe may deserve,
2380: And that my myght be worthy for to serve
2381: Thy godhede, that I may been oon of thyne,
2382: Thanne preye I thee to rewe upon my pyne.
2383: For thilke peyne, and thilke hoote fir
2384: In which thow whilom brendest for desir,
2385: Whan that thow usedest the beautee
2386: Of faire, yonge, fresshe venus free,
2387: And haddest hire in armes at thy wille --
2388: Although thee ones on a tyme mysfille,
2389: Whan vulcanus hadde caught thee in his las,
2390: And foond thee liggynge by his wyf, allas! --
2391: For thilke sorwe that was in thyn herte,
2392: Have routhe as wel upon my peynes smerte.
2393: I am yong and unkonnynge, as thow woost,
2394: And, as I trowe, with love offended moost
2395: That evere was any lyves creature;
2396: For she that dooth me al this wo endure
2397: Ne reccheth nevere wher I synke or fleete.
2398: And wel I woot, er she me mercy heete,
2399: I moot with strengthe wynne hire in the place,
2400: And, wel I woot, withouten help or grace
2401: Of thee, ne may my strengthe noght availle.
2402: Thanne help me, lord, tomorwe in my bataille,
2403: For thilke fyr that whilom brente thee,
2404: As wel as thilke fyr now brenneth me,
2405: And do that I tomorwe have victorie.
2406: Myn be the travaille, and thyn be the glorie!
2407: Thy sovereyn temple wol I moost honouren
2408: Of any place, and alwey moost labouren
2409: In thy plesaunce and in thy craftes stronge,
2410: And in thy temple I wol my baner honge
2411: And alle the armes of my compaignye;
2412: And everemo, unto that day I dye,
2413: Eterne fir I wol bifore thee fynde.
2414: And eek to this avow I wol me bynde:
2415: My beerd, myn heer, that hongeth long adoun,
2416: That nevere yet ne felte offensioun
2417: Of rasour nor of shere, I wol thee yive,
2418: And ben thy trewe servant whil I lyve.
2419: Now, lord, have routhe upon my sorwes soore;
2420: Yif me victorie, I aske thee namoore.
2421: The preyere stynt of arcita the stronge,
2422: The rynges on the temple dore that honge,
2423: And eek the dores, clatereden ful faste,
2424: Of which arcita somwhat hym agaste.
2425: The fyres brenden upon the auter brighte,
2426: That it gan al the temple for to lighte;
2427: A sweete smel the ground anon up yaf,
2428: And arcita anon his hand up haf,
2429: And moore encens into the fyr he caste,
2430: With othere rytes mo; and atte laste
2431: The statue of mars bigan his hauberk rynge;
2432: And with that soun he herde a murmurynge
2433: Ful lowe and dym, and seyde thus, victorie!
2434: For which he yaf to mars honour and glorie.
2435: And thus with joye and hope wel to fare
2436: Arcite anon unto his in is fare,
2437: As fayn as fowel is of the brighte sonne.
2438: And right anon swich strif ther is bigonne,
2439: For thilke grauntyng, in the hevene above,
2440: Bitwixe venus, the goddesse of love,
2441: And mars, the stierne God armypotente,
2442: That juppiter was bisy it to stente;
2443: Til that the pale saturnus the colde,
2444: That knew so manye of aventures olde,
2445: Foond in his olde experience an art
2446: That he ful soone hath plesed every part.
2447: As sooth is seyd, elde hath greet avantage;

Page 41

2448: In elde is bothe wysdom and usage;
2449: Men may the olde atrenne, and noght atrede.
2450: Saturne anon, to stynten strif and drede,
2451: Al be it that it is agayn his kynde,
2452: Of al this strif he gan remedie fynde.
2453: My deere doghter venus, quod saturne,
2454: My cours, that hath so wyde for to turne,
2455: Hath moore power than woot any man.
2456: Myn is the drenchyng in the see so wan;
2457: Myn is the prison in the derke cote;
2458: Myn is the stranglyng and hangyng by the throte,
2459: The murmure and the cherles rebellyng,
2460: The groynynge, and the pryvee empoysonyng;
2461: I do vengeance and pleyn correccioun,
2462: Whil I dwelle in the signe of the leoun.
2463: Myn is the ruyne of the hye halles,
2464: The fallynge of the toures and of the walles
2465: Upon the mynour or the carpenter.
2466: I slow sampsoun, shakynge the piler;
2467: And myne be the maladyes colde,
2468: The derke tresons, and the castes olde;
2469: My lookyng is the fader of pestilence.
2470: Now weep namoore, I shal doon diligence
2471: That palamon, that is thyn owene knyght,
2472: Shal have his lady, as thou hast him hight.
2473: Though mars shal helpe his knyght, yet nathelees
2474: Bitwixe yow ther moot be som tyme pees,
2475: Al be ye noght of o compleccioun,
2476: That causeth al day swich divisioun.
2477: I am thyn aiel, redy at thy wille;
2478: Weep now namoore, I wol thy lust fulfille.
2479: Now wol I stynten of the goddes above,
2480: Of mars, and of venus, goddesse of love,
2481: And telle yow as pleynly as I kan
2482: The grete effect, for which that I bygan.
Explicit tercia pars.

"part" 4

Sequitur pars quarta.

2483: Greet was the feeste in atthenes that day,
2484: And eek the lusty seson of that may
2485: Made every wight to been in swich plesaunce
2486: That al that monday justen they and daunce,
2487: And spenden it in venus heigh servyse.
2488: But by the cause that they sholde ryse
2489: Eerly, for to seen the grete fight,
2490: Unto hir reste wenten they at nyght.
2491: And on the morwe, whan that day gan sprynge,
2492: Of hors and harneys noyse and claterynge
2493: Ther was in hostelryes al aboute;
2494: And to the paleys rood ther many a route
2495: Of lordes upon steedes and palfreys.
2496: Ther maystow seen devisynge of harneys
2497: So unkouth and so riche, and wroght so weel
2498: Of goldsmythrye, of browdynge, and of steel;
2499: The sheeldes brighte, testeres, and trappures,
2500: Gold-hewen helmes, hauberkes, cote-armures;
2501: Lordes in parementz on hir courseres,
2502: Knyghtes of retenue, and eek squieres
2503: Nailynge the speres, and helmes bokelynge;
2504: Giggynge of sheeldes, with layneres lacynge
2505: (there as nede is they weren no thyng ydel);
2506: The fomy steedes on the golden brydel
2507: Gnawynge, and faste the armurers also
2508: With fyle and hamer prikynge to and fro;
2509: Yemen on foote, and communes many oon
2510: With fyle and hamer prikynge to and fro;
2511: Pypes, trompes, nakers, clariounes,
2512: That in the bataille blowen blody sounes;
2513: The paleys ful of peple up and doun,
2514: Heere thre, ther ten, holdynge hir questioun,
2515: Dyvynynge of thise thebane knyghtes two.
2516: Somme seyden thus, somme seyde it shal be so;
2517: Somme helden with hym with the blake berd,
2518: Somme with the balled, somme with the thikke herd;
2519: Somme seyde he looked grymme, and he wolde fighte;
2520: He hath a sparth of twenty pound of wighte.
2521: Thus was the halle ful of divynynge,
2522: Longe after that the sonne gan to sprynge.
2523: The grete theseus, that of his sleep awaked
2524: With mynstralcie and noyse that was maked,
2525: Heeld yet the chambre of his paleys riche,
2526: Til that the thebane knyghtes, bothe yliche
2527: Honured, were into the paleys fet.
2528: Duc theseus was at a wyndow set,
2529: Arrayed right as he were a God in trone.
2530: The peple preesseth thiderward ful soone
2531: Hym for to seen, and doon heigh reverence,
2532: And eek to herkne his heste and his sentence.
2533: And heraud on a scaffold made an oo!
2534: Til al the noyse of peple was ydo,
2535: And whan he saugh the peple of noyse al stille,
2536: Tho shewed he the myghty dukes wille.
2537: The lord hath of his heigh discrecioun
2538: Considered that it were destruccioun
2539: To gentil blood to fighten in the gyse
2540: Of mortal bataille now in this emprise.
2541: Wherfore, to shapen that they shal nat dye,
2542: He wol his firste purpos modifye.
2543: No man therfore, up peyne of los of lyf,
2544: No maner shot, ne polax, ne short knyf

Page 42

2545: Into the lystes sende, or thider brynge;
2546: Ne short swerd, for to stoke with poynt bitynge,
2547: No man ne drawe, ne bere it by his syde.
2548: Ne no man shal unto his felawe ryde
2549: But o cours, with a sharpe ygrounde spere;
2550: Foyne, if hym list, on foote, hymself to were.
2551: And he that is at meschief shal be take
2552: And noght slayn, but be broght unto the stake
2553: That shal ben ordeyned on either syde;
2554: But thider he shal by force, and there abyde.
2555: And if so falle the chieftayn be take
2556: On outher syde, or elles sleen his make,
2557: No lenger shal the turneiynge laste.
2558: God spede you! gooth forth, and ley on faste!
2559: With long swerd and with maces fighteth youre fille.
2560: Gooth now youre wey, this is the lordes wille.
2561: The voys of peple touchede the hevene,
2562: So loude cride they with murie stevene,
2563: God save swich a lord, that is so good,
2564: He wilneth no destruccion of blood!
2565: Up goon the trompes and the melodye,
2566: And to the lystes rit the compaignye,
2567: By ordinance, thurghout the citee large,
2568: Hanged with clooth of gold, and nat with sarge.
2569: Ful lik a lord this noble duc gan ryde,
2570: Thise two thebans upon either syde;
2571: And after rood the queene, and emelye,
2572: And after that another compaignye
2573: Of oon and oother, after hir degree.
2574: And thus they passen thurghout the citee,
2575: And to the lystes come they by tyme.
2576: It nas nat of the day yet fully pryme
2577: Whan set was theseus ful riche and hye,
2578: Ypolita the queene, and emelye,
2579: And othere ladys in degrees aboute.
2580: Unto the seetes preesseth al the route.
2581: And westward, thurgh the gates under marte,
2582: Arcite, and eek the hondred of his parte,
2583: With baner reed is entred right anon;
2584: And in that selve moment palamon
2585: Is under venus, estward in the place,
2586: With baner whyt, and hardy chiere and face.
2587: In al the world, to seken up and doun,
2588: So evene, withouten variacioun,
2589: Ther nere swiche compaignyes tweye;
2590: For ther was noon so wys that koude seye
2591: That any hadde of oother avauntage
2592: Of worthynesse, ne of estaat, ne age,
2593: So evene were they chosen, for to gesse.
2594: And in two renges faire they hem dresse.
2595: Whan that hir names rad were everichon,
2596: That in hir nombre gyle were ther noon,
2597: Tho were the gates shet, and cried was loude:
2598: Do now youre devoir, yonge knyghtes proude!
2599: The heraudes lefte hir prikyng up and doun;
2600: Now ryngen trompes loude and clarioun.
2601: Ther is namoore to seyn, but west and est
2602: In goon the speres ful sadly in arrest;
2603: In gooth the sharpe spore into the syde.
2604: Ther seen men who kan juste and who kan ryde;
2605: Ther shyveren shaftes upon sheeldes thikke;
2606: He feeleth thurgh the herte-spoon the prikke.
2607: Up spryngen speres twenty foot on highte;
2608: Out goon the swerdes as the silver brighte;
2609: The helmes they tohewen and toshrede;
2610: Out brest the blood with stierne stremes rede;
2611: With myghty maces the bones they tobreste.
2612: He thurgh the thikkeste of the throng gan threste;
2613: Ther stomblen steedes stronge, and doun gooth al;
2614: He rolleth under foot as dooth a bal;
2615: He foyneth on his feet with his tronchoun,
2616: And he hym hurtleth with hors adoun;
2617: He thurgh the body is hurt and sither take,
2618: Maugree his heed, and broght unto the stake:
2619: As forward was, right there he moste abyde.
2620: Another lad is on that oother syde.
2621: And some tyme dooth hem theseus to reste,
2622: Hem to refresshe and drynken, if hem leste.
2623: Ful ofte a day han thise thebanes two
2624: Togydre ymet, and wroght his felawe wo;
2625: Unhorsed hath ech oother of hem tweye.
2626: Ther nas no tygre in the vale of galgopheye,
2627: Whan that hir whelp is stole whan it is lite,
2628: So crueel on the hunte as is arcite
2629: For jelous herte upon this palamon.
2630: Ne in belmarye ther nys so fel leon,
2631: That hunted is, or for his hunger wood,
2632: Ne of his praye desireth so the blood,
2633: As palamon to sleen his foo arcite.
2634: The jelous strokes on hir helmes byte;
2635: Out renneth blood on bothe hir sydes rede.
2636: Som tyme an ende ther is of every dede.
2637: For er the sonne unto the reste wente,
2638: The stronge kyng emetreus gan hente
2639: This palamon, as he faught with arcite,
2640: And made his swerd depe in his flessh to byte;
2641: And by the force of twenty is he take
2642: Unyolden, and ydrawe unto the stake.
2643: And in the rescus of this palamoun
2644: The stronge kyng lygurge is born adoun,
2645: And kyng emetreus, for al his strengthe,

Page 43

2646: Is born out of his sadel a swerdes lengthe,
2647: So hitte him palamoun er he were take;
2648: But al for noght, he was broght to the stake.
2649: His hardy herte myghte hym helpe naught:
2650: He moste abyde, whan that he was caught,
2651: By force and eek by composicioun.
2652: Who sorweth now but woful palamoun,
2653: That moot namoore goon agayn to fighte?
2654: And whan that theseus hadde seyn this sighte,
2655: Unto the folk that foghten thus echon
2656: He cryde, hoo! namoore, for it is doon!
2657: I wol be trewe juge, and no partie.
2658: Arcite of thebes shal have emelie,
2659: That by his fortune hath hire faire ywonne.
2660: Anon ther is a noyse of peple bigonne
2661: For joye of this, so loude and heighe withalle,
2662: It semed that the lystes sholde falle.
2663: What kan now faire venus doon above?
2664: What seith she now? what dooth this queene of love,
2665: But wepeth so, for wantynge of hir wille,
2666: Til that hir teeres in the lystes fille?
2667: She seyde, I am ashamed, douteless.
2668: Saturnus seyde, doghter, hoold thy pees!
2669: Mars hath his wille, his knyght hath al his boone,
2670: And, by myn heed, thow shalt been esed soone.
2671: The trompours, with the loude mynstralcie,
2672: The heraudes, that ful loude yelle and crie,
2673: Been in hire wele for joye of daun arcite.
2674: But herkneth me, and stynteth noyse a lite,
2675: Which a myracle ther bifel anon.
2676: This fierse arcite hath of his helm ydon,
2677: And on a courser, for to shewe his face,
2678: He priketh endelong the large place
2679: Lokynge upward upon this emelye;
2680: And she agayn hym caste a freendlich ye
2681: (for wommen, as to speken in comune,
2682: Thei folwen alle the favour of fortune)
2683: And was al his chiere, as in his herte.
2684: Out of the ground a furie infernal sterte,
2685: From pluto sent at requeste of saturne,
2686: For which his hors for fere gan to turne,
2687: And leep aside, and foundred as he leep;
2688: And er that arcite may taken keep,
2689: He pighte hym on the pomel of his heed,
2690: That in the place he lay as he were deed,
2691: His brest tobrosten with his sadel-bowe.
2692: As blak he lay as any cole or crowe,
2693: So was the blood yronnen in his face.
2694: Anon he was yborn out of the place,
2695: With herte soor, to theseus paleys.
2696: Tho was he korven out of his harneys,
2697: And in a bed ybrought ful faire and blyve;
2698: For he was yet in memorie and alyve,
2699: And alwey criynge after emelye.
2700: Duc theseus, with al his compaignye,
2701: Is comen hoom to atthenes his citee,
2702: With alle blisse and greet solempnitee.
2703: Al be it that this aventure was falle,
2704: He nolde noght disconforten hem alle.
2705: Men seyde eek that arcite shal nat dye;
2706: He shal been heeled of his maladye.
2707: And of another thyng they weren as fayn,
2708: That of hem alle was ther noon yslayn,
2709: Al were they soore yhurt, and namely oon,
2710: That with a spere was thirled his brest boon.
2711: To othere woundes and to broken armes
2712: Somme hadden salves, and somme hadden charmes;
2713: Fermacies of herbes, and eek save
2714: They dronken, for they wolde hir lymes have.
2715: For which this noble duc, as he wel kan,
2716: Conforteth and honoureth every man,
2717: And made revel al the longe nyght
2718: Unto the straunge lordes, as was right.
2719: Ne ther was holden no disconfitynge
2720: But as a justes, or a tourneiynge;
2721: For soothly ther was no disconfiture.
2722: For fallyng nys nat but an aventure,
2723: Ne to be lad by force unto the stake
2724: Unyolden, and with twenty knyghtes take,
2725: O persone allone, withouten mo,
2726: And haryed forth by arme, foot, and too,
2727: And eke his steede dryven forth with staves
2728: With footmen, bothe yemen and eek knaves, --
2729: It nas arretted hym no vileynye;
2730: Ther may no man clepen it cowardye.
2731: For which anon duc theseus leet crye,
2732: To stynten alle rancour and envye,
2733: The gree as wel of o syde as of oother,
2734: And eyther syde ylik as ootheres brother;
2735: And yaf hem yiftes after hir degree,
2736: And fully heeld a feeste dayes three,
2737: And conveyed the kynges worthily
2738: Out of his toun a journee largely.
2739: And hoom wente every man the righte way.
2740: Ther was namoore but fare wel, have good day!
2741: Of this bataille I wol namoore endite,
2742: But speke of palamon and of arcite.
2743: Swelleth the brest of arcite, and the soore
2744: Encreesseth at his herte moore and moore.
2745: The clothered blood, for any lechecraft,
2746: Corrupteth, and is in his bouk ylaft,
2747: That neither veyne-blood, ne ventusynge,
2748: Ne drynke of herbes may ben his helpynge.
2749: The vertu expulsif, or animal,

Page 44

2750: Fro thilke vertu cleped natural
2751: Ne may the venym voyden ne expelle.
2752: The pipes of his longes gonne to swelle,
2753: And every lacerte in his brest adoun
2754: Is shent with venym and corrupcioun.
2755: Hym gayneth neither, for to gete his lif,
2756: Vomyt upward, ne dounward laxatif.
2757: Al is tobrosten thilke regioun;
2758: Nature hath now no dominacioun.
2759: And certeinly, ther nature wol nat wirche,
2760: Fare wel phisik! go ber the man to chirche!
2761: This al and som, that arcita moot dye;
2762: For which he sendeth after emelye,
2763: And palamon, that was his cosyn deere.
2764: Thanne seyde he thus, as ye shal after heere:
2765: Naught may the woful spirit in myn herte
2766: Declare o point of alle my sorwes smerte
2767: To yow, my lady, that I love moost;
2768: But I biquethe the servyce of my goost
2769: To yow aboven every creature,
2770: Syn that my lyf may no lenger dure.
2771: Allas, the wo! allas, the peynes stronge,
2772: That I for yow have suffred, and so longe!
2773: Allas, the deeth! allas, myn emelye!
2774: Allas, departynge of oure compaignye!
2775: Allas, myn hertes queene! allas, my wyf!
2776: Myn hertes lady, endere of my lyf!
2777: What is this world? what asketh men to have?
2778: Now with his love, now in his colde grave
2779: Allone, withouten any compaignye.
2780: Fare wel, my sweete foo, myn emelye!
2781: And softe taak me in youre armes tweye,
2782: For love of god, and herkneth what I seye.
2783: I have heer with my cosyn palamon
2784: Had strif and rancour many a day agon
2785: For love of yow, and for my jalousye.
2786: And juppiter so wys my soule gye,
2787: To speken of a servaunt proprely,
2788: With alle circumstances trewely --
2789: That is to seyen, trouthe, honour, knyghthede,
2790: Wysdom, humblesse, estaat, and heigh kynrede,
2791: Fredom, and al that longeth to that art --
2792: So juppiter have of my soule part,
2793: As in this world right now ne knowe I non
2794: So worthy to ben loved as palamon,
2795: That serveth yow, and wol doon al his lyf.
2796: And if that evere ye shul ben a wyf,
2797: Foryet nat palamon, the gentil man.
2798: And with that word his speche faille gan,
2799: For from his feet up to his brest was come
2800: The coold of deeth, that hadde hym overcome,
2801: And yet mooreover, for in his armes two
2802: The vital strengthe is lost and al ago.
2803: Oonly the intellect, withouten moore,
2804: That dwelled in his herte syk and soore,
2805: Gan faillen whan the herte felte deeth.
2806: Dusked his eyen two, and failled breeth,
2807: But on his lady yet caste he his ye;
2808: His laste word was, mercy, emelye!
2809: His spirit chaunged hous and wente ther,
2810: As I cam nevere, I kan nat tellen wher.
2811: Therfore I stynte, I nam no divinistre;
2812: Of soules fynde I nat in this registre,
2813: Ne me ne list thilke opinions to telle
2814: Of hem, though that they writen wher they dwelle.
2815: Arcite is coold, ther mars his soule gye!
2816: Now wol I speken forth of emelye.
2817: Shrighte emelye, and howleth palamon,
2818: And theseus his suster took anon
2819: Swownynge, and baar hire fro the corps away.
2820: What helpeth it to tarien forth the day
2821: To tellen how she weep bothe eve and morwe?
2822: For in swich cas wommen have swich sorwe,
2823: Whan that hir housbondes ben from hem ago,
2824: That for the moore part they sorwen so,
2825: Or ellis fallen in swich maladye,
2826: That at the laste certeinly they dye.
2827: Infinite been the sorwes and the teeres
2828: Of olde folk, and folk of tendre yeeres,
2829: In al the toun for deeth of this theban.
2830: For hym ther wepeth bothe child and man;
2831: So greet wepyng was ther noon, certayn,
2832: Whan ector was ybroght, al fressh yslayn,
2833: To troye. Allas, the pitee that was ther,
2834: Cracchynge of chekes, rentynge eek of heer.
2835: Why woldestow be deed, thise wommen crye,
2836: And haddest gold ynough, and emelye?
2837: No man myghte gladen theseus,
2838: Savynge his olde fader egeus,
2839: That knew this worldes transmutacioun,
2840: As he hadde seyn it chaunge bothe up and doun,
2841: Joye after wo, and wo after gladnesse,
2842: And shewed hem ensamples and liknesse.
2843: Right as ther dyed nevere man, quod he,
2844: That he ne lyvede in erthe in some degree,
2845: Right so ther lyvede never man, he seyde,
2846: In al this world, that som tyme he ne deyde.
2847: This world nys but a thurghfare ful of wo,
2848: And we been pilgrymes, passynge to and fro.
2849: Deeth is an ende of every worldly soore.
2850: And over al this yet seyde he muchel moore
2851: To this effect, ful wisely to enhorte
2852: The peple that they sholde hem reconforte.
2853: Duc theseus, with al his bisy cure,

Page 45

2854: Caste now wher that the sepulture
2855: Of goode arcite may best ymaked be,
2856: And eek moost honurable in his degree.
2857: And at the laste he took conclusioun
2858: That ther as first arcite and palamoun
2859: Hadden for love the bataille hem bitwene,
2860: That in that selve grove, swoote and grene,
2861: Ther as he hadde his amorouse desires,
2862: His compleynte, and for love his hoote fires,
2863: He wolde make a fyr in which the office
2864: Funeral he myghte al accomplice.
2865: And leet comande anon to hakke and hewe
2866: The okes olde, and leye hem on a rewe
2867: In colpons wel arrayed for to brenne.
2868: His officers with swifte feet they renne
2869: And ryde anon at his comandement.
2870: And after this, theseus hath ysent
2871: After a beere, and it al over spradde
2872: With clooth of gold, the richeste that he hadde.
2873: And of the same suyte he cladde arcite;
2874: Upon his hondes hadde he gloves white,
2875: Eek on his heed a coroune of laurer grene,
2876: And in his hond a swerd ful bright and kene.
2877: He leyde hym, bare the visage, on the beere;
2878: Therwith he weep that pitee was to heere.
2879: And for the peple sholde seen hym alle,
2880: Whan it was day, he broghte hym to the halle,
2881: That roreth of the criyng and the soun.
2882: Tho cam this woful theban palamoun,
2883: With flotery berd and ruggy, asshy heeres,
2884: In clothes blake, ydropped al with teeres;
2885: And, passynge othere of wepynge, emelye,
2886: The rewefulleste of al the compaignye.
2887: In as muche as the servyce sholde be
2888: The moore noble and riche in his degree,
2889: Duc theseus leet forth thre steedes brynge,
2890: That trapped were in steel al gliterynge,
2891: And covered with the armes of daun arcite.
2892: Upon thise steedes, that weren grete and white,
2893: Ther seten folk, of whiche oon baar his sheeld,
2894: Another his spere up on his hondes heeld,
2895: The thridde baar with hym his bowe turkeys
2896: (of brend gold was the caas and eek the harneys);
2897: And riden forth a paas with sorweful cheere
2898: Toward the grove, as ye shul after heere.
2899: The nobleste of the grekes that ther were
2900: Upon hir shuldres caryeden the beere,
2901: With slakke paas, and eyen rede and wete,
2902: Thurghout the citee by the maister strete,
2903: That sprad was al with blak, and wonder hye
2904: Right of the same is the strete ywrye.
2905: Upon the right hond wente olde egeus,
2906: And on that oother syde duc theseus,
2907: With vessels in hir hand of gold ful fyn,
2908: Al ful of hony, milk, and blood, and wyn;
2909: Eek palamon, with ful greet compaignye;
2910: And after that cam woful emelye,
2911: With fyr in honde, as was that tyme the gyse,
2912: To do the office of funeral servyse.
2913: Heigh labour and ful greet apparaillynge
2914: Was at the service and the fyr-makynge,
2915: That with his grene top the hevene raughte;
2916: And twenty fadme of brede the armes straughte --
2917: This is to seyn, the bowes weren so brode.
2918: Of stree first ther was leyd ful many a lode.
2919: But how the fyr was maked upon highte,
2920: Ne eek the names that the trees highte,
2921: As ook, firre, birch, aspe, alder, holm, popler,
2922: Wylugh, elm, plane, assh, box, chasteyn, lynde, laurer,
2923: Mapul, thorn, bech, hasel, ew, whippeltree, --
2924: How they weren feld, shal nat be toold for me;
2925: Ne hou the goddes ronnen up and doun,
2926: Disherited of hire habitacioun,
2927: In which they woneden in reste and pees,
2928: Nymphes, fawnes and amadrides;
2929: Ne hou the beestes and the briddes alle
2930: Fledden for fere, whan the wode was falle;
2931: Ne how the ground agast was of the light,
2932: That was nat wont to seen the sonne bright;
2933: Ne how the fyr was couched first with stree,
2934: And thanne with drye stikkes cloven a thre,
2935: And thanne with grene wode and spicerye,
2936: And thanne with clooth of gold and with perrye,
2937: And gerlandes, hangynge with ful many a flour;
2938: The mirre, th' encens, with al so greet odour;
2939: Ne how arcite lay among al this,
2940: Ne what richesse aboute his body is;
2941: Ne how that emelye, as was the gyse,
2942: Putte in the fyr of funeral servyse;
2943: Ne how she swowned whan men made the fyr,
2944: Ne what she spak, ne what was hir desir;
2945: Ne what jeweles men in the fyre caste,
2946: Whan that the fyr was greet and brente faste;
2947: Ne how somme caste hir sheeld, and somme hir spere,
2948: And of hire vestimentz, whiche that they were,
2949: And coppes fulle of wyn, and milk, and blood,
2950: Into the fyr, that brente as it were wood;
2951: Ne how the grekes, with an huge route,
2952: Thries riden al the fyr aboute
2953: Upon the left hand, with a loud shoutynge,
2954: And thries with hir speres claterynge;
2955: And thries how the ladyes gonne crye;

Page 46

2956: Ne how that lad was homward emelye;
2957: Ne how arcite is brent to asshen colde;
2958: Ne how that lyche-wake was yholde
2959: Al thilke nyght; ne how the grekes pleye
2960: The wake-pleyes, ne kepe I nat to seye;
2961: Who wrastleth best naked with oille enoynt,
2962: Ne who that baar hym best, in no disjoynt.
2963: I wol nat tellen eek how that they goon
2964: Hoom til atthenes, whan the pley is doon;
2965: But shortly to the point thanne wol I wende,
2966: And maken of my longe tale an ende.
2967: By processe and by lengthe of certeyn yeres,
2968: Al stynted is the moornynge and the teres
2969: Of grekes, by oon general assent.
2970: Thanne semed me ther was a parlement
2971: At atthenes, upon certein pointz and caas;
2972: Among the whiche pointz yspoken was,
2973: To have with certein contrees alliaunce,
2974: And have fully of thebans obeisaunce.
2975: For which this noble theseus anon
2976: Leet senden after gentil palamon,
2977: Unwist of hym what was the cause and why;
2978: But in his blake clothes sorwefully
2979: He cam at his comandement in hye.
2980: Tho sente theseus for emelye.
2981: Whan they were set, and hust was al the place,
2982: And theseus abiden hadde a space
2983: Er any word cam fram his wise brest,
2984: His eyen sette he ther as was his lest.
2985: And with a sad visage he siked stille,
2986: And after that right thus he seyde his wille:
2987: The firste moevere of the cause above,
2988: Whan he first made the faire cheyne of love,
2989: Greet was th' effect, and heigh was his entente.
2990: Wel wiste he why, and what thereof he mente;
2991: For with that faire cheyne of love he bond
2992: The fyr, the eyr, the water, and the lond
2993: In certeyn boundes, that they may nat flee.
2994: That same prince and that moevere, quod he,
2995: Hath stablissed in this wrecched world adoun
2996: Certeyne dayes and duracioun
2997: To al that is engendred in this place,
2998: Over the whiche day they may nat pace,
2999: Al mowe they yet tho dayes wel abregge.
3000: Ther nedeth noght noon auctoritee t' allegge,
3001: For it is preeved by experience,
3002: But that me list declaren my sentence.
3003: Thanne may men by this ordre wel discerne
3004: That thilke moevere stable is and eterne.
3005: Wel may men knowe, but it be a fool,
3006: That every part dirryveth from his hool;
3007: For nature hath nat taken his bigynnyng
3008: Of no partie or cantel of a thyng,
3009: But of a thyng that parfit is and stable,
3010: Descendynge so til it be corrumpable.
3011: And therfore, of his wise purveiaunce,
3012: He hath so wel biset his ordinaunce,
3013: That speces of thynges and progressiouns
3014: Shullen enduren by successiouns,
3015: And nat eterne, withouten any lye.
3016: This maystow understonde and seen at ye.
3017: Loo the ook, that hath so long a norisshynge
3018: From tyme that it first bigynneth to sprynge,
3019: And hath so long a lif, as we may see,
3020: Yet at the laste wasted is the tree.
3021: Considereth eek how that the harde stoon
3022: Under oure feet, on which we trede and goon,
3023: Yet wasteth it as it lyth by the weye.
3024: The brode ryver somtyme wexeth dreye;
3025: The grete tounes se we wane and wende.
3026: Thanne may ye se that al this thyng hath ende.
3027: Of man and womman seen we wel also
3028: That nedes, in oon of thise termes two,
3029: This is to seyn, in youthe or elles age,
3030: He moot be deed, the kyng as shal a page;
3031: Som in his bed, som in the depe see,
3032: Som in the large feeld, as men may see;
3033: Ther helpeth noght, al goth that ilke weye.
3034: Thanne may I seyn that al this thyng moot deye.
3035: What maketh this but juppiter, the kyng,
3036: That is prince and cause of alle thyng,
3037: Convertynge al unto his propre welle
3038: From which it is dirryved, sooth to telle?
3039: And heer-agayns no creature on lyve,
3040: Of no degree, availleth for to stryve.
3041: Thanne is it wysdom, as it thynketh me,
3042: To maken vertu of necessitee,
3043: And take it weel that we may nat eschue,
3044: And namely that to us alle is due.
3045: And whoso gruccheth ought, he dooth folye,
3046: And rebel is to hym that al may gye.
3047: And certeinly a man hath moost honour
3048: To dyen in his excellence and flour,
3049: Whan he is siker of his goode name;
3050: Thanne hath he doon his freend, ne hym, no shame.
3051: And gladder oghte his freend been of his deeth,
3052: Whan with honour up yolden is his breeth,
3053: Than whan his name apalled is for age,
3054: For al forgeten is his vassellage.
3055: Thanne is it best, as for a worthy fame,
3056: To dyen whan that he is best of name.
3057: The contrarie of al this is wilfulnesse.
3058: Why grucchen we, why have we hevynesse,
3059: That goode arcite, of chivalrie the flour,
3060: Departed is with duetee and honour
3061: Out of this foule prisoun of this lyf?

Page 47

3062: Why grucchen heere his cosyn and his wyf
3063: Of his welfare, that loved hem so weel?
3064: Kan he hem thank? nay, God woot, never a deel,
3065: That both his soule and eek hemself offende,
3066: And yet they mowe hir lustes nat amende.
3067: What may I conclude of this longe serye,
3068: But after wo I rede us to be merye,
3069: And thanken juppiter of al his grace?
3070: And er that we departen from this place
3071: I rede that we make of sorwes two
3072: O parfit joye, lastynge everemo.
3073: And looketh now, wher moost sorwe is herinne,
3074: Ther wol we first amenden and bigynne.
3075: Suster, quod he, this is my fulle assent,
3076: With al th' avys heere of my parlement,
3077: That gentil palamon, youre owene knyght,
3078: That serveth yow with wille herte, and myght,
3079: And ever hath doon syn ye first hym knewe,
3080: That ye shul of youre grace upon hym rewe,
3081: And taken hym for housbonde and for lord.
3082: Lene me youre hond, for this is oure accord.
3083: Lat se now of youre wommanly pitee.
3084: He is kynges brother sone, pardee;
3085: And though he were a povre bacheler,
3086: Syn he hath served yow so many a yeer,
3087: And had for yow so greet adversitee,
3088: It moste been considered, leeveth me;
3089: For gentil mercy oghte to passen right.
3090: Thanne seyde he thus to palamon the knight:
3091: I trowe ther nedeth litel sermonyng
3092: To make yow assente to this thyng.
3093: Com neer, and taak youre lady by the hond.
3094: Bitwixen hem was maad anon the bond
3095: That highte matrimoigne or mariage,
3096: By al the conseil and the baronage.
3097: And thus with alle blisse and melodye
3098: Hath palamon ywedded emelye.
3099: And god, that al this wyde world hath wroght,
3100: Sende hym his love that hath it deere aboght;
3101: For now is palamon in alle wele,
3102: Lyvynge in blisse, in richesse, and in heele,
3103: And emelye hym loveth so tendrely,
3104: And he hire serveth al so gentilly,
3105: That nevere was ther no word hem bitwene
3106: Of jalousie or any oother teene.
3107: Thus endeth palamon and emelye;
3108: And God save al this faire compaignye! amen.

The Miller's Prologue

3109: Whan that the knyght had thus his tale ytoold,
3110: In al the route nas ther yong ne oold
3111: That he ne seyde it was a noble storie,
3112: And worthy for to drawen to memorie;
3113: And namely the gentils everichon.
3114: Oure hooste lough and swoor, so moot I gon,
3115: This gooth aright; unbokeled is the male.
3116: Lat se now who shal telle another tale;
3117: For trewely the game is wel bigonne.
3118: Now telleth ye, sir monk, if that ye konne
3119: Somwhat to quite with the knyghtes tale.
3120: The millere, that for dronken was al pale,
3121: So that unnethe upon his hors he sat,
3122: He nolde avalen neither hood ne hat,
3123: Ne abyde no man for his curteisie,
3124: But in pilates voys he gan to crie,
3125: And swoor, by armes, and by blood and bones,
3126: I kan a noble tale for the nones,
3127: With which I wol now quite the knyghtes tale.
3128: Oure hooste saugh that he was dronke of ale,
3129: And seyde, abyd, robyn, my leeve brother;
3130: Som bettre man shal telle us first another.
3131: Abyd, and lat us werken thriftily.
3132: By goddes soule, quod he, that wol nat I;
3133: For I wol speke, or elles go my wey.
3134: Oure hoost answerde, tel on, a devel wey!
3135: Thou art a fool; thy wit is overcome.
3136: Now herkneth, quod the millere, alle and some!
3137: But first I make a protestacioun
3138: That I am dronke, I knowe it by my soun;
3139: And therfore if that I mysspeke or seye,

Page 48

3140: Wyte it the ale of southwerk, I you preye.
3141: For I wol telle a legende and a lyf
3142: Bothe of a carpenter and of his wyf,
3143: How that a clerk hath set the wrightes cappe.
3144: The reve answerde and seyde, stynt thy clappe!
3145: Lat be thy lewed dronken harlotrye.
3146: It is a synne and eek a greet folye
3147: To apeyren any man, or hym defame,
3148: And eek to bryngen wyves in swich fame.
3149: Thou mayst ynogh of othere thynges seyn.
3150: This dronke millere spak ful soone ageyn
3151: And seyde, leve brother osewold,
3152: Who hath no wyf, he is no cokewold.
3153: But I sey nat therfore that thou art oon;
3154: Ther been ful goode wyves many oon,
3155: And evere a thousand goode ayeyns oon badde.
3156: That knowestow wel thyself, but if thou madde.
3157: Why artow angry with my tale now?
3158: I have a wyf, pardee, as wel as thow;
3159: Yet nolde I, for the oxen in my plogh,
3160: Take upon me moore than ynogh,
3161: As demen of myself that I were oon;
3162: I wol bileve wel that I am noon.
3163: An housbonde shal nat been inquisityf
3164: Of goddes pryvetee, nor of his wyf.
3165: So he may fynde goddes foyson there,
3166: Of the remenant nedeth nat enquere.
3167: What sholde I moore seyn, but this millere
3168: He nolde his wordes for no man forbere,
3169: But tolde his cherles tale in his manere.
3170: M' athynketh that I shal reherce it heere.
3171: And therfore every gentil wight I preye,
3172: For goddes love, demeth nat that I seye
3173: Of yvel entente, but for I moot reherce
3174: Hir tales alle, be they bettre or werse,
3175: Or elles falsen som of my mateere.
3176: And therfore, whoso list it nat yheere,
3177: Turne over the leef and chese another tale;
3178: For he shal fynde ynowe, grete and smale,
3179: Of storial thyng that toucheth gentillesse,
3180: And eek moralitee and hoolynesse.
3181: Blameth nat me if that ye chese amys.
3182: The millere is a cherl, ye knowe wel this;
3183: So was the reve eek and othere mo,
3184: And harlotrie they tolden bothe two.
3185: Avyseth yow, and put me out of blame;
3186: And eek men shal nat maken ernest of game.

The Miller's Tale

3187: Whilom ther was dwellynge at oxenford
3188: A riche gnof, that gestes heeld to bord,
3189: And of his craft he was a carpenter.
3190: With hym ther was dwellynge a poure scoler,
3191: Hadde lerned art, but al his fantasye
3192: Was turned for to lerne astrologye,
3193: And koude a certeyn of conclusiouns,
3194: To demen by interrogaciouns,
3195: If that men asked hym in certein houres
3196: Whan that men sholde have droghte or elles shoures,
3197: Or if men asked hym what sholde bifalle
3198: Of every thyng; I may nat rekene hem alle.
3199: This clerk was cleped hende nicholas.
3200: Of deerne love he koude and of solas;
3201: And therto he was sleigh and ful privee,
3202: And lyk a mayden meke for to see.
3203: A chambre hadde he in that hostelrye
3204: Allone, withouten any compaignye,
3205: Ful fetisly ydight with herbes swoote;
3206: And he hymself as sweete as is the roote
3207: Of lycorys, or any cetewale.
3208: His almageste, and bookes grete and smale,
3209: His astrelabie, longynge for his art,
3210: His augrym stones layen faire apart,
3211: On shelves couched at his beddes heed;
3212: His presse ycovered with a faldyng reed;
3213: And al above ther lay a gay sautrie,
3214: On which he made a-nyghtes melodie
3215: So swetely that all the chambre rong;
3216: And angelus ad virginem he song;
3217: And after that he song the kynges noote.
3218: Ful often blessed was his myrie throte.
3219: And thus this sweete clerk his tyme spente
3220: After his freendes fyndyng and his rente.
3221: This carpenter hadde wedded newe a wyf,
3222: Which that he lovede moore than his lyf;
3223: Of eighteteene yeer she was of age.
3224: Jalous he was, and heeld hire narwe in cage,
3225: For she was wylde and yong, and he was old,

Page 49

3226: And demed hymself been lik a cokewold.
3227: He knew nat catoun, for his wit was rude,
3228: That bad man sholde wedde his simylitude.
3229: Men sholde wedden after hire estaat,
3230: For youthe and elde is often at debaat.
3231: But sith that he was fallen in the snare,
3232: He moste endure, as oother folk, his care.
3233: Fair was this yonge wyf, and therwithal
3234: As any wezele hir body gent and smal.
3235: A ceynt she werede, barred al of silk,
3236: A barmclooth eek as whit as morne milk
3237: Upon hir lendes, ful of many a goore.
3238: Whit was hir smok, and broyden al bifoore
3239: And eek bihynde, on hir coler aboute,
3240: Of col-blak silk, withinne and eek withoute.
3241: The tapes of hir white voluper
3242: Were of the same suyte of hir coler;
3243: Hir filet brood of silk, and set ful hye.
3244: And sikerly she hadde a likerous ye;
3245: Ful smale ypulled were hire browes two,
3246: And tho were bent and blake as any sloo.
3247: She was ful moore blisful on to see
3248: Than is the newe pere-jonette tree,
3249: And softer than the wolle is of a wether.
3250: And by hir girdel heeng a purs of lether,
3251: Tasseled with silk, and perled with latoun.
3252: In al this world, to seken up and doun,
3253: There nys no man so wys that koude thenche
3254: So gay a popelote or swich a wenche.
3255: Ful brighter was the shynyng of hir hewe
3256: Than in the tour the noble yforged newe.
3257: But of hir song, it was as loude and yerne
3258: As any swalwe sittynge on a berne.
3259: Therto she koude skippe and make game,
3260: As any kyde or calf folwynge his dame.
3261: Hir mouth was sweete as bragot or the meeth,
3262: Or hoord of apples leyd in hey or heeth.
3263: Wynsynge she was, as is a joly colt,
3264: Long as a mast, and upright as a bolt.
3265: A brooch she baar upon hir lowe coler,
3266: As brood as is the boos of a bokeler.
3267: Hir shoes were laced on hir legges hye.
3268: She was a prymerole, a piggesnye,
3269: For any lord to leggen in his bedde,
3270: Or yet for any good yeman to wedde.
3271: Now, sire, and eft, sire, so bifel the cas,
3272: That on a day this hende nicholas
3273: Fil with this yonge wyf to rage and pleye,
3274: Whil that hir housbonde was at oseneye,
3275: As clerkes ben ful subtile and ful queynte;
3276: And prively he caughte hire by the queynte,
3277: And seyde, ywis, but if ich have my wille,
3278: For deerne love of thee, lemman, I spille.
3279: And heeld hire harde by the haunchebones,
3280: And seyde, lemman, love me al atones,
3281: Or I wol dyen, also God me save!
3282: And she sproong as a colt dooth in the trave,
3283: And with hir heed she wryed faste awey,
3284: And seyde, I wol nat kisse thee, by my fey!
3285: Why, lat be, quod she, lat be, nicholas,
3286: Or I wol crie -- out, harrow -- and -- allas! --
3287: Do wey youre handes, for youre curteisye!
3288: This nicholas gan mercy for to crye,
3289: And spak so faire, and profred him so faste,
3290: That she hir love hym graunted atte laste,
3291: And swoor hir ooth, by seint thomas of kent,
3292: That she wol been at his comandement,
3293: Whan that she may hir leyser wel espie.
3294: Myn housbonde is so ful of jalousie
3295: That but ye wayte wel and been privee,
3296: I woot right wel I nam but deed, quod she.
3297: Ye moste been ful deerne, as in this cas.
3298: Nay, therof care thee noght, quod nicholas.
3299: A clerk hadde litherly biset his whyle,
3300: But if he koude a carpenter bigyle.
3301: And thus they been accorded and ysworn
3302: To wayte a tyme, as I have told biforn.
3303: Whan nicholas had doon thus everideel,
3304: And thakked hire aboute the lendes weel,
3305: He kiste hire sweete and taketh his sawtrie,
3306: And pleyeth faste, and maketh melodie.
3307: Thanne fil it thus, that to the paryssh chirche,
3308: Cristes owene werkes for to wirche,
3309: This goode wyf went on an haliday.
3310: Hir forheed shoon as bright as any day,
3311: So was it wasshen whan she leet hir werk.
3312: Now was ther of that chirche a parissh clerk,
3313: The which that was ycleped absolon.
3314: Crul was his heer, and as the gold it shoon,
3315: And strouted as a fanne large and brode;
3316: Ful streight and evene lay his joly shode.
3317: His rode was reed, his eyen greye as goos.
3318: With poules wyndow corven on his shoos,
3319: In hoses rede he wente fetisly.
3320: Yclad he was ful smal and proprely
3321: Al in a kirtel of a lyght waget;
3322: Ful faire and thikke been the poyntes set.
3323: And therupon he hadde a gay surplys
3324: As whit as is the blosme upon the rys.
3325: A myrie child he was, so God me save.
3326: Wel koude he laten blood and clippe and shave,
3327: And maken a chartre of lond or acquitaunce.
3328: In twenty manere koude he trippe and daunce
3329: After the scole of oxenforde tho,
3330: And with his legges casten to and fro,
3331: And pleyen songes on a smal rubible;
3332: Therto he song som tyme a loud quynyble;

Page 50

3333: And as wel koude he pleye on a giterne.
3334: In al the toun nas brewhous ne taverne
3335: That he ne visited with his solas,
3336: Ther any gaylard tappestere was.
3337: But sooth to seyn, he was somdeel squaymous
3338: Of fartyng, and of speche daungerous.
3339: This absolon, that jolif was and gay,
3340: Gooth with a sencer on the haliday,
3341: Sensynge the wyves of the parisshe faste;
3342: And many a lovely look on hem he caste,
3343: And namely on this carpenteris wyf.
3344: To looke on hire hym thoughte a myrie lyf,
3345: She was so propre and sweete and likerous.
3346: I dar wel seyn, if she hadde been a mous,
3347: And he a cat, he wolde hire hente anon.
3348: This parissh clerk, this joly absolon,
3349: Hath in his herte swich a love-longynge
3350: That of no wyf took he noon offrynge;
3351: For curteisie, he seyde, he wolde noon.
3352: The moone, whan it was nyght, ful brighte shoon,
3353: And absolon his gyterne hath ytake,
3354: For paramours he thoghte for to wake.
3355: And forth he gooth, jolif and amorous,
3356: Til he cam to the carpenteres hous
3357: A litel after cokkes hadde ycrowe,
3358: And dressed hym up by a shot-wyndowe
3359: That was upon the carpenteris wal.
3360: He syngeth in his voys gentil and smal,
3361: Now, deere lady, if thy wille be,
3362: I praye yow that ye wole rewe on me,
3363: Ful wel acordaunt to his gyternynge.
3364: This carpenter awook, and herde him synge,
3365: And spak unto his wyf, and seyde anon,
3366: What! alison! herestow nat absolon,
3367: That chaunteth thus under oure boures wal?
3368: And she answerde hir housbonde therwithal,
3369: Yis, God woot, john, I heere it every deel.
3370: This passeth forth; what wol ye bet than weel?
3371: Fro day to day this joly absolon
3372: So woweth hire that hym is wo bigon.
3373: He waketh al the nyght and al the day;
3374: He kembeth his lokkes brode, and made hym gay;
3375: He woweth hire by meenes and brocage,
3376: And swoor he wolde been hir owene page;
3377: He syngeth, brokkynge as a nyghtyngale;
3378: He sente hire pyment, meeth, and spiced ale,
3379: And wafres, pipyng hoot out of the gleede;
3380: And, for she was of town, he profred meede.
3381: For som folk wol ben wonnen for richesse,
3382: And somme for strokes, and somme for gentillesse.
3383: Somtyme, to shewe his lightnesse and maistrye,
3384: He pleyeth herodes upon a scaffold hye.
3385: But what availleth hym as in this cas?
3386: She loveth so this hende nicholas
3387: That absolon may blowe the bukkes horn;
3388: He ne hadde for his labour but a scorn.
3389: And thus she maketh absolon hire ape,
3390: And al his ernest turneth til a jape.
3391: Ful sooth is this proverbe, it is no lye,
3392: Men seyn right thus, alwey the nye slye
3393: Maketh the ferre leeve to be looth.
3394: For though that absolon be wood or wrooth,
3395: By cause that he fer was from hire sight,
3396: This nye nicholas stood in his light.
3397: Now ber thee wel, thou hende nicholas,
3398: For absolon may waille and synge allas.
3399: And so bifel it on a saterday,
3400: This carpenter was goon til osenay;
3401: And hende nicholas and alisoun
3402: Acorded been to this conclusioun,
3403: That nicholas shal shapen hym a wyle
3404: This sely jalous housbonde to bigyle;
3405: And if so be the game wente aright,
3406: She sholde slepen in his arm al nyght,
3407: For this was his desir and hire also.
3408: And right anon, withouten wordes mo,
3409: This nicholas no lenger wolde tarie,
3410: But dooth ful softe unto his chambre carie
3411: Bothe mete and drynke for a day or tweye,
3412: And to hire housbonde bad hire for to seye,
3413: If that he axed after nicholas,
3414: She sholde seye she nyste where he was,
3415: Of al that day she saugh hym nat with ye;
3416: She trowed that he was in maladye,
3417: For for no cry hir mayde koude hym calle,
3418: He nolde answere for thyng that myghte falle.
3419: This passeth forth al thilke saterday,
3420: That nicholas stille in his chambre lay,
3421: And eet and sleep, or dide what hym leste,
3422: Til sonday, that the sonne gooth to reste.
3423: This sely carpenter hath greet merveyle
3424: Of nicholas, or what thyng myghte hym eyle,
3425: And seyde, I am adrad, by seint thomas,
3426: It stondeth nat aright with nicholas.
3427: God shilde that he deyde sodeynly!
3428: This world is now ful tikel, sikerly.
3429: I saugh to-day a cors yborn to chirche
3430: That now, on monday last, I saugh hym wirche.
3431: Go up, quod he unto his knave anoon,
3432: Clepe at his dore, or knokke with a stoon.
3433: Looke how it is, and tel me boldely.
3434: This knave gooth hym up ful sturdily,

Page 51

3435: And at the chambre dore whil that he stood,
3436: He cride and knokked as that he were wood,
3437: What! how! what do ye, maister nicholay?
3438: How may ye slepen al the longe day?
3439: But al for noght, he herde nat a word.
3440: An hole he foond, ful lowe upon a bord,
3441: Ther as the cat was wont in for to crepe,
3442: And at that hole he looked in ful depe,
3443: And at the laste he hadde of hym a sight.
3444: This nicholas sat evere capyng upright,
3445: As he had kiked on the newe moone.
3446: Adoun he gooth, and tolde his maister soone
3447: In what array he saugh this ilke man.
3448: This carpenter to blessen hym bigan,
3449: And seyde, help us, seinte frydeswyde!
3450: A man woot litel what hym shal bityde.
3451: This man is falle, with his astromye,
3452: In some woodnesse or in som agonye.
3453: I thoghte ay wel how that it sholde be!
3454: Men sholde nat knowe of goddes pryvetee.
3455: Ye, blessed be alwey a lewed man
3456: That noght but oonly his bileve kan!
3457: So ferde another clerk with astromye;
3458: He walked in the feeldes, for to prye
3459: Upon the sterres, what ther sholde bifalle,
3460: Til he was in a marle-pit yfalle;
3461: He saugh nat that. But yet, by seint thomas,
3462: Me reweth soore of hende nicholas.
3463: He shal be rated of his studiyng,
3464: If that I may, by jhesus, hevene kyng!
3465: Get me a staf, that I may underspore,
3466: Whil that thou, robyn, hevest up the dore.
3467: He shal out of his studiyng, as I gesse --
3468: And to the chambre dore he gan hym dresse.
3469: His knave was a strong carl for the nones,
3470: And by the haspe he haaf it of atones;
3471: Into the floor the dore fil anon.
3472: This nicholas sat ay as stille as stoon,
3473: And evere caped upward into the eir.
3474: This carpenter wende he were in despeir,
3475: And hente hym by the sholdres myghtily,
3476: And shook hym harde, and cride spitously,
3477: What! nicholay! what, how! what, looke adoun!
3478: Awak, and thenk on cristes passioun!
3479: I crouche thee from elves and fro wightes.
3480: Therwith the nyght-spel seyde he anon-rightes
3481: On foure halves of the hous aboute,
3482: And on the thresshfold of the dore withoute:
3483: Jhesu crist and seinte benedight,
3484: Blesse this hous from every wikked wight,
3485: For nyghtes verye, the white pater-noster!
3486: Where wentestow, seinte petres soster?
3487: And atte laste this hende nicholas
3488: Gan for to sik soore, and seyde, allas!
3489: Shal al the world be lost aftsoones now?
3490: This carpenter answerde, what seystow?
3491: What! thynk on god, as we doon, men that swynke.
3492: This nicholas answerde, fecche me drynke,
3493: And after wol I speke in pryvetee
3494: Of certeyn thyng that toucheth me and thee.
3495: I wol telle it noon oother man, certeyn.
3496: This carpenter goth doun, and comth ageyn,
3497: And broghte of myghty ale a large quart;
3498: And whan that ech of hem had dronke his part,
3499: This nicholas his dore faste shette,
3500: And doun the carpenter by hym he sette.
3501: He seyde john, myn hooste, lief and deere,
3502: Thou shalt upon thy trouthe swere me heere
3503: That to no wight thou shalt this conseil wreye;
3504: For it is cristes conseil that I seye,
3505: And if thou telle it man, thou art forlore;
3506: For this vengeaunce thou shalt han therfore,
3507: That if thou wreye me, thou shalt be wood.
3508: Nay, crist forbede it, for his hooly blood!
3509: Quod tho this sely man, I nam no labbe;
3510: Ne, though I seye, I nam nat lief to gabbe.
3511: Sey what thou wolt, I shal it nevere telle
3512: To child ne wyf, by hym that harwed helle!
3513: Now john, quod nicholas, I wol nat lye;
3514: I have yfounde in myn astrologye,
3515: As I have looked in the moone bright,
3516: That now a monday next, at quarter nyght,
3517: Shal falle a reyn, and that so wilde and wood,
3518: That half so greet was nevere noes flood.
3519: This world, he seyde, in lasse than an hour
3520: Shal al be dreynt, so hidous is the shour.
3521: Thus shal mankynde drenche, and lese hir lyf.
3522: This carpenter answerde, allas, my wyf!
3523: And shal she drenche? allas, myn alisoun!
3524: For sorwe of this he fil almoost adoun,
3525: And seyde, is ther no remedie in this cas?
3526: Why, yis, for gode, quod hende nicholas,
3527: If thou wolt werken after loore and reed.
3528: Thou mayst nat werken after thyn owene heed;
3529: For thus seith salomon, that was ful trewe,
3530: Werk al by conseil, and thou shalt nat rewe. --
3531: And if thou werken wolt by good conseil,
3532: I undertake, withouten mast and seyl,
3533: Yet shal I saven hire and thee and me.
3534: Hastow nat herd hou saved was noe,
3535: Whan that oure lord hadde warned hym biforn
3536: That al the world with water sholde be lorn?
3537: Yis, quod this carpenter, ful yoore ago.
3538: Hastou nat herd, quod nicholas, also
3539: The sorwe of noe with his felaweshipe,

Page 52

3540: Er that he myghte gete his wyf to shipe?
3541: Hym hadde be levere, I dar wel undertake
3542: At thilke tyme, than alle his wetheres blake
3543: That she hadde had a ship hirself allone.
3544: And therfore, woostou what is best to doone?
3545: This asketh haste, and of an hastif thyng
3546: Men may nat preche or maken tariyng.
3547: Anon go gete us faste into this in
3548: A knedyng trogh, or ellis a kymelyn,
3549: For ech of us, but looke that they be large,
3550: In which we mowe swymme as in a barge,
3551: And han therinne vitaille suffisant
3552: But for a day, -- fy on the remenant!
3553: The water shal aslake and goon away
3554: Aboute pryme upon the nexte day.
3555: But robyn may nat wite of this, thy knave,
3556: Ne eek thy mayde gille I may nat save;
3557: Axe nat why, for though thou aske me,
3558: I wol nat tellen goddes pryvetee.
3559: Suffiseth thee, but if thy wittes madde,
3560: To han as greet a grace as noe hadde.
3561: Thy wyf shal I wel saven, out of doute.
3562: Go now thy wey, and speed thee heer-aboute.
3563: But whan thou hast, for hire and thee and me,
3564: Ygeten us thise knedyng tubbes thre,
3565: Thanne shaltow hange hem in the roof ful hye,
3566: That no man of oure purveiaunce spye.
3567: And whan thou thus hast doon, as I have seyd,
3568: And hast oure vitaille faire in hem yleyd,
3569: And eek an ax, to smyte the corde atwo,
3570: Whan that the water comth, that we may go,
3571: And breke an hole an heigh, upon the gable,
3572: Unto the gardyn-ward, over the stable,
3573: That we may frely passen forth oure way,
3574: Whan that the grete shour is goon away,
3575: Thanne shaltou swymme as myrie, I undertake,
3576: As dooth the white doke after hire drake.
3577: Thanne wol I clepe, -- how, alison! how, john!
3578: Be myrie, for the flood wol passe anon. --
3579: And thou wolt seyn, -- hayl, maister nicholay!
3580: Good morwe, I se thee wel, for it is day. --
3581: And thanne shul we be lordes al oure lyf
3582: Of al the world, as noe and his wyf.
3583: But of o thyng I warne thee ful right:
3584: Be wel avysed on that ilke nyght
3585: That we ben entred into shippes bord,
3586: That noon of us ne speke nat a word,
3587: Ne clepe, ne crie, but be in his preyere;
3588: For it is goddes owene heeste deere.
3589: Thy wyf and thou moote hange fer atwynne;
3590: For that bitwixe yow shal be no synne,
3591: Namoore in lookyng than ther shal in deede,
3592: This ordinance is seyd. Go, God thee speede!
3593: Tomorwe at nyght, whan men ben alle aslepe,
3594: Into oure knedyng-tubbes wol we crepe,
3595: And sitten there, abidyng goddes grace.
3596: Go now thy wey, I have no lenger space
3597: To make of this no lenger sermonyng.
3598: Men seyn thus, -- sende the wise, and sey no thyng: --
3599: Thou art so wys, it needeth thee nat teche.
3600: Go, save oure lyf, and that I the biseche.
3601: This sely carpenter goth forth his wey.
3602: Ful ofte he seide allas and weylawey,
3603: And to his wyf he tolde his pryvetee,
3604: And she was war, and knew it bet than he,
3605: What al this queynte cast was for to seye.
3606: But nathelees she ferde as she wolde deye,
3607: And seyde, allas! go forth thy wey anon,
3608: Help us to scape, or we been dede echon!
3609: I am thy trewe, verray wedded wyf;
3610: Go, deere spouse, and help to save oure lyf.
3611: Lo, which a greet thyng is affeccioun!
3612: Men may dyen of ymaginacioun,
3613: So depe may impressioun be take.
3614: This sely carpenter bigynneth quake;
3615: Hym thynketh verraily that he may see
3616: Noees flood come walwynge as the see
3617: To drenchen alisoun, his hony deere.
3618: He wepeth, weyleth, maketh sory cheere;
3619: He siketh with ful many a sory swogh;
3620: He gooth and geteth hym a knedyng trogh,
3621: And after that a tubbe and a kymelyn,
3622: And pryvely he sente hem to his in,
3623: And heng hem in the roof in pryvetee.
3624: His owene hand he made laddres thre,
3625: To clymben by the ronges and the stalkes
3626: Unto the tubbes hangynge in the balkes,
3627: And hem vitailled, bothe trogh and tubbe,
3628: With breed and chese, and good ale in a jubbe,
3629: Suffisynge right ynogh as for a day.
3630: But er that he hadde maad al this array,
3631: He sente his knave, and eek his wenche also,
3632: Upon his nede to london for to go.
3633: And on the monday, whan it drow to nyght,
3634: He shette his dore withoute candel-lyght,
3635: And dressed alle thyng as it sholde be.
3636: And shortly, up they clomben alle thre;
3637: They seten stille wel a furlong way.
3638: Now, pater-noster, clom! seyde nicholay,
3639: And clom, quod john, and clom, seyde alisoun.
3640: This carpenter seyde his devocioun,
3641: And stille he sit, and biddeth his preyere,
3642: Awaitynge on the reyn, if he it heere.
3643: The dede sleep, for wery bisynesse,
3644: Fil on this carpenter right, as I gesse,

Page 53

3645: Aboute corfew-tyme, or litel moore;
3646: For travaille of his goost he groneth soore,
3647: And eft he routeth, for his heed myslay.
3648: Doun of the laddre stalketh nicholay,
3649: And alisoun ful softe adoun she spedde;
3650: Withouten wordes mo they goon to bedde,
3651: Ther as the carpenter is wont to lye.
3652: Ther was the revel and the melodye;
3653: And thus lith alison and nicholas,
3654: In bisynesse of myrthe and of solas,
3655: Til that the belle of laudes gan to rynge,
3656: And freres in the chaunsel gonne synge.
3657: This parissh clerk, this amorous absolon,
3658: That is for love alwey so wo bigon,
3659: Upon the monday was at oseneye
3660: With compaignye, hym to disporte and pleye,
3661: And axed upon cas a cloisterer
3662: Ful prively after john the carpenter;
3663: And he drough hym apart out of the chirche,
3664: And seyde, I noot, I saugh hym heere nat wirche
3665: Syn saterday; I trowe that he be went
3666: For tymber, ther oure abbot hath hym sent;
3667: For he is wont for tymber for to go,
3668: And dwellen at the grange a day or two;
3669: Or elles he is at his hous, certeyn.
3670: Where that he be, I kan nat soothly seyn.
3671: This absolon ful joly was and light,
3672: And thoghte, now is tyme to wake al nyght;
3673: For sikirly I saugh hym nat stirynge
3674: Aboute his dore, syn day bigan to sprynge.
3675: So moot I thryve, I shal, at cokkes crowe,
3676: Ful pryvely knokken at his wyndowe
3677: That stant ful lowe upon his boures wal.
3678: To alison now wol I tellen al
3679: My love-longynge, for yet I shal nat mysse
3680: That at the leeste wey I shal hire kisse.
3681: Som maner confort shal I have, parfay.
3682: My mouth hath icched al this longe day;
3683: That is a signe of kissyng atte leeste.
3684: Al nyght me mette eek I was at a feeste.
3685: Therfore I wol go slepe an houre or tweye,
3686: And al the nyght thanne wol I wake and pleye.
3687: Whan that the firste cok hath crowe, anon
3688: Up rist this joly lovere absolon
3689: And hym arraieth gay, at poynt-devys.
3690: But first he cheweth greyn and lycorys,
3691: To smellen sweete, er he hadde kembd his heer.
3692: Under his tonge a trewe-love he beer,
3693: For therby wende he to ben gracious.
3694: He rometh to the carpenteres hous,
3695: And stille he stant under the shot-wyndowe --
3696: Unto his brest it raughte, it was so lowe --
3697: And softe he cougheth with a semy soun --
3698: What do ye, hony-comb, sweete alisoun,
3699: My faire bryd, my sweete cynamome?
3700: Awaketh, lemman myn, and speketh to me!
3701: Wel litel thynken ye upon my wo,
3702: That for youre love I swete ther I go.
3703: No wonder is thogh that I swelte and swete;
3704: I moorne as dooth a lamb after the tete.
3705: Ywis, lemman, I have swich love-longynge,
3706: That lik a turtel trewe is my moornynge.
3707: I may nat ete na moore than a mayde.
3708: go fro the wyndow, jakke fool, she sayde;
3709: As help me god, it wol nat be 'com pa me.'
3710: I love another -- and elles I were to blame --
3711: Wel bet than thee, by jhesu, absolon.
3712: Go forth thy wey, or I wol caste a ston,
3713: And lat me slepe, a twenty devel wey!
3714: allas, quod absolon, and weylawey,
3715: That trewe love was evere so yvel biset!
3716: Thanne kysse me, syn it may be no bet,
3717: For jhesus love, and for the love of me.
3718: Wiltow thanne go thy wey therwith? quod she.
3719: Ye, certes, lemman, quod this absolon.
3720: Thanne make thee redy, quod she, I come anon.
3721: And unto nicholas she seyde stille,
3722: Now hust, and thou shalt laughen al thy fille.
3723: This absolon doun sette hym on his knees
3724: And seyde, I am a lord at alle degrees;
3725: For after this I hope ther cometh moore.
3726: Lemman, thy grace, and sweete bryd, thyn oore!
3727: The wyndow she undoth, and that in haste.
3728: Have do, quod she, com of, and speed the faste,
3729: Lest that oure neighebores thee espie.
3730: This absolon gan wype his mouth ful drie.
3731: Derk was the nyght as pich, or as the cole,
3732: And at the wyndow out she putte hir hole,
3733: And absolon, hym fil no bet ne wers,
3734: But with his mouth he kiste hir naked ers
3735: Ful savourly, er he were war of this.
3736: Abak he stirte, and thoughte it was amys,
3737: For wel he wiste a womman hath no berd.
3738: He felte a thyng al rough and long yherd,
3739: And seyde, fy! allas! what have I do?
3740: Tehee! quod she, and clapte the wyndow to,
3741: And absolon gooth forth a sory pas.
3742: A berd! a berd! quod hende nicholas,
3743: By goddes corpus, this goth faire and weel.
3744: This sely absolon herde every deel,
3745: And on his lippe he gan for anger byte,

Page 54

3746: And to hymself he seyde, I shal thee quyte.
3747: Who rubbeth now, who froteth now his lippes
3748: With dust, with sond, with straw, with clooth, with chippes,
3749: But absolon, that seith ful ofte, allas!
3750: My soule bitake I unto sathanas,
3751: But me were levere than al this toun, quod he,
3752: Of this despit awroken for to be.
3753: Allas, quod he, allas, I ne hadde ybleynt!
3754: His hoote love was coold and al yqueynt;
3755: For fro that tyme that he hadde kist hir ers,
3756: Of paramours he sette nat a kers;
3757: For he was heeled of his maladie.
3758: Ful ofte paramours he gan deffie,
3759: And weep as dooth a child that is ybete.
3760: A softe paas he wente over the strete
3761: Until a smyth men cleped daun gerveys,
3762: That in his forge smythed plough harneys;
3763: He sharpeth shaar and kultour bisily.
3764: This absolon knokketh al esily,
3766: What, who artow? it am I, absalon.
3765: And seyde, undo, gerveys, and that anon.
3767: What, absolon! for cristes sweete tree,
3768: Why rise ye so rathe? ey, benedicitee!
3769: What eyleth yow? som gay gerl, God it woot,
3770: Hath broght yow thus upon the viritoot.
3771: By seinte note, ye woot wel what I mene.
3772: This absolon ne roghte nat a bene
3773: Of al his pley; no word agayn he yaf;
3774: He hadde moore tow on his distaf
3775: Than gerveys knew, and seyde, freend so deere,
3776: That hoote kultour in the chymenee heere,
3777: As lene it me, I have therwith to doone,
3778: And I wol brynge it thee agayn ful soone.
3779: Gerveys answerde, certes, were it gold,
3780: Or in a poke nobles alle untold,
3781: Thou sholdest have, as I am trewe smyth.
3782: Ey, cristes foo! what wol ye do therwith?
3783: Therof, quod absolon, be as be may.
3784: I shal wel telle it thee to-morwe day --
3785: And caughte the kultour by the colde stele.
3786: Ful softe out at the dore he gan to stele,
3787: And wente unto the carpenteris wal.
3788: He cogheth first, and knokketh therwithal
3789: Upon the wyndowe, right as he dide er.
3790: This alison answerde, who is ther
3791: That knokketh so? I warante it a theef.
3792: Why, nay, quod he, God woot, my sweete leef,
3793: I am thyn absolon, my deerelyng.
3794: Of gold, quod he, I have thee broght a ryng.
3795: My mooder yaf it me, so God me save;
3796: Ful fyn it is, and therto wel ygrave.
3797: This wol I yeve thee, if thou me kisse.
3798: This nicholas was risen for to pisse,
3799: And thoughte he wolde amenden al the jape;
3800: He sholde kisse his ers er that he scape.
3801: And up the wyndowe dide he hastily,
3802: And out his ers he putteth pryvely
3803: Over the buttok, to the haunche-bon;
3804: And therwith spak this clerk, this absolon,
3805: Spek, sweete bryd, I noot nat where thou art.
3806: This nicholas anon leet fle a fart,
3807: As greet as it had been a thonder-dent,
3808: That with the strook he was almoost yblent;
3809: And he was redy with his iren hoot,
3810: And nicholas amydde the ers he smoot.
3811: Of gooth the skyn an hande-brede aboute,
3812: The hoote kultour brende so his toute,
3813: And for the smert he wende for to dye.
3814: As he were wood, for wo he gan to crye,
3815: Help! water! water! water! help, for goddes herte!
3816: This carpenter out of his slomber sterte,
3817: And herde oon crien water as he were wood,
3818: And thoughte, allas, now comth nowelis flood!
3819: He sit hym up withouten wordes mo,
3820: And with his ax he smoot the corde atwo,
3821: And doun gooth al; he foond neither to selle,
3822: Ne breed ne ale, til he cam to the celle
3823: Upon the floor, and ther aswowne he lay.
3824: Up stirte hire alison and nicholay,
3825: And criden out and harrow in the strete.
3826: The neighebores, bothe smale and grete,
3827: In ronnen for to gauren on this man,
3828: That yet aswowne lay, bothe pale and wan,
3829: For with the fal he brosten hadde his arm.
3830: But stonde he moste unto his owene harm;
3831: For whan he spak, he was anon bore doun
3832: With hende nicholas and alisoun.
3833: They tolden every man that he was wood,
3834: He was agast so of nowelis flood
3835: Thurgh fantasie, that of his vanytee
3836: He hadde yboght hym knedyng tubbes thre,
3837: And hadde hem hanged in the roof above;
3838: And that he preyed hem, for goddes love,
3839: To sitten in the roof, par compaignye.
3840: The folk gan laughen at his fantasye;
3841: Into the roof they kiken and they cape,
3842: And turned al his harm unto a jape.
3843: For what so that this carpenter answerde,
3844: It was for noght, no man his reson herde.
3845: With othes grete he was so sworn adoun
3846: That he was holde wood in al the toun;
3847: For every clerk anonright heeld with oother.

Page 55

3848: They seyde, the man is wood, my leeve brother;
3849: And every wight gan laughen at this stryf.
3850: Thus swyved was this carpenteris wyf,
3851: For al his kepyng and his jalousye;
3852: And absolon hath kist hir nether ye;
3853: And nicholas is scalded in the towte.
3854: This tale is doon, and God save al the rowte!

The Reeve's Prologue

3855: Whan folk hadde laughen at this nyce cas
3856: Of absolon and hende nicholas,
3857: Diverse folk diversely they seyde,
3858: But for the moore part they loughe and pleyde.
3859: Ne at this tale I saugh no man hym greve,
3860: But it were oonly osewold the reve.
3861: By cause he was of carpenteris craft,
3862: A litel ire is in his herte ylaft;
3863: He gan to grucche, and blamed it a lite.
3864: So theek, quod he, ful wel koude I thee quite
3865: With bleryng of a proud milleres ye,
3866: If that me liste speke of ribaudye.
3867: But ik am oold, me list not pley for age;
3868: Gras tyme is doon, my fodder is now forage;
3869: This white top writeth myne olde yeris;
3870: Myn herte is also mowled as myne heris,
3871: But if I fare as dooth an open-ers, --
3872: That ilke fruyt is ever lenger the wers,
3873: Til it be roten in mullok or in stree.
3874: We olde men, I drede, so fare we:
3875: Til we be roten, kan we nat be rype;
3876: We hoppen alwey whil the world wol pype.
3877: For in oure wyl ther stiketh evere a nayl,
3878: To have an hoor heed and a grene tayl,
3879: As hath a leek; for thogh oure myght be goon,
3880: Oure wyl desireth folie evere in oon.
3881: For whan we may nat doon, than wol we speke;
3882: Yet in oure asshen olde is fyr yreke.
3883: Foure gleedes han we, which I shal devyse, --
3884: Avauntyng, liyng, anger, coveitise;
3885: Thise foure sparkles longen unto eelde.
3886: Oure olde lemes mowe wel been unweelde,
3887: But wyl ne shal nat faillen, that is sooth.
3888: And yet ik have alwey a coltes tooth,
3889: As many a yeer as it is passed henne
3890: Syn that my tappe of lif bigan to renne.
3891: For sikerly, whan I was bore, anon
3892: Deeth drough the tappe of lyf and leet it gon;
3893: And ever sithe hath so the tappe yronne
3894: Til that almoost al empty is the tonne.
3895: The streem of lyf now droppeth on the chymbe.
3896: The sely tonge may wel rynge and chymbe
3897: Of wrecchednesse that passed is ful yoore;
3898: With olde folk, save dotage, is namoore!
3899: Whan that oure hoost hadde herd this sermonyng,
3900: He gan to speke as lordly as a kyng.
3901: He seide, what amounteth al this wit?
3902: What shul we speke alday of hooly writ?
3903: The devel made a reve for to preche,
3904: Or of a soutere a shipman or a leche.
3905: Sey forth thy tale, and tarie nat the tyme
3906: Lo depeford! and it is half-wey pryme.
3907: Lo grenewych, ther many a shrewe is inne!
3908: It were al tyme thy tale to bigynne.
3909: Now, sires, quod this osewold the reve,
3910: I pray yow alle that ye nat yow greve,
3911: Thogh I answere, and somdeel sette his howve;
3912: For leveful is with force force of-showve.
3913: This dronke millere hath ytoold us heer
3914: How that bigyled was a carpenteer,
3915: Peraventure in scorn, for I am oon.
3916: And, by youre leve, I shal hym quite anoon;
3917: Right in his cherles termes wol I speke.
3918: I pray to God his nekke mote to-breke;
3919: He kan wel in myn eye seen a stalke,
3920: But in his owene he kan nat seen a balke.

Page 56

The Reeve's Tale

3921: At trumpyngtoun, nat fer fro cantebrigge,
3922: Ther gooth a brook, and over that a brigge,
3923: Upon the whiche brook ther stant a melle;
3924: And this is verray sooth that I yow telle:
3925: A millere was ther dwellynge many a day.
3926: As any pecok he was proud and gay.
3927: Pipen he koude and fisshe, and nettes beete,
3928: And turne coppes, and wel wrastle and sheete;
3929: Ay by his belt he baar a long panade,
3930: And of a swerd ful trenchant was the blade
3931: A joly poppere baar he is in his pouche;
3932: Ther was no man, for peril, dorste hym touche.
3933: A sheffeld thwitel baar he in his hose.
3934: Round was his face, and camus was his nose;
3935: As piled as an ape was his skulle.
3936: He was a market-betere atte fulle.
3937: Ther dorste no wight hand upon hym legge,
3938: That he ne swoor he sholde anon abegge.
3939: A theef he was for sothe of corn and mele,
3940: And that a sly, and usaunt for to stele.
3941: His name was hoote deynous symkyn.
3942: A wyf he hadde, ycomen of noble kyn;
3943: The person of the toun hir fader was.
3944: With hire he yaf ful many a panne of bras,
3945: For that symkyn sholde in his blood allye.
3946: She was yfostred in a nonnerye;
3947: For symkyn wolde no wyf, as he sayde,
3948: But she were wel ynorissed and a mayde,
3949: To saven his estaat of yomanrye.
3950: And she was proud, and peert as is a pye.
3951: A ful fair sighte was it upon hem two;
3952: On halydayes biforn hire wolde he go
3953: With his typet bounden aboute his heed,
3954: And she cam after in a gyte of reed;
3955: And symkyn hadde hosen of the same.
3956: Ther dorste no wight clepen hire but dame;
3957: Was noon so hardy that wente by the weye
3958: That with hire dorste rage or ones pleye,
3959: But if he wolde be slayn of symkyn
3960: With panade, or with knyf, or boidekyn.
3961: For jalous folk ben perilous everemo;
3962: Algate they wolde hire wyves wenden so.
3963: And eek, for she was somdel smoterlich,
3964: She was as digne as water in a dich,
3965: And ful of hoker and of bisemare.
3966: Hir thoughte that a lady sholde hire spare,
3967: What for hire kynrede and hir nortelrie
3968: That she hadde lerned in the nonnerie.
3969: A doghter hadde they bitwixe hem two
3970: Of twenty yeer, withouten any mo,
3971: Savynge a child that was of half yeer age;
3972: In cradel it lay and was a propre page.
3973: This wenche thikke and wel ygrowen was,
3974: With kamus nose, and eyen greye as glas,
3975: With buttokes brode, and brestes rounde and hye;
3976: But right fair was hire heer, I wol nat lye.
3977: This person of the toun, for she was feir,
3978: In purpos was to maken hire his heir,
3979: Bothe of his catel and his mesuage,
3980: And straunge he made it of hir mariage.
3981: His purpos was for to bistowe hire hye
3982: Into som worthy blood of auncetrye;
3983: For hooly chirches good moot been despended
3984: On hooly chirches blood, that is descended.
3985: Therfore he wolde his hooly blood honoure,
3986: Though that he hooly chirche sholde devoure.
3987: Greet sokene hath this millere, out of doute,
3988: With whete and malt of al the land aboute;
3989: And nameliche ther was a greet collegge
3990: Men clepen the soler halle at cantebregge;
3991: Ther was hir whete and eek hir malt ygrounde.
3992: And on a day it happed, in a stounde,
3993: Sik lay the maunciple on a maladye;
3994: Men wenden wisly that he sholde dye.
3995: For which this millere stal bothe mele and corn
3996: An hundred tyme moore than biforn;
3997: For therbiforn he stal but curteisly,
3998: But now he was a theef outrageously,
3999: For which the wardeyn chidde and made fare.
4000: But therof sette the millere nat a tare;
4001: He craketh boost, and swoor it was nat so.
4002: Thanne were ther yonge povre scolers two,
4003: That dwelten in this halle, of which I seye.
4004: Testif they were, and lusty for to pleye,
4005: And, oonly for hire myrthe and revelrye,
4006: Upon the wardeyn bisily they crye
4007: To yeve hem leve, but a litel stounde,
4008: To goon to mille and seen hir corn ygrounde;
4009: And hardily they dorste leye hir nekke
4010: The millere sholde not stele hem half a pekke
4011: Of corn by sleighte, ne by force hem reve;
4012: And at the laste the wardeyn yaf hem leve.
4013: John highte that oon, and aleyn highte that oother;

Page 57

4014: Of o toun were they born, that highte strother,
4015: Fer in the north, I kan nat telle where.
4016: This aleyn maketh redy al his gere,
4017: And on an hors the sak he caste anon.
4018: Forth goth aleyn the clerk, and also john,
4019: With good swerd and with bokeler by hir syde.
4020: John knew the wey, -- hem nedede no gyde, --
4021: And at the mille the sak adoun he layth.
4022: Aleyn spak first, al hayl, symond, y-fayth!
4023: Hou fares thy faire doghter and thy wyf?
4024: Aleyn, welcome, quod symkyn, by my lyf!
4025: And john also, how now, what do ye heer?
4026: Symond, quod john, by god, nede has na peer.
4027: Hym boes serve hymself that has na swayn,
4028: Or elles he is a fool, as clerkes sayn.
4029: Oure manciple, I hope he wil be deed,
4030: Swa werkes ay the wanges in his heed;
4031: And forthy is I come, and eek alayn,
4032: To grynde oure corn and carie it ham agayn;
4033: I pray yow spede us heythen that ye may.
4034: It shal be doon, quod symkyn, by my fay!
4035: What wol ye doon whil that it is in hande?
4036: By god, right by the hopur wil I stande,
4037: Quod john, and se howgates the corn gas in.
4038: Yet saugh I nevere, by my fader kyn,
4039: How that the hopur wagges til and fra.
4040: Aleyn answerde, john, and wiltow swa?
4041: Thanne wil I be bynethe, by my croun,
4042: And se how that the mele falles doun
4043: Into the trough; that sal be my disport.
4044: For john, y-faith, I may been of youre sort;
4045: I is as ille a millere as ar ye.
4046: This millere smyled of hir nycetee,
4047: And thoghte, al this nys doon but for a wyle.
4048: They wene that no man may hem bigyle,
4049: But by my thrift, yet shal I blere hir ye,
4050: For al the sleighte in hir philosophye.
4051: The moore queynte crekes that they make,
4052: The moore wol I stele whan I take.
4053: In stide of flour yet wol I yeve hem bren.
4054: -- The gretteste clerkes been noght wisest men, --
4055: As whilom to the wolf thus spak the mare.
4056: Of al hir art ne counte I noght a tare.
4057: Out at the dore he gooth ful pryvely,
4058: Whan that he saugh his tyme, softely.
4059: He looketh up and doun til he hath founde
4060: The clerkes hors, ther as it stood ybounde
4061: Bihynde the mille, under a levesel;
4062: And to the hors he goth hym faire and wel;
4063: He strepeth of the brydel right anon.
4064: And whan the hors was laus, he gynneth gon
4065: Toward the fen, ther wilde mares renne,
4066: And forth with wehee, thurgh thikke and thurgh thenne.
4067: This millere gooth agayn, no word he seyde,
4068: But dooth his note, and with the clerkes pleyde,
4069: Til that hir corn was faire and well ygrounde.
4070: And whan the mele is sakked and ybounde,
4071: This john goth out and fynt his hors away,
4072: And gan to crie harrow! and weylaway!

Page 58

4073: Oure hors is lorn, alayn, for goddes banes,
4074: Step on thy feet! com of, man, al atanes!
4075: Allas, our wardeyn has his palfrey lorn.
4076: This aleyn al forgat, bothe mele and corn;
4077: Al was out of his mynde his housbondrie.
4078: What, whilk way is he geen? he gan to crie.
4079: The wyf cam lepynge inward with a ren.
4080: She seyde, allas! youre hors goth to the fen
4081: With wilde mares, as faste as he may go.
4082: Unthank come on his hand that boond hym so,
4083: And he that bettre sholde han knyt the reyne!
4084: Allas, quod john, aleyn, for cristes peyne
4085: Lay doun thy swerd, and I wil myn alswa.
4086: I is ful wight, God waat, as is a raa;
4087: By goddes herte, he sal nat scape us bathe!
4088: Why ne had thow pit the capul in the lathe?
4089: Ilhayl! by god, alayn, thou is a fonne!
4090: Thise sely clerkes han ful faste yronne
4091: Toward the fen, bothe aleyn and eek john.
4092: And whan the millere saugh that they were gon,
4093: He half a busshel of hir flour hath take,
4094: And bad his wyf go knede it in a cake.
4095: He seyde, I trowe the clerkes were aferd.
4096: Yet kan a millere make a clerkes berd,
4097: For al his art; now lat hem goon hir weye!
4098: Lo, wher he gooth! ye, lat the children pleye.
4099: They gete hym nat so lightly, by my croun.
4100: Thise sely clerkes rennen up and doun
4101: With keep! keep! stand! stand! jossa, warderere,
4102: Ga whistle thou, and I shal kepe hym heere!
4103: But shortly, til that it was verray nyght,
4104: They koude nat, though they dide al hir myght,
4105: Hir capul cacche, he ran alwey so faste,
4106: Til in a dych they caughte hym atte laste.
4107: Wery and weet, as beest is in the reyn,
4108: Comth sely john, and with him comth aleyn.
4109: Allas, quod john, the day that I was born!
4110: Now are we dryve til hethyng and til scorn.
4111: Oure corn is stoln, men wil us fooles calle,
4112: Bathe the wardeyn and oure felawes alle,
4113: And namely the millere, weylaway!
4114: Thus pleyneth john as he gooth by the way
4115: Toward the mille, and bayard in his hond.
4116: The millere sittynge by the fyr he fond,
4117: For it was nyght, and forther myghte they noght;
4118: But for the love of God they hym bisoght
4119: Of herberwe and of ese, as for hir peny.
4120: The millere seyde agayn, if ther be eny,
4121: Swich as it is, yet shal ye have youre part.
4122: Myn hous is streit, but ye han lerned art;
4123: Ye konne by argumentes make a place
4124: A myle brood of twenty foot of space.
4125: Lat se now if this place may suffise,
4126: Or make it rowm with speche, as is youre gise.
4127: Now, symond, seyde john, by seint cutberd,
4128: Ay is thou myrie, and this is faire answerd.
4129: I have herd seyd, -- man sal taa of twa thynges
4130: Slyk as he fyndes, or taa slyk as he brynges. --
4131: But specially I pray thee, hooste deere,
4132: Get us som mete and drynke, and make us cheere,
4133: And we wil payen trewely atte fulle.
4134: With empty hand men may na haukes tulle;
4135: Loo, heere oure silver, redy for to spende.
4136: This millere into toun his doghter sende
4137: For ale and breed, and rosted hem a goos,
4138: And boond hire hors, it sholde namoore go loos;
4139: And in his owene chambre hem made a bed,
4140: With sheetes and with chalons faire yspred
4141: Noght from his owene bed ten foot or twelve.
4142: His doghter hadde a bed, al by hirselve,
4143: Right in the same chambre by and by.
4144: It myghte be no bet, and cause why?
4145: Ther was no roumer herberwe in the place.
4146: They soupen and they speke, hem to solace,
4147: And drynken evere strong ale atte beste.
4148: Aboute mydnyght wente they to reste.
4149: Wel hath this millere vernysshed his heed;
4150: Ful pale he was for dronken, and nat reed.
4151: He yexeth, and he speketh thurgh the nose
4152: As he were on the quakke, or on the pose.
4153: To bedde he goth, and with hym goth his wyf.
4154: As any jay she light was and jolyf,
4155: So was hir joly whistle wel ywet.
4156: The cradel at hir beddes feet is set,
4157: To rokken, and to yeve the child to sowke.
4158: And whan that dronken al was in the crowke,
4159: To bedde wente the doghter right anon;
4160: To bedde goth aleyn and also john;
4161: Ther nas na moore, -- hem nedede no dwale.
4162: This millere hath so wisely bibbed ale
4163: That as an hors he fnorteth in his sleep,
4164: Ne of his tayl bihynde he took no keep.
4165: His wyf bar hym a burdon, a ful strong;
4166: Men myghte hir rowtyng heere two furlong;
4167: The wenche rowteth eek, par compaignye.
4168: Aleyn the clerk, that herde this melodye,
4169: He poked john, and seyde, slepestow?
4170: Herdestow evere slyk a sang er now?
4171: Lo, swilk a complyn is ymel hem alle,
4172: A wilde fyr upon thair bodyes falle!
4173: Wha herkned evere slyk a ferly thyng?
4174: Ye, they sal have the flour of il endyng.
4175: This lange nyght ther tydes me na reste;
4176: But yet, nafors, al sal be for the beste.
4177: For, john, seyde he, als evere moot I thryve,
4178: If that I may, yon wenche wil I swyve.
4179: Som esement has lawe yshapen us;
4180: For, john, ther is a lawe that says thus,
4181: That gif a man in a point be agreved,
4182: That in another he sal be releved.
4183: Oure corn is stoln, sothly, it is na nay,
4184: And we han had an il fit al this day;
4185: And syn I sal have neen amendement
4186: Agayn my los, I will have esement.
4187: By goddes sale, it sal neen other bee!
4188: This john answerde, alayn, avyse thee!
4189: The millere is a perilous man, he seyde,
4190: And gif that he out of his sleep abreyde,
4191: He myghte doon us bathe a vileynye.
4192: Aleyn answerde, I counte hym nat a flye.
4193: And up he rist, and by the wenche he crepte.
4194: This wenche lay uprighte, and faste slepte,
4195: Til he so ny was, er she myghte espie,
4196: That it had been to late for to crie,
4197: And shortly for to seyn, they were aton.
4198: Now pley, aleyn, for I wol speke of john.
4199: This john lith stille a furlong wey or two,
4200: And to hymself he maketh routhe and wo.
4201: Allas! quod he, this is a wikked jape;
4202: Now may I seyn that I is but an ape.
4203: Yet has my felawe somwhat for his harm;
4204: He has the milleris doghter in his arm.
4205: He auntred hym, and has his nedes sped,
4206: And I lye as a draf-sak in my bed;
4207: And when this jape is tald another day,
4208: I sal been halde a daf, a cokenay!
4209: I wil arise and auntre it, by my fayth!
4210: -- Unhardy is unseely, -- thus men sayth.
4211: And up he roos, and softely he wente
4212: Unto the cradel, and in his hand it hente,
4213: And baar it softe unto his beddes feet.
4214: Soone after this the wyf hir rowtyng leet,
4215: And gan awake, and wente hire out to pisse,
4216: And cam agayn, and gan hir cradel mysse,
4217: And groped heer and ther, but she foond noon.

Page 59

4218: Allas! quod she, I hadde almoost mysgoon;
4219: I hadde almoost goon to the clerkes bed.
4220: Ey, benedicite! thanne hadde I foule ysped.
4221: And forth she gooth til she the cradel fond.
4222: She gropeth alwey forther with hir hond,
4223: And foond the bed, and thoghte noght but good,
4224: By cause that the cradel by it stood,
4225: And nyste wher she was, for it was derk;
4226: But faire and wel she creep in to the clerk,
4227: And lith ful stille, and wolde han caught a sleep.
4228: Withinne a while this john the clerk up leep,
4229: And on this goode wyf he leith on soore.
4230: So myrie a fit ne hadde she nat ful yoore;
4231: He priketh harde and depe as he were mad.
4232: This joly lyf han thise two clerkes lad
4233: Til that the thridde cok bigan to synge.
4234: Aleyn wax wery in the dawenynge,
4235: For he had swonken al the longe nyght,
4236: And seyde, fare weel, malyne, sweete wight!
4237: The day is come, I may no lenger byde;
4238: But everemo, wher so I go or ryde,
4239: I is thyn awen clerk, swa have I seel!
4240: Now, deere lemman, quod she, go, far weel!
4241: But er thow go, o thyng I wol thee telle:
4242: Whan that thou wendest homward by the melle,
4243: Right at the entree of the dore bihynde
4244: Thou shalt a cake of half a busshel fynde
4245: That was ymaked of thyn owene mele,
4246: Which that I heelp my sire for to stele.
4247: And, goode lemman, God thee save and kepe!
4248: And with that word almoost she gan to wepe.
4249: Aleyn up rist, and thoughte, er that it dawe,
4250: I wol go crepen in by my felawe;
4251: And fond the cradel with his hand anon.
4252: By god, thoughte he, al wrang I have mysgon.
4253: Myn heed is toty of my swynk to-nyght,
4254: That makes me that I ga nat aright.
4255: I woot wel by the cradel I have mysgo;
4256: Heere lith the millere and his wyf also.
4257: And forth he goth, a twenty devel way,
4258: Unto the bed ther as the millere lay.
4259: He wende have cropen by his felawe john,
4260: And by the millere in he creep anon,
4261: And caughte hym by the nekke, and softe he spak.
4262: He seyde, thou john, thou swynes-heed, awak,
4263: For cristes saule, and heer a noble game.
4264: For by that lord that called is seint jame,
4265: As I have thries in this shorte nyght
4266: Swyved the milleres doghter bolt upright,
4267: Whil thow hast, as a coward, been agast.
4268: Ye, false harlot, quod the miller, hast?
4269: A, false traitour! false clerk! quod he,
4270: Thow shalt be deed, by goddes dignitee!
4271: Who dorste be so boold to disparage
4272: My doghter, that is come of swich lynage?
4273: And by the throte-bolle he caughte alayn,
4274: And he hente hym despitously agayn,
4275: And on the nose he smoot hym with his fest.
4276: Doun ran the blody streem upon his brest;
4277: And in the floor, with nose and mouth tobroke,
4278: They walwe as doon two pigges in a poke;
4279: And up they goon, and doun agayn anon,
4280: Til that the millere sporned at a stoon,
4281: And doun he fil bakward upon his wyf,
4282: That wiste no thyng of this nyce stryf;
4283: For she was falle aslepe a lite wight
4284: With john the clerk, that waked hadde al nyght,
4285: And with the fal out of hir sleep she breyde.
4286: Help! hooly croys of bromeholm, she seyde,
4287: In manus tuas! lord, to thee I calle!
4288: Awak, symond! the feend is on me falle.
4289: Myn herte is broken; help! I nam but deed!
4290: Ther lyth oon upon my wombe and on myn heed.
4291: Help, symkyn, for the false clerkes fighte!
4292: This john stirte up as faste as ever he myghte,
4293: And graspeth by the walles to and fro,
4294: To fynde a staf; and she stirte up also,
4295: And knew the estres bet than dide this john,
4296: And by the wal a staf she foond anon,
4297: And saugh a litel shymeryng of a light,
4298: For at an hole in shoon the moone bright;
4299: And by that light she saugh hem bothe two,
4300: But sikerly she nyste who was who,
4301: But as she saugh a whit thyng in hir ye.
4302: And whan she gan this white thyng espye,
4303: She wende the clerk hadde wered a volupeer,
4304: And with the staf she drow ay neer and neer,
4305: And wende han hit this aleyn at the fulle,
4306: And smooth the millere on the pyled skulle,
4307: That doun he gooth, and cride, harrow! I dye!
4308: Thise clerkes beete hym weel and lete hym lye;
4309: And greythen hem, and tooke hir hors anon,
4310: And eek hire mele, and on hir wey they gon.
4311: And at the mille yet they tooke hir cake
4312: Of half a busshel flour, ful wel ybake.

Page 60

4313: Thus is the proude millere wel ybete,
4314: And hath ylost the gryndynge of the whete,
4315: And payed for the soper everideel
4316: Of aleyn and of john, that bette hym weel.
4317: His wyf is swyved, and his doghter als.
4318: Lo, swich it is a millere to be fals!
4319: And therfore this proverbe is seyd ful sooth,
4320: Hym thar nat wene wel that yvele dooth;
4321: A gylour shal hymself bigyled be.
4322: And god, that sitteth heighe in magestee,
4323: Save al this compaignye, grete and smale!
4324: Thus have I quyt the millere in my tale.

The Cook's Prologue

4325: The cook of londoun, whil the reve spak,
4326: For joye him thoughte he clawed him on the bak.
4327: Ha! ha! quod he, for cristes passion,
4328: This millere hadde a sharp conclusion
4329: Upon his argument of herbergage!
4330: Wel seyde salomon in his langage,
4331: -- Ne bryng nat every man into thyn hous; --
4332: For herberwynge by nyghte is perilous.
4333: Wel oghte a man avysed for to be
4334: Whom that he broghte into his pryvetee.
4335: I pray to god, so yeve me sorwe and care
4336: If evere, sitthe I highte hogge of ware,
4337: Herde I a millere bettre yset a-werk.
4338: He hadde a jape of malice in the derk.
4339: But God forbede that we stynte heere;
4340: And therfore, if ye vouche-sauf to heere
4341: A tale of me, that am a povre man,
4342: I wol yow telle, as wel as evere I kan,
4343: A litel jape that fil in oure citee.
4344: Oure hoost answerde and seide, I graunte it thee.
4345: Now telle on, roger, looke that it be good;
4346: For many a pastee hastow laten blood,
4347: And many a jakke of dovere hastow soold
4348: That hath been twies hoot and twies coold.
4349: Of many a pilgrym hastow cristes curs,
4350: For of thy percely yet they fare the wors,
4351: That they han eten with thy stubbel goos;
4352: For in thy shoppe is many a flye loos.
4353: Now telle on, gentil roger by thy name.
4354: But yet I pray thee, be nat wroth for game;
4355: A man may seye ful sooth in game and pley.
4356: Thou seist ful sooth, quod roger, by my fey!
4357: But -- sooth pley, quaad pley, -- as the flemyng seith.
4358: And therfore, herry bailly, by thy feith,
4359: Be thou nat wrooth, er we departen heer,
4360: Though that my tale be of an hostileer.
4361: But nathelees I wol nat telle it yit;
4362: But er we parte, ywis, thou shalt be quit.
4363: And therwithal he lough and made cheere,
4364: And seyde his tale, as ye shul after heere.

The Cook's Tale

4365: A prentys whilom dwelled in oure citee,
4366: And of a craft of vitailliers was hee.
4367: Gaillard he was as goldfynch in the shawe,
4368: Broun as a berye, a propre short felawe,
4369: With lokkes blake, ykembd ful fetisly.
4370: Dauncen he koude so wel and jolily
4371: That he was cleped perkyn revelour.
4372: He was as ful of love and paramour
4373: As is the hyve ful of hony sweete:
4374: Wel was the wenche with hym myghte meete.

Page 61

4375: At every bridale wolde he synge and hoppe;
4376: He loved bet the taverne than the shoppe.
4377: For whan ther any ridyng was in chepe,
4378: Out of the shoppe thider wolde he lepe --
4379: Til that he hadde al the sighte yseyn,
4380: And daunced wel, he wolde nat come ayeyn --
4381: And gadered hym a meynee of his sort
4382: To hoppe and synge and maken swich disport;
4383: And ther they setten stevene for to meete,
4384: To pleyen at the dys in swich a streete.
4385: For in the toune nas ther no prentys
4386: That fairer koude caste a paire of dys
4387: Than perkyn koude, and therto he was free
4388: Of his dispense, in place of pryvetee.
4389: That fond his maister wel in his chaffare;
4390: For often tyme he foond his box ful bare.
4391: For sikerly a prentys revelour
4392: That haunteth dys, riot, or paramour.
4393: His maister shal it in his shoppe abye,
4394: Al have he no part of the mynstralcye.
4395: For thefte and riot, they been convertible,
4396: Al konne he pleye on gyterne or ribible.
4397: Revel and trouthe, as in a lowe degree,
4398: They been ful wrothe al day, as men may see.
4399: this joly prentys with his maister bood,
4400: Til he were ny out of his prentishood,
4401: Al were he snybbed bothe erly and late,
4402: And somtyme lad with revel to newegate.
4403: But atte laste his maister him bithoghte.
4404: Upon a day, whan he his papir soghte,
4405: Of a proverbe that seith this same word,
4406: Wel bet is roten appul out of hoord
4407: Than that it rotie al the remenaunt.
4408: So fareth it by a riotous servaunt;
4409: It is ful lasse harm to lete hym pace,
4410: Than he shende alle the servantz in the place.
4411: Therfore his maister yaf hym acquitance,
4412: And bad hym go, with sorwe and with meschance!
4413: And thus this joly prentys hadde his leve.
4414: Now lat hym riote al the nyght or leve.
4415: And for ther is no theef withoute a lowke,
4416: That helpeth hym to wasten and to sowke
4417: Of that he brybe kan or borwe may,
4418: Anon he sente his bed and his array
4419: Unto a compeer of his owene sort,
4420: That lovede dys, and revel, and disport,
4421: And hadde a wyf that heeld for contenance
4422: A shoppe, and swyved for hir sustenance.

Page 62

The Introduction to the Man of Law's Tale

1: Oure hooste saugh wel that the brighte sonne
2: The ark of his artificial day hath ronne
3: The ferthe part, and half an houre and moore,
4: And though he were nat depe ystert in loore,
5: He wiste it was the eightetethe day
6: Of aprill, that is messager to may;
7: And saugh wel that the shadwe of every tree
8: Was as in lengthe the same quantitee
9: That was the body erect that caused it.
10: And therfore by the shadwe he took his wit
11: That phebus, which that shoon so clere and brighte,
12: Degrees was fyve and fourty clombe on highte;
13: And for that day, as in that latitude,
14: It was ten of the clokke, he gan conclude,
15: And sodeynly he plighte his hors aboute.
16: Lordynges, quod he, I warne yow, al this route,
17: The fourthe party of this day is gon.
18: Now, for the love of God and of seint john,
19: Leseth no tyme, as ferforth as ye may.
20: Lordynges, the tyme wasteth nyght and day,
21: And steleth from us, what pryvely slepynge,
22: And what thurgh necligence in oure wakynge,
23: As dooth the streem that turneth nevere agayn,
24: Descendynge fro the montaigne into playn.
25: Wel kan senec and many a philosophre
26: Biwaillen tyme moore than gold in cofre;
27: For -- los of catel may recovered be,
28: But los of tyme shendeth us, -- quod he.
29: It wol nat come agayn, withouten drede,
30: Namoore than wole malkynes maydenhede,
31: Whan she hath lost it in hir wantownesse.
32: Lat us nat mowlen thus in ydelnesse.
33: Sire man of lawe, quod he, so have ye blis,
34: Telle us a tale anon, as forward is.
35: Ye been submytted, thurgh youre free assent,
36: To stonden in this cas at my juggement.
37: Acquiteth yow now of youre biheeste;
38: Thanne have ye do youre devoir atte leeste.
39: Hooste, quod he, depardieux, ich assente;
40: To breke forward is nat myn entente.
41: Biheste is dette, and I wole holde fayn
42: Al my biheste, I kan no bettre sayn.
43: For swich lawe as a man yeveth another wight,
44: He sholde hymselven usen it, by right;
45: Thus wole oure text. But nathelees, certeyn,
46: I kan right now no thrifty tale seyn
47: That chaucer, thogh he kan but lewedly
48: On metres and on rymyng craftily,
49: Hath seyd hem in swich englissh as he kan
50: Of olde tyme, as knoweth many a man;
51: And if he have noght seyd hem, leve brother,
52: In o book, he hath seyd hem in another.
53: For he hath toold of loveris up and doun
54: Mo than ovide made of mencioun
55: In his episteles, that been ful olde.
56: What sholde I tellen hem, syn they been tolde?
57: In youthe he made of ceys and alcione,
58: And sitthen hath he spoken of everichone,
59: Thise noble wyves and thise loveris eke.
60: Whoso that wole his large volume seke,
61: Cleped the seintes legende of cupide,
62: Ther may he seen the large woundes wyde
63: Of lucresse, and of babilan tesbee;
64: The swerd of dido for the false enee;
65: The tree of phillis for hire demophon;
66: The pleinte of dianire and of hermyon,
67: Of adriane, and of isiphilee;
68: The bareyne yle stondynge in the see;
69: The dreynte leandre for his erro;
70: The teeris of eleyne, and eek the wo
71: Of brixseyde, and of the, ladomya;
72: The crueltee of the, queene medea,
73: Thy litel children hangynge by the hals,
74: For thy jason, that was of love so fals!
75: O ypermystra, penelopee, alceste,
76: Youre wifhod he comendeth with the beste!
77: But certeinly no word ne writeth he
78: Of thilke wikke ensample of canacee,
79: That loved hir owene brother synfully;
80: Of swiche cursed stories I sey fy!)
81: Or ellis of tyro appollonius,
82: How that the cursed kyng antiochus
83: Birafte his doghter of hir maydenhede,
84: That is so horrible a tale for to rede,
85: Whan he hir threw upon the pavement.
86: And therfore he, of ful avysement,

Page 63

87: Nolde nevere write in none of his sermons
88: Of swiche unkynde abhomynacions,
89: Ne I wol noon reherce, if that I may.
90: But of my tale how shal I doon this day?
91: Me were looth be likned, doutelees,
92: To muses that men clepe pierides --
93: Methamorphosios woot what I mene;
94: But nathelees, I recche noght a bene
95: Though I come after hym with hawebake.
96: I speke in prose, and lat him rymes make.
97: And with that word he, with a sobre cheere,
98: Bigan his tale, as ye shal after heere.

The Man of Law's Prologue

99: O hateful harm, condicion of poverte!
100: With thurst, with coold, with hunger so confoundid!
101: To asken help thee shameth in thyn herte;
102: If thou noon aske, with nede artow so woundid
103: That verray nede unwrappeth al thy wounde hid!
104: Maugree thyn heed, thou most for indigence
105: Or stele, or begge, or borwe thy despence!
106: Thow blamest crist, and seist ful bitterly,
107: He mysdeparteth richesse temporal;
108: Thy neighebor thou wytest synfully,
109: And seist thou hast to lite, and he hath al.
110: 0parfay, seistow, somtyme he rekene shal,
111: Whan that his tayl shal brennen in the gleede,
112: For he noght helpeth needfulle in hir neede.
113: Herkne what is the sentence of the wise:
114: Bet is to dyen than have indigence;
115: Thy selve neighebor wol thee despise.
116: If thou be povre, farwel thy reverence!
117: Yet of the wise man take this sentence:
118: Alle the dayes of povre men been wikke.
119: Be war, therfore, er thou come to that prikke!
120: If thou be povre, thy brother hateth thee,
121: And alle thy freendes fleen from thee, allas!
122: O riche marchauntz, ful of wele been yee,
123: O noble, o prudent folk, as in this cas!
124: Youre bagges been nat fild with ambes as,
125: But with sys cynk, that renneth for youre chaunce;
126: At cristemasse myrie may ye daunce!
127: Ye seken lond and see for yowre wynnynges;
128: As wise folk ye knowen al th' estaat
129: Of regnes; ye been fadres of tidynges
130: And tales, bothe of pees and of debaat.
131: I were right now of tales desolaat,
132: Nere that a marchant, goon is many a yeere,
133: Me taughte a tale, which that ye shal heere.

The Man of Law's Tale

134: In surrye whilom dwelte a compaignye
135: Of chapmen riche, and therto sadde and trewe,
136: That wyde-where senten hir spicerye,
137: Clothes of gold, and satyns riche of hewe.
138: Hir chaffare was so thrifty and so newe
139: That every wight hath deyntee to chaffare
140: With hem, and eek to sellen hem hire ware.
141: Now fil it that the maistres of that sort
142: Han shapen hem to rome for to wende;
143: Were it for chapmanhod or for disport,
144: Noon oother message wolde they thider sende,
145: But comen hemself to rome, this is the ende;
146: And in swich place as thoughte hem avantage
147: For hire entente, they take hir herbergage.
148: Sojourned han thise merchantz in that toun
149: A certein tyme, as fil to hire plesance.
150: And so bifel that th' excellent renoun
151: Of the emperoures doghter, dame custance,
152: Reported was, with every circumstance,
153: Unto thise surryen marchantz in swich wyse.
154: Fro day to day, as I shal yow devyse.
155: This was the commune voys of every man:
156: Oure emperour of rome -- God hym see! --
157: A doghter hath that, syn the world bigan,
158: To rekene as wel hir goodnesse as beautee,
159: Nas nevere swich another as is shee.
160: I prey to God in honour hire susteene,
161: And wolde she were of al europe the queene.

Page 64

162: In hire is heigh beautee, withoute pride,
163: Yowthe, withoute grenehede or folye;
164: To alle hire werkes vertu is hir gyde;
165: Humblesse hath slayn in hire al tirannye.
166: She is mirour of alle curteisye;
167: Hir herte is verray chambre of hoolynesse,
168: Hir hand, ministre of fredam for almesse.
169: And al this voys was sooth, as God is trewe.
170: But now to purpos lat us turne agayn.
171: Thise marchantz han doon fraught hir shippes newe,
172: And whan they han this blisful mayden sayn,
173: Hoom to surrye been they went ful fayn,
174: And doon hir nedes as they han doon yoore,
175: And lyven in wele; I kan sey yow namoore.
176: Now fil it that thise marchantz stode in grace
177: Of hym that was the sowdan of surrye;
178: For whan they cam from any strange place,
179: He wolde, of his benigne curteisye,
180: Make hem good chiere, and bisily espye
181: Tidynges of sondry regnes, for to leere
182: The wondres that they myghte seen or heere.
183: Amonges othere thynges, specially,
184: Thise marchantz han hym toold of dame custance
185: So greet noblesse in ernest, ceriously,
186: That this sowdan hath caught so greet plesance
187: To han hir figure in his remembrance,
188: That al his lust and al his bisy cure
189: Was for to love hire while his lyf may dure.
190: Paraventure in thilke large book
191: Which that men clepe the hevene ywriten was
192: With sterres, whan that he his birthe took,
193: That he for love sholde han his deeth, allas!
194: For in the sterres, clerer than is glas,
195: Is writen, God woot, whoso koude it rede,
196: The deeth of every man, withouten drede.
197: In sterres, many a wynter therbiforn,
198: Was writen the deeth of ector, achilles,
199: Of pompei, julius, er they were born;
200: The strif of thebes; and of ercules,
201: Of sampson, turnus, and of socrates
202: The deeth; but mennes wittes ben so dulle
203: That no wight kan wel rede it atte fulle.
204: This sowdan for his privee conseil sente,
205: And, shortly of this matiere for to pace,
206: He hath to hem declared his entente,
207: And seyde hem, certein, but he myghte have grace
208: To han custance withinne a litel space,
209: He nas but deed; and charged hem in hye
210: To shapen for his lyf som remedye.
211: Diverse men diverse thynges seyden;
212: They argumenten, casten up and doun;
213: Many a subtil resoun forth they leyden;
214: They speken of magyk and abusioun.
215: But finally, as in conclusioun,
216: They kan nat seen in that noon avantage,
217: Ne in noon oother wey, save mariage.
218: Thanne sawe they therinne swich difficultee
219: By wey of reson, for to speke al playn,
220: By cause that ther was swich diversitee
221: Bitwene hir bothe lawes, that they sayn
222: They trowe, that no cristen prince wolde fayn
223: Wedden his child under oure lawe sweete
224: That us was taught by mahoun, oure prophete.
225: And he answerde, rather than I lese
226: Custance, I wol be cristned, doutelees.
227: I moot been hires, I may noon oother chese.
228: I prey yow hoold youre argumentz in pees;
229: Saveth my lyf, and beth noght recchelees
230: To geten hire that hath my lyf in cure;
231: For in this wo I may nat longe endure.
232: What nedeth gretter dilatacioun?
233: I seye, by tretys and embassadrie,
234: And by the popes mediacioun,
235: And al the chirche, and al the chivalrie,
236: That in destruccioun of mawmettrie,
237: And in encrees of cristes lawe deere,
238: They been acorded, so as ye shal heere:
239: How that the sowdan and his baronage
240: And alle his liges sholde ycristned be,
241: And he shal han custance in mariage,
242: And certein gold, I noot what quantitee;
243: And heer-to founden sufficient suretee.
244: This same accord was sworn on eyther syde;
245: Now, faire custance, almyghty God thee gyde!
246: Now wolde som men waiten, as I gesse,
247: That I sholde tellen al the purveiance
248: That th' emperour, of his grete noblesse,
249: Hath shapen for his doghter, dame custance.
250: Wel may men knowen that so greet ordinance
251: May no man tellen in a litel clause
252: As was arrayed for so heigh a cause.
253: Bisshopes been shapen with hire for to wende,
254: Lordes, ladies, knyghtes of renoun,

Page 65

255: And oother folk ynowe, this is th' ende;
256: And notified is thurghout the toun
257: That every wight, with greet devocioun,
258: Sholde preyen crist that he this mariage
259: Receyve in gree, and spede this viage.
260: The day is comen of hir departynge;
261: I seye, the woful day fatal is come,
262: That ther may be no lenger tariynge,
263: But forthward they hem dressen, alle and some.
264: Custance, that was with sorwe al overcome,
265: Ful pale arist, and dresseth hire to wende;
266: For wel she seeth ther is noon oother ende.
267: Allas! what wonder is it thogh she wepte,
268: That shal be sent to strange nacioun
269: Fro freendes that so tendrely hire kepte,
270: And to be bounden under subjeccioun
271: Of oon, she knoweth nat his condicioun?
272: Housbondes been alle goode, and han ben yoore;
273: That knowen wyves; I dar sey yow na moore.
274: Fader, she seyde, thy wrecched child custance,
275: Thy yonge doghter fostred up so softe,
276: And ye, my mooder, my soverayn plesance
277: Over alle thyng, out-taken crist on-lofte,
278: Custance youre child hire recomandeth ofte
279: Unto youre grace, for I shal to surrye,
280: Ne shal I nevere seen yow moore with ye.
281: Allas! unto the barbre nacioun
282: I moste anoon, syn that it is youre wille;
283: But crist, that starf for our redempcioun
284: So yeve me grace his heestes to fulfille!
285: I, wrecche womman, no fors though I spille!
286: Wommen are born to thraldom and penance,
287: And to been under mannes governance.
288: I trowe at troye, whan pirrus brak the wal,
289: Or ilion brende, at thebes the citee,
290: N' at rome, for the harm thurgh hanybal
291: That romayns hath venquysshed tymes thre,
292: Nas herd swich tendre wepyng for pitee
293: As in the chambre was for hire departynge;
294: But forth she moot, wher-so she wepe or synge.
295: O firste moevyng! crueel firmament,
296: With thy diurnal sweigh that crowdest ay
297: And hurlest al from est til occident
298: That naturelly wolde holde another way,
299: Thy crowdyng set the hevene in swich array
300: At the bigynnyng of this fiers viage,
301: That crueel mars hath slayn this mariage.
302: Infortunat ascendent tortuous,
303: Of which the lord is helplees falle, allas,
304: Out of his angle into the derkeste hous!
305: O mars, o atazir, as in this cas!
306: O fieble moone, unhappy been thy paas!
307: Thou knyttest thee ther thou art nat receyved;
308: Ther thou were weel, fro thennes artow weyved.
309: Imprudent emperour of rome, allas!
310: Was ther no philosophre in al thy toun?
311: Is no tyme bet than oother in swich cas?
312: Of viage is ther noon eleccioun,
313: Namely to folk of heigh condicioun?
314: Noght whan a roote is of a burthe yknowe?
315: Allas, we been to lewed or to slowe!
316: To shippe is brought this woful faire mayde
317: Solempnely, with every circumstance.
318: Now jhesu crist be with yow alle! she sayde;
319: Ther nys namoore, but farewel, faire custance!
320: She peyneth hire to make good contenance;
321: And forth I lete hire saille in this manere,
322: And turne I wole agayn to my matere.
323: The mooder of the sowdan, welle of vices,
324: Espied hath hir sones pleyn entente,
325: How he wol lete his olde sacrifices;
326: And right anon she for hir conseil sente,
327: And they been come to knowe what she mente.
328: And whan assembled was this folk in-feere,
329: She sette hire doun, and seyde as ye shal heere.
330: Lordes, quod she, ye knowen everichon,
331: How that my sone in point is for to lete
332: The hooly lawes of our alkaron,
333: Yeven by goddes message makomete.
334: But oon avow to grete God I heete,
335: The lyf shal rather out of my body sterte
336: Or makometes lawe out of myn herte!
337: What sholde us tyden of this newe lawe
338: But thraldom to oure bodies and penance,
339: And afterward in helle to be drawe,
340: For we reneyed mahoun oure creance?
341: But, lordes, wol ye maken assurance,
342: As I shal seyn, assentynge to my loore,
343: And I shal make us sauf for everemoore?
344: They sworen and assenten, every man,
345: To lyve with hire and dye, and by hire stonde,
346: And everich, in the beste wise he kan,
347: To strengthen hire shal alle his frendes fonde;

Page 66

348: And she hath this emprise ytake on honde,
349: Which ye shal heren that I shal devyse,
350: And to hem alle she spak right in this wyse:
351: We shul first feyne us cristendom to take, --
352: Coold water shal nat greve us but a lite!
353: And I shal swich a feeste and revel make
354: That, as I trowe, I shal the sowdan quite.
355: For thogh his wyf be cristned never so white,
356: She shal have nede to wasshe awey the rede,
357: Thogh she a font-ful water with hire lede.
358: O sowdanesse, roote of iniquitee!
359: Virago, thou semyrame the secounde!
360: O serpent under femynynytee,
361: Lik to the serpent depe in helle ybounde!
362: O feyned womman, al that may confounde
363: Vertu and innocence, thurgh thy malice,
364: Is bred in thee, as nest of every vice!
365: O sathan, envious syn thilke day
366: That thou were chaced from oure heritage,
367: Wel knowestow to wommen the olde way!
368: Thou madest eva brynge us in servage;
369: Thou wolt fordoon this cristen mariage.
370: Thyn instrument so, weylawey the while!
371: Makestow of wommen, whan thou wolt bigile.
372: This sowdanesse, whom I thus blame and warye,
373: Leet prively hire conseil goon hire way.
374: What sholde I in this tale lenger tarye?
375: She rydeth to the sowdan on a day,
376: And seyde hym that she wolde reneye hir lay,
377: And cristendom of preestes handes fonge,
378: Repentynge hire she hethen was so longe;
379: Bisechynge hym to doon hire that honour,
380: That she moste han the cristen folk to feeste, --
381: To plesen hem I wol do my labour.
382: The sowdan seith, I wol doon at youre heeste;
383: And knelynge thanketh hire of that requeste.
384: So glad he was, he nyste what to seye.
385: She kiste hir sone, and hoom she gooth hir weye.
386: Arryved been this cristen folk to londe
387: In surrye, with a greet solempne route,
388: And hastifliche this sowdan sente his sonde,
389: First to his mooder, and al the regne aboute,
390: And seyde his wyf was comen, out of doute,
391: And preyde hire for to ryde agayn the queene,
392: The honour of his regne to susteene.
393: Greet was the prees, and riche was th' array
394: Of surryens and romayns met yfeere;
395: The mooder of the sowdan, riche and gay,
396: Receyveth hire with also glad a cheere
397: As any mooder myghte hir doghter deere,
398: And to the nexte citee ther bisyde
399: A softe paas solempnely they ryde.
400: Noght trowe I the triumphe of julius,
401: Of which that lucan maketh swich a boost,
402: Was roialler ne moore curius
403: Than was th' assemblee of this blisful hoost.
404: But this scorpioun, this wikked goost,
405: The sowdanesse, for al hire flaterynge,
406: Caste under this ful mortally to stynge.
407: The sowdan comth hymself soone after this
408: So roially, that wonder is to telle,
409: And welcometh hire with alle joye and blis.
410: And thus in murthe and joye I lete hem dwelle;
411: The fryt of this matiere is that I telle.
412: Whan tyme cam, men thoughte it for the beste
413: That revel stynte, and men goon to hir reste.
414: The tyme cam this olde sowdanesse
415: Ordeyned hath this feeste of which I tolde,
416: And to the feeste cristen folk hem dresse
417: In general, ye, bothe yonge and olde.
418: Heere may men feeste and roialtee biholde,
419: And deyntees mo than I kan yow devyse;
420: But al to deere they boghte it er they ryse.
421: O sodeyn wo, that evere art successour
422: To worldly blisse, spreynd with bitternesse!
423: The ende of the joye of oure worldly labour!
424: Wo occupieth the fyn of oure gladnesse.
425: Herke this conseil for thy sikernesse:
426: Upon thy glade day have in thy mynde
427: The unwar wo or harm that comth bihynde.
428: For shortly for to tellen, at o word,
429: The sowdan and the cristen everichone
430: Been al tohewe and stiked at the bord,
431: But it were oonly dame custance allone.
432: This olde sowdanesse, cursed krone,
433: Hath with hir freendes doon this cursed dede,
434: For she hirself wolde al the contree lede.
435: Ne ther was surryen noon that was converted,
436: That of the conseil of the sowdan woot,

Page 67

437: That he nas al tohewe er he asterted.
438: And custance han they take anon, foot-hoot,
439: And in a ship al steerelees, God woot,
440: They han hir set, and bidde hire lerne saille
441: Out of surrye agaynward to ytaille.
442: A certein tresor that she thider ladde,
443: And, sooth to seyn, vitaille greet plentee
444: They han hire yeven, and clothes eek she hadde,
445: And forth she sailleth in the salte see.
446: O my custance, ful of benignytee,
447: O emperoures yonge doghter deere,
448: He that is lord of fortune be thy steere!
449: She blesseth hire, and with ful pitous voys
450: Unto the croys of crist thus seyde she:
451: O cleere, o welful auter, hooly croys,
452: Reed of the lambes blood ful of pitee,
453: That wessh the world fro the olde iniquitee,
454: Me fro the feend and fro his clawes kepe,
455: That day that I shal drenchen in the depe.
456: Victorious tree, proteccioun of trewe,
457: That oonly worthy were for to bere
458: The kyng of hevene with his woundes newe,
459: The white lamb, that hurt was with a spere,
460: Flemere of feendes out of hym and here
461: On which thy lymes feithfully extenden,
462: Me kepe, and yif me myght my lyf t' amenden.
463: Yeres and dayes fleet this creature
464: Thurghout the see of grece unto the strayte
465: Of marrok, as it was hire aventure.
466: On many a sory meel now may she bayte;
467: After hir deeth ful often may she wayte,
468: Er that the wilde wawes wol hire dryve
469: Unto the place ther she shal arryve.
470: Men myghten asken why she was nat slayn
471: Eek at the feeste? who myghte hir body save?
472: And I answere to that demande agayn,
473: Who saved danyel in the horrible cave
474: Ther every wight save he, maister and knave,
475: Was with the leon frete er he asterte?
476: No wight but god, that he bar in his herte.
477: God liste to shewe his wonderful myracle
478: In hire, for we sholde seen his myghty werkis;
479: Crist, which that is to every harm triacle,
480: By certeine meenes ofte, as knowen clerkis,
481: Dooth thyng for certein ende that ful derk is
482: To mannes wit, that for oure ignorance
483: Ne konne noght knowe his prudent purveiance.
484: Now sith she was nat at the feeste yslawe,
485: Who kepte hire fro the drenchyng in the see?
486: Who kepte jonas in the fisshes mawe
487: Til he was spouted up at nynyvee?
488: Wel may men knowe it was no wight but he
489: That kepte peple ebrayk from hir drenchynge,
490: With drye feet thurghout the see passynge.
491: Who bad the foure spirites of tempest
492: That power han t' anoyen lond and see,
493: Bothe north and south, and also west and est,
494: Anoyeth, neither see, ne land, ne tree?
495: Soothly, the comandour of that was he
496: That fro the tempest ay this womman kepte
497: As wel whan she wook as whan she slepte.
498: Where myghte this womman mete and drynke have
499: Thre yeer and moore? how lasteth hire vitaille?
500: Who fedde the egipcien marie in the cave,
501: Or in desert? no wight but crist, sanz faille.
502: Fyve thousand folk it was as greet mervaille
503: With loves fyve and fisshes two to feede.
504: God sente his foyson at hir grete neede.
505: She dryveth forth into oure occian
506: Thurghout oure wilde see, til atte laste
507: Under an hoold that nempnen I ne kan,
508: Fer in northhumberlond the wawe hire caste,
509: And in the sond hir ship stiked so faste
510: That thennes wolde it noght of al a tyde;
511: The wyl of crist was that she sholde abyde.
512: The constable of the castel doun is fare
513: To seen this wrak, and al the ship he soghte,
514: And foond this wery womman ful of care;
515: He foond also the tresor that she broghte.
516: In hir langage mercy she bisoghte,
517: The lyf out of hir body for to twynne,
518: Hire to delivere of wo that she was inne.
519: A maner latyn corrupt was hir speche,
520: But algates therby was she understonde.
521: The constable, whan hym lyst no longer seche,
522: This woful womman broghte he to the londe.
523: She kneleth doun and thanketh goddes sonde;
524: But what she was she wolde no man seye,
525: For foul ne fair, thogh that she sholde deye.
526: She seyde she was so mazed in the see
527: That she forgat hir mynde, by hir trouthe.
528: The constable hath of hire so greet pitee,
529: And eek his wyf, that they wepen for routhe.

Page 68

530: She was so diligent, withouten slouthe,
531: To serve and plesen everich in that place,
532: That alle hir loven that looken in hir face.
533: This constable and dame hermengyld, his, wyf,
534: Were payens, and that contree everywhere;
535: But hermengyld loved hire right as hir lyf,
536: And custance hath so longe sojourned there,
537: In orisons, with many a bitter teere,
538: Til jhesu hath converted thurgh his grace
539: Dame hermengyld, constablesse of that place.
540: In al that lond no cristen dorste route;
541: Alle cristen folk been fled fro that contree
542: Thurgh payens, that conquereden al aboute
543: The plages of the north, by land and see.
544: To walys fledde the cristyanytee
545: Of olde britons dwellynge in this ile;
546: Ther was hir refut for the meene while.
547: But yet nere cristene britons so exiled
548: That ther nere somme that in hir privetee
549: Honoured crist and hethen folk bigiled,
550: And ny the castel swiche ther dwelten three.
551: That oon of hem was blynd and myghte nat see,
552: But it were with thilke eyen of his mynde
553: With whiche men seen, after that they ben blynde.
554: Bright was the sonne as in that someres day,
555: For which the constable and his wyf also
556: And custance han ytake the righte way
557: Toward the see a furlong wey or two,
558: To pleyen and to romen to and fro;
559: And in hir walk this blynde man they mette,
560: Croked and oold, with eyen faste yshette.
561: In name of crist, cride this blinde britoun,
562: Dame hermengyld, yif me my sighte agayn!
563: This lady weex affrayed of the soun,
564: Lest that hir housbonde, shortly for to sayn,
565: Wolde hire for jhesu cristes love han slayn,
566: Til custance made hire boold, and bad hire wirche
567: The wyl of crist, as doghter of his chirche.
568: The constable weex abasshed of that sight,
569: And seyde, what amounteth al this fare?
570: Custance answerde, sire, it is cristes myght,
571: That helpeth folk out of the feendes snare.
572: And so ferforth she gan oure lay declare
573: That she the constable, er that it was eve
574: Converted, and on crist made hym bileve.
575: This constable was nothyng lord of this place
576: Of which I speke, ther he custance fond,
577: But kepte it strongly many a wyntres space
578: Under alla, kyng of al northhumbrelond,
579: That was ful wys, and worthy of his hond
580: Agayn the scottes, as men may wel heere;
581: But turne I wole agayn to my mateere.
582: Sathan, that evere us waiteth to bigile,
583: Saugh of custance al hire perfeccioun,
584: And caste anon how he myghte quite hir while,
585: And made a yong knyght that dwelte in that toun
586: Love hire so hoote, of foul affeccioun,
587: That verraily hym thoughte he sholde spille,
588: But he of hire myghte ones have his wille.
589: He woweth hire, but it availleth noght;
590: She wolde do no synne, by no weye.
591: And for despit he compassed in his thoght
592: To maken hire on shameful deeth to deye.
593: He wayteth whan the constable was aweye,
594: And pryvely upon a nyght he crepte
595: In hermengyldes chambre, whil she slepte.
596: Wery, forwaked in hire orisouns,
597: Slepeth custance, and hermengyld also.
598: This knyght, thurgh sathanas temptaciouns,
599: Al softely is to the bed ygo,
600: And kitte the throte of hermengyld atwo,
601: And leyde the blody knyf by dame custance,
602: And wente his wey, ther God yeve hym meschance!
603: Soone after cometh this constable hoom agayn,
604: And eek alla, that kyng was of that lond,
605: And saugh his wyf despitously yslayn,
606: For which ful ofte he weep and wroong his hond,
607: And in the bed the blody knyf he fond
608: By dame custance. Allas! what myghte she seye?
609: For verray wo hir wit was al aweye.
610: To kyng alla was toold al this meschance,
611: And eek the tyme, and where, and in what wise
612: That in a ship was founden this custance,
613: As heer-biforn that ye han herd devyse.
614: The kynges herte of pitee gan agryse,
615: Whan he saugh so benigne a creature
616: Falle in disese and in mysaventure.
617: For as the lomb toward his deeth is broght,
618: So stant this innocent bifore the kyng.

Page 69

619: This false knyght, that hath this tresoun wroght,
620: Berth hire on hond that she hath doon thys thyng.
621: But nathelees, ther was greet moornyng
622: Among the peple, and seyn they kan nat gesse
623: That she had doon so greet a wikkednesse;
624: For they han seyn hire evere so vertuous,
625: And lovynge hermengyld right as hir lyf.
626: Of this baar witnesse everich in that hous,
627: Save he that hermengyld slow with his knyf.
628: This gentil kyng hath caught a greet motyf
629: Of this witnesse, and thoghte he wolde enquere
630: Depper in this, a trouthe for to lere.
631: Allas! custance, thou hast no champioun,
632: Ne fighte kanstow noght, so weylaway!
633: But he that starf for our redempcioun,
634: And boond sathan (and yet lith ther he lay),
635: So be thy stronge champion this day!
636: For, but if crist open myracle kithe,
637: Withouten gilt thou shalt be slayn as swithe.
638: She sette hire doun on knees, and thus she sayde:
639: Immortal god, that savedest susanne
640: Fro false blame, and thou, merciful mayde,
641: Marie I meene, doghter to seint anne,
642: Bifore whos child angeles synge osanne,
643: If I be giltlees of this felonye,
644: My socour be, for ellis shal I dye!
645: Have ye nat seyn somtyme a pale face,
646: Among a prees, of hym that hath be lad
647: Toward his deeth, wher as hym gat no grace,
648: And swich a colour in his face hath had,
649: Men myghte knowe his face that was bistad,
650: Amonges alle the faces in that route?
651: So stant custance, and looketh hire aboute.
652: O queenes, lyvynge in prosperitee,
653: Duchesses, and ye ladyes everichone,
654: Haveth som routhe on hire adversitee!
655: An emperoures doghter stant allone;
656: She hath no wight to whom to make hir mone.
657: O blood roial, that stondest in this drede,
658: Fer been thy freendes at thy grete nede!
659: This alla kyng hath swich compassioun,
660: As gentil herte is fulfild of pitee,
661: That from his eyen ran the water doun.
662: Now hastily do fecche a book, quod he,
663: And if this knyght wol sweren how that she
664: This womman slow, yet wol we us avyse
665: Whom that we wole that shal been oure justise.
666: A britoun book, written with evaungiles,
667: Was fet, and on this book he swoor anoon
668: She gilty was, and in the meene whiles
669: An hand hym smoot upon the nekke-boon,
670: That doun he fil atones as a stoon,
671: And bothe his eyen broste out of his face
672: In sighte of every body in that place.
673: A voys was herd in general audience,
674: And seyde, thou hast desclaundred, giltelees,
675: The doghter of hooly chirche in heigh presence;
676: Thus hastou doon, and yet holde I my pees!
677: Of this mervaille agast was al the prees;
678: As mazed folk they stoden everichone,
679: For drede of wreche, save custance allone.
680: Greet was the drede and eek the repentance
681: Of hem that hadden wrong suspecioun
682: Upon this sely innocent, custance;
683: And for this miracle, in conclusioun,
684: And by custances mediacioun,
685: The kyng -- and many another in that place --
686: Converted was, thanked be cristes grace!
687: This false knyght was slayn for his untrouthe
688: By juggement of alla hastifly;
689: And yet custance hadde of his deeth greet routhe.
690: And after this jhesus, of his mercy,
691: Made alla wedden ful solempnely
692: This hooly mayden, that is so bright and sheene;
693: And thus hath crist ymaad custance a queene.
694: But who was woful, if I shal nat lye,
695: Of this weddyng but donegild, and namo,
696: The kynges mooder, ful of tirannye?
697: Hir thoughte hir cursed herte brast atwo.
698: She wolde noght hir sone had do so;
699: Hir thoughte a despit that he sholde take
700: So strange a creature unto his make.
701: Me list nat of the chaf, ne of the stree,
702: Maken so long a tale as of the corn.
703: What sholde I tellen of the roialtee
704: At mariage, or which cours goth biforn;
705: Who bloweth in a trumpe or in an horn?
706: The fruyt of every tale is for to seye:
707: They ete, and drynke, and daunce, and synge, and pleye.

Page 70

708: They goon to bedde, as it was skile and right;
709: For thogh that wyves be ful hooly thynges,
710: They moste take in pacience at nyght
711: Swiche manere necessaries as been plesynges
712: To folk that han ywedded hem with rynges,
713: And leye a lite hir hoolynesse aside,
714: As for the tyme, -- it may no bet bitide.
715: On hire he gat a knave child anon,
716: And to a bisshop, and his constable eke,
717: He took his wyf to kepe, whan he is gon
718: To scotlond-ward, his foomen for to seke.
719: Now faire custance, that is so humble and meke,
720: So longe is goon with childe, til that stille
721: She halt hire chambre, abidyng cristes wille.
722: The tyme is come a knave child she beer;
723: Mauricius at the fontstoon they hym calle.
724: This constable dooth forth come a messageer,
725: And wroot unto his kyng, that cleped was alle,
726: How that this blisful tidyng is bifalle,
727: And othere tidynges spedeful for to seye.
728: He taketh the lettre, and forth he gooth his weye.
729: This messager, to doon his avantage,
730: Unto the kynges mooder rideth swithe,
731: And salueth hire ful faire in his langage:
732: Madame, quod he, ye may be glad and blithe,
733: And thanketh God an hundred thousand sithe!
734: My lady queene hath child, withouten doute,
735: To joye and blisse to al this regne aboute.
736: Lo, heere the lettres seled of this thyng,
737: That I moot bere with al the haste I may.
738: If ye wol aught unto youre sone the kyng,
739: I am youre servant, bothe nyght and day.
740: Donegild answerde, as now at this tyme, nay;
741: But heere al nyght I wol thou take thy reste.
742: To-morwe wol I seye thee what me leste.
743: This messager drank sadly ale and wyn,
744: And stolen were his lettres pryvely
745: Out of his box, whil he sleep as a swyn;
746: And countrefeted was ful subtilly
747: Another lettre, wroght ful synfully,
748: Unto the kyng direct of this mateere
749: Fro his constable, as ye shal after heere.
750: The lettre spak the queene delivered was
751: Of so horrible a feendly creature
752: That in the castel noon so hardy was
753: That any while dorste ther endure.
754: The mooder was an elf, by aventure
755: Ycomen, by charmes or by sorcerie,
756: And every wight hateth hir compaignye.
757: Wo was this kyng whan he this lettre had sayn,
758: But to no wight he tolde his sorwes soore,
759: But of his owene hand he wroot agayn,
760: Welcome the sonde of crist for everemoore
761: To me that am now lerned in his loore!
762: Lord, welcome be thy lust and thy plesaunce;
763: My lust I putte al in thyn ordinaunce.
764: Kepeth this child, al be it foul or feir,
765: And eek my wyf, unto myn hoom-comynge.
766: Crist, whan hym list, may sende me an heir
767: Moore agreable than this to my likynge.
768: This lettre he seleth, pryvely wepynge,
769: Which to the messager was take soone,
770: And forth he gooth; ther is na moore to doone.
771: O messager, fulfild of dronkenesse,
772: Strong is thy breeth, thy lymes faltren ay,
773: And thou biwreyest alle secreenesse.
774: Thy mynde is lorn, thou janglest as a jay,
775: Thy face is turned in a newe array.
776: Ther dronkenesse regneth in any route,
777: Ther is no conseil hyd, withouten doute.
778: O donegild, I ne have noon englissh digne
779: Unto thy malice and thy tirannye!
780: And therfore to the feend I thee resigne;
781: Lat hym enditen of thy traitorie!
782: Fy, mannysh, fy! -- o nay, by god, I lye --
783: Fy, feendlych spirit, for I dar wel telle,
784: Thogh thou heere walke, thy spirit is in helle!
785: This messager comth fro the kyng agayn,
786: And at the kynges moodres court he lighte,
787: And she was of this messager ful fayn,
788: And plesed hym in al that ever she myghte.
789: He drank, and wel his girdel underpighte;
790: He slepeth, and he fnorteth in his gyse
791: Al nyght, til the sonne gan aryse.
792: Eft were his lettres stolen everychon,
793: And countrefeted lettres in this wyse:
794: The king comandeth his constable anon,
795: Up peyne of hangyng, and on heigh juyse,
796: That he ne sholde suffren in no wyse
797: Custance in-with his reawme for t' abyde
798: Thre dayes and o quarter of a tyde;

Page 71

799: But in the same ship as he hire fond,
800: Hire, and hir yonge sone, and al hir geere,
801: He sholde putte, and croude hire fro the lond,
802: And charge hire that she never eft coome theere.
803: O my custance, wel may thy goost have feere,
804: And, slepynge, in thy dreem been in penance,
805: Whan donegild cast al this ordinance.
806: This messager on morwe, whan he wook,
807: Unto the castel halt the nexte way,
808: And to the constable he the lettre took;
809: And whan that he this pitous lettre say,
810: Ful ofte he seyde, allas! and weylaway!
811: Lord crist, quod he, how may this world endure,
812: So ful of synne is many a creature?
813: O myghty god, if that it be thy wille,
814: Sith thou art rightful juge, how may it be
815: That thou wolt suffren innocentz to spille,
816: And wikked folk regne in prosperitee?
817: O goode custance, allas! so wo is me
818: That I moot be thy tormentour, or deye
819: On shames deeth; ther is noon oother weye.
820: Wepen bothe yonge and olde in al that place
821: Whan that the kyng this cursed lettre sente,
822: And custance, with a deedly pale face,
823: The ferthe day toward hir ship she wente.
824: But nathelees she taketh in good entente
825: The wyl of crist, and knelynge on the stronde,
826: She seyde, lord, ay welcome be thy sonde!
827: He that me kepte fro the false blame
828: While I was on the lond amonges yow,
829: He kan me kepe from harm and eek fro shame
830: In salte see, althogh I se noght how.
831: As strong as evere he was, he is yet now.
832: In hym triste I, and in his mooder deere,
833: That is to me my seyl and eek my steere.
834: Hir litel child lay wepyng in hir arm,
835: And knelynge, pitously to hym she seyde,
836: Pees, litel sone, I wol do thee noon harm.
837: With that hir coverchief of hir heed she breyde,
838: And over his litel eyen she it leyde,
839: And in hir arm she lulleth it ful faste,
840: And into hevene hire eyen up she caste.
841: Mooder, quod she, and mayde bright, marie,
842: Sooth is that thurgh wommanes eggement
843: Mankynde was lorn, and damned ay to dye,
844: For which thy child was on a croys yrent.
845: Thy blisful eyen sawe al his torment;
846: Thanne is ther no comparison bitwene
847: Thy wo and any wo man may sustene.
848: Thow sawe thy child yslayn bifore thyne yen,
849: And yet now lyveth my litel child, parfay!
850: Now, lady bright, to whom alle woful cryen,
851: Thow glorie of wommanhede, thow faire may,
852: Thow haven of refut, brighte sterre of day,
853: Rewe on my child, that of thy gentillesse,
854: Rewest on every reweful in distresse.
855: O litel child, allas! what is thy gilt,
856: That nevere wroghtest synne as yet, pardee?
857: Why wil thyn harde fader han thee spilt?
858: O mercy, deere constable, quod she,
859: As lat my litel child dwelle heer with thee;
860: And if thou darst nat saven hym, for blame,
861: So kys hym ones in his fadres name!
862: Therwith she looked bakward to the londe,
863: And seyde, farewel, housbonde routhelees!
864: And up she rist, and walketh doun the stronde
865: Toward the ship, -- hir folweth al the prees, --
866: And evere she preyeth hire child to holde his pees;
867: And taketh hir leve, and with an hooly entente
868: She blisseth hire, and into ship she wente.
869: Vitailled was the ship, it is no drede,
870: Habundantly for hire ful longe space,
871: And othere necessaries that sholde nede
872: She hadde ynogh, heryed be goddes grace!
873: For wynd and weder almyghty God purchace,
874: And brynge hire hoom! I kan no bettre seye,
875: But in the see she dryveth forth hir weye.
876: Alla the kyng comth hoom soone after this
877: Unto his castel, of the which I tolde,
878: And asketh where his wyf and his child is.
879: The constable gan aboute his herte colde,
880: And pleynly al the manere he hym tolde
881: As ye han herd -- i kan telle it no bettre --
882: And sheweth the kyng his seel and eek his lettre,
883: And seyde, lord, as ye comanded me
884: Up peyne of deeth, so have I doon, certein.
885: This messager tormented was til he

Page 72

886: Moste biknowe and tellen, plat and pleyn,
887: Fro nyght to nyght, in what place he had leyn;
888: And thus, by with and sotil enquerynge,
889: Ymagined was by whom this harm gan sprynge.
890: The hand was knowe that the lettre wroot,
891: And al the venym of this cursed dede,
892: But in what wise, certeinly, I noot.
893: Th' effect is this, that alla, out of drede,
894: His mooder slow -- that may men pleynly rede --
895: For that she traitour was to hire ligeance.
896: Thus endeth olde donegild, with meschance!
897: The sorwe that this alla nyght and day
898: Maketh for his wyf, and for his child also,
899: Ther is no tonge that it telle may.
900: But now wol I unto custance go,
901: That fleteth in the see, in peyne and wo,
902: Fyve yeer and moore, as liked cristes sonde,
903: Er that hir ship approched unto londe.
904: Under an hethen castel, atte laste,
905: Of which the name in my text noght I fynde,
906: Custance, and eek hir child, the see up caste.
907: Almyghty god, that saveth al mankynde,
908: Have on custance and on hir child som mynde,
909: That fallen is in hethen hand eft soone,
910: In point to spille, as I shal telle yow soone.
911: Doun fro the castel comth ther many a wight
912: To gauren on this ship and on custance.
913: But shortly, from the castel, on a nyght,
914: The lordes styward -- God yeve hym meschance! --
915: A theef, that hadde reneyed oure creance,
916: Cam into ship allone, and seyde he sholde
917: Hir lemman be, wher-so she wolde or nolde.
918: Wo was this wrecched womman tho bigon;
919: Hir child cride, and she cride pitously.
920: But blisful marie heelp hire right anon;
921: For with hir struglyng wel and myghtily
922: The theef fil over bord al sodeynly,
923: And in the see he dreynte for vengeance;
924: And thus hath crist unwemmed kept custance.
925: O foule lust of luxurie, lo, thyn ende!
926: Nat oonly that thou feyntest mannes mynde,
927: But verraily thou wolt his body shende.
928: Th' ende of thy werk, or of thy lustes blynde,
929: Is compleynyng. Hou many oon may men fynde
930: That noght for werk somtyme, but for th' entente
931: To doon this synne, been outher slayn or shente!
932: How may this wayke womman han this strengthe
933: Hire to defende agayn this renegat?
934: O golias, unmesurable of lengthe,
935: Hou myghte david make thee so maat,
936: So yong and of armure so desolaat?
937: Hou dorste he looke upon thy dredful face?
938: Wel may men seen, it nas but goddes grace.
939: Who yaf judith corage or hardynesse
940: To sleen hym olofernus in his tente,
941: And to deliveren out of wrecchednesse
942: The peple of god? I seye, for this entente,
943: That right as God spirit of vigour sente
944: To hem, and saved hem out of meschance,
945: So sente he myght and vigour to custance.
946: Forth gooth hir ship thurghout the narwe mouth
947: Of jubaltare and septe, dryvynge ay
948: Somtyme west, and somtyme north and south,
949: And somtyme est, ful many a wery day,
950: Til cristes mooder -- blessed be she ay! --
951: Hath shapen, thurgh hir endelees goodnesse,
952: To make an ende of al hir hevynesse.
953: Now lat us stynte of custance but a throwe,
954: And speke we of the romayn emperour,
955: That out of surrye hath by lettres knowe
956: The slaughtre of cristen folk, and dishonour
957: Doon to his doghter by a fals traytour,
958: I mene the cursed wikked sowdanesse
959: That at the feeste leet sleen bothe moore and lesse.
960: For which this emperour hath sent anon
961: His senatour, with roial ordinance,
962: And othere lordes, God woot, many oon,
963: On surryens to taken heigh vengeance.
964: They brennen, sleen, and brynge hem to meschance
965: Ful many a day; but shortly, this is th' ende,
966: Homward to rome they shapen hem to wende.
967: This senatour repaireth with victorie
968: To rome-ward, saillynge ful roially,
969: And mette the ship dryvynge, as seith the storie,
970: In which custance sit ful pitously.
971: Nothyng ne knew he what she was, ne why
972: She was in swich array, ne she nyl seye
973: Of hire estaat, althogh she sholde deye.
974: He bryngeth hire to rome, and to his wyf
975: He yaf hire, and hir yonge sone also;

Page 73

976: And with the senatour she ladde hir lyf.
977: Thus kan oure lady bryngen out of wo
978: Woful custance, and many another mo.
979: And longe tyme dwelled she in that place,
980: In hooly werkes evere, as was hir grace.
981: The senatoures wyf hir aunte was,
982: But for al that she knew hire never the moore.
983: I wol no lenger tarien in this cas,
984: But to kyng alla, which I spak of yoore,
985: That for his wyf wepeth and siketh soore,
986: I wol retourne, and lete I wol custance
987: Under the senatoures governance.
988: Kyng alla, which that hadde his mooder slayn,
989: Upon a day fil in swich repentance
990: That, if I shortly tellen shal and playn,
991: To rome he comth to receyven his penance;
992: And putte hym in the popes ordinance
993: In heigh and logh, and jhesu crist bisoghte
994: Foryeve his wikked werkes that he wroghte.
995: The fame anon thurgh rome toun is born,
996: How alla kyng shal comen in pilgrymage,
997: By herbergeours that wenten hym biforn;
998: For which the senatour, as was usage,
999: Rood hym agayns, and many of his lynage,
1000: As wel to shewen his heighe magnificence
1001: As to doon any kyng a reverence.
1002: Greet cheere dooth this noble senatour
1003: To kyng alla, and he to hym also;
1004: Everich of hem dooth oother greet honour.
1005: And so bifel that in a day or two
1006: This senatour is to kyng alla go
1007: To feste, and shortly, if I shal nat lye,
1008: Custances sone wente in his compaignye.
1009: Som men wolde seyn at requeste of custance
1010: This senatour hath lad this child to feeste;
1011: I may nat tellen every circumstance, --
1012: Be as be may, ther was he at the leeste.
1013: But sooth is this, that at his moodres heeste
1014: Biforn alla, durynge the metes space,
1015: The child stood, lookynge in the kynges face.
1016: This alla kyng hath of this child greet wonder,
1017: And to the senatour he seyde anon,
1018: Whos is that faire child that stondeth yonder?
1019: I noot, quod he, by god, and by seint john!
1020: A mooder he hath, but fader hath he noon
1021: That I of woot -- and shortly, in a stounde,
1022: He tolde alla how that this child was founde.
1023: But God woot, quod this senatour also,
1024: So vertuous a lyvere in my lyf
1025: Ne saugh I nevere as she, ne herde of mo,
1026: Of worldly wommen, mayde, ne of wyf.
1027: I dar wel seyn hir hadde levere a knyf
1028: Thurghout hir brest, than ben a womman wikke;
1029: There is no man koude brynge hire to that prikke.
1030: Now was this child as lyk unto custance
1031: As possible is a creature to be.
1032: This alla hath the face in remembrance
1033: Of dame custance, and ther on mused he
1034: If that the childes mooder were aught she
1035: That is his wyf, and pryvely he sighte,
1036: And spedde hym fro the table that he myghte.
1037: Parfay, thoghte he, fantome is in myn heed!
1038: I oghte deme, of skilful juggement,
1039: That in the salte see my wyf is deed.
1040: And afterward he made his argument:
1041: What woot I if that crist have hyder ysent
1042: My wyf by see, as wel as he hire sente
1043: To my contree fro thennes that she wente?
1044: And after noon, hoom with the senatour
1045: Goth alla, for to seen this wonder chaunce.
1046: This senatour dooth alla greet honour,
1047: And hastifly he sente after custaunce.
1048: But trusteth weel, hire liste nat to daunce,
1049: Whan that she wiste wherfore was that sonde;
1050: Unnethe upon hir feet she myghte stonde.
1051: Whan alla saugh his wyf, faire he hire grette,
1052: And weep, that it was routhe for to see;
1053: For at the firste look he on hire sette,
1054: He knew wel verraily that it was she.
1055: And she, for sorwe, as doumb stant as a tree,
1056: So was hir herte shet in hir distresse,
1057: Whan she remembred his unkyndenesse.
1058: Twyes she swowned in his owene sighte;
1059: He weep, and hym excuseth pitously.
1060: Now god, quod he, and alle his halwes brighte
1061: So wisly on my soule as have mercy,
1062: That of youre harm as giltelees am I
1063: As is maurice my sone, so lyk youre face;
1064: Elles the feend me fecche out of this place!

Page 74

1065: Long was the sobbyng and the bitter peyne,
1066: Er that hir woful hertes myghte cesse;
1067: Greet was the pitee for to heere hem pleyne,
1068: Thurgh whiche pleintes gan hir wo encresse.
1069: I pray yow alle my labour to relesse;
1070: I may nat telle hir wo until to-morwe,
1071: I am so wery for to speke of sorwe.
1072: But finally, whan that the sothe is wist
1073: That alla giltelees was of hir wo,
1074: I trowe an hundred tymes been they kist,
1075: And swich a blisse is ther bitwix hem two
1076: That, save the joye that lasteth everemo,
1077: Ther is noon lyk that any creature
1078: Hath seyn or shal, whil that the world may dure.
1079: Tho preyde she hir housbonde mekely,
1080: In relief of hir longe, pitous pyne,
1081: That he wolde preye hir fader specially
1082: That of his magestee he wolde enclyne
1083: To vouche sauf som day with hym to dyne.
1084: She preyde hym eek he sholde by no weye
1085: Unto hir fader no word of hire seye.
1086: Som men wolde seyn how that the child maurice
1087: Dooth this message unto this emperour;
1088: But, as I gesse, alla was nat so nyce
1089: To hym that was of so sovereyn honour
1090: As he that is of cristen folk the flour,
1091: Sente any child, but it is bet to deeme
1092: He wente hymself, and so it may wel seeme.
1093: This emperour hath graunted gentilly
1094: To come to dyner, as he hym bisoughte;
1095: And wel rede I he looked bisily
1096: Upon this child, and on his doghter thoghte.
1097: Alla goth to his in, and as hym oghte,
1098: Arrayed for this feste in every wise
1099: As ferforth as his konnyng may suffise.
1100: The morwe cam, and alla gan hym dresse,
1101: And eek his wyf, this emperour to meete;
1102: And forth they ryde in joye and in gladnesse.
1103: And whan she saugh hir fader in the strete,
1104: She lighte doun, and falleth hym to feete.
1105: Fader, quod she, youre yonge child custance
1106: Is now ful clene out of youre remembrance.
1107: I am youre doghter custance, quod she,
1108: That whilom ye han sent unto surrye.
1109: It am I, fader, that in the salte see
1110: Was put allone and dampned for to dye.
1111: Now, goode fader, mercy I yow crye!
1112: Sende me namoore unto noon hethenesse,
1113: But thonketh my lord heere of his kyndenesse.
1114: Who kan the pitous joye tellen al
1115: Bitwixe hem thre, syn they been thus ymette?
1116: But of my tale make an ende I shal;
1117: The day goth faste, I wol no lenger lette.
1118: This glade folk to dyner they hem sette;
1119: In joye and blisse at mete I lete hem dwelle
1120: A thousand foold wel moore than I kan telle.
1121: This child maurice with sithen emperour
1122: Maad by the pope, and lyved cristenly;
1123: To cristes chirche he dide greet honour.
1124: But I lete al his storie passen by;
1125: Of custance is my tale specially.
1126: In the olde romayn geestes may men fynde
1127: Maurices lyf; I bere it noght in mynde.
1128: This kyng alla, whan he his tyme say,
1129: With his custance, his hooly wyf so sweete,
1130: To engelond been they come the righte way,
1131: Wher as they lyve in joye and in quiete.
1132: But litel while it lasteth, I yow heete,
1133: Joye of this world, for tyme wol nat abyde;
1134: Fro day to nyght it changeth as the tyde.
1135: Who lyved euere in swich delit o day
1136: That hym ne moeved outher conscience,
1137: Or ire, or talent, or som kynnes affray,
1138: Envye, or pride, or passion, or offence?
1139: I ne seye but for this ende this sentence,
1140: That litel while in joye or in plesance
1141: Lasteth the blisse of alla with custance.
1142: For deeth, that taketh of heigh and logh his rente,
1143: Whan passed was a yeer, evene as I gesse,
1144: Out of this world this kyng alla he hente,
1145: For whom custance hath ful greet hevynesse.
1146: Now lat us prayen God his soule blesse!
1147: And dame custance, finally to seye,
1148: Toward the toun of rome goth hir weye.
1149: To rome is come this hooly creature,
1150: And fyndeth hire freendes hoole and sounde;
1151: Now is she scaped al hire aventure.
1152: And whan that she hir fader hath yfounde,
1153: Doun on hir knees falleth she to grounde;
1154: Wepynge for tendrenesse in herte blithe,
1155: She heryeth God an hundred thousand sithe.

Page 75

1156: In vertu and in hooly almus-dede
1157: They lyven alle, and nevere asonder wende;
1158: Til deeth departeth hem, this lyf they lede.
1159: And fareth now weel! my tale is at an ende.
1160: Now jhesu crist, that of his myght may sende
1161: Joye after wo, governe us in his grace,
1162: And kepe us alle that been in this place! amen

The Man of Law's Epilogue

1163: (Owre hoost upon his stiropes stood anon,
1164: And seyde, goode men, herkeneth everych on!
1165: This was a thrifty tale for the nones!
1166: Sir parisshe prest, quod he, for goddes bones,
1167: Telle us a tale, as was thi forward yore.
1168: I se wel that ye lerned men in lore
1169: Can moche good, by goddes dignitee!
1170: The parson hem answerde, benedicite!
1171: What eyleth the man, so synfully to swere?
1172: Oure host answerde, o jankin, be ye there?
1173: I smelle a lollere in the wynd, quod he.
1174: Now! goode men, quod oure hoste, herkeneth me;
1175: Abydeth, for goddes digne passioun,
1176: For we schal han a predicacioun;
1177: This lollere heer wil prechen us somwhat.
1178: Nay, by my fader soule, that schal he nat!
1179: Seyde the shipman; heer schal he nat preche;
1180: He schal no gospel glosen here ne teche.
1181: We leven alle in the grete god, quod he;
1182: He wolde sowen som difficulte,
1183: Or springen cokkel in our clene corn.
1184: And therfore, hoost, I warne thee biforn,
1185: My joly body schal a tale telle,
1186: And I schal clynken you so mery a belle,
1187: That I schal waken al this compaignie.
1188: But it schal not ben of philosophie,
1189: Ne phislyas, ne termes queinte of lawe.
1190: Ther is but litel latyn in my mawe!)

Page 76

The Wife of Bath's Prologue

1: Experience, though noon auctoritee
2: Were in this world, is right ynogh for me
3: To speke of wo that is in mariage;
4: For, lordynges, sith I twelve yeer was of age,
5: Thonked be God that is eterne on lyve,
6: Housbondes at chirche dore I have had fyve, --
7: If I so ofte myghte have ywedded bee, --
8: And alle were worthy men in hir degree.
9: But me was toold, certeyn, nat longe agoon is,
10: That sith that crist ne wente nevere but onis
11: To weddyng, in the cane of galilee,
12: That by the same ensample taughte he me
13: That I ne sholde wedded be but ones.
14: Herkne eek, lo, which a sharp word for the nones,
15: Biside a welle, jhesus, God and man,
16: Spak in repreeve of the samaritan:
17: Thou hast yhad fyve housbondes, -- quod he,
18: -- And that ilke man that now hath thee
19: Is noght thyn housbonde, -- thus seyde he certeyn.
20: What that he mente therby, I kan nat seyn;
21: But that I axe, why that the fifthe man
22: Was noon housbonde to the samaritan?
23: How manye myghte she have in mariage?
24: Yet herde I nevere tellen in myn age
25: Upon this nombre diffinicioun.
26: Men may devyne and glosen, up and doun,
27: But wel I woot, expres, withoute lye,
28: God bad us for to wexe and multiplye;
29: That gentil text kan I wel understonde.
30: Eek wel I woot, he seyde myn housbonde
31: Sholde lete fader and mooder, and take to me.
32: But of no nombre mencion made he,
33: Of bigamye, or of octogamye;
34: Why sholde men thanne speke of it vileynye?
35: Lo, heere the wise kyng, daun salomon;
36: I trowe he hadde wyves mo than oon.
37: As wolde God it were leveful unto me
38: To be refresshed half so ofte as he!
39: Which yifte of God hadde he for alle his wyvys!
40: No man hath swich that in this world alyve is.
41: God woot, this noble kyng, as to my wit,
42: The firste nyght had many a myrie fit
43: With ech of hem, so wel was hym on lyve.
44: Yblessed be God that I have wedded fyve!
45: Welcome the sixte, whan that evere he shal.
46: For sothe, I wol nat kepe me chaast in al.
47: Whan myn housbonde is fro the world ygon,
48: Som cristen man shal wedde me anon,
49: For thanne, th' apostle seith that I am free
50: To wedde, a goddes half, where it liketh me.
51: He seith that to be wedded is no synne;
52: Bet is to be wedded than to brynne
53: What rekketh me, thogh folk seye vileynye
54: Of shrewed lameth and his bigamye?
55: I woot wel abraham was an hooly man,
56: And jacob eek, as ferforth as I kan;
57: And ech of hem hadde wyves mo than two,
58: And many another holy man also.
59: Wher can ye seye, in any manere age,
60: That hye God defended mariage
61: By expres word? I pray yow, telleth me.
62: Or where comanded he virginitee?
63: I woot as wel as ye, it is no drede,
64: Th' apostel, whan he speketh of maydenhede,
65: He seyde that precept therof hadde he noon.
66: Men may conseille a womman to been oon,
67: But conseillyng is no comandement.
68: He putte it in oure owene juggement;
69: For hadde God comanded maydenhede,
70: Thanne hadde he dampned weddyng with the dede.
71: And certes, if ther were no seed ysowe,
72: Virginitee, thanne wherof sholde it growe?
73: Poul dorste nat comanden, atte leeste,
74: A thyng of which his maister yaf noon heeste.
75: The dart is set up for birginitee:
76: Cacche whoso may, who renneth best lat see.
77: But this word is nat taken of every wight,
78: But ther as God lust gyve it of his myght.
79: I woot wel that th' apostel was a mayde;

Page 77

80: But nathelees, thogh that he wroot and sayde
81: He wolde that every wight were swich as he,
82: Al nys but conseil to virginitee.
83: And for to been a wyf he yaf me leve
84: Of indulgence; so nys it no repreve
85: To wedde me, if that my make dye,
86: Withouten excepcion of bigamye.
87: Al were it good no womman for to touche, --
88: He mente as in his bed or in his couche;
89: For peril is bothe fyr and tow t' assemble:
90: Ye knowe what this ensample may resemble.
91: This is al and som, he heeld virginitee
92: Moore parfit than weddyng in freletee.
93: Freletee clepe I, but if that he and she
94: Wolde leden al hir lyf in chastitee.
95: I graunte it wel, I have noon envie,
96: Thogh maydenhede preferre bigamye.
97: It liketh hem to be clene, body and goost;
98: Of myn estaat I nyl nat make no boost.
99: For wel ye knowe, a lord in his houshold,
100: He nath nat every vessel al of gold;
101: Somme been of tree, and doon hir lord servyse.
102: God clepeth folk to hym in sondry wyse,
103: And everich hath of God a propre yifte,
104: Som this, som that, as hym liketh shifte.
105: Virginitee is greet perfeccion,
106: And continence eek with devocion,
107: But crist, that of perfeccion is welle,
108: Bad nat every wight he sholde go selle
109: Al that he hadde, and gyve it to the poore
110: And in swich wise folwe hym and his foore.
111: He spak to hem that wolde lyve parfitly;
112: And lordynges, by youre leve, that am nat I.
113: I wol bistowe the flour of al myn age
114: In the actes and in fruyt of mariage.
115: Telle me also, to what conclusion
116: Were membres maad of generacion,
117: And of so parfit wys a wight ywroght?
118: Trusteth right wel, they were nat maad for noght.
119: Glose whoso wole, and seye bothe up and doun,
120: That they were maked for purgacioun
121: Of uryne, and oure bothe thynges smale
122: Were eek to knowe a femele from a male,
123: And for noon oother cause, -- say ye no?
124: The experience woot wel it is noght so.
125: So that the clerkes be nat with me wrothe,
126: I sey this, that they maked ben for bothe,
127: This is to seye, for office, and for ese
128: Of engendrure, ther we nat God displese.
129: Why sholde men elles in hir bookes sette
130: That man shal yelde to his wyf hire dette?
131: Now wherwith sholde he make his paiement,
132: If he ne used his sely instrument?
133: Thanne were they maad upon a creature
134: To purge uryne, and eek for engendrure.
135: But I seye noght that every wight is holde,
136: That hath swich harneys as I to yow tolde,
137: To goon and usen hem in engendrure.
138: Thanne sholde men take of chastitee no cure.
139: Crist was a mayde, and shapen as a man,
140: And many a seint, sith that the world bigan;
141: Yet lyved they evere in parfit chastitee.
142: I nyl envye no virginitee.
143: Lat hem be breed of pured whete-seed,
144: And lat us wyves hoten barly-breed;
145: And yet with barly-breed, mark telle kan,
146: Oure lord jhesu refresshed many a man.
147: In swich estaat as God hath cleped us
148: I wol persevere; I nam nat precius.
149: In wyfhod I wol use myn instrument
150: As frely as my makere hath it sent.
151: If I be daungerous, God yeve me sorwe!
152: Myn housbonde shal it have bothe eve and morwe,
153: Whan that hym list come forth and paye his dette.
154: An housbonde I wol have, I wol nat lette,
155: Which shal be bothe my dettour and my thral,
156: And have his tribulacion withal
157: Upon his flessh, whil that I am his wyf.
158: I have the power durynge al my lyf
159: Upon his propre body, and noght he.
160: Right thus the apostel tolde it unto me;
161: And bad oure housbondes for to love us weel.
162: Al this sentence me liketh every deel --
163: Up stirte the pardoner, and that anon:
164: Now, dame, quod he, by God and by seint john!
165: Ye been a noble prechour in this cas.
166: I was aboute to wedde a wyf; allas!
167: What sholde I bye it on my flessh so deere?
168: Yet hadde I levere wedde no wyf to-yeere!
169: Abyde! quod she, my tale is nat bigonne.
170: Nay, thou shalt drynken of another tonne,
171: Er that I go, shal savoure wors than ale.
172: And whan that I have toold thee forth my tale
173: Of tribulacion in mariage,
174: Of which I am expert in al myn age,
175: This is to seyn, myself have been the whippe, --
176: Than maystow chese wheither thou wolt sippe
177: Of thilke tonne that I shal abroche.
178: Be war of it, er thou to ny approche;
179: For I shal telle ensamples mo than ten.
180: -- Whoso that nyl be war by othere men,
181: By hym shul othere men corrected be. --
182: The same wordes writeth ptholomee;
183: Rede in his almageste, and take it there.

Page 78

184: Dame, I wolde praye yow, if youre wyl it were,
185: Seyde this pardoner, as ye bigan,
186: Telle forth youre tale, spareth for no man,
187: And teche us yonge men of youre praktike.
188: Gladly, quod she, sith it may yow like;
189: But that I praye to al this compaignye,
190: If that I speke after my fantasye,
191: As taketh not agrief of that I seye;
192: For myn entente is nat but for to pleye.
193: Now, sire, now wol I telle forth my tale. --
194: As evere moote I drynken wyn or ale,
195: I shal seye sooth, tho housbondes that I hadde,
196: As thre of hem were goode, and two were badde.
197: The thre were goode men, and riche, and olde;
198: Unnethe myghte they the statut holde
199: In which that they were bounden unto me.
200: Ye woot wel what I meene of this, pardee!
201: As help me god, I laughe whan I thynke
202: How pitously a-nyght I made hem swynke!
203: And, by my fey, I tolde of it no stoor.
204: They had me yeven hir lond and hir tresoor;
205: Me neded nat do lenger diligence
206: To wynne hir love, or doon hem reverence.
207: They loved me so wel, by God above,
208: That I ne tolde no deyntee of hir love!
209: A wys womman wol bisye hire evere in oon
210: To gete hire love, ye, ther as she hath noon.
211: But sith I hadde hem hoolly in myn hond,
212: And sith they hadde me yeven al hir lond,
213: What sholde I taken keep hem for to plese,
214: But it were for my profit and myn ese?
215: I sette hem so a-werke, by my fey,
216: That many a nyght they songen -- weilawey! --
217: The bacon was nat fet for hem, I trowe,
218: That som men han in essex at dunmowe.
219: I governed hem so wel, after my lawe,
220: That ech of hem ful blisful was and fawe
221: To brynge me gaye thynges fro the fayre.
222: They were ful glad whan I spak to hem faire;
223: For, God it woot, I chidde hem spitously.
224: Now herkneth hou I baar me proprely,
225: Ye wise wyves, that kan understonde.
226: Thus shulde ye speke and bere hem wrong on honde;
227: For half so boldely kan ther no man
228: Swere and lyen, as a womman kan.
229: I sey nat this by wyves that been wyse,
230: But if it be whan they hem mysavyse.
231: A wys wyf shal, it that she kan hir good,
232: Bere hym on honde that the cow is wood,
233: And take witnesse of hir owene mayde
234: Of hir assemt; but herkneth how I sayde:
235: Sire olde kaynard, is this thyn array?
236: Why is my neighbores wyf so gay?
237: She is honoured over al ther she gooth;
238: I sitte at hoom I have no thrifty clooth.
239: What dostow at my neighebores hous?
240: Is she so fair? artow so amorous?
241: What rowne ye with oure mayde? benedicite!
242: Sire olde lecchour, lat thy japes be!
243: And if I have a gossib or a freend,
244: Withouten gilt, thou chidest as a feend,
245: If that I walke or pleye unto his hous!
246: Thou comest hoom as dronken as a mous,
247: And prechest on thy bench, with yvel preef!
248: Thou seist to me it is a greet meschief
249: To wedde a povre womman, for costage;
250: And if that she be riche, of heigh parage,
251: Thanne seistow that it is a tormentrie
252: To soffre hire pride and hire malencolie.
253: And if that she be fair, thou verray knave,
254: Thou seyst that every holour wol hire have;
255: She may no while in chastitee abyde,
256: That is assailled upon ech a syde.
257: Thou seyst som folk desiren us for richesse,
258: Somme for oure shap, and somme for oure fairnesse,
259: And som for she kan outher synge or daunce,
260: And som for gentillesse and daliaunce;
261: Som for hir handes and hir armes smale:
262: Thus goth al to the devel, by thy tale.
263: Thou seyst men may nat kepe a castel wal,
264: It may so longe assailled been over al.
265: And if that she be foul, thou seist that she
266: Coveiteth every man that she may se,
267: For as a spaynel she wol on hym lepe,
268: Til that she fynde som man hire to chepe.
269: Ne noon so grey goos gooth ther in the lake
270: As, seistow, wol been withoute make.
271: And seyst it is an hard thyng for to welde
272: A thyng that no man wole, his thankes, helde.
273: Thus seistow, lorel, whan thow goost to bedde;
274: And that no wys man nedeth for to wedde,
275: Ne no man that entendeth unto hevene.
276: With wilde thonder-dynt and firy levene
277: Moote thy welked nekke be tobroke!
278: Thow seyst that droppyng houses, and eek smoke,
279: And chidyng wyves maken men to flee
280: Out of his owene hous; a! benedicitee!
281: What eyleth swich an old man for to chide?
282: Thow seyst we wyves wol oure vices hide
283: Til we be fast, and thanne we wol hem shewe, --
284: Wel may that be a proverbe of a shrewe!
285: Thou seist that oxen, asses, hors, and houndes,

Page 79

286: They been assayed at diverse stoundes;
287: Bacyns, lavours, er that men hem bye,
288: Spoones and stooles, and al swich housbondrye,
289: And so been pottes, clothes, and array;
290: But folk of wyves maken noon assay,
291: Til they be wedded; olde dotard shrewe!
292: And thanne, seistow, we wol oure vices shewe.
293: Thou seist also that it displeseth me
294: But if that thou wolt preyse my beautee,
295: And but thou poure alwey upon my face,
296: And clepe me faire dame in every place.
297: And but thou make a feeste on thilke day
298: That I was born, and make me fressh and gay;
299: And but thou do to my norice honour,
300: And to my chamberere withinne my bour,
301: And to my fadres folk and his allyes, --
302: Thus seistow, olde barel-ful of lyes!
303: And yet of oure apprentice janekyn,
304: For his crispe heer, shynynge as gold so fyn,
305: And for he squiereth me bothe up and doun,
306: Yet hastow caught a fals suspecioun.
307: I wol hym noght, thogh thou were deed tomorwe!
308: But tel me this: why hydestow, with sorwe,
309: They keyes of thy cheste awey fro me?
310: It is my good as wel as thyn, pardee!
311: What, wenestow make an ydiot of oure dame?
312: Now by that lord that called is seint jame,
313: Thou shalt nat bothe, thogh that thou were wood,
314: Be maister of my body and of my good;
315: That oon thou shalt forgo, maugree thyne yen.
316: What helpith it of me to enquere or spyen?
317: I trowe thou woldest loke me in thy chiste?
318: Thou sholdest seye, wyf, go wher thee liste;
319: Taak youre disport, I wol nat leve no talys.
320: I knowe yow for a trewe wyf, dame alys.
321: We love no man that taketh kep or charge
322: Wher that we goon; we wol ben at oure large.
323: Of alle men yblessed moot he be,
324: The wise astrologien, daun ptholome,
325: That seith this proverbe in his almageste --
326: Of alle men his wysdom is the hyeste
327: That rekketh nevere who hath the world in honde.
328: By this proverbe thou shalt understonde,
329: Have thou ynogh, what thar thee recche or care
330: How myrily that othere folkes fare?
331: For, certeyn, olde dotard, by youre leve,
332: Ye shul have queynte right ynogh at eve.
333: He is to greet a nygard that wolde werne
334: A man to light a candle at his lanterne;
335: He shal have never the lasse light, pardee.
336: Have thou ynogh, thee thar nat pleyne thee.
337: Thou seyst also, that if we make us gay
338: With clothyng, and with precious array,
339: That it is peril of oure chastitee;
340: And yet, with sorwe! thou most enforce thee,
341: And seye thise wordes in the apostles name:
342: in habit maad with chastitee and shame
343: Ye wommen shul apparaille yow, quod he,
344: And noght in tressed heer and gay perree,
345: As perles, ne with gold, ne clothes riche.
346: After thy text, ne after thy rubriche,
347: I wol nat wirche as muchel as a gnat.
348: Thou seydest this, that I was lyk a cat;
349: For whoso wolde senge a cattes skyn,
350: Thanne wolde the cat wel dwellen in his in;
351: And if the cattes skyn be slyk and gay,
352: She wol nat dwelle in house half a day,
353: But forth she wole, er any day be dawed,
354: To shewe hir skyn, and goon a-caterwawed.
355: This is to seye, if I be gay, sire shrewe,
356: I wol renne out, my borel for to shewe.
357: Sire olde fool, what helpeth thee to spyen?
358: Thogh thou preye argus with his hundred yen
359: To be my warde-cors, as he kan best,
360: In feith, he shal nat kepe me but me lest;
361: Yet koude I make his berd, so moot I thee!
362: Thou seydest eek that ther been thynges thre,
363: The whiche thynges troublen al this erthe,
364: And that no wight may endure the ferthe.
365: O leeve sire shrewe, jhesu shorte thy lyf!
366: Yet prechestow and seyst and hateful wyf
367: Yrekened is for oon of thise meschances.
368: Been ther none othere maner resemblances
369: That ye may likne youre parables to,
370: But if a sely wyf be oon of tho?
371: Thou liknest eek wommenes love to helle,
372: To bareyne lond, ther water may nat dwelle.
373: Thou liknest it also to wilde fyr;
374: The moore it brenneth, the moore it hath desir
375: To consume every thyng that brent wole be.
376: Thou seyest, right as wormes shende a tree,
377: Right so a wyf destroyeth hire housbonde;
378: This knowe they that been to wyves bonde. --
379: Lordynges, right thus, as ye have understonde,
380: Baar I stifly myne olde housbondes on honde
381: That thus they seyden in hir dronkenesse;
382: And al was fals, but that I took witnesse
383: On janekyn, and on my nece also.
384: O lord! the peyne I dide hem and the wo,
385: Ful giltelees, by goddes sweete pyne!
386: For as an hors I koude byte and whyne.
387: I koude pleyne, and yit was in the gilt,
388: Or elles often tyme hadde I been spilt.

Page 80

389: Whose that first to mille comth, first grynt;
390: I pleyned first, so was oure werre ystynt.
391: They were ful glade to excuse hem blyve
392: Of thyng of which they nevere agilte hir lyve.
393: Of wenches wolde I beren hem on honde,
394: Whan that for syk unnethes myghte they stonde.
395: Yet tikled I his herte, for that he
396: Wende that I hadde of hym so greet chiertee!
397: I swoor that al my walkynge out by nyghte
398: Was for t' espye wenches that he dighte;
399: Under that colour hadde I many a myrthe.
400: For al swich wit is yeven us in oure byrthe;
401: Deceite, wepyng, spynnyng God hath yive
402: To wommen kyndely, whil that they may lyve.
403: And thus of o thyng I avaunte me,
404: Atte ende I hadde the bettre in ech degree,
405: By sleighte, or force, or by som maner thyng,
406: As by continueel murmur or grucchyng.
407: Namely abedde hadden they meschaunce:
408: Ther wolde I chide, and do hem no plesaunce;
409: I wolde no lenger in the bed abyde,
410: If that I felte his arm over my syde,
411: Til he had maad his raunson unto me;
412: Thanne wolde I suffre hym do his necetee.
413: And therfore every man this tale I telle,
414: Wynne whose may, for al is for to selle;
415: With empty hand men may none haukes lure.
416: For wynnyng wolde I al his lust endure,
417: And make me feyned appetit;
418: And yet in bacon hadde I nevere delit;
419: That made me that evere I wolde hem chide.
420: For thogh the pope hadde seten hem biside,
421: I wolde nat spare hem at hir owene bord;
422: For, by my trouthe, I quitte hem word for word.
423: As helpe me verray God omnipotent,
424: Though I right now sholde make my testament,
425: I ne owe hem nat a word that it nys quit.
426: I broghte it so aboute by my wit
427: That they moste yeve it up, as for the beste,
428: Or elles hadde we nevere been in reste.
429: For thogh he looked as a wood leon,
430: Yet sholde he faille of his conclusion.
431: Thanne wolde I seye, -- goode lief, taak keep
432: How mekely looketh wilkyn, oure sheep!
433: Com neer, my spouse, lat me ba thy cheke!
434: Ye sholde been al pacient and meke,
435: And han a sweete spiced conscience,
436: Sith ye so preche of jobes pacience.
437: Suffreth alwey, syn ye so wel kan preche;
438: And but ye do, certein we shal yow teche
439: That it is fair to have a wyf in pees.
440: Oon of us two moste bowen, doutelees;
441: And sith a man is moore resonable
442: Than womman is, ye moste been suffrable.
443: What eyleth yow to grucche thus and grone?
444: Is it for ye wolde have my queynte allone?
445: Wy, taak it al! lo, have it every deel!
446: Peter! I shrewe yow, but ye love it weel;
447: For if I wolde selle my bele chose,
448: I koude walke as fressh as is a rose;
449: But I wol kepe it for youre owene tooth.
450: Ye be to blame, by god! I sey yow sooth. --
451: Swiche manere wordes hadde we on honde.
452: Now wol I speken of my fourthe housbonde.
453: My fourthe housbonde was a revelour;
454: This is to seyn, he hadde a paramour;
455: And I was yong and ful of ragerye,
456: Stibourn and strong, and joly as a pye.
457: How koude I daunce to an harpe smale,
458: And synge, ywis, as any nyghtyngale,
459: Whan I had dronke a draughte of sweete wyn!
460: Metellius, the foule cherl, the swyn,
461: That with a staf birafte his wyf hir lyf,
462: For she drank wyn, thogh I hadde been his wyf,
463: He sholde nat han daunted me from drynke!
464: And after wyn on venus moste I thynke,
465: For al so siker as cold engendreth hayl,
466: A likerous mouth moste han a likerous tayl.
467: In wommen vinolent is no defence, --
468: This knowen lecchours by experience.
469: But, lord crist! whan that it remembreth me
470: Upon my yowthe, and on my jolitee,
471: It tikleth me aboute myn herte roote.
472: Unto this day it dooth myn herte boote
473: That I have had my world as in my tyme.
474: But age, allas! that al wole envenyme,
475: Hath me biraft my beautee and my pith.
476: Lat go, farewel! the devel go therwith!
477: The flour is goon, ther is namoore to telle;
478: The bren, as I best kan, now moste I selle;
479: But yet to be right myrie wol I fonde.
480: Now wol I tellen of my fourthe housbonde.
481: I seye, I hadde in herte greet despit
482: That he of any oother had delit.
483: But he was quit, by God and by seint joce!
484: I made hym of the same wode a croce;
485: Nat of my body, in no foul manere,
486: But certeinly, I made folk swich cheere
487: That in his owene grece I made hym frye
488: For angre, and for verray jalousye.
489: By god! in erthe I was his purgatorie,
490: For which I hope his soule be in glorie.
491: For, God it woot, he sat ful ofte and song,
492: Whan that his shoo ful bitterly hym wrong.
493: Ther was no wight, save God and he, that wiste,

Page 81

494: In many wise, how soore I hym twiste.
495: He deyde whan I cam fro jerusalem,
496: And lith ygrave under the roode beem,
497: Al is his tombe noght so curyus
498: As was the sepulcre of hym daryus,
499: Which that appeles wroghte subtilly;
500: It nys but wast to burye hym preciously.
501: Lat hym fare wel, God yeve his soul reste!
502: He is now in his grave and in his cheste.
503: Now of my fifthe housbonde wol I telle.
504: God lete his soule nevere come in helle!
505: And yet was he to me the mooste shrewe;
506: That feele I on my ribbes al by rewe,
507: And evere shal unto myn endyng day.
508: But in oure bed he was so fressh and gay,
509: And therwithal so wel koude he me glose,
510: Whan that he wolde han my bele chose,
511: That thogh he hadde me bete on every bon,
512: He koude wynne agayn my love anon.
513: I trowe I loved hym best, for that he
514: Was of his love daungerous to me.
515: We wommen han if that I shal nat lye,
516: In this matere a queynte fantasye;
517: Wayte what thyng we may nat lightly have,
518: Therafter wol we crie al day and crave.
519: Forbede us thyng, and that desiren we;
520: Preesse on us faste, and thanne wol we fle.
521: With daunger oute we al oure chaffare;
522: Greet prees at market maketh deere ware,
523: And to greet cheep is holde at litel prys:
524: This knoweth every womman that is wys.
525: My fifthe housbonde, God his soule blesse!
526: Which that I took for love, and no richesse,
527: He som tyme was a clerk of oxenford,
528: And hadde left scole, and wente at hom to bord
529: With my gossib, dwellynge in oure toun;
530: God have hir soule! hir name was alisoun.
531: She knew myn herte, and eek my privetee,
532: Bet than oure parisshe preest, so moot I thee!
533: To hire biwreyed I my conseil al.
534: For hadde myn housbonde pissed on a wal,
535: Or doon a thyng that sholde han cost his lyf,
536: To hire, and to another worthy wyf,
537: And to my nece, which that I loved weel,
538: I wolde han toold his conseil every deel.
539: And so I dide ful often, God it woot,
540: That made his face often reed and hoot
541: For verray shame, and blamed hymself for he
542: Had toold to me so greet a pryvetee.
543: And so bifel that ones in a lente --
544: So often tymes I to my gossyb wente,
545: For evere yet I loved to be gay,
546: And for to walke in march, averill, and may,
547: Fro hous to hous, to heere sondry talys --
548: That jankyn clerk, and my gossyb dame alys,
549: And I myself, into the feeldes wente.
550: Myn housbonde was at londoun al that lente;
551: I hadde the bettre leyser for to pleye,
552: And for to se, and eek for to be seye
553: Of lusty folk. What wiste I wher my grace
554: Was shapen for to be, or in what place?
555: Therfore I made my visitaciouns
556: To vigilies and to processiouns,
557: To prechyng eek, and to thise pilgrimages,
558: To pleyes of myracles, and to mariages,
559: And wered upon my gaye scarlet gytes.
560: Thise wormes, ne thise motthes, ne thise mytes,
561: Upon my peril, frete hem never a deel;
562: And wostow why? for they were used weel.
563: Now wol I tellen forth what happed me.
564: I seye that in the feeldes walked we,
565: Til trewely we hadde swich daliance,
566: This clerk and I, that of my purveiance
567: I spak to hym and seyde hym how that he,
568: If I were wydwe, sholde wedde me.
569: For certeinly, I sey for no bobance,
570: Yet was I nevere withouten purveiance
571: Of mariage, n' of othere thynges eek.
572: I holde a mouses herte nat worth a leek
573: That hath but oon hole for to sterte to,
574: And if that faille, thanne is al ydo.
575: I bar hym on honde he hadde enchanted me, --
576: My dame taughte me that soutiltee.
577: And eek I seyde I mette of hym al nyght,
578: He wolde han slayn me as I lay upright,
579: And al my bed was ful of verray blood;
580: But yet I hope that he shal do me good,
581: For blood bitokeneth gold, as me was taught.
582: And al was fals; I dremed of it right naught,
583: But as I folwed ay my dames loore,
584: As wel of this as of othere thynges moore.
585: But now, sire, lat me se, what I shal seyn?
586: A ha! by god, I have my tale ageyn.
587: Whan that my fourthe housbonde was on beere,
588: I weep algate, and made sory cheere,
589: As wyves mooten, for it is usage,
590: And with my coverchief covered my visage,
591: But for that I was purveyed of a make,
592: I wepte but smal, and that I undertake.
593: To chirche was myn housbonde born a-morwe
594: With neighebores, that for hym maden sorwe;
595: And jankyn, oure clerk, was oon of tho.
596: As help me god! whan that I saugh hym go
597: After the beere, me thoughte he hadde a paire
598: Of legges and of feet so clene and faire

Page 82

599: That al myn herte I yaf unto his hoold.
600: He was, I trowe, a twenty wynter oold,
601: And I was fourty, if I shal seye sooth;
602: But yet I hadde alwey a coltes tooth.
603: Gat-tothed I was, and that bicam me weel;
604: I hadde the prente of seinte venus seel.
605: As help me god! I was a lusty oon,
606: And faire, and riche, and yong, and wel bigon;
607: And trewely, as myne housbondes tolde me,
608: I hadde the beste quoniam myghte be.
609: For certes, I am al venerien
610: In feelynge, and myn herte is marcien.
611: Venus me yaf my lust, my likerousnesse,
612: And mars yaf me my sturdy hardynesse;
613: Myn ascendent was taur, and mars therinne.
614: Allas! allas! that evere love was synne!
615: I folwed ay myn inclinacioun
616: By vertu of my constellacioun;
617: That made me I koude noght withdrawe
618: My chambre of venus from a good felawe.
619: Yet have I martes mark upon my face,
620: And also in another privee place.
621: For God so wys be my savacioun,
622: I ne loved nevere by no discrecioun,
623: But evere folwede myn appetit,
624: Al were he short, or long, or blak, or whit;
625: I took no kep, so that he liked me,
626: How poore he was, ne eek of what degree.
627: What sholde I seye? but, at the monthes ende,
628: This joly clerk, jankyn, that was so hende,
629: Hath wedded me with greet solempnytee;
630: And to hym yaf I al the lond and fee
631: That evere was me yeven therbifoore.
632: But afterward repented me ful soore;
633: He nolde suffre nothyng of my list.
634: By god! he smoot me ones on the lyst,
635: For that I rente out of his book a leef,
636: That of the strook myn ere wax al deef.
637: Stibourn I was as is a leonesse,
638: And of my tonge verray jangleresse,
639: And walke I wolde, as I had doon biforn,
640: From hous to hous, although he had it sworn;
641: For which he often tymes wolde preche,
642: And me of olde romayn geestes teche;
643: How he symplicius gallus lefte his wyf,
644: And hire forsook for terme of al his lyf,
645: Noght but for open-heveded he hir say
646: Lookynge out at his dore upon a day.
647: Another romayn tolde he me by name,
648: That, for his wyf was at a someres game
649: Withouten his wityng, he forsook hire eke.
650: And thanne wolde he upon his bible seke
651: That ilke proverbe of ecclesiaste
652: Where he comandeth, and forbedeth faste,
653: Man shal nat suffre his wyf go roule aboute.
654: Thanne wolde he seye right thus, withouten doute:
655: -whoso that buyldeth his hous al of salwes,
656: And priketh his blynde hors over the falwes,
657: And suffreth his wyf to go seken halwes,
658: Is worthy to been hanged on the galwes! --
659: But al for noght, I sette noght an hawe
660: Of his proverbes n' of his olde sawe,
661: Ne I wolde nat of hym corrected be.
662: I hate hym that my vices telleth me,
663: And so doo mo, God woot, of us than I.
664: This made hym with me wood al outrely;
665: I nolde noght forbere hym in no cas.
666: Now wol I seye yow sooth, by seint thomas,
667: Why that I rente out of his book a leef,
668: For which he smoot me so that I was deef.
669: He hadde a book that gladly, nyght and day,
670: For his desport he wolde rede alway;
671: He cleped it valerie and theofraste,
672: At which book he lough alwey ful faste.
673: And eek ther was somtyme a clerk at rome,
674: A cardinal, that highte seint jerome,
675: That made a book agayn jovinian;
676: In which book eek ther was tertulan,
677: Crisippus, trotula, and helowys,
678: That was abbesse nat fer fro parys;
679: And eek the parables of salomon,
680: Ovides art, and bookes many on,
681: And alle thise were bounden in o volume.
682: And every nyght and day was his custume,
683: Whan he hadde leyser and vacacioun
684: From oother worldly occupacioun,
685: To reden on this book of wikked wyves.
686: He knew of hem mo legendes and lyves
687: Than been of goode wyves in the bible.
688: For trusteth wel, it is an impossible
689: That any clerk wol speke good of wyves,
690: But if it be of hooly seintes lyves,
691: Ne of noon oother womman never the mo.
692: Who peyntede the leon, tel me who?
693: By god! if wommen hadde writen stories,
694: As clerkes han withinne hire oratories,
695: They wolde han writen of men moore wikkednesse
696: Than al the mark of adam may redresse.
697: The children of mercurie and of venus
698: Been in hir wirkyng ful contrarius;
699: Mercurie loveth wysdam and science,
700: And venus loveth ryot and dispence.
701: And, for hire diverse disposicioun,
702: Ech falleth in otheres exaltacioun.
703: And thus, God woot, mercurie is desolat

Page 83

704: In pisces, wher venus is exaltat;
705: And venus falleth ther mercurie is reysed.
706: Therfore no womman of no clerk is preysed.
707: The clerk, whan he is oold, and may noght do
708: Of venus werkes worth his olde sho,
709: Thanne sit he doun, and writ in his dotage
710: That wommen kan nat kepe hir mariage!
711: But now to purpos, why I tolde thee
712: That I was beten for a book, pardee!
713: Upon a nyght jankyn, that was oure sire,
714: Redde on his book, as he sat by the fire,
715: Of eva first, that for hir wikkednesse
716: Was al mankynde broght to wrecchednesse,
717: For which that jhesu crist hymself was slayn,
718: That boghte us with his herte blood agayn.
719: Lo, heere expres of womman may ye fynde,
720: That womman was the los of al mankynde.
721: The redde he me how sampson loste his heres:
722: Slepynge, his lemman kitte it with hir sheres;
723: Thurgh which treson loste he bothe his yen.
724: Tho redde he me, if that I shal nat lyen,
725: Of hercules and of his dianyre,
726: That caused hym to sette hymself afyre.
727: No thyng forgat he the care and the wo
728: That socrates hadde with his wyves two;
729: How xantippa caste pisse upon his heed.
730: This sely man sat stille as he were deed;
731: He wiped his heed, namoore dorste he seyn,
732: But -- er that thonder stynte, comth a reyn! --
733: Of phasipha, that was the queen of crete,
734: For shrewednesse, hym thoughte the tale swete;
735: Fy! spek namoore -- it is a grisly thyng --
736: Of hire horrible lust and hir likyng.
737: Of clitermystra, for hire lecherye,
738: That falsly made hire housbonde for to dye,
739: He redde it with ful good devocioun.
740: He tolde me eek for what occasioun
741: Amphiorax at thebes loste his lyf.
742: Myn housbonde hadde a legende of his wyf,
743: Eriphilem, that for an ouche of gold
744: Hath prively unto the grekes told
745: Wher that hir housbonde hidde hym in a place,
746: For which he hadde at thebes sory grace.
747: Of lyvia tolde he me, and of lucye:
748: They bothe made hir housbondes for to dye;
749: That oon for love, that oother was for hate.
750: Lyvia hir housbonde, on an even late,
751: Empoysoned hath, for that she was his fo;
752: Lucia, likerous, loved hire housbonde so
753: That, for he sholde alwey upon hire thynke,
754: She yaf hym swich a manere love-drynke
755: That he was deed er it were by the morwe;
756: And thus algates housbondes han sorwe.
757: Thanne tolde he me how oon latumyus
758: Compleyned unto his felawe arrius
759: That in his gardyn growed swich a tree
760: On which he seyde how that his wyves thre
761: Hanged hemself for herte despitus.
762: -- O leeve brother, -- quod this arrius,
763: -- Yif me a plante of thilke blissed tree,
764: And in my gardyn planted shal it bee. --
765: Of latter date, of wyves hath he red
766: That somme han slayn hir housbondes in hir bed,
767: And lete hir lecchour dighte hire al the nyght,
768: Whan that the corps lay in the floor upright.
769: And somme han dryve nayles in hir brayn,
770: Whil that they slepte, and thus they had hem slayn.
771: Somme han hem yeve poysoun in hire drynke.
772: He spak moore harm than herte may bithynke;
773: And therwithal he knew of mo proverbes
774: Than in this world ther growen gras or herbes.
775: -- Bet is, -- quod he, -- thyn habitacioun
776: Be with a leon or foul dragoun,
777: Than with a womman usynge for to chyde --
778: -- Bet is, -- quod he, -- hye in the roof abyde,
779: Than with an angry wyf doun in the hous;
780: They been so wikked and contrarious,
781: They haten that hir housbondes loven ay. --
782: He seyde, -- a womman cast hir shame away,
783: Whan she cast of hir smok; -- and forthermo,
784: -- A fair womman, but she be chaast also,
785: Is lyk a gold ryng in a sowes nose. --
786: Who wolde wene, or who wolde suppose,
787: The wo that in myn herte was, and pyne?
788: And whan I saugh he wolde nevere fyne
789: To reden on this cursed book al nyght,
790: Al sodeynly thre leves have I plyght
791: Out of his book, right as he radde, and eke
792: I with my fest so took hym on the cheke
793: That in oure fyr he fil bakward adoun.
794: And he up stirte as dooth a wood leoun,
795: And with his fest he smoot me on the heed,
796: That in the floor I lay as I were deed.
797: And whan he saugh how stille that I lay,
798: He was agast, and wolde han fled his way,
799: Til atte laste out of my swogh I breyde.
800: -- O! hastow slayn me, false theef? -- I seyde,
801: -- And for my land thus hastow mordred me?
802: Er I be deed, yet wol I kisse thee. --
803: And neer he cam and kneled faire adoun,
804: And seyde, -- deere suster alisoun,
805: As help me god! I shal thee nevere smyte.
806: That I have doon, it is thyself to wyte.
807: Foryeve it me, and that I thee biseke! --

Page 84

808: And yet eftsoones I hitte hym on the cheke,
809: And seyde, -- theef, thus muchel am I wreke;
810: Now wol I dye, I may no lenger speke. --
811: But atte laste, with muchel care and wo,
812: We fille acorded by us selven two.
813: He yaf me al the bridel in myn hond,
814: To han the governance of hous and lond,
815: And of his tonge, and of his hond also;
816: And made hym brenne his book anon right tho.
817: And whan that I hadde geten unto me,
818: By maistrie, al the soveraynette,
819: And that he seyde, -- myn owene trewe wyf,
820: Do as thee lust the terme of al thy lyf;
821: Keep thyn honour, and keep eek myn estaat --
822: After that day we hadden never debaat.
823: God helpe me so, I was to hym as kynde
824: As any wyf from denmark unto ynde,
825: And also trewe, and so was he to me.
826: I prey to god, that sit in magestee,
827: So blesse his soule for his mercy deere.
828: Now wol I seye my tale, if ye wol heere.
829: The frere lough, whan he hadde herd al this;
830: Now dame, quod he, so have I joye or blis,
831: This is a long preamble of a tale!
832: And whan the somonour herde the frere gale,
833: Lo, quod the somonour, goddes armes two!
834: A frere wol entremette hym everemo.
835: Lo, goode men, a flye and eek a frere
836: Wol falle in every dyssh and eek mateere.
837: What spwkestow of preambulacioun?
838: What! amble, or trotte, or pees, or go sit doun!
839: Thou lettest oure disport in this manere.
840: Ye, woltow so, sire somonour? quod the frere;
841: Now, by my feith, I shal, er that I go,
842: Telle of a somonour swich a tale or two,
843: That alle the folk shal laughen in this place.
844: Now elles, frere, I bishrewe thy face,
845: Quod this somonour, and I bishrewe me,
846: But if I telle tales two or thre
847: Of freres, er I come to sidyngborne,
848: That I shal make thyn herte for to morne,
849: For wel I woot thy pacience is gon.
850: Oure hooste cride pees! and that anon!
851: And seyde, lat the womman telle hire tale.
852: Ye fare as folk that dronken ben of ale.
853: Do, dame, telle forth youre tale, and that is best.
854: Al redy, sire, quod she, right as yow lest,
855: If I have licence of this worthy frere.
856: Yis, dame, quod he, tel forth, and I wol heere.

The Wife of Bath's Tale

857: In th' olde dayes of the kyng arthour,
858: Of which that britons speken greet honour,
859: Al was this land fulfild of fayerye.
860: The elf-queene, with hir joly compaignye,
861: Daunced ful ofte in many a grene mede.
862: This was the olde opinion, as I rede;
863: I speke of manye hundred yeres ago.
864: But now kan no man se none elves mo,
865: For now the grete charitee and prayers
866: Of lymytours and othere hooly freres,
867: That serchen every lond and every streem,
868: As thikke as motes in the sonne-beem,
869: Blessynge halles, chambres, kichenes, boures,
870: Citees, burghes, castels, hye toures,
871: Thropes, bernes, shipnes, dayeryes --
872: This maketh that ther ben no fayeryes.
873: For ther as wont to walken was an elf,
874: Ther walketh now the lymytour hymself
875: In undermeles and in morwenynges,
876: And seyth his matyns and his hooly thynges
877: As he gooth in his lymytacioun.
878: Wommen may go now saufly up and doun.
879: In every bussh or under every tree
880: Ther is noon oother incubus but he,
881: And he ne wol doon hem but dishonour.
882: And so bifel it that this kyng arthour
883: Hadde in his hous a lusty bacheler,
884: That on a day cam ridynge fro ryver;

Page 85

885: And happed that, allone as he was born,
886: He saugh a mayde walkynge hym biforn,
887: Of which mayde anon, maugree hir heed,
888: By verray force, he rafte hire maydenhed;
889: For which oppressioun was swich clamour
890: And swich pursute unto the kyng arthour,
891: That dampned was this knyght for to be deed,
892: By cours of lawe, and sholde han lost his heed --
893: Paraventure swich was the statut tho --
894: But that the queene and othere ladyes mo
895: So longe preyeden the kyng of grace,
896: Til he his lyf hym graunted in the place,
897: And yaf hym to the queene, al at hir wille,
898: To chese wheither she wolde hym save or spille.
899: The queene thanketh the kyng with al hir myght,
900: And after this thus spak she to the knyght,
901: Whan that she saugh hir tyme, upon a day:
902: Thou standest yet, quod she, in swich array
903: That of thy lyf yet hastow no suretee.
904: I grante thee lyf, if thou kanst tellen me
905: What thyng is it that wommen moost desiren.
906: Be war, and keep thy nekke-boon from iren!
907: And if thou kanst nat tellen it anon,
908: Yet wol I yeve thee leve for to gon
909: A twelf-month and a day, to seche and leere
910: An answere suffisant in this mateere;
911: And suretee wol I han, er that thou pace,
912: Thy body for to yelden in this place.
913: Wo was this knyght, and sorwefully he siketh;
914: But what! he may nat do al as hym liketh.
915: And at the laste he chees hym for to wende,
916: And come agayn, right at the yeres ende,
917: With swich answere as God wolde hym purveye;
918: And taketh his leve, and wendeth froth his weye.
919: He seketh every hous and and every place
920: Where as he hopeth for to fynde grace,
921: To lerne what thyng wommen loven moost;
922: But he ne koude arryven in no coost
923: Wher as he myghte fynde in this mateere
924: Two creatures accordynge in-feere.
925: Somme seyde wommen loven best richesse,
926: Somme seyde honour, somme seyde jolynesse,
927: Somme riche array, somme seyden lust abedde,
928: And oftetyme to be wydwe and wedde.
929: Somme seyde that oure hertes been moost esed
930: Whan that we ben yflatered and yplesed.
931: He gooth ful ny the sothe, I wol nat lye.
932: A man shal wynne us best with flaterye;
933: And with attendance, and with bisynesse,
934: Been we ylymed, bothe moore and lesse.
935: And somme seyen that we loven best
936: For to be free, and do right as us lest,
937: And that no man repreve us of oure vice,
938: But seye that we be wise, and no thyng nyce.
939: For trewely ther is noon of us alle,
940: If any wight wol clawe us on the galle,
941: That we nel kike, for he seith us sooth.
942: Assay, and he shal fynde it that so dooth;
943: For, be we never so vicious withinne,
944: We wol been holden wise and clene of synne.
945: And somme seyn that greet delit han we
946: For to been holden stable, and eek secree,
947: And in o purpos stedefastly to dwelle,
948: And nat biwreye thyng that men us telle.
949: But that tale is nat worth a rake-stele.
950: Pardee, we wommen konne no thyng hele;
951: Witnesse on myda, -- wol ye heere the tale?
952: Ovyde, amonges othere thynges smale,
953: Seyde myda hadde, under his longe heres,
954: Growynge upon his heed two asses eres,
955: The whiche vice he hydde, as he best myghte,
956: Ful subtilly from every mannes sighte,
957: That, save his wyf, ther wiste of it namo.
958: He loved hire moost, and trusted hire also;
959: He preyede hire that to no creature
960: She sholde tellen of his disfigure.
961: She swoor him, nay, for al this world to wynne,
962: She nolde do that vileynye or synne,
963: To make hir housbonde han so foul a name.
964: She nolde nat telle it for hir owene shame.
965: But nathelees, hir thoughte that she dyde,
966: That she so longe sholde a conseil hyde;
967: Hir thoughte it swal so soore aboute hir herte
968: That nedely som word hire moste asterte;
969: And sith she dorste telle it to no man,
970: Doun to a mareys faste by she ran
971: Til she cam there, hir herte was a-fyre --
972: And as a bitore bombleth in the myre,
973: She leyde hir mouth unto the water doun:
974: Biwreye me nat, thou water, with thy soun,
975: Quod she; -- to thee I telle it and namo;
976: Myn housbonde hath longe asses erys two!
977: Now is myn herte al hool, now is it oute.
978: I myghte no lenger kepe it, out of doute.
979: Heere may ye se, thogh we a tyme abyde,
980: Yet out it moot; we kan no conseil hyde.
981: The remenant of the tale if ye wol heere,
982: Redeth ovyde, and ther ye may it leere.
983: This knyght, of which my tale is specially,
984: Than that he saugh he myghte nat come therby,

Page 86

985: This is to seye, what wommen love moost,
986: Withinne his brest ful sorweful was the goost.
987: But hoom he gooth, he myghte nat sojourne;
988: The day was come that homward moste he tourne.
989: And in his wey it happed hym to ryde,
990: In al this care, under a forest syde,
991: Wher as he saugh upon a daunce go
992: Of ladyes foure and twenty, and yet mo;
993: Toward the whiche daunce he drow ful yerne,
994: In hope that som wysdom sholde he lerne.
995: But certeinly, er he cam fully there,
996: Vanysshed was this daunce, he nyste where.
997: No creature saugh he that bar lyf,
998: Save on the grene he saugh sittynge a wyf --
999: A fouler wight ther may no man devyse.
1000: Agayn the knyght this olde wyf gan ryse,
1001: And seyde, sire knyght, heer forth ne lith no wey.
1002: Tel me what that ye seken, by youre fey!
1003: Paraventure it may the bettre be;
1004: Thise olde folk kan muchel thyng, quod she.
1005: My leeve mooder, quod this knyght, certeyn
1006: I nam but deed, but if that I kan seyn
1007: What thyng it is that wommen moost desire.
1008: Koude ye me wisse, I wolde wel quite youre hire.
1009: Plight me thy trouthe heere in myn hand, quod she,
1010: The nexte thyng that I requere thee,
1011: Thou shalt it do, if it lye in thy myght,
1012: And I wol telle it yow er it be nyght.
1013: Have heer my trouthe, quod the knyght, I grante.
1014: Thanne, quod she, I dar me wel avante
1015: Thy lyf is sauf; for I wol stonde therby,
1016: Upon my lyf, the queene wol seye as I.
1017: Lat se which is the proudeste of hem alle,
1018: That wereth on a coverchief or a calle,
1019: That day seye nay of that I shal thee teche.
1020: Lat us go forth, withouten lenger speche.
1021: Tho rowned she a pistel in his ere,
1022: And bad hym to be glad, and have no fere.
1023: Whan they be comen to the court, this knyght
1024: Seyde he had holde his day, as he hadde hight,
1025: And redy was his answere, as he sayde.
1026: Ful many a noble wyf, and many a mayde,
1027: And many a wydwe, for that they been wise,
1028: The queene hirself sittynge as a justise,
1029: Assembled been, his answere for to heere;
1030: And afterward this knyght was bode appeere.
1031: To every wight comanded was silence,
1032: And that the knyght sholde telle in audience
1033: What thyng that worldly wommen loven best.
1034: This knyght ne stood nat stille as doth a best,
1035: But to his questioun anon answerde
1036: With manly voys, that al the court it herde:
1037: My lige lady, generally, quod he,
1038: Wommen desiren to have sovereynetee
1039: As wel over his housbond as hir love,
1040: And for to been in maistrie hym above.
1041: This is youre mooste desir, thogh ye me kille.
1042: Dooth as yow list; I am heer at youre wille.
1043: In al the court ne was ther wyf, ne mayde,
1044: Ne wydwe, that contraried that he sayde,
1045: But seyden he was worthy han his lyf.
1046: And with that word up stirte the olde wyf,
1047: Which that the knyght saugh sittynge on the grene:
1048: Mercy, quod she, my sovereyn lady queene!
1049: Er that youre court departe, do me right.
1050: I taughte this answere unto the knyght;
1051: For which he plighte me his trouthe there,
1052: The firste thyng that I wolde hym requere,
1053: He wolde it do, if it lay in his myghte.
1054: Bifore the court thanne preye I thee, sir knyght,
1055: Quod she, that thou me take unto thy wyf;
1056: For wel thou woost that I have kept thy lyf.
1057: If I seye fals, sey nay, upon thy fey!
1058: This knyght answerde, allas! and weylawey!
1059: I woot right wel that swich was my biheste.
1060: For goddes love, as chees a newe requeste!
1061: Taak al my good, and lat my body go.
1062: Nay, thanne, quod she, I shrewe us bothe two!
1063: For thogh that I be foul, and oold, and poore,
1064: I nolde for al the metal, ne for oore,
1065: That under erthe is grave, or lith above,
1066: But if thy wyf I were, and eek thy love.
1067: My love? quod he, nay, my dampnacioun!
1068: Allas! that any of my nacioun
1069: Sholde evere so foule disparaged be!
1070: But al for noght; the ende is this, that he
1071: Constreyned was, he nedes moste hire wedde;
1072: And taketh his olde wyf, and gooth to bedde.
1073: Now wolden som men seye, paraventure,
1074: That for my necligence I do no cure
1075: To tellen yow the joye and al th' array
1076: That at the feeste was that ilke day.
1077: To which thyng shortly answeren I shal:
1078: I seye ther nas no joye ne feeste at al;
1079: Ther nas but hevynesse and muche sorwe.

Page 87

1080: For prively he wedded hire on the morwe,
1081: And al day after hidde hym as an owle,
1082: So wo was hym, his wyf looked so foule.
1083: Greet was the wo the knyght hadde in his thoght,
1084: Whan he was with his wyf abedde ybroght;
1085: He walweth and he turneth to and fro.
1086: His olde wyf lay smylynge everemo,
1087: And seyde, o deere housbonde, benedicitee!
1088: Fareth every knyght thys with his wyf as ye?
1089: Is this the lawe of kyng arthures hous?
1090: Is every knyght of his so dangerous?
1091: I am youre owene love and eek youre wyf;
1092: I am she which that saved hath youre lyf,
1093: And, certes, yet ne dide I yow nevere unright;
1094: Why fare ye thus with me this firste nyght?
1095: Ye faren lyk a man had lost his wit.
1096: What is my gilt? for goddes love, tel me it,
1097: And it shal been amende, if I may.
1098: Amended? quod this knyght, allas! nay, nay!
1099: It wol nat been amended nevere mo.
1100: Thou art so loothly, and so oold also,
1101: And therto comen of so lough a kynde,
1102: That litel wonder is thogh I walwe and wynde.
1103: So wolde God myn herte wolde breste!
1104: Is this, quod she, the cause of youre unreste?
1105: Ye, certeinly, quod he, no wonder is.
1106: Now, sire, quod she, I koude amende al this,
1107: If that me liste, er it were dayes thre,
1108: So wel ye myghte bere yow unto me.
1109: But, for ye speken of swich gentillesse
1110: As is descended out of old richesse,
1111: That therfore sholden ye be gentil men,
1112: Swich arrogance is nat worth an hen.
1113: Looke who that is moost vertuous alway,
1114: Pryvee and apert, and moost entendeth ay
1115: To do the gentil dedes that he kan;
1116: Taak hym for the grettest gentil man.
1117: Crist wole we clayme of hym oure gentillesse,
1118: Nat of oure eldres for hire old richesse.
1119: For thogh they yeve us al hir heritage,
1120: For which we clayme to been of heigh parage,
1121: Yet may they nat biquethe, for no thyng,
1122: To noon of us hir vertuous lyvyng,
1123: That made hem gentil men ycalled be,
1124: And bad us folwen hem in swich degree.
1125: Wel kan the wise poete of florence,
1126: That highte dant, speken in this sentence.
1127: Lo, in swich maner rym is dantes tale:
1128: -- Ful selde up riseth by his brances smale
1129: Prowesse of man, for god, of his goodnesse,
1130: Wole that of hym we clayme oure gentillesse; --
1131: For of oure eldres may we no thyng clayme
1132: But temporel thyng, that man may hurte and mayme.
1133: Eek every wight woot this as wel as I,
1134: If gentillesse were planted natureelly
1135: Unto a certeyn lynage doun the lyne,
1136: Pryvee and apert, thanne wolde they nevere fyne
1137: To doon of gentillesse the faire office;
1138: They myghte do no vileynye or vice.
1139: Taak fyr, and ber it in the derkeste hous
1140: Bitwix this and the mount of kaukasous,
1141: And lat men shette the dores and go thenne;
1142: Yet wole the fyr as faire lye and brenne
1143: As twenty thousand men myghte it biholde;
1144: His office natureel ay wol it holde,
1145: Up peril of my lyf, til that it dye.
1146: Heere may ye se wel how that genterye
1147: Is nat annexed to possessioun,
1148: Sith folk ne doon hir operacioun
1149: Alwey, as dooth the fyr, lo, in his kynde.
1150: For, God it woot, men may wel often fynde
1151: A lordes sone do shame and vileynye;
1152: And he that wole han pris of his gentrye,
1153: For he was boren of a gentil hous,
1154: And hadde his eldres noble and vertuous,
1155: And nel hymselven do no gentil dedis,
1156: Ne folwen his gentil auncestre that deed is,
1157: He nys nat gentil, be he duc or erl;
1158: For vileyns synful dedes make a cherl.
1159: For gentillesse nys but renomee
1160: Of thyne auncestres, for hire heigh bountee,
1161: Which is a strange thyng to thy persone.
1162: Thy gentillesse cometh fro God allone.
1163: Thanne comth oure verray gentillesse of grace;
1164: It was no thyng biquethe us with oure place.
1165: Thenketh how noble, as seith valerius,
1166: Was thilke tullius hostillius,
1167: That out of poverte roos to heigh noblesse.
1168: Reedeth senek, and redeth eek boece;
1169: Ther shul ye seen expres that it no drede is
1170: That he is gentil that dooth gentil dedis.
1171: And therfore, leeve housbonde, thus conclude:
1172: Al were it that myne auncestres were rude,
1173: Yet may the hye god, and so hope I,
1174: Grante me grace to lyven vertuously.
1175: Thanne am I gentil, whan that I bigynne
1176: To lyven vertuously and weyve synne.
1177: And ther as ye of poverte me repreeve,
1178: The hye god, on whom that we bileeve,
1179: In wilful poverte chees to lyve his lyf.

Page 88

1180: And certes every man, mayden, or wyf,
1181: May understonde that jhesus, hevene kyng,
1182: Ne wolde nat chese a vicious lyvyng.
1183: Glad poverte is an honest thyng, certeyn;
1184: This wole senec and othere clerkes seyn.
1185: Whoso that halt hym payd of his poverte,
1186: I holde hym riche, al hadde he nat a sherte.
1187: He that coveiteth is a povre wight,
1188: For he wolde han that is nat in his myght;
1189: But he that noght hath, ne coveiteth have,
1190: Is riche, although ye holde hym but a knave.
1191: Verray poverte, it syngeth proprely;
1192: Juvenal seith of poverte myrily:
1193: -- The povre man, whan he goth by the weye,
1194: Bifore the theves he may synge and pleye.
1195: Poverte is hateful good and, as I gesse,
1196: A ful greet bryngere out of bisynesse;
1197: A greet amendere eek of sapience
1198: To hym that taketh it in pacience.
1199: Poverte is this, although it seme alenge,
1200: Possessioun that no wight wol chalenge.
1201: Poverte ful ofte, whan a man is lowe,
1202: Maketh his God and eek hymself to knowe.
1203: Poverte a spectacle is, as thynketh me,
1204: Thurgh which he may his verray freendes see.
1205: And therfore, sire, syn that I noght yow greve,
1206: Of my poverte namoore ye me repreve.
1207: No, sire, of elde ye repreve me;
1208: And certes, sire, thogh noon auctoritee
1209: Were in no book, ye gentils of honour
1210: Seyn that men sholde an oold wight doon favour,
1211: And clepe hym fader, for youre gentillesse;
1212: And auctours shal I fynde, as I gesse.
1213: Now ther ye seye that I am foul and old,
1214: Than drede you noght to been a cokewold;
1215: For filthe and eelde, also moot I thee,
1216: Been grete wardeyns upon chastitee.
1217: But nathelees, syn I knowe youre delit,
1218: I shal fulfille youre worldly appetit.
1219: Chese now, quod she, oon of thise thynges tweye:
1220: To han me foul and old til that I deye,
1221: And be to yow a trewe, humble wyf,
1222: And nevere yow displese in al my lyf;
1223: Or elles ye wol han me yong and fair,
1224: And take youre aventure of the repair
1225: That shal be to youre hous by cause of me,
1226: Or in som oother place, may wel be.
1227: Now chese yourselven, wheither that yow liketh.
1228: This knyght avyseth hym and sore siketh,
1229: But atte laste he seyde in this manere:
1230: My lady and my love, and wyf so deere,
1231: I put me in youre wise governance;
1232: Cheseth youreself which may be moost plesance,
1233: And moost honour to yow and me also.
1234: I do no fors the wheither of the two;
1235: For as yow liketh, it suffiseth me.
1236: Thanne have I gete of yow maistrie, quod she,
1237: Syn I may chese and governe as me lest?
1238: Ye, certes, wyf, quod he, I holde it best.
1239: Kys me, quod she, we be no lenger wrothe;
1240: For, by my trouthe, I wol be to yow bothe,
1241: This is to seyn, ye, bothe fair and good.
1242: I prey to God that I moote sterven wood,
1243: But I to yow be also good and trewe
1244: As evere was wyf, syn that the world was newe.
1245: And but I be to-morn as fair to seene
1246: As any lady, emperice, or queene,
1247: That is bitwixe the est and eke the west,
1248: Dooth with my lyf and deth right as yow lest.
1249: Cast up the curtyn, looke how that it is.
1250: And whan the knyght saugh verraily al this,
1251: That she so fair was, and so yong therto,
1252: For joye he hente hire in his armes two,
1253: His herte bathed in a bath of blisse.
1254: A thousand tyme a-rewe he gan hire kisse,
1255: And she obeyed hym in every thyng
1256: That myghte doon hym plesance or likyng.
1257: And thys they lyve unto hir lyves ende
1258: In parfit joye; and jhesu crist us sende
1259: Housbondes meeke, yonge, and fressh abedde,
1260: And grace t' overbyde hem that we wedde;
1261: And eek I praye jhesu shorte hir lyves
1262: That wol nat be governed by hir wyves;
1263: And olde and angry nygardes of dispence,
1264: God sende hem soone verray pestilence!

Page 89

The Friar's Prologue

1265: This worthy lymytour, this noble frere,
1266: He made alwey a maner louryng chiere
1267: Upon the somonour, but for honestee
1268: No vileyns word as yet to hym spak he.
1269: But atte laste he seyde unto the wyf,
1270: Dame, quod he, God yeve yow right good lyf!
1271: Ye han heer touched, also moot I thee,
1272: In scole-matere greet difficultee.
1273: Ye han seyd muche thyng right wel, I seye;
1274: But, dame, heere as we ryde by the weye,
1275: Us nedeth nat to speken but of game,
1276: And lete auctoritees, on goddes name,
1277: To prechyng and to scole eek of clergye.
1278: But if it lyke to this compaignye,
1279: I wol yow of a somonour telle a game.
1280: Pardee, ye may wel knowe by the name
1281: That of a somonour may no good be sayd;
1282: I praye that noon of you be yvele apayd.
1283: A somonour is a rennere up and doun
1284: With mandementz for fornicacioun,
1285: And is ybet at every townes ende.
1286: Oure hoost tho spak, a! sire, ye sholde be hende
1287: And curteys, as a man of youre estaat;
1288: In compaignye we wol have no debaat.
1289: Telleth youre tale, and lat the somonour be.
1290: Nay, quod the somonour, lat hym seye to me
1291: What so hym list; whan it comth to me lot,
1292: By god! I shal hym quiten every grot.
1293: I shal hym tellen which a greet honour
1294: It is to be a flaterynge lymytour;
1295: And eek of many another manere cryme
1296: Which nedeth nat rehercen at this tyme;
1297: And his office I shal hym telle, ywis.
1298: Oure hoost answerde, pees, namoore of this!
1299: And after this he seyde unto the frere,
1300: Tel forth youre tale, my leeve maister deere.

The Friar's Tale

1301: Whilom ther was dwellynge in my contree
1302: And erchedeken, a man of heigh degree,
1303: That boldely dide execucioun
1304: In punysshynge of fornicacioun,
1305: Of wicchecraft, and eek of bawderye,
1306: Of difamacioun, and avowtrye,
1307: Of chirche reves, and of testamentz,
1308: Of contractes and of lakke of sacramentz,
1309: Of usure, and of symonye also.
1310: But certes, lecchours dide he grettest wo;
1311: They sholde syngen if that they were hent;
1312: And smale tytheres weren foule yshent,
1313: If any persoun wolde upon hem pleyne.
1314: Ther myghte asterte hym no pecunyal peyne.
1315: For smale tithes and for smal offrynge
1316: He made the peple pitously to synge.
1317: For er the bisshop caughte hem with his hook,
1318: They weren in the erchedeknes book.
1319: Thanne hadde he, thurgh his jurisdiccioun,
1320: Power to doon on hem correccioun.
1321: He hadde a somonour redy to his hond;
1322: A slyer boye nas noon in engelond;
1323: For subtilly he hadde his espiaille,
1324: That taughte hym wel wher that hym myghte availle.
1325: He koude spare of lecchours oon or two,
1326: To techen hym to foure and twenty mo.
1327: For thogh this somonour wood were as an hare,
1328: To telle his harlotrye I wol nat spare;
1329: For we been out of his correccioun.
1330: They han of us no jurisdiccioun,
1331: Ne nevere shullen, terme of alle hir lyves. --
1332: Peter! so been the wommen of the styves,
1333: Quod the somonour, yput out of oure cure!
1334: Pees! with myschance and with mysaventure!

Page 90

1335: Thys seyde oure hoost, and lat hym telle his tale.
1336: Now telleth forth, thogh that the somonour gale;
1337: Ne spareth nat, myn owene maister deere. --
1338: This false theef, this somonour, quod the frere,
1339: Hadde alwey bawdes redy to his hond,
1340: As any hauk to lure in engelond,
1341: That tolde hym al the secree that they knewe;
1342: For hire acqueyntace was nat come of newe.
1343: They weren his approwours prively.
1344: He took hymself a greet profit therby;
1345: His maister knew nat alwey what he wan.
1346: Withouten mandement a lewed man
1347: He koude somne, on peyne of cristes curs,
1348: And they were glade for to fille his purs,
1349: And make hym grete feestes atte nale.
1350: And right as judas hadde purses smale,
1351: And was a theef, right swich a theef was he;
1352: His maister hadde but half his duetee.
1353: He was, if I shal yeven hym his laude,
1354: A theef, and eek a somnour, and baude.
1355: He hadde eek wenches at his retenue,
1356: That, wheither that sir robert or sir huwe,
1357: Or jakke, or rauf, or whoso that it were
1358: That lay by hem, they tolde it in his ere.
1359: Thus was the wenche and he of oon assent;
1360: And he wolde fecche a feyned mandement,
1361: And somne hem to chapitre bothe two,
1362: And pile the man, and lete the wenche go.
1363: Thanne wolde he seye, freend, I shal for thy sake
1364: Do striken hire out of oure lettres blake;
1365: Thee thar namoore as in this cas travaille.
1366: I am thy freend, ther I thee may availle.
1367: Certeyn he knew of briberyes mo
1368: Than possible is to telle in yeres two.
1369: For in this world nys dogge for the bowe
1370: That kan an hurt deer from an hool yknowe
1371: Bet than this somnour knew a sly lecchour,
1372: Or an avowtier, or a paramour.
1373: And for that was the fruyt of al his rente,
1374: Therfore on it he sette al his entente.
1375: And so bifel that ones on a day
1376: This somnour, evere waityng on his pray,
1377: Rood for to somne an old wydwe, a ribibe,
1378: Feynynge a cause, for he wolde brybe.
1379: And happed that he saugh bifore hym ryde
1380: A gay yeman, under a forest syde,
1381: A bowe he bar, and arwes brighte and kene;
1382: He hadde upon a courtepy of grene,
1383: An hat upon his heed with frenges blake.
1384: Sire, quod this somnour, hayl, and wel atake!
1385: Welcome, quod he, and every good felawe!
1386: Wher rydestow, under this grene-wode shawe?
1387: Seyde this yeman, wiltow fer to day?
1388: This somnour hym answerde and seyde, nay;
1389: Heere faste by, quod he, is myn entente
1390: To ryden, for to reysen up a rente
1391: That longeth to my lordes duetee.
1392: Artow thanne a bailly? ye, quod he.
1393: He dorste nat, for verray filthe and shame
1394: Seye that he was a somonour, for the name.
1395: Depardieux, quod this yeman, deere broother,
1396: Thou art a bailly, and I am another.
1397: I am unknowen as in this contree;
1398: Of thyn aqueyntance I wolde praye thee,
1399: And eek of bretherhede, if that yow leste.
1400: I have gold and silver in my cheste;
1401: If that thee happe to comen in oure shire,
1402: Al shal be thyn, right as thou wolt desire.
1403: Grantmercy, quod this somonour, by my feith!
1404: Everych on ootheres hand his trouthe leith,
1405: For to be sworne bretheren til they deye.
1406: In daliance they ryden forth and pleye.
1407: This somonour, which that was as ful of jangles,
1408: As ful of venym been thise waryangles,
1409: And evere enqueryng upon every thyng,
1410: Brother, quod he, where is now youre dwellyng
1411: Another day if that I sholde yow seche?
1412: This yeman hym answerde in softe speche,
1413: Brother, quod he, fer in the north contree,
1414: Where-as I hope som tyme I shal thee see.
1415: Er we departe, I shal thee so wel wisse
1416: That of myn hous ne shaltow nevere mysse.
1417: Now, brother, quod this somonour, I yow preye,
1418: Teche me, whil that we ryden by the weye,
1419: Syn that ye been a baillif as am I,
1420: Som subtiltee, and tel me feithfully
1421: In myn office how that I may moost wynne;
1422: And spareth nat for conscience ne synne,
1423: But as my brother tel me, how do ye.
1424: Now, by my trouthe, brother deere, seyde he,
1425: As I shal tellen thee a feithful tale,
1426: My wages been ful streite and ful smale.
1427: My lord is hard to me and daungerous,
1428: And myn office is ful laborous,
1429: And therfore by extorcions I lyve.
1430: For sothe, I take al that men wol me yive.

Page 91

1431: Algate,by gleyghte or by violence,
1432: Fro yeer to yeer I wynne al my dispence.
1433: I kan no bettre telle, feithfully.
1434: Now certes, quod this somonour, so fare I.
1435: I spare nat to taken, God it woot,
1436: But if it be to hevy or to hoot.
1437: What I may gete in conseil prively,
1438: No maner conscience of that have I.
1439: Nere myn extorcioun, I myghte nat lyven,
1440: Ne of swiche japes wol I nat be shryven.
1441: Stomak ne conscience ne knowe I noon;
1442: I shrewe thise shrifte-fadres everychoon.
1443: Wel be we met, by God and by seint jame!
1444: But, leeve brother, tel me thanne thy name,
1445: Quod this somonour. In this meene while
1446: This yeman gan a litel for to smyle.
1447: Brother, quod he, wiltow that I thee telle?
1448: I am a feend; my dwellyng is in helle,
1449: And heere I ryde aboute my purchasyng,
1450: To wite wher men wol yeve me any thyng.
1451: My purchas is th' effect of al my rente.
1452: Looke how thou rydest for the same entente,
1453: To wynne good, thou rekkest nevere how;
1454: Right so fare I, for ryde wolde I now
1455: Unto the worldes ende for a preye.
1456: Al! quod this somonour, benedicite! sey ye?
1457: I wende ye were a yeman trewely.
1458: Ye han a mannes shap as wel as I;
1459: Han ye a figure thanne determinat
1460: In helle, ther ye been in youre estat?
1461: Nay, certeinly, quod he, ther have we noon;
1462: But whan us liketh, we kan take us oon,
1463: Or elles make yow seme we been shape
1464: Somtyme lyk a man, or lyk an ape,
1465: Or lyk an angel kan I ryde or go.
1466: It is no wonder thyng thogh it be so;
1467: A lowsy jogelour kan deceyve thee,
1468: And pardee, yet kan I moore craft than he.
1469: Why, quod this somonour, ryde ye thanne or goon
1470: In sondry shap, and nat alwey in oon?
1471: For we, quod he, wol us swiche formes make
1472: As moost able is oure preyes for to take.
1473: What maketh yow to han al this labour?
1474: Ful many a cause, leeve sire somonour,
1475: Seyde this feend, but alle thyng hath tyme.
1476: The day is short, and it is passed pryme,
1477: And yet ne wan I nothyng in this day.
1478: I wol entende to wynnyng, if I may,
1479: And nat entende oure wittes to declare.
1480: For, brother myn, thy wit is al to bare
1481: To understonde, althogh I tolde hem thee.
1482: But, for thou axest why labouren we --
1483: For somtyme we been goddes instrumentz,
1484: And meenes to doon his comandementz,
1485: Whan that hym list, upon his creatures,
1486: In divers art and in diverse figures.
1487: Withouten hym we have no myght, certayn,
1488: If that hym list stonden ther-agayn.
1489: And somtyme, at oure prayere, han we leve
1490: Oonly the body and nat the soule greve;
1491: Witnesse on job, whom that we diden wo.
1492: And somtyme han we myght of bothe two,
1493: This is to seyn, of soule and body eke.
1494: And somtyme be we suffred for to seke
1495: Upon a man, and doon his soule unreste,
1496: And nat his body, and al is for the beste.
1497: Whan he withstandeth oure temptacioun,
1498: It is a cause of his savacioun,
1499: Al be it that it was nat oure entente
1500: He sholde be sauf, but that we wolde hym hente.
1501: And somtyme be we servant unto man,
1502: As to the erchebisshop seint dunstan,
1503: And to the apostles servent eek was I.
1504: Yet tel me, quod the somonour, feithfully,
1505: Make ye yow newe bodies thus alway
1506: Of elementz? the feend answerde, nay.
1507: Somtyme we feyne, and somtyme we aryse
1508: With dede bodyes, in ful sondry wyse,
1509: And speke as renably and faire and wel
1510: As to the phitonissa dide samuel.
1511: (and yet wol som men seye it was nat he;
1512: I do no fors of youre dyvynytee.)
1513: But o thyng warne I thee, I wol nat jape, --
1514: Thou wolt algates wite how we been shape;
1515: Thou shalt herafterward, my brother deere,
1516: Come there thee nedeth nat of me to leere.
1517: For thou shalt, by thyn owene experience,
1518: Konne in a chayer rede of this sentence
1519: Bet than virgile, while he was on lyve,
1520: Or dant also. Now lat us ryde blyve,
1521: For I wole holde compaignye with thee
1522: Til it be so that thou forsake me.
1523: Nay, quod this somonour, that shal nat bityde!
1524: I am a yeman, knowen is ful wyde;
1525: My trouthe wol I holde, as in this cas.
1526: For though thou were the devel sathanas,
1527: My trouthe wol I holde to my brother,
1528: As I am sworn, and ech of us til oother,
1529: For to be trewe brother in this cas;
1530: And bothe we goon abouten oure purchas.

Page 92

1531: Taak thou thy part, what that men wol thee yive,
1532: And I shal myn; thus may we bothe lyve.
1533: And if that any of us have moore than oother,
1534: Lat hym be trewe, and parte it with his brother.
1535: I graunte, quod the devel, by my fey.
1536: And with that word they ryden forth hir wey.
1537: And right at the entryng of the townes ende,
1538: To which this somonour shoop hym for to wende,
1539: They saugh a cart that charged was with hey,
1540: Which that a cartere droof forth in his wey.
1541: Deep was the wey, for which the carte stood.
1542: The cartere smoot, and cryde as he were wood,
1543: Hayt, brok! hayt, scot! what spare ye for the stones?
1544: The feend, quod he, yow fecche, body and bones,
1545: As ferforthly as evere were ye foled,
1546: So muche wo as I have with yow tholed!
1547: The devel have al, bothe hors and cart and hey!
1548: This somonour seyde, heere shal we have a pley.
1549: And neer the feend he drough, as noght ne were,
1550: Ful prively, and rowned in his ere:
1551: Herkne, my brother, herkne, by thy feith!
1552: Herestow nat how that the cartere seith?
1553: Hent it anon, for he hath yeve it thee,
1554: Bothe hey and cart, and eek his caples thre.
1555: Nay, quod the devel, God woot, never a deel!
1556: It is nat his entente, trust me weel.
1557: Axe hym thyself, it thou nat trowest me;
1558: Or elles stynt a while, and thou shalt see.
1559: This cartere thakketh his hors upon the croupe,
1560: And they bigonne to drawen and to stoupe.
1561: Heyt! now, quod he, ther jhesu crist yow blesse,
1562: And al his handwerk, bothe moore and lesse!
1563: That was wel twight, myn owene lyard boy.
1564: I pray God save thee, and seinte loy!
1565: Now is my cart out of the slow, pardee!
1566: Lo, brother, quod the feend, what tolde I thee?
1567: Heere may ye se, myn owene deere brother,
1568: The carl spak oo thing, but he thoghte another.
1569: Lat us go forth abouten oure viage;
1570: Heere wynne I nothyng upon cariage.
1571: Whan that they coomen somwhat out of towne,
1572: This somonour to his brother gan to rowne:
1573: Brother, quod he, heere woneth an old rebekke,
1574: That hadde almoost as lief to lese hire nekke
1575: As for to yeve a peny of hir good.
1576: I wole han twelf pens, though that she be wood,
1577: Or I wol sompne hire unto oure office;
1578: And yet, God woot, of hire knowe I no vice.
1579: But for thou kanst nat, as in this contree,
1580: Wynne thy cost, taak heer ensample of me.
1581: This somonour clappeth at the wydwes gate.
1582: Com out, quod he, thou olde virytrate!
1583: I trowe thou hast som frere or preest with thee.
1584: Who clappeth? seyde this wyf, benedicitee!
1585: God save you, sire, what is youre sweete wille?
1586: I have, quod he, of somonce here a bille;
1587: Up peyne of cursyng, looke that thou be
1588: To-morn bifore the erchedeknes knee,
1589: T' answere to the court of certeyn thynges.
1590: Now, lord, quod she, crist jhesu, kyng of kynges,
1591: So wisly helpe me, as I ne may.
1592: I have been syk, and that ful many a day.
1593: I may nat go so fer, quod she, ne ryde,
1594: But I be deed, so priketh it in my syde.
1595: May I nat axe a libel, sire somonour,
1596: And answere there by my procuratour
1597: To swich thyng as men wole opposen me?
1598: Yis, quod this somonour, pay anon, lat se,
1599: Twelf pens to me, and I wol thee acquite.
1600: I shal no profit han therby but lite;
1601: My maister hath the profit, and nat I.
1602: Com of, and lat me ryden hastily;
1603: Yif me twelf pens, I may no lenger tarye.
1604: Twelf pens! quod she, now, lady seinte marie
1605: So wisly help me out of care and synne,
1606: This wyde world thogh that I sholde wynne,
1607: Ne have I nat twelf pens withinne myn hoold.
1608: Ye knowen wel that I am povre and oold;
1609: Kithe youre almesse on me povre wrecche.
1610: Nay thanne, quod he, the foule feend me fecche
1611: If I th' excuse, though thou shul be spilt!
1612: allas! quod she, God woot, I have no gilt.
1613: Pay me, quod he, or by the swete seinte anne,
1614: As I wol bere awey thy newe panne
1615: For dette which thou owest me of old.

Page 93

1616: Whan that thou madest thyn housbonde cokewold,
1617: I payde at hoom for thy correccioun.
1618: Thou lixt! quod she, by my savacioun,
1619: Ne was I nevere er now, wydwe ne wyf,
1620: Somoned unto youre court in al my lyf;
1621: Ne nevere I nas but of my body trewe!
1622: Unto the devel blak and rough of hewe
1623: Yeve I thy body and my panne also!
1624: And whan the devel herde hire cursen so
1625: Upon hir knees, he seyde in this manere,
1626: Now, mabely, myn owene mooder deere,
1627: Is this youre wyl in ernest that ye seye?
1628: The devel, quod she, so fecche hym er he deye,
1629: And panne and al, but he wol hym repente!
1630: Nay, olde stot, that is nat myn entente,
1631: Quod this somonour, for to repente me
1632: For any thyng that I have had of thee.
1633: I wolde I hadde thy smok and every clooth!
1634: Now, brother, quod the devel, be nat wrooth;
1635: Thy body and this panne been myne by right.
1636: Thow shalt with me to helle yet to-nyght,
1637: Where thou shalt knowen of oure privetee
1638: Moore than a maister of dyvynytee.
1639: And with that word this foule feend hym hente;
1640: Body and soule he with the devel wente
1641: Where as that somonours han hir heritage.
1642: And god, that maked after his ymage
1643: Mankynde, save and gyde us, alle and some,
1644: And leve thise somonours goode men bicome!
1645: Lordynges, I koude han toold yow, quod this frere,
1646: Hadde I had leyser for this somonour heere,
1647: After the text of crist, poul, and john,
1648: And of oure othere doctours many oon,
1649: Swiche peynes that youre hertes myghte agryse,
1650: Al be it so no tonge may it devyse,
1651: Thogh that I myghte a thousand wynter telle
1652: The peynes of thilke cursed hous of helle.
1653: But for to kepe us fro that cursed place,
1654: Waketh, and preyeth jhesu for his grace
1655: So kepe us from the temptour sathanas.
1656: Herketh this word! beth war, as in this cas:
1657: The leoun sit in his awayt alway
1658: To sle the innocent, if that he may.
1659: Disposeth ay youre hertes to withstonde
1660: The feend, that yow wolde make thral and bonde.
1661: He may nat tempte yow over youre myght,
1662: For crist wol be youre champion and knyght.
1663: And prayeth that thise somonours hem repente
1664: Of hir mysdedes, er that the feend hem hente!

The Summoner's Prologue

1665: This somonour in his styropes hye stood;
1666: Upon this frere his herte was so wood
1667: That lyk an aspen leef he quook for ire.
1668: Lordynges, quod he, but o thyng I desire;
1669: I yow biseke that, of youre curteisye,
1670: Syn ye han herd this false frere lye,
1671: As suffreth me I may my tale telle.
1672: This frere bosteth that he knoweth helle,
1673: And God it woot, that it is litel wonder;
1674: Freres and feendes been but lyte asonder.
1675: For, pardee, ye han ofte tyme herd telle
1676: How that a frere ravyshed was to helle
1677: In spirit ones by a visioun;
1678: And as an angel ladde hym up and doun,
1679: To shewen hym the peynes that the were,
1680: In al the place saugh he nat a frere;
1681: Of oother folk he saugh ynowe in wo.
1682: Unto this angel spak the frere tho:
1683: Now, sire, quod he, han freres swich a grace
1684: That noon of hem shal come to this place?
1685: Yis, quod this aungel, many a millioun!
1686: And unto sathanas he ladde hym doun.
1687: -- And now hath sathanas, -- seith he, -- a tayl
1688: Brodder than of a carryk is the sayl.
1689: Hold up thy tayl, thou sathanas! -- quod he;
1690: -- shewe forth thyn ers, and lat the frere se
1691: Where is the nest of freres in this place! --
1692: And er that half a furlong wey of space,
1693: Right so as bees out swarmen from an hyve,
1694: Out of the develes ers ther gonne dryve

Page 94

1695: Twenty thousand freres on a route,
1696: And thurghout helle swarmed al aboute,
1697: And comen agayn as faste as they may gon,
1698: And in his ers they crepten everychon.
1699: He clapte his tayl agayn and lay ful stille.
1700: This frere, whan he looked hadde his fille
1701: Upon the tormentz of this sory place,
1702: His spirit God restored, of his grace,
1703: Unto his body agayn, and he awook.
1704: But natheles, for fere yet he quook,
1705: So was the develes ers ay in his mynde,
1706: That is his heritage of verray kynde.
1707: God save yow alle, save this cursed frere!
1708: My prologe wol I ende in this manere.

The Summoner's Tale

1709: Lordynges, ther is in yorkshire, as I gesse,
1710: A mersshy contree called holdernesse,
1711: In which ther wente a lymytour aboute,
1712: To preche, and eek to begge, it so no doute.
1713: And so bifel that on a day this frere
1714: Hadde preched at a chirche in his manere,
1715: And specially, aboven every thyng,
1716: Excited he the peple in his prechyng
1717: To trentals, and to yeve, for goddes sake,
1718: Wherwith men myghte hooly houses make,
1719: Ther as divine servyce is honoured,
1720: Nat ther as it is wasted and devoured,
1721: Ne ther it nedeth nat for to be yive,
1722: As to possessioners, that mowen lyve,
1723: Thanked be god, in wele and habundaunce.
1724: Trentals, seyde he, deliveren fro penaunce
1725: Hir freendes soules, as wel olde as yonge, --
1726: Ye, whan that they been hastily ysonge,
1727: Nat for to holde a preest holy and gay --
1728: He syngeth nat but o masse in a day.
1729: Delivereth out, quod he, anon the soules!
1730: Ful hard it is with flesshhook or with oules
1731: To been yclawed, or to brenne or bake.
1732: Now spede yow hastily, for cristes sake!
1733: And whan this frere had seyd al his entente,
1734: With qui cum patre forth his wey he wente.
1735: Whan folk in chirche had yeve him what hem leste,
1736: He wente his wey, no lenger wolde he reste,
1737: With scrippe and tipped staf, ytukked hye,
1738: In every hous he gan to poure and prye,
1739: And beggeth mele and chese, or elles corn.
1740: His felawe hadde a staf tipped with horn,
1741: A peyre of tables al of yvory,
1742: And a poyntel polysshed fetisly,
1743: And wrooth the names alwey, as he stood,
1744: Of alle folk that yaf hym any good,
1745: Ascaunces that he wolde for hem preye.
1746: Yif us a busshel whete, malt, or reye,
1747: A goddes kechyl, or a trype of chese,
1748: Or elles what yow lyst, we may nat cheese;
1749: A goddes halfpeny, or a masse peny,
1750: Or yif us of youre brawn, if ye have eny;
1751: A dagon of youre blanket, leeve dame,
1752: Oure suster deere, -- lo! heere I write youre name, --
1753: Bacon or beef, or swich thyng as ye fynde.
1754: A sturdy harlot wente ay hem bihynde,
1755: That was hir hostes man, and bar a sak,
1756: And what men yaf hem, leyde it on his bak.
1757: And whan that he was out at dore, anon
1758: He planed awey the names everichon
1759: That he biforn had writen in his tables;
1760: He served hem with nyfles and with fables.
1761: Nay, ther thou lixt, thou somonour! quod the frere.
1762: Pees, quod oure hoost, for cristes mooder deere!
1763: Tel forth thy tale, and spare it nat at al.
1764: So thryve I, quod this somonour, so I shal!
1765: So longe he wente, hous by hous, til he
1766: Cam til an hous ther he was wont to be
1767: Refresshed moore than in an hundred placis.
1768: Syk lay the goode man whos that the place is;
1769: Bedrede upon a couche lowe he lay.
1770: Deus hic! quod he, o thomas, freend, good day!
1771: Seyde this frere, curteisly and softe.
1772: Thomas, quod he, God yelde yow! ful ofte
1773: Have I upon this bench faren ful weel;
1774: Heere have I eten many a myrie meel.
1775: And fro the bench he droof awey the cat,
1776: And leyde adoun his potente and his hat,
1777: And eek his scrippe, and sette hym softe adoun.
1778: His felawe was go walked into toun

Page 95

1779: Forth with his knave, into that hostelrye
1780: Where as he shoop hym thilke nyght to lye.
1781: O deere maister, quod this sike man,
1782: How han ye fare sith that march bigan?
1783: I saugh yow noght this fourtenyght or moore.
1784: God woot, quod he, laboured have I ful soore,
1785: And specially, for thy savacion
1786: Have I seyd many a precious orison,
1787: And for oure othere freendes, God hem blesse!
1788: I have to day been at youre chirche at messe,
1789: And seyd a sermon after my symple wit,
1790: Nat al after the text of hooly writ;
1791: For it is hard to yow, as I suppose,
1792: And therfore wol I teche yow al the glose.
1793: Glosynge is a glorious thyng, certeyn,
1794: For lettre sleeth, so as we clerkes seyn.
1795: There have I taught hem to be charitable,
1796: And spende hir good ther it is resonable;
1797: And there I saugh oure dame, -- a! where is she?
1798: Yond in the yerd I trowe that she be,
1799: Seyde this man,and she wol come anon.
1800: Ey, maister, welcome be ye, by seint john!
1801: Seyde this wyf, how fare ye, hertely?
1802: The frere ariseth up ful curteisly,
1803: And hire embraceth in his armes narwe,
1804: And kiste hire sweete, and chirketh as a sparwe
1805: With his lyppes: dame, quod he, right weel,
1806: As he that is youre servent every deel,
1807: Thanked be god, that yow yaf soule and lyf!
1808: Yet saugh I nat this day so fair a wyf
1809: In al the chirche, God so save me!
1810: Ye, God amende defautes, sire, quod she.
1811: Algates, welcome be ye, by my fey!
1812: Graunt mercy, dame, this have I founde alwey.
1813: But of youre grete goodnesse, by youre leve,
1814: I wolde prey yow that ye nat yow greve,
1815: I wole with thomas speke a litel throwe.
1816: Thise curatz been ful necligent and slowe
1817: To grope tendrely a conscience
1818: In shrift; in prechyng is my diligence,
1819: And studie in petres wordes and in poules.
1820: I walke, and fisshe cristen mennes soules,
1821: To yelden jhesu crist his propre rente;
1822: To sprede his word is set al myn entente.
1823: Now, by youre leve, o deere sire, she,
1824: Chideth him weel, for seinte trinitee!
1825: He is as angry as a pissemyre,
1826: Though that he have al that he kan desire,
1827: Though I hym wrye a-nyght and make hym warm,
1828: And over hym leye my leg outher myn arm,
1829: He groneth lyk oure boor, lith in oure sty.
1830: Oother desport right noon of hym have I;
1831: I may nat plese hym in no maner cas.
1832: O thomas, je vous dy, thomas! thomas!
1833: This maketh the feend; this moste ben amended.
1834: Ire is a thyng that hye God defended,
1835: And therof wol I speke a word or two.
1836: Now, maister, quod the wyf, er that I go,
1837: What wol ye dyne? I wol go theraboute.
1838: Now dame, quod he, now je vous dy sanz doute,
1839: Have I nat of a capon but the lyvere,
1840: And of youre softe breed nat but a shyvere,
1841: And after that a rosted pigges heed --
1842: But that I nolde no beest for me were deed --
1843: Thanne hadde I with yow hoomly suffisaunce.
1844: I am a man of litel sustenaunce;
1845: My spirit hath his fostryng in the bible.
1846: The body is ay so redy and penyble
1847: To wake, that my stomak is destroyed.
1848: I prey yow, dame, ye be nat anoyed,
1849: Though I so freendly yow my conseil shewe.
1850: By god! I wolde nat telle it but a fewe.
1851: Now, sire, quod she, but o word er I go.
1852: My child is deed withinne thise wykes two,
1853: Soone after that ye wente out of this toun.
1854: His deeth saugh I by revelacioun,
1855: Seide this frere, at hoom in oure dortour.
1856: I dar wel seyn that, er that half an hour
1857: After his deeth, I saugh hym born to blisse
1858: In myn avision, so God me wisse!
1859: So didde oure sexteyn and oure fermerer,
1860: That han been trewe freres fifty yeer;
1861: They may now -- God be thanked of his loone! --
1862: Maken hir jubilee and walke allone.
1863: And up I roos, and al oure covent eke,
1864: With many a teere trillyng on my cheke,
1865: Withouten noyse or claterynge of belles;
1866: Te deum was oure song, and nothyng elles,
1867: Save that to crist I seyde an orison,
1868: Thankynge hym of his revelacion.
1869: For, sire and dame, trusteth me right weel,
1870: Oure orisons been moore effectueel,
1871: And moore we seen of cristes secree thynges,
1872: Than burel folk, although they weren kynges.
1873: We lyve in poverte and in abstinence,
1874: And burell folk in richesse and despence
1875: Of mete and drynke, and in hir foul delit.
1876: We han this worldes lust al in despit.
1877: Lazar and dives lyveden diversly,
1878: And divers gerdon hadden they therby.

Page 96

1879: Whoso wol preye, he moot faste and be clene,
1880: And fatte his soule, and make his body lene.
1881: We fare as seith th' apostle; clooth and foode
1882: Suffisen us, though they be nat ful goode.
1883: The clennesse and the fastynge of us freres
1884: Maketh that crist accepteth oure preyeres.
1885: Lo, moyses fourty dayes and fourty nyght
1886: Fasted, er that the heighe God of myght
1887: Spak with hym in the mountayne of synay.
1888: With empty wombe, fastynge many a day,
1889: Receyved he the lawe that was writen
1890: With goddes fynger; and elye, wel ye witen,
1891: In mount oreb, er he hadde any speche
1892: With hye god, that is oure lyves leche,
1893: He fasted longe, and was in contemplaunce.
1894: Aaron, that hadde the temple in governaunce,
1895: And eek the othere preestes everichon,
1896: Into the temple whan they sholde gon
1897: To preye for the peple, and do servyse,
1898: They nolden drynken in no maner wyse
1899: No drynke which that myghte hem dronke make,
1900: But there in abstinence preye and wake,
1901: Lest that they deyden. Taak heede what I seye!
1902: But they be sobre that for the peple preye,
1903: War that I seye -- namoore, for it suffiseth.
1904: Oure lord jhesu, as hooly writ devyseth,
1905: Yaf us ensample of fastynge and preyeres.
1906: Therfore we mendynantz, we sely freres,
1907: Been wedded to poverte and continence,
1908: To charite, humblesse, and abstinence,
1909: To persecucioun for rightwisnesse,
1910: To wepynge, misericorde, and clennesse.
1911: And therfore may ye se that oure preyeres --
1912: I speke of us, we mendynantz, we freres --
1913: Been to the hye God moore acceptable
1914: Than youres, with youre feestes at the table.
1915: Fro paradys first, if I shal nat lye,
1916: Was man out chaced for his glotonye;
1917: And chaast was man in paradys, certeyn.
1918: But herkne now, thomas, what I shal seyn.
1919: I ne have no text of it, as I suppose,
1920: But I shal fynde it in a maner glose,
1921: That specially oure sweete lord jhesus
1922: Spak this by freres, whan he seyde thus:
1923: -- Blessed be they that povere in spirit been. --
1924: And so forth al the gospel may ye seen,
1925: Wher it be likker oure professioun,
1926: Or hirs that swymmen in possessioun.
1927: Fy on hire pompe and on hire glotonye!
1928: And for hir lewednesse I hem diffye.
1929: My thynketh they been lyk jovinyan,
1930: Fat as a whale, and walkynge as a swan,
1931: Al vinolent as botel in the spence.
1932: Hir preyere is of ful greet reverence,
1933: Whan they for soules seye the psalm of davit;
1934: Lo, -- buf! -- they seye, -- cor meum eructavit! --
1935: Who folweth cristes gospel and his foore,
1936: But we that humble been, and chaast, and poore,
1937: Werkeris of goddes word, nat auditours?
1938: Therfore, right as an hauk up at a sours
1939: Up springeth into th' eir, right so prayeres
1940: Of charitable and chaste bisy freres
1941: Maken hir sours to goddes eres two.
1942: Thomas! thomas! so moote I ryde or go,
1943: And by that lord that clepid is seint yve,
1944: Nere thou oure brother, sholdestou nat thryve.
1945: In our chapitre prayer we day and nyght
1946: To crist, that he thee sende heele and myght
1947: Thy body for to weelden hastily.
1948: God woot, quod he, nothyng therof feele i!
1949: As help me crist, as I in fewe yeres,
1950: Have spent upon diverse manere freres
1951: Ful many a pound; yet fare I never the bet.
1952: Certeyn, my good have I almoost biset.
1953: Farwel, my gold, for it is al ago!
1954: The frere answerde, o thomas, dostow so?
1955: What nedeth yow diverse freres seche?
1956: What nedeth hym that hath a parfit leche
1957: To sechen othere leches in the toun?
1958: Youre inconstance is youre confusioun.
1959: Holde ye thanne me, or elles oure covent,
1960: To praye for yow been insufficient?
1961: Thomas, that jape nys nat worth a myte.
1962: Youre maladye is for we han to lyte.
1963: A! yif that covent half a quarter otes!
1964: A! yif that covent foure and twenty grotes!
1965: A! yif that frere a peny, and lat hym go!
1966: Nay, nay, thomas, it may no thyng be so!
1967: What is a ferthyng worth parted in twelve?
1968: Lo, ech thyng that is oned in himselve
1969: Is moore strong than whan it is toscatered.
1970: Thomas, of me thou shalt nat been yflatered;
1971: Thou woldest han oure labour al for noght.
1972: The hye god, that al this world hath wroght,
1973: Seith that the werkman worthy is his hyre.
1974: Thomas, noght of youre tresor I desire
1975: As for myself, but that al oure covent
1976: To preye for yow is ay so diligent,
1977: And for to buylden cristes owene chirche.
1978: Thomas, if ye wol lernen for to wirche,
1979: Of buyldynge up of chirches may ye fynde,

Page 97

1980: If it be good, in thomas lyf of inde.
1981: Ye lye heere ful of anger and of ire,
1982: With which the devel set youre herte afyre,
1983: And chiden heere the sely innocent,
1984: Youre wyf, that is so meke and pacient.
1985: And therfore, thomas, trowe me if thee leste,
1986: Ne stryve nat with thy wyf, as for thy beste;
1987: And ber this word awey now, by thy feith,
1988: Touchynge swich thyng, lo, what the wise seith:
1989: -- Withinne thyn hous ne be thou no leon;
1990: To thy subgitz do noon oppression,
1991: Ne make thyne aqueyntances nat to flee. --
1992: And, thomas, yet eft-soones I charge thee,
1993: Be war from hire that in thy bosom slepeth;
1994: War fro the serpent that so slily crepeth
1995: Under the gras, and styngeth subtilly.
1996: Be war, my sone, and herkne paciently,
1997: That twenty thousand men han lost hir lyves
1998: For stryvyng with hir lemmans and hir wyves.
1999: Now sith ye han so hooly and meke a wyf,
2000: What nedeth yow, thomas, to maken stryf?
2001: Ther nys, ywys, no serpent so cruel,
2002: Whan man tret on his tayl, ne half so fel,
2003: As womman is, whan she hath caught an ire;
2004: Vengeance is thanne al that they desire.
2005: Ire is a synne, oon of the grete of sevene,
2006: Abhomynable unto the God of hevene;
2007: And to hymself it is destruccion.
2008: This every lewed viker or person
2009: Kan seye, how ire engendreth homycide.
2010: Ire is, in sooth, executour of pryde.
2011: I koude of ire seye so muche sorwe,
2012: My tale sholde laste til to-morwe.
2013: And therfore preye I god, bothe day and nyght,
2014: An irous man, God sende hym litel myght!
2015: It is greet harm and certes greet pitee
2016: To sette an irous man in heigh degree.
2017: Whilom ther was an irous potestat,
2018: As seith senek, that, durynge his estaat,
2019: Upon a day out ryden knyghtes two,
2020: And as fortune wolde that it were so,
2021: That oon of hem cam hoom, that oother noght.
2022: Anon the knyght bifore the juge is broght,
2023: That seyde thus, -- thou hast thy felawe slayn,
2024: For which I deme thee to the deeth, certayn. --
2025: And to another knyght comanded he,
2026: -- Go lede hym to the deeth, I charge thee, --
2027: And happed, as they wente by the weye
2028: Toward the place ther he sholde deye,
2029: The knyght cam which men wenden had be deed.
2030: Thanne thoughte they it were the beste reed
2031: To lede hem bothe to the juge agayn.
2032: They seiden,-lord, the knyght ne hath nat slayn
2033: His felawe; heere he standeth hool alyve. --
2034: -- Ye shul be deed, -- quod he, -- so moot I thryve!
2035: That is to seyn, bothe oon, and two, and thre! --
2036: And to the firste knyght right thus spak he,
2037: -- I dampned thee; thou most algate be deed.
2038: And thou also most nedes lese thyn heed,
2039: For thou art cause why thy felawe deyth. --
2040: And to the thridde knyght right thus he seith,
2041: -- Thou hast nat doon that I comanded thee. --
2042: And thus he dide doon sleen hem alle thre.
2043: Irous cambises was eek dronkelewe,
2044: And ay delited hym to been a shrewe.
2045: And so bifel, a lord of his meynee,
2046: That loved vertuous moralitee,
2047: Seyde on a day bitwix hem two right thus:
2048: -- A lord is lost, if he be vicius;
2049: And dronkenesse is eek a foul record
2050: Of any man, and namely in a lord.
2051: Ther is ful many an eye and many an ere
2052: Awaityng on a lord, and he noot where.
2053: For goddes love, drynk moore attemprely!
2054: Wyn maketh man to lesen wrecchedly
2055: His mynde and eek his lymes everichon. --
2056: -- The revers shaltou se, -- quod he, -- anon,
2057: And preve it by thyn owene experience,
2058: That wyn ne dooth to folk no swich offence.
2059: Ther is no wyn bireveth me my myght
2060: Of hand ne foot, ne of myne eyen sight. --
2061: And for despit he drank ful muchel moore,
2062: An hondred part, than he hadde don bifoore;
2063: And right anon this irous, cursed wrecche
2064: Leet this knyghtes sone bifore hym fecche,
2065: Comandynge hym he sholde bifore hym stonde.
2066: And sodeynly he took his bowe in honde,
2067: And up the streng he pulled to his ere,
2068: And with an arwe he slow the child right there.
2069: -- Now wheither have I a siker hand or noon? --
2070: Quod he; -- is al my myght and mynde agon?
2071: Hath wyn bireved me myn eyen sight? --
2072: What sholde I telle th' answere of the knyght?
2073: His sone was slayn, ther is namoore to seye.
2074: Beth war, therfore, with lordes how ye pleye.
2075: Syngeth placebo, and -- I shal, if I kan, --
2076: But if it be unto a povre man.
2077: To a povre man men sholde his vices telle,
2078: But nat to a lord, thogh he sholde go to helle.
2079: Lo irous cirus, thilke percien,
2080: How he destroyed the ryver of gysen,
2081: For that an hors of his was dreynt therinne,
2082: Whan that he wente babiloigne to wynne.
2083: He made that the ryver was so smal
2084: That wommen myghte wade it over al.
2085: Lo, what seyde he that so wel teche kan?

Page 98

2086: -- Ne be no felawe to an irous man,
2087: Ne with no wood man walke by the weye,
2088: Lest thee repente; -- I wol no ferther seye.
2089: Now, thomas, leeve brother, lef thyn ire;
2090: Thou shalt me fynde as just as is a squyre.
2091: Hoold nat the develes knyf ay at thyn herte --
2092: Thyn angre dooth thee al to soore smerte --
2093: But shewe to me al thy confessioun.
2094: nay, quod the sike man, by seint symoun!
2095: I have be shryven this day at my curat.
2096: I have hym toold hoolly al myn estat;
2097: Nedeth namoore to speken of it, seith he,
2098: But if me list, of myn humylitee.
2099: Yif me thanne of thy gold, to make oure cloystre,
2100: Quod he, for many a muscle and many an oystre,
2101: Whan othere men han ben ful wel at eyse,
2102: Hath been oure foode, our cloystre for to reyse.
2103: And yet, God woot, unnethe the fundement
2104: Parfourned is, ne of our pavement
2105: Nys nat a tyle yet withinne oure wones.
2106: By god! we owen fourty pound for stones.
2107: Now help, thomas, for hym that harwed helle!
2108: For elles moste we oure bookes selle.
2109: And if yow lakke oure predicacioun,
2110: Thanne goth the world al to destruccioun.
2111: For whoso wolde us fro this world bireve,
2112: So God me save, thomas, by youre leve,
2113: He wolde bireve out of this world the sonne.
2114: For who kan teche and werchen as we konne?
2115: And that is nat of litel tyme, quod he,
2116: But syn elye was, or elise,
2117: Han freres been, that funde I of record,
2118: In charitee, ythanked be oure lord!
2119: Now thomas, help, for seinte charitee!
2120: And doun anon he sette hym on his knee.
2121: This sike man wax wel ny wood for ire;
2122: He wolde that the frere had been on-fire,
2123: With his false dissymulacioun.
2124: Swich thyng as is in my possessioun,
2125: Quod he, that may I yeve yow, and noon oother.
2126: Ye sey me thus, how that I am youre brother?
2127: Ye, certes, quod the frere, trusteth weel.
2128: I took oure dame oure lettre with oure seel.
2129: Now wel, quod he, and somwhat shal I yive
2130: Unto youre hooly covent whil I lyve;
2131: And in thyn hand thou shalt it have anon,
2132: On this condicion, and oother noon,
2133: That thou departe it so, my deere brother,
2134: That every frere have also muche as oother.
2135: This shaltou swere on thy professioun,
2136: Withouten fraude or cavillacioun.
2137: I swere it, quod this frere, by my feith!
2138: And therwithal his hand in his he leith,
2139: Lo, heer my feith; in me shal be no lak.
2140: Now thanne, put in thyn hand doun by my bak,
2141: Seyde this man, and grope wel bihynde.
2142: Bynethe my buttok there shaltow fynde
2143: A thyng that I have hyd in pryvetee.
2144: A! thoghte this frere, that shal go with me!
2145: And doun his hand he launcheth to the clifte,
2146: In hope for to fynde there a yifte.
2147: And whan this sike man felte this frere
2148: Aboute his tuwel grope there and heere,
2149: Amydde his hand he leet the frere a fart,
2150: Ther nys no capul, drawynge in a cart,
2151: That myghte have lete a fart of swich a soun.
2152: The frere up stirte as dooth a wood leoun, --
2153: A! false cherl, quod he, for goddes bones!
2154: This hastow for despit doon for the nones.
2155: Thou shalt abye this fart, if that I may!
2156: His meynee, whiche that herden this affray,
2157: Cam lepynge in and chaced out the frere;
2158: And forth he gooth, with a ful angry cheere,
2159: And fette his felawe, ther as lay his stoor.
2160: He looked as it were a wilde boor;
2161: He grynte with his teeth, so was he wrooth.
2162: A sturdy paas doun to the court he gooth,
2163: Wher as ther woned a man of greet honour,
2164: To whom that he was alwey confessour.
2165: This worthy man was lord of that village.
2166: This frere cam as he were in a rage,
2167: Where as this lord sat etyng at his bord;
2168: Unnethes myghte the frere speke a word,
2169: Til atte laste he seyde, God yow see!
2170: This lord gan looke, and seide, benedicitee!
2171: What, frere john, what maner world is this?
2172: I se wel that som thyng ther is amys;
2173: Ye looken as the wode were ful of thevys.
2174: Sit doun anon, and tel me what youre grief is,
2175: And it shal been amended, if I may.
2176: I have, quod he, had a despit this day,
2177: God yelde yow, adoun in youre village,
2178: That in this world is noon so povre a page
2179: That he nolde have abhomynacioun
2180: Of that I have receyved in youre toun.
2181: And yet ne greveth me nothyng so soore,
2182: As that this olde cherl with lokkes hoore
2183: Blasphemed hath oure hooly covent eke.
2184: Now, maister, quod this lord, I yow biseke, --

Page 99

2185: No maister, sire, quod he, but servitour,
2186: Thogh I have had in scole that honour.
2187: God liketh nat that -- raby -- men us calle,
2188: Neither in market ne in youre large halle.
2189: No fors, quod he, but tel me al youre grief.
2190: Sire, quod this frere, and odious meschief
2191: This day bityd is to myn ordre and me,
2192: And so, per consequens, to ech degree
2193: Of hooly chirche, God amende it soone!
2194: Sire, quod the lord, ye woot what is to doone.
2195: Distempre yow noght, ye be my confessour;
2196: Ye been the salt of the erthe and the savour.
2197: For goddes love, youre pacience ye holde!
2198: Tel me youre grief; and anon hym tolde,
2199: As ye han herd biforn, ye woot wel what.
2200: The lady of the hous ay stille sat
2201: Til she had herd what the frere sayde.
2202: Ey, goddes mooder, quod she, blisful mayde!
2203: Is ther oght elles? telle me feithfully.
2204: Madame, quod he, how thynke ye herby?
2205: How that me thynketh? quod she, so God me speede,
2206: I seye, a cherl hath doon a cherles dede.
2207: What shold I seye? God lat hym nevere thee!
2208: His sike heed is ful of vanytee;
2209: I holde hym in a manere frenesye.
2210: Madame, quod he, by god, I shal nat lye
2211: But in on oother wyse may be wreke,
2212: I shal disclaundre hym over al ther I speke,
2213: This false blasphemour, that charged me
2214: To parte that wol nat departed be,
2215: To every man yliche, with meschaunce!
2216: The lord sat stille as he were in a traunce,
2217: And in his herte he rolled up and doun,
2218: How hadde this cherl ymaginacioun
2219: To shewe swich a probleme to the frere?
2220: Nevere erst er now herde I of swich mateere.
2221: I trowe the devel putte it in his mynde.
2222: In ars-metrike shal ther no man fynde,
2223: Biforn this day, of swich a question.
2224: Who sholde make a demonstracion
2225: That every man sholde have yliche his part
2226: As of the soun or savour of a fart?
2227: O nyce, proude cherl, I shrewe his face!
2228: Lo, sires, quod the lord, with harde grace!
2229: Who evere herde of swich a thyng er now?
2230: To every man ylike, tel me how?
2231: It is an inpossible, it may nat be.
2232: Ey, nyce cherl, God lete him nevere thee!
2233: The rumblynge of a fart, and every soun,
2234: Nis but of eir reverberacioun,
2235: And evere it wasteth litel and litel awey.
2236: Ther is no man kan deemen, by my fey,
2237: If that it were departed equally.
2238: What, lo, my cherl, lo, yet how shrewedly
2239: Unto my confessour to-day he spak!
2240: I holde hym certeyn a demonyak!
2241: Now ete youre mete, and lat the cherl go pleye;
2242: Lat hym go honge hymself a devel weye!
2243: Now stood the lordes squier at the bord,
2244: That karf his mete, and herde word by word
2245: Of alle thynges whiche I have yow sayd.
2246: My lord, quod he, be ye nat yvele apayd,
2247: I koude telle, for a gowne-clooth,
2248: To yow, sire frere, so ye be nat wrooth,
2249: How that this fart sholde evene deled be
2250: Among youre covent, if it lyked me.
2251: Tel, quod the lord, and thou shalt have anon
2252: A gowne-clooth, by God and by seint john!
2253: My lord, quod he, whan that the weder is fair,
2254: Withouten wynd or perturbynge of air,
2255: Lat brynge a cartwheel heere into this halle;
2256: But looke that it have his spokes alle, --
2257: Twelve spokes hath a cartwheel comunly.
2258: And bryng me thanne twelve freres, woot ye why?
2259: For thrittene is a covent, as I gesse.
2260: Youre confessour heere, for his worthynesse,
2261: Shal parfoune up the nombre of his covent,
2262: Thanne shal they knele doun, by oon assent,
2263: And to every spokes ende, in this manere,
2264: Ful sadly leye his nose shal a frere.
2265: Youre noble confessour -- there God hym save! --
2266: Shal holde his nose upright under the nave.
2267: Thanne shal this cherl, with bely stif and toght
2268: As any tabour, hyder been ybroght;
2269: And sette hym on the wheel right of this cart.
2270: Upon the nave, and make hym lete a fart.
2271: And ye shul seen, up peril of my lyf,
2272: By preeve which that is demonstratif,
2273: That equally the soun of it wol wende,
2274: And eke the stynk, unto the spokes ende.
2275: Save that this worthy man, youre confessour,
2276: By cause he is a man of greet honour,
2277: Shal have the firste fruyt, as resoun is.

Page 100

2278: The noble usage of freres yet is this,
2279: The worthy men of hem shul first be served;
2280: And certeinly he hath it well disserved.
2281: He hath to-day taught us so muche good
2282: With prechyng in the pulpit the he stood,
2283: That I may vouche sauf, I sey for me,
2284: He hadde the firste smel of fartes thre;
2285: And so wolde al his covent hardily,
2286: He bereth hym so faire and hoolily.
2287: The lord, the lady, and ech man, save the frere,
2288: Seyde that jankyn spak, in this matere,
2289: As wel as euclide dide or ptholomee.
2290: Touchynge the cherl, they seyde, subtiltee
2291: And heigh wit made hym speken as he spak;
2292: He nys no fool, ne no demonyak.
2293: And jankyn hath ywonne a newe gowne. --
2294: My tale is doon; we been almost at towne.

Page 101

The Clerk's Prologue

1: Sire clerk of oxenford, oure hooste sayde,
2: Ye ryde as coy and stille as dooth a mayde
3: Were newe spoused, sittynge at the bord;
4: This day ne herde I of youre tonge a word.
5: I trowe ye studie aboute som sophyme;
6: But salomon seith -- every thyng hath tyme. --
7: For goddes sake, as beth of bettre cheere!
8: It is no tyme for to studien heere.
9: Telle us som myrie tale, by youre fey!
10: For what man that is entred in a pley,
11: He nedes moot unto the pley assente.
12: But precheth nat, as freres doon in lente,
13: To make us for oure olde synnes wepe,
14: Ne that thy tale make us nat to slepe.
15: Telle us som murie thyng of aventures.
16: Youre termes, youre colours, and youre figures,
17: Keepe hem in stoor til so be that ye endite
18: Heigh style, as whan that men to kynges write.
19: Speketh so pleyn at this tyme, we yow preye,
20: That we may understonde what ye seye.
21: This worthy clerk benignely answerde:
22: Hooste, quod he, I am under youre yerde;
23: Ye han of us as now the governance,
24: And therfore wol I do yow obeisance,
25: As fer as resoun axeth, hardily.
26: I wol yow telle a tale which that I
27: Lerned at padowe of a worthy clerk,
28: As preved by his wordes and his werk.
29: He is now deed and nayled in his cheste,
30: I prey to God so yeve his soule reste!
31: Fraunceys petrak, the lauriat poete,
32: Highte this clerk, whos rethorike sweete
33: Enlumyned al ytaille of poetrie,
34: As lynyan dide of philosophie,
35: Or lawe, or oother art particuler;
36: But deeth, that wol nat suffre us dwellen heer,
37: But as it were a twynklyng of an ye,
38: Hem bothe hath slayn, and alle shul we dye.
39: But forth to tellen of this worthy man
40: That taughte me this tale, as I bigan,
41: I seye that first with heigh stile he enditeth,
42: Er he the body of his tale writeth,
43: A prohemye, in the which discryveth he
44: Pemond, and of saluces the contree,
45: And speketh of apennyn, the hilles hye,
46: That been the boundes of west lumbardye,
47: And of mount vesulus in special,
48: Where as the poo out of a welle smal
49: Taketh his firste spryngyng and his sours,
50: That estward ay encresseth in his cours
51: To emele-ward, to ferrare, and venyse;
52: The which a long thyng were to devyse.
53: And trewely, as to my juggement,
54: Me thynketh it a thyng impertinent,
55: Save that he wole conveyen his mateere;
56: But this his tale, which that ye may heere.

The Clerk's Tale

"part" 1

Part I

57: Ther is, right at the west syde of ytaille,
58: Doun at the roote of vesulus the colde,
59: A lusty playn, habundant of vitaille,
60: Where many a tour and toun thou mayst biholde,
61: That founded were in tyme of fadres olde,
62: And many another delitable sighte,
63: And saluces this noble contree highte.
64: A markys whilom lord was of that lond,
65: As were his worthy eldres hym bifore;
66: And obeisant, ay redy to his hond,
67: Were alle his liges, bothe lasse and moore.
68: Thus in delit he lyveth, and hath doon yoore,
69: Biloved and drad, thurgh favour of fortune,
70: Bothe of his lordes and of his commune.

Page 102

71: Therwith he was, to speke as of lynage,
72: The gentillest yborn of lumbardye,
73: A fair persone, and strong, and yong of age,
74: And ful of honour and of curteisye;
75: Discreet ynogh his contree for to gye,
76: Save in somme thynges that he was to blame;
77: And walter was this yonge lordes name.
78: I blame hym thus, that he considered noght
79: In tyme comynge what myghte hym bityde,
80: But on his lust present was al his thoght,
81: As for to hauke and hunte on every syde.
82: Wel ny alle othere cures leet he slyde,
83: And eek he nolde -- and that was worst of alle --
84: Wedde no wyf, for noght that may bifalle.
85: Oonly that point his peple bar so soore
86: That flokmeele on a day they to hym wente,
87: And oon of he, that wisest was of loore --
88: Or elles that the lord best wolde assente
89: That he sholde telle hym what his peple mente,
90: Or elles koude he shewe wel swich mateere --
91: He to the markys seyde as ye shul heere:
92: O noble markys, youre humanitee
93: Asseureth us and yeveth us hardinesse,
94: As ofte as tyme is of necessitee,
95: That we to yow mowe telle oure hevynesse.
96: Accepteth, lord, now of youre gentilesse
97: That we with pitous herte unto yow pleyne,
98: And lat youre eres nat my voys desdeyne.
99: Al have I noght to doone in this mateere
100: Moore than another man hath in this place,
101: Yet for as muche as ye, my lord so deere,
102: Han alwey shewed me favour and grace
103: I dar the bettre aske of yow a space
104: Of audience, to shewen oure requeste,
105: And ye, my lord, to doon right as yow leste.
106: For certes, lord, so wel us liketh yow
107: And al youre werk, and evere han doon, that we
108: Ne koude nat us self devysen how
109: We myghte lyven in moore felicitee,
110: Save o thyng, lord, if it youre wille be,
111: That for to been a wedded man yow leste;
112: Thanne were youre peple in sovereyn hertes reste.
113: Boweth youre nekke under that blisful yok
114: Of sovereynetee, noght of servyse,
115: Which that men clepe spousaille or wedlok;
116: And thanketh, lord, among youre thoghtes wyse
117: How that oure dayes passe in sondry wyse;
118: For thogh we slepe, or wake, or rome, or ryde,
119: Ay fleeth the tyme; it nyl no man abyde.
120: And thogh youre grene youthe floure as yit,
121: In crepeth age alwey, as stille as stoon,
122: And deeth manaceth every age, and smyt
123: In ech estaat, for ther escapeth noon;
124: And al so certein as we knowe echoon
125: That we shul deye, as uncerteyn we alle
126: Been of that day whan deeth shal on us falle
127: Accepteth thanne of us the trewe entente,
128: That nevere yet refuseden thyn heeste,
129: And we wol, lord, if that ye wole assente,
130: Chese yow a wyf, in short tyme atte leeste,
131: Born of the gentilleste and of the meeste
132: Of al this land, so that it oghte seme
133: Honour to God and yow, as we kan deeme.
134: Delivere us out of al this bisy drede,
135: And taak a wyf, for hye goddes sake!
136: For if it so bifelle, as God forbede,
137: That thurgh youre deeth youre lynage sholde slake,
138: And that a straunge successour sholde take
139: Youre heritage, o, wo were us alyve!
140: Wherfore we pray you hastily to wyve.
141: Hir meeke preyere and hir pitous cheer
142: Made the markys herte han pitee.
143: Ye wol, quod he, myn owene peple deere,
144: To that I nevere erst thoughte streyne me.
145: I me rejoysed of my liberte.
146: That seelde tyme is founde in mariage;
147: Ther I was free, I moot been in servage.
148: But nathelees I se youre trewe entente,
149: And truste upon youre wit, and have doon ay;
150: Wherfore of my free wyl I wole assente
151: To wedde me, as soone as evere I may.
152: But ther as ye han profred me to-day
153: To chese me a wyf, I yow relesse
154: That choys, and prey yow of that profre cesse.
155: For God it woot, that children ofte been
156: Unlyk hir worthy eldress hem bifore;
157: Bountee comth al of god, nat of the streen
158: Of which they been engendred and ybore.
159: I truste in goddes bountee, and therfore
160: My mariage and myn estaat and reste
161: I hym bitake; he may doon as hym leste.
162: Lat me allone in chesynge of my wyf, --
163: That charge upon my bak I wole endure.

Page 103

164: But I yow preye, and charge upon youre lyf,
165: That what wyf that I take, ye me assure
166: To worshipe hire, whil that hir lyf may dure,
167: In word and werk, bothe heere and everywheere,
168: As she and emperoures doghter weere.
169: And forthermoore, this shal ye swere, that ye
170: Agayn my choys shul neither grucche ne stryve;
171: For sith I shal forgoon my libertee
172: At youre requeste, as evere moot I thryve,
173: Ther as myn herte is set, ther wol I wyve;
174: And but ye wole assente in swich manere,
175: I prey yow, speketh namoore of this matere.
176: With hertely wyl they sworen and assenten
177: To al this thyng, ther seyde no wight nay;
178: Bisekynge hym of grace, er that they wenten,
179: That he wolde graunten hem a certein day
180: Of his spousaille, as soone as evere he may;
181: For yet alwey the peple somwhat dredde,
182: Lest that the markys no wyf wolde wedde.
183: He graunted hem a day, swich as hym leste,
184: On which he wolde be wedded sikerly.
185: And seyde he dide al this at hir requeste.
186: And they, with humble entente, buxomly,
187: Knelynge upon hir knees ful reverently,
188: Hym thonken alle; and thus they han an ende
189: Of hire entente, and hoom agayn they wende.
190: And heerupon he to his officeres
191: Comaundeth for the feste to purveye,
192: And to his privee knyghtes and squieres
193: Swich charge yaf as hym liste on hem leye;
194: And they to his comandement obeye,
195: And ech of hem dooth al his diligence
196: To doon unto the feeste reverence.
Explicit prima pars

"part" 2

Incipit secunda pars

197: Noght fer fro thilke paleys honurable,
198: Wher as this markys shoop his mariage,
199: There stood a throop, of site delitable,
200: In which that povre folk of that village
201: Hadden hir beestes and hir herbergage,
202: And of hire labour tooke hir sustenance,
203: After that the erthe yaf hem habundance.
204: Amonges thise povre folk ther dwelte a man
205: Which that was holden povrest of hem alle;
206: But hye God somtyme senden kan
207: His grace into litel oxes stalle;
208: Janicula men of that throop hym calle.
209: A doghter hadde he, fair ynogh to sighte,
210: And grisildis this yonge mayden highte.
211: But for to speke of vertuous beautee,
212: Thanne was she oon the faireste under sonne;
213: For povreliche yfostred up was she,
214: No likerous lust was thurgh hire herte yronne.
215: Wel ofter of the welle than of the tonne
216: She drank, and for she wolde vertu plese,
217: She knew wel labour, but noon ydel ese.
218: But thogh this mayde tendre were of age,
219: Yet in the brest of hire virginitee
220: Ther was enclosed rype and sad corage;
221: And in greet reverence and charitee
222: Hir olde povre fader fostred shee.
223: A fewe sheep, spynnynge, on feeld she kepte;
224: She wolde noght been ydel til she slepte.
225: And whan she homward cam, she wolde brynge
226: Wortes or othere herbes tymes ofte,
227: The whiche she shredde and seeth for hir lyvynge,
228: And made hir bed ful hard and nothyng softe;
229: And ay she kepte hir fadres lyf on-lofte
230: With everich obeisaunce and diligence
231: That child may doon to fadres reverence.
232: Upon grisilde, this povre creature,
233: Ful ofte sithe this markys sette his ye
234: As he on huntyng rood paraventure;
235: And whan it fil that he myghte hire espye,
236: He noght with wantown lookyng of folye
237: His eyen caste on hire, but in sad wyse
238: Upon hir chiere he wolde hym ofte avyse,
239: Commendynge in his herte hir wommanhede,
240: And eek hir verty, passynge any wight
241: Of so yong age, as wel in chiere as dede.
242: For thogh the peple have no greet insight
243: In verty, he considered ful right
244: Hir bountee, and disposed that he wolde
245: Wedde hire oonly, if evere he wedde sholde.
246: The day of weddyng cam, but no wight kan
247: Telle what womman that it sholde be;
248: For which merveille wondred many a man,
249: And seyden, whan they were in privetee,
250: Wol nat oure lord yet leve his vanytee?
251: Wol he nat wedde? allas; allas, the while!
252: Why wole he thus hymself and us bigile?

Page 104

253: But nathelees this markys hath doon make
254: Of gemmes, set in gold and in asure,
255: Brooches and rynges, for grisildis sake;
256: And of hir clothyng took he the mesure
257: By a mayde lyk to hire stature,
258: And eek of othere aornementes alle
259: That unto swich a weddyng sholde falle.
260: The time of undren of the same day
261: Approcheth, that this weddyng sholde be;
262: And al the paleys put was in array,
263: Bothe halle and chambres, ech in his degree;
264: Houses of office stuffed with plentee
265: Ther maystow seen, of deyntevous vitaille
266: That may be founde as fer al last ytaille.
267: This roial markys, richely arrayed,
268: Lordes and ladyes in his compaignye,
269: The whiche that to the feeste weren yprayed,
270: And of his retenue the bachelrye,
271: With manya soun of sondry melodye,
272: Unto the village of the which I tolde,
273: In this array the righte wey han holde.
274: Grisilde of this, God woot, ful innocent,
275: That for hire shapen was al this array,
276: To fecchen water at a welle is went,
277: And cometh hoom as soone as ever she may;
278: For wel she hadde herd seyd that thilke day
279: The markys sholde wedde, and if she myghte,
280: She wolde fayn han seyn som of that sighte.
281: She thoghte, I wole with othere maydens stonde,
282: That been my felawes, in oure dore and se
283: The markysesse, and therfore wol I fonde
284: To doon at hoom, as soone as it may be,
285: The labour which that longeth unto me;
286: And thanne I may at leyser hire biholde,
287: If she this wey unto the castel holde.
288: And as she wolde over hir thresshfold gon,
289: The markys cam and gan hire for to calle;
290: And she set doun hir water pot anon,
291: Biside the thresshfold, in an oxes stalle,
292: And doun upon hir knes she gan to falle,
293: And with sad contenance kneleth stille,
294: Til she had herd what was the lordes wille.
295: This thoghtful markys spak unto this mayde
296: Ful sobrely, and seyde in this manere:
297: Where is youre fader, o grisildis? he sayde.
298: And she with reverence, in humble cheere,
299: Answerde, lord, he is al redy heere.
300: And in she gooth withouten lenger lette,
301: And to the markys she hir fader fette.
302: He by the hand thanne took this olde man,
303: And seyde thus, whan he hym hadde asyde:
304: Janicula, I neither may ne kan
305: Lenger the plesance of myn herte hyde.
306: If that thou vouche sauf, what so bityde,
307: Thy doghter wol I take, er that I wende,
308: As for my wyf, unto hir lyves ende.
309: Thou lovest me, I woot it wel certeyn,
310: And art my feithful lige man ybore;
311: And al that liketh me, I dar wel seyn
312: It liketh thee, and specially therfore
313: Tel me that poynt that I have seyd bifore,
314: If that thou wolt unto that purpos drawe,
315: To take me as for thy sone-in-lawe.
316: This sodeyn cas this man astonyed so
317: That reed he wax; abayst and al quakynge
318: He stood; unnethes seyde he wordes mo,
319: But oonly thus: lord, quod he, my willynge
320: Is as ye wole, ne ayeynes youre likynge
321: I wol no thyng, ye be my lord so deere;
322: Right as yow lust, governeth this mateere.
323: Yet wol I, quod this markys softely,
324: That in thy chambre I and thou and she
325: Have a collacioun, and wostow why?
326: For I wol axe if it hire wille be
327: To be my wyf, and reule hire after me.
328: And al this shal be doon in thy presence;
329: I wol noght speke out of thyn audience.
330: And in the chambre, whil they were aboute
331: Hir tretys, which as ye shal after heere,
332: The peple cam unto the hous withoute,
333: And wondred hem in how honest manere
334: And tentifly she kepte hir fader deere.
335: But outrely grisildis wondre myghte,
336: For nevere erst ne saugh she swich a sighte.
337: No wonder is thogh that she were astoned
338: To seen so greet a gest come in that place;
339: She nevere was to swiche gestes woned,
340: For which she looked with ful pale face.
341: But shortly forth this matere for to chace,
342: Thise arn the wordes that the markys sayde
343: To this benigne, verray, feithful mayde.
344: Grisilde, he seyde, ye shal wel understonde
345: It liketh to youre fader and to me

Page 105

346: That I yow wedde, and eek it may so stonde,
347: As I suppose, ye wol that it so be.
348: But thise demandes axe I first, quod he,
349: That, sith it shal be doon in hastif wyse,
350: Wol ye assente, or elles yow avyse?
351: I seye this, be ye redy with good herte
352: To al my lust, and that I frely may,
353: As me best thynketh, do yow laughe or smerte,
354: And nevere ye to grucche it, nyght ne day?
355: And eek whan I sey 'ye,' ne sey nat 'nay,'
356: Neither by word ne frownyng contenance?
357: Swere this, and heere I swere oure alliance.
358: Wondrynge upon this word, quakynge for drede,
359: She seyde, lord, undigne and unworthy
360: Am I to thilke honour that ye me beede,
361: But as ye wole youreself, right so wol I.
362: And heere I swere that nevere willyngly,
363: In werk ne thogh, I nyl yow disobeye,
364: For to be deed, though me were looth to deye.
365: This is ynogh, grisilde myn, quod he.
366: And forth he gooth, with a ful sobre cheere,
367: Out at the dore, and after that cam she,
368: And to the peple he seyde in this manere:
369: This is my wyf, quod he, that standeth heere.
370: Honoureth hire and loveth hire, I preye,
371: Whoso me loveth; ther is namoore to seye.
372: And for that no thyng of hir olde geere
373: She sholde brynge into his hous, he bad
374: That wommen sholde dispoillen hire right theere;
375: Of which thise ladyes were nat right glad
376: To handle hir clothes, wherinne she was clad.
377: But nathelees, this mayde bright of hewe
378: Fro foot to heed they clothed han al newe.
379: Hir heris han they kembd, that lay untressed
380: Ful rudely, and with hir fyngres smale
381: A corone on hire heed they han ydressed,
382: And sette hire ful of nowches grete and smale.
383: Of hire array what sholde I make a tale?
384: Unnethe the peple hir knew for hire fairnesse,
385: Whan she translated was in swich richesse.
386: This markys hath hire spoused with a ryng
387: Broght for the same cause, and thanne hire sette
388: Upon an hors, snow-whit and wel amblyng,
389: And to his paleys, er he lenger lette,
390: With joyful peple that hire ladde and mette,
391: Conveyed hire, and thus the day they spende
392: In revel, til the sonne gan descende.
393: And shortly forth this tale for to chace,
394: I seye that to this newe markysesse
395: God hath swich favour sent hire of his grace,
396: That it ne semed nat by liklynesse
397: That she was born and fed in rudenesse,
398: As in a cote or in an oxe-stalle,
399: But norissed in an emperoures halle.
400: To every wight she woxen is so deere
401: And worshipful that folk ther she was bore,
402: And from hire birthe knewe hire yeer by yeere,
403: Unnethe trowed they, -- but dorste han swore --
404: That to janicle, of which I spak bifore,
405: She doghter were, for, as by conjecture,
406: Hem thoughte she was another creature.
407: For though that evere vertuous was she,
408: She was encressed in swich excellence
409: Of thewes goode, yset in heigh bountee,
410: And so discreet and fair of eloquence,
411: So benigne and so digne of reverence,
412: And koude so the peples herte embrace,
413: That ech hire lovede that looked in hir face.
414: Noght oonly of saluces in the toun
415: Publiced was the bountee of hir name,
416: But eek biside in many a regioun,
417: If oon seide wel, another seyde the same;
418: So spradde of hire heighe bountee the fame
419: That men and wommen, as wel yonge as olde,
420: Goon to saluce, upon hire to biholde.
421: Thus walter lowely -- nay, but roially --
422: Wedded with fortunat honestetee,
423: In goddes pees lyveth ful esily
424: At hoom, and outward grace ynogh had he;
425: And for he saugh that under low degree
426: Was ofte vertu hid, the peple hym heelde
427: A prudent man, and that is seyn ful seelde.
428: Nat oonly this grisildis thurgh hir wit
429: Koude al the feet of wyfly hoomlinesse,
430: But eek, whan that the cas required it,
431: The commune profit koude she redresse.
432: Ther nas discord, rancour, ne hevynesse
433: In al that land, that she ne koude apese,
434: And wisely brynge hem alle in reste and ese.
435: Though that hire housbonde absent were anon,
436: If gentil men or othere of hire contree

Page 106

437: Were wrothe, she wolde bryngen hem aton;
438: So wise and rype wordes hadde she,
439: And juggementz of so greet equitee,
440: That she from hevene sent was, as men wende,
441: Peple to save and every wrong t' amende.
442: Nat longe tyme after that this grisild
443: Was wedded, she a doghter hath ybore.
444: Al had hire levere have born a knave child,
445: Glad was this markys and the folk therfore;
446: For though a mayde child coome al bifore,
447: She may unto a knave child attayne
448: By liklihede, syn she nys nat bareyne.
Explicit secunda pars.

"part" 3

Incipit tercia pars.

449: Ther fil, as it bifalleth tymes mo,
450: Whan that this child had souked but a throwe,
451: This markys in his herte longeth so
452: To tempte his wyf, hir sadnesse for to knowe,
453: That he ne myghte out of his herte throwe
454: This merveillous desir his wyf t' assaye;
455: Nedelees, God woot, he thoghte hire for t' affraye.
456: He hadde assayed hire ynogh bifore,
457: And foond hire evere good; what neded it
458: Hire for to tempte, and alwey moore and moore,
459: Though som men preise it for a subtil wit?
460: But as for me, I seye that yvele it sit
461: To assaye a wyf whan that it is no nede,
462: And putten hire in angwyssh and in drede.
463: For which this markys wroghte in this manere:
464: He cam allone a-nyght, ther as she lay,
465: With stierne face and with ful trouble cheere,
466: And seyde thus: grisilde, quod he, that day
467: That I yow took out of youre povere array,
468: And putte yow in estaat of heigh noblesse, --
469: Ye have nat that forgeten, as I gesse?
470: I seye, grisilde, this present dignitee,
471: In which that I have put yow, as I trowe,
472: Maketh yow nat foryetful for to be
473: That I yow took in povre estaat ful lowe,
474: For any wele ye moot youreselven knowe.
475: Taak heede of every word that y yow seye;
476: Ther is no wight that hereth it but we tweye.
477: Ye woot youreself wel how that ye cam heere
478: Into this hous, it is nat longe ago;
479: And though to me that ye be lief and deere,
480: Unto my gentils ye be no thyng so.
481: They seyn, to hem it is greet shame and wo
482: For to be subgetz and been in servage
483: To thee, that born art of a smal village.
484: And namely sith thy doghter was ybore
485: Thise wordes han they spoken, doutelees.
486: But I desire, as I have doon bifore,
487: To lyve my lyf with hem in reste and pees.
488: I may nat in this caas be recchelees;
489: I moot doon with thy doghter for the beste,
490: Nat as I wolde, but as my peple leste.
491: And yet, God woot, this is ful looth to me;
492: But nathelees withoute youre wityng
493: I wol nat doon; but this wol I, quod he,
494: That ye to me assente as in this thyng.
495: Shewe now youre pacience in youre werkyng,
496: That ye me highte and swore in youre village
497: That day that maked was oure mariage.
498: Whan she had herd al this, she noght ameved
499: Neither in word, or chiere, or contenaunce;
500: For, as it semed, she was nat agreved.
501: She seyde, lord, al lyth in youre plesaunce.
502: My child and I, with hertely obeisaunce,
503: Been youres al, and ye mowe save or spille
504: Youre owene thyng; weketh after youre wille.
505: Ther may no thyng, God so my soule save,
506: Liken to yow that may displese me;
507: Ne I desire no thyng for to have,
508: Ne drede for to leese, save oonly yee.
509: This wyl is in myn herte, and ay shal be;
510: No lengthe of tyme or deeth may this deface,
511: Ne chaunge my corage to another place.
512: Glad was this markys of hire answeryng,
513: But yet he feyned as he were nat so;
514: Al drery was his cheere and his lookyng,
515: Whan that he sholde out of the chambre go.
516: Soone after this, a furlong wey or two,
517: He prively hath toold al his entente
518: Unto a man, and to his wyf hym sente.
519: A maner sergeant was this privee man,
520: The which that feithful ofte he founden hadde
521: In thynges grete, and eek swich folk wel kan
522: Doon execucioun in thynges badde.
523: The lord knew wel that he hym loved and dradde;
524: And whan this sergeant wist his lordes wille,
525: Into the chambre he stalked hym ful stille.

Page 107

526: Madame, he seyde, ye moote foryeve it me,
527: Though I do thyng to which I am constreyned.
528: Ye been so wys that ful wel knowe ye
529: That lordes heestes mowe nat been yfeyned;
530: They mowe wel been biwailled or compleyned,
531: But men moote nede unto hire lust obeye,
532: And so wol I; ther is namoore to seye.
533: This child I am comanded for to take, --
534: And spak namoore, but out the child he hente
535: Despitously, and gan a cheere make
536: As though he wolde han slayn it er he wente.
537: Grisildis moot al suffre and al consente;
538: And as a lamb she sitteth meke and stille,
539: And leet this crueel sergeant doon his wille.
540: Suspecious was the diffame of this man,
541: Suspect his face, suspect his word also;
542: Suspect the tyme in which he this bigan.
543: Allas! hir doghter that she loved so,
544: She wende he wolde han slawen it right tho.
545: But nathelees she neither weep ne syked,
546: Conformynge hire to that the markys lyked.
547: But atte laste to speken she bigan,
548: And mekely she to the sergeant preyde,
549: So as he was a worthy gentil man,
550: That she moste kisse hire child er that it deyde.
551: And in hir barm this litel child she leyde
552: With ful sad face, and gan the child to blisse,
553: And lulled it, and after gan it kisse.
554: And thus she seyde in hire benigne voys,
555: Fareweel my child! I shal thee nevere see.
556: But sith I thee have marked with the croys
557: Of thilke fader -- blessed moote he be! --
558: That for us deyde upon a croys of tree,
559: Thy soule, litel child, I hym bitake,
560: For this nyght shaltow dyen for my sake.
561: I trowe that to a norice in this cas
562: It had been hard this reuthe for to se;
563: Wel myghte a mooder thanne han cryd allas!
564: But nathelees so sad stidefast was she
565: That she endured al adversitee,
566: And to the sergeant mekely she sayde,
567: Have heer agayn your litel yonge mayde.
568: Gooth now, quod she, and dooth my lordes heeste;
569: But o thyng wol I prey yow of youre grace,
570: That, but my lord forbad yow, atte leeste
571: Burieth this litel body in som place
572: That beestes ne no briddes it torace.
573: But he no word wol to that purpos seye,
574: But took the child and wente upon his weye.
575: This sergeant cam unto his lord ageyn,
576: And of grisildis wordes and hire cheere
577: He tolde hym point for point, in short and pleyn,
578: And hym presenteth with his doghter deere.
579: Somwhat this lord hadde routhe in his manere,
580: But nathelees his purpos heeld he stille,
581: As lordes doon, whan they wol han hir wille;
582: And bad this sergeant that he pryvely
583: Sholde this child ful softe wynde and wrappe,
584: With alle circumstances tendrely,
585: And carie it in a cofre or in a lappe;
586: But, upon peyne his heed of for to swappe,
587: That no man sholde knowe of his entente,
588: Ne whenne he cam, ne whider that he wente;
589: But at boloigne to his suster deere,
590: That thilke tyme of panik was countesse,
591: He sholde it take, and shewe hire this mateere,
592: Bisekynge hire to doon hire bisynesse
593: This child to fostre in alle gentillesse;
594: And whos child that it was he bad hire hyde
595: From every wight, for oght that may bityde.
596: The sergeant gooth, and hath fulfild this thyng;
597: But to this markys now retourne we.
598: For now gooth he ful faste ymaginyng
599: If by his wyves cheere he myghte se,
600: Or by hire word aperceyve, that she
601: Were chaunged; but he nevere hire koude fynde
602: But evere in oon ylike sad and kynde.
603: As glad, as humble, as bisy in servyse,
604: And eek in love, as she was wont to be,
605: Was she to hym in every maner wyse;
606: Ne of hir doghter noght a word spak she.
607: Noon accident, for noon adversitee,
608: Was seyn in hire, ne nevere hir doghter name
609: Ne nempned she, in ernest nor in game.
Explicit tercia pars

"part" 4

Sequitur pars quarta.

610: In this estaat the passed been foure yeer
611: Er she with childe was, but, as God wolde,
612: A knave child she bar by this walter,
613: Ful gracious and fair for to biholde.

Page 108

614: And whan that folk it to his fader tolde,
615: Nat oonly he, but al his contree merye
616: Was for this child, and God they thanke and herye.
617: Whan it was two yeer old, and fro the brest
618: Departed of his norice, on a day
619: This markys caughte yet another lest
620: To tempte his wyf yet ofter, if he may.
621: O nedelees was she tempted in assay!
622: But wedded men ne knowe no mesure,
623: Whan that they fynde a pacient creature.
624: Wyf, quod this markys, ye han herd er this,
625: My peple sikly berth oure mariage;
626: And namely sith my sone yboren is,
627: Now is it worse than evere in al oure age.
628: The murmur sleeth myn herte and my corage,
629: For to myne eres comth the voys so smerte
630: That it wel ny destroyed hath myn herte.
631: Now sey they thus: -- whan walter is agon,
632: Thanne shal the blood of janicle succede
633: And been oure lord, for oother have we noon.
634: Swiche wordes seith my peple, out of drede.
635: Wel oughte I of swich murmur taken heede;
636: For certeinly I drede swich sentence,
637: Though they nat pleyn speke in myn audience.
638: I wolde lyve in pees, if that I myghte;
639: Wherfore I am disposed outrely,
640: As I his suster servede by nyghte,
641: Right to thenke I to serve hym pryvely.
642: This warne I yow, that ye nat sodeynly
643: Out of youreself for no wo sholde outreye;
644: Beth pacient, and therof I yow preye.
645: I have, quod she, seyd thys, and evere shal:
646: I wol no thyng, ne nyl no thyng, certayn,
647: But as yow list. Naught greveth me at al,
648: Though that my doughter and my sone be slayn, --
649: At youre comandement, this is to sayn.
650: I have noght had no part of children tweyne
651: But first siknesse, and after, wo and peyne.
652: Ye been oure lord, dooth with youre owene thyng
653: Right as yow list; axeth no reed at me.
654: For as I lefte at hoom al my clothyng,
655: Whan I first cam to yow, right so, quod she,
656: Lefte I my wyl and al my libertee,
657: And took youre clothyng; wherfore I yow preye,
658: Dooth youre plesaunce, I wol youre lust obeye.
659: And certes, if I hadde prescience
660: Youre wyl to knowe, er ye youre lust me tolde,
661: I wolde it doon withouten necligence;
662: But now I woot youre lust, and what ye wolde,
663: Al youre plesance ferme and stable I holde;
664: For wiste I that my deeth wolde do yow ese,
665: Right gladly wolde I dyen, yow to plese.
666: Deth may noght make no comparisoun
667: Unto youre love. And whan this markys say
668: The constance of hys wyf, he caste adoun
669: His eyen two, and wondreth that she may
670: In pacience suffre al this array;
671: And forth he goth with drery contenance,
672: But to his herte it was ful greet plesance.
673: This ugly sergeant, in the same wyse
674: That he hire doghter caughte, right so he,
675: Or worse, if men worse kan devyse,
676: Hath hent hire sone, that ful was of beautee.
677: And evere in oon so pacient was she
678: That she no chiere maade of hevynesse,
679: But kiste hir sone, and after gan it blesse;
680: Save this, she preyede hym that, if he myghte,
681: Hir litel sone he wolde in erthe grave,
682: His tendre lymes, delicaat to sighte,
683: Fro foweles and fro beestes for to save.
684: But she noon answere of hym myghte have.
685: He wente his wey, as hym no thyng ne roghte;
686: But to boloigne he tendrely it broghte.
687: This markys wondred, evere lenger the moore,
688: Upon hir pacience, and if that he
689: Ne hadde soothly knowen therbifoore
690: That parfitly hir children loved she,
691: He wolde have wend that of som subtiltee,
692: And of malice, or for crueel corage,
693: That she hadde suffred this with sad visage.
694: But wel he knew that next hymself, certayn,
695: She loved hir children best in every wyse.
696: But now of wommen wolde I axen fayn
697: If thise assayes myghte nat suffise?
698: What koude a sturdy housbonde moore devyse
699: To preeve hir wyfhod and hir stedefastnesse,
700: And he continuynge evere in sturdinesse?

Page 109

701: But ther been folk of swich condicion
702: That whan they have a certein purpos take,
703: They kan nat stynte of hire entencion,
704: But, right as they were bounden to a stake,
705: They wol nat of that firste purpos slake.
706: Right so this markys fulliche hath purposed
707: To tempte his wyf as he was first disposed.
708: He waiteth if by word or contenance
709: That she to hym was changed of corage;
710: But nevere koude he fynde variance.
711: She was ay oon in herte and in visage;
712: And ay the forther that she was in age,
713: The moore trewe, if that it were possible,
714: She was to hym in love, and moore penyble.
715: For which it semed thus, that of hem two
716: Ther nas but o wyl; for, as walter leste,
717: The same lust was hire plesance also.
718: And, God be thanked, al fil for the beste.
719: She shewed wel, for no worldly unreste
720: A wyf, as of hirself, nothing ne sholde
721: Wille in effect, but as hir housbonde wolde.
722: The sclaundre of walter ofte and wyde spradde,
723: That of a crueel herte he wikkedly,
724: For he a povre womman wedded hadde,
725: Hath mordred bothe his children prively.
726: Swich murmur was among hem comunly.
727: No wonder is, for to the peples ere
728: Ther cam no word, but that they mordred were.
729: For which, where as his peple therbifore
730: Hadde loved hym wel, the sclaundre of his diffame
731: Made hem that they hym hatede therfore.
732: To been a mordrere is an hateful name;
733: But nathelees, for ernest ne for game,
734: He of his crueel purpos nolde stente;
735: To tempte his wyf was set al his entente.
736: Than that his doghter twelve yeer was of age,
737: He to the court of rome, in subtil wyse
738: Enformed of his wyl, sente his message,
739: Comaundynge hem swiche bulles to devyse
740: As to his crueel purpos may suffyse,
741: How that the pope, as for his peples reste,
742: Bad hym to wedde another, if hym leste.
743: I seye, he bad they sholde countrefete
744: The popes bulles, makynge mencion
745: That he hath leve his firste wyf to lete,
746: As by the popes dispensacion,
747: To stynte rancour and dissencion
748: Bitwixe his peple and hym; thus seyde the bulle,
749: The which they han publiced atte fulle.
750: The rude peple, as it no wonder is,
751: Wenden ful wel that it hadde be right so;
752: But whan thise tidynges came to grisildis,
753: I deeme that hire herte was ful wo.
754: But she, ylike sad for everemo,
755: Disposed was, this humble creature,
756: The adversitee of fortune al t' endure,
757: Abidynge evere his lust and his plesance,
758: To whom that she was yeven herte and al,
759: As to hire verray worldly suffisance.
760: But shortly if this storie I tellen shal,
761: This markys writen hath in special
762: A lettre, in which he sheweth his entente,
763: And secreely he to boloigne it sente.
764: To the erl of panyk, which that hadde tho
765: Wedded his suster, preyde he specially
766: To bryngen hoom agayn his children two
767: In honurable estaat al openly.
768: But o thyng he hym preyede outrely,
769: That he to no wight, though men wolde enquere,
770: Sholde nat telle whos children that they were,
771: But seye, the mayden sholde ywedded be
772: Unto the markys of saluce anon.
773: And as this erl was preyed, so dide he;
774: For at day set he on his wey is goon
775: Toward saluce, and lordes many oon
776: In riche array, this mayden for to gyde,
777: Hir yonge brother ridynge hire bisyde.
778: Arrayed was toward hir mariage
779: This fresshe mayde, ful of gemmes cleere;
780: Hir brother, which that seven yeer was of age.
781: Arrayed eek ful fressh in his manere.
782: And thus in greet noblesse and with glad cheere,
783: Toward saluces shapynge hir journey,
784: Fro day to day they ryden in hir wey.
Explicit quarta pars.

"part" 5

Sequitur pars quinta.

785: Among al this, after his wikke usage,
786: This markys, yet his wyf to tempte moore

Page 110

787: To the outtreste preeve of hir corage,
788: Fully to han experience and loore
789: If that she were as stidefast as bifoore,
790: He on a day, in open audience,
791: Ful boistously hath seyd hire this sentence:
792: Certes, grisilde, I hadde ynogh plesance
793: To han yow to my wyf for youre goodnesse,
794: As for youre trouthe and for youre obeisance,
795: Noght for youre lynage, ne for youre richesse;
796: But now knowe I in verray soothfastnesse
797: That in greet lordshipe, if I wel avyse,
798: Ther is greet servitute in sondry wyse.
799: I may nat doon as every plowman may.
800: My peple me constreyneth for to take
801: Another wyf, and crien day by day;
802: And eek the pope, rancour for to slake.
803: Consenteth it, that dar I undertake;
804: And trewely thus muche I wol yow seye,
805: My newe wyf is comynge by the weye.
806: Be strong of herte, and voyde anon hir place,
807: And thilke dowere that ye broghten me,
808: Taak it agayn; I graunte it of my grace.
809: Retourneth to youre fadres hous, quod he;
810: No man may alwey han prosperitee.
811: With evene herte I rede yow t' endure
812: The strook of fortune or of aventure.
813: And she agayn answerde in pacience,
814: My lord, quod she, I woot, and wiste alway,
815: How that bitwixen youre magnificence
816: And my poverte no wight kan ne may
817: Maken comparison; it is no nay.
818: I ne heeld me nevere digne in no manere
819: To be youre wyf, no, ne youre chamberere.
820: And in this hous, ther ye me lady maade --
821: The heighe God take I for my witnesse,
822: And also wysly he my soule glaade --
823: I nevere heeld me lady ne mistresse,
824: But humble servant to youre worthynesse,
825: And evere shal, whil that my lyf may dure,
826: Aboven every worldly creature.
827: That ye so longe of youre benignitee
828: Han holden me in honour and nobleye,
829: Where as I was noght worthy for to bee,
830: That thonke I God and yow, to whom I preye
831: Foryelde it yow; ther is namoore to seye.
832: Unto my fader gladly wol I wende,
833: And with hym dwelle unto my lyves ende.
834: Ther I was fostred of a child ful smal,
835: Til I be deed my lyf ther wol I lede,
836: A wydwe clene in body, herte, and al.
837: For sith I yaf to yow my maydenhede,
838: And am youre trewe wyf, it is no drede,
839: God shilde swich a lordes wyf to take
840: Another man to housbonde or to make!
841: And of youre newe wyf God of his grace
842: So graunte yow wele and prosperitee!
843: For I wol gladly yelden hire my place,
844: In which that I was blisful wont to bee.
845: For sith it liketh yow, my lord, quod shee,
846: That whilom weren al myn hertes reste,
847: That I shal goon, I wol goon whan yow leste.
848: But ther as ye me profre swich dowaire
849: As I first broghte, it is wel in my mynde
850: It were my wrecched clothes, nothyng faire,
851: The whiche to me were hard now for to fynde.
852: O goode god! how gentil and how kynde
853: Ye semed by youre speche and youre visage
854: The day that maked was oure mariage!
855: But sooth is seyd -- algate I fynde it trewe,
856: For in effect it preeved is on me --
857: Love is noght oold as whan that it is newe.
858: But certes, lord, for noon adversitee,
859: To dyen in the cas, it shal nat bee
860: That evere in word or werk I shal repente
861: That I yow yaf myn herte in hool entente.
862: My lord, ye woot that in my fadres place
863: Ye dide me streepe out of my povre weede,
864: And richely me cladden, of youre grace.
865: To yow broghte I noght elles, out of drede,
866: But feith, and nakednesse, and maydenhede;
867: And heere agayn your clothyng I restoore,
868: And eek your weddyng ryng, for everemore.
869: The remenant of youre jueles redy be
870: Inwith youre chambre, dar I saufly sayn.
871: Naked out of my fadres hous, quod she,
872: I cam, and naked moot I turne agayn.
873: Al youre plesance wol I folwen fayn;
874: But yet I hope it be nat youre entente
875: That I smoklees out of youre paleys wente.
876: Ye koude nat doon so dishonest a thyng,
877: That thilke wombe in which youre children leye
878: Sholde biforn the peple, in my walkyng,
879: Be seyn al bare; wherfore I yow preye,
880: Lat me nat lyk a worm go by the weye.

Page 111

881: Remembre yow, myn owene lord so deere,
882: I was youre wyf, though I unworthy weere.
883: Wherfore, in gerdon of my maydenhede,
884: Which that I broghte, and noght agayn I bere,
885: As voucheth sauf to yeve me, to my meede,
886: But swich a smok as I was wont to were,
887: That I therwith may wrye the wombe of here
888: That was youre wyf. And heer take I my leeve
889: Of yow, myn owene lord, lest I yow greve.
890: The smok, quod he, that thou hast on thy bak,
891: Lat it be stille, and bere it forth with thee.
892: But wel unnethes thilke word he spak,
893: But wente his wey, for routhe and for pitee.
894: Biforn the folk hirselven strepeth she,
895: And in hir smok, with heed and foot al bare,
896: Toward hir fadre hous forth is she fare.
897: The folk hire folwe, wepynge in hir weye,
898: And fortune ay they cursen as they goon;
899: But she fro wepyng kepte hire eyen dreye,
900: Ne in this tyme word ne spak she noon.
901: Hir fader, that this tidynge herde anoon,
902: Curseth the day and tyme that nature
903: Shoop hym to been a lyves creature.
904: For out of doute this olde poure man
905: Was evere in suspect of hir mariage;
906: For evere he demed, sith that it bigan,
907: That whan the lord fulfild hadde his corage,
908: Hym wolde thynke it were a disparage
909: To his estaat so lowe for t' alighte,
910: And voyden hire as soone as ever he myghte.
911: Agayns his doghter hastily goth he,
912: For he by noyse of folk knew hire comynge,
913: And with hire olde coote, as it myghte be
914: He covered hire, ful sorwefully wepynge.
915: But on hire body myghte he it nat brynge,
916: For rude was the clooth, and moore of age
917: By dayes fele than at hire mariage.
918: Thus with hire fader, for a certeyn space,
919: Dwelleth this flour of wyfly pacience,
920: That neither by hire wordes ne hire face,
921: Biforn the folk, ne eek in hire absence,
922: Ne shewed she that hire was doon offence;
923: Ne of hire heighe astaat no remembraunce
924: Ne hadde she, as by hire contenaunce.
925: No wonder is for in hire grete estaat
926: Hire goost was evere in pleyn humylitee;
927: No tendre mouth, noon herte delicaat,
928: No pompe, no semblant of roialtee,
929: But ful of pacient benyngnytee,
930: Discreet and pridelees, ay honurable,
931: And to hire housbonde evere meke and stable.
932: Men speke of job, and moost for humblesse,
933: As clerkes, whan hem list, konne wel endite,
934: Namely of men, but as in soothfastnesse,
935: Though clerkes preise wommen but a lite,
936: Ther kan no man in humbless hym acquite
937: As womman kan, ne kan been half so trewe
938: As wommen been, but it be falle of newe.

"part" 6

Part VI

939: Fro boloigne is this erl of panyk come,
940: Of which the fame up sprang to moore and lesse,
941: And to the peples eres, alle and some,
942: Was kouth eek that a newe markysesse
943: He with hym broghte, in swich pompe and richesse
944: That nevere was ther seyn with mannes ye
945: So noble array in al west lumbardye.
946: The markys, which that shoop and knew al this,
947: Er that this erl was come, sente his message
948: For thilke sely povre grisildis;
949: And she with humble herte and glad visage,
950: Nat with no swollen thoght in hire corage,
951: Cam at his heste, and on hire knees hire sette,
952: And reverently and wisely she hym grette.
953: Grisilde, quod he, my wyl is outrely,
954: This mayden, that shal wedded been to me,
955: Received be to-morwe as roially
956: As it possible is in myn hous to be,
957: And eek that every wight in his degree
958: Have his estaat, in sittyng and servyse
959: And heigh plesaunce, as I kan best devyse.
960: I have no wommen suffisaunt, certayn,
961: The chambres for t' arraye in ordinaunce
962: After my lust, and therfore wolde I fayn
963: That thyn were al swich manere governaunce.
964: Thou knowest eek of old al my plesaunce;
965: Thogh thyn array be badde and yvel biseye,
966: Do thou thy devoir at the leeste weye.
967: Nat oonly, lord, that I am glad, quod she,
968: To doon youre lust, but I desire also
969: Yow for to serve and plese in my degree

Page 112

970: Withouten feyntyng, and shal everemo;
971: Ne nevere, for no wele ne no wo,
972: Ne shal the goost withinne myn herte stente
973: To love yow best with al my trewe entente.
974: And with that word she gan the hous to dighte,
975: And tables for to sette, and beddes make;
976: And peyned hire to doon al that she myghte,
977: Preyynge the chambereres, for goddes sake,
978: To hasten hem, and faste swepe and shake;
979: And she, the mooste servysable of alle,
980: Hath every chambre arrayed and his halle.
981: Abouten undren gan this erl alighte,
982: That with hym broghte thise noble children tweye,
983: For which the peple ran to seen the sighte
984: Of hire array, so richely biseye;
985: And thanne at erst amonges hem they seye
986: That walter was no fool, thogh that hym leste
987: To chaunge his wyf, for it was for the beste.
988: For she is fairer, as they deemen alle,
989: That is grisilde, and moore tendre of age,
990: And fairer fruyt bitwene hem sholde falle,
991: And moore plesant, for hire heigh lynage.
992: Hir brother eek so fair was of visage
993: That hem to seen the peple hath caught plesaunce,
994: Commendynge now the markys governaunce.
995: O stormy peple! unsad and evere untrewe!
996: Ay undiscreet and chaungynge as a fane!
997: Delitynge evere in rumbul that is newe,
998: For lyk the moone ay wexe ye and wane!
999: Ay ful of clappyng, deere ynogh a jane!
1000: Youre doom is fals, youre constance preeveth;
1001: A ful greet fool is he that on yow leeveth.
1002: Thus seyden sadde folk in that citee,
1003: Whan that the peple gazed up and doun;
1004: For they were glad, right for the noveltee,
1005: To han a newe lady of hir toun.
1006: Namoore of this make I now mencioun,
1007: But to grisilde agayn wol I me dresse,
1008: And telle hir constance and hir bisynesse. --
1009: Ful bisy was grisilde in every thyng
1010: That to the feeste was apertinent.
1011: Right noght was she abayst of hire clothyng,
1012: Thogh it were rude and somdeel eek torent;
1013: But with glad cheere to the yate is went
1014: With oother folk, to greete the markysesse,
1015: And after that dooth forth hire bisynesse.
1016: With so glad chiere his gestes she receyveth,
1017: And konnyngly, everich in his degree,
1018: That no defaute no man aperceyveth,
1019: But ay they wondren what she myghte bee
1020: That in so povre array was for to see,
1021: And koude swich honour and reverence,
1022: And worthily they preisen hire prudence.
1023: In al this meene while she ne stente
1024: This mayde and eek hir brother to commende
1025: With al hir herte, in ful benyngne entente,
1026: So wel that no man koude hir pris amende.
1027: But atte laste, whan that thise lordes wende
1028: To sitten doun to mete, he gan to calle
1029: Grisilde, as she was bisy in his halle.
1030: Grisilde, quod he, as it were in his pley,
1031: How liketh thee my wyf and hire beautee?
1032: Right wel, quod she, my lord; for, in good fey,
1033: A fairer saugh I nevere noon than she.
1034: I prey to God yeve hire prosperitee;
1035: And so hope I that he wol to yow sende
1036: Plesance ynogh unto youre lyves ende.
1037: O thyng biseke I yow, and warne also,
1038: That ye ne prikke with no tormentynge
1039: This tendre mayden, as ye han doon mo;
1040: For she is fostred in hire norissynge
1041: Moore tendrely, and, to my supposynge,
1042: She koude nat adversitee endure
1043: As koude a povre fostred creature.
1044: And whan this walter saugh hire pacience,
1045: Hir glade chiere, and no malice at al,
1046: And he so ofte had doon to hire offence,
1047: And she ay sad and constant as a wal,
1048: Continuynge evere hire innocence overal,
1049: This sturdy markys gan his herte dresse
1050: To rewen upon hire wyfly stedfastnesse.
1051: This is ynogh, grisilde myn, quod he;
1052: Be now namoore agast ne yvele apayed.
1053: I have thy feith and thy benyngnytee,
1054: As wel as evere womman was, assayed,
1055: In greet estaat, and povreliche arrayed.
1056: Now knowe I, dere wyf, thy stedfastnesse, --
1057: And hire in armes took and gan hire kesse.
1058: And she for wonder took of it no keep;
1059: She herde nat what thyng he to hire seyde;

Page 113

1060: She ferde as she had stert out of a sleep,
1061: Til she out of hire mazednesse abreyde.
1062: Grisilde, quod he, by god, that for us deyde,
1063: Thou art my wyf, ne noon oother I have,
1064: Ne nevere hadde, as God my soule save!
1065: This is thy doghter, which thou hast supposed
1066: To be my wyf; that oother feithfully
1067: Shal be myn heir, as I have ay disposed;
1068: Thou bare hym in thy body trewely.
1069: At boloigne have I kept hem prively;
1070: Taak hem agayn, for now maystow nat seye
1071: That thou hast lorn noon of thy children tweye.
1072: And folk that ootherweys han seyd of me,
1073: I warne hem wel that I have doon this deede
1074: For no malice, ne for no crueltee,
1075: But for t' assaye in thee thy wommanheede,
1076: And nat to sleen my children -- God forbeede! --
1077: But for to kepe hem pryvely and stille,
1078: Til I thy purpos knewe and al thy wille.
1079: Whan she this herde, aswowne doun she falleth
1080: For pitous joye, and after hire swownynge
1081: She bothe hire yonge children to hire calleth,
1082: And in hire armes, pitously wepynge,
1083: Embraceth hem, and tendrely kissynge
1084: Ful lyk a mooder, with hire salte teeres
1085: She bathed bothe hire visage and hire heeres.
1086: O which a pitous thyng it was to se
1087: Hir swownyng, and hire humble voys to heere!
1088: Grauntmercy, lord, God thanke it yow, quod she,
1089: That ye han saved me my children deere!
1090: Now rekke I nevere to been deed right heere;
1091: Sith I stonde in youre love and in youre grace,
1092: No fors of deeth, ne whan my spirit pace!
1093: O tendre, o deere, o yonge children myne!
1094: Youre woful mooder wende stedfastly
1095: That crueel houndes or som foul vermyne
1096: Hadde eten yow; but god, of his mercy,
1097: And youre benyngne fader tendrely
1098: Hath doon yow kept, -- and in that same stounde
1099: Al sodeynly she swapte adoun to grounde,
1100: And in hire swough so sadly holdeth she
1101: Hire children two, whan she gan hem t' embrace,
1102: That with greet sleighte and greet difficultee
1103: The children from hire arm they gonne arace.
1104: O many a teere on many a pitous face
1105: Doun ran of hem that stooden hire bisyde;
1106: Unnethe abouten hire myghte they abyde.
1107: Walter hire gladeth, and hire sorwe slaketh;
1108: She riseth up, abaysed, from hire traunce,
1109: And every wight hire joye and feeste maketh
1110: Til she hath caught agayn hire contenaunce.
1111: Walter hire dooth so feithfully plesaunce
1112: That it was deyntee for to seen the cheere
1113: Bitwixe hem two, now they been met yfeere.
1114: Thise ladyes, whan that they hir tyme say,
1115: Han taken hire and into chambre gon,
1116: And strepen hire out of hire rude array,
1117: And in a clooth of gold that brighte shoon,
1118: With a coroune of many a riche stoon
1119: Upon hire heed, they into halle hire broghte,
1120: And ther she was honured as hire oghte.
1121: Thus hath this pitous day a blisful ende,
1122: For every man and womman dooth his myght
1123: This day in murthe and revel to dispende
1124: Til on the welkne shoon the sterres lyght.
1125: For moore solempne in every mannes syght
1126: This feste was, and gretter of costage,
1127: Than was the revel of hire mariage.
1128: Ful many a yeer in heigh prosperitee
1129: Lyven thise two in concord and in reste,
1130: And richely his doghter maryed he
1131: Unto a lord, oon of the worthieste
1132: Of al ytaille; and thanne in pees and reste
1133: His wyves fader in his court he kepeth,
1134: Til that the soule out of his body crepeth.
1135: His sone succedeth in his heritage
1136: In reste and pees, after his fader day,
1137: And fortunat was eek in mariage,
1138: Al putte he nat his wyf in greet assay.
1139: This world is nat so strong, it is no nay,
1140: As it hath been in olde tymes yoore,
1141: And herkneth what this auctour seith therfoore.
1142: This storie is seyd, nat for that wyves sholde
1143: Folwen grisilde as in humylitee,
1144: For it were inportable, though they wolde;
1145: But for that every wight, in his degree,
1146: Sholde be constant in adversitee
1147: As was grisilde; therfore petrak writeth
1148: This storie, which with heigh stile he enditeth.

Page 114

1149: For, sith a womman was so pacient
1150: Unto a mortal man, wel moore us oghte
1151: Receyven al in gree that God us sent;
1152: For greet skile is, he preeve that he wroghte.
1153: But he ne tempteth no man that he boghte,
1154: As seith seint jame, if ye his pistel rede;
1155: He preeveth folk al day, it is no drede,
1156: And suffreth us, as for oure excercise,
1157: With sharpe scourges of adversitee
1158: Ful ofte to be bete in sondry wise;
1159: Nat for to knowe oure wyl, for certes he,
1160: Er we were born, knew al oure freletee;
1161: And for oure beste is al his governaunce.
1162: Lat us thanne lyve in vertuous suffraunce.
1163: But o work lordynges, herkneth er I go:
1164: It were ful hard to fynde now-a-dayes
1165: In al a toun grisildis thre or two;
1166: For if that they were put to swiche assayes,
1167: The gold of hem hath now so badde alayes
1168: With bras, that thogh the coyne be fair at ye,
1169: It wolde rather breste a-two than plye.
1170: For which heere, for the wyves love of bathe --
1171: Whos lyf and al hire secte God mayntene
1172: In heigh maistrie, and elles were it scathe --
1173: I wol with lusty herte, fressh and grene,
1174: Seyn yow a song to glade yow, I wene;
1175: And lat us stynte of ernestful matere.
1176: Herkneth my song that seith in this manere:

Lenvoy de Chaucer

1177: Grisilde is deed, and eek hire pacience,
1178: And bothe atones buryed in ytaille;
1179: For which I crie in open audience,
1180: No wedded man so hardy be t' assaille
1181: His wyves pacience in trust to fynde
1182: Grisildis, for in certein he shal faille.
1183: O noble wyves, ful of heigh prudence,
1184: Lat noon humylitee youre tonge naille,
1185: Ne lat no clerk have cause or diligence
1186: To write of yow a storie of swich mervaille
1187: As of grisildis pacient and kynde,
1188: Lest chichevache yow swelwe in hire entraille!
1189: Folweth ekko, that holdeth no silence,
1190: But evere answereth at the countretaille.
1191: Beth nat bidaffed for youre innocence,
1192: But sharply taak on yow the governaille.
1193: Emprenteth wel this lessoun in youre mynde,
1194: For commune profit sith it may availle.
1195: Ye archewyves, stondeth at defense,
1196: Syn ye be strong as is a greet camaille;
1197: Ne suffreth nat that men yow doon offense.
1198: And sklendre wyves, fieble as in bataille,
1199: Beth egre as is a tygre yond in ynde;
1200: Ay clappeth as a mille, I yow consaille.
1201: Ne dreed hem nat, doth hem no reverence,
1202: For though thyn housbonde armed be in maille,
1203: The arwes of thy crabbed eloquence
1204: Shal perce his brest, and eek his aventaille.
1205: In jalousie I rede eek thou hym bynde,
1206: And thou shalt make hym couche as doth a quaille.
1207: If thou be fair, ther folk been in presence,
1208: Shewe thou thy visage and thyn apparaille;
1209: If thou be foul, be fre of thy dispence;
1210: To gete thee freendes ay do thy travaille;
1211: Be ay of chiere as light as leef on lynde,
1212: And lat hym care, and wepe, and wrynge, and waille!
1212.1: This worthy clerk, whan ended was his tale,
1212.2: Oure hooste seyde, and swoor, by goddes bondes,
1212.3: Me were levere than a barel ale
1212.4: My wyf at hoom had herd this legende ones!
1212.5: This is a gentil tale for the nones,
1212.6: As to my purpos, wiste ye my wille;
1212.7: But thyng that wol nat be, lat it be stille.

Page 115

The Merchant's Prologue

1213: Wepyng and waylyng, care and oother sorwe
1214: I knowe ynogh, on even and a-morwe,
1215: Quod the marchant, and so doon other mo
1216: That wedded been. I trowe that it be so,
1217: For wel I woot it fareth so with me.
1218: I have awyf, the worste that may be;
1219: For thogh the feend to hire ycoupled were,
1220: She sholde I yow reherce in special
1221: What sholde I yow reherce in special
1222: Hir hye malice? she is a shrewe at al.
1223: Ther is a long and large difference
1224: Bitwix grisildis grete pacience
1225: And of my wyf the passyng crueltee.
1226: Were I unbounden, also moot I thee!
1227: I wolde nevere eft comen in the sanre.
1228: We wedded men lyven in sorwe and care.
1229: Assaye whoso wole, and he shal fynde
1230: That I seye sooth , by seint thomas of ynde,
1231: As for the moore part, I sey nat alle.
1232: God shilde that it sholde so bifalle!
1233: A! goode sire hoost, I have ywedded bee
1234: Thise monthes two, and moore nat, pardee;
1235: And yet, I trowe, he that al his lyve
1236: Wyflees hath been, though that men wolde him ryve
1237: Unto the herte, ne koude in no manere
1238: Tellen so muchel sorwe as I now heere
1239: Koude tellen of my wyves cursednesse!
1240: Now, quod oure hoost, marchaunt, so God yow blesse,
1241: Syn ye so muchel knowen of that art
1242: Ful hertely I pray yow telle us part.
1243: Gladly, quod he, but of myn owene soore,
1244: For soory herte, I telle may namoore.

The Merchant's Tale

1245: Whilom ther was dwellynge in lumbardye
1246: A worthy knyght, that born was of pavye,
1247: In which he lyved in greet prosperitee;
1248: And sixty yeer a wyflees man was hee,
1249: And folwed ay his bodily delyt
1250: On wommen, ther as was his appetyt,
1251: As doon thise fooles that been seculeer.
1252: And whan that he was passed sixty yeer,
1253: Were it for hoolynesse or for dotage,
1254: I kan nat seye, but swich a greet corage
1255: Hadde this knyght to been a wedded man
1256: That day and nyght he dooth al that he kan
1257: T' espien where he myghte wedded be,
1258: Preyinge oure lord to graunten him that he
1259: Mighte ones knowe of thilke blisful lyf
1260: That is bitwixe an housbonde and his wyf,
1261: And for to lyve under that hooly boond
1262: With which that first God man and womman bond.
1263: Noon oother lyf, seyde he, is worth a bene;
1264: For wedlok is so esy and so clene,
1265: That in this world it is paradys.
1266: Thus seyde this olde knyght, that was so wys.
1267: And certeinly, as sooth as God is kyng,
1268: To take a wyf it is a glorious thyng,
1269: And namely whan a man is oold and hoor;
1270: Thanne is a wyf the fruyt of his tresor.
1271: Thanne sholde he take a yong wyf and a feir,
1272: On which he myghte engendren hym and heir,
1273: And lede his lyf in joye and in solas,
1274: Where as thise bacheleris synge allas,
1275: Whan that they funden any adversitee
1276: In love, which nys but childyssh vanytee.
1277: And trewely it sit wel to be so,
1278: That bacheleris have often peyne and wo;
1279: On brotel ground they buylde, and brotelnesse
1280: They fynde, whan they wene sikernesse.
1281: They lyve but as a bryd or as a beest,
1282: In libertee, and under noon arreest,
1283: Ther as a wedded man in his estaat
1284: Lyveth a lyf blisful and ordinaat,
1285: Under this yok of mariage ybounde.
1286: Wel may his herte in joy and blisse habounde,
1287: For who kan be so buxom as a wyf?

Page 116

1288: Who is so trewe, and eek so ententyf
1289: To kepe hym, syk and hool, as is his make?
1290: For wele or wo she wole hym nat forsake;
1291: She nys nat wery hym to love and serve,
1292: Thogh that he lye bedrede, til he sterve.
1293: And yet somme clerkes seyn it nys nat so,
1294: Of whiche he theofraste is oon of tho.
1295: What force though theofraste liste lye?
1296: Ne take no wyf, quod he, for housbondrye,
1297: As for to spare in houshold thy dispence.
1298: A trewe servant dooth moore diligence
1299: Thy good to kepe, than thyn owene wyf,
1300: For she wol clayme half part al hir lyf.
1301: And if that thou be syk, so God me save,
1302: Thy verray freendes, or a trewe knave,
1303: Wol kepe thee bet than she that waiteth ay
1304: After thy good and hath doon many a day.
1305: And if thou take a wyf unto thyn hoold,
1306: Ful lightly maystow been a cokewold.
1307: This sentence, and an hundred thynges worse,
1308: Writeth this man, ther God his bones corse!
1309: But take no kep of al swich vanytee;
1310: Deffie theofraste, and herke me.
1311: A wyf is goddes yifte verraily;
1312: Alle othere manere yiftes hardily,
1313: As londes, rentes, pasture, or commune,
1314: Or moebles, alle been yiftes of fortune,
1315: That passen as a shadwe upon a wal.
1316: But drede nat, if pleynly speke I shal,
1317: A wyf wol laste, and thyn hous endure,
1318: Wel lenger than thee list, paraventure.
1319: Mariage is a ful greet sacrement.
1320: He which that hath no wyf, I holde hym shent;
1321: He lyveth helplees and al desolat, --
1322: I speke of folk in seculer estaat.
1323: And herke why, I sey nat this for noght,
1324: That womman is for mannes helpe ywroght.
1325: The hye god, whan he hadde adam maked,
1326: And saugh him al allone, bely-naked,
1327: God of his grete goodnesse syde than,
1328: Lat us now make an helpe unto this man
1329: Lyk to hymself; and thanne he made him eve.
1330: Heere may ye se, and heerby may ye preve,
1331: That wyf is mannes helpe and his confort,
1332: His paradys terrestre, and his disport.
1333: So buxom and so vertuous is she,
1334: They moste nedes lyve in unitee.
1335: O flessh they been, and o fleesh, as I gesse,
1336: Hath but oon herte, in wele and in distresse.
1337: A wyf! a, seinte marie, benedicite!
1338: How myghte man han any adversitee
1339: That hath a wyf? certes, I kan nat seye.
1340: the blisse which that is bitwixe hem tweye
1341: Ther may no tonge telle, or herte thynke.
1342: If he be povre, she helpeth hym to swynke;
1343: She kepeth his good, and wasteth never a deel;
1344: Al that hire housbonde lust, hire liketh weel;
1345: She seith nat ones nay, whan he seith ye.
1346: Do this, seith he; al redy, sire, seith she.
1347: O blisful ordre of wedlok precious,
1348: Thou art so murye, and eek so vertuous,
1349: And so commended and appreved eek
1350: That every man that halt hym worth a leek,
1351: Upon his bare knees oughte al his lyf
1352: Thanken his God that hym hath sent a wyf,
1353: Or elles preye to God hym for to sende
1354: A wyf, to laste unto his lyves ende.
1355: For thanne his lyf is set in sikernesse;
1356: He may nat be deceyved, as I gesse,
1357: So that he werke after his wyves reed.
1358: Thanne may he boldely beren up his heed,
1359: They been so trewe, and therwithal so wyse;
1360: For which, if thou wolt werken as the wyse,
1361: Do alwey so as wommen wol thee rede.
1362: Lo, how that jacob, as thise clerkes rede,
1363: By good conseil of his mooder rebekke,
1364: Boond the kydes skyn aboute his nekke,
1365: For which his fadres benyson he wan.
1366: Lo, how that jacob, as thise clerkes rede,
1367: By wys conseil she goddes peple kepte,
1368: And slow hym olofernus, whil he slepte.
1369: Lo abigayl, by good conseil, how she
1370: Saved hir housbonde nabal, whan that he
1371: Sholde han be slayn; and looke, ester also
1372: By good conseil delyvered out of wo
1373: The peple of god, and made hym mardochee
1374: Of assuere enhaunced for to be.
1375: Ther nys no thyng in gree superlatyf,
1376: As seith senek, above and humble wyf.
1377: Suffre thy wyves tonge, as catoun bit;
1378: She shal comande, and thou shalt suffren it,
1379: And yet she wole obeye of curteisye.
1380: A wyf is kepere of thyn housbondrye;
1381: Wel may the sike man biwaille and wepe,
1382: Ther as ther nys no wyf the hous to kepe.
1383: I warne thee, if wisely thou wolt wirche,
1384: Love wel thy wyf, as crist loved his chirche.
1385: If thou lovest thyself, thou lovest thy wyf;
1386: No man hateth his flessh, but in his lyf
1387: He fostreth it, and therfore bidde I thee,
1388: Cherisse thy wyf, or thou shalt nevere thee.
1389: Housbonde and wyf, what so men jape or pleye,
1390: Of worldly folk holden the siker weye;
1391: They been so knyt ther may noon harm bityde,
1392: And namely upon the wyves syde.
1393: For which this januarie, of whom I tolde,

Page 117

1394: Considered hath, inwith his dayes olde,
1395: The lusty lyf, the vertuous quyete,
1396: That is in mariage hony-sweete;
1397: And for his freendes on a day he sente,
1398: To tellen hem th' effect of his entente.
1399: With face sad his tale he hath hem toold.
1400: He seyde, freendes, I am hoor and oold,
1401: And almost, God woot, on my pittes brynke;
1402: Upon my soule somwhat moste I thynke.
1403: I have my body folily despended;
1404: Blessed be God that it shal been amended!
1405: For I wol be, certeyn, a wedded man,
1406: And that anoon in al the haste I kan.
1407: Unto som mayde fair and tendre of age,
1408: I prey yow, shapeth for my mariage
1409: Al sodeynly, for I wol nat abyde;
1410: And I wol fonde t' espien, on my syde,
1411: To whom I may be wedded hastily.
1412: But forasmuche as ye been mo than I,
1413: Ye shullen rather swich a thyng espyen
1414: Than I, and where me best were to allyen.
1415: But o thyng warne I yow, my freendes deere,
1416: I wol moon oold wyf han in no manere.
1417: She shal nat passe twenty yeer, certayn;
1418: Oold fissh and yong flessh wolde I have ful fayn.
1419: Bet is, quod he, a pyk than a pykerel,
1420: And bet than old boef is the tendre veel.
1421: I wol no womman thritty yeer of age;
1422: It is but bene-straw and greet forage.
1423: And eek thise olde wydwes, God it woot,
1424: They konne so muchel craft on wades boot,
1425: So muchel broken harm, whan that hem leste,
1426: That with hem sholde I nevere lyve in reste.
1427: For sondry scoles maken sotile clerkis;
1428: Womman of manye scoles half a clerk is.
1429: But certeynly, a yong thyng may men gye,
1430: Right as men may warm wex with handes plye.
1431: Wherfore I sey yow pleynly, in a clause,
1432: I wol noon oold wyf han right for this cause.
1433: For if so were I hadde swich myschaunce,
1434: That I in hire ne koude han no plesaunce,
1435: Thanne sholde I lede my lyf in avoutrye,
1436: And go streight to the devel, whan I dye.
1437: Ne children sholde I none upon hire geten;
1438: Yet were me levere houndes hand me eten,
1439: Than that myn heritage sholde falle
1440: In straunge hand, and this I telle yow alle.
1441: I dote nat, I woot the cause why
1442: Men sholde wedde, and forthermoore woot I,
1443: Ther speketh many a man of mariage
1444: That woot namoore of it than woot my page,
1445: For whiche causes man sholde take a wyf.
1446: If he ne may nat lyven chaast his lyf,
1447: Take hym a wyf with greet devocioun,
1448: By cause of leverful procreacioun
1449: Of children, to th' onour of God above,
1450: And nat oonly for paramour or love;
1451: And for they sholde leccherye eschue,
1452: And yelde hir dette whan that it is due;
1453: Or for that ech of hem sholde helpen oother
1454: In meschief, as a suster shal the brother;
1455: And lyve in chastitee ful holily.
1456: But sires, by youre leve, that am nat I.
1457: For, God be thanked! I dar make avaunt,
1458: I feele my lymes stark and suffisaunt
1459: To do al that a man bilongeth to;
1460: I woot myselven best what I may do.
1461: Though I be hoor, I fare as dooth a tree
1462: That blosmeth er that fruyt ywoxen bee;
1463: And blosmy tree nys neither drye ne deed.
1464: I feele me nowhere hoor but on myn heed;
1465: Myn herte and alle my lymes been as grene
1466: As laurer thurgh the yeer is for to sene.
1467: And syn that ye han herd al myn entente,
1468: I prey yow to my wyl ye wole assente.
1469: Diverse men diversely hym tolde
1470: Of mariage manye ensamples olde.
1471: Somme blamed it, somme preysed it, certeyn;
1472: But atte laste, shortly for to seyn,
1473: As al day falleth altercacioun
1474: Bitwixen freendes in disputisoun,
1475: Ther fil a stryf bitwixe his bretheren two,
1476: Of whiche that oon was cleped placebo,
1477: Justinus soothly called was that oother.
1478: Placebo seyde, o januarie, brother,
1479: Ful litel nede hadde ye, my lord so deere,
1480: Conseil to axe of any that is heere,
1481: But that ye been so ful of sapience
1482: That yow ne liketh, for youre heighe prudence,
1483: To weyven fro the word of salomon.
1484: This word seyde he unto us everychon:
1485: Wirk alle thyng by conseil, -- thus seyde he,
1486: -- And thanne shaltow nat repente thee. --
1487: But though that salomon spak swich a word,
1488: Myn owene deere brother and my lord,
1489: So wysly God my soule brynge at reste,
1490: I holde youre owene conseil is the beste.
1491: For, brother myn, of me taak this motyf,
1492: I have now been a court-man al my lyf,
1493: And God it woot, though I unworthy be,
1494: I have stonden in ful greet degree
1495: Abouten lordes of ful heigh estaat;
1496: Yet hadde I nevere with noon of hem debaat.
1497: I nevere hem contraried, trewely;
1498: I woot wel that my lord kan moore than I.
1499: With that he seith, I holde it ferme and stable;

Page 118

1500: I seye the same, or elles thyng semblable.
1501: A ful greet fool is any conseillour
1502: That serveth any lord of heigh honour,
1503: That dar presume, or elles thanken it,
1504: That his conseil sholde passe his lordes wit.
1505: Nay, lordes been no fooles, by my fay!
1506: Ye han youreselven shewed heer to-day
1507: So heigh sentence, so holily and weel,
1508: That I consente and conferme everydeel
1509: Youre wordes alle and youre opinioun.
1510: By god, ther nys no man in al this toun,
1511: Ne in ytaille, that koude bet han sayd!
1512: Crist halt hym of this conseil ful wel apayd.
1513: And trewely, it is an heigh corage
1514: Of any man that stapen is in age
1515: To take a yong wyf; by my fader kyn,
1516: Youre herte hangeth on a joly pyn!
1517: Dooth now in this matiere right as yow leste,
1518: For finally I holde it for the beste.
1519: Justinus, that ay stille sat and herde,
1520: Right in this wise he to placebo answerde:
1521: Now, brother myn, be pacient, I preye,
1522: Syn ye han seyd, and herkneth what I seye.
1523: Senek, amonges othere wordes wyse,
1524: Seith that a man oghte hym right wel avyse
1525: To whom he yeveth his lond or his catel.
1526: And syn I oghte avyse me right wel
1527: To whom I yeve my good awey from me,
1528: Wel muchel moore I oghte avysed be
1529: To whom I yeve my body for alwey.
1530: I warne yow wel, it is no childes pley
1531: To take a wyf withouten avysement.
1532: Men moste enquere, this is myn assent,
1533: Wher she be wys, or sobre, or dronkelewe,
1534: Or proud, or elles ootherweys a shrewe,
1535: A chidestere, or wastour of thy good,
1536: Or riche, or poore, or elles mannyssh wood.
1537: Al be it so that no man fynden shal
1538: Noon in this world that trotteth hool in al,
1539: Ne man, ne beest, swich as men koude devyse;
1540: But nathelees it oghte ynough suffise
1541: With any wyf, if so were that she hadde
1542: Mo goode thewes than hire vices badde;
1543: And al this axeth leyser for t' enquere.
1544: For, God it woot, I have wept many a teere
1545: Ful pryvely, syn I have had a wyf.
1546: Preyse whoso wole a wedded mannes lyf,
1547: Certein I fynde in it but cost and care
1548: And observances, of alle blisses bare.
1549: And yet, God woot, my neighebores aboute,
1550: And namely of wommen many a route,
1551: Seyn that I have the mooste stedefast wyf,
1552: And eek the mekeste oon that bereth lyf;
1553: But I woot best where wryngeth me my sho.
1554: Ye mowe, for me, right as yow liketh do;
1555: Avyseth yow -- ye been a man of age --
1556: How that ye entren into mariage,
1557: And namely with a yong wyf and a fair.
1558: By hym that made water, erthe, and air,
1559: The yongeste man that is in al this route
1560: Is bisy ynough to bryngen it aboute
1561: To han his wyf allone. Trusteth me,
1562: Ye shul nat plesen hire fully yeres thre, --
1563: This is to seyn, to doon hire ful plesaunce.
1564: A wyf axeth ful many an observaunce.
1565: I prey yow that ye be nat yvele apayd.
1566: Wel, quod this januarie, and hastow sayd?
1567: Straw for thy senek, and for thy proverbes!
1568: I counte nat a panyer ful of herbes
1569: Of scole-termes. Wyser men than thow,
1570: As thou hast herd, assenteden right now
1571: To my purpos. Placebo, what sey ye?
1572: I seye it is a cursed man, quod he,
1573: That letteth matrimoigne, sikerly.
1574: And with that word they rysen sodeynly,
1575: And been assented fully that he sholde
1576: Be wedded whanne hym liste, and where he wolde.
1577: Heigh fantasye and curious bisynesse
1578: Fro day to day gan in the soule impresse
1579: Of januarie aboute his mariage.
1580: Many fair shap and many a fair visage
1581: Ther passeth thurgh his herte nyght by nyght,
1582: As whoso tooke a mirour, polisshed bryght,
1583: And sette it in a commune market-place,
1584: Thanne sholde he se ful many a figure pace
1585: By his mirour; and in the same wyse
1586: Gan januarie inwith his thoght devyse
1587: Of maydens whiche that dwelten hym bisyde.
1588: He wiste nat wher that he myghte abyde.
1589: For if that oon have beaute in hir face,
1590: Another stant so in the peples grace
1591: For hire sadnesse and hire benyngnytee
1592: That of the peple grettest voys hath she;
1593: And somme were riche, and hadden badde name.
1594: But nathelees, bitwixe ernest and game,
1595: He atte laste apoynted hym on oon,
1596: And leet alle othere from his herte goon,
1597: And chees hire of his owene auctoritee;
1598: For love is blynd alday, and may nat see.
1599: And whan that he was in his bed ybroght,
1600: He purtreyed in his herte and in his thoght
1601: Hir fresshe beautee and hir age tendre,
1602: Hir myddel smal, hire armes longe and sklendre,
1603: Hir wise governaunce, hir gentillesse,

Page 119

1604: Hir wommanly berynge, and hire sadnesse.
1605: And whan that he on hire was condescended,
1606: Hym thoughte his choys myghte nat ben amended.
1607: For whan that he hymself concluded hadde,
1608: Hym thoughte ech oother mannes wit so badde
1609: That inpossible it were to repplye
1610: Agayn his choys, this was his fantasye.
1611: His freendes sente he to, at his instaunce,
1612: And preyed hem to doon hym that plesaunce,
1613: That hastily they wolden to hym come;
1614: He wolde abregge hir labour, alle and some.
1615: Nedeth namoore for hym to go ne ryde;
1616: He was apoynted ther he wolde abyde.
1617: Placebo cam, and eek his freendes soone,
1618: And alderfirst he bad hem alle a boone,
1619: That noon of hem none argumentes make
1620: Agayn the purpos which that he hath take,
1621: Which purpos was plesant to god, seyde he,
1622: And verray ground of his prosperitee.
1623: He seyde ther was a mayden in the toun,
1624: Which that of beautee hadde greet renoun,
1625: Al were it so she were of smal degree;
1626: Suffiseth hym hir yowthe and hir beautee.
1627: Which mayde, he seyde, he wolde han to his wyf,
1628: To lede in ese and hoolynesse his lyf;
1629: And thanked God that he myghte han hire al,
1630: That no wight his blisse parten shal.
1631: And preyed hem to laboure in this nede,
1632: And shapen that he faille nat to spede;
1633: For thanne, he seyde, his spirit was at ese.
1634: Thanne is, quod he, no thyng may me displese,
1635: Save o thyng priketh in my conscience,
1636: The which I wol reherce in youre presence.
1637: I have, quod he, herd seyd, ful yoore ago,
1638: Ther may no man han parfite blisses two, --
1639: This is to seye, in erthe and eek in hevene.
1640: For though he kepe hym fro the synnes sevene,
1641: And eek from every branche of thilke tree,
1642: Yet is ther so parfit felicitee
1643: And so greet ese and lust in mariage,
1644: That evere I am agast now in myn age
1645: That I shal lede now so myrie a lyf,
1646: So delicat, withouten wo and stryf,
1647: That I shal have myn hevene in erthe heere.
1648: For sith that verray hevene is boght so deere
1649: With tribulation and greet penaunce,
1650: How sholde I thanne, that lyve in swich plesaunce
1651: As alle wedded men doon with hire wyvys,
1652: Come to the blisse ther crist eterne on lyve ys?
1653: This is my drede, and ye, my bretheren tweye,
1654: Assoilleth me this question, I preye.
1655: Justinus, which that hated his folye,
1656: Answerde anon right in his japerye;
1657: And for he wolde his longe tale abregge,
1658: He wolde noon auctoritee allegge,
1659: But seyde, sire, so ther be noon obstacle
1660: Oother than this, God of his hygh myracle
1661: And of his mercy may so for yow wirche
1662: That, er ye have youre right of hooly chirche,
1663: Ye may repente of wedded mannes lyf,
1664: In which ye seyn ther is no wo ne stryf.
1665: And elles, God forbede but he sente
1666: A wedded man hym grace to repente
1667: Wel ofte rather than a sengle man!
1668: And therfore, sire -- the beste reed I kan --
1669: Dispeire yow noght, but have in youre memorie,
1670: Paraunter she may be youre purgatorie!
1671: She may be goddes meene and goddes whippe;
1672: Thanne shal youre soule up to hevene skippe
1673: Swifter than dooth and arwe out of bowe.
1674: I hope to god, herafter shul ye knowe
1675: That ther nys no so greet felicitee
1676: In mariage, ne nevere mo shal bee,
1677: That yow shal lette of youre savacion,
1678: So that ye sue, as skile is an reson,
1679: The lustes of youre wyf attemprely,
1680: And that ye plese hire nat to amorously,
1681: And that ye kepe yow eek from oother synne.
1682: My tale is doon, for my wit is thynne.
1683: Beth nat agast herof, my brother deere,
1684: But lat us waden out of this mateere.
1685: The wyf of bethe, if ye han understonde,
1686: Of mariage, which we have on honde,
1687: Declared hath ful wel in litel space.
1688: Fareth now wel, God have yow in his grace.
1689: And with this word this justyn and his brother
1690: Han take hir leve, and ech of hem of oother.
1691: For whan they saughe that it moste nedes be,
1692: They wroghten so, by sly and wys tretee,
1693: That she, this mayden, which that mayus highte,
1694: As hastily as evere that she myghte,
1695: Shal wedded be unto this januarie.
1696: I trowe it were to longe yow to tarie,
1697: If I yow tolde of every scrit and bond
1698: By which that she was feffed in his lond,
1699: Or for to herknen of hir riche array.
1700: But finally ycomen is the day
1701: That to the chirche bothe be they went

Page 120

1702: For to receyve the hooly sacrement.
1703: Forth comth the preest, with stole aboute his nakke,
1704: And bad hire be lyk sarra and rebekke
1705: In wysdom and in trouthe of mariage;
1706: And seyde his orisons, as is usage,
1707: And croucheth hem, and bad God sholde hem blesse,
1708: And made al siker ynogh with hoolynesse.
1709: Thus been they wedded with solempnitee,
1710: And at the feeste sitteth he and she
1711: With othere worthy folk upon the deys.
1712: Al ful of joye and blisse is the paleys,
1713: And ful of instrumentz and of vitaille,
1714: The mooste deyntevous of al ytaille.
1715: Biforn hem stoode instrumentz of swich soun
1716: That orpheus, ne of thebes amphioun,
1717: Ne maden nevere swich a melodye.
1718: At every cours thanne cam loud mynstralcye,
1719: That nevere tromped joab for to heer,
1720: Nor he theodomas, yet half so cleere,
1721: At thebes, whan the citee was in doute.
1722: Bacus the wyn hem shynketh al aboute,
1723: And venus laugheth upon every wight,
1724: For januarie was bicome hir knyght,
1725: And wolde bothe assayen his corage
1726: In libertee, and eek in mariage;
1727: And with hire fyrbrond in hire hand aboute
1728: Daunceth biforn the bryde and al the route.
1729: And certeinly, I dar right wel seyn this,
1730: Ymeneus, that God of weddyng is,
1731: Saugh nevere his lyf so myrie a wedded man.
1732: Hoold thou thy pees, thou poete marcian,
1733: That writest us that ilke weddyng murie
1734: Of hire philologie and hym mercurie,
1735: And of the songes that the muses songe!
1736: To smal is bothe thy penen, and eek thy tonge,
1737: For to descryven of this mariage.
1738: Whan tendre youthe hath wedded stoupyng age,
1739: Ther is swich myrthe that it may nat be writen.
1740: Assayeth it youreself, thanne may ye witen
1741: If that I lye or noon in this matiere.
1742: Mayus, that sit with so benyngne a chiere,
1743: Hire to biholde it semed fayerye.
1744: Queene ester looked nevere with swich an ye
1745: On assuer, so meke a look hath she.
1746: I may yow nat devyse al hir beautee.
1747: But thus muche of hire beautee telle I may,
1748: That she was lyk the brighte morwe of may,
1749: Fulfild of alle beautee and plesaunce.
1750: This januarie is ravysshed in a traunce
1751: At every tyme he looked on hir face;
1752: But in his herte he gan hire to manace
1753: That he that nyght in armes wolde hire streyne
1754: Harder than evere parys dide eleyne.
1755: But nathelees yet hadde he greet pitee
1756: That thilke nyght offenden hire moste he,
1757: And thoughte, allas! o tendre creature,
1758: Now wolde God ye myghte wel endure
1759: Al my corage, it is so sharp and keene!
1760: I am agast ye shul it nat sustene.
1761: But God forbede that I dide al my myght!
1762: Now wolde God that it were woxen nyght,
1763: And that the nyght wolde lasten everemo.
1764: I wolde that al this peple were ago.
1765: And finally he dooth al his labour,
1766: As he best myghte, savynge his honour,
1767: To haste hem fro the mete in subtil wyse.
1768: The tyme cam that resoun was to ryse;
1769: And after that men daunce and drynken faste,
1770: And spices al aboute the hous they caste,
1771: And ful of joye and blisse is every man, --
1772: Al but a squyer, highte damyan,
1773: Which carf biforn the knyght ful many a day.
1774: He was so ravysshed on his lady may
1775: That for the verray peyne he was ny wood.
1776: Almoost he swelte and swowned ther he stood,
1777: So soore hath venus hurt hym with hire brond,
1778: As that she bar it daunsynge in hire hond;
1779: And to his bed he wente hym hastily.
1780: Namoore of hym as at this tyme speke I,
1781: But there I lete hym wepe ynogh and pleyne,
1782: Til fresshe may wol rewen on his peyne.
1783: O perilous fyr, that in the bedstraw bredeth!
1784: O famulier foo, that his servyce bedeth!
1785: O servant traytour, false hoomly hewe,
1786: Lyk to the naddre in bosom sly untrewe,
1787: God shilde us alle from youre aqueyntaunce!
1788: O januarie, dronken in plesaunce
1789: In mariage, se how thy damyan,
1790: Thyn owene squier and thy borne man,
1791: Entendeth for to do thee vileynye.
1792: God graunte thee thyn hoomly fo t' espye!
1793: For in this world nys worse pestilence
1794: Than hoomly foo al day in thy presence.
1795: Parfourned hath the sonne his ark diurne;
1796: No lenger may the body of hym sojurne
1797: On th' orisonte, as in that latitude.
1798: Night with his mantel, that is derk and rude,
1799: Gan oversprede the hemysperie aboute;
1800: For which departed is this lusty route
1801: Fro januarie, with thank on every syde.
1802: Hoom to hir houses lustily they ryde,
1803: Where as they doon hir thynges as hem leste,
1804: And whan they sye hir tyme, goon to reste.
1805: Soone after than, this hastif januarie
1806: Wolde go to bedde, he wolde no lenger tarye.

Page 121

1807: He drynketh ypocras, clarree, and vernage
1808: Of spices hoote, t' encreessen his corage;
1809: And many a letuarie hath he ful fyn,
1810: Swiche as the cursed monk, daun constantyn,
1811: Hath writen in his book de coitu;
1812: To eten hem alle he nas no thyng eschu.
1813: And to his privee freendes thus seyde he:
1814: For goddes love, as soone as it may be,
1815: Lat voyden al this hous in curteys wyse.
1816: And they han doon right as he wol devyse.
1817: Men drynken, and the travers drawe anon.
1818: The bryde was broght abedde as stille as stoon;
1819: And whan the bed was with the preest yblessed,
1820: Out of the chambre hath every wight hym dressed;
1821: And januarie hath faste in armes take
1822: His fresshe may, his paradys, his make.
1823: He lulleth hire, he kisseth hire ful ofte;
1824: With thikke brustles of his berd unsofte,
1825: Lyk to the skyn of houndfyssh, sharp as brere --
1826: For he was shave al newe in his manere --
1827: He rubbeth hire aboute hir tendre face,
1828: And seyde thus, allas! I moot trespace
1829: To yow, my spouse, and yow greetly offende,
1830: Er tyme come that I wil doun descende.
1831: But nathelees, considereth this, quod he,
1832: Ther nys no werkman, whatsoevere he be,
1833: That may bothe werke wel and hastily;
1834: This wol be doon at leyser parfitly.
1835: It is no fors how longe that we pleye;
1836: In trewe wedlok coupled be we tweye;
1837: And blessed be the yok that we been inne,
1838: For in oure actes we mowe do no synne.
1839: A man may do no synne with his wyf,
1840: Ne hurte hymselven with his owene knyf;
1841: For we han leve to pleye us by the lawe.
1842: Thus laboureth he til that the day gan dawe;
1843: And thanne he taketh a sop in fyn clarree,
1844: And upright in his bed thanne sitteth he,
1845: And after that he sang ful loude and cleere,
1846: And kiste his wyf, and made wantown cheere
1847: He was al coltissh, ful of ragerye,
1848: And ful of jargon as a flekked pye.
1849: The slakke skyn aboute his nekke shaketh,
1850: Whil that he sang, so chaunteth he and craketh.
1851: But God woot what that may thoughte in hir herte,
1852: Whan she hym saugh up sittynge in his sherte,
1853: In his nyght-cappe, and with his nekke lene;
1854: She preyseth nat his pleyyng worth a bene.
1855: Thanne seide he thus, my reste wol I take;
1856: Now day is come, I may no lenger wake.
1857: And doun he leyde his heed, and sleep til pryme.
1858: And afterward, whan that he saugh his tyme,
1859: Up ryseth januarie; but fresshe may
1860: Heeld hire chambre unto the fourthe day,
1861: As usage is of wyves for the beste.
1862: For every labour somtyme moot han reste,
1863: Or elles longe may he nat endure;
1864: This is to seyn, no lyves creature,
1865: Be it of fyssh, or bryd, or beest, or man.
1866: Now wol I speke of woful damyan,
1867: That langwissheth for love, as ye shul heere;
1868: Therfore I speke to hym in this manere:
1869: I seye, o sely damyan, allas!
1870: Andswere to my demaunde, as in this cas.
1871: How shaltow to thy lady, fresshe may,
1872: Telle thy wo? she wole alwey seye nay.
1873: Eek if thou speke, she wol thy wo biwreye.
1874: God be thyn helpe! I kan no bettre seye.
1875: This sike damyan in venus fyr
1876: So brenneth that he dyeth for desyr,
1877: For which he putte his lyf in aventure.
1878: No lenger myghte he in this wise endure,
1879: But prively a penner gan he borwe,
1880: And in a lettre wroot he al his sorwe,
1881: In manere of a compleynt or a lay,
1882: Unto his faire, fresshe lady may;
1883: And in a purs of sylk, heng on his sherte
1884: He hath it put, and leyde it at his herte.
1885: The moone, that at noon was thilke day
1886: That januarie hath wedded fresshe may
1887: In two of tawr, was into cancre glyden;
1888: So longe hath mayus in hir chambre abyden,
1889: As custume is unto thise nobles alle.
1890: A bryde shal nat eten in the halle
1891: Til dayes foure, or thre dayes atte leeste,
1892: Ypassed been; thanne lat hire go to feeste.
1893: The fourthe day compleet fro noon to noon,
1894: Whan that the heighe masse was ydoon,
1895: In halle sit this januarie and may,
1896: As fressh as is the brighte someres day.
1897: And so bifel how that this goode man
1898: Remembred hym upon this damyan,
1899: And seyde, seynte marie! how may this be,
1900: That damyan entendeth nat to me?
1901: Is he ay syk, or how may this bityde?
1902: His squieres, whiche that stooden ther bisyde,
1903: Excused hym by cause of his siknesse,
1904: Which letted hym to doon his bisynesse;
1905: Noon oother cause myghte make hym tarye.
1906: That me forthynketh, quod this januarie,
1907: He is a gentil squier, by my trouthe!
1908: If that he deyde, it were harm and routhe.
1909: He is as wys, discreet, and as secree
1910: As any man I woot of his degree,
1911: And therto manly, and eek servysable.

Page 122

1912: And for to been a thrifty man right able.
1913: But after mete, as soone as evere I may,
1914: I wol myself visite hym, and eek may,
1915: To doon hym al the confort that I kan.
1916: And for that word hym blessed every man,
1917: That of his bountee and his gentillesse
1918: He wolde so conforten in siknesse
1919: His squier, for it was a gentil dede.
1920: Dame, quod this januarie, taak good hede,
1921: At after-mete ye with youre wommen alle,
1922: Whan ye han been in chambre out of this halle,
1923: That alle ye go se this damyan.
1924: Dooth hym disport -- he is a gentil man;
1925: And telleth hym that I wol hym visite,
1926: Have I no thyng but rested me a lite;
1927: And spede yow faste, for I wole abyde
1928: Til that ye slepe faste by my syde.
1929: And with that word he gan to hym to calle
1930: A squier, that was marchal of his halle,
1931: And tolde hym certeyn thynges, what he wolde.
1932: This fresshe may hath streight hir wey yholde,
1933: With alle hir wommen, unto damyan.
1934: Doun by his beddes syde sit she than,
1935: Confortynge hym as goodly as she may.
1936: This damyan, whan that his tyme he say,
1937: In secree wise his purs and eek his bille,
1938: In which that he ywriten hadde his wille,
1939: Hath put into hire hand, withouten moore,
1940: And softely to hire right thus seyde he:
1941: And softely to hire right thus seyde he:
1942: Mercy! and that ye nat discovere me,
1943: For I am deed if that this thyng be kyd.
1944: This purs hath she inwith hir bosom hyd,
1945: And wente hire wey; ye gete namoore of me.
1946: But unto januarie ycomen is she,
1947: That on his beddes syde sit ful softe.
1948: He taketh hire, and kisseth hire ful ofte,
1949: And leyde hym doun to slepe, and that anon.
1950: She feyned hire as that she moste gon
1951: Ther as ye woot that every wight moot neede;
1952: And whan she of this bille hath taken heede,
1953: She rente it al to cloutes atte laste,
1954: And in the pryvee softely it caste.
1955: Who studieth now but faire fresshe may?
1956: Adoun by olde januarie she lay,
1957: That sleep til that the coughe hath hym awaked.
1958: Anon he preyde hire strepen hire al naked;
1959: He wolde of hire, he seyde, han som plesaunce,
1960: And seyde hir clothes dide hym encombraunce,
1961: And she obeyeth, be hire lief or looth.
1962: But lest that precious folk be with me wrooth,
1963: How that he wroghte, I dar nat to yow telle;
1964: Or wheither hire thoughte it paradys or helle.
1965: But heere I lete hem werken in hir wyse
1966: Til evensong rong, and that they moste aryse.
1967: Were it by destynee or aventure,
1968: Were it by influence or by nature,
1969: Or constellacion, that in swich estaat
1970: The hevene stood, that tyme fortunaat
1971: Was for to putte a bille of venus werkes --
1972: For alle thyng hath tyme, as seyn thise clerkes --
1973: To any womman, for to gete hire love,
1974: I kan nat seye; but grete God above,
1975: That knoweth that noon act is causeless,
1976: He deme of al, for I wole hole my pees.
1977: But sooth is this, how that this fresshe may
1978: Hath take swich impression that day
1979: Of pitee of this sike damyan,
1980: That from hire herte she ne dryve kan
1981: The remembrance for to doon hym ese.
1982: Certeyn, thoghte she, whom that this thyng displese,
1983: I rekke noght, for heere I hym assure
1984: To love hym best of any creature,
1985: Though he namoore hadde than his sherte.
1986: Lo, pitee renneth soone in gentil herte!
1987: Heere may ye se how excellent franchise
1988: In wommen is, whan they hem narwe avyse.
1989: Som tyrant is, as ther be many oon,
1990: That hath an herte as hard as any stoon,
1991: Which wolde han lat hym sterven in the place
1992: Wel rather than han graunted hym hire grace;
1993: And hem rejoysen in hire crueel pryde,
1994: And rekke nat to been an homycide.
1995: This gentil may, fulfilled of pitee,
1996: Right of hire hand a lettre made she,
1997: In which she graunteth hym hire verray grace.
1998: Ther lakketh noght, oonly but day and place,
1999: Wher that she myghte unto his lust suffise;
2000: For it shal be right as he wole devyse.
2001: And whan she saugh hir tyme, upon a day,
2002: To visite this damyan gooth may,
2003: And sotilly this lettre doun she threste
2004: Under his pilwe, rede it if hym leste.
2005: She taketh hym by the hand, and harde hym twiste
2006: So secrely that no wight of it wiste,
2007: And bad hym been al hool, and forth she wente
2008: To januarie, whan that he for hire sente.
2009: Up riseth damyan the nexte morwe;
2010: Al passed was his siknesse and his sorwe.
2011: He kembeth hym, he preyneth hym and pyketh,
2012: He dooth al that his lady lust and lyketh;
2013: And eek to januarie he gooth as lowe
2014: As evere dide a dogge for the bowe.

Page 123

2015: He is so plesant unto every man
2016: (for craft is al, whoso that do it kan)
2017: That every wight is fayn to speke hym good;
2018: And fully in his lady grace he stood.
2019: Thus lete I damyan aboute his nede,
2020: And in my tale forth I wol procede.
2021: Somme clerkes holden that felicitee
2022: Stant in delit, and therfore certeyn he,
2023: This noble januarie, with al his myght,
2024: In honest wyse, as longeth to a knyght,
2025: Shoop hym to lyve ful deliciously.
2026: His housynge, his array, as honestly
2027: To his degree was maked as a kynges.
2028: Amonges othere of his honeste thynges,
2029: He made a gardyn, walled al with stoon;
2030: So fair a gardyn woot I nowher noon.
2031: For, out of doute, I verraily suppose
2032: That he that wroot the romance of the rose
2033: Ne koude of it the beautee wel devyse;
2034: Ne priapus ne myghte nat suffise,
2035: Though he be God of gardyns, for to telle
2036: The beautee of the gardyn and the welle,
2037: That stood under a laurer alwey grene.
2038: Ful ofte tyme he pluto and his queene,
2039: Proserpina, and al hire fayerye,
2040: Disporten hem and maken melodye
2041: Aboute that welle, and daunced, as men tolde.
2042: This noble knyght, this januarie the olde,
2043: Swich deyntee hath in it to walke and pleye,
2044: That he wol no wight suffren bere the keye
2045: Save he hymself; for of the smale wyket
2046: He baar alwey of silver a clyket,
2047: With which, whan that hym leste, he it unshette.
2048: And whan he wolde paye his wyf hir dette
2049: In somer seson, thider wolde he go,
2050: And may his wyf, and no wight but they two;
2051: And thynges whiche that were nat doon abedde,
2052: He in the gardyn parfourned hem and spedde.
2053: And in this wyse, many a murye day,
2054: Lyved this januarie and fresshe may.
2055: But worldly joye may nat alwey dure
2056: To januarie, ne to creature.
2057: O sodeyn hap! o thou fortune unstable!
2058: Lyk to the scorpion so deceyvable,
2059: That flaterest with thyn heed whan thou wolt stynge;
2060: Thy tayl is deeth, thurgh thyn envenymynge.
2061: O brotil joye! o sweete venym queynte!
2062: O monstre, that so subtilly kanst peynte
2063: Thy yiftes under hewe of stidefastnesse,
2064: That thou deceyvest bothe moore and lesse!
2065: Why hastow januarie thus deceyved,
2066: That haddest hym for thy fulle freend receyved?
2067: And now thou hast biraft hym bothe his ye,
2068: For sorwe of which desireth he to dyen.
2069: Allas! this noble januarie free,
2070: Amydde his lust and his prosperitee,
2071: Is woxen blynd, and that al sodeynly,
2072: He wepeth and he wayleth pitously;
2073: And therwithal the fyr of jalousie,
2074: Lest that his wyf sholde falle in som folye,
2075: So brente his herte that he wolde fayn
2076: That som man bothe hire and hym had slayn.
2077: For neither after his deeth, nor in his lyf,
2078: Ne wolde he that she were love ne wyf,
2079: But evere lyve as wydwe in clothes blake,
2080: Soul as the turtle that lost hath hire make,
2081: But atte laste, after a month or tweye
2082: His sorwe gan aswage, sooth to seye;
2083: For whan he wiste it may noon oother be,
2084: He paciently took his adversitee,
2085: Save, out of doute, he may nat forgoon
2086: That he nas jalous everemoore in oon;
2087: Which jalousye it was so outrageous,
2088: That neither in halle, n' yn noon oother hous,
2089: Ne in noon oother place, neverthemo,
2090: He nolde suffre hire for to ryde or go,
2091: But if that he had hond on hire alway;
2092: For which ful ofte wepeth fresshe may,
2093: That loveth damyan so benyngnely
2094: That she moot outher dyen sodeynly,
2095: Or elles she moot han hym as hir leste.
2096: She wayteth whan hir herte wolde breste.
2097: Upon that oother syde damyan
2098: Bicomen is the sorwefulleste man
2099: That evere was; for neither nyght ne day
2100: Ne myghte he speke a word to fresshe may,
2101: As to his purpos, of no swich mateere,
2102: But if that januarie moste it heere,
2103: That hadde an hand upon hire everemo.
2104: But nathelees, by writyng to and fro,
2105: And privee signes, wiste he what she mente,
2106: And she knew eek the fyn of his entente.
2107: O januarie, what myghte it thee availle,
2108: Thogh thou myghte se as fer as shippes saille?
2109: For as good is blynd deceyved be
2110: As to be deceyved whan a man may se.
2111: Lo, argus, which that hadde an hondred yen,
2112: For al that evere he koude poure or pryen,
2113: Yet was he blent, and, God woot, so been mo,
2114: That wenen wisly that it be nat so.
2115: Passe over is an ese, I sey namoore.
2116: This fresshe may, that I spak of so yoore,
2117: In warm wex hath emprented the clyket
2118: That januarie bar of the smale wyket,

Page 124

2119: By which into his gardyn ofte he wente;
2120: And damyan, that knew al hire entente,
2121: The cliket countrefeted pryvely.
2122: Ther nys namoore to seye, but hastily
2123: Som wonder by this clyket shal bityde,
2124: Which ye shul heeren, if ye wole abyde.
2125: O noble ovyde, ful sooth seystou, God woot,
2126: What sleighte is it, thogh it be long and hoot,
2127: That love nyl fynde it out in som manere?
2128: By piramus and tesbee may men leere;
2129: Thogh they were kept ful longe streite overal,
2130: They been accorded, rownynge thurgh a wal,
2131: Ther no wight koude han founde out swich a sleighte.
2132: But now to purpos: er that dayes eighte
2133: Were passed, er the month of juyn, bifil
2134: That januarie hath caught so greet a wil,
2135: Thurgh eggyng of his wyf, hym for to pleye
2136: In his gardyn, and no wight but they tweye,
2137: That in a morwe unto his may seith he:
2138: Rys up, my wyf, my love, my lady free!
2139: The turtles voys is herd, my dowve sweete;
2140: The wynter is goon with alle his reynes weete.
2141: Com forth now, with thyne eyen columbyn!
2142: How fairer been thy brestes than is wyn!
2143: The gardyn is enclosed al aboute;
2144: Com forth, my white spouse! out of doute
2145: Thou hast me wounded in myn herte, o wyf!
2146: No spot of thee ne knew I al my lyf.
2147: Com forth, and lat us taken oure disport;
2148: I chees thee for my wyf and my confort.
2149: Swiche olde lewed wordes used he.
2150: On damyan a signe made she,
2151: That he sholde go biforn with his cliket.
2152: This damyan thanne hath opened the wyket,
2153: And in he stirte, and that in swich manere
2154: That no wight myghte it se neither yheere,
2155: And stille he sit under a bussh anon.
2156: This januarie, as blynd as is a stoon,
2157: With mayus in his hand, and no wight mo,
2158: Into his fresshe gardyn is ago,
2159: And clapte to the wyket sodeynly.
2160: Now wyf, quod he, heere nys but thou and I,
2161: That art the creature that I best love.
2162: For by that lord that sit in hevene above,
2163: Levere ich hadde to dyen on a knyf,
2164: Than thee offende, trewe deere wyf!
2165: For goddes sake, thenk how I thee chees,
2166: Noght for no coveitise, doutelees,
2167: But oonly for the love I had to thee.
2168: And though that I be oold, and may nat see,
2169: Beth to me trewe, and I wol telle yow why.
2170: Thre thynges, certes, shal ye wynne therby:
2171: First, love of crist, and to youreself honour,
2172: And al myn heritage, toun and tour;
2173: I yeve it yow, maketh chartres as yow leste;
2174: This shal be doon to-morwe er sonne reste,
2175: So wisly God my soule brynge in blisse.
2176: I prey yow first, in covenant ye me kisse;
2177: And though that I be jalous, wyte me noght.
2178: Ye been so depe enprented in my thoght
2179: That, whan that I considere youre beautee,
2180: And therwithal the unlikly elde of me,
2181: I may nat, certes, though I sholde dye,
2182: Forbere to been out of youre compaignye
2183: For verray love; this is withouten doute.
2184: Now kys me, wyf, and lat us rome aboute.
2185: This fresshe may, whan she thise wordes herde,
2186: Benyngnely to januarie answerde,
2187: But first and forward she bigan to wepe.
2188: I have, quod she, a soule for to kepe
2189: As wel as ye, and also myn honour,
2190: And of my wyfhod thilke tendre flour,
2191: Which that I have assured in youre hond,
2192: Whan that the preest to yow my body bond;
2193: Wherfore I wole answere in this manere,
2194: By the leve of yow, my lord so deere:
2195: I prey to God that nevere dawe the day
2196: That I ne sterve, as foule as womman may,
2197: If evere I do unto my kyn that shame,
2198: Or elles I empeyre so my name,
2199: That I be fals; and if I do that lak,
2200: Do strepe me and put me in a sak,
2201: And in the nexte ryver do me drenche.
2202: I am a gentil womman and no wenche.
2203: Why speke ye thus? but men been evere untrewe,
2204: And wommen have repreve of yow ay newe.
2205: Ye han noon oother contenance, I leeve,
2206: But speke to us of untrust and repreeve.
2207: And with that word she saugh wher damyan
2208: Sat in the bussh, and coughen she bigan,
2209: And with hir fynger signes made she
2210: That damyan sholde clymbe upon a tree,
2211: That charged was with fruyt, and up he wente.
2212: For verraily he knew al hire entente,
2213: And every signe that she koude make,
2214: Wel bet than januarie, hir owene make;
2215: For in a lettre she hadde toold hym al
2216: Of this matere, how he werchen shal.
2217: And thus I lete hym sitte upon the pyrie,
2218: And januarie and may romynge ful myrie.
2219: Bright was the day, and blew the firmament;
2220: Phebus hath of gold his stremes doun ysent,

Page 125

2221: To gladen every flour with his warmnesse.
2222: He was that tyme in geminis, as I gesse,
2223: But litel fro his declynacion
2224: Of cancer, jovis exaltacion.
2225: And so bifel, that brighte morwe-tyde,
2226: That in that gardyn, in the ferther syde,
2227: Pluto, that is kyng of fayerye,
2228: And many a lady in his compaignye,
2229: Folwynge his wyf, the queene proserpyna,
2230: Which that he ravysshed out of ethna
2231: Whil that she gadered floures in the mede --
2232: In claudyan ye may the stories rede,
2233: How in his grisely carte he hire fette --
2234: This kyng of fairye thanne adoun hym sette
2235: Upon a bench of turves, fressh and grene,
2236: And right anon thus seyde he to his queene:
2237: My wyf, quod he, ther may no wight seye nay;
2238: Th' experience so preveth every day
2239: The tresons whiche that wommen doon to man.
2240: Ten hondred thousand (tales) tellen I kan
2241: Notable of youre untrouthe and brotilnesse.
2242: O salomon, wys, and richest of richesse,
2243: Fulfild of sapience and of worldly glorie,
2244: Ful worthy been thy wordes to memorie
2245: To every wight that wit and reson kan.
2246: Thus preiseth he yet the bountee of man:
2247: -- Amonges a thousand men yet foond I oon,
2248: But of wommen alle foond I noon. --
2249: Thus seith the kyng that knoweth youre wikkednesse.
2250: And jhesus, filius syrak, as I gesse,
2251: Ne speketh of yow but seelde reverence.
2252: A wylde fyr and corrupt pestilence
2253: So falle upon youre bodyes yet to-nyght!
2254: Ne se ye nat this honurable knyght,
2255: By cause, allas! that he is blynd and old,
2256: His owene man shal make hym cokewold.
2257: Lo, where he sit, the lechour, in the tree!
2258: Now wol I graunten, of my magestee,
2259: Unto this olde, blynde, worthy knyght
2260: That he shal have ayen his eyen syght,
2261: Whan that his wyf wold doon hym vileynye.
2262: Thanne shal he knowen al hire harlotrye,
2263: Bothe in repreve of hire and othere mo.
2264: Ye shal? quod proserpyne, wol ye so?
2265: Now by my moodres sires soule I swere
2266: That I shal yeven hire suffisant answere,
2267: And alle wommen after, for hir sake;
2268: That, though they be in any gilt ytake,
2269: With face boold they shulle hemself excuse,
2270: And bere hem doun that wolden hem accuse.
2271: For lak of answere noon of hem shal dyen.
2272: Al hadde man seyn a thyng with bothe his yen,
2273: Yit shul we wommen visage it hardily,
2274: And wepe, and swere, and chyde subtilly,
2275: So that ye man shul been as lewed as gees.
2276: What rekketh me of youre auctoritees?
2277: I woot wel that this jew, this salomon,
2278: Foond of us wommen fooles many oon.
2279: But though that he ne foond no good womman,
2280: Yet hath ther founde many another man
2281: Wommen ful trewe, ful goode, and vertuous.
2282: Witnesse on hem that dwelle in cristes hous;
2283: With martirdom they preved hire constance.
2284: The romayn geestes eek make remembrance
2285: Of many a verray, trewe wyf also.
2286: But, sire, ne be nat wrooth, al be it so,
2287: Though that he seyde he foond no good womman,
2288: I prey yow take the sentence of the man;
2289: He mente thus, that in sovereyn bontee
2290: Nis noon but god, but neither he ne she.
2291: Ey! for verray god, that nys but oon,
2292: What make ye so muche of salomon?
2293: What though he made a temple, goddes hous?
2294: What though he were riche and glorious?
2295: So made he eek a temple of false goddis.
2296: How myghte he do a thyng that moore forbode is?
2297: Pardee, as faire as ye his name emplastre,
2298: He was a lecchour and an ydolastre,
2299: And in his elde he verray God forsook;
2300: And if this God ne hadde, as seith the book,
2301: Yspared hem for his fadres sake, he sholde
2302: Have lost his regne rather than he wolde.
2303: I sette right noght, of al the vileynye
2304: That ye of wommen write, a boterflye!
2305: I am a womman, nedes moot I speke,
2306: Of elles swelle til myn herte breke.
2307: For sithen he seyde that we been jangleresses,
2308: As evere hool I moote brouke my tresses,
2309: I shal nat spare, for no curteisye,
2310: To speke hym harm that wolde us vileynye.
2311: Dame, quod this pluto, be no lenger wrooth;
2312: I yeve it up! but sith I swoor myn ooth
2313: That I wolde graunten hym his sighte ageyn,
2314: My word shal stonde, I warne yow certeyn.
2315: I am a kyng, it sit me noght to lye.
2316: And I, quod she, a queene of fayerye!
2317: Hir answere shal she have, I undertake.
2318: Lat us namoore wordes heerof make;
2319: For sothe, I wol no lenger yow contrarie.
2320: Now lat us turne agayn to januarie,
2321: That in the gardyn with his faire may
2322: Syngeth ful murier than the papejay,
2323: Yow love I best, and shal, and oother noon.

Page 126

2324: So longe aboute the aleyes is he goon,
2325: Til he was come agaynes thilke pyrie
2326: Where as this damyan sitteth ful myrie
2327: An heigh among the fresshe leves grene.
2328: This fresshe may, that is so bright and sheene,
2329: Gan for to syke, and seyde, allas, my syde!
2330: Now sire, quod she, for aught that may bityde,
2331: I moste han of the peres that I see,
2332: Or I moot dye, so soore longeth me
2333: To eten of the smale peres grene.
2334: Help, for hir love that is of hevene queene!
2335: I telle yow wel, a womman in my plit
2336: May han to fruyt so greet an appetit
2337: That she may dyen, but she of it have.
2338: Allas! quod he, that I ne had heer a knave
2339: That koude clymbe! allas, allas, quod he,
2340: For I am blynd! ye, sire, no fors, quod she;
2341: -- But wolde ye vouche sauf, for goddes sake,
2342: The pyrie inwith youre armes for to take,
2343: For wel I woot that ye mystruste me,
2344: Thanne sholde I clymbe wel ynogh, quod she,
2345: So I my foot myghte sette ypon youre bak.
2346: Certes,quod he, theron shal be no lak,
2347: Mighte I yow helpen with myn herte blood.
2348: He stoupeth doun, and on his bak she stood,
2349: And caughte hire by a twiste, and up she gooth --
2350: Ladyes, I prey yow that ye be nat wrooth;
2351: I kan nat glose, I am a rude man --
2352: And sodeynly anon this damyan
2353: Gan pullen up the smok, and in he throng.
2354: And whan that pluto saugh this grete wrong,
2355: To januarie he gaf agayn his sighte,
2356: And made hym se as wel as evere he myghte.
2357: And whan that he hadde caught his sighte agayn,
2358: Ne was ther nevere man of thyng so fayn,
2359: But on his wyf his thoght was everemo.
2360: Up to the tree he caste his eyen two,
2361: And saugh that damyan his wyf had dressed
2362: In swich manere it may nat been expressed,
2363: But if I wolde speke uncurteisly;
2364: And up he yaf a roryng and a cry,
2365: As dooth the mooder whan the child shal dye:
2366: Out! he gan to crye,
2367: O stronge lady stoore, what dostow?
2368: And she answerde, sire, what eyleth yow?
2369: Have pacience and resoun in youre mynde!
2370: I have yow holpe on bothe youre eyen blynde.
2371: Up peril of my soule, I shal nat lyen,
2372: As me was taught, to heele with youre eyen,
2373: Was no thyng bet, to make yow to see,
2374: Than strugle with a man upon a tree.
2375: God woot, I dide it in ful good entente.
2376: Strugle! quod he, ye algate in it wente!
2377: God yeve yow bothe on shames deth to dyen!
2378: He swyved thee, I saugh it with myne yen,
2379: And elles be I hanged by the hals!
2380: thanne is, quod she, my medicyne fals;
2381: For certeinly, if that ye myghte se.
2382: Ye wolde nat seyn thise wordes unto me.
2383: Ye han som glymsyng, and no parfit sighte.
2384: I se, quod he, as wel as evere I myghte,
2385: Thonked be god! with bothe myne eyen two,
2386: And by my trouthe, me thoughte he dide thee so.
2387: ye maze, maze, goode sire, quod she;
2388: This thank have I for I have maad yow see.
2389: Allas, quod she, that evere I was so kynde!
2390: Now, dame, quod he, lat al passe out of mynde.
2391: Com doun, my lief, and if I have myssayd,
2392: God helpe me so, as I am yvele apayd.
2393: But, by my fader soule, I wende han seyn
2394: How that this damyan hadde by thee leyn,
2395: And that thy smok hadde leyn upon his brest.
2396: Ye sire, quod she, ye may wene as yow lest.
2397: But, sire, a man that waketh out of his sleep,
2398: He may nat sodeynly wel taken keep
2399: Upon a thyng, ne seen it parfitly,
2400: Til that he be adawed verraily.
2401: Right so a man that longe hath blynd ybe,
2402: Ne may nat sodeynly so wel yse,
2403: First whan his sighte is newe come ageyn,
2404: As he that hath a day or two yseyn.
2405: Til that youre sighte ysatled be a while,
2406: Ther may ful many a sighte yow bigile.
2407: Beth war, I prey yow; for, by hevene kyng,
2408: Ful many a man weneth to seen a thyng,
2409: And it is al another than it semeth.
2410: He that mysconceyveth, he mysdemeth.
2411: And with that word she leep doun fro the tree,
2412: This januarie, who is glad but he?
2413: He kisseth hire, and clippeth hire ful ofte,
2414: And on hire wombe he stroketh hire ful softe,
2415: And to his palays hoom he hath hire lad.
2416: Now, goode men, I pray yow to be glad.
2417: Thus endeth heere my tale of januarie;
2418: God blesse us, and his mooder seinte marie!

Page 127

The Merchant's Epilogue

2419: Ey! goddes marcy! seyde oure hooste tho,
2420: Now swich a wyf I pray God kepe me fro!
2421: Lo, whiche sleightes and subtilitees
2422: In wommen been! for ay as bisy as bees
2423: Been they, us sely men for to deceyve,
2424: And from the soothe evere wol they weyve;
2425: By this marchauntes tale it preveth weel.
2426: But doutelees, as trewe as any steel
2427: I have a wyf, though that she povre be,
2428: Nut of hir tonge, a labbyng shrewe is she,
2429: And yet she hath an heep of vices mo;
2430: Therof no fors! lat alle swiche thynges go.
2431: But wyte ye what? in conseil be it seyd,
2432: Me reweth soore I am unto hire teyd.
2433: For, and I sholde rekenen every vice
2434: Which that she hath, ywis I were to nyce;
2435: And cause why, it sholde reported by
2436: And toold to hire of somme of this meynee, --
2437: Of whom, it nedeth nat for to declare,
2438: Syn wommen konnen outen swich chaffare;
2439: And eek my with suffiseth nat therto,
2440: To tellen al, wherfore my tale is do.

Page 128

The Squire's Prologue

1: Squier, com neer, if it youre wille be,
2: And sey somwhat of love; for certes ye
3: Konnen theron as muche as any man.
4: Nay, sire, quod he, but I wol seye as I kan
5: With hertly wyl; for I wol nat rebelle
6: Agayn youre lust; a tale wol I telle.
7: Have me excused if I speke amys;
8: My wyl is good, and lo, my tale is this.

The Squire's Tale

"part" 1

Part I

9: At sarray, in the land of tartarye,
10: Ther dwelte a kyng that werreyed russye,
11: Thurgh which ther dyde many a doughty man.
12: This noble kyng was cleped cambyuskan,
13: Which in his tyme was of so greet renoun
14: That ther was nowher in no regioun
15: So excellent a lord in alle thyng.
16: Hym lakked noght that longeth to a king.
17: As of the secte of which that he was born
18: He kepte his lay, to which that he was sworn;
19: And therto he was hardy, wys, and riche,
20: And pitous and just, alwey yliche;
21: Sooth of this word, benigne, and honurable;
22: Of his corage as any centre stable;
23: Yong, fressh, and strong, in armes desirous
24: As any bacheler of al his hous.
25: A fair persone he was and fortunat,
26: And kepte alwey so wel roial estat
27: That ther was nowher swich another man.
28: This noble kyng, this tartre cambyuskan,
29: Hadde two sones on elpheta his wyf,
30: Of whiche the eldeste highte algarsyf,
31: That oother sone was cleped cambalo.
32: A doghter hadde this worthy kyng also,
33: That yongest was, and highte canacee.
34: But for to telle yow al hir beautee,
35: It lyth nat in my tonge, n' yn my konnyng;
36: I dar nat undertake so heigh a thyng.
37: Myn englissh eek is insufficient.
38: It moste been a rethor excellent,
39: That koude his colours longynge for that art,
40: If he sholde hire discryven every part.
41: I am noon swich, I moot speke as I kan.
42: And so bifel that whan this cambyuskan
43: Hath twenty wynter born his diademe,
44: As he was wont fro yeer to yeer, I deme,
45: He leet the feeste of his nativitee
46: Doon cryen thurghout sarray his citee,
47: The laste idus of march, after the yeer.
48: Phebus the sonne ful joly was and cleer;
49: For he was neigh his exaltacioun
50: In martes face, and in his mansioun
51: In aries, the colerik hoote signe.
52: Ful lusty was the weder benigne,
53: For which the foweles, agayn the sonne sheene,
54: What for the sesoun and the yonge grene,
55: Ful loude songen hire affecciouns.
56: Hem semed han geten hem protecciouns
57: Agayn the swerd of wynter, keene and coold.
58: This cambyuskan, of which I have yow toold,
59: In roial vestiment sit on his deys,
60: With diademe, ful heighe in his paleys,
61: And halt his feeste so solempne and so ryche
62: That in this world ne was ther noon it lyche;
63: Of which if I shal tellen al th' array,
64: Thanne wolde it occupie a someres day;
65: And eek it nedeth nat for to devyse
66: At every cours the ordre of hire servyse.
67: I wol nat tellen of hir strange sewes,
68: Ne of hir swannes, ne of hire heronsewes.
69: Eek in that lond, as tellen knyghtes olde,
70: Ther is som mete that is ful deynte holde,
71: That in this lond men recche of it but smal;
72: Ther nys no man that may reporten al.
73: I wol nat taryen yow, for it is pryme,

Page 129

74: And for it is no fruyt, but los of tyme;
75: Unto my firste I wole have my recours.
76: And so bifel that after the thridde cours,
77: Whil that this kyng sit thus in his nobleye,
78: Herknynge his mynstralles hir thynges pleye
79: Biforn hym at the bord deliciously,
80: In at the halle dore al sodeynly
81: Ther cam a knyght upon a steede of bras,
82: And in his hand a brood mirour of glas.
83: Upon his thombe he hadde of gold a ryng,
84: And by his syde a naked swerd hangyng;
85: And up he rideth to the heighe bord.
86: In al the halle ne was ther spoken a word
87: For merveille of this knyght; hym to biholde
88: Ful bisily they wayten, yonge and olde.
89: This strange knyght, that cam thus sodeynly,
90: Al armed, save his heed, ful richely,
91: Saleweth kyng and queene and lordes alle,
92: By ordre, as they seten in the halle,
93: With so heigh reverence and obeisaunce,
94: As wel in speche as in his contenaunce,
95: That gawayn, with his olde curteisye,
96: Though he were comen ayeyn out of fairye,
97: Ne koude hym nat amende with a word.
98: And after this, biforn the heighe bord,
99: He with a manly voys seide his message,
100: After the forme used in his langage,
101: Withouten vice of silable or of lettre;
102: And, for his tale sholde seme the bettre,
103: Accordant to his wordes was his cheere,
104: As techeth art of speche hem that it leere.
105: Al be it that I kan nat sowne his stile,
106: Ne kan nat clymben over so heigh a style,
107: Yet seye I this, as to commune entente,
108: Thus muche smounteth al that evere he mente,
109: If it so be that I have it in mynde.
110: He seyde, the kyng of arabe and of inde,
111: My lige lord, on this solempne day
112: Saleweth yow, as he best kan and may,
113: And sendeth yow, in honour of youre feeste,
114: By me, that am al redy at youre heeste,
115: This steede of bras, that esily and weel
116: Kan in the space of o day natureel --
117: This is to seyn, in foure and twenty houres --
118: Wher-so yow lyst, in droghte or elles shoures,
119: Beren youre body into every place
120: To which youre herte wilneth for to pace;
121: Withouten wem of yow, thurgh foul or fair;
122: Or, if yow lyst to fleen as hye in the air
123: As dooth an egle whan hym list to soore,
124: This same steede shal bere yow evere moore,
125: Withouten harm, til ye be ther yow leste,
126: Though that ye slepen on his bak or reste,
127: And turne ayeyn with writhyng of a pyn.
128: He that it wroghte koude ful many a gyn.
129: He wayted many a constellacion
130: Er he had doon this operacion,
131: And knew ful many a seel and many a bond.
132: This mirour eek, that I have in myn hond,
133: Hath swich a myght that men may in it see
134: Whan ther shal fallen any adversitee
135: Unto youre regne or to youreself also,
136: And openly who is your freend or foo.
137: And over al this, if any lady bright
138: Hath set hire herte on any maner wight,
139: If he be fals, she shal his tresoun see,
140: His newe love, and al his subtiltee,
141: So openly that ther shal no thyng hyde.
142: Wherfore, ageyn this lusty someres tyde,
143: This morour and this ryng, that ye may see,
144: He hath sent to my lady canacee,
145: Youre excellente doghter that is heere.
146: The vertu of the ryng, if ye wol heere,
147: Is this, that if hire lust it for to were
148: Upon his thombe, or in hir purs it bere,
149: Ther is no fowel that fleeth under the hevene
150: That she ne shal wel understonde his stevene,
151: And knowe his menyng openly and pleyn,
152: And answere hym in his langage ageyn;
153: And every gras that groweth upon roote
154: She shal eek knowe, and whom it wol do boote,
155: Al be his wondes never so depe and wyde.
156: This naked swerd, that hangeth by my syde,
157: Swich verty hath that, what man so ye smyte,
158: Thurgh out his armure it wole kerve an byte,
159: Were it as thikke as is a branched ook;
160: And what man that is wounded with the strook
161: Shal never be hool til that yow list, of grace,
162: To stroke hym with the plat in thilke place
163: Ther he is hurt; this is as muche to seyn,
164: Ye moote with the platte swerd ageyn
165: Stroke hym in the wounde, and it wol close.
166: This is a verray sooth, withouten glose;
167: It failleth nat whils it is in youre hoold.
168: And whan this knyght hath thus his tale toold,
169: He rideth out of halle, and doun he lighte.
170: His steede, which that shoon as sonne brighte,
171: Stant in the court as stille as any stoon.
172: This knyght is to his chambre lad anoon,
173: And is unarmed, and to mete yset.
174: The presentes been ful roially yfet, --
175: This is to seyn, the swerd and the mirour,
176: And born anon into the heighe tour
177: With certeine officers ordeyned therfore;
178: And unto canacee this ryng is bore
179: Solempnely, ther she sit at the table.

Page 130

180: But sikerly, withouten any fable,
181: The hors of bras, that may nat be remewed,
182: It stant as it were to the ground yglewed.
183: Ther may no man out of the place it dryve
184: For noon engyn of wyndas or polyve;
185: And cause why? for they kan nat the craft.
186: And therfore in the place they han it laft,
187: Til that the knyght hath taught hem the manere
188: To voyden hym, as ye shal after heere.
189: Greet was the prees that swarmeth to and fro
190: To gauren on this hors that stondeth so;
191: For it so heigh was, and so brood and long,
192: So wel proporcioned for to been strong,
193: Right as it were a steede of lumbardye;
194: Therwith so horsly, and so quyk of ye,
195: As it a gentil poilleys courser were.
196: For certes, fro his tayl unto his ere,
197: Nature ne art ne koude hym nat amende
198: In no degree, as al the peple wende.
199: But everemoore hir mooste wonder was
200: How that it koude gon, and was of bras;
201: It was of fairye, as the peple semed.
202: Diverse folk diversely they demed;
203: As many heddes, as manye wittes ther been.
204: They murmureden as dooth a swarm of been,
205: And maden skiles after hir fantasies,
206: Rehersynge of thise olde poetries,
207: And seyden it was lyk the pegasee,
208: The hors that hadde wynges for to flee;
209: Or elles it was the grekes hors synon,
210: That broghte troie to destruccion,
211: As man moun in thise olde geestes rede.
212: Myn herte, quod oon, is everemoore in drede;
213: I trowe som men of armes been therinne,
214: That shapen hem this citee for to wynne.
215: It were right good that al swich thyng were knowe.
216: Another rowned to his felawe lowe,
217: And seyde, he lyeth, for it is rather lyk
218: An apparence ymaad by som magyk,
219: As jogelours pleyen at thise feestes grete.
220: Of sondry doutes thus they jangle and trete,
221: As lewed peple demeth comunly
222: Of thynges that been maad moore subtilly
223: Than they kan in hire lewednesse comprehende;
224: They demen gladly to the badder ende.
225: And somme of hem wondred on the mirour,
226: That born was up into the maister-tour,
227: Hou men myghte in it swiche thynges se.
228: Another answerde, and seyde it myghte wel be
229: Naturelly, by composiciouns
230: Of anglis and of slye reflexiouns,
231: And seyde that in rome was swich oon
232: They speken of alocen and vitulon,
233: And aristotle, that writen in hir lyves
234: Of queynte mirours and of perspectives,
235: As knowen they that han hire bookes herd.
236: And oother folk han wondred on the swerd
237: That wolde percen thurghout every thyng,
238: And fille in speche of thelophus the kyng,
239: And of achilles with his queynte swerd
240: For he koude with it bothe heele and dere.
241: Right in swich wise as men may with the swerd
242: Of which right now ye han youreselven herd.
243: They speken of sondry hardyng of metal,
244: And speke of medicynes therwithal,
245: And how and whanne it sholde yharded be,
246: Which is unknowe, algates unto me.
247: Tho speeke they of canacees ryng,
248: And seyden alle that swich an wonder thyng
249: Of craft of rynges herde they nevere noon,
250: Save that he moyses and kyng salomon
251: Hadde a name of konnyng in swich art.
252: Thus seyn the peple, and drawen hem apart.
253: But nathelees somme seiden that it was
254: Wonder to maken of fern-asshen glas,
255: And yet nys glas nat lyk asshen of fern;
256: But, for they han yknowen it so fern,
257: Therfore cesseth hir janglyng and hir wonder.
258: As soore wondren somme on cause of thonder,
259: On ebbe, on flood, on gossomer, and on myst,
260: And alle thyng, til that the cause is wyst.
261: Thus jangle they, and demen, and devyse,
262: Til that the kyng gan fro the bord aryse.
263: Phebus hath laft the angle meridional,
264: And yet ascendynge was the beest roial,
265: The gentil leon, with his aldiran,
266: Whan that this tartre knyg, this cambyuskan,
267: Roos fro his bord, ther as he sat ful hye.
268: Toforn hym gooth the loude mynstralcye,
269: Til he cam to his chambre of parementz,
270: Ther as they sownen diverse instrumentz,
271: That it is lyk an hevene for the heere.
272: Now dauncen lusty venus children deere,
273: For in the fyssh hir lady sat ful hye,
274: And looketh on hem with a freendly ye.
275: This noble kyng is set upon his trone.
276: This strange knyght is fet to hym ful soone,
277: And on the daunce he gooth with canacee.
278: Heere is the revel and the jolitee
279: That is nat able a dul man to devyse.
280: He moste han knowen love and his servyse,
281: And been a feestlych man as fressh as may,
282: That sholde yow devysen swich array.

Page 131

283: Who koude telle yow the forme of daunces
284: So unkouthe, and swiche fresshe contenaunces,
285: Swich subtil lookyng and disymulynges
286: For drede of jalouse meenes aperceyvynges?
287: No man but launcelot, and he is deed.
288: Therfore I passe of al this lustiheed;
289: I sey namoore, but in this jolynesse
290: I lete hem, til men to the soper dresse.
291: The styward bit the spices for the hye,
292: And eek the wyn, in al this melodye.
293: The usshers and the squiers been ygoon,
294: The spices and the wyn is come anoon.
295: They ete and drynke; and whan this hadde and ende,
296: Unto the temple, as reson was, they wende.
297: The service doon, they soupen al by day.
298: What nedeth yow rehercen hire array?
299: Ech man woot wel that at a kynges feeste
300: Hath plentee to the meeste and to the leeste,
301: And deyntees mo than been in my knowyng.
302: At after-soper gooth this noble kyng
303: To seen this hors of bras, with al a route
304: Of lordes and of ladyes hym aboute.
305: Swich wondryng was ther on this hors of bras
306: That syn the grete sege of troie was,
307: Theras men wondreden on an hors also,
308: Ne was ther swich a wondryng as was tho.
309: But fynally the kyng axeth this knyght
310: The vertu of this courser and the myght,
311: And preyde hym to telle his governaunce.
312: This hors anoon bigan to trippe and daunce,
313: Whan that this knyght leyde hand upon his reyne,
314: And seyde, sire, ther is namoore to seyne,
315: But, whan yow list to ryden anywhere,
316: Ye mooten trille a pyn, stant in his ere,
317: Which I shal telle yow bitwix us two.
318: Ye moote nempne hym to what place also,
319: Or to what contree, that yow list to ryde.
320: And whan ye come ther as yow list abyde,
321: Bidde hym descende, and trille another pyn,
322: For therin lith th' effect of al the gyn,
323: And he wol doun descende and doon youre wille,
324: And in that place he wol abyde stille.
325: Though al the world the contrarie hadde yswore,
326: He shal nat thennes been ydrawe ne ybore.
327: Or, if yow liste bidde hym thennes goon,
328: Trille this pyn, and he wol vanysshe anoon
329: Out of the sighte of every maner wight,
330: And come agayn, be it by day or nyght,
331: Whan that yow list to clepen hym ageyn
332: In swich a gyse as I shal to yow seyn
333: Bitwixe yow and me, and that ful soone.
334: Ride whan yow list, ther is namoore to doone.
335: Enformed whan the kyng was of that knyght,
336: And hath conceyved in his wit aright
337: The manere and the forme of al this thyng,
338: Ful glad and blithe, this noble doughty kyng
339: Repeireth to his revel as biforn.
340: The brydel is unto the tour yborn
341: And kept among his jueles leeve and deere,
342: The hors vanysshed, I noot in what manere,
343: Out of hir sighte; ye gete namoore of me.
344: But thus I lete in lust and jolitee
345: This cambyuskan his lordes festeiynge,
346: Til wel ny the day bigan to sprynge.
Explicit prima pars.

"part" 2

Sequitur pars secunda

347: The norice of digestioun, the sleep,
348: Gan on hem wynke and bad hem taken keep
349: That muchel drynke and labour wolde han reste;
350: And with a galpyng mouth hem alle he keste,
351: And seyde that it was tyme to lye adoun,
352: For blood was in his domynacioun.
353: Cherisseth blood, natures freend, quod he.
354: They thanken hym galpynge, by two, by thre,
355: And every wight gan drawe hym to his reste,
356: As sleep hem bad; they tooke it for the beste.
357: Hire dremes shul nat now been toold for me;
358: Ful were hire heddes of fumositee,
359: That causeth dreem of which ther nys no charge.
360: They slepen til that it was pryme large,
361: The mooste part, but it were canacee.
362: She was ful mesurable, as wommen be;
363: For of hir fader hadde she take leve
364: To goon to reste soone after it was eve.
365: Hir liste nat appalled for to be,
366: Ne on the morwe unfeestlich for to se,
367: And slepte hire firste sleep, and thanne awook.
368: For swich a joye she in hir herte took
369: Bothe of hir queynte ryng and hire mirour,
370: That twenty tyme she changed hir colour;
371: And in hire sleep, right for impressioun
372: Of hire mirour, she hadde a visioun.
373: Wherfore, er that the sonne gan up glyde,
374: She cleped on hir maistresse hire bisyde,
375: And seyde that hire liste for to ryse.
376: Thise olde wommen that been gladly wyse,
377: As is hire maistresse, answerde hire anon,
378: And seyde, madame, whider wil ye goon

Page 132

379: Thus erly, for the folk been alle on reste?
380: I wol, quod she, arise, for me leste
381: Ne lenger for to slepe, and walke aboute.
382: Hire maistresse clepeth wommen a greet route,
383: And up they rysen, wel a ten or twelve;
384: Up riseth fresshe canacee hireselve,
385: As rody and bright as dooth the yonge sonne,
386: That in the ram is foure degrees up ronne --
387: Noon hyer was he whan she redy was --
388: And forth she walketh esily a pas,
389: Arrayed after the lusty seson soote
390: Lightly, for to pleye and walke on foote,
391: Nat but with fyve or sixe of hir meynee;
392: And in a trench forth in the park gooth she.
393: The vapour which that fro the erthe glood
394: Made the sonne to seme rody and brood;
395: But nathelees it was so fair a sighte
396: That it made alle hire hertes for to lighte,
397: What for the seson and the morwenynge,
398: And for the foweles that she herde synge.
399: For right anon she wiste what they mente,
400: Right by hir song, and knew al hire entente.
401: The knotte why that every tale is toold,
402: If it be taried til that lust be coold
403: Of hem that han it after herkned yoore,
404: The savour passeth ever lenger the moore,
405: For fulsomnesse of his prolixitee;
406: And by the same resoun, thynketh me,
407: I sholde to the knotte condescende,
408: And maken of hir walkyng soone an ende.
409: Amydde a tree, for drye as whit as chalk,
410: As canacee was pleyyng in hir walk,
411: Ther sat a faucon over hire heed ful hye,
412: That with a pitous voys so gan to crye
413: That all the wode resouned of hire cry.
414: Ybeten hadde she hirself so pitously
415: With bothe hir wynges, til the rede blood
416: Ran endelong the tree ther-as she stood.
417: And evere in oon she cryde alwey and shrighte,
418: And with hir beek herselven so she prighte,
419: That ther nys tygre, ne noon so crueel beest,
420: That dwelleth outher in wode or in forest,
421: That nolde han wept, if that he wepe koude,
422: For sorwe of hire, she shrighte alwey so loude.
423: For ther nas nevere yet no man on lyve,
424: If that I koude a faucon wel discryve,
425: That herde of swich another of fairnesse,
426: As wel of plumage as of gentillesse
427: Of shap, of al that myghte yrekened be.
428: A faucon peregryn thanne semed she
429: Of fremde land; and everemoore, as she stood,
430: She swowneth now and now for lak of blood,
431: Til wel neigh is she fallen fro the tree.
432: This faire kynges doghter, canacee,
433: That on hir fynger baar the queynte ryng,
434: Thurgh which she understood wel every thyng
435: That any fowel may in his leden seyn,
436: And koude answeren hym in his ledene ageyn,
437: Hath understonde what this faucon seyde,
438: And wel neigh for the routhe almoost she deyde.
439: And to the tree she gooth ful hastily,
440: And on this faukon looketh pitously,
441: And heeld hir lappe abrood, for wel she wiste
442: The faukon moste fallen fro the twiste,
443: Whan that it swowned next, for lak of blood.
444: A longe whil to wayten hire she stood,
445: Til atte laste she spak in this manere
446: Unto the hauk, as ye shal after heere:
447: What is the cause, if it be for to telle,
448: That ye be in this furial pyne of helle?
449: Quod canacee unto this hauk above.
450: Is this for sorwe of deeth or los of love?
451: For, as I trowe, thise been causes two
452: That causen moost a gentil herte wo;
453: Of oother harm it nedeth nat to speke.
454: For ye youreself upon yourself yow wreke,
455: Which proveth wel that outher ire or drede
456: Moot been enchesoun of youre cruel dede,
457: Syn that I see noon oother wight yow chace.
458: For love of god, as dooth youreselven grace,
459: Or what may been youre help? for west nor est
460: Ne saugh I nevere er now no bryd ne beest
461: That ferde with hymself so pitously.
462: Ye sle me with youre sorwe verraily,
463: I have of yow so greet compassioun.
464: For goddes love, com fro the tree adoun;
465: And as I am a kynges doghter trewe,
466: If that I verraily the cause knewe
467: Of youre disese, if it lay in my myght,
468: I wole amenden it er that it were nyght,
469: As wisly helpe me grete God of kynde!
470: And herbes shal I right ynowe yfynde
471: To heel with youre hurtes hastily.
472: Tho shrighte this faucon yet moore pitously
473: Than ever she dide, and fil to grounde anon,
474: And lith aswowne, deed and lyk a stoon,
475: Til canacee hath in hire lappe hire take
476: Unto the tyme she gan of swough awake.
477: And after that she of hir swough gan breyde,
478: Right in hir haukes ledene thus she seyde:
479: That pitee renneth soone in gentil herte,
480: Feelynge his similitude in peynes smerte,
481: Is preved alday, as men may it see,
482: As wel by werk as by auctoritee;
483: For gentil herte kitheth gentillesse.
484: I se wel that ye han of my distresse

Page 133

485: Compassion, my faire canacee,
486: Of verray wommanly benignytee
487: That nature in youre principles hath set.
488: But for noon hope for to fare the bet,
489: But for to obeye unto youre herte free,
490: And for to maken othere be war by me,
491: As by the whelp chasted is the leon,
492: Right for that cause and that conclusion,
493: Whil that I have a leyser and a space,
494: Myn harm I wol confessen er I pace.
495: And evere, whil that oon hir sorwe tolde,
496: That oother weep as she to water wolde,
497: Til that the faucon bad hire to be stille,
498: And, with a syk, right thus she seyde hir wille:
499: Ther I was bred -- allas, that ilke day! --
500: And fostred in a roche of marbul gray
501: So tendrely that no thyng eyled me,
502: I nyste nat what was adversitee,
503: Til I koude flee ful hye under the sky.
504: Tho dwelte a tercelet me faste by,
505: That semed welle of alle gentillesse;
506: Al were he ful of treson and falsnesse,
507: It was so wrapped under humble cheere,
508: And under hewe of trouthe in swich manere,
509: Under plesance, and under bisy peyne,
510: That no wight koude han wend he koude feyne,
511: So depe in greyn he dyed his coloures.
512: Right as a serpent hit hym under floures
513: Til he may seen his tyme for to byte,
514: Right so this God of loves ypocryte
515: Dooth so his cerymonyes and obeisaunces,
516: And kepeth in semblaunt alle his observaunces
517: That sownen into gentillesse of love.
518: As in a toumbe is al the faire above,
519: And under is the corps, swich as ye woot,
520: Swich was this ypocrite, bothe coold and hoot.
521: And in this wise he served his entente,
522: That, save the feend, noon wiste what he mente,
523: Til he so longe hadde wopen and compleyned,
524: And many a yeer his service to me feyned,
525: Til that myn herte, to pitous and to nyce,
526: Al innocent of his crouned malice,
527: Forfered of his deeth, as thoughte me,
528: Upon his othes and his seuretee,
529: Graunted hym love, on this condicioun,
530: That everemoore myn honour and renoun
531: Were saved, bothe privee and apert;
532: This is to seyn, that after his desert,
533: I yaf hym al myn herte and al my thoght --
534: God woot and he, that ootherwise noght --
535: And took his herte in chaunge of myn for ay.
536: But sooth is seyd, goon sithen many a day,
537: -- A trewe wight and a theef thenken nat oon. --
538: And whan he saugh the thyng so fer ygoon
539: That I hadde graunted hym fully my love,
540: In swich a gyse as I have seyd above,
541: And yeven hym my trewe herte as free
542: As he swoor he yaf his herte to me;
543: Anon this tigre, ful of doublenesse,
544: Fil on his knees with so devout humblesse,
545: With so heigh reverence, and, as by his cheere,
546: So lyk a gentil lovere of manere,
547: So ravysshed, as it semed, for the joye,
548: That nevere jason ne parys of troye --
549: Jason? certes, ne noon oother man
550: Syn lameth was, that alderfirst bigan
551: To loven two, as writen folk biforn --
552: Ne nevere, syn the firste man was born,
553: Ne koude man, by twenty thousand part,
554: Countrefete the sophymes of his art,
555: Ne were worthy unbokelen his galoche,
556: Ther doublenesse or feynyng sholde approche,
557: Ne so koude thonke a wight as he dide me!
558: His manere was an hevene for to see
559: Til any womman, were she never so wys,
560: So peynted he and kembde at point-devys
561: As wel his wordes as his contenaunce.
562: And I so loved hym for his obeisaunce,
563: And for the trouthe I demed in his herte,
564: That if so were that any thyng hym smerte,
565: Al were it never so lite, and I it wiste,
566: Me thoughte I felte deeth myn herte twiste.
567: And shortly, so ferforth this thyng is went,
568: That my wyl was his willes instrument;
569: This is to seyn, my wyl obeyed his wyl
570: In alle thyng, as fer as reson fil,
571: Kepynge the boundes of my worshipe evere.
572: Ne nevere hadde I thyng so lief, ne levere,
573: As hym, God woot! ne nevere shal namo.
574: This laste lenger than a yeer or two,
575: That I supposed of hym noght but good.
576: But finally, thus atte laste it stood,
577: That fortune wolde that he moste twynne
578: Out of that place which that I was inne.
579: Wher me was wo, that is no questioun;
580: I kan nat make of it discripsioun;
581: For o thyng dar I tellen boldely,
582: I knowe what is the peyne of deeth therby;
583: Swich harm I felte for he ne myghte bileve.
584: So on a day of me he took his leve,
585: So sorwefully eek that I wende verraily
586: That he had felt as muche harm as I,
587: Whan that I herde hym speke, and saugh his hewe.
588: But nathelees, I thoughte he was so trewe,
589: And eek that he repaire sholde ageyn
590: Withinne a litel while, sooth to seyn;

Page 134

591: And resoun wolde eek that he moste go
592: For his honour, as ofte it happeth so,
593: That I made vertu of necessitee,
594: And took it wel, syn that it moste be.
595: As I best myghte, I hidde fro hym my sorwe,
596: And took hym by the hond, seint john to borwe,
597: And seyde hym thus: lo, I am youres al;
598: Beth swich as I to yow have been and shal. --
599: What he answerde, it nedeth noght reherce;
600: Who kan sey bet than he, who kan do werse?
601: Whan he hath al wel seyd, thanne hath he doon.
602: -- Therfore bihoveth hire a ful long spoon
603: That shal ete with a feend, -- thus herde I seye.
604: So atte laste he moste forth his weye,
605: And forth he fleeth til he cam ther hym leste.
606: Whan it cam hym to purpos for to reste,
607: I trowe he hadde thilke text in mynde,
608: That -- alle thyng, repeirynge to his kynde,
609: Gladeth hymself; -- thus seyn men, as I gesse.
610: Men loven of propre kynde newefangelnesse,
611: As briddes doon that men in cages fede.
612: For though thou nyght and day take of hem hede,
613: And strawe hir cage faire and softe as silk,
614: And yeve hem sugre, hony, breed and milk,
615: Yet right anon as that his dore is uppe,
616: He with his feet wol spurne adoun his cuppe,
617: And to the wode he wole, and wormes ete;
618: So newefangel been they of hire mete,
619: And loven novelries of propre kynde;
620: No gentillesse of blood ne may hem bynde.
621: So ferde this tercelet, allas the day!
622: Though he were gentil born, and fressh and gay,
623: And goodlich for to seen, and humble and free,
624: He saugh upon a tyme a kyte flee,
625: And sodeynly he loved this kyte so
626: That al his love is clene fro me ago;
627: And hath his trouthe falsed in this wyse.
628: Thus hath the kyte my love in hire servyse,
629: And I am lorn withouten remedie!
630: And with that word this faucon gan to crie,
631: And swowned eft in canacees barm.
632: Greet was the sorwe for the haukes harm
633: That canacee and alle hir wommen made;
634: They nyste hou they myghte the faucon glade.
635: But canacee hom bereth hire in hir lappe,
636: And softely in plastres gan hire wrappe,
637: Ther as she with hire beek hadde hurt hirselve.
638: Now kan nat canacee but herbes delve
639: Out of the ground, and make salves newe
640: Of herbes preciouse and fyne of hewe,
641: To heelen with this hauk. Fro day to nyght
642: She dooth hire bisynesse and al hire myght,
643: And by hire beddes heed she made a mewe,
644: And covered it with veluettes blewe,
645: In signe of trouthe that is in wommen sene.
646: And al withoute, the mewe is peynted grene,
647: In which were peynted alle this false fowles,
648: As ben thise tidyves, tercelettes, and owles;
649: Right for despit were peynted hem bisyde,
650: Pyes, on hem for to crie and chyde.
651: Thus lete I canacee hir hauk kepyng;
652: I wol namoore as now speke of hir ryng,
653: Til it come eft to purpos for to seyn
654: How that this faucon gat hire love ageyn
655: Repentant, as the storie telleth us,
656: By mediacion of cambalus,
657: The kynges sone, of which that I yow tolde.
658: But hennesforth I wol my proces holde
659: To speken of aventures and of batailles,
660: That nevere yet was herd so grete mervailles.
661: First wol I telle yow of cambyuskan,
662: That in his tyme many a citee wan;
663: And after wol I speke of algarsif,
664: How that he wan theodora to his wif,
665: For whom ful ofte in greet peril he was,
666: Ne hadde he ben helpen by the steede of bras;
667: And after wol I speke of cambalo,
668: That faught in lystes with the bretheren two
669: For canacee er that he myghte hire wynne.
670: And ther I lefte I wol ayeyn bigynne.
Explicit secunda pars.

"part" 3

Incipit pars tercia.

671: Appollo whirleth up his chaar so hye,
672: Til that the God mercurius hous, the slye --

The Franklin's words to the Squire

673: In feith, squier, thow hast thee wel yquit
674: And gentilly. I preise wel thy wit,
675: Quod the frankeleyn, considerynge thy yowthe,
676: So feelyngly thou spekest, sire, I allow the!
677: As to my doom, ther is noon that is heere
678: Of eloquence that shal be thy peere,
679: If that thou lyve; God yeve thee good chaunce,
680: And in vertu sende thee continuance!
681: For of thy speche I have greet deyntee.

Page 135

682: I have a sone, and by the trinitee,
683: I hadde levere than twenty pounnd worth lond,
684: Though it right now were fallen in myn hond,
685: He were a man of swich discrecioun
686: As that ye been! fy on possessioun,
687: But if a man be vertuous withal!
688: I have my sone snybbed, and yet shal,
689: For he to vertu listeth nat entende;
690: But for to pleye at dees, and to despende
691: And lese al that he hath, is his usage.
692: And he hath levere talken with a page
693: Than to comune with any gentil wight
694: Where he myghte lerne gentillesse aright.
695: Straw for youre gentillesse! quod oure hoost.
696: What, frankeleyn! pardee, sire, wel thou woost
697: That ech of yow moot tellen atte leste
698: A tale or two, or breken his biheste.
699: That knowe I wel, sire, quod the frankeleyn.
700: I prey yow, haveth me nat in desdeyn,
701: Though to this man I speke a word or two.
702: Telle on thy tale withouten wordes mo.
703: Gladly, sire hoost, quod he, I wole obeye
704: Unto your wyl; now herkneth what I seye.
705: I wol yow nat contrarien in no wyse
706: As fer as that my wittes wol suffyse.
707: I prey to God that it may plesen yow;
708: Thanne woot I wel that it is good ynow.

The Franklin's Prologue

709: Thise olde gentil britouns in hir dayes
710: Of diverse aventures maden layes,
711: Rymeyed in hir firste briton tonge;
712: Whiche leyes with hir instrumentz songe,
713: Or elles redden hem for hir plesaunce,
714: And oon of hem have I in remembraunce,
715: Which I shal seyn with good wyl as I kan.
716: But, sires, by cause I am a burel man,
717: At my bigynnyng first I yow biseche,
718: Have me excused of my rude speche.
719: I lerned nevere rethorik, certeyn;
720: Thyng that I speke, it moot be bare and pleyn.
721: I sleep nevere on the mount of pernaso,
722: Ne lerned marcus tullius scithero.
723: Colours ne knowe I none, withouten drede,
724: But swiche colours as growen in the mede,
725: Or elles swiche as men dye or peynte.
726: Colours of rethoryk been to me queynte;
727: My spririt feeleth noght of swich mateere.
728: But if yow list, my tale shul ye heere.

The Franklin's Tale

729: In armorik, that called is britayne,
730: Ther was a knyght that loved and dide his payne
731: To serve a lady in his beste wise;
732: And many a labour, many a greet emprise
733: He for his lady wroghte, er she were wonne.
734: For she was oon the faireste under sonne,
735: And eek therto comen of so heigh kynrede
736: That wel unnethes dorste this knyght, drede,
737: Telle hire his wo, his peyne, and his distresse.
738: But atte laste she, for his worthynesse,
739: And namely for his meke obeysaunce,
740: Hath swich a pitee caught of his penaunce
741: That pryvely she fil of his accord
742: To take hym for hir housbonde and hir lord,
743: Of swich lordshipe as men han over hir wyves.
744: And for to lede the moore in blisse hir lyves,
745: Of his free wyl he swoor hire as a knyght
746: That nevere in al his lyf he, day ne nyght,

Page 136

747: Ne sholde upon hym take no maistrie
748: Agayn hir wyl, ne kithe hire jalousie,
749: But hire obeye, and folwe hir wyl in al,
750: As any lovere to his lady shal,
751: Save that the name of soveraynetee,
752: That wolde he have for shame of his degree.
753: She thanked hym, and with ful greet humblesse
754: She seyde, sire, sith of youre gentillesse
755: Ye profre me to have so large a reyne,
756: Ne wolde nevere God bitwixe us tweyne,
757: As in my gilt, were outher werre or stryf.
758: Sire, I wol be youre humble trewe wyf;
759: Have heer my trouthe, til that myn herte breste.
760: Thus been they bothe in quiete and in reste.
761: For o thyng, sires, saufly dar I seye,
762: That freendes everych oother moot obeye,
763: If they wol longe holden compaignye.
764: Love wol nat been constreyned by maistrye.
765: Whan maistrie comth, the God of love anon
766: Beteth his wynges, and farewel, he is gon!
767: Love is a thyng as any spirit free.
768: Wommen, of kynde, desiren libertee,
769: And nat to been constreyned as a thral;
770: And so doon men, if I sooth seyen shal.
771: Looke who that is moost pacient in love,
772: He is at his advantage al above.
773: Pacience is an heigh vertu, certeyn,
774: For it venquysseth, as thise clerkes seyn,
775: Thynges that rigour sholde nevere atteyne.
776: For every word men may nat chide or pleyne.
777: Lerneth to suffre, or elles, so moot I goon,
778: Ye shul it lerne, wher so ye wole or noon;
779: For in this world, certein, ther no wight is
780: That he ne dooth or seith somtyme amys.
781: Ire, siknesse, or constellacioun,
782: Wyn, wo, or chaungynge of complexioun
783: Causeth ful ofte to doon amys or speken.
784: On every wrong a man may nat be wreken.
785: After the tyme moste be temperaunce
786: To every wight that kan on governaunce.
787: And therfore hath this wise, worthy knyght,
788: To lyve in ese, suffrance hire bihight,
789: And she to hym ful wisly gan to swere
790: That nevere sholde ther be defaunte in here.
791: Heere may men seen an humble, wys accord;
792: Thus hath she take hir servant and hir lord, --
793: Servant in love, and lord in mariage.
794: Thanne was he bothe in lordshipe and servage.
795: Servage? nay, but in lordshipe above,
796: Sith he hath bothe his lady and his love;
797: His lady, certes, and his wyf also,
798: The which that lawe of love acordeth to.
799: And whan he was in this prosperitee,
800: Hoom with his wyf he gooth to his contree,
801: Nat fer fro pedmark, ther his dwellyng was,
802: Where as he lyveth in blisse and in solas.
803: Who koude telle, but he hadde wedded be,
804: The joye, the ese, and the prosperitee
805: That is bitwixe and housbonde and his wyf?
806: A yeer and moore lasted this blisful lyf,
807: Til that the knyght of which I speke thus,
808: That of kayrrud was cleped arveragus,
809: Shoop hym to goon and dwelle a yeer or tweyne
810: In engelond, that cleped was eek briteyne,
811: To seke in armes worshipe and honour;
812: For al his lust he sette in swich labour;
813: And dwelled there two yeer, the book seith thus.
814: now wol I stynten of this arveragus,
815: And speken I wole of dorigen his wyf,
816: That loveth hire housbonde as hire hertes lyf,
817: For his absence wepeth she and siketh,
818: As doon thise noble wyves whan hem liketh.
819: She moorneth, waketh, wayleth, fasteth, pleyneth;
820: Desir of his presence hire so destreyneth
821: That al this wyde world she sette at noght.
822: Hire freendes, whiche that knewe hir hevy thoght,
823: Conforten hire in al that ever they may.
824: They prechen hire, they telle hire nyght and day
825: That causelees she sleeth hirself, allas!
826: And every confort possible in this cas
827: They doon to hire with al hire bisynesse,
828: Al for to make hire leve hire hevynesse.
829: by process, as ye knowen everichoon,
830: Men may so longe graven in a stoon
831: Til som figure therinne emprented be.
832: So longe han they conforted hire, til she
833: Receyved hath, by hope and by resoun,
834: The empreyntyng of hire consolacioun,
835: Thurgh which hir grete sorwe gan aswage;
836: She may nat alwey duren in swich rage
837: and eek arveragus, in al this care,
838: Hath sent hire lettres hoom of his welfare,
839: And that he wol come hastily agayn;
840: Or elles hadde this sorwe hir herte slayn.
841: hire freendes sawe hir sorwe gan to slake,
842: And preyde hire on knees, for goddes sake,
843: To come and romen hire in compaignye,
844: Awey to dryve hire derke fantasye.
845: And finally she graunted that requeste,
846: For wel she saugh that it was for the beste.
847: now stood hire castel faste by the see,
848: And often with hire freendes walketh shee,

Page 137

849: Hire to disporte, upon the bank an heigh,
850: Where as she many a ship and barge seigh
851: Seillynge hir cours, where as hem liste go.
852: But thanne was that a parcel of hire wo,
853: For to hirself ful ofte, allas! seith she,
854: Is ther no ship, of so manye as I se,
855: Wol bryngeth hom my lord? thanne were myn herte
856: Al warisshed of his bittre peynes smerte.
857: another tyme them wolde she sitte and thynke,
858: And caste hir eyen dounward fro the brynke.
859: But whan she saugh the grisly rokkes blake,
860: For verray feere so wolde hir herte quake
861: That on hire feet she myghte hire noght sustene.
862: Thanne wolde she sitte adoun upon the grene,
863: And pitously into the see biholde,
864: And seyn right thus, with sorweful sikes colde --
865: eterne god, that thurgh thy purveiaunce
866: Ledest the world by certein governaunce,
867: In ydel, as men seyn, ye no thyng make,
868: But, lord, thise grisly feendly rokkes blake,
869: That semen rather a foul confusion
870: Of werk than any fair creacion
871: Of swich a parfit wys God and a stable
872: Why han ye wroght this werk unresonable?
873: For by this werk, south, north, ne west, ne eest,
874: Ther nys yfostred man, ne bryd, ne beest;
875: It dooth no good, to my wit, but anoyeth.
876: So ye nat, lord, how mankynde it destroyeth?
877: An hundred thousand bodyes of mankynde
878: Han rokkes slayn, al be they nat in mynde,
879: Which mankynde is so fair part of thy werk
880: That thou it madest lyk to thyn owene merk.
881: Thanne semed it ye hadde a greet chiertee
882: Toward mankynde; but how thanne may it bee
883: That ye swiche meenes make it to destroyen,
884: Whiche meenes do no good, but evere anoyen?
885: I woot wel clerkes wol seyn as hem leste,
886: By argumentz, that al is for the beste,
887: Though I ne kan the causes nat yknowe.
888: But thilke God that made wynd to blowe
889: As kepe my lord! this my conclusion.
890: To clerkes lete I al disputison.
891: But wolde God that alle thise rokkes blake
892: Were sonken into helle for his sake!
893: Thise rokkes sleen myn herte for the feere.
894: Thus wolde she seyn, with many a pitous teere.
895: hire freendes sawe that it was no disport
896: To romen by the see, but disconfort,
897: And shopen for to pleyen somwher elles.
898: They leden hire by ryveres and by welles,
899: And eek in othere places delitables;
900: They dauncen, and they pleyen at ches and tables.
901: so on a day, right in the morwe-tyde,
902: Unto a gardyn that was ther bisyde,
903: In which that they hadde maad hir ordinaunce
904: Of vitaille and of oother purveiaunce,
905: They goon and pleye hem al the longe day.
906: And this was on the sixte morwe of may,
907: Which may hadde peynted with his softe shoures
908: This gardyn ful of leves and of floures;
909: And craft of mannes hand so curiously
910: Arrayed hadde this gardyn, trewely,
911: That nevere was ther gardyn of swich prys,
912: But if it were the verray paradys.
913: The odour of floures and the fresshe sighte
914: Wolde han maked any herte lighte
915: That evere was born, but if to greet siknesse,
916: Or to greet sorwe, helde it in distresse;
917: So ful it was of beautee with plesaunce.
918: At after-dyner gonne they to daunce,
919: And synge also, save dorigen allone,
920: Which made alwey hir compleint and hir moone,
921: For she ne saugh hym on the daunce go
922: That was hir housbonde and hir love also.
923: But nathelees she moste a tyme abyde,
924: And with good hope lete hir sorwe slyde.
925: upon this daunce, amonges othere men,
926: Daunced a squier biforn dorigen,
927: That fressher was and jolyer of array,
928: As to my doom, than is the month of may.
929: He syngeth, daunceth, passynge any man
930: That is, or was, sith that the world bigan.
931: Therwith he was, if men sholde hym discryve,
932: Oon of the beste farynge man on lyve;
933: Yong, strong, right vertuous, and riche, and wys,
934: And wel biloved, and holden in greet prys.
935: And shortly, if the sothe I tellen shal,
936: Unwityng of this dorigen at al,
937: This lusty squier, servant to venus,
938: Which that ycleped was aurelius,
939: Hadde loved hire best of any creature
940: Two yeer and moore, as was his aventure,
941: But nevere dorste he tellen hire his grevaunce.
942: Withouten coppe he drank al his penaunce.
943: He was despeyred; no thyng dorste he seye,
944: Save in his songes somwhat wolde he wreye
945: His wo, as in a general compleynyng;
946: He seyde he lovede, and was biloved no thyng.
947: Of swich matere made he manye layes,
948: Songes, compleintes, roundels, virelayes,
949: How that he dorste nat his sorwe telle,

Page 138

950: But langwissheth as a furye dooth in helle;
951: And dye he moste, he seyde, as dide ekko
952: For narcisus, that dorste nat telle hir wo.
953: In oother manere than ye heere me seye,
954: Ne dorste he nat to hire his wo biwreye,
955: Save that, paraventure, somtyme at daunces,
956: Ther yonge folk kepen hir observaunces,
957: It may wel be he looked on hir face
958: In swich a wise as man that asketh grace;
959: But nothyng wiste she of his entente.
960: Nathelees it happed, er they thennes wente,
961: By cause that he was hire neighebour,
962: And was a man of worshipe and honour,
963: And hadde yknowen hym of tyme yoore,
964: They fille in speche; and forth, moore and moore,
965: Unto his purpos drough aurelius,
966: and whan he saugh his tyme, he seyde thus --
967: madame, quod he, by God that this world made,
968: So that I wiste it myghte youre herte glade,
969: I wolde that day that youre arveragus
970: Wente over the see, that I, aurelius,
971: Hadde went ther nevere I sholde have come agayn.
972: For wel I woot my servyce is in vayn;
973: My gerdon is but brestyng of myn herte.
974: Madame, reweth upon my peynes smerte;
975: For with a word ye may me sleen or save.
976: Heere at youre feet God wolde that I were grave!
977: I ne have as now no leyser moore to seye;
978: Have mercy, sweete, or ye wol do me deye!
979: she gan to looke upon aurelius --
980: Is this youre wyl, quod she, and sey ye thus?
981: Nevere erst, quod she, ne wiste I what ye mente.
982: But now, aurelie, I knowe your entente,
983: By thilke God that yaf me soule and lyf,
984: Ne shal I nevere been untrewe wyf
985: In word ne werk, as fer as I have wit;
986: I wol been his to whom that I am knyt.
987: Taak this for fynal answere as of me.
988: But after that in pley thus seyde she --
989: aurelie, quod she, by heighe God above,
990: Yet wolde I graunte yow to been youre love,
991: Syn I yow se so pitously complayne.
992: Looke what day that endelong britayne
993: Ye remoeve alle the rokkes, stoon by stoon,
994: That they ne lette ship ne boot to goon, --
995: I seye, whan ye han maad the coost so clene
996: Of rokkes that ther nys no stoon ysene,
997: Thanne wol I love yow best of any man,
998: Have heer my trouthe, in al that evere I kan.
999: Is ther noon oother grace in yow? quod he.
1000: no, by that lord, quod she, that maked me!
1001: For wel I woot that it shal never bityde.
1002: Lat swiche folies out of youre herte slyde.
1003: What deyntee sholde a man han in his lyf
1004: For to go love another mannes wyf,
1005: That hath hir body whan so that hym liketh?
1006: aurelius ful ofte soore siketh;
1007: Wo was aurelie whan that he this herde,
1008: And with a sorweful herte he thus answerde;
1009: madame, quod he, this were inpossible!
1010: Thanne moot I dye of sodeyn deth horrible.
1011: And with that word he turned hym anon.
1012: Tho coome hir othere freendes many oon,
1013: And in the aleyes romeden up and doun,
1014: And nothyng wiste of this conclusioun,
1015: But sodeynly bigonne revel newe
1016: Til that the brighte sonne loste his hewe;
1017: For th'orisonte hath reft the sonne his lyght, --
1018: This is as muche to seye as it was nyght! --
1019: And hoom they goon in joye and in solas,
1020: Save oonly wrecche aurelius, allas!
1021: He to his hous is goon with sorweful herte.
1022: He seeth he may nat fro his deeth asterte;
1023: Hym semed that he felte his herte colde.
1024: Up to the hevene his handes he gan holde,
1025: And on his knowes bare he sette hym doun,
1026: And in his ravyng seyde his orisoun.
1027: For verray wo out of his wit he breyde.
1028: He nyste what he spak, but thus he seyde;
1029: With pitous herte his pleynt hath bigonne
1030: Unto the goddes, and first unto the sonne;
1031: he seyde, appollo, God and governour
1032: Of every plaunte, herbe, tree, and flour,
1033: That yevest, after thy declinacion,
1034: To ech of hem his tyme and his seson,
1035: As thyn herberwe chaungeth lowe or heighe,
1036: Lord phebus, cast thy merciable eighe
1037: On wrecche aurelie, which that am but lorn.
1038: Lo, lord! my lady hath my deeth ysworn
1039: Withoute gilt, but thy benignytee
1040: Upon my dedly herte have som pitee.
1041: For wel I woot, lord phebus, if yow lest,
1042: Ye may me helpen, save my lady, best.
1043: Now voucheth sauf that I may yow devyse
1044: How that I may been holpen and in what wyse.
1045: youre blisful suster, lucina the sheene,
1046: That of the see is chief goddesse and queene
1047: (though neptunus have deitee in the see,,
1048: Yet emperisse aboven hym is she),
1049: Ye knowen wel, lord, that right as hir desir
1050: Is to be quyked and lighted of youre fir,

Page 139

1051: For which she folweth yow ful bisily,
1052: Right so the see desireth naturelly
1053: To folwen hire, as she that is goddesse
1054: Bothe in the see and ryveres moore and lesse.
1055: Wherfore, lord phebus, this is my requeste --
1056: Do this miracle, or do myn herte breste --
1057: That now next at this opposicion
1058: Which in the signe shal be of the leon,
1059: As preieth hire so greet a flood to brynge
1060: That fyve fadme at the leeste it oversprynge
1061: The hyeste rokke in armorik briteyne;
1062: And lat this flood endure yeres tweyne.
1063: Thanne certes to my lady may I seye,
1064: 'holdeth youre heste, the rokkes been aweye.'
1065: lord phebus, dooth this miracle for me.
1066: Preye hire she go no faster cours than ye;
1067: I seye, preyeth your suster that she go
1068: No faster cours than ye thise yeres two.
1069: Thanne shal she been evene atte fulle alwey,
1070: And spryng flood laste bothe nyght and day.
1071: And but she vouche sauf in swich manere
1072: To graunte me my sovereyn lady deere,
1073: Prey hire to synken every rok adoun
1074: Into hir owene dirke regioun
1075: Under the ground, ther pluto dwelleth inne,
1076: Or nevere mo shal I my lady wynne.
1077: Thy temple in delphos wol I barefoot seke.
1078: Lord phebus, se the teris on my cheke,
1079: And of my peyne have som compassioun.
1080: And with that word in swowne he fil adoun,
1081: And longe tyme he lay forth in a traunce.
1082: his brother, which that knew of his penaunce,
1083: Up caughte hym, and to bedde he hath hym broght.
1084: Dispeyred in this torment and this thoght
1085: Lete I this woful creature lye;
1086: Chese he, for me, wheither he wol lyve or dye.
1087: arveragus, with heele and greet honour,
1088: As he that was of chivalrie the flour,
1089: Is comen hoom, and othere worthy men.
1090: O blisful artow now, thou dorigen,
1091: That hast thy lusty housbonde in thyne armes,
1092: The fresshe knyght, the worthy man of armes,
1093: That loveth thee as his owene hertes lyf.
1094: No thyng list hym to been ymaginatyf,
1095: If any wight hadde spoke, whil he was oute,
1096: To hire of love; he hadde of it no doute.
1097: He noght entendeth to no swich mateere,
1098: But daunceth, justeth, maketh hire good cheere;
1099: And thus in joye and blisse I lete hem dwelle,
1100: And of the sike aurelius wol I telle.
1101: in langour and in torment furyus
1102: Two yeer and moore lay wrecche aurelyus,
1103: Er any foot he myghte on erthe gon;
1104: Ne confort in this tyme hadde he noon,
1105: Save of his brother, which that was a clerk.
1106: He knew of al this wo and al this werk;
1107: For to noon oother creature, certeyn,
1108: Of this matere he dorste no word seyn.
1109: Under his brest he baar it moore secree
1110: Than evere dide pamphilus for galathee.
1111: His brest was hool, withoute for to sene,
1112: But in his herte ay was the arwe kene.
1113: And wel ye knowe that of a sursanure
1114: In surgerye is perilus the cure,
1115: But men myghte touche the arwe, or come therby.
1116: His brother weep and wayled pryvely,
1117: Til atte laste hym fil in remembraunce,
1118: That whiles he was at orliens in fraunce,
1119: As yonge clerkes, that been lykerous
1120: To redern artes that been curious,
1121: Seken in every halke and every herne
1122: Particuler sciences for to lerne --
1123: He hym remembred that, upon a day,
1124: At orliens in studie a book he say
1125: Of magyk natureel, which his felawe,
1126: That was that tyme a bacheler of lawe,
1127: Al were he ther to lerne another craft,
1128: Hadde prively upon his desk ylaft;
1129: Which book spak muchel of the operaciouns
1130: Touchynge the eighte and twenty mansiouns
1131: That longen to the moone, and swich folye
1132: As in oure dayes is nat worth a flye, --
1133: For hooly chirches feith in our bileve
1134: Ne suffreth noon illusioun us to greve.
1135: And whan this book was in his remembraunce,
1136: Anon for joye his herte gan to daunce,
1137: And to hymself he seyde pryvely;
1138: My brother shal be warisshed hastily;
1139: For I am siker that ther be sciences
1140: By whiche men make diverse apparences,
1141: Swiche as thise subtile tregetoures pleye.
1142: For ofte at feestes have I wel herd seye
1143: That tregetours, withinne an halle large,
1144: Have maad come in a water and a barge,
1145: And in the halle rowen up and doun.
1146: Somtyme hath semed come a grym leoun;
1147: And sometyme floures sprynge as in a mede;
1148: Somtyme a vyne, and grapes white and rede;
1149: Somtyme a castel, al of lym and stoon;
1150: And whan hem lyked, voyded it anon.
1151: Thus semed it to every mannes sighte.
1152: Now thanne conclude I thus, that if I myghte
1153: At orliens som oold felawe yfynde
1154: That hadde thise moones mansions in mynde,

Page 140

1155: Or oother magyk natureel above,
1156: He sholde wel make my brother han his love.
1157: For with an apparence a clerk may make,
1158: To mannes sighte, that alle the rokkes blake
1159: Of britaigne weren yvoyded everichon,
1160: And shippes by the brynke comen and gon,
1161: And in swich forme enduren a wowke or two.
1162: Thanne were my brother warisshed of his wo;
1163: Thanne moste she nedes holden hire biheste,
1164: Or elles he shal shame hire atte leeste.
1165: what sholde I make a lenger tale of this?
1166: Unto his brotheres bed he comen is,
1167: And swich confort he yaf hym for to gon
1168: To orliens that he up stirte anon,
1169: And on his wey forthward thanne is he fare
1170: In hope for to been lissed of his care.
1171: whan they were come almoost to that citee,
1172: But if it were a two furlong or thre,
1173: A yong clerk romynge by hymself they mette,
1174: Which that in latyn thriftily hem grette,
1175: And after that he seyde a wonder thyng --
1176: I knowe, quod he, the cause of youre comyng.
1177: And er they ferther any foote wente,
1178: He tolde hem al that was in hire entente.
1179: this briton clerk hym asked of felawes
1180: The whiche that he had knowe in olde dawes,
1181: And he answerde hym that they dede were,
1182: For which he weep ful ofte many a teere.
1183: doun of his hors aurelius lighte anon,
1184: And with this magicien forth is he gon
1185: Hoom to his hous, and maden hem wel at ese.
1186: Hem lakked no vitaille that myghte hem plese.
1187: So wel arrayed hous as ther was oon
1188: Aurelius in his lyf saugh nevere noon.
1189: he shewed hym, er he wente to sopeer,
1190: Forestes, parkes ful of wilde deer;
1191: Ther saugh he hertes with hir hornes hye,
1192: The gretteste that evere were seyn with ye.
1193: He saugh of hem an hondred slayn with houndes,
1194: And somme with arwes blede of bittre woundes.
1195: He saugh, whan voyded were thise wilde deer,
1196: Thise fauconers upon a fair ryver,
1197: That with hir haukes han the heron slayn.
1198: tho saugh he knyghtes justyng in a playn;
1199: And after this he dide hym swich plesaunce
1200: That he hym shewed his lady on a daunce,
1201: On which hymself he daunced, as hym thoughte.
1202: And whan this maister that this magyk wroughte
1203: Saugh it was tyme, he clapte his handes two,
1204: And farewel! al oure revel was ago,
1205: And yet remoeved they nevere out of the hous,
1206: Whil they saugh al this sighte merveillous,
1207: But in his studie, ther as his bookes be,
1208: They seten stille, and no wight but they thre.
1209: to hym this maister called his squier,
1210: And seyde hym thus -- is redy oure soper?
1211: Almoost an houre it is, I undertake,
1212: Sith I yow bad oure soper for to make,
1213: Whan that thise wrothy men wenten with me
1214: Into my studie, ther as my bookes be.
1215: sire, quod this squier, whan it liketh yow,
1216: It is al redy, though ye wol right now.
1217: Go we thanne soupe, quod he, as for the beste.
1218: Thise amorous folk somtyme moote han hir reste.
1219: at after-soper fille they in tretee
1220: What somme sholde this maistres gerdon be,
1221: To remoeven alle the rokkes of britayne,
1222: And eek from gerounde to the mouth of sayne.
1223: he made it straunge, and swoor, so God hym save,
1224: Lasse than a thousand pound he wolde nat have,
1225: Ne gladly for than somme he wolde nat goon.
1226: aurelius, with blisful herte anoon,
1227: Answerde thus -- fy on a thousand pound!
1228: This wyde world, which that men seye is round,
1229: I wolde it yeve, if I were lord of it.
1230: This bargayn is ful dryve, for we been knyt.
1231: Ye shal be payed trewely, by my trouthe!
1232: But looketh now, for no necligence or slouthe
1233: Ye tarie us heere no lenger than to-morwe.
1234: nay, quod this clerk, have heer my feith to borwe.
1235: to bedde is goon aurelius whan hym leste,
1236: And wel ny al that nyght he hadde his reste.
1237: What for his labour and his hope of blisse,
1238: His woful herte of penaunce hadde a lisse.
1239: upon the morwe, what that it was day,
1240: To britaigne tooke they the righte way,
1241: Aurelius and this magicien bisyde,
1242: And been descended ther they wolde abyde.
1243: And this was, as thise bookes me remembre,
1244: The colde, frosty seson of decembre.
1245: phebus wax old, and hewed lyk laton,
1246: That in his hoote declynacion
1247: Shoon as the burned gold with stremes brighte;
1248: But now in capricorn adoun he lighte,
1249: Where as he shoon ful pale, I dar wel seyn,
1250: The bittre frostes, with the sleet and reyn,

Page 141

1251: Destroyed hath the grene in every yerd.
1252: Janus sit by the fyr, with double berd,
1253: And drynketh of his bugle horn the wyn;
1254: Biforn hym stant brawen of the tusked swyn,
1255: And nowel crieth every lusty man.
1256: aurelius, in al that evere he kan,
1257: Dooth to this maister chiere and reverence,
1258: And preyeth hym to doon his diligence
1259: To bryngen hym out of his peynes smerte,
1260: Or with swerd that he wolde slitte his herte.
1261: this subtil clerk swich routhe had of this man
1262: That nyght and day he spedde hym that he kan
1263: To wayten a tyme of his conclusioun;
1264: This is to seye, to maken illusioun,
1265: By swich an apparence or jogelrye --
1266: I ne kan no termes of astrologye --
1267: That she and every wight sholde wene and seye
1268: That of britaigne the rokkes were aweye,
1269: Or ellis they were sonken under grounde.
1270: So atte laste he hath his tyme yfounde
1271: To maken his japes and his wrecchednesse
1272: Of swich a supersticiuos cursednesse.
1273: His tables tolletanes forth he brought,
1274: Ful wel corrected, ne ther lakked nought,
1275: Neither his collect ne his expans yeeris,
1276: Ne his rootes, ne his othere geeris,
1277: As been his centris and his argumentz
1278: And his proporcioneles convenientz
1279: For his equacions in every thyng.
1280: And by his eighte speere in his wirkyng
1281: He knew ful wel how fer alnath was shove
1282: For the heed of thilke fixe aries above,
1283: That in the ninthe speere considered is;
1284: Ful subtilly he kalkulled al this.
1285: whan he hadde founde his firste mansioun,
1286: He knew the remenaunt by propocioun,
1287: And knew the arisyng of his moone weel,
1288: And in whos face, and terme, and everydeel;
1289: And knew ful weel the moones mansioun
1290: Acordaunt to his operacioun,
1291: And knew also his othere observaunces
1292: For swiche illusiouns and swiche meschaunces
1293: As hethen folk useden in thilke dayes.
1294: For which no lenger maked he delayes,
1295: But thurgh his magik, for a wyke or tweye,
1296: It semed that alle the rokkes were aweye.
1297: aurelius, which that yet despeired is
1298: Wher he shal han his love or fare amys,
1299: Awaitheth nyght and day on this myracle;
1300: And whan he knew that ther was noon obstacle,
1301: That voyded were thise rokkes everychon,
1302: Doun to his maistres feet he fil anon,
1303: And seyde, I woful wrecche, aurelius,
1304: Thanke yow, lord, and lady myn venus,
1305: That me han holpen fro my cares colde.
1306: And to the temple his wey forth hath he holde,
1307: Where as he knew he sholde his lady see.
1308: And whan he saugh his tyme, anon-right hee,
1309: With dredful herte and with ful humble cheere,
1310: Salewed hath his sovereyn lady deere --
1311: my righte lady, quod this woful man,
1312: Whom I moost drede and love as best I kan,
1313: And lothest were of al this world displese,
1314: Nere it that I for yow have swich disese
1315: That I moste dyen heere at youre foot anon,
1316: Noght wolde I telle how me is wo bigon.
1317: But certes outher moste I dye or pleyne;
1318: Ye sle me giltelees for verray peyne.
1319: But of my deeth thogh that ye have no routhe,
1320: Avyseth yow er that ye breke youre trouthe.
1321: Repenteth yow, for thilke God above,
1322: Er ye me sleen by cause that I yow love.
1323: For, madame, wel ye woot what ye han hight --
1324: Nat that I chalange any thyng of right
1325: Of yow, my sovereyn lady, but youre grace --
1326: But in a gardyn yond, at swich a place,
1327: Ye woot right wel what ye bihighten me;
1328: And in my hand youre trouthe plighten ye
1329: To love me best -- God woot, ye seyde so,
1330: Al be that I unworthy am therto.
1331: Madame, I speke it for the honour of yow
1332: Moore than to save myn hertes lyf right now, --
1333: I have do so as ye comanded me;
1334: And if ye vouche sauf, ye may go see.
1335: Dooth as yow list; have youre biheste in mynde,
1336: For, quyk or deed, right there ye shal me fynde.
1337: In yow lith al to do me lyve or deye, --
1338: But wel I woot the rokkes been aweye.
1339: he taketh his leve, and she astoned stood;
1340: In al hir face nas a drope of blood.
1341: She wende nevere han come in swich a trappe.
1342: Allas, quod she, that evere this sholde happe!
1343: For wende I nevere by possibilitee
1344: That swich a monstre or merveille myghte be!
1345: It is agayns the proces of nature.
1346: And hoom she goth a sorweful creature;
1347: For verray feere unnethe may she go.
1348: She wepeth, wailleth, al a day or two.
1349: And swowneth, that it routhe was to see.
1350: But why it was to no wight tolde shee,
1351: For out of towne was goon arveragus.
1352: But to hirself she spak, and seyde thus,
1353: With face pale and with ful sorweful cheere,
1354: In hire compleynt, as ye shal after heere --
1355: allas, quod she, on thee, fortune, I pleyne,

Page 142

1356: That unwar wrapped hast me in thy cheyne,
1357: Fro which t'escape woot I no socour,
1358: Save oonly deeth or elles dishonour;
1359: Oon of thise two bihoveth me to chese.
1360: But nathelees, yet have I levere to lese
1361: My lif than of my body to have a shame,
1362: Or knowe myselven fals, or lese my name;
1363: And with my deth I may be quyt, ywis.
1364: Hath ther nat many a noble wyf er this,
1365: And many a mayde, yslayn hirself, allas!
1366: Rather than with hir body doon trespas?
1367: yis, certes, lo, thise stories beren witnesse --
1368: Whan thritty tirauntz, ful of cursednesse,
1369: Hadde slayn phidon in atthenes atte feste,
1370: They comanded his doghtres for t'areste,
1371: And bryngen hem biforn hem in despit,
1372: Al naked, to fulfille hir foul delit,
1373: And in hir fadres blood they made hem daunce
1374: Upon the pavement, God yeve hem meschaunce!
1375: For which thise woful maydens, ful of drede,
1376: Rather than they wolde lese hir maydenhede,
1377: They prively been stirt into a welle,
1378: And dreynte hemselven, as the bookes telle.
1379: they of mecene leete enquere and seke
1380: Of lacedomye fifty maydens eke,
1381: On whiche they wolden doon hir lecherye.
1382: But was ther noon of al that compaignye
1383: That she nas slayn, and with a good entente
1384: Chees rather for to dye than assente
1385: To been oppressed of hir maydenhede.
1386: Why sholde I thanne to dye been in drede?
1387: Lo, eek, the tiraunt aristoclides,
1388: That loved a mayden, heet stymphalides,
1389: Whan that hir fader slayn was on a nyght,
1390: Unto dianes temple goth she right,
1391: And hente the ymage in hir handes two,
1392: Fro which ymage wolde she nevere go.
1393: No wight ne myghte hir handes of it arace
1394: Til she was slayn, right in the selve place.
1395: now sith that maydens hadden swich despit
1396: To been defouled with mannes foul delit,
1397: Wel oghte a wyf rather hirselven slee
1398: Than be defouled, as it thynketh me.
1399: What shal I seyn of hasdrubales wyf,
1400: That at cartage birafte hirself hir lyf?
1401: For whan she saugh that romayns wan the toun,
1402: She took hir children alle, and skipte adoun
1403: Into the fyr, and chees rather to dye
1404: Than any romayn dide hire vileynye.
1405: Hath nat lucresse yslayn hirself, allas!
1406: At rome, whan that she oppressed was
1407: Of tarquyn, for hire thoughte it was a shame
1408: To lyven whan that she had lost hir name?
1409: The sevene maydens of milesie also
1410: Han slayn hemself, for verrey drede and wo,
1411: Rather than folk of gawle hem sholde oppresse.
1412: Mo than a thousand stories, as I gesse,
1413: Koude I now telle as touchynge this mateere.
1414: Whan habradate was slayn, his wyf so deere
1415: Hirselven slow, and leet hir blood to glyde
1416: In habradates woundes depe and wyde,
1417: And seyde, my body, at the leeste way,
1418: Ther shal no wight defoulen, if I may.
1419: what sholde I mo ensamples heerof sayn,
1420: Sith that so manye han hemselven slayn
1421: Wel rather than they wolde defouled be?
1422: I wol conclude that it is bet for me
1423: To sleen myself than been defouled thus.
1424: I wol be trewe unto arveragus,
1425: Or rather sleen myself in som manere,
1426: As dide demociones doghter deere
1427: By cause that she wolde nat defouled be.
1428: O cedasus, it is ful greet pitee
1429: To reden how thy doghtren deyde, allas!
1430: That slowe hemself for swich a manere cas.
1431: As greet a pitee was it, or wel moore,
1432: The theban mayden that for nichanore
1433: Hirselven slow, right for swich manere wo.
1434: Another theban mayden dide right so;
1435: For oon of macidonye hadde hire oppressed,
1436: She with hire deeth hir maydenhede redressed.
1437: What shal I seye of nicerates wyf,
1438: That for swich cas birafte hirself hir lyf?
1439: How trewe eek was to alcebiades
1440: His love, that rather for to dyen chees
1441: Than for to suffre his body unburyed be.
1442: Lo, which a wyf was alceste, quod she.
1443: What seith omer of good penalopee?
1444: Al grece knoweth of hire chastitee
1445: Pardee, of laodomya is writen thus,
1446: That whan at troie was slayn protheselaus,
1447: Ne lenger wolde she lyve after his day.
1448: The same of noble porcia telle I may;
1449: Withoute brutus koude she nat lyve,
1450: To whom she hadde al hool hir herte yive.
1451: The parfit wyfhod of arthemesie
1452: Honured is thurgh al the barbarie.
1453: O teuta, queene! thy wyfly chastitee
1454: To alle wyves may a mirour bee.
1455: The same thyng I seye of bilyea,
1456: Of rodogne, and eek valeria.
1457: thus pleyned dorigen a day or tweye,
1458: Purposynge evere that she wolde deye.
1459: But nathelees, upon the thridde nyght,
1460: Hoom cam arveragus, this worthy knyght,
1461: And asked hire why that she weep so soore;

Page 143

1462: And she gan wepen ever lenger the moore.
1463: Allas, quod she, that evere was I born!
1464: Thus have I seyd, quod she, thus have I sworn --
1465: And toold hym al as ye han herd bifore;
1466: It nedeth nat reherce it yow namoore.
1467: This housbonde, with glad chiere, in freendly wyse
1468: Answerde and seyde as I shal yow devyse --
1469: Is ther oght elles, dorigen, but this?
1470: nay, nay, quod she, God helpe me so as wys!
1471: This is to muche, and it were goddes wille.
1472: ye, wyf, quod he, lat slepen that is stille.
1473: It may be wel, paraventure, yet to day.
1474: Ye shul youre trouthe holden, by my fay!
1475: For God so wisly have mercy upon me,
1476: I hadde wel levere ystiked for to be
1477: For verray love which I to yow have,
1478: But if ye sholde youre trouthe kepe and save.
1479: Trouthe is the hyeste thyng that man may kepe --
1480: But with that word he brast anon to wepe,
1481: And seyde, I yow forbede, up peyne of deeth,
1482: That nevere, whil thee lasteth lyf ne breeth,
1483: To no wight telle thou of this aventure, --
1484: As I may best, I wol my wo endure
1485: Ne make no contenance of hevynesse,
1486: That folk of yow may demen harm or gesse.
1487: and forth he cleped a squier and a mayde --
1488: Gooth forth anon with dorigen, he sayde,
1489: And bryngeth hire to swich a place anon.
1490: They take hir leve, and on hir wey they gon
1491: But they ne wiste why she thider wente.
1492: He nolde no wight tellen his entente.
1493: paraventure an heep of yow, ywis,
1494: Wol holden hym a lewed man in this
1495: That he wol putte his wyf in jupartie.
1496: Herkneth the tale er ye upon hire crie.
1497: She may have bettre fortune than yow semeth;
1498: And whan that ye han herd the tale, demeth.
1499: this squier, which that highte aurelius,
1500: On dorigen that was so amorous,
1501: Of aventure happed hire to meete
1502: Amydde the toun, right in the quykkest strete,
1503: As she was bown to goon the wey forth right
1504: Toward the gardyn ther as she had hight.
1505: And he was to the gardyn-ward also --
1506: For wel he spyed whan she wolde go
1507: Out of hir hous to any maner place.
1508: But thus they mette, of aventure or grace,
1509: And he saleweth hire with glad entente,
1510: And asked of hire whiderward she wente;
1511: And she answerde, half as she were mad,
1512: Unto the gardyn, as myn housbonde bad,
1513: My trouthe for to holde, allas! allas!
1514: aurelius gan wondren on this cas,
1515: And in his herte hadde greet compassioun
1516: Of hire and of hire lamentacioun,
1517: And of arveragus, the worthy knyght,
1518: That bad hire holden al that she had hight,
1519: So looth hym was his wyf sholde breke hir trouthe
1520: And in his herte he caughte of this greet routhe,
1521: Considerynge the beste on every syde,
1522: That fro his lust yet were hym levere abyde
1523: Than doon so heigh a cherlyssh wrecchednesse
1524: Agayns franchise and all gentillesse;
1525: For which in fewe wordes seyde he thus --
1526: madame, seyth to youre lord arveragus,
1527: That sith I se his grete gentillesse
1528: To yow, and eek I se wel youre distresse,
1529: That him were levere han shame (and that were routhe)
1530: Than ye to me sholde breke thus youre trouthe,
1531: I have wel levere evere to suffre wo
1532: Than I departe the love bitwix yow two.
1533: I yow relesse, madame, into youre hond
1534: Quyt every serement and every bond
1535: That ye han maad to me as heerbiforn,
1536: Sith thilke tyme which that ye were born.
1537: My trouthe I plighte, I shal yow never repreve
1538: Of no biheste, and heere I take my leve,
1539: As of the treweste and the beste wyf
1540: That evere yet I knew in al my lyf.
1541: But every wyf be war of hire biheeste!
1542: Or dorigen remembreth, atte leeste.
1543: Thus kan a squier doon a gentil dede
1544: As wel as kan a knyght, withouten drede.
1545: she thonketh hym upon hir knees al bare,
1546: And hoom unto hir housbonde is she fare,
1547: And tolde hym al, as ye han herd me sayd;
1548: And be ye siker, he was so weel apayd
1549: That it were inpossible me to wryte.
1550: What sholde I lenger of this cas endyte?
1551: arveragus and dorigen his wyf
1552: In sovereyn blisse leden forth hir lyf.
1553: Nevere eft ne was ther angre hem bitweene.
1554: He cherisseth hire as though she were a queene,
1555: And she was to hym trewe for everemoore.
1556: Of thise two folk ye gete of me namoore.
1557: aurelius, that his cost hath al forlorn,
1558: Curseth the tyme that evere he was born --
1559: Allas, quod he, allas, that I bihighte
1560: Of pured gold a thousand pound of wighte
1561: Unto this philosophre! how shal I do?

Page 144

1562: I se namoore but that I am fordo.
1563: Myn heritage moot I nedes selle,
1564: And been a beggere; heere may I nat dwelle,
1565: And shamen al my kynrede in this place,
1566: But I of hym may gete bettre grace.
1567: But nathelees, I wole of hym assaye,
1568: At certeyn dayes, yeer by yeer, to paye,
1569: And thanke hym of his grete curteisye.
1570: My trouthe wol I kepe, I wol nat lye.
1571: with herte soor he gooth unto his cofre,
1572: And broghte gold unto his philosophre,
1573: The value of fyve hundred pound, I gesse,
1574: And hym bisecheth, of his gentillesse,
1575: To graunte hym dayes of the remenaunt;
1576: And seyde, maister, I dar wel make avaunt,
1577: I failled nevere of my trouthe as yit,
1578: For sikerly my dette shal be quyt
1579: Towardes yow, howevere that I fare
1580: To goon a-begged in my kirtle bare.
1581: But wolde ye vouche sauf, upon seuretee,
1582: Two yeer or thre for to respiten me,
1583: Thanne were I wel; for elles moot I selle
1584: Myn heritage; ther is namoore to telle.
1585: this philosophre sobrely answerde,
1586: And seyde thus, whan he thise wordes herde --
1587: Have I nat holden covenant unto thee?
1588: yes, certes, wel and trewely, quod he.
1589: hastow nat had thy lady as thee liketh?
1590: no, no, quod he, and sorwefully he siketh.
1591: what was the cause? tel me if thou kan.
1592: aurelius his tale anon bigan,
1593: And tolde hym al, as ye han herd biroore;
1594: It nedeth nat to yow reherce it moore.
1595: he seide, arveragus, of gentillesse,
1596: Hadde levere dye in sorwe and in distresse
1597: Than that his wyf were of hir trouthe fals.
1598: The sorwe of dorigen he tolde hym als;
1599: How looth hire was to been a wikked wyf,
1600: And that she levere had lost that day hir lyf,
1601: And that hir trouthe she swoor thurgh innocence,
1602: She nevere erst hadde herd speke of apparence.
1603: That made me han of hire so greet pitee;
1604: And right as frely as he sente hire me,
1605: As frely sente I hire to hym ageyn,
1606: This al and som; ther is namoore to seyn.
1607: This philosophre answerde, leeve brother,
1608: Everich of yow dide gentilly til oother.
1609: Thou art a squier, and he is a knyght;
1610: But God forbede, for his blisful myght,
1611: But if a clerk koude doon a gentil dede
1612: As wel as any of yow, it is no drede!
1613: sire, I releesse thee thy thousand pound,
1614: As thou right now were cropen out of the ground,
1615: Ne nevere er now ne haddest knowen me.
1616: For, sire, I wol nat taken a peny of thee
1617: For al my craft, ne noght for my travaille.
1618: Thou hast ypayed wel for my vitaille.
1619: It is ynogh, and farewel, have good day!
1620: And took his hors, and forth he goth his way.
1621: Lordynges, this question, thanne, wol I aske now,
1622: Which was the mooste fre, as thenketh yow?
1623: Now telleth me, er that ye ferther wende.
1624: I kan namoore; my tale is at an ende.

Page 145

The Physician's Tale

1: ther was, as telleth titus livius,
2: A knyght that called was virginius,
3: Fulfild of honour and of worthynesse,
4: And strong of freendes, and of greet richesse.
5: this knyght a doghter hadde by his wyf;
6: No children hadde he mo in al his lyf.
7: Fair was this mayde in excellent beautee
8: Aboven every wight that man may see;
9: For nature hath with sovereyn diligence
10: Yformed hire in so greet excellence,
11: As though she wolde seyn, lo! I, nature,
12: Thus kan I forme and peynte a creature,
13: Whan that me list; who kan me countrefete?
14: Pigmalion noght, though he ay forge and bete,
15: Or grave, or peynte; for I dar wel seyn,
16: Apelles, zanzis, sholde werche in veyn
17: Outher to grave, or peynte, or forge, or bete,
18: If they presumed me to countrefete.
19: For he that is the formere principal
20: Hath maked me his vicaire general,
21: To forme and peynten erthely creaturis
22: Right as me list, and ech thyng in my cure is
23: Under the moone, that may wane and waxe;
24: And for my werk right no thyng wol I axe;
25: My lord and I been ful of oon accord.
26: I made hire to the worshipe of my lord;
27: So do I alle myne othere creatures,
28: What colour that they han, or what figures.
29: Thus semeth me that nature wolde seye.
30: this mayde of age twelve yeer was and tweye,
31: In which that nature hadde swich delit.
32: For right as she kan peynte a lilie whit,
33: And reed a rose, right with swich peynture
34: She peynted hath this noble creature,
35: Er she were born, upon hir lymes fre,
36: Where as by right swiche colours sholde be;
37: And phebus dyed hath hire tresses grete
38: Lyk to the stremes of his burned heete.
39: And if that excellent was hire beautee,
40: A thousand foold moore vertuous was she.
41: In hire ne lakked no condicioun
42: That is to preyse, as by discrecioun.
43: As wel in goost as body chast was she;
44: For which she floured in virginitee
45: With alle humylitee and abstinence,
46: With alle attemperaunce and pacience,
47: With mesure eek of beryng and array.
48: Discreet she was in answeryng alway;
49: Though she were wis as pallas, dar I seyn,
50: Hir facound eek ful wommanly and pleyn,
51: No countrefeted termes hadde she
52: To seme wys; but after hir degree
53: She spak, and alle hire wordes, moore and lesse,
54: Sownynge in vertu and in gentillesse.
55: Shamefast she was in maydens shamefastnesse,
56: Constant in herte, and evere in bisynesse
57: To dryve hire out of ydel slogardye.
58: Bacus hadde of hir mouth right no maistrie;
59: For wyn and youthe dooth venus encresse,
60: As men in fyr wol casten oille or greesse.
61: And of hire owene vertu, unconstreyned,
62: She hath ful ofte tyme syk hire feyned,
63: For that she wolde fleen the compaignye
64: Where likly was to treten of folye,
65: As is at feestes, revels, and at daunces,
66: That been occasions of daliaunces.
67: Swich thynges maken children for to be
68: To soone rype and boold, as men may se,
69: Which is ful perilous, and hath been yoore.
70: For al to soone may she lerne loore
71: Of booldnesse, whan she woxen is a wyf.
72: and ye maistresses, in youre olde lyf,
73: That lordes doghtres han in governaunce,
74: Ne taketh of my wordes no displesaunce.
75: Thenketh that ye been set in governynges
76: Of lordes doghtres, oonly for two thynges --
77: Outher for ye han kept youre honestee,
78: Of elles ye han falle in freletee,
79: And knowen wel ynough the olde daunce,
80: And han forsaken fully swich meschaunce
81: For everemo; therfore, for cristes sake,
82: To teche hem vertu looke that ye ne slake.
83: a theef of venysoun, that hath forlaft
84: His likerousnesse and al his olde craft,
85: Kan kepe a forest best of any man.
86: Now kepeth wel, for if ye wole, ye kan.
87: Looke wel that ye unto no vice assente,
88: Lest ye be dampned for youre wikke entente;

Page 146

89: For whoso dooth, a traitour is, certeyn.
90: And taketh kep of that that I shal seyn --
91: Of alle tresons sovereyn pestilence
92: Is whan a wight bitrayseth innocence.
93: ye fadres and ye moodres eek also,
94: Though ye han children, be it oon or mo,
95: Youre is the charge of al hir surveiaunce,
96: Whil that they been under youre governaunce.
97: Beth war, that by ensample of youre lyvynge,
98: Or by youre necligence in chastisynge,
99: That they ne perisse; for I dar wel seye,
100: If that they doon, ye shul it deere abeye.
101: Under a shepherde softe and necligent
102: The wolf hath many a sheep and lamb torent.
103: Suffiseth oon ensample now as heere,
104: For I moot turne agayn to my matere.
105: this mayde, of which I wol this tale expresse,
106: So kepte hirself hir neded no maistresse;
107: For in hir lyvyng maydens myghten rede,
108: As in a book, every good word or dede
109: That longeth to a mayden vertuous,
110: She was so prudent and so bountevous.
111: For which the fame out sprong on every syde,
112: Bothe of hir beautee and hir bountee wyde,
113: That thurgh that land they preised hire echone
114: That loved vertu, save envye allone,
115: That sory is of oother mennes wele,
116: And glad is of his sorwe and his unheele.
117: (the doctour maketh this descripcioun).
118: this mayde upon a day wente in the toun
119: Toward a temple, with hire mooder deere,
120: As is of yonge maydens the manere.
121: Now was ther thanne a justice in that toun,
122: That governour was of that regioun.
123: And so bifel this juge his eyen caste
124: Upon this mayde, avysynge hym ful faste,
125: As she cam forby ther as this juge stood.
126: Anon his herte chaunged and his mood,
127: So was he caught with beautee of this mayde,
128: And to hymself ful pryvely he sayde,
129: This mayde shal be myn, for any man!
130: anon the feend into his herte ran,
131: And taughte hym sodeynly that he by slyghte
132: The mayden to his purpos wynne myghte.
133: For certes, by no force ne by no meede,
134: Hym thoughte, he was nat able for to speede;
135: For she was strong of freendes, and eek she
136: Confermed was in swich soverayn bountee,
137: That wel he wiste he myghte hire nevere wynne
138: As for to make hire with hir body synne.
139: For which, by greet deliberacioun,
140: He sente after a cherl, was in the toun,
141: Which that he knew for subtil and for boold.
142: This juge unto this cherl his tale hath toold
143: In secree wise, and made hym to ensure
144: He sholde telle it to no creature,
145: And if he dide, he sholde lese his heed.
146: Whan that assented was this cursed reed,
147: Glad was this juge, and maked him greet cheere,
148: And yaf hym yiftes preciouse and deere.
149: whan shapen was al hire conspiracie
150: Fro point to point, how that his lecherie
151: Parfouned sholde been ful subtilly,
152: As ye shul heere it after openly,
153: Hoom gooth the cherl, that highte claudius.
154: This false juge, that highte apius,
155: (so was his name, for this is no fable,
156: But knowen for historial thyng notable;
157: The sentence of it sooth is, out of doute),
158: This false juge gooth now faste aboute
159: To hasten his delit al that he may.
160: And so bifel soone after, on a day,
161: This false juge, as telleth us the storie,
162: As he was wont, sat in his consistorie,
163: And yaf his doomes upon sondry cas.
164: This false cherl cam forth a ful greet pas,
165: And seyde, lord, if that it be youre wille,
166: As dooth me right upon this pitous bille,
167: In which I pleyne upon virginius;
168: And if that he wol seyn it is nat thus,
169: I wol it preeve, and fynde good witnesse,
170: That sooth is that my bille wol expresse.
171: the juge answerde, of this, in his absence,
172: I may nat yeve diffynytyf sentence.
173: Lat do hym calle, and I wol gladly heere;
174: Thou shalt have al right, and no wrong heere.
175: virginius cam to wite the juges wille,
176: And right anon was rad this cursed bille;
177: The sentence of it was as ye shul heere --
178: to yow, my lord, sire apius so deere,
179: Sheweth youre povre servant claudius
180: How that a knyght, called virginius,
181: Agayns the lawe, agayn al equitee,
182: Holdeth, expres agayn the wyl of me,
183: My servant, which that is my thral by right,
184: Which fro myn hous was stole upon a nyght,
185: Whil that she was ful yong; this wol I preeve
186: By witnesse, lord, so that it nat yow greeve.
187: She nys his doghter nat, what so he seye.
188: Wherfore to yow, my lord the juge, I preye,
189: Yeld me my thral, if that it be youre wille.
190: Lo, this was al the sentence of his bille.
191: virginius gan upon the cherl biholde,
192: But hastily, er he his tale tolde,
193: And wolde have preeved it as sholde a knyght,
194: And eek by witnessyng of many a wight,

Page 147

195: That al was fals that seyde his adversarie,
196: This cursed juge wolde no thyng tarie,
197: Ne heere a word moore of virginius,
198: But yaf his juggement, and seyde thus --
199: I deeme anon this cherl his servant have;
200: Thou shalt no lenger in thyn hous hir save.
201: Go bryng hire forth, and put hire in oure warde.
202: The cherl shal have his thral, this I awarde.
203: and whan this worthy knyght virginius,
204: Thurgh sentence of this justice apius,
205: Moste by force his deere doghter yiven
206: Unto the juge, in lecherie to lyven,
207: He gooth hym hoom, and sette him in his halle,
208: And leet anon his deere doghter calle,
209: And with a face deed as asshen colde
210: Upon hir humble face he gan biholde,
211: With fadres pitee stikynge thurgh his herte,
212: Al wolde he from his purpos nat converte.
213: doghter, quod he, virginia, by thy name,
214: Ther been two weyes, outher deeth or shame,
215: That thou most suffre; allas, that I was bore!
216: For nevere thou deservedest wherfore
217: To dyen with a swerd or with a knyf.
218: O deere doghter, endere of my lyf,
219: Which I have fostred up with swich plesaunce
220: That thou were nevere out of my remembraunce!
221: O doghter, which that art my laste wo,
222: And in my lyf my laste joye also,
223: O gemme of chastitee, in pacience
224: Take thou thy deeth, for this is my sentence.
225: For love, and nat for hate, thou most be deed;
226: My pitous hand moot smyten of thyn heed.
227: Allas, that evere apius the say!
228: Thus hath he falsly jugged the to-day --
229: And tolde hire al the cas, as ye bifore
230: Han herd; nat nedeth for to telle it moore.
231: o mercy, deere fader! quod this mayde,
232: And with that word she bothe hir armes layde
233: Aboute his nekke, as she was wont to do.
234: The teeris bruste out of hir eyen two,
235: And seyde, goode fader, shal I dye?
236: Is ther no grace, is ther no remedye?
237: no, certes, deere doghter myn, quod he.
238: thanne yif me leyser, fader myn, quod she,
239: My deeth for to compleyne a litel space;
240: For, pardee, jepte yaf his doghter grace
241: For to compleyne, er he hir slow, allas!
242: And, God it woot, no thyng was hir trespas,
243: But for she ran hir fader first to see,
244: To welcome hym with greet solempnitee.
245: And with that word she fil aswowne anon,
246: And after, whan hir swownyng is agon,
247: She riseth up, and to hir fader sayde,
248: Blissed be god, that I shal dye a mayde!
249: Yif me my deeth, er that I have a shame;
250: Dooth with youre child youre wyl, a goddes name!
251: and with that word she preyed hym ful ofte
252: That with his swerd he sholde smyte softe;
253: And with that word aswowne doun she fil.
254: Hir fader, with ful sorweful herte and wil,
255: Hir heed of smoot, and by the top it hente,
256: And to the juge he gan it to presente,
257: As he sat yet in doom in consistorie.
258: And whan the juge it saugh, as seith the storie,
259: He bad to take hym and anhange hym faste;
260: But right anon a thousand peple in thraste,
261: To save the knyght, for routhe and for pitee,
262: For knowen was the false iniquitee.
263: The peple anon had suspect in this thyng,
264: By manere of the cherles chalangyng,
265: That it was by the assent of apius;
266: They wisten wel that he was lecherus.
267: For which unto this apius they gon,
268: And caste hym in prisoun right anon,
269: Ther as he slow hymself; and claudius,
270: That servant was unto this apius,
271: Was demed for to hange upon a tree,
272: But that virginius, of his pitee,
273: So preyde for hym that he was exiled;
274: And elles, certes, he had been bigyled.
275: The remenant were anhanged, moore and lesse,
276: That were consentant of this cursednesse,
277: heere may men seen how synne hath his merite.
278: Beth war, for no man woot whom God wol smyte
279: In no degree, ne in which manere wyse
280: The worm of conscience may agryse
281: Of wikked lyf, though it so pryvee be
282: That no man woot therof but God and he.
283: For be he lewed man, or ellis lered,
284: He noot how soone that he shal been afered.
285: Therfore I rede yow this conseil take --
286: Forsaketh synne, er synne yow forsake.

Page 148

The Introduction to the Pardoner's Tale

287: Oure hooste gan to swere as he were wood;
288: Harrow! quod he, by nayles and by blood!
289: This was a fals cherl and a fals justise.
290: As shameful deeth as herte may devyse
291: Come to thise juges and hire advocatz!
292: Algate this sely mayde is slayn, allas!
293: Allas, to deere boughte she beautee!
294: Wherfore I seye al day that men may see
295: That yiftes of fortune and of nature
296: Been cause of deeth to many a creature.
297: Hire beautee was hire deth, I dar wel sayn.
298: Allas, so pitously as she was slayn!
299: Of bothe yiftes that I speke of now
300: Men han ful ofte moore for harm than prow.
301: But trewely, myn owene maister deere,
302: This is a pitous tale for to heere.
303: But nathelees, passe over, is no fors.
304: I pray to God so save thy gentil cors,
305: And eek thyne urynals and thy jurdones,
306: Thyn ypocras, and eek thy galiones,
307: And every boyste ful of the letuarie;
308: God blesse hem, and oure lady seinte marie!
309: So moot I theen, thou art a propre man,
310: And lyk a prelat, by seint ronyan!
311: Seyde I nat wel? I kan nat speke in terme;
312: But wel I woot thou doost myn herte to erme,
313: That I almoost have caught a cardynacle.
314: By corpus bones! but I have triacle,
315: Or elles a draughte of moyste and corny ale,
316: Or but I heere anon a myrie tale,
317: Myn herte is lost for pitee of this mayde.
318: Thou beel amy, thou pardoner, he sayde,
319: Telle us som myrthe or japes right anon.
320: it shal be doon, quod he, by seint ronyon!
321: But first, quod he, heere at this alestake
322: I wol bothe drynke and eten of a cake.
323: but right anon thise gentils gonne to crye,
324: Nay, lat hym telle us of no ribaudye!
325: Telle us som moral thyng, that we may leere
326: Som wit, and thanne wol we gladly heere.
327: I graunte, ywis, quod he, but I moot thynke
328: Upon som honest thyng while that I drynke.

The Pardoner's Prologue

329: lordynges, quod he, in chirches whan I preche,
330: I peyne me to han an hauteyn speche,
331: And rynge it out as round as gooth a belle,
332: For I kan al by rote that I telle.
333: My theme is alwey oon, and evere was --
334: Radix malorum est cupiditas.
335: first I pronounce wheenes that I come,
336: And thanne my bulles shewe I, alle and some.
337: Oure lige lordes seel on my patente,
338: That shewe I first, my body to warente,
339: That no man be so boold, ne preest ne clerk,
340: Me to destourbe of cristes hooly werk.
341: And after that thanne telle I forth my tales;
342: Bulles of popes and of cardynales,
343: Of patriarkes and bishopes I shewe
344: And in latyn I speke a wordes fewe,
345: To saffron with my predicacioun,
346: And for to stire hem to devocioun.
347: Thanne shewe I forth my longe cristal stones,
348: Ycrammed ful of cloutes and of bones, --
349: Relikes been they, as wenen they echoon.
350: Thanne have I in latoun a sholder-boon
351: Which that was of an hooly jewes sheep.
352: Goode men, I seye, taak of my wordes keep;
353: If that this boon be wasshe in any welle,
354: If cow, or calf, or sheep, or oxe swelle
355: That any worm hath ete, or worm ystonge,
356: Taak water of that welle and wassh his tonge,
357: And it is hool anon; and forthermoore,

Page 149

358: Of pokkes and of scabbe, and every soore
359: Shal every sheep be hool that of this welle
360: Drynketh a draughte. Taak kep eek what I telle --
361: If that the good-man that the beestes oweth
362: Wol every wyke, er that the cok hym croweth,
363: Fastynge, drynken of this welle a draughte,
364: As thilke hooly jew oure eldres taughte,
365: His beestes and his stoor shal multiplie.
366: and, sires, also it heeleth jalousie;
367: For though a man be falle in jalous rage,
368: Lat maken with this water his potage,
369: And nevere shal he moore his wyf mystriste,
370: Though he the soothe of hir defaute wiste,
371: Al had she taken prestes two or thre.
372: heere is a miteyn eek, that ye may se.
373: He that his hand wol putte in this mitayn,
374: He shal have multipliyng of his grayn,
375: Whan he hath sowen, be it whete or otes,
376: So that he offre pens, or elles grotes.
377: goode men and wommen, o thyng warne I yow --
378: If any wight be in this chirche now
379: That hath doon synne horrible, that he
380: Dar nat, for shame, of it yshryven be,
381: Or any womman, be she yong or old,
382: That hath ymaad hir housbonde cokewold,
383: Swich folk shal have no power ne no grace
384: To offren to my relikes in this place.
385: And whoso fyndeth hym out of swich blame,
386: He wol come up and offre in goddes name,
387: And I assoille him by the auctoritee
388: Which that by bulle ygraunted was to me.
389: by this gaude have I wonne, yeer by yeer,
390: An hundred mark sith I was pardoner.
391: I stonde lyk a clerk in my pulpet,
392: And whan the lewed peple is doun yset,
393: I preche so as ye han herd bifoore,
394: And telle an hundred false japes moore.
395: Thanne peyne I me to strecche forth the nekke,
396: And est and west upon the peple I bekke,
397: As dooth a dowve sittynge on a berne.
398: Myne handes and my tonge goon so yerne
399: That it is joye to se my bisynesse.
400: Of avarice and of swich cursednesse
401: Is al my prechyng, for to make hem free
402: To yeven hir pens, and namely unto me.
403: For myn entente is nat but for to wynne,
404: And nothyng for correccioun of synne.
405: I rekke nevere, whan that they been beryed,
406: Though that hir soules goon a-blakeberyed!
407: For certes, many a predicacioun
408: Comth ofte tyme of yvel entencioun;
409: Som for plesance of folk and flaterye,
410: To been avaunced by ypocrisye,
411: And som for veyne glorie, and som for hate.
412: For whan I dar noon oother weyes debate,
413: Thanne wol I stynge hym with my tonge smerte
414: In prechyng, so that he shal nat asterte
415: To been defamed falsly, if that he
416: Hath trespased to my bretheren or to me.
417: For though I telle noght his propre name,
418: Men shal wel knowe that it is the same,
419: By signes, and by othere circumstances.
420: Thus quyte I folk that doon us displesances;
421: Thus spitte I out my venym under hewe
422: Of hoolynesse, to semen hooly and trewe.
423: but shortly myn entente I wol devyse --
424: I preche of no thyng but for coveityse.
425: Therfore my theme is yet, and evere was,
426: Radix malorum est cupiditas.
427: Thus kan I preche agayn that same vice
428: Which that I use, and that is avarice.
429: But though myself be gilty in that synne,
430: Yet kan I maken oother folk to twynne
431: From avarice, and soore to repente.
432: But that is nat my principal entente;
433: I preche nothyng but for coveitise.
434: Of this mateere it oghte ynogh suffise.
435: thanne telle I hem ensamples many oon
436: Of olde stories longe tyme agoon.
437: For lewed peple loven tales olde;
438: Swiche thynges kan they wel reporte and holde.
439: What, trowe ye, that whiles I may preche,
440: And wynne gold and silver for I teche,
441: That I wol lyve in poverte wilfully?
442: Nay, nay, I thoghte it nevere, trewwly!
443: For I wol preche and begge in sondry landes;
444: I wol nat do no labour with myne handes,
445: Ne make baskettes, and lyve therby,
446: By cause I wol nat beggen ydelly.
447: I wol noon of the apostles countrefete;
448: I wol have moneie, wolle, chese, and whete,
449: Al were it yeven of the povereste page,
450: Or of the povereste wydwe in a village,
451: Al sholde hir children sterve for famyne.
452: Nay, I wol drynke licour of the vyne,
453: And have a joly wenche in every toun.
454: But herkneth, lordynges, in conclusioun --
455: Youre likyng is that I shal telle a tale.
456: Now have I dronke a draughte of corny ale,
457: By god, I hope I shal yow telle a thyng
458: That shal be reson been at youre likyng.
459: For though myself be a ful vicious man,
460: A moral tale yet I yow telle kan,
461: Which I am wont to preche for to wynne.
462: Now hoold youre pees! my tale I wol bigynne.

Page 150

The Pardoner's Tale

463: in flaundres whilom was a compaignye
464: Of yonge folk that haunteden folye,
465: As riot, hasard, stywes, and tavernes,
466: Where as with harpes, lutes, and gyternes,
467: They daunce and pleyen at dees bothe day and nyght,
468: And eten also and drynken over hir myght,
469: Thurgh which they doon the devel sacrifise
470: Withinne that develes temple, in cursed wise,
471: By superfluytee abhomynable.
472: Hir othes been so grete and so dampnable
473: That it is grisly for to heere hem swere.
474: Oure blissed lordes body they totere, --
475: Hem thoughte that jewes rente hym noght ynough;
476: And ech of hem at otheres synne lough.
477: And right anon thanne comen tombesteres
478: Fetys and smale, and yonge frutesteres,
479: Syngeres with harpes, baudes, wafereres,
480: Whiche been the verray develes officeres
481: To kyndle and blowe the fyr of lecherye,
482: That is annexed unto glotonye.
483: The hooly writ take I to my witnesse
484: That luxurie is in wyn and dronkenesse.
485: lo, how that dronken looth, unkyndely,
486: Lay by his doghtres two, unwityngly;
487: So dronke he was, he nyste what he wroughte.
488: herodes, whoso wel the stories soghte,
489: Whan he of wyn was repleet at his feeste,
490: Right at his owene table he yaf his heeste
491: To sleen the baptist john, ful giltelees.
492: senec seith a good word doutelees;
493: He seith he kan no difference fynde
494: Bitwix a man that is out of his mynde
495: And a man which that is dronkelewe,
496: But that woodnessse, yfallen in a shrewe,
497: Persevereth lenger than doth dronkenesse.
498: O glotonye, ful of cursednesse!
499: O cause first of oure confusioun!
500: O original of oure dampnacioun,
501: Til crist hadde boght us with his blood agayn!
502: Lo, how deere, shortly for to sayn,
503: Aboght was thilke cursed vileynye
504: Corrupt was al this world for glotonye.
505: adam oure fader, and his wyf also,
506: Fro paradys to labour and to wo
507: Were dryven for that vice, it is no drede.
508: For whil that adam fasted, as I rede,
509: He was in paradys; and whan that he
510: Eet of the fruyt deffended on the tree,
511: Anon he was out cast to wo and peyne.
512: O glotonye, on thee wel oghte us pleyne!
513: O, wiste a man how manye maladyes
514: Folwen of excesse and of glotonyes,
515: He wolde been the moore mesurable
516: Of his diete, sittynge at his table.
517: Allas! the shorte throte, the tendre mouth,
518: Maketh that est and west and north and south,
519: In erthe, in eir, in water, men to swynke
520: To gete a glotoun deyntee mete and drynke!
521: Of this matiere, o paul, wel kanstow trete --
522: Mete unto wombe, and wombe eek unto mete,
523: Shal God destroyen bothe, as paulus seith.
524: Allas! a foul thyng is it, by my feith,
525: To seye this word, and fouler is the dede,
526: Whan man so drynketh of the white and rede
527: That of his throte be maketh his pryvee,
528: Thurgh thilke cursed superfluitee.
529: the apostel wepyng seith ful pitously,
530: Ther walken manye of whiche yow toold have I --
531: I seye it now wepyng, with pitous voys --
532: That they been enemys of cristes croys,
533: Of whiche the ende is deeth, wombe is hir god!
534: O wombe! o bely! o stynkyng cod,
535: Fulfilled of dong and of corrupcioun!
536: At either ende of thee foul is the soun.
537: How greet labour and cost is thee to fynde!
538: Thise cookes, how they stampe, and streyne, and grynde,
539: And turnen substaunce into accident,
540: To fulfille al thy likerous talent!
541: Out of the harde bones knokke they
542: The mary, for they caste noght awey
543: That may go thurgh the golet softe and swoote.
544: Of spicerie of leef, and bark, and roote
545: Shal been his sauce ymaked by delit,
546: To make hym yet a newer appetit.
547: But, certes, he that haunteth swiche delices
548: Is deed, whil that he lyveth in tho vices.
549: a lecherous thyng is wyn, and dronkenesse
550: Is ful of stryvyng and of wrecchednesse.
551: O dronke man, disfigured is thy face,
552: Sour is thy breeth, foul artow to embrace,
553: And thurgh thy dronke nose semeth the soun

Page 151

554: As though thou seydest as sampsoun, sampsoun!
555: And yet, God woot, sampsoun drank nevere no wyn.
556: Thou fallest as it were a styked swyn;
557: Thy tonge is lost, and al thyn honeste cure;
558: For dronkenesse is verray sepulture
559: Of mannes wit and his discrecioun.
560: In whom that drynke hath dominacioun
561: He kan no conseil kepe, it is no drede.
562: Now kepe yow fro the white and fro the rede,
563: And namely fro the white wyn of lepe,
564: That is to selle in fysshstrete or in chepe.
565: This wyn of spaigne crepeth subtilly
566: In othere wynes, growynge faste by,
567: Of which ther ryseth swich fumositee
568: That whan a man hath dronken draughtes thre,
569: And weneth that he be at hoom in chepe,
570: He is in spaigne, right at the toune of lepe, --
571: Nat at the rochele, ne at burdeux toun;
572: And thanne wol he seye sampsoun, sampsoun!
573: but herkneth, lordynges, o word, I yow preye,
574: That alle the sovereyn actes,dar I seye,
575: Of victories in the olde testament,
576: Thurgh verray god, that is omnipotent,
577: Were doon in abstinence and in preyere.
578: Looketh the bible, and ther ye may it leere.
579: looke, attila, the grete conquerour,
580: Deyde in his sleep, with shame and dishonour,
581: Bledynge ay at his nose in dronkenesse.
582: A capitayn sholde lyve in sobrenesse.
583: And over al this, avyseth yow right wel
584: What was comaunded unto lamuel --
585: Nat samuel, but lamuel, seye I;
586: Redeth the bible, and fynde it expresly
587: Of wyn-yevyng to hem that han justise.
588: Namoore of this, for it may wel suffise.
589: and now that I have spoken of glotonye,
590: Now wol I yow deffenden hasardrye.
591: Hasard is verray mooder of lesynges,
592: And of deceite, and cursed forswerynges,
593: Blaspheme of crist, manslaughtre, and wast also
594: Of catel and of tyme; and forthermo,
595: It is repreeve and contrarie of honour
596: For to ben holde a commune hasardour.
597: And ever the hyer he is of estaat.
598: The moore is he yholden desolaat.
599: If that a prynce useth hasardrye.
600: In alle governaunce and policye
601: He is, as by commune opinioun,
602: Yholde the lasse in reputacioun.
603: stilboun, that was a wys embassadour,
604: Was sent to corynthe, in ful greet honour,
605: Fro lacidomye, to make hire alliaunce.
606: And whan he cam, hym happede, par chaunce,
607: That alle the gretteste that were of that lond,
608: Pleyynge atte hasard he hem fond.
609: For which, as soone as it myghte be,
610: He stal hym hoom agayn to his contree,
611: And seyde, ther wol I nat lese my name,
612: Ne I wol nat take on me so greet defame,
613: Yow for to allie unto none hasardours.
614: Sendeth othere wise embassadours;
615: For, by my trouthe, me were levere dye
616: That I yow sholde to hasardours allye.
617: For ye, that been so glorious in honours,
618: Shul nat allyen yow with hasadours
619: As by my wyl, ne as by my tretee.
620: This wise philosophre, thus seyde hee.
621: looke eek that to the kyng demetrius,
622: The kyng of parthes, as the book seith us,
623: Sente him a paire of dees of gold in scorn,
624: For he hadde used hasard ther-biforn;
625: For which he heeld his glorie or his renoun
626: At no value or reputacioun.
627: Lordes nay fynden oother maner pley
628: Honest ynough to dryve the day awey.
629: now wol I speke of othes false and grete
630: A word or two, as olde bookes trete.
631: Gret sweryng is a thyng abhominable,
632: And fals sweryng is yet moore reprevable.
633: The heighe God forbad sweryng at al,
634: Witnesse on mathew; but in special
635: Of sweryng seith the hooly jeremye,
636: Thou shalt swere sooth thyne othes, and nat lye,
637: And swere in doom, and eek in rightwisnesse;
638: But ydel sweryng is a cursednesse.
639: Bihoold and se that in the firste table
640: Of heighe goddes heestes honurable,
641: Hou that the seconde heeste of hym is this --
642: Take nat my name in ydel or amys.
643: Lo, rather be forbedeth swich sweryng
644: Than homycide or many a cursed thyng;
645: I seye that, as by ordre, thus it stondeth;
646: This knoweth, that his heestes understondeth,
647: How that the seconde heeste of God is that.
648: And forther over, I wol thee telle al plat,
649: That vengeance shal nat parten from his hous
650: That of his othes is to outrageous.
651: By goddes precious herte, and by his nayles,
652: And by the blood of crist that is in hayles,
653: Sevene is my chaunce, and thyn is cynk and treye!

Page 152

654: By goddes armes, if thou falsly pleye,
655: This daggere shal thurghout thyn herte go! --
656: This fruyt cometh of the bicched bones two,
657: Forsweryng, ire, falsnesse, homycide.
658: Now, for the love of crist, that for us dyde,
659: Lete youre othes, bothe grete and smale.
660: But, sires, now wol I telle forth my tale.
661: thise riotoures thre of which I telle,
662: Longe erst er prime rong of any belle,
663: Were set hem in a taverne for to drynke,
664: And as they sat, they herde a belle clynke
665: Biforn a cors, was caried to his grave.
666: That oon of hem gan callen to his knave --
667: Go bet, quod he, and axe redily
668: What cors is this that passeth heer forby;
669: And looke that thou reporte his name weel.
670: sire, quod this boy, it nedeth never-a-deel;
671: It was me toold er ye cam heer two houres.
672: He was, pardee, an old felawe of youres;
673: And sodeynly he was yslayn to-nyght,
674: Fordronke, as he sat on his bench upright.
675: Ther can a privee theef men clepeth deeth,
676: That in this contree al the peple sleth,
677: And with his spere he smoot his herte atwo,
678: And wente his wey withouten wordes mo.
679: He hath a thousand slayn this pestilence.
680: And, maister, er ye come in his presence.
681: Me thynketh that it were necessarie
682: For to be war of swich an adversarie.
683: Beth redy for to meete hym everemoore;
684: Thus taughte me my dame; I sey namoore.
685: By seinte marie! seyde this taverner,
686: The child seith sooth, for he hath slayn this yeer,
687: Henne over a mile, withinne a greet village,
688: Bothe man and womman, child, and hyne, and page;
689: I trowe his habitacioun be there.
690: To been avysed greet wysdom it were,
691: Er that he dide a man a dishonour.
692: ye, goddes armes! quod this riotour,
693: Is it swich peril with hym for to meete?
694: I shal hym seke by wey and eek by strete,
695: I make avow to goddes digne bones!
696: Herkneth, felawes, we thre been al ones;
697: Lat ech of us holde up his hand til oother,
698: And ech of us bicomen otheres brother.
699: And we wol sleen this false traytour deeth.
700: He shal be slayn, he that so manye sleeth,
701: By goddes dignitee, er it be nyght!
702: togidres han thise thre hir trouthes plight
703: To lyve and dyen ech of hem for oother,
704: As though he were his owene ybore brother.
705: And up they stirte, al dronken in this rage,
706: And forth they goon towardes that village
707: Of which the taverner hadde spoke biforn.
708: And many a grisly ooth thanne han they sworn,
709: And cristes blessed body al torente --
710: Deeth shal be deed, if that they may hym hente!
711: whan they han goon nat fully half a mile,
712: Right as they wolde han troden over a stile,
713: An oold man and a povre with hem mette.
714: This olde man ful mekely hem grette,
715: And seyde thus, now, lordes, God yow see!
716: the proudeste of thise riotoures three
717: Answerde agayn, what, carl, with sory grace!
718: Why artow al forwrapped save thy face?
719: Why lyvestow so longe in so greet age?
720: this olde man gan looke in his visage,
721: And seyde thus -- for I ne kan nat fynde
722: A man, though that I walked into ynde,
723: Neither in citee ne in no village,
724: That wolde chaunge his youthe for myn age;
725: And therfore moot I han myn age stille,
726: As longe tyme as it is goddes wille.
727: Ne deeth, allas! ne wol nat han my lyf
728: Thus walke I, lyk a restelees kaitif,
729: And on the ground, which is my moodres gate,
730: I knokke with my staf, bothe erly and late,
731: And seye leeve mooder, leet me in!
732: Lo how I vanysshe, flessh, and blood, and skyn!
733: Allas! whan shul my bones been at reste?
734: Mooder, with yow wolde I chaunge my cheste
735: That in my chambre longe tyme hath be,
736: Ye, for an heyre clowt to wrappe in me!
737: But yet to me she wol nat do that grace,
738: For which ful pale and welked is my face.
739: but, sires, to yow it is no curteisye
740: To speken to an old man vileynye,
741: But he trespasse in word, or elles in dede.
742: In hooly writ ye may yourself wel rede --
743: Agayns an oold man, hoor upon his heed,
744: Ye sholde arise; wherfore I yeve yow reed,
745: Ne dooth unto an oold man noon harm now,
746: Namoore than that ye wolde men did to yow
747: In age, if that ye so longe abyde.
748: And God be with yow, where ye go or ryde!
749: I moot go thider as I have to go.
750: nay, olde cherl, by god, thou shalt not so,
751: Seyde this oother hasardour anon;
752: Thou partest nat so lightly, by seint john!
753: Thou spak right now of thilke traytour deeth,
754: That in this contree alle oure freendes sleeth.
755: Have heer my trouthe, as thou art his espye,
756: Telle where he is, or thou shalt it abye,
757: By god, and by the hooly sacrement!

Page 153

758: For soothly thou art oon of his assent
759: To sleen us yonge folk, thou false theef!
760: now, sires, quod he, if that yow be so leef
761: To fynde deeth, turne up this croked wey,
762: For in that grove I lafte hym, by my fey,
763: Under a tree, and there he wole abyde;
764: Noght for youre boost he wole him no thyng hyde.
765: Se ye that ook? right there ye shal hym fynde.
766: God save yow, that boghte agayn mankynde,
767: And yow amende! thus seyde this olde man;
768: And everich of thise riotoures ran
769: Til he cam to that tree, and ther they founde
770: Of floryns fyne of gold ycoyned rounde
771: Wel ny an eighte busshels, as hem thoughte.
772: No lenger thanne after deeth they soughte,
773: But ech of hem so glad was of that sighte,
774: For that the floryns been so faire and brighte,
775: That doun they sette hem by this precious hoord.
776: The worste of hem, he spak the firste word.
777: bretheren, quod he, taak kep what that I seye;
778: My wit is greet, though that I bourde and pleye.
779: This tresor hath fortune unto us yiven,
780: In myrthe and joliftee oure lyf to lyven,
781: And lightly as it comth, so wol we spende.
782: Ey! goddes precious dignitee! who wende
783: To-day that we sholde han so fair a grace?
784: But myghte this gold be caried fro this place
785: Hoom to myn hous, or elles unto youres --
786: For wel ye woot that al this gold is oures --
787: Thanne were we in heigh felicitee.
788: But trewely, by daye it may nat bee.
789: Men wolde seyn that we were theves stronge,
790: And for oure owene tresor doon us honge.
791: This tresor moste ycaried be by nyghte
792: As wisely and as slyly as it myghte.
793: Wherfore I rede that cut among us alle
794: Be drawe, and lat se wher the cut wol falle;
795: And he that hath the cut with herte blithe
796: Shal renne to the toun, and that ful swithe,
797: And brynge us breed and wyn ful prively.
798: And two of us shul kepen subtilly
799: This tresor wel; and if he wol nat tarie,
800: Whan it is nyght, we wol this tresor carie,
801: By oon assent, where as us thynketh best.
802: That oon of hem the cut broghte in his fest,
803: And bad hem drawe, and looke where it wol falle;
804: And if fil on the yongeste of hem alle,
805: And forth toward the toun he wente anon.
806: And also soone as that he was gon,
807: That oon of hem spak thus unto that oother --
808: Thou knowest wel tho art my sworen brother;
809: Thy profit wol I telle thee anon.
810: Thou woost wel that oure felawe is agon.
811: And heere is gold, and that ful greet plentee,
812: That shal departed been among us thre.
813: But nathelees, if I kan shape it so
814: That it departed were among us two,
815: Hadde I nat doon a freendes torn to thee?
816: that oother answerde, I noot hou that may be.
817: He woot wel that the gold is with us tweye;
818: What shal we doon? what shal we to hym seye?
819: shal it be conseil? seyde the firste shrewe,
820: And I shal tellen in a wordes fewe
821: What we shal doon, and brynge it wel aboute.
822: I graunte, quod that oother, out of doute,
823: That, by my trouthe, I wol thee nat biwreye.
824: now, quod the firste, thou woost wel we be tweye;
825: And two of us shul strenger be than oon.
826: Looke whan that he is set, that right anoon
827: Arys as though thou woldest with hym pleye,
828: And I shal ryve hym thurgh the sydes tweye
829: Whil that thou strogelest with hym as in game,
830: And with thy daggere looke thou do the same;
831: And thanne shal al this gold departed be,
832: My deere freend, bitwixen me and thee.
833: Thanne may we bothe oure lustes all fulfille,
834: And pleye at dees right at oure owene wille.
835: And thus acorded been thise shrewes tweye
836: To sleen the thridde, as ye han herd me seye.
837: this yongeste, which that wente to the toun,
838: Ful ofte in herte he rolleth up and doun
839: The beautee of thise floryns newe and brighte.
840: O lord! quod he, if so were that I myghte
841: Have al this tresor to myself allone,
842: Ther is no man that lyveth under the trone
843: Of God that sholde lyve so murye as i!
844: And atte laste the feend, oure enemy,
845: Putte in his thought that he sholde poysen beye,
846: With which he myghte sleen his felawes tweye;
847: For-why the feend foond hym in swich lyvynge
848: That he hadde leve him to sorwe brynge.
849: For this was outrely his fulle entente,
850: To sleen hem bothe, and nevere to repente.
851: And forth he gooth, no lenger wolde he tarie,
852: Into the toun, unto a pothecarie,
853: And preyde hym that he hym wolde selle
854: Som poyson, that he myghte his rattes quelle;
855: And eek ther was a polcat in his hawe,

Page 154

856: That, as he seyde, his capouns hadde yslawe,
857: And fayn he wolde wreke hym, if he myghte,
858: On vermyn that destroyed hym by nyghte.
859: the pothecarie answerde, and thou shalt have
860: A thyng that, also God my soule save,
861: In al this world ther is no creature,
862: That eten or dronken hath of this confiture
863: Noght but the montance of a corn of whete,
864: That he ne shal his lif anon forlete;
865: Ye, sterve he shal, and that in lasse while
866: Than thou wolt goon a paas nat but a mile,
867: This poysoun is so strong and violent.
868: this cursed man hath in his hond yhent
869: This poysoun in a box, and sith he ran
870: Into the nexte strete unto a man,
871: And borwed of hym large botelles thre;
872: And in the two his poyson poured he;
873: The thridde he kepte clene for his drynke.
874: For al the nyght he shoop hym for to swynke
875: In cariynge of the gold out of that place.
876: And whan this riotour, with sory grace,
877: Hadde filled with wyn his grete botels thre,
878: To his felawes agayn repaireth he.
879: what nedeth it to sermone of it moore?
880: For right as they hadde cast his deeth bifoore,
881: Right so they han hym slayn, and that anon.
882: And whan that this was doon, thus spak that oon --
883: Now lat us sitte and drynke, and make us merie,
884: And afterward we wol his body berie.
885: And with that word it happed hym, par cas,
886: To take the botel ther the poyson was,
887: And drank, and yaf his felawe drynke also,
888: For which anon they storven bothe two.
889: but certes, I suppose that avycen
890: Wroot nevere in no canon, ne in no fen,
891: Mo wonder signes of empoisonyng
892: Than hadde thise wrecches two, er hir endyng.
893: Thus ended been thise homycides two,
894: And eek the false empoysonere also.
895: o cursed synne of alle cursednesse!
896: O traytours homycide, o wikkednesse!
897: O gloronye, luxurie, and hasardrye!
898: Thou blasphemour of crist with vileynye
899: And othes grete, of usage and of pride!
900: Allas! mankynde, how may it bitide
901: That to thy creatour, which that the wroghte,
902: And with his precious herte-blood thee boghte,
903: Thou art so fals and so unkynde, allas?
904: now goode men, God foryeve yow youre trespas,
905: And ware yow fro the synne of avarice!
906: Myn hooly pardoun may yow alle warice,
907: So that ye offre nobles or sterlynges,
908: Or elles silver broches, spoones, rynges.
909: Boweth youre heed under this hooly bulle!
910: Cometh up, ye wyves, offreth of youre wolle!
911: Youre names I entre heer in my rolle anon;
912: Into the blisse of hevene shul ye gon.
913: I yow assoile, by myn heigh power,
914: Yow that wol offre, as clene and eek as cleer
915: As ye were born. -- and lo, sires, thus I preche.
916: And jhesu crist, that is oure soules leche,
917: So graunte yow his pardoun to receyve,
918: For that is best; I wol yow nat deceyve.
919: but, sires, o word forgat I in my tale --
920: I have relikes and pardoun in my male,
921: As faire as any man in engelond.
922: Whiche were me yeven by the popes hond.
923: If any of yow wole, of devocion,
924: Offren, and han myn absolucion,
925: Com forth anon, and kneleth heere adoun,
926: And mekely receyveth my pardoun;
927: Or elles taketh pardoun as ye wende,
928: Al newe and fressh at every miles ende,
929: So that ye offren, alwey newe and newe,
930: Nobles or pens, whiche that be goode and trewe.
931: It is an honour to everich that is heer
932: That ye mowe have a suffisant pardoneer
933: T'assoile yow, in contree as ye ryde,
934: For aventures whiche that may bityde.
935: Paraventure ther may fallen oon or two
936: Doun of his hors, and breke his nekke atwo.
937: Looke which a seuretee is it to yow alle
938: That I am in youre felaweshipe yfalle,
939: That may assoille yow, bothe moore and lasse,
940: Whan that the soule shal fro the body passe.
941: I rede that oure hoost heere shal bigynne,
942: For he is moost envoluped in synne.
943: Com forth, sire hoost, and offre first anon,
944: And thou shalt kisse the relikes everychon,
945: Ye, for a grote! unbokele anon thy purs.
946: nay, nay! quod he, thanne have I cristes curs!
947: Lat be, quod he, it shal nat be, so theech!
948: Thou woldest make me kisse thyn olde breech,
949: And swere it were a relyk of a seint,
950: Though it were with thy fundement depeint!
951: But, by the croys which that seint eleyne fond,
952: I wolde I hadde thy coillons in myn hond
953: In stide of relikes or os seintuarie.
954: Lat kutte hem of, I wol thee helpe hem carie;
955: They shul be shryned in an hogges toord!
956: this pardoner answerde nat a word;
957: So wrooth he was, no word ne wolde he seye.

Page 155

958: now, quod oure hoost, I wol no lenger pleye
959: With thee, ne with noon oother angry man.
960: But right anon the worthy knyght bigan,
961: Whan that he saugh that al the peple lough,
962: Namoore of this, for it is right ynough!
963: Sire pardoner, be glad and myrie of cheere;
964: And ye, sire hoost, that been to me so deere,
965: I prey yow that ye kisse the pardoner.
966: And pardoner, I prey thee, drawe thee neer,
967: And, as we diden, lat us laughe and pleye.
968: Anon they kiste, and ryden forth hir weye.

Page 156

The Shipman's Tale

1: a merchant whilom dwelled at seint-denys,
2: That riche was, for which men helde hym wys.
3: A wyf he hadde of excellent beautee;
4: And compaignable and revelous was she,
5: Which is a thyng that causeth more dispence
6: Than worth is al the chiere and reverence
7: That men hem doon at festes and at daunces.
8: Swiche salutaciouns and contenances
9: Passen as dooth a shadwe upon the wal;
10: But wo is hym that payen moot for al!
11: The sely housbonde, algate he moot paye,
12: He moot us clothe, and he moot us arraye,
13: Al for his owene worshipe richely,
14: In which array we daunce jolily.
15: And if that he noght may, par aventure,
16: Or ellis list no swich dispence endure,
17: But thynketh it is wasted and ylost,
18: Thanne moot another payen for oure cost,
19: Or lene us gold, and that is perilous.
20: this noble marchaunt heeld a worthy hous,
21: For which ne hadde alday so greet repair
22: For his largesse, and for his wyf was fair,
23: That wonder is; but herkneth to my tale.
24: Amonges alle his gestes, grete and smale,
25: Ther was a monk, a fair man and a boold --
26: I trowe a thritty wynter he was oold --
27: That evere in oon was drawynge to that place.
28: This yonge monk, that was so fair of face,
29: Aqueynted was so with the goode man,
30: Sith that hir firste knoweliche bigan,
31: That in his hous as famulier was he
32: As it is possible any freend to be.
33: and for as muchel as this goode man,
34: And eek this monk, of which that I began,
35: Were bothe two yborn in o village,
36: The monk hym claymeth as for cosynage;
37: And he agayn, he seith nat ones nay,
38: But was as glad therof as fowel of day;
39: For to his herte it was a greet plesaunce.
40: Thus been they knyt with eterne alliaunce,
41: And ech of hem gan oother for t'assure
42: Of bretherhede, whil that hir lyf may dure.
43: Free was daun john, and namely of dispence,
44: As in that hous, and ful of diligence
45: To doon plesaunce, and also greet costage.
46: He noght forgat to yeve the leeste page
47: In al that hous; but after hir degree,
48: He yaf the lord, and sitthe al his meynee,
49: Whan that he cam, som manere honest thyng;
50: For which they were as glad of his comyng
51: As fowel is fayn whan that the sonne up riseth.
52: Na moore of this as now, for it suffiseth.
53: But so bifel, this marchant on a day
54: Shoop hym to make redy his array
55: Toward the toun of brugges for to fare,
56: To byen there a porcioun of ware;
57: For which he hath to parys sent anon
58: A messager, and preyed hat daun john
59: That he sholde come to seint-denys to pleye
60: With hym and with his wyf a day or tweye,
61: Er he to brugges wente, in alle wise.
62: This noble monk, of which I yow devyse,
63: Hath of his abbot, as hym list, licence,
64: By cause he was a man of heigh prudence,
65: And eek an officer, out for to ryde,
66: To seen hir graunges and hire bernes wyde,
67: And unto seint-denys he comth anon.
68: Who was so welcome as my lord daun john,
69: Oure deere cosyn, ful of curteisye?
70: With hym broghte he a jubbe of malvesye,
71: And eek another, ful of fyn vernage,
72: And volatyl, as ay was his usage.
73: And thus I lete hem ete and drynke and pleye,
74: This marchant and this monk, a day or tweye.
75: The thridde day, this marchant up ariseth,
76: And on his nedes sadly hym avyseth,
77: And up into his countour-hous gooth he
78: To rekene with hymself, as wel may be,
79: Of thilke yeer how that it with hym stood,

Page 157

80: And how that he despended hadde his good,
81: And if that he encressed were or noon.
82: His bookes and his bagges many oon
83: He leith biforn hym on his countyng-bord.
84: Ful riche was his tresor and his hord,
85: For which ful faste his countour-dore he shette;
86: And eek he nolde that no man sholde hym lette
87: Of his acountes, for the meene tyme;
88: And thus he sit til it was passed pryme.
89: Daun john was rysen in the morwe also,
90: And in the gardyn walketh to and fro,
91: And hath his thynges seyd ful curteisly.
92: This goode wyf cam walkynge pryvely
93: Into the gardyn, there he walketh softe,
94: And hym saleweth, as she hath doon ofte.
95: A mayde child cam in hire compaignye,
96: Which as hir list she may governe and gye,
97: For yet under the yerde was the mayde.
98: O deere cosyn myn, daun john, she sayde,
99: What eyleth yow so rathe for to ryse?
100: Nece, quod he, it oghte ynough suffise
101: Fyve houres for to slepe upon a nyght,
102: But it were for an old appalled wight,
103: As been thise wedded men, that lye and dare
104: As in a fourme sit a wery hare,
105: Were al forstraught with houndes grete and smale.
106: But deere nece, why be ye so pale?
107: I trowe, certes, that oure goode man
108: Hath yow laboured sith the nyght bigan,
109: That yow were nede to resten hastily.
110: And with that word he lough ful murily,
111: And of his owene thought he was reed.
112: This faire wyf gan for to shake hir heed
113: And seyde thus, ye, God woot al, quod she.
114: Nay, cosyn myn, it stant nat so with me;
115: For, by that God that yaf me soule and lyf,
116: In al the reawme of france is ther no wyf
117: That lasse lust hath to that sory pley.
118: For I may synge -- allas and weylawey
119: That I was born, -- but to no wight, quod she,
120: Dar I nat telle how that it stant with me.
121: Wherfore I thynke out of this land to wende,
122: Or elles of myself to make an ende,
123: So ful am I of drede and eek of care.
124: This monk bigan upon this wyf to stare,
125: And seyde, allas, my nece, God forbede
126: That ye, for any sorwe or any drede,
127: Fordo youreself; but telleth me youre grief.
128: Paraventure I may, in youre meschief,
129: Conseille or helpe; and therfore telleth me
130: Al youre anoy, for it shal been secree.
131: For on my porthors here I make an ooth
132: That nevere in my lyf, for lief ne looth,
133: Ne shal I of no conseil yow biwreye.
134: The same agayn to yow, quod she, I seye.
135: By God and by this porthors I yow swere,
136: Though men me wolde al into pieces tere,
137: Ne shal I nevere, for to goon to helle,
138: Biwreye a word of thyng that ye me telle,
139: Nat for no cosynage ne alliance,
140: But verraily, for love and affiance.
141: Thus been they sworn, and heerupon they kiste,
142: And ech of hem tolde oother what hem liste.
143: Cosyn, quod she, if that I hadde a space,
144: As I have noon, and namely in this place,
145: Thanne wolde I telle a legende of my lyf,
146: What I have suffred with I was a wyf
147: With myn housbonde, al be he youre cosyn.
148: Nay, quod this monk, by God and seint martyn,
149: He is na moore cosyn unto me
150: Than is this leef that hangeth on the tree!
151: I clepe hym so, by seint denys of fraunce,
152: To have the moore cause of aqueyntaunce
153: Of yow, which I have loved specially
154: Aboven alle wommen, sikerly.
155: This swere I yow on my professioun.
156: Telleth youre grief, lest that he come adoun;
157: And hasteth yow, and gooth youre wey anon.
158: My deere love, quod she, o my daun john,
159: Ful lief were me this conseil for to hyde,
160: But out it moot, I may namoore abyde.
161: Myn housbonde is to me the worste man
162: That evere was sith that the world bigan.
163: But sith I am a wyf, it sit nat me
164: To tellen no wight of oure privetee,
165: Neither abedde, ne in noon oother place;
166: God shilde I sholde it tellen, for his grace!
167: A wyf ne shal nat seyn of hir housbonde
168: But al honour, as I kan understonde;
169: Save unto yow thus muche I tellen shal:
170: As helpe me god, he is noght worth at al
171: In no degree the value of a flye.
172: But yet me greveth moost his nygardye.
173: And wel ye woot that wommen naturelly
174: Desiren thynges sixe as wel as I:
175: They wolde that hir housbondes sholde be
176: Hardy, and wise, and riche, and therto free,
177: And buxom unto his wyf, and fressh abedde.
178: But by that ilke lord that for us bledde,
179: For his honour, myself for to arraye,

Page 158

180: A sonday next I moste nedes paye
181: An hundred frankes, or ellis I am lorn.
182: Yet were me levere that I were unborn
183: Than me were doon a sclaundre or vileynye;
184: And if myn housbonde eek it myghte espye,
185: I nere but lost; and therfore I yow preye,
186: Lene me this somme, or ellis moot I deye.
187: Daun john, I seye, lene me thise hundred frankes.
188: Pardee, I wol nat faille yow my thankes,
189: If that yow list to doon that I yow praye.
190: For at a certeyn day I wol yow paye,
191: And doon to yow what plesance and service
192: That I may doon, right as yow list devise.
193: And but I do, God take on me vengeance
194: As foul as evere hadde genylon of france.
195: This gentil monk answerde in this manere:
196: Now trewely, myn owene lady deere,
197: I have, quod he, on yow so greet a routhe
198: That I yow swere, and plighte yow my trouthe,
199: That whan youre housbonde is to flaundres fare,
200: I wol delyvere yow out of this care;
201: For I wol brynge yow an hundred frankes.
202: And with that word he caughte hire by the flankes,
203: And hire embraceth harde, and kiste hire ofte.
204: Gooth now youre wey, quod he, al stille and softe,
205: And lat us dyne as soone as that ye may;
206: For by my chilyndre it is pryme of day.
207: Gooth now, and beeth as trewe as I shal be.
208: Now elles God forbede, sire, quod she;
209: And forth she gooth as jolif as a pye,
210: And bad the cookes that they sholde hem hye,
211: So that men myghte dyne, and that anon.
212: Up to hir housbonde is this wyf ygon,
213: And knokketh at his countour boldely.
214: Quy la? quod he. Peter! it am I,
215: Quod she; what, sire, how longe wol ye faste?
216: How longe tyme wol ye rekene and caste
217: Youre sommes, and youre bookes, and youre thynges?
218: The devel have part on alle swiche rekenynges!
219: Ye have ynough, pardee, of goddes sonde;
220: Com doun to-day, and lat youre bagges stonde.
221: Ne be ye nat ashamed that daun john
222: Shal fasting al this day alenge goon?
223: What! lat us heere a messe, and go we dyne.
224: Wyf, quod this man, litel kanstow devyne
225: The curious bisynesse that we have.
226: For of us chapmen, also God me save,
227: And by that lord that clepid is seint yve,
228: Scarsly amonges twelve tweye shul thryve
229: Continuelly, lastynge unto oure age.
230: We may wel make chiere and good visage,
231: And dryve forth the world as it may be,
232: And kepen oure estaat in pryvetee,
233: Til we be deed, or elles that we pleye
234: A pilgrymage, or goon out of the weye.
235: And therfore have I greet necessitee
236: Upon this queynte world t' avyse me;
237: For everemoore we moote stonde in drede
238: Of hap and fortune in oure chapmanhede.
239: To flaundres wol I go to-morwe at day,
240: And come agayn, as soone as evere I may.
241: For which, my deere wyf, I thee diseke,
242: As be to every wight buxom and meke,
243: And for to kepe oure good be curious,
244: And honestly governe wel oure hous.
245: Thou hast ynough, in every maner wise,
246: That to a thrifty houshold may suffise.
247: Thee lakketh noon array ne no vitaille;
248: Of silver in thy purs shaltow nat faille.
249: And with that word his countour-dore he shette,
250: And doun he gooth, no lenger wolde he lette.
251: But hastily a messe was ther seyd,
252: And spedily the tables were yleyd,
253: And to the dyner faste they hem spedde,
254: And richely this monk the chapman fedde.
255: At after-dyner daun john sobrely
256: This chapman took apart, and prively
257: He seyde hym thus: cosyn, it standeth so,
258: That wel I se to brugges wol ye go.
259: Go and seint austyn spede yow and gyde!
260: I prey yow, cosyn, wisely that ye ryde.
261: Governeth yow also of youre diete
262: Atemprely, and namely in this hete.
263: Bitwix us two nedeth no strange fare;
264: Farewel, cosyn; God shilde yow fro care!
265: And if that any thyng by day or nyght,
266: If it lye in my power and my myght,
267: That ye me wol comande in any wyse,
268: It shal be doon, right as ye wol devyse.
269: O thyng, er that ye goon, if it may be,
270: I wolde prey yow; for to lene me
271: An hundred frankes, for a wyke or tweye,
272: For certein beestes that I moste beye,
273: To stoore with a place that is oures.
274: God helpe me so, I wolde it were youres!
275: I shal nat faille surely of my day,
276: Nat for a thousand frankes, a mile way.
277: But lat this thyng be secree, I yow preye,

Page 159

278: For yet to-nyght thise beestes moot I beye.
279: And fare now wel, myn owene cosyn deere;
280: Graunt mercy of youre cost and of youre cheere.
281: This noble marchant gentilly anon
282: Answerde and seyde, o cosyn myn, daun john,
283: Now sikerly this is a smal requeste.
284: My gold is youres, whan that it yow leste,
285: And nat oonly my gold, but my chaffare.
286: Take what yow list, God shilde that ye spare.
287: But o thyng is, ye knowe it wel ynogh,
288: Of chapmen, that hir moneie is hir plogh.
289: We may creaunce whil we have a name;
290: But goldlees for to be, it is no game.
291: Paye it agayn whan it lith in youre ese;
292: After my myght ful fayn wolde I yow plese.
293: Thise hundred frankes he fette forth anon,
294: And prively he took hem to daun john.
295: No wight in al this world wiste of this loone,
296: Savynge this marchant and daun john allone.
297: They drynke, and speke, and rome a while and pleye,
298: Til that daun john rideth to his abbeye.
299: The morwe cam, and forth this marchant rideth
300: To flaundres-ward; his prentys wel hym gydeth,
301: Til he came into brugges murily.
302: Now gooth this marchant faste and bisily
303: Aboute his nede, and byeth and creaunceth.
304: He neither pleyeth at the dees ne daunceth,
305: But as a marchaunt, shortly for to telle,
306: He let him lyf, and there I lete hym dwelle.
307: The sonday next the marchant was agon,
308: To seint-denys ycomen is daun john,
309: With crowne and berd al fressh and newe yshave.
310: In al the hous ther nas so litel a knave,
311: Ne no wight elles, that he nas ful fayn
312: For that my lord daun john was come agayn.
313: And shortly to the point right for to gon,
314: This faire wyf acorded with daun john
315: That for thise hundred frankes he sholde al nyght
316: Have hire in his armes bolt upright;
317: And this acord parfourned was in dede.
318: In myrthe al nyght a bisy lyf they lede
319: Til it was day, that daun john wente his way,
320: And bad the meynee farewel, have good day!
321: For noon of hem, ne no wight in the toun,
322: Hath of daun john right no suspecioun.
323: And forth he rydeth hoom to his abbeye,
324: Or where hym list; namoore of hym I seye.
325: This marchant, whan that ended was the faire,
326: To seint-denys he gan for to repaire,
327: And with his wyf he maketh feeste and cheere,
328: And telleth hire that chaffare is so deere
329: That nedes moste he make a chevyssaunce;
330: For he was bounden in a reconyssaunce
331: To paye twenty thousand sheeld anon.
332: For which this marchant is to parys gon
333: To borwe of certeine freendes that he hadde
334: A certeyn frankes; and somme with him he ladde.
335: And whan that he was come into the toun,
336: For greet chiertee and greet affeccioun,
337: Unto daun john he gooth first, hym to pleye;
338: Nat for to axe or borwe of hym moneye,
339: But for to wite and seen of his welfare,
340: And for to tellen hym of his chaffare,
341: As freendes doon whan they been met yfeere.
342: Daun john hym maketh feeste and murye cheere,
343: And he hym tolde agayn, ful specially,
344: How he hadde wel yboght and graciously,
345: Thanked be god, al hool his marchandise;
346: Save that he moste, in alle maner wise,
347: Maken a chevyssaunce, as for his beste,
348: And thanne he sholde been in joye and reste.
349: Daun john answerde, certes, I am fayn
350: That ye in heele ar comen hom agayn.
351: And if that I were riche, as have I blisse,
352: Of twenty thousand sheeld sholde ye nat mysse,
353: For ye so kyndely this oother day
354: Lente me gold; and as I kan and may,
355: I thanke yow, by God and by seint jame!
356: But nathelees, I took unto oure dame,
357: Youre wyf, at hom, the same gold ageyn
358: Upon youre bench; she woot it wel, certeyn,
359: By certeyn tokenes that I kan hire telle.
360: Now, by youre leve, I may no lenger dwelle;
361: Oure abbot wole out of this toun anon,
362: And in his compaignye moot I goon.
363: Grete wel oure dame, myn owene nece sweete,
364: And fare wel, deere cosyn, til we meete!
365: This marchant, which that was ful war and wys,
366: Creanced hath, and payd eek in parys
367: To certeyn lumbardes, redy in hir hond,
368: The somme of gold, and gat of hem his bond;
369: And hoom he gooth, murie as a papejay,
370: For wel he knew he stood in swich array
371: That nedes moste he wynne in that viage

Page 160

372: A thousand frankes aboven al his costage.
373: His wyf ful redy mette hym atte gate,
374: As she was wont of oold usage algate,
375: And al that nyght in myrthe they bisette;
376: For he was riche and cleerly out of dette.
377: Whan it was day, this marchant gan embrace
378: His wyf al newe, and kiste hire on hir face,
379: And up he gooth and maketh it ful tough.
380: Namoore, quod she, by god, ye have ynough!
381: And wantownly agayn with hym she pleyde,
382: Til atte laste thus this marchant seyde:
383: By go, quod he, I am a litel wrooth
384: With yow, my wyf, although it be me looth.
385: And woot ye why? by god, as that I gesse
386: That ye han maad a manere straungenesse
387: Bitwixen me and my cosyn daun john.
388: Ye sholde han warned me, er I had gon,
389: That he yow hadde an hundred frankes payed
390: By redy token; and heeld hym yvele apayed,
391: For that I to hym spak of chevyssaunce;
392: Me semed so, as by his contenaunce.
393: But nathelees, by god, oure hevene kyng,
394: I thoughte nat to axen hym no thyng.
395: I prey thee, wyf, ne do namoore so;
396: Telle me alwey, er that I fro thee go,
397: If any dettour hath in myn absence
398: Ypayed thee, lest thurgh thy necligence
399: I myghte hym axe a thing that he hath payed.
400: This wyf was nat afered nor affrayed,
401: But boldely she seyde, and that anon;
402: Marie, I deffie the false monk, daun john!
403: I kepe nat of his tokenes never a deel;
404: He took me certeyn gold, that woot I weel, --
405: What! yvel thedam on his monkes snowte!
406: For, God it woot, I wende, withouten doute,
407: That he hadde yeve it me bycause of yow,
408: To doon therwith myn honour and my prow,
409: For cosynage, and eek for beele cheere
410: That he hath had ful ofte tymes heere.
411: But sith I se I stonde in this disjoynt,
412: I wol answere yow shortly to the poynt.
413: Ye han mo slakkere dettours than am i!
414: For I wol paye yow wel and redily
415: Fro day to day, and if so be I faille,
416: I am youre wyf; score it upon my taille,
417: And I shal paye as soone as ever I may.
418: For by my trouthe, I have on myn array,
419: And nat on wast, bistowed every deel;
420: And for I have bistowed it so weel
421: For youre honour, for goddes sake, I seye,
422: As be nat wrooth, but lat us laughe and pleye.
423: Ye shal my joly body have to wedde;
424: By god, I wol nat paye yow but abedde!
425: Forgyve it me, myn owene spouse deere;
426: Turne hiderward, and maketh bettre cheere.
427: This marchant saugh ther was no remedie,
428: And for to chide it nere but folie,
429: Sith that the thyng may nat amended be.
430: Now wyf, he seyde, and I foryeve it thee;
431: But, by thy lyf, ne be namoore so large.
432: Keep bet my good, this yeve I thee in charge.
433: Thus endeth now my tale, and God us sende
434: Taillynge ynough unto oure lyves ende. Amen

The Words of the Host to the Prioress

435: Wel seyd, by corpus dominus, quod oure hoost,
436: Now longe moote thou saille by the cost,
437: Sire gentil maister, gentil maryneer!
438: God yeve the monk a thousand last quade yeer!
439: A ha! felawes! beth ware of swich a jape!
440: The monk putte in the mannes hood an ape,
441: And in his wyves eek, by seint austyn!
442: Draweth no monkes moore unto youre in.
443: But now passe over, and lat us seke aboute,
444: Who shal now telle first of al this route
445: Another tale; and with that word he sayde,
446: As curteisly as it had been a mayde,
447: My lady prioresse, by youre leve,
448: So that I wiste I sholde yow nat greve,
449: I wolde demen that ye tellen sholde
450: A tale next, if so were that ye wolde.
451: Now wol ye vouche sauf, my lady deere?
452: Gladly, quod she, and seyde as ye shal heere.

Page 161

The Prioress' Prologue

453: O lord, oure lord, thy name how merveillous
454: Is in this large world ysprad, quod she;
455: For noght oonly thy laude precious
456: Parfourned is by men of dignitee,
457: But by the mouth of children thy bountee
458: Parfourned is, for on the brest soukynge
459: Somtyme shewen they thyn heriynge.
460: Wherfore in laude, as I best kan or may,
461: Of thee and of the white lyle flour
462: Which that the bar, and is a mayde alway,
463: To telle a storie I wol do my labour;
464: Nat that I may encressen hir honour,
465: For whe hirself is honour and the roote
466: Of bountee, next hir sone, and soules boote.
467: O mooder mayde! o mayde mooder free!
468: O bussh unbrent, brennynge in moyses sighte,
469: That ravyshedest doun fro the dietee,
470: Thurgh thyn humbless, the goost that in th' alighte,
471: Of whos vertu, whan he thyn herte lighte,
472: Conceyved was the fadres sapience,
473: Help me to telle it in thy reverence!
474: Lady, thy bountee, thy magnificence,
475: Thy vertu, and thy grete humylitee,
476: Ther may no tonge expresse in no science;
477: For somtyme, lady, er men praye to thee,
478: Thou goost biforn of thy benyngnytee,
479: And getest us the lyght, of thy preyere,
480: To gyden us unto thy sone so deere.
481: My konnyng is so wayk, o blisful queene,
482: For to declare thy grete worthynesse
483: That I ne may the weighte nat susteene;
484: But as a child of twelf month oold, or lesse,
485: That kan unnethes any word expresse,
486: Right so fare I, and therfore I yow preye,
487: Gydeth my song that I shal of yow seye.

The Prioress' Tale

488: Ther was in asye, in a greet citee,
489: Amonges cristene folk, a jewerye,
490: Sustened by a lord of that contree
491: For foule usure and lucre of vileynye,
492: Hateful to crist and to his compaignye;
493: And thurgh the strete men myghte ride or wende,
494: For it was free and open at eyther ende.
495: A litel scole of cristen folk ther stood
496: Doun at the ferther ende, in which ther were
497: Children an heep, ycomen of cristen blood,
498: That lerned in that scole yeer by yere
499: Swich manere doctrine as men used there,
500: This is to seyn, to syngen and to rede,
501: As smale children doon in hire childhede.
502: Among thise children was a wydwes sone,
503: A litel clergeon, seven yeer of age,
504: That day by day to scole was his wone,
505: And eek also, where as he saugh th' ymage
506: Of cristes mooder, hadde he in usage,
507: As hym was taught, to knele adoun and seye
508: His ave marie, as he goth by the weye.
509: Thus hath this wydwe hir litel sone ytaught
510: Oure blisful lady, cristes mooder deere,

Page 162

511: To worshipe ay, and he forgat it naught,
512: For sely child wol alday soone leere.
513: But ay, whan I remembre on this mateere,
514: Seint nicholas stant evere in my presence,
515: For he so yong to crist dide reverence.
516: This litel child, his litel book lernynge,
517: As he sat in the scole at his prymer,
518: He alma redemptoris herde synge,
519: As children lerned hire antiphoner;
520: And as he dorste, he drough hym ner and ner,
521: And herkned ay the wordes and the noote,
522: Til he the firste vers koude al by rote.
523: Noght wiste he what this latyn was to seye,
524: For he so yong and tendre was of age.
525: But on a day his felawe gan he preye
526: T' expounden hym this song in his langage,
527: Or telle hym why this song was in usage;
528: This preyde he hym to construe and declare
529: Ful often tyme upon his knowes bare.
530: His felawe, which that elder was than he,
531: Answerde hym thus: this song, I have herd seye,
532: Was maked of our blisful lady free,
533: Hire to salue, and eek hire for to preye
534: Fo been oure help and socour whan we deye.
535: I kan namoore expounde in this mateere;
536: I lerne song, I kan but smal grammeere.
537: And is this song maked in reverence
538: Of cristes mooder? seyde this innocent.
539: Now, certes, I wol do my diligence
540: To konne it al er cristemasse be went.
541: Though that I for my prymer shal be shent,
542: And shall be beten thries in an houre,
543: I wol it konne oure lady for to honoure!
544: His felawe taughte hym homward prively,
545: For day to day, til he koude it by rote,
546: And thanne he song it wel and boldely,
547: Fro word to word, acordynge with the note.
548: Twies a day it passed thurgh his throte,
549: To scoleward and homward whan he wente;
550: On cristes mooder set was his entente.
551: As I have seyd, thurghout the juerie,
552: This litel child, as he cam to and fro,
553: Ful murily than wolde he synge and crie
554: O alma redemptoris everemo.
555: The swetnesse hath his herte perced so
556: Of cristes mooder that, to hire to preye,
557: He kan nat stynte of syngyng by the weye.
558: Oure firste foo, the serpent sathanas,
559: That hath in jues herte his waspes nest,
560: Up swal, and seide, o hebrayk peple, allas!
561: Is this to yow a thyng that is honest,
562: That swich a boy shal walken as hym lest
563: In youre despit, and synge of swich sentence,
564: Which is agayn youre lawes reverence?
565: Fro thennes forth the jues han conspired
566: This innocent out of this world to chace.
567: And homycide therto han they hyred,
568: That in an aleye hadde a privee place;
569: And as the child gan forby for to pace,
570: This cursed jew hym hente, and heeld hym faste,
571: And kitte his throute, and in a pit hym caste.
572: I seye that in a wardrobe they hym threwe
573: Where as thise jewes purgen hire entraille.
574: O cursed folk of herodes al newe,
575: What may youre yvel entente yow availle?
576: Mordre wol out, certeyn, it wol nat faille,
577: And namely ther th' onour of God shal sprede;
578: The blood out crieth on youre cursed dede.
579: O martir, sowded to virginitee,
580: Now maystow syngen, folwynge evere in oon
581: The white lamb celestial -- quod she --
582: Of which the grete evaungelist, seint john,
583: In pathmos wroot, which seith that they that goon
584: Biforn this lamb, and synge a song al newe,
585: That nevere, flesshly, wommen they ne knewe.
586: This poure wydwe awaiteth al that nyght
587: After hir litel child, but he cam noght;
588: For which, as soone as it was dayes lyght,
589: With face pale of drede and bisy thoght,
590: She hath at scole and elleswhere hym soght,
591: Til finally she gan so fer espie
592: That he last seyn was in the juerie.
593: With moodres pitee in hir brest enclosed,
594: She gooth, as she were half out of hir mynde,
595: To every place where she hath supposed
596: By liklihede hir litel child to fynde;

Page 163

597: And evere on cristes mooder meeke and kynde
598: She cride, and atte laste thus she wroghte:
599: Among the cursed jues she hym soghte.
600: She frayneth and she preyeth pitously
601: To every jew that dwelte in thilke place,
602: To telle hire if hir child wente oght forby.
603: They seyde nay; but jhesu, of his grace,
604: Yaf in hir thoght, inwith a litel space,
605: That in that place after hir sone she cryde,
606: Where he was casten in a pit bisyde.
607: O grete god, that parfournest thy laude
608: By mouth of innocentz, lo, heere thy myght!
609: This gemme of chastite, this emeraude,
610: And eek of martirdom the ruby bright,
611: Ther he with throte ykorven lay upright,
612: He alma redemptoris gan to synge
613: So loude that al the place gan to rynge.
614: The cristene folk that thurgh the strete wente
615: In coomen for to wondre upon this thyng,
616: And hastily they for the provost sente;
617: He cam anon withouten tariyng,
618: And herieth crist that is of hevene kyng,
619: And eek his mooder, honour of mankynde,
620: And after that the jewes leet he bynde.
621: This child with pitous lamentacioun
622: Up taken was, syngynge his song alway,
623: And with honour of greet processioun
624: They carien hym unto the nexte abbay.
625: His mooder swownynge by the beere lay;
626: Unnethe myghte the peple that was theere
627: This newe rachel brynge fro his beere.
628: With torment and with shameful deeth echon
629: This provost dooth thise jewes for to sterve
630: That of this mordre wiste, and that anon.
631: He nolde no swich cursednesse observe.
632: Yvele shal have that yvele wol deserve;
633: Therfore with wilde hors he dide hem drawe,
634: And after that he heng hem by the lawe.
635: Upon this beere ay lith this innocent
636: Biforn the chief auter, whil masse laste;
637: And after that, the abbot with his covent
638: Han sped hem for to burien hym ful faste;
639: And whan they hooly water on hym caste,
640: Yet spak this child, whan spreynd was hooly water,
641: And song o alma redemptoris mater!
642: This abbot, which that was an hooly man,
643: As monkes been -- or elles oghte be --
644: This yonge child to conjure he bigan,
645: And seyde, o deere child, I halse thee,
646: In vertu of the hooly trinitee,
647: Tel me what is thy cause for to synge,
648: Sith that thy throte is kut to my semynge?
649: My throte is kut unto my nekke boon,
650: Seyde this child, and, as by wey of kynde,
651: I sholde have dyed, ye, longe tyme agon.
652: But jesu crist, as ye in bookes fynde,
653: Wil that his glorie laste and be in mynde,
654: And for the worship of his mooder deere
655: Yet may I synge o alma loude and cleere.
656: This welle of mercy, cristes mooder sweete,
657: I loved alwey, as after my konnynge;
658: And whan that I my lyf sholde forlete,
659: To me she cam, and bad me for to synge
660: This anthem verraily in my deyynge,
661: As ye han herd, and whan that I hadde songe,
662: Me thoughte she leyde a greyn upon my tonge.
663: Wherfore I synge, and synge moot certeyn,
664: In honour of that blisful mayden free,
665: Til fro my tonge of taken is the greyn;
666: And after that thus seyde she to me;
667: -- My litel child, now wol I fecche thee,
668: Whan that the greyn is fro thy tonge ytake.
669: Be nat agast, I wol thee nat forsake. --
670: This hooly monk, this abbot, hym meene I,
671: His tonge out caughte, and took awey the greyn,
672: And he yaf up the goost ful softely.
673: And whan this abbot hadde this wonder seyn,
674: His salte teeris trikled doun as reyn,
675: And gruf he fil al plat upon the grounde,
676: And stille he lay as he had ben ybounde.
677: The covent eek lay on the pavement
678: Wepynge, and herying cristes mooder deere,
679: And after that they ryse, and forth been went,
680: And tooken awey this martir from his beere;
681: And in a tombe of marbul stones cleere
682: Enclosen they his litel body sweete.
683: Ther he is now, God leve us for to meete!

Page 164

684: O yonge hugh of lyncoln, slayn also
685: With cursed jewes, as it is notable,
686: For it is but a litel while ago,
687: Preye eek for us, we synful folk unstable,
688: That, of his mercy, God so merciable
689: On us his grete mercy multiplie,
690: For reverence of his mooder marie. Amen

The Prologue to the Tale of Sir Thopas

691: Whan seyd was al this miracle, every man
692: As sobre was that wonder was to se,
693: Til that oure hooste japen tho bigan,
694: And thanne at erst he looked upon me,
695: And seyde thus: what man artow? quod he;
696: Thou lookest as thou woldest fynde an hare,
697: For evere upon the ground I se thee stare.
698: Approche neer, and looke up murily.
699: Now war yow, sires, and lat this man have place!
700: He in the waast is shape as wel as I;
701: This were a popet in an arm t' enbrace
702: For any womman, smal and fair of face.
703: He semeth elvyssh by his contenaunce,
704: For unto no wight dooth he daliaunce.
705: Sey now somwhat, syn oother folk han sayd;
706: Telle us a tale of myrthe, and that anon.
707: Hooste, quod I, ne beth nat yvele apayd,
708: For oother tale certes kan I noon,
709: But of a rym I lerned longe agoon.
710: Ye, that is good, quod he; now shul we heere
711: Som deyntee thyng, me thynketh by his cheere.

The Tale of Sir Thopas

"fit" 1

Fitt I

712: Listeth, lordes, in good entent,
713: And I wol telle verrayment
714: Of myrthe and of solas;
715: Al of a knyght was fair and gent
716: In bataille and in tourneyment,
717: His name was sire thopas.
718: Yborn he was in fer contree,
719: In flaundres, al biyonde the see,
720: At poperyng, in the place.
721: His fader was a man ful free,
722: And lord he was of that contree,
723: As it was goddes grace.
724: Sire thopas wax a doghty swayn;
725: Whit was his face as payndemayn,
726: His lippes rede as rose;
727: His rode is lyk scarlet in grayn,
728: And I yow telle in good certayn,
729: He hadde a semely nose.
730: His heer, his berd was lyk saffroun,
731: That to his girdel raughte adoun;
732: His shoon of cordewane.
733: Of brugges were his hosen broun,
734: His robe was of syklatoun,
735: That coste many a jane.
736: He koude hunte at wilde deer,
737: And ride an haukyng for river
738: With grey goshauk on honde;
739: Therto he was a good archeer;
740: Of wrastlyng was ther noon his peer,
741: Ther any ram shal stonde.

Page 165

742: Ful many a mayde, bright in bour,
743: They moorne for hym paramour,
744: Whan hem were bet to slepe;
745: But he was chaast and no lechour,
746: And sweete as is the brembul flour
747: That bereth the rede hepe.
748: And so bifel upon a day,
749: For sothe, as I yow telle may,
750: Sire thopas wolde out ride.
751: He worth upon his steede gray,
752: And in his hand a launcegay,
753: A long swerd by his side.
754: He priketh thurgh a fair forest,
755: Therinne is many a wilde best,
756: Ye, bothe bukke and hare;
757: And as he priketh north and est,
758: I telle it yow, hym hadde almest
759: Bitid a sory care.
760: Ther spryngen herbes grete and smale,
761: The lycorys and the cetewale,
762: And many a clowe-gylofre;
763: And notemuge to putte in ale,
764: Wheither it be moyste or stale,
765: Or for to leye in cofre.
766: The briddes synge, it is no nay,
767: The sparhauk and the papejay,
768: That joye it was to heere;
769: The thrustelock made eek his lay,
770: The wodedowve upon the spray
771: She sang ful loude and cleere.
772: Sire thopas fil in love-longynge,
773: Al whan he herde the thrustel synge,
774: And pryked as he were wood.
775: His faire steede in his prikynge
776: So swatte that men myghte him wrynge;
777: His sydes were al blood.
778: Sire thopas eek so wery was
779: For prikyng on the softe gras,
780: So fiers was his corage,
781: That doun he leyde him in that plas
782: To make his steede som solas,
783: And yaf hym good forage.
784: O seinte marie, benedicite!
785: What eyleth this love at me
786: To bynde me so soore?
787: Me dremed al this nyght, pardee,
788: An elf-queene shal my lemman be
789: And slepe under my goore.
790: An elf-queene wol I love, ywis,
791: For in this world no womman is
792: Worthy to be my make
793: In towne;
794: Alle othere wommen I forsake,
795: And to an elf-queene I me take
796: By dale and eek by downe!
797: Into his sadel he clamb anon,
798: And priketh over stile and stoon
799: An elf-queene for t' espye,
800: Til he so longe hath riden and goon
801: That he foond, in a pryve woon,
802: The contree of fairye
803: So wilde;
804: For in that contree was ther noon
805: That to him durste ride or goon,
806: Neither wyf ne childe;
807: Til that ther cam a greet geaunt,
808: His name was sire olifaunt,
809: A perilus man of dede.
810: He seyde, child, by termagaunt!
811: But if thou prike out of myn haunt,
812: Anon I sle thy steede
813: With mace.
814: Heere is the queene of fayerye,
815: With harpe and pipe and symphonye,
816: Dwellynge in this place.
817: The child seyde, also moote I thee,
818: Tomorwe wol I meete with thee,
819: Whan I have myn armoure;
820: And yet I hope, par ma fay,
821: That thou shalt with this launcegay
822: Abyen it ful sowre.
823: Thy mawe
824: Shal I percen, if I may,
825: Er it be fully pryme of day,
826: For heere thow shalt be slawe.
827: Sire thopas drow abak ful faste;
828: This geant at hym stones caste
829: Out of a fel staf-slynge.
830: But faire escapeth child thopas,
831: And al it was thurgh goddes gras,
832: And thurgh his fair berynge.
833: Yet listeth, lordes, to my tale
834: Murier than the nightyngale,
835: For now I wol yow rowne
836: How sir thopas, with sydes smale,
837: Prikyng over hill and dale,
838: Is comen agayn to towne.

Page 166

839: His myrie men comanded he
840: To make hym bothe game and glee,
841: For nedes moste he fighte
842: With a geaunt with hevedes three,
843: For paramour and jolitee
844: Of oon that shoon ful brighte.
845: Do come, he seyde, my mynstrale,
846: And geestours for to tellen tales,
847: Anon in myn armynge,
848: Of romances that been roiales,
849: Of popes and of cardinales,
850: And eek of love-likynge.
851: They fette hym first the sweet wyn,
852: And mede eek in a mazelyn,
853: And roial spicerye
854: Of gyngebreed that was ful fyn,
855: And lycorys, and eek comyn,
856: With sugre that is trye.
857: He dide next his white leere,
858: Of cloth of lake fyn and cleere,
859: A breech and eek a sherte;
860: And next his sherte an aketoun,
861: And over that an haubergeoun
862: For percynge of his herte;
863: And over that a fyn hawberk,
864: Was al ywroght of jewes werk,
865: Ful strong it was of plate;
866: And over that his cote-armour
867: As whit as is a lilye flour,
868: In which he wol debate.
869: His sheeld was al of gold so reed,
870: And therinne was a bores heed,
871: A charbocle bisyde;
872: And there he swoor on ale and breed
873: How that the geaunt shal be deed,
874: Bityde what bityde!
875: His jambeux were of quyrboilly,
876: His swerdes shethe of ivory,
877: His helm of latoun bright;
878: His sadel was of rewel boon,
879: His brydel as the sonne shoon,
880: Or as the moone light.
881: His spere was of fyn ciprees,
882: That bodeth werre, and nothyng pees,
883: The heed ful sharpe ygrounde;
884: His steede was al dappull gray,
885: It gooth an ambil in the way
886: Ful softely and rounde
887: In londe.
888: Loo, lordes myne, heere is a fit!
889: If ye wol any moore of it,
890: To telle it wol I fonde.

"fit" 2

Fitt II

891: Now holde youre mouth, par charitee,
892: Bothe knyght and lady free,
893: And herkneth to my spelle;
894: Of bataille and of chivalry,
895: And of ladyes love-drury
896: Anon I wol yow telle.
897: Men speken of romances of prys,
898: Of horn child and of ypotys,
899: Of beves and sir gy,
900: Of sir lybeux and pleyndamour, --
901: But sir thopas, he bereth the flour
902: Of roial chivalry!
903: His goode steede al he bistrood,
904: And forth upon his wey he glood
905: As sparcle out of the bronde;
906: Upon his creest he bar a tour,
907: And therinne stiked a lilie flour, --
908: God shilde his cors for shonde!
909: And for he was a knyght auntrous,
910: He nolde slepen in noon hous,
911: But liggen in his hoode;
912: His brighte helm was his wonger,
913: And by hym baiteth his dextrer
914: Of herbes fyne and goode.
915: Hymself drank water of the well,
916: As dide the knyght sire percyvell
917: So worthy under wede,
918: Til on a day --

Page 167

The Host's Interruption of the Tale of Sir Thopas

919: Namoore of this, for goddes dignitee,
920: Quod oure hooste, for thou makest me
921: So wery of thy verray lewednesse
922: That, also wisly God my soule blesse,
923: Myne eres aken of thy drasty speche.
924: Now swich a rym the devel I biteche!
925: This may wel be rym dogerel, quod he.
926: Why so? quod I, why wiltow lette me
927: Moore of my tale than another man,
928: Syn that it is the beste rym I kan?
929: By god, quod he, for pleynly, at a word,
930: Thy drasty rymyng is nat worth a toord!
931: Thou doost noght elles but despendest tyme.
932: Sire, at o word, thou shalt no lenger ryme.
933: Lat se wher thou kanst tellen aught in geeste,
934: Or telle in prose somwhat, at the leeste,
935: In which ther be som murthe or som doctryne
936: Gladly, quod I, by goddes sweete pyne!
937: I wol yow telle a litel thyng in prose
938: That oghte liken yow, as I suppose,
939: Or elles, certes, ye been to daungerous.
940: It is a moral tale vertuous,
941: Al be it told somtyme in sondry wyse
942: Of sondry folk, as I shal yow devyse.
943: As thus: ye woot that every evaungelist,
944: That telleth us the peyne of jhesu crist,
945: Ne seith nat alle thyng as his felawe dooth;
946: But nathelees hir sentence is al sooth,
947: And alle acorden as in hire sentence,
948: Al be ther in hir tellyng difference.
949: For somme of hem seyn moore, and somme seyn lesse,
950: Whan they his pitous passioun expresse --
951: I meene of mark, mathew, luc, and john --
952: But doutelees hir sentence is al oon.
953: Therfore, lordynges alle, I yow biseche,
954: If that yow thynke I varie as in my speche,
955: As thus, though that I telle somwhat moore
956: Of proverbes than ye han herd bifoore
957: Comprehended in this litel tretys heere,
958: To enforce with th' effect of my mateere,
959: And though I nat the same wordes seye
960: As ye han herd, yet to yow alle I preye
961: Blameth me nat; for, as in my sentence,
962: Shul ye nowher fynden difference
963: Fro the sentence of this tretys lyte
964: After the which this murye tale I write.
965: And therfore herkneth what that I shal seye,
966: And lat me tellen al my tale, I preye.

The Tale of Melibee

967: A yong man called melibeus, myghty and
967: Riche, bigat upon his wyf, that called was prudence,
968: a doghter which that called was sophie./
968: Upon a day bifel that he for his desport is
969: Went into the feeldes hem to pleye./ His wyf
969: And eek his doghter hath he left inwith his hous,
970: Of which the dores weren faste yshette./ Thre
970: Of his olde foes han it espyed, and setten laddres
970: To the walles of his hous, and by wyndowes
971: been entred,/ and betten his wyf,
971: And wounded his doghter with fyve mortal
972: woundes in fyve sondry places, -- / this is to
972: Seyn, in hir feet, in hire handes, in hir erys, in
972: Hir nose, and in hire mouth, -- and leften hire
973: For deed, and wenten awey./
973: Whan melibeus retourned was in to his hous,
973: And saugh al this meschief, he, lyk a mad man,
974: Rentynge his clothes, gan to wepe and crie./
974: Prudence, his wyf, as ferforth as she dorste,
975: Bisoghte hym of his wepyng for to stynte;/ but
975: Nat forthy he gan to crie and wepen
975: Evere lenger the moore./
976: This noble wyf prudence remembred
976: Hire upon the sentence of ovide, in his book
976: That cleped is the remedie of love, where as
977: He seith/ he is a fool that destourbeth the
977: Mooder to wepen in the deeth of hire child,
978: Til she have wept hir fille as for a certein tyme;/
978: And thanne shal man doon his diligence with
978: Amyable wordes hire to reconforte, and preyen

Page 168

979: Hire of hir wepyng for to stynte./ For which
979: Resoun this noble wyf prudence suffred hir
979: Housbonde for to wepe and crie as for a certein
980: Space;/ and whan she saugh hir tyme, she
980: Seyde hym in this wise: allas, my lord, quod
980: She, why make ye youreself for to be
981: Lyk a fool?/ for sothe it aperteneth nat
982: To a wys man to maken swich a sorwe./
982: Youre doghter, with the grace of god, shal
983: Warisshe and escape./ And, al were it so that
983: She right now were deed, ye ne oughte nat, as
984: For hir deeth, youreself to destroye./ Senek
984: Seith: the wise man shal nat take to greet disconfort
985: for the deeth of his children;/ but,
985: Certes, he sholde suffren it in pacience as wel
985: As he abideth the deeth of his owene
986: Propre persone. -- /
986: This melibeus answerde anon, and
986: Seyde, what man, quod he, sholde of his
986: Wepyng stente that hath so greet a cause for
987: To wepe?/ jhesu crist, oure lord, hymself
988: Wepte for the deeth of lazarus hys freend./
988: Prudence answerde: certes, wel I woot attempree
988: wepyng is no thyng deffended to hym
988: That sorweful is, amonges folk in sorwe, but it
989: Is rather graunted hym to wepe./ The apostle
989: Paul unto the romayns writeth, -- man shal rejoyse
989: with hem that maken joye, and wepen
990: With swich folk as wepen. -- / ut though attempree
990: wepyng be ygraunted, outrageous
991: wepyng certes is deffended./
991: Mesure of wepyng sholde be considered,
992: after the loore that techeth us senek:/
992: -- whan that thy frend is deed, -- quod he, -- lat
992: Nat thyne eyen to moyste been of teeris, ne
992: To muche drye; although the teeris come to
993: Thyne eyen, lat hem nat falle;/ and whan thou
993: Hast forgoon thy freend, do diligence to gete
993: Another freend; and this is moore wysdom than
993: For to wepe for thy freend which that thou has
994: Lorn, for therinne is no boote. -- / and therfore,
994: If ye governe yow by sapience, put awey sorwe
995: Out of youre herte./ Remembre yow that
995: Jhesus syrak seith, -- a man that is joyous and
995: Glad in herte, it hym conserveth florissynge
995: In his age; but soothly sorweful herte
996: Maketh his bones drye. -- / he seith eek
996: Thus, that sorwe in herte sleeth ful many
997: A man./ Salomon seith that right as motthes
997: In shepes flees anoyeth to the clothes, and
997: The smale wormes to the tree, right so anoyeth
998: Sorwe to the herte./ Wherfore us oghte, as wel
998: In the deeth of oure children as in the los of
999: Oure othere goodes temporels, have pacience./
999: Remembre yow upon the pacient job. Whan
999: He hadde lost his children and his temporeel
999: Substance, and in his body endured and receyved
999: ful many a grevous tribulacion, yet
1000: Seyde he thus:/ -- oure lord hath yeve it me;
1000: Oure lord hath biraft it me; right as oure lord
1000: Hath wold, right so it is doon; blessed
1001: Be the name of oure lord! -- /
1001: To thise forseide thynges answerde
1001: Melibeus unto his wyf prudence: alle thy
1001: Wordes, quod he, been sothe, and therto profitable;
1001: but trewely myn herte is troubled with
1001: This sorwe so grevously that I noot what to
1002: Doone./
1002: Lat calle, quod prudence, thy trewe
1002: Freendes alle, and thy lynage whiche that been
1002: Wise. Telleth youre cas, and herkneth what
1002: They seye in conseillyng, and yow governe after
1003: Hire sentence./ Salomon seith, -- werk alle thy
1003: Thynges by conseil, and thou shalt never repente.
1004: Thanne, by the conseil of his wyf prudence,
1004: This melibeus leet callen a greet congregacion
1005: Of folk;/ as surgiens, phisiciens, olde folk and
1005: Yonge, and somme of his olde enemys reconsiled
1005: as by hir semblaunt to his love and
1006: Into his grace;/ and therwithal ther
1006: Coomen somme of his neighebores that
1006: Diden hym reverence moore for drede than for
1007: Love, as it happeth ofte./ Ther coomen also
1007: Ful many subtille flatereres, and wise advocatz
1008: lerned in the lawe./
1008: And whan this folk togidre assembled weren,
1008: This melibeus in sorweful wise shewed hem his
1009: Cas./ And by the manere of his speche it
1009: Semed that in herte he baar a crueel ire, redy
1009: To doon vengeaunce upon his foes, and sodeynly
1010: desired that the werre sholde bigynne;/
1010: But nathelees, yet axed he hire conseil
1011: Upon this matiere./ A surgien, by licence
1011: and assent of swiche as weren
1011: Wise, up roos, and to melibeus seyde as ye may
1012: Heere:/
1012: Sire, quod he, as to us surgiens aperteneth
1012: that we do to every wight the beste that
1012: We kan, where as we been withholde, and to
1013: Oure pacientz that we do no damage;/ wherfore
1013: it happeth many tyme and ofte that whan
1013: Twey men han everich wounded oother, oon
1014: Same surgien heeleth hem bothe;/ wherfore
1014: Unto oure art it is nat pertinent to norice werre
1015: Ne parties to supporte./ But certes, as to the
1015: Warisshynge of youre doghter, al be it so that
1015: She perilously be wounded, we shullen do so

Page 169

1015: Ententif bisynesse fro day to nyght that with
1015: The grace of God she shal be hool and
1016: Sound as soone as is possible./
1016: Almoost right in the same wise the
1016: Phisiciens answerden, save that they seyden a
1017: Fewe woordes moore:/ that right as maladies
1017: Been cured by hir contraries, right so shul men
1018: Warisshe werre by vengeaunce./
1018: His neighebores ful of envye, his feyned
1018: Freendes that semeden reconsiled, and his flatereres/
1019: maden semblant of wepyng, and empeireden
1019: and agreggeden muchel of this matiere
1019: in preisynge greetly melibee of myght, of
1019: Power, of richesse, and of freendes, despisynge
1020: The power of his adversaries,/ and seiden outrely
1020: that he anon sholde wreken hym on
1021: His foes, and bigynne werre./
1021: Up roos thanne an advocat that was
1021: Wys, by leve and by conseil of othere that were
1022: Wise, and seide:/ lordynges, the nede for
1022: Which we been assembled in this place is a ful
1023: Hevy thyng and an heigh matiere,/ by cause
1023: Of the wrong and of the wikkednesse that hath
1023: Be doon, and eek by resoun of the grete damages
1023: that in tyme comynge been possible to
1024: Fallen for this same cause,/ and eek by resoun
1024: Of the grete richesse and power of the parties
1025: Bothe;/ for the whiche resouns it were a
1026: Ful greet peril to erren in this matiere./
1026: Wherfore, melibeus, this is oure sentence:
1026: we conseille yow aboven alle thyng
1026: That right anon thou do thy diligence in
1026: Kepynge of thy propre persone in swich
1026: A wise that thou ne wante noon espie ne
1027: Wacche, thy persone for to save./ And after
1027: That, we conseille that in thyn hous thou sette
1027: Sufficeant garnisoun so that they may as wel
1028: Thy body as thyn hous defende./ But certes,
1028: For to moeve werre, ne sodeynly for to doon
1028: Vengeaunce, we may nat demen in so litel
1029: Tyme that it were profitable./ Wherfore we
1029: Axen leyser and espace to have deliberacion in
1030: This cas to deme./ For the commune proverbe
1030: Seith thus: -- he that soone deemeth,
1031: Soone shal repente. -- / and eek men seyn
1031: That thilke juge is wys that soone under-
1032: Stondeth a matiere and juggeth by leyser;/ for
1032: Al be it so that alle tariyng be anoyful, algates it
1032: Is nat to repreve in yevynge of juggement ne
1032: In vengeance takyng, whan it is sufficeant
1033: And resonable./ And that shewed oure lord
1033: Jhesu crist by ensample; for whan that the
1033: Womman that was taken in avowtrie was broght
1033: In his presence to knowen what sholde be doon
1033: With hire persone, al be it so that he wiste wel
1033: Hymself what that he wolde answere, yet ne
1033: Wolde he nat answere sodeynly, but he wolde
1033: Have deliberacion, and in the ground he wroot
1034: Twies./ And thise causes weaxen deliberacioun,
1034: and we shal thanne, by the grace of
1034: God, conseille thee thyng that shal be profitable./
1035: Up stirten thanne the yonge folk atones, and
1035: The mooste partie of that compaignye han
1035: Scorned this olde wise man, and bigonnen
1036: to make noyse, and seyden that/
1036: Right so as, whil that iren is hoot, men
1036: Sholden smyte, right so men sholde wreken hir
1036: Wronges whil that they been fresshe and newe;
1036: And with loud voys they criden werre!
1037: Werre!/
1037: Up roos tho oon of thise olde wise, and with
1037: His hand made contenaunce that men sholde
1038: Holden hem stille and yeven hym audience./
1038: Lordynges, quod he, ther is ful many a man
1038: That crieth -- werre! werre! -- that woot ful litel
1039: What werre amounteth./ Werre at his bigynnyng
1039: hath so greet an entryng and so large, that
1039: Every wight may entre whan hym liketh, and
1040: Lightly fynde werre;/ but certes what ende
1040: That shal therof bifalle, it is nat light to
1041: Knowe./ For soothly, whan that werre is
1041: Ones bigonne, ther is ful many a child
1041: Unborn of his mooder that shal sterve yong by
1041: Cause of thilke werre, or elles lyve in sorwe and
1042: Dye in wrecchednesse./ And therfore, er that
1042: Any werre bigynne, men moste have greet conseil
1043: and greet deliberacion./ And whan this
1043: Olde man wende to enforcen his tale by resons,
1043: Wel ny alle atones bigonne they to rise for to
1043: Breken his tale, and beden hym ful ofte his
1044: Wordes for to abregge./ For soothly, he that
1044: Precheth to hem that listen nat heeren his
1045: Wordes, his sermon hem anoieth./ For jhesus
1045: Syrak seith that musik in wepynge ia a noyous
1045: Thyng; this is to seyn: as muche availleth to
1045: Speken bifore folk to which his speche anoyeth,
1045: as it is to synge biforn hym that
1046: Wepeth./ And whan this wise man
1046: Saugh that hym wanted audience, al
1047: Shamefast he sette hym doun agayn./ For
1047: Salomon seith: ther as thou ne mayst have
1048: Noon audience, enforce thee nat to speke./
1048: I see wel, quod this wise man, that the commune
1048: proverbe is sooth, that -- good conseil
1049: Wanteth whan it is moost nede. -- /
1049: Yet hadde this melibeus in his conseil many
1049: Folk that prively in his eere conseilled hym

Page 170

1049: Certeyn thyng, and conseilled hym the contrarie
1050: in general audience./
1050: Whan melibeus hadde herd that the gretteste
1050: partie of his conseil weren accorded that
1050: He sholde maken werre, anoon he consented to
1050: Hir conseillyng, and fully affermed hire
1051: Sentence./ Thanne dame prudence,
1051: Whan that she saugh how that hir
1051: Housbonde shoop hym for to wreken hym on
1051: His foes, and to bigynne werre, she in ful humble
1051: wise, whan she saugh hir tyme, seide to
1052: Hym thise wordes:/ my lord, quod she, I
1052: Yow biseche as hertely as I dar and kan, ne
1052: Haste yow nat to faste, and for alle gerdons, as
1053: Yeveth me audience./ For piers alfonce seith,
1053: -- whoso that dooth to thee oother good or harm,
1053: Haste thee nat to quiten it; for in this wise thy
1053: Freend wole abyde, and thyn anemy shal the
1054: Lenger lyve in drede. -- / the proverbe seith, -- he
1054: Hasteth wel that wisely kan abyde, -- and in
1055: Wikked haste is no profit./
1055: This melibee answerde unto his wyf prudence:
1055: I purpose nat, quod he, to werke by
1055: Thy conseil, for many causes and resouns.
1055: For certes, every wight wolde holde me
1056: Thanne a fool;/ this is to seyn, if I, for
1056: Thy conseillyng, wolde chaungen thynges
1056: That been ordeyned and affermed by so manye
1057: Wyse./ Secoundely, I seye that alle wommen
1057: Been wikke, and noon good of hem alle. For -- of
1057: A thousand men, -- seith salomon, -- I foond o
1057: Good man, but certes, of alle wommen, good
1058: Womman foond I nevere. -- / and also, certes,
1058: If I governed me by thy conseil, it sholde
1058: Seme that I hadde yeve to thee over me
1058: The maistrie; and God forbede that it so
1059: Weere!/ for jhesus syrak seith that -- if the
1059: Wyf have maistrie, she is contrarious to hir
1060: Housbonde./ -- and salomon seith: -- nevere in
1060: Thy lyf to thy wyf, ne to thy child, ne to
1060: Thy freend, ne yeve no power over thy-
1060: Self; for bettre it were that thy children aske
1060: Of thy persone thynges that hem nedeth, than
1060: Thou see thyself in the handes of thy
1061: Children. -- / and also if I wolde werke
1061: By thy conseillyng, certes, my conseil
1061: Moste som tyme be secree, til it were tyme
1061: That it moste be knowe, and this ne may noght
1062: Be./ (car il est escript, la genglerie des
1062: Femmes ne puet riens celler fors ce qu' elle ne
1063: Scet./ Apres, le philosophre dit, en mauvais
1063: Conseil les femmes vainquent les hommes: et
1063: Par ces raisons je ne dois point user de ton conseil.)/
1064: Whanne dame prudence, ful debonairly and
1064: With greet pacience, hadde herd al that hir
1064: Housbonde liked for to seye, thanne axed she
1064: Of hym licence for to speke, and seyde in this
1065: Wise:/ my lord, quod she, as to youre firste
1065: Resoun, certes it may lightly been answered.
1065: For I seye that it is no folie to chaunge conseil
1065: Whan the thyng is chaunged, or elles whan
1065: The thyng semeth ootherweyes than it
1066: Was biforn./ And mooreover, I seye
1066: That though ye han sworn and bihight
1066: To perfourne youre emprise, and nathelees ye
1066: Weyve to perfourne thilke same emprise by
1066: Juste cause, men sholde nat seyn therfore that
1067: Ye were a liere ne forsworn./ For the book
1067: Seith that -- the wise man maketh no lesyng
1068: Whan he turneth his corage to the bettre. -- /
1068: And al be it so that youre emprise be establissed
1068: and ordeyned by greet multitude of folk,
1068: Yet that ye nat accomplice thilke ordinaunce,
1069: But yow like./ For the trouthe of thynges and
1069: The profit been rather founden in fewe folk that
1069: Been wise and ful of resoun, than by greet multitude
1069: of folk ther every man crieth and clatereth
1069: what that hym liketh. Soothly swich multitude
1070: is nat hones./ And as to the seconde
1070: Resoun, where as ye seyn that alle wommen
1070: Been wikke; save youre grace, certes ye despisen
1070: alle wommen in this wyse, and -- he that
1070: Al despiseth, al displeseth, -- as seith the
1071: Book./ And senec seith that -- whose
1071: Wole have sapience shal no man dispreyse,
1071: but he shal gladly techen the science
1072: That he kan withouten presumpcion or pride,/
1072: And swiche thynges as he noght ne kan, he
1072: Shal nat been ashamed to lerne hem, and enquere
1073: of lasse folk than hymself. -- / and, sire,
1073: That ther hath been many a good womman,
1074: May lightly be preved./ For certes, sire, oure
1074: Lord jhesu crist wolde nevere have descended
1074: To be born of a womman, if alle wommen hadden
1075: been wikke./ And after that, for the grete
1075: Bountee that is in wommen, oure lord jhesu
1075: Crist, whan he was risen fro deeth to lyve,
1075: Appeered rather to a womman than to
1076: His apostles./ And though that salomon
1076: seith that he ne foond nevere womman
1076: good, it folweth nat therfore that alle wommen
1077: ben wikke./ For though that he ne foond
1077: No good womman, certes, many another man
1077: Hath founden many a womman ful good and
1078: Trewe./ Or elles, per aventure, the entente of
1078: Salomon was this, that, as in sovereyn bounte,
1079: He foond no womman;/ this is to seyn, that ther

Page 171

1079: Is no wight that hath sovereyn bountee save
1079: God allone, as he hymself recordeth in hys
1080: Evaungelie./ For ther nys no creature so good
1080: That hym ne wanteth somwhat of the
1081: Perfeccioun of god, that is his makere./
1081: Youre thridde reson is this: ye seyn that
1081: If ye governe yow by my conseil, it sholde
1081: Seme that ye hadde yeve me the maistrie and
1082: The lordshipe over youre persone./ Sire, save
1082: Youre grace, it is nat so. For if it so were that
1082: No man sholde be conseilled but oonly of hem
1082: That hadden lordshipe and maistrie of his persone,
1083: men wolden nat be conseilled so ofte./
1083: For soothly thilke man that asketh conseil of
1083: A purpos, yet hath he free choys wheither he
1084: Wole werke by that conseil or noon./ And as
1084: To youre fourthe resoun, ther ye seyn that the
1084: Janglerie of wommen kan hyde thynges that
1084: They wot noght, as who seith that a womman
1085: Kan nat hyde that she woot;/ sire, thise wordes
1085: Been understonde of wommen that been
1086: Jangleresses and wikked;/ of whiche
1086: Wommen men seyn that thre thynges
1086: Dryven a man out of his hous, -- that is to seyn,
1087: Smoke, droppyng of reyn, and wikked wyves,/
1087: And of swiche wommen seith salomon that -- it
1087: Were bettre dwelle in desert than with a woman
1088: that is riotous. -- / and sire, by youre leve,
1089: That am nat I;/ for ye han ful ofte assayed my
1089: Grete silence and my grete pacience, and eek
1089: How wel that I kan hyde and hele thynges that
1090: Men oghte secreely to hyde./ And soothly, as
1090: To youre fifthe resoun, where as ye seyn that
1090: In wikked conseil wommen venquisshe men,
1090: God woot, thilke resoun stant heere in
1091: No stede./ For understoond now, ye
1092: Asken conseil to do wikkednesse;/ and if
1092: Ye wole werken wikkednesse, and youre wif
1092: Restreyneth thilke wikked purpos, and overcometh
1093: yow by reson and by good conseil,/
1093: Certes youre wyf oghte rather to be preised
1094: Than yblamed./ Thus sholde ye understonde
1094: The philosophre that seith, -- in wikked conseil
1095: Wommen venquisshen hir housbondes. -- / and
1095: Ther as ye blamen alle wommen and hir resouns,
1095: I shal shewe yow by manye ensamples
1095: That many a womman hath ben ful good, and
1095: Yet been, and hir conseils ful hoolsome
1096: And profitable./ Eek som men han seyd
1096: That the conseillynge of wommen is
1097: Outher to deere, or elles to litel of pris./ But al
1097: Be it so that ful many a womman is badde, and
1097: Hir conseil vile and noght worth, yet han men
1097: Founde ful many a good womman, and ful discret
1098: and wis in conseillynge./ Loo, jacob, by
1098: Good conseil of his mooder rebekka, wan the
1098: Benysoun of ysaak his fader, and the lordshipe
1099: Over alle his bretheren./ Judith, by hire good
1099: Conseil, delivered the citee of bethulie, in
1099: Which she dwelled, out of the handes of olofernus,
1099: that hadde it biseged and wolde have al
1100: Destroyed it./ Abygail delivered nabal hir
1100: Housbonde fro david the kyng, that wolde
1100: Have slayn hym, and apaysed the ire of the
1100: Kyng by hir wit and by hir good conseillyng./
1101: hester, by hir good conseil,
1101: Enhaunced greetly the peple of God in
1102: The regne of assuerus the kyng./ And the
1102: Same bountee in good conseillyng of many a
1103: Good womman may men telle./ And mooreover,
1103: Whan oure lord hadde creat adam, oure
1104: Forme fader, he seyde in this wise:/ -- it is nat
1104: Good to been a man alloone; make we to
1105: Hym an helpe semblable to hymself. -- / heere
1105: May ye se that if that wommen were nat
1105: Goode, and hir conseils goode and profitable,/
1106: oure lord God of hevene wolde
1106: Nevere han wroght hem, ne called hem
1107: Help of man, but rather confusioun of man./
1107: And ther seyde oones a clerk in two vers,
1107: -- What is bettre than gold? jaspre. What is
1108: Bettre than jaspre? wisedoom./ And what is
1108: Better than wisedoom? womman. And what is
1109: Bettre than a good womman? nothyng. -- / and,
1109: Sire, by manye of othre resons may ye seen
1109: That manye wommen been goode, and hir
1110: Conseils goode and profitable./ And therfore,
1110: sire, if ye wol triste to my conseil, I shal
1110: Restoore yow youre doghter hool and
1111: Sound./ And eek I wol do to yow so
1111: Muche that ye shul have honour in this
1112: Cause./
1112: Whan melibee hadde herd the wordes of his
1113: Wyf prudence, he seyde thus:/ I se wel that
1113: The word of salomon is sooth. He seith that
1113: -- Wordes that been spoken discreetly by ordinaunce
1113: been honycombes, for they yeven swetnesse
1113: to the soule and hoolsomnesse to the
1114: Body. -- / and, wyf, by cause of thy sweete
1114: Wordes, and eek for I have assayed and preved
1114: Thy grete sapience and thy grete trouthe, I wol
1115: Governe me by thy conseil in alle thyng./
1115: Now, sire, quod dame prudence, and syn
1115: Ye vouche sauf to been governed by my conseil,
1115: I wol enforme yow how ye shul governe
1115: Yourself in chesynge of youre conseillours./
1116: ye shul first in alle youre werkes
1116: Mekely biseken to the heighe God that

Page 172

1117: He wol be youre conseillour;/ and shapeth yow
1117: To swich entente that he yeve yow conseil and
1118: Confort, as taughte thobie his sone:/ -- at alle
1118: Tymes thou shalt blesse god, and praye hym
1118: To dresse thy weyes, and looke that alle thy
1119: Conseils been in hym for everemoore. -- / seint
1119: Jame eek seith: -- if any of yow have nede of
1120: Sapience, axe it of god. -- / and afterward
1120: Thanne shul ye taken conseil in youreself, and
1120: Examyne wel youre thoghtes of swich thyng
1120: As yow thynketh that is bes for youre
1121: Profit./ And thanne shul ye dryve fro
1121: Youre herte thre thynges that been contrariouse
1122: to good conseil;/ that is to seyn, ire,
1123: Coveitise, and hastifnesse./
1123: First, he that axeth conseil of hymself, certes
1123: He moste been withouten ire, for manye
1124: Causes./ The firste is this: he that hath greet
1124: Ire and wratthe in hymself, he weneth alwey
1125: That he may do thyng that he may nat do./
1125: And secoundely, he that is irous and
1126: Wrooth, he ne may nat wel deme;/ and
1126: He that may nat wel deme, may nat wel
1127: Conseille./ The thridde is this, that he that is
1127: Irous and wrooth, as seith senec, ne may nat
1128: Speke but blameful thynges,/ and with his
1128: Viciouse wordes he stireth oother folk to angre
1129: And to ire./ And eek, sire, ye moste dryve
1130: Coveitise out of youre herte./ For the apostle
1130: seith that coveitise is roote of alle
1131: Harmes./ And trust wel that a coveitous
1131: Man ne kan noght deme ne thynke, but
1132: Oonly to fulfille the ende of his coveitise;/ and
1132: Certes, that ne may nevere been accompliced;
1132: For evere the moore habundaunce that he hath
1133: Of richesse, the moore he desireth./ And, sire,
1133: Ye moste also dryve out of youre herte hastifnesse;
1134: for certes,/ ye ne may nat deeme for
1134: The beste by a sodeyn thought that falleth in
1134: Youre herte, but ye moste avyse yow on it
1135: Ful ofte./ For, as ye herde her biforn, the
1135: Commune proverbe is this, that -- he that
1136: Soone deemeth, soone repenteth. -- / sire,
1137: Ye ne be nat alwey in lyk disposicioun;/
1137: For certes, somthyng that somtyme semeth to
1137: Yow that it is good for to do, another tyme it
1138: Semeth to yow the contrarie./
1138: Whan ye han taken conseil in youreself, and
1138: Han deemed by good deliberacion swich thyng
1139: As yow semeth bes,/ thanne rede I yow that
1140: Ye kepe it secree./ Biwrey nat youre conseil
1140: To no persone, but if so be that ye wenen
1140: Sikerly that thurgh youre biwreyyng youre
1140: Condicioun shal be to yow the moore profitable./
1141: for jhesus syrak seith, -- neither
1141: To thy foo, ne to thy frend, discovere nat
1142: Thy secree ne thy folie;/ for they wol yeve yow
1142: Audience and lookynge and supportacioun in
1142: Thy presence, and scorne thee in thyn absence.
1143: -- / another clerk seith that -- scarsly
1143: Shaltou fynden any persone that may kepe conseil
1144: secrely. -- / the book seith, -- whil that thou
1144: Kepest thy conseil in thyn herte, thou kepest
1145: It in thy prisoun;/ and whan thou biwreyest
1145: Thy conseil to any wight, he holdeth
1146: Thee in his snare. -- / and therfore yow
1146: Is bettre to hyde youre conseil in youre
1146: Herte than praye him to whom ye han biwreyed
1146: Youre conseil that he wole kepen it cloos and
1147: Stille./ For seneca seith: -- if so be that thou
1147: Ne mayst nat thyn owene conseil hyde, how
1147: Darstou prayen any oother wight thy conseil
1148: Secrely to kepe? -- / but nathelees, if thou wene
1148: Sikerly that the biwreiyng of thy conseil to a
1148: Persone wol make thy condicion to stonden in
1148: The bettre plyt, thanne shaltou tellen hym thy
1149: Conseil in this wise./ First thou shalt make no
1149: Semblant wheither thee were levere pees or
1149: Werre, or this or that, ne shewe hym nat thy
1150: Wille and thyn entente. / for trust wel that
1150: Comunli thise conseillours been flatereres,/
1151: namely the conseillours of grete
1152: Lordes;/ for they enforcen hem alwey
1152: Rather to speken plesante wordes, enclynynge
1152: To the lordes lust, than wordes that been trewe
1153: Or profitable./ And therfore men seyn that the
1153: Riche man hath seeld good conseil, but if he
1154: Have it of hymself./
1154: And after that thou shalt considere thy
1155: Freendes and thyne enemys./ And as touchynge
1155: thy freendes, thou shalt considere which
1155: Of hem been moost feithful and moost wise
1155: And eldest and most approved in conseillyng;/
1156: and of hem shalt thou aske
1157: Thy conseil, as the caas requireth./ I
1157: Seye that first ye shul clepe to youre conseil
1158: Youre freendes that been trewe./ For salomon
1158: Seith that -- right as the herte of a man deliteth in
1158: Savour that is soote, right so the conseil of trewe
1159: Freendes yeveth swetnesse to the soule -- / he
1159: Seith also, -- ther may no thyng be likned to the
1160: Trewe freend;/ for certes gold ne silver ben nat
1160: So muche worth as the goode wyl of a
1161: Trewe freend. -- / and eek he seith that
1161: -- A trewe freend is a strong deffense;
1161: Who so that it fyndeth, certes he fyndeth a
1162: Greet tresour. -- / thanne shul ye eek considere
1162: If that youre trewe freendes been discrete and

Page 173

1162: Wise. For the book seith, -- axe alwey thy conseil
1163: of hem that been wise. -- / and by this same
1163: Resoun shul ye clepen to youre conseil of youre
1163: Freendes that been of age, swiche as han seyn
1163: And been expert in manye thynges and been
1164: Approved in conseillynges./ For the book seith
1164: That -- in olde men is the sapience, and in longe
1165: Tyme the prudence. -- / and tullius seith that
1165: -- Grete thynges ne been nat ay accompliced by
1165: Strengthe, ne by delivernesse of body, but by
1165: Good conseil, by auctoritee of persones, and by
1165: Science; the whiche thre thynges ne been nat
1165: Fieble by age, but certes they enforcen
1166: And encreescen day by day. -- / and
1166: Thanne shul ye kepe this for a general
1166: Reule: first shul ye clepen to youre conseil a
1167: Fewe of youre freendes that been especiale;/
1167: For salomon seith, -- manye freendes have thou,
1167: But among a thousand chese thee oon to be
1168: Thy conseillour. -- / for al be it so that thou first
1168: Ne telle thy conseil but to a fewe, thou mayst
1169: Afterward telle it to mo folk if it be nede./ But
1169: Looke alwey that thy conseillours have thilke
1169: Thre condiciouns that I have seyd bifore, that
1169: Is to seyn, that they be trewe, wise, and of
1170: Oold experience./ And werke nat alwey in
1170: Every nede by oon counseillour allone; for somtyme
1170: bihooveth it to been conseilled by
1171: Manye./ For salomon seith, -- salvacion
1171: Of thynges is where as ther been manye
1172: Conseillours. -- /
1172: Now, sith that I have toold yow of which
1172: Folk ye sholde been conseilled, now wol I
1173: Teche yow which conseil ye oghte to eschewe/.
1173: First, ye shul eschue the conseillyng of fooles;
1173: For salomon seith, -- taak no conseil of a fool,
1173: For he ne kan noght conseille but after his
1174: Owene lust and his affeccioun. -- / the book
1174: Seith that -- the propretee of a fool is this: he
1174: Troweth lightly harm of every wight, and lightly
1175: Troweth alle bountee in hymself. -- / thou shalt
1175: Eek eschue the conseillyng of alle flatereres,
1175: Swiche as enforcen hem rather to preise youre
1175: Persone by flaterye than for to telle yow
1176: The soothfastnesse of thynges./ Wherfore
1176: tullius seith, -- amonges alle the
1176: Pestilences that been in freendshipe the gretteste
1176: is flaterie. -- and therfore is it moore nede
1176: That thou eschue and drede flatereres than any
1177: Oother peple./ The book seith, -- thou shalt
1177: Rather drede and flee fro the sweete wordes of
1177: Flaterynge preiseres than fro the egre wordes
1178: Of thy freend that seith thee thy sothes. -- / salomon
1178: seith that -- the wordes of a flaterere is a
1179: Snare to cacche with innocentz. -- / he seith also
1179: That -- he that speketh to his freend wordes of
1179: Swetnesse and of plesaunce, setteth a net biforn
1180: his feet to cacche hym. -- / and therfore
1180: Seith tullius, -- enclyne nat thyne eres to flatereres,
1180: ne taak no conseil of the wordes
1181: Of flaterye. -- / and caton seith, -- avyse
1181: Thee wel, and eschue the wordes of swetnesse
1182: and of plesaunce. -- / and eek thou shalt
1182: Eschue the conseillyng of thyne olde enemys
1183: That been reconsiled./ The book seith that -- no
1183: Wight retourneth saufly into the grace of his
1184: Olde enemy. -- / and isope seith, -- ne trust nat
1184: To hem to whiche thou hast had som tyme
1184: Werre or enemytee, ne telle hem nat thy
1185: Conseil. -- / and seneca telleth the cause why:
1185: -- it may nat be. -- seith he, -- that where greet
1185: Fyr hath longe tyme endured, that ther
1185: Ne dwelleth som vapour of warmness.
1186: -- / and therfore seith salomon, -- in
1187: Thyn olde foo trust nevere. -- / for sikerly,
1187: Though thyn enemy be reconsiled, and maketh
1187: thee chiere of hymylitee, and lowteth to
1188: Thee with his heed, ne trust hym nevere./ For
1188: Certes he maketh thilke feyned humilitee moore
1188: For his profit than for any love of thy persone,
1188: By cause that he deemeth to have victorie over
1188: Thy persone by swich feyned contenance, the
1188: Which victorie he myghte nat have by strif or
1189: Werre./ And peter alfonce seith, -- make no
1189: Felawshipe with thyne olde enemys; for if thou
1189: Do hem bountee, they wol perverten it into
1190: Wikkednesse. -- / and eek thou most eschue
1190: The conseillyng of hem that been thy servantz
1190: and beren thee greet reverence, for
1190: Peraventure they seyn it moore for drede
1191: Than for love./ And therfore seith a philosophre
1191: in this wise: ther is no wight
1191: Parfitly trewe to hym that he to soore dredeth.
1192: -- / and tullius seith, ther nys no myght
1192: So greet of any emperour that longe may endure,
1192: but if he have moore love of the peple
1193: Than drede. -- / thou shalt also eschue the conseiling
1193: of folk that been dronkelewe, for they
1194: Ne kan no conseil hyde./ For salomon seith,
1194: -- ther is no privetee ther as regneth dronkenesse.
1195: -- / ye shul also han in suspect the conseillyng
1195: of swich folk as conseille yow o thyng
1195: Prively, and conseille yow the contrarie
1196: Openly./ For cassidorie seith that -- it
1196: Is a manere sleighte to hyndre, whan he
1196: Sheweth to doon o thyng openly and werketh
1197: Prively the contrarie. -- / thou shalt also have
1197: In suspect the conseillyng of wikked folk, for

Page 174

1197: The book seith, -- the conseillyng of wikked folk
1198: Is alwey ful of fraude. -- / and david seith, -- blisful
1198: is that man that hath nat folwed the con --
1199: Seilyng of shrewes. -- / thou shalt also eschue
1199: The conseillyng of yong folk, for hir conseil is
1200: Nat rype./
1200: Now, sire, sith I have shewed yow of
1200: Which folk ye shul take youre conseil, and of
1200: Which folk ye shul folwe the conseil,/
1201: now wol I teche yow how ye shal
1201: Examyne youre conseil, after the doctrine
1202: of tullius./ In the examynynge thanne
1202: Of youre conseillour ye shul considere manye
1203: Thynges./ Alderfirst thou shalt considere that
1203: In thilke thyng that thou purposest, and upon
1203: What thyng thou wolt have conseil, that verray
1203: Trouthe be seyd and conserved; this is to seyn,
1204: Telle trewely thy tale./ For he that seith fals
1204: May nat wel be conseilled in that cas of which
1205: He lieth./ And after this thou shalt considere the
1205: Thynges that acorden to that thou purposest for
1205: To do by thy conseillours, if resoun accorde
1206: therto;/ and eek if thy myhgt may
1206: Atteine therto; and if the moore part and
1206: The bettre part of thy conseillours acorde therto,
1207: Or noon./ Thanne shaltou considere what
1207: Thyng shal folwe of that conseillyng, as hate,
1207: Pees, werre, grace, profit, or damage, and
1208: Manye othere thynges./ And in alle thise
1208: Thynges thou shalt chese the beste, and weyve
1209: Alle othere thynges./ Thanne shaltow considere
1209: of what roote is engendred the matiere of
1209: Thy conseil, and what fruyt it may conceyve
1210: And engendre./ Thou shalt eek considere
1210: Alle thise causes, fro whennes they been
1211: Sprongen./ And whan ye han examyned
1211: youre conseil, as I have seyd, and
1211: Which partie is the bettre and moore profitable,
1211: and han approved it by manye wise folk
1212: And olde,/ thanne shaltou considere if thou
1212: Mayst parfourne it and maken of it a good
1213: Ende./ For certes, resoun wol nat that any
1213: Man sholde bigynne a thyng, but if he myghte
1214: Parfourne it as hym oghte;/ ne no wight sholde
1214: Take upon hym so hevy a charge that he
1215: Myghte nat bere it./ For the proverbe seith,
1215: -- he that to muche embraceth, distreyneth
1216: litel. -- / and catoun seith, -- assay
1216: To do swich thyng as thou hast power to
1216: Doon, lest that the charge oppresse thee so
1216: Soore that thee bihoveth to weyve thyng that
1217: Thou hast bigonne. -- / and if so be that thou
1217: Be in doute wheither thou mayst parfourne a
1217: Thing or noon, chese rather to suffre than bigynne./
1218: and piers alphonce seith, -- if thou hast
1218: Myght to doon a thyng of which thou most
1219: Repente, it is bettre nay than ye. -- / this is
1219: To seyn, that thee is bettre holde thy tonge
1220: Stille than for to speke./ Thanne may ye understonde
1220: by strenger resons that if thou hast
1220: Power to parfourne a werk of which thou shalt
1220: Repente, thanne is it bettre that thou suffre
1221: than bigynne./ Wel seyn they that
1221: Defenden every wight to assaye a thyng
1221: Of which he is in doute wheither he may parfourne
1222: it or noon./ And after, whan ye han
1222: Examyned youre conseil, as I have seyd biforn,
1222: And knowen wel that ye may parfourne youre
1222: Emprise, conferme it thanne sadly til it be at
1223: And ende./
1223: Now is it resoun and tyme that I shewe yow
1223: Whanne and wherfore that ye may chaunge
1224: Youre conseillours withouten youre repreve./
1224: Soothly, a man may chaungen his purpos and
1224: His conseil if the cause cesseth, or whan a newe
1225: Caas bitydeth./ For the lawe seith that -- upon
1225: Thynges that newely bityden bihoveth
1226: Newe conseil. -- / and senec seith, -- if thy
1226: Conseil is comen to the eeris of thyn enemy,
1227: chaunge thy conseil. -- / thou matst also
1227: Chaunge thy conseil if so be that thou fynde
1227: That by errour, or by oother cause, harm or
1228: Damage may bityde./ Also if thy conseil be
1228: Dishonest, or ellis cometh of dishonest cause,
1229: Chaunge thy conseil./ For the lawes seyn that
1229: -- alle bihestes that been dishoneste been of no
1230: Value -- ;/ and eek if so be that it be inpossible,
1230: or may nat goodly be parfourned
1231: Or kept./
1231: And take this for a general reule, that
1231: Every conseil that is affermed so strongly that
1231: It may nat be chaunged for no condicioun that
1231: May bityde, I seye that thilke conseil is wikked./
1232: This melibeus, whanne he hadde herd the
1232: Doctrine of his wyf dame prudence, answerde
1233: In this wyse:/ dame, quod he, as yet into
1233: This tyme ye han wel and covenably taught me
1233: As in general, how I shal governe me in the
1233: Chesynge and in the withholdynge of my conseillours./
1234: but now wolde I fayn that ye wolde
1235: Condescende in especial,/ and telle me how liketh
1235: yow, or what semeth yow, by oure conseillours
1235: that we han chosen in oure present
1236: nede./
1236: My lord, quod she, I biseke yow in al
1236: Humblesse that ye wol nat wilfully replie agayn
1236: My resouns, ne distempre youre herte, thogh I

Page 175

1237: Speke thyng that yow displese./ For God woot
1237: That, as in myn entente, I speke it for youre
1237: Beste, for youre honour, and for youre profite
1238: Eke./ And soothly, I hope that youre benyngnytee
1239: wol taken it in pacience./ Trusteth me
1239: Wel, quod she, that youre conseil as in this
1239: Caas ne sholde nat, as to speke properly, be
1239: Called a conseillyng, but a mocioun or a moevyng
1240: of folye,/ in which conseil ye han
1241: Erred in many a sondry wise./
1241: First and forward, ye han erred in
1242: Th' assemblynge of youre conseillours./ For ye
1242: Sholde first have cleped a fewe folk to youre
1242: Conseil, and after ye myghte han shewed it
1243: To mo folk, if it hadde been nede./ But certes,
1243: Ye han sodeynly cleped to youre conseil a greet
1243: Multitude of peple, ful chargeant and ful anoyous
1244: for to heere./ Also ye han erred, for theras
1244: Ye sholden oonly have cleped to youre conseil
1245: Youre trewe frendes olde and wise./ Ye han
1245: Ycleped straunge folk, yonge folk, false flatereres,
1245: And enemys reconsiled, and folk that
1246: Doon yow reverence withouten love./
1246: And ekk also ye have erred, for ye han
1246: Broght with yow to youre conseil ire, coveitise,
1247: And hastifnesse,/ the whiche thre thinges been
1247: Contrariouse to every conseil honest and profitable;/
1248: the whiche thre thinges ye han nat
1248: Anientissed or destroyed hem, neither in youreself,
1249: ne in youre conseillours, as yow oghte./
1249: Ye han erred also, for ye han shewed to youre
1249: Conseillours youre talent and youre affeccioun
1250: To make werre anon, and for to do vengeance./
1250: They han espied by youre wordes to
1251: What thyng ye been enclyned;/ and
1251: Therfore han they rather conseilled
1252: Yow to youre talent that to youre profit./
1252: Ye han erred also, for it semeth that yow
1252: Suffiseth to han been conseilled by thise
1253: Conseillours oonly, and with litel avys,/
1253: Whereas in so greet and so heigh a nede
1253: It hadde been necessarie mo conseillours
1253: And moore deliberacion to parfourne youre emprise./
1254: ye han erred also, for ye ne han nat
1254: Examyned youre conseil in the forseyde manere,
1255: ne in due manere, as the caas requireth./
1255: Ye han erred also, for ye han maked no division
1255: bitwixe youre conseillours; this is to
1255: Seyn, bitwixen youre trewe freendes and
1256: Youre feyned conseillours;/ ne ye han
1256: Nat knowe the wil of youre trewe
1257: Freendes olde and wise;/ but ye han cast alle
1257: Hire wordes in an hochepot, and enclyned
1257: Youre herte to the moore part and to the gretter
1258: Nombre, and there been ye condescended./
1258: And sith ye woot wel that men shal alwey
1258: Fynde a gretter nombre of fooles than of wise
1259: Men,/ and therfore the conseils that been at
1259: Congregaciouns and multitudes of folk, there as
1259: Men take moore reward to the nombre than to
1260: The sapience of persones,/ ye se wel that in
1260: Swiche conseillynges fooles han the maistrie./
1261: Melibeus answerde agayn, and seyde,
1262: I graunte wel that I have erred;/ but there
1262: As thou hast toold me heerbiforn that he nys
1262: Nat to blame that chaungeth his conseillours in
1263: Certein caas and for certeine juste causes,/ I am
1263: Al redy to chaunge my conseillours right as thow
1264: Wolt devyse./ The proverbe seith that -- for
1264: To do synne is mannyssh, but certes for to persevere
1265: longe in synne is werk of the devel. -- /
1265: To this sentence answered anon dame
1266: Prudence, and seyde:/ examineth,
1266: Quod she, youre conseil, and lat us see
1266: The whiche of hem han spoken most resonably
1267: And taught yow best conseil./ And for as
1267: Muche as that the examynacion is necessarie,
1267: Lat us bigynne at the surgiens and at the phisiciens,
1268: that first speeken in this matiere./ I sey
1268: Yow that the surgiens and phisiciens han
1268: Seyd yow in youre conseil discreetly, as hem
1269: Oughte;/ and in hir speche seyden ful wisely
1269: That to the office of hem aperteneth to doon to
1269: Every wight honour and profit, and no wight
1270: For to anoye;/ and after hir craft to doon greet
1270: Diligence unto the cure of hem which
1271: That they han in hir governaunce./
1271: And, sire, right as they han answered
1272: Wisely and discreetly,/ right so rede I that they
1272: Been heighly and sovereynly gerdoned for hir
1273: Noble speche;/ and eek for they sholde do the
1273: Moore ententif bisynesse in the curacion of
1274: Youre doghter deere./ For al be it so that they
1274: Been youre freendes, therfore shal ye nat suffren
1275: that they serve yow for noght,/ but ye
1275: Oghte the rather gerdone hem and shewe
1276: Hem youre largesse./ And as touchynge
1276: The proposicioun which that the phisiciens
1277: encreesceden in this caas, this is to seyn./
1277: That in maladies that oon contrarie is warisshed
1278: By another contrarie,/ I wolde fayn knowe hou
1278: Ye understonde thilke text, and what is youre
1279: Sentence./
1279: Certes, quod melibeus, I understonde
1280: It in this wise:/ that right as they han
1280: Doon me a contrarie, right so sholde I
1281: Doon hem another./ For right as they

Page 176

1281: Han venged hem on me and doon me wrong,
1281: Right so shal I venge me upon hem and doon
1282: Hem wrong;/ and thanne have I cured oon contrarie
1283: by another./
1283: Lo, lo, quod dame prudence, how lightly
1283: Is every man enclined to his owene desir and
1284: To his owene plesaunce!/ certes, quod she,
1284: The wordes of the phisiciens ne sholde nat
1285: Han been understonden in thys wise./ For
1285: Certes, wikkednesse is nat contrarie to wikkednesse,
1285: ne vengeance to vengeaunce, ne
1285: Wrong to wrong, but they been semblable./
1286: and therfore o vengeaucne is
1286: Nat warisshed by another vengeaunce,
1287: Ne o wroong by another wroong,/ but everich
1288: Of hem encreesceth and aggreggeth oother./
1288: But certes, the wordes of the phisiciens sholde
1289: Been understonden in this wise:/ for dood and
1289: Wikkednesse been two contraries, and pees and
1289: Werre, vengeaunce and suffraunce, discord and
1290: Accord, and manye othere thynges./ But certes,
1290: Wikkednesse shal be warisshed by goodnesse,
1290: Discord by accord, werre by pees, and
1291: So forth of othere thynges./ And heerto
1291: Accordeth seint paul the apostle in
1292: Manye places./ He seith: -- ne yeldeth nat
1292: Harm for harm, ne wikked speche for wikked
1293: Speche;/ but do wel to hym that dooth thee
1294: Harm, and blesse hym that seith to thee harm./
1294: And in manye othere places he amonesteth pees
1295: And accord./ But now wol I speke to yow of
1295: The conseil which that was yeven to yow
1295: By the men of lawe and the wise
1296: Folk,/ that seyden alle by oon accord,
1297: As ye han herd bifore,/ that over alle
1297: Thynges ye shal doon youre diligence to kepen
1297: Youre persone and to warnestoore youre hous;
1297: And seyden also that in this caas yow oghten
1297: For to werken ful avysely and with greet deliberacioun./
1298: and, sire, as to the firste point, that
1299: Toucheth to the kepyng of youre persone,/ ye
1299: Shul understonde that he that hath werre
1299: Shal everemoore mekely and devoutly
1300: Preyen, biforn alle thynges,/ that jhesus
1300: Crist of his mercy wol han hym in his
1300: Proteccion and been his sovereyn helpyng at
1301: His nede./ For certes, in this world ther is no
1301: Wight that may be conseilled ne kept sufficeantly
1301: Withouten the kepyng of oure lord jhesu
1302: Crist./ To this sentence accordeth the prophete
1303: david, that seith,/ -- if God ne kepe the
1304: Citee, in ydel waketh he that it kepeth. -- /
1304: Now, sire, thanne shul ye committe the kepyng
1304: of youre persone to youre trewe freendes,
1305: That been approved and yknowe,/ and
1305: Of hem shul ye axen help youre persone
1305: For to kepe. For catoun seith: -- if thou hast
1306: Nede of help, axe it of thy freendes;/ for ther
1306: Nys noon so good a phisicien as thy trewe
1307: Freend. -- / and after this thanne shul ye kepe
1307: Yow fro alle straunge folk, and fro lyeres, and
1308: Have alwey in suspect hire compaignye./ For
1308: Piers alfonce seith, -- ne taak no compaignye by
1308: The weye of a straunge man, but if so be that
1309: Thou have knowe hym of a lenger tyme./ And
1309: If so be that he falle into thy compaignye
1310: Paraventure, withouten thyn assent,/ enquere
1310: thanne as subtilly as thou mayst of
1310: His conversacion, and of his lyf bifore, and feyne
1310: Thy wey; seye that thou wolt thider as thou
1311: Wolt nat go;/ and if he bereth a spere, hoold
1311: Thee on the right syde, and if he bere a swerd,
1312: Hoold thee on the lift syde. -- / and after this
1312: Thanne shul ye kepe yow wisely from all swich
1312: Manere peple as I have seyd bifore, and hem
1313: And hir conseil eschewe./ And after this
1314: Thanne shul ye kepe yow in swich manere/
1314: That, for any presumpcion of youre strengthe,
1314: That ye ne dispise nat, ne accompte nat the
1314: Myght of youre adversarie so litel, that ye lete
1314: The kepyng of youre persone for youre
1315: Presumpcioun;/ for every wys man
1316: Dredeth his enemy./ And salomon
1317: Seith: -- weleful is he that of alle hath drede;/
1317: For certes, he that thurgh the hardynesse of
1317: His herte, and thurgh the hardynesse of
1317: Hymself, hath to greet presumpcioun, hym shal
1318: Yvel bityde. -- / thanne shul ye everemoore contrewayte
1319: embusshementz and alle espiaille./
1319: For senec seith that -- the wise man that
1320: Dredeth harmes, eschueth harmes,/ ne
1320: He ne falleth into perils that perils eschueth.
1321: -- / and al be it so that it seme that
1321: Thou art in siker place, yet shaltow alwey do
1322: Thy diligence in kepynge of thy persone;/ this
1322: Is to seyn, ne be nat necligent to kepe thy persone,
1322: nat oonly for thy gretteste enemys, but
1323: Fro thy leeste enemy./ Senek seith: -- a man
1323: That is well avysed, he dredeth his leste enemy.
1324: -- / ovyde seith that -- the litel wesele
1324: Wol slee the grete bole and the wilde
1325: Hert. -- / and the book seith, -- a litel
1325: Thorn may prikke a kyng ful soore, and
1326: An hound wol holde the wolde boor. -- / but
1326: Nathelees, I sey nat thou shalt be so coward
1327: That thou doute ther wher as is no drede./ The
1327: Book seith that -- somme folk han greet lust to
1327: Deceyve, but yet they dreden hem to be deceyved.

Page 177

1328: -- / yet shaltou drede to been empoisoned,
1328: and kepe the from the compaignye of
1329: Scorneres./ For the book seith, -- with scorneres
1329: make no compaignye, but flee hire
1330: Wordes as venym. -- /
1330: Now, as to the seconde point, where
1330: As youre wise conseillours conseilled yow to
1331: Warnestoore youre hous with gret diligence,/
1331: I wolde fayn knowe how that ye understonde
1332: Thilke wordes and what is youre sentence./
1332: Melibeus answerde, and seyde, certes, I understande
1332: it in this wise: that I shal warne --
1332: Stoore myn hous with toures, swiche as han
1332: Castelles and othere manere edifices, and armure,
1333: and artelries;/ by whiche thynges I may
1333: My persone and myn hous so kepen and deffenden
1333: that myne enemys shul been in drede
1334: Myn hous for to approche./
1334: To this sentence answerde anon prudence:
1334: Warnestooryng, quod she, of heighe toures
1334: And of grete edifices apperteyneth somtyme
1335: to pryde./ And eek men make
1335: Heighe toures, and grete edifices with
1335: Grete costages and with greet travaille; and
1335: Whan that they been accompliced, yet be they
1335: Nat worth a stree, but if they be defended by
1336: Trewe freendes that been olde and wise./ And
1336: Understoond wel that the gretteste and strongeste
1336: garnysoun that a riche man may have, as
1337: Wel to kepen his persone as his goodes, is/
1337: That he be biloved with hys subgetz and with
1338: His neighebores./ For thus seith tullius, that
1338: -- ther is a manere garnysoun that no man may
1339: Vanquysse ne disconfite, and that is/ a lord to
1339: Be biloved of his citezeins and of his
1340: Peple. -- /
1340: Now, sire, as to the thridde point,
1340: Where as youre olde and wise conseillours
1340: Seyden that yow ne oghte nat sodeynly ne
1341: Hastily proceden in this nede,/ but that yow
1341: Oghte purveyen and apparaillen yow in this caas
1342: With greet diligence and greet deliberacioun;/
1342: Trewely, I trowe that they seyden right wisely
1343: And right sooth./ For tullius seith: -- in every
1343: Nede, er thou bigynne it, apparaille thee with
1344: Greet diligence. -- / thanne seye I that in vengeance-
1344: takyng, in were, in bataille, and
1345: In warnestooryng,/ er thow bigynne, I
1345: Rede that thou apparaille thee therto,
1346: And do it with greet deliberacion./ For tul
1346: Lius seith that -- longe apparaillyng biforn the
1347: Bataille maketh short victorie. -- / and cassidorus
1347: seith, -- the garnysoun is stronger, whan
1348: It is longe tyme avysed. -- /
1348: But now lat us speken of the conseil that
1348: Was accorded by youre neighebores, swiche
1349: As doon yow reverence withouten love,/
1349: Youre olde enemys reconsiled, youre flatereres,/
1350: that conseilled yow certeyne
1350: Thynges prively, and openly conseilleden
1351: Yow the contrarie;/ the yonge folk also, that
1351: Conseilleden yow to venge yow, and make
1352: Werre anon./ And certes, sire, as I have seyd
1352: Biforn, ye han greetly erred to han cleped
1353: Swich manere folk to youre conseil,/ which
1354: Conseillours been ynogh repreved by the re/
1355: Souns aforeseyd./ But nathelees, lat us now
1355: Descende to the special. Ye shuln first
1356: Procede after the doctrine of tullius./
1356: Certes, the trouthe of this matiere, or of
1357: This conseil, nedeth nat diligently enquere;/
1357: For it is wel wist whiche they been that han
1358: Doon to yow this trespas and vileynye,/ and
1358: How manye trespassours, and in what manere
1358: They han to yow doon al this wrong and al this
1359: Vileynye./ And after this, thanne shul ye examyne
1359: the seconde condicion which that the
1360: Same tullius addeth in this matiere./ For tullius
1360: put a thyng which that he clepeth
1361: -- consentynge -- ; this is to seyn,/ who been
1361: They, and which been they and how
1361: Manye, that consenten to thy conseil in thy
1362: Wilfulnesse to doon hastif vengeance./ And
1362: Lat us considere also who been they, and how
1362: Manye been they, and whiche been they, that
1363: Consenteden to youre adversaries./ And certes,
1363: As to the first poynt, it is wel knowen whiche
1363: Folk been they that consenteden to youre hastif
1364: Wilfulnesse;/ for trewely, alle tho that conseilleden
1364: yow to maken sodeyn were ne been nat
1365: Youre freendes./ Lat us now considere whiche
1365: Been they that ye holde so greetly youre
1366: Freendes as to youre persone./ For al
1366: Be it so that ye be myghty and riche,
1367: Certes ye ne been but allone,/ for certes ye ne
1368: Han no child but a doghter,/ ne ye ne han
1368: Brotheren, ne cosyns germayns, ne noon oother
1369: Neigh kynrede,/ wherfore that youre enemys
1369: For drede wholde stinte to plede with yow, or
1370: To destroye youre persone./ Ye knowen also
1370: That youre richesses mooten been dispended
1371: in diverse parties,/ and whan
1371: That every wight hath his part, they ne
1371: Wollen taken but litel reward to venge thy
1372: Deeth./ But thyne enemys been thre, and they
1372: Han manie children, bretheren, cosyns, and
1373: Oother ny kynrede./ And though so were that
1373: Thou haddest slayn of hem two or tree, yet

Page 178

1373: Dwellen ther ynowe to wreken hir deeth and
1374: To sle thy persone./ And though so be that
1374: Youre kynrede be moore siker and stedefast
1375: Than the kyn of youre adversarie,/ yet nathelees
1375: youre kynrede nys but a fer kynrede;
1376: they been but litel syb to yow,/
1376: And the kyn of youre enemys been ny
1376: Syb to hem. And certes, as in that, hir condicioun
1377: is bet than youres./ Thanne lat us considere
1377: also if the conseillung of hem that conseilleden
1377: yow to taken sodeyn bengeaunce,
1378: Wheither it accorde to resoun./ And certes, ye
1379: Knowe wel -- nay. -- / for, as by right and resoun,
1379: Ther may no man taken vengeance on no wight
1380: But the juge that hath the jurisdiccioun of it,/
1380: Whan it is graunted hym to take thilke vengeance
1380: hastily or attemprely, as the lawe
1381: Requireth./ And yet mooreover of thilke
1381: Word that tullius clepeth -- consentynge,
1382: -- / thou shalt considere if thy myght and
1382: Thy power may consenten and suffise to thy
1383: Wilfulnesse and to thy conseillours./ And certes
1384: Thou mayst wel seyn that -- nay. -- / for sikerly,
1384: as for to speke proprely, we may do
1384: No thyng, but oonly swich thyng as we may
1385: Doon rightfully./ And certes rightfully ne mowe
1385: Ye take no vengeance, as of youre
1386: Propre auctoritee./ Thanne mowe ye
1386: Seen that youre power ne consenteth
1387: Nat, ne accordeth nat, with youre wilfulnesse./
1387: Lat us now examyne the thridde point, that
1388: Tullius clepeth -- consequent. -- / thou shal understonde
1388: that the vengeance that thou purposest
1389: for to take is the consequent;/ and
1389: Therof folweth another vengeaunce, peril, and
1389: Werre, and othere damages withoute nombre,
1390: Of whiche we be nat war, as at this tyme./
1390: And as touchynge the fourthe point,
1391: That tullius clepeth -- engendrynge, -- /
1391: Thou shalt considere that this wrong
1391: Which that is doon to thee is engendred of the
1392: Hate of thyne enemys,/ and of the vengeance-
1392: Takynge upon that wolde engendre another
1392: Vengeance, and muchel sorwe and wastynge
1393: Of richesses, as I seyde./
1393: Now, sire, as to the point that tullius clepeth
1394: -- causes, -- which that is the laste point,/ thou
1394: Shalt understonde that the worng that thou hast
1395: Receyved hath certeine causes,/ whiche that
1395: Clerkes clepen oriens and efficiens, and causa
1395: Longinqua and causa propinqua, this is
1396: To seyn, the fer cause and the ny cause./
1396: The fer cause is almyghty god, that is
1397: Cause of alle thynges./ The neer cause is thy
1399: Thre enemys.// the cause accidental was hate./
1399: The cause material been the fyve woundes of
1400: Thy doghter./ The cause formal is the manere
1400: Of hir werkynge that broghten laddres
1401: And cloumben in at thy wyndowes./
1401: The cause final was for to sle thy doghter.
1402: it letted nat in as muche as in hem was./
1402: But for to speken of the fer cause, as to what
1402: Ende they shul come, or what shal finally bityde
1402: Of hem in this caas, ne kan I nat deeme but
1403: By conjectynge and by supposynge./ For we
1403: Shul suppose that they shul come to a wikked
1404: Ende,/ by cause that the book of decrees seith,
1404: -- seelden, or with greet peyne, been causes
1404: Ybroght to good ende whanne they been baddely
1405: bigonne. -- /
1405: Now, sire, if men wolde axe me why that
1405: God suffred men to do yow this vileynye, certes,
1405: I kan nat wel answere, as for no soothfastnesse./
1406: for th' apostle seith that -- the
1406: Sciences and the juggementz of oure
1407: Lord God almyghty been ful depe;/ ther may
1407: No man comprehende ne serchen hem suffisantly.
1408: -- / nathelees, by certeyne presumpciouns
1409: and conjectynges, I holde and bileeve/
1409: That god, which that is ful of justice and of
1409: Rightwisnesse, hath suffred this bityde by juste
1410: Cause resonable./
1410: Thy name is melibee, this is to seyn,
1411: -- a man that drynketh hony. -- / thou hast
1411: Ydronke so muchel hony of sweete temporeel
1411: richesses, and delices and honours of
1412: This world,/ that thou art dronken, and hast
1413: Forgeten jhesu crist thy creatour./ Thou ne
1413: Hast nat doon to hym swich honour and reverence
1414: as thee oughte,/ ne thou ne hast nat
1414: Wel ytaken kep to the wordes of ovide, that
1415: Seith,/ -- under the hony of the goodes of
1415: The body is hyd the venym that sleeth
1416: The soule -- / and salomon seith, -- if thou
1416: Hast founden hony, ete of it that suffiseth;/
1417: for if thou ete of it out of mesure, thou
1418: Shalt spewe, -- and be nedy and povre./ And
1418: Peraventure crist hath thee in despit, and hath
1418: Turned awey fro thee his face and his eeris of
1419: Misericorde;/ and also he hath suffred that thou
1419: Hast been punysshed in the manere that thow
1420: Hast ytrespassed./ Thou hast doon
1421: Synne agayn oure lord crist;/ for certes,
1421: The three enemys of mankynde, that is to
1422: Seyn, the flessh, the feend, and the world,/
1422: Thou hast suffred hem entre in to thyn herte
1423: Wilfully by the wyndowes of thy body,/ and
1423: Hast nat defended thyself suffisantly agayns

Page 179

1423: Hire assautes and hire temptaciouns, so that they
1424: Han wounded thy soule in fyve places;/ this is
1424: To seyn, the deedly synnes that been entred into
1425: Thyn herte by thy fyve wittes./ And in the
1425: Same manere oure lord crist hath woold and
1425: Suffred that thy three enemys been entred
1426: into thyn house by the wyndowes,/
1426: And han ywounded thy doghter in the
1427: Forseyde manere./
1427: Certes, quod melibee, I se wel that ye
1427: Enforce yow muchel by wordes to overcome
1427: Me in swich manere that I shal nat venge me
1428: Of myne enemys,/ shewynge me the perils and
1428: The yveles that myghten falle of this vengeance./
1429: but whoso wolde considere in alle
1429: Vengeances the perils and yveles that myghte
1430: Sewe of vengeance-takynge,/ a man wolde
1430: Nevere take vengeance, and that were
1431: Harm;/ for by the vengeance-takynge
1431: Been the wikked men dissevered fro the
1432: Goode men,/ and they that han wyl to do wikkednesse
1432: restreyne hir wikked purpos, whan
1432: They seen the punyssynge and chastisynge of
1433: The trespassours./
1433: (et a ce respont dame prudence, certes,
1433: Dist elle, je t' ottroye que de vengence vient
1434: Molt de maulx et de biens;/ mais vengence
1434: N' appartient pas a un chascun fors seulement
1434: Aux juges et a ceulx qui ont la juridicion sur
1435: Les malfaitteurs.)/ and yet seye I moore, that
1435: Right as singuler persone synneth in
1436: Takynge vengeance of another man,/
1436: Right so synneth the juge if he do no
1437: Vengeance of hem that it han disserved./ For
1437: Senec seith thus: -- that maister, -- he seith, -- is
1438: Good that proveth shrewes. -- / and as cassidore
1438: seith, -- a man dredeth to do outrages
1438: Whan he woot and knoweth that it despleseth
1439: To the juges and the sovereyns. -- / and another
1439: Seith, -- the juge that dredeth to do right, maketh
1440: men shrewes. -- / and seint paul the apostle
1440: seith in his epistle, whan he writeth unto
1440: The romayns, that -- the juges beren nat
1441: The spere withouten cause,/ but they
1441: Beren it to punysse the shrewes and mysdoers,
1442: and for to defende the goode men./ If ye
1442: Wol thanne take vengeance of youre enemys, ye
1442: Shul retourne or have youre recours to the juge
1443: That hath the jurisdiccion upon hem,/ and he
1443: Shal punysse hem as the lawe axeth and requireth./
1444: A! quod melibee, this vengeance liketh
1445: Me no thyng./ I bithenke me now and take
1445: Heede how fortune hath norissed me fro my
1445: Childhede, and hath holpen me to passe
1446: Many a stroong paas./ Now wol I assayen
1446: hire, trowynge, with goddes help,
1446: That she shal helpe me my shame for to
1447: Venge./
1447: Certes, quod prudence, if ye wol werke
1447: By conseil, ye shul nat assaye fortune by
1448: No wey,/ ne ye shul nat lene or bowe unto
1449: Hire, after the word of senec;/ for -- thynges that
1449: Been folily doon, and that been in hope of
1450: Fortune, shullen nevere come to good ende. -- /
1450: And, as the same senec seith, -- the moore cleer
1450: And the moore shynyng that fortune is, the
1450: Moore brotil and the sonner broken she
1451: Is -- ./ Trusteth nat in hire, for she nys
1452: Nat stidefast ne stable;/ for whan thow
1452: Trowest to be moost seur or siker of hire help,
1453: She wol faille thee and deceyve thee./ And
1453: Where as ye seyn that fortune hath norissed
1454: Yow fro youre childhede,/ I seye that in so
1454: Muchel shul ye the lasse truste in hire and in
1455: Hir wit./ For senec seith, -- what man that is
1455: Norissed by fortune, she maketh hym
1456: A greet fool. -- / now thanne, syn ye desire
1456: and axe vengeance, and the vengeance
1456: that is doon after the lawe and bifore
1457: The juge ne liketh yow nat,/ and the vengeance
1457: That is doon in hope of fortune is perilous and
1458: Uncertein,/ thanne have ye noon oother remedie
1458: but for to have youre recours unto the sovereyn
1458: juge that vengeth alle vileynyes and
1459: Wronges./ And he shal venge yow after that
1460: Hymself witnesseth, where as he seith,/ -- leveth
1460: the vengeance to me, and I shal
1461: Do it. -- /
1461: Melibee answerde, if I ne venge me
1462: Nat of the vileynye that men han doon to me,/
1462: I sompne or warne hem that han doon to me
1462: That vileynye, and alle othere, to do me another
1463: Vileynye./ For it is writen, -- if thou take no
1463: Vengeance of an oold vileynye, thou sompnest
1464: Thyne adversaries to do thee a newe vileynye. -- /
1464: And also for my suffrance men wolden do
1464: Me so muchel vileynye that I myghte neither
1465: Bere it ne susteene,/ and so sholde I
1466: Been put and holden overlowe./ For
1466: Men seyn, -- in muchel suffrynge shul
1466: Manye thynges falle unto thee whiche thou
1467: Shalt nat mowe suffre. -- /
1467: Certes, quod prudence, I graunte yow
1468: That over -- muchel suffraunce is nat good./ But
1468: Yet ne folweth it nat therof that every persone
1468: To whom men doon vileynye take of it vengeance;/
1469: for that aperteneth and longeth al

Page 180

1469: Oonly to the juges, for they shul venge the
1470: Vileynyes and injuries./ And therfore tho two
1470: Auctoritees that ye han seyd above been
1471: Oonly understonden in the juges./ For
1471: Whan they suffren over-muchel the
1471: Wronges and the vileynyes to be doon withouten
1472: punysshynge,/ the sompne nat a man
1472: Al oonly for to do newe wronges, but they
1473: Comanden it./ Also a wys man seith that the
1473: Juge that correcteth nat the synnere comandeth
1474: and biddeth hym do synne. -- / and the juges
1474: And sovereyns myghten in hir land so muchel
1475: Suffre of the shrewes and mysdoeres/ that they
1475: Sholden, by swich suffrance, by proces of
1475: Tyme wexen of swich power and myght that
1475: They sholden putte out the juges and the
1476: Sovereyns from hir places,/ and atte laste
1477: Maken hem lesen hire lordshipes./
1477: But lat us now putte that ye have leve to
1478: Venge yow./ I seye ye been nat of myght and
1479: Power as now to venge yow;/ for if ye wole
1479: Maken comparisoun unto the myght of youre
1479: Adversaries, ye shul fynde in manye thynges
1479: That I have shewed yow er this that hire condicion
1480: is bettre than youres./ And therfore
1480: Seye I that it is good as now that ye suffre
1481: and be pacient./
1481: Forthermoore, ye knowen wel that
1481: After the comune sawe, -- it is a woodnesse a
1481: Man to stryve with a strenger or a moore
1482: Myghty man than he is hymself;/ and for to
1482: Stryve with a man of evene strengthe, that is
1482: To seyn, with as strong a man as he is, it is
1483: Peril;/ and for to stryve with a weyker man, it
1484: Is folie. -- / and therfore sholde a man flee stryvynge
1485: as muchel as he myghte./ For salomon
1485: Seith, -- it is a greet worshipe to a man to
1486: Kepen hym fro noyse and stryf. -- / and
1486: If it so bifalle or happe that a man of
1486: Gretter myght and strengthe than thou art do
1487: Thee grevaunce,/ studie and bisye thee rather
1487: To stille the same grevaunce than for to venge
1488: Thee./ For senec seith that -- he putteth hym in
1488: Greet peril that stryveth with a gretter man
1489: Than he is hymself. -- / and catoun seith, -- if a
1489: Man of hyer estaat or degree, or moore myghty
1489: Than thou, do thee anoy or grevaunce, suffre
1490: Hym;/ for he that oones hath greved thee,
1490: May another tyme releeve thee and
1491: Helpe. -- / yet sette I caas, ye have bothe
1492: Myght and licence for to venge yow,/ I
1492: Seye that ther be ful manye thynges that shul
1493: Restreyne yow of vengeance-takynge,/ and
1493: Make yow for to enclyne to suffre, and for to
1493: Han pacience in the wronges that han been
1494: Doon to yow./ First and foreward, if ye wole
1494: Considere the defautes that been in youre
1495: Owene persone,/ for whiche defautes God hath
1495: Suffred yow have this tribulacioun, as I
1496: Have seyd yow heer-biforn./ For the
1496: Poete seith that -- we oghte paciently
1496: Taken the tribulacions that comen to us, whan
1496: We thynken and consideren that we han disserved
1497: to have hem. -- / and seint gregorie
1497: Seith that -- whan a man considereth wel the
1498: Nombre of his defautes and of his synnes,/ the
1498: Peynes and the tribulaciouns that he suffreth
1499: Semen the lesse unto hym;/ and in as muche
1499: As hym thynketh his synnes moore hevy and
1500: Grevous,/ in so muche semeth his peyne
1501: The lighter and the esier unto hym. -- /
1501: Also ye owen to enclyne and bowe youre
1501: Herte to take the pacience of oure lord jhesu
1502: Crist, as seith seint peter in his epistles./
1502: Jhesu crist, -- he seith, -- hath suffred for us and
1502: Yeven ensample to every man to folwe and
1503: Sewe hym;/ for he dide nevere synne, ne nevere
1504: cam ther a vileyns word out of his mouth./
1504: Whan men cursed hym, he cursed hem noght;
1504: And whan men betten hym, he manaced hem
1505: Noght. -- / also the grete pacience which the
1505: Seintes that been in paradys han had in tribulaciouns
1505: that they han ysuffred, withouten
1506: Hir desert or gilt,/ oghte muchel stiren
1507: Yow to pacience./ Forthermoore ye
1508: Sholde enforce yow to have pacience,/ considerynge
1508: that the tribulaciouns of this world but
1508: Litel while endure, and soone passed been and
1509: Goon,/ and the joye that a man seketh to have
1509: By pacience in tribulaciouns is perdurable,
1510: After that the apostle seith in his epistle./ The
1510: Joye of god, he seith, is perdurable,
1511: That is to seyn, everelastynge./ Also
1511: Troweth and bileveth stedefastly that he
1511: Nys nat wel ynorissed, ne wel ytaught, that kan
1511: Nat have pacience, or wol nat receyve pacience./
1512: for salomon seith that -- the doctrine
1513: And the wit of a man is knowen by pacience. -- /
1513: And in another place he seith that -- he that is
1514: Pacient governeth hym by greet prudence. -- /
1514: And the same salomon seith, -- the angry and
1514: Wrathful man maketh noyses, and the pacient
1515: Man atempreth hem and stilleth. -- / he seith
1515: Also, -- it is moore worth to be pacient
1516: Than for to be right strong;/ and he
1516: That may have the lordshipe of his
1516: Owene herte is moore to preyse than he that
1517: By his force or strengthe taketh grete citees. -- /

Page 181

1517: And therfore seith seint jame in his epistle that
1518: -- pacience is a greet vertu of perfeccioun. -- /
1518: Certes, quod melibee, I graunte yow,
1518: Dame prudence, that pacience is greet vertu
1519: Of perfeccioun;/ but every man may nat have
1520: The perfeccioun that ye seken;/ ne I nam
1521: Nat of the nombre of right parfite men,/
1521: For myn herte may nevere been in pees
1522: Unto the tyme it be venged./ And al be it so
1522: That it was greet peril to myne enemys to do
1523: Me a vileynye in takynge vengeance upon me,/
1523: Yet tooken they noon heede of the peril, but
1524: Fulfilleden hir wikked wyl and hir corage./
1524: And therfore me thynketh men oghten nat
1524: Repreve me, though I putte me in a litel peril
1525: For to venge me,/ and though I do a greet
1525: Excesse, that is to seyn, that I venge
1526: Oon outrage by another./
1526: A, quod dame prudence, ye seyn
1527: Youre wyl and as yow liketh,/ but in no caas
1527: Of the world a man sholde nat doon outrage
1528: Ne excesse for to vengen hym./ For cassidore
1528: Seith that -- as yvele dooth he that vengeth hym
1529: By outrage as he that dooth the outrage. -- / and
1529: Therfore ye shul venge yow after the ordre of
1529: Right, that is to seyn, by the lawe, and noght
1530: By excesse ne by outrage./ And also, if ye
1530: Wol venge yow of the outrage of youre adversaries
1530: in oother manere than right comandeth,
1531: ye synne./ And therfore seith senec
1531: That -- a man shal nevere vengen shrewednesse
1532: by shrewednesse. -- / and if ye seye that
1532: Right axeth a man to defenden violence by violence,
1533: and fightyng by fightyng,/ certes ye seye
1533: Sooth, whan the defense is doon anon withouten
1533: intervalle or withouten tariyng or delay,/
1534: for to deffenden hym and nat for to
1535: Vengen hym./ And it bihoveth that a man
1535: Putte swich attemperance in his deffense/
1536: that men have no cause ne matiere
1536: to repreven hym that deffendeth
1536: Hym of excesse and outrage, for ellis were it
1537: Agayn resoun./ Pardee, ye knowen wel that
1537: Ye maken no deffense as now for to deffende
1538: Yow, but for to venge yow;/ and so seweth
1538: It that ye han no wyl to do youre dede attemprely./
1539: and therfore me thynketh that pacience
1539: is good; for salomon seith that -- he that
1540: Is nat pacient shal have a greet harm. -- /
1540: Certes, quod melibee, I graunte yow that
1540: Whan a man is inpacient and wrooth, of that
1540: That toucheth hym noght and that aperteneth
1540: Nat unto hym, though it harme hym, it
1541: Is no wonder./ For the lawe seith that
1541: -- he is coupable that entremetteth hym or
1541: Medleth with swych thyng as aperteneth nat
1542: Unto hym. -- / and salomon seith that -- he that
1542: Entremetteth hym of the noyse or strif of another
1542: man is lyk to hym that taketh an hound
1543: By the eris. -- / for right as he that taketh a
1543: Straunge hound by the eris is outherwhile biten
1544: With the hound,/ right in the same wise is it
1544: Resoun that he have harm that by his inpacience
1544: medleth hym of the noyse of another
1545: Man, wheras it aperteneth nat unto hym./ But
1545: Ye knowen wel that this dede, that is to seyn,
1545: My grief and my disese, toucheth me
1546: Right ny./ And therfore, though I be
1547: Wrooth and inpacient, it is no merveille./
1547: And, savynge youre grace, I kan nat seen that it
1547: Myghte greetly harme me though I tooke vengeaunce./
1548: for I am richer and moore myghty
1549: Than myne enemys been;/ and wel knowen ye
1549: That by moneye and by havynge grete possessions
1549: been alle the thynges of this world governed./
1550: and salomon seith that -- alle
1551: Thynges abeyen to moneye. -- /
1551: Whan prudence hadde herd hir housbonde
1551: avanten hym of his richesse and of his
1551: Moneye, dispreisynge the power of his adversaries,
1552: she spak, and seyde in this wise:/
1552: Certes, deere sire, I graunte yow that ye been
1553: Riche and myghty,/ and that the richesses been
1553: Goode to hem that han wel ygeten hem and wel
1554: Konne usen hem./ For right as the body of a
1554: Man may nat lyven withoute the soule, namoore
1555: May it lyve withouten temporeel goodes./ And
1555: By richesses may a man gete hym grete
1556: Freendes./ And therfore seith pamphilles:
1556: -- if a net -- herdes doghter, -- seith
1556: He, -- be riche, she may chesen of a thousand
1557: Men which she wol take to hir housbonde;/
1557: For, of a thousand men, oon wol nat forsaken
1558: Hire ne refusen hire. -- / and this pamphilles
1558: Seith also: -- if thow be right happy -- that is to
1558: Seyn, if thou be right riche -- thou shalt fynde
1559: A greet nombre of felawes and freendes./ And
1559: If thy fortune change that thou wexe povre,
1560: Farewel freendshipe and felaweshipe;/ for thou
1560: Shalt be alloone withouten any compaignye,
1560: But if it be the compaignye of povre
1561: Folk. -- / and yet seith this pamphilles
1561: Moreover that -- they that been thralle and
1561: Bonde of lynage shullen been maad worthy and
1562: Noble by the richesses. -- / and right so as by
1562: Richesses ther comen manye goodes, right so
1562: By poverte come ther manye harmes and
1563: Yveles./ For greet poverte constreyneth a man

Page 182

1564: To do manye yveles./ And therfore clepeth
1565: Cassidore poverte the mooder of ruyne,/ that
1565: Is to seyn, the mooder of overthrowynge
1566: Or fallynge doun./ And therfore seith
1566: Piers alfonce: -- oon of the gretteste adversitees
1567: of this world is/ whan a free man by
1567: Kynde or of burthe is constreyned by poverte
1568: To eten the almesse of his enemy, -- / and the
1568: Same seith innocent in oon of his bookes. He
1568: Seith that -- sorweful and myshappy is the condicioun
1569: of a povre beggere;/ for if he axe nat
1570: His mete, he dyeth for hunger;/ and if he axe,
1570: He dyeth for shame; and algates necessitee
1571: constreyneth hym to axe. -- / and
1571: Seith salomon that -- bet it is to dye than
1572: For to have swich poverte. -- / and as the same
1572: Salomon seith, -- bettre it is to dye of bitter deeth
1573: Than for to lyven in swich wise. -- / by thise
1573: Resons that I have seid unto yow, and by manye
1574: Othere resons that I koude seye,/ I graunte yow
1574: That richesses been goode to hem that geten
1574: Hem wel, and to hem that wel usen tho richesses./
1575: and therfore wol I shewe yow hou ye
1575: Shul have yow and how ye shul bere yow in
1575: Gaderynge of richesses, and in what
1576: Manere ye shul usen hem./
1576: First, ye shul geten hem withouten
1576: Greet desir, by good leyser, sokyngly and nat
1577: Over-hastily./ For a man that is to desirynge
1577: To gete richesses abaundoneth hym first to
1578: Thefte, and to alle othere yveles;/ and therfore
1578: seith salomon, -- he that hasteth hym to
1579: Bisily to wexe riche shal be noon innocent. -- /
1579: He seith also that -- the richesses that hastily cometh
1579: to a man, soone and lightly gooth and
1580: Passeth fro a man;/ but that richesse that
1580: Cometh litel and litel, wexeth alwey and
1581: Multiplieth. -- / and, sire
1581: Richesses by youre wit and by youre
1582: Travaille unto youre profit;/ and that withouten
1583: Wrong or hamr doynge to any oother persone./
1583: For tha lawe seith that -- ther maketh no man
1583: Himselven riche, if he do harm to another
1584: Wight. -- / this is to seyn, htat nature deffendeth
1584: and fordedeth by right that no man make
1584: Hymself riche unto the harm of another persone./
1585: and tulliur seith that -- no sorwe, ne no
1585: Drede of deeth, ne no thyng that may
1586: Falle unto a man,/ is so muchel agayns
1586: Nature as a man to encressen his owene
1587: Profit to the harm of another man./ And
1587: Though the grete man and the myghty men
1588: Geten richesses moore lightly than thou, / yet
1588: Shaltou nat been ydel ne slow to do thy profit,
1589: For thou shalt in alle wise flee ydelnesse. -- / for
1589: Salomon seith that -- ydelnesse techeth a man to
1590: Do manye yveles. -- / and the same salomon
1590: Seith that -- he that travailleth and bisieth
1591: Hym to tilien his land, shal eten breed;/
1591: But he that is ydel and casteth hym to
1591: No bisynesse ne occupacioun, shal falle into
1592: Poverte, and dye for hynger. -- / and he that is
1592: Ydel and slow kan nevere fynde covenable
1593: Tyme for to doon his profit./ For ther is a
1593: Versifiour seith that -- the ydel man excuseth hym
1593: In wynter by cause of the grete coold, and in
1594: Somer by enchesoun of the greete heete. -- / for
1594: Thise causes seith caton, -- waketh and enclyneth
1594: nat yow over -- muchel for to slepe, for overmuchel
1594: reste norisseth and causeth manye
1595: Vices. -- / and therfore seith seint jerome,
1595: -- dooth somme goode dedes that the devel,
1595: Which is oure enemy, ne fynde yow nat
1596: Unocupied. -- / for the devel ne taketh
1596: Nat lightly unto his werkynge swiche as
1597: He fyndeth occupied in goode werkes./
1597: Thanne thus, in getynge richesses, ye mosten
1598: Flee ydelnesse./ And afterward, ye shul use
1598: The richesses which ye have geten by youre wit
1599: And by youre travaille,/ in swich a manere that
1599: Men holde yow nat to scars, ne to sparynge, ne
1599: To fool-large, that is to seyen, over-large a
1600: Spendere./ For right as men blamen an avaricious
1600: man by cause of his scarsetee and
1601: Chyncherie,/ in the same wise is he to
1602: Blame that spendeth over-largely./ And
1602: Therfore seith caton: -- use, -- he seith, -- thy richesses
1603: that thou hast geten/ in swich a manere
1603: That men have no matiere ne cause to calle
1604: The neither wrecche ne chynche;/ for it is a
1604: Greet shame to a man to have a povere herte
1605: And a riche purs. -- / he seith also: -- the goodes
1605: That thou hast ygeten, use hem by mesure, --
1605: That is to seyn, spende hem mesurably;/
1606: for they that folily wasten and
1607: Despenden the goodes that they han,/
1607: What they han namoore propre of hir owene,
1607: They shapen hem to take the goodes of another
1608: Man./ I seye thanne that ye shul fleen avarice;/
1609: usynge youre richesses in swich manere
1609: That men seye nat that youre richesses been
1610: Yburyed,/ but that ye have hem in
1611: Youre myght and in youre weeldynge./
1611: For a wys man repreveth the avaricious
1612: Man, and seith thus in two vers:/ -- wherto and
1612: Why burieth a man his goodes by his grete
1612: Avarice, and knoweth wel that nedes moste
1613: He dye?/ for deeth is the ende of every man

Page 183

1614: As in this present lyf. -- / and for what cause or
1614: Enchesoun joyneth he hym or knytteth he hym
1615: So faste unto his goodes/ that alle hise wittes
1615: Mowen nat disseveren hym or departen
1616: Hym from his goodes,/ and knoweth
1616: Wel, or oghte knowe, that whan he is
1616: Deed he shal no thyng bere with hym out of
1617: This world?/ and therfore seith seint austyn
1618: That -- the avaricious man is likned unto helle,/
1618: That the moore it swelweth. The moore desir it
1619: Hath to swelwe and devoure. -- / and as wel as
1619: Ye wolde eschewe to be called an avaricious
1620: Man or chynche,/ as wel sholde ye kepe yow
1620: And governe yow in swich a wise that
1621: Men calle yow nat fool-large./ Therfore
1621: seith tullius: -- the goodes, -- he seith,
1621: -- of thyn hous ne sholde nat been hyd ne kept
1621: So cloos, but that they myghte been opened
1622: By pitee and debonairetee; -- / that is to seyn, to
1623: Yeven part to hem that han greet nede;/ -- ne
1623: Thy goodes shullen nat been so opene to been
1624: Every mannes goodes. -- / afterward, in getynge
1624: Of youre richesses and in usynge hem, ye shul
1625: Alwey have thre thynges in youre herte,/ that
1625: Is to seyn, oure lord god, conscience,
1626: And good name./ First, ye shul have
1627: God in youre herte,/ and for no richesse
1627: Ye shullen do no thyng which may in any
1627: Manere displese god, that is youre creator
1628: And makere./ For after the word of salomon,
1628: -- it is bettre to have a litel good with the love
1629: Of god,/ than to have muchel good and tresour,
1630: and lese the love of his lord god./ And
1630: The prophete seith that -- bettre it is to been
1630: A good man and have litel good and
1631: Tresour,/ than to been holden a shrewe
1632: And have grete richesses. -- / and yet seye
1632: I ferthermoore, that ye sholde alwey doon youre
1633: Bisynesse to gete yow richesses,/ so that ye
1634: Gete hem with good conscience./ And th' apostle
1634: seith that -- ther nys thyng in this world
1634: Of which we sholden have so greet joye as
1634: Whan oure conscience bereth us good witnesse.
1635: -- / and the wise man seith, -- the substance
1635: of a man is ful good, whan synne
1636: Is nat in mannes conscience. -- / afterward,
1636: in getynge of youre richesses and
1637: In usynge of hem,/ yow moste have greet bisynesse
1637: and greet diligence that youre goode
1638: Name be alwey kept and conserved./ For salomon
1638: seith that -- bettre it is an moore it availleth
1638: a man to have a good name, than for
1639: To have grete richesses. -- / and therfore he
1639: Seith in another place, -- do greet diligence,
1639: Seith salomon, -- in kepyng of thy freend and
1640: Of thy goode name;/ for it shal lenger abide
1640: With thee than any tresour, be it never
1641: So precious. -- / and certes he sholde nat
1641: Be called a gentil man that after god
1641: And good conscience, alle thynges left, ne
1641: Dooth his diligence and bisynesse to kepen his
1642: Goode name./ And cassidore seith that -- it is
1642: Signe of a gentil herte, whan a man loveth and
1643: Desireth to han a good name. -- / and therfore
1643: Seith seint austyn that -- ther been two thynges
1644: That arn necessarie and nedefulle,/ and that
1645: Is good conscience and good loos;/ that is to
1645: Seyn, good conscience to thyn owene persone
1645: Inward, and good loos for thy neighebor
1646: Outward. -- / and he that trusteth hym so
1647: Muchel in his goode conscience/ that he
1647: Displeseth, and setteth at noght his goode
1647: Name or loos, and rekketh noght though he
1647: Kepe nat his goode neam, nys but a crueel
1648: Cherl./
1648: Sire, now have I shewed yow how ye shul
1648: Do in getynge richesses, and how ye shullen
1649: Usen hem,/ and I se wel that for the trust
1649: That ye han in youre richesses ye wole moeve
1650: Werre and bataille./ I conseille yow that ye
1650: Bigynne no were in trust of youre richesses,
1650: For thay ne suffisen noght werres to
1651: Mayntene./ And therfore seith a philosophre,
1651: hthat man that desireth and
1651: Wole algates han werre, shal nevere have suffisaunce;/
1652: for the richer that he is, the gretter
1652: Despenses moste he make, if he wole have worshipe
1653: and victorei. -- / and salomon seith that
1653: -- the gretter richesses that a man hath, the mo
1654: Despendours he hath. -- / and, deere sire, al be
1654: It so that for youre richesses ye mowe have
1655: Muchel folk,/ yet bihoveth it nat, ne it is nat
1655: Good, to bigynne werre, whereas ye mowe in
1655: Oother manere have pees unto youre
1656: Worshipe and profit./ For the victorie
1656: Of batailles that been in this world lyth
1656: Nat in greet nombre or multitude of the peple,
1657: Ne in the vertu of man,/ but it lith in the wyl
1658: And in the hand of oure lord God almyghty./
1658: And therfore judas machabeus, which was
1659: Goddes knyght,/ whan he sholde fighte agayn
1659: His adversarie that hadde a gretter nombre and
1659: A gretter multitude of folk and strenger than
1660: Was this peple of machabee,/ yet he reconforted
1660: his litel compaignye, and seyde
1661: Right in this wise:/ -- als lightly, -- quod
1661: He, -- may oure lord God almyghty yeve
1662: Victorie to a fewe folk as to many folk;/ for the

Page 184

1662: Victorie of a bataile comth nat by the grete
1663: Nombre of peple,/ but it cometh from oure
1664: Lord God of hevene. -- / and, deere sire, for as
1664: Muchel is ther is no man certein if he be
1664: Worthy that God yeve hym victorie, (ne plus
1664: Que il est certain se il est digne de l' amour de
1665: Dieu), or naught, after that salomon seith,/
1665: Therfore every man sholde greetly drede
1666: Werres to bigynne./ And by cause that
1667: In batailles fallen manye perils,/ and
1667: Happeth outher while that as soone is the grete
1668: Man slayn as the litel man;/ and as it is writen
1668: In the seconde book of kynges, -- the dedes of
1668: Batailles been aventurouse and nothyng certeyne,/
1669: for as lightly is oon hurt with a spere
1670: As another; -- / and for ther is gret peril in
1670: Werre; therfore sholde a man flee and eschue
1670: Werre, in as muchel as a man may
1671: Goodly./ For salomon seith, -- he that
1672: Loveth peril shal falle in peril -- /
1672: After that dame prudence hadde spoken in
1673: This manere, melibee answerde, and seyde:/
1673: I see wel, dame prudence, that by youre faire
1673: Wordes, and by youre resouns that ye han
1673: Shewed me, that the werre liketh yow no
1674: Thyng;/ but I have nat yet herd youre conseil,
1675: How I shal do in this nede./
1675: Certes, quod she, I conseille yow that ye
1675: Accorde with youre adversaries and that
1676: Ye have pees with he./ For seint jame
1676: Seith in his epistles that -- by concord and
1677: Pees the smale richesses wexen grete,/ and by
1677: Debaat and discord the grete richesses fallen
1678: Doun. -- / and ye knowen wel that oon of the
1678: Gretteste and moost sovereyn thyng that is in
1679: This world is unytee and pees./ And therfore
1679: Seyde oure lord jhesu crist to his apostles in
1680: This wise:/ -- wel happy and blessed been they
1680: That loven and purchacen pees, for they
1681: Been called children of god. -- /
1681: A, quod melibee, now se I wel that
1682: Ye loven nat myn honour ne my worshipe./
1682: Ye knowen wel that myne adversaries han
1682: Bigonnen this debaat and bryge by hire outrage,/
1683: and ye se wel that they ne requeren ne
1683: Preyen me nat of pees, ne they asken nat to be
1684: Reconsiled./ Wol ye thanne that I go and meke
1684: Me and obeye me to hem, and crie hem
1685: Mercy?/ for sothe, that were nat my
1686: Worshipe./ For right as men seyn that
1686: -- over-greet hoomlynesse engendreth dispreisynge,
1686: -- so fareth it by to greet hymylitee
1687: Or mekenesse./
1687: Thanne bigan dame prudence to maken
1688: Semblant of wratthe, and seyde:/ certes, sire,
1688: Sauf youre grace, I love youre honour and youre
1688: Profit as I do myn owene, and evere have
1689: Doon;/ ne ye, ne noon oother, seyn nevere
1690: The contrarie./ And yit if I hadde seyd that
1690: Ye sholde han purchaced the pees and the
1690: Reconsilacioun, I ne hadde nat muchel
1691: Mystaken me, ne seyd amys./ For the
1691: Wise man seith, -- the dissensioun bigynneth
1691: by another man, and the reconsilyng bygynneth
1692: by thyself. -- / and the prophete seith,
1693: -- flee shrewednesse and do goodnesse;/ seke
1694: Pees and folwe it, as muchel as in thee is. -- /
1694: Yet seye I nat that ye shul rather pursue to
1694: Youre adversaries for pees than they shuln to
1695: Yow./ For I knowe wel that ye been so hard-
1695: Herted that ye wol do no thyng for
1696: Me./ And salomon seith, -- he that hath
1696: Over-hard an herte, atte laste he shal
1697: Myshappe and mystyde. -- /
1697: Whanne melibee hadde herd dame prudence
1697: Maken semblant of wratthe, he seyde in this
1698: Wise:/ dame, I prey yow that ye be nat displesed
1699: of thynges that I seye,/ for ye knowe
1699: Wel that I am angrey and wrooth, and that is
1700: No wonder;/ and they that been wrothe witen
1700: Nat wel what they don, ne what they
1701: Seyn./ Therfore the prophete seith that
1702: -- troubled eyen han no cleer sighte. -- / but
1702: Seyeth and conseileth me as yow liketh, for I
1703: Am redy to do right as ye wol desire;/ and if
1703: Ye repreve me of my folye, I am the moore
1704: Holden to love yow and to preyse yow./ For
1704: Salomon seith that -- he that repreveth hym
1705: That dooth folye,/ he shal fynde gretter grace
1705: Than he that deceyveth hym by sweete
1706: Wordes. -- /
1706: Thanne seide dame prudence, I
1706: Make no semblant of wratthe ne anger, but
1707: For youre grete profit./ For salomon seith,
1707: -- he is moore worth that repreveth or chideth
1707: A fool for his folye, shewynge hym semblant
1708: Of wratthe,/than he that supporteth hym and
1708: Preyseth hym in his mysdoynge, and laugheth
1709: At his folye. -- / and this same salomon seith
1709: Afterward that -- by the sorweful visage of a
1709: Man, -- that is to seyn by the sory and hevy contenaunce
1710: of a man,/ -- the fool correcteth
1711: And amendeth hymself. -- /
1711: Thanne seyde melibee, I shal nat
1711: Koone answere to so manye faire resouns as ye
1712: Putten to me and shewen./ Seyeth shorthly
1712: Youre wyl and youre conseil, and I am al redy
1713: To fulfille and parfourne it./

Page 185

1713: Thanne dame prudence discovered al hir
1714: Wyl to hym, and seyde,/ I conseille yow,
1714: Quod she, aboven alle thynges, that ye make
1715: Pees bitwene God and yow;/ and beth
1716: Reconsiled unto hym and to his grace./
1716: For, as I have seyd yow heer biforn, god
1716: Hath suffred yow to have this tribulacioun and
1717: Disese for youre synnes./ And if ye do as I sey
1717: Yow, God wol sende youre adversaries unto
1718: Yow,/ and maken hem fallen at youre feet,
1718: Redy to do youre wyl and youre comande --
1719: Mentz./ For salomon seith, -- whan the condicioun
1720: of man is plesaunt and likynge to god,/
1720: He chaungeth the hertes of the mannes adversaries
1720: and constreyneth hem to biseken
1721: hym of pees and of grace. -- / and
1721: I prey yow lat me speke with youre adversaries
1722: in privee place;/ for they shul nat
1722: Knowe that it be of youre wyl or of youre adsent./
1723: and thanne, whan I knowe hir wil and
1723: Hire entente, I may conseille yow the moore
1724: Seurely./
1724: Dame, quod melibee, dooth youre wil and
1725: Youre likynge;/ for I putte me hoolly in
1726: Youre disposicioun and ordinaunce./
1726: Thanne dame prudence, whan she
1726: Saugh the goode wyl of hir housbonde, delibered
1727: and took avys in hirself,/ thinkinge how
1727: She myghte brynge this nede unto a good conclusioun
1728: and to a good ende./ And whan she
1728: Saugh hir tyme, she sente for thise adversaries
1729: To come unto hire into a pryvee place,/ and
1729: Shewed wisely unto hem the grete goodes that
1730: Comen of pees,/ and the grete harmes
1731: And perils that been in werre;/ and
1731: Seyde to hem in a goodly manere hou
1732: That hem oughten have greet repentaunce/ of
1732: The injurie and wrong that they hadden doon
1732: To melibee hir lord, and unto hire, and to hire
1733: Doghter./
1733: And whan they herden the goodliche wordes
1734: Of dame prudence,/ they weren so supprised
1734: And ravysshed, and hadden so greet joye of
1735: Hire that wonder was to telle./ A, lady, quod
1735: They, ye han shewed unto us the blessynge
1735: Of swetnesse, after the sawe of david the
1736: Prophete;/ for the reconsilynge which
1736: We been nat worthy to have in no manere,/
1737: but we oghte requeren it with greet contricioun
1738: and humylitee,/ ye of youre grete
1739: Goodnesse have presented unto us./ Now se
1739: We wel that the science and the konnynge
1740: Of salomon is ful trewe./ For he seith that
1740: -- sweete wordes multiplien and encreescen
1740: Freendes, and maken shrewes to be debonaire
1741: and meeke. -- /
1741: Certes, quod they, we putten oure
1741: Dede and al oure matere and cause al hooly in
1742: Youre goode wyl/ and been redy to obeye to
1742: The speche and comandement of my lord melibee./
1743: and therfore, deere and benygne lady,
1743: We preien yow and biseke yow as mekely as we
1744: Konne and mowen,/ that it lyke unto youre
1744: Grete goodnesse to fulfillen in dede youre goodliche
1745: wordes./ For we consideren and knowelichen
1745: that we han offended and greved
1746: My lord melibee out of mesure,/ so ferforth
1746: that we be nat of power to maken
1747: His amendes./ And therfore we oblige and
1747: Bynden us and oure freendes for to doon al
1748: His wyl and his comandementz./ But peraventure
1748: he hath swich hevynesse and swich wratthe
1749: To us -- ward, by cause of oure offense,/ that he
1749: Wole enjoyne us swich a peyne as we mowe
1750: Nat bere ne susteene./ And therfore, noble
1750: Lady, we biseke to youre wommanly
1751: Pitee/ to taken swich avysement in this
1751: Nede that we, ne oure freendes, be nat
1752: Desherited ne destroyed thurgh oure folye./
1752: Certes, quod prudence, it is an hard
1753: Thyng and right perilous/ that a man putte
1753: Hym al outrely in the arbitracioun and juggement,
1753: and in the myght and power of his enemys./
1754: for salomon seith, -- leeveth me, and
1754: Yeveth credence to that I shal seyn: I seye, --
1754: Quod he, -- ye peple, folk and governours of
1755: Hooly chirche,/ to thy sone, to thy wyf,
1756: To thy freend, ne to thy broother,/ ne
1756: Yeve thou nevere myght ne maistrie of
1757: Thy body whil thou lyvest. -- / now sithen he
1757: Deffendeth that man sholde nat yeven to his
1757: Broother ne to his freend the myght of his
1758: Body,/ by a strenger resoun he deffendeth and
1758: Forbedeth a man to yeven hymself to his enemy./
1759: and nathelees I conseille you that ye
1760: Mystruste nat my lord,/ for I woot wel and
1760: Knowe verraily that he is debonaire and
1761: Meeke, large, curteys,/ and nothyng desirous
1762: ne coveitous of good ne richesse./
1762: For ther nys nothyng in this world that he
1763: Desireth, save oonly worshipe and honour./
1763: Forthermoore I knowe wel and am right seur
1763: That he shal nothyng doon in this nede withouten
1764: my conseil;/ and I shal so werken in this
1764: Cause that, by the grace of oure lord god, ye
1765: Shul been reconsiled unto us./
1765: Thanne seyden they with o voys, worshipful
1765: lady, we putten us and oure goodes

Page 186

1766: Al fully in youre wil and disposicioun,/
1766: And been redy to comen, what day that
1766: It like unto youre noblesse to lymyte us or assigne
1767: us,/ for to maken oure obligacioun and
1767: Boond as strong as it liketh unto youre goodnesse,/
1768: that we mowe fulfille the wille of yow
1769: And of my lord melibee./
1769: Whan dame prudence hadde herd the answeres
1769: of thise men, she bad hem goon agayn
1770: Prively;/ and she retourned to hir lord melibee,
1770: and tolde hym how she foond his
1771: Adversaries ful repentant,/ knowelechynge
1771: ful lowely hir synnes and trespas,
1772: And how they were redy to suffren al peyne,/
1772: Requirynge and preiynge hym of mercy and
1773: Pitee./
1773: Thanne seyde melibee: he is wel worthy
1773: To have pardoun and foryifnesse of his synne.
1774: That excuseth nat his synne,/ but knowelecheth
1775: It and repenteth hym, axinge indulgence./ For
1775: Senec seith, ther is the remissioun and
1776: Foryifnesse, where as the confessioun is -- ;/
1776: For confessioun is neighebor to innocence./
1777: and he seith in another place that -- he
1777: That hath shame of his synne and knowlecheth
1777: It, is worthy remissioun. -- and therfore I assente
1778: and conferme me to have pees;/ but it
1778: Is good that we do it nat withouten the assent
1779: And wyl of oure freendes./
1779: Thanne was prudence right glad and joyeful,
1780: and seyde:/ certes, sire, quod
1781: She, ye han wel and goodly answered;/
1781: For right as by the conseil, assent, and
1781: Help of youre freendes ye han been stired to
1782: Venge yow and maken werre,/ right so withouten
1782: hire conseil shul ye nat accorden yow
1783: Ne have pees with youre adversaries./ For the
1783: Lawe seith: -- ther nys no thyng so good by wey
1783: Of kynde as a thyng to be unbounde by hym
1784: That it was ybounde. -- /
1784: And thanne dame prudence, withouten delay
1784: or tariynge, sente anon hire messages for
1784: Hire kyn, and for hire olde freendes which
1785: That were trewe and wyse,/ and tolde hem
1785: By ordre in the presence of melibee al this mateere
1785: as it is aboven expressed and declared,/
1786: and preyden hem that they
1786: Wolde yeven hire avys and conseil what
1787: Best were to doon in this nede./ And whan
1787: Melibees freendes hadde taken hire avys and
1788: Deliberacioun of the forseide mateere,/ and
1788: Hadden examyned it by greet bisynesse and
1789: Greet diligence,/ they yave ful conseil for to
1790: Have pees and reste,/ and that melibee sholde
1790: Receyve with good herte his adversaries
1791: To foryifnesse and mercy./
1791: And whan dame prudence hadde herd
1791: The assent of hir lord melibee, and the conseil
1792: of his freendes/ accorde with hire wille
1793: And hire entencioun,/ she was wonderly glad
1794: In hire herte, and seyde:/ ther is an old
1794: Proverbe, quod she, seith that -- the goodnesse
1795: that thou mayst do this day, do it,/
1795: And abide nat ne delaye it nat til tomorwe.
1796: -- / and therfore I conseille that
1796: Ye sende youre messages, swiche as been
1797: Discrete and wise,/ unto youre adversaries,
1798: Tellynge hem on youre bihalve/ that if they
1799: Wole trete of pees and of accord,/ that they
1799: Shape hem withouten delay or tariyng to comen
1800: Unto us./ Which thyng parfourned was
1801: In dede./ And whanne thise trespassours
1801: and repentynge folk of hire folies,
1802: That is to seyn, the adversaries of melibee,/
1802: Hadden herd what thise messagers seyden unto
1803: Hem,/ they weren right glad and joyeful, and
1804: Answereden ful mekely and benignely,/ yeldynge
1804: graces and thankynges to hir lord melibee
1805: and to al his compaignye;/ and shopen
1805: Hem withouten delay to go with the messagers,
1805: And obeye to the comandement of hir
1806: Lord melibee./
1806: And right anon they tooken hire wey
1807: To the court of melibee,/ and tooken with hem
1807: Somme of hire trewe freendes to maken feith
1808: For hem and for to been hire borwes./ And
1808: Whan they were comen to the presence of
1809: Melibee, he seyde hem thise wordes:/ it standeth
1809: thus, quod melibee, and sooth it is, that
1810: Ye,/ causelees and withouten skile and
1811: Resoun,/ han doon grete injuries and
1811: Wronges to me and to my wyf prudence,
1812: And to my doghter also./ For ye han entred
1813: Into myn hous by violence,/ and have doon
1813: Swich outrage that alle men knowen wel that
1814: Ye have disserved the deeth./ And therfore
1815: Wol I knowe and wite of yow/ wheither ye
1815: Wol putte the punyssement and the chastisynge
1815: And the vengeance of this outrage in the wyl
1815: Of me and of my wyf prudence, or ye
1816: Wol nat?/
1816: Thanne the wiseste of hem thre answerde
1817: for hem alle, and seyde,/ sire, quod
1817: He, we knowen wel that we been unworthy
1817: To comen unto the court of so greet a lord and
1818: So worthy as ye been./ For we han so greetly
1818: Mystaken us, and han offended and agilt in
1819: Swich a wise agayn youre heigh lordshipe,/

Page 187

1820: That trewely we han disserved the deeth./ But
1820: Yet, for the grete goodnesse and debonairetee
1820: That al the world witnesseth of youre
1821: Persone,/ we submytten us to the excellence
1821: and benignitee of youre gracious
1822: Lordshipe,/ and been redy to obeie to alle youre
1823: Comandementz;/ bisekynge yow that of youre
1823: Merciable pitee ye wol considere oure grete
1824: Repentaunce and lowe submyssioun,/ and
1824: Graunten us foryevenesse of oure outrageous
1825: Trespas and offense./ For wel we knowe that
1825: Youre liberal grace and mercy strecchen hem
1825: Ferther into goodnesse than doon oure outrageouse
1825: giltes and trespas into wikkednesse,/
1826: al be it that cursedly and
1826: Dampnablely we han agilt agayn youre
1827: Heigh lordshipe./
1827: Thanne melibee took hem up fro the ground
1828: Ful benignely,/ and receyved hire obligaciouns
1828: And hir boondes by hire othes upon hire plegges
1829: And borwes,/ and assigned hem a certeyn day
1830: To retourne unto his court,/ for to accepte and
1830: Receyve the sentence and juggement that
1830: Melibee wolde comande to be doon on
1831: Hem by the causes aforeseyd./ Whiche
1831: Thynges ordeyned, every man retourned
1832: To his hous./
1832: And whan that dame prudence saugh hir
1833: Tyme, she freyned and axed hir lord melibee/
1833: What vengeance he thoughte to taken of his
1834: Adversaries./
1834: To which melibee answerde, and seyde:
1834: Certes, quod he, I thynke and purpose me
1835: Fully / to desherite hem of al that evere they
1835: Han, and for to putte hem in exil for
1836: Evere./
1836: Certes, quod dame prudence, this
1836: Were a crueel sentence and muchel agayn resoun./
1837: for ye been riche ynough, and han
1838: No nede of oother mennes good;/ and ye
1838: Myghte lightly in this wise gete yow a coveitous
1839: name,/ which is a vicious thyng, and
1840: Oghte been eschued of every good man./ For
1840: After the sawe of the word of the apostle,
1841: -- coveitise is roote of alle harmes. -- /
1841: And therfore it were bettre for yow to
1841: Lese so muchel good of youre owene, than for
1842: To taken of hir good in this manere;/ for bettre
1842: it is to lesen good with worshipe, than it
1843: Is to wynne good with vileynye and shame./
1843: And everi man oghte to doon his diligence and
1844: His bisynesse to geten hym a good name./
1844: And yet shal he nat oonly bisie hym in kepynge
1845: of his good name,/ but he shal also enforcen
1845: hym alwey to do somthyng by
1846: Which he may renovelle his good name./
1846: For it is writen that -- the olde good loos
1846: Or good name of a man is soone goon and
1847: Passed, whan it is nat newed ne renovelled. -- /
1847: And as touchynge that ye seyn ye wole exile
1848: Youre adversaries,/ that thynketh me muchel
1849: Agayn resoun and out of mesure,/ considered
1849: The power that they han yeve yow upon hemself./
1850: and it is writen that -- he is worthy
1850: To lesen his privilege, that mysuseth the
1850: Myght and the power that is yeven
1851: Hym. -- / and I sette cas ye myghte enjoyne
1851: hem that peyne by right and by
1853: Lawe,// which I trowe ye mowe nat do,/ I seye
1853: Ye mighte nat putten it to execucioun peraventure,/
1854: and thanne were it likly to retourne
1855: To the werre as it was biforn./ And therfore,
1855: If ye wole that men do yow obeisance,
1856: Ye moste deemen moore curteisly;/ this
1856: Is to seyn, ye moste yeven moore esy sentences
1857: and juggementz./ For it is writen that
1857: -- he that moost curteisly comandeth, to hym
1858: Men moost obeyen. -- / and therfore I prey yow
1858: That in this necessitee and in this nede ye caste
1859: Yow to overcome youre herte./ For senec seith
1859: That -- he that overcometh his herte, overcometh
1860: Twies. -- / and tullius seith: -- ther is no
1861: Thyng so comendable in a greet lord/ as
1861: Whan he is debonaire and meeke, and
1862: Appeseth him lightly. -- / and I prey yow that ye
1863: Wole forbere now to do vengeance,/ in swich
1863: A manere that youre goode name may be kept
1864: And conserved,/ and that men mowe have
1864: Cause and mateere to preyse yow of pitee and
1865: Of mercy,/ and that ye have no cause to
1866: Repente yow of thyng that ye doon./
1866: For senec seith, -- he overcometh in an
1866: Yvel manere that repenteth hym of his victorie.
1867: -- / wherfore I pray yow, lat mercy been in
1868: Youre herte,/ to th' effect and entente that
1868: God almighty have mercy on yow in his laste
1869: Juggement./ For seint jame seith in his epistle:
1869: -- juggement withouten mercy shal be doon
1870: To hym that hath no mercy of another wight. -- /
1870: Whanne melibee hadde herd the grete skiles
1870: And resouns of dame prudence, and hire
1871: Wise informaciouns and techynges,/ his
1871: Herte gan enclyne to the wil of his wif,
1872: Considerynge hir trewe entente,/ and conformed
1872: hym anon, and assented fully to werken
1873: After hir conseil;/ and thonked god, of whom
1873: Procedeth al vertu and alle goodnesse, that
1874: Hym sente a wyf of so greet discrecioun./ And

Page 188

1874: Whan the day cam that his adversaries sholde
1875: Appieren in his presence,/ he spak unto
1876: Hem ful goodly, and seyde in this wyse:/
1876: Al be it so that of youre pride and heigh
1876: Presumpcioun and folie, and of youre necligence
1877: and unkonnynge,/ ye have mysborn yow
1878: And trespassed unto me,/ yet for as muche as
1879: I see and biholde youre grete humylitee,/ and
1879: That ye been sory and repentant of youre
1880: Giltes,/ it constreyneth me to doon yow
1881: Grace and mercy./ Wherfore I receyve
1882: Yow to my grace,/ and foryeve yow outrely
1882: alle the offenses, injuries, and wronges that
1883: Ye have doon agayn me and myne,/ to this
1883: Effect and to this ende that God of his endelees
1884: mercy/ wole at the tyme of oure diynge
1884: Foryeven us oure giltes that we han trespassed
1885: To hym in this wrecched world./ For doutelees,
1885: if we be sory and repentant of the synnes
1885: And giltes which we han trespassed in
1886: The sighte of oure lord god,/ he is so
1887: Free and so merciable/ that he wole foryeven
1888: us oure giltes,/ and bryngen us to the
1888: Blisse that nevere hath ende. Amen.

The Monk's Prologue

1889: Whan ended was my tale of melibee,
1890: And of prudence and hire benignytee,
1891: Oure hooste seyde, as I am feithful man,
1892: And by that precious corpus madrian,
1893: I hadde levere than a barel ale
1894: That goodelief, my wyf, hadde herd this tale!
1895: For she nys no thyng of swich pacience
1896: As was this melibeus wyf prudence.
1897: By goddes bones! whan I bete my knaves,
1898: She bryngeth me forth the grete clobbed staves,
1899: And crieth, -- slee the dogges everichoon,
1900: And brek hem, bothe bak and every boon! --
1901: And if that any neighebor of myne
1902: Wol nat in chirche to my wyf enclyne,
1903: Or be so hardy to hire to trespace,
1904: Whan she comth hoom she rampeth in my face,
1905: And crieth, -- false coward, wrek thy wyf!
1906: By corpus bones, I wol have thy knyf,
1907: And thou shalt have my distaf and go spynne! --
1908: Fro day to nyght right thus she wol bigynne.
1909: -- allas! -- she seith, -- that evere I was shape
1910: To wedden a milksop, or a coward ape,
1911: That wol been overlad with every wight!
1912: Thou darst nat stonden by thy wyves right! --
1913: This is my lif, but if that I wol fighte;
1914: And out at dore anon I moot me dighte,
1915: Or elles I am but lost, but if that I
1916: Be lik a wilde leoun, fool-hardy.
1917: I woot wel she wol do me slee som day
1918: Som neighebor, and thanne go my way;
1919: For I am perilous with knyf in honde,
1920: Al be it that I dar nat hire withstonde,
1921: For she is byg in armes, by my feith:
1922: That shal he fynde that hire mysdooth or seith, --
1923: But lat us passe awey fro this mateere.
1924: My lord, the monk, quod he, by myrie of cheere,
1925: For ye shul telle a tale trewely.
1926: Loo, rouchestre stant heer faste by!
1927: Ryde forth, myn owene lord, brek nat oure game.
1928: But, by my trouthe, I knowe nat youre name.
1929: Wher shal I calle yow my lord daun john,
1930: Or daun thomas, or elles daun albon?
1931: Of what hous be ye, by youre fader kyn?
1932: I vowe to god, thou hast a ful fair skyn;
1933: It is a gentil pasture ther thow goost.
1934: Thou art nat lyk a penant or a goost:
1935: Upon my feith, thou art som officer,
1936: Som worthy sexteyn, or som celerer,
1937: For by my fader soule, as to my doom,
1938: Thou art a maister whan thou art at hoom;
1939: No povre cloysterer, ne no novts,
1940: But a governour, wily and wys,
1941: And therwithal of brawnes and of bones,
1942: A wel farynge persone for the nones.
1943: I pray to god, yeve hym confusioun
1944: That first thee broghte unto religioun!
1945: Thou woldest han been a tredefowel aright.

Page 189

1946: Haddestow as greet a leeve, as thou hast myght,
1947: To parfourne al thy lust in engendrure,
1948: Thou haddest bigeten ful many a creature.
1949: Allas, why werestow so wyd a cope?
1950: God yeve me sorwe, but, and I were a pope,
1951: Nat oonly thou, but every myghty man,
1952: Though he were shorn ful hye upon his pan,
1953: Sholde have a wyf; for al the world is lorn!
1954: Religioun hath take up al the corn
1955: Of tredyng, and we borel men been shrympes.
1956: Of fieble trees ther comen wrecched ympes.
1957: This maketh that oure heires been so sklendre
1958: And feble that they may nat wel engendre.
1959: This maketh that oure wyves wole assaye
1960: Religious folk, for ye mowe bettre paye
1961: Of venus peiementz than mowe we;
1962: God woot, no lussheburghes payen ye!
1963: But be nat wrooth, my lord, though that I pleye.
1964: Ful ofte in game a sooth I have herd seye!
1965: This worthy monk took al in pacience,
1966: And seyde, I wol doon al my diligence,
1967: As fer as sowneth into honestee,
1968: To telle yow a tale, or two, or three.
1969: And if yow list to herkne hyderward,
1970: I wol yow seyn the lyf of seint edward;
1971: Or ellis, first, tragedies wol I telle,
1972: Of whiche I have an hundred in my celle.
1973: Tragedie is to seyn a certeyn storei,
1974: As olde bookes maken us memorie,
1975: Of hym that stood in greet prosperitee,
1976: And is yfallen out of heigh degree
1977: Into myserie, and endeth wrecchedly.
1978: And they ben versified communely
1979: Of six feet, which men clepen exametrron.
1980: In prose eek been endited many oon,
1981: And eek in meetre, in many a sondry wyse.
1982: Lo, this declaryng oghte ynogh suffise.
1983: Now herkneth, if yow liketh for to heere.
1984: But first I yow biseeke in this mateere,
1985: Though I by ordre telle nat thise thynges,
1986: Be it of popes, emperours, or kynges,
1987: After hir ages, as men writen fynde,
1988: But tellen hem som bifore and som bihynde,
1989: As it now comth unto my remembraunce,
1990: Have me excused of myn ignoraunce.

The Monk's Tale

1991: I wol biwaille, in manere of tragedie,
1992: The harm of hem that stoode in heigh degree,
1993: And fillen so that ther nas no remedie
1994: To brynge hem out of hir adversitee.
1995: For certein, whan that fortune list to flee,
1996: Ther may no man the cours of hire withholde.
1997: Lat no man truste on blynd prosperitee;
1998: Be war by thise ensamples trewe and olde.

"part" Lucifer

1999: At lucifer, though he an angel were,
2000: And nat a man, at hym wol I bigynne.
2001: For though fortune may noon angel dere,
2002: From heigh degree yet fel he for his synne
2003: Doun into helle, where he yet is inne.
2004: O lucifer, brightest of angels alle,
2005: Now artow sathanas, that mayst nat twynne
2006: Out of miserie, in which that thou art falle.

"part" Adam

Adam

2007: Loo adam, in the feeld of damyssene,
2008: With goddes owene fynger wroght was he,
2009: And nat bigeten of mannes sperme unclene,
2010: And welte al paradys savynge o tree.
2011: Hadde nevere worldly man so heigh degree
2012: As adam, til he for mysgovernaunce
2013: Was dryven out of hys hye prosperitee
2014: To labour, and to helle, and to meschaunce.

"part" Sampson

Sampson

2015: Loo sampsoun, which that was annunciat
2016: By th' angel, longe er his nativitee,
2017: And was to God almyghty consecrat,
2018: And stood in noblesse whil he myghte see.
2019: Was nevere swich another as was hee,
2020: To speke of strengthe, and threwith hardynesse;

Page 190

2021: But to his wyves toolde he his secree,
2022: Thurgh which he slow hymself for wrecchednesse.
2023: Sampsoun, this noble almyghty champioun,
2024: Withouten wepen, save his handes tweye,
2025: He slow and al torente the leoun,
2026: Toward his weddyng walkynge by the weye.
2027: His false wyf koude hym so plese and preye
2028: Til she his conseil knew; and she, untrewe,
2029: Unto his foos his conseil gan biwreye,
2030: And hym forsook, and took another newe.
2031: Thre hundred foxes took sampson for ire,
2032: And alle hir tayles he togydre bond,
2033: And sette the foxes tayles alle on fire,
2034: For he on every tayl had knyt a brond;
2035: And they brende alle the cornes in that lond,
2036: And alle hire olyveres, and vynes eke.
2037: A thousand men he slow eek with his hond,
2038: And hadde no wepen but an asses cheke.
2039: Whan they were slayn, so thursted hym that he
2040: Was wel ny lorn, for which he gan to preye
2041: That God wolde on his peyne han some pitee,
2042: And sende hym drynke, or elles moste he deye;
2043: And of this asses cheke, that was dreye,
2044: Out of a wang-tooth sprang anon a welle,
2045: Of which he drank ynogh, shortly to seye;
2046: Thus heelp hym god, as judicum telle.
2047: By verray force at gazan, on a nyght,
2048: Maugree philistiens of that citee,
2049: The gates of the toun he hath up plyght,
2050: And on his bak ycaryed hem hath hee
2051: Hye on an hill whereas men myghte hem see.
2052: O noble, almyghty sampsoun, lief and deere,
2053: Had thou nat toold to wommen thy secree,
2054: In al this world ne hadde been thy peere!
2055: This sampson nevere ciser drank ne wyn,
2056: Ne on his heed cam rasour noon ne sheere,
2057: By precept of the messager divyn,
2058: For alle his strengthes in his heeres weere.
2059: And fully twenty wynter, yeer by yeere,
2060: He hadde of israel the governaunce.
2061: But soone shal he wepe many a teere,
2062: For wommen shal hym bryngen to meschaunce!
2063: Unto his lemman dalida he tolde
2064: That in his heeris al his strengthe lay,
2065: And falsly to his foomen she hym solde.
2066: And slepynge in hir barm, upon a day,
2067: She made to clippe or shere his heres away,
2068: And made his foomen al his craft espyen;
2069: And whan that they hym foond in this array,
2070: They bounde hym faste and putten out his yen.
2071: But er his heere were clipped or yshave,
2072: Ther was no boond with which men myghte him bynde;
2073: But now is he in prison in a cave,
2074: Were-as they made hym at the queerne grynde.
2075: O noble sampsoun, strongest of mankynde,
2076: O whilom juge, in glorie and in richesse!
2077: Now maystow wepen with thyne eyen blynde,
2078: Sith thou fro wele art falle in wrecchednesse.
2079: The ende of this caytyf was as I shal seye.
2080: His foomen made a feeste upon a day,
2081: And made hym as hire fool biforn hem pleye;
2082: And this was in a temple of greet array.
2083: But atte laste he made a foul affray;
2084: For he two pilers shook and made hem falle,
2085: And doun fil temple and al, and ther it lay, --
2086: And slow hymself, and eek his foomen alle.
2087: This is to seyn, the prynces everichoon,
2088: And eek thre thousand bodyes, were ther slayn
2089: With fallynge of the grete temple of stoon.
2090: Of sampson now wol I namoore sayn.
2091: Beth war by this ensample oold and playn
2092: That nomen telle hir conseil til hir wyves
2093: Of swich thyng as they wolde han secree fayn,
2094: If that it touche hir lymes or hir lyves.

"part" Hercules

Hercules

2095: Of hercules, the sovereyn conquerour,
2096: Syngen his werkes laude and heigh renoun;
2097: For in his tyme of strengthe he was the flour.
2098: He slow, and frate the skyn of the leoun;
2099: He of centauros leyde the boost adoun;
2100: He arpies slow, the crueel bryddes felle;
2101: He golden apples rafte of the dragoun;
2102: He drow out cerberus, the hound of helle;
2103: He slow the crueel tyrant busirus,
2104: And made his hors to frete hem, flessh and boon;
2105: He slow the firy serpent venymus;
2106: Of acheloys two hornes he brak oon;
2107: And he slow cacus in a cave of stoon;
2108: He slow the geant antheus the stronge;

Page 191

2109: He slow the grisly boor, and that anon;
2110: And bar the hevene on his nekke longe.
2111: Was nevere wight, sith that this world bigan,
2112: That slow so manye monstres as dide he.
2113: Thurghout this wyde world his name ran,
2114: What for his strengthe and for his heigh bountee,
2115: And every reawme wente he for to see.
2116: He was so stoong that no man myghte hym lette.
2117: At bothe the worldes endes, seith trophee,
2118: In stide of boundes he a pileer sette.
2119: A lemman hadde this noble champioun,
2120: That highte dianira, fressh as may;
2121: And as thise clerkes maken mencioun,
2122: She hath hym sent a sherte, fressh and gay.
2123: Allas! this sherte, allas and weylaway!
2124: Envenymed was so subtilly withalle,
2125: That er that he had wered it half a day,
2126: It made his flessh al from his bones falle.
2127: But nathelees somme clerkes hire excusen
2128: By oon that highte nessus, that it maked.
2129: Be as be may, I wol hire noght accusen;
2130: But on his bak this sherte he wered naked,
2131: Til that his flessh was for the venym blaked.
2132: And whan he saugh noon oother remedye,
2133: In hoote coles he hath hymselven raked,
2134: For with no venym deigned hym to dye.
2135: Thus starf this worthy, myghty hercules.
2136: Lo, who may truste on fortune and throwe?
2137: For hym that folweth al this world of prees,
2138: Er he be war, is ofte yleyd ful lowe.
2139: Ful wys is he that kan hymselven knowe!
2140: Beth war, for whan that fortune list to glose,
2141: Thanne wayteth she her man to overthrowe
2142: By swich a wey as he wolde leest suppose.

"part" Nabugodonosor

Nebchadnezzar

2143: The myghty trone, the precious tresor,
2144: The glorious ceptre, and roial magestee
2145: That hadde the kyng nabugodonosor
2146: With tonge unnethe may discryved bee.
2147: He twyes wan jerusalem the citee;
2148: The vessel of the temple he with hym ladde.
2149: At babiloigne was his sovereyn see,
2150: In which his glorie and his delit he hadde.
2151: The faireste children of the blood roial
2152: Of israel he leet do gelde anoon,
2153: And maked ech of hem to been his thral.
2154: Amonges othere daniel was oon,
2155: That was the wiseste child of everychon;
2156: For he the dremes of the kyng expowned,
2157: Whereas in chaldeye clerk ne was ther noon
2158: That wiste to what fyn his dremes sowned.
2159: This proude kyng leet maken a statue of gold,
2160: Sixty cubites long and sevene in brede;
2161: To which ymage bothe yong and oold
2162: Comanded he to loute, and have in drede,
2163: Or in a fourneys, ful of flambes rede,
2164: He shal be brent that wolde noght obeye.
2165: But nevere wolde assente to that dede
2166: Daniel, ne his yonge felawes tweye.
2167: This kyng of kynges proud was and elaat;
2168: He wente that god, that sit in magestee,
2169: Ne myghte hym nat bireve of his estaat.
2170: But sodeynly he loste his dignytee,
2171: And lyk a beest hym semed for to bee,
2172: And eet hey as an oxe, and lay theroute
2173: In reyn; with wilde beestes walked hee,
2174: Til certein tyme was ycome aboute.
2175: And lik an egles fetheres wax his heres;
2176: His nayles lyk a briddes clawes weere;
2177: Til God relessed hym a certeyn yeres,
2178: And yaf hym wit, and thanne with many a teere
2179: He thanked god, and evere his lyf in feere
2180: Was he to doon amys or moore trespace;
2181: And til that tyme he leyd was on his beere,
2182: He knew that God was ful of myght and grace.

"part" Balthasar

Belshazzar

2183: His sone, which that highte balthasar,
2184: That heeld the regne after his fader day,
2185: He by his fader koude noght be war,
2186: For proud he was of herte and of array;
2187: And eek an ydolastre was he ay.
2188: His hye estaat assured hym in pryde;
2189: But fortune caste hym doun, and ther he lay,
2190: And sodeynly his regne gan divide.
2191: A feeste he made unto his lordes alle,
2192: Upon a tyme, and bad hem blithe bee;
2193: And thanne his officeres gan he calle:
2194: Gooth, bryngeth forth the vesseles, quod he,
2195: Whiche that my fader in his prosperitee
2196: Out of the temple of jerusalem birafte;
2197: And to oure hye goddes thanke we
2198: Of honour that oure eldres with us lafte.

Page 192

2199: Hys wyf, his lordes, and his concubynes
2200: Ay dronken, whil hire appetites laste,
2201: Out of thise noble vessels sondry wynes.
2202: And on a wal this kyng his eyen caste,
2203: And saugh an hand, armlees, that wroot ful faste,
2204: For feere if which he quook and siked soore.
2205: This hand, that balthasar so soore agaste,
2206: Wroot mane, techel phares, and namoore.
2207: In all that land magicien was noon
2208: That koude expoune what this lettre mente;
2209: But daniel expowned it anoon,
2210: And seyde, kyng, God to thy fader lente
2211: Glorie and honour, regne, tresour, rente;
2212: And he was proud, and nothyng God ne dradde,
2213: And therfore God greet wreche upon hym sente,
2214: And hym birafte the regne that he hadde.
2215: He was out cast of mannes compaignye;
2216: With asses was his habitacioun,
2217: And eet hey as a beest in weet and drye,
2218: Til that he knew, by grace and by resoun,
2219: That God of hevene hath domynacioun
2220: Over every regne and every creature;
2221: And thanne hadde God of hym compassioun,
2222: And hym restored his regne and his figure.
2223: Eek thou, that art his sone, art proud also,
2224: And knowest alle thise thynges verraily,
2225: And art rebel to god, and art his foo.
2226: Thou drank eek of his vessels boldely;
2227: Thy wyf eek, and thy wenches, synfully
2228: Dronke of the same vessels sondry wynys;
2229: And heryest false goddes cursedly;
2230: Therfore to thee yshapen ful greet pyne ys.
2231: This hand was sent from God that on the wal
2232: Wroot mane, techel, phares, truste me;
2233: Thy regne is doon, thou weyest noght at al.
2234: Dyvyded is thy regne, and it shal be
2235: To medes and to perses yeven, quod he.
2236: And thilke same nyght this kyng was slawe,
2237: And darius occupieth his degree,
2238: Thogh he therto hadde neither right ne lawe.
2239: Lordynges, ensample heerby may ye take
2240: How that in lordshipe is no sikernesse;
2241: For whan fortune wole a man forsake,
2242: She bereth awey his regne and his richesse,
2243: And eek his freendes, bothe moore and lesse.
2244: For what man that hath freendes thurgh fortune,
2245: Mishap wol maken hem enemys, I gesse;
2246: This proverbe is ful sooth and ful commune.

"part" Cenobia

Zenobia

2247: Cenobia, of palymerie queene,
2248: As writen persiens of hir noblesse,
2249: So worthy was in armes and so keene,
2250: That no wight passed hire in hardynesse,
2251: Ne in lynage, ne in oother gentillesse.
2252: Of kynges blood of perce is she descended.
2253: I seye nat that she hadde moost fairnesse,
2254: But of his shap she myghte nat been amended.
2255: From hire childhede I fynde that she fledde
2256: Office of wommen, and to wode she wente,
2257: And many a wolde hertes blood she shedde
2258: With arwes brode that she to hem sente.
2259: She was so swift that she anon hem hente;
2260: And whan that she was elder, she wolde
2261: Leouns, leopardes, and beres al torente,
2262: And in hire armes weelde hem at hir wille.
2263: She dorste wilde beestes dennes seke,
2264: And rennen in the montaignes al the nyght,
2265: And slepen under a bussh, and she koude eke
2266: Wrastlen, by verray force and varray myght,
2267: With any yong man, were he never so wight.
2268: Ther myghte no thyng in hir armes stonde.
2269: She kepte hir maydenhod from every wight;
2270: To no man deigned hire for to be bonde.
2271: But atte laste hir freendes han hire maried
2272: To odenake, a prynce of that contree,
2273: Al were it so that she hem longe taried.
2274: And ye shul understonde how that he
2275: Hadde swiche fantasies as hadde she.
2276: But natheless, whan they were knyt in-feere,
2277: They lyved in joye and in felicitee;
2278: For ech of hem hadde oother lief and deere.
2279: Save o thyng, that she wolde nevere assente,
2280: By no wey, that he sholde by hire lye
2281: But ones, for it was hire pleyn entente
2282: To have a child, the world to multiplye;
2283: And also soone as that she myghte espye
2284: That she was nat with childe with that dede
2285: Thanne wolde she suffre hym doon his fantasye
2286: Eft-soone, and nat but oones, out of drede.

Page 193

2287: And if she were with childe at thilke cast,
2288: Namoore sholde he pleyen thilke game
2289: Til fully fourty wikes weren past;
2290: Thanne wolde she ones suffre hym do the same.
2291: Al were this odenake wolde or tame,
2292: He gat namoore of hire, for thus she seyde,
2293: It was to wyves lecherie and shame,
2294: In oother caas, if that men with hem pleyde.
2295: Two sones by this odenake hadde she,
2296: The whiche she kepte in verty and lettrure;
2297: But now unto oure tale turne we.
2298: I seye, so worshipful a creature,
2299: And wys therwith, and large with mesure,
2300: So penyble in the werre, and curteis eke,
2301: Ne moore laboure myghte in werre endure,
2302: Was noon, though al this world men sholde seke.
2303: Hir riche array ne myghte nat be told,
2304: As wel in vessel as in hire clothyng.
2305: She was al clad in perree and in gold,
2306: And eek she lafte noght, for noon huntyng,
2307: To have of sondry tonges ful knowyng,
2308: Whan that she leyser hadde; and for to entende
2309: To lerne bookes was al hire likyng,
2310: How she in vertu myghte hir lyf dispende.
2311: And shortly of this storie for to trete,
2312: So doghty was hir housbonde and eek she,
2313: That they conquered manye regnes grete
2314: In the orient, with many a fair citee
2315: Apertanaunt unto the magestee
2316: Of rome, and with strong hond held hem ful faste,
2317: Ne nevere myghte hir foomen doon hem flee,
2318: Ay whil that odenakes dayes laste.
2319: Hir batailles, whoso list hem for to rede,
2320: Agayn spor the kyng and othere mo,
2321: And how that al this proces fil in dede,
2322: Why she conquered, and what title had therto,
2323: And after, of hir meschief and hire wo,
2324: How that she was biseged and ytake, --
2325: Lat hym unto my maister petrak go,
2326: That writ ynough of this, I undertake.
2327: Whan odenake was deed, she myghtily
2328: The regnes heeld, and with hire propre hond
2329: Agayn hir foos she faught so cruelly
2330: That ther nas kyng ne prynce in al that lond
2331: That he nas glad, if he that grace fond,
2332: That she ne wolde upon his lond werreye.
2333: With hire they maden alliance by bond
2334: To been in pees, and lete hire ride and pleye.
2335: The emperour of rome, claudius
2336: Ne hym bifore, the romayn galien,
2337: Ne dorste nevere been so corageus,
2338: Ne noon ermyn, ne noon egipcien,
2339: Ne surrien, ne noon arabyen,
2340: Withinne the feeld that dorste with hire fighte,
2341: Lest that she wolde hem with hir handes slen,
2342: Or with hir meignee putten hem to flighte.
2343: In kynges habit wente hir sones two,
2344: As heires of hir fadres regnes alle,
2345: And hermanno and thymalao
2346: Hir names were, as persiens hem calle.
2347: But ay fortune hath in hire hony galle;
2348: This myghty queene may no while endure.
2349: Fortune out of hir regne made hire falle
2350: To wrecchednesse and to mysaventure.
2351: Aurelian, whan that the governaunce
2352: Of rome cam into his handes tweye,
2353: He shoop upon this queene to doon vengeaunce.
2354: And with his legions he took his weye
2355: Toward cenobie, and shortly for to seye,
2356: He made hire flee, and atte laste hire hente,
2357: And fettred hire, and eek hire children tweye,
2358: And wan the land, and hoom to rome he wente.
2359: Amonges othere thynges that he wan,
2360: Hir chaar, that was with gold wroght and perree,
2361: This grete romayn, this aurelian,
2362: Hath with hym lad, for that men sholde it see.
2363: Biforen his triumphe walketh shee,
2364: With gilte cheynes on hire nekke hangynge.
2365: Coroned was she, as after hir degree,
2366: And ful of perree charged hire clothynge.
2367: Allas, fortune! she that whilom was
2368: Dredeful to kynges and to emperoures,
2369: Now gaureth al the peple on hire, allas!
2370: And she that helmed was in starke stoures,
2371: And wan by force townes stronge and toures,
2372: Shal on hir heed now were a vitremyte;
2373: And she that bar the ceptre ful of floures
2374: Shal bere a distaf, hire cost for to quyte

Page 194

"part" De Petro Rege Ispannie

Pedro of Castille

2375: O noble, o worthy petro, glorie of spayne,
2376: Whom fortune heeld so hye in magestee,
2377: Wel oghten men thy pitous deeth complayne!
2378: Out of thy land thy brother made thee flee,
2379: And after, at a seege, by subtiltee,
2380: Thou were bitraysed and lad unto his tente,
2381: Where as he with his owene hand slow thee,
2382: Succedynge in thy regne and in thy rente.
2383: The feeld of snow, with th' egle of blak therinne,
2384: Caught with the lymrod coloured as the gleede,
2385: He brew this cursednesse and al this synne.
2386: The wikked nest was werker of this nede.
2387: Noght charles olyver, that took ay heede
2388: Of trouthe and honoure, but of armorike
2389: Genylon-olyver, corrupt for meede,
2390: Broghte this worthy kyng in swich a brike.

De Petro Rege de Cipro

2391: O worthy petro, kyng of cipre, also,
2392: That alisandre wan by heigh maistrie,
2393: Ful many an hethen wroghtestow ful wo,
2394: Of which thyne owene liges hadde envie,
2395: And for no thyng but for thy chivalrie
2396: They in thy bed han slayn thee by the morwe.
2397: Thus kan fortune hir wheel governe and gye,
2398: And out of joye brynge men to sorwe.

De Barnabo de Lumbardia

2399: Off melan grete barnabo viscounte,
2400: God of delit, and scourge of lumbardye,
2401: Why sholde I nat thyn infortune acounte,
2402: Sith in estaat thow cloumbe were so hye?
2403: Thy brother sone, that was thy double allye,
2404: For he thy nevew was, and sone-in-lawe,
2405: Withinne his prisoun made thee to dye, --
2406: But why, ne how, noot I that thou were slawe.

De Hugelino Comite de Pize

2407: Off the erl hugelyn of pyze the langour
2408: Ther may no tonge telle for pitee.
2409: But litel out of pize stant a tour,
2410: In which tour in prisoun put was he,
2411: And with hym been his litel children thre;
2412: The eldest scarsly fyf yeer was of age.
2413: Allas, fortune! it was greet crueltee
2414: Swiche briddes for to putte in swich a cage!
2415: Dampned was he to dyen in that prisoun,
2416: For roger, which that bisshop was of pize,
2417: Hadde on hym maad a fals suggestioun,
2418: Thurgh which the peple gan upon hym rise,
2419: And putten hym to prisoun, in swich wise
2420: As ye han herd, and mete and drynke he hadde
2421: So smal, that wel unnethe it may suffise,
2422: And therwithal it was ful povre and badde.
2423: And on a day bifil that in that hour
2424: Whan that his mete wont was to be broght,
2425: The gayler shette the dores of the tour.
2426: He herde it wel, but he spak right noght,
2427: And in his herte anon ther fil a thoght
2428: That they for hunger wolde doon hym dyen.
2429: Allas! quod he, allas, that I was wroght!
2430: Therwith the teeris fillen from his yen.
2431: His yonge sone, that thre yeer was of age,
2432: Unto hym seyde, fader, why do ye wepe?
2433: Whanne wol the gayler bryngen oure potage?
2434: Is ther no morsel breed that ye do kepe?
2435: I am so hungry that I may nat slepe.
2436: Now wolde God that I myghte slepen evere!
2437: Thanne sholde nat hunger in my wombe crepe;
2438: Ther is no thyng, save breed, that me were levere.
2439: Thus day by day this child bigan to crye,
2440: Til in his fadres barm adoun it lay,
2441: And seyde, farewel, fader, I moot dye!
2442: And kiste his fader, and dyde the same day.
2443: And whan the woful fader deed it say,
2444: For wo his armes two he gan to byte,
2445: And seyde, allas, fortune, and weylaway!
2446: Thy false wheel my wo al may I wyte.
2447: His children wende that it for hunger was
2448: That he his armes gnow, and nat for wo,
2449: And seyde, fader, do nat so, allas!
2450: But rather ete the flessh upon us two.
2451: Oure flessh thou yaf us, take oure flessh us fro,
2452: And ete ynogh, -- right thus they to hym seyde,
2453: And after that, withinne a day or two,
2454: They leyde hem in his lappe adoun and deyde.
2455: Hymself, despeired, eek for hunger starf;
2456: Thus ended is this myghty erl of pize.
2457: From heigh estaat fortune awey hym carf.
2458: Of this tragedie it oghte ynough suffise;
2459: Whoso wol here it in a lenger wise,
2460: Redeth the grete poete of ytaille
2461: That highte dant, for he kan al devyse
2462: Fro point to point, nat o word wol he faille.

Page 195

"part" Nero

Nero

2463: Although that nero were as vicius
2464: As any feend that lith ful lowe adoun,
2465: Yet he, as telleth us swetonius,
2466: This wyde world hadde in subjeccioun,
2467: Bothe est and west, (south), and septemtrioun.
2468: Of rubies, saphires, and of peerles white
2469: Were alle his clothes brouded up and doun;
2470: For he in gemmes greetly gan delite.
2471: Moore delicaat, moore pompous of array,
2472: Moore proud was nevere emperour than he;
2473: That like clooth that he hadde wered o day,
2474: After that tyme he nolde it nevere see.
2475: Nettes of gold threed hadde he greet plentee
2476: To fisshe in tybre, whan hym liste pleye.
2477: His lustes were al lawe in his decree,
2478: For fortune as his freend hym wolde obeye.
2479: He rome brende for his delicasie;
2480: The senatours he slow upon a day
2481: To heere how that men wolde wepe and crie;
2482: And slow his brother, and by his suster lay.
2483: His mooder made he in pitous array,
2484: For he hire wombe slitte to biholde
2485: Where he conceyved was; so weilaway!
2486: That he so litel of his mooder tolde.
2487: No teere out of his eyen for that sighte
2488: Ne cam, but seyde, a fair womman was she!
2489: Greet wonder is how that he koude or myghte
2490: Be domesman of hire dede beautee.
2491: The wyn to bryngen hym comanded he,
2492: And drank anon, -- noon oother wo he made.
2493: Whan myght is joyned unto crueltee,
2494: Allas, to depe wol the venym wade!
2495: In yowthe a maister hadde this emperour
2496: To teche hym letterure and curteisye,
2497: For of moralitee he was the flour,
2498: As in his tyme, but if bookes lye;
2499: And whil this maister hadde of hym maistrye,
2500: He maked hym so konnyng and so sowple
2501: That longe tyme it was er tirannye
2502: Or any vice dorste on hym uncowple.
2503: This seneca, of which that I devyse,
2504: By cause nero hadde of hym swich drede,
2505: For he fro vices wolde hym ay chastise
2506: Discreetly, as by word and nat by dede, --
2507: Sire, wolde he seyn, an emperour moot nede
2508: Be vertuous and hate tirannye --
2509: For which he in a bath made hym to blede
2510: On bothe his armes, til he moste dye.
2511: This nero hadde eek of acustumaunce
2512: In youthe agayns his maister for to ryse,
2513: Which afterward hym thoughte a greet grevaunce;
2514: Therefore he made hym dyen in this wise.
2515: But natheless this seneca the wise
2516: Chees in a bath to dye in this manere
2517: Rather than han another tormentise;
2518: And thus hath nero slayn his maister deere.
2519: Now fil it so that fortune liste no lenger
2520: The ye pryde of nero to cherice,
2521: For though that he were strong, yet was she strenger.
2522: She thoughte thus, by god! I am to nyce
2523: To sette a man that is fulfild of vice
2524: In heigh degree, and emperour hym calle.
2525: By god! out of his sete I wol hym trice;
2526: Whan he leest weneth, sonnest shal he falle.
2527: The peple roos upon hym on a nyght
2528: For his defaute, and whan he it espied,
2529: Out of his dores anon he hath hym dight
2530: Allone, and ther he wende han been allied,
2531: He knokked faste, and ay the moore he cried,
2532: The fastere shette they the dores alle.
2533: Tho wiste he wel, he hadde himself mysgyed,
2534: And wente his wey; no lenger dorste he calle.
2535: The peple cried and rombled up and doun,
2536: That with his erys herde he how they seyde,
2537: Shere is this false tiraunt, this neroun?
2538: For fere almoost out of his wit he breyde,
2539: And to his goddes pitously he preyde
2540: For socour, but it myghte nat bityde.
2541: For drede of this, hym thoughte that he deyde,
2542: And ran into a gardyn hym to hyde.
2543: And in this gardyn foond he cherles tweye
2544: That seten by a fyr full greet and reed.
2545: And to thise cherles two he gan to preye
2546: To sleen hym, and to girden of his heed,
2547: That to his body, whan that he were deed,
2548: Were no despit ydoon for his defame.
2549: Hymself he slow, he koude no bettre reed,
2550: Of which fortune lough, and hadde a game.

Page 196

De Oloferno

2551: Was nevere capitayn under a kyng
2552: That regnes mo putte in subjeccioun,
2553: Ne strenger was in feeld of alle thyng,
2554: As in his tyme, ne gretter of renoun,
2555: Ne moore pompous in heigh presumpcioun
2556: Than oloferne, which fortune ay kiste
2557: So likerously, and ladde hym up and doun,
2558: Til that his heed was of, er that he wiste.
2559: Nat oonly that this world hadde hym in awe
2560: For lesynge of richesse or libertee,
2561: But he made every man reneyen his lawe.
2562: Nabugodonosor was god, seyde hee;
2563: Noon oother God sholde adoured bee.
2564: Agayns his heeste no wight dar trespace,
2565: Save in bethulia, a strong citee,
2566: Where eliachim a preest was of that place.
2567: But taak kep of the deth of oloferne:
2568: Amydde his hoost he dronke lay a-nyght,
2569: Withinne his tente, large as is a berne,
2570: And yet, for al his pompe and al his myght,
2571: Judith, a womman, as he lay upright
2572: Slepynge, his heed of smoot, and from his tente
2573: Ful pryvely she stal from every wight,
2574: And with his heed unto hir toun she wente.

De Rege Antiocho illustri

2575: What nedeth it of kyng anthiochus
2576: To telle his hye roial magestee,
2577: His hye pride, his werkes venymus?
2578: For swich another was ther noon as he.
2579: Rede which that he was in machabee,
2580: And rede the proude wordes that he seyde,
2581: And why he fil fro heigh prosperitee,
2582: And in an hill how wrecchedly he deyde.
2583: Fortune hym hadde enhaunced so in pride
2584: That verraily he wende he myghte attayne
2585: Unto the sterres upon every syde,
2586: And in balance weyen ech montayne,
2587: And alle the floodes of the see restrayne.
2588: And goddes peple hadde he moost in hate;
2589: Hem wolde he sleen in torment and in payne,
2590: Wenynge that God ne myghte his pride abate.
2591: And for that nichanore and thymothee
2592: Of jewes weren venquysshed myghtily,
2593: Unto the jewes swich an hate hadde he
2594: That he bad greithen his chaar ful hastily,
2595: And swoor, and seyde ful despitously
2596: Unto jerusalem he wolde eftsoone,
2597: To wreken his ire on it ful cruelly;
2598: But of his purpos he was let ful soone.
2599: God for his manace hym so soore smoot
2600: With invisible wounde, ay incurable,
2601: That in his guttes carf it so and boot
2602: That his peynes weren importable.
2603: And certeinly the wreche was resonable,
2604: For many a mannes guttes dide he peyne.
2605: But from his purpos cursed and dampnable,
2606: For al his smert, he wolde hym nat restreyne,
2607: But bad anon apparaillen his hoost;
2608: And sodeynly, er he was of it war,
2609: God daunted al his pride and al his boost.
2610: For he so soore fil out of his char
2611: That it his limes and his skyn totar,
2612: So that he neyther myghte go ne ryde,
2613: But in a chayer men aboute hym bar,
2614: Al forbrused, bothe bak and syde.
2615: The wreche of God hym smoot so cruelly
2616: That thurgh his body wikked wormes crepte,
2617: And therwithal he stank so horribly
2618: That noon of al his meynee that hym kepte,
2619: Theither so he wook, or ellis slepte,
2620: Ne myghte noght the stynk of hym endure.
2621: In this meschief he wayled and eek wepte,
2622: And knew God lord of every creature.
2623: To al his hoost and to hymself also
2624: Ful wlatsom was the stynk of his careyne;
2625: No man ne myghte hym bere to ne fro.
2626: And in this stynk and this horrible peyne,
2627: He starf ful wrecchedly in a monteyne.
2628: Thus hath this robbour and this homycide,
2629: That many a man made to wepe and pleyne,
2630: Swich gerdoun as bilongeth unto pryde.

De Alexandro

2631: The storie of alisaundre is so commune
2632: That every wight that hath discrecioun
2633: Hath herd somwhat or al of his fortune.
2634: This wyde world, as in conclusioun,
2635: He wan by strengthe, or for his hye renoun
2636: They weren glad for pees unto hym sende.
2637: The pride of man and beest he leyde adoun,
2638: Wherso he cam, unto the worldes ende.

Page 197

2639: Comparisoun myghte nevere yet maked
2640: Bitwixe hym and another conquerour;
2641: For al this world for drede of hym hath quaked.
2642: He was of knyghthod and of fredom flour;
2643: Fortune hym made the heir of hire honour.
2644: Save wyn and wommen, no thing myghte aswage
2645: His hye entente in armes and labour,
2646: So was he ful of leonyn corage.
2647: What pris were it to hym, though I yow tolde
2648: Of darius, and an hundred thousand mo
2649: Of kynges, prices, dukes, erles bolde
2650: Whiche he conquered, and broghte hem into wo?
2651: I seye, as fer as man may ryde or go,
2652: The world was his, -- what sholde I moore devyse?
2653: For though I write or tolde yow everemo
2654: Of his knyghthod, it myghte nat suffise.
2655: Twelf yeer he regned, as seith machabee.
2656: Philippes sone of macidoyne he was,
2657: That first was kyng in grece the contree.
2658: O worthy, gentil alisandre, allas,
2659: That evere sholde fallen swich a cas!
2660: Empoysoned of thyn owene folk thou weere;
2661: Thy sys fortune hath turned into aas,
2662: And yet for thee ne weep she never a teere.
2663: Who shal me yeven teeris to compleyne
2664: The deeth of gentillesse and of franchise,
2665: That al the world weelded in his demeyne,
2666: And yet hym thoughte it myghte nat suffise?
2667: So ful was his corage of heigh emprise.
2668: Allas! who shal me helpe to endite
2669: False fortune, and poyson to despise,
2670: The whiche two of al this wo I wyte?

De Julio Cesare

2671: By wisedom, manhede, and by greet labour,
2672: From humble bed to roial magestee
2673: Up roos he julius, the conquerour,
2674: That wan al th' occident by land and see,
2675: By strengthe of hand, or elles by tretee,
2676: And unto rome made hem tributarie;
2677: And sitthe of rome the emperour was he,
2678: Til that fortune weex his adversarie.
2679: O myghty cesar, that in thessalie
2680: Agayn pompeus, fader thyn in lawe,
2681: That of the orient hadde al the chivalrie
2682: As fer as that the day bigynneth dawe,
2683: Thou thurgh thy knyghthod hast hem take and slawe,
2684: Save fewe folk that with pompeus fledde,
2685: Thurgh which thou puttest al th' orient in awe.
2686: Thanke fortune, that so wel thee spedde!
2687: But now a litel while I wol biwaille
2688: This pompeus, this noble governour
2689: Of rome, which that fleigh at this bataille.
2690: I seye, oon of his men, a fals traitour,
2691: His heed of smoot, to wynnen hym favour
2692: Of julius, and hym the heed he broghte.
2693: Allas, pompeye, of th' orient conquerour,
2694: That fortune unto swich a fyn thee broghte!
2695: To rome agayn repaireth julius
2696: With his triumphe, lauriat ful hey;
2697: But on a tyme brutus cassius,
2698: That evere hadde of his hye estaat envye,
2699: Ful prively hath maad conspiracye
2700: Agayns this julius in subtil wise,
2701: And caste the place in which he sholde dye
2702: With boydekyns, as I shal yow devyse.
2703: This julius to the capitolie wente
2704: Upon a day, as he was wont to goon,
2705: And in the capitolie anon hym hente
2706: This false brutus and his othere foon,
2707: And stiked hym with boydekyns anoon
2708: With many a wounde, and thus they lete hym lye;
2709: But nevere gronte he at no strook but oon,
2710: Or elles at two, but if his storie lye.
2711: So manly was this julius of herte,
2712: And so wel lovede estaatly honestee,
2713: That though his deedly woundes soore smerte,
2714: His mantel over his hypes caste he,
2715: For no man sholde seen his privetee;
2716: And he lay of diyng in a traunce,
2717: And wiste verraily that deed was hee,
2718: Of honestee yet hadde he remembraunce.
2719: Lucan, to thee this storie I recomende,
2720: And to swetoun, and to valerie also,
2721: That of this storie writen word and ende,
2722: How that to thise grete conqueroures two
2723: Fortune was first freend, and sitthe foo.
2724: No man ne truste upon hire favour longe,
2725: But have hire in awayt for everemoo;
2726: Witnesse on alle thise conqueroures stronge.

Page 198

"part" Cresus

Croesus

2727: This riche cresus, whilom kyng of lyde,
2728: Of which cresus cirus soore hym dradde,
2729: Yet was he caught amyddes al his pryde,
2730: And to be brent men to the fyr hym ladde.
2731: But swich a reyn doun fro the welkne shadde
2732: That slow the fyr, and made hym to escape;
2733: But to be war no grace yet he hadde,
2734: Til fortune on the galwes made hym gape.
2735: Whanne he escaped was, he kan nat stente
2736: For to bigynne a newe werre agayn.
2737: He wende wel, for that fortune hym sente
2738: Swich hap that he escaped thurgh the rayn,
2739: That of his foos he myghte nat be slayn;
2740: And eek a sweven upon a nyght he mette,
2741: Of which he was so proud and eek so fayn
2742: That in vengeance he al his herte sette.
2743: Upon a tree he was, as that hym thoughte,
2744: Ther juppiter hym wessh, bothe bak and syde,
2745: And phebus eek a fair towaille hym broughte
2746: To dryen hym with; and therfore was his pryde,
2747: And to his doghter, that stood hym bisyde,
2748: Which that he knew in heigh sentence habounde,
2749: He bad hire telle hym what it signyfyde,
2750: And she his dreem bigan right thus expounde:
2751: The tree, quod she, the galwes is to meene,
2752: And juppiter bitokneth snow and reyn,
2753: And phebus, with his towaille so clene,
2754: Tho been the sonne stremes for to seyn.
2755: Thou shalt anhanged be, fader, certeyn;
2756: Reyn shal thee wasshe, and sonne shal thee drye.
2757: Thus warned hym ful plat and eek ful pleyn
2758: His doghter, which that called was phanye.
2759: Anhanged was cresus, the proude kyng;
2760: His roial trone myghte hym nat availle.
2761: Tragedies noon oother maner thyng
2762: Ne kan in syngyng crie ne biwaille
2763: But that fortune alwey wole assaille
2764: With unwar strook the regnes that been proude;
2765: For whan men trusteth hire, thanne wol she faille,
2766: And covere hire brighte face with a clowde.

The Knight's Interruption of the Monk's Tale

2767: Hoo! quod the knyght, good sire, namoore of this!
2768: That ye han seyd is right ynough, ywis,
2769: And muchel moore; for litel hevynesse
2770: Is right ynough to muche folk, I gesse.
2771: I seye for me, it is a greet disese,
2772: Whereas men han been in greet welthe and ese,
2773: To heeren of hire sodeyn fal, allas!
2774: And the contrarie is joye and greet solas,
2775: As whan a man hath been in povre estaat,
2776: And clymbeth up and wexeth fortunat,
2777: And there abideth in prosperitee.
2778: Swich thyng is gladsom, as it thynketh me,
2779: And of swich thyng were goodly for to telle.
2780: Ye, quod oure hooste, by seint poules belle!
2781: Ye seye right sooth; this monk he clappeth lowde.
2782: He spak how fortune covered with a clowde
2783: I noot nevere what; and als of a tragedie
2784: Right now ye herde, and, pardee, no remedie
2785: It is for to biwaille ne compleyne
2786: That that is doon, and als it is a peyne,
2787: As ye han seyd, to heere of hevynesse.
2788: Sire monk, namoore of this, so God yow blesse!

Page 199

2789: Youre tale anoyeth al this compaignye.
2790: Swich talkyng is nat worth a boterflye,
2791: For therinne is ther no desport ne game.
2792: Wherfore, sire monk, or daun piers by youre name,
2793: I pray yow hertely telle us somwhat elles;
2794: For sikerly, nere clunkyng of youre belles,
2795: That on youre bridel hange on every syde,
2796: By hevene kyng, that for us alle dyde,
2797: I sholde er this han fallen doun for sleep,
2798: Althogh the slough had never been so deep;
2799: Thanne hadde your tale al be toold in veyn.
2800: For certeinly, as that thise clerkes seyn,
2801: Whereas a man may have noon audience,
2802: Noght helpeth it to tellen his sentence.
2803: And wel I woot the substance is in me,
2804: If any thyng shal wel reported be.
2805: Sir, sey somwhat of huntyng, I yow preye.
2806: Nay, quod this monk, I have no lust to pleye.
2807: Now lat another telle, as I have toold.
2808: Thanne spak oure hoost with rude speche and boold,
2809: And seyde unto the nonnes preest anon,
2810: Com neer, thou preest, com hyder, thou sir john!
2811: Telle us swich thyng as may oure hertes glade.
2812: Be blithe, though thou ryde upon a jade.
2813: What thogh thyn hors be bothe foul and lene?
2814: If he wol serve thee, rekke nat a bene.
2815: Looke that thyn herte be murie everemo.
2816: Yis, sir, quod he, yis, hoost, so moot I go,
2817: But I be myrie, ywis I wol be blamed.
2818: And right anon his tale he hath attamed,
2819: And thus he seyde unto us everichon,
2820: This sweete preest, this goodly man sir john.

The Nun's Priest's Tale

2821: A povre wydwe, somdeel stape in age
2822: Was whilom dwellyng in a narwe cotage,
2823: Biside a grove, stondynge in a dale.
2824: This wydwe, of which I telle yow my tale,
2825: Syn thilke day that she was last a wyf,
2826: In pacience ladde a ful symple lyf,
2827: For litel was hir catel and hir rente.
2828: By housbondrie of swich as God hire sente
2829: She foond hirself and eek hir doghtren two.
2830: Thre large sowes hadde she, and namo,
2831: Three keen, and eek a sheep that highte malle.
2832: Ful sooty was hire bour and eek hir halle,
2833: In which she eet ful many a sklendre meel.
2834: Of poynaunt sauce hir neded never a deel.
2835: No deyntee morsel passed thurgh hir throte;
2836: Hir diete was accordant to hir cote.
2837: Repleccioun ne made hire nevere sik;
2838: Attempree diete was al hir phisik,
2839: And exercise, and hertes suffisaunce.
2840: The goute lette hire nothyng for to daunce,
2841: N' apoplexie shente nat hir heed.
2842: No wyn ne drank she, neither whit ne reed;
2843: Hir bord was served moost with whit and blak, --
2844: Milk and broun breed, in which she foond no lak,
2845: Seynd bacoun, and somtyme an ey or tweye;
2846: For she was, as it were, a maner deye.
2847: A yeerd she hadde, enclosed al aboute
2848: With stikkes, and a drye dych withoute,
2849: In which she hadde a cok, hight chauntecleer.
2850: In al the land, of crowyng nas his peer.
2851: His voys was murier than the murie orgon
2852: On messe-dayes that in the chirche gon.
2853: Wel sikerer was his crowyng in his logge
2854: Than is a clokke or an abbey orlogge.
2855: By nature he knew ech ascencioun
2856: Of the equynoxial in thilke toun;
2857: For whan degrees fiftene weren ascended,
2858: Thanne crew he, that it myghte nat been amended.
2859: His coomb was redder than the fyn coral,

Page 200

2860: And batailled as it were a castel wal;
2861: His byle was blak, and as the jeet it shoon;
2862: Lyk asure were his legges and his toon;
2863: His nayles whitter than the lylye flour,
2864: And lyk the burned gold was his colour.
2865: This gentil cok hadde in his governaunce
2866: Sevene hennes for to doon al his plesaunce,
2867: Whiche were his sustres and his paramours,
2868: And wonder lyk to hym, as of colours;
2869: Of whiche the faireste hewed on hir throte
2870: Was cleped faire damoysele pertelote.
2871: Curteys she was, discreet, and debonaire,
2872: And compaignable, and bar hyrself so faire,
2873: Syn thilke day that she was seven nyght oold,
2874: That trewely she hath the herte in hoold
2875: Of chauntecleer, loken in every lith;
2876: He loved hire so that wel was hym therwith.
2877: But swich a joye was it to here hem synge,
2878: Whan that the brighte sonne gan to sprynge,
2879: In sweete accord, my lief is faren in londe!
2880: For thilke tyme, as I have understonde,
2881: Beestes and briddes koude speke and synge.
2882: And so bifel that in a dawenynge,
2883: As chauntecleer among his wyves alle
2884: Sat on his perche, that was in the halle,
2885: And next hym sat this faire pertelote,
2886: This chauntecleer gan gronen in his throte,
2887: As man that in his dreem is drecched soore.
2888: And whan that pertelote thus herde hym roore,
2889: She was agast, and seyde, herte deere,
2890: What eyleth yow, to grone in this manere?
2891: Ye been a verray sleper; fy, for shame!
2892: And he answerde, and seyde thus: madame,
2893: I pray yow that ye take it nat agrief.
2894: By god, me mette I was in swich meschief
2895: Right now, that yet myn herte is soore afright.
2896: Now god, quod he, my swevene recche aright,
2897: And kepe my body out of foul prisoun!
2898: Me mette how that I romed up and doun
2899: Withinne our yeerd, wheer as I saugh a beest
2900: Was lyk an hound, and wolde han maad areest
2901: Upon my body, and wolde han had me deed.
2902: His colour was bitwixe yelow and reed,
2903: And tipped was his tayl and bothe his eeris
2904: With blak, unlyk the remenant of his heeris;
2905: His snowte smal, with glowynge eyen tweye.
2906: Yet of his look for feere almoost I deye;
2907: This caused me my gronyng, doutelees.
2908: Avoy! quod she, fy on yow, hertelees!
2909: Allas! quod she, for, by that God above,
2910: Now han ye lost myn herte and al my love.
2911: I kan nat love a coward, by my feith!
2912: For certes, what so any womman seith,
2913: We alle desiren, if it myghte bee,
2914: To han housbondes hardy, wise, and free,
2915: And secree, and no nygard, ne no fool,
2916: Ne hym that is agast of every tool,
2917: Ne noon avauntour, by that God above!
2918: How dorste ye seyn, for shame, unto youre love
2919: That any thyng myghte make yow aferd?
2920: Have ye no mannes herte, and han a berd?
2921: Allas! and konne ye been agast of swevenys?
2922: Nothyng, God woot, but vanitee in sweven is.
2923: Swevenes engendren of replecciouns,
2924: And ofte of fume and of complecciouns,
2925: Whan humours been to habundant in a wight.
2926: Certes this dreem, which ye han met to-nyght,
2927: Cometh of the greete superfluytee
2928: Of youre rede colera, pardee,
2929: Which causeth folk to dreden in hir dremes
2930: Of arwes, and of fyr with rede lemes,
2931: Of rede beestes, that they wol hem byte,
2932: Of contek, and of whelpes, grete and lyte;
2933: Right as the humour of malencolie
2934: Causeth ful many a man in sleep to crie
2935: For feere of blake beres, or boles blake,
2936: Or elles blake develes wole hem take.
2937: Of othere humours koude I telle also
2938: That werken many a man sleep ful wo;
2939: But I wol passe as lightly as I kan.
2940: Lo catoun, which that was so wys a man,
2941: Seyde he nat thus, -- ne do no fors of dremes? --
2942: Now sire, quod she, whan we flee for the bemes,
2943: For goddes love, as taak som laxatyf.
2944: Up peril of my soule and of my lyf,
2945: I conseille yow the beste, I wol nat lye,
2946: That bothe of colere and of malencolye
2947: Ye purge yow; and for ye shal nat tarie,
2948: Though in this toun is noon apothecarie,
2949: I shal myself to gerbes techen yow
2950: That shul been for youre hele and for youre prow;
2951: And in oure yeerd tho herbes shal I fynde
2952: The whiche han of hire propretee by kynde
2953: To purge yow bynethe and eek above.
2954: Foryet nat this, for goddes owene love!
2955: Ye been ful coleryk of compleccioun;
2956: Ware the sonne in his ascencioun
2957: Ne fynde yow nat repleet of humours hoote.
2958: And if it do, I dar wel leye a grote,

Page 201

2959: That ye shul have a fevere tercaine,
2960: Of an agu, that may be youre bane.
2961: A day or two ye shul have digestyves
2962: Of wormes, er ye take youre laxatyves
2963: Of lawriol, centaure, and fumetere,
2964: Or elles of ellebor, that groweth there,
2965: Of katapuce, or of gaitrys beryis,
2966: Of herbe yve, growyng in oure yeerd, ther mery is;
2967: Pekke hem up right as they growe and ete hem yn.
2968: By myrie, housbonde, for youre fader kyn~
2969: Dredeth no dreem, I kan sey yow namoore.
2970: Madame, quod he, graunt mercy of youre loore.
2971: But nathelees, as touchyng daun catoun,
2972: That hath of wysdom swich a greet renoun,
2973: Though that he bad no dremes for to drede,
2974: By god, men may in olde bookes rede
2975: Of many a man moore of auctorite
2976: Than evere caton was, so moot I thee,
2977: That al the revers seyn of this sentence,
2978: And han wel founden by experience
2979: That dremes been significaciouns
2980: As wel of joye as of tribulaciouns
2981: That folk enduren in this lif present.
2982: Ther nedeth make of this noon argument;
2983: The verray preeve sheweth it in dede.
2984: Oon of the gretteste auctour that men rede
2985: Seith thus: that whilom two felawes wente
2986: On pilgrimage, in a ful good entente;
2987: And happed so, yhey coomen in a toun
2988: Wher as ther was swich congregacioun
2989: Of peple, and eek so streit of herbergage,
2990: That they ne founde as muche as cotage
2991: In which they bothe myghte ylogged bee.
2992: Wherfore they mosten of necessitee,
2993: As for that nyght,departen compaignye;
2994: And ech of hem gooth to his hostelrye,
2995: And took his loggyng as it wolde falle.
2996: That oon of hem was logged in a stalle,
2997: Fer in a yeerd, with oxen of the plough;
2998: That oother man was logged wel ynough,
2999: As was his aventure or his fortune,
3000: That us governeth alle as in commune.
3001: And so bifel that, longe er it were day,
3002: This man mette in his bed, ther as he lay
3003: How that his felawe gan upon hym calle,
3004: And seyde,, -- allas! for in an oxes stalle
3005: This nyght I shal be mordred ther I lye.
3006: Now help me,deere brother, or I dye.
3007: In alle haste com to me! -- he sayde.
3008: This man out of his sleep for feere abrayde;
3009: But whan that he was wakened of this sleep,
3010: He turned hym, and took of this no keep.
3011: Hym thoughte his dreem nas but a vanitte.
3012: Thus twies in his slepyng dremed hee;
3013: And atte thridde tyme yet his felawe
3014: Cam, as hym thoughte, and seide, -- I am now slawe.
3015: Bihood my bloody woundes depe and wyde!
3016: Arys up erly in the morwe tyde,
3017: And at the west gate of the toun, -- quod he,
3018: -- A carte ful of dong ther shaltow se,
3019: In which my body is hid ful prively;
3020: Do thilke carte arresten boldely.
3021: My gold caused my mordre, sooth to sayn.,
3022: And tolde hym every point how he was slayn,
3023: With a ful pitous face, pale of hewe.
3024: And truste wel, his dreem he foond ful trewe,
3025: For on the morwe, as soone as it was day,
3026: To his felawes in he took the way;
3027: And whan that he cam to his oxes stalle,
3028: After his felawe he bigan to calle.
3029: The hostiler answerede hym anon,
3030: And seyde,,sire, your felawe is agon.
3031: As soone as day he wente out of the toun.,
3032: This man gan fallen suspecioun,
3033: Remembrynge on his dremes that he mette,
3034: And forth he gooth no lenger wolde he lette
3035: Unto the west gate of the toun, and fond
3036: A dong carte, wente as it were to donge lond,
3037: That was arrayed in that same wise
3038: As ye han herd the dede man devyse.
3039: And with an hardy herte he gan to crye
3040: Vengeance and justice of this felonye.
3041: My felawe mordred is this same nyght,
3042: And in this carte he lith gapyng upright.
3043: I crye out on the ministres, -- quod he,
3044: -- That sholden kepe and reulen this citee.
3045: Harrow! allas! heere lith my felawe slayn! --
3046: What sholde I moore unto this tale sayn?
3047: The peple out sterte and caste the cart to grounde,
3048: And in the myddel of the dong they founde
3049: The dede man, that mordred was al newe.
3050: O blisful god, that art so just and trewe,
3051: Lo, how that thou biwryest mordre alway!
3052: Mordre wol out, that se we day by day.
3053: Mordre is so wlatsom and abhomynable
3054: To god, that is so just and resonable,
3055: That he ne wol nat suffre it heled be,
3056: Though it abyde a yeer, or two, or thre.
3057: Mordre wol out, this my conclusioun.

Page 202

3058: And right anon, ministres of that toun
3059: Han hent the carter and so soore hym pyned,
3060: And eek the hostiler so soore engyned,
3061: That they biknewe hire wikkednesse anon,
3062: And were anhanged by the nekke bon.
3063: Heere may men seen that dremes been to drede.
3064: And certes in the same book I rede,
3065: Right in the nexte chapitre after this
3066: I gabbe nat, so have I joye or blis
3067: Two men that wolde han passed over see,
3068: For certeyn cause, into a fer contree,
3069: If that the wynd ne hadde been contrarie,
3070: That made hem in a citee for to tarie
3071: That stood ful myrie upon an haven-syde;
3072: But on a day, agayn the even-tyde,
3073: The wynd gan chaunge, and blew right as hem leste.
3074: Jolif and glad they wente unto hir reste,
3075: And casten hem ful erly for to saille.
3076: But to that o man fil a greet mervaille:
3077: That oon of hem,in slepyng as he lay,
3078: Hym mette a wonder dreem agayn the day.
3079: Hym thoughte a man stood by his beddes syde,
3080: And hym comanded that he sholde abyde,
3081: And seyde hym thus: -- if thou tomorwe wende,
3082: Thow shalt be dreynt; my tale is at an ende.
3083: He wook, and tolde his felawe what he mette,
3084: And preyde hym his viage for to lette;
3085: As for that day, he preyde hym to byde.
3086: His felawe, that lay by his beddes syde,
3087: Gan for to laughe, and scorned him ful faste.
3088: -- no dreem, -- quod he, -- may so myn herte agaste
3089: That I wol lette for to do my thynges.
3090: I sette nat a straw by thy dremynges,
3091: For swevenes been but vantees and japes.
3092: Men dreme alday of owles and of apes,
3093: And eek of many a maze therwithal;
3094: Men dreme of thyng that nevere was ne shal.
3095: But sith I see that thou wolt heere abyde,
3096: And thus forslewthen wilfully thy tyde,
3097: God woot, it reweth me; and have good day! --
3098: And thus he took his leve, and wente his way.
3099: But er that he hadde half his cours yseyled,
3100: Noot I nat why, ne what myschaunce it eyled,
3101: But casuelly the shippes botme rente,
3102: And ship and man under the water wente
3103: In sighte of othere shippes it bisyde,
3104: That with hem seyled at the same tyde.
3105: And therfore, faire pertelote so deere,
3106: By swiche ensamples olde maistow leere
3107: That no man sholde been to recchelees
3108: Of dremes; for I seye thee, doutelees,
3109: That many a dreem ful soore is for to drede.
3110: Lo, in the lyf of seint kenelm I rede,
3111: That was kenulphus sone, the noble kyng
3112: Of mercenrike, how kenelm mette a thyng.
3113: A lite er he was mordred, on a day,
3114: His mordre in his avysioun he say.
3115: His norice hym expowned every deel
3116: His sweven, and bad hym for to kepe hym weel
3117: For traisoun; but he nas but seven yeer oold,
3118: And therfore lite tale hath he toold
3119: Of any dreem, so hooly was his herte.
3120: By god! I hadde levere than my sherte
3121: That ye hadde rad his legende, as have I.
3122: Dame pertelote, I sey yow trewely,
3123: Macrobeus, that writ the avisioun
3124: In affrike of the worthy cipioun,
3125: Affermeth dremes, and seith that they been
3126: Warnynge of thynges that men after seen.
3127: And forthermoore, I pray yow, looketh wel
3128: In the olde testament, of daniel,
3129: If he heeld dremes any vanitee.
3130: Reed eek of joseph, and ther shul ye see
3131: Wher dremes be somtyme -- I sey nat alle --
3132: Warnynge of thynges that shul after falle.
3133: Looke of egipte the kyng, daun pharao,
3134: His bakere and his butiller also,
3135: Wher they ne felte noon effect in dremes.
3136: Whoso wol seken actes of sondry remes
3137: May rede of dremes many a wonder thyng.
3138: Lo cresus, which that was of lyde kyng,
3139: Mette he nat that he sat upon a tree,
3140: Which signified he sholde anhanged bee?
3141: Lo heere andromacha, ectores wyf,
3142: That day that ector sholde lese his lyf,
3143: She dremed on the same nyght biforn
3144: How that the lyf of ector sholde be lorn,
3145: If thilke day he wente into bataille.
3146: She warned hym, but it myghte nat availle;
3147: He wente for to fighte natheles,
3148: But he was slayn anon of achilles.
3149: But thilke tale is al to longe to telle,
3150: And eek it is ny day, I may nat dwelle.
3151: Shortly I seye, as for conclusioun,
3152: That I shal han of this avisioun
3153: Adversitee; and I seye forthermoor,
3154: That I ne telle of laxatyves no stoor,
3155: For they been venymous, I woot it weel;
3156: I hem diffye, I love hem never a deel!
3157: Now let us speke of myrthe, and stynte al this.
3158: Madame pertelote, so have I blis,
3159: Of o thyng God hath sent me large grace;

Page 203

3160: For whan I se the beautee of youre face,
3161: Ye been so scarlet reed aboute youre yen,
3162: It maketh al my drede for to dyen;
3163: For al so siker as in principio,
3164: Mulier est hominis confusio, --
3165: Madame, the sentence of this latyn is,
3166: -- womman is mannes joye and al his blis. --
3167: For whan I feele a-nyght your softe syde,
3168: Al be it that I may nat on yow ryde,
3169: For that oure perche is maad so narwe, allas!
3170: I am so ful of joye and of solas,
3171: That I diffye bothe sweven and dreem.
3172: And with that word he fley doun fro the beem,
3173: For it was day, and eke his hennes alle,
3174: And with a chuk he gan hem for to calle,
3175: For he hadde founde a corn, lay in the yerd.
3176: Real he was, he was namoore aferd.
3177: He fethered pertelote twenty tyme,
3178: And trad hire eke as ofte, er it was pryme.
3179: He looketh as it were a grym leoun,
3180: And on his toos he rometh up and doun;
3181: Hym deigned nat to sette his foot to grounde.
3182: He chukketh whan he hath a corn yfounde,
3183: And to hym rennen thanne his wyves alle.
3184: Thus roial, as a prince is in his halle,
3185: Leve I this chauntecleer in his pasture,
3186: And after wol I telle his aventure.
3187: Whan that the month in which the world bigan,
3188: That highte march, whan God first maked man,
3189: Was compleet, and passed were also,
3190: Syn march bigan, thritty dayes and two,
3191: Bifel that chauntecleer in al his pryde,
3192: His sevene wyves walkynge by his syde,
3193: Caste up his eyen to the brighte sonne,
3194: That in the signe of taurus hadde yronne
3195: Twenty degrees and oon, and somwhat moore,
3196: And knew by kynde, and by noon oother loore,
3197: That it was pryme, and crew with blisful stevene.
3198: The sonne, he seyde, is clomben up on-evene
3199: Fourty degrees and oon, and moore ywis.
3200: Madame pertelote, my worldes blis,
3201: Herkneth thise blisful briddes how they synge,
3202: And se the fresshe floures how they sprynge;
3203: Ful is myn herte of revel and solas!
3204: But sodeynly hym fil a sorweful cas,
3205: For evere the latter ende of joye is wo.
3206: God woot that worldly joye is soone ago;
3207: And if a rethor koude faire endite,
3208: He in a cronycle saufly myghte it write
3209: As for a sovereyn notabilitee.
3210: Now every wys man, lat him herkne me;
3211: This storie is also trewe, I undertake,
3212: As is the book of launcelot de lake,
3213: That wommen holde in ful greet reverence.
3214: Now wol I torne agayn to my sentence.
3215: A col-fox, ful of sly iniquitee,
3216: That in th grove hadde woned yeres three,
3217: By heigh ymaginacioun forncast,
3218: The same nyght thurghout the hegges brast
3219: Into the yerd ther chauntecleer the faire
3220: Was wont, and eek his wyves, to repaire;
3221: And in a bed of wortes stille he lay,
3222: Til it was passed undren of the day,
3223: Waitynge his tyme on chauntecleer to falle,
3224: As gladly doon thise homycides alle
3225: That in await liggen to mordre men.
3226: O false mordrour, lurkynge in thy den!
3227: O newe scariot, newe genylon,
3228: False dissymulour, o greek synon,
3229: That broghtest troye al outrely to sorwe!
3230: O chauntecleer, acursed be that morwe
3231: That thou into that yerd flaugh fro the bemes!
3232: Thou were ful wel ywarned by thy dremes
3233: That thilke day was perilous to thee;
3234: But what that God forwoot moot nedes bee,
3235: After the opinioun of certein clerkis.
3236: Witnesse on hym that any parfit clerk is,
3237: That in scole is greet altercacioun
3238: In this mateere, and greet disputisoun,
3239: And hath been of an hundred thousand men.
3240: But I ne kan nat bulte it to the bren
3241: As kan the hooly doctour augustyn,
3242: Or boece, or the bisshop bradwardyn,
3243: Wheither that goddes worthy forwityng
3244: Streyneth me nedely for to doon a thyng, --
3245: Nedely clepe I symple necessitee;
3246: Or elles, if free choys be graunted me
3247: To do that same thyng, or do it noght,
3248: Though God forwoot it er that was wroght;
3249: Or if his wityng streyneth never a deel
3250: But by necessitee condicioneel.
3251: I wol nat han to do of swich mateere;
3252: My tale is of a cok, as ye may heere,
3253: That tok his conseil of his wyf, with sorwe,
3254: To walken in the yerd upon that morwe
3255: That he hadde met that dreem that I yow tolde.
3256: Wommennes conseils been ful ofte colde;
3257: Wommannes conseil broghte us first to wo,
3258: And made adam fro paradys to go,
3259: Ther as he was ful myrie and wel at ese.
3260: But for I noot to whom it myght displese,

Page 204

3261: If I conseil of wommen wolde blame,
3262: Passe over, for I seyde it in my game.
3263: Rede auctours, where they trete of swich mateere,
3264: And what they seyn of wommen ye may heere.
3265: Thise been the cokkes wordes, and nat myne;
3266: I kan noon harm of no womman divyne.
3267: Faire in the soond, to bathe hire myrily,
3268: Lith pertelote, and alle hire sustres by,
3269: Agayn the sonne, and chauntecleer so free
3270: Soong murier than the mermayde in the see;
3271: For phisiologus seith sikerly
3272: How that they syngen wel and myrily.
3273: And so bifel that, as he caste his ye
3274: Among the wortes on a boterflye,
3275: He was war of this fox, that lay ful lowe.
3276: Nothyng ne liste hym thanne for to crowe,
3277: But cride anon, cok! cok! and up he sterte
3278: As man that was affrayed in his herte.
3279: For natureelly a beest desireth flee
3280: Fro his contrarie, if he may it see,
3281: Though he never erst hadde seyn it with his ye.
3282: This chauntecleer, whan he gan hym espye,
3283: He wolde han fled, but that the fox anon
3284: Seyde, gentil sire, allas! wher wol ye gon?
3285: Be ye affrayed of me that am youre freend?
3286: Now, certes, I were worse than a feend,
3287: If I to yow wolde harm or vileynye!
3288: I am nat come youre conseil for t' espye,
3289: But trewely, the cause of my comynge
3290: Was oonly for to herkne how that ye synge.
3291: For trewely, ye have as myrie a stevene
3292: As any aungel hath that is in hevene.
3293: Therwith ye han in musyk moore feelynge
3294: Than hadde boece, or any that kan synge.
3295: My lord youre fader -- God his soule blesse! --
3296: And eek youre mooder, of hire gentillesse,
3297: Han in myn hous ybeen to my greet ese;
3298: And certes, sire, ful fayn wolde I yow plese.
3299: But, for men speke of syngyng, I wol seye, --
3300: So moote I brouke wel myne eyen tweye, --
3301: Save yow, I herde nevere man so synge
3302: As dide youre fader in the morwenynge.
3303: Certes, it was of herte, al that he song.
3304: And for to make his voys the moore strong,
3305: He wolde so peyne hym that with bothe his yen
3306: He moste wynke, so loude he wolde cryen,
3307: And stonden on his tiptoon therwithal,
3308: And strecche forth his nekke long and smal.
3309: And eek he was of swich descrecioun
3310: That ther nas no man in no regioun
3311: That hym in song or wisedom myghte passe.
3312: I have wel rad in -- daun burnel the asse -- ,
3313: Among his vers, how that ther was a cok,
3314: For that a preestes sone yaf hym a knok
3315: Upon his leg whil he was yong and nyce,
3316: He made hym for to lese his benefice.
3317: But certeyn, ther nys no comparisoun
3318: Bitwixe the wisedom and discrecioun
3319: Of youre fader and of his subtiltee.
3320: Now syngeth, sire, for seinte charitee;
3321: Lat se, konne ye youre fader countrefete?
3322: This chauntecleer his wynges gan to bete,
3323: As man that koude his traysoun nat espie,
3324: So was he ravysshed with his flaterie.
3325: Allas! ye lordes, many a fals flatour
3326: Is in youre courtes, and many a losengeour,
3327: That plesen yow wel moore, by my feith,
3328: Than he that soothfastnesse unto yow seith.
3329: Redeth ecclesiaste of flaterye;
3330: Beth war, ye lordes, of hir trecherye.
3331: This chauntecleer stoond hye upon his toos,
3332: Strecchynge his nekke, and heeld his eyen cloos,
3333: And gan to crowe loude for the nones.
3334: And daun russell the fox stirte up atones,
3335: And by the gargat hente chauntecleer,
3336: And on his bak toward the wode hym beer,
3337: For yet ne was ther no man that hym sewed.
3338: O destinee, that mayst nat been eschewed!
3339: Allas, that chauntecleer fleigh fro the bemes!
3340: Allas, his wyf ne roghte nat of dremes!
3341: And on a friday fil al this meschaunce.
3342: o venus, that art goddesse of plesaumce,
3343: Syn that thy servant was this chauntecleer,
3344: And in thy servyce dide al his poweer,
3345: Moore for delit than world to multiplye,
3346: Why woldestow suffre hym on thy day to dye?
3347: O gaufred, deere maister soverayn,
3348: That whan thy worthy kyng richard was slayn
3349: With shot, compleynedest his deeth so soore,
3350: Why ne hadde I now thy sentence and thy loore,
3351: The friday for to chide, as diden ye?
3352: For on a friday, soothly, slayn was he.
3353: Thanne wolde I shewe yow how that I koude pleyne
3354: For chauntecleres drede and for his peyne.
3355: Certes, swich cry ne lamentacion,
3356: Was nevere of ladyes maad whan ylion
3357: Was wonne, and pirrus with his streite swerd,
3358: Whan he hadde hent kyng priam by the berd,
3359: And slayn hym, as seith us eneydos,
3360: As maden alle the hennes in the clos,
3361: Whan they had seyn of chauntecleer the sighte.

Page 205

3362: But sovereynly dame pertelote shrighte
3363: Ful louder than dide hasdrubales wyf,
3364: Whan that hir housbonde hadde lost his lyf,
3365: And that the romayns hadde brend cartage.
3366: She was so ful of torment and of rage
3367: That wilfully into the fyr she sterte,
3368: And brende hirselven with a stedefast herte.
3369: O woful hennes, right so criden ye,
3370: As, whan that nero brende the citee
3371: Of rome, cryden senatoures wyves
3372: For that hir husbondes losten alle hir lyves, --
3373: Withouten gilt this nero hath hem slayn.
3374: Now wole I turne to my tale agayn.
3375: This sely wydwe and eek hir doghtres two
3376: Herden thise hennes crie and maken wo,
3377: And out at dores stirten they anon,
3378: And syen the fox toward the grove gon,
3379: And bar upon his bak the cok away,
3380: And cryden, out! harrow! and weylaway!
3381: Ha! ha! the fox! and after hym they ran,
3382: And eek with staves many another man,
3383: Ran colle oure dogge, and talbot and gerland,
3384: And malkyn, with a dystaf in hir hand;
3385: Ran cow and calf, and eek the verray hogges,
3386: So fered for the berkyng of the dogges
3387: And shoutyng of the men and wommen eeke,
3388: They ronne so hem thoughte hir herte breeke.
3389: They yolleden as feendes doon in helle;
3390: The dokes cryden as men wolde hem quelle;
3391: The gees for feere flowen over the trees;
3392: Out of the hyve cam the swarm of bees.
3393: So hydous was the noyse, a, benedicitee!
3394: Certes, he jakke straw and his meynee
3395: Ne made nevere shoutes half so shrille
3396: Whan that they wolden any flemyng kille,
3397: As thilke day was maad upon the fox.
3398: Of bras they broghten bemes, and of box,
3399: Of horn, of boon, in whiche they blewe and powped,
3400: And therwithal they skriked and they howped.
3401: It semed as that hevene sholde falle.
3402: Now, goode man, I prey yow herkenth alle:
3403: Lo, how fortune turneth sodeynly
3404: The hope and pryde eek of hir enemy!
3405: This cok, that lay upon the foxes bak,
3406: In al his drede unto the fox he spak,
3407: And seyde, sire, if that I were as ye,
3408: Yet sholde I seyn, as wys God helpe me,
3409: Turneth agayn, ye proude cherles alle!
3410: A verray pestilence upon yow falle!
3411: Now am I come unto the wodes syde;
3412: Maugree youre heed, the cok shal heere abyde.
3413: I wol hym ete, in feith, and that anon!
3414: The fox answerde, in feith, it shal be don.
3415: And as he spak that word, al sodeynly
3416: This cok brak from his mouth delyverly,
3417: And heighe upon a tree he fleigh anon.
3418: And whan the fox saugh that the cok was gon,
3419: Allas! quod he, o chauntecleer, allas!
3420: I have to yow, quod he, ydoon trespas,
3421: In as muche as I maked yow aferd
3422: Whan I yow hente and broghte out of the yerd.
3423: But, sire, I dide it in no wikke entente.
3424: Com doun, and I shal telle yow what I mente;
3425: I shal seye sooth to yow, God help me so!
3426: Nay thanne, quod he, I shrewe us bothe two.
3427: And first I shrewe myself, bothe blood and bones,
3428: If thou bigyle me ofter than ones.
3429: Thou shalt namoore, thurgh thy flaterye,
3430: Do me to synge and wynke with myn ye;
3431: For he that wynketh, whan he sholde see,
3432: Al wilfully, God lat him nevere thee!
3433: Nay, quod the fox, but God yeve hym meschaunce,
3434: That is so undiscreet of governaunce
3435: That jangleth whan he sholde holde his pees.
3436: Lo, swich it is for to be recchelees
3437: And necligent, and truste on flaterye.
3438: But ye that holden this tale a folye,
3439: As of a fox, or of a cok and hen,
3440: Taketh the moralite, goode men.
3441: For seint paul seith that al that writen is,
3442: To oure doctrine it is ywrite, ywis;
3443: Taketh the fruyt, and lat the chaf be stille.
3444: Now, goode god, if that it be thy wille,
3445: As seith my lord, so make us alle goode men,
3446: And brynge us to his heighe blisse! amen.

Page 206

The Epilogue of the Nun's Priest's Tale

3447: Sire Nonnes Preest," oure Hooste seide anoon,
3448: I-blessed be thy breche, and every stoon!
3449: This was a murie tale of Chauntecleer.
3450: But by my trouthe, if thou were seculer,
3451: Thou woldest ben a trede-foul aright.
3452: For if thou have corage as thou hast myght,
3453: Thee were nede of hennes, as I wene,
3454: Ya, moo than seven tymes seventene.
3455: See, whiche braunes hath this gentil preest
3456: So gret a nekke, and swich a large breest!
3457: He loketh as a sperhauk with his yen;
3458: Him nedeth nat his colour for to dyen
3459: With brasile, ne with greyn of Portyngale.
3460: Now, sire, faire falle yow for youre tale!
3461: And after that he, with ful merie chere,
3462: Seide unto another, as ye shuln heere.

Page 207

The Second Nun's Prologue

1: The ministre and norice unto vices
2: Which that men clepe in englissh ydelnesse,
3: That porter of the gate is of delices,
4: To eschue, and by hire contrarie hire oppresse,
5: That is to seyn, by leveful bisynesse,
6: Wel oghten we to doon al oure entente,
7: Lest that the feend thurgh ydelnesse us hente.
8: For he that with his thousand cordes slye
9: Continuelly us waiteth to biclappe,
10: Whan he may man in ydelnesse espye,
11: He kan so lightly cache hym in his trappe,
12: Til that a man be hent right by the lappe,
13: He nys nat war the feend hath hym in honde.
14: Wel oghte us werche, and ydelnesse withstonde.
15: And though men dradden nevere for to dye,
16: Yet seen men wel by resoun, doutelees,
17: That ydelnesse is roten slogardye,
18: Of which ther nevere comth no good n' encrees,
19: And syn that slouthe hire holdeth in a lees
20: Oonly to slepe, and for to ete and drynke,
21: And to devouren al that othere swynke,
22: And for to putte us fro swich ydelnesse,
23: That cause is of so greet confusioun,
24: I have heer doon my feithful bisynesse
25: After the legende, in translacioun
26: Right of thy glorious lif and passioun,
27: Thou with thy gerland wroght with rose and lilie, --
28: Thee meene I, mayde and martyr, seint cecile.

Invocacio ad mariam

29: And thow that flour of birgines art alle,
30: Of whom that bernard list so wel to write,
31: To thee at my bigynnyng first I calle;
32: Thou confort of us wrecches, do me endite
33: Thy maydens deeth, that wan thurgh hire merite
34: The eterneel lyf, and of the feend victorie,
35: As man may after reden in hire storie.
36: Thow mayde and mooder, doghter of thy sone,
37: Thow welle of mercy, synful soules cure,
38: In whom that God for bountee chees to wone,
39: Thow humble, and heigh over every creature,
40: Thow nobledest so ferforth oure nature,
41: That no desdeyn the makere hadde of kynde
42: His sone in blood and flessh to clothe and wynde.
43: Withinne the cloistre blisful of thy sydis
44: Took mannes shap the eterneel love and pees,
45: That of the tryne compas lord and gyde is,
46: Whom erthe and see and hevene, out of relees,
47: Ay heryen; and thou, virgine wemmelees,
48: Baar of thy body -- and dweltest mayden pure --
49: The creatour of every creature.
50: Assembled is in thee magnificence
51: With mercy, goodnesse, and with swich pitee
52: That thou, that art the sonne of excellence
53: Nat oonly helpest hem that preyen thee,
54: But often tyme, of thy benygnytee,
55: Ful frely, er that men thyn help biseche,
56: Thou goost biforn, and art hir lyves leche.
57: Now help, thow meeke and blisful faire mayde,
58: Me, flemed wrecche, in this desert of galle;
59: Thynk on the womman cananee, that sayde
60: That whelpes eten somme of the crommes alle
61: That from hir lordes table been yfalle;
62: And though that I, unworthy sone of eve,
63: Be synful, yet accepte my bileve.
64: And, for that teith is deed withouten werkis,
65: So for to werken yif me wit and space,
66: That I be quit fro thennes that most derk is!
67: O thou, that art so fair and ful of grace,
68: Be myn advocat in that heighe place

Page 208

69: Theras withouten ende is songe osanne,
70: Thow cristes mooder, doghter deere of anne!
71: And of thy light my soule in prison lighte,
72: That troubled is by the contagioun
73: Of my body, and also by the wighte
74: Of erthely lust and fals affeccioun;
75: O havene of refut, o salvacioun
76: Of hem that been in sorwe and in distresse,
77: Now help, for to my werk I wol me dresse.
78: Yet preye I yow that reden that I write,
79: Foryeve me that I do no diligence
80: This ilke storie subtilly to endite,
81: For bothe have I the wordes and sentence
82: Of hym that at the seintes reverence
83: The storie wroot, and folwen hire legende,
84: And pray yow that ye wole my wek amende.

interpretacio nominis Cecilie quam ponit Frater Jacobus Januensis in legenda

85: First wolde I yow the name of seint cecilie
86: Expowne, as men may in hir storie see.
87: It is to seye in englissh hevenes lilie,
88: For pure chaastnesse of virginitee;
89: Or, ofr she whitnesse hadde of honestee,
90: And grene of conscience, and of good fame
91: The soote savour, lilie was hir name.
92: Or cecilie is to seye the wey to blynde,
93: For she ensample was by good techynge;
94: Or elles cecile, as I writen fynde,
95: Is joyned, by a manere conjoynynge
96: Of hevene and lia; and heere, in figurynge,
97: The hevene is set for thoght of hoolynesse,
98: And lia for hire lastynge bisynesse.
99: Cecile may eek be seyd in this manere,
100: Wantynge of blyndnesse, for hir grete light
101: Of sapience, and for hire thewes cleere;
102: Or elles, loo, this maydens name bright
103: Of hevene and leos comth, for which by right
104: Men myghte hire wel the hevene of peple calle,
105: Ensample of goode and wise werkes alle.
106: For leos peple in englissh is to seye,
107: And right as men may in the hevene see
108: The sonne and moone and sterres every weye,
109: Right so men goostly in this mayden free
110: Seyen of feith the magnanymytee,
111: And eek the cleernesse hool of sapience,
112: And sondry werkes, brighte of excellence.
113: And right so as thise philosophres write
114: That hevene is swift and round and eek brennynge,
115: Right so was faire cecilie the white
116: Ful swift and bisy evere in good werkynge,
117: And round and hool in good perseverynge,
118: And brennynge evere in charite ful brighte.
119: Now have I yow declared what she highte.

The Second Nun's Tale

120: This mayden bright cecilie, as hir lif seith,
121: Was comen of romayns, and of noble kynde,
122: And from hir cradel up fostred in the feith
123: Of crist, and bar his gospel in hir mynde.
124: She nevere cessed, as I writen fynde,
125: Of hir preyere, and God to love and drede,
126: Bisekynge hym to kepe hir maydenhede.
127: And whan this mayden sholde unto a man
128: Ywedded be, that was ful yong of age,
129: Which that ycleped was valerian,
130: And day was comen of hir marriage,
131: She, ful devout and humble in hir corage,
132: Under hir robe of gold, that sat ful faire,
133: Hadde next hire flessh yclad hire in an haire.
134: And whil the organs maden melodie,
135: To God allone in herte thus sang she:
136: O lord, my soule and eek my body gye
137: Unwemmed, lest that it confounded be.
138: And, for his love that dyde upon a tree,

Page 209

139: Every seconde and thridde day she faste,
140: Ay biddynge in hire orisons ful faste.
141: The nyght cam, and to bedde moste she gon
142: With hire housbonde, as ofte is the manere,
143: And pryvely to hym she seyde anon,
144: O sweete and wel biloved spouse deere,
145: Ther is a conseil, and ye wolde it heere,
146: Which that right fayn I wolde unto yow seye,
147: So that ye swere ye shul it nat biwreye.
148: Valerian gan faste unto hire swere
149: That for no cas, ne thyng that myghte be,
150: He sholde nevere mo biwreyen here;
151: And thanne at erst to hym thus seyde she:
152: I have an aungel which that loveth me,
153: That with greet love, wher so I wake or sleepe,
154: Is redy ay my body for to kepe.
155: And if that he may feelen, out of drede,
156: That ye me touche, or love in vileynye,
157: He right anon wol sle yow with the dede,
158: And in youre yowthe thus ye shullen dye;
159: And if that ye in clene love me gye,
160: He wol yow loven as me, for youre clennesse,
161: And shewen yow his joye and his brightnesse.
162: Valerian, corrected as God wolde,
163: Answerde agayn, if I shal trusten thee,
164: Lat me that aungel se, and hym biholde;
165: And if that it a verray angel bee,
166: Thanne wol I doon as thou hast prayed me;
167: And if thou love another man, for sothe
168: Right with this swerd thanne wol I sle yow bothe.
169: Cecile answerde anon-right in this wise:
170: If that yow list, the angel shul ye see,
171: So that ye trowe on crist and yow baptize.
172: Gooth forth to via apia, quod shee,
173: That fro this toun ne stant but miles three,
174: And to the povre folkes that ther dwelle,
175: Sey hem right thus, as that I shal yow telle.
176: Telle hem that I, cecile, yow to hem sente,
177: To shewen yow the goode urban the olde,
178: For secree nedes and for good entente.
179: And whan that ye seint urban han biholde,
180: Telle hym the wordes whiche I to yow tolde;
181: And whan that he hath purged yow fro synne,
182: Thanne shul ye se that angel, er ye twynne.
183: Valerian is to the place ygon,
184: And right as hym was taught by his lernynge,
185: He foond this hooly olde urban anon
186: Among the seintes buryeles lotynge.
187: And he anon, withouten tariynge,
188: Dide his message; and whan that he it tolde,
189: Urban for joye his handes gan up holde.
190: The teeris from his eyen leet he falle.
191: Almyghty lord, o jhesu crist, quod he,
192: Sower of chaast conseil, hierde of us alle,
193: The fruyt of thilke seed of chastitee
194: That thou hast sowe in cecile, taak to thee!
195: Lo, lyk a bisy bee, withouten gile,
196: Thee serveth ay thyn owene thral cecile.
197: For thilke spouse that she took but now
198: Ful lyk a fiers leoun, she sendeth heere,
199: As meke as evere was any lomb, to yow!
200: And with that word anon ther gan appeere
201: An oold man, clad in white clothes cleere,
202: That hadde a book with lettre of gold in honde,
203: And gan bifore valerian to stonde.
204: Valerian as deed fil doun for drede
205: Whan he hym saugh, and he up hente hym tho,
206: And on his book right thus he gan to rede:
207: O lord, o feith, o god, withouten mo,
208: O cristendom, and fader of alle also,
209: Aboven alle and over alle everywhere.
210: Thise wordes al with gold ywriten were.
211: Whan this was rad, thanne seyde this olde man,
212: Leevestow this thyng or no? sey ye or nay.
213: I leeve al this thyng, quod valerian,
214: For sother thyng than this, I dar wel say,
215: Under the hevene no wight thynke may.
216: Tho vanysshed the olde man, he nyste where,
217: And pope urban hym cristned right there.
218: Valerian gooth hoom and fynt cecilie
219: Withinne his chambre with an angel stonde.
220: This angel hadde of roses and of lilie
221: Corones two, the which he bar in honde;
222: And first to cecile, as I understonde,
223: He yaf that oon, and after gan he take
224: That oother to valerian, hir make.
225: With body clene and with unwemmed though
226: Kepeth ay wel thise corones, quod he;
227: Fro paradys to yow have I hem broght,
228: Ne nevere mo ne shal they roten bee,
229: Ne lese hir soote savour, trusteth me;

Page 210

230: Ne nevere wight shal seen hem with his ye,
231: But he be chaast and hate vileynye.
232: And thow, valerian, for thow so soone
233: Assentedest to good conseil also,
234: Sey what thee list, and thou shalt han thy boone.
235: I have a brother,quod valerian tho,
236: That in this world I love no man so.
237: I pray yow that my brother may han grace
238: To knowe the trouthe, as I do in this place.
239: The angel seyde,god liketh thy requeste,
240: And bothe, with the palm of martirdom,
241: Ye shullen come unto his blisful feste.
242: And with that word tiburce his brother coom.
243: And whan that he the savour undernoom,
244: Which that the roses and the lilies caste,
245: Withinne his herte he gan to wondre faste,
246: And seyde,i wondre, this tyme of the yeer
247: Whennes that soote savour cometh so
248: Of rose and lilies that I smelle heer.
249: For though I hadde hem in myne handes two.
250: The savour myghte in me no depper go.
251: The sweete smel that in myn herte I fynde
252: Hath chaunged me al in another kynde.
253: Valerian seyde: two corones han we,
254: Snow white and rose reed, that shynen cleere,
255: Whiche that thyne eyen han no myght to see;
256: And as thou smellest hem thurgh my preyere,
257: So shaltow seen hem,leeve brother deere,
258: If it so be thou wolt, withouten slouthe,
259: Bileve aright and knowen verray troughe,
260: Tiburce answerde, seistow this to me
261: In soothnesse, or in dreem I herkne this?
262: In dremes, quod valerian, han we be
263: Unto this tyme, brother myn, ywis.
264: But now at erst in trouthe oure dwellyng is.
265: How woostow this? quod tiburce, and in what wyse?
266: Quod valerian, that shal I thee devyse.
267: The aungel of God hath me the trouthe ytaught
268: Which thou shalt seen, if that thou wolt reneye
269: The ydoles and be clene, and elles naught.
270: And of the myracle of thise corones tweye
271: Seint ambrose in his preface list to seye;
272: Solempnely this noble doctour deere
273: Commendeth it, and seith in this manere:
274: The palm of martirdom for to receyve,
275: Seinte cecile, fulfild of goddes yifte,
276: The world and eek hire chambre gan she weyve;
277: Witnesse tyburces and valerians shrifte,
278: To whiche God of his bountee wolde shifte
279: Corones two of floures wel smellynge,
280: And make his angel hem the corones brynge.
281: The mayde hath broght thise men to blisse above;
282: The world hath wist what it is worth, certeyn,
283: Devocioun of chastitee to love.
284: Tho shewed hym cecile al open and pleyn
285: That alle ydoles nys but a thyng in veyn,
286: For they been dombe, and therto they been deve,
287: And charged hym his ydoles for to leve.
288: Whoso that troweth nat this, a beest he is,
289: Quod tho tiburce, if that I shal nat lye.
290: And she gan kisse his brest, that herde this,
291: And was ful glad he koude trouthe espye.
292: This day I take thee for myn allye,
293: Seyde this blisful faire mayde deere,
294: And after that, she seyde as ye may heere:
295: Lo, right so as the love of crist, quod she,
296: Made me thy brotheres wyf, right in that wise
297: Anon for myn allye heer take I thee,
298: Syn that thou wolt thyne ydoles despise.
299: Go with thy brother now, and thee baptise,
300: And make thee clene, so that thou mowe biholde
301: The angels face of which thy brother tolde.
302: Tiburce answerde and seyde, brother deere,
303: First el me whider I shal, and to what man?
304: To whom? quod he, com forth with right good cheere,
305: I wol thee lede unto the pope urban.
306: Til urban?brother myn valerian,
307: Quod tho tiburce, woltow me thider lede?
308: Me thynketh that it were a wonder dede.
309: Ne menestow nat urban,quod he tho,
310: That is so ofte dampned to be deed,
311: And woneth in halkes alwey to and fro,
312: And dar nat ones putte forth his heed?
313: Men sholde hym brennen in a fyr so reed
314: If he were founde, or that men myghte hym spye,
315: And we also, to bere hym compaignye;

Page 211

316: And whil we seken thile divinitee
317: That is yhid in hevene pryvely,
318: Algate ybrend in this world shul we bel
319: To whom cecile answerde boldely,
320: Men myghten dreden wel and skilfully
321: This lyf to lese, myn owene deere brother,
322: If this were lyvynge oonly and noon oother.
323: But ther is bettre lif in oother place,
324: That nevere shal be lost, ne drede thee noght,
325: Which goddes sone us tolde thurgh his grace.
326: That fadres sone hath alle thyng ywroght,
327: And al that wroght is with a skilful though,
328: The goost, that fro the fader gan procede,
329: Hath sowled hem, withouten any drede.
330: By word and by myracle heigh goodes sone
331: Whan he was in this world, declared heere
332: That ther was oother lyf ther men may wone.
333: To whom answerde tiburce,o suster deere,
334: Ne seydestow right now in this manere,
335: Ther nys but o god, lord in soothfastnesse?
336: And now of three how maystow bere witnesse?
337: That shal I telle,quod she, er I go.
338: Right as a man hath sapiences three,
339: Memorie, engyn, and intellect also,
340: So in o beynge of divinitee,
341: Thre persones may ther wright wel bee.
342: Tho gan she hym ful bisily to preche
343: Of cristes come, and of his peynes teche,
344: And manye pointes of his passioun;
345: How goddes sone in this world was withholde
346: To doon mankynde pleyn remissioun,
347: That was ybounde in synne and cares colde,
348: Al this thyng she unto tiburce tolde.
349: And after this, tiburce in good entente
350: With valerian to pope urban he wente,
351: That thanked god, and with glad herte light
352: He cristned hyn, and made hym in that place
353: Parfit in his lernynge, goddes knyght.
354: And after this, tiburce gat swich grace
355: That every day he saugh, in tyme and space,
356: The aungel of god; and every maner boone
357: That he God axed, it was sped ful soone.
358: If were ful hard by ordre for to seyn
359: How manye wondres jhesus for hem wroghte;
360: But atte laste, to tellen short and pleyn,
361: The sergeantz of the toun of rome hem soghte,
362: And hem biforn almache, the prefect, broghte,
363: Which hem apposed, and knew al hire entente,
364: And to the ymage of juppiter hem sente,
365: And seyde, whoso wol nat sacrifise,
366: Swape of his heed; this my sentence heer.
367: Anon thise martirs that I yow devyse,
368: Oon maximus, that was an officer
369: Of the prefectes, and his corniculer,
370: Hem hente, and whan he forth the seintes ladde,
371: Hymself he weep for pitee that he hadde.
372: Whan maximus had herd the seintes loore,
373: He gat hym of the tormentoures leve,
374: And ladde hem to his hous withoute moore,
375: And with hir prechyng, er that it were eve,
376: They gonnen fro the tormentours to reve,
377: And fro maxime, and fro his fold echone,
378: The false feith, to trowe in God allone.
379: Cecile cam, whan it was woxen nyght,
380: With preestes that hem cristned alle yfeere;
381: And afterward, whan day was woxen light,
382: Cecile hem seyde with a ful stedefast cheere,
383: Now, Christes owene knyghtes leeve and deere,
384: Cast alle awey the werkes of derknesse,
385: And armeth yow in armure of brightnesse.
386: Ye han for sothe ydoon a greet bataille,
387: Youre cours is doon, youre feith han ye conserved.
388: Gooth to the corone of lif that may nat faille;
389: The rightful juge, which that ye han served,
390: Shal yeve it yow, as ye han it deserved.
391: And whan this thyng was seyd as I devyse,
392: Men ledde hem forth to doon the sacrefise.
393: But whan they weren to the place broght
394: To tellen shortly the conclusioun,
395: They nolde encense ne sacrifise right noght,
396: But on hir knees they setten hem adoun
397: With humble herte and sad devocioun,
398: And losten bothe hir hevedes in the place.
399: Hir soules wenten to the kyng of grace.
400: This maximus, that saugh this thyng bityde,
401: With pitous teeris tolde it anonright,
402: That he hir soules saugh to hevene glyde
403: With aungels ful of cleernesse and of light,
404: And with his word converted many a wight;
405: For which almachius dide hym so tobete
406: With whippe of leed, til he his lif gan lete.

Page 212

407: Cecile hym took and buryed hym anon
408: By tiburce and valerian softely
409: Withinne hire buriyng place, under the stoon;
410: And after this, almachius hastily
411: Bad his ministres fecchen openly
412: Cecile, so that she myghte in his presence
413: Doon sacrifice, and juppiter encense.
414: But they, converted at hir wise loore,
415: Wepten ful soore, and yaven ful credence
416: Unto hire word, and cryden moore and moore,
417: Crist, goddes sone, withouten difference,
418: Is verray God -- this is al oure sentence --
419: That hath so good a servant hym to serve.
420: This with o voys we trowen, thogh we sterve!
421: Almachius, that herde of this doynge,
422: Bad fecchen cecile, that he myghte hire see,
423: And alderfirst, lo! this was his axynge.
424: What maner womman artow? tho quod he.
425: I am a gentil womman born, quod she.
426: I axe thee, quod he, though it thee greeve,
427: Of thy religioun and of thy bileeve.
428: Ye han bigonne youre questioun folily,
429: Quod she, that wolden two answers conclude
430: In o demande; ye axed lewedly.
431: Almache answerde unto that similitude,
432: Of whennes comth thyn answeryng so rude?
433: Of whennes? quod she, whan that she was freyned,
434: Of conscience and of good feith unfeyned.
435: Almachius seyde, ne takestow noon heede
436: Of my power? and she answerde hym this:
437: Youre myght, quod she, ful litel is to dreede.
438: For every mortal mannes power nys
439: But lyk a bladdre ful of wynd ywys.
440: For with nedles poynt, whan it is blowe,
441: May al the boost of it be leyd ful lowe.
442: Ful wrongfully bigonne thow, quod he,
443: And yet in wrong is thy perserveraunce.
444: Wostow nat how oure myghty princes free
445: Han thus comanded and maad ordinaunce,
446: That every cristen wight shal han penaunce
447: But if that he his cristendom withseye,
448: And foon al quit, if he wole it reneye?
449: Yowre princes erren, as youre nobleye dooth,
450: Quod tho cecile, and with a wood sentence
451: Ye make us gilty, and it is nat sooth.
452: For ye, that knowen wel oure innocence,
453: For as muche as we doon a reverence
454: To crist, and for we berre a cristen name,
455: Ye putte on us a cryme, and eek a blame.
456: But we that knowen thilke name so
457: For vertuous, we may it nat withseye.
458: Almache answerde, chees oon of thise two:
459: Do sacrifice, or cristendom reneye,
460: That thou mowe now escapen by that weye.
461: At which the hooly blisful faire mayde
462: Gan for to laughe, and to juge sayde:
463: O juge, confus in thy nycetee,
464: Woltow that I reneye innocence,
465: To make me a wikked wight? quod shee.
466: Lo, he dissymuleth heere in audience;
467: He stareth, and woodeth in his advertence!
468: To whom almachius, unsely wrecche,
469: Ne woostow nat how fer my myght may strecche?
470: Han noght oure myghty princes to me yiven,
471: Ye, bothe power and auctoritee
472: To maken folk to dyen or to lyven?
473: Why spekestow so proudly thanne to me?
474: I speke noght but stedfastly, quod she;
475: Nat prudly, for I seye, as for my syde,
476: We haten deedly thilke vice of pryde.
477: And if thou drede nat a sooth to heere,
478: Thanne wol I shewe al openly, by right,
479: That thou hast maad a ful gret lesyng heere.
480: Thou seyst thy princes han thee yeven myght
481: Bothe for to sleen and for to quyken a wight;
482: Thou, that ne mayst but oonly lyf bireve,
483: Thou hast noon oother power ne no leve.
484: But thou mayst seyn thy princes han thee maked
485: Ministre of deeth; for if thou speke of mo,
486: Thou lyest, for thy power is ful naked.
487: Do wey thy booldnesse, seyde almachius tho,
488: And sacrifice to oure goddes, er thou go!
489: Irecche nat what wrong that thou me profre,
490: For I kan suffre it as a philosophre;
491: But thilke wronges may I nat endure
492: That thou spekest of oure goddes heere, quod
493: Cecile answerde, o nyce creature!
494: Thou seydest no word syn thou spak to me
495: That I ne knew therwith thy nycetee;
496: And that thou were, in every maner wise,
497: A lewed officer and a veyn justise.

Page 213

498: Ther lakketh no thyng to thyne outer yen
499: That thou n' art blynd; for thyng that we seen alle
500: That it is stoon, -- that men may wel espyen, --
501: That ilke stoon a God tho wolt it calle.
502: I rede thee, lat thyn hand upon it falle,
503: And taste it wel, and stoon thou shalt it fynde,
504: Syn that thou seest nat with thyne eyen blynde.
505: It is a shame that the peple shal
506: So scorne thee, and laughe at thy folye;
507: For communly men woot it wel overal
508: That myghty God is in his hevenes hye;
509: And thise ymages, wel thou mayst espye,
510: To thee ne to hemself mowen noght profite,
511: For in effect thy been nat worth a myte.
512: Thise wordes and swiche othere seyde she,
513: And he weex wroth, and bad men sholde hir lede
514: Hom til hir hous, and in hire hous, quod he,
515: Brenne hire right in a bath of flambes rede.
516: And as he bad, right so was doon the dede;
517: For in a bath they gonne hire faste shetten,
518: And nyght and day greet fyr they under betten.
519: The longe nyght, and eek a day also,
520: For al the fyr, and eek the bathes heete,
521: She sat al coold, and feelede no wo.
522: It made hire nat a drope for to sweete.
523: But in that bath hir lyf she moste lete,
524: For he almachius, with ful wikke entente,
525: To sleen hire in the bath his sonde sente.
526: Thre strokes in the nekke he smoot hire tho,
527: The tormentour, but for no maner chaunce
528: He myghte noght smyte al hir nekke atwo;
529: And for ther was that tyme an ordinaunce
530: That no man sholde doon man swich penaunce
531: The ferthe strook to smyten, softe or soore,
532: This tormentour ne dorste do namoore,
533: But half deed, with hir nekke ycorven there,
534: He lefte hir lye, and on his wey is went.
535: The cristen folk, which that aboute hire were,
536: With sheetes han the blood ful faire yhent.
537: Thre dayes lyved she in this torment,
538: And nevere cessed hem the feithe to teche
539: That she hadde fostred; hem she gan to preche,
540: And hem she yaf hir moebles and hir thyng,
541: And to the pope urban bitook hem tho,
542: And seyde, I axed this of hevene kyng,
543: To han respit thre dayes and namo,
544: To recomende to yow, er that I go,
545: Thise soules, lo! and that I myghte do werche
546: Heere of myn hous perpetuilly a cherche.
547: Seint urban, with his deknes, prively
548: The body fette, and buryed it by nyghte
549: Among his othere seintes honestly.
550: Hir hous the chirche of seint cecilie highte;
551: Seint urban halwed it, as he wel myghte;
552: In which, into this day, in noble wyse,
553: Men doon to crist and to his seint servyse.

The Canon Yeoman's Prologue

554: Whan ended was the lyf of seinte cecile,
555: Er we hadde riden fully fyve mile,
556: A tboghtoun under blee us gan atake
557: A man that clothed was in clothes blake,
558: And under-nethe he hadde a whyt surplys.
559: His hakeney, that wasal pomely grys,
560: So swatte that it wonder was to see;
561: It semed as he had priked miles three.
562: The hors eek that his yeman rood upon
563: So swatte that sunnethe myghte it gon.
564: Aboute the peytrel sood the foom ful hye;
565: He was of foom al flekked a a pye.
566: A male tweyfoold on his croper lay;
567: It semed that he caried lite array.
568: Al light for somer rood this worthy man,
569: And in myn herte wondren I bigan
570: What that he was, til that I understood
571: How that his cloke was sowed to his good;
572: For which, whan I hadde longe avysed me,
573: I demed hym som chanoun for to be.
574: His hat heeng at his bak doun by a laas,
575: For he hadde riden moore than trot or paas;
576: He hadde ay priked lik as he were wood.
577: A clote-leef he hadde under his hood

Page 214

578: For swoot, and for to keep his heed from heete.
579: But it was joye for to seen hym swete!
580: His forheed dropped as a stillatorie,
581: Were ful of plantayne and of paritorie.
582: And whan that he was come, he ban to crye,
583: God save, quod he, this joly compaignye!
584: Faste have I priked,!quod he, for youre sake,
585: By cause that I woldeyow atake,
586: To riden in this myrie compaignye.
587: His yeman eek was ful of curteisye,
588: And seyde, sires, now in the morwe-tyde
589: Out of youre hostelrie I saugh yow ryde,
590: And warned heer my lord and my soverayn,
591: Which that to ryden with yow is ful fayn
592: For his desport; he loveth daliaunce.
593: freend, for thy warnyng God yeve thee good chaunce!
594: Thanne seyde oure hoost, for certein it wolde seme
595: Thy lord were wys, and so I may wel deme.
596: He is ful jocunde also, dar I leye!
597: Can he oght telle a myrie tale or tweye,
598: With which he glade may his compaignye?
599: Who, sire? my lord? ye, ye, withouten lye,
600: He kan of murthe and eek of jolitee
601: Nat but ynough: also, sire, trusteth me,
602: And ye hym knewe as wel as do I,
603: Ye wolde wondre how wel and craftily
604: He koude werke, and that in sondry wise.
605: He hath take on hym many a greet emprise,
606: Which were ful hard for any that is heere
607: To brynge aboute, but they of hym it leere.
608: As hoomly as he rit amonges yow,
609: If ye hym kniewe, it wolde be for youre prow.
610: Ye wolde nat forgoon his aqueyntaunce
611: For muchel good, I dar leye in balaunce
612: Al that I have in my possessioun.
613: He is a man of heigh discrecioun;
614: I warne yow wel, he is a passyng man.
615: Wel, quod oure hoost, I pray thee tel me than,
616: Is he a clerk, or noon? telle what he is.
617: Nay, he is gretter than a clerk, ywis,
618: Seyde this yeman, and in wordes fewe,
619: Hoost, of his craft somwhat I wol yow shewe.
620: I seye, my lord kan swich subtilitee --
621: But al his craft ye may nat wite at me,
622: And somwhat helpe I yet to his wirkyng --
623: That al this ground on which we been ridyng,
624: Til that we come to caunterbury toun,
625: He koude al clene turne it up-so-doun,
626: And pave it al of silver and of gold.
627: And whan this yeman hadde this tale ytold
628: Unto oure hoost, he seyde, benedicitee!
629: This thyng is wonder merveillous to me,
630: Syn that thy lord is of so heigh prudence,
631: By cause of which men sholde hym reverence,
632: That of his worshipe rekketh he so lite.
633: His overslope nys nat worth a myte,
634: As in effect, to hym, so moot I go!
635: It is al baudy and totore also.
636: Why is thy lord so sluttissh, I the preye,
637: And is of power bettre clooth to beye,
638: Of that his dede accorde with thy speche?
639: Telle me that, and that I thee biseche.
640: Why? quod this yeman, wherto axe ye me?
641: God help me so, for he shal nevere thee!
642: (but I wol nat avowe that I seye,
643: And therfore keepe it secree, I yow preye.)
644: He is to wys, in feith, as I bileeve.
645: That that is overdoon, it wol nat preeve
646: Aright, as clerkes seyn; it is a vice.
647: Wherfore in that I holde hym lewed and nyce.
648: For whan a man hath over-greet a wit,
649: Ful oft hym happeth to mysusen it.
650: So doothy my lord, and that me greveth soore;
651: God it amende! I kan sey yow namoore.
652: Ther-of no fors, good yeman, quod oure hoost;
653: Syn of the konnyng of thy lord thow woost,
654: Telle how he dooth, I pray thee hertely,
655: Syn that he is so crafty and so sly.
656: Where dwelle ye, if it to telle be?
657: In the suburbes of a toun, quod he,
658: Lurkynge in hernes and in lanes blynde,
659: Wheras this robbours and thise theves by kynde
660: Holden hir pryvee fereful residence,
661: As they that dar nat shewen hir presence;
662: So faren we, if I shal seye the sothe.
663: Now, quod oure hoost, yit lat me talke to the.
664: Why artow so discoloured of thy face?
665: Peter! quod he, God yeve it harde grace,
666: I am so used in the fyr to blowe
667: That it hath chaunged my colour, I trowe.
668: I am nat wont in no mirour to prie,
669: But swynke soore and lerne multiplie.
670: We blondren evere and pouren in the fir,
671: And for al that we faille of oure desir,
672: For evere we lakken oure conclusioun.
673: To muchel folk we doon illusioun,
674: And borwe gold, be it a pound or two,
675: Or ten, or twelve, or manye sommes mo,
676: And make hem wenen, at the leeste weye,
677: That of a pound we koude make tweye.
678: Yet is it fals, but ay we han good hope

Page 215

679: It for to doon, and after it we grope.
680: But that science is so fer us biforn,
681: We mowen nat, although we hadden it sworn,
682: It overtake, it slit awey so faste.
683: It wole us maken beggers atte laste.
684: Whil this yeman was thus in his talkyng,
685: This chanoun drough hym neer, and herde al thyng
686: Which that this yeman spak, for suspecioun
687: Of mennes speche evere hadde this chanoun.
688: For catoun seith that he that gilty is
689: Demeth alle thyng be spoke of hym, ywis.
690: That was the cause he gan so ny hym drawe
691: To his yeman, to herknen al his sawe.
692: And thus he seyde unto his yeman tho:
693: Hoold thou thy pees, and spek no wordes mo,
694: For if thou do, thou shalt it deere abye.
695: Thou sclaundrest me heere in this compaignye,
696: And eek discoverest that thou sholdest hyde.
697: Ye, quod oure hoost, telle on, what bityde.
698: Of al his thretyng rekke nat a myte!
699: In feith, quod he, namoore I do but lyte.
700: And whan this chanon saugh it wolde nat bee,
701: But his yeman wolde telle his pryvetee,
702: He fledde awey for verray sorwe and shame.
703: A! quod the yeman, heere shal arise game;
704: Al that I kan anon now wol I telle.
705: Syn he is goon, the foule feend hym quelle!
706: For nevere heerafter wol I with hym meete
707: For peny ne for pound, I yow biheete.
708: He that me broghte first unto that game,
709: Er that he dye, sorwe have he and shame!
710: For it is ernest to me, by me feith;
711: That feele I wel, what so any man seith.
712: And yet, for al my smert and al my grief,
713: For al my sorwe, labour, and meschief,
714: I koude nevere leve it in no wise.
715: Now wolde God my wit myghte suffise
716: To tellen al that longeth to that art!
717: But nathelees yow wol I tellen part.
718: Syn that my lord is goon, I wol nat spare;
719: Swich thyng as that I knowe, I wol declare.

The Canon Yeoman's Tale

"part" 1

Part I

720: With this chanoun I dwelt have seven yeer,
721: And of his science am I never the neer.
722: Al that I hadde I have lost therby,
723: And, God woot, so hath many mo than I.
724: Ther I was wont to be right fressh and gay
725: Of clothyng and of oother good array,
726: Now may I were an hose upon myn heed;
727: And wher my colour was bothe fressh and reed
728: Now is it wan and of a leden hewe --
729: Whoso it useth, soore shal he rewe! --
730: And of my swynk yet blered is myn ye.
731: Lo! which avantage is to multiplie!
732: That slidynge science hath me maad so bare
733: That I have no good, wher that evere I fare;
734: And yet I am endetted so therby,
735: Of gold that I have borwed, trewely,
736: That whil I lyve I shal it quite nevere.
737: Lat every man be war by me for evere!
738: What maner man that casteth hym therto,
739: If he continue, I holde his thrift ydo.
740: For so helpe me god, therby shal he nat wynne,
741: But empte his purs, and make his wittes thynne.
742: And whan he, thurgh his madnesse and folye,
743: Hath lost his owene good thurgh jupartye,
744: Thanne he exciteth oother folk therto,
745: To lesen hir good, as he hymself hath do.
746: For unto shrewes joye it is and ese
747: To have hir felawes in peyne and disese.
748: Thus was I ones lerned of a clerk.
749: Of that no charge, I wol speke of oure werk.
750: Whan we been there as we shul exercise
751: Oure elvysshe craft, we semen wonder wise,
752: Oure termes been so clerigal and so queynte.
753: I blowe the fir til that myn herte feynte.
754: What sholde I tellen ech proporcion
755: Of thynges whiche that we werche upon
756: As on fyve or sixe ounces, may wel be,
757: Of silver, or som oother quantitee --
758: And bisye me to telle yow the names

Page 216

759: Of orpyment, brent bones, iren squames,
760: That into poudre grounden been ful smal;
761: And in an erthen pot how put is al,
762: And salt yput in, and also papeer,
763: Biforn thise poudres that I speke of heer;
764: And wel ycovered with a lampe of glas;
765: And of muche oother thyng which that ther was;
766: And of the pot and glasses enlutyng,
767: That of the eyr myghte passe out nothyng;
768: And of the esy fir, and smart also,
769: Which that was maad, and of the care and wo
770: That we hadde in oure matires sublymyng,
771: And in amalgamyng and calcenyng
772: Of quyksilver, yclept mercurie crude?
773: For alle oure sleightes we kan nat conclude.
774: Oure orpyment and sublymed mercurie,
775: Oure grounden litarge eek on the porfurie,
776: Of ech of thise of ounces a certeyn --
777: Noght helpeth us, oure labour is in veyn.
778: Ne eek oure spirites ascencioun,
779: Ne oure materes that lyen al fix adoun,
780: Mowe in oure werkyng no thyng us availle,
781: For lost is al oure labour and travaille;
782: And al the cost, a twenty devel waye,
783: Is lost also, which we upon it laye.
784: Ther is also ful many another thyng
785: That is unto oure craft apertenyng.
786: Though I by ordre hem nat reherce kan,
787: By cause that I am a lewed man,
788: Yet wol I telle hem as they come to mynde,
789: Thogh I ne kan nat sette hem in hir kynde:
790: As boole armonyak, verdegrees, boras,
791: And sondry vessels maad of erthe and glas,
792: Oure urynales and oure descensories,
793: Violes, crosletz, and sublymatories,
794: Cucurbites and alambikes eek,
795: And othere swiche, deere ynough a leek.
796: Nat nedeth it for to reherce hem alle, --
797: Watres rubifyng, and boles galle,
798: Arsenyk, sal armonyak and brymstoon;
799: And herbes koude I telle eek many oon,
800: As egremoyne, valerian, and lunarie,
801: And othere swiche, if that me liste tarie;
802: Oure lampes brennyng bothe nyght and day,
803: To brynge aboute oure purpos, if we may;
804: Oure fourneys eek of calcinacioun,
805: And of watres albificacioun;
806: Unslekked lym,chalk, and gleyre of an ey,
807: Poudres diverse, asshes, donge, pisse, and cley,
808: Cered pokkets, sal peter, vitriole,
809: And diverse fires maad of wode and cole;
810: Sal tartre, alkaly, and sal preparat,
811: And combust materes and coagulat;
812: Cley maad with hors of mannes heer, and oille
813: Of tartre, alum glas, berme, wort, and argoille,
814: Resalgar, and oure materes enbibyng,
815: And eek of oure materes encorporyng,
816: And of oure silver citrinacioun,
817: Oure cementyng and fermentacioun,
818: Oure yngottes, testes, and many mo.
819: I wol yow telle, as was me taught also,
820: The foure spirites and the bodies sevene,
821: By ordre, as ofte I herde my lord hem nevene.
822: The firste spirit quyksilver called is,
823: The seconde orpyment, the thridde, ywis,
824: Sal armonyak, and the ferthe brymstoon.
825: The bodyes sevene eek, lo! hem heere anoon:
826: Sol gold is, and luna silver we threpe,
827: Mars ire, mercurie quyksilver we clepe,
828: Saturnus leed, and juppiter is tyn,
829: And venus coper, by my fader kyn!
830: This cursed craft whoso wole excercise,
831: He shal no good han that hym may suffise;
832: For al the good he spendeth theraboute
833: He lese shal; therof have I no doute.
834: Whoso that listeth outen his folie,
835: Lat hym come forth and lerne multiplie;
836: And every man that oght hath in his cofre,
837: Lat hym appiere, and wexe a philosophre.
838: Ascaunce that craft is so light to leere?
839: Nay, nay, God woot, al be he monk or frere,
840: Preest or chanoun, or any oother wyght,
841: Though he sitte at his book bothe day and nyght
842: In lernyng of this elvysshe nyce loore,
843: Al is in veyn, and parde! muchel moore.
844: To lerne a lewed man this subtiltee --
845: Fy! spek nat therof, for it wol nat bee;
846: And konne he letterure, or konne he noon,
847: As in effect, he shal fynde it al oon.
848: For bothe two, by my savacioun,
849: Concluden in multiplicacioun
850: Ylike wel, whan they han al ydo;
851: This is to seyn, they faillen bothe two.
852: Yet forgat I to maken rehersaille
853: Of watres corosif, and of lymaille,
854: And of bodies mollificacioun,
855: And also of hire induracioun;
856: Oilles, ablucions, and metal fusible, --
857: To tellen al wolde passen any bible
858: That owher is; wherfore, as for beste,
859: Of alle thise names now wol I me reste.
860: For, as I trowe, I have yow toold ynowe
861: To reyse a feend, al looke he never so rowe.
862: A!nay! lat be; the philosophres stoon,
863: Elixer clept, we sechen faste echoon;
864: For hadde we hym, thanne were we siker ynow.

Page 217

865: But unto God of hevene I make avow,
866: For al oure craft, whan we han al ydo,
867: And al oure sleighte, he wol nat come us to.
868: He hath ymaad us spenden muchel good,
869: For sorwe of which almoost we wexen wood,
870: But that good hope crepeth in oure herte,
871: Supposynge evere, though we sore smerte,
872: To be releeved by hym afterward.
873: Swich supposyng and hope is sharp and hard;
874: I warne yow wel, it is to seken evere.
875: That futur temps hath maad men to dissevere,
876: In trust therof, from al that evere they hadde.
877: Yet of that art they kan nat wexen sadde,
878: For unto hem it is a bitter sweete, --
879: So semeth it, -- for nadde they but a sheete,
880: Which that they myghte wrappe hem inne a-nyght,
881: And a brat to walken inne by daylyght,
882: They wolde hem selle and spenden on this craft.
883: They kan nat stynte til no thyng be laft.
884: And everemoore, where that evere they goon
885: Men may hem knowe by smel of brymstoon.
886: For al the world they stynken as a goot;
887: Hir savour is so rammyssh and so hoot
888: That though a man from hem a mile be,
889: The savour wole infecte hym, trusteth me.
890: And thus by smel, and by threedbare array,
891: If that men liste, this folk they knowe may.
892: And if a man wole aske hem pryvely
893: Why they been clothed so unthriftily,
894: They right anon wol rownen is his ere,
895: And seyn that if that they espied were,
896: Men wolde hem slee by cause of hir science.
897: Lo, thus this folk bitrayen innocence!
898: Passe over this; if go my tale unto.
899: Er that the pot be on the fir ydo,
900: Of metals with a certeyn quantitee,
901: My lord hem tempreth, and no man be he --
902: Now he is goon, I dar seyn boldely --
903: For, as men seyn, he kan doon craftily.
904: Algate I woot wel he hath swich a name,
905: And yet ful ofte he renneth in a blame.
906: And wite ye how? ful ofte it happeth so,
907: The pot tobreketh, and farewel, al is go!
908: Thise metals been of so greet violence,
909: Oure walles mowe nat make hem resistence,
910: But if they weren wroght of lym and stoon;
911: They percen so, and thurgh the wal they goon.
912: And somme of hem synken into the ground --
913: Thus han we lost by tymes many a pound --
914: And somme are scatered al the floor aboute;
915: Somme lepe into the roof. Withouten doute,
916: Though that the feend noght in oure sighte hym shewe,
917: I trowe he with us be, that ilke shrewe!
918: In helle, where that he lord is and sire,
919: Nis ther moore wo, ne moore rancour ne ire.
920: Whan that oure pot is broke, as I have sayd,
921: Every man chit, and halt hym yvele apayd.
922: Somme seyde it was long on the fir makyng;
923: Somme seyde nay, it was on the blowyng, --
924: Thanne was I fered, for that was myn office.
925: Straw! quod the thridde, ye been lewed and nyce.
926: It was nat tempred as it oghte be.
927: Nay, quod the fourthe, stynt and herkne me.
928: By cause oure fir ne was nat maad of beech,
929: That is the cause, and oother noon, so theech!
930: I kan nat telle wheron it was long,
931: But wel I woot greet strif is us among.
932: What, quod my lord, ther is namoore to doone;
933: Of thise perils I wol be war eftsoone.
934: I am right siker that the pot was crased.
935: Be as be may, be ye no thyng amased;
936: As usage is, lat swepe the floor as swithe,
937: Plukke up youre hertes, and beeth glad and blithe.
938: The mullok on an heep ysweped was,
939: And on the floor ycast a canevas,
940: And al this mullok in a syve ythrowe,
941: And sifted, and ypiked mayn a throwe.
942: Pardee, quod oon, somwhat of oure metal
943: Yet is ther heere, though that we han nat al.
944: Although this thyng myshapped have as now,
945: Another tyme it may be well ynow.
946: Us moste putte oure good in aventure.
947: A marchant, pardee, may nat ay endure,
948: Trusteth me wel, in his prosperitee.
949: Somtyme his good is drowned in the see,
950: And somtyme comth it sauf unto the londe.
951: Pees! quod my lord, the nexte tyme I wol fonde
952: To bryngen oure craft al in another plite,
953: And but I do, sires, lat me han the wite.
954: Ther was defaute in somwhat, wel I woot,
955: Another seyde the fir was over-hoot, --
956: But, be it hoot or coold, I dar seye this,
957: That we concluden everemoore amys.
958: We faille of that which that we wolden have,
959: And in oure madnesse everemoore we rave.
960: And whan we been togidres everichoon,
961: Every man semeth a salomon.
962: But al thyng which that shineth as the gold
963: Nis nat gold, as that I have herd it told;
964: Ne every appul that is fair at eye

Page 218

965: Ne is nat good, what so men clappe or crye.
966: Right so, lo, fareth it amonges us:
967: He that semeth the wiseste, by jhesus!
968: Is moost fool, whan it cometh to the preef;
969: And he that semeth trewest is the theef.
970: That shul ye knowe, er that I fro yow wende,
971: By that I of my tale have maad an ende.
Explicit prima pars.

"part" 2

Et sequitur pars secunda.

972: Ther is a chanoun of religioun
973: Amounges us, wolde infecte al a toun,
974: Thogh it as greet were as was nynyvee,
975: Rome, alisaundre, troye, and othere three.
976: His sleightes and his infinite falsnesse
977: Ther koude no man writen, as I gesse,
978: Though that he myghte lyve a thousand yeer.
979: In al this world of falshede nis his peer;
980: For in his termes he wol hym so wynde,
981: And speke his wordes in so sly a kynde,
982: Whanne he commune shal with any wight,
983: That he wol make hym doten anonright,
984: But it a feend be, as hymselven is.
985: Ful many a man hath he bigiled er this,
986: And wole, if that he lyve may a while;
987: And yet men ride and goon ful many a mile
988: Hym for to seke and have his aqueyntaunce,
989: Noght knowynge of his false governaunce.
990: And if yow list to yeve me audience,
991: I wol it tellen heere in youre presence.
992: But worshipful chanons religious,
993: Ne demeth nat that I sclaundre youre hous,
994: Although that my tale of a chanoun bee.
995: Of every ordre som shrewe is, pardee,
996: And God forbede that al a compaignye
997: Sholde rewe o singuleer mannes folye.
998: To sclaundre yow is no thyng myn entente,
999: But to correcten that is mys I mente.
1000: This tale was nat oonly toold for yow
1001: But eek for othere mo; ye woot wel how
1002: That among cristes apostelles twelve
1003: Ther nas no traytour but judas hymselve.
1004: Thanne why sholde al the remenant have a blame
1005: That giltlees were? by yow I seye the same,
1006: Save oonly this, if ye wol herke me:
1007: If any judas in youre covent be,
1008: Remoeveth hym bitymes, I yow rede,
1009: If shame or los may causen any drede.
1010: And beeth no thyng displesed, I yow preye,
1011: But in this cas herkneth what I shal seye.
1012: In londoun was a preest, an annueleer,
1013: That therinne dwelled hadde mayn a yeer,
1014: Which was so plesaunt and se servysable
1015: Unto the wyf, where as he was at table,
1016: That she wolde suffre hym no thyng for to paye
1017: For bord ne clothyng, wente he never so gaye;
1018: And spendyng silver hadde he right ynow.
1019: Therof no fors; I wol procede as now,
1020: And telle forth my tale of the chanoun
1021: That broghte this preest to confusioun.
1022: This false chanon cam upon a day
1023: Unto this preestes chambre, wher he lay,
1024: Bisechynge hym to lene hym a certeyn
1025: Of gold, and he wolde quite it hym ageyn.
1026: Leene me a marc, quod he, but dayes three,
1027: And at my day I wol it quiten thee.
1028: And if so be that thow me fynde fals,
1029: Another day do hange me by the hals!
1030: This preest hym took a marc, and that as swithe,
1031: And this chanoun hym thanked ofte sithe,
1032: And took his leve, and wente forth his weye,
1033: And at the thridee day broghte his moneye,
1034: And to the preest he took his gold agayn,
1035: Wherof this preest was wonder glad and fayn.
1036: Certes, quod he, no thyng anoyeth me
1037: To lene a man a noble, or two, or thre,
1038: Or what thyng were in my possessioun,
1039: Whan he so trewe is of condicioun
1040: That in no wise he breke wole his day;
1041: To swich a man I kan never seye nay.
1042: What! quod this chanoun, sholde I be untrewe?
1043: Nay, that were thyng yfallen al of newe.
1044: Trouthe is a thyng that I wol evere kepe
1045: Unto that day in which that I shal crepe
1046: Into my grave, and ellis God forbede.
1047: Bileveth this as siker as your crede.
1048: God thanke I, and in good tyme be it sayd,
1049: That ther was nevere man yet yvele apayd
1050: For gold ne silver that he to me lente,
1051: Ne nevere falshede in myn herte I mente.
1052: And sire, quod he, now of my pryvetee,
1053: Syn ye so goodlich han been unto me,
1054: And kithed to me so greet gentillesse,
1055: Somwhat to quyte with youre kyndenesse
1056: I wol yow shewe, and if yow list to leere,
1057: I wol yow teche pleynly the manere
1058: Yow I kan werken in philosophie.
1059: Taketh good heede, ye shul wel seen at ye
1060: That I wol doon a maistrie er I go.
1061: Ye, quod the preest, ye, sire, and wol ye so?
1062: Marie! therof I pray yow hertely.

Page 219

1063: At youre comandement, sire, trewely,
1064: Quod the chanoun, and ellis God forbeede!
1065: Loo, how this theef koude his service beede!
1066: Ful sooth it is that swich profred servyse
1067: Stynketh, as witnessen thise olde wyse,
1068: And that, ful soone I wol it verifie
1069: In this chanoun, roote of al trecherie,
1070: That everemoore delit hath and gladnesse --
1071: Swiche feendly thoghtes in his herte impresse --
1072: How cristes peple he may to meschief brynge.
1073: God kepe us from his false dissymulynge!
1074: Noght wiste this preest with whom that he delte,
1075: Ne of his harm comynge he no thyng felte.
1076: O sely preest! o sely innocent!
1077: With coveitise anon thou shalt be blent!
1078: O gracelees, ful blynd is thy conceite,
1079: No thyng ne artow war of the deceite
1080: Which that this fox yshapen hath to thee!
1081: His wily wrenches thou ne mayst nat flee.
1082: Wherfore, to go to the conclusion,
1083: That refereth to thy confusion,
1084: Unhappy man, anon I wol me hye
1085: To tellen thyn unwit and thy folye,
1086: And eek the falsnesse of that oother wrecche,
1087: As ferforth as that my konnyng wol strecche.
1088: This chanon was my lord, ye wolden weene?
1089: Sire hoost, in feith, and by the hevenes queene,
1090: It was another chanoun, and nat hee,
1091: That kan an hundred foold moore subtiltee.
1092: He hath bitrayed folkes many tyme;
1093: Of his falsnesse it dulleth me to ryme.
1094: Evere whan that I speke of his falshede,
1095: For shame of hym my chekes wexen rede.
1096: Algates they bigynnen for to glowe,
1097: For reednesse have I noon, right wel I knowe,
1098: In my visage; for fumes diverse
1099: Of metals, whiche ye han herd me reherce,
1100: Consumed and wasted han my reednesse.
1101: Now taak heede of this chanons cursednesse!
1102: Sire, quod he to the preest, lat youre man gon
1103: For quyksilver, that we it hadde anon;
1104: And lat hym bryngen ounces two or three;
1105: And whan he comth, as faste shal ye see
1106: A wonder thyng, which ye saugh nevere er this.
1107: Sire, quod the preest, it shal be doon, ywis.
1108: He bad his servant fecchen hym this thyng,
1109: And he al redy was at his biddyng,
1110: And wente hym forth, and cam anon agayn
1111: With this quyksilver, shortly for to sayn,
1112: And took thise ounces thre to the chanoun;
1113: And he hem leyde faire and wel adoun,
1114: And bad the servant coles for to brynge,
1115: That he anon myghte go to his werkynge.
1116: The coles right anon weren yfet,
1117: And this chanoun took out a crosselet
1118: Of his bosom, and shewed it to the preest.
1119: This instrument, quod he, which that thou seest,
1120: Taak in thy hand, and put thyself therinne
1121: Of this quyksilver an ounce, and heer bigynne,
1122: In name of crist, to wexe a philosofre.
1123: Ther been ful fewe to whiche I wolde profre
1124: To shewen hem thus muche of my science.
1125: For ye shul seen heer, by experience,
1126: That this quyksilver I wol mortifye
1127: Right in youre sighte anon, withouten lye,
1128: And make it as good silver and as fyn
1129: As ther is any in youre purs or myn,
1130: Or elleswhere, and make it malliable;
1131: And elles holdeth me fals and unable
1132: Amonges folk for evere to appeere.
1133: I have poudre heer, that coste me deere,
1134: Shal make al good, for it is cause of al
1135: My konnyng, which that I yow shewen shal.
1136: Voyde youre man, and lat hym be theroute,
1137: And shette the dore, whils we been aboute
1138: Oure pryvetee, that no man us espie,
1139: Whils that we werke in this philosophie.
1140: Al as he bad fulfilled was in dede.
1141: This ilke servant anonright out yede
1142: And his maister shette the dore anon,
1143: And to hire labour spedily the gon.
1144: This preest, at this cursed chanons biddyng,
1145: Upon the fir anon sette this thyng,
1146: And blew the fir, and bisyed hym ful faste.
1147: And this chanoun into the crosselet caste
1148: A poudre, noot I wherof that it was
1149: Ymaad, outher of chalk, outher of glas,
1150: Or somwhat elles, was nat worth a flye,
1151: To blynde with this preest; and bad hym hye
1152: The coles for to couchen al above
1153: The crosselet. For in tokenyng I thee love,
1154: Quod this chanoun, thyne owene handes two
1155: Shul werche al thyng which that shal heer be do.
1156: Graunt mercy, quod the preest, and was ful glad,
1157: And couched coles as that the chanoun bad.
1158: And while he bisy was, this feendly wrecche,
1159: This false chanoun -- the foule feend hym fecche! --
1160: Out of his bosom took a bechen cole,
1161: In which ful subtilly was maad an hole,

Page 220

1162: And therinne put was of silver lemaille
1163: An ounce, and stopped was, withouten faille,
1164: This hole with wex, to kepe the lemaille in.
1165: And understondeth that this false gyn
1166: Was nat maad ther, but it was maad bifore;
1167: And othere thynges I shal tellen moore
1168: Herafterward, whiche that he with hym broghte.
1169: Er he cam there, hym to bigile he thoghte,
1170: And so he dide, er that they wente at wynne;
1171: Til he had terved hym, koude he nat blynne.
1172: It dulleth me whan that I of hym speke.
1173: On his falshede fayn wolde I me wreke,
1174: If I wiste how, but he is heere and there;
1175: He is so variaunt, be abit nowhere.
1176: But taketh heed now, sires, for goddes love!
1177: He took his cole of which I spak above,
1178: And in his hand he baar it pryvely.
1179: And whiles the preest couched bisily
1180: The coles, as I tolde yow er this,
1181: This chanoun seyde, freend, ye doon amys.
1182: This is nat couched as it oghte be;
1183: But soone I shal amenden it, quod he.
1184: Now lat me medle therwith but a while,
1185: For of yow have I pitee, by seint gile!
1186: Ye been right hoot; I se wel how ye swete.
1187: Have heere a clooth, and wipe awey the wete.
1188: And whiles that the preest wiped his face,
1189: This chanoun took his cole -- with sory grace! --
1190: And leyde it above upon the myddeward
1191: Of the crosselet, and blew wel afterward,
1192: Til that the coles gonne faste brenne.
1193: Now yeve us drynke, quod the chanoun thenne;
1194: As swithe al shal be wel, I undertake.
1195: Sitte we doun, and lat us myrie make.
1196: And whan that this chanounes bechen cole
1197: Was brent, al the lemaille out of the hole
1198: Into the crosselet fil anon adoun;
1199: And as it moste nedes, by resoun,
1200: Syn it so even aboven it couched was.
1201: But therof wiste the preest nothyng, alas!
1202: He demed alle the coles yliche good;
1203: For of that sleighte he nothyng understood.
1204: And whan this alkamystre saugh his tyme,
1205: Ris up, quod he, sire preest, and stondeth by me;
1206: And for I woot wel ingot have ye noon,
1207: Gooth, walketh forth, and brynge us a chalk stoon;
1208: For I wol make it of the same shap
1209: That is an ingot, if I may han hap.
1210: And bryngeth eek with yow a bolle or a panne
1211: Ful of water, and ye shul se wel thanne
1212: How that oure bisynesse shal thryve and preeve.
1213: And yet, for ye shul han no mysbileeve
1214: New wrong conceite of me in youre absence,
1215: I ne wol nat been out of youre presence,
1216: But go with yow, and come with yow ageyn.
1217: The chambre dore, shortly for to seyn,
1218: They opened and shette, and wente hir weye.
1219: And forth with hem they carieden the keye,
1220: And coome agayn withouten any delay.
1221: What sholde I tarien al the longe day?
1222: He took the chalk, and shoop it in the wise
1223: Of an ingot, as I shal yow devyse.
1224: I seye, he took out of his owene sleeve
1225: A teyne of silver -- yvele moot he cheeve! --
1226: Which that ne was nat but an ounce of weighte.
1227: And taaketh heede now of his cursed sleighte!
1228: He shoop his ingot, in lengthe and in breede
1229: Of this teyne, withouten any drede,
1230: So slyly that the preest it nat espide,
1231: And in his sleve agayn he gan it hide,
1232: And fro the fir he took up his mateere,
1233: And in th' yngot putte it with myrie cheere,
1234: And in the water-vessel he it caste,
1235: Whan that hym luste, and bad the preest as faste,
1236: Loke what ther is, put in thyn hand and grope.
1237: Thow fynde shalt ther silver, as I hope.
1238: What, devel of helle! sholde it elles be?
1239: Shaving of silver silver is, pardee!
1240: He putte his hand in and took up a teyne
1241: Of silver fyn, and glad in every veyne
1242: Was this preest, whan he saugh that it was so.
1243: Goddes blessyng, and his moodres also,
1244: And alle halwes, have ye, sire chanoun,
1245: Seyde the preest, and I hir malisoun,
1246: But, and ye vouche-sauf to techen me
1247: This noble craft and this subtilitee,
1248: I wol be youre in al that evere I may.
1249: Quod the chanoun, yet wol I make assay
1250: The seconde tyme, that ye may taken heede
1251: And been expert of this, and in youre neede
1252: Another day assaye in myn absence
1253: This disciplyne and this crafty science.
1254: Lat take another ounce, quod he tho,
1255: Of quyksilver, withouten wordes mo,
1256: And do therwith as ye han doon er this
1257: With that oother, which that now silver is.
1258: This preest hym bisieth in al that he kan
1259: To doon as this chanoun, this cursed man,
1260: Comanded hym, and faste he blew the fir,
1261: For to come to th' effect of his desir.
1262: And this chanon, right in the meene while,

Page 221

1263: Al redy was this preest eft to bigile,
1264: And for a contenaunce in his hand he bar
1265: An holwe stikke -- taak kep and be war! --
1266: In the ende of which an ounce, and namoore,
1267: Of silver lemaille put was, as bifore
1268: Was in his cole, and stopped with wex weel
1269: For to kepe in his lemaille every deel.
1270: And whil this preest was in his bisynesse,
1271: This chanoun with his stikke gan hym dresse
1272: To hym anon, and his poudre caste in
1273: As he dide er -- the devel out of his skyn
1274: Hym terve, I pray to god, for his falshede!
1275: For he was evere fals in thoght and dede --
1276: And with this stikke, above the crosselet,
1277: That was ordeyned with that false jet
1278: He stired the coles til relente gan
1279: The wex agayn the fir, as every man,
1280: But it a fool be, woot wel it moot nede,
1281: And al that in the stikke was out yede,
1282: And in the crosselet hastily it fel.
1283: Now, good sires, what wol ye bet than wel?
1284: Whan that this preest thus was bigiled ageyn,
1285: Supposynge noght but treuthe, sooth to seyn,
1286: He was so glad that I kan nat expresse
1287: In no manere his myrthe and his gladnesse;
1288: And to the chanoun he profred eftsoone
1289: Body and good. Ye, quod the chanoun soone,
1290: Though poure I be, crafty thou shalt me fynde.
1291: I warne thee, yet is ther moore bihynde.
1292: Is ther any coper herinne? seyde he.
1293: Ye, quod the preest, sire, I trowe wel ther be.
1294: Elles go bye us som, and that as swithe;
1295: Now, goode sire, go forth thy wey and hy the.
1296: He wente his wey, and with the coper cam,
1297: And this chanon it in his handes nam,
1298: And of that coper weyed out but an ounce.
1299: Al to symple is my tonge to pronounce,
1300: As ministre of my wit, the doublenesse
1301: Of this chanoun, roote of alle cursednesse!
1302: He semed freendly to hem that knewe hym noght,
1303: But he was feendly bothe in werk and thoght.
1304: It weerieth me to telle of his falsnesse,
1305: And nathelees yet wol I it expresse,
1306: To th' entente that men may be war therby,
1307: And for noon oother cause, trewely.
1308: He putte this ounce of coper in the crosselet,
1309: And on the fir as swithe he hath it set,
1310: And caste in poudre, and made the preest to blowe,
1311: And in his werkyng for to stoupe lowe,
1312: As he dide er, -- and al nas but a jape;
1313: Right as hym liste, the preest he made his ape!
1314: And afterward in the ingot he it caste,
1315: And in the panne putte it at the laste
1316: Of water, and in he putte his owene hand,
1317: And in his sleve (as ye biforen-hand
1318: Herde me telle) he hadde a silver teyne.
1319: He slyly took it out, this cursed heyne,
1320: Unwityng this preest of his false craft,
1321: And in the pannes botme he hath it laft;
1322: And in the water rombled to and fro,
1323: And wonder pryvely took up also
1324: The coper teyne, noght knowynge this preest,
1325: And hidde it, and hym hente by the breest,
1326: And to hym spak, and thus seyde in his game:
1327: Stoupeth adoun, by god, ye be to balme!
1328: Helpeth me now, as I dide yow whileer;
1329: Putte in youre hand, and looketh what is theer.
1330: This preest took up this silver teyne anon,
1331: And thanne seyde the chanoun, lat us gon
1332: With thise thre teynes, whiche that we han wroght,
1333: To som goldsmyth, and wite if they been oght.
1334: For, by my feith, I nolde, for myn hood,
1335: But if that they were silver fyn and good,
1336: And that as swithe preeved it shal bee.
1337: Unto the goldsmyth with thise teynes three
1338: They wente, and putte thise teynes in assay
1339: Fo fir and hamer; myghte no man seye nay,
1340: But that they weren as hem oghte be.
1341: This sotted preest, who was gladder than he?
1342: Was nevere brid gladder agayn the day,
1343: Ne nyghtyngale, in the sesoun of may,
1344: Was nevere noon that luste bet to synge;
1345: Ne lady lustier in carolynge,
1346: Or for to speke of love and wommanhede,
1347: Ne knyght in armes to doon an hardy dede,
1348: To stonden in grace of his lady deere,
1349: Than hadde this preest this soory craft to leere.
1350: And to the chanoun thus he spak and seyde:
1351: For love of god, that for us alle deyde,
1352: And as I may deserve it unto yow,
1353: What shal this receite coste? telleth now!
1354: By oure lady, quod this chanon, it is deere,
1355: I warne yow wel; for save I and a frere,
1356: In engelond ther kan no man it make.
1357: No fors, quod he, now, sire, for goddes sake,
1358: What shal I paye? telleth me, I preye.
1359: Ywis, quod he, it is ful deere, I seye.
1360: Sire, at o word, if that thee list it have,
1361: Ye shul paye fourty pound, so God me save!

Page 222

1362: And nere the freendshipe that ye dide er this
1363: To me, ye sholde paye moore, ywis.
1364: This preest the somme of fourty pound anon
1365: Of nobles fette, and took hem everichon
1366: To this chanoun, for this ilke receite.
1367: Al his werkyng nas but fraude and deceite.
1368: Sire preest, he seyde, I kepe han no loos
1369: Of my craft, for I wolde it kept were cloos;
1370: And, as ye love me, kepeth it secree.
1371: For, and men knewen al my soutiltee,
1372: By god, they wolden han so greet envye
1373: To me, by cause of my philosophye,
1374: I sholde be deed; ther were noon oother weye.
1375: God it forbeede, quod the preest, what sey ye?
1376: Yet hadde I levere spenden al the good
1377: Which that I have, and elles wexe I wood,
1378: Than that ye sholden falle in swich mescheef.
1379: For youre good wyl, sire, have ye right good preef,
1380: Quod the chanoun, and farwel, grant mercy!
1381: He wente his wey, and never the preest hym sy
1382: After that day; and whan that this preest shoolde
1383: Maken assay, at swich tyme as he wolde,
1384: Of this receit, farwel! it wolde nat be.
1385: Lo, thus byjaped and bigiled was he!
1386: Thus maketh he his introduccioun,
1387: To brynge folk to hir destruccioun.
1388: Considereth, sires, how that, in ech estaat,
1389: Bitwixe men and gold ther is debaat
1390: So ferforth that unnethes is ther noon.
1391: This multiplying blent so many oon
1392: That in good feith I trowe that it bee
1393: The cause grettest of swich scarsetee.
1394: Philosophres speken so mystily
1395: In this craft that men kan nat come therby,
1396: For any wit that men han now-a-dayes.
1397: They mowe wel chiteren as doon thise jayes,
1398: And in hir termes sette hir lust and peyne,
1399: But to hir purpos shul they nevere atteyne.
1400: A man may lightly lerne, if he have aught,
1401: To multiplie, and brynge his good to naught!
1402: Lo! swich a lucre is in this lusty game,
1403: A mannes myrthe it wol turne unto grame,
1404: And empten also grete and hevye purses,
1405: And maken folk for to purchacen curses
1406: Of hem that han hir good therto ylent.
1407: O! fy, for shame! they that han been brent,
1408: Allas! kan they nat flee the fires heete?
1409: Ye that it use, I rede ye it leete,
1410: Lest ye lese al; for bet than nevere is late.
1411: Nevere to thryve were to long a date.
1412: Though ye prolle ay, ye shul it nevere fynde.
1413: Ye been as boold as is bayard the blynde,
1414: That blondreth forth, and peril casteth noon.
1415: He is as boold to renne agayn a stoon
1416: As for to goon bisides in the weye.
1417: So faren ye that multiplie, I seye.
1418: If that youre eyen kan nat seen aright,
1419: Looke that youre mynde lakke noght his sight.
1420: For though ye looken never so brode and stare,
1421: Ye shul nothyng wynne on that chaffare,
1422: But wasten al that ye may rape and renne.
1423: Withdraweth the fir, lest it to faste brenne;
1424: Medleth namoore with that art, I mene,
1425: For if ye doon, youre thrift is goon ful clene.
1426: And right as swithe I wol yow tellen heere
1427: What philosophres seyn in this mateere.
1428: Lo, thus seith arnold of the newe toun,
1429: As his rosarie maketh mencioun;
1430: He seith right thus, withouten any lye:
1431: Ther may no man mercurie mortifie
1432: But it be with his brother knowlechyng.
1433: How be that he which that first seyde this thyng
1434: Of philosophres fader was, hermes --
1435: He seith how that the dragon, doutelees,
1436: Ne dyeth nat, but if that he be slayn
1437: With his brother; and that is for to sayn,
1438: By the dragon, mercurie, and noon oother
1439: He understood, and brymstoon by his brother,
1440: That out of sol and luna were ydrawe.
1441: And therfore, seyde he, -- taak heede to my sawe --
1442: Lat no man bisye hym this art for to seche,
1443: But if that he th' entencioun and speche
1444: Of philosophres understonde kan;
1445: And if he do, he is a lewed man.
1446: For this science and this konnyng, quod he,
1447: Is of the secree of secrees, pardee.
1448: Also ther was a disciple of plato,
1449: That on a tyme seyde his maister to,
1450: As his book senior wol bere witnesse,
1451: And this was his demande in soothfastnesse:
1452: Telle me the name of the privee stoon?
1453: And plato answerde unto hym anoon,
1454: Take the stoon that titanos men name.
1455: Which is that? quod he. Magnasia is the same,
1456: Seyde plato. Ye, sire, and is it thus?
1457: This is ignotum per ignocius.
1458: What is magnasia, good sire, I yow preye?
1459: It is a water that is maad, I seye,
1460: Of elementes foure, quod plato.
1461: Telle me the roote, good sire, quod he tho,
1462: Of that water, if it be youre wil.
1463: Nay, nay, quod plato, certein, that I nyl.
1464: The philosophres sworn were everychoon

Page 223

1465: That they sholden discovere it unto noon,
1466: Ne in no book it write in no manere.
1467: For unto crist it is so lief and deere
1468: That he wol nat that it discovered bee,
1469: But where it liketh to his deitee
1470: Men for t' enspire, and eek for to deffende
1471: Whom that hym liketh; lo, this is the ende.
1472: Thanne conclude I thus, sith that God of hevene
1473: Ne wil nat that the philosophres nevene
1474: How that a man shal come unto this stoon,
1475: I rede, as for the beste, lete it goon.
1476: For whoso maketh God his adversarie,
1477: As for to werken any thyng in contrarie
1478: Of his wil, certes, never shal he thryve,
1479: Thogh that he multiplie terme of his lyve.
1480: And there a poynt; for ended is my tale.
1481: God sende every trewe man boote of his bale!

Page 224

The Manciple's Prologue

1: Woot ye nat where ther stant a litel toun
2: Which that ycleped is bobbe-up-and-doun,
3: Under the blee, in caunterbury weye?
4: Ther gan oure hooste for to jape and pleye,
5: And seyde, sires, what! dun is in the myre!
6: Is ther no man, for preyere ne for hyre,
7: That wole awake oure felawe al bihynde?
8: A theef myghte hym ful lightly robbe and bynde.
9: See how he nappeth! see how, for cokkes bones,
10: That he wol falle fro his hors atones!
11: Is that a cook of londoun, with meschaunce?
12: Do hym come forth, he knoweth his penaunce;
13: For he shal telle a tale, by my fey,
14: Although it be nat worth a botel hey.
15: Awake, thou cook, quod he, God yeve thee sorwe!
16: What eyleth thee to slepe by the morwe?
17: Hastow had fleen al nyght, or artow dronke?
18: Or hastow with som quene al nyght yswonke,
19: So that thow mayst nat holden up thyn heed?
20: This cook, that was ful pale and no thyng reed,
21: Seyde to oure hoost, so God my soule blesse,
22: As ther is falle on me swich hevynesse,
23: Noot I nat why, that me were levere slepe
24: Than the beste galon wyn in chepe.
25: Wel, quod the maunciple, if it may doon ese
26: To thee, sire cook, and to no wight displese,
27: Which that heere rideth in this compaignye,
28: And that oure hoost wole, of his curteisye,
29: I wol as now excuse thee of thy tale.
30: For, in good feith, thy visage is ful pale,
31: Thyne eyen daswen eek, as that me thynketh,
32: And, wel I woo, thy breeth ful soure stynketh:
33: That sheweth wel thou art nat wel disposed.
34: Of me, certeyn, thou shalt nat been yglosed.
35: See how he ganeth, lo! this dronken wight,
36: As though he wolde swolwe us anonright.
37: Hoold cloos thy mouth, man, by thy fader kyn!
38: The devel of helle sette his foot therin!
39: Thy cursed breeth infecte wole us alle.
40: Fy, stynkyng swyn! fy, foule moote thee falle!
41: A! taketh heede, sires, of this lusty man.
42: Now, sweete sire, wol ye justen atte fan?
43: Therto me thynketh ye been wel yshape!
44: I trowe that ye dronken han wyn ape,
45: And that is whan men pleyen with a straw.
46: And with this speche the cook wax wrooth and wraw,
47: And on the manciple he gan nodde faste
48: For lakke of speche, and doun the hors hym caste,
49: Where as he lay, til that men hym up took.
50: This was a fair chyvachee of a cook!
51: Allas! he nadde holde hym by his ladel!
52: And er that he agayn were in his sadel,
53: Ther was greet showvyng bothe to and fro
54: To lifte hym up, and muchel care and wo,
55: So unweeldy was this sory palled goost.
56: And to the manciple thanne spak oure hoost:
57: By cause drynke hath dominacioun
58: Upon this man, by my savacioun,
59: I trowe he lewedly wolde telle his tale.
60: For, were it wyn, or oold or moysty ale,
61: That he hath dronke, he speketh in his nose,
62: And fneseth faste, and eek he hath the pose.
63: He hath also to do moore than ynough
64: To kepen hym and his capul out of the slough;
65: And if he falle from his capul eftsoone,
66: Thanne whal we alle have ynogh to doone
67: In liftyng up his hevy dronken cors.
68: Telle on thy tale; of hym make I no fors.
69: But yet, manciple, in feith thou art to nyce,
70: Thus openly repreve hym of his vice.
71: Another day he wole, peraventure,
72: Reclayme thee and brynge thee to lure;
73: I meene, he speke wole of smale thynges,
74: As for to pynchen at thy rekenynges,
75: That were nat honest, if it cam to preef.
76: No, quod the manciple, that were a greet mescheef!
77: So myghte he lightly brynge me in the snare.
78: Yet hadde I levere payen for the mare
79: Which he rit on, than he sholde with me stryve.
80: I wol nat wratthen hym, also moot I thryve!
81: That that I spak, I seyde it in my bourde.
82: And wite ye what? I have heer in a gourde
83: A draghte of wyn, ye, of a ripe grape,

Page 225

84: And right anon ye shul seen a good jape.
85: This cook shal drynke therof, if I may.
86: Up peyne of deeth, he wol nat seye me nay.
87: And certeynly, to tellen as it was,
88: Of this vessel the cook drank faste, allas!
89: What neded hym? he drank ynough biforn.
90: And whan he hadde pouped in this horn,
91: To the manciple he took the gourde agayn;
92: And of that drynke the cook was wonder fayn,
93: And thanked hym in swich wise as he koude.
94: Thanne gan oure hoost to laughen wonder loude,
95: And seyde, I se wel it is necessarie,
96: Where that we goon, good drynke with us carie;
97: For that wol turne rancour and disese
98: T' acord and love, and many a wrong apese.
99: O thou bacus, yblessed be thy name,
100: That so kanst turnen ernest into game!
101: Worshipe and thank be to thy deitee!
102: Of that mateere ye gete namoore of me.
103: Telle on thy tale, manciple, I thee preye.
104: Wel, sire, quod he, now herkneth what I seye.

The Manciple's Tale

105: Whan phebus dwelled heere in this erthe adoun,
106: As olde bookes maken mencioun,
107: He was the mooste lusty bachlier
108: In al this world, and eek the beste archer.
109: He slow phitoun, the serpent, as he lay
110: Slepynge agayn the soone upon a day;
111: And many another noble worthy dede
112: He with his bowe wroghte, as men may rede.
113: Pleyen he koude on every mynstralcie,
114: And syngen, that it was a melodie
115: To heeren of his cleere voys the soun.
116: Certes the kyng of thebes, amphioun,
117: That with his syngyng walled that citee,
118: Koude nevere syngen half so wel as hee.
119: Therto he was the semelieste man
120: That is or was, sith that the world bigan.
121: What nedeth is his fetures to discryve?
122: For in this world was noon so faire on-lyve.
123: He was therwith fulfild of gentillesse,
124: Of honour, and of parfit worthynesse.
125: This phebus, that was flour of bachilrie,
126: As wel in fredom as in chivalrie,
127: For his desport, in signe eek of victorie
128: Of phitoun, so as telleth us the storie,
129: Was wont to beren in his hand a bowe.
130: Now hadde this phebus in his hous a crowe
131: Which in a cage he fostred many a day,
132: And taughte it speken, as men teche a jay.
133: Whit was this crowe as in a snow-whit swan,
134: And countrefete the speche of every man
135: He koude, whan he sholde telle a tale.
136: Therwith in al this world no nyghtygale
137: Ne koude, by an hondred thousand deel,
138: Syngen so wonder myrily and weel.
139: Now hadde this phebus in his hous a wyf
140: Which that he lovede moore than his lyf,
141: And nyght and day dide evere his diligence
142: Hir for to plese, and doon hire reverence,
143: Save oonly, if the sothe that I shal sayn.
144: Jalous he was, and wolde have kept hire fayn.
145: For hym were looth byjaped for to be,
146: And so is every wight in swich degree;
147: But al in ydel, for it availleth noght.
148: A good wyf, that is clene of werk and thought,
149: Sholde nat been kept in noon awayt, certayn;
150: And trewely, the labour is in vayn
151: To kepe a shrewe, for it wol nat bee.
152: This holde I for a verray nycetee,
153: To spille labour for to kepe wyves:
154: Thus writen olde clerkes in hir lyves.
155: But now to purpos, as I first bigan:
156: This worthy phebus dooth al that he kan
157: To plesen hire, wenynge for swich plesaunce,
158: And for his manhede and his governaunce,
159: That no man sholde han put hym from hir grace.
160: But God it woot, ther may no man embrace
161: As to destreyne a thyng which that nature
162: Hath natureelly set in a creature.
163: Taak any bryd, and put it in a cage,
164: And do al thyn entente and thy corage
165: To fostre it tendrely with mete and drynke
166: Of alle deyntees that thou kanst bithynke,
167: And keep it al so clenly as thou may,
168: Although his cage of gold be never so gay,

Page 226

169: Yet hath this brid, by twenty thousand foold,
170: Levere in a forest, that is rude and coold,
171: Goon ete wormes and swich wrecchednesse.
172: For evere this brid wol doon his bisynesse
173: To escape out of his cage, yif he may.
174: His libertee this brid desireth ay.
175: Lat take a cat and fostre hym wel with milk
176: And tendre flessh, and make his couche of silk,
177: And lat hym seen a mous go by the wal,
178: Anon he weyveth milk and flessh and al,
179: And every deyntee that is in that hous,
180: Swich appetit hath he to ete a mous.
181: Lo heere hath lust his dominacioun,
182: And appetit fleemeth discrecioun,
183: A she-wolf hath also a vileyns knyde.
184: The lewedeste wolf that she may fynde,
185: Or leest of reputacoun, wol she take,
186: In tyme whan hir lust to han a make.
187: Alle thise ensamples speke I by thise men
188: That been untrewe, and nothyng by wommen.
189: For men han evere a likerous appetit
190: On lower thyng to parfourne hire delit
191: Than on hire wyves, be they never so faire,
192: Ne never so trewe, ne so debonaire.
193: Flessh is so newefangel, with meschaunce,
194: That we ne konne in nothyng han plesaunce
195: That sowneth into vertu any while.
196: This phebus, which that thoghte upon no gile,
197: Deceyved was, for al his jolitee.
198: For under hym another hadde shee,
199: A man of litel reputacioun,
200: Nat worth to phebus in comparisoun.
201: The moore harm is, it happeth ofte so,
202: Of which ther cometh muchel harm and wo.
203: And so bifel, whan phebus was absent,
204: His wyf anon hath for hir lemman sent.
205: Hir lemman? certes, this is a knavyssh speche!
206: Foryeveth it me, and that I yow biseche.
207: The wise plato seith, as ye may rede,
208: The word moot nede accorde with the dede.
209: If men shal telle proprely a thyng.
210: The word moot cosyn be to the werkyng.
211: I am a boystous man, right thus seye I,
212: Ther nys no difference, trewely,
213: Bitwixe a wyf that is of heigh degree,
214: If of hir body dishonest she bee,
215: And a povre wenche, oother than this --
216: If it so be they werke bothe amys --
217: But that the gentile, in estaat above,
218: She shal be cleped his lady, as in love;
219: And for that oother is a povre womman,
220: She shal be cleped his wenche or his lemman,
221: And, God it woot, myn owene deere brother.
222: Men leyn that oon as lowe as lith that oother.
223: Right so bitwixe a titleees tiraunt
224: And an outlawe, or a theef erraunt,
225: The same I seye, ther is no difference.
226: To alisaundre was toold this sentence,
227: That, for the tirant is of gretter myght,
228: By force of meynee, for to sleen dounright,
229: And brennen hous and hoom, and make al playn,
230: Lo, therfore is he cleped a capitayn;
231: And for the outlawe hath but smal meynee,
232: And may nat doon so greet an harm as he,
233: Ne brynge a contree to so greet mescheef,
234: Men clepen hym an outlawe or a theef.
235: But, for I am a man noght textueel,
236: I wold noght telle of textes never a deel;
237: I wol go to my tale, as I bigan.
238: Whan phebus wyf had sent for hir lemman,
239: Anon they wroghten al hir lust volage.
240: The white crowe, that heeng ay in the cage.
241: Biheeld hire werk, and seyde never a word.
242: And whan that hoom was come phebus, the lord,
243: This crowe sang cokkow! cokkow! cokkow!
244: What bryd! quod phebus, what song dyngestow?
245: Ne were thow wont so myrily to synge
246: That to myn herte it was a rejoysynge
247: To heere thy voys? allas! what song is this?
248: By god! quod he, I synge nat amys.
249: Phebus, quod he, for al thy worthynesse,
250: For al thy beautee and thy gentilesse,
251: For al thy song and al thy mynstralcye,
252: For al thy waityng, blered is thyn ye
253: With oon of litel reputacioun,
254: Noght worth to thee, as in comparisoun,
255: The montance of a gnat, so moote I thryve!
256: For on thy bed thy wyf I saugh hym swyve.
257: What wol ye moore? the crowe anon hym tolde,
258: By sadde tokenes and by wordes bolde,
259: How that his wyf had doon hire lecherye,
260: Hym to greet sham and to greet vileynye;
261: And tolde hym ofte he saugh it with his yen.
262: His phebus gan aweyward for to wryen,
263: And thoughte his sorweful herte brast atwo.
264: His bowe he bente, and sette therinne a flo,
265: And in his ire his wyf thanne hath he slayn.
266: This is th' effect, ther is namoore to sayn;
267: For sorwe of which he brak his mynstralcie,
268: Bothe harpe, and lute, and gyterne, and sautrie;
269: And eek he brak his arwes and his bowe,
270: And after that thus spak he to the crowe;

Page 227

271: Traitour, quod he, with tonge of scorpioun,
272: Thou hast me broght to my confusioun;
273: Allas, that I was wroght! why nere I deed?
274: O deere wyf! o gemme of lustiheed!
275: That were to me so sad and eek so trewe,
276: Now listow deed, with face pale of hewe,
277: Ful gilteless, that dorste I swere, ywys!
278: O rakel hand, to doon so foule amys!
279: O trouble wit, o ire recchelees,
280: That unavysed smyteth gilteles!
281: O wantrust, ful of fals suspecion,
282: Where was thy wit and thy discrecion?
283: O every man, be war of rakelinesse!
284: Ne trowe no thyng withouten strong witnesse.
285: Smyt nat to soone, er that ye witen why,
286: And beeth avysed wel and sobrely
287: Er ye doon any execucion
288: Upon youre ire for suspecion.
289: Allas! a thousand folk hath rakel ire
290: Fully fordoon, and broght hem in the mire.
291: Allas! for sorwe I wol myselven slee!
292: And to crowe, o false theef! seyde he,
293: I wol thee quite anon thy false tale.
294: Thou songe whilom lyk a nyghtyngale;
295: Now shaltow, false theef, thy song forgon,
296: And eek thy white fetheres everichon,
297: Ne nevere in al thy life ne shaltou speke.
298: Thus shal men on a traytour been awreke;
299: Thou and thyn ofspryng evere shul be blake,
300: Ne nevere sweete noyse shul ye make,
301: But evere crie agayn tempest and rayn,
302: In tokenynge that thurgh thee my wyf is slayn.
303: And to the crowe he stirte, and that anon,
304: And pulled his white fetheres everychon,
305: And made hym blak, and refte hym al his song,
306: And eek his speche, and out at dore hym slong
307: Unto the devel, which I hym bitake;
308: And for this caas been alle crowes blake.
309: Lordynges, by this ensamble I yow preye,
310: Beth war, and taketh kep what that ye seye:
311: Ne telleth nevere no man in youre lyf
312: How that another man hath dight his wyf;
313: He wol yow haten mortally, certeyn.
314: Daun salomon, as wise clerkes seyn,
315: Techeth a man to kepen his tonge weel.
316: , but as I seyde, I am noght textueel.
317: But nathelees, thus taughte me my dame:
318: My sone, thenk on the crowe, a goodes name!
319: My sone, keep wel thy tonge, and keep thy freend.
320: A wikked tonge is worse than a feend;
321: My sone, from a feend men may hem blesse.
322: My sone, God of his endelees goodnesse
323: Walled a tonge with teeth and lippes eke,
324: For man sholde hym avyse what he speeke.
325: My sone, ful ofte, for to muche speche
326: Hath many a man been spilt, as clerkes teche;
327: But for litel speche avysely
328: Is no man shent, to speke generally.
329: My sone, thy tonge sholdestow restreyne
330: At alle tymes, but whan thou doost thy peyne
331: To speke of god, in honour and preyere.
332: The firste vertu, sone, if thou wolt leere,
333: Is to restreyne and kepe wel thy tonge;
334: Thus lerne children whan that they been yonge.
335: My sone, of muchel spekyng yvele avysed,
336: Ther lasse spekyng hadde ynough suffised,
337: Comth muchel harm; thus was me toold and taught.
338: In muchel speche synne wanteth naught.
339: Wostow wherof a rakel tonge serveth?
340: Right as a swerd forkutteth and forkerveth
341: An arm a-two, my deere done, right so
342: A tonge kutteth freendshipe al a-two.
343: A jangler is to God abhomynable.
344: Reed salomon, so wys and honurable;
345: Reed david in his psalmes, reed senekke.
346: My sone, spek nat, but with thyn heed thou bekke.
347: Dissimule as thou were deef, if that thou heere
348: A janglere speke of perilous mateere.
349: The flemyng seith, and lerne it if thee leste,
350: That litel janglyng causeth muchel reste.
351: My sone, if thou no wikked word hast seyd,
352: Thee thar nat drede for to be biwreyd;
353: But he that hath mysseyd, I dar wel sayn,
354: He may by no wey clepe his word agayn.
355: Thyng that is seyd is seyd, and forth it gooth,
356: Though hym repente, or be hym nevere so looth.
357: He is his thral to whom that he hath sayd
358: A tale of which he is now yvele apayd.
359: My sone, be war, and be noon auctour newe
360: Of tidynges, wheither they been false or trewe.
361: Whereso thou come, amonges hye or lowe,
362: Kepe wel thy tonge, and thenk upon the crowe.

Page 228

The Parson's Prologue

1: By that the maunciple hadde his tale al ended,
2: The sonne fro the south lyne was descended
3: So lowe that he nas nat, to my sighte,
4: Degrees nyne and twenty as in highte.
5: Foure of the clokke it was tho, as I gesse,
6: For ellevene foot, or litel moore or lesse,
7: My shadwe was at thilke tyme, as there,
8: Of swiche feet as my lengthe parted were
9: In sixe feet equal of proporcioun.
10: Therwith the moones exaltacioun,
11: I meene libra, alwey gan ascende,
12: As we were entryng at a thropes ende;
13: For which oure hoost, as he was wont to gye,
14: As in this caas, oure joly compaignye,
15: Seyde in this wise: lordynges everichoon,
16: Now lakketh us no tales mo than oon.
17: Fulfilled is my sentence and my decree;
18: I trowe that we han herd of ech degree;
19: Almoost fulfild is al myn ordinaunce.
20: I pray to god, so yeve hym right good chaunce,
21: That telleth this tale to us lustily.
22: Sire preest, quod he, artow a vicary?
23: Or arte a person? sey sooth, by the fey!
24: Be what thou be, ne breke thou nat oure pley;
25: For every man, save thou, hath toold his tale.
26: Unbokele, and shewe us what is in thy male;
27: For, trewely, me thynketh by thy cheere
28: Thou sholdest knytte up wel a greet mateere.
29: Telle us a fable anon, for cokkes bones!
30: This persoun answerde, al atones,
31: Thou getest fable noon ytoold for me;
32: For paul, that writeth unto thymothee,
33: Repreveth hem that weyven soothfastnesse,
34: And tellen fables and swich wrecchednesse.
35: Why sholde I sowen draf out of my fest,
36: Whan I may sowen whete, if that me lest?
37: For which I seye, if that yow list to heere
38: Moralitee and vertuous mateere,
39: And thanne that ye wol yeve me audience,
40: I wol ful fayn, at cristes reverence,
41: Do yow plesaunce leefful, as I kan.
42: But trusteth wel, I am a southren man,
43: I kan nat geeste -- rum, ram, ruf, -- by lettre,
44: Ne, God woot, ryn holde I but litel bettre;
45: And therfore, if yow list -- I wol nat glose --
46: I wol yow telle a myrie tale in prose
47: To knytte up al this feeste, and make an ende.
48: And jhesu, for his grace, wit me sende
49: To shewe yow the wey, in this viage,
50: Of thilke parfit glorious pilgrymage
51: That highte jerusalem celestial.
52: And if ye vouche sauf, anon I shal
53: Bigynne upon my tale, for which I preye
54: Telle youre avys, I kan no bettre seye.
55: But nathelees, this meditacioun
56: I putte it ay under correccioun
57: Of clerkes, for I am nat textueel;
58: I take but the sentence, trusteth weel.
59: Therfore I make protestacioun
60: That I wol stonde to correccioun.
61: Upon this word we han assented soone,
62: For, as it seemed, it was for to doone,
63: To enden in som vertuous sentence,
64: And for to yeve hym space and audience;
65: And bade oure hoost he sholde to hym seye
66: That alle we to telle his tale hym preye.
67: Oure hoost hadde the wordes for us alle:
68: Sire preest, quod he, now faire yow bifalle!
69: Telleth, quod he, youre meditacioun.
70: But hasteth yow, the sonne wole adoun;
71: Beth fructuous, and that in litel space,
72: And to do wel God sende yow his grace!
73: Sey what yow list, and we wol gladly heere.
74: And with that word he seyde in this manere.

Page 229

The Parson's Tale

"part" 1

Part I

75: Oure sweete lord God of hevene, that no
75: Man wole perisse, but wole that we comen alle
75: Yo yhr knoweleche of hym, and to the blisful
76: lif that is perdurable,/ amonesteth us
76: By the prophete jeremie, that seith in thys
77: Wyse:/ stondeth upon the weyes, and seeth
77: And axeth of olde pathes (that is to seyn, of olde
78: Sentences) which is the goode wey./ And wald
78: Eth in that wey, and ye shal fynde refresshynge
79: For youre soules, etc./ Manye been the weyes
79: Espirituels that leden fold to oure lord jhesu
80: Crist, and to the regne of glorie./ Of whiche
80: Weyes, ther is a ful noble wey and ful covenable,
80: which may nat fayle to man ne to womman
80: that thurgh synne hath mysgoon fro
81: The righte wey of jerusalem celestial;/ and
81: This wey is cleped penitence, of which man
81: Sholde gladly herknen and enquere with
82: His herte,/ to wyten what is penitence, and
82: Wheenes it is cleped penitence, and in how
82: Manye maners been the acciouns or werkynges
83: of penitence,/ and how manye speces
83: Ther been of penitence, and whiche thynges
83: Apertenen and bihoven to penitence, and
84: Whiche thynges destourben penitence./
84: Seint ambrose seith that penitence is the
84: Pleynynge of man for the gilt that he hath
84: Doon, and namoore to do any thyng for which
85: Hym oghte to pleyne./ And som doctour seith.
85: Penitence is the waymentynge of man that
85: Sorweth for his synne, and pyneth hymself
86: for he hath mysdoon./ Penitence,
86: With certeyne circumstances, is varray repentance
86: of a man that halt hymself in sorwe
87: And oother peyne for his giltes. / and for he
87: Shal be verray penitent, he shal first biwaylen
87: The synnes that he hath doon, and stidefastly
87: Purposen in his herte to have shrift of mouthe,
88: And to doon satisfaccioun, / and nevere to doon
88: Thyng for which hym oghte moore to biwayle
88: Or to compleyne, and to continue in goode
89: Werkes, or elles his repentance may nat availle. /
89: For, as seith seint ysidre, he is a japere and
89: A gabbere, and no verray repentant, that eftsoone
89: dooth thyng for which hym oghte repente./
90: wepynge, and nat for to stynte to
91: Do synne, may nat avayle./ But nathelees,
91: Men shal hope that every tyme that man
91: Falleth, be it never so ofte, that he may arise
91: Thurgh penitence, if he have grace; but certeinly
92: it is greet doute./ For, as seith seint
92: Gregorie, unnethe ariseth he out of his synne,
93: That is charged with the charge of yvel usage./
93: And therfore repentant folk, that stynte for to
93: Synne, and forlete synne er that synne forlete
93: Hem, hooly chirche holdeth hem siker of hir
94: Savacioun. / and he that synneth and verraily
94: Repenteth hym in his laste, hooly chirche yet
94: Hopeth his savacioun, by the grete mercy of
94: Oure lord jhesu crist, for his repentaunce; but
95: Taak the siker wey./
95: And now, sith I have declared yow what
95: Thyng is penitence, now shul ye understonde
95: That ther been three acciouns of penitence./
96: the firste is that if a man be baptized
97: after that he hath synned,/ seint augustyn
97: seith, but he be penytent for his olde
97: Synful lyf, he may nat bigynne the newe clene
98: Lif./ For, certes, if he be baptized withouten
98: Penitence of his olde gilt, he receyveth the mark
98: Of baptesme, but nat the grace ne the remission
99: Of his synnes, til he have repentance verray./
99: Another defaute is this, that men doon deedly
100: Synne after that they han receyved baptesme./
100: The thridde defaute is that men fallen in
100: Venial synnes after hir baptesme, fro day
101: To day./ Therof seith seint augustyn that
101: Penitence of goode and humble folk is the
102: Penitence of every day./
102: The speces of penitence been three. That
102: Oon of hem is solempne, another is commune,
103: And the thridde is privee./ Thilke penance that
103: Is solempne is in two maneres; as to be put out
103: Of hooly chirche in-lente, for slaughtre of children
104: and swich maner thyng./ Another is,
104: Whan a man hath synned openly, of which
104: Synne the fame is openly spoken in the contree,
104: and thanne hooly chirche by juggement
105: Destreyneth hym for to do open penaunce./
105: Commune penaunce is that preestes enjoynen
105: Men communly in certeyn caas, as for to goon
105: Peraventure naked in pilgrimages, or barefoot./

Page 230

106: Prevee penaunce is thilke that men
106: Doon alday for privee synnes, of whiche we
107: Shryve us prively and receyve privee penaunce./
107: Now shaltow understande what is bihovely
107: And necessarie to verray perfit penitence. And
108: This stant on three thynges:/ contricioun of
108: Herte, confessioun of mouth, and satisfaction.
109: / for which seith seint crisostomz
109: Penitence destreyneth a man to accepte benygnely
109: every peyne that hym is enjoyned,
109: With contricioun of herte, and shrift of mouth,
109: With satisfaccioun; and in werkynge of alle
110: Manere humylitee./ And this is fruytful penitence
110: agayn three thinges in which we
111: Wratthe oure lord jhesu crist:/ this is to
111: Seyn, by delit in thynkynge, by reccheleesnesse
111: in spekynge, and by wikked synful werknyge./
112: and agayns thise wikkede giltes is penitence,
113: that may be likned unto a tree./
113: The roote of this tree is contricioun, that
113: Hideth hym in the herte of hym that is verray
113: Repentaunt, right as the roote of a tree gydeth
114: Hym in the erthe./ Of the roote of contricioun
114: Spryngeth a stalke that bereth braunches and
114: Leves of confessioun, and fruyt of satisfaccioun./
115: for which crist seith in his gospel:
115: Dooth digne fruyt of penitence; for by this
115: Fruyt may men knowe this tree, and nat by the
115: Roote that is hyd in the herte of man, ne by the
115: Braunches, ne by the leves of confessioun./
116: and therfore oure lord jhesu
116: Crist seith thus: by the fruyt of hem shul
117: Ye knowen hem./ Of this roote eek spryngeth
117: A seed of grace, the which seed is mooder of
118: Sikernesse, and this seed is egre and hoot./ The
118: Grace of this seed spryngeth of God thurgh remembrance
118: of the day of doom and on the
119: Peynes of helle./ Of this matere seith salomon
119: that in the drede of God man forleteth his
120: Synne./ The heete of this seed is the love of
120: God, and the desiryng of the joye perdurable./
121: this heete draweth the herte
121: Of a man to god, and dooth hym haten his
122: Synne./ For soothly ther is nothyng that savoureth
122: so wel to a child as the milk of his
122: Norice, ne nothyng is to hym moore abhomnyable
122: than thilke milk whan it is medled with
123: Oother mete./ Right so the synful man that
123: Loveth his synne, hym semeth that it is to him
124: Moost sweete of any thyng;/ but fro that tyme
124: That he loveth sadly oure lord jhesu crist, and
124: Desireth the lif perdurable, ther nys to him no
125: Thyng moore abhomynable./ For soothly the
125: Lawe of God is the love of god; for which
125: David the prophete seith: I have loved thy
125: Lawe, and hated wikkednesse and hate; he
125: That loveth God kepeth his lawe and his
126: Word./ This tree saugh the prophete
126: Daniel in spirit, upon the avysioun of the
126: Kyng nabugodonosor, whan he conseiled hym
127: To do penitence./ Penaunce is the tree of lyf
127: To hem that is receyven, and he that holdeth
127: Hym in verray penitence is blessed, after the
128: Sentence of solomon./
128: In this penitence or contricioun man shal
128: Understonde foure thynges; that is to seyn, what
128: Is contricioun, and whiche been the causes that
128: Moeven a man to contricioun, and how he
128: Sholde be contrit, and what contricioun availleth
129: to the soule./ Thanne is it thus: that contricioun
129: is the verray sorwe that a man receyveth
129: in his herte for his synnes, with sad purpos
129: To shryve hum, and to do penaunce, and neveremoore
130: to do synne./ And this sorwe shal
130: Been in this manere, as seith seint bernard: it
130: Shal been hevy and grevous, and ful sharp
131: And poynaunt in herte./ First, for man
131: Hath agilt his lord and his creatour; and
131: Moore sharp and poynaunt, for he hath agilt hys
132: Fader celestial;/ and yet moore sharp and
132: Poynaunt, for he hath wrathed and agilt hym
132: That boghte hym, that with his precious blood
132: Hath delivered us fro the bondes of synne, and
132: Fro the crueltee of the deve, and fro the peynes
133: Of helle./
133: The causes that oghte moeve a man to contricioun
133: been sixe. First a man shal remembre
134: Hym of his synnes;/ but looke he that thilke
134: Remembraunce ne be to hym no delit by no
134: Qwy, but greet shame and sorwe for his gilt.
134: For job seith, synful men doon werkes worthy
135: Of confusioun./ And therfore seith ezechie,
135: I wol remembre me alle the yeres of my
136: Lyf in bitternesse of myn herte./ And
136: God seith in the apocalipse, remembreth
136: Yow fro whennes that ye been falle; for biforn
136: That tyme that ye synned, ye were the children
137: Of god, and lymes of the regne of god;/ but for
137: Youre synne ye been woxen thral, and foul, and
137: Membres of the feend, hate of aungels, sclaundre
137: of hooly chirche, and foode of the false
138: Serpent; prepetueel matere of the fir of helle:/
138: And yet moore foul and abhomynable, for ye
138: Trespassen so ofte tyme as dooth the hound that
139: Retourneth to eten his spewyng./ And yet be
139: Ye fouler for youre longe continuyng in synne
139: And youre synful usage, for which ye be roten
140: In yore synne, as a beest in the dong./ Swiche

Page 231

140: Manere of thoghtes maken a man to have shame
140: Of his synne, and no delit, as God seith by
141: The prophete ezechiel:/ ye shal remembre
141: yow of youre weyes, and they shuln
141: Displese yow. Soothly synnes been the weyes
142: That leden folk of helle./
142: The seconde cause that oghte make a man
142: To have desdeyn of synne is this: that, as seith
142: Seint peter, whoso that dooth synne is thral
142: Of synne; and synne put a man in greet thraldom./
143: and therfore seith the prophete ezechiel:
143: I wente sorweful in desdayn of mysekf.
143: Certes, wel oghte a man have desdayn of synne,
143: And withdrawe hym from that thraldom and
144: Vileynye./ And lo, what seith seneca in this
144: Matere? he seith thus: though I wiste that
144: Neither God ne man ne sholde nevere knowe
145: It, yet wolde I have desdayn for to do synne./
145: And the same seneca also seith: I am born to
145: Gretter thynges that to be thral to my body,
146: Or than for to maken of my body a thral./
146: Ne a fouler thral may no man ne womman
146: Maken of his body that for to yeven his body
147: To synne./ Al were it the fouleste cherl or the
147: Fouleste womman that lyveth, and leest of
147: ~alue, yet is he thanne moore foul and moore
148: In servitute./ Evere fro the hyer degree that
148: Man falleth, the moore is he thral, and moore
148: To God and to the world vile and abhomynable./
149: o goode god, wel oghte man have desdayn
149: of synne, sith that thurgh synne, ther he
150: Was free, now is he maked bonde./ And therfore
150: seyth seint augustyn: if thou hast desdayn
150: of thy servant, if he agilte or synne, have
150: Thou thanne desdayn that thou thyself
151: Sholdest do synne./ Tak reward of thy
152: Value, that thou ne be foul to thyself./
152: Allas! wel oghten they thanne have desdayn to
152: Been servauntz and thralles to synne, and soore
153: Been ashamed of hemself,/ that God of his
153: Endelees goodnesse hath set hem in heigh estaat,
153: or yeven hem wit, strenghte of body,
154: Heele, beautee, prosperitee,/ and boghte hem
154: Fro the deeth with his herte-blood. That they
154: So unkyndely, agayns his gentilesse, quiten hym
155: So vileynsly to slaughtre of hir owene soules./
155: O goode god, ye wommen that been of so greet
155: Beautee, remembreth yow of the proverbe
156: Of salomon. He seith:/ likneth a fair
156: Womman that is a fool of hire body lyk to
156: A ryng of gold that were in the groyn of a
157: Soughe./ For right as a soughe wrotheth in
157: Everich ordure, so wroteth she hire beautee in
158: The stynkynge ordure of synne./
158: The thridde cause that oghte moeve a man
158: To contricioun is drede of the day of doom and
159: Of the horrible peynes of helle./ For, as seint
159: Jerome seith, at every tyme that me remembreth
160: of the day of doom I quake;/ for whan
160: I ete or drynke, or what so that I do, evere
160: Semeth me that the trompe sowneth in
161: Myn ere:/ -- riseth up, ye that been dede,
162: And cometh to the juggement. -- / o goode
162: God, muchel oghte a man to drede wich a
162: Juggement, ther as we shullen been alle, as
162: Seint poul seith, biforn the seete of oure lord
163: Jhesu crist;/ whereas he shal make a general
163: Congregacioun, whereas no man may been absent./
164: for certes there availleth noon essoyne
165: Ne excusacioun./ And nat oonly that oure defautes
165: shullen be jugged, but eek that alle
166: Oure werkes shullen openly be knowe./
166: And as seith seint bernard, ther ne shal
166: No pledynge availle, ne no sleighte; we shullen
167: Yeven rekenynge of everich ydel word./ Ther
167: Shul we han a juge that may nat been deceyved
167: ne corrput. And why? for, certes, alle
167: Oure thoghtes been discovered as to hym; ne
167: For preyere ne for meede he shal nat been corrupt./
168: and therfore seith salomon, the
168: Wratthe of God ne wol nat spare no wight, for
168: Prevere ne for yifte; and therfore, at the day
169: Of doom, ther nys noon hope to escape./ Wherfore,
169: as seith seint anselm, ful greet angwyssh
170: shul the synful folk have at that tyme;/
170: Ther shal the stierne and wrothe juge sitte
170: Above, and under hym the horrible pit of helle
170: Open to destroyen hym that moot biknowen his
170: Synnes, whiche synnes openly been shewed
171: Biforn God and biforn every creature;/
171: And in the left syde mo develes that herte
171: May bithynke, for the harye and drawe the synful
172: soules to the peyne of helle;/ and withinne
172: The hertes of folk shall be bitynge conscience,
172: and withoute forth shal be the orld
173: Al brennynge./ Whider shall thanne the
173: Wrecched synful man flee th hiden hym?
173: Certes, he may nat hyden hym; he moste come
174: Forth and shewen hym./ For certes, as seith
174: Seint jerome, the erthe shal casten hym out
174: Of hym, and the see also, and the eyr also, that
174: Shal be ful of thonder-clappes and lightnynges./
175: now soothly, whoso wel remembreth
175: Hym of thise thynges, I gesse that his synne
175: Shal nat turne hym into delit, but to greet
176: Sorwe, for drede of the peyne of helle./
176: And therfore seith job to god: suffre,
176: Lord, that I may a while biwaille and wepe.

Page 232

176: Er I go withoute returnyng to the derke lord,
177: Covered with the derknesse of deeth;/ to the
177: Lond of mysese and of derknesse, whereas is the
177: Shadwe of deeth; whereas ther is noon ordre or
177: Ordinaunce, but grisly drede that evere shal
178: Laste./ Loo, heere may ye seen that job
178: Preyde repit a while, to biwepe and waille his
178: Trespas; for soothly oo day of respit is bettre
179: Than al the tresor of this world./ And forasmuche
179: as a man may acquiten hymself biforn
179: God by penitence in this world, and nat by
179: Tresor, therfore sholde he preye to God to yeve
179: Hymrespit a while to biwepe and biwaillen
180: His trespas./ For certes, al the sorwe that a
180: Man myghte make fro the bigynnyng of the
180: World nys but a litel thyng at regard of the
181: Sorwe of helle./ The cause why that job
182: Clepeth helle the lond of derknesse;/ understondeth
182: that he clepeth it lond or erthe,
182: For it is stable, and nevere shal faille; derk,
182: For he that is in helle hath defaute of light material./
183: for certes, the derke light that shal
183: Come out of the fyr that evere shal brenne, shal
183: Furne hym al to peyne that is in helle; for it
183: Sheweth him to the horrible develes that hym
184: Tormenten./ Covered with the derknesse of
184: Deeth, that is to seyn, that he that is in helle
184: Shal have defaute of the sighte of god; for
185: Certes, the sighte of God is the lyf perdurable./
185: The derknesse of deeth been the synnes that
185: The wrecched man hath doon, whiche that destourben
185: hym to see the face of god, right as
185: Dooth a derk clowde bitwixe us and the
186: Sonne./ Lond of misese, by cause that
186: Ther been three maneres of defautes, agayn
186: Three thynges that folk of this world han in this
186: Present lyf, that is to seyn, honours, delices, and
187: Richesses./ Agayns honour, have they in helle
188: Shame and confusioun./ For wel ye woot that
188: Men clepen honour the reverence that man
188: Doth to man; but in helle is noon honour ne
188: Reverence. For certes, namoore reverence shal
189: Be doon there to a kyng than to a knave./ For
189: Which God seith by the prophete jeremye,
189: Thilke folk that me despisen shul been in
190: Despit./ Honour is eek cleped greet lordshipe;
190: Ther shal no wight serven other, but of harm
190: And torment. Honour is eek cleped greet dignytee
190: and heighnesse, but in helle shul
191: They been al fortroden of develes./ And
191: God seith, the horrible develes shulle
191: Goon and comen upon the hevedes of the
191: Dampned folk. And this is for as muche as the
191: Hyer that they were in this present lyf, the
191: Moore shulle they been abated and defouled
192: In helle./ Agayns the richesse of this world
192: Shul they han mysese of poverte, and this poverte
193: shal been in foure thynges:/ in defaute of
193: Tresor, of which that david seith, the riche
193: Folk, that embraceden and oneden al hire herte
193: To tresor of this world, shul slepe in the slepynge
193: of deeth; and nothyng ne shal they fynden
194: In hir handes of al hir tresor./ And moore-over
194: the myseyse of helle shal been in defaute
195: Of mete and rinke./ For God seith thus by
195: Moyses: they shul been wasted with hunger,
195: And the briddes of helle shul devouren hem
195: With bitter deeth, and the galle of the dragon
195: Shal been hire drynke, and the venym of
196: The dragon hire morsels./ And forther
196: Over, hire myseyse shal been in defaute of
196: Clothyng; for they shulle be naked in body as
196: Of clothyng, save the fyr in which they bree
197: And othere filthes;/ and naked shul they been
197: Of soule, as of alle manere vertues, which that
197: Is the clothyng of the soule. Where been
197: Thannne the gaye robes, and the softe shetes,
198: And the smale shertes?/ loo, what seith god
198: Of hem by the prophete ysaye: that under hem
198: Shul been strawed motthes, and hire covertures
199: Shulle been of womres of helle./ And forther
199: Over, hir myseyse shal been in defaute of
199: Freendes. For he nys nat povre that hath goode
200: Freendes; but there is no frend,/ for neither
200: God ne no creature shal been freend to hem,
200: And everich of hem shal haten oother
201: With deedly hat./ The sones and the
201: Doghtren shullen rebellen agayns fader
201: And mooder, and kynrede agauns kynrede, and
201: Chiden and despisen everich of hem oother
201: Bothe day nad nyght, as God seith by the
202: Prophete michias./ And the lovynge children,
202: That whilom loveden so flesshly everich oother,
202: Wolden everich of hem eten oother if they
203: Myghte./ For how sholden they love hem togidre
203: in the peyne of helle, whan they hated
203: Everich of hem oother in the progenitee of this
204: Lyr?/ for truste wel, hir flesshly love was
204: Deedly hate, as seith the prophete david:
204: Whoso that loveth wikkednesse, he hateth his
205: Soule./ And whoso hateth his owene soule,
205: Certes, he may love noon oother wight in
206: No manere./ And therfore, in helle is no
206: Solas ne no freendshipe, but evere the
206: Moore flesshly kynredes that been in helle, the
206: Moore cursynges, the more chidynges, and the
207: Moore deedly hate ther is among hem./ And
207: Forther over, they shul have defaute of alle

Page 233

207: Manere delices. For certes, delices been after
207: The appetites of the fyve wittes, as sighte, herynge,
208: smellynge, savorynge, and touchynge./
208: But in helle hir sighte shal be ful of derknesse
208: And of smoke, and therfore ful of teeres; and
208: Hir herynge ful of waymentynge and of grynt
209: Ynge of teeth, as seith jhesu crist./ Hir nose-
209: Thirles shullen be ful of stynkynge stynk; and
209: As seith ysaye the prophete, hir savoryng shal
210: Be ful of bitter galle;/ and touchynge of al hir
210: Body ycovered with fir that nevere shal
210: Quenche, and with wormes that nevere shul
210: Dyen, as God seith by the mouth of
211: Ysaye./ And for as muche as they shul
211: Nat wene that they may dyen for peyne,
211: And by hir deeth flee fro peyne, that may they
211: Understonden by the word of job, that seith,
212: Ther as is the shadwe of deeth./ Certes, a
212: Shadwe hath the liknesse of the thyng of which
212: It is shadwe, but shadwe is nat the same thyng
213: Of which it is shadwe./ Right so fareth the
213: Peune of helle; it is lyk deeth for the horrible
213: Angwissh, and why? for it peyneth hem evere,
213: As though they sholde dye anon; but certes,
214: They shal nat dye./ For, as seith seint gregorie,
214: to wrecche caytyves shal be deeth
214: Withoute deeth, adn end withouten ende, and
215: Defaute withoute failynge./ For hir deeth shal
215: Alwey lyven, and hir ende shal everemo bigynne,
216: and hir defaute shal nat faille./
216: And therfore seith seint john the evaungelist:
216: they shullen folwe deeth, and they shul
216: Nat fynde hym; and they shul desiren to dye,
217: And deeth shal flee fro hem./ And eek job
218: Seith that in helle is noon ordre of rule./ And
218: Al be it so that God hath creat alle thynges
218: In right ordre, and no thyng withouten ordre,
218: But alle thynges been ordeyned and nombred;
218: yet, nathelees, they that been dampned
219: Been nothyng in ordre, ne holden noon ordre./
220: For the erthe ne shal bere hem no fruyt./ For
220: As the prophete david seith, God shal destroie
220: The fruyt of the erthe as fro hem; ne water ne
220: Shal yeve hem no moisture, ne the eyr no
221: Refresshyng, ne fyr no light./ For, as
221: Seith seint basilie, the brennynge of the
221: Fyr of this world shal God yeven in helle to hem
222: That been dampned,/ but the light and the cleernesse
222: shal be yeven in hevene to this childre;
222: Right as the goode man yeveth flessh to his
223: Children and bones to his houndes./ And for
223: They shullen have noon hope to escape, seith
223: Seint job atte laste that ther shal horrour and
224: Grisly drede dwellen withouten ende./ Horrour
224: is alwey drede of harm that is to come,
224: And this drede shal evere dwelle in the hertes
224: Of hem that been dampned. And therfore han
225: They lorn al hire hope, for sevene causes./
225: First, for god, that is hir juge, shal be withouten
225: mercy to hem; and they may nat plese
225: Hym ne noon of his halwes; ne they ne
226: May yeve no thyng for hir raunsoun;/ ne
226: They have no voys to speke to hym; ne
226: They may nat fle fro peyne; ne they have no
226: Goodnesse in hem, that they mowe shewe to
227: Delivere hem fro peyne./ And therfore seith
227: Salomon: the wikked man dyeth, and whan
227: He is deed, he shal have noon hope to escape
228: Fro peyne./ Whoso thanne wolde wel understande
228: thise peynes, and bithynke hym weel
228: That he hath deserved thilke peynes for his
228: Synnes, errtes, he sholde have moore talent to
228: Siken and to wepe, than for to syngen and to
229: Pleye./ For, as that seith salomon, whoso
229: That hadde the science to knowe the peynes
229: That been establissed and ordeyned for synne,
230: He wolde make sorwe./ Thilke science, as
230: Seith seint augustyn, maketh a man to
231: Waymenten in his herte./
231: The fourthe point that oghte maken a
231: Man to have contricion is the sorweful remembraunce
231: of the good that he hath left to
231: Doon heere in erthe, and eek the good that he
232: Hath lorn./ Soothly, the goode werkes that he
232: Hath lost, outher they been the goode werkes
232: That he wroghte er he fel into deedly synne, or
232: Elles the goode werkes that he wroghte while
233: He lay in synne./ Soothly, the goode werkes
233: That he dide biforn that he fil in synne been al
233: Mortefied and astoned and dulled by the ofte
234: Synnyng./ The othere goode werkes, that he
234: Wroghte whil he lay in deedly synne, thei been
234: Outrely dede, as to the lyf perdurable in hevene./
235: thanne thikle goode werkes that been
235: Mortefied by ofte synnyng, whiche goode
235: Werkes he dide whil he was in charitee, ne
235: Mowe nevere quyken agayn withouten verray
236: penitence./ And therof seith God by
236: The mouth of ezechiel, that if the rightful
236: Man returne agayn from his rightwisnesse and
237: Werke wikkednesse, shal he lyve?/ nay, for
237: Alle the goode werkes that he hath wroght ne
237: Shul nevere been in remembraunce, for he shal
238: Dyen in this synne./ And upon thilke chapitre
238: Seith seint gregorie thus: that we shulle understonde
239: this principally;/ that whan we doon
239: Deedly synne, it is for noght thanne to rehercen
239: Or drawen into memorie the goode werkes that

Page 234

240: We han wroght biforn. / for certes, in the
240: Werkynge of the deedly synne, ther is no trust
240: To no good werk that we can doon biforn; that
240: Is to seyn, as for to have therby the lyf
241: Perdurable in hevene./ But nathelees, the
241: Goode werkes quyken agayn, and comen
241: Agayn, and helpen, and availlen to have the
241: Lyf perdurable in hevene, whan we han contricioun./
242: but soothly, the goode werkes that
242: Men doon whil they been in deedly synne, for
242: As muche as they were doon in deedly synne,
243: They may nevere quyke agayn./ For certes
243: Thyng that nevere hadde lyf may nevere quykene;
243: and nathelees, al be it that they ne availle
243: Noght to han the lyf perdurable, yet availlen
243: They to abregge of the peyne of helle, or elles
244: To geten temporal richesse,/ or elles that god
244: Wole the rather enlumyne and lightne the herte
245: Of the synful man to have repentaunce;/ and
245: Eek they availlen for to usen a man to doon
245: Goode werkes, that the feend have the
246: Lasse power of his soule./ And thus the
246: Curteis lord jhesu crist ne wole that no
246: Good werk be lost; for in somwhat it shal
247: Availle./ But, for as muche as the goode werkes
247: That men doon whil they been in good lyf been
247: Al mortefied by synne folwynge, and eek sith
247: That alle the goode werkes that men doon whil
247: They been in deedly synne been outrely dede as
248: For to have the lyf perdurable;/ wel may that
248: Man that no good werk ne dooth synge thilke
248: Newe frenshe song, jay tout perdu mon temps
249: Et mon labour./ For certes, synne bireveth a
249: Man bothe goodnesse of nature and eek the
250: Goodnesse of grace./ For soothly, the grace of
250: The hooly goost fareth lyk fyr, that may nat
250: Been ydel; for fyr fayleth anoon as it forleteth
250: His wirkynge, and right so grace fayleth
251: Anoon as it forleteth his werkynge./ Then
251: Leseth the synful man the goodnesse of
251: Glorie, that oonly is bihight to goode men that
252: Labouren and werken./ Wel may he be sory
252: Thanne, that oweth al his lif to God as longe
252: As he hath lyved, and eek as longe as he shal
252: Lyve, that no goodnesse ne hath to paye with
253: His dette to God to whom he oweth al his lyf./
253: For trust wel, he shal yeven acountes, as seith
253: Seint bernard, of alle the goodes that han be
253: Yeven hym in this present lyf, and how he hath
254: Hem despended;/ in so muche that ther shal
254: Nat perisse an heer of his heed, ne a moment
254: Of an houre ne shal nat perisse of his tyme, that
255: He ne shal yeve of it a rekenyng./
255: The fifthe thyng that oghte moeve a man to
255: Contricioun is remembrance of the passioun
255: That oure lord jhesu crist suffred for oure
256: Synnes./ For, as seith seint bernard,
256: Whil that I lyve I shal have remembrance
256: of the travailles that oure lord crist
257: Suffred in prechyng;/ his werynesse in travaillyng,
257: his temptaciouns whan he fasted, his longe
257: Wakynges whan he preyde, hise teeres whan
258: That he weep for pitee of good peple;/ the
258: Wo and the shame and the filthe that men
258: Seyden to hym; of the foule spittyng that men
258: Spitte in his face, of the buffettes that men
258: Yaven hym, of the foule mowes, and of the repreves
259: that men to hym seyden;/ of the nayles
259: With whiche he was nayled to the croys, and
259: Of al the remenant of his passioun that he suffred
260: for my synnes, and no thyng for his gilt./
260: And ye shul understonde that in mannes synne
260: Is every manere of ordre or ordinaunce
261: Turned up-so-doun./ For it is sooth that
261: God, and resoun, and sensualitee, and the
261: Body of man been so ordeyned that everich of
261: Thise foure thynges sholde have lordshipe over
262: That oother;/ as thus: God sholde have lordshipe
262: over resoun, and resoun over sensualitee,
263: And sensualitee over the body of man./ But
263: Soothly, whan man synneth, al this ordre or
264: Ordinaunce is turned up-so-doun./ And therfore,
264: thanne, for as muche as the resoun of man
264: Ne wol nat be subget ne obeisant to god, that
264: Is his lord by right, therfore leseth it the lordshipe
264: that it sholde have over sensualitee, and
265: Eek over the body of man./ And why? for
265: Sensualitee rebelleth thanne agayns resoun,
265: And by that way leseth resoun the lordshipe
266: over sensualitee and over the body./
266: For right as resoun is rebel to god, right so
266: Is bothe sensualitee rebel to resoun and the
267: Body also./ And certes this disordinaunce and
267: This rebellioun oure lord jhesu crist aboghte
267: Upon his precious body ful deere, and herkneth
268: In which wise./ For as muche thanne as resoun
268: is rebel to god, therfore is man worthy
269: To have sorwe and to be deed./ This suffred
269: Oure lord jhesu crist for man, after that he
269: Hadde be bitraysed of his disciple, and distreyned
269: and bounde, so that his blood brast
269: Out at every nayl of his handes, as seith seint
270: Augustyn./ And forther over, for as muchel

Page 235

270: As resoun of man ne wol nat daunte sensualitee
270: whan it may, therfore is man worthy to have
270: Shame; and this suffred oure lord jhesu
270: Crist for man, whan they spetten in his
271: Visage./ And forther over, for as muchel
271: Thanne as the caytyf body of man is rebel
271: Bothe to resoun and to sensualitee, therfore is
272: It worthy the deeth./ And this suffred oure
272: Lord jhesu crist for man upon the croys
272: Where as ther was no part of his body free
273: Withouten greet peyne and bitter passioun. /
273: And al this suffred jhesu crist, that nevere
273: Forfeted. And therfore resonably may be seyd
273: Jhesu in this manere: to muchel am I
273: Peyned for the thynges that I nevere deserved,
273: And to muche defouled for shendshipe that
274: Man is worthy to have./ And therfore may
274: The synful man wel seye, as seith seint bernard,
274: Acursed be the bitternesse of my synne, for
274: Which ther moste be suffred so muchel bitternesse./
275: for certes, after the diverse disordinaunces
275: of oure wikkednesses was the passioun
275: of jhesu crist ordeyned in diverse
276: Thynges,/ as thus. Certes, synful mannes
276: Soule is bitraysed of the devel by coveitise
276: Of temporeel prosperitee, and scorned by deceite
276: whan he cheseth flesshly delices; and yet
276: Is it tormented by inpacience of adversitee,
276: And bispet by servage and subjeccioun of
277: Synne; and atte laste it is slayn fynally./ For
277: This disordinaunce of synful man was jhesu
277: Crist first bitraysed, and after that was he
277: Bounde, that cam for to unbynden us of synne
278: And peyne./ Thanne was he byscorned, that
278: Oonly sholde han been honoured in alle thynges
279: And of alle thynges./ Thanne was his visage,
279: That oghte be desired to be seyn of al mankynde,
279: in which visage aungels desiren to looke,
280: Vileynsly bispet./ Thanne was he scourged,
280: That no thyng hadde agilt; and finally,
281: Thanne was he crucified and slayn./
281: Thanne was acompliced the word of ysaye,
281: He was wounded for oure mysdedes and defouled
282: for oure felonies./ Now sith that jhesu
282: Crist took upon hymself the peyne of alle oure
282: Wikkednesses, muchel oghte synful man wepen
282: And biwayle, that for his synnes goddes sone
283: Of hevene sholde al this peyne endure./
283: The sixte thyng that oghte moeve a man to
283: Contricioun is the hope of three thynges; that
283: Is to seyn, foryifnesse of synne, and the yifte to
283: Grace wel for to do, and the glorie of hevene,
283: With which God shal gerdone man for his
284: Goode dedes./ And for as muche as jhesu
284: Crist yeveth us thise yiftes of his largesse and
284: Of his sovereyn bountee, therfore is he cleped
285: Jhesus nazarenus rex judeorum./ Jhesus is to
285: Seyn saveour or salvacioun, on whom men
285: Shul hope to have foryifnesse of synnes,
285: Which that is proprely salvacioun of
286: Synnes./ And terfore seyde the aungel
286: To joseph, thou shalt clepen his name
287: Jhesus, that shal saven his peple of hir synnes./
287: And heerof seith seint peter: ther is noon
287: Oother name under hevene that is yeve to any
287: Man, by which a man may be saved, but oonly
288: Jhesus./ Nazarenus is as muche for to seye as
288: Florisshynge, in which a man shal hope that
288: He that yeveth hym remissioun of synnes shal
288: Yeve hym eek grace wel for to do. For in the
288: Flour is hope of fruyt in tyme comynge, and in
288: Foryifnesse of synnes hope of grace wel for to
289: Do./ I was atte dore of thyn herte, seith
289: Jhesus, and cleped for to entre. He that openeth
290: to me shal have foryifnesse of synne./ I
290: Wol entre into hym by my grace, and soupe
290: With hym, by the goode werkes that he shal
290: Doon, whiche werkes been the foode of god;
290: And he shal soupe with me, by the grete
291: Joye that I shal yeven hym./ Thus shal
291: Man hope, for his werkes of penaunce,
291: That God shal yeven hym his regne, as he bihooteth
292: hym in the gospel./
292: Now shal a man understonde in which manere
292: shal been his contricioun. I seye that it
292: Shal been universal and total. This is to seyn,
292: A man shal be verray repentaunt for alle his
292: Synnes that he hath doon in delit of his thoght;
293: For delit is ful perilous./ For ther been two
293: Manere of consentynges: that oon of hem is
293: Cleped consentynge of affeccioun, whan a man
293: Is moeved to do synne, and deliteth hym longe
294: For to thynke on that synne;/ and his reson
294: Aperceyveth it wel that it is synne agayns the
294: Lawe of god, and yet his resoun refreyneth nat
294: His foul delit or talent, though he se wel apertly
294: That it is agayns the reverence of god. Although
294: his resoun ne consente noght to doon
295: That synne in dede,/ yet seyn somme doctours
295: That swich delit that dwelleth longe, it is
296: Ful perilous, al be it nevere so lite./ And
296: Also a man sholde sorwe namely for al that
296: Evere he hath desired agayn the lawe of god
296: With perfit consentynge of his resoun; for therof
296: Is no doute, that it is deedly synne in consentynge./
297: for certes, ther is no deedly synne, that
297: It nas first in mannes thought, and after that
297: In his delit, and so forth into consentynge and
298: Into dede./ Wherfore I seye that many men
298: Ne repenten hem nevere of swiche thoghtes and
298: Delites, ne nevere shryven hem of it, but oonly
299: Of the dede of grete synnes outward./ Wherfore
299: I seye that swiche wikked delites and wikked

Page 236

299: thoghtes been subtile bigileres of hem that
300: Shullen be dampned./ Mooreover man oghte
300: To sorwe for his wikkede wordes as wel as for
300: His wikkede dedes. For certes, the repentaunce
300: Of a synguler synne, and nat repente of alle his
300: Ohter synnes, or elles repenten hym of alle his
300: Othere synnes, and nat of a synguler synne,
301: May nat availle./ For certes, God almyghty
301: is al good; and therfore he foryeveth
302: al, or elles right noght./ And heerof
303: Seith seint augustyn:/ I wot certeynly that
303: God is enemy to everich synnere; and how
303: Thanne, he that observeth o synne, shal he have
303: Foryifnesse of the remenaunt of his othere
304: Synnes? nay./ And forther over, contrcioun
304: Sholde be wonder sorweful and angwissous;
304: And therfore yeveth hym God pleynly his
304: Mercy; and therfore, whan my soule was angwissous
304: withinne me, I hadde remembrance
305: Of God that my preyere myghte come to hym./
305: Forther over, contricioun moste be continueel,
305: And that man have stedefast purpos to shriven
305: Hum, and for to amenden hym of his
306: Lyf./ For soothly, whil contricioun lasteth,
306: Man may evere have hope of foryifnesse;
306: And of this comth hate of synne, that destroyeth
306: synne, bothe in himself, and eek in oother
307: Folk, at his power./ For which seith david:
307: Ye that loven god, hateth wikkednesse. For
307: Trusteth wel, to love God is for to love that he
308: Loveth, and hate that he hateth./
308: The laste thyng that men shal understonde
308: In contricioun is this: wherof avayleth contricioun.
308: I seye that somtyme contricioun delivereth
309: a man fro synne;/ of which that david
309: Seith, I seye, quod david (that is to seyn,
309: I purposed fermely) to shryve me, and thow,
310: Lord, relessedest my synne./ And right so as
310: Contricion availleth noght withouten sad purpos
310: of shrifte, if man have oportunitee, right
310: So litel worth is shrifte or satisfaccioun
311: Withouten contricioun./ And mooreover
311: Contricion destroyeth the prisoun of helle,
311: And maketh wayk and fieble alle the strengthes
311: Of the develes, and restoreth the yiftes of the
312: Hooly goost and of alle goode vertues;/ and
312: It clenseth the soule of synne, and delivereth
312: The soule fro the peyne of helle, and fro the
312: Compaignye of the devel, and fro the servage
312: Of synne, and restoreth it to alle goodes espirituels,
312: and to the compaignye and communyoun
313: Of hooly chirche./ And forther over, it maketh
313: Hym that whilom was sone of ire to be sone
313: Of grace; and alle thise thynges been preved
314: By hooly writ./ And therfore, he that wolde
314: Sette his entente to thise thynges, he were ful
314: Wys; for soothly he ne sholde nat thanne in al
314: His lyf have corage to synne, but yeven his body
314: And al his herte to the service of jhesu crist,
315: And therof doon hym hommage./ For soothly
315: Oure sweete lord jhesu crist hath spared us
315: So debonairly in oure folies, that if he ne hadde
315: Pitee of mannes soule, a sory song we
316: Myghten alle synge./

"part" 2

Part II

316: The seconde partie of penitence is confressioun,
317: that is signe of contricioun./ Now shul
317: Ye understonde what is confessioun, and
317: Wheither it oghte nedes be doon or noon, and
317: Whiche thynges been covenable to verray confessioun./
318: First shaltow understonde that confessioun
319: Is verray shewynge of synnes to the preest./
319: This is to seyn verray, for he moste confessen
319: Hym of alle the condiciouns that bilongen to his
320: Synne, as ferforth as he kan./ Al moot be seyd,
320: And no thyng excused ne hyd ne forwrapped,
320: And noght avaunte thee of thy goode
321: Werkes./ And forther over, it is necessarie
321: to understonde whennes that synnes
321: Spryngen, and how they encreessen and whiche
322: They been./
322: Of the spryngynge of synnes seith seint paul
322: In this wise: that right as by a man synne entred
322: first into this world, and thurgh that synne
322: Deeth, right so thilke deeth entred into alle
323: Men that synneden./ And this man was adam,
323: By whom synne entred into this world, whan
324: He brak the comaundementz of god./ And
324: Therfore, he that first was so myghty that he
324: Sholde nat have dyed, bicam swich oon that he
324: Moste nedes dye, wheither he wolde or noon,
324: And al his progenye in this world, that in thilke
325: Man synneden./ Looke that in th' estaat of innocence,
325: whan adam and eve naked weren
325: In paradys, and nothyng ne hadden shame
326: Of hir nakednesse,/ how that the serpent,
326: That was moost wily of alle othere beestes
326: That God hadde maked, seyde to the womman:
326: Why comaunded God to yow ye sholde nat
327: Eten of every tree in paradys?/ the womman

Page 237

327: Answerde: of the fruyt, quod she, of the trees
327: In paradys we feden us, but soothly, of the
327: Fruyt of the tree that is in the myddel of paradys,
327: god forbad us for to ete, ne nat touchen
328: It, lest per aventure we sholde dyen./ The
328: Serpent seyde to the womman: nay, nay, ye
328: Shul nat dyen of deeth; for sothe, God woot
328: That what day that ye eten therof, youre eyen
328: Shul opene, and ye shul been as goddes, knowynge
329: good and harm./ The womman thanne
329: Saugh that the tree was good to feedyng, and
329: Fair to the eyen, and delitable to the sighte.
329: She took of the fruyt of the tree, and eet it,
329: And yaf to hire housbonde, and he eet, and
330: Anoon the eyen of hem bothe openeden./ And
330: Whan that they knewe that they were naked,
330: They sowed of fige leves a maner of
331: Breches to hiden hire membres./ There
331: May ye seen that deedly synne hath, first,
331: Suggestion of the feend, as sheweth heere by
331: The naddre; and afterward, teh delit of the
331: Flessh, as sheweth heere by eve; and after that,
331: The consentynge of resoun, as sheweth heere
332: By adam./ For trust wel, though so were that
332: The feend tempted eve, that is to seyn, the
332: Flessh, and the flessh hadde delit in the beautee
332: Of the fruyt defended, yet certes, til that resoun,
332: That is to seyn, adam, consented to the etynge
332: Of the fruyt, yet stood he in th' estaat of innocence./
333: of thilke adam tooke we thilke wynne
333: Original; for of hym flesshly descended be we
333: Alle, and engendred of vile and corrupt mateere./
334: and whan the soule is put in oure body,
334: Right anon is contract original synne; and that
334: That was erst but oonly peyne of concupiscence,
335: is afterward bothe peyne and synne./
335: And therfore be we alle born sones of wratthe
335: And of dampnacioun perdurable, if it nere baptesme
335: that we receyven, which bynymeth us
335: The culpe. But for sothe, the peyne dwelleth
335: With us, as to temptacioun, which peyne
336: Highte concupiscence./ And this concupiscence,
336: whan it is wrongfully disposed
336: Or ordeyned in man, it maketh hym coveite,
336: By coveitise of flessh, flesshly synne, by sighte
336: Of his eyen as to erthely thynges, and eek
337: Coveitise of hynesse by pride of herte./
337: Now, as for to speken of the firste coveitise,
337: That is concupiscence, after the lawe of oure
337: Membres, that weren lawefulliche ymaked and
338: By rightful juggement of god;/ I seye, forasmuche
338: as man is nat obeisaunt to god, that is
338: His lord, therfore is the flessh to hym disobeisaunt
338: thurgh concupiscence, whigh yet is
338: Cleped norrissynge, of synne and occasioun
339: Of synne./ Therfore, al the while that a
339: Man hath in hym the peyne of concupiscence,
339: it is impossible but he be tempted
340: Somtime and moeved in his flessh to synne./
340: And this thyng may nat faille as longe
340: As he lyveth; it may wel wexe fieble and faille
340: By vertu of baptesme, and by the grace of
341: God thurgh penitence;/ but fully ne shal
341: It nevere quenche, that he ne shal som
341: Tyme be moeved in hymself, but if he were al
341: Refreyded by siknesse, or by malefice of sorcerie,
342: Or colde drynkes./ For lo, what seith seint
342: Paul: the flessh coveiteth agayn the spirit, and
342: The spirit agayn the flessh; they been so contrarie
342: and so stryven that a man may nat alway
343: doon as he wolde./ The same seint paul,
343: After his grete penaunce in water and in lond,
343: -- in water by nyght and by day in greet peril
343: And in greet peyne; in lond, in famyne and
343: Thurst, in coold and cloothelees, and ones stoned
344: Almoost to the deeth,/ -- yet seyde he, allas,
344: I caytyf man! who sahl delivere me fro the
345: Prisoun of my caytyf body?/ and seint jerome,
345: whan he longe tyme hadde woned in
345: Desert, where as he hadde no compaignye but
345: Of wilde beestes, where as he ne hadde no mete
345: But herbes, and water to his drynke, ne no bed
345: But the naked erthe, for which his flessh was
345: Blak as an ethiopeen for heete, and ny destroyed
346: for coold,/ yet seyde he that the
346: Brennynge of lecherie boyled in al his
347: Body./ Wherfore I woot wel sykerly that they
347: Been deceyved that seyn that they ne be nat
348: Empted in hir body./ Witnesse on seint jame
348: The apostel, that seith that every wight is
348: Tempted in his owene concupiscence; that is
348: To seyn, that everich of us hath matere and
348: Occasioun to be tempted of the norissynge of
349: Synne that is in his body./ And therfore seith
349: Seint john the evaungelist: if that we seyn
349: That we be withoute synne, we deceyve us
350: Selve, and trouthe is nat in us./
350: Now hal ye understonde in what manere
350: That synne wexeth or encreesseth in man. The
350: Firste thyng is thilke norissynge of synne of
350: Which I spak biforn, thilke flesshly concupiscence./
351: and after that comth the
351: Subjeccioun of the devel, this is to seyn,
351: The develes bely, with which he bloweth in man
352: The fir of flesshly concupiscence./ And after
352: That, a man bithynketh hym wheither he wol
352: Doon, or no, thilke thing to which he is
353: Tempted./ And thanne, if that a man withstonde

Page 238

353: and weyve the firste entisynge of his
353: Flessh and of the feend, thanne is it no synne;
353: And if it so be that he do nat so, thanne feeleth
354: he anoon a flambe of delit./ And thanne
354: Is it good to be war, and kepen hym wel, or
354: Elles he wol falle anon into consentynge of
354: Synne; and thanne wol he do it, if he may have
355: Tyme and place./ And of this matere seith
355: Moyses by the devel in this manere: the
355: Feend seith, -- I wole chace and pursue the man
355: By wikked suggestioun, and I wole hente hym
355: By moevynge or stirynge of synne. And I wol
355: Departe my prise or my praye by deliberacioun,
355: And my lust shal been acompliced in delit.
356: I wol drawe my swerd in consentynge -- /
356: For certes, right as a swerd departeth a
356: Thyng in two peces, right so consentynge departeth
356: god fro man -- and thanne wol I
356: Sleen hym with myn hand in dede of synne;
357: Thus seith the feend./ For certes, thanne is
357: A man al deed in soule. And thus is synne
357: Acompliced by temptacioun, by delit, and by
357: Consentynge; and thanne is the synne cleped
358: Actueel./
358: For sothe, synne is in two maneres; outher
358: It is venial, or deedly synne. Soothly, whan
358: Man loveth any creature moore than jhesu
358: Crist oure creatour, thanne is it deedly synne.
358: And venial synne is it, if man love jhesu crist
359: Lasse than hym oghte./ For sothe, the dede
359: Of this venial synne is ful perilous; for it
359: Amenuseth the love that men sholde han to
360: God moore and moore./ And therfore, it a
360: Man charge hymself with manye swiche venial
360: Synnes, certes, but if so be that he somtyme
360: Descharge hym of hem by shrifte, they mowe
360: Ful lightly amenuse in hym al the love that
361: He hath to jhesu crist;/ and in this wise
361: Skippeth venial into deedly synne. For
361: Certes, the moore that a man chargeth his
361: Soule with venial synnes, the moore is he enclyned
362: to fallen into deedly synne./ And therfore
362: lat us nat be necligent to deschargen us
362: Of venial synnes. For the proverbe seith that
363: Manye smale maken a greet./ And herkne
363: This ensample. A greet wawe of the see comth
363: Som tyme with so greet a violence that it
363: Drencheth the ship. And the same harm doon
363: Som tyme the smale dropes of water, that entren
363: thurgh a litel crevace into the thurrok,
363: And in the botme of the ship, if men be so
363: Necligent that they ne descharge hem nat by
364: Tyme./ And therfore, although ther be a difference
364: bitwixe thise two causes of drenchynge,
365: Algates the ship is dreynt./ Right so fareth it
365: Somtyme of deedly synne, and of anoyouse
365: Veniale synnes, whan they multiplie in a man
365: So greetly that the love of thilke worldly
365: Thynges that he loveth, thurgh whiche he synneth
365: venyally, is as greet in his herte as
366: The love of god, or moore./ And therfore,
366: the love of every thyng that is nat
366: Biset in god, ne doon principally for goddes
366: Sake, although that a man love it lasse than
367: God, yet is it venial synne;/ and deedly synne
367: Whan the love of any thyng weyeth in the
367: Herte of man as muchel as the love of god, or
368: Moore./ Deedly synne, as seith seint augustyn,
368: is whan a man turneth his herte fro
368: God, which that is verray sovereyn bountee,
368: That may nat chaunge, and yeveth his herte
369: To thyng that may chaunge and flitte./ And
369: Certes, that is every thyng save God of hevene.
369: For sooth is that if a man yeve his love, the
369: Which that he oweth al to God with al his
369: Herte, unto a creature, certes, as muche of his
369: Love as he yeveth to thilke creature, so muche
370: He bireveth fro god;/ and therfore dooth he
370: Synne. For he that is dettour to God ne yeldeth
370: nat to God al his dette, that is to seyn,
371: Al the love of his herte./
371: Now sith man understondeth generally
371: Which is venial synne, thanne is it covenable
371: To tellen specially of synnes whiche that many
371: A man peraventure ne demeth hem nat synnes,
371: And ne shryveth him nat of the same thynges,
372: And yet natheless they been synnes;/ soothly, as
372: Thise clerkes writen, this is to seyn, that at every
372: Tyme that a man eteth or drynketh moore than
372: Suffiseth to the sustenaunce of his body, in certein
373: he dooth synne./ And eek whan he speketh
373: moore than it nedeth, it is synne. Eke
373: Whan he herkneth nat benignely the compleint
374: Of the povre;/ eke whan he is in heele of body,
374: And wol nat faste whan other folk faste, withouten
374: cause resonable; eke whan he slepeth
374: Moore than nedeth, or whan he comth by thilke
374: Enchesoun to late to chirche, or to othere werkes
375: Of charite;/ eke whan he useth his wyf, withouten
375: sovereyn desir of engendrure to the honour
375: of god, or for the entente to yelde to
376: His wyf the dette of his body;/ eke whan
376: He wol nat visite the sike and the prisoner,
376: If he may; eke if he love wyf or child, or oother
376: Worldly thyng, moore than resoun requireth;
376: Eke if he flatere or blandise moore than hym
377: Oghte for any necessitee;/ eke if he amenuse
377: Or withdrawe the almesse of the povre; eke if

Page 239

377: He apparailleth his mete moore deliciously than
378: Nede is, or ete it to hastily by likerousnesse;/
378: Eke if he tale vanytees at chirche or at goddes
378: Service, or that he be a talker of ydel wordes of
378: Folye or of vileynye, for he shal yelden acountes
379: Of it at the day of doom;/ eke whan he biheteth
379: or assureth to do thynges that he may nat
379: Perfourne; eke whan that he by lightnesse or
380: Folie mysseyeth or scorneth his neighebor;/
380: Eke whan he hath any wikked suspecioun
380: Of thyng ther he ne woot of it no soothfastnesse:/
381: thise thynges, and no withoute
381: nombre, been synnes, as seith seint
382: Augustyn./
382: Now shal men understonde that, al be it so
382: That noon erthely man may eschue alle venial
382: Synnes, yet may be refreyne hym by the brennynge
382: love that he hath to oure lord jhesu
382: Christ, and by preyeres and confessioun and
382: Othere goode werkes, so that it shal but litel
383: Greve./ For, as seith seint augustyn, if a man
383: Love God in swich manere that al that evere he
383: Dooth is in the love of god, and for the love of
383: God, verraily, for he brenneth in the love of
384: God,/ looke, how muche that a drope of water
384: that falleth in a fourneys ful of fyr anoyeth
384: Or greveth, so muche anoyeth a venial synne
384: Unto a man that is perfit in the love of jhesu
385: Crist./ Men may also refreyne venial synne
385: By receyvynge worthily of the precious
386: Body of jhesu crist;/ by receyvynge eek
386: Of booly water; by almesdede; by general
386: Confessioun of confiteor at masse and at complyn;
386: and by blessynge of bisshopes and of
387: Preestes, and by oothere goode werkes./

"part" 3

Part III

387: Now is it bihovely thyng to telle whiche
387: Been the sevene deedly synnes, this is to seyn,
387: Chiefaynes of synnes. Alle they renne in o
387: Lees, but in diverse manneres. Now been they
387: Cleped chieftaynes, for as muche as they been
388: Chief and spryng of alle othere synnes./ Of
388: The roote of thise sevene synnes, thanne, is
388: Pride the general roote of alle harmes. For of
388: This roote spryngen certein braunches, as ire,
388: Envye, accidie or slewthe, avarice or coveitise
388: (to commune understondynge), glotonye, and
389: Lecherye./ And everich of thise chief synnes
389: Hath his braunches and his twigges, as shal be
390: Declared in hire chapitres folwynge./
390: And thogh so be that no man kan outerly
390: Telle the nombre of the twigges and of the
390: Harmes that cometh of pride, yet wol I shewe
390: A partie of hem, as ye shul understonde./
391: ther is inobedience, avauntynge,
391: ypocrisie, despit, arrogance, inpudence,
391: swellynge of herte, insolence, elacioun,
391: Inpacience, strif, contumacie, presumpcioun,
391: Irreverence, pertinacie, veyne glorie, and many
392: Another twig that I kan nat declare./ Inobedient
392: is he that disobeyeth for despit to the comandementz
392: of god, and to his sovereyns, and
393: To his goostly fader./ Avauntour is he that
393: Bosteth of the harm or of the bountee that he
394: Hath doon./ Ypocrite is he that hideth to
394: Shewe hym swich as he is, and sheweth hym
395: Swich as he noght is./ Despitous is he that
395: Hath desdeyn of his neighebor, that is to seyn, of
395: His evene-cristene, or hath despit to doon
396: That hym oghte to do./ Arrogant is he
396: That thynketh that he hath thilke bountees
396: In hym that he hath noght, or weneth that he
396: Sholde have hem by his desertes, or elles he
397: Demeth that he be that he nys nat./ Inpudent
397: Is he that for his pride hath no shame of his
398: Synnes./ Swellynge of herte is whan a man rejoyseth
399: hym of harm that he hath doon./ Insolent
399: is he that despiseth in his juggement alle
399: Othere folk, as to regatd of his value, and of his
399: Konnyng, and of his spekyng, and of his beryng./
400: elacioun is whan he ne may neither
401: Suffre to have maister ne felawe./ Inpacient
401: is he that wol nat been ytaught ne
401: Undernome of his vice, and by strif werreieth
402: Troughe wityngly, and deffendeth his folye./
402: Contumax is he that thurgh his indignacioun
402: Is agayns everich auctoritee or power of hem
403: That been his sovereyns./ Presumpcioun is whan
403: A man undertaketh an emprise that hym oghte

Page 240

403: Nat do, or elles that he may nat do; and this
403: Is called surquidrie. Irreverence is whan men
403: Do nat honour there as hem oghte to doon,
404: And waiten to be reverenced./ Pertinacie is
404: Whan man deffendeth his folie, and truseth to
405: Muchel to his owene wit./ Veyneglorie is for
405: To have pompe and delit in his temporeel
405: Hynesse, and glorifie hym in this worldly
406: Estaat./ Janglynge is whan a man speketh
406: To muche biforn folk, and clappeth as a
407: Mille, and taketh no keep what he seith./
407: And yet is ther a privee spece of pride, that
407: Waiteth first to be salewed er he wole salewe,
407: Al be be lasse worth than that oother is peraventure;
407: and eek he waiteth or desireth to
407: Sitte, or elles to goon above hym in the wey,
407: Or kisse pax, or been encensed, or goon to
408: Offryng biforn his neighebor,/ and swiche sem0
408: Blable thynges, agayns his duetee, peraventure,
408: But that he hath his herte and his entente in
408: Swich a proud desir to be magnified and honoured
409: biforn the peple./
409: Now been ther two maneres of pride: that
409: Oon of hem is withinne the herte of man, and
410: That oother is withoute./ Of whiche, soothly,
410: Thise forseyde thynges, and no that I have
410: Seyd, apertenen to pride that is in the herte
410: Of man; and that othere speces of pride
411: Been withoute./ But natheles that oon
411: Of thise speces of pride is signe of that
411: Oother, right as the gaye leefsel atte taverne
412: Is signe of the wyn that is in the celer./ And
412: This is in manye thynges: as in speche and contenaunce,
412: and in outrageous array of clothyng./
413: for certes, if ther ne hadde be no synne
413: In clothyng, crist wolde nat so soone have
413: Noted and spoken of the clothyng of thilke
414: Riche man in the gospel./ And as seith seint
414: Gregorie, that cprecious clothyng is cowpable
414: For the derthe of it, and for his softenesse, and
414: For his strangenesse and degisynesse, and for
414: The superfluitee, or for the inordinat scantnesse
415: Of it./ Allas! may man nat seen, as in oure
415: Dayes, the synful costlewe array of clothynge,
415: And namely in to muche superfluite, or
416: Elles in to desordinat scantnesse?/
416: As to the first synne, that is in superfluitee
416: of clothynge, which that maketh it so deere,
417: To harm of the peple;/ nat oonly the cost of
417: Embrowdynge, the degise endentynge or barrynge,
417: owndynge, palynge, wyndynge or bendynge,
418: and semblable wast of clooth in vanitee;/
418: But ther is also costlewe furrynge in hir gownes,
418: So muche pownsonynge of chisels to maken
419: Holes, so muche daggynge of sheres;/ forthwith
419: the superfluitee in lengthe of the forseide
419: Gowens, trailynge in the dong and in the mire,
419: On horse and eek on foote, as wel of man as
419: Of womman, that al thilke trailyng is verraily
419: As in effect wasted, consumed, thredbare, and
419: Roten with donge, rather than it is yeven to the
419: Povre, to greet damage of the forseyde povre
420: Folk./ And that in sondry wise; this is to seyn
420: That the moore that clooth is wasted, the moore
420: Moot it coste to the peple for the scarsnesse./
421: and forther over, if so be that
421: They wolde yeven swich pownsoned and
421: Dagged clothyng to the povre folk, it is
421: Nat convenient to were for hire estaat, ne suffisant
421: to beete hire necessitee, to kepe hem fro
422: The distemperance of the firmament./ Upon
422: That oother side, to speken of the horrible disordiant
422: scantnesse of clothyng, as been thise
422: Kutted sloppes, or haynselyns, that thurgh hire
422: Shortnesse ne covere nat the shameful membres
423: of man, to wikked entente./ Allas! somme
423: Of hem shewen the boce or hir shap, and the
423: Horrible swollen membres, that semeth lik the
423: Maladie of hirnia, in the wrappynge of hir
424: Hoses;/ and eek the buttokes of hem faren as
424: It were the hyndre part of a she-ape in the fulle
425: Of the moone./ And mooreover, the wrecched
425: Swollen membres that they shewe thurgh disgisynge,
425: in departynge of hire hoses in whit and
425: Reed, semeth that half hir shameful privee
426: Membres weren flayne./ And if so be that
426: They departen hire hoses in othere colours,
426: As is whit and blak, or whit and blew, or blak
427: And reed, and so forth,/ thanne semeth it, as
427: By variaunce of colour, that half the partie of
427: Hire privee membres were corrupt by the fir
427: Of seint antony, or by cancre, or by oother
428: Swich meschaunce./ Of the hyndre part of hir
428: Buttokes, it is ful horrible for to see. For certes,
428: In that partie of hir body ther as they purgen
429: Hir stynkynge ordure,/ that foule partie shewe
429: They to the peple prowdly in despit of honestitee,
429: which honestitee that jhesu crist and
430: His freendes observede to shewen in hir lyve./
430: Now, as of the outrageous array of wommen,
430: God woot that though the visages of somme of
430: Hem seme ful chaast and debonaire, yet notifie
430: They in hire array of atyr likerousnesse and
431: Pride./ I sey nat that honestitee in clothynge
431: of man or womman is uncovenable,
431: But certes the superfluitee or disordinat scantitee
432: of clothynge is reprevable./ Also the synne
432: Of aornement or of apparaille is in thynges that

Page 241

432: Apertenen to ridynge, as in to manye delicat
432: Horses that been hoolden for dlit, that been so
433: Faire, fatte, and costlewe;/ and also in many a
433: Vicious knave that is sustened by cause of hem,
433: And in to curious harneys, as in sadeles, in
433: Crouperes, peytrels, and bridles coverd
433: Precious clothyng, and riche barres and plates
434: Of gold and of silver./ For which God seith
434: By zakarie the prophete, I wol confounde the
435: Rideres of swiche horses./ This folk taken litel
435: Reward of the ridynge of goddes sone of hevene,
435: and of his harneys whan he rood upon
435: The asse, and ne hadde noon oother harneys
435: But the povre clother of his disciples; ne we ne
435: Rede nat that evere he rood on oother
436: Beest./ I speke this for the synne of superfluitee,
436: and nat for resonable honestitee,
437: Whan reson it requireth./ And forther over,
437: Certes, pride is greetly notified in holdynge of
437: Greet meynee, whan they be of litel profit or
438: Of right no profit;/ and namely whan that
438: Meynee is felonous and damageous to the peple
438: By hardynesse of heigh lordshipe or by wey of
439: Offices./ For certes, swiche lordes sellen thanne
439: Hir lordshipe to the devel of helle, whanne they
440: Sustenen the wikkednesse of hir meynee./ Or
440: Elles, whan this folk of lowe degree, as thilke
440: That holden hostelries, sustenen the thefte of
440: Hire hostilers, and that is in many manere
441: Of deceites./ Thilke manere of folk been
441: The flyes that folwen the hony, or elles the
441: Houndes that folwen the careyne. Swich forseyde
442: folk stranglen spiritually hir lordshipes;/
442: For which thus seith david the prophete: wikked
442: deeth moote come upon thilke lordshipes,
442: And God yeve that they moote descenden into
442: Helle al doun; for in hire houses been iniquitees
443: And shrewednesses, and nat God of hevene./
443: And certes, but if they doon amendement,
443: Right as God yaf his benysoun to (laban) by
443: The service of jacob, and to (pharao) by the
443: Service of joseph, right so God wol yeve his
443: Malisoun to swiche lordshipes as sustenen the
443: Wikkednesse of hir servauntz, but they come to
444: Amendement./ Pride of the table appeereth
444: Eek ful ofte; for certes, riche men been cleped
444: To festes, and povre folk been put awey and rebuked./
445: also in excesse of diverse metes and
445: Drynkes, and namely swich manere bake-metes
445: And dissh-metes, brennynge of wilde fir and
445: Peynted and castelled with papir, and semblable
445: wast, so that it is abusioun for to
446: Thynke./ And eek in to greet preciousnesse
446: of vessel and curiositee of mynstralcie,
446: by whiche a man is stired the moore to delices
447: of luxurie,/ if so be that he sette his herte
447: The lasse upon oure lord jhesu crist, certeyn it
447: Is a synne; and certeinly the delices myghte
447: Been so grete in this caas that man myghte
448: Lightly falle by hem into deedly synne. / the
448: Especes that sourden of pride, soothly whan
448: They sourden of malice ymagined, avised, and
448: Forncast, or elles of usage, been deedly synnes,
449: It is no doute. / and whan they sourden by
449: Freletee unavysed, and sodeynly withdrawen
449: Ayeyn, al been they grevouse synnes, I gesse
450: That they ne been nat deedly. / now myghte
450: Men axe wherof that pride sourdeth and
450: Spryngeth, and I seye, somtyme it spryngeth
450: Of the goodes of nature, and somtyme of the
450: Goodes of fortune, and somtyme of the
451: Goodes of grace./ Certes, the goodes of
451: Nature stonden outher in goodes of body
452: Or in goodes of soule./ Certes, goodes of body
452: Been heele of body, strengthe, delivernesse,
453: Beautee, gentrice, franchise./ Goodes of nature
453: of the soule been good wit, sharp understondynge,
453: subtil engyn, vertu natureel, good
454: Memorie./ Goodes of fortune been richesse,
454: Hyghe degrees of lordshipes, preisynges of the
455: Peple./ Goodes of grace been science, power
455: To suffre spiritueel travaille, benignitee, vertuous
455: contemplacioun, withstondynge of
456: Temptacioun, and semblable thynges./ Of
456: Whiche forseyde goodes, certes it is a ful
456: Greet folye a man to priden hym in any of hem
457: Alle./ Now as for to speken of goodes of nature,
457: God woot that somtyme we han hem in nature
458: As muche to oure damage as to oure profit./
458: As for to speken of heele of body, certes it
458: Passeth ful lightly, and eek it is ful ofte enchesoun
458: of the siknesse of oure soule. For, god
458: Woot, the flessh is a ful greet enemy to the
458: Soule; and therfore, the moore that the body
459: Is hool, the moore be we in peril to falle./ Eke
459: For to pride hym in his strengthe of body, it
459: Is an heigh folye. For certes, the flessh coveiteth
459: agayn the spirit; and ay the moore strong
460: That the flessh is, the sorier may the soule be./
460: And over al this, strengthe of body and worldly
460: Hardynesse causeth ful ofte many a man to
461: Peril and meschaunce./ Eek for to pride
461: Hym of his gentrie is ful greet folie; for
461: Ofte tyme the gentrie of the body binymeth
461: The gentrie of the soule; and eek we ben alle
461: Of o fader and of o mooder; and alle we been
461: Of o nature, roten and corrupt, bothe riche and
462: Povre./ For sothe, o manere gentrie is for to

Page 242

462: Preise, that apparailleth mannes corage with
462: Vertues and moralitees, and maketh hym cristes
463: Child./ For truste wel that over what man that
463: Synne hath maistrie, he is a verray cherl to
464: Synne./
464: Now been ther generale signes of gentillesse,
464: As eschewynge of vice and ribaudye and servage
465: Of synne, in word, in werk, and contenaunce;/
465: And usynge vertu, curteisye, and clennesse, and
465: To be liberal, that is to seyn, large by mesure;
465: For thilke that passeth mesure is folie and
466: Synne./ Another is to remembre hym of
466: Bountee, that he of oother folk hath receyved./
467: another is to be benigne to his goode
467: Subetis; wherfore seith senek, ther is no
467: Thing moore covenable to a man of heigh estaat
468: than debonairetee and pitee./ And therfore
468: thise flyes that men clepen bees, whan
468: They maken hir kyng, they chesen oon that
469: Hath no prikke wherwith he may stynge./ Another
469: is, a man to have a noble herte and
469: A diligent, to attayne to heighe vertuouse
470: Thynges./ Now certes, a man to pride hym in
470: The goodes of grace is eek an outrageous folie;
470: For thilke yifte of grace that sholde have turned
470: Hym to goodnesse and to medicine, turneth
470: Hym to venym and to confusioun, as seith
471: Seint gregorie./ Certes also, whoso prideth
471: hym in the goodes of fortune, he is a
471: Ful greet fool; for somtyme is a man a greet
471: Lord by the morwe, that is a caytyf and a
472: Wrecche er it be nyght;/ and somtyme the
472: Richesse of a man is cause of his deth; somtyme
472: the delices of a man ben cause of the
473: Grevous maladye thurgh which he dyeth./
473: Certes, the commendacioun of the peple is
473: Somtyme ful fals and ful brotel for to triste;
474: This day they preyse, tomorwe they blame./
474: God woot, desir to have commendacioun eek
474: Of the peple hath caused deeth to many a bisy
475: Man./
475: Now sith that so is that ye han understonde
475: What is pride, and whiche been the speces of it,
475: And whennes pride sourdeth and spryngeth,/
476: now shul ye understonde which is
476: The remedie agayns the synne of pride;
477: And that is hymylitee, or mekenesse./ That is
477: A vertu thurgh which a man hath verray
477: Knoweleche of hymself, and holdeth of hymself
477: no pris ne deyntee, as in regard of his
478: Desertes, considerynge evere his freletee./ Now
478: Been ther three maneres of hymylitee: as humylitee
478: in herte; another hymylitee is in his
479: Mouth; the thridde in his werkes./ The humilitee
479: in herte is in foure maneres. That oon is
479: Whan a man holdeth hymself as noght worth
479: Biforn God of hevene. Another is whan he ne
480: Despiseth noon oother man./ The thridde is
480: Whan he rekketh nat, though men holde hym
480: Noght worth. The ferthe is whan he nys
481: Nat sory of his humiliacioun./ Also the
481: Humilitee of mouth is in foure thynges: in
481: Attempree speche, and in humblesse of speche,
481: And whan he biknoweth with his owene mouth
481: That he is swich as hym thynketh that he is in
481: His herte. Another is whan he preiseth the
481: Bountee of another man, and nothyng therof
482: Amenuseth./ Humilitee eek in werkes is in
482: Foure maneres. The firste is whan he putteth
482: Othere men biforn hym. The seconde is to
482: Chese the loweste place over al. The thridde
483: Is gladly to assente to good conseil./ The
483: Ferthe is to stonde gladly to the award of his
483: Sovereyns, or of hym that is in hyer degree.
484: Certein, this is a greet werk of hymylitee./
484: After pride wol I speken of the foule synne
484: Of envye, which that is, as by the word of the philosophre,
484: sorwe of oother mannes prosperitee;
484: And after the word of seint augustyn, it is sorwe
484: Of oother mennes wele, and joye of othere
485: Mennes harm./ This foule synne is platly
485: Agayns the hooly goost. Al be it so that every
485: Synne is agayns the hooly goost, yet nathelees,
485: For as muche as bountee aperteneth proprely to
485: The hooly goost, and envye comth proprely
485: Of malice, therfore it is proprely agayn the
486: Bountee of the hooly goost./ Now hath
486: Malice two speces; that is to seyn, ahrdnesse
486: of herte in wikkednesse, or elles the flessh
486: Of man is so blynd that he considereth nat that
486: He is in synne, or rekketh nat that he is in synne,
487: Which is the hardnesse of the devel./ That
487: Oother spece of malice is whan a man werreyeth
487: trouthe, whan he woot that it is trouthe;
487: And eek whan he werreyeth the grace that god
487: Hath yeve to his neighebor; and al this is by
488: Envye./ Certes, thanne is envye the worste
488: Synne that is. For soothly, alle othere synnes
489: Been somtyme oonly agayns o special vertu;/
489: But certes, envye is agayns alle vertues and
489: Agayns alle goodnesses. For it is sory of alle

Page 243

489: The bountees of his neighebor, and in this manere
490: it is divers from alle othere synnes./ For
490: Wel unnethe is ther any synne that it ne hath
490: Som delit in itself, save oonly envye, that
491: Evere hath in itself angwissh and sorwe./
491: The speces of envye been thise. Ther is
491: First, sorwe of oother mannes goodnesse and
491: Of his prosperitee; and prosperitee is kyndely
491: Matere of joye; thanne is envye a synne agayns
492: Kynde./ The seconde spece of envye is joye
492: Of oother mannes harm; and that is proprely
492: Lyk to the devel, that evere rejoyseth hym of
493: Mannes harm./ Of thise two speces comth bakbityng;
493: and this synne of bakbityng or detraccion
493: hath certeine speces, as thus. Som man
494: Preiseth his neighebor by a wikked entente;/
494: For he maketh alwey a wikked knotte atte laste
494: Ende. Alwey he maketh a but atte laste ende,
494: That is digne of moore blame, than worth is al
495: The preisynge./ The seconde spece is that if a
495: Man be good, and dooth or seith a thing to
495: Good entente, the bakbitere wol turne al thilke
495: Goodnesse up-so-doun to his shrewed entente./
496: the thridde is to amenuse the
497: Bountee of his neighebor./ The fourthe
497: Spece of bakbityng is this, that if men speke
497: Goodnesse of a man, thanne wol the bakbitere
497: Seyn, parfey, swich a man is yet bet than he;
498: In dispreisynge of hym that men preise./ The
498: Fifte spece is this, for to consente gladly and
498: Herkne gladly to the harm that men speke of
498: Oother folk. This synne is ful greet, and ay
498: Encreesseth after the wikked entente of the
500: /bakbitere./ After bakbityng cometh gruchchyng
500: or murmuracioun; and somtyme it
500: Spryngeth of inpacience agayns god, and som-tyme
501: agayns man./ Agayn God it is, whan
501: A man gruccheth agayn the peyne of helle, or
501: Agayns poverte, or los of catel, or agayn reyn
501: Or tempest; or elles gruccheth that shrewes
501: Han prosperitee, or elles for the goode
502: Men han adversitee./ And alle thise
502: Thynges sholde man suffre paciently, for
502: They comen by the rightful juggement and
503: Ordinaunce of god./ Somtyme comth grucching
503: of avarice; as judas grucched agayns the
503: Magdaleyne, whan she enoynted the heved of
503: Oure lord jhesu crist with hir precious oynement./
504: this manere murmure is swich as whan
504: Man gruccheth of goodnesse that hymself
504: Dooth, or that oother folk doon of hir owene
505: Catel./ Somtyme comth murmure of pride; as
505: Whan simon the pharisse gruchched agayn the
505: Magdaleyne, whan she approched to jhesu
506: Crist, and weep at his feet for hire synnes./
506: And somtyme grucchyng sourdeth of envye;
506: Whan men discovereth a mannes harm that
506: Was pryvee, or bereth hym on hond
507: Thyng that is fals./ Murmure eek is ofte
507: Amonges servauntz that grucceh whan hir
508: Sovereyns bidden hem doon leveful thynges; /
508: And forasmuche as they dar nat openly withseye
508: the comaundementz of hir sovereyns, yet
508: Wol they seyn harm, and grucche, and murmure
509: prively for verray despit;/ whiche wordes
509: Men clepen the develes pater noster, though
509: So be that the devel ne hadde nevere pater
509: Noster, but that lewed folk yeven it swich a
510: Name./ Somtyme it comth of ire or pive hate,
510: That norisseth rancour in herte, as afterward I
511: Shal declare./ Thanne cometh eek bitternesse
511: Of herte, thurgh which bitternesse every good
511: Dede of his neighebor semeth to hym bitter
512: and unsavory./ Thanne cometh discord,
512: that unbyndeth alle manere of
512: Freendshipe. Thanne comth scornynge of his
513: Neighebor, al do he never so weel./ Thanne
513: Comth accusynge, as whan man seketh occasioun
513: to anoyen his neighebor, which that is
513: Lyk the craft of the devel, that waiteth bothe
514: Nyght and day to accusen us alle./ Thanne
514: Comth malignitee, thurgh which a man anoyeth
515: his neighebor prively, if he may;/ and if
515: He noght may, algate his wikked wil ne shal
515: Nat wante, as for to brennen his hous pryvely,
515: Or empoysone or sleen his beestes, and semblable
516: thynges./
516: Now wol I speke of remedie agayns this
516: Foule synne of envye. First is the love of god
516: Principal, and lovyng of his neighebor as hymself;
516: for soothly, that oon ne may nat been
517: Withoute that oother./ And truste wel that
517: In the name of thy neighebor thou shalt
517: Understonde the name of thy brother; for certes
517: Alle we have o fader flesshly, and o mooder,
517: That is to seyn, adam and eve; and eek o fader
518: Espiritueel, and that is God of hevene./ Thy
518: Neighebor artow holden for to love, and wilne
518: Hym alle goodnesse; and therfore seith god,
518: Love thy neighebor as thyselve, that is to
519: Seyn, to salvacioun bothe of lyf and of soule./
519: And mooreover thou shalt love hym in word,
519: And in benigne amonestynge and chastisynge,
519: And conforten hym in his anoyes, and preye for
520: Hym with al thyn herte./ And in dede thou

Page 244

520: Shalt love hym in swich wise that thou shalt
520: Doon to hym in charitee as thou woldest that
521: It were doon to thyn owene persone./ And
521: Therfore thou ne shalt doon hym no damage
521: In wikked word, ne harm in his body, ne in
521: His catel, ne in his soule, by entissyng of
522: Wikked ensample./ Thou shalt nat desiren
522: His wyf, ne none of his thynges. Understoond
522: eek that in the name of neighebor is
523: Comprehended his enemy./ Certes, man shal
523: Loven his enemy, by the comandement of god,
524: And soothyly thy freend shaltow love in god./
524: I seye, thyn enemy shaltow love for goddes
524: Sake, by his comandement. For if it were reson
524: That man sholde haten his enemy, for so he
524: God nolde nat receyven us to his love that been
525: His enemys./ Agayns three manere of wronges
525: That his enemy dooth to hym, he shal doon
526: Three thynges, as thus./ Agayns hate and rancour
526: of herte, he shal love hym in herte.
526: Agayns chidyng and wikkede wordes, he shal
526: Preye for his enemy. Agayns the wikked dede
526: Of his enemy, he shal doon hym bountee./
527: for crist seith: loveth youre enemys,
527: and preyeth for hem that speke yow
527: Harm, and eek for hem that yow chacen and
527: Pursewen, and dooth bountee to hem that yow
527: Haten. Loo, thus comaundeth us oure lord
528: Jhesu crist to do to oure enemys./ For smoothly,
528: Nature dryveyh us to loven oure freends, and
528: Parfey, oure enemys han moore nede to love
528: That oure freendes; and they that moore nede
529: Have, certes to hem shal men doon goodnesse;/
529: And certes, in thilke dede have we remembraunce
529: of the love of jhesu crist that deyde
530: For his enemys./ And in as muche as thilke
530: Love is the moore grevous to perfourne, so
530: Muche is the moore gret the merite; and therfore
530: the lovynge of oure enemy hath confounded
531: the venym of the devel./ For right
531: As the devel is disconfited by humylitee, right
531: So is he wounded to the deeth by love of
532: Oure enemy./ Certes, thanne is love the
532: Medicine that casteth out the venym of
533: Envye fro mannes herte./ The speces of this
533: Paas shullen be moore largely declared in hir
534: Chapitres folwynge./
534: And envye wol I discryven the synne
534: Ire. For soothly, whoso hath envye upon his
534: Neighebor, anon he wole comunly fynde hym
534: A matere of wratthe, in word or in dede, agayns
535: Hym to whom he hath envye./ And as wel
535: Comth ire of pride, as of envye; for soothly,
536: He that is proud or envyous is lightly wrooth./
536: This synne of ire, after the discryvyng of
536: Seint augustyn, is wikked wil to been
537: Avenged by word, or by dede./ Ire, after
537: The philosophre, is the fervent blood of
537: Man yquyked in his herte, thurgh which he
538: Wole harm to hym that he hateth./ For certes,
538: The herte of man, by eschawfynge and moevynge
538: of his blood, wexeth so trouble that he is
539: Out of alle juggement of resoun./ But ye shal
539: Understonde that ire is in two maneres; that
539: Oon of hem is good, and that oother is wikked./
540: the goode ire is by jalousie of goodnesse,
540: thurgh which a man is wrooth with wikkednesse
540: and agayns wikkednesse; and therfore
541: seith a wys man that ire is bet than pley./
541: This ire is with debonairetee, and it is wrooth
541: Withouten bitternesse; nat wrooth agayns the
541: Man, but wrooth with the mysdede of the man,
541: As seith the prophete david, irascimini
542: Et nolite peccare./ Now understondeth
542: That wikked ire is in two maneres; that is
542: To seyn, sodeyn ire or hastif ire, withouten
543: Avisement and consentynge of resoun./ The
543: Menyng and the sens of this is, that the resoun
543: Of a man ne consente nat to thilke sodeyn ire;
544: And thanne is it venial./ Another ire is ful
544: Wikked, that comth of felonie of herte avysed
544: And cast biforn, with wikked wil to do vengeance,
544: and therto his resoun consenteth; and
545: Soothly this is deedly synne./ This ire is so
545: Displesant to God that it troubleth his hous,
545: And chaceth the hooly goost out of mannes
545: Soule, and wasteth and destroyeth the liknesse
545: Of god, that is to seyn, the vertu that is in
546: Mannes soule,/ and put in hym the liknesse
546: Of the devel, and bynymeth the man fro
547: God, that is his rightful lord./ This ire
547: Is a ful greet plesaunce to the devel; for
547: It is the develes fourneys, that is eschawfed
548: With the fir of helle./ For certes, right so as
548: Fir is moore mighty to destroyen erthely thynges
548: Than any oother element, right so ire is myghty
549: To destroyen alle spiritueel thynges./ Looke how
549: That fir of smale gleedes, that been almost dede
549: Under asshen, wollen quike agayn whan they
549: Been touched with brymstoon; right so ire wol
549: Everemo quyken agayn, whan it is touched by
550: The pride that is covered in mannes herte./
550: For certes, fir ne may nat comen out of no
550: Thyng, but if it were first in the same thyng
550: Natureely, as fir is drawen out of flyntes with

Page 245

551: Steel./ And right so as pride is ofte tyme matere
551: of ire, right so is rancour norice and
552: Kepere of ire./ Ther is a maner tree, as
552: Seith seint ysidre, that whan men maken
552: Fir of thilke tree, and covere the coles of
552: With asshen, soothly the fir of it wol lasten
553: A yeer or moore./ And right so fareth it
553: Rancour; whan it is ones conceyved in the
553: Hertes of som men, certein, it wol lasten peraventure
553: from oon estre day unto another
554: Estre day, and moore./ But certes, thilke man
555: Is ful fer fro the mercy of God al thilke while./
555: In this forseyde develes fourneys ther forgen
555: Three shrewes: pride, that ay bloweth and encreesseth
555: the fir by chidynge and wikked
556: Wordes;/ thanne stant envye, the holdeth the
556: Hoote iren upon the herte of man with a
557: Peire of longe toonges of long rancour;/
557: And thanne stant the synne of contumelie,
557: Or strif and cheeste, and batereth and forgeth
558: By vileyns reprevynges./ Certes, this cursed
558: Synne annoyeth bothe to the man hymself and
558: Eek to his neighebor. For soothly, almoost al
558: The harm that any man dooth to his neighebor
559: Comth of wratthe./ For certes, outrageous
559: Wratthe dooth al that evere the devel hym
559: Comaundeth; for he ne spareth neigher crist ne
560: His sweete mooder./ And in his outrageous anger
560: and ire, allas! allas! ful many oon at that
560: Tyme feeleth in his herte ful wikkedly, bothe
561: Of crist and eek of alle his halwes./ Is nat this
561: A cursed vice? yis, certes. Allas! it bynymeth
561: From man his wit and his resoun, and al his debonaire
561: lif espiritueel that sholde kepen his
562: Soule./ Certes, it bynymeth eek goddes
562: Due lordshipe, and that is mannes soule,
562: And the love of his neighebores. It stryveth
562: Eek alday agayn trouthe. It reveth hym the
563: Quiete of his herte, and subverteth his soule./
563: Of ire comen thise stynkynge engendrures:
563: First, hate, that is oold wratthe; discord, thurgh
563: Which a man forsaketh his olde freend that he
564: Hath loved ful longe;/ and thanne cometh
564: Werre, and every manere of wrong that man
565: Dooth to his neighebor, in body or in catel./
565: Of this cursed synne of ire cometh eek manslaughtre.
565: and understonde wel that homycide,
565: That is manslaughtre, is in diverse wise. Som
565: Manere of homycide is spiritueel, and som is
566: Bodily./ Spiritueel manslaughtre is in sixe
566: Thynges. First by hate, as seith seint john:
566: He that hateth his brother is an homycide./
567: homycide is eek by babkbitynge,
567: Of whiche bakbiteres seith salomon that
567: They han two swerdes with whiche they sleen
567: Hire neighebores. For soothly, as wikke is to
568: Bynyme his good name as his lyf./ Homycide is
568: Eek in yevynge of wikked conseil by fraude;
568: As for to yeven conseil to areysen wrongful
569: Custumes and taillages./ Of whiche seith salomon:
569: leon rorynge and bere hongry been like
569: To the crueel lordshipes in witholdynge or
569: Abreggynge of the shepe (or the hyre), or of
569: The wages of sevauntz, or elles in usure, or
570: In withdrawynge of the almesse of povre folk./
570: For which the wise man seith, fedeth hym that
570: Almoost dyeth for honger; for soothly, but if
570: Thow feede hym, thou sleest hym; and alle thise
571: Been deedly synnes./ Bodily manslaughtre is,
571: Whan thow sleest him with thy tonge in oother
571: Manere; as whan thou comandest to sleen a
571: Man, or elles yevest hym conseil to sleen
572: A man./ Manslaughtre in dede is in foure
572: Maneres. That oon is by lawe, right as a
572: Justice dampneth hym that is coupable to the
572: Deeth. But lat the justice be war that he do
572: It rightfully, and that he do it nat for delit to
573: Spille blood, but for kepynge of rightwisnesse./
573: Another homycide is that is doon for necessitee,
573: As whan o man sleeth another is his defendaunt,
573: and that he ne may noon ootherwise escape
574: from his owene deeth./ But certeinly if
574: He may escape withouten slaughtre of his adversarie,
574: and sleeth hym, he dooth synne and
575: He shal bere penance as for deedly synne./
575: Eek if a man, by caas or aventure, shete an arwe,
575: Or caste a stoon, with which he sleeth a man,
576: He is homycide./ Eek if a womman by necligence
576: overlyeth hire child in hir slepyng,
577: It is homycide and deedly synne./ Eek
577: Whan man destourbeth concepcioun of a
577: Child, and maketh a womman outher bareyne
577: By drynkynge venenouse herbes thurgh which
577: She may nat conceyve, or sleeth a child by
577: Drynkes wilfully, or elles putteth certeine material
577: thynges in hire secree places to slee the
578: Child,/ or elles dooth unkyndely synne, by
578: Which man or womman shedeth hire nature
578: In manere or in place ther as a child may nat
578: Be conceived, or elles if a woman have conceyved,
578: and hurt hirself and sleeth the child,
579: Yet is it homycide./ What seye we eek of
579: Wommen that mordren hir children for drede
579: Of worldly shame? certes, an horrible homicide./
580: homycide is eek if a man approcheth
580: To a womman by desir of lecherie, thurgh which
580: The child is perissed, or elles smyteth a womman
580: Wityngly, thurgh which she leseth hir child.

Page 246

580: Alle thise been homycides and horrible deedly
581: Synnes./ Yet comen ther of ire manye mo
581: Synnes, as wel in word as in thoght and in
581: Dede; as he that arretteth upon god, or blameth
581: god of thyng of which he is hymself
581: Gilty, or despiseth God and alle his halwes, as
581: Doon thise cursede hasardours in diverse
582: Contrees./ This cursed synne doon they,
582: Whan they feelen in hir herte ful wikkedly
583: Of God and of his halwes./ Also whan they
583: Treten unreverently the sacrement of the auter,
583: Thilke synne is so greet that unnethe may it
583: Been releessed, but that the mercy of god
583: Passeth alle his werkes; it is so greet, and he
584: So benigne./ Thanne comth of ire attry angre.
584: Whan a man is sharply amonested in his shrifte
585: To forleten his synne,/ thanne wole he be anfry,
585: and answeren hokerly and angrily, and
585: Deffended or excusen his synne by unstedefastnesse
585: of his flessh; or elles he dide it for
585: To holde compaignye with his felawes; or elles,
586: He seith, the feend enticed hym;/ or elles he
586: Dide it for his youthe; or elles his compleccioun
586: is so corageous that he may nat forbere;
586: Or elles it is his destinee, as he seith, unto a
586: Certein age; or eles, he seith, it cometh hym
586: Of gentillesse of his auncestres; and semblable
587: thynges./ Alle thise manere of folk
587: So wrappen hem in hir synnes that they ne
587: Wol nat delivere hemself. For soothly, no wight
587: That excuseth hym wilfully of his synne may
587: Nat been delivered of his synne, til that he
588: Mekely biknoweth his synne./ After this,
588: Thanne cometh sweryng, that is expres agayn
588: The comandement of god; and this bifalleth
589: Ofte of anger and of ire./ God seith: thow
589: Shalt nat take the name of thy lord God in
589: Veyn or in ydel. Also oure lord jhesu crist
590: Weith, by the word of seint mathew,/ ne wol
590: Ye nat swere in alle manere; neither by hevene,
590: for it is goddes trone; ne by erthe, for
590: It is the bench of his feet; ne by jerusalem,
590: For it is the citee of a greet kyng; ne by thyn
590: Heed, for thou mayst nat make an heer whit
591: Ne blak./ But seyeth by youre word -- ye, he, --
591: And -- nay, nay -- ; and what that is moore, it
592: Is of yvel, -- thus seith crist./ For cristes
592: Sake, ne swereth nat so synfully in dismembrynge
592: of crist by soule, herte, bones, and
592: Body. For certes, it semeth that ye thynke that
592: The cursede jewes ne dismembred nat ynough
592: The preciouse persone of crist, but ye dismembre
593: hym moore./ And if so be that the lawe
593: Compelle yow to swere, thanne rule yow after
593: The lawe of God in youre sweriyng, as seith
593: Jeremye, quarto capitulo: thou shalt kepe
593: Three condicions: thou shalt swere in trouthe,
594: In doom, and in rightwisnesse./ This is to
594: Seyn, thou shalt swere sooth; for every lesynge
594: Is agayns crist. For crist is verray trouthe.
594: And thynk wel this, that every greet swerere
594: Nat compedded lawefully to swere, the wounde
594: Shal nat departe from his hous whil he useth
595: Swich unleveful swerying./ Thou shalt sweren
595: Eek in doom, whan thou art constreyned by thy
596: Domesman to witnessen the trouthe./ Eek thow
596: Shalt nat swere for envye, ne for favour, ne for
596: Meede, but for rightwisnesse, for declaracioun
596: Of it, to the worshipe of God and helpyng
597: Of thyne evene-cristene./ And therefore
597: Every man that taketh goodes name in
597: Ydel, or falsly swereth with his mouth, or elles
597: Taketh on hym the name of crist, to be called
597: A cristen man, and lyveth agayns cristed lyvynge
597: and his techynge, alle they taken goddes
598: Name in ydel./ Looke eek what seint peter
598: Seith, actuum, quarto, non est aliud nomen sub
598: Celo, etc., ther nys noon oother name, seith
598: Seint peter, under hevene yeven to men, in
598: Which they mowe be saved; that is to seyn,
599: But the name of jhesu crist./ Take kep eek
599: How precious is the name of crist, as seith
599: Seint paul, ad philipenses, secundo, in nomine
599: Jhesu, etc., that in the name of jhesu every
599: Knee of hevenely creatures, or erthely, or of helle
599: Sholde bowe; for it is so heigh and so worshipful
599: that the cursede feend in helle sholde tremblen
600: to heeren it ynempned./ Thanne semeth
600: It that men that sweren so horribly by his
600: Blessed name, that they despise it moore
600: Booldely that dide the cursede jewes, or elles
600: The devel, that trembleth whan he heereth his
601: Name./
601: Now certes, sith that sweryng, but if it
601: Be lawefully doon, is so heighly deffended,
601: Muche worse is forsweryng falsly, and yet
602: Nedelees./
602: What seye we eek of hem that deliten
602: Hem in sweryng, and holden it a gentrie or a
602: Manly dede to swere grete others? and what
602: Of hem that of verray usage ne cesse nat to
602: Swere grete othes, al be the cause nat worth
603: A straw? certes, this is horrible synne./ Swerynge
603: sodeynly withoute avysement is eek a
604: Synne./ But lat us go now to thilke horrible
604: Sweryng of adjuracioun and conjuracioun, as
604: Doon thise false enchauntours or nigromanciens
604: in bacyns ful of water, or in a bright

Page 247

604: Swerd, in a cercle, or in a fir, or in a shulderboon
605: of a sheep./ I kan nat seye but that they
605: Doon cursedly and dampnably agayns crist and
606: Al the feith of hooly chirche./
606: What seye we of hem that bileeven on divynailes,
606: as by flight or by noyse of briddes, or
606: Of beestes, or by sort, by nigromancie, by dremes,
606: By chirkynge of dores, or crakkynge of houses,
606: By gnawynge of rattes, and swich manere
607: Wrecchednesse?/ certes, al this thyng is
607: Deffended by God and by hooly chirche.
607: For which they been acursed, til they come
607: To amendement, that on swich filthe setten hire
608: Bileeve./ Charmes for woundes or maladie of
608: Men or of beestes, if they taken any effect, it
608: May be peraventure that God suffreth it, for
608: Folk sholden yeve the moore feith and reverence
609: to his name./
609: Now wol I speken of lesynges, which generally
609: is fals signyficaunce of word, in entente to
610: Deceyven his evene-cristene./ Som lesynge is
610: Of which ther comth noon avantage to no wight;
610: And som lesynge turneth to the ese and profit
610: Of o man, and to disese and damage of another
611: Man./ Another lesynge is for to saven his lyf
611: Of his catel. Another lesynge comth of delit
611: For to lye, in which delit they wol forge a
611: Long tale, and peynten it with alle circumstaunces,
611: where al the ground of the tale
612: Is fals./ Som lesynge comth, for he wole
612: Sustene his word; and som lesynge comth
612: Of reccheleesnesse withouten avisement; and
613: Semblable thynges./
613: Lat us now touche the vice of flaterynge,
613: Which ne comth nat gladly but for drede or
614: For coveitise./ Flaterye is generally wrongful
614: Preisynge. Flatereres been the develes norices,
614: That norissen his children with milk losengerie./
615: for sothe, salomon seith that flaterie
615: Is wors than detraccioun. For somtyme detraccion
615: maketh an hauteyn man be the moore
615: Humble, for he dredeth detraccion; but certes
615: Flaterye, that maketh a man to enhauncen his
616: Herte and his contenance./ Flatereres been
616: The develes enchauntours; for they make a
616: Man to wene of hymself be lyk that he nys
617: Nat lyk./ They been lyk to judas that bitraysen
617: a man to sellen hym to his enemy,
618: That is to the devel./ Flatereres been the develes
619: chapelleyns, that syngen evere placebb./
619: I rekene flaterie in the vices of ire; for ofte
619: Tyme, if o man be wrooth with another, thanne
619: Wole he flatere som wight to sustene hym in his
620: Querele./
620: Speke we now of swich cursynge as comth
620: Of irous herte. Malisoun generally may be
620: Seyd every maner power of harm. Swich cursynge
620: bireveth man fro the regne of god, as
621: Seith seint paul. / and ofte tyme swiche cursynge
621: wrongfully retorneth agayn to hym that
621: Curseth, as a bryd that retorneth agayn to
622: His owene nest./ And over alle thyng men
622: Oghten eschewe to cursen hir children,
622: And yeven to the devel hire engendrure, as
622: Ferforth as in hem is. Certes, it is greet peril
623: And greet synne./
623: Lat us thanne speken of chidynge and reproche,
623: whiche been ful grete woundes in
623: Mannes herte, for they unsowen the semes of
624: Freendshipe in mannes herte./ For certes, unnethes
624: may a man pleynly been accorded with
624: Hym that hath hym openly revyled and repreved
624: and disclaundred. This ia a ful grisly
625: Synne, as crist seith in the gospel./ And taak
625: Kep now, that he that repreveth his neighebor,
625: Outher he repreveth hym by som harm of peyne
625: That he hath on his body, as mesel, croked
626: Harlot, or by som synne that he dooth./ Now
626: If he repreve hym by harm of peyne, thanne
626: Turneth the repreve to jhesu crist, for peyne
626: Is sent by the rightwys sonde of god, and
626: By his suffrance, be it meselrie, or maheym,
627: or maladie./ And if he repreve hym
627: Uncharitably of synne, as thou holour,
627: Thou dronkelewe harlot, and so forth, thanne
627: Aperteneth that to the rejoysynge of the devel,
628: That evere hath joyde that men doon synne./
628: And certes, chidynge may nat come but out
628: Of a vileyns herte. For after the habundance
629: Of the herte speketh the mouth ful ofte./ And
629: Ye shul understonde that looke, by the wey,
629: Whan any man shal chastise another, that he
629: Be war from chidynge or reprevynge. For
629: Trewely, but he be war, he may ful lightly
629: Quyken the fir of angre and of wratthe, which
629: That he sholde quenche, and peraventure sleeth
629: Hym, which that he myghte chastise with benignitee./
630: for as seith salomon, the amyable
630: Tonge is the tree of lyf, that is to seyn, of lyf
630: Espiritueel; and soothly, a deslavee tonge sleeth
630: Spirites of hym that repreveth and eek of
631: Hym that is repreved./ Loo, what seith seint
631: Augustyn: ther is nothyng so lyk the develes
631: Child as he that ofte chideth. Seint paul seith
631: Eek, the servant of God bihoveth nat to
632: Chide./ And how that chidynge be a
632: Vileyns thyng bitwixe alle manere folk,
632: Yet is it certes moost uncovenable bitwixe a

Page 248

632: Man and his wyf; for there is nevere reste. And
632: Wherfore seith salomon, an hous that is uncovered
632: and droppynge, and a chidynge wyf,
633: Been lyke./ A man that is in a droppynge
633: Hous in manye places, though he eschewe the
633: Droppynge in a place, it droppeth on hym in
633: Another place. So fareth it by a chydynge wyf;
633: But she chide hym in o place, she wol chide
634: Hym in another./ And therfore, bettre is a
634: Morsel of breed with joye than an hous ful of
635: Delices with chidynge, seith salomon./ Seint
635: Paul seith: oye wommen, be ye subgetes to
635: Youre housbondes as bihoveth in god, and ye
635: Men loveth youre wyves. Add colossenses,
636: Tertio./
636: Afterward speke we of scornynge, which is
636: A wikked synne, and namely whan he
637: Scorneth a man for his goode werkes./
637: For certes, swiche scorneres faren lyk the
637: Foule tode, that may nat endure to smelle the
638: Soote savour of the vyne whanne it florissheth./
638: Thise scorneres been partyng felawes with the
638: Devel; for they han joye whan the devel wynneth,
639: and sorwe whan he leseth./ They been
639: Adversaries of jhesu crist, for they haten that
640: He loveth, that is to seyn, salvacioun of soule./
640: Speke we now of wikked conseil; for he that
640: Wikked conseil yeveth is a traytour. For he deceyveth
640: hym that trusteth in hym, ut achitofel
640: Ad absolonem. But nathelees, yet is his wikked
641: Conseil first agayn hymself/ for, as seith the
641: Wise man, every fals lyvynge hath this propertee
641: in hymself, that he that wole anoye
642: Another man, he anoyeth first hymself./
642: And men shul understonde that man shal
642: Nat taker his conseil of fals folk, ne of angry
642: Folk, or grevous folk, ne of folk that lovern
642: Specially to muchel hir owene profit, ne to
642: Muche worldly folk, namely in conseilynge of
643: Soules./
643: Now comth the synne of hem that sowen
643: And maken discord amounges folk, which is a
643: Synne that crist hateth outrely. And no wonder
644: is; for he deyde for to make concord./ And
644: Moore shame do they to crist, than dide they
644: That hym crucifiede; for God loveth bettre that
644: Freendshipe be amonges folk, than he dide his
644: Owene body, the which that he yaf for unitee.
644: Therfore been they likned to the devel, that
645: Evere is aboute to maken discord./
645: Now comth the synne of double tonge;
645: Swiche as speken faire byforn folk, and wikkedly
645: bihynde; or elles they maken semblant
645: As though they speeke of good entencioun, or
645: Elles in game and pley, and yet they speke of
646: Wikked entente./
646: Now comth biwreying of conseil, thurgh
646: Which a man is defamed; certes, unnethe
647: May be restoore the damage./
647: Now comth manace, that is an open
647: Folye; for he that ofte manaceth, he threteth
648: Moore than he may perfourne ful ofte tyme./
648: Now cometh ydel wordes, that is withouten
648: Profit of hym that speketh tho wordes, and eek
648: Of hym that herkneth tho wordes. Or elles ydel
648: Wordes been tho that been nedelees, or withouten
649: entente of natureel profit./ And al be it
649: That ydel wordes been somtyme venial synne,
649: Yet sholde men douten hem, for we shul yeve
650: Rekenynge of hem bifore god./
650: Now comth janglynge, that may nat been
650: Withoute synne. And, as seith salomon, it is
651: A sygne a apert folye./ And therfore a
651: Philosophre seyde, whan men axed hym how that
651: Men sholde plese the peple, and he answerde
651: Do manye goode werkes, and spek fewe
652: Jangles./
652: After this comth the synne of japeres,
652: That been the develes apes; for they maken
652: Folk to laughe at hire japerie as folk doon at
652: The gawdes of an ape. Swiche japes deffendeth
653: seint paul./ Looke how that vertuouse
653: Wordes and hooly conforten hem that travaillen
653: In the service of crist, right so conforten the
653: Vileyns wordes and knakkes of japeris hem that
654: Travaillen in the service of the devel./ Thise
654: Been the synnes that comen of the tonge that
655: Comen of ire and of ohtere synnes mo./
655: The remedie agayns ire is a vertu that men
655: Clepen mansuetude, that is debonairette; and
655: Eek another vertu, that men callen pacience or
656: Suffrance./
656: Debonairetee withdraweth and refreyneth the
656: Stirynges and the moevynges of mannes corage
656: In his herte, in swich manere that they ne
657: Skippe nat out by angre ne by ire./ Suffrance
657: suffreth swetely alle the anoyaunces
657: And the wronges that men doon to man outward./
658: seint jerome seith thus of debonairetee,
658: That it dooth noon harm to no wight ne seith;
658: Ne for noon harm that men doon or seyn, he
659: Ne eschawfeth nat agayns his resoun./ This
659: Vertu somtyme comth of nature; for, as seith
659: The philosophre, a man is a quyk thyng, by

Page 249

659: Nature debonaire and tretable to goodnesse;
659: But whan debonairetee is enformed of grace,
660: Thanne is it the moore worth./
660: Pacience, that is another remedie agayns iro,
660: Is a vertu that suffreth swetely every mannes
660: Goodnesse, and is nat wrooth for noon harm
661: That is doon to hym./ The philosophre seith
661: That pacience is thilke vertu that suffreth
661: Debonairely alle the outrages of adversitee
662: And every wikked word./ This vertu maketh
662: a man lyk to god, and maketh hym
662: Goddes owene deere child, as seith grist. This
662: Vertu disconfiteth thyn enemy. And therfore
662: Seith the wise man. If thow wolt venquysse
663: Thyn enemy, lerne to suffre./ And thou shalt
663: Understonde that man suffreth foure manere of
663: Grevances in outward thynges, agayns the
663: Whiche foure he moot have foure manere of
664: Paciences./
664: The firste grevance is of wikkede wordes.
664: Thilke suffrede jhesu crist withouten grucchyng,
664: ful paciently, whan the jewes despised
665: And repreved hym ful ofte./ Suffre thou therfore
665: paciently; for the wise man seith, if thou
665: Stryve with a fool, though the fool be wrooth
665: Or though he laughe, algate thou shalt have no
666: Reste./ That oother grevance outward is to
666: Have damage of thy catel. Theragayns suffred
666: crist ful paciently, whan he was despoyled
666: Of al that he hadde in this lyf, and that nas
667: But his clothes./ The thridde grevance is a
667: Man to have harm in his body. That suffred
668: crist ful paciently in al his passioun./ The
668: Fourthe grevance is in outrageous labour in
668: Werkes. Wherfore I seye that folk that maken
668: Hir servantz to travaillen to grevously, or out
668: Of tyme, as on haly dayes, soothly they do greet
669: Synne./ Heer-agayns suffred crist ful paciently
669: And taughte us pacience, whan he baar upon
669: His blissed shulder the croys upon which e
670: Sholde suffren despitous deeth./ Heere man
670: Men lerne to be pacient; for certes noght oonly
670: Cristen men been pacient, for love of jhesu
670: Crist, and for gerdoun of the blisful lyf that
670: Is perdurable, but certes, the olde payens that
670: Nevere were cristene, commendeden and useden
671: the vertu of pacience./
671: A philosophre upon a tyme, that wolde have
671: Beten his disciple for his grete trespas, for
671: Which he was greetly amoeved, broghte
672: A yerde to scoure with the child;/ and
672: Whan this child saugh the yerde, he seyde
672: To his maister, what thenke ye do?? I wol
672: Bete thee, quod the maister, for thy correccioun./
673: for sothe, quod the child, ye
673: Oghten first correcte youreself, that han lost
674: Al youre pacience for the gilt of a child./
674: For sothe, quod the maister al wepynge,
674: Thow seyst sooth. Have thow the yerde, my
674: Deere sone, and correcte me for myn impacience./
675: of pacience comth obedience, thurgh
675: Which a man is obedient to crist and to alle
675: Hem to whiche he oghte to been obedient in
676: Crist./ And understond wel that obedience is
676: Perfit, whan that a man dooth gladly and
676: Hastily, with good herte entierly, al that
677: He sholde do./ Obedience generally is to
677: Perfourne the doctrine of God and of his
677: Sovereyns, to whiche hym oghte to ben obeisaunt
678: in alle rightwisnesse./
678: After the synne of envye and of ire, now
678: Wol I speken of the synne of accidie. For
678: Envye blyndeth the herte of a man, and ire
678: Troubleth a man, and accidie maketh hym
679: Hevy, thoghtful, and wraw./ Envye and ire
679: Maker bitternesse in herte, which bitternesse
679: Is mooder of accidie, and bynymeth hym the
679: Love of alle goodnesse. Thanne is accidie the
679: Angwissh of troubled herte; and seint augustyn
679: Seith, it is anoy of goodnesse and ioye of
680: Harm./ Certes, this is a dampnable synne;
680: For it dooth worng to jhesu crist, in as muche
680: As it bynymeth the service that men oghte doon
681: To crist with alle diligence, as seith salomon./
681: But accidie dooth no swich diligence. He
681: Dooth alle thyng with anoy, and with wrawnesse,
681: slaknesse, and excusacioun, and with
681: Ydelnesse, and unlust; for which the book seith,
681: Acursed be he that dooth the service of
682: God necligently. / thanne is accidie enemy
682: to everich estaat of man; for certes,
683: The estaat of man is in three maneres. / outher
683: It is th,estaat of innocence, as was th,estaat of
683: Adam biforn that he fil into synne;in which
683: Estaat he was holden to wirche as in heriynge
684: And adowrynge of god. / another estaat is the
684: Estaat of synful men, in which estaat men been
684: Holden to laboure in preiynge to God for
684: Amendement of hire synnes, and that he wole
685: Graunte hem to arysen out of hir symmes. / another
685: estaat is th,estaat of grace; in which estaat
685: He is holden to werkes of penitence. And certes,
685: To alle thise thynges is accidie enemy and contrarie,
686: for he lovethno bisynesse at al. / now
686: Certes, this foule synne, accidie, is eek a ful

Page 250

686: Greet enemy to the liflode of the body; for it
686: Ne hath no purveaunce agayn temporeel necessitee;
686: For it forsleweth and forsluggeth and
686: Destroyeth alle goodes temporeles by
687: Reccheleesnesse. /
687: the fourthe thyng is that accidie is lyk
687: Hem that been in the peyne of helle, by cause
687: Of hir slouthe and of hire hevynesse; for they
687: That been dampned been so bounde that they
688: Ne may neither wel do ne wel thynke./ Of
688: Accidie comth first, that a man is anoyed and
688: Encombred for to doon any goodnesse, and
688: Maketh that God hath abhomynacion of swich
689: Accidie, as seith seint john. /
689: now comth slouthe, that wol nat suffre
689: Noon hardnesse ne no penaunce. For soothly,
689: Slouthe is so tendre and so delicaat, as seith
689: Salomon, that he wol nat suffre noon hardnesse
689: Ne penaunce, and therfore he shendeth al that
690: He dooth. / agayns this roten-herted synne of
690: Accidie and slouthe sholde men exercise hemself
690: To doon goode werkes, and manly and vertuously
690: Cacchen corage wel to doon, thynkynge
690: That oure lord jhesu crist quiteth every good
691: Dede, be it never so lite. / usage of labour is
691: A greet thyng, for it maketh, as seith seint bernard,
691: The laborer to have stronge armes and
691: Harde synwes; and slouthe maketh hem
692: Feble and tendre. / thanne comth drede
692: To bigynne to werke anye goode werkes.
692: For certes, he that is enclyned to synne, hym
692: Thynketh it is so greet an emprise for to undertake
693: To doon werkes of goodnesse, / and
693: Casteth in his herte that the circumstances of
693: Goodnesse been so grevouse and so chargeaunt
693: For to suffre, that he dar nat undertake to do
694: Werkes of goodnesse, as seith seint gregorie. /
694: now comth wanhope, that is despeir of the
694: Mercy of god, that comth somtyme of to muche
694: Outrageous sorwe, and somtyme of to muche
694: Drede, ymaginynge that he hath doon so muche
694: Synne that it wol nat availlen hym, though
695: He wolde repenten hym and forsake synne; /
695: Thurgh which despeir or drede he abaundoneth
695: Al his herte to every maner synne, as seith
696: Seint augustin. / which dampnable synne, if
696: That it continue unto his ende, it is cleped
697: Synnyng in the hooly goost. / this horrible
697: Synne is so perilous that he that is
697: Despeired, ther nys no felonye ne no synne that
698: He douteth for to do; as shewed wel by judas. /
698: Certes, aboven alle synnes thanne is this synne
699: Moost displesant to crist, and moost adversarie. /
699: Soothly, he that despeireth hym is lyk
699: The coward champious recreant, that seith,
699: Creant withoute nede, allas! akkas! bedekes us
700: He recreant and nedelees despeired. / certes,
700: The mercy of God is evere redy to the penitent,
701: And is aboven alle his werkes. / allas! kan a
701: Man nat bithynke hym on the gospel of seint
701: Luc, 15, where as crist seith that as wel shal
701: Ther be joye in hevene upon a synful man that
701: Dooth penitence, as upon nynty and nyne
702: Rightful men that neden no penitence. /
702: Looke forther, in the same gospel, the joye
702: And the feeste of the goode man that hadde
702: Lost his sone, whan his sone with repentaunce
703: Was retourned to his fader. / kan they nat remembren
703: Hem eek that, as seith seint luc, 23,
703: How that the theef that was hanged bisyde
703: Jhesu crist, seyde -- lord, remembre of me,
704: Whan thow comest into thy regne? / for
704: Sothe, seyde crist, I seye to thee, to-day
705: Shaltow been with me in paradys. / certes,
705: Ther is noon so horrible synne of man that it
705: Ne may in his lyf be destroyed by penitence,
705: Thurgh vertu of the passion and of the deeth
706: Of crist. / allas! what nedeth man thanne to
706: Been despeired, sith that his mercy so redy
707: Is and large? axe and have. / thanne cometh
707: Sompnolence, that is, sloggy slombrynge,
707: Which maketh a man be hevy and dul
707: In body and in soule; and this synne comth
708: Of slouthe. / and certes, the tyme that, by eey
708: Of resoun, men sholde nat slepe, that is by the
709: Morwe, but if ther were cause resonable. / for
709: Soothly, the morwe tyde is moost covenable a
709: Man to seye his preyeres, and for to thynken on
709: God, and for to honoure god, and to yeven
709: Almesse to the povre that first cometh in the
710: Name of crist. / lo, what seith salomon --
710: Whoso wolde by the morwe awaken and
711: Seke me, he shal fynde. / thanne cometh necligence,
711: Or reccheleesnesse, that rekketh of
711: No thyng. And how that ignoraunce be
711: Mooder of alle harm, certes, necligence
712: Is the norice. / necligence ne dooth no
712: Fors, whan he shal doon a thyng, wheither
713: He do it weel or baddely /
713: of the remedie of thise two synnes, as seith
713: The wise man, that he that dredeth god, he
714: Spareth nat to doon that him oghte doon. /
714: And he that loveth god, he wol doon diligence
714: To plese God by his werkes, and abaundone
715: Hymself, with al his myght, wel for to doon. /
715: Thanne comth ydelnesse, that is the yate of alle
715: Harmes. An ydel man is lyk to a place that hath
715: No walles; the develes may entre on every syde,

Page 251

715: Or sheten at hym at discovert, by temptacion
716: On every syde. / this ydelnesse is the thurrok
716: Of alle wikked and vileyns thoghtes, and of
717: Alle jangles, trufles, and of alle ordure. /
717: Certes, the hevene is yeven to hem that
717: Wol labourn, and nat to ydel folk. Eek david
717: Seith that they ne been nat in the labour of
717: Men, ne they shul nat been whipped with men,
718: That is to seyn, in purgatorie. / certes, thanne
718: Semeth it, they shul be tormented with the
719: Devel in helle, but if they doon penitence. /
719: thanne comth the synne that men clepen
719: Tarditas, as whan a man is to laterede or tariynge,
719: Er he wole turne to god; and certes, that
719: Is a greet folie. He is lyk to hym that falleth in
720: The dych, and wol nat arise. / and this vice
720: Comth of a fals hope, that he thynketh that he
721: Shal lyve longe; but that hope faileth ful ofte. /
721: thanne comth lachesse; that is he, that
721: Whan he biginneth any good werk, anon he
721: Shal forleten it and stynten; as doon they that
721: Han any wight to governe, and ne taken of
721: Hym namoore kep, anon as they fynden
722: Any contrarie or any anoy. / thise been
722: The newe sheepherdes that leten hir sheep
722: Wityngly go renne to the wolf that is in the
723: Breres, or do no fors of hir owene governaunce. /
723: Of this comth poverte and destruccioun, bothe
723: Of spiritueel and temporeel thynges. Thanne
723: Comth a manere cooldnesse, that freseth al th
724: Herte of a man. / thanne comth devoccioun,
724: Thurgh which a man is so blent, as seith seint
724: Bernard, and hath swich languour in soule that
724: He may neither rede ne singe in hooly chirche,
724: Ne heere ne thynke of no devoioun, ne travaille
724: With his handes in no good werk, that it nys
725: Hym unsavory and al apalled. / thanne wexeth
725: He slough and slombry, and soone wol be
725: Wrooth, and soone is enclyned to hate and to
726: Envye. / thanne comth the synne of worldly
726: Sorwe, swich as is cleped tristicia, that
727: Sleeth man, as seith seint paul. / for
727: Certes, swich sorwe werketh to the deeth
727: Of the soule and of the body also; for therof
728: Comth that a man is anoyed of his owene lif. /
728: Wherfore swich sorwe shorteth ful ofte the lif
728: Of man, er that his tyme be come by wey of
729: Kynde. /
729: agayns this horrible synne of accidie, an
729: The branches of the same, ther is a vertu that
729: Is called fortitudo or strentthe, that is an affeccioun
729: Thurgh which a man despiseth anoyouse
730: Thinges. / this vertu is so myghty and so vigerous
730: That it dar withstonde myghtily and wisely
730: Kepen hymself fro perils that been wikked, and
731: Wrastle agayn the assautes of the devel. / for
731: It enhaunceth and enforceth the soule, right as
731: Accidie abateth it and maketh it fieble. For this
731: Fortitudo may endure by long suffraunce
732: The travailles that been covenable. /
732: this vertu hath manye speces; and the
732: Firste is cleped magnanimitee, that is to seyn,
732: Greet corage. For certes, ther bihoveth greet
732: Corage agains accidie, lest that it ne swolwe
732: The soule by the synne of sorwe, or destroye it
733: By wanhope. / this vertu maketh folk to undertake
733: Harde thynges and grevouse thynges,
734: By hir owene wil, wisely and resonably. / and
734: For as muchel as the devel fighteth agayns a
734: Man moore by queyntise and by sleighte than
734: By strengthe, therfore men shal withstonden
735: Hym by wit and by resoun and by discrecioun. /
735: Thanne arn ther the vertues of feith and hope
735: In God and in his seintes, to acheve and acomplice
735: The goode werkes in the whiche he purposeth
736: Fermely to continue. / thanne comth
736: Seuretee or sikernesse; and that is whan a man
736: Ne douteth no travaille in tyme comynge of
737: The goode werkes that a man hath bigonne. /
737: Thanne comth magnificence, that
737: Is to seyn, whan a man dooth and perfourneth
737: Grete werkes of goodnesse; and that
737: Is the ende why that men sholde do goode
737: Werkes, for in the acomplissynge of grete goode
738: Werkes lith the grete gerdoun. / thanne is ther
738: Constaunce, that is, stablenesse of corage; and
738: This sholde been in herte by stedefast feith,
738: And in mouth, and in berynge, and in chiere,
739: And in dede. / eke ther been mo speciale remedies
739: Against accidie in diverse werkes, and
739: In consideracioun of the peynes of helle and
739: Of the joyes of hevene, and in the trust of the
739: Grace of the holy goost, that wole yeve hym
740: Myght to perfourne his goode entente. /
740: after accidie wol I speke of avarice and of
740: Coveitise, of which synne seith seint paul that
740: The roote of alle harmes is coveitise. Ad
741: Thimotheum sexto. / for soothly, whan the
741: Herte of a man is confounded in itself and
741: Troubled, and that the soule hath lost the confort
741: Of god, thanne seketh he an ydel solas
742: Of worldly thynges. /

Page 252

742: avarice, after the descripcioun of seint
742: Augustyn, is a likerousnesse in herte to have
743: Erthely thynges. / som oother folk seyn that
743: Avarice is for to purchacen manye erthely
743: Thynges, and no thyng yeve to hem that han
744: Nede. / and understoond that avarice ne stant
744: Nat oonly in lond ne catel, but somtyme in
744: Science and in glorie, and in every manere
745: Of outrageous thyng is avarice and coveitise. /
745: And the difference bitwixe avarice and coveitise
745: Is this -- coveitise is for to coveite swiche
745: Thynges as thou hast nat; and avarice is for
745: To withholde and kepe swiche thynges as thou
746: Hast, withoute rightful nede. / soothly, this
746: Avarice is a synne that is ful dampnable;
746: For al hooly writ curseth it, and speketh agayns
746: That vice; for it dooth wrong to jhesu
747: Crist. / for it bireveth hym the love that
747: Men to hym owen, and turneth it bakward
748: Agayns alle resoun, / and maketh that the avaricious
748: Man hath moore hope in his catel than
748: In jhesu crist, and dooth moore observance in
748: Kepynge of his tresor than he dooth to the
749: Service of jhesu crist. / and therfore seith
749: Seint paul ad ephesios, quinto, that an avaricious
750: Man is in the thraldom of ydolatrie. /
750: what difference is bitwixe an ydolastre and
750: An avaricious man, but that an ydolastre, per
750: Aventure, ne hath but o mawmet or two, and
750: The avaricious man hath manye? for certes,
751: Every floryn in his cofre is his mawmet. / and
751: Certes, the synne of mawmettrie is the firste
751: Thyng that God deffended in the ten comaundementz
751: As bereth witnesse in exodi capitulo
752: Vicesimo. / thou shalt have no false
752: Goddes bifore me, ne thou shalt make to
752: Thee no grave thyng. Thus is an avaricious
752: Man, that loveth his tresor biforn god, an
753: Ydolastre, / thurgh this cursed synne of avarice.
753: Of coveitise comen thise harde lordshipes,
753: Thurgh whiche men been distreyned by taylages,
753: Custumes, and cariages, moore than hire
753: Duetee or resoun is. And eek taken they of
753: Hire bonde-men amercimentz, whiche myghten
753: Moore resonably ben cleped extorcions than
754: Amercimentz. / of whiche amercimentz and
754: Raunsonynge of boonde-men somme hordes stywards
754: Seyn that it is ryghtful, for as muche as
754: A cherl hath no temporeel thyng that it ne is his
755: Lordes, as they seyn. / but certes, thise lordshipes
755: Doon wrong that bireven hire bondefolk
755: Thynges that they nevere yave hem. Augustinus,
756: De civitate, libro nono. / sooth is
756: That the condicioun of thraldom and the firste
756: Cause of thraldom is for synne. Genesis,
757: Nono. /
757: thus may ye seen that the gilt disserveth
758: Thraldom, but nat nature./ Wherfore thise
758: Lordes ne sholde nat muche glorifien hem in
758: Hir lordshipes, sith that by natureel condicion
758: They been nat lordes over thralles, but that
759: Thraldom comth first by the desert of synne. /
759: And forther over, ther as the lawe seith that
759: Temporeel goodes of boonde-folk been the
759: Goodes of hir lordeshipes, ye, that is for to understonde,
759: The goodes of the emperour, to deffenden
759: Hem in hir right, but nat for to robben
760: Hem ne reven hem. / and therfore seith
760: Seneca, thy prudence sholde lyve benignely
761: With thy thralles. / thilke that thou clepest
761: Thy thralles been goddes peple; for humble
761: Folk been cristes freendes; they been contubernyal
762: With the lord. /
762: thynk eek that of swich seed as cherles
762: Spryngen, of swich seed spryngen lordes. As
763: Wel may the cherl be saved as the lord. / the
763: Same deeth that taketh the cherl, swich deeth
763: Taketh the lord. Wherfore I rede, do right so
763: With the cherl, as thou woldest that thy lord
764: Dide with thee, if thou were in his plit. / every
764: Synful man is a cherl to synne. I rede thee,
764: Certes, that thou, lord, werke in swich wise
764: With thy cherles that they rather love thee than
765: Drede. / I woot wel ther is degree above degree,
765: As reson is; and skile is that men do hir devoir
765: Ther as it is due; but certes, extorcions and
766: Despit of youre underlynges is dampnable. /
766: and forther over, understoond wel that thise
766: Conquerours or tirauntz maken ful ofte thralles
766: Of hem that been born of as roial blood as
767: Been they that hem conqueren. / this
767: Name of thraldom was nevere erst kowth,
767: Til that noe seyde that his sone canaan sholde
768: Be thral to his bretheren for his synne. / what
768: Seye we thanne of hem that pilen and doon
768: Extorcions to hooly chirche? certes, the swerd
768: That men yeven first to a knyght, whan he is
768: Newe dubbed, signifieth that he sholde deffenden
768: Hooly chirche, and nat robben it ne
769: Pilen it; and whoso dooth is traitour to crist. /
769: And, as seith seint augustyn, they been the
769: Develes wolves that stranglen the sheep of
770: Jhesu crist; and doon worse than wolves. /
770: For soothly, whan the wolf hath ful his wombe,
770: He styntheth to strangle sheep. But soothly, the
770: Pilours and destroyours of the godes of hooly
770: Chirche no do nat so, for they ne stynte nevere
771: To pile. / now as I have seyd, sith so is that

Page 253

771: Synne was first cause of thraldom, thanne is it
771: Thus, that thilke tyme that al this world was
771: In synne, thanne was al this world in thraldom
772: And subjeccioun. / but certes, sith the
772: Time of grace cam, God ordeyned that som
772: Folk sholde be moore heigh in estaat and in
772: Degree, and som folk moore lough, and that
772: Everich sholde be served in his estaat and in
773: His degree. / and therfore in somme contrees,
773: Ther they byen thralles, whan they han turned
773: Hem to the feith, they maken hire thralles free
773: Out of thraldom. And therfore, certes, the lord
773: Oweth to his man that the man oweth to his
774: Lord. / the pope calleth hymself servant of the
774: Servantz of god; but for as muche as the estaat
774: Of hooly chirche ne myghte nat han be,
774: Ne the commune profit myghte nat han be kept,
774: Ne pees and rest in erthe, but if God hadde
774: Ordeyned that som men hadde hyer degree and
775: Som men lower, / therfore was sovereyntee ordeyned,
775: To kepe and mayntene and deffenden
775: Hire underlynges or hire subgetz in resoun, as
775: Ferforth as it lith in hire power, and nat to destroyen
776: Hem ne confounde. / wherfore I seye
776: That thilke lordes that been lyk wolves, that
776: Devouren the possessiouns or the catel of povre
777: Folk wrongfully, withouten mercy or mesure, /
777: They shul receyven, by the same
777: Mesure that they han mesured to povre
777: Folk, the mercy of jhesu crist, but if it be
778: Amended. / now comth deciete bitwixe marchaunt
778: And marchant. And thow shalt understonde
778: That marchandise is in manye maneres;
778: That oon is bodily, and that oother is goostly;
778: That oon is honest and leveful, and that oother
779: Is deshonest and unleveful. / of thilke bodily
779: Marchandise that is leveful and honest is this --
779: That, there as God hath ordeyned that a regne
779: Or a contree is suffisaunt to hymself, thanne is
779: It honest and leveful that of habundaunce of
779: This contree, that men helpe another contree
780: That is moore needy. / and therfore ther moote
780: Been marchantz to bryngen fro that o contree
781: To that oother hire marchandises. / that oother
781: Marchandise, that men haunten with fraude and
781: Trecherie and deceite, with lesynges and
782: False othes, is cursed and dampnable. / espiritueel
782: Marchandise is proprely symonue,
782: That is, ententif desir to byen thyng espiritueel,
782: That is, thyng that aperteneth to the seintuarie
783: Of God and to cure of the soule. / this desir,
783: If so be that a man do his diligence to parfournen
783: It, al be it that his desir ne take noon
783: Effect, yet is it to hym a deedly synne; and if
784: He be ordred, he is irreguler. / certes symonye
784: Is cleped of simon magus, that wolde han
784: Boght for temporeel catel the yifte that god
784: Hadde yeven, by the hooly goost, to seint
785: Peter and to the apostles. / and therfore understoond
785: That bothe he that selleth and he that
785: Beyeth thynges espirituels been cleped symonyals,
785: Be it by catel, be it by procurynge, or
785: By flesshly preyere of his freendes, flesshly
786: Freendes, or espiritueel freendes. / flesshly in
786: Two maneres; as by kynrede, or othere freendes.
786: Soothly, if they praye for hym that is nat
786: Worthy and able, it is symonye, if he take the
786: Benefice; and if he be worthy and able,
787: Ther nys noon. / that oother manere is
787: Whan men or wommen preyen for folk to
787: Avauncen hem, oonly for wikked flesshly affeccioun
787: That they han unto the persone; and
788: That is foul symonye. / but certes, in service,
788: For which men yeven thynges espirituels unto
788: Hir servauntz, it moot been understonde that the
788: Service moot been honest, and elles nat; and
788: Eek that it be withouten bargaynynge, and that
789: The persone be able. / for, as seith seint damasie,
789: Alle the synnes of the world, at regard
789: Of this synne, arn as thyng of noght. For it
789: Is the gretteste synne that may be, after the
790: Synne of lucifer and antecrist. / for by this
790: Synne God forleseth the chirche and the soule
790: That he boghte with his precious blood, by hem
790: That yeven chirches to hem that been nat
791: Digne. / for they putten in theves that stelen
791: The soules of jhesu crist and destroyen his
792: Patrimoyne. / by swiche undigne preestes
792: And curates han lewed men the lasse reverence
792: Of the sacramentz of hooly chirche; and
792: Swiche yeveres of chirches putten out the children
792: Of crist, and putten into the chirche the
793: Develes owene sone. / they sellen the soules
793: That lambes sholde kepen to the wolf that strangleth
793: Hem. And therfore shul they nevere han
793: Part of the pasture of lambes, that is the blisse
794: Of hevene. / now comth hasardrie with his
794: Apurtenaunces, as tables and rafles, of which
794: Comth deceite, false othes, chidynges, and alle
794: Ravynes, blasphemynge and reneiynge of god,
794: And hate of his neighebores, wast of goodes,
795: Mysspendynge of tyme, and somtyme manslaughtre. /
795: Certes, hasardours ne mowe nat
795: Been withouten greet synne whiles they haunte
796: That craft. / of avarice comen eek lesynges,
796: Thefte, fals witnesse, and false othes. And ye
796: Shul understonde that thise been grete synnes,
796: And expres agayn the comaundementz of

Page 254

797: God, as I have seyd. / fals witnesse is in
797: Word and eek in dede. In word, as for to
797: Bireve thy neighebores goode name by thy fals
797: Witnessyng, or bireven hym his catel or his
797: Heritage by thy fals witnessyng, whan thou for
797: Ire, or for meede, or for envye, berest fals
797: Witnesse, or accusest hym or excusest hym by
797: Thy fals witnesse, or elles excusest thyself
798: Falsly. / ware yow, questemongeres and notaries!
798: Certes, for fals witnessyng was susanna
798: In ful gret sorwe and peyne, and many another
799: Mo. / the synne of thefte is eek expres agayns
799: Goddes heeste, and that in two maneres, corporeel
800: Or spiritueel. / corporeel, as for to take
800: Thy neighebores catel agayn his wyl, be it by
801: Force or by sleighte, be it by met or by mesure; /
801: By stelyng eek of false enditementz upon
801: Hym, and in borwynge of thy neighebores catel,
801: In entente nevere to payen it agayn, and
802: Semblable thynges. / espiritueel thefte is
802: Sacrilege, that is to seyn, hurtynge of hooly
802: Thynges, or of thynges sacred to crist, in two
802: Maneres -- by reson of the hooly place, as
803: Chirches or chirche-hawes, / for which every
803: Vileyns synne that men doon in swiche places
803: May be cleped sacrilege, or every violence in
803: The semblable places; also, they that withdrawen
803: Falsly the rightes that longen to hooly
804: Chirche. / and pleynly and generally, sacrilege
804: Is to reven hooly thyng fro hooly place, or unhooly
804: Thyng out of hooly place, or hooly thing
805: Out of unhooly place. /
805: niw shul ye understonde that the releevynge
805: Of avarice is misericorde, and pitee largely
805: Taken. And men myghten axe why that misericorde
806: And pitee is releevynge of avarice. /
806: Certes, the avricious man sheweth no pitee ne
806: Misericorde to the nedeful man, for he deliteth
806: Hym in the kepynge of his tresor, and nat
806: In the rescowynge ne releevynge of his evene-cristen.
807: And therfore speke I first of misericorde. /
807: Thanne is misericorde, as seith
807: The philosophre, a vertu by which the corage
807: Of a man is stired by the mysese of hym
808: That is mysesed. / upon which misericorde
808: Folweth pitee in parfournynge of charitable
809: Werkes of misericorde. / and certes, thise
809: Thynges moeven a man to the misericorde of
809: Jhesu crist, that he yaf hymself for oure gilt,
809: And suffred deeth for misericorde, and forgay
810: Us oure originale synnes, / and therby relessed
810: Us fro the peynes of helle, and amenused the
810: Peynes of purgatorie by penitence, and yeveth
810: Grace wel to do, and atte laste the blisse of
811: Hevene. / the speces of misericorde been, as
811: For to lene and for to yeve, and to foryeven
811: And relesse, and for to han pitee in herte
811: And compassioun of the meschief of his evene-cristene,
811: And eek to chastise, there as nede
812: Is. /another manere of remedie agayns
812: Avarice is resonable largesse; but soothly,
812: Heere bihoveth the consideracioun of the grace
812: Of jhesu crist, and of his temporeel goodes,
812: And eek of the goodes perdurables, that crist
813: Yaf to us; / and to han remembrance of the
813: Deeth that he shal receyve, he noot whanne,
813: Where, ne how; and eek that he shal forgon al
813: That he hath, save oonly that he hath despended
814: In goode werkes. /
814: but for as muche as som folk been unmesurable,
814: Men oghten eschue fool-largesse, that
815: Men clepen wast. / certes, he that is fool-large
815: Ne yeveth nat his catel, but he leseth iis catel.
815: Soothly, what thyng that he yeveth for veyne
815: Glorie, as to mynstrals and to folk, for to beren
815: His renoun in the world, he hath synne therof,
816: And noon almesse. / certes, he leseth foule his
816: Good, that ne seketh with the yifte of his
817: Good nothyng but synne. / he is lyk to an
817: Hors that seketh rather to drynken drovy
817: Or trouble water than for to drynken water of
818: The clere welle. / and for as muchel as they
818: Yeven ther as they sholde nat yeven, to hem
818: Aperteneth thilke malisoun that crist shal
818: Yeven at the day of doom to hem that shullen
819: Been dampned. /
819: after avarice comth glotonye, which is expres
819: Eek agayn the comandement of god. Glotonye
819: Is unmesurable appetit toete or to drynke,
819: Or elles to doon ynogh to the unmesurable appetit
819: And desordeynee coveitise to eten or to
820: Drynke. / this synne corrumped al this world,
820: As is wel shewed in the synne of adam and of
821: Eve. Looke eek what seith saint paul, of glotonye -- /
821: Manye, seith seint paul, goon, of
821: Whiche I have ofte seyd to yow, and now I
821: Seye it wepynge, that been the enemys of the
821: Croys of crist; of whiche the ende is deeth, and
821: Of whiche hire wombe is hire god, and hire
821: Glorie in confusioun of hem that so savouren
822: Erthely thynges. / he that is
822: Usaunt to this synne of glotonye, he ne

Page 255

822: May no synne withstonde. He moot been in
822: Servage of alle vices, for it is the develes hoord
823: Ther he hideth hym and resteth. / this synne
823: Hath manye speces. The firste is dronkenesse,
823: That is the horrible sepulture of mannes resoun;
823: And therfore, whan a man is dronken, he hath
824: Lost his resoun; and this is deedly synne. / but
824: Soothly, whan that a man is nat wont to strong
824: Drynke, and peraventure ne knoweth nat the
824: Strengthe of the drynke, or hath feblesse in his
824: Heed, or hath travailed, thurgh which he drynketh
824: The moore, al be he sodeynly caught with
825: Drynke, it is no deedly synne, but venyal. / the
825: Seconde spece of glotonye is that the spirit
825: Of a man wexeth al trouble, for dronkenesse
826: Bireveth hym the discrecioun of his wit. / the
826: Thridde spece of glotonye is whan a man devoureth
826: His mete, and hath no rightful
827: Manere of etynge. / the fourthe is whan,
827: Thurgh the grete habundaunce of his mete,
828: The humours in his body been distempred. / the
828: Fifthe is foryetelnesse by to muchel drynkynge;
828: For which somtymee a man foryeteth er the
828: Morwe what he dide at even, or on the nyght
829: Biforn. /
829: in oother manere been distinct the speces of
829: Glotonye, after seint gregorie. The firste is
829: For to ete biforn tyme to ete. The seconde is
829: Whan a man get hym to delicaat mete or
830: Drynke. / the thridde is whan men taken to
830: Muche over mesure. The fourthe is curiositee,
830: With greet entente to maken and apparaillen
831: His mete. The fifthe is for to eten to gredily. /
831: Thise been the fyve fyngres of the develes
831: Hand, by whiche he draweth folk to
832: Synne. /
832: agayns glotonye is the remedie abstinence,
832: As seith galien; but that holde I nat meritorie,
832: If he do it oonly for the heele of his body.
832: Seint augustyn wole that abstinence be doon
833: For vertu and with pacience. / abstinence,
833: He seith, is litel worth, but if a man have good
833: Wil therto, and but it be enforced by pacience
833: And by charitee, and that men doon it for
833: Godes sake, and in hope to have the blisse of
834: Hevene./
834: The felawes of abstinence been attemperaunce,
834: that holdeth the meene in alle thynges;
834: Eek shame, that aschueth alle deshonestee; surfisance,
834: that seketh no riche metes ne drynkes,
834: Ne dooth no fors of to outrageous appariailynge
835: of mete;/ mesure also, that restreyneth
835: By resoun the deslavee appetit of etynge; sobrenesse
835: also, that restreyneth the outrage of
836: Drynke;/ sparynge also, that restreyneth the
836: Delacaat ese to sitte longe at his mete and
836: Softely, wherfore some folk stonden of
837: Hir owene wyl to eten at the lasse leyser./
837: After glotonye thanne comth lecherie, for
837: Thise two synnes been so ny cosyns that ofte
838: Tyme they wol nat departe./ God woot, this
838: Synne is ful displesaunt thyng to god; for he
838: Seyde hymself, do no lecherie. And therfore
838: he putte grete peynes agayns this synne
839: In the olde lawe./ If waomman thral were taken
839: In this synne, she sholde be beten with staves
839: To the deeth; and if she were a gentil womman,
839: She sholde be slayn with stones; and if she
839: Were a bisshoppes doghter, she sholde been
840: Brent, by goddes comandement./ Forther
840: Over, by the synne of lecherie God dreynte
840: Al the world at the diluge. And after that he
840: Brente fyve citees with thonder-leyt, and sak
841: Hem into helle./
841: Now lat us speke thanne of thilke stynkynge
841: Synne of lecherie that men clepe avowtrie of
841: Wedded folk, that is to seyn, if that oon of
842: Hem be wedded, or elles bothe./ Seint john
842: Seith that avowtiers shullen been in helle,
842: In a stank brennynge of fyr and of brymston;
842: In fyr, for hire lecherye; in brymston, for the
843: Stynk of hire ordure./ Certes, the brekynge of
843: This sacrement is an horrible thyng. It was
843: Maked of God hymself in paradys, and confermed
843: by jhesu crist, as witnesseth seint
843: Mathew in the gospel: a man shal lete fader
843: And mooder, and taken hym to his wif, and
844: They shullen be two in o flesh./ This sacrement
844: bitokneth the knyttynge togidre of crist
845: And of hooly chirche./ And nat oonly that god
845: Forbad avowtrie in dede, but eek he comanded
845: That thou sholdest nat coveite thy neighebores
846: Wyf./ In this heeste, seith seint augustyn,
846: Is forboden alle manere coveitise to doon lecherie.
846: lo, what seith seint mathew in the gospel,
846: that whose seeth a womman to coveitise
846: Of his lust, he hath doon lecherie with hire
847: In his herte./ Heere may ye seen that
847: Nat oonly the dede of this synne is forboden,
848: but eek the desire to doon that synne./
848: This cursed synne anoyeth grevousliche hem
848: That it haunten. And first to hire soule, for he

Page 256

848: Obligeth it to synne and to peyne of deeth that
849: Is perdurable./ Unto the body anoyeth it grevously
849: also, for it dreyeth hym, and wasteth him,
849: And shent hym, and of his blood he maketh sacrifice
849: to the feend of helle. It wasteth eek his
850: Catel and his substaunce./ And certes, if it be
850: A foul thyng a man to waste his catel on wommen,
850: yet is it a fouler thyng whan that, for
850: Swich ordure, wommen dispenden upon men
851: Hir catel and substaunce./ This synne, as seith
851: The prophete, bireveth man and womman hir
851: Goode fame and al hire honour; and it is ful
851: Plesaunt to the devel, for therby wynneth
852: He the mooste partie of this world./ And
852: Right as a marchant deliteth hym moost in
852: Chaffare that he hath moost avantage of, right
853: So deliteth the fend in this ordure./
853: This is that oother hand of the devel with
853: Fyve fyngres to cacche the peple to his vileynye./
854: the firste fynger is the fool lookynge
854: Of the fool womman and of the fool man, that
854: Sleeth, right as the basilicok sleeth folk by the
854: Venym of his sighte; for the coveitise of eyen
855: Folweth the coveitise of the herte./ The seconde
855: fynger is the vileyns touchynge in wikkede
855: manere. And therfore seith salomon that
855: Whoso toucheth and handleth a womman, he
855: Fareth lyk hym that handleth the scorpioun that
855: Styngeth and sodeynly sleeth thurgh his envenymynge;
855: as whoso toucheth warm pych,
856: It shent his fyngres./ The thridde is foule
856: Wordes, that fareth lyk fyr, that right anon
857: Brenneth the herte./ The fourthe fynger
857: Is the kissynge; and trewely he were a
857: Greet fool that wolde kisse the mouth of a
858: Brennynge oven or of a fourneys./ And moore
858: Fooles been they that kissen in vileynye, for
858: That mouth is the mouth of helle; and namely
858: Thise olde dotardes holours, yet wol they kisse,
859: Though they may nat do, and smatre hem./
859: Certes, they been lyk to houndes; for an hound,
859: Whan he comth by the roser or by othere
859: (bushes), though he may nat pisse, yet wole
859: He heve up his leg and make a contenaunce
860: To pisse./ And for that many man weneth that
860: He may nat synne, for no likerousnesse that
860: He dooth with his wyf, certes, that opinion is
860: Fals. God woot, a man may sleen hymself with
860: His owene knyf, and make hymselve dronken
861: Of his owene tonne./ Certes, be it wyf, be it
861: Child, or any worldly thyng that he loveth biforn
861: god, it is his mawmet, and he is an
862: Ydolastre./ Man sholde loven hys wyf by
862: Discrecioun, paciently and atemprely; and
863: Thanne is she as though it were his suster./ The
863: Fifthe fynger of the develes hand is the stynkynge
864: dede of leccherie./ Certes, the fyve fyngres
864: of glotonie the feend put in the wombe
864: Of a man, and with his fyve fingres of lecherie
864: he gripeth hym by the reynes, for to
865: Throwen hym into the fourneys of helle./ Ther
865: As they shul han the fyr and the wormes that
865: Evere shul lasten, and wepynge and wailynge
865: Sharp hunger and thurst, and grymnesse of
865: Develes, that shullen al totrede hem without
866: Repit and withouten ende./ Of leccherie, as
866: I seyde, sourden diverse speces, as fornicacioun,
866: That is bitwixe man and womman that been
866: Nat maried; and this is deedly synne, and
867: Agayns nature./ Al that is enemy and destruccioun
868: to nature is agayns nature./
868: Parfay, the resoun of a man telleth eek hym
868: Wel that is is deedly synne, for as muche as
868: God forbad leccherie. And seint paul yeveth
868: Hem the regne that nys dewe to no wight but
869: To hem that doon deedly synne./ Another
869: Synne of leccherie is to bireve a mayden of
869: Hir maydenhede, for he that so dooth, certes,
869: He casteth a mayden out of the hyeste degree
870: That is in this present lif,/ and bireveth hir
870: Thilke percious fruyt that the book clepeth the
870: Hundred fruyt. I ne kan seye it noon oother-wewyes
870: in englissh, but in latyn it highte centesimus
871: fructus./ Certes, he that so dooth is
871: Cause of manye damages and vileynyes, mo
871: Than any man kan rekene; right as he somtyme
871: Is cause of alle damages that beestes don in
871: The feeld, that breketh the hegge or the closure,
871: Thurgh which he destroyeth that may nat
872: Been restoored./ For certes, namoore may
872: Maydenhede be restoored than a arm that
872: Is smyten fro the body may retourne agany to
873: Wexe./ She may have mercy, this woot I wel,
873: If she do penitence; but nevere shal it be that
874: She nas corrupt./ And al be it so that I have
874: Spoken somwhat of avowtrie, it is good to
874: Shewen mo perils that longen to avowtrie, for
875: To eschue that foule synne./ Avowtrie in latyn
875: Is for to seyn, approchynge of oother mannes
875: Bed, thurgh which tho that whilom weren a
875: Flessh abowndone hir bodyes to othere persones./
876: of this synne, as seith the wise man,
876: Folwen manye harmes. First, brekynge of feith;
876: And certes, in feith is the keye of cristendom./
877: and whan that feith is broken
877: And lorn, soothly cristendom stant veyn
878: And withouten fruyt./ This synne is eek a
878: Thefte; for thefte generally is for to reve a

Page 257

879: Wight his thyng agayns his wille./ Certes, this
879: Is the fouleste thefte that may be, whan a
879: Womman steleth hir body from hir housbonde,
879: And yeveth it to hire holour to defoulen hire;
879: And steleth hir soule fro crist, and yeveth it to
880: The devel./ This is a fouler thefte than for to
880: Breke a chirche and stele the chalice; for thise
880: Avowtiers breken the temple of God spiritually
880: And stelen the vessel of grace, that is the body
880: And the soule, for which crist shal destroyen
881: Hem, as seith seint paul./ Soothly, of this
881: Thefte douted gretly joseph, whan that his
881: Lordes wyf preyed hym of vileynye, whan he
881: Seyde, lo, my lady, how my lord hath take
881: To me under my warde al that he hath in this
881: World, ne no thyng of his thynges is out of
881: My power, but oonly ye, that been his
882: Wyf./ And how sholde I thanne do this
882: Wikkednesse, and synne so horribly agayns
882: God and agayns my lord? God it forbeede!
883: Allas! al to litel is swich trouthe now yfounde./
883: The thridde harm is the filthe thurgh which
883: They breken the comandement of god, and defoulen
883: the auctour of matrimoyne, that is
884: Crist./ For certes, in so muche as the sacrement
884: of mariage is so noble and so digne, so
884: Muche is it gretter synne for to breken it; for
884: God made mariage in paradys, in the estaat of
884: Innocence, to multiplye mankynde to the service
885: of god./ And therfore is the brekynge
885: Therof the moore grevous; of which brekynge
885: Comen false heires ofte tyme, that wrongfully
885: Ocupien folkes heritages. And therfore wol
885: Crist putte hem out of the regne of hevene, that
886: Is heritage to goode folk./ Of this brekynge
886: Comth eek ofte tyme that folk unwar wedden
886: Or synnen with hire owene kynrede, and
886: Namely thilke harlotes that haunten bordels
886: Of thise fool wommen, that mowe be likned to
886: A commune gong, where as men purgen
887: Hire ordure./ What seve we eek of putours
887: that lyven by the horrible synne of
887: Putrie, and constreyne wommen to yelden hem
887: A certeyn rente of hire bodily puterie, ye,
887: Somtyme of his owene wyf or his child, as
887: Doon thise bawdes? certes, thise been cursede
888: Synnes./ Understoond eek that avowtrie is set
888: Gladly in the ten comandementz bitwixe thefte
888: And manslaughtre; for it is the gretteste thefte
888: That may be, for it is thefte of body and of
889: Soule. / and it is lyk to homycide, for it herveth
889: atwo and breketh atwo hem that first were
889: Maked o flessh. And therfore, by the olde lawe
890: Of god, they sholde by slayn./ But nathelees,
890: By the lawe of jhesu crist, that is lawe of pitee,
890: Whan he seyde to the womman that was
890: Founden in avowtrie, and sholde han been slayn
890: With stones, after the wyl of the jewes, as was
890: Hir lawe, go, quod jhesu crist, and have
890: Namoore wyl to synne, or, wille namoore
891: To do synne./ Soothly the vengeaunce of
891: Avowtrie is awarded to the peynes of helle,
891: But if so be that it be destourbed by penitence./
892: yet been ther mo speces of this
892: Cursed synne; as whan that oon of hem
892: Is religious, or elles bothe; or of folk that been
892: Entred into ordre, as subdekne, or dekne, or
892: Preest, or hospitaliers. And evere the hyer that
893: He is in ordre, the gretter is the synne./ The
893: Thynges that gretly agreggen hire synne is the
893: Brekynge of hire avow of chastitee, whan they
894: Receyved the ordre./ And forther over, sooth
894: Is that hooly ordre is chief of al the tresorie of
894: Good, and his especial signe and mark of chastitee,
894: to shewe that they been joyned to chastitee,
894: which that is the moost precious lyf that
895: Is./ And thise ordred folk been specially titled
895: To god, and of the special meignee of god,
895: For which, whan they doon deedly synne, they
895: Been the special traytours of God and of his
895: Peple; for they lyven of the peple, to preye for
896: .,/the peple, and whike they been suche traitours,
896: Here preyer avayleth nat to the peple.
896: Preestes been aungels, as by the dignitee of hir
896: Mysterye; but for sothe, seint paul seith that
896: Sathanas transformeth hym in an aungel
897: Of light./ Soothly, the preest that haunteth
897: deedly synne, he may be likned to the
897: Aungel of derknesse transformed in the aungel
897: Of light. He semeth aungel of light, but for
898: Sothe he is aungel of derknesse./ Swiche
898: Preestes been the sones of helie, as sweweth
898: In the book of kynges, that they weren the
899: Sones of belial, that is, the devel./ Belial is to
899: Seyn, withouten juge; and so faren they; hem
899: Thynketh they been free, and han no juge, namoore
899: than hath a free bole that taketh which
900: Cow that hym liketh in the town./ So faren
900: They by wommen. For right as a free bole is
900: Ynough for al a toun, right so is a wikked preest
900: Corrupcioun ynough for al a parisshe, or for al
901: A contree./ Thise preestes, as seith the book,
901: Ne konne nat the mysterie of preesthod to the peple,
901: ne God ne knowe they nat. They ne helde
901: Hem nat apayd, as seith the book, os soden
901: Flessh that was to hem offred, but they
902: Tooke by force the flessh that is rawe./
902: Certes, so thise shrewes ne holden hem nat

Page 258

902: Apayed of roosted flessh and sode flessh, with
902: Which the peple feden hem in greet reverence,
902: But they wole have raw flessh of folkes wyves
903: And hir doghtres./ And certes, thise wommen
903: That consenten to hire harlotrie doon greet
903: Wrong to crist, and to hooly chirche, and alle
903: Halwes, and to alle soules; for they bireven alle
903: Thise hym that sholde worshipe crist and hooly
904: Chirche, and preye for cristene soules./ And
904: Therfore han swiche preestes, and hire lemmanes
904: eek that consenten to hir leccherie, the
904: Malisoun of al the court cristien, til they come
905: To amendement./ The thridde spece of avowtrie
905: is somtyme bitwixe a man and his wyf, and
905: That is whan they take no reward in hire assemblynge
905: but oonly to hire flesshly delit, as
906: Seith seint jerome,/ and ne rekken of nothyng
906: but that they been assembled; by cause
906: That they been maried, al is good ynough,
907: As thynketh to hem./ But in swich folk
907: Hath the devel power, as seyde the aungel
907: Raphael to thobie, for in hire assemblynge
907: They putten jhesu crist out of hire herte, and
908: Yeven hemself to alle ordure./ The fourthe
908: Spece is the assemblee of hem that been of
908: Hire kynrede, or of hem that been of oon affynytee,
908: or elles with hem with whiche hir fadres
908: Or hir kynrede han deled in the synne of lecherie.
908: this synne maketh hem lyk to houndes,
909: That taken no kep to kynrede./ And certes, parentele
909: is in two maneres, outher goostly or
909: Flesshly; goostly, as for to deelen with his god-sibbes./
910: for right so as he that engendreth a
910: Child is his flesshly fader, right so in his god-fader
910: his fader espiritueel. For which a womman
910: may in no lasse synne assemblen with
910: Hire godsib than with hire owene flesshly
911: Brother./ The fifthe spece is thilke abhomynable
911: synne, of which that no man unnethe
911: Oghte speke ne write; nathelees it is
912: Openly reherced ib holy writ./ This cursednesse
912: doon men and wommen in
912: Diverse entente and in diverse manere; but
912: Though that hooly writ speke of horrible synne,
912: Certes hooly writ may nat been defouled, namoore
912: than the sonne that shyneth on the
913: Mixne./ Another synne aperteneth to leccherie,
913: That comth in slepynge, and this synne cometh
913: Ofte to hem that been maydenes, and eek to hem
913: That been corrupt; and this synne men clepen
914: Polucioun, that comth in foure maneres./ Somtyme
914: of langwissynge of body, for the humours
914: Been to ranke and to habundaunt in the body
914: Of man; somtyme of infermetee, for the fieblesse
914: Of the vertu retentif, as phisik maketh mencion;
915: Somtyme for surfeet of mete and drynke;/ and
915: Somtyme of vileyns thoghtes that been enclosed
915: In mannes mynde whan he gooth to slepe,
915: Which may nat been withoute synne; for which
915: Men moste kepen hem wisely, or elles may men
916: Synnen ful grevously./
916: Now comth the remedie agayns leccherie,
916: And that is generally chastitee and continence,
916: that restreyneth alle the desordeynee
916: Moevynges that comen of flesshly talentes./
917: and evere the gretter merite shal
917: He han, that moost restreyneth the wikkede
917: eschawfynges of the ardour of this synne.
917: And this is in two maneres, that is to seyn,
917: Chastitee in mariage, and chastitee of widwehod./
918: now shaltow understonde that matrimoyne
918: is leefful assemblynge of man and of
918: Womman that receyven by vertu of the sacrement
918: the boond thurgh which they may nat
918: Be departed in al hir lyf, that is to seyn, whil
919: That they lyven bothe./ This, as seith the book,
919: Is a ful greet sacrement. God maked it, as I
919: Have seyd, in paradys, and wolde hymself be
920: Born in mariage./ And for to halwen mariage
920: He was at a weddynge, where as he turned water
920: into wyn; which was the firste miracle that
921: He wroghte in erthe biforn his disciples./
921: Trewe effect of mariage clenseth fornicacioun
921: And replenysseth hooly chirche of good lynage;
921: For that is the ende of mariage; and it chaungeth
921: deedly synne into venial synne bitwixe hem
921: That been ywedded, and maketh the hertes al
921: Oon of hem that been ywedded, as wel as
922: The bodies./ This is verray mariage, that
922: Was establissed by god, er that synne bigan,
922: whan natureel lawe was in his right poynt
922: In paradys; and it was ordeyned that o man sholde
922: Have but o womman, and o womman but o man,
923: As seith seint augustyn, by manye resouns./
923: First, for mariage is figured bitwixe crist
923: And holy chirche. And that oother is for a
923: Man is heved of a womman; algate, by ordinaunce
924: it sholde be so./ For if a womman
924: Hadde mo men that oon, thanne sholde she
924: Have moo hevedes than oon, and that were an
924: Horrible thyng biforn god; and eek a womman
924: Ne myghte nat plese to many folk at oones.
924: And also ther ne sholde nevere be pees ne
924: Reste amonges hem; for everich wolde axen his
925: Owene thyng./ And forther over, no man ne

Page 259

925: Sholde knowe his owene engendrure, ne who
925: Sholde have his heritage; and the womman
925: Sholde been the lasse biloved fro the tyme that
926: She were conjoynt to many men./
926: Now comth how that a man sholde bere
926: Hym with his wif, and namely in two
926: Thynges, that is to seyn, in suffraunce and
926: Reverence, as shewed crist whan he made
927: First womman./ For he ne made hire nat
927: Of the heved of adam, for she sholde nat
928: Clayme to greet lordshipe./ For ther as the
928: Womman hath the maistrie, she maketh to
928: Muche desray. Ther neden none ensamples of
928: This; the experience of day by day oghte suffise./
929: also, certes, God ne made nat womman
929: Of the foot of adam, for she ne sholde nat
929: Been holden to lowe; for she kan nat paciently
929: Suffre. But God made womman of the ryb of
929: Adam, for womman sholde be felawe unto
930: Man./ Man sholde bere hym to his wyf in
930: Feith, in trouthe, and in love, as seith seint
930: Paul, that a man sholde loven his wyf as crist
930: Loved hooly chirche, that loved it so wel
930: That he deyde for it. So sholde a man for his
931: Wyf, if it were nede./
931: Now how that a womman sholde be subget
931: to hire housbonde, that telleth seint
932: Peter. First, in obedience./ And eek as
932: Seith the decree, a womman that is wyf,
932: As longe as she is a wyf, she hath noon auctoritee
932: to swere ne to bere witnesse withoute leve
932: Of hir housbonde, that is hire lord; algate, he
933: Sholde be so by resoun./ She sholde eek serven
933: Hym in alle honestee, and been attempree of
933: Hire array. I woot wel that they sholde setten
933: Hire entente to plesen hir housbondes, but nat
934: By hire queyntise of array./ Seint jerome
934: Seith that wyves that been apparailled in silk
934: And in precious purpre ne mowe nat clothen
934: Hem in jhesu crist. Loke what seith seint
935: John eek in thys matere?/ seint gregorie eek
935: Seith that no wight seketh precious array but
935: Oonly for veyne glorie, to been honoured the
936: Moore biforn the peple./ It is a greet folye,
936: A womman to have a fair array outward
937: And in hirself be foul inward./ A wyf
937: Sholde eek be mesurable in lookynge and
937: In berynge and in lawghynge, and discreet
938: In alle hire wordes and hire dedes./ And
938: Aboven alle worldy thyng she sholde loven hire
938: Houbonde with al hire herte, and to hym be
939: Trewe of hir body./ So sholde an housbonde
939: Eek be to his wyf. For sith that al the body
939: Is the housbondes, so sholde hire herte been,
939: Or elles ther is bitwixe hem two, as in that,
940: No parfit mariage./ Thanne shal men understonde
940: that for thre thynges a man and his wyf
940: Flesshly mowen assemble. The firste is in entente
940: of engendrure of children to the service
940: Of god; for certes that is the cause final of
941: Matrimoyne./ Another cause is to yelden everich
941: of hem to oother the dette of hire bodies;
941: For neither of hem hath power of his owene
941: Body. The thridde is for to eschewe leccherye
941: and vileynye. The ferthe is for sothe
942: Deedly synne./ As to the firste, it is mertorie;
942: the seconde also, for, as seith the
942: Decree, that she hath merite of chastitee that
942: Yeldeth to hire housbonde the dette of hir body,
942: Ye, though it be agayn hir likynge and the lust
943: Of hire herte./ The thridde manere is venyal
943: Synne; and, trewely, scarsly may ther any of
943: Thise be withoute venial synne, for the corrupcion
944: and for the delit./ The fourthe manere
944: Is for to understonde, as if they assemble oonly
944: For amorous love and for noon of the foreseyde
944: Causes, but for to accomplice thilke brennynge
944: Delit, they rekke nevere how ofte. Soothly it
944: Is deedly synne; and yet, with sorwe, somme
944: Folk wol peynen hem moore to doon than to
945: Hire appetit suffiseth./
945: The seconde manere of chastitee is for to
945: Been a clene wydewe, and eschue the embracynges
945: of man, and desiren the embracynge of
946: Jhesu crist./ Thise been tho that han been
946: Wyves and han forgoon hire housbondes, and
946: Eek wommen that han doon leccherie and
947: Been releeved by penitence./ And certes,
947: If that a wyf koude kepen hire al chaast
947: By licence of hir housbonde, so that she yeve
947: Nevere noon occasion that he agilte, it were
948: To hire a greet merite./ Thise manere wommen
948: that observen chastitee moste be clene
948: In herte as wel as in body and in though, and
948: Mesurable in clothynge and in contenaunce;
948: And been abstinent in etynge and drynkynge,
948: In spekynge, and in dede. They been the vessel
948: or the boyste of the blissed magdelene, that
949: Fulfilleth hooly chirche of good odour./ The
949: Thridde manere of chastitee is virginitee, and
949: It bihoveth that she be hooly in herte and clene
949: Of body. Thanne is she spouse to jhesu crist,
950: And she is the lyf of angeles./ She is the preisynge
950: of this world, and she is as thise martirs
950: In egalitee; she hath in hire that tonge may
951: Nat telle ne herte thynke./ Virginitee baar
951: Oure lord jhesu crist, and virgine was
952: Hymselve./

Page 260

952: another remedie agayns leccherie is specially
952: to withdrawen swiche thynges as yeve
952: Occasion to thilke vileynye, as ese, etynge, and
952: Drynkynge. For certes, whan the pot boyleth
952: Strongly, the beste remedie is to withdrawe the
953: Fyr. / slepynge longe in greet quiete is eek
954: A greet norice to leccherie. /
954: Another remedie agayns leccherie is that a
954: Man or a womman eschue the compaignye of
954: Hem by whiche he douteth to be tempted; for
954: Al be it so that the dede be withstonden, yet
955: Is ther greet temptacioun./ Soothly, a whit
955: Wal, although it ne brenne noght fully by
955: Stikynge of a candele, yet is the wal blak of
956: The leyt./ Ful ofte tyme I rede that no man
956: Truste in his owene perfeccioun, but he be
956: Stronger than sampson, and hoolier than
957: David, and wiser than salomon./
957: Now after that I have declared yow, as
957: I kan, the sevene deedly synnes, and somme
957: Of hire braunches and hire remedies, soothly,
957: If I koude, I wolde telle yow the ten comandementz./
958: but so heigh a doctrine I lete to divines.
958: nathelees, I hope to god, they been
959: Touched in this tretice, everich of hem alle./
959: Now for as muche as the seconde partie of
959: Penitence stant in confessioun of mouth, as I
959: Bigan in the firste chapitre, I seye, seint augustyn
960: seith:/ synne is every word and every
960: Dede, and al that men coveiten, agayn the lawe
960: Of jhesu crist; and this is for to synne in herte,
960: In mouth, and in dede, by thy fyve wittes, that
960: Been sighte, herynge, smellynge, tastynge or
961: Savourynge, and feelynge./ Now is it good
961: To understonde the circumstances that
962: Agreggen muchel every synne./ Thou
962: Shalt considere what thow art that doost
962: The synne, wheither thou be male or femele,
962: Yong or oold, gentil or thral, free or servant,
962: Hool or syk, wedded or sengle, ordred or unordred,
963: wys or fool, clerk or seculeer;/ if she
963: Be of thy kynrded, bodily of goostly, or noon;
963: If any of thy kynrede have synned with hire,
964: Or noon; and manye mo thinges./
964: Another circumstaunce is this: wheither it
964: Be doon in fornicacioun or in avowtrie or noon;
964: Incest or noon; mayden or noon; in manere of
964: Homicide or noon; horrible grete synnes or
964: Smale; and how longe thou hast continued in
965: Synne./ The thridde circumstaunce is the
965: Place ther thou hast do synne; wheither in
965: Oother mennes hous or in thyn owene; in feeld
965: Or in chirche or in chirchehawe; in chirche
966: Dedicaat or noon./ For if the chirche be
966: Halwed, and man or womman spille his kynde
966: Inwith that place, by wey or synne or by wikked
966: temptacioun, the chirche is entredited
967: Til it be reconsiled by the bysshop./ And
967: The preest sholde be enterdited that dide
967: Swich a vileynye; to terme of al his lif he sholde
967: Namoore synge masse, and if he dide, he sholde
967: Doon deedly synne at every time that he so
968: Songe masse./ The fourthe circumstaunce is
968: By whiche mediatours, or by whiche messagers,
968: as for enticement, or for consentement to
968: Bere compaignye with felaweshipe; for many
968: A swecche, for to bere compaignye, wol go to
969: The devel of helle./ Wherfore they that eggen
969: Or consenten to the synne been parteners of
969: The synne, and of the dampnacioun of the synnere./
970: The fifthe circumstaunce is how manye
970: Tymes that he hath synne, if it be in his mynde,
971: And how ofte that he hath falle./ For he that
971: Ofte talleth in synne, he despiseth the mercy
971: Of god, and encreesseth hys synne, and is unkynde
971: to crist; and he wexeth the moore
971: Fieble to withstonde synne, and synneth
972: The moore lightly,/ and the latter ariseth,
972: And is the moore eschew for to shryven
973: Hym, and namely, to hym that is his confessour./
973: For which that folk, whan they falle agayn in
973: Hir olde folies, outher they forleten hir olde
973: Confessours ol outrely, or eles they departen
973: Hir shrift in diverse places; but soothly, swich
973: Departed shrift deserveth no mercy of God of
974: His synnes./ The sixte sircumstaunce is why
974: That a man synneth, as by which temptacioun;
974: And if hymself procure thilke temptacioun, or by
974: The excitynge of oother folk; or if he synne
974: With a womman by force, or by hire owene
975: Assent;/ of if the womman, maugree hir hed,
975: Hath been afforced, or noon. This shal she
975: Telle: for coveitise, or for poverte, and if it was
975: Hire procurynge, or noon; and swich manere
976: Harneys./ The seventhe circumstaunce is in
976: What manere he hath doon his synne, or how
976: That she hath suffred that folk han doon
977: To hire./ And the same shal the man telle
977: Pleynly with alle circumstaunces; and
977: Wheither he hath synned with comune bordel
978: Wommen, or noon;/ or doon his synne in hooly
978: Tymes, or noon; in fastyng tymes, or noon; or
979: Biforn his shrifte, or after his latter shrifte;/
979: And hath peraventure broken therfore his penance

Page 261

979: enjoyned; by whos help and whos conseil;
980: By sorcerie or craft; al moste be toold./ Alle
980: Thise thynges, after that they been grete or
980: Smale, engreggen the conscience of man. And
980: Eek the preest, that is thy juge, may the bettre
980: Been avysed of his juggement in yevynge of
980: Thy penaunce, and that is after thy contricioun./
981: for understond wel that after tyme
981: That a man hath defouled his baptesme by
981: Synne, if he wole come to salvaciou, ther is
981: Noon other wey but by penitence and
982: Shrifte and satisfaccioun;/ and namely by
982: The two, if ther be a confessour to which
982: He may shriven hym, and the thridde, if he
983: Have lyf to parfournen it./
983: Thanne shal man looke and considere that
983: If he wole maken a trewe and a profitable confessioun,
984: ther moste be foure condiciouns./
984: First, it moot been in sorweful bitternesse of
984: Herte, as seyde the kyng ezechias to god: I
984: Wol remembre me alle the yeres of my lif in
985: Bitternesse of myn herte./ This condicioun of
985: Bitternesse hath fyve signes. The firste is that
985: Confessioun moste be shamefast, nat for to coyere
985: ne hyden his synne, for he hath agilt his
986: God and defouled his soule./ And herof seith
986: Seint augustyn: the herte tavailleth for
986: Shame of his synne; and for he hath greet
986: Shamefastnesse, he is digne to have greet
987: Mercy of god./ Swich was the confessioun
987: of the publican that wolde nat heven
987: Up his eyen to hevene, for he hadde offended
987: God of hevene; for which shamefastnesse he
988: Hadde anon the mercy of god./ And therof
988: Seith seint augustyn that swich shamefast folk
989: Been next foryevenesse and remissioun./ Another
989: signe is humylitee in confessioun; of
989: Which seith seint peter, humbleth yow under
989: The myght of god. The hond of God is
989: Myghty in confessiou, for therby God foryeveth
989: thee thy synnes, for he allone hath the
990: Power./ And this humylitee shal been in herte,
990: And in signe outward; for right as he hath humylitee
990: to God in his herte, right so sholde he
990: Humble his body outward to the preest, that
991: Sit in goddes place./ For which in no manere,
991: sith that crist is sovereyn, and the preest
991: Meene and mediatour bitwixe crist and the
991: Synnere, and the synnere is the laste by
992: Wey of resoun,/ thanne sholde nat the
992: Synnere sitte as heighe as his confessour,
992: But knele biforn hym or at his feet, but if maladie
992: destourbe it. For he shal nat taken kep
992: Who sit there, but in whos place that he sitteth./
993: a man that hath trespased to a lord,
993: And comth for to axe mercy and maken his accord,
993: and set him doun anon by the lord, men
993: Wolde holden hym outrageous, and nat worthy
994: So soone for to have remissioun ne mercy./ The
994: Thridde signe is how that thy shrift sholde
994: Be ful of teeris, if man may, and if man may
994: Nat wepe with his bodily eyen, lat hym wepe
995: In herte./ Swich was the confession of seint
995: Peter, for after that he hadde forsake jhesu
996: Crist, he wente out and weep ful bitterly./
996: The fourthe signe is that he ne lette nat
997: For shame to shewen his confessioun./
997: Swich was the confessioun of the magdalene,
997: that ne spared, for no shame of hem
997: That weren atte feeste, for to go to oure lord
998: Jhesu crist and biknowe to hym hire synne./
998: The fifthe signe is that a man or a womman
998: Be obeisant to receyven the penaunce that hym
998: Is enjoyned ofr his synnes, for certes, jhesu
998: Crist, for the giltes of o man, was obedient to
999: The deeth./
999: The seconde condicion of verray confession
999: Is that it be hastily doon. For certes, if a man
999: Hadde a deedly wounde, evere the lenger that
999: He taried to warisshe hymself, the moore wolde
999: It corrupte and haste hym to his deeth; and
999: Eek the wounde wolde be the wors for to
1000: Heele./ And right so fareth synne that longe
1001: Tyme is in a man unshewed./ Certes, a man
1001: Oghte hastily shewen his synnes for manye
1001: Causes; as for drede of deeth, that cometh ofte
1001: Sodeynly, and no certeyn what tyme it shal be,
1001: Ne in what place; and eek the drecchynge
1002: of o synne draweth in another;/ and
1002: Eek the lenger that he tarieth, the ferther
1002: He is fro crist. And if he abide to his laste day,
1002: Scarsly may he shryven hym or remembre hym
1002: Of his synnes or repenten hym, for the grevous
1003: Maladie of his deeth./ And for as muche as he
1003: Ne hath nat in his lyf herkned jhesu crist
1003: Whanne he hath spoken, he shal crie to jhesu
1003: Crist at his laste day, and scarsly wol he
1004: Herkne hym./ And understond that this condicioun
1004: moste han foure thunges. Thi shrift
1004: Moste be purveyed bifore and avysed; for
1004: Wikked haste dooth no profit; and that a man
1004: Konne shryve hym of his synnes, be it of pride,
1004: Or of envye, and so forth with the speces and
1005: Circumstances;/ and that he have comprehended
1005: in hys mynde the nombre and the
1005: Greetnesse of his synnes, and how longe that
1006: He hath leyn in synne;/ and eek that he be
1006: Contrit of his synnes, and in stidefast purpos,

Page 262

1006: By the grace of god, nevere eft to falle in
1006: Synne; and eek that he drede and countrewaite
1006: Hymself, that he fle the occasiouns of
1007: Synne to whiche he is enclyned./ Also
1007: Thou shalt shryve thee of alle thy synnes
1007: To o man, and nat a parcel to o man and a parcel
1007: to another; that is to understonde, in entente
1007: To departe thy confessioun, as for shame of
1008: Drede; for it nys but stranglynge of thy soule./
1008: For certes jhesu crist is entierly al good; in
1008: Hym nys noon imperfeccioun; and therfore
1009: Outher he foryeveth al parfitly or never a deel./
1009: I seye nat that if thow be assigned to the penitauncer
1009: for certein synne, that thow art bounde
1009: To shewen hym al the remenaunt fo thy synnes,
1009: Of whiche thow hast be shryven of thy curaal,
1009: But if it like to thee of thyn humylitee; this is
1010: No departynge of shrifte./ Ne I seye nat, ther
1010: As I speke of divisioun of confessioun, that
1010: If thou have licence for to shryve thee to a discreet
1010: and an honest preest, where thee liketh,
1010: And by licence of thy curaat, that thow ne
1010: Mayst wel shryve thee to him al alle thy
1011: Synnes./ But lat no blotte be bihynde; lat no
1011: Synne been untoold, as fer as thow hast
1012: Remembraunce./ And whan thou shalt be
1012: Shryven to thy curaat, telle hym eek alle
1012: The synnes that thow hast doon syn thou were
1012: Last yshryven; this is no wikked entente of divisioun
1013: of shrifte./
1013: Also the verray shrifte axeth certeine condiciouns.
1013: first, that thow shryve thee by thy
1013: Free wil, noght constreyned, ne for shame of
1013: Folk, ne for maladie, ne swich thynges. For
1013: It is resoun that he that trespaseth by his free
1013: Wyl, that by his free wyl he confesse his trespas;/
1014: and that noon oother man telle his synne
1014: But he hymself; ne he shal nat nayte ne denye
1014: His synne, ne wratthe hym agayn the preest
1015: For his amonestynge to lete synne./ The seconde
1015: condicioun is that thy shrift be laweful,
1015: That is to seyn, that thow that shryvest thee,
1015: And eek the preest that hereth thy confessioun,
1016: Been verraily in the feith of hooly chirche;/
1016: And that a man ne be nat despeired of the
1017: Mercy of jhesu crist, as caym or judas./
1017: And eek a man moot accusen hymself of
1017: His owene trespas, and nat another; but he
1017: Shal blame and wyten hymself and his owene
1018: Malice of his synne, and noon oother./ But
1018: Nathelees, if that another man be occasioun or
1018: Enticere of his synne, or the estaat of a persone
1018: be swich thurgh which his synne is
1018: Agregged, or elles that he may nat pleynly
1018: Shryven hym but he telle the persone with
1019: Which he hath synned, thanne may he telle it,/
1019: So that his entente ne be nat to bakbite the
1019: Persone, but oonly to declaren his confessioun./
1020: Thou ne shalt nat eek make no lesynges in
1020: Thy confessioun, for humylitee, peraventure, to
1020: Seyn that thou hast doon synnes of whiche
1021: Thow were nevere gilty./ For seint augustyn
1021: Seith, if thou, by cause of thyn hymylitee,
1021: Makest lesynges on thyself, though thow ne
1021: Were nat in synne biforn, yet artow thanne
1022: In synne thurgh thy lesynges./ Thou
1022: Most eek shewe thy synne by thyn owene
1022: Propre mouth, but thow be woxe dowmb, and
1022: Nat by no lettre; for thow that hast doon the
1023: Synne, thou shalt have the shame therfore./
1023: Thow shalt nat eek peynte thy confessioun by
1023: Faire subtile wordes, to covere the moore thy
1023: Synne; for thanne bigilestow thyself, and nat
1023: The preest. Thow most tellen it platly, be it
1024: Nevere so foul ne so horrible./ Thow shalt
1024: Eek shryve thee to a preest that is discreet to
1024: Conseille thee; and eek thou shalt nat shryve
1024: Thee for veyne glorie, ne for ypocrisye, ne for no
1024: Cause but oonly for the doute of jhesu crist and
1025: The heele of thy soule./ Thow shalt nat eek
1025: Renne to the preest sodeynly to tellen hym
1025: Lightly thy synne, as whoso telleth a jape or
1026: A tale, but avysely and with greet devocioun./
1026: And generally, shryve thee ofte. If thou
1027: Ofte falle, ofte thou arise by confessioun./
1027: And though thou shryve thee ofter than
1027: Ones of synne of which thou hast be shryven,
1027: It is the moore merite. And, as seith seint
1027: Augustyn, thow shalt have the moore lightly
1027: Relessyng and grace fo god, bothe of synne and
1028: Of peyne./ And certes, oones a yeere atte leeste
1028: Wey it is laweful for to been housled; for certes,
1029: Oones a yeere alle thynges renovellen./
1029: Now have I toold yow of verray confessioun,
1030: that is the seconde partie of penitence./
1030: The thridde partie of penitence is satisfaccioun,
1030: and that stant moost generally in almesse
1031: and in bodily peyne./ Now been ther thre
1031: Manere of almesse: contricion of herte, where
1031: A man offreth hymself to god; another is to
1031: Han pitee of defaute of his neighebores; and the
1031: Thridde is in yevynge of good conseil and comfort,
1031: goostly and bodily, where men han nede,

Page 263

1031: And namely in sustenaunce of mannes
1032: Foode./ And tak kep that a man hath
1032: Nede of thise thinges generally: he hath
1032: Nede of foode, he hath nede of clothyng
1032: and herberwe, he hath nede of charitable
1032: conseil and visitynge in prisone and
1033: In maladie, and sepulture of his dede body./
1033: And if thow mayst nat visite the nedeful
1033: with thy persone, visite hym by thy
1034: Message and by thy yiftes./ Thise been general
1034: almesses or werkes of charitee of hem that
1034: Han temporeel richesses or discrecioun in conseilynge.
1034: of thise werkes shaltow heren at the
1035: Day of doom./
1035: Thise almesses shaltow doon of thyne owene
1035: Propre thynges, and hastily and prively, if
1036: Thow mayst./ But nathelees, if thow mayst
1036: Ant doon it prively, thow shalt nat forbere to
1036: Doon almesse though men seen it, so that it
1036: Be nat doon for thank of the world, but
1037: Oonly for thank of jhesu crist./ For, as
1037: Witnesseth seint mathew, capitulo quinto,
1037: A citee may nat been hyd that is set on a
1037: Montayne, ne men lighte nat a lanterne and
1037: Put it under a busshel, but men sette it on a
1037: Candle-stikke to yeve light to the men in the
1038: Hous./ Right so shal youre light lighten bifore
1038: Men, that they may seen youre goode werkes,
1039: And glorifie youre fader that is in hevene./
1039: Now as to speken of bodily peyne, it stant
1039: In preyeres, in wakynges, in fastynges, in vertuouse
1040: techynges of orisouns./ And ye shul
1040: Understonde that orisouns or preyeres is for to
1040: Seyn a pitous wyl of herte, that redresseth it
1040: In God and expresseth it by word outward, to
1040: Remoeven harmes and to han thynges espiritueel
1040: and durable, and somtyme temporele
1040: Thynges; of whiche orisouns, certes, in the
1040: Orison of the pater noster hath jhesu crist enclosed
1041: moost thynges./ Certes, it is privyleged
1041: of thre thynges in his dignytee, for
1041: Which it is moore digne than any oother
1041: Preyere; for that jhesu crist hymself
1042: Maked it;/ and it is short, for it sholde
1042: Be koud the moore lightly, and for to
1042: Withholden it the moore esily in herte, and
1043: Helpen hymself the ofter with the orisoun,/
1043: And for a man sholde be the lasse wery to
1043: Seyen it, and for a man may nat excusen hym
1043: To lerne it, it is so short and so esy; and for it
1044: Comprehendeth in it self alle goode preyeres./
1044: The exposicioun of this hooly preyere, that is
1044: So excellent and digne, I bitake to thise maistres
1044: of theologie, save thus muchel wol I seyn;
1044: That whan thow prayest that God sholde for
1044: Yeve thee thy giltes as thou foryevest hem that
1044: Agilten to thee, be ful wel war that thow ne
1045: Be nat out of charitee./ This hooly orison
1045: Amenuseth eek venyal synne, and therfore it
1046: Aperteneth specially to penitence./
1046: This preyere moste be trewely seyd, and in
1046: Verray feith, and that men preye to God ordinatly
1046: and discreetly and devoutly; and alwey
1046: A man shal putten his wyl to be subget to
1047: The wille of god./ This orisoun moste eek
1047: Been seyd with greet humblesse and ful
1047: Pure; honestly, and nat to the anoyaunce of
1047: Any man or womman. It moste eek been continued
1048: with the werkes of chritee./ It avayleth
1048: eek agayn the vices of the soule; for, as
1048: Seith seint jerome, by fastynge been saved the
1048: Vices of the flessh, and by preyere the vices of
1049: The soule./
1049: After this, thou shalt understonde that bodily
1049: peyne stant in wakynge; for jhesu crist
1049: Seith, waketh and preyeth, that ye ne entre
1050: In wikked temptacioun./ Ye shul understanden
1050: also that fastynge stant in thre thynges:
1050: In forberynge of bodily mete and drynke, and
1050: In forberynge of worldly jolitee, and in forberynge
1050: of deedly synne; this is to seyn, that a
1050: Man shal kepen hym fro deedly synne with al
1051: His might. /
1051: And thou shalt understanden eek that god
1051: Ordeyned fastynge, and to fastynge appertenen
1052: foure thinges:/ largenesse to
1052: Povre folk; gladnesse of herte espiritueel,
1052: Nat to been angry ne anoyed, ne grucche for
1052: He fasteth; and also resonable houre for to ete;
1052: Ete by mesure; that is for to seyn, a man shal
1052: Nat ete in untyme, ne sitte the lenger at his
1053: Table to ete for he fasteth./
1053: Thanne shaltow understonde that bodily
1053: Peyne stant in disciplyne or techynge, by word,
1053: Or by writynge, or in ensample; also in werynge
1053: of heyres, or of stamyn, or of haubergeons
1053: on hire naked flessh, for cristes sake,
1054: And swiche manere penances./ But war thee
1054: Wel that swiche manere penaunces on thy
1054: Flessh ne make nat thyn herte bitter or angry
1054: Or anoyed of thyself; for bettre is to caste awey
1054: Thyn heytre, that for to caste awey the swetenesse
1055: of jhesu crist./ And therfore seith seint
1055: Paul, clothe yow, as they that been chosen
1055: Of god, in herte of misericorde, debonairetee,
1055: Suffraunce, and swich manere of clothynge;
1055: Of whiche jhesu crist is moore apayed than
1056: Of heyres, or haubergeouns, or hauberkes./

Page 264

1056: Thanne is discipline eek in knokkynge of
1056: Thy brest, in scourgynge with yerdes, in
1057: Knelynges, in tribulaciouns,/ in suffrynge
1057: Paciently wronges that been doon to thee,
1057: And eek in pacient suffraunce of maladies, or
1057: Lesynge of worldly catel, or of wyf, or of child,
1058: Or othere freendes./
1058: Thanne shaltow understonde whiche thynges
1058: Destourben penaunce; and this is in foure
1058: Maneres, that is, drede, shame, hope, and wanhope,
1059: that is, desperacion./ And for to speke
1059: First of drede; for which he weneth that he
1060: May suffre no penaunce;/ ther-agayns is remedie
1060: for to thynke that bodily penaunce is but
1060: Short and litel at regard of the peyne of helle,
1060: That is so crueel and so long that it lasteth
1061: Withouten ende./
1061: Now again the shame that a man hath to
1061: Shryven hym, and namely thise ypocrites that
1061: Wolden been holden so parfite that they
1062: Han no nede to shryven hem;/ agayns that
1062: Shame sholde a man thynke that, by wey
1062: Of resoun, that he that hath nat been shamed
1062: To doon foule thinges, certes hym oghte nat
1062: Been ashamed to do faire thynges, and that is
1063: Confessiouns./ A man sholde eek thynke that
1063: God seeth and woot alle his thoghtes and alle
1063: His werkes; to hym may no thyng been hyd
1064: Ne covered./ Men sholden eek remembren
1064: Hem of the shame that is to come at the day
1064: Of doom to hem that been nat penitent and
1065: Shryven in this present lyf./ For alle the
1065: Creatures in hevene, in erthe, and in helle
1065: Shullen seen apertly al that they hyden in this
1066: World./
1066: Now for to speken of the hope of hem that
1066: Been necligent and slowe to shryven
1067: Hem, that stant in two maneres./ That
1067: Oon is that he hopeth for to lyve longe
1067: And for to purchacen muche richesse for his
1067: Delit, and thanne he wol shryven hym; and
1067: As he seith, hym semeth thanne tymely
1068: Ynough to come to shrifte./ Another is of
1069: Surquidrie that he hath in cristes mercy./
1069: Agayns the firste vice, he shal thynke that oure
1069: Life is in no sikernesse, and eek that alle the
1069: Richesses in this world ben in aventure, and
1070: Passen as a shadwe on the wal;/ and , as seith
1070: Seint gregorie, that it aperteneth to the grete
1070: Righwisnesse of God that nevere shal the peyne
1070: Stynte of hem that nevere wolde withdrawen
1070: Hem fro synne, hir thankes, but ay continue
1070: In synne; for thilke perpetueel wil to do synne
1071: Shul they han perpetueel peyne./
1071: Wanhope is in two maneres; the firste wanhope
1071: is in the mercy of crist; that oother is
1071: That they thynken that they ne myghte
1072: That longe persevere in goodnesse./ The
1072: Firste wanhope comth of that he demeth
1072: That he hath synned so greetly and so ofte,
1072: And so longe leyn in synne, that he shal
1073: Nat be saved./ Certes, agayns that cursed wanhope
1073: sholde he thynke that the passion of jhesu
1073: Crist is moore strong for to bynde than
1074: Synne is strong for to bynde. / agayns the
1074: Seconde wanhope he shal thynke that as ofte
1074: As he falleth he may arise agayn by penitence.
1074: And though he never so longe have leyn in
1074: Synne, the mercy of crist is alwey redy to receiven
1075: hym to mercy./ Agayns the wanhope
1075: That he demeth that he sholde nat longe persevere
1075: in goodnesse, he shal thynke that the
1075: Feblesse of the devel may nothyng doon, but
1076: If men wol suffren hym;/ and eek he shal han
1076: Strengthe of the help of god, and of al hooly
1076: Chirche, and of the proteccioun of aungels,
1077: if hym list./
1077: Thanne shal men understonde what is
1077: The fruyt of penaunce; and, after the word of
1077: Jhesu crist, it is the endelees blisse of hevene,/
1078: ther joye hath no contrarioustee of wo
1078: Ne grevaunce; ther alle harmes been passed
1078: Of this present lyf; ther as is the sikernesse fro
1078: The peyne of helle; ther as is the blisful compaignye
1078: that rejoysen hem everemo, everich of
1079: Otheres joye;/ ther as the body of man, that
1079: Whilom was foul and derk, is moore cleer than
1079: The sonne; ther as the body, that whilom was
1079: Syk, freele, and fieble, and mortal, is inmortal,
1079: And so strong and so hool that ther may no
1080: Thyng apeyren it;/ ther as ne is neither hunger,
1080: thurst, ne coold, but every soule replenyssed
1080: with the sighte of the parfit knowynge
1081: Of god./ This blisful regne may men purchace
1081: by poverte espiritueel, and the glorie by
1081: Lowenesse, the plentee of joye by hunger and
1081: Thurst, and the reste by travaille, and the
1082: Lyf by deeth and mortificacion of synne./

Page 265

Retraction

1082: Now preye I to hem alle that herkne this
1082: Litel tretys or rede, that if ther be any thynge
1082: In it that liketh hem, that therof they thanken
1082: Oure lord jhesu crist, of whom procedeth al
1083: Wit and al goodnesse./ And if ther be any
1083: Thyng that displese hem, I preye hem also that
1083: They arrette it to the defaute of myn unkonnynge,
1083: and nat to my wyl, that wolde ful fayn
1084: Have seyd bettre if I hadde had konnynge./
1084: For oure book seith, al that is writen is writen
1085: For our doctrine, and that is myn entente./
1085: Wherfore I biseke yow mekely, for the mercy
1085: Of go, that ye preye for me that crist have
1086: Mercy on me and foryeve me my giltes;/ and
1086: Namely of my translacions and enditynges of
1086: Worldly vanitees, the whiche I revoke in
1087: My retracciouns:/ as is the book of troilus;
1087: the book also of fame; the book of
1087: The xxv. Ladies; the book of the duchesse;
1087: The book of seint valentynes day of the parlemen
1087: of briddes; the tales of counterbury,
1088: Thilke that sownen into synne;/ the book of the
1088: Leoun; and many another book. If they were
1088: In my remembrance, and many a song and
1088: Many a leccherous lay; that crist for his grete
1089: Mercy foryeve me the synne./ But of the translacion
1089: of boece de consolacione, and othere
1089: Bookes of legendes of seintes, and omelies and
1090: Moralitee, and devocioun./ That thanke I oure
1090: Lord jhesu crist and his blisful mooder, and
1091: Alle the seintes of hevene,/ bisekynge hem that
1091: They from hennes forth unto my lyves ende
1091: Sende me grace to biwayle my giltes, and to
1091: Studie to the salvacioun of my soule, and
1091: Graunte me grace of verray penitence, confessioun
1091: and satisfaccioun to doon in this
1092: Present lyf,/ thurgh the benigne grace of
1092: Hym that is kyng of kynges and preest
1092: Over alle preestes, that boghte us with the
1093: Precious blood of his herte;/ so that is may
1093: Been oon of hem at the day of doom that shulle
1093: Be saved. Qui cum patre et spiritu sancto vivit
1093: Et regnat deus per omnia secula. Amen.