Thys ys the story of a knyght, howe he dyd many wurthy dedys be the help of a lady, the qwyche taught hym to overcome a mervulus dragon, the qwyche was an hundred fote longe. And this knyght was clepyd Amoryus, and the lady Cleopes.1

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The chauns of love and eke the peyn of Amoryus, the knygt, For Cleopes sake, and eke how bothe in fere together Lovyd and aftyr deyd, my purpos ys to endyght. And now, O goddes, I thee beseche of kunnyng, that Lanyfyca hyght: Help me to adornne ther chauns in sqwyche manere So that qwere this matere dotht yt reqwyre, Bothe ther lovys I may compleyne to loverys dysyre.   In May, that modyr ys of monthys glade, Qwan flourys sprede, the qwyche wythin the rote In wyntyr were clos, that than wyth floure and blade, For Phebus exaltyng, wyth sundry hwys smellyd sote; And byrdys amonge the levys grene her myrthys made, Qwan Nero Asy gan to suldwe to the empyre, And besegyd the emperoure of Persé Kyng Camsyre;   For qwan this Romaynys gan to subdw The regyon of Persé and of Medys, Camsyr, kyng of that cuntré, hys pepyl to rescwe, Ayens this emperoure in the pleyn of Pansopherys Toke batel; qwere he was smet to deth at onys, Wyth the ston of an engyne, and hys pepyl put to flyght. Thus thise Romaynis became ther lordys wyth fors of fyght.   And for fere, the lordys of that regyon Yeldyn the keys to the emperour of this forsayd cyté Yevyng hym omage and possessyon Of alle this forseyd regyon of Persé Besechyng hym undyr trybute for to be; And theruppon ther othe thei toke, Sqweryng upon the tempyl boke.   But for that this contré was gret and populus, And feyth in thraldam ys selde seyn, 2 Be sad avysement, the emperour wrought ryght thus: He commaundyd to a counsel, in certeyn, Alle erlys and barounys that to ther oste dyd perteyn; In qwyche counsel for surenes to reule the cuntré They promotyd too lordys to be resydent in the chef cyté   The qwyche lordys were Romaynys born, That aftyr, for prudent port and governauns, Were crounyd kyngys of the remys namyd beforn. And so this emperour, wyth vyctoryus chauns Returnyd to Rome wyth hys oste and pysauns, Thyse princys dwellyng in pes and rest In the chef cyté of Persys, namyd Albynest,   Qwere thei despousyd wyvys of the lynage Of Daryus, sumtyme emperour of that cuntré Multyplying the world, as seyth myn autour Fyrage, Qwere he tellyth the ryalté of ther maryage, Remembryng the love and eke the adversyté Of Amoryus and Cleopes, that were the chyldyr dere Of thise lordys, how thei lovyd and dyid in fere.   And the sempyl wryter besechyth of supportacion For the rude endytyng of this story. But every word ys wrytyn undyr correccion Of them that laboure in this syens contynwally; For fulle herd yt ys, I knowe yt veryly, To plese the pepyl; but the sqwete frute schewyth the gentil tre, And the mowth the hert - yt wyl none odyr be.   But cause qwy that I this boke endyght Is that noqwere in Latyne ner Englysch I coude yt aspye, But in Grwe Y had yt, wrytyn - lymynyd bryght— Wyth lettyrrys of gold that gay were wrowght to the ye. That causyd me to mervel that yt so gloryusly Was adornyd, and oftyn I enqwyryd of lettyryd clerkys Qwat yt myght be that poyntyd was wyth so merwulus werkys.   But alle thei seyd that yt was, be supposyng, Grwe; but qwat yt ment thei nyst ryght noght at alle. And as yt fortunyd, ther come rydyng To Norwyche a Greke, to home I schewyd in specyal Thys forsayd boke, and he iche word bothe gret and smal In Latyne yt expugned; and thus be hys informacion I had the trwe grownd and very conclusyon.   Here Endyth the Prolog and Begynnyth the Fyrst Boke   In Albynest, the chef cyt of the regyon of Parsé Thyse lordys reulyd, the wyche excellent were of fame, Be hos prudens the cyteceynys were governyd in pes and equité Be longe contynwauns, never founde in blame; Nout wythstondyng ther charge was, in the emperourys name, Alle maner of trespas to chastyse; but ever wyth ryghfulnes Thei coude alle materys reforme and redres.   And as myn autour doth in Grwe specyfye - Tellyng yt for a specyal remeberauns - Seytht that thise lordys dwellyd so nyghe, That betwene ther placys ther was no more dystauns Than that a stonwal made the dysseverauns, The qwyche dyvydyd ther courtys and closys And ther delectabyl gardyns, in sesun spryngyng wyth lyliys and rosys.   And be ther namys myne autour doth expres Qwyche was the fadyr of Amoryus and of Cleopes eke; Seyng of bothe, most had in reputacion of worthynes Was Palemedon, Amoryus fadyr, the most myghty Greke Alle the regyon of Tessaly thruowte to seke, Hos prudent poyntys of were wer so dyvulgate That in the chauncys of Mars he stode makeles laureat,   Hos sone, as brevely before I dyd expres, Was Syr Amoryus, of home this story in especyal Makyth mencion, hos beuté and stature bothe, more and les, Myne autour dothe declare on this wyse in general: Of mene stature was Amoryus, manful and strong wythalle, Wyth coloure bryght and herys broune, fulle of norture and curtesye; And be hys wysdam, abyl an hole reme to gye.   And in hys governauns so demure and dyscrete was he, That iche creature he coude reverens be norturyd jentylnes 3 Aftyr ther degré that of pore and ryche yn the cyté. The fame of hys manhod and of hys lovlynes Was in ryfe; for as thei seyd alle, he was makeles, Hys age consydyrryd, hys byrth and nobyl lynage, Besechyng Venus hym to fortune wyth lygkly maryage.   The fadyr of Cleopes, as seyth this story, Was clepyd Dydas, hos wurchyp and fame Was spred ful wyde; so that the cyteceynys for a memory Lete make a pyler of bras, therin wrytyn hys name And hys benefetys, moreovyr, hys ymage heldyng a frame, In tokyn that be equité he reulyd the toune, And eke that the tempyl was of hys fundacion.   My boke tellyth the cause of this remembrauns, Seyng that qwyl Palemedon wyth the emperour was in batayle, Dydas had of the cyté the hole governauns; And sodenly ther come fro hevyn a thundyr and an hayle, That yt overthrw the tempyl of Venus, top over tayle; And Venus, wyth alle ymagys of gold, sylver, and bras, Were smet to poudyr, bothe more and las.   Qwan the case of ther ymages were thus befalle, The cyteceynis for fere fled to Dydas palyse - Bothe prest and seculerys, women and alle - For socoure and comfort and to here hys avyse. For this thundyr rof ston wallys and housys of mervulus wyse That the pepyl, dysmayd, ferfully on Dydas gan calle For los of her godys and savacion of ther lyvys in specyal.   They compleynyd that ther gref and pensyfhede Was for ther tresour, the qwyche ordeynyd was be polycye, For sundry casys, to helpe the communys in ther nede, For reperacion of the tempyl eke, and ther lyberteys to fortyfye, "The qwyche tresur," quod thei, "undyr this hydus skye, Kofyr and alle, in the tempyl as yt lay, Thus brent into aschys yt ys this day."   And he ful comfortabylly to them ansqweryd in this maner: "Frendys, be noght abaschyd for this soden case. I schal a nwe tempyl reedyfye to owre goddes dere, And yt as rychely aray as the elde tempyl was. And eke as myche tresur as ye lest, more or las, I schal of my fre wyl restore that ye no los schal have. Thys ys myne entente, Jubyter my soule save."   For the qwyche, the pepyl on kneys before hym dyd falle, And yave to hym preysyng, as thei aucte to do. And for this benefet fulfyl, the pepyl in specyal Lete make this pyler to Dydas Juno. And lykghly yt ys to be so, Hos doutyr, aftyr myn autour, hyght Cleopes, And as I wryte, her beuté he doth expres:   As Phebus in bryghtenes alle planetys excedyth in general, Ryght so in beuté Cleopes yche erthly creature Precellyd in fayrenes; that yn the reme in specyal The fame of her beuté was spred, and of here stature. For so womanly was sche, so benygne to yche creature, That lusty yong knyghtys gret parte wold make To breke huge sperys fersly for Cleopes sake.   And brevely this proces for to trase Qwat that Nature myght werke to beuté in ony creature Was wrought in the persone and in the lovely face Of this lady, for sche proporciond was in sqwych mesure That sche sempt be outeward apparens to pase nature, Hos beuté thus floryscyng I omyt, as of the douter of Venus, Contynwyng here fortunat fate undyr Mars furyus 4 But now of descrypcionnys I sese and forth this proces. As myn autor dothe wryte, ryght so wul I, Word for word, save only a lenger progres Yt nedyt in Englysch; for in Latyne he that wrytyth most schortly, Most ys comendyd; qwerfore that myn autour endytyth, in more and les, Compendyusly he pasyth; and so I, in termys fewe, The entent of myne autour I purpos brevely to schewe.   For, as me semyth, yt were a long dygressyonit To telle howe the nwe tempyl was jonyd of cementaryis, Or to speke of the hythe, or the brede, or of the facion, Or the sumpte of goldyn vessellys, as chaudrunnys and fylateryis, Or of Venus chaplet, howe yt was enamylyd wyth grene byris - To longe yt were to wryte; for myn autour pasyth schortely, And I to prolonge yt were but vanyté and foly.   In June, the qwyche the nest month ys aftyr May, The yere revolvyd fro the tyme the olde tempyl fyl. The nwe was made and complet be twenty day In alle ornamentys that longe to ther sacrifyce be ony skyl, For the qwyche the gentylys alle and eke the commune pepyl Be one asent dyd wryte to Palamedon, of hys devocion, Besechyng hym to come to ther nwe templys dedycacion.   And eke the bylle dyd specyfye that yf yt to hys plesauns None ofens schul be, thei dysyryd to have a syte Of Amoryus, besechyng hys hynes noght to take to grevauns That thei bold were on this wyse to wryte, To accepte her feythful entent in hys syte. Of odyr thingys the bylle eke dyd specyfy, The qwyche charge noght here to be browte to memory.   But this pepyl a masyngere to the emperour, in goodly wyse, Sent in hast wyth this forsayd bylle; The qwyche hys masage schewyd wyth ful sad avyse Be mowthe, as he was taugh of this pepyl. And aftyr delyveryd hys lettyr and held hym stylle Tyl Palamedon had red the ful sentens, The qwyche upon this wyse he told in opyn audyens:   "Lordyis and frendyis," quod he, "owre cyteceynis of Albynest Have wryt to us that to owre goddes ys fabryfyid A nwe tempyl; to the qwych consecracion, at ther reqwest, We muste hye; for in the bylle yt ys specyfyid That alle ornamentys be alle redy to the solempnyté puryfyid, And noght thei abyde but us and yong Amoryus. The sentens of this bylle maketh mencion ryght thus."   And qwan he had spokyn, the bariunns that were in his presens Alowyd hys sentens and seyd yt was for the best To enclyne that tyme to the pepillys sentens: "For sythyn," quod thei, "oure lege is now in rest Fro Marcyan labourys, he hath of werreyowris the lesse brest. Us thynke best that ye informe hym, as sone as ye may, To purvey yow homeward tomorow or the nest day."   And sone a tyme oportune he had found, Aspyid qwere the emperour was walkyng in a fresch herber, Beforn hym on hys kne he fyl to the ground, Schewyd hym the entent of hys comyng in benygn maner. And qwan he had spokyn, the emperour wyth debonayre chere Sayd to Palemedon, "Do in this matere as ye thinke best. Ye knowe wele how owre empyre ys now in rest.   "And for yowre labour in werris that wyth us ye have be, We thanke yow; and we wul, if ony case falle, That yowre help in alle godely hast redy be." And qwan he had thus spokyn, hys styward forth he dyd calle, Comaundyng hym to fecche that ryche purpyl palle, That hymself had usyd in Mars sacrifyse, The qwyche he yaf Palamedon for hys trw servyse.   For the qwyche yift, in parte to make recompens, He lovyd hym as prynce, Mars knyght most excellent. And bothe he and Amoryus ful norturely toke ther lycens Of the emperour and the courte, and faste thei bement To hast ther jurney to the forsayd entent; For the qwyche, knytys and odyr gan fast purvey The nest morow them toward Albynest to convey.   An artyfycer nowe were nede to me That coude a straunge style puryfye; For my poyntel so rude ys, as ye may opynly se, Yt can noght grave, ye may yt wele aspye, Be the qwyche my rudenes I mene to endyte this storye. But trwth ys seyd: blynd Bayard of no dowtys doth purvey 5 Tyl he hath fallyn in the myd wey.   Qwerfore fully I me excuse, or I ferther procede, To yche dyscrete persone most in specyal. And to the goddes that Fame hyght, now in this nede,is I beseche for help - that qwere this boke in chambyr or halle Be herd or red, sche lyst the sylver sqwete pype so smal To sounde, that the brasyn trumpe of obloqui, For my rudenes, mystune noght in no company 6   And nowe my autour I muste folow in astronomy, The qwyche dymme ys to onlernyd folk, I trowe verily 7   But now I returne to Palamedon, the qwyche lay in rest, Abydyng sum tokyn qwan Aurora schuld sprynge. And as he lay wakyn, he herd a ruschyng of a chest, For qwyche noyse he wythowte taryinge Styrt up to wyte yf ony creature were styryng. "Ho goth ther?" quod he; and aftyr stylle he stode for to here Yf ony servaunt had walkyd ther nere.   And to the mortere of wax he yed to aspye the wast 8 To wete yf tyme were fore to ryse, To knowe allso how fer the nyght was past. And as he the brennyng of the mortere gan devyse, The nyght chauntour, the cok, hys fyrst salme dyd appryse 9 "A!" thought he, "this sygnyfyith mydnyght. The cok none ere crwe; yt wul be long or yt be daylyght."   Forth than to the wyndow he yed to wyt how the day schuld preve; And as he kyste up hys eye to the fyrmament, He aspyid Latona, how sche toke her leve Of Jovys her love, and howe Boetes gan dreve Hys bryght plowgh of sterrys, and eke the systyrrys at ther stent, The qwyche be namyd the sterrys sevyn, How thei gan appere in the myddys of hevyn.   And as he hys chere turnyd to behold Pegasus, The fyry goddes of the fyrmament gan to schew here face. And qwan he hys lady aspyid, that namyd ys Venus, Wyth devoute preyyer to beseche her of grace On kneys doune hym sett, and for this preysyng gan race In magnyfying the gloryus chyvalry stellygerat In qwemyng of Venus and Mars that than were at debat.   "O!" quod he, "Ye inmortal goddyis, alle incorporat, The qwyche be pasyng of nature have trancendyd this mysery Be fortunat fate, eternally deyfyid and gloryfycat, That ye the hevyn crystallyne illumyne and puryfye Of yowre infynyte goodenes, ye yowre wurchypperys deyfye. Be a prerogatyfe synguler, that thei that can yow feytfuly plese 10 Ye yef them alle that ys to ther hartys ese.   "O, hye Saturne!, reulyng wyth the septyr of prudens, Alle terrenal accionnys cyrcumscryvyst indefycyentlye Be the progeny deyfyid of thee - havyng decens In fyre, aer, lond, and see- be ther namys them thus to applye: 11 As Jovys, fyry; Juno, aery; Neptunus, wattry; Pluto, erthy; The qwyche, havyng of thise elementys septrat powere, Thy chyldyr were iheryid; be thow and eke thei in fere 12   "And eke, O Appollo!, to hos bryght chere my goddys alle Yeve sted; and every lyvyng erthely creature, Wyth erbe, floure, and frute, thee preyse in general, And eke I thi servaunt, qwyl my lyfe wul endure. In my jurny, fyry and noght wattery do thi cure To appere, I thee beseche; and I on thee most reverend wyse A blake bole in the yle of Delfos schal to thee sacrifyse.   "And O Mars, cheveteyn of nobyl weryouris, Wyth Venus and Lucyna, the mone, pesybyl be; For masculyne furyus ayens femenyn schouris Amonge goddys ys ascryvyd but to crwelté. 13 And now, howe gloryus and how blyssyd yt ys to se Yowre deyifyid cherrys, O goddis and goddessys alle. Iheryid ye myght be eternally wyth infynyte memoryalle!   "And O eke ye nobyl deyfyid sygnys! abstracte From erthly mancionnis to the asuryd fyrmamente; Sum fyx and sum revolvyng to and fro, in maner of the cateracte, Betwene the poolys - bothe the qwyche namys thus represent The poole Artyk and the poole Antartyk -- at the goddys entent In sundry fygurys, as summe stondyng, summe syttyng, Sum defendyng, summe lying, summe water poryng.   "And be the hye provydens of yow, goddys colegyat, Every sygne dysposyd ys be fatal ordynauns That yche regnyth a tyme, hys cours kepyng and estate, 14 Yche, aftyr hys dysposycion, reulyng wyth fortunat chauns Them that born be undyr ther dyverse demenauns - As summe to prosperyté and ese, summe to travel and gret vexsacion, Sum to be leccherus, and sum onstabyl aftyr the sygnys dysposycion.   "Qwerefore, O Alna! wombe of the Sagyttary of sterrys lucent, Myself I deprehend that in thine exorte I born was. O blyssyd sygne, fortunat appere to myne entent! And I thi gloryus fygure of pure gold, to thine apport, Amonge my goddys schal fyx, and ever to thee resorte Wyth sacryfyse; and alle sygnys of the fyrmamente, becaus of thee, Wythin my tempyl in ther lykenes made schal be."   And Palamedon thus hys preyur than dyd conclude, For of sqwetnes of devocion half raveschyd was he, Foryetyng hymself; for trwe yt ys that love dothe exclude Bothe hete and cold, and causyth a man foryetful for to be; For the sterrys so longe he beheld, descryvyng the magesté That the pepyllyng wynde made hys flesch for to quake, That he styrt to hys bed and anwe rest began to take.   Nowt longe tyme he had loyn in the golden slepe That fro undyr the erthe phyry Phebus Wyth hys glymyrryng bemys into the chambyr gan lepe, That yn hys bryghtnes he woke Amoryus, And he in hast styrt up and hys fadyr dyd clepe, Seyng that yche man redy was to ryde, Chafyng ther hors up and doune be the court syde 15   And be that tyme he redy was to take hys palfrey, Lusty, fresch knyghtys of howsold redy were To convey hym forth in hys jurney. And qwan he the entent perseyvyd of hys frendys dere, Of ther lovyng entente he thankyd hem in benyng manere, Seying as herttyly, "I thanke yow in every degré As yf ye me conveyid home to owre cyté."   But alle hys speche stod for noght, for certenly, thei seyd, They had sundry erendys into hys cuntré And eke dyverse messagys upon hem were leyd; Also ther dysyre was to se the nwe tempyl and the cyté. And qwan Palamedon sey yt wold none odyr be But forth thei wold, he thankyd them hertyly 16 And toke hys palfray and forth rod myryly.   And qwan thei pasyd had the cyté but mylys thre, A losty yonge knyght gan preke hys palfray Toward Amorius. "Qwat sorow eylys thee now," quod he, "That thow thus sobyrly rydyst alle this day? Be myne hed," quod he, "I trowe that thow hast lost thi pray Of summe jentyl woman that dwellyth wyth the empres. Yt ys nowe thi mornyng, as I gesse.   "But wotys thow qwat me thynkyth best? Lern this lessun, if thow be wyse of me: Lete no fayre loke reve thee of thi rest; But them that thow knowyst hertyly love thee, Love them ayen qwyder yt be he or sche. And ever beware of fayre speche, fore many be ontrwe; For trost in ontrwe hath made many a man to rwe.   "But nowe let alle this musyng matere pase, And be avysyd of perell ayens anodyr tyme." "Ye, brodyr," quod Amoryus, "I trowe that ye have trodyn the trace Of lovys daunce, for of the kalendys ye muse the prime; 17 For he that hyest on that leddere dothe clyme, Deppest into wo fallyth qwan he hat lost hys pray. But trost me veryly, lovyd I so no creature into this day."   "Wele," quod this yonge knygt, "this matere longyth to sadnes. But lete yt pase, and syng now sum songe for this sesunne." "I graunt," quod Amoryus, "begynne moun youre chauntes; But go gete us more felychyp." "Ye, for god!" quod he, "Yt ys resun." And forth he clepyd foure knytys hos ful devocion Was set in wordly plesauns, that wyth melydyus chauntyng Thys song of love wyth lusty voys thei gan to syng:   "Qwan flourys sprede in May, of monthys myryest, And every byrde hath chosyn hys lovely make, For joye of the sesun amonge the levys grene gan rest Wyth myry notys syngyng, as I my walkyng gan take Undyr a forest syde. I herd one for hys ladyis sake - To the goddes of love he gan to compleyn, And eke to fortune for los of hys lady sovereyn:   "O, Fortune! Alas! qwy arte thow to me onkend? Qwy chongyddyst thow thi qwele causeles? Qwy art thow myne enmye and noght my frend, And I ever thi servant in al maner of lovlynes?   A But nowe of my lyfe, my comfort, and my afyauns Thowe hast me beraft; that causyth me thus to compleyn. O bryghter than Phebus! O lyly! O grownd of plesauns! O rose of beauté! O most goodely, sumtyme my lady sovereyn!   "But, O, allas! that thru summe enmye or sum suspycyus conjecte, I throwyn am asyde and owte of my ladiis grace. Sumtyme in faver but now fro alle creaturys abjecte As oftyn sqwownyng as I remembyr her bryght face. But now, adwe for ever, for my ful felycyté Is among thise grene levys for to be.'"   Thys was the dyte of ther fresch songe and the sentens That thise yonge knytys dyd syng in the jurney, In specyal for feinere love and presnes Of Amoryus; and thus wyth myry songys and talys day be day, They schortyd the tyme wyth myrtht and wyth play. And in alle ther myrthys Palamedon rode forth stylly, Thynkyng alle but vanyté and foly.   But now I leve thise fresch galauntys syngyng in ther lay Wyth mornyng joye, in sqwetnes of songe compleynyng The absens of ther ladyis soveren in the sesun of May, To returne to the cyteceynys, the qwych herd of ther comyng, Nwe clad in a sute wyth ful solen aray, On horsbak wyth Dydas rydyn owte of the cyté Abydyng in a pleyn the dystauns of mylys thre,   Tyl of ther spye thei had sum tokynnyng. And at hye none thayr masynger come rydyng apase, Enformyng Dydas how that thei come fast by. Ther comyth myche pepyl, thei occupy myche spase, And than Dydas commaundyd yche man hys dystauns To kepe fro odyr, and fast than he gan purvey To mete wyth hym in alle godely hast on the wey.   And Dydas ful norturely wyth hys company Hym welcomyd as to hys oune cuntré And eke the emperourys knyghtys, by and by, Conveyng them forth into ther cyté Qwere thei receyvyd were as thei aucte to be, Of hys lady and odyr of the toune, Ful solemply conveyid home to hys mancioun.   The nest day folwyng, Dydas and odyr sundry Of the cyté come to Palamedon and hym prayd To asyngne a day qwan the tempyl most convenyently Myght be dedycat. "Loke ye," quod Palamedon, "I held me payd, Save I wul se beforn howe yt ys nwe arayd; For yf ony thing schul lak that schuld the tempyl adorne, I wold have konnyng thereof beforn."   And forthwyth he dyd clepe the emperour[ys] knyghtys, "Wul ye," quod he, "se the nwe tempyl abought?" "Ye, syre," quod they, "we come hydyr to se nwe sytys." And forth thei yede and fast beheld yt wythin and wythowte. Ther was castyng of perellys and mevyng of many a dowghte 18 But at the last this was Palamedonnys sentens, Among them alle in opyn audyens:   "Trwly, brodyr Dydas," quod he, "this tempyl ys feyre. Venus do yow mede; and I purpose in specyal For a remeberauns of owre goddys alle a spere to repeyre Of pure gold, to the symylytude as a bal, Havyng therin the goddys mevyng natural And yche sygnys exort; and be mevyng yt schal represent The cours of alle planetys of the fyrmament."   And qwan he had thus spokyn, "Qwere ys," quod he, "Venus secretary, The qwyche in craftys mekanyk hath experyens, As of dyvynacionnys, enchauntements, and of sorcery, And oftyn in ars magyk hath wrowgt in my presens?" But of hys wordys or he had spokyn the full sentens, Amonge hem was this forsayd prest of Venus, For he knwe alle beforn be hys spyryt namyd Incobisus.   And qwan Palamedon had rehersyd this matere before, "Syre," quod this secretary, "the labour ys cumbrus and grete. But yf I have stuf to performe yt, in lesse and more For my bysynes, I purpose noght to lete, So that this day ye wul the gold me gete, Feythfully, I dar promyse that be this day sevynyght, Iche image and cerkyl redy schal be dyght."   "As for that," quod Palamedon, "schal be made no tarying." And he to hys styward anone yaf this commaundmente, As mych gold as he wold ax thidyr for to bryng And eke ryche stonys aftyr the secretaryis entent. "Anone," quod he "thei were delyveryd qwyl I am present." And as he commaundyd, ryght so the styward dyd indede, Preyng this nygromancyer hym in hys werk to spede.   And ther Palamedon in opyn audyens Them of the cyté chargyd redy for to be, On ther legauns and promysyd obedyens, Alle present and absent that longe to the cyté Wythowte resonabyl cause or gret specyalté Aftyr eght dayis, be the custummys olde, The dedycacion of Venus and the tempyl to hold.   And than owte of the tempyl he yede and the knytys also, Home to hys palyce to theyr refeccion, Qwere I hem leve carpyng of the tempyl to and fro, To returne to the secratary; the qwyche be conjuracion Of spyrytys enchauntyth myghtyly be dyvynacion, Wyth spryngys of cydyr, qwyk colys, and encens, Introducyng the spyrytys into hys cyrcumferens.   And sone an huge pytte he gan make besyde, Qwere he the gold, sylver, and precyus stonys Thrw in togydyr and aftyr gan abyde Tyl he had gadyrryd a multytyde of mennys bonys And thrwe hem into the pytte all at onys; For as clerkys wryte, the damnyd spyrytys have delectacion   Amonge tresur and ded mennys bonys to make ther mancion. And redy anone he dyght hys sacrifyse, Abydyng the oure of hys operacion. Arayd in qwyght, hys cerkyl gan dyvyse, Wyth carectyrs and fygurys as longe to the dysposycion Of tho spyrytys that have that power in ther jurysdyccion. And at hye mydnyght he entryd hys cumpas, Wyth hys boke and sacrifyse conjuryng apase.   And wythin schort tyme be excellent craft, He had introducyd into this forsayd pytt Sevyn hundred thousand spyrytys or he laft, And fast ther bond them that thei myght noght flytt, Thow thei had yt sqworn; ther them he schytt And made tho spyrytys so mervulusly werk in fere That wythin thre ourys complet was the spere.   And now for to declare the werkyng of this spere, And eke to name the cerkyllys, fygurys, and sygnys, The multytude of sterrys - namyd in pannymys manere Goddys of the fyrmamente - and eke the mervulus mevyngys Of the planetys, causyng in thayr regne sundry thyngys In werkyng of nature; alle this this spere dyd represent, As in frosty nyghtys ye may behold in the fyrmament.   In the este ende of this tempyl this spere apperyd aloft Fyve cubytys fro the ground alwey mevyng Noudyr hangyng ner undyrborn of herd ner of soft But alone in the eyar to every mannys eye apperyng So mervulus a melody yt causyd to folkys heryng That half thei raveschyd were be the sqwete armony Of the swyft glydyng of thise cerkyllys by and by.   And in the over cerkyl includyng alle this huge werk, Aftyr astrologerys descripcion, Applanos hyght; The qwyche undyr, hevyn empure, and as Haly the gret clerk Doth specyfy qwere he of constellacionys doth wryght, Ys nest; and so vysuually to yche mannys syte, Abovyn this spere enchauntyd, apperryd over, more and les, As lyqwyde gold brennyng in a furnes.   But the secunde cerkyl, ther ys no lyvyng creature That myght yt behold but gretly he schuld wondyr Of the operacion and ryches of that mervulus fygure. For in that the fyx sterrys were and sygnys mevyng asundyr, Sum uprysyng, and sum dessendyng, and sum cerkuly mevyng undyr, The qwyche multytude, in fere, aftyr paynymys opynyon, Was clepyd the Colege of Goddys, aftyr poyyetys denominacion 19   And in the fyrst fyx sygne, the doutyr of Lycaon, Clad in sterrys of gold, cumpasyng tweyn berys qwyght, Wyth a saphyryne serpent stedfastly stondyng in one, The qwyche the north pole ys clepyd, or Artos bryght, Nest home Artophylax stondyng redy for to fyght, In the defens of Arcton, clad in a palle smaragdyne, Adornyd wyth sterrys of gold, to the centyr hys face dyd declyne;   Upon hos schuldyr the garlond of Adryagne Aperyd in the symylytude as a ryche topas; Nest home stode Kyng Hercules that alle Asy wanne, The skyn of a lyon in ryght arme dyd enbras Wyth a gleyve of gold dyvydyng the cerkyl or cumpas Of somer; closyd in sterrys flamyng nynetene; The qwyche in hys exorte of astronomerys hyghly myght be sene. 20   And be Hercules, the harp musycal of Orphé Was joynyd to the pole of the qwych, as poyetys feyne, Orphe wyth the sqwete melody from Plutoys fyry see, As fro helle, hys wyfe he harpyd ayeyne. And undyr this harpe the sqwan that to Jovys dyd perteyne Was plumyd wyth oryent margaryts; and taward the lesse bere Thyse goddys and goddessys conjoynyd were.   Cephe and Casyep, fayre Andrometé and semly Persé The kyng of Cryse, and nakyd Opylenk involvyd wyth a serpent Wyth the goldyn arow of Hercules that the egyl dyd sle, The egyl flying by, and the dolphyn that in the spere ys resydent, And wyngyd Pegasus that made in Boyse the welle oryent, Wyth the triangyl, qwyche imagys were made in her fygurys Off sundry precyus stonys as of carbunkyllys, dyamaunts, and saphyrys.   But for that this matere ys obscure and to onletteryd noght delectabyl, I pase schortly; but sythyn I have begunne to descrive the spere, Brevely I schal conclude, omyttyng colourys as of sylver and sabyl, Asure, gold, goulys, and verd; the ennamyllyngys in sundry manere Of the vestyture of goddys as thei wrowght were in fere Be enchauntement; and now the resydu up to descrive, I pray yow of pacyens; I schal ado belyve.   And nest thise foresayd, Phebus twelve dwellyng placys Sundryly apperyd, the qwyche be clepyd in commune langage The twelve syngnys of the yere, kepyng there pacys In this forsayd spere, closyd in oryent sterrys as in a cage, As the Ram, the Qwyght Bole, the Tweyn Bredyr of Grekys Lynage, The Crab, the Lyon, the Vyrgyne, and the Weghtys, The Scorpyon, the Sagyttary, the Capricorn, the Aqwry, and the Fysschys.   And southe in the spere toward the Octyan The Qwalle was, hornyd Padus, the Hare, and Oryon Wyth the sqwyf Grehound, and fers Prochyon, The schyp of Argus, the Centaure or the monstyr of Chyryon, The fygure of the Dorys of the Tempyl of Salomon, Wyth the serpent namyd Ydra, the Pese, and the Crow And the fysch clepyd Serus; thus thei namyd were a Rome.   And as I have here rehersyd in the spere nygromantyk, Ryght so in the fyrmament the same sygnys be, As asstrologerys wryte, fygurys to men and bestys lyke To the qwyche paynymys dyd sacrifyse for every adversyté Settyng them in charys of gold that the pepyl myght them se, Into the qwyche wykkyd spyrytys entryd the pepyl to ludyfye, To make them forsake God, and to turment her soulys everlastyngly.   And into this owre, the most part of the world ys so made blynd Thorowgh the sotel falsnes of the fend that thei beleve To be translat into hevyn qwere thei ther god schuld fynd; For of every sekenes thei wene the idol dyd hem releve; Oftyn he talkyth to hem in ther langage bothe morow and eve; Qwan thei wyth sacrifyse beseche hym to be mercyfull, He gladyth them wyth feyre promyssys at the fulle.   But ayen to returne to the spere and yt to conclude fynally, The sevyn planetys to descrive, the qwyche beneth thise odyr Were resydent in ther tronys, reulyng bodyis of the erth myghtyly, That for ther excellent power sum ys clepyd the fadyr To them rehersyd before, and so dere and wurthy To alle ydolatrerys thei be that huge templys to yche of thise syngulere They edyfye to ofyr in theyr sacrifyse and muse her prayyer.   And to sum thei sacrifyse for wysdam, as to Saturne, The qwyche in the sevynt spere hath hys domyny; To sum for prospperyté and wurchyp, as to Jubyter that makyth returne In the syxt cerkyl or trone; and to Mars for vyctory Of her adversaryis that the fyfte trone reulyth myghtyly; And to Phebus for ansqwere of aventurys how thei schul falle In tyme foluyng, the qwyche the fourth spere reulyth celestyal.   And eke to beuteuus Venus, that femenyn ys of nature, Lusty fresch galauntys to have ther lykyng dysyre To her beseche for help qwan thei endure Ony infortune or qwan thei brenne in lovys fyre; The qwyche goddes reulyth the empyre Of the thryd trone, to home Dydas for pure devocion Bylyd the tempyl qwere the spere had the mocion.   And to Mercurry, thei that marchaundyse ocupy As to god of fortune, thei beseche for prosperus aventure; The qwyche the secunde trone possedyth; and nest us by, In the fyrst trone, resedyth the goddes of Dyane that the nyght obscure Temperyth wyth her bryght chere that femenyne ys of nature; The qwyche thise paynymys clepe goddes of the see, Preyng her wyth sacrifyse for the seeys tranquillyté.   And thus I ende this rude descrypcion Of goddys and the spere to speke of the secretary That had a fynauns and a fulle conclusyon Of this mervulus spere be the spyrytys aery; That fast than homeward gan hym hye Speryd the tempyl dorys and to hys chambyr yede, Qwere I hym leve slepe yf he can, for he hath nede.   Fowre days aftyr that made was this werke, Thys secretary had schewyd alle the spere Upon a nyght to Palemedon, qwan the wedyr was derke, Axing hym yf ony he wold have made in privy maner, Besyde that, to the reverens of theyr goddes dere. "Qwat?" quod Palamedon, Aye have made be myne estymacion That no lyvyng creature but ye myght to this conclusyon.   "O, Venus dere!" quod he, "this werk ys so qweynt and mervulus That I am astoynyd to behold yt; yt mevyth so fast Myne eyn dymme of the wundyrful bryghtnes; yt ys so laboryus That my resun demyth that yt myght noght ever last, For be my wytt I have concludyd and caste That yf yche cerkyl were as thyk as a mylle post, The scharp mevyng schul sone cause yt to be lost."   "Be lost!" quod the secretary, "nay, nay," quod [he], "that schal never be Qwyl the world enduryth; trost that veryly Qwat wene ye? that the cerkyllys were of that tresur that ye To me delyveryd? Nay, thynke yt nowt; that ys but a fantesy! For one cerkyl takyth more matere than yowre tresur drw holy. But for a matere of counsel," quod this secretary, "in specyal, I browt yow now hydyr; I schal noght gab at alle.   "Qwan complet was the spere as yt ys this owre, Sore I dysyryd to knowe how longe yt schuld endure. And upon a nyght thys weke in my towre, I sacrifysyd to Venus, prayng her to do her cure, To schewe me be revelacion, to make me sure Yf yt schuld sone be destroyd, or late, or never, Or, yf the tempyl overtrw, yf the cerkyllys schuld dyssever.   "And as I lay, I fyl wondyrfully aslepe And sodenly in a dreme I was, and that a mervulus. Me thowt I sey Venus alle mornyng as thow sche schuld wepe, Punchyng me wyth her fote to me seyd rygt thus, Alas!' quod sche, we goddessys may say, for sone to us Is schape an uttyr exile; for here qwere we were wunt to abyde, A crucyfyid man schal take possessyon and us put asyde.   " And were noght,' quod sche, that this hevy case schuld falle, The spere schuld ever endure, veryly; But sythyn thus yt schal be, the same nyght breke yt schal That we arn drouyn hens; and thus, alas, everlastyngly Owre wurchyp, owre power, and owre memory Owte of this cuntré that crucyfyid man shal fleme. Beleve this veryly; loke that never odyrwyse yow esteme.'   "No more sche sayd, but ayen sche yede fro thens sche come, Wryngyny her handys, sodenly vanyschyd awey. And I wyth that woke and fast yede home To my rest; and in my bed as I lay, Sche eft apperyd to me, and on the same wyse dyd say As sche dyd before; and this ys cause," quod he, "that I In specyal sent for yow thus hastyly."   "Trwlé" quod Palamedon, "this I wondyr; but yef no credens That yt schal falle, for we were mad owre god to forsake And to a crucyfyid man to do ony reverens. For that day that I a damnyd man to my god schal take, Loke that hevyn schal falle and Venus anwe schal make. But loke for rumour of the pepyl that yow yt counsel kepe 21 Telle now no more, for I go home to slepe."   Erly in the morw Phebus, wyth hys golden chare, Hys cors toke to the cerkyl that Cherycos men calle, Spredyng hys fyry bemys on hyllys and desertys bare. On the heght day lymyt, qwan the dedycacion schul falle 22 Of this tempyl, qwere iche man and woman in specyalle For the fest and the sesun aftyr ther costummys olde, In her best aray, yede to the tempyl this fest to hold;   Qwere alle this pepyl gadyrryd, abydyng Palamedon, Wondryng gretly of the sqwet melody That owte of the tempyl come; and sone ther come anone Thyse lordys and of alle the cyté the ryche and wurthy In glytytyng gounys that wrowt were mervulusly Of pure gold and stonys that wondyr yt was to se The arayment of lordys in that solempnyté.   And qwan this secretary aspyid that thei come nye, He lete opyn the dorys, commaundyng the prestys alle Them to aray in there slavennys in hye, That no lettyng schuld be, qwat case sumever falle, "But as sone as Palamedon hath take hys stalle, Owre servyse we may begynne and owre observauns, For to spede the tyme to the peppyl ys most pleasauns."   And wyth that, thise lordys entryd into the tempyl - And eke the comunnys, thei that sunnest myght. But sodenly abaschyd the countenauns of the pepyl In the beheldyng the wondyr fygure of the spere bryght, Makyng sqwyche a melody and flamyng wyth sqwych a lyght That the pepyl dysmayd as schepe in a thundyr Ryght so thei stode and on the spere gan wondyr.   And qwan the pepyl had longe yt behold, the secretary Commaundyd sylens and to sese of ther jangyllyng, And anone began the holy observans and mystery Aftyr paynymmys gyse: thei gan meryly syng, Than yche man drwe hym to prayere wythowte more lettyng, And aftyr, ther rammys, kyddys, and bolys, thei gan sacrifyse To Venus aftyr ther ollde abhomynabyl gyse.   Now leve I this introducyng matere in specyal To declare the substauns of the story: Of Amoryus and Cleopes beyng at thise mysteryis alle, In that tempyl ful lytyl knowyng qwat fortune was them ny Of lovys chauns; for thow thei were born fast by, Nowdyr of odyr had very knowlech; for as I before told, Amoryus was fostyrryd in the emperourys houshold.   Thys Amoryus in the tempyl yed up and downe, Conveyd wyth thise fresch yonge knytys, Carpyng of aventure; for lytyl devocion They had in the servyse, but alle ther delytys Was to se the gentylwomen, kastyng to and fro ther sytys; For one thei spake, fyllyng the champ, yche to odyr, But wyth ther mowth thei musyd one and wyth ther hert anodyr.   And as Syre Amoryus talkyd, he kyst hys ye covertly To beheld thise ladyis, notyng thayre demenauns And eke ther beuté hys eye began sodenly To be set on one, abaschyd in maner of that soden chauns, Mervelyng gretly that sche wyth so goodely countenauns Kyste here eye asyde qwan he her beheld stedfastly, Revolvyd in hys mende that bothe sche was beuteus and womanly.   But alwey he fyllyd the tale amonge them alle That no creature coude aspye that he was bysy About sqwyche materys; but anone he gan calle A servaunt, byddyng hym hys prayur rolle to fecche in hye And ayen turnyd to the knytys, "Ye are cause," quod he, "that I Am behynde of my devocionys." "Devocionys!" quod thei, "Qwat! pray qwan ye ar elde, and talke now; stylle be yowre fey."   But at the last this servant come wyth this rolle, Delyveryd yt to Amoryus, and he wold no lenger lett. "Adwegh," quod he to the knytys, "I must grete daune Appolle Wyth thise devocionnys," and on hys kneys doune hym sette, And that thei schuld here loude, thus Appollo he gret:   "In thi preysyng, O god Appollo, my vowe receyve gracyusly To my comfort and encrese of thi glory." And up he rose, for done was hys gret devocion. But wyth hys rolle, abrod he welk fro the este to the weste, And wyse and ware he was that be no maner of suspycion The starerrys aboute schul perseyve, but deme for the best That he so yede; and nere as he durst ever he yede forby the closet 23 Qwer Cleopes sat, but ever fere of tungys hym let.   But at the last, nere he gan take hys trace; And as godely as he coude, he covertly kyst hys ye Upon this lady, and eft forth gan kepe hys pace As he had done before, and sche anone gan yt asspye. But qwy he so her beheld sche knwe noght veryly, Save for because of hys godely chere, Sche dempt that he her lovyd in frendly maner.   And wyth that, sche gan remembyr hys manhed and fame That in ryfe was, and eke hys amyabyl stature. "O" quod sche, "this ys Amoryus for certen; this ys the same That so manful ys in bateyl and so lovely to yche creature. O Venus!" quod sche, "deme I noght aryte that this wurthy weryour Schuld cast a love to me that fostryd hath be among most beuteuus Of alle Rome? for certeyn yt ys noght thus,   "But for sum odyr cause he dothe me behold?" And as sche this gan revolve in her mende to and fro, He come forby at her; bak and forth hys cours gan hold. And sche anone gan consydyr hys stature as he gan goo, Comendyng hys semlynes; and sone the delectabyl woo Of lovys fyre had percyd here hert that her ful cure Was hym to love before yche erthely creature.   And eft wyth hys rolle he come as he dyd before In hope that he comfortyd schuld be yf he myght her behold. And stedfastly he gan her behold; but ever lenger, the more He went to a be holpyn, the more hys hert gan fold 24 And as he yede softely, he syghyd; and so sche supposyd qwat he wold. But ho was than joyful but sche qwan sche herd that syghyng? For more plesauns yt was to here than ony erthly thyng!   There was no wytt than to seke, in sothefastnes, To conclude undyr qwat form thei myght aqweyntyd be 25 A thowsand weys thei kyst thayre love to expresse, But redy womannys wytt ys yn soden casys of necessyté. And so Cleopes there schewyd to make in love an entré To save her worchyp and that Amoryus schuld have knowyng, Be a fygure, the entent of her inward menyng.   There was, as seyth the story, a portrature mervulus In a boke that Cleopes had to sey on her devocionys, Portrayd wyth gold and verd, the qwyche conseyt representyd thus: Ther was an hynde lying as yt had bene on stonys, Holdyng an hert that bordyryd was wyth trw lovys, Beforn qwyche depeyntyd was a knyght knelyng, Holdyng in one hand an hart, in the odyr [a] ryng.   But qwy yt was portrayd, ne fallyth me to telle But for the conseyt womannys wytt to expres 26 Thys lady had caught an ymagynacion of that mervel, That in lyke thingys the dome lyke schuld be, sche gan ges, "And yf he wyse be, my menyng he schal perseyve in more and les." And as he yede forby, sche held aloft her boke, and bysyly Her ymagys beheld, and Amoryus yt gan aspye.   But that he mervelyd that sche wyth so sad chere Beheld her boke, and wythin hys hert purposyd fully To wytt qwat yt schuld be be sum maner That sche wyth stedfast chere beheld so bysyly. And as fortune wold, Venus was born foreby To hos reverens iche man and woman on kneys them set, And Amoryus doune knelyd be Cleopes closet.   Fyrst, he dyd be norture obeychauns that straungely, 27 And sche hym rewardyd ayen with wordys soft. But qwat he seyd or sche, my boke makyth no memory, Save qwan that Venus was born alofte, Hys eye on Cleopes boke he kyst ful ofte, And sche a-purpose made wyth her fynger demonstracion Askauns, "Constrwe now, for of my menyng this ys the entencion."   And he sone yt perseyvyd and gan revolve to and fro In hys hert; but no lenger than he dyd abyde, But up he rose and forth in hys walk he gan go, Revolvyng in hys mende to and fro The portrature that he had sene on every syde, Noght the imagys only, but of the beholdyng That sche wyth chere and fynger made therto tokenyng.   But the servyse endyd; thise knyghtys come in fere To Amoryus. "Qwat!" quod thei, "benedicyté! ye arn wunder holy today. Ye have sayd for alle this weke yowr preyyer!" "Yee, yee!" quod Amoryus, "sumtyme to sporte and sumtyme to pray Yt ys expedyent; iwus yit I have thingys to say; But now, for schortnes of tyme, Of the resydu I schal abyde tyl tomorgh prime."   Nedys he must depart - but lothe was he - Fro hys lady, and sche wyth sqwemful chere Gan hym behold qwan sche say yt wold none odyr be But nede thei must depart. "Farewele," quod sche, "my knyght entere." And he, "Farewele, my hole plesauns and lady dere." In her hertys thus thei ment, at hos partyng was a privy peyn, But at thayr metyng come myrth ayeyn.   Hom iche creature yede aftyr this forsayd solempnyté To her refeccion, and yche man gan hym hye To the tornamentys, and most in specyal for to se The justys that proclamyd were most specyally At the reqwest of the emperourys knytys, the qwyche bysyly Than gan them harnes, hying hem to the feld Qwere the knytys of the cuntré abydyn wyth spere and scheld.   And Amoryus nas noght behynde, but yit or he toke hys stede A portrayer he clepyd, byddyng hym in alle the hast he may Steyn wyth colourys in a kerchyf of a qwarter brede The same conseyt that in Cleopes boke he sey. And this portrayer wythoute delay Steynyd yt sone, and for he knw Amoryus myght noght abyde, For hast ayens a fyre he dryid the wrong syde.   And Amoryus fast this kerchyf gan wynde Aboute hys ryght arme that men myght yt see, And on hys steede he lepe. "Qwer ys my fadyr? Ys he behyn?" To hys men he sayd. "He abydyth yow," quod thei, "in the entré." "And the knytys eke, abyde thei me?" "Wele," quod he, "here goth therfore." And fast he prekyd to the place, Ther the servaunts telde hym hys fadyr was.   And as he come hys fadyr gan yt asspye Fro ferre. "Qwat," quod he, "hath he yondyr? Yt ys sum nyset- As he come nere - "Qwat have ye ther? qwat maner jape or foly?" "Fadyr," quod he, "this nyght for a specyal tokyn of vyctory, Venus apperyd, schewyng this fygure to me, Byddyng me the symylytude to forme, wyth the qwyche wythowte fayl I schuld have vyctory in every tornyament and bateyl."   "God yeve grace," quod he, "yt be so." And forth thei gan ryde To this place qwere the knytys abydyn, armyd bryght, Hovyng on horsbak, perand aboute on every syde Qwan Amoryus schuld come; and anone ryght The pepyl gan crye that come to behold that syght, "Make rome fast, for he comyth, owre lord Palamedon Hys sone eke, and the emperourys knytys everychon."   Sone as the statys had takyn her stagys, 28 Eke the ladyis of the toune her setys had take, Into the place come rydyng the emperourys knytys, makyng chalengys Ayens alle that wold come party in justys to make That day in the feld, for here soveren ladyis sake. And Amoryus this mowthyd to plese Cleopes, For sone he had her asspyid among alle the pres.   None erthly creature than gladder was than sche Qwan sche sey this conseyt aboute hys armour. Kastyng alle doughtys asyde, full joyful sche gan be, Blyssyng Fortune of that owre Abydyn; but more glad qwan that he Qwyt hym as a champyon that day in the feld. "Mars," quod sche, Afro alle adversyteys Amoryus scheld!"   And as myn autour dothe wryte, thise justys contunyed Heght days, qwere to conclude, thise knytys imperyal In tho justys oftyn were onhorsyd Of knytys of the cuntré for many a falle They had and eke yowyn; but be lyklenes, the vyctory specyal They of the regyon schuld an had at the conclusyon Had noght Amoryus hym qwyt as a fers lyon.   But of alle thise eight dayis, knyght for knyght, non so manly Hym qwyt as Amoryus, for noght onys he was reysyd Owte of hys sadyl; and yit yche day he had the vyctory Of alle that ayens hym rydyn, for of the cuntré the knyghtys nomberyd Sevyn skore that notabyl werryours oftyn had be prevyd, And of the emperourys knytys, wyth alle odyr of the toune, But to and fourty, be ful computacion.   Erly on the eght day qwan endyd was the solempnyté Of Venus and the tempyl, Amoryus lete cry among the pepyl alle: Ayens as many as wold come, he redy schuld be For hys lady sake to juste ayens yche knyght in general, In hys owne persone, and qwat he were myght yeve hym a falle Schuld ryghtly hys coursere and trappere possede And hys harnes have for hys mede.   Thys was the cry of Amoryus in opyn audyens, The qwyche ful sore to her hertys yede that envyus were; But nowght ther grucchyng myght help, for or he yede thens In justys a nwe skole he gan hem lere; 29 For nas ther non so strong but he dyd hym bere Owte of hys sadyl, or hors and man yede both to ground, That hys manhod hys adversaryis abaschyd and confound.   And casually yt happyd, there come rydyng forbyby A knyght aventerus that for hys lady sovereyn Had foughtyn in kyngys londys sundry. He of thise justys had gret dysdeyn Qwan [he] beheld one overcome so many. Sone of the pepyl he enqwiryd that stod hym by, "Qwat ys he yon," quod he, "that thus fersly justyth today That no knyght hym onhors may?"   "Syr," quod thei, "yt ys Amoryus, the lordys sunne of this cyté. A more manful man of hys age we trowe lyvyth noght." "A!" quod this knyght, Ays this Amoryus? Ys yt he? Wele," quod he, "hys pride this day ful sore schal be bowght." And wyth owte wordys moo, he rode into the place, And to Amoryus thise wordys spake wyth sterne face:   "I chaleng thee," quod the knyght, "qwatsumever thow be, To fyght wyth in the lyst for thi lady sake, At alle poyntys of armys; and yf thou dar mete wyth me, Yeve an ansqwer, for I none odyr day wul take." And Amoryus ful norturely sayd, "I," quod he, "for my lady sake Redy am, but as ye may be resun consydyr, To fyght on fote I am noght now arayd theraftyr.   "But fyrst wyth scharp sperys one cours let us asay, And aftyr I schal chonge myne harnes to yowre entent." "I graunt in feyth," quod this knyght, "I schal never say nay. But ho ys lord," quod he, "of this tornament?" "My lord, my fadyr," quod Amoryus, "he syttys here present." "Wyth hym wold I speke," seyd the knyght. And wythowte more, He browt hym syre Palamedon before;   To home, as knyghthod askyth, he yaf informacion - Qwat he was, and qwy he come, and of the chalenge Made to Amoryus; and qwan he herd hys conclusyon, Sumqwat asstoynyd, for hym thowt straunge and alenge Of hys aray for the colourys and qweynt facion. But at the last, he welcummyd hym goodely, Grauntyng the efecte of hys dysyre fully;   Comaundyd eke to be led to hys palyce, And wyth alle humanyté to be refreschyd before hys labour. But the knyght noght wold for crwel hert and malyce, Seyng, "I dysyre no reward of toune ner towre." "Wele," quod Palamedon, "begynne yowr fyght this same owre I held me payd." But trwe that proverbe than prevyd so, That over-hasty man wantyd never woo.   But qwy I rehersyd before that Palamedon gan wondyr Of this knytys aray, this was cause in specyal: For a tokyn he yt dyd schew that men schuld knowe asundyr The feld of tho kyngys armys alle 30 In hos kyngdams he had foutyn, bothe gret and smal; For of yche regyon he bare the chef coloure in hys harnes To notyfye the manhod of hys scharp jurneys.   For the kyngdam of Ethyop, hos kyng beryth a lyon rampaund Of goulys in a feld of sabyl, this forsayd knyght Blak sabatouns weryd; and for Arge, hos kyng a lebard passaund Of sylver in verd bare, he usyd grevys that wyth grene were dyght. And for the regyon of Ynde that in the este hat the syght That asure and gold gerundy bare, hys one cuschew blwe, Hys odyr alle depeyntyd wyth yelwe.   And for the kyngdam of Arabé hos governour A gryfyn of golde in goulys dyd bere, Thys knyghtys vambracys in coloure Alle depeyntyd wyth red were. And for the kyngdam of Lyby the qwyche a toure Of sylver in asure bare, hys rerebracys Were depeyntyd wyth blwe, hangyng ful of lacys.   And alle hys odyr harnes of bryght stele, Wythowte depeyntyng: as hys rerebracys and hys gorget, Hys basenet, and hys gauntelettys; for he purposyd that cele To a colouryd hys odyr harnes every dele 31 Wyth the armys of Perse, and so yt was qwan Amoryus wyth hym met. He clad hym alle in goulys, as I ges, Qwan overron wyth blod was alle hys harnes.   But schortly to conclude: Amoryus and this knyght Her cours begunne on courserys huge and mayn, And at the fyrst metyng Amoryus this odyr gan smyght Upon hys umbrere that the sperehed left in hys brayn And so schet hym over hys hors on the pleynne - Dede, as he must nedys hos servaunts thus pride doth reward That for hynes of hert at none odyr hath regard 32   Thus endyd were the justys and eke the solempnyté Of the dedycacion, and the laure of Marcyan vyctory Yovyn was to Amoryus; and eke my boke tellyth that qwan he Had slayne this knyght, he rode forby Qwere Cleopes sate and odyr ladyis, salutyng them godely, Seyng, "This juberté have I abydyn for my lady sovereyn, And yit nowdyr of us knowyth odyr, I dar savely seyn."   And thei alle rysyn, thankyng hym norturely That he hym so manly dyd quyght, And most in specyal Cleopes gan hym preyse that he so honourly Had hym born, besechyng Venus hym to deyfy in hevyn bryght: "For gret pyté yt were that owght but goode schul on yow lyght." And Amoryus hys hed gan enclyne, seyng wyth goodely chere, "God do yow mede, madame, for yowre goode prayere."   And sone this tournament brake up, and yche man yed ther wey, Thydyr fro thens he come; 33 The emperour[ys] knyghtys homeward fast schop ther jurney, Thankyng Palemedon of hys gret chere oftyn tyme, And eke of the ryche yiftys, wyth the qwych he hem dyd lyme That to the emperour come sone wyth tydyng of Perse, Qwere I them leve floryschyng in prosperyté.   The Prolog in the Thyrd Boke   O blynd sky of oncunnyng, onys wythdrawe!ignor Agytat of thee, precyus modyr, synderesys That fro the eyn of the endyter longe, to sothsawe, In this boke hath schadwyd the qwyght herys Of sapyens; but Aqwilo nyl noght blowe wyth hys sylver terys; And nevertheles, I must procede to declare Venus observauns. Qwerefore, O Lanyfyca! yit onys help me in this chauns.   The Begynnyng of the Thyrd Boke     Aftyr thise forsayd justys and eke the solempnyté The desteny of infortune drwe to the conclusyon; For wythin Amoryus the sparkyl of love so rootyd gan be That he sekynnyd and pale gan wax, in parte. But lothe he was to be aspyid, qwerefore be symylacion Beforn folke, he peynyd hym to bere myry countenauns, But none erthly myrth myght lesse hys penauns.   For ever the remembrauns off Cleopes so sore dyd hym inquiete That qwan he yede to rest and began to slepe, He dremyd he sey her, or ellys that he wyth here schuld mete - And wyth that abrayd owte of hys slepe and wepe As yf he had lost hys pray; and aftyr toke hym a cold or an hete Of lovys fevyr that nowdyr mete, drynke, ner play Myght ony maner hys pensyfhed wythdrawe awey.   And undyr the lyke forme, Cleopes gan remembyr A thosand tymys Amoryus qwan sche was alone, Syghyng oftyn for hys sake; for ever lovys fevyr Here so scharply held that oft sche made her mone For hys absens, and be herself bothe syghe and grone, Seyng oftyn, "O Amoryus, alas that I ever sey thee! Thy goodelynes my deth sone schal be."   Thus, day be day, her grevauns thei dyd compleyn Alone, but morwgh and evyn specyally; For than theyr use yt was, qwedyr yt dyd blowe or reyne, Pryvyly to stele owte that no man schuld them aspye Into the orteyerdys that to thayr fadyrrys placys dyd perteyne, And ther her mone yche of odyr wold make pitusly Undyr a walle that dysseveryd bothe placys covertly.   Of this walle I spake in the fyrst boke, That qwan the tempyl of Venus dyd falle Wyth the erthqwave, in the myddys asundyr yt schoke, nobr>That yn at a crany a man myght loke - Save that yt overschadwyd was over alle Wyth yvy and bowys, that thow a man had gone forby, For thyknes of levys, he myght noght yt asspye.   So yt befyl on a mornyng qwan Phebus schone bryght, Cleopes, as sche had done before, sche toke her wey Into this ortyerd qwan aslepe was iche wyght Of here fadyrrys howsold; and as sche gan pray To Venus for help, sodenly a glymyrryng lyght Of the sunne yn the levys on her face gan glyde That yt her astoynyd and made her abyde.   "Benedycyté!" quod sche, "fro qwens comyth this lyght?" And fast the walle sche beheld; but long yt was Or sche yt asspyid, thow sche applyid alle her myght, That yn the buschys and brerys sche gan trace, Wenyng that the goddes of Venus bryght In sum yvy tre had apperyd for sum mystery That causyd her the faster thidir to hye.   But at the last, wyth gret labour and bysynes, Sche perseyvyd the crany, and than ful bysyly Sche gan in loke, but the bowys and thykke gres So full on the odyr halve grwe that thru sche say noght veryly. But wele the schadow of one sche gan asspye Oftyn wandryng to and fro, mornyng and syghyng, And aftyr, wyth pytous voyse, hys grevauns compleynyng.   And more and more sche gan lyst to wyt qwat he sayd And wyth the wynde sche herd a compleynt That one of her made as on the ground hym layde 34 Seyng, "O Venus dere! how I am now feynt For Cleopes sake!" The qwyche wordys causyd her to abrayd Thorw the buschys; and to wyt be hys voys ho yt was, Sche thrwe over the bottum of a brokyn glas.   And he therwyth astoynyd, "Ho strowyth therin thus homely? Be Venus he ys noght taught, qwatsumever he be!" And Cleopes hys voyse knw in hye, Ansqweryd, "Mercy, dere hert, Amoryus!" quod ssche. "Ho ys that? Cleopes?" quod he, "ys yt ye?" "Ye, for serteyn," sche sayd, "and none but I lone. I mervyllyd ho so ther nowe made hys mone."   "Alas!" quod Amoryus, Amyne hert wul breke a too But yf I may speke wyth yowe or ye hens wend. Thys wal ys so thyk and so hye, bothe too, That I may noght. Alas! how schal I doo?" "Fere yow noght," quod sche, "nowdyr troubyl yowr mend, But come to the ryvyng of this same walle, For here no man schal asspye yow at alle."   "The ryvyng?" quod he, "qwere ys that?"And forth thru thyk and thyn He gan lepe that nowdyr nettyl busche ner thorn Myght hym let tyl he was entryd in. And qwan he had founde yt, he blyssyd that he was born Of that owre abydyn; and at ther fyrst beholdyng Bothe to, thei fyl on owdyr syde on sqwounyng.   And aftyr, thei rose and yche to odyr gan compleyn Wyth pytus voys her hertys grevauns. And Prince Amoryus thus fyrst gan to seyn, "Myne hole hert, my lyfe, and my lady sovereyn, To serve yow before alle odyr wythowte repentauns Is my hole entent, and ever to do yowre hertys plesauns Every owre, bothe day [and] nyght, To serve yow before alle odyr, my trwth I plyght.   "And ther ye say onys yea, schal I never say nay, But ever do my bysynes qwyl my lyfe wul endure To be yowre trwe servant; qwat schul I more say?" "Truly," quod Cleopes, "and I before every creature Yeve yow holy myn hert, myne owne knyght, be ye sure. And to love yow best only as myne owne hert dere, Wythowte repentauns, I take yow fully for my fere.   "And he that an hows fyllyd wyth gold had yovyn me, So joyful schuld noght me a made, trost yt veryly, As yowre wordys have done; but sythyn that ye Purpose to be trwe, I sqwere to yow feythfully That ever as trw and as stedfast to yow I schal be, As ys possyblyl, bothe in weltht and eke adversyté."   And Amoryus than so joyful he myght noght speke But wepyng stylle for this nwe aqweyntauns, Save at the last thus he sayd, "Lady, and my hert schuld brek, I must nede wepe for yowre trwe and feythful plesauns. But wold to Venus," quod he, "that nowe in this happy chauns Thys owre the lenght of an hundryd owrys myght be, For to be wyth yow ever is my fulle felycyté."   "Myne owne knyght," quod sche, "eke yt were myn entent Ever wyth yow to dwelle; but be yowre provydens, Ordeyn a tyme nowe, be yowre fulle asent, Qwan we may have leyser, for the tyme ys now spent, To speke anowgh; for ful grete sqweme for yowre absens I schal have tyl we may mete ayen. Set ye an owre, and I shcal kepe yt, serteyn."   "Alas!" quod Amoryus, "and must we nedys depart cumpany So sone? qwy nyl noght fortune us now socoure? But trwtht yt ys that evyl tungys be ever redy; And qwat men wold sey yf thei aspyid us in this owre, It ys oncerteyn; therfore, betyr yt ys, I knowe yt veryly, Penauns to sofyr for a tyme than ony maner of susspycion Schuld ryse of owre asstray walkyng or communycacion."   Thus aftyr, as tellyth the proces of this story, They endydd thayre delytful communyng Of ther nwe aqweyntauns, as I have teld by and by; And Amoryus prefyryd an owre of ther metyng In the same place; and at her sqwemful departyng, Iche to odyr put thru the crany for a remembrauns A ryng of gold, for trw lovys everlastyng contynuauns.   And than Amoryus thus sayd, "Madame, for yowre sake To this walle I do my observauns, And of yow, my lady, my leve I take." And than he kyssyd the walle, seyng, "For yowre remembrauns And very tokyn of love wythowte varyauns, Thys insensybyl thyng I kysse insted of yowr persone"; And Cleopes dyd the same, ful sqwemfuly makyng her mone.   Thus thei departyd for aftyr ther nwe aqweyntauns, Yede to her beddys joyful of that mery morghtyde, Kastyng in her mendys to and fro thar lovely dalyauns. But the more that thei musyd yt, the more scharply yt gan glyde, 35 Thys sperkyl of love, to throwe alle odyr thyng asyde For only that yt causyd; but aftyr this metyng, To Palamedon come this mervulus tydyng:   Masyngerys were sent fro the cyté of Dorestere, The qwyche marchyth upon Medys the regyon, Bryngyng tydyngys that fereful were to here: Of an huge and an orybyl dragon, The qwyche, as thei made relacion, Had destroyd her catel, and eke an hundred men of the cyté He had etyn, besyde odyr harmys don in the cuntré:   "The qwyche dragan serra' men calle, That wyth hys breth hath enfectyd wyth sekenes Nere of alle yowre cyté bothe gret and smal, That nowe yowre pepyl for thought and hevynes So dyscumfortyd be that but ye wul her nede redres, They wul alle flee and leve yowre cyté desolate. Ther stavys stond evyn at the yate."   And Amoryus alle this wordys of ther talkyng Perseyvyd wele, but noght he sayd tyl hys fadyr had spokyn. "Qwat sey ye?" quod Palemedon, "dare ye take this thyng? Be wele avysyd, for yt ys no chyldys pleyng To fyght wyth sqwyche a devyl; for yf yowre wepyn brokyn Were in fyght, ye were but ded, thowe ye had for certeyn As myche strenght as to an hundred men myght perteyn."   "Fadyr," quod Amoryus, Ayf ye wul, I schal asay In specyal for yowre wurchyp and salvacion of the cyté. I fere noght to fyght therwyth, ner never schal say nay To assay myself; for yf yt posybyl be Me to overcome yt, the wurchyp schal be to me And to yow eke, for of Amoryus men wryte schal That he a dragon dyd sle be hys manhed in specyal.   "And yf yt fortune that he sle me in owre fyght, The pepyl schal say that, Amoryus Qwyt hym for owre salvacion as a manful knyght That so manful was to fyght for us.' Qwerfore, be myn owne conseyt, I deme yt thus: That bettyr I myght noght dye to have a remembrauns Than in sqwyche a case or sqwych a chauns."   "Welle," quod Palamedon, "ye wul do yt, yt semyth veryly. Spede yow in hast, sythyn ye wul asay, And purvey yow of sure harnes in hy. It stondyth yow an hand wysely yow to aray." "Myn harnes," quod Amoryus, "redy ys this day, And the sunner that Y be forward, the soner thei comfortyd schal be That now in gret fere abyde in yowre cyté."   Anone, in the courte was proclamyd that Amoryus Had takyn on hand to fyght wyth a dragoun, For in hast Palamedon had comaundyd thus: That the most manful of housold to this forsayd town Schul Amoryus convey; and thus, wyth a ful conclusyon, Thyse masyngerys yede to rest, glad of this promys, And thus deseverryd; and endyd this entrete ys.   Qwan nyght come and iche man was in rest, Amorius wele had in mend that this nyght He muste wyth hys lady mete for fulle ernest. And to the crany he yede, and fond ther Cleopes bryght Abydyng hym, mervelyng, as he had trowth plyght, Come noght; but at the last, ther thei met in fere; And aftyr ther comunyng of love, he told her this matere:   Howe he had take on hand to fyght wyth a dragoun, And nedys he must erly take hys jurney, And howe the masyngerys were sent fro that regyon To hym in specyal. "Alas!" quod Cleopes, "for sorow I dey. Ye ar but dede, for bettyr ye were to fyght wyth a lyon Than wyth a serpent; for plate ner haburgun May avayle yf he onys hys venym on yow throw. Ye schal dey, never odyrwyse trow.   "But qwat serpent ys yt? qwat do thei yt calle? For sum more esy be than sum as in fyght, And lesse hurtyth the venym of one in specyal Than of anodyr; and wysdam wul that ye schuld be dyght In sure harnes theraftyr; for clerkys wryte, of gret and smal, Her namys and naturys, and qwerein thei noy be kend natural, 36 And eke remedyis ayens ther dedly noyauns, If the case dyd yt reqwire to make wyse purveyauns.   "For of summe of thise serpentys, the eyn so venymmus be That wyth her loke thei slee yche erthly creature, As thise cokatrycys; and yit remedyi ys ther, perdé. For wyth a wesyl men yt destroye be kendly nature And the serpent clepyd draconia - that more ys in qwantyté Than ony best on erthe, thow he be noght venymmus - The myght of hys tayl the grete elevaunt sleth most mervulus,   "Ayens hos powere, men for an efectual remedy A panterys skyn bere; and yf thei therwyth schuld fyght Wyth the venym of a tode or of arany, They sone yt slee; and the serpent namyd jaculus - in hys flyght Qwat that he uppon fallyth so venymusly, he doth yt smyght That forthwyth yt deyth; and yit a ston ys ther That the serpent may noght hym noght dere.   "The name of home serpentyne ys; and eke odyr sundry Of odyr serpentys so contraryus be to owre nature, That aftyr summys bytyng or styngyn, men sodenly Falle starke dede; but thei that fere thise chauncys to endure, That in desertys must walke, thei purvey wysely Remedyis of erbys and stonys, as I schal telle yow in hy.   "And besyde thise, ther ys a dragon huge and cumbrus, Namyd aspys, most to be feryd for hys sotelté; For enchauntement ner sleyght most ingenyus Can noght bryng hym fro hys den for no necessyté; For wele he knoweth hys blode ys medycynabyl, He lyith in hys den a-daylyght ever onmevabyl.   "But at evyn, yf he hap to mete wyth ony creature, The venym owte of hys tayle into hys mowth He drawyth anone, be kendly nature, Thow yt gretly be mervulus and oncowth. He, or a man beware, throwyth yt fourty fote, Ayens the qwyche plate of stele may noght bote.   "For as wax ayens the fyre meltyth, on the same wysen Steele and yryn be dyssolvyd at the touchyng of that corrupcion. Qwerfore, men this profytabyl gyse Use: a drynk of jacynctys and orygaun The qwyche thei drynk for ther salvacion And anoynte ther skyn, to the qwyche this venym hurtyth no more Than dothe leuke watyr or the fome of a bore.   "And besyde thise rehersyd, ther be in the see Mervulus dragonnys and monstrys also; As thise chyldrynys, ydrys, and ypotamys ther be, Hos bytyngs be curyd wyth the egestyon of bolys; and odyr mo Dragunnys on erth ther be, but one in specyal most foo To alle lyvyng thing - but to man most in specyal - The qwyche an hundred fote ys longe, tayle and alle.   "And serra cornuta yt ys namyd be clerkys." "O!" quod Amoryus, "lady, that same dragun yt ys That I schuld fyght wyth, orybyl and furyus in werkys." "In gode feyth," quod Cleopes, "and so hye Jovys me wyss, I schal noght gab at alle, but telle yow the trwthys: Strenght of man alone may noght prevayl wythowte charmys Ayen this serpent; qwerfore, but ye be reulyd be me, Thow ye were as myghty as Sampson, ded ye schuld be."   "Yys, lady," quod he, "noght only in thyngys prosperus Redy Y am to obey, but eke, thow they were to me contrary, At yowre commaundement in chauncys ryght aventurus My lyfe for yow in juberté to put; qwy schuld I vary?" "Wele," quod sche, "undyr this forme than do ryght thus, As I schal teche yow; and for no fere yt forgete, For yf ye do, ye schal ther yowre lyfe lete.   "In the begynnyg, loke that yowre harnes be sure for onything, And abovyn alle curyd wyth rede. And on sted of yowr helme, set a bugyl gapyng; A bryght carbunkyl loke ther be set in the forhed. And in yowr hand, halde that ylke ryng Wyth the smaraged that I here delyveryd yow this odyr day. Loke that the stone be toward hys eyn alwey.   "And at the begynnyng of your bateyl, loke that ye drynk Thyse erbys wyth wyne and the poudyr of thise stonys. Thus thei be namyd - loke that ye upon them thynke: The fyrst ston orytes namyd ys; The secunde, lyguryus; the third, demonius; the fourth, agapys; The fifth, acates; and that ye schal noght fayl of thise same, Send to Walter jwellere be this tokyn in my name.   "And thise be the erbys, be schort conclusyon: Modyrwort, rwe, red malwys, and calamynt mownteyn, Orygannum, fenel, and dragannys; thus be opyn demonstracion, This confeccion of erbys and stonys, for certyn, So sure maketh a man - as thei that have prevyd yt seyn - That alle venymmus thyng fleyth fro her breth In so myche that the water of ther mowth scorpyonnys sleth.   "And yf a man were bytyn so that he schuld dye Of dragon or serpent, or poysunnyd yf he were, And onys a sponful of this confeccion he myght ocupy, Yt schuld porge hym that never yt schuld hym dere. Therfore loke that ye use this, and I dar sey savely That ye schal come hole and sound wyth victory; And aftyr qwyl ye lyve, be had the more in reputacion. Thys ys the fulle sentens of my counsel and conclusyon."   And than Amoryus her thankyd a thousand fold, Besechyng her to telle qwy hys harnes red schuld be, Supposyng that the coloure schuld make the serpent more bold. "Yowre mocion ys ryght goode, trwly," quod sche, "For sum bestys, as the sey, more wod thei be Qwan thei se rede, as thise elefantys and odyr many; But trwly serra, that serpent, red ferytht naturally.   "And qwy yt ys that ye the bugyl schuld bere? Thys ys the cause, in fewe wordys I schal yow lere:   "The bugyl ys to the dragun serra specyal pray, And qwan the bugyl sethe the serpent, he cryith wyth alle hys myght, Knowyng wele he may noght skape awey. And qwyl he cryith, the serpent asundyr the bak dotht byte And aftyr sqwolwyth yt in; and therfore qwan ye schal fyght, Oon the same wyse he wul asayl yowr portrayd bugyl. But there helpyth gretly in the forhed the carbunkyl.   "The nyght," quod sche, "pasyth and tomorw ye must ryse erly. It ys tyme now to go to yowre rest; For ellys faylyng of slep wul make yow hevy." And Amoryus than ansqweryd, "Madame, ye say for the best, But ever my desyre ys to be wyth yow, trwly." "Veryly," quod Cleopes, "my dysyre ys the same, for trowe ye noght that I Ful hevy am to departe fro yow - yf yt myght odyr be - Yis, truly; but wysdam wul to be ware or ther come necessyté."   Thus departyd they as her use was beforn: Iche toke leve of odyr, kyssyng on oudyr syde the wal, Yede to ther rest; and Amoryus erly on the morn Wysely purveys thise precyus stonys and dyd hem brek smal In a mortere of bras; and wyth the juse of the erbys alle, Made a drynk; and aftyr clad hys harnes in red velwet, And a bugyl of blak corbe dyd set on hys helmet.   And hys fadyr had purveyd hym to convey Twenti manful men, besechyng Mars them spede. And Amoryus hath taken hys leve, and on hys jurney He rydyth, and thise masyngerys wyth alle myrth dyd hym leede, Confortyng hym noght to dreede. "Truly," quod Amoryus, "I fere yt noght, for yf I had, Owte of the cyté ye coude noght me a lad."   Thus at the last thei entryd the cyté of Dorestere, Receyvyd of the mayer and the communnys wyth alle solempnyté Possybyl for the tyme; and wyth alle maner of chere They hym confortyd; that the day he entryd the cyté Fesstful was of the mayre commaundid to be; And every man that he coude of myrth or pley Schuld schewe yt honesté this solempny day.   Qwan pasyd was the tyme of mete, Amoryus the knyght A servaunt commaundyd to the mayer to go in hy, Enformyng hym how he purposyd that same nyght To take hys vyage wyth the dragoun fyght fully - Owdyr manfuly to bryng home the vyctory, Or, aftyr fortune for the pepyllys savacion, Be manhod to dye, as ther alterhyers champyon.   And qwyl this masynger yede on this masage, Alone in hys chambyr, fro the top to the too He anoyntyd hym therwyth, aftyr werryurrys usage; And aftyr usyd hys drynke and made hym redy to go, Armyd on the most sure wyse, and gan walk to and fro, Abydyng hys masengere; and for he come noght redyly, He toke hys steed, chargyng that forthte no man schuld hym gy.   And in the myd cyté as he rod thru the strete, The mayer and the pepyl wyth hym mett. And to the mayer he sayd, "Farewelle, mayere, for I wul mete Thys nyght wyth yowre enmy; I wol noght let At this tyme for owdyr; at onys I wold yow releve, Or to dye for yow in this mysery and myscheve."   And than this mayer and thys odyr folkys alle Aftyr gan wepe for thise wordys pitously, Seyng, "Sythyn that ye this day fyght schal, Let us go wyth yow and wyth yow dyi; Or ellys aftyr fortune bryng home the vyctory." "Nay," quod Amoryus, "that were noght my worchyp; that schal noght be. No creature but I schal go owte of this cyté.   "For sythyn that I only am sent to this entent, I be myn one schal bothe the sqwete and the soure For yow endure; and ye that be here now present, Drawyth yow to the wal or to sum toure, And prayth to Venus and Mars omnipotent, To Fortune eke; for yowre welfare and prosperyté Is in my vyage yf I may vyctor be."   Aftyr that word he prekyd hys steede owte of the toune Into the feld qwere this mervulus dragon lay, Wyth schynyng skalys, in vale or an eld dungun, A lytyl besyd the hy way.beside; highway And fro afer qwan he that serpent sey, Hys phylatery wyth hys drynk he gan take, Anoyntyd hys harnes wythowte and gan alle redy make.   And Cleopes ryng forgate he noght, But to hys fyngyr he bond yt surely; Wyth hert ful devoute to hys goddys he sought Hym to defend; aftyr gan up lepe fersly On hys steede and toward the beest he gan hy. But of the dene of hys steede this dragon gan awake, Lyft up hys hed and a mervulus cry gan make.   Than Amoryus, as fast as he myght he dyd hym hy, Or the serpent rose, yt to wound Wyth hys spere; but the dragon sone yt gan aspye. Aloft wyth hys wyngys reisyd fro the grounde Hys hydus body, and turnyd hym round Wyth gapyng mouthe as thow he at onys Schuld hym at the begynnyng devour both flesch and bonys.   But Amoryus sqwyftely wyth hys scharp spere Wythin the mouth so sore yt gan smyghte, That yt brast and left half there; And sqwyftly he drw hys sqwerd bryght, Defendyng hymself as a manful knyght. But the dragon, more wode aftyr than before, Lepe on hys stede and kylde yt wythoute more,   That Amoryus on fote must nede fyght But as yt appyd, be fortune, in hys fallyng, Wyth the poynt of hys sqwerd he smet oute the syght Of the serpentys one eye; and ever he held Cleopes ryng Ayen the todyr wyth the stone; and wythowte tarying He lept aboute, hewyng on on every syde: Wyth huge strokys hys sqwerd on the skalys gan glyde.   But ho, trow ye, than was aferd but this folk on the wal Qwan thei sei Amoryus feld and hys steede slayn. "Alas," quod thei, "and cursyd be the owre that this case schul falle Upon yon wurthy knyght; for he comyth no more ayeyn For manhod, strenght, ner sotel trayn May now noght avayl. Alas! qwy yed he forth alone? But alle to late now as wantewyttys we make owre mone."   Thus the ferful folk on the wallys dyd compleyn Wyth many a salt tere and wryngyng of ther handys. But qwat, suppose ye, that Cleopes feryd? Ye, certeyn! Sche feryd that he schuld forgete her techyng, That nowdyr mete, ner drynk, ner odyr thyng Myght her comfort for inward fere; Sche toke yt so hevyly, and at her hart dyd yt bere.   A thousand tymys qwan sche was alone sche gan say, "My knyght Amoryus, alas! qwat chauns ys thee befall? I schal thee never more see; qwerfore cursyd be that iche day That this infortune or juberté schul ever falle." And on the goddys alle Sche cryid and most to Venus and Fortune in specyal, "Thy varyabyl squel," quod sche, "O Fortune! brent myght be Wyth Pluto in helle, that thus sone hast chongyd owre new felycyté.   "How schal I do qwan I hys fadyr see? Brest must my hert, I knowe yt veryly. The remenbrauns of hys lovely chere so enprendyd schal be Wythin my hart that I schal nedys dy. Alas!" quod sche, "qwat onhappy fortune or qwat mysery Is me betyd that am the most woful creature Lyvyng on ertht? O Amoryus, Amoryus! how schal [I] endure?"   But qwat Amoryus was saf; but oftyn tyme in fere Herd strokys he had and stynke so orybyl That had noght hys posyon a be, he had dyid ryght ther Wythowte wound; for this dragun, as a devyl, Blwe flamyng venym owte of hys mowth that impossybyl Was beste or man to lyve that yt onys dyd touche. I may this wrytyng on the phylysophyr vouche.   And ofte this serpent gan saute the bugyl blak, The qwyche upon hys helmet stod, and bysyly Yt beheld; but the ryby so bryght shone in hys ye, That aferd he was and confusde and ofte turnyd hys bak. For ever Amoryus the ryng held beforn the face bysyly Of this dragun and wyth hys sqwerd fast leyd on as doth a smyth Qwan he a brennyng hote yryn hath upon a styth.   But alle hys strokys stode to none avayl, For hys skalys were so hard that noght thei dyd yeld Ayens hys sqwerd; but oftyn wyth hys tayl He smet Amoryus to the grounde, wyde opyn in the feld, And therto brake alle to pecys hys scheld. For had noght a bene that precyus ungwent He had be slayn and on pecys rente.   But at the last, this serpent, wode for ire, Gan fersly Amoryus asayle gapyng wyde, Thrwe owte hys venym as flamyng fyre; But Amoryus yt asspyid and sodenly styrt asyde, And this dragun aftyr sqwyftely gan glyde. But Amoryus, as Fortune wold, to- Phyal and alle - thrw yt in the mowth of the dragon.   And forthwyth the mowth closyd as yt had be bound Wyth iryn chenys and gan fast to schake the hed, And aftyr fylle plat on the grounde, Hys brystylyd mosel gan blwe wer as ony led. And qwan yt felt yt schuld be ded, Yt gan asay to flye, but in the rysyng Amoryus hys sqwerd to hyltys smet undyr the wyng,   That yt thyrlyd hys hert and so hevyly Fyl doune that as an earthqwave the ground schake; And wyth that set up so hydus a cry That the pepyl on the wal for feere gan qwake And wythbrast in the myddys and Amoryus hwe of the hed, Levyng that stynkyng body ther sterk ded.   And this pepyl on the wal, qwan thei sey Amorys hole and sound, thei lyf up her handys to the fyrmament, Iheryng Mars and Fortune; pytusly thei gan sey, "O blyssyd, O benyngne, O mercyful goddys omnipotent! Wurchyp and preysyng be to yow that have us socoure sent. Wyth bollys, rammys, and kydys eke Wythin yowre tempyllys we schal yow feythfully seke."   And wythowte lettyng, doune and owte of the cyté Thei yede, and on ther kneys fyl Amoryus before Wyth dyvyne wurchyppys that wundyr yt was to see. Thys pepylys for gladnes, wepyng more and more, And the mayer and odyr statys that ther wore, A garlond of gold upon hys hed in sygne of vyctory Thei empressyd, conveying hym in wyth alle maner of mynstrelsy.   Qwat schul I telle the gret presents and that men gan hym yeve? Sythyn that yche resonabyl wyght May yt conceyve that he that labouryd so for her myscheve, They must nedys hym magnyfy wyth alle her myght, And hym excellent weryour and most hardy knyght Ever to name qwyl that her lyvys wold endure, To love hym beforn yche erthly creature.   Thys dragon thus ded, as here ys wrytyn before, Amoryus schop home hys wey as sone as he myght; For the memoratyf dart had woundyd hym so sore Of Cleopes bryght chere, wyth her frendly wordys qwyght, That alle worldys felycyté was in maner as a derk nyght To the prime oryent sparkyl of hys daunyng fyre, Nwe radyfyid wyth the flame of veneryan dysyre.   Thus in conclusyon, he toke hys vyage To the cyté of Albynest qwere he ful honorabylly Was receyvyd of eld and yong of the nobyl lynage. But qwo was than glad? deme ye rygtly? Cleopes, I gesse, that in fere was so gretly, For empres to a ben made sche coud no more joyful a be Than qwan sche hym lyvyng in helth gan see.   O lord! qwat joy that sche had and how myri and glad Sche gan be qwan he wyth vyctory of that serpent Was commyn wyth helt! More joy sche had Than Orphe qwan he hys wyf receyvyd ayen for the rent Of hys musycal melody, the qwyche in helle brent; More glad than Parys of the rapt of qwene Eleyn More gladnes in her hart sche had, the soth to seyn.   For clerk wyth penne, or tunge of retrycyan, Or musyng hert can noght telle half her felycyté. But alas! this sqwete delyteful love drawyth to the conclusyon. Of the byttyr, peynful, and scharp endyng adversyté I qwake for fere to wryte! - yf yt myght odyrwyse be Of ther endys! - But that endyter that wul a story take, He must as wele of the byttyr as of the sqwete mencion make.   But to the proces. Amoryus that nyght determynyd fully To have wyth Cleopes hys lady the lovely dalyauns, As thise loverys have the practyk and knowyng fully Of that sqweete and plesaunt observauns. And as he purposyd - ryght so efectwally He fulfyllyd in dede - to mete at the walle as thei dyd before. I trow than veryly that thei bothe myry wore.   But to the purpose. Of ther dalyauns, this was the conclusyon: That thei schuld mete the nest mornyng In a forest that was fast by the toune, In a certeyne erbere beforn the dawnyng, Iche alone qwan no creature were steryng, And there to breke ther hertys of all hevynes, Her lovys eke undyr a nwe forme to redres.   Thus thei departyd to ryse erly, Yede to ther rest in fulle very trost The nest morw to expend ful delectabyly In lovys observauns, noudyr to spare for snowe ner frost. Bysyly thei gan record ther speche that no tyme schuld be lost, That thus and thus thei schul say - but alas that yche qwyle Dysseyvabyl Fortune gan hym dysseyve and begyle!   But trwth ys sayd that God schapyth for the best. He knwe at the begynnyng qwat the conclusyon schul be. And to telle forth this story: qwan thei woke of ther rest Thei gan them fast aray qwan thei gan se The dauns of the systyrrys sevyn Drawe toward the west part of hevyn.   But eight days beforn apperyd in the fyrmament A lemyng sterre that a comete ys clepyd in astronomy In the mylke qwyte gyrdyl; that ever doth represent A gret chaunge, as the deth of princys, or pestylencys gret and hasty, Gret bataylys, deth of kyngys, or gret penury, The qwyche the same morw gan dysapere That this case fylle as I wryte nowe here.   In this morw, erly before the day, Cleopes ful privyly at a posterin yate Stale owte alone and to the forest toke her wey; For in her thowt sche feryd to a comyn to late And fast sche gan her hy in her jurney Toward the erbere; and qwan sche come and se no creature, "A!" quod sche, "I fyrst am comyn, now am I sure."   And in this erbere, as seyth my boke, ther was A lusty, fresch, delectabyl spryng of water clere, The qwyche ran smothly thru the chas Of this forest owte of this foresayd erbere. And Cleopes qwan sche sey Amoryus come noght nere, To the water sche yed and wysch bothe handys and face, And her dryid and fast abowte gan gase.   And as sche lokyd about, sche aspyid comyng An huge lyon, the qwyche that nyght to hys pray Had devouryd an hyinde; and aftyr hys fedyng Erly come to drynke of that fresch spryng. And Cleopes, ny fro herself for that soden afray, Fled away as fast as sche myght renne, And for fere styrt into a lyonnys denne.   And as sche ran, a kerchyf pynnyd losely Fyl fro her hed awey upon the gres, But for gret hast sche dyd yt noght aspy. And forth into the erbere this lyoun come wyth mowth al blody; But or he drank, aftyr hys nature, he gan hym dres, Wypt on the gres hys blody mowth, and in hys welteryng Made alle blody Cleopes kerchyf in hys wypyng;   And aftyr rose up and dranke of the water hys fylle; Aftyr into the forest he yed be anodyr wey, But Cleopes for fere lay ston stylle. Sche lokyd alwey to a ben the lyouns pray. And Amoryus nas noght longe, but wythoute delay Hyid hym as fast as he coude; and for sureté Hys sqwerd undyr hys arme he bare for case of adversyté.   But alas! qwy nas yt broke on pecys thre Thys ylke sqwerd but qwat Fortwne wold so? It was ther desteny; yt wold none odyr be But Amoryus and Cleopes must dye therwyth both to. Qwat schuld I yt prolonge? Y must be ordyr go For ony ther chauncys; and so Amoryus entryd the erbere, And thus it befyl as ye schal aftyr here.   Qwan he was come to the erbere, fast he gan loke If Cleopes had owte be styryng ther ere. But sodenly he abaschyd and fyl into fere Qwan he this blody kerchyf sey lying there. Hys hert gan cold and hevy wax os ony led: "Thys ys Cleopes kerchyf," quod he, "in peyn of myn hed."   And forthwyth he stoupyd and up the kerchyf gan take, And lokyd uppon the merke and fond for Cleopes a C, Wrowt wyth sylke; than evyn as an espys lef doth schake Ayens the wynd, ryght so than dyd he, Dyd qwake for fere qwan he that lettyr gan se; And at the fyrst word thus pytusly he gan crye, "O, hye Jovys help! help! for now I dye."   Encrese so sore began hys inward hevynes, That as a lyoun wode for ire ryght so he faryd Nygh owte of hys mend; and in that gret dystres Hys inward conseyt thus he had of Cleopes Wyth mornyng hert and pytus chere; thus he hys conseyt declaryd: "O most trosty, most trw, most lovyng! Cursyd be that owre that we gan trete of this metyng.   "For this ys trwth, experyens schewyth yt opynly; And be this blody kerchyf I yt deme That for very trw love sche keme hydyr ryght erly Me to abyde - alas, for sqweme! And sum lyoun or tygyr come here forby, The qwych for hys pray hath drawen her to hys cave. Alas! qwy nas I here her to save?   "O fers! O crwel! O wod, ravenus best! Was ther none odyr pray to sufyse thi gredynes, Of hert or hyinde or odyr best walkyng in this forest But on that lovely mayd, my lady Cleopes? O hye Jovys! inclyne thine ere, or that myne hert brest, To my prayur; that as the thundyr dynt slow Companeus, Ryght so this crwel best myght dye that was so ravenus.   "Or ellys, or my woful spyryt owte of the body pase, I myght wyth that vermyne mete to venge Cleopes detht. And yf yow nyl me here, thi brodyr I pray of grace, That Pluto men clepe wyth hys fyry breth. As at the sege of Thebes Amphyorax fro hys place Fyl into helle alle qwyk, ryght so this foule best and vermyne Myght falle thorw the erth to helle pyne."   And at that word, the cramp so sore gan hys hert hold That he nyst veryly qwat to sey; But sodenly he gan to syghe, as hys hert brest wold. And at the last cryid, "Allas and welawey! Alas! how schal I doo? for sorow I dey. O hert myne, Cleopes! O myne hevyn sqwete! Alas! qwy schal I never more wyth yow mete?   "Alas! that I in prime love thus beraft of my gladnes; And yyt a mayd never lovyd but one, The qwyche Fortune wyckyd hath slayn gylteles. Allas! I - sorowful wrecche, wythowte comfort, alone - Nowe schal dye; and now to yow Furyis infernal, I make my mone: O thow helle hound Tricerberus, opyn thi yatys wyde, And conjoyne my spyryt onto my lady syde.   "For sythyn Fortune nolde us sufyr here To mete in felycyté I must wyth sorowful hert ende Owre love begunne; for sche for me hath bought yt dere, And Y as dere yt schal yeld that I onkend Never schal be found in bodé ner mend. Lo lytyl spryng! to thee I compleyn wyth hert sore; Ther schal never lyvyng creature wyth me speke more."   And wyth that word hys sqwerd owte he drwe, Wyth crwel chere and scharp voys gan sey, "Farewele, knyghthed! farewele, aventurys nwe! Farewele, lykyng lust! farewele, alle myry cumpany! Farewele, beute! farewele, fame and vyctory! Farewele, alle lykyng dalyauns of alle worldys felycyté! Farewele, myrth, welth, sporte, and pley, for alle ys pasyd wyth me!"   And wyth that word he lete downe glyde The pomel of hys sqwerd, and held the poynte aloft, And aftyr yt set to hys left syde Wyth ferful and grysely chere thise wordys rehersyd ofte: "O Cleopes, my lady dere! my spyryte nyl nowt abyde, But nedys yow folw, how sore sumevery smert!" And wyth that word - alas! - he smet hymself to the hert.   And in that crwel dede, so loude he cryid, "Farewele, Cleopes!" That sche hys voys herd and styrt owte apase Of this denn; but alle to late sche gan her dres, For qwan sche come, he lay grovelyng on hys face. And qwan sche aspyid that very onhappy case, Sche wept and wrange her handys, and sayd thus pytusly: "Alas! myne owne knyght, qwy dye ye thus schamfully?"   And betwene her armys sche lyft hym aloft, And to hym sayd, "Alas! ys this oure metyng? Ys this the love that we have musyd so oft?" And qwan he herd her voys, hys hert gan spryng Wyth hors voys, as myne autour tellyth hys dying, Amoryus her teld that he went be her kerchyf blodye Sum best had her devouryd, "This is cause that I thus dye."   And Cleopes that word so sore toke to hert That as an ymage of stone ryght so wythowte myght Sche fyl on sqwounyng; and longe tyme aftyr up sche stert Fro dethys crampe, and Amoryus upward had turnyd the qwyght Of hys eyn; this Cleopes than the most woful wyght That myght bere lyfe qwan sche sey hym ded: Her chekys sche gan tere, and rent the here of her hed.   And wyth that sche cursyd Fortune and the goddys alle, As sche that lost had alle worldys felycyté And gan to sey, "O!" quod sche, "sythyn that I dye schalle, Qwerto prolonge I the tyme? sythyn yt must nedys be That I schal dye, for I knowe never more to se Hym lyvyng ayen, that for my sake ded ys, I were to onkend aftyr to lyve, iwys."   And wythowte more, sche gan kysse the ded body, And aftyr seyd, "O, Saturne! thee I bescche The soule of this knyght in thi spere deyfy. And eke be now oure soulys leche; For hys love, on myself now I schal wreche. Conjoyne owre spyrytys, qwedyr thow wylt wyth joy or peyn; For now I folowe, thow I be lothe to deyn."   And Amoryus sqwerd than owte of hys grysely wound Sche drwe owte; and thus aftyr sche gan sey, "O onhappy sqwerd! thow schalt me confound That fleemyd hast the lyfe of thi lord this day. Cursyd be the oure that thow were made, and weleawey! O Jovys! my vyrgynyté to thee I sacryfyse in this nede, Wyth the roseat blod of pure maydynhede."   But sythyn yt yrkyth me to wryte The dethys of bothe, I pase schortly. But Cleopes for certeyn herself dyd smyte Thorow the body - alas, that sche so schuld dye! But alle this was but wrechydnes and foly. Thow that in eld tyme paynymmys yt dyd for a memoryal, I yt commend ryght noght at alle.   Thus thise storyis as thei fylle, as be my rudenes, Bothe of her love and of ther sqwemful ende, I have wrytyn; and now to the folwying proces I my rude style in hast redres. Alle be yt so that I have noght redy in mend The termys of retricyannys that so freschly schyne; And thow I had, the tyme sufyse noght them to combyne.   The Prolog into the Laste Boke   O Sunne of Grace that fro the hevynly trone Descendyst into this world! alle of Thi benygnyté Becomyng man, alle thise errourys to fordone, The qwyche illumynyst synderesys of mannys sensualyté Namynd be ryght oryens sol justycye, Incomprehensybyl Thi wysdam and domys be fynally, That doyst and fordoyst, dysposyng alle to that ys necessary.   The bemys of Thi wysdam yevyng to thi chyldyr dere, Wythdrawyng them qwere that thei may noght schyne, As fro the hertys of them that worldely wyse appere; That eke of Thi infynyte godenes fully to fyne The thralle bond of Adammys gylt Thi magesté dydyst enclyne In servisabyl forme apperyng, us to geyn by Soferyng the most schamfull deth - upon the cros woldyst dye.   And that the world schuld knowe Thee to be savyd endelesly, Wondyrrys Thow wroutyst mervulusly in oure nature, Alle sekenes relevyng, and yit more wondyrfully, Ded bodyis makyng to lyve, that yche creature Schuld wurchyp Thee for God, wyth hert pure; And to Thi trw servaunts yevyng power, more specyally - For strenght of Thi doctryne - to reyse many a ded body.   Qwerfore, O eternal God! alle wurchyp and preysyng be to Thee Of hevynly, erthly, and eke infernall. And yche creature in hys nature bothe on erth and in see, Qwedyr yt lyvyth wyth spyryte or grennes, in generalle, And eke alle Thi handywerkys, bothe gret and smalle, Myght yeve Thee preysyng; and I now of Thi hynes Beseche Thee up this story to redres.   [Here Endyth the Prolog and Begynnyth the Laste Boke]   Amoryus and Cleopes thus ded, as I rehersyd before, Yt happyd be the dyspensacion of God that mornyng An holy man to pase farby, hos name was Ore, That an hermyte was, had in that forest hys dwellyng, Gadyrryd that morw wyld applys to hys lyvyng, Hard the scrykyng of Cleopes qwan sche dyid, And to wyte qwat yt was, thidir fast hym hyid.   But for the qweyntenes of the fend, The qwyche for fraude dothe make sqwyche cry To inquyete holy lyverys to wythdrawe ther mend Fro prayyere and contemplacion, this holy man broute to mend. Or he yed, therfore, he made hys prayyere devoutely, Besechyng God yf yt were for the best to abyde or go, He myght have knowyng qwat were beste to do.   And as he lay in hys prayyer plat on the ground, A soden lyght come fro hevyn and therwyth a melody, Makyng so mervulus a melody and so sqwete a sound, That he half raveschyd was be the sqwete armony. And therwyth a voys soundyd, the qwyche bad hym hy Thydyr he was ment for the soulys savacion Of the pepyl of the cyté and eke of the regyon.   Thys voys pasyd and this forseyd lyght, And this holy man rose hym to go. And qwan he come nere and perseyvyd that ferful syght, Gretly he was dyscomfortyd tho, And fast gan cast in hys mend to and fro Qwat was best to do; and be hys revelacion, He construyd that bothe were paynymmys be the conclusyon.   And wyth that he fylle on kneys and up hys handys gan hold Toward the fyrmament, besechyng God of hys benygnyté Of hys hye mercy eke, that he wold Hem turne to lyfe yf thei krynsnyd wold be. "For blyssyd Jesu Thow wotyst wele," quod he, "That I onwurthy am for my synful lyvyng To beseche Thee of this gret mervulus thing.   "But I beleve if Thow wyl them restore To lyfe ayen, the pepyl of all the cyté Bothe men and women, lesse and more, Schal fully be convertyd and leve in Thee. Now blyssyd Jesu, graunt yt may so be, As Thow dyidys for alle mankend, To redeme them that thralle were to the fend.   "And O Qwene of Mercy and Modyr Dygne! Trone of God, my ful trost ys in Thee, That comfort art of alle carful; Mayd most benygn, Synguler joy and refute in every necessyté Be now my voket - as my trost ys Thee - To Thi blyssyd Sone, for noght he wul Thee deny That Thou besechyst fore; I knowe yt veryly."   And wyth that this holy man gan upryse, Yede to Cleopes, fast wepyng, Drew owte the sqwerd on the best wyse He myght, for more hurtyngto prevent Thys wound allewey fast bledyng. Undyr this forme and lyke manere, He reysyd thise bodyis, and ye schal now here:   "In Hys name," quod this eremyte, "that boute mankend, Kryst Jesu, yowre soulys into yowr bodyis Entyr may ayen, fro the powere of the fend. And thow I be noght wurthy of my merytys, Hole and sound, wythowte wemme of yowre woundys, Nowe upryse, and yeve Hym preysyng wyth hole hert That delyveryd yow hath fro peynys smert."   And wyth that word, bothe deede bodyis upbrayd. And wyth o voys thei gan thise antune of Owre Lady, Evyn as of one mowth and tunge yt had besayd; And ever thise wordys they gan multyply Wyth many a tere that ran fro ther ye, And pytus voyse, thei sange, "Salve, salve, Salve, salve, regina mater misericordye!"   That ys to sey, "Heyl, qwene and modyr of mercy!" Thus thei her preysyd wythowte sesyng, Tyl this holy ermyt axid hem qwy That thei contynwally rehersyd that preysyng. They ansqweryd that ther soulys, dampnyd in fyre everlastyng Amonge the fendys, at Maryis commaundement Were delyveryd and to the bodyis sent.   "And eke yowreself us semd that ye ther were, 37 And for us prayd to the Lord, that for alle Dyid on the cros; and hys angel this dyd us lere, To preyse hys modyr as Empres Celestyalle, Byddyng us ever for a memoryal Thys orysun to sey in presyng of that blyssyd Lady, That sche ondeservyd schewyd us her mercy. 38   "Qwerfore," quod thei, "for Hys sake that us dere hathe bougth, Make us Krystyn and teche us the wey ryght To serve that Lord; for nowe we dowght nowght That God is none but one that regnyth in hevyn bryght. For alle tho that we beforn dyd wurchyp, apperyng godys to owre syght, Dampnyd spyrytys be in helle everlastyngly That have us begylyd be vanyté and foly.   "For alle thise goddys Hys creaturys be, And noght thei may do wythowte hys sofyrauns, That owre myschevus ende hath now browt to felycyté." "Wele," quod this ermyght, "than fully be ye In purpose to forsake alle the custum and governauns Of paynymmys secte, and now yf ye this forsake, I schal yow baptyse and Krystyn make."   And anone, he gan hem lerne; and teld hem in the begynnyng How this world faryth as a feyre, ever onstabyl; And how that deth ys oncerteyn, and qwat peyne ys at the endyng; And qwat ther reward schuld be of joys incomperabyl For sofyrrauns of thise transytory thingys onstabyl; For Cryst seyth that ful streyt yt ys A wordely wyse man to entyr hevyn blysse.   And of alle odyr thingys necessary, Thys ermyght enformyd them fully in the feyth And baptysyd them in that welle ryght devoutely And aftyr, as myne autoure Fyrage seyth, Thys ermyght axyd of qwat stok thei come, and qwy Thei had so fordone themself, and how thei come into that place. And thei teld hym, as I rehersyd before, alle the case.   "Now trwly," quod this ermyght, "gret pyté yt had bene That to so semly personys so schuld a dyid; And more pyté the los of yowre soulys to have sene, But vertuus love of God was never denyid." And this qwestyon this ermyte axid, "Is the love," quod he, "as gret now as yt was before, Or owdyr yt ys lessyd, or yt ys more?"   "For my parte," quod Amoryus, "as longyth to me, My love was never greter to this lady Than yt ys at this owre, ner greter yt may be." "How thinkyth yow?" quod the ermyte to Cleopes, "sei your fantesy." "I am," sche seyd, "so God plesyd be, wyth hert, wyll, and body, Goddys and this knytys; and qwat fortune so-every endure, Never to forsake hym for none erthly creature."   "Wele, dere soulys," quod this holy man, "yt ys Hys wylle That hath yow restoryd to lyfe that this mervelle Be schewyd in the cyté and for this skyl: That the pepyl schuld Hym knowe that haruyd helle. And for this cause Y yt yow telle, That the pepyl of the cyté for this myrakyl crystyd schal be, Qwere ye aftyr the lawe despousyd schal be."   But in this menetyme, myche sekyng ther was Aftyr Amoryus qwan he that day dyd noght appere; For Palamedon thru the cyté dyd enqwire of more and las Qwedyr Amoryus was gone; and on the same manere Thei enqwyrryd aftyr Cleopes fare and nere, But nowdyr were founde; that causyd ther fadyrys care That no man coude telle qwydyr thei schuld fare.   Thus the rude pepyl wyth privy langage ran to and fro Wyth qwysperyng speche, "A! quere ys he, and qwere ys sche? Benedycyté! qwat eylyd them thus awey to go?" But be Palamedonnys assent, yt was commaundyd in the cyté That alle the communnys redy schuld be In the tempyl of Venus to wete be revelacion of ther goddes Qwere were becomyn Amoryus and Cleopes.   And qwylys the pepyl in the tempyl lay in prayyere, Thys holy man entryd into the tempyl, Brynggyng wyth hym Amoryus and Cleopes; and to the spere He toke hys wey, and wyth gret voyse cryid among the pepyl, "O blynd pepyl! qwy knele ye here? Qwy forsake ye yowre maker almyghty And wurchyp this devyl? qwy do ye this foly?"   Than this pepyl gretly astoynyd; but qwan thei sei Amoryus and Cleopes ther, thei yede nere. But fyrst, Palamedon and Dydas to ther chyldyr dere Yede in hast, wythowte more delay, Enqwyryng qwere thei had ben alle that day. And this ermyght toke this speche on hand boldely, And teld them alle the chauncys by and by.   But qwan he reportyd how thei were dede, And eke schewyd the tokynnys of ther woundys, The pepyllys chere gan change, and pale as ony led, And than to syghe and wepe and to wryng ther handys. But qwan he teld the myrakyl, folwyng aftyr tho wordys, That the God of Krystemen had schewyd them Hys godenes, The hertys of alle the pepyl gan enclyne, both more and les.   "But wulle ye wete," quod he, "qwat yowre goddes ys That Venus ye clepe? - for certeyne, a devyl of helle. I schal schew yt yow alle, so God me wys, And so yeve credens to that I telle. And this spere that mevyth thus fast, in an eyschel I may yt put; for thow yt seme gold and schynyth rychely, Alle ys but a sotelté of the fend to blere yowre ye."   Wyth this worde, the pepyl gan schoute and wyth one voyse say, "Performe thi wordys, and anone we alle Convertyd to thi lord schal be and krystynnyd this day." So this ermyght of sylens than dyd them pray And he hys wordys schuld performe alle. Thus he spake, as hys wordys I reherse here, Fyrst to the ymage of Venus and than to the spere:   "O blynde spyryte, most envyus aungel of elacion, Most froward and fals, that fyllyst fro hevyn for thi presumcion, That thus longe hast japyd the creaturys of God be fals simulacion; Thow orybyl, nakyd spyryte! in the vertu of Hys passyon That bought mankend, breke nowe thi mansyon - Thys ymage of Venus - that be opyn demonstracion The pepyl may thee se that thow hast blyndyd beforn To thi utyr schame, confusyon, and sckorn."   Thys word nas sunner spokyn but tht the devyl gan owte flye And brake the ymage on pecys and ther odyr goddys alle; And therwyth made sqwyche a noyse and sqwyche a cry That alle the pepyl for fere to the ground dyd falle. And he commaundyd the spyryte that no creature at alle He schul noy, but to a desert qwere no creature were abydyng Hastyly to pase, ther to the day of dome to make hys abydyng.   And therwyth he seyd to the pepyl, "Qwy ly ye so? Yowre grete enmy ys fled; ryse up and se More mervellys yit; for or we go, Thys fantastyk spere fordone schal be." And wyth hys hand he bekynnyd the pepyl, bad them come nere. "Fere ye noght, and here qwat I schal sey; And put fro yowre hertys alle doutys awey."   And so the pepyl dyd; and he in opyn audyens To the spyrytys thus seyd that mevyd the spere: "O dysseyvabyl spyrytys, qwy make ye resystens Ayens yowre Makere? qwy dysseyve ye that He hath bought dere? But envye causyth yt, for that ye wold in fere Them have dampnyd wyth yow in everlastyng fyre. I knowe that this ys yowre entent and yowre dysyre.   "Qwerfore, that alle this pepyl may knowe opynly That ye hem dysseyve, this fantasye and ye now dyspere In Hys name that sofyrryd the Juys Hym crucyfye; And schew opynly that this fantastyk spere Is no thing materyal, but as the smoke of a fere." And noght soner this word was spokyn, But this spere was vanyschyd and brokyn.   And noght apperyd - noudyr gold, sylver, ner precyus stone; But spyrytys fulle the tempyl, wyngyd lyke larkys; And qwan the pepyl sei the spere was vanyschyd and gone, "Thys ys innowe," quod thei, "we beleve alle thi werkys. "none us krystyn make, wythowte delay, everychone." And this holy man the spyrytys commaundyd to wende Owte of the tempyl, the qwyche bare yn ther gate the chyrchys end 39   And than this holy man gan them lere The feyth of the chyrche, and towght them fully To serve ther Maker qwyl thei were lyvyng here, Tellyng them the peynys of helle and eke the glory Of hevyn, promysyng them that blys to possede everlastyngly If thei the commaundements of God kept; and than them alle He crystynnyd - men, women, and chyldyr, both gret and smalle.   Thus was the profecye fulfyllyd of Venus, as be revelacion To her secretary schewyd, as I rehersyd before, How that a crucyfyid man schuld take possessyon, And Venus and her felyschyp to exclude for evermore; The qwyche ys Cryste, crucyfyid of Juys, made ther hys mancion Qwan thei crystynnyd were and the tempyl dedycat, Venus uttyrly excludyd and Jesu fully possescionat.   Thus hath this sqwemful morw a yoeful evynyng. Qwan this pepyl wyth gladnes home schuld wend, Browte this ermyght into the cyté myryli syngynge, To Palamedonnys palyse, qwere he prayd them, at the end, The neste morw to come to chyrche, and for this enspecyal: To joyne Amoryus and Cleopes be lawe matrimonyal.   Thys pepyl of tho tydyngys replete wyth joy and gladnes Of that soden and hasty begunne maryage; For most convenyent thei thowt that Cleopes - Aftyr ther consyderauns - was bothe of beuté byrth and lynage To be Amoryus fere; for bothe thei were of one age. "And sythyn," quod the pepyl, "he wul her to wyve take, Lete us tomorow alle joy and myrth make."   So this pepyl yed home to ther reste; And on the morw, on the most solempne wyse, They hem arayd, and to the palyse the worthyest Of the cyté yede to brynge to chyrche, aftyr the gyse, Bothe Amoryus and Cleopes; and qwat the pepyl coude devyse Of solempnyté or sport nas noght to seke - That possybyl was for schortnes of tyme - to eke.   Wyth alle melody that myght be found aftyr the usage Of that cuntré thei led were to chyrche and of this ermyght In the tempyl despousyd; and eght days contynwaly aftyr the maryage Were kept in solempnyté and fest to the derke nyght. To ryche and pore that wold come or myght, And to the dwellerrys of the same cyté The fest was continuyd the mountenauns of wekys thre.   And aftyr, this erhmyght ordynyd - the pepyl to lere - Prestys and clerkys to serve God contynwally; And thei, stedfast in the feyth - he commyttyd them to God so dere And to the forest qwere he wunnyd he gan hym hye, Days of hys lyfe expendyng in prayere solytary, Ever preyng for prosperyté of the pepyl in the cyté Tyl hys soule up fley to eternal felycyté.   And Syr Amoryus ever encresyd in goode fame, Also in manhod, in joy, honour, and tranqwyllyté Wyth Cleopes hys lady; for ever ther gret love was the same As in the begynnyng, for ever ther owdyrys felycyté Was iche in odyrys presens fore to be. And many beuteus chyldyr thei had that rychely Were beset, havyng lordechyp of the regyon successyvely.   And aftyr longe felycyté Amoryus and Cleopes on one day Yeldyd ther spyrytys to God; and togydyr in a grave Ther chyldyr them byryd in a tumbe of marbyl gray, Platyd wyth ymagys of gold; and superscrypcionys thei have Into this day, as he that red them sqwore, so God hys soule save, In the tempyl was and red the scrypture that wrytyn ys In langage of Percys and in Englysch; yt ys this:   "Flowre of knyghthod, to the world a memoryal Of trosty love, Syr Amoryus resstyth here, Defensor of the cuntré keper of pes contynwalle; And be hys syde, Cleopes, hys lady dere, Byryid ys - exsampyl to alle women, fer and nere, Of trwelove, stedfastenes, and curtesy; Upon hos soulys almyghty God have mercy."   Thys ys ther epytafy, wrytyn at ther fete, In a plate of laton, and yche notabyl dede Of hys bateylys and howe he wyth Cleopes dyd mete Gravyn be ther eke, that thei that can may them esyly rede For a gret remembrauns; and thus this story I owte lede, Mervelyng gretly that noght nowe, as in eldtyme, Men do noght wryte knyghtys dedys nowdyr in prose ner ryme.   But qwedyr encresyng of vexacion yt causyth onlye, Or defaute of cunnyng, wyth odyr causys moo, I can noght deme; but I trowe, yf men ther wyttys lyst to applye, They myght in Englond, and odyr cuntreys mo also, As notabyl storyis of manhod and chyvalrye Of knyghtys now lyvyng as of them before a hundred and two yere; And rather thei schuld fayle endytyng than matere. 40   And in Englond many notabyl knyghtys ther be In sundry placys, but of one I make remembrauns, The qwyche lyvyd in my days in gret prosperyté In este Ynglond; the qwyche for prudent porte of governans, And knyghtely behavyng in Marcys chauns, Wurthy ys in the world to be preysyd wythowten ende Of wryter and endyter for oblyvyon of mend.   But trwth yt ys that a gret rootyd tre Durabyl frute beryth; of this knyght, I mene, nobyl of lynnage, The qwyche decendyth of a gretyd aunsetré Of nobyl werrourrys that successyvely, be veray maryage, The to and fyfty knyght ys computate to hys age, 41 Home God hath induyd wyth alle maner of sufycyauns So dyscrete therwyth that abyl he ys an hole reme to have in governauns.   Wysdam ever settyng in yche werk before, 42 As Salomon in Sapyens makyth remenbrauns; Prudens hys frend and systyr he namyd evermore, Wyth hos counsel he so demenyd hys governauns That iche wyse creature hym lovyd wyth hertely afyauns. Ever as a wurthy werryur in every necessyté Hym qwyt for hys knyge, bothe on lond and see;   As at Waxham, qwere Gyldenerrys londyd to brenne the cuntré Thys excellent knyght bare hym as a champyon. And the hole matere that lyste to rede and see, Rede the story that I endyght of Kyng Cassyon; And in the ende ye may yt fynde - aftyr the destruccion Of Corbellyon - qwere I alle hys notabyl dedys bryng to remembrauns, Done wurthyly of hym in Englond and Frauns.   And ye that this story can noght fynde, Seke them in the begynnyng of Alexander Macedo, Or in Josue, or Josepus, for in thise storyis I brynge to mende The knyght Mylys Stapylton and hys lady bothe to. Now here I spare yow that yt be so 43 I have of hys dedys many to wryte; I purpose in odyr placys in specyall them endyghte.   But this knyght despousyd had a lady, Havyng decens be ryght lynage Of that wurthy and excellent stok lyneally That Poolys men clepe, to duke Wylyam as be cosynnage Ryght nece; that of Sufolk fyrst successyvely 44 Was bothe fyrst markeys and duke; and be this remembrauns Ye may noght fayl qwat kyng had than Englond in governauns.   And fore that thei - the qwyche be nowe onborne 45 Qwan this lady ys pasyd, schal rede this story, That thei for her schal pray on evyn and morne, I alle the storyis that I endyght. I wryte this memory: That be here lyve thus sche was namyd communly Modyr of norture, in her behavyng usyng alle gentylnes, Ever redy to help them that were in troubyl and hevynes.   So beuteus eke and so benyngn, that yche creature Here gretly magnyfyid, commendyng her womanhede In alle her behavyngs, ireprehensybyl and demure; And most to commende that of thoughte: 46 To the necessyteys of the pore, relevyng them at every nede. Of her beute and vertuys, here I sese; for yt ys so, I hem declare in Crysaunt, and odyr placys mo.   And yf I the trwthe schuld here wryght, As gret a style I schuld make in every degré As Chauncerys of qwene Eleyne or Cresseyd doht endyght, Or of Polyxchene, Grysyld, or Penelopé. As beuteus, as womanly, as pacyent as thei were wunt to be, Thys lady was, qwan I endytyd this story,   Floryschyng the sevyn and twenty yere of the sext Kyng Henry. Go now, lytyl boke; and wyth alle obeychauns, Enterly me comende to my lord and mastyr eke, And to hys ryght reverend lady; wyth alle pleasuns, Enformyng them how feythfully I hem beseke Of supportacioun of the rude endytyng owte of Greke. For alle this wrytyng ys sayd undyr correccion, Bothe of thi rymyng and eke of thi translacion.   For thei that greyheryd be, aftyr folkys estymacion, Nedys must more cunne be kendly nature In yche syens qwere - in thei have ther operacion - Sythyn that craft comyth be contynwauns into every creature - Than he that late begynnyth; as be demonstracion My mastyr Chauncerys, I mene, that longe dyd endure In practyk of rymyng; qwerfore profoundely, Wyth many proverbys, hys bokys he rymyd naturally.   Eke, Jon Lydgate, sumtyme monke of Byry, Hys bokys endytyd wyth termys of retoryk, And half chongyd Latyne, wyth conseytys of poetry, And crafty imagynacionys of thingys fantastyk; But eke hys qwyght her schewyd and hys late werk How that hys contynwauns made hym both a poyet and a clerk.   But nowe thei bothe be pasyd, and aftyr schal I; Qwerfor I make this schort orysun: O Welle of Mercy, Jesu, that I be freelnes and foly Have Thee ofendyd in dede or in ony imagynacion, Fully of foryefnes I Thee beseche wyth my hertys hole entencion, Purposyng to amende alle that I have done amys. To me, Jesu, now Thi mercy ful necessary ys.   And thei that my sympyl wrytyng schal rede Of storyis of elde tyme, yf thei lyste, of ther godenes, Qwere thei Jon Metham in bokes fynde, pray for hym to spede In vertuys; for he of rymyng toke the bysynes To comforte them that schuld falle in hevynes For tyme onocupyid, qwan folk have lytyl to do, On haly dayis to rede, me thynk yt best so. But . . . . . . . . there be as in the north cuntré But he . . . . . . . tok on handundertook He nere was borne, as ye in hys odyr bokys may se, The toune of Camberig, toward the este of Englond. But hys fadyr fully in the north born was he The qwyche be ryght consangwynyté Decendyd fro the fyrst Alyscounder Metham, the knyght, . . . the lord . . . of payn . . . i . . . travyle . . ., Wos son it was that endytyd this story, Preyng the reder of pacyens hertyly. 47   HERE ENDYTH THE STORY OF AMORYUS THE KNYGHT AND OF CLEOPES

What befell in; also; (see note) together died; compose is called what befell them in such where; matter; does     mother; glad; (see note) When; which; root closed; then; leaf hues; sweet their gladness Asia; began; subdue; (see note) Persia; (see note)   these Romans; subdue Persia; Media; (see note) country Against; (see note) where; struck; once catapult     fear; realm Yielded Giving; homage     oath Swearing   Because; populous; (see note)   By serious in truth earls; barons; host security; rule two; (see note)   which demeanor realms victory's fortune army; pagans; (see note) peace     married; lineage Darius; formerly; (see note) (see note)   also children died together   assistance; (see note) composition subject to correction art; continually truly sweet; (see note) heart; other   the reason why nowhere Greek I; illuminated eye marvel literate clerics, scholars furnished   in their opinion Greek; knew not   whom; (see note) each; great translated; by         Persia ruled By whose duration of time     matters   Greek notice Says; near distance division enclosed yards       also     Thessaly; seek; (see note) skills; war; well known fortunes; matchless   Whose son; briefly; (see note)       average; courageous; (see note) nurture because of; realm to guide   self-government   courage, valor widespread; matchless       father honor citizens; memorial   accomplishments; (see note) fairness; ruled foundation   memorial while; battle   from; hail     smashed; i.e., all of them   chance event fear   advice tore down dismayed; called; (see note) their gods; salvation   anxiety   commoners; need liberties they said; hideous Coffer burnt to ashes   reassuringly     old wish; (see note) so that; loss Jupiter   Because of that ought; (see note)   caused to be made; pillar likely Whose; was named     planets; (see note) each; person Excelled; realm her benign opposing sides in a combat spears   briefly     so harmoniously seemed; surpass; (see note) daughter (see note)   cease; story (see note) concisely writes proceeds briefly to show     it seems to me; (see note) new; joined by masons height; form (see note) berries       next from; fell by the twentieth; (see note) by what is fitting nobles; commoners of his reverence     petition; pleasure should; sight highness; (see note) manner; (see note) their; sight   recalled   messenger; courtesy haste; epistle serious manner instructed by   comprehended the full substance       fabricated   hurry purified       barons accepted his judgment people's opinion since; liege (i.e., Nero) warriors; need We think; soon convey yourselves     garden   benign manner disposition       wars; been order, if any thing happens   steward robe   gave; true   gift   courteously; leave intended hasten others; quickly prepare     literary artist; necessary; (see note) refine pen write (engrave)   (see note) in the middle of the path   Wherefore; myself; before; (see note) individual; (see note) is called; need; (see note)   melodious             Awaiting (see note) (see note)   Sprang up to know goes; hear near     To know far burning; examined psalm attempted; (see note)   earlier; before   went cast the moon; (see note) drove; (see note) Pleides; (see note) (see note)     face fiery; her; (see note)   prayer rushed on exalted to the heavens So as to please; debate; (see note)   said; incorporeal by surpassing; (see note) By; glorified (see note) worshipers   give; their heart's ease   (see note)           together; (see note)   face Give way; person   while; will journey; duty   bull; isle   chieftain; warriors moon, peaceable; (see note)   faces Praised     extracted; (see note) securely established; (see note) (see note) poles; (see note)   some     high; collegiate; (see note) predetermined   its nature; (see note) rule travail     brightly shining; (see note) understand; (see note) blessed; plan offering (gift)           sweetness Forgetting   tracing softly; blowing; (see note) hurried; renewed   lain from; the fiery sun; (see note)     haste; called Saying     horse; (see note)       them; kindly         country laid city     rode   miles spurred ails seriously believe; have   mourning; guess   do you know what will learn from me fair look rob   in return whether untrue trust; rue   matter to ponder pass again another   (see note) ladder   trust me truly   belongs suitable for must; songs; (see note)     worldly delight, who began   (see note) mate         (see note)   why; cruel Why change; wheel enemy     confidence (faith) have bereft me delight     conjecture     swooning; (see note)       verse; contents   more refined; (see note)   passed       gallants       solemn       scout; sign high noon; quickly       prepared (i.e., Palamedon)   (see note) own country     ought others; town solemnly; (see note)     came   I am pleased before then; newly   knowledge     about hither; sights went         fair reward sphere to provide   moving rising (see note)     manual labor   arts before (see note) by means of   repeated     stop [if] you will get me gold by a week from today Each; made     immediately gave ask desire while   necromancer       feudal obligation belong   (see note)       refreshment leave them talking   (see note) cedar, hot coals, and incense circle   soon; pit   Threw men's bones   clerics   dwelling place prepared hour; magical process Dressed; white; circle belong   high; circle apace       before he left bound; depart confined (shut) together hours; sphere   (see note)   pagan's custom gysmovements reign         cubits; moving Neither; nor air   sweet harmony circles (i.e., spheres); (see note)   (see note) (see note) scholar; (see note)   next; each; sight             moving individually circularly; (see note) altogether; belief (see note)   daughter; (see note) two white bears sapphire blue north polar star Next to whom mantel green     (see note) yellow Asia won; (see note) embrace spear (see note)     (see note)   realm from; in the opposite direction (see note) pearls; bear     (see note) (see note) (see note) sphere Boeotia   rubies     since Briefly red; green together   do [it] quickly   (see note) common year; orderly progression; (see note) enclosed White Bull       South Pole; (see note) Whale Canis Major; Canis Minor   Doors Libra in   magic sphere   of; beasts alike To whom pagans chariots wicked; deceive torment   hour; (see note) subtle; fiend moved, deified; (see note) sickness; believe; cure day and night   please; fair   again others thrones are called father described above (see note) contemplate their; (see note)     dominion   (see note) (see note) turn out (see note)         Any misfortune; burn   third throne; whom; (see note) (see note)   take up merchandizing; (see note)     resides face call; (see note) sea's; (see note)       ending   hurry Closed securely; went need       weather; dark Asking; secret   What   cunning     judges predicted even if; mill       trust that truly were [made] of (see note) wholly; (see note)   hither; chatter foolishly   hour Sorely (Intensely)   duty     overthrown; break   fell; (see note)   mourning; though     made; wont     grave; happen   since are driven hence remembrance cause to flee suppose           again       Truly; give     condemned anew     chariot (see note)       feast; appointed time clothing; went     harmonious immediately   gowns gems solemn ceremony   near   robes; (see note) delay   ritual worship       commoners; soonest behavior wondrous such sheep; thunderstorm       cease rite custom delay   custom   (see note)         Neither     went; (see note) Accompanied by Talking   glances talking away, each; (see note) heart another   cast; eye; (see note) self-governance (demeanor)   because of     mind   kept up the conversation So that   (see note)     subdued; faith     delay Adieu; don           abroad he; walked wary Those who stare (see note) fear of gossip; deterred   course slyly cast; eye again   truly kindly deemed; (see note)   courage widely known   courageous; person judge         mind near immediately woe pierced her heart in preference to       longer   desired who delightful; hear       contrived (see note) revealed how honor; (see note) By a sign; meaning   (see note) with which to say her green hind; as if; (see note) heart; (see note)   heart       conceived a scheme opinion; guess   near; busily (see note)   steadfast intended know; by some means   near by; (see note)   down; (see note)           often (see note) As if to say; (see note)   (see note)     mind thoroughly (on all sides)   as sign   together   (see note) (see note) proper; certainly still   (see note)   Necessarily sorrowful saw; (see note) perfect whole their     Home; ceremony their refreshment (meal)   jousts   Then; put on armor; field awaited   was not; before painter; haste Paint; breadth; (see note)     knew dried; underside         entré (see note)   rode; (see note) told   (i.e., the painted cloth) afar; folly trifle (joke)     copy     give   Waiting; peering; (see note) immediately   room everyone; (see note)   (see note)     would take sides field announced crowd   No; then; than   doubts Blessing; hour Awaited Proved himself     continued Eight unhorsed By; i.e., of Persia given; (see note) have had fierce     raised (i.e., unseated) yet   been proved   two     announced   (see note) whoever (see note) armor; prize     bitterly; their went thence   there was not any   courage   by chance; near; (see note) adventurous lands         unhorse     courageous; believe     more; arena     whoever; (see note) jousting arena skills of fighting   gallantly       passage; try armor; desire             whom; requires; gave       weird alien dress                 then proved woe; (see note)   related attire (see note) (see note) whose; fought armor exemplify; fierce   (see note) red; black leopard green bore India; east has gyrons; cuisse     Arabia   (see note)   Libya   laces   armor         red overrun   (see note) Their; powerful strike umbril (helmet visor)   Dead       laurel of Martian Given near sat jeopardy; endured neither; safely say   courteously acquit himself praise deify pity   reward   went   directed   he bound them To go soon to; news         ignorance; at once; (see note) Shake out; cinders in truth darkened; hair will not; tears rite circumstance; (see note)   (see note)     ill fortune became sickened seen; by feigning took pains penance (suffering); (see note)   disturbed   saw woke suddenly; wept chill; fever neither in any way; pensiveness   in a similar manner times (see note) complaint sigh; groan Saying; saw     pain morning; evening habit Secretly orchards; fathers'   separated   spoke; (see note)   earthquake So that   ivy; boughs; though Because of       orchard; each person household   glided So that; astonished   Bless me! diligently though briars Thinking (see note) hasten       grass clearly well (see note)     listen to know       spring through glass vessel (mirror?)   strews; rudely whoever immediately     alone     in two Unless; go     nor; mind fissure (hole); (see note)         impede rejoiced hour awaited Each other; swooning   (see note) piteous     regret     trouth (faithfulness); I pledge; (see note)   If; once; yes diligently labor while   in preference to     companion (spouse)   house have made, trust since         then acquaintance even if my             wise arrangement   leisure enough; sorrow         will not truth; evil gossip   (see note) rather than [secret] talk   narrative conversing told offered sorrowful         ritual worship   recollection variance   complaint     morning minds; dalliance   [love] alone causes that     (see note) borders; the realm of Media hear horrible   their property     sickness Almost; rich and poor (everbody) So that; anxiety; distress unless   walking sticks stand; gate   (see note)   undertake; (see note) Consider it well; child's play weapon       assent; try Especially; honor with it; nor       courage       Proved   opinion; conclude [better] remembrance such a circumstance       armor; quickly It behooves you in any case; (see note)   sooner     undertaken     final decision   departed; entreaty       because of [his] ardent passion; (see note)   Awaiting; (see note) [He had] not come discussion     early   die   armor nor chain-mail; (see note) once; venom believe     in respect to battle in particular another; dressed accordingly; (see note)   remedies; harm     eyes; (see note) slay every yet; par Dieu (by God, indeed) weasel size; (see note) beast; venomous elephant slays; (see note)     panther's toad; spider (see note) strike dies; stone [the possessor] dare not [strike]   which serpentine; types contrary some one of those serpents' those who travel (see note) herbs; stones; in haste; (see note)   troublesome; (see note) guile; (see note) nor cunning trick (see note) medicinal (antidotal) unmovable   in the evening; happens   according to its innate nature Though; strange before; throws it deliver from peril   next to fire; in; (see note)   practice hyacinth and wild marjorum; (see note)   which lukewarm; foam; boar   described; sea   (see note) others; (see note) inimical   feet   (see note)   horrible; behavior high Jove instruct me chatter; truth   unless     auspicious     jeopardy plan fear lose   ready for covered; red (see note) ruby; (see note) same; (see note) emerald; (see note) eyes     herbs; wine; powder     lack     without further ado rue; (see note) clear; (see note)   safe; tried; say flee; their aroma To such a degree   bitten poisoned once; take for his own use purge; so that; harm salvifically whole   meaning     armor Thinking question (requiring an answer) beasts; enraged   fears   buffalo teach     sees escape into pieces   In the same manner ruby       Otherwise lacking; sluggish     (see note) sad; otherwise cautious before; (see note) their habit; before the other; either     juice velvet raven's feathers   provided to convey him (see note) leave lead Encouraging; fear   have led     [And were] kindness (solicitude) thus the day   that knew of suitably; solemn; (see note)   a meal     adventure Either courageously according to; salvation their greatest   mission toe according to warriors' custom afterwards; himself     conduct   middle of the     forsake [the battle] for anything; immediately misfortune (evil plight)         die else       Because on my own; sweet   tower     mission (voyage)   pricked (hurried) field scales; old dungeon; (see note) from afar safeguard         bound it securely   protect   But [because] of the din         quickly (see note) hideous once (see note)   swiftly vigorously broke drew; (see note)   enraged Leapt; killed it instantly   So that happened struck   other cutting away at descended swiftly   who; afraid felled; (see note) llehour won't return subtle trick   lackwits; lament     tear feared; Yes; (see note) so feared food; (see note) heart; pierced       (see note) (see note) wheel; burnt [it]     act Burst face; imprinted     befallen earth   Except that; safe horrible potion have been; died       (see note)   often; assault; buffalo     afraid; confused; (see note) attacked; (see note) burning hot iron; anvil     scales; yield   struck   salve (unguent) torn to pieces   crazed by anger [its mouth] gaping wide   moved quickly glided; (see note) took his potion Vial   as if; been chains fell flat (see note) it would die tried hilt   pierced earthquake; (see note) hideous burst asunder; off stark dead       whole; lifted Praising; piously benign succor bulls, rams; kids also seek   tarrying fell (see note)   estates; were   (see note)   tell of; what   their plight     (see note)       made his way home (see note) pure burning desire ratified; sexual (see note)   journey   lineage     That for; have been (see note)   merry over in health Orpheus; recompense; (see note)   abduction; (see note) to tell the truth   pen; tongue of rhetorician; (see note)     painful otherwise       sequence of events dalliance experience; full knowledge                 arbor stirring   satisfy; (see note)       spend   rehearse; (see note) all along; (see note) Deceiving     (see note)     (see note)     (see note) gleaming star (i.e., the Milky Way) sudden   (i.e., the comet); (see note)       (see note) secretly; postern gate Stole feared to have come hasten garden       (see note) hunting ground   washed gazed     for hind; (see note)   nearly beside herself; fright run escaped   pinned; (see note) Fell; grass     cleaned himself wiped; rolling about (see note)     went by another   thoroughly expected was not safety     three pieces same; except that not otherwise; (see note) two; (see note) Why In spite of; (see note) (see note)   been; earlier     as lead on pain of my death       mark aspen; (see note)     piteously       crazed by anger; fared Nearly; mind notion; (see note) (see note) (see note) hour; discuss; meeting     discern came; hither; early grief     why was I not   mad ravenous ravenousness (see note)   ear before; bursts thunderclap; slew; (see note)       revenge; death will not fiery; (see note) (see note)   hell's pain     did not know truly sigh as if           the beginning of love yet guiltless wretch; (see note) Furies gates; (see note) unite; unto; lady's   since; would not forbear us     yield; faithless (undutiful) body         fierce (see note) pleasurable desire; merry   pleasurable dalliance       swiftly descend (see note)   repeated often   each and every pain       quickly took her course       shamefully       contemplated     supposed       strength   white     lacerate; hair from         Why     too unnatural (faithless); surely   without more ado (see note) (see note) physician(see note) inflict vengeance         (see note) destroy driven out hour (see note) roseate; maidenhood   irks; describe I pass over them briefly strike     ancient times; pagans; (see note)     lack of learning (skill) sorrowful; (see note) series of events address (set right) Even though it be that   Even if       throne graciousness errors; put an end to conscience of man's; (see note) (see note) judgments; ultimately creates; destroys   beams shine   end (see note) i.e., physical (human); gain;(see note)     in order to be i.e., in human form sickness     preeminently     worship     (see note)   highness     (see note)       at a distance; (see note) hermit; (see note) Gathered; wild Heard; shrieking know; hastened   cunning; fiend   disturb; pious people; mind   Before he approached       flat     ravished; harmony voice; orderd salvation     ceased   perceived; fearful aggrieved then     by inference   fell graciousness high christened know           i.e., everybody believe grant died; mankind enslaved; fiend   Mother Worshipful (i.e., Mary) Throne full of care; Maiden Singular; refuge advocate; (see note)       rose weeping profusely     continually According to this method and fashion raised   hermit; bought; (see note)   away from (see note) Whole; injury (blemish); (see note)   sharp pains   arose one; anthem; (see note)   repeat eyes (see note)     (see note) ceasing asked repeated damned fiends set free       teach   Ordering; (see note) prayer; blessed   dearly; bought Christian; way doubt reigns         (see note) sufferance (forbearance) unfortunate     pagans     teach fares; fire; (see note) unpredictable   (see note) difficult; (see note) worldly; heaven's     hermit; faith     asked; lineage killed     pity two so seemly   (see note)         as pertains to   nor tell; (see note)   whatsoever   (see note)   revealed; reason; (see note) harrowed   miracle; christened married   meantime; seeking   everyone       go [to find them]   unlettered; furtive   Gracious!; ailed   community to know had gone   while   sphere loudly         were astonished; (see note)         undertook       tokens grew pale     Christian men rich and poor   know call     eggshell although subtlety (trick); blur; eye; (see note)   (see note)     silence; request   spoke; (see note)     pride who fell deceit   dwelling; (see note)     utter shame   was no sooner       person annoy judgment   lie   before destroyed urged Fear; hear doubts   (see note) moved deceptive; resistance   Except that; together; (see note)           suffered (allowed)   fire; (see note) sooner     filled   enough; everyone; (see note) go; (see note)   teach   i.e., while they were alive   possess       prophecy; (see note) revealed   fellowship Jews   having possession   grievous morning; joyful evening; (see note) go merrily singing palace especially       sudden; hastily suitable (proper) (see note) consideration [Fit] to be companion             custom     to increase, add to   custom; (see note)   wed feast; until; dark For And for duration   hermit ordained; teach Priests   dwelled   (see note) flew         each of their other's; (see note) beauteous children; richly     (see note)   buried; tomb   Unto; read [Who] In; (see note) Persia;   (see note) faithful Defender; peace continually   far and near       epitaph; feet brass; deed battles Engraved conclude old times; (see note) write of; deeds   only more determine   courage; (see note)           self-conduct Mars' chance (i.e., war, battle) without [to prevent] oblivion   tree; (see note) lineage honored ancestry true two; (see note) Whom; endow; ability (see note)   courage; (see note) The Book of Wisdom   ruled his conduct unrestrained trust warrior He proved himself; land   burn; (see note)   who it pleases; (see note) (see note)   (see note)       (see note) (see note) both two         married; (see note) direct, legitimate lineage in a direct line     marquis; (see note) fail to know     has died   compose; [for] this In accord with her behavior nurture     beauteous; benign Her; extolled       cease (see note)     (see note) Chaucer's; (see note) accustomed; (see note)       (see note) obeisance; (see note) Entirely   beseech   (see note)     gray-haired know; naturally science persistence recently; as is demonstrated by Chaucer practice     formerly; (see note) rhetoric conceits; (see note)   white hair poet   dead prayer frailty thought forgiveness amiss     read old times; wish to virtues     holy days (see note)     books town; Cambridge   direct, legitimate descent; (see note)