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1 In Egipt whilom as I reede and fynde, once Ther dwellyd a marchaunt of hih and gret estat, Nat oonly riche but bounteuous and kynde, As of nature to hym it was innat. For alle vertues in hym wern aggregat, Of vices voyd, pitous, and merciable And of his woord as any centre stable. 2 But as me thynkith it were convenient Or in this tale I any ferther passe, For to descryve to you that be present Wher that this contré stant and in what place, And if I erre I put me in your grace; Forberith me now and heerith paciently, For as myn auctour seith, riht so sey I. 3 This riche lond, moost passaunt of plenté, With Surry marchith toward thorient, On which syde is eek the Rede Se And Libye stant ful in the Occident. Who castith the coostys of the firmament, The Grete Se northward shal he fynde, And ferre by south, Ethiope and Ynde. 4 As auctours witnesse, this lond is desolat Of cloude and reynes aboute in every yle, But yeer by yeer the soil is irrigat And ovyrflowyd with the flood of Nyle, The which endurith but a certeyn whyle, As for a norshyng her frutys to fecunde, With corn and greyn to make the lond habounde. 1 5 Of sondry frutys and of marchaundise, Thoruhout envyroun it is so plenteuous, What mercymony that men list devise Is ther ful reedy and ful copious. I hold it best to be compendious: Of al richesse ther is such habundaunce That every wiht hath ther suffisaunce. 6 This worthy marchaunt, this Egipcien Which I of spak, was named ferre and wyde, For many oon that hym had seen Spak of his name which gladly wol nat hyde; And in a contré cald Baldac ther besyde Anothir marchaunt, as by relacioun, Of hym hadde herd and of his hih renoun. 7 This latter marchaunt was eek a worthy man, Ful weel belovid also in his contré. In trouthe he hadde al that evyr he wan, And hym governyd evirmore in honesté. From ech to othir the name began to fle, That by report and by noon othir mene Of her two lovys was maad a stable chene. 8 Revolvyth ech by contemplacioun, Al of his freend the lyknesse and ymage, Thynkyng hath grave with deep impressioun Ech othris fourme, stature, and visage. Her hertys eye did alwey her message, And mynde medleth in the memorial, And fet his foode in the fantastical. 9 Thoruhout her erys, wellyd of memorye, The soun of fame of hem so ferre ifet from far and wide Hath past and wonne the castel of victorye; Forgetilnesse ne may it nat unshet. Love berith the keye and also the cliket As trewe porteer, that they mot needys dwelle; So ar they loke withyne myndys selle. 10 Vertu goth ferre; he may nat hyde his liht. Withoute feet, a gret paas doth he renne, And wher he shyneth, no dirknesse of the nyht His beemys dymmen, nor no cloude of synne. Withoute smoke, fire ne may nat brenne, And gladly vertu wil into vertu trace To seeke his feer in every coost or place. 11 For riht as falsnesse anoon fyndith out his feere, So trouthe and trouthe as faste been at accorde. Tweyne of o kynde togidre drawe neere, So strong of nature is the myhty corde. Kynde is in werkyng a ful myhty lorde, In love he lynketh hem that be vertuous Riht as dissolven thynges that be contrarious. 12 For lich of lich is serchyd and enqueerid:2 To merthe longith to fynden out gladnesse, And wo can weepe thouh he be nat leryd, And dool eek drawith unto drerynesse, Honour is weddyd unto worthynesse. Unto his semblable thus every thyng can drawe, And nothyng bynde hem but natur by hir lawe. 13 Repoort of vertu, oonly by audience, From ech to othir hath brouht the blisful soun Of thes two marchauntis disseveryd by absence, That they been oon as by affeccioun; Ther may be maad no divisioun. Withoute siht, ech is to othir deere, Love hath her hertys so soore set affyre. 14 By lond or se the good her chapmen carye Was entircomownyd by her bothys assent. Yif oon hadde ouht plesaunt or necessarye, Unto the tothir anoon he hath it sent, So ful they were of oon accordement. As oon in two and two in oon forevere, That nouht but deth her love may dissevere. 15 Ferthere to telle how it fel of thes two, As fortune wolde and eek necessité, That he of Baldac to Egipt must goo For marchaundise that was in that contré. Ful glad he was that he his freend shal see. A blisful wynd into his seyl hath blowe, His ship to dryve theras he may hym knowe. 16 And whan that he was arryved unto londe, For joye hym thouhte he was in Paradys, For every lovere may weel undirstonde, That of frenship the moost sovereyn blys Is for to be, withouten any mys, In thilke place where rootid is his herte, For to relese of love his peynes smerte. 17 For, riht as aftir the blake nyht of sorwe Gladnesse folwith thoruh suyng of the day, And fressh flourys displayen by the morwe That wern toforn in dirknesse and affray, And aftir wyntir sueth greene May, Riht so of freendys, her tristesse for to fyne, Is liht of presence whan it to them may shyne. 18 O out on absence of hem that loven trewe! O out on partyng by disseveraunce! O ground of woo of her fevere newe! I meene of freendys that langour in distaunce. O bittir bale hangyng in ballaunce, On thee a clamour now I wil begynne, That causist lovers assondir for to twynne! 19 But as to them that han itastyd galle, Mor aggreable is the hoony soote, Riht so to them that wern in myscheef falle Is whan they heryn kalendys of her boote. Of lovers art ful bittir is the roote, But weel is hym that may the frute atteyne, As whilom diden thes noble marchauntis tweyne. 20 For whan that he of Egipt herde seye How that his freend was entryd into the londe, For verray joye he felte his herte pleye, And hym tencontre he seyde he wolde fonde. And whan they mette, he took hym by the honde And kist hym aftir, and with unfeyned cheere He seide, “Wolcom my feithful freend so deere! 21 Now have I found that I so longe have souht! Wolcom!” he seide, by rowe an hundryd sithe. And to his place anoon he hath hym brouht, And hym receyved with herte glad and blithe. He maad his menee her deveer doon as swithe That al wer reedy that myht be to hym ese, So fayn he was his freend to queeme and plese. 22 Unto a chaunbre ful riche and weel arrayed Anoon he lad hym, which stood somwhat on heihte, And seide, “Freend, I am ful weel appayed well satisfied That I be grace of you have cauht a sihte, For nothyng moore myn herte myht lihte. 3 Wherfore wolcom, also, God me save, Unto your owne and to al that I have.” 23 Of mete and drynk, deyntees and vitaille, Of divers wynes, ther was no skarseté; Of straunge viaundys in sondry apparaille, That nevir aforn was seen such roialté. To moore and lasse it snowyd doun plenté. To rekken the fare and cours in thrifty wyse, A somerys day ne myht nat suffise. 4 24 The riche beddyng of sute so weel beseyne, Passaunt and plesyng, eek the roial paramentis That for his freend this marchaunt did ordeyne, With al the soun of dyvers instrumentys, Revel disguysed with chaung of garnementis, Of song and musyk, the merthe and melodye, Al to reherse my witt I can nat plye. 5 25 They ryde aboute with hauk and eek with houndys, He shewith hym maneers, castellis, and eek tours; 6 Thoruh al his lordship he lat hym in the boundys, By park, by forest, by meedwys fressh of flowrs. And list he were pryked with paramours, Ful many a lady and maiden by his side On white palfreys he made for to ryde. 26 Of al his tresour withyne and withoute, Nothyng he hidith; of al he hadde a siht. He saide, “Freend, withouten any doute, What so I have is platly in your myht, I feffe you fully in al my good and riht. Beth glad and wolcom! I can sey you no more, Have her myn hand for now and evirmore.” 27 This straunge marchaunt thankyth hym with herte, Nay, straunge nat; allas, why seid I soo? I spak amys; this woord now me asterte, 7 Sith in accord confederat been they two, The boond is maad bothe for wele and woo. I erryd foule to speke of straungenesse, Of tweyne allyed so kneet in stabilnesse. 28 But as I seyde, with al herte entieer His freend he thankith of entent ful cleene. For now presence hath maad the wedir cleer, Of absence chacyd the mystis ful of teene, Her joiful somer is tapited al in greene. Of stable blew is her bothen hewe, To shewe that two in love wer nevir so trewe. 29 This blisful lyf from day to day they leede, Tyl that fortune to them had enmyté; Allas, for dool myn herte I feele bleede, sorrow For evir unwarly cometh adversité. This straunge marchaunt hath cauht infirmyté, A brennyng fevere so soore did hym shake, That fro the deth he trowith nat to skape. 30 A bed in haste was maad ful softely, In which he cowchyd and gan to sike and groone; His prayeer was to alle pitously That by hymsilf he myhte been alloone, So kowde he best geven issu to his moone. But than his freend for woo began to melte, That al his peynes he seemyd that he felte. 31 Thus longith it to freendys entirparte Nat oonly merthe, but wo and hevynesse; Yif oon hath peyne, bothe hertis it doth thoruh darte, Yif that her love be set in sikirnesse; And yif oon drye, bothe they have distresse. This is the ballaunce oonly of freendys riht, Evenly to deele wher they be glad or liht. 32 And for tassaye yif it myht ese, The chaunbre is voyded and he is left al sool. Than to hymselven he spak in his disese, And seid, “Allas! My langour and my dool! Now hoot, now coold, I erre as doth a fool, Allas, and yit the cheffest of my peyne Is that I dar to no wiht weel compleyne. 33 I am hurt but closyd is my wounde, My dethis spere strykith in my brest. My bollyng festrith that it may nat sounde, And yit no cicatrice shewith at the lest. Cupidis darte on me hath maad arrest, The cleer streemys of castyng of an ye, This is tharwe me causith for to dye. 34 And at myn herte is hoolly that I feele, But aftir cure, God wot, I dar nat seche, My sweete fo is hard as any steele, Allas, unmercy doth to cruel wreche. For thilke flour that myhte be my leche, She wot rihtnouht what wo that I endure, And to be ded I dar me nat discure. 8 35 And eek my freend, whom I love moost of al, Yif that he knewh my secre maladye, Ful cruel vengaunce shuld upon me fal For myn outrage, despiht, and velanye, That I durst evir clymbyn up so hihe dared To love that maiden kept for his owne stoor, Thus must I deyen: what shuld I pleynen mor? 9 36 I sauh ful many ladyes in the rowte, So fayr, so fressh, ibrouht for my plesaunce, But now for oon my liff lith al in dowte, That of my deth ther is noon avoidaunce. And yit the thyng that doth me moost grevaunce Is that I shulde to hym I am so bounde, Disnatural or traitour been ifounde. 37 For thilke goodly that he lovyd moost, I am abowte falsly hym to reve. Love can no frenship, I se weel in no coost. Allas, Cupide, disseyvable for to leve! Love rechchith nat his freend wrath and greve. Allas of love! Such is the fervent heete That litil chargith his freend for to leete.” 10 38 And whil he lay in langour thus musyng, His freend wol besy was with al his myht To serche aboute the lond envirounnyng; His menee riden bothe day and niht To founden som man that wer expert arriht, Or phisicien, for no cost wold he spare To have restoored the sike to weelfare. 39 Assemblyd been of leechis many oon, The beste and wisest that he coude fynde; Unto the sike they been icomen echoon, To taste his poorys and for to deeme his kynde; 11 They were ful besy to fynd out roote and rynde Of what humour was causyd his dissese, And theron werke his accesse to appese. 40 With hem they brouhte, yif they sey neede, Ful goode siropys to make dygestyves; And therwithal the sonnere for to speede, Pelotes expert for evacuatyves, Ful precious poudrys and confortatives, That whan they knew of maladyes the roote, Nouht were behynden to werken for his boote. 41 Whan they have serchid by signes his estat, They merveyle gretly what it myht be, That his fevere was nat interpollat, But ay contynueth hoot and in oo degre. 12 They seide certeyn it was noon of the thre, But yif it were oonly Effymora For neithir Etyk it was ne Putrida. 13 42 Effymera hath his original Whan mannys spiritys been in distemperaunce, 14 Or into excesse yif a wiht be fal, Of mete and drynk thoruh mysgovernaunce, Of accidentis, of thouht, of perturbaunce, Of hoot, of cold, or greef in any maneer, This fevere cometh as auctours tellen heer. 43 And Putrida is causyd gladly thus: Whan any humour synneth in quantité, 15 Or whan his flowyng is too plenteuous That he excedith mesoure in qualité; Yif by blood anoon ye may it see. Yif quantité ouht erre, espyeth it thus: The fevere in phisyk is callyd Sinochus. 44 And yif the humour in qualité exceedith, Or heete or blood passe his temperament, 16 Into a fevere anoon a man it leedith Clepid Synocha, by putrefaccioun shent. And yif of Colre he take his groundement, Pure or unpure, citryn or vitellyne, Gyles you techith to juge it by uryne. 45 Also of Étikes ther be kyndes thre, But oon ther is pereilous in special, The which is whan, by degré, Deeply profoundid is heete natural In thilke humydité icallyd radical; The which fevere is gladly incurable, For drye tisyk is withal partable. 46 Of othir humours han thes leechys eek Ful deepe enqueeryd to serchen By every weye that they cowde seek; In hem was founde defawte noon nor slouthe. But atte laste of o thyng ha they routhe, That he were falle, for ouht they cowd espye, For thouht or love into malencolye. 17 47 His uryne was remys, attenuat By resoun gendryd of frigidité, The veyne ryveers for they wern oppilat, It was ful thynne and wannyssh for to see. The streihte passage causyd aquosité, Withoute substaunce to voyde hym of colour, That they dispeired been to be his socour. 48 For whan nature of vertu regitiff controlling Thoruh malencolye is pressyd and bordoun, It is to dreede gretly of the lif, But soone be ordeyned opposicioun; For it was likly that this passioun Was eithir thouht, or love that men calle Amor ereos, that he was in falle; 49 The roote wherof and the corrupcioun Is of thilke vertu callid estimatiff, As yif a man have deep impressioun That ovirlordshipith his imagynatif; And that the cours be forth successyf, To trowe a wiht for love mor fayr or pure, Than evir hym ordeyned hath God or nature. 50 This causith man to fallen in manye, So arn his spiritis vexid by travayle. Allas, that man shuld fallen in frenesye For love of woman; that litil may avayle. For now thes leechys, as by supposayle, Konne of this man noon othir fevir espye, But that for love was hool his malladye. 51 And whan his freend the sothe gan undirgrope Of this myscheef, he nat ne wolde abide, But into the chaunbyr anoon he is ilope, And kneelyd adoun by his beddys syde. He seyd, “Freend, to me nothyng thu hyde; Telle me your herte, telle me your hevynesse, And lat no thouht causen your drerynesse. 52 Yif loves fevere do yow ouht to quake, Telle me the soth and rake nat in the fyre; Out of your slombre for shame why nyl ye wake? To me uncloose the somme of your desyre! Be what she be, I shal do my deveere. Allas, mystrust, to lokke it up fro me, Telle on, for shame! Com of and lat me see. 53 Your freend mystruste it is an hih repreeff, Or to concele from hym your privyté, Paraventure he may to your myscheeff Fynde remedye sonnere than may ye. And sith in feith so deepe isworn be we, I wol it weten withouten mor delay What may you helpyn, by God and by my fay.” 54 And alle the ladyes and maydenys of his hous, Bothe oold and yong, were brouht to his presence. And oon ther was so fair and vertuous, That for hir wysdam and hir excellence Was moost of alle had in reverence, The which this marchaunt for oon the beste alyve, Kept in his hous in purpoos hir to wyve. 55 Ful wys she was of so tendir age, Prudent and war and ful of honesté, Devoyde cleene of vices and outrage, Whos beauté flouryd and virginité, Plesaunt of poort, roote of humylité, Of maneer myrour and welle of womanheede, Goodly abayssht and femynyn of dreede. 56 Hool of hir herte, benygne and immutable, Nat frel fadyng, but ful of affiaunce; In moral vertu mesuryd and tretable, Housoold to guye forwar of governaunce; To been exaunple Kynde hir lyst avaunce, 18 That yif I shal hir shortly comprehende, In hir was nothyng that Nature myht amende. 57 The sike marchaunt, whan he hir beheeld, With dreedful herte and voys ful tymerous, He seide, “Certis, but mercy be my sheeld! To you, my freend, that ye be gracious, That on my trespas ye be nat rigerous To take vengaunce on myn hih folye, That I was boold to sette myn herte so hihe. 58 O mercy, freend, and rewe upon my lif! Deth fro my gilt I wot is resounable, Love is gynnere and ground of al my strif, But in o thyng I am inexcusable, That I so love that fayr incomperable, Which is to you so plesaunt and so meete, And to be slayn, to love I can nat leete. 19 59 Do what yow list, for tyl myn herte ryve, I may nat chesyn that I am hir man; For with mysilf thouh I evirmor stryve, Ther is noon othir that I love can. For hir in syknesse I am so pale and wan, Thus I me confesse and put me in your grace, My liff, my deeth, is portrayed in hir face.” 60 This freendly marchaunt of this nat dysmayed, But with good herte saide as ye may heere: “Allas, my freend, why art thu so dismayed For love, anoon, sith thu maist han hir heere? 20 With al hir beauté and cristal eyen cleere, Betwix yow two in love to make a boond, I gyf hir thee; have, tak hir by the hond. 61 And ful and hool, as I have any riht, I give hir thee, which is so wys and sage. Rys up anoon, and be riht glad and liht, For I wil makyn between yow the maryage, And bere thexpence fully and costage Of your weddyng”; and hath a day iset Of hir spousayl, to see the knotte iknet. 62 Anoon he ros, supportyd by gladnesse, And doun he fel lowly on his kne, And hym he thankyd for his gentillesse, That fro the deth hath maad hym skapid fre. “Allas,” he seide, “Whan shal I thanken thee, That hast so freely thyn owne love forsake, Thy freend to save hool and sound to make?” 63 The passaunt costys, the feeste of her weddyng, Justys and revel and al the purveiaunce, The grete giftys, the cheer so surmountyng, I wante witt to telle the circumstaunce; For Ymeneus that hath the governaunce Of such feestys to make accordement, I trowe that Fortune was therat present. 64 Thus is the syke of his langour lissyd, The blosme of bounté by frenshipe hath he wonne, For hertly merthe to hym is now nat myssyd, No shadwe of sorwe forfarith nat his sonne; His freend to hym abrochyd hath the tonne Of freendly triacle, for nevir I radde yit, O freend to anothir that so weel hath hym quyt. 21 65 To hym relesyd he hath his hertly glorye, Hymsilf dismyttid of his inward joye, 22 The briht myrour, the liht of his memorye, Which al his rancour by refut cowde coye; 23 He hath forsake the guyere of his joye, His lives lanterne, staff of his crokyd age, To bryng his freend in quiete out of rage. 66 Of this mateer what shuld I write mor? I wil entrete this processe forth in pleyn: Hir and hir jowellys, hir richesse and hir stor, He hath hym yoven, the stoory seith certeyn, And hom with al repayred is ageyn, And lad hir with hym, as was his freendys wyl, Which cowde nat feyne his plesaunce to fulfyl. 24 67 At ther departyng, the moornyng that is for to wite, The wooful teerys, dolour, and hevynesse, Myn herte bleedith whan I therof endite, To knowe her trouble, turment, and distresse. But of this marchaunt, lyst the kyndenesse: His freendys partyng did hym mor to smerte Than love of hir that sat so nyh his herte. 68 Moornyng for absence he is left allone, The tothir streiht to Baldoc, his contré, With wyf and catel the riht weye is gone, And ther receyved with gret solennyté. Her lyf they ledde in gret prosperité, His wif and he of oon herte in quyete, For with a bettir no man ne myht mete. 69 Ther was no stryf between hem, nor debate, But ful accordid they be bothe nyht and day. She hym obeyeth in al, erlich and late, Whan he seid “ya,” she coud nat sey “nay”; A bettir wyf was nevir at al assay. 25 Joyned in oon, thus been her hertys two That nouht but deth her love may fordoo. 70 For alle wyves, as ferre as evir I kneuh, Withyne her brest hath growyng pacience, Suffryng and meeke they been ilich new. But yif so be that men hem doon offence, They love nat men make experience Of her lownesse; but lyst I hem displese Ye gete no more; passe ovir is an ese. 71 Thus leve I hem in her jolité, I meene thes two, ech lykyng othir weel, I speke no mor of her felicité, For no man may such joye and merthe feel, But he were expert to telle it everydeel. For to the marchaunt of Egipt wil I turne, Which for his freend in woo I lefte moorne. 72 But now, allas, who shal my stile guye? Or hensforth who shall be my muse? For verray dool I stond in jupartye, Al merthe of makyng my mateer mot refuse, 26 Me into stoon transmued hath Meduse, For verray stonyng of Fortunys fikylnesse, That for the merveyle no woord I can expresse. 73 Allas, Meggera, I mot now unto thee Of herte calle to helpe me compleyne, And to thy sustir eek Thesiphone, That aftir joye Goddessys been of peyne. O weepyng Mirre, now lat thy teerys reyne Into myn ynke, so clubbyd in my penne, That rowthe in swaggyng abrood make it renne. 74 It sitt thee nat enlumyned for to be Of othir colour, but oonly al of sable. O doolful mateer! Who so now reede thee, He may weel seyn this world is ful chaungable! For how this marchaunt, whilom so worshipable, I meene of Egipt, Fortune did avale, Mot be as now remenaunt of my tale. 75 To hym Fortune hir falsnesse hath overt, Hir swift wheel turned up so doun, For he is fallen and plonget in povert, Thoruh vanysshyng of his possessioun. Now al is brouht into destruccioun, Rychesse and freendys been alle ifeere goon, And he in myscheef is sool ilefft aloon. 76 This newe Job, icast in indigence, He weepith, wayleth, soleyn and solitarye, Allone he drouh hym, fleeyng al presence, And evir his lif he gan to curse and warye. “O out on neede, of malys multipharye!” He gan to crye in his ire and woo, Lych a man in furye forpoosyd to and froo. 77 For remembraunce of oold prosperité Hath with a darte hym woundid to the herte. Mor unkouth was to hym adversité, That nevir toforn no trouble did hym smerte. For mor despeyred he was for a sterte, That he ne hadde of woo noon excersise, Hym thouhte it was to hym a newe emprise. 78 Thus is the sweete of his tranquyllité, Ful neewly turned into bittirnesse; Thus is he valyd adoun from hih degré Ful many a steiher lowe into wrechydnesse. 27 His lyf he leedith al in werynesse, For now Fortune hath chaungid newe his weede, Freend nor foo ne took of hym noon heede. 79 Out by hymsilf, walkyng in wildirnesse, He gan to pleyne his sodeyn poore estaat, And seide, “Allas, wher is the kyndenesse Of alle my freendys to me, disconsolaat? I pley sool; I am almoost chekmaat, That whilom hadde my menee me aboute, Now destitut, I am beshet withoute. 80 Now am I repreef to my freendys alle, Markyd of many and of the peeple fable, Now wot I nat to whom for helpe calle, That sat so glorious somtyme at my table. And they that than wer to me servisable, Han by despit at myscheef me forsake, 28 Gret cause have I an outcry for to make. 81 O out on shame, of hauhtesse plongid lowe! O out on dolour, of lordship brouht to nouht! O out on richesse, with vanyté forblowe, Forsakyng soone and with gret travayle souht! O worldly blisse of me ful dere abouht, Thy sodeyn turn now doublith my grevaunce, Mor than of it I nevir hadde had plesaunce. 82 Now hongir, thrust, unkouth sueth to me, Unwarly sueth my passyd habundaunce; 29 Now cold, now nakyd in necessité, I walke aboute for my sustenaunce, Whilom in plenté and now al in grevaunce. Allas! My fulle is derkyd into wane, With wynd forwhirlyd as is a muaunt fane. 83 O, in this world what woo and werynesse! What mortal torment assaileth al aboute! What grevous molest and what besynesse, With many assaut in dreed doth us to doute! Now up, now doun as doth a curraunt goute, So ar we travailed with solicitude! The world with mowhes so weel can us delude 84 But I knowe weel, who trustith on thee moost, Shal be deceyved whan he to thee hath neede. Wher is the clarioun of thy cry and boost, That to skyes my fame did beede? Who servyth thee, what shal be his meede, Whan that he wenyth thu maist hym most availe, Than in the hand rathest thu wilt hym fayle?” 30 85 O seely marchaunt, myn hand I feele quake, To write thy woo in my translacioun, Ful ofte I weepe also for thy sake For to beholde the revolucioun Of thy degree and transmutacioun. Allas, to thee I can no bet diffence, Than thee to arme strongly in pacience. 86 Nat oonly thu, but every man on lyve, How hih in throne he sittith exaltat, Lat hym nat tempte ageyns God to stryve, But take His sonde meekly withoute debat, For who so do, he is infortunat; No wele is worthy that may no woo endure, Wherfor ech man tak paciently his ewre. 87 For Senek seith with ful hih sentence, Of preef in povert, who so that hym reede In thylke book he made of providence, That he unhappy is, withouten dreede, Which nevir ne hadde adversité nor neede. Of whom the goddys dempten pleynly thus: “Withouten assay no man is vertuous.” 88 And yif a tre with frut be ovirlade, In his Epistles he seith as ye may see: Both braunche and bouh wol enclyne and fade, And greyne oppressith too moche uberté.31 Riht so it farith of fals felicité, That yif his weihte mesure do exceede, Than of a fal gretly is to dreede. 89 But why that God this marchaunt list visite, 32 As I suppose, it was hym for to preeve; Thouh he were wooful, he was the lasse wite, Sith nevir afforn Fortune did hym greeve. From his wantrust he was brouht in beleeve, That he weel kneuh this world was ful unstable, And nat abydyng, but evirmor variable. 90 And whan he kneuh the grete unsikyrnesse Of worldly lust, by preef in special, On knees he fel with devout humblesse, Ful lowe of herte, and thankyd God of al, And sayde, “Lord, thouh I have had a fal, Ne put me nat fro thy proteccioun, Sith I it take for my probacioun. 91 But, goode Lord, lat me thy grace fynde, And guye my wittis that I be nat despeyred; But me enspeere, puttyng in my mynde Som hoope of refut that am so soore appeyred. And thouh to richesse ther be no grees isteyred Tascenden up, as I was wont to doone, Yit, goode Lord, do confort to my boone.” 92 And whil he lay thus in his orisoun, Ful poorly clad in ful symple weede, His herte was brouht in consolacioun, Which into lissyng his langour did leede. He thouhte he wolde preeve his freend at neede, 33 And unto Baldac, for to make assay, In pilgrym wise he took the rihte way. 93 And whan he was comen to that londe, Ful soore afferd he was for to compleyne. “Allas!” he seide, “Myn herte dar nat fonde Unto my freend to shewen out my peyne, That whiloom was in richesse so hauhteyne; For to be ded, I dar nat for shamfastnesse Nat shewe a poynt to hym of my distresse.” 34 94 And eek that it was somwhat late Whan he was entryd into that cité, Hym liked nat to knocken at the gate, And namly in so poore degré, And it was nyht; therfor he lefte be, List of his freend he were anoon refusyd As man unknowe, or for som spye accusyd. 95 Into a temple foundid by dayes olde, He is ientryd a place al desolat, And leyd hym doun by the wallys colde, So weyk, so wery, forwandryd, and format. 35 O pompe unporisshyd, whilom so elat! Take heed, ye ryche, of what estat ye bee, For in this marchaunt your myrour ye may see. 96 How many a man hath fortune assayled tested With sleihte icast, whan he best wende ha stonde, Her habiriownys of steel also unmayled; For al her trust she nolde the lasse wonde 36 To pleye this pleye bothe with free and bonde. For who stood evir yit in sureté, security That in som siht infect was his degré? 37 97 For by exaumplys Nature doth declare, Which is of God mynystir and vikeer, Withoute tonge she biddith us beware By thylke sterrys that shynen briht and cleer, Which, by her concours and mevyng circuleer In her discens, westyng undir wavys, 38 Us to enfourmen by chaungyng of hir lawys. 98 And fewe of hem alway to us appeere, 39 But yif it be the bere briht and sheene In thilke plow that Arthow doth it steere; For yit Boetes, that twynkelith wondir keene, Somwhile is dym that men may nat hym seene; Eek Lucifeer, at morowhil prymycere, By nyht hym hidith undir our empeere. 99 The day doth passe of vanité and glorye, And nyht approchith whan Titan is gon doun, But who list wynne the palme by victorye, The world to venquyssh ful of elacioun, Lat hym despise as a chaunpioun Al erthly lustys that shynen but in dreede, 40 And of this marchaunt evir among tak heede. 100 Evir entirmedlyd is merthe and hevynesse, Now liht, now soory, now joiful, Now cleer aloffte, now lowe in dirknesse; As Jubiter hath couchyd tonnes two Withyne his ceeleer, platly and no moo, That oon is ful of joye and gladnesse, That othir ful of sorwe and bittirnesse. 101 Who that wil entren to tamen of the sweete He must as weel taken his aventure To taste in bittir, or he the vessel leete, And bothe ilich of strong herte endure. He may nat clense the thykke from the pure; For who that wil swetnesse first abroche, He mot be war or bittir wol approche. 102 Of thes two idronken at the fulle Hath this marchaunt that I of spak erwhyle. The laste bevere so maad his hed to dulle That he ne lest but litil lawh or smyle. Expert he was bothe of trust and guyle, For wher that he his beddyng whilom chees, Slept on the ground now nakyd herberwelees. 103 And whil that he lay sleepyng in this wise, An hap befel of two men in the toun, Betwix the which a contek gan to ryse Riht ther besyde, with gret noyse and soun; That oon his felawe hath slayn and boredoun, Undir the temple wher as this marchaunt lay, And left hym ther and fled anoon his way. 104 The toun was reised with rumour riht anoon, And to the temple faste gonne renne, Now heer, now ther, ful swyftly they goon, To taken hym that hadde wrouht this synne; Tyl atte laste they souhte han hym withynne, And with the noyse, as they gonne in threste, The poore marchaunt abrayd out of his reste. 105 Riht for astonyd, palen gan his hewe Whan they hym asken what mystirman he were, Or yif that he thomycide knewe That hadde slayn the man that liggith there. And he anoon withouten dreed or fere Seyde, “Certeynly, thouh ye me hange and drawe, No wiht but I hath this man islawe.” 106 His covetise was to ha be ded, That he by deth hys myserye myht fyne; His woo heeng on hym hevyere than led, And poverté did hym so moche pyne, He wolde that deth had leyd hook and lyne Tacacchyd hym into his bittir las. Therfor on hym he took this hih trespas. 107 “O deth, desyred in adversité, Whan thu art callyd, why nylt thu wrecchys heere? And art so reedy in felicité To come to them that thee nothyng desire? O com now, deth, and maak of me thy feere!” This marchaunt crieth in his wooful herte, So ful he was of inward peynes smerte. 108 Anoon he was itaken and ibounde, And cast in prisoun, tyl on the nexte morwe, And than itaken and brouht as they hym founde, Aforn the justice for no man wold hym borwe; To seen a fyn he hopith of his sorwe, Fordempt he was thoruh his owne speche, By jugement to han for deth the wreche. 109 And than as faste as he to deth was lad, His oold freend happyd forby passe, The which beheeld hym with cheer demure and sad, 41 And kneuh the feturys and signes of his face; And anoon he prayeth leyseer to hym, and space, For to been herd of hem in pacience, And stynt awhyle to give hym audience. 110 “Sires,” he seith, “So it nat yow displese, This man is dampned, so ful of innocence, And giltles ye don hym this disese. For I mysilf have wrouht this gret offence, To me it fallith tencurren the sentence Of deth, the trouthe weel to founde, For with myn hand I gaff his dedly wounde.” 111 His herte was meevyd of oold naturesse To save his freend, and for hym for to deye, And he was hent anoon and pullyd by duresse; With sure arrest they handys on hym leye And al her lust meekly he did obeye. Tofore the juge he was ilad and drawe, Wher he was dampned by concours of the lawe. 42 112 Thoo was he lad with weepyng and pité Thereupon Toward his deth, of many hym besyde; His poore freend was loos at liberté, Which thouhte for woo deth thoruh his herte glyde. Whyls in the prees, the verray homycide, That sothfastly that deede hadde iwrouht, Spak to hymsylf thus in his owne thouht: 113 “Allas, myn herte, hard as the dyamaunt! How maist thu suffre this cruelté to seen? Allas, thoruh remors, why ne were I repentaunt, The southfast trouthe to be confessyd cleen? Allas this wrong! How may I thus susteen To see afore me ungilté thus itake, And lad to dethward oonly for my sake? 114 O rihtwys God, to whom ech pryvyté Is pleyn and open to Thy magnyficence, O Lord that knowyst myn hyd iniquité, Beholdyng al, O Sonne of Sapience, Ne take no vengaunce of myn hih offence, That I so longe concelyd have the trouthe, But of thy mercy, Lord, have on me routhe! 115 For weel I wot that of thy rihtwysnesse, Thu must me punysshen at thy jugement, And thouh thu suffre awhile in esynesse, Blood wil have wreche that wrongfully is spent. O blood ungilté! O blood so innocent! How canst thu gon to deth and nat compleyne, To wreke thee aftir on me with cruel peyne? 43 116 To the hih God, eternal in His see, Blood crieth out that is ishad in wronge, And seith, ‘O lord, whan wilt Thu vengyd bee Upon our deth? Why bydist Thu so longe?’ Of innocentys, this is the noote and songe. Wherfor I wol, whil I have lif and space, The sothe be knowe, and put me in Thy grace. 117 It is too moche that I have slayn oon, And but I speke, toward is anothir, The which is domb and stille as ony stoon, For verray love for to save his brothir; Everych is reedy to fonge deth for othir. Now wyl I goon and pleynly me confesse, And for my gilt receyven the redresse.” 118 With open mouth, lowde he gan to crye: “O ye disceyved peeple by errour, That innocent, allas, why shal he dye, Which nevir ne was his lyve trespasour? Turneth ageyn and let be this clamour, And let to me her doom been hool reserved, 44 For I am he that hath the deth disserved. 119 Let hym go loos, sith he of gilt is fre; It is mysilf that hath the deede ido! Why wyl ye erren and punysshen verité, And let falsnesse at his large go?” The peeple of this gan for to wondren tho, And eek the justices, of this sodeyn chaunce, That alle here wittis wer hangid in ballaunce. 120 Yit nevirtheles thus they iwrouhte: The firste they unbounde, and this othir take, And by assent hem everychon ibrouhte Tofore the kyng, and ther a processe make: How ech of thes hath don for othrys sake, And prayn hym good juge for to bee To fynde a wey the trouthe for to see. 121 This worthy kyng, to serchyn out the riht, Shewith hymsilf bothe wys and eek tretable, And made mercy to goon aforn his myht Shapyng a mene ful just and resonable. To alle thre he shewyd hym merciable Of al the crym; withyne woordys fewe, Pardon he grauntith so they the trouthe shewe. 122 Of al the cas they have no poynt isparyd: First of her frenship, joye, and adversité, But woord by woord, the stoory hool declaryd, Bothe of thes tweyne the love and unyté — Ye han that herd; ye gete no mor of me — And how the thrydde hadde a conscience For his trespace so dampned innocence. 123 With gret merveile they wondryn on this thyng, To seen in frenship so hool affeccioun; And specially this wise, worthy kyng Gan wisshe of herte that thoruh his regioun Were ful affermyd an obligacioun Of such enteernesse fro man to man aboute; Of tresoun than ful litil wer to doute. 45 124 Ful hard it were tacomplisshen his desyr, Or in his rewm such a bargeyn dryve, The aeyer infect, the wedir is nat cleer, Ne nevir ne shal whil tresoun is so ryve. For now, of trowthe, no man can contryve A verray seel, or thenpreent igrave, Withoute a label his armes hool to save. 46 125 But whan thys kyng hath thus doon hem grace, He let hem goo at her eleccioun; free will And he of Baldac hath lad hoom to his place His poore freend with gret processioun, He rayeth hym newe with good affeccioun, And seide, “Freend, your pensiffheed asswage, And for povert ne beeth no more in rage. 126 But here anoon, as ferre as it may laste, Of al my good, halvendeel is youre. I wyl that it departyd be as faste At your devise, your povert to socoure. For our frenship shal every sesoun floure, And in short tyme, I telle it you in pleyn, Ye shul to richesse restooryd be ageyn. 127 And than, at erst avised, ye may telle, Unto your contré whedir ye wil returne, Or heer with me al your lyff dwelle; The choys is your, look no more ye moorne, And whersobe ye goon, or heer sojourne, Have heer my trouthe: our hertys shul been oon Whil breeth may laste, and nevir unsondir goon.” 128 By egal witt his goodys everychon equal judgment Wer tho departyd betwix thes freendys two, Bycause this marchaunt wold algatys gon Hom to his contré that he lovyd soo. The stoory tellith withoute woordys moo, Riht into Egipt he is goon ageyn. Of her frenship what shuld I you moor seyn? 129 I say you platly, so as it seemyth me, Of thyng weel preevyd to maken rehersayl Too oftyn sith it were but vanyté, 47 Lest tediousté your erys did assayl; Sith ye it knowe, it may nothyng avayl Of her frenship ferther more divyne, For as they gonne, so in love they fyne. 130 L’envoye Thus of this tale to you I make an eende. On my rewde tellyng of curtesye ye rewe. And God I prey that He His grace sende That every freend to othir be as trewe As were thes marchauntis, alway ilich newe. This my desyr in al degrees of men. That it so be, I pray you seith “Amen.”

(t-note) once (long ago); (t-note) generous; (t-note) (t-note) gathered together; (t-note) benevolent and merciful; (t-note) (see note) (t-note) Before; (t-note) (t-note) listen; (t-note) (see note) (see note) Syria; the Orient (East); (t-note) also the Red Sea Libya; West calculates (see note); (t-note) far toward the south (t-note) to make fertile abundant various the region goods; wish for; (t-note) man has enough Of whom I have spoken; renowned a person; (t-note) would not like to; (see note); (t-note) Syria by word of mouth other; also (t-note) he had looked after all of his profits; (t-note) himself (t-note) (see note) their; (t-note) (see note); (t-note) (t-note) engraved a deep impression [of]; (t-note) face; (t-note) imagination; carried their messages (see note) intermingled; (see note) found its emotional satisfaction; (t-note) ears; resounding with (filled with); (t-note) from far and wide; (t-note) (t-note) Forgetfulness; (t-note) lock must necessarily Thus are they locked (see note); (t-note) (see note) great pace; run; (t-note) (t-note) burn (t-note) (see note), (t-note) peer; region; (t-note) soon; its quickly; (t-note) one Nature; (t-note) those; (t-note) Just as; (t-note) mirth educated; (t-note) sorrow draws towards; (t-note) Toward that which is similar; (t-note) (t-note) by word of mouth; (t-note) report; (t-note) severed one; (t-note) keenly; (t-note) goods; agents (t-note) intermingled; their common If; anything immediately; (t-note) (see note) nothing; sever; (t-note) willed (required); (see note); (t-note) (see note), (t-note) to the place where; (t-note) (t-note) without exception; (t-note) that; (t-note) alleviate; sharp; (t-note) just as; (see note); (t-note) because of the ensuing day; (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) follows; (t-note) Just so; their sadness; end; (t-note) (t-note) away with (fie on); (see note); (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) fate; (see note) (t-note) have; bitterness; (see note); (t-note) sweet have fallen into trouble; (t-note) news of a remedy (t-note) (t-note) he said he would meet him; (t-note) (t-note) sincere; (t-note) (t-note) what; (t-note) a hundred times in a row; (t-note) (t-note) servants do their duty; quickly (t-note) eager; make comfortable well-appointed; (t-note) rather high; (t-note) well satisfied (t-note) (t-note) You are welcome to whatever I have; (t-note) delicacies, meat (t-note) exotic foods presented elaborately; (t-note) (t-note) (see note); (t-note) (t-note) suite; well furnished; (t-note) Excellent; decorations; (t-note) sound, music costumed revels; (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) property (lands); (see note); (t-note) meadows; (t-note) lest; aroused by the desire to love (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) I have is all yours endow (t-note) foreign; (t-note) (see note) united; (t-note) for good and bad (for wealth or misfortune); (see note); (t-note) erred badly two; knit wholeheartedly; (see note) very sincerely; (see note); (t-note) troubles; (see note) decorated (as with tapestry); (see note); (t-note) Both take on the stable color of blue; (see note); (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) (see note); (see t-note) sorrow Always unexpectedly; (see note) (t-note) burning ; (t-note) from; he believed he could not (t-note) lay; sigh and groan; (see note); (t-note) (t-note) give issue to (see note) it is appropriate for friends to share; (see note), (t-note) (t-note) stability; (t-note) shrivels; (t-note) (t-note) share whether; (t-note) to test (try); (t-note) chamber; emptied; alone; (t-note) (t-note) (see note) worst (t-note) no one; (t-note) closed (i.e., secret, hidden); (see note); (t-note) (t-note) morbid swelling festers; heal; (t-note) scar; (t-note) has rested on me; (t-note) eye; (see note); (t-note) the arrow; (t-note) I feel it entirely in my heart; (t-note) God knows; seek foe the cruelty to a poor wretch; (t-note) doctor (cure) (see note); (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) secret ailment; (t-note) effrontery; disobedience dared; (t-note) treasury company; (t-note) (t-note) my life is in doubt; (t-note) (t-note) that lovely [one]; (t-note) rob knows; (see note); (t-note) deceitful to trust cares not; (t-note) (t-note) wretchedness; fretting; (t-note) fully occupied; (t-note) (t-note) retainers; (t-note) To find someone who was indeed expert sick man; well-being doctors; (t-note) (see note); (t-note) completely; (see note); (t-note) (see note); (t-note) work to alleviate his illness; (t-note) saw; (t-note) (t-note) furthermore; the more quickly to heal; (t-note) Pills appropriate; (t-note) (t-note) the root of the illness; (t-note) Were not slow to work for his cure; (t-note) condition; (t-note) intermittent (t-note) Except (i.e., Unless it were; (see note); (t-note) originates; (see note) (t-note) or if a man has fallen into excess; (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) as a rule; (see note) its; (t-note) it (t-note) If it errs in quantity, note it thus medical science (t-note) corrupted by putrifying if bile is the cause [of the fever]; (see note); (t-note) pale yellow or deep yellow (see note); (t-note) recurrent wasting fevers; (see note); (t-note) particularly perilous (t-note) The body’s natural heat deeply penetrates; (t-note) Into the primary moisture of the body as a rule; (t-note) severe cough; tolerable; (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) no fault or laziness; (t-note) had; pity (compassion) (t-note) (see note) watery thin; (see note) caused by blocked; (see note); (t-note) (t-note) narrow; too much fluid (t-note) help; (t-note) controlling virtue; (see note) borne down The life is in danger Unless an antidote can be prescribed quickly; (t-note) (t-note) anxiety (mental distress) The disease of lovesickness; (see note); (t-note) origin; misfunctioning; (t-note) the faculty of reason; (see note); (t-note) overpowers the faculty of imagination; (t-note) as the course of the disease progresses; (t-note) believe; (t-note) (t-note) mania; (see note); (t-note) are; troubled by suffering; (t-note) frenzy; (t-note) (t-note) conjecture Could; (t-note) (t-note) truth; began to grasp; (see note) (t-note) arrived; (t-note) you; (t-note) (t-note) makes you quake; (t-note) truth; suffer; (t-note) why won’t you wake up (t-note) utmost from; (t-note) Come on reproof; (t-note) (t-note) Perhaps since know faith (i.e., most certainly, truly) (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) to marry (t-note) capable (wise); (t-note) Completely free; sin; (t-note) demeanour; (t-note) source of womanliness; (t-note) modest and shy Sincere; benign; calm; (t-note) not fragile or frail; confidence; (t-note) reasonable guide; very careful; (t-note) (t-note) briefly describe when he saw her a heart full of dread Indeed, may mercy protect me have pity on my life for; know the origin of one wish; break choose (see note) eyes (t-note) (t-note) bear the expense and costs; (t-note) has set a day; (t-note) their marriage; knot knit (t-note) (t-note) noble behavior completely escape; (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) surpassing; their Jousts; revelry; provisions the great cheer; (t-note) lack; (see note) (see note); (t-note) feasts to create accord believe; (t-note) sick [man]; relieved of his suffering (t-note) (t-note) disfigures; (t-note) has tapped the cask; (see note); (t-note) triacle [i.e., a remedy]; read (t-note) (t-note) divested; (t-note) (t-note) refuge [i.e. comfort]; soothe; (t-note) guide; (t-note) life’s; (t-note) (see note) plainly give an account; (t-note) jewels, riches, and goods given; as the story says everything is returned led (t-note) mourning; know; (t-note) sadness write torment listen [to]; (t-note) hurt him more (t-note) other straight chattels; (see note) Their peacefully (t-note) them (t-note) early; (t-note) (see note); (t-note) (t-note) destroy; (t-note) as far as I ever knew; (see note); (t-note) ever constant; (t-note) (t-note) (see note); (t-note) obedience (humility) lest I displease them; (t-note) it is better to pass over this matter; (t-note) Thus I leave them in their happiness; (t-note) (t-note) Unless; entirely; (t-note) (t-note) mourning; (t-note) guide; (see note) henceforth; (t-note) jeopardy (t-note) transformed; (see note); (t-note) astonishment; (t-note) because of this wonderment must; (see note) (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) let your tears rain ink; clogged; pen; (t-note) assuaging; flow; (t-note) black; (t-note) Whoever reads you honorable (noble);(see note); (t-note) treat; (t-note) Must; the remainder; (t-note) revealed; (t-note) upside down; (t-note) poverty (t-note) (t-note) Riches; together; (t-note) (t-note) (see note) (t-note) drew himself; (t-note) angrily lament malice of many kinds; (t-note) agitated (severely troubled) (see note) (t-note) (t-note) cause him pain for a time; (t-note) (t-note) undertaking (t-note) fallen down; (see note); (t-note) stair; (t-note) clothing; (see note); (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) complain; condition; (t-note) disconsolate alone; checkmated; (t-note) once; household shut out reproof subject of gossip; (see note) know; not; (t-note) (t-note) willing to serve; (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) pride; (t-note) nothing; (t-note) puffed-up; (t-note) dearly bought; (see note); (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) (see note); (t-note) (t-note) My full moon is waning whirled about; shifting weathervane; (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) affliction; anxiety; (t-note) assault; puts us into doubt running gout; (see note); (see note) troubled with care mockery (deceptions) well; (t-note) whoever; (see note); (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) proclaim; (t-note) Whoever serves; reward; (t-note) thinks you will most help him; (t-note) (t-note) wretched; (see note) overturning position and great change know no better defense; (t-note) (t-note) alive However ordinance who does so (i.e., debates) prosperity; misfortune; (see note); (t-note) destiny Seneca; with great wisdom; (see note); (t-note) experience that; (t-note) (t-note) judge; (t-note) testing laden; (see note); (t-note) incline and fade (t-note) It is the same way with false happiness (t-note) is likely; (t-note) to test him the less to blame; (t-note) lack of confidence; to believe; (t-note) knew; (see note) (t-note) instability pleasure; particular experience (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) testing (trial by adversity) guide relief; sorely diminished (damaged); (t-note) steps arranged in the form of stairs; (see note); (t-note) as I used to do; (t-note) please grant my prayer prayer; (t-note) garments; (t-note) relief; distress (see note); (t-note) to make trial (i.e., to test his friendship) Like a pilgrim; (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) attempt; (t-note) expose; pain proud (t-note) (t-note) also (t-note) particularly in so low a rank (t-note) Lest his friend refused him As a stranger; spy; (t-note) ancient temple; (t-note) has entered; (t-note) dejected; (t-note) impoverished, formerly so exalted; (t-note) rank (position); (see note) (t-note) tested; (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) game; free and bound (i.e., everyone); (t-note) security; (t-note) (t-note) (see note) minister and vicar be aware; (see note); (t-note) those; (t-note) their courses and circular motion; (t-note) (see note); (t-note) inform us; (t-note) (see note); (t-note) Unless it is the bear (the Big Dipper); (see note); (t-note) Arcturus; (t-note) In addition; Boötes; wonderfully bright; (t-note) Sometimes; (t-note) the morning star (see note); (see note); (t-note) hides himself under the empyrean; (see note); (t-note) the sun (t-note) vanquish; elation champion; (t-note) as a warning; (t-note) always intermingled; (see note); (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) put down two casks; (see note); (t-note) cellar; precisely; more (t-note) (t-note) broach (i.e., open); (t-note) chance before; relinquish; (t-note) equally separate the impurities; (t-note) tap; (t-note) be careful; (t-note) formerly; (t-note) beverage made his head so dazed; (t-note) cared little for laughing or smiling; (t-note) Well-informed Whereas; formerly chose; (t-note) without shelter; (t-note) in this way; (t-note) chance event Between whom conflict arose; (t-note) sound overcome; (t-note) behind; (t-note) immediately; (t-note) (t-note) ran very quickly; (t-note) committed; (t-note) they have sought him within; (t-note) thrust in; (t-note) awoke suddenly Completely astonished, he turned pale; (t-note) what kind of person he was the murderer lay (t-note) (t-note) person; slain; (t-note) wish; have; (t-note) end; (t-note) hung; lead gave him so much pain (t-note) wished; (t-note) To have caught him in his bitter noose; (t-note) on himself; serious transgression; (t-note) adversity; (see note) (t-note) happiness (prosperity) partner; (see note); (t-note) (t-note) sharp inner pains taken and bound (t-note) (t-note) Before; give surety (i.e., bail); (t-note) end; (t-note) Convicted; (t-note) to have death as punishment; (t-note) just as; led; (t-note) happened to pass nearby; (t-note) (t-note) leisure; (t-note) to be heard by them patiently; (t-note) pause (t-note) condemned guiltless; you wrong him; (t-note) (t-note) to incur to pursue the truth; (t-note) gave; (t-note) fellow-feeling; (t-note) (t-note) seized secure (firm); lay; (t-note) will; (t-note) Before; led and dragged Thereupon with many beside him; (t-note) Who; (t-note) crowd; true murderer Who had truly done the deed; (t-note) Spoke; (t-note) diamond; (t-note) allow; see; (t-note) am I not repentant; (t-note) To be confessed of the genuine truth; (t-note) (t-note) [the] unguilty [one] taken thus; (t-note) secret hidden iniquity; (t-note) (see note) (t-note) concealed; (t-note) pity know; justice (precepts); (t-note) (t-note) you will allow mercy sometimes; (t-note) vengeance; (see note); (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) seat (throne) wrongly shed (see note) Why do you wait so long? innocent people; note Therefore I will truth; (t-note) too much unless; imminent [is the death of] another dumb; quiet true Each one; undergo; (t-note) (t-note) punishment; (t-note) deceived (t-note) leave off (t-note) since (t-note) who has done the deed; (t-note) err and punish truth; (t-note) and let falseness go free?; (t-note) then began to marvel; (t-note) also; at this sudden occurrence; (t-note) this is what they did (t-note) brought all three of them; (t-note) related the tale; (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) to search out the truth wise and reasonable; (t-note) put mercy before might; (t-note) solution very; (t-note) himself merciful in a few words; (t-note) as long as they told the truth; (t-note) spared no detail (t-note) (t-note) have; (see note); (t-note) (t-note) for his sin of condemning innocence; (t-note) (t-note) such complete affection (t-note) complete loyalty It would be hard realm; (t-note) is infected; (t-note) nor will it be; rife; (t-note) contrive (produce) (t-note) (t-note) granted them mercy; (t-note) free will (t-note) procession (with the sense of celebration) arrayed; (t-note) be relieved of your vexation (anxiety) distress; (t-note) half is yours; (t-note) will have it divided immediately; (t-note) at your discretion (i.e., as you like); cure (t-note) (t-note) having first considered [the matter]; (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) (t-note); wherever pledge; (see note); (t-note) asunder; (t-note) equal judgment (wisdom); (t-note) divided particularly wanted to go (t-note) plainly to you; (t-note) made evident (t-note) Since describe; (t-note) as they began, so they end in love; (t-note) (t-note) unsophisticated; have pity; (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) always unchanging (i.e., constant) (t-note) (t-note) (t-note)