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Chapter I   Alas, Fortune, alas; I that somtyme in delycyous houres was wont to enjoy blysful stoundes am nowe dryve by unhappy hevynesse to bewayle my sondrye yvels in tene. Trewly, I leve in myn herte is writte of perdurable letters al the entencyons of lamentacion that nowe ben ynempned, for any maner disease outwarde in sobbyng maner sheweth sorowful yexynge from within. Thus from my comforte I gynne to spylle syth she that shulde me solace is ferre fro my presence. Certes, her absence is to me an hell; my sternyng dethe thus in wo it myneth that endelesse care is throughout myne herte clenched; blysse of my joye that ofte me murthed is turned into galle to thynke on thyng that may not at my wyl in armes me hent. Myrth is chaunged into tene, whan swynke is there contynually that reste was wont to sojourne and have dwellynge place. Thus wytlesse, thoughtful, syghtlesse lokynge, I endure my penaunce in this derke prisone, caytisned fro frendshippe and acquayntaunce, and forsaken of al that any wode dare speke. Straunge hath by waye of intrucyoun made his home there me shulde be if reason were herde as he shulde. Neverthelater, yet hertly, lady precious Margarit have mynde on thy servaunt and thynke on his disease how lyghtles he lyveth, sithe the beames brennende in love of thyn eyen arn so bewent that worldes and cloudes atwene us twey wol nat suffre my thoughtes of hem to be enlumyned. Thynke that one vertue of a Margarite precious is amonges many other the sorouful to comforte, yet wyl of that me sorouful to comforte is my luste to have nought els at this tyme; dede ne dethe, ne no maner traveyle hath no power myne herte so moche to fade as shulde to here of a twynckelynge in your disease. Ah, God forbede that; but yet lette me dey, lette me sterve withouten any measure of penaunce, rather than myne hertely thynking comforte in ought were diseased. What maye my servyce aveyle in absence of her that my servyce shulde accepte? Is this nat endlesse sorowe tothynke? Yes, yes, God wote; myne hert breaketh nygh asonder. Howe shulde the grounde without kyndly noriture bringen forthe any frutes? Howe shulde a shippe withouten a sterne in the great see be governed? Howe shulde I withouten my blysse, my herte, my desyre, my joye, my goodnesse endure in this contrarious prison, that thynke every hour in the day an hun- dred wynter? Wel may nowe Eve sayne to me, "Adam, in sorowe fallen from welth, driven arte thou out of paradise, with sweate thy sustenaunce to beswynke." Depe in this pynynge pytte with wo I lygge ystocked, with chaynes lynked of care and of tene. It is so hye from thens I lye and the commune erth, there ne is cable in no lande maked, that myght stretche to me to drawe me into blysse, ne steyers to stey on is none, so that without recover endlesse here to endure I wotte wel I purveyde. O, where arte thou nowe, frenshyppe, that somtyme with laughande chere madest bothe face and countenaunce to me wardes? Truely nowe arte thou went out of towne, but ever me thynketh he weareth his olde clothes and that the soule in the whiche the lyfe of frendshyppe was in is drawen out from his other spyrites. Nowe than farewel frendshyp, and farewel felawes. Me thynketh ye al han taken your leave; no force of you al at ones. But lady of love ye wote what I mene, yet thinke on thy servaunt, that for thy love spylleth; al thynges have I forsake to folowen thyn hestes. Rewarde me with a thought, though ye do naught els. Remembraunce of love lythe so sore under my brest that other thought cometh not in my mynde but gladnesse to thynke on your goodnesse and your mery chere, ferdness and sorowe to thynke on your wreche and your daunger from whiche Christe me save. My great joye it is to have in meditacion the bounties, the vertues, the nobley in you printed; sorowe and hel comen at ones to suppose that I be veyned. Thus with care sorowe and tene am I shapte, myn ende with dethe to make. Nowe good goodly thynke on this. O wretched foole that I am fallen in to so lowe: the heate of my brennyng tene hath me al defased. How shulde ye, lady, sette prise on so foule fylthe? My connynge is thynne, my wytte is exiled. Lyke to a foole naturel am I comparysoned. Trewly, lady, but your mercy the more were, I wote wel al my labour were in ydel; your mercy than passeth right. God graunt that proposycion to be verifyed in me, so that by truste of good hope I mowe come to the haven of ease. And sythe it is impossyble the colours of your qualyties to chaunge, and, forsothe, I wote wel wemme ne spotte maye not abyde there so noble vertue haboundeth, so that the defasyng to you is verily unymagynable, as countenaunce of goodnesse with encresynge vertue is so in you knytte to abyde by necessary maner; yet, if the revers might fal, which is ayenst kynde, I wot wel myn herte ne shulde therfore naught flytte by the leste poynt of gemetrye, so sadly is it sonded that away from your servyce in love maye he not departe. O love, whan shal I ben pleased? O charyté, whan shal I ben eased? O good goodly, whan shal the dyce turne? O ful of vertue, do the chaunce of comforte upwarde to fal. O love, whan wolt thou thynke on thy servaunt? I can no more but here, outcaste of al welfare, abyde the daye of my dethe, or els to se the syght that might al my wellynge sorowes voyde and of the flodde make an ebbe. These diseases mowen wel by duresse of sorowe make my lyfe to unbodye and so for to dye; but certes ye lady in a ful perfectyon of love ben so knytte with my soule that dethe may not thilke knotte unbynde ne departe, so that ye and my soule togyther endelesse in blysse shulde dwel, and there shal my soule at the ful ben eased that he may have your presence to shewe th'entent of his desyres. Ah, dere God, that shal be a great joye. Nowe erthely goddesse take regarde of thy servant, though I be feble, for thou arte wonte to prayse them better that wolde conne serve in love, al be he ful mener than kynges or princes that wol not have that vertue in mynde. Nowe precious Margaryte that with thy noble vertue haste drawen me into love first, me wenynge therof to have blisse, as galle and aloes are so moche spronge, that savour of swetnesse may I not ataste. Alas, that your benigne eyen in whiche that mercy semeth to have al his noriture nyl, by no waye, tourne the clerenesse of mercy to mewardes. Alas, that your brennande vertues shynyng amonges al folke and enlumynynge al other people by habundaunce of encreasing sheweth to me but smoke and no light. These thynges to thinke in myn herte maketh every day wepyng in myn eyen to renne. These lyggenon my backe so sore that importable burthen me semeth on my backe to be charged; it maketh me backwarde to meve whan my steppes by comune course even forthe pretende. These thynges also on right syde and lyft have me so envolved with care that wanhope of helpe is throughout me ronne. Trewly, I leve that gracelesse is my fortune whiche that ever sheweth it mewardes by a cloudy disease, al redy to make stormes of tene, and the blysful syde halte styl awayward, and wol it not suffre to mewardes to turne; no force, yet wol I not ben conquered.     O, alas that your nobley so moche among al other creatures commended by flowynge streme by al maner vertues, but ther ben wonderful, I not whiche that let the flode to come in to my soule; wherfore, purely mated with sorowe thorough sought, myselfe I crye on your goodnesse to have pyté on this caytife that in the inrest degré of sorowe and disease is lefte, and, without your goodly wyl, from any helpe and recovery. These sorowes maye I not sustene but if my sorowe shulde be tolde and to you wardes shewed; although moche space is bytwene us twayne, yet me thynketh that by suche joleynynge wordes my disease gynneth ebbe. Trewly me thynketh that the sowne of my lamentacious wepyng is right nowe flowe into your presence, and there cryeth after mercy and grace, to which thing me semeth thee lyst none answere to yeve, but with a deynous chere ye commaunden it to avoyde. But God forbyd that any worde shuld of you springe to have so lytel routh. Pardé, pyté and mercy in every Margarite is closed by kynde amonges many other vertues by qualites of comforte. But comfort is to me right naught worthe withouten mercy and pyté of you alone, whiche thynges hastely God me graunt for his mercy.   Chapter II   Rehersynge these thynges and many other without tyme or moment of rest me semed for anguysshe of disease that altogyder I was ravysshed, I can not tel howe; but holy al my passyons and felynges weren loste as it semed for the tyme and sodainly a maner of drede light in me al at ones. Nought suche feare as folke have of an enemy that were myghty and wolde hem greve or done hem disease. For I trowe this is wel knowe to many persones that otherwhyle, if a man be in his soveraignes presence, a maner of ferdenesse crepeth in his herte not for harme but of goodly subjection, namely as men reden that aungels ben aferde of our savyour in heven. And pardé, there ne is ne maye no passyon of disease be, but it is to meane that angels ben adradde not by ferdnes of drede, sythen they ben perfytely blyssed as affection of wonderfulnesse and by servyce of obedyence; suche ferde also han these lovers in presence of their loves and subjectes aforne their soveraynes. Right so with ferdenesse myn herte was caught. And, I sodainly astonyed, there entred into the place there I was lodged a lady, the semelyest and moste goodly to my syght that ever toforne apered to any creature, and trewly in the blustrynge of her looke she yave gladnesse and comforte sodaynely to al my wyttes, and ryght so she dothe to every wyght that cometh in her presence. And for she was so goodly (as me thought) myne herte beganne somdele to be enbolded and wexte a lytel hardy to speke, but yet with a quakynge voyce as I durste, I salved her and enquired what she was, and why she, so worthy to syght, dayned to entre into so foule a dongeon, and namely a prisone without leave of my kepers. For certes, althoughe the vertue of dedes of mercy stretchen to vysyten the poore prisoners, and hem after that faculties ben had to comforte, me semed that I was so ferre fallen into myserye and wretched hyd caytifnesse, that me shulde no precyous thynge neyghe; and also, that for my sorowe every wyght shulde ben heavy and wysshe my recovery. But whan this lady had somdele apperceyved as wel by my wordes as by my chere what thought besyed me within, with a good womanly countenaunce she sayde these wordes:    "O my nory, wenyst thou that my maner be to foryet my frendes or my servauntes? Naye," quod she, "it is my ful entente to vysyte and comforte al my frenshippes and alyes as wel in tyme of perturbation as of moost propertye of blysse. In me shal unkyndnesse never be founden. And also, sithen I have so fewe especial trewe nowe in these dayes, wherfore I maye wel at more leysar come to hem that me deserven. And if my comynge maye in any thynge avayle, wete wel I wol come often."    "Nowe, good lady," quod I, "that art so fayre on to loke, reynynge honny by thy wordes, blysse of paradise arn thy lokynges, joye and comforte are thy movynges. What is thy name? Howe is it that in you is so mokel werkynge vertues enpight, as me semeth, and in none other creature that ever sawe I with myne eyen?" "My disciple," quod she, "me wondreth of thy wordes and on thee that for a lytel disease haste foryeten my name: Woste thou not wel that I am Love, that first thee brought to thy servyce?"    "O good lady," quod I, "is this worshyppe to thee or to thyne excellence for to come into so foule a place? Pardé, somtyme tho I was in prosperyté and with forayne goodes envolved, I had mokyl to done to drawe thee to myn hostel; and yet many wernynges thou madest er thou lyste fully to graunt thyne home to make at my dwellyng place; and nowe thou comest goodly by thyne owne vyse to comforte me with wordes, and so there thoroughe I gynne remembre on passed gladnesse. Trewly, lady, I ne wotte whether I shal say welcome or none sythen thy comyng wol as moche do me teneand sorowe as gladnesse and myrthe. Se why. For that me comforteth to thynke on passed gladnesse that me anoyeth efte to be in doynge. Thus thy comynge bothe gladdeth and teneth, and that is cause of moche sorowe: Lo, lady howe than I am comforted by your commynge?" And with that I gan in teeres to distylle and tenderly wepe. "Nowe certes," quod Love, "I se wel, and that me overthynketh, that wytte in thee fayleth and arte in poynte to dote."    "Trewly," quod I, "that have ye maked and that ever wol I rue." "Wottest thou not wel," quod she, "that every shepeherde ought by reson to seke his sperkelande shepe that arne ronne into wyldernesse amonge busshes and peryls and hem to their pasture ayen bringe and take on hem privy besy cure of kepyng? And tho the unconnynge shepe scattred wolde ben loste rennyng to wyldernesse and to desertes drawe, or els wolden put hem selfe to the swalowyng wolfe, yet shal the shepeherde by busynesse and travayle so put him forthe that he shal not let hem be loste by no waye. A good shepeherde putteth rather hys lyfe to ben loste for his shepe. But for thou shalte not wene me beyng of werse condycion, trewly, for everych of my folke, and for al tho that to mewarde be knyt in any condycion, I wol rather dye than suffre hem throughe errour to ben spylte. For me lyste and it me lyketh of al myne a shepherdesse to be cleped. Wost thou not wel I fayled never wight but he me refused and wolde neglygently go with unkyndenesse? And yet, pardé, have I many such holpe and releved, and they have ofte me begyled; but ever at the ende, it discendeth in their owne neckes. Haste thou not radde howe kynde I was to Paris, Priamus sonne of Troy? How Jason me falsed, for al his false behest? Howe Sesars swonke, I lefte it for no tene tyl he was troned in my blysse for his servyce? What," quod she, "most of al maked I not a lovedaye bytwene God and mankynde, and chese a mayde to be nompere to put the quarel at ende? Lo, howe I have travayled to have thanke on al sydes, and yet lyst me not to rest and I might fynde on whome I shulde werche. But trewly myn owne disciple bycause I have thee founde at al assayes in thy wyl to be redy myn hestes to have folowed and haste ben trewe to that Margaryte perle that ones I thee shewed and she alwaye ayenwarde hath made but daungerous chere, I am come in propre person to put thee out of errours and make thee gladde by wayes of reason, so that sorow ne disease shal no more hereafter thee amaistry. Wherthrough I hope thou shalte lyghtly come to the grace that thou longe haste desyred of thylke jewel. Haste thou not herde many ensamples howe I have comforted and releved the scholers of my lore? Who hath worthyed kynges in the felde? Who hath honoured ladyes in boure by a perpetuel myrrour of their truthe in my servyce? Who hath caused worthy folke to voyde vyce and shame? Who hath holde cyties and realmes in prosperyté? If thee lyste cleape ayen thyn olde remembraunce, thou coudest every poynte of this declare in especial and say that I thy maystresse have be cause, causyng these thynges and many mo other." "Nowe, iwys, madame," quod I, "al these thynges I knowe wel my selfe and that thyn excellence passeth the understandyng of us beestes, and that no mannes wytte erthely may comprehende thy vertues." "Wel than," quod she, "for I se thee in disease and sorowe I wote wel thou arte one of myn nories. I maye not suffre thee so to make sorowe thyn owne selfe to shende; but I myselfe come to be thy fere, thyne hevy charge to make to seme the lesse. For wo is him that is alone; and to the sorye, to ben moned by a sorouful wight it is great gladnesse. Right so, with my sycke frendes I am sicke, and with sorie I can not els but sorowe make tyl whan I have hem releved in suche wyse that gladnesse in a maner of counterpaysyng shal restore as mokyl in joye as the passed hevynesse byforne dyd in tene. And also," quod she, "whan any of my servauntes ben alone in solytary place, I have yet ever besyed me to be with hem in comforte of their hertes, and taught hem to make songes of playnte and of blysse, and to endyten letters of rethorike in queynt understondynges, and to bethynke hem in what wyse they might best their ladyes in good servyce please, and also to lerne maner in countenaunce in wordes and in bearyng, and to ben meke and lowly to every wight, his name and fame to encrease, and to yeve gret yeftes and large, that his renome maye springen. But thee therof have I excused, for thy losse and thy great costages wherthroughe thou arte nedy arne nothinge to me unknowen, but I hope to God somtyme it shal ben amended, as thus as I sayd. In norture have I taught al myne and in curtesye made hem expert their ladyes hertes to wynne, and if any wolde ben deynous or proude, or be envyous or of wretches acqueyntaunce, hastelyche have I suche voyded out of my schole. For al vyces trewly I hate; vertues and worthynesse in al my power I avaunce." "Ah, worthy creature," quod I, "and by juste cause the name of Goddesse dignely ye mowe beare. In thee lythe the grace thorough whiche any creature in this worlde hath any goodnesse. Trewly, al maner of blysse and preciousnesse in vertue out of thee springen and wellen as brokes and ryvers proceden from their springes, and like as al waters by kynde drawen to the see, so al kyndely thynges thresten by ful appetyte of desyre to drawe after thy steppes and to thy presence aproche as to their kyndely perfection: howe dare than beestes in this worlde aught forfete ayenst thy devyne purveyaunce? Also, lady, ye knowen al the privy thoughtes: in hertes no counsayle maye ben hydde from your knowyng. Wherfore I wote wel, lady, that ye knowe your selfe that I in my conscience am and have ben wyllynge to your servyce, al coude I never do as I shulde, yet, forsothe, fayned I never to love otherwyse than was in myn herte; and if I coude have made chere to one and ythought another as many other doone aldaye afore myn eyen, I trowe it wolde not me have vayled." "Certes," quod she, "haddest thou so done, I wolde not nowe have thee here vysited." "Ye wete wel, lady, eke," quod I, "that I have not playde raket nettyl in docke out and with the wethercocke waved, and trewly there ye me sette by acorde of my conscience I wolde not flye tyl ye and reason by aperte strength maden myn herte to tourne." "In good faythe," quod she, "I have knowe thee ever of tho condycions, and sythen thou woldest (in as moch as in thee was) a made me privy of thy counsayle and juge of thy conscience, though I forsoke it in tho dayes tyl I saw better my tyme, wolde never God that I shuld nowe fayle, but ever I wol be redy wytnessyng thy sothe in what place that ever I shal ayenst al tho that wol the contrary susteyne. And for as moche as to me is naught unknowen ne hyd of thy privy hert but al hast thou tho thynges made to me open at the ful, that hath caused my comynge into this prison to voyde the webbes of thyne eyen to make thee clerely to se the errours thou hast ben in. And bycause that men ben of dyvers condycions, some a dradde to saye a sothe, and some for a sothe anone redy to fyght, and also that I maye not myselfe ben in place to withsay thilke men that of thee speken otherwyse than the sothe, I wol, and I charge thee, in vertue of obedyence that thou to me owest, to writen my wordes and sette hem in writynges that they mowe as my witnessynge ben noted amonge the people. For bookes written neyther dreden ne shamen ne stryve conne, but onely shewen the entente of the writer and yeve remembraunce to the herer; and if any wol in thy presence saye any thynge to tho writers, loke boldely: truste on Mars to answere at the ful. For certes, I shal hym enfourme of al the trouthe in thy love with thy conscience, so that of his helpe thou shalte not varye at thy nede. I trowe the strongest and the beste that maye be founde wol not transvers thy wordes, wherof than woldest thou drede."   Chapter III      Gretly was I tho gladed of these wordes, and, as who sayth, wexen somdele light in herte, both for the auctorité of witnesse, and also for sykernesse of helpe of the forsayd beheste. And sayd: "Trewly, lady, nowe am I wel gladded through comforte of your wordes. Be it nowe lykynge unto your nobley to shewe whiche folke diffame your servauntes sythe your servyce ought above al other thynges to ben commended." "Yet," quod she, "I se wel thy soule is not al out of the amased cloude. Thee were better to here thyng that thee myght light out of thyn hevy charge and after knowyng of thyn owne helpe than to styrre swete wordes and such resons to here. For in a thoughtful soule (and namely suche one as thou arte) wol not yet suche thynges synken. Come of, therfore, and let me sene thy hevy charge that I may the lyghtlyer for thy comforte purvey."    "Nowe, certes, lady," quod I, "the moste comforte I myght have were utterly to wete me be sure in herte of that Margaryte I serve, and so I thinke to don with al mightes whyle my lyfe dureth." "Than," quod she, "mayste thou therafter in suche wyse that mysplesaunce ne entre?" "In good fayth," quod I, "there shal no misplesaunce be caused through trespace on my syde." "And I do thee to weten," quod she, "I set never yet person to serve in no place (but if he caused the contrary in defautes and trespaces) that he ne spedde of his servyce." "Myn owne erthly lady," quod I tho, "and yet remembre to your worthynesse howe long sythen by many revolvyng of yeres in tyme whan Octobre his leave gynneth take and Novembre sheweth hym to syght whan bernes ben ful of goodes as is the nutte on every halke, and than good londe tyllers gynne shape for the erthe with great travayle to bringe forthe more corne to mannes sustenaunce ayenst the nexte yeres folowyng. In suche tyme of plentie he that hath an home and is wyse lyste not to wander mervayles to seche, but he be constrayned or excited. Oft the lothe thyng is doone by excytacion of other mannes opynyon whiche wolden fayne have myn abydynge take in herte of luste to travayle, and se the wyndyng of the erthe in that tyme of wynter — by woodes that large stretes werne in, by smale pathes that swyne and hogges hadden made as lanes with ladels their maste to seche. I walked thynkynge alone a wonder great whyle, and the great beestes that the woode haunten and adorneth al maner forestes and heerdes gone to wylde. Than, er I was ware, I neyghed to a see banke and, for ferde of the beestes, `shypcrafte,' I cryde. For lady, I trowe ye wete wel yourselfe nothyng is werse than the beestes that shulden ben tame, if they catche her wyldenesse and gynne ayen waxe ramage. Thus, forsothe, was I aferde and to shyppe me hyed. Than were there ynowe to lache myn handes and drawe me to shyppe of whiche many I knewe wel the names. Syght was the first, Lust was a nother, Thought was the thirde, and Wyl eke was there a mayster: these broughten me within borde of this shyppe of traveyle. So whan the sayle was sprad and this shyppe gan to move the wynde and water gan for to ryse and overthwartly to turne the welken; the wawes semeden as they kyste togyder, but often under colour of kyssynge is mokel olde hate prively closed and kepte. The storme so straungely and in a devouring maner gan so faste us assayle that I supposed the date of my deth shulde have made there his gynnyng. Nowe up, nowe downe, nowe under the wawe, and nowe aboven was my shyppe a great whyle. And so by mokel duresse of wethers and of stormes and with great avowyng pylgrimages, I was driven to an yle where utterly I wende first to have be rescowed, but trewly, as the first gynnyng, it semed me so peryllous the haven to catche that but thorowe grace I had ben comforted of lyfe I was ful dispayred. Trewly, lady, if ye remembre a right, of al maner thynges yourselfe came hastely to sene us see driven and to weten what we weren. But first ye were deynous of chere, after whiche ye gonne better alyght, and ever, as me thought, ye lyved in great drede of disease — it semed so by your chere. And whan I was certifyed of your name, the lenger I loked in you the more I you goodly dradde and ever myn herte on you opened the more, and so in a lytel tyme my shyppe was out of mynde. But, lady, as ye me lad I was ware bothe of beestes and of fysshes a great nombre throngyng togyder: amonge whiche a muskel in a blewe shel had enclosed a Margaryte perle, the moste precious and best that ever to forne came in my syght, and ye tolden your selfe that ylke jewel in his kynde was so good and so vertuous that her better shulde I never fynde al sought I therafter to the worldes ende. And with that I helde my peace a great whyle; and ever sythen I have me bethought on the man that sought the precious Margarytes, and whan he had founden one to his lykyng he solde al his good to bye that jewel. Iwys, thought I, and yet so I thynke, nowe have I founden the jewel that myne herte desyreth, wherto shulde I seche further? Trewly nowe wol I stynte and on this Margaryte I sette me for ever. Nowe than also, sythen I wyste wel it was your wyl that I shulde so suche a servyce me take, and so to desyre that thing of whiche I never have blisse, there lyveth none but he hath disease. Your might than that brought me to suche servyce that to me is cause of sorowe and of joye, I wonder of your worde that ye sayne to bringen men in to joye, and, pardé, ye wete wel that defaut ne trespace may not reasonably ben put to me wardes as ferre as my conscience knoweth. But of my disease me lyst now a whyle to speke and to enforme you in what maner of blysse ye have me thronge. For truly I wene that al gladnesse al joye and al myrthe is beshet under locke and the keye throwe in suche place that it may not be founde; my brennyng wo hath altred al my hewe. Whan I shulde slepe, I walowe and I thynke and me disporte. Thus combred I seme that al folke had me mased. Also, lady, myne desyre hath longe dured some speking to have, or els at the lest have ben enmoysed with syght, and for wantynge of these thinges my mouthe wolde, and he durst, pleyne right sore sythen yvels for my goodnesse arne manyfolde to me yolden. I wonder, lady, trewly, save evermore your reverence, howe ye mowe for shame suche thynges suffre on your servaunt to be so multyplied. Wherfore, knelyng with a lowe herte I pray you to rue on this caytife that of nothyng now may serve. Good lady, if ye lyste, nowe your helpe to me shewe that am of your privyest servantes at al assayes in this tyme and under your wynges of protection. No helpe to me wardes is shapen: howe shal than straungers in any wyse after socoure loke, whan I that am so privy yet of helpe I do fayle? Further maye I not but thus in this prison abyde: what bondes and chaynes me holden, lady, ye se wel yourselfe? A renyant forjuged hath not halfe the care. But thus syghyng and sobbyng I wayle here alone, and nere it for comforte of your presence, right here wolde I sterve. And yet a lytel am I gladed that so goodly suche grace and none hap have I hente graciously to fynde the precious Margarite that, al other lefte, men shulde bye if they shulde therfore sel al her substaunce. Wo is me that so many let games and purpose brekers ben maked wayters, suche prisoners as I am evermore to overloke and to hynder, and for suche lettours it is harde any suche jewel to wynne. Is this, lady, an honour to thy deytie? Me thynketh by right suche people shulde have no maistrye ne ben overlokers over none of thy servauntes. Trewly, were it leful unto you to al the Goddes wolde I playne that ye rule your devyne purveyaunce amonges your servantes nothyng as ye shulde. Also, lady, my moeble is insuffysaunt to countervayle the price of this jewel, or els to make th'eschange. Eke no wight is worthy suche perles to weare but kynges or princes or els their peres. This jewel for vertue wold adorne and make fayre al a realme; the nobley of vertue is so moche that her goodnesse overal is commended. Who is it that wolde not wayle but he might suche rychesse have at his wyl? The vertue therof out of this prison may me delyver and naught els. And if I be not ther thorowe holpen, I se myselfe withouten recovery: Although I might hence voyde, yet wolde I not. I wolde abyde the daye that destenye hath me ordeyned, whiche I suppose is without amendement. So sore is myn herte bounden that I maye thynken none other. Thus strayte, lady, hath sir Daunger laced me in stockes, I leve it be not your wyl; and for I se you taken so lytel hede as me thynketh and wol not maken by your might the vertue in mercy of the Margaryte on me for to stretche, so as ye mowe wel in case that you lyste, my blysse and my mirthe arne feld. Sicknesse and sorowe ben alwaye redy. The cope of tene is wounde aboute al my body that stondyng is me best; unneth maye I lygge for pure miseasy sorowe, and yet al this is lytel ynoughe to be the ernest sylver in forwarde of this bargayne; for treblefolde so mokel muste I suffer er tyme come of myn ease. For he is worthy no welthe that maye no wo suffer. And certes I am hevy to thynke on these thynges. But who shal yeve me water ynough to drinke lest myn eyen drie for rennyng stremes of teares? Who shal waylen with me myne owne happy hevynesse? Who shal counsaile me nowe in my lykyng tene, and in my goodly harse? I not. For ever the more I brenne the more I coveyte; the more that I sorow the more thrist I in gladnesse. Who shal than yeve me a contraryous drinke to stanche the thurste of my blysful bytternesse? Lo, thus I brenne and I drenche. I shyver and I sweate. To this reversed yvel was never yet ordeyned salve: for soth, al lyches ben unconnyng save the Margaryte alone any suche remedye to purvey."   Chapter IV      And with these wordes I brast out to wepe that every teere of myne eyen for greatnesse semed they boren out the bal of my syght and that al the water had ben out ronne. Than thought me that Love gan a lytel to heavy for miscomfort of my chere and gan soberly and in easy maner speke, wel avysinge what she sayd. Comenly the wyse speken easyly and softe for many skylles: One is their wordes are the better byleved; and also, in easy speakynge, avysement men may catche what to put forthe and what to holden in. And also the auctorité of easy wordes is the more, and eke they yeven the more understandynge to other intencion of the mater. Right so this ladye easely and in a softe maner gan say these wordes:    "Mervayle," quod she, "great it is that by no maner of semblaunt as ferre as I can espye thou lyst not to have any recour, but ever thou playnest and sorowest, and wayes of remedye, for folysshe wylfulnesse, thee lyste not to seche. But enquyre of thy next frendes, that is, thyne inwytte and me, that have ben thy maystresse and therecour and fyne of thy disease: for of disease is gladnesse and joy, with a ful vessel so helded that it quencheth the felynge of the firste tenes. But thou that were wonte not onely these thynges remembre in thyne herte, but also fooles therof to enfourmen in adnullynge of their errours and distroyeng of their derke opynions, and in comforte of their seare thoughtes, now canst thou not ben comforte of thyn owne soule in thynkyng of these thynges. O where haste thou be so longe commensal that hast so mykel eeten of the potages of foryetfulnesse and dronken so of ignorance that the olde soukyng whiche thou haddest of me arne amaystred and lorn fro al maner of knowyng? O this is a worthy person to helpe other that can not counsayle him selfe." And with these wordes for pure and stronge shame I woxe al reed.    And she than seyng me so astonyed by dyvers stoundes, sodainly (whiche thynge kynde hateth) gan deliciously me comforte with sugred wordes, puttyng me in ful hope that I shulde the Margarite getten if I folowed her hestes, and gan with a fayre clothe to wypen the teares that hyngen on my chekes. And than sayd I in this wyse: "Nowe, wel of wysedom and of al welthe, withouten thee may nothyng ben lerned. Thou bearest the keyes of al privy thinges. In vayne travayle men to catche any stedshyp, but if ye, lady, first the locke unshet, ye, lady, lerne us the wayes and the by pathes to heven; ye, lady, maken al the hevenly bodyes goodly and benignely to done her course that governen us beestes here on erthe. Ye armen your servauntes ayenst al debates with imperciable harneys; ye setten in her hertes insuperable blode of hardynesse; ye leaden hem to the parfyte good. Yet al thynge desyreth ye wern no man of helpe that wele done your lore. Graunt me nowe a lytel of your grace al my sorowes to cease." "Myne owne servaunt," quod she, "trewly thou syttest nye myne herte, and thy badde chere gan sorily me greve. But amonge thy playnyng wordes me thought thou allegest thynges to be lettyng of thyne helpynge and thy grace to hynder, wherthroughe me thynketh that wanhope is crope thorough thyn hert. God forbyd that nyse unthrifty thought shulde come in thy mynde thy wyttes to trouble, sythen every thyng in comyng is contyngent. Wherfore make no more thy proposycion by an impossyble. But nowe I praye thee reherse me ayen tho thynges that thy mistrust causen, and thylke thynges I thynke by reason to distroyen and put ful hope in thyn herte. What understondest thou there," quod she, "by that thou saydest many lette games are thyn overlokers? And also by that thy moeble is insuffysant. I not what thou therof meanest."    "Trewly," quod I, "by the first I say that janglers evermore arne spekynge rather of yvel than of good, for every age of man rather enclyneth to wickednesse than any goodnesse to avaunce. Also false wordes spryngen so wyde by the steeryng of false lyeng tonges that fame als swiftely flyeth to her eares and sayth many wicked tales, and as soone shal falsenesse ben leved as truthe, for al his gret sothnesse. Now by that other," quod I, "me thynketh thilke jewel so precious that to no suche wretche as I am wolde vertue therof extende and also I am to feble in worldly joyes any suche jewel to countrevayle. For suche people that worldly joyes han at her wyl ben sette at the highest degree and most in reverence ben accepted. For false wenyng maketh felycité therin to be supposed, but suche caytives as I am evermore ben hyndred." "Certes,"quod she, "take good hede and I shal by reason to thee shewen that al these thynges mowe nat let thy purpose by the leest poynt that any wight coude pricke."   Chapter V      "Remembrest nat," quod she, "ensample is one of the strongest maner as for to preve a mannes purpose. Than if I nowe, by ensample, enduce thee to any proposytion, is it nat proved by strength?" "Yes, forsothe," quod I. "Wel," quod she, "raddest thou never howe Paris of Troye and Heleyne loved togyder, and yet had they not entrecomuned of speche? Also Acrisyus shette Dane his doughter in a tour for suertie that no wight shulde of her have no maistry in my servyce; and yet Jupiter, by signes without any speche, had al his purpose ayenst her fathers wyl. And many suche mo have ben knytte in trouthe, and yet spake they never togyder, for that is a thyng enclosed under secretnesse of pryvité why twey persons entremellen hertes after asight. The power in knowyng of such thynges so preven shal nat al utterly be yeven to you beestes, for many thynges in suche precious maters ben reserved to jugement of devyne purveyaunce. For among lyveng people, by mannes consyderacion moun they nat be determyned. Wherfore I saye the envy, al the janglynge that welny people upon my servauntes maken efte, is rather cause of esployte than of any hyndringe." "Why than," quod I, "suffre ye such wrong and moun whan ye lyst lightly al such yvels abate? Me semeth to you it is a great unworship." "O," quod she, "holde nowe thy peace. I have founden to many that han ben to me unkynde, that trewly I wol suffre every wight in that wyse to have disease; and who that contynueth to the ende wel and trewly, hem wol I helpen and as for one of myne into blysse to wende. As marcial doyng in Grece. Who was ycrowned by God? Nat the strongest, but he that rathest come and lengest abode and contynued in the journey and spared nat to traveyle as long as the play lest. But thilke person that profred him nowe to my servyce, therin is a while and anon voydeth and redy to another and so nowe one he thynketh and nowe another and into water entreth and anon respireth. Such one lyst me nat into perfyte blysse of my servyce bringe. A tree ofte set in dyvers places wol nat by kynde endure to bringe forth frutes. Loke nowe, I pray thee, howe myne olde servauntes of tyme passed contynued in her servyce, and folowe thou after their steppes, and than myght thou not fayle in case thou worche in this wyse." "Certes," quod I, "it is nothyng lych this worlde to tyme passed; eke this countré hath one maner, and another countré hath another. And so may nat a man alwaye put to his eye the salve that he healed with his hele. For this is sothe: betwixe two thynges lyche, ofte dyversité is required."    "Nowe," quod she, "that is sothe: dyversité of nation, dyversité of lawe, as was   maked by many reasons, for that dyversyté cometh in by the contrarious malyce of wicked people that han envyous hertes ayenst other. But, trewly, my lawe to my servauntes ever hath ben in general, whiche may nat fayle. For right as mannes lawes that is ordayned by many determinations may nat be knowe for good or badde tyl assay of the people han proved it and to what ende it draweth, and than it sheweth the necessité therof, or els the impossibilyté, right so the lawe of my servauntes so welhath ben proved in general that hytherto hath it not fayled.    "Wyste thou not wel that al the lawe of kynde is my lawe and by God ordayned and stablisshed to dure by kynde reasoun, wherfore al lawe by mannes wytte purveyde ought to be underputte to lawe of kynde, whiche yet hath be commune to every kyndely creature that my statutes and my lawe that ben kyndely arne general to al peoples? Olde doynges and by many turnynges of yeres used, and with the peoples maner proved, mowen nat so lightly ben defased, but newe doynges, contrariauntes suche olde, often causen diseases and breaken many purposes. Yet saye I nat therfore that ayen newe mischefe men shulde nat ordaynen a newe remedye, but alwaye looke it contrary not the olde no ferther than the malyce stretcheth. Than foloweth it — the olde doynges in love han ben unyversal — as for most exployte forthe used. Wherfore I wol not yet that of my lawes nothynge be adnulled. But thanne to thy purpose, suche jangelers and lokers and wayters of games, if thee thynke in aught they mowe dere, yet love wel alwaye and sette hem at naught, and lette thy porte ben lowe in every wightes presence, and redy in thyne herte to maynteyne that thou hast begonne, and a lytel thee fayne with mekenesse in wordes; and thus with sleyght shalt thou surmount and dequace the yvel in their hertes. And wysdome yet is to seme flye otherwhyle there a man wol fyght. Thus with suche thynges the tonges of yvel shal ben stylled, els fully to graunt thy ful meanynge, for sothe, ever was and ever it shalbe that myn enemyes ben aferde to truste to any fightynge. And therfore have thou no cowardes herte in my servyce, no more than somtyme thou haddest in the contrarye, for if thou drede suche jangleres thy viage to make, understande wel, that he that dredeth any rayne to sowe his cornes he shal have thin bernes. Also he that is aferde of his clothes, let him daunce naked. Who nothyng undertaketh and namely in my servyce nothyng acheveth. After great stormes the wether is often mery and smothe. After moche clatering, there is mokyl rownyng; thus after jangling wordes cometh `huysshte,' `peace,' and `be styl.'" "O good lady," quod I than, "se nowe howe seven yere passed and more have I graffed and groubed a vyne, and with al the wayes that I coude I sought to a fed meof the grape. But frute have I none founde. Also I have this seven yere served Laban to a wedded Rachel his doughter, but blere eyed Lya is brought to my bedde whiche alway engendreth my tene and is ful of chyldren in trybulacion and in care. And although the clippynges and kyssynges of Rachel shulde seme to me swete, yet is she so barayne that gladnesse ne joye by no way wol springe so that I may wepe with Rachel. I may not ben counsayled with solace sythen issue of myn hertely desyre is fayled. Nowe than I pray that to me sone fredom and grace in this eyght yere: this eighteth mowe to me bothe be kynrest and masseday after the seven werkedays of travayle to folowe the Christen lawe; and, whatever ye do els, that thilke Margaryte be holden so, lady, in your privy chambre that she in this case to none other person be commytted." "Loke than," quod she, "thou persever in my servyce in whiche I have thee grounded that thilke skorne in thyn enemyes mowe this on thy person be not sothed: lo this man began to edefye, but, for his foundement is bad, to the ende may he it not bringe. For mekenesse in countenaunce with a manly hert in dedes and in longe contynuaunce is the conysance of my lyvery to al my retynue delyvered. What wenyst thou that me lyst avaunce suche persons as loven the first syttynges at feestes, the highest stoles in churches and in hal, loutynges of peoples in markettes and fayres, unstedfaste to byde in one place any whyle togyder wenyng his owne wyt more excellent than other, scornyng al maner devyse but his own. Nay, nay, God wot these shul nothing parten of my blysse. Truly, my maner here toforne hath ben worshyp with my blysse lyons in the felde and lambes in chambre, egles at assaute and maydens in halle, foxes in counsayle styl in their dedes, and their protection is graunted redy to ben a bridge, and their baner is arered like wolves in the felde. Thus by these wayes shul men ben avaunced; ensample of David that from kepyng of shepe was drawen up into the order of kyngly governaunce, and Jupiter, from a bole, to ben Europes fere, and Julius Cesar from the lowest degré in Rome to be mayster of al erthly princes, and Eneas from hel to be king of the countré there Rome is nowe stondyng. And so to thee I say, thy grace by beryng therafter may set thee in suche plyght that no janglyng may greve the lest tucke of thy hemmes, that their jangles is not to counte at a cresse in thy disavauntage."   Chapter VI      "Ever," quod she, "hath the people in this worlde desyred to have had great name in worthynesse and hated foule to beare any fame, and that is one of the objections thou alegest to be ayen thyne hertely desyre." "Ye, forsothe," quod I, "and that so comenly the people wol lye and bringe aboute suche enfamé." "Nowe," quod she, "if men with leasynges put on thee enfamé, wenest thyselfe therby ben enpeyred? That wenyng is wronge, se why: for as moche as they lyen thy meryte encreaseth and make thee ben more worthy to hem that knowen of thee the soth; by what thyng thou art apeyred, that in so mokyl thou arte encreased of thy beloved frendes. And sothly a wounde of thy frende to thee lasse harme, ye sir, and better than a false kyssyng in disceyvable glosyng of thyne enemye; above that than to be wel with thy frende maketh suche enfamé. Ergo, thou art encresed and not apeyred." "Lady," quod I, "somtyme yet if a man be in disease th'estymacion of the envyous people ne loketh nothyng to desertes of men ne to the merytes of their doynges, but only to the aventure of fortune, and therafter they yeven their sentence. And some loken the voluntary wyl in his herte and therafter telleth his jugement, not takyng hede to reason ne to the qualité of the doyng, as thus: If a man be ryche and fulfylde with worldly welfulnesse, some commenden it and sayne it is so lente by juste cause. And he that hath adversyté they sayne he is weaked and hath deserved thilke anoye. The contrarye of these thinges some men holden also and sayne that to the ryche prosperyté is purvayed into his confusyon, and upon this mater many autorites of many and great-wytted clerkes they alegen. And some men sayn though al good estymacion forsaken folk that han adversyté, yet is it meryte and encrease of his blysse, so that these purposes arne so wonderful in understandyng that trewly for myn adversyté nowe, I not howe the sentence of the indifferent people wyl jugen my fame." "Therfore," quod she, "if any wyght shulde yeve a trewe sentence on suche maters, the cause of the disease maist thou se wel. Understande therupon after what ende it draweth, that is to sayne good or badde, soought it to have his fame by goodnesse or enfamé by badnesse. For every reasonable person and namely of a wyse man, his wytte ought not without reason to forne herde sodainly in a mater to juge. After the sawes of the wise, thou shalt not juge ne deme toforne thou knowe." "Lady," quod I, "ye remembre wel that in moste laude and praysyng of certayne sayntes in holy churche is to rehersen their convercion from badde into good, and that is so rehersed as by a perpetual myrrour of remembraunce in worshyppynge of tho sayntes and good ensample to other misdoers in amendement. Howe turned the Romayne Zedeoreys fro the Romaynes to be with Hanybal ayenst his kynde nacion; and afterwardes him semyng the Romayns to be at the next degré of confusyon turned to his olde alyes, by whose wytte after was Hanybal discomfyted. Wherfore, to enfourme you, lady, the maner why I meane, se nowe. In my youth I was drawe to ben assentaunt and, in my mightes, helpyng to certayn conjuracions and other great maters of ruling of cytezins, and thilke thynges ben my drawers in, andexitours to tho maters werne so paynted and coloured that, at the prime face, me semed them noble and glorious to al the people. I than, wenyng mykel meryte have deserved in furtheryng and mayntenaunce of tho thynges, besyed and laboured with al my dyligence in werkynge of thylke maters to the ende. And trewly, lady, to tel you the sothe, me rought lytel of any hate of the mighty senatours in thilke cyté, ne of comunes malyce, for two skylles: One was I had comforte to ben in suche plyte that bothe profyte were to me and to my frendes. Another was for commen profyte in comynaltie is not but peace and tranquylité with just governaunce proceden from thylke profyte, sythen by counsayle of myne inwytte me thought the firste paynted thynges malyce and yvel meanynge, withouten any good avaylyng to any people, and of tyrannye purposed. And so for pure sorowe and of my medlynge and badde infamé that I was in ronne, tho teeres lasshed out of myne eyen were thus awaye wasshe; than the under hydde malyce and the rancoure of purposynge envye, fornecaste and ymagyned in distruction of mokyl people, shewed so openly that had I ben blynde with myne hondes al the circumstaunce I might wel have feled.    Nowe than tho persones that suche thynges have caste to redresse for wrathe of my first medlynge shopen me to dwel in this pynande prison tyl Lachases my threde no lenger wolde twyne. And ever I was sought if me lyste to have grace of my lyfe and frenesse of that prison, I shulde openly confesse howe peace myght ben endused to enden al the firste rancours. It was fully supposed my knowyng to be ful in tho maters. Than, lady, I thought that every man that by any waye of right rightfully done, maye helpe any comune helpe to ben saved — whiche thynge to kepe above al thynges I am holde to mayntayne; and namely in distroyeng of a wrong, al shulde I therthrough enpeche myn owne fere if he were gylty and to do misdede assentaunt. And mayster ne frende maye nought avayle to the soule of him that in falsnesse deyeth, and also that I nere desyred wrathe of the people ne indignacion of the worthy, for nothynge that ever I wrought or dyd in any doyng myselfe els but in the mayntenaunce of these foresayd errours and in hydynge of the privytees therof. And that al the peoples hertesholdynge on the errours syde weren blynde and of elde so ferforthe begyled that debate and stryfe they maynteyned and in distruction on that othersyde, by whiche cause the peace, that moste in comunaltie shulde be desyred, was in poynte to be broken and adnulled. Also the cytie of London, that is to me so dere and swete, in whiche I was forthe growen; and more kyndely love have I to that place than to any other in erthe, as every kyndely creature hath ful appetyte to that place of his kyndly engendrure, and to wylne reste and peace in that stede to abyde: thylke peace shulde thus there have ben broken — and of al wyse it is commended and desyred. For knowe thynge it is, al men that desyren to comen to the perfyte peace everlastyng must the peace by God commended bothe mayntayne and kepe. This peace by angels voyce was confyrmed, our God entrynge in this worlde. This as for His Testament He left to al His frendes whanne He retourned to the place from whence He came: this His Apostel amonesteth to holden, without whiche man perfytely may have none insyght. Also this God by His comyng made not peace alone betwene hevenly and erthly bodyes, but also amonge us on erthe so He peace confyrmed, that in one heed of love onebody we shulde perfourme. Also I remembre me wel howe the name of Athenes was rather after the god of peace than of batayle, shewynge that peace moste is necessarye to comunalties and cytes. I than so styred by al these wayes toforne nempned, declared certayne poyntes in this wyse. Firste that thilke persones that hadden me drawen to their purposes and, me not wetyng the privy entent of their meanynge, drawen also the feoble-wytted people, that have none insyght of gubernatyfe prudence, to clamure and to crye on maters that they styred; and under poyntes for comune avauntage they enbolded the passyfe to take in the actyves doynge, and also styred innocentes of connyng to crye after thynges whiche, quod they, 'may not stande but we ben executours of tho maters, and auctorité of execucion by comen election to us be delyvered. And that muste entre by strength of your mayntenaunce, for we, out of suche degree put, oppressyon of these olde hyndrers shal agayne surmounten and putten you in such subjection that in endelesse wo ye shul complayne. The governementes,' quod they, 'of your cyté, lefte in the handes of torcencious cytezyns, shal bringe in pestylence and distruction to you, good men; and therfore let us have the comune admynistracion to abate suche yvels. Also,' quod they, 'it is worthy the good to commende and the gylty desertes to chastice. There ben cytezens many, forferde of execucion that shal be doone, for extorcions by hem commytted ben evermore ayenst these purposes and al other good menynges.' Never-the-latter, lady, trewly the meanynge under these wordes was fully to have apeched the mighty senatoures whiche hadden heavy herte for the misgovernaunce that they seen. And so, lady, whan it fel that free election by great clamour of moche people for great disease of misgovernaunce so fervently stoden in her election that they hem submytted to every maner face, rather than have suffred the maner and the rule of the hated governours, not withstandynge that in the contrary helden moche comune meyny that have no consyderacion but onely to voluntary lustes withouten reason. But than thylke governour so forsaken, faynynge toforne his undoynge for misrule in his tyme, shope to have letted thilke electyon and have made anewe himselfe to have ben chosen, and under that mokyl rore have arered. These thynges, lady, knowen amonge the princes andmade open to the people, draweth in amendement that every degree shal ben ordayned to stande there as he shulde, and that of errours comyng herafter men may lightly tofornehande purvaye remedye, in this wyse peace and rest to be furthered and holde. Of the whiche thynges, lady, thylke persones broughten in answere toforne their moste soverayne juge, not coarted by paynynge dures openly knowlegeden, and asked therof grace, so that apertely it preveth my wordes ben sothe without forgynge of leasynges.    But nowe it greveth me to remembre these dyvers sentences in janglynge of these shepy people. Certes me thynketh they oughten to maken joye that a sothe maye be knowe. For my trouthe and my conscience ben wytnesse to me bothe that this knowynge sothe have I sayde, for no harme ne malyce of tho persones but onely for trouthe of my sacrament in my leigeaunce by whiche I was charged on my kynges behalfe. But se ye not nowe, lady, how the felonous thoughtes of this people and covyns of wicked men conspyren ayen my sothfast trouth? Se ye not every wight that to these erronyous opinyons were assentaunt and helpes to the noyse and knewen althese thynges better than I my selven apparaylen to fynden newe frendes and cleapen me false and studyen howe they mowen in her mouthes werse plyte nempne? O God, what maye this be that thylke folke whiche that in tyme of my mayntenaunce and whan my might avayled to stretch to the forsayd maters, tho me commended and yave me name of trouth in so manyfolde maners that it was nyghe in every wightes eere there as any of thilke people weren; and, on the other syde, thilke company somtyme passed yevynge me name of badde loos. Nowe bothe tho peoples turned the good into badde and badde into good, whiche thyng is wonder, that they knowynge me sayng but sothe arne nowe tempted to reply her olde praysynges, and knowen me wel in al doynges to ben trewe, and sayne openly that I false have sayd many thynges. And they aleged nothynge me to ben false or untrewe, save thilke mater knowleged by the parties hemselfe. And, God wote, other mater is none. Ye also, lady, knowe these thynges for trewe: I avaunte not in praysyng of myselfe, therby shulde I lese the precious secré of my conscience. But ye se wel that false opinyon of the people for my trouthe in tellyng out of false conspyred maters; and after the jugement of these clerkes I shulde not hyde the sothe of no maner person, mayster ne other. Wherfore Iwolde not drede were it put in the consyderacion of trewe and of wyse. And for comers hereafter shullen fully out of denwere al the sothe knowe of these thinges in acte, but as they werne I have put it in scripture, in perpetuel remembraunce of true meanynge. For trewly, lady, me semeth that I ought to beare the name of trouthe that for the love of rightwysnesse have thus me submytten. But nowe than the false fame which that clerkes sayn flyeth as faste as dothe the fame of trouthe shal so wyde sprede tyl it be brought to the jewel that I of meane, and so shal I ben hyndred withouten any measure of trouthe."   Chapter VII      Than gan Love sadly me beholde and sayd in a chaunged voyce, lower than she had spoken in any tyme: "Fayne wolde I," quod she, "that thou were holpen, but haste thou sayd any thynge whiche thou myght not proven?" "Pardé," quod I, "the persones every thyng as I have sayd han knowleged hemselfe." "Yea," quod she, "but what if they hadden nayed? Howe woldest thou have maynteyned it?" "Sothely," quod I, "it is wel wyste bothe amongest the greatest and other of the realme that I profered my body so largely into provynge of tho thynges, that Mars shulde have juged the ende. But for sothnesse of my wordes they durste not to thylke juge truste." "Nowe certes," quod she, "above al fames in this worlde the name of marcial doynges moste pleasen to ladyes of my lore, but sythen thou were redy, and thyne adversaryes in thy presence refused thilke doyng, thy fame ought to be so borne as if in dede it had take to the ende. And therfore every wight that any droppe of reason hath and hereth of thee infamé for these thynges hath this answere to saye: `trewly thou saydest, for thyne adversaryes thy wordes affirmed.' And if thou haddest lyed, yet are they discomfyted, the prise leaned on thy syde, so that fame shal holde down infamé: he shal bringe upon none halfe.    "What greveth thee thyne enemye to sayne their owne shame as thus: `We arne discomfyted, and yet our quarel is trewe?' Shal not the loos of thy frendes ayenward dequace thilke enfamé and saye they graunted a sothe without a stroke or fighting? Many men in bataile ben discomfyted and overcome in a rightful quarel that is Goddes privy jugement in heven; but yet although the partie be yolden he may with wordes saye his quarel is trewe and to yelde him in the contrarye, for drede of dethe he is compelled; and he that graunteth and no stroke hath feled, he maye not crepe away in this wyse by none excusacion. Indifferent folke wyl say, `ye, who is trewe, who is false, himselfe knowlegeth tho thinges.' Thus in every syde fame sheweth to thee good and no badde." "But yet," quod I, "some wyl say I ne shulde for no dethe have discovered my maysters, and so by unkyndnesse they wol knette infamé to pursue me aboute. Thus enemyes of wyl in manyfolde maner wol seche privy serpentynes queyntyses to quenche and distroye by venym of many besynesses the light of truthe to make hertes to murmure ayenst my persone to have me in hayne withouten any cause." "Nowe," quod she, "here me a fewe wordes, and thou shalte fully ben answerde I trowe. Me thynketh," quod she, "right nowe by thy wordes that sacrament of swearyng, that is to say, chargyng by othe, was one of the causes to make thee discover the malicious ymaginatyons tofore nempned. Every othe, by knyttynge of copulation, muste have these lawes, that is trewe jugement and rightwysenesse, in whiche thynge, if any of these lacke, the othe is ytourned into the name of perjury. Than to make a trewe serment, most nedes these thynges folowe, for ofte tymes a man, to saye sothe, but jugement and justyce folowe, he is forsworne: ensample of Herodes for holdynge of his serment was dampned.    "Also, to saye truthe rightfullyche but in jugement otherwhile is forboden by that al sothes be nat to sayne. Therfore in jugement in truthe and rightwisenesse is every creature bounden up payne of perjury, ful knowyng to make tho it were of his owne persone for drede of synne. After that worde, `better is it to dey than lyve false,' and al wolde perverted people false reporte make, in unkyndnesse in that entent thy fame to reyse, whan lyght of truthe in these maters is forthe sprongen and openly publysshed among commens, than shal nat suche derke enfamé dare appere, for pure shame ofhis falsnesse, as some men ther ben that their owne enfamé can none otherwyse voide or els excuse, but be hyndringe of other mennes fame, which that by non other cause cleapen other men false. But for with their owne falsnesse mowen they nat ben avaunsed or els by false sklaundrynge wordes other men shendyn, their owne trewe sklaunder to make seme the lasse, for if such men wolden their eyen of their conscience revolven, shulden sene the same sentence they legen on other springe out of their sydes with so many braunches it were impossyble to nombre. To whiche, therfore, maye it be sayd in that thynge this man thou demest, therin thy selfe thou condempnest. But," quod she, "understande nat by these wordes that thou wene me saye thee to be worthy sclaunder, for any mater tofore written truely I wolde wytnesse the contrary. But I saye that the beames of sclaundryng wordes may nat be done awaye tyl the daye of dome. For howe shulde it nat yet amonges so great plentie of people ben many shrewes, sithen whan no mo but eight persons in Noes shippe were closed, yet one was a shrewe and skorned his father. These thynges," quod she, "I trowe shewen that false fame is nat to drede ne of wyse persons to accepte and namely nat of thy Margarite, whose wysedom here- after I thynke to declare, wherfore, I wotte wel, suche thynge shal nat her asterte; than of unkyndnesse thyne othe hath thee excused at the fulle. But nowe if thou woldest nat greve me lyst a fewe thynges to shewe." "Say on," quod I, "what ye wol. I trowe ye meane but trouthe and my profyte in tyme comynge." "Trewly," quod she, "that is sothe, so thou con wel kepe these wordes and, in the inrest secré chambre of thyne herte, so faste hem close that they never flytte than shalte thou fynde hem avaylyng. Loke nowe what people haste thou served, whiche of hem al in tyme of thyne exile ever thee refresshed by the valewe of the leste coyned plate that walketh in money. Who was sorye or made any rewth for thy disease? If they hadden getten their purpose, of thy misaventure sette they nat an hawe. Lo, whan thou were enprisonned howe faste they hyed in helpe of thy delyveraunce. I wene of thy dethe they yeve but lyte. They loked after nothynge but after their owne lustes.And if thou lyste say the sothe, al that meyny that in this brigge thee broughten lokeden rather after thyne helpes than thee to have releved.    "Owen nat yet some of hem money for his commens? Paydest nat thou for some of her dispences tyl they were tourned out of Selande? Who yave thee ever ought for any rydynge thou madest? Yet, pardye, some of hem token money for thy chambre and putte tho pens in his purse, unwetynge of the renter.     "Lo for which a company thou medlest that neyther thee ne themselfe myghten helpe; of unkyndnesse nowe they beare the name that thou supposest of hem for to have. What myght thou more have done than thou dyddest, but if thou woldest in a false quarel have been a stynkynge martyr? I wene thou fleddest as longe as thou myght their pryvité to counsayle whiche thynge thou helest lenger than thou shuldest. And thilke that ought thee money no penny wolde paye; they wende thy returne hadde ben an impossyble. Howe might thou better have hem proved but thus in thy nedy diseases? Nowe haste thou ensaumple for whom thou shalte meddle: trewly, this lore is worthe many goodes.   Chapter VIII      Efte gan Love to sterne me these wordes: "thynke on my speche, for trewly hereafter it wol do thee lykynge, and howesoever thou se Fortune shape her wheele to tourne, this meditation by no waye revolve. For certes, Fortune sheweth her fayrest whan she thynketh to begyle. And as me thought heretoforne thou saydest thy loos in love (for thy rightwysenesse ought to be raysed) shulde be alowed in tyme comynge. Thou myght in love so thee have that loos and fame shul so ben raysed that to thy frendes comforte, and sorowe to thyne enemys, endlesse shul endure.    "But if thou were the one shepe amonges the hundred were loste in deserte and out of the way hadde erred and nowe to the flocke arte restoored, the shepeheerd hath in thee no joye and thou ayen to the forrest tourne. But that right as the sorowe and anguysshe was great in tyme of thyne outwaye goynge, ryght so joye and gladnesse shal be doubled to sene thee converted, and nat as Lothes wyfe ayen lokynge, but in hoole counsayle with the shepe folowynge, and with them grasse and herbes gadre. Neverthelater," quod she, "I saye nat these thynges for no wantrust that I have in supposynge of thee otherwyse thanne I shulde. For trewly, I wotte wel that nowe thou arte sette in suche a purpose out of whiche thee lyste nat to parte. But I saye it for many men there bene that to knowynge of other mennes doynges setten al their cure and lightly desyren the badde to clatter rather than the good and have no wyl their owne maner to amende. They also hate of olde rancoure lightly haven, and there that suche thynge abydeth sodaynly in their mouthes procedeth the habundaunce of the herte and wordes as stones out throwe. Wherfore my counsayle is ever more openly and apertely in what place thou sytte countreplete th'errours and meanynges in as ferre as thou hem wystyst false and leave for no wyght to make hem be knowe in every bodyes eare. And be alwaye pacient and use Jacobes wordes whatsoever menne of thee clappen, `I shal sustayne my ladyes wrathe whiche I have deserved, so longeas my Margarite hath rightwysed my cause.' And certes," quod she, "I wytnesse myselfe if thou thus converted sorowest in good meanynge in thyne herte, wolte from al vanyté parfitely departe, in consolatyoun of al good pleasaunce of that, Margaryte whiche that thou desyrest after wyl of thyn herte, in a maner of a mothers pyté, shul fully accepte thee into grace. For ryght as thou rentest clothes in open syghte, so openly to sowe hem at his worshippe withouten reprofe commended. Also, right as thou were ensample of mochefolde errour, right so thou must be ensample of manyfolde correctioun, so good savour to forgoyng al errour distroyeng causeth dilygent love with many playted praysynges to folowe, and than shal al the fyrste errours make the folowynge worshyppes to seme hugely encreased. Blacke and white sette togyder every for other more semeth, and so dothe every thynges contrary in kynde. But infamé that gothe alwaye tofore and praysynge worshippe by any cause folowynge after maketh to ryse the ylke honour in double of welth, and that quencheth the spotte of the fyrst enfamé. Why wenyste, I saye, these thinges in hyndringe of thy name? Naye, nay, God wotte, but for pure encreasyng worshyp thy rightwysenesse to commende, and thy trouthe to seme the more. Wost nat wel thyselfe that thou in fourme of making passeth nat Adam that ete of the apple? Thou passeth nat the stedfastnesse of Noe, that eatynge of the grape become dronke. Thou passyst nat the chastyté of Lothe, that lay by his doughter. Eke the nobley of Abraham, whom God reproved by his pride. Also Davydes mekenesse, whiche for a woman made Urye be slawe. What also Hector of Troye in whome no defaute myght be founde, yet is he reproved that he ne hadde with manhode nat suffred the warre begon, ne Paris to have went into Grece, by whom ganne al the sorowe. For trewly hym lacketh no venym of pryvé consentyng whiche that openly leaveth a wronge to withsay. Lo eke an olde proverbe amonges many other: `He that is stylle, semeth as he graunted.'    "Nowe by these ensamples thou myght fully understonde that these thynges ben wrytte to your lernyng and in rightwysenesse of tho persones, as thus: To every wight his defaute commytted made goodnesse afterwardes done be the more in reverence and in open shewyng. For ensample, is it nat song in holy churche, `Lo, howe necessary was Adams synne'? Davyd the kyng gate Salomon the kyng of her that was Uryes wyfe. Truly, for reprofe is none of these thynges writte. Right so, tho I reherce thy before dede I repreve thee never the more, ne for no vyllany of thee are they rehersed but for worshippe, so thou contynewe wel hereafter, and for profyte of thy selfe I rede thou on hem thynke."    Than sayde I right thus. "Lady of unyté and accorde, envy and wrathe lurken there thou comest in place, ye weten wel yourselve, and so done many other, that whyle I admynystred the offyce of commen doynge, as in rulyng of the stablysshmentes amonges the people I defouled never my conscyence for no maner dede, but ever by wytte and by counsayle of the wysest the maters weren drawen to their right endes. And thus trewly for you, lady, I have desyred suche cure, and certes in your servyce was I nat ydel as ferre as suche doynge of my cure stretcheth."    "That is a thyng," quod she, "that may drawe many hertes of noble and voice of commune into; glory and fame is nat but wretched and fyckle. Alas, that mankynde coveyteth in so leude a wyse to be rewarded of any good dede, sithe glorie of fame in this worlde is nat but hyndrynge of glorye in tyme commynge. And certes," quod she, "yet at the hardest suche fame into heven is nat the erthe but a centre to the cercle of heven. A pricke is wonder lytel in respecte of al the cercle, and yet in al this pricke may no name be borne in maner of peersyng, for many obstacles, as waters and wyldernesse and straunge langages; and nat onely names of men ben stylled and holden out of knowlegynge by these obstacles, but also cytees and realmes of prosperité ben letted to be knowe and their reason hyndred so that they mowe nat ben parfitely in mennes proper understandynge. Howe shulde than the name of a synguler Londenoys passe the gloryous name of London, whiche by many it is commended, and by many it is lacked, and in many mo places in erthe nat knowen than knowen? For in many countrees lytel is London in knowyng or in spech, and yet among one maner of people may nat such fame in goodnes come, for as many as praysen commenly as many lacken. Fye than on such maner fame. Slepe and suffre him that knoweth prevyté of hertes to dele suche fame in thylke place there nothynge ayenst a sothe shal neyther speke ne dare apere by attourney ne by other maner. Howe many great named and many great in worthynesse losed han be tofore this tyme that nowe out of memorie are slydden and clenely forgeten for defaute of writynges? And yet scriptures for great elde so ben defased that no perpetualté maye in hem ben juged. But if thou wolte make comparisoun to ever, what joye mayst thou have in erthly name? It is a fayre lykenesse, a pees or one grayne of wheate to a thousande shippes ful of corne charged.    "What nombre is betwene the one and thother? And yet mowe bothe they be nombred, and ende in rekenynge have. But trewly, al that may be nombred is nothyng to recken as to thilke that maye nat be nombred. For ofte thynges ended is made comparison, as one lytel another great, but in thynges to have an ende and another no ende, suche comparisoun may nat be founden. Wherfore in heven to ben losed with God hath none ende, but endlesse endureth, and thou canste nothynge done aright, but thou desyre the rumoure therof be healed and in every wightes eare, and that dureth but a pricke in respecte of the other. And so thou sekest rewarde of folkes smale wordes and of vayne praysynges. Trewly, therin thou lesest the guerdon of vertue, and lesest the grettest valoure of consyence, and uphap thy renome everlastyng. Therfore, boldely renome of fame of the erthe shulde be hated, and fame after deth shulde be desyred, for werkes of vertue asketh guerdonyng, and the soule causeth al vertue. Than the soule delyvered out of prisone of erthe is most worthy suche guerdone among to have in the everlastynge fame, and nat the body that causeth al mannes yvels.   Chapter IX   "Of twey thynges arte thou answered as me thynketh," quod Love, "and if any thynge be in doute in thy soule, shewe it forth thyne ignoraunce to clere and leave it for no shame." "Certes," quod I, "there ne is no body in this worlde that aught coude saye by reason ayenst any of your skylles, as I leve, and by my wytte nowe fele I wel that yvel spekers or bearers of enfamé may lytel greve or lette my purpose, but rather by suche thynge my quarel to be forthered." "Yea," quod she, "and it is proved also that the ilke jewel in my kepynge shal nat there thorowe be steered of the lest moment that myght be ymagyned." "That is soth," quod I. "Wel," quod she, "than leneth there to declare that thy insuffysance is no maner letting, as thus: for that she is so worthy thou shuldest not clymbe so highe, for thy moebles and thyne estate arne voyded; thou thynkest fallen in suche myserie that gladnesse of thy pursute wol nat on thee discende." "Certes," quod I, "that is sothe: right suche thought is in myne hert, for commenly it is spoken, and for an olde proverbe it is leged: `He that heweth to hye, with chyppes he maye lese his syght.' Wherfore I have ben about in al that ever I myght to studye wayes of remedye by one syde or by another." "Nowe," quod she, "God forbede ere thou seke any other doynges but suche as I have lerned thee in our restynge whyles, and suche herbes as ben planted in oure gardyns. Thou shalte wel understande that above man is but one God alone." "Howe," quod I, "han men toforne this tyme trusted in writtes and chauntementes and in helpes of spirites that dwellen in the ayre, and therby they han getten their desyres, whereas first for al his manly power, he daunced behynde?"    "O," quod she, "fye on suche maters. For trewly that is sacrilege, and that shal have no sort with any of my servauntes. In myne eyen shal suche thynge nat be loked after. Howe often is it commaunded by these passed wyse that to one God shal men serve and nat to goddes? And who that lyste to have myne helpes shal aske none helpe of foule spirites. Alas, is nat man maked semblable to God? Wost thou nat wel that al vertue of lyvelych werkynge by Goddes purveyaunce is underputte to resonable creature in erthe? Is nat every thynge a thishalfe god, made buxome to mannes contemplation, under- standynge in heven and in erthe, and in helle? Hath not manne beynge with stones, soule of wexyng with trees and herbes? Hath he nat soule of felynge, with beestes, fysshes, and foules? And he hath soule of reason and understandyng with aungels, so that in him is knytte al maner of lyvenges by a reasonable proporcioun. Also man is made of al the foure elementes. Al unyversytee is rekened in him alone. He hath under God pryncipalité above al thynges. Nowe is his soule here, nowe a thousande myle hence; nowe ferre, nowe nygh, nowe hye, nowe lowe, as ferre in a momente as in mountenaunce of tenne wynter, and al this is in mannes governaunce and disposytion. Than sheweth it that men ben lyche unto goddes, and chyldren of moost heyght. But nowe sythen al thynges underputte to the wyl of reasonable creatures, God forbede any man to wynne that lordshippe and aske helpe of anythynge lower than himselfe, and than namely of foule thynges innominable. Now than why shuldest thou wene to love to highe, sythen nothynge is thee above but God alone? Trewly, I wote wel that thylke jewel is in a maner evyn in lyne of degree there thou arte thyselve and nought above save thus. Aungel upon angel, manne upon manne, and devyl upon devyl han a maner of soveraygntie and that shal cease at the daye of dome. And so I say, thoughe thou be putte to serve the ylke jewel durynge thy lyfe, yet is that no servage of underputtynge, but a maner of travaylyng plesaunce to conquere and gette that thou haste not. I sette nowe the hard- est: in my service nowe thou deydest for sorowe of wantynge in thy desyres; trewly, al hevenly bodyes with one voyce shul come and make melody in thy comynge and saye, `Welcome, our fere, and worthy to entre into Jupyters joye, for thou with myght haste overcome dethe. Thou woldest never flytte out of thy servyce, and we al shul nowe pray to the goddes, rowe by rowe, to make thilk Margarite that no routh had in this persone, but unkyndely without comforte lette thee deye shal besette herselfe in suche wyse that in erthe, for parte of vengeaunce, shal she no joye have in loves servyce. And whan she is deed, than shal her soule ben brought up into thy presence, and whyder thou wylte chese thilke soule shal ben commytted.' Or els after thy dethe, anone al the foresayd hevenly bodyes by one accorde shal benommen from thylke perle al the vertues that firste her were taken. For she hath hem forfeyted by that on thee, my servaunt, in thy lyve she wolde not suffre to worche al vertues withdrawen by might of the hygh bodyes. Why than shuldest thou wene so any more? And if the lyste to loke upon the lawe of kynde and with order whiche to me was ordayned, sothely none age none overtournynge tyme but hytherto had no tyme ne power to chaunge the weddyng, ne the knotte to unbynde of two hertes thorowe one assent, in my presence, togyther accorden to enduren tyl dethe hem departe. What, trowest thou every ydeot wotte the menynge and the privy entent of these thynges? They wene, forsothe, that suche accorde may not be, but the rose of maydenhede be plucked. Do waye, do waye. They knowe nothyng of this; for consente of two hertes alone maketh the fastenynge of the knotte. Neyther lawe of kynde ne mannes lawe determyneth neyther the age ne the qualyté of persones, but onely accorde bytwene thylke twaye. And trewly after tyme that suche accorde by their consent in hert is ensealed and put in my tresorye amonges my privy thynges: than gynneth the name of spousayle, and although they breaken forwarde bothe, yet suche mater ensealed is kepte in remembrance forever. And se nowe that spouses have the name anon after accorde, though the rose be not take. The aungel bade Joseph take Marye his spouse and to Egypte wende. Lo, she was cleped spouse, and yet toforne ne after neyther of hem bothe mente no flesshly luste knowe. Wherfore the wordes of trouthe acorden that my servauntes shulden forsake bothe father and mother and be adherande to his spouse, and they two in unyté of one flesshe shulden accorde. And this wyse two that werne firste in a lytel maner disacordaunt, hygher that one and lower that other, ben made evenlyche in gree to stonde. But nowe to enfourme thee that ye ben lyche to goddes, these clerkes sayne and in determynacion shewen that thre thynges haven the names of goddes ben cleaped: that is to sayn, man, dyvel, and ymages, but yet is there but one God of whom al goodnesse, al grace, and al vertue cometh, and He is lovyng and trewe and everlastyng and pryme cause of al beyng thynges. But men ben goddes lovynge and trewe, but not everlastyng, and that is by adopcyoun of the everlastynge God. Dyvels ben goddes styrrynge by a maner of lyveng, but neyther ben they trewe ne everlastynge, and their name of godlyheed they han by usurpacion, as the prophete saythe: `Al goddes of gentyles, that is to say, paynyms, are dyvels.' But ymages ben goddes by nuncupacion, and they ben neyther lyvynge, ne trewe, ne everlastynge: After these wordes they cleapen goddes ymages wrought with mennes handes. But nowe reasonable creature that by adopcion alone arte to the great God everlastynge, and therby thou arte god cleped: lette thy Fathers maners so entre thy wyttes that thou myght folowe in as moche as longeth to thee thy Fathers worshyppe, so that in nothynge thy kynde from His wyl declyne ne from His nobley perverte. In this wyse if thou werche, thou arte above al other thynges save God alone, and so say no more thyn herte to serve in to hye a place.   Chapter X      "Fully have I nowe declared thyn estate to be good, so thou folow therafter and that the abjection first be thee aleged in worthynesse of thy Margaryte shal not thee lette, as it shal forther thee and encrease thee. It is nowe to declare the last objection in nothing may greve."    "Yes, certes," quod I, "bothe greve and let muste it nedes. The contrarye maye not ben proved, and se nowe why. Whyle I was glorious in worldly welfulnesse and had suche goodes in welth as maken men ryche, tho was I drawe into companyes that loos, prise, and name yeven. Tho louteden blasours, tho curreyden glosours, tho welcomeden flatterers, tho worshypped thylke that nowe deynen nat to loke. Every wight in such erthly wele habundant is holde noble, precious, benigne, and wyse to do what he shal in any degree that men hym set, albeit that the sothe be in the contrarye of al tho thynges. But he that can ne never so wel him behave and hath vertue habundaunt in manyfolde maners, and be nat welthed with suche erthly goodes, is holde for a foole and sayd his wytte is but sotted. Lo, how false for aver is holde trewe. Lo, howe trewe is cleaped false for wantyng of goodes. Also, lady, dignytees of office maken men mykel comended, as thus: he is so good, were he out, his pere shulde men not fynde. Trewly I trowe of some suche that are so praysed, were they out ones, another shulde make him so be knowe he shulde of no wyse no more ben loked after: but onely fooles, wel I wotte, desyren suche new thynges. Wherfore I wonder that thilke governour out of whome alone the causes proceden that governen al thynges whiche that hath ordeyned this worlde in werkes of the kyndely bodyes so be governed, not with unstedfast or happyous thyng, but with rules of reason whiche shewen the course of certayne thynges: why suffreth he suche slydyng chaunges that misturnen suche noble thynges as ben we men that arne a fayre parsel of the erthe and holden the upperest degré under God, of benigne thinges, as ye sayden right nowe yourselfe — shulde never man have ben set in so worthy a place but if his degré were ordayned noble. Alas, thou that knyttest the purveyaunce of al thynges, why lokest thou not to amenden these defautes? I se shrewes that han wicked maners sytten in chayres of domes lambes to punysshen there wolves shulden ben punisshed. Lo, vertue shynende naturelly for povertie lurketh and is hydde under cloude. But the moone false, forsworne as I knowe myselfe for aver and yeftes, hath usurped to shyne by day light with peynture of other mens praysinges: and trewly thilke forged lyght fouly shulde fade were the trouth away of colours feyned. Thus is nyght turned into daye and daye into night, wynter into sommer, and sommer into wynter, not in dede but in miscleapyng of folyche people."    "Now," quod she, "what wenest thou of these thinges? How felest thou in thyn hert, by what governaunce that this cometh aboute?"    "Certes," quod I, "that wotte I never but if it be that Fortune hath graunt from above to lede the ende of man as her lyketh." "Ah, nowe I se," quod she, "th'entent of thy meanyng. Lo, bycause thy worldly goodes ben fullyche dispent, thou berafte out of dignité of office in whiche thou madest the gatherynge of thilke goodes, and yet dyddest in that office by counsaile of wyse any thing were ended, and true were unto hem whose profyte thou shuldest loke, and seest nowe many that in thilke hervest made of thee mokel and nowe, for glosing of other, deyneth thee nought to forther, but enhaunsen false shrewes by wytnessynge of trouthe, these thynges greveth thyn herte to sene thyselfe thus abated. And than fraylté of mankynde ne setteth but lytel by the lesers of suche rychesse, have he never so moche vertue. And so thou wenest of thy jewel to renne in dispyte and not ben accepted into grace. Al this shal thee nothing hynder. Nowe," quod she, "first thou woste wel thou lostest nothyng that ever mightest thou chalenge for thyn owne. Whan nature brought thee forthe come thou not naked out of thy moth- ers wombe? Thou haddest no rychesse, and whan thou shalt entre into the ende of every flesshly body, what shalt thou have with thee than? So every rychesse thou haste in tyme of thy lyvynge nys but lente. Thou might therin chalenge no propertie. And se nowe, everything that is a mannes owne he may do therwith what him lyketh, to yeve or to kepe. But richesse thou playnest from thee lost, if thy might had stretched so ferforth, fayne thou woldest have hem kept, multyplied with mo other. And so ayenst thy wyl ben they departed from the — wherfore they were never thyn. And if thou laudest and joyest any wight, for he is stuffed with suche maner richesse, thou arte in that beleve begiled, for thou wenest thilke joye to be selynesse or els ease and he that hath loste suche happes to ben unsely." "Ye forsoth," quod I. "Wel," quod she, "than wol I prove that unsely in that wise is to preise, and so the t'other is, the contrary, to be lacked." "Howe so?" quod I. "For Unsely," quod she, "begyleth nat but sheweth th'entent of her workyng. Et e contra. Selynesse begyleth, for in prosperité she maketh a jape in blyndnesse; that is, she wyndeth him to make sorowe whan she withdraweth. Wolte thou nat," quod she, "preise him better that sheweth to thee his herte, tho it be with bytande wordes and dispitous than him that gloseth and thinketh in their absence to do thee many harmes?" "Certes," quod I, "the one is to commende and the other to lacke and dispice." "A ha," quod she, "right so Ease while he lasteth, gloseth and flatereth, and lightly voydeth whan she most plesauntly sheweth, and ever in her absence she is aboute to do thee tene and sorowe in herte. But Unsely albeit with bytande chere, sheweth what she is, and so doth not that other, wherfore Unsely dothe not begyle. Selynesse disceyveth; Unsely put awaye doute. That one maketh men blynde; that other openeth their eyen in shewynge of wretchydnesse. The one is ful of drede to lese that is not his owne; that other is sobre and maketh men discharged of mokel hevynesse in burthen. The one draweth a man from very good, the other haleth hym to vertue by the hookes of thoughtes. And wenyst thou nat that thy disease hath done thee mokel more to wynne than ever yet thou lostest, and more than ever the contrary made thee wynne? Is nat a great good to thy thynking for to knowe the hertes of thy sothfast frendes? Pardy, they ben proved to the ful, and the trewe have discevered from the false. Trewly, at the goynge of the ylke brotel joye ther yede no more awaye than the ylke that was nat thyne proper. He was never from that lyghtly departed. Thyne owne good, therfore, leaveth it stylle with thee. Nowe good," quod she, "for howe moche woldest thou somtyme have bought this verry knowyng of thy frendes from the flatterynge flyes that thee glosed whan thou thought thyselfe sely? But thou that playnest of losse in rychesse hast founden the most dereworthy thynge. That thou cleapest unsely hath made thee moche thynge to wynnen. And also, for conclusyoun, of al he is frende that nowe leaveth nat his hert from thyne helpes. And if that Margarite denyeth nowe nat to suffre her vertues shyne to thee wardes with spreadynge beames as farre or farther than if thou were sely in worldly joye; trewly I saye nat els but she is somdele to blame."    "Ah, peace," quod I, "and speke no more of this. Myne herte breaketh nowe thou touchest any suche wordes." "A, wel," quod she, "thanne lette us syngen: thou herest no more of these thynges at this tyme."   Thus endeth the firste booke of the Testament of Love, and herafter foloweth the seconde.