i. 5 L 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 Confessor Confessio Amantis; 61 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 Confessor 120 125 130 135 140 145 L 150 155 160 165 170 175 180 185 190 195 200 205 210 215 220 225 230 235 L 240 245 250 255 260 265 270 275 280 285 290 295 300 305 310 315 320 325 330 335 340 345 350 355 360 L 365 370 375 380 385 390 395 400 405 410 415 420 425 430 435 440 Amans 446 450 Confessor 455 460 L 465 470 475 480 485 490 495 500 505 510 515 520 525 530 535 540 545 550 555 560 565 570 Confessor 576 580 585 590 595 600 605 610 615 620 Amans 625 Confessor 631 635 640 L 645 650 655 660 665 670 675 680 685 690 695 700 705 710 715 720 725 Confessor Amans 730 735 Confessor 740 745 ii. [Confessor] L 750 755 760 765 770 L 775 780 785 L 790 795 800 805 810 815 820 825 830 834 L 840 844 L 850 855 860 865 L 871 875 880 L 885 890 895 900 905 910 914 L 920 925 930 935 L 940 945 950 954 L 960 965 L 970 975 980 L 985 990 995 1000 1004 L 1010 1015 1020 1025 1030 1035 1040 L 1045 1050 1055 L 1060 1065 1070 1075 1080 L 1085 1090 1095 1100 L 1105 1110 1115 1120 1125 1130 L 1135 1140 1145 1150 1155 L 1160 1165 1170 1175 1180 1185 L 1190 1195 1200 1205 L 1210 1215 1220 L 1225 1230 1235 1240 1244 L 1250 1255 1260 1265 1270 1275 L 1280 1285 1290 1295 1300 Confessor 1305 1310 1315 1320 L 1325 L 1330 L L 1335 L 1340 1345 1350 1355 L 1360 1365 1370 Amans 1375 1380 [Confessor] L 1385 1390 1395 1400 1405 1410 1415 1420 1425 1430 1435 1440 1445 1450 L 1455 1460 1465 1470 1475 1480 1485 1490 1495 L 1500 1505 1510 1515 1520 1525 1530 1535 1540 L 1545 1550 1555 1559 L 1565 1570 1575 1580 1585 1590 1595 1600 1604 L 1610 1615 1620 1625 1630 1635 1640 1645 1650 1655 1660 1665 1670 1675 1680 1685 1690 1695 1700 1705 1710 1715 1720 1725 1730 1735 1740 L 1745 1750 1755 L 1760 1765 1770 1775 1780 1785 1790 1795 1799 L Confessor 1805 L 1810 1815 1820 1824 L 1830 L 1835 1840 1845 1850 1855 1860 1865 1870 1875 1880 1885 1890 1895 L 1901 1905 1910 1915 1920 1925 1930 1935 1940 1945 1950 1955 Amans 1961 1965 Confessor 1970 iii. [Confessor] 1974 L 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 L 2035 2040 2045 2050 2055 2060 2065 2070 2075 2080 2085 2090 2095 2100 2105 2110 2115 2120 2125 2130 2135 2140 2145 2150 2155 2160 2165 2170 2175 2180 2185 2190 2195 2200 2205 2210 2215 2220 2224 Confessor 2230 2235 2240 2245 2250 2255 2260 2265 2270 2275 L 2280 2285 2290 2295 2300 2305 2310 2315 2320 2325 2330 2335 2340 2345 2350 2355 2360 2365 2370 2375 2380 2385 2390 2394 L 2400 2405 2410 2415 2420 2425 2430 2435 2440 2445 2450 2455 2460 2465 2470 2475 2480 2485 L 2490 2495 Confessor Amans 2501 2505 2510 Confessor 2515 2520 2525 2530 Confessio Amantis 2535 2540 2545 2550 2555 2560 2565 2570 2575 2580 2585 2590 2595 2600 2605 2610 2615 2620 2625 Confessor 2630 2635 2640 2645 L 2651 2655 2660 2665 2670 2675 2680 2685 2690 2695 2700 2705 2710 2715 2720 2725 2730 2735 2740 2745 2750 2755 2760 2765 2770 2775 2780 2785 2790 2795 2800 2805 2810 2815 2820 2825 Confessor 2830 2835 Amans 2840 2845 2850 2855 iv. [Confessor] 2860 L 2865 2870 2875 2880 2885 2890 2895 2900 Confessor 2905 2910 2915 2920 Amans 2925 2930 2935 2940 2945 2950 Confessor 2955 2960 2964 L 2970 2975 2980 2985 2990 2995 3000 3005 3010 3015 3020 3025 3030 3035 3040 3045 3050 3055 3060 3065 3070 3075 3080 3085 3090 3095 3100 3105 3110 3115 3120 3125 3130 3135 3140 3145 3150 3155 3160 3165 3170 3175 3180 3185 3190 3195 3200 Confessor 3205 3210 3215 Amans 3220 3225 3230 Confessor 3235 3240 3245 L 3250 3255 3260 3265 3270 3275 3280 3285 3290 3295 3300 3305 3310 3315 3320 3325 3330 3335 3340 3345 3350 3355 3360 3365 3370 3375 3380 3385 3390 3395 3400 3405 3410 3415 3420 3425 3430 3435 3440 3445 3450 3455 3460 3465 3470 3475 3480 3485 3490 3495 3500 3505 3510 3515 3520 3525 3530 3535 3540 3545 3550 3555 3560 3565 3570 3575 3580 3585 3590 3595 3600 3605 3610 3615 3620 3625 3630 3635 3640 3645 3650 3655 3660 3665 3670 3675 3680 3685 3690 3695 3700 3705 3710 3715 3720 3725 3730 3735 3740 3745 3750 3755 3760 3765 3770 3775 3780 3785 3790 3795 3800 3805 3810 3815 3820 3825 3830 3835 3840 3845 3850 3855 3860 3865 3870 3875 3880 3885 3890 3895 3900 3905 3910 3915 3920 3925 3930 3935 3940 3945 3950 3955 L 3960 3965 3970 3975 3980 3985 3990 3995 4000 4005 4010 4015 4020 4025 4030 4035 4040 4045 4050 4055 4060 4065 4070 4075 4080 4085 4090 4095 4100 4105 4110 4115 4120 4125 4130 4135 4140 4145 4150 4155 4160 4165 4170 4175 4180 4185 4190 4195 4200 4205 4210 4215 4220 Confessor 4225 4229 Amans 4235 Confessor 4240 L 4245 4250 4255 4260 4265 4270 4275 4280 4285 4290 4295 4300 4305 4310 4315 4320 4325 4330 4335 4340 4345 4350 4355 4360 Amans 4365 4370 Confessor 4375 4380 v. [Confessor] 4385 4389 L 4395 4400 4405 4410 4415 4420 4425 4430 Confessor 4434 Amans 4440 4445 4450 4455 4460 4465 4470 4475 4480 4485 4490 4495 4500 4505 4510 4515 4520 4525 4530 Confessor 4535 4540 4545 4550 4555 4560 4565 4570 4575 L 4580 4585 4590 4595 4600 4605 4610 4615 4620 4625 4630 4635 4640 4645 4650 Confessor 4655 4660 Amans 4665 Confessor 4670 vi. [Confessor] 4675 L 4680 4685 4690 4695 4700 4705 4710 4715 4720 4725 Confessio Amantis 4730 4735 4740 4745 4750 4755 4760 4765 4770 4775 Confessor 4780 4784 L 4790 4795 4800 4805 4810 4815 4820 4825 4830 4835 4840 4845 4850 4855 4860 4865 4869 Amans Confessor 4875 4880 vii. [Confessor] 4886 L 4890 4895 4900 4905 4910 4915 4920 4925 4930 4935 4940 L 4945 4950 4955 4960 4965 4970 4975 4980 4985 4990 4995 5000 5005 5010 5015 5020 5025 5030 5035 5040 5045 5050 5055 5060 5065 5070 5075 5080 5085 5090 5095 5100 5105 5110 5115 5120 5125 5130 5135 5140 5145 5150 5155 5160 Confessor 5165 5170 5175 Amans 5180 5185 5190 5195 5200 5205 Confessor 5210 5215 5220 5225 5230 L 5235 5240 5245 5250 5255 5260 5265 5270 5275 5280 5285 5290 5295 5300 5305 5310 5315 5320 5325 5330 5335 5340 5345 5350 5355 5360 5365 5370 5375 5380 5385 5390 5395 5400 5405 5410 5415 5420 5425 5430 5435 5440 5445 5450 5455 5460 5465 5470 5475 5480 5485 5490 5495 Amans 5499 Confessor 5504 viii. L[Confessor] 5510 5515 5520 5525 Confessor 5530 Amans 5535 Confessor 5540 Amans 5545 Confessor 5550 5555 L 5560 5565 5570 5575 5580 5585 5590 5595 5600 5605 5610 5615 5620 5625 5630 5635 5640 5645 5650 5655 5660 5665 5670 5675 5680 5685 5690 5695 5700 5705 5710 5715 5720 5725 5730 5735 5740 5745 5750 5755 5760 5765 5770 5775 5780 5785 5790 5795 5800 5805 5810 5815 5820 5825 5830 5835 5840 5845 5850 5855 5860 5865 5870 5875 5880 5885 5890 5895 5900 5905 5910 5915 5920 5925 5930 5935 5940 5945 5950 5955 5960 5965 5970 5975 5980 5985 5990 5995 6000 6005 6010 6015 6020 6025 6030 6035 6040 6045 Confessor 6050 Amans 6055 6060 6065 6070 ix. [Confessor] 6076 L 6080 6085 6090 6095 6100 6105 6110 6115 6120 6125 6130 6134 Confessor 6140 6144 L 6150 6155 6160 6165 6170 6175 6180 6185 6190 6195 6200 6205 6210 6215 Confessor 6220 6225 6230 L 6235 6240 6245 6250 6255 6260 6265 6270 6275 6280 6285 6290 6295 6300 6305 6310 6315 6320 6325 6330 6335 Confessor 6340 6345 6350 6355 x. [Confessor] 6360 6364 L 6370 L 6375 6380 6385 6390 6394 L 6400 6405 6410 6415 Amans 6420 6425 Confessor 6430 6435 6440 6445 6450 6455 6460 6465 6470 6475 Confessor 6480 6485 Amans 6490 xi. Confessor 6495 L 6500 6505 6510 6515 6520 6525 6530 6535 6540 6545 6550 6554 Confessor [Amans] [Confessor] 6560 Confessio Amantis 6565 6570 6575 6580 6585 6590 6595 6600 6605 6610 6615 6620 6625 6630 6635 6640 6645 6650 6655 6660 6665 6670 6675 6680 6685 6690 6695 6700 Confessor 6705 Amans Confessor 6710 6715 L 6720 6725 6730 6735 6740 6745 6750 6755 6760 6765 6770 6775 6780 Amans 6785 6790 6795 6800 Confessor 6805 L 6810 6815 6820 6825 6830 6835 6840 6845 6850 6855 6860 6865 6870 6875 6880 6885 6890 6895 6900 6905 6910 6915 6920 6925 6930 6935 Confessor 6940 Amans 6945 6950 Confessor 6955 6960 xii. [Confessor] 6965 L 6970 6975 6980 6985 6990 6995 7000 7005 7010 7015 7020 7025 7030 7035 7040 7045 7050 7055 7060 7065 7070 7075 7080 7085 7090 7095 Confessio Amantis 7100 7105 7110 7115 7120 7125 7130 7135 7140 7145 7150 7155 7160 7165 7170 7175 7180 Confessor 7185 7190 7195 7200 L 7205 7210 7215 7220 7225 7230 7235 7240 7245 7250 7255 7260 7265 7270 7275 7280 7285 7290 7295 7300 7305 7310 7315 7320 7325 7330 7335 7340 7345 7350 7355 7360 7365 7370 7375 7380 7385 7390 7395 7400 7405 7410 7415 7420 7425 7430 7435 7440 7445 7450 7455 7460 7465 7470 7475 7480 7485 7490 7495 7500 7505 7510 7515 7520 7525 7530 7535 7540 7545 7550 7555 7560 7565 7570 7575 7580 7585 [Confessor] 7590 7595 7600 Confessor 7605 7610 7615 7620 7625 7630 7635 7640 xiii. [Confessor] L 7645 7650 7655 7660 7665 7670 7675 7680 7685 7690 7695 7700 7705 7710 7715 L 7720 7724 L 7730 L 7736 7740 L 7745 7750 7755 7760 7765 7770 7775 7780 7785 Confessor 7790 Amans 7795 7800 7805 7809 Confessor 7815 7820 7825 7830 7834 Amans 7840

Incipit Liber Quintus Obstat auaricia nature legibus, et que Largus amor poscit, striccius illa vetat. Omne quod est nimium viciosum dicitur aurum, Vellera sicut oues, seruat auarus opes. Non decet vt soli seruabitur es, set amori Debet homo solam solus habere suam.1 Ferst whan the hyhe God began This world, and that the kinde of man Was falle into no gret encress, For worldes good tho was no press, Bot al was set to the comune, Thei spieken thanne of no fortune Or for to lese or for to winne, Til Avarice broghte it inne; And that was whan the world was woxe Of man, of hors, of schep, of oxe, And that men knewen the moneie. Tho wente pes out of the weie, And werre cam on every side Which alle love leide aside And of comun his propre made, So that instede of schovele and spade The scharpe swerd was take on honde. And in this wise it cam to londe, Wherof men maden dyches depe And hyhe walles for to kepe The gold which Avarice encloseth. Bot al to lytel him supposeth, Thogh he mihte al the world pourchace; For what thing that he may embrace Of gold, of catel or of lond, He let it nevere out of his hond, Bot get him more and halt it faste, As thogh the world scholde evere laste. So is he lych unto the helle: For as these olde bokes telle, What comth therinne, lasse or more, It schal departe neveremore. Thus whanne he hath his cofre loken, It schal noght after ben unstoken, Bot whanne him list to have a syhte Of gold, hou that it schyneth brihte, That he ther on mai loke and muse. For otherwise he dar noght use To take his part, or lasse or more. So is he povere, and everemore Him lacketh that he hath ynowh: An oxe draweth in the plowh, Of that himself hath no profit; A schep riht in the same plit His wolle berth, bot on a day Another takth the flees away. Thus hath he that he noght ne hath, For he therof his part ne tath. To seie hou such a man hath good, Who so that reson understod, It is impropreliche seid, For good hath him and halt him teid, That he ne gladeth noght withal, Bot is unto his good a thral; And as soubgit thus serveth he, Wher that he scholde maister be. Such is the kinde of th'averous. "Mi sone, as thou art amerous, Tell if thou farst of love so." "Mi fader, as it semeth, 'no.' That averous yit nevere I was, So as ye setten me the cas. For as ye tolden here above, In full possession of love Yit was I nevere hiertofore, So that me thenketh wel therfore, I mai excuse wel my dede. Bot of mi will withoute drede, If I that tresor mihte gete, It scholde nevere be forgete, That I ne wolde it faste holde, Til god of love himselve wolde That deth ous scholde parte atuo. For lieveth wel, I love hire so That evene with min oghne lif, If I that swete lusti wif Mihte ones welden at my wille, Forevere I wolde hire holde stille. And in this wise, taketh kepe, If I hire hadde, I wolde hire kepe; And yit no Friday wolde I faste, Thogh I hire kepte and hielde faste. Fy on the bagges in the kiste! I hadde ynogh, if I hire kiste. For certes, if sche were myn, I hadde hir levere than a myn Of gold. For al this worldes riche Ne mihte make me so riche As sche, that is so inly good. I sette noght of other good, For mihte I gete such a thing, I hadde a tresor for a king; And thogh I wolde it faste holde, I were thanne wel beholde. Bot I mot pipe nou with lasse, And suffre that it overpasse, Noght with mi will, for thus I wolde Ben averous, if that I scholde. Bot, fader, I you herde seie Hou th'averous hath yit som weie, Wherof he mai be glad; for he Mai whanne him list his tresor se And grope and fiele it al aboute, Bot I fulofte am schet theroute, Ther as my worthi tresor is. So is mi lif lich unto this, That ye me tolden hier tofore, Hou that an oxe his yock hath bore For thing that scholde him noght availe. And in this wise I me travaile; For who that evere hath the welfare, I wot wel that I have the care, For I am hadd and noght ne have, And am, as who seith, loves knave. Nou demeth in youre oghne thoght, If this be avarice or noght." "Mi sone, I have of thee no wonder, Thogh thou to serve be put under With love which to kinde acordeth; Bot so as every bok recordeth, It is to kinde no plesance That man above his sustienance Unto the gold schal serve and bowe, For that mai no reson avowe. Bot Avarice natheles, If he mai geten his encress Of gold, that wole he serve and kepe, For he takth of noght elles kepe Bot for to fille hise bagges large; And al is to him bot a charge, For he ne parteth noght withal Bot kepth it, as a servant schal. And thus, thogh that he multeplie His gold, withoute tresorie He is, for man is noght amended With gold bot if it be despended To mannes us; wherof I rede A tale, and tak therof good hiede, Of that befell be olde tyde, As telleth ous the clerk Ovide. [Tale of Midas] Bachus, which is the god of wyn, Acordant unto his divin A prest, the which Cillenus hihte, He hadde, and fell so that be nyhte This prest was drunke and goth astraied, Wherof the men were evele apaied In Frigelond, whereas he wente. Bot ate laste a cherl him hente With strengthe of other felaschipe, So that upon his drunkeschipe Thei bounden him with chenes faste, And forth thei ladde him als so faste Unto the king, which hihte Myde. Bot he, that wolde his vice hyde, This courteis king tok of him hiede, And bad that men him scholde lede Into a chambre for to kepe, Til he of leisir hadde slepe. And tho this prest was sone unbounde, And up a couche fro the grounde To slepe he was leid softe ynowh. And whanne he wok, the king him drowh To his presence and dede him chiere, So that this prest in such manere, Whil that him liketh, there he duelleth. And al this he to Bachus telleth, Whan that he cam to him agein. And whan that Bachus herde sein How Mide hath don his courtesie, Him thenkth it were a vilenie, Bot he rewarde him for his dede, So as he mihte of his godhiede. Unto this king this god appiereth And clepeth, and that other hiereth. This god to Mide thonketh faire Of that he was so debonaire Toward his prest, and bad him seie What thing it were he wolde preie, He scholde it have of worldes good. This king was glad, and stille stod, And was of his axinge in doute, And al the world he caste aboute, What thing was best for his astat, And with himself stod in debat Upon thre pointz, the whiche I finde Ben lievest unto mannes kinde. The ferste of hem it is delit, The tuo ben worschipe and profit. And thanne he thoghte, 'If that I crave Delit, thogh I delit mai have, Delit schal passen in myn age. That is no siker avantage, For every joie bodily Schal ende in wo: delit forthi Wol I noght chese. And if worschipe I axe and of the world lordschipe, That is an occupacion Of proud ymaginacion, Which makth an herte vein withinne; Ther is no certein for to winne, For lord and knave al is o weie, Whan thei be bore and whan thei deie. And if I profit axe wolde, I not in what manere I scholde Of worldes good have sikernesse; For every thief upon richesse Awaiteth for to robbe and stele: Such good is cause of harmes fele. And also, thogh a man at ones Of al the world withinne his wones The tresor myhte have everydel, Yit hadde he bot o mannes del Toward himself, so as I thinke, Of clothinge and of mete and drinke, For more, outake vanité, Ther hath no lord in his degré.' And thus upon the pointz diverse Diverseliche he gan reherce What point him thoghte for the beste; Bot pleinly for to gete him reste He can no siker weie caste. And natheles yit ate laste He fell upon the coveitise Of gold; and thanne in sondri wise He thoghte, as I have seid tofore, Hou tresor mai be sone lore, And hadde an inly gret desir Touchende of such recoverir, Hou that he mihte his cause availe To gete him gold withoute faile. Withinne his herte and thus he preiseth The gold, and seith hou that it peiseth Above al other metall most. 'The gold,' he seith, 'may lede an host To make werre agein a king; The gold put under alle thing, And set it whan him list above; The gold can make of hate love And werre of pes and ryht of wrong, And long to schort and schort to long; Withoute gold mai be no feste, Gold is the lord of man and beste, And mai hem bothe beie and selle; So that a man mai sothly telle That al the world to gold obeieth.' Forthi this king to Bachus preieth To grante him gold, bot he excedeth Mesure more than him nedeth. Men tellen that the maladie Which cleped is ydropesie Resembled is unto this vice Be weie of kinde of Avarice. The more ydropesie drinketh, The more him thursteth, for him thinketh That he mai nevere drinke his fille, So that ther mai nothing fulfille The lustes of his appetit. And riht in such a maner plit Stant Avarice and evere stod. The more he hath of worldes good, The more he wolde it kepe streyte, And evere mor and mor coveite. And riht in such condicioun Withoute good discrecioun This king with Avarice is smite, That al the world it myhte wite, For he to Bachus thanne preide, That wherupon his hond he leide, It scholde thurgh his touche anon Become gold, and therupon This god him granteth as he bad. Tho was this king of Frige glad, And for to put it in assai With al the haste that he mai, He toucheth that, he toucheth this, And in his hond al gold it is, The ston, the tree, the lef, the gras, The flour, the fruit, al gold it was. Thus toucheth he, whil he mai laste To go, bot hunger ate laste Him tok, so that he moste nede Be weie of kinde his hunger fede. The cloth was leid, the bord was set, And al was forth tofore him fet, His disch, his coppe, his drinke, his mete; Bot whanne he wolde or drinke or ete, Anon as it his mouth cam nyh, It was al gold, and thanne he syh Of Avarice the folie. And he with that began to crie, And preide Bachus to forgive His gilt, and soffre him for to live, And be such as he was tofore, So that he were noght forlore. This god, which herde of his grevance, Tok rowthe upon his repentance, And bad him go forth redily Unto a flod was faste by, Which Paceole thanne hyhte, In which as clene as evere he myhte He scholde him waisshen overal, And seide him thanne that he schal Recovere his ferste astat agein. This king, riht as he herde sein, Into the flod goth fro the lond, And wisshe him bothe fot and hond And so forth al the remenant, As him was set in covenant. And thanne he syh merveilles strange: The flod his colour gan to change, The gravel with the smale stones To gold thei torne bothe at ones, And he was quit of that he hadde, And thus fortune his chance ladde. And whan he sih his touche aweie, He goth him hom the rihte weie And liveth forth as he dede er, And putte al Avarice afer, And the richesse of gold despiseth, And seith that mete and cloth sufficeth. Thus hath this king experience Hou foles don the reverence To gold, which of his oghne kinde Is lasse worth than is the rinde To sustienance of mannes fode. And thanne he made lawes goode And al his thing sette upon skile. He bad his poeple for to tile Here lond, and live under the lawe, And that thei scholde also forthdrawe Bestaile, and seche non encress Of gold which is the breche of pes. For this a man mai finde write, Tofor the time, er gold was smite In coign, that men the florin knewe, Ther was welnyh no man untrewe. Tho was ther nouther schield ne spere Ne dedly wepne for to bere; Tho was the toun withoute wal, Which nou is closed overal; Tho was ther no brocage in londe, Which nou takth every cause on honde. So mai men knowe, hou the florin Was moder ferst of malengin And bringere inne of alle werre, Wherof this world stant out of herre Thurgh the conseil of Avarice, Which of his oghne propre vice Is as the helle wonderfull. For it mai neveremor be full, That what as evere comth therinne, Awey ne may it nevere winne. Bot, sone myn, do thou noght so. Let al such Avarice go And tak thi part of that thou hast. I bidde noght that thou do wast, Bot hold largesce in his mesure; And if thou se a creature, Which thurgh poverte is falle in nede, Gif him som good, for this I rede To him that wol noght given here, What peine he schal have elleswhere. [Punishment of Tantalus] Ther is a peine amonges alle Benethe in helle, which men calle The wofull peine of Tantaly, Of which I schal thee redely Devise hou men therinne stonde. In helle, thou schalt understonde, Ther is a flod of thilke office, Which serveth al for Avarice: What man that stonde schal therinne, He stant up evene unto the chinne; Above his hed also ther hongeth A fruyt which to that peine longeth And that fruit toucheth evere in on His overlippe. And therupon Swich thurst and hunger him assaileth, That nevere his appetit ne faileth. Bot whanne he wolde his hunger fede, The fruit withdrawth him ate nede, And thogh he heve his hed on hyh, The fruit is evere aliche nyh, So is the hunger wel the more; And also, thogh him thurste sore And to the water bowe a doun, The flod in such condicioun Avaleth, that his drinke areche He mai noght. Lo nou, which a wreche, That mete and drinke is him so couth, And yit ther comth non in his mouth! Lich to the peines of this flod Stant Avarice in worldes good. He hath ynowh and yit him nedeth, For his skarsnesse it him forbiedeth, And evere his hunger after more Travaileth him aliche sore, So is he peined overal. Forthi thi goodes forth withal, Mi sone, loke thou despende, Wherof thou myht thiself amende Bothe hier and ek in other place. And also if thou wolt pourchace To be beloved, thou most use Largesce, for if thou refuse To give for thi loves sake, It is no reson that thou take Of love that thou woldest crave. Forthi, if thou wolt grace have, Be gracious and do largesse, Of Avarice and the seknesse Eschuie above alle other thing, And take ensample of Mide king And of the flod of helle also, Where is ynowh of alle wo. And thogh ther were no matiere Bot only that we finden hiere, Men oghten Avarice eschuie; For what man thilke vice suie, He get himself bot litel reste. For hou so that the body reste, The herte upon the gold travaileth, Whom many a nyhtes drede assaileth; For thogh he ligge abedde naked, His herte is everemore awaked, And dremeth, as he lith to slepe, How besi that he is to kepe His tresor, that no thief it stele. Thus hath he bot a woful wele. [Avarice: Jealousy of Lovers] And riht so in the same wise, If thou thiself wolt wel avise, Ther be lovers of suche ynowe, That wole unto no reson bowe. If so be that thei come above, Whan thei ben maistres of here love, And that thei scholden be most glad, With love thei ben most bestad, So fain thei wolde it holden al. Here herte, here yhe is overal, And wenen every man be thief, To stele awey that hem is lief; Thus thurgh here oghne fantasie Thei fallen into Jelousie. Thanne hath the schip tobroke his cable, With every wynd and is muable." "Mi fader, for that ye nou telle, I have herd ofte time telle Of Jelousie, bot what it is Yit understode I nevere er this. Wherfore I wolde you beseche, That ye me wolde enforme and teche What maner thing it mihte be." "Mi sone, that is hard to me. Bot natheles, as I have herd, Now herkne and thou schalt ben ansuerd. Among the men lacke of manhode In mariage upon wifhode Makth that a man himself deceiveth, Wherof it is that he conceiveth That ilke unsely maladie, The which is cleped Jelousie; Of which if I the propreté Schal telle after the nyceté, So as it worcheth on a man, A fievere it is cotidian, Which every day wol come aboute, Wher so a man be inne or oute. At hom if that a man wol wone, This fievere is thanne of comun wone Most grevous in a mannes yhe, For thanne he makth him tote and pryhe, Wher so as evere his love go; Sche schal noght with hir litel too Misteppe, bot he se it al. His yhe is walkende overal; Wher that sche singe or that sche daunce, He seth the leste contienance; If sche loke on a man aside Or with him roune at eny tyde, Or that sche lawghe, or that sche loure, His yhe is ther at every houre. And whanne it draweth to the nyht, If sche thanne is withoute lyht, Anon is al the game schent; For thanne he set his parlement To speke it whan he comth to bedde, And seith, 'If I were now to wedde, I wolde neveremore have wif.' And so he torneth into strif The lust of loves dueté, And al upon diverseté. If sche be freissh and wel araied, He seith hir baner is displaied To clepe in gestes fro the weie: And if sche be noght wel beseie, And that hir list noght to be gladd, He berth an hond that sche is madd And loveth noght hire housebonde; He seith he mai wel understonde, That if sche wolde his compaignie, Sche scholde thanne afore his ye Schewe al the plesir that sche mihte. So that be daie ne be nyhte Sche not what thing is for the beste, Bot liveth out of alle reste; For what as evere him liste sein, Sche dar noght speke a word agein, Bot wepth and holt hire lippes clos. Sche mai wel wryte, 'Sanz repos,' The wif which is to such on maried. Of alle wommen be he waried, For with this fievere of Jalousie His echedaies fantasie Of sorghe is evere aliche grene, So that ther is no love sene, Whil that him list at hom abyde. And whan so is he wol out ryde, Thanne hath he redi his aspie Abidinge in hir compaignie, A janglere, an evel-mouthed oon, That sche ne mai nowhider gon, Ne speke a word, ne ones loke, That he ne wol it wende and croke And torne after his oghne entente, Thogh sche nothing bot honour mente. Whan that the lord comth hom agein, The janglere moste somwhat sein; So what withoute and what withinne, This fievere is evere to beginne, For where he comth he can noght ende, Til deth of him have mad an ende. For thogh so be that he ne hiere, Ne se, ne wite in no manere Bot al honour and wommanhiede, Therof the Jelous takth non hiede, Bot as a man to love unkinde, He cast his staf, as doth the blinde, And fint defaulte where is non; As who so dremeth on a ston Hou he is leid, and groneth ofte, Whan he lith on his pilwes softe. So is ther noght bot strif and cheste, Whan love scholde make his feste; It is gret thing if he hir kisse. Thus hath sche lost the nyhtes blisse, For at such time he gruccheth evere And berth on hond ther is a levere, And that sche wolde another were In stede of him abedde there; And with tho wordes and with mo Of Jelousie, he torneth fro And lith upon his other side, And sche with that drawth hire aside, And ther sche wepeth al the nyht. Ha, to what peine sche is dyht, That in hire youthe hath so beset The bond which mai noght ben unknet! I wot the time is ofte cursed, That evere was the gold unpursed, The which was leid upon the bok, Whan that alle othre sche forsok For love of him. Bot al to late Sche pleigneth, for as thanne algate Sche mot forbere and to him bowe, Thogh he ne wole it noght allowe. For man is lord of thilke feire, So mai the womman bot empeire, If sche speke oght agein his wille; And thus sche berth hir peine stille. Bot if this fievere a womman take, Sche schal be wel mor harde schake; For thogh sche bothe se and hiere, And finde that ther is matiere, Sche dar bot to hirselve pleine, And thus sche suffreth double peine. Lo thus, mi sone, as I have write, Thou miht of Jelousie wite His fievere and his condicion, Which is full of suspecion. Bot wherof that this fievere groweth, Who so these olde bokes troweth, Ther mai he finden hou it is: For thei ous teche and telle this, Hou that this fievere of Jelousie Somdel it groweth of sotie Of love, and somdiel of untrust. For as a sek man lest his lust, And whan he may no savour gete, He hateth thanne his oughne mete, Riht so this fieverous maladie, Which caused is of fantasie, Makth the Jelous in fieble plit To lese of love his appetit Thurgh feigned enformacion Of his ymaginacion. Bot finali to taken hiede, Men mai wel make a liklihiede Betwen him which is averous Of gold and him that is jelous Of love, for in on degré Thei stonde bothe, as semeth me. That oon wolde have his bagges stille, And noght departen with his wille, And dar noght for the thieves slepe, So fain he wolde his tresor kepe; That other mai noght wel be glad, For he is evere more adrad Of these lovers that gon aboute, In aunter if thei putte him oute. So have thei bothe litel joye As wel of love as of monoie. Now hast thou, sone, at my techinge Of Jelousie a knowlechinge, That thou myht understonde this, For whenne he comth and what he is, And ek to whom that he is lik. Be war forthi thou be noght sik Of thilke fievere as I have spoke, For it wol in himself be wroke. For love hateth nothing more, As men mai finde be the lore Of hem that whilom were wise, Hou that thei spieke in many wise." "Mi fader, soth is that ye sein. Bot for to loke ther agein, Befor this time hou it is falle, Wherof ther mihte ensample falle To suche men as be jelous In what manere it is grevous, Riht fain I wolde ensample hiere." "Mi goode sone, at thi preiere Of suche ensamples as I finde, So as thei comen nou to mynde Upon this point, of time gon I thenke for to tellen on. [Tale of Vulcan, Mars, and Venus] Ovide wrot of manye thinges, Among the whiche in his wrytinges He tolde a tale in poesie, Which toucheth unto Jelousie, Upon a certein cas of love. Among the goddes alle above It fell at thilke time thus: The god of fyr, which Vulcanus Is hote, and hath a craft forthwith Assigned, for to be the smith Of Jupiter, and his figure Bothe of visage and of stature Is lothly and malgracious, Bot yit he hath withinne his hous As for the likynge of his lif The faire Venus to his wif. Bot Mars, which of batailles is The god, an yhe hadde unto this. As he which was chivalerous, It fell him to ben amerous, And thoghte it was a gret pité To se so lusti on as sche Be coupled with so lourde a wiht. So that his peine day and nyht He dede, if he hire winne myhte; And sche, which hadde a good insihte Toward so noble a knyhtli lord, In love fell of his acord. Ther lacketh noght bot time and place, That he nys siker of hire grace:2 Bot whan tuo hertes falle in on, So wys await was nevere non, That at som time thei ne mete;3 And thus this faire lusti swete With Mars hath ofte compaignie. Bot thilke unkynde Jelousie, Which everemor the herte opposeth, Makth Vulcanus that he supposeth That it is noght wel overal, And to himself he seide, he schal Aspie betre, if that he may. And so it fell upon a day, That he this thing so slyhli ledde, He fond hem bothe tuo abedde Al warm, ech on with other naked. And he with craft al redy maked Of stronge chenes hath hem bounde, As he togedre hem hadde founde, And lefte hem bothe ligge so, And gan to clepe and crie tho Unto the goddes al aboute; And thei assembled in a route Come alle at ones for to se. Bot none amendes hadde he, Bot was rebuked hiere and there Of hem that loves frendes were, And seiden that he was to blame, For if ther fell him eny schame, It was thurgh his misgovernance: And thus he loste contienance, This god, and let his cause falle; And thei to skorne him lowhen alle, And losen Mars out of hise bondes. Wherof these erthli housebondes Forevere myhte ensample take, If such a chaunce hem overtake. For Vulcanus his wif bewreide, The blame upon himself he leide, Wherof his schame was the more; Which oghte for to ben a lore For every man that liveth hiere, To reulen him in this matiere. Thogh such an happ of love asterte, Yit scholde he noght apointe his herte With Jelousie of that is wroght, Bot feigne, as thogh he wiste it noght; For if he lete it overpasse, The sclaundre schal be wel the lasse, And he the more in ese stonde. For this thou myht wel understonde, That where a man schal nedes lese, The leste harm is for to chese. Bot Jelousie of his untrist Makth that full many an harm arist, Which elles scholde noght arise; And if a man him wolde avise Of that befell to Vulcanus, Him oghte of reson thenke thus, That sithe a god therof was schamed, Wel scholde an erthli man be blamed To take upon him such a vice. Forthi, my sone, in thin office Be war that thou be noght jelous, Which ofte time hath schent the hous." "Mi fader, this ensample is hard, Hou such thing to the heveneward Among the goddes myhte falle. For ther is bot o God of alle, Which is the Lord of hevene and helle. Bot if it like you to telle Hou suche goddes come aplace, Ye mihten mochel thonk pourchace, For I schal be wel tawht withal." "Mi sone, it is thus overal With hem that stonden misbelieved, That suche goddes ben believed: In sondri place sondri wise Amonges hem whiche are unwise Ther is betaken of credence; Wherof that I the difference In the manere as it is write Schal do thee pleinly for to wite." [Religions] Gentibus illusis signantur templa deorum, Vnde deos cecos nacio ceca colit. Nulla creatori racio facit esse creatum Equiperans, quod adhuc iura pagana fouent.4 "Er Crist was bore among ous hiere, Of the believes that tho were In foure formes thus it was. Thei of Caldee as in this cas Hadde a believe be hemselve, Which stod upon the signes tuelve, Forth ek with the planetes sevene, Whiche as thei sihe upon the hevene Of sondri constellacion In here ymaginacion With sondri kerf and pourtreture Thei made of goddes the figure. In th'elementz and ek also Thei hadden a believe tho; And al was that unresonable: For th'elementz ben servicable To man, and ofte of accidence, As men mai se th'experience, Thei ben corrupt be sondri weie; So mai no mannes reson seie That thei ben god in eny wise. And ek, if men hem wel avise, The sonne and mone eclipse bothe, That be hem lieve or be hem lothe, Thei soffre; and what thing is passible To ben a god is impossible. These elementz ben creatures, So ben these hevenly figures, Wherof mai wel be justefied That thei mai noght be deified. And who that takth awey th'onour Which due is to the Creatour, And gifth it to the creature, He doth to gret a forsfaiture. Bot of Caldee natheles Upon this feith, thogh it be les, Thei holde affermed the creance; So that of helle the penance, As folk which stant out of believe, Thei schull receive, as we believe. [The Egyptians] Of the Chaldeus, lo, in this wise Stant the believe out of assisse. Bot in Egipte worst of alle The feith is fals, hou so it falle; For thei diverse bestes there Honoure, as thogh thei goddes were: And natheles yit forth withal Thre goddes most in special Thei have, forth with a goddesse, In whom is al here sikernesse. Tho goddes be yit cleped thus, Orus, Typhon, and Isirus. Thei were brethren alle thre, And the goddesse in hir degré Here soster was and Ysis hyhte, Whom Isirus forlai be nyhte And hield hire after as his wif. So it befell that upon strif Typhon hath Isre his brother slain, Which hadde a child to sone Orayn, And he his fader deth to herte So tok, that it mai noght asterte That he Typhon after ne slowh, Whan he was ripe of age ynowh. Bot yit th'Egipciens trowe For al this errour, which thei knowe, That these brethren ben of myht To sette and kepe Egipte upriht, And overthrowe, if that hem like. Bot Ysis, as seith the cronique, Fro Grece into Egipte cam, And sche thanne upon honde nam To teche hem for to sowe and eere, Which no man knew tofore there. And whan th'Egipciens syhe The fieldes fulle afore here yhe, And that the lond began to greine, Which whilom hadde be bareigne, For th'erthe bar after the kinde His due charge - this I finde - That sche of berthe the goddesse Is cleped, so that in destresse The wommen there upon childinge To hire clepe, and here offringe Thei beren, whan that thei ben lyhte. Lo, hou Egipte al out of syhte Fro resoun stant in misbelieve For lacke of lore, as I believe. [The Greeks] Among the Greks, out of the weie As thei that reson putte aweie, Ther was, as the cronique seith, Of misbelieve another feith, That thei here goddes and goddesses, As who seith, token al to gesses Of suche as weren full of vice, To whom thei made here sacrifice. The hihe god, so as thei seide, To whom thei most worschipe leide, Saturnus hihte, and king of Crete He hadde be; bot of his sete He was put doun, as he which stod In frenesie, and was so wod, That fro his wif, which Rea hihte, Hise oghne children he to plihte, And eet hem of his comun wone. Bot Jupiter, which was his sone And of full age, his fader bond And kutte of with his oghne hond Hise genitals, whiche als so faste Into the depe see he caste; Wherof the Greks afferme and seie, Thus whan thei were caste aweie, Cam Venus forth be weie of kinde. And of Saturne also I finde How afterward into an yle This Jupiter him dede exile, Wher that he stod in gret meschief. Lo, which a god thei maden chief! And sithen that such on was he, Which stod most hihe in his degré Among the goddes, thou miht knowe, These othre, that ben more lowe, Ben litel worth, as it is founde. For Jupiter was the secounde, Which Juno hadde unto his wif; And yit a lechour al his lif He was, and in avouterie He wroghte many a tricherie; And for he was so full of vices, Thei cleped him god of delices, Of whom, if thou wolt more wite, Ovide the poete hath write. Bot yit here sterres bothe tuo, Saturne and Jupiter also, Thei have, althogh thei be to blame, Attitled to here oghne name. Mars was another in that lawe, The which in Dace was forthdrawe, Of whom the clerk Vegecius Wrot in his bok, and tolde thus, Hou he into Ytaile cam, And such fortune ther he nam, That he a maiden hath oppressed, Which in hire ordre was professed, As sche which was the prioresse In Vestes temple the goddesse, So was sche wel the mor to blame. Dame Ylia this ladi name Men clepe, and ek sche was also The kinges dowhter that was tho, Which Mynitor be name hihte. So that agein the lawes ryhte Mars thilke time upon hire that Remus and Romulus begat, Which after, whan thei come in age, Of knihthode and of vassellage Ytaile al hol thei overcome And foundeden the grete Rome; In armes and of such emprise Thei weren, that in thilke wise Here fader Mars for the mervaile The god was cleped of bataille. Thei were his children bothe tuo; Thurgh hem he tok his name so, Ther was non other cause why. And yit a sterre upon the sky He hath unto his name applied, In which that he is signified. Another god thei hadden eke, To whom for conseil thei beseke, The which was brother to Venus, Appollo men him clepe thus. He was an hunte upon the helles, Ther was with him no vertu elles, Wherof that enye bokes karpe, Bot only that he couthe harpe; Which whanne he walked over londe, Fulofte time he tok on honde, To gete him with his sustienance, For lacke of other pourveance. And otherwhile of his falshede He feignede him to conne arede Of thing which after scholde falle; Wherof among hise sleyhtes alle He hath the lewed folk deceived, So that the betre he was received. Lo now, thurgh what creacion He hath deificacion, And cleped is the god of wit To suche as be the foles yit. And other god, to whom thei soghte, Mercurie hihte, and him ne roghte What thing he stal, ne whom he slowh. Of sorcerie he couthe ynowh, That whanne he wolde himself transforme, Fulofte time he tok the forme Of womman and his oghne lefte; So dede he wel the more thefte. A gret spekere in alle thinges He was also, and of lesinges An auctour, that men wiste non Another such as he was on. And yit thei maden of this thief A god, which was unto hem lief, And clepede him in tho believes The god of marchantz and of thieves. Bot yit a sterre upon the hevene He hath of the planetes sevene. Bot Vulcanus, of whom I spak, He hadde a courbe upon the bak, And therto he was hepehalt, Of whom thou understonde schalt, He was a schrewe in al his youthe, And he non other vertu couthe Of craft to helpe himselve with, Bot only that he was a smith With Jupiter, which in his forge Diverse thinges made him forge; So wot I noght for what desir Thei clepen him the god of fyr. King of Cizile Ypolitus A sone hadde, and Eolus He hihte, and of his fader grant He hield be weie of covenant The governance of every yle Which was longende unto Cizile, Of hem that fro the lond forein Leie open to the wynd al plein. And fro thilke iles to the londe Fulofte cam the wynd to honde: After the name of him forthi The wyndes cleped Eoli Tho were, and he the god of wynd. Lo nou, hou this believe is blynd! The king of Crete Jupiter, The same which I spak of er, Unto his brother, which Neptune Was hote, it list him to comune Part of his good, so that be schipe He mad him strong of the lordschipe Of al the see in tho parties; Wher that he wroghte hise tyrannyes, And the strange yles al aboute He wan, that every man hath doute Upon his marche for to saile; For he anon hem wolde assaile And robbe what thing that thei ladden, His sauf conduit bot if thei hadden. Wherof the comun vois aros In every lond, that such a los He cawhte, al nere it worth a stre, That he was cleped of the see The god be name, and yit he is With hem that so believe amis. This Neptune ek was thilke also, Which was the ferste foundour tho Of noble Troie, and he forthi Was wel the more lete by. The loresman of the schepherdes, And ek of hem that ben netherdes, Was of Archade and hihte Pan: Of whom hath spoke many a man, For in the wode of Nonarcigne, Enclosed with the tres of Pigne, And on the Mont of Parasie He hadde of bestes the baillie, And ek benethe in the valleie, Wher thilke rivere, as men seie, Which Ladon hihte, made his cours, He was the chief of governours Of hem that kepten tame bestes, Wherof thei maken yit the festes In the cité Stinfalides. And forth withal yit natheles He tawhte men the forthdrawinge Of bestaile, and ek the makinge Of oxen, and of hors the same, Hou men hem scholde ryde and tame. Of foules ek, so as we finde, Ful many a soubtiel craft of kinde He fond, which no man knew tofore. Men dede him worschipe ek therfore, That he the ferste in thilke lond Was which the melodie fond Of riedes, whan thei weren ripe, With double pipes for to pipe; Therof he gaf the ferste lore, Til afterward men couthe more. To every craft for mannes helpe He hadde a redi wit to helpe Thurgh naturel experience. And thus the nyce reverence Of foles, whan that he was ded, The fot hath torned to the hed, And clepen him god of nature, For so thei maden his figure. Another god, so as thei fiele, Which Jupiter upon Samele Begat in his avouterie, Whom, for to hide his lecherie, That non therof schal take kepe, In a montaigne for to kepe, Which Dyon hihte and was in Ynde, He sende, in bokes as I finde: And he be name Bachus hihte, Which afterward, whan that he mihte, A wastour was, and al his rente In wyn and bordel he despente. Bot yit, al were he wonder badde, Among the Greks a name he hadde; Thei cleped him the god of wyn, And thus a glotoun was dyvyn. Ther was yit Esculapius A godd in thilke time as thus. His craft stod upon surgerie; Bot for the lust of lecherie, That he to Daires dowhter drowh, It fell that Jupiter him slowh: And yit thei made him noght forthi A god, and was no cause why. In Rome he was long time also A god among the Romeins tho; For, as he seide, of his presence Ther was destruid a pestilence, Whan thei to th'yle of Delphos wente, And that Appollo with hem sente This Esculapius his sone, Among the Romeins for to wone. And there he duelte for a while, Til afterward into that yle, Fro whenne he cam, agein he torneth, Where al his lyf that he sojorneth Among the Greks, til that he deide. And thei upon him thanne leide His name, and god of medicine He hatte after that ilke line. Another god of Hercules Thei made, which was natheles A man, bot that he was so strong, In al this world that brod and long So myhti was no man as he. Merveiles tuelve in his degré, As it was couth in sondri londes, He dede with hise oghne hondes Agein geantz and monstres bothe, The whiche horrible were and lothe, Bot he with strengthe hem overcam: Wherof so gret a pris he nam, That thei him clepe amonges alle The god of strengthe, and to him calle. And yit ther is no reson inne, For he a man was full of sinne, Which proved was upon his ende, For in a rage himself he brende; And such a cruel mannes dede Acordeth nothing with godhede. Thei hadde of goddes yit another, Which Pluto hihte, and was the brother Of Jupiter, and he fro youthe With every word which cam to mouthe, Of eny thing whan he was wroth, He wolde swere his commun oth, Be Lethen and be Flegeton, Be Cochitum and Acheron, The whiche, after the bokes telle, Ben the chief flodes of the helle: Be Segne and Stige he swor also, That ben the depe pettes tuo Of helle the most principal. Pluto these othes overal Swor of his commun custummance, Til it befell upon a chance, That he for Jupiteres sake Unto the goddes let do make A sacrifice, and for that dede On of the pettes for his mede In helle, of which I spak of er, Was granted him; and thus he ther Upon the fortune of this thing The name tok of helle king. Lo, these goddes and wel mo Among the Greks thei hadden tho, And of goddesses manyon, Whos names thou schalt hiere anon, And in what wise thei deceiven The foles whiche here feith receiven. So as Saturne is soverein Of false goddes, as thei sein, So is Sibeles of goddesses The moder, whom withoute gesses The folk payene honoure and serve, As thei the whiche hire lawe observe. Bot for to knowen upon this Fro when sche cam and what sche is, Bethincia the contré hihte, Wher sche cam ferst to mannes sihte; And after was Saturnes wif, Be whom thre children in hire lif Sche bar, and thei were cleped tho Juno, Neptunus, and Pluto, The whiche of nyce fantasie The poeple wolde deifie. And for hire children were so, Sibeles thanne was also Mad a goddesse, and thei hire calle The moder of the goddes alle. So was that name bore forth, And yit the cause is litel worth. A vois unto Saturne tolde Hou that his oghne sone him scholde Out of his regne putte aweie; And he because of thilke weie, That him was schape such a fate, Sibele his wif began to hate And ek hire progenie bothe. And thus, whil that thei were wrothe, Be Philerem upon a dai In his avouterie he lai, On whom he Jupiter begat; And thilke child was after that Which wroghte al that was prophecied, As it tofore is specefied: So that whan Jupiter of Crete Was king, a wif unto him mete The dowhter of Sibele he tok, And that was Juno, seith the bok. Of his deificacion After the false oppinion, That have I told, so as thei meene. And for this Juno was the queene Of Jupiter and soster eke, The foles unto hire sieke, And sein that sche is the goddesse Of regnes bothe and of richesse: And ek sche, as thei understonde, The water nimphes hath in honde To leden at hire oghne heste; And whan hir list the sky tempeste, The reinbowe is hir messager. Lo, which a misbelieve is hier! That sche goddesse is of the sky I wot non other cause why. Another goddesse is Minerve, To whom the Greks obeie and serve: And sche was nyh the grete lay Of Triton founde, wher she lay A child forcast, bot what sche was Ther knew no man the sothe cas. Bot in Aufrique sche was leid In the manere as I have seid, And caried fro that ilke place Into an yle fer in Trace, The which Palene thanne hihte, Wher a norrice hir kepte and dihte. And after, for sche was so wys That sche fond ferst in hire avis The cloth makinge of wolle and lyn, Men seiden that sche was divin, And the goddesse of sapience Thei clepen hire in that credence. Of the goddesse which Pallas Is cleped sondri speche was. On seith hire fader was Pallant, Which in his time was geant, A cruel man, a bataillous. Another seith hou in his hous Sche was the cause why he deide. And of this Pallas some ek seide That sche was Martes wif; and so Among the men that weren tho Of misbelieve in the riote The goddesse of batailles hote She was, and yit sche berth the name. Now loke, hou thei be for to blame. Saturnus after his exil Fro Crete cam in gret peril Into the londes of Ytaile, And ther he dede gret mervaile, Wherof his name duelleth yit. For he fond of his oghne wit The ferste craft of plowh tilinge, Of eringe and of corn sowinge, And how men scholden sette vines And of the grapes make wynes; Al this he tawhte. And it fell so, His wif, the which cam with him tho, Was cleped Cereres be name, And for sche tawhte also the same, And was his wif that ilke throwe, As it was to the poeple knowe, Thei made of Ceres a goddesse, In whom here tilthe yit thei blesse, And sein that Tricolonius Hire sone goth amonges ous And makth the corn good chep or dere, Riht as hire list fro yer to yeere; So that this wif because of this Goddesse of cornes cleped is. King Jupiter, which his likinge Whilom fulfelde in alle thinge, So priveliche aboute he ladde His lust, that he his wille hadde Of Latona, and on hire that Diane his dowhter he begat Unknowen of his wif Juno. And afterward sche knew it so, That Latona for drede fledde Into an ile, wher sche hedde Hire wombe, which of childe aros. Thilke yle cleped was Delos; In which Diana was forthbroght, And kept so that hire lacketh noght. And after, whan sche was of age, Sche tok non hiede of mariage, Bot out of mannes compaignie Sche tok hire al to venerie In forest and in wildernesse For ther was al hire besinesse Be daie and ek be nyhtes tyde With arwes brode under the side And bowe in honde, of which sche slowh And tok al that hir liste ynowh Of bestes whiche ben chacable. Wherof the cronique of this fable Seith that the gentils most of alle Worschipen hire and to hire calle, And the goddesse of hihe helles, Of grene trees, of freisshe welles, Thei clepen hire in that believe, Which that no reson mai achieve. Proserpina, which dowhter was Of Cereres, befell this cas: Whil sche was duellinge in Cizile, Hire moder in that ilke while Upon hire blessinge and hire heste Bad that sche scholde ben honeste, And lerne for to weve and spinne, And duelle at hom and kepe hire inne. Bot sche caste al that lore aweie, And as sche wente hir out to pleie, To gadre floures in a pleine, And that was under the monteine Of Ethna, fell the same tyde That Pluto cam that weie ryde, And sodeinly, er sche was war, He tok hire up into his char. And as thei riden in the field, Hire grete beauté he behield, Which was so plesant in his ye, That for to holde in compainie He weddeth hire and hield hire so To ben his wif foreveremo. And as thou hast tofore herd telle Hou he was cleped god of helle, So is sche cleped the goddesse Because of him, ne mor ne lesse. Lo, thus, mi sone, as I thee tolde, The Greks whilom be daies olde Here goddes hadde in sondri wise, And thurgh the lore of here aprise The Romeins hielden ek the same. And in the worschipe of here name To every godd in special Thei made a temple forth withal, And ech of hem his yeeres dai Attitled hadde; and of arai The temples weren thanne ordeigned, And ek the poeple was constreigned To come and don here sacrifice; The priestes ek in here office Solempne maden thilke festes. And thus the Greks lich to the bestes The men in stede of God honoure, Whiche mihten noght hemself socoure, Whil that thei were alyve hiere. And over this, as thou schalt hiere, The Greks fulfild of fantasie Sein ek that of the helles hihe The goddes ben in special, Bot of here name in general Thei hoten alle Satiri. Ther ben of Nimphes proprely In the believe of hem also: Oreades thei seiden tho Attitled ben to the monteines; And for the wodes in demeynes To kepe, tho ben Driades; Of freisshe welles Naiades; And of the Nimphes of the see I finde a tale in propreté, Hou Dorus whilom king of Grece, Which hadde of infortune a piece, His wif forth with hire dowhtres alle, So as the happes scholden falle, With many a gentil womman there Dreint in the salte see thei were: Wherof the Greks that time seiden, And such a name upon hem leiden, Nereides that thei ben hote, The Nimphes whiche that thei note To regne upon the stremes salte. Lo now, if this believe halte! Bot of the Nimphes as thei telle, In every place wher thei duelle Thei ben al redi obeissant As damoiselles entendant To the goddesses, whos servise Thei mote obeie in alle wise; Wherof the Greks to hem beseke With tho that ben goddesses eke, And have in hem a gret credence. And yit withoute experience Salve only of illusion, Which was to hem dampnacion, For men also that were dede Thei hadden goddes, as I rede, And tho be name Manes hihten, To whom ful gret honour thei dihten, So as the Grekes lawe seith, Which was agein the rihte feith. Thus have I told a gret partie; Bot al the hole progenie Of goddes in that ilke time To long it were for to rime. Bot yit of that which thou hast herd, Of misbelieve hou it hath ferd, Ther is a gret diversité." "Mi fader, riht so thenketh me. Bot yit o thing I you beseche, Which stant in alle mennes speche, The godd and the goddesse of love, Of whom ye nothing hier above Have told, ne spoken of her fare, That ye me wolden now declare Hou thei ferst comen to that name." "Mi sone, I have it left for schame, Because I am here oghne prest; Bot for thei stonden nyh thi brest Upon the schrifte of thi matiere, Thou schalt of hem the sothe hiere. And understond nou wel the cas. Venus Saturnes dowhter was, Which alle danger putte aweie Of love, and fond to lust a weie; So that of hire in sondri place Diverse men felle into grace, And such a lusti lif sche ladde, That sche diverse children hadde, Nou on be this, nou on be that. Of hire it was that Mars begat A child, which cleped was Armene; Of hire also cam Andragene, To whom Mercurie fader was. Anchises begat Eneas Of hire also, and Ericon Biten begat, and therupon, Whan that sche sih ther was non other, Be Jupiter hire oghne brother Sche lay, and he begat Cupide. And thilke sone upon a tyde, Whan he was come unto his age, He hadde a wonder fair visage, And fond his moder amourous, And he was also lecherous: So whan thei weren bothe alone, As he which yhen hadde none To se reson, his moder kiste; And sche also, that nothing wiste Bot that which unto lust belongeth, To ben hire love him underfongeth. Thus was he blind, and sche unwys. Bot natheles this cause it is, Why Cupide is the god of love, For he his moder dorste love. And sche, which thoghte hire lustes fonde, Diverse loves tok in honde, Wel mo thanne I thee tolde hiere; And for sche wolde hirselve skiere, Sche made comun that desport, And sette a lawe of such a port, That every womman mihte take What man hire liste, and noght forsake To ben als comun as sche wolde. Sche was the ferste also which tolde That wommen scholde here bodi selle. Semiramis, so as men telle, Of Venus kepte thilke aprise, And so dede in the same wise Of Rome faire Neabole, Which liste hire bodi to rigole; Sche was to every man felawe, And hild the lust of thilke lawe, Which Venus of hirself began; Wherof that sche the name wan, Why men hire clepen the goddesse Of love and ek of gentilesse, Of worldes lust and of plesance. Se nou the foule mescreance Of Greks in thilke time tho, Whan Venus tok hire name so. Ther was no cause under the mone Of which thei hadden tho to done, Of wel or wo wher so it was, That thei ne token in that cas A god to helpe or a goddesse. Wherof, to take mi witnesse, The king of Bragmans Dindimus Wrot unto Alisandre thus: In blaminge of the Grekes feith And of the misbelieve, he seith How thei for every membre hadden A sondri god, to whom thei spradden Here armes and of help besoghten. Minerve for the hed thei soghten, For sche was wys, and of a man The wit and reson which he can Is in the celles of the brayn, Wherof thei made hire soverain. Mercurie, which was in his dawes A gret spekere of false lawes, On him the kepinge of the tunge Thei leide, whan thei spieke or sunge. For Bachus was a glotoun eke, Him for the throte thei beseke, That he it wolde waisshen ofte With swote drinkes and with softe. The god of schuldres and of armes Was Hercules; for he in armes The myhtieste was to fihte, To him tho limes thei behihte. The god whom that thei clepen Mart The brest to kepe hath for his part, Forth with the herte, in his ymage That he adresce the corage. And of the galle the goddesse, For sche was full of hastifesse Of wraththe and liht to grieve also, Thei made and seide it was Juno. Cupide, which the brond afyre Bar in his hond, he was the sire Of the stomak, which builleth evere, Wherof the lustes ben the levere. To the goddesse Cereres, Which of the corn gaf hire encress Upon the feith that tho was take, The wombes cure was betake; And Venus thurgh the lecherie, For which that thei hire deifie, Sche kept al doun the remenant To thilke office appourtenant. [Idol Worship] Thus was dispers in sondri wise The misbelieve, as I devise, With many an ymage of entaile, Of suche as myhte hem noght availe; For thei withoute lyves chiere Unmyhti ben to se or hiere Or speke or do or elles fiele; And yit the foles to hem knele, Which is here oghne handes werk. Ha lord, hou this believe is derk, And fer fro resonable wit! And natheles thei don it yit: That was today a ragged tre, Tomorwe upon his majesté Stant in the temple wel besein. How myhte a mannes resoun sein That such a stock mai helpe or grieve? Bot thei that ben of such believe And unto suche goddes calle, It schal to hem riht so befalle, And failen ate moste nede. Bot if thee list to taken hiede And of the ferste ymage wite, Petornius therof hath write And ek Nigargorus also; And thei afferme and write so, That Promotheus was tofore And fond the ferste craft therfore, And Cirophanes, as thei telle, Thurgh conseil which was take in helle, In remembrance of his lignage Let setten up the ferste ymage. Of Cirophanes seith the bok, That he for sorwe, which he tok Of that he sih his sone ded, Of confort knew non other red, Bot let do make in remembrance A faire ymage of his semblance And set it in the market place, Which openly tofore his face Stod every dai to don him ese. And thei that thanne wolden plese The fader, scholden it obeie, Whan that thei comen thilke weie. And of Ninus king of Assire I rede hou that in his empire He was next after the secounde Of hem that ferst ymages founde. For he riht in semblable cas Of Belus, which his fader was Fro Nembroth in the rihte line, Let make of gold and stones fine A precious ymage riche After his fader evene liche; And therupon a lawe he sette, That every man of pure dette With sacrifice and with truage Honoure scholde thilke ymage: So that withinne time it fell, Of Belus cam the name of Bel, Of Bel cam Belzebub, and so The misbelieve wente tho. The thridde ymage next to this Was, whan the king of Grece Apis Was ded, thei maden a figure In resemblance of his stature. Of this king Apis seith the bok That Serapis his name tok, In whom thurgh long continuance Of misbelieve a gret creance Thei hadden, and the reverence Of sacrifice and of encence To him thei made: and as thei telle, Among the wondres that befelle, Whan Alisandre fro Candace Cam ridende, in a wilde place Undur an hull a cave he fond; And Candalus, which in that lond Was bore, and was Candaces sone, Him tolde hou that of commun wone The goddes were in thilke cave. And he, that wolde assaie and have A knowlechinge if it be soth, Liht of his hors and in he goth, And fond therinne that he soghte. For thurgh the fendes sleihte him thoghte, Amonges othre goddes mo That Serapis spak to him tho, Whom he sih there in gret arrai. And thus the fend fro dai to dai The worschipe of ydolatrie Drowh forth upon the fantasie Of hem that weren thanne blinde And couthen noght the trouthe finde. Thus hast thou herd in what degré Of Grece, Egipte, and of Caldee The misbelieves whilom stode; And hou so that thei be noght goode Ne trewe, yit thei sprungen oute, Wherof the wyde world aboute His part of misbelieve tok. Til so befell, as seith the bok, That god a poeple for himselve Hath chose of the lignages tuelve, Wherof the sothe redely, As it is write in Genesi, I thenke telle in such a wise That it schal be to thin apprise. [The Jews] After the flod, fro which Noé Was sauf, the world in his degré Was mad, as who seith, newe agein, Of flour, of fruit, of gras, of grein, Of beste, of bridd and of mankinde, Which evere hath be to God unkinde. For noght withstondende al the fare, Of that this world was mad so bare And afterward it was restored, Among the men was nothing mored Towardes God of good lyvynge, Bot al was torned to likinge After the fleissh, so that forgete Was He which gaf hem lif and mete, Of hevene and erthe creatour. And thus cam forth the grete errour, That thei the hihe God ne knewe, Bot maden othre goddes newe, As thou hast herd me seid tofore. Ther was no man that time bore, That he ne hadde after his chois A god, to whom he gaf his vois. Wherof the misbelieve cam Into the time of Habraham. Bot he fond out the rihte weie, Hou only that men scholde obeie The hihe God, which weldeth al, And evere hath don and evere schal, In hevene, in erthe and ek in helle. Ther is no tunge His miht mai telle. This patriarch to his lignage Forbad, that thei to non ymage Encline scholde in none wise, Bot here offrende and sacrifise With al the hole hertes love Unto the mihti God above Thei scholden give and to no mo. And thus in thilke time tho Began the secte upon this erthe, Which of believes was the ferthe. Of rihtwisnesse it was conceived, So moste it nedes be received Of Him that alle riht is inne, The hihe God, which wolde winne A poeple unto His oghne feith. On Habraham the ground He leith, And made him for to multeplie Into so gret a progenie, That thei Egipte al overspradde. Bot Pharao with wrong hem ladde In servitute agein the pes, Til God let sende Moises To make the deliverance; And for his poeple gret vengance He tok, which is to hiere a wonder. The king was slain, the lond put under, God bad the Rede See divide, Which stod upriht on either side And gaf unto his poeple a weie, That thei on fote it passe dreie And gon so forth into desert. Wher for to kepe hem in covert, The daies, whan the sonne brente, A large cloude hem overwente, And for to wissen hem be nyhte, A firy piler hem alyhte. And whan that thei for hunger pleigne, The myhti God began to reyne Manna fro hevene doun to grounde, Wherof that ech of hem hath founde His fode, such riht as him liste; And for thei scholde upon Him triste, Riht as who sette a tonne abroche, He percede the harde roche, And sprong out water al at wille, That man and beste hath drunke his fille. And afterward He gaf the Lawe To Moises, that hem withdrawe Thei scholden noght fro that he bad. And in this wise thei be lad, Til thei tok in possession The londes of promission, Wher that Caleph and Josué The marches upon such degré Departen, after the lignage That ech of hem as heritage His porpartie hath underfonge. And thus stod this believe longe, Which of prophetes was governed; And thei hadde ek the poeple lerned Of gret honour that scholde hem falle; Bot ate moste nede of alle Thei faileden, whan Crist was bore. Bot hou that thei here feith have bore, It nedeth noght to tellen al, The matiere is so general: Whan Lucifer was best in hevene And oghte moste have stonde in evene, Towardes God he tok debat, And for that he was obstinat, And wolde noght to trouthe encline, He fell forevere into ruine: And Adam ek in Paradis, Whan he stod most in al his pris After th'astat of Innocence, Agein the God brak his defence And fell out of his place aweie: And riht be such a maner weie The Jwes in here beste plit, Whan that thei scholden most parfit Have stond upon the prophecie, Tho fellen thei to most folie, And Him which was fro hevene come, And of a maide his fleissh hath nome, And was among hem bore and fedd, As men that wolden noght be spedd Of Goddes Sone, with o vois Thei hinge and slowhe upon the crois. Wherof the parfit of here Lawe Fro thanne forth hem was withdrawe, So that thei stonde of no merit, Bot in truage as folk soubgit Withoute propreté of place Thei liven out of Goddes grace, Dispers in alle londes oute. And thus the feith is come aboute, That whilom in the Jewes stod, Which is noght parfihtliche good. To speke as it is nou befalle, Ther is a feith aboven alle, In which the trouthe is comprehended, Wherof that we ben alle amended. [The Christians] The hihe almyhti majesté, Of rihtwisnesse and of pité, The sinne which that Adam wroghte, Whan He sih time, agein He boghte, And sende His Sone fro the hevene To sette mannes Soule in evene, Which thanne was so sore falle Upon the point which was befalle, That he ne mihte himself arise. Gregoire seith in his aprise, It helpeth noght a man be bore, If Goddes Sone were unbore; For thanne thurgh the ferste sinne, Which Adam whilom broghte ous inne, Ther scholden alle men be lost; Bot Crist restoreth thilke lost, And boghte it with His fleissh and blod. And if we thenken hou it stod Of thilke rancoun which He payde, As seint Gregoire it wrot and sayde, Al was behovely to the man. For that wherof his wo began Was after cause of al his welthe, Whan He which is the welle of helthe, The hihe creatour of lif, Upon the nede of such a strif So wolde for His creature Take on Himself the forsfaiture And soffre for the mannes sake. Thus mai no reson wel forsake That thilke senne original Ne was the cause in special Of mannes worschipe ate laste, Which schal withouten ende laste. For be that cause the Godhede Assembled was to the manhede In the Virgine, where He nom Oure fleissh and verai man becom Of bodely fraternité; Wherof the man in his degré Stant more worth, as I have told, Than he stod erst be manyfold, Thurgh baptesme of the Newe Lawe, Of which Crist Lord is and felawe. And thus the hihe Goddes myht, Which was in the Virgine alyht, The mannes soule hath reconsiled, Which hadde longe ben exiled. So stant the feith upon believe, Withoute which mai non achieve To gete him paradis agein. Bot this believe is so certein, So full of grace and of vertu, That what man clepeth to Jhesu In clene lif forthwith good dede, He mai noght faile of hevene mede, Which taken hath the rihte feith; For elles, as the Gospel seith, Salvacion ther mai be non. And for to preche therupon Crist bad to Hise apostles alle, The whos pouer as nou is falle On ous that ben of Holi Cherche, If we the goode dedes werche; For feith only sufficeth noght, Bot if good dede also be wroght. Now were it good that thou forthi, Which thurgh baptesme proprely Art unto Cristes feith professed, Bewar that thou be noght oppressed With Anticristes Lollardie. For as the Jwes prophecie Was set of God for avantage, Riht so this newe tapinage Of Lollardie goth aboute To sette Cristes feith in doute. The seintz that weren ous tofore, Be whom the feith was ferst upbore, That Holi Cherche stod relieved, Thei oghten betre be believed Than these, whiche that men knowe Noght holy, thogh thei feigne and blowe Here Lollardie in mennes ere. Bot if thou wolt live out of fere, Such newe lore, I rede, eschuie, And hold forth riht the weie and suie, As thine ancestres dede er this, So schalt thou noght believe amis. Crist wroghte ferst and after tawhte, So that the dede His Word arawhte; He gaf ensample in His persone, And we the wordes have al one, Lich to the tree with leves grene, Upon the which no fruit is sene. The priest Thoas, which of Minerve The temple hadde for to serve, And the Palladion of Troie Kepte under keie, for monoie Of Antenor which he hath nome, Hath soffred Anthenor to come And the Palladion to stele, Wherof the worschipe and the wele Of the Troiens was overthrowe. Bot Thoas at the same throwe, Whan Anthenor this juel tok, Wynkende caste awei his lok For a deceipte and for a wyle: As he that scholde himself beguile, He hidde his yhen fro the sihte, And wende wel that he so mihte Excuse his false conscience. I wot noght if thilke evidence Nou at this time in here estatz Excuse mihte the prelatz, Knowende hou that the feith discresceth And alle moral vertu cesseth, Wherof that thei the keies bere, Bot yit hem liketh noght to stere Here gostliche yhe for to se The world in his adversité; Thei wol no labour undertake To kepe that hem is betake. Crist deide Himselve for the feith, Bot nou our feerfull prelat seith, 'The lif is suete,' and that he kepeth, So that the feith unholpe slepeth, And thei unto here ese entenden And in here lust her lif despenden, And every man do what him list. Thus stant this world fulfild of mist, That no man seth the rihte weie. The wardes of the cherche keie Thurgh mishandlinge ben myswreynt, The worldes wawe hath welnyh dreynt The schip which Peter hath to stiere, The forme is kept, bot the matiere Transformed is in other wise. Bot if thei weren gostli wise, And that the prelatz weren goode, As thei be olde daies stode, It were thanne litel nede Among the men to taken hiede Of that thei hieren Pseudo telle, Which nou is come for to duelle, To sowe cokkel with the corn, So that the tilthe is nyh forlorn, Which Crist sew ferst his oghne hond. Nou stant the cockel in the lond, Wher stod whilom the goode grein, For the prelatz nou, as men sein, Forslowthen that thei scholden tile. And that I trowe be the skile, Whan ther is lacke in hem above, The poeple is stranged to the love Of trouthe, in cause of ignorance. For wher ther is no pourveance Of liht, men erren in the derke. Bot if the prelatz wolden werke Upon the feith which thei ous teche, Men scholden noght here weie seche Withoute liht, as now is used: Men se the charge aldai refused, Which Holi Cherche hath undertake. Bot who that wolde ensample take, Gregoire upon his Omelie Agein the Slouthe of Prelacie Compleigneth him, and thus he seith: 'Whan Peter, fader of the feith, At domesdai schal with him bringe Judeam, which thurgh his prechinge He wan, and Andrew with Achaie Schal come his dette for to paie, And Thomas ek with his beyete Of Ynde, and Poul the routes grete Of sondri londes schal presente, And we fulfild of lond and rente, Which of this world we holden hiere, With voide handes schul appiere, Touchende oure cure spirital, Which is our charge in special, I not what thing it mai amonte Upon thilke ende of oure accompte, Wher Crist himself is auditour, Which takth non hiede of vein honour.' Th'office of the chancellerie Or of the kinges tresorie Ne for the writ ne for the taille To warant mai noght thanne availe; The world, which nou so wel we trowe, Schal make ous thanne bot a mowe: So passe we withoute mede, That we non otherwise spede, Bot as we rede that he spedde, The which his lordes besant hedde And therupon gat non encress. Bot at this time natheles, What other man his thonk deserve, The world so lusti is to serve, That we with him ben all acorded, And that is wist and wel recorded Thurghout this erthe in alle londes Let knyhtes winne with here hondes, For oure tunge schal be stille And stonde upon the fleisshes wille. It were a travail for to preche The feith of Crist, as for to teche The folk paiene, it wol noght be; Bot every prelat holde his see With al such ese as he mai gete Of lusti drinke and lusti mete, Wherof the bodi fat and full Is unto gostli labour dull And slowh to handle thilke plowh. Bot elles we ben swifte ynowh Toward the worldes Avarice. And that is as a sacrifice, Which, after that th'apostel seith, Is openly agein the feith Unto th'idoles gove and granted. Bot natheles it is nou haunted, And vertu changed into vice, So that largesce is Avarice, In whos chapitre now we trete." "Mi fader, this matiere is bete So fer, that evere whil I live I schal the betre hiede give Unto miself be many weie. Bot over this nou wolde I preie To wite what the branches are Of Avarice, and hou thei fare Als wel in love as otherwise." "Mi sone, and I thee schal devise In such a manere as thei stonde, So that thou schalt hem understonde." [Covetousness] Agros iungit agris cupidus domibusque domosque, Possideat totam sic quasi solus humum. Solus et innumeros mulierum spirat amores, Vt sacra millenis sit sibi culta Venus.5 "Dame Avarice is noght soleine, Which is of gold the capiteine, Bot of hir court in sondri wise After the scole of hire aprise Sche hath of servantz manyon, Wherof that Covoitise is on; Which goth the large world aboute, To seche th'avantages oute, Wher that he mai the profit winne To Avarice, and bringth it inne. That on hald and that other draweth, Ther is no day which hem bedaweth, No mor the sonne than the mone, Whan ther is eny thing to done, And namely with Covoitise; For he stant out of al assisse Of resonable mannes fare. Wher he pourposeth him to fare Upon his lucre and his beyete, The smale path, the large strete, The furlong and the longe mile, Al is bot on for thilke while. And for that he is such on holde, Dame Avarice him hath withholde, As he which is the principal Outward, for he is overal A pourveour and an aspie. For riht as of an hungri pie The storve bestes ben awaited, Riht so is Covoitise afaited To loke where he mai pourchace, For be his wille he wolde embrace Al that this wyde world beclippeth; Bot evere he somwhat overhippeth, That he ne mai noght al fulfille The lustes of his gredi wille. Bot where it falleth in a lond, That Covoitise in myhti hond Is set, it is ful hard to fiede; For thanne he takth non other hiede, Bot that he mai pourchace and gete. His conscience hath al forgete, And not what thing it mai amonte That he schal afterward acompte. Bote as the luce in his degré Of tho that lasse ben than he The fisshes griedeli devoureth, So that no water hem socoureth, Riht so no lawe mai rescowe Fro him that wol no riht allowe; For wher that such on is of myht, His will schal stonde in stede of riht. Thus be the men destruid fulofte, Til that the grete God alofte Agein so gret a covoitise Redresce it in His oghne wise: And in ensample of alle tho I finde a tale write so, The which, for it is good to liere, Hierafterward thou schalt it hiere. [Tale of Virgil's Mirror] Whan Rome stod in noble plit, Virgile, which was tho parfit, A mirour made of his clergie And sette it in the tounes ÿe Of marbre on a piler withoute; That thei be thritty mile aboute Be daie and ek also be nyhte In that mirour beholde myhte Here enemys, if eny were, With al here ordinance there, Which thei agein the cité caste, So that, whil thilke mirour laste, Ther was no lond which mihte achieve With werre Rome for to grieve; Wherof was gret envie tho. And fell that ilke time so, That Rome hadde werres stronge Agein Cartage, and stoden longe The tuo cites upon debat. Cartage sih the stronge astat Of Rome in thilke mirour stonde, And thoghte al prively to fonde To overthrowe it be som wyle. And Hanybal was thilke while The prince and ledere of Cartage, Which hadde set al his corage Upon knihthod in such a wise, That he be worthi and be wise And be non othre was conseiled, Wherof the world is yit merveiled Of the maistries that he wroghte Upon the marches whiche he soghte. And fell in thilke time also, The king of Puile, which was tho Thoghte agein Rome to rebelle, And thus was take the querele Hou to destruie this mirour. Of Rome tho was emperour Crassus, which was so coveitous, That he was evere desirous Of gold to gete the pilage; Wherof that Puile and ek Cartage With philosophres wise and grete Begunne of this matiere trete, And ate laste in this degré Ther weren philosophres thre, To do this thing whiche undertoke, And therupon thei with hem toke A gret tresor of gold in cophres, To Rome and thus these philisophres Togedre in compainie wente, Bot no man wiste what thei mente. Whan thei to Rome come were, So prively thei duelte there, As thei that thoghten to deceive. Was non that mihte of hem perceive, Til thei in sondri stedes have Here gold under the ground begrave In tuo tresors, that to beholde Thei scholden seme as thei were olde. And so forth thanne upon a day Al openly in good arai To th'emperour thei hem presente, And tolden it was here entente To duellen under his servise. And he hem axeth in what wise; And thei him tolde in such a plit, That eche of hem hadde a spirit, The which slepende a nyht appiereth And hem be sondri dremes lereth After the world that hath betid. Under the ground if oght be hid Of old tresor at eny throwe, Thei schull it in here swevenes knowe; And upon this condicioun, Thei sein, what gold under the toun Of Rome is hid, thei wole it finde, Ther scholde noght be left behinde, Be so that he the halvendel Hem grante, and he assenteth wel; And thus cam Sleighte for to duelle With Covoitise, as I thee telle. This emperour bad redily That thei be logged faste by Where he his oghne body lay; And whan it was amorwe day, That on of hem seith that he mette Wher he a goldhord scholde fette. Wherof this emperour was glad, And therupon anon he bad His mynours for to go and myne, And he himself of that covine Goth forth withal, and at his hond The tresor redi there he fond, Where as thei seide it scholde be; And who was thanne glad bot he? Upon that other dai secounde Thei have another goldhord founde, Which the seconde maister tok Upon his swevene and undertok. And thus the sothe experience To th'emperour gaf such credence, That al his trist and al his feith So sikerliche on hem he leith, Of that he fond him so relieved, That thei ben parfitli believed, As thogh thei were goddes thre. Nou herkne the soutileté. The thridde maister scholde mete, Which, as thei seiden, was unmete Above hem alle, and couthe most; And he withoute noise or bost Al priveli, so as he wolde, Upon the morwe his swevene tolde To th'emperour riht in his ere, And seide him that he wiste where A tresor was so plentivous Of gold and ek so precious Of jeueals and of riche stones, That unto alle hise hors at ones It were a charge sufficant. This lord upon this covenant Was glad, and axeth where it was. The maister seide, under the glas, And tolde him eke, as for the myn, He wolde ordeigne such engin That thei the werk schull undersette With tymber, that withoute lette Men mai the tresor saufli delve, So that the mirour be himselve Withoute empeirement schal stonde. And this the maister upon honde Hath undertake in alle weie. This lord, which hadde his wit aweie And was with Covoitise blent, Anon therto gaf his assent; And thus thei myne forth withal, The timber set up overal, Wherof the piler stod upriht; Til it befell upon a nyht These clerkes, whan thei were war Hou that the timber only bar The piler wher the mirour stod (Here sleihte no man understod), Thei go be nyhte unto the myne With pich, with soulphre, and with rosine, And whan the cité was aslepe, A wylde fyr into the depe Thei caste among the timberwerk, And so forth, whil the nyht was derk, Desguised in a povere arai Thei passeden the toun er dai. And whan thei come upon an hell, Thei sihen how the mirour fell, Wherof thei maden joie ynowh, And ech of hem with other lowh, And seiden, 'Lo, what coveitise Mai do with hem that be noght wise!' And that was proved afterward, For every lond, to Romeward Which hadde be soubgit tofore, Whan this mirour was so forlore And thei the wonder herde seie, Anon begunne desobeie With werres upon every side; And thus hath Rome lost his pride And was defouled overal. For this I finde of Hanybal, That he of Romeins in a dai, Whan he hem fond out of arai, So gret a multitude slowh, That of gold ringes, whiche he drowh Of gentil handes that ben dede, Buisshelles fulle thre, I rede, He felde, and made a bregge also, That he mihte over Tibre go Upon the corps that dede were Of the Romeins, whiche he slowh there. Bot now to speke of the juise, The which after the covoitise Was take upon this emperour, For he destruide the mirour; It is a wonder for to hiere. The Romeins maden a chaiere And sette here emperour therinne, And seiden, for he wolde winne Of gold the superfluité, Of gold he scholde such plenté Receive til he seide 'Ho!' And with gold, which thei hadden tho Buillende hot withinne a panne, Into his mouth thei poure thanne. And thus the thurst of gold was queynt, With gold which hadde ben atteignt. Wherof, mi sone, thou miht hiere, Whan Covoitise hath lost the stiere Of resonable governance, Ther falleth ofte gret vengance. For ther mai be no worse thing Than Covoitise aboute a king. If it in his persone be, It doth the more adversité; And if it in his conseil stonde, It bringth alday meschief to honde Of commun harm; and if it growe Withinne his court, it wol be knowe, For thanne schal the king be piled. The man which hath hise londes tiled, Awaiteth noght more redily The hervest, than thei gredily Ne maken thanne warde and wacche, Wher thei the profit mihten cacche: And yit fulofte it falleth so, As men mai sen among hem tho, That he which most coveiteth faste Hath lest avantage ate laste. For whan fortune is theragein, Thogh he coveite, it is in vein; The happes be noght alle liche: On is mad povere, another riche, The court to some doth profit, And some ben evere in o plit; And yit thei bothe aliche sore Coveite, bot fortune is more Unto that o part favorable. And thogh it be noght resonable, This thing a man mai sen alday, Wherof that I thee telle may A fair ensample in remembrance, Hou every man mot take his chance Or of richesse or of poverte. Hou so it stonde of the decerte, Hier is noght everything aquit, For ofte a man mai se this yit, That who best doth, lest thonk schal have; It helpeth noght the world to crave, Which out of reule and of mesure Hath evere stonde in aventure Als wel in court as elles where: And hou in olde daies there It stod, so as the thinges felle, I thenke a tale for to telle. [Tale of the Two Coffers] In a cronique this I rede. Aboute a king, as moste nede, Ther was of knyhtes and squiers Gret route, and ek of officers: Some of long time him hadden served, And thoghten that thei have deserved Avancement, and gon withoute; And some also ben of the route That comen bot a while agon, And thei avanced were anon. These olde men upon this thing, So as thei dorste, agein the king Among hemself compleignen ofte: Bot ther is nothing seid so softe, That it ne comth out ate laste; The king it wiste, and als so faste, As he which was of hih prudence, He schop therfore an evidence Of hem that pleignen in that cas, To knowe in whos defalte it was. And al withinne his oghne entente, That no man wiste what it mente, Anon he let tuo cofres make Of o semblance and of o make, So lich that no lif thilke throwe That on mai fro that other knowe: Thei were into his chambre broght, Bot no man wot why thei be wroght, And natheles the king hath bede That thei be set in privé stede. As he that was of wisdom slih, Whan he therto his time sih, Al prively, that non it wiste, Hise oghne hondes that o kiste Of fin gold and of fin perrie, The which out of his tresorie Was take, anon he felde full; That other cofre of straw and mull With stones meind he felde also. Thus be thei fulle bothe tuo, So that erliche upon a day He bad withinne, ther he lay, Ther scholde be tofore his bed A bord upset and faire spred; And thanne he let the cofres fette, Upon the bord and dede hem sette. He knew the names wel of tho, The whiche agein him grucche so, Bothe of his chambre and of his halle, Anon and sende for hem alle, And seide to hem in this wise: 'Ther schal no man his happ despise; I wot wel ye have longe served, And God wot what ye have deserved. Bot if it is along on me Of that ye unavanced be, Or elles it belong on you, The sothe schal be proved nou, To stoppe with youre evele word. Lo hier tuo cofres on the bord: Ches which you list of bothe tuo; And witeth wel that on of tho Is with tresor so full begon, That if ye happe therupon, Ye schull be riche men forevere. Now ches and tak which you is levere: Bot be wel war, er that ye take; For of that on I undertake Ther is no maner good therinne, Wherof ye mihten profit winne. Now goth togedre of on assent And taketh youre avisement, For bot I you this dai avance, It stant upon youre oghne chance Al only in defalte of grace. So schal be schewed in this place Upon you alle wel afyn, That no defalte schal be myn.' Thei knelen alle and with o vois The king thei thonken of this chois: And after that thei up arise, And gon aside and hem avise, And ate laste thei acorde; Wherof her tale to recorde, To what issue thei be falle, A kniht schal speke for hem alle. He kneleth doun unto the king, And seith that thei upon this thing, Or for to winne or for to lese, Ben alle avised for to chese. Tho tok this kniht a yerde on honde, And goth there as the cofres stonde, And with assent of everichon He leith his yerde upon that on, And seith the king hou thilke same Thei chese in reguerdoun be name, And preith him that thei mote it have. The king, which wolde his honour save, Whan he hath herd the commun vois, Hath granted hem here oghne chois And tok hem therupon the keie. Bot for he wolde it were seie What good thei have, as thei suppose, He bad anon the cofre unclose, Which was fulfild with straw and stones. Thus be thei served al at ones. This king thanne in the same stede Anon that other cofre undede, Where as thei sihen gret richesse, Wel more than thei couthen gesse. 'Lo,' seith the king, 'nou mai ye se That ther is no defalte in me; Forthi miself I wole aquyte, And bereth ye youre oghne wyte Of that fortune hath you refused.' Thus was this wise king excused, And thei lefte of here evele speche And mercy of here king beseche. [Tale of the Beggars and the Two Pastries] Somdiel to this matiere lik I finde a tale, hou Frederik, Of Rome that time emperour, Herde, as he wente, a gret clamour Of tuo beggers upon the weie. That on of hem began to seie, 'Ha lord, wel mai the man be riche Whom that a king list for to riche.' That other saide nothing so, Bot, 'He is riche and wel bego, To whom that God wole sende wele.' And thus thei maden wordes fele, Wherof this lord hath hiede nome, And dede hem bothe for to come To the paleis, wher he schal ete, And bad ordeine for here mete Tuo pastes, whiche he let do make. A capoun in that on was bake, And in that other for to winne Of florins al that mai withinne He let do pute a gret richesse; And evene aliche, as man mai gesse, Outward thei were bothe tuo. This begger was comanded tho, He that which hield him to the king, That he ferst chese upon this thing: He sih hem, bot he felte hem noght, So that upon his oghne thoght He ches the capoun and forsok That other, which his fela tok. Bot whanne he wiste hou that it ferde, He seide alowd, that men it herde, 'Nou have I certeinly conceived That he mai lihtly be deceived, That tristeth unto mannes helpe; Bot wel is him whom God wol helpe, For he stant on the siker side, Which elles scholde go beside: I se mi fela wel recovere, And I mot duelle stille povere.' Thus spak this begger his entente, And povere he cam and povere he wente; Of that he hath richesse soght, His infortune it wolde noght. So mai it schewe in sondri wise, Betwen fortune and covoitise The chance is cast upon a dee; Bot yit fulofte a man mai se Ynowe of suche natheles, Whiche evere pute hemself in press To gete hem good, and yit thei faile. [Covetousness of Lovers] And for to speke of this entaile Touchende of love in thi matiere, Mi goode sone, as thou miht hiere, That riht as it with tho men stod Of infortune of worldes good, As thou hast herd me telle above, Riht so fulofte it stant be love. Thogh thou coveite it everemore, Thou schalt noght have o diel the more, Bot only that which thee is schape, The remenant is bot a jape. And natheles ynowe of tho Ther ben, that nou coveiten so, That where as thei a womman se, Ye ten or tuelve thogh ther be, The love is nou so unavised, That wher the beauté stant assised, The mannes herte anon is there, And rouneth tales in hire ere, And seith hou that he loveth streite, And thus he set him to coveite, An hundred thogh he sihe aday. So wolde he more thanne he mai; Bot for the grete covoitise Of sotie and of fol emprise In ech of hem he fint somwhat That pleseth him, or this or that; Som on, for sche is whit of skin, Som on, for sche is noble of kin, Som on, for sche hath rodi chieke, Som on, for that sche semeth mieke, Som on, for sche hath yhen greie, Som on, for sche can lawhe and pleie, Som on, for sche is long and smal, Som on, for sche is lyte and tall, Som on, for sche is pale and bleche, Som on, for sche is softe of speche, Som on, for that sche is camused, Som on, for sche hath noght ben used, Som on, for sche can daunce and singe; So that som thing to his likinge He fint, and thogh no more he fiele, Bot that sche hath a litel hiele, It is ynow that he therfore Hire love, and thus an hundred score, Whil thei be newe, he wolde he hadde; Whom he forsakth, sche schal be badde. The blinde man no colour demeth, But al is on, riht as him semeth; So hath his lust no juggement, Whom covoitise of love blent. Him thenkth that to his covoitise Hou al the world ne mai suffise, For be his wille he wolde have alle, If that it mihte so befalle. Thus is he commun as the strete, I sette noght of his beyete. Mi sone, hast thou such covoitise?" "Nai, fader, such love I despise, And whil I live schal don evere, For in good feith yit hadde I levere, Than to coveite in such a weie, To ben forevere til I deie As povere as Job, and loveles, Outaken on, for haveles His thonkes is no man alyve. For that a man scholde al unthryve Ther oghte no wisman coveite, The lawe was noght set so streite: Forthi miself withal to save, Such on ther is I wolde have, And non of al these othre mo." "Mi sone, of that thou woldest so, I am noght wroth, bot over this I wol thee tellen hou it is. For ther be men, whiche otherwise, Riht only for the covoitise Of that thei sen a womman riche, Ther wol thei al here love affiche; Noght for the beauté of hire face, Ne yit for vertu ne for grace, Which sche hath elles riht ynowh, Bot for the park and for the plowh, And other thing which therto longeth. For in non other wise hem longeth To love, bot thei profit finde; And if the profit be behinde, Here love is evere lesse and lesse, For after that sche hath richesse, Her love is of proporcion. If thou hast such condicion, Mi sone, tell riht as it is." "Min holi fader, nay ywiss, Condicion such have I non. For trewli, fader, I love oon So wel with al myn hertes thoght, That certes, thogh sche hadde noght, And were as povere as Medea, Which was exiled for Creusa, I wolde hir noght the lasse love; Ne thogh sche were at hire above, As was the riche qwen Candace, Which to deserve love and grace To Alisandre, that was king, Gaf many a worthi riche thing, Or elles as Pantasilee, Which was the quen of Feminee, And gret richesse with hir nam, Whan sche for love of Hector cam To Troie in rescousse of the toun, I am of such condicion, That thogh mi ladi of hirselve Were also riche as suche tuelve, I couthe noght, thogh it wer so, No betre love hir than I do. For I love in so plein a wise, That for to speke of coveitise, As for poverte or for richesse Mi love is nouther mor ne lesse. For in good feith I trowe this, So coveitous no man ther is, Forwhy and he mi ladi sihe, That he thurgh lokinge of his yhe Ne scholde have such a strok withinne, That for no gold he mihte winne He scholde noght hire love asterte, Bot if he lefte there his herte; Be so it were such a man, That couthe skile of a womman. For ther be men so ruide some, Whan thei among the wommen come, Thei gon under proteccioun, That love and his affeccioun Ne schal noght take hem be the slieve; For thei ben out of that believe, Hem lusteth of no ladi chiere, Bot evere thenken there and hiere Wher that here gold is in the cofre, And wol non other love profre: Bot who so wot what love amounteth And be resoun trewliche acompteth, Than mai he knowe and taken hiede That al the lust of wommanhiede, Which mai ben in a ladi face, Mi ladi hath, and ek of grace If men schull given hire a pris, Thei mai wel seie hou sche is wys And sobre and simple of contenance, And al that to good governance Belongeth of a worthi wiht Sche hath pleinli: for thilke nyht That sche was bore, as for the nones Nature sette in hire at ones Beauté with bounté so besein, That I mai wel afferme and sein, I sawh yit nevere creature Of comelihied and of feture In eny kinges regioun Be lich hire in comparisoun: And therto, as I have you told, Yit hath sche more a thousendfold Of bounté, and schortli to telle, Sche is the pure hed and welle And mirour and ensample of goode. Who so hir vertus understode, Me thenkth it oughte ynow suffise Withouten other covoitise To love such on and to serve, Which with hire chiere can deserve To be beloved betre ywiss Than sche per cas that richest is And hath of gold a milion. Such hath be myn opinion And evere schal. Bot natheles, I seie noght sche is haveles, That sche nys riche and wel at ese, And hath ynow wherwith to plese Of worldes good whom that hire liste; Bot o thing wolde I wel ye wiste, That nevere for no worldes good Min herte untoward hire stod, Bot only riht for pure love; That wot the hihe God above. Nou, fader, what seie ye therto?" "Mi sone, I seie it is wel do. For tak of this riht good believe, What man that wole himself relieve To love in eny other wise, He schal wel finde his coveitise Schal sore grieve him ate laste, For such a love mai noght laste. Bot nou, men sein, in oure daies Men maken bot a fewe assaies, Bot if the cause be richesse; Forthi the love is wel the lesse. And who that wolde ensamples telle, Be olde daies as thei felle, Than mihte a man wel understonde Such love mai noght longe stonde. Now herkne, sone, and thou schalt hiere A gret ensample of this matiere. [Tale of the King and his Steward's Wife] To trete upon the cas of love, So as we tolden hiere above, I finde write a wonder thing. Of Puile whilom was a king, A man of hih complexioun And yong, bot his affeccioun After the nature of his age Was yit noght falle in his corage The lust of wommen for to knowe. So it betidde upon a throwe This lord fell into gret seknesse: Phisique hath don the besinesse Of sondri cures manyon To make him hol; and therupon A worthi maister which ther was Gaf him conseil upon this cas, That if he wolde have parfit hele, He scholde with a womman dele, A freissh, a yong, a lusti wiht, To don him compaignie a nyht; For thanne he seide him redily, That he schal be al hol therby, And otherwise he kneu no cure. This king, which stod in aventure Of lif and deth, for medicine Assented was, and of covine His steward, whom he tristeth wel, He tok, and tolde him everydel, Hou that this maister hadde seid. And therupon he hath him preid And charged upon his ligance, That he do make porveance Of such on as be covenable For his plesance and delitable; And bad him, hou that evere it stod, That he schal spare for no good, For his will is riht wel to paie. The steward seide he wolde assaie. Bot nou hierafter thou schalt wite, As I finde in the bokes write, What coveitise in love doth. This steward, for to telle soth, Amonges al the men alyve A lusti ladi hath to wyve, Which natheles for gold he tok And noght for love, as seith the bok. A riche marchant of the lond Hir fader was, and hire fond So worthily, and such richesse Of worldes good and such largesse With hire he gaf in mariage, That only for thilke avantage Of good this steward hath hire take, For lucre and noght for loves sake, And that was afterward wel seene. Nou herkne what it wolde meene. This steward in his oghne herte Sih that his lord mai noght asterte His maladie, bot he have A lusti womman him to save, And thoghte he wolde give ynowh Of his tresor; wherof he drowh Gret coveitise into his mynde, And sette his honour fer behynde. Thus he, whom gold hath overset, Was trapped in his oghne net; The gold hath mad hise wittes lame, So that sechende his oghne schame He rouneth in the kinges ere, And seide him that he wiste where A gentile and a lusti on Tho was, and thider wolde he gon. Bot he mot give giftes grete; For bot it be thurgh gret beyete Of gold, he seith, he schal noght spede. The king him bad upon the nede That take an hundred pound he scholde, And give it where that he wolde, Be so it were in worthi place. And thus to stonde in loves grace This king his gold hath abandouned. And whan this tale was full rouned, The steward tok the gold and wente, Withinne his herte and many a wente Of coveitise thanne he caste, Wherof a pourpos ate laste Agein love and agein his riht He tok, and seide hou thilke nyht His wif schal ligge be the king. And goth thenkende upon this thing Toward his in, til he cam hom Into the chambre, and thanne he nom His wif, and told hire al the cas. And sche, which red for schame was, With bothe hire handes hath him preid Knelende and in this wise seid, That sche to reson and to skile In what thing that he bidde wile Is redy for to don his heste, Bot this thing were noght honeste, That he for gold hire scholde selle. And he tho with hise wordes felle Forth with his gastly contienance Seith that sche schal don obeissance And folwe his will in every place. And thus thurgh strengthe of his manace Hir innocence is overlad, Wherof sche was so sore adrad That sche his will mot nede obeie. And therupon was schape a weie, That he his oghne wif be nyhte Hath out of alle mennes sihte So prively that non it wiste Broght to the king, which as him liste Mai do with hire what he wolde. For whan sche was ther as sche scholde, With him abedde under the cloth, The steward tok his leve and goth Into a chambre faste by. Bot hou he slep, that wot noght I, For he sih cause of jelousie. Bot he, which hath the compainie Of such a lusti on as sche, Him thoghte that of his degré Ther was no man so wel at ese. Sche doth al that sche mai to plese, So that his herte al hol sche hadde; And thus this king his joie ladde, Til it was nyh upon the day. The steward thanne wher sche lay Cam to the bedd, and in his wise Hath bede that sche scholde arise. The king seith, 'Nay, sche schal noght go.' His steward seide agein, 'Noght so; For sche mot gon er it be knowe, And so I swor at thilke throwe, Whan I hire fette to you hiere.' The king his tale wol noght hiere, And seith hou that he hath hire boght, Forthi sche schal departe noght, Til he the brighte dai beholde. And cawhte hire in hise armes folde, As he which liste for to pleie, And bad his steward gon his weie, And so he dede agein his wille. And thus his wif abedde stille Lay with the king the longe nyht, Til that it was hih sonne lyht. Bot who sche was he knew nothing. Tho cam the steward to the king And preide him that withoute schame In savinge of hire goode name He myhte leden hom agein This lady, and hath told him plein Hou that it was his oghne wif. The king his ere unto this strif Hath leid, and whan that he it herde, Welnyh out of his wit he ferde, And seide, 'Ha, caitif most of alle, Wher was it evere er this befalle, That eny cokard in this wise Betok his wif for coveitise? Thou hast bothe hire and me beguiled And ek thin oghne astat reviled, Wherof that buxom unto thee Hierafter schal sche nevere be. For this avou to God I make, After this day if I thee take, Thou schalt ben honged and todrawe. Nou loke anon thou be withdrawe, So that I se thee neveremore.' This steward thanne dradde him sore, With al the haste that he mai And fledde awei that same dai, And was exiled out of londe. Lo, there a nyce housebonde, Which thus hath lost his wif forevere! Bot natheles sche hadde a levere: The king hire weddeth and honoureth, Wherof hire name sche socoureth, Which erst was lost thurgh coveitise Of him, that ladde hire other wise, And hath himself also forlore. Mi sone, be thou war therfore, Wher thou schalt love in eny place, That thou no covoitise embrace, The which is noght of loves kinde. Bot for al that a man mai finde Nou in this time of thilke rage Ful gret desese in mariage, Whan venym melleth with the sucre And mariage is mad for lucre, Or for the lust or for the hele. What man that schal with outher dele, He mai noght faile to repente." "Mi fader, such is myn entente: Bot natheles good is to have, For good mai ofte time save The love which scholde elles spille. Bot God, which wot myn hertes wille, I dar wel take to witnesse; Yit was I nevere for richesse Beset with mariage non. For al myn herte is upon on So frely, that in the persone Stant al my worldes joie alone. I axe nouther park ne plowh: If I hire hadde, it were ynowh, Hir love scholde me suffise Withouten other coveitise. Lo now, mi fader, as of this, Touchende of me riht as it is, Mi schrifte I am beknowe plein; And if ye wole oght elles sein, Of covoitise if ther be more In love, agropeth out the sore." [Perjury] Fallere cum nequeat propria vir fraude, subornat Testes, sit quod eis vera retorta fides. Sicut agros cupidus dum querit amans mulieres, Vult testes falsos falsus habere suos. Non sine vindicta periurus abibit in eius Visu, qui cordis intima cuncta videt. Fallere periuro non est laudanda puellam Gloria, set false condicionis opus.6 "Mi sone, thou schalt understonde Hou Coveitise hath yit on honde In special tuo conseilours, That ben also hise procurours. The ferst of hem is Falswitnesse, Which evere is redi to witnesse What thing his maister wol him hote. Perjurie is the secounde hote, Which spareth noght to swere an oth, Thogh it be fals and God be wroth. That on schal Falswitnesse bere, That other schal the thing forswere, Whan he is charged on the bok. So what with hepe and what with crok Thei make here maister ofte winne And wol noght knowe what is sinne For coveitise, and thus, men sain, Thei maken many a fals bargain. Ther mai no trewe querele arise In thilke queste and thilke assise, Where as thei tuo the poeple enforme; For thei kepe evere o maner forme, That upon gold here conscience Thei founde, and take here evidence; And thus with falswitnesse and othes Thei winne him mete and drinke and clothes. Riht so ther be, who that hem knewe, Of thes lovers ful many untrewe: Nou mai a womman finde ynowe, That ech of hem, whan he schal wowe, Anon he wole his hand doun lein Upon a bok, and swere and sein That he wole feith and trouthe bere. And thus he profreth him to swere To serven evere til he die. And al is verai tricherie. For whan the sothe himselven trieth, The more he swerth, the more he lieth; Whan he his feith makth althermest, Than mai a womman truste him lest; For til he mai his will achieve, He is no lengere for to lieve. Thus is the trouthe of love exiled, And many a good womman beguiled. And ek to speke of Falswitnesse, Ther be nou many such, I gesse, That lich unto the provisours Thei make here privé procurours, To telle hou ther is such a man, Which is worthi to love and can Al that a good man scholde kunne; So that with lesinge is begunne The cause in which thei wole procede, And also siker as the Crede Thei make of that thei knowen fals. And thus fulofte aboute the hals Love is of false men embraced; Bot love which is so pourchaced Comth afterward to litel pris. Forthi, mi sone, if thou be wis, Nou thou hast herd this evidence, Thou miht thin oghne conscience Oppose, if thou hast ben such on." "Nai, God wot, fader, I am non, Ne nevere was; for as men seith, Whan that a man schal make his feith, His herte and tunge moste acorde; For if so be that thei discorde, Thanne is he fals and elles noght: And I dar seie, as of my thoght, In love it is noght descordable Unto mi word, bot acordable. And in this wise, fader, I Mai riht wel swere and salvely, That I mi ladi love wel, For that acordeth everydel. It nedeth noght to mi sothsawe That I witnesse scholde drawe, Into this dai for nevere yit Ne mihte it sinke into mi wit, That I my conseil scholde seie To eny wiht, or me bewreie To sechen help in such manere, Bot only of mi ladi diere. And thogh a thousend men it wiste, That I hire love, and thanne hem liste With me to swere and to witnesse, Yit were that no falswitnesse. For I dar on this trouthe duelle, I love hire mor than I can telle. Thus am I, fader, gulteles, As ye have herd, and natheles In youre dom I put it al." "Mi sone, wite in special, It schal noght comunliche faile, Althogh it for a time availe That Falswitnesse his cause spede, Upon the point of his falshiede It schal wel afterward be kid; Wherof, so as it is betid, Ensample of suche thinges blinde In a cronique write I finde. [Tale of Achilles and Deidamia] The goddesse of the see, Thetis, Sche hadde a sone, and his name is Achilles, whom to kepe and warde, Whil he was yong, as into warde Sche thoghte him salfly to betake, As sche which dradde for his sake Of that was seid in prophecie, That he at Troie scholde die, Whan that the cité was belein. Forthi, so as the bokes sein, Sche caste hire wit in sondri wise, Hou sche him mihte so desguise That no man scholde his bodi knowe. And so befell that ilke throwe, Whil that sche thoghte upon this dede, Ther was a king, which Lichomede Was hote, and he was wel begon With faire dowhtres manyon, And duelte fer out in an yle. Nou schalt thou hiere a wonder wyle: This queene, which the moder was Of Achilles, upon this cas Hire sone, as he a maiden were, Let clothen in the same gere Which longeth unto wommanhiede. And he was yong and tok non hiede, Bot soffreth al that sche him dede. Wherof sche hath hire wommen bede And charged be here othes alle, Hou so it afterward befalle, That thei discovere noght this thing, Bot feigne and make a knowleching, Upon the conseil which was nome, In every place wher thei come To telle and to witnesse this, Hou he here ladi dowhter is. And riht in such a maner wise Sche bad thei scholde hire don servise, So that Achilles underfongeth, As to a yong ladi belongeth, Honour, servise, and reverence. For Thetis with gret diligence Him hath so tawht and so afaited That, hou so that it were awaited, With sobre and goodli contenance He scholde his wommanhiede avance, That non the sothe knowe myhte, Bot that in every mannes syhte He scholde seme a pure maide. And in such wise as sche him saide, Achilles, which that ilke while Was yong, upon himself to smyle Began, whan he was so besein. And thus, after the bokes sein, With frette of perle upon his hed, Al freissh betwen the whyt and red, As he which tho was tendre of age, Stod the colour in his visage, That for to loke upon his cheke And sen his childly manere eke, He was a womman to beholde. And thanne his moder to him tolde, That sche him hadde so begon Because that sche thoghte gon To Lichomede at thilke tyde, Wher that sche seide he scholde abyde Among hise dowhtres for to duelle. Achilles herde his moder telle, And wiste noght the cause why; And natheles ful buxomly He was redy to that sche bad, Wherof his moder was riht glad, To Lichomede and forth thei wente. And whan the king knew hire entente, And sih this yonge dowhter there, And that it cam unto his ere Of such record, of such witnesse, He hadde riht a gret gladnesse Of that he bothe syh and herde, As he that wot noght hou it ferde Upon the conseil of the nede. Bot for al that King Lichomede Hath toward him this dowhter take, And for Thetis his moder sake He put hire into compainie To duelle with Deidamie, His oghne dowhter, the eldeste, The faireste, and the comelieste Of alle hise doghtres whiche he hadde. Lo, thus Thetis the cause ladde, And lefte there Achilles feigned, As he which hath himself restreigned In al that evere he mai and can Out of the manere of a man, And tok his wommannysshe chiere, Wherof unto his beddefere Deidamie he hath be nyhte. Wher kinde wole himselve rihte, After the philosophres sein, Ther mai no wiht be theragein; And that was thilke time seene. The longe nyhtes hem betuene Nature, which mai noght forbere, Hath mad hem bothe for to stere. Thei kessen ferst, and overmore The hihe weie of loves lore Thei gon, and al was don in dede, Wherof lost is the maydenhede; And that was afterward wel knowe. For it befell that ilke throwe At Troie, wher the siege lay Upon the cause of Menelay And of his queene Dame Heleine, The Gregois hadden mochel peine Alday to fihte and to assaile. Bot for thei mihten noght availe So noble a cité for to winne, A privé conseil thei beginne, In sondri wise wher thei trete; And ate laste among the grete Thei fellen unto this acord, That Protheus, of his record Which was an astronomien And ek a gret magicien, Scholde of his calculacion Seche after constellacion, Hou thei the cité mihten gete. And he, which hadde noght forgete Of that belongeth to a clerk, His studie sette upon this werk. So longe his wit aboute he caste, Til that he fond out ate laste, Bot if they hadden Achilles Here werre schal ben endeles. And over that he tolde hem plein In what manere he was besein, And in what place he schal be founde; So that withinne a litel stounde Ulixes forth with Diomede Upon this point to Lichomede Agamenon togedre sente. Bot Ulixes, er he forth wente, Which was on of the moste wise, Ordeigned hath in such a wise, That he the moste riche aray Wherof a womman mai be gay With him hath take manyfold, And overmore, as it is told, An harneis for a lusti kniht, Which burned was as selver bryht, Of swerd, of plate, and ek of maile, As thogh he scholde to bataille, He tok also with him be schipe. And thus togedre in felaschipe Forth gon this Diomede and he In hope til thei mihten se The place where Achilles is. The wynd stod thanne noght amis, Bot evene topseilcole it blew, Til Ulixes the marche knew Wher Lichomede his regne hadde. The stieresman so wel hem ladde, That thei ben comen sauf to londe, Wher thei gon out upon the stronde Into the burgh, wher that thei founde The king, and he which hath facounde, Ulixes, dede the message. Bot the conseil of his corage, Why that he cam, he tolde noght, Bot undernethe he was bethoght In what manere he mihte aspie Achilles fro Deidamie And fro these othre that ther were, Full many a lusti ladi there. Thei pleide hem there a day or tuo, And as it was fortuned so, It fell that time in such a wise, To Bachus that a sacrifise Thes yonge ladys scholden make; And for the strange mennes sake, That comen fro the siege of Troie, Thei maden wel the more joie. Ther was revel, ther was daunsinge, And every lif which coude singe Of lusti wommen in the route A freissh carole hath sunge aboute. Bot for al this yit natheles The Greks unknowe of Achilles So weren, that in no degré Thei couden wite which was he, Ne be his vois, ne be his pas. Ulixes thanne upon this cas A thing of hih prudence hath wroght, For thilke aray, which he hath broght To give among the wommen there, He let do fetten al the gere Forth with a knihtes harneis eke. In al a contré for to seke Men scholden noght a fairer se, And every thing in his degré Endlong upon a bord he leide. To Lichomede and thanne he preide That every ladi chese scholde What thing of alle that sche wolde, And take it as be weie of gifte; For thei hemself it scholde schifte, He seide, after here oghne wille. Achilles thanne stod noght stille: Whan he the bryhte helm behield, The swerd, the hauberk, and the schield, His herte fell therto anon; Of all that othre wolde he non, The knihtes gere he underfongeth, And thilke aray which that belongeth Unto the wommen he forsok. And in this wise, as seith the bok, Thei knowen thanne which he was. For he goth forth the grete pas Into the chambre where he lay; Anon, and made no delay, He armeth him in knyhtli wise, That bettre can no man devise, And as fortune scholde falle, He cam so forth tofore hem alle, As he which tho was glad ynowh. But Lichomede nothing lowh, Whan that he syh hou that it ferde, For thanne he wiste wel and herde, His dowhter hadde be forlein; Bot that he was so oversein, The wonder overgoth his wit. For in cronique is write yit Thing which schal nevere be forgete, Hou that Achilles hath begete Pirrus upon Deidamie, Wherof cam out the tricherie Of Falswitnesse, whan thei saide Hou that Achilles was a maide. Bot that was nothing seene tho, For he is to the siege go Forth with Ulixe and Diomede. Lo, thus was proved in the dede And fulli spoke at thilke while: If o womman another guile, Wher is ther eny sikernesse? Whan Thetis, which was the goddesse, Deidamie hath so bejaped, I not hou it schal ben ascaped With tho wommen whos innocence Is nou alday thurgh such credence Deceived ofte, as it is seene, With men that such untrouthe meene. For thei ben slyhe in such a wise, That thei be sleihte and be queintise Of Falswitnesse bringen inne That doth hem ofte for to winne, Wher thei ben noght worthi therto. Forthi, mi sone, do noght so." "Mi fader, as of Falswitnesse The trouthe and the matiere expresse, Touchende of love hou it hath ferd, As ye have told, I have wel herd. Bot for ye seiden otherwise, Hou thilke vice of Covoitise Hath yit Perjurie of his acord, If that you list of som record To telle another tale also In loves cause of time ago, What thing it is to be forswore, I wolde preie you therfore, Wherof I mihte ensample take." "Mi goode sone, and for thi sake Touchende of this I schal fulfille Thin axinge at thin oghne wille, And the matiere I schal declare, Hou the wommen deceived are, Whan thei so tendre herte bere, Of that thei hieren men so swere; Bot whan it comth unto th'assay, Thei finde it fals another day, As Jason dede to Medee, Which stant yit of auctorité In tokne and in memorial; Wherof the tale in special Is in the bok of Troie write, Which I schal do thee for to wite. [Tale of Jason and Medea] In Grece whilom was a king, Of whom the fame and knowleching Beleveth yit, and Peleus He hihte; bot it fell him thus, That his Fortune hir whiel so ladde That he no child his oghne hadde To regnen after his decess. He hadde a brother natheles, Whos rihte name was Eson, And he the worthi kniht Jason Begat, the which in every lond Alle othre passede of his hond In armes, so that he the beste Was named and the worthieste, He soghte worschipe overal. Nou herkne, and I thee telle schal An aventure that he soghte, Which afterward ful dere he boghte. Ther was an yle, which Colchos Was cleped, and therof aros Gret speche in every lond aboute, That such merveile was non oute In al the wyde world nawhere, As tho was in that yle there. Ther was a schiep, as it was told, The which his flees bar al of gold, And so the goddes hadde it set, That it ne mihte awei be fet Be pouer of no worldes wiht. And yit ful many a worthi kniht It hadde assaied, as thei dorste, And evere it fell hem to the worste. Bot he, that wolde it noght forsake, Bot of his knyhthod undertake To do what thing therto belongeth, This worthi Jason, sore alongeth To se the strange regiouns And knowe the condiciouns Of othre marches where he wente; And for that cause his hole entente He sette Colchos for to seche, And therupon he made a speche To Peleus his em the king. And he wel paid was of that thing; And schop anon for his passage, And suche as were of his lignage, With othre knihtes whiche he ches, With him he tok, and Hercules, Which full was of chivalerie, With Jason wente in compaignie; And that was in the monthe of Maii, Whan colde stormes were away. The wynd was good, the schip was yare, Thei tok here leve, and forth thei fare Toward Colchos. Bot on the weie What hem befell is long to seie; Hou Lamedon the king of Troie, Which oghte wel have mad hem joie, Whan thei to reste a while him preide, Out of his lond he hem congeide; And so fell the dissencion, Which after was destruccion Of that cité, as men mai hiere. Bot that is noght to mi matiere. Bot thus this worthi folk Gregeis Fro that king, which was noght curteis, And fro his lond with sail updrawe Thei wente hem forth, and many a sawe Thei made and many a gret manace, Til ate laste into that place Which as thei soghte thei aryve, And striken sail, and forth as blyve Thei sente unto the king and tolden Who weren ther and what thei wolden. Oetes, which was thanne king, Whan that he herde this tyding Of Jason, which was comen there, And of these othre, what thei were, He thoghte don hem gret worschipe. For thei anon come out of schipe, And strawht unto the king thei wente, And be the hond Jason he hente, And that was ate paleis gate, So fer the king cam on his gate Toward Jason to don him chiere. And he, whom lacketh no manere, Whan he the king sih in presence, Gaf him agein such reverence As to a kinges stat belongeth. And thus the king him underfongeth, And Jason in his arm he cawhte, And forth into the halle he strawhte, And ther thei siete and spieke of thinges, And Jason tolde him tho tidinges, Why he was come, and faire him preide To haste his time, and the kyng seide, 'Jason, thou art a worthi kniht, Bot it lith in no mannes myht To don that thou art come fore. Ther hath be many a kniht forlore Of that thei wolden it assaie.' Bot Jason wolde him noght esmaie, And seide, 'Of every worldes cure Fortune stant in aventure, Per aunter wel, per aunter wo. Bot hou as evere that it go, It schal be with myn hond assaied.' The king tho hield him noght wel paied, For he the Grekes sore dredde, In aunter, if Jason ne spedde, He mihte therof bere a blame. For tho was al the worldes fame In Grece, as for to speke of armes. Forthi he dredde him of his harmes, And gan to preche him and to preie. Bot Jason wolde noght obeie, Bot seide he wolde his porpos holde For ought that eny man him tolde. The king, whan he thes wordes herde, And sih hou that this kniht ansuerde, Yit for he wolde make him glad, After Medea gon he bad, Which was his dowhter, and sche cam. And Jason, which good hiede nam, Whan he hire sih, agein hire goth; And sche, which was him nothing loth, Welcomede him into that lond, And softe tok him be the hond, And doun thei seten bothe same. Sche hadde herd spoke of his name And of his grete worthinesse. Forthi sche gan hir yhe impresse Upon his face and his stature, And thoghte hou nevere creature Was so wel farende as was he. And Jason riht in such degré Ne mihte noght withholde his lok, Bot so good hiede on hire he tok, That him ne thoghte under the hevene Of beauté sawh he nevere hir evene, With al that fell to wommanhiede. Thus ech of other token hiede, Thogh ther no word was of record. Here hertes bothe of on acord Ben set to love, bot as tho Ther mihten be no wordes mo. The king mad him gret joie and feste, To alle his men he gaf an heste, So as thei wolde his thonk deserve, That thei scholde alle Jason serve, Whil that he wolde there duelle. And thus the dai, schortly to telle, With manye merthes thei despente, Til nyht was come, and tho thei wente, Echon of other tok his leve, Whan thei no lengere myhten leve. I not hou Jason that nyht slep, Bot wel I wot that of the schep, For which he cam into that yle, He thoghte bot a litel whyle; Al was Medea that he thoghte, So that in many a wise he soghte His witt wakende er it was day, Som time yee, som time nay, Som time thus, som time so, As he was stered to and fro Of love, and ek of his conqueste As he was holde of his beheste. And thus he ros up be the morwe And tok himself Seint John to borwe, And seide he wolde ferst beginne At love, and after for to winne The flees of gold, for which he com, And thus to him good herte he nom. Medea riht the same wise, Til dai cam that sche moste arise, Lay and bethoughte hire al the nyht, Hou sche that noble worthi kniht Be eny weie mihte wedde. And wel sche wiste, if he ne spedde Of thing which he hadde undertake, Sche mihte hirself no porpos take; For if he deide of his bataile, Sche moste thanne algate faile To geten him, whan he were ded. Thus sche began to sette red And torne aboute hir wittes alle, To loke hou that it mihte falle That sche with him hadde a leisir To speke and telle of hir desir. And so it fell that same day That Jason with that suete may Togedre sete and hadden space To speke, and he besoughte hir grace. And sche his tale goodli herde, And afterward sche him ansuerde And seide, 'Jason, as thou wilt, Thou miht be sauf, thou miht be spilt; For wite wel that nevere man, Bot if he couthe that I can, Ne mihte that fortune achieve For which thou comst: bot as I lieve, If thou wolt holde covenant To love, of al the remenant I schal thi lif and honour save, That thou the flees of gold schalt have.' He seide, 'Al at youre oghne wille, Ma dame, I schal treuly fulfille Youre heste, whil mi lif mai laste.' Thus longe he preide, and ate laste Sche granteth, and behihte him this, That whan nyht comth and it time is, Sche wolde him sende certeinly Such on that scholde him prively Alone into hire chambre bringe. He thonketh hire of that tidinge, For of that grace him is begonne Him thenkth alle othre thinges wonne. The dai made ende and lost his lyht, And comen was the derke nyht, Which al the daies yhe blente. Jason tok leve and forth he wente, And whan he cam out of the pres, He tok to conseil Hercules, And tolde him hou it was betid, And preide it scholde wel ben hid, And that he wolde loke aboute, Therwhiles that he schal ben oute. Thus as he stod and hiede nam, A mayden fro Medea cam And to hir chambre Jason ledde, Wher that he fond redi to bedde The faireste and the wiseste eke; And sche with simple chiere and meke, Whan sche him sih, wax al aschamed. Tho was here tale newe entamed; For sikernesse of mariage Sche fette forth a riche ymage, Which was figure of Jupiter, And Jason swor and seide ther, That also wiss god scholde him helpe, That if Medea dede him helpe, That he his pourpos myhte winne, Thei scholde nevere parte atwinne, Bot evere whil him lasteth lif, He wolde hire holde for his wif. And with that word thei kisten bothe. And for thei scholden hem unclothe, Ther cam a maide, and in hir wise Sche dede hem bothe full servise, Til that thei were in bedde naked. I wot that nyht was wel bewaked; Thei hadden bothe what thei wolde. And thanne of leisir sche him tolde, And gan fro point to point enforme Of his bataile and al the forme, Which as he scholde finde there, Whan he to th'yle come were. Sche seide, at entre of the pas Hou Mars, which god of armes was, Hath set tuo oxen sterne and stoute, That caste fyr and flamme aboute Bothe at the mouth and ate nase, So that thei setten al on blase What thing that passeth hem betwene, And forthermore upon the grene Ther goth the flees of gold to kepe A serpent, which mai nevere slepe. Thus who that evere scholde it winne, The fyr to stoppe he mot beginne, Which that the fierce bestes caste, And daunte he mot hem ate laste, So that he mai hem yoke and dryve; And therupon he mot as blyve The serpent with such strengthe assaile, That he mai slen him be bataile; Of which he mot the teth outdrawe, As it belongeth to that lawe, And thanne he mot tho oxen yoke, Til thei have with a plowh tobroke A furgh of lond, in which arowe The teth of th'addre he moste sowe, And therof schule arise knihtes Wel armed up at alle rihtes. Of hem is noght to taken hiede, For ech of hem in hastihiede Schal other slen with dethes wounde: And thus whan thei ben leid to grounde, Than mot he to the goddes preie, And go so forth and take his preie. Bot if he faile in eny wise Of that ye hiere me devise, Ther mai be set non other weie, That he ne moste algates deie. 'Nou have I told the peril al: I wol you tellen forth withal,' Quod Medea to Jason tho, 'That ye schul knowen er ye go, Agein the venym and the fyr What schal ben the recoverir. Bot, sire, for it is nyh day, Ariseth up, so that I may Delivere you what thing I have, That mai youre lif and honour save.' Thei weren bothe loth to rise, Bot for thei weren bothe wise, Up thei arisen ate laste. Jason his clothes on him caste And made him redi riht anon, And sche hir scherte dede upon And caste on hire a mantel clos, Withoute more and thanne aros. Tho tok sche forth a riche tye Mad al of gold and of perrie, Out of the which sche nam a ring, The ston was worth al other thing. Sche seide, whil he wolde it were, Ther myhte no peril him dere, In water mai it noght be dreynt, Wher as it comth the fyr is queynt, It daunteth ek the cruel beste, Ther may no qued that man areste, Wher so he be on see or lond, Which hath that ring upon his hond: And over that sche gan to sein, That if a man wol ben unsein, Withinne his hond hold clos the ston, And he mai invisible gon. The ring to Jason sche betauhte, And so forth after sche him tauhte What sacrifise he scholde make; And gan out of hire cofre take Him thoughte an hevenely figure, Which al be charme and be conjure Was wroght, and ek it was thurgh write With names, which he scholde wite, As sche him tauhte tho to rede; And bad him, as he wolde spede, Withoute reste of eny while, Whan he were londed in that yle, He scholde make his sacrifise And rede his carecte in the wise As sche him tauhte, on knes doun bent, Thre sithes toward orient; For so scholde he the goddes plese And winne himselven mochel ese. And whanne he hadde it thries rad, To opne a buiste sche him bad, Which sche ther tok him in present, And was full of such oignement, That ther was fyr ne venym non That scholde fastnen him upon, Whan that he were enoynt withal. Forthi sche tauhte him hou he schal Enoignte his armes al aboute, And for he scholde nothing doute, Sche tok him thanne a maner glu, The which was of so gret vertu, That where a man it wolde caste, It scholde binde anon so faste That no man mihte it don aweie. And that sche bad be alle weie He scholde into the mouthes throwen Of tho tweie oxen that fyr blowen, Therof to stoppen the malice; The glu schal serve of that office. And over that hir oignement, Hir ring and hir enchantement Agein the serpent scholde him were, Til he him sle with swerd or spere. And thanne he may saufliche ynowh His oxen yoke into the plowh And the teth sowe in such a wise, Til he the knyhtes se arise, And ech of other doun be leid In such manere as I have seid. Lo, thus Medea for Jason Ordeigneth, and preith therupon That he nothing forgete scholde, And ek sche preith him that he wolde, Whan he hath alle his armes don, To grounde knele and thonke anon The goddes, and so forth be ese The flees of gold he scholde sese. And whanne he hadde it sesed so, That thanne he were sone ago Withouten eny tariynge. Whan this was seid, into wepinge Sche fell, as sche that was thurgh nome With love, and so fer overcome, That al hir world on him sche sette. Bot whan sche sih ther was no lette, That he mot nedes parte hire fro, Sche tok him in hire armes tuo, An hundred time and gan him kisse, And seide, 'O, al mi worldes blisse, Mi trust, mi lust, mi lif, min hele, To be thin helpe in this querele I preie unto the goddes alle.' And with that word sche gan doun falle On swoune, and he hire uppe nam, And forth with that the maiden cam, And thei to bedde anon hir broghte, And thanne Jason hire besoghte, And to hire seide in this manere: 'Mi worthi lusti ladi dere, Conforteth you, for be my trouthe It schal noght fallen in mi slouthe That I ne wol thurghout fulfille Youre hestes at youre oghne wille. And yit I hope to you bringe Withinne a while such tidinge, The which schal make ous bothe game.' Bot for he wolde kepe hir name, Whan that he wiste it was nyh dai, He seide, 'A dieu, mi swete mai.' And forth with him he nam his gere, Which as sche hadde take him there, And strauht unto his chambre he wente, And goth to bedde and slep him hente, And lay, that no man him awok, For Hercules hiede of him tok, Til it was undren hih and more. And thanne he gan to sighe sore And sodeinliche abreide of slep; And thei that token of him kep, His chamberleins, be sone there, And maden redi al his gere, And he aros and to the king He wente, and seide hou to that thing For which he cam he wolde go. The king therof was wonder wo, And for he wolde him fain withdrawe, He tolde him many a dredful sawe, Bot Jason wolde it noght recorde, And ate laste thei acorde. Whan that he wolde noght abide, A bot was redy ate tyde, In which this worthi kniht of Grece Ful armed up at every piece, To his bataile which belongeth, Tok ore on honde and sore him longeth, Til he the water passed were. Whan he cam to that yle there, He set him on his knes doun strauht, And his carecte, as he was tawht, He radde, and made his sacrifise, And siththe enoignte him in that wise As Medea him hadde bede; And thanne aros up fro that stede, And with the glu the fyr he queynte, And anon after he atteinte The grete serpent and him slowh. Bot erst he hadde sorwe ynowh, For that serpent made him travaile So harde and sore of his bataile, That nou he stod and nou he fell. For longe time it so befell, That with his swerd ne with his spere He mihte noght that serpent dere. He was so scherded al aboute, It hield all eggetol withoute, He was so ruide and hard of skin, Ther mihte nothing go therin; Venym and fyr togedre he caste, That he Jason so sore ablaste, That if ne were his oignement, His ring and his enchantement, Which Medea tok him tofore, He hadde with that worm be lore; Bot of vertu which therof cam Jason the dragon overcam. And he anon the teth outdrouh, And sette his oxen in a plouh, With which he brak a piece of lond And sieu hem with his oghne hond. Tho mihte he gret merveile se: Of every toth in his degré Sprong up a kniht with spere and schield, Of whiche anon riht in the field Ech on slow other; and with that Jason Medea noght forgat, On bothe his knes he gan doun falle, And gaf thonk to the goddes alle. The flees he tok and goth to bote, The sonne schyneth bryhte and hote, The flees of gold schon forth withal, The water glistreth overal. Medea wepte and sigheth ofte, And stod upon a tour alofte: Al prively withinne hirselve, Ther herde it nouther ten ne tuelve, Sche preide, and seide, 'O, god him spede, The kniht which hath mi maidenhiede!' And ay sche loketh toward th'yle. Bot whan sche sih withinne a while The flees glistrende agein the sonne, Sche saide, 'Ha lord, now al is wonne. Mi kniht the field hath overcome. Nou wolde god he were come, Ha lord, that he ne were alonde!' Bot I dar take this on honde, If that sche hadde wynges tuo, Sche wolde have flowe unto him tho Strawht ther he was into the bot. The dai was clier, the sonne hot, The Gregeis weren in gret doute, The whyle that here lord was oute. Thei wisten noght what scholde tyde, Bot waiten evere upon the tyde, To se what ende scholde falle. Ther stoden ek the nobles alle Forth with the comun of the toun; And as thei loken up and doun, Thei weren war withinne a throwe, Wher cam the bot, which thei wel knowe, And sihe hou Jason broghte his preie. And tho thei gonnen alle seie, And criden alle with o stevene, 'Ha, wher was evere under the hevene So noble a knyht as Jason is?' And wel nyh alle seiden this, That Jason was a faie kniht, For it was nevere of mannes miht The flees of gold so for to winne; And thus to talen thei beginne. With that the king com forth anon, And sih the flees, hou that it schon; And whan Jason cam to the lond, The king himselve tok his hond And kist him, and gret joie him made. The Gregeis weren wonder glade, And of that thing riht merie hem thoghte, And forth with hem the flees thei broghte, And ech on other gan to leyhe; Bot wel was him that mihte neyhe, To se therof the propreté. And thus thei passen the cité And gon unto the paleis straght. Medea, which forgat him naght, Was redy there, and seide anon, 'Welcome, O worthi kniht Jason.' Sche wolde have kist him wonder fayn, Bot schame tornede hire agayn; It was noght the manere as tho, Forthi sche dorste noght do so. Sche tok hire leve, and Jason wente Into his chambre, and sche him sente Hire maide to sen hou he ferde; The which whan that sche sih and herde, Hou that he hadde faren oute And that it stod wel al aboute, Sche tolde hire ladi what sche wiste, And sche for joie hire maide kiste. The bathes weren thanne araied, With herbes tempred and assaied, And Jason was unarmed sone And dede as it befell to done. Into his bath he wente anon And wyssh him clene as eny bon; He tok a sopp, and oute he cam, And on his beste aray he nam, And kempde his hed, whan he was clad, And goth him forth al merie and glad Riht strawht into the kinges halle. The king cam with his knihtes alle And maden him glad welcominge; And he hem tolde the tidinge Of this and that, hou it befell, Whan that he wan the schepes fell. Medea, whan sche was asent, Com sone to that parlement, And whan sche mihte Jason se, Was non so glad of alle as sche. Ther was no joie for to seche: Of him mad every man a speche; Som man seid on, som man seide other. Bot thogh he were goddes brother And mihte make fyr and thonder, Ther mihte be no more wonder Than was of him in that cité. Ech on tauhte other, 'This is he, Which hath in his pouer withinne That al the world ne mihte winne. Lo, hier the beste of alle goode.' Thus saiden thei that there stode, And ek that walkede up and doun, Bothe of the court and of the toun. The time of souper cam anon, Thei wisshen, and therto thei gon. Medea was with Jason set. Tho was ther many a deynté fet And set tofore hem on the bord, Bot non so likinge as the word Which was ther spoke among hem tuo, So as thei dorste speke tho. Bot thogh thei hadden litel space, Yit thei acorden in that place Hou Jason scholde come at nyht, Whan every torche and every liht Were oute, and thanne of other thinges Thei spieke aloud for supposinges Of hem that stoden there aboute. For love is everemore in doute, If that it be wisly governed Of hem that ben of love lerned. Whan al was don, that dissh and cuppe And cloth and bord and al was uppe, Thei waken whil hem lest to wake, And after that thei leve take And gon to bedde for to reste. And whan him thoghte for the beste, That every man was faste aslepe, Jason, that wolde his time kepe, Goth forth stalkende al prively Unto the chambre, and redely Ther was a maide, which him kepte. Medea wok and nothing slepte, Bot natheles sche was abedde, And he with alle haste him spedde And made him naked and al warm. Anon he tok hire in his arm: What nede is for to speke of ese? Hem list ech other for to plese, So that thei hadden joie ynow. And tho thei setten whanne and how That sche with him awey schal stele. With wordes suche and othre fele Whan al was treted to an ende, Jason tok leve and gan forth wende Unto his oughne chambre in pes. Ther wiste it non bot Hercules. He slepte and ros whan it was time, And whanne it fell towardes prime, He tok to him suche as he triste In secre, that non other wiste, And told hem of his conseil there, And seide that his wille were That thei to schipe hadde alle thinge So priveliche in th'evenynge, That no man mihte here dede aspie Bot tho that were of compaignie: For he woll go withoute leve, And lengere woll he noght beleve; Bot he ne wolde at thilke throwe That king or queene scholde it knowe. Thei saide, 'Al this schal wel be do.' And Jason truste wel therto. Medea in the menewhile, Which thoghte hir fader to beguile, The tresor which hir fader hadde With hire al priveli sche ladde, And with Jason at time set Awey sche stal and fond no let, And straght sche goth hire unto schipe Of Grece with that felaschipe, And thei anon drowe up the seil. And al that nyht this was conseil, Bot erly, whan the sonne schon, Men syhe hou that thei were agon, And come unto the king and tolde. And he the sothe knowe wolde, And axeth where his dowhter was. Ther was no word bot 'Out, allas!' Sche was ago. The moder wepte, The fader as a wod man lepte, And gan the time for to warie, And swor his oth he wol noght tarie, That with caliphe and with galeie The same cours, the same weie, Which Jason tok, he wolde take, If that he mihte him overtake. To this thei seiden alle 'Yee.' Anon thei weren ate see, And alle, as who seith, at a word Thei gon withinne schipes bord, The sail goth up, and forth thei strauhte. Bot non espleit therof thei cauhte, And so thei tornen hom agein, For al that labour was in vein. Jason to Grece with his preie Goth thurgh the see the rihte weie: Whan he ther com and men it tolde, Thei maden joie yonge and olde. Eson, whan that he wiste of this, Hou that his sone comen is, And hath achieved that he soughte And hom with him Medea broughte, In al the wyde world was non So glad a man as he was on. Togedre ben these lovers tho, Til that thei hadden sones tuo, Wherof thei weren bothe glade; And olde Eson gret joie made To sen th'encress of his lignage, For he was of so gret an age, That men awaiten every day Whan that he scholde gon away. Jason, which sih his fader old, Upon Medea made him bold, Of art magique, which sche couthe, And preith hire that his fader youthe Sche wolde make ageinward newe: And sche, that was toward him trewe, Behihte him that sche wolde it do, Whan that sche time sawh therto. Bot what sche dede in that matiere It is a wonder thing to hiere. Bot yit for the novellerie I thenke tellen a partie. Thus it befell upon a nyht, Whan ther was noght bot sterreliht, Sche was vanyssht riht as hir liste, That no wyht bot hirself it wiste, And that was ate mydnyht tyde. The world was stille on every side; With open hed and fot al bare, Hir her tosprad sche gan to fare, Upon hir clothes gert sche was, Al specheles and on the gras Sche glod forth as an addre doth. Non otherwise sche ne goth, Til sche cam to the freisshe flod, And there a while sche withstod. Thries sche torned hire aboute, And thries ek sche gan doun loute And in the flod sche wette hir her, And thries on the water ther Sche gaspeth with a drecchinge onde, And tho sche tok hir speche on honde. Ferst sche began to clepe and calle Upward unto the sterres alle, To wynd, to air, to see, to lond Sche preide, and ek hield up hir hond, To Echates and gan to crie, Which is goddesse of sorcerie. Sche seide, 'Helpeth at this nede, And as ye maden me to spede, Whan Jason cam the flees to seche, So help me nou, I you beseche.' With that sche loketh and was war, Doun fro the sky ther cam a char, The which Dragouns aboute drowe: And tho sche gan hir hed doun bowe, And up sche styh, and faire and wel Sche drof forth bothe char and whel Above in th'air among the skyes. The lond of Crete and tho parties Sche soughte, and faste gan hire hye, And there upon the hulles hyhe Of Othrin and Olimpe also, And ek of othre hulles mo, Sche fond and gadreth herbes suote, Sche pulleth up som be the rote, And manye with a knyf sche scherth, And alle into hir char sche berth. Thus whan sche hath the hulles sought, The flodes ther forgat sche nought, Eridian and Amphrisos, Peneie and ek Spercheidos, To hem sche wente and ther sche nom Bothe of the water and the fom, The sond and ek the smale stones, Whiche as sche ches out for the nones, And of the Rede See a part, That was behovelich to hire art, Sche tok, and after that aboute Sche soughte sondri sedes oute In feldes and in many greves, And ek a part sche tok of leves: Bot thing which mihte hire most availe Sche fond in Crete and in Thessaile. In daies and in nyhtes nyne, With gret travaile and with gret pyne, Sche was pourveid of every piece, And torneth homward into Grece. Before the gates of Eson Hir char sche let awai to gon, And tok out ferst that was therinne; For tho sche thoghte to beginne Such thing as semeth impossible, And made hirselven invisible, As sche that was with air enclosed And mihte of no man be desclosed. Sche tok up turves of the lond Withoute helpe of mannes hond, Al heled with the grene gras, Of which an alter mad ther was Unto Echates the goddesse Of art magique and the maistresse, And eft another to Juvente, As sche which dede hir hole entente. Tho tok sche fieldwode and verveyne, Of herbes be noght betre tueyne, Of which anon withoute let These alters ben aboute set. Tuo sondri puttes faste by Sche made, and with that hastely A wether which was blak sche slouh, And out therof the blod sche drouh And dede into the pettes tuo; Warm melk sche putte also therto With hony meynd: and in such wise Sche gan to make hir sacrifice, And cride and preide forth withal To Pluto the god infernal, And to the queene Proserpine. And so sche soghte out al the line Of hem that longen to that craft, Behinde was no name laft, And preide hem alle, as sche wel couthe, To grante Eson his ferste youthe. This olde Eson broght forth was tho. Awei sche bad alle othre go Upon peril that mihte falle; And with that word thei wenten alle, And leften there hem tuo alone. And tho sche gan to gaspe and gone, And made signes many on, And seide hir wordes therupon; So that with spellinge of hir charmes Sche tok Eson in bothe hire armes, And made him for to slepe faste, And him upon hire herbes caste. The blake wether tho sche tok, And hiewh the fleissh, as doth a cok; On either alter part sche leide, And with the charmes that sche seide A fyr doun fro the sky alyhte And made it for to brenne lyhte. Bot whan Medea sawh it brenne, Anon sche gan to sterte and renne The fyri aulters al aboute: Ther was no beste which goth oute More wylde than sche semeth ther. Aboute hir schuldres hyng hir her As thogh sche were oute of hir mynde And torned in another kynde. Tho lay ther certein wode cleft, Of which the pieces nou and eft Sche made hem in the pettes wete, And put hem in the fyri hete, And tok the brond with al the blase, And thries sche began to rase Aboute Eson, ther as he slepte; And eft with water, which sche kepte, Sche made a cercle aboute him thries, And eft with fyr of sulphre twyes. Ful many another thing sche dede, Which is noght writen in this stede. Bot tho sche ran so up and doun, Sche made many a wonder soun, Somtime lich unto the cock, Somtime unto the laverock, Somtime kacleth as an hen, Somtime spekth as don the men. And riht so as hir jargoun strangeth, In sondri wise hir forme changeth, Sche semeth faie and no womman; For with the craftes that sche can Sche was, as who seith, a goddesse; And what hir liste, more or lesse, Sche dede, in bokes as we finde, That passeth over manneskinde. Bot who that wole of wondres hiere, What thing sche wroghte in this matiere, To make an ende of that sche gan, Such merveile herde nevere man. Apointed in the newe mone, Whan it was time for to done, Sche sette a caldron on the fyr, In which was al the hole atir, Wheron the medicine stod, Of jus, of water, and of blod, And let it buile in such a plit, Til that sche sawh the spume whyt; And tho sche caste in rynde and rote, And sed and flour that was for bote, With many an herbe and many a ston, Wherof sche hath ther many on. And ek Cimpheius the serpent To hire hath alle his scales lent, Chelidre hire gaf his addres skin, And sche to builen caste hem in; A part ek of the horned oule, The which men hiere on nyhtes houle; And of a raven, which was told Of nyne hundred wynter old, Sche tok the hed with al the bile; And as the medicine it wile, Sche tok therafter the bouele Of the seewolf, and for the hele Of Eson, with a thousand mo Of thinges that sche hadde tho, In that Caldroun togedre as blyve Sche putte, and tok thanne of olyve A drie branche hem with to stere, The which anon gan floure and bere And waxe al freissh and grene agein. Whan sche this vertu hadde sein, Sche let the leste drope of alle Upon the bare flor doun falle; Anon ther sprong up flour and gras, Where as the drope falle was, And wox anon al medwe grene, So that it mihte wel be sene. Medea thanne knew and wiste Hir medicine is for to triste, And goth to Eson ther he lay, And tok a swerd was of assay, With which a wounde upon his side Sche made, that therout mai slyde The blod withinne, which was old And sek and trouble and fieble and cold. And tho sche tok unto his us Of herbes al the beste jus, And poured it into his wounde; That made his veynes fulle and sounde. And tho sche made his wounde clos, And tok his hand, and up he ros, And tho sche gaf him drinke a drauhte, Of which his youthe agein he cauhte, His hed, his herte, and his visage Lich unto twenty wynter age. Hise hore heres were away, And lich unto the freisshe Maii, Whan passed ben the colde schoures, Riht so recovereth he his floures. Lo, what mihte eny man devise, A womman schewe in eny wise Mor hertly love in every stede, Than Medea to Jason dede? Ferst sche made him the flees to winne, And after that fro kiththe and kinne With gret tresor with him sche stal, And to his fader forth withal His elde hath torned into youthe, Which thing non other womman couthe. Bot hou it was to hire aquit, The remembrance duelleth yit. King Peleus his em was ded, Jason bar corone on his hed, Medea hath fulfild his wille. Bot whanne he scholde of riht fulfille The trouthe, which to hire afore He hadde in th'yle of Colchos swore, Tho was Medea most deceived. For he another hath received, Which dowhter was to King Creon. Creusa sche hihte, and thus Jason, As he that was to love untrewe, Medea lefte and tok a newe. Bot that was after sone aboght: Medea with hire art hath wroght Of cloth of gold a mantel riche, Which semeth worth a kinges riche, And that was unto Creusa sent In name of gifte and of present, For sosterhode hem was betuene; And whan that yonge freisshe queene That mantel lappeth hire aboute, Anon therof the fyr sprong oute And brente hir bothe fleissh and bon. Tho cam Medea to Jason With bothe his sones on hire hond, And seide, 'O thou of every lond The moste untrewe creature, Lo, this schal be thi forfeture.' With that sche bothe his sones slouh Before his yhe, and he outdrouh His swerd and wold have slayn hir tho, Bot farewel, sche was ago Unto Pallas the court above, Wher as sche pleigneth upon love, As sche that was with that goddesse, And he was left in gret destresse. Thus miht thou se what sorwe it doth To swere an oth which is noght soth, In loves cause namely. Mi sone, be wel war forthi, And kep that thou be noght forswore: For this, which I have told tofore, Ovide telleth everydel." "Mi fader, I may lieve it wel, For I have herde it ofte seie Hou Jason tok the flees aweie Fro Colchos, bot yit herde I noght Be whom it was ferst thider broght. And for it were good to hiere, If that you liste at mi preiere To telle, I wolde you beseche." "Mi sone, who that wole it seche, In bokes he mai finde it write; And natheles, if thou wolt wite, In the manere as thou hast preid I schal thee telle hou it is seid. [Tale of Phrixus and Helle] The fame of thilke schepes fell, Which in Colchos, as it befell, Was al of gold, schal nevere deie; Wherof I thenke for to seie Hou it cam ferst into that yle. Ther was a king in thilke whyle Towardes Grece, and Athemas The cronique of his name was; And hadde a wif, which Philen hihte, Be whom, so as fortune it dihte, He hadde of children yonge tuo. Frixus, the ferste was of tho, A knave child, riht fair withalle; A dowhter ek, the which men calle Hellen, he hadde be this wif. Bot for ther mai no mannes lif Endure upon this erthe hiere, This worthi queene, as thou miht hiere, Er that the children were of age, Tok of hire ende the passage, With gret worschipe and was begrave. What thing it liketh god to have It is gret reson to ben his; Forthi this king, so as it is, With gret suffrance it underfongeth: And afterward, as him belongeth, Whan it was time for to wedde, A newe wif he tok to bedde, Which Yno hihte and was a mayde, And ek the dowhter, as men saide, Of Cadmé, which a king also Was holde in thilke daies tho. Whan Yno was the kinges make, Sche caste hou that sche mihte make These children to here fader lothe, And schope a wyle agein hem bothe, Which to the king was al unknowe. A yeer or tuo sche let do sowe The lond with sode whete aboute, Wherof no corn mai springen oute; And thus be sleyhte and be covine Aros the derthe and the famine Thurghout the lond in such a wise, So that the king a sacrifise Upon the point of this destresse To Ceres, which is the goddesse Of corn, hath schape him for to give, To loke if it mai be forgive, The meschief which was in his lond. Bot sche, which knew tofor the hond The circumstance of al this thing, Agein the cominge of the king Into the temple, hath schape so, Of hire acord that alle tho Whiche of the temple prestes were Have seid and full declared there Unto the king, bot if so be That he delivere the contré Of Frixus and of Hellen bothe, With whom the goddes ben so wrothe, That whil tho children ben therinne, Such tilthe schal no man beginne, Wherof to gete him eny corn. Thus was it seid, thus was it sworn Of all the prestes that ther are; And sche which causeth al this fare Seid ek therto what that sche wolde, And every man thanne after tolde So as the queene hem hadde preid. The king, which hath his ere leid, And lieveth al that evere he herde, Unto here tale thus ansuerde, And seith that levere him is to chese Hise children bothe for to lese, Than him and al the remenant Of hem whiche are aportenant Unto the lond which he schal kepe, And bad his wif to take kepe In what manere is best to done, That thei delivered weren sone Out of this world. And sche anon Tuo men ordeigneth for to gon. Bot ferst sche made hem for to swere That thei the children scholden bere Unto the see, that non it knowe, And hem therinne bothe throwe. The children to the see ben lad, Wher in the wise as Yno bad These men be redy for to do. Bot the goddesse which Juno Is hote, appiereth in the stede, And hath unto the men forbede That thei the children noght ne sle, Bot bad hem loke into the see And taken hiede of that thei sihen. Ther swam a schep tofore here yhen, Whos flees of burned gold was al; And this goddesse forth withal Comandeth that withoute lette Thei scholde anon these children sette Above upon this schepes bak; And al was do, riht as sche spak, Wherof the men gon hom agein. And fell so, as the bokes sein, Hellen the yonge mayden tho, Which of the see was wobego, For pure drede hire herte hath lore, That fro the schep, which hath hire bore, As sche that was swounende feint, Sche fell, and hath hirselve dreint; With Frixus and this schep forth swam, Til he to th'yle of Colchos cam, Where Juno the goddesse he fond, Which tok the schep unto the lond, And sette it there in such a wise As thou tofore hast herd devise, Wherof cam after al the wo, Why Jason was forswore so Unto Medee, as it is spoke." "Mi fader, who that hath tobroke His trouthe, as ye have told above, He is noght worthi for to love Ne be beloved, as me semeth. Bot every newe love quemeth To him which newefongel is. And natheles nou after this, If that you list to taken hiede Upon mi schrifte to procede, In loves cause agein the vice Of covoitise and Avarice What ther is more I wolde wite." "Mi sone, this I finde write, Ther is yit on of thilke brood, Which only for the worldes good, To make a tresor of moneie, Put alle conscience aweie. Wherof in thi confession The name and the condicion I schal hierafterward declare, Which makth on riche, another bare." [Usury] Plus capit vsura sibi quam debetur, et illud Fraude colorata sepe latenter agit. Sic amor excessus quamsepe suos vt auarus Spirat, et vnius tres capit ipse loco.7 "Upon the bench sittende on hih With Avarice Usure I sih, Full clothed of his oghne suite, Which after gold makth chace and suite With his brocours, that renne aboute Lich unto racches in a route. Such lucre is non above grounde, Which is noght of tho racches founde; For wher thei se beyete sterte, That schal hem in no wise asterte, Bot thei it dryve into the net Of lucre, which Usure hath set. Usure with the riche duelleth, To al that evere he beith and selleth He hath ordeined of his sleyhte Mesure double and double weyhte. Outward he selleth be the lasse, And with the more he makth his tasse, Wherof his hous is full withinne. He reccheth noght, be so he winne, Though that ther lese ten or tuelve: His love is al toward himselve And to non other, bot he se That he mai winne suche thre. For wher he schal oght give or lene, He wol ageinward take a bene, Ther he hath lent the smale pese. And riht so ther ben manye of these Lovers, that thogh thei love a lyte, That scarsly wolde it weie a myte, Yit wolde thei have a pound again, As doth Usure in his bargain. Bot certes such usure unliche It falleth more unto the riche, Als wel of love as of beyete, Than unto hem that be noght grete, And, as who seith, ben simple and povere. For sielden is whan thei recovere, Bot if it be thurgh gret decerte. And natheles men se poverte With porsuite and continuance Fulofte make a gret chevance And take of love his avantage, Forth with the help of his brocage That maken seme wher it is noght. And thus fulofte is love boght For litel what, and mochel take, With false weyhtes that thei make. Nou, sone, of that I seide above Thou wost what Usure is of love: Tell me forthi what so thou wilt, If thou therof hast eny gilt." "Mi fader, nay, for ought I hiere. For of tho pointz ye tolden hiere I wol you be mi trouthe assure, Mi weyhte of love and mi mesure Hath be mor large and mor certein Than evere I tok of love agein: For so yit couthe I nevere of sleyhte, To take agein be double weyhte Of love mor than I have give. For als so wiss mot I be schrive And have remission of sinne, As so yit couthe I nevere winne, Ne yit so mochel, soth to sein, That evere I mihte have half agein Of so full love as I have lent. And if myn happ were so wel went, That for the hole I mihte have half, Me thenkth I were a goddes half. For where Usure wole have double, Mi conscience is noght so trouble, I biede nevere as to my del Bot of the hole an halvendel; That is non excess, as me thenketh. Bot natheles it me forthenketh, For wel I wot that wol noght be, For every day the betre I se That hou so evere I give or lene Mi love in place ther I mene, For oght that evere I axe or crave, I can nothing ageinward have. Bot yit for that I wol noght lete, What so befalle of mi beyete, That I ne schal hire give and lene Mi love and al mi thoght so clene, That toward me schal noght beleve. And if sche of hire goode leve Rewarde wol me noght again, I wot the laste of my bargain Schal stonde upon so gret a lost, That I mai neveremor the cost Recovere in this world til I die. So that touchende of this partie I mai me wel excuse and schal; And for to speke forth withal, If eny brocour for me wente, That point cam nevere in myn entente. So that the more me merveilleth, What thing it is mi ladi eilleth, That al myn herte and al my time Sche hath, and doth no betre bime. I have herd seid that thoght is fre, And natheles in priveté To you, mi fader, that ben hiere Min hole schrifte for to hiere, I dar min herte wel desclose. Touchende Usure, as I suppose, Which as ye telle in love is used, Mi ladi mai noght ben excused; That for o lokinge of hire ye Min hole herte til I dye With al that evere I may and can Sche hath me wonne to hire man. Wherof, me thenkth, good reson wolde That sche somdel rewarde scholde, And give a part, ther sche hath al. I not what falle hierafter schal, Bot into nou yit dar I sein, Hire liste nevere give agein A goodli word in such a wise, Wherof min hope miht arise, Mi grete love to compense. I not hou sche hire conscience Excuse wole of this usure; Be large weyhte and gret mesure Sche hath mi love, and I have noght Of that which I have diere boght, And with myn herte I have it paid. Bot al that is asyde laid, And I go loveles aboute. Hire oghte stonde in ful gret doute, Til sche redresce such a sinne, That sche wole al mi love winne And gifth me noght to live by; Noght als so moche as 'grant mercy' Hir list to seie, of which I mihte Som of mi grete peine allyhte. Bot of this point, lo, thus I fare As he that paith for his chaffare, And beith it diere, and yit hath non, So mot he nedes povere gon. Thus beie I diere and have no love, That I ne mai noght come above To winne of love non encress. Bot I me wole natheles Touchende usure of love aquite; And if mi ladi be to wyte, I preie to god such grace hir sende That sche be time it mot amende." "Mi sone, of that thou hast ansuerd Touchende Usure I have al herd, Hou thou of love hast wonne smale. Bot that thou tellest in thi tale And thi ladi therof accusest, Me thenkth tho wordes thou misusest. For be thin oghne knowlechinge Thou seist hou sche for o lokinge Thin hole herte fro thee tok. Sche mai be such, that hire o lok Is worth thin herte manyfold; So hast thou wel thin herte sold, Whan thou hast that is more worth. And ek of that thou tellest forth, Hou that hire weyhte of love unevene Is unto thin, under the hevene Stod nevere in evene that balance Which stant in loves governance. Such is the statut of his lawe, That thogh thi love more drawe And peise in the balance more, Thou miht noght axe agein therfore Of dueté, bot al of grace. For love is lord in every place, Ther mai no lawe him justefie Be reddour ne be compaignie, That he ne wole after his wille Whom that him liketh spede or spille. To love a man mai wel beginne, Bot whether he schal lese or winne, That wot no man til ate laste. Forthi coveite noght to faste, Mi sone, bot abyd thin ende, Per cas al mai to goode wende. Bot that thou hast me told and said, Of o thing I am riht wel paid, That thou be sleyhte ne be guile Of no brocour hast otherwhile Engined love, for such dede Is sore venged, as I rede. [Tale of Echo] Brocours of love that deceiven, No wonder is thogh thei receiven After the wrong that thei decerven; For whom as evere that thei serven And do plesance for a whyle, Yit ate laste here oghne guile Upon here oghne hed descendeth, Which God of his vengance sendeth, As be ensample of time go A man mai finde it hath be so. It fell somtime, as it was sene, The hihe goddesse and the queene Juno tho hadde in compainie A maiden full of tricherie; For sche was evere in on acord With Jupiter, that was hire lord, To gete him othre loves newe, Thurgh such brocage and was untrewe Al otherwise than him nedeth. Bot sche, which of no schame dredeth, With queinte wordes and with slyhe Blente in such wise hir lady yhe, As sche to whom that Juno triste, So that therof sche nothing wiste. Bot so privé mai be nothing, That it ne comth to knowleching; Thing don upon the derke nyht Is after knowe on daies liht. So it befell, that ate laste Al that this slyhe maiden caste Was overcast and overthrowe. For as the sothe mot be knowe, To Juno was don understonde In what manere hir housebonde With fals brocage hath take usure Of love mor than his mesure, Whan he tok othre than his wif, Wherof this mayden was gultif, Which hadde ben of his assent. And thus was al the game schent: Sche soffreth him, as sche mot nede, Bot the brocour of his misdede, Sche which hir conseil gaf therto, On hire is the vengance do. For Juno with hire wordes hote, This maiden, which Eccho was hote, Reproveth and seith in this wise: 'O traiteresse, of which servise Hast thou thin oghne ladi served! Thou hast gret peine wel deserved, That thou canst maken it so queinte, Thi slyhe wordes for to peinte Towardes me, that am thi queene, Wherof thou madest me to wene That myn housbonde trewe were, Whan that he loveth elleswhere, Al be it so him nedeth noght. Bot upon thee it schal be boght, Which art privé to tho doinges, And me fulofte of thi lesinges Deceived hast. Nou is the day That I thi while aquite may, And for thou hast to me conceled That my lord hath with othre deled, I schal thee sette in such a kende, That evere unto the worldes ende Al that thou hierest thou schalt telle, And clappe it out as doth a belle.' And with that word sche was forschape. Ther may no vois hire mouth ascape; What man that in the wodes crieth, Withoute faile Eccho replieth, And what word that him list to sein, The same word sche seith agein. Thus sche, which whilom hadde leve To duelle in chambre, mot beleve In wodes and on helles bothe, For such brocage as wyves lothe, Which doth here lordes hertes change And love in other place strange. Forthi, if evere it so befalle, That thou, mi sone, amonges alle Be wedded man, hold that thou hast, For thanne al other love is wast. O wif schal wel to thee suffise; And thanne, if thou for covoitise Of love woldest axe more, Thou scholdest don agein the lore Of alle hem that trewe be." "Mi fader, as in this degré Mi conscience is noght accused, For I no such brocage have used, Wherof that lust of love is wonne. Forthi spek forth, as ye begonne, Of Avarice upon mi schrifte." "Mi sone, I schal the branches schifte Be ordre so as thei ben set, On whom no good is wel beset." [Parsimony] Pro verbis verba, munus pro munere reddi Convenit, vt pondus equa statera gerat. Propterea cupido non dat sua dona Cupido, Nam qui nulla serit, gramina nulla metet.8 "Blinde Avarice of his lignage For conseil and for cousinage, To be withholde agein largesse, Hath on, whos name is seid Skarsnesse, The which is kepere of his hous, And is so thurghout averous, That he no good let out of honde. Thogh God Himself it wolde fonde, Of gifte scholde He nothing have; And if a man it wolde crave, He moste thanne faile nede, Wher God Himselve mai noght spede. And thus Skarsnesse in every place Be reson mai no thonk porchace, And natheles in his degree Above alle othre most privé With Avarice stant he this. For he governeth that ther is In ech astat of his office After the reule of thilke vice: He takth, he kepth, he halt, he bint, That lihtere is to fle the flint Than gete of him in hard or neisshe Only the value of a reysshe Of good in helpinge of another, Noght thogh it were his oghne brother. For in the cas of gifte and lone Stant every man for him alone, Him thenkth of his unkindeschipe That him nedeth no felaschipe. Be so the bagge and he acorden, Him reccheth noght what men recorden Of him, or it be evel or good. For al his trust is on his good, So that alone he falleth ofte, Whan he best weneth stonde alofte, Als wel in love as other wise; For love is evere of som reprise To him that wole his love holde. Forthi, mi sone, as thou art holde, Touchende of this tell me thi schrifte: Hast thou be scars or large of gifte Unto thi love, whom thou servest? For after that thou wel deservest Of gifte, thou miht be the bet; For that good holde I wel beset, For why thou miht the betre fare. Thanne is no wisdom for to spare, For thus men sein, in every nede He was wys that ferst made mede. For whereas mede mai noght spede, I not what helpeth other dede. Fulofte he faileth of his game That wol with ydel hand reclame His hauk, as many a nyce doth. Forthi, mi sone, tell me soth And sei the trouthe, if thou hast be Unto thi love or skars or fre." "Mi fader, it hath stonde thus, That if the tresor of Cresus And al the gold Octovien, Forth with the richesse Yndien Of perles and of riche stones, Were al togedre myn at ones, I sette it at no more acompte Than wolde a bare straw amonte, To give it hire al in a day, Be so that to that suete may I myhte like or more or lesse. And thus because of my scarsnesse Ye mai wel understonde and lieve That I schal noght the worse achieve The pourpos which is in my thoght. Bot yit I gaf hir nevere noght, Ne therto dorste a profre make; For wel I wot sche wol noght take, And give wol sche noght also, She is eschu of bothe tuo. And this I trowe be the skile Towardes me: for sche ne wile That I have eny cause of hope, Noght also mochel as a drope. Bot toward othre, as I mai se, Sche takth and gifth in such degré, That as be weie of frendlihiede Sche can so kepe hir wommanhiede, That every man spekth of hir wel. Bot sche wole take of me no del, And yit sche wot wel that I wolde Give and do bothe what I scholde To plesen hire in al my myht. Be reson this wot every wyht, For that mai be no weie asterte: Ther sche is maister of the herte, Sche mot be maister of the good. For God wot wel that al my mod And al min herte and al mi thoght And al mi good, whil I have oght, Als freliche as God hath it give, It schal ben hires, while I live, Riht as hir list hirself commande. So that it nedeth no demande, To axe of me if I be scars To love, for as to tho pars I wole ansuere and seie no." "Mi sone, that is riht wel do. For oftentimes of scarsnesse It hath be sen, that for the lesse Is lost the more, as thou schalt hiere A tale lich to this matiere. [Tale of Babio and Croceus] Skarsnesse and love acorden nevere, For every thing is wel the levere Whan that a man hath boght it diere: And for to speke in this matiere, For sparinge of a litel cost Fulofte time a man hath lost The large cote for the hod. What man that scars is of his good And wol noght give, he schal noght take: With gifte a man mai undertake The hihe God to plese and queme, With gifte a man the world mai deme; For every creature bore, If thou him give, is glad therfore, And every gladschipe, as I finde, Is confort unto loves kinde And causeth ofte a man to spede. So was he wys that ferst gaf mede, For mede kepeth love in house; Bot wher the men ben coveitouse And sparen for to give a part, Thei knowe noght Cupides art. For his fortune and his aprise Desdeigneth alle coveitise And hateth alle nygardie. And for to loke of this partie, A soth ensample, hou it is so, I finde write of Babio; Which hadde a love at his menage, Ther was non fairere of hire age, And hihte Viola be name; Which full of youthe and ful of game Was of hirself, and large and fre, Bot such another chinche as he Men wisten noght in al the lond, And hadde affaited to his hond His servant, the which Spodius Was hote. And in this wise thus The worldes good of sufficance Was had, bot likinge and plesance, Of that belongeth to richesse Of love, stod in gret destresse; So that this yonge lusty wyht Of thing which fell to loves riht Was evele served overal, That sche was wobego withal, Til that Cupide and Venus eke A medicine for the seke Ordeigne wolden in this cas. So as fortune thanne was, Of love upon the destiné It fell, riht as it scholde be, A freissh, a fre, a frendly man That noght of Avarice can, Which Croceus be name hihte, Toward this swete caste his sihte, And ther sche was cam in presence. Sche sih him large of his despence, And amorous and glad of chiere, So that hir liketh wel to hiere The goodly wordes whiche he seide; And therupon of love he preide, Of love was al that he mente, To love and for sche scholde assente, He gaf hire giftes evere among. Bot for men sein that mede is strong, It was wel seene at thilke tyde; For as it scholde of ryht betyde, This Viola largesce hath take And the nygard sche hath forsake. Of Babio sche wol no more, For he was grucchende everemore; Ther was with him non other fare Bot for to prinche and for to spare, Of worldes muk to gete encress. So goth the wrecche loveles, Bejaped for his skarceté, And he that large was and fre And sette his herte to despende, This Croceus, the bowe bende, Which Venus tok him for to holde, And schotte als ofte as evere he wolde. Lo, thus departeth love his lawe, That what man wol noght be felawe To give and spende, as I thee telle, He is noght worthi for to duelle In loves court to be relieved. Forthi, my sone, if I be lieved, Thou schalt be large of thi despence." "Mi fader, in mi conscience If ther be eny thing amis, I wol amende it after this, Toward mi love namely." "Mi sone, wel and redely Thou seist, so that wel paid withal I am, and forthere if I schal Unto thi schrifte specefie Of Avarices progenie What vice suieth after this, Thou schalt have wonder hou it is, Among the folk in eny regne That such a vice myhte regne, Which is comun at alle assaies, As men mai finde nou adaies." [Ingratitude] Cvncta creatura, deus et qui cuncta creauit, Dampnant ingrati dicta que facta viri. Non dolor a longe stat, quo sibi talis amicam Traxit, et in fine deserit esse suam.9 "The vice lik unto the fend, Which nevere yit was mannes frend, And cleped is Unkindeschipe, Of covine and of felaschipe With Avarice he is withholde. Him thenkth he scholde noght ben holde Unto the moder which him bar; Of him mai nevere man be war, He wol noght knowe the merite, For that he wolde it noght aquite; Which in this world is mochel used, And fewe ben therof excused. To telle of him is endeles, Bot this I seie natheles, Wher as this vice comth to londe, Ther takth no man his thonk on honde; Thogh he with alle his myhtes serve, He schal of him no thonk deserve. He takth what eny man wol give, Bot whil he hath o day to live, He wol nothing rewarde agein; He gruccheth for to give o grein, Wher he hath take a berne full. That makth a kinde herte dull, To sette his trust in such frendschipe, Ther as he fint no kindeschipe; And for to speke wordes pleine, Thus hiere I many a man compleigne, That nou on daies thou schalt finde At nede fewe frendes kinde; What thou hast don for hem tofore, It is forgete, as it were lore. The bokes speken of this vice, And telle hou God of His justice, Be weie of kinde and ek nature And every lifissh creature, The lawe also, who that it kan, Thei dampnen an unkinde man. It is al on to seie unkinde As thing which don is agein kinde, For it with kinde nevere stod A man to yelden evel for good. For who that wolde taken hede, A beste is glad of a good dede, And loveth thilke creature After the lawe of his nature Which doth him ese. And for to se Of this matiere Auctorité, Fulofte time it hath befalle; Wherof a tale amonges alle, Which is of olde ensamplerie, I thenke for to specefie. [Tale of Adrian and Bardus] To speke of an unkinde man, I finde hou whilom Adrian, Of Rome which a gret lord was, Upon a day as he per cas To wode in his huntinge wente, It hapneth at a soudein wente, After his chace as he poursuieth, Thurgh happ, the which no man eschuieth, He fell unwar into a pet, Wher that it mihte noght be let. The pet was dep and he fell lowe, That of his men non myhte knowe Wher he becam, for non was nyh Which of his fall the meschief syh. And thus alone ther he lay Clepende and criende al the day For socour and deliverance, Til agein eve it fell per chance, A while er it began to nyhte, A povere man, which Bardus hihte, Cam forth walkende with his asse, And hadde gadred him a tasse Of grene stickes and of dreie To selle, who that wolde hem beie, As he which hadde no liflode, Bot whanne he myhte such a lode To toune with his asse carie. And as it fell him for to tarie That ilke time nyh the pet, And hath the trusse faste knet, He herde a vois, which cride dimme, And he his ere to the brimme Hath leid, and herde it was a man, Which seide, 'Ha, help hier Adrian, And I wol given half mi good.' The povere man this understod, As he that wolde gladly winne, And to this lord which was withinne He spak and seide, 'If I thee save, What sikernesse schal I have Of covenant, that afterward Thou wolt me give such reward As thou behihtest nou tofore?' That other hath his othes swore Be hevene and be the goddes alle, If that it myhte so befalle That he out of the pet him broghte, Of all the goodes whiche he oghte He schal have evene halvendel. This Bardus seide he wolde wel; And with this word his asse anon He let untrusse, and therupon Doun goth the corde into the pet, To which he hath at the ende knet A staf, wherby, he seide, he wolde That Adrian him scholde holde. Bot it was tho per chance falle, Into that pet was also falle, An ape, which at thilke throwe, Whan that the corde cam doun lowe, Al sodeinli therto he skipte And it in bothe hise armes clipte. And Bardus with his asse anon Him hath updrawe, and he is gon. Bot whan he sih it was an ape, He wende al hadde ben a jape Of faierie, and sore him dradde: And Adrian eftsone gradde For help, and cride and preide faste, And he eftsone his corde caste; Bot whan it cam unto the grounde, A gret serpent it hath bewounde, The which Bardus anon up drouh. And thanne him thoghte wel ynouh It was fantosme, bot yit he herde The vois, and he therto ansuerde, 'What wiht art thou in Goddes name?' 'I am,' quod Adrian, 'the same, Whos good thou schalt have evene half.' Quod Bardus, 'Thanne a Goddes half The thridde time assaie I schal,' And caste his corde forth withal Into the pet, and whan it cam To him, this lord of Rome it nam, And therupon him hath adresced, And with his hand fulofte blessed, And thanne he bad to Bardus hale. And he, which understod his tale, Betwen him and his asse al softe Hath drawe and set him up alofte Withouten harm al esely. He seith noght ones 'grant merci,' Bot strauhte him forth to the cité, And let this povere Bardus be. And natheles this simple man His covenant, so as he can, Hath axed; and that other seide, If so be that he him umbreide Of oght that hath be speke or do, It schal ben venged on him so, That him were betre to be ded. And he can tho non other red, Bot on his asse agein he caste His trusse, and hieth homward faste. And whan that he cam hom to bedde, He tolde his wif hou that he spedde. Bot finaly to speke oght more Unto this lord he dradde him sore, So that a word ne dorste he sein. And thus upon the morwe agein, In the manere as I recorde, Forth with his asse and with his corde To gadre wode, as he dede er, He goth; and whan that he cam ner Unto the place where he wolde, He hath his ape anon beholde, Which hadde gadred al aboute Of stickes hiere and there a route, And leide hem redy to his hond, Wherof he made his trasse and bond; Fro dai to dai and in this wise This ape profreth his servise, So that he hadde of wode ynouh. Upon a time and as he drouh Toward the wode, he sih besyde The grete gastli serpent glyde, Til that sche cam in his presence, And in hir kinde a reverence Sche hath him do, and forth withal A ston mor briht than a cristall Out of hir mouth tofore his weie Sche let doun falle, and wente aweie, For that he schal noght ben adrad. Tho was this povere Bardus glad, Thonkende God, and to the ston He goth and takth it up anon, And hath gret wonder in his wit Hou that the beste him hath aquit, Wher that the mannes sone hath failed, For whom he hadde most travailed. Bot al he putte in Goddes hond, And torneth hom, and what he fond Unto his wif he hath it schewed; And thei, that weren bothe lewed, Acorden that he scholde it selle. And he no lengere wolde duelle, Bot forth anon upon the tale The ston he profreth to the sale; And riht as he himself it sette, The jueler anon forth fette The gold and made his paiement. Therof was no delaiement! Thus whan this ston was boght and sold, Homward with joie manyfold This Bardus goth; and whan he cam Hom to his hous and that he nam His gold out of his purs, withinne He fond his ston also therinne, Wherof for joie his herte pleide, Unto his wif and thus he seide, 'Lo, hier my gold, lo, hier mi ston!' His wif hath wonder therupon, And axeth him hou that mai be. 'Nou be mi trouthe I not,' quod he, 'Bot I dar swere upon a bok, That to my marchant I it tok, And he it hadde whan I wente: So knowe I noght to what entente It is nou hier, bot it be grace. Forthi tomorwe in other place I wole it fonde for to selle, And if it wol noght with him duelle, Bot crepe into mi purs agein, Than dar I saufly swere and sein, It is the vertu of the ston.' The morwe cam, and he is gon To seche aboute in other stede His ston to selle, and he so dede, And lefte it with his chapman there. Bot whan that he cam elleswhere, In presence of his wif at hom, Out of his purs and that he nom His gold, he fond his ston withal. And thus it fell him overal, Where he it solde in sondri place, Such was the fortune and the grace. Bot so wel may nothing ben hidd, That it nys ate laste kidd: This fame goth aboute Rome So ferforth, that the wordes come To th'emperour Justinian, And he let sende for the man, And axede him hou that it was. And Bardus tolde him al the cas, Hou that the worm and eke the beste, Althogh thei maden no beheste, His travail hadden wel aquit. Bot he which hadde a mannes wit, And made his covenant be mouthe And swor therto al that he couthe To parte and given half his good, Hath nou forgete hou that it stod, As he which wol no trouthe holde. This emperour al that he tolde Hath herd, and thilke unkindenesse He seide he wolde himself redresse. And thus in court of juggement This Adrian was thanne assent, And the querele in audience Declared was in the presence Of th'emperour and many mo; Wherof was mochel speche tho And gret wondringe among the press. Bot ate laste natheles For the partie which hath pleigned The lawe hath diemed and ordeigned Be hem that were avised wel, That he schal have the halvendel Thurghout of Adrianes good. And thus of thilke unkinde blod Stant the memoire into this day, Wherof that every wysman may Ensamplen him, and take in mynde What schame it is to ben unkinde; Agein the which reson debateth, And every creature it hateth. Forthi, mi sone, in thin office I rede fle that ilke vice. For riht as the cronique seith Of Adrian, hou he his feith Forgat for worldes covoitise, Fulofte in such a maner wise Of lovers nou a man mai se Full manye that unkinde be. For wel behote and evele laste, That is here lif; for ate laste, Whan that thei have here wille do, Here love is after sone ago. What seist thou, sone, to this cas?" "Mi fader, I wol seie 'Helas That evere such a man was bore,' Which whan he hath his trouthe suore And hath of love what he wolde, That he at eny time scholde Evere after in his herte finde To falsen and to ben unkinde. Bot, fader, as touchende of me, I mai noght stonde in that degré; For I tok nevere of love why That I ne mai wel go therby And do my profit elles where, For eny sped I finde there. I dar wel thenken al aboute, Bot I ne dar noght speke it oute; And if I dorste, I wolde pleigne That sche for whom I soffre peine And love hir evere aliche hote, That nouther give ne behote In rewardinge of mi servise It list hire in no maner wise. I wol noght say that sche is kinde, And for to sai sche is unkinde, That dar I noght; bot God above, Which demeth every herte of love, He wot that on myn oghne side Schal non unkindeschipe abide. If it schal with mi ladi duelle, Therof dar I no more telle. Nou, goode fader, as it is, Tell me what thenketh you of this?" "Mi sone, of that unkindeschipe, The which toward thi ladischipe Thou pleignest, for sche wol thee noght, Thou art to blamen of that thoght. For it mai be that thi desir, Thogh it brenne evere as doth the fyr, Per cas to hire honour missit, Or elles time com noght yit, Which standt upon thi destiné. Forthi, mi sone, I rede thee, Thenk wel, what evere thee befalle; For no man hath his lustes alle. Bot as thou toldest me before That thou to love art noght forswore, And hast don non unkindenesse, Thou miht therof thi grace blesse. And lef noght that continuance; For ther mai be no such grevance To love, as is unkindeschipe. Wherof to kepe thi worschipe, So as these olde bokes tale, I schal thee telle a redi tale: Nou herkne and be wel war therby, For I wol telle it openly. [Tale of Theseus and Ariadne] Mynos, as telleth the poete, The which whilom was king of Crete, A sone hadde and Androchee He hihte. And so befell that he Unto Athenes for to lere Was send, and so he bare him there, For that he was of hih lignage, Such pride he tok in his corage, That he forgeten hath the scoles, And in riote among the foles He dede manye thinges wronge; And useth thilke lif so longe, Til ate laste of that he wroghte He fond the meschief which he soghte, Wherof it fell that he was slain. His fader, which it herde sain, Was wroth, and al that evere he mihte, Of men of armes he him dighte A strong pouer, and forth he wente Unto Athenys, where he brente The pleine contré al aboute. The cites stode of him in doute, As thei that no defence hadde Agein the pouer which he ladde. Egeus, which was there king, His conseil tok upon this thing, For he was thanne in the cité, So that of pes into tretee Betwen Mynos and Egeus Thei felle, and ben acorded thus; That king Mynos fro yer to yeere Receive schal, as thou schalt here, Out of Athenys for truage Of men that were of myhti age Persones nyne, of whiche he schal His wille don in special For vengance of his sones deth. Non other grace ther ne geth, Bot for to take the juise; And that was don in such a wise, Which stod upon a wonder cas. For thilke time so it was, Wherof that men yit rede and singe, King Mynos hadde in his kepinge A cruel monstre, as seith the geste: For he was half man and half beste, And Minotaurus he was hote, Which was begete in a riote Upon Pasiphe, his oghne wif, Whil he was oute upon the strif Of thilke grete siege at Troie. Bot sche, which lost hath alle joie, Whan that sche syh this monstre bore, Bad men ordeigne anon therfore. And fell that ilke time thus, Ther was a clerk, on Dedalus, Which hadde ben of hire assent Of that hir world was so miswent; And he made of his oghne wit, Wherof the remembrance is yit, For Minotaure such an hous Which was so strange and merveilous, That what man that withinne wente, Ther was so many a sondri wente, That he ne scholde noght come oute, Bot gon amased al aboute. And in this hous to loke and warde Was Minotaurus put in warde, That what lif that therinne cam, Or man or beste, he overcam And slow and fedde him therupon. And in this wise manye on Out of Athenys for truage Devoured weren in that rage. For every yeer thei schope hem so, Thei of Athenys, er thei go Toward that ilke wofull chance, As it was set in ordinance, Upon fortune here lot thei caste; Til that Theseus ate laste, Which was the kinges sone there, Amonges othre that ther were In thilke yeer, as it befell, The lot upon his chance fell. He was a worthi kniht withalle; And whan he sih this chance falle, He ferde as thogh he tok non hiede, Bot al that evere he mihte spiede With him and with his felaschipe. Forth into Crete he goth be schipe, Wher that the king Mynos he soghte, And profreth all that he him oghte Upon the point of here acord. This sterne king, this cruel lord, Tok every day on of the nyne And put him to the discipline Of Minotaure, to be devoured. Bot Theseus was so favoured, That he was kept til ate laste. And in the meene while he caste What thing him were best to do. And fell that Adriagne tho, Which was the dowhter of Mynos, And hadde herd the worthi los Of Theseus and of his myht And syh he was a lusti kniht, Hire hole herte on him sche leide, And he also of love hir preide, So ferforth that thei were al on. And sche ordeigneth thanne anon In what manere he scholde him save, And schop so that sche dede him have A clue of thred, of which withinne Ferst ate dore he schal beginne With him to take that on ende, That whan he wolde ageinward wende, He mihte go the same weie. And over this, so as I seie, Of pich sche toke him a pelote, The which he scholde into the throte Of Minotaure caste rihte. Such wepne also for him sche dighte, That he be reson mai noght faile To make an ende of his bataile. For sche him tawhte in sondri wise, Til he was knowe of thilke emprise, Hou he this beste schulde quelle. And thus, schort tale for to telle, So as this maide him hadde tawht, Theseus with this monstre fawht, Smot of his hed, the which he nam, And be the thred, so as he cam, He goth agein, til he were oute. Tho was gret wondre al aboute. Mynos the tribut hath relessed, And so was al the werre cessed Betwen Athene and hem of Crete. Bot now to speke of thilke suete, Whos beauté was withoute wane, This faire maiden Adriane, Whan that sche sih Theseus sound, Was nevere yit upon the ground A gladder wyht than sche was tho. Theseus duelte a dai or tuo Wher that Mynos gret chiere him dede. Theseus in a privé stede Hath with this maiden spoke and rouned, That sche to him was abandouned In al that evere that sche couthe, So that of thilke lusty youthe Al prively betwen hem tweie The ferste flour he tok aweie. For he so faire tho behihte That evere, whil he live mihte, He scholde hire take for his wif, And as his oghne hertes lif He scholde hire love and trouthe bere; And sche, which mihte noght forbere, So sore loveth him agein, That what as evere he wolde sein With al hire herte sche believeth. And thus his pourpos he achieveth, So that assured of his trouthe With him sche wente, and that was routhe. Fedra hire yonger soster eke, A lusti maide, a sobre, a meke, Fulfild of alle curtesie, For sosterhode and compainie Of love, which was hem betuene, To sen hire soster mad a queene Hire fader lefte and forth sche wente With him, which al his ferste entente Forgat withinne a litel throwe, So that it was al overthrowe, Whan sche best wende it scholde stonde. The schip was blowe fro the londe, Wherin that thei seilende were; This Adriagne hath mochel fere Of that the wynd so loude bleu, As sche which of the see ne kneu, And preide for to reste a whyle. And so fell that upon an yle, Which Chyo hihte, thei ben drive, Where he to hire his leve hath give That sche schal londe and take hire reste. Bot that was nothing for the beste, For whan sche was to londe broght, Sche, which that time thoghte noght Bot alle trouthe, and tok no kepe, Hath leid hire softe for to slepe, As sche which longe hath ben forwacched; Bot certes sche was evele macched And fer from alle loves kinde. For more than the beste unkinde Theseus, which no trouthe kepte, Whil that this yonge ladi slepte, Fulfild of his unkindeschipe Hath al forgete the goodschipe Which Adriane him hadde do, And bad unto the schipmen tho Hale up the seil and noght abyde, And forth he goth the same tyde Toward Athene, and hire alonde He lefte, which lay nyh the stronde Slepende, til that sche awok. Bot whan that sche cast up hire lok Toward the stronde and sih no wyht, Hire herte was so sore aflyht, That sche ne wiste what to thinke, Bot drouh hire to the water brinke, Wher sche behield the see at large. Sche sih no schip, sche sih no barge Als ferforth as sche mihte kenne. 'Ha lord,' sche seide, 'which a senne, As al the world schal after hiere, Upon this woful womman hiere This worthi kniht hath don and wroght! I wende I hadde his love boght, And so deserved ate nede, Whan that he stod upon his drede, And ek the love he me behihte. It is gret wonder hou he mihte Towardes me nou ben unkinde, And so to lete out of his mynde Thing which he seide his oghne mouth. Bot after this whan it is couth And drawe into the worldes fame, It schal ben hindringe of his name: For wel he wot and so wot I, He gaf his trouthe bodily, That he myn honour scholde kepe.' And with that word sche gan to wepe, And sorweth more than ynouh: Hire faire tresces sche todrouh, And with hirself tok such a strif That sche betwen the deth and lif Swounende lay fulofte among. And al was this on him along, Which was to love unkinde so, Wherof the wrong schal everemo Stonde in cronique of remembrance. And ek it asketh a vengance To ben unkinde in loves cas, So as Theseus thanne was, Althogh he were a noble kniht. For he the lawe of loves riht Forfeted hath in alle weie, That Adriagne he putte aweie, Which was a gret unkinde dede. And after this, so as I rede, Fedra, the which hir soster is, He tok in stede of hire, and this Fel afterward to mochel teene. For thilke vice of which I meene, Unkindeschipe, where it falleth, The trouthe of mannes herte it palleth, That he can no good dede aquite. So mai he stonde of no merite Towardes God, and ek also Men clepen him the worldes fo; For he no more than the fend Unto non other man is frend, Bot al toward himself alone. Forthi, mi sone, in thi persone This vice above alle othre fle." "Mi fader, as ye techen me, I thenke don in this matiere. Bot over this nou wolde I hiere, Wherof I schal me schryve more." "Mi goode sone, and for thi lore, After the reule of coveitise I schal the propreté devise Of every vice by and by. Nou herkne and be wel war therby." [Rapacity] Viribus ex clara res tollit luce Rapina, Floris et invita virgine mella capit.10 "In the lignage of Avarice, Mi sone, yit ther is a vice, His rihte name it is Ravine, Which hath a route of his covine. Ravine among the maistres duelleth, And with his servantz, as men telleth, Extorcion is nou withholde. Ravine of othre mennes folde Makth his larder and paieth noght. For wher as evere it mai be soght, In his hous ther schal nothing lacke, And that fulofte abyth the packe Of povere men that duelle aboute. Thus stant the comun poeple in doute, Which can do non amendement; For whanne him faileth paiement, Ravine makth non other skile, Bot takth be strengthe what he wile. So ben ther in the same wise Lovers, as I thee schal devise, That whan noght elles mai availe, Anon with strengthe thei assaile And gete of love the sesine, Whan thei se time, be Ravine. Forthi, mi sone, schrif thee hier, If thou hast ben a Raviner." "Of love? Certes, fader, no! For I mi ladi love so, That thogh I were as was Pompeie, That al the world me wolde obeie, Or elles such as Alisandre, I wolde noght do such a sklaundre. It is no good man which so doth." "In good feith, sone, thou seist soth: For he that wole of pourveance Be such a weie his lust avance, He schal it after sore abie, Bot if these olde ensamples lie." "Nou, goode fader, tell me on, So as ye cunne manyon, Touchende of love in this matiere." "Nou list, mi sone, and thou schalt hiere, So as it hath befalle er this, In loves cause hou that it is A man to take be Ravine The preie which is femeline. [Tale of Tereus, Procne, and Philomena] Ther was a real noble king, And riche of alle worldee thing, Which of his propre enheritance Athenes hadde in governance, And who so thenke therupon, His name was King Pandion. Tuo douhtres hadde he be his wif, The whiche he lovede as his lif. The ferste douhter Progné hihte, And the secounde, as sche wel mihte, Was cleped faire Philomene, To whom fell after mochel tene. The fader of his pourveance His doughter Progné wolde avance, And gaf hire unto mariage A worthi king of hih lignage, A noble kniht eke of his hond, So was he kid in every lond, Of Trace he hihte Tereus; The clerk Ovide telleth thus. This Tereus his wif hom ladde; A lusti lif with hire he hadde, Til it befell upon a tyde, This Progné, as sche lay him besyde, Bethoughte hir hou it mihte be That sche hir soster myhte se, And to hir lord hir will sche seide With goodly wordes, and him preide That sche to hire mihte go, And if it liked him noght so, That thanne he wolde himselve wende, Or elles be som other sende, Which mihte hire diere soster griete, And schape hou that thei mihten miete. Hir lord anon to that he herde Gaf his acord, and thus ansuerde: 'I wole,' he seide, 'for thi sake The weie after thi soster take Miself, and bringe hire, if I may.' And sche with that, there as he lay, Began him in hire armes clippe And kist him with hir softe lippe, And seide, 'Sire, grant mercy.' And he sone after was redy, And tok his leve for to go; In sori time dede he so. This Tereus goth forth to schipe With him and with his felaschipe. Be see the rihte cours he nam, Into the contré til he cam Wher Philomene was duellinge, And of hir soster the tidinge He tolde, and tho thei weren glade, And mochel joie of him thei made. The fader and the moder bothe To leve here douhter weren lothe, Bot if thei weren in presence. And natheles at reverence Of him, that wolde himself travaile, Thei wolden noght he scholde faile Of that he preide, and give hire leve. And sche, that wolde noght beleve, In alle haste made hire yare Toward hir soster for to fare With Tereus, and forth sche wente. And he, with al his hole entente Whan sche was fro hir frendes go Assoteth of hire love so, His yhe myhte he noght withholde, That he ne moste on hir beholde. And with the sihte he gan desire And sette his oghne herte on fyre. And fyr, whan it to tow aprocheth, To him anon the strengthe acrocheth, Til with his hete it be devoured; The tow ne mai noght be socoured. And so that tirant raviner, Whan that sche was in his pouer And he therto sawh time and place, As he that lost hath alle grace Forgat he was a wedded man, And in a rage on hire he ran, Riht as a wolf which takth his preie. And sche began to crie and preie, 'O fader, o mi moder diere, Nou help!' Bot thei ne mihte it hiere, And sche was of to litel myht Defense agein so ruide a knyht To make, whanne he was so wod That he no reson understod, Bot hield hire under in such wise That sche ne myhte noght arise, Bot lay oppressed and desesed As if a goshauk hadde sesed A brid, which dorste noght for fere Remue: and thus this tirant there Beraft hire such thing as men sein Mai neveremor be yolde agein, And that was the virginité: Of such Ravine it was pité. Bot whan sche to hirselven com, And of hir meschief hiede nom, And knew hou that sche was no maide, With wofull herte thus sche saide: 'O thou of alle men the worste, Wher was ther evere man that dorste Do such a dede as thou hast do? That dai schal falle, I hope so, That I schal telle out al mi fille, And with mi speche I schal fulfille The wyde world in brede and lengthe. That thou hast do to me be strengthe, If I among the poeple duelle, Unto the poeple I schal it telle; And if I be withinne wall Of stones closed, thanne I schal Unto the stones clepe and crie, And tellen hem thi felonie; And if I to the wodes wende, Ther schal I tellen tale and ende, And crie it to the briddes oute, That thei schul hiere it al aboute. For I so loude it schal reherce, That my vois schal the hevene perce, That it schal soune in Goddes ere. Ha, false man, where is thi fere? O mor cruel than eny beste, Hou hast thou holden thi beheste Which thou unto my soster madest? O thou, which alle love ungladest, And art ensample of alle untrewe, Nou wolde God mi soster knewe, Of thin untrouthe, hou that it stod!' And he thanne as a lyon wod With hise unhappi handes stronge Hire cauhte be the tresses longe, With whiche he bond ther bothe hire armes - That was a fieble dede of armes - And to the grounde anon hire caste, And out he clippeth also faste Hire tunge with a peire scheres. So what with blod and what with teres Out of hire yhe and of hir mouth, He made hire faire face uncouth. Sche lay swounende unto the deth, Ther was unethes eny breth. Bot yit whan he hire tunge refte, A litel part therof belefte, Bot sche with al no word mai soune, Bot chitre and as a brid jargoune. And natheles that wode hound Hir bodi hent up fro the ground, And sente hir there as be his wille Sche scholde abyde in prison stille Foreveremo. Bot nou tak hiede What after fell of this misdede. Whanne al this meschief was befalle, This Tereus - that foule him falle! - Unto his contré hom he tyh; And whan he com his paleis nyh, His wif al redi there him kepte. Whan he hir sih, anon he wepte, And that he dede for deceite. For sche began to axe him streite, 'Wher is mi soster?' And he seide That sche was ded; and Progné abreide, As sche that was a wofull wif, And stod betuen hire deth and lif, Of that sche herde such tidinge. Bot for sche sih hire lord wepinge, Sche wende noght bot alle trouthe, And hadde wel the more routhe. The perles weren tho forsake To hire, and blake clothes take; As sche that was gentil and kinde, In worschipe of hir sostres mynde Sche made a riche enterement, For sche fond non amendement To syghen or to sobbe more: So was ther guile under the gore. Nou leve we this king and queene, And torne agein to Philomene, As I began to tellen erst. Whan sche cam into prison ferst, It thoghte a kinges douhter strange To maken so soudein a change Fro welthe unto so grete a wo; And sche began to thenke tho, Thogh sche be mouthe nothing preide, Withinne hir herte thus sche seide: 'O thou, almyhty Jupiter, That hihe sist and lokest fer, Thou soffrest many a wrong doinge, And yit it is noght thi willinge. To thee ther mai nothing ben hid, Thou wost hou it is me betid. I wolde I hadde noght be bore, For thanne I hadde noght forlore Mi speche and mi virginité. Bot, goode lord, al is in thee, Whan thou therof wolt do vengance And schape mi deliverance.' And evere among this ladi wepte, And thoghte that sche nevere kepte To ben a worldes womman more, And that sche wissheth everemore. Bot ofte unto hir soster diere Hire herte spekth in this manere, And seide, 'Ha, soster, if ye knewe Of myn astat, ye wolde rewe, I trowe, and my deliverance Ye wolde schape, and do vengance On him that is so fals a man. And natheles, so as I can, I wol you sende som tokninge, Wherof ye schul have knowlechinge Of thing I wot, that schal you lothe, The which you toucheth and me bothe.' And tho withinne a whyle als tyt Sche waf a cloth of selk al whyt With lettres and ymagerie, In which was al the felonie Which Tereus to hire hath do; And lappede it togedre tho And sette hir signet therupon And sende it unto Progné anon. The messager which forth it bar, What it amonteth is noght war; And natheles to Progné he goth And prively takth hire the cloth, And wente agein riht as he cam. The court of him non hiede nam. Whan Progné of Philomene herde, Sche wolde knowe hou that it ferde, And opneth that the man hath broght, And wot therby what hath be wroght And what meschief ther is befalle. In swoune tho sche gan doun falle, And efte aros and gan to stonde, And eft sche takth the cloth on honde, Behield the lettres and th'ymages. Bot ate laste, 'Of suche oultrages,' Sche seith, 'wepinge is noght the bote,' And swerth, if that sche live mote, It schal be venged otherwise. And with that sche gan hire avise Hou ferst sche mihte unto hire winne Hir soster, that no man withinne, Bot only thei that were suore, It scholde knowe, and schop therfore That Tereus nothing it wiste; And yit riht as hirselven liste, Hir soster was delivered sone Out of prison, and be the mone To Progné sche was broght be nyhte. Whan ech of other hadde a sihte, In chambre, ther thei were alone, Thei maden many a pitous mone; Bot Progné most of sorwe made, Which sihe hir soster pale and fade And specheles and deshonoured, Of that sche hadde be defloured; And ek upon hir lord sche thoghte, Of that he so untreuly wroghte And hadde his espousaile broke. Sche makth a vou it schal be wroke, And with that word sche kneleth doun Wepinge in gret devocioun. Unto Cupide and to Venus Sche preide and seide thanne thus: 'O ye, to whom nothing asterte Of love mai, for every herte Ye knowe, as ye that ben above The god and the goddesse of love: Ye witen wel that evere yit With al mi will and al my wit, Sith ferst ye schopen me to wedde, That I lay with mi lord abedde, I have be trewe in mi degré, And evere thoghte for to be, And nevere love in other place, Bot al only the king of Trace, Which is mi lord and I his wif. Bot nou allas this wofull strif! That I him thus ageinward finde The most untrewe and most unkinde That evere in ladi armes lay. And wel I wot that he ne may Amende his wrong, it is so gret; For he to lytel of me let, Whan he myn oughne soster tok, And me that am his wif forsok.' Lo, thus to Venus and Cupide Sche preide, and furthermor sche cride Unto Appollo the hiheste, And seide, 'O myhti god of reste, Thou do vengance of this debat. Mi soster and al hire astat Thou wost, and hou sche hath forlore Hir maidenhod, and I therfore In al the world schal bere a blame Of that mi soster hath a schame, That Tereus to hire I sente. And wel thou wost that myn entente Was al for worschipe and for goode. O lord, that gifst the lives fode To every wyht, I prei thee hiere Thes wofull sostres that ben hiere, And let ous noght to thee ben lothe; We ben thin oghne wommen bothe.' Thus pleigneth Progné and axeth wreche, As, thogh hire soster lacke speche, To him that alle thinges wot Hire sorwe is noght the lasse hot. Bot he that thanne had herd hem tuo, Him oughte have sorwed everemo For sorwe which was hem betuene. With signes pleigneth Philomene, And Progné seith, 'It schal be wreke, That al the world therof schal speke.' And Progné tho seknesse feigneth, Wherof unto hir lord sche pleigneth, And preith sche moste hire chambres kepe, And as hir liketh wake and slepe. And he hire granteth to be so; And thus togedre ben thei tuo, That wolde him bot a litel good. Nou herk hierafter hou it stod Of wofull auntres that befelle: Thes sostres, that ben bothe felle (And that was noght on hem along, Bot onliche on the grete wrong Which Tereus hem hadde do), Thei schopen for to venge hem tho. This Tereus be Progné his wif A sone hath, which as his lif He loveth, and Ithis he hihte: His moder wiste wel sche mihte Do Tereus no more grief Than sle this child, which was so lief. Thus sche, that was, as who seith, mad Of wo, which hath hir overlad, Withoute insihte of moderhede Forgat pité and loste drede, And in hir chambre prively This child withouten noise or cry Sche slou, and hieu him al to pieces. And after with diverse spieces The fleissh, whan it was so toheewe, Sche takth, and makth therof a sewe, With which the fader at his mete Was served, til he hadde him ete; That he ne wiste hou that it stod, Bot thus his oughne fleissh and blod Himself devoureth agein kinde, As he that was tofore unkinde. And thanne, er that he were arise, For that he scholde ben agrise, To schewen him the child was ded, This Philomene tok the hed Betwen tuo disshes, and al wrothe Tho comen forth the sostres bothe, And setten it upon the bord. And Progné tho began the word, And seide, 'O werste of alle wicke, Of conscience whom no pricke Mai stere, lo, what thou hast do! Lo, hier be nou we sostres tuo; O raviner, lo hier thi preie, With whom so falsliche on the weie Thou hast thi tirannye wroght. Lo, nou it is somdel aboght, And bet it schal, for of thi dede The world schal evere singe and rede In remembrance of thi defame. For thou to love hast do such schame, That it schal nevere be forgete.' With that he sterte up fro the mete, And schof the bord unto the flor, And cauhte a swerd anon and suor That thei scholde of his hondes dye And thei unto the goddes crie Begunne with so loude a stevene, That thei were herd unto the hevene; And in a twinclinge of an yhe The goddes, that the meschief syhe, Here formes changen alle thre. Ech on of hem in his degré Was torned into briddes kinde; Diverseliche, as men mai finde, After th'astat that thei were inne, Here formes were set atwinne. And as it telleth in the tale, The ferst into a nyhtingale Was schape, and that was Philomene, Which in the wynter is noght sene, For thanne ben the leves falle And naked ben the buisshes alle. For after that sche was a brid, Hir will was evere to ben hid, And for to duelle in privé place, That no man scholde sen hir face For schame, which mai noght be lassed, Of thing that was tofore passed, Whan that sche loste hir maidenhiede. Forevere upon hir wommanhiede, Thogh that the goddes wolde hire change, Sche thenkth, and is the more strange, And halt hir clos the wyntres day. Bot whan the wynter goth away, And that Nature the goddesse Wole of hir oughne fre largesse With herbes and with floures bothe The feldes and the medwes clothe, And ek the wodes and the greves Ben heled al with grene leves, So that a brid hire hyde mai, Betwen Averil and March and Maii, Sche that the wynter hield hir clos, For pure schame and noght aros, Whan that sche seth the bowes thikke, And that ther is no bare sticke, Bot al is hid with leves grene, To wode comth this Philomene And makth hir ferste yeres flyht; Wher as sche singeth day and nyht, And in hir song al openly Sche makth hir pleignte and seith, 'O why, O why ne were I yit a maide?' For so these olde wise saide, Which understoden what sche mente, Hire notes ben of such entente. And ek thei seide hou in hir song Sche makth gret joie and merthe among, And seith, 'Ha, nou I am a brid, Ha, nou mi face mai ben hid. Thogh I have lost mi maidenhede, Schal no man se my chekes rede.' Thus medleth sche with joie wo And with hir sorwe merthe also, So that of loves maladie Sche makth diverse melodie, And seith love is a wofull blisse, A wisdom which can no man wisse, A lusti fievere, a wounde softe: This note sche reherceth ofte To hem whiche understonde hir tale. Nou have I of this nyhtingale, Which erst was cleped Philomene, Told al that evere I wolde mene, Bothe of hir forme and of hir note, Wherof men mai the storie note. And of hir soster Progné I finde, Hou sche was torned out of kinde Into a swalwe swift of winge, Which ek in wynter lith swounynge, Ther as sche mai nothing be sene. Bot whan the world is woxe grene And comen is the somertide, Than fleth sche forth and ginth to chide, And chitreth out in hir langage What falshod is in mariage, And telleth in a maner speche Of Tereus the spousebreche. Sche wol noght in the wodes duelle, For sche wolde openliche telle; And ek for that sche was a spouse, Among the folk sche comth to house, To do thes wyves understonde The falshod of here housebonde, That thei of hem be war also, For ther ben manye untrewe of tho. Thus ben the sostres briddes bothe, And ben toward the men so lothe, That thei ne wole of pure schame Unto no mannes hand be tame. Forevere it duelleth in here mynde Of that thei founde a man unkinde, And that was false Tereus. If such on be amonges ous I not, bot his condicion Men sein in every region Withinne toune and ek withoute Nou regneth comunliche aboute. And natheles in remembrance I wol declare what vengance The goddes hadden him ordeined, Of that the sostres hadden pleigned. For anon after he was changed And from his oghne kinde stranged, A lappewincke mad he was, And thus he hoppeth on the gras, And on his hed ther stant upriht A creste in tokne he was a kniht; And yit unto this dai men seith, A lappewincke hath lore his feith And is the brid falseste of alle. Bewar, mi sone, er thee so falle; For if thou be of such covine, To gete of love be Ravine Thi lust, it mai thee falle thus, As it befell of Tereus." "Mi fader, goddes forebode! Me were levere be fortrode With wilde hors and be todrawe, Er I agein love and his lawe Dede eny thing or loude or stille, Which were noght mi ladi wille. Men sein that every love hath drede; So folweth it that I hire drede, For I hire love, and who so dredeth, To plese his love and serve him nedeth. Thus mai ye knowen be this skile That no Ravine don I wile Agein hir will be such a weie. Bot while I live, I wol obeie Abidinge on hire courtesie, If eny merci wolde hir plie. Forthi, mi fader, as of this I wot noght I have don amis. Bot furthermore I you beseche, Som other point that ye me teche, And axeth forth, if ther be auht, That I mai be the betre tauht." [Robbery] Uiuat vt ex spoliis grandi quamsepe tumultu, Quo graditur populus, latro perurget iter. Sic amor, ex casu poterit quo carpere predam, Si locus est aptus, cetera nulla timet.11 "Whan Covoitise in povere astat Stant with himself upon debat Thurgh lacke of his misgovernance, That he unto his sustienance Ne can non other weie finde To gete him good, thanne as the blinde, Which seth noght what schal after falle, That ilke vice which men calle Of Robberie, he takth on honde; Wherof be water and be londe Of thing which othre men beswinke He get him cloth and mete and drinke. Him reccheth noght what he beginne, Thurgh thefte so that he mai winne. Forthi to maken his pourchas He lith awaitende on the pas, And what thing that he seth ther passe, He takth his part, or more or lasse, If it be worthi to be take. He can the packes wel ransake, So prively berth non aboute His gold, that he ne fint it oute, Or other juel, what it be; He takth it as his propreté. In wodes and in feldes eke Thus Robberie goth to seke, Wher as he mai his pourpos finde. And riht so in the same kinde, Mi goode sone, as thou miht hiere, To speke of love in the matiere And make a verrai resemblance, Riht as a thief makth his chevance And robbeth mennes good aboute In wode and field, wher he goth oute, So be ther of these lovers some, In wylde stedes wher thei come And finden there a womman able, And therto place covenable, Withoute leve, er that thei fare, Thei take a part of that chaffare: Yee, though sche were a scheperdesse, Yit wol the lord of wantounesse Assaie, althogh sche be unmete, For other mennes good is swete. Bot therof wot nothing the wif At hom, which loveth as hir lif Hir lord, and sitt alday wisshinge After hir lordes hom comynge. Bot whan that he comth hom at eve, Anon he makth his wif beleve, For sche noght elles scholde knowe. He telth hire hou his hunte hath blowe, And hou his houndes have wel runne, And hou ther schon a merye sunne, And hou his haukes flowen wel; Bot he wol telle hire nevere a diel Hou he to love untrewe was, Of that he robbede in the pas, And tok his lust under the schawe Agein love and agein his lawe. Which thing, mi sone, I thee forbede, For it is an ungoodly dede. For who that takth be Robberie His love, he mai noght justefie His cause, and so fulofte sithe For ones that he hath be blithe He schal ben after sory thries. Ensample of suche Robberies I finde write, as thou schalt hiere, Acordende unto this matiere. [Tale of Neptune and Cornix] I rede hou whilom was a maide, The faireste, as Ovide saide, Which was in hire time tho; And sche was of the chambre also Of Pallas, which is the goddesse And wif to Marte, of whom prouesse Is gove to these worthi knihtes. For he is of so grete mihtes, That he governeth the bataille. Withouten him may noght availe The stronge hond, bot he it helpe; Ther mai no knyht of armes yelpe, Bot he feihte under his banere. Bot nou to speke of mi matiere, This faire, freisshe, lusti mai, Alone as sche wente on a dai Upon the stronde for to pleie, Ther cam Neptunus in the weie, Which hath the see in governance; And in his herte such plesance He tok, whan he this maide sih, That al his herte aros on hih, For he so sodeinliche unwar Behield the beauté that sche bar. And caste anon withinne his herte That sche him schal no weie asterte, Bot if he take in avantage Fro thilke maide som pilage, Noght of the broches ne the ringes, Bot of some othre smale thinges He thoghte parte, er that sche wente; And hire in bothe hise armes hente, And putte his hond toward the cofre Wher for to robbe he made a profre That lusti tresor for to stele, Which passeth othre goodes fele And cleped is the maidenhede, Which is the flour of wommanhede. This maiden, which Cornix be name Was hote, dredende alle schame, Sih that sche mihte noght debate, And wel sche wiste he wolde algate Fulfille his lust of Robberie, Anon began to wepe and crie, And seide, 'O Pallas, noble queene, Scheu nou thi myht and let be sene, To kepe and save myn honour! Help, that I lese noght mi flour, Which nou under thi keie is loke.' That word was noght so sone spoke, Whan Pallas schop recoverir After the will and the desir Of hire, which a maiden was, And sodeinliche upon this cas Out of hire wommanisshe kinde Into a briddes like I finde Sche was transformed forth withal, So that Neptunus nothing stal Of such thing as he wolde have stole. With fetheres blake as eny cole Out of hise armes in a throwe Sche flih before his yhe a crowe; Which was to hire a more delit, To kepe hire maidenhede whit Under the wede of fethers blake, In perles whyte than forsake That no lif mai restore agein. Bot thus Neptune his herte in vein Hath upon Robberie sett; The bridd is flowe and he was let, The faire maide him hath ascaped, Wherof forevere he was bejaped And scorned of that he hath lore. Mi sone, be thou war therfore That thou no maidenhode stele, Wherof men sen deseses fele Aldai befalle in sondri wise; So as I schal thee yit devise Another tale therupon, Which fell be olde daies gon. [Tale of Calistona] King Lichaon upon his wif A dowhter hadde, a goodly lif, A clene maide of worthi fame, Calistona whos rihte name Was cleped, and of many a lord Sche was besoght, bot hire acord To love myhte no man winne, As sche which hath no lust therinne; Bot swor withinne hir herte and saide That sche wolde evere ben a maide. Wherof to kepe hireself in pes With suche as Amadriades Were cleped, wodemaydes, tho, And with the nimphes ek also Upon the spring of freisshe welles Sche schop to duelle and nagher elles. And thus cam this Calistona Into the wode of Tegea, Wher sche virginité behihte Unto Diane, and therto plihte Her trouthe upon the bowes grene, To kepe hir maidenhode clene. Which afterward upon a day Was priveliche stole away; For Jupiter thurgh his queintise From hire it tok in such a wise, That sodeinliche forth withal Hire wombe aros and sche toswal, So that it mihte noght ben hidd. And therupon it is betidd, Diane, which it herde telle, In privé place unto a welle With nimphes al a compainie Was come, and in a ragerie Sche seide that sche bathe wolde, And bad that every maide scholde With hire al naked bathe also. And tho began the privé wo: Calistona wax red for schame, Bot thei that knewe noght the game, To whom no such thing was befalle, Anon thei made hem naked alle, As thei that nothing wolden hyde. Bot sche withdrouh hire evere asyde, And natheles into the flod, Wher that Diane hirselve stod, Sche thoghte come unaperceived. Bot therof sche was al deceived; For whan sche cam a litel nyh, And that Diane hire wombe syh, Sche seide, 'Awey, thou foule beste, For thin astat is noght honeste This chaste water for to touche; For thou hast take such a touche, Which nevere mai ben hol agein.' And thus goth sche which was forlein With schame, and fro the nimphes fledde, Til whanne that nature hire spedde, That of a sone, which Archas Was named, sche delivered was. And tho Juno, which was the wif Of Jupiter, wroth and hastif, In pourpos for to do vengance Cam forth upon this ilke chance, And to Calistona sche spak, And sette upon hir many a lak, And seide, 'Ha, nou thou art atake, That thou thi werk myht noght forsake. Ha, thou ungoodlich ypocrite, Hou thou art gretly for to wyte! Bot nou thou schalt ful sore abie That ilke stelthe and micherie, Which thou hast bothe take and do; Wherof thi fader Lichao Schal noght be glad, whan he it wot, Of that his dowhter was so hot That sche hath broke hire chaste avou. Bot I thee schal chastise nou; Thi grete beauté schal be torned, Thurgh which that thou hast be mistorned, Thi large frount, thin yhen greie, I schal hem change in other weie, And al the feture of thi face In such a wise I schal deface, That every man thee schal forbere.' With that the liknesse of a bere Sche tok and was forschape anon. Withinne a time and therupon Befell that with a bowe on honde, To hunte and gamen for to fonde, Into that wode goth to pleie Hir sone Archas, and in his weie It hapneth that this bere cam. And whan that sche good hiede nam, Wher that he stod under the bowh, Sche kneu him wel and to him drouh; For thogh sche hadde hire forme lore, The love was noght lost therfore Which kinde hath set under his lawe. Whan sche under the wodesschawe Hire child behield, sche was so glad, That sche with bothe hire armes sprad, As thogh sche were in wommanhiede, Toward him cam, and tok non hiede Of that he bar a bowe bent. And he with that an arwe hath hent And gan to teise it in his bowe, As he that can non other knowe, Bot that it was a beste wylde. Bot Jupiter, which wolde schylde The moder and the sone also, Ordeineth for hem bothe so, That thei forevere were save. Bot thus, mi sone, thou myht have Ensample, hou that it is to fle To robbe the virginité Of a yong innocent aweie. And overthis be other weie, In olde bokes as I rede, Such Robberie is for to drede, And nameliche of thilke good Which every womman that is good Desireth for to kepe and holde, As whilom was be daies olde. For if thou se mi tale wel Of that was tho, thou miht somdiel Of old ensample taken hiede, Hou that the flour of maidenhiede Was thilke time holde in pris. And so it was, and so it is, And so it schal forevere stonde. And for thou schalt it understonde, Nou herkne a tale next suiende, Hou maidenhod is to commende." [Virginity] Ut Rosa de spinis spineto preualet orta, Et lilii flores cespite plura valent, Sic sibi virginitas carnis sponsalia vincit, Eternos fetus que sine labe parit.12 "Of Rome among the gestes olde I finde hou that Valerie tolde That what man tho was Emperour Of Rome, he scholde don honour To the virgine, and in the weie, Wher he hire mette, he scholde obeie In worschipe of virginité, Which tho was of gret dignité. Noght onliche of the wommen tho, Bot of the chaste men also It was commended overal. And for to speke in special Touchende of men, ensample I finde, Phyryns, which was of mannes kinde Above alle othre the faireste Of Rome and ek the comelieste, That wel was hire which him mihte Beholde and have of him a sihte. Thus was he tempted ofte sore; Bot for he wolde be no more Among the wommen so coveited, The beauté of his face streited He hath, and threste out bothe hise yhen, That alle wommen whiche him syhen Thanne afterward, of him ne roghte. And thus his maidehiede he boghte. So mai I prove wel forthi, Above alle othre under the sky, Who that the vertus wolde peise, Virginité is for to preise, Which, as th'Apocalips recordeth, To Crist in hevene best acordeth. So mai it schewe wel therfore, As I have told it hiertofore, In hevene and ek in erthe also It is accept to bothe tuo. And if I schal more over this Declare what this vertu is, I finde write upon this thing Of Valentinian the king And Emperour be thilke daies, A worthi knyht at alle assaies, Hou he withoute mariage Was of an hundred wynter age, And hadde ben a worthi kniht Bothe of his lawe and of his myht. Bot whan men wolde his dedes peise And his knyhthode of armes preise, Of that he dede with hise hondes, Whan he the kinges and the londes To his subjeccion put under, Of al that pris hath he no wonder, For he it sette of non acompte, And seide al that may noght amonte Ageins o point which he hath nome, That he his fleissh hath overcome: He was a virgine, as he seide; On that bataille his pris he leide. Lo nou, my sone, avise thee." "Yee, fader, al this wel mai be, Bot if alle othre dede so, The world of men were sone go And in the lawe a man mai finde, Hou God to man be weie of kinde Hath set the world to multeplie; And who that wol him justefie, It is ynouh to do the lawe. And natheles youre goode sawe Is good to kepe, who so may, I wol noght theragein seie nay." [Agamemnon and Criseide] "Mi sone, take it as I seie; If maidenhod be take aweie Withoute lawes ordinance, It mai noght failen of vengance. And if thou wolt the sothe wite, Behold a tale which is write, Hou that the King Agamenon, Whan he the cité of Lesbon Hath wonne, a maiden ther he fond, Which was the faireste of the lond In thilke time that men wiste. He tok of hire what him liste Of thing which was most precious, Wherof that sche was dangerous. This faire maiden cleped is Criseide, douhter of Crisis, Which was that time in special Of thilke temple principal, Wher Phebus hadde his sacrifice, So was it wel the more vice. Agamenon was thanne in weie To Troieward, and tok aweie This maiden, which he with him ladde, So grete a lust in hire he hadde. Bot Phebus, which hath gret desdeign Of that his maiden was forlein, Anon as he to Troie cam, Vengance upon this dede he nam And sende a comun pestilence. Thei soghten thanne here evidence And maden calculacion, To knowe in what condicion This deth cam in so sodeinly; And ate laste redyly The cause and ek the man thei founde: And forth withal the same stounde Agamenon opposed was, Which hath beknowen al the cas Of the folie which he wroghte. And therupon mercy thei soghte Toward the god in sondri wise With preiere and with sacrifise, The maide and hom agein thei sende, And give hire good ynouh to spende Forevere whil sche scholde live. And thus the senne was forgive And al the pestilence cessed. Lo, what it is to ben encressed Of love which is evele wonne. It were betre noght begonne Than take a thing withoute leve, Which thou most after nedes leve, And yit have malgré forth withal. Forthi to robben overal In loves cause if thou beginne, I not what ese thou schalt winne. Mi sone, be wel war of this, For thus of Robberie it is." "Mi fader, youre ensamplerie In loves cause of Robberie I have it riht wel understonde. Bot overthis, hou so it stonde, Yit wolde I wite of youre aprise What thing is more of Covoitise." [Stealth and Pilfering] Insidiando latens tempus rimatur et horam Fur, quibus occulto tempore furta parat. Sic amor insidiis vacat, vt sub tegmine ludos Prendere furtiuos nocte fauente queat.13 "With Covoitise yit I finde A servant of the same kinde, Which Stelthe is hote, and Mecherie With him is evere in compainie. Of whom if I schal telle soth, He stalketh as a pocok doth, And takth his preie so covert, That no man wot it in apert. For whan he wot the lord from home, Than wol he stalke aboute and rome; And what thing he fint in his weie, Whan that he seth the men aweie, He stelth it and goth forth withal, That therof no man knowe schal. And ek fulofte he goth a nyht Withoute mone or sterreliht, And with his craft the dore unpiketh, And takth therinne what him liketh. And if the dore be so schet, That he be of his entré let, He wole in ate wyndou crepe, And whil the lord is faste aslepe, He stelth what thing as him best list, And goth his weie er it be wist. Fulofte also be lyhte of day Yit wole he stele and make assay; Under the cote his hond he put, Til he the mannes purs have cut, And rifleth that he fint therinne. And thus he auntreth him to winne, And berth an horn and noght ne bloweth, For no man of his conseil knoweth; What he mai gete of his michinge, It is al bile under the winge. And as an hound that goth to folde And hath ther taken what he wolde, His mouth upon the gras he wypeth, And so with feigned chiere him slypeth, That what as evere of schep he strangle, Ther is no man therof schal jangle, As for to knowen who it dede; Riht so doth Stelthe in every stede, Where as him list his preie take. He can so wel his cause make And so wel feigne and so wel glose, That ther ne schal no man suppose, Bot that he were an innocent, And thus a mannes yhe he blent: So that this craft I mai remene Withouten help of eny mene. Ther be lovers of that degré, Which al here lust in priveté, As who seith, geten al be Stelthe, And ofte atteignen to gret welthe As for the time that it lasteth. For love awaiteth evere and casteth Hou he mai stele and cacche his preie, Whan he therto mai finde a weie. For be it nyht or be it day, He takth his part, whan that he may, And if he mai no more do, Yit wol he stele a cuss or tuo. Mi sone, what seist thou therto? Tell if thou dedest evere so." "Mi fader, hou?" "Mi sone, thus, - If thou hast stolen eny cuss Or other thing which therto longeth, For no man suche thieves hongeth, Tell on forthi and sei the trouthe." "Mi fader, nay, and that is routhe, For be mi will I am a thief; Bot sche that is to me most lief, Yit dorste I nevere in priveté Noght ones take hire be the kne, To stele of hire or this or that, And if I dorste, I wot wel what! And natheles, bot if I lie, Be Stelthe ne be Robberie Of love, which fell in mi thoght, To hire dede I nevere noght. Bot as men sein, wher herte is failed, Ther schal no castell ben assailed; Bot thogh I hadde hertes ten, And were als strong as alle men, If I be noght myn oghne man And dar noght usen that I can, I mai miselve noght recovere. Thogh I be nevere man so povere, I bere an herte and hire it is, So that me faileth wit in this, Hou that I scholde of myn acord The servant lede agein the lord. For if mi fot wolde awher go, Or that min hand wolde elles do, Whan that myn herte is theragein, The remenant is al in vein. And thus me lacketh alle wele, And yit ne dar I nothing stele Of thing which longeth unto love: And ek it is so hyh above, I mai noght wel therto areche, Bot if so be at time of speche, Ful selde if thanne I stele may A word or tuo and go my way. Betwen hire hih astat and me Comparison ther mai non be, So that I fiele and wel I wot, Al is to hevy and to hot To sette on hond withoute leve. And thus I mot algate leve To stele that I mai noght take, And in this wise I mot forsake To ben a thief agein mi wille Of thing which I mai noght fulfille. For that serpent which nevere slept The flees of gold so wel ne kepte In Colchos, as the tale is told, That mi ladi a thousendfold Nys betre yemed and bewaked, Wher sche be clothed or be naked. To kepe hir bodi nyht and day, Sche hath a wardein redi ay, Which is so wonderful a wyht, That him ne mai no mannes myht With swerd ne with no wepne daunte, Ne with no sleihte of charme enchaunte, Wherof he mihte be mad tame, And Danger is his rihte name; Which under lock and under keie, That no man mai it stele aweie, Hath al the tresor underfonge That unto love mai belonge. The leste lokinge of hire yhe Mai noght be stole, if he it syhe; And who so gruccheth for so lyte, He wolde sone sette a wyte On him that wolde stele more. And that me grieveth wonder sore, For this proverbe is evere newe, That stronge lokes maken trewe Of hem that wolden stele and pyke: For so wel can ther no man slyke Be him ne be non other mene, To whom Danger wol give or lene Of that tresor he hath to kepe. So thogh I wolde stalke and crepe, And wayte on eve and ek on morwe, Of Danger schal I nothing borwe, And stele I wot wel may I noght. And thus I am riht wel bethoght, Whil Danger stant in his office, Of Stelthe, which ye clepe a vice, I schal be gultif neveremo. Therfore I wolde he were ago So fer that I nevere of him herde, Hou so that afterward it ferde. For thanne I mihte yit per cas Of love make som pourchas Be Stelthe or be som other weie, That nou fro me stant fer aweie. Bot, fader, as ye tolde above, Hou Stelthe goth a nyht for love, I mai noght wel that point forsake, That ofte times I ne wake On nyhtes, whan that othre slepe. Bot hou, I prei you, taketh kepe. Whan I am loged in such wise That I be nyhte mai arise At som wyndowe and loken oute And se the housinge al aboute, So that I mai the chambre knowe In which mi ladi, as I trowe, Lyth in hir bed and slepeth softe, Thanne is myn herte a thief fulofte. For there I stonde to beholde The longe nyhtes that ben colde And thenke on hire that lyth there. And thanne I wisshe that I were Als wys as was Nectanabus Or elles as was Protheus, That couthen bothe of nigromaunce In what liknesse, in what semblaunce, Riht as hem liste, hemself transforme. For if I were of such a forme, I seie thanne I wolde fle Into the chambre for to se If eny grace wolde falle, So that I mihte under the palle Som thing of love pyke and stele. And thus I thenke thoghtes fele, And thogh therof nothing be soth, Yit ese as for a time it doth. Bot ate laste whanne I finde That I am falle into my mynde, And se that I have stonde longe And have no profit underfonge, Than stalke I to mi bedd withinne. And this is al that evere I winne Of love, whanne I walke on nyht. Mi will is good, bot of mi myht Me lacketh bothe and of mi grace; For what so that mi thoghte embrace, Yit have I noght the betre ferd. Mi fader, lo, nou have ye herd What I be Stelthe of love have do, And hou mi will hath be therto. If I be worthi to penance I put it on your ordinance." "Mi sone, of stelthe I thee behiete, Thogh it be for a time swete, At ende it doth bot litel good, As be ensample hou that it stod Whilom, I mai thee telle nou." "I preie you, fader, sei me hou." "Mi sone, of him which goth be daie Be weie of Stelthe to assaie, In loves cause and takth his preie, Ovide seide as I schal seie, And in his Methamor he tolde A tale, which is good to holde. [Tale of Leucothoe] The poete upon this matiere Of Stelthe wrot in this manere. Venus, which hath this lawe in honde Of thing which mai noght be withstonde, As sche which the tresor to warde Of love hath withinne hir warde, Phebum to love hath so constreigned, That he withoute reste is peined With al his herte to coveite A maiden, which was warded streyte Withinne chambre and kept so clos, That selden was whan sche, desclos, Goth with hir moder for to pleie. Leuchotoe, so as men seie, This maiden hihte and Orchamus Hir fader was; and befell thus. This doughter, that was kept so deere, And hadde be fro yer to yeere Under hir moder discipline A clene maide and a virgine, Upon the whos nativité Of comelihiede and of beauté Nature hath set al that sche may, That lich unto the fresshe Maii, Which othre monthes of the yeer Surmonteth, so withoute pier Was of this maiden the feture. Wherof Phebus out of mesure Hire loveth, and on every syde Awaiteth, if so mai betyde, That he thurgh eny sleihte myhte Hire lusti maidenhod unrihte, The which were al his worldes welthe. And thus lurkende upon his stelthe In his await so longe he lai, Til it befell upon a dai, That he thurghout hir chambre wall Cam in al sodeinliche, and stall That thing which was to him so lief. Bot wo the while, he was a thief! For Venus, which was enemie Of thilke loves micherie, Discovereth al the pleine cas To Clymene, which thanne was Toward Phebus his concubine. And sche to lette the covine Of thilke love, dedli wroth To pleigne upon this maide goth, And tolde hire fader hou it stod; Wherof for sorwe welnyh wod Unto hire moder thus he saide: 'Lo, what it is to kepe a maide! To Phebus dar I nothing speke, Bot upon hire I schal be wreke, So that these maidens after this Mow take ensample, what it is To soffre her maidenhed be stole Wherof that sche the deth schal thole.' And bad with that do make a pet, Wherinne he hath his douhter set, As he that wol no pité have, So that sche was al quik begrave And deide anon in his presence. Bot Phebus, for the reverence Of that sche hadde be his love, Hath wroght thurgh his pouer above, That sche sprong up out of the molde Into a flour was named golde, Which stant governed of the sonne. And thus whan love is evele wonne, Fulofte it comth to repentaile." "Mi fader, that is no mervaile, Whan that the conseil is bewreid. Bot ofte time love hath pleid And stole many a privé game, Which nevere yit cam into blame, Whan that the thinges weren hidde. Bot in youre tale, as it betidde, Venus discoverede al the cas, And ek also brod dai it was, Whan Phebus such a Stelthe wroghte, Wherof the maide in blame he broghte, That afterward sche was so lore. Bot for ye seiden nou tofore Hou stelthe of love goth be nyhte, And doth hise thinges out of syhte, Therof me liste also to hiere A tale lich to the matiere, Wherof I myhte ensample take." "Mi goode sone, and for thi sake, So as it fell be daies olde, And so as the poete it tolde, Upon the nyhtes micherie Nou herkne a tale of poesie. [Tale of Hercules and Faunus] The myhtieste of alle men Whan Hercules with Eolen, Which was the love of his corage, Togedre upon a pelrinage Towardes Rome scholden go, It fell hem be the weie so, That thei upon a dai a cave Withinne a roche founden have, Which was real and glorious And of entaile curious, Be name and Thophis it was hote. The sonne schon tho wonder hote, As it was in the somer tyde. This Hercules, which be his syde Hath Eolen his love there, Whan thei at thilke cave were, He seide it thoghte him for the beste That sche hire for the hete reste Al thilke day and thilke nyht; And sche, that was a lusti wyht, It liketh hire al that he seide. And thus thei duelle there and pleide The longe dai. And so befell, This cave was under the hell Of Tymolus, which was begrowe With vines, and at thilke throwe Faunus with Saba the goddesse, Be whom the large wildernesse In thilke time stod governed, Weere in a place, as I am lerned, Nyh by, which Bachus wode hihte. This Faunus tok a gret insihte Of Eolen, that was so nyh; For whan that he hire beauté syh, Out of his wit he was assoted, And in his herte it hath so noted, That he forsok the nimphes alle, And seide he wolde, hou so it falle, Assaie another for to winne So that his hertes thoght withinne He sette and caste hou that he myhte Of love pyke awey be nyhte That he be daie in other wise To stele mihte noght suffise. And therupon his time he waiteth. Nou tak good hiede hou love afaiteth Him which withal is overcome. Faire Eolen, whan sche was come With Hercules into the cave, Sche seide him that sche wolde have Hise clothes of and hires bothe, That ech of hem scholde other clothe. And al was do riht as sche bad, He hath hire in hise clothes clad And caste on hire his gulion, Which of the skyn of a leon Was mad, as he upon the weie It slouh, and overthis to pleie Sche tok his grete mace also And knet it at hir gerdil tho. So was sche lich the man arraied, And Hercules thanne hath assaied To clothen him in hire array. And thus thei jape forth the dai, Til that her souper redy were. And whan thei hadden souped there, Thei schopen hem to gon to reste; And as it thoghte hem for the beste, Thei bede, as for that ilke nyht, Tuo sondri beddes to be dyht, For thei togedre ligge nolde, Because that thei offre wolde Upon the morwe here sacrifice. The servantz deden here office And sondri beddes made anon, Wherin that thei to reste gon Ech be himself in sondri place. Faire Eole hath set the mace Beside hire beddes hed above, And with the clothes of hire love Sche helede al hire bed aboute; And he, which hadde of nothing doute, Hire wympel wond aboute his cheke, Hire kertell and hire mantel eke Abrod upon his bed he spredde. And thus thei slepen bothe abedde. And what of travail, what of wyn, The servantz lich to drunke swyn Begunne for to route faste. This Faunus, which his stelthe caste, Was thanne come to the cave, And fond thei weren alle save Withoute noise, and in he wente. The derke nyht his sihte blente, And yit it happeth him to go Where Eolen abedde tho Was leid alone for to slepe; Bot for he wolde take kepe Whos bed it was, he made assai, And of the leoun, where it lay, The cote he fond, and ek he fieleth The mace, and thanne his herte kieleth, That there dorste he noght abyde, Bot stalketh upon every side And soghte aboute with his hond, That other bedd til that he fond, Wher lai bewympled a visage. Tho was he glad in his corage, For he hir kertell fond also And ek hir mantell bothe tuo Bespred upon the bed alofte. He made him naked thanne, and softe Into the bedd unwar he crepte, Wher Hercules that time slepte, And wende wel it were sche; And thus in stede of Eole Anon he profreth him to love. Bot he, which felte a man above, This Hercules, him threw to grounde So sore, that thei have him founde Liggende there upon the morwe; And tho was noght a litel sorwe, That Faunus of himselve made, Bot elles thei were alle glade And lowhen him to scorne aboute. Saba with nimphis al a route Cam doun to loke hou that he ferde, And whan that thei the sothe herde, He was bejaped overal. Mi sone, be thou war withal To seche suche mecheries, Bot if thou have the betre aspies, In aunter if thee so betyde As Faunus dede thilke tyde, Wherof thou miht be schamed so." "Min holi fader, certes no. Bot if I hadde riht good leve, Such mecherie I thenke leve. Mi feinte herte wol noght serve; For malgré wolde I noght deserve In thilke place wher I love. Bot for ye tolden hier above Of Covoitise and his pilage, If ther be more of that lignage, Which toucheth to mi schrifte, I preie That ye therof me wolde seie, So that I mai the vice eschuie." "Mi sone, if I be order suie The vices, as thei stonde arowe, Of Covoitise thou schalt knowe Ther is yit on, which is the laste; In whom ther mai no vertu laste, For he with God himself debateth, Wherof that al the hevene him hateth." [Sacrilege] Sacrilegus tantum furto loca sacra prophanat; Vt sibi sunt agri, sic domus alma dei. Nec locus est, in quo non temptat amans quod amatur, Et que posse nequit carpere, velle capit.14 "The hihe God, which alle goode Pourveied hath for mannes fode Of clothes and of mete and drinke, Bad Adam that he scholde swinke To geten him his sustienance; And ek he sette an ordinance Upon the lawe of Moises, That though a man be haveles, Yit schal he noght be thefte stele. Bot nou adaies ther ben fele That wol no labour undertake, Bot what thei mai be Stelthe take Thei holde it sikerliche wonne. And thus the lawe is overronne Which God hath set, and namely With hem that so untrewely The goodes robbe of Holi Cherche. The thefte which thei thanne werche Be name is cleped Sacrilegge, Agein the whom I thenke alegge. Of his condicion to telle, Which rifleth bothe bok and belle, So forth with al the remenant To Goddes hous appourtenant, Wher that he scholde bidde his bede, He doth his thefte in holi stede, And takth what thing he fint therinne. For whan he seth that he mai winne, He wondeth for no cursednesse, That he ne brekth the holinesse And doth to God no reverence; For he hath lost his conscience, That though the prest therfore curse, He seith he fareth noght the wurse. And for to speke it otherwise, What man that lasseth the franchise And takth of Holi Cherche his preie, I not what bedes he schal preie. Whan he fro God, which hath give al, The pourpartie in special, Which unto Crist himself is due, Benymth, he mai noght wel eschue The peine comende afterward; For he hath mad his foreward With Sacrilegge for to duelle, Which hath his heritage in helle. And if we rede of th'olde lawe, I finde write, in thilke dawe Of princes hou ther weren thre Coupable sore in this degré. That on of hem was cleped thus, The proude king Antiochus; That other Nabuzardan hihte, Which of his crualté behyhte The temple to destruie and waste, And so he dede in alle haste; The thridde, which was after schamed, Was Nabugodonosor named, And he Jerusalem putte under, Of Sacrilegge and many a wonder There in the holi temple he wroghte, Which Baltazar his heir aboghte, Whan Mane, Techel, Phares write Was on the wal, as thou miht wite, So as the Bible it hath declared. Bot for al that it is noght spared Yit nou aday, that men ne pile, And maken argument and skile To Sacrilegge as it belongeth, For what man that ther after longeth, He takth non hiede what he doth. [Sacrilegiousness of Lovers] And riht so, for to telle soth, In loves cause if I schal trete, Ther ben of suche smale and grete. If thei no leisir fynden elles, Thei wol noght wonden for the belles, Ne thogh thei sen the prest at masse; That wol thei leten overpasse. If that thei finde here love there, Thei stonde and tellen in hire ere, And axe of God non other grace, Whyl thei ben in that holi place; Bot er thei gon som avantage Ther wol thei have, and som pilage Of goodli word or of beheste, Or elles thei take ate leste Out of hir hand or ring or glove, So nyh the weder thei wol love, As who seith sche schal noght forgete, Nou I this tokne of hire have gete. Thus halwe thei the hihe feste. Such thefte mai no cherche areste, For al is leveful that hem liketh, To whom that elles it misliketh. And ek riht in the selve kinde In grete cites men mai finde This lusti folk, that make it gay, And waite upon the haliday. In cherches and in menstres eke Thei gon the wommen for to seke, And wher that such on goth aboute, Tofore the faireste of the route, Wher as thei sitten alle arewe, Ther wol he most his bodi schewe, His croket kembd and theron set A nouche with a chapelet, Or elles on of grene leves, Which late com out of the greves, Al for he scholde seme freissh. And thus he loketh on the fleissh Riht as an hauk which hath a sihte Upon the foul, ther he schal lihte; And as he were of faierie, He scheweth him tofore here yhe In holi place wher thei sitte, Al for to make here hertes flitte. His yhe nawher wole abyde, Bot loke and prie on every syde On hire and hire, as him best lyketh. And otherwhile among he syketh; Thenkth on of hem, 'That was for me,' And so ther thenken tuo or thre, And yit he loveth non of alle, Bot wher as evere his chance falle. And natheles to seie a soth, The cause why that he so doth Is for to stele an herte or tuo, Out of the cherche er that he go And as I seide it hier above, Al is that Sacrilege of love; For wel mai be he stelth away That he nevere after yelde may. Tell me forthi, my sone, anon, Hast thou do Sacrilege, or non, As I have said in this manere?" "Mi fader, as of this matiere I wole you tellen redely What I have do; bot trewely I mai excuse min entente, That nevere I yit to cherche wente In such manere as ye me schryve, For no womman that is on lyve. The cause why I have it laft Mai be for I unto that craft Am nothing able so to stele, Thogh ther be wommen noght so fele. Bot yit wol I noght seie this, Whan I am ther mi ladi is, In whom lith holly mi querele, And sche to cherche or to chapele Wol go to matins or to messe, That time I waite wel and gesse, To cherche I come and there I stonde, And thogh I take a bok on honde, Mi contienance is on the bok, Bot toward hire is al my lok. And if so falle that I preie Unto mi God, and somwhat seie Of Paternoster or of Crede, Al is for that I wolde spede, So that mi bede in Holi Cherche Ther mihte som miracle werche Mi ladi herte for to chaunge, Which evere hath be to me so strange. So that al mi devocion And al mi contemplacion With al min herte and mi corage Is only set on hire ymage, And evere I waite upon the tyde. If sche loke eny thing asyde, That I me mai of hire avise, Anon I am with covoitise So smite, that me were lief To ben in Holi Cherche a thief, Bot noght to stele a vestement, For that is nothing mi talent. Bot I wold stele, if that I mihte, A glad word or a goodly syhte; And evere mi service I profre, And namly whan sche wol gon offre, For thanne I lede hire, if I may, For somwhat wolde I stele away. Whan I beclippe hire on the wast, Yit ate leste I stele a tast, And otherwhile 'grant mercy' Sche seith, and so winne I therby A lusti touch, a good word eke, Bot al the remenant to seke Is fro mi pourpos wonder ferr. So mai I seie, as I seide er, In Holy Cherche if that I wowe, My conscience it wolde allowe, Be so that up amendement I mihte gete assignement Wher for to spede in other place. Such Sacrilege I holde a grace. And thus, mi fader, soth to seie, In cherche riht as in the weie, If I mihte oght of love take, Such hansell have I noght forsake. Bot finali I me confesse, Ther is in me non holinesse Whil I hire se in eny stede; And yit, for oght that evere I dede, No Sacrilege of hire I tok, Bot if it were of word or lok, Or elles if that I hir fredde, Whan I toward offringe hir ledde, Take therof what I take may, For elles bere I noght away. For thogh I wolde oght elles have, Alle othre thinges ben so save And kept with such a privilege, That I mai do no Sacrilege. God wot mi wille natheles, Thogh I mot nedes kepe pes And malgré myn so let it passe, Mi will therto is noght the lasse, If I mihte other wise aweie. Forthi, mi fader, I you preie, Tell what you thenketh therupon, If I therof have gult or non." "Thi will, mi sone, is for to blame, The remenant is bot a game, That I have herd thee telle as yit. Bot tak this lore into thi wit, That alle thing hath time and stede, The cherche serveth for the bede, The chambre is of another speche. Bot if thou wistest of the wreche, Hou Sacrilege it hath aboght, Thou woldest betre ben bethoght; And for thou schalt the more amende, A tale I wole on thee despende. [Tale of Paris and Helen] To alle men, as who seith, knowe It is, and in the world thurgh blowe, Hou that of Troie Lamedon To Hercules and to Jasoun, Whan toward Colchos out of Grece Be see sailende upon a piece Of lond of Troie reste preide, Bot he hem wrathfulli congeide. And for thei founde him so vilein, Whan thei come into Grece agein, With pouer that thei gete myhte Towardes Troie thei hem dyhte, And ther thei token such vengance, Wherof stant yit the remembrance; For thei destruide king and al, And leften bot the brente wal. The Grecs of Troiens many slowe And prisoners thei toke ynowe, Among the whiche ther was on, The kinges doughter Lamedon, Esiona, that faire thing, Which unto Thelamon the king Be Hercules and be th'assent Of al the hole parlement Was at his wille gove and granted. And thus hath Grece Troie danted, And hom thei torne in such manere. Bot after this nou schalt thou hiere The cause why this tale I telle, Upon the chances that befelle. King Lamedon, which deide thus, He hadde a sone, on Priamus, Which was noght thilke time at hom. Bot whan he herde of this, he com And fond hou the cité was falle, Which he began anon to walle And made ther a cité newe, That thei whiche othre londes knewe Tho seiden, that of lym and ston In al the world so fair was non. And on that o side of the toun The king let maken Ylioun, That hihe tour, that stronge place, Which was adrad of no manace Of quarel nor of non engin; And thogh men wolde make a myn, No mannes craft it mihte aproche, For it was sett upon a roche. The walles of the toun aboute, Hem stod of al the world no doute, And after the proporcion Sex gates weren of the toun Of such a forme, of such entaile, That hem to se was gret mervaile. The diches weren brode and depe; A fewe men it mihte kepe From al the world, as semeth tho, Bot if the goddes weren fo. Gret presse unto that cité drouh, So that ther was of poeple ynouh, Of burgeis that therinne duellen; Ther mai no mannes tunge tellen Hou that cité was riche of good. Whan al was mad and al wel stod, King Priamus tho him bethoghte What thei of Grece whilom wroghte, And what was of her swerd devoured, And hou his soster deshonoured With Thelamon awey was lad. And so thenkende he wax unglad, And sette anon a parlement, To which the lordes were assent. In many a wise ther was spoke, Hou that thei mihten ben awroke, Bot ate laste natheles Thei seiden alle, 'Acord and pes.' To setten either part in reste It thoghte hem thanne for the beste With resonable amendement; And thus was Antenor forth sent To axe Esionam agein And witen what thei wolden sein. So passeth he the see be barge To Grece for to seie his charge, The which he seide redely Unto the lordes by and by: Bot where he spak in Grece aboute, He herde noght bot wordes stoute, And nameliche of Thelamon; The maiden wolde he noght forgon, He seide, for no maner thing, And bad him gon hom to his king, For there gat he non amende For oght he couthe do or sende. This Anthenor agein goth hom Unto his king, and whan he com, He tolde in Grece of that he herde, And hou that Thelamon ansuerde, And hou thei were at here above, That thei wol nouther pes ne love, Bot every man schal don his beste. Bot for men sein that nyht hath reste, The king bethoghte him al that nyht, And erli, whan the dai was lyht, He tok conseil of this matiere, And thei acorde in this manere, That he withouten eny lette A certein time scholde sette Of parlement to ben avised. And in the wise it was devised, Of parlement he sette a day, And that was in the monthe of Maii. This Priamus hadde in his yhte A wif, and Hecuba sche hyhte, Be whom that time ek hadde he Of sones fyve, and douhtres thre Besiden hem, and thritty mo, And weren knyhtes alle tho, Bot noght upon his wif begete, Bot elles where he myhte hem gete Of wommen whiche he hadde knowe. Such was the world at thilke throwe, So that he was of children riche, As therof was no man his liche. Of parlement the dai was come, Ther ben the lordes alle and some; Tho was pronounced and pourposed, And al the cause hem was desclosed, Hou Anthenor in Grece ferde. Thei seten alle stille and herde, And tho spak every man aboute. Ther was alegged many a doute, And many a proud word spoke also; Bot for the moste part as tho Thei wisten noght what was the beste, Or for to werre or for to reste. Bot he that was withoute fere, Hector, among the lordes there His tale tolde in such a wise, And seide, 'Lordes, ye ben wise, Ye knowen this als wel as I, Above all othre most worthi Stant nou in Grece the manhode Of worthinesse and of knihthode; For who so wole it wel agrope, To hem belongeth al Europe, Which is the thridde parti evene Of al the world under the hevene; And we be bot of folk a fewe. So were it reson for to schewe The peril, er we falle thrinne. Betre is to leve, than beginne Thing which as mai noght ben achieved; He is noght wys that fint him grieved, And doth so that his grief be more. For who that loketh al tofore And wol noght se what is behinde, He mai fulofte hise harmes finde: Wicke is to stryve and have the worse. We have encheson for to corse, This wot I wel, and for to hate The Greks; bot er that we debate With hem that ben of such a myht, It is ful good that every wiht Be of himself riht wel bethoght. Bot as for me this seie I noght; For while that mi lif wol stonde, If that ye taken werre on honde, Falle it to beste or to the werste, I schal miselven be the ferste To grieven hem, what evere I may. I wol noght ones seie nay To thing which that youre conseil demeth, For unto me wel more it quemeth The werre certes than the pes; Bot this I seie natheles, As me belongeth for to seie. Nou schape ye the beste weie.' Whan Hector hath seid his avis, Next after him tho spak Paris, Which was his brother, and alleide What him best thoghte, and thus he seide: 'Strong thing it is to soffre wrong, And suffre schame is more strong, Bot we have suffred bothe tuo; And for al that yit have we do What so we mihte to reforme The pes, whan we in such a forme Sente Anthenor, as ye wel knowe. And thei here grete wordes blowe Upon her wrongful dedes eke; And who that wole himself noght meke To pes, and list no reson take, Men sein reson him wol forsake. For in the multitude of men Is noght the strengthe, for with ten It hath be sen in trew querele Agein an hundred false dele, And had the betre of Goddes grace. This hath befalle in many place; And if it like unto you alle, I wole assaie, hou so it falle, Oure enemis if I mai grieve; For I have cawht a gret believe Upon a point I wol declare. This ender day, as I gan fare To hunte unto the grete hert, Which was tofore myn houndes stert, And every man went on his syde Him to poursuie, and I to ryde Began the chace, and soth to seie, Withinne a while out of mi weie I rod, and nyste where I was. And slep me cauhte, and on the gras Beside a welle I lay me doun To slepe, and in a visioun To me the god Mercurie cam; Goddesses thre with him he nam, Minerve, Venus, and Juno, And in his hond an appel tho He hield of gold with lettres write. And this he dede me to wite, Hou that thei putt hem upon me, That to the faireste of hem thre Of gold that appel scholde I give. With ech of hem tho was I schrive, And ech on faire me behihte. Bot Venus seide, if that sche mihte That appel of mi gifte gete, Sche wolde it neveremor forgete, And seide hou that in Grece lond Sche wolde bringe unto myn hond Of al this erthe the faireste; So that me thoghte it for the beste, To hire and gaf that appel tho. Thus hope I wel, if that I go, That sche for me wol so ordeine, That thei matiere for to pleigne Schul have, er that I come agein. Nou have ye herd that I wol sein. Sey ye what stant in youre avis.' And every man tho seide his, And sundri causes thei recorde, Bot ate laste thei acorde That Paris schal to Grece wende, And thus the parlement tok ende. Cassandra, whan sche herde of this, The which to Paris soster is, Anon sche gan to wepe and weile, And seide, 'Allas, what mai ous eile? Fortune with hire blinde whiel Ne wol noght lete ous stonde wel. For this I dar wel undertake, That if Paris his weie take, As it is seid that he schal do, We ben forevere thanne undo.' This, which Cassandre thanne hihte, In al the world as it berth sihte, In bokes as men finde write, Is that Sibille of whom ye wite, That alle men yit clepen sage. Whan that sche wiste of this viage, Hou Paris schal to Grece fare, No womman mihte worse fare Ne sorwe more than sche dede; And riht so in the same stede Ferde Helenus, which was hir brother, Of prophecie and such another. And al was holde bot a jape, So that the pourpos which was schape, Or were hem lief or were hem loth, Was holde, and into Grece goth This Paris with his retenance. And as it fell upon his chance, Of Grece he londeth in an yle, And him was told the same whyle Of folk which he began to freyne, Tho was in th'yle queene Heleyne, And ek of contres there aboute Of ladis many a lusti route, With mochel worthi poeple also. And why thei comen theder tho, The cause stod in such a wise: For worschipe and for sacrifise That thei to Venus wolden make, As thei tofore hadde undertake, Some of good will, some of beheste, For thanne was hire hihe feste Withinne a temple which was there. Whan Paris wiste what thei were, Anon he schop his ordinance To gon and don his obeissance To Venus on hire holi day, And dede upon his beste aray. With gret richesse he him behongeth, As it to such a lord belongeth, He was noght armed natheles, Bot as it were in lond of pes, And thus he goth forth out of schipe And takth with him his felaschipe. In such manere as I you seie Unto the temple he hield his weie. Tydinge, which goth overal To grete and smale, forth withal Com to the queenes ere and tolde Hou Paris com, and that he wolde Do sacrifise to Venus: And whan sche herde telle thus, She thoghte, hou that it evere be, That sche wole him abyde and se. Forth comth Paris with glad visage Into the temple on pelrinage, Wher unto Venus the goddesse He gifth and offreth gret richesse, And preith hir that he preie wolde. And thanne aside he gan beholde And sih wher that this ladi stod; And he forth in his freisshe mod Goth ther sche was and made hir chiere, As he wel couthe in his manere, That of his wordes such plesance Sche tok that al hire aqueintance, Als ferforth as the herte lay, He stal er that he wente away. So goth he forth and tok his leve, And thoghte, anon as it was eve, He wolde don his Sacrilegge, That many a man it scholde abegge. Whan he to schipe agein was come, To him he hath his conseil nome, And al devised the matiere In such a wise as thou schalt hiere. Withinne nyht al prively His men he warneth by and by, That thei be redy armed sone For certein thing which was to done. And thei anon ben redi alle, And ech on other gan to calle, And went hem out upon the stronde And tok a pourpos ther alonde Of what thing that thei wolden do, Toward the temple and forth thei go. So fell it, of devocion Heleine in contemplacion With many another worthi wiht Was in the temple and wok al nyht, To bidde and preie unto th'ymage Of Venus, as was thanne usage. So that Paris riht as him liste Into the temple, er thei it wiste, Com with his men al sodeinly, And alle at ones sette ascry In hem whiche in the temple were, For tho was mochel poeple there; Bot of defense was no bote, So soffren thei that soffre mote. Paris unto the queene wente, And hire in bothe hise armes hente With him and with his felaschipe, And forth thei bere hire unto schipe. Up goth the seil and forth thei wente, And such a wynd fortune hem sente, Til thei the havene of Troie cauhte; Where out of schipe anon thei strauhte And gon hem forth toward the toun, The which cam with processioun Agein Paris to sen his preie. And every man began to seie To Paris and his felaschipe Al that thei couthen of worschipe; Was non so litel man in Troie, That he ne made merthe and joie Of that Paris hath wonne Heleine. Bot al that merthe is sorwe and peine To Helenus and to Cassaundre; For thei it token schame and sklaundre And lost of al the comun grace, That Paris out of holi place Be Stelthe hath take a mannes wif, Wherof that he schal lese his lif And many a worthi man therto, And al the cité be fordo, Which nevere schal be mad agein. And so it fell, riht as thei sein, The sacrilege which he wroghte Was cause why the Gregois soughte Unto the toun and it beleie, And wolden nevere parte aweie, Til what be sleihte and what be strengthe Thei hadde it wonne in brede and lengthe, And brent and slayn that was withinne. Nou se, mi sone, which a sinne Is Sacrilege in holy stede. Be war therfore and bidd thi bede, And do nothing in Holy Cherche, Bot that thou miht be reson werche. And ek tak hiede of Achilles, Whan he unto his love ches Polixena, that was also In holi temple of Appollo, Which was the cause why he dyde And al his lust was leyd asyde. And Troilus upon Criseide Also his ferste love leide In holi place, and hou it ferde, As who seith, al the world it herde; Forsake he was for Diomede, Such was of love his laste mede. Forthi, mi sone, I wolde rede, Be this ensample as thou myht rede, Sech elles, wher thou wolt, thi grace, And war thee wel in holi place What thou to love do or speke, In aunter if it so be wreke As thou hast herd me told before. And tak good hiede also therfore Upon what forme of Avarice, Mor than of eny other vice, I have divided in parties The branches, whiche of compainies Thurghout the world in general Ben nou the leders overal, Of Covoitise and of Perjure, Of fals Brocage and of Usure, Of Skarsnesse and Unkindeschipe, Which nevere drouh to felaschipe, Of Robberie and privi Stelthe, Which don is for the worldes welthe, Of Ravine and of Sacrilegge, Which makth the conscience agregge; Althogh it mai richesse atteigne, It floureth, bot it schal noght greine Unto the fruit of rihtwisnesse. Bot who that wolde do largesse Upon the reule as it is give, So myhte a man in trouthe live Toward his God, and ek also Toward the world, for bothe tuo Largesse awaiteth as belongeth, To neither part that he ne wrongeth; He kepth himself, he kepth his frendes, So stant he sauf to bothe hise endes, That he excedeth no mesure, So wel he can himself mesure. Wherof, mi sone, thou schalt wite, So as the Philosophre hath write." [Prodigality] Prodegus et parcus duo sunt extrema, que largus Est horum medius, plebis in ore bonus.15 "Betwen the tuo extremites Of vice stant the propretes Of vertu, and to prove it so Tak Avarice and tak also The vice of Prodegalité; Betwen hem Liberalité, Which is the vertu of Largesse, Stant and governeth his noblesse. For tho tuo vices in discord Stonde evere, as I finde of record; So that betwen here tuo debat Largesse reuleth his astat. For in such wise as Avarice, As I tofore have told the vice, Thurgh streit holdinge and thurgh skarsnesse Stant in contraire to Largesse, Riht so stant Prodegalité Revers, bot noght in such degré. For so as Avarice spareth, And for to kepe his tresor careth, That other al his oghne and more Agein the wise mannes lore Gifth and despendeth hiere and there, So that him reccheth nevere where. While he mai borwe, he wol despende, Til ate laste he seith, 'I wende'; Bot that is spoken al to late, For thanne is poverté ate gate And takth him evene be the slieve, For erst wol he no wisdom lieve. And riht as Avarice is sinne, That wolde his tresor kepe and winne, Riht so is Prodegalité. Bot of Largesse in his degré, Which evene stant betwen the tuo, The hihe God and man also The vertu ech of hem commendeth. For he himselven ferst amendeth, That overal his name spredeth, And to alle othre, where it nedeth, He gifth his good in such a wise, That he makth many a man arise, Which elles scholde falle lowe. Largesce mai noght ben unknowe; For what lond that he regneth inne, It mai noght faile for to winne Thurgh his decerté love and grace, Wher it schal faile in other place. And thus betwen to moche and lyte Largesce, which is noght to wyte, Halt evere forth the middel weie. Bot who that torne wole aweie Fro that to Prodegalité, Anon he lest the propreté Of vertu and goth to the vice; For in such wise as Avarice Lest for scarsnesse his goode name, Riht so that other is to blame, Which thurgh his wast mesure excedeth, For no man wot what harm that bredeth. Bot mochel joie ther betydeth, Wher that largesse an herte guydeth. For his mesure is so governed, That he to bothe partz is lerned, To God and to the world also, He doth reson to bothe tuo. The povere folk of his almesse Relieved ben in the destresse Of thurst, of hunger and of cold. The gifte of him was nevere sold, Bot frely give, and natheles The myhti God of His encress Rewardeth him of double grace; The hevene he doth him to pourchace And gifth him ek the worldes good. And thus the cote for the hod Largesse takth, and yit no sinne He doth, hou so that evere he winne. What man hath hors men give him hors, And who non hath of him no fors, For he mai thanne on fote go; The world hath evere stonde so. Bot for to loken of the tweie, A man to go the siker weie, Betre is to give than to take: With gifte a man mai frendes make, Bot who that takth or gret or smal, He takth a charge forth withal, And stant noght fre til it be quit. So for to deme in mannes wit, It helpeth more a man to have His oghne good, than for to crave Of othre men and make him bounde, Wher elles he mai stonde unbounde. Senec conseileth in this wise, And seith, 'Bot if thi good suffise Unto the liking of thi wille, Withdrawh thi lust and hold thee stille, And be to thi good sufficant.' For that thing is appourtenant To trouthe and causeth to be fre After the reule of charité, Which ferst beginneth of himselve. For if thou richest othre tuelve, Wherof thou schalt thiself be povere, I not what thonk thou miht recovere. Whil that a man hath good to give, With grete routes he mai live And hath his frendes overal, And everich of him telle schal. Therwhile he hath his fulle packe, Thei seie, 'A good felawe is Jacke'; Bot whanne it faileth ate laste, Anon his pris thei overcaste, For thanne is ther non other lawe Bot, 'Jacke was a good felawe.' Whan thei him povere and nedy se, Thei lete him passe and farwel he; Al that he wende of compainie Is thanne torned to folie. Bot nou to speke in other kinde Of love, a man mai suche finde, That wher thei come in every route Thei caste and waste her love aboute, Til al here time is overgon, And thanne have thei love non. For who that loveth overal, It is no reson that he schal Of love have eny propreté. Forthi, mi sone, avise thee If thou of love hast be to large, For such a man is noght to charge: And if it so be that thou hast Despended al thi time in wast And set thi love in sondri place, Though thou the substance of thi grace Lese ate laste, it is no wonder; For he that put himselven under, As who seith, comun overal, He lest the love special Of eny on, if sche be wys. For love schal noght bere his pris Be reson, whanne it passeth on. So have I sen ful many on, That were of love wel at ese, Whiche after felle in gret desese Thurgh wast of love, that thei spente In sondri places wher thei wente. Riht so, mi sone, I axe of thee If thou with Prodegalité Hast hier and ther thi love wasted." "Mi fader, nay; bot I have tasted In many a place as I have go, And yit love I nevere on of tho, Bot for to drive forth the dai. For lieveth wel, myn herte is ay Withoute mo foreveremore Al upon on, for I no more Desire bot hire love alone. So make I many a privé mone, For wel I fiele I have despended Mi longe love and noght amended Mi sped, for oght I finde yit. If this be wast to youre wit Of love, and Prodegalité, Nou, goode fader, demeth ye: Bot of o thing I wol me schryve, That I schal for no love thryve, Bot if hirself me wol relieve." "Mi sone, that I mai wel lieve. And natheles me semeth so, For oght that thou hast yit misdo Of time which thou hast despended, It mai with grace ben amended. For thing which mai be worth the cost Per chaunce is nouther wast ne lost; For what thing stant on aventure, That can no worldes creature Tell in certein hou it schal wende, Til he therof mai sen an ende. So that I not as yit therfore If thou, mi sone, hast wonne or lore. For ofte time, as it is sene, Whan somer hath lost al his grene And is with wynter wast and bare, That him is left nothing to spare, Al is recovered in a throwe. The colde wyndes overblowe, And stille be the scharpe schoures, And soudeinliche agein his floures The somer hapneth and is riche. And so per cas thi graces liche, Mi sone, thogh thou be nou povere Of love, yit thou miht recovere." "Mi fader, certes grant merci. Ye have me tawht so redeli, That evere whil I live schal The betre I mai be war withal Of thing which ye have seid er this. Bot overmore hou that it is, Toward mi schrifte as it belongeth, To wite of othre pointz me longeth; Wherof that ye me wolden teche With al myn herte I you beseche." Explicit Liber Quintus

created and [when]; nature Had fallen; aggrandizement then [there]; eagerness added to the common [good] Either . . . or; lose increased became aware of money peace war put aside all love made his private property out of the common good (see note) in this manner it happened deep moats it seemed all too small to him treasure chest locked opened Except; desires; glimpse gaze He feels deprived of that which he has plenty of does not partake To say that; (see note) bound slave subject nature of the avaricious; (t-note) behave fare so in love In the manner you posit this behavior (conduct) (i.e., his beloved's favor) in two trust well subdue according to my desire take heed; (see note) If I possessed her abstain [from her] (i.e., every day would be a feast day) [money] bags; chest kissed would rather have her earthly kingdom tightly bound (obliged) be content now with less endure until [this condition] ends greedy miserly shut From where yoke benefit profit know servant overcome accords with nature's demands nature beyond what is necessary to sustain life (see note) sanction pays attention to nothing else moneybags burden should assets (resources) unless; disbursed use; offer for instruction (see note) status as a divinity was called Silenus; (see note) by night went astray ill pleased Phrygia lowly servant seized him companions chains who was called Midas heed drew As long as it pleased him Unless speaks dearest [other] two; honor (esteem, fame) What; certain corporeal honor assurance born do not know certainty Lies in ambush many possession part In respect to himself except for sure lost safekeeping advance weighs lead against destroys everything raises it [back] up when it pleases [can make] long into short animal buy truly Therefore (see note) called; dropsy one afflicted with dropsy it seems to him keep it tightly bound afflicted know requested test it out food either to drink or eat near saw would not be doomed to destruction pity river nearby was called heard said washed himself; (t-note) river its color free previously did away food and clothing its own reason till Their raise Livestock breach of the peace Before; before; struck; (see note) Into coins Then bear shady transactions (bribery) happens in all situations treacherous schemes strife out of joint its own private astonishing [In] that whatever go my son engage in squandering generosity advise torment Tantalus such a function pertains to that pain overcame him lifts; head equally near Subsides; reach what a punishment; (see note) evident; (see note) stinginess; denies Afflicts; sorely tormented (made wretched) here deserve Generosity Avoid (t-note) follows labors fear lie alert enough achieve success their troubled eye thinks dear their own broken its easily moved heard often (t-note) courteous behavior (gentility) unhappy called foolishness fever; a daily recurrence; (see note) Whether dwell habit; (see note) eye spy (gaze) and pry toe without his seeing eye least expression whisper; occasion laugh; frown moment joy game [of love] spoiled love's debt (i.e., sexual intercourse) perverseness her sign of availability invite it pleases her not (she chooses) maintains that desired eye neither by day nor by does not know it pleases him to speak keeps her Without rest married to such a one may he be cursed everyday sorrow; (see note) spy backbiter twist and distort just has to say something about it hear see nor know finds in an uncomfortable position laid; complains often contention a major event happiness complains one preferred [by her] wishes those; more herself constrained arranged bond (marriage); untied the marriage fee; (see note) missal in every respect he will not praise it; (see note) that business only become worse off in silence impute (blame) trusts foolishness suspicion sick; loses; desire own food plight; (see note) lose deceitful comparison miserly one fearful In case they should money (wealth) as a result of my avenged by (i.e., in) the teaching those who once request; (t-note) intend; one (see note) that Is called loathly; ugly pleasure (t-note) eye amorous married; clumsy a creature labor constantly regard in one accord oppresses See (spy) slyly managed found them chains lying thus call; then company those who courtly (gracious) standing all laughed loosened Because; maligned lesson control himself circumstance; come about not fill knew must necessarily lose least; choose increase otherwise; come about take counsel ruined (see note) all the way to heaven (see note) come into existence belief cause you openly to know Before then unto themselves twelve signs of the zodiac saw their carving then in their observable features (see note) are gods in any way carefully take thought So that whether they want it or not susceptible to suffering Cannot be a god created entities (see note) (i.e., created things may not be gods) the honor offence falsehood (lies) belief (t-note) (t-note) beyond legal standards (i.e., against divine law) (see note) animals their certitude Those; called Horus; Osiris; (see note) Their; called copulated with by Osiris; (see note) Horus the younger father's death cannot fail (i.e., nothing could prevent him from killing Typhon) believe; (t-note) sufficient strength (see note) undertook cultivate; (see note) saw; (t-note) before their eyes bear grain once; barren according to its nature Its fitting offspring childbirth is called call; their have given birth false belief instruction confused their; (see note) acceded to assumptions was called been; throne mad was called tear to pieces ate them as a customary habit was an adult cut off; own hand sea assert in a natural way island (see note) such a one (see note) adultery delights know more Named after their own (see note) took (t-note) (see note) called then was called; (see note) (t-note) completely warlike prowess the same manner Their called also (see note) hunter; hills skill say Except that he knew how to play the harp To earn some food provision be able to explain happen untutored people called fools yet was called; cared not; (see note) stole; killed knew enough; (see note) false sayings authority (founder); knew pleasing designated; those beliefs (t-note) hump (curve); back lame (see note) accomplished I know not called Sicily was called; father's [were] far removed Those (see note) earlier (see note) was called; pleased him; distribute by made himself sea in those foreign islands (neighboring countries) amassed (subjugated); fear territory Unless they had his reputation even though it might not be worth a straw founder then Was all the more honored teacher neatherds (cowherds) Arcadia; called; (see note) (see note) Peneus Parnassus charge (keeping) was called; (see note) Stymphalus; (see note) breeding livestock; training also reeds instruction know foolish Semele; (see note) adultery Dionysus was called; (see note) was called revenue lechery he used up (see note) not for that reason (see note) dwell was called; same (see note) reputation; acquired (see note) burned; (see note) was called from angry By Lethe; (see note) By Cocytus principal rivers Seine; Styx pits two habitual practice by the casting of lots behalf; (see note) ordered (caused to be made) One; pits; reward earlier many a one hear soon manner their (see note) without doubt pagan Berecynthia; is called then (see note) foolish since circumstance (problem, situation) also Philyra; (see note) adultery suitable (see note) kingdoms own commands it pleases her to make the sky stormy (see note) lake placed cast away true case was called attended invented; according to her counsel; (see note) wisdom; (see note) called; faith (see note) explanations exist One giant warlike man (see note) In the disorder of misbelief called (t-note) (see note) (see note) cultivation; grain then at that same time their cultivation say costly it pleases her grain is called pleasure secretly; took (see note) hid with child grew large This same born hunting also by nighttime arrows killed fair game (huntable) pagans (gentiles) high hills (t-note) obtain (see note) same time command teaching before chariot eye Their wisdom of their teaching its annual holiday of splendid furnishings (t-note) (t-note) also; high hills are all called Satyrs (see note) possession those are sea pertinent tale once; (see note) Drowned called if this belief can [possibly] hold firm them beseech were called; (see note) offered against Too fared (see note) one their doings (see note) their own disclosure truth resistance one Harmonia Androgynus (Hermaphroditus) eyes knew undertook dared to; (see note) to try defend her own behavior (see note) not refuse the same teaching delight held gained false belief then (t-note) different (see note) compartments pray wash sweet dedicated call Mars So that he controls quick on fire seethes with passion the more dear custody; undertaken sculpture living countenance Strengthless What; scruffy well cared for say (see note) know Petronius Nicagoras saw course of action had made (t-note) (t-note) Assyria offering then credulity (see note) hill practice Got off devil's deception one day after another (see note) tribes your instruction Noah according to its office made made so barren increased (t-note) them; food rules their systems of belief; fourth against the peace (i.e., illegally) dry under shelter guide them by came down [before] them each according to his desire trust one who would tap open a cask way seized; (t-note) promise Distributed share; received taught the best [angel] stood within angelic ranks nobility their best situation (t-note) took hung; cross perfection (t-note) bondage; subject Dispersed throughout all redeemed teaching ransom profitable penalty (see note) sin honor previously by many times over (t-note) appeals to heaven's reward Those whose sect of deceivers Their; ear advise, avoid follow created; taught interpreted (see note) Kept locked up; bribe taken; (t-note) steal honor; prosperity jewel turned his look aside wily trick eyes; sight thought the same Given that guard Their spiritual (inner) eye (see note) neglected what pleases him keepers twisted askew wave Unless; spiritually False (see note) crop; lost weeds Neglect by sloth what they reason estranged from provision wander with the Achaians gains India property and income empty spiritual duty do not know summons; tally stick trust grimace reward achieve our goal Except as; succeeded coin hid; (see note) known their bodily desire labor pagan spiritual slow (t-note) St. Paul gave practiced discussed (beaten); (see note) know them solitary lady captain instruction (expertise) many a one seek the sources of profit one dawns upon them sun; moon manner (sort) doings money; possessions wide street considered such a one engaged in her service procurer; spy magpie dead; attended prepared procure by encompasses overlooks (skips over) So that support oneself Except knows not; cost confess (square accounts) pike; its those; smaller covetousness teach (see note) who was then unblemished by means of his learning eye (i.e., public view); (see note) Their while this; endures succeed aggrieve then same fierce wars at war saw; powerful condition secretly to discover a means by some stratagem inclination (t-note) by worthy and wise men conquests territories Apulia initiated the debate [about] knew; intended places Their; buried two repositories ancient (t-note) while they slept instruct time dreams whatever Provided that; half part Deceit he himself lay dreamed get (fetch) group of conspirators treasure dream; declared trust truly satisfied trick (stratagem) dream beyond comparison knew of outcry secretly dream ear knew mirror also, with regard to the mining devices support so that without hindrance safely excavate by itself blinded (t-note) Their deception pitch (t-note) Disguised as beggars slipped out of; before hill saw laughed destroyed [when] they heard tell of the wonder Soon began to rebel wars found them in disorder slew pulled From; who were dead Bushels filled; bridge corpses; dead sentence (punishment) Because Whoa Boiling pour; (see note) quenched corrupted helm causes more harm perpetually plundered then circumstances of fortune; the same One; made poor must accept his fortunes Either of what is deserved remitted least thanks (see note) as is appropriate company group soon knew made; instructive example had two one likeness; (see note) alike; person at that time one commanded place sly saw knew By his own hands [he filled]; chest precious stones filled full rubbish mingled; filled early set up a table had the coffers brought against; grumbled chance knows it is my fault (owing to me) it (the fault) is owing to you table Choose; desire filled choose; preferable to you cautious before one one shown finally they agree wand where recompense (reward) might gave them; key seen open place opened saw could estimate (evaluate) lack blame With regard to what left off their Somewhat; akin; (see note) say chooses to make rich (see note) prosperity many taken notice food Two pastries; ordered to be made capon identical more certain go astray/do without (t-note) die (dice) construction those a single part more is appointed for you jest unwise (untutored) judged whispers; ear devotedly saw every day folly; boldness finds something either; or one rosy cheeks meek gleaming eyes laugh; play tall; petite comely (elegant) of fair complexion pug-nosed is a virgin finds small heel perceives one; it seems to him promiscuous; street; (see note) gain rather Except for one; possessionless Willingly entirely fail In matters where angry fix (i.e., pasture land and arable land) pertain the land of the Amazons took rescue; (t-note) Such that if he; saw escape knew the craft is worth just appraisal goodness gracefulness; (t-note) countenance indeed by chance who destitute is not knew knows only; attempts Unless Apulia noble spirit (see note) enjoyment happened; time sickness many diverse treatments learned scholar health have intercourse creature at well in doubt into [his] confidence trusted everything allegiance cause arrangements to be made one; suitable pleasure; [be] fond of lustful pleasure cost focused on pleasure [or, to pay generously] try know to speak the truth Whom he married for wealth money own Saw; escape unless disregarded his honor overwhelmed whispers; ear knew There must possessions succeed Provided that arrangement was secretly agreed upon contrivance Against lie by dwelling took (t-note) within law and reason commanded behest honorable then; cruel (fierce) frightening expression be obedient overwhelmed who, as it pleased him bedcovers close by; (t-note) asked on that occasion brought the embrace of his arms ear most miserable wretch of all simpleton Surrendered obedient vow feared him greatly foolish preferable [husband] remedied earlier disgraced nature mixes; sweet desire; prosperity either [motive] concern himself it is good to have [possessions] wealth otherwise fail who knows (see note) lands for game or crops wishes My confession I make known fully investigate the problem agents command called by hook or by crook; (see note) inquest; court session food aplenty woo lay say absolute treachery truth; tests swears most of all least (t-note) appointers of benefices agents; (t-note) come to know lying certain; Creed neck worth Interrogate; a one harmonious confidently; (t-note) truthfulness any person, or expose myself knew if it were to please them judgment advance known deceitful things sea; (see note) care for and protect safe keeping safely to deliver who feared what besieged at that time called; well supplied many a one dwelt far amazing trick as if he were Caused him to be clothed; clothing by all their oaths taken their lady's daughter receives trained however it might be observed advance truth innocent maiden same time equipped ornamental diadem then childlike manner also time knew not the reason obediently for what she requested ear truly what; saw and heard In regard to the secret own disguised bedfellow by night nature; direct (see note) (see note) made them both become aroused kiss highway of love's deed at that time Menelaus Greeks fight secret warlords reputation scholar broadly Unless Their war set up a little while before one exquisite clothing suit of armor; hardy burnished by wind blew on the topsail region citadel who has eloquence made the greeting heart surreptitiously; mindful distinguish from manner person round dance with singing (i.e., having no knowledge of) know walk caused to be brought; clothing together; armor also Along; table choose themselves; decide their helmet immediately seizes swiftly slept armed himself; manner before laughed fared had illicit sex deluded overwhelmed maiden then; (t-note) one woman beguiles another certitude tricked know not how trust cunning (guile) causes them (t-note) desire proof (testing of character) (t-note) once; (see note) Remains yet was called death surpassed dearly was called sheep had (displayed/possessed) might not be carried away creature sorely longs uncle pleased arranged immediately prowess ready But; way (see note) made them welcome asked him dismissed Greek gracious speech by; seized way saw station pertains receives proceeded sat been; destroyed attempt not be disconcerted care [Whether] for good luck attempted then was not; pleased feared should not succeed bear military strength plead with him Regardless of what any He called for Medea heed took saw, toward her goes who was not loathsome to him together eye handsome match pertained to womanliness (t-note) order remain do not know how manner waking before yes; no tossed By; also beholden to; promise as guarantor; (see note) took pondered knew; should not succeed altogether to use her wisdom sweet maiden had leisure willingly safe; destroyed know knows what I know from everything else promised Such a person; secretly day's eye (sun) concealed crowd what was what kept secret took heed maidservant (lady-in-waiting) for bed also facial expression Then; their; opened up security brought; (see note) truly separate because; undress (see note) know; kept sleepless desired conflict; details the island beginning; passage (adventure) two fierce oxen nose on fire green must must control them quickly extract those furrow; in a row the serpent (adder) originate lethal wound pray prey any way (t-note) then antidote put on splendid casket jewels took harm drowned evil entrusted by magical spell; incantation understand recite his charm (see note) (see note) box gave him as present neither fire or poison gave; kind of glue grip; securely defend slew safely enough should see trials completed with (by) seize thoroughly overwhelmed far delaying [him] And kissed him a hundred times salvation trial a faint; took her up not be because of my sloth if I do not completely fulfill instructions glad reputation knew; nearly maiden took; equipment seized him between 9 and 10 a.m.; (see note) started from attended to him equipment gladly discourage him tale pay heed stay oar; sorely he longs Until island charm recited aloud then anointed himself commanded place quenched quickly; overtook killed him work harm covered with scales withstood all swords and spears rough so sorely blasted if it were not for charm gave him previously by that dragon would have been destroyed drew out plow sowed them Then From; its Each one slew the other goes to the boat tower daresay where fear knew not; happen citizenry began to speak one voice an enchanted gossip (converse) saw; shone laugh come near pass through who eagerly turned her away at that time dared fared saw prepared tested did as one normally would do washed himself; any bone had a snack (light repast) put on his best clothes combed news won; sheep's fleece sent for everyone made a speech one [thing]; (t-note) even if lightning; thunder Each one What no one else on earth best of all good [people] clean up (wash) beside; seated gourmet food brought before them; table between the two of them dared; then agreed [purpose of] deluding fear; (see note) stayed awake as long as it pleased them soundly bide his time stealthily eagerly who awaited him came quickly They yearned to please each other enough planned many others negotiated went contentedly (quietly) knew first part of the day (6-9 a.m.) trusted secrecy their deed Except those who remain wished not at that time (t-note) They (i.e., Hercules and others) deceive stole; hindrance secret saw truth asked madman leapt curse (two kinds of boats) Yes sea aboard ship set out no success plunder most direct (i.e., die) Mustered a venture before Medea knew father's youth Promised hear person; knew time bare head; feet hair spread out clothed And all speechless on slithered ocean stood in bow water; wet her hair drowning wave utilized her speech call and cry out stars And began to call to Hecate; (see note) Who seek chariot (t-note) ascended the air [where birds and spirits live] hasten high hills sweet cuts off chariot hills rivers took foam seeds groves labor; pain; (t-note) fully supplied with every necessity chariot revealed clods covered altar made the goddess of youth accomplished; whole medicinal herb; vervain; (see note) two; (t-note) hindrance Two different pits sheep; killed blood; drew put in the two pits milk mixed lineage those who are skilled in occult arts knew then told all others to leave gasp and gape many a one chanting; incantations minced; as a cook does altar burn brightly burn run altars beast hung her hair creature chopped wood pits wet firebrand; flame run swiftly where twice place sound lark just as her speech becomes more weird fairylike knows desired What exceeds human nature hear Prescribed by; moon kettle were all the necessary supplies herbal extract boil white froth (spume) seed; remedy A poisonous snake boil owl howl head medicinal formula dictates; (see note) bowel shark; healing forthwith stir flower; bear smallest grew swiftly; meadow understood trustworthy of proven quality sick; murky; feeble use caught gray hair disappeared youthfulness (see note) knew uncle pledge; before sworn entered into sexual relationship with Who was named soon paid for worthy of a kingdom (see note) Pallas' court; (see note) bewails true well-cautioned take care; perjured every part sheep's skin; (see note) it (the fleece) at that time Near Was the recorded form of his name was called By; fashioned two those boy (i.e., died) And with honor was buried [the death] accepts was named Cadmus, who then wife deliberated hateful conceived a deceit against them had sown boiled wheat grain deceit; fraud she (the stepmother) Prior to contrived rid cultivation situation ear applied believes preferable; choose lose take care sea ordered called; on the spot (i.e., immediately) should slay what they saw before their eyes delay distressed broke her heart [So] that drowned is pleasing fickle know one of that kind of person wealth aside one person (see note) saw purveyors hunting hounds; pack (i.e., there is no wealth on earth) hounds sniffed out wealth move escape buys deceit loot (pile of money) cares; provided that Even though; ten or twelve [others] lose unless three times as much lend in return; bean Where; small peas weigh; mite in exchange So; business dealings unequal usury possessions it is seldom that Unless; merit success wins out in love clandestine dealings (t-note) a little something weight was never able by trickery certainly on God's side (i.e., I should be content); (see note) never demand; part whole a half share to me it is displeasing ask have in return desist possession remain bottom line procurer traveled on my behalf ails by me (see note) whole; hear eye do not know; befall the present time (t-note) requite dearly paid for put aside live on 'thanks' by which alleviate merchandise buys it dearly; nothing blame won very little It seems to me those by one glance worth many times [more than] (see note) weighs Out of (see note) govern him By strictness; social pressure to assist or destroy lose knows too recklessly wait your turn turn one; pleased by deceit matchmaker Inveigled (Deceitful) (see note) Procurers In proportion to; deserve their (see note) procuring deceitful; sly Impaired . . . eye (Deceived her) trusted knew secret contrived must dishonest dealing; accepted spoiled endured; had to do procurer angry was named think privy to those activities lies your deceit because you have from me had sexual relations circumstance hear (see note) transformed it pleases him to say must remain hills their wasted One (t-note) procuring kinship one; called; Parsimony avaricious seek succeed binds flay (chip) the flint soft rush moneybag (purse) cares not; remember whether; or possessions thinks to stand cost stingy; generous gave gifts; (see note) reward; succeed know not (see note) fool truthfully either stingy; liberal; (t-note) (see note) (see note) pearls amount to a barren straw Provided that; sweet maiden stinginess believe averse to case In regard to me drop part knows; person avoided Where ask; miserly details (see note) more desired (see note) whole coat; hood parsimonious satisfy be judge of born nature prosper reward reward keeps love at home; (see note) renown home was called generous; kindhearted miser might not know trained was called enjoyment person woebegone also nothing; knows was called generous intended repeatedly reward; powerful this time fittingly happen miser complaining scrimp; (see note); (t-note) dross; increase generous; liberal; bent the bow [of Cupid] distributes (see note) if I am to be believed generous in expenditure under any circumstance Ingratitude loyal acknowledge does not want to occurs gain as much as a barn will hold living define According to [That person or creature] who makes him content (see note) sudden turn [of fate] chance pit made known Where he had gone Who all alone Calling out (Begging) toward evening; by become night was called gathered for himself a bundle buy them pause near the pit truss tightened faintly ear; brink placed here security agreement promised a moment ago owned equal half gladly unloaded tied; (t-note) that moment grasped [the ape] departed (t-note) thought; delusion he was sorely afraid impatiently cried out (shrieked/implored) again again entwined at once drew up it seemed to him clear creature on God's behalf try took prepared himself crossed himself haul who; words gently (Adrian); gramercy (thanks) proceeded demanded reproached (censured) been said or done knows then no other course of action (t-note) hastened quickly home gather wood; did before wished [to go] great pile truss; (t-note) wood aplenty So that Thanking lifts repaid worked hardest uneducated Agree did not tarry according to this plan brought took I do not know Bible here, unless attempt power place merchant took happened to him repeatedly made known serpent; also; ape (beast); (t-note) promise by knew how to do faith summoned legal hearing more then crowd complained decided (arbitrated) By those who; well informed half part unnatural person advise [you] to flee; same promised; evilly concluded; (see note) in the end done their will Their; soon gone Alas faith sworn [any reason] why complain continuously passionate to give; to promise judges knows; own is inappropriate advise you all his desires leave honor relate pithy story (see note) was called study (t-note) dissipation; fools assembled entire fear peace; treaty hear tribute gets be subjected to the judgment manner story called in an act of debauchery war born Ordered; deal [with it] quickly one in agreement with her had so gone astray (lit., become crooked) diverse turn bewildered to keep watch and to guard keeping killed (t-note) tribute their lot behaved would further everything he could On behalf of himself and of their agreement then Who noble fame whole of one accord; (see note) save himself contrived; caused him to have ball (clew) of thread one pitch; gave; ball; (t-note) weapon; prepared beast; kill Cut off; took by (t-note) dear woman diminishment saw place whispered surrendered to him [sexually] virginity prettily then promised faith maintain resist a pity courtly ideals short time (i.e., Ariadne); thought Because; loudly blew knew nothing island (see note) without sleep badly married (matched) Haul; not wait beach saw no one frightened knew not sea descry (perceive) sin thought; secured in situations of need promised from his own mouth known knows; know faith personally enough tore; (t-note) because of him demands every way In that grief diminishes call; enemy fiend one by one Robbery (Rapacity/Rape) company; gang (coven) maintained from other men's keep (holding/sheepfold) suffers (is paid for by) fear offers no explanation venture possession confess yourself here (Caesar) true from procurement pay for it dearly Unless can many a one prey; feminine royal; (see note) (t-note) two was called Procne called suffering (injury) foresight advance noble; birth also famous (known) was called time did not please him [to let her go] go someone else greet figure out how; meet at once to what he heard embrace (see note) leave their Unless; were in attendance out of respect For; carry out the mission asked; their permission be left behind (remain) made herself ready Became so besotted with love of her [That] his eye straw To itself at once gathers its heat straw; rescued tyrannical ravager prey (see note) hear strength vehemently reckless distressed seized who dared not; fear Flee (escape) yielded took heed who dared breadth What you have done; force call (see note) pierce ear reverence beast promise enraged; (t-note) scissors eyes unrecognizable scarcely was left articulate chitter; chatter insane fiend [to a place] where whom may evil befall came awaited him saw, quickly directly cried out thought; (t-note) jewelry honor; memory memorial service cloak before seemed to sees know; happened to me been born lost continually cared perpetually have pity believe devise be loathsome to you concerns quickly; (t-note) wove; silk wrapped; then immediately delivers to her knew; been outrages remedy swears; might [so] that sworn arranged knew desired by moonlight lament Who saw; wan wedding vow broken avenged eludes Since; arranged to wed me on the contrary know too little; considered own (t-note) lost be blameworthy honor sustenance odious asks vengeance Since, even though the two of them laments avenged feigns sickness as she needs Who wanted for him only mishaps of deadly intent not their fault plotted how to avenge themselves then by was called who was so dear [to him] overwhelmed regard for killed; hacked cut to pieces spicy dish (see note) contrary to nature terrified placed the head in a rage evil men move (guide) (t-note) paid for deed evil renown; (t-note) leaped; food table swore voice eye saw Their Their; established as distinctly different bird desire; hidden secret diminished From a matter; previously Even though reclusive keeps herself sequestered (t-note) groves covered lament still a virgin wise people (see note) mingles (see note) know intend swallow lies in a deep sleep; (see note) adulterer cause (t-note) those their such a person do not know; type proper nature estranged lapwing made lapwing; lost bird such a conspiracy by trampled torn apart Before I against either loud or quiet my lady's desire anxiety; (see note) revere fears must serve him (love) reason move (bend) the blind man Who sees by; (t-note) produce by [their] labor It does not concern him what he might undertake may not discover it also seek (t-note) acquisition (t-note) commodity (chastity) displeasing (unworthy); (see note) (see note) knows (t-note) woods Against its law times thrice once; (see note) (see note) unless boast Unless he fights maiden seashore sea saw escape to take away [he] seized an attempt many other goods called Was called Saw; fight (t-note) so that I lose not prepared a safe haven bird's likeness (see note) flew; eye greater delight clothes thwarted derided lost harms of all kinds (see note) sought after called, wood nymphs, then nowhere promised pledged surreptitiously stolen cunning swelled up it happened fit of sprightliness circumstance saw filthy beast raped (seduced) fault caught in the act to be blamed sorely pay underhanded conduct knows How that; lecherous punish now broad forehead; eyes grey avoid bear took bough drew lost nature woods arrow; seized position knows not otherwise protect somewhat held in esteem following praiseworthy stories; (see note) honor who; nature despoiled thrust; eyes cared secured weigh pleasing (agreeable) (t-note) in every way evaluate (t-note) In comparison with; received moral struggle others did soon gone nature make righteous wise saying fail to be avenged (see note) conquered knew pleased him protective called greater who was greatly offended Because; raped took widespread plague time confronted admitted And sent the maiden home sin augmented spite know not teaching is called; Pilfering walks cautiously; peacock furtively openly steals moon picks the lock of the door hindered desires known attempt cut away what ventures himself pilfering i.e., unobserved [sheep]fold sneaks about might kill complain place it pleases him; prey obscure the truth sight he obscured relate intermediary their kiss kiss say pity by; desire dear once clasp her by dared By hers (see note) anywhere; (t-note) happiness (goods) too To put my hand to; permission must certainly renounce Is not; guarded and protected at night Whether guardian ever ready creature made gentle Standoffishness; (see note) So that taken command of sees allege a censure (lay blame) strong locks make true [men]; (see note) [Out] of those; pilfer flatter means watch resolved call gone away by chance at night deny lodged; manner; (see note) imagine Lies; comfortably clever both understood; necromancy outward appearance Just; pleased them; themselves fly in order to see befall covers many true comfort; serves grasped creep (t-note) fared reassure attempt prey Metamorphosis (i.e., Ovid); (see note) (see note) guard guarded closely at large was named loveliness bodily stature destroy (see note) stole dear Exposes; full situation obstruct; conspiracy (collusion) insane avenged Might stolen suffer pit buried alive died immediately earth marigold evilly won repentance betrayed exposed broad daylight thus lost it would please me (i.e., Ovid) Who; heart pilgrimage; (see note) regal exquisite (sumptuous) workmanship called then wondrously hot time (t-note) seemed to him herself creature hill grown over was called Bacchus' wood regard saw infatuated calculated role rules (disciplines); (see note) off tunic (t-note) slew tied undertaken fool away the time their prepared themselves went to bed prepared would not lie; (t-note) their (t-note) covered fear head-covering wound smock; sleeveless overgown also Spread out in separate beds; (see note) from hard work; wine inebriated swine; (see note) snore loudly snug (safe) obscured his vision investigated grew chilly with fear wearing a wimple; face heart Spread out thought; (see note) laughed in a great crowd ridiculed by everyone snitchings Unless; inside information Unless; permission to avoid ill will; earn follow in sequence in a row wars (see note) Commanded; labor without possessions by theft many assuredly violated By; called accuse (t-note) i.e., steals everything make his prayers place turns aside; excommunication/damnation excommunicate diminishes privilege prey prayers share Takes away; avoid contract in that time Guilty (see note) (see note) promised (see note) subjugated paid for; (see note) plunder yearns (t-note) turn aside; [church] bells their; [in church] express [their desires]; ear plunder promise steer (sail, luff) observe (celebrate) inhibit lawful chapels also Before gathered in a row ornamental curl combed jeweled clasp; diadem one (a chaplet) groves lusty (see note) exhibits himself before their eye giddy eye nowhere; settle down this one and that one from time to time sighs steal many where lies wholly; complaint And [when] mass face succeed prayer lady's heart distant time at all be aware of not at all my desire go to make an offering lead embrace her around the waist taste wide of the mark woo Provided that as compensation an allocation of funds In order to succeed good luck gift any place Unless feel well protected in spite of myself be successful rest place; (see note) prayer story knew; vengeance would have been better advised made known; (see note) spread abroad (see note) dismissed them angrily because; villainous directed themselves only; burned killed aplenty one daughter of king Lamedon given conquered hear died one Who; at that time (see note) rebuild bolt of a crossbow; weapon tunnel Six workmanship moats defend then Except if; opposed to them multitude; drew merchants completed be avenged redress (t-note) sea by ship sagely one by one (completely) fierce reparation exalted frame of mind (i.e., on their high horse) delay (t-note) possession was named begotten match expressed; fear Whether to make war fear explore (see note) perceive therein who finds himself Bad (Harmful); (see note) a reason; curse fight war pleases behooves asserted An arduous thing peace; on these terms their; boast noisily submit desires to follow no reason false [men] to fight had the advantage other flanked him knew not brought caused me to know entrusted themselves to me absolved promised And to her [I] gave; then opinion go (see note) Paris' sister What harm may befall us assure [you] undone promised know call wise at the same moment (on the spot) Fared (i.e., Lamented) But; bit of nonsense Whether it were pleasing or loathsome to them adhered to retinue island question lively company by promise knew put on clothes himself sumptuously made his way News ear await pilgrimage what he wished to pray intimacy atone (pay) for taken beach adopted person on an all-night vigil make request; pray before; knew attacked with battle cry avail must seized arrived at proceeded straight away Toward; prize doomed rebuilt besieged deceit (i.e., in every respect) (t-note) recite your prayers (see note) chose died recompense advise interpret Seek elsewhere guard yourself well In case; avenged (t-note) become deadened blooms; bear grain is appropriate their mutual conflict described tightfistedness Just so In reverse it concerns him receive on credit; spend 'I repent' plucks believe too much; little blame loses waste (t-note) nothing; (see note) more certain way (see note) either great or takes responsibility judge Unless; (see note) pertinent company repute expected of friendship passed by too extravagant of little importance waste; (see note) Lose pass the time believe; ever improved fortune understanding you judge confess Unless believe (t-note) is subject to chance change; (t-note) do not know lost its youthful vigor laid waste; barren showers in preparation for appears similarly it behooves me