5                        10                    15                        20                    25                    30                    35                        40                    45                        50                        55                    60                        65                    70                        75                    80                        85                    90                        95                        100                    105                        110                    115                        120                    125                                    130                    135                        140                        145                    150                    155                    160                        165                    170                        175                    180                        185                    190                        195                    200                        205                    210                        215                        220                    225                        230                    235                        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                        365                    370                        375                    380                        385                    390                        395                        400                    405                        410                    415                        420                    425                        430                    435                        440                        445                    450                        455                    460                        465                    470                        475                    480                        485                        490                    495                        500                    505                        510                    515                        520                    525                        530                        535                    540                        545                    550                        555                    560                        565                    570                        575                        580                    585                        590                    595                        600                    605                        610                    615                    620                    625                        630                    635                        640                    645                        650                        655                    660                        665                    670                        675                    680                        685                    690                        695                        700                    705                        710                    715                        720                    725                        730                    735                        740                        745                    750                        755                    760                        765                    770                                    775                    780                        785                        790                    795                        800                    805                        810                    815                        820                    825                        830                        835                    840                        845                    850                        855                    860                        865                    870                        875                        880                    885                        890                    895                        900                    905                        910                    915                        920                        925                    930                        935                    940                        945                    950                        955                    960                     965                        970                    975                        980                    985                        990                    995                     1000                    1005                        1010                        1015                    1020                        1025                    1030                        1035                    1040                        1045                    1050                        1055                    1060                        1065                    1070                        1075                    1080                        1085                        1090                    1095                        1100                    1105                        1110                    1115                        1120                    1125                        1130                        1135                    1140                        1145                    1150                        1155                    1160                        1165                    1170                        1175                        1180                    1185                        1190                    1195                        1200                    1205                        1210                    1215                        1220                        1225                    1230                        1235                    1240                        1245                    1250                        1255                    1260                        1265                        1270                    1275                        1280                    1285                                    1290                    1295                        1300                    1305                        1310                        1315                    1320                        1325                    1330                        1335                    1340                        1345                    1350                        1355                        1360                    1365                        1370                    1375                        1380                    1385                        1390                    1395                        1400                    1405                    1410                        1415                    1420                        1425                    1430                        1435                    1440                        1445                        1450                    1455                        1460                    1465                        1470                    1475                        1480                    1485                        1490                        1495                    1500                        1505                    1510                        1515                    1520                        1525                    1530                        1535                        1540                    1545                        1550                    1555                        1560                    1565                        1570                    1575                    1580                        1585                    1590                        1595                    1600                        1605                    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                    1745                        1750                    1755                        1760                        1765                    1770                        1775                    1780                        1785                    1790                        1795                    1800                        1805                        1810                    1815                        1820                    1825                        1830                    1835                        1840                    1845                        1850                        1855                    1860                        1865                    1870                        1875                    1880                        1885                    1890                        1895                        1900                    1905                    1910                    1915                        1920                    1925                        1930                    1935                        1940                        1945                    1950                        1955                    1960                        1965                    1970                        1975                    1980                        1985                        1990                    1995                        2000                    2005                        2010                    2015                        2020                    2025                        2030                        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

The Prologue     Quhen pale Aurora with face lamentable Hir russat mantill, borderit all with sable, Lappit about be hevinlye circumstance The tender bed and arres honorable Of Flora, quene till flouris amyable In May I rays to do my observance And entrit in a garding of plesance With sole depaint, as paradys amyable, And blisfull bewes with blomed wariance,     So craftely dame Flora had over fret Hir hevinly bed, powderit with mony a set Of ruby, topas, perle and emerant, With balmy dewe bathit and kyndly wet, Quhil vapours hote, right fresche and wele ybet, Dulce of odour, of flewour most fragrant, The silver droppis on dayseis distillant, Quhilk verdour branches over the alars yet,1 With smoky sence the mystis reflectant.     The fragrant flouris, blomand in their seis, Overspred the leves of Naturis tapestreis, Above the quhilk with hevinly armoneis, The birdes sat on twistis and on greis, Melodiously makand thair kyndly gleis, Quhois schill notis fordinned al the skyis. Of reparcust ayr the eccon cryis Amang the branchis of the blomed treis, And on the laurers silver droppis lyis. Quhyll that I rowmed in that paradice Replennessed and full of all delice, Out of the sea Eous alift his heid — I meyne the hors quhilk drawis at device The assiltré and goldin chaire of pryce Of Tytan, quhilk at morowe semis reid. The new colowr that all the night lay deid Is restored; the baith fowlis, flowris and ryce Reconfort was throw Phebus gudlyheid.     The dasy and the maryguld onlappit Quhilkis all the nicht lay with thair levis happit Thaim to preserve fra rewmes pungitive. The umbrate treis that Tytan about wappit War portrait and on the erth yschappit Be goldin bemes vivificative Quhois amene hete is most restorative. The gershoppers amangis the vergers gnappit And beis wrocht materiall for thair hyve.     Richt halsom was the sessoun of the yeir. Phebus furth yet depured bemes cleir Maist nutrityve tyll all thynges vigitant. God Eolus of wynd list nocht appeir, Nor ald Saturne with his mortall speir And bad aspect contrar til every plant. Neptunus nolde within that palace hant. The beriall stremes rynnyng men micht heir By bonkis grene with glancis variant.     For till beholde that hevinly place complete — The purgit ayr with new engendrit hete, The soyl enbroude with colowr, ure and stone, The tender grene, the balmy droppes swete — So rejoyst and confort wes my sprete I not wes it a vision or fanton. Amyd the buskys rowmyng myn alone Within that garth of all plesans replete, A voce I hard, preclare as Phebus schone     Syngand, “O May, thow myrrour of soles, Maternall moneth, lady and maistres, Tyl every thing adoun respirature, Thyn hevinly werk and worthy craftines The small herbis constrenis tyl encres. O verray ground tyl werking of nature, Quhois hie curage and assucuryt cure Causis the erth his frutis tyll expres, Dyffundant grace on every creature,     “Thy godly lore, cunnyng incomparabyl, Dantis the savage bestis maist unstabyl And expellis all that nature infestis. The knoppit syonys with levys agreabyl For tyl revert and burgione ar maid abyll. Thy myrth refreschis birdis in thair nestis, Quhilkis thee to pryse and Nature never restis, Confessand you maist potent and lovabyll Amang the brownys of the olyve twystes.     “In thee is rute and augment of curage, In thee enforcis Martis vassalage. In thee is amorus luf and armony With incrementis fresche in lusty age. Quha that constrenit ar in luffis rage, Addressand thaim with observans ayrly Weil auchtys thee tyl glore and magnify.” And with that word I rasyt my vissage Sore effrayit, half in a frenisye.     “O Nature quene and O ye lusty May,” Quod I tho, “Quhow lang sall I thus forvay Quhilk yow and Venus in this garth deservis? Reconsell me out of this gret affray That I maye synge yow laudis day be day. Ye that al mundane creaturis preservis, Confort your man that in this fanton stervis With sprete arrasyt and every wit away, Quakyng for fere, baith puncys, vane, and nervis.”     My fatal werd, my febyl wit I wary, My dasyt heid, quham lake of brane gart vary And not sustene so amyabyll a soun! With ery curage, febyl strenthis sary, Bownand me hame — and list no langer tary — Out of the ayr come ane impressioun Throw quhois lycht in extasy or swoun, Amyd the virgultis all in tyl a fary As femynine so feblyt fell I doun.     And with that gleme so dasyt wes my mycht Quhill thair remanit nothir voce nor sycht, Breth, motione, nor hetis naturale; Saw nevir man so faynt a levand wycht — And na ferly, for over excelland lycht Corruppis the wit and garrys the blud availe On tyl the hart that it no danger ale. Quhen it is smorit, membris wyrkes not richt; The dredfull terrour sua did me assaile.     Yyt at the last, I not quhou long a space, A lytell hete aperyt in my face Quhilk had to fore beyn pale and voyde of blud. Tho in my sweven I met a ferly cace. I thought me set within a desert place Amyd a forest, by a hydous flud With grysly fysche; and, shortly tyl conclud, I shall descryve, as God wil geve me grace, Myn avision in rurell termes rude. Finis         The First Part     Thow barrant wyt overset with fantasyis, Schaw now the craft that in thy memor lyis, Schaw now thy shame, schaw now thy bad nystee, Schaw thyn endyt, repruf of rethoryis, Schaw now thy beggit termis mare than thryis, Schaw now thy ranys and thyn harlottree, Schaw now thy dull, exhaust inanytee, Schaw furth thy cure and wryte thir frenesyis Quhilkis of thy sempyll cunnyng nakyt thee.     My ravyst sprete in that deserte terrybill Approchit nere that ugly flude horrybill, Lyk tyll Cochyte the ryver infernall, Wyth vyle wattyr quhilk maid a hydduus trubbyll, Rynnand overhed, blud red, and impossybyll That it had byn a ryver naturall. With brayis bare, raif rochis, lyke to fall, Quhare on na gers nor herbys wer visibyll, Bot skauppis brynt with blastis boryall.     Thys laythly flude, rumland as thondyr, routyt, In quham the fysche, yelland as elvys, schoutyt. Thair yelpis wylde my hering all fordevyt. Tha grym monsturis my spretis abhorryt and doutyt. Not throu the soyl bot muskan treis sproutyt Combust, barrant, unblomyt and unlevyt; Ald rottyn runtis quhairin no sap was levyt, Moch, all wast, widdrit, with granis moutyt — A ganand den quhair morthurars men revyt. Quhairfore my selvyn was richt sore agast. This wyldernes abhomynable and wast, In quhom na thing wes Nature confortand, Was dyrk as royk the quhilk the see upcast. The quhislyng wynd blew mony byttir blast. Runtis ratlit and uneth myght I stand. Out throu the wode I crap on fut and hand. The ryvar stank. The treis clattryt fast. The soil was not bot marres, slyik, and sand.     And not but caus my spretis were abaysit All solitare in that desert arrasyt. “Allas,” I said, “is non other remede? Cruel Fortoun, quhy hes thow me betrasyt, Quhy hes thou thus my fatall end compasyt? Allas, allas, sall I thus sone be dede In this desert and wait non uther rede Bot be devoryt wyth sum best ravanus? I wepe, I wale, I plene, I cry, I plede, Inconstant warld and quheil contrarius.     “Thy transitory plesans quhat avaylys? Now thare, now heir, now hie, and now devalys, Now to, now fro, now law, now magnifyis, Now hote, now cald, now lauchys, now bewalys, Now seik, now hail, now wery, now not alys, Now gud, now evyll, now wetis and now dryis — Now thow promittis and rycht now thou denyis — Now wo, now weill, now ferm, now frevilus, Now gam, now gram, now lovys, now defyis — Inconstant warld and quheil contrarius.     “Ha! quha suld haif affyans in thy blys? Ha! quha suld haif fyrm esperans in this Quhilk is allace sa freuch and variant! Certis none. Sum hes. No wicht. Suythly, yys. Than hes my self bene gylty? Ya, iwys. Thairfore allace sall danger thus me dant? Quhyddyr is bycum sa sone this duyly hant And veyr translat in wyntyr furyus? Thus I bewale my faitis repugnant, Inconstant warld and quheil contrarius.”     Bydand the deid thus in myn extasy, A dyn I hard approchyng fast me by Quhilk movit fra the plage septentrionall As heyrd of bestis stampyng with loud cry. Bot than God wate how afferyt wes I, Traistand tyl be stranglyt with bestiall. Amyd a stok richt prevaly I stall Quhare, lukand out, anone I dyd espy Ane lusty rout of bestis rationall —     Of ladyis fair and gudly men arrayit In constant weid — that weil my spretis payit. Wyth degest mynd quhairin all wyt aboundyt, Full sobyrly thair haknais thay assait Eftyr the feitis auld and not forvayt. Thair hie prudence schew furth and nothyng roundit, With gude effere quhare at the wod resoundyt. In stedfast ordour, to vysy onaffrayit, Thay rydyng furth, with stabylnes ygroundyt,     Amyddys quham, borne in ane goldyn chare Ovyrfret with perle and stonys maist preclare That drawin wes by haiknays four, mylk quhyt, Was set a quene, as lylly swete of sware, In purpur robe hemmid with gold ilk gare Quhilk jemmyt claspes closyd all parfyte, A Diademe maist pleasandly polyte Set on the tressys of her gyltyn hare, And in her hand a sceptre of delyte.     Syne next her, rayed in granyt violate, Twelve Damysylles, ilk ane in theyr estate Quhilkis semyt of hyr consell most secré, And nixt thaym wes a lusty rout, God wate: Lordis, ladyis, and mony fair prelate, Baith borne of hie estate and law degré. Furth with thair quene thay al by passit me. Ane esy pase thay rydyng furth the gate, And I abaid alone within the tre.     And as the rout wes passyt one and one And I remanand in the tre alone, Out throw the wode come rydand cativis twane, Ane on ane asse, a wedy about his mone, The tothir raid ane hiddows hors apone. I passyt furth and fast at thaym did frane Quhat men thay wer. Thay answeryt me agane, “Our namys ben Achitefel and Synone That by our suttell menys feil hes slane.”     “Wait ye,” quod I, “quhat signifyis yon rout?” Synon sayd “Ya,” and gave ane hyddows schout, “We wrechys bene abject thairfra, iwys. Yone is the Quene of Sapience, but dout, Lady Minerve, and yone twelve hir about Ar the prudent Sibillais ful of blys, Cassandra, eik Delbora and Circis, The Fatale Systeris twynand our weirdes out, Judith, Jael, and mony a prophetis,     “Quhilkis groundyt ar in fyrm intelligens. And thair is als in to yone court gone hens Clerkis divine, with problewmys curius, As Salomon the well of sapiens And Arestotyl, fulfyllet of prudens, Salust, Senek, and Titus Livius, Picthagoras, Porphure, Permenydus, Melysses with his sawis but defence, Sidrag, Secundus and Solenyus,     “Ptholomeus, Ipocras, Socrates, Empedocles, Neptennebus, Hermes, Galien, Averroes, and Plato, Enoth, Lameth, Job, and Diogenes, The eloquent and prudent Ulisses, Wyse Josephus and facund Cicero, Melchisedech, with othyr mony mo. Thair viage lyis throw out this wildernes; To the Palice of Honour all thay go,     Is situat from hens liggis ten hundyr. Our horsys oft, or we be thair, wyll fundyr. Adew, we may no langer heir remane.” “Or that ye passe,” quod I, “tell me this wondyr, How that ye wrechyt cativis thus at undyr Ar sociat with this court soverane?” Achitefell maid this answer agane, “Knawis thou not? Haill, erd quake, and thundyr Ar oft in May, with mony schour of rane.     “Rycht so we bene in tyll this company. Our wyt aboundit, and usyt wes lewdly. My wysdome ay fulfyllyt my desyre, As thou may in the Bybyl weil aspy How Davidis prayer put my counsell by. I gart his sonne aganys hym conspyre, The quhilk wes slane, quhairfore up be the swyre My self I hangit, frustrat sa fowlily. This Synon wes a Greik that rasyt fyre     “First in to Troy, as Virgyll dois report — Sa tratourlyk maid him be draw overwhort Quhill in he brocht the hors with men of armys Quhairthrow the towne distroit wes at schort.” Quod I, “Is this your destany and sort? Cursit be he that sorowis for your harmys, For ye bene schrewis baith, be Goddis armys. Ye will optene nane entres at yone port Bot gif it be throw sorcery or charmys.”     “Ingres tyll have,” quod thay, “we not presume. It sufficis us tyl se the Palice blume And stand on rowme quhare bettyr folk bene charrit.2 For tyll remane, adew, we have na tume. This ilk way cummis the courtis, be our dume, Of Diane and Venus that feil hes marryt.” With that thay raid away as thay war skarryt, And I agayne, maist lyk ane elrych grume, Crap in the muskane akyn stok mysharrit.     Thus wrechitly I maid my resydence Imagynand feil syse for sum defence In contrar savage bestis maist cruell, For na remeid bot deid be violence Sum tyme asswagis febill indegence. Thus in a part I reconfort my sell Bot that so lityll wes, I dar nocht tell. The stychlyng of a mows out of presence Had bene to me mare ugsum than the hell.     Yit glaid I wes that I with thaym had spokkyn. Had not bene that, certis my hart had brokkyn For megirnes and pusillamytee. Remanand thus within the tre al lokkyn, Dissyrand fast sum signys or sum tokkyn Of Lady Venus and of hir companee, A hart transformyt ran fast by the tree, With houndis rent, on quham Dian wes wrokkyn; Tharby I understude that sche wes nee.     Thay had tofore declarit hir cummyng. Mare perfytly, forthy, I knew the syng; Wes Action quhilk Diane nakyt watyt Bathyng in a well, and eik hir madynnys yyng. The goddes wes commovyt at this thing And hym in forme hes of a hart translatit. I saw, allace, his houndis at him slatit. Bakwert he blent to gyf thaym knawlegyng Tha raif thair lord, mysknew hym at thaym batit.     Syne ladyis come with lusty giltyn tressys In habit wild maist lyke till fostaressys, Amyddys quham, heich on ane eliphant In syng that sche in chastité incressys, Raid Diane, that ladyis hartis dressys Tyl be stabil and na way inconstant. God wait that nane of thaym is variant; All chast and trew virginité professys. I not, bot few I saw with Diane hant.     In til that court I saw anone present Jeptyis douchtir, a lusty lady gent Offeryt tyl God in hir virginité. Pollixena I wys wes not absent. Panthessilé with mannys hardyment, Effygyn and Virgenius douchter fre, With uthyr flouris of feminyté Baith of the New and the Ald Testament, All on thay raid and left me in the tre.     In that desert dispers, in sondyr skattryt, Wer bewis bare quham rane and wynde on battryt. The water stank, the feild was odious Quhar dragonys, lessertis, askis, edders swattryt With mouthis gapand, forkyt tayles tattryt, With mony a stang and spoutis vennomous Corruppyng ayr be rewme contagious. Maist gros and vyle enposonyt cloudis clatteryt, Rekand lyk hellys smoke sulfuryus.     My dasyt hed, fordullit dissyly, I rasyt up, half in a letergy, As dois a catyve ydronken in slep And so opperyt tyl my fantasy A schynand lycht out of the northest sky. Proportion soundis dulcest hard I pepe The quhilk with cure till heir I did tak kepe. In musyk nowmer full of harmony Distant on far wes caryit be the depe.     Farther by wattyr folk may soundis here Than by the erth, the quhilk with poris sere Up drynkis ayr that movit is by sound, Quhilk in compact wattir of ane rivere May nocht entre bot rynnys thare and here Quhil it at last be caryit on the ground — And thocht throw dyn, be experience is found, The fysch ar causyt within the rivere stere, Inoth the wattyr the nois dois not abound.     Violent dyn the ayr brekkis and deris, Syne gret motion of ayr the watyr steris. The wattyr steryt, fischis for ferdnes fleis; Bot, out of dout, no fysch in wattyr heris, For, as we se, rycht few of thaym has eris — And eik forsuyth, bot gyf wyse clerkis leis, Thair is nane ayr inoth watters nor seis, But quhilk na thing may heir, as wyse men leiris, Lyik as but lycht thair is na thyng that seis.     Anewch of this, I not quhat it may mene. I wyll returne till declare all bedene My dreidfull dreme with grysly fantasyis. I schew tofore quhat I had hard and sene, Perticularly sum of my paynfull tene. But now God wate quhat ferdnes on me lyis. Lang ere I said — and now this tyme is twyis — A sound I hard, of angellys as it had bene, With armony fordynnand all the skyis,     So dulce, so swete, and so melodius That every wycht thair with mycht be joyous Bot I and cativis dullit in dispare; For quhen a man is wreth or furius, Malancolyk for wo or tedius, Than is al plesance till hym maist contrare; And semblably than, so did wyth me fare. This melody intonyt hevinly thus For profund wo constrenyt me mak care;     And murnand thus as ane maist wofull wicht, Of the maist plesand court I had a sycht In warld adoun sen Adam wes create. Quhat sang? Quhat joy? Quhat armony? Quhat lycht? Quhat myrthfull solace, plesance all at ryght? Quhat fresch bewté? Quhat excelland estate? Quhat swete vocis? Quhat wordis suggurate? Quhat fair debatis? Quhat lufsum ladyis bricht? Quhat lusty gallandis did on thair servyce wate?     Quhat gudly pastance, and quhat menstraly? Quhat game thay maid? In faith, not tell can I, Thocht I had profund wit angelicall. The hevinly soundis of thair armony Has dymmyt so my drery fantasy, Baith wit and reason, half is lost of all. Yit as I knaw, als lychtly say I sall: That angellyk and godly company Tyll se me thocht a thyng celestiall.     Procedand furth wes draw ane chariote Be cursuris twelf trappit in gren velvote. Of fyne gold wer juncturis and harnasyngis. The lymnuris wer of byrnyst gold, God wote. Baith extré and quhelis of gold, I hote. Of goldyn cord wer lyamys, and the stryngis Festnyt conjunct in massy goldyn ryngis; Evyr hamys convenient for sic note; And raw silk brechamys ovyr thair halsys hyngis.     The body of the cart of evir bone With crysolytis and mony pretious stone Wes all ovirfret in dew proportioun Lyke sternys in the firmament quhilkis schone. Reperalit wes that godlyk plesand wone, Tyldyt abone and to the erth adoun In rychest claith of gold of purpur broun; But fas or othyr frenyeis had it none Save plate of gold anamallyt all fassioun,     Quhairfra dependant hang thair megyr bellys, Sum round, sum thraw, in sound the quhilkis excellis. All wer of gold of Araby maist fyne, Quhilkis with the wynd concordandly so knellys That to be glad thair sound al wycht compellys. The armony wes so melodius fyne In mannys voce and instrument divine, Quhare so thay went, it semyt nothyng ellys Bot jerarchyes of angellys ordours nyne.     Amyd the chare, fulfillyt of plesance, A lady sat, at quhais obeysance Wes all that rout; and wondyr is till here Of hir excelland lusty countenance. Hir hie bewté, quhilk mayst is til avance, Precellys all — thair may be na compere — For lyk Phebus in hiest of his spere Hir bewtye schane, castand so gret a glance All farehed it opprest, baith far and nere.     Scho wes peirles of schap and portrature. In hir had Nature fynesyt hir cure. As for gud havyngis, thair wes nane bot sche. And hir array wes so fyne and so pure That quhair of wes hir rob, I am not sure, For nocht bot perle and stonys mycht I se, Of quham, the brychtnes of hir hie bewté For till behald my sycht myght not endure Mair than the brycht sonne may the bakkis e.     Hir hair as gold or topasis wes hewyt. Quha hir beheld, hir bewtie ay renewyt. On heid sche had a creste of dyamantis. Thair wes na wycht that gat a sycht eschewyt, Wer he nevir sa constant nor weil thewyt, Na he was woundit and him hir servant grantis. That hevinly wycht, hir cristall eyn so dantis, For blenkis swete, nane passit unpersewyt, Bot gyf he wer preservit as thir sanctis.     I wondryt sore and in mynd did stare Quhat creature that mycht be wes so fare, Of sa peirles excelent womanheid. And, farlyand thus, I saw within the chare Quhare that a man wes set with lymmes square, His body weil entalyeit every steid. He bare a bow with dartis haw as leid, His clethyng wes als grene as ane hountare Bot he forsuyth had none eyn in his hed.     I understude by signis persavabill That wes Cupyd, the god maist dissavabill; The lady, Venus his mother, a goddes. I knew that wes the court so variabill Of erdly luf, quhilk sendill standis stabill. Bot yit thayr myrth and solace, nevertheles — In musik, tone, and menstraly expres So craftely with corage aggreabill — Hard never wicht sik melody, I ges.     Accumpanyit lusty yonkers with all. Fresche ladyis sang in voce virgineall Concordes swete, divers entoned reportis, Proportionis fyne with sound celestiall: Duplat, triplat, diatesseriall, Sesque altra and decupla resortis; Diapason of mony syndry sortis War songin and plait be seir cunnyng menstrall On luf ballattis with mony fair disportis.     In modulatioun hard I play and syng Faburdoun, priksang, discant, conturyng, Cant organe, figuration, and gemmell, On crowd, lute, harp, with mony gudly spring, Schalmis, clarionis, portativis hard I ring, Monycord, orgain, tympane, and symbell, Sytholl, psaltery, and vocis swete as bell, Soft releschyngis in dulce delyveryng; Fractyonis divide, at rest, or clos compell.     Not Pan of Archaid so plesandly plays Nor King David, quhais playng, as men sayis, Conjurit the spreit the quhilk Kyng Saul confoundit, Nor Amphion with mony subtile layis Quhilk Thebes wallit with harpyng in his dayis, Nor he that first the subtile craftis foundit, Was not in musik half so weil igroundit Nor knew thair mesure tent dele be no wayes. At thair resort baith hevyn and erd resoundit.     Na mare I understude thir noumeris fyne, Be God, than dois a gekgo or a swyne, Save that me think swete soundis gude to heir. Na mair heiron my labour will I tyne. Na mair I wyl thir verbillys swete diffyne, How that thair musik tones war mair cleir And dulcer than the movyng of the speir Or Orpheus harp of Trace with sound divyne; Glaskeryane maid na noyes compeir.     Thay condescend sa weil in ane accord That by na juynt thair soundis bene discord, In every key thay werren sa expert. Of thair array gyf I suld mak record, Lusty spryngaldis and mony gudly lord, Tendyr yonglyngis with pietuous virgin hart, Eldar ladyis knew mair of lustis art, Divers utheris quhilkis me not list remord, Quhais lakkest weid was silkis, or brounvert.     In vesturis quent of mony syndry gyse, I saw all claith of gold men mycht devise, Purpur coulour, punyk and skarlot hewis, Velvot robbis maid with the grand assyse, Dames, satyn, begaryit mony wyse, Cramessy satin, velvos enbroude in divers rewis, Satyn figuris champit with flouris and bewis — Damesflure tere pyle, quhare on thair lyis Perle orphany, quhilk every state renewis.     Thare ryche entire, maist peirles to behald, My wyt can not discrive, howbe it I wald. Mony entrappit stede with sylkis sere, Mony pattrell nervyt with gold I tald, Full mony new gylt harnasyng not ald, On mony palfray, lusum ladyis clere; And nyxt the chare I saw formest appere Upon a bardyt cursere stout and bald, Mars, god of stryf, enarmyt in byrnist gere.     Every invasybill wapyn on hym he bare. His luke was grym, his body large and square, His lymmys weil entailyeit til be strang, His nek wes gret, a span lenth weil, or mare, His vissage braid, with crisp, broun, curland hare, Of statur not ovyr gret nor yit ovyr lang. Behaldand Venus, “O ye my luif,” he sang, And scho agane with dalyans sa fare Hir knycht hym clepis quare so he ryde or gang.     Thair wes Arsyte and Palemon alswa Accumpanyit with fare Emylya, The quene Dido with hir fals luf Enee, Trew Troylus, unfaythfull Cressida, The fair Paris and plesand Helena, Constant Lucres and traist Penolype, Kynd Pirramus and wobegone Thysbe, Dolorus Progne, triest Philomena, King Davidis luif thare saw I, Barsabe.     Thare wes Ceix with the kynd Alcyon, And Achilles wroth with Agamemnon For Bryssida his lady fra hym tane; Wofull Phillys with hir luf Demophon, Subtel Medea and hir knycht Jasone; Of France I saw thair Paris and Veane; Thare wes Phedra, Thesyus, and Adriane, The secrete, wyse, hardy Ipomedon, Asswere, Hester, irraprevabill Susane.     Thare wes the fals unhappy Dalida, Cruel, wikkyt and curst Dyonera, Wareit Bibles and the fair Absolon, Ysyphele, abhomynabil Sylla, Trastram, Yside, Helcana and Anna, Cleopatra and worthy Mark Anthon, Iole, Hercules, Alcest, Ixion, The onely pacient wyfe Gressillida, Nersissus that his hed brak on a ston.     Thare wes Jacob with fair Rachel his make, The quhilk become til Laban for hir sake Fourteen yere boynd with fyrm hart immutabill. Thair bene bot few sic now, I undertake. Thir fair ladyis in silk and claith of lake Thus lang sall not all foundyn be so stabyll. This Venus court quhilk wes in luif maist abil For till discrive my cunning is to wake. A multitude thay wer, innumerabill,     Of gudly folk in every kynd and age; With blenkis swete, fresch lusty grene curage, And dalyans thay rydyng furth in fere. Sum leivys in hope and sum in great thyrlage, Sum in dispare, sum findis his panys swage. Garlandis of flouris and rois chaplettis sere Thay bare on hede and samyn sang so clere, Quhil that thair myrth commovit my curage Till syng this lay, quhilk folowand ye may here:     “Constrenyt hart, bylappit in distres, Groundit in wo and full of hevynes, Complene thy paynfull caris infinyte, Bewale this warldis frele unstedfastnes, Havand regrait, sen gone is thy glaidnes, And all thy solace returnyt in dispyte. O cative thrall, involupit in syte, Confesse thy fatale, wofull wrechitnes; Divide in twane and furth diffound all tyte Aggrevance gret in miserabill endyte. “My crewell fait, subjectit to penance, Predestinat sa void of all plesance, Has every greif amyd myn hart ingrave. The slyd, inconstant destany or chance Unequaly doith hyng in thair ballance My demeritis and gret dolour I have. This purgatory redowblys all the lave. Ilk wycht has sum weilfare at obeysance, Save me, bysnyng, that may na grace ressave. Dede, thee addresse and do me to my grave.     “Wo worth sik strang mysforton anoyus Quhilk has opprest my spretis maist joyus, Wo worth this worldis freuch felicité, Wo worth my fervent diseis dolorus, Wo worth the wycht that is not pietuus Quhare the trespassor penitent thay se, Wo worth this dede that dayly dois me de, Wo worth Cupid and wo worth fals Venus, Wo worth thaym bayth, ay waryit mot thay be, Wo worth thair court and cursyt destané.”     Loude as I mocht, in dolour al distrenyeit, This lay I sayng and not a lettir fenyeit. Tho saw I Venus on hir lyp did byte, And all the court in hast thair horsys renyeit, Proclamand loude, “Quhare is yone poid that plenyeit Quhilk deth diservis committand sik dispite?” Fra tre to tre, thay serchyng but respyte, Quhill ane me fand, quhilk said in greif, disdenyeit, “Avant, velane, thou reclus imperfyte.”     All in ane fevyr out of my muskan bowr On knees I crap and law for feare did lowr. Than all the court on me thayr hedis schuke, Sum glowmand grym, sum grinand with vissage sowr, Sum in the nek gave me feil dyntis dowr, “Pluk at the craw,” thay cryit, “deplome the ruke!” Pulland my hare, with blek my face they bruke. Skrymmory fery gaif me mony a clowr. For Chyppynuty full oft my chaftis quuke.     With payne torment, thus in thayr teynfull play, Till Venus bund they led me furth the way, Quhilk than wes set amyd a golden chare; And so confoundit into that fell affray As that I micht consydyr thair array. Me thocht the feild — ovirspred with carpetis fare, Quhilk wes tofore brint, barrant, vile, and bare — Wox maist plesand, bot all, the suyth to say, Micht not amese my grewous pane full sare.     Entronit sat Mars, Cupyd and Venus. Tho rais a clerk wes clepit Varius Me tyl accusyng as of a dedly cryme; And he begouth and red a dittay thus, “Thou wikkyt catyve, wod and furious, Presumptuusly now at this present tyme My lady here blasphemed in thy ryme; Hir sonne, hir self, and hir court amorus For till betrais, awatit here sen prime.”     Now God Thow wate, me thocht my fortune fey. Wyth quakand voce and hart cald as a key On kneys I knelyt and mercy culd implore, Submyttand me, but ony langer pley, Venus mandate and plesour till obey. Grace wes denyit and my travel forlore For scho gaif chargis till procede as before. Than Varius spak rycht stoutly me till fley, Injonand silence tyll ask grace ony more.     He demandit myn answere, quhat I sayd, Than as I mocht, with curage all mysmaid, Fra tyme I undirstude na mare supplé, Sore abasyt, belive I thus out braid, “Set of thir pointis of cryme now on me laid I may me quyte giltles in verité, Yit fyrst, agane the juge quhilk here I se, This inordenat court, and proces quaid, I wyll object for causys twa or thre.”     Inclynand law, quod I with pietuus face, “I me defend, Madame plesyt your grace.” “Say on,” quod sche. Than said I thus but mare, “Madame, ye may not syt in till this cace, For ladyis may be jugis in na place; And mare attour, I am na seculare; A spirituall man (thocht I be void of lare) Clepyt I am, and aucht my lyvys space To be remyt till my juge ordinare.     “I yow beseik, Madame, with byssy cure, Till gyf ane gracius interlocuture On thir exceptionys now proponyt late.” Than suddanly Venus, I yow assure, Deliverit sone and with a voce so sture Answeryt thus: “Thow subtyle smy, God wait! Quhat wenys thou? Till degraid myne hie estate? Me till declyne as juge, curst creature, It beis not so. The game gois othir gate.     “As we thee fynd, thow sall thoill jugement. Not of a clerk we se the represent Save onely falsehed and dissaitfull talys. Fyrst quhen thow come, with hart and hail entent Thow thee submyttit till my commaundement. Now now, thairof me think to sone thow falys! I weyn nathyng bot foly that thee alys. Ye clerkis bene in subtyle wordis quent And in the deid als scharpe as ony snalys.     “Ye bene the men bewrays my commandis. Ye bene the men distrublys my servandis. Ye bene the men with wikkyt wordis fele Quhilk blasphemys fresch, lusty, yong gallandis That in my servyce and retenew standis. Ye bene the men that clepys yow so lele, With fals behest quhill ye your purpose stele, Syne ye forswere baith body, treuth and handis. Ye bene sa fals — ye can no word consele.     “Have doyn,” quod sche, “syr Varius. Alswyith Do writ the sentence. Lat this cative kyith3 Gyf our power may demyng his mysdeid.” Than God Thow wait gyf that my spreit wes blyith. The feverus hew in till my face dyd myith All my male eys, for swa the horribill dreid Hail me ovyrset, I mycht not say my Creid. For feir and wo, within my skyn I wryith. I mycht not pray, forsuyth, thocht I had neid.     Yit of my deth I set not half a fle — For gret effere, me thocht na pane to de — But sore I dred me for sum othyr jape That Venus suld throw hir subtillyté In till sum bysnyng best transfigurit me, As in a bere, a bair, ane oule, ane ape. I traistit so for till have bene myschaip That oft I wald my hand behald to se Gyf it alteryt, and oft my vissage grape.     Tho I revolvit in my mynd anone Quhow that Diane transformyt Acteone, And Juno eik as for a kow gert kepe The fare Yo that lang wes wo begone — Argos hir yymmyt that eyn had mony one, Quhom at the last Mercurius gert slepe And hir delyverit of that danger depe. I remembrit also quhow in a stone The wyfe of Loth ichangit sore did wepe.     I umbethocht quhow Jove and ald Saturn In tyll a wolf thay did Lycaon turn, And quhow the mychty Nabugodonosore In bestly forme did on the feild sudjourn And for his gilt wes maid to wepe and murn. Thir feirfull wondris gart me dreid ful sore, For by exemplys oft I herd tofore He suld bewar that seys his fallow spurn. Myschans of ane suld be ane otheris lore.     And rolland thus in divers fantasyis, Terribil thochtis oft my hert did gryis For all remeid wes alterit in dispare. Thare wes na hope of mercy till devyis. Thare wes na wycht my frend be na kyn wyis. Alhalely the court wes me contrare. Than wes all maist wryttyn the sentence sare. My febyll mynd, seand this gret suppris, Wes than of wit and every blys full bare.         The Seconde Parte     Lo thus amyd this hard perplexité, Awaytand ever quhat moment I suld de Or than sum new transfiguration, He quhilk that is eternall verité, The glorious Lord ryngand in personis thre, Providit has for my salvation Be sum gude spretis revelation, Quhilk intercessioun maid, I traist, for me; I foryet all imagination.     All hail my dreid I tho foryet in hy And all my wo, bot yit I wyst not quhy, Save that I had sum hope till be relevyt. I rasyt than my vissage hastely And with a blenk anone I did espy A lusty sycht quhilk nocht my hart engrevit. A hevinly rout out throw the wod eschevyt Of quhame the bonty, gyf I not deny, Uneth may be in till ane scripture brevit.     With lawrere crownyt in robbis syd all new, Of a fassoun, and all of stedfast hew, Arrayit weil, a court I saw cum nere Of wyse, degest, eloquent fathers trew And plesand ladyis quhilkis fresch bewtie schew, Syngand softly, full swete, on thair manere, On poete wyse, all divers versis sere,4 Historyis gret in Latyne toung and Grew With fresche endyt and soundis gude till here;     And sum of thaym ad lyram playit and sang So plesand vers quhill all the rochys rang, Metyr Saphik and also elygee. Thair instrumentis all maist wer fydlys lang Bot with a string quhilk nevyr ane wreist yeid wrang. Sum had ane harpe and sum a fair psaltree; On lutis sum thair accentis subtellé Devydyt weil and held the mesure lang In soundis swete of plesand melodie.     The ladyis sang in vocis dulcorate Facund epistillis quhilkis quhilum Ovid wrate As Phillys quene send till duke Demophon, And of Pennolepe the gret regrate Send till hir lord, sche dowtyng his estate, That he at Troy suld losyt be or tone. Quhow Acontus till Cedippa anone Wrate his complaint, thair hard I weil, God wate, With othir lusty myssyvis mony one.     I had gret wondir of thair layis sere Quhilkis in that arte mycht have na way compere Of castis quent, rethorik colouris fyne So poete lyk in subtyle fair manere And elaquent, fyrme cadens regulere. Thair vayage furth contenand rycht as lyne With sang and play, as sayd is, so dyvine, Thay fast approchyng to the place well nere Quhare I wes torment in my gastly pyne;     And as the hevynly sort now nomynate Removyt furth on gudly wyse the gate Towert the court quhilk wes tofore expremit, My curage grew — for quhat cause I not wate, Save that I held me payit of thayr estate; And thay wer folk of knawlage, as it semit. Als in til Venus court full fast thay demit, Sayand, "Yone lusty rout wyll stop our mate Till justefy thys bisning quhilk blasphemit.     "Yone is," quod they, "the court rethoricall Of polit termys, sang poeticall, And constand ground of famus historyis swete. Yone is the facund well celestiall. Yone is the fontayn and origynall Quharefra the well of Hylicon dois flete. Yone ar the folkis that comfortes every sprete Be fyne delyte and dyte angelicall, Causand gros lede all of maist gudnes glete.     "Yone is the court of plesand stedfastnes, Yone is the court of constant merynes, Yone is the court of joyus disciplyne Quhilk causys folk thair purpos till expres In ornat wyse, provocand with gladnes All gentyll hartis to thare lare inclyne. Every famus poet men may devyne Is in yone rout. Lo yondir, thair prynces, Thespis, the mothyr of the Musis Nyne;     "And nixt hir syne, hir douchter fyrst byget, Lady Cleo, quhilk craftely dois set Historiis ald lyk as thay wer present. Euterpe eik, quhilk dayly dois hir det In dulce blastis of pipis swete, but let. The thyrd systir, Thalia diligent, In wanton wryt and cronikillis doith imprent. The ferd endityth oft with chekis wet Sare tragedyis, Melphomyne the gent.     "Tarpsychore the fyft with humyll soun Makis on psaltreis modolatioun. The sext Erato, lyk thir luffirs wylde, Will syng, play, dans, and leip baith up and doune. Polimnya, the sevynt Muse of renoun, Ditis thir swete rethorik cullouris mylde Quhilkis ar so plesand baith to man and chylde. Uranya, the aucht and sistir schene, Wrytis the hevyn and sternys all bedene.     "The nynt, quham till nane othir is compere, Caliopé, that lusty lady clere, Of quham the bewtye and the worthynes The vertuys gret, schynis baith far and nere, For sche of nobillis fatis hes the stere Till wryt thair worschyp, victory, and prowes In kyngly style, quhilk dois thair fame encres, Clepyt in Latyne heroicus but were, Cheif of al wryt lyk as scho is maistres.     "Thir Musis nyne, lo yondir, may ye se With fresch Nymphis of watir and of see And Phanee, ladyis of thir templis ald, Pyerides, Dryades, Saturee, Neriedes, Aones, Napee, Of quham the bontyis nedis not be tald." Thus dempt the court of Venus monyfald, Quhilk speche refreschyt my perplexité, Rejosand weil my sprete afore wes cald.     The suddand sycht of that fyrme court foresaid Recomfort weil my hew tofore wes faid. Amyd my brest the joyus heit redoundyt, Behaldand quhow the lusty Musys raid, And al thair court quhilk wes so blyith and glaid, Quhois merynes all hevynes confoundyt. Thair saw I, weil in poetry ygroundyt, The gret Homere, quhilk in Grew langage said Maist eloquently, in quham all wyt aboundyt.     Thare wes the gret Latyn Virgillyus, The famus fathir poet Ovidius, Ditis, Daris, and eik the trew Lucane, Thare wes Plautus, Pogius, Parsius, Thare wes Terens, Donat and Servius, Francys Petrark, Flakcus Valeriane, Thare wes Ysop, Caton, and Alane, Thare wes Galterus and Boetius, Thare wes also the gret Quintilliane.     Thare wes the satyr poete Juvinale, Thare wes the mixt and subtell Marciale, Of Thebes bruyt thare wes the poete Stace. Thare wes Faustus and Laurence of the Vale, Pomponeus, quhais fame of late, sans fale, Is blawin wyd throw every realme and place. Thare wes the morale, wyse poete Orace; With mony other clerkis of gret avayle, Thare wes Brunell, Claudyus and Bocace.     So gret a pres of pepill drew us nere, The hunder part thare namys is not here. Yit thare I saw, of Brutus Albion, Goffryd Chaucere as A per se, sance pere In his wulgare, and morell John Gowere. Lydgat the monk raid musand him allone. Of this natioun I knew also anone Gret Kennedy and Dunbar, yit undede, And Quyntyne with ane huttok on his hede.     Howbeit I couth declare and weil endyte, The bonteis of that court dewlye to wryt Wer ovir prolyxt, transcendyng myne engyne Twychand the proces of my panefull syte. Belive I saw thir lusty Musys quhyte With all thair route towart Venus declyne Quhare Cupyd sat with hir in trone divyne, I standand bundyn in a sory plyte Bydand thair grace or than the dedly pyne.     Straucht til the quene sammyn thir Musis raid, Maist eloquently thare salutationys maid. Venus agane yald thaym thair salusyng Rycht reverently and on hir fete upbraid, Besekand thaym to lycht. "Nay, nay," thay said, "We may as here make na lang tarying." Caliopé, maist facund and bening, Inquyryt Venus what wicht had hir mismaid Or wes the cause thair of hir sudjournyng.     "Syster," sayd scho, "behald that bysnyng schrew. A subtyle smye — considyr weil his hew — Standis thair bond," and bykkynit hir to me. "Yone cative hes blasphemyt me of new For tyl degraid and do my fame adew; A laithly ryme dispitefull subtellé Compelit hes, rehersand loud on hie Sclander, dispite, sorow and wallaway To me, my sonne, and eike my court for ay.     "He hes deservit deth, he salbe dede, And we remane forsuith in to this stede Till justefy that rebell renygate." Quod Caliopé, "Sister, away all fede. Quhy suld he de? Quhy suld he leis his hede? To sla him for sa small a cryme, God wate, Greter degradyng wer to your estate All out than wes his sclander or sich plede. Quhow may a fule your hie renoun chakmate? "Quhat of his lak? Your fame so wyd is blaw, Your excellens maist peirles is so knaw, Na wrichis word ay depare your hie name. Gyf me his lyfe and modefy the law, For, on my hed he standis now sic aw That he sall eft disserve nevir mare blame. Not of his dede ye may report but schame. In recompence of this mysyttand saw He sall your hest in every part proclame."     Than Lord quhow glad becam my febil gost! My curage grew, the quhilk afore wes lost, Seand I had so gret ane advocate That expertly, but prayer, pryce, or cost, Opteynit had my frewel accion all most Quhilk wes afore perist and desolate. This quhyil Venus stude, in ane study strate, Bot fynally scho schew till all the ost Scho wald do grace and be not obstinate.     "I wyll," said sche, "have mercy and pyeté, Do slake my wreth and lat all rancour be. Quhare is mare vice than till be ovir cruel, And specially in wemen sic as me? A lady, fy, that usis tirranné No woman is, rather a serpent fell. A vennamus dragon or a devill of hell Is na compare to the inequyté Of bald wemen, as thir wyse clerkis tell.     "Gret God diffend I suld be ane of tho Quhilk of thare fede and malyce nevir ho! Out on sik gram, I wyll serve na repreif. Caliope, sistir," said til Venus tho, "At your request this wreche sall frely go. Heir I remyt his trespas, and all greif Salbe foryet, swa he wil say sum breif Or schort ballat in contrare pane and wo, Tuychand my laud and his plesand releif. "And secundly the nixt resonabil command Quhilk I him charge, se that he not ganestand. On thir conditions, sister, at your requeist, He sall go fre." Quod Caliope, inclynand, "Grant mercy, sister. I oblys by my hand He sall observe in al poyntis your beheist." Than Venus bad do slake sone my arreist. Belyve I wes releschit of every band, Uprais the court and all the perlour ceist.     Tho sat I doun lawly upon my kne At command of prudent Caliopé, Yeildand Venus thankis a thousand sith For sa hie frendschip and mercyfull pieté, Excelland grace and gret humanyté, The quhilk to me, trespassour, did scho kyth. "I thee forgeve," quod sche. Than wes I blyth. Doun on a stok I set me suddanlye At hir command and wrate this lay als swyth:     "Unwemmyt wit, deliverit of dangear, Maist happely preservit fra the snare, Releschit fre of servyce and bondage, Expell dolour, expell diseyses sare, Avoyd displesour, womentyng and care, Ressave plesans and do thy sorowe swage, Behald thy glaid, fresche, lusty, grene curage, Rejois amyd thir lovers lait and air, Provyde a place till plant thy tendir age Quhair thou in joy and plesour may repair.     "Quha is in welth? quha is weill fortunat? Quha is in peace, dissoverit from debbat? Quha levys in hop? quha levys in esperance? Quha standis in grace? quha standis in ferme estat? Quha is content, rejosyt air and lat, Or quha is he that fortune doith avance Bot thow, that is replenyst with plesance? Thow hes comfort, all weilfare dilligat; Thow hes gladnes, thow hes the happy chance, Thow hes thy wyll; now be not dissolat.     "Incres in myrthfull consolatioun, In joyus, swete ymaginatioun; Habond in luif of purifyit amouris With diligent trew deliberatioun; Rendir lovyngis for thy salvatioun Till Venus; and, ondir hir gard all houris, Rest at all ease, but sair or sytful schouris. Abyde in quyet, maist constant weilfare. Be glaid and lycht now in thy lusty flouris, Unwemmyt wyt, delyverit of dangare."     This lay wes red in oppyn audience Of the Musis and in Venus presence. "I stand content thow art obedient," Quod Caliopé, my campion and defence. Venus sayid eik, it wes sum recompence For my trespas I wes so penytent, And with that word all sodanly sche went. In ane instant scho and hir court wes hence, Yit still abayd thir Musis on the bent.     Inclynand than, I sayd, "Caliopé My protector, my help, and my supplé, My soverane lady, my redemptioun, My mediatour quhen I wes dampnyt to de, I sall beseik the Godly Majesté Infynyt thankis, laud, and benysoun Yow till acquyte, accordyng your renoun. It langyth not my possibillité Till recompence ten part of this gwardoun.     "Glore, honour, laude, and reverence condyng Quha may foryeild yow of so hie a thyng? And in that part your mercy I implore, Submyttand me my lyftyme induring Your plesour and mandate till obeysyng." "Silence," said scho, "I have eneuch heirfore. I will thow passe and vissy wondris more." Than scho me hes betaucht in kepyng Of a swete Nymphe, maist faythfull and decore.     Ane hors I gat, maist rychely besene, Was harnyst all with wodbynd levis grene. On the same sute the trappuris law doun hang. Ovir hym I straid at command of the quene. Tho sammyn furth we rydyng all bedene Als swyft as thocht with mony a mery sang. My Nymphe alwayis convoyt me of thrang, Amyd the Musys till se quhat thay wald mene, Quhilkis sang and playt bot nevir a wrest yeid wrang.     Throw cuntreis seir, holtis, and rochys hie, Ovir valys, planys, woddis, wally se, Ovir fludis fare and mony strate montane We wer caryit in twynklyng of ane e. Our horssis flaw and raid nocht, as thocht me, Now out of France tursyt in Tuskane, Now out of Flandris heich up in Almane, Now in till Egypt, now in Ytalie, Now in the realme of Trace, and now in Spane.     The montayns we passit of all Garmanie, Ovir Appenynus devydand Ytalie, Ovir Ryne, the Pow and Tirber fludis fare, Ovir Alpheus, by Pyes the ryche citie, Undir the erth that entres in the see; Ovir Ron, ovir Sane, ovir France and eik ovir Lare And ovir Tagus the goldin sandyt ryvare. In Thessaly we passit the mont Oethé And Hercules in sepulture fand there.     Thare went we ovir the ryver Peneyus. In Secil eik we passyt the mont Tmolus, Plenyst with saphron, huny, and with wyne; The twa toppyt famus Pernasus; In Trais we went out ovir the mont Emus Quhare Orphius lerit his armony maist fyne, Ovir Carmelus, quhare twa prophetis devyne Remanyt, Helyas and Heliseus, Fra quhom the ordur of Carmelitis come syne;     And nixt untill the land of Amyson In hast we past the flude Termodyon, And ovir the huge hill that hecht Mynas. We raid the hill of Bachus Citheron And Olympus, the mont of Massidon, Quhilk semys heich up in the hevyn to pas. In that countré we raid the flude Melas Quhais watter makith quhite scheip blak anon; In Europe eik we raid the flud Thanas;     We raid the swyft revere Sparthiades, The flud of Surry Achicorontes, The hill so full of wellis clepit Yda, Armany hillis and flude Eufrates, The fluid of Nyle, the pretius flude Ganges, The hyl of Secyle ay byrnand Ethna, And ovir the mont of Frygy, Dindama, Hallowit in honour of the Modir Goddes; Cauld Cacasus we passit, in Sythia;     We passyt the fludis of Tygris and Phison, Of Trace the riveris Hebrun and Strymon, The mont of Modyn and the flud Jordane, The facund well and hill of Elicon, The mont Erix, the well of Acheron, Baith didicat to Venus en certane. We past the hill and desert of Lybane, Ovir mont Cinthus quhare God Appollo schone, Straucht to the Musis Caballyne fontane.     Besyde that cristall strand swete and degest, Them till repois, thayr hors refresch and rest, Alychtit doun thir Musis clere of hew. The cumpany all halely, lest and best, Thrang to the well tyl drink, quhilk ran southwest Throw out a meid quhare alkyn flouris grew. Amang the layf, ful fast I did persew Tyll drynk, bot sa the gret pres me opprest That of the watir I micht never tast a drew.     Our hors pasturyt in a plesand plane, Law at the fute of a fare grene mountane, Amyd a meid schadowed with cedir treys; Save fra al heit, thare micht we weil remane. All kynd of herbis, flouris, frute, and grane With every growand tre, thair men micht cheis. The byrriall stremys rynnand ovyr sterny greis Maid sobir noys; the schaw dynnyt agane For byrdys sang and soundyng of the beis.     The ladyis fare on divers instrumentys Went playand, syngand, dansand ovir the bentis. Ful angelyk and hevynly wes thair soun. Quhat creatour amid his hart imprentis The fresche bewty, the gudly representis, The mery spech, fare havinges, hie renoun — Of thaym wald set a wyse man halfe in swoun. Thair womanlynes writhyt the elementis, Stonyst the hevyn and all the erth adoun.     The warld may not consydyr nor discryve The hevynly joy, the blys I saw belyve, So ineffabill, abone my wyt so hie, I wyll na mare thairon my forhed ryve, But breifly furth my febill proces dryve. Law in the meid a palyeon pycht I se, Maist gudlyest and rychest that myght be. My governour ofter than timys fyve Untill that halde to pas commandit me,     Swa fynally strycht to that rial steid In fallowschip with my leder I yeid. We entryt sone, the portar wes not thra, Thare wes na stoppyng, lang demand nor pleid. I knelyt law and onheldit my heid, And tho I saw our Musis twa and twa Sittand on deace, famylliaris to and fra Servand thaym fast with Epocres and meid, Dilligate meatis, daynteis sere alswa.     Grete wes the preis the feist ryall to sene. At ease thay eit with interludyis betwene, Gave problemys sere and mony fare demandis Inquirand quha best in thair tymys had bene, Quha traist lovers in lusty yeris grene; Sum said this way and sum thairto ganstandis. Than Caliope Ovid till appere commaundis: "My clerk," quod scho, "of regestere, bedene Declare quha wer maist worthy of thair handis."     With lawrere crownyt at hir commaundment Up stude this poet degest and eloquent And schew the fetis of Hercules the strang, Quhow he the grysly hellis houndis out rent, Slew lyonys, monstreis, and mony fell serpent, And to the deth feil mychty giantis dang. Of Thesyus eik he tald the weris lang Agane the quene Ypollita the swete, And quhow he slew the Mynotaure in Crete.     Of Persyus he tald the knychtly dedis Quhilk vincussyt, as men in Ovid redis, Crewell tyrrantis and monsturis mony one; Of Dianis bore in Callydon the dredis,5 Quhow throw a ladyis schot his sydis bledis, The bretheris deith, and syne the systeris mone. He schew quhow Kyng Priamusis sonne Ysacon Efter his dede, body and all his wedis In till a skarth transformyt wes anon.     He schew at Troy quhat wyis the Grekis landis, Quhow fers Achylles stranglyt wyth his handis The valyeant Cignus, Neptunus sonne maist dere, Quhilk at Grekis aryvale on the strandis A thousand slew that day apon the sandis, Faucht with Achill and blontit al his spere — Na wapyn wes that micht him wond nor dere — Quhill Achylles bryst off his helm the bandis And wyrryit hym be fors for all his fere.     He schew full mony transmutationis And wondirfull new figurationis Be hondris mo than I have here expremyt. He tald of lovys meditacionis, The craft of love and the salvationis, Quhow that the furie lustis suld be flemyt. Of divers other materis als he demyt, And, be his prudent scharpe relationys, He wes expart in all thyng, as it semyt.     Up rais the gret Virgilius anone And playd the sportis of Daphnis and Coridon. Syne Therens come and playit the commedy Of Permeno, Thrason and wyse Gnaton. Juvynale lik a mower hym allone Stud skornand every man as thay yeid by. Marcyall was cuyk till rost, seith, fars or fry, And Pogyus stude with mony gyrn and grone, On Laurence Valla spyttand and cryand fy.     With myrthys thus and meatis diligate, Thir ladyis, festit accordyng thair estate, Uprais at last, commandand till tranoynt. Retret wes blawyn lowd, and than, God wate, Men micht have sene swyft horssys halden hate, Schynand for swete as thay had bene anoynt. Of all that rout wes never a pryk disjoynt For all our tary, and I furth with my mate, Montyt on hors, raid sammyn in gude poynt.     Ovir many gudly plane we raid bedene, The Vail of Ebron, the Campe Damascene, Throw Josaphat and throw the lusty vail, Ovir watres wan, thorow worthi woddis grene, And swa at last, in lyftyng up our eyne, We se the fynall end of our travail, Amyd ane plane a plesand roch till wail. And every wycht fra we that sycht had sene, Thankand gret God, thare hedis law devail.     With syngyng, lauchyng, merines and play. On till that roch we rydyng furth the way. Now mare till writ, for fere trymlys my pen. The hart may not thynk nor manis toung say, The eyr not here nor yet the e se may, It may not be ymagyned with men, The hevynly blys, the perfyte joy to ken Quhilk now I saw; the hundreth part all day I micht not schaw, thocht I had tonges ten.     Thocht al my membris tongis were on raw, I wer not abill the thousand fald to schaw, Quhairfore I fere ocht forthirmare to wryte; For quhiddir I this in saule or body saw, That wait I not, bot he that all doth knaw, The gret God wait, in every thyng perfyt. Eik gyf I wald this avyssyon endyte, Janglaris suld it bakbyt and stand nane aw, Cry "Out on dremes quhilkis ar not worth a myte."     Sen thys til me all verité be kend, I reput bettir thus till mak ane end Than ocht til say that suld herars engreve. On othir syd thocht thay me vilepend, I considdir prudent folk will commend The vereté and sic janglyng rapreve. With quhais correction, support, and releve Furth till proceid this proces I pretend, Traistand in God my purpose till escheve.     Quhowbeit I may not every circumstance Reduce perfytly in rememorance, Myn ignorance yit sum part sal devyse Twychand this sycht of hevynly swete plesance. Now empty pen, wryt furth thy lusty chance, Schaw wondris fele, suppose thow be not wyse6 Be dilligent and rypely thee avyse, Be qwyke and scharpe, voydit of variance, Be suete, and cause not jentill hartis gryse.         The Thyrd Parte     Ye Musis nyne, be in myne adjutory, That maid me se this blys and perfyte glory. Teche me your facund castis eloquent. Len me a recent, scharp, fresch memory And caus me dewly til indyt this story. Sum gratius swetnes in my brest imprent Till make the heraris bousum and attent, Redand my wryt illumynyt with your lore; Infynyt thankis rendrand yow thairfore.     Now breifly to my purpose for til gone, About the hyll lay ways mony one And to the hycht bot a passage ingrave, Hewyn in the roch of slyde, hard merbyll stone. Aganne the sonne, lyk as the glas it schone. Ascens wes hie and strait for till consave, Yit than thir Musis, gudly and suave, Alychtyt doun and clam the roch in hy With all the route, outtane my Nynphe and I.     Styl at the hillys fute we twa abaid, Than suddandly my keper to me said, "Ascend, galand!" Tho for fere I quuke. "Be not effrayit," scho said. "Be not mismaid," And with that word up the strait rod abraid. I followit fast; scho be the hand me tuke; Yit durst I nevir for dreid behynde me luke. With mekill pane thus clam we nere the hycht, Quhare suddandly I saw ane grysly sycht.     As we approchit nere the hillis heid, A terrible sewch — birnand in flawmys reid, Abhominable and hol as heill to se, All full of bryntstane, pyk, and bulnyng leid, Quhair mony wrechit creatour lay deid And miserable catywis yeland loude one hie — I saw, quhilk den mycht wele comparit be Till Xantus,the fluid of Troy so schill Byrnand at Venus' hest contrar Achill.     Amyd our passage lay this wgly sicht, Not brayd, but so horrible till eviry wicht That all the warld to pas it suld have dreid. Wele I considerit nene upparmar I mycht, And to discend, sa hiddous wes the hicht, I durst not aventur for this erth on breid. Trymland I stud with teith chatterand gud speid. My Nymphe beheld my cheir and said "Lat be, Thow sall not aill, and lo the caus," quod sche.     "To me thou art commyt. I sall the keip. Thir pieteous pepill amyd theis laithly deip War wrechis quhilkis in lusty yeris fair Pretendit thaym till hie honour to creip; Bot suddandly thay fell on sleuthfull sleip Followand plesance, drynt in this loch of cair." And with that word, sche hynt me by the hair, Caryit me to the hillis hed anone As Abacuk wes brocht in Babilone.     As we bene on the hie hill sittuate, "Luke doun," quod scho, "Consave in quhat estat Thy wrechyt warld thou may considdir now.' At hir command with mekill dreid, God wate, Out ovir the hill sa hiddous, hie, and strate I blent adoun and feld my body grow. This brukkill erth, sa littyl to allow, Me thocht I saw byrn in a fyry rage Of stormy see, quhilk mycht na maner swage.     That terribbill tempest, hiddous wallys huge, Wer maist grysly for till behald or juge, Quhare nothyr rest nor quyet mycht appere. Thare wes a peralus palyce, folk to luge. Thare wes na help, support, nor yet refuge. Innowmerabill folk I saw flottrand in fere Quhilk peryst on the weltrand wallys were; And secondly I saw a lusty barge Ovirset with seyes and mony stormy charge.     This gudly carvel — taiklyt traist on raw With blanschyt sail, mylk quhyte as ony snaw, Rycht sover tycht, and wondir strangly beildyt — Wes on the boldyn wallys quyte ovirthraw. Contrariusly the bustuus wynd did blaw In bubbys thik, that na schip sail mycht weld it. Now sank scho law, now hie tyl hevyn upheldyt. At every part the see and wyndis drave, Quhill on a sand the schip tobryst and clave.     It wes a pietuus thyng, allake allake, Till here the duylfull cry quhen that scho strake, Maist lamentabill the peryst folk till se Sa famyst, drokyt, mait, forwrocht and wake, Sum on a plank of firre and sum of ake, Sum hang apon takill, sum on a tre, Sum fra thair gryp sone weschyne with the se. Part drynt, and part to the rolke flet or swam. On rapis or burdis syne up the hill thay clam.     Tho at my Nynphe breifly I did inquere Quhat sygnyfyit tha feirfull wondris sere. "Yone multitude," said scho, "of pepill drint Ar faythles folk, quhilkis quhyle thay ar here Mysknawys God and followys thare plesere, Quhairfore thay sall in endles fyre be brynt. Yone lusty schip thow seyst peryst and tynt, In quhame yone pepill maid ane parralus race, Scho heycht the Carvell of the State of Grace.     "Ye bene all borne the sonnys of ire, I ges, Syne throw baptyme gettis grace and faythfulnes, Than in yone carvell suyrly ye remane, Oft stormstad with this warldis brukkyllnes, Quhill that ye fall in synne and wrachitnes; Than schipbrokyn, sall ye droun in endles pane Except bye fayth ye fynd the plank agane, Bye Chryst, vorkyng gud vorkys, I onderstand. Remane thair with, thir sall you bryng to land.     "This may suffice," said scho, "twychand this part. Returne thy hed, behald this othir art, Considdir wondris and be vigyllant That thow may bettir endytyng eftirwart Thyngis quhilkis I sall thee schaw or we depart. Thow sall have fouth of sentence and not skant. Thare is no welth nor welfare thow sall want. The gret palyce of Honour salt thou se. Lift up thy hed, behald that sicht," quod sche. At hir commaund I rasit hie on hycht My vissage till behald that hevenly sycht. Bot tyl discryve this matter in effek Impossibill wer till ony erdly wicht; It transcendes sa far abone my micht That I with ynk may do bot paper blek. I man draw furth; the yok lyis in my nek, As of the place to say my lewd avyse, Plenyst with plesance, lyke to parradyce.     I saw a plane of peirles pulcritude Quharevin abondyt every thingis gude: Spyce, wyne, corn, ule; tre, frute, flour, herbis grene, All foulys, bestis, byrdys and alkynde fude, All maner fyschis, bayth of see and flude, Wer kepit in pondis of polist silver schene With purifyit wattir as of the cristall clene. Till noy the small the grete bestis had na will, Nor ravanus fowlys the littil volatill.     Styll in the season all thyng remanyt thare; Perpetually, but othir noy or sare, Ay rypyt were bayth herbys, frute, and flouris. Of every thyng the namys till declare Until my febill wyt impossybill ware. Amyd the med replete of swete odouris, A palyce stude with mony riall touris Quhare kernellys quent, feil turretis men mycht fynd And goldyn fanys wavand with the wynd.     Pynnakillis, fyellis, tournpikes mony one, Gylt, byrnyst torris, quhilk lyk til Phebus schone, Skarsement, repryse, corbell, and battelyngis, Fulyery, borduris of mony pretius stone, Suttyl muldry wrocht mony day agone On buttres, jalmys, pilleris and plesand spryngis.7 Quyke ymagry with mony lusty syngis Thare mycht be sene, and mony worthy wychtis Tofore the yet arrayit all at rychtis.     Furth past my Nymphe; I followyt subsequent. Straucht throw the plane to the first ward we went Of the palyce and entryt at that port. Thare saw we mony statelie tornament, Lancis brokyn, knychtis layd on the bent. Plesand pastance and mony lusty sport Thair saw we als, and sum tyme battel mort. "All thir," quod scho, "on Venus service vakis In dedis of armys for thayr ladyis sakis."     Vissyand I stude the principal place but pere, That hevynly Palyce, all of crystall clere, Wrocht, as me thocht, of polyst beriall stone. Bosiliall nor Oliab, but were, Quhilk Sancta Sanctorum maid, maist ryche and dere, Nor he that wrocht the tempill of Salomon, Nor he that beild the riall Ylyon, Nor he that forgete Darius sepulture Couth not performe sa craftely a cure.     Studiand here on, my Nimphe on to me spak, "Thus in a stare quhy standis thou stupefak, Govand all day and na thyng hes vissyte. Thow art prolixt. In haist retourn thy bak. Go efter me, and gud attendence tak. Quhat thow seyst, luke eftirwartis thow write. Thow sall behald all Venus blys perfyte." Thair with sche till ane garth did me convoy Quhare that I saw eneuche of perfyte joy.     Amyd a trone with stonys ryche ovirfret And claith of gold, Lady Venus wes set. By hir, hir sonne Cupyd quhilk nathing seys. Quhare Mars entrit, na knawlege mycht I get, Bot straucht afore Venus vissage but let Twelf amarant stagis stude, twelf grene precius greis, Quhare on thare grew thre curius goldyn treis Sustenttand weil the goddis face aforne A fair myrrour, be thaym quently upborn.     Quhare of it makyt wes, I have na feil — Of beriall, cristall, glas, or byrnyst steil, Of diamant or of the carbunkill jem — Quhat thing it wes diffyne may I not weil, Bot all the bordure circulare, every deill, Wes plate of gold — cais, stok and uthir hem — With vertuus stanis picht that blud wald stem. For quha that wound wes in the tornament Wox hale fra he apon the myrrour blent.     This riall rillik, so ryche and radius, Sa pollyst, plesand, purifyed, precius, Quhoys bontyis half to wryt I not presume, Thairon tyll se wes sa dellicius And sa excelland schadois gratius, Surmontyng far in brichtnes, to my dome, The costly, subtil, quent spectacle of Rome Or yet the myrrour send to Canycé Quhairin men micht ful many wondrys se.     In that myrrour I mycht se at a sycht The dedes and fetes of every erdly wycht, All thinges gone lyk as they wer present, All the creacion of the angellys brycht, Of Lucifer the fall for all his mycht, Adam fyrst maid and in the erth ysent. And Noys flude thair saw I subsequent, Babilon beild, that toure of sic renoun, Of Sodomus the fele subversyoun.     Abram, Ysak, Jacob, Josoph I saw, Hornyt Moyses with his ald Ebrew law, Twelf plagis in Egypt sent for thair trespas, In the Reid See with al hys court on raw Kyng Pharo drynt that God wald nevir knaw — I saw quhat wyse the see devydyt was And all the Ebrewes dry fut ovir it pas — Syne in desert I saw thaym fourty yeris. Of Josuy I saw the worthy weris.     In Judicum, the batellis strang anone I saw of Jepty and of Gedione, Of Ameleth the cruel homosyd, The wonderful werkis of douchty duke Sampsone, Quhilk slew a thousand with ane assys bone, Rent templis doun and yettis in his pryde, Of quhais strenth mervalys this warld so wyde. I saw duke Sangor there with many a knok Sax hundreth men slew with a plewchis sok.     The praphet Samuell saw I in that glas Anoynt Kyng Saule, quhais sonne Jonathas I saw wyncus ane gret ost hym allane; Yong David sla the grysly Golyas Quhais speirheid wecht thre hundreth uncis was, Jesbedonab the giant mekill of mane Lay be the handis of douchty Davyd slane, With fyngris sax on athir hand, but weir. David I saw sla baith lyon and beir.     This David, eik, at ane onset astond, Aucht hundreth men I saw hym bryng to grond. With hym I saw Bananyas the strang Quhilk twa lyonys of Moab did confond And gave the stalwart Ethiop dedis wond With his awyn spere that of his hand he thrang. Onabysytly this champion saw I gang In a deip sistern and thare a lyon slewch Quhilk in a storme of snaw did harm eneuch.     Of Salomon the wysdom and estate Thare saw I, and his ryche tempill, God wate; His sonne Roboam, quhilk throw his hely pride Tynt all his ligis hartis be his fate. He wes to thaym sa outragius ingrate, Of twelf tribis, ten did fra hym devyd. I saw the angell sla be nychtis tyd Four score thousandis of Synachorybis ost Quhilkis come to weir on Jowry with gret bost.     I saw the lyfe of the Kyng Esachy Prolongit fifteen yere, and the prophet Hely Amyd a fyry chare to Paradyce went. The stories of Esdras and of Neamy And Danyell in the lyonys cave saw I For he the dragon slew, Bell brak and schent; The chyldir thre amyd the fornace sent; I saw the transmygracion in Babillon And baith the bukis of Paralipomenon.     I saw the haly archangell Raphell Mary Sara the dochter of Raguell On Thobyas for his just fatheris sake, And bynd the crewell devyll that wes sa fel Quhilk slew hir sevin first husbandis, as tha tel; And quhow Judyth Olyfarnus heid of strake Be nychtis tyd and fred hir town fra wrake; Jonas in the quhalys wame dais thre And schot furth syne, I saw, at Ninive.     Of Job I saw the patyence maist degest; Of Alexander I saw the gret conquest, Quhilk in twelf yeris wan nere the warld on breid; And of Anthiacus the gret onrest, Quhow tyrrand lyk all Jowrye he opprest; Of Macabeus, full mony knychtly deid That gart all Grece and Egypt stand in dreid, In quyet brocht his realm throw his prowes; I saw his brethir Symon and Jonathas, Quhilkis wer maist worthy quhil thair dayis rang. Of Tebes eik I saw the weris lang, Quhare Thedeus allone slew fyfty knychtis; Quhow fynaly of Grece the campyonys strang, All hail the floure of knychtheid, in that thrang8 Wes distroyit, quhill Thesyus with his mychtis The toun and Creon wan for all his slychtis. Thare saw I quhow, as Stacius dois tell, Amphiorax the bischop sank to Hel.     The faithfull ladyis of Grece I mycht considdir In clathis blak all barfute pas togyddir Till Thebes sege, fra thair lordis wer slane. Behald, ye men that callys ladyis liddir And lycht of latis, quhat kyndnes brocht thaym thidder, Quhat treuth and luif did in thair brestis remane. I traist ye sall reid in na wryt agane In a realme sa mony of sic constance. Persave thairby wemen ar til avance.     Of duke Pyrrotheus the spousage in that tyd Quhare the Centauris reft away the bryd Thare saw I and thair battell huge till se, And Hercules, quhais renoun walkis wyd, For Exiona law by Troyis syd Fecht and ovircome a monsture of the se, For quhilk, quhen his reward denyit wes, he Maid the first sege and the distructioun Of mychty Troy, quhylum the rial town.     To wyn the fleys of gold, tho saw I sent Of Grece the nobillis with Jason consequent, Hail that conquest and all Medeas slychtis, Quhow for Jason Ysiphile wes schent, And quhow to Troy, as thay to Colchos went, Grekis tholyt of Kyng Lamedon gret onrychtis, Quhairfore Troy distroyt wes be thair mychtis, Exiona ravyst and Lamedon slane, Bot Priamus restoryt the town agane. The jugement of Parys saw I syne That gave the appil, as poetis can diffyne, Till Venus as goddes maist gudlye, And quhow in Grece he revest quene Helyne, Quharefore the Grekis with thair gret navyne, Full mony thosand knychtis, hastely Thaym till revenge, salyt towart Troy in hye. I saw quhow be Ulixes with gret joy Quhat wyse Achil wes fond and brocht to Troy.     The crewel battellys and the dyntis strang, The gret debate and eik the weris lang At Troy sege, the myrrour to me schew, Sustenit ten yeris, Grekis Troianys amang. And athir party set ful oft in thrang, Quhare that Hector did douchty dedis enew Quhilk fears Achil — baith hym and Troylus — slew. The gret hors maid, I saw, and Troy syn tynt, And fair Ylion al in flambys brynt.     Syne out of Troy I saw the fugityvys, Quhow that Eneas, as Virgill weil discrivis, In countries seir wes by the seis rage Bewavyt oft, and quhow that he arryvys With all his flote, but danger of theyr lyvys, And quhow thay wer reset, baith man and page, Be quene Dido, remanand in Cartage, And quhow Eneas syne, as that they tell, Went for to seik his father doun in Hell.     Ovir Stix the flude I saw Eneas fair, Quhare Carone wes the bustuus feryair. The fludis four of Hell thair mycht I se, The folk in pane, the wayis circulair, The weltrand stone wirk Sisipho mych cair And all the plesance of the Camp Elysee, Quhare ald Anchyses did common with Enee And schew be lyne all his successyon. This ilk Eneas, maist famus of renoun, I saw to goddis make the sacrifice, (Quhairof the ordour and maner to devyse Wer ovir prolext) and quhow Eneas syne Went to the schyp; and eik I saw quhat wyse All his navy gret hunger did suppryse; Quhow he in Italie fynalie, with huge pyne Arrivit at the strandis of Lavyne, And quhow he faucht weil baith on land and seys And Tarnus slew, the kyng of Rutuleis.     Rome saw I beildit fyrst be Romulus, And eik quhow lang, as wryttis Levius, The Romane kyngis abone the pepill rang; And how the wickit proud Terquinius, With wyfe and barnis, be Brutus Junius Wer exilit Rome for thair insufferabil wrang, Bot al the proces for to schaw wer lang Quhow chast Lucres, the gudliest and best, Be Sextus Terquine wes cruelly opprest.     The Punik batalis in that mirrour cleir Atwene Cartage and Romanis mony yeir I saw, becaus Eneas pietuus Fled fra Dido be admonicionis seir. Atwene thair pepil rais ane langsum weir. I saw quhow worthy Marcus Regulus, Maist valiant, prudent, and victorius, Howbeit he micht at liberty gone fre, For common profyt chesyt for till de.     Tullus Servilius, dowchty in his daw, And Curtyus eik in the myrrour I saw, Quhilk throw his stowtenes in the fyry gap For common profyt of Rome him self did thraw Richt onabasitly, havand na dreid nor aw, Montit on hors, onarmyt, thairin lap; And Hannyball I saw by fatell hap Wyn contrare Romanys mony fair victory Quhyll Scipio eclypsyt all hys glory. This worthy Scipio clepyt Affrycane I saw vincus thys Hannyball in plane And Cartage bryng untyll fynall rewyn, And to Rome conquerit all the realme of Spane. Quhow Kyng Jugurtha hes his brethir slane Thare saw I eik, and of his were the fyne. Rycht weil I saw the batellis intestyne Of Catulyna and of Lentulus, And atwine Pompey and Cesar Julyus;     And breifly, every famus douchty deid That men in story may se, or cornakyll reid. I mycht behald in that myrrour expres The miserie, the crewelté, the dreid, Pane, sorow, wo, baith wretchitnes and neid, The gret envy, covatus, dowbilnes Twychand warldly onfaithful brukkylnes. I saw the Fend fast folk to vicis tist And al the cumming of the Antecrist.     Plesand debaitmentis, quha sa rycht reportis, Thare mycht be sene, and al maner disportys: The falkonnis for the revere at thair gate Newand the fowlys in periculo mortis, Layand thaym in be companeis and sortis; And at the plunge, part saw I handlyt hate. The wery huntare, byssy ayr and late Wyth questyng hundis, syrchand to and fra To hunt the hart, the bare, the da, the ra.     I saw Raf Coilyear with his thrawin brow, Craibit Johne the Reif and auld Cowkewyis sow And how the wran come out of Ailssay, And Peirs Plewman that maid his workmen fow, Gret Gowmakmorne and Fyn Makcoull and how Thay suld be goddis in Ireland as thay say. Thair saw I Maitland upon auld Beird Gray, Robene Hude and Gilbert with the quhite hand, How Hay of Nauchtoun flew in Madin land.     The nigramansy thair saw I eik anone Of Bonitas, Bongo, and frere Bacon, With mony subtell poynt of juglory: Of Flandris peys, maid mony precius stone, A gret lade sadil of a sychyng bone, Of a nutmog, thay mayid a monk in hy, A parys kirk of a small penny py, And Bonytas of a mussil made ane ape, With mony othir subtell mow and jape.     And schortly, til declare the veryté, All plesand pastance and gemmys that micht be, In that myrrour wer present to my sycht. And as I wondryt on that grete ferlye, Venus at last in turning of hir e Knew weil my face and said, "Be Goddis micht, Ye bene welcum, my presoner, to this hycht. Quhow passit thou," quod scho, "that hidduus depe?" "Madame," quod I, "I not more than a schepe."     "Na fors thairof," said scho, "Sen thow art here, Quhow plesys thee our pastance and effere?" "Glaidly," quod I, "Madame, be God of hevyn." "Remembris thow," said scho, "withouten were On thy promyt quhen of thy gret dangere I thee deliverit — as now is not to newyn?" Than answerit I agane with sober stevyn, "Madame, your precept, quhat so be your wyll, Here I remane ay reddy till fulfill."     "Weil, weil," said scho, "thy wyll is suffycyent. Of thy bousoum answere I stand content." Than suddandly in hand a buke scho hynt The quhilk to me betaucht scho or I went, Commandand me to be obedient And put in ryme that proces, than quyt tynt. I promised hir, forsuyth, or scho wald stynt, The buke ressavand, thairon my cure to preve. Inclynand syne lawly, I tuke my leve.     Twychand this buke, peraventur ye sall here Sumtyme efter quhen I have mare lasere. My Nymphe in hast tho hynt me by the hand And as we sammyn walkyt furth in fere "I thee declare," sayd scho, "yone myrrour clere, The quhilk thow saw afore dame Venus stand Signifyes nothing ellis till understand Bot the gret bewty of thir ladyis facis, Quhairin lovers thinkis thay behald all gracis."     Scho me convoyit, finally to tell, With gret plesance straucht to the ryche castell, Quhare mony saw I pres til get ingres. Thare saw I Synon and Achittefell Pressand til clym the wallis and how thay fell. Lucyus Catalyn saw I thare expres, In at a wyndow pres til have entres, Bot suddandly Tullius come with a buke And strake hym doun quhill all his chaftis quuke.     Fast clymmand up thay lusty wallys of stone I saw Jugurtha and tressonabill Tryphon, Bot thay na grippis thair mycht hald for slyddir. Preissand to clym stude thousandis many one, And into the ground thay fallen, every one. Than on the wall a garatour I considdir, Proclamand lowd, that did thayr hartis swiddir, "Out on falshed, the mother of everye vyce, Away invy and brynnand covetyce."     The garatour, my Nymphe tho to me tald, Wes clepyt Lawté, kepar of the hald Of hie Honour, and thay pepyll out schete, Swa presand thaym to clym, quilum wer bald, Rycht vertuus young, but fra tyme thay woux ald, Fra honour hail one vice thair mindis sete. "Now sall thow go," quod sche, "straucht to the yete Of this palyce and entre but offence, For the portar is clyped Pacience.     "The mychty prynce, the gretest Empriour Of yone Palyce," quod scho, "hecht hie Honour, Quham to disservys mony traist officiare. For Charité, of gudlynes the flour, Is Maister Houshald in yone cristall tour, Ferme Constance is the kyngis Secritare, And Liberalité heicht his Thesaurar. Innocens and Devocyon as efferis Bene clerkis of closet and cubeculeris.     "His Comptrowere is clepyt Discretioun. Humanyté and Trew Relatioun Bene yscherris of his chalmer morow and eve. Peace, Quyet, Rest, oft wakis up and doun In till his hall as marchellis of renoun. Temperance is cuke, his mete to tast and preve. Humylyté karvar, that na wycht lyst to greve. His maister sewer hecht Vertuus Discipline. Mercy is copper and mixis weil his wyne.     "His Chanceller is clepyt Conscyence Quhilk for na meid will pronounce fals sentence. With him are assessouris four of one ascent, Science, Prudence, Justice, Sapience, Quhilkis to na wycht lyst committing offence. The chekker rollys and the kyngis rent As auditouris thay ovirseis quhat is spent. Labourus Diligens, Gud Werkis, Clene Livyng Bene out stewartis and catouris to yone kyng.     "Gud Hope remanys ever amang yone sort, A fyne menstral with mony mow and sport; And Pieté is the kyngis almoseir; Syne Fortitude, the rycht quha lyst report, Is lieutenand, al wrachys to comfort. The kyngis mynyeon roundand in his eyr Heicht Verité, did nevir leyl man deir, And schortly, every vertew and plesance Is subject to yone kyngis obbeysance.     "Come on," sayd sche, "this ordenance to vysyte." Than past we to that cristall Palyce quhyte, Quhare I abayd the entré til behald. I bad na mare of plesance nor delyte, Of lusty sycht, of joy and blys perfyte, Nor mare weilfare til have abone the mold Than for til se that yet of byrnyst gold, Quhare on thair was maist curiusly ingrave All naturall thyng men may in erd consave.     Thare wes the erth enveronyt wyth the see Quhare on the schyppes saland mycht I se, The ayr, the fyre — all the four elymentis — The Speris Sevyn and primum mobile, The sygnis twelf perfytly every gre, The zodiak, hale as bukis represents, The Poil Antertik that ever himselfe absentis, The Poil Artik, and eik the Ursis twane, The Sevyn Sterris, Pheton, and the Charle wane.     Thare wes ingraf quhow that Ganamedis Wes reft till hevyn, as men in Ovyd redis, And on till Jupiter made his cheif butlare. The douchters, fare in to thayr lusty wedis, Of Dorida, amyd the see, but dredis, Swymmand, and part wer figurit thare Apon a crag, dryand thair yalow hare, With facis not onlyk, for quha thaym seyng Mycht weil consyddir that thay al sisteris beyng.     Of the planetis all the conjunctionys, Thare episciclis and oppositionis Wer porturyt thair, and quhow thair coursis swagis; Thare naturale and dayly motionis, Eclipse, aspectis, and degressyonys. Thare saw I mony gudly personagis Quhilkis semyt all lusty quyk ymagis, The werkmanschip excedyng mony fold The precyus mater, thocht it wes fynest gold.     Wondrand here on, agane my wyll, but lete, My Nymphe in grif schot me in at the yet. "Quhat Devyl!" said scho, "Hes thou not ellis ado Bot all thy wyt and fantasy to set On sic dotyng?" and tho for fere I swet Of her langage; bot than anone said scho, "List thou se farlyes, behald thaym yondir, lo, Yit study not ovir mekil, a dreid thow vary For I persave the halflyngis in a fary."     Within that Palyce sone I gat a sycht Quhare walkand went ful mony worthy wicht Amyd the close with all myrthys to wale; For lyk Phebus with fyry bemys brycht The wallys schane, castand sa gret a lycht It semyt lyk the hevyn imperiall, And as the cedir surmontyth the rammale In perfyt hycht, sa of that court a glance Excedis far all erdly vane plesance.     For lois of sycht, considdir micht I nocht Quhow perfytly the ryche wallys wer wrocht. Swa the reflex of cristall stanys schone, For brychtnes skarsly blenk thairon I mocht. The purifyit silver soithlie as me thocht, In steid of syment wes ovir all that wone, Yet round about ful mony a beriall stone And thaym conjunctly jonyt fast and quemyt. The close wes paithit with silver, as it semyt.     The durris and the wyndois all wer breddyt With massy gold, quhare of the fynes scheddit. With byrnyst evyr baith palyce and touris Wer thekyt weil, maist craftely that cled it: For so the quhitly blanchit bone ovirspred it, Mydlyt with gold, anamalyt all colouris, Inporturat of byrdis and swete flouris, Curius knottis, and mony sle devyse, Quhilkis to behald wes perfyt paradice.     And to proceid, my Nymphe and I furth went Straucht to the hall, throw out the Palyce jent, And ten stagis of thopas did ascend. Schit wes the dure. In at a boir I blent, Quhare I beheld the gladdest represent That evir in erth a wrachit catyve kend. Breifly theis proces til conclude and end, Me thocht the flure wes al of amatist, Bot quhare of war the wallis I ne wist. The multitud of prectius stonis sere Thair on swa schane, my febill sycht, but were, Mycht not behald thair vertuus gudlynes. For all the ruf, as did to me appere, Hang full of plesand lowpyt saphyrs clere. Of dyamantis and rubys, as I ges, Wer all the burdis, maid of mast riches. Of sardanus, of jaspe, and smaragdane, Trestis, formys and benkis wer, pollist plane.     Baith to and fro amyd the hall they went, Rial Princis in plate and armouris quent, Of byrnist gold, cuchit with precyus stonys. Intronyt sat a god armypotent, On quhais gloryus vissage as I blent, In extasy, be his brychtnes, atonys, He smate me doun and byrsyt all my bonys. Thare lay I still in swoun with cullour blaucht, Quhil at the last my Nymphe up hes me kaucht.     Syne wyth gret pane, with womentyng and care, In hir armys scho bare me doun the stare And in the clois full softly laid me doun, Held up my hede to tak the hailsum ayre, For of my lyfe scho stude in gret dispare. Me till awalk ay wes that lady boun, Quhill finally out of my dedly swoun I swyth ovircome and up my eyne did cast. "Be myrry, man," quod scho, "the werst is past.     "Get up," scho said, "for schame, be na cowart. My hede in wed, thow hes a wyfis hart That for a plesand sycht is so mysmaid!" Than all in anger, apon my fete I start, And for hir wordis wer so apyrsmart, On to the Nymphe I maid a bustuus braid. "Carlyng," quod I, "quhat wes yone at thow said?" "Soft yow," said sche, "thay ar not wyse that stryvys, For kyrkmen wer ay jentill to ther wyvys.     "I am rycht glaid thou art wordyn so wycht. Lang ere, me thocht thow had nothir fors ne mycht,9 Curage nor wyll, for till have grevyt a fla. Quhat alyt thee to fall?" Quod I, "The sycht Of yone goddes grym, fyry vissage brycht Ovirset my wyt and all my spretis swa, I mycht not stand." "Bot wes that suyth?" "Ya, ya." Than said the Nymphe rycht merylie and leuch, "Now I considdir thy malt hart weil eneuch.     "I wyl," quod scho, "na mare thee thus assay With sic plesance quhilk may thy sprete effray. Yit sall thow se suythly, sen thou art here, My lydyis court in thair gudly array. For till behald thair myrth, cum on thy way." Than hand in hand swyth went we furth in fere At a postrum towart the fair herbere. In that passage full fast at hir I franyt, Quhat folk thay wer, within the hall remanyt?     "Yone wer," said scho, "quha sa the richt discrivys, Maist vailyeand folk and vertuus in thair lyvys. Now in the court of Honour thay remane Victoriusly, and in all plesance thryvys, For thay with spere, with swerdys, and wyth knyvys In just battell wer fundyn maist of mane. In thair promyttis thay stude evir fyrm and plane. In thaym aboundit worschyp and lawté, Illumynyt with liberalité.     "Honour," quod scho "to this hevinly ryng Differris richt far from warldly honoring, Quhilk is but pompe of erdly dignyté Gyvyn for estate or blude, micht, or sic thyng; And, in this countré, prynce, prelate, or kyng Alanerly sall for vertu honoryt be; For erdly glore is not bot vanyté That, as we se, sa suddandly will wend; Bot vertuus honour nevir mare sall end.     "Behald," said scho "and se this warldly glore Maist inconstant, maist slyd and transitore. Prosperite in erd is bot a dreme Or lyk as man wer steppand ovir a score. Now is he law that wes so hie to fore, And he quhilum wes borne pure of his deme, Now his estate schynys lyke the sonne beme. Baith up and doun, baith to and fro, we se, This warld weltrys as dois the wally see.     "To papis, bischoppis, prelatis, and primatis,10 Empriouris, kinges, princes, potestatis, Deth settis the terme and end of all thair hycht. Fra thay be gan, late se quha on thaym watys. Na thyng remanis bot fame of thair estatis, And not ellis bot vertuus werkis richt Sall with thaym wend — nother thair pompe nor mycht. Ay vertu ryngis in lestand honour clere; Remembir than that vertu hes no pere.     "For vertu is a thing sa precyous Quhare of the end is sa delycious The warld ma not consyddir quhat it is. It makis folk perfyte and glorious, It makis sanctis of pepill vicious. It causis folk ay leve in lestand blys, It is the way til hie honour, iwys. It dantis deth and every vice thorow mycht. Without vertu, fy on all erdly wycht.     "Vertu is eik the perfyte sikkyr way, And not ellis, til honour lestand ay. For mony hes sene vitious pepil upheit, And eftir sone thair glory vanys away, Quhar of exemplis we se this every day. His erdly pompe is gone quhen that he deyt; Than is he with no erdly frend suppleit, Savand Vertu. Weill is him hes sic a fere. Now wil I schaw," quod sche, " quhat folk bene here.     "The strangest Sampson is in to yone hald, The forsy, pyssand Hercules so bald, The feirs Achill and all the Nobillis Nyne, Scipio Affricane, Pompeyus the ald, Uthir mony quhais namys afore are tald, With thousandis ma than I may here diffine, And lusty ladyis amyd thay lordis syne, Semiramis, Thamar, Ypolytha, Pantyssalé, Medus, Cenobia.     "Of thy regyon yondir bene honorit part, The kyngis Gregor, Kened, and Kyng Robert, With otheris mo that beis not here rehersyt. Varyit," quod scho, "ay be thy megyr hart! Thow suld have sene, had thou biddin in yon art, Quhat wyse yone hevynly company conversyt. Wa worth thy febyll brane, sa sone wes persit! Thow mycht have sene, remanand quhare thow was, A huge pepyl punyst for thair trespas,     "Quhilkis be wilfull, manyfest arrogance, Invyus pryd, pretendit ignorance, Fowle dowbilnes, and dissate unamendit Enforcis thaym thair selvyn til avance Be sle falsheid, but lawté or constance, Wyth subtelnes and slychtys now commendit, Betraisand folk that nevir to them offendit, And upheis thaim self throw frawdful lippis, Thocht God cause oft thare erdly glore eclippis.     "And nobillis cumyn of honorabill ancestry Thair vertuus nobilité settis nocht by For dishonest, unlefull, warldly ways And throw corruppit, covatus invy. Bot he that can be dowbill, nane is set by, Dissate is wisdum; lawté, honour away is. Rycht few or nane takis tent thairto thir days, And thair gret wrangis till reforme but let In judgement yone god wes yondir set.     "Remanand yondir, thow mycht have herd belyve Pronouncit the gret sentence diffinytive Twichand this actioun, and the dreidful pane Execute on trespassouris yit on lyve, Swa that thair malyce sall na mare prescryve." "Madame," quod I, "for Goddis saik, turn agane, My spreit desyris to se thair torment fane." Quod scho, "Richt now thare sall thow be rejosyt Quhen thow hes tane the ayr and bettir apposyt. "Bot first thow sal considdir commoditeis Of our gardyng, lo, full of lusty trees, All hie cypres, of flewer maist fragrant. Our ladyis yonder, bissy as the beis, The swete florist colouris of rethoreis Gaddris full fast, mony grene tendir plant, For with all plesance plenist is yone hant Quhare precious stanys on treis doyth abound — In sted of frute, chargyt with peirlis round."     On till that gudly garth thus we proceid, Quhilk with a large fowsy, fare on breid Inveronyt wes, quhare fysches wer enew. All wattir foulis wer swomand thair gud speid. Als out of growand treis thair saw I breid Foulys that hyngand by thair nebbis grew. Out ovir the stank of mony divers hew Wes laid a tre ovir quhilk behovyt we pas, Bot I can not declare quhare of it wes.     My Nymphe went ovir, chargeand me folow fast. Hir till obbey my spretis woux agast, Swa peralus wes the passagis till aspy. Away sche went, and fra tyme sche wes past Apon the bryg I entrit at the last; Bot swa my harnys trymlyt bissyly Quhyl I fell ovir, and baith my fete slaid by, Out ovir the hede, into the stank adoun, Quhare, as me thocht, I wes in point to droun.     Quhat throw the byrdis sang and this affray, Out of my swoun I wallkynnyt quhare I lay In the gardyn quhare I fyrst doun fell. About I blent, for richt clere was the day, Bot all thys lusty plesance wes away. Me thocht that fare herbere maist lyk to hel In till compare of this ye herd me tell. Allace, allace, I thocht me than in pane And langyt sare for till have swounyt agane.     The byrdis sang nor yit the mery flouris Mycht not ameys my grevows gret dolouris. All erdly thyng me thocht barrant and vyle. Thus I remanyt into the garth twa houris, Cursand the feildis with all the fare coullouris, That I awolk, oft wariand the quhyle. Always my mynd wes on the lusty yle In purpose evir till have dwelt in that art Of rethorik cullouris til have fund sum parte.     And maist of all my curage wes aggrevit Becaus sa sone I of my dreme eschevyt, Nocht seand quhow thay wrechis wer torment That honour mankyt and honesté myschevyt. Glaidly I wald amyd thys wryt have brevyt, Had I it sene, quhow thay were slane or schent. Bot fra I saw all thys weilfare wes went, Till mak ane end, sittand under a tre, In laude of Honour I wrait thir versis thre:     "O hie Honour, swete hevynly flour degest, Gem vertuus, maist precius, gudlyest For hie renoun, thow art guerdoun condyng, Of worschyp kend the glorius end and rest, But quham, in rycht, na worthy wicht may lest. Thy gret puissance may maist avance all thyng And poverale to myche avale sone bryng. I thee requere, sen thow, but pere, art best, That eftir this in thy hie blys we ryng.     "Of grace thy face in every place so schynys, That swete all spreit baith heid and feit inclynis Thy glore afore, for til implore remeid. He docht rycht nocht quhilk out of thocht thee tynis.11 Thy name but blame, and riall fame, dyvine is, Thow port, at schort, of our comfort and reid Tyll bryng all thyng tyll gladyng eftir deid. All wycht but sycht of thy gret mycht ay crinis. O Schene, I mene, nane may sustene thy feid.     "Hail rois maist chois til clois thy foys gret mycht. Hail stone quhilk schone apon the trone of lycht, Vertew, quhais trew swet dew overthrew all vyce, Was ay ilk day, gar say, the way of lycht, Amend offend and send our end ay richt, Thow stant ordant as sant of grant maist wyse Til be supplé and the hie gre of pryce. Delyte thee tite me quyte of syte to dycht, For I apply schortly to thy devyse."   Dedication    The auctor direkit his buke to the rycht nobill Prynce James the Ferd, Kyng of Scottis.     Tryumphus laud with palm of victory, The laurere crown of infynyte glory, Maist gracius prince, our soverane James the Ferd, Thy majesty mot have eternally, Suppreme honour, renoun of chevalry, Felycité perdurand in this erd, With etern blys in the hevyn by fatal werd. Resave this rusty, rurall rebaldry Lakand cunnyng, fra thye puyr lege onlerd,     Quhilk in the sycht of thy magnificence, Confydand in so gret benevolence, Proponis thus my wulgare ignorance, Maist humely wyth dew obedyence, Besekand oft thy mychty excellence Be grace til pardon all sic variance With sum benyng respect of ferme constance, Remyttand my pretendit negligence, Throw quhais mycht may humyll thyng avance.     Breif, burall quair, of eloquence all quyte, With russet weid and sentence imperfyte, Til cum in plane se thow thow not pretend tha. Thy barrant termis and thy vyle endyte Sall not be min, I wyll not have the wyte, For, as for me, I quytcleme that I kend tha. Thow art bot stouth — thyft lovys lycht but lyte.12 Not worth a myte, pray ilk man till amend tha. Fare on with syte, and on this wyse I end tha.     Finis.

(see note); (t-note)     When; sorrowful face; (see note) mantle bordered; (see note) Wrapped around with; elaborateness; (see note); (t-note) tapestry kindly queen of [the] flowers arose; perform my customary service; (see note) entered into an enclosed garden; (see note) ground painted; (see note); (t-note) boughs; floriated changeability     skilfully; had adorned; (see note) sprinkled; (see note) emerald Bathed with gentle dew; naturally While warm vapors; well-mixed Sweet; scent on daisies [were] distilling; (see note) (see note)    incense; reflecting; (see note)     blooming; places; (see note) tapestries; (see note) which; harmonies; (see note); (t-note) twigs; levels; (see note) making melodies Whose high; filled with noise From impacted air; echo resounds; (see note); (t-note) blossomy laurels; lie roamed Imbued; delight; (t-note) raised his head; (see note) mean; pulls according to plan axle-tree; great worth; (see note) Apollo; in the morning appears red dead both; thickets; (t-note) Revived; through Apollo's generosity; (t-note)     opened out That; wrapped up from stinging damp; (t-note) shady; wrapped; (see note) portrayed; fashioned; (see note) By; enlivening; (see note) pleasant; (see note) gardens munched bees constructed; (see note)     healthful; season poured forth purified Most nutritious for all growing things; (t-note) Aeolus; chose not to be present; (see note) deadly influence; (see note) malevolent look unfavorable to would not; walled garden stay sparkling streams flowing; (see note) banks; varying flashes (of light); (see note)     to see that entire heavenly place cleansed; newly generated embroidered; ore; (see note); (t-note) sweet comforted; mood    do not know [if] it was; delusion bushes; by myself; (see note) garden full of all delight heard; [as] clear; shone; (see note)     utmost example (acme) of happiness month; (see note) To; on earth [the] reviver skilfulness compels to grow truly the basis for the Whose noble spirit; constant care; (see note) to bring forth Diffusing     knowledge Tames; unpredictable    everything that assails nature budding shoots; pleasant leaves to sprout again and swell; able     Which; praise Confessing brown hues; branches; (see note)     origin; increase of vitality Mars' valor intensifies; (see note) new increases; vigorous time of life Whoever; constrained; love's passion    Preparing themselves; early incumbent on you; (t-note) raised; (see note) Acutely alarmed; frenzy         Said I then; shall go astray That; serves Restore; great fear; (see note) praises; by earthly created beings Comfort; delusion perishes; (t-note) spirit downcast; all mental faculties fear, both arteries, veins; (t-note)     fated destiny; curse; (see note)    dazed head which lack; made wander; (t-note) endure; sound fearful spirit, feeble paltry faculties    Betaking myself home; wanted; tarry came a flash; (see note) light; trance; swoon shrubbery; utterly into a stupor As enfeebled as a feminine being    flash; dazed; strength; (t-note) Until; remained neither natural warmth; (t-note) Never did [any] man see; living being no wonder; overly intense light (see note) Corrupts; mind; causes; descend; (t-note) Into; so that no danger affects it (the blood) is congested, parts of the body thus beset me     But; know not how; time; (t-note) warmth; appeared before been dream I dreamed a weird occurrence; (see note) imagined myself put; deserted hideous river fish; to     rough rustic words; (t-note)        (t-note)     (t-note)     sterile; overwhelmed; (see note) Show; skill; memory deplorable silliness; (see note) writing; scandal to rhetoric scrounged; more; thrice; (see note) rigmaroles; thy ribaldry; (t-note) empty inanity diligence; these frenzies; (t-note) Which; paltry skill exposed     abducted spirit; (see note); (see note) river Cocytus; (see note) commotion; (see note); (t-note) Rushing headlong    As if it bare banks; crags split; about Upon which no grass or plants    Only knolls scorched by north winds; (see note); (t-note) loathsome; rumbling; roared which; yelling; elves shouted; (see note) deafened my hearing shrank from and dreaded; (t-note) Nothing; decayed trees; (see note) Burnt, sterile, unblossomed; leafless stumps in which; left Soggy; withered; branches broken The sort of ravine; murderers; robbed [I] myself; afraid    waste    which in no way; comforting dark; fog; (t-note) whistling; fierce gust Tree stumps creaked, and hardly could crept; (see note)    rattled continuously nothing but marsh, mud     not without; dismayed; (see note) downcast is there no other solution?; (see note); (t-note) why; betrayed planned shall; so soon; dead expect no other recourse by some ravenous beast wail; lament; plead contrary wheel     pleasure is of what advantage? sinks; (see note) humble; gains status laughs; bewails sick; healthy; weary; not troubled you promise; you refuse woeful; fortunate; firm; flighty fun; distress; extols; renounces     who; trust hope fragile Certainly; Nobody. Surely yes; (see note); (t-note) Yes, indeed risk of harm intimidate me thus? From whence; come; fast; dismal spot; (t-note) spring turned into raging winter unpleasant prospects         Awaiting loud noise; heard come close by me northern quadrant As from a herd then; knows how frightened I was; (t-note) Expecting to; trampled by livestock hollow tree-stump; stealthily; crept; (see note); (see note) Where, looking; straightaway fine herd; intelligent animals; (see note); (t-note) (see note) matching clothing; contented serious manner; wisdom abounded maneuvered their saddle-horses; (see note)    traditional practices; did not err    and cut no corners    fine ceremoniousness at which unafraid to look about ride forth, seated with assurance     Amongst whom, carried; chariot Adorned; lustrous (t-note) lovely as a lily; neck; (see note) purple; edged; each gore (decorative pleat); (see note) bejeweled clasps all fastened exactly attractively polished gilded hair            Then; arrayed in cloth thoroughly dyed violet; (see note) each according to their rank; (t-note)    seemed; her council; confidential fine throng; knows ecclesiastical leader; (see note) Both; high and low rank passed by me gentle pace; ride along the path remained     (t-note) two wretches donkey, a noose around his head; (see note) on a hideous horse; (t-note) came out; eagerly; ask    What sort of men; in reply (see note) sly tricks have killed many     Do you know expelled from there, indeed without doubt    around her; (t-note) Sybils; (see note) Circe; (see note) spinning; destinies prophetess; (see note); (t-note) Who are grounded; knowledge also within Scholars; skilled with hard questions source of wisdom replete with knowledge; (t-note) Seneca; (see note) Pythagoras, Porphyry, Parmenides; (see note) sayings without refutation; (see note) Sidrak; Solinus; (see note)     Ptolemy, Hippocrates Nectanabus; (see note) (see note) Enoch, Lamech; (see note)     eloquent; (see note) (see note) journey; across         [It] is located; leagues; hundred often, before; stumble    Goodbye; stay here Before in subjection associated     earthquake; (see note) shower of rain        We are just like that among intelligence; wickedly always satisfied; (t-note) certainly discover adverted my advice; (see note) made; against killed, for which reason; neck foiled so shamefully started fire     (see note) traitorously; to be taken across; (t-note)    So that he brought in; [Trojan] Horse; (t-note) By which; was rapidly destroyed fate grieves; misfortunes are both villains; (t-note) get no access to that entrance; (t-note) Unless; through; spells; (see note)     Entry to suffices for us to see; flourish    (see note) adieu; leisure very; opinion who has ruined many as if; scared elvish man; (see note) Crept; decayed ruined oak stump         Taking thought often about; (t-note) Against remedy but death by overcomes weak insufficiency heartened myself    could no say [for sure] rustling; mouse; sight; (t-note) horrifying     surely inadequacy; timidity tightly ensconced Desiring keenly; token    (t-note) transformed deer; close; (see note) Lacerated by dogs; whom; avenged nigh        previously announced her arrival; (t-note) accurately, therefore; understood; sign Actæon who; watched also; young enraged has turned into the form of a hart incited against him Backward he glanced; understanding tore at; that baited them; (see note)     Then; golden; (see note) And clothing; female forest-dwellers high; (see note) As a sign; grows in chastity Rode; who prepares women's hearts    To be loyal knows; changeable; (see note) [are] chaste and profess true virginity do not know; associate with Diana     soon Jephthah's daughter; fine noble lady; (see note)    Offered; virginity Polyxena indeed; (see note) Penthesilea; fortitude; (see note) Iphigenia; Virginius' noble daughter; (see note); (t-note)        They all rode past; tree     dispersed, scattered asunder boughs; battered upon     lizards, asps, adders wallowed tattered fang; venomous squirts Polluting; by toxic vapor Very massive; poisonous; rumbled Reeking     dazed head, stupefied dizzily stupor wretch intoxicated appeared to my mind's eye shining; north-east; (see note) I heard sweetest sounds pipe melody; (t-note); (t-note)    attentiveness to hear; pay heed intervals full; (see note) afar, was carried by the deep water; (t-note)     can hear sounds; (see note) various pores    Soaks up air; is disturbed    dense Cannot enter; moves here and there is conveyed over though because of noise [as] by to stir Within; (t-note)     breaks and disturbs the air Then; stirs fear escape beyond doubt; hears ears also indeed, unless; scholars tell lies no air within; seas; (t-note) Without which; teach Just as without light; sees     Enough; do not know what to; completely frightening showed before; (t-note) sorrow Long before; twice; (t-note) heard, as if from angels it had come    making all the skies resound     everyone might be delighted by it Except; dulled by despair angry; insane; (t-note) Depressed; weary apparently then, so happened with me compelled me to express grief     mourning    the world below since in due proportion; (t-note) beauty; fine mode of existence honeyed words discussions courtiers; wait     pastime; [musical] performance pastime Even if; intelligence     gloomy understanding; (t-note)    perception as readily shall I say angelic and divine    To see seemed to me; heavenly     Proceeding; was pulled; (see note) twelve stallions caparisoned; velvet; (t-note) links; trappings carriage-shafts; burnished; knew axle-tree; wheels; avow; (see note) thongs; reins Fastened together Ivory collar-frames; such [a] purpose; (see note) collars hang over their necks     chariot of ivory chrysolites; (see note) encrusted; due; (see note) stars; shone Furnished; divine; abode Covered dark brown tassel; fringes; (see note) enameled [in] every pattern; (t-note)     these tiny bells twisted    finest gold from Arabia rings so harmoniously compels every person         Wherever; else hierarchies; nine orders of angels; (see note); (t-note) abounding in delight whose bidding; (t-note) to hear     is most to be praised Surpasses; could be no equal at the zenith of his orbit shone, casting; intense a reflection prettiness; overwhelmed both     peerless of figure; looks used up her skill manners; no one like her    spotless of what material was her robe; (see note) nothing but; could I see Because of which    [Any] more; sun can; bat's eye(sight); could not; (see note)     topazes; hued Whoever saw her; always revived    [her] head; (see note) no one escaped who got a sight However loyal or virtuous he might be But; avows himself [to be] her servant    eyes so overcome sweet glances; none; un-pursued Unless; like the saints     wondered greatly; obsess; (t-note) [who] was so beautiful peerless wondering seated; powerful limbs well built all over; (t-note) carried; blue-gray as lead; (see note) hunter['s] eyes; (see note)     evident signs deceitful     inconstant which seldom remains constant    But even so their; (t-note) Sound, and actual performance skilfully gratifying to the vital spirits No one ever heard such, I suppose     Fine young men played along besides pure voice; (t-note) Sweet harmonies; melodic responses Fine musical intervals Seconds, thirds, fourths; (see note) Eleventh and tenth converge; (t-note) Melodic range[s]; different played by many skilled musicians; (t-note) In; pastimes     music-making; heard    Fauxbourdon; counter-melodies; (see note) Chant, ornament; gemel; (see note) bowed lyre; dance; (see note); (see note) Shawms; portatives I heard resound; (see note) Monochord; tympani; cymbal; (see note) Citole; psaltery; (see note) ornamentations; performance; (see note) Rhythms subdividing; converging; (see note)     Arcadia; (see note) whose playing; (see note) Exorcized; overcame King Saul; (t-note) well-made songs; (see note) Who built the walls of Thebes invented the refined techniques; (see note) well schooled; (t-note) system a tenth part as much at all their concord     these musical proportions; (see note) cuckoo; (t-note)    Except; sweet sounds seem to me waste describe their sweet warblings; (see note) heavenly spheres; (see note) the harp of Orpheus of Thrace Glascurion; no sound equal [to them]; (see note)     agree; chord at no juncture; discordant were     young men youths; merciful ladies [who] knew more about lust's others; do not interest me to consider poorest garment; gold and dark green; (see note); (t-note) elegant clothes; different fashions; (see note) might imagine Purple; red-purple; bright red hues; (see note) made; ample cut; (see note) Damask; striped variously Crimson; velvet embroidered; rows; (see note); (t-note) overlaid; branches Foundation damask of triple thickness; (see note) Gilt embroidery with pearls     attire; peerless; (see note) however much I wished caparisoned steed; profuse silks breastplate ribbed; noticed; (see note); (t-note) many [a] fine riding horse; lovely; (see note); (t-note) foremost; (t-note) armored warhorse big and bold burnished equipment     offensive weapon; carried    muscular limbs; built; strong width of an outstretched hand easily broad, with wavy; curling hair too burly; too tall (see note) dalliance calls wherever; or walk; (see note)     Arcite; (see note); (see note); (see note) by fair Emily; (t-note) Aeneas; (see note) attractive; pleasing; (see note) Faithful; loyal; (see note) (see note) Procne; sorrowful Philomela; (see note) David's love; Bathsheba; (see note)      (see note) angry; (see note) Briseida; taken Phyllis; (see note); (t-note) Artful; (see note) Vienne; (see note); (t-note) Phaedra; Ariadne; (see note)  (see note) Ahasuerus, Esther, unimpeachable; (see note)     ill-omened Delilah; (see note) accursed Deianeira; (see note) Accursed Byblis; (see note) Hypsipyle; Scylla; (see note) Tristram, Iseult, Elkanah; (see note) (see note) Hesione; (see note) Griselda; (see note) broke his head; (see note)     spouse; (see note) Who became indentured; firm, unchanging heart; (t-note) such nowadays; dare say; (see note) fine linen cloth Up till now; found to be so dependable adept describe; too weak             sweet glances; young vitality dalliance; ride forth together Some live; servitude; (see note) sufferings alleviated many rose chaplets wore; together Until; stirred my energy To sing this song; hear; (see note)     Constrained; enwrapped; (see note); (t-note) Rooted    Lament; grievous woes frail Feeling regret; since repaid in hatred enveloped; sorrow; (see note); (t-note) destined two; pour forth all at once; (see note) Great grievance; writing made subject to; (t-note) Destined [to be] so empty engraved into my heart slippery hang in their weighig scales    misdeeds; [the] great sorrow rest well-being after submission wretch; can; receive; (see note) Death, prepare thyself; send     A curse upon such; grievous; (see note) frail severe, grevious distress; (t-note)     makes me die accursed may     could, utterly constrained by misery sang; did not make up a syllable    Then; (see note) reined toad [for] committing such [an] offence they search ceaselessly one found me; anger, disgusted; (see note); (t-note) Come out, churl     decayed bower crept and low; cower (see note) frowning; snarling many heavy blows crow; de-plume the rook; (see note) Pulling; boot-blacking; stain; (see note) [the] lively gave; hit; (see note) jaws trembled; (see note)     Tortured with injuries; spiteful fettered Who; seated in; chariot overcome in that terrible encounter; (see note)    could The field seemed to me overspred; (t-note) formerly scorched, barren Grew; truth soothe my grievous pain most sore     Enthroned; (see note) Then arose an attorney named; (see note); (t-note) To accuse me; capital crime; (see note); (t-note) began; read an indictment insane and raging             betray, lay in wait since sunrise     know, my fate seemed to me sealed quavering; cold; (see note) did beg for mercy myself, without any further plea To obey Venus' command and wish Mercy; withheld; effort wasted    gave orders to proceed fiercely to scare me    Imposing silence [not] to         spirit utterly downcast; (see note) Once; help; (t-note) dismayed, at once I blurted out Though; these; imputed to me exonerate myself against; whom I see here improper; irregular proceedings         Bowing low; pitiful; (see note) legally represent myself; may it please without more [delay]; (t-note) are nowhere allowed to be judges furthermore; no lay-person lacking in learning; (see note) I am called; duration; (t-note) referred; ecclesiastical judge     beseech; relentless earnestness favorable judgment pleas; put forward just now     Decided swiftly; harsh rascal What do you intend; debase; (t-note) to reject shall not be so; direction     adjudge you; undergo Nothing about a clergyman; uphold tales firm intent; (see note)    submitted thyself to it seems to me you fail too soon suppose; ails you skilled with cunning words; (see note); (t-note) deed; keen; snails     You are; [who] disclose harass many wicked words abuse retinue call yourselves; loyal vow; get your way by fraud Then; renounce; faith; (see note) conceal     "Stop," she said; Immediately authority can deliver sentence on know whether; blithe feverish hue; show; (see note) distress; dread; (see note) Completely overwhelmed me; Creed squirm could     I didn't give half a fly; (see note) fear; die; (t-note) trick guile monstrous beast transform; (see note); (t-note) bear; a boar; an owl expected; deformed If it had changed; touch my face     reflected    (see note) also; made to keep; (see note) Io who was miserable for a long time Argus guarded her; eyes; (see note) Mercury put to sleep And rescued her from how into Lot transformed [note]; (see note)     called to mind; (see note) mighty Nebuchadnezzar; (see note) form of a beast; dwell guilt fearful wonders made    (see note) sees his neighbor stumble One's mishap; another's lesson     reflecting; imaginings horrify my heart changed into to consider no one; no way at all Unanimously; against me almost; dire seeing; mishap              (t-note)      (t-note) Awaiting constantly; die (see note) reigning; (see note); (t-note) By; spirit's communication made, I believe forgot; fanciful notion[s]     wholly; then; at once I did not know why rescued raised look did not grieve my heart; (t-note) throng out from; emerged goodness, if I do not disagree Hardly can be recorded in a text     laurel; long gowns; (see note) one design; hue  (t-note) dignified; honorable whose youthful beauty was evident in their way Greek style; to hear     accompanied by the lyre; (see note) Such; until; cliffs Sapphic meter; elegiac; (see note) mostly; long fiddles; (see note) With only one; peg went wrong psaltery timbres skillfully; (see note); (t-note) Articulated; sustained the full note value; (t-note)         sweet voices; (see note) Eloquent letters; previously; wrote; (see note) sent lamentation not knowing his state killed; captured; (see note) Acontius to Cedippe promptly heard missives     their diverse lays no peer at all; (t-note) ingenious expressions; (see note)    poetical steady, regular meter voyage; maintaining straight     rapidly approach    tormented; horrible suffering     group just named Traveled; the route; (t-note) described I knew not; (see note) felt myself [to be] gladdened by    (t-note) But; criticized That fine throng; companion; (see note); (t-note) administer justice to this monster; (see note)        There polished words, lyric song; (t-note) firm foundation; (t-note) ample source From which Helicon flows who comfort; mood style rough language; all gleam with            (see note) elaborate style, enticing adapt to their teaching think of princess (see note)     after; first-born; (see note) Clio, who skilfully puts in writing Ancient histories just as [if]; (t-note) also; duty sounds; without cease fix in the mind; (t-note) fourth composes; tear-stained cheeks; (t-note) Distressing; noble     fifth; gentle sound; (t-note) Makes melody on psalteries; (see note) these wild lovers dance, and leap; (t-note) Polyhymnia; (see note) Composes these; colors of rhetoric     eighth; fair; (t-note) Chronicles; stars all fully; (t-note)     to whom; equal great virtues shine nobles' fates; control; (t-note) makes heroic; (see note); without doubt; (see note)    Highest; writing just as she is mistress     river[s]; sea[s] Fanae; these ancient temles; (see note); (t-note) Pierides, Wood-nymphs, Satyrs Nereids, Aonians, Napaeae good qualities need not be listed judged; diversely; (t-note) soothed [that] previously was cold; (see note); (t-note)    unexpected; stable; named previously; (t-note) [that] previously was pale; (t-note) In; the welcome warmth returned; (t-note) rode; (t-note)     overcame all dejectedness well-versed in poetry Greek; spoke; (t-note)    knowledge; (see note)     Virgil; (t-note) Dictys, Darius; truthful; (see note) Poggio, Persius; (see note) Terence, Donatus; (see note) Valerius Flaccus; (see note) Aesop, Cato, and Alan; (see note) Boethius; (see note)  (see note)     satiric; (see note) versatile; Martial; (see note) fame; Statius; (see note) Lorenzo Valla; (see note); (t-note) Pomponazzi; doubtless; (see note)    trumpeted Horace; (see note) writers; great; (t-note) Brunellus; Claudian; Boccaccio; (see note)     crowd; came near us hundredth; [of] their names; (t-note) of the English nation; (see note); (t-note) paragon, unequaled; (see note); (t-note) vernacular pondering by himself; (see note); (t-note) nation [of Scotland]; immediately; (see note) not yet dead little hat; (see note)     Even if I could put in words virtues; sufficiently; (t-note) abundant, exceeding my thinking Concerning; narrative; grief; (t-note) At once turn their course tied up; plight Awaiting; or else; (t-note)     Directly; together; rode; (t-note)    made in return gave; greeting Very ceremoniously; arose dismount while here; (t-note) eloquent; gracious Asked; person; upset making a halt; (t-note)     monstrous villain; (t-note) rascal; take good notice of his hue; (t-note) directed her attention just now make my reputation vanish hateful, spiteful rhyme craftily; (t-note) Has composed, reciting loud and clear; (t-note) Slander, scorn; lamentation; (t-note) also; forever; (t-note)     shall be place adjudge; renegade; (t-note) retaliation lose; (t-note) slay debasement; noble rank Utterly; before such controversy; (t-note) fool; checkmate; (see note); (t-note) So what for his slander; blown (spread); (see note); (t-note) peerless; well-known wretch's; impair    Give; tone down; (see note) by my judgment; is so afraid never afterward merit further; (t-note) Nothing; death can you; except offending speech; (t-note) proclaim your bidding everywhere        spirit spirits revived; before; (t-note) Seeing without; bribe; (see note) Won; frivolous lawsuit; (t-note) demolished; abandoned Meanwhile; in strict contemplation signified; assemblage show mercy; (t-note)     pity Reduce; set aside all rancor (t-note)    such tyranny fierce; (see note); (t-note) not equal; injustice; (t-note) fierce; these     prohibit; (t-note) hostility; cease trouble; deserve no reproof; (t-note) Venus said then to [Calliope] forgive; injury Shall be forgotten if; recite; letter ballade; in opposition to Concerning; praise     show resistance    these bowing; (t-note) Great thanks; guarantee command ordered my arrest be dropped released from every restraint; (t-note) discussion ceased; (see note); (t-note) Then; humbly     Giving; times great amity; pity     show    happy tree stump; seated myself; (see note) promptly wrote this song     Unblemished; rescued from; (see note); (t-note) fortunately; (t-note) Released free from; (t-note) grievous distresses Expel; lamenting Accept; make; alleviate youthful spirit late and early [always]; (t-note) Prepare; youthful stage of life visit; (t-note)     Who; well-being; (see note) kept apart from strife; (t-note) lives; hope [both times] assured status glad early and late; (t-note) causes to advance; (t-note) well provided; (t-note) luxurious well-being     cheerless; (t-note)             Abound; love; (t-note) consideration praises protection; (t-note) without suffering or grievous pains    happiness youth; (see note); (t-note) rescued from (the lady's) disdain; (t-note)        read in public hearing    Venus'    remain satisfied; (see note) advocate and legal representative; (t-note) said also; atonement     (see note)    were gone; (t-note) remained; field; (see note); (t-note) rescue     condemned to die ask Lord God; (see note)    praise; blessing to repay, befitting; renown is not within my capacity To repay a tenth part of this reward     praise, and suitable respect; (see note) requite; for so high (t-note) (t-note) to obey enough on this account decree; go to see more marvels; (t-note) has entrusted me comely; (see note)     got; richly decked out harnessed; woodbine leaves; (see note) In; fashion; trappings; low; (t-note) mounted together; rode; together thought; (see note) guided me out of the crowd see what they intended tuning-peg went awry     many countries; woods; cliffs; (see note); (see note) valleys, plains; wave-tossed sea fine rivers; impassable; (t-note) eye flew rather than ran; it seemed to me; (see note) carried into Tuscany high; southern Germany; (see note) (t-note) Thrace     (t-note) Appenines dividing Rhine; the Po; Tiber; (see note) Pisa; (see note) That flows underground into the sea Rhône; Seine; Loire; (see note) (see note) Oeta; (see note) sepulchre     Peneus Cilicia; (see note) Well stocked twin-peaked Thrace; Haemus learned  (see note) Continued living, Elijah and Elisha came afterwards     the Amazons Thermodon; (see note) Mimas crossed; Citheraon; (see note) Macedonia (see note) white sheep; immediately; (t-note) also; Don     Spercheios river; Syria Orontes; (see note) named Armenian; (see note) holy; (see note) Sicily; ever-burning Phrygia, Dindyma; (see note) Consecrated Cold Caucasus; Scythia      (see note) Thrace; Hebrus  (see note) ample  (see note) dedicated; doubtless Libya; (see note) Cynthus; shone Straight; Hippocrene; (see note)     shining brook; calm; (t-note) repose; horses Alighted; complexion together, of lowest status Thronged meadow; all sorts of flowers others; hasten throng crowded me drop; (see note)        pleasant open space; (t-note)     shaded; cedar trees Safe; heat     choose sparkling; flowing over glittering steps; (see note); (t-note) Made (a) gentle sound; wood resounded back bees     fair dancing over the fields     Whatever being appearances manners    Of these things [it] transformed; (see note) Astonished; below     imagine; describe; (see note) soon above rack my brains forward; direct my feeble course pavilion pitched     more often abode; go     straight; royal place guide; went gate-keeper; stubborn; (t-note) dispute uncovered (t-note) Sitting; dais, familiar servants; (t-note) spiced wine and mead Tasty; many delicacies also; (see note)     crowding ate; interludes between [courses]; (see note) Posed various problems; questions; (see note) Asking; had been best in their times Who [were] faithful; youthful years disagree commands to come forward; (see note) official recorder, fully deeds     Crowned with laurel; (t-note) poised feats; (see note); (see note) dragged out     many; struck; (t-note) narrated the long wars; (see note); (t-note) Against      (see note) Who vanquished      (see note); (t-note) brothers' death; then; sister's lament son of King Priam, Aesacus; (see note) clothes; (t-note) cormorant     how the Greeks come ashore    fierce; (see note) Cycnus, Neptune's dearest son Who during; arrival, beaches     Fought; completely dulled his spear wound; injure Until; tore the straps off his helmet strangled; by force despite; mightiness     metamorphoses; (see note) forms hundreds more; identified; (t-note) expounded on discourses of love art; remedies frenzy [of] lusts; expelled topics; expressed opinions considering his; witty discourses    appeared; (see note)     Virgil the great promptly stood up; (see note); (t-note) performed; pastimes Terence Parmeno, Thraso; Gnatho; (see note) mocker by himself; (see note) ridiculing; went cook to roast; boil, stuff; (see note) snarl and groan; (see note) spitting; fie     On entertainments; tasty dishes [having] feasted befitting their rank giving the order to decamp Retreat; signaled; (see note) kept at top speed Shining; sweat; anointed; (see note); (t-note) jot out of place sojourn; companion together in fine style     at once Vale of Hebron; Field; (see note) fine valley dark, through fine    eyes    ultimate destination; travel flat expense; crag; descry once bow their heads low     merriment rock; ride; (t-note) fear my pen trembles; (see note) heart; man's tongue; (see note) hear; can the eye see among    to realize (see note) could not show, even if     Though; body parts were tongues in a row; (see note) the thousands of times; show anything more whether; (see note) knew; (t-note)    perfect in every way Also if; vision    Fault-finders; deride; feel no dread Away with; penny; (see note)     Since; is known to me to be all truth consider; to end here to say anything; upset listeners On the opposing side; they mock me truth; censure such fault-finding help, and aid continue this discourse; propose Trusting; to achieve my purpose     Even though; detail Capture; memory; (t-note) shall describe Regarding onward; fine opportunity maturely bethink thyself lively and witty, purged of inconsistency to shudder            (t-note)     at my aid; (t-note) ample; eloquent techniques; (see note) Lend; undiminished, keen, vivid appropriately to compose grace-endowed delightfulness; embed listeners compliant and attentive; (see note) Reading; enlightened; teaching     to proceed concisely to my main point Around; hill; paths only one pathway carved out up to the summit Hewn; slippery; (see note) In the sunlight difficult to plan out; (t-note) poised climbed except     Still; base; two lingered     fine gentleman! Then; fear; trembled upset; (t-note) rushed up the narrow path         great difficulty; climbed towards; peak; (t-note)         hilltop ditch; burning deep as hell; (t-note) brimstone, pitch, and boiling lead; (t-note)     wretches; yelling in [a] high [voice]    a ravine that could well be compared Xanthus; cold; (see note) Burning; command against     ugly sight broad thought I could [go] no further up; (t-note)    attempt; for this wide world Trembling; [at] high speed; (t-note) noticed my face; Enough; (t-note) suffer; here [is] the reason     entrusted; take care of you pitiful; this helpful chasm Were wretches who in vigorous years Put themselves forward to; creep; (t-note) slothful drowned; lake of sorrow; (t-note) grabbed summit; (see note) Habakkuk; brought into Babylon     Once; positioned Determine in what condition    estimate now [to be] great fear steep looked down; felt; tremble crumbling; little to be commended; (see note); (see note)    It seemed to me; burn which could in no way relent     waves    estimate neither to house; (see note); (t-note) Innumerable; floundering together    were sunk in the tossing waves fine boat Beset by seas; surge     rigged secure in order; (see note) bleached; snow securely watertight; built swollen waves utterly capsized; (t-note) In opposition; rough; blow; (t-note) heavy squalls, so; could navigate; (t-note) she; raised thrust sandbar; broke apart; split; (t-note)     pitiful hear; sorrowful; ran aground shipwrecked    famished, wet, defeated, tired; weak oak; (t-note) rigging; mast; (t-note) [dislodged] from; washed away Some drowned; crag floated; (t-note) ropes or planks then; climbed     many fearsome portents; (t-note) drowned people; (see note); (t-note) (t-note) Fail to acknowledge God wrecked and lost journey She is called     guess; (see note) baptism; (t-note) safely beset by storms; uncertainty Until; wretchedness shipwrecked (see note) working; works Stay with that, these shall bring you     concerning this direction Turn back; district write afterwards; (t-note) before abundance of language; scant happiness; lack         raised up high in fact for any earthly being; (see note) above can only make paper blackened; (see note) must pull onward; the yoke lies upon; (see note) offer my ignorant opinion Filled with delight; (see note)     plain; peerless beauty In which abounded all olive oil; timber fowls; every [sort of] foodstuff salt and fresh water polished, shiny silver hurt the small animals; (see note) birds of prey; little birds     Always in season everything; (see note); (t-note) without either hurt or harm; (t-note) Always ripened To; would be impossible; (t-note) meadow abounding with; (t-note) stood; magnificent towers; (see note) ingenious crenels; many banners; (t-note)     Turrets, finials, spiral staircases Gilded, polished knobs    Ledges, recesses; battlements; (see note) Sculpted foliage; borders; precious moldings; ago  (see note) Lifelike motifs     gate; in every way     On went yard; precinct gate; (t-note) knocked to the ground entertainment also; mortal combat spend time in service of Venus         I stood inspecting; without peer  (see note) Bezaleel; Aholiab, without doubt; (see note) The Ark of the Covenant  (see note) built; Ilion; (see note); (t-note) constructed; (see note) carry out a project so skilfully     While [I was] gazing at this in a state of wonderment; stupefied; (see note) Gaping; viewed; (see note) tiresome; Quickly turn thy back pay close attention take care; (see note); (t-note) bliss garden; convey plenty     adorned with costly jewels cloth; seated who sees nothing entered; information could right in front of; directly emerald tiers; steps; (t-note) trees Carrying; before the goddess' face; (t-note) ingeniously supported by them     Of what substance it was made; sense beryl; steel carbuncle stone I cannot adequately describe circular frame; detail frame, base and edging powerful jewels set; bleeding; stop; (see note) whoever was wounded Became healed once; looked     treasure; radiant (t-note) Half of whose powers; I cannot; (t-note) delightful [with] such very lovely reflections Exceeding; by my opinion ingenious, elegant mirror Canace     (see note) deeds and feats; eathly being (t-note) banished into the world; (see note) Noah's Babel built; such massive overthrow; (see note); (t-note) Isaac; (t-note) Horned; (see note) plagues; (t-note) Red Sea; one after another; (see note) drowned; would never acknowledge; (t-note)  (t-note) walked dry-shod across it   Joshua; honorable wars; (see note)     Judges; fierce battles straightaway; (t-note) Jepthah; Gideon Abimelech; homicide[s]; (see note) brave; (see note) a donkey's [jaw]-bone gates Shamgar; (see note) ploughshare     mirror; (see note) whose; (t-note) vanquish; army by himself [I saw] Young David saly; Goliath Whose spear-head['s] weight; ounces of great might; (see note) Lay dead at the hands of brave David; (t-note) six fingers; each; without doubt bear     also; surprised at an ambush  (see note) two; defeat a fatal wound he forced out of his hand Boldly; go; (t-note) cistern; slew snow did plenty of harm     (t-note) Rehoboam; overweening; (see note) Lost; lieges' loyalty; action grossly ungrateful ten separated from him at night; (see note) Sennacherib's army; (t-note) wage war; Judea; much threatening     Hezekiah; (see note) Elijah; (see note) In a blazing chariot Ezra; Nehemiah; (see note) (see note) broke and destroyed Bel three youths into; (see note) exile into; (see note) Chronicles     Raphael; (see note) Marry; daughter of Raguel To Tobias cruel; fierce cut off Holophernes' head; (see note) At night time; freed her; destruction whale's belly three days; (see note) vomited forth afterwards; Nineveh     most calm (see note) conquered almost the whole world Antiochus; turmoil tyrannically; Judea; oppressed; (t-note) Judas Maccabeus; deed; (see note); (t-note) made; hold back; fear To peace brought  (see note) during their lifetimes I saw the protracted wars of Thebes; (see note) Tydeus mighty champions of Greece until; forces; (t-note) conquered despite; tricks Statius; (see note)         could perceive; (see note)    black clothes; barefoot walk together; (t-note) To the seige of Thebes, after indecisive; (see note) flightly of behavior; generosity faithfulness expect [that]; in no text elsewhere loyalty Recognize; to be praised     wedding; time; (see note) carried off the bride    to see is widespread; (see note) Hesione down; shore was disallowed     once     fleece; then; (see note) nobles along with Jason Medea's wiles Hypsipyle was ruined; (see note) (see note) suffered from; injustices was destroyed by; forces Hesione abducted then; (see note) apple; poets recount the most beautiful goddess abducted; (t-note) navy; (t-note)    thousand sailed; with speed by; (see note) By what means; discovered; brought     mighty blows quarrel; lengthy hostilities siege; showed me Protracted; amid [the] Trojans; (see note) placed; melée courageous deeds aplenty Whom fierce; (see note) horse built; then destroyed all burnt up in flames     (see note) many lands was; sea's Swept repeatedly fleet, without sheltered, both; child By; abiding afterwards seek     go Charon; rough-mannered ferryman four rivers; could I see; (see note) circular paths rolling; cause; much grief; (see note) Elysian Fields; (see note) converse; Aeneas; (see note) by descent; lineage same     Of which; sequence; itemize Would be too lengthy also I saw in what manner Great hunger afflicted his entire navy; (see note) great difficulty; (see note); (t-note) shores slew Turnus; Rutulians; (see note)     first built by; (see note) Livy writes ruled over the people  (see note) children, by; (t-note)    exiled [from]; unendurable narrative; show would be most beautiful and virtuous overcome     Punic Wars; (see note) Between; (t-note) for the reason that pious Aeneas because of many warnings Between their nations; protracted war; (t-note) (see note); (t-note) Even though public benefit chose to die     Servius Tullius valiant in his lifetime; (see note) Curtius; also; (see note); (t-note) Who because of his courage; abyss; (t-note) throw fearlessly; hesitation Mounted; without weapons; leapt destined advantage; (see note) against Until; eclipsed named Africanus defeat; on the battlefield to ultimate destruction    subjected; (t-note) has killed his brothers; (see note) also, and the outcome of his war civil wars; (see note) between; (see note); (t-note) in short; mighty exploit; (see note) read [in] chronicle[s] definitely        both misery and indigence covetousness; treachery    Concerning worldly false instability Devil ceaselessly; lure into vices (see note)     recreations, whoever; tells all kinds [of] entertainments; (see note) falcons on their way to the river   Chasing; danger of death; (see note); (t-note) Bringing them in by flocks; species    during the dive, some; treated roughly weary; busy early searching; (t-note) boar; doe; roe-deer     Ralph the Collier; frowning; (see note); (see note); (t-note) Irritable; Reeve; Colkelbie's; (see note) wren; Ailsa Craig; (see note) well-fed; (see note) Goll mac Morna; Finn mac Cumhaill; (see note) used to be  (see note)  (see note) Fairyland; (see note)     magic; (t-note) Bonatti, Bungay; friar; (see note); (t-note) feat of conjuring; (see note) peas pack-saddle; sighing; (see note) nutmeg; made; in haste parish church; pie; (see note); (t-note) mussel cunning jest; trick     briefly to state the truth pastime and games; could     spectacle her gaze     summit; (see note)    chasm do not know any more; sheep; (see note)     No matter about that; Since pleases; entertainment and ceremony    (t-note) without doubt promise; peril liberated; which; need not be specified in a serious tone of voice command, whatever (t-note)         obedient she took a book; (see note) she entrusted to me before     narrative; then utterly lost; (see note) even before she was finished Receiving the book; to try my skill made my exit     Concerning; perhaps; hear; (t-note) leisure; (see note) took; (t-note) walked onward together side by side (see note) (t-note) else     see all special favors     brought me much delight straight try to get entry; (t-note) Pushing forward to climb the walls Catiline; indeed; (see note) push to gain entry Cicero came struck; until; jaws trembled     those fine stone walls (see note)    grip could hold there; slipperiness Thronging; many thousands    they fall tower watchman; (t-note) made their hearts quake Away with falsehood burning covetousness     then; (t-note) named Loyalty, guard; stronghold; (t-note) expelled    exerting themselves; once; bold grew old; (see note) entirely on; fixed; (t-note) gate without gatekeeper; named; (t-note)     (see note); (t-note) is called high Who is served by; loyal; (t-note) the paragon of virtue; (t-note) that shining tower Constancy; Secretary Treasurer; (see note) as is fitting chapel clerks; grooms of the chamber; (see note)     Comptroller; named; (t-note) Truthful Report ushers; chamber; morning; (t-note) walk marshals cook; taste and test carver; who wishes to grieve no one; (see note); (t-note) butler; (t-note) cupbearer      (see note) bribe; (t-note) assessors; one mind wish to commit; (t-note) exchequer rolls auditors; oversee; (see note); (t-note) Hard-working estate officers; purchasers; (see note)     resides always minstrel; jest almoner; (see note); (t-note) whoever wants to report accurately deputy; unfortunate people familiar servant whispering; (see note)    [who] never harmed a loyal man in brief authority     survey this edifice paused to view the gateway wanted nothing more     well-being; in this life gate; burnished; (see note) On which; inticately engraved; (t-note) phenomena; consider in the world     surrounded by the sea; (see note) On which I could see the ships sailing Spheres; (see note) twelve [astrological] signs; degree; (see note); (t-note) just as books expound Pole; keeps himself out of sight; (see note) two Bears; (see note)    Pleiades; Phaethon; Ursa Major     engraved; (see note) abducted to    made chief butler to Jupiter attractive in their fine clothes; (see note) Doris; without doubt depicted there drying their blonde hair unlike; whoever sees them understand; are all sisters     conjunctions (see note) epicycles; (see note); (t-note) subside; (see note); (t-note) courses positions; deviations; (see note) (t-note) fine lifelike depictions many times; (see note)     Puzzling over this; without pause annoyance shoved; gate; (see note) What the devil; else to do; (see note) to lavish foolishness; sweat; (see note) Because of [If it] please you to see marvels    overmuch, out of fear you will rave halfway; daze     had a view     courtyard; delights to enjoy     shone empyrean sphere; (see note) cedar surpasses the shrub; (see note); (t-note)    earthly vain delight     loss were constructed reflection from; shone; (t-note)    scarcely look upon; could truly as it seemed to me; (t-note) Instead; cement; habitation Poured; beryl joined together and fitted courtyard was paved; (t-note)     doors; paneled; (see note)    fineness glowed polished ivory; (see note) shingled well; skilfully; covered palely bleached Intermixed; enameled Depicted with Ornamental knots; intricate pattern; (see note); (t-note)     fine palace steps of topaz; (see note) Shut; peephole I looked; (see note); (t-note) appearance; (see note) miserable wretch beheld narrative floor; amethyst; (see note) what substance; walls were; not know; (t-note)    abundant precious stones without doubt Could; powerful beauty ceiling wreathed sapphires; (see note)     tables; greatest costliness sardonyx; jasper; smaragd (emerald); (see note)             plated and well-wrought armor furnished Enthroned; warlike god; (see note); (t-note) looked; (see note) suddenly knocked; bruised ashen complexion; (t-note) Until; has picked me up     lamenting; sorrow carried; stairs courtyard health-giving air; (t-note) she was in great doubt to awake; busy death-like swoon; (t-note) suddenly awoke; eyes; open             I'd bet my head undone; (t-note) Then; leapt because; biting threatening gesture Old woman; was it that thou; (see note); (t-note) Easy, you; quarrel always courteous with their wives; (see note); (t-note)    you have become so strong (t-note) annoyed a flea What troubled you (that made you) fall    that god's could not remain standing; true; Yes laughed understand; tender heart; (see note); (t-note) test; (t-note) terrify since ladies'; (see note)     indeed; together side door; flower-garden eagerly; asked; (t-note) [who] stayed; (t-note)     whoever describes the truth courageous (valiant) (t-note)     greatest of strength; (t-note) promises honor and loyalty Illumined with generosity     realm; (t-note) (t-note) only displays of earthly rank or lineage, power, or such things     Shall be honored for virtue only nothing but; (see note) will depart        (see note); (t-note) slippery and transitory; (t-note) on earth boundary-line low; before; (t-note) formerly; poor; mother sunbeam; (see note)     tosses; stormy sea     rulers height    Once; let [us] see who waits on them except the glory of their positions nothing else except; rightly; (see note) go; neither Forever; reigns; enduring; bright    peer         delightful; (t-note)    (t-note)     saints [out] of wicked people live; lasting    indeed defeats; through    fie     dependable nothing else, to everlasting honor; (t-note) wicked people exalted soon after; vanishes; (t-note) Examples of which; see has died supplied with no earthly friend Except; It goes well for; comrade Samson the strongest; inside; dwelling strong, mighty; bold fierce; Nine Worthies; (see note); (t-note) elder; (see note) are already mentioned; (t-note) more; describe among those; too Tamar; Hippolyta; (see note) Penthesilea, Medusa, Zenobia; (see note)     (see note) shall not be listed here; (t-note) Cursed; forever; puny remained; that place way; conversed; (t-note) Sorrow fall upon; impaired    remaining where numerous; punished; crime; (see note)      (see note)     treachery; uncorrected deceit; (t-note) Exert; to advance themselves; (t-note) sly; without loyalty or dependability deceit and tricks now praised Betraying promote themselves; lying mouths their earthly glory to dim     descended; (see note); (t-note) give no respect to unlawful Except; false; no one is esteemed Wisdom is banished pays heed; these without delay; (see note)         heard promptly great, definitive judgment Concerning; legal case; punishment Carried out; alive no longer prevail     eagerly; (see note) pleased recovered     benefits; (see note) tall cypress; scent most busy; bees; (see note) flowery; rhetoric; (see note); (t-note) Gather filled; that abode; (t-note) stones do abound on trees; (t-note) laden; pearls     ditch far around Was set about; aplenty swimming there briskly Also; sprouting; breed; (see note) hanging; beaks water; assorted colors; (t-note) over which we had to go; (see note) of what kind it was     commanding; follow; (t-note) grew afraid the route to identify once bridge brains trembled ceaselessly; (t-note) slipped away; (see note) head; down about to drown     What with; shock awakened; (t-note)     I looked about    pleasant place had disappeared flower-garden; hell; (t-note) In comparison with; heard; (t-note)    considered myself wished very much; (t-note)     (see note) soothe my grievous; woes seemed to me barren    Cursing; lovely awoke; reviling meanwhile isle place; (t-note) colors of rhetoric; (see note)     mood was distressed; (see note) departed from my dream Not seeing how those Who; impaired; damaged into this text; recorded If I had seen it; destroyed after; good fortune had vanished away sitting; (see note) wrote     sweet, dignified, heavenly flower; (see note); (see note); (see note); (t-note) Powerful gem; worthiest you are [the] fitting reward; (t-note) renown known [to be]; goal    Without which, indeed; last power; benefit poor people; much good soon; (see note); (t-note) request, since; without peer continue; (see note)     (see note)    courteously every being; lowers before; remedy     without; is divine gateway, in brief; guidance happiness; death without; always dwindles Beautiful (one); endure; hostility     choicest rose; stop; foes'; (see note) gem that shone; throne sweet dew; (see note) each; cause to say misdeed; always justly remain dedicated; saint; favor; (see note) [a] support; platform; worthiness; (see note)    Please; quickly; free of misery; make commit [myself]; plan        (t-note)    dedicated Fourth     praise laurel May your kingship     Happiness enduring destined decree crude, rustic discourse Lacking; poor untaught subject (liege man)     Depending on such Proffers; vulgar humbly; due; (t-note) Beseeching By; to; such imperfection; (see note) kindly consideration; firm stability Presenting; acknowledged; (see note) Through whose; humble; find favor     rustic book; divested; (see note); (t-note) coarse clothing    into the open; assert thyself; (see note); (t-note) fruitless words; writing; (see note); (see note) mine; blame renounce; knew you; (see note); (t-note); (t-note)  (see note) penny; correct thee; (see note) Journey on with sorrow    (t-note)