i.                            [Confessor]     L        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                Confessor 165                Amans 170                    175                    180                Confessor 185                    190                    195                                200    L                205                    210                    215                    220                    L    225                    230                    235                    240                    245        Confessor         250                    255                    260                    265                    270                ii.                        L            275                    280                    285                    290                    295                    300                    305                    310                    315                    320                    325                    330                    335                    340                    345                    350                    355                    360                    365                    370                L    375                    380                    385                    390                    395                    400        L        L    405                    410                    415            L        420                    425            L        430                    435                    440 L                    445                    450                    455                    460                    465    L                470                    475                    480                    485                    490                    495    L                500                    505                    510                    515                    520                    525                    530                    535        L            540                    545                    550                    555                    560                    565                    570    L                575                    580                    585 L                    590                    595                    600                    605                    610                    615                    620                    625                    630                L    635                    640                    645                    650                    655                    660                    665    L                670                    675                    680                    685                    690                    695    L                700                    705                    710                    715                    720                    725                L    730                    735                    740                    745                    750                    755                    760                    765                    770                    775                    780                    785                    790                    795                    800    L                805                    810                    815                    820 L                    825                    830                    835                    840                    845                    850                    855                    860                    865    L                870                    875                    880                    885                L    890                    895                    900                    905                    910                L    915                    920                    925                    930                    935                    940                    945                    950    L                955                    960                    965                    970                    975 L                    980                    985                    990                    995                    1000                    1005                    1010                    1015                    1020 L                    1025                    1030                    1035                    1040                    1045                    1050                    1055                L    1060                    1065                    1070                    1075                    1080                    1085                    1090                    1095            L        1100                    1105                    1110                    1115                    1120        L            1125                    1130                    1135                    1140    L                1145                    1150    L                1155                    1160                    1165                    1170                    1175                    1180                    1185                    1190                    1195                    1200                    1205                    1210                    1215                    1220        L            1225                    1230                    1235                    1240                    1245                    1250                    1255                    1260                    1265                    1270        L            1275                    1280                    1285                    1290                    1295                    1300                    1305                    1310                    1315                    1320                L    1325                    1330                    1335                    1340                    1345                    1350                    1355                    1360                    1365                    1370            L        1375                    1380                    1385                    1390                    1395                    1400                    1405                    1410                    1415                    1420                L    1425                    1430                    1435                    1440                    1445                    1450                    1455                    1460                    1465                    1470                    1475        L            1480                    1485                    1490                    1495            L        1500                    1505                    1510                    1515                    1520                    1525                    1530                    1535                    1540    L                1545                    1550                    1555                    1560                    1565        L            1570                    1575                    1580                    1585                L    1590                    1595                    1600                    1605                    1610                    1615                L    1620                    1625                    1630                    1635                    1640                    1645                    1650        L            1655                    1660                    1665                    1670                    1675                    1680                    1685                    1690                    1695                    1700 L                     1705                    1710                    1715                    1720                    1725                    1730                    1735                    1740                    1745            L        1750                    1755                    1760                    1765                    1770                    1775        L            1780                    1785                    1790                    1795                    1800                    1805                    1810                    1815                    1820                    1825                    1830            L        1835                    1840                    1845                    1850                    1855                    1860                    1865                    1870                    1875                    1880                    1885        L            1890                    1895                    1900                    1905                    1910        L            1915                    1920                    1925                    1930 L                     1935                    1940                    1945                    1950                    1955                    1960            L        1965                    1970                    1975                    1980                    1985                    1990                    1995                    2000                    2005                            Confessor ad Amantem                 2015                    2020                    2025                            [Amans] 2030 L                    2035                    2040                    2045                    2050                    2055                                [Confessor]                 2065            L        2070                    2075                    2080                    2085                    2090                    2095                    2100                    2105                    2110                    2115                    2120                    2125                    2130                    2135                    2140                    2145                            [Amans] 2150    L                2155                    2160                    2165                    2170                    2175                    2180                    2185                [Amans to reader]                 2195                    2200                    2205                    2210                    2215                    [Amans] L        2220                        2225                    2230                        2235                        2240                        2245                    2250                        2255                        2260                    2265                        2270                        2275                        2280                    2285                        2290                        2295                    2300                [Amans to reader] L        2305                    2310                    2315                    2320        [Venus]         2325                    2330                    2335                    2340                    2345                    2350                    2355                    2360                    2365                    2370                    2375                    iii.                                                L        2380                    2385                    2390                    2395                    2400                    2405                    2410                    2415                    2420                    2425                    2430                    2435                                2440        L            2445                    2450                    2455                    2460                    2465                    2470                    2475                    2480                    2485                    2490                    2495                    2500    L                2505                    2510                    2515                    2520                    2525                    2530                    2535                    2540                    2545                    2550                        2555                    2560                    2565                    2570                    2575                    2580                    2585                    2590                    2595                    2600                    2605                    2610                    2615                    2620                    2625                    2630                    2635                    2640                    2645                    2650                    2655                    2660                    2665                    2670                    2675                    2680                    2685                    2690                    2695                    2700                    2705                    2710                    2715                    2720                    2725                    2730                    2735                    2740                                2745                L    2750                    2755                    2760                    2765                    2770                    2775                    2780                    2785                    2790                    2795                    2800                    2805                                2810                    2815                    2820                    2825                    2830                    2835        L            2840                    2845                    2850                    2855                    2860                    2865                    2870                    2875                    2880                    2885                    2890                    2895                    2900                    2905                    2910                    2915                    2920                    2925                    2930                    2935                    2940                                2945                    2950                    2955                    2960                    2965                    2970                iv.                            L        2975                    2980                    2985                    2990                    2995                    3000                    3005                        3010                    3015                    3020                    3025                    3030                    3035                    3040                    3045                    3050                                3055                    3060                    3065                    3070                    3075                    3080                    3085                    3090                    3095                    3100                    3105                        L        3110                    3115                    3120                    3125                    3130                    3135                                3140                    3145                    3150                    3155                    3160                    3165                    3170

Incipit Liber Octavus     Que fauet ad vicium vetus hec modo regula confert,    Nec nouus econtra qui docet ordo placet. Cecus amor dudum nondum sua lumina cepit,    Quo Venus impositum deuia fallit iter. 1     [On Marriage and Incest]        "The myhti God, which unbegunne Stant of Himself and hath begunne Alle othre thinges at His wille, The hevene Him liste to fulfille Of alle joie, where as He Sit inthronized in His see, And hath Hise angles Him to serve, Suche as Him liketh to preserve, So that thei mowe noght forsueie: Bot Lucifer He putte aweie, With al the route apostazied Of hem that ben to him allied, Whiche out of hevene into the helle From angles into fendes felle; Wher that ther is no joie of lyht, Bot more derk than eny nyht The peine schal ben endeles; And yit of fyres natheles Ther is plenté, bot thei ben blake, Wherof no syhte mai be take.    Thus whan the thinges ben befalle, That Luciferes court was falle Wher dedly Pride hem hath conveied, Anon forthwith it was pourveied Thurgh Him which alle thinges may; He made Adam the sexte day In Paradis, and to his make Him liketh Eve also to make, And bad hem cresce and multiplie. For of the mannes progenie, Which of the womman schal be bore, The nombre of angles which was lore, Whan thei out fro the blisse felle, He thoghte to restore, and felle In hevene thilke holy place Which stod tho voide upon His grace. Bot as it is wel wiste and knowe, Adam and Eve bot a throwe, So as it scholde of hem betyde, In Paradis at thilke tyde Ne duelten, and the cause why, Write in the bok of Genesi, As who seith, alle men have herd, Hou Raphael the fyri swerd In honde tok and drof hem oute, To gete here lyves fode aboute Upon this wofull erthe hiere. Metodre seith to this matiere, As he be revelacion It hadde upon avision, Hou that Adam and Eve also Virgines comen bothe tuo Into the world and were aschamed, Til that nature hem hath reclamed To love, and tauht hem thilke lore, That ferst thei keste, and overmore Thei don that is to kinde due, Wherof thei hadden fair issue. A sone was the ferste of alle, And Chain be name thei him calle; Abel was after the secounde, And in the geste as it is founde, Nature so the cause ladde, Tuo douhtres ek Dame Eve hadde, The ferste cleped Calmana Was, and that other Delbora. Thus was mankinde to beginne; Forthi that time it was no sinne The soster for to take hire brother, Whan that ther was of chois non other: To Chain was Calmana betake, And Delboram hath Abel take, In whom was gete natheles Of worldes folk the ferste encres. Men sein that nede hath no lawe, And so it was be thilke dawe And laste into the Secounde Age, Til that the grete water rage, Of Noe, which was seid the flod, The world, which thanne in senne stod, Hath dreint, outake lyves eyhte. Tho was mankinde of litel weyhte; Sem, Cham, Japhet, of these thre, That ben the sones of Noe, The world of mannes nacion Into multiplicacion Was tho restored newe agein So ferforth, as the bokes sein, That of hem thre and here issue Ther was so large a retenue, Of naciouns seventy and tuo, In sondri place ech on of tho The wyde world have enhabited. Bot as nature hem hath excited, Thei token thanne litel hiede, The brother of the sosterhiede To wedde wyves, til it cam Into the time of Habraham. Whan the thridde Age was begunne, The nede tho was overrunne, For ther was poeple ynouh in londe. Thanne ate ferste it cam to honde, That sosterhode of mariage Was torned into cousinage, So that after the rihte lyne The cousin weddeth the cousine. For Habraham, er that he deide, This charge upon his servant leide, To him and in this wise spak, That he his sone Isaac Do wedde for no worldes good, Bot only to his oghne blod: Wherof this servant, as he bad, Whan he was ded, his sone hath lad To Bathuel, wher he Rebecke Hath wedded with the whyte necke; For sche, he wiste wel and syh, Was to the child cousine nyh.    And thus as Habraham hath tawht, Whan Isaac was God betawht, His sone Jacob dede also, And of Laban the dowhtres tuo, Which was his em, he tok to wyve, And gat upon hem in his lyve, Of hire ferst which hihte Lie, Sex sones of his progenie, And of Rachel tuo sones eke: The remenant was for to seke, That is to sein of foure mo, Wherof he gat on Bala tuo, And of Zelpha he hadde ek tweie. And these tuelve, as I thee seie, Thurgh providence of God Himselve Ben seid the Patriarkes tuelve; Of whom, as afterward befell, The tribes tuelve of Irahel Engendred were, and ben the same That of Hebreus tho hadden name, Which of sibrede in alliance For evere kepten thilke usance Most comunly, til Crist was bore. Bot afterward it was forbore Amonges ous that ben baptized; For of the lawe canonized The Pope hath bede to the men, That non schal wedden of his ken Ne the seconde ne the thridde. Bot thogh that holy cherche it bidde, So to restreigne mariage, Ther ben yit upon loves rage Full manye of suche nou aday That taken wher thei take may. For love, which is unbesein Of alle reson, as men sein, Thurgh sotie and thurgh nyceté, Of his voluptuosité He spareth no condicion Of ken ne yit religion, Bot as a cock among the hennes, Or as a stalon in the fennes, Which goth amonges al the stod, Riht so can he no more good, Bot takth what thing comth next to honde.    Mi sone, thou schalt understonde, That such delit is for to blame. Forthi if thou hast be the same To love in eny such manere, Tell forth therof and schrif thee hiere."    "Mi fader, nay, God wot the sothe, Mi feire is noght of such a bothe, So wylde a man yit was I nevere, That of mi ken or lief or levere Me liste love in such a wise: And ek I not for what emprise I scholde assote upon a nonne, For thogh I hadde hir love wonne, It myhte into no pris amonte, So therof sette I non acompte. Ye mai wel axe of this and that, Bot sothli for to telle plat, In al this world ther is bot on The which myn herte hath overgon; I am toward alle othre fre."    "Full wel, mi sone, nou I see Thi word stant evere upon o place. Bot yit therof thou hast a grace, That thou thee myht so wel excuse Of love suche as som men use, So as I spak of now tofore. For al such time of love is lore, And lich unto the bitterswete; For thogh it thenke a man ferst swete, He schal wel fielen ate laste That it is sour and may noght laste. For as a morsell envenimed, So hath such love his lust mistimed, And grete ensamples manyon A man mai finde therupon.     [Examples of Incest]        At Rome ferst if we beginne, Ther schal I finde hou of this sinne An emperour was for to blame, Gayus Caligula be name, Which of his oghne sostres thre Berefte the virginité: And whanne he hadde hem so forlein, As he the which was al vilein, He dede hem out of londe exile. Bot afterward withinne a while God hath beraft him in his ire His lif and ek his large empire: And thus for likinge of a throwe Forevere his lust was overthrowe.    Of this sotie also I finde, Amon his soster agein kinde, Which hihte Thamar, he forlay; Bot he that lust an other day Aboghte, whan that Absolon His oghne brother therupon, Of that he hadde his soster schent, Tok of that senne vengement And slowh him with his oghne hond: And thus th'unkinde unkinde fond.        And for to se more of this thing, The Bible makth a knowleching, Wherof thou miht take evidence Upon the sothe experience. Whan Lothes wif was overgon And schape into the salte ston, As it is spoke into this day, Be bothe hise dowhtres thanne he lay, With childe and made hem bothe grete, Til that nature hem wolde lete, And so the cause aboute ladde That ech of hem a sone hadde, Moab the ferste, and the seconde Amon, of whiche, as it is founde, Cam afterward to gret encres Tuo nacions: and natheles, For that the stockes were ungoode, The branches mihten noght be goode; For of the false Moabites Forth with the strengthe of Amonites, Of that thei weren ferst misgete, The poeple of God was ofte upsete In Irahel and in Judee, As in the Bible a man mai se.    Lo thus, my sone, as I thee seie, Thou miht thiselve be beseie Of that thou hast of othre herd. For evere yit it hath so ferd, Of loves lust if so befalle That it in other place falle Than it is of the lawe set, He which his love hath so beset Mote afterward repente him sore. And every man is othres lore; Of that befell in time er this The present time which now is May ben enformed hou it stod, And take that him thenketh good, And leve that which is noght so. Bot for to loke of time go, Hou lust of love excedeth lawe, It oghte for to be withdrawe; For every man it scholde drede, And nameliche in his sibrede, Which torneth ofte to vengance: Wherof a tale in remembrance, Which is a long process to hiere, I thenke for to tellen hiere."     [The Tale of Apollonius of Tyre]     Omnibus est communis amor, set et immoderatos    Qui facit excessus, non reputatur amans. Sors tamen vnde Venus attractat corda, videre    Que racionis erunt, non racione sinit. 2        Of a cronique in daies gon, The which is cleped Pantheon, In loves cause I rede thus, Hou that the grete Antiochus, Of whom that Antioche tok His ferste name, as seith the bok, Was coupled to a noble queene, And hadde a dowhter hem betwene: Bot such fortune cam to honde, That deth, which no king mai withstonde, Bot every lif it mote obeie, This worthi queene tok aweie. The king, which made mochel mone, Tho stod, as who seith, al him one Withoute wif, bot natheles His doghter, which was piereles Of beauté, duelte aboute him stille. Bot whanne a man hath welthe at wille, The fleissh is frele and falleth ofte, And that this maide tendre and softe, Which in hire fadres chambres duelte, Withinne a time wiste and felte. For likinge and concupiscence Withoute insihte of conscience The fader so with lustes blente, That he caste al his hole entente His oghne doghter for to spille. This king hath leisir at his wille With strengthe, and whanne he time sih, This yonge maiden he forlih. And sche was tendre and full of drede, Sche couthe noght hir maidenhede Defende, and thus sche hath forlore The flour which sche hath longe bore. It helpeth noght althogh sche wepe, For thei that scholde hir bodi kepe Of wommen were absent as thanne, And thus this maiden goth to manne. The wylde fader thus devoureth His oghne fleissh, which non socoureth, And that was cause of mochel care. Bot after this unkinde fare Out of the chambre goth the king, And sche lay stille, and of this thing, Withinne hirself such sorghe made, Ther was no wiht that mihte hir glade, For feere of thilke horrible vice. With that cam inne the norrice Which fro childhode hire hadde kept, And axeth if sche hadde slept, And why hire chiere was unglad. Bot sche, which hath ben overlad Of that sche myhte noght be wreke, For schame couthe unethes speke; And natheles mercy sche preide With wepende yhe and thus sche seide: "Helas, mi soster, waileway, That evere I sih this ilke day! Thing which mi bodi ferst begat Into this world, onliche that Mi worldes worschipe hath bereft." With that sche swouneth now and eft, And evere wissheth after deth, So that wel nyh hire lacketh breth. That other, which hire wordes herde, In confortinge of hire ansuerde, To lette hire fadres fol desir Sche wiste no recoverir. Whan thing is do, ther is no bote, So suffren thei that suffre mote; Ther was non other which it wiste. Thus hath this king al that him liste Of his likinge and his plesance, And laste in such continuance, And such delit he tok therinne, Him thoghte that it was no sinne; And sche dorste him nothing withseie.    Bot fame, which goth every weie, To sondry regnes al aboute The grete beauté telleth oute Of such a maide of hih parage: So that for love of mariage The worthi princes come and sende, As thei the whiche al honour wende, And knewe nothing hou it stod. The fader, whanne he understod, That thei his dowhter thus besoghte, With al his wit he caste and thoghte Hou that he myhte finde a lette; And such a statut thanne he sette, And in this wise his lawe he taxeth, That what man that his doghter axeth, Bot if he couthe his question Assoile upon suggestion Of certein thinges that befelle, The whiche he wolde unto him telle, He scholde in certein lese his hed. And thus ther weren manye ded, Here hevedes stondende on the gate, Till ate laste longe and late, For lacke of ansuere in the wise, The remenant that weren wise Eschuieden to make assay.    Til it befell upon a day Appolinus the Prince of Tyr, Which hath to love a gret desir, As he which in his hihe mod Was likende of his hote blod, A yong, a freissh, a lusti knyht, As he lai musende on a nyht Of the tidinges whiche he herde, He thoghte assaie hou that it ferde. He was with worthi compainie Arraied, and with good navie To schipe he goth, the wynd him dryveth, And seileth, til that he arryveth. Sauf in the port of Antioche He londeth, and goth to aproche The kinges court and his presence. Of every naturel science, Which eny clerk him couthe teche, He couthe ynowh, and in his speche Of wordes he was eloquent; And whanne he sih the king present, He preith he moste his dowhter have. The king agein began to crave, And tolde him the condicion, Hou ferst unto his question He mote ansuere and faile noght, Or with his heved it schal be boght. And he him axeth what it was.    The king declareth him the cas With sturne lok and sturdi chiere, To him and seide in this manere: "With felonie I am upbore, I ete and have it noght forbore Mi modres fleissh, whos housebonde Mi fader for to seche I fonde, Which is the sone ek of my wif. Hierof I am inquisitif; And who that can mi tale save, Al quyt he schal my doghter have; Of his ansuere and if he faile, He schal be ded withoute faile. Forthi my sone," quod the king, "Be wel avised of this thing, Which hath thi lif in jeupartie."    Appolinus for his partie, Whan he this question hath herd, Unto the king he hath ansuerd And hath rehersed on and on The pointz, and seide therupon: "The question which thou hast spoke, If thou wolt that it be unloke, It toucheth al the priveté Betwen thin oghne child and thee, And stant al hol upon you tuo."    The king was wonder sory tho, And thoghte, if that he seide it oute, Than were he schamed al aboute. With slihe wordes and with felle He seith, "Mi sone, I schal thee telle, Though that thou be of litel wit, It is no gret merveile as yit, Thin age mai it noght suffise: Bot loke wel thou noght despise Thin oghne lif, for of my grace Of thretty daies fulle a space I grante thee, to ben avised."    And thus with leve and time assised This yonge prince forth he wente, And understod wel what it mente, Withinne his herte as he was lered, That for to maken him afered The king his time hath so deslaied. Wherof he dradde and was esmaied, Of treson that he deie scholde, For he the king his sothe tolde; And sodeinly the nyhtes tyde, That more wolde he noght abide, Al prively his barge he hente And hom agein to Tyr he wente; And in his oghne wit he seide For drede, if he the king bewreide, He knew so wel the kinges herte, That deth ne scholde he noght asterte, The king him wolde so poursuie. Bot he, that wolde his deth eschuie, And knew al this tofor the hond, Forsake he thoghte his oghne lond, That there wolde he noght abyde; For wel he knew that on som syde This tirant of his felonie Be som manere of tricherie To grieve his bodi wol noght leve.    Forthi withoute take leve, Als priveliche as evere he myhte, He goth him to the see be nyhte In schipes that be whete laden: Here takel redy tho thei maden And hale up seil and forth thei fare. Bot for to tellen of the care That thei of Tyr begonne tho, Whan that thei wiste he was ago, It is a pité for to hiere. They losten lust, they losten chiere, Thei toke upon hem such penaunce, Ther was no song, ther was no daunce, Bot every merthe and melodie To hem was thanne a maladie; For unlust of that aventure Ther was no man which tok tonsure; In doelful clothes thei hem clothe, The bathes and the stwes bothe Thei schetten in be every weie; There was no lif which leste pleie Ne take of eny joie kepe, Bot for here liege lord to wepe; And every wyht seide as he couthe, "Helas, the lusti flour of youthe, Our prince, oure heved, our governour, Thurgh whom we stoden in honour, Withoute the comun assent Thus sodeinliche is fro ous went!" Such was the clamour of hem alle.    Bot se we now what is befalle Upon the ferste tale plein, And torne we therto agein. Antiochus the grete sire, Which full of rancour and of ire His herte berth, so as ye herde, Of that this Prince of Tyr ansuerde, He hadde a feloun bacheler, Which was his privé consailer, And Taliart be name he hihte: The king a strong puison him dihte Withinne a buiste and gold therto, In alle haste and bad him go Strawht unto Tyr, and for no cost Ne spare he, til he hadde lost The Prince which he wolde spille. And whan the king hath seid his wille, This Taliart in a galeie With alle haste he tok his weie: The wynd was good, he saileth blyve, Til he tok lond upon the ryve Of Tyr, and forthwithal anon Into the burgh he gan to gon, And tok his in and bod a throwe. Bot for he wolde noght be knowe, Desguised thanne he goth him oute; He sih the wepinge al aboute, And axeth what the cause was, And thei him tolden al the cas, How sodeinli the prince is go. And whan he sih that it was so, And that his labour was in vein, Anon he torneth hom agein, And to the king, whan he cam nyh, He tolde of that he herde and syh, Hou that the Prince of Tyr is fled, So was he come agein unsped. The king was sori for a while, Bot whan he sih that with no wyle He myhte achieve his crualté, He stinte his wraththe and let him be.    Bot over this now for to telle Of aventures that befelle Unto this prince of whom I tolde, He hath his rihte cours forth holde Be ston and nedle, til he cam To Tharse, and there his lond he nam. A burgeis riche of gold and fee Was thilke time in that cité, Which cleped was Strangulio, His wif was Dionise also: This yonge prince, as seith the bok, With hem his herbergage tok; And it befell that cité so Before time and thanne also, Thurgh strong famyne which hem ladde Was non that eny whete hadde. Appolinus, whanne that he herde The meschief, hou the cité ferde, Al freliche of his oghne gifte His whete, among hem for to schifte, The which be schipe he hadde broght, He gaf, and tok of hem riht noght. Bot sithen ferst this world began, Was nevere yit to such a man Mor joie mad than thei him made. For thei were alle of him so glade, That thei for evere in remembrance Made a figure in resemblance Of him, and in the comun place Thei sette him up, so that his face Mihte every maner man beholde, So as the cité was beholde; It was of latoun overgilt: Thus hath he noght his gifte spilt.    Upon a time with his route This lord to pleie goth him oute, And in his weie of Tyr he mette A man, the which on knees him grette, And Hellican be name he hihte, Which preide his lord to have insihte Upon himself, and seide him thus, Hou that the grete Antiochus Awaiteth if he mihte him spille. That other thoghte and hield him stille, And thonked him of his warnynge, And bad him telle no tidinge, Whan he to Tyr cam hom agein, That he in Tharse him hadde sein.    Fortune hath evere be muable And mai no while stonde stable, For now it hiheth, now it loweth, Now stant upriht, now overthroweth, Now full of blisse and now of bale, As in the tellinge of mi tale Hierafterward a man mai liere, Which is gret routhe for to hiere. This lord, which wolde don his beste, Withinne himself hath litel reste, And thoghte he wolde his place change And seche a contré more strange. Of Tharsiens his leve anon He tok, and is to schipe gon. His cours he nam with seil updrawe, Where as fortune doth the lawe, And scheweth, as I schal reherse, How sche was to this lord diverse, The which upon the see sche ferketh. The wynd aros, the weder derketh, It blew and made such tempeste, Non ancher mai the schip areste, Which hath tobroken al his gere; The schipmen stode in such a feere, Was non that myhte himself bestere, Bot evere awaite upon the lere, Whan that thei scholde drenche at ones. Ther was ynowh withinne wones Of wepinge and of sorghe tho; This yonge king makth mochel wo So for to se the schip travaile: Bot al that myhte him nogth availe; The mast tobrak, the seil torof, The schip upon the wawes drof, Til that thei sihe a londes cooste. Tho made avou the leste and moste, Be so thei myhten come alonde; Bot he which hath the see on honde, Neptunus, wolde noght acorde, Bot al tobroke cable and corde, Er thei to londe myhte aproche, The schip toclef upon a roche, And al goth doun into the depe. Bot he that alle thing mai kepe Unto this lord was merciable, And broghte him sauf upon a table, Which to the lond him hath upbore; The remenant was al forlore, Wherof he made mochel mone.    Thus was this yonge lord him one, Al naked in a povere plit: His colour, which whilom was whyt, Was thanne of water fade and pale, And ek he was so sore acale That he wiste of himself no bote, It halp him nothing for to mote To gete agein that he hath lore. Bot sche which hath his deth forbore, Fortune, thogh sche wol noght yelpe, Al sodeinly hath sent him helpe, Whanne him thoghte alle grace aweie; Ther cam a fisshere in the weie, And sih a man ther naked stonde, And whan that he hath understonde The cause, he hath of him gret routhe, And onliche of his povere trouthe Of suche clothes as he hadde With gret pité this lord he cladde. And he him thonketh as he scholde, And seith him that it schal be yolde, If evere he gete his stat agein, And preide that he wolde him sein If nyh were eny toun for him. He seide, "Yee, Pentapolim, Wher bothe king and queene duellen." Whanne he this tale herde tellen, He gladeth him and gan beseche That he the weie him wolde teche. And he him taghte, and forth he wente And preide God with good entente To sende him joie after his sorwe.    It was noght passed yit midmorwe, Whan thiderward his weie he nam, Wher sone upon the non he cam. He eet such as he myhte gete, And forth anon, whan he hadde ete, He goth to se the toun aboute, And cam ther as he fond a route Of yonge lusti men withalle. And as it scholde tho befalle, That day was set of such assisse, That thei scholde in the londes guise, As he herde of the poeple seie, Here comun game thanne pleie; And crid was that thei scholden come Unto the gamen alle and some Of hem that ben delivere and wyhte, To do such maistrie as thei myhte. Thei made hem naked as thei scholde, For so that ilke game wolde, As it was tho custume and us, Amonges hem was no refus. The flour of al the toun was there And of the court also ther were, And that was in a large place Riht evene afore the kinges face, Which Artestrathes thanne hihte. The pley was pleid riht in his sihte, And who most worthi was of dede Receive he scholde a certein mede And in the cité bere a pris.    Appolinus, which war and wys Of every game couthe an ende, He thoghte assaie, hou so it wende, And fell among hem into game. And there he wan him such a name, So as the king himself acompteth That he alle othre men surmonteth, And bar the pris above hem alle. The king bad that into his halle At souper time he schal be broght; And he cam thanne and lefte it noght, Withoute compaignie al one. Was non so semlich of persone, Of visage and of limes bothe, If that he hadde what to clothe. At soupertime natheles The king amiddes al the pres Let clepe him up among hem alle, And bad his mareschall of halle To setten him in such degré That he upon him myhte se. The king was sone set and served, And he, which hath his pris deserved After the kinges oghne word, Was mad beginne a middel bord, That bothe king and queene him sihe. He sat and caste aboute his yhe And sih the lordes in astat, And with himself wax in debat Thenkende what he hadde lore, And such a sorwe he tok therfore, That he sat evere stille and thoghte, As he which of no mete roghte.    The king behield his hevynesse, And of his grete gentillesse His doghter, which was fair and good And ate bord before him stod, As it was thilke time usage, He bad to gon on his message And fonde for to make him glad. And sche dede as hire fader bad, And goth to him the softe pas And axeth whenne and what he was, And preith he scholde his thoghtes leve. He seith, "Ma dame, be youre leve, Mi name is hote Appolinus, And of mi richesse it is thus, Upon the see I have it lore. The contré wher as I was bore, Wher that my lond is and mi rente, I lefte at Tyr, whan that I wente. The worschipe of this worldes aghte, Unto the god ther I betaghte." And thus togedre as thei tuo speeke, The teres runne be his cheeke. The king, which therof tok good kepe, Hath gret pité to sen him wepe, And for his doghter sende agein, And preide hir faire and gan to sein That sche no lengere wolde drecche, Bot that sche wolde anon forth fecche Hire harpe and don al that sche can To glade with that sory man. And sche to don hir fader heste Hir harpe fette, and in the feste Upon a chaier which thei fette Hirself next to this man sche sette: With harpe bothe and ek with mouthe To him sche dede al that sche couthe To make him chiere, and evere he siketh, And sche him axeth hou him liketh. "Ma dame, certes wel," he seide, "Bot if ye the mesure pleide Which, if you list, I schal you liere, It were a glad thing for to hiere." "Ha, lieve sire," tho quod sche, "Now tak the harpe and let me se Of what mesure that ye mene." Tho preith the king, tho preith the queene, Forth with the lordes alle arewe, That he som merthe wolde schewe; He takth the harpe and in his wise He tempreth, and of such assise Singende he harpeth forth withal, That as a vois celestial Hem thoghte it souneth in here ere, As thogh that he an angel were. Thei gladen of his melodie, Bot most of all the compainie The kinges doghter, which it herde, And thoghte ek hou that he ansuerde, Whan that he was of hire opposed, Withinne hir herte hath wel supposed That he is of gret gentilesse. Hise dedes ben therof witnesse Forth with the wisdom of his lore; It nedeth noght to seche more, He myhte noght have such manere, Of gentil blod bot if he were. Whanne he hath harped al his fille, The kinges heste to fulfille, Awey goth dissh, awey goth cuppe, Doun goth the bord, the cloth was uppe, Thei risen and gon out of halle.    The king his chamberlein let calle, And bad that he be alle weie A chambre for this man pourveie, Which nyh his oghne chambre be. "It schal be do, mi lord," quod he. Appolinus of whom I mene Tho tok his leve of king and queene And of the worthi maide also, Which preide unto hir fader tho, That sche myhte of that yonge man Of tho sciences whiche he can His lore have; and in this wise The king hir granteth his aprise, So that himself therto assente. Thus was acorded er thei wente, That he with al that evere he may This yonge faire freisshe may Of that he couthe scholde enforme; And full assented in this forme Thei token leve as for that nyht.    And whanne it was amorwe lyht, Unto this yonge man of Tyr, Of clothes and of good atir With gold and selver to despende This worthi yonge lady sende: And thus sche made him wel at ese, And he with al that he can plese Hire serveth wel and faire agein. He tawhte hir til sche was certein Of harpe, of citole, and of rote, With many a tun and many a note Upon musique, upon mesure, And of hire harpe the temprure He tawhte hire ek, as he wel couthe. Bot as men sein that frele is youthe, With leisir and continuance This mayde fell upon a chance, That love hath mad him a querele Agein hire youthe freissh and frele, That malgré wher sche wole or noght, Sche mot with al hire hertes thoght To love and to his lawe obeie; And that sche schal ful sore abeie. For sche wot nevere what it is, Bot evere among sche fieleth this: Thenkende upon this man of Tyr, Hire herte is hot as eny fyr, And otherwhile it is acale; Now is sche red, nou is sche pale Riht after the condicion Of hire ymaginacion. Bot evere among hire thoghtes alle, Sche thoghte, what so mai befalle, Or that sche lawhe, or that sche wepe, Sche wolde hire goode name kepe For feere of wommanysshe schame. Bot what in ernest and in game, Sche stant for love in such a plit, That sche hath lost al appetit Of mete, of drinke, of nyhtes reste, As sche that not what is the beste; Bot for to thenken al hir fille Sche hield hire ofte times stille Withinne hir chambre, and goth noght oute: The king was of hire lif in doute, Which wiste nothing what it mente.    Bot fell a time, as he out wente To walke, of princes sones thre Ther come and felle to his kne; And ech of hem in sondri wise Besoghte and profreth his servise, So that he myhte his doghter have. The king, which wolde his honour save, Seith sche is siek, and of that speche Tho was no time to beseche; Bot ech of hem do make a bille He bad, and wryte his oghne wille, His name, his fader and his good; And whan sche wiste hou that it stod, And hadde here billes oversein, Thei scholden have ansuere agein. Of this conseil thei weren glad, And writen as the king hem bad, And every man his oghne bok Into the kinges hond betok, And he it to his dowhter sende, And preide hir for to make an ende And wryte agein hire oghne hond, Riht as sche in hire herte fond.    The billes weren wel received, Bot sche hath alle here loves weyved, And thoghte tho was time and space To put hire in hir fader grace, And wrot agein and thus sche saide: "The schame which is in a maide With speche dar noght ben unloke, Bot in writinge it mai be spoke; So wryte I to you, fader, thus: Bot if I have Appolinus, Of al this world, what so betyde, I wol non other man abide. And certes if I of him faile, I wot riht wel withoute faile Ye schull for me be dowhterles." This lettre cam, and ther was press Tofore the king, ther as he stod; And whan that he it understod, He gaf hem ansuer by and by, Bot that was do so prively, That non of othres conseil wiste. Thei toke her leve, and wher hem liste Thei wente forth upon here weie.    The king ne wolde noght bewreie The conseil for no maner hihe, Bot soffreth til he time sihe: And whan that he to chambre is come, He hath unto his conseil nome This man of Tyr, and let him se The lettre and al the priveté, The which his dowhter to him sente. And he his kne to grounde bente And thonketh him and hire also, And er thei wenten thanne atuo, With good herte and with good corage Of full love and full mariage The king and he ben hol acorded. And after, whanne it was recorded Unto the dowhter hou it stod, The gifte of al this worldes good Ne scholde have mad hir half so blythe: And forth withal the king als swithe, For he wol have hire good assent, Hath for the queene hir moder sent. The queene is come, and whan sche herde Of this matiere hou that it ferde, Sche syh debat, sche syh desese, Bot if sche wolde hir dowhter plese, And is therto assented full. Which is a dede wonderfull, For no man knew the sothe cas Bot he himself, what man he was; And natheles, so as hem thoghte, Hise dedes to the sothe wroghte That he was come of gentil blod. Him lacketh noght bot worldes good, And as therof is no despeir, For sche schal ben hire fader heir, And he was able to governe. Thus wol thei noght the love werne Of him and hire in none wise, Bot ther acorded thei divise The day and time of mariage.    Wher love is lord of the corage, Him thenketh longe er that he spede; Bot ate laste unto the dede The time is come, and in her wise With gret offrende and sacrifise Thei wedde and make a riche feste, And every thing which was honeste Withinnen house and ek withoute It was so don, that al aboute Of gret worschipe, of gret noblesse Ther cride many a man largesse Unto the lordes hihe and loude; The knyhtes that ben yonge and proude, Thei jouste ferst and after daunce. The day is go, the nyhtes chaunce Hath derked al the bryhte sonne; This lord, which hath his love wonne, Is go to bedde with his wif, Wher as thei ladde a lusti lif, And that was after somdel sene, For as thei pleiden hem betwene, Thei gete a child betwen hem tuo, To whom fell after mochel wo.    Now have I told of the spousailes. Bot for to speke of the mervailes Whiche afterward to hem befelle, It is a wonder for to telle. It fell adai thei riden oute, The king and queene and al the route, To pleien hem upon the stronde, Wher as thei sen toward the londe A schip sailende of gret array. To knowe what it mene may, Til it be come thei abide; Than sen thei stonde on every side, Endlong the schipes bord to schewe, Of penonceals a riche rewe. Thei axen when the schip is come. Fro Tyr, anon ansuerde some, And over this thei seiden more The cause why thei comen fore Was for to seche and for to finde Appolinus, which was of kinde Her liege lord: and he appiereth, And of the tale which he hiereth He was riht glad; for thei him tolde, That for vengance, as God it wolde, Antiochus, as men mai wite, With thondre and lyhthnynge is forsmite; His doghte hath the same chaunce, So be thei bothe in o balance. "Forthi, oure liege lord, we seie In name of al the lond, and preie, That left al other thing to done, It like you to come sone And se youre oghne liege men With othre that ben of youre ken, That live in longinge and desir Til ye be come agein to Tyr." This tale after the king it hadde Pentapolim al overspradde, Ther was no joie for to seche; For every man it hadde in speche And seiden alle of on acord, "A worthi king schal ben oure lord: That thoghte ous ferst an hevinesse Is schape ous now to gret gladnesse." Thus goth the tidinge overal.    Bot nede he mot, that nede schal: Appolinus his leve tok, To God and al the lond betok With al the poeple long and brod, That he no lenger there abod. The king and queene sorwe made, Bot yit somdiel thei weren glade Of such thing as thei herden tho. And thus betwen the wel and wo To schipe he goth, his wif with childe, The which was evere meke and mylde And wolde noght departe him fro, Such love was betwen hem tuo. Lichorida for hire office Was take, which was a norrice, To wende with this yonge wif, To whom was schape a woful lif. Withinne a time, as it betidde, Whan thei were in the see amidde, Out of the north thei sihe a cloude; The storm aros, the wyndes loude Thei blewen many a dredful blast, The welkne was al overcast, The derke nyht the sonne hath under, Ther was a gret tempeste of thunder; The mone and ek the sterres bothe In blake cloudes thei hem clothe, Wherof here brihte lok thei hyde. This yonge ladi wepte and cride, To whom no confort myhte availe; Of childe sche began travaile, Wher sche lay in a caban clos. Hire woful lord fro hire aros, And that was longe er eny morwe, So that in anguisse and in sorwe Sche was delivered al be nyhte And ded in every mannes syhte; Bot natheles for al this wo A maide child was bore tho.    Appolinus whan he this knew, For sorwe a swoune he overthrew, That no man wiste in him no lif. And whanne he wok, he seide, "Ha, wif, Mi lust, mi joie, my desir, Mi welthe and my recoverir, Why schal I live, and thou schalt dye? Ha, thou fortune, I thee deffie, Nou hast thou do to me thi werste. Ha, herte, why ne wolt thou berste, That forth with hire I myhte passe? Mi peines weren wel the lasse." In such wepinge and in such cry His dede wif, which lay him by, A thousend sithes he hire kiste; Was nevere man that sih ne wiste A sorwe unto his sorwe lich. For evere among upon the lich He fell swounende, as he that soghte His oghne deth, which he besoghte Unto the goddes alle above With many a pitous word of love. Bot suche wordes as tho were Yit herde nevere mannes ere, Bot only thilke whiche he seide. The maister schipman cam and preide With othre suche as be therinne, And sein that he mai nothing winne Agein the deth, bot thei him rede, He be wel war and take hiede, The see be weie of his nature Receive mai no creature Withinne himself as for to holde The which is ded: forthi thei wolde, As thei conseilen al aboute, The dede body casten oute. For betre it is, thei seiden alle, That it of hire so befalle, Than if thei scholden alle spille.    The king, which understod here wille And knew here conseil that was trewe, Began agein his sorwe newe With pitous herte, and thus to seie: "It is al reson that ye preie. I am," quod he, "bot on alone, So wolde I noght for mi persone Ther felle such adversité. Bot whan it mai no betre be, Doth thanne thus upon my word, Let make a cofre strong of bord, That it be ferm with led and pich." Anon was mad a cofre sich, Al redy broght unto his hond; And whanne he sih and redy fond This cofre mad and wel enclowed, The dede bodi was besowed In cloth of gold and leid therinne. And for he wolde unto hire winne Upon som cooste a sepulture, Under hire heved in aventure Of gold he leide sommes grete And of jeueals a strong beyete Forth with a lettre, and seide thus:    "I, king of Tyr Appollinus, Do alle maner men to wite, That hiere and se this lettre write, That helpeles withoute red Hier lith a kinges doghter ded: And who that happeth hir to finde, For charité tak in his mynde, And do so that sche be begrave With this tresor, which he schal have." Thus whanne the lettre was full spoke, Thei have anon the cofre stoke, And bounden it with yren faste, That it may with the wawes laste, And stoppen it be such a weie, That it schal be withinne dreie, So that no water myhte it grieve. And thus in hope and good believe Of that the corps schal wel aryve, Thei caste it over bord als blyve.    The schip forth on the wawes wente; The prince hath changed his entente, And seith he wol noght come at Tyr As thanne, bot al his desir Is ferst to seilen unto Tharse. The wyndy storm began to skarse, The sonne arist, the weder cliereth, The schipman which behinde stiereth, Whan that he sih the wyndes saghte, Towardes Tharse his cours he straghte.    Bot now to mi matiere agein, To telle as olde bokes sein, This dede corps of which ye knowe With wynd and water was forthrowe Now hier, now ther, til ate laste At Ephesim the see upcaste The cofre and al that was therinne. Of gret merveile now beginne Mai hiere who that sitteth stille; That God wol save mai noght spille. Riht as the corps was throwe alonde, Ther cam walkende upon the stronde A worthi clerc, a surgien, And ek a gret phisicien, Of al that lond the wisest on, Which hihte Maister Cerymon; Ther were of his disciples some. This maister to the cofre is come, He peiseth ther was somwhat in, And bad hem bere it to his in, And goth himselve forth withal. Al that schal falle, falle schal; They comen hom and tarie noght; This cofre is into chambre broght, Which that thei finde faste stoke, Bot thei with craft it have unloke. Thei loken in, where as thei founde A bodi ded, which was bewounde In cloth of gold, as I seide er, The tresor ek thei founden ther Forth with the lettre, which thei rede. And tho thei token betre hiede; Unsowed was the bodi sone, And he, which knew what is to done, This noble clerk, with alle haste Began the veines for to taste, And sih hire age was of youthe, And with the craftes whiche he couthe He soghte and fond a signe of lif. With that this worthi kinges wif Honestely thei token oute, And maden fyres al aboute; Thei leide hire on a couche softe, And with a scheete warmed ofte Hire colde brest began to hete, Hire herte also to flacke and bete. This maister hath hire every joignt With certein oile and balsme enoignt, And putte a liquour in hire mouth, Which is to fewe clerkes couth, So that sche coevereth ate laste: And ferst hire yhen up sche caste, And whan sche more of strengthe cawhte, Hire armes bothe forth sche strawhte, Hield up hire hond and pitously Sche spak and seide, "Ha, wher am I? Where is my lord, what world is this?" As sche that wot noght hou it is. Bot Cerymon the worthi leche Ansuerde anon upon hire speche And seith, "Ma dame, yee ben hiere Wher yee be sauf, as yee schal hiere Hierafterward; forthi as nou Mi conseil is, conforteth you: For trusteth wel withoute faile, Ther is nothing which schal you faile, That oghte of reson to be do." Thus passen thei a day or tuo; Thei speke of noght as for an ende, Til sche began somdiel amende, And wiste hireselven what sche mente.    Tho for to knowe hire hol entente, This maister axeth al the cas, Hou sche cam there and what sche was. "Hou I cam hiere wot I noght," Quod sche, "bot wel I am bethoght Of othre thinges al aboute": Fro point to point and tolde him oute Als ferforthli as sche it wiste. And he hire tolde hou in a kiste The see hire threw upon the lond, And what tresor with hire he fond, Which was al redy at hire wille, As he that schop him to fulfille With al his myht what thing he scholde. Sche thonketh him that he so wolde, And al hire herte sche discloseth, And seith him wel that sche supposeth Hire lord be dreint, hir child also; So sih sche noght bot alle wo. Wherof as to the world no more Ne wol sche torne, and preith therfore That in som temple of the cité To kepe and holde hir chasteté, Sche mihte among the wommen duelle. Whan he this tale hir herde telle, He was riht glad, and made hire knowen That he a dowhter of his owen Hath, which he wol unto hir give To serve, whil thei bothe live, In stede of that which sche hath lost; Al only at his oghne cost Sche schal be rendred forth with hire. She seith, "Grant mercy, lieve sire, God quite it you, ther I ne may." And thus thei drive forth the day, Til time com that sche was hol; And tho thei take her conseil hol, To schape upon good ordinance And make a worthi pourveance Agein the day whan thei be veiled. And thus, whan that thei be conseiled, In blake clothes thei hem clothe, This lady and the dowhter bothe, And yolde hem to religion. The feste and the profession After the reule of that degré Was mad with gret solempneté, Where as Diane is seintefied; Thus stant this lady justefied In ordre wher sche thenkth to duelle.    Bot now ageinward for to telle In what plit that hire lord stod inne: He seileth, til that he may winne The havene of Tharse, as I seide er; And whanne he was aryved ther, And it was thurgh the cité knowe, Men myhte se withinne a throwe, As who seith, al the toun at ones, That come agein him for the nones, To given him the reverence, So glad thei were of his presence: And thogh he were in his corage Desesed, yit with glad visage He made hem chiere, and to his in, Wher he whilom sojourned in, He goth him straght and was resceived. And whan the presse of poeple is weived, He takth his hoste unto him tho, And seith, "Mi frend Strangulio, Lo, thus and thus it is befalle, And thou thiself art on of alle, Forth with thi wif, whiche I most triste. Forthi, if it you bothe liste, My doghter Thaise be youre leve I thenke schal with you beleve As for a time; and thus I preie, That sche be kept be alle weie, And whan sche hath of age more, That sche be set to bokes lore. And this avou to God I make, That I schal nevere for hir sake Mi berd for no likinge schave, Til it befalle that I have In covenable time of age Beset hire unto mariage." Thus thei acorde, and al is wel, And for to resten him somdel, As for a while he ther sojorneth, And thanne he takth his leve and torneth To schipe, and goth him hom to Tyr, Wher every man with gret desir Awaiteth upon his comynge. Bot whan the schip com in seilinge, And thei perceiven it is he, Was nevere yit in no cité Such joie mad as thei tho made; His herte also began to glade Of that he sih the poeple glad. Lo, thus fortune his hap hath lad; In sondri wise he was travailed, Bot hou so evere he be assailed, His latere ende schal be good.    And for to speke hou that it stod Of Thaise his doghter, wher sche duelleth, In Tharse, as the cronique telleth, Sche was wel kept, sche was wel loked, Sche was wel tawht, sche was wel boked, So wel sche spedde hir in hire youthe That sche of every wisdom couthe, That for to seche in every lond So wys an other no man fond, Ne so wel tawht at mannes yhe. Bot wo worthe evere fals envie! For it befell that time so, A dowhter hath Strangulio, The which was cleped Philotenne. Bot fame, which wole evere renne, Cam al day to hir moder ere, And seith, wher evere hir doghter were With Thayse set in eny place, The comun vois, the comun grace Was al upon that other maide, And of hir doghter no man saide. Who wroth but Dionise thanne? Hire thoghte a thousend yer til whanne Sche myhte ben of Thaise wreke Of that sche herde folk so speke. And fell that ilke same tyde, That ded was trewe Lychoride, Which hadde be servant to Thaise, So that sche was the worse at aise, For sche hath thanne no servise Bot only thurgh this Dionise, Which was hire dedlich anemie Thurgh pure treson and envie. Sche, that of alle sorwe can, Tho spak unto hire bondeman, Which cleped was Theophilus, And made him swere in conseil thus, That he such time as sche him sette Schal come Thaise for to fette, And lede hire oute of alle sihte, Wher as no man hire helpe myhte, Upon the stronde nyh the see, And there he schal this maiden sle. This cherles herte is in a traunce, As he which drad him of vengance Whan time comth an other day; Bot yit dorste he noght seie nay, Bot swor and seide he schal fulfille Hire festes at hire oghne wille.    The treson and the time is schape, So fell it that this cherles knape Hath lad this maiden ther he wolde Upon the stronde, and what sche scholde Sche was adrad; and he out breide A rusti swerd and to hir seide, "Thou schalt be ded." "Helas!" quod sche, "Why schal I so?" "Lo thus," quod he, "Mi ladi Dionise hath bede, Thou schalt be moerdred in this stede." This maiden tho for feere schryhte, And for the love of God almyhte Sche preith that for a litel stounde Sche myhte knele upon the grounde, Toward the hevene for to crave, Hire wofull soule if sche mai save. And with this noise and with this cry, Out of a barge faste by, Which hidd was ther on scomerfare, Men sterten out and weren ware Of this feloun, and he to go, And sche began to crie tho, "Ha, mercy, help for Goddes sake! Into the barge thei hire take, As thieves scholde, and forth thei wente. Upon the see the wynd hem hente, And malgré wher thei wolde or non, Tofor the weder forth thei gon, Ther halp no seil, ther halp non ore, Forstormed and forblowen sore In gret peril so forth thei dryve, Til ate laste thei aryve At Mitelene the cité. In havene sauf and whan thei be, The maister schipman made him boun, And goth him out into the toun, And profreth Thaise for to selle. On Leonin it herde telle, Which maister of the bordel was, And bad him gon a redy pas To fetten hire, and forth he wente, And Thaise out of his barge he hente, And to this bordeller hir solde. And he, that be hire body wolde Take avantage, let do crye, That what man wolde his lecherie Attempte upon hire maidenhede, Lei doun the gold and he schal spede. And thus whan he hath crid it oute In syhte of al the poeple aboute, He ladde hire to the bordel tho.    No wonder is thogh sche be wo: Clos in a chambre be hireselve, Ech after other ten or tuelve Of yonge men to hire in wente; Bot such a grace God hire sente, That for the sorwe which sche made Was non of hem which pouer hade To don hire eny vileinie. This Leonin let evere aspie, And waiteth after gret beyete; Bot al for noght, sche was forlete, That mo men wolde ther noght come. Whan he therof hath hiede nome, And knew that sche was yit a maide, Unto his oghne man he saide, That he with strengthe agein hire leve Tho scholde hir maidenhod bereve. This man goth in, bot so it ferde, Whan he hire wofull pleintes herde And he therof hath take kepe, Him liste betre for to wepe Than don oght elles to the game. And thus sche kepte hirself fro schame, And kneleth doun to th'erthe and preide Unto this man, and thus sche seide: "If so be that thi maister wolde That I his gold encresce scholde, It mai noght falle be this weie: Bot soffre me to go mi weie Out of this hous wher I am inne, And I schal make him for to winne In som place elles of the toun, Be so it be religioun, Wher that honeste wommen duelle. And thus thou myht thi maister telle, That whanne I have a chambre there, Let him do crie ay wyde where, What lord that hath his doghter diere, And is in will that sche schal liere Of such a scole that is trewe, I schal hire teche of thinges newe, Which as non other womman can In al this lond." And tho this man Hire tale hath herd, he goth agein, And tolde unto his maister plein That sche hath seid; and therupon, Whan than he sih beyete non At the bordel because of hire, He bad his man to gon and spire A place wher sche myhte abyde, That he mai winne upon som side Be that sche can: bot ate leste Thus was sche sauf fro this tempeste.    He hath hire fro the bordel take, Bot that was noght for Goddes sake, Bot for the lucre, as sche him tolde. Now comen tho that comen wolde Of wommen in her lusty youthe, To hiere and se what thing sche couthe: Sche can the wisdom of a clerk, Sche can of every lusti werk Which to a gentil womman longeth, And some of hem sche underfongeth To the citole and to the harpe, And whom it liketh for to carpe Proverbes and demandes slyhe, An other such thei nevere syhe, Which that science so wel tawhte: Wherof sche grete giftes cawhte, That sche to Leonin hath wonne; And thus hire name is so begonne Of sondri thinges that she techeth, That al the lond unto hir secheth Of yonge wommen for to liere.    Nou lete we this maiden hiere, And speke of Dionise agein And of Theophile the vilein, Of whiche I spak of nou tofore. Whan Thaise scholde have be forlore, This false cherl to his lady Whan he cam hom, al prively He seith, "Ma dame, slain I have This maide Thaise, and is begrave In privé place, as ye me biede. Forthi, ma dame, taketh hiede And kep conseil, hou so it stonde." This fend, which this hath understonde, Was glad, and weneth it be soth: Now herkne, hierafter hou sche doth. Sche wepth, sche sorweth, sche compleigneth, And of sieknesse which sche feigneth Sche seith that Taise sodeinly Be nyhte is ded, "as sche and I Togedre lyhen nyh my lord." Sche was a womman of record, And al is lieved that sche seith; And for to give a more feith, Hire housebonde and ek sche bothe In blake clothes thei hem clothe, And made a gret enterrement; And for the poeple schal be blent, Of Thaise as for the remembrance, After the real olde usance A tumbe of latoun noble and riche With an ymage unto hir liche Liggende above therupon Thei made and sette it up anon. Hire epitaffe of good assisse Was write aboute, and in this wise It spak: "O yee that this beholde, Lo, hier lith sche, the which was holde The faireste and the flour of alle, Whos name Thaisis men calle. The king of Tyr Appolinus Hire fader was: now lith sche thus. Fourtiene yer sche was of age, Whan deth hir tok to his viage."    Thus was this false treson hidd, Which afterward was wyde kidd, As be the tale a man schal hiere. Bot for to clare mi matiere, To Tyr I thenke torne agein, And telle as the croniqes sein. Whan that the king was comen hom, And hath left in the salte fom His wif, which he mai noght forgete, For he som confort wolde gete, He let somoune a parlement, To which the lordes were asent; And of the time he hath ben oute, He seth the thinges al aboute, And told hem ek hou he hath fare, Whil he was out of londe fare; And preide hem alle to abyde, For he wolde at the same tyde Do schape for his wyves mynde, As he that wol noght ben unkinde. Solempne was that ilke office, And riche was the sacrifice; The feste reali was holde. And therto was he wel beholde; For such a wif as he hadde on In thilke daies was ther non.    Whan this was do, thanne he him thoghte Upon his doghter, and besoghte Suche of his lordes as he wolde, That thei with him to Tharse scholde, To fette his doghter Taise there. And thei anon al redy were, To schip they gon and forth thei wente, Til thei the havene of Tharse hente. Thei londe and faile of that thei seche Be coverture and sleyhte of speche. This false man Strangulio, And Dionise his wif also, That he the betre trowe myhte, Thei ladden him to have a sihte Wher that hir tombe was arraied. The lasse yit he was mispaied, And natheles, so as he dorste, He curseth and seith al the worste Unto Fortune, as to the blinde, Which can no seker weie finde; For sche him neweth evere among, And medleth sorwe with his song.    Bot sithe it mai no betre be, He thonketh God and forth goth he Seilende toward Tyr agein. Bot sodeinly the wynd and reyn Begonne upon the see debate, So that he soffre mot algate The lawe which Neptune ordeigneth; Wherof ful ofte time he pleigneth, And hield him wel the more esmaied Of that he hath tofore assaied. So that for pure sorwe and care, Of that he seth his world so fare, The reste he lefte of his caban, That for the conseil of no man Agein therinne he nolde come, Bot hath benethe his place nome, Wher he wepende al one lay, Ther as he sih no lyht of day. And thus tofor the wynd thei dryve, Til longe and late thei aryve With gret distresce, as it was sene, Upon this toun of Mitelene, Which was a noble cité tho. And hapneth thilke time so, The lordes bothe and the comune The hihe festes of Neptune Upon the stronde at the rivage, As it was custumme and usage, Sollempneliche thei besihe.    Whan thei this strange vessel syhe Come in, and hath his seil avaled, The toun therof hath spoke and taled. The lord which of the cité was, Whos name is Athenagoras, Was there, and seide he wolde se What schip it is, and who thei be That ben therinne: and after sone, Whan that he sih it was to done, His barge was for him arraied, And he goth forth and hath assaied. He fond the schip of gret array, Bot what thing it amonte may, He seth thei maden hevy chiere, Bot wel him thenkth be the manere That thei be worthi men of blod, And axeth of hem hou it stod; And thei him tellen al the cas, Hou that here lord fordrive was, And what a sorwe that he made, Of which ther mai no man him glade. He preith that he here lord mai se, Bot thei him tolde it mai noght be, For he lith in so derk a place, That ther may no wiht sen his face. Bot for al that, thogh hem be loth, He fond the ladre and doun he goth, And to him spak, bot non ansuere Agein of him ne mihte he bere For oght that he can don or sein; And thus he goth him up agein.    Tho was ther spoke in many wise Amonges hem that weren wise, Now this, now that, bot ate laste The wisdom of the toun this caste, That yonge Taise were asent. For if ther be amendement To glade with this woful king, Sche can so moche of every thing, That sche schal gladen him anon. A messager for hire is gon, And sche cam with hire harpe on honde, And seide hem that sche wolde fonde Be alle weies that sche can, To glade with this sory man. Bot what he was sche wiste noght, Bot al the schip hire hath besoght That sche hire wit on him despende, In aunter if he myhte amende, And sein it schal be wel aquit. Whan sche hath understonden it, Sche goth hir doun, ther as he lay, Wher that sche harpeth many a lay And lich an angel sang withal; Bot he no more than the wal Tok hiede of eny thing he herde. And whan sche sih that he so ferde, Sche falleth with him into wordes, And telleth him of sondri bordes, And axeth him demandes strange, Wherof sche made his herte change, And to hire speche his ere he leide And hath merveile of that sche seide. For in proverbe and in probleme Sche spak, and bad he scholde deme In many soubtil question: Bot he for no suggestioun Which toward him sche couthe stere, He wolde noght o word ansuere, Bot as a madd man ate laste His heved wepende awey he caste, And half in wraththe he bad hire go. Bot yit sche wolde noght do so, And in the derke forth sche goth, Til sche him toucheth, and he wroth, And after hire with his hond He smot: and thus whan sche him fond Desesed, courtaisly sche saide, "Avoi, mi lord, I am a maide; And if ye wiste what I am, And out of what lignage I cam, Ye wolde noght be so salvage." With that he sobreth his corage And put awey his hevy chiere. Bot of hem tuo a man mai liere What is to be so sibb of blod. Non wiste of other hou it stod, And yit the fader ate laste His herte upon this maide caste, That he hire loveth kindely, And yit he wiste nevere why. Bot al was knowe er that thei wente; For God, which wot here hol entente, Here hertes bothe anon descloseth. This king unto this maide opposeth, And axeth ferst what was hire name, And wher sche lerned al this game, And of what ken that sche was come. And sche, that hath hise wordes nome, Ansuerth and seith, "My name is Thaise, That was som time wel at aise. In Tharse I was forthdrawe and fed; Ther lerned I til I was sped Of that I can. Mi fader eke I not wher that I scholde him seke; He was a king, men tolde me. Mi moder dreint was in the see." Fro point to point al sche him tolde, That sche hath longe in herte holde, And nevere dorste make hir mone Bot only to this lord alone, To whom hire herte can noght hele, Torne it to wo, torne it to wele, Torne it to good, torne it to harm. And he tho toke hire in his arm, Bot such a joie as he tho made Was nevere sen; thus be thei glade, That sory hadden be toforn.    Fro this day forth fortune hath sworn To sette him upward on the whiel; So goth the world, now wo, now wel: This king hath founde newe grace, So that out of his derke place He goth him up into the liht, And with him cam that swete wiht, His doghter Thaise, and forth anon Thei bothe into the caban gon Which was ordeigned for the king, And ther he dede of al his thing, And was arraied realy. And out he cam al openly, Wher Athenagoras he fond, The which was lord of al the lond. He preith the king to come and se His castell bothe and his cité, And thus thei gon forth alle in fiere, This king, this lord, this maiden diere. This lord tho made hem riche feste With every thing which was honeste, To plese with this worthi king. Ther lacketh him no maner thing. Bot yit for al his noble array, Wifles he was into that day, As he that yit was of yong age. So fell ther into his corage The lusti wo, the glade peine Of love, which no man restreigne Yit nevere myhte as nou tofore. This lord thenkth al his world forlore, Bot if the king wol don him grace; He waiteth time, he waiteth place, Him thoghte his herte wol tobreke, Til he mai to this maide speke And to hir fader ek also For mariage. And it fell so, That al was do riht as he thoghte, His pourpos to an ende he broghte, Sche weddeth him as for hire lord. Thus be thei alle of on acord.    Whan al was do riht as thei wolde, The king unto his sone tolde Of Tharse thilke traiterie, And seide hou in his compaignie His doghter and himselven eke Schull go vengance for to seke. The schipes were redy sone, And whan thei sihe it was to done, Withoute lette of eny wente With seil updrawe forth thei wente Towardes Tharse upon the tyde. Bot he that wot what schal betide, The hihe God, which wolde him kepe, Whan that this king was faste aslepe, Be nyhtes time he hath him bede To seile into an other stede: To Ephesim he bad him drawe, And as it was that time lawe, He schal do there his sacrifise; And ek he bad in alle wise That in the temple amonges alle His fortune, as it is befalle, Touchende his doghter and his wif He schal beknowe upon his lif. The king of this avisioun Hath gret ymaginacioun, What thing it signefie may; And natheles, whan it was day, He bad caste ancher and abod; And whil that he on ancher rod, The wynd, which was tofore strange, Upon the point began to change, And torneth thider as it scholde. Tho knew he wel that God it wolde, And bad the maister make him yare, Tofor the wynd for he wol fare To Ephesim, and so he dede. And whanne he cam unto the stede Where as he scholde londe, he londeth With al the haste he may, and fondeth To schapen him be such a wise, That he may be the morwe arise And don after the mandement Of Him which hath him thider sent. And in the wise that he thoghte, Upon the morwe so he wroghte; His doghter and his sone he nom, And forth unto the temple he com With a gret route in compaignie, Hise giftes for to sacrifie. The citezeins tho herden seie Of such a king that cam to preie Unto Diane the godesse, And left al other besinesse, Thei comen thider for to se The king and the solempneté.    With worthi knyhtes environed The king himself hath abandoned Into the temple in good entente. The dore is up, and he in wente, Wher as with gret devocioun Of holi contemplacioun Withinne his herte he made his schrifte; And after that a riche gifte He offreth with gret reverence, And there in open audience Of hem that stoden thanne aboute, He tolde hem and declareth oute His hap, such as him is befalle, Ther was nothing forgete of alle. His wif, as it was Goddes grace, Which was professed in the place, As sche that was abbesse there, Unto his tale hath leid hire ere: Sche knew the vois and the visage, For pure joie as in a rage Sche strawhte unto him al at ones, And fell aswoune upon the stones, Wherof the temple flor was paved. Sche was anon with water laved, Til sche cam to hirself agein, And thanne sche began to sein, "Ha, blessed be the hihe sonde, That I mai se myn housebonde, That whilom he and I were on!" The king with that knew hire anon, And tok hire in his arm and kiste. And al the toun thus sone it wiste. Tho was ther joie manyfold, For every man this tale hath told As for miracle, and were glade, Bot nevere man such joie made As doth the king, which hath his wif. And whan men herde hou that hir lif Was saved, and be whom it was, Thei wondren alle of such a cas. Thurgh al the lond aros the speche Of Maister Cerymon the leche And of the cure which he dede. The king himself tho hath him bede, And ek this queene forth with him, That he the toun of Ephesim Wol leve and go wher as thei be, For nevere man of his degré Hath do to hem so mochel good; And he his profit understod, And granteth with hem for to wende. And thus thei maden there an ende, And token leve and gon to schipe With al the hole felaschipe.    This king, which nou hath his desir, Seith he wol holde his cours to Tyr. Thei hadden wynd at wille tho, With topseilcole and forth thei go, And striken nevere, til thei come To Tyr, where as thei havene nome, And londen hem with mochel blisse. Tho was ther many a mowth to kisse, Echon welcometh other hom, Bot whan the queen to londe com, And Thaise hir doghter be hir side, The joie which was thilke tyde Ther mai no mannes tunge telle: Thei seiden alle, "Hier comth the welle Of alle wommannysshe grace." The king hath take his real place, The queene is into chambre go: Ther was gret feste arraied tho; Whan time was, thei gon to mete, Alle olde sorwes ben forgete, And gladen hem with joies newe. The descoloured pale hewe Is now become a rody cheke, Ther was no merthe for to seke, Bot every man hath that he wolde.    The king, as he wel couthe and scholde, Makth to his poeple riht good chiere; And after sone, as thou schalt hiere, A parlement he hath sommoned, Wher he his doghter hath coroned Forth with the lord of Mitelene, That on is king, that other queene. And thus the fadres ordinance This lond hath set in governance, And seide thanne he wolde wende To Tharse, for to make an ende Of that his doghter was betraied. Therof were alle men wel paied, And seide hou it was for to done. The schipes weren redi sone, And strong pouer with him he tok; Up to the sky he caste his lok, And syh the wynd was covenable. Thei hale up ancher with the cable, The seil on hih, the stiere in honde, And seilen, til thei come alonde At Tharse nyh to the cité; And whan thei wisten it was he, The toun hath don him reverence, He telleth hem the violence, Which the tretour Strangulio And Dionise him hadde do Touchende his dowhter, as yee herde.    And whan thei wiste hou that it ferde, As he which pes and love soghte, Unto the toun this he besoghte, To don him riht in juggement. Anon thei were bothe asent With strengthe of men, and comen sone, And as hem thoghte it was to done, Atteint thei were be the lawe And diemed for to honge and drawe, And brent and with the wynd toblowe, That al the world it myhte knowe. And upon this condicion The dom in execucion Was put anon withoute faile. And every man hath gret mervaile, Which herde tellen of this chance, And thonketh Goddes pourveance, Which doth mercy forth with justice. Slain is the moerdrer and moerdrice Thurgh verray trowthe of rihtwisnesse, And thurgh mercy sauf is simplesse Of hire whom mercy preserveth; Thus hath he wel that wel deserveth.    Whan al this thing is don and ended, This king, which loved was and frended, A lettre hath, which cam to him Be schipe fro Pentapolim, Be which the lond hath to him write, That he wolde understonde and wite Hou in good mynde and in good pes Ded is the king Artestrates, Wherof thei alle of on acord Him preiden, as here liege lord, That he the lettre wel conceive And come his regne to receive, Which God hath gove him and fortune; And thus besoghte the commune Forth with the grete lordes alle. This king sih how it was befalle, Fro Tharse and in prosperité He tok his leve of that cité And goth him into schipe agein: The wynd was good, the see was plein, Hem nedeth noght a riff to slake, Til thei Pentapolim have take. The lond, which herde of that tidinge, Was wonder glad of his cominge; He resteth him a day or tuo And tok his conseil to him tho, And sette a time of Parlement, Wher al the lond of on assent Forth with his wif hath him corouned, Wher alle goode him was fuisouned. Lo, what it is to be wel grounded: For he hath ferst his love founded Honesteliche as for to wedde, Honesteliche his love he spedde And hadde children with his wif, And as him liste he ladde his lif; And in ensample as it is write, That alle lovers myhten wite How ate laste it schal be sene Of love what thei wolden mene. For se now on that other side, Antiochus with al his pride, Which sette his love unkindely, His ende he hadde al sodeinly, Set agein kinde upon vengance, And for his lust hath his penance.     [The Confessor's Final Counsel]        "Lo thus, mi sone, myht thou liere What is to love in good manere, And what to love in other wise. The mede arist of the servise; Fortune, thogh sche be noght stable, Yit at som time is favorable To hem that ben of love trewe. Bot certes it is for to rewe To se love agein kinde falle, For that makth sore a man to falle, As thou myht of tofore rede. Forthi, my sone, I wolde rede To lete al other love aweie, Bot if it be thurgh such a weie As love and reson wolde acorde. For elles, if that thou descorde, And take lust as doth a beste, Thi love mai noght ben honeste; For be no skile that I finde Such lust is noght of loves kinde."     [The Lover's Admission and Request]        "Mi fader, hou so that it stonde, Youre tale is herd and understonde, As thing which worthi is to hiere, Of gret ensample and gret matiere, Wherof, my fader, God you quyte. Bot if this point miself aquite I mai riht wel, that nevere yit I was assoted in my wit, Bot only in that worthi place Wher alle lust and alle grace Is set, if that Danger ne were. Bot that is al my moste fere. I not what ye fortune acompte, Bot what thing danger mai amonte I wot wel, for I have assaied; For whan myn herte is best arraied And I have al my wit thurghsoght Of love to beseche hire oght, For al that evere I skile may, I am concluded with a nay. That o sillable hath overthrowe A thousend wordes on a rowe Of suche as I best speke can; Thus am I bot a lewed man. Bot, fader, for ye ben a clerk Of love, and this matiere is derk, And I can evere leng the lasse, Bot yit I mai noght let it passe, Youre hole conseil I beseche, That ye me be som weie teche What is my beste, as for an ende."     [The Confessor's Reply]     "Mi sone, unto the trouthe wende Now wol I for the love of thee, And lete alle othre truffles be.    The more that the nede is hyh, The more it nedeth to be slyh To him which hath the nede on honde. I have wel herd and understonde, Mi sone, al that thou hast me seid, And ek of that thou hast me preid, Nou at this time that I schal As for conclusioun final Conseile upon thi nede sette. So thenke I finaly to knette This cause, where it is tobroke, And make an ende of that is spoke. For I behihte thee that gifte Ferst whan thou come under my schrifte, That thogh I toward Venus were, Yit spak I suche wordes there, That for the presthod which I have, Min ordre and min astat to save, I seide I wolde of myn office To vertu more than to vice Encline, and teche thee mi lore. Forthi to speken overmore Of love, which thee mai availe, Tak love where it mai noght faile. For as of this which thou art inne, Be that thou seist it is a sinne, And sinne mai no pris deserve; Withoute pris and who schal serve, I not what profit myhte availe. Thus folweth it, if thou travaile Wher thou no profit hast ne pris, Thou art toward thiself unwis. And sett thou myhtest lust atteigne, Of every lust th'ende is a peine, And every peine is good to fle; So it is wonder thing to se, Why such a thing schal be desired. The more that a stock is fyred, The rathere into aisshe it torneth; The fot which in the weie sporneth Ful ofte his heved hath overthrowe. Thus love is blind and can noght knowe Wher that he goth, til he be falle. Forthi, bot if it so befalle With good conseil that he be lad, Him oghte for to ben adrad. For conseil passeth alle thing To him which thenkth to ben a king; And every man for his partie A kingdom hath to justefie, That is to sein his oghne dom. If he misreule that kingdom, He lest himself, and that is more Than if he loste schip and ore And al the worldes good withal: For what man that in special Hath noght himself, he hath noght elles, No mor the perles than the schelles; Al is to him of o value. Thogh he hadde at his retenue The wyde world riht as he wolde, Whan he his herte hath noght withholde Toward himself, al is in vein. And thus, my sone, I wolde sein, As I seide er, that thou aryse, Er that thou falle in such a wise That thou ne myht thiself rekevere; For love, which that blind was evere, Makth alle his servantz blinde also. My sone, and if thou have be so, Yit is it time to withdrawe, And set thin herte under that lawe, The which of reson is governed And noght of will. And to be lerned, Ensamples thou hast many on Of now and ek of time gon, That every lust is bot a while; And who that wole himself beguile, He may the rathere be deceived. Mi sone, now thou hast conceived Somwhat of that I wolde mene. Hierafterward it schal be sene If that thou lieve upon mi lord; For I can do to thee no more Bot teche thee the rihte weie: Now ches if thou wolt live or deie."     [Debate between the Confessor and the Lover]        "Mi fader, so as I have herd Your tale, bot it were ansuerd, I were mochel for to blame. Mi wo to you is bot a game, That fielen noght of that I fiele. The fielinge of a mannes hiele Mai noght be likned to the herte: I mai noght, thogh I wolde, asterte, And ye be fre from al the peine Of love, wherof I me pleigne. It is riht esi to comaunde; The hert which fre goth on the launde Not of an oxe what him eileth; It falleth ofte a man merveileth Of that he seth an other fare, Bot if he knewe himself the fare, And felt it as it is in soth, He scholde don riht as he doth, Or elles werse in his degré: For wel I wot, and so do ye, That love hath evere yit ben used, So mot I nedes ben excused. Bot, fader, if ye wolde thus Unto Cupide and to Venus Be frendlich toward mi querele, So that myn herte were in hele Of love which is in mi briest, I wot wel thanne a betre prest Was nevere mad to my behove. Bot al the whiles that I hove In noncertein betwen the tuo, And not if I to wel or wo Schal torne, that is al my drede, So that I not what is to rede. Bot for final conclusion I thenke a supplicacion With pleine wordes and expresse Wryte unto Venus the goddesse, The which I preie you to bere And bringe agein a good ansuere."    Tho was betwen mi prest and me Debat and gret perplexeté: Mi resoun understod him wel, And knew it was soth everydel That he hath seid, bot noght forthi Mi will hath nothing set therby. For techinge of so wis a port Is unto love of no desport; Yit myhte nevere man beholde Reson, wher love was withholde; Thei be noght of o governance. And thus we fellen in distance, Mi prest and I, bot I spak faire, And thurgh mi wordes debonaire Thanne ate laste we acorden, So that he seith he wol recorden To speke and stonde upon mi syde To Venus bothe and to Cupide; And bad me wryte what I wolde, And seith me trewly that he scholde Mi lettre bere unto the queene.    And I sat doun upon the grene Fulfilt of loves fantasie, And with the teres of myn ye In stede of enke I gan to wryte The wordes whiche I wolde endite Unto Cupide and to Venus. And in mi lettre I seide thus:     [The Lover's Poetic Supplication]        "The wofull peine of loves maladie, Agein the which mai no phisique availe, Min herte hath so bewhaped with sotie, That wher so that I reste or I travaile, I finde it evere redy to assaile Mi resoun, which that can him noght defende. Thus seche I help, wherof I mihte amende.     Ferst to Nature if that I me compleigne, Ther finde I hou that every creature Som time ayer hath love in his demeine, So that the litel wrenne in his mesure Hath yit of kinde a love under his cure; And I bot on desire, of which I misse: And thus, bot I, hath every kinde his blisse.     The resoun of my wit it overpasseth, Of that Nature techeth me the weie To love, and yit no certein sche compasseth Hou I schal spede, and thus betwen the tweie I stonde, and not if I schal live or deie. For thogh reson agein my will debate, I mai noght fle, that I ne love algate.     Upon miself is thilke tale come, Hou whilom Pan, which is the god of kinde, With love wrastlede and was overcome: For evere I wrastle and evere I am behinde, That I no strengthe in al min herte finde, Wherof that I mai stonden eny throwe; So fer mi wit with love is overthrowe.     Whom nedeth help, he mot his helpe crave, Or helpeles he schal his nede spille: Pleinly thurghsoght my wittes alle I have, Bot non of hem can helpe after mi wille; And als so wel I mihte sitte stille, As preie unto mi lady eny helpe: Thus wot I noght wherof miself to helpe.     Unto the grete Jove and if I bidde, To do me grace of thilke swete tunne, Which under keie in his celier amidde Lith couched, that fortune is overrunne, Bot of the bitter cuppe I have begunne, I not hou ofte, and thus finde I no game; For evere I axe and evere it is the same.     I se the world stonde evere upon eschange, Nou wyndes loude, and nou the weder softe; I mai sen ek the grete mone change, And thing which nou is lowe is eft alofte; The dredfull werres into pes ful ofte Thei torne; and evere is Danger in o place, Which wol noght change his will to do me grace.     Bot upon this the grete clerc Ovide, Of love whan he makth his remembrance, He seith ther is the blinde god Cupide, The which hath love under his governance, And in his hond with many a fyri lance He woundeth ofte, ther he wol noght hele; And that somdiel is cause of mi querele.     Ovide ek seith that love to parforne Stant in the hond of Venus the goddesse; Bot whan sche takth hir conseil with Satorne, Ther is no grace, and in that time, I gesse, Began mi love, of which myn hevynesse Is now and evere schal, bot if I spede: So wot I noght miself what is to rede.     Forthi to you, Cupide and Venus bothe, With al myn hertes obeissance I preie, If ye were ate ferste time wrothe, Whan I began to love, as I you seie, Nou stynt, and do thilke infortune aweie, So that Danger, which stant of retenue With my ladi, his place mai remue.     O thou Cupide, god of loves lawe, That with thi dart brennende hast set afyre Min herte, do that wounde be withdrawe, Or gif me salve such as I desire. For service in thi court withouten hyre To me, which evere yit have kept thin heste, Mai nevere be to loves lawe honeste.     O thou, gentile Venus, loves queene, Withoute gult thou dost on me thi wreche; Thou wost my peine is evere aliche grene For love, and yit I mai it noght areche: This wold I for my laste word beseche, That thou mi love aquite as I deserve, Or elles do me pleinly for to sterve."     [Venus' Reply]        Whanne I this supplicacioun With good deliberacioun, In such a wise as ye nou wite, Hadde after min entente write Unto Cupide and to Venus, This prest which hihte Genius It tok on honde to presente, On my message and forth he wente To Venus, for to wite hire wille. And I bod in the place stille, And was there bot a litel while, Noght full the montance of a mile, Whan I behield and sodeinly I sih wher Venus stod me by. So as I myhte, under a tre To grounde I fell upon mi kne, And preide hire for to do me grace: Sche caste hire chiere upon mi face, And as it were halvinge a game Sche axeth me what is mi name. "Ma dame," I seide, "John Gower."    "Now John," quod sche, "in my pouer Thou most as of thi love stonde; For I thi bille have understonde, In which to Cupide and to me Somdiel thou hast compleigned thee, And somdiel to Nature also. Bot that schal stonde among you tuo, For therof have I noght to done; For Nature is under the mone Maistresse of every lives kinde, Bot if so be that sche mai finde Som holy man that wol withdrawe His kindly lust agein hir lawe; Bot sielde whanne it falleth so, For fewe men ther ben of tho, Bot of these othre ynowe be, Whiche of here oghne nyceté Agein Nature and hire office Deliten hem in sondri vice, Wherof that sche ful ofte hath pleigned, And ek my court it hath desdeigned And evere schal; for it receiveth Non such that kinde so deceiveth. For al onliche of gentil love Mi court stant alle courtz above And takth noght into retenue Bot thing which is to kinde due, For elles it schal be refused. Wherof I holde thee excused, For it is manye daies gon, That thou amonges hem were on Which of my court hast ben withholde; So that the more I am beholde Of thi desese to commune, And to remue that fortune, Which manye daies hath thee grieved. Bot if my conseil mai be lieved, Thou schalt ben esed er thou go Of thilke unsely jolif wo, Wherof thou seist thin herte is fyred. Bot as of that thou hast desired After the sentence of thi bille, Thou most therof don at my wille, And I therof me wole avise. For be thou hol, it schal suffise. Mi medicine is noght to sieke For thee and for suche olde sieke, Noght al per chance as ye it wolden, Bot so as ye be reson scholden, Acordant unto loves kinde. For in the plit which I thee finde, So as mi court it hath awarded, Thou schalt be duely rewarded; And if thou woldest more crave, It is no riht that thou it have."     [Old Age]     Qui cupit id quod habere nequit, sua tempora perdit,    Est vbi non posse, velle salute caret. Non estatis opus gelidis hirsuta capillis,    Cum calor abcessit, equiperabit hiems; Sicut habet Mayus non dat natura Decembri,    Nec poterit compar floribus esse lutum; Sic neque decrepita senium iuvenile voluptas    Floret in obsequium, quod Venus ipsa petit. Conveniens igitur foret, vt quos cana senectus    Attigit, vlterius corpora casta colant. 3        Venus, which stant withoute lawe In noncertein, bot as men drawe Of Rageman upon the chance, Sche leith no peis in the balance, Bot as hir lyketh for to weie; The trewe man ful ofte aweie Sche put, which hath hir grace bede, And set an untrewe in his stede. Lo, thus blindly the world sche diemeth In loves cause, as to me siemeth: I not what othre men wol sein, Bot I algate am so besein, And stonde as on amonges alle Which am out of hir grace falle, It nedeth take no witnesse: For sche which seid is the goddesse, To whether part of love it wende, Hath sett me for a final ende The point wherto that I schal holde. For whan sche hath me wel beholde, Halvynge of scorn, sche seide thus: "Thou wost wel that I am Venus, Which al only my lustes seche; And wel I wot, thogh thou beseche Mi love, lustes ben ther none, Whiche I mai take in this persone; For loves lust and lockes hore In chambre acorden neveremore, And thogh thou feigne a yong corage, It scheweth wel be the visage That olde grisel is no fole: There ben ful manye yeeres stole With thee and with suche othre mo, That outward feignen youthe so And ben withinne of pore assay. 'Min herte wolde and I ne may' Is noght beloved nou adayes; Er thou make eny suche assaies To love, and faile upon the fet, Betre is to make a beau retret; For thogh thou myhtest love atteigne, Yit were it bot an ydel peine, Whan that thou art noght sufficant To holde love his covenant. Forthi tak hom thin herte agein, That thou travaile noght in vein, Wherof my court may be deceived. I wot and have it wel conceived, Hou that thi will is good ynowh; Bot mor behoveth to the plowh, Wherof thee lacketh, as I trowe: So sitte it wel that thou beknowe Thi fieble astat, er thou beginne Thing wher thou miht non ende winne. What bargain scholde a man assaie, Whan that him lacketh for to paie? Mi sone, if thou be wel bethoght, This toucheth thee; forget it noght: The thing is torned into was; That which was whilom grene gras, Is welked hey at time now. Forthi mi conseil is that thou Remembre wel hou thou art old."     [Parliament of Exemplary Lovers]        Whan Venus hath hir tale told, And I bethoght was al aboute, Tho wiste I wel withoute doute, That ther was no recoverir; And as a man the blase of fyr With water quencheth, so ferd I; A cold me cawhte sodeinly, For sorwe that myn herte made Mi dedly face pale and fade Becam, and swoune I fell to grounde. And as I lay the same stounde, Ne fully quik ne fully ded, Me thoghte I sih tofor myn hed Cupide with his bowe bent, And lich unto a Parlement, Which were ordeigned for the nones, With him cam al the world at ones Of gentil folk that whilom were Lovers, I sih hem alle there Forth with Cupide in sondri routes. Min yhe and as I caste aboutes, To knowe among hem who was who, I sih wher lusty youthe tho, As he which was a capitein, Tofore alle othre upon the plein Stod with his route wel begon, Here hevedes kempt, and therupon Carlandes noght of o colour, Some of the lef, some of the flour, And some of grete perles were; The newe guise of Beawme there, With sondri thinges wel devised, I sih, wherof thei ben queintised. It was al lust that thei with ferde, Ther was no song that I ne herde, Which unto love was touchende; Of Pan and al that was likende As in pipinge of melodie Was herd in thilke compaignie So lowde, that on every side It thoghte as al the hevene cride In such acord and such a soon Of bombard and of clarion With cornemuse and schallemele, That it was half a mannes hele So glad a noise for to hiere. And as me thoghte, in this manere Al freissh I syh hem springe and dance, And do to love her entendance After the lust of youthes heste. Ther was ynowh of joie and feste, For evere among thei laghe and pleie, And putten care out of the weie, That he with hem ne sat ne stod. And over this I understod, So as myn ere it myhte areche, The moste matiere of her speche Was al of knyhthod and of armes, And what it is to ligge in armes With love, whanne it is achieved.    Ther was Tristram, which was believed With bele Ysolde, and Lancelot Stod with Gunnore, and Galahot With his ladi, and as me thoghte, I syh wher Jason with him broghte His love, which that Creusa hihte, And Hercules, which mochel myhte, Was ther berende his grete mace, And most of alle in thilke place He peyneth him to make chiere With Eolen, which was him diere.    Theseus, thogh he were untrewe To love, as alle wommen knewe, Yit was he there natheles With Phedra, whom to love he ches. Of Grece ek ther was Thelamon, Which fro the king Lamenedon At Troie his doghter refte aweie, Eseonen, as for his preie, Which take was whan Jason cam Fro Colchos, and the cité nam In vengance of the ferste hate; That made hem after to debate, Whan Priamus the newe toun Hath mad. And in avisioun Me thoghte that I sih also Ector forth with his brethren tuo; Himself stod with Pantaselee, And next to him I myhte se, Wher Paris stod with faire Eleine, Which was his joie sovereine; And Troilus stod with Criseide, Bot evere among, althogh he pleide, Be semblant he was hevy chiered, For Diomede, as him was liered, Cleymeth to ben his parconner. And thus full many a bacheler, A thousend mo than I can sein, With yowthe I sih ther wel besein Forth with here loves glade and blithe.    And some I sih whiche ofte sithe Compleignen hem in other wise; Among the whiche I syh Narcise And Piramus, that sory were. The worthi Grek also was there, Achilles, which for love deide. Agamenon ek, as men seide, And Menelay the king also I syh, with many an other mo, Which hadden be fortuned sore In loves cause.                         And overmore Of wommen in the same cas, With hem I sih wher Dido was, Forsake which was with Enee; And Phillis ek I myhte see, Whom Demephon deceived hadde; And Adriagne hir sorwe ladde, For Theseus hir soster tok And hire unkindely forsok. I sih ther ek among the press Compleignende upon Hercules His ferste love Deyanire, Which sette him afterward afyre. Medea was there ek and pleigneth Upon Jason, for that he feigneth, Withoute cause and tok a newe; Sche seide, "Fy on alle untrewe!" I sih there ek Deydamie, Which hadde lost the compaignie Of Achilles, whan Diomede To Troie him fette upon the nede.    Among these othre upon the grene I syh also the wofull queene Cleopatras, which in a cave With serpentz hath hirself begrave Al quik, and so sche was totore, For sorwe of that sche hadde lore Antonye, which hir love hath be. And forth with hire I sih Tisbee, Which on the scharpe swerdes point For love deide in sory point; And as myn ere it myhte knowe, She seide, "Wo worthe alle slowe!" The pleignte of Progne and Philomene Ther herde I what it wolde mene, How Tereus of his untrouthe Undede hem bothe, and that was routhe; And next to hem I sih Canace, Which for Machaire hir fader grace Hath lost, and deide in wofull plit. And as I sih in my spirit, Me thoghte amonges othre thus The doghter of king Priamus, Polixena, whom Pirrus slowh, Was there and made sorwe ynowh, As sche which deide gulteles For love, and yit was loveles.    And for to take the desport, I sih there some of other port, And that was Circes and Calipse, That cowthen do the mone eclipse, Of men and change the liknesses, Of art magique sorceresses; Thei hielde in honde many on, To love wher thei wolde or non.    Bot above alle that ther were Of wommen I sih foure there, Whos name I herde most comended: Be hem the court stod al amended; For wher thei comen in presence, Men deden hem the reverence, As thogh they hadden be goddesses, Of al this world or emperesses. And as me thoghte, an ere I leide, And herde hou that these othre seide, "Lo, these ben the foure wyves, Whos feith was proeved in her lyves: For in essample of alle goode With mariage so thei stode That fame, which no gret thing hydeth, Yit in cronique of hem abydeth."    Penolope that on was hote, Whom many a knyht hath loved hote, Whil that hire lord Ulixes lay Full many a yer and many a day Upon the grete siege of Troie. Bot sche, which hath no worldes joie Bot only of hire housebonde, Whil that hir lord was out of londe, So wel hath kept hir wommanhiede, That al the world therof tok hiede, And nameliche of hem in Grece.    That other womman was Lucrece, Wif to the Romain Collatin; And sche constreigned of Tarquin To thing which was agein hir wille, Sche wolde noght hirselven stille, Bot deide only for drede of schame In keping of hire goode name, As sche which was on of the beste.    The thridde wif was hote Alceste, Which whanne Ametus scholde dye Upon his grete maladye, Sche preide unto the goddes so, That sche receyveth al the wo And deide hirself to give him lif: Lo, if this were a noble wif.    The ferthe wif which I ther sih, I herde of hem that were nyh Hou sche was cleped Alcione, Which to Seyix hir lord al one And to no mo hir body kepte; And whan sche sih him dreynt, sche lepte Into the wawes where he swam, And there a sefoul sche becam, And with hire wenges him bespradde For love which to him sche hadde.    Lo, these foure were tho Whiche I sih, as me thoghte tho, Among the grete compaignie Which Love hadde for to guye. Bot Youthe, which in special Of Loves court was mareschal, So besy was upon his lay, That he non hiede where I lay Hath take. And thanne, as I behield, Me thoghte I sih upon the field, Where Elde cam a softe pas Toward Venus, ther as sche was. With him gret compaignie he ladde, Bot noght so manye as Youthe hadde: The moste part were of gret age, And that was sene in the visage, And noght forthi, so as thei myhte, Thei made hem yongly to the sihte: Bot yit herde I no pipe there To make noise in mannes ere, Bot the musette I myhte knowe, For olde men which souneth lowe, With harpe and lute and with citole. The hovedance and the carole, In such a wise as love hath bede, A softe pas thei dance and trede; And with the wommen otherwhile With sobre chier among thei smyle, For laghtre was ther non on hyh. And natheles full wel I syh That thei the more queinte it made For love, in whom thei weren glade.    And there me thoghte I myhte se The king David with Bersabee, And Salomon was noght withoute; Passende an hundred on a route Of wyves and of concubines, Juesses bothe and Sarazines, To him I sih alle entendant. I not if he was sufficant, Bot natheles for al his wit He was attached with that writ Which love with his hond enseleth, Fro whom non erthly man appeleth. And over this, as for a wonder, With his leon which he put under, With Dalida Sampson I knew, Whos love his strengthe al overthrew.    I syh there Aristotle also, Whom that the queene of Grece so Hath bridled, that in thilke time Sche made him such a silogime, That he forgat al his logique; Ther was non art of his practique, Thurgh which it mihte ben excluded That he ne was fully concluded To love, and dede his obeissance. And ek Virgile of aqueintance I sih, wher he the maiden preide, Which was the doghter, as men seide, Of th'emperour whilom of Rome; Sortes and Plato with him come, So dede Ovide the poete. I thoghte thanne how love is swete, Which hath so wise men reclamed, And was miself the lasse aschamed, Or for to lese or for to winne In the meschief that I was inne: And thus I lay in hope of grace.    And whan thei comen to the place Wher Venus stod and I was falle, These olde men with o vois alle To Venus preiden for my sake. And sche, that myhte noght forsake So gret a clamour as was there, Let pité come into hire ere; And forth withal unto Cupide Sche preith that he upon his side Me wolde thurgh his grace sende Som confort, that I myhte amende, Upon the cas which is befalle. And thus for me thei preiden alle Of hem that weren olde aboute, And ek some of the yonge route, Of gentilesse and pure trouthe I herde hem telle it was gret routhe, That I withouten help so ferde. And thus me thoghte I lay and herde.     [Cupid Returns]        Cupido, which may hurte and hele In loves cause, as for myn hele Upon the point which him was preid Cam with Venus, wher I was leid Swounende upon the grene gras. And, as me thoghte, anon ther was On every side so gret presse, That every lif began to presse, I wot noght wel hou many score, Suche as I spak of now tofore, Lovers, that comen to beholde, Bot most of hem that weren olde. Thei stoden there at thilke tyde, To se what ende schal betyde Upon the cure of my sotie. Tho myhte I hiere gret partie Spekende, and ech his oghne avis Hath told, on that, another this: Bot among alle this I herde, Thei weren wo that I so ferde, And seiden that for no riote An old man scholde noght assote; For as thei tolden redely, Ther is in him no cause why, Bot if he wolde himself benyce; So were he wel the more nyce. And thus desputen some of tho, And some seiden nothing so, Bot that the wylde loves rage In mannes lif forberth non age; Whil ther is oyle for to fyre, The lampe is lyhtly set afyre, And is ful hard er it be queynt Bot only if it be som seint, Which God preserveth of his grace. And thus me thoghte, in sondri place Of hem that walken up and doun Ther was diverse opinoun, And for a while so it laste, Til that Cupide to the laste, Forth with his moder full avised, Hath determined and devised Unto what point he wol descende. And al this time I was liggende Upon the ground tofore his yhen, And thei that my desese syhen Supposen noght I scholde live; Bot he, which wolde thanne give His grace, so as it mai be, This blinde god which mai noght se, Hath groped til that he me fond; And as he pitte forth his hond Upon my body, wher I lay, Me thoghte a fyri lancegay, Which whilom thurgh myn herte he caste, He pulleth oute, and also faste As this was do, Cupide nam His weie, I not where he becam, And so dede al the remenant Which unto him was entendant, Of hem that in avision I hadde a revelacion, So as I tolde now tofore.     [Healing Love's Wound]        Bot Venus wente noght therfore, Ne Genius, whiche thilke time Abiden bothe faste byme. And sche which mai the hertes bynde In loves cause and ek unbinde, Er I out of mi trance aros, Venus, which hield a boiste clos, And wolde noght I scholde deie, Tok out mor cold than eny keie An oignement, and in such point Sche hath my wounded herte enoignt, My temples and my reins also. And forth withal sche tok me tho A wonder mirour for to holde, In which sche bad me to beholde And taken hiede of that I syhe; Wherinne anon myn hertes yhe I caste, and sih my colour fade, Myn yhen dymme and al unglade, Mi chiekes thinne, and al my face With elde I myhte se deface, So riveled and so wo besein, That ther was nothing full ne plein, I syh also myn heres hore. Mi will was tho to se no more Outwith, for ther was no plesance; And thanne into my remembrance I drowh myn olde daies passed, And as reson it hath compassed, I made a liknesse of miselve Unto the sondri monthes twelve, Wherof the yeer in his astat Is mad, and stant upon debat, That lich til other non acordeth. For who the times wel recordeth, And thanne at Marche if he beginne, Whan that the lusti yeer comth inne, Til Augst be passed and Septembre, The myhty youthe he may remembre In which the yeer hath his deduit Of gras, of lef, of flour, of fruit, Of corn and of the wyny grape. And afterward the time is schape To frost, to snow, to wind, to rein, Til eft that Mars be come agein: The wynter wol no somer knowe, The grene lef is overthrowe, The clothed erthe is thanne bare, Despuiled is the somerfare, That erst was hete is thanne chele.    And thus thenkende thoghtes fele, I was out of mi swoune affraied, Wherof I sih my wittes straied, And gan to clepe hem hom agein. And whan Resoun it herde sein That loves rage was aweie, He cam to me the rihte weie, And hath remued the sotie Of thilke unwise fantasie, Wherof that I was wont to pleigne, So that of thilke fyri peine I was mad sobre and hol ynowh.    Venus behield me than and lowh, And axeth, as it were in game, What love was. And I for schame Ne wiste what I scholde ansuere; And natheles I gan to swere That be my trouthe I knew him noght; So ferr it was out of mi thoght, Riht as it hadde nevere be. "Mi goode sone," tho quod sche, "Now at this time I lieve it wel, So goth the fortune of my whiel; Forthi mi conseil is thou leve."    "Ma dame," I seide, "be your leve, Ye witen wel, and so wot I, That I am unbehovely Your court fro this day forth to serve. And for I may no thonk deserve, And also for I am refused, I preie you to ben excused. And natheles as for the laste, Whil that my wittes with me laste, Touchende mi confession I axe an absolucion Of Genius, er that I go." The prest anon was redy tho, And seide, "Sone, as of thi schrifte Thou hast ful pardoun and forgifte; Forget it thou, and so wol I."    "Min holi fader, grant mercy," Quod I to him, and to the queene I fell on knes upon the grene, And tok my leve for to wende. Bot sche, that wolde make an ende, As therto which I was most able, A peire of bedes blak as sable Sche tok and heng my necke aboute; Upon the gaudes al withoute Was write of gold, Por reposer. "Lo," thus sche seide, "John Gower, Now thou art ate laste cast, This have I for thin ese cast, That thou no more of love sieche. Bot my will is that thou besieche And preie hierafter for the pes, And that thou make a plein reles To love, which takth litel hiede Of olde men upon the nede, Whan that the lustes ben aweie: Forthi to thee nys bot o weie, In which let reson be thi guide; For he may sone himself misguide, That seth noght the peril tofore. Mi sone, be wel war therfore, And kep the sentence of my lore And tarie thou mi court no more, Bot go ther vertu moral duelleth, Wher ben thi bokes, as men telleth, Whiche of long time thou hast write. For this I do thee wel to wite, If thou thin hele wolt pourchace, Thou miht noght make suite and chace, Wher that the game is nought pernable; It were a thing unresonable, A man to be so overseie. Forthi tak hiede of that I seie; For in the lawe of my comune We be noght schape to comune, Thiself and I, nevere after this. Now have y seid al that ther is Of love as for thi final ende. Adieu, for y mot fro thee wende."     [Leave-taking of Venus]     And with that word al sodeinly, Enclosid in a sterred sky, Venus, which is the qweene of love, Was take in to hire place above, More wist y nought wher sche becam. And thus my leve of hire y nam, And forth with al the same tide Hire prest, which wolde nought abide, Or be me lief or be me loth, Out of my sighte forth he goth, And y was left withouten helpe. So wiste I nought wher of to yelpe, Bot only that y hadde lore My time, and was sori therfore. And thus bewhapid in my thought, Whan al was turnyd into nought, I stod amasid for a while, And in myself y gan to smyle Thenkende uppon the bedis blake, And how they weren me betake, For that y schulde bidde and preie. And whanne y sigh non othre weie Bot only that y was refusid, Unto the lif which y hadde usid I thoughte nevere torne agein: And in this wise, soth to seyn, Homward a softe pas y wente, Wher that with al myn hol entente Uppon the poynt that y am schryve I thenke bidde whil y live.     [Prayer for England]     Parce precor, Criste, populus quo gaudeat iste;    Anglia ne triste subeat, rex summe, resiste. Corrige quosque status, fragiles absolue reatus;    Vnde deo gratus vigeat locus iste beatus. 4        He which withinne daies sevene This large world forth with the hevene Of his eternal providence Hath mad, and thilke intelligence In mannys soule resonable Hath schape to be perdurable, Wherof the man of his feture Above alle erthli creature Aftir the soule is immortal, To thilke lord in special, As He which is of alle thinges The creatour, and of the kynges Hath the fortunes uppon honde, His grace and mercy for to fonde Uppon my bare knes y preie, That He this lond in siker weie Wol sette uppon good governance. For if men takyn remembrance What is to live in unité, Ther ys no staat in his degree That noughte to desire pes, Withouten which, it is no les, To seche and loke into the laste, Ther may no worldes joye laste.    Ferst for to loke the clergie, Hem oughte wel to justefie Thing which belongith to here cure, As for to praie and to procure Oure pes toward the hevene above, And ek to sette reste and love Among ous on this erthe hiere. For if they wroughte in this manere Aftir the reule of charité, I hope that men schuldyn se This lond amende.    And ovyr this, To seche and loke how that it is Touchende of the chevalerie, Which for to loke, in som partie Is worthi for to be comendid, And in som part to ben amendid, That of here large retenue The lond is ful of maintenue, Which causith that the comune right In fewe contrees stant upright. Extorcioun, contekt, ravine Withholde ben of that covyne, Aldai men hierin gret compleignte Of the desease, of the constreignte, Wherof the poeple is sore oppressid: God graunte it mote be redressid. For of knyghthode th'ordre wolde That thei defende and kepe scholde The comun right and the fraunchise Of holy cherche in alle wise, So that no wikke man it dere, And therfore servith scheld and spere. Bot for it goth now other weie, Oure grace goth the more aweie.    And for to lokyn ovyrmore, Wherof the poeple pleigneth sore, Toward the lawis of oure lond, Men sein that trouthe hath broke his bond And with brocage is goon aweie, So that no man can se the weie Wher for to fynde rightwisnesse.    And if men sechin sikernesse Uppon the lucre of marchandie, Compassement and tricherie Of singuler profit to wynne, Men seyn, is cause of mochil synne, And namely of divisioun, Which many a noble worthi toun Fro welthe and fro prosperité Hath brought to gret adversité. So were it good to ben al on, For mechil grace ther uppon Unto the citees schulde falle, Which myghte availle to ous alle, If these astatz amendid were, So that the vertus stodyn there And that the vices were aweie, Me thenkth y dorste thanne seie, This londis grace schulde arise.     [On Kingship]        Bot yit to loke in othre wise, Ther is a stat, as ye schul hiere, Above alle othre on erthe hiere, Which hath the lond in his balance.    To him belongith the leiance Of clerk, of knyght, of man of lawe; Undir his hond al is forth drawe The marchant and the laborer; So stant it al in his power Or for to spille or for to save. Bot though that he such power have, And that his myghtes ben so large, He hath hem nought withouten charge, To which that every kyng ys swore. So were it good that he therfore First unto rightwisnesse entende, Wherof that he hymself amende Toward his God and leve vice, Which is the chief of his office; And aftir al the remenant He schal uppon his covenant Governe and lede in such a wise, So that ther be no tirandise, Wherof that he his poeple grieve, Or ellis may he nought achieve That longith to his regalie. For if a kyng wol justifie His lond and hem that beth withynne, First at hymself he mot begynne, To kepe and reule his owne astat, That in hymself be no debat Toward his God: for othre wise Ther may non erthly kyng suffise Of his kyngdom the folk to lede, Bot he the kyng of hevene drede. For what kyng sett hym uppon pride And takth his lust on every side And wil nought go the righte weie, Though God his grace caste aweie No wondir is, for ate laste He schal wel wite it mai nought laste, The pompe which he secheth here. Bot what kyng that with humble chere Aftir the lawe of God eschuieth The vices, and the vertus suieth, His grace schal be suffisant To governe al the remenant Which longith to his duité; So that in his prosperité The poeple schal nought ben oppressid, Wherof his name schal be blessid, For evere and be memorial.     [Farewell to the Book]        And now to speke as in final, Touchende that y undirtok In Englesch for to make a book Which stant betwene ernest and game, I have it maad as thilke same Which axe for to ben excusid, And that my bok be nought refusid Of lered men, whanne thei it se, For lak of curiosité: For thilke scole of eloquence Belongith nought to my science, Uppon the forme of rethoriqe My wordis for to peinte and pike, As Tullius som tyme wrot. Bot this y knowe and this y wot, That y have do my trewe peyne With rude wordis and with pleyne, In al that evere y couthe and myghte, This bok to write as y behighte, So as siknesse it soffre wolde; And also for my daies olde, That y am feble and impotent, I wot nought how the world ys went. So preye y to my lordis alle Now in myn age, how so befalle, That y mot stonden in here grace; For though me lacke to purchace Here worthi thonk as by decerte, Yit the symplesse of my poverte Desireth for to do plesance To hem undir whos governance I hope siker to abide.     [Farewell to Earthly Love]        But now uppon my laste tide That y this book have maad and write, My muse doth me for to wite, And seith it schal be for my beste Fro this day forth to take reste, That y no more of love make, Which many an herte hath overtake, And ovyrturnyd as the blynde Fro reson into lawe of kynde; Wher as the wisdom goth aweie And can nought se the ryhte weie How to governe his oghne estat, Bot everydai stant in debat Withinne himself, and can nought leve. And thus forthy my final leve I take now for evere more, Withoute makynge any more Of love and of his dedly hele, Which no phisicien can hele. For his nature is so divers, That it hath evere som travers Or of to moche or o to lite, That pleinly mai no man delite, Bot if him faile or that or this. Bot thilke love which that is Withinne a mannes herte affermed, And stant of charité confermed, Such love is goodly for to have, Such love mai the bodi save, Such love mai the soule amende, The hyhe God such love ous sende Forthwith the remenant of grace; So that above in thilke place Wher resteth love and alle pes, Oure joie mai ben endeles.

(see note)         (see note)             who without beginning; (see note); (t-note)     (see note); (t-note) it pleases Him; fill completely With throne (seat) angels it pleases Him might not go astray (see note) mob those who                     fires         (see note)         it [hell] was established who has power [to do] all things     as his mate     them increase (see note)     was lost     and to fill     stood then empty known; known a moment Just as it had for them come to pass that time Dwelt not [but a moment]     So to speak         get their     Methodius (see note)     by visionary experience             recalled; (see note) taught them this wisdom [So] that; kissed; thereafter nature         Cain by name     story; (see note)                                 Cain         increase necessity has no law in that day     storm Noah; called the flood sin drowned except for; eight little force (quantity, importance)                     To such a degree those three; their         [That] in; each one of those         took; heed from among     Abraham     necessity then was past enough     circumstance of marrying sisters marrying blood-relatives     male relative; female relative before he died duty; laid (placed)         Cause to wed; worldly goods own commanded             knew; saw near blood-relative     in the hands of God (i.e., dead)         Who; uncle begot; them during his lifetime was called Leah Six two; also         begat upon Beulah two two         Are called             then had the name kinship that same custom born abandoned     canon law ordained (see note) (see note)         from love's passion nowadays     unendowed any reason folly; stupidity     distinguishes no social circumstance kin nor; (see note)     stallion; marshlands all the horses he knows no more (see note)                 confess yourself here     commerce; booth     kin; dear or more dear It pleases me do not know; purpose become besotted; nun     amount of anything valuable no value     truly to speak plainly one Who was overcome unattached     (i.e., you still have not reformed)     exculpate yourself         lost     it seems to a person at first perceive     poisoned misled                             (see note); (t-note) by name; (see note)     Stolen raped                     pleasure of a moment     folly against nature; (see note) Who was called; violated later Paid for     disgraced sin vengeance     unnatural one         (see note)     true overwhelmed         By     them; release; (see note) thus [nature] managed the matter [So] that         (t-note)     trunks [of the genealogical tree]             misbegotten     Israel; Judah         furnished From what                 fixed     counsel; (see note)             that which seems to him     time passed (see note)         kindred         narrative (drama); (see note)                                     chronicle; (see note) (see note)                         (see note) (see note)         lament so to speak, alone by himself     beyond compare         frail that [truth]     knew; experienced desire; carnal lust; (see note)     desires blinded     destroy leisure for saw; (see note) raped     knew not how her To protect; lost flower; carried     protect     is taken by a man (see note) whom no one helps     unnatural business; (see note)         sorrow person; console fear of that same nurse         countenance compelled avenged could scarcely prayed weeping eyes Alas saw; same first begat my body     honor; stolen fainted; again     breath failed her heard     obstruct; foolish passion knew; helper done; remedy must knew pleased him desire; pleasure persisted in         oppose; (see note)             noble lineage     arrive and send [messages] expect                 invent an obstruction statute; established imposes     Unless Solve         certainly lose; head     Their heads piked     according to the rules remainder Avoided making the attempt (see note)     (see note) high spirits Was amorously disposed because of his passion     musing     to ascertain; would fare                 Safe             could knew enough         [that] he might demand (asserted his privilege)         must head (Apollonius) asked; (the question) (see note) harsh expression (see note) sustained; (see note) have not desisted from doing it     try also     riddle solve By rights (Freely)             (t-note) jeopardy (see note)         one by one; (see note)         elucidated (unlocked) secret matters     pertains entirely to vexed then; (see note)         sly; treacherous; (see note)                             be advised (beware) permission; established; (see note)         taught afraid delayed afraid (dismayed)     secret (truth) revealed         took     own betrayed (exposed)     escape pursue avoid         remain occasion         aggrieve; leave off (see note); (t-note) secretly sea at night were laden with grain     hauled up the sail anxiety experienced then knew; gone     pleasure; cheerfulness themselves             sorrow got a shave and a haircut     brothels (stews) closed up who preferred to seek pleasure     Except to lament their         head                 (see note)         powerful ruler         Concerning that which villainous     was called prepared box     Directly gotten rid of destroy     boat     swiftly shore speedily city; went lodging and waited a bit so that     saw asked situation has gone     vain                 without success vexed deceit (t-note) controlled; anger; (see note) (see note)             compass made his landfall; (see note) citizen; landed income at that (the same) Who was called         lodging     Previously; then burdened them any grain     misfortune; fared     distribute by ship from them nothing in return                     statue             Just as; beholden latten (copper-tin alloy) wasted company; (see note)     from Tyre greeted was called concern For himself (his safety)     Lay in ambush so that; destroy                     changeable; (see note)     rises; falls     happiness; sorrow     learn pity; hear             remote         took; sail unfurled To where Fortune determines [he should go] explain adverse sea; swiftly conveys weather grew dark     keep secure broken asunder; its rigging     make a movement destruction drown within the chambers (cabins) then     suffer     ripped in shreds waves was driven     made vow(s); least; greatest Provided that         shattered utterly     split apart             plank; (see note)     lost lament (moan) by himself alone; (see note) wretched condition formerly; fair     chilled remedy complain lost held off boast         fisherman; (see note)         pity purely; loyalty [even as a poor man]             repaid social position tell him nearby; any             entreated                 mid-day; (see note) took noon             crowd         appointment custom of the land     (see note) (see note)     agile; strong             then; use [being naked] was no disgrace                 was called     valiant; in combat reward gain distinction savvy; wise; (see note) knew a bit to try his luck         took note     had excellence         did not leave [his meal] all alone         If [only]; something [appropriate]     crowd invite                 distinction According to table [above the general table]; (see note) [So] that; might see him eye     grew conflicted lost         food was concerned (see note)             at that time customary told [her] to go at his request attempt     gently     put aside     called     sea; lost     income departed honor; possessions god I commended there (left behind)     tears paid careful attention         courteously; proceeded to say hesitate         find enjoyment; unhappy father's command fetched; feast                 sighs asks; it pleases him (see note) ratios (metrics) played; (see note) teach     dear sir         Then pray together     in his [own] style; (see note) tunes; manner         It seemed to them                     questioned             teaching         unless he were     command                 in every fashion; (see note) prepare                     (see note) from that Of the kinds of learning he had knowledge of     instruction Provided that [Apollonius]         maiden     on these terms     (see note)                         in turn accomplished (see note) tune     tuning         persistence change of fortune made himself quarrel     despite whether must     sorely pay for     continually         chilled (a-cold)         (see note) continually     Whether; laugh                     For food who knows not what     kept herself         Who knew (see note)                         Says; sick; matter implore declaration [of wealth and position]; (see note)     possessions     their inventories perused             petition                     (see note) their; rejected                             Unless whatever happens tolerate fail [to have] him         a crowd Before     them secretly [So] that their; it pleased them their reveal haste saw; (see note)     taken     secret contents             before; separated                         joyous swiftly; (see note)                 conflict; distress Unless         true situation Except it seems to them pointed to the truth                     forbid     agreed upon a plan for (see note) heart; (see note) It seems to him; succeed     according to their custom         honorable             cried out for (gave thanks for) almsgiving                                 somewhat revealed             wedding; (see note); (t-note)                 company shore             awaited     ship's side banners; display (row) whence                 by birth right Their             know             (see note)         [That] it please you own kin (quality)         heard it     seek     one     What seemed to us; burdensome Has become for us     (see note)     commended (said farewell to) far and wide (t-note)         then gladness; woe pregnant wife; (t-note) Who             nurse travel For whom was destined happened sea amidst (t-note)         heaven         moon; also     their; appearance; (t-note)         entered into labor         before any (see note) by; (t-note) [was] dead         (see note) he was overthrown in a faint knew         helper             burst (t-note) agonies would be; less         times saw nor knew alike corpse one who own; prayed for         those     Except for those [present] prayed         unless they advise him (t-note) (see note)     in order to carry The [one] who                 perish their intention; (see note)                                         [Such] that; strengthened Soon; such a coffin; (t-note)         nailed shut sewed up     gain for her     head as a gamble [with Fortune] great quantities jewels a great possession     (see note) Cause; know Who hear; written help (a cure) Here lies     let him take thought buried         coffin nailed shut iron waves endure sealed dry harm         quickly (see note)                 diminish arose; weather clears     at peace made straight (see note)         tossed about     sea cast ashore             What; perish; (see note)     shore scholar; surgeon     one Who was called several of his students     feels by weight them bear; residence     (see note)         tightly nailed shut     look; (t-note)     said before         heed Unsewn (see note)     veins; probe saw knew         Honorably                 flutter     annointed     known recovers eyes     stretched                 physician (leech)         (t-note)     take comfort     be lacking for you         not of a final resolution [to the situation]     knew herself what she intended (see note)     who     I am well aware         straightforwardly; knew coffin (chest) sea         prepared himself to                 drowned                                 (see note)             (t-note) delivered dear May God repay     well whole                         submitted (surrendered) themselves             sanctified made righteous     (see note)     reach before         in a short time So to speak; at once towards him             Distressed dwelling (inn)         crowd; expelled             one trust pleases with your permission; (see note) remain     in every way [appropriate]     learning         in spite of any preference     opportune moment     agree somewhat                                 then be joyful     circumstance has determined afflicted         (see note)     chronicle watched over     succeeded knew seek     to the human eye             called travel ear                     became angry It seemed to her avenged For what very same time; (see note)         ease         enemy     who; knows                 fetch lead; sight     shore near; sea slay daze feared vengeance for himself     dared     orders; own arranged; (see note) churlish attendant where should [endure] drew             commanded place fear screamed     time     beseech             piracy     he [Theophilus] fled then             took despite Before the [bad] weather                     (see note) prepared a plan for himself         A certain Leonin Who; brothel quick pace     seized brothel-keeper                 succeed         brothel; (see note)                                     profit abandoned [Such] that taken heed         without her permission rob             It pleased him                         come about by this means; (see note)                 Provided that it be a religious house                     learn             as soon as         What saw no gain     seek         By what she knew     (see note)     for gain (see note)     knew knew knew; desirable skill belongs took in [as students]     to tell cunning riddles         received gained established             (see note); (t-note)     scoundrel     utterly destroyed             buried secret; commanded     keep it secret, however things should go                                 good repute believed greater credibility         funeral blinded     ancient royal custom tomb; latten (tin and copper alloy) statue in her likeness         in a proper manner         here lies; considered                     journey (see note) widely known     declare             foam (i.e., sea)                             traveling wait time Have arrangements made; wife's memory disloyal (ungrateful); (see note)         feast royally entirely duty-bound one     (see note)                         reached cannot acquire what; seek; (t-note) By concealment; trickery         trust (believe)         displeased dared         secure changes intermixes since (see note)         sea churn in any case     laments dismayed before endured     Since he sees; go         would not in the hold; taken alone                                 (see note) shore at the coast     Solemnly they celebrated (see note) lowered argued (gossiped)     (see note)                     investigated     whatever it signified sees they were lamenting                 desperately driven     cheer up their         person see But despite; it displeased them         Back from him do or say         (t-note)     determined; (see note) would be sent for         knows             attempt every means that she is able     who; knew Except; crew had begged her employ On the chance that; improve [had] said; well worth her effort grasped this where (see note) like wall (i.e., source of strength); (see note)     saw; fared so     various tales (jests) unusual riddles             puzzle (riddle); (see note) asked; judge     prompting That in respect to him; could stir up     (t-note) He, weeping, quickly turned his head away        nobr>     recoiled     struck     Desist! knew how     savage mood; (see note) morose behavior of those two one may learn akin by blood Neither knew (see note)     [Such] that; warmly (naturally)     discovered before who knew their whole Their; soon questioned         parentage understood     ease brought up successful what I know know not     drowned     held dared; complaint     stay concealed Whether it may turn     then                                     creature             carried out all his business royally (see note)                 all together     celebration honorable             he (Athenagoras); up to this point     heart             lost king (Apollonius)     burst asunder             hoped             wished; (see note) son-in-law (Athenagoras); (see note)                         hindrance of any plan             protect     ordered place (see note)                 The events of his life     declare                 waited     unfavorable         Then ship captain; ready         place     strives To prepare himself     mandate             took                                     surrounded; (see note) humbly gone                 confession                     circumstances omitted at all             laid her ear     passion went straight         washed     say decree                 knew                         by         physician healing; performed summoned                         them to go             (see note)         topsail-wind (i.e., wind on the topsail); (t-note) never with sails lowered (stricken) took haven                                     royal         dinner                     what he wanted was able and ought to; (see note)                                             pleased             (see note) favorable (see note)                                                                 Convicted sentenced burned; blown in all directions [So] that     judgment             providence             saved is the innocence     goodness who goodness (see note)                     good memory     one beseeched; their consider         commons     saw             calm reef sail; let out                                 abundantly supplied (see note)     Honorably; (see note) Honorably; fulfilled     it pleased him written; (t-note) know     intend         unnaturally     against nature                 (see note)         reward arises out of                 nature oppose         advise                 beast     reason love's nature                 (see note)         repay acquit                 frustration in love; (see note) greatest fear; (see note) know not; will render accountable love's aloofness may add up to attempted [it]     scoured     may argue refuted; "no"                         know; the longer the less; (see note)     whole                     turn     frivolities (see note) skillfully contrived             (see note)             knit broken     promised you     under the control of                                 (see note)     By what prize Without reward; whoever should deserve do not know labor reward     And assume [for the sake of the argument] that                 stick is burned sooner; ashes foot; trips (spurns); (see note) head     fallen unless it should so happen; (t-note)     afraid (cautious)                 domain (judgment, head)     loses oar             pearls; shells one [indiscriminate] value in his command                 before     recover (see note)                     instructed many a one     passing moment     sooner             believe; instruction (see note)                             (see note)     feel heel heart escape Even if you complain give orders hart Knows nothing; ox; ails It often happens that About what he sees condition truth do the same as he does     you                     health With regard to love     advantage linger (hover) uncertainty know not whether; gladness; woe     know not; best to do         clear and open words         back; (see note) (see note) Conflict     altogether true What; not even so will (desire) wise a bearing delight         the same (one)             agreed remember                             (see note) ink; began to express                     (see note) medicine; (see note) overwhelmed; dotage whether I     himself not protect         (see note)     in the year wren in its music by nature; its jurisdiction only one except; species; (see note)                 succeed; (see note) do not know be in conflict [so] that I do not love anyway     (see note) nature             tumble (event)                 thoroughly searched                     pray that sweet cup key; wine cellar Lies                 change weather still full moon         (see note)                             heal         fulfill     (melancholic god of destruction); (see note)             to follow as a course of action                     stop; do away with     remove         burning cause; to be taken away love balm (salve) payment who; obeyed your commands             Without [my being] guilty; vengeance fresh attain pray     cause me fully to die             (see note)     (see note) written     who was called         know waited     duration of a mile's walk                         half in jest (see note)             epistle (petition)     Somewhat             moon; (see note) species of life Unless     natural desire seldom         wantonness (see note)                 nature         under its command                         obliged discomfort to discuss change     believed     unhappy                 take thought     seek; (t-note) sick [men] (t-note)     (t-note)                                                                                 (see note) (see note) lays no weight weigh     who has prayed to her for grace     judges as it seems to me know not; say assuredly; so circumstanced             called whichever; turns             Half in scorn (see note)                 love's desire; gray hair             old gray nag; foal             i.e., likely to fail the test (see note)     attempts event graceful exit             uphold love's     [So] that you labor                 you are deficient So let it be suitable; knowledge; (see note)     accomplish nothing attempt lacks means of payment         i.e., is past; (see note)     sun-dried hay     (see note)                     (see note) treatment                         time; (see note) Neither; alive nor head                 once     diverse groups And as I cast my eye around     (t-note)         endowed         leaf     Bohemia; (see note)     adorned                                 sound; (t-note)     bagpipe; shawm health                 youth's ordinance                     extend to                 who was accepted as a lover; (see note) By the beautiful; (see note) Guinevere         was called     carrying                                     snatched away prey     took     to enter conflict             (see note)         Helen highest joy (see note)     sad taught partner [in love with Criseyde]         endowed their saw; often times                                 Who had been unfortunate                 by Aeneas         Ariadne     unnaturally crowd                 deceived                     fetched         (see note) buried Quite alive; torn to pieces lost             at a sad moment     (see note)             Destroyed; pity     father's                 killed enough             of another bearing     cause eclipses of the moon And change the shapes of men     many a one whether they would or not                                 ear     Behold     (see note)             [first] one was called passionately Ulysses                                 second             keep silent died     one called     Because of                                             seafowl embraced     those saw; then     lead         law             quietly                                     musette (a kind of bagpipe)         court dance                         graciously they behaved                         Jewesses     do not know; up to [so many women]     arrested by had sealed might appeal     conquered         (see note)         syllogism             determined; (see note)         saw         Socrates; (see note)                 Either to lose or                 one                             improve             crowd     pity                         health         (see note)     crowd began to feel the pressure                         foolishness     own advice one that         love disorder be foolish         Except; make foolish foolish         passion does not spare age burn easily before it be quenched saint                                     lying before; eyes saw                             dart     immediately took                                             (see note)             closed box                 kidneys (L. renes); (see note) then (see note)     should see eye saw; pale eyes     old age; defaced wrinkled; woebegone     hair turned gray                     (see note)     its Made                         delight             rain                     once was hot; (see note) many affrighted                     removed; folly     complain         laughed                                 believe (see note)             unfit                                 From; before             (see note)             depart         (see note)     ornamental beads For repose; (see note) (see note) determined (thrown); (see note) ordained (shaped) seek     peace                 one way             well advised teaching     where (see note)     order you health; obtain chase (hunt) suitable to be taken     imprudent     fellowship discourse together     (see note); (t-note)     (See note on first recension ending)                                 her; took; (t-note)         Whether it was pleasing or displeasing to me         boast lost     overwhelmed             beads given to me ask for mercy; pray saw                         confessed (absolved) pray; (t-note)                                         (see note)         eternal                             discover     certain     take notice (t-note)         lie     (t-note)         their jurisdiction                                         knighthood         improved     maintenance (i.e., private armies)         assault, pillaging Are loyal to that conspiracy hear                             injure                             clandestine business dealings         certitude wealth of worldly goods; (t-note) Scheming                         united                         dare                                 allegiance                 Either to destroy or save         responsibilities sworn         improve leave                                 make righteous; (see note)             conflict             Unless he                     know; (t-note)         avoids follows         appertains                             (see note)     (see note); (t-note)         Who asks     learned subtle learning [in my book]; (see note)             embellish; polish Cicero         unsophisticated words     promised To the extent that illness would allow it     feeble; powerless know not         their obtain merit             secure             (see note)     causes me to know firsthand; (see note)         write about         nature (t-note)     own conflict             waiting its deadly remedy         obstacle Either     Unless is lost to him either             (see note)             Along with

EXIT GOWER

   Explicit iste liber, qui transeat, obsecro liber
Vt sine liuore vigeat lectoris in ore.
Qui sedet in scannis celi det vt ista Iohannis
Perpetuis annis stet pagina grata Britannis.
Derbeie Comiti, recolunt quem laude periti,
Vade liber purus, sub eo requiesce futurus.

[Here ends this book, and may it, I implore, travel free so that without envy it may thrive in the reader's ear. May He who sits in the throne of heaven grant that this page of John remain for all time pleasing to the Britains. Go, spotless book, to the Count of Derby, 5 whom the learned honor with praise, and take repose when you will be in his keeping.]

Epistola super huius opusculi sui complementum
Iohanni Gower a quodam philosopho transmissa.

[An epistle on the completion of this work of John Gower, conveyed by a certain philosopher:]

   Quam cinxere freta, Gower, tua carmina leta
Per loca discreta canit Anglia laude repleta.
Carminis Athleta, satirus, tibi, siue Poeta,
Sit laus completa quo gloria stat sine meta.

[England, O Gower, England, which the waters girdle around, full of praise sings your happy songs throughout its regions.6 Champion of song, satirist, or poet - may praise for you be fulfilled in that place where glory stands without limit.]