Confessio Amantis/Liber Primus
(Redirected from Confessio Amantis/Incipit Liber Primus/Part 2)
Naturatus amor nature legibus orbem
Subdit, et vnanimes concitat esse feras:
Huius enim mundi Princeps amor esse videtur,
Cuius eget diues, pauper et omnis ope.
Sunt in agone pares amor et fortuna, que cecas
Plebis ad insidias vertit vterque rotas.
Est amor egra salus, vexata quies, pius error,
Bellica pax, vulnus dulce, suaue malum.
| Original Middle English text | Modern English rendering (Wikisource translation) |
|---|---|
| I may noght strecche up to the hevene | I may not stretch up to the heaven |
| Min hand, ne setten al in evene | Mine hand, nor set all in even |
| This world, which evere is in balance: | This world, whichever is in balance |
| It stant noght in my sufficance | It stands not in my sufficience |
| So grete thinges to compasse, 5 | So great things to compass, |
| Bot I mot lete it overpasse | But I might let it overpass |
| And treten upon othre thinges. | And *tread upon* other things. *[converse about]* |
| Forthi the Stile of my writinges | Forthy the Style of my writings |
| Fro this day forth I thenke change | From this day forth I think change |
| And speke of thing is noght so strange, 10 | And speech of things is not so strange, |
| Which every kinde hath upon honde, | Which every kind hath upon hand, |
| And wherupon the world mot stonde, | And whereupon the world might stand, |
| And hath don sithen it began, | And hath done sith* it began, *[since] |
| And schal whil ther is any man; | And shall while there is any man; |
| And that is love, of which I mene | And that is love, of which I mean |
| To trete, as after schal be sene. | To treat*, as after shall be seen. *[expound] |
| In which ther can noman him reule, | In which there can no man him rule, |
| For loves lawe is out of reule, | For love's law is out of rule, |
| That of tomoche or of tolite | That of too much or too light |
| Welnyh is every man to wyte, 20 | Well-nigh is every man to wite [guard], |
| And natheles ther is noman | And nonetheless there is no man |
| In al this world so wys, that can | In all this world so wise, that can |
| Of love tempre the mesure, | Of love temper the measure, |
| Bot as it falth in aventure: | But as it falleth in adventure: |
| For wit ne strengthe may noght helpe, | For wit no strength may not help, |
| And he which elles wolde him yelpe | And he which else would him yelp [boast] |
| Is rathest throwen under fote, | Is rathest* thrown underfoot, *[quickliest] |
| Ther can no wiht therof do bote. | There can no wight* thereof **do boot**. *[creature; human being] **[bring deliverance] |
| For yet was nevere such covine, | For yet was never such covin [agreement; conspiracy], |
| That couthe ordeine a medicine 30 | That could ordain a medicine |
| To thing which god in lawe of kinde | To things which God in law of kind |
| Hath set, for ther may noman finde | Hath set, for there may no man find |
| The rihte salve of such a Sor. | The right salve of such a Sore. |
| It hath and schal ben everemor | It hath and shall be evermore |
| That love is maister wher he wile, | That love is master where he will, |
| Ther can no lif make other skile; | There can no life make other skill, |
| For wher as evere him lest to sette, | For whereas ever *him lest to set*, [he likes to pause] |
| Ther is no myht which him may lette. | There is no might* which him may let. *[power] |
| Bot what schal fallen ate laste, | But what shall fall at the last, |
| The sothe can no wisdom caste, 40 | The sooth* can no wisdom cast, *[sage] |
| Bot as it falleth upon chance; | But as it falleth upon chance; |
| For if ther evere was balance | For if there ever was balance |
| Which of fortune stant governed, | Which of fortune stood governed, |
| I may wel lieve as I am lerned | I may well lieve* as I am learned *[believe] |
| That love hath that balance on honde, | That love hath that balance on hand, |
| Which wol no reson understonde. | Which will no reason understand. |
| For love is blind and may noght se, | For love is blind and may not see, |
| Forthi may no certeinete | Forthy may no certainty |
| Be set upon his jugement, | Be set upon its judgment, |
| Bot as the whiel aboute went 50 | But as the wheel about went |
| He yifth his graces undeserved, | He giveth his graces undeserved, |
| And fro that man which hath him served | And from that man which hath him served |
| Fulofte he takth aweye his fees, | Quite often he taketh away his fees, |
| As he that pleieth ate Dees, | As he that playeth at the Dice, |
| And therupon what schal befalle | And thereupon what shall befall |
| He not, til that the chance falle, | He not, till that the chance fall, |
| Wher he schal lese or he schal winne. | Where he shall lose or he shall win. |
| And thus fulofte men beginne, | And thus quite often men begin, |
| That if thei wisten what it mente, | That if they wist* what it meant, *[knew] |
| Thei wolde change al here entente. 60 | They would change all their intent. |
| And forto proven it is so, | And for to prove it is so, |
| I am miselven on of tho, | I am myself one of tho [those], |
| Which to this Scole am underfonge. | Which to this School am underfong [received]. |
| For it is siththe go noght longe, | For it is sithe* go not long, *[since then] |
| As forto speke of this matiere, | As for to speak of this matter, |
| I may you telle, if ye woll hiere, | I may you tell, if ye will hear, |
| A wonder hap which me befell, | A wonder hap* which me befell, *[a happening] |
| That was to me bothe hard and fell, | That was to me both hard and fell, |
| Touchende of love and his fortune, | Touching of love and his fortune, |
| The which me liketh to comune 70 | The which me liketh to commune |
| And pleinly forto telle it oute. | And plainly for to tell it out. |
| To hem that ben lovers aboute | To them that be lovers about |
| Fro point to point I wol declare | From point to point I will declare |
| And wryten of my woful care, | And write of my woeful care [worry], |
| Mi wofull day, my wofull chance, | My woeful day, my woeful chance, |
| That men mowe take remembrance | That men may take remembrance |
| Of that thei schall hierafter rede: | Of that they shall hereafter read: |
| For in good feith this wolde I rede, | For in good faith this would I read, |
| That every man ensample take | That every man example take |
| Of wisdom which him is betake, 80 | Of wisdom which him is betake, |
| And that he wot of good aprise | |
| To teche it forth, for such emprise | |
| Is forto preise; and therfore I | |
| Woll wryte and schewe al openly | |
| How love and I togedre mette, | |
| Wherof the world ensample fette | |
| Mai after this, whan I am go, | |
| Of thilke unsely jolif wo, | |
| Whos reule stant out of the weie, | |
| Nou glad and nou gladnesse aweie, 90 | |
| And yet it may noght be withstonde | |
| For oght that men may understonde. | |
| Upon the point that is befalle | |
| Of love, in which that I am falle, | |
| I thenke telle my matiere: | |
| Now herkne, who that wol it hiere, | |
| Of my fortune how that it ferde. | |
| This enderday, as I forthferde | |
| To walke, as I yow telle may,- | |
| And that was in the Monthe of Maii, 100 | |
| Whan every brid hath chose his make | |
| And thenkth his merthes forto make | |
| Of love that he hath achieved; | |
| Bot so was I nothing relieved, | |
| For I was further fro my love | |
| Than Erthe is fro the hevene above, | |
| As forto speke of eny sped: | |
| So wiste I me non other red, | |
| Bot as it were a man forfare | |
| Unto the wode I gan to fare, 110 | |
| Noght forto singe with the briddes, | |
| For whanne I was the wode amiddes, | |
| I fond a swote grene pleine, | |
| And ther I gan my wo compleigne | |
| Wisshinge and wepinge al myn one, | |
| For other merthes made I none. | |
| So hard me was that ilke throwe, | |
| That ofte sithes overthrowe | |
| To grounde I was withoute breth; | To ground I was without breath; |
| And evere I wisshide after deth, 120 | And ever I wishèd after death, |
| Whanne I out of my peine awok, | When I out of my pain awoke, |
| And caste up many a pitous lok | And cast up many a piteous look |
| Unto the hevene, and seide thus: | Unto the heavens, and said thus: |
| "O thou Cupide, O thou Venus, | "O thou Cupid, O thou Venus, |
| Thou god of love and thou goddesse, | Thou god of love and thou goddess, |
| Wher is pite? wher is meknesse? | Where is pity? where is meekness? |
| Now doth me pleinly live or dye, | Now doth me plainly live or die, |
| For certes such a maladie | For certes such a malady |
| As I now have and longe have hadd, | As I now have and long have had, |
| It myhte make a wisman madd, 130 | It might make a wise man mad, |
| If that it scholde longe endure. | If that it should long endure. |
| O Venus, queene of loves cure, | O Venus, queen of love's cure, |
| Thou lif, thou lust, thou mannes hele, | |
| Behold my cause and my querele, | |
| And yif me som part of thi grace, | |
| So that I may finde in this place | |
| If thou be gracious or non." | |
| And with that word I sawh anon | |
| The kyng of love and qweene bothe; | |
| Bot he that kyng with yhen wrothe 140 | |
| His chiere aweiward fro me caste, | His cheer away-ward from me cast, |
| And forth he passede ate laste. | And forth he passèd at the last. |
| Bot natheles er he forth wente | But nonetheless ere he forth went |
| A firy Dart me thoghte he hente | A fiery Dart me thought he hent |
| And threw it thurgh myn herte rote: | And threw it through mine heart route: |
| In him fond I non other bote, | In him found I none other boot, |
| For lenger list him noght to duelle. | For longer list him not to duèl. |
| Bot sche that is the Source and Welle | But she that is the Source and Well |
| Of wel or wo, that schal betide | Of well or woe, that shall betide |
| To hem that loven, at that tide 150 | To them that love, at that tide [time] |
| Abod, bot forto tellen hiere | Abid, but for to tell here |
| Sche cast on me no goodly chiere: | She cast on me no goodly cheer: |
| Thus natheles to me sche seide, | Thus nonetheless to me she said, |
| "What art thou, Sone?" and I abreide | "What art thou, Son?" and I did upbraid |
| Riht as a man doth out of slep, | Right as a man doth out of sleep |
| And therof tok sche riht good kep | And thereof took she right good keep |
| And bad me nothing ben adrad: | |
| Bot for al that I was noght glad, | |
| For I ne sawh no cause why. | |
| And eft scheo asketh, what was I: 160 | |
| I seide, "A Caitif that lith hiere: | |
| What wolde ye, my Ladi diere? | |
| Schal I ben hol or elles dye?" | |
| Sche seide, "Tell thi maladie: | |
| What is thi Sor of which thou pleignest? | |
| Ne hyd it noght, for if thou feignest, | |
| I can do the no medicine." | |
| "Ma dame, I am a man of thyne, | |
| That in thi Court have longe served, | |
| And aske that I have deserved, 170 | |
| Some wele after my longe wo." | |
| And sche began to loure tho, | |
| And seide, "Ther is manye of yow | |
| Faitours, and so may be that thow | |
| Art riht such on, and be feintise | |
| Seist that thou hast me do servise." | |
| And natheles sche wiste wel, | |
| Mi world stod on an other whiel | |
| Withouten eny faiterie: | |
| Bot algate of my maladie 180 | |
| 181 | Sche bad me telle and seie hir trowthe. |
| 182 | "Ma dame, if ye wolde have rowthe," |
| 183 | Quod I, "than wolde I telle yow." |
| 184 | "Sey forth," quod sche, "and tell me how; |
| 185 | Schew me thi seknesse everydiel." |
| 186 | "Ma dame, that can I do wel, |
| 187 | Be so my lif therto wol laste." |
| 188 | With that hir lok on me sche caste, |
| 189 | And seide: "In aunter if thou live, |
| 190 | Mi will is ferst that thou be schrive; |
| 191 | And natheles how that it is |
| 192 | I wot miself, bot for al this |
| 193 | Unto my prest, which comth anon, |
| 194 | I woll thou telle it on and on, |
| 195 | Bothe all thi thoght and al thi werk. |
| 196 | O Genius myn oghne Clerk, |
| 197 | Com forth and hier this mannes schrifte," |
| 198 | Quod Venus tho; and I uplifte |
| 199 | Min hefd with that, and gan beholde |
| 200 | The selve Prest, which as sche wolde |
| 201 | Was redy there and sette him doun |
| 202 | To hiere my confessioun. |
| 203 | This worthi Prest, this holy man |
| 204 | To me spekende thus began, |
| 205 | And seide: "Benedicite, |
| 206 | Mi Sone, of the felicite |
| 207 | Of love and ek of all the wo |
| 208 | Thou schalt thee schrive of bothe tuo. |
| 209 | What thou er this for loves sake |
| 210 | Hast felt, let nothing be forsake, |
| 211 | Tell pleinliche as it is befalle." |
| 212 | And with that word I gan doun falle |
| 213 | On knees, and with devocioun |
| 214 | And with full gret contricioun |
| 215 | I seide thanne: "Dominus, |
| 216 | Min holi fader Genius, |
| 217 | So as thou hast experience |
| 218 | Of love, for whos reverence |
| 219 | Thou schalt me schriven at this time, |
| 220 | I prai the let me noght mistime |
| 221 | Mi schrifte, for I am destourbed |
| 222 | In al myn herte, and so contourbed, |
| 223 | That I ne may my wittes gete, |
| 224 | So schal I moche thing foryete: |
| 225 | Bot if thou wolt my schrifte oppose |
| 226 | Fro point to point, thanne I suppose, |
| 227 | Ther schal nothing be left behinde. |
| 228 | Bot now my wittes ben so blinde, |
| 229 | That I ne can miselven teche." |
| 230 | Tho he began anon to preche, |
| 231 | And with his wordes debonaire |
| 232 | He seide tome softe and faire: |
| 233 | "Thi schrifte to oppose and hiere, |
| 234 | My Sone, I am assigned hiere |
| 235 | Be Venus the godesse above, |
| 236 | Whos Prest I am touchende of love. |
| 237 | Bot natheles for certein skile |
| 238 | I mot algate and nedes wile |
| 239 | Noght only make my spekynges |
| 240 | Of love, bot of othre thinges, |
| 241 | That touchen to the cause of vice. |
| 242 | For that belongeth to thoffice |
| 243 | Of Prest, whos ordre that I bere, |
| 244 | So that I wol nothing forbere, |
| 245 | That I the vices on and on |
| 246 | Ne schal thee schewen everychon; |
| 247 | Wherof thou myht take evidence |
| 248 | To reule with thi conscience. |
| 249 | Bot of conclusion final |
| 250 | Conclude I wol in special |
| 251 | For love, whos servant I am, |
| 252 | And why the cause is that I cam. |
| 253 | So thenke I to don bothe tuo, |
| 254 | Ferst that myn ordre longeth to, |
| 255 | The vices forto telle arewe, |
| 256 | Bot next above alle othre schewe |
| 257 | Of love I wol the propretes, |
| 258 | How that thei stonde be degrees |
| 259 | After the disposicioun |
| 260 | Of Venus, whos condicioun |
| 261 | I moste folwe, as I am holde. |
| 262 | For I with love am al withholde, |
| 263 | So that the lasse I am to wyte, |
| 264 | Thogh I ne conne bot a lyte |
| 265 | Of othre thinges that ben wise: |
| 266 | I am noght tawht in such a wise; |
| 267 | For it is noght my comun us |
| 268 | To speke of vices and vertus, |
| 269 | Bot al of love and of his lore, |
| 270 | For Venus bokes of nomore |
| 271 | Me techen nowther text ne glose. |
| 272 | Bot for als moche as I suppose |
| 273 | It sit a prest to be wel thewed, |
| 274 | And schame it is if he be lewed, |
| 275 | Of my Presthode after the forme |
| 276 | I wol thi schrifte so enforme, |
| 277 | That ate leste thou schalt hiere |
| 278 | The vices, and to thi matiere |
| 279 | Of love I schal hem so remene, |
| 280 | That thou schalt knowe what thei mene. |
| 281 | For what a man schal axe or sein |
| 282 | Touchende of schrifte, it mot be plein, |
| 283 | It nedeth noght to make it queinte, |
| 284 | For trowthe hise wordes wol noght peinte: |
| 285 | That I wole axe of the forthi, |
| 286 | My Sone, it schal be so pleinly, |
| 287 | That thou schalt knowe and understonde |
| 288 | The pointz of schrifte how that thei stonde." |
| 289 | Betwen the lif and deth I herde |
| 290 | This Prestes tale er I answerde, |
| 291 | And thanne I preide him forto seie |
| 292 | His will, and I it wolde obeie |
| 293 | After the forme of his apprise. |
| 294 | Tho spak he tome in such a wise, |
| 295 | And bad me that I scholde schrive |
| 296 | As touchende of my wittes fyve, |
| 297 | And schape that thei were amended |
| 298 | Of that I hadde hem misdispended. |
| 299 | For tho be proprely the gates, |
| 300 | Thurgh whiche as to the herte algates |
| 301 | Comth alle thing unto the feire, |
| 302 | Which may the mannes Soule empeire. |
| 303 | And now this matiere is broght inne, |
| 304 | Mi Sone, I thenke ferst beginne |
| 305 | To wite how that thin yhe hath stonde, |
| 306 | The which is, as I understonde, |
| 307 | The moste principal of alle, |
| 308 | Thurgh whom that peril mai befalle. |
| 309 | And forto speke in loves kinde, |
| 310 | Ful manye suche a man mai finde, |
| 311 | Whiche evere caste aboute here yhe, |
| 312 | To loke if that thei myhte aspie |
| 313 | Fulofte thing which hem ne toucheth, |
| 314 | Bot only that here herte soucheth |
| 315 | In hindringe of an other wiht; |
| 316 | And thus ful many a worthi knyht |
| 317 | And many a lusti lady bothe |
| 318 | Have be fulofte sythe wrothe. |
| 319 | So that an yhe is as a thief |
| 320 | To love, and doth ful gret meschief; |
| 321 | And also for his oghne part |
| 322 | Fulofte thilke firy Dart |
| 323 | Of love, which that evere brenneth, |
| 324 | Thurgh him into the herte renneth: |
| 325 | And thus a mannes yhe ferst |
| 326 | Himselve grieveth alther werst, |
| 327 | And many a time that he knoweth |
| 328 | Unto his oghne harm it groweth. |
| 329 | Mi Sone, herkne now forthi |
| 330 | A tale, to be war therby |
| 331 | Thin yhe forto kepe and warde, |
| 332 | So that it passe noght his warde. |
| 333 | Ovide telleth in his bok |
| 334 | Ensample touchende of mislok, |
| 335 | And seith hou whilom ther was on, |
| 336 | A worthi lord, which Acteon |
| 337 | Was hote, and he was cousin nyh |
| 338 | To him that Thebes ferst on hyh |
| 339 | Up sette, which king Cadme hyhte. |
| 340 | This Acteon, as he wel myhte, |
| 341 | Above alle othre caste his chiere, |
| 342 | And used it fro yer to yere, |
| 343 | With Houndes and with grete Hornes |
| 344 | Among the wodes and the thornes |
| 345 | To make his hunting and his chace: |
| 346 | Where him best thoghte in every place |
| 347 | To finde gamen in his weie, |
| 348 | Ther rod he forto hunte and pleie. |
| 349 | So him befell upon a tide |
| 350 | On his hunting as he cam ride, |
| 351 | In a Forest al one he was: |
| 352 | He syh upon the grene gras |
| 353 | The faire freisshe floures springe, |
| 354 | He herde among the leves singe |
| 355 | The Throstle with the nyhtingale: |
| 356 | Thus er he wiste into a Dale |
| 357 | He cam, wher was a litel plein, |
| 358 | All round aboute wel besein |
| 359 | With buisshes grene and Cedres hyhe; |
| 360 | And ther withinne he caste his yhe. |
| 361 | Amidd the plein he syh a welle, |
| 362 | So fair ther myhte noman telle, |
| 363 | In which Diana naked stod |
| 364 | To bathe and pleie hire in the flod |
| 365 | With many a Nimphe, which hire serveth. |
| 366 | Bot he his yhe awey ne swerveth |
| 367 | Fro hire, which was naked al, |
| 368 | And sche was wonder wroth withal, |
| 369 | And him, as sche which was godesse, |
| 370 | Forschop anon, and the liknesse |
| 371 | Sche made him taken of an Hert, |
| 372 | Which was tofore hise houndes stert, |
| 373 | That ronne besiliche aboute |
| 374 | With many an horn and many a route, |
| 375 | That maden mochel noise and cry: |
| 376 | And ate laste unhappely |
| 377 | This Hert his oghne houndes slowhe |
| 378 | And him for vengance al todrowhe. |
| 379 | Lo now, my Sone, what it is |
| 380 | A man to caste his yhe amis, |
| 381 | Which Acteon hath dere aboght; |
| 382 | Be war forthi and do it noght. |
| 383 | For ofte, who that hiede toke, |
| 384 | Betre is to winke than to loke. |
| 385 | And forto proven it is so, |
| 386 | Ovide the Poete also |
| 387 | A tale which to this matiere |
| 388 | Acordeth seith, as thou schalt hiere. |
| 389 | In Metamor it telleth thus, |
| 390 | How that a lord which Phorceuµs |
| 391 | Was hote, hadde dowhtres thre. |
| 392 | Bot upon here nativite |
| 393 | Such was the constellacion, |
| 394 | That out of mannes nacion |
| 395 | Fro kynde thei be so miswent, |
| 396 | That to the liknesse of Serpent |
| 397 | Thei were bore, and so that on |
| 398 | Of hem was cleped Stellibon, |
| 399 | That other soster Suriale, |
| 400 | The thridde, as telleth in the tale, |
| 401 | Medusa hihte, and natheles |
| 402 | Of comun name Gorgones |
| 403 | In every contre ther aboute, |
| 404 | As Monstres whiche that men doute, |
| 405 | Men clepen hem; and bot on yhe |
| 406 | Among hem thre in pourpartie |
| 407 | Thei hadde, of which thei myhte se, |
| 408 | Now hath it this, now hath it sche; |
| 409 | After that cause and nede it ladde, |
| 410 | Be throwes ech of hem it hadde. |
| 411 | A wonder thing yet more amis |
| 412 | Ther was, wherof I telle al this: |
| 413 | What man on hem his chiere caste |
| 414 | And hem behield, he was als faste |
| 415 | Out of a man into a Ston |
| 416 | Forschape, and thus ful manyon |
| 417 | Deceived were, of that thei wolde |
| 418 | Misloke, wher that thei ne scholde. |
| 419 | Bot Perseuµs that worthi knyht, |
| 420 | Whom Pallas of hir grete myht |
| 421 | Halp, and tok him a Schield therto, |
| 422 | And ek the god Mercurie also |
| 423 | Lente him a swerd, he, as it fell, |
| 424 | Beyende Athlans the hihe hell |
| 425 | These Monstres soghte, and there he fond |
| 426 | Diverse men of thilke lond |
| 427 | Thurgh sihte of hem mistorned were, |
| 428 | Stondende as Stones hiere and there. |
| 429 | Bot he, which wisdom and prouesse |
| 430 | Hadde of the god and the godesse, |
| 431 | The Schield of Pallas gan enbrace, |
| 432 | With which he covereth sauf his face, |
| 433 | Mercuries Swerd and out he drowh, |
| 434 | And so he bar him that he slowh |
| 435 | These dredful Monstres alle thre. |
| 436 | Lo now, my Sone, avise the, |
| 437 | That thou thi sihte noght misuse: |
| 438 | Cast noght thin yhe upon Meduse, |
| 439 | That thou be torned into Ston: |
| 440 | For so wys man was nevere non, |
| 441 | Bot if he wel his yhe kepe |
| 442 | And take of fol delit no kepe, |
| 443 | That he with lust nys ofte nome, |
| 444 | Thurgh strengthe of love and overcome. |
| 445 | Of mislokynge how it hath ferd, |
| 446 | As I have told, now hast thou herd, |
| 447 | My goode Sone, and tak good hiede. |
| 448 | And overthis yet I thee rede |
| 449 | That thou be war of thin heringe, |
| 450 | Which to the Herte the tidinge |
| 451 | Of many a vanite hath broght, |
| 452 | To tarie with a mannes thoght. |
| 453 | And natheles good is to hiere |
| 454 | Such thing wherof a man may lere |
| 455 | That to vertu is acordant, |
| 456 | And toward al the remenant |
| 457 | Good is to torne his Ere fro; |
| 458 | For elles, bot a man do so, |
| 459 | Him may fulofte mysbefalle. |
| 460 | I rede ensample amonges alle, |
| 461 | Wherof to kepe wel an Ere |
| 462 | It oghte pute a man in fere. |
| 463 | A Serpent, which that Aspidis |
| 464 | Is cleped, of his kynde hath this, |
| 465 | That he the Ston noblest of alle, |
| 466 | The which that men Carbuncle calle, |
| 467 | Berth in his hed above on heihte. |
| 468 | For which whan that a man be sleyhte, |
| 469 | The Ston to winne and him to daunte, |
| 470 | With his carecte him wolde enchaunte, |
| 471 | Anon as he perceiveth that, |
| 472 | He leith doun his on Ere al plat |
| 473 | Unto the ground, and halt it faste, |
| 474 | And ek that other Ere als faste |
| 475 | He stoppeth with his tail so sore, |
| 476 | That he the wordes lasse or more |
| 477 | Of his enchantement ne hiereth; |
| 478 | And in this wise himself he skiereth, |
| 479 | So that he hath the wordes weyved |
| 480 | And thurgh his Ere is noght deceived. |
| 481 | An othre thing, who that recordeth, |
| 482 | Lich unto this ensample acordeth, |
| 483 | Which in the tale of Troie I finde. |
| 484 | Sirenes of a wonder kynde |
| 485 | Ben Monstres, as the bokes tellen, |
| 486 | And in the grete Se thei duellen: |
| 487 | Of body bothe and of visage |
| 488 | Lik unto wommen of yong age |
| 489 | Up fro the Navele on hih thei be, |
| 490 | And doun benethe, as men mai se, |
| 491 | Thei bere of fisshes the figure. |
| 492 | And overthis of such nature |
| 493 | Thei ben, that with so swete a stevene |
| 494 | Lik to the melodie of hevene |
| 495 | In wommanysshe vois thei singe, |
| 496 | With notes of so gret likinge, |
| 497 | Of such mesure, of such musike, |
| 498 | Wherof the Schipes thei beswike |
| 499 | That passen be the costes there. |
| 500 | For whan the Schipmen leie an Ere |
| 501 | Unto the vois, in here avys |
| 502 | Thei wene it be a Paradys, |
| 503 | Which after is to hem an helle. |
| 504 | For reson may noght with hem duelle, |
| 505 | Whan thei tho grete lustes hiere; |
| 506 | Thei conne noght here Schipes stiere, |
| 507 | So besiliche upon the note |
| 508 | Thei herkne, and in such wise assote, |
| 509 | That thei here rihte cours and weie |
| 510 | Foryete, and to here Ere obeie, |
| 511 | And seilen til it so befalle |
| 512 | That thei into the peril falle, |
| 513 | Where as the Schipes be todrawe, |
| 514 | And thei ben with the Monstres slawe. |
| 515 | Bot fro this peril natheles |
| 516 | With his wisdom king Uluxes |
| 517 | Ascapeth and it overpasseth; |
| 518 | For he tofor the hond compasseth |
| 519 | That noman of his compaignie |
| 520 | Hath pouer unto that folie |
| 521 | His Ere for no lust to caste; |
| 522 | For he hem stoppede alle faste, |
| 523 | That non of hem mai hiere hem singe. |
| 524 | So whan they comen forth seilinge, |
| 525 | Ther was such governance on honde, |
| 526 | That thei the Monstres have withstonde |
| 527 | And slain of hem a gret partie. |
| 528 | Thus was he sauf with his navie, |
| 529 | This wise king, thurgh governance. |
| 530 | Wherof, my Sone, in remembrance |
| 531 | Thou myht ensample taken hiere, |
| 532 | As I have told, and what thou hiere |
| 533 | Be wel war, and yif no credence, |
| 534 | Bot if thou se more evidence. |
| 535 | For if thou woldest take kepe |
| 536 | And wisly cowthest warde and kepe |
| 537 | Thin yhe and Ere, as I have spoke, |
| 538 | Than haddest thou the gates stoke |
| 539 | Fro such Sotie as comth to winne |
| 540 | Thin hertes wit, which is withinne, |
| 541 | Wherof that now thi love excedeth |
| 542 | Mesure, and many a peine bredeth. |
| 543 | Bot if thou cowthest sette in reule |
| 544 | Tho tuo, the thre were eth to reule: |
| 545 | Forthi as of thi wittes five |
| 546 | I wole as now nomore schryve, |
| 547 | Bot only of these ilke tuo. |
| 548 | Tell me therfore if it be so, |
| 549 | Hast thou thin yhen oght misthrowe? |
| 550 | Mi fader, ye, I am beknowe, |
| 551 | I have hem cast upon Meduse, |
| 552 | Therof I may me noght excuse: |
| 553 | Min herte is growen into Ston, |
| 554 | So that my lady therupon |
| 555 | Hath such a priente of love grave, |
| 556 | That I can noght miselve save. |
| 557 | What seist thou, Sone, as of thin Ere? |
| 558 | Mi fader, I am gultyf there; |
| 559 | For whanne I may my lady hiere, |
| 560 | Mi wit with that hath lost his Stiere: |
| 561 | I do noght as Uluxes dede, |
| 562 | Bot falle anon upon the stede, |
| 563 | Wher as I se my lady stonde; |
| 564 | And there, I do yow understonde, |
| 565 | I am topulled in my thoght, |
| 566 | So that of reson leveth noght, |
| 567 | Wherof that I me mai defende. |
| 568 | My goode Sone, god thamende: |
| 569 | For as me thenketh be thi speche |
| 570 | Thi wittes ben riht feer to seche. |
| 571 | As of thin Ere and of thin yhe |
| 572 | I woll nomore specefie, |
| 573 | Bot I woll axen overthis |
| 574 | Of othre thing how that it is. |
| 575 | Mi Sone, as I thee schal enforme, |
| 576 | Ther ben yet of an other forme |
| 577 | Of dedly vices sevene applied, |
| 578 | Wherof the herte is ofte plied |
| 579 | To thing which after schal him grieve. |
| 580 | The ferste of hem thou schalt believe |
| 581 | Is Pride, which is principal, |
| 582 | And hath with him in special |
| 583 | Ministres five ful diverse, |
| 584 | Of whiche, as I the schal reherse, |
| 585 | The ferste is seid Ypocrisie. |
| 586 | If thou art of his compaignie, |
| 587 | Tell forth, my Sone, and schrif the clene. |
| 588 | I wot noght, fader, what ye mene: |
| 589 | Bot this I wolde you beseche, |
| 590 | That ye me be som weie teche |
| 591 | What is to ben an ypocrite; |
| 592 | And thanne if I be forto wyte, |
| 593 | I wol beknowen, as it is. |
| 594 | Mi Sone, an ypocrite is this,- |
| 595 | A man which feigneth conscience, |
| 596 | As thogh it were al innocence, |
| 597 | Withoute, and is noght so withinne; |
| 598 | And doth so for he wolde winne |
| 599 | Of his desir the vein astat. |
| 600 | And whanne he comth anon therat, |
| 601 | He scheweth thanne what he was, |
| 602 | The corn is torned into gras, |
| 603 | That was a Rose is thanne a thorn, |
| 604 | And he that was a Lomb beforn |
| 605 | Is thanne a Wolf, and thus malice |
| 606 | Under the colour of justice |
| 607 | Is hid; and as the poeple telleth, |
| 608 | These ordres witen where he duelleth, |
| 609 | As he that of here conseil is, |
| 610 | And thilke world which thei er this |
| 611 | Forsoken, he drawth in ayein: |
| 612 | He clotheth richesse, as men sein, |
| 613 | Under the simplesce of poverte, |
| 614 | And doth to seme of gret decerte |
| 615 | Thing which is litel worth withinne: |
| 616 | He seith in open, fy! to Sinne, |
| 617 | And in secre ther is no vice |
| 618 | Of which that he nis a Norrice: |
| 619 | And evere his chiere is sobre and softe, |
| 620 | And where he goth he blesseth ofte, |
| 621 | Wherof the blinde world he dreccheth. |
| 622 | Bot yet al only he ne streccheth |
| 623 | His reule upon religioun, |
| 624 | Bot next to that condicioun |
| 625 | In suche as clepe hem holy cherche |
| 626 | It scheweth ek how he can werche |
| 627 | Among tho wyde furred hodes, |
| 628 | To geten hem the worldes goodes. |
| 629 | And thei hemself ben thilke same |
| 630 | That setten most the world in blame, |
| 631 | Bot yet in contraire of her lore |
| 632 | Ther is nothing thei loven more; |
| 633 | So that semende of liht thei werke |
| 634 | The dedes whiche are inward derke. |
| 635 | And thus this double Ypocrisie |
| 636 | With his devolte apparantie |
| 637 | A viser set upon his face, |
| 638 | Wherof toward this worldes grace |
| 639 | He semeth to be riht wel thewed, |
| 640 | And yit his herte is al beschrewed. |
| 641 | Bot natheles he stant believed, |
| 642 | And hath his pourpos ofte achieved |
| 643 | Of worschipe and of worldes welthe, |
| 644 | And takth it, as who seith, be stelthe |
| 645 | Thurgh coverture of his fallas. |
| 646 | And riht so in semblable cas |
| 647 | This vice hath ek his officers |
| 648 | Among these othre seculers |
| 649 | Of grete men, for of the smale |
| 650 | As for tacompte he set no tale, |
| 651 | Bot thei that passen the comune |
| 652 | With suche him liketh to comune, |
| 653 | And where he seith he wol socoure |
| 654 | The poeple, there he woll devoure; |
| 655 | For now aday is manyon |
| 656 | Which spekth of Peter and of John |
| 657 | And thenketh Judas in his herte. |
| 658 | Ther schal no worldes good asterte |
| 659 | His hond, and yit he yifth almesse |
| 660 | And fasteth ofte and hiereth Messe: |
| 661 | With mea culpa, which he seith, |
| 662 | Upon his brest fullofte he leith |
| 663 | His hond, and cast upward his yhe, |
| 664 | As thogh he Cristes face syhe; |
| 665 | So that it seemeth ate syhte, |
| 666 | As he al one alle othre myhte |
| 667 | Rescoue with his holy bede. |
| 668 | Bot yet his herte in other stede |
| 669 | Among hise bedes most devoute |
| 670 | Goth in the worldes cause aboute, |
| 671 | How that he myhte his warisoun |
| 672 | Encresce. And in comparisoun |
| 673 | Ther ben lovers of such a sort, |
| 674 | That feignen hem an humble port, |
| 675 | And al is bot Ypocrisie, |
| 676 | Which with deceipte and flaterie |
| 677 | Hath many a worthi wif beguiled. |
| 678 | For whanne he hath his tunge affiled, |
| 679 | With softe speche and with lesinge, |
| 680 | Forth with his fals pitous lokynge, |
| 681 | He wolde make a womman wene |
| 682 | To gon upon the faire grene, |
| 683 | Whan that sche falleth in the Mir. |
| 684 | For if he may have his desir, |
| 685 | How so falle of the remenant, |
| 686 | He halt no word of covenant; |
| 687 | Bot er the time that he spede, |
| 688 | Ther is no sleihte at thilke nede, |
| 689 | Which eny loves faitour mai, |
| 690 | That he ne put it in assai, |
| 691 | As him belongeth forto done. |
| 692 | The colour of the reyni Mone |
| 693 | With medicine upon his face |
| 694 | He set, and thanne he axeth grace, |
| 695 | As he which hath sieknesse feigned. |
| 696 | Whan his visage is so desteigned, |
| 697 | With yhe upcast on hire he siketh, |
| 698 | And many a contenance he piketh, |
| 699 | To bringen hire in to believe |
| 700 | Of thing which that he wolde achieve, |
| 701 | Wherof he berth the pale hewe; |
| 702 | And for he wolde seme trewe, |
| 703 | He makth him siek, whan he is heil. |
| 704 | Bot whanne he berth lowest the Seil, |
| 705 | Thanne is he swiftest to beguile |
| 706 | The womman, which that ilke while |
| 707 | Set upon him feith or credence. |
| 708 | Mi Sone, if thou thi conscience |
| 709 | Entamed hast in such a wise, |
| 710 | In schrifte thou thee myht avise |
| 711 | And telle it me, if it be so. |
| 712 | Min holy fader, certes no. |
| 713 | As forto feigne such sieknesse |
| 714 | It nedeth noght, for this witnesse |
| 715 | I take of god, that my corage |
| 716 | Hath ben mor siek than my visage. |
| 717 | And ek this mai I wel avowe, |
| 718 | So lowe cowthe I nevere bowe |
| 719 | To feigne humilite withoute, |
| 720 | That me ne leste betre loute |
| 721 | With alle the thoghtes of myn herte; |
| 722 | For that thing schal me nevere asterte, |
| 723 | I speke as to my lady diere, |
| 724 | To make hire eny feigned chiere. |
| 725 | God wot wel there I lye noght, |
| 726 | Mi chiere hath be such as my thoght; |
| 727 | For in good feith, this lieveth wel, |
| 728 | Mi will was betre a thousendel |
| 729 | Than eny chiere that I cowthe. |
| 730 | Bot, Sire, if I have in my yowthe |
| 731 | Don other wise in other place, |
| 732 | I put me therof in your grace: |
| 733 | For this excusen I ne schal, |
| 734 | That I have elles overal |
| 735 | To love and to his compaignie |
| 736 | Be plein withoute Ypocrisie; |
| 737 | Bot ther is on the which I serve, |
| 738 | Althogh I may no thonk deserve, |
| 739 | To whom yet nevere into this day |
| 740 | I seide onlyche or ye or nay, |
| 741 | Bot if it so were in my thoght. |
| 742 | As touchende othre seie I noght |
| 743 | That I nam somdel forto wyte |
| 744 | Of that ye clepe an ypocrite. |
| 745 | Mi Sone, it sit wel every wiht |
| 746 | To kepe his word in trowthe upryht |
| 747 | Towardes love in alle wise. |
| 748 | For who that wolde him wel avise |
| 749 | What hath befalle in this matiere, |
| 750 | He scholde noght with feigned chiere |
| 751 | Deceive Love in no degre. |
| 752 | To love is every herte fre, |
| 753 | Bot in deceipte if that thou feignest |
| 754 | And therupon thi lust atteignest, |
| 755 | That thow hast wonne with thi wyle, |
| 756 | Thogh it thee like for a whyle, |
| 757 | Thou schalt it afterward repente. |
| 758 | And forto prove myn entente, |
| 759 | I finde ensample in a Croniqe |
| 760 | Of hem that love so beswike. |
| 761 | It fell be olde daies thus, |
| 762 | Whil themperour Tiberius |
| 763 | The Monarchie of Rome ladde, |
| 764 | Ther was a worthi Romein hadde |
| 765 | A wif, and sche Pauline hihte, |
| 766 | Which was to every mannes sihte |
| 767 | Of al the Cite the faireste, |
| 768 | And as men seiden, ek the beste. |
| 769 | It is and hath ben evere yit, |
| 770 | That so strong is no mannes wit, |
| 771 | Which thurgh beaute ne mai be drawe |
| 772 | To love, and stonde under the lawe |
| 773 | Of thilke bore frele kinde, |
| 774 | Which makth the hertes yhen blinde, |
| 775 | Wher no reson mai be comuned: |
| 776 | And in this wise stod fortuned |
| 777 | This tale, of which I wolde mene; |
| 778 | This wif, which in hire lustes grene |
| 779 | Was fair and freissh and tendre of age, |
| 780 | Sche may noght lette the corage |
| 781 | Of him that wole on hire assote. |
| 782 | Ther was a Duck, and he was hote |
| 783 | Mundus, which hadde in his baillie |
| 784 | To lede the chivalerie |
| 785 | Of Rome, and was a worthi knyht; |
| 786 | Bot yet he was noght of such myht |
| 787 | The strengthe of love to withstonde, |
| 788 | That he ne was so broght to honde, |
| 789 | That malgre wher he wole or no, |
| 790 | This yonge wif he loveth so, |
| 791 | That he hath put al his assay |
| 792 | To wynne thing which he ne may |
| 793 | Gete of hire graunt in no manere, |
| 794 | Be yifte of gold ne be preiere. |
| 795 | And whanne he syh that be no mede |
| 796 | Toward hir love he myhte spede, |
| 797 | Be sleyhte feigned thanne he wroghte; |
| 798 | And therupon he him bethoghte |
| 799 | How that ther was in the Cite |
| 800 | A temple of such auctorite, |
| 801 | To which with gret Devocioun |
| 802 | The noble wommen of the toun |
| 803 | Most comunliche a pelrinage |
| 804 | Gon forto preie thilke ymage |
| 805 | Which the godesse of childinge is, |
| 806 | And cleped was be name Ysis: |
| 807 | And in hire temple thanne were, |
| 808 | To reule and to ministre there |
| 809 | After the lawe which was tho, |
| 810 | Above alle othre Prestes tuo. |
| 811 | This Duck, which thoghte his love gete, |
| 812 | Upon a day hem tuo to mete |
| 813 | Hath bede, and thei come at his heste; |
| 814 | Wher that thei hadde a riche feste, |
| 815 | And after mete in prive place |
| 816 | This lord, which wolde his thonk pourchace, |
| 817 | To ech of hem yaf thanne a yifte, |
| 818 | And spak so that be weie of schrifte |
| 819 | He drowh hem unto his covine, |
| 820 | To helpe and schape how he Pauline |
| 821 | After his lust deceive myhte. |
| 822 | And thei here trowthes bothe plyhte, |
| 823 | That thei be nyhte hire scholden wynne |
| 824 | Into the temple, and he therinne |
| 825 | Schal have of hire al his entente: |
| 826 | And thus acorded forth thei wente. |
| 827 | Now lest thurgh which ypocrisie |
| 828 | Ordeigned was the tricherie, |
| 829 | Wherof this ladi was deceived. |
| 830 | These Prestes hadden wel conceived |
| 831 | That sche was of gret holinesse; |
| 832 | And with a contrefet simplesse, |
| 833 | Which hid was in a fals corage, |
| 834 | Feignende an hevenely message |
| 835 | Thei come and seide unto hir thus: |
| 836 | "Pauline, the god Anubus |
| 837 | Hath sent ous bothe Prestes hiere, |
| 838 | And seith he woll to thee appiere |
| 839 | Be nyhtes time himself alone, |
| 840 | For love he hath to thi persone: |
| 841 | And therupon he hath ous bede, |
| 842 | That we in Ysis temple a stede |
| 843 | Honestely for thee pourveie, |
| 844 | Wher thou be nyhte, as we thee seie, |
| 845 | Of him schalt take avisioun. |
| 846 | For upon thi condicioun, |
| 847 | The which is chaste and ful of feith, |
| 848 | Such pris, as he ous tolde, he leith, |
| 849 | That he wol stonde of thin acord; |
| 850 | And forto bere hierof record |
| 851 | He sende ous hider bothe tuo." |
| 852 | Glad was hire innocence tho |
| 853 | Of suche wordes as sche herde, |
| 854 | With humble chiere and thus answerde, |
| 855 | And seide that the goddes wille |
| 856 | Sche was al redy to fulfille, |
| 857 | That be hire housebondes leve |
| 858 | Sche wolde in Ysis temple at eve |
| 859 | Upon hire goddes grace abide, |
| 860 | To serven him the nyhtes tide. |
| 861 | The Prestes tho gon hom ayein, |
| 862 | And sche goth to hire sovereign, |
| 863 | Of goddes wille and as it was |
| 864 | Sche tolde him al the pleine cas, |
| 865 | Wherof he was deceived eke, |
| 866 | And bad that sche hire scholde meke |
| 867 | Al hol unto the goddes heste. |
| 868 | And thus sche, which was al honeste |
| 869 | To godward after hire entente, |
| 870 | At nyht unto the temple wente, |
| 871 | Wher that the false Prestes were; |
| 872 | And thei receiven hire there |
| 873 | With such a tokne of holinesse, |
| 874 | As thogh thei syhen a godesse, |
| 875 | And al withinne in prive place |
| 876 | A softe bedd of large space |
| 877 | Thei hadde mad and encourtined, |
| 878 | Wher sche was afterward engined. |
| 879 | Bot sche, which al honour supposeth, |
| 880 | The false Prestes thanne opposeth, |
| 881 | And axeth be what observance |
| 882 | Sche myhte most to the plesance |
| 883 | Of godd that nyhtes reule kepe: |
| 884 | And thei hire bidden forto slepe |
| 885 | Liggende upon the bedd alofte, |
| 886 | For so, thei seide, al stille and softe |
| 887 | God Anubus hire wolde awake. |
| 888 | The conseil in this wise take, |
| 889 | The Prestes fro this lady gon; |
| 890 | And sche, that wiste of guile non, |
| 891 | In the manere as it was seid |
| 892 | To slepe upon the bedd is leid, |
| 893 | In hope that sche scholde achieve |
| 894 | Thing which stod thanne upon bilieve, |
| 895 | Fulfild of alle holinesse. |
| 896 | Bot sche hath failed, as I gesse, |
| 897 | For in a closet faste by |
| 898 | The Duck was hid so prively |
| 899 | That sche him myhte noght perceive; |
| 900 | And he, that thoghte to deceive, |
| 901 | Hath such arrai upon him nome, |
| 902 | That whanne he wolde unto hir come, |
| 903 | It scholde semen at hire yhe |
| 904 | As thogh sche verrailiche syhe |
| 905 | God Anubus, and in such wise |
| 906 | This ypocrite of his queintise |
| 907 | Awaiteth evere til sche slepte. |
| 908 | And thanne out of his place he crepte |
| 909 | So stille that sche nothing herde, |
| 910 | And to the bedd stalkende he ferde, |
| 911 | And sodeinly, er sche it wiste, |
| 912 | Beclipt in armes he hire kiste: |
| 913 | Wherof in wommanysshe drede |
| 914 | Sche wok and nyste what to rede; |
| 915 | Bot he with softe wordes milde |
| 916 | Conforteth hire and seith, with childe |
| 917 | He wolde hire make in such a kynde |
| 918 | That al the world schal have in mynde |
| 919 | The worschipe of that ilke Sone; |
| 920 | For he schal with the goddes wone, |
| 921 | And ben himself a godd also. |
| 922 | With suche wordes and with mo, |
| 923 | The whiche he feigneth in his speche, |
| 924 | This lady wit was al to seche, |
| 925 | As sche which alle trowthe weneth: |
| 926 | Bot he, that alle untrowthe meneth, |
| 927 | With blinde tales so hire ladde, |
| 928 | That all his wille of hire he hadde. |
| 929 | And whan him thoghte it was ynowh, |
| 930 | Ayein the day he him withdrowh |
| 931 | So prively that sche ne wiste |
| 932 | Wher he becom, bot as him liste |
| 933 | Out of the temple he goth his weie. |
| 934 | And sche began to bidde and preie |
| 935 | Upon the bare ground knelende, |
| 936 | And after that made hire offrende, |
| 937 | And to the Prestes yiftes grete |
| 938 | Sche yaf, and homward be the Strete. |
| 939 | The Duck hire mette and seide thus: |
| 940 | "The myhti godd which Anubus |
| 941 | Is hote, he save the, Pauline, |
| 942 | For thou art of his discipline |
| 943 | So holy, that no mannes myht |
| 944 | Mai do that he hath do to nyht |
| 945 | Of thing which thou hast evere eschuied. |
| 946 | Bot I his grace have so poursuied, |
| 947 | That I was mad his lieutenant: |
| 948 | Forthi be weie of covenant |
| 949 | Fro this day forth I am al thin, |
| 950 | And if thee like to be myn, |
| 951 | That stant upon thin oghne wille." |
| 952 | Sche herde his tale and bar it stille, |
| 953 | And hom sche wente, as it befell, |
| 954 | Into hir chambre, and ther sche fell |
| 955 | Upon hire bedd to wepe and crie, |
| 956 | And seide: "O derke ypocrisie, |
| 957 | Thurgh whos dissimilacion |
| 958 | Of fals ymaginacion |
| 959 | I am thus wickedly deceived! |
| 960 | Bot that I have it aperceived |
| 961 | I thonke unto the goddes alle; |
| 962 | For thogh it ones be befalle, |
| 963 | It schal nevere eft whil that I live, |
| 964 | And thilke avou to godd I yive." |
| 965 | And thus wepende sche compleigneth, |
| 966 | Hire faire face and al desteigneth |
| 967 | With wofull teres of hire yµe, |
| 968 | So that upon this agonie |
| 969 | Hire housebonde is inne come, |
| 970 | And syh how sche was overcome |
| 971 | With sorwe, and axeth what hire eileth. |
| 972 | And sche with that hirself beweileth |
| 973 | Welmore than sche dede afore, |
| 974 | And seide, "Helas, wifhode is lore |
| 975 | In me, which whilom was honeste, |
| 976 | I am non other than a beste, |
| 977 | Now I defouled am of tuo." |
| 978 | And as sche myhte speke tho, |
| 979 | Aschamed with a pitous onde |
| 980 | Sche tolde unto hir housebonde |
| 981 | The sothe of al the hole tale, |
| 982 | And in hire speche ded and pale |
| 983 | Sche swouneth welnyh to the laste. |
| 984 | And he hire in hise armes faste |
| 985 | Uphield, and ofte swor his oth |
| 986 | That he with hire is nothing wroth, |
| 987 | For wel he wot sche may ther noght: |
| 988 | Bot natheles withinne his thoght |
| 989 | His herte stod in sori plit, |
| 990 | And seide he wolde of that despit |
| 991 | Be venged, how so evere it falle, |
| 992 | And sende unto hise frendes alle. |
| 993 | And whan thei weren come in fere, |
| 994 | He tolde hem upon this matiere, |
| 995 | And axeth hem what was to done: |
| 996 | And thei avised were sone, |
| 997 | And seide it thoghte hem for the beste |
| 998 | To sette ferst his wif in reste, |
| 999 | And after pleigne to the king |
| 1000 | Upon the matiere of this thing. |
| 1001 | Tho was this wofull wif conforted |
| 1002 | Be alle weies and desported, |
| 1003 | Til that sche was somdiel amended; |
| 1004 | And thus a day or tuo despended, |
| 1005 | The thridde day sche goth to pleigne |
| 1006 | With many a worthi Citezeine, |
| 1007 | And he with many a Citezein. |
| 1008 | Whan themperour it herde sein, |
| 1009 | And knew the falshed of the vice, |
| 1010 | He seide he wolde do justice: |
| 1011 | And ferst he let the Prestes take, |
| 1012 | And for thei scholde it noght forsake, |
| 1013 | He put hem into questioun; |
| 1014 | Bot thei of the suggestioun |
| 1015 | Ne couthen noght a word refuse, |
| 1016 | Bot for thei wolde hemself excuse, |
| 1017 | The blame upon the Duck thei leide. |
| 1018 | Bot therayein the conseil seide |
| 1019 | That thei be noght excused so, |
| 1020 | For he is on and thei ben tuo, |
| 1021 | And tuo han more wit then on, |
| 1022 | So thilke excusement was non. |
| 1023 | And over that was seid hem eke, |
| 1024 | That whan men wolden vertu seke, |
| 1025 | Men scholde it in the Prestes finde; |
| 1026 | Here ordre is of so hyh a kinde, |
| 1027 | That thei be Duistres of the weie: |
| 1028 | Forthi, if eny man forsueie |
| 1029 | Thurgh hem, thei be noght excusable. |
| 1030 | And thus be lawe resonable |
| 1031 | Among the wise jugges there |
| 1032 | The Prestes bothe dampned were, |
| 1033 | So that the prive tricherie |
| 1034 | Hid under fals Ipocrisie |
| 1035 | Was thanne al openliche schewed, |
| 1036 | That many a man hem hath beschrewed. |
| 1037 | And whan the Prestes weren dede, |
| 1038 | The temple of thilke horrible dede |
| 1039 | Thei thoghten purge, and thilke ymage, |
| 1040 | Whos cause was the pelrinage, |
| 1041 | Thei drowen out and als so faste |
| 1042 | Fer into Tibre thei it caste, |
| 1043 | Wher the Rivere it hath defied: |
| 1044 | And thus the temple purified |
| 1045 | Thei have of thilke horrible Sinne, |
| 1046 | Which was that time do therinne. |
| 1047 | Of this point such was the juise, |
| 1048 | Bot of the Duck was other wise: |
| 1049 | For he with love was bestad, |
| 1050 | His dom was noght so harde lad; |
| 1051 | For Love put reson aweie |
| 1052 | And can noght se the rihte weie. |
| 1053 | And be this cause he was respited, |
| 1054 | So that the deth him was acquited, |
| 1055 | Bot for al that he was exiled, |
| 1056 | For he his love hath so beguiled, |
| 1057 | That he schal nevere come ayein: |
| 1058 | For who that is to trowthe unplein, |
| 1059 | He may noght failen of vengance. |
| 1060 | And ek to take remembrance |
| 1061 | Of that Ypocrisie hath wroght |
| 1062 | On other half, men scholde noght |
| 1063 | To lihtly lieve al that thei hiere, |
| 1064 | Bot thanne scholde a wisman stiere |
| 1065 | The Schip, whan suche wyndes blowe: |
| 1066 | For ferst thogh thei beginne lowe, |
| 1067 | At ende thei be noght menable, |
| 1068 | Bot al tobreken Mast and Cable, |
| 1069 | So that the Schip with sodein blast, |
| 1070 | Whan men lest wene, is overcast; |
| 1071 | As now fulofte a man mai se: |
| 1072 | And of old time how it hath be |
| 1073 | I finde a gret experience, |
| 1074 | Wherof to take an evidence |
| 1075 | Good is, and to be war also |
| 1076 | Of the peril, er him be wo. |
| 1077 | Of hem that ben so derk withinne, |
| 1078 | At Troie also if we beginne, |
| 1079 | Ipocrisie it hath betraied: |
| 1080 | For whan the Greks hadde al assaied, |
| 1081 | And founde that be no bataille |
| 1082 | Ne be no Siege it myhte availe |
| 1083 | The toun to winne thurgh prouesse, |
| 1084 | This vice feigned of simplesce |
| 1085 | Thurgh sleyhte of Calcas and of Crise |
| 1086 | It wan be such a maner wise. |
| 1087 | An Hors of Bras thei let do forge |
| 1088 | Of such entaile, of such a forge, |
| 1089 | That in this world was nevere man |
| 1090 | That such an other werk began. |
| 1091 | The crafti werkman Epius |
| 1092 | It made, and forto telle thus, |
| 1093 | The Greks, that thoghten to beguile |
| 1094 | The kyng of Troie, in thilke while |
| 1095 | With Anthenor and with Enee, |
| 1096 | That were bothe of the Cite |
| 1097 | And of the conseil the wiseste, |
| 1098 | The richeste and the myhtieste, |
| 1099 | In prive place so thei trete |
| 1100 | With fair beheste and yiftes grete |
| 1101 | Of gold, that thei hem have engined; |
| 1102 | Togedre and whan thei be covined, |
| 1103 | Thei feignen forto make a pes, |
| 1104 | And under that yit natheles |
| 1105 | Thei schopen the destruccioun |
| 1106 | Bothe of the kyng and of the toun. |
| 1107 | And thus the false pees was take |
| 1108 | Of hem of Grece and undertake, |
| 1109 | And therupon thei founde a weie, |
| 1110 | Wher strengthe myhte noght aweie, |
| 1111 | That sleihte scholde helpe thanne; |
| 1112 | And of an ynche a large spanne |
| 1113 | Be colour of the pees thei made, |
| 1114 | And tolden how thei weren glade |
| 1115 | Of that thei stoden in acord; |
| 1116 | And for it schal ben of record, |
| 1117 | Unto the kyng the Gregois seiden, |
| 1118 | Be weie of love and this thei preiden, |
| 1119 | As thei that wolde his thonk deserve, |
| 1120 | A Sacrifice unto Minerve, |
| 1121 | The pes to kepe in good entente, |
| 1122 | Thei mosten offre er that thei wente. |
| 1123 | The kyng conseiled in this cas |
| 1124 | Be Anthenor and Eneas |
| 1125 | Therto hath yoven his assent: |
| 1126 | So was the pleine trowthe blent |
| 1127 | Thurgh contrefet Ipocrisie |
| 1128 | Of that thei scholden sacrifie. |
| 1129 | The Greks under the holinesse |
| 1130 | Anon with alle besinesse |
| 1131 | Here Hors of Bras let faire dihte, |
| 1132 | Which was to sen a wonder sihte; |
| 1133 | For it was trapped of himselve, |
| 1134 | And hadde of smale whieles twelve, |
| 1135 | Upon the whiche men ynowe |
| 1136 | With craft toward the toun it drowe, |
| 1137 | And goth glistrende ayein the Sunne. |
| 1138 | Tho was ther joie ynowh begunne, |
| 1139 | For Troie in gret devocioun |
| 1140 | Cam also with processioun |
| 1141 | Ayein this noble Sacrifise |
| 1142 | With gret honour, and in this wise |
| 1143 | Unto the gates thei it broghte. |
| 1144 | Bot of here entre whan thei soghte, |
| 1145 | The gates weren al to smale; |
| 1146 | And therupon was many a tale, |
| 1147 | Bot for the worschipe of Minerve, |
| 1148 | To whom thei comen forto serve, |
| 1149 | Thei of the toun, whiche understode |
| 1150 | That al this thing was do for goode, |
| 1151 | For pes, wherof that thei ben glade, |
| 1152 | The gates that Neptunus made |
| 1153 | A thousend wynter ther tofore, |
| 1154 | Thei have anon tobroke and tore; |
| 1155 | The stronge walles doun thei bete, |
| 1156 | So that in to the large strete |
| 1157 | This Hors with gret solempnite |
| 1158 | Was broght withinne the Cite, |
| 1159 | And offred with gret reverence, |
| 1160 | Which was to Troie an evidence |
| 1161 | Of love and pes for everemo. |
| 1162 | The Gregois token leve tho |
| 1163 | With al the hole felaschipe, |
| 1164 | And forth thei wenten into Schipe |
| 1165 | And crossen seil and made hem yare, |
| 1166 | Anon as thogh thei wolden fare: |
| 1167 | Bot whan the blake wynter nyht |
| 1168 | Withoute Mone or Sterre lyht |
| 1169 | Bederked hath the water Stronde, |
| 1170 | Al prively thei gon to londe |
| 1171 | Ful armed out of the navie. |
| 1172 | Synon, which mad was here aspie |
| 1173 | Withinne Troie, as was conspired, |
| 1174 | Whan time was a tokne hath fired; |
| 1175 | And thei with that here weie holden, |
| 1176 | And comen in riht as thei wolden, |
| 1177 | Ther as the gate was tobroke. |
| 1178 | The pourpos was full take and spoke: |
| 1179 | Er eny man may take kepe, |
| 1180 | Whil that the Cite was aslepe, |
| 1181 | Thei slowen al that was withinne, |
| 1182 | And token what thei myhten wynne |
| 1183 | Of such good as was sufficant, |
| 1184 | And brenden up the remenant. |
| 1185 | And thus cam out the tricherie, |
| 1186 | Which under fals Ypocrisie |
| 1187 | Was hid, and thei that wende pees |
| 1188 | Tho myhten finde no reles |
| 1189 | Of thilke swerd which al devoureth. |
| 1190 | Fulofte and thus the swete soureth, |
| 1191 | Whan it is knowe to the tast: |
| 1192 | He spilleth many a word in wast |
| 1193 | That schal with such a poeple trete; |
| 1194 | For whan he weneth most beyete, |
| 1195 | Thanne is he schape most to lese. |
| 1196 | And riht so if a womman chese |
| 1197 | Upon the wordes that sche hiereth |
| 1198 | Som man, whan he most trewe appiereth, |
| 1199 | Thanne is he forthest fro the trowthe: |
| 1200 | Bot yit fulofte, and that is rowthe, |
| 1201 | Thei speden that ben most untrewe |
| 1202 | And loven every day a newe, |
| 1203 | Wherof the lief is after loth |
| 1204 | And love hath cause to be wroth. |
| 1205 | Bot what man that his lust desireth |
| 1206 | Of love, and therupon conspireth |
| 1207 | With wordes feigned to deceive, |
| 1208 | He schal noght faile to receive |
| 1209 | His peine, as it is ofte sene. |
| 1210 | Forthi, my Sone, as I thee mene, |
| 1211 | It sit the wel to taken hiede |
| 1212 | That thou eschuie of thi manhiede |
| 1213 | Ipocrisie and his semblant, |
| 1214 | That thou ne be noght deceivant, |
| 1215 | To make a womman to believe |
| 1216 | Thing which is noght in thi bilieve: |
| 1217 | For in such feint Ipocrisie |
| 1218 | Of love is al the tricherie, |
| 1219 | Thurgh which love is deceived ofte; |
| 1220 | For feigned semblant is so softe, |
| 1221 | Unethes love may be war. |
| 1222 | Forthi, my Sone, as I wel dar, |
| 1223 | I charge thee to fle that vice, |
| 1224 | That many a womman hath mad nice; |
| 1225 | Bot lok thou dele noght withal. |
| 1226 | Iwiss, fader, nomor I schal. |
| 1227 | Now, Sone, kep that thou hast swore: |
| 1228 | For this that thou hast herd before |
| 1229 | Is seid the ferste point of Pride: |
| 1230 | And next upon that other side, |
| 1231 | To schryve and speken overthis |
| 1232 | Touchende of Pride, yit ther is |
| 1233 | The point seconde, I thee behote, |
| 1234 | Which Inobedience is hote. |
| 1235 | This vice of Inobedience |
| 1236 | Ayein the reule of conscience |
| 1237 | Al that is humble he desalloweth, |
| 1238 | That he toward his god ne boweth |
| 1239 | After the lawes of his heste. |
| 1240 | Noght as a man bot as a beste, |
| 1241 | Which goth upon his lustes wilde, |
| 1242 | So goth this proude vice unmylde, |
| 1243 | That he desdeigneth alle lawe: |
| 1244 | He not what is to be felawe, |
| 1245 | And serve may he noght for pride; |
| 1246 | So is he badde on every side, |
| 1247 | And is that selve of whom men speke, |
| 1248 | Which wol noght bowe er that he breke. |
| 1249 | I not if love him myhte plie, |
| 1250 | For elles forto justefie |
| 1251 | His herte, I not what mihte availe. |
| 1252 | Forthi, my Sone, of such entaile |
| 1253 | If that thin herte be disposed, |
| 1254 | Tell out and let it noght be glosed: |
| 1255 | For if that thou unbuxom be |
| 1256 | To love, I not in what degree |
| 1257 | Thou schalt thi goode world achieve. |
| 1258 | Mi fader, ye schul wel believe, |
| 1259 | The yonge whelp which is affaited |
| 1260 | Hath noght his Maister betre awaited, |
| 1261 | To couche, whan he seith "Go lowe," |
| 1262 | That I, anon as I may knowe |
| 1263 | Mi ladi will, ne bowe more. |
| 1264 | Bot other while I grucche sore |
| 1265 | Of some thinges that sche doth, |
| 1266 | Wherof that I woll telle soth: |
| 1267 | For of tuo pointz I am bethoght, |
| 1268 | That, thogh I wolde, I myhte noght |
| 1269 | Obeie unto my ladi heste; |
| 1270 | Bot I dar make this beheste, |
| 1271 | Save only of that ilke tuo |
| 1272 | I am unbuxom of no mo. |
| 1273 | Whan ben tho tuo? tell on, quod he. |
| 1274 | Mi fader, this is on, that sche |
| 1275 | Comandeth me my mowth to close, |
| 1276 | And that I scholde hir noght oppose |
| 1277 | In love, of which I ofte preche, |
| 1278 | Bot plenerliche of such a speche |
| 1279 | Forbere, and soffren hire in pes. |
| 1280 | Bot that ne myhte I natheles |
| 1281 | For al this world obeie ywiss; |
| 1282 | For whanne I am ther as sche is, |
| 1283 | Though sche my tales noght alowe, |
| 1284 | Ayein hir will yit mot I bowe, |
| 1285 | To seche if that I myhte have grace: |
| 1286 | Bot that thing may I noght enbrace |
| 1287 | For ought that I can speke or do; |
| 1288 | And yit fulofte I speke so, |
| 1289 | That sche is wroth and seith, "Be stille." |
| 1290 | If I that heste schal fulfille |
| 1291 | And therto ben obedient, |
| 1292 | Thanne is my cause fully schent, |
| 1293 | For specheles may noman spede. |
| 1294 | So wot I noght what is to rede; |
| 1295 | Bot certes I may noght obeie, |
| 1296 | That I ne mot algate seie |
| 1297 | Somwhat of that I wolde mene; |
| 1298 | For evere it is aliche grene, |
| 1299 | The grete love which I have, |
| 1300 | Wherof I can noght bothe save |
| 1301 | My speche and this obedience: |
| 1302 | And thus fulofte my silence |
| 1303 | I breke, and is the ferste point |
| 1304 | Wherof that I am out of point |
| 1305 | In this, and yit it is no pride. |
| 1306 | Now thanne upon that other side |
| 1307 | To telle my desobeissance, |
| 1308 | Ful sore it stant to my grevance |
| 1309 | And may noght sinke into my wit; |
| 1310 | For ofte time sche me bit |
| 1311 | To leven hire and chese a newe, |
| 1312 | And seith, if I the sothe knewe |
| 1313 | How ferr I stonde from hir grace, |
| 1314 | I scholde love in other place. |
| 1315 | Bot therof woll I desobeie; |
| 1316 | For also wel sche myhte seie, |
| 1317 | "Go tak the Mone ther it sit," |
| 1318 | As bringe that into my wit: |
| 1319 | For ther was nevere rooted tre, |
| 1320 | That stod so faste in his degre, |
| 1321 | That I ne stonde more faste |
| 1322 | Upon hire love, and mai noght caste |
| 1323 | Min herte awey, althogh I wolde. |
| 1324 | For god wot, thogh I nevere scholde |
| 1325 | Sen hir with yhe after this day, |
| 1326 | Yit stant it so that I ne may |
| 1327 | Hir love out of my brest remue. |
| 1328 | This is a wonder retenue, |
| 1329 | That malgre wher sche wole or non |
| 1330 | Min herte is everemore in on, |
| 1331 | So that I can non other chese, |
| 1332 | Bot whether that I winne or lese, |
| 1333 | I moste hire loven til I deie; |
| 1334 | And thus I breke as be that weie |
| 1335 | Hire hestes and hir comandinges, |
| 1336 | Bot trewliche in non othre thinges. |
| 1337 | Forthi, my fader, what is more |
| 1338 | Touchende to this ilke lore |
| 1339 | I you beseche, after the forme |
| 1340 | That ye pleinly me wolde enforme, |
| 1341 | So that I may myn herte reule |
| 1342 | In loves cause after the reule. |
| 1343 | Toward this vice of which we trete |
| 1344 | Ther ben yit tweie of thilke estrete, |
| 1345 | Here name is Murmur and Compleignte: |
| 1346 | Ther can noman here chiere peinte, |
| 1347 | To sette a glad semblant therinne, |
| 1348 | For thogh fortune make hem wynne, |
| 1349 | Yit grucchen thei, and if thei lese, |
| 1350 | Ther is no weie forto chese, |
| 1351 | Wherof thei myhten stonde appesed. |
| 1352 | So ben thei comunly desesed; |
| 1353 | Ther may no welthe ne poverte |
| 1354 | Attempren hem to the decerte |
| 1355 | Of buxomnesse be no wise: |
| 1356 | For ofte time thei despise |
| 1357 | The goode fortune as the badde, |
| 1358 | As thei no mannes reson hadde, |
| 1359 | Thurgh pride, wherof thei be blinde. |
| 1360 | And ryht of such a maner kinde |
| 1361 | Ther be lovers, that thogh thei have |
| 1362 | Of love al that thei wolde crave, |
| 1363 | Yit wol thei grucche be som weie, |
| 1364 | That thei wol noght to love obeie |
| 1365 | Upon the trowthe, as thei do scholde; |
| 1366 | And if hem lacketh that thei wolde, |
| 1367 | Anon thei falle in such a peine, |
| 1368 | That evere unbuxomly thei pleigne |
| 1369 | Upon fortune, and curse and crie, |
| 1370 | That thei wol noght here hertes plie |
| 1371 | To soffre til it betre falle. |
| 1372 | Forthi if thou amonges alle |
| 1373 | Hast used this condicioun, |
| 1374 | Mi Sone, in thi Confessioun |
| 1375 | Now tell me pleinly what thou art. |
| 1376 | Mi fader, I beknowe a part, |
| 1377 | So as ye tolden hier above |
| 1378 | Of Murmur and Compleignte of love, |
| 1379 | That for I se no sped comende, |
| 1380 | Ayein fortune compleignende |
| 1381 | I am, as who seith, everemo: |
| 1382 | And ek fulofte tyme also, |
| 1383 | Whan so is that I se and hiere |
| 1384 | Or hevy word or hevy chiere |
| 1385 | Of my lady, I grucche anon; |
| 1386 | Bot wordes dar I speke non, |
| 1387 | Wherof sche myhte be desplesed, |
| 1388 | Bot in myn herte I am desesed: |
| 1389 | With many a Murmur, god it wot, |
| 1390 | Thus drinke I in myn oghne swot, |
| 1391 | And thogh I make no semblant, |
| 1392 | Min herte is al desobeissant; |
| 1393 | And in this wise I me confesse |
| 1394 | Of that ye clepe unbuxomnesse. |
| 1395 | Now telleth what youre conseil is. |
| 1396 | Mi Sone, and I thee rede this, |
| 1397 | What so befalle of other weie, |
| 1398 | That thou to loves heste obeie |
| 1399 | Als ferr as thou it myht suffise: |
| 1400 | For ofte sithe in such a wise |
| 1401 | Obedience in love availeth, |
| 1402 | Wher al a mannes strengthe faileth; |
| 1403 | Wherof, if that the list to wite |
| 1404 | In a Cronique as it is write, |
| 1405 | A gret ensample thou myht fynde, |
| 1406 | Which now is come to my mynde. |
| 1407 | Ther was whilom be daies olde |
| 1408 | A worthi knyht, and as men tolde |
| 1409 | He was Nevoeu to themperour |
| 1410 | And of his Court a Courteour: |
| 1411 | Wifles he was, Florent he hihte, |
| 1412 | He was a man that mochel myhte, |
| 1413 | Of armes he was desirous, |
| 1414 | Chivalerous and amorous, |
| 1415 | And for the fame of worldes speche, |
| 1416 | Strange aventures forto seche, |
| 1417 | He rod the Marches al aboute. |
| 1418 | And fell a time, as he was oute, |
| 1419 | Fortune, which may every thred |
| 1420 | Tobreke and knette of mannes sped, |
| 1421 | Schop, as this knyht rod in a pas, |
| 1422 | That he be strengthe take was, |
| 1423 | And to a Castell thei him ladde, |
| 1424 | Wher that he fewe frendes hadde: |
| 1425 | For so it fell that ilke stounde |
| 1426 | That he hath with a dedly wounde |
| 1427 | Feihtende his oghne hondes slain |
| 1428 | Branchus, which to the Capitain |
| 1429 | Was Sone and Heir, wherof ben wrothe |
| 1430 | The fader and the moder bothe. |
| 1431 | That knyht Branchus was of his hond |
| 1432 | The worthieste of al his lond, |
| 1433 | And fain thei wolden do vengance |
| 1434 | Upon Florent, bot remembrance |
| 1435 | That thei toke of his worthinesse |
| 1436 | Of knyhthod and of gentilesse, |
| 1437 | And how he stod of cousinage |
| 1438 | To themperour, made hem assuage, |
| 1439 | And dorsten noght slen him for fere: |
| 1440 | In gret desputeisoun thei were |
| 1441 | Among hemself, what was the beste. |
| 1442 | Ther was a lady, the slyheste |
| 1443 | Of alle that men knewe tho, |
| 1444 | So old sche myhte unethes go, |
| 1445 | And was grantdame unto the dede: |
| 1446 | And sche with that began to rede, |
| 1447 | And seide how sche wol bringe him inne, |
| 1448 | That sche schal him to dethe winne |
| 1449 | Al only of his oghne grant, |
| 1450 | Thurgh strengthe of verray covenant |
| 1451 | Withoute blame of eny wiht. |
| 1452 | Anon sche sende for this kniht, |
| 1453 | And of hire Sone sche alleide |
| 1454 | The deth, and thus to him sche seide: |
| 1455 | "Florent, how so thou be to wyte |
| 1456 | Of Branchus deth, men schal respite |
| 1457 | As now to take vengement, |
| 1458 | Be so thou stonde in juggement |
| 1459 | Upon certein condicioun, |
| 1460 | That thou unto a questioun |
| 1461 | Which I schal axe schalt ansuere; |
| 1462 | And over this thou schalt ek swere, |
| 1463 | That if thou of the sothe faile, |
| 1464 | Ther schal non other thing availe, |
| 1465 | That thou ne schalt thi deth receive. |
| 1466 | And for men schal thee noght deceive, |
| 1467 | That thou therof myht ben avised, |
| 1468 | Thou schalt have day and tyme assised |
| 1469 | And leve saufly forto wende, |
| 1470 | Be so that at thi daies ende |
| 1471 | Thou come ayein with thin avys. |
| 1472 | This knyht, which worthi was and wys, |
| 1473 | This lady preith that he may wite, |
| 1474 | And have it under Seales write, |
| 1475 | What questioun it scholde be |
| 1476 | For which he schal in that degree |
| 1477 | Stonde of his lif in jeupartie. |
| 1478 | With that sche feigneth compaignie, |
| 1479 | And seith: "Florent, on love it hongeth |
| 1480 | Al that to myn axinge longeth: |
| 1481 | What alle wommen most desire |
| 1482 | This wole I axe, and in thempire |
| 1483 | Wher as thou hast most knowlechinge |
| 1484 | Tak conseil upon this axinge." |
| 1485 | Florent this thing hath undertake, |
| 1486 | The day was set, the time take, |
| 1487 | Under his seal he wrot his oth, |
| 1488 | In such a wise and forth he goth |
| 1489 | Hom to his Emes court ayein; |
| 1490 | To whom his aventure plein |
| 1491 | He tolde, of that him is befalle. |
| 1492 | And upon that thei weren alle |
| 1493 | The wiseste of the lond asent, |
| 1494 | Bot natheles of on assent |
| 1495 | Thei myhte noght acorde plat, |
| 1496 | On seide this, an othre that. |
| 1497 | After the disposicioun |
| 1498 | Of naturel complexioun |
| 1499 | To som womman it is plesance, |
| 1500 | That to an other is grevance; |
| 1501 | Bot such a thing in special, |
| 1502 | Which to hem alle in general |
| 1503 | Is most plesant, and most desired |
| 1504 | Above alle othre and most conspired, |
| 1505 | Such o thing conne thei noght finde |
| 1506 | Be Constellacion ne kinde: |
| 1507 | And thus Florent withoute cure |
| 1508 | Mot stonde upon his aventure, |
| 1509 | And is al schape unto the lere, |
| 1510 | As in defalte of his answere. |
| 1511 | This knyht hath levere forto dye |
| 1512 | Than breke his trowthe and forto lye |
| 1513 | In place ther as he was swore, |
| 1514 | And schapth him gon ayein therfore. |
| 1515 | Whan time cam he tok his leve, |
| 1516 | That lengere wolde he noght beleve, |
| 1517 | And preith his Em he be noght wroth, |
| 1518 | For that is a point of his oth, |
| 1519 | He seith, that noman schal him wreke, |
| 1520 | Thogh afterward men hiere speke |
| 1521 | That he par aventure deie. |
| 1522 | And thus he wente forth his weie |
| 1523 | Alone as knyht aventurous, |
| 1524 | And in his thoght was curious |
| 1525 | To wite what was best to do: |
| 1526 | And as he rod al one so, |
| 1527 | And cam nyh ther he wolde be, |
| 1528 | In a forest under a tre |
| 1529 | He syh wher sat a creature, |
| 1530 | A lothly wommannysch figure, |
| 1531 | That forto speke of fleisch and bon |
| 1532 | So foul yit syh he nevere non. |
| 1533 | This knyht behield hir redely, |
| 1534 | And as he wolde have passed by, |
| 1535 | Sche cleped him and bad abide; |
| 1536 | And he his horse heved aside |
| 1537 | Tho torneth, and to hire he rod, |
| 1538 | And there he hoveth and abod, |
| 1539 | To wite what sche wolde mene. |
| 1540 | And sche began him to bemene, |
| 1541 | And seide: "Florent be thi name, |
| 1542 | Thou hast on honde such a game, |
| 1543 | That bot thou be the betre avised, |
| 1544 | Thi deth is schapen and devised, |
| 1545 | That al the world ne mai the save, |
| 1546 | Bot if that thou my conseil have." |
| 1547 | Florent, whan he this tale herde, |
| 1548 | Unto this olde wyht answerde |
| 1549 | And of hir conseil he hir preide. |
| 1550 | And sche ayein to him thus seide: |
| 1551 | "Florent, if I for the so schape, |
| 1552 | That thou thurgh me thi deth ascape |
| 1553 | And take worschipe of thi dede, |
| 1554 | What schal I have to my mede?" |
| 1555 | "What thing," quod he, "that thou wolt axe." |
| 1556 | "I bidde nevere a betre taxe," |
| 1557 | Quod sche, "bot ferst, er thou be sped, |
| 1558 | Thou schalt me leve such a wedd, |
| 1559 | That I wol have thi trowthe in honde |
| 1560 | That thou schalt be myn housebonde." |
| 1561 | "Nay," seith Florent, "that may noght be." |
| 1562 | "Ryd thanne forth thi wey," quod sche, |
| 1563 | "And if thou go withoute red, |
| 1564 | Thou schalt be sekerliche ded." |
| 1565 | Florent behihte hire good ynowh |
| 1566 | Of lond, of rente, of park, of plowh, |
| 1567 | Bot al that compteth sche at noght. |
| 1568 | Tho fell this knyht in mochel thoght, |
| 1569 | Now goth he forth, now comth ayein, |
| 1570 | He wot noght what is best to sein, |
| 1571 | And thoghte, as he rod to and fro, |
| 1572 | That chese he mot on of the tuo, |
| 1573 | Or forto take hire to his wif |
| 1574 | Or elles forto lese his lif. |
| 1575 | And thanne he caste his avantage, |
| 1576 | That sche was of so gret an age, |
| 1577 | That sche mai live bot a while, |
| 1578 | And thoghte put hire in an Ile, |
| 1579 | Wher that noman hire scholde knowe, |
| 1580 | Til sche with deth were overthrowe. |
| 1581 | And thus this yonge lusti knyht |
| 1582 | Unto this olde lothly wiht |
| 1583 | Tho seide: "If that non other chance |
| 1584 | Mai make my deliverance, |
| 1585 | Bot only thilke same speche |
| 1586 | Which, as thou seist, thou schalt me teche, |
| 1587 | Have hier myn hond, I schal thee wedde." |
| 1588 | And thus his trowthe he leith to wedde. |
| 1589 | With that sche frounceth up the browe: |
| 1590 | "This covenant I wol allowe," |
| 1591 | Sche seith: "if eny other thing |
| 1592 | Bot that thou hast of my techyng |
| 1593 | Fro deth thi body mai respite, |
| 1594 | I woll thee of thi trowthe acquite, |
| 1595 | And elles be non other weie. |
| 1596 | Now herkne me what I schal seie. |
| 1597 | Whan thou art come into the place, |
| 1598 | Wher now thei maken gret manace |
| 1599 | And upon thi comynge abyde, |
| 1600 | Thei wole anon the same tide |
| 1601 | Oppose thee of thin answere. |
| 1602 | I wot thou wolt nothing forbere |
| 1603 | Of that thou wenest be thi beste, |
| 1604 | And if thou myht so finde reste, |
| 1605 | Wel is, for thanne is ther nomore. |
| 1606 | And elles this schal be my lore, |
| 1607 | That thou schalt seie, upon this Molde |
| 1608 | That alle wommen lievest wolde |
| 1609 | Be soverein of mannes love: |
| 1610 | For what womman is so above, |
| 1611 | Sche hath, as who seith, al hire wille; |
| 1612 | And elles may sche noght fulfille |
| 1613 | What thing hir were lievest have. |
| 1614 | With this answere thou schalt save |
| 1615 | Thiself, and other wise noght. |
| 1616 | And whan thou hast thin ende wroght, |
| 1617 | Com hier ayein, thou schalt me finde, |
| 1618 | And let nothing out of thi minde." |
| 1619 | He goth him forth with hevy chiere, |
| 1620 | As he that not in what manere |
| 1621 | He mai this worldes joie atteigne: |
| 1622 | For if he deie, he hath a peine, |
| 1623 | And if he live, he mot him binde |
| 1624 | To such on which of alle kinde |
| 1625 | Of wommen is thunsemlieste: |
| 1626 | Thus wot he noght what is the beste: |
| 1627 | Bot be him lief or be him loth, |
| 1628 | Unto the Castell forth he goth |
| 1629 | His full answere forto yive, |
| 1630 | Or forto deie or forto live. |
| 1631 | Forth with his conseil cam the lord, |
| 1632 | The thinges stoden of record, |
| 1633 | He sende up for the lady sone, |
| 1634 | And forth sche cam, that olde Mone. |
| 1635 | In presence of the remenant |
| 1636 | The strengthe of al the covenant |
| 1637 | Tho was reherced openly, |
| 1638 | And to Florent sche bad forthi |
| 1639 | That he schal tellen his avis, |
| 1640 | As he that woot what is the pris. |
| 1641 | Florent seith al that evere he couthe, |
| 1642 | Bot such word cam ther non to mowthe, |
| 1643 | That he for yifte or for beheste |
| 1644 | Mihte eny wise his deth areste. |
| 1645 | And thus he tarieth longe and late, |
| 1646 | Til that this lady bad algate |
| 1647 | That he schal for the dom final |
| 1648 | Yive his answere in special |
| 1649 | Of that sche hadde him ferst opposed: |
| 1650 | And thanne he hath trewly supposed |
| 1651 | That he him may of nothing yelpe, |
| 1652 | Bot if so be tho wordes helpe, |
| 1653 | Whiche as the womman hath him tawht; |
| 1654 | Wherof he hath an hope cawht |
| 1655 | That he schal ben excused so, |
| 1656 | And tolde out plein his wille tho. |
| 1657 | And whan that this Matrone herde |
| 1658 | The manere how this knyht ansuerde, |
| 1659 | Sche seide: "Ha treson, wo thee be, |
| 1660 | That hast thus told the privite, |
| 1661 | Which alle wommen most desire! |
| 1662 | I wolde that thou were afire." |
| 1663 | Bot natheles in such a plit |
| 1664 | Florent of his answere is quit: |
| 1665 | And tho began his sorwe newe, |
| 1666 | For he mot gon, or ben untrewe, |
| 1667 | To hire which his trowthe hadde. |
| 1668 | Bot he, which alle schame dradde, |
| 1669 | Goth forth in stede of his penance, |
| 1670 | And takth the fortune of his chance, |
| 1671 | As he that was with trowthe affaited. |
| 1672 | This olde wyht him hath awaited |
| 1673 | In place wher as he hire lefte: |
| 1674 | Florent his wofull heved uplefte |
| 1675 | And syh this vecke wher sche sat, |
| 1676 | Which was the lothlieste what |
| 1677 | That evere man caste on his yhe: |
| 1678 | Hire Nase bass, hire browes hyhe, |
| 1679 | Hire yhen smale and depe set, |
| 1680 | Hire chekes ben with teres wet, |
| 1681 | And rivelen as an emty skyn |
| 1682 | Hangende doun unto the chin, |
| 1683 | Hire Lippes schrunken ben for age, |
| 1684 | Ther was no grace in the visage, |
| 1685 | Hir front was nargh, hir lockes hore, |
| 1686 | Sche loketh forth as doth a More, |
| 1687 | Hire Necke is schort, hir schuldres courbe, |
| 1688 | That myhte a mannes lust destourbe, |
| 1689 | Hire body gret and nothing smal, |
| 1690 | And schortly to descrive hire al, |
| 1691 | Sche hath no lith withoute a lak; |
| 1692 | Bot lich unto the wollesak |
| 1693 | Sche proferth hire unto this knyht, |
| 1694 | And bad him, as he hath behyht, |
| 1695 | So as sche hath ben his warant, |
| 1696 | That he hire holde covenant, |
| 1697 | And be the bridel sche him seseth. |
| 1698 | Bot godd wot how that sche him pleseth |
| 1699 | Of suche wordes as sche spekth: |
| 1700 | Him thenkth welnyh his herte brekth |
| 1701 | For sorwe that he may noght fle, |
| 1702 | Bot if he wolde untrewe be. |
| 1703 | Loke, how a sek man for his hele |
| 1704 | Takth baldemoine with Canele, |
| 1705 | And with the Mirre takth the Sucre, |
| 1706 | Ryht upon such a maner lucre |
| 1707 | Stant Florent, as in this diete: |
| 1708 | He drinkth the bitre with the swete, |
| 1709 | He medleth sorwe with likynge, |
| 1710 | And liveth, as who seith, deyinge; |
| 1711 | His youthe schal be cast aweie |
| 1712 | Upon such on which as the weie |
| 1713 | Is old and lothly overal. |
| 1714 | Bot nede he mot that nede schal: |
| 1715 | He wolde algate his trowthe holde, |
| 1716 | As every knyht therto is holde, |
| 1717 | What happ so evere him is befalle: |
| 1718 | Thogh sche be the fouleste of alle, |
| 1719 | Yet to thonour of wommanhiede |
| 1720 | Him thoghte he scholde taken hiede; |
| 1721 | So that for pure gentilesse, |
| 1722 | As he hire couthe best adresce, |
| 1723 | In ragges, as sche was totore, |
| 1724 | He set hire on his hors tofore |
| 1725 | And forth he takth his weie softe; |
| 1726 | No wonder thogh he siketh ofte. |
| 1727 | Bot as an oule fleth be nyhte |
| 1728 | Out of alle othre briddes syhte, |
| 1729 | Riht so this knyht on daies brode |
| 1730 | In clos him hield, and schop his rode |
| 1731 | On nyhtes time, til the tyde |
| 1732 | That he cam there he wolde abide; |
| 1733 | And prively withoute noise |
| 1734 | He bringth this foule grete Coise |
| 1735 | To his Castell in such a wise |
| 1736 | That noman myhte hire schappe avise, |
| 1737 | Til sche into the chambre cam: |
| 1738 | Wher he his prive conseil nam |
| 1739 | Of suche men as he most troste, |
| 1740 | And tolde hem that he nedes moste |
| 1741 | This beste wedde to his wif, |
| 1742 | For elles hadde he lost his lif. |
| 1743 | The prive wommen were asent, |
| 1744 | That scholden ben of his assent: |
| 1745 | Hire ragges thei anon of drawe, |
| 1746 | And, as it was that time lawe, |
| 1747 | She hadde bath, sche hadde reste, |
| 1748 | And was arraied to the beste. |
| 1749 | Bot with no craft of combes brode |
| 1750 | Thei myhte hire hore lockes schode, |
| 1751 | And sche ne wolde noght be schore |
| 1752 | For no conseil, and thei therfore, |
| 1753 | With such atyr as tho was used, |
| 1754 | Ordeinen that it was excused, |
| 1755 | And hid so crafteliche aboute, |
| 1756 | That noman myhte sen hem oute. |
| 1757 | Bot when sche was fulliche arraied |
| 1758 | And hire atyr was al assaied, |
| 1759 | Tho was sche foulere on to se: |
| 1760 | Bot yit it may non other be, |
| 1761 | Thei were wedded in the nyht; |
| 1762 | So wo begon was nevere knyht |
| 1763 | As he was thanne of mariage. |
| 1764 | And sche began to pleie and rage, |
| 1765 | As who seith, I am wel ynowh; |
| 1766 | Bot he therof nothing ne lowh, |
| 1767 | For sche tok thanne chiere on honde |
| 1768 | And clepeth him hire housebonde, |
| 1769 | And seith, "My lord, go we to bedde, |
| 1770 | For I to that entente wedde, |
| 1771 | That thou schalt be my worldes blisse:" |
| 1772 | And profreth him with that to kisse, |
| 1773 | As sche a lusti Lady were. |
| 1774 | His body myhte wel be there, |
| 1775 | Bot as of thoght and of memoire |
| 1776 | His herte was in purgatoire. |
| 1777 | Bot yit for strengthe of matrimoine |
| 1778 | He myhte make non essoine, |
| 1779 | That he ne mot algates plie |
| 1780 | To gon to bedde of compaignie: |
| 1781 | And whan thei were abedde naked, |
| 1782 | Withoute slep he was awaked; |
| 1783 | He torneth on that other side, |
| 1784 | For that he wolde hise yhen hyde |
| 1785 | Fro lokynge on that foule wyht. |
| 1786 | The chambre was al full of lyht, |
| 1787 | The courtins were of cendal thinne, |
| 1788 | This newe bryd which lay withinne, |
| 1789 | Thogh it be noght with his acord, |
| 1790 | In armes sche beclipte hire lord, |
| 1791 | And preide, as he was torned fro, |
| 1792 | He wolde him torne ayeinward tho; |
| 1793 | "For now," sche seith, "we ben bothe on." |
| 1794 | And he lay stille as eny ston, |
| 1795 | Bot evere in on sche spak and preide, |
| 1796 | And bad him thenke on that he seide, |
| 1797 | Whan that he tok hire be the hond. |
| 1798 | He herde and understod the bond, |
| 1799 | How he was set to his penance, |
| 1800 | And as it were a man in trance |
| 1801 | He torneth him al sodeinly, |
| 1802 | And syh a lady lay him by |
| 1803 | Of eyhtetiene wynter age, |
| 1804 | Which was the faireste of visage |
| 1805 | That evere in al this world he syh: |
| 1806 | And as he wolde have take hire nyh, |
| 1807 | Sche put hire hand and be his leve |
| 1808 | Besoghte him that he wolde leve, |
| 1809 | And seith that forto wynne or lese |
| 1810 | He mot on of tuo thinges chese, |
| 1811 | Wher he wol have hire such on nyht, |
| 1812 | Or elles upon daies lyht, |
| 1813 | For he schal noght have bothe tuo. |
| 1814 | And he began to sorwe tho, |
| 1815 | In many a wise and caste his thoght, |
| 1816 | Bot for al that yit cowthe he noght |
| 1817 | Devise himself which was the beste. |
| 1818 | And sche, that wolde his hertes reste, |
| 1819 | Preith that he scholde chese algate, |
| 1820 | Til ate laste longe and late |
| 1821 | He seide: "O ye, my lyves hele, |
| 1822 | Sey what you list in my querele, |
| 1823 | I not what ansuere I schal yive: |
| 1824 | Bot evere whil that I may live, |
| 1825 | I wol that ye be my maistresse, |
| 1826 | For I can noght miselve gesse |
| 1827 | Which is the beste unto my chois. |
| 1828 | Thus grante I yow myn hole vois, |
| 1829 | Ches for ous bothen, I you preie; |
| 1830 | And what as evere that ye seie, |
| 1831 | Riht as ye wole so wol I." |
| 1832 | "Mi lord," sche seide, " grant merci, |
| 1833 | For of this word that ye now sein, |
| 1834 | That ye have mad me soverein, |
| 1835 | Mi destine is overpassed, |
| 1836 | That nevere hierafter schal be lassed |
| 1837 | Mi beaute, which that I now have, |
| 1838 | Til I be take into my grave; |
| 1839 | Bot nyht and day as I am now |
| 1840 | I schal alwey be such to yow. |
| 1841 | The kinges dowhter of Cizile |
| 1842 | I am, and fell bot siththe awhile, |
| 1843 | As I was with my fader late, |
| 1844 | That my Stepmoder for an hate, |
| 1845 | Which toward me sche hath begonne, |
| 1846 | Forschop me, til I hadde wonne |
| 1847 | The love and sovereinete |
| 1848 | Of what knyht that in his degre |
| 1849 | Alle othre passeth of good name: |
| 1850 | And, as men sein, ye ben the same, |
| 1851 | The dede proeveth it is so; |
| 1852 | Thus am I youres evermo." |
| 1853 | Tho was plesance and joye ynowh, |
| 1854 | Echon with other pleide and lowh; |
| 1855 | Thei live longe and wel thei ferde, |
| 1856 | And clerkes that this chance herde |
| 1857 | Thei writen it in evidence, |
| 1858 | To teche how that obedience |
| 1859 | Mai wel fortune a man to love |
| 1860 | And sette him in his lust above, |
| 1861 | As it befell unto this knyht. |
| 1862 | Forthi, my Sone, if thou do ryht, |
| 1863 | Thou schalt unto thi love obeie, |
| 1864 | And folwe hir will be alle weie. |
| 1865 | Min holy fader, so I wile: |
| 1866 | For ye have told me such a skile |
| 1867 | Of this ensample now tofore, |
| 1868 | That I schal evermo therfore |
| 1869 | Hierafterward myn observance |
| 1870 | To love and to his obeissance |
| 1871 | The betre kepe: and over this |
| 1872 | Of pride if ther oght elles is, |
| 1873 | Wherof that I me schryve schal, |
| 1874 | What thing it is in special, |
| 1875 | Mi fader, axeth, I you preie. |
| 1876 | Now lest, my Sone, and I schal seie: |
| 1877 | For yit ther is Surquiderie, |
| 1878 | Which stant with Pride of compaignie; |
| 1879 | Wherof that thou schalt hiere anon, |
| 1880 | To knowe if thou have gult or non |
| 1881 | Upon the forme as thou schalt hiere: |
| 1882 | Now understond wel the matiere. |
| 1883 | Surquiderie is thilke vice |
| 1884 | Of Pride, which the thridde office |
| 1885 | Hath in his Court, and wol noght knowe |
| 1886 | The trowthe til it overthrowe. |
| 1887 | Upon his fortune and his grace |
| 1888 | Comth "Hadde I wist" fulofte aplace; |
| 1889 | For he doth al his thing be gesse, |
| 1890 | And voideth alle sikernesse. |
| 1891 | Non other conseil good him siemeth |
| 1892 | Bot such as he himselve diemeth; |
| 1893 | For in such wise as he compasseth, |
| 1894 | His wit al one alle othre passeth; |
| 1895 | And is with pride so thurghsoght, |
| 1896 | That he alle othre set at noght, |
| 1897 | And weneth of himselven so, |
| 1898 | That such as he ther be nomo, |
| 1899 | So fair, so semly, ne so wis; |
| 1900 | And thus he wolde bere a pris |
| 1901 | Above alle othre, and noght forthi |
| 1902 | He seith noght ones "grant mercy" |
| 1903 | To godd, which alle grace sendeth, |
| 1904 | So that his wittes he despendeth |
| 1905 | Upon himself, as thogh ther were |
| 1906 | No godd which myhte availe there: |
| 1907 | Bot al upon his oghne witt |
| 1908 | He stant, til he falle in the pitt |
| 1909 | So ferr that he mai noght arise. |
| 1910 | And riht thus in the same wise |
| 1911 | This vice upon the cause of love |
| 1912 | So proudly set the herte above, |
| 1913 | And doth him pleinly forto wene |
| 1914 | That he to loven eny qwene |
| 1915 | Hath worthinesse and sufficance; |
| 1916 | And so withoute pourveance |
| 1917 | Fulofte he heweth up so hihe, |
| 1918 | That chippes fallen in his yhe; |
| 1919 | And ek ful ofte he weneth this, |
| 1920 | Ther as he noght beloved is, |
| 1921 | To be beloved alther best. |
| 1922 | Now, Sone, tell what so thee lest |
| 1923 | Of this that I have told thee hier. |
| 1924 | Ha, fader, be noght in a wer: |
| 1925 | I trowe ther be noman lesse, |
| 1926 | Of eny maner worthinesse, |
| 1927 | That halt him lasse worth thanne I |
| 1928 | To be beloved; and noght forthi |
| 1929 | I seie in excusinge of me, |
| 1930 | To alle men that love is fre. |
| 1931 | And certes that mai noman werne; |
| 1932 | For love is of himself so derne, |
| 1933 | It luteth in a mannes herte: |
| 1934 | Bot that ne schal me noght asterte, |
| 1935 | To wene forto be worthi |
| 1936 | To loven, bot in hir mercy. |
| 1937 | Bot, Sire, of that ye wolden mene, |
| 1938 | That I scholde otherwise wene |
| 1939 | To be beloved thanne I was, |
| 1940 | I am beknowe as in that cas. |
| 1941 | Mi goode Sone, tell me how. |
| 1942 | Now lest, and I wol telle yow, |
| 1943 | Mi goode fader, how it is. |
| 1944 | Fulofte it hath befalle or this |
| 1945 | Thurgh hope that was noght certein, |
| 1946 | Mi wenynge hath be set in vein |
| 1947 | To triste in thing that halp me noght, |
| 1948 | Bot onliche of myn oughne thoght. |
| 1949 | For as it semeth that a belle |
| 1950 | Lik to the wordes that men telle |
| 1951 | Answerth, riht so ne mor ne lesse, |
| 1952 | To yow, my fader, I confesse, |
| 1953 | Such will my wit hath overset, |
| 1954 | That what so hope me behet, |
| 1955 | Ful many a time I wene it soth, |
| 1956 | Bot finali no spied it doth. |
| 1957 | Thus may I tellen, as I can, |
| 1958 | Wenyng beguileth many a man; |
| 1959 | So hath it me, riht wel I wot: |
| 1960 | For if a man wole in a Bot |
| 1961 | Which is withoute botme rowe, |
| 1962 | He moste nedes overthrowe. |
| 1963 | Riht so wenyng hath ferd be me: |
| 1964 | For whanne I wende next have be, |
| 1965 | As I be my wenynge caste, |
| 1966 | Thanne was I furthest ate laste, |
| 1967 | And as a foll my bowe unbende, |
| 1968 | Whan al was failed that I wende. |
| 1969 | Forthi, my fader, as of this, |
| 1970 | That my wenynge hath gon amis |
| 1971 | Touchende to Surquiderie, |
| 1972 | Yif me my penance er I die. |
| 1973 | Bot if ye wolde in eny forme |
| 1974 | Of this matiere a tale enforme, |
| 1975 | Which were ayein this vice set, |
| 1976 | I scholde fare wel the bet. |
| 1977 | Mi Sone, in alle maner wise |
| 1978 | Surquiderie is to despise, |
| 1979 | Wherof I finde write thus. |
| 1980 | The proude knyht Capaneuµs |
| 1981 | He was of such Surquiderie, |
| 1982 | That he thurgh his chivalerie |
| 1983 | Upon himself so mochel triste, |
| 1984 | That to the goddes him ne liste |
| 1985 | In no querele to beseche, |
| 1986 | Bot seide it was an ydel speche, |
| 1987 | Which caused was of pure drede, |
| 1988 | For lack of herte and for no nede. |
| 1989 | And upon such presumpcioun |
| 1990 | He hield this proude opinioun, |
| 1991 | Til ate laste upon a dai, |
| 1992 | Aboute Thebes wher he lay, |
| 1993 | Whan it of Siege was belein, |
| 1994 | This knyht, as the Croniqes sein, |
| 1995 | In alle mennes sihte there, |
| 1996 | Whan he was proudest in his gere, |
| 1997 | And thoghte how nothing myhte him dere, |
| 1998 | Ful armed with his schield and spere |
| 1999 | As he the Cite wolde assaile, |
| 2000 | Godd tok himselve the bataille |
| 2001 | Ayein his Pride, and fro the sky |
| 2002 | A firy thonder sodeinly |
| 2003 | He sende, and him to pouldre smot. |
| 2004 | And thus the Pride which was hot, |
| 2005 | Whan he most in his strengthe wende, |
| 2006 | Was brent and lost withouten ende: |
| 2007 | So that it proeveth wel therfore, |
| 2008 | The strengthe of man is sone lore, |
| 2009 | Bot if that he it wel governe. |
| 2010 | And over this a man mai lerne |
| 2011 | That ek fulofte time it grieveth, |
| 2012 | Whan that a man himself believeth, |
| 2013 | As thogh it scholde him wel beseme |
| 2014 | That he alle othre men can deme, |
| 2015 | And hath foryete his oghne vice. |
| 2016 | A tale of hem that ben so nyce, |
| 2017 | And feigne hemself to be so wise, |
| 2018 | I schal thee telle in such a wise, |
| 2019 | Wherof thou schalt ensample take |
| 2020 | That thou no such thing undertake. |
| 2021 | I finde upon Surquiderie, |
| 2022 | How that whilom of Hungarie |
| 2023 | Be olde daies was a King |
| 2024 | Wys and honeste in alle thing: |
| 2025 | And so befell upon a dai, |
| 2026 | And that was in the Monthe of Maii, |
| 2027 | As thilke time it was usance, |
| 2028 | This kyng with noble pourveance |
| 2029 | Hath for himself his Charr araied, |
| 2030 | Wher inne he wolde ride amaied |
| 2031 | Out of the Cite forto pleie, |
| 2032 | With lordes and with gret nobleie |
| 2033 | Of lusti folk that were yonge: |
| 2034 | Wher some pleide and some songe, |
| 2035 | And some gon and some ryde, |
| 2036 | And some prike here hors aside |
| 2037 | And bridlen hem now in now oute. |
| 2038 | The kyng his yhe caste aboute, |
| 2039 | Til he was ate laste war |
| 2040 | And syh comende ayein his char |
| 2041 | Two pilegrins of so gret age, |
| 2042 | That lich unto a dreie ymage |
| 2043 | Thei weren pale and fade hewed, |
| 2044 | And as a bussh which is besnewed, |
| 2045 | Here berdes weren hore and whyte; |
| 2046 | Ther was of kinde bot a lite, |
| 2047 | That thei ne semen fulli dede. |
| 2048 | Thei comen to the kyng and bede |
| 2049 | Som of his good par charite; |
| 2050 | And he with gret humilite |
| 2051 | Out of his Char to grounde lepte, |
| 2052 | And hem in bothe hise armes kepte |
| 2053 | And keste hem bothe fot and hond |
| 2054 | Before the lordes of his lond, |
| 2055 | And yaf hem of his good therto: |
| 2056 | And whanne he hath this dede do, |
| 2057 | He goth into his char ayein. |
| 2058 | Tho was Murmur, tho was desdeign, |
| 2059 | Tho was compleignte on every side, |
| 2060 | Thei seiden of here oghne Pride |
| 2061 | Eche until othre: "What is this? |
| 2062 | Oure king hath do this thing amis, |
| 2063 | So to abesse his realte |
| 2064 | That every man it myhte se, |
| 2065 | And humbled him in such a wise |
| 2066 | To hem that were of non emprise." |
| 2067 | Thus was it spoken to and fro |
| 2068 | Of hem that were with him tho |
| 2069 | Al prively behinde his bak; |
| 2070 | Bot to himselven noman spak. |
| 2071 | The kinges brother in presence |
| 2072 | Was thilke time, and gret offence |
| 2073 | He tok therof, and was the same |
| 2074 | Above alle othre which most blame |
| 2075 | Upon his liege lord hath leid, |
| 2076 | And hath unto the lordes seid, |
| 2077 | Anon as he mai time finde, |
| 2078 | Ther schal nothing be left behinde, |
| 2079 | That he wol speke unto the king. |
| 2080 | Now lest what fell upon this thing. |
| 2081 | The day was merie and fair ynowh, |
| 2082 | Echon with othre pleide and lowh, |
| 2083 | And fellen into tales newe, |
| 2084 | How that the freisshe floures grewe, |
| 2085 | And how the grene leves spronge, |
| 2086 | And how that love among the yonge |
| 2087 | Began the hertes thanne awake, |
| 2088 | And every bridd hath chose hire make: |
| 2089 | And thus the Maies day to thende |
| 2090 | Thei lede, and hom ayein thei wende. |
| 2091 | The king was noght so sone come, |
| 2092 | That whanne he hadde his chambre nome, |
| 2093 | His brother ne was redi there, |
| 2094 | And broghte a tale unto his Ere |
| 2095 | Of that he dede such a schame |
| 2096 | In hindringe of his oghne name, |
| 2097 | Whan he himself so wolde drecche, |
| 2098 | That to so vil a povere wrecche |
| 2099 | Him deigneth schewe such simplesce |
| 2100 | Ayein thastat of his noblesce: |
| 2101 | And seith he schal it nomor use, |
| 2102 | And that he mot himself excuse |
| 2103 | Toward hise lordes everychon. |
| 2104 | The king stod stille as eny ston, |
| 2105 | And to his tale an Ere he leide, |
| 2106 | And thoghte more than he seide: |
| 2107 | Bot natheles to that he herde |
| 2108 | Wel cortaisly the king answerde, |
| 2109 | And tolde it scholde be amended. |
| 2110 | And thus whan that her tale is ended, |
| 2111 | Al redy was the bord and cloth, |
| 2112 | The king unto his Souper goth |
| 2113 | Among the lordes to the halle; |
| 2114 | And whan thei hadden souped alle, |
| 2115 | Thei token leve and forth thei go. |
| 2116 | The king bethoghte himselve tho |
| 2117 | How he his brother mai chastie, |
| 2118 | That he thurgh his Surquiderie |
| 2119 | Tok upon honde to despreise |
| 2120 | Humilite, which is to preise, |
| 2121 | And therupon yaf such conseil |
| 2122 | Toward his king that was noght heil; |
| 2123 | Wherof to be the betre lered, |
| 2124 | He thenkth to maken him afered. |
| 2125 | It fell so that in thilke dawe |
| 2126 | Ther was ordeined be the lawe |
| 2127 | A trompe with a sterne breth, |
| 2128 | Which cleped was the Trompe of deth: |
| 2129 | And in the Court wher the king was |
| 2130 | A certein man this Trompe of bras |
| 2131 | Hath in kepinge, and therof serveth, |
| 2132 | That whan a lord his deth deserveth, |
| 2133 | He schal this dredful trompe blowe |
| 2134 | Tofore his gate, and make it knowe |
| 2135 | How that the jugement is yove |
| 2136 | Of deth, which schal noght be foryove. |
| 2137 | The king, whan it was nyht, anon |
| 2138 | This man asente and bad him gon |
| 2139 | To trompen at his brother gate; |
| 2140 | And he, which mot so don algate, |
| 2141 | Goth forth and doth the kynges heste. |
| 2142 | This lord, which herde of this tempeste |
| 2143 | That he tofore his gate blew, |
| 2144 | Tho wiste he be the lawe and knew |
| 2145 | That he was sikerliche ded: |
| 2146 | And as of help he wot no red, |
| 2147 | Bot sende for hise frendes alle |
| 2148 | And tolde hem how it is befalle. |
| 2149 | And thei him axe cause why; |
| 2150 | Bot he the sothe noght forthi |
| 2151 | Ne wiste, and ther was sorwe tho: |
| 2152 | For it stod thilke tyme so, |
| 2153 | This trompe was of such sentence, |
| 2154 | That therayein no resistence |
| 2155 | Thei couthe ordeine be no weie, |
| 2156 | That he ne mot algate deie, |
| 2157 | Bot if so that he may pourchace |
| 2158 | To gete his liege lordes grace. |
| 2159 | Here wittes therupon thei caste, |
| 2160 | And ben apointed ate laste. |
| 2161 | This lord a worthi ladi hadde |
| 2162 | Unto his wif, which also dradde |
| 2163 | Hire lordes deth, and children five |
| 2164 | Betwen hem two thei hadde alyve, |
| 2165 | That weren yonge and tendre of age, |
| 2166 | And of stature and of visage |
| 2167 | Riht faire and lusty on to se. |
| 2168 | Tho casten thei that he and sche |
| 2169 | Forth with here children on the morwe, |
| 2170 | As thei that were full of sorwe, |
| 2171 | Al naked bot of smok and scherte, |
| 2172 | To tendre with the kynges herte, |
| 2173 | His grace scholden go to seche |
| 2174 | And pardoun of the deth beseche. |
| 2175 | Thus passen thei that wofull nyht, |
| 2176 | And erly, whan thei sihe it lyht, |
| 2177 | Thei gon hem forth in such a wise |
| 2178 | As thou tofore hast herd devise, |
| 2179 | Al naked bot here schortes one. |
| 2180 | Thei wepte and made mochel mone, |
| 2181 | Here Her hangende aboute here Eres; |
| 2182 | With sobbinge and with sory teres |
| 2183 | This lord goth thanne an humble pas, |
| 2184 | That whilom proud and noble was; |
| 2185 | Wherof the Cite sore afflyhte, |
| 2186 | Of hem that sihen thilke syhte: |
| 2187 | And natheless al openly |
| 2188 | With such wepinge and with such cri |
| 2189 | Forth with hise children and his wif |
| 2190 | He goth to preie for his lif. |
| 2191 | Unto the court whan thei be come, |
| 2192 | And men therinne have hiede nome, |
| 2193 | Ther was no wiht, if he hem syhe, |
| 2194 | Fro water mihte kepe his yhe |
| 2195 | For sorwe which thei maden tho. |
| 2196 | The king supposeth of this wo, |
| 2197 | And feigneth as he noght ne wiste; |
| 2198 | Bot natheles at his upriste |
| 2199 | Men tolden him how that it ferde: |
| 2200 | And whan that he this wonder herde, |
| 2201 | In haste he goth into the halle, |
| 2202 | And alle at ones doun thei falle, |
| 2203 | If eny pite may be founde. |
| 2204 | The king, which seth hem go to grounde, |
| 2205 | Hath axed hem what is the fere, |
| 2206 | Why thei be so despuiled there. |
| 2207 | His brother seide: "Ha lord, mercy! |
| 2208 | I wot non other cause why, |
| 2209 | Bot only that this nyht ful late |
| 2210 | The trompe of deth was at my gate |
| 2211 | In tokne that I scholde deie; |
| 2212 | Thus be we come forto preie |
| 2213 | That ye mi worldes deth respite." |
| 2214 | "Ha fol, how thou art forto wyte," |
| 2215 | The king unto his brother seith, |
| 2216 | "That thou art of so litel feith, |
| 2217 | That only for a trompes soun |
| 2218 | Hast gon despuiled thurgh the toun, |
| 2219 | Thou and thi wif in such manere |
| 2220 | Forth with thi children that ben here, |
| 2221 | In sihte of alle men aboute, |
| 2222 | For that thou seist thou art in doute |
| 2223 | Of deth, which stant under the lawe |
| 2224 | Of man, and man it mai withdrawe, |
| 2225 | So that it mai par chance faile. |
| 2226 | Now schalt thou noght forthi mervaile |
| 2227 | That I doun fro my Charr alihte, |
| 2228 | Whanne I behield tofore my sihte |
| 2229 | In hem that were of so grete age |
| 2230 | Min oghne deth thurgh here ymage, |
| 2231 | Which god hath set be lawe of kynde, |
| 2232 | Wherof I mai no bote finde: |
| 2233 | For wel I wot, such as thei be, |
| 2234 | Riht such am I in my degree, |
| 2235 | Of fleissh and blod, and so schal deie. |
| 2236 | And thus, thogh I that lawe obeie |
| 2237 | Of which the kinges ben put under, |
| 2238 | It oghte ben wel lasse wonder |
| 2239 | Than thou, which art withoute nede |
| 2240 | For lawe of londe in such a drede, |
| 2241 | Which for tacompte is bot a jape, |
| 2242 | As thing which thou miht overscape. |
| 2243 | Forthi, mi brother, after this |
| 2244 | I rede, sithen that so is |
| 2245 | That thou canst drede a man so sore, |
| 2246 | Dred god with al thin herte more: |
| 2247 | For al schal deie and al schal passe, |
| 2248 | Als wel a Leoun as an asse, |
| 2249 | Als wel a beggere as a lord, |
| 2250 | Towardes deth in on acord |
| 2251 | Thei schullen stonde." And in this wise |
| 2252 | The king hath with hise wordes wise |
| 2253 | His brother tawht and al foryive. |
| 2254 | Forthi, mi Sone, if thou wolt live |
| 2255 | In vertu, thou most vice eschuie, |
| 2256 | And with low herte humblesce suie, |
| 2257 | So that thou be noght surquidous. |
| 2258 | Mi fader, I am amorous, |
| 2259 | Wherof I wolde you beseche |
| 2260 | That ye me som ensample teche, |
| 2261 | Which mihte in loves cause stonde. |
| 2262 | Mi Sone, thou schalt understonde, |
| 2263 | In love and othre thinges alle |
| 2264 | If that Surquiderie falle, |
| 2265 | It may to him noght wel betide |
| 2266 | Which useth thilke vice of Pride, |
| 2267 | Which torneth wisdom to wenynge |
| 2268 | And Sothfastnesse into lesynge |
| 2269 | Thurgh fol ymaginacion. |
| 2270 | And for thin enformacion, |
| 2271 | That thou this vice as I the rede |
| 2272 | Eschuie schalt, a tale I rede, |
| 2273 | Which fell whilom be daies olde, |
| 2274 | So as the clerk Ovide tolde. |
| 2275 | Ther was whilom a lordes Sone, |
| 2276 | Which of his Pride a nyce wone |
| 2277 | Hath cawht, that worthi to his liche, |
| 2278 | To sechen al the worldes riche, |
| 2279 | Ther was no womman forto love. |
| 2280 | So hihe he sette himselve above |
| 2281 | Of stature and of beaute bothe, |
| 2282 | That him thoghte alle wommen lothe: |
| 2283 | So was ther no comparisoun |
| 2284 | As toward his condicioun. |
| 2285 | This yonge lord Narcizus hihte: |
| 2286 | No strengthe of love bowe mihte |
| 2287 | His herte, which is unaffiled; |
| 2288 | Bot ate laste he was beguiled: |
| 2289 | For of the goddes pourveance |
| 2290 | It fell him on a dai par chance, |
| 2291 | That he in all his proude fare |
| 2292 | Unto the forest gan to fare, |
| 2293 | Amonges othre that ther were |
| 2294 | To hunte and to desporte him there. |
| 2295 | And whanne he cam into the place |
| 2296 | Wher that he wolde make his chace, |
| 2297 | The houndes weren in a throwe |
| 2298 | Uncoupled and the hornes blowe: |
| 2299 | The grete hert anon was founde, |
| 2300 | Which swifte feet sette upon grounde, |
| 2301 | And he with spore in horse side |
| 2302 | Him hasteth faste forto ride, |
| 2303 | Til alle men be left behinde. |
| 2304 | And as he rod, under a linde |
| 2305 | Beside a roche, as I thee telle, |
| 2306 | He syh wher sprong a lusty welle: |
| 2307 | The day was wonder hot withalle, |
| 2308 | And such a thurst was on him falle, |
| 2309 | That he moste owther deie or drinke; |
| 2310 | And doun he lihte and be the brinke |
| 2311 | He teide his Hors unto a braunche, |
| 2312 | And leide him lowe forto staunche |
| 2313 | His thurst: and as he caste his lok |
| 2314 | Into the welle and hiede tok, |
| 2315 | He sih the like of his visage, |
| 2316 | And wende ther were an ymage |
| 2317 | Of such a Nimphe as tho was faie, |
| 2318 | Wherof that love his herte assaie |
| 2319 | Began, as it was after sene, |
| 2320 | Of his sotie and made him wene |
| 2321 | It were a womman that he syh. |
| 2322 | The more he cam the welle nyh, |
| 2323 | The nerr cam sche to him ayein; |
| 2324 | So wiste he nevere what to sein; |
| 2325 | For whanne he wepte, he sih hire wepe, |
| 2326 | And whanne he cride, he tok good kepe, |
| 2327 | The same word sche cride also: |
| 2328 | And thus began the newe wo, |
| 2329 | That whilom was to him so strange; |
| 2330 | Tho made him love an hard eschange, |
| 2331 | To sette his herte and to beginne |
| 2332 | Thing which he mihte nevere winne. |
| 2333 | And evere among he gan to loute, |
| 2334 | And preith that sche to him come oute; |
| 2335 | And otherwhile he goth a ferr, |
| 2336 | And otherwhile he draweth nerr, |
| 2337 | And evere he fond hire in o place. |
| 2338 | He wepth, he crith, he axeth grace, |
| 2339 | There as he mihte gete non; |
| 2340 | So that ayein a Roche of Ston, |
| 2341 | As he that knew non other red, |
| 2342 | He smot himself til he was ded. |
| 2343 | Wherof the Nimphes of the welles, |
| 2344 | And othre that ther weren elles |
| 2345 | Unto the wodes belongende, |
| 2346 | The body, which was ded ligende, |
| 2347 | For pure pite that thei have |
| 2348 | Under the grene thei begrave. |
| 2349 | And thanne out of his sepulture |
| 2350 | Ther sprong anon par aventure |
| 2351 | Of floures such a wonder syhte, |
| 2352 | That men ensample take myhte |
| 2353 | Upon the dedes whiche he dede, |
| 2354 | As tho was sene in thilke stede; |
| 2355 | For in the wynter freysshe and faire |
| 2356 | The floures ben, which is contraire |
| 2357 | To kynde, and so was the folie |
| 2358 | Which fell of his Surquiderie. |
| 2359 | Thus he, which love hadde in desdeign, |
| 2360 | Worste of all othre was besein, |
| 2361 | And as he sette his pris most hyhe, |
| 2362 | He was lest worth in loves yhe |
| 2363 | And most bejaped in his wit: |
| 2364 | Wherof the remembrance is yit, |
| 2365 | So that thou myht ensample take, |
| 2366 | And ek alle othre for his sake. |
| 2367 | Mi fader, as touchende of me, |
| 2368 | This vice I thenke forto fle, |
| 2369 | Which of his wenynge overtroweth; |
| 2370 | And nameliche of thing which groweth |
| 2371 | In loves cause or wel or wo |
| 2372 | Yit pryded I me nevere so. |
| 2373 | Bot wolde god that grace sende, |
| 2374 | That toward me my lady wende |
| 2375 | As I towardes hire wene! |
| 2376 | Mi love scholde so be sene, |
| 2377 | Ther scholde go no pride a place. |
| 2378 | Bot I am ferr fro thilke grace, |
| 2379 | As forto speke of tyme now; |
| 2380 | So mot I soffre, and preie yow |
| 2381 | That ye wole axe on other side |
| 2382 | If ther be eny point of Pride, |
| 2383 | Wherof it nedeth to be schrive. |
| 2384 | Mi Sone, godd it thee foryive, |
| 2385 | If thou have eny thing misdo |
| 2386 | Touchende of this, bot overmo |
| 2387 | Ther is an other yit of Pride, |
| 2388 | Which nevere cowthe hise wordes hide, |
| 2389 | That he ne wole himself avaunte; |
| 2390 | Ther mai nothing his tunge daunte, |
| 2391 | That he ne clappeth as a Belle: |
| 2392 | Wherof if thou wolt that I telle, |
| 2393 | It is behovely forto hiere, |
| 2394 | So that thou myht thi tunge stiere, |
| 2395 | Toward the world and stonde in grace, |
| 2396 | Which lacketh ofte in many place |
| 2397 | To him that can noght sitte stille, |
| 2398 | Which elles scholde have al his wille. |
| 2399 | The vice cleped Avantance |
| 2400 | With Pride hath take his aqueintance, |
| 2401 | So that his oghne pris he lasseth, |
| 2402 | When he such mesure overpasseth |
| 2403 | That he his oghne Herald is. |
| 2404 | That ferst was wel is thanne mis, |
| 2405 | That was thankworth is thanne blame, |
| 2406 | And thus the worschipe of his name |
| 2407 | Thurgh pride of his avantarie |
| 2408 | He torneth into vilenie. |
| 2409 | I rede how that this proude vice |
| 2410 | Hath thilke wynd in his office, |
| 2411 | Which thurgh the blastes that he bloweth |
| 2412 | The mannes fame he overthroweth |
| 2413 | Of vertu, which scholde elles springe |
| 2414 | Into the worldes knowlechinge; |
| 2415 | Bot he fordoth it alto sore. |
| 2416 | And riht of such a maner lore |
| 2417 | Ther ben lovers: forthi if thow |
| 2418 | Art on of hem, tell and sei how. |
| 2419 | Whan thou hast taken eny thing |
| 2420 | Of loves yifte, or Nouche or ring, |
| 2421 | Or tok upon thee for the cold |
| 2422 | Som goodly word that thee was told, |
| 2423 | Or frendly chiere or tokne or lettre, |
| 2424 | Wherof thin herte was the bettre, |
| 2425 | Or that sche sende the grietinge, |
| 2426 | Hast thou for Pride of thi likinge |
| 2427 | Mad thin avant wher as the liste? |
| 2428 | I wolde, fader, that ye wiste, |
| 2429 | Mi conscience lith noght hiere: |
| 2430 | Yit hadde I nevere such matiere, |
| 2431 | Wherof min herte myhte amende, |
| 2432 | Noght of so mochel that sche sende |
| 2433 | Be mowthe and seide, "Griet him wel:" |
| 2434 | And thus for that ther is no diel |
| 2435 | Wherof to make myn avant, |
| 2436 | It is to reson acordant |
| 2437 | That I mai nevere, bot I lye, |
| 2438 | Of love make avanterie. |
| 2439 | I wot noght what I scholde have do, |
| 2440 | If that I hadde encheson so, |
| 2441 | As ye have seid hier manyon; |
| 2442 | Bot I fond cause nevere non: |
| 2443 | Bot daunger, which welnyh me slowh, |
| 2444 | Therof I cowthe telle ynowh, |
| 2445 | And of non other Avantance: |
| 2446 | Thus nedeth me no repentance. |
| 2447 | Now axeth furthere of my lif, |
| 2448 | For hierof am I noght gultif. |
| 2449 | Mi Sone, I am wel paid withal; |
| 2450 | For wite it wel in special |
| 2451 | That love of his verrai justice |
| 2452 | Above alle othre ayein this vice |
| 2453 | At alle times most debateth, |
| 2454 | With al his herte and most it hateth. |
| 2455 | And ek in alle maner wise |
| 2456 | Avantarie is to despise, |
| 2457 | As be ensample thou myht wite, |
| 2458 | Which I finde in the bokes write. |
| 2459 | Of hem that we Lombars now calle |
| 2460 | Albinus was the ferste of alle |
| 2461 | Which bar corone of Lombardie, |
| 2462 | And was of gret chivalerie |
| 2463 | In werre ayein diverse kinges. |
| 2464 | So fell amonges othre thinges, |
| 2465 | That he that time a werre hadde |
| 2466 | With Gurmond, which the Geptes ladde, |
| 2467 | And was a myhti kyng also: |
| 2468 | Bot natheles it fell him so, |
| 2469 | Albinus slowh him in the feld, |
| 2470 | Ther halp him nowther swerd ne scheld, |
| 2471 | That he ne smot his hed of thanne, |
| 2472 | Wherof he tok awey the Panne, |
| 2473 | Of which he seide he wolde make |
| 2474 | A Cuppe for Gurmoundes sake, |
| 2475 | To kepe and drawe into memoire |
| 2476 | Of his bataille the victoire. |
| 2477 | And thus whan he the feld hath wonne, |
| 2478 | The lond anon was overronne |
| 2479 | And sesed in his oghne hond, |
| 2480 | Wher he Gurmondes dowhter fond, |
| 2481 | Which Maide Rosemounde hihte, |
| 2482 | And was in every mannes sihte |
| 2483 | A fair, a freissh, a lusti on. |
| 2484 | His herte fell to hire anon, |
| 2485 | And such a love on hire he caste, |
| 2486 | That he hire weddeth ate laste; |
| 2487 | And after that long time in reste |
| 2488 | With hire he duelte, and to the beste |
| 2489 | Thei love ech other wonder wel. |
| 2490 | Bot sche which kepth the blinde whel, |
| 2491 | Venus, whan thei be most above, |
| 2492 | In al the hoteste of here love, |
| 2493 | Hire whiel sche torneth, and thei felle |
| 2494 | In the manere as I schal telle. |
| 2495 | This king, which stod in al his welthe |
| 2496 | Of pes, of worschipe and of helthe, |
| 2497 | And felte him on no side grieved, |
| 2498 | As he that hath his world achieved, |
| 2499 | Tho thoghte he wolde a feste make; |
| 2500 | And that was for his wyves sake, |
| 2501 | That sche the lordes ate feste, |
| 2502 | That were obeissant to his heste, |
| 2503 | Mai knowe: and so forth therupon |
| 2504 | He let ordeine, and sende anon |
| 2505 | Be lettres and be messagiers, |
| 2506 | And warnede alle hise officiers |
| 2507 | That every thing be wel arraied: |
| 2508 | The grete Stiedes were assaied |
| 2509 | For joustinge and for tornement, |
| 2510 | And many a perled garnement |
| 2511 | Embroudred was ayein the dai. |
| 2512 | The lordes in here beste arrai |
| 2513 | Be comen ate time set, |
| 2514 | On jousteth wel, an other bet, |
| 2515 | And otherwhile thei torneie, |
| 2516 | And thus thei casten care aweie |
| 2517 | And token lustes upon honde. |
| 2518 | And after, thou schalt understonde, |
| 2519 | To mete into the kinges halle |
| 2520 | Thei come, as thei be beden alle: |
| 2521 | And whan thei were set and served, |
| 2522 | Thanne after, as it was deserved, |
| 2523 | To hem that worthi knyhtes were, |
| 2524 | So as thei seten hiere and there, |
| 2525 | The pris was yove and spoken oute |
| 2526 | Among the heraldz al aboute. |
| 2527 | And thus benethe and ek above |
| 2528 | Al was of armes and of love, |
| 2529 | Wherof abouten ate bordes |
| 2530 | Men hadde manye sondri wordes, |
| 2531 | That of the merthe which thei made |
| 2532 | The king himself began to glade |
| 2533 | Withinne his herte and tok a pride, |
| 2534 | And sih the Cuppe stonde aside, |
| 2535 | Which mad was of Gurmoundes hed, |
| 2536 | As ye have herd, whan he was ded, |
| 2537 | And was with gold and riche Stones |
| 2538 | Beset and bounde for the nones, |
| 2539 | And stod upon a fot on heihte |
| 2540 | Of burned gold, and with gret sleihte |
| 2541 | Of werkmanschipe it was begrave |
| 2542 | Of such werk as it scholde have, |
| 2543 | And was policed ek so clene |
| 2544 | That no signe of the Skulle is sene, |
| 2545 | Bot as it were a Gripes Ey. |
| 2546 | The king bad bere his Cuppe awey, |
| 2547 | Which stod tofore him on the bord, |
| 2548 | And fette thilke. Upon his word |
| 2549 | This Skulle is fet and wyn therinne, |
| 2550 | Wherof he bad his wif beginne: |
| 2551 | "Drink with thi fader, Dame," he seide. |
| 2552 | And sche to his biddinge obeide, |
| 2553 | And tok the Skulle, and what hire liste |
| 2554 | Sche drank, as sche which nothing wiste |
| 2555 | What Cuppe it was: and thanne al oute |
| 2556 | The kyng in audience aboute |
| 2557 | Hath told it was hire fader Skulle, |
| 2558 | So that the lordes knowe schulle |
| 2559 | Of his bataille a soth witnesse, |
| 2560 | And made avant thurgh what prouesse |
| 2561 | He hath his wyves love wonne, |
| 2562 | Which of the Skulle hath so begonne. |
| 2563 | Tho was ther mochel Pride alofte, |
| 2564 | Thei speken alle, and sche was softe, |
| 2565 | Thenkende on thilke unkynde Pride, |
| 2566 | Of that hire lord so nyh hire side |
| 2567 | Avanteth him that he hath slain |
| 2568 | And piked out hire fader brain, |
| 2569 | And of the Skulle had mad a Cuppe. |
| 2570 | Sche soffreth al til thei were uppe, |
| 2571 | And tho sche hath seknesse feigned, |
| 2572 | And goth to chambre and hath compleigned |
| 2573 | Unto a Maide which sche triste, |
| 2574 | So that non other wyht it wiste. |
| 2575 | This Mayde Glodeside is hote, |
| 2576 | To whom this lady hath behote |
| 2577 | Of ladischipe al that sche can, |
| 2578 | To vengen hire upon this man, |
| 2579 | Which dede hire drinke in such a plit |
| 2580 | Among hem alle for despit |
| 2581 | Of hire and of hire fader bothe; |
| 2582 | Wherof hire thoghtes ben so wrothe, |
| 2583 | Sche seith, that sche schal noght be glad, |
| 2584 | Til that sche se him so bestad |
| 2585 | That he nomore make avant. |
| 2586 | And thus thei felle in covenant, |
| 2587 | That thei acorden ate laste, |
| 2588 | With suche wiles as thei caste |
| 2589 | That thei wol gete of here acord |
| 2590 | Som orped knyht to sle this lord: |
| 2591 | And with this sleihte thei beginne, |
| 2592 | How thei Helmege myhten winne, |
| 2593 | Which was the kinges Boteler, |
| 2594 | A proud a lusti Bacheler, |
| 2595 | And Glodeside he loveth hote. |
| 2596 | And sche, to make him more assote, |
| 2597 | Hire love granteth, and be nyhte |
| 2598 | Thei schape how thei togedre myhte |
| 2599 | Abedde meete: and don it was |
| 2600 | This same nyht; and in this cas |
| 2601 | The qwene hirself the nyht secounde |
| 2602 | Wente in hire stede, and there hath founde |
| 2603 | A chambre derk withoute liht, |
| 2604 | And goth to bedde to this knyht. |
| 2605 | And he, to kepe his observance, |
| 2606 | To love doth his obeissance, |
| 2607 | And weneth it be Glodeside; |
| 2608 | And sche thanne after lay aside, |
| 2609 | And axeth him what he hath do, |
| 2610 | And who sche was sche tolde him tho, |
| 2611 | And seide: "Helmege, I am thi qwene, |
| 2612 | Now schal thi love wel be sene |
| 2613 | Of that thou hast thi wille wroght: |
| 2614 | Or it schal sore ben aboght, |
| 2615 | Or thou schalt worche as I thee seie. |
| 2616 | And if thou wolt be such a weie |
| 2617 | Do my plesance and holde it stille, |
| 2618 | For evere I schal ben at thi wille, |
| 2619 | Bothe I and al myn heritage." |
| 2620 | Anon the wylde loves rage, |
| 2621 | In which noman him can governe, |
| 2622 | Hath mad him that he can noght werne, |
| 2623 | Bot fell al hol to hire assent: |
| 2624 | And thus the whiel is al miswent, |
| 2625 | The which fortune hath upon honde; |
| 2626 | For how that evere it after stonde, |
| 2627 | Thei schope among hem such a wyle, |
| 2628 | The king was ded withinne a whyle. |
| 2629 | So slihly cam it noght aboute |
| 2630 | That thei ne ben descoevered oute, |
| 2631 | So that it thoghte hem for the beste |
| 2632 | To fle, for there was no reste: |
| 2633 | And thus the tresor of the king |
| 2634 | Thei trusse and mochel other thing, |
| 2635 | And with a certein felaschipe |
| 2636 | Thei fledde and wente awey be schipe, |
| 2637 | And hielde here rihte cours fro thenne, |
| 2638 | Til that thei come to Ravenne, |
| 2639 | Wher thei the Dukes helpe soghte. |
| 2640 | And he, so as thei him besoghte, |
| 2641 | A place granteth forto duelle; |
| 2642 | Bot after, whan he herde telle |
| 2643 | Of the manere how thei have do, |
| 2644 | This Duk let schape for hem so, |
| 2645 | That of a puison which thei drunke |
| 2646 | Thei hadden that thei have beswunke. |
| 2647 | And al this made avant of Pride: |
| 2648 | Good is therfore a man to hide |
| 2649 | His oghne pris, for if he speke, |
| 2650 | He mai lihtliche his thonk tobreke. |
| 2651 | In armes lith non avantance |
| 2652 | To him which thenkth his name avance |
| 2653 | And be renomed of his dede: |
| 2654 | And also who that thenkth to spede |
| 2655 | Of love, he mai him noght avaunte; |
| 2656 | For what man thilke vice haunte, |
| 2657 | His pourpos schal fulofte faile. |
| 2658 | In armes he that wol travaile |
| 2659 | Or elles loves grace atteigne, |
| 2660 | His lose tunge he mot restreigne, |
| 2661 | Which berth of his honour the keie. |
| 2662 | Forthi, my Sone, in alle weie |
| 2663 | Tak riht good hiede of this matiere. |
| 2664 | I thonke you, my fader diere, |
| 2665 | This scole is of a gentil lore; |
| 2666 | And if ther be oght elles more |
| 2667 | Of Pride, which I schal eschuie, |
| 2668 | Now axeth forth, and I wol suie |
| 2669 | What thing that ye me wole enforme. |
| 2670 | Mi Sone, yit in other forme |
| 2671 | Ther is a vice of Prides lore, |
| 2672 | Which lich an hauk whan he wol sore, |
| 2673 | Fleith upon heihte in his delices |
| 2674 | After the likynge of his vices, |
| 2675 | And wol no mannes resoun knowe, |
| 2676 | Till he doun falle and overthrowe. |
| 2677 | This vice veine gloire is hote, |
| 2678 | Wherof, my Sone, I thee behote |
| 2679 | To trete and speke in such a wise, |
| 2680 | That thou thee myht the betre avise. |
| 2681 | The proude vice of veine gloire |
| 2682 | Remembreth noght of purgatoire, |
| 2683 | Hise worldes joyes ben so grete, |
| 2684 | Him thenkth of hevene no beyete; |
| 2685 | This lives Pompe is al his pes: |
| 2686 | Yit schal he deie natheles, |
| 2687 | And therof thenkth he bot a lite, |
| 2688 | For al his lust is to delite |
| 2689 | In newe thinges, proude and veine, |
| 2690 | Als ferforth as he mai atteigne. |
| 2691 | I trowe, if that he myhte make |
| 2692 | His body newe, he wolde take |
| 2693 | A newe forme and leve his olde: |
| 2694 | For what thing that he mai beholde, |
| 2695 | The which to comun us is strange, |
| 2696 | Anon his olde guise change |
| 2697 | He wole and falle therupon, |
| 2698 | Lich unto the Camelion, |
| 2699 | Which upon every sondri hewe |
| 2700 | That he beholt he moste newe |
| 2701 | His colour, and thus unavised |
| 2702 | Fulofte time he stant desguised. |
| 2703 | Mor jolif than the brid in Maii |
| 2704 | He makth him evere freissh and gay, |
| 2705 | And doth al his array desguise, |
| 2706 | So that of him the newe guise |
| 2707 | Of lusti folk alle othre take; |
| 2708 | And ek he can carolles make, |
| 2709 | Rondeal, balade and virelai. |
| 2710 | And with al this, if that he may |
| 2711 | Of love gete him avantage, |
| 2712 | Anon he wext of his corage |
| 2713 | So overglad, that of his ende |
| 2714 | Him thenkth ther is no deth comende: |
| 2715 | For he hath thanne at alle tide |
| 2716 | Of love such a maner pride, |
| 2717 | Him thenkth his joie is endeles. |
| 2718 | Now schrif thee, Sone, in godes pes, |
| 2719 | And of thi love tell me plein |
| 2720 | If that thi gloire hath be so vein. |
| 2721 | Mi fader, as touchinge of al |
| 2722 | I may noght wel ne noght ne schal |
| 2723 | Of veine gloire excuse me, |
| 2724 | That I ne have for love be |
| 2725 | The betre adresced and arraied; |
| 2726 | And also I have ofte assaied |
| 2727 | Rondeal, balade and virelai |
| 2728 | For hire on whom myn herte lai |
| 2729 | To make, and also forto peinte |
| 2730 | Caroles with my wordes qweinte, |
| 2731 | To sette my pourpos alofte; |
| 2732 | And thus I sang hem forth fulofte |
| 2733 | In halle and ek in chambre aboute, |
| 2734 | And made merie among the route, |
| 2735 | Bot yit ne ferde I noght the bet. |
| 2736 | Thus was my gloire in vein beset |
| 2737 | Of al the joie that I made; |
| 2738 | For whanne I wolde with hire glade, |
| 2739 | And of hire love songes make, |
| 2740 | Sche saide it was noght for hir sake, |
| 2741 | And liste noght my songes hiere |
| 2742 | Ne witen what the wordes were. |
| 2743 | So forto speke of myn arrai, |
| 2744 | Yit couthe I nevere be so gay |
| 2745 | Ne so wel make a songe of love, |
| 2746 | Wherof I myhte ben above |
| 2747 | And have encheson to be glad; |
| 2748 | Bot rathere I am ofte adrad |
| 2749 | For sorwe that sche seith me nay. |
| 2750 | And natheles I wol noght say, |
| 2751 | That I nam glad on other side; |
| 2752 | For fame, that can nothing hide, |
| 2753 | Alday wol bringe unto myn Ere |
| 2754 | Of that men speken hier and there, |
| 2755 | How that my ladi berth the pris, |
| 2756 | How sche is fair, how sche is wis, |
| 2757 | How sche is wommanlich of chiere; |
| 2758 | Of al this thing whanne I mai hiere, |
| 2759 | What wonder is thogh I be fain? |
| 2760 | And ek whanne I may hiere sain |
| 2761 | Tidinges of my ladi hele, |
| 2762 | Althogh I may noght with hir dele, |
| 2763 | Yit am I wonder glad of that; |
| 2764 | For whanne I wot hire good astat, |
| 2765 | As for that time I dar wel swere, |
| 2766 | Non other sorwe mai me dere, |
| 2767 | Thus am I gladed in this wise. |
| 2768 | Bot, fader, of youre lores wise, |
| 2769 | Of whiche ye be fully tawht, |
| 2770 | Now tell me if yow thenketh awht |
| 2771 | That I therof am forto wyte. |
| 2772 | Of that ther is I thee acquite, |
| 2773 | Mi sone, he seide, and for thi goode |
| 2774 | I wolde that thou understode: |
| 2775 | For I thenke upon this matiere |
| 2776 | To telle a tale, as thou schalt hiere, |
| 2777 | How that ayein this proude vice |
| 2778 | The hihe god of his justice |
| 2779 | Is wroth and gret vengance doth. |
| 2780 | Now herkne a tale that is soth: |
| 2781 | Thogh it be noght of loves kinde, |
| 2782 | A gret ensample thou schalt finde |
| 2783 | This veine gloire forto fle, |
| 2784 | Which is so full of vanite. |
| 2785 | Ther was a king that mochel myhte, |
| 2786 | Which Nabugodonosor hihte, |
| 2787 | Of whom that I spak hier tofore. |
| 2788 | Yit in the bible his name is bore, |
| 2789 | For al the world in Orient |
| 2790 | Was hol at his comandement: |
| 2791 | As thanne of kinges to his liche |
| 2792 | Was non so myhty ne so riche; |
| 2793 | To his Empire and to his lawes, |
| 2794 | As who seith, alle in thilke dawes |
| 2795 | Were obeissant and tribut bere, |
| 2796 | As thogh he godd of Erthe were. |
| 2797 | With strengthe he putte kinges under, |
| 2798 | And wroghte of Pride many a wonder; |
| 2799 | He was so full of veine gloire, |
| 2800 | That he ne hadde no memoire |
| 2801 | That ther was eny good bot he, |
| 2802 | For pride of his prosperite; |
| 2803 | Til that the hihe king of kinges, |
| 2804 | Which seth and knoweth alle thinges, |
| 2805 | Whos yhe mai nothing asterte,- |
| 2806 | The privetes of mannes herte |
| 2807 | Thei speke and sounen in his Ere |
| 2808 | As thogh thei lowde wyndes were,- |
| 2809 | He tok vengance upon this pride. |
| 2810 | Bot for he wolde awhile abide |
| 2811 | To loke if he him wolde amende, |
| 2812 | To him a foretokne he sende, |
| 2813 | And that was in his slep be nyhte. |
| 2814 | This proude kyng a wonder syhte |
| 2815 | Hadde in his swevene, ther he lay: |
| 2816 | Him thoghte, upon a merie day |
| 2817 | As he behield the world aboute, |
| 2818 | A tree fulgrowe he syh theroute, |
| 2819 | Which stod the world amiddes evene, |
| 2820 | Whos heihte straghte up to the hevene; |
| 2821 | The leves weren faire and large, |
| 2822 | Of fruit it bar so ripe a charge, |
| 2823 | That alle men it myhte fede: |
| 2824 | He sih also the bowes spriede |
| 2825 | Above al Erthe, in whiche were |
| 2826 | The kinde of alle briddes there; |
| 2827 | And eke him thoghte he syh also |
| 2828 | The kinde of alle bestes go |
| 2829 | Under this tre aboute round |
| 2830 | And fedden hem upon the ground. |
| 2831 | As he this wonder stod and syh, |
| 2832 | Him thoghte he herde a vois on hih |
| 2833 | Criende, and seide aboven alle: |
| 2834 | "Hew doun this tree and lett it falle, |
| 2835 | The leves let defoule in haste |
| 2836 | And do the fruit destruie and waste, |
| 2837 | And let of schreden every braunche, |
| 2838 | Bot ate Rote let it staunche. |
| 2839 | Whan al his Pride is cast to grounde, |
| 2840 | The rote schal be faste bounde, |
| 2841 | And schal no mannes herte bere, |
| 2842 | Bot every lust he schal forbere |
| 2843 | Of man, and lich an Oxe his mete |
| 2844 | Of gras he schal pourchace and ete, |
| 2845 | Til that the water of the hevene |
| 2846 | Have waisshen him be times sevene, |
| 2847 | So that he be thurghknowe ariht |
| 2848 | What is the heveneliche myht, |
| 2849 | And be mad humble to the wille |
| 2850 | Of him which al mai save and spille." |
| 2851 | This king out of his swefne abreide, |
| 2852 | And he upon the morwe it seide |
| 2853 | Unto the clerkes whiche he hadde: |
| 2854 | Bot non of hem the sothe aradde, |
| 2855 | Was non his swevene cowthe undo. |
| 2856 | And it stod thilke time so, |
| 2857 | This king hadde in subjeccioun |
| 2858 | Judee, and of affeccioun |
| 2859 | Above alle othre on Daniel |
| 2860 | He loveth, for he cowthe wel |
| 2861 | Divine that non other cowthe: |
| 2862 | To him were alle thinges cowthe, |
| 2863 | As he it hadde of goddes grace. |
| 2864 | He was before the kinges face |
| 2865 | Asent, and bode that he scholde |
| 2866 | Upon the point the king of tolde |
| 2867 | The fortune of his swevene expounde, |
| 2868 | As it scholde afterward be founde. |
| 2869 | Whan Daniel this swevene herde, |
| 2870 | He stod long time er he ansuerde, |
| 2871 | And made a wonder hevy chiere. |
| 2872 | The king tok hiede of his manere, |
| 2873 | And bad him telle that he wiste, |
| 2874 | As he to whom he mochel triste, |
| 2875 | And seide he wolde noght be wroth. |
| 2876 | Bot Daniel was wonder loth, |
| 2877 | And seide: "Upon thi fomen alle, |
| 2878 | Sire king, thi swevene mote falle; |
| 2879 | And natheles touchende of this |
| 2880 | I wol the tellen how it is, |
| 2881 | And what desese is to thee schape: |
| 2882 | God wot if thou it schalt ascape. |
| 2883 | The hihe tree, which thou hast sein |
| 2884 | With lef and fruit so wel besein, |
| 2885 | The which stod in the world amiddes, |
| 2886 | So that the bestes and the briddes |
| 2887 | Governed were of him al one, |
| 2888 | Sire king, betokneth thi persone, |
| 2889 | Which stant above all erthli thinges. |
| 2890 | Thus regnen under the the kinges, |
| 2891 | And al the poeple unto thee louteth, |
| 2892 | And al the world thi pouer doubteth, |
| 2893 | So that with vein honour deceived |
| 2894 | Thou hast the reverence weyved |
| 2895 | Fro him which is thi king above, |
| 2896 | That thou for drede ne for love |
| 2897 | Wolt nothing knowen of thi godd; |
| 2898 | Which now for thee hath mad a rodd, |
| 2899 | Thi veine gloire and thi folie |
| 2900 | With grete peines to chastie. |
| 2901 | And of the vois thou herdest speke, |
| 2902 | Which bad the bowes forto breke |
| 2903 | And hewe and felle doun the tree, |
| 2904 | That word belongeth unto thee; |
| 2905 | Thi regne schal ben overthrowe, |
| 2906 | And thou despuiled for a throwe: |
| 2907 | Bot that the Rote scholde stonde, |
| 2908 | Be that thou schalt wel understonde, |
| 2909 | Ther schal abyden of thi regne |
| 2910 | A time ayein whan thou schalt regne. |
| 2911 | And ek of that thou herdest seie, |
| 2912 | To take a mannes herte aweie |
| 2913 | And sette there a bestial, |
| 2914 | So that he lich an Oxe schal |
| 2915 | Pasture, and that he be bereined |
| 2916 | Be times sefne and sore peined, |
| 2917 | Til that he knowe his goddes mihtes, |
| 2918 | Than scholde he stonde ayein uprihtes,- |
| 2919 | Al this betokneth thin astat, |
| 2920 | Which now with god is in debat: |
| 2921 | Thi mannes forme schal be lassed, |
| 2922 | Til sevene yer ben overpassed, |
| 2923 | And in the liknesse of a beste |
| 2924 | Of gras schal be thi real feste, |
| 2925 | The weder schal upon thee reine. |
| 2926 | And understond that al this peine, |
| 2927 | Which thou schalt soffre thilke tide, |
| 2928 | Is schape al only for thi pride |
| 2929 | Of veine gloire, and of the sinne |
| 2930 | Which thou hast longe stonden inne. |
| 2931 | So upon this condicioun |
| 2932 | Thi swevene hath exposicioun. |
| 2933 | Bot er this thing befalle in dede, |
| 2934 | Amende thee, this wolde I rede: |
| 2935 | Yif and departe thin almesse, |
| 2936 | Do mercy forth with rihtwisnesse, |
| 2937 | Besech and prei the hihe grace, |
| 2938 | For so thou myht thi pes pourchace |
| 2939 | With godd, and stonde in good acord." |
| 2940 | Bot Pride is loth to leve his lord, |
| 2941 | And wol noght soffre humilite |
| 2942 | With him to stonde in no degree; |
| 2943 | And whan a schip hath lost his stiere, |
| 2944 | Is non so wys that mai him stiere |
| 2945 | Ayein the wawes in a rage. |
| 2946 | This proude king in his corage |
| 2947 | Humilite hath so forlore, |
| 2948 | That for no swevene he sih tofore, |
| 2949 | Ne yit for al that Daniel |
| 2950 | Him hath conseiled everydel, |
| 2951 | He let it passe out of his mynde, |
| 2952 | Thurgh veine gloire, and as the blinde, |
| 2953 | He seth no weie, er him be wo. |
| 2954 | And fell withinne a time so, |
| 2955 | As he in Babiloine wente, |
| 2956 | The vanite of Pride him hente; |
| 2957 | His herte aros of veine gloire, |
| 2958 | So that he drowh into memoire |
| 2959 | His lordschipe and his regalie |
| 2960 | With wordes of Surquiderie. |
| 2961 | And whan that he him most avaunteth, |
| 2962 | That lord which veine gloire daunteth, |
| 2963 | Al sodeinliche, as who seith treis, |
| 2964 | Wher that he stod in his Paleis, |
| 2965 | He tok him fro the mennes sihte: |
| 2966 | Was non of hem so war that mihte |
| 2967 | Sette yhe wher that he becom. |
| 2968 | And thus was he from his kingdom |
| 2969 | Into the wilde Forest drawe, |
| 2970 | Wher that the myhti goddes lawe |
| 2971 | Thurgh his pouer dede him transforme |
| 2972 | Fro man into a bestes forme; |
| 2973 | And lich an Oxe under the fot |
| 2974 | He graseth, as he nedes mot, |
| 2975 | To geten him his lives fode. |
| 2976 | Tho thoghte him colde grases goode, |
| 2977 | That whilom eet the hote spices, |
| 2978 | Thus was he torned fro delices: |
| 2979 | The wyn which he was wont to drinke |
| 2980 | He tok thanne of the welles brinke |
| 2981 | Or of the pet or of the slowh, |
| 2982 | It thoghte him thanne good ynowh: |
| 2983 | In stede of chambres wel arraied |
| 2984 | He was thanne of a buissh wel paied, |
| 2985 | The harde ground he lay upon, |
| 2986 | For othre pilwes hath he non; |
| 2987 | The stormes and the Reines falle, |
| 2988 | The wyndes blowe upon him alle, |
| 2989 | He was tormented day and nyht, |
| 2990 | Such was the hihe goddes myht, |
| 2991 | Til sevene yer an ende toke. |
| 2992 | Upon himself tho gan he loke; |
| 2993 | In stede of mete gras and stres, |
| 2994 | In stede of handes longe cles, |
| 2995 | In stede of man a bestes lyke |
| 2996 | He syh; and thanne he gan to syke |
| 2997 | For cloth of gold and for perrie, |
| 2998 | Which him was wont to magnefie. |
| 2999 | Whan he behield his Cote of heres, |
| 3000 | He wepte and with fulwoful teres |
| 3001 | Up to the hevene he caste his chiere |
| 3002 | Wepende, and thoghte in this manere; |
| 3003 | Thogh he no wordes myhte winne, |
| 3004 | Thus seide his herte and spak withinne: |
| 3005 | "O mihti godd, that al hast wroght |
| 3006 | And al myht bringe ayein to noght, |
| 3007 | Now knowe I wel, bot al of thee, |
| 3008 | This world hath no prosperite: |
| 3009 | In thin aspect ben alle liche, |
| 3010 | The povere man and ek the riche, |
| 3011 | Withoute thee ther mai no wight, |
| 3012 | And thou above alle othre miht. |
| 3013 | O mihti lord, toward my vice |
| 3014 | Thi merci medle with justice; |
| 3015 | And I woll make a covenant, |
| 3016 | That of my lif the remenant |
| 3017 | I schal it be thi grace amende, |
| 3018 | And in thi lawe so despende |
| 3019 | That veine gloire I schal eschuie, |
| 3020 | And bowe unto thin heste and suie |
| 3021 | Humilite, and that I vowe." |
| 3022 | And so thenkende he gan doun bowe, |
| 3023 | And thogh him lacke vois and speche, |
| 3024 | He gan up with his feet areche, |
| 3025 | And wailende in his bestly stevene |
| 3026 | He made his pleignte unto the hevene. |
| 3027 | He kneleth in his wise and braieth, |
| 3028 | To seche merci and assaieth |
| 3029 | His god, which made him nothing strange, |
| 3030 | Whan that he sih his pride change. |
| 3031 | Anon as he was humble and tame, |
| 3032 | He fond toward his god the same, |
| 3033 | And in a twinklinge of a lok |
| 3034 | His mannes forme ayein he tok, |
| 3035 | And was reformed to the regne |
| 3036 | In which that he was wont to regne; |
| 3037 | So that the Pride of veine gloire |
| 3038 | Evere afterward out of memoire |
| 3039 | He let it passe. And thus is schewed |
| 3040 | What is to ben of Pride unthewed |
| 3041 | Ayein the hihe goddes lawe, |
| 3042 | To whom noman mai be felawe. |
| 3043 | Forthi, my Sone, tak good hiede |
| 3044 | So forto lede thi manhiede, |
| 3045 | That thou ne be noght lich a beste. |
| 3046 | Bot if thi lif schal ben honeste, |
| 3047 | Thou most humblesce take on honde, |
| 3048 | For thanne myht thou siker stonde: |
| 3049 | And forto speke it otherwise, |
| 3050 | A proud man can no love assise; |
| 3051 | For thogh a womman wolde him plese, |
| 3052 | His Pride can noght ben at ese. |
| 3053 | Ther mai noman to mochel blame |
| 3054 | A vice which is forto blame; |
| 3055 | Forthi men scholde nothing hide |
| 3056 | That mihte falle in blame of Pride, |
| 3057 | Which is the werste vice of alle: |
| 3058 | Wherof, so as it was befalle, |
| 3059 | The tale I thenke of a Cronique |
| 3060 | To telle, if that it mai thee like, |
| 3061 | So that thou myht humblesce suie |
| 3062 | And ek the vice of Pride eschuie, |
| 3063 | Wherof the gloire is fals and vein; |
| 3064 | Which god himself hath in desdeign, |
| 3065 | That thogh it mounte for a throwe, |
| 3066 | It schal doun falle and overthrowe. |
| 3067 | A king whilom was yong and wys, |
| 3068 | The which sette of his wit gret pris. |
| 3069 | Of depe ymaginaciouns |
| 3070 | And strange interpretaciouns, |
| 3071 | Problemes and demandes eke, |
| 3072 | His wisdom was to finde and seke; |
| 3073 | Wherof he wolde in sondri wise |
| 3074 | Opposen hem that weren wise. |
| 3075 | Bot non of hem it myhte bere |
| 3076 | Upon his word to yeve answere, |
| 3077 | Outaken on, which was a knyht; |
| 3078 | To him was every thing so liht, |
| 3079 | That also sone as he hem herde, |
| 3080 | The kinges wordes he answerde; |
| 3081 | What thing the king him axe wolde, |
| 3082 | Therof anon the trowthe he tolde. |
| 3083 | The king somdiel hadde an Envie, |
| 3084 | And thoghte he wolde his wittes plie |
| 3085 | To sette som conclusioun, |
| 3086 | Which scholde be confusioun |
| 3087 | Unto this knyht, so that the name |
| 3088 | And of wisdom the hihe fame |
| 3089 | Toward himself he wolde winne. |
| 3090 | And thus of al his wit withinne |
| 3091 | This king began to studie and muse, |
| 3092 | What strange matiere he myhte use |
| 3093 | The knyhtes wittes to confounde; |
| 3094 | And ate laste he hath it founde, |
| 3095 | And for the knyht anon he sente, |
| 3096 | That he schal telle what he mente. |
| 3097 | Upon thre pointz stod the matiere |
| 3098 | Of questions, as thou schalt hiere. |
| 3099 | The ferste point of alle thre |
| 3100 | Was this: "What thing in his degre |
| 3101 | Of al this world hath nede lest, |
| 3102 | And yet men helpe it althermest?" |
| 3103 | The secounde is: "What most is worth, |
| 3104 | And of costage is lest put forth?" |
| 3105 | The thridde is: "Which is of most cost, |
| 3106 | And lest is worth and goth to lost?" |
| 3107 | The king thes thre demandes axeth, |
| 3108 | And to the knyht this lawe he taxeth, |
| 3109 | That he schal gon and come ayein |
| 3110 | The thridde weke, and telle him plein |
| 3111 | To every point, what it amonteth. |
| 3112 | And if so be that he misconteth, |
| 3113 | To make in his answere a faile, |
| 3114 | Ther schal non other thing availe, |
| 3115 | The king seith, bot he schal be ded |
| 3116 | And lese hise goodes and his hed. |
| 3117 | The knyht was sori of this thing |
| 3118 | And wolde excuse him to the king, |
| 3119 | Bot he ne wolde him noght forbere, |
| 3120 | And thus the knyht of his ansuere |
| 3121 | Goth hom to take avisement: |
| 3122 | Bot after his entendement |
| 3123 | The more he caste his wit aboute, |
| 3124 | The more he stant therof in doute. |
| 3125 | Tho wiste he wel the kinges herte, |
| 3126 | That he the deth ne scholde asterte, |
| 3127 | And such a sorwe hath to him take, |
| 3128 | That gladschipe he hath al forsake. |
| 3129 | He thoghte ferst upon his lif, |
| 3130 | And after that upon his wif, |
| 3131 | Upon his children ek also, |
| 3132 | Of whiche he hadde dowhtres tuo; |
| 3133 | The yongest of hem hadde of age |
| 3134 | Fourtiene yer, and of visage |
| 3135 | Sche was riht fair, and of stature |
| 3136 | Lich to an hevenely figure, |
| 3137 | And of manere and goodli speche, |
| 3138 | Thogh men wolde alle Londes seche, |
| 3139 | Thei scholden noght have founde hir like. |
| 3140 | Sche sih hire fader sorwe and sike, |
| 3141 | And wiste noght the cause why; |
| 3142 | So cam sche to him prively, |
| 3143 | And that was where he made his mone |
| 3144 | Withinne a Gardin al him one; |
| 3145 | Upon hire knes sche gan doun falle |
| 3146 | With humble herte and to him calle, |
| 3147 | And seide: "O goode fader diere, |
| 3148 | Why make ye thus hevy chiere, |
| 3149 | And I wot nothing how it is? |
| 3150 | And wel ye knowen, fader, this, |
| 3151 | What aventure that you felle |
| 3152 | Ye myhte it saufly to me telle, |
| 3153 | For I have ofte herd you seid, |
| 3154 | That ye such trust have on me leid, |
| 3155 | That to my soster ne my brother, |
| 3156 | In al this world ne to non other, |
| 3157 | Ye dorste telle a privite |
| 3158 | So wel, my fader, as to me. |
| 3159 | Forthi, my fader, I you preie, |
| 3160 | Ne casteth noght that herte aweie, |
| 3161 | For I am sche that wolde kepe |
| 3162 | Youre honour." And with that to wepe |
| 3163 | Hire yhe mai noght be forbore, |
| 3164 | Sche wissheth forto ben unbore, |
| 3165 | Er that hire fader so mistriste |
| 3166 | To tellen hire of that he wiste: |
| 3167 | And evere among merci sche cride, |
| 3168 | That he ne scholde his conseil hide |
| 3169 | From hire that so wolde him good |
| 3170 | And was so nyh his fleissh and blod. |
| 3171 | So that with wepinge ate laste |
| 3172 | His chiere upon his child he caste, |
| 3173 | And sorwfulli to that sche preide |
| 3174 | He tolde his tale and thus he seide: |
| 3175 | "The sorwe, dowhter, which I make |
| 3176 | Is noght al only for my sake, |
| 3177 | Bot for thee bothe and for you alle: |
| 3178 | For such a chance is me befalle, |
| 3179 | That I schal er this thridde day |
| 3180 | Lese al that evere I lese may, |
| 3181 | Mi lif and al my good therto: |
| 3182 | Therfore it is I sorwe so." |
| 3183 | "What is the cause, helas!" quod sche, |
| 3184 | "Mi fader, that ye scholden be |
| 3185 | Ded and destruid in such a wise?" |
| 3186 | And he began the pointz devise, |
| 3187 | Whiche as the king told him be mowthe, |
| 3188 | And seid hir pleinly that he cowthe |
| 3189 | Ansuere unto no point of this. |
| 3190 | And sche, that hiereth how it is, |
| 3191 | Hire conseil yaf and seide tho: |
| 3192 | "Mi fader, sithen it is so, |
| 3193 | That ye can se non other weie, |
| 3194 | Bot that ye moste nedes deie, |
| 3195 | I wolde preie of you a thing: |
| 3196 | Let me go with you to the king, |
| 3197 | And ye schull make him understonde |
| 3198 | How ye, my wittes forto fonde, |
| 3199 | Have leid your ansuere upon me; |
| 3200 | And telleth him, in such degre |
| 3201 | Upon my word ye wole abide |
| 3202 | To lif or deth, what so betide. |
| 3203 | For yit par chaunce I may pourchace |
| 3204 | With som good word the kinges grace, |
| 3205 | Your lif and ek your good to save; |
| 3206 | For ofte schal a womman have |
| 3207 | Thing which a man mai noght areche." |
| 3208 | The fader herde his dowhter speche, |
| 3209 | And thoghte ther was resoun inne, |
| 3210 | And sih his oghne lif to winne |
| 3211 | He cowthe don himself no cure; |
| 3212 | So betre him thoghte in aventure |
| 3213 | To put his lif and al his good, |
| 3214 | Than in the maner as it stod |
| 3215 | His lif in certein forto lese. |
| 3216 | And thus thenkende he gan to chese |
| 3217 | To do the conseil of this Maide, |
| 3218 | And tok the pourpos which sche saide. |
| 3219 | The dai was come and forth thei gon, |
| 3220 | Unto the Court thei come anon, |
| 3221 | Wher as the king in juggement |
| 3222 | Was set and hath this knyht assent. |
| 3223 | Arraied in hire beste wise |
| 3224 | This Maiden with hire wordes wise |
| 3225 | Hire fader ladde be the hond |
| 3226 | Into the place, wher he fond |
| 3227 | The king with othre whiche he wolde, |
| 3228 | And to the king knelende he tolde |
| 3229 | As he enformed was tofore, |
| 3230 | And preith the king that he therfore |
| 3231 | His dowhtres wordes wolde take, |
| 3232 | And seith that he wol undertake |
| 3233 | Upon hire wordes forto stonde. |
| 3234 | Tho was ther gret merveile on honde, |
| 3235 | That he, which was so wys a knyht, |
| 3236 | His lif upon so yong a wyht |
| 3237 | Besette wolde in jeupartie, |
| 3238 | And manye it hielden for folie: |
| 3239 | Bot ate laste natheles |
| 3240 | The king comandeth ben in pes, |
| 3241 | And to this Maide he caste his chiere, |
| 3242 | And seide he wolde hire tale hiere, |
| 3243 | He bad hire speke, and sche began: |
| 3244 | "Mi liege lord, so as I can," |
| 3245 | Quod sche, "the pointz of whiche I herde, |
| 3246 | Thei schul of reson ben ansuerde. |
| 3247 | The ferste I understonde is this, |
| 3248 | What thing of al the world it is, |
| 3249 | Which men most helpe and hath lest nede. |
| 3250 | Mi liege lord, this wolde I rede: |
| 3251 | The Erthe it is, which everemo |
| 3252 | With mannes labour is bego; |
| 3253 | Als wel in wynter as in Maii |
| 3254 | The mannes hond doth what he mai |
| 3255 | To helpe it forth and make it riche, |
| 3256 | And forthi men it delve and dyche |
| 3257 | And eren it with strengthe of plowh, |
| 3258 | Wher it hath of himself ynowh, |
| 3259 | So that his nede is ate leste. |
| 3260 | For every man and bridd and beste, |
| 3261 | And flour and gras and rote and rinde, |
| 3262 | And every thing be weie of kynde |
| 3263 | Schal sterve, and Erthe it schal become; |
| 3264 | As it was out of Erthe nome, |
| 3265 | It schal to therthe torne ayein: |
| 3266 | And thus I mai be resoun sein |
| 3267 | That Erthe is the most nedeles, |
| 3268 | And most men helpe it natheles. |
| 3269 | So that, my lord, touchende of this |
| 3270 | I have ansuerd hou that it is. |
| 3271 | That other point I understod, |
| 3272 | Which most is worth and most is good, |
| 3273 | And costeth lest a man to kepe: |
| 3274 | Mi lord, if ye woll take kepe, |
| 3275 | I seie it is Humilite, |
| 3276 | Thurgh which the hihe trinite |
| 3277 | As for decerte of pure love |
| 3278 | Unto Marie from above, |
| 3279 | Of that he knew hire humble entente, |
| 3280 | His oghne Sone adoun he sente, |
| 3281 | Above alle othre and hire he ches |
| 3282 | For that vertu which bodeth pes: |
| 3283 | So that I may be resoun calle |
| 3284 | Humilite most worth of alle. |
| 3285 | And lest it costeth to maintiene, |
| 3286 | In al the world as it is sene; |
| 3287 | For who that hath humblesce on honde, |
| 3288 | He bringth no werres into londe, |
| 3289 | For he desireth for the beste |
| 3290 | To setten every man in reste. |
| 3291 | Thus with your hihe reverence |
| 3292 | Me thenketh that this evidence |
| 3293 | As to this point is sufficant. |
| 3294 | And touchende of the remenant, |
| 3295 | Which is the thridde of youre axinges, |
| 3296 | What leste is worth of alle thinges, |
| 3297 | And costeth most, I telle it, Pride; |
| 3298 | Which mai noght in the hevene abide, |
| 3299 | For Lucifer with hem that felle |
| 3300 | Bar Pride with him into helle. |
| 3301 | Ther was Pride of to gret a cost, |
| 3302 | Whan he for Pride hath hevene lost; |
| 3303 | And after that in Paradis |
| 3304 | Adam for Pride loste his pris: |
| 3305 | In Midelerthe and ek also |
| 3306 | Pride is the cause of alle wo, |
| 3307 | That al the world ne may suffise |
| 3308 | To stanche of Pride the reprise: |
| 3309 | Pride is the heved of alle Sinne, |
| 3310 | Which wasteth al and mai noght winne; |
| 3311 | Pride is of every mis the pricke, |
| 3312 | Pride is the werste of alle wicke, |
| 3313 | And costneth most and lest is worth |
| 3314 | In place where he hath his forth. |
| 3315 | Thus have I seid that I wol seie |
| 3316 | Of myn answere, and to you preie, |
| 3317 | Mi liege lord, of youre office |
| 3318 | That ye such grace and such justice |
| 3319 | Ordeigne for mi fader hiere, |
| 3320 | That after this, whan men it hiere, |
| 3321 | The world therof mai speke good." |
| 3322 | The king, which reson understod |
| 3323 | And hath al herd how sche hath said, |
| 3324 | Was inly glad and so wel paid |
| 3325 | That al his wraththe is overgo: |
| 3326 | And he began to loke tho |
| 3327 | Upon this Maiden in the face, |
| 3328 | In which he fond so mochel grace, |
| 3329 | That al his pris on hire he leide, |
| 3330 | In audience and thus he seide: |
| 3331 | "Mi faire Maide, wel thee be! |
| 3332 | Of thin ansuere and ek of thee |
| 3333 | Me liketh wel, and as thou wilt, |
| 3334 | Foryive be thi fader gilt. |
| 3335 | And if thou were of such lignage, |
| 3336 | That thou to me were of parage, |
| 3337 | And that thi fader were a Pier, |
| 3338 | As he is now a Bachilier, |
| 3339 | So seker as I have a lif, |
| 3340 | Thou scholdest thanne be my wif. |
| 3341 | Bot this I seie natheles, |
| 3342 | That I wol schape thin encress; |
| 3343 | What worldes good that thou wolt crave, |
| 3344 | Axe of my yifte and thou schalt have." |
| 3345 | And sche the king with wordes wise |
| 3346 | Knelende thonketh in this wise: |
| 3347 | "Mi liege lord, god mot you quite! |
| 3348 | Mi fader hier hath bot a lite |
| 3349 | Of warison, and that he wende |
| 3350 | Hadde al be lost; bot now amende |
| 3351 | He mai wel thurgh your noble grace." |
| 3352 | With that the king riht in his place |
| 3353 | Anon forth in that freisshe hete |
| 3354 | An Erldom, which thanne of eschete |
| 3355 | Was late falle into his hond, |
| 3356 | Unto this knyht with rente and lond |
| 3357 | Hath yove and with his chartre sesed; |
| 3358 | And thus was all the noise appesed. |
| 3359 | This Maiden, which sat on hire knes |
| 3360 | Tofore the king, hise charitees |
| 3361 | Comendeth, and seide overmore: |
| 3362 | "Mi liege lord, riht now tofore |
| 3363 | Ye seide, as it is of record, |
| 3364 | That if my fader were a lord |
| 3365 | And Pier unto these othre grete, |
| 3366 | Ye wolden for noght elles lete, |
| 3367 | That I ne scholde be your wif; |
| 3368 | And this wot every worthi lif, |
| 3369 | A kinges word it mot ben holde. |
| 3370 | Forthi, my lord, if that ye wolde |
| 3371 | So gret a charite fulfille, |
| 3372 | God wot it were wel my wille: |
| 3373 | For he which was a Bacheler, |
| 3374 | Mi fader, is now mad a Pier; |
| 3375 | So whenne as evere that I cam, |
| 3376 | An Erles dowhter now I am." |
| 3377 | This yonge king, which peised al, |
| 3378 | Hire beaute and hir wit withal, |
| 3379 | As he that was with love hent, |
| 3380 | Anon therto yaf his assent. |
| 3381 | He myhte noght the maide asterte, |
| 3382 | That sche nis ladi of his herte; |
| 3383 | So that he tok hire to his wif, |
| 3384 | To holde whyl that he hath lif: |
| 3385 | And thus the king toward his knyht |
| 3386 | Acordeth him, as it is riht. |
| 3387 | And over this good is to wite, |
| 3388 | In the Cronique as it is write, |
| 3389 | This noble king of whom I tolde |
| 3390 | Of Spaine be tho daies olde |
| 3391 | The kingdom hadde in governance, |
| 3392 | And as the bok makth remembrance, |
| 3393 | Alphonse was his propre name: |
| 3394 | The knyht also, if I schal name, |
| 3395 | Danz Petro hihte, and as men telle, |
| 3396 | His dowhter wyse Peronelle |
| 3397 | Was cleped, which was full of grace: |
| 3398 | And that was sene in thilke place, |
| 3399 | Wher sche hir fader out of teene |
| 3400 | Hath broght and mad hirself a qweene, |
| 3401 | Of that sche hath so wel desclosed |
| 3402 | The pointz wherof sche was opposed. |
| 3403 | Lo now, my Sone, as thou myht hiere, |
| 3404 | Of al this thing to my matiere |
| 3405 | Bot on I take, and that is Pride, |
| 3406 | To whom no grace mai betide: |
| 3407 | In hevene he fell out of his stede, |
| 3408 | And Paradis him was forbede, |
| 3409 | The goode men in Erthe him hate, |
| 3410 | So that to helle he mot algate, |
| 3411 | Where every vertu schal be weyved |
| 3412 | And every vice be received. |
| 3413 | Bot Humblesce is al otherwise, |
| 3414 | Which most is worth, and no reprise |
| 3415 | It takth ayein, bot softe and faire, |
| 3416 | If eny thing stond in contraire, |
| 3417 | With humble speche it is redresced: |
| 3418 | Thus was this yonge Maiden blessed, |
| 3419 | The which I spak of now tofore, |
| 3420 | Hire fader lif sche gat therfore, |
| 3421 | And wan with al the kinges love. |
| 3422 | Forthi, my Sone, if thou wolt love, |
| 3423 | It sit thee wel to leve Pride |
| 3424 | And take Humblesce upon thi side; |
| 3425 | The more of grace thou schalt gete. |
| 3426 | Mi fader, I woll noght foryete |
| 3427 | Of this that ye have told me hiere, |
| 3428 | And if that eny such manere |
| 3429 | Of humble port mai love appaie, |
| 3430 | Hierafterward I thenke assaie: |
| 3431 | Bot now forth over I beseche |
| 3432 | That ye more of my schrifte seche. |
| 3433 | Mi goode Sone, it schal be do: |
| 3434 | Now herkne and ley an Ere to; |
| 3435 | For as touchende of Prides fare, |
| 3436 | Als ferforth as I can declare |
| 3437 | In cause of vice, in cause of love, |
| 3438 | That hast thou pleinly herd above, |
| 3439 | So that ther is nomor to seie |
| 3440 | Touchende of that; bot other weie |
| 3441 | Touchende Envie I thenke telle, |
| 3442 | Which hath the propre kinde of helle, |
| 3443 | Withoute cause to misdo |
| 3444 | Toward himself and othre also, |
| 3445 | Hierafterward as understonde |
| 3446 | Thou schalt the spieces, as thei stonde. |
Explicit Liber Primus