Confessio Amantis/Incipit Liber Primus/Part 2

by John Gower

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