Chaucerian Pieces

WALTER W. SKEAT, Litt.D., D.C.L., LL.D., Ph.D.
ELRINGTON AND BOSWORTH PROFESSOR OF ANGLO-SAXON
AND FELLOW OF CHRIST'S COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE

BEING A SUPPLEMENT TO THE
COMPLETE WORKS OF GEOFFREY CHAUCER
(OXFORD, IN SIX VOLUMES, 1894)

'And yit ye shul han better loos,

Right in dispyt of alle your foos,

Than worthy is; and that anoon.'

Hous of Fame, 1667-9.

P. 32, l. 38. Mr. Bradley suggests that maistresse is a misprint of Thynne's for maistres secrè, i.e. master's secret; alluding to John of Northampton.

P. 33, l. 75. For may it be sayd in that thinge 'this man thou demest, read may it be sayd, 'in that thinge this man thou demest,

P. 50, l. 28. For in sacke, sowed with wolle perhaps read in sacke sowed, with wolle.

P. 52, ll. 107, 109. Mr. Bradley suggests that 'Caynes' and 'Cayn' are Thynne's misprints for 'Cames' and 'Cam'; where Cam (misread as Cain) means Ham, for which the Vulgate has Cham.

P. 473; note to l. 155. Chaucer's Astrolabe was not written till 1391, after Usk's death.

§ 1. The following pieces are selected, as being the most important, from among the very numerous ones which have been appended to Chaucer's works in various editions.

I use the word 'appended' advisedly. It is not true that these works were all attributed to Chaucer in the black-letter editions. The Praise of Peace was marked as Gower's in Thynne's first edition of 1532. Another piece in that edition is attributed to Scogan. The Letter of Cupid is expressly dated 1402, though Chaucer died in 1400. The Flower of Curtesye contains the words 'Chaucer is dede'; and The Testament of Cresseid contains a remark which, in modern English, would run thus—'Who knows if all that Chaucer wrote is true?'

Those who, through ignorance or negligence, regard Thynne's edition of Chaucer as containing 'Works attributed to Chaucer' make a great mistake; and even if the mistake be excused on the ground that it has been very generally and very frequently made, this does not lessen its magnitude. The title of Thynne's book is very instructive, and really runs thus:—'The Workes of Geffray Chaucer newly printed, with dyuers workes which were neuer in print before, &c.' This is strictly and literally true; for it contains such works of Chaucer's as had previously been printed by Caxton, Wynkyn de Worde, and Julian Notary (see vol. i. p. 28), together with 'dyuers workes [of various authors] which were neuer in print before.' Which is the simple solution of the whole matter, as far as this edition is concerned. The same remarks apply to the second edition in 1542, and the third, printed about 1550. But Stowe, in 1561, altered the title so as to give it a new meaning. The title-page of his edition runs thus:—'The Woorkes of Geffrey Chaucer, newly printed with diuers [x]Addicions which were neuer in printe before.' Here the authorship of Chaucer was, for the first time, practically claimed for the whole of Thynne's volume. At the same time, Stowe did not really mean what he seems to say, for it was he who first added the words—'made by Ihon lidgate'—to the title of 'The Flower of Curtesie,' and who first assigned a title (ascribing the poem to dan Ihon lidgat) to the poem beginning 'Consider wel'; see no. 40 (vol. i. p. 33).

§ 2. It is clear that Thynne's intention was to print a collection of poems, including all he could find of Chaucer and anything else of a similar character that he could lay his hands on^[1]. In other words, the collection was, from the beginning, a collection of the Works of Chaucer and other writers; and this fact was in no way modified by the adoption by Stowe and Speght of misleading titles that actually assigned to Chaucer all the poems in the volume! See further, as to this subject, in the discussion of The Court of Love below.

The number of pieces appended, at various times, to Chaucer's Works are so numerous that I have been obliged to restrict myself to giving a selection of them only.

Of the non-Chaucerian pieces printed by Thynne in 1532, I have included all but three. The rejected pieces are those numbered 18, 21, and 22 in the list given at p. 32 of vol. i. They are all poor and uninteresting, but I add a few words of description.

18. A Praise of Women. Noticed in vol. i. p. 37. Though decisively rejected by Tyrwhitt, and excluded from Moxon's reprint, it was revived (for no good reason) by Bell, and consequently appeared in the Aldine edition, which was founded on Bell's. It enumerates the merits of womankind, and condemns the slanders of men concerning them. We ought to worship all women out of reverence for the Queen of heaven, [xi]and we shall do well to pray to Our Lady to bring us to the heaven in which she and all good women will be found. Thynne is not the sole authority for this poem, as it occurs also (in a Scottish dress) in the Bannatyne MS., fol. 275. The whole of this MS. (written in 1568) was printed for the Hunterian Club in 1873-9; see p. 799 of that edition.

21. The Lamentation of Mary Magdalen. Noticed in vol. i. p. 37. This lugubrious piece was probably the wail of a nun, who had no book but a Vulgate version of the Bible, from which all her quotations are taken. It bears no resemblance to any work by Chaucer, nor to any of the pieces in the present volume. It consists of 102 seven-line stanzas. The metre resembles Lydgate's, but the final -e is hardly ever used. Bell's text is not taken from Thynne, but from some later and inferior reprint of it. For this poem, Thynne's first edition is the sole authority.

22. The Remedy of Love. Noticed in vol. i. p. 38. It appears that the 'remedy of love' is to be found in a consideration of the wicked ways of women. Twelve whole stanzas are taken up with a metrical translation of one of the chapters in the book of Proverbs. The author refers us to 'the fifth chapter,' but he is wrong. He means chapter vii, verses 6-27. He also quotes from Ecclesiasticus, ix. 9, and xxv. 25.

Nos. 28, 29, 30 (vol. i. p. 32) are not found in Thynne, but were first printed by Stowe. I give them below, at p. 297. The first two stanzas are Lydgate's; and probably the third is his also. It is no great matter.

No. 41 (vol. i. p. 33) was also first printed by Stowe. To save words, I have printed it below, at p. 450, from the original MS.

§ 3. I now consider the non-Chaucerian pieces in Part II. of Stowe's Edition (see vol. i. p. 33). Of these, nos. 45, 50, 56, and 59 are here reprinted.

Nos. 46, 47, 48, 49, 51, 52, 53, 54, and 55 were all taken by Stowe from MS. Trin. R. 3. 19. Perhaps they are sufficiently noticed in vol. i. p. 41, as they present few points of interest. However, I enumerate them, adding a few remarks.

No. 46. The Craft of Lovers. In 23 seven-line stanzas; 161 lines. Besides the copy in the Trin. MS., there are copies (almost duplicates) in MSS. Addit. 34360, fol. 73, back (p. 142), [xii]and Harl. 2251, fol. 53 (now called 52). Dated 1448 in the Trin. MS., but 1459 in the other two. The first line ought to run:—'To moralise, who list these ballets sewe'; but it is clear that some one added the words 'A similitude' in the margin, and that this remark was afterwards incorporated in the text. Hence the first line, in the latter MSS., stands:—'To moralise a similitude who list these balettis sewe'; which is more than enough for a line of five accents. After two introductory stanzas, the poem becomes a dialogue, in alternate stanzas, between a wooer, named Cupido, and a lass, named Diana^[2]; the result of which is successful. This may be compared with La Belle Dame sans Merci, and with the Nut-brown Maid. The twenty-third stanza forms the author's Conclusio, which is followed by an Envoy in the Addit. MS., and in the Harl. MS. only. The same MSS. seem to superadd two more stanzas; but they really belong to another piece.

No. 47. Taken by Stowe from MS. Trin. R. 3. 19, fol. 156, back. A Balade. In 4 seven-line stanzas; 28 lines. Begins—'Of their nature they greatly them delite'; i.e. Women are by nature hypocrites; they like kissing live images rather than shrines. So I advise young men to take warning: 'Beware alwaye, the blind eateth many [a] flye'; a line which is quoted from Lydgate's ballad printed at p. 295. The author then prays God to keep the fly out of his dish; and ends by congratulating himself on being anonymous, because women would else blame him.

No. 48. The Ten Commandments of Love; from Trin. MS., fol. 109. Also in MS. Fairfax 16. Begins:—'Certes, ferre extendeth yet my reason.' In 14 stanzas of seven-lines; the last two form the Envoy. After two introductory stanzas, the author gives the ladies their ten commandments. They are, it appears, to exhibit Faith, Entencion, Discrecion, Patience, Secretnesse, Prudence, Perseverance, Pity, Measure [Moderation], and Mercy. In the Envoy, the author says, truly enough, that he is devoid of cunning, experience, manner of enditing, reason, and eloquence; and that he is 'a man unknown.'

No. 49. The Nine Ladies Worthy. In 9 seven-line stanzas, one stanza for each lady. Begins: 'Profulgent in preciousnes, [xiii]O Sinope the quene.' Only remarkable for the curious selection made. The Nine Ladies are: (1) Sinope, daughter of Marsepia, queen of the Amazons; see Orosius, Hist. i. 10; (2) Hippolyta, the Amazon, wife of Theseus; (3) Deipyle, daughter of Adrastus, wife of Tydeus; (4) Teuta, queen of the Illyrians; see note to C. T., F 1453 (vol. v. p. 398); (5) Penthesilea the Amazon, slain by Achilles before Troy; (6) queen Tomyris, who slew Cyrus in battle, B.C. 529; (7) Lampeto the Amazon, sister of Marsepia, and aunt of Sinope; (8) Semiramis of Babylon; (9) Menalippe or Melanippe, sister of Antiope, queen of the Amazons, taken captive by Hercules, according to Justinus, ii. 4. 23. Most of these queens are mentioned by Orosius, i. 10, ii. 1, ii. 4; see also Higden's Polychronicon, bk. ii. chapters 9, 21, 24, and bk. iii. c. 7. From the Trin. MS., fol. 113, back.

No. 51. A Ballade. Begins:—'In the season of Feuerere when it was full colde.' In 7 seven-line stanzas. In praise of the daisy. Very poor. From the Trin. MS., fol. 160.

No. 52. A Ballade. Begins—'O Mercifull and o merciable.' In 12 seven-line stanzas. The Trin. MS. has 13 stanzas; but Stowe omitted the tenth, because it coincides with st. 19 of the Craft of Lovers. It is made up of scraps from other poems. Stanzas 1-4 form part of a poem on the fall of man, from Lydgate's Court of Sapience (see vol. i. p. 57). In st. 8 occurs the assonance of hote (hot) and stroke; and in st. 9, that of cureth and renueth. From the Trin. MS., fol. 161.

No. 53. The Judgement of Paris. In 4 seven-line stanzas; the first is allotted to Pallas, who tells Paris to take the apple, and give it to the fairest of the three goddesses. After this, he is addressed in succession by Juno, Venus, and Minerva (as she is now called). Then the poem ends. Trin. MS., fol. 161, back.

No. 54. A Balade pleasaunte. Begins—'I haue a Ladie where so she bee.' In 7 seven-line stanzas. Meant to be facetious; e.g. 'Her skin is smothe as any oxes tong.' The author says that when he was fifteen years old, he saw the wedding of queen Jane; and that was so long ago that there cannot be many such alive. As Joan of Navarre was married to Henry IV in 1403, he was born in 1388, and would have been sixty-two in 1450. It is an imitation of Lydgate's poem entitled A Satirical [xiv]Description of his Lady; see Minor Poems, ed. Halliwell, p. 199. Trin. MS., fol. 205.

No. 55. Another Balade. Begins—'O mossie Quince, hangyng by your stalke.' In 4 seven-line stanzas, of which Stowe omits the second. A scurrilous performance. Trin. MS., fol. 205, back.

No. 58 is a Balade in 9 seven-line stanzas, of no merit, on the theme of the impossibility of restoring a woman's chastity.

No. 60 is a genuine poem; and no. 61 is Lydgate's Story of Thebes. And here Stowe's performance ceases.

§ 4. The subsequent additions made by Speght are discussed in vol. i. pp. 43-46. Of these, The Flower and the Leaf, Jack Upland, and Hoccleve's poem to Henry V, are here reprinted; and Chaucer's ABC is genuine. He also reprinted the Sayings at p. 450. The pieces not reprinted here are Chaucer's Dream and Eight Goodly Questions.

Chaucer's Dream is a false title, assigned to it by Speght; its proper name is The Isle of Ladies. Begins—'Whan Flora, the quene of pleasaunce.' The MS. at Longleat is said to have been written about 1550. A second MS. has been acquired by the British Museum, named MS. Addit. 10303; this is also in a hand of the sixteenth century, and presents frequent variations in the text. It is very accessible, in the texts by Moxon, Bell, and Morris; but how Tyrwhitt ever came to dream that it could be genuine, must remain a mystery. I originally hoped to include this poem in the present selection, but its inordinate length compelled me to abandon my intention. In a prologue of seventy lines, the author truthfully states, at l. 60, that he is 'a slepy^[3] writer.' There are many assonances, such as undertakes, scapes (337); named, attained (597); tender, remember (1115, 1415); rome, towne (1567). Note also such rimes as destroied, conclude (735); queen, kneen, pl. of knee (1779); nine, greene (1861); vertuous, use (1889). Some rimes exhibit the Northern dialect; as paines, straines, pr. s., 909; wawe, overthrawe, pp., 1153; servand, livand, pres. pt., 1629; greene, eene (pl. of e, eye), 1719; hand, avisand, pres. pt., 1883; &c. Yet the writer is not particular; if he wants a rime to wroth, he uses the Southern form [xv]goth, 785; but if he wants a rime to rose, he uses the Northern form gose (goes), 1287, 1523. But before any critic can associate this poem with Chaucer, he has first to prove that it was written before 1450. Moreover, it belongs to the cycle of metrical romances, being connected (as Tyrwhitt says) with the Eliduc of Marie de France; and, perhaps, with her Lanval.

To the Isle of Ladies Speght appended two other poems, of which the former contains a single stanza of 6 lines, and the latter is a ballad in 3 seven-line stanzas.

No. 66. Eight Goodly Questions; in Bell's Chaucer, iv. 421. In 9 seven-line stanzas. First printed in 1542. There are at least two manuscript copies; one in the Trinity MS., marked R. 3. 15; and another in the Bannatyne MS., printed at p. 123 of the print of the Bannatyne MS., issued by the Hunterian Club in 1873. In l. 19, the latter MS. corrects tree to coffour, the Scottish form of cofre. It is merely expanded from the first seven lines of a poem by Ausonius, printed in Walker's Corpus Poetarum Latinorum, with the title Eorundem Septem Sapientum Sententiae. This English version is quite in Lydgate's style.

I have repeatedly explained that there were but four black-letter editions of Collected Works before Speght's; and these I call Thynne's first edition (1532), Thynne's second edition (1542), the undated edition (about 1550, which I call 1550 for brevity), and Stowe's edition (1561) respectively. I shall denote these editions below by the symbols 'Th.,' ed. 1542, ed. 1550, and 'S.' respectively. Of these editions, the first is the best; the second is derived from the first; the third is derived from the second; and the fourth from the third^[4]. In every case it is useless to consult a later edition when an earlier one can be found.

The following is the list of the pieces which depend on the editions only, or for which the editions have been collated. [xvi]I always cite the earliest; that the later ones also contain the piece in question must, once for all, be understood.

Th.—I. IX. XI. XXII. Also collated for IV. V. VII. VIII. X. XII. XVI. XVII. XVIII. XIX. XXI. XXIII.

§ 6. Conversely, I here give the authorities from which each piece is derived. For further comments on some of them, see the separate introductions to each piece below.

III. Jack Upland (prose).—Early edition, Caius College library; Speght (1598).

V. Letter of Cupid (476 lines).—Th. (1532); Fairfax, Bodley, Tanner, Selden, Ashburnham, Digby MSS.; Trin. Coll. R. 3. 20; Camb. Ff. 1. 6; also in the Bannatyne MS.

VII. A Moral Balade (189).—Th. (1532); Caxton; Ashmole 59, Harl. 2251. (I also find a reference to Harl. 367, fol. 85, back.)

VIII. Complaint of the Black Knight (681).—Th. (1532); Fairfax, Bodley, Tanner, Digby, Selden, Pepys; Addit. 16165. Also printed, separately, by Wynkyn de Worde (n. d.); and at Edinburgh, by Chepman and Miller, in 1508.

XIII. Beware of Doubleness (104).—Stowe (1561); Fairfax 16, Ashmole 59, Harl. 7578, Addit. 16165.

XIV. A Balade: Warning Men (49).—Stowe (1561); Harl. 2251, fol. 149, back; Trin. R. 3. 19; Trin. O. 9. 38.

XVI. La Belle Dame sans Mercy (856).—Th.; Fairfax, Harl. 372; Camb. Ff. 1. 6; Trin. R. 3. 19, fol. 98.

XVIII. The Cuckoo and the Nightingale (290).—Th.; Fairfax, Bodley, Tanner, Selden; Camb. Ff. 1. 6.

Of this piece no MS. copy has been discovered. The only authority is Thynne's edition of 1532, whence all later editions have been copied more or less incorrectly. The reprints will be found to grow steadily worse, so that the first edition is the only one worth consulting.

The present edition is printed from a transcript of Thynne (1532), made by myself; the proof-sheets being carefully read with the original. In making the transcript, I have altered the symbol u to v, when used as a consonant; and (in the few places where it occurs) the consonantal i to j. I have also substituted i for y when the vowel is short, chiefly in the case of the suffix -yng or -ynge, here printed -ing or -inge. In nearly all other cases, the original spellings are given in the footnotes. Thynne's chief errors of printing occur in places where he has persistently altered the spelling of the MS. to suit the spelling in fashion in the days of Henry VIII. His chief alterations are as follows. He prints ea for open ee, written ee or e at the beginning of the fifteenth century; thus, he has ease for ese, and please for plese. He most perversely adds a useless final e to the words howe, nowe, and some others; and he commits the anachronism of printing father, mother, together, wether, gather, in place of fader, moder, togeder, weder, gader; whereas the termination in these words invariably appears as -der till shortly before 1500. Further, he prints catche for cacche, perfection for perfeccion, and the like; and in several other [xix]ways has much impaired the spelling of his original. Many of these things I have attempted to set right; and the scholar who compares the text with the footnotes will easily see why each alteration has been made, if he happens to be at all conversant with MSS. written in the fourteenth century.

I believe that this piece is almost unparalleled as regards the shameful corruption of its text. It cannot be supposed that Thynne or any one else ever read it over with the view of seeing whether the result presented any sense. Originally written in an obscure style, every form of carelessness seems to have been employed in order to render it more obscure than before. In a great number of places, it is easy to restore the sense by the insertion of such necessary words as of, or but, or by. In other places, non-existent words can be replaced by real ones; or some correction can be made that is more or less obvious. I have marked all inserted words by placing them within square brackets, as, e.g., am in l. 46 on p. 6. Corrections of readings are marked by the use of a dagger (†); thus 'I †wot wel' in l. 78 on p. 7 is my emendation of Thynne's phrase 'I wol wel,' which is duly recorded in the footnote. But some sentences remain in which the sense is not obvious; and one is almost tempted to think that the author did not clearly know what he intended to say. That he was remarkable for a high degree of inaccuracy will appear presently.

A strange misprint occurs in Book III. ch. 4, ll. 30, 31 (p. 117), where nearly two whole lines occur twice over; but the worst confusion is due to an extraordinary dislocation of the text in Book III. (c. iv. l. 56—c. ix. l. 46), as recently discovered by the sagacity of Mr. H. Bradley, and explained more fully below.

I have also, for the first time, revised the punctuation, which in Thynne is only denoted by frequent sloping strokes and full stops, which are not always inserted in the right places. And I have broken up the chapters into convenient paragraphs.

§ 8. A very curious point about this piece is the fact which I was the first to observe, viz. that the initial letters of the various chapters were certainly intended to form an acrostic. Unfortunately, Thynne did not perceive this design, and has certainly begun some of the chapters either with the wrong letter or at a wrong place. The sense shews that the first letter of Book I. ch. viii. should be E, not O (see the note); and, with this [xx]correction, the initial letters of the First Book yield the words—MARGARETE OF.

In Book II, Thynne begins Chapters XI and XII at wrong places, viz. with the word 'Certayn' (p. 86, l. 133), and the word 'Trewly' (p. 89, l. 82). He thus produces the words—VIRTW HAVE MCTRCI. It is obvious that the last word ought to be MERCI, which can be obtained by beginning Chapter XI with the word 'Every,' which suits the sense quite as well.

For the chapters of Book III, we are again dependent on Thynne. If we accept his arrangement as it stands, the letters yielded are—ON THSKNVI; and the three books combined give us the sentence:—MARGARETE OF VIRTW, HAVE MERCI ON THSKNVI. Here 'Margarete of virtw' means 'Margaret endued with divine virtue'; and the author appeals either to the Grace of God, or to the Church. The last word ought to give us the author's name; but in that case the letters require rearrangement before the riddle can be read with certainty.

After advancing so far towards the solution of the mystery, I was here landed in a difficulty which I was unable to solve. But Mr. H. Bradley, by a happy inspiration, hit upon the idea that the text might have suffered dislocation; and was soon in a position to prove that no less than six leaves of the MS. must have been out of place, to the great detriment of the sense and confusion of the argument. He very happily restored the right order, and most obligingly communicated to me the result. I at once cancelled the latter part of the treatise (from p. 113 to the end), and reprinted this portion in the right order, according to the sense. With this correction, the unmeaning THSKNVI is resolved into the two words THIN USK, i.e. 'thine Usk'; a result the more remarkable because Mr. Bradley had previously hit upon Usk as being the probable author. For the autobiographical details exactly coincide, in every particular, with all that is known of the career of Thomas Usk, according to Walsingham, the Rolls of Parliament, and the continuation of Higden's Polychronicon by John Malverne (ed. Lumby, vol. ix. pp. 45-6, 134, 150, 169); cf. Lingard, ed. 1874, iii. 163-7.

The date of the composition of this piece can now be determined without much error. Usk was executed on March 4, 1388, and we find him referring to past events that happened towards the end of 1384 or later. The most likely date is about 1387. [xxi]I here append an exact account of the order of the text as it appears in Thynne; every break in the text being denoted, in the present volume, by a dark asterisk.

Thynne's text is in a correct order from p. 1 to p. 118, l. 56:—any mouable tyme there (Th. fol. 354, col. 2, l. 11)^[5].

(1) Next comes, in Thynne, the passage beginning at p. 135, l. 94:—Fole, haue I not seyd—and ending at p. 143, l. 46:—syth god is the greatest loue and the (Th. fol. 356, back, col. 1, l. 5).

(2) Next, in Thynne, the passage beginning at p. 131, l. 97:—ne ought to loke thynges with resonnyng—and ending at p. 132, l. 161, at the end of a chapter (Th. fol. 356, back, col. 2, last line).

(3) Next, in Thynne, the passage beginning at p. 124, l. 8:—Now trewly, lady—and ending at p. 128, at the end of the chapter (Th. fol. 357, last line).

(4) Next, in Thynne, the passage beginning at p. 132, new chapter:—Uery trouth (quod she)—and ending at p. 135, l. 94:—that shal bringe out frute that (Th. fol. 358, back, col. 1, l. 25).

(5) Next, in Thynne, the passage beginning at p. 118, l. 56:—is nothyng preterit ne passed—and ending at p. 124, l. 7:—euer to onbyde (Th. fol. 360, col. 1, l. 24).

(6) Next, in Thynne, the passage beginning at p. 128, new chapter:—Nowe, lady (quod I) that tree to set—and ending at p. 131, l. 97:—vse ye (Th. fol. 360, back, col. 2, l. 9).

(7) Lastly, the text reverts to the true order, at p. 143, l. 46, with the words:—greatest wisdom (Th. fol. 360, back, col. 2, l. 9. as before). See The Athenæum, no. 3615, Feb. 6, 1897.

It is not difficult to account for this somewhat confusing dislocation. It is clear that the original MS. was written on quires of the usual size, containing 8 folios apiece. The first 10 quires, which we may call a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, and k, were in the right order. The rest of the MS. occupied quire l (of 8 folios), and quire m (of only 2); the last page being blank. The seventh folio of l was torn up the back, so that the two leaves parted company; and the same happened to both the folios in quire m, leaving six leaves loose. What then happened was this:—first of all, folios l₁—l₄, were reversed and turned inside out; then [xxii]came the former halves of m₁, and m₂, and the latter half of l₇; next l₅ and l₆ (undetached), with the former half of l₇ thrust in the middle; so that the order in this extraordinary quire was as follows: l₄, l₃, l₂, l₁, all inside out, half of m₁, half of m₂, the latter half of l₇, l₅, l₆, and the former half of l₇, followed by the six undetached leaves. The last quire simply consisted of l₈ (entire), followed by the latter halves of m₂ and m₁, which were kept in the right order by the fact that the last page was blank.

It has thus become possible for us to make some progress towards the right understanding of the work, which has hitherto been much misunderstood. Warton (Hist. E. Poetry, 1840, ii. 218) dismisses it in two lines:—'It is a lover's parody of Boethius's book De Consolatione mentioned above'; whereas the author was not a lover at all, except in a spiritual sense. Even the fuller account in Morley's English Writers (1890), v. 261, is not wholly correct. The statement is there made, that 'it professes to be written, and probably was written, by a prisoner in danger of his life'; but the prison^[6] may have been at first metaphorical, as he could hardly have written the whole work in two or three months. In Book iii. ch. 9, ll. 131, 132, he prays that 'God's hand, which has scourged him in mercy, may hereafter mercifully keep and defend him in good plight.' The whole tone of the treatise shews that he is writing to justify himself, and thinks that he has succeeded. But a stern doom was close at hand.

§ 9. The truth is that the attempts of Godwin and others to make the autobiographical statements of the author fit into the life of Chaucer, have quite led the critics out of the right track. That the author was not Chaucer is perfectly obvious to every one who reads the passage in the lower half of p. 140 with moderate attention; for the author there refers to Chaucer as Love's 'noble philosophical poet in English,' who wrote a treatise of Love's servant Troilus, and who 'passeth all other makers in wit and in good reason of sentence'; praise which, however true it may be of Chaucer, the writer was certainly not entitled to claim for himself. The sole point in which the circumstances of the author agree with those of Chaucer is this—that they were both born in London; which is, obviously, too slight a coincidence to build [xxiii]upon. Now that we know the author's name to have been Thomas Usk, the matter assumes quite another complexion. Usk was much inclined, in his early days, to a belief in Lollard opinions; but when he found that persistence in such belief was likely to lead to trouble and danger, he deemed it prudent to recant as completely as he could^[7], and contemplates his consequent security with some complacency.

In just the same way, it appears that he had changed sides in politics. We first find him in the position of confidential clerk to John of Northampton, mayor of London in 1381-2 and 1382-3. In July, 1384, Usk was arrested and imprisoned in order to induce him to reveal certain secrets implicating Northampton. This he consented to do, and accused Northampton before the king at Reading, on the 18th of August. Northampton strenuously denied the charges against him, but was condemned as guilty, and sent to Corfe castle^[8]. After this, Usk joined the party of Sir Nicholas Brembre, mayor of London in 1383-4, 1384-5, and 1385-6, and Collector of Customs in 1381-3, when Chaucer was Comptroller of the same. Brembre had been active in procuring the condemnation of Northampton, and was, at the close of 1386, one of the few personal adherents who remained faithful to the king. In 1387, Richard was busily devising means for the overthrow of the duke of Gloucester's regency, Brembre and Usk being on the king's side; but his attempts were unsuccessful, and, in November of the same year, the duke of Gloucester and his partisans, who were called the 'appellants,' became masters of the situation; they accused the king's councillors of treason, and imprisoned or banished their opponents. On Feb. 3, 1388, the appellants produced their charges against their victims, Brembre and Usk being among the number. Both were condemned and executed, Brembre on Feb. 20, and Usk on the 4th of March. Usk's offence was that he had been appointed sub-sheriff of Middlesex by Brembre's influence^[9], with a view to the arrest of the duke of Gloucester and others of his party. His defence was that all that he had done was by the king's orders, a defence on which he doubtless relied. Unfortunately for him, it was [xxiv]an aggravation of his crime. It was declared that he ought to have known that the king was not at the time his own master, but was acting according to the counsel of false advisers; and this sealed his fate. He was sentenced to be drawn, hung, and beheaded, and that his head should be set up over Newgate. The sentence was barbarously carried out; he was hung but immediately cut down, and clumsily beheaded by nearly thirty strokes of a sword. 'Post triginta mucronis ictus fere decapitatus semper usque ad mortem nunquam fatebatur se deliquisse contra Johannem Northampton, sed erant omnia vera quae de eo praedicaverat coram rege in quodam consilio habito apud Radyngum anno elapso.'—Higden, App. 169. John of Malverne speaks as if he had some personal recollection of Usk, of whom he says—'Satagebat namque astu et arte illorum amicitiam sibi attrahere quos procul dubio ante capitales hostes sibi fuisse cognovit,'—Ib. p. 45.

We can now readily understand that Usk's praise of Chaucer must have been more embarrassing than acceptable; and perhaps it was not altogether without design that the poet, in his House of Fame, took occasion to let the world know how he devoted his leisure time to other than political subjects.

§ 10. Some of the events of his life are alluded to by Usk in the present treatise. He justifies his betrayal of Northampton (p. 26, ll. 53-103, p. 28, ll. 116-201), and is grateful for the king's pardon (p. 60, ll. 120-4). He refers to his first imprisonment (p. 60, l. 104), and tells us that he offered wager of battle against all who disputed his statements (p. 60, l, 116; p. 31, l. 10); but no one accepted the wager.

He further tells us how he endeavoured to make his peace with the Church. Taking his cue from the parable of the merchantman seeking goodly pearls (p. 16, l. 84), he likens the visible Church of Christ to the pearl of great price (p. 145, l. 103; p. 94, l. 121), and piteously implores her mercy (p. 8, l. 135); and the whole tone of the piece shews his confidence that he is reasonably safe (p. 144, l. 120). He sees clearly that lollardy is unacceptable, and indulges in the usual spiteful fling against the cockle (lolia) which the Lollards were reproached with sowing (p. 48, l. 93). He had once been a heretic (p. 99, l. 29), and in danger of 'never returning' to the true Church (p. 99, l. 38); but he secured his safety by a full submission (p. 105, l. 133). [xxv]

At the same time, there is much about the piece that is vague, shifty, and unsatisfactory. He is too full of excuses, and too plausible; in a word, too selfish. Hence he has no real message for others, but only wishes to display his skill, which he does by help of the most barefaced and deliberate plagiarism. It was not from the Consolatio Philosophiae of Boethius, but from the English translation of that work by Chaucer, that he really drew his materials; and he often takes occasion to lift lines or ideas from the poem of Troilus whenever he can find any that come in handy. In one place he turns a long passage from the House of Fame into very inferior prose. There are one or two passages that remind us of the Legend of Good Women (i. pr. 100, ii. 3. 38, iii. 7. 38); but they are remarkably few. But he keeps a copy of Chaucer's Boethius always open before him, and takes from it passage after passage, usually with many alterations, abbreviations, expansions, and other disfigurements; but sometimes without any alteration at all. A few examples will suffice, as a large number of parallel passages are duly pointed out in the Notes.

§ 11. In Chaucer's Boethius (bk. i. pr. 3. 10), when Philosophy, the heavenly visitant, comes to comfort the writer, her first words are:—'O my norry, sholde I forsaken thee now?' In the Testament (p. 10, l. 37), Heavenly Love commences her consolations with the same exclamation:—'O my nory, wenest thou that my maner be, to foryete my frendes or my servaunts?' The Latin text—'An te, alumne, desererem?'—does not suggest this remarkable mode of address.

This, however, is a mere beginning; it is not till further on that plagiarisms begin to be frequent. At first, as at p. 37, the author copies the sense rather than the words; but he gradually begins to copy words and phrases also. Thus, at p. 43, l. 38, his 'chayres of domes' comes from Chaucer's 'heye chayres' in bk. i. met. 5. 27; and then, in the next line, we find 'vertue, shynende naturelly ... is hid under cloude,' where Chaucer has 'vertu, cler-shyninge naturelly is hid in derke derknesses'; bk. i. met. 5. 28. At p. 44, l. 66, we have: 'Whan nature brought thee forth, come thou not naked out of thy moders wombe? Thou haddest no richesse'; where Chaucer has: 'Whan that nature broughte thee forth out of thy moder wombe, I receyved thee naked, and nedy of alle thinges'; bk. ii. pr. 2. 10. Just a few lines [xxvi]below (ll. 71-76) we have the sense, but not the words, of the neighbouring passage in Chaucer (ll. 23-25). Further literal imitations are pointed out in the Notes to l. 85 in the same chapter, and elsewhere. See, for example, the Notes to Book ii. ch. iv. 4, 14, 20, 61; ch. v. 15, 57, 65, 67, 79; ch. vi. 11, 30, 74, 117, 123, 129, 132, 143; ch. vii. 8, 14, 20, 23, 30, 39, 50, 74, 95, 98, 105, 109, 114, 117, 130, 135, 139, 148; &c.

'O! a noble thing and clere is power, that is not founden mighty to kepe himselfe'; (p. 70, l. 20).

'O! a noble thing and a cleer thing is power, that is nat founden mighty to kepen it-self'; Ch. Boeth. bk. iii. pr. 5. 5-7.

The Latin text is: 'O praeclara potentia quae nec ad conseruationem quidem sui satis efficax inuenitur.' I see no reason for supposing that the author anywhere troubled himself to consult the Latin original. Indeed, it is possible to correct errors in the text by help of Chaucer's version; see the last note on p. 461.

§ 12. We get the clearest idea of the author's method by observing his treatment of the House of Fame, 269-359. It is worth while to quote the whole passage:—

If the reader will now turn to p. 54, l. 45, and continue down to l. 81 on the next page, he will find the whole of this passage turned into prose, with numerous cunning alterations and a few insertions, yet including all such words as are printed above in italics! That is, he will find all except the proverb in ll. 290, 291; but this also is not far off; for it occurs over the leaf, on p. 56, at l. 115, and again at p. 22, ll. 44-45! Surely, this is nothing but book-making, and the art of it does not seem to be difficult.

§ 13. The author expressly acknowledges his admiration of Troilus (p. 140, l. 292); and it is easy to see his indebtedness to that poem. He copies Chaucer's curious mistake as to Styx being a pit (p. 3, l. 80, and the note). He adopts the words let-game (p. 18, l. 124) and wiver (p. 129, l. 27). He quotes a whole line from Troilus at p. 27, l. 78 (see note); and spoils another one at p. 34, ch. viii. l. 5, a third at p. 80, l. 116, and a fourth at p. 128, ch. vii. l. 2. We can see whence he took his allusion to 'playing raket,' and to the dock and nettle, at p. 13, ll. 166, 167; and the phrase to 'pype with an yvè-lefe' at p. 134, l. 50.

It is further observable that he had read a later text of Piers Plowman with some care, but he seems to quote it from memory, as at p. 18, l. 153, and p. 24, l. 118. A few other passages in which he seems to have taken ideas from this popular and remarkable poem are pointed out in the Notes. It is [xxviii]probable that he thence adopted the words legistres and skleren; for which see the Glossary, and consult the Notes for the references which are there given.

§ 14. The author is frequently guilty of gross inaccuracies. He seems to confuse Cain with Ham (p. 52, ll. 107, 109), but Cayn, says Mr. Bradley, may be Thynne's misprint for Cam, i.e. Ham. He certainly confuses Perdiccas with Arrhidæus (p. 52, l. 116). He speaks of the eighth year, instead of the seventh, as being a sabbatical year, and actually declares that the ordinary week contains seven working-days (p. 24, ll. 102-104)! He tells us that Sunday begins 'at the first hour after noon (!) on Saturday' (p. 82, l. 163). Hence it is not to be wondered at that some of his arguments and illustrations are quite unintelligible.

§ 15. The title of the work, viz. The Testament of Love, readily reminds us of the passage in Gower already quoted in vol. iii. p. xliii., in which the goddess Venus proposes that Chaucer should write 'his testament of love,' in order 'to sette an ende of alle his werke.' I have already explained that the real reference in this passage is to the Legend of Good Women; but I am not prepared, at present, to discuss the connection between the expression in Gower and the treatise by Usk. The fact that our author adopted the above title may have led to the notion that Chaucer wrote the treatise here discussed; but it is quite clear that he had nothing to do with it.

Professor Morley well says that 'the writer of this piece uses the word Testament in the old Scriptural sense of a witnessing, and means by Love the Divine Love, the Christian spirit encouraging and directing the wish for the grace of God, called Margaret, the pearl beyond all price.' To which, however, it is highly essential to add that Margaret is not used in the sense of 'grace' alone, but is also employed, in several passages, to signify 'the visible Church of Christ.' The author is, in fact, careful to warn us of the varying, the almost Protean sense of the word at p. 145, where he tells us that 'Margarite, a woman [i.e. properly a woman's name], betokeneth grace, lerning, or wisdom of god, or els holy church.' His object seems to have been to extend the meaning of the word so as to give him greater scope for ingenuity in varying his modes of reference to it. He has certainly succeeded in adding to the obscurity of his subject. That by 'holy church' he meant the visible Church of Christ of his [xxix]own time, appears from the remarkable assertion that it is 'deedly,' i.e. mortal (p. 94, l. 121). Such an epithet is inapplicable to the Church in its spiritual character. It may also be observed that, however much the sense implied by Margarite may vary, it never takes the meaning which we should most readily assign to it; i.e. it never means a live woman, nor represents even an imaginary object of natural human affection. The nearest approach to such an ideal is at p. 94, l. 114, where we are told that the jewel which he hopes to attain is as precious a pearl as a woman is by nature.

§ 16. It hardly seems worth while to give a detailed analysis of the whole piece. An analysis of the First Book (which is, on the whole, the best) is given by Professor Morley; and the hints which I have already given as to the character and situation of the author will enable the reader to regard the treatise from a right point of view. But it is proper to observe that the author himself tells us how he came to divide the work into three books^[10], and what are the ideas on which each book is founded. Each of the three books has an introductory chapter. That to the First Book I have called a Prologue; and perhaps it would have been strictly correct to have called the first chapters of the other books by the same name. In the introductory chapter to the Third Book, p. 101, he declares that the First Book is descriptive of Error, or Deviation (which the editions print as Demacion!); the Second, of Grace; and the Third, of Joy. In other words, the First Book is particularly devoted to recounting the errors of his youth, especially how he was led by others into a conspiracy against the state and into deviation from orthodoxy. In the Prologue, he excuses himself for writing in English, and announces the title of the work. He then assures us that he is merely going to gather up the crumbs that have fallen from the table, and to glean handfuls of corn which Boethius has dropped. 'A sly servant in his own help is often much commended'; and this being understood, he proceeds to help himself accordingly, as has already been explained.

§ 17. Book I: Ch. I. In Chapter I, he describes his misery, [xxx]and hopes that the dice will turn, and implores the help of Margaret, here used (apparently) to typify the grace of God. He represents himself as being in prison, in imitation of Boethius; but I suspect that, in the present passage, the prison was metaphorical. (He had been imprisoned in 1384, and in 1387 was imprisoned again; but that is another matter.)

Ch. II. Heavenly Love suddenly appears to him, as Philosophy appeared to Boethius, and is ready to console and reclaim him. She is aware of his losses, and he tries to vindicate his constancy of character.

Ch. III. He describes how he once wandered through the woods at the close of autumn, and was attacked by some animals who had suddenly turned wild. To save himself, he embarks on board a ship; but the reader is disappointed to find that the adventure is wholly unreal; the ship is the ship of Travail, peopled by Sight, Lust, Thought, and Will. He is driven on an island, where he catches a glimpse of Love, and finds a Margaret, a pearl of price. He appeals to Love to comfort him.

Ch. IV. Love first reproves and then consoles him. She enquires further into his complaints.

Ch. V. She advises him to contemn such as have spoken against him. He complains that he has served seven years for Rachel, and prays for comfort in his eighth year. She exhorts him to perseverance.

Ch. VI. He here goes into several details as to his previous conduct. The authorities threatened to keep him in prison, unless he would reveal a certain secret or plot. He was afraid that the peace of his native place, London, would suffer; and to procure its peace, he 'declared certain points.' Being charged upon oath to reveal certain secret dealings, he at once did so; for which he incurred much odium.

Ch. VII. To prove that he had only spoken the truth, he offered wager of battle; and was justified by the fact that no one accepted it. He had not perjured himself, because his oath in the law-court was superior to his former oath of secrecy. He only meant truth, but was sadly slandered. It is absurd to be 'a stinking martyr' in a false cause.

Ch. VIII. Love tells him he has greatly erred, and must expect much correction. Earthly fame should be despised, whilst he looks for the fame that comes after death. [xxxi]

Ch. IX. Love vindicates the greatness of God and the goodness of His providence.

Ch. X. The author complains of his hard fortune; he has lost his goods and has been deprived of his office. Love explains that adversity teaches salutary lessons, and that the true riches may still be his own.

§ 18. Book II. In the first chapter (or Prologue) of the Second Book, he again discusses the object of his work. In Chapter II, Love sings him a Latin song, introducing complaints against the clergy such as frequently occur in Piers the Plowman. In Chapter III, we find a discourse on womankind, largely borrowed from Chaucer's House of Fame. The next eight chapters are chiefly devoted to a discussion of the way by which the repentant sinner may come to 'the knot' of Heavenly bliss; and it is here, in particular, that a large portion of Chaucer's Boethius is freely imitated or copied. The last three chapters recount the excellences of Margaret, which in many passages refers rather to the visible Church than to divine Grace.

§ 19. Book III. The first chapter is again introductory, explaining why the number of Books is three. 'The Margaret in virtue is likened to Philosophy, with her three kinds.' It is remarkable that this Third Book, which is dedicated to Joy, is the dullest of the three, being largely taken up with the questions of predestination and free will, with more borrowings from Chaucer's Boethius. In Chapter V, Love explains how continuance in good will produces the fruit of Grace; and, in Chapters VI and VII, shews how such grace is to be attained. Chapter IX recurs to the subject of predestination; after which the work comes to a formal conclusion, with excuses for its various imperfections.

This piece does not appear in Thynne's first edition of 1532, but occurs, for the first time, in the second edition of 1542, where it is added at the end of the Canterbury Tales, after the Parson's Tale. In the next (undated) edition, probably printed about 1550, it is placed before the Parson's Tale, as if it were really Chaucer's, and the same arrangement occurs in the fourth edition, that of 1561, by John Stowe. It is worth mentioning that some booksellers put forward a fable as to the true date of the undated [xxxii]edition being 1539, in order to enhance the value of their copies; but the pretence is obviously false, as is shewn by collation^[11]; besides which, it is not likely that the Plowman's Tale would have been at first inserted before the Parson's Tale, then placed after it, and then again placed before it. It is best to separate the first four editions by nearly equal intervals, their dates being, respectively, 1532, 1542, about 1550, and 1561.

Comparison of the black-letter editions shews that the first is the best; and the later ones, being mere reprints, grow gradually worse. Hence, in this case, the edition of 1542 is the sole authority, and the readings of the inferior copies may be safely neglected. It is remarkable that Mr. T. Wright, in his edition of this poem printed in his Political Poems and Songs, i. 304, should have founded his text upon a reprint of Speght in 1687, when he might have taken as his authority a text more than 140 years older. The result is, naturally, that his text is much worse than was at all necessary.

According to Speght, there was once a MS. copy of this piece in Stowe's library, but no one knows what became of it. According to Todd, in his Illustrations of Gower and Chaucer, p. xxxix, there was once a black-letter edition of it, entitled 'The Plouuman's tale compylled by syr Geffray Chaucer knyght.' Todd says: 'It is of the duodecimo size, in the black letter, without date, and imprinted at London in Paules churche-yarde at the sygne of the Hyll, by Wyllyam Hyll. I have compared with the poem as printed by Urry forty or fifty lines, and I found almost as many variations between them^[12]. The colophon of this book is, Thus endeth the boke of Chaunterburye Tales. This rarity belongs to the Rev. Mr. Conybeare, the present Professor of the Saxon language in the University of Oxford.' This edition can no longer be traced. Hazlitt mentions a black-letter edition of this piece, printed separately by Thomas Godfray (about 1535), on twenty leaves; of which only one copy is known, viz. that at Britwell. There is also a late print of it in the Bodleian Library, dated 1606.

§ 21. It is needless to discuss the possibility that Chaucer wrote this Tale, as it is absent from all the MSS.; and it does not [xxxiii]appear that the ascription of it to him was taken seriously. It is obvious, from the introductory Prologue (p. 147), that the author never intended his work to be taken for Chaucer's; he purposely chooses a different metre from any that occurs in the Canterbury Tales, and he introduces his Ploughman as coming under the Host's notice quite suddenly, so that the Host is constrained to ask him—'what man art thou?' The whole manner of the Tale is conspicuously and intentionally different from that of Chaucer; and almost the only expression which at all resembles Chaucer occurs in ll. 51, 52:—

Chaucer himself, before reciting his Tale of Melibeus, said much the same thing:—

I do not know why Mr. Wright, when reprinting this piece, omitted the Prologue. It is a pity that half of the sixth stanza is missing.

It is generally agreed that the author here claims to have previously written the well-known piece entitled Pierce the Ploughman's Crede, which I edited for the Early English Text Society in 1867. I then took occasion to compare the language of these two pieces (which I shall shortly call the Crede and the Tale), and I found ample confirmation, from internal evidence, that the claim is certainly true. There are many similarities of expression, some of which I here lay before the reader.

The Crede is written in alliterative verse; and it will be observed that alliteration is employed in the Tale very freely. Another peculiarity in the Tale may here be noticed, viz. the use of the same rime, fall or befall, throughout Part I, with the exception of ll. 205-228. Indeed, in the first line of Part II, the author apologizes for being unable to find any more rimes for fall, and proceeds to rime upon amend throughout that Part. In Part III, he begins to rime upon grace in the first two stanzas, but soon abandons it for the sake of freedom; however, at l. 1276, he recurs to grace, and continues to rime upon it till the end. It is clear that the author possessed considerable facility of expression. We can date these pieces approximately without much error. The proceedings against Walter Brute, expressly alluded to in the Crede, l. 657, lasted from Oct. 15, 1391, to Oct. 6, 1393, when he submitted himself to the bishop of Hereford. We may well date the Crede about 1394, and the Tale (which probably soon followed it, as the author repeats some of his expressions) about 1395^[13].

Both these pieces are written in a spirited style, and are of considerable interest for the light which they throw upon many [xxxv]of the corrupt practices of the monks, friars, and clergy. The Crede is directed against the friars in particular, and reflects many of the opinions of Wyclif, as will easily appear by comparing it with Wyclif's works. See, in particular, his Fifty Heresies and Errors of Friars (Works, ed. Arnold, iii. 366). It would have been easy to crowd the Notes with quotations from Wyclif; but it is sufficient to point out so obvious a source. I have not observed any passage in which the author copies the exact language of Langland. The dialect seems to be some form of Midland, and is somewhat archaic; many of the verbal forms are of some value to the philologist. Taken altogether, it is a piece of considerable interest and merit. Ten Brink alludes to it as 'that transparent, half-prophetic allegory of the Quarrel between the Griffin and the Pelican'; and adds—'The Griffin was the representative of the prelates and the monks, the Pelican that of real Christianity in Wyclif's sense. At a loss for arguments, the Griffin calls in at last all the birds of prey in order to destroy its rival. The Phoenix, however, comes to the help of the Pelican, and terribly destroys the robber-brood.'

Tyrwhitt observed, with great acuteness, that Spenser's allusion, in the Epilogue to his Shepheards Calender, to 'the Pilgrim that the Ploughman playde awhyle,' may well refer to the author of the Plowman's Tale rather than to Langland^[14]. Cf. p. 147, l. 12. It was natural that Spenser should mention him along with Chaucer, because their productions were bound up together in the same volume; a volume which was, to Spenser, a treasure-house of archaic words.

The discussion on points of religion between the Griffin and the Pelican clearly suggested to Dryden his discussion between the Hind and the Panther. His choice of quadrupeds in place of birds is certainly no improvement.

Of this piece, no MS. copy is known. It is usually said to have been first printed by Speght, in his second edition of Chaucer's Works in 1602; but I have been so fortunate as to find a better [xxxvi]and earlier text in the library of Caius College, Cambridge, to which my attention was drawn by a note in Hazlitt's Bibliographer's Handbook. This copy, here taken as the basis of my text, and collated with Speght, is a small book consisting of only 16 leaves. The title-page contains the following words, within a square border. ¶ Jack vp Lande | Compyled by the | famous Geoffrey | Chaucer. | Ezechielis. xiii. | ¶ Wo be vnto you that | dishonour me to me (sic) peo | ple for an handful of bar | lye & for a pece of bread. | Cum priuilegio | Regali.

At the end of the treatise is the colophon: ¶ Prynted for Ihon Gough. Cum Priuilegio Regali.

Hazlitt conjectures that it was printed about 1540. I think we may safely date it in 1536; for it is bound up in a volume with several other tracts, and it so happens that the tract next following it is by Myles Coverdale, and is dated 1536, being printed in just the very same type and style. We can also tell that it must have been printed after 1535, because the verse from Ezekiel xiii, as quoted on the title-page (see above), exactly corresponds with Coverdale's version of the Bible, the first edition of which appeared in that year.

The text of Jack Upland, in the Caius College copy, has the following heading, in small type:—'¶ These bē the lewed questions of Freres rytes and obseruaunces the whych they chargen more than Goddes lawe, and therfore men shulden not gyue hem what so they beggen, tyll they hadden answered and clerely assoyled these questions.'

As this copy is, on the whole, considerably superior to Speght's both as regards sense and spelling, I have not given his inferior readings and errors. In a very few places, Speght furnishes some obvious corrections; and in such instances his readings are noted.

§ 24. A very convenient reprint of Speght's text is given in Wright's edition of Political Poems and Songs (Record Series), vol. ii. p. 16. In the same volume, p. 39, is printed a reply to Jack Upland's questions by a friar who facetiously calls himself Friar Daw Topias, though it appears (from a note printed at p. 114) that his real name was John Walsingham. Nor is this all; for Friar Daw's reply is further accompanied by Jack Upland's rejoinder, printed, for convenience, below Friar Daw's text. It is most likely, as Mr. Wright concludes, that all three pieces may be [xxxvii]dated in the same year. It was necessary that Friar Daw (who gave himself this name in order to indicate that he is a comparatively unlearned man, yet easily able to refute his audacious questioner) should produce his reply at once; and we may be sure that Jack's rejoinder was not long delayed. Fortunately, the date can be determined with sufficient exactness; for Jack's rejoinder contains the allusion: 'and the kyng by his juges trwe [sholde] execute his lawe, as he did now late, whan he hangid you traytours,' p. 86. This clearly refers to June, 1402^[15], when eight Franciscan friars were hanged at Tyburn for being concerned in a plot against the life of Henry IV. We may, accordingly, safely refer all three pieces to the year 1402; shortly after Chaucer's death.

§ 25. It is also tolerably clear that there must have been two texts of 'Jack Upland,' an earlier and a later one. The earlier one, of which we have no copy, can easily be traced by help of Friar Daw's reply, as he quotes all that is material point by point. It only extended as far as the 54th question in the present edition (p. 199); after which followed two more questions which do not here reappear. The later copy also contains a few questions, not far from the beginning, which Friar Daw ignores. It is clear that we only possess a later, and, on the whole, a fuller copy. One of the omitted questions relates to transubstantiation; and, as any discussion of it was extremely likely, at that date, to be ended by burning the disputant at the stake, it was certainly prudent to suppress it. Not perceiving this point, Mr. Wright too hastily concluded that our copy of Jack Upland is extremely corrupt, a conclusion quite unwarranted; inasmuch as Friar Daw, in spite of his affectation of alliterative verse, quotes his adversary's questions with reasonable correctness. On this unsound theory Mr. Wright has built up another, still less warranted, viz. that the original copy of Jack Upland must have been written in alliterative verse; for no other reason than because Friar Daw's reply is so written. It is obvious that alliteration is conspicuously absent, except in the case of the four lines (424-7), which are introduced, by way of flourish, at the end. My own belief is that our copy of Jack Upland is a second edition, i.e. an amended and extended [xxxviii]copy, which has been reasonably well preserved. It is more correct than the Plowmans Tale, and very much more correct than the Testament of Love.

§ 26. Mr. Wright further imagines that Jack Upland's rejoinder to Friar Daw's reply, which he prints from 'a contemporary MS. in the Bodleian Library at Oxford, MS. Digby 41,' was also originally in alliterative verse. This supposition is almost as gratuitous as the former; for, although there are very frequent traces of alliteration as an occasional embellishment, it is otherwise written in ordinary prose. The mere chopping up of prose into bits of not very equal length, as in Mr. Wright's print, does not produce verse of any kind. Friar Daw's verses are bad enough, as he did not understand his model (obviously the Ploughman's Crede), but he usually succeeds in making a kind of jingle, with pauses, for the most part, in the right place. But there is no verse discoverable in Jack Upland; he preferred straightforward prose, for reasons that are perfectly obvious.

For further remarks, I beg leave to refer the reader to Mr. Wright's Introduction, pp. xii-xxiv, where he will find an excellent summary of the arguments adduced on both sides. There is a slight notice of Jack Upland in Morley's English Writers, vi. 234.

In Morley's English Writers, iv. 157, this poem is entitled 'De Pacis Commendatione,' on MS. authority (see p. 216). Mr. E. B. Nicholson, who has made a special study of Gower's poems, suggested 'The Praise of Peace,' which I have gladly adopted. I am much obliged to Mr. Nicholson for his assistance in various ways; and, in particular, for the generous loan of his own transcript of this poem.

§ 28. In Todd's Illustrations of Gower and Chaucer, p. 95, is a notice of a MS. 'in the present Marquis of Stafford's library at Trentham,' which had been previously described in Warton's Hist. of E. Poetry as being 'in Lord Gower's library.' Mr. Wright alludes to it as 'a contemporary MS. in the possession of his grace the duke of Sutherland.' It may be called 'the Trentham MS.' 'The Praise of Peace' was printed from it by Mr. Wright, in his Political Poems and Songs, ii. 4-15; and I have followed his text, which I denote by 'T.' At the same time, I have [xxxix]collated it with the text of Thynne's edition of 1532, which is a very good one. The differences are slight.

Warton describes the MS. as 'a thin oblong MS. on vellum, containing some of Gower's poems in Latin, French, and English. By an entry in the first leaf, in the handwriting and under the signature of Thomas lord Fairfax, Cromwell's general, an antiquarian, and a lover and collector of curious manuscripts, it appears that this book was presented by the poet Gower, about 1400^[16], to Henry IV; and that it was given by lord Fairfax to his friend and kinsman Sir Thomas Gower, knight and baronet, in the year 1656.' He goes on to say that Fairfax had it from Charles Gedde, Esq., of St. Andrews; and that it was at one time in the possession of King Henry VII, while earl of Richmond, who wrote in it his own name in the form 'Rychemond.'

The MS. contains (1) The Praise of Peace, preceded by the seven Latin lines (386-392), which I have relegated to the end of the poem, as in Thynne. The title is given in the colophon (p. 216); after which follow the twelve Latin lines (393-404), printed on the same page. (2) Some complimentary verses in Latin, also addressed to Henry IV, printed in Wright's Political Poems, ii. 1-3. (3) Fifty Balades in French, which have been printed by Stengel (Warton prints four of them), with the colophon—'Expliciunt carmina Johīs Gower que Gallice composita Balades dicuntur.' (4) Two short Latin poems in elegiacs; see Warton. (5) A French poem on the Dignity or Excellence of Marriage. (6) Seventeen Latin hexameters. (7) Gower's Latin verses on his blindness, beginning—

§ 29. The poem itself may safely be dated in the end of 1399, for reasons given in the note to l. 393. It is of some interest, as being Gower's last poem in English, and the spirit of it is excellent, though it contains no very striking lines. We have not much of Gower's work in the form of seven-line stanzas. The Confessio Amantis contains only twelve such stanzas; iii. 349-352. I draw attention to the earliest known reference (l. 295) to the game of 'tenetz'; the enumeration of the nine worthies (ll. 281-3); [xl]and the reference to a story about Constantine which, in the Confessio Amantis, is related at considerable length (l. 339).

We may compare with this poem the stanzas in praise of peace in Hoccleve's De Regimine Principum, quoted in Morley's English Writers (1890), vol. vi. pp. 131-2.

This poem needs little discussion. It is known to be Hoccleve's; see Dr. Furnivall's edition of Hoccleve's Minor Poems, E. E. T. S., 1892, p. 72. As explained in the notes, it is rather closely imitated from the French poem entitled L'Epistre au Dieu d'Amours, written by Christine de Pisan. At the end of her poem, Christine gives the date of its composition, viz. 1399; and Hoccleve, in like manner, gives the date of his poem as 1402. The poem consists of sixty-eight stanzas, of which not more than eighteen are wholly independent of the original. The chief original passages are ll. 176-189, 316-329, and 374-434.

The poem is entirely occupied with a defence of women, such as a woman might well make. It takes the form of a reproof, addressed by Cupid to all male lovers; and is directed, in particular, against the sarcasms of Jean de Meun (l. 281) in the celebrated Roman de la Rose.

Of this poem there are several MS. copies; see footnotes at p. 217. The best is probably the Ashburnham MS., but it has not yet been printed. I chiefly follow MS. Fairfax 16, which Dr. Furnivall has taken as the basis of his text.

There is also a poor and late copy in the Bannatyne MS., at fol. 269; see the print of it for the Hunterian Club, 1879; p. 783.

These two Balades, also by Hoccleve, were composed at the same time. The former is addressed to King Henry V, and the latter to the Knights of the Garter. They are very closely connected with a much longer poem of 512 lines, which was addressed to Sir John Oldcastle in August, 1415; and must have been written at about that date. It was natural enough that, whilst addressing his appeal to Oldcastle to renounce his heresies, the poet should briefly address the king on the same subject at the [xli]same time. I think we may safely date this piece, like the other, in August, 1415.

The remarkable likeness between the two pieces appears most in the references to Justinian and to Constantine. In fact, the reference to Justinian in l. 3 of the former of the Balades here printed would be unintelligible but for the full explanation which the companion poem affords. I have quoted, in the note to l. 3, the Latin note which is written in the margin of st. 24 of the address to Oldcastle; and I quote here the stanza itself:—

We may regret that Hoccleve's desire to make an example of heretics was so soon fulfilled. Only three years later, in Dec. 1418, Sir John Oldcastle was captured in Wales, brought up to London, and publicly burnt.

My text follows the sole good MS. (Phillipps 8151); which I have collated with the earliest printed text, that of 1542. There is, indeed, another MS. copy of the poem in the library of Trinity College, Cambridge (R. 3. 15); but it is only a late copy made from the printed book.

The heading to this poem is from MS. Ashmole 59; it is, unfortunately, somewhat obscure. It is, of course, not contemporaneous with the poem, but was added, by way of note, by John Shirley, when transcribing it. In fact, the third son of Henry IV was not created duke of Bedford till 1415, after the accession of Henry V; whereas Henry V is here referred to as being still 'my lord the Prince.' Hence the poem was written in the reign of Henry IV (1399-1413); but we can easily come much nearer than this to the true date. We may note, first of [xlii]all, that Chaucer is referred to as being dead (l. 65); so that the date is after 1400. Again, the poem does not appear to have been recited by the author; it was sent, in the author's handwriting, to the assembled guests (l. 3). Further, Scogan says that he was 'called' the 'fader,' i.e. tutor, of the young princes (l. 2); and that he sent the letter to them out of fervent regard for their welfare, in order to warn them (l. 35). He regrets that sudden age has come upon him (l. 10), and wishes to impart to them the lessons which the approach of old age suggests. All this points to a time when Scogan was getting past his regular work as tutor, though he still retained the title; which suggests a rather late date. We find, however, from the Inquisitiones post Mortem (iii. 315), that Henry Scogan died in 1407, and I have seen it noted (I forget where) that he only attained the age of forty-six. This shews that he was only relatively old, owing, probably, to infirm health; and we may safely date the poem in 1406 or 1407, the latter being the more likely. In 1407, the ages of the young princes were nineteen, eighteen, seventeen, and sixteen respectively, and it is not likely that Scogan had been their tutor for more than twelve years at most. This provisional date of 1407 sufficiently satisfies all the conditions.

The four sons of Henry IV were Henry, prince of Wales, born at Monmouth in 1388; Thomas, born in 1389, and created duke of Clarence in 1412; John, born in 1390, created duke of Bedford in 1415; and Humphrey, born in 1391, created duke of Gloucester in 1414.

§ 33. The expression at a souper of feorthe merchande is difficult, and I can only guess at the sense. Feorthe is Shirley's spelling of ferthe, i.e. fourth. Merchande is probably equivalent to O.F. marchandie or marchandise. Godefroy gives an example of the latter in the sense of 'merchant's company.' I suppose that feorthe merchande means 'fourth meeting of merchants,' or the fourth of the four quarterly meetings of a guild. Toulmin Smith, in his English Gilds, p. 32, says that quarterly meetings for business were common; though some guilds met only once, twice, or thrice in the course of a year.

The Vintry is described by Stow in his Survey of London (ed. Thoms, p. 90): 'Then next over against St. Martin's church, is a large house built of stone and timber, with vaults for the stowage of wines, and is called the Vintry.... In this [xliii]house Henry Picard [lord mayor in 1356-7] feasted four kings in one day.'

I may add to the note about Lewis John (vol. i. p. 84), that he was a person of some note. In 1423 (Feb. 8), 'Ludowicus Johan, armiger, constitutus est seneschall et receptor generalis ducatus Cornub.': see Ordinances of the Privy Council, iii. 24. He is further mentioned in the same, ii. 334, 342.

Chaucer's Balade on Gentilesse, quoted in full in ll. 105-125, is in seven-line stanzas; and is thus distinguished from the rest of the poem, which is written in eight-line stanzas. It may be noted that Scogan's rimes are extremely correct, if we compare them with Chaucer's as a standard.

Of this piece there are two early printed copies, one by Caxton, and one by Thynne (1532); and two MSS., Ashmole 59 and Harl. 2251. It is remarkable that the printed copies are better than the MSS. as regards readings.

Such is the title in Thynne's edition (1532). In MS. F. (Fairfax 16), it is entitled—'Complaynte of a Loveres Lyfe'; and there is a printed edition with the title—'The Complaynte of a Louers Lyfe. Imprynted at London in the flete strete at the sygne of the Sonne, by Wynkyn de Worde'; no date, 4to. on twelve leaves. In MS. S. (Arch. Selden, B. 24), there is an erroneous colophon—'Here endith the Maying and disporte of Chaucere'; which gives the wrong title, and assigns it to the wrong author. In accordance with the last MS., it was printed, with the erroneous title—'Here begynnys the mayng or disport of chaucer'—in a volume 'Imprentit in the south gait of Edinburgh be Walter chepman and Androw myllar the fourth day of aperile the yhere of god . M.CCCCC. and viii yheris' [1508]; and this scarce copy was reprinted as piece no. 8 in The Knightly Tale of Golagrus and Gawane, &c., as reprinted by Laing in 1827.

But the fullest title is that in MS. Ad. (Addit. 16165), written out by John Shirley, who says: 'And here filowyng begynnethe a Right lusty amorous balade, made in wyse of a complaynt of a Right worshipfulle Knyght that truly euer serued his lady, [xliv]enduryng grete disese by fals envye and malebouche; made by Lydegate' (fol. 190, back). Some of the pages have the heading, 'The compleynte of a Knight made by Lidegate^[17].'

This attribution of the poem to Lydgate, by so good a judge as Shirley, renders the authorship certain; and the ascription is fully confirmed by strong internal evidence. Much of it is in Lydgate's best manner, and his imitation of Chaucer is, in places, very close; while, at the same time, it is easy to point out non-Chaucerian rimes, such as whyte, brighte, 2; pitously, malady (Ch. maladyë), 137; felyngly, malady, 188; mente, diligent, 246; grace, alas, 529; seyn, payn (Ch. peynë), 568; diurnal, fal, (Ch. falle), 590; payn, agayn, 650; queen (Ch. quene), seen, 674. Besides which, there are two mere assonances in two consecutive stanzas, viz. forjuged, excused, 274; and wreke, clepe, 284. The occurrence of this pair of assonances is quite enough to settle the question. If we apply a more delicate test, we may observe that, in ll. 218-220, the word sōre (with long o) rimes with tore, in which the o was originally short; on this point, see vol. vi. p. xxxii.

As to this poem, Ten Brink well remarks: 'His talent was fairly qualified for a popular form of the 'Complaint'—a sort of long monologue, interwoven with allegory and mythology, and introduced by a charming picture of nature. His Complaint of the Black Knight, which contains reminiscences from the Romance of the Rose, the Book of the Duchesse, and the Parlement of Foules, was long considered a production of Chaucer's, and is still frequently included in editions of his works—although with reservations. The critic, however, will not be deceived by the excellent descriptive passages of this poem, but will easily detect the characteristic marks of the imitator in the management of verse and rhyme, and especially in the diffusiveness of the story and the monotony even of the most important parts.'

§ 35. Lydgate's reminiscences of Chaucer are often interesting. In particular, we should observe the passages suggested by the Roman de la Rose in ll. 36-112; for we are at once reminded of Chaucer's own version of it, as preserved in Fragment A of the Romaunt. After noticing that he uses costey (36) for the F. costoiant, where Chaucer has costeying (134); and attempre (57) [xlv]where Chaucer has attempre (131), though one French text has atrempee, it is startling to find him reproducing (80) Chaucer's very phrase And softe as veluët (R. R. 1420), where the French original has nothing corresponding either to soft or to velvet! This clearly shews that Lydgate was acquainted with Fragment A of the English version, and believed that version to be Chaucer's; for otherwise he would hardly have cared to imitate it at all.

The date of this poem is discussed in the Introduction to Schick's edition of the Temple of Glas, by the same author; pp. c, cxii. He dates it in Lydgate's early period, or about A.D. 1402.

The text is based upon Thynne's edition, which is quite as good as the MSS., though the spellings are often too late in form. The late excellent edition by E. Krausser (Halle, 1896) reached me after my text was printed. His text (from MS. F.) has much the same readings, and is accompanied by a full Introduction and eleven pages of useful notes.

This piece has no author's name prefixed to it in the first three editions; but in the fourth edition by Stowe, printed in 1561, the title is: 'The Floure of Curtesie, made by Iohn lidgate.' Probably Stowe had seen it attributed to him in some MS., and made a note of it; but I know of no MS. copy now extant.

Few poems bear Lydgate's impress more clearly; there can be no doubt as to its authorship. Schick refers it to Lydgate's early period, and dates it about 1400-1402; see his edition of the Temple of Glas, p. cxii. As it was written after Chaucer's death (see l. 236), and probably when that sad loss was still recent, we cannot be far wrong if we date it about 1401; and the Black Knight, a somewhat more ambitious effort, about 1402.

The 'Flour of Curtesye' is intended as a portrait of one whom the poet honours as the best of womankind. The character is evidently founded on that of Alcestis as described in the Prologue to the Legend of Good Women; and throughout the piece we are frequently reminded of Chaucer; especially of the Legend, the Complaint of Mars, and the Parliament of Foules.

The Envoy presents a very early example of the four-line stanza, similar to that employed in Gray's famous Elegy. [xlvi]

This piece is attributed to 'Lidegate of Bury' in the Ashmole MS. no. 59; and the ascription is obviously correct. It abounds with evident marks of his peculiar style of metre; for which see Schick's Introduction to the Temple of Glas, p. lvi. We note in it a few reminiscences of Chaucer, as pointed out in the Notes; in particular, it was probably suggested by Chaucer's A B C, which furnished hints for ll. 27, 60, and 129. It is perhaps worth while to add that we have thus an independent testimony for the genuineness of that poem.

As an illustration of Lydgate's verse, I may notice the additional syllable after the cæsura, which too often clogs his lines. Thus in l. 8 we must group the syllables thus:—

Wherefór : now pláynly : I wól : my stýlë : dréssë. Similarly, we find lícour in l. 13, pítè (18), líving (24), bémës (25), gínning (31), mércy (33), gárden (36), &c., all occupying places where a monosyllable would have been more acceptable.

The poem is strongly marked by alliteration, shewing that the poet (usually in a hurry) took more than usual pains with it. In the seventh stanza (43-49) this tendency is unmistakably apparent.

It is hardly possible to assign a date to a poem of this character. I can only guess it to belong to the middle period of his career; say, the reign of Henry V. We have not yet obtained sufficient data for the arrangement of Lydgate's poems.

§ 38. Lines 121-127 are here printed for the first time. In the old editions, l. 120 is succeeded by l. 128, with the result that Sion (120) would not rime with set afere (129); but the scribe of the Ashmole MS. was equal to the emergency, for he altered l. 129 so as to make it end with fuyrless thou sette vppon, which is mere nonsense. Thynne has fyrelesse fyre set on, which is just a little better.

This addition of seven lines was due to my fortunate discovery of a new MS.; for which I was indebted to the excellent MS. 'Index of First Lines' in the British Museum. This told me that a poem (hitherto unrecognised) existed in MS. Sloane 1212, of which the first line is 'A thousand stories,' &c. On examining the MS., it turned out to be a copy, on paper, of Hoccleve's De Regimine Principum, with four leaves of vellum at the beginning, [xlvii]and two more at the end, covered with writing of an older character. The two vellum leaves at the end were then transposed, but have since been set right, at my suggestion. They contain a few lines of the conclusion of some other piece, followed by the unique complete copy of the present Balade. This copy turned out to be much the best, and restored several of the readings. Indeed, the Ashmole MS. is very imperfect, having in it a lacuna of eight stanzas (ll. 64-119). I am thus able to give quite a presentable text.

The correction that most interested me was one in l. 134, where the Ashmole MS. and Thynne have probatyf piscyne. On June 5, 1896, I read a paper at the Philological Society, in which (among other things) I pointed out that the right reading must certainly be probatik. The very next day I found the Sloane MS.; and behold, its reading was probatyk! It is not often that a 'conjectural emendation' is confirmed, on unimpeachable authority, within twenty-four hours.

Another remarkable correction is that of dyamaunt for dyametre in l. 87. It was all very well to compare Our Lady to a diamond; but to call her a diameter (as in all the editions) is a little too bad. Again, in l. 121 (now first printed) we have the remarkable expression punical pome for a pomegranate, which is worthy of notice; and in l. 123 we find a new word, agnelet, which is not to be found in the New English Dictionary.

All the printed editions print the next piece as if it formed a part of the present one; but they have absolutely no point in common beyond the fact of having a common authorship.

In all the old editions, this piece forms part of the preceding, though it is obviously distinct from it, when attention is once drawn to the fact. Instead of being addressed, like no. X, to the Virgin, it is addressed to a lady whose name the poet wishes to commend (l. 7); and from whom he is parted (51); whereas two lovers ought to be together, if they wish to live 'well merry' (64). Her goodly fresh face is a merry mirror (73); and he has chosen her as his Valentine (111).

It is evidently a conventional complimentary poem, written to please some lady of rank or of high renown (93), one, in fact, [xlviii]who is 'of women chief princesse' (70). It is prettily expressed, and does Lydgate some credit, being a favourable specimen of his more playful style; I wish we had more of the same kind. L. 68—'Let him go love, and see wher [whether] it be game'—is excellent.

I shall here submit to the reader a pure guess, for what it is worth. My impression is that this piece, being a complimentary Valentine, was suggested by queen Katherine's visit to England; the lover whose passion is here described being no other than king Henry V, who was parted from his queen for a week. The pair arrived at Dover on Feb. 2, 1421, and Henry went on to London, arriving on Feb. 14; the queen did not arrive till Feb. 21, just in time for her coronation on Feb. 23.

This hypothesis satisfies several conditions. It explains why the lover's English is not good enough to praise the lady; why so many French lines are quoted; the significant allusion to the lily, i.e. the lily of France, in l. 16; the lover's consolation found in English roundels (40); the expression 'cheef princesse' in l. 70; and the very remarkable exclamation of Salve, regina, in l. 83, which doubtless made Thynne imagine that the poem was addressed to the Virgin Mary. The expression 'for your departing' in l. 105 does not necessarily mean 'on account of your departure from me'; it is equally in accordance with Middle-English usage to suppose that it means 'on account of your separation from me'; see Depart and Departing in the New English Dictionary.

It is well known that Lydgate provided the necessary poetry for the entry of Henry VI into London in Feb. 1432.

Some resemblances to Chaucer are pointed out in the Notes. The most interesting circumstance about this poem is that the author quotes, at the end of his third stanza, the first line of 'Merciles Beautè'; this is a strong point in favour of the attribution of that poem to his master.

This piece is distinguished from the preceding by the difference of its subject; by the difference in the character of the metre (there is here no alliteration); and, most significant of all, by its absence from MS. Ashmole 59 and MS. Sloane 1212, both of which contain the preceding piece. The two poems may have been brought together, in the MS. which Thynne followed, by the accident of being written about the same time. [xlix]

The title of this piece in Stowe's edition stands as follows: 'A balade of good counseile, translated out of Latin verses into Englishe, by dan Iohn lidgat cleped the monke of Buri.' What were the Latin verses here referred to, I have no means of ascertaining.

This Ballad is eminently characteristic of Lydgate's style, and by no means the worst of its kind. When he once gets hold of a refrain that pleases him, he canters merrily along till he has absolutely no more to say. I think he must have enjoyed writing it, and that he wrote it to please himself.

He transgresses one of Chaucer's canons in ll. 79-82; where he rimes hardy with foly and flatery. The two latter words are, in Chaucer, foly-ë and flatery-ë, and never rime with a word like hardy, which has no final -e.

Lydgate is very fond of what may be called catalogues; he begins by enumerating every kind of possibility. You may be rich, or strong, or prudent, &c.; or fair (22) or ugly (24); you may have a wife (29), or you may not (36); you may be fat (43), or you may be lean (46); or staid (57), or holy (64); your dress may be presentable (71), or poor (72), or middling (73); you may speak much (78) or little (80); and so on; for it is hard to come to an end. At l. 106, he begins all over again with womankind; and the conclusion is, that you should govern your tongue, and never listen to slander.

Thynne's text is not very good; the MSS. are somewhat better. He makes the odd mistake of printing Holynesse beautie for Eleynes beaute (115); but Helen had not much to do with holiness. Two of the stanzas (71-7 and 106-112) are now printed for the first time, as they occur in the MSS. only. Indeed, MS. H. (Harl. 2251) is the sole authority for the former of these two stanzas.

This is a favourable example of Lydgate's better style; and is written with unusual smoothness, owing to the shortness of the lines. It was first printed in 1561. There is a better copy in the Fairfax MS., which has been taken as the basis of the text. The copy in MS. Ashmole 59 is very poor. The title—'Balade [l]made by Lydgate'—occurs in MS. Addit. 16165. Stowe, being unacquainted with the phrase ambes as (l. 78), though it occurs in Chaucer, turned ambes into lombes, after which he wrongly inserted a comma; and lombes appears, accordingly, in all former editions, with a comma after it. What sense readers have hitherto made of this line, I am at a loss to conjecture.

First printed by Stowe in 1561, from the MS. in Trinity College Library, marked R. 3. 19, which I have used in preference to the printed edition.

There is another, and more complete copy in the same library, marked O. 9. 38, which has contributed some excellent corrections. Moreover, it gives a better arrangement of stanzas three and four, which the old editions transpose. More than this, it contains a unique stanza (36-42), which has not been printed before.

The poem also occurs in Shirley's MS. Harl. 2251, which contains a large number of poems by Lydgate; and is there followed by another poem of seven stanzas, attributed to Lydgate. That the present poem is Lydgate's, cannot well be doubted; it belongs to the same class of his poems as no. XII above. I find it attributed to him in the reprint of 'Chaucer's Poems' by Chalmers, in 1810.

The substitution of the contracted and idiomatic form et for the later form eteth is a great improvement. It is due to MS. O. 9. 38, where the scribe first wrote ette, but was afterwards so weak as to 'correct' it to etyth. But this 'correction' just ruins the refrain. Et was no doubt becoming archaic towards the middle of the fifteenth century.

Two variations upon the last stanza occur in the Bannatyne MS., fol. 258, back; see the print by the Hunterian Club, 1879, pp. 754, 755.

First printed by Stowe; I know of no MS. copy. The first two Sayings are attributed to Lydgate; so we may as well credit him with the third. The second expresses the same statements as the first, but varies somewhat in form; both are founded upon a Latin line which occurs in MS. Fairfax 16 (fol. 196) and in MS. Harl. [li]7578 (fol. 20), and runs as follows:—'Quatuor infatuant, honor, etas, femina, uinum.'

Note that these Three Sayings constitute the only addition made by Stowe to Thynne in 'Part I' of Stowe's edition. See nos. 28, 29, 30 in vol. i. p. 32. Stowe introduced them in order to fill a blank half-column between nos. 27 and 31.

First printed in Thynne's Chaucer (1532). Tyrwhitt first pointed out that it could not possibly be his, seeing that Alan Chartier's poem with the same name, whence the English version was made, could not have been written in Chaucer's lifetime. Chartier was born in 1386, and was only fourteen years old at the time of Chaucer's death. Tyrwhitt further stated that the author's name, Sir Richard Ros, was plainly given in MS. Harl. 372, fol. 61, where the poem has this title:—'La Belle Dame Sanz Mercy. Translatid out of Frenche by Sir Richard Ros.' I have not been able to find the date of the French original, as there is no modern edition of Chartier's poems; but it can hardly have been written before 1410, when the poet was only twenty-four years old; and the date of the translation must be later still. But we are not wholly left to conjecture in this matter. A short notice of Sir Richard Ros appeared in Englische Studien, X. 206, written by H. Gröhler, who refers us to his dissertation 'Ueber Richard Ros' mittelenglische übersetzung des gedichtes von Alain Chartier La Belle Dame sans Mercy,' published at Breslau in 1886; of which Dr. Gröhler has most obligingly sent me a copy, whence several of my Notes have been derived. He tells us, in this article, that his dissertation was founded on the copy of the poem in MS. Harl. 372, which (in 1886) he believed to be unique; whereas he had since been informed that there are three other MSS., viz. Camb. Ff. 1. 6, Trin. Coll. Camb. R. 3. 19, and Fairfax 16; and further, that the Trinity MS. agrees with the Harleian as to misarrangement of the subject-matter^[18]. He also proposed to give a new edition of the poem in Englische Studien, but I am unable to find it; and Dr. Kölbing courteously informs me that it never appeared. [lii]

Dr. Gröhler further tells us, that Mr. Joseph Hall, of Manchester, had sent him some account, extracted from the county history of Leicestershire by Nichols, of the family of Roos or Ros, who were lords of Hamlake and Belvoir in that county. According to Nichols, the Sir Richard Ros who was presumably the poet, was the second son of Sir Thomas Ros; and Sir Thomas was the second son of Sir W. Ros, who married Margaret, daughter of Sir John Arundel. If this be right, we gain the further information that Sir Richard was born in 1429^[19], and is known to have been alive in 1450, when he was twenty-one years old.

The dates suit very well, as they suggest that the English poem was written, probably, between 1450 and 1460, or at the beginning of the second half of the fifteenth century; which sufficiently agrees with the language employed and with the probable age of the MSS. The date assigned in the New English Dictionary, s.v. Currish, is 1460; which cannot be far wrong. It can hardly be much later.

§ 45. The above notice also suggests that, as Sir Richard Ros was of a Leicestershire family, the dialect of the piece may, originally at least, have been North Leicestershire. Belvoir is situate in the N.E. corner of Leicestershire, not far from Grantham in Lincolnshire, and at no great distance from the birthplace of Robert of Brunne. It is well known that Robert of Brunne wrote in a variety of the Midland dialect which coincides, to a remarkable extent, with the form of the language which has become the standard literary English. Now it is easily seen that La Belle Dame has the same peculiarity, and I venture to think that, on this account, it is worth special attention. If we want to see a specimen of what the Midland literary dialect was like in the middle of the fifteenth century, it is here that we may find it. Many of the stanzas are, in fact, remarkably modern, both in grammar and expression; we have only to alter the spelling, and there is nothing left to explain. Take for example the last stanza on p. 301 (ll. 77-84):—

A large number of stanzas readily lend themselves to similar treatment; and this is quite enough to dissociate the poem from Chaucer. The great difficulty about modernising Chaucer is, as every one knows, his use of the final -e as a distinct syllable; but we may search a whole page of La Belle Dame without finding anything of the kind. When Sir Richard's words have an extra syllable, it is due to the suffix -es or the suffix -ed; and even these are not remarkably numerous; we do not arrive at cloth-ës, a plural in -es, before l. 22; and, in the course of the first four stanzas, all the words in -ed are awak-ed, nak-ed, vex-ed, tourn-ed, and bold-ed, none of which would be surprising to a student of Elizabethan poetry. That there was something of a Northern element in Sir Richard's language appears from the rime of long-es with song-es, in ll. 53-55; where longes is the third person singular of the present tense; but modern English has belongs, with the same suffix! Again, he constantly uses the Northern possessive pronoun their; but modern English does the same!

§ 46. Another remarkable point about the poem is the perfect smoothness and regularity of the metre in a large number of lines, even as judged by a modern standard. The first line—'Half in a dream, not fully well awaked'—might, from a metrical point of view, have been written yesterday. It is a pity that the poem is somewhat dull, owing to its needless prolixity; but this is not a little due to Alan Chartier. Sir Richard has only eight stanzas of his own, four at the beginning, and four at the end; and it is remarkable that these are in the seven-line stanza, while the rest of the stanzas have eight lines, like their French original, of which I here give the first stanza, from the Paris edition of 1617, p. 502. (See l. 29 of the English version.)

I have cited in the Notes a few passages of the original text which help to explain the translation.

§ 47. The text in Thynne is a good one, and it seemed convenient to make it the basis of the edition; but it has been carefully controlled by collation with MS. Ff. 1. 6, which is, in some respects, the best MS. I am not sure that Thynne always followed his MS.; he may have collated some other one, as he professes in some cases to have done. MS. Ff. 1. 6, the Trinity MS., and Thynne's principal MS. form one group, which we may call A; whilst the Fairfax and Harleian MSS. form a second group, which we may call B: and of these, group A is the better. The MSS. in group B sadly transpose the subject-matter, and give the poem in the following order; viz. lines 1-428, 669-716, 525-572, 477-524, 621-668, 573-620, 429-476, 717-856. The cause of this dislocation is simple enough. It means that the B-group MSS. were copied from one in which three leaves, each containing six stanzas, were misarranged. The three leaves were placed one within the other, to form a sheet, and were written upon. Then the outer pair of these leaves was turned inside out, whilst the second and third pair changed places. This can easily be verified by making a little book of six leaves and numbering each page with the numbers 429-452, 453-476, 477-500, 501-524, &c. (i.e. with 24 lines on a page, ending with 716), and then misarranging the leaves in the manner indicated.

The copy in MS. Harl. 372 was printed, just as it stands, by Dr. Furnivall, in his volume entitled Political, Religious, and Love Poems, published for the E. E. T. S. in 1866; at p. 52. The text is there, accordingly, misarranged as above stated.

There is another MS. copy, as has been said above, in MS. Trin. Coll. Camb. R. 3. 19; but I have not collated it. It seems to be closely related to MS. Ff., and to present no additional information. Not only do the MSS. of the A-group contain the text in the right order, but they frequently give the better readings. Thus, in l. 47, we have the odd line—'My pen coud never have knowlege what it ment'; as given in MS. Ff., the Trinity MS., and Thynne. The word pen is altered to eyen in MSS. H. and F.; nevertheless, it is perfectly right, for the French original has plume; see the Note on the line. Other examples are given in the Notes. [lv]

In l. 174, MS. Ff. alone has the right reading, apert. I had made up my mind that this was the right reading even before consulting that MS., because the old reading—'One wyse nor other, prevy nor perte'—is so extremely harsh. There is no sense in using the clipped form of the word when the true and usual form will scan so much better. See C. T., F 531, Ho. Fame, 717. The Trinity MS. gets out of the difficulty by a material alteration of the line, so that it there becomes—'In any wyse, nether preuy nor perte.'

I do not suppose this was ever supposed to be Chaucer's even by Thynne. Line 64—'Quha wait gif all that Chaucer wrait was trew?'—must have settled the question from the first. No doubt Thynne added it simply as a pendant to Troilus, and he must have had a copy before him in the Northern dialect, which he modified as well as he could. Nevertheless, he gives us can for the Southern gan in l. 6, wrate for wrote in l. 64, and has many similar Northern forms.

The poem was printed at Edinburgh in 1593 with the author's name. The title is as follows—¶ The Testament of CRESSEID, Compylit be M. Robert Henrysone, Sculemai-ster in Dunfermeling. Imprentit at Edin = burgh be Henrie Charteris. MD. XCIII. The text is in 4to, ten leaves, black-letter. Only one copy has been preserved, which is now in the British Museum; but it was reprinted page for page in the volume presented by Mr. Chalmers to the Bannatyne Club in 1824. The present edition is from this reprint, with very few modifications, such as sh for sch, and final -y for final -ie in immaterial cases. All other modifications are accounted for in the footnotes below. No early MS. copy is known; there was once a copy in the Asloan MS., but the leaves containing it are lost.

Thynne's print must have been a good deal altered from the original, to make it more intelligible. It is odd to find him altering quhisling (20) to whiskyng, and ringand (144) to tynkyng. I note all Thynne's variations that are of any interest. He must have been much puzzled by aneuch in (which he seems to have regarded as one word and as a past participle) before he turned it into enewed (110). But in some cases Thynne gives us real help, as I will now point out. [lvi]

In l. 48, E. (the Edinburgh edition) has—'Quhill Esperus reioisit him agane'; where Esperus gives no good sense. But Thynne prints esperous, which at once suggests esperans (hope), as opposed to wanhope in the preceding line.

In l. 155, E. has frosnit, which Laing interprets 'frozen,' as if the pp. of freeze could have both a strong and weak pp. suffix at the same moment! But Thynne has frounsed, evidently put for fronsit, as used elsewhere by Henryson in The Fable of the Paddock and the Mous, l. 43:—'The Mous beheld unto her fronsit face.' A printer's error of sn for ns is not surprising.

In ll. 164, 178, 260, E. has gyis or gyse; but Thynne has preserved the true Chaucerian word gyte, which the printer evidently did not understand. It is true that in l. 164 he turned it into gate; but when he found it recur, he let it alone.

In l. 290, Th. has iniure for iniurie, and I think he is right, though I have let injurie stand; iniure is Chaucer's form (Troil. iii. 1018), and it suits the scansion better.

In l. 382, Thynne corrects Unto to To; and in l. 386, has Beuer for bawar. In l. 441, he has syder for ceder. In l. 501, he has plyte for plye, where a letter may have dropped out in E.; but see the note (p. 525). In l. 590, his reading tokenyng suggests that takning (as in E.) should be takining or takinning; the line will then scan. The contracted form taikning occurs, however, in l. 232, where the word is less emphatic.

Note further, that in l. 216 the original must have had Philogoney (see the Note). This appears in the astonishing forms Philologie (E.), and Philologee (Th.). Laing prints Phlegonie, which will neither scan nor rime, without any hint that he is departing from his exemplar. All his corrections are made silently, so that one cannot tell where they occur without reference to the original.

For further information concerning Robert Henryson, schoolmaster of Dunfermline, see the preface to David Laing's edition of The Poems and Fables of Robert Henryson, Edinburgh, 1865; and Morley's English Writers, 1890, vol. vi. p. 250. He is supposed to have been born about 1425, and to have died about 1500. On Sept. 10, 1462, the Venerable Master Robert Henrysone, Licentiate in Arts and Bachelor in Decrees, was incorporated or admitted a member of the newly founded university [lvii]of Glasgow; and he is known to have been a notary public. Perhaps The Testament of Cresseid was written about 1460. It is a rather mature performance, and is his best piece. Perhaps it is the best piece in the present volume.

Of this piece there are several MSS., which fall into two main classes: (A)—Ff. (Ff. 1. 6, in the Camb. Univ. Library); T. (Tanner 346); Th. (MS. used by Thynne, closely allied to T.); and (B)—F. (Fairfax 16), and B. (Bodley 638), which are closely allied. There is also S. (Selden, B. 24) imperfect, which has readings of its own^[20]. Of these groups, A is the better, and MS. Ff. is, in some respects, the most important. Nevertheless, MS. Ff. has never been collated hitherto, so that I am able to give a somewhat improved text. For example, in all former editions lines 12 and 13 are transposed. In l. 180, the reading haire (as in Bell and Morris) is somewhat comic (see the Note). In l. 203, MS. Ff. restores the true reading hit, i.e. hitteth. Bell, by some accident, omits the stanza in which this word occurs. In vol. i. p. 39, I took occasion to complain of the riming of now with rescow-e in ll. 228-9, according to Bell. The right reading, however, is not now, but avow-e, which rimes well enough. MS. Selden has allowe, which Morris follows, though it is clearly inferior and is unsupported. On the other hand, MS. Selden correctly, and alone, has leve in l. 237; but the confusion between e and o is endless, so that the false reading loue creates no surprise.

This poem is very interesting, and has deservedly been a favourite one. It is therefore a great pleasure to me to have found the author's name. This is given at the end of the poem in MS. Ff. (the best MS., but hitherto neglected), where we find, in firm distinct letters, in the same handwriting as the poem itself, the remark—Explicit Clanvowe. Remembering that the true title of the poem is 'The Book of Cupid, God of Love^[21],' I applied to Dr. Furnivall, asking him if he had met with the name. He at once referred me to his preface to Hoccleve's [lviii]Works, p. x, where Sir John Clanvowe and Thomas Hoccleve are both mentioned in the same document (about A.D. 1385). But Sir John Clanvowe died in 1391, and therefore could not have imitated the title of Hoccleve's poem, which was not written till 1402. Our poet was probably Sir Thomas Clanvowe, concerning whom several particulars are known, and who must have been a well-known personage at the courts of Richard II and Henry IV. We learn from Wylie's Hist. of Henry IV, vol. iii. p. 261, that he was one of twenty-five knights who accompanied John Beaufort (son of John of Gaunt) to Barbary in 1390. This Sir Thomas favoured the opinions of the Lollards, but was nevertheless a friend of 'Prince Hal,' at the time when the prince was still friendly to freethinkers. He seems to have accompanied the prince in the mountains of Wales; see Wylie, as above, iii. 333. In 1401, he is mentioned as being one of 'vi Chivalers' in the list of esquires who were summoned to a council by king Henry IV; see the Acts of the Privy Council, ed. Nicolas, temp. Henry IV, p. 162. (It may be noted that Sir John Clanvowe was a witness, in 1385, to the will of the widow of the Black Prince; see Testamenta Vetusta, ed. Nicolas.)

§ 50. It now becomes easy to explain the reference to the queen at Woodstock, which has never yet been accounted for. The poem begins with the words—'The God of Love! Ah benedicite,' quoted from Chaucer, the title of the poem being 'The Book of Cupid, God of Love,' as has been said; and this title was imitated from Hoccleve's poem of 1402. But there was no queen of England after Henry's accession till Feb. 7, 1403, when the king married Joan of Navarre; and it was she who held as a part of her dower the manor and park of Woodstock; see Wylie, as above, ii. 284. Hence the following hypothesis will suit the facts—namely, that the poem, imitating Chaucer's manner, and having a title imitated from Hoccleve's poem of 1402, was written by Sir Thomas Clanvowe, who held Lollard opinions^[22] and was a friend (at one time) of Henry of Monmouth. And it was addressed to Joan of Navarre, Henry's stepmother, queen of England from 1403 to 1413, who held as a part of her [lix]dower the manor of Woodstock. If so, we should expect it to have been written before April, 1410, when Thomas Badby, the Lollard, was executed in the presence of the prince of Wales. Further, as it was probably written early rather than late in this period, I should be inclined to date it in 1403; possibly in May, as it relates so much to the time of spring.

I may add that the Clanvowes were a Herefordshire family, from the neighbourhood of Wigmore. The only remarkable non-Chaucerian word in the poem is the verb greden, to cry out (A.S. grǣdan); a word found in many dialects, and used by Layamon, Robert of Gloucester, Langland, and Hoccleve.

The poem is written in a light and pleasing style, which Wordsworth has fairly reproduced. The final -e is suppressed in assay-e (l. 52). The non-Chaucerian rimes are few, viz. gren-e and sen-e as riming with been (61-5), shewing that Clanvowe cut down those dissyllables to green and seen. And further, the forms ron and mon are employed, in order to rime with upon (81-5); whereas Chaucer only has the form man; whilst of ran I remember no example at the end of a line^[23].

§ 51. But there is one point about Clanvowe's verse which renders it, for the fifteenth century, quite unique. In imitating Chaucer's use of the final -e, he employs this suffix with unprecedented freedom, and rather avoids than seeks elision. This gives quite a distinctive character to his versification, and is very noticeable when attention has once been drawn to it. If, for example, we compare it with the Parliament of Foules, which it most resembles in general character, we find the following results. If, in the Cuckoo and Nightingale, we observe the first 21 lines, we shall find (even if we omit the example of hy-e in l. 4, and all the examples of final -e at the end of a line) the following clear examples of its use:—low-e, lyk-e, hard-e, sek-e, hol-e (twice), mak-e, hav-e, wys-e, proud-e, grev-e, trew-e, hert-e, i.e. 13 examples, besides the 5 examples of final -en in mak-en, bind-en, unbind-en, bound-en, destroy-en. But in the first 21 lines of the Parliament of Foules there are only 2 examples of the final -e in the middle of a line, viz. lust-e (15) and long-e (21), whilst of the final -en there is none. The difference between 18 and 2 must strike even [lx]the most inexperienced reader, when it is once brought under his notice. However, it is an extreme case.

Yet again, if the last 21 lines in the Cuckoo be compared with ll. 659-679 of the Parliament (being the last 21 lines, if we dismiss the roundel and the stanza that follows it), we find in the former 7 examples of final -e and 2 of -en, or 9 in all, whilst in Chaucer there are 7 of final -e, and 1 of -en, or 8 in all; and this also happens to be an extreme case in the other direction, owing to the occurrence in the former poem of the words egle, maple, and chambre, which I have not taken into account.

This suggests that, to make sure, we must compare much longer passages. In the whole of the Cuckoo, I make about 120 such cases of final -e, and 23 such cases of final -en, or 143 in all. In 290 lines of the Parliament of Foules, I make about 68 and 19 such cases respectively; or about 87 in all. Now the difference between 143 and 87 is surely very marked.

The cause of this result is obvious, viz. that Chaucer makes a more frequent use of elision. In the first 21 lines of the Parl. of Foules, we find elisions of men', sor', wak', oft' (twice), red' (twice), spek', fast', radd'; i.e. 10 examples; added to which, Chaucer has joy(e), love, knowe, usage, boke, at the cæsura, and suppresses the e in write (written). But in ll. 1-21, Clanvowe has (in addition to love, make, lowe, make (twice), gladde at the cæsura) only 3 examples of true elision, viz. fressh', tell', and mak' (15).

And further, we seldom find two examples of the use of the final -e in the same line in Chaucer. I do not observe any instance, in the Parl. of Foules, till we arrive at l. 94:—'Took rest that mad-e me to slep-e faste.' But in Clanvowe they are fairly common. Examples are: Of sek-e folk ful hol-e (7); For every trew-e gentil hert-e free (21); That any hert-e shuld-e slepy be (44); I went-e forth alon-e bold-e-ly (59); They coud-e that servyc-e al by rote (71); and the like. In l. 73, we have even three examples in one line; Some song-e loud-e, as they hadd-e playned. From all of which it appears that the critics who have assigned the Cuckoo to Chaucer have taken no pains whatever to check their opinion by any sort of analysis. They have trusted to their own mere opinion, without looking the facts in the face.

§ 52. I will point out yet one more very striking difference. We know that Chaucer sometimes employs headless lines, such as: Twénty bókes át his béddes héed. But he does so sparingly, [lxi]especially in his Minor Poems. But in the Cuckoo, they are not uncommon; see, e.g. lines 16, 50, 72, 100, 116, 118, 146, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 158, 161, 166, 205, 232, 242, 252, 261, 265, 268. It is true that, in Morris's edition, lines 72, 146, 153, 161, and 205 are slightly altered; but in no case can I find that the alteration is authorised. And even then, this does not get rid of the five consecutive examples in ll. 154-158, which cannot be explained away. Once more, I repeat, the critics have failed to use their powers of observation.

I think the poem may still be admired, even if it be allowed that Clanvowe wrote it some three years after Chaucer's death.

§ 53. At any rate, it was admired by so good a judge of poetry as John Milton, who of course possessed a copy of it in the volume which was so pleasantly called 'The Works of Chaucer.' That his famous sonnet 'To the Nightingale' owed something to Clanvowe, I cannot doubt. 'Thou with fresh hope the lover's heart dost fill' is, in part, the older poet's theme; see ll. 1-30, 149-155, 191-192. Even his first line reminds one of ll. 77, 288. If Milton writes of May, so does Clanvowe; see ll. 20, 23, 34, 55, 70, 230, 235, 242; note especially l. 230. But the real point of contact is in the lines—

This piece has always hitherto been printed without any title, and is made to follow The Cuckoo and the Nightingale, as if there were some sort of connection between them. This is probably because it happens to follow that poem in the Fairfax and Tanner MSS., and probably did so in the MS. used by Thynne, which has a striking resemblance to the Tanner MS. However, the poem is entirely absent from the Cambridge, Selden, and Bodley MSS., proving that there is no connection with the preceding poem, from which it differs very widely in style, in language, and in metre.

I call it an Envoy to Alison. For first, it is an Envoy^[24], as it refers to the author's 'lewd book,' which it recommends to a lady. What the book is, no one can say; but it may safely be conjectured that it was of no great value. And secondly, the lady's name was Alison, as shewn by the acrostic in lines 22-27; and the author has recourse to almost ludicrous efforts, in order to secure the first four letters of the name.

Briefly, it is a very poor piece; and my chief object in reprinting it is to shew how unworthy it is of Clanvowe, not to mention Chaucer. We have no right even to assign it to Lydgate. And its date may be later than 1450.

This piece many 'critics' would assign to Chaucer, merely because they like it. This may be sentiment, but it is not criticism; and, after all, a desire to arrive at the truth should be of more weight with us than indulgence in ignorant credulity.

It is of some consequence to learn, first of all, that it is hardly possible to separate this piece from the next. The authoress of one was the authoress of the other. That The Assembly of Ladies is longer and duller, and has not held its own in popular estimation, is no sound argument to the contrary; for it is only partially true. Between the first eleven stanzas of the Assembly and the first eleven stanzas of the present poem, there is a strong general resemblance, and not much to choose. Other stanzas [lxiii]of the Assembly that are well up to the standard of the Flower will be found in lines 456-490, 511-539. The reason of the general inferiority of the Assembly lies chiefly in the choice of the subject; it was meant to interest some medieval household, but it gave small scope for retaining the reader's attention, and must be held to be a failure.

The links connecting these poems are so numerous that I must begin by asking the reader to let me denote The Flower and the Leaf by the letter F (= Flower), and The Assembly of Ladies by the letter A (= Assembly).

The first point is that (with the sole exception of the Nutbrown Maid) no English poems exist, as far as I remember, written previously to 1500, and purporting to be written by a woman. In the case of F. and A., this is assumed throughout. When the author of F. salutes a certain fair lady, the lady replies—'My doughter, gramercy'; 462. And again she says, 'My fair doughter'; 467, 500, 547. The author of A. says she was one of five ladies; 5-7, 407. Again, she was a woman; 18. The author of A. and some other ladies salute Lady Countenance, who in reply says 'fair sisters'; 370. Again, she and others salute a lady-chamberlain, who replies by calling them 'sisters'; 450; &c.

The poem A. is supposed to be an account of a dream, told by the authoress to a gentleman; with the exception of this gentleman, all the characters of the poem are ladies; and hence its title. The poem F. is not quite so exclusive, but it comes very near it; all the principal characters are ladies, and the chief personages are queens, viz. the queen of the Leaf and the queen of the Flower. The 'world of ladies' in l. 137 take precedence of the Nine Worthies, who were merely men. A recognition of this fact makes the whole poem much clearer.

But the most characteristic thing is the continual reference to colours, dresses, ornaments, and decorations. In F., we have descriptions of, or references to, white surcoats, velvet, seams, emeralds, purfils, colours, sleeves, trains, pearls, diamonds, a fret of gold, chaplets of leaves, chaplets of woodbine, chaplets of agnus-castus, a crown of gold, thundering trumpets, the treasury of Prester John, white cloaks, chaplets of oak, banners of Tartary-silk, more pearls, collars, escutcheons, kings-of-arms, cloaks of white cloth, crowns set with pearls, rubies, sapphires, and diamonds. Then there is a company all clad in one suit (or livery); heralds [lxiv]and poursuivants, more chaplets and escutcheons, men in armour with cloth of gold and horse-trappings, with bosses on their bridles and peitrels—it is surely needless to go on, though we have only arrived at l. 246.

In A., we have much the same sort of thing all over again, though it does not set in before l. 83. Then we meet with blue colours, an embroidered gown, and a purfil with a device. After a respite, we begin again at l. 206—'Her gown was blue'; and the lady wore a French motto. Diligence tells the authoress that she looks well in her new blue gown (259). At l. 305, there is another blue gown, furred with gray, with a motto on the sleeve; and there are plenty more mottoes to follow. At l. 451 we come to a paved floor, and walls made of beryl and crystal, engraved with stories; next, a well-apparelled chair or throne, on five stages, wrought of 'cassidony,' with four pommels of gold, and set with sapphires; a cloth of estate, wrought with the needle (486); cloth of gold (521); a blue gown, with sleeves wrought tabard-wise, of which the collar and the vent (slit in front of the neck) are described as being like ermine; it was couched with great pearls, powdered with diamonds, and had sleeves and purfils; then we come to rubies, enamel, a great balas-ruby, and more of the same kind. Again, it is useless to go further. Surely these descriptions of seams, and collars, and sleeves, are due to a woman.

The likeness comes out remarkably in two parallel stanzas. One of them is from F. 148, and the other from A. 526.

Besides these striking coincidences in whole lines, there are a large number of phrases and endings of lines that are common to the two poems; such as—the springing of the day, F. 25, A. 218; Which, as me thought, F. 36, A. 50; wel y-wrought, F. 49, A. 165; by mesure, F. 58, A. 81; I you ensure, F. 60, 287, A. 52, 199; in this wyse, F. 98, A. 589; I sat me doun, F. 118, A. 77; oon and oon, F. 144, A. 368, 543, 710; by and by, F. 59, 146, A. 87; withouten fail, F. 369, A. 567, 646; herself aloon, F. 458, A. 84; ful demure, F. 459, A. 82; to put in wryting, F. 589, A. 664; and others that are printed out in the Notes.

Very characteristic of female authorship is the remark that the ladies vied with each other as to which looked the best; a remark which occurs in both poems; see F. 188, A. 384.

A construction common to both poems is the use of very with an adjective, a construction used by Lydgate, but not by Chaucer; examples are very rede, F. 35; very good, F. 10, 315; very round, A. 479.

It is tedious to enumerate how much these poems have in common. They open in a similar way, F. with the description of a grove, A. with the description of a garden with a maze. In the eighth stanza of F., we come to 'a herber that benched was'; and in the seventh stanza of A. we come to a similar 'herber, mad with benches'; both from The Legend of Good Women.

In F., the authoress has a waking vision of 'a world of ladies' (137); in A. she sees in a dream the 'assembly of ladies.' In both, she sees an abundance of dresses, and gems, and bright colours. Both introduce several scraps of French. In both, the [lxvi]authoress has interviews with allegorical or visionary personages, who address her either as daughter or sister. I have little doubt that the careful reader will discover more points of resemblance for himself.

§ 56. The chief appreciable difference between the two poems is that F. was probably written considerably earlier than A. This appears from the more frequent use of the final -e, which the authoress occasionally uses as an archaic embellishment, though she frequently forgets all about it for many stanzas together. In the former poem (F.) there seem to be about 50 examples, whilst in the latter (A.) there are hardly 10^[25]. In almost every case, it is correctly used, owing, no doubt, to tradition or to a perusal of older poetry. The most important cases are the abundant ones in which a final e is omitted where Chaucer would inevitably have inserted it. For example, such a line as F. 195—From the same grove, where the ladyes come out—would become, in Chaucer—From the sam-ë grov-ë wher the ladyes come out—giving at least twelve syllables in the line. The examples of the omission of final -e, where such omission makes a difference to the scansion, are not very numerous, because many such come before a vowel (where they might be elided) or at the cæsura (where they might be tolerated). Still we may note such a case as green in l. 109 where Chaucer would have written gren-e, giving a fresh gren-ë laurer-tree, to the ruin of the scansion. Similar offences against Chaucer's usage are herd for herd-e, 128 (cf. 191); spek' for spek-e, 140; al for all-e, plural, 165; sight for sight-e, 174; lyf for lyv-e, 182; sam' for sam-e, 195; the tenth for the tenth-e, 203; gret for gret-e, plural, 214, 225; red for red-e, 242; the worst for the worst-e, 255; yed' for yed-e, 295, 301; fast for fast-e, 304; rejoice for rejoy-se, 313; noise for nois-e, 353; sonn' for son-ne, 355, 408; hir fresh for hir fres-she, 357; laft for laft-e, pt. t., 364; their greet for hir gret-e, 377; sick for sek-e, 410; about for about-e, 411; to soup for to soup-e, 417; without for without-e, 423, 549; the hool for the hol-e, 437; to know for to know-e, 453; past for pass-ede or past-e, 465; My fair for My fair-e, vocative, 467, 500; to tel for to tell-e, 495; nin(e) for nyn-e, 502; imagin(e) for imagin-en, 525; they last for [lxvii]they last-e, 562; thy rud(e) for thy rud-e, 595. Those who believe that The Flower and the Leaf was written by Chaucer will have to explain away every one of these cases; and when they have done so, there is more to be said.

§ 57. For it is well known that such a word as sweetly (96) was trisyllabic, as swet-e-ly, in Chaucer; C. T., A 221. Similarly, our authoress has trewly for trew-e-ly^[26], 130; richly for rich-e-ly, 169; woodbind for wod-e-bind-e, 485. Similar is ointments for oin-e-ments, 409. And, moreover, our authoress differs from Chaucer as to other points of grammar. Thus she has Forshronk as a strong pp., 358, which ought to be forshronk-en or forshronk-e. Still more marked is her use of rood as the plural of the past tense, 449, 454, where Chaucer has rid-en; and her use of began as a plural, 385, where Chaucer has bigonn-e. Can these things be explained away also? If so, there is more to be said.

§ 58. All the above examples have been made out, without so much as looking at the rimes. But the rimes are much harder to explain away, where they differ from Chaucer's. Here are a few specimens.

Pas-se rimes with was, 27; so it must have been cut down to pas! Similarly, hew-e has become hew; for it rimes with grew, sing., 32. Sight-e has become sight, to rime with wight, 37. Brought should rather be brought-e, but it rimes with wrought, 48. Similar difficulties occur in peyn (for peyn-e), r. w. seyn (62); syd' for syd-e, r. w. espy'd for espy-ed, 72; eet, r. w. sweet for swet-e, 90; not' for not-e, r. w. sot, 99; busily, r. w. aspy' for aspy-e, 106; trewly, r. w. armony' for armony-e, 130; orient (oriant?), r. w. want for want-e, 148; person for person-e, r. w. everichon, 167. It is tedious to go on; let the critic finish the list, if he knows how to do it. If not, let him be humble. For there is more to come.

§ 59. Besides the grammar, there is yet the pronunciation to be considered; and here comes in the greatest difficulty of all. For, in ll. 86-89, we have the unusual rime of tree and be with pretily. This so staggered Dr. Morris, that he was induced to print the last word as pretile; which raises the difficulty without explaining it. For the explanation, the reader should consult the excellent dissertation by Dr. Curtis on The Romance of Clariodus [lxviii](Halle, 1894), p. 56, § 187. He remarks that a rime of this character gives evidence of the transition of M.E. long close e to (Italian) long i [as in the change from A.S. mē to mod. E. me], and adds: 'this change became general in the fifteenth century, but had begun in some dialects at an earlier date.' Its occurrence in the present poem is a strong indication that it is later than the year 1400, and effectually disposes of any supposed connection with Midland poems of the fourteenth century.

Both poems are remarkably free from classical allusions and from references to such medieval authors as are freely quoted by Chaucer. There is nothing to shew that the authoress was acquainted with Latin, though she knew French, especially the French of songs and mottoes.

The Flower and the Leaf is chiefly famous for having been versified by Dryden. The version is a free one, in a manner all his own, and is finer than the original, which can hardly be said of his 'versions' of Palamon and Arcite and The Cock and the Fox. It is doubtless from this version that many critics have formed exaggerated ideas of the poem's value; otherwise, it is difficult to understand for what reasons it was considered worthy of so great a master as Geoffrey Chaucer.

§ 60. It will be seen, from the Notes, that the authoress was well acquainted with the Prologue to The Legend of Good Women; and it can hardly be questioned that she took the main idea of the poem from that source, especially ll. 188-194 of the later text. At the same time she was well acquainted with Gower's lines on the same subject, in the Conf. Amantis, iii. 357, 358; see vol. iii. pp. xlii, 297. Gower has:—

This has already been discussed, in some measure, in considering the preceding poem. Both pieces were written by the same authoress; but the former is the more sprightly and probably the earlier. With the exception of the unusual rime of tree with pretily (discussed above), nearly all the peculiarities of the preceding poem occur here also. The Chaucerian final -e appears now and then, as in commaund-e (probably plural), 203; red-e, 215; countenanc-e, 295; pen-ne [or else seyd-e], 307; chayr-e, 476; tak-e, 565; trouth-e, 647; liv-e, 672; sem-e (pr. s. subj.), 696. But it is usually dropped, as in The fresh for The fres-she, 2; &c. In l. 11, Thynne prints fantasyse for fantasyes; for it obviously rimes with gyse (monosyllabic); cf. 533-535. Hew-e and new-e are cut down to hew and new, to rime with knew, 67. Bold rimes with told, clipped form of told-e, 94; and so on. So, again, trewly appears in place of Chaucer's trew-e-ly, 488. It is needless to pursue the subject.

The description of the maze and the arbour, in ll. 29-70, is good. Another pleasing passage is that contained in ll. 449-497; and the description of a lady's dress in ll. 519-539. As for the lady herself—

To attribute such a question as 'how will my dress do' to a male writer is a little too dramatic for a mere narrative poem.

The two MSS. have now been collated for the first time and afford some important corrections, of which l. 61 presents remarkable instances. MS. Addit. 34360 is of some value. [lxx]

§ 62. A considerable part of The Assembly of Ladies that is now of little interest may have been much appreciated at the time, as having reference to the ordering of a large medieval household, with its chambers, parlours, bay-windows, and galleries, carefully kept in good order by the various officers and servants; such as Perseverance the usher, Countenance the porter, Discretion the chief purveyor, Acquaintance the harbinger, Largesse the steward, Bel-cheer the marshal of the hall, Remembrance the chamberlain, and the rest. The authoress must have been perfectly familiar with spectacles and pageants and all the amusements of the court; but she was too humble to aspire to wear a motto.

We must not forget that the period of the Wars of the Roses, especially from 1455 to 1471, was one during which the composition of these poems was hardly possible. It is obviously very difficult to assign a date to them; perhaps they may be referred to the last quarter of the fifteenth century. We must not put them too late, because The Assembly exists in MSS. that seem to be as old as that period.

For this poem there is but one authority, viz. Thynne's edition of 1532. He calls it 'A goodly balade of Chaucer'; but it is manifestly Lydgate's. Moreover, it is really a triple Balade, with an Envoy, on the model of Chaucer's Fortune and Compleynt of Venus; only it has seven-line stanzas instead of stanzas of eight lines. An inspection of Thynne's volume shews that it was inserted to fill a gap, viz. a blank page at the back of the concluding lines of The Legend of Good Women, so that the translation of Boethius might commence on a new leaf.

It is obvious that the third stanza of the second Balade was missing in Thynne's MS. He did not leave it out for lack of space; for there is plenty of room on his page.

That it is not Chaucer's appears from the first Balade, where the use of the monosyllables shal and smal in ll. 8 and 10 necessitates the use of the clipped forms al for al-le, cal for cal-le, apal for [lxxi]apal-le, and befal for befal-le. Moreover, the whole style of it suggests Lydgate, and does not suggest Chaucer.

The sixth stanza probably began with the letter D; in which case, the initial letters of the stanzas give us M, M, M; D, D, D; J, C, Q. And, as it was evidently addressed to a lady named Margaret (see the Notes), we seem to see here Margaret, Dame Jacques. The name of Robert Jacques occurs in the Writs of Parliament; Bardsley's English Surnames, 2nd ed., p. 565. Of course this is a guess which it is easy to deride; but it is very difficult to account otherwise for the introduction of the letters J, C, Q in the third Balade; yet it was evidently intentional, for much force was employed to achieve the result. To make the first stanza begin with J, recourse is had to French; and the other two stanzas both begin with inverted clauses.

I give this from Thynne's first edition; but add the Latin lines from the copy printed in Schick's edition of The Temple of Glas, at p. 68. His text is from that printed by Wynken de Worde about 1498, collated with the second and third prints from the same press at somewhat later dates, and a still later copy printed by Berthelet.

The only difference between Thynne's text and that given by Schick is that Wynken de Worde printed ar in the last line where Thynne has printed be. Schick also notes that 'the Chaucer-Prints of 1561 and 1598 omit thou' in l. 9; and I find that it is also omitted in the third edition (undated, about 1550). But it occurs in the edition of 1532, all the same; shewing that the later reprints cannot always be relied upon.

I have already said (vol. i. p. 40)—'Surely it must be Lydgate's.' For it exhibits his love for 'catalogues,' and presents his peculiarities of metre. Dr. Schick agrees with this ascription, and points out that its appearance in the four prints above-mentioned, in all of which it is annexed to Lydgate's Temple of Glas, tends to strengthen my supposition. I think this may be taken as removing all doubt on the subject.

§ 65. I beg leave to quote here Schick's excellent remarks upon the poem itself.

'There are similar pieces to these Duodecim Abusiones in earlier [lxxii]English literature (see ten Brink, Geschichte der englischen Literatur, i. 268, and note).^[32] The "twelf unþēawas" existed also in Old-English; a homily on them is printed in Morris, Old Eng. Homilies, pp. 101-119^[33]. It is based on the Latin Homily "De octo viciis et de duodecim abusivis huius saeculi," attributed to St. Cyprian or St. Patrick; see Dietrich in Niedner's Zeitschrift für historische Theologie, 1855, p. 518; Wanley's Catalogus, passim (cf. the Index sub voce Patrick). In the Middle-English period we meet again with more or less of these "Abusions"; see Morris, Old Eng. Miscellany, p. 185 (11 Abusions); Furnivall, Early Eng. Poems, Berlin, 1862 (Phil. Soc.), p. 161; "Five Evil Things," Wright and Halliwell, Reliquiae Antiquae, i. 316, and ii. 14.'

This piece was first printed by Stowe in 1561. Stowe happened to have access to a MS. which was really a miscellaneous collection of Middle-English pieces of various dates; and he proceeded to print them as being 'certaine workes of Geffray Chauser,' without paying any regard to their contents or style. In vol. i. pp. 33, 34, I give a list of his additions, numbered 42-60^[34]. By good fortune, the very MS. in question is now in Trinity College Library, marked R. 3. 19. We can thus tell that he was indebted to it for the pieces numbered 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 53, 54, 55, 56, and 59. These eleven pieces are all alike remarkable for being non-Chaucerian; indeed, no. 56 is certainly Lydgate's. But it has so happened that no. 59, or The Court of Love, being the best of these pieces, was on that account 'attributed' to Chaucer, whilst the others were unhesitatingly rejected. And it happened on this wise.

§ 67. After Tyrwhitt had edited the Canterbury Tales afresh, it occurred to him to compile a Glossary. He rightly reasoned that the Glossary would be strengthened and made more correct if he included in it all the harder words found in the whole of Chaucer's Works, instead of limiting the vocabulary to words [lxxiii]which occur in the Canterbury Tales only. For this purpose, he proceeded to draw up a List of what he conceived to be Chaucer's genuine works; and we must remember that the only process open to him was to consider all the old editions, and reject such as he conceived to be spurious. Hence his List is not really a list of genuine works, but one made by striking out from all previous lists the works which he knew to be spurious. A moment's reflection will show that this is a very different thing.

Considering that he had only his own acumen to guide him, and had no access to linguistic or grammatical tests, still less to tests derived from an examination of rimes or phonology, it is wonderful how well he did his work. In the matter of rejection, he did not make a single mistake. His first revision was made by considering only the pieces numbered 1-41, in the first part of Stowe's print (see vol. i. pp. 31-33); and he struck out the following, on the express ground that they were known to have been written by other authors; viz. nos. 4, 11, 13, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 33, and 40^[35].

Then he went over the list again, and struck out, on internal evidence, nos. 15, 18, 21, 22, and 32^[36].

Truly, here was a noble beginning! The only non-Chaucerian pieces which he failed to reject explicitly, among nos. 1-41, were the following, viz. 6 (A Goodly Balade of Chaucer), 17 (The Complaint of the Black Knight), 20 (The Testament of Love), 31 (The Cuckoo and the Nightingale), 38 (Go forth, King), and 41 (A Balade in Praise of Chaucer). Of course he rejected the last of these, but it was not worth his while to say so; and, in the same way, he tacitly rejected or ignored nos. 6, 30, and 38. Hence it was that nos. 6, 30, 38, and 41 did not appear in Moxon's Chaucer, and even no. 32 was carefully excluded. In his final list, out of nos. 1-41, Tyrwhitt actually got rid of all but nos. 17, 20, and 31 (The Black Knight, The Testament of Love, and The Cuckoo).

As to the remaining articles, he accepted, among the longer pieces, nos. 59, 62, and 63, i.e. The Court of Love, Chaucer's Dream, and The Flower and the Leaf; to which he added nos. [lxxiv]42, 43, and 60 (as to which there is no doubt), and also the Virelai (no. 50), on the slippery ground that it is a virelai (which, strictly speaking, it is not).

§ 68. One result of his investigations was that an edition of Chaucer was published by Moxon (my copy is dated 1855), in which all the poems were included which Tyrwhitt accepted, followed by Tyrwhitt's Account of the Works of Chaucer.

Owing to the popularity of this edition, many scholars accepted the poems contained in it as being certainly genuine; but it is obvious that this was a very risky thing to do, in the absence of external evidence; especially when it is remembered that Tyrwhitt merely wanted to illustrate his glossary to the Canterbury Tales by adding words from other texts. The idea of drawing up a canon by the process of striking out from luxuriant lists the names of pieces that are obviously spurious, is one that should never have found acceptance.

§ 69. There is only one correct method of drawing up a canon of genuine works, viz. that adopted by Mr. Henry Bradshaw, formerly our Cambridge University Librarian. It is simple enough, viz. to take a clean sheet of paper, and enter upon it, first of all, the names of all the pieces that are admittedly genuine; and then to see if it can fairly be augmented by adding such pieces as have reasonable evidence in their favour. In making a list of this character, The Court of Love has no claim to be considered at all, as I fully proved about twenty years ago^[37]; and there is an end of the matter. The MS. copy is in a hand of the sixteenth century^[38], and there is no internal evidence to suggest an earlier date.

§ 70. Our task is to determine what it really is, and what can be made of it as it stands. We learn from the author that he [lxxv]was 'a clerk of Cambridge' (913), which we may readily accept. Beyond this, there is nothing but internal evidence; but of this there is much. That our 'clerk' had read Ovid and Maximian appears from the Notes; he even seems to have imbibed something of 'the new learning,' as he makes up the names Philo-genet and Philo-bone by help of a Greek adjective^[39]. Dr. Schick has made it clear that he was well acquainted with Lydgate's Temple of Glas, which he imitates freely; see Schick's edition of that poem, p. cxxix. Mr. J. T. T. Brown, in his criticism on 'The Authorship of the Kingis Quair,' Glasgow, 1896, draws many parallels between The Court of Love and The Kingis Quair, and concludes that The Kingis Quair was indebted to The Court of Love; but it is tolerably certain that the indebtedness was in the other direction. For, in The Kingis Quair, some knowledge of the true use of Chaucer's final -e is still exhibited, even in a Northern poem, whilst in The Court of Love, it is almost altogether dead, though the poem is in the Midland dialect. I shall presently shew that our clerk, whilst very nearly ignoring the final -e, occasionally employs the final -en; but this he does in a way which clearly shews that he did not understand when to use it aright, a fact which is highly significant.

I am much indebted to my friend Professor Hales for pointing out another very cogent argument. He draws attention to the numerous instances in which the author of The Court of Love fails to end a stanza with a stop. There is no stop, for example, at the end of ll. 14, 567, 672, 693, 700, 763, 826, 1064, 1288; and only a slight pause at the end of ll. 28, 49, 70, 84, 189, 231, 259, 280, 371, 406, 427, &c. In Chaucer's Parlement of Foules, on the other hand, there is but one stanza without a stop at the end, viz. at l. 280; and but one with a slight pause, viz. at l. 154. The difference between these results is very marked, and would convince any mathematician. I should like to add that the same test disposes of the claims of The Flower and the Leaf to be considered as Chaucer's; it has no stop at the end of ll. 7, 70, 154, 161, 196, 231, 280, 308, 392, 476, and has mere commas at the end of ll. 28, 49, 56, 98, 119, 224, 259, 329, 336, &c. In the Assembly of Ladies this departure from Chaucer's usage has been [lxxvi]nearly abandoned, which is one reason why that piece is in a less lively style.

§ 71. The sole MS. copy of The Court of Love belongs to the sixteenth century, and there is nothing to shew that the poem itself was of earlier date. Indeed, the language of it is remarkably like that of the former half of that century. If it be compared with Sackville's famous 'Induction,' the metrical form of the stanzas is much the same; there is the same smoothness of rhythm and frequent modernness of form, quite different from the halting lines of Lydgate and Hawes. This raises a suggestion that the author may have learnt his metre from Scottish authors, such as Henryson and Dunbar; and it is surprising to find him employing such words as celsitude and pulcritude, and even riming them together, precisely as Dunbar did (ll. 611-613, and the note). One wonders where he learnt to use such words, if not from Scottish authors. Curiously enough, a single instance of the use of a Northern inflexion occurs in the phrase me thynkes, 874. And I admit the certainty that he consulted The Kingis Quair.

I have no space to discuss the matter at length; so shall content myself with saying that the impression produced upon me is that we have here the work of one of the heralds of the Elizabethan poetry, of the class to which belonged Nicholas Grimoald, Thomas Sackville, Lord Surrey, Lord Vaux, and Sir Francis Bryan. There must have been much fairly good poetry in the time of Henry VIII that is lost to us. Tottell's Miscellany clearly shews this, as it is a mere selection of short pieces, which very nearly perished; but for this fortunate relic, we should not have known much about Wyat and Surrey. Sackville, when at Cambridge, acquired some distinction for Latin and English verse, but we possess none of it. However, Sackville was not the author of The Court of Love, seeing that it was published in a 'Chaucer' collection in 1561, long before his death.

The fact that our clerk was well acquainted with so many pieces by Chaucer, such as The Knight's Tale, the Complaint of Pity, The Legend of Good Women, Troilus, and Anelida, besides giving us reminiscences of The Letter of Cupid, and (perhaps) of The Cuckoo and Nightingale, raises the suspicion that he had access to Thynne's edition of 1532; and it is quite possible that this very book inspired him for his effort. This suspicion becomes almost a certainty if it be true that ll. 495-496 [lxxvii]are borrowed from Rom. Rose, 2819-20; see note at p. 545. I can find no reason for dating the poem earlier than that year.

§ 72. However this may be, the chief point to notice is that his archaisms are affectations and not natural. He frequently dispenses with them altogether for whole stanzas at a time. When they occur, they are such as he found in Chaucer abundantly; I refer to such phrases as I-wis or y-wis; as blyve; the use of ich for I (661); besy cure (36); gan me dresse (113; cf. C. T., G 1271); by the feith I shall to god (131; cf. Troil. iii. 1649); and many more. He rarely uses the prefix i- or y- with the pp.; we find y-born (976), y-formed (1176), y-heried (592), y-sped (977), all in Chaucer; besides these, I only note y-fed (975), y-ravisshed (153), y-stope (281), the last being used in the sense of Chaucer's stope. The most remarkable point is the almost total absence of the final -e; I only observe His len-ë body (1257); to serv-e (909); to dred-e (603); and in thilk-ë place (642); the last of which is a phrase (cf. R. R. 660). On the other hand, whilst thus abstaining from the use of the final -e, he makes large use of the longer and less usual suffix -en, which he employs with much skill to heighten the archaic effect. Thus we find the past participles holden, 62; growen, 182; yoven or yeven, 742; shapen, 816, 1354; blowen, 1240; the gerunds writen, 35; dressen, 179; byden, 321; semen, 607; seken, 838; worshippen, 1165, and a few others; the infinitives maken, 81; byden, 189; quyten, 327, &c., this being the commonest use; the present plurals wailen, 256; foten, 586; speden, 945, &c.; with the same form for the first person, as in wailen, 1113; bleden, 1153; and for the second person, as in waxen, 958; slepen, 999. Occasionally, this suffix is varied to -yn or -in, as in exilyn, v., 336; serchyn, v., 950; spakyn, pt. pl., 624; approchyn, pr. pl., 1212. This may be the scribe's doing, and is consistent with East Anglian spelling.

But the artificial character of these endings is startlingly revealed when we find -en added in an impossible position, shewing that its true grammatical use was quite dead. Yet we find such examples. A serious error (hardly the scribe's) occurs in l. 347: 'Wheder that she me helden lefe or loth.' Hold being a strong verb, the pt. t. is held; we could however justify the use of held-e, by supposing it to be the subjunctive mood, which suits the sense; but held-en (with -en) is the plural form, while she is singular; and really this use of -e in the subjunctive must have been long [lxxviii]dead. In l. 684, we have a case that is even worse, viz. I kepen in no wyse; here the use of -en saves a hiatus, but the concord is false, like the Latin ego seruamus. In l. 928, the same thing recurs, though the scribe has altered greven into growen^[40]; for this present tense is supposed to agree with I! A very clear case occurs in l. 725: For if by me this mater springen out; where the use of -en, again meant to save a hiatus, is excruciatingly wrong; for mater is singular! This cannot be the fault of the scribe. Other examples of false grammar are: thou serven, 290; thou sene, 499. But the climax is attained in l. 526, where we meet with thay kepten ben, where the -en is required for the metre. Kepten, as a past participle, is quite unique; let us drop a veil over this sad lapse, and say no more about it^[41].

We may, however, fairly notice the constant use of the Northern forms their and thaim or theim, where Chaucer has hir and hem. The use of their and them (not thaim) was well established by the year 1500 in literary English, as, e.g., in Hawes and Skelton. Caxton uses all four forms, hem and them, her and their.

The final -e is not used at the end of a line. This is easily seen, if carefully looked into. Thus lette (1284) stands for let, for it rimes with y-set; grace and trespace rime with was, 163; kene rimes with bene, misspelling of been, 252; redde, put for red, rimes with spred, 302; yerde, put for yerd, rimes with aferd, 363; ende rimes with frend and fend, 530; and so on throughout^[42]. The following assonances occur: here, grene, 253; kepe, flete, 309; and the following rimes are imperfect: plaint, talent, consent, 716; frend, mynd, 1056; nonne (for non), boun, 1149; like (i long), stike (i short), 673; and perhaps hold, shuld^[43], 408; hard, ferd, 151. Hard is repeated, 149, 151; 1275, 1277. A curious rime [lxxix]is that of length with thynketh, 1059; read thenk'th, and it is good enough. Noteworthy are these: thryse (for Chaucer's thry-ës), wyse, 537; hens (for Chaucer's henn-ës), eloquence, 935; desire, here, 961, 1301; eke, like, 561; tretesse (for Chaucer's tretys), worthinesse, 28; write, aright, 13; sey (I saw), way, 692. In one place, he has discryve, 778, to rime with lyve; and in another discry (miswritten discryve, 97), to rime with high. As in Chaucer, he sometimes has dy, to die, riming with remedy, 340, and elsewhere dey, to rime with pray, 582; and again fire, fyr, riming with hyre, 883, or with desire, 1285, and at another time the Kentish form fere (borrowed from Chaucer), with the same sense, r. w. y-fere, 622. The most curious forms are those for 'eye.' When it rimes with degree, 132, see, 768, we seem to have the Northern form ee or e; but elsewhere it rimes with besily, 299, pretily, 419, wounderly, 695, dispitously, 1139, or with I, 282; and the plural yen (= y'n) rimes with lyne, 135. The sounds represented by ē and y obviously afford permissible rimes; that the sounds were not identical appears from ll. 1051-1055, which end with me, remedy, be, dy, company consecutively.

§ 74. Perhaps an easier way for enabling a learner to recognise the peculiarities of The Court of Love, and the difference of its language from Chaucer, is to translate some lines of it into Chaucerian English. The effect upon the metre is startling.

Very many more such examples may be given. Or take the following; Chaucer has (L. G. W. 476):—

In the present state of our knowledge of the history of the English language, any notion of attributing The Court of Love to Chaucer is worse than untenable; for it is wholly disgraceful. Everything points to a very late date, and tends to exclude it, not only from the fourteenth, but even from the fifteenth century.

At the same time, it will readily be granted that the poem abounds with Chaucerian words and phrases to an extent that almost surpasses even the poems of Lydgate. The versification is smooth, and the poem, as a whole, is pleasing. I have nothing to say against it, when considered on its own merits.

§ 75. Space fails me to discuss the somewhat vexed question of the Courts of Love, of which some have denied the existence. However, there seems to be good evidence to shew that they arose in Provence, and were due to the extravagances of the troubadours. They were travesties of the courts of law, with a lady of rank for a judge, and minstrels for advocates; and they discussed subtle questions relating to affairs of love, usually between troubadours and ladies. The discussions were conducted with much seriousness, and doubtless often served to give much amusement to many idle people. Not unfrequently they led to tragedies, as is easily understood when we notice that the first of one set of thirty-one Laws of Love runs as follows:—'Marriage cannot be pleaded as an excuse for refusing to love.' The reader who requires further information is referred to 'The Troubadours and Courts of Love,' by J. F. Rowbotham, M.A., London, Swan Sonnenschein and Co., 1895.

It is perhaps necessary to observe that the said Courts have very little to do with the present poem, which treats of a Court of Cupid in the Chaucerian sense (Leg. Good Women, 352). Even the statutes of the Court are largely imitated from Lydgate.

XXV. Virelay. This piece, from the Trinity MS., belongs to the end of the fifteenth century, and contains no example of the final -e as constituting a syllable. Chaucer would have used sore (l. 2), more (l. 12), trouth (l. 13), as dissyllables; and he would not have rimed pleyn and disdayn with compleyn and absteyn, as the two latter require a final -e. The rime of finde with ende is extraordinary. [lxxxi]

The title 'Virelai' is given to this piece in Moxon's Chaucer, and is, strictly speaking, incorrect; in the MS. and in Stowe's edition, it has no title at all! Tyrwhitt cautiously spoke of it as being 'perhaps by Chaucer'; and says that 'it comes nearer to the description of a Virelay, than anything else of his that has been preserved.' This is not the case; see note to Anelida, 256; vol. i. p. 536. Tyrwhitt quotes from Cotgrave—'Virelay, a round, freemen's song,' and adds—'There is a particular description of a Virlai, in the Jardin de plaisance, fol. xii, where it makes the decima sexta species Rhetorice Gallicane.' For further remarks, see p. 554.

XXVI. Prosperity: by John Walton. 'To Mr. [Mark] Liddell belongs the honour of the discovery of John Walton as the author of the little poem on fol. 119 [of MS. Arch. Seld. B. 24]. The lines occur as part of the Prologue (ll. 83-90) to Walton's translation of Boethius' De Consolatione.'—J. T. T. Brown, The Authorship of the Kingis Quair, Glasgow, 1896; p. 71. See the account of Walton in Warton's Hist. E. Poetry, sect. xx. The original date of the stanza was, accordingly, 1410; but we here find it in a late Scottish dress. The ascription of it to 'Chaucer,' in the MS., is an obvious error; it was written ten years after his death.

XXVII. Leaulte vault Richesse. This piece, like the former, has no title in the MS.; but the words Leaulte vault Richesse (Loyalty deserves riches) occur at the end of it. If the original was in a Midland dialect, it must belong to the latter part of the fifteenth century. Even in these eight lines we find a contradiction to Chaucer's usage; for he always uses lent, pp., as a monosyllable, and rent-e as a dissyllable. It is further remarkable that he never uses content as an adjective; it first appears in Rom. Rose, 5628.

XXVIII. Sayings. I give these sayings as printed by Caxton; see vol. i. p. 46, where I note that Caxton did not ascribe them to Chaucer. They are not at all in his style.

It is extremely interesting to observe the ascription of these lines to Merlin; see King Lear, iii. 2. 95.

XXIX. Balade. This poor stanza, with its long-drawn lines, appears in Stowe at the end of 'Chaucer's Works.' In the Trinity MS., it occurs at the end of a copy of The Parlement of Foules.

§ 77. An examination of the pieces contained in the present volume leads us to a somewhat remarkable result, viz. that we readily distinguish in them the handiwork of at least twelve different authors, of whom no two are much alike, whilst every one of them can be distinguished from Chaucer.

These are: (1) the author of The Testament of Love, who writes in a prose style all his own; (2) the author of The Plowmans Tale and Plowmans Crede, with his strong powers of invective and love of alliteration, whose style could never have been mistaken for Chaucer's in any age^[45]; (3) the author of Jack Upland, with his direct and searching questions; (4) John Gower, with his scrupulous regularity of grammatical usages; (5) Thomas Hoccleve, who too often accents a dissyllable on the latter syllable when it should be accented on the former; (6) Henry Scogan, whose lines are lacking in interest and originality; (7) John Lydgate^[46], who allows his verse too many licences, so that it cannot always be scanned at the first trial; (8) Sir Richard Ros, who writes in English of a quite modern cast, using their and them as in modern English, and wholly discarding the use of final -e as an inflexion; (9) Robert Henryson, who writes smoothly enough and with a fine vein of invention, but employs the Northern dialect; (10) Sir Thomas Clanvowe, who employs the final -e much more frequently than Chaucer or even Gower; (11) the authoress of The Flower and the Leaf and The Assembly of Ladies, to whom the final -e was an archaism, very convenient for metrical embellishment; and (12) the author of The Court of Love, who, while discarding [lxxxiii]the use of the final -e, was glad to use the final -en to save a hiatus or to gain a syllable, and did not hesitate to employ it where it was grammatically wrong to do so.

§ 78. If the reader were to suppose that this exhausts the list, he would be mistaken; for it is quite easy to add at least one known name, and to suggest three others. For the piece numbered XXVI, on p. 449, has been identified as the work of John Walton, who wrote a verse translation of Boethius in the year 1410; whilst it is extremely unlikely that no. XXVII, written in Lowland Scottish, was due to Henryson, the only writer in that dialect who has been mentioned above. This gives a total of fourteen authors already; and I believe that we require yet two more before the Virelai and the Sayings printed by Caxton (nos. XXV and XXVIII) can be satisfactorily accounted for. As for no. XIX—the Envoy to Alison—it may be Lydgate's, but, on the other hand, it may not. And as for no. XXIX, it is of no consequence.

Moreover, it must be remembered that I here only refer to the selected pieces printed in the present volume. If we go further afield, we soon find several more authors, all distinct from those above-mentioned, from each other, and from Chaucer. I will just instance the author of the Isle of Ladies, the authoress (presumably) of The Lamentation of Mary Magdalen, the author of The Craft of Lovers, the 'man unknown' who wrote The Ten Commandments of Love, and the author of the clumsy lines dignified by the title of The Nine Ladies Worthy. It is quite certain that not less than twenty authors are represented in the mass of heterogeneous material which appears under Chaucer's name in a compilation such as that which is printed in the first volume of Chalmers' British Poets; which, precisely on that very account, is useful enough in its own peculiar way.

§ 79. I believe it may be said of nearly every piece in the volume, that it now appears in an improved form. In several cases, I have collated MSS. that have not previously been examined, and have found them to be the best. The Notes are nearly all new; very few have been taken from Bell's Chaucer. Several are due to Schick's useful notes to The Temple of Glas; and some to Krausser's edition of The Black Knight, and to Gröhler's edition of La Belle Dame, both of which reached me after my own notes were all in type. I have added a Glossary [lxxxiv]of the harder words; for others, see the Glossary already printed in vol. vi.

In extenuation of faults, I may plead that I have found it much more difficult to deal with such heterogenous material as is comprised in the present volume than with pieces all written by the same author. The style, the grammar, the mode of scansion, the dialect, and even the pronunciation are constantly shifting, instead of being reasonably consistent, as in the genuine works of Chaucer. Any one who will take the pains to observe these points, to compile a sufficient number of notes upon difficult passages, and to prepare a somewhat full glossary, may thus practically convince himself, as I have done, that not a single piece in the present volume ought ever to have been 'attributed' to Chaucer. That any of them should have been so attributed—and some of them never were—has been the result of negligence, superficiality, and incapacity, such as (it may be hoped) we have seen the last of.

I wish once more to acknowledge my obligations to Mr. E. B. Nicholson, for the loan of his transcript of The Praise of Peace; to Mr. Bradley, for his discovery of the authorship of The Testament of Love and for other assistance as regards the same; to Dr. E. Krausser, for his edition of The Complaint of the Black Knight; to Dr. Gröhler, for his dissertation on La Belle Dame sans Mercy; and to Professor Hales for his kind help as to some difficult points, and particularly with regard to The Court of Love.

PROLOGUE.

Many men there ben that, with eeres openly sprad, so

moche swalowen the deliciousnesse of jestes and of ryme,

by queynt knitting coloures, that of the goodnesse or of the

badnesse of the sentence take they litel hede or els non.

Soothly, dul wit and a thoughtful soule so sore have myned

and graffed in my spirites, that suche craft of endyting wol not

ben of myn acqueyntaunce. And, for rude wordes and boystous

percen the herte of the herer to the in[ne]rest point, and planten

there the sentence of thinges, so that with litel helpe it is able

to springe; this book, that nothing hath of the greet flode of

wit ne of semelich colours, is dolven with rude wordes and

boystous, and so drawe togider, to maken the cacchers therof

ben the more redy to hente sentence.

Some men there ben that peynten with colours riche, and

some with vers, as with red inke, and some with coles and

chalke; and yet is there good matere to the leude people of

thilke chalky purtreyture, as hem thinketh for the tyme; and

afterward the sight of the better colours yeven to hem more

joye for the first leudnesse. So, sothly, this leude clowdy occupacion

is not to prayse but by the leude; for comunly leude

leudnesse commendeth. Eke it shal yeve sight, that other

precious thinges shal be the more in reverence. In Latin

and French hath many soverayne wittes had greet delyt to

[2]

endyte, and have many noble thinges fulfild; but certes, there

ben some that speken their poysye-mater in Frenche, of whiche

speche the Frenche men have as good a fantasye as we have

in hering of Frenche mennes English. And many termes there

ben in English, [of] whiche unneth we Englishmen connen declare

the knowleginge. How shulde than a Frenche man born suche

termes conne jumpere in his mater, but as the jay chatereth

English? Right so, trewly, the understanding of Englishmen

wol not strecche to the privy termes in Frenche, what-so-ever we

bosten of straunge langage. Let than clerkes endyten in Latin,

for they have the propertee of science, and the knowinge in that

facultee; and let Frenchmen in their Frenche also endyten their

queynt termes, for it is kyndely to their mouthes; and let us

shewe our fantasyes in suche wordes as we lerneden of our dames

tonge.

And although this book be litel thank-worthy for the leudnesse

in travaile, yet suche wrytinges excyten men to thilke thinges that

ben necessarie; for every man therby may, as by a perpetual

mirrour, seen the vyces or vertues of other, in whiche thing

lightly may be conceyved to eschewe perils, and necessaries to

cacche, after as aventures have fallen to other people or persons.

Certes, [perfeccion is] the soveraynest thing of desyre, and

moste †creatures resonable have, or els shulde have, ful appetyte

to their perfeccion; unresonable beestes mowen not, sith reson

hath in hem no werking. Than resonable that wol not is comparisoned

to unresonable, and made lyke hem. For-sothe, the

most soverayne and fynal perfeccion of man is in knowing of

a sothe, withouten any entent disceyvable, and in love of oon

very god that is inchaungeable; that is, to knowe and love his

creatour.

¶ Now, principally, the mene to bringe in knowleging and

loving his creatour is the consideracion of thinges made by the

creatour, wherthrough, by thilke thinges that ben made understonding

here to our wittes, arn the unsene privitees of god

made to us sightful and knowing, in our contemplacion and

understonding. These thinges than, forsoth, moche bringen us

[3]

to the ful knowleginge [of] sothe, and to the parfit love of the

maker of hevenly thinges. Lo, David sayth, 'thou hast delyted

me in makinge,' as who sayth, to have delyt in the tune, how god

hath lent me in consideracion of thy makinge.

Wherof Aristotle, in the boke de Animalibus, saith to naturel

philosophers: 'it is a greet lyking in love of knowinge their

creatour; and also in knowinge of causes in kyndely thinges.'

Considred, forsoth, the formes of kyndly thinges and the shap,

a greet kindely love me shulde have to the werkman that

hem made. The crafte of a werkman is shewed in the werke.

Herfore, truly, the philosophers, with a lyvely studie, many

noble thinges right precious and worthy to memory writen;

and by a greet swetande travayle to us leften of causes [of] the

propertees in natures of thinges. To whiche (therfore) philosophers

it was more joy, more lykinge, more herty lust, in

kyndely vertues and maters of reson, the perfeccion by busy

study to knowe, than to have had al the tresour, al the richesse,

al the vainglory that the passed emperours, princes, or kinges

hadden. Therfore the names of hem, in the boke of perpetual

memory, in vertue and pees arn writen; and in the contrarye, that

is to sayne, in Styx, the foule pitte of helle, arn thilke pressed

that suche goodnesse hated. And bycause this book shal be of

love, and the pryme causes of steringe in that doinge, with passions

and diseses for wantinge of desyre, I wil that this book be cleped

The Testament of Love.

But now, thou reder, who is thilke that wil not in scorne

laughe, to here a dwarfe, or els halfe a man, say he wil rende

out the swerde of Hercules handes, and also he shuld sette

Hercules Gades a myle yet ferther; and over that, he had

power of strengthe to pulle up the spere, that Alisander the

noble might never wagge? And that, passing al thinge, to ben

mayster of Fraunce by might, there-as the noble gracious Edward

the thirde, for al his greet prowesse in victories, ne might al yet

conquere?

Certes, I wot wel, ther shal be mad more scorne and jape

of me, that I, so unworthily clothed al-togider in the cloudy cloude

[4]

of unconninge, wil putten me in prees to speke of love, or els

of the causes in that matter, sithen al the grettest clerkes han

had ynough to don, and (as who sayth) †gadered up clene toforn

hem, and with their sharpe sythes of conning al mowen, and

100

mad therof grete rekes and noble, ful of al plentees, to fede me

and many another. Envye, forsothe, commendeth nought his

reson that he hath in hayne, be it never so trusty. And al-though

these noble repers, as good workmen and worthy their hyre,

han al drawe and bounde up in the sheves, and mad many

105

shockes, yet have I ensample to gadere the smale crommes,

and fullen my walet of tho that fallen from the borde among

the smale houndes, notwithstandinge the travayle of the

almoigner, that hath drawe up in the cloth al the remissailes,

as trenchours, and the relief, to bere to the almesse.

110

Yet also have I leve of the noble husbande Boëce, al-though

I be a straunger of conninge, to come after his doctrine, and

these grete workmen, and glene my handfuls of the shedinge

after their handes; and, if me faile ought of my ful, to encrese

my porcion with that I shal drawe by privitees out of the shocke.

115

A slye servaunt in his owne helpe is often moche commended;

knowing of trouth in causes of thinges was more hardyer in the

first sechers (and so sayth Aristotle), and lighter in us that han

folowed after. For their passing †studies han fresshed our wittes,

and our understandinge han excyted, in consideracion of trouth,

120

by sharpnesse of their resons. Utterly these thinges be no

dremes ne japes, to throwe to hogges; it is lyflich mete for

children of trouthe; and as they me betiden, whan I pilgrimaged

out of my kith in winter; whan the †weder out of mesure was

boystous, and the wylde wind Boreas, as his kind asketh, with

125

dryinge coldes maked the wawes of the occian-see so to aryse

unkyndely over the commune bankes, that it was in poynte to

spille al the erthe.

Thus endeth the Prologue; and here-after foloweth the

first book of the Testament of Love.

2. delyciousnesse; (and elsewhere, y is often replaced by i). 4. none. 5. Sothely. wytte. 8. inrest poynte. 10. spring. boke. great floode. 12. catchers. 13. hent. 18. afterwarde. 19. leudenesse. 20. comenly. 21. leudenesse. 23. gret delyte.

24. fulfylde. 27. englysshe. 28. englysshe; supply of. englyssh-. 29. Howe. borne. 31. englyssh. englyssh-. 32. stretche. 34. propertie. 35. facultie. lette. 39. boke. thanke worthy. 42. sene. 44. catche. 45. I supply perfeccion is; to make sense. soueraynst. 46. creature (sic). reasonable. 47, 50. perfection. 47. sythe reason. 48. reasonable. 51. one. 54. Nowe. meane. 56. be (for by). 57. arne.

60. I supply of. parfyte. 61. haste. 62. delyte (this sentence is corrupt). 64. saythe. 65. great. 66, 67. thynges consydred. Forsoth (sic). 68. great. me (sic); for men. 72. great. Supply of. 73. propertyes. 75. matters of reason. perfection. 76. treasour. 79. peace. 80. stixe. 81. boke. 83. dyseases. boke. 85. nowe. 87. set. 89. pul. 92. great. 94. wote. made. 95. vnworthely.

98. gathered. toforne. 100. made. great. plentyes. 102. reason. hayn (sic). 102. -thoughe. 103. hyer. 104. made. 105. gader. 106. fullyn. amonge. 108. remyssayles. 109. relyef. 112. great. 113. encrease. 114. priuytyes. 116. knoweyng. 118. study (sic). 120. reasons. 121. lyfelyche meate. 122. betiden (sic); past tense. 123. wether. measure. 124. wynde Borias. kynde. 125. dryenge. 127. spyl. (rubric) boke.

CHAPTER I.

Alas! Fortune! alas! I that som-tyme in delicious houres

was wont to enjoye blisful stoundes, am now drive by

unhappy hevinesse to bewaile my sondry yvels in tene!

Trewly, I leve, in myn herte is writte, of perdurable letters, al the

entencions of lamentacion that now ben y-nempned! For any

maner disese outward, in sobbing maner, sheweth sorowful yexinge

from within. Thus from my comfort I ginne to spille, sith she

that shulde me solace is fer fro my presence. Certes, her

absence is to me an helle; my sterving deth thus in wo it myneth,

that endeles care is throughout myne herte clenched; blisse of

my joye, that ofte me murthed, is turned in-to galle, to thinke on

thing that may not, at my wil, in armes me hente! Mirth is

chaunged in-to tene, whan swink is there continually that reste was

wont to sojourne and have dwelling-place. Thus witless, thoughtful,

sightles lokinge, I endure my penaunce in this derke prison,

†caitived fro frendshippe and acquaintaunce, and forsaken of al

that any †word dare speke. Straunge hath by waye of intrucioun

mad his home, there me shulde be, if reson were herd as he

shulde. Never-the-later yet hertly, lady precious Margarit, have

mynde on thy servaunt; and thinke on his disese, how lightles he

liveth, sithe the bemes brennende in love of thyn eyen are so

bewent, that worldes and cloudes atwene us twey wol nat suffre

my thoughtes of hem to be enlumined! Thinke that oon vertue

of a Margarite precious is, amonges many other, the sorouful to

comforte; yet †whyles that, me sorouful to comforte, is my lust

to have nought els at this tyme, d[r]ede ne deth ne no maner

traveyle hath no power, myn herte so moche to fade, as shulde

to here of a twinkling in your disese! Ah! god forbede that;

but yet let me deye, let me sterve withouten any mesure of

penaunce, rather than myn hertely thinking comfort in ought

were disesed! What may my service avayle, in absence of her

that my service shulde accepte? Is this nat endeles sorowe to

[6]

thinke? Yes, yes, god wot; myn herte breketh nigh a-sonder.

How shulde the ground, without kyndly noriture, bringen forth

any frutes? How shulde a ship, withouten a sterne, in the grete see

be governed? How shulde I, withouten my blisse, my herte, my

desyre, my joye, my goodnesse, endure in this contrarious prison,

that thinke every hour in the day an hundred winter? Wel may

now Eve sayn to me, 'Adam, in sorowe fallen from welth, driven

art thou out of paradise, with swete thy sustenaunce to beswinke!'

Depe in this pyninge pitte with wo I ligge y-stocked,

with chaynes linked of care and of tene. It is so hye from thens

I lye and the commune erth, there ne is cable in no lande maked,

that might strecche to me, to drawe me in-to blisse; ne steyers

to steye on is none; so that, without recover, endeles here to

endure, I wot wel, I [am] purveyed. O, where art thou now,

frendship, that som-tyme, with laughande chere, madest bothe

face and countenaunce to me-wardes? Truely, now art thou

went out of towne. But ever, me thinketh, he wereth his olde

clothes, and that the soule in the whiche the lyfe of frendship was

in, is drawen out from his other spirites. Now than, farewel,

frendship! and farewel, felawes! Me thinketh, ye al han taken

your leve; no force of you al at ones. But, lady of love, ye wote

what I mene; yet thinke on thy servaunt that for thy love

spilleth; al thinges have I forsake to folowen thyn hestes;

rewarde me with a thought, though ye do naught els. Remembraunce

of love lyth so sore under my brest, that other thought

cometh not in my mynde but gladnesse, to thinke on your goodnesse

and your mery chere; †ferdnes and sorowe, to thinke on your

wreche and your daunger; from whiche Christ me save! My

greet joye it is to have in meditacion the bountees, the vertues,

the nobley in you printed; sorowe and helle comen at ones, to

suppose that I be †weyved. Thus with care, sorowe, and tene

am I shapt, myn ende with dethe to make. Now, good goodly,

thinke on this. O wrecched foole that I am, fallen in-to so lowe,

the hete of my brenning tene hath me al defased. How shulde

ye, lady, sette prise on so foule fylthe? My conninge is thinne,

my wit is exiled; lyke to a foole naturel am I comparisoned.

[7]

Trewly, lady, but your mercy the more were, I wot wel al my

labour were in ydel; your mercy than passeth right. God graunt

that proposicion to be verifyed in me; so that, by truste of good

hope, I mowe come to the haven of ese. And sith it is impossible,

the colours of your qualitees to chaunge: and forsothe I

wot wel, wem ne spot may not abyde there so noble vertue

haboundeth, so that the defasing to you is verily [un]imaginable,

as countenaunce of goodnesse with encresinge vertue is so in you

knit, to abyde by necessary maner: yet, if the revers mighte falle

(which is ayenst kynde), I †wot wel myn herte ne shulde therfore

naught flitte, by the leste poynt of gemetrye; so sadly is it

†souded, that away from your service in love may he not departe.

O love, whan shal I ben plesed? O charitee, whan shal I ben

esed? O good goodly, whan shal the dyce turne? O ful of

vertue, do the chaunce of comfort upwarde to falle! O love,

whan wolt thou thinke on thy servaunt? I can no more but here,

out-cast of al welfare, abyde the day of my dethe, or els to see the

sight that might al my wellinge sorowes voyde, and of the flode

make an ebbe. These diseses mowen wel, by duresse of sorowe,

make my lyfe to unbodye, and so for to dye; but certes ye, lady,

in a ful perfeccion of love ben so knit with my soule, that deth

may not thilke knotte unbynde ne departe; so that ye and my

soule togider †in endeles blisse shulde dwelle; and there shal

my soule at the ful ben esed, that he may have your presence, to

shewe th'entent of his desyres. Ah, dere god! that shal be a

greet joye! Now, erthely goddesse, take regarde of thy servant,

though I be feble; for thou art wont to prayse them better that

wolde conne serve in love, al be he ful mener than kinges or

princes that wol not have that vertue in mynde.

Now, precious Margaryte, that with thy noble vertue hast

drawen me in-to love first, me weninge therof to have blisse,

100

[ther]-as galle and aloes are so moche spronge, that savour of

swetnesse may I not ataste. Alas! that your benigne eyen, in

whiche that mercy semeth to have al his noriture, nil by no

waye tourne the clerenesse of mercy to me-wardes! Alas! that

your brennande vertues, shyning amonges al folk, and enlumininge

[8]

105

al other people by habundaunce of encresing, sheweth to me

but smoke and no light! These thinges to thinke in myn herte

maketh every day weping in myn eyen to renne. These liggen

on my backe so sore, that importable burthen me semeth on my

backe to be charged; it maketh me backwarde to meve, whan

110

my steppes by comune course even-forth pretende. These

thinges also, on right syde and lift, have me so envolved with

care, that wanhope of helpe is throughout me ronne; trewly,

†I leve, that graceles is my fortune, whiche that ever sheweth it

me-wardes by a cloudy disese, al redy to make stormes of tene;

115

and the blisful syde halt stil awayward, and wol it not suffre to

me-wardes to turne; no force, yet wol I not ben conquered.

O, alas! that your nobley, so moche among al other creatures

commended by †flowinge streme †of al maner vertues, but

ther ben wonderful, I not whiche that let the flood to come

120

in-to my soule; wherefore, purely mated with sorowe thorough-sought,

my-selfe I crye on your goodnesse to have pitè on this

caytif, that in the in[ne]rest degree of sorowe and disese is left,

and, without your goodly wil, from any helpe and recovery.

These sorowes may I not sustene, but-if my sorowe shulde be

125

told and to you-wardes shewed; although moche space is bitwene

us twayne, yet me thinketh that by suche †joleyvinge wordes my

disese ginneth ebbe. Trewly, me thinketh that the sowne of my

lamentacious weping is right now flowe in-to your presence, and

there cryeth after mercy and grace, to which thing (me semeth)

130

thee list non answere to yeve, but with a deynous chere ye

commaunden it to avoide; but god forbid that any word shuld of

you springe, to have so litel routh! Pardè, pitè and mercy in

every Margarite is closed by kynde amonges many other vertues,

by qualitees of comfort; but comfort is to me right naught worth,

135

withouten mercy and pitè of you alone; whiche thinges hastely

god me graunt for his mercy!

Ch. I. 2. enioy. 3. sondrye. 5. nowe. 6. disease outwarde. 7. comforte. 8. ferre. 9. hell. dethe. 10. endelesse. 12. hent. 13. swynke. 14. dwellynge-. wytlesse. 15. syghtlesse. prisone. 16. caytisned (for caytifued). 17. wode (!); for worde; read word. 18. made. reason. herde. 20. disease. 21. beames. 22. For be-went, Th. has be-went. 23. one. 25. wyl of; apparently an error for whyles (which I adopt). luste. 26. dede (for drede). 27. myne. 28. twynckelynge. disease. 29. lette (twice). dey. measure. 30. myne. comforte. 31. diseased. maye. aueyle. 32. endlesse.

33. wote; myne hert breaketh. 34. howe. grounde. forthe. 35. howe. shippe. great. 36. Howe. 39. nowe. sayne. 40. arte. weate. 44. stretche. 45. stey. endlesse. 46. wotte. I supply am. spurveyde. arte. nowe. 47. frenshyppe (sic). 48. nowe arte. 49. weareth. 51. Nowe. 53. leaue. 57. lythe. 59. frendes (sic); for ferdnes: cf. p. 9, l. 9. 60. Christe. 61. great. bounties. 62. hel. 63. veyned (sic); for weyued. 64. shapte. Nowe. 65. wretched. 66. heate. 68. wytte.

69. wote. 72. ease. sythe. 73. qualyties. 74. wote. wemme ne spotte maye. 75. Read unimaginable. 77. knytte. fal. 78. wol wel (for wot wel). 80. sonded; read souded. maye. 81. pleased. charyte. 82. eased. 83. comforte. fal. 85. out caste. daye. se. 86. flodde. 87. diseases. 89. perfectyon. knytte. dethe. 91. togyther is endelesse in blysse(!). dwel. 92. eased. 93. thentent. 94. great. Nowe. 95. arte wonte. 98. Nowe. haste. 100. I supply ther. 104. folke.

105. encreasing. 110. forthe. 112, 113. trewly and leue; read trewly I leve. 113. gracelesse. 114. disease. 115. halte. 117. (The sentence beginning O, alas seems hopelessly corrupt; there are pause-marks after vertues and wonderful.) 118. folowynge; read flowinge. by; read of. 119. flode. 122. caytife. inrest. disease. lefte. 124. maye. 125. tolde. 126. ioleynynge (sic). 127. disease. 128. nowe. 130. the lyst none. 131. worde. 134. qualites of comforte. worthe.

CHAPTER II.

Rehersinge these thinges and many other, without tyme

or moment of rest, me semed, for anguisshe of disese, that

al-togider I was ravisshed, I can not telle how; but hoolly all my

passions and felinges weren lost, as it semed, for the tyme; and

sodainly a maner of drede lighte in me al at ones; nought suche

fere as folk have of an enemy, that were mighty and wolde hem

greve or don hem disese. For, I trowe, this is wel knowe to many

persones, that otherwhyle, if a man be in his soveraignes presence,

a maner of ferdnesse crepeth in his herte, not for harme, but of

goodly subjeccion; namely, as men reden that aungels ben aferde

of our saviour in heven. And pardè, there ne is, ne may no

passion of disese be; but it is to mene, that angels ben adradde,

not by †ferdnes of drede, sithen they ben perfitly blissed, [but]

as [by] affeccion of wonderfulnesse and by service of obedience.

Suche ferde also han these lovers in presence of their loves, and

subjectes aforn their soveraynes. Right so with ferdnesse myn

herte was caught. And I sodainly astonied, there entred in-to

the place there I was logged a lady, the semeliest and most

goodly to my sight that ever to-forn apered to any creature; and

trewly, in the blustringe of her looke, she yave gladnesse and

comfort sodaynly to al my wittes; and right so she doth to

every wight that cometh in her presence. And for she was so

goodly, as me thought, myn herte began somdele to be enbolded,

and wexte a litel hardy to speke; but yet, with a quakinge

voyce, as I durste, I salued her, and enquired what she was;

and why she, so worthy to sight, dayned to entre in-to so foule

a dongeon, and namely a prison, without leve of my kepers.

For certes, al-though the vertue of dedes of mercy strecchen to

visiten the poore prisoners, and hem, after that facultees ben had,

to comforte, me semed that I was so fer fallen in-to miserye and

wrecched hid caytifnesse, that me shulde no precious thing

neighe; and also, that for my sorowe every wight shulde ben

hevy, and wisshe my recovery. But whan this lady had somdele

[10]

apperceyved, as wel by my wordes as by my chere, what thought

besied me within, with a good womanly countenance she sayde

these wordes:—

'O my nory, wenest thou that my maner be, to foryete my

frendes or my servauntes? Nay,' quod she, 'it is my ful entente

to visyte and comforte al my frendshippes and allyes, as wel in

tyme of perturbacion as of moost propertee of blisse; in me shal

unkyndnesse never be founden: and also, sithen I have so fewe

especial trewe now in these dayes. Wherefore I may wel at more

leysar come to hem that me deserven; and if my cominge may

in any thinge avayle, wete wel, I wol come often.'

'Now, good lady,' quod I, 'that art so fayre on to loke,

reyninge hony by thy wordes, blisse of paradys arn thy lokinges,

joye and comfort are thy movinges. What is thy name? How

is it that in you is so mokel werkinge vertues enpight, as me

semeth, and in none other creature that ever saw I with myne

eyen?'

'My disciple,' quod she, 'me wondreth of thy wordes and on

thee, that for a litel disese hast foryeten my name. Wost thou

not wel that I am Love, that first thee brought to thy service?'

'O good lady,' quod I, 'is this worship to thee or to thyn

excellence, for to come in-to so foule a place? Pardè, somtyme,

tho I was in prosperitè and with forayne goodes envolved, I had

mokil to done to drawe thee to myn hostel; and yet many

werninges thou madest er thou liste fully to graunte, thyn home

to make at my dwelling-place; and now thou comest goodly by

thyn owne vyse, to comforte me with wordes; and so there-thorough

I ginne remembre on passed gladnesse. Trewly, lady,

I ne wot whether I shal say welcome or non, sithen thy coming

wol as moche do me tene and sorowe, as gladnesse and mirthe.

See why: for that me comforteth to thinke on passed gladnesse,

that me anoyeth efte to be in doinge. Thus thy cominge bothe

gladdeth and teneth, and that is cause of moche sorowe. Lo, lady,

how than I am comforted by your comminge'; and with that

I gan in teeres to distille, and tenderly wepe.

'Now, certes,' quod Love, 'I see wel, and that me over-thinketh,

[11]

that wit in thee fayleth, and [thou] art in pointe

to dote.'

'Trewly,' quod I, 'that have ye maked, and that ever wol

I rue.'

'Wottest thou not wel,' quod she, 'that every shepherde ought

by reson to seke his sperkelande sheep, that arn ronne in-to

wildernesse among busshes and perils, and hem to their pasture

ayen-bringe, and take on hem privy besy cure of keping? And

though the unconninge sheep scattred wolde ben lost, renning to

wildernesse, and to desertes drawe, or els wolden putte hem-selfe

to the swalowinge wolfe, yet shal the shepherde, by businesse and

travayle, so putte him forth, that he shal not lete hem be lost by

no waye. A good shepherde putteth rather his lyf to ben lost for

his sheep. But for thou shalt not wene me being of werse

condicion, trewly, for everich of my folke, and for al tho that to

me-ward be knit in any condicion, I wol rather dye than suffre

hem through errour to ben spilte. For me liste, and it me lyketh,

of al myne a shepherdesse to be cleped. Wost thou not wel,

I fayled never wight, but he me refused and wolde negligently go

with unkyndenesse? And yet, pardè, have I many such holpe

and releved, and they have ofte me begyled; but ever, at the ende,

it discendeth in their owne nekkes. Hast thou not rad how kinde

I was to Paris, Priamus sone of Troy? How Jason me falsed,

for al his false behest? How Cesars †swink, I lefte it for no tene

til he was troned in my blisse for his service? What!' quod she,

'most of al, maked I not a loveday bytwene god and mankynde,

and chees a mayde to be nompere, to putte the quarel at ende?

Lo! how I have travayled to have thank on al sydes, and yet list

me not to reste, and I might fynde on †whom I shulde werche.

But trewly, myn owne disciple, bycause I have thee founde, at al

100

assayes, in thy wil to be redy myn hestes to have folowed, and

hast ben trewe to that Margarite-perle that ones I thee shewed;

and she alwaye, ayenward, hath mad but daungerous chere;

I am come, in propre person, to putte thee out of errours, and

make thee gladde by wayes of reson; so that sorow ne disese shal

[12]

105

no more hereafter thee amaistry. Wherthrough I hope thou

shalt lightly come to the grace, that thou longe hast desyred, of

thilke jewel. Hast thou not herd many ensamples, how I have

comforted and releved the scholers of my lore? Who hath

worthyed kinges in the felde? Who hath honoured ladyes in

110

boure by a perpetuel mirrour of their tr[o]uthe in my service?

Who hath caused worthy folk to voyde vyce and shame? Who

hath holde cytees and realmes in prosperitè? If thee liste clepe

ayen thyn olde remembraunce, thou coudest every point of this

declare in especial; and say that I, thy maistresse, have be cause,

115

causing these thinges and many mo other.'

'Now, y-wis, madame,' quod I, 'al these thinges I knowe wel

my-selfe, and that thyn excellence passeth the understanding of

us beestes; and that no mannes wit erthely may comprehende thy

vertues.'

120

'Wel than,' quod she, 'for I see thee in disese and sorowe,

I wot wel thou art oon of my nories; I may not suffre thee so to

make sorowe, thyn owne selfe to shende. But I my-selfe come

to be thy fere, thyn hevy charge to make to seme the lesse. For wo

is him that is alone; and to the sorye, to ben moned by a sorouful

125

wight, it is greet gladnesse. Right so, with my sicke frendes I am

sicke; and with sorie I can not els but sorowe make, til whan

I have hem releved in suche wyse, that gladnesse, in a maner of

counterpaysing, shal restore as mokil in joye as the passed hevinesse

biforn did in tene. And also,' quod she, 'whan any of my

130

servauntes ben alone in solitary place, I have yet ever besied me

to be with hem, in comfort of their hertes, and taught hem to

make songes of playnte and of blisse, and to endyten letters of

rethorike in queynt understondinges, and to bethinke hem in what

wyse they might best their ladies in good service plese; and

135

also to lerne maner in countenaunce, in wordes, and in bering,

and to ben meke and lowly to every wight, his name and fame to

encrese; and to yeve gret yeftes and large, that his renomè may

springen. But thee therof have I excused; for thy losse and thy

grete costages, wherthrough thou art nedy, arn nothing to me

140

unknowen; but I hope to god somtyme it shal ben amended, as

[13]

thus I sayd. In norture have I taught al myne; and in curtesye

made hem expert, their ladies hertes to winne; and if any wolde

[b]en deynous or proude, or be envious or of wrecches acqueyntaunce,

hasteliche have I suche voyded out of my scole. For

145

al vyces trewly I hate; vertues and worthinesse in al my power

I avaunce.'

'Ah! worthy creature,' quod I, 'and by juste cause the name

of goddesse dignely ye mowe bere! In thee lyth the grace

thorough whiche any creature in this worlde hath any goodnesse.

150

Trewly, al maner of blisse and preciousnesse in vertue out of

thee springen and wellen, as brokes and rivers proceden from

their springes. And lyke as al waters by kynde drawen to the see,

so al kyndely thinges thresten, by ful appetyte of desyre, to drawe

after thy steppes, and to thy presence aproche as to their kyndely

155

perfeccion. How dare than beestes in this worlde aught forfete

ayenst thy devyne purveyaunce? Also, lady, ye knowen al the

privy thoughtes; in hertes no counsayl may ben hid from your

knowing. Wherfore I wot wel, lady, that ye knowe your-selfe that

I in my conscience am and have ben willinge to your service, al

160

coude I never do as I shulde; yet, forsothe, fayned I never to

love otherwyse than was in myn herte; and if I coude have made

chere to one and y-thought another, as many other doon alday

afore myn eyen, I trowe it wolde not me have vayled.'

'Certes,' quod she, 'haddest thou so don, I wolde not now

165

have thee here visited.'

'Ye wete wel, lady, eke,' quod I, 'that I have not played raket,

"nettil in, docke out," and with the wethercocke waved; and

trewly, there ye me sette, by acorde of my conscience I wolde

not flye, til ye and reson, by apert strength, maden myn herte to

170

tourne.'

'In good fayth,' quod she, 'I have knowe thee ever of tho

condicions; and sithen thou woldest (in as moch as in thee was)

a made me privy of thy counsayl and juge of thy conscience

(though I forsook it in tho dayes til I saw better my tyme), wolde

175

never god that I shuld now fayle; but ever I wol be redy

witnessing thy sothe, in what place that ever I shal, ayenst al tho

that wol the contrary susteyne. And for as moche as to me is

[14]

naught unknowen ne hid of thy privy herte, but al hast thou tho

thinges mad to me open at the ful, that hath caused my cominge

180

in-to this prison, to voyde the webbes of thyne eyen, to make thee

clerely to see the errours thou hast ben in. And bycause that

men ben of dyvers condicions, some adradde to saye a sothe, and

some for a sothe anon redy to fighte, and also that I may not my-selfe

ben in place to withsaye thilke men that of thee speken

185

otherwyse than the sothe, I wol and I charge thee, in vertue of

obedience that thou to me owest, to wryten my wordes and sette

hem in wrytinges, that they mowe, as my witnessinge, ben

noted among the people. For bookes written neyther dreden ne

shamen, ne stryve conne; but only shewen the entente of the

190

wryter, and yeve remembraunce to the herer; and if any wol in

thy presence saye any-thing to tho wryters, loke boldely; truste on

Mars to answere at the ful. For certes, I shal him enfourme of

al the trouthe in thy love, with thy conscience; so that of his

helpe thou shalt not varye at thy nede. I trowe the strongest and

195

the beste that may be founde wol not transverse thy wordes;

wherof than woldest thou drede?'

Ch. II. 2. disease. 3. tel howe. holy. 4. loste. 5. light. 6. feare. folke. 7. done. disease. 9. ferdenesse. 10. subiection. 11. maye. 12. disease. meane. 13. frendes; read ferdnes; see l. 16. perfytely. I supply but and by. 14. affection. 16. aforne. ferdenesse. 18. lodged. moste. 19. to-forne. 21. comforte sodaynely. dothe. 23. myne. beganne. 27. prisone. leaue. 28. al-thoughe. stretchen. 29. faculties. 30. ferre. 31. wretched hyd. thynge. 33. heauy.

37. wenyst. foryet. 38. naye. 39. frenshippes. alyes. 40. propertye. 42. nowe. 42, 43. maye. 45. Nowe. 46. honny. paradise. 47. comforte. howe. 49. sawe. 52. the. disease haste. Woste. 53. the. 54. worshyppe. the. thyne. 57. the. 58. graunt thyne. 59. nowe. 60. thyne. 61. thoroughe. 62. wotte. none. 64. se. 67. howe. 69. Nowe. se.

70. wytte in the. I supply thou. arte. 74. shepeherde. 75. shepe. arne. 76. amonge. 78. tho. shepe. loste. 79. put. 80. shepeherde. 81. put. forthe. let. loste. 82. shepeherde. lyfe. loste. 83. shepe. shalte. 85. mewarde. 86. throughe. 91. Haste. radde howe. 92. sonne. 93. For false read faire. howe Sesars sonke (sic); corrupt. 95. louedaye. 96. chese. put. 97. howe. thanke. 98. rest. home; read whom. 99. the. 101. haste. the. 102. ayenwarde. made. 103. put the. 104. the. reason. disease.

105. the. 106. shalte. haste. 107. Haste. herde. howe. 111. folke. 112. cyties. the. cleape. 113. poynte. 116. Nowe. 118. wytte. 120. se the in disease. 121. wote. arte one. maye. the. 123. thyne. 125. great. 129. byforne. 131. comforte. 134. please. 135. bearyng. 137. encrease. maye. 138. the. 139. great. wherthroughe. arte. arne no-thinge.

141. thus as I; om. as. 143. endeynous; read ben deynous. wretches. 144. schole. 148. beare. the lythe. 151. the. 155. perfection. Howe. 157. counsayle maye. hydde. 158. wote. 162. doone aldaye. 164. done. nowe. 165. the. 166. playde. 169. reason. aperte. 171. faythe. the. 172. the. 173. counsayle. 174. forsoke. 175. nowe.

178. hert. 179. made. 180. the. 181. se. 183. anone. fyght. maye. 184. withsay. the. 185. the. 188. amonge. 189. onely. 191. -thynge. 194. shalte. 195. maye. transuers.

CHAPTER III.

Gretly was I tho gladded of these wordes, and (as who

saith) wexen somdel light in herte; both for the auctoritè

of witnesse, and also for sikernesse of helpe of the forsayd

beheste, and sayd:—

'Trewly, lady, now am I wel gladded through comfort of

your wordes. Be it now lykinge unto your nobley to shewe

whiche folk diffame your servauntes, sithe your service ought

above al other thinges to ben commended.'

'Yet,' quod she, 'I see wel thy soule is not al out of the

amased cloude. Thee were better to here thing that thee might

lighte out of thyn hevy charge and after knowing of thyn owne

helpe, than to stirre swete wordes and such resons to here;

for in a thoughtful soule (and namely suche oon as thou art)

wol not yet suche thinges sinken. Come of, therfore, and let

[15]

me seen thy hevy charge, that I may the lightlier for thy comfort

purveye.'

'Now, certes, lady,' quod I, 'the moste comfort I might have

were utterly to wete me be sure in herte of that Margaryte I

serve; and so I thinke to don with al mightes, whyle my lyfe

dureth.'

'Than,' quod she, 'mayst thou therafter, in suche wyse that

misplesaunce ne entre?'

'In good fayth,' quod I, 'there shal no misplesaunce be

caused through trespace on my syde.'

'And I do thee to weten,' quod she, 'I sette never yet person

to serve in no place (but-if he caused the contrary in defautes

and trespaces) that he ne spedde of his service.'

'Myn owne erthly lady,' quod I tho, 'and yet remembre to

your worthinesse how long sithen, by many revolving of yeres,

in tyme whan Octobre his leve ginneth take and Novembre

sheweth him to sight, whan bernes ben ful of goodes as is the

nutte on every halke; and than good lond-tillers ginne shape

for the erthe with greet travayle, to bringe forth more corn to

mannes sustenaunce, ayenst the nexte yeres folowing. In suche

tyme of plentee he that hath an home and is wyse, list not to

wander mervayles to seche, but he be constrayned or excited.

Oft the lothe thing is doon, by excitacion of other mannes

opinion, whiche wolden fayne have myn abydinge. [Tho gan I]

take in herte of luste to travayle and see the wynding of the erthe

in that tyme of winter. By woodes that large stretes wern in,

by smale pathes that swyn and hogges hadden made, as lanes

with ladels their maste to seche, I walked thinkinge alone

a wonder greet whyle; and the grete beestes that the woode

haunten and adorneth al maner forestes, and heerdes gonne to

wilde. Than, er I was war, I neyghed to a see-banke; and for

ferde of the beestes "shipcraft" I cryde. For, lady, I trowe ye

wete wel your-selfe, nothing is werse than the beestes that

shulden ben tame, if they cacche her wildenesse, and ginne ayen

waxe ramage. Thus forsothe was I a-ferd, and to shippe me

hyed.

Than were there y-nowe to lacche myn handes, and drawe me

[16]

to shippe, of whiche many I knew wel the names. Sight was

the first, Lust was another, Thought was the thirde; and Wil eke

was there a mayster; these broughten me within-borde of this

shippe of Traveyle. So whan the sayl was sprad, and this ship

gan to move, the wind and water gan for to ryse, and overthwartly

to turne the welken. The wawes semeden as they kiste togider;

but often under colour of kissinge is mokel old hate prively

closed and kept. The storm so straungely and in a devouring

maner gan so faste us assayle, that I supposed the date of my

deth shulde have mad there his ginning. Now up, now downe,

now under the wawe and now aboven was my ship a greet

whyle. And so by mokel duresse of †weders and of stormes,

and with greet avowing [of] pilgrimages, I was driven to an yle,

where utterly I wende first to have be rescowed; but trewly, †at

the first ginning, it semed me so perillous the haven to cacche,

that but thorow grace I had ben comforted, of lyfe I was ful

dispayred. Trewly, lady, if ye remembre a-right of al maner

thinges, your-selfe cam hastely to sene us see-driven, and to

weten what we weren. But first ye were deynous of chere, after

whiche ye gonne better a-lighte; and ever, as me thought, ye

lived in greet drede of disese; it semed so by your chere.

And whan I was certifyed of your name, the lenger I loked in

you, the more I you goodly dradde; and ever myn herte on you

opened the more; and so in a litel tyme my ship was out of

mynde. But, lady, as ye me ladde, I was war bothe of beestes

and of fisshes, a greet nombre thronging togider; among whiche

a muskel, in a blewe shel, had enclosed a Margaryte-perle, the

moste precious and best that ever to-forn cam in my sight.

And ye tolden your-selfe, that ilke jewel in his kinde was so

good and so vertuous, that her better shulde I never finde, al

sought I ther-after to the worldes ende. And with that I held

my pees a greet whyle; and ever sithen I have me bethought on

the man that sought the precious Margarytes; and whan he had

founden oon to his lyking, he solde al his good to bye that jewel.

Y-wis, thought I, (and yet so I thinke), now have I founden the

jewel that myn herte desyreth; wherto shulde I seche further?

[17]

Trewly, now wol I stinte, and on this Margaryte I sette me for

ever: now than also, sithen I wiste wel it was your wil that

I shulde so suche a service me take; and so to desyre that thing,

of whiche I never have blisse. There liveth non but he hath

disese; your might than that brought me to suche service, that to

me is cause of sorowe and of joye. I wonder of your worde that

ye sayn, "to bringen men in-to joye"; and, pardè, ye wete wel

that defaut ne trespace may not resonably ben put to me-wardes,

as fer as my conscience knoweth.

But of my disese me list now a whyle to speke, and to enforme

you in what maner of blisse ye have me thronge. For truly

I wene, that al gladnesse, al joye, and al mirthe is beshet under

100

locke, and the keye throwe in suche place that it may not be

founde. My brenning wo hath altred al my hewe. Whan

I shulde slepe, I walowe and I thinke, and me disporte. Thus

combred, I seme that al folk had me mased. Also, lady myne,

desyre hath longe dured, some speking to have; or els at the lest

105

have ben enmoysed with sight; and for wantinge of these thinges

my mouth wolde, and he durst, pleyne right sore, sithen yvels

for my goodnesse arn manyfolde to me yolden. I wonder, lady,

trewly, save evermore your reverence, how ye mowe, for shame,

suche thinges suffre on your servaunt to be so multiplied.

110

Wherfore, kneling with a lowe herte, I pray you to rue on this

caytif, that of nothing now may serve. Good lady, if ye liste,

now your help to me shewe, that am of your privyest servantes

at al assayes in this tyme, and under your winges of proteccion.

No help to me-wardes is shapen; how shal than straungers in

115

any wyse after socour loke, whan I, that am so privy, yet of helpe

I do fayle? Further may I not, but thus in this prison abyde;

what bondes and chaynes me holden, lady, ye see wel your-selfe.

A renyant forjuged hath not halfe the care. But thus, syghing

and sobbing, I wayle here alone; and nere it for comfort of your

120

presence, right here wolde I sterve. And yet a litel am I gladded,

that so goodly suche grace and non hap have I hent, graciously

to fynde the precious Margarite, that (al other left) men shulde

bye, if they shulde therfore selle al her substaunce. Wo is me,

[18]

that so many let-games and purpose-brekers ben maked wayters,

125

suche prisoners as I am to overloke and to hinder; and, for

suche lettours, it is hard any suche jewel to winne. Is this, lady,

an honour to thy deitee? Me thinketh, by right, suche people

shulde have no maistrye, ne ben overlokers over none of thy

servauntes. Trewly, were it leful unto you, to al the goddes

130

wolde I playne, that ye rule your devyne purveyaunce amonges

your servantes nothing as ye shulde. Also, lady, my moeble is

insuffysaunt to countervayle the price of this jewel, or els to

make th'eschange. Eke no wight is worthy suche perles to were

but kinges or princes or els their peres. This jewel, for vertue,

135

wold adorne and make fayre al a realme; the nobley of vertue is

so moche, that her goodnesse overal is commended. Who is it

that wolde not wayle, but he might suche richesse have at his

wil? The vertue therof out of this prison may me deliver, and

naught els. And if I be not ther-thorow holpen, I see my-selfe

140

withouten recovery. Although I might hence voyde, yet wolde

I not; I wolde abyde the day that destenee hath me ordeyned,

whiche I suppose is without amendement; so sore is my herte

bounden, that I may thinken non other. Thus strayte, lady,

hath sir Daunger laced me in stockes, I leve it be not your wil;

145

and for I see you taken so litel hede, as me thinketh, and wol

not maken by your might the vertue in mercy of the Margaryte

on me for to strecche, so as ye mowe wel in case that you liste,

my blisse and my mirthe arn feld; sicknesse and sorowe ben

alwaye redy. The cope of tene is wounde aboute al my body,

150

that stonding is me best; unneth may I ligge for pure misesy

sorowe. And yet al this is litel ynough to be the ernest-silver in

forwarde of this bargayne; for treble-folde so mokel muste I suffer

er tyme come of myn ese. For he is worthy no welthe, that may

no wo suffer. And certes, I am hevy to thinke on these thinges;

155

but who shal yeve me water ynough to drinke, lest myn eyen

drye, for renning stremes of teres? Who shal waylen with me

myn owne happy hevinesse? Who shal counsaile me now in

my lyking tene, and in my goodly harse? I not. For ever the

more I brenne, the more I coveyte; the more that I sorow, the

160

more thrist I in gladnesse. Who shal than yeve me a contrarious

[19]

drink, to stanche the thurste of my blisful bitternesse? Lo, thus

I brenne and I drenche; I shiver and I swete. To this reversed

yvel was never yet ordeyned salve; forsoth al †leches ben unconning,

save the Margaryte alone, any suche remedye to purveye.'

Ch. III. 1. gladed; see l. 5. 2. somdele. 5. nowe. comforte. 6. nowe. 7. folke. 9. se. 10. the (twice). 11. light. 13. one. arte.

15. sene. comforte. 16. puruey. 17. Nowe. comforte. 21. mayste. 25. the. set. 29. howe. 30. leaue. 32. londe-. 33. great. forthe. corne. 35. plentie. lyste. 37. doone. 38. I supply Tho gan I. 39. se. 40. werne. 41. swyne. 43. great. great. 44. gone; read gonne. 45. ware. 46. shypcrafte. 48. catche. 49. a-ferde. 51. lache.

52. many; read meynee. knewe. 55. sayle. shyppe. 56. wynde. 58. olde. 59. kepte. storme. 61. made. 61, 62. nowe. 62. shyppe. 62, 64. great. 63. wethers; read weders. 64. I supply of. 65. as; read at. 66. catche. 67. thorowe. 69. came. 71. a-lyght. 72. great. disease. 75. shyppe. 76. lad. ware. 77. great. amonge. 79. to-forne came. 82. helde. 83. peace. great. 85. one. 86. nowe. 87. myne.

88. nowe. 89. Nowe. 91. none. 92. disease. 94. sayne. 95. reasonably. 96. ferre. 97. disease. 103. folke. 106. mouthe. 107. arne. 108. howe. 111. caytife. 112. nowe. helpe. 113. protection. 114. helpe. howe. 115. socoure. 116. maye. 117. se. 119. comforte. 120. gladed. 121. none. hente. 122. lefte. 123. sel.

126. harde. 127. deytie. 133. weare. 139. ther-thorowe. se. 141. daye. destenye. 143. maye. none. 145. se. 147. stretche. 148. arne. 150. miseasy. 151. ynoughe. 153. ease. maye. 156. teares. 157. myne. nowe. 158. harse (sic); for harme?

CHAPTER IV.

And with these wordes I brast out to wepe, that every teere

of myne eyen, for greetnesse semed they boren out the bal of

my sight, and that al the water had ben out-ronne. Than thought

me that Love gan a litel to hevye for miscomfort of my chere;

and gan soberly and in esy maner speke, wel avysinge what

she sayd. Comenly the wyse speken esily and softe for many

skilles. Oon is, their wordes are the better bileved; and also, in

esy spekinge, avysement men may cacche, what to putte forth

and what to holden in. And also, the auctoritè of esy wordes is

the more; and eke, they yeven the more understandinge to other

intencion of the mater. Right so this lady esely and in a softe

maner gan say these wordes.

¶ 'Mervayle,' quod she, 'greet it is, that by no maner of semblaunt,

as fer as I can espye, thou list not to have any recour;

but ever thou playnest and sorowest, and wayes of remedye, for

folisshe wilfulnesse, thee list not to seche. But enquyre of thy

next frendes, that is, thyne inwit and me that have ben thy

maystresse, and the recour and fyne of thy disese; [f]or of disese is

gladnesse and joy, with a ful †vessel so helded, that it quencheth

the felinge of the firste tenes. But thou that were wont not only

these thinges remembre in thyne herte, but also fooles therof to

enfourmen, in adnullinge of their errours and distroying of their

derke opinions, and in comfort of their sere thoughtes; now canst

thou not ben comfort of thyn owne soule, in thinking of these

thinges. O where hast thou be so longe commensal, that hast so

mikel eeten of the potages of foryetfulnesse, and dronken so of

ignorance, that the olde souking[es] whiche thou haddest of me

arn amaystred and lorn fro al maner of knowing? O, this is

[20]

a worthy person to helpe other, that can not counsayle him-selfe!'

And with these wordes, for pure and stronge shame, I wox al

reed.

And she than, seing me so astonyed by dyvers stoundes,

sodainly (which thing kynde hateth) gan deliciously me comforte

with sugred wordes, putting me in ful hope that I shulde the

Margarite getten, if I folowed her hestes; and gan with a fayre

clothe to wypen the teres that hingen on my chekes; and than

sayd I in this wyse.

'Now, wel of wysdom and of al welthe, withouten thee may

nothing ben lerned; thou berest the keyes of al privy thinges.

In vayne travayle men to cacche any stedship, but-if ye, lady,

first the locke unshet. Ye, lady, lerne us the wayes and the

by-pathes to heven. Ye, lady, maken al the hevenly bodyes

goodly and benignely to don her cours, that governen us beestes

here on erthe. Ye armen your servauntes ayenst al debates with

imperciable harneys; ye setten in her hertes insuperable blood of

hardinesse; ye leden hem to the parfit good. Yet al thing

desyreth ye werne no man of helpe, that †wol don your

lore. Graunt me now a litel of your grace, al my sorowes

to cese.'

'Myne owne servaunt,' quod she, 'trewly thou sittest nye

myne herte; and thy badde chere gan sorily me greve. But

amonge thy playning wordes, me thought, thou allegest thinges to

be letting of thyne helpinge and thy grace to hinder; wherthrough,

me thinketh, that wanhope is crope thorough thyn hert. God

forbid that nyse unthrifty thought shulde come in thy mynde,

thy wittes to trouble; sithen every thing in coming is contingent.

Wherfore make no more thy proposicion by an impossible.

But now, I praye thee reherse me ayen tho thinges that

thy mistrust causen; and thilke thinges I thinke by reson to

distroyen, and putte ful hope in thyn herte. What understondest

thou there,' quod she, 'by that thou saydest, "many let-games

are thyn overlokers?" And also by "that thy moeble is insuffysaunt"?

I not what thou therof menest.'

'Trewly,' quod I, 'by the first I say, that janglers evermore

arn spekinge rather of yvel than of good; for every age of man

[21]

rather enclyneth to wickednesse, than any goodnesse to avaunce.

Also false wordes springen so wyde, by the stering of false lying

tonges, that fame als swiftely flyeth to her eres and sayth many

wicked tales; and as soone shal falsenesse ben leved as tr[o]uthe,

for al his gret sothnesse.

'Now by that other,' quod I, 'me thinketh thilke jewel so

precious, that to no suche wrecche as I am wolde vertue therof

extende; and also I am to feble in worldly joyes, any suche

jewel to countrevayle. For suche people that worldly joyes han

at her wil ben sette at the highest degree, and most in reverence

ben accepted. For false wening maketh felicitè therin to be

supposed; but suche caytives as I am evermore ben hindred.'

'Certes,' quod she, 'take good hede, and I shal by reson to

thee shewen, that al these thinges mowe nat lette thy purpos

by the leest point that any wight coude pricke.

Ch. IV. 2. great-. 4. heauy. 5. easy. 6. easyly. 7. One. 8. easy speakynge. catche. put forthe. 9. easy. 11. ladye easely. 13. great. 14. ferre. 16. the lyste. 17. inwytte. 18. disease (twice). 19. nessel; misprint for uessel. 20. wonte. onely. 22. distroyeng. 23. comforte. seare. 24. comforte. 25. haste. 27. soukyng. 28. arne.

30. woxe. 33. thynge. 36. teares. 38. Nowe. wysedom. the. 39. bearest. 40. catche. 43. done her course. 45. blode. 46. leaden. parfyte. thynge. 47. wern. wele; read wol. done. 48. nowe. 49. cease. 53. wherthroughe. 58. nowe. the. 59. reason. 60. put. 61. lette-games. 63. meanest. 65. arne.

CHAPTER V.

Remembrest nat,' quod she, 'ensample is oon of the

strongest maner[es], as for to preve a mannes purpos?

Than if I now, by ensample, enduce thee to any proposicion, is

it nat preved by strength?'

'Yes, forsothe,' quod I.

'Wel,' quod she, 'raddest thou never how Paris of Troye and

Heleyne loved togider, and yet had they not entrecomuned of

speche? Also Acrisius shette Dane his doughter in a tour, for

suertee that no wight shulde of her have no maistry in my

service; and yet Jupiter by signes, without any speche, had

al his purpose ayenst her fathers wil. And many suche mo have

ben knitte in trouthe, and yet spake they never togider; for

that is a thing enclosed under secretnesse of privytè, why twey

persons entremellen hertes after a sight. The power in knowing,

of such thinges †to preven, shal nat al utterly be yeven to you

beestes; for many thinges, in suche precious maters, ben

reserved to jugement of devyne purveyaunce; for among lyving

people, by mannes consideracion, moun they nat be determined.

[22]

Wherfore I saye, al the envy, al the janglinge, that wel ny [al]

people upon my servauntes maken †ofte, is rather cause of esployte

than of any hindringe.'

'Why, than,' quod I, 'suffre ye such wrong; and moun, whan

ye list, lightly al such yvels abate? Me semeth, to you it is

a greet unworship.'

'O,' quod she, 'hold now thy pees. I have founden to many

that han ben to me unkynde, that trewly I wol suffre every wight

in that wyse to have disese; and who that continueth to the ende

wel and trewly, hem wol I helpen, and as for oon of myne in-to

blisse [don] to wende. As [in] marcial doing in Grece, who

was y-crowned? By god, nat the strongest; but he that rathest

com and lengest abood and continued in the journey, and spared

nat to traveyle as long as the play leste. But thilke person, that

profred him now to my service, [and] therin is a while, and anon

voideth and [is] redy to another; and so now oon he thinketh

and now another; and in-to water entreth and anon respireth:

such oon list me nat in-to perfit blisse of my service bringe.

A tree ofte set in dyvers places wol nat by kynde endure to bringe

forth frutes. Loke now, I pray thee, how myne olde servauntes

of tyme passed continued in her service, and folowe thou after

their steppes; and than might thou not fayle, in case thou worche

in this wyse.'

'Certes,' quod I, 'it is nothing lich, this world, to tyme

passed; eke this countrè hath oon maner, and another countrè

hath another. And so may nat a man alway putte to his eye the

salve that he heled with his hele. For this is sothe: betwixe

two thinges liche, ofte dyversitè is required.'

'Now,' quod she, 'that is sothe; dyversitè of nation, dyversitè of

lawe, as was maked by many resons; for that dyversitè cometh in

by the contrarious malice of wicked people, that han envyous hertes

ayenst other. But trewly, my lawe to my servauntes ever hath

ben in general, whiche may nat fayle. For right as mannes †lawe

that is ordained by many determinacions, may nat be knowe for

good or badde, til assay of the people han proved it and [founden]

to what ende it draweth; and than it sheweth the necessitè

[23]

therof, or els the impossibilitè: right so the lawe of my servauntes

so wel hath ben proved in general, that hitherto hath it not fayled.

Wiste thou not wel that al the lawe of kynde is my lawe, and

by god ordayned and stablisshed to dure by kynde resoun?

Wherfore al lawe by mannes witte purveyed ought to be underput

to lawe of kynde, whiche yet hath be commune to every kyndely

creature; that my statutes and my lawe that ben kyndely arn

general to al peoples. Olde doinges and by many turninges of

yeres used, and with the peoples maner proved, mowen nat so

lightly ben defased; but newe doinges, contrariauntes suche olde,

ofte causen diseses and breken many purposes. Yet saye I nat

therfore that ayen newe mischeef men shulde nat ordaynen

a newe remedye; but alwaye looke it contrary not the olde no

ferther than the malice streccheth. Than foloweth it, the olde

doinges in love han ben universal, as for most exployte[s] forth

used; wherfore I wol not yet that of my lawes nothing be adnulled.

But thanne to thy purpos: suche jangelers and lokers, and

wayters of games, if thee thinke in aught they mowe dere, yet

love wel alwaye, and sette hem at naught; and let thy port ben

lowe in every wightes presence, and redy in thyne herte to

maynteyne that thou hast begonne; and a litel thee fayne with

mekenesse in wordes; and thus with sleyght shalt thou surmount

and dequace the yvel in their hertes. And wysdom yet is to seme

flye otherwhyle, there a man wol fighte. Thus with suche thinges

the tonges of yvel shal ben stilled; els fully to graunte thy ful

meninge, for-sothe ever was and ever it shal be, that myn enemyes

ben aferde to truste to any fightinge. And therfore have thou no

cowardes herte in my service, no more than somtyme thou

haddest in the contrarye. For if thou drede suche jangleres, thy

viage to make, understand wel, that he that dredeth any rayn, to

sowe his cornes, he shal have than [bare] bernes. Also he that

is aferd of his clothes, let him daunce naked! Who nothing

undertaketh, and namely in my service, nothing acheveth. After

grete stormes the †weder is often mery and smothe. After

moche clatering, there is mokil rowning. Thus, after jangling

wordes, cometh "huissht! pees! and be stille!"'

'O good lady!' quod I than, 'see now how, seven yere passed

[24]

and more, have I graffed and †grobbed a vyne; and with al the

wayes that I coude I sought to a fed me of the grape; but frute

have I non founde. Also I have this seven yere served Laban, to

a wedded Rachel his doughter; but blere-eyed Lya is brought to

my bedde, which alway engendreth my tene, and is ful of children

in tribulacion and in care. And although the clippinges and

kissinges of Rachel shulde seme to me swete, yet is she so

barayne that gladnesse ne joye by no way wol springe; so that

100

I may wepe with Rachel. I may not ben counsayled with solace,

sithen issue of myn hertely desyre is fayled. Now than I pray that

to me [come] sone fredom and grace in this eight[eth] yere; this

eighteth mowe to me bothe be kinrest and masseday, after the

seven werkedays of travayle, to folowe the Christen lawe; and,

105

what ever ye do els, that thilke Margaryte be holden so, lady, in

your privy chambre, that she in this case to none other person be

committed.'

'Loke than,' quod she, 'thou persever in my service, in whiche

I have thee grounded; that thilke scorn in thyn enemyes mowe

110

this on thy person be not sothed: "lo! this man began to edefye,

but, for his foundement is bad, to the ende may he it not bringe."

For mekenesse in countenaunce, with a manly hert in dedes and

in longe continuaunce, is the conisance of my livery to al my

retinue delivered. What wenest thou, that me list avaunce suche

115

persons as loven the first sittinges at feestes, the highest stoles

in churches and in hal, loutinges of peoples in markettes and fayres;

unstedfaste to byde in one place any whyle togider; wening his

owne wit more excellent than other; scorning al maner devyse

but his own? Nay, nay, god wot, these shul nothing parten of

120

my blisse. Truly, my maner here-toforn hath ben [to] worship[pe]

with my blisse lyons in the felde and lambes in chambre;

egles at assaute and maydens in halle; foxes in counsayle, stil[le]

in their dedes; and their proteccioun is graunted, redy to ben

a bridge; and their baner is arered, like wolves in the felde.

125

Thus, by these wayes, shul men ben avaunced; ensample of

David, that from keping of shepe was drawen up in-to the order

of kingly governaunce; and Jupiter, from a bole, to ben Europes

fere; and Julius Cesar, from the lowest degrè in Rome, to be

mayster of al erthly princes; and Eneas from hel, to be king of

[25]

130

the countrè there Rome is now stonding. And so to thee I say;

thy grace, by bering ther-after, may sette thee in suche plight,

that no jangling may greve the leest tucke of thy hemmes; that

[suche] are their †jangles, is nought to counte at a cresse in thy

disavauntage.

Ch. V. 1. one. 2. maner; read maneres. purpose. 3. nowe. the. 4. proued. 6. howe. 9. suertie. 15. so; read to. 17. lyueng.

19. I supply al. 20. efte; read ofte. 24. great. 25. holde nowe thy peace. 27. disease. 29. one. I supply don. I supply in. 31. come. abode. 32. lest. 33. nowe. I supply and. 34. I supply is. nowe one. 35. nowe. 36. one. perfyte. 38. nowe. the howe. 42. worlde. 43. one. 44. alwaye put. 45. healed. 47. Nowe. 48. reasons. 51. lawes; read lawe. 52. determinatiōs. 53. I supply founden.

58. reasoun. 59. purueyde. vnderputte. 61. arne. 65. diseases. breaken. 66. mischefe. 68. stretcheth. 69. exployte forthe. 70. nothynge. 71. purpose. 72. the. 73. lette. porte. 75. the. 77. wysdome. 78. fyght. 79. graunt. 80. meanynge. 84. vnderstande. rayne. 85. I supply bare. 86. aferde. 88. great. wether; read weder. 90. huysshte. peace. styl. 91. se nowe howe.

92. groubed. 94. none. 101. Nowe. 102. I supply come. 103. kynrest (sic). 109. skorne. 110. this; read thus? 120. toforne. 121. worship; read worshippe (verb). 122. styl. 123. protection.

CHAPTER VI.

Ever,' quod she, 'hath the people in this worlde desyred

to have had greet name in worthinesse, and hated foule

to bere any [en]fame; and that is oon of the objeccions thou

alegest to be ayen thyne hertely desyre.'

'Ye, forsothe,' quod I; 'and that, so comenly, the people wol

lye, and bringe aboute suche enfame.'

'Now,' quod she, 'if men with lesinges putte on thee enfame,

wenest thy-selfe therby ben enpeyred? That wening is wrong;

see why; for as moche as they lyen, thy meryte encreseth, and

make[th] thee ben more worthy, to hem that knowen of the soth;

by what thing thou art apeyred, that in so mokil thou art encresed

of thy beloved frendes. And sothly, a wounde of thy frende [is] to

thee lasse harm, ye, sir, and better than a fals kissing in disceyvable

glosing of thyne enemy; above that than, to be wel with thy

frende maketh [voyd] suche enfame. Ergo, thou art encresed

and not apeyred.'

'Lady,' quod I, 'somtyme yet, if a man be in disese, th'estimacion

of the envyous people ne loketh nothing to desertes of men,

ne to the merytes of their doinges, but only to the aventure of

fortune; and therafter they yeven their sentence. And some

loken the voluntary wil in his herte, and therafter telleth his

jugement; not taking hede to reson ne to the qualitè of the

doing; as thus. If a man be riche and fulfild with worldly

welfulnesse, some commenden it, and sayn it is so lent by juste

cause; and he that hath adversitè, they sayn he is weked; and

hath deserved thilke anoy. The contrarye of these thinges some

[26]

men holden also; and sayn that to the riche prosperitè is purvayed

in-to his confusion; and upon this mater many autoritès

of many and greet-witted clerkes they alegen. And some men

sayn, though al good estimacion forsake folk that han adversitè,

yet is it meryte and encrees of his blisse; so that these purposes

am so wonderful in understanding, that trewly, for myn adversitè

now, I not how the sentence of the indifferent people wil jugen

my fame.'

'Therfore,' quod she, 'if any wight shulde yeve a trewe sentence

on suche maters, the cause of the disese maist thou see

wel. Understand ther-upon after what ende it draweth, that is to

sayne, good or badde; so ought it to have his fame †by goodnesse

or enfame by badnesse. For [of] every resonable person, and

namely of a wyse man, his wit ought not, without reson to-forn

herd, sodainly in a mater to juge. After the sawes of the wyse,

"thou shalt not juge ne deme toforn thou knowe."'

'Lady,' quod I, 'ye remembre wel, that in moste laude and

praysing of certayne seyntes in holy churche, is to rehersen their

conuersion from badde in-to good; and that is so rehersed, as

by a perpetual mirrour of remembraunce, in worshippinge of

tho sayntes, and good ensample to other misdoers in amendement.

How turned the Romayne Zedeoreys fro the Romaynes,

to be with Hanibal ayenst his kynde nacion; and afterwardes,

him seming the Romayns to be at the next degrè of confusion,

turned to his olde alyes; by whose witte after was Hanibal

discomfited. Wherfore, to enfourme you, lady, the maner-why

I mene, see now. In my youth I was drawe to ben assentaunt

and (in my mightes) helping to certain conjuracions and other

grete maters of ruling of citizins; and thilke thinges ben my

drawers in; and ex[c]itours to tho maters wern so paynted and

coloured that (at the prime face) me semed them noble and

glorious to al the people. I than, wening mikel meryte have

deserved in furthering and mayntenaunce of tho thinges, besyed

and laboured, with al my diligence, in werkinge of thilke maters

to the ende. And trewly, lady, to telle you the sothe, me rought

litel of any hate of the mighty senatours in thilke citè, ne of

[27]

comunes malice; for two skilles. Oon was, I had comfort to ben

in suche plyte, that bothe profit were to me and to my frendes.

Another was, for commen profit in cominaltee is not but pees and

tranquilitè, with just governaunce, proceden from thilke profit;

sithen, by counsayle of myne inwitte, me thought the firste painted

thinges malice and yvel meninge, withouten any good avayling to

any people, and of tyrannye purposed. And so, for pure sorowe,

and of my medlinge and badde infame that I was in ronne, tho

[the] teres [that] lasshed out of myne eyen were thus awaye

wasshe, than the under-hidde malice and the rancour of purposing

envye, forncast and imagined in distruccion of mokil people,

shewed so openly, that, had I ben blind, with myne hondes al the

circumstaunce I might wel have feled.

Now than tho persones that suche thinges have cast to redresse,

for wrathe of my first medlinge, shopen me to dwelle in this pynande

prison, til Lachases my threed no lenger wolde twyne. And

ever I was sought, if me liste to have grace of my lyfe and

frenesse of that prison, I shulde openly confesse how pees might

ben enduced to enden al the firste rancours. It was fully

supposed my knowing to be ful in tho maters. Than, lady,

I thought that every man that, by any waye of right, rightfully

don, may helpe any comune †wele to ben saved; whiche thing to

kepe above al thinges I am holde to mayntayne, and namely in

distroying of a wrong; al shulde I therthrough enpeche myn

owne fere, if he were gilty and to do misdeed assentaunt. And

mayster ne frend may nought avayle to the soule of him that

in falsnesse deyeth; and also that I nere desyred wrathe of the

people ne indignacion of the worthy, for nothinge that ever I

wrought or did, in any doing my-selfe els, but in the mayntenaunce

of these foresayd errours and in hydinge of the privitees therof.

And that al the peoples hertes, holdinge on the errours syde,

weren blinde and of elde so ferforth begyled, that debat and

stryf they maynteyned, and in distruccion on that other syde;

by whiche cause the pees, that moste in comunaltee shulde be

desyred, was in poynte to be broken and adnulled. Also the citee

of London, that is to me so dere and swete, in whiche I was forth

[28]

growen; (and more kyndely love have I to that place than to any

100

other in erthe, as every kyndely creature hath ful appetyte to that

place of his kyndly engendrure, and to wilne reste and pees

in that stede to abyde); thilke pees shulde thus there have ben

broken, and of al wyse it is commended and desyred. For knowe

thing it is, al men that desyren to comen to the perfit pees

105

everlasting must the pees by god commended bothe mayntayne and

kepe. This pees by angels voyce was confirmed, our god entringe

in this worlde. This, as for his Testament, he lefte to al his

frendes, whanne he retourned to the place from whence he cam;

this his apostel amonesteth to holden, without whiche man perfitly

110

may have non insight. Also this god, by his coming, made not

pees alone betwene hevenly and erthly bodyes, but also amonge

us on erthe so he pees confirmed, that in one heed of love oon

body we shulde perfourme. Also I remembre me wel how the

name of Athenes was rather after the god of pees than of batayle,

115

shewinge that pees moste is necessarie to comunaltees and citees.

I than, so styred by al these wayes toforn nempned, declared

certayne poyntes in this wyse. Firste, that thilke persones

that hadden me drawen to their purposes, and me not weting the

privy entent of their meninge, drawen also the feeble-witted

120

people, that have non insight of gubernatif prudence, to clamure

and to crye on maters that they styred; and under poyntes for

comune avauntage they enbolded the passif to take in the

actives doinge; and also styred innocentes of conning to crye

after thinges, whiche (quod they) may not stande but we ben

125

executours of tho maters, and auctoritè of execucion by comen

eleccion to us be delivered. And that muste entre by strength of

your mayntenaunce. For we out of suche degree put, oppression

of these olde hindrers shal agayn surmounten, and putten you in

such subjeccion, that in endelesse wo ye shul complayne.

130

The governementes (quod they) of your citè, lefte in the handes

of torcencious citezins, shal bringe in pestilence and distruccion

to you, good men; and therfore let us have the comune administracion

to abate suche yvels. Also (quod they) it is worthy

the good to commende, and the gilty desertes to chastice. There

135

ben citezens many, for-ferde of execucion that shal be doon; for

[29]

extorcions by hem committed ben evermore ayenst these purposes

and al other good mevinges. Never-the-latter, lady, trewly the

meninge under these wordes was, fully to have apeched the

mighty senatoures, whiche hadden hevy herte for the misgovernaunce

140

that they seen. And so, lady, whan it fel that free

eleccion [was mad], by greet clamour of moche people, [that] for

greet disese of misgovernaunce so fervently stoden in her eleccion

that they hem submitted to every maner †fate rather than have

suffred the maner and the rule of the hated governours;

145

notwithstandinge that in the contrary helden moche comune meyny,

that have no consideracion but only to voluntary lustes withouten

reson. But than thilke governour so forsaken, fayninge to-forn

his undoinge for misrule in his tyme, shoop to have letted thilke

eleccion, and have made a newe, him-selfe to have ben chosen;

150

and under that, mokil rore [to] have arered. These thinges, lady,

knowen among the princes, and made open to the people,

draweth in amendement, that every degree shal ben ordayned to

stande there-as he shulde; and that of errours coming herafter

men may lightly to-forn-hand purvaye remedye; in this wyse pees

155

and rest to be furthered and holde. Of the whiche thinges, lady,

thilke persones broughten in answere to-forn their moste soverayne

juge, not coarted by payninge dures, openly knowlegeden, and

asked therof grace; so that apertly it preveth my wordes ben

sothe, without forginge of lesinges.

160

But now it greveth me to remembre these dyvers sentences, in

janglinge of these shepy people; certes, me thinketh, they oughten

to maken joye that a sothe may be knowe. For my trouthe and

my conscience ben witnesse to me bothe, that this (knowinge

sothe) have I sayd, for no harme ne malice of tho persones, but

165

only for trouthe of my sacrament in my ligeaunce, by whiche

I was charged on my kinges behalfe. But see ye not now, lady,

how the felonous thoughtes of this people and covins of wicked

men conspyren ayen my sothfast trouth! See ye not every wight

that to these erroneous opinions were assentaunt, and helpes to

170

the noyse, and knewen al these thinges better than I my-selven,

apparaylen to fynden newe frendes, and clepen me fals, and

[30]

studyen how they mowen in her mouthes werse plyte nempne?

O god, what may this be, that thilke folk whiche that in tyme of

my mayntenaunce, and whan my might avayled to strecche to

175

the forsayd maters, tho me commended, and yave me name of

trouth, in so manyfolde maners that it was nyghe in every

wightes eere, there-as any of thilke people weren; and on the

other syde, thilke company somtyme passed, yevinge me name

of badde loos: now bothe tho peoples turned the good in-to

180

badde, and badde in-to good? Whiche thing is wonder, that

they knowing me saying but sothe, arn now tempted to reply her

olde praysinges; and knowen me wel in al doinges to ben trewe,

and sayn openly that I false have sayd many thinges! And they

aleged nothing me to ben false or untrewe, save thilke mater

185

knowleged by the parties hem-selfe; and god wot, other mater

is non. Ye also, lady, knowe these thinges for trewe; I avaunte

not in praysing of my-selfe; therby shulde I lese the precious

secrè of my conscience. But ye see wel that false opinion of the

people for my trouthe, in telling out of false conspyred maters;

190

and after the jugement of these clerkes, I shulde not hyde the

sothe of no maner person, mayster ne other. Wherfore I wolde

not drede, were it put in the consideracion of trewe and of wyse.

And for comers hereafter shullen fully, out of denwere, al the

sothe knowe of these thinges in acte, but as they wern, I have

195

put it in scripture, in perpetuel remembraunce of true meninge.

For trewly, lady, me semeth that I ought to bere the name of

trouthe, that for the love of rightwysnesse have thus me †submitted.

But now than the false fame, which that (clerkes sayn)

flyeth as faste as doth the fame of trouthe, shal so wyde sprede

200

til it be brought to the jewel that I of mene; and so shal I ben

hindred, withouten any mesure of trouthe.'

Ch. VI. 2. great. beare. 3. read enfame; see l. 6. one. obiections. 7. Nowe. leasynges put on the. 8. wronge. 9. se. encreaseth. 10. the. 11. arte encreased. 12. I supply is. 13. the. harme. false. 15. I supply voyd. arte. 17. disease. 22. reason. 23. fulfylde. 24. sayne. lente. 25. sayne. weaked; read wikked? 26. anoye.

27. sayne. 29. great. 30. forsaken; read forsake. 31. encrease. 32. arne. 33. nowe. howe. 36. disease. se. 37. vnderstande. 38. fame or by goodnesse enfame; read fame by goodnesse or enfame. 39. Supply of. reasonable. 40. wytte. reason to-forne. 41. herde. 42. toforne. 45. conuercion. 48. Howe. zedeoreys or ȝedeoreys. 53. meane se nowe. 55. great. 56. exitours. werne. 61. tel.

63. One. comforte. 64. profyte. 65. profyte. comynaltie. peace. 66. profyte. 68. meanynge. 71. I supply the and that. 72. rancoure. 73. fornecaste. distruction. 74. blynde. 76. Nowe. caste. 77. dwel. 78. threde. 80. howe peace. 81. endused. 84. done. maye. helpe (repeated after comen); read wele. thynge. 86. distroyeng. 87. misdede. 88. frende maye. 94. -forthe. debate. 95. stryfe. distruction. 96. peace. comunaltie. 97. cytie. 98. forthe.

101-6. peace (five times). 104. thynge. perfyte. 107. left. 108. came. 109. perfytely. 110. none. 111-2. peace (twice). 112. one (twice). 113. howe. 114-5. peace (twice). 115. comunalties and cytes. 116. toforne. 119. meanynge. feoble. 120. none. gubernatyfe. 122. passyfe. 126. election. 128. agayne. 129. subiection. 131. distruction. 135. doone.

138. meanynge. 139. heauy. 141. election. Supply was mad. great (twice). Supply that. 142. disease. election. 143. face; read fate. 146. onely. 147. reason. to-forne. 148. shope. 149. electyon. 151. amonge. 154. to forne hande. peace. 156. to forne. 158. apertely. 159. leasynges. 160. nowe. 162. maye. 164. sayde. 165. onely. leigeaunce. 166. se. nowe. 168. Se. 171. cleapen. false.

172. howe. 173. maye. folke. 174. stretch. 179. Nowe. 181. knowyuge (sic). sayng. arne nowe. 183. sayne. 184. nothynge. 185. wote. 186. none. 188. se. 194. werne. 195. meanynge. 196. beare. 197. submytten (!). 198. nowe. sayne. 199. dothe. 200. meane. 201. measure.

CHAPTER VII.

Than gan Love sadly me beholde, and sayd in a changed

voyce, lower than she had spoken in any tyme: 'Fayn

wolde I,' quod she, 'that thou were holpen; but hast thou sayd

any-thing whiche thou might not proven?'

'Pardè,' quod I, 'the persones, every thing as I have sayd, han

knowleged hem-selfe.'

'Ye,' quod she, 'but what if they hadden nayed? How

woldest thou have maynteyned it?'

'Sothely,' quod I, 'it is wel wist, bothe amonges the greetest

and other of the realme, that I profered my body so largely in-to

provinge of tho thinges, that Mars shulde have juged the ende;

but, for sothnesse of my wordes, they durste not to thilke juge

truste.'

'Now, certes,' quod she, 'above al fames in this worlde, the

name of marcial doinges most plesen to ladyes of my lore; but

sithen thou were redy, and thyne adversaryes in thy presence

refused thilke doing; thy fame ought to be so born as if in dede

it had take to the ende. And therfore every wight that any

droppe of reson hath, and hereth of thee infame for these thinges,

hath this answere to saye: "trewly thou saydest; for thyne

adversaryes thy wordes affirmed." And if thou haddest lyed, yet

are they discomfited, the prise leved on thy syde; so that fame

shal holde down infame; he shal bringe [it in] upon none

halfe. What greveth thee thyne enemye[s] to sayn their owne

shame, as thus: "we arn discomfited, and yet our quarel is

trewe?" Shal not the loos of thy frendes ayenward dequace thilke

enfame, and saye they graunted a sothe without a stroke or fighting?

Many men in batayle ben discomfited and overcome in

a rightful quarel, that is goddes privy jugement in heven; but

yet, although the party be yolden, he may with wordes saye his

quarel is trewe, and to yelde him, in the contrarye, for drede of

dethe he is compelled; and he that graunteth and no stroke hath

feled, he may not crepe away in this wyse by none excusacion.

[32]

Indifferent folk wil say: "ye, who is trewe, who is fals, him-selfe

knowlegeth tho thinges." Thus in every syde fame sheweth to

thee good and no badde.'

'But yet,' quod I, 'some wil say, I ne shulde, for no dethe,

have discovered my maistresse; and so by unkyndnesse they

wol knette infame, to pursue me aboute. Thus enemyes of wil,

in manyfolde maner, wol seche privy serpentynes queintyses, to

quenche and distroye, by venim of many besinesses, the light of

tr[o]uthe; to make hertes to murmure ayenst my persone, to have

me in hayne withouten any cause.'

'Now,' quod she, 'here me a fewe wordes, and thou shalt fully

ben answered, I trowe. Me thinketh (quod she) right now, by

thy wordes, that sacrament of swering, that is to say, charging by

othe, was oon of the causes to make thee discover the malicious

imaginacions tofore nempned. Every ooth, by knittinge of copulation,

muste have these lawes, that is, trewe jugement and rightwysenesse;

in whiche thinge if any of these lacke, the ooth is

y-tourned in-to the name of perjury. Than to make a trewe

serment, most nedes these thinges folowe. For ofte tymes, a man

to saye sothe, but jugement and justice folowe, he is forsworn;

ensample of Herodes, for holdinge of his serment was [he]

dampned.

Also, to saye tr[o]uthe rightfulliche (but in jugement) otherwhile

is forboden, by that al sothes be nat to sayne. Therfore in

jugement, in tr[o]uthe, and rightwisenesse, is every creature

bounden, up payne of perjury, ful knowing to make, tho[ugh] it

were of his owne persone, for drede of sinne; after that worde,

"better is it to dey than live false." And, al wolde perverted people

fals report make in unkyndnesse, in that entent thy [en]fame to

reyse, whan light of tr[o]uthe in these maters is forth sprongen

and openly publisshed among commens, than shal nat suche

derke enfame dare appere, for pure shame of his falsnesse. As some

men ther ben that their owne enfame can none otherwyse voide

or els excuse, but †by hindringe of other mennes fame; which

that by non other cause clepen other men false, but for [that]

with their owne falsnesse mowen they nat ben avaunsed; or els

by false sklaund[r]inge wordes other men shenden, their owne

[33]

trewe sklaunder to make seme the lasse. For if such men wolden

their eyen of their conscience revolven, [they] shulden seen the

same sentence they legen on other springe out of their sydes, with

so many braunches, it were impossible to nombre. To whiche

therefore may it be sayd in that thinge, "this man thou demest,

therein thy-selfe thou condempnest."

But (quod she) understand nat by these wordes, that thou

wene me saye thee to be worthy sclaunder, for any mater tofore

written; truely I wolde witnesse the contrary; but I saye that

the bemes of sclaundring wordes may not be don awaye til the

daye of dome. For how shulde it nat yet, amonges so greet

plentee of people, ben many shrewes, sithen whan no mo but

eight persons in Noes shippe were closed, yet oon was a shrewe

and skorned his father? These thinges (quod she) I trowe, shewen

that fals fame is nat to drede, ne of wyse persons to accepte, and

namely nat of thy Margarite, whose wysdom here-after I thinke to

declare; wherfore I wot wel suche thing shal nat her asterte;

than of unkyndnesse thyn ooth hath thee excused at the fulle.

But now, if thou woldest nat greve, me list a fewe thinges to

shewe.'

'Say on,' quod I, 'what ye wol; I trowe ye mene but trouthe

and my profit in tyme cominge.'

'Trewly,' quod she, 'that is sothe, so thou con wel kepe these

wordes, and in the in[ne]rest secrè chambre of thyne herte so

faste hem close that they never flitte; than shalt thou fynde hem

avayling. Loke now what people hast thou served; whiche of

hem al in tyme of thyne exile ever thee refresshed, by the valewe

of the leste coyned plate that walketh in money? Who was sory,

or made any rewth for thy disese? If they hadden getten their

100

purpose, of thy misaventure sette they nat an hawe. Lo, whan

thou were emprisonned, how faste they hyed in helpe of thy

deliveraunce! I wene of thy dethe they yeve but lyte. They

loked after no-thing but after their owne lustes. And if thou liste

say the sothe, al that meyny that in this †brige thee broughten,

105

lokeden rather after thyne helpes than thee to have releved.

Owen nat yet some of hem money for his commens? Paydest

[34]

nat thou for some of her dispences, til they were tourned out of

Selande? Who yave thee ever ought for any rydinge thou madest?

Yet, pardè, some of hem token money for thy chambre, and

110

putte tho pens in his purse, unwetinge of the renter.

Lo for which a company thou medlest, that neither thee ne

them-selfe mighten helpe of unkyndnesse; now they bere the

name that thou supposest of hem for to have. What might thou

more have don than thou diddest, but-if thou woldest in a fals

115

quarel have been a stinkinge martyr? I wene thou fleddest, as

longe as thou might, their privitè to counsayle; which thing thou

hele[de]st lenger than thou shuldest. And thilke that ought thee

money no penny wolde paye; they wende thy returne hadde ben

an impossible. How might thou better have hem proved, but thus

120

in thy nedy diseses? Now hast thou ensaumple for whom thou

shalt meddle; trewly, this lore is worth many goodes.'

Ch. VII. 2. Fayne. 3. haste. 4. -thynge. 7. Yea. Howe. 9. wyste. amongest. greatest. 14. Nowe. 15. moste pleasen. 17. borne. 19. reason. the. 22. leaued. 23. Supply it in. 24. the. enemye (sic). sayne. 25. arne. 30. partie. 33. maye.

34. folke. false. 36. the. 44. Nowe. shalte. 45. answerde. nowe. 46. swearyng. 47. one. the. 48. othe. copulation. 50. othe. 53. forsworne. 54. Supply he. 61. false. 62. reporte. 63. forthe. 67. be; for by. 68. cleapen. Supply that. 70. sklaundynge. shendyn.

72. I supply they. sene. 73. legen [for aleggen]. 75. maye. 77. vnderstande. 78. the. 80. beames. done. 81. howe. great. 82. plentie. 83. one. 85. false. 86. wysedom. 87. wotte. thynge. 88. thyne othe. the. 89. nowe. 91. meane. 92. profyte. 94. inrest. 95. shalte. 96. nowe. haste. 97. the. 98. sorye. 99. disease. 101. howe. 103. -thynge. 104. brigge; read brige. 104, 105. the.

108. the. 109. pardye. 111. the. 112. now. beare. 114. done. false. 117. helest; read heledest. the. 119. Howe. 120. diseases. Nowe haste. 121. shalte. worthe.

CHAPTER VIII.

†Eft gan Love to †steren me [with] these wordes: 'thinke

on my speche; for trewly here-after it wol do thee lykinge;

and how-so-ever thou see Fortune shape her wheele to tourne,

this meditacion [shal] by no waye revolve. For certes, Fortune

sheweth her fayrest, whan she thinketh to begyle. And as me

thought, here-toforn thou saydest, thy loos in love, for thy

rightwysenesse ought to be raysed, shulde be a-lowed in tyme cominge.

Thou might in love so thee have, that loos and fame shul so ben

raysed, that to thy frendes comfort, and sorowe to thyne enemys,

endlesse shul endure.

But if thou were the oon sheep, amonges the hundred, were lost

in deserte and out of the way hadde erred, and now to the flocke

art restoored, the shepherd hath in thee no joye and thou ayen

to the forrest tourne. But that right as the sorowe and anguisshe

was greet in tyme of thyne out-waye goinge, right so

joye and gladnesse shal be doubled to sene thee converted; and

[35]

nat as Lothes wyf ayen-lokinge, but [in] hool counsayle with the

shepe folowinge, and with them grasse and herbes gadre. Never-the-later

(quod she) I saye nat these thinges for no wantrust that

I have in supposinge of thee otherwyse than I shulde. For

trewly, I wot wel that now thou art set in suche a purpose, out of

whiche thee liste nat to parte. But I saye it for many men there

been, that to knowinge of other mennes doinges setten al their

cure, and lightly desyren the badde to clatter rather than the

good, and have no wil their owne maner to amende. They also

hate of olde rancours lightly haven; and there that suche thing

abydeth, sodaynly in their mouthes procedeth the habundaunce

of the herte, and wordes as stones out-throwe. Wherfore my

counsayl is ever-more openly and apertly, in what place thou sitte,

counterplete th'errours and meninges in as fer as thou hem

wistest false, and leve for no wight to make hem be knowe in

every bodyes ere; and be alway pacient and use Jacobes wordes,

what-so-ever men of thee clappen: "I shal sustayne my ladyes

wrathe which I have deserved, so longe as my Margarite hath

rightwysed my cause." And certes (quod she) I witnesse my-selfe,

if thou, thus converted, sorowest in good meninge in thyne herte,

[and] wolt from al vanitè parfitly departe, in consolacioun of al

good plesaunce of that Margaryte, whiche that thou desyrest after

wil of thyn herte, in a maner of a †moders pitè, [she] shul fully

accepte thee in-to grace. For right as thou rentest clothes in

open sighte, so openly to sowe hem at his worshippe withouten

reprofe [is] commended. Also, right as thou were ensample of

moche-folde errour, right so thou must be ensample of manyfolde

correccioun; so good savour to forgoing †of errour causeth diligent

love, with many playted praisinges to folowe; and than shal al

the firste errours make the folowinge worshippes to seme hugely

encresed. Blacke and white, set togider, every for other more

semeth; and so doth every thinges contrary in kynde. But

infame, that goth alwaye tofore, and praysinge worship by any

cause folowinge after, maketh to ryse the ilke honour in double

of welth; and that quencheth the spotte of the first enfame. Why

[36]

wenest, I saye, these thinges in hindringe of thy name? Nay,

nay, god wot, but for pure encresing worship, thy rightwysenesse to

commende, and thy trouthe to seme the more. Wost nat wel

thy-selfe, that thou in fourme of making †passest nat Adam that eet

of the apple? Thou †passest nat the stedfastnesse of Noe, that

eetinge of the grape becom dronke. Thou passest nat the

chastitè of Lothe, that lay by his doughter; eke the nobley of

Abraham, whom god reproved by his pryde; also Davides

mekenesse, whiche for a woman made Urye be slawe. What?

also Hector of Troye, in whom no defaute might be founde, yet

is he reproved that he ne hadde with manhode nat suffred the

warre begonne, ne Paris to have went in-to Grece, by whom gan

al the sorowe. For trewly, him lacketh no venim of privè

consenting, whiche that openly leveth a wrong to withsaye.

Lo eke an olde proverbe amonges many other: "He that is

stille semeth as he graunted."

Now by these ensamples thou might fully understonde, that

these thinges ben writte to your lerning, and in rightwysenesse of

tho persones, as thus: To every wight his defaute committed

made goodnesse afterwardes don be the more in reverence and in

open shewing; for ensample, is it nat songe in holy churche,

"Lo, how necessary was Adams synne!" David the king gat

Salomon the king of her that was Uryes wyf. Truly, for reprofe

is non of these thinges writte. Right so, tho I reherce thy

before-dede, I repreve thee never the more; ne for no villany of

thee are they rehersed, but for worshippe, so thou continewe wel

here-after: and for profit of thy-selfe I rede thou on hem thinke.'

Than sayde I right thus: 'Lady of unitè and accorde, envy

and wrathe lurken there thou comest in place; ye weten wel

your-selve, and so don many other, that whyle I administred the

office of commen doinge, as in rulinge of the stablisshmentes

amonges the people, I defouled never my conscience for no

maner dede; but ever, by witte and by counsayle of the wysest,

the maters weren drawen to their right endes. And thus trewly

for you, lady, I have desyred suche cure; and certes, in your

service was I nat ydel, as fer as suche doinge of my cure

streccheth.'

[37]

'That is a thing,' quod she, 'that may drawe many hertes of

noble, and voice of commune in-to glory; and fame is nat but

wrecched and fickle. Alas! that mankynde coveyteth in so leude

a wyse to be rewarded of any good dede, sithe glorie of fame, in

this worlde, is nat but hindringe of glorie in tyme comminge!

And certes (quod she) yet at the hardest suche fame, in-to heven,

is nat the erthe but a centre to the cercle of heven? A pricke is

wonder litel in respect of al the cercle; and yet, in al this pricke,

may no name be born, in maner of peersing, for many obstacles,

as waters, and wildernesse, and straunge langages. And nat only

names of men ben stilled and holden out of knowleginge by these

100

obstacles, but also citees and realmes of prosperitè ben letted to

be knowe, and their reson hindred; so that they mowe nat ben

parfitly in mennes propre understandinge. How shulde than the

name of a singuler Londenoys passe the glorious name of London,

whiche by many it is commended, and by many it is lacked, and

105

in many mo places in erthe nat knowen than knowen? For in

many countrees litel is London in knowing or in spech; and yet

among oon maner of people may nat such fame in goodnes

come; for as many as praysen, commenly as many lacken. Fy

than on such maner fame! Slepe, and suffre him that knoweth

110

previtè of hertes to dele suche fame in thilke place there nothing

ayenst a sothe shal neither speke ne dare apere, by attourney

ne by other maner. How many greet-named, and many greet

in worthinesse losed, han be tofore this tyme, that now out

of memorie are slidden, and clenely forgeten, for defaute of

115

wrytinges! And yet scriptures for greet elde so ben defased, that

no perpetualtè may in hem ben juged. But if thou wolt make

comparisoun to ever, what joye mayst thou have in erthly name?

It is a fayr lykenesse, a pees or oon grayn of whete, to a thousand

shippes ful of corne charged! What nombre is betwene the

120

oon and th'other? And yet mowe bothe they be nombred, and

ende in rekening have. But trewly, al that may be nombred is

nothing to recken, as to thilke that may nat be nombred. For

†of the thinges ended is mad comparison; as, oon litel, another

greet; but in thinges to have an ende, and another no ende,

125

suche comparisoun may nat be founden. Wherfore in heven to

[38]

ben losed with god hath non ende, but endlesse endureth; and

thou canst nothing don aright, but thou desyre the rumour therof

be heled and in every wightes ere; and that dureth but a pricke

in respecte of the other. And so thou sekest reward of folkes

130

smale wordes, and of vayne praysinges. Trewly, therin thou

lesest the guerdon of vertue; and lesest the grettest valour of

conscience, and uphap thy renomè everlasting. Therfore boldely

renomè of fame of the erthe shulde be hated, and fame after deth

shulde be desyred of werkes of vertue. [Trewly, vertue] asketh

135

guerdoning, and the soule causeth al vertue. Than the soule,

delivered out of prison of erthe, is most worthy suche guerdon

among to have in the everlastinge fame; and nat the body, that

causeth al mannes yvels.

Ch. VIII. 1. Ofte; read Eft. sterne; read steren. I supply with. 2. the. 3. howe. se. 4. meditation. I supply shal. 6. toforne. 8. the. 9. comforte. 11. one shepe. 12. loste. nowe. 13. arte. shepeherd. the. 15. great. 16. the.

17. wyfe. I supply in. hoole. 20. the. 21. wotte. nowe. arte sette. 22. the. 23. bene. 26. thynge. 28. stones repeated in Th. 29. counsayle. apertely. 30. therrours. meanynges. ferre. 31. wystyst. leaue. 32. eare. 33. menne. the. 36. meanynge. 37. I supply and. wolte. parfytely. 37. consolatyoun. 38. pleasaunce. 39. hert. mothers; read moders. I supply she. 40. the. 42. I supply is. 44. correctioun. al; read of. After errour I omit distroyeng (gloss upon forgoing). 47. encreased. sette. 48. dothe. 49. gothe. worshippe.

52. wenyste. Naye nay god wotte. 53. encreasyng. 55-7. passeth (twice); passyst (third time). ete. 57. eatynge. become. 61. whome. 63. begon. ganne. 65. leaueth. wronge. withsay. 68. Nowe. 71. done. 72. song. 73. howe. gate. 74. wyfe. 75. none. 76-7. the (twice). 78. profyte. 81. done. 87. ferre. 88. stretcheth.

91. wretched. 96. respecte. 97. borne. 98. onely. 101. reason. 102. parfitely. Howe. 107. one. 108. Fye. 110. nothynge. 112. Howe. great (twice). 113. nowe. 115. great. 116. maye. wolte. 118. fayre. one grayne of wheate. thousande. 120. one. thother. 121-2. maye. 123. ofte; read of the. made. one. 124. great.

126. none. 127. canste nothynge done. rumoure. 128. healed; read deled? eare. 129. rewarde. 131. valoure. consyence. 134. Supply Trewly, vertue. 136. prisone. guerdone.

CHAPTER IX.

Of twey thinges art thou answered, as me thinketh (quod

Love); and if any thing be in doute in thy soule, shewe

it forth, thyn ignoraunce to clere, and leve it for no shame.'

'Certes,' quod I, 'there is no body in this worlde, that aught

coude saye by reson ayenst any of your skilles, as I leve; and by

my witte now fele I wel, that yvel-spekers or berers of enfame

may litel greve or lette my purpos, but rather by suche thinge my

quarel to be forthered.'

'Ye,' quod she,'and it is proved also, that the ilke jewel in

my kepinge shal nat there-thorow be stered, of the lest moment

that might be imagined.'

'That is soth,' quod I.

'Wel,' quod she, 'than †leveth there, to declare that thy

insuffisance is no maner letting, as thus: for that she is so worthy,

thou shuldest not clymbe so highe; for thy moebles and thyn

estate arn voyded, thou thinkest [thee] fallen in suche miserie,

that gladnesse of thy pursute wol nat on thee discende.'

'Certes,' quod I, 'that is sothe; right suche thought is in myn

herte; for commenly it is spoken, and for an olde proverbe it is

[39]

leged: "He that heweth to hye, with chippes he may lese

his sight." Wherfore I have ben about, in al that ever I might,

to studye wayes of remedye by one syde or by another.'

'Now,' quod she, 'god forbede †that thou seke any other

doinges but suche as I have lerned thee in our restinge-whyles,

and suche herbes as ben planted in oure gardins. Thou shalt

wel understande that above man is but oon god alone.'

'How,' quod I, 'han men to-forn this tyme trusted in writtes

and chauntements, and in helpes of spirites that dwellen in the

ayre, and therby they han getten their desyres, where-as first, for

al his manly power, he daunced behynde?'

'O,' quod she, 'fy on suche maters! For trewly, that is

sacrilege; and that shal have no sort with any of my servauntes;

in myne eyen shal suche thing nat be loked after. How often is

it commaunded by these passed wyse, that "to one god shal men

serve, and not to goddes?" And who that liste to have myne

helpes, shal aske none helpe of foule spirites. Alas! is nat man

maked semblable to god? Wost thou nat wel, that al vertue of

lyvelich werkinge, by goddes purveyaunce, is underput to resonable

creature in erthe? Is nat every thing, a this halfe god, mad

buxom to mannes contemplation, understandinge in heven and

in erthe and in helle? Hath not man beinge with stones, soule of

wexing with trees and herbes? Hath he nat soule of felinge, with

beestes, fisshes, and foules? And he hath soule of reson and

understanding with aungels; so that in him is knit al maner

of lyvinges by a resonable proporcioun. Also man is mad of

al the foure elementes. Al universitee is rekened in him alone;

he hath, under god, principalitè above al thinges. Now is his

soule here, now a thousand myle hence; now fer, now nygh;

now hye, now lowe; as fer in a moment as in mountenaunce of

ten winter; and al this is in mannes governaunce and disposicion.

Than sheweth it that men ben liche unto goddes, and children of

moost heyght. But now, sithen al thinges [arn] underput to the

wil of resonable creatures, god forbede any man to winne that

lordship, and aske helpe of any-thing lower than him-selfe; and than,

namely, of foule thinges innominable. Now than, why shuldest

[40]

thou wene to love to highe, sithen nothing is thee above but god

alone? Trewly, I wot wel that thilke jewel is in a maner even in

lyne of degree there thou art thy-selfe, and nought above, save

thus: aungel upon angel, man upon man, and devil upon devil

han a maner of soveraigntee; and that shal cese at the daye

of dome. And so I say: though thou be put to serve the

ilke jewel duringe thy lyfe, yet is that no servage of

underputtinge, but a maner of travayling plesaunce, to conquere and

gette that thou hast not. I sette now the hardest: in my service

now thou deydest, for sorowe of wantinge in thy desyres; trewly,

al hevenly bodyes with one voyce shul come and make melody in

thy cominge, and saye—"Welcome, our fere, and worthy to entre

into Jupiters joye! For thou with might hast overcome deth;

thou woldest never flitte out of thy service; and we al shul

now praye to the goddes, rowe by rowe, to make thilk Margarite,

that no routh had in this persone, but unkyndely without comfort

let thee deye, shal besette her-selfe in suche wyse, that in erthe,

for parte of vengeaunce, shal she no joye have in loves service;

and whan she is deed, than shal her soule ben brought up in-to

thy presence; and whider thou wilt chese, thilke soule shal ben

committed." Or els, after thy deth, anon al the foresayd hevenly

bodyes, by one accorde, shal †benimen from thilke perle al the

vertues that firste her were taken; for she hath hem forfeyted

by that on thee, my servaunt, in thy lyve, she wolde not suffre

to worche al vertues, withdrawen by might of the hygh bodyes.

Why than shuldest thou wene so any more? And if thee liste

to loke upon the lawe of kynde, and with order whiche to me

was ordayned, sothely, non age, non overtourninge tyme but

†hiderto had no tyme ne power to chaunge the wedding, ne

the knotte to unbynde of two hertes [that] thorow oon assent, in

my presence, †togider accorden to enduren til deth hem departe.

What? trowest thou, every ideot wot the meninge and the privy

entent of these thinges? They wene, forsothe, that suche accord

may not be, but the rose of maydenhede be plucked. Do way,

do way; they knowe nothing of this. For consent of two hertes

[41]

alone maketh the fasteninge of the knotte; neither lawe of kynde

ne mannes lawe determineth neither the age ne the qualitè of

persones, but only accord bitwene thilke twaye. And trewly,

after tyme that suche accord, by their consent in hert, is enseled,

and put in my tresorye amonges my privy thinges, than ginneth

the name of spousayle; and although they breken forward bothe,

yet suche mater enseled is kept in remembrance for ever. And

see now that spouses have the name anon after accord, though

the rose be not take. The aungel bad Joseph take Marye his

100

spouse, and to Egypte wende. Lo! she was cleped "spouse,"

and yet, toforn ne after, neither of hem bothe mente no flesshly

lust knowe. Wherfore the wordes of trouthe acorden that my

servauntes shulden forsake bothe †fader and moder, and be adherand

to his spouse; and they two in unitè of one flesshe

105

shulden accorde. And this wyse, two that wern firste in a litel

maner discordaunt, hygher that oon and lower that other, ben

mad evenliche in gree to stonde. But now to enfourme thee

that ye ben liche to goddes, these clerkes sayn, and in determinacion

shewen, that "three thinges haven [by] the names

110

of goddes ben cleped; that is to sayn: man, divel, and images";

but yet is there but oon god, of whom al goodnesse, al grace, and

al vertue cometh; and he †is loving and trewe, and everlasting,

and pryme cause of al being thinges. But men ben goddes

lovinge and trewe, but not everlasting; and that is by adopcioun

115

of the everlastinge god. Divels ben goddes, stirringe by

a maner of lyving; but neither ben they trewe ne everlastinge;

and their name of godliheed th[e]y han by usurpacion, as the

prophete sayth: "Al goddes of gentyles (that is to say, paynims)

are divels." But images ben goddes by nuncupacion; and they

120

ben neither livinge ne trewe, ne everlastinge. After these wordes

they clepen "goddes" images wrought with mennes handes.

But now [art thou a] resonable creature, that by adopcion alone

art to the grete god everlastinge, and therby thou art "god"

cleped: let thy †faders maners so entre thy wittes that thou might

125

folowe, in-as-moche as longeth to thee, thy †faders worship, so

[42]

that in nothinge thy kynde from his wil declyne, ne from his

nobley perverte. In this wyse if thou werche, thou art above

al other thinges save god alone; and so say no more "thyn herte

to serve in to hye a place."

Ch. IX. 1. arte. 2. thynge. 3. thyne. leaue. 5. reason. 6. nowe. bearers. 7. purpose. 9. Yea. 10. -thorowe. steered. 13. leneth; read leueth. 15. thyne. 16. arne. I supply thee. 17. the. 18. myne hert.

20. maye. 23. Nowe. are; read that. 24. the. 25. shalte. 26. one. 27. Howe. to forne. 31. fye. 38. vnderputte. 39. thynge. made. 40. buxome. 41. manne. 43. reason. 44. knytte. 45. lyuenges. reasonable. made. 47. Nowe. 48. nowe. nowe ferre nowe. thousande. 49. nowe (twice). ferre. momente. 50. tenne. disposytion. 52. nowe. I supply arn. vnderputte. 53. reasonable. 54. lordshippe. thynge.

56. nothynge. the. 57. wote. euyn. 58. arte. 59. manne (twice). 60. soueraygntie. cease. 61. thoughe putte. 64. haste. 64-5. nowe. 68. haste. dethe. 70. nowe pray. 71. For in read on? comforte. 72. lette the. 75. wylte. 76. dethe anone. 77. benommen; read benimen. 79. the. 81. the. 83. none (twice). 84. hytherto. 85. Supply that. thorowe one. 86. togyther. dethe. 87. ydeot wotte. 88. accorde. 89. waye (twice). 90. consente.

93. onely. 93-4. accorde. 94. ensealed. 96. breaken forwarde. 97. ensealed. kepte. 98. se nowe. accorde. 99. bade. 101. toforne. 102. luste. 103. father and mother; rather, fader and moder. adherande. 105. werne. 106. one. 107. made. nowe. the. 108. sayne. 109. thre. I supply by. 110. cleaped. 111. one. 112. his; read is. 116. lyueng. 117. thy; read they. 118. saythe. 121. cleapen. 122. nowe. I supply art thou a. reasonable. 123. arte (twice). great. 124. lette. 124-5. fathers; read faders. 125. the. worshyppe.

CHAPTER X.

Fully have I now declared thyn estate to be good, so thou

folow therafter, and that the †objeccion first †by thee

aleged, in worthinesse of thy Margaryte, shal not thee lette, as

it shal forther thee, and encrese thee. It is now to declare, the

last objeccion in nothing may greve.'

'Yes, certes,' quod I, 'bothe greve and lette muste it nedes;

the contrarye may not ben proved; and see now why. Whyle

I was glorious in worldly welfulnesse, and had suche goodes in

welth as maken men riche, tho was I drawe in-to companyes

that loos, prise, and name yeven. Tho louteden blasours; tho

curreyden glosours; tho welcomeden flatterers; tho worshipped

thilke that now deynen nat to loke. Every wight, in such erthly

wele habundant, is holde noble, precious, benigne, and wyse to

do what he shal, in any degree that men him sette; al-be-it that

the sothe be in the contrarye of al tho thinges. But he that can

never so wel him behave, and hath vertue habundaunt in manyfolde

maners, and be nat welthed with suche erthly goodes, is holde

for a foole, and sayd, his wit is but sotted. Lo! how fals for

aver is holde trewe! Lo! how trewe is cleped fals for wanting

of goodes! Also, lady, dignitees of office maken men mikel

comended, as thus: "he is so good, were he out, his pere shulde

men not fynde." Trewly, I trowe of some suche that are so

praysed, were they out ones, another shulde make him so be

knowe, he shulde of no wyse no more ben loked after: but only

fooles, wel I wot, desyren suche newe thinges. Wherfore I wonder

that thilke governour, out of whom alone the causes proceden

that governen al thinges, whiche that hath ordeyned this world

in workes of the kyndely bodyes so be governed, not with

[43]

unstedfast or happyous thing, but with rules of reson, whiche

shewen the course of certayne thinges: why suffreth he suche

slydinge chaunges, that misturnen suche noble thinges as ben we

men, that arn a fayr parcel of the erthe, and holden the upperest

degree, under god, of benigne thinges, as ye sayden right now

your-selfe; shulde never man have ben set in so worthy a place

but-if his degrè were ordayned noble. Alas! thou that knittest

the purveyaunce of al thinges, why lokest thou not to amenden

these defautes? I see shrewes that han wicked maners sitten in

chayres of domes, lambes to punisshen, there wolves shulden ben

punisshed. Lo! vertue, shynende naturelly, for povertee lurketh,

and is hid under cloude; but the moone false, forsworn (as

I knowe my-selfe) for aver and yeftes, hath usurped to shyne by

day-light, with peynture of other mens praysinges; and trewly,

thilke forged light fouly shulde fade, were the trouth away of

colours feyned. Thus is night turned in-to day, and day in-to

night; winter in-to sommer, and sommer in-to winter; not in

dede, but in misclepinge of foliche people.'

'Now,' quod she, 'what wenest thou of these thinges? How

felest thou in thyn hert, by what governaunce that this cometh

aboute?'

'Certes,' quod I, 'that wot I never; but-if it be that Fortune

hath graunt from above, to lede the ende of man as her lyketh.'

'Ah! now I see,' quod she, 'th'entent of thy mening! Lo,

bycause thy worldly goodes ben fulliche dispent, thou beraft out

of dignitè of office, in whiche thou madest the †gaderinge of thilke

goodes, and yet diddest in that office by counsaile of wyse [before

that] any thing were ended; and true were unto hem whos profit

thou shuldest loke; and seest now many that in thilke hervest

made of thee mokel, and now, for glosing of other, deyneth thee

nought to forther, but enhaunsen false shrewes by witnessinge of

trouthe! These thinges greveth thyn herte, to sene thy-selfe thus

abated; and than, frayltè of mankynde ne setteth but litel by the

lesers of suche richesse, have he never so moche vertue; and so

thou wenest of thy jewel to renne in dispyt, and not ben accepted

in-to grace. Al this shal thee nothing hinder. Now (quod she)

first thou wost wel, thou lostest nothing that ever mightest thou

[44]

chalenge for thyn owne. Whan nature brought thee forth, come

thou not naked out of thy †moders wombe? Thou haddest no

richesse; and whan thou shalt entre in-to the ende of every

flesshly body, what shalt thou have with thee than? So, every

richesse thou hast in tyme of thy livinge, nis but lent; thou

might therin chalenge no propertee. And see now; every thing

that is a mannes own, he may do therwith what him lyketh, to

yeve or to kepe; bul richesse thou playnest from thee lost; if thy

might had strecched so ferforth, fayn thou woldest have hem kept,

multiplyed with mo other; and so, ayenst thy wil, ben they departed

from thee; wherfore they were never thyn. And if thou laudest

and joyest any wight, for he is stuffed with suche maner richesse,

thou art in that beleve begyled; for thou wenest thilke joye to be

selinesse or els ese; and he that hath lost suche happes to ben

unsely.'

'Ye, forsoth,' quod I.

'Wel,' quod she, 'than wol I prove that unsely in that wise is

to preise; and so the tother is, the contrary, to be lacked.'

'How so?' quod I.

'For Unsely,' quod she, 'begyleth nat, but sheweth th'entent

of her working. Et e contra: Selinesse begyleth. For in prosperitè

she maketh a jape in blyndnesse; that is, she wyndeth him to

make sorowe whan she withdraweth. Wolt thou nat (quod she)

preise him better that sheweth to thee his herte, tho[ugh] it be

with bytande wordes and dispitous, than him that gloseth and

thinketh in †his absence to do thee many harmes?'

'Certes,' quod I, 'the oon is to commende; and the other to

lacke and dispice.'

'A! ha!' quod she, 'right so Ese, while †she lasteth, gloseth

and flatereth; and lightly voydeth whan she most plesauntly

sheweth; and ever, in hir absence, she is aboute to do thee tene

and sorowe in herte. But Unsely, al-be-it with bytande chere,

sheweth what she is, and so doth not that other; wherfore

Unsely doth not begyle. Selinesse disceyveth; Unsely put away

100

doute. That oon maketh men blynde; that other openeth their

eyen in shewinge of wrecchidnesse. The oon is ful of drede to

[45]

lese that is not his owne; that other is sobre, and maketh men

discharged of mokel hevinesse in burthen. The oon draweth

a man from very good; the other haleth him to vertue by the

105

hookes of thoughtes. And wenist thou nat that thy disese hath

don thee mokel more to winne than ever yet thou lostest, and

more than ever the contrary made thee winne? Is nat a greet

good, to thy thinking, for to knowe the hertes of thy sothfast

frendes? Pardè, they ben proved to the ful, and the trewe have

110

discevered fro the false. Trewly, at the goinge of the ilke brotel

joye, ther yede no more away than the ilke that was nat thyn

proper. He was never from that lightly departed; thyn owne

good therfore leveth it stille with thee. Now good (quod she);

for how moche woldest thou somtyme have bought this verry

115

knowing of thy frendes from the flatteringe flyes that thee glosed,

whan thou thought thy-selfe sely? But thou that playnest of losse

in richesse, hast founden the most dere-worthy thing; that thou

clepest unsely hath made thee moche thing to winnen. And

also, for conclusioun of al, he is frende that now leveth nat his

120

herte from thyne helpes. And if that Margarite denyeth now nat

to suffre her vertues shyne to thee-wardes with spredinge bemes,

as far or farther than if thou were sely in worldly joye, trewly,

I saye nat els but she is somdel to blame.'

'Ah! pees,' quod I, 'and speke no more of this; myn herte

125

breketh, now thou touchest any suche wordes!'

'A! wel!' quod she, 'thanne let us singen; thou herest no

more of these thinges at this tyme.'

Thus endeth the firste book of the Testament of Love;

and herafter foloweth the seconde.

Ch. X. 1. nowe. 2. abiection; read objeccion. be; read by. the. 3. the. 4. the. encrease the. nowe. 5. obiection. 6. let. 7. maye. se nowe. 12. nowe. 14. set. 15. can ne never; omit ne. 18. wytte. false. 19. auer (sic); for aueir (avoir). howe. cleaped. false. 24. onely. 25. wotte. new. 26. whome. 27. worlde.

29. reason. 32. arne a fayre parsel. 33. nowe. 37. se. 39. pouertie. 40. hydde. forsworne. 44. daye (twice). 46. miscleapynge. 50. wotte. 52. nowe I se. thentent. meanyng. 53. berafte. 54. gatherynge. 55. I supply before that. 56. whose profyte. 57. nowe. 58. the (twice). nowe. 63. dispyte. 64. the. Nowe. 65. woste.

66. the forthe. 67. mothers; read moders. 69. the. 70. haste. lente. 71. propertie. se nowe. 72. owne. 73. the. 74. stretched. fayne. 76. the. 78. arte. 79. ease. loste. 84. Howe. 85. thentent. 88. Wolte. 89. the. 91. their; read his. the. 92. one. 94. ease. he; read she. 99. dothe. awaye. 100-1. one (twice). 101. wretchydnesse.

103. one. 105. disease. 106. done the. 107. the. great. 109. Pardy. 111. awaye. 111-2. thyne. 113. leaueth. the. Nowe. 114. howe. 115. the. 117. thynge. 118. cleapest. the. thynge. 119. nowe leaueth. 120. hert. nowe. 121. the. spreadynge beames. 122. farre. 123. somdele. 124. peace. myne. 125. breaketh nowe. 126. lette.

BOOK II.

CHAPTER I.

Very welth may not be founden in al this worlde; and that

is wel sene. Lo! how in my mooste comfort, as I wende

and moost supposed to have had ful answere of my contrary

thoughtes, sodaynly it was vanisshed. And al the workes of man

faren in the same wyse; whan folk wenen best her entent for to

have and willes to perfourme, anon chaunging of the lift syde to

the right halve tourneth it so clene in-to another kynde, that never

shal it come to the first plyte in doinge.

O this wonderful steering so soone otherwysed out of knowinge!

But for my purpos was at the beginninge, and so dureth yet, if god

of his grace tyme wol me graunt, I thinke to perfourme this

worke, as I have begonne, in love; after as my thinne wit, with

inspiracion of him that hildeth al grace, wol suffre. Grevously,

god wot, have I suffred a greet throwe that the Romayne

emperour, which in unitè of love shulde acorde, and every with

other * * * * in cause of other to avaunce; and namely, sithe

this empyre [nedeth] to be corrected of so many sectes in heresie

of faith, of service, o[f] rule in loves religion. Trewly, al were

it but to shende erroneous opinions, I may it no lenger suffre.

For many men there ben that sayn love to be in gravel and sande,

that with see ebbinge and flowinge woweth, as riches that sodaynly

vanissheth. And some sayn that love shulde be in windy blastes,

that stoundmele turneth as a phane, and glorie of renomè, which

after lustes of the varyaunt people is areysed or stilled.

Many also wenen that in the sonne and the moone and other

sterres love shulde ben founden; for among al other planettes

moste soveraynly they shynen, as dignitees in reverence of estates

rather than good han and occupyen. Ful many also there ben

that in okes and in huge postes supposen love to ben grounded,

as in strength and in might, whiche mowen not helpen their owne

[47]

wrecchidnesse, whan they ginne to falle. But [of] suche diversitè

of sectes, ayenst the rightful beleve of love, these errours ben forth

spredde, that loves servantes in trewe rule and stedfast fayth in

no place daren apere. Thus irrecuperable joy is went, and anoy

endless is entred. For no man aright reproveth suche errours,

but [men] confirmen their wordes, and sayn, that badde is noble

good, and goodnesse is badde; to which folk the prophete biddeth

wo without ende.

Also manye tonges of greet false techinges in gylinge maner,

principally in my tymes, not only with wordes but also with armes,

loves servauntes and professe in his religion of trewe rule pursewen,

to confounden and to distroyen. And for as moche as holy †faders,

that of our Christen fayth aproved and strengthed to the Jewes, as

to men resonable and of divinitè lerned, proved thilke fayth with

resones, and with auctoritès of the olde testament and of the newe,

her pertinacie to distroy: but to paynims, that for beestes and

houndes were holde, to putte hem out of their errour, was †miracle

of god shewed. These thinges were figured by cominge of th'angel

to the shepherdes, and by the sterre to paynims kinges; as who

sayth: angel resonable to resonable creature, and sterre of miracle

to people bestial not lerned, wern sent to enforme. But I, lovers

clerk, in al my conning and with al my mightes, trewly I have no

suche grace in vertue of miracles, ne for no discomfit falsheedes

suffyseth not auctoritès alone; sithen that suche [arn] heretikes

and maintaynours of falsitès. Wherfore I wot wel, sithen that

they ben men, and reson is approved in hem, the clowde of errour

hath her reson beyond probable resons, whiche that cacchende

wit rightfully may not with-sitte. By my travaylinge studie I have

ordeyned hem, †whiche that auctoritè, misglosed by mannes

reson, to graunt shal ben enduced.

Now ginneth my penne to quake, to thinken on the sentences

of the envyous people, whiche alway ben redy, both ryder and

goer, to scorne and to jape this leude book; and me, for rancour

and hate in their hertes, they shullen so dispyse, that although

my book be leude, yet shal it ben more leude holden, and by

wicked wordes in many maner apayred. Certes, me thinketh,

[48]

[of] the sowne of their badde speche right now is ful bothe myne

eeres. O good precious Margaryte, myne herte shulde wepe if

I wiste ye token hede of suche maner speche; but trewly, I wot

wel, in that your wysdom shal not asterte. For of god, maker of

kynde, witnesse I took, that for none envy ne yvel have I drawe

this mater togider; but only for goodnesse to maintayn, and

errours in falsetees to distroy. Wherfore (as I sayd) with reson

I thinke, thilke forsayd errours to distroye and dequace.

These resons and suche other, if they enduce men, in loves

service, trewe to beleve of parfit blisse, yet to ful faithe in

credence of deserte fully mowe they nat suffyse; sithen 'faith hath

no merite of mede, whan mannes reson sheweth experience in

doing.' For utterly no reson the parfit blisse of love by no waye

may make to be comprehended. Lo! what is a parcel of lovers

joye? Parfit science, in good service, of their desyre to comprehende

in bodily doinge the lykinge of the soule; not as by

a glasse to have contemplacion of tyme cominge, but thilke first

imagined and thought after face to face in beholding. What

herte, what reson, what understandinge can make his heven to be

feled and knowe, without assaye in doinge? Certes, noon. Sithen

thanne of love cometh suche fruite in blisse, and love in him-selfe

is the most among other vertues, as clerkes sayn; the seed of

suche springinge in al places, in al countreys, in al worldes shulde

ben sowe.

But o! welawaye! thilke seed is forsake, and †mowe not ben

suffred, the lond-tillers to sette a-werke, without medlinge of

cockle; badde wedes whiche somtyme stonken †han caught the

name of love among idiotes and badde-meninge people. Never-the-later,

yet how-so-it-be that men clepe thilke †thing preciousest

in kynde, with many eke-names, that other thinges that the soule

yeven the ilke noble name, it sheweth wel that in a maner men

have a greet lykinge in worshippinge of thilke name. Wherfore

this worke have I writte; and to thee, tytled of Loves name,

100

I have it avowed in a maner of sacrifyse; that, where-ever it be

rad, it mowe in merite, by the excellence of thilke name, the

more wexe in authoritè and worshippe of takinge in hede; and to

[49]

what entent it was ordayned, the inseëres mowen ben moved.

Every thing to whom is owande occasion don as for his ende,

105

Aristotle supposeth that the actes of every thinge ben in a maner

his final cause. A final cause is noblerer, or els even as noble,

as thilke thing that is finally to thilke ende; wherfore accion of

thinge everlasting is demed to be eternal, and not temporal;

sithen it is his final cause. Right so the actes of my boke 'Love,'

110

and love is noble; wherfore, though my book be leude, the cause

with which I am stered, and for whom I ought it doon, noble

forsothe ben bothe. But bycause that in conninge I am yong,

and can yet but crepe, this leude A. b. c. have I set in-to lerning;

for I can not passen the telling of three as yet. And if god

115

wil, in shorte tyme, I shal amende this leudnesse in joininge

syllables; whiche thing, for dulnesse of witte, I may not in three

letters declare. For trewly I saye, the goodnesse of my Margaryte-perle

wolde yeve mater in endyting to many clerkes; certes, her

mercy is more to me swetter than any livinges; wherfore my

120

lippes mowen not suffyse, in speking of her ful laude and worshippe

as they shulde. But who is that [wolde be wyse] in

knowing of the orders of heven, and putteth his resones in the

erthe? I forsothe may not, with blere eyen, the shyning sonne of

vertue in bright whele of this Margaryte beholde; therfore as yet

125

I may her not discryve in vertue as I wolde. In tyme cominge,

in another tretyse, thorow goddes grace, this sonne in clerenesse

of vertue to be-knowe, and how she enlumineth al this day,

I thinke to declare.

Ch. I. 2. howe. comforte. 3. hadde. 5. folke. 6. anone. 10. purpose. 12. wytte. 14. wotte. great. 16. (Something seems to be lost here). 17. I supply nedeth. 18. o; read of. 19. erronyous. maye. 20. menne. sayne. 26. amonge.

31. wretchydnesse. fal. I supply of. 32. forthe. 33. stedfaste faythe. 34. darne. 35. endlesse. 36. I supply men. 37. folke. 39. great. 40. onely. 42. fathers; read faders. 44. faythe. 47. put. miracles; read miracle. 48. thangel. 50. saythe. 51. werne. 53. discomfyte. 54. I supply arn. 55. wotte. 56. reason. erroure. 57. reason. bewonde (sic). catchende wytte. 59. with; read whiche. 60. reason. 61. Nowe. 62. alwaye. 63. booke. rancoure. 64. althoughe. 65. booke.

67. I supply of. nowe. 69. wotte. 70. wysdome 71. toke. 73. reason. 75. reasons. 76. parfyte. 78-9. reason (twice). 79. parfyte. 80. maye. persel. 81. parfyte. 85. reason. 86. none. 88. amonge. sayne. 88-91. sede. 91. mowen; read mowe. 92. londe-tyllers. set. 93. hath; read han. 94. meanynge. 95. howe. menne cleape. kynge (sic); read thing. 98. great. 99. the. 101. radde.

104. thynge. done. 107. thynge. 110. boke. 111. done (sic). 112. yonge. 113. canne. sette. 114. thre. 116. thynge. maye. thre. 121. that in knowyng (sic); supply wolde be wyse before in knowing. 125. maye. 126. thorowe. 127. howe.

CHAPTER II.

In this mene whyle this comfortable lady gan singe a wonder

mater of endytinge in Latin; but trewly, the noble colours in

rethorik wyse knitte were so craftely, that my conning wol not

strecche to remembre; but the sentence, I trowe, somdel have

I in mynde. Certes, they were wonder swete of sowne, and they

were touched al in lamentacion wyse, and by no werbles of

myrthe. Lo! thus gan she singe in Latin, as I may constrewe it

in our Englisshe tonge.

[50]

'Alas! that these hevenly bodyes their light and course shewen,

as nature yave hem in commaundement at the ginning of the first

age; but these thinges in free choice of reson han non

understondinge. But man that ought to passe al thing of doinge, of

right course in kynde, over-whelmed sothnesse by wrongful tytle,

and hath drawen the sterre of envye to gon by his syde, that the

clips of me, that shulde be his shynande sonne, so ofte is seye,

that it wened thilke errour, thorow hem come in, shulde ben myn

owne defaute. Trewly, therfore, I have me withdrawe, and mad

my dwellinge out of lande in an yle by my-selfe, in the occian

closed; and yet sayn there many, they have me harberowed; but,

god wot, they faylen. These thinges me greven to thinke, and

namely on passed gladnesse, that in this worlde was wont me

disporte of highe and lowe; and now it is fayled; they that

wolden maystries me have in thilke stoundes. In heven on

highe, above Saturnes sphere, in sesonable tyme were they

lodged; but now come queynte counsailours that in no house

wol suffre me sojourne, wherof is pitè; and yet sayn some that

they me have in celler with wyne shed; in gernere, there corn is

layd covered with whete; in sacke, sowed with wolle; in purse,

with money faste knit; among pannes mouled in a †whicche;

in presse, among clothes layd, with riche pelure arayed; in stable,

among hors and other beestes, as hogges, sheep, and neet; and

in many other wyse. But thou, maker of light (in winking of

thyn eye the sonne is queynt), wost right wel that I in trewe name

was never thus herberowed.

Somtyme, toforn the sonne in the seventh partie was smiten,

I bar both crosse and mytre, to yeve it where I wolde. With me

the pope wente a-fote; and I tho was worshipped of al holy

church. Kinges baden me their crownes holden. The law was

set as it shuld; tofore the juge, as wel the poore durste shewe

his greef as the riche, for al his money. I defended tho taylages,

and was redy for the poore to paye. I made grete feestes in my

tyme, and noble songes, and maryed damoselles of gentil feture,

withouten golde or other richesse. Poore clerkes, for witte of

schole, I sette in churches, and made suche persones to preche;

[51]

and tho was service in holy churche honest and devout, in

plesaunce bothe of god and of the people. But now the leude

for symonye is avaunced, and shendeth al holy churche. Now is

steward, for his achates; now †is courtiour, for his debates; now

is eschetour, for his wronges; now is losel, for his songes,

personer; and [hath his] provendre alone, with whiche manye

thrifty shulde encrese. And yet is this shrewe behynde; free

herte is forsake; and losengeour is take. Lo! it acordeth; for

suche there ben that voluntarie lustes haunten in courte with

ribaudye, that til midnight and more wol playe and wake, but in

the churche at matins he is behynde, for yvel disposicion of his

stomake; therfore he shulde ete bene-breed (and so did his

syre) his estate ther-with to strengthen. His auter is broke, and

lowe lyth, in poynte to gon to the erthe; but his hors muste ben

esy and hye, to bere him over grete waters. His chalice poore,

but he hath riche cuppes. No towayle but a shete, there god

shal ben handled; and on his mete-borde there shal ben bord-clothes

and towelles many payre. At masse serveth but a clergion;

fyve squiers in hal. Poore chaunsel, open holes in every

syde; beddes of silke, with tapites going al aboute his chambre.

Poore masse-book and leud chapelayn, and broken surplice with

many an hole; good houndes and many, to hunte after hart and

hare, to fede in their feestes. Of poore men have they greet

care; for they ever crave and nothing offren, they wolden have

hem dolven! But among legistres there dar I not come; my

doinge[s], they sayn, maken hem nedy. They ne wolde for

nothing have me in town; for than were tort and †force nought

worth an hawe about, and plesen no men, but thilk grevous and

torcious ben in might and in doing. These thinges to-forn-sayd

mowe wel, if men liste, ryme; trewly, they acorde nothing. And

for-as-moch as al thinges by me shulden of right ben governed,

I am sory to see that governaunce fayleth, as thus: to sene smale

and lowe governe the hye and bodies above. Certes, that

policye is naught; it is forbode by them that of governaunce

treten and enformen. And right as beestly wit shulde ben

[52]

subject to reson, so erthly power in it-selfe, the lower shulde ben

subject to the hygher. What is worth thy body, but it be

governed with thy soule? Right so litel or naught is worth

erthely power, but if reignatif prudence in heedes governe the

smale; to whiche heedes the smale owen to obey and suffre in

their governaunce. But soverainnesse ayenward shulde thinke in

this wyse: "I am servaunt of these creatures to me delivered,

not lord, but defendour; not mayster, but enfourmer; not

possessour, but in possession; and to hem liche a tree in whiche

sparowes shullen stelen, her birdes to norisshe and forth bringe,

under suretee ayenst al raveynous foules and beestes, and not to

be tyraunt them-selfe." And than the smale, in reste and quiete,

by the heedes wel disposed, owen for their soveraynes helth and

prosperitè to pray, and in other doinges in maintenaunce therof

performe, withouten other administracion in rule of any maner

governaunce. And they wit have in hem, and grace to come to

suche thinges, yet shulde they cese til their heedes them cleped,

although profit and plesaunce shulde folowe. But trewly, other

governaunce ne other medlinge ought they not to clayme, ne

the heedes on hem to putte. Trewly, amonges cosinage dar

100

I not come, but-if richesse be my mene; sothly, she and other

bodily goodes maketh nigh cosinage, ther never propinquitè ne

alyaunce in lyve was ne shulde have be, nere it for her medling

maners; wherfore kindly am I not ther leged. Povert of

kinred is behynde; richesse suffreth him to passe; truly he saith,

105

he com never of Japhetes childre. Whereof I am sory that

Japhetes children, for povert, in no linage ben rekened, and

Caynes children, for riches, be maked Japhetes heires. Alas! this

is a wonder chaunge bitwene tho two Noës children, sithen that

of Japhetes ofspring comeden knightes, and of Cayn discended

110

the lyne of servage to his brothers childre. Lo! how gentillesse

and servage, as cosins, bothe discended out of two brethern of

one body! Wherfore I saye in sothnesse, that gentilesse in

kinrede †maketh not gentil linage in succession, without desert

of a mans own selfe. Where is now the lyne of Alisaundre the

115

noble, or els of Hector of Troye? Who is discended of right

bloode of lyne fro king Artour? Pardè, sir Perdicas, whom that

[53]

Alisandre made to ben his heire in Grece, was of no kinges

bloode; his dame was a tombestere. Of what kinred ben the

gentiles in our dayes? I trow therfore, if any good be in gentilesse,

120

it is only that it semeth a maner of necessitè be input to

gentilmen, that they shulden not varyen fro the vertues of their

auncestres. Certes, al maner linage of men ben evenliche in

birth; for oon †fader, maker of al goodnes, enformed hem al,

and al mortal folk of one sede arn greyned. Wherto avaunt men

125

of her linage, in cosinage or in †elde-faders? Loke now the ginning,

and to god, maker of mans person; there is no clerk ne no

worthy in gentilesse; and he that norissheth his †corage with

vyces and unresonable lustes, and leveth the kynde course, to

whiche ende him brought forth his birthe, trewly, he is ungentil,

130

and among †cherles may ben nempned. And therfore, he that

wol ben gentil, he mot daunten his flesshe fro vyces that causen

ungentilnesse, and leve also reignes of wicked lustes, and drawe

to him vertue, that in al places gentilnesse gentilmen maketh.

And so speke I, in feminine gendre in general, of tho persones,

135

at the reverence of one whom every wight honoureth; for her

bountee and her noblesse y-made her to god so dere, that his

moder she became; and she me hath had so greet in worship,

that I nil for nothing in open declare, that in any thinge ayenst her

secte may so wene. For al vertue and al worthinesse of plesaunce

140

in hem haboundeth. And although I wolde any-thing speke,

trewly I can not; I may fynde in yvel of hem no maner mater.'

11. none. 12. thynge. 15. sey; read seye or seyen. 16. thorowe. 17. made. 19. sayne. 20. wote. 21. wonte. 23. nowe. 24. seasonable. 26. sayne. 27. corne. 28. layde. 29. knytte. amonge (twice). wyche; read whicche. 30. layde. 31. amonge horse. shepe. nete. 33. woste. 36. bare. 37. went. 40. grefe. 41. pay. great. 44. preache.

45. deuoute. 46. nowe. 47. Nowe. 48. stewarde. nowe. it; read is. nowe. 49. eschetoure. nowe. 50. I supply hath his. 51. encrease. 56. eate beane-. 58. lythe. gone. horse. 59. easy. beare. great. 61. meate-. borde-. 65. boke. leude chapelayne. 66. harte. 67. great. 68. nothynge. 69. amonge. dare. 70. sayne. 71. forthe; read force. 72. worthe. pleasen. 73. to-forne-. 74. nothynge. 76. sorye. se. 78. polesye. 79. treaten. wytte.

80. subiecte. reason. 82. worthe. 83. reignatyfe. 85. ayenwarde. 87. lorde. 88. possessoure. 89. forth bring. 90. suretie. 96. cease. 97. profyte. pleasaunce. 99. put. dare. 100. meane. 109. comeden (sic); read comen? 110. howe. 111. bretherne. 113. maken; read maketh. deserte. 114. nowe.

118. tombystere. 123. one. father; read fader. 124. folke. arne. 125. -fathers; read -faders. 126. clerke. 127. corare; read corage. 128. leaueth. 129. forthe. 130. amonge. clerkes (!); read cherles. 131. mote. 132. leaue. 136. bountie. 137. great. 139. maye.

CHAPTER III.

Right with these wordes she stinte of that lamentable

melodye; and I gan with a lyvely herte to praye, if that

it were lyking unto her noble grace, she wolde her deyne to

declare me the mater that firste was begonne, in which she lefte

and stinte to speke beforn she gan to singe.

'O,' quod she, 'this is no newe thing to me, to sene you men

desyren after mater, whiche your-selfe caused to voyde.'

'Ah, good lady,' quod I, 'in whom victorie of strength is proved

above al other thing, after the jugement of Esdram, whos lordship

[54]

al lignes: who is, that right as emperour hem commaundeth,

whether thilke ben not women, in whos lyknesse to me ye aperen?

For right as man halt the principaltè of al thing under his beinge,

in the masculyne gender; and no mo genders ben there

but masculyn and femenyne; al the remenaunt ben no gendres but

of grace, in facultee of grammer: right so, in the femenyne, the

women holden the upperest degree of al thinges under thilke

gendre conteyned. Who bringeth forth kinges, whiche that ben

lordes of see and of erthe; and al peoples of women ben born.

They norisshe hem that graffen vynes; they maken men comfort

in their gladde cheres. Her sorowe is deth to mannes herte.

Without women, the being of men were impossible. They conne

with their swetnesse the crewel herte ravisshe, and make it meke,

buxom, and benigne, without violence mevinge. In beautee

of their eyen, or els of other maner fetures, is al mens desyres;

ye, more than in golde, precious stones, either any richesse.

And in this degree, lady, your-selfe many hertes of men have

so bounden, that parfit blisse in womankynde to ben men wenen,

and in nothinge els. Also, lady, the goodnesse, the vertue of

women, by propertè of discrecion, is so wel knowen, by litelnesse

of malice, that desyre to a good asker by no waye conne they

warne. And ye thanne, that wol not passe the kynde werchinge

of your sectes by general discrecion, I wot wel, ye wol so enclyne

to my prayere, that grace of my requeste shal fully ben graunted.'

'Certes,' quod she, 'thus for the more parte fareth al mankynde,

to praye and to crye after womans grace, and fayne many fantasyes

to make hertes enclyne to your desyres. And whan these

sely women, for freeltè of their kynde, beleven your wordes, and

wenen al be gospel the promise of your behestes, than graunt[en]

they to you their hertes, and fulfillen your lustes, wherthrough

their libertè in maystreship that they toforn had is thralled; and

so maked soverayn and to be prayed, that first was servaunt,

and voice of prayer used. Anon as filled is your lust, many of you

be so trewe, that litel hede take ye of suche kyndnesse; but

with traysoun anon ye thinke hem begyle, and let light of that

thing whiche firste ye maked to you wonders dere; so what

thing to women it is to loven any wight er she him wel knowe,

and have him proved in many halfe! For every glittring thing

[55]

is nat gold; and under colour of fayre speche many vices may

be hid and conseled. Therfore I rede no wight to trust on you

to rathe; mens chere and her speche right gyleful is ful ofte.

Wherfore without good assay, it is nat worth on many †of you

to truste. Trewly, it is right kyndely to every man that thinketh

women betraye, and shewen outward al goodnesse, til he have

his wil performed. Lo! the bird is begyled with the mery voice

of the foulers whistel. Whan a woman is closed in your nette,

than wol ye causes fynden, and bere unkyndenesse her †on

hande, or falsetè upon her putte, your owne malicious trayson

with suche thinge to excuse. Lo! than han women non other

wreche in vengeaunce, but †blobere and wepe til hem list stint,

and sorily her mishap complayne; and is put in-to wening that

al men ben so untrewe. How often have men chaunged her

loves in a litel whyle, or els, for fayling their wil, in their

places hem set! For fren[d]ship shal be oon, and fame with another

him list for to have, and a thirde for delyt; or els were he lost

bothe in packe and in clothes! Is this fair? Nay, god wot.

I may nat telle, by thousande partes, the wronges in trechery

of suche false people; for make they never so good a bond,

al sette ye at a myte whan your hert tourneth. And they that

wenen for sorowe of you deye, the pitè of your false herte is flowe

out of towne. Alas! therfore, that ever any woman wolde take

any wight in her grace, til she knowe, at the ful, on whom she

might at al assayes truste! Women con no more craft in queynt

knowinge, to understande the false disceyvable conjectementes

of mannes begylinges. Lo! how it fareth; though ye men

gronen and cryen, certes, it is but disceyt; and that preveth wel

by th'endes in your werkinge. How many women have ben

lorn, and with shame foule shent by long-lastinge tyme, whiche

thorow mennes gyle have ben disceyved? Ever their fame shal

dure, and their dedes [ben] rad and songe in many londes; that

they han don, recoveren shal they never; but alway ben demed

lightly, in suche plyte a-yen shulde they falle. Of whiche slaunders

and tenes ye false men and wicked ben the verey causes; on you

by right ought these shames and these reproves al hoolly discende.

[56]

Thus arn ye al nighe untrewe; for al your fayre speche, your

herte is ful fickel. What cause han ye women to dispyse? Better

fruite than they ben, ne swetter spyces to your behove, mowe ye

not fynde, as far as worldly bodyes strecchen. Loke to their

forminge, at the making of their persones by god in joye of

paradyce! For goodnesse, of mans propre body were they

maked, after the sawes of the bible, rehersing goddes wordes in

this wyse: "It is good to mankynde that we make to him an

helper." Lo! in paradyse, for your helpe, was this tree graffed,

out of whiche al linage of man discendeth. If a man be noble

frute, of noble frute it is sprongen; the blisse of paradyse, to

mennes sory hertes, yet in this tree abydeth. O! noble helpes

ben these trees, and gentil jewel to ben worshipped of every

good creature! He that hem anoyeth doth his owne shame; it is

a comfortable perle ayenst al tenes. Every company is mirthed

by their present being. Trewly, I wiste never vertue, but a woman

100

were therof the rote. What is heven the worse though Sarazins

on it lyen? Is your fayth untrewe, though †renegates maken

theron lesinges? If the fyr doth any wight brenne, blame his

owne wit that put him-selfe so far in the hete. Is not fyr gentillest

and most comfortable element amonges al other? Fyr

105

is cheef werker in fortheringe sustenaunce to mankynde. Shal

fyr ben blamed for it brende a foole naturelly, by his own stulty

witte in steringe? Ah! wicked folkes! For your propre malice

and shreudnesse of your-selfe, ye blame and dispyse the precious[es]t

thing of your kynde, and whiche thinges among other

110

moste ye desyren! Trewly, Nero and his children ben shrewes,

that dispysen so their dames. The wickednesse and gyling of

men, in disclaundring of thilke that most hath hem glad[d]ed

and plesed, were impossible to wryte or to nempne. Never-the-later

yet I say, he that knoweth a way may it lightly passe; eke

115

an herbe proved may safely to smertande sores ben layd. So

I say, in him that is proved is nothing suche yvels to gesse.

But these thinges have I rehersed, to warne you women al at

ones, that to lightly, without good assaye, ye assenten not to

mannes speche. The sonne in the day-light is to knowen from

120

the moone that shyneth in the night. Now to thee thy-selfe

[57]

(quod she) as I have ofte sayd, I knowe wel thyne herte; thou

art noon of al the tofore-nempned people. For I knowe wel the

continuaunce of thy service, that never sithen I sette thee

a-werke, might thy Margaryte for plesaunce, frendship, ne fayrhede

125

of none other, be in poynte moved from thyne herte; wherfore

in-to myne housholde hastely I wol that thou entre, and al the

parfit privitè of my werking, make it be knowe in thy understonding,

as oon of my privy familiers. Thou desyrest (quod she)

fayn to here of tho thinges there I lefte?'

130

'Ye, forsothe,' quod I, 'that were to me a greet blisse.'

'Now,' quod she, 'for thou shalt not wene that womans condicions

for fayre speche suche thing belongeth:—

10. lignes (sic). 11. whose lykenesse. 12. halte. 15. facultie. 17. forthe. 18. borne. 19. comforte. 20. dethe. 23. buxome. beautie. 27. parfyte. 32. wotte. 38. graunt. 40. toforne.

48. golde. 51. worthe. on; read of. 53. -warde. 54. birde. 56. beare. vnhande; read on hande. 58. none. 59. bloder; read blobere. 61. Howe. 63. sette. frenship (sic). one. 64. lyste. delyte. 65. faire. 66. maye. tel. 67. bonde. 69. dey. 72. trust. crafte. 74. howe. 76. thendes. Howe. 77. lorne. longe-. 78. thorowe. 79. I supply ben. radde. 80. done. 81. fal. 83. holy.

84. arne. 87. farre. stretchen. 97. dothe. 99. wyst. 101. faythe. thoughe rennogates. 102. leasynges. fyre (four times) 103. wytte. farre. heate. 104, 112. moste. 104. element comfortable; read comfortable element. 105. chefe. 108. precioust. 109. amonge. 112-3. gladed and pleased. 115. layde. 120. Nowe. the.

122. arte none. 123. set the. 124. frendeshyp. fayrehede. 127. parfyte. 128. one. 129. fayne. 130. great. 131. Nowe.

CHAPTER IV.

Thou shalt,' quod she, 'understonde first among al other

thinges, that al the cure of my service to me in the parfit

blisse in doing is desyred in every mannes herte, be he never

so moche a wrecche; but every man travayleth by dyvers studye,

and seke[th] thilke blisse by dyvers wayes. But al the endes

are knit in selinesse of desyre in the parfit blisse, that is suche

joye, whan men it have gotten, there †leveth no thing more to

ben coveyted. But how that desyre of suche perfeccion in

my service be kindely set in lovers hertes, yet her erroneous

opinions misturne it by falsenesse of wening. And although

mannes understanding be misturned, to knowe whiche shuld ben

the way unto my person, and whither it abydeth; yet wote they

there is a love in every wight, [whiche] weneth by that thing that

he coveyteth most, he shulde come to thilke love; and that

is parfit blisse of my servauntes; but than fulle blisse may not

be, and there lacke any thing of that blisse in any syde. Eke it

foloweth than, that he that must have ful blisse lacke no blisse in

love on no syde.'

'Therfore, lady,' quod I tho, 'thilke blisse I have desyred,

and †soghte toforn this my-selfe, by wayes of riches, of dignitè,

[58]

of power, and of renomè, wening me in tho †thinges had ben

thilke blisse; but ayenst the heer it turneth. Whan I supposed

beste thilke blisse have †getten, and come to the ful purpose

of your service, sodaynly was I hindred, and throwen so fer

abacke, that me thinketh an inpossible to come there I lefte.'

'I †wot wel,' quod she; 'and therfore hast thou fayled; for

thou wentest not by the hye way. A litel misgoing in the ginning

causeth mikil errour in the ende; wherfore of thilke blisse thou

fayledest, for having of richesse; ne non of the other thinges thou

nempnedest mowen nat make suche parfit blisse in love as I shal

shewe. Therfore they be nat worthy to thilke blisse; and yet

somwhat must ben cause and way to thilke blisse. Ergo, there is

som suche thing, and som way, but it is litel in usage and that

is nat openly y-knowe. But what felest in thyne hert of the

service, in whiche by me thou art entred? Wenest aught thy-selfe

yet be in the hye way to my blisse? I shal so shewe it to

thee, thou shalt not conne saye the contrary.'

'Good lady,' quod I, 'altho I suppose it in my herte, yet

wolde I here thyn wordes, how ye menen in this mater.'

Quod she, 'that I shal, with my good wil. Thilke blisse

desyred, som-del ye knowen, altho it be nat parfitly. For kyndly

entencion ledeth you therto, but in three maner livinges is al suche

wayes shewed. Every wight in this world, to have this blisse, oon

of thilke three wayes of lyves must procede; whiche, after opinions

of grete clerkes, are by names cleped bestiallich, resonablich, [and

manlich. Resonablich] is vertuous. Manlich is worldlich. Bestialliche

is lustes and delytable, nothing restrayned by bridel of reson.

Al that joyeth and yeveth gladnesse to the hert, and it be ayenst

reson, is lykened to bestial living, which thing foloweth lustes and

delytes; wherfore in suche thinge may nat that precious blisse,

that is maister of al vertues, abyde. Your †faders toforn you have

cleped such lusty livinges after the flessh "passions of desyre,"

which are innominable tofore god and man both. Than, after

determinacion of suche wyse, we accorden that suche passions of

desyre shul nat be nempned, but holden for absolute from al other

livinges and provinges; and so †leveth in t[w]o livinges, manlich

[59]

and resonable, to declare the maters begonne. But to make thee

fully have understanding in manlich livinges, whiche is holden

worldlich in these thinges, so that ignorance be mad no letter,

I wol (quod she) nempne these forsayd wayes †by names and

conclusions. First riches, dignitè, renomè, and power shul in

this worke be cleped bodily goodes; for in hem hath ben, a gret

throw, mannes trust of selinesse in love: as in riches, suffisance

to have maintayned that was begonne by worldly catel; in dignitè,

honour and reverence of hem that wern underput by maistry

therby to obeye. In renomè, glorie of peoples praising, after

lustes in their hert, without hede-taking to qualitè and maner of

doing; and in power, by trouth of lordships mayntenaunce, thing

to procede forth in doing. In al whiche thinges a longe tyme

mannes coveytise in commune hath ben greetly grounded, to come

to the blisse of my service; but trewly, they were begyled, and for

the principal muste nedes fayle, and in helping mowe nat availe.

See why. For holdest him not poore that is nedy?'

'Yes, pardè,' quod I.

'And him for dishonored, that moche folk deyne nat to

reverence?'

'That is soth,' quod I.

'And what him, that his mightes faylen and mowe nat helpen?'

'Certes,' quod I, 'me semeth, of al men he shulde be holden

a wrecche.'

'And wenest nat,' quod she, 'that he that is litel in renomè,

but rather is out of the praysinges of mo men than a fewe, be nat

in shame?'

'For soth,' quod I, 'it is shame and villany, to him that

coveyteth renomè, that more folk nat prayse in name than preise.'

'Soth,' quod she, 'thou sayst soth; but al these thinges are

folowed of suche maner doinge, and wenden in riches suffisaunce,

in power might, in dignitè worship, and in renomè glorie; wherfore

they discended in-to disceyvable wening, and in that service disceit

is folowed. And thus, in general, thou and al suche other that so

worchen, faylen of my blisse that ye long han desyred. Wherfore

truly, in lyfe of reson is the hye way to this blisse; as I thinke

more openly to declare herafter. Never-the-later yet, in a litel to

comforte thy herte, in shewing of what waye thou art entred

[60]

*selfe, and that thy Margarite may knowe thee set in the hye way,

I wol enforme thee in this wyse. Thou hast fayled of thy first

purpos, bicause thou wentest wronge and leftest the hye way on

thy right syde, as thus: thou lokedest on worldly living, and that

thing thee begyled; and lightly therfore, as a litel assay, thou

100

songedest; but whan I turned thy purpos, and shewed thee

a part of the hye waye, tho thou abode therin, and no deth ne

ferdnesse of non enemy might thee out of thilk way reve; but

ever oon in thyn herte, to come to the ilke blisse, whan thou

were arested and firste tyme enprisoned, thou were loth to

105

chaunge thy way, for in thy hert thou wendest to have ben there

thou shuldest. And for I had routhe to sene thee miscaried,

and wiste wel thyn ablenesse my service to forther and encrese,

I com my-selfe, without other mene, to visit thy person in comfort

of thy hert. And perdy, in my comming thou were greetly

110

glad[d]ed; after whiche tyme no disese, no care, no tene, might

move me out of thy hert. And yet am I glad and greetly enpited,

how continually thou haddest me in mynde, with good avysement

of thy conscience, whan thy king and his princes by huge wordes

and grete loked after variaunce in thy speche; and ever thou

115

were redy for my sake, in plesaunce of the Margarite-perle and

many mo other, thy body to oblige in-to Marces doing, if any

contraried thy sawes. Stedfast way maketh stedfast hert, with

good hope in the ende. Trewly, I wol that thou it wel knowe;

for I see thee so set, and not chaunginge herte haddest in my

120

service; and I made thou haddest grace of thy kinge, in

foryevenesse of mikel misdede. To the gracious king art thou mikel

holden, of whos grace and goodnesse somtyme hereafter I thinke

thee enforme, whan I shew the ground where-as moral vertue

groweth. Who brought thee to werke? Who brought this grace

125

aboute? Who made thy hert hardy? Trewly, it was I. For

haddest thou of me fayled, than of this purpos had[dest thou]

never taken [hede] in this wyse. And therfore I say, thou might

wel truste to come to thy blisse, sithen thy ginninge hath ben hard,

but ever graciously after thy hertes desyr hath proceded. Silver

130

fyned with many hetes men knowen for trew; and safely men

[61]

may trust to the alay in werkinge. This †disese hath proved what

way hence-forward thou thinkest to holde.'

'Now, in good fayth, lady,' quod I tho, 'I am now in; me

semeth, it is the hye way and the right.'

135

'Ye, forsothe,' quod she, 'and now I wol disprove thy first

wayes, by whiche many men wenen to gette thilke blisse. But

for-as-moche as every herte that hath caught ful love, is tyed with

queynt knittinges, thou shalt understande that love and thilke

foresayd blisse toforn declared in this[e] provinges, shal hote the

140

knot in the hert.'

'Wel,' quod I, 'this inpossession I wol wel understande.'

'Now also,' quod she, 'for the knotte in the herte muste ben

from one to an-other, and I knowe thy desyr, I wol thou understande

these maters to ben sayd of thy-selfe, in disproving of thy

145

first service, and in strengthinge of thilke that thou hast

undertake to thy Margaryte-perle.'

'A goddes halfe,' quod I, 'right wel I fele that al this case is

possible and trewe; and therfore I †admitte it altogither.'

'†Understand wel,' quod she, 'these termes, and loke no

150

contradiccion thou graunt.'

'If god wol,' quod I, 'of al these thinges wol I not fayle; and

if I graunt contradiccion, I shulde graunte an impossible; and

that were a foul inconvenience; for whiche thinges, lady, y-wis,

herafter I thinke me to kepe.'

Ch. IV. 1. shalte. amonge. 2. parfyte. 4. wretche. 5. seke; read seketh. 6. parfyte. 7. lyueth; read leveth. thynge. 8. howe. perfection. 9. erronyous. 13. I supply whiche. 14. moste. 15. parfyte. maye. 16. thynge. 20. sothe; read soghte. toforne.

21. thrages (sic); read thinges. 22. heere. 23. get; read getten. 26. wol; read wot. 30. parfite. 33. some (twice). 37. the. shalte. con. 39. howe ye meanen. 41. some deale. 42. entention. thre. lyuenges. 43. one. 44. thre. 45. great. cleaped. I supply and manlich. Resonablich. 47. nothynge. 47-9. reason (twice). 49. lyueng. thynge. 50. maye. 51. fathers. toforne. 52. lyuenges. 54. determination. 56. lyuenges (twice). lyueth; read leveth. to; read two.

57. the. 58. lyuenges. 59. made. 60. be; read by. 62. cleaped. 64. begon. 65. werne. 66. obey. 70. greatly. 73. Se. 75. folke. 80. wretch. 89. disceite. 92. reason. 94. arte.

95-6. the (twice). 97-100. purpose. 98. lyueng. 99. the. 100-2. the. 101. parte. dethe. 103. one. 106. the. 107. wyst. thyne. encrease. 108. come. mean. For person read prison? comforte. 109. greatly gladed. 110. disease. 111. gladde. greatly. 112. howe. 114. great. 115. peerle. 119. se the. 121. arte. 122. whose. 123. the. grounde. 124. the. 126. purpose. had; read haddest thou. I supply hede. 128. harde. 129. desyre. 130. heates.

131. diseases (sic). waye. -forwarde. 133-142. Nowe (four times). 139. toforne. 143. desyre. 145. strenghthynge. haste. 148. admytted; read admytte it. 149. Vnderstanden (sic). 149-152. contradyction (twice). 153. foule. ladye.

CHAPTER V.

'Wel,' quod she, 'thou knowest that every thing is a cause,

wherthrough any thing hath being that is cleped "caused."

Than, if richesse †causeth knot in herte, thilke richesse †is cause

of thilke precious thinge being. But after the sentence of

Aristotle, every cause is more in dignitè than his thinge caused;

wherthrough it foloweth richesse to ben more in dignitè than

thilke knot. But richesses arn kyndely naughty, badde, and

nedy; and thilke knotte is thing kyndely good, most praysed

and desyred. Ergo, thing naughty, badde, and nedy in kyndely

[62]

understandinge is more worthy than thing kyndely good, most

desyred and praysed! The consequence is fals; nedes, the

antecedent mot ben of the same condicion. But that richesses

ben bad, naughty, and nedy, that wol I prove; wherfore they

mowe cause no suche thing that is so glorious and good. The

more richesse thou hast, the more nede hast thou of helpe hem

to kepe. Ergo, thou nedest in richesse, whiche nede thou

shuldest not have, if thou hem wantest. Than muste richesse

ben nedy, that in their having maken thee nedy to helpes, in

suretee thy richesse to kepen; wherthrough foloweth, richesse to

ben nedy. Everything causinge yvels is badde and naughty; but

richesse in one causen misese, in another they mowen not evenly

strecchen al about. Wherof cometh plee, debat, thefte, begylinges,

but richesse to winne; whiche thinges ben badde, and by richesse

arn caused. Ergo, thilke richesse[s] ben badde; whiche badnesse

and nede ben knit in-to richesse by a maner of kyndely propertee;

and every cause and caused accorden; so that it foloweth, thilke

richesse[s] to have the same accordaunce with badnesse and nede,

that their cause asketh. Also, every thing hath his being by his

cause; than, if the cause be distroyed, the being of caused is

vanisshed. And, so, if richesse[s] causen love, and richesse[s]

weren distroyed, the love shulde vanisshe; but thilke knotte, and

it be trewe, may not vanisshe, for no going of richesse. Ergo,

richesse is no cause of the knot. And many men, as I sayd,

setten the cause of the knotte in richesse; thilke knitten the

richesse, and nothing the yvel; thilke persons, what-ever they

ben, wenen that riches is most worthy to be had; and that make

they the cause; and so wene they thilke riches be better than the

person. Commenly, suche asken rather after the quantitè than

after the qualitè; and suche wenen, as wel by hem-selfe as by

other, that conjunccion of his lyfe and of his soule is no more

precious, but in as mikel as he hath of richesse. Alas! how may

he holden suche thinges precious or noble, that neither han lyf ne

soule, ne ordinaunce of werchinge limmes! Suche richesse[s]

ben more worthy whan they ben in †gadering; in departing,

ginneth his love of other mennes praysing. And avarice †gadering

maketh be hated, and nedy to many out-helpes; and whan leveth

the possession of such goodes, and they ginne vanissh, than

[63]

entreth sorowe and tene in their hertes. O! badde and strayte

ben thilke, that at their departinge maketh men teneful and sory,

and in the †gadering of hem make men nedy! Moche folk at

ones mowen not togider moche therof have. A good gest gladdeth

his hoste and al his meyny; but he is a badde gest that maketh

his hoste nedy and to be aferd of his gestes going.'

'Certes,' quod I, 'me wondreth therfore that the comune

opinion is thus: "He is worth no more than that he hath in

catel."'

'O!' quod she, 'loke thou be not of that opinion; for if gold or

money, or other maner of riches shynen in thy sight, whos is that?

Nat thyn. And tho[ugh] they have a litel beautee, they be nothing

in comparison of our kynde; and therfore, ye shulde nat sette

your worthinesse in thing lower than your-selfe. For the riches,

the fairnesse, the worthinesse of thilke goodes, if ther be any

suche preciousnesse in hem, are nat thyne; thou madest hem

so never; from other they come to thee, and to other they shul

from thee. Wherfore enbracest thou other wightes good, as

tho[ugh] they were thyn? Kynde hath drawe hem by hem-selfe.

It is sothe, the goodes of the erth ben ordayned in your fode

and norisshinge; but if thou wolt holde thee apayd with that

suffyseth to thy kynde, thou shalt nat be in daunger of no suche

riches; to kynde suffyseth litel thing, who that taketh hede.

And if thou wolt algates with superfluitè of riches be a-throted,

thou shalt hastelich be anoyed, or els yvel at ese. And fairnesse

of feldes ne of habitacions, ne multitude of meynè, may nat be

rekened as riches that are thyn owne. For if they be badde, it is

greet sclaunder and villany to the occupyer; and if they be good

or faire, the mater of the workman that hem made is to prayse.

How shulde other-wyse bountee be compted for thyne? Thilke

goodnesse and fairnesse be proper to tho thinges hem-selfe; than,

if they be nat thyne, sorow nat whan they wende, ne glad thee

nat in pompe and in pride whan thou hem hast. For their

bountee and their beautees cometh out of their owne kynde, and

nat of thyne owne person. As faire ben they in their not having

as whan thou hast hem. They be nat faire for thou hast hem;

but thou hast geten hem for the fairnesse of them-selfe. And

there the vaylance of men is demed in richesse outforth, wenen

[64]

me[n] to have no proper good in them-selfe, but seche it in

straunge thinges. Trewly, the condicion of good wening is to

thee mistourned, to wene, your noblesse be not in your-selfe, but

in the goodes and beautee of other thinges. Pardy, the beestes

that han but feling soules, have suffisaunce in their owne selfe;

and ye, that ben lyke to god, seken encrese of suffisaunce from so

excellent a kynde of so lowe thinges; ye do greet wrong to him

that you made lordes over al erthly thinges; and ye putte your

worthinesse under the nombre of the fete of lower thinges and

foule. Whan ye juge thilke riches to be your worthinesse, than

putte ye your-selfe, by estimacion, under thilke foule thinges;

and than leve ye the knowing of your-selfe; so be ye viler than

any dombe beest; that cometh of shrewde vice. Right so thilke

persons that loven non yvel for dereworthinesse of the persone,

100

but for straunge goodes, and saith, the adornement in the knot

lyth in such thing; his errour is perilous and shrewd, and he

wryeth moche venim with moche welth; and that knot may

nat be good whan he hath it getten.

Certes, thus hath riches with flickering sight anoyed many;

105

and often, whan there is a throw-out shrewe, he coyneth al the

gold, al the precious stones that mowen be founden, to have in

his bandon; he weneth no wight be worthy to have suche thinges

but he alone. How many hast thou knowe, now in late tyme,

that in their richesse supposed suffisance have folowed, and now

110

it is al fayled!'

'Ye, lady,' quod I, 'that is for mis medling; and otherwyse

governed [they] thilke richesse than they shulde.'

'Ye,' quod she tho, 'had not the flood greetly areysed, and

throwe to-hemward both gravel and sand, he had mad no medlinge.

115

And right as see yeveth flood, so draweth see ebbe, and

pulleth ayen under wawe al the firste out-throwe, but-if good pyles

of noble governaunce in love, in wel-meninge maner, ben sadly

grounded; †the whiche holde thilke gravel as for a tyme, that

ayen lightly mowe not it turne; and if the pyles ben trewe, the

120

gravel and sand wol abyde. And certes, ful warning in love shalt

thou never thorow hem get ne cover, that lightly with an ebbe, er

[65]

thou be ware, it [ne] wol ayen meve. In richesse many men

have had tenes and diseses, whiche they shulde not have had, if

therof they had fayled. Thorow whiche, now declared, partly it is

125

shewed, that for richesse shulde the knotte in herte neither ben

caused in one ne in other; trewly, knotte may ben knit, and

I trowe more stedfast, in love, though richesse fayled; and els,

in richesse is the knotte, and not in herte. And than suche

a knotte is fals; whan the see ebbeth and withdraweth the

130

gravel, that such richesse voydeth, thilke knotte wol unknitte.

Wherfore no trust, no way, no cause, no parfit being is in

richesse, of no suche knotte. Therfore another way muste we

have.

Ch. V. 1. thynge. 2. -throughe. 3. causen; read causeth. arne; read is. 7. arne. 8, 9. thynge (twice). moste.

10. thynge. moste. 11. false. 12. mote. 15. haste. 18. the. 19. suretie. 21. misease. 22. stretchen. debate. 24. arne. richesse; read richesses. 25. propertie. 27-30. richesse; read richesses (thrice). 35. nothynge. 40. coniunction. 41. howe maye. 42. lyfe. 43. richesse; read richesses. 44-5. gatheryng.

50. gatheryng. folke. 53. aferde. 55. worthe. 57. golde. 58. whose. 59. beautie. 60. set. 64-5. the (twice). 68. wolte. the apayde. 72. ease. 73. maye. 75. great. 76. workeman. 77. Howe. bountie. 79. the. 81. bountie. beautes. 83-4. haste (thrice).

86. me; read men. 87. condytion. 88. the. 89. beautie. 91. encrease. 92. great. 93-6. put (twice). 101. shreude. 102. maye. 105. throwe out. 106. golde. 108. Howe. haste. 108-9. nowe. 111. misse medlyng. 112. Supply they. 113. floode greatly. 114. hemwarde. sande. made. 115. floode. 116. out throw. 117. meanynge. 118. to; read the. 120. sande. 121. shalte. thorowe.

122. beware. I supply ne. 123. diseases. 124. Thorowe. nowe. partely. 126. maye. knytte. 129. false. 131. parfyte.

CHAPTER VI.

Honour in dignitè is wened to yeven a ful knot.'

'Ye, certes,' quod I, 'and of that opinion ben many;

for they sayn, dignitè, with honour and reverence, causen hertes

to encheynen, and so abled to be knit togither, for the excellence

in soverayntè of such degrees.'

'Now,' quod she, 'if dignitè, honour, and reverence causen

thilke knotte in herte, this knot is good and profitable. For

every cause of a cause is cause of thing caused. Than thus:

good thinges and profitable ben by dignitè, honour, and reverence

caused. Ergo, they accorden; and dignites ben good with

reverences and honour. But contraries mowen not accorden.

Wherfore, by reson, there shulde no dignitee, no reverence, non

honour acorde with shrewes. But that is fals; they have ben

cause to shrewes in many shreudnes; for with hem they accorden.

Ergo, from beginning to argue ayenward til it come to the laste

conclusion, they are not cause of the knot. Lo, al day at eye arn

shrewes not in reverence, in honour, and in dignitè? Yes, forsothe,

rather than the good. Than foloweth it that shrewes

rather than good shul ben cause of this knot. But of this [the]

contrarie of al lovers is bileved, and for a sothe openly determined

to holde.'

[66]

'Now,' quod I, 'fayn wolde I here, how suche dignitees acorden

with shrewes.'

'O,' quod she, 'that wol I shewe in manifolde wyse. Ye wene

(quod she) that dignites of office here in your citè is as the

sonne; it shyneth bright withouten any cloude; [of] whiche thing,

whan they comen in the handes of malicious tirauntes, there

cometh moche harm, and more grevaunce therof than of the

wilde fyre, though it brende al a strete. Certes, in dignitè of

office, the werkes of the occupyer shewen the malice and the

badnesse in the person; with shrewes they maken manyfolde

harmes, and moche people shamen. How often han rancours,

for malice of the governour, shulde ben mainteyned? Hath not

than suche dignitees caused debat, rumours, and yvels? Yes,

god wot, by suche thinges have ben trusted to make mens understanding

enclyne to many queynte thinges. Thou wottest wel

what I mene.'

'Ye,' quod I, 'therfore, as dignitè suche thing in tene y-wrought,

so ayenward, the substaunce in dignitè chaunged, relyed to bring

ayen good plyte in doing.'

'Do way, do way,' quod she; 'if it so betyde, but that is

selde, that suche dignitè is betake in a good mannes governaunce,

what thing is to recken in the dignitees goodnesse? Pardè, the

bountee and goodnesse is hers that usen it in good governaunce;

and therfore cometh it that honour and reverence shulde ben

don to dignitè bycause of encresinge vertue in the occupyer,

and not to the ruler bycause of soverayntee in dignitè. Sithen

dignitè may no vertue cause, who is worthy worship for suche

goodnesse? Not dignitè, but person, that maketh goodnesse in

dignitè to shyne.'

'This is wonder thing,' quod I; 'for me thinketh, as the person

in dignitè is worthy honour for goodnesse, so, tho[ugh] a person

for badnesse ma[u]gree hath deserved, yet the dignitè leneth to

be commended.'

'Let be,' quod she, 'thou errest right foule; dignitè with

badnesse is helper to performe the felonous doing. Pardy, were

it kyndly good, or any propertè of kyndly vertue [that men]

hadden in hem-selfe, shrewes shulde hem never have; with hem

shulde they never accorde. Water and fyr, that ben contrarious,

[67]

mowen nat togider ben assembled; kynde wol nat suffre suche

contraries to joyne. And sithen at eye, by experience in doing,

we seen that shrewes have hem more often than good men, siker

mayst thou be, that kyndly good in suche thing is nat appropred.

Pardy, were they kyndly good, as wel oon as other shulden

evenlich in vertue of governaunce ben worthe; but oon fayleth in

goodnesse, another doth the contrary; and so it sheweth, kyndly

goodnesse in dignitè nat be grounded. And this same reson

(quod she) may be mad, in general, on al the bodily goodes;

for they comen ofte to throw-out shrewes. After this, he is

strong that hath might to have grete burthens, and he is light

and swifte, that hath soveraintè in ronning to passe other; right

so he is a shrewe, on whom shreude thinges and badde han most

werchinge. And right as philosophy maketh philosophers, and

my service maketh lovers, right so, if dignites weren good or

vertuous, they shulde maken shrewes good, and turne her malice,

and make hem be vertuous. But that they do nat, as it is

proved, but causen rancour and debat. Ergo, they be nat good,

but utterly badde. Had Nero never ben Emperour, shulde

never his dame have be slayn, to maken open the privitè of his

engendrure. Herodes, for his dignitè, slew many children. The

dignitè of king John wolde have distroyed al England. Therfore

mokel wysdom and goodnesse both, nedeth in a person, the

malice in dignitè slyly to brydel, and with a good bitte of arest

to withdrawe, in case it wolde praunce otherwyse than it shulde.

Trewly, ye yeve to dignites wrongful names in your cleping.

They shulde hete, nat dignitè, but moustre of badnesse and

mayntenour of shrewes. Pardy, shyne the sonne never so bright,

and it bringe forth no hete, ne sesonably the herbes out-bringe of

the erthe, but suffre frostes and cold, and the erthe barayne to

ligge by tyme of his compas in circute about, ye wolde wonder,

and dispreyse that sonne! If the mone be at ful, and sheweth

no light, but derke and dimme to your sight appereth, and make

distruccion of the waters, wol ye nat suppose it be under cloude

or in clips, and that som prevy thing, unknowen to your wittes,

is cause of suche contrarious doinge? Than, if clerkes, that han

ful insight and knowing of suche impedimentes, enforme you of

[68]

the sothe, very idiottes ye ben, but-if ye yeven credence to thilk

clerkes wordes. And yet it doth me tene, to sene many wrecches

rejoycen in such maner planettes. Trewly, litel con[ne] they on

100

philosophy, or els on my lore, that any desyr haven suche

lightinge planettes in that wyse any more to shewe.'

'Good lady,' quod I, 'tel me how ye mene in these thinges.'

'Lo,' quod she, 'the dignites of your citè, sonne and mone,

nothing in kynde shew their shyning as they shulde. For the

105

sonne made no brenning hete in love, but freesed envye in

mennes hertes, for feblenesse of shyning hete; and the moone

was about, under an olde cloude, the livinges by waters to

distroye.'

'Lady,' quod I, 'it is supposed they had shyned as they

110

shulde.'

'Ye,' quod she, 'but now it is proved at the ful, their beautè in

kyndly shyning fayled; wherfore dignitè of him-selven hath no

beautee in fayrnesse, ne dryveth nat awaye vices, but encreseth;

and so be they no cause of the knotte. Now see, in good trouth;

115

holde ye nat such sonnes worthy of no reverence, and dignites

worthy of no worship, that maketh men to do the more harmes?'

'I not,' quod I.

'No?' quod she; 'and thou see a wyse good man, for his

goodnesse and wysnesse wolt thou nat do him worship? Therof

120

he is worthy.'

'That is good skil,' quod I; 'it is dewe to suche, both reverence

and worship to have.'

'Than,' quod she, 'a shrewe, for his shreudnesse, altho he be

put forth toforn other for ferde, yet is he worthy, for shrewdnesse,

125

to be unworshipped; of reverence no part is he worthy to have,

[that] to contrarious doing belongeth: and that is good skil.

For, right as he besmyteth the dignites, thilke same thing ayenward

him smyteth, or els shulde smyte. And over this thou wost

wel (quod she) that fyr in every place heteth where it be, and

130

water maketh wete. Why? For kyndely werking is so y-put in

hem, to do suche thinges; for every kyndely in werking sheweth

his kynde. But though a wight had ben mayre of your city

many winter togider, and come in a straunge place there he were

[69]

not knowen, he shulde for his dignitè have no reverence. Than

135

neither worshippe ne reverence is kyndely propre in no dignitè,

sithen they shulden don their kynde in suche doinge, if any were.

And if reverence ne worshippe kyndely be not set in dignitees,

and they more therein ben shewed than goodnesse, for that in

dignitè is shewed, but it proveth that goodnesse kyndely in hem

140

is not grounded. I-wis, neither worshippe, ne reverence, ne

goodnesse in dignitè don non office of kynde; for they have non

suche propertee in nature of doinge but by false opinion of the

people. Lo! how somtyme thilke that in your city wern in

dignitè noble, if thou liste hem nempne, they ben now overturned

145

bothe in worship, in name, and in reverence; wherfore

such dignites have no kyndly werching of worshippe and of

reverence. He that hath no worthinesse on it-selfe, now it ryseth

and now it vanissheth, after the variaunt opinion in false hertes

of unstable people. Wherfore, if thou desyre the knotte of this

150

jewel, or els if thou woldest suppose she shulde sette the knotte

on thee for suche maner dignitè, than thou wenest beautee or

goodnesse of thilke somwhat encreseth the goodnesse or vertue in

the body. But dignite[es] of hemself ben not good, ne yeven

reverence ne worshippe by their owne kynde. How shulde they

155

than yeve to any other a thing, that by no waye mowe they have

hem-selfe? It is sene in dignitè of the emperour and of many

mo other, that they mowe not of hem-selve kepe their worshippe

ne their reverence; that, in a litel whyle, it is now up and now

downe, by unstedfaste hertes of the people. What bountee mowe

160

they yeve that, with cloude, lightly leveth his shyninge? Certes,

to the occupyer is mokel appeyred, sithen suche doinge doth

villanye to him that may it not mayntayne. Wherfore thilke way

to the knotte is croked; and if any desyre to come to the knot,

he must leve this way on his lefte syde, or els shal he never come

165

there.

Ch. VI. 3. sayne. 4. knytte. 6. Nowe. 12. reason. none. 13. false. 15. ayenwarde. 16. arne. 19. Supply the.

22. Nowe. fayne. howe. 26. I supply of. thynge. 28. harme. 32. Howe. 34. debate. 35. wote. 37. meane. 39. ayenwarde. 44. bountie. 45. honoure. 46. done. encreasynge. 47. soverayntie. 53. magre. 57. Supply that. men and it. 59. fire.

61. ioyn. 62. sene. menne. 63. mayste. 64-5. one (twice). 66. dothe. 68. made. 69. throwe out. 70. great burthyns. 77. debate. 80. slewe. 81. Englande. 82. wysedom. 88. bring forthe. heate. 89. colde. 91. son. 93. distruction. 94. some.

98. wretches. 99. con; read conne. 100. desyre. 102. howe. mean. 107. lyuenges. 111. nowe. 113. beautie. encreaseth. 114. Nowe se. 118. se. 119. wysenesse wolte. 124. forthe toforne. 125. parte. 126. I supply that. 127. ayenwarde. 128. woste. 129. fyre. heateth. 132. cytie.

141. done none. none. 142. propertie. 143. howe. cytie werne. 144. nowe. 147. For He read That thing? 147-8. nowe (twice). 151. the. beautie. 152. encreaseth. 153. dignite; read dignitees. 154. howe. 155. thynge. 158. that that; read that. nowe (twice). 159. bountie. 160. leaueth. 161. dothe. 162. maye. waye. 164. leaue. waye.

CHAPTER VII.

Avayleth aught (quod she) power of might in mayntenaunce

of [men, to maken hem] worthy to come to this

knot?'

'Parde,' quod I, 'ye; for hertes ben ravisshed from suche

maner thinges.'

'Certes,' quod she, 'though a fooles herte is with thing

ravisshed, yet therfore is no general cause of the powers, ne of

a siker parfit herte to be loked after. Was not Nero the moste

shrewe oon of thilke that men rede, and yet had he power to

make senatours justices, and princes of many landes? Was not

that greet power?'

'Yes, certes,' quod I.

'Wel,' quod she, 'yet might he not helpe him-selfe out of

disese, whan he gan falle. How many ensamples canst thou

remembre of kinges grete and noble, and huge power †helden, and

yet they might not kepe hem-selve from wrecchednesse? How

wrecched was king Henry Curtmantil er he deyde? He had not

so moche as to cover with his membres; and yet was he oon

of the grettest kinges of al the Normandes ofspring, and moste

possession had. O! a noble thing and clere is power, that is not

founden mighty to kepe him-selfe! Now, trewly, a greet fole is

he, that for suche thing wolde sette the knotte in thyne herte!

Also power of rëalmes, is not thilke grettest power amonges the

worldly powers reckened? And if suche powers han wrecchednesse

in hem-selfe, it foloweth other powers of febler condicion to

ben wrecched; and than, that wrecchednesse shulde be cause of

suche a knotte! But every wight that hath reson wot wel that

wrecchednesse by no way may ben cause of none suche knotte;

wherfore suche power is no cause. That powers have wrecchednesse

in hem-selfe, may right lightly ben preved. If power lacke on

any syde, on that syde is no power; but no power is wrecchednesse:

for al-be-it so the power of emperours or kinges, or els

of their rëalmes (which is the power of the prince) strecchen

[71]

wyde and brode, yet besydes is ther mokel folk of whiche he

hath no commaundement ne lordshippe; and there-as lacketh his

power, his nonpower entreth, where-under springeth that maketh

hem wrecches. No power is wrecchednesse and nothing els;

but in this maner hath kinges more porcion of wrecchednesse

than of power. Trewly, suche powers ben unmighty; for ever

they ben in drede how thilke power from lesing may be keped

of sorow; so drede sorily prikkes ever in their hertes: litel

is that power whiche careth and ferdeth it-selfe to mayntayne.

Unmighty is that wrecchednesse whiche is entred by the ferdful

weninge of the wrecche him-selfe; and knot y-maked by wrecchednesse

is betwene wrecches; and wrecches al thing bewaylen;

wherfore the knot shulde be bewayled; and there is no suche

parfit blisse that we supposed at the ginning! Ergo, power in

nothing shulde cause suche knottes. Wrecchednesse is a kyndely

propertee in suche power, as by way of drede, whiche they mowe

nat eschewe, ne by no way live in sikernesse. For thou wost wel

(quod she) he is nought mighty that wolde don that he may not

don ne perfourme.'

'Therfore,' quod I, 'these kinges and lordes that han suffisaunce

at the ful of men and other thinges, mowen wel ben

holden mighty; their comaundementes ben don; it is nevermore

denyed.'

'Foole,' quod she, 'or he wot him-selfe mighty, or wot it

not; for he is nought mighty that is blynde of his might and wot

it not.'

'That is sothe,' quod I.

'Than if he wot it, he must nedes ben a-drad to lesen it. He

that wot of his might is in doute that he mote nedes lese; and so

ledeth him drede to ben unmighty. And if he recche not to lese,

litel is that worth that of the lesing reson reccheth nothing; and

if it were mighty in power or in strength, the lesing shulde ben

withset; and whan it cometh to the lesing, he may it not withsitte.

Ergo, thilke might is leude and naughty. Such mightes

arn y-lyke to postes and pillers that upright stonden, and greet

might han to bere many charges; and if they croke on any syde,

litel thing maketh hem overthrowe.'

'This is a good ensample,' quod I, 'to pillers and postes that

[72]

I have seen overthrowed my-selfe; and hadden they ben underput

with any helpes, they had not so lightly falle.'

'Than holdest thou him mighty that hath many men armed

and many servauntes; and ever he is adrad of hem in his herte;

and, for he gasteth hem, somtyme he mot the more fere have.

Comenly, he that other agasteth, other in him ayenward werchen

the same; and thus warnisshed mot he be, and of warnisshe the

hour drede. Litel is that might and right leude, who-so taketh

hede.'

'Than semeth it,' quod I, 'that suche famulers aboute kinges

and grete lordes shulde greet might have. Although a sypher in

augrim have no might in significacion of it-selve, yet he yeveth

power in significacion to other; and these clepe I the helpes to

a poste to kepe him from falling.'

'Certes,' quod she, 'thilke skilles ben leude. Why? But-if

the shorers be wel grounded, the helpes shulden slyden and suffre

the charge to falle; her might litel avayleth.'

'And so me thinketh,' quod I, 'that a poste alone, stonding

upright upon a basse, may lenger in greet burthen endure than

croken pilers for al their helpes, and her ground be not siker.'

'That is sothe,' quod she; 'for as, [if] the blynde in bering of

the lame ginne stomble, bothe shulde falle, right so suche pillers,

so envyroned with helpes, in falling of the grounde fayleth

†altogider. How ofte than suche famulers, in their moste pryde

of prosperitè, ben sodainly overthrowen! Thou hast knowe

many in a moment so ferre overthrowe, that cover might they

never. Whan the hevinesse of suche fayling cometh by case of

fortune, they mowe it not eschue; and might and power, if ther

100

were any, shulde of strength such thinges voyde and weyve; and

so it is not. Lo, than! whiche thing is this power, that, tho men

han it, they ben agast; and in no tyme of ful having be they

siker! And if they wold weyve drede, as they mow not, litel is

in worthines. Fye therfore on so naughty thing, any knot to

105

cause! Lo! in adversitè, thilk ben his foes that glosed and

semed frendes in welth; thus arn his familiers his foes and his

enemyes; and nothing is werse, ne more mighty for to anoy than

is a familier enemy; and these thinges may they not weyve; so

[73]

trewly their might is not worth a cresse. And over al thinge, he

110

that may not withdrawe the brydel of his flesshly lustes and his

wrecched complayntes (now think on thy-selfe) trewly he is not

mighty; I can seen no way that lyth to the knotte. Thilke

people than, that setten their hertes upon suche mightes and

powers, often ben begyled. Pardè, he is not mighty that may do

115

any thing, that another may doon him the selve, and that men

have as greet power over him as he over other. A justice that

demeth men ayenward hath ben often demed. Buserus slew his

gestes, and he was slayn of Hercules his geste. Hugest betraysshed

many men, and of Collo was he betrayed. He that with

120

swerde smyteth, with swerde shal be smitten.'

Than gan I to studyen a whyle on these thinges, and made

a countenaunce with my hande in maner to ben huisht.

'Now let seen,' quod she, 'me thinketh somwhat there is

within thy soule, that troubleth thy understanding; saye on what

125

it is.'

Quod I tho, 'me thinketh that, although a man by power have

suche might over me, as I have over another, that disproveth no

might in my person; but yet may I have power and might

never-the-later.'

130

'See now,' quod she, 'thyne owne leudenesse. He is mighty

that may without wrecchednesse; and he is unmighty that may it

not withsitte; but than he, that might over thee, and he wol,

putte on thee wrecchednesse, thou might it not withsitte. Ergo,

thou seest thy-selfe what foloweth! But now (quod she) woldest

135

thou not skorne, and thou see a flye han power to don harm to

an-other flye, and thilke have no might ne ayenturning him-selfe

to defende?'

'Yes, certes,' quod I.

'Who is a frayler thing,' quod she, 'than the fleshly body of

140

a man, over whiche have oftentyme flyes, and yet lasse thing than

a flye, mokel might in grevaunce and anoying, withouten any

withsittinge, for al thilke mannes mightes? And sithen thou

seest thyne flesshly body in kyndely power fayle, how shulde than

the accident of a thinge ben in more suretè of beinge than

145

substancial? Wherfore, thilke thinges that we clepe power is but

[74]

accident to the flesshly body; and so they may not have that

suretee in might, whiche wanteth in the substancial body. Why

there is no way to the knotte, [for him] that loketh aright after

the hye way, as he shulde.

Ch. VII. 2. I supply men, to maken hem. 8. parfyte. 9. one. 11. great. 14. disease. fal. Howe. canste. 15. great. holden; read helden. 16. wretchydnesse. Howe wretched. 18. one. 19. greatest. 20. thynge. 21. Nowe. great. 23. greatest. 24. wretchydnesse (several times); wretched (several times). 27. reason wote. 33. stretchen.

34. folke. 40. howe. 41. prickes. 47. parfyte. 49. propertie. 50. woste. 51-5. done (thrice). 57-62. wotte (four times). 61. a dradde. 63. leadeth. retche. 64. worthe. reason retcheth. 68. arne. great. 69. beare. 70. thynge.

72. sene. 73. fal. 75. adradde. 76. mote. feare. 77. ayenwarde. 78. mote. 82. great (twice). Althoughe. 88. fal. 90. graet (sic). 91. grounde. 92. Supply if. bearyng. 93. fal. 95. al togyther. howe. 96. haste. 108. enemye.

109. worthe. 110. maye. 111. wretched. nowe thynke. 112. sene. waye. lythe. 115. maye doone. 116. great. 117. ayenwarde. slewe. 118. slayne. 122. huyshte. 123. Nowe. sene. 130. Se nowe. 131. maye. wretchydnesse. 132. the. 133. put. the wretchydnesse. 134. nowe. 135. se. done harme. 141. anoyeng. 143. howe.

CHAPTER VIII.

Verily it is proved that richesse, dignitè, and power ben not

trewe way to the knotte, but as rathe by suche thinges the

knotte to be unbounde; wherfore on these thinges I rede no

wight truste to gette any good knotte. But what shul we saye of

renomè in the peoples mouthes? Shulde that ben any cause?

What supposest thou in thyn herte?'

'Certes,' quod I, 'yes, I trowe; for your slye resons I dare not

safely it saye.'

'Than,' quod she, 'wol I preve that shrewes as rathe shul ben

in the knotte as the good; and that were ayenst kynde.'

'Fayn,' quod I, 'wolde I that here; me thinketh wonder how

renomè shuld as wel knitte a shrewe as a good person; renomè

in every degree hath avaunced; yet wist I never the contrarye.

Shulde than renomè accorde with a shrewe? It may not sinke in

my stomake til I here more.'

'Now,' quod she, 'have I not sayd alwayes, that shrewes shul

not have the knotte?'

'What nedeth,' quod I, 'to reherse that any more? I wot wel

every wight, by kyndely reson, shrewes in knitting wol eschewe.'

'Than,' quod she, 'the good ought thilke knotte to have.'

'How els?' quod I.

'It were greet harm,' quod she, 'that the good were weyved

and put out of espoire of the knotte, if he it desyred.'

'O,' quod I, 'alas! On suche thing to thinke, I wene that

heven wepeth to see suche wronges here ben suffred on erthe; the

good ought it to have, and no wight els.'

'The goodnesse,' quod she, 'of a person may not ben knowe

outforth but by renomè of the knowers; wherfore he must be

renomed of goodnesse, to come to the knot.'

'So must it be,' quod I, 'or els al lost that we carpen.'

[75]

'Sothly,' quod she, 'that were greet harm, but-if a good man

might have his desyres in service of thilke knot, and a shrewe to

be †weyved, and they ben not knowen in general but by lacking

and praysing, and in renomè; and so by the consequence it

foloweth, a shrewe to ben praysed and knit; and a good to be

forsake and unknit.'

'Ah,' quod I tho, 'have ye, lady, ben here abouten; yet wolde

I see, by grace of our argumentes better declared, how good and

bad do acorden by lacking and praysing; me thinketh it ayenst

kynde.'

'Nay,' quod she, 'and that shalt thou see as yerne; these

elementes han contrarious qualitees in kynde, by whiche they

mowe not acorde no more than good and badde; and in [some]

qualitees they acorde, so that contraries by qualitè acorden by

qualitè. Is not erthe drye; and water, that is next and bitwene

th'erthe, is wete? Drye and wete ben contrarie, and mowen not

acorde, and yet this discordaunce is bounde to acorde by cloudes;

for bothe elementes ben colde. Right so the eyre, that is next

the water, is wete; and eke it is hot. This eyre by his hete

contrarieth water that is cold; but thilke contrarioustè is oned †by

moysture; for bothe be they moyst. Also the fyr, that is next

the †eyre and it encloseth al about, is drye, wherthrough it

contrarieth †eyre, that is wete; and in hete they acorde; for

bothe they ben hote. Thus by these acordaunces discordantes

ben joyned, and in a maner of acordaunce they acorden by

conneccion, that is, knitting togither; of that accorde cometh

a maner of melodye that is right noble. Right so good and bad

arn contrarie in doinges, by lacking and praysing; good is bothe

lacked and praysed of some; and badde is bothe lacked and

praysed of some; wherfore their contrarioustee acorde bothe by

lacking and praysing. Than foloweth it, though good be never

so mokel praysed, [it] oweth more to ben knit than the badde;

or els bad, for the renomè that he hath, must be taken as wel as

the good; and that oweth not.'

'No, forsothe,' quod I.

'Wel,' quod she, 'than is renomè no way to the knot. Lo,

foole,' quod she, 'how clerkes wryten of suche glorie of renomè:—"O

[76]

glorie, glorie, thou art non other thing to thousandes of folke

but a greet sweller of eeres!" Many oon hath had ful greet renomè

by false opinion of variaunt people. And what is fouler than

folk wrongfully to ben praysed, or by malice of the people giltlesse

lacked? Nedes shame foloweth therof to hem that with wrong

prayseth, and also to the desertes praysed; and vilanye and

reproof of him that disclaundreth.

Good child (quod she) what echeth suche renomè to the

conscience of a wyse man, that loketh and mesureth his goodnesse,

not by slevelesse wordes of the people, but by sothfastnesse

of conscience? By god, nothing. And if it be fayr, a mans name

be eched by moche folkes praysing, and fouler thing that mo folk

not praysen? I sayd to thee a litel here-beforn, that no folk in

straunge countreyes nought praysen; suche renomè may not

comen to their eeres, bycause of unknowing and other obstacles,

as I sayde: wherfore more folk not praysen, and that is right foul

to him that renomè desyreth, to wete, lesse folk praisen than

renomè enhaunce. I trowe, the thank of a people is naught

worth in remembraunce to take; ne it procedeth of no wyse

jugement; never is it stedfast pardurable. It is veyne and fleing;

with winde wasteth and encreseth. Trewly, suche glorie ought to

be hated. If gentillesse be a cleer thing, renomè and glorie to

enhaunce, as in reckening of thy linage, than is gentilesse of thy

kinne; for-why it semeth that gentilesse of thy kinne is but

praysing and renomè that come of thyne auncestres desertes:

and if so be that praysing and renomè of their desertes make

their clere gentillesse, than mote they nedes ben gentil for their

gentil dedes, and not thou; for of thy-selfe cometh not such

maner gentilesse, praysinge of thy desertes. Than gentillesse of

thyne auncesters, that forayne is to thee, maketh thee not gentil,

but ungentil and reproved, and-if thou continuest not their

gentilesse. And therfore a wyse man ones sayde: "Better is it

100

thy kinne to ben by thee gentyled, than thou to glorifye of thy

kinnes gentilesse, and hast no desert therof thy-selfe."

How passinge is the beautee of flesshly bodyes, more flittinge

than movable floures of sommer! And if thyne eyen weren as good

as the lynx, that may seen thorow many stone walles, bothe fayre

[77]

105

and foule, in their entrayles, of no maner hewe shulde apere to

thy sight; that were a foule sight. Than is fayrnesse by feblesse

of eyen, but of no kynde; wherfore thilke shulde be no way to

the knot; whan thilke is went, the knotte wendeth after. Lo,

now, at al proves, none of al these thinges mowe parfitly ben in

110

understanding, to ben way to the during blisse of the knotte.

But now, to conclusion of these maters, herkeneth these wordes.

Very sommer is knowe from the winter: in shorter cours draweth

the dayes of Decembre than in the moneth of June; the springes

of Maye faden and †falowen in Octobre. These thinges ben not

115

unbounden from their olde kynde; they have not lost her werke

of their propre estat. Men, of voluntarious wil, withsitte that

hevens governeth. Other thinges suffren thinges paciently to

werche; man, in what estat he be, yet wolde he ben chaunged.

Thus by queynt thinges blisse is desyred; and the fruit that

120

cometh of these springes nis but anguis and bitter; al-though it

be a whyle swete, it may not be with-holde; hastely they departe;

thus al-day fayleth thinges that fooles wende. Right thus hast

thou fayled in thy first wening. He that thinketh to sayle, and drawe

after the course of the sterre de polo antartico, shal he never

125

come northward to the contrarye sterre of polus articus; of whiche

thinges if thou take kepe, thy first out-waye-going "prison" and

"exile" may be cleped. The ground falsed underneth, and so

hast thou fayled. No wight, I wene, blameth him that stinteth

in misgoing, and secheth redy way of his blisse. Now me

130

thinketh (quod she) that it suffyseth in my shewing; the wayes

by dignetè, richesse, renomè, and power, if thou loke clerely, arn

no wayes to the knotte.'

Ch. VIII. 2. waye. 11. Fayne. howe. 14. maye. 16. Nowe. 18. wotte. 19. reason. 21. Howe. 22. great harme. 25. se.

31. great harme. 33. veyned; read weyued. 38. se. howe. 41. se. 42. qualyties. 43. I supply some. 46. therthe. 49. hotte. 50. colde. contrariousty. my; read by. 51. fyre. 52. erthe; read eyre (twice). 56. connection. 58. arne. 60. contraryoustie. 62. I supply it. 66. waye. 67. howe.

68. arte none. thynge. 69. great. one. great. 71. folke. 74. reprofe. 75. chylde. 76. measureth. 78. fayre. 79. folke. 80. the. beforne. folke. 83. folke. foule. 84. folke. 85. thanke. 86. worthe. 88. encreaseth. 89. clear thynge. 97-100. the (thrice). 101. haste. deserte. 102. Howe. beautie. 104. maye sene thorowe.

106. fayrenesse. 109-111. nowe (twice). 110. waye. 111. nowe. 114. folowen; read falowen. 115. loste. 116. estate. 119. fruite. 121. maye. 122. al-daye. haste. 125. northwarde. 127. grounde. 129. Nowe. 132. ways.

CHAPTER IX.

'Every argument, lady,' quod I tho, 'that ye han maked in

these fore-nempned maters, me thinketh hem in my ful

witte conceyved; shal I no more, if god wil, in the contrarye be

begyled. But fayn wolde I, and it were your wil, blisse of the

knotte to me were declared. I might fele the better how my

[78]

herte might assente, to pursue the ende in service, as he hath

begonne.'

'O,' quod she, 'there is a melodye in heven, whiche clerkes

clepen "armony"; but that is not in brekinge of voice, but it is

a maner swete thing of kyndely werching, that causeth joye[s]

out of nombre to recken, and that is joyned by reson and by

wysdome in a quantitè of proporcion of knitting. God made al

thing in reson and in witte of proporcion of melody, we mowe not

suffyse to shewe. It is written by grete clerkes and wyse, that,

in erthly thinges, lightly by studye and by travayle the knowinge

may be getten; but of suche hevenly melody, mokel travayle wol

bringe out in knowing right litel. Swetenesse of this paradyse

hath you ravisshed; it semeth ye slepten, rested from al other

diseses; so kyndely is your herte therein y-grounded. Blisse of

two hertes, in ful love knitte, may not aright ben imagined; ever

is their contemplacion, in ful of thoughty studye to plesaunce,

mater in bringinge comfort everiche to other. And therfore, of

erthly thinges, mokel mater lightly cometh in your lerning.

Knowledge of understonding, that is nigh after eye, but not so

nigh the covetyse of knittinge in your hertes. More soverain

desyr hath every wight in litel heringe of hevenly conninge than

of mokel material purposes in erthe. Right so it is in propertee

of my servauntes, that they ben more affiched in steringe of litel

thinge in his desyr than of mokel other mater lasse in his

conscience. This blisse is a maner of sowne delicious in

a queynte voice touched, and no dinne of notes; there is non

impression of breking labour. I can it not otherwyse nempne,

for wantinge of privy wordes, but paradyse terrestre ful of delicious

melody, withouten travayle in sown, perpetual service in ful joye

coveyted to endure. Only kynde maketh hertes in understonding

so to slepe, that otherwyse may it nat be nempned, ne in other

maner names for lyking swetnesse can I nat it declare; al sugre

and hony, al minstralsy and melody ben but soot and galle in

comparison, by no maner proporcion to reken, in respect of this

blisful joye. This armony, this melody, this perdurable joye may

nat be in doinge but betwene hevens and elementes, or twey

kyndly hertes ful knit in trouth of naturel understonding, withouten

weninge and disceit; as hevens and planettes, whiche thinges

[79]

continually, for kyndly accordaunces, foryeteth al contrarious

mevinges, that in-to passive diseses may sowne; evermore it

thirsteth after more werking. These thinges in proporcion be

so wel joyned, that it undoth al thing whiche in-to badnesse by any

way may be accompted.'

'Certes,' quod I, 'this is a thing precious and noble. Alas!

that falsnesse ever, or wantrust shulde ever be maynteyned, this

joye to voyde. Alas! that ever any wrecche shulde, thorow wrath

or envy, janglinge dare make, to shove this melody so farre

a-backe, that openly dar it nat ben used; trewly, wrecches ben

fulfilled with envy and wrathe, and no wight els. Flebring

and tales in suche wrecches dare appere openly in every wightes

eere, with ful mouth so charged, [with] mokel malice moved

many innocentes to shende; god wolde their soule therwith were

strangled! Lo! trouth in this blisse is hid, and over-al under

covert him hydeth; he dar not come a-place, for waytinge of

shrewes. Commenly, badnesse goodnesse amaistreth; with my-selfe

and my soule this joye wolde I bye, if the goodnesse were

as moche as the nobley in melody.'

'O,' quod she, 'what goodnesse may be acompted more in

this material worlde? Truly, non; that shalt thou understonde.

Is nat every thing good that is contrariant and distroying yvel?'

'How els?' quod I.

'Envy, wrathe, and falsnesse ben general,' quod she; 'and

that wot every man being in his right mynde; the knotte, the

whiche we have in this blisse, is contrariaunt and distroyeth such

maner yvels. Ergo, it is good. What hath caused any wight

to don any good dede? Fynd me any good, but-if this knotte

be the cheef cause. Nedes mot it be good, that causeth so

many good dedes. Every cause is more and worthier than thing

caused; and in that mores possession al thinges lesse ben

compted. As the king is more than his people, and hath in

possession al his rëalme after, right so the knot is more than

al other goodes; thou might recken al thinges lasse; and that

to him longeth, oweth in-to his mores cause of worship and of

wil †to turne; it is els rebel and out of his mores defending to

voyde. Right so of every goodnesse; in-to the knotte and

in-to the cause of his worship [it] oweth to tourne. And trewly,

[80]

every thing that hath being profitably is good, but nothing hath

to ben more profitably than this knot; kinges it mayntayneth,

and hem, their powers to mayntayne. It maketh misse to ben

amended with good governaunce in doing. It closeth hertes

so togider, that rancour is out-thresten. Who that it lengest

kepeth, lengest is glad[d]ed.'

'I trowe,' quod I, 'heretykes and misse-mening people hence-forward

wol maintayne this knotte; for therthorough shul they

ben maintayned, and utterly wol turne and leve their olde yvel

understanding, and knitte this goodnesse, and profer so ferre

in service, that name of servauntes might they have. Their

jangles shal cese; me thinketh hem lacketh mater now to alege.'

'Certes,' quod Love, 'if they, of good wil thus turned, as thou

sayst, wolen trewly perfourme, yet shul they be abled party

of this blisse to have; and they wol not, yet shul my servauntes

the werre wel susteyne in myn helpe of maintenaunce to the ende.

And they, for their good travayle, shullen in reward so ben meded,

that endelesse joye body and soule †to-gider in this shullen

100

abyden. There is ever accion of blisse withouten possible

corrupcion; there is accion perpetuel in werke without travayle;

there is everlasting passife, withouten any of labour; continuel

plyte, without cesinge coveyted to endure. No tonge may telle,

ne herte may thinke the leest point of this blisse.'

105

'God bring me thider!' quod I than.

'Continueth wel,' quod she, 'to the ende, and thou might not

fayle than; for though thou spede not here, yet shal the passion

of thy martred lyfe ben written, and rad toforn the grete Jupiter,

that god is of routhe, an high in the holownesse of heven, there

110

he sit in his trone; and ever thou shalt forward ben holden

amonge al these hevins for a knight, that mightest with no

penaunce ben discomfited. He is a very martyr that, livingly

goinge, is gnawen to the bones.'

'Certes,' quod I, 'these ben good wordes of comfort; a litel

115

myne herte is rejoyced in a mery wyse.'

'Ye,' quod she; 'and he that is in heven felith more joye,

than whan he firste herde therof speke.'

'So it is,' quod I; 'but wist I the sothe, that after disese

comfort wolde folowe with blisse, so as ye have often declared,

[81]

120

I wolde wel suffre this passion with the better chere. But my

thoughtful sorowe is endelesse, to thinke how I am cast out

of a welfare; and yet dayneth not this yvel non herte, non hede,

to meward throwe: which thinges wolde greetly me by wayes

of comfort disporte, to weten in my-selfe a litel with other me[n]

125

ben y-moved; and my sorowes peysen not in her balaunce the

weyght of a peese. Slinges of her daunger so hevily peysen,

they drawe my causes so hye, that in her eyen they semen but

light and right litel.'

'O! for,' quod she, 'heven with skyes that foule cloudes

130

maken and darke †weders, with gret tempestes and huge,

maketh the mery dayes with softe shyning sonnes. Also the

yere with-draweth floures and beautee of herbes and of erth;

the same †yere maketh springes and jolitè in Vere so to renovel

with peinted coloures, that erthe semeth as gay as heven. Sees

135

that blasteth and with wawes throweth shippes, of whiche the

living creatures for greet peril for hem dreden; right so, the

same sees maketh smothe waters and golden sayling, and comforteth

hem with noble haven that firste were so ferde. Hast

thou not (quod she) lerned in thy youth, that Jupiter hath in

140

his warderobe bothe garmentes of joye and of sorowe? What

wost thou how soone he wol turne of the garment of care,

and clothe thee in blisse? Pardè, it is not ferre fro thee. Lo,

an olde proverbe aleged by many wyse:—"Whan bale is greetest,

than is bote a nye-bore." Wherof wilt thou dismaye? Hope

145

wel and serve wel; and that shal thee save, with thy good bileve.'

'Ye, ye,' quod I; 'yet see I not by reson how this blisse

is coming; I wot it is contingent; it may falle on other.'

'O,' quod she, 'I have mokel to done to clere thyne understanding,

and voyde these errours out of thy mynde. I wol

150

prove it by reson, thy wo may not alway enduren. Every thing

kyndely (quod she) is governed and ruled by the hevenly bodyes,

whiche haven ful werchinge here on erthe; and after course

of these bodyes, al course of your doinges here ben governed

and ruled by kynde.

155

Thou wost wel, by cours of planettes al your dayes proceden;

and to everich of singuler houres be enterchaunged stondmele

[82]

about, by submitted worching naturally to suffre; of whiche

changes cometh these transitory tymes that maketh revolving of

your yeres thus stondmele; every hath ful might of worchinge,

160

til al seven han had her course about. Of which worchinges and

possession of houres the dayes of the weke have take her names,

after denominacion in these seven planettes. Lo, your Sonday

ginneth at the first hour after noon on the Saturday, in whiche

hour is than the Sonne in ful might of worching; of whom Sonday

165

taketh his name. Next him foloweth Venus, and after

Mercurius, and than the Moone; so than Saturnus, after whom

Jovis; and than Mars; and ayen than the Sonne; and so forth

†by .xxiiii. houres togider; in whiche hour ginning in the seconde

day stant the Moone, as maister for that tyme to rule; of whom

170

Monday taketh his name; and this course foloweth of al other

dayes generally in doing. This course of nature of these bodyes

chaunging stinten at a certain terme, limitted by their first kynde;

and of hem al governementes in this elemented worlde proceden,

as in springes, constellacions, engendrures, and al that folowen

175

kynde and reson; wherfore [in] the course that foloweth, sorowe

and joy kyndely moten entrechangen their tymes; so that

alway oon wele, as alway oon wo, may not endure. Thus seest

thou appertly, thy sorowe in-to wele mot ben chaunged; wherfore

in suche case to better syde evermore enclyne thou shuldest.

180

Trewly, next the ende of sorowe anon entreth joy; by maner

of necessitè it wol ne may non other betyde; and so thy conti[n]gence

is disproved; if thou holde this opinion any more, thy

wit is right leude. Wherfore, in ful conclusion of al this, thilke

Margaryte thou desyrest hath ben to thee dere in thy herte, and

185

for her hast thou suffred many thoughtful diseses; herafter shal

[she] be cause of mokel mirth and joye; and loke how glad canst

thou ben, and cese al thy passed hevinesse with manifolde

joyes. And than wol I as blythly here thee speken thy mirthes

in joye, as I now have y-herd thy sorowes and thy complayntes.

190

And if I mowe in aught thy joye encrese, by my trouthe, on

my syde shal nat be leved for no maner traveyle, that I with

al my mightes right blythly wol helpe, and ever ben redy you

bothe to plese.' And than thanked I that lady with al goodly

[83]

maner that I worthily coude; and trewly I was greetly rejoysed

195

in myne herte of her fayre behestes; and profered me to be

slawe, in al that she me wolde ordeyne, while my lyf lested.

10. ioye; read joyes. 11-3. reason. 14. great. 19. diseases. hertes; read herte. 22. comforte. 24-5. nyghe (twice). 25. soueraine desyre. 27. propertie. 29. desyre. 31. none. 32. breakynge laboure. canne. 35. Onely. 38. soote. 39. respecte.

45. diseases. 51. wretch. thorowe. 53. dare. 53-5. wretches. 56. eare. I supply with. 57. innoctenes; misprint for innocentes. 59. dare. 65. distroyeng. 66. Howe. 71. Fynde. 72. chefe. mote. 73. thynge. 79. do; read to, as in l. 81. 81. Supply it.

88. meanynge. 89. forwarde. 90. leaue. 93. cease. nowe. 99. togyther. 100-1. action (twice). 103. ceasynge. tel. 104. hert. 108. radde toforne. great. 110. sytte. forwarde. 114. comforte. 118. disease comforte.

121. howe. 122. none (twice). 123. mewarde. greatly. 124. comforte. me; read men? 130. wethers; read weders. 132. beautie. 133. yeres; read yere. 136. great. 141. howe. 142. the. 143. greatest. 144. wylte. 145. the. 146. se. reason howe. 147. wote. fal. 150. reason.

162. denomination. 168. be; for by. 169. stante. 172. certayne. 175. Supply in. 177. on (for oon; twice). 178. mote. 181. contygence. 184. the. 185. diseases. 186. Supply she. howe. canste. 187. cease. 188. the. 189. ioy. nowe. yherde. 190. encrease. 191. leaued.

CHAPTER X.

'Me thinketh,' quod I, 'that ye have right wel declared,

that way to the knot shuld not ben in none of these

disprovinge thinges; and now, order of our purpos this asketh,

that ye shulde me shewe if any way be †thider, and whiche

thilke way shulde ben; so that openly may be seye the verry

hye way in ful confusioun of these other thinges.'

'Thou shalt,' quod she, 'understande that [of] one of three

lyves (as I first sayd) every creature of mankynde is sprongen,

and so forth procedeth. These lyves ben thorow names departed

in three maner of kyndes, as bestialliche, manliche, and resonabliche;

of whiche two ben used by flesshely body, and the thirde

by his soule. "Bestial" among resonables is forboden in every

lawe and every secte, bothe in Cristen and other; for every

wight dispyseth hem that liveth by lustes and delytes, as him

that is thral and bounden servaunt to thinges right foule; suche

ben compted werse than men; he shal nat in their degree ben

rekened, ne for suche one alowed. Heritykes, sayn they, chosen

lyf bestial, that voluptuously liven; so that (as I first sayde to

thee) in manly and resonable livinges our mater was to declare;

but [by] "manly" lyfe, in living after flesshe, or els flesshly wayes

to chese, may nat blisse in this knotte be conquered, as by reson

it is proved. Wherfore by "resonable" lyfe he must nedes it

have, sithe a way is to this knotte, but nat by the firste tway lyves;

wherfore nedes mot it ben to the thirde; and for to live in flesshe,

but nat after flessh, is more resonablich than manliche rekened

by clerkes. Therfore how this way cometh in, I wol it blythely

declare.

See now (quod she) that these bodily goodes of manliche

livinges yelden †sorowfulle stoundes and smertande houres. Who-so

†wol remembre him to their endes, in their worchinges they

[84]

ben thoughtful and sorie. Right as a bee that hath had his hony,

anon at his flight beginneth to stinge; so thilke bodily goodes at

the laste mote awaye, and than stinge they at her goinge, wherthrough

entreth and clene voydeth al blisse of this knot.'

'Forsothe,' quod I, 'me thinketh I am wel served, in shewing

of these wordes. Although I hadde litel in respect among other

grete and worthy, yet had I a fair parcel, as me thought, for the

tyme, in forthering of my sustenaunce; whiche while it dured,

I thought me havinge mokel hony to myne estat. I had richesse

suffisauntly to weyve nede; I had dignitè to be reverenced in

worship. Power me thought that I had to kepe fro myne enemyes,

and me semed to shyne in glorie of renomè as manhood asketh

in mene; for no wight in myne administracion coude non yvels

ne trechery by sothe cause on me putte. Lady, your-selve

weten wel, that of tho confederacies maked by my soverains

I nas but a servaunt, and yet mokel mene folk wol fully ayenst

reson thilke maters maynteyne, in whiche mayntenaunce [they]

glorien them-selfe; and, as often ye haven sayd, therof ought

nothing in yvel to be layd to me-wardes, sithen as repentaunt

I am tourned, and no more I thinke, neither tho thinges ne

none suche other to sustene, but utterly distroye, without medlinge

maner, in al my mightes. How am I now cast out of al

swetnesse of blisse, and mischevously [is] stongen my passed

joy! Soroufully muste I bewayle, and live as a wrecche.

Every of tho joyes is tourned in-to his contrary. For richesse,

now have I povertè; for dignitè, now am I emprisoned; in

stede of power, wrecchednesse I suffre; and for glorie of renomè,

I am now dispysed and foulich hated. Thus hath farn Fortune,

that sodaynly am I overthrowen, and out of al welth dispoyled.

Trewly, me thinketh this way in entree is right hard; god graunt

me better grace er it be al passed; the other way, lady, me

thought right swete.'

'Now, certes,' quod Love, 'me list for to chyde. What ayleth

thy darke dulnesse? Wol it nat in clerenesse ben sharped?

Have I nat by many resons to thee shewed, suche bodily goodes

faylen to yeve blisse, their might so ferforth wol nat strecche?

[85]

Shame (quod she) it is to say, thou lyest in thy wordes. Thou

ne hast wist but right fewe that these bodily goodes had al atones;

commenly they dwellen nat togider. He that plentè hath in riches,

of his kinne is ashamed; another of linage right noble and wel

knowe, but povert him handleth; he were lever unknowe.

Another hath these, but renomè of peoples praysing may he nat

have; overal he is hated and defamed of thinges right foule.

Another is fair and semely, but dignitè him fayleth; and he that

hath dignitè is croked or lame, or els misshapen and foully dispysed.

Thus partable these goodes dwellen commenly; in one

houshold ben they but silde. Lo! how wrecched is your truste

on thing that wol nat accorde! Me thinketh, thou clepest thilke

plyte thou were in "selinesse of fortune"; and thou sayest, for

that the selinesse is departed, thou art a wrecch. Than foloweth

this upon thy wordes; every soule resonable of man may nat dye;

and if deth endeth selinesse and maketh wrecches, as nedes of

fortune maketh it an ende. Than soules, after deth of the body,

in wrecchednesse shulde liven. But we knowe many that han

geten the blisse of heven after their deth. How than may this

lyf maken men blisful, that whan it passeth it yeveth no wrecchednesse,

and many tymes blisse, if in this lyfe he con live as he

shulde? And wolt thou acompt with Fortune, that now at [t]he

first she hath don thee tene and sorowe? If thou loke to the

maner of al glad thinges and sorouful, thou mayst nat nay it, that

yet, and namely now, thou standest in noble plyte in a good

ginning, with good forth-going herafter. And if thou wene to be

a wrecch, for such welth is passed, why than art thou nat wel

fortunate, for badde thinges and anguis wrecchednesse ben passed?

Art thou now come first in-to the hostry of this lyfe, or els the

both of this worlde? Art thou now a sodayn gest in-to this

wrecched exile? Wenest there be any thing in this erthe stable?

Is nat thy first arest passed, that brought thee in mortal sorowe?

Ben these nat mortal thinges agon with ignorance of beestial wit,

100

and hast receyved reson in knowing of vertue? What comfort is

in thy herte, the knowinge sikerly in my service [to] be grounded?

And wost thou nat wel, as I said, that deth maketh ende of al

[86]

fortune? What than? Standest thou in noble plyte, litel hede

or recking to take, if thou let fortune passe dy[i]ng, or els that

105

she fly whan her list, now by thy lyve? Pardy, a man hath

nothing so leef as his lyf; and for to holde that, he doth al his

cure and diligent traveyle. Than, say I, thou art blisful and

fortunat sely, if thou knowe thy goodes that thou hast yet

†beleved, whiche nothing may doute that they ne ben more worthy

110

than thy lyf?'

'What is that?' quod I.

'Good contemplacion,' quod she, 'of wel-doing in vertue in tyme

coming, bothe in plesaunce of me and of thy Margarit-peerle.

Hastely thyn hert in ful blisse with her shal be esed. Therfore dismay

115

thee nat; Fortune, in hate grevously ayenst thy bodily person,

ne yet to gret tempest hath she nat sent to thee, sithen the holding

cables and ankers of thy lyfe holden by knitting so faste, that

thou discomforte thee nought of tyme that is now, ne dispayre

thee not of tyme to come, but yeven thee comfort in hope of

120

weldoing, and of getting agayn the double of thy lesing, with

encresing love of thy Margarite-perle therto! For this, hiderto,

thou hast had al her ful daunger; and so thou might amende al

that is misse and al defautes that somtyme thou diddest; and

that now, in al thy tyme, to that ilke Margaryte in ful service of

125

my lore thyne herte hath continued; wherfore she ought moche

the rather enclyne fro her daungerous sete. These thinges ben

yet knit by the holding anker in thy lyve, and holden mote they;

to god I pray, al these thinges at ful ben perfourmed. For whyle

this anker holdeth, I hope thou shalt safely escape; and [in a]

130

whyle thy trewe-mening service aboute bringe, in dispyte of al

false meners that thee of-newe haten; for [in] this trewe service

thou art now entred.'

'Certayn,' quod I, 'among thinges I asked a question, whiche

was the way to the knot. Trewly, lady, how-so it be I tempt you

135

with questions and answers, in speking of my first service, I am

now in ful purpos in the pricke of the herte, that thilke service

was an enprisonment, and alway bad and naughty, in no maner

to be desyred; ne that, in getting of the knot, may it nothing

aveyle. A wyse gentil herte loketh after vertue, and none other

[87]

140

bodily joyes alone. And bycause toforn this in tho wayes I was

set, I wot wel my-selfe I have erred, and of the blisse fayled; and

so out of my way hugely have I ronne.'

'Certes,' quod she, 'that is sothe; and there thou hast miswent,

eschewe the path from hens-forward, I rede. Wonder

145

I trewly why the mortal folk of this worlde seche these ways

outforth; and it is preved in your-selfe. Lo, how ye ben confounded

with errour and folly! The knowing of very cause and way is

goodnesse and vertue. Is there any thing to thee more precious

than thy-selfe? Thou shalt have in thy power that thou woldest

150

never lese, and that in no way may be taken fro thee; and thilke

thing is that is cause of this knot. And if deth mowe it nat reve

more than an erthly creature, thilke thing than abydeth with thy-selfe

soule. And so, our conclusion to make, suche a knot, thus

getten, abydeth with this thinge and with the soule, as long as

155

they laste. A soule dyeth never; vertu and goodnesse evermore

with the soule endureth; and this knot is parfit blisse. Than

this soule in this blisse endlesse shal enduren. Thus shul hertes

of a trewe knot ben esed: thus shul their soules ben plesed: thus

perpetually in joye shul they singe.'

160

'In good trouth,' quod I, 'here is a good beginning; yeve us

more of this way.'

Quod she, 'I said to thee nat longe sithen, that resonable lyf

was oon of three thinges; and it was proved to the soule.

Ch. X. 3. nowe. purpose. 4. thyther. 5. maye be sey. 6. waye. 7. I supply of. 7-10. thre (twice). 9. thorowe. 13. christen. 17. sayne. 18. lyfe. 19. the. lyuenges. 20. Supply by. lyueng. 21. reason. 24. mote. 26. howe. waye. 28. Se nowe. 29. lyuenges. soroufully; read sorowfulle. 30. wele; read wol.

31. hadde. 32. anone. 36. respecte amonge. 37. great. faire. 39. estate. 42. manhode. 43. meane. -tion. 46. meane folke. 47. reason. I supply they. 48. sayde. 49. nothynge. layde. 52. Howe. nowe caste. 53. Supply is. 54. wretche. 56. nowe (thrice). 57. wretchednesse. 58. nowe. 60. entre. harde. 61. ladye. 63. Nowe. 65. reasons. the. 66. ferforthe. stretche.

74. faire. 75. fouly. 77. sylde. howe reetched (!). 80. arte a wretch. 82. dethe. wretches. 83. dethe. 84-6. wretchednesse. 85. dethe. Howe. 86. lyfe. 88. wolte. now. he; read the. 89. done the. 91. nowe. 93. wretch. 94. wretchednesse. 95-6. nowe (twice). 96. sodayne. 97. wretched. thynge. 98. the (sic). 100. reason. comforte. 101. hert. I supply to. 102. woste.

104. rcekyng. dyng (sic). 106. lefe. lyfe. 109. beloued; read beleued. nothynge. 112. contemplation. 114. eased. 115-9. the (five times). 119. comforte. 120. agayne. encreasynge. 129. shalte. Supply in a. 130. meanyng. 131. meaners. the. Supply in. 132. arte nowe. 133. Certayn begins with a large capital C, on fol. 306, verso. amonge. 134. howe. 136. nowe. purpose. 136-9. hert.

140. toforne. 141. sette. wote. 142. ron. 144. pathe. -forwarde. 145. folke. 146. howe. 148. thynge. the. 150. the. 151. dethe. 152. thynge. 155. last. 156. parfite. 158. eased. pleased. 162. the. lyfe. 163. one. thre.

CHAPTER XI.

Every soule of reson hath two thinges of stering lyf, oon in

vertue, and another in the bodily workinge; and whan the

soule is the maister over the body, than is a man maister of him-selfe.

And a man, to be a maister over him-selfe, liveth in vertu and

in goodnesse, and as reson of vertue techeth. So the soule and the

body, worching vertue togider, liven resonable lyf, whiche clerkes

clepen "felicitè in living"; and therein is the hye way to this knot.

These olde philosophers, that hadden no knowing of divine grace,

of kyndly reson alone, wenden that of pure nature, withouten any

[88]

helpe of grace, me might have y-shoned th'other livinges.

Resonably have I lived; and for I thinke herafter, if god wol,

and I have space, thilke grace after my leude knowing declare,

I leve it as at this tyme. But, as I said, he that out-forth loketh

after the wayes of this knot, [his] conning with whiche he shulde

knowe the way in-forth, slepeth for the tyme. Wherfore he that

wol this way knowe, must leve the loking after false wayes out-forth,

and open the eyen of his conscience, and unclose his herte.

Seest nat, he that hath trust in the bodily lyfe is so besy bodily

woundes to anointe, in keping from smert (for al-out may they nat

be heled), that of woundes in his true understanding he taketh no

hede; the knowing evenforth slepeth so harde: but anon, as in

knowing awake, than ginneth the prevy medicynes, for heling of

his trewe intent, inwardes lightly †helen conscience, if it be wel

handled. Than must nedes these wayes come out of the soule

by stering lyfe of the body; and els may no man come to parfit

blisse of this knotte. And thus, by this waye, he shal come to the

knotte, and to the parfit selinesse that he wende have had in

bodily goodes outforth.'

'Ye,' quod I, 'shal he have both knot, riches, power, dignitè,

and renomè in this maner way?'

'Ye,' quod she, 'that shal I shewe thee. Is he nat riche that

hath suffisaunce, and hath the power that no man may amaistrien?

Is nat greet dignitè to have worship and reverence? And hath

he nat glorie of renomè, whos name perpetual is during, and out

of nombre in comparacion?'

'These be thinges that men wenen to getten outforth,' quod I.

'Ye,' quod she; 'they that loken after a thing that nought is

therof, in al ne in partie, longe mowe they gapen after!'

'That is sothe,' quod I.

'Therfore,' quod she, 'they that sechen gold in grene trees, and

wene to gader precious stones among vynes, and layn her nettes

in mountains to fisshe, and thinken to hunte in depe sees after

hart and hynd, and sechen in erth thilke thinges that surmounteth

heven, what may I of hem say, but folisshe ignoraunce misledeth

wandring wrecches by uncouth wayes that shulden be forleten,

and maketh hem blynde fro the right pathe of trewe way that

[89]

shulde ben used? Therfore, in general, errour in mankynde

departeth thilke goodes by mis-seching, whiche he shulde have

hole, and he sought by reson. Thus goth he begyled of that he

sought; in his hode men have blowe a jape.'

'Now,' quod I, 'if a man be vertuous, and al in vertue liveth,

how hath he al these thinges?'

'That shal I proven,' quod she. 'What power hath any man

to lette another of living in vertue? For prisonment, or any

other disese, [if] he take it paciently, discomfiteth he nat; the

tyrant over his soule no power may have. Than hath that man,

so tourmented, suche power, that he nil be discomfit; ne overcome

may he nat ben, sithen pacience in his soule overcometh,

and †is nat overcomen. Suche thing that may nat be a-maistred,

he hath nede to nothing; for he hath suffisaunce y-now, to helpe

him-selfe. And thilke thing that thus hath power and suffisance,

and no tyrant may it reve, and hath dignitè to sette at nought al

thinges, here it is a greet dignitè, that deth may a-maistry. Wherfore

thilke power [with] suffisaunce, so enclosed with dignitè, by

al reson renomè must have. This is thilke riches with suffisaunce

ye sholde loke after; this is thilke worshipful dignitè ye shulde

coveyte; this is thilke power of might, in whiche ye shulde truste;

this is the ilke renomè of glorie that endlesse endureth; and al

nis but substaunce in vertuous lyving.'

'Certes,' quod I, 'al this is sothe; and so I see wel that vertue

with ful gripe encloseth al these thinges. Wherfore in sothe

I may saye, by my trouth, vertue of my Margarite brought me

first in-to your service, to have knitting with that jewel, nat sodain

longinges ne folkes smale wordes, but only our conversacion

togider; and than I, seinge th'entent of her trewe mening with

florisshing vertue of pacience, that she used nothing in yvel, to

quyte the wicked lesinges that false tonges ofte in her have laid,

I have seye it my-selfe, goodly foryevenesse hath spronge out of

her herte. Unitè and accord, above al other thinges, she

desyreth in a good meke maner; and suffereth many wicked

tales.

Trewly, lady, to you it were a gret worship, that suche thinges

by due chastisment were amended.'

[90]

'Ye,' quod she, 'I have thee excused; al suche thinges as yet

mowe nat be redressed; thy Margarites vertue I commende wel

the more, that paciently suche anoyes suffreth. David king was

meke, and suffred mokel hate and many yvel speches; no despyt

ne shame that his enemys him deden might nat move pacience

out of his herte, but ever in one plyte mercy he used. Wherfore

god him-selfe took reward to the thinges; and theron suche

punisshment let falle. Trewly, by reson, it ought be ensample of

drede to al maner peoples mirth. A man vengeable in wrath no

governance in punisshment ought to have. Plato had a cause his

servant to †scourge, and yet cleped he his neibour to performe the

doinge; him-selfe wolde nat, lest wrath had him a-maistred; and

so might he have layd on to moche: evermore grounded vertue

sheweth th'entent fro within. And trewly, I wot wel, for her goodnesse

and vertue, thou hast desyred my service to her plesance

wel the more; and thy-selfe therto fully hast profered.'

100

'Good lady,' quod I, 'is vertue the hye way to this knot that

long we have y-handled?'

'Ye, forsoth,' quod she, 'and without vertue, goodly this knot

may nat be goten.'

'Ah! now I see,' quod I, 'how vertu in me fayleth; and I, as

105

a seer tree, without burjoning or frute, alwaye welke; and

so I stonde in dispeyre of this noble knot; for vertue in me

hath no maner workinge. A! wyde-where aboute have I

traveyled!'

'Pees,' quod she, 'of thy first way; thy traveyle is in ydel;

110

and, as touchinge the seconde way, I see wel thy meninge. Thou

woldest conclude me, if thou coudest, bycause I brought thee

to service; and every of my servantes I helpe to come to this

blisse, as I sayd here-beforn. And thou saydest thy-selfe, thou

mightest nat be holpen as thou wenest, bycause that vertue in

115

thee fayleth; and this blisse parfitly without vertue may nat be

goten; thou wenest of these wordes contradiccion to folowe.

Pardè, at the hardest, I have no servant but he be vertuous in

dede and thought. I brought thee in my service, yet art thou

nat my servant; but I say, thou might so werche in vertue herafter,

120

that than shalt thou be my servant, and as for my servant

[91]

acompted. For habit maketh no monk; ne weringe of gilte

spurres maketh no knight. Never-the-later, in confort of thyne

herte, yet wol I otherwyse answere.'

'Certes, lady,' quod I tho, 'so ye muste nedes; or els I had

125

nigh caught suche a †cardiacle for sorowe, I wot it wel, I shulde

it never have recovered. And therfore now I praye [thee] to

enforme me in this; or els I holde me without recovery. I may

nat long endure til this lesson be lerned, and of this mischeef the

remedy knowen.'

130

'Now,' quod she, 'be nat wroth; for there is no man on-lyve

that may come to a precious thing longe coveited, but he somtyme

suffre teneful diseses: and wenest thy-selfe to ben unliche to al

other? That may nat ben. And with the more sorowe that

a thing is getten, the more he hath joye the ilke thing afterwardes

135

to kepe; as it fareth by children in scole, that for lerninge arn

beten, whan their lesson they foryetten. Commenly, after a good

disciplyning with a yerde, they kepe right wel doctrine of their

scole.'

Ch. XI. 1. euery (with small e). reason. lyfe. one. 6. lyfe. 7. lyueng. 9. reason.

10. thother lyuenges. 13. leaue. 14. I supply his. 16. leaue. 19. anoynt. 20. healed. 22. healyng. 23. healeth; read helen. 25. maye. parfite. 27. parfyte. 30. waye. 31. the. 33. great. 34. whose. 35. comparation. 37. thynge. 40. golde. 41. amonge. layne. 42. hunt. 43. hynde. 45. wretches.

48. mysse. 49. reason. 51. Nowe. 52. howe. 54. let. lyueng. 55. I supply if. 56. maye. 59. as; read is. 60. ynowe. 63. great. 64. I supply with. 67. coueyt. 69. lyueng. 70. se. 74. onely. conversation. 75. thentent. 76. nothynge. 77. leasynges. layde. 78. sey. 79. hert. accorde. 82. Trewly (with large capital T).

84. the. 87. dispite. 89. Werfore. 90. toke rewarde. 91. fal. reason. 94. scoure (!); read scourge. 96. layde. 97. thentent. wotte. 99. haste. 100. waye. 104. nowe I se. howe. 105. tre. 109. Peace. 110. se. meanyng. 111. the. 112. one. 113. beforne. 114. wenyst. 115. the. maye. 116. contradiction. 118. the. arte.

121. habyte. monke. wearynge. 122. conforte. 125. nyghe. cordiacle; read cardiacle. wotte. 126. nowe. I supply thee. 127. recouerye. 128. mischefe. 130. Nowe. wrothe. 131. maye. 132. diseases. wenyst. 133. maye. 134. thynge. 135. schole. arne. 136. beaten. 138. schole.

CHAPTER XII.

Right with these wordes, on this lady I threw up myne eyen,

to see her countenaunce and her chere; and she, aperceyving

this fantasye in myne herte, gan her semblaunt goodly on me

caste, and sayde in this wyse.

'It is wel knowe, bothe to reson and experience in doinge,

every active worcheth on his passive; and whan they ben togider,

"active" and "passive" ben y-cleped by these philosophers. If

fyr be in place chafinge thing able to be chafed or hete[d], and

thilke thinges ben set in suche a distaunce that the oon may

werche, the other shal suffre. Thilke Margarite thou desyrest is

ful of vertue, and able to be active in goodnesse: but every herbe

sheweth his vertue outforth from within. The sonne yeveth light,

that thinges may be seye. Every fyr heteth thilke thing that it

†neigheth, and it be able to be hete[d]. Vertue of this Margarite

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outforth †wercheth; and nothing is more able to suffre worching,

or worke cacche of the actife, but passife of the same actife; and

no passife, to vertues of this Margaryte, but thee, in al my Donet

can I fynde! So that her vertue muste nedes on thee werche;

in what place ever thou be, within distaunce of her worthinesse,

as her very passife thou art closed. But vertue may thee nothing

profyte, but thy desyr be perfourmed, and al thy sorowes cesed.

Ergo, through werchinge of her vertue thou shalt esely ben

holpen, and driven out of al care, and welcome to this longe by

thee desyred!'

'Lady,' quod I, 'this is a good lesson in ginning of my joye;

but wete ye wel forsothe, though I suppose she have moche

vertue, I wolde my spousaile were proved, and than may I live

out of doute, and rejoice me greetly, in thinking of tho vertues

so shewed.'

'I herde thee saye,' quod she, 'at my beginning, whan I receyved

thee firste for to serve, that thy jewel, thilke Margaryte thou

desyrest, was closed in a muskle with a blewe shel.'

'Ye, forsothe,' quod I; 'so I sayd; and so it is.'

'Wel,' quod she, 'every-thing kyndly sheweth it-selfe; this

jewel, closed in a blewe shel, [by] excellence of coloures sheweth

vertue from within; and so every wight shulde rather loke to the

propre vertue of thinges than to his forayne goodes. If a thing

be engendred of good mater, comenly and for the more part, it

foloweth, after the congelement, vertue of the first mater (and

it be not corrupt with vyces) to procede with encrees of good

vertues; eke right so it fareth of badde. Trewly, greet excellence

in vertue of linage, for the more part, discendeth by kynde to

the succession in vertues to folowe. Wherfore I saye, the †colour

of every Margarit sheweth from within the fynesse in vertue.

Kyndely heven, whan mery †weder is a-lofte, apereth in mannes

eye of coloure in blewe, stedfastnesse in pees betokening within

and without. Margaryte is engendred by hevenly dewe, and

sheweth in it-selfe, by fynenesse of colour, whether the engendrure

were maked on morowe or on eve; thus sayth kynde of this

perle. This precious Margaryte that thou servest, sheweth it-selfe

discended, by nobley of vertue, from this hevenlich dewe, norisshed

[93]

and congeled in mekenesse, that †moder is of al vertues; and, by

werkes that men seen withouten, the significacion of the coloures

ben shewed, mercy and pitee in the herte, with pees to al other;

and al this is y-closed in a muskle, who-so redily these vertues

loken. Al thing that hath soule is reduced in-to good by mene thinges,

as thus: In-to god man is reduced by soules resonable; and so

forth beestes, or bodyes that mowe not moven, after place ben

reduced in-to manne by beestes †mene that moven from place to

place. So that thilke bodyes that han felinge soules, and move

not from places, holden the lowest degree of soulinge thinges in

felinge; and suche ben reduced in-to man by menes. So it

foloweth, the muskle, as †moder of al vertues, halt the place of

mekenesse, to his lowest degree discendeth downe of heven, and

there, by a maner of virgine engendrure, arn these Margarytes

engendred, and afterward congeled. Made not mekenesse so

lowe the hye heven, to enclose and cacche out therof so noble

a dewe, that after congelement, a Margaryte, with endelesse vertue

and everlasting joy, was with ful vessel of grace yeven to every

creature, that goodly wolde it receyve?'

'Certes,' quod I, 'these thinges ben right noble; I have er this

herd these same sawes.'

'Than,' quod she, 'thou wost wel these thinges ben sothe?'

'Ye, forsothe,' quod I, 'at the ful.'

'Now,' quod she, 'that this Margaryte is ful of vertue, it is wel

proved; wherfore som grace, som mercy, among other vertues,

I wot right wel, on thee shal discende?'

'Ye,' quod I; 'yet wolde I have better declared, vertues in this

Margarite kyndely to ben grounded.'

'That shal I shew thee,' quod she, 'and thou woldest it lerne.'

'Lerne?' quod I, 'what nedeth suche wordes? Wete ye nat

wel, lady, your-selfe, that al my cure, al my diligence, and al my

might, have turned by your counsayle, in plesaunce of that perle?

Al my thought and al my studye, with your helpe, desyreth, in

worshippe [of] thilke jewel, to encrese al my travayle and al my

besinesse in your service, this Margaryte to gladde in some halve.

Me were lever her honour, her plesaunce, and her good chere

[94]

thorow me for to be mayntayned and kept, and I of suche thinge

in her lykinge to be cause, than al the welthe of bodily goodes ye

coude recken. And wolde never god but I putte my-selfe in

greet jeopardy of al that I †welde, (that is now no more but

my lyf alone), rather than I shulde suffre thilke jewel in any

pointe ben blemisshed; as ferre as I may suffre, and with my

mightes strecche.'

'Suche thing,' quod she, 'may mokel further thy grace, and

thee in my service avaunce. But now (quod Love) wilt thou

graunte me thilke Margaryte to ben good?'

'O! good †god,' quod I, 'why tempte ye me and tene with

suche maner speche? I wolde graunt that, though I shulde anon

100

dye; and, by my trouthe, fighte in the quarel, if any wight wolde

countreplede.'

'It is so moche the lighter,' quod Love, 'to prove our entent.'

'Ye,' quod I; 'but yet wolde I here how ye wolde prove that

she were good by resonable skil, that it mowe not ben denyed.

105

For although I knowe, and so doth many other, manifold goodnesse

and vertue in this Margaryte ben printed, yet some men

there ben that no goodnesse speken; and, wher-ever your wordes

ben herd and your resons ben shewed, suche yvel spekers, lady,

by auctoritè of your excellence, shullen be stopped and ashamed!

110

And more, they that han non aquayntaunce in her persone, yet

mowe they knowe her vertues, and ben the more enfourmed in

what wyse they mowe sette their hertes, whan hem liste in-to your

service any entree make. For trewly al this to beginne, I wot

wel my-selfe that thilke jewel is so precious perle, as a womanly

115

woman in her kynde; in whom of goodnesse, of vertue, and also

of answeringe shappe of limmes, and fetures so wel in al pointes

acording, nothing fayleth. I leve that kynde her made with greet

studye; for kynde in her person nothing hath foryet[en], and that

is wel sene. In every good wightes herte she hath grace of

120

commending and of vertuous praysing. Alas! that ever kynde

made her deedly! Save only in that, I wot wel, that Nature,

in fourminge of her, in no-thinge hath erred.'

Ch. XII. 1. threwe. 2. se. 5. Reason. 7. ycleaped. 8. fyre. thynge. hete; read heted. 9. sette. one. 12. outforthe. 13. sey. fyre. 14. neighed; read neigheth. hete; read heted.

15. wrethe (!); read wercheth. nothynge. 16. catche. 17-8. the (twice). 20. arte. the. 21. desyre. ceased. 22. shalte easely. 24. the. 26. thoughe. 27. maye. 28. greatly. 30. the say. 31. the. 35. Supply by. 38. parte. 40. encrease. 41. great. 42. parte. 43. colours; read colour. 45. wether; read weder. 46. peace. 48. coloure.

52, 63. mother; read moder. 53. sene. signification. 54. pytie. 56. meane. 58. forthe. 59. meue; misprint for mene. mouyn. 62. meanes. 63. halte. 65. arne. 66. afterwarde. 67. catche. 72. herde. 73. woste. 75. Nowe. 76. some (twice). amonge. 77. wotte. 77, 80. the (twice). 85. I supply of. encrease. 87. leauer. pleasaunce.

88. thorowe. kepte. 90. put. 91. great ieoperdye. wolde; read welde. nowe. lyfe. 94. stretche. 95. maye. 96. the. nowe. wylte. 98. good good; read good god. 99. thoughe. anone. 100. fyght. 103. howe. 104. reasonable. 105. dothe. 108. herde. reasons. 110. none. 113. entre. wote. 115. whome. 117. nothynge. great. 118. foryet. 121. onely.

CHAPTER XIII.

'Certes,' quod Love, 'thou hast wel begonne; and I aske

thee this question: Is not, in general, every-thing good?'

'I not,' quod I.

'No?' quod she; '†saw not god everything that he made, and

weren right good?'

'Than is wonder,' quod I, 'how yvel thinges comen a-place,

sithen that al thinges weren right good.'

'Thus,' quod she, 'I wol declare. Everiche qualitè and every

accion, and every thing that hath any maner of beinge, it is of

god; and god it made, of whom is al goodnesse and al being.

Of him is no badnesse. Badde to be, is naught; good to be,

is somwhat; and therfore good and being is oon in

understanding.'

'How may this be?' quod I. 'For often han shrewes me

assailed, and mokel badnesse therin have I founden; and so me

semeth bad to be somwhat in kynde.'

'Thou shalt,' quod she, 'understande that suche maner badnesse,

whiche is used to purifye wrong-doers, is somwhat; and god it

made, and being [it] hath; and that is good. Other badnesse no

being hath utterly; it is in the negative of somwhat, and that is

naught and nothing being. The parties essential of being arn

sayd in double wyse, as that it is; and these parties ben founde

in every creature. For al thing, a this halfe the first being, is

being through participacion, taking partie of being; so that [in]

every creature is difference bitwene being of him through whom

it is, and his own being. Right as every good is a maner of

being, so is it good thorow being; for it is naught other to be.

And every thing, though it be good, is not of him-selfe good;

but it is good by that it is ordinable to the greet goodnesse.

This dualitè, after clerkes †determinison, is founden in every

creature, be it never so single of onhed.'

'Ye,' quod I; 'but there-as it is y-sayd that god †saw every-thing

of his making, and [they] were right good (as your-selfe

sayd to me not longe tyme sithen), I aske whether every creature

[96]

is y-sayd "good" through goodnesse unfourmed eyther els fourmed;

and afterward, if it be accept utterly good?'

'I shal say thee,' quod she. 'These grete passed clerkes han

devyded good in-to good being alone, and that is nothing but

†god, for nothing is good in that wyse but god: also, in good by

participacion, and that is y-cleped "good" for far fet and

representative of †godly goodnesse. And after this maner manyfold

good is sayd, that is to saye, good in kynde, and good in gendre,

and good of grace, and good of joy. Of good in kynde Austen

sayth, "al that ben, ben good." But peraunter thou woldest

wete, whether of hem-selfe it be good, or els of anothers goodnesse:

for naturel goodnesse of every substaunce is nothing els than his

substancial being, which is y-cleped "goodnesse" after comparison

that he hath to his first goodnesse, so as it is inductatife by menes

in-to the first goodnesse. Boece sheweth this thing at the ful, that

this name "good" is, in general, name in kynde, as it is comparisoned

generally to his principal ende, which is god, knotte of

al goodnesse. Every creature cryeth "god us made"; and so

they han ful apeted to thilke god by affeccion such as to hem

longeth; and in this wyse al thinges ben good of the gret god,

which is good alone.'

'This wonder thing,' quod I, 'how ye have by many resons

proved my first way to be errour and misgoing, and cause[d] of

badnesse and feble meninge in the grounde ye aleged to be roted.

Whence is it that suche badnesse hath springes, sithen al thinges

thus in general ben good, and badnesse hath no being, as ye have

declared? I wene, if al things ben good, I might than with the

first way in that good have ended, and so by goodnesse have comen

to blisse in your service desyred.'

'Al thing,' quod she, 'is good by being in participacion out of

the firste goodnesse, whiche goodnesse is corrupt by badnesse

and badde-mening maners. God hath [ordeyned] in good thinges,

that they ben good by being, and not in yvel; for there is absence

of rightful love. For badnesse is nothing but only yvel wil of the

user, and through giltes of the doer; wherfore, at the ginninge of

the worlde, every thing by him-selfe was good; and in universal

they weren right good. An eye or a hand is fayrer and betterer

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in a body set, in his kyndely place, than from the body dissevered.

Every thing in his kyndly place, being kyndly, good doth werche;

and, out of that place voyded, it dissolveth and is defouled him-selve.

Our noble god, in gliterande wyse, by armony this world

ordeyned, as in purtreytures storied with colours medled, in

whiche blacke and other derke colours commenden the golden

and the asured paynture; every put in kyndely place, oon, besyde

another, more for other glitereth. Right so litel fayr maketh

right fayr more glorious; and right so, of goodnesse, and of other

thinges in vertue. Wherfore other badde and not so good perles

as this Margaryte that we han of this matier, yeven by the ayre

litel goodnesse and litel vertue, [maken] right mokel goodnesse

and vertue in thy Margaryte to ben proved, in shyning wyse to be

founde and shewed. How shulde ever goodnesse of pees have

ben knowe, but-if unpees somtyme reigne, and mokel yvel †wrathe?

How shulde mercy ben proved, and no trespas were, by due

justification, to be punisshed? Therfore grace and goodnesse of

a wight is founde; the sorouful hertes in good meninge to endure,

ben comforted; unitè and acord bitwene hertes knit in joye to

abyde. What? wenest thou I rejoyce or els accompte him among

my servauntes that pleseth Pallas in undoinge of Mercurye, al-be-it

that to Pallas he be knit by tytle of lawe, not according to

resonable conscience, and Mercurie in doinge have grace to ben

suffered; or els him that †weyveth the moone for fayrenesse of

the eve-sterre? Lo! otherwhyle by nightes, light of the moone

greetly comforteth in derke thoughtes and blynde. Understanding

of love yeveth greet gladnesse. Who-so list not byleve, whan

a sothe tale is shewed, a dewe and a deblys his name is entred.

100

Wyse folk and worthy in gentillesse, bothe of vertue and of

livinge, yeven ful credence in sothnesse of love with a good herte,

there-as good evidence or experience in doinge sheweth not the

contrarie. Thus mightest thou have ful preef in thy Margarytes

goodnesse, by commendement of other jewels badnesse and

105

yvelnesse in doing. Stoundemele diseses yeveth several houres

in joye.'

'Now, by my trouthe,' quod I, 'this is wel declared, that my

[98]

Margaryte is good; for sithen other ben good, and she passeth

manye other in goodnesse and vertue; wherthrough, by maner

110

necessarie, she muste be good. And goodnesse of this Margaryte

is nothing els but vertue; wherfore she is vertuous; and if there

fayled any vertue in any syde, there were lacke of vertue. Badde

nothing els is, ne may be, but lacke and want of good and goodnesse;

and so shulde she have that same lacke, that is to saye,

115

badde; and that may not be. For she is good; and that is good,

me thinketh, al good; and so, by consequence, me semeth, vertuous,

and no lacke of vertue to have. But the sonne is not knowe but

he shyne; ne vertuous herbes, but they have her kynde werchinge;

ne vertue, but it strecche in goodnesse or profyt to another, is no

120

vertue. Than, by al wayes of reson, sithen mercy and pitee ben

moste commended among other vertues, and they might never ben

shewed, [unto] refresshement of helpe and of comfort, but now

at my moste nede; and that is the kynde werkinge of these

vertues; trewly, I wene, I shal not varye from these helpes. Fyr,

125

and-if he yeve non hete, for fyre is not demed. The sonne, but

he shyne, for sonne is not accompted. Water, but it wete, the

name shal ben chaunged. Vertue, but it werche, of goodnesse

doth it fayle; and in-to his contrarie the name shal ben reversed.

And these ben impossible; wherfore the contradictorie, that is

130

necessarye, nedes muste I leve.'

'Certes,' quod she, 'in thy person and out of thy mouthe these

wordes lyen wel to ben said, and in thyne understanding to be

leved, as in entent of this Margaryte alone. And here now my

speche in conclusion of these wordes.

Ch. XIII. 1. haste. 2, 4. thynge. 4. saue; read saw. 5. werne. 6. howe. 9. action. 12. one. 14. Howe. 18. wronge. 19. I supply it. 21. arne. 24. I supply in. and of; I omit and. 27. thorowe. 29. great. determission (!); read determinison. 32. ysayde. saue; read saw. 33. I supply they.

35. ysayde. 36. afterwarde. accepte. 37. the. great. 39. good; read god. 40. farre fette. 41. goodly; read godly. manyfolde. 44. saythe. 47. ycleaped. 48. meanes. 53. affection. 56. howe. reasons. 57. waye. cause; read caused. 59. baddesse (!). 65. corrupte. 66. meanynge. I supply ordeyned. 68. nothynge. onely. 71. werne. hande.

72. sette. disceuered. 73. dothe. 75. worlde. 78. putte. one. 79. lytle fayre. 80. fayre. 83. Supply maken. 85. Howe. peace. 86. vnpeace. wrothe; read wrathe. 87. Howe. trespeace (!). 89. meanynge. 90. acorde. knytte. 91. amonge. 92. pleaseth. 93. knytte. 94. reasonable. 95. weneth; read weyveth. 97. greatly. 98. great. lyste. 99. adewe. 100. folke. 101. hert. 103. prefe. 105. diseases. 107. Nowe.

109. wherthroughe. 111. no thynge. 113. wante. 115. maye. 119. stretche. profyte. 120. reason. pytie. 121. amonge. 122. Supply unto. comforte. nowe. 124. Fyre. 125. none heate. 128. dothe. 133. nowe.

CHAPTER XIV.

In these thinges,' quod she, 'that me list now to shewe

openly, shal be founde the mater of thy sicknesse, and

what shal ben the medicyn that may be thy sorowes lisse and

comfort, as wel thee as al other that amisse have erred and out of

the way walked, so that any drope of good wil in amendement

[may] ben dwelled in their hertes. Proverbes of Salomon openly

techeth, how somtyme an innocent walkid by the way in

[99]

blyndnesse of a derke night; whom mette a woman (if it be leefly to

saye) as a strumpet arayed, redily purveyed in turninge of

thoughtes with veyne janglinges, and of rest inpacient, by

dissimulacion of my termes, saying in this wyse: "Com, and be we

dronken of our swete pappes; use we coveitous collinges." And

thus drawen was this innocent, as an oxe to the larder.'

'Lady,' quod I, 'to me this is a queynte thing to understande;

I praye you, of this parable declare me the entent.'

'This innocent,' quod she, 'is a scoler lerninge of my lore, in

seching of my blisse, in whiche thinge the day of his thought

turning enclyneth in-to eve; and the sonne, of very light faylinge,

maketh derke night in his conninge. Thus in derknesse of many

doutes he walketh, and for blyndenesse of understandinge, he ne

wot in what waye he is in; forsothe, suche oon may lightly ben

begyled. To whom cam love fayned, not clothed of my livery,

but [of] unlefful lusty habit, with softe speche and mery; and

with fayre honyed wordes heretykes and mis-meninge people

skleren and wimplen their errours. Austen witnesseth of an

heretyk, that in his first beginninge he was a man right expert

in resons and swete in his wordes; and the werkes miscorden.

Thus fareth fayned love in her firste werchinges. Thou knowest

these thinges for trewe; thou hast hem proved by experience

somtyme, in doing to thyne owne person; in whiche thing thou hast

founde mater of mokel disese. Was not fayned love redily

purveyed, thy wittes to cacche and tourne thy good thoughtes?

Trewly, she hath wounded the conscience of many with florisshinge

of mokel jangling wordes; and good worthe thanked I it for

no glose. I am glad of my prudence thou hast so manly her

†weyved. To me art thou moche holden, that in thy kynde

course of good mening I returne thy mynde. I trowe, ne had

I shewed thee thy Margaryte, thou haddest never returned. Of

first in good parfit joye was ever fayned love impacient, as the

water of Siloë, whiche evermore floweth with stilnesse and privy

noyse til it come nighe the brinke, and than ginneth it so out of

mesure to bolne, with novelleries of chaunging stormes, that in

course of every renning it is in pointe to spille al his circuit of

†bankes. Thus fayned love prively, at the fullest of his flowinge,

[100]

[ginneth] newe stormes [of] debat to arayse. And al-be-it that

Mercurius [servants] often with hole understandinge knowen

suche perillous maters, yet Veneriens so lusty ben and so leude

in their wittes, that in suche thinges right litel or naught don

they fele; and wryten and cryen to their felawes: "here is blisse,

here is joye"; and thus in-to one same errour mokel folk they

drawen. "Come," they sayen, "and be we dronken of our

pappes"; that ben fallas and lying glose, of whiche mowe they not

souke milke of helthe, but deedly venim and poyson, corrupcion

of sorowe. Milke of fallas is venim of disceyt; milke of lying glose

is venim of corrupcion. Lo! what thing cometh out of these

pappes! "Use we coveited collinges"; desyre we and meddle we false

wordes with sote, and sote with false! Trewly, this is the sorinesse

of fayned love; nedes, of these surfettes sicknesse muste

folowe. Thus, as an oxe, to thy langoring deth were thou drawen;

the sote of the smoke hath thee al defased. Ever the deper thou

somtyme wadest, the soner thou it founde; if it had thee killed,

it had be litel wonder. But on that other syde, my trewe

servaunt[s] not faynen ne disceyve conne; sothly, their doinge

is open; my foundement endureth, be the burthen never so

greet; ever in one it lasteth. It yeveth lyf and blisful goodnesse

in the laste endes, though the ginninges ben sharpe. Thus of

two contraries, contrarye ben the effectes. And so thilke

Margaryte thou servest shal seen thee, by her service out of

perillous tribulacion delivered, bycause of her service in-to newe

disese fallen, by hope of amendement in the laste ende, with joye

to be gladded. Wherfore, of kynde pure, her mercy with grace

of good helpe shal she graunte; and els I shal her so strayne,

that with pitè shal she ben amaystred. Remembre in thyne

herte how horribly somtyme to thyne Margaryte thou trespasest,

and in a grete wyse ayenst her thou forfeytest! Clepe ayen thy

mynde, and know thyne owne giltes. What goodnesse, what

bountee, with mokel folowing pitè founde thou in that tyme?

Were thou not goodly accepted in-to grace? By my pluckinge

was she to foryevenesse enclyned. And after, I her styred to

drawe thee to house; and yet wendest thou utterly for ever

have ben refused. But wel thou wost, sithen that I in suche

[101]

sharpe disese might so greetly avayle, what thinkest in thy wit?

How fer may my wit strecche? And thou lache not on thy syde,

I wol make the knotte. Certes, in thy good bering I wol acorde

with the psauter: "I have founde David in my service true, and

with holy oyle of pees and of rest, longe by him desyred, utterly

he shal be anoynted." Truste wel to me, and I wol thee not

fayle. The †leving of the first way with good herte of continuance

that I see in thee grounded, this purpose to parfourme, draweth

me by maner of constrayning, that nedes muste I ben thyne helper.

Although mirthe a whyle be taried, it shal come at suche seson,

that thy thought shal ben joyed. And wolde never god, sithen

thyne herte to my resons arn assented, and openly hast confessed

thyne amisse-going, and now cryest after mercy, but-if mercy

folowed; thy blisse shal ben redy, y-wis; thou ne wost how sone.

Now be a good child, I rede. The kynde of vertues, in thy

Margaryte rehersed, by strength of me in thy person shul werche.

Comfort thee in this; for thou mayst not miscary.' And these

wordes sayd, she streyght her on length, and rested a whyle.

¶ Thus endeth the seconde book, and here after foloweth

the thirde book.

8. lefely. 11. sayeng. Come. 14. thynge. 16. scholer. 17. daye. 21. wote. one. 22. whome came. 23. Supply of. unleful lustye habyte. 24. misse-. 26. heretyke. experte. 27. resones. 29. haste. 32. catche. 35. gladde. 36. veyned; read weyved. arte. 37. meanyng. 38. the. 39. parfyte. 42. measure. 43. spyl. 44. cankes (!); read bankes.

45. I supply ginneth and of. debate. 46. I supply servants. 51. sayne. 52-4. lyeng. 54. disceyte. 55. thynge. 58. must. 60. the. 61. the. 63. seruaunt. 65. great. lyfe. 68. sene the. 70, 82. disease. 72. graunt. 74. howe. 75. great. 76. knowe. 77. bountie. 80. the.

82. greatly. 83. howe ferre maye my wytte stretche. 86. peace. 87. the. 88. leanyng (!). 89. se. the. 93. reasones arne. haste. 94. nowe. 96. chylde. 98. Comforte the. 99. sayde. Colophon. booke. boke.

BOOK III.

CHAPTER I.

Of nombre, sayn these clerkes, that it is naturel somme of

discrete thinges, as in tellinge oon, two, three, and so forth;

but among al nombres, three is determined for moste certayn.

Wherfore in nombre certayn this werk of my besy leudenesse

I thinke to ende and parfourme. Ensample by this worlde, in

three tymes is devyded; of whiche the first is cleped †Deviacion,

that is to say, going out of trewe way; and al that tho dyeden, in

helle were they punisshed for a man[ne]s sinne, til grace and mercy

fette hem thence, and there ended the firste tyme. The seconde

tyme lasteth from the comming of merciable grace until the ende

of transitorie tyme, in whiche is shewed the true way in fordoinge

of the badde; and that is y-cleped tyme of Grace. And that

[102]

thing is not yeven by desert of yeldinge oon benefyt for another,

but only through goodnesse of the yever of grace in thilke tyme.

Who-so can wel understande is shapen to be saved in souled

blisse. The thirde tyme shal ginne whan transitorie thinges of

worldes han mad their ende; and that shal ben in Joye, glorie, and

rest, both body and soule, that wel han deserved in the tyme of

Grace. And thus in that heven †togider shul they dwelle perpetuelly,

without any imaginatyfe yvel in any halve. These

tymes are figured by tho three dayes that our god was closed

in erthe; and in the thirde aroos, shewing our resurreccion to

joye and blisse of tho that it deserven, by his merciable grace.

So this leude book, in three maters, accordaunt to tho tymes,

lightly by a good inseër may ben understonde; as in the firste,

Errour of misse-goinge is shewed, with sorowful pyne punisshed,

†that cryed after mercy. In the seconde, is Grace in good waye

proved, whiche is faylinge without desert, thilke first misse

amendinge, in correccion of tho erroures, and even way to bringe,

with comfort of welfare in-to amendement wexinge. And in the

thirde, Joye and blisse graunted to him that wel can deserve it,

and hath savour of understandinge in the tyme of grace. Thus

in Joye, of my thirde boke, shal the mater be til it ende.

But special cause I have in my herte to make this proces

of a Margarit-perle, that is so precious a gemme †whyt, clere and

litel, of whiche stones or jewel[les] the tonges of us Englissh

people tourneth the right names, and clepeth hem 'Margery-perles';

thus varieth our speche from many other langages. For

trewly Latin, Frenche, and many mo other langages clepeth hem,

Margery-perles, [by] the name 'Margarites,' or 'Margarite-perles';

wherfore in that denominacion I wol me acorde to other mens

tonges, in that name-cleping. These clerkes that treten of kyndes,

and studien out the propertee there of thinges, sayn: the Margarite

is a litel whyt perle, throughout holowe and rounde and

vertuous; and on the see-sydes, in the more Britayne, in

muskle-shelles, of the hevenly dewe, the best ben engendred; in whiche

by experience ben founde three fayre vertues. Oon is, it yeveth

comfort to the feling spirites in bodily persones of reson. Another

[103]

is good; it is profitable helthe ayenst passions of sorie mens hertes.

And the thirde, it is nedeful and noble in staunching of bloode,

there els to moche wolde out renne. To whiche perle and vertues

me list to lyken at this tyme Philosophie, with her three speces,

that is, natural, and moral, and resonable; of whiche thinges

hereth what sayn these grete clerkes. Philosophie is knowing of

devynly and manly thinges joyned with studie of good living;

and this stant in two thinges, that is, conninge and opinion.

Conninge is whan a thing by certayn reson is conceyved. But

wrecches and fooles and leude men, many wil conceyve a thing

and mayntayne it as for sothe, though reson be in the contrarye;

wherfore conninge is a straunger. Opinion is whyl a thing is in

non-certayn, and hid from mens very knowleging, and by no parfit

reson fully declared, as thus: if the sonne be so mokel as men

wenen, or els if it be more than the erthe. For in sothnesse the

certayn quantitè of that planet is unknowen to erthly dwellers; and

yet by opinion of some men it is holden for more than midle-erth.

The first spece of philosophie is naturel; whiche in kyndely

thinges †treteth, and sheweth causes of heven, and strength of

kyndely course; as by arsmetrike, geometry, musike, and by

astronomye techeth wayes and cours of hevens, of planetes, and

of sterres aboute heven and erthe, and other elementes.

The seconde spece is moral, whiche, in order, of living maners

techeth; and by reson proveth vertues of soule moste worthy in

our living; whiche ben prudence, justice, temperaunce, and

strength. Prudence is goodly wisdom in knowing of thinges.

Strength voideth al adversitees aliche even. Temperaunce distroyeth

beestial living with esy bering. And Justice rightfully

jugeth; and juging departeth to every wight that is his owne.

The thirde spece turneth in-to reson of understanding; al

thinges to be sayd soth and discussed; and that in two thinges is

devyded. Oon is art, another is rethorike; in whiche two al

lawes of mans reson ben grounded or els maintayned.

And for this book is of Love, and therafter bereth his name,

and philosophie and lawe muste here-to acorden by their clergial

discripcions, as: philosophie for love of wisdom is declared, lawe

for mainteynaunce of pees is holden: and these with love must

nedes acorden; therfore of hem in this place have I touched.

[104]

Ordre of homly thinges and honest maner of livinge in vertue,

with rightful jugement in causes and profitable administracion in

comminaltees of realmes and citees, by evenhed profitably to

raigne, nat by singuler avauntage ne by privè envy, ne by soleyn

purpos in covetise of worship or of goodes, ben disposed in open

rule shewed, by love, philosophy, and lawe, and yet love, toforn

al other. Wherfore as sustern in unitè they accorden, and oon

ende, that is, pees and rest, they causen norisshinge; and in the

joye maynteynen to endure.

Now than, as I have declared: my book acordeth with discripcion

of three thinges; and the Margarit in vertue is lykened

to Philosophy, with her three speces. In whiche maters ever

twey ben acordaunt with bodily reson, and the thirde with the

100

soule. But in conclusion of my boke and of this Margarite-perle

in knittinge togider, Lawe by three sondrye maners shal be lykened;

that is to saye, lawe, right, and custome, whiche I wol declare.

Al that is lawe cometh of goddes ordinaunce, by kyndly worching;

and thilke thinges ordayned by mannes wittes arn y-cleped right,

105

which is ordayned by many maners and in constitucion written.

But custome is a thing that is accepted for right or for lawe,

there-as lawe and right faylen; and there is no difference, whether

it come of scripture or of reson. Wherfore it sheweth, that lawe

is kyndly governaunce; right cometh out of mannes probable

110

reson; and custome is of commen usage by length of tyme

used; and custome nat writte is usage; and if it be writte,

constitucion it is y-written and y-cleped. But lawe of kynde is

commen to every nation, as conjunccion of man and woman in

love, succession of children in heritance, restitucion of thing

115

by strength taken or lent; and this lawe among al other halt

the soveraynest gree in worship; whiche lawe began at the

beginning of resonable creature; it varied yet never for no

chaunging of tyme. Cause, forsothe, in ordayning of lawe was to

constrayne mens hardinesse in-to pees, and withdrawing his yvel

120

wil, and turning malice in-to goodnesse; and that innocence

sikerly, withouten teneful anoye, among shrewes safely might

inhabite by proteccion of safe-conducte, so that the shrewes, harm

[105]

for harme, by brydle of ferdnesse shulden restrayne. But forsothe,

in kyndely lawe, nothing is commended but such as goddes

125

wil hath confirmed, ne nothing denyed but contrarioustee of

goddes wil in heven. Eke than al lawes, or custome, or els

constitucion by usage or wryting, that contraryen lawe of kynde,

utterly ben repugnaunt and adversarie to our goddes wil of heven.

Trewly, lawe of kynde for goddes own lusty wil is verily to

130

mayntayne; under whiche lawe (and unworthy) bothe professe

and reguler arn obediencer and bounden to this Margarite-perle

as by knotte of loves statutes and stablisshment in kynde, whiche

that goodly may not be withsetten. Lo! under this bonde am

I constrayned to abyde; and man, under living lawe ruled, by that

135

lawe oweth, after desertes, to ben rewarded by payne or by mede,

but-if mercy weyve the payne. So than †by part resonfully may

be seye, that mercy bothe right and lawe passeth. Th' entent

of al these maters is the lest clere understanding, to weten, at

th'ende of this thirde boke; ful knowing, thorow goddes grace,

140

I thinke to make neverthelater. Yet if these thinges han a good

and a †sleigh inseër, whiche that can souke hony of the harde

stone, oyle of the drye rocke, [he] may lightly fele nobley of mater

in my leude imaginacion closed. But for my book shal be of

joye (as I sayd), and I [am] so fer set fro thilke place fro whens

145

gladnesse shulde come; my corde is to short to lete my boket

ought cacche of that water; and fewe men be abouten my corde

to eche, and many in ful purpos ben redy it shorter to make, and

to enclose th' entrè, that my boket of joye nothing shulde cacche,

but empty returne, my careful sorowes to encrese: (and if I dye

150

for payne, that were gladnesse at their hertes): good lord, send

me water in-to the cop of these mountayns, and I shal drinke

therof, my thurstes to stanche, and sey, these be comfortable

welles; in-to helth of goodnesse of my saviour am I holpen. And

yet I saye more, the house of joye to me is nat opened. How

155

dare my sorouful goost than in any mater of gladnesse thinken to

trete? For ever sobbinges and complayntes be redy refrete in

his meditacions, as werbles in manifolde stoundes comming about

I not than. And therfore, what maner of joye coude [I] endyte?

But yet at dore shal I knocke, if the key of David wolde the locke

[106]

160

unshitte, and he bringe me in, whiche that childrens tonges both

openeth and closeth; whos spirit where he †wol wercheth,

departing goodly as him lyketh.

Now to goddes laude and reverence, profit of the reders,

amendement of maners of the herers, encresing of worship among

165

Loves servauntes, releving of my herte in-to grace of my jewel,

and fren[d]ship [in] plesance of this perle, I am stered in this

making, and for nothing els; and if any good thing to mennes

lyking in this scripture be founde, thanketh the maister of grace,

whiche that of that good and al other is authour and principal

170

doer. And if any thing be insufficient or els mislyking, †wyte

that the leudnesse of myne unable conning: for body in disese

anoyeth the understanding in soule. A disesely habitacion

letteth the wittes [in] many thinges, and namely in sorowe. The

custome never-the-later of Love, †by long tyme of service, in

175

termes I thinke to pursue, whiche ben lyvely to yeve understanding

in other thinges. But now, to enforme thee of this

Margarites goodnesse, I may her not halfe preyse. Wherfore, nat

she for my boke, but this book for her, is worthy to be commended,

tho my book be leude; right as thinges nat for places, but places

180

for thinges, ought to be desyred and praysed.

Book III: Ch. I. 1. sayne. 2. one. thre. 3. amonge. thre. 3, 4. certayne. 4. werke. 6. thre. Demacion; read Deuiacion. 8. hel.

13. thynge. deserte. one benefyte. 14. onely. 16. gyn. 17. made. 19. togyther. dwel. 21. thre. 22. arose. resurrection. 24. boke. thre. 25. maye. 26. erroure. 27. is (!); read that. 28. deserte. 29. correction. waye. 30. comforte. 31. canne. 34. hert. processe. 35. peerle. with; read whyt (see l. 44). 36. iewel; read iewelles. 39. cleapeth. 40. Supply by. 42. treaten. 43. propertie. sayne. 44. whyte. 47. One. 48. comforte. reason.

51. ren. 52. thre. 54. sayn. great. 56. stante. 57. certayne. 58. wretches. 60. whyle. 61. -certayne. hydde. 62. parfyte reason. 64. certayne. 67. treten; read treteth. 69. course. 73. lyueng. 74. wysdome. 76. lyueng. easy bearyng. 78. reason. 80. one. arte. 81. reason. 82. booke. beareth. 84. wisdome. 85. peace.

88. administration. 89. commynalties. cytes. 91. purpose. 93. susterne. one. 94. peace. 96. Nowe. boke. discription. 97-8. thre. 99. reason. 100. peerle. 101. thre. 105. constitution. 110. reason. 112. constitutyon. 113. coniunction. 114. restitution. 115. halte. 117. reasonable. 119. peace. 121. amonge. 122. harme for harme.

123. ferdenesse. 124. nothynge. 125. contraryoustie. 130. law. 131. arne. 133. maye. 134. lyueng. 135. payn. 136. be; read by. parte reasonfully. 137. sey. thentent. 139. thende. thorowe. 141. sleight; read sleigh. 142. I insert he. 143. ymagination. boke. 144. Supply am. ferre. 145. let. 146-8. catch. 147. purpose. 148. thentre. 150. lorde sende. 152. stanch. 157. meditations. 158. I supply I.

160. vnshyt. bring. 161. whose spirite. wel; read wol. 163. Nowe. profite. 165. hert. 166. frenship. I supply in. peerle. 170. with; read wyte. 172. habitation. 173. I supply in. 174. be; read by. 176. nowe. enform the. 178-9. boke (thrice).

CHAPTER II.

'Now,' quod Love, 'trewly thy wordes I have wel understonde.

Certes, me thinketh hem right good; and me

wondreth why thou so lightly passest in the lawe.'

'Sothly,' quod I, 'my wit is leude, and I am right blynd, and

that mater depe. How shulde I than have waded? Lightly

might I have drenched, and spilte ther my-selfe.'

'Ye,' quod she, 'I shal helpe thee to swimme. For right as

lawe punissheth brekers of preceptes and the contrary-doers of the

written constitucions, right so ayenward lawe rewardeth and

yeveth mede to hem that lawe strengthen. By one lawe this

rebel is punisshed and this innocent is meded; the shrewe is

enprisoned and this rightful is corowned. The same lawe that

joyneth by wedlocke without forsaking, the same lawe yeveth

[107]

lybel of departicion bycause of devorse both demed and

declared.'

'Ye, ye,' quod I, 'I fynde in no lawe to mede and rewarde in

goodnes the gilty of desertes.'

'Fole,' quod she, 'gilty, converted in your lawe, mikel merit

deserveth. Also Pauly[n] of Rome was crowned, that by him the

maynteyners of Pompeus weren knowen and distroyed; and yet

toforn was this Paulyn cheef of Pompeus counsaile. This lawe

in Rome hath yet his name of mesuring, in mede, the bewraying of

the conspiracy, ordayned by tho senatours the deth. Julius Cesar

is acompted in-to Catons rightwisnesse; for ever in trouth

florissheth his name among the knowers of reson. Perdicas was

crowned in the heritage of Alexander the grete, for tellinge of

a prevy hate that king Porrus to Alexander hadde. Wherfore

every wight, by reson of lawe, after his rightwysenesse apertely

his mede may chalenge; and so thou, that maynteynest lawe of

kynde, and therfore disese hast suffred in the lawe, reward is

worthy to be rewarded and ordayned, and †apertly thy mede

might thou chalenge.'

'Certes,' quod I, 'this have I wel lerned; and ever hens-forward

I shal drawe me therafter, in oonhed of wil to abyde, this

lawe bothe maynteyne and kepe; and so hope I best entre in-to

your grace, wel deservinge in-to worship of a wight, without

nedeful compulsion, [that] ought medefully to be rewarded.'

'Truly,' quod Love, 'that is sothe; and tho[ugh], by constitucion,

good service in-to profit and avantage strecche, utterly

many men it demen to have more desert of mede than good wil

nat compelled.'

'See now,' quod I, 'how †many men holden of this the contrary.

And what is good service? Of you wolde I here this

question declared.'

'I shal say thee,' quod she, 'in a fewe wordes:—resonable

workinges in plesaunce and profit of thy soverayne.'

'How shulde I this performe?' quod I.

'Right wel,' quod she; 'and here me now a litel. It is hardely

(quod she) to understande, that right as mater by due overchaunginges

foloweth his perfeccion and his forme, right so every

[108]

man, by rightful werkinges, ought to folowe the lefful desyres in

his herte, and see toforn to what ende he deserveth. For many

tymes he that loketh nat after th'endes, but utterly therof is

unknowen, befalleth often many yvels to done, wherthrough, er he

be war, shamefully he is confounded; th'ende[s] therof neden to

be before loked. To every desirer of suche foresight in good

service, three thinges specially nedeth to be rulers in his workes.

First, that he do good; next, that he do [it] by eleccion in his

owne herte; and the thirde, that he do godly, withouten any

surquedry in thoughtes. That your werkes shulden be good, in

service or in any other actes, authoritès many may be aleged;

neverthelater, by reson thus may it be shewed. Al your werkes

be cleped seconde, and moven in vertue of the firste wercher,

whiche in good workes wrought you to procede; and right so

your werkes moven in-to vertue of the laste ende: and right in

the first workinge were nat, no man shulde in the seconde werche.

Right so, but ye feled to what ende, and seen their goodnes

closed, ye shulde no more †recche what ye wrought; but the

ginning gan with good, and there shal it cese in the laste ende, if

it be wel considred. Wherfore the middle, if other-wayes it drawe

than accordant to the endes, there stinteth the course of good,

and another maner course entreth; and so it is a partie by him-selve;

and every part [that] be nat accordant to his al, is foul and

ought to be eschewed. Wherfore every thing that is wrought

and be nat good, is nat accordant to th'endes of his al hole; it is

foul, and ought to be withdrawe. Thus the persons that neither

don good ne harm shamen foule their making. Wherfore, without

working of good actes in good service, may no man ben accepted.

Truely, the ilke that han might to do good and doon it nat, the

crowne of worship shal be take from hem, and with shame shul

they be anulled; and so, to make oon werke acordant with his

endes, every good servaunt, by reson of consequence, muste do

good nedes. Certes, it suffiseth nat alone to do good, but goodly

withal folowe; the thanke of goodnesse els in nought he

deserveth. For right as al your being come from the greetest

good, in whom al goodnesse is closed, right so your endes ben

directe to the same good. Aristotel determineth that ende and

good ben one, and convertible in understanding; and he that in

[109]

wil doth awey good, and he that loketh nat to th'ende, loketh nat

to good; but he that doth good and doth nat goodly, [and]

draweth away the direction of th'ende nat goodly, must nedes

be badde. Lo! badde is nothing els but absence or negative

of good, as derkenesse is absence or negative of light. Than he

that dooth [not] goodly, directeth thilke good in-to th'ende of

badde; so muste thing nat good folowe: eke badnesse to suche

folke ofte foloweth. Thus contrariaunt workers of th'ende

that is good ben worthy the contrary of th'ende that is good

to have.'

'How,' quod I, 'may any good dede be doon, but-if goodly it

100

helpe?'

'Yes,' quod Love, 'the devil doth many good dedes, but

goodly he leveth be-hynde; for †ever badly and in disceyvable

wyse he worketh; wherfore the contrary of th'ende him foloweth.

And do he never so many good dedes, bicause goodly is away,

105

his goodnes is nat rekened. Lo! than, tho[ugh] a man do good,

but he do goodly, th'ende in goodnesse wol nat folowe; and thus

in good service both good dede and goodly doon musten joyne

togider, and that it be doon with free choise in herte; and els

deserveth he nat the merit in goodnes: that wol I prove. For

110

if thou do any-thing good by chaunce or by happe, in what thing

art thou therof worthy to be commended? For nothing, by reson

of that, turneth in-to thy praysing ne lacking. Lo! thilke thing

doon by hap, by thy wil is nat caused; and therby shulde I

thanke or lacke deserve? And sithen that fayleth, th'ende which

115

that wel shulde rewarde, must ned[e]s faile. Clerkes sayn, no man

but willinge is blessed; a good dede that he hath doon is nat

doon of free choice willing; without whiche blissednesse may nat

folowe. Ergo, neither thanke of goodnesse ne service [is] in that

[that] is contrary of the good ende. So than, to good service

120

longeth good dede goodly don, thorow free choice in herte.'

'Truely,' quod I, 'this have I wel understande.'

'Wel,' quod she, 'every thing thus doon sufficiently by lawe,

that is cleped justice, [may] after-reward clayme. For lawe and

justice was ordayned in this wyse, suche desertes in goodnesse,

[110]

125

after quantitè in doinge, by mede to rewarde; and of necessitè of

suche justice, that is to say, rightwysenesse, was free choice in

deserving of wel or of yvel graunted to resonable creatures.

Every man hath free arbitrement to chose, good or yvel to

performe.'

130

'Now,' quod I tho, 'if I by my good wil deserve this Margarit-perle,

and am nat therto compelled, and have free choice to do

what me lyketh; she is than holden, as me thinketh, to rewarde

th'entent of my good wil.'

'Goddes forbode els,' quod Love; 'no wight meneth otherwyse,

135

I trowe; free wil of good herte after-mede deserveth.'

'Hath every man,' quod I, 'free choice by necessary maner of

wil in every of his doinges that him lyketh, by goddes proper

purvyaunce? I wolde see that wel declared to my leude understanding;

for "necessary" and "necessitè" ben wordes of mokel

140

entencion, closing (as to saye) so mote it be nedes, and otherwyse

may it nat betyde.'

'This shalt thou lerne,' quod she, 'so thou take hede in my

speche. If it were nat in mannes owne libertè of free wil to do

good or bad, but to the one teyed by bonde of goddes preordinaunce,

145

than, do he never so wel, it were by nedeful compulcion

of thilk bonde, and nat by free choice, wherby nothing he

desyreth: and do he never so yvel, it were nat man for to wyte,

but onlich to him that suche thing ordayned him to done.

Wherfore he ne ought for bad[de] be punisshed, ne for no good

150

dede be rewarded; but of necessitè of rightwisnesse was therfore

free choice of arbitrement put in mans proper disposicion. Truely,

if it were otherwyse, it contraried goddes charitè, that badnesse

and goodnesse rewardeth after desert of payne or of mede.'

'Me thinketh this wonder,' quod I; 'for god by necessitè

155

forwot al thinges coming, and so mote it nedes be; and thilke

thinges that ben don †by our free choice comen nothing of necessitè

but only †by wil. How may this stonde †togider? And so

me thinketh truely, that free choice fully repugneth goddes

forweting. Trewly, lady, me semeth, they mowe nat stande

160

†togider.'

Ch. II. 1. Nowe. 4. blynde. 5. howe. 7. Yea. the. swym. 9. constitutions. ayenwarde.

17. gyltie. 18. gyltie. merite. 19. Pauly (for Paulyn; first time). 21. toforne. chefe. 25. amonge. 25-8. reason. 26. great. 30. disease. rewarde. 31. apartly (for apertly). 34. onehed. 37. I supply that. 38. constitution. 39. profite. stretch. 42. Se. howe may. 45. the. 46. profite. 47. Howe. 48. nowe. 50. perfection.

51. leful. 52. hert. se. 55. ware. 57. thre. 58. I supply it. electyon. 59. hert. 62. reason. maye. 68. recth (for retch); read recche. 69. cease. 73. parte. I supply that. 73-5. foule. 77. harme. 79. done. 81. one. 82. reason. 85. greatest.

90. I supply and. 92. bad. negatyfe (first time). 94. I supply not. 99. done. 101. dothe. 102. even; read ever. 105. tho. 107-8. done (twice). 108. hert. 109. merite. 111. reason. 113. done. shulde I; put for shuldest thou. 115. neds (sic). 116-7. done (twice). 118. I supply is and that. 120. thorowe fre. hert. 122. done. 123. I supply may. rewarde claym.

130. Nowe. 134. meaneth. 135. hert. 136. fre. 138. se. 140. entention. 142. lern. 143-6. fre (twice). 148. onelych. 149. bad. 151. fre. 151. disposition. 153. payn. 155. forwote. 156. be; for by. fre. 157. onely be; for by. Howe. 157-60. togyther; read togider. 158. fre.

CHAPTER III.

Than gan Love nighe me nere, and with a noble countenance

of visage and limmes, dressed her nigh my

sitting-place.

'Take forth,' quod she, 'thy pen, and redily wryte these

wordes. For if god wol, I shal hem so enforme to thee, that thy

leudnesse which I have understande in that mater shal openly be

clered, and thy sight in ful loking therin amended. First, if thou

thinke that goddes prescience repugne libertè of arbitrement, it is

impossible that they shulde accorde in onheed of sothe to

understonding.'

'Ye,' quod I, 'forsothe; so I it conceyve.'

'Wel,' quod she, 'if thilke impossible were away, the repugnaunce

that semeth to be therin were utterly removed.'

'Shewe me the absence of that impossibilitè,' quod I.

'So,' quod she, 'I shal. Now I suppose that they mowe

stande togider: prescience of god, whom foloweth necessitè of

thinges comming, and libertè of arbitrement, thorow whiche thou

belevest many thinges to be without necessitè.'

'Bothe these proporcions be sothe,' quod I, 'and wel mowe

stande togider; wherfore this case as possible I admit.'

'Truely,' quod she, 'and this case is impossible.'

'How so?' quod I.

'For herof,' quod she, 'foloweth and wexeth another

impossible.'

'Prove me that,' quod I.

'That I shal,' quod she; 'for somthing is comming without

necessitè, and god wot that toforn; for al thing comming he

before wot, and that he beforn wot of necessitè is comming, as

he beforn wot be the case by necessary maner; or els, thorow

necessitè, is somthing to be without necessitè; and wheder, to

every wight that hath good understanding, is seen these thinges

to be repugnaunt: prescience of god, whiche that foloweth necessitè,

and libertè of arbitrement, fro whiche is removed necessitè?

For truely, it is necessary that god have forweting of thing withouten

any necessitè cominge.'

[112]

'Ye,' quod I; 'but yet remeve ye nat away fro myne understanding

the necessitè folowing goddes be foreweting, as thus. God

beforn wot me in service of love to be bounden to this Margarite-perle,

and therfore by necessitè thus to love am I bounde; and

if I had nat loved, thorow necessitè had I ben kept from al

love-dedes.'

'Certes,' quod Love, 'bicause this mater is good and necessary

to declare, I thinke here-in wel to abyde, and not lightly to passe.

Thou shalt not (quod she) say al-only, "god beforn wot me to be

a lover or no lover," but thus: "god beforn wot me to be a lover

without necessitè." And so foloweth, whether thou love or not love,

every of hem is and shal be. But now thou seest the impossibilitè

of the case, and the possibilitè of thilke that thou wendest

had been impossible; wherfore the repugnaunce is adnulled.'

'Ye,' quod I; 'and yet do ye not awaye the strength of necessitè,

whan it is said, th[r]ough necessitè it is me in love to

abyde, or not to love without necessitè for god beforn wot it.

This maner of necessitè forsothe semeth to some men in-to coaccion,

that is to sayne, constrayning, or else prohibicion, that is,

defendinge; wherfore necessitè is me to love of wil. I understande

me to be constrayned by some privy strength to the wil

of lovinge; and if [I] no[t] love, to be defended from the wil of

lovinge: and so thorow necessitè me semeth to love, for I love;

or els not to love, if I not love; wherthrough neither thank ne

maugrè in tho thinges may I deserve.'

'Now,' quod she, 'thou shalt wel understande, that often we

sayn thing thorow necessitè to be, that by no strength to be

neither is coarted ne constrayned; and through necessitè not

to be, that with no defendinge is removed. For we sayn it is

thorow necessitè god to be immortal, nought deedliche; and it

is necessitè, god to be rightful; but not that any strength of

violent maner constrayneth him to be immortal, or defendeth him

to be unrightful; for nothing may make him dedly or unrightful.

Right so, if I say, thorow necessitè is thee to be a lover or els

noon; only thorow wil, as god beforn wete. It is nat to understonde

that any thing defendeth or forbit thee thy wil, whiche shal

[113]

nat be; or els constrayneth it to be, whiche shal be. That same

thing, forsoth, god before wot, whiche he beforn seeth. Any

thing commende of only wil, that wil neyther is constrayned

ne defended thorow any other thing. And so thorow libertè of

arbitrement it is do, that is don of wil. And trewly, my good

child, if these thinges be wel understonde, I wene that non

inconvenient shalt thou fynde betwene goddes forweting and

libertè of arbitrement; wherfore I wot wel they may stande

togider. Also farthermore, who that understanding of prescience

properlich considreth, thorow the same wyse that any-thing be

afore wist is said, for to be comming it is pronounced; there is

nothing toforn wist but thing comming; foreweting is but of

trouth[e]; dout[e] may nat be wist; wherfore, whan I sey that god

toforn wot any-thing, thorow necessitè is thilke thing to be comming;

al is oon if I sey, it shal be. But this necessitè neither

constrayneth ne defendeth any-thing to be or nat to be. Therfore sothly,

if love is put to be, it is said of necessitè to be; or els, for it

is put nat to be, it is affirmed nat to be of necessitè; nat for that

necessitè constrayneth or defendeth love to be or nat to be. For

whan I say, if love shal be, of necessitè it shal be, here foloweth

necessitè the thing toforn put; it is as moch to say as if it were thus

pronounced—"that thing shal be." Noon other thing signifyeth

this necessitè but only thus: that shal be, may nat togider be

and nat be. Evenlich also it is soth, love was, and is, and shal

be, nat of necessitè; and nede is to have be al that was; and

nedeful is to be al that is; and comming, to al that shal be.

And it is nat the same to saye, love to be passed, and love

passed to be passed; or love present to be present, and love to

100

be present; or els love to be comminge, and love comminge to be

comming. Dyversitè in setting of wordes maketh dyversitè in

understandinge; altho[ugh] in the same sentence they accorden

of significacion; right as it is nat al oon, love swete to be swete,

and love to be swete. For moch love is bitter and sorouful, er

105

hertes ben esed; and yet it glad[d]eth thilke sorouful herte on

suche love to thinke.'

'Forsothe,' quod I, 'outherwhile I have had mokel blisse in

herte of love that stoundmele hath me sorily anoyed. And

[114]

certes, lady, for I see my-self thus knit with this Margarite-perle

110

as by bonde of your service and of no libertè of wil, my herte wil

now nat acorde this service to love. I can demin in my-selfe

non otherwise but thorow necessitè am I constrayned in this

service to abyde. But alas! than, if I thorow nedeful compulsioun

maugre me be with-holde, litel thank for al my greet traveil have

115

I than deserved.'

'Now,' quod this lady, 'I saye as I sayde: me lyketh this

mater to declare at the ful, and why: for many men have had

dyvers fantasyes and resons, both on one syde therof and in the

other. Of whiche right sone, I trowe, if thou wolt understonde,

120

thou shalt conne yeve the sentence to the partie more probable

by reson, and in soth knowing, by that I have of this mater

maked an ende.'

'Certes,' quod I, 'of these thinges longe have I had greet lust

to be lerned; for yet, I wene, goddes wil and his prescience

125

acordeth with my service in lovinge of this precious Margarite-perle.

After whom ever, in my herte, with thursting desyre wete,

I do brenne; unwasting, I langour and fade; and the day of my

desteny in dethe or in joye I †onbyde; but yet in th'ende I am

comforted †by my supposaile, in blisse and in joye to determine

130

after my desyres.'

'That thing,' quoth Love, 'hastely to thee neigh, god graunt

of his grace and mercy! And this shal be my prayer, til thou be

lykende in herte at thyne owne wil. But now to enforme thee in

this mater (quod this lady) thou wost where I lefte; that was:

135

love to be swete, and love swete to be swete, is not al oon for to

say. For a tree is nat alway by necessitè white. Somtyme, er it

were white, it might have be nat white; and after tyme it is

white, it may be nat white. But a white tree evermore nedeful

is to be white; for neither toforn ne after it was white, might it

140

be togider white and nat white. Also love, by necessitè, is nat

present as now in thee; for er it were present, it might have be

that it shulde now nat have be; and yet it may be that it shal nat

be present; but thy love present whiche to her, Margarite, thee

hath bounde, nedeful is to be present. Trewly, som doing of

[115]

145

accion, nat by necessitè, is comminge fer toforn it be; it may be

that it shal nat be comminge. Thing forsoth comming nedeful is

to be comming; for it may nat be that comming shal nat be

comming. And right as I have sayd of present and of future

tymes, the same sentence in sothnesse is of the preterit, that is

150

to say, tyme passed. For thing passed must nedes be passed; and

er it were, it might have nat be; wherfore it shulde nat have

passed. Right so, whan love comming is said of love that is to

come, nedeful is to be that is said; for thing comming never is nat

comminge. And so, ofte, the same thing we sayn of the same; as

155

whan we sayn "every man is a man," or "every lover is a lover,"

so muste it be nedes. In no waye may he be man and no man togider.

And if it be nat by necessitè, that is to say nedeful, al thing

comming to be comming, than somthing comming is nat comminge,

and that is impossible. Right as these termes "nedeful,"

160

"necessitè," and "necessary" betoken and signify thing nedes

to be, and it may nat otherwyse be, right [so] †this terme "impossible"

signifyeth, that [a] thing is nat and by no way may it be.

Than, thorow pert necessitè, al thing comming is comming; but

that is by necessitè foloweth, with nothing to be constrayned.

165

Lo! whan that "comming" is said of thinge, nat alway thing

thorow necessitè is, altho[ugh] it be comming. For if I say,

"to-morowe love is comming in this Margarites herte," nat therfore

thorow necessitè shal the ilke love be; yet it may be that it shal

nat be, altho[ugh] it were comming. Neverthelater, somtyme it

170

is soth that somthing be of necessitè, that is sayd "to come"; as

if I say, to-morowe †be comminge the rysinge of the sonne. If

therfore with necessitè I pronounce comming of thing to come, in

this maner love to-morne comminge in thyne Margarite to thee-ward,

by necessitè is comminge; or els the rysing of the sonne

175

to-morne comminge, through necessitè is comminge. Love sothely,

whiche may nat be of necessitè alone folowinge, thorow necessitè

comming it is mad certayn. For "futur" of future is said; that is to

sayn, "comming" of comminge is said; as, if to-morowe comming

is thorow necessitè, comminge it is. Arysing of the sonne, thorow

180

two necessitès in comming, it is to understande; that oon is

to-for[e]going necessitè, whiche maketh thing to be; therfore it shal

be, for nedeful is that it be. Another is folowing necessitè, whiche

[116]

nothing constrayneth to be, and so by necessitè it is to come; why?

for it is to come. Now than, whan we sayn that god beforn wot

185

thing comming, nedeful [it] is to be comming; yet therfore make

we nat in certayn evermore, thing to be thorow necessitè comminge.

Sothly, thing comming may nat be nat comming by no

way; for it is the same sentence of understanding as if we say

thus: if god beforn wot any-thing, nedeful is that to be comming.

190

But yet therfore foloweth nat the prescience of God, thing thorow

necessitè to be comming: for al-tho[ugh] god toforn wot al

thinges comming, yet nat therfore he beforn wot every thing

comming thorow necessitè. Some thinges he beforn wot comming

of free wil out of resonable creature.'

195

'Certes,' quod I, 'these termes "nede" and "necessitè" have

a queint maner of understanding; they wolden dullen many

mennes wittes.'

'Therfore,' quod she, 'I wol hem openly declare, and more

clerely than I have toforn, er I departe hen[ne]s.

Ch. III. 1. nygh. 5. the. 6. vnderstand. 8. lyberte of arbetry of arbitrement; omit arbetry of. 15. Nowe. 17. thorowe. 22. Howe. 29. beforne. maner than (omit than). thorowe. 30. whederto.

38. beforne wote. 40. thorowe. kepte. 44. shalte. onely. 44-5. beforne wote (twice). 47. nowe. 51. though; read through. 52. beforne wote. 53. coaction. 57. Supply I; for no read not; see l. 59. 58. thorowe. 59. thanke. 60. maye. 61. Nowe. shalte. 62. sayne. thorowe. 63. throughe. 64. sayne. 65. thorowe. 67. violente. 69. thorowe. the. 70. none. onely thorowe. beforne. 71. the.

73-4. thynge. 74. commende; for comminge. onely. 75. thorowe (twice). 76. done. 77. childe. vnderstond. 81. thorowe. 84. trouth. dout. 85. wote. thorowe. 86. if it shal be; omit if. 92. toforne. 93. None. 94. onely. 102. altho. 103. signification. one. 105. eased. hert. 108. hert.

109. se. peerle. 110. hert. 111. nowe. 112. thorowe. 113. thorowe. 114. thanke. great. 116. Nowe. 118. reasons. 120. shalte con. 121. reason. 123. great luste. 126. hert. weete. 128. vnbyde (!). 129. be; for by. 133. nowe. the. 135. one. 138. maye. 141. nowe. the. 142. nowe. maye. 143. the. 144. some.

145. action. ferre. 154. thynge. 155. sayne. 161. I supply so. these termes; read this terme. 162. I supply a. 163-6. thorowe. (twice). 166. altho. 167. hert. 169. altho. 171. by; read be. 173. the warde. 176. thorowe. 177. made certayne. 179. thorowe. 180. one. 181. to forgoing.

184. Nowe. 185. I supply it. 186. certayne. thynge. thorowe. 187. maye. 190. thorowe. 191. wote. 193. thorowe. 200. hense; read hennes.

CHAPTER IV.

Here of this mater,' quod she, 'thou shalt understande

that, right as it is nat nedeful, god to wilne that he wil,

no more in many thinges is nat nedeful, a man to wilne that

he wol. And ever, right as nedeful is to be, what that god wol,

right so to be it is nedeful that man wol in tho thinges, whiche

that god hath put in-to mannes subjeccion of willinge; as, if

a man wol love, that he love; and if he ne wol love, that he love

nat; and of suche other thinges in mannes disposicion. For-why,

now than that god wol may nat be, whan he wol the wil of man

thorow no necessitè to be constrayned or els defended for to

wilne, and he wol th'effect to folowe the wil; than is it nedeful,

wil of man to be free, and also to be that he wol. In this maner

it is soth, that thorow necessitè is mannes werke in loving, that

he wol do altho[ugh] he wol it nat with necessitè.'

Quod I than, 'how stant it in love of thilke wil, sithen men

[117]

loven willing of free choice in herte? Wherfore, if it be thorow

necessitè, I praye you, lady, of an answere this question to

assoyle.'

'I wol,' quod she, 'answere thee blyvely. Right as men wil

not thorow necessitè, right so is not love of wil thorow necessitè;

ne thorow necessitè wrought thilke same wil. For if he wolde

it not with good wil, it shulde nat have been wrought; although

that he doth, it is nedeful to be doon. But if a man do sinne, it

is nothing els but to †wilne that he shulde nat; right so sinne

of wil is not to be [in] maner necessary don, no more than wil is

necessarye. Never-the-later, this is sothe; if a man wol sinne,

it is necessarye him to sinne, but th[r]ough thilke necessitè nothing

is constrayned ne defended in the wil; right so thilke thing that

free-wil wol and may, and not may not wilne; and nedeful is

that to wilne he may not wilne. But thilke to wilne nedeful is; for

impossible to him it is oon thing and the same to wilne and not to

wilne. The werke, forsothe, of wil, to whom it is yeve that it be that

he hath in wil, and that he wol not, voluntarie †or spontanye it is;

for by spontanye wil it is do, that is to saye, with good wil not

constrayned: than by wil not constrayned it is constrayned to

be; and that is it may not †togider be. If this necessitè maketh

libertè of wil, whiche that, aforn they weren, they might have ben

eschewed and shonned: god than, whiche that knoweth al

tr[o]uthe, and nothing but tr[o]uthe, al these thinges, as they

arn spontanye or necessarie, †seeth; and as he seeth, so they

ben. And so with these thinges wel considred, it is open at the

ful, that without al maner repugnaunce god beforn wot al maner

thinges [that] ben don by free wil, whiche, aforn they weren,

[it] might have ben [that] never they shulde be. And yet ben

they thorow a maner necessitè from free wil †discended.

Hereby may (quod she) lightly ben knowe that not al thinges to

be, is of necessitè, though god have hem in his prescience. For

som thinges to be, is of libertè of wil. And to make thee to have

ful knowinge of goddes beforn-weting, here me (quod she) what

I shal say.'

[118]

'Blythly, lady,' quod I, 'me list this mater entyrely to

understande.'

'Thou shalt,' quod she, 'understande that in heven is goddes

beinge; although he be over al by power, yet there is abydinge of

devyne persone; in whiche heven is everlastinge presence, withouten

any movable tyme. There * is nothing preterit ne passed,

there is nothing future ne comming; but al thinges togider in that

place ben present everlasting, without any meving. Wherfore, to

god, al thing is as now; and though a thing be nat, in kyndly

nature of thinges, as yet, and if it shulde be herafter, yet evermore

we shul saye, god it maketh be tyme present, and now; for no

future ne preterit in him may be founde. Wherfore his weting and

his before-weting is al oon in understanding. Than, if weting

and before-weting of god putteth in necessitè to al thinges whiche

he wot or before-wot; ne thing, after eternitè or els after any

tyme, he wol or doth of libertè, but al of necessitè: whiche thing

if thou wene it be ayenst reson, [than is] nat thorow necessitè to

be or nat to be, al thing that god wot or before-wot to be or nat

to be; and yet nothing defendeth any-thing to be wist or to be

before-wist of him in our willes or our doinges to be don, or els

comminge to be for free arbitrement. Whan thou hast these

declaracions wel understande, than shalt thou fynde it resonable

at prove, and that many thinges be nat thorow necessitè but

thorow libertè of wil, save necessitè of free wil, as I tofore said,

and, as me thinketh, al utterly declared.'

'Me thinketh, lady,' quod I, 'so I shulde you nat displese, and

evermore your reverence to kepe, that these thinges contraryen in

any understanding; for ye sayn, somtyme is thorow libertè of

wil, and also thorow necessitè. Of this have I yet no savour,

without better declaracion.'

'What wonder,' quod she, 'is there in these thinges, sithen al

day thou shalt see at thyne eye, in many thinges receyven in hem-selfe

revers, thorow dyvers resons, as thus:—I pray thee (quod

she) which thinges ben more revers than "comen" and "gon"?

For if I bidde thee "come to me," and thou come, after, whan

I bidde thee "go," and thou go, thou reversest fro thy first

comming.'

[119]

'That is soth,' quod I.

'And yet,' quod she, 'in thy first alone, by dyvers reson, was

ful reversinge to understande.'

'As how?' quod I.

'That shal I shewe thee,' quod she, 'by ensample of thinges

that have kyndly moving. Is there any-thing that meveth more

kyndly than doth the hevens eye, whiche I clepe the sonne?'

'Sothly,' quod I, 'me semeth it is most kyndly to move.'

'Thou sayest soth,' quod she. 'Than, if thou loke to the

sonne, in what parte he be under heven, evermore he †hyeth him

in moving fro thilke place, and †hyeth meving toward the ilke

same place; to thilke place from whiche he goth he †hyeth

100

comminge; and without any ceesinge to that place he neigheth

from whiche he is chaunged and withdrawe. But now in these

thinges, after dyversitè of reson, revers in one thinge may be seye

without repugnaunce. Wherfore in the same wyse, without any

repugnaunce, by my resons tofore maked, al is oon to beleve,

105

somthing to be thorow necessitè comminge for it is comming, and

yet with no necessitè constrayned to be comming, but with

necessitè that cometh out of free wil, as I have sayd.'

Tho liste me a litel to speke, and gan stinte my penne of my

wryting, and sayde in this wyse.

110

'Trewly, lady, as me thinketh, I can allege authoritees grete,

that contrarien your sayinges. Job saith of mannes person,

"thou hast put his terme, whiche thou might not passe." Than

saye I that no man may shorte ne lengthe the day ordayned of

his †dying, altho[ugh] somtyme to us it semeth som man to do

115

a thing of free wil, wherthorow his deeth he henteth.'

'Nay, forsothe,' quod she, 'it is nothing ayenst my saying; for

god is not begyled, ne he seeth nothing wheder it shal come of

libertè or els of necessitè; yet it is said to be ordayned at god

immovable, whiche at man, or it be don, may be chaunged.

120

Suche thing is also that Poule the apostel saith of hem that tofore

wern purposed to be sayntes, as thus: "whiche that god before

wiste and hath predestined conformes of images of his †sone, that

he shulde ben the firste begeten, that is to saye, here amonges

[120]

many brethren; and whom he hath predestined, hem he hath

125

cleped; and whom he hath cleped, hem he hath justifyed; and

whom he hath justifyed, hem he hath magnifyed." This purpos,

after whiche they ben cleped sayntes or holy in the everlasting

present, wher is neither tyme passed ne tyme comminge, but ever

it is only present, and now as mokel a moment as sevin thousand

130

winter; and so ayenward withouten any meving is nothing lich

temporel presence for thinge that there is ever present. Yet

amonges you men, er it be in your presence, it is movable thorow

libertè of arbitrement. And right as in the everlasting present

no maner thing was ne shal be, but only is; and now here, in

135

your temporel tyme, somthing was, and is, and shal be, but

movinge stoundes; and in this is no maner repugnaunce: right

so, in the everlasting presence, nothing may be chaunged; and,

in your temporel tyme, otherwhyle it is proved movable by libertè

of wil or it be do, withouten any inconvenience therof to folowe.

140

In your temporel tyme is no suche presence as in the tother; for

your present is don whan passed and to come ginnen entre;

whiche tymes here amonges you everich esily foloweth other.

But the presence everlasting dureth in oonhed, withouten any

imaginable chaunging, and ever is present and now. Trewly, the

145

course of the planettes and overwhelminges of the sonne in dayes

and nightes, with a newe ginning of his circute after it is ended,

that is to sayn, oon yeer to folowe another: these maken your

transitory tymes with chaunginge of lyves and mutacion of people,

but right as your temporel presence coveiteth every place, and al

150

thinges in every of your tymes be contayned, and as now both

seye and wist to goddes very knowinge.'

'Than,' quod I, 'me wondreth why Poule spak these wordes

by voice of significacion in tyme passed, that god his sayntes

before-wist hath predestined, hath cleped, hath justifyed, and

155

hath magnifyed. Me thinketh, he shulde have sayd tho wordes

in tyme present; and that had ben more accordaunt to the

everlasting present than to have spoke in preterit voice of passed

understanding.'

'O,' quod Love, 'by these wordes I see wel thou hast litel

160

understanding of the everlasting presence, or els of my before

[121]

spoken wordes; for never a thing of tho thou hast nempned was

tofore other or after other; but al at ones evenlich at the god

ben, and al togider in the everlasting present be now to understanding.

This eternal presence, as I sayd, hath inclose togider

165

in one al tymes, in which close and one al thinges that ben in

dyvers tymes and in dyvers places temporel, [and] without posterioritè

or prioritè ben closed ther in perpetual now, and maked

to dwelle in present sight. But there thou sayest that Poule shulde

have spoke thilke forsaid sentence †by tyme present, and that

170

most shulde have ben acordaunt to the everlasting presence,

why gabbest thou †in thy wordes? Sothly, I say, Poule moved

the wordes by significacion of tyme passed, to shewe fully that

thilk wordes were nat put for temporel significacion; for al [at] thilk

tyme [of] thilke sentence were nat temporallich born, whiche that

175

Poule pronounced god have tofore knowe, and have cleped, than

magnifyed. Wherthorow it may wel be knowe that Poule used tho

wordes of passed significacion, for nede and lacke of a worde

in mannes bodily speche betokeninge the everlasting presence.

And therfore, [in] worde moste semeliche in lykenesse to everlasting

180

presence, he took his sentence; for thinges that here-beforn

ben passed utterly be immovable, y-lyke to the everlasting

presence. As thilke that ben there never mowe not ben present,

so thinges of tyme passed ne mowe in no wyse not ben passed;

but al thinges in your temporal presence, that passen in a litel

185

while, shullen ben not present. So than in that, it is more

similitude to the everlasting presence, significacion of tyme passed

than of tyme temporal present, and so more in accordaunce. In

this maner what thing, of these that ben don thorow free arbitrement,

or els as necessary, holy writ pronounceth, after eternitè he

190

speketh; in whiche presence is everlasting sothe and nothing but

sothe immovable; nat after tyme, in whiche naught alway ben

your willes and your actes. And right as, while they be nat, it is

nat nedeful hem to be, so ofte it is nat nedeful that somtyme

they shulde be.'

195

'As how?' quod I; 'for yet I must be lerned by some

ensample.'

'Of love,' quod she, 'wol I now ensample make, sithen I knowe

[122]

the heed-knotte in that yelke. Lo! somtyme thou wrytest no

art, ne art than in no wil to wryte. And right as while thou

200

wrytest nat or els wolt nat wryte, it is nat nedeful thee to wryte

or els wilne to wryte. And for to make thee knowe utterly that

thinges ben otherwise in the everlastinge presence than in

temporal tyme, see now, my good child: for somthing is in the

everlastinge presence, than in temporal tyme it was nat; in

205

†eterne tyme, in eterne presence shal it nat be. Than no reson

defendeth, that somthing ne may be in tyme temporal moving,

that in eterne is immovable. Forsothe, it is no more contrary

ne revers for to be movable in tyme temporel, and [im]movable

in eternitè, than nat to be in any tyme and to be alway in

210

eternitè; and to have be or els to come in tyme temporel, and

nat have be ne nought comming to be in eternitè. Yet never-the-later,

I say nat somthing to be never in tyme temporel, that

ever is [in] eternitè; but al-only in som tyme nat to be. For

I saye nat thy love to-morne in no tyme to be, but to-day alone

215

I deny it to be; and yet, never-the-later, it is alway in eternitè.'

'A! so,' quod I, 'it semeth to me, that comming thing or els

passed here in your temporal tyme to be, in eternitè ever now

and present oweth nat to be demed; and yet foloweth nat thilke

thing, that was or els shal be, in no maner ther to ben passed

220

or els comming; than utterly shul we deny for there without

ceesing it is, in his present maner.'

'O,' quod she, 'myne owne disciple, now ginnest thou [be]

able to have the name of my servaunt! Thy wit is clered; away

is now errour of cloude in unconning; away is blyndnesse of

225

love; away is thoughtful study of medling maners. Hastely

shalt thou entre in-to the joye of me, that am thyn owne

maistres! Thou hast (quod she), in a fewe wordes, wel and

clerely concluded mokel of my mater. And right as there is

no revers ne contrarioustee in tho thinges, right so, withouten

230

any repugnaunce, it is sayd somthing to be movable in tyme

temporel, †afore it be, that in eternitè dwelleth immovable, nat

afore it be or after that it is, but without cessing; for right

naught is there after tyme; that same is there everlastinge that

[123]

temporalliche somtyme nis; and toforn it be, it may not be, as

235

I have sayd.'

'Now sothly,' quod I, 'this have I wel understande; so that

now me thinketh, that prescience of god and free arbitrement

withouten any repugnaunce acorden; and that maketh the

strength of eternitè, whiche encloseth by presence during al

240

tymes, and al thinges that ben, han ben, and shul ben in any

tyme. I wolde now (quod I) a litel understande, sithen that

[god] al thing thus beforn wot, whether thilke wetinge be of tho

thinges, or els thilke thinges ben to ben of goddes weting, and so

of god nothing is; and if every thing be thorow goddes weting, and

245

therof take his being, than shulde god be maker and auctour

of badde werkes, and so he shulde not rightfully punisshe yvel

doinges of mankynde.'

Quod Love, 'I shal telle thee, this lesson to lerne. Myne

owne trewe servaunt, the noble philosophical poete in Englissh,

250

whiche evermore him besieth and travayleth right sore my name

to encrese (wherfore al that willen me good owe to do him

worship and reverence bothe; trewly, his better ne his pere in

scole of my rules coude I never fynde)—he (quod she), in a tretis

that he made of my servant Troilus, hath this mater touched, and

255

at the ful this question assoyled. Certaynly, his noble sayinges

can I not amende; in goodnes of gentil manliche speche, without

any maner of nycetè of †storiers imaginacion, in witte and in

good reson of sentence he passeth al other makers. In the boke of

Troilus, the answere to thy question mayst thou lerne. Never-the-later,

260

yet may lightly thyne understandinge somdel ben lerned,

if thou have knowing of these to-fornsaid thinges; with that thou

have understanding of two the laste chapiters of this seconde

boke, that is to say, good to be somthing, and bad to wante al

maner being. For badde is nothing els but absence of good;

265

and [as] that god in good maketh that good dedes ben good,

in yvel he maketh that they ben but naught, that they ben bad;

for to nothing is badnesse to be [lykned].'

'I have,' quod I tho, 'ynough knowing therin; me nedeth of

other thinges to here, that is to saye, how I shal come to my

270

blisse so long desyred.'

Ch. IV. 1. shalte. 6. subiection. 8. disposition. 9. nowe. 10. thorowe. 11. theffecte. folow. 12. fre. 13. thorowe. 14. altho. 15. howe stante.

16. thorowe. 19. the. 20-1. thorowe (thrice). 23. dothe. doone. 24. wyl; read wilne; see l. 30. 25. I supply in. done. 28. thynge. 29. frewyl. maye. 30. maye. 30-1. Some words repeated here. 31. one. 32. whome. 33. of; read or. 36. togyther; read togider. 37. libertie. aforne. 39. truthe (twice). 40. arne. syght; read seeth. 42. beforne. 43. I supply that. fre. aforne. 44. I supply it and that. 45. frewyl discendeth (!). 46. maye. 48. libertie. the. 49. beforne.

53. shalte. * A break here in Th. 59. nowe. thynge. 61. nowe. 63. one. 66. dothe. 67. reason. I supply than is. thorowe. 69. thynge. 70. done. 71. haste. 72. declarations. 73-4. thorowe (twice). 76. displease. 78. sayne. 78-9. thorowe. 80. declaration. 82. shalte se. 83. reasons. the. 84. gone. 85-6. thee (twice).

89. reasone. 91. howe. 92. the. 97. heigheth; read hyeth. 98. higheth; read hyeth. towarde. 99. gothe. heigheth; read hyeth. 100. ceasynge. 101. nowe. 102. reason. sey. 104. reasons. one. 105. thorowe. 108. list. stynt. 109. sayd. 110. gret. 111. sayenges. 112. putte. 113. length. 114. doyng; read dying. some. 115. thynge. -thorowe. dethe. 116. Naye. sayeng. 119. done. 120. saithe. toforne werne. 122. wyst. sonne; read sone.

124. brethern. 126. purpose. 129. onely. nowe. thousande. 130. ayenwarde. 132. thorowe. 134. onely. nowe. 141. done. 142. easely. 143. onehed. 144. nowe. 147. one yere. 148. mutation. 150. nowe. 151. sey. 152. spake. 153. signification. 155. sayde. 159. se.

163, 167. nowe. 166. I supply and. 167. therin; read ther in. 168. dwel. 169. be; read by. 171. to; read in. 172-3. signification (twice). 173. I supply at. 174. were nat thilke sentence; transpose, and insert of. borne. 176. Wherthorowe. know. 177. signification. 178. spech. 179. I supply in; and omit is after worde. 180. toke. 181. beforne. 186. signification. 188. thynge. done thorowe fre. 189. writte. 197. nowe.

199. arte (twice). 200. the. 201. the. 203. se nowe. childe. somthynge. 205. eternite; read eterne. reason. 208. movable (!). 210. and have to be. 213. I supply in. al onely. somtyme. 215. deny ne it; omit ne. alwaye. 217. nowe. 219. thynge. thereto; read ther to. 221. ceasyng. 222. nowe. I supply be. 223. witte. 224. nowe. awaye. 226. shalte. 227. haste. 229. contrarioustie. 231. and for; read afore.

234. toforne. maye. 236. Nowe. 237. nowe. fre. 241. nowe. 242. I supply god. beforne. 244. nothynge. thorowe. 248. tel the. 251. encrease. 253. schole. treatise. 255. sayenges. 256. gentyl manlyche. 257. nycite. starieres (!). 258. reason. 259. mayste. 260. somdele. 263. want. 265. I supply as. 267. I supply lykned. 269. howe.

CHAPTER V.

'In this mater toforn declared,' quod Love, 'I have wel

shewed, that every man hath free arbitrement of thinges in

his power, to do or undo what him lyketh. Out of this grounde

muste come the spire, that by processe of tyme shal in greetnesse

sprede, to have braunches and blosmes of waxing frute in grace,

of whiche the taste and the savour is endelesse blisse, in joye

ever to onbyde.'*

'Now, trewly, lady, I have my grounde wel understonde;

but what thing is thilke spire that in-to a tree shulde wexe?

Expowne me that thing, what ye therof mene.'

'That shal I,' quod she, 'blithly, and take good hede to the

wordes, I thee rede. Continuaunce in thy good service, by longe

processe of tyme in ful hope abyding, without any chaunge to

wilne in thyne herte, this is the spire. Whiche, if it be wel kept

and governed, shal so hugely springe, til the fruit of grace is

plentuously out-sprongen. For although thy wil be good, yet

may not therfore thilk blisse desyred hastely on thee discenden;

it must abyde his sesonable tyme. And so, by processe of

growing, with thy good traveyle, it shal in-to more and more wexe,

til it be found so mighty, that windes of yvel speche, ne scornes

of envy, make nat the traveyle overthrowe; ne frostes of mistrust,

ne hayles of jelousy right litel might have, in harming of suche

springes. Every yonge setling lightly with smale stormes is

apeyred; but whan it is woxen somdel in gretnesse, than han

grete blastes and †weders but litel might, any disadvantage to

them for to werche.'

'Myne owne soverayne lady,' quod I, 'and welth of myne

herte, and it were lyking un-to your noble grace therthrough nat

to be displesed, I suppose ye erren, now ye maken jelousy, envy,

and distourbour to hem that ben your servauntes. I have lerned

ofte, to-forn this tyme, that in every lovers herte greet plentee of

jelousyes greves ben sowe, wherfore (me thinketh) ye ne ought

in no maner accompte thilke thing among these other welked

wivers and venomous serpentes, as envy, mistrust, and yvel

speche.'

[125]

'O fole,' quod she, 'mistrust with foly, with yvel wil medled,

engendreth that welked padde! Truely, if they were distroyed,

jelousy undon were for ever; and yet some maner of jelousy,

I wot wel, is ever redy in al the hertes of my trewe servauntes, as

thus: to be jelous over him-selfe, lest he be cause of his own

disese. This jelousy in ful thought ever shulde be kept, for

ferdnesse to lese his love by miskeping, thorow his owne doing in

leudnesse, or els thus: lest she, that thou servest so fervently, is

beset there her better lyketh, that of al thy good service she

compteth nat a cresse. These jelousies in herte for acceptable

qualitees ben demed; these oughten every trewe lover, by kyndly

[maner], evermore haven in his mynde, til fully the grace and

blisse of my service be on him discended at wil. And he that

than jelousy caccheth, or els by wening of his owne folisshe

wilfulnesse mistrusteth, truely with fantasy of venim he is foule

begyled. Yvel wil hath grounded thilke mater of sorowe in his

leude soule, and yet nat-for-than to every wight shulde me nat

truste, ne every wight fully misbeleve; the mene of these thinges

†oweth to be used. Sothly, withouten causeful evidence mistrust

in jelousy shulde nat be wened in no wyse person commenly;

suche leude wickednesse shulde me nat fynde. He that is wyse

and with yvel wil nat be acomered, can abyde wel his tyme, til

grace and blisse of his service folowing have him so mokel esed,

as his abydinge toforehande hath him disesed.'

'Certes, lady,' quod I tho, 'of nothing me wondreth, sithen

thilke blisse so precious is and kyndly good, and wel is and worthy

in kynde whan it is medled with love and reson, as ye toforn

have declared. Why, anon as hye oon is spronge, why springeth

nat the tother? And anon as the oon cometh, why receyveth nat

the other? For every thing that is out of his kyndly place, by ful

appetyt ever cometh thiderward kyndely to drawe; and his kyndly

being ther-to him constrayneth. And the kyndly stede of this

blisse is in suche wil medled to †onbyde, and nedes in that it

shulde have his kyndly being. Wherfore me thinketh, anon as that

wil to be shewed and kid him profreth, thilke blisse shulde him

hye, thilk wil to receyve; or els kynde[s] of goodnesse worchen

nat in hem as they shulde. Lo, be the sonne never so fer, ever

[126]

it hath his kynde werching in erthe. Greet weight on hye on-lofte

caried stinteth never til it come to †his resting-place. Waters

to the see-ward ever ben they drawing. Thing that is light

blythly wil nat sinke, but ever ascendeth and upward draweth.

Thus kynde in every thing his kyndly cours and his beinge-place

sheweth. Wherfore †by kynde, on this good wil, anon as it were

spronge, this blisse shulde thereon discende; her kynde[s] wolde,

they dwelleden togider; and so have ye sayd your-selfe.'

'Certes,' quod she, 'thyne herte sitteth wonder sore, this blisse

for to have; thyne herte is sore agreved that it tarieth so longe;

and if thou durstest, as me thinketh by thyne wordes, this blisse

woldest thou blame. But yet I saye, thilke blisse is kyndly good,

and his kyndely place [is] in that wil to †onbyde. Never-the-later,

their comming togider, after kyndes ordinaunce, nat sodaynly

may betyde; it muste abyde tyme, as kynde yeveth him leve.

For if a man, as this wil medled gonne him shewe, and thilke

blisse in haste folowed, so lightly comminge shulde lightly cause

going. Longe tyme of thursting causeth drink to be the more

delicious whan it is atasted.'

'How is it,' quod I than, 'that so many blisses see I al day at

myne eye, in the firste moment of a sight, with suche wil accorde?

Ye, and yet other-whyle with wil assenteth, singulerly by him-selfe;

there reson fayleth, traveyle was non; service had no tyme. This

is a queynt maner thing, how suche doing cometh aboute.'

'O,' quod she, 'that is thus. The erthe kyndely, after sesons

and tymes of the yere, bringeth forth innumerable herbes and

trees, bothe profitable and other; but suche as men might leve

100

(though they nought in norisshinge to mannes kynde serven, or

els suche as tournen sone unto mennes confusion, in case that

therof they ataste), comen forth out of the erthe by their owne

kynde, withouten any mannes cure or any businesse in traveyle.

And the ilke herbes that to mennes lyvelode necessarily serven,

105

without whiche goodly in this lyfe creatures mowen nat enduren,

and most ben †norisshinge to mankynde, without greet traveyle,

greet tilthe, and longe abydinge-tyme, comen nat out of the erthe,

and [y]it with sede toforn ordayned, suche herbes to make springe

[127]

and forth growe. Right so the parfit blisse, that we have in meninge

110

of during-tyme to abyde, may nat come so lightly, but with greet

traveyle and right besy tilth; and yet good seed to be sowe; for

ofte the croppe fayleth of badde seede, be it never so wel traveyled.

And thilke blisse thou spoke of so lightly in comming, trewly, is

nat necessary ne abydinge; and but it the better be stamped,

115

and the venomous jeuse out-wrongen, it is lykely to enpoysonen

al tho that therof tasten. Certes, right bitter ben the herbes that

shewen first [in] the yere of her own kynde. Wel the more is the

harvest that yeldeth many graynes, tho longe and sore it hath ben

traveyled. What woldest thou demen if a man wold yeve three

120

quarters of nobles of golde? That were a precious gift?'

'Ye, certes,' quod I.

'And what,' quod she, 'three quarters ful of perles?'

'Certes,' quod I, 'that were a riche gift.'

'And what,' quod she, 'of as mokel azure?'

125

Quod I, 'a precious gift at ful.'

'Were not,' quod she, 'a noble gift of al these atones?'

'In good faith,' quod I, 'for wanting of Englissh naming of

so noble a worde, I can not, for preciousnesse, yeve it a name.'

'Rightfully,' quod she, 'hast thou demed; and yet love, knit

130

in vertue, passeth al the gold in this erthe. Good wil, accordant

to reson, with no maner propertè may be countrevayled. Al the

azure in the worlde is nat to accompte in respect of reson. Love

that with good wil and reson accordeth, with non erthly riches

may nat ben amended. This yeft hast thou yeven, I know it

135

my-selfe, and thy Margarite thilke gift hath receyved; in whiche

thinge to rewarde she hath her-selfe bounde. But thy gift, as

I said, by no maner riches may be amended; wherfore, with

thinge that may nat be amended, thou shalt of thy Margarites

rightwisenesse be rewarded. Right suffred yet never but every

140

good dede somtyme to be yolde. Al wolde thy Margarite with

no rewarde thee quyte, right, that never-more dyeth, thy mede in

merit wol purvey. Certes, such sodayn blisse as thou first

nempnest, right wil hem rewarde as thee wel is worthy; and

though at thyn eye it semeth, the reward the desert to passe,

145

right can after sende suche bitternesse, evenly it to rewarde. So

[128]

that sodayn blisse, by al wayes of reson, in gret goodnesse may

not ben acompted; but blisse long, both long it abydeth, and

endlesse it wol laste. See why thy wil is endelesse. For if thou

lovedest ever, thy wil is ever ther t'abyde and neveremore to

150

chaunge; evenhed of rewarde must ben don by right; than muste

nedes thy grace and this blisse [ben] endelesse in joye to †onbyde.

Evenliche disese asketh evenliche joye, whiche hastely thou shalt

have.'

'A!' quod I, 'it suffyseth not than alone good wil, be it never

155

so wel with reson medled, but-if it be in good service longe

travayled. And so through service shul men come to the joye;

and this, me thinketh, shulde be the wexing tree, of which ye first

meved.*

Ch. V. 2. fre. 4. greatnesse. 6. ioy. * A break here in Th. 8. Nowe. 10. meane. 12. the. 15. fruite. 16. al thoughe. 17. the. 24. somdele. 25. great. wethers; read weders. 28. hert. 29. displeased. nowe. 31. to-forne. hert great plentie. 33. thynge.

38. vndone. 41. disease. 42. thorowe. 47. I supply maner. 49. catcheth. 50. venyme. 53. trust. meane. 54. owen; read oweth. 58. eased. 59. diseased. 62. reason. 63. one. sprong. 64. anone. one. 66. appetite. thiderwarde. 68. vnbyde; read onbyde. 70. kydde. 71. kynde; read kyndes. 72. ferre.

73. great. 74. this; read his. 75. see warde. 77. course. 78. be; read by. 79. kynde; read kyndes. 80. sayde. 81-2. hert. 85. I supply is. vnbyde; read onbyde. 87. maye. leaue. 90. drinke. 92. Howe. se. daye. 95. reason. none. 96. thynge howe. 97. seasons. 98. forthe. 99. leaue. 100. they were nought; omit were. 101. soone. 102. forthe. 106. norisshen; read norisshinge. 106-7. great (twice). 108. it; read yit; see l. 111. seede toforne. spring.

109. forthe. parfyte. meanynge. 110. great. 111. seede. 117. I supply in. 119-122. thre (twice). 122. peerles. 123-6. gifte (thrice). 129. haste. knytte. 130. golde. 131. reason. 132. respecte. 132-3. reason (twice). 136. gifte. 141. the. 142. sodayne. 143. the. 144. rewarde.

146. sodayne. reason. 148. last. Se. 149. tabyde. 151. I supply ben. ioy. vnbyde (!). 152. ioy. 157. tre. * A break here in Th.

CHAPTER VI.

Now, lady,' quod I, 'that tree to sette, fayn wolde I lerne.'

'So thou shalt,' quod she, 'er thou depart hence. The

first thing, thou muste sette thy werke on grounde siker and good,

accordaunt to thy springes. For if thou desyre grapes, thou

goest not to the hasel; ne, for to fecchen roses, thou sekest not

on okes; and if thou shalt have hony-soukels, thou levest the

frute of the soure docke. Wherfore, if thou desyre this blisse in

parfit joye, thou must sette thy purpos there vertue foloweth, and

not to loke after the bodily goodes; as I sayd whan thou were

wryting in thy seconde boke. And for thou hast set thy-selfe in

so noble a place, and utterly lowed in thyn herte the misgoing of

thy first purpos, this †setling is the esier to springe, and the more

lighter thy soule in grace to be lissed. And trewly thy desyr,

that is to say, thy wil algates mot ben stedfast in this mater without

any chaunginge; for if it be stedfast, no man may it voyde.'

'Yes, pardè,' quod I, 'my wil may ben turned by frendes, and

disese of manace and thretning in lesinge of my lyfe and of my

limmes, and in many other wyse that now cometh not to mynde.

And also it mot ofte ben out of thought; for no remembraunce

may holde oon thing continuelly in herte, be it never so lusty

desyred.'

[129]

'Now see,' quod she, 'thou thy wil shal folowe, thy free wil to

be grounded continuelly to abyde. It is thy free wil, that thou

lovest and hast loved, and yet shal loven this Margaryte-perle;

and in thy wil thou thinkest to holde it. Than is thy wil knit

in love, not to chaunge for no newe lust besyde; this wil techeth

thyn herte from al maner varying. But than, although thou be

thretened in dethe or els in otherwyse, yet is it in thyn arbitrement

to chose, thy love to voyde or els to holde; and thilke

arbitrement is in a maner a jugement bytwene desyr and thy

herte. And if thou deme to love thy good wil fayleth, than art

thou worthy no blisse that good wil shulde deserve; and if thou

chose continuaunce in thy good service, than thy good wil

abydeth; nedes, blisse folowing of thy good wil must come by

strength of thilke jugement; for thy first wil, that taught thyn

herte to abyde, and halt it from th'eschaunge, with thy reson

is accorded. Trewly, this maner of wil thus shal abyde; impossible

it were to turne, if thy herte be trewe; and if every

man diligently the meninges of his wil consider, he shal wel

understande that good wil, knit with reson, but in a false herte

never is voyded; for power and might of keping this good wil is

thorow libertè of arbitrement in herte, but good wil to kepe

may not fayle. Eke than if it fayle, it sheweth it-selfe that good

wil in keping is not there. And thus false wil, that putteth out

the good, anon constrayneth the herte to accorde in lovinge of

thy good wil; and this accordaunce bitwene false wil and thyn

herte, in falsitè ben lykened †togider. Yet a litel wol I say

thee in good wil, thy good willes to rayse and strengthe. Tak

hede to me (quod she) how thy willes thou shalt understande.

Right as ye han in your body dyvers membres, and fyve sondrye

wittes, everiche apart to his owne doing, whiche thinges as

instrumentes ye usen; as, your handes apart to handle; feet,

to go; tonge, to speke; eye, to see: right so the soule hath

in him certayne steringes and strengthes, whiche he useth as

instrumentes to his certayne doinges. Reson is in the soule,

which he useth, thinges to knowe and to prove; and wil, whiche

he useth to wilne; and yet is neyther wil ne reson al the soule;

but everich of hem is a thing by him-selfe in the soule. And

[130]

right as everich hath thus singuler instrumentes by hemselfe,

they han as wel dyvers aptes and dyvers maner usinges; and

thilke aptes mowen in wil ben cleped affeccions. Affeccion is

an instrument of willinge in his apetytes. Wherfore mokel folk

sayn, if a resonable creatures soule any thing fervently wilneth,

affectuously he wilneth; and thus may wil, by terme of equivocas,

in three wayes ben understande. Oon is instrument of willing;

another is affection of this instrument; and the third is use, that

setteth it a-werke. Instrument of willing is thilke strength of the

soule, which that constrayneth to wilne, right as reson is instrument

of resons, which ye usen whan ye loken. Affeccion of this

instrument is a thing, by whiche ye be drawe desyrously any-thing

to wilne in coveitous maner, al be it for the tyme out

of your mynde; as, if it come in your thought thilke thing to

remembre, anon ye ben willing thilke to done or els to have.

And thus is instrument wil; and affeccion is wil also, to wilne

thing as I said; as, for to wilne helth, whan wil nothing theron

thinketh; for anon as it cometh to memorie, it is in wil. And so

is affeccion to wilne slepe, whan it is out of mynde; but anon

as it is remembred, wil wilneth slepe, whan his tyme cometh of

the doinge. For affeccion of wil never accordeth to sicknesse,

ne alway to wake. Right so, in a true lovers affeccion of willing,

instrument is to wilne tr[o]uthe in his service; and this affeccion

alway abydeth, although he be sleping or thretned, or els not

theron thinking; but anon as it cometh to mynde, anon he is

stedfast in that wil to abyde. Use of this instrument forsothe

is another thing by himselfe; and that have ye not but whan

ye be doing in willed thing, by affect or instrument of wil

purposed or desyred; and this maner of usage in my service

wysely nedeth to be ruled from wayters with envy closed, from

spekers ful of jangeling wordes, from proude folk and hautayn,

that lambes and innocentes bothe scornen and dispysen. Thus

in doing varieth the actes of willinge everich from other, and yet

ben they cleped "wil," and the name of wil utterly owen they to

have; as instrument of wil is wil, whan ye turne in-to purpos of

any thing to don, be it to sitte or to stande, or any such thing

els. This instrument may ben had, although affect and usage be

left out of doing; right as ye have sight and reson, and yet alway

[131]

use ye* †nat to loke, [ne] thinges with resonning to prove; and so

is instrument of wil, wil; and yet varyeth he from effect and

using bothe. Affeccion of wil also for wil is cleped, but it varyeth

100

from instrument in this maner wyse, by that nameliche, whan it

cometh in-to mynde, anon-right it is in willinge desyred, and the

negatif therof with willing nil not acorde; this is closed in herte,

though usage and instrument slepe. This slepeth whan instrument

and us[e] waken; and of suche maner affeccion, trewly,

105

some man hath more and some man lesse. Certes, trewe lovers

wenen ever therof to litel to have. False lovers in litel wenen

have right mokel. Lo, instrument of wil in false and trewe

bothe, evenliche is proporcioned; but affeccion is more in some

places than in some, bycause of the goodnesse that foloweth, and

110

that I thinke hereafter to declare. Use of this instrument is wil,

but it taketh his name whan wilned thing is in doing; but utterly

grace to cacche in thy blisse †desyreth to ben rewarded. Thou

most have than affeccion of wil at the ful, and use whan his

tyme asketh wysely to ben governed. Sothly, my disciple,

115

without fervent affeccion of wil may no man ben saved. This

affeccion of good service in good love may not ben grounded,

without fervent desyr to the thing in wil coveited. But he that

never reccheth to have or not to have, affeccion of wil in that

hath no resting-place. Why? For whan thing cometh to mynde,

120

and it be not taken in hede to comin or not come, therfore in

that place affeccion fayleth; and, for thilke affeccion is so litel,

thorow whiche in goodnesse he shulde come to his grace, the

litelnesse wil it not suffre to avayle by no way in-to his helpes.

Certes, grace and reson thilke affeccion foloweth. This affeccion,

125

with reson knit, dureth in everiche trewe herte, and evermore

is encresing; no ferdnesse, no strength may it remove, whyle

tr[o]uthe in herte abydeth. Sothly, whan falsheed ginneth entre,

tr[o]uthe draweth away grace and joye bothe; but than thilke

falsheed, that trouth[e] hath thus voyded, hath unknit the bond

130

of understanding reson bytwene wil and the herte. And who-so

that bond undoth, and unknitteth wil to be in other purpose

than to the first accorde, knitteth him with contrarye of reson;

[132]

and that is unreson. Lo, than, wil and unreson bringeth a man

from the blisse of grace; whiche thing, of pure kynde, every man

135

ought to shonne and to eschewe, and to the knot of wil and reson

confirme.

Me thinketh,' quod she, 'by thy studient lokes, thou wenest in

these wordes me to contrarien from other sayinges here-toforn

in other place, as whan thou were somtyme in affeccion of wil to

140

thinges that now han brought thee in disese, which I have thee

consayled to voyde, and thyn herte discover; and there I made

thy wil to ben chaunged, whiche now thou wenest I argue to

with[h]olde and to kepe! Shortly I say, the revers in these

wordes may not ben founde; for though dronkennesse be forboden,

145

men shul not alway ben drinklesse. I trowe right, for

thou thy wil out of reson shulde not tourne, thy wil in one reson

shulde not †onbyde. I say, thy wil in thy first purpos with

unreson was closed; constrewe forth of the remenant what thee

good lyketh. Trewly, that wil and reson shulde be knit togider,

150

was free wil of reson; after tyme thyne herte is assentaunt to them

bothe, thou might not chaunge. But if thou from rule of reson

varye, in whiche variaunce to come to thilke blisse desyred,

contrariously thou werchest; and nothing may knowe wil and reson

but love alone. Than if thou voide love, than †weyvest [thou]

155

the bond that knitteth; and so nedes, or els right lightly, that

other gon a-sondre; wherfore thou seest apertly that love holdeth

this knot, and amaystreth hem to be bounde. These thinges, as

a ring in circuit of wrethe, ben knit in thy soule without departing.'

'A! let be! let be!' quod I; 'it nedeth not of this no

160

rehersayle to make; my soule is yet in parfit blisse, in thinking of

that knotte!'*

Ch. VI. 1. Nowe. set fayne. 3. set. 5. fetchen. 6. leauest. 8. parfite ioy. set. purpose. 10. booke. haste. 12. purpose. setteles; read setling. 13. desyre. 14. mote. 15-16. maye (twice). 17. disease. 18. nowe. 19. mote. 20. one.

32. Nowe se. 22, 23. frewyl (twice). 24. haste. 26. teacheth. 27. varyeng. 30. desyre. 31. arte. 36. halte. 38. hert. 40. reason. 42. thorowe. hert. 45. anone. 47. togyther. 48. the. strength. Take. 49. howe. 51-2. aparte (twice). 52. fete. 53. se. 55. Reason. 57. reason.

61. affections. Affection. 62. folke. 65. thre. One. 68. reason. 69. Affection. 74. affection. 75. thynge. 77-81. affection (four times). 86. affecte. 93. purpose. 94. syt.

97. * A break here in Th. ne ought; read nat. I supply ne. 98. effecte. 99. Affection. 100. name lyche. 102. negatyfe. 103. thoughe. 104. vs. 104-8. affection (twice). 112. catche. desyred; read desyreth. 113. muste. affection (often). 117. desyre. 118. retcheth. 120. comyn. 124-5. reason (twice). 125. knytte. 126. encreasyng. maye. 128. ioy. both. 129. bonde. 130-2. reason. 131. bonde vndothe.

133. unreason (twice). 135. reason. 138. sayenges. toforne. 139. affection. 140. nowe. the. disease. the. 146. reason (twice). 147. vnbyde; read onbyde. purpose. 148. unreason. remenante. the. 150. fre. 149-151. reason (thrice). 154. weuest; read weyvest thou. 155. bonde. 156. gone. 158. ringe. 160. parfyte. * A break here in Th.

CHAPTER VII.

'Very trouth,' quod she, 'hast thou now conceyved of these

thinges in thyne herte; hastely shalt thou be able very

joye and parfit blisse to receyve; and now, I wot wel, thou

desyrest to knowe the maner of braunches that out of the tree

shulde springe.'

[133]

'Therof, lady,' quod I, 'hertely I you pray; for than leve

I †wel, that right sone after I shal ataste of the frute that I so

long have desyred.'

'Thou hast herd,' quod she, 'in what wyse this tree toforn this

have I declared, as in grounde and in stocke of wexing. First,

the ground shulde be thy free wil, ful in thyne herte; and the

stocke (as I sayde) shulde be continuaunce in good service by

long tyme in traveyle, til it were in greetnesse right wel woxen.

And whan this tree suche greetnesse hath caught as I have

rehersed, the braunches than, that the frute shulde forth-bringe,

speche must they be nedes, in voice of prayer in complayning

wyse used.'

'Out! alas!' quod I tho, 'he is soroufully wounded that

hydeth his speche, and spareth his complayntes to make! What

shal I speke the care? But payne, even lyk to helle, sore hath

me assayled, and so ferforth in payne me thronge, that I leve my

tree is seer, and never shal it frute forth bringe! Certes, he is

greetly esed, that dare his prevy mone discover to a true felowe,

that conning hath and might, wherthrough his pleint in any thinge

may ben amended. And mokel more is he joyed, that with herte

of hardinesse dare complayne to his lady what cares that he

suffreth, by hope of mercy with grace to be avaunced. Truely

I saye for me, sithe I cam this Margarit to serve, durst I never me

discover of no maner disese; and wel the later hath myn herte

hardyed suche thinges to done, for the grete bountees and worthy

refresshmentes that she of her grace goodly, without any desert on

my halve, ofte hath me rekened. And nere her goodnesse the

more with grace and with mercy medled, which passen al desertes,

traveyls, and servinges that I in any degre might endite, I wolde

wene I shulde be without recover, in getting of this blisse for

ever! Thus have I stilled my disese; thus have I covered my

care; that I brenne in sorouful anoy, as gledes and coles wasten

a fyr under deed asshen. Wel the hoter is the fyr that with

asshen it is overleyn. Right longe this wo have I suffred.'

'Lo,' quod Love, 'how thou farest! Me thinketh, the palasy-yvel

hath acomered thy wittes; as faste as thou hyest forward,

anon sodaynly backward thou movest! Shal nat yet al thy

leudnesse out of thy braynes? Dul ben thy skilful understandinges;

[134]

thy wil hath thy wit so amaistred. Wost thou nat wel (quod she)

but every tree, in his sesonable tyme of burjoninge, shewe his

blomes fro within, in signe of what frute shulde out of him

springe, els the frute for that yere men halt delivered, be the

ground never so good? And though the stocke be mighty at

the ful, and the braunches seer, and no burjons shewe, farwel the

gardiner! He may pype with an yvè-lefe; his frute is fayled.

Wherfore thy braunches must burjonen in presence of thy lady, if

thou desyre any frute of thy ladies grace. But beware of thy lyfe,

that thou no wode lay use, as in asking of thinges that strecchen

in-to shame! For than might thou nat spede, by no maner way

that I can espy. Vertue wol nat suffre villany out of him-selfe to

springe. Thy wordes may nat be queynt, ne of subtel maner

understandinge. Freel-witted people supposen in suche poesies

to be begyled; in open understandinge must every word be used.

"Voice without clere understanding of sentence," saith Aristotel,

"right nought printeth in herte." Thy wordes than to abyde in

herte, and clene in ful sentence of trewe mening, platly must

thou shewe; and ever be obedient, her hestes and her wils to

performe; and be thou set in suche a wit, to wete by a loke

ever-more what she meneth. And he that list nat to speke, but

stilly his disese suffer, what wonder is it, tho[ugh] he come never

to his blisse? Who that traveyleth unwist, and coveyteth thing

unknowe, unweting he shal be quyted, and with unknowe thing

rewarded.'

'Good lady,' quod I than, 'it hath ofte be sene, that †weders

and stormes so hugely have falle in burjoning-tyme, and by perte

duresse han beten of the springes so clene, wherthrough the frute

of thilke yere hath fayled. It is a greet grace, whan burjons han

good †weders, their frutes forth to bringe. Alas! than, after

suche stormes, how hard is it to avoyde, til efte wedring and

yeres han maked her circute cours al about, er any frute be able

to be tasted! He is shent for shame, that foule is rebuked of his

speche. He that is in fyre brenning sore smarteth for disese;

him thinketh ful long er the water come, that shulde the fyr

quenche. While men gon after a leche, the body is buryed.

Lo! how semely this frute wexeth! Me thinketh, that of tho

[135]

frutes may no man ataste, for pure bitternesse in savour. In this

wyse bothe frute and the tree wasten away togider, though mokel

besy occupacion have be spent, to bringe it so ferforth that it

was able to springe. A lyte speche hath maked that al this labour

is in ydel.'

'I not,' quod she, 'wherof it serveth, thy question to assoyle.

Me thinketh thee now duller in wittes than whan I with thee first

mette. Although a man be leude, commenly for a fole he is nat

demed but-if he no good wol lerne. Sottes and foles lete lightly

out of mynde the good that men techeth hem. I sayd therfore,

thy stocke must be stronge, and in greetnesse wel herted: the

tree is ful feble that at the firste dent falleth. And although frute

fayleth oon yere or two, yet shal suche a seson come oon tyme or

other, that shal bringe out frute that [is parfit]. *Fole, have I not

seyd toforn this, as tyme hurteth, right so ayenward tyme heleth

and rewardeth; and a tree oft fayled is holde more in deyntee

whan it frute forth bringeth. A marchaunt that for ones lesinge

in the see no more to aventure thinketh, he shal never with

aventure come to richesse. So ofte must men on the oke smyte,

100

til the happy dent have entred, whiche with the okes owne swaye

maketh it to come al at ones. So ofte falleth the lethy water on

the harde rocke, til it have thorow persed it. The even draught

of the wyr-drawer maketh the wyr to ben even and supple-werchinge;

and if he stinted in his draught, the wyr breketh

105

a-sonder. Every tree wel springeth, whan it is wel grounded and

not often removed.'

'What shal this frute be,' quod I, 'now it ginneth rype?'

'Grace,' quod she, 'in parfit joy to endure; and therwith thou

begon[ne].'

110

'Grace?' quod I; 'me thinketh, I shulde have a reward for my

longe travayle?'

'I shal telle thee,' quod she; 'retribucion of thy good willes

to have of thy Margarite-perle, it bereth not the name of mede,

but only of good grace; and that cometh not of thy desert, but

115

of thy Margarytes goodnesse and vertue alone.'

Quod I, 'shulde al my longe travayle have no reward but thorow

[136]

grace? And som-tyme your-selven sayd, rightwisnesse evenliche

rewardeth, to quyte oon benefit for another.'

'That is sothe,' quod Love, 'ever as I sayde, as to him that

120

doth good, which to done he were neyther holden ne yet

constrayned.'

'That is sothe,' quod I.

'Trewly,' quod she, 'al that ever thou doest to thyne Margaryte-perle,

of wil, of love, and of reson thou owest to done it; it is

125

nothing els but yelding of thy dette in quytinge of thy grace, which

she thee lente whan ye first mette.'

'I wene,' quod I, 'right litel grace to me she delivered.

Certes, it was harde grace; it hath nyghe me astrangled.'

'That it was good grace, I wot wel thou wilt it graunte, er

130

thou departe hence. If any man yeve to another wight, to whom

that he ought not, and whiche that of him-selfe nothing may

have, a garnement or a cote, though he were the cote or els

thilke clothing, it is not to putte to him that was naked the cause

of his clothinge, but only to him that was yever of the garnement.

135

Wherfore I saye, thou that were naked of love, and of thy-selfe

non have mightest, it is not to putte to thyne owne persone,

sithen thy love cam thorow thy Margaryte-perle. Ergo, she was

yever of the love, although thou it use; and there lente she thee

grace, thy service to beginne. She is worthy the thank of this

140

grace, for she was the yever. Al the thoughtes, besy doinges,

and plesaunce in thy might and in thy wordes that thou canst

devyse, ben but right litel in quytinge of thy dette; had she not

ben, suche thing hadde not ben studyed. So al these maters

kyndly drawen hom-ward to this Margaryte-perle, for from thence

145

were they borowed; al is hoolly her to wyte, the love that thou

havest; and thus quytest thou thy dette, in that thou stedfastly

servest. And kepe wel that love, I thee rede, that of her thou

hast borowed, and use it in her service thy dette to quyte; and

than art thou able right sone to have grace; wherfore after mede

150

in none halve mayst thou loke. Thus thy ginning and ending is

but grace aloon; and in thy good deserving thy dette thou

aquytest; without grace is nothing worth, what-so-ever thou

[137]

werche. Thanke thy Margaryte of her grete grace that †hiderto

thee hath gyded, and praye her of continuaunce forth in thy

155

werkes herafter; and that, for no mishappe, thy grace overthwartly

tourne. Grace, glorie, and joye is coming thorow good

folkes desertes; and by getting of grace, therin shullen ende.

And what is more glorie or more joye than wysdom and love

in parfit charitè, whiche god hath graunted to al tho that wel

160

†conne deserve?' And with that this lady al at ones sterte in-to

my herte: 'here wol I onbyde,' quod she, 'for ever, and never

wol I gon hence; and I wol kepe thee from medlinge while me

liste here onbyde; thyne entermeting maners in-to stedfastnesse

shullen be chaunged.'

7. wol; read wel. soone. atast. 9. herde. tre. 11. grounde. frewyl. hert. 13. greatnesse. 14. gretnesse. 20. lyke. hel. 22. tre. bring. 23. greatly eased. 28. came. 29. disease. 30. great bounties. 36. disease. 37. bren. 38. fyre (twice). 40. howe. 41. forwarde. 42. backwarde.

47. spring. halte. 48. grounde. 53. wodelay. stretchen. 56. spring. 58. worde. 60-1. hert (twice). 64. meaneth. 65. disease. 69. wethers; read weders. 70. fal. 71. beaten. 72. great. 73. wethers; read weders. forthe. 74. howe harde. 77. disease. 78. fyre. 79. gone. 80. howe.

81. maye. sauoure. 83. occupation. spente. ferforthe. 84. spring. 87. the nowe. 89. fooles lette. 90. teacheth. 91. greatnesse. 93. one (twice). season. 94. I supply is parfit. * A break here in Th. 95. healeth. 96. deyntie. 97. forthe. 102. thorowe. 103-4. wyre (thrice). 104. breaketh. 105. tre. 107. nowe. 108. parfyte. 109. begon; read begonne. 110. rewarde. 112. tel the. 113. beareth. 114. onely. deserte. 116. rewarde. thorowe.

118. one benefyte. 120. dothe. 124. catchword it is; misprinted yet is on the next page. 126. the lent. 127. lytle. 129. graunt. 131. nothynge maye. 132. weare. 133. put; read putte. 134. onely. 136. put. 137. came thorowe. 138. althoughe. lent. the. 139. thanke. 141. canste. 144. homewarde. 145. holy. 147. the. 149. arte. 151. alone. 152. worthe.

153. great. hytherto; read hiderto. 154. the. forthe. 156. thorowe. 158. wysdome. 159. parfyte. 160. canne; read conne. 161. hert.

CHAPTER VIII.

Soberliche tho threw I up myn eyen, and hugely tho was

I astonyed of this sodayne adventure; and fayn wolde I have

lerned, how vertues shulden ben knowen; in whiche thinges,

I hope to god, here-after she shal me enfourmen; and namely,

sithen her restinge-place is now so nygh at my wil; and anon al

these thinges that this lady said, I remembred me by my-selfe, and

revolved the †lynes of myne understondinge wittes. Tho found

I fully al these maters parfitly there written, how mis-rule by

fayned love bothe realmes and citees hath governed a greet

throwe; how lightly me might the fautes espye; how rules in love

shulde ben used; how somtyme with fayned love foule I was

begyled; how I shulde love have knowe; and how I shal in love

with my service procede. Also furthermore I found, of perdurable

letters wonderly there graven, these maters whiche I shal nempne.

Certes, non age ne other thing in erthe may the leest sillable of

this in no poynte deface, but clerely as the sonne in myne

understandinge soule they shynen. This may never out of my mynde,

how I may not my love kepe, but thorow willinge in herte; wilne

to love may I not, but I lovinge have. Love have I non, but

thorow grace of this Margarite-perle. It is no maner doute, that

wil wol not love but for it is lovinge, as wil wol not rightfully but

[138]

for it is rightful it-selve. Also wil is not lovinge for he wol love;

but he wol love for he is lovinge; it is al oon to †wilne to be

lovinge, and lovinges in possession to have. Right so wil wol not

love, for of love hath he no partie. And yet I denye not lovinge

wil [may] wilne more love to have, whiche that he hath not whan

he wolde more than he hath; but I saye, he may no love wilne

if he no love have, through which thilke love he shuld wilne. But

to have this loving wil may no man of him-selfe, but only through

grace toforn-going; right so may no man it kepe, but by grace

folowinge. Consider now every man aright, and let seen if that

any wight of him-selfe mowe this loving wel gete, and he therof

first nothing have; for if it shulde of him-selfe springe, either it

muste be willing or not willing. Willing by him-selfe may he it not

have, sithen him fayleth the mater that shulde it forth bringe.

The mater him fayleth; why? He may therof have no knowing

til whan grace put it in his herte. Thus willing by him-selfe may

he it not have; and not willing, may he it not have. Pardè,

every conseyt of every resonable creature otherwyse wil [wol] not

graunte; wil in affirmatif with not willing by no way mowe acorde.

And although this loving wol come in myn herte by freenesse of

arbitrement, as in this booke fully is shewed, yet owe I not therfore

as moche alowe my free wil as grace of that Margaryte to me

lened. For neyther might I, without grace to-forn going and

afterward folowing, thilke grace gete ne kepe; and lese shal I it

never but-if free wil it make, as in willinge otherwyse than grace

hath me graunted. For right as whan any person taketh willing

to be sobre, and throweth that away, willing to be dronke; or els

taketh wil of drinking out of mesure; whiche thing, anon as it is

don, maketh (thorow his owne gilte by free wil) that [he] leseth

his grace. In whiche thing therfore upon the nobley of grace

I mote trusten, and my besy cure sette thilke grace to kepe, that

my free wil, otherwyse than by reson it shulde werche, cause not

my grace to voyde: for thus must I bothe loke to free wil and to

grace. For right as naturel usage in engendring of children may

not ben without †fader, ne also but with the †moder, for neyther

†fader ne †moder in begetting may it lacke; right so grace and

[139]

free wil accorden, and withoute hem bothe may not lovinge wil in

no partie ben getten. But yet is not free wil in gettinge of that

thing so mokel thank-worthy as is grace, ne in the kepinge therof

so moche thank deserveth; and yet in gettinge and keping bothe

don they accorde. Trewly, often-tyme grace free wil helpeth, in

fordoinge of contrarye thinges, that to willinge love not accorden,

and †strengtheth wil adversitees to withsitte; wherfore †al-togider

to grace oweth to ben accepted, that my willing deserveth. Free

wil to lovinge in this wyse is accorded. I remembre me wel how

al this book (who-so hede taketh) considereth [how] al thinges to

werchinges of mankynde evenly accordeth, as in turning of this

worde 'love' in-to trouthe or els rightwisnesse, whether that it

lyke. For what thing that falleth to man in helping of free

arbitrement, thilke rightwisnesse to take or els to kepe, thorow

whiche a man shal be saved (of whiche thing al this book mencion

hath maked), in every poynte therof grace oweth to be thanked.

Wherfore I saye, every wight havinge this rightwisnesse rightful

is; and yet therfore I fele not in my conscience, that to al

rightful is behoten the blisse everlastinge, but to hem that ben

rightful withouten any unrightfulnesse. Some man after some degree

may rightfully ben accompted as chaste men in living, and yet ben

they janglers and ful of envy pressed; to hem shal this blisse

never ben delivered. For right as very blisse is without al maner

nede, right so to no man shal it be yeven but to the rightful, voyde

from al maner unrightfulnesse founde; so no man to her blisse

shal ben folowed, but he be rightful, and with unrightfulnesse not

bounde, and in that degree fully be knowe. This rightfulnesse,

in as moche as in him-selfe is, of none yvel is it cause; and of al

maner goodnesse, trewly, it is †moder. This helpeth the spirit

to withsitte the leude lustes of flesshly lykinge. This strengtheth

and maintayneth the lawe of kynde; and if that otherwhyle me

weneth harm of this precious thing to folowe, therthorough is [it]

nothing the cause; of somwhat els cometh it aboute, who-so

taketh hede. By rightfulnesse forsothe wern many holy sayntes

good savour in swetenesse to god almighty; but that to some

folkes they weren savour of dethe, in-to deedly ende, that com

not of the sayntes rightwisnesse, but of other wicked mennes

[140]

badnesse hath proceded. Trewly, the ilke wil, whiche that the

Lady of Love me lerned 'affeccion of wil' to nempne, which is

in willing of profitable thinges, yvel is it not, but whan to flesshly

lustes it consenteth ayenst reson of soule. But that this thing

more clerely be understande, it is for to knowe, whence and how

100

thilke wil is so vicious, and so redy yvel dedes to perfourme.

Grace at the ginninge ordeyned thilke wil in goodnesse ever to

have endured, and never to badnesse have assented. Men shulde

not byleve, that god thilke wil maked to be vicious [in] our firste

†faders, as Adam and Eve; for vicious appetytes, and vicious wil

105

to suche appetytes consentinge, ben not on thing in kynde; other

thing is don for the other. And how this wil first in-to man first

assented, I holde it profitable to shewe; but if the first condicion

of resonable creature wol be considred and apertly loked, lightly

the cause of suche wil may be shewed. Intencion of god was,

110

that rightfully and blissed shulde resonable nature ben maked,

himselfe for to kepe; but neyther blisful ne rightful might it not

be, withouten wil in them bothe. Wil of rightfulnesse is thilke

same rightfulnesse, as here-to-forn is shewed; but wil of blisse

is not thilke blisse, for every man hath not thilke blisse, in whom

115

the wil therof is abydinge. In this blisse, after every

understandinge, is suffisaunce of covenable comoditees without any

maner nede, whether it be blisse of aungels or els thilke that

grace first in paradise suffred Adam to have. For al-though

angels blisse be more than Adams was in paradyse, yet may it not

120

be †denyed, that Adam in paradyse ne had suffisaunce of blisse;

for right as greet herte is without al maner of coldenesse, and yet

may another herte more hete have; right so nothing defended

Adam in paradyse to ben blessed, without al maner nede.

Al-though aungels blisse be moche more, forsothe, it foloweth

125

not [that], lasse than another to have, therfore him nedeth; but

for to wante a thing whiche that behoveth to ben had, that may

'nede' ben cleped; and that was not in Adam at the first

ginning. God and the Margaryte weten what I mene. Forsothe,

where-as is nede, there is wrecchednesse. †God without cause

130

to-forngoing made not resonable creature wrecched; for him to

[141]

understande and love had he firste maked. God made therfore

man blissed without al maner indigence; †togider and at ones

took resonable creature blisse, and wil of blissednesse, and wil

of rightfulnesse, whiche is rightfulnesse it-selve, and libertee of

135

arbitrement, that is, free wil, with whiche thilke rightfulnesse may

he kepe and lese. So and in that wyse [god] ordayned thilke

two, that wil (whiche that "instrument" is cleped, as here-toforn

mencion is maked) shulde use thilke rightfulnesse, by teching of

his soule to good maner of governaunce, in thought and in wordes;

140

and that it shulde use the blisse in obedient maner, withouten

any incommoditè. Blisse, forsothe, in-to mannes profit, and

rightwisnesse in-to his worship god delivered at ones; but rightfulnesse

so was yeven that man might it lese, whiche if he not lost

had, but continuelly [might] have it kept, he shulde have deserved

145

the avauncement in-to the felowshippe of angels, in whiche thing

if he that loste, never by him-selfe forward shulde he it mowe

ayenward recovere; and as wel the blisse that he was in, as

aungels blisse that to-him-wardes was coming, shulde be nome at

ones, and he deprived of hem bothe. And thus fil man un-to

150

lykenesse of unresonable bestes; and with hem to corrupcion and

unlusty apetytes was he under-throwen. But yet wil of blisse

dwelleth, that by indigence of goodes, whiche that he loste

through greet wrecchednesse, by right shulde he ben punisshed.

And thus, for he weyved rightfulnesse, lost hath he his blisse; but

155

fayle of his desyr in his owne comoditè may he not; and †where

comodites to his resonable nature whiche he hath lost may he not

have, to false lustes, whiche ben bestial appetytes, he is turned.

Folye of unconning hath him begyled, in wening that thilke ben

the comoditees that owen to ben desyred. This affeccion of wil

160

by libertè of arbitrement is enduced to wilne thus thing that

he shulde not; and so is wil not maked yvel but unrightful, by

absence of rightfulnesse, whiche thing by reson ever shulde he

have. And freenesse of arbitrement may he not wilne, whan he it

not haveth; for while he it had, thilke halp it not to kepe; so

165

that without grace may it not ben recovered. Wil of commoditè,

in-as-moche as unrightful it is maked by willinge of yvel lustes, willing

[142]

of goodnesse may he not wilne; for wil of instrument to affeccion

of wil is thralled, sithen that other thing may it not wilne;

for wil of instrument to affeccion desyreth, and yet ben bothe they

170

'wil' cleped. For that instrument wol, through affeccion it wilneth;

and affeccion desyreth thilke thing wherto instrument him ledeth.

And so free wil to unlusty affeccion ful servaunt is maked, for

unrightfulnesse may he not releve; and without rightfulnesse ful

fredom may it never have. For kyndly libertee of arbitrement

175

without it, veyne and ydel is, forsothe. Wherfore yet I say, (as

often have I sayd the same), whan instrument of wil lost hath

rightfulnesse, in no maner but by grace may he ayen retourne

rightfulnesse to wilne. For sithen nothing but rightfulnesse alone

shulde he wilne, what that ever he wilneth without rightfulnesse,

180

unrightfully he it wilneth. These than unrightful appetytes and

unthrifty lustes whiche the †flesh desyreth, in as mokel as they ben

in kynde, ben they nat bad; but they ben unrightful and badde for

they ben in resonable creature, where-as they being, in no waye

shulde ben suffred. In unresonable beestes neyther ben they yvel

185

ne unrightful; for there is their kynde being.

Ch. VIII. 1. threwe. 2. fayne. 3. howe. 5. nowe. nyghe. 7. lyues (!). founde. 8. parfytely. howe. mysse-. 9. cyties. great. 10-12. howe (five times). 13. founde. 15. none. thynge. maye. 17. maye. 18. howe. maye. thorowe. 19. maye. none. 20. thorowe.

23. one. wil; read wilne. 26. I supply may. 27. maye. 29. onely. 30. toforne. maye. 31. nowe. sene. 32. get. 33. nothynge. spring. 35. forthe bring. 36. maye. 39. reasonable. I supply wol. 40. graunt. affyrmatife. 41. hert. frenesse. 43. frewyl (throughout). 44. leaned. 45. afterwarde. get; read gete. 50. done. thorowe. I supply he. 52. set. 53. reason. 55. maye. 56-7. father (twice); read fader. mother (twice); read moder.

57-8. maye. 60. thankeworthy. 61. thanke. 62. done. 64. strength; read strengtheth; see l. 87. al togyther. 66. howe. 67. booke. Supply how. 71. thorowe. 72. booke. 78. maye. 86. mother; read moder. 89. harme. Supply it. 90. nothynge. 91. werne. 93. come; read com.

96. affectyon. 98. reason. thynge. 99. vnderstand. howe. 100. redye. 103. vycious. I insert in; Our (sic). 104. father; read faders. 106. done. howe. 108-110. reasonable (twice). 113. -forne. 119, 122. maye. 120. denyded (!). 121. great. 122. heate. nothynge. 124. thoughe. 125. I supply that. 126. thynge. maye. 128. meane. 129. wretchydnesse. good; read God. 130. reasonable. wretched.

132. togyther. 133. toke reasonable. 134. lybertie. 135. fre. 136. I supply god. 137. cleaped. toforne. 138. teachyng. 141. profyte. 143. not loste had not; I omit second not. 144. I supply might. kepte. 146. forwarde. 147. ayenwarde. 150. vnreasonable. 153. great wretchydnesse. 154. loste. 155. desyre. were; read where. 156. reasonable. loste. 159. affection. 162. reason. 163. frenesse. 164. halpe.

167-170. affection (thrice). 172. frewyl. affection. 173. maye. 174. fredome. libertie. 176. loste. 181. flyes (!); read flesh. 184. vnreasonable.

CHAPTER IX.

Knowen may it wel ben now of these thinges toforn

declared, that man hath not alway thilke rightfulnesse

which by dutè of right evermore haven he shulde, and by no way

by him-selfe may he it gete ne kepe; and after he it hath, if he it

lese, recover shal he it never without especial grace. Wherfore

the comune sentence of the people in opinion, that every thing

after destenee is ruled, false and wicked is to beleve. For though

predestinacion be as wel of good as of badde, sithen that it is

sayd, god †hath destenees made, whiche he never ne wrought; but,

for he suffreth hem to be maked, as that he hardeth, whan he

naught missayth, or †let in-to temptacion, whan he not delivereth:

wherfore it is non inconvenient if in that maner be sayd, god toforn

have destenyed bothe badde and her badde werkes, whan

hem ne their yvel dedes [he] neyther amendeth ne therto hem

grace †leneth. But specialliche, predestinacion of goodnesse

[143]

alone is sayd by these grete clerkes; for in him god doth that

they ben, and that in goodnesse they werchen. But the negatif

herof in badnesse is holden, as the Lady of Love hath me lerned,

who-so aright in this booke loketh. And utterly it is to weten,

that predestinacion properly in god may not ben demed, no more

than beforn-weting. For in the chapitre of goddes beforn-weting,

as Love me rehersed, al these maters apertly may ben founden.

Al thinges to god ben now †togider and in presence duringe.

Trewly, presence and predestinacion in nothing disacorden;

wherfore, as I was lerned how goddes before-weting and free

choice of wil mowe stonden †togider, me thinketh the same reson

me ledeth, that destenye and free wil accorden, so that neyther of

hem bothe to other in nothing contrarieth. And resonabliche

may it not ben demed, as often as any thing falleth [thorow] free

wil werching (as if a man another man wrongfully anoyeth, wherfore

he him sleeth), that it be constrayned to that ende, as mokel

folk cryeth and sayth: 'Lo, as it was destenyed of god toforn

knowe, so it is thorow necessitè falle, and otherwyse might it not

betyde.' Trewly, neyther he that the wrong wrought, ne he that

him-selfe venged, none of thilke thinges thorow necessitè wrought;

for if that [oon] with free wil there had it not willed, neyther had

[he] wrought that he perfourmed; and so utterly grace, that free

wil in goodnesse bringeth and kepeth, and fro badnesse it tourneth,

in al thinge moste thank deserveth. This grace maketh

sentence in vertue to abyde, wherfore in body and in soule, in ful

plentee of conninge, after their good deserving in the everlastinge

joye, after the day of dome shul they endelesse dwelle; and they

shul ben lerned in that kingdom with so mokel affect of love and

of grace, that the leste joye shal of the gretest in glorie rejoice

and ben gladded, as if he the same joye had. What wonder,

sith god is the gretest love and the *gretest wisdom? In hem

shal he be, and they in god. Now than, whan al false folk be

ashamed, which wenen al bestialtè and erthly thing be sweter and

better to the body than hevenly is to the soule; this is the grace

and the frute that I long have desyred; it doth me good the

savour to smelle.

[144]

Crist, now to thee I crye of mercy and of grace; and graunt,

of thy goodnes, to every maner reder ful understanding in this

leude pamflet to have; and let no man wene other cause in

this werke than is verily the soth. For envy is ever redy, al

innocentes to shende; wherfore I wolde that good speche envy

evermore hinder.

But no man wene this werke be sufficiently maked; for goddes

werke passeth man[ne]s; no man[ne]s wit to parfit werke may by no

way purvay th'ende. How shuld I than, so leude, aught wene of

perfeccion any ende to gete? Never-the-later, grace, glorie, and

laude I yelde and putte with worshipful reverences to the sothfast

god, in three with unitè closed, whiche that the hevy langour of

my sicknesse hath turned in-to mirthe of helth to recover. For

right as I was sorowed thorow the gloton cloud of manifolde

sickly sorow, so mirth [of] ayencoming helth hath me glad[d]ed

and gretly comforted. I beseche and pray therfore, and I crye

on goddes gret pitè and on his mokel mercy, that this[e] present

scorges of my flessh mow maken medecyne and lechecraft of

my inner man[ne]s helth; so that my passed trespas and tenes

through weping of myn eyen ben wasshe, and I, voyded from

al maner disese, and no more to wepe herafter, y-now be kept

thorow goddes grace; so that goddes hand, whiche that merciably

me hath scorged, herafter in good plite from thence merciably me

kepe and defende.

In this boke be many privy thinges wimpled and folde; unneth

shul leude men the plites unwinde. Wherfore I pray to the holy

gost, he lene of his oyntmentes, mennes wittes to clere; and, for

goddes love, no man wonder why or how this question come to

my mynde. For my greet lusty desyr was of this lady to ben

enfourmed, my leudenesse to amende. Certes, I knowe not

other mennes wittes, what I shulde aske, or in answere what

I shulde saye; I am so leude my-selfe, that mokel more lerninge

yet me behoveth. I have mad therfore as I coude, but not

sufficiently as I wolde, and as mater yave me sentence; for my

dul wit is hindred by †stepmoder of foryeting and with cloude

of unconning, that stoppeth the light of my Margarite-perle,

wherfore it may not shyne on me as it shulde. I desyre not

[145]

only a good reder, but also I coveite and pray a good book-amender,

in correccion of wordes and of sentence; and only this

mede I coveite for my travayle, that every inseër and herer of

this leude fantasye devoute horisons and prayers to god the greet

juge yelden; and prayen for me in that wyse, that in his dome

my sinnes mowe ben relesed and foryeven. He that prayeth for

other for him-selfe travayleth.

Also I praye, that every man parfitly mowe knowe thorow what

intencion of herte this tretys have I drawe. How was it, that

sightful manna in deserte to children of Israel was spirituel

mete? Bodily also it was, for mennes bodies it †norisshed;

100

and yet, never-the-later, Crist it signifyed. Right so a jewel

betokeneth a gemme, and that is a stoon vertuous or els a perle.

Margarite, a woman, betokeneth grace, lerning, or wisdom of

god, or els holy church. If breed, thorow vertue, is mad holy

flesshe, what is that our god sayth? 'It is the spirit that yeveth

105

lyf; the flesshe, of nothing it profiteth.' Flesshe is flesshly

understandinge; flessh without grace and love naught is worth.

'The letter sleeth; the spirit yeveth lyfelich understanding.'

Charitè is love; and love is charitè.

God graunt us al[le] therin to be frended!

110

And thus The Testament of Love is ended.

Ch. IX. 1. nowe. toforne. 4. get. 7. destenye. thoughe. 9. sayde. god hadnest (!); read god hath destenees. 11. missaythe. ledde; read let = ledeth. 12. none. toforne. 14. I supply he. 15. leueth.

16. sayde. great. dothe. 17. negatyfe. 21. beforne (twice). 22. apertely maye. 23. nowe to-gyther. 24. nothynge. 25. howe. 26. togyther. reason. 27. leadeth. frewyl. 28. reasonablyche. 29. demyd. I supply thorow. frewyl. 32. folke. toforne know. 33. thorowe. fal. 34. wronge. 35. thorowe. 36-7. I supply oon and he. 39. thanke. 41. plentie. 42. ioy. dwel. 43. kyngdome. affecte. 44-6. greatest (twice). * A break here in Th. 47. folke. 48. swetter. 50. dothe. 51. smel.

52. Christ. the. 59. mans; read mannes (twice). 61. get. 62. put. 63. thre. 66. I supply of. 68. this; read thise. 69. medecyn. lechcraft. 70. mans. 72. I now; for y-now. 73. thorowe. hande. 80. great. desyre. 84. made. 86. wytte. -mother; read moder.

89. onely. booke. 90. correction. onely. 92. great. 94. released. 96. thorowe. 97. treatyse. Howe. 99. meate. norissheth; read norisshed. 100. Christ. 101. stone. 103. thorowe. made. 104. saythe. spyrite. 105. lyfe. 109. al; read allë.

Here beginneth the Plowmans Prologue.

The Plowman plucked up his plow,

Whan midsommer mone was comen in,

And sayd, 'his beestes shuld ete y-now,

And lig in the grasse, up to the chin;

They ben feble, both oxe and cow,

Of hem nis left but boon and skin.'

He shook of share, and cultre of-drow,

And hong his harneys on a pin.

He took his tabard and his staf eke,

And on his heed he set his hat;

And sayde, he wolde saynt Thomas seke,

On pilgrimage he goth forth plat.

In scrippe he bar both breed and lekes,

He was forswonke and all forswat;

Men might have seen through both his chekes,

And every wang-toth and where it sat.

Our hoste beheld wel all about,

And saw this man was sunne y-brent;

He knew well by his senged snout,

And by his clothes that were to-rent,

He was a man wont to walke about,

He nas nat alway in cloystre y-pent;

He coud not religiousliche lout,

And therfore was he fully shent.

[148]

Our host him axed, 'what man art thou?'

'Sir,' quod he, 'I am an hyne;

For I am wont to go to the plow,

And erne my mete yer that I dyne.

To swete and swinke I make avow,

My wyf and children therwith to fynd,

And servë god, and I wist how;

But we lewd men ben full[y] blynd.

For clerkes saye, we shullen be fayn

For hir lyvelod [to] swete and swinke,

And they right nought us give agayn,

Neyther to ete ne yet to drinke.

They mowe by lawë, as they sayn,

Us curse and dampne to hell[e] brinke;

Thus they putten us to payn,

With candles queynt and belles clinke.

They make us thralles at hir lust,

And sayn, we mowe nat els be saved;

They have the corn and we the dust,

Who speketh ther-agayn, they say he raved.'

'What, man,' quod our host, 'canst thou preche?

Come neer, and tell us some holy thing.'

'Sir,' quod he, 'I herde ones teche

A prest in pulpit a good preching.'

'Say on,' quod our host, 'I thee beseche.'

'Sir, I am redy at your bidding.

I pray you that no man me reproche

Whyl that I am my tale telling.

Thus endeth the prologue, and here foloweth the first

part of the tale.

[149]

PART I.

A sternë stryf is stered newe

In many stedes in a stounde,

Of sondry sedes that ben sewe;

It semeth that som ben unsounde.

For some be gretë growen †on grounde,

Some ben souple, simple and small;

Whether of hem is falser founde,

The falser, foul mote him befall!

That oon syde is, that I of tell,

Popes, cardinals, and prelates,

Parsons, monkes, and freres fell,

Priours, abbottes of grete estates;

Of heven and hell they kepe the yates,

And Peters successours they ben all;

This is demed by oldë dates;

But falshed, foul mote it befall!

The other syde ben poore and pale,

And people put [al] out of prees;

And semë caytifs sore a-cale,

And ever in oon without encrees,

†I-cleped lollers and londlees;

Who toteth on hem, they been untall.

They ben arayed all for the pees;

But falshed, foul mote it befall!

Many a countrey have I sought,

To know the falser of these two;

But ever my travail was for nought,

All so fer as I have go.

But as I wandred in a wro,

In a wode besyde a wall,

Two foules saw I sitte tho;

The falser, foul mote him befall!

[150]

That oon did plede on the Popes syde,

A Griffon of a grim stature.

A Pellicane withouten pryde

To these lollers layde his lure;

He mused his matter in mesure,

To counsayl Christ ever gan he call.

The Griffon shewed as sharp as fyre,

But falshed, foul mote it befall!

The Pellican began to preche

Both of mercy and of mekeness;

And sayd, that "Christ so gan us teche,

And meke and merciable gan bless.

The Evangely bereth witness

A lamb, he lykneth Christ over-all,

In tokening that he mekest was,

100

Sith pryde was out of heven fall.

And so shulde every Christned be;

Preestes, Peters successours,

Beth lowlich and of low degree,

And usen none erthly honours,

105

Neyther crown, ne curious cove[r]tours,

Ne †pelure, ne other proudë pall;

Ne nought to cofren up greet tresours;

For falshed, foul mote it befall!

Preest[e]s shuld for no cattel plede,

110

But chasten hem in charitè;

Ne to no batail shuld men lede

For inhaunsing of hir own degree;

Nat wilnë sittings in hy see,

Ne soverayntè in hous ne hall;

115

All worldly worship defye and flee;

For who willeth highnes, foul shal fall!

[151]

Alas! who may such sayntes call

That wilneth welde erthly honour?

As lowe as Lucifer such shal fall,

120

In baleful blacknesse y-builde hir bour;

That eggeth the people to errour,

And maketh hem to hem [be] thrall;

To Christ I hold suche oon traytour,

As lowe as Lucifer such shal fall.

125

That willeth to be kinges peres,

And hygher than the emperour;

Some that were but pore freres

Now wollen waxe a warryour.

God is nat hir governour,

130

That holdeth no man his †peragall;

Whyl covetyse is hir counsaylour,

All such falshed mot nedë fall.

That hye on horse willeth ryde

In glitterand golde of grete aray,

135

I-paynted and portred all in pryde;

No commun knight may go so gay.

Chaunge of clothing every day,

With golden girdles grete and small;

As boystous as is bere at bay;

140

All such falshed mot nedë fall.

With prydë †punysheth the pore,

And somë they sustayn with sale;

Of holy churche maketh an hore,

And filleth hir wombe with wyne and ale;

145

With money filleth many a male,

And chaffren churches when they fall,

And telleth the people a lewed tale;

Such falsë faytours, foul hem fall!

[152]

With chaunge of many maner metes,

150

With song and solace sitting long,

And filleth hir wombë, and fast fretes,

And from the metë to the gong;

And after mete with harp and song,

And ech man mot hem lordes call;

155

And hotë spyces ever among;

Such falsë faytours, foul hem fall!

And myters mo than oon or two,

I-perled as the quenes heed;

A staf of golde, and †perrey, lo!

160

As hevy as it were mad of leed;

With cloth of gold both newe and reed,

With glitterand †gown as grene as gall,

By dome will dampnë men to deed;

All suche faytours, foul hem fall!

165

And Christes people proudly curse

With brode bokes, and braying bell;

To putte pennyes in hir purse

They woll sell both heven and hell;

And in hir sentence, and thou wilt dwell,

170

They willen gesse in hir gay hall;

And though the soth thou of hem tell,

In greet cursinge shalt thou fall.

That is blessed, that they blesse,

And cursed, that they cursë woll;

175

And thus the people they oppresse,

And have their lordshippes at full;

And many be marchauntes of woll,

And to purse penyes woll come thrall;

The porë people they all to-pull,

180

Such falsë faytours, foul hem fall!

[153]

Lordes motë to hem loute,

Obeysaunt to hir brode blessing;

They ryden with hir royall route

On a courser, as it were a king;

185

With saddle of golde glitt[e]ring

With curious harneys quayntly crallit,

Styroppes gaye of gold-mastling;

All suche falshed, foul befall it!

Christes ministers †cleped they been,

190

And rulen all in robberye;

But Antichrist they serven clene,

Attyred all in tyrannye;

Witnesse of Johns prophecye,

That Antichrist is hir admirall,

195

Tiffelers attyred in trecherye;

All suche faytours, foul hem fall!

Who sayth, that some of hem may sinne,

He shal be †demed to be deed;

Some of hem woll gladly winne

200

All ayenst that which god forbed;

"All-holyest" they clepen hir heed,

That of hir rulë is regall;

Alas! that ever they eten breed;

For all such falshed woll foul fall.

205

Hir heed loveth all honour,

And to be worshipped in worde and dede;

Kinges mot to hem knele and coure;

To the apostles, that Christ forbede;

To popes hestes such taketh more hede

210

Than to kepe Christes commaundëment;

Of gold and silver mot ben hir wede,

They holdeth him hole omnipotent.

[154]

He ordayneth by his ordinaunce

To parish-preestes a powére;

215

To another a greter avaunce,

A greter poynt to his mystere;

But for he is hyghest in erth here,

To him reserveth he many a poynt;

But to Christ, that hath no pere,

220

Reserveth he neither opin ne joynt.

So semeth he above[n] all,

And Christ aboven him nothing;

Whan he sitteth in his stall,

Dampneth and saveth as him think.

225

Such pryde tofore god doth stink;

An angell bad John to him nat knele,

But only to god do his bowing;

Such willers of worship must evil fele.

They ne clepen Christ but sanctus deus,

230

And clepen her heed Sanctissimus;

They that such a sect[ë] sewis,

I trowe, they taken hem amisse.

In erth[ë] here they have hir blisse,

Hir hye master is Belial;

235

†Christ his people from hem wisse!

For all such falsë will foul fall!

They mowë both[ë] binde and lose,

And all is for hir holy lyf;

To save or dampne they mowë chose,

240

Betwene hem now [ther] is gret stryf.

Many a man is killed with knyf,

To wete which of hem have lordship shall;

For such, Christ suffred woundes fyve;

For all such falshed will foul fall.

[155]

245

Christ sayd: Qui gladio percutit

With swerdë shall [he surely] dye;

He bad his preestes pees and grith,

And bad hem not drede for to dye;

And bad them be both simple and slye,

250

And carkë not for no cattall,

And †truste on god that sitteth on hye;

For all [such] falsë shull foul fall.

These wollen makë men to swere

Ayenst Christes commaundëment;

255

And Christes membres all to-tere

On rode as he wer newe y-rent.

Suche lawes they make by commun assent,

Ech on it choweth as a ball;

Thus the pore be fully shent,

260

But ever falshed foule it †fall!

They usen [never] no symonye,

But sellen churches and prioryes;

Ne [yet] they usen no envye,

But cursen all hem contraryes;

265

And hyreth men by dayes and yeres

With strength to holde hem in hir stall;

And culleth all hir adversaryes;

Therefor, falshed! foul thou fall!

With purse they purchase personage,

270

With purse they paynen hem to plede;

And men of warrë they woll wage,

To bringe hir enemyes to the dede.

And lordes lyves they woll lede,

And moche take, and give but small;

275

But he it so get, from it shall shede,

And make such falsë right foul fal!

[156]

They halowe nothing but for hyre,

Churchë, font, ne vestëment;

And make[n] orders in every shyre,

280

But preestes paye for the parchement;

Of ryatours they taken rent,

Therwith they smere the shepes skall;

For many churches ben oft suspent;

All such falshed, yet foul it fall!

285

Some liveth nat in lecherye,

But haunten wenches, widdowes, and wyves,

And punisheth the pore for putrye;

Them-selfe it useth all their lyves.

And but a man to them [him] shryves,

290

To heven comë never he shall;

He shal be cursed as be captyves,

To hell they sayn that he shall fall.

There was more mercy in Maximien,

And in Nero, that never was good,

295

Than [there] is now in some of †hem

Whan he hath on his furred hood.

They folowe Christ that shedde his blood

To heven, as bucket in-to the wall;

Suche wreches ben worse than wood;

300

And all such faytours, foule hem fall!

They give hir almesse to the riche,

To maynteynours, and to men of lawe;

For to lordes they woll be liche,

An harlottes sone nat worth an hawe!

305

Sothfastnessë suche han slawe,

They kembe hir crokets with cristall;

And drede of god they have down drawe;

All suche faytours, foul hem fall!

[157]

They maken parsons for the penny,

310

And canons of hir cardinals;

Unnethes amongest hem all any

That he ne hath glosed the gospell fals!

For Christ made never no cathedrals,

Ne with him was no cardinall

315

Wyth a reed hatte as usen mynstrals;

But falshed, foul mote it befall!

†Hir tything, and hir offring both,

They cle[y]meth it by possessio[u]n;

Thérof nill they none forgo,

320

But robben men as [by] raunsoun.

The tything of Turpe lucrum

With these maisters is meynall;

Tything of bribry and larson

Will makë falshed full foul fall!

325

They taken to fermë hir sompnours

To harme the people what they may;

To pardoners and false faytours

Sell hir seles, I dar well say;

And all to holden greet array,

330

To multiply hem more metall,

They drede full litell domes day

Whan all such [falsë] shall foul fall.

Suche harlottes shull men disclaunder

For they shullen make hir gree,

335

And ben as proude as Alexaunder,

And sayn to the pore, "wo be ye!"

By yere ech preest shall paye his fee

To encrese his lemmans call;

Suche herdes shull well yvell thee,

340

And all such falsë shull foul fall!

[158]

And if a man be falsly famed,

And woldë make purgacioun,

Than woll the officers be agramed,

And assigne him fro town to town;

345

So nede he must[e] paye raunsoun

Though he be clene as is cristall,

And than have an absolutioun;

But all such falsë shull foul fall!

Though he be gilty of the dede,

350

And that he [yet] may money pay,

All the whyle his purse woll blede

He may use it fro day to day!

These bishoppes officers goon full gay,

And this game they usen over-all;

355

The pore to pill is all †hir pray;

All such falsë shull foul fall!

Alas! god ordayned never such lawe,

Ne no such craft of covetyse;

He forbad it, by his sawe,

360

Such governours mowen of god agryse;

For all his rules †ben rightwyse.

These newe poyntes ben pure papall,

And goddes lawë they dispyse;

And all such faytours shul foul fall!

365

They sayn that Peter had the key

Of hevin and hell, to have and hold;

I trowe Peter took no money

For no sinnes that he sold!

Such successours ben to bold,

370

In winning all their wit they wrall;

Hir conscience is waxen cold;

And all such faytours, foule hem fall!

[159]

Peter was never so great a fole

To leve his key with such a lorell,

375

Or to take such cursed such a tole

He was advysed nothing well.

I trowe, they have the key of hell;

†Hir maister is of that place marshall;

For there they dressen hem to dwell,

380

And with fals Lucifer there to fall.

They ben as proude as Lucifer,

As angry, and as envious;

From good fayth they ben full fer,

In covetyse they ben curious;

385

To catche catell as covytous

As hound, that for hunger woll yall;

Ungoodly, and ungracious;

And nedely, such falshed shal foul fall!

The pope, and he were Peters heyr,

390

Me think, he erreth in this cas,

Whan choyse of bishoppes is in dispeyr,

To chosen hem in dyvers place;

A lord shall write to him for grace,

For his clerke †pray anon he shall;

395

So shall he spede[n] his purchas;

And all such falsë, foule hem fall!

Though he †conne no more good,

A lordes prayer shal be sped;

Though he be wild of will or wood,

400

Nat understanding what men han red,

A boster, and (that god forbede!)

As good a bishop †as my hors Ball,

Suche a pope is foule be-sted,

And at [the] lastë woll foul fall!

[160]

405

He maketh bishops for erthly thank,

And nothing for Christes sake;

Such that ben ful fatte and rank,

To soulë hele non hede they take.

Al is well don what ever they make,

410

For they shal answere at †ones for all;

For worldes thank, such worch and wake,

And all such falsë shall foul fall!

Suche that †connë nat hir Crede

With prayer shull be mad prelates;

415

Nother †conne the gospell rede,

Such shull now welde hye estates.

The hye goodes frendship hem makes,

They toteth on hir somme totall;

Such bere the keyes of hell-yates,

420

And all such falsë shall foul fall.

They forsake, for Christes love,

Traveyl, hunger, thurst, and cold;

For they ben ordred ever all above

Out of youthe til they ben old.

425

By the dore they go nat in-to the fold,

To helpe †hir sheep they nought travall;

Hyred men all suche I holde,

And all such falsë, foule hem fall!

For Christ hir king they woll forsake,

430

And knowe him nought for his povert;

For Christes lovë they woll wake,

And drink pyment [and] ale apart.

Of god they seme nothing a-ferd;

As lusty liveth, as Lamuall,

435

And dryve hir sheep into desert;

All such faytours shull foul fall!

[161]

Christ hath twelve apostels here;

Now say they, ther may be but oon,

That may nat erre in no manere;

440

Who leveth nat this, ben lost echoon!

Peter erred, so dide nat John;

Why is he cleped the principall?

Christ cleped him Peter, but himself the stoon;

All falsë faytours, foule hem fall!

445

Why cursen they the croysery,

Christes Christen crëatures?

For bytwene hem is now envy

To be enhaunsed in honours.

And Christen livers, with hir labours,

450

For they leve on no man mortall,

†Ben do to dethe with dishonours;

And all such falsë, foule hem fall!

What knoweth a tillour at the plow

The popes name, and what he hat?

455

His crede suffyseth him y-now,

And knoweth a cardinall by his hat.

Rough is the pore, unrightly lat,

That knoweth Christ his god royall;

Such maters be nat worth a gnat;

460

But such false faytours, foule hem fall!

A king shall knele and kisse his sho;

Christ suffred a sinfull kisse his feet.

Me thinketh, he holdeth him hye y-now,

So Lucifer did, that hye †seet.

465

Such oon, me thinketh, him-self foryet,

Either to the trouth he was nat call;

Christ, that suffred woundes wet,

Shall makë such falshed foul fall!

[162]

They layeth out hir largë nettes

470

For to take silver and gold,

Fillen coffers, and sackes fettes,

There-as they soules cacche shold.

Hir servaunts be to †hem unhold,

But they can doublin †hir rentall

475

To bigge hem castels, and bigge hem hold;

And all such falsë, foule hem fall!

Here endeth the first part of this tale, and herafter

foloweth the seconde part.

PART II.

To accorde with this wordë "fal"

No more English can I find;

Shewe another now I shall,

480

For I have moche to say behind,

How preestes han the people pynd,

As curteys Christ hath me [y-]kend,

And put this matter in my mind

To make this maner men amend.

485

Shortly to shende hem, and shewe now

How wrongfully they worche and walke;

O hye god, nothing they tell, ne how,

But in goddes word, †tell many a balke.

In hernes holde hem and in halke,

490

And prechin of tythes and offrend,

And untruely of the gospell talke;

For his mercy, god it amend!

[163]

What is Antichrist to say

But evin Christes adversáry?

495

Such hath now ben many a day

To Christes bidding full contráry,

That from the trouthë clenë vary;

Out of the wayë they ben wend;

And Christes people untruely cary;

500

God, for his pitè, it amend!

That liven contráry to Christes lyf,

In hye pride agaynst mekenesse;

Agaynst suffraunce they usen stryf,

And angre ayenst sobrenesse;

505

Agaynst wisdom, wilfulnesse;

To Christes tales litell tend;

Agaynst mesúre, outragiousnesse;

But whan god woll, it may amend!

Lordly lyf ayenst lowlinesse,

510

And demin all without mercy;

And covetyse ayenst largesse,

Agaynst trewth[e], trechery;

And agaynst almesse, envy;

Agaynst Christ they comprehend.

515

For chastitè, they maynteyn lechery;

God, for his gracë, this amend!

Ayenst penaunce they use delytes,

Ayenst suffraunce, strong defence;

Ayenst god they use yvel rightes,

520

Agaynst pitè, punishments;

Open yvell ayenst continence;

Hir wicked winning wors dispend;

Sobrenesse they sette in-to dispence;

But god, for his goodnesse, it amend!

[164]

525

Why cleymen they hoolly his powére,

And wranglen ayenst all his hestes?

His living folowen they nothing here,

But liven wors than witles beestes.

Of fish and flesh they loven feestes,

530

As lordes, they ben brode y-kend;

Of goddes pore they haten gestes;

God, for his mercy, this amend!

With †Dives such shall have hir doom

That sayn that they be Christes frendes,

535

And do nothing as they shuld doon;

All such ben falser than ben fendes.

On the people they ley such bendes,

As god is in erthe, they han offend;

Sucour for suchë Christ now sende us.

540

And, for his mercy, this amend!

A token of Antichrist they be,

His careckes ben now wyde y-know;

Receyved to preche shall no man be

Without[ë] token of him, I trow.

545

Ech Christen preest to prechen ow,

From god abovë they ben send.

Goddes word to all folk for to show,

Sinfull man for to amend.

Christ sente the pore for to preche;

550

The royall riche he did nat so;

Now dar no pore the people teche,

For Antichrist is over-all hir fo.

Among the people he mot go;

He hath bidden, all such suspend;

555

Some hath he hent, and thinketh yet mo;

But all this god may well amend.

[165]

All tho that han the world forsake,

And liven lo[w]ly, as god bad,

In-to hir prison shullen be take,

560

Betin and bounden, and forth lad.

Herof I rede no man be drad;

Christ sayd, his [servaunts] shulde be shend;

Ech man ought herof be glad;

For god ful well it woll amend.

565

They take on hem royáll powére,

And saye, they havë swerdes two,

Oon curse to hell, oon slee men here;

For at his taking Christ had no mo,

Yet Peter had [that] oon of tho.

570

But Christ to Peter smyte gan defend,

And in-to the sheth bad putte it tho;

And all such mischeves god amend!

Christ bad Peter kepe his sheep,

And with his swerde forbad him smyte;

575

Swerd is no tole with sheep to kepe

But to shep[h]erdes that sheep woll byte.

Me thinketh, suche shep[h]erdes ben to wyte

Ayen hir sheep with swerd that contend;

They dryve hir sheep with greet dispyte;

580

But al this god may well amend.

So successours to Peter be they nought

Whom [that] Christ madë cheef pastour;

A swerd no shep[h]erde usen ought

But he wold slee as a bochour.

585

For who-so were Peters successour

Shuld bere his sheep till his bak bend,

And shadowe hem from every shour;

And all this god may wel amend.

[166]

Successours to Peter ben these

590

In that that Peter Christ forsook,

That had lever the love of god [to] lese

Than a shep[h]erde had to lese his hook.

He culleth the sheep as doth the cook;

Of hem [they] taken the woll untrend,

595

And falsely glose the gospell-book;

God, for his mercy, †hem amend!

After Christ had take Peter the kay,

Christ sayd, he mustë dye for man;

That Peter to Christ gan withsay;

600

Christ bad him, 'go behind, Sathan!'

Such counsaylours many of these men han

For worldes wele, god to offend;

Peters successours they ben for-than,

But all such god may well amend.

605

For Sathan is to say no more

But he that contrary to Christ is;

In this they lernë Peters lore,

They sewen him whan he did mis;

They folowe Peter forsothe in this,

610

In al that Christ wolde †him reprende,

Nat in that that longeth to hevin blis;

God for his mercy hem amend!

Some of the apostels they sewen in cas,

Of ought that I can understonde,

615

Him that betrayed Christ, Judas,

That bar the purse in every londe;

And al that he might sette on honde,

He hidde and stal, and [gan] mispend;

His rule these traytours han in honde;

620

Almighty god [now] hem amend!

[167]

And at last his lord gan tray

Cursedly, through his covetyse;

So wolde these trayen him for money,

And they wisten in what wyse!

625

They be seker of the selfe ensyse;

From all sothnesse they ben frend;

And covetyse chaungen with queyntyse;

Almighty god all suche amend!

Were Christ on erthë here eft-soon,

630

These wolde dampnë him to dye;

All his hestes they han fordon,

And sayn, his sawes ben heresy;

Ayenst his †maundëments they cry,

And dampne all his to be [y-]brend;

635

For it lyketh nat hem, such losengery;

God almighty hem amend!

These han more might in England here

Than hath the king and all his lawe,

They han purchased hem such powére

640

To taken hem whom [they] list nat knawe;

And say, that heresy is hir sawe,

And so to prison woll hem send;

It was nat so by elder dawe,

God, for his mercy, it amend!

645

The kinges lawe wol no man deme

Angerliche, withouten answere;

But, if any man these misqueme,

He shal be baited as a bere;

And yet wel wors they woll him tere,

650

And in prisón woll hem [be] pend

In gyves, and in other gere;

Whan god woll, it may [a]mend.

[168]

The king taxeth nat his men

But by assent of the comminaltè;

655

But these, ech yere, woll raunsom hem

Maysterfully, more than doth he;

Hir seles, by yerë, better be

Than is the kinges in extend;

Hir officers han gretter fee;

660

But this mischeef [may] god amend!

For who-so woll prove a testament

Thát is natt all worth ten pound,

He shall paye for the parchëment

The third part of the money all round.

665

Thus the people is raunsound,

They say, such part to hem shulde apend;

There as they grypen, it goth to ground;

God, for his mercy, it amend!

A simple fornicacioun,

670

Twenty shillings he shall pay;

And than have an absolucioun,

And al the yere usen it forth he may!

Thus they letten hem go a-stray,

They recke nat though the soul be brend;

675

These kepin yvell Peters key,

And all such shep[h]erdes god amend!

Wonder is, that the parliament

And all the lordes of this lond

Here-to taken so litell entent

680

To helpe the people out of hir hond;

For they ben harder in †hir bond,

Wors bete[n] and [more] bitter brend

Than to the king is understond;

God him helpe this to amend!

[169]

685

What bisshoppes, what religio[u]ns

Han in this lande as moch lay-fee,

Lordshippes, and possessio[u]ns

More than the lordes, it semeth me!

That maketh hem lese charitè,

690

They mowë nat to god attend;

In erthe they have so high degree,

God, for his mercy, it amend!

The emperour yaf the pope somtyme

So hyghe lordship him about,

695

That, at [the] laste, the sely kyme,

The proudë popë putte him out!

So of this realme is in dout,

But lordes be ware and †hem defend;

For now these folk be wonder stout,

700

The king and lordes now this amend!

Thus endeth the seconde part of this tale, and herafter

foloweth the thirde.

PART III.

Moyses lawe forbood it tho,

That preestes shuld no lordshippes welde,

Christes gospel biddeth also

Thát they shuld no lordship helde;

705

Ne Christes apostels were never so bold

No such lordshippes to †hem enbrace;

But smeren hir sheep and kepe hir fold;

God amende hem for his grace!

[170]

For they ne ben but countrefet,

710

Men may knowe hem by hir fruit;

Hir gretnesse maketh hem god foryet,

And take his mekenesse in dispyt.

And they were pore and had but lyte,

They nolde nat demen after the face,

715

But norishe hir sheep, and hem nat byte;

God amende hem for his grace!"

Grifon. "What canst thou preche ayenst chanons

Thát men clepen seculere?"

Pelican. "They ben curates of many towns,

720

On erthë they have greet powére.

They han greet prebendes and dere,

Some two or three, and some [han] mo,

A personage to ben a playing-fere,

And yet they serve the king also;

725

And let to fermë all that fare

To whom that woll most give therfore;

Some woll spende, and some woll spare,

And some woll laye it up in store.

A cure of soule[s] they care nat for,

730

Só they mowë money take;

Whether hir soules be wonne or lore,

Hir profits they woll nat forsake.

They have a gedering procuratour

That can the pore people enplede,

735

And robben hem as a ravinour,

And to his lord the money lede;

And cacche of quicke and eke of dede,

And richen him and his lord eke,

And to robbe the pore can give good rede

740

Of olde and yonge, of hole and seke.

[171]

Therwith they purchase hem lay-fee

In londë, there hem lyketh best,

And builde †als brode as a citè

Both in the est, and eke in the west.

745

To purchase thus they ben ful prest,

But on the pore they woll nought spend,

Ne no good give to goddes gest,

Ne sende him some that all hath send.

By hir service such woll live,

750

And trusse that other in-to tresour;

Though all hir parish dye unshrive,

They woll nat give a rosë-flour.

Hir lyf shuld be as a mirrour

Bothe to lered and to leude also,

755

And teche the people hir leel labour;

Such mister men ben all misgo.

Some of hem ben hardë nigges,

And some of hem ben proude and gay;

Some spende hir good upon [hir] gigges,

760

And finden hem of greet aray.

Alas! what think these men to say

That thus dispenden goddis good?

At the dredfull domes day

Such wrecches shul be worse than wood.

765

Some hir churc[h]es never ne sye,

Ne never o peny thider ne sende;

Though the pore parishens for hunger dye,

O peny on hem wil they nat spende.

Have they receivinge of the rent,

770

They reck never of the remënant;

Alas! the devill hath clene hem blent!

Suche oon is Sathanas sojournant.

[172]

And usen horedom and harlotry,

Covetysë, pompe, and pride,

775

Slouthë, wrathe, and eke envy,

And sewen sinne by every syde.

Alas! where thinkë such t'abyde?

How woll they accomptes yeld?

From hy god they mow hem nat hyde,

780

Such willers wit is nat worth a neld.

They ben so roted in richesse,

That Christes povert is foryete,

Served with so many messe,

Hem thinketh that manna is no mete.

785

All is good that they mow get,

They wenë to live evermore;

But, whan god at dome is set,

Such tresour is a feble store.

Unneth mot they matins say,

790

For counting and for court-holding;

And yet he jangleth as a jay,

And understont him-self nothing.

He woll serve bothe erl and king

For his fynding and his fee,

795

And hyde his tything and his offring;

This is a feble charitè.

Other they ben proude, or coveytous,

Or they ben harde, or [els] hungry,

Or they ben liberall or lecherous,

800

Or els medlers with marchandry;

Or maynteyners of men with maistry,

Or stewardes, countours, or pledours,

And serve god in hypocrisy;

Such preestes ben Christes fals traytours!

[173]

805

They ben false, they ben vengeable,

And begylen men in Christes name;

They ben unstedfast and unstable;

To tray hir lord, hem thinketh no shame.

To servë god they ben full lame,

810

Goddes theves, and falsly stele;

And falsly goddes word defame;

In winning is hir worldes wele.

Antichrist these serven all;

I pray thee, who may say [me] nay?

815

With Antichrist such [folk] shull fall,

They folowen him in dede and fay;

They servin him in riche array,

To servë Christ such falsly fayn;

Why, at the dredful domes day,

820

Shull they not folowe him to payn?

That knowen hem-self, that they don ill

Ayenst Christes commaundëment,

And amende hem never ne will,

But serve Sathan by one assent.

825

Who sayth [the] sothe, he shal be shent,

Or speketh ayenst hir fals living;

Who-so well liveth shal be brent,

For such ben gretter than the king!

Pope, bishoppes, and cardinals,

830

Chanons, persons, and vicaire,

In goddes service, I trow, ben fals,

That sacramentës sellen here.

And ben as proude as Lucifere;

Ech man loke whether that I ly!

835

Who-so speketh ayenst hir powére,

It shall be holden heresy.

[174]

Loke how many orders take

Only of Christ, for his servyce,

That the worldes goodes forsake?

840

Who-so taketh orders †on other wyse,

I trow, that they shall sore agryse!

For all the glose that they conne,

All sewen not this [same] assyse;

In yvell tyme they thus bigonne.

845

Loke how many among hem all

Holden not this hyë way!

With Antichrist they shullen fall,

For they wolden god betray.

God amende hem, that best may!

850

For many men they maken shende;

They weten well, the sothe I say,

Bút the divell hath foule hem blend.

Some [up]on hir churches dwell,

Apparailled porely, proude of port;

855

The seven sacraments they don sell,

In cattel-cacching is hir comfort.

Of ech mattér they wollen mell,

And don hem wrong is hir disport;

To afray the people they ben fell,

860

And holde hem lower then doth the lord.

For the tythinge of a ducke,

Or of an apple, or an ay,

They make men swere upon a boke;

Thus they foulen Christes fay.

865

Such beren yvell heven-kay,

They mowen assoyl, they mowë shryve;

With mennes wyves strongly play,

With trewë tillers sturte and stryve

[175]

At the wrestling, and at the wake;

870

And chefe chauntours at the nale;

Market-beters, and medling make,

Hoppen and houten with heve and hale.

At fayrë freshe, and at wynë stale,

Dyne and drinke, and make debat;

875

The seven sacraments set at sale;

How kepe such the kayes of heven-gat?

Mennes wyves they wollen holde;

And though that they ben right sory,

To speke they shull not be so bolde

880

For sompning to the consistory;

And make hem say [with] mouth "I ly,"

Though they it sawë with hir y;

His lemman holden openly,

No man so hardy to axë why!

885

He wol have tythinge and offringe,

Maugrè who-so-ever it gruche;

And twyës on the day woll singe;

Goddes prestes nere none suche!

He mot on hunting with dogge and bic[c]he,

890

And blowen his horn, and cryën "hey!"

And sorcery usen as a wicche;

Such kepen yvell Peters key.

Yet they mot have som stocke or stoon

Gayly paynted, and proudly dight,

895

To maken men [to] †leven upon,

And say, that it is full of might;

About such, men sette up greet light,

Other such stockes shull stand therby

As darkë as it were midnight,

900

For it may make no ma[i]stry.

[176]

That lewed people see it mow,

Thou, Mary, worchest wonder thinges;

About that, that men offren to now,

Hongen broches, ouches, and ringes;

905

The preest purchaseth the offringes,

But he nill offre to none image;

Wo is the soule that he for singes,

That precheth for suche a pilgrimage!

To men and women that ben pore,

910

That ben [in] Christes own lykenesse,

Men shullen offre at hir dore

That suffren honger and distresse;

And to suche imáges offre lesse,

That mow not felë thurst ne cold;

915

The pore in spirit gan Christ blesse,

Therfore offreth to feble and old.

Buckelers brode, and swerdes longe,

†Baudriks, with baselardes kene,

Such toles about hir necke they honge;

920

With Antichrist such preestes been;

Upon hir dedes it is well sene

Whom they serven, whom they hono[u]ren;

Antichristes they ben clene,

And goddes goodes fa[l]sly deuouren.

925

Of scarlet and grene gay[ë] gownes,

That mot be shapë for the newe,

To clippen and kissen counten in townes

The damoseles that to the daunce sewe;

Cutted clothes to sewe hir hewe,

930

With longë pykes on hir shoon;

Our goddes gospell is not trewe,

Eyther they serven the divell or noon!

[177]

Now ben prestes pokes so wyde,

Men must enlarge the vestëment;

935

The holy gospell they don hyde,

For they contrarien in rayment.

Such preestes of Lucifer ben sent,

Lyk conquerours they ben arayd,

Proude pendaunts at hir ars y-pent,

940

Falsly the truthe they han betrayd.

Shryft-silver suchë wollen aske is,

And woll men crepë to the crouche;

None of the sacraments, save askes,

Without[ë] mede shall no man touche.

945

On hir bishop their warant vouche,

That is lawe of the decrè;

With mede and money thus they mouche,

And †this, they sayn, is charitè!

In the middes of hir masse

950

They nill have no man but for hyre,

And, full shortly, let forth passe;

Such shull men finde[n] in ech shyre

That personages for profite desyre,

To live in lykinge and in lustes;

955

I dar not sayn, sans ose ieo dyre,

That such ben Antichristes preestes.

Or they yef the bishops why,

Or they mot ben in his servyce,

And holden forth hir harlotry;

960

Such prelats ben of feble empryse.

Of goddes grame such men agryse,

For such mattérs that taken mede;

How they excuse hem, and in what wyse,

Me thinketh, they ought greetly drede.

[178]

965

They sayn, that it to no man longeth

To reprove †hem, though they erre;

But falsely goddes good they fongeth,

And therwith maynteyn wo and werre.

Hir dedes shuld be as bright as sterre,

970

Hir living, lewed mannes light;

They say, the popë may not erre,

Nede must that passë mannes might.

Though a prest ly with his lemman al night,

And tellen his felowe, and he him,

975

He goth to massë anon-right,

And sayeth, he singeth out of sinne!

His bryde abydeth him at his inne,

And dighteth his dyner the mene whyle;

He singeth his masse for he wolde winne,

980

And so he weneth god begyle!

Hem thinketh long till they be met;

And that they usen forth all the yere;

Among the folk when he is set,

He holdeth no man half his pere;

985

Of the bishop he hath powére

To soyle men, or els they ben lore;

His absolucion may make †hem skere;

And wo is the soul that he singeth for!"

The Griffon began for to threte,

990

And sayd, "of monkes canst thou ought?"

The Pellican sayd, "they ben full grete,

And in this world moch wo hath wrought.

Saynt Benet, that hir order brought,

Ne made hem never on such manere;

995

I trowe, it cam never in his thought

That they shulde use so greet powér[e];

[179]

That a man shulde a monk lord cal,

Ne serve on kneës, as a king.

He is as proud as prince in pall

1000

In mete, and drink, and [in] all thing;

Some weren myter and ring,

With double worsted well y-dight,

With royall mete and riche drink,

And rydeth on courser as a knight.

1005

With hauke[s] and with houndes eke,

With broches or ouches on his hode,

Some say no masse in all a weke,

Of deyntees is hir moste fode.

With lordshippes and with bondmen

1010

This is a royall religioun;

Saynt Benet made never none of hem

To have lordship of man ne town.

Now they ben queynte and curious,

With fyn cloth cladde, and served clene,

1015

Proude, angry, and envyous,

Malyce is mochë that they mene.

In cacching crafty and covetous,

Lordly liven in greet lyking;

This living is not religious

1020

According to Benet in his living.

They ben clerkes, hir courtes they oversee,

Hir pore tenaunts fully they flyte;

The hyer that a man amerced be,

The gladlyer they woll it wryte.

1025

This is fer from Christes povertè,

For all with covetyse they endyte;

On the pore they have no pitè,

Ne never hem cherish, but ever hem byte.

[180]

And comunly suche ben comen

1030

Of pore people, and of hem begete,

That this perfeccion han y-nomen;

Hir †faders ryde not but on hir fete,

And travaylen sore for that they ete,

In povert liveth, yonge and old;

1035

Hir †faders suffreth drought and wete,

Many hongry meles, thurst, and cold.

All this the monkes han forsake

For Christes love and saynt Benet;

To pryde and esë have hem take;

1040

This religio[u]n is yvell beset.

Had they ben out of religioun,

They must have honged at the plow,

Threshing and dyking fro town to town

With sory mete, and not half y-now.

1045

Therfore they han this all forsake,

And taken to riches, pryde, and ese;

Full fewe for god woll monkes hem make,

Litell is suche order for to prayse!

Saynt Benet ordayned it not so,

1050

But bad hem be [ful] cherelich;

In churlich maner live and go,

Boystous in erth, and not lordlych.

They disclaunder saynt Benet,

Therfore they have his holy curse;

1055

Saynt Benet with hem never met

But-if they thought to robbe his purse!

I can no more herof [now] tell,

But they ben lykë tho before,

And clenë serve the divell of hell,

1060

And ben his tresour and his store.

[181]

And all suche other counterfaytours,

Chanons, canons, and such disgysed,

Ben goddes enemies and traytours,

His true religion han foul dispysed.

1065

Of freres I have told before

In a making of a 'Crede,'

And yet I coud tell worse and more,

But men wold werien it to rede!

As goddes goodnes no man tell might,

1070

Wryte ne speke, ne think in thought,

So, hir falshed and hir unright

May no man tell, that ever god wrought."

The Gryffon sayd, "thou canst no good,

Thou cam never of no gentill kind;

1075

Other, I trow, thou waxest wood,

Or els thou hast [y-]lost thy mynd.

Shuld holy churchë have no heed?

Who shuld be her governayl?

Who shuld her rule, who shuld her reed,

1080

Who shuld her forthren, who shuld avayl?

Ech man shall live by his travayl;

Who best doth, shall have moste mede;

With strength if men the churche assayl,

With strength men must defende her nede.

1085

And the pope were purely pore,

Nedy, and nothing ne had,

He shuld be driven from dore to dore;

The wicked of him nold not be drad.

Of such an heed men wold be sad,

1090

And sinfully liven as hem †list;

With strength, amendes †shuld be made,

With wepen, wolves from sheep be †wist.

[182]

If the pope and prelats wold

So begge and bidde, bowe, and borowe,

1095

Holy churche shuld stand full cold,

Hir servaunts sitte and soupë sorowe!

And they were noughty, foule, and horowe,

To worship god men woldë wlate;

Bothe on even and on morowe

1100

Such harlotry men woldë hate.

Therfore men of holy churche

Shuld ben honest in all thing,

Worshipfully goddes workes werche,

So semeth it, to serve Christ hir king

1105

In honest and in clene clothing;

With vessels of golde and clothes riche,

To god honestly to make offring;

To his lordship non is liche."

The Pellican caste an houge cry,

1110

And sayd, "alas! why sayest thou so?

Christ is our heed that sitteth on hy,

Heddes ne ought we have no mo.

We ben his membres both also,

And †fader he taught us to cal him als;

1115

Maysters be called defended he tho;

All other maysters ben wicked and fals,

That taketh maystry in his name,

Gostly, and for erthly good;

Kinges and lordes shuld lordship han,

1120

And rule the people with myldë mode.

Christ, for us that shedde his blood,

Bad his preestes no maystership have,

Ne carkë nat for cloth ne fode;

From every mischef he will hem save.

[183]

1125

Hir riche clothing shal be rightwysnesse,

Hir tresour, trewë lyf shal be;

Charitè shal be hir richesse,

Hir lordship shal be unitè;

Hope in god, hir honestè;

1130

Hir vessell, clenë conscience;

Pore in spirit, and humilitè,

Shal be holy churches defence."

"What," sayd the Griffon, "may thee greve

That other folkes faren wele?

1135

What hast thou to donë with hir †leve?

Thy falsheed ech man may fele.

For thou canst no catell gete,

But livest in londe, as a lorell,

With glosing gettest thou thy mete;

1140

So fareth the devell that wonneth in hell.

He wold that ech man ther shuld dwell,

For he liveth in clene envy;

So with the tales that thou doest tell

Thou woldest other people distry,

1145

With your glose, and your heresy,

For ye can live no better lyf,

But clenë in hypocrisy,

And bringest thee in wo and stryf.

And therwith have [ye] not to done,

1150

For ye ne have[n] here no cure;

Ye serve the divell, †not god ne man,

And he shall payë you your hyre.

For ye woll farë well at feestes,

And warm [be] clothed for the colde,

1155

Therfore ye glose goddes hestes,

And begyle the people, yonge and olde.

[184]

And all the seven sacraments

Ye speke ayenst, as ye were sly,

Ayenst tythings with your entents,

1160

And on our lordes body falsly ly.

All this ye don to live in ese,

As who sayeth, ther ben non suche;

And sayn, the pope is not worth a pese,

To make the people ayen him gruche.

1165

And this commeth in by fendes,

To bringe the Christen in distaunce;

For they wold that no man were frendes;

Leve thy chattring, with mischaunce!

If thou live well, what wilt thou more?

1170

Let other men live as hem list;

Spende in good, or kepe in store;

Other mennes conscience never thou nist.

Ye han no cure to answere for;

What meddell ye, that han not to don?

1175

Let men live as they han don yore,

For thou shalt answere for no †mon."

The Pellican sayd, "Sir, nay, [nay],

I dispysed not the pope,

Ne no sacrament, soth to say;

1180

But speke in charitè and good hope.

But I dispyse hir hyë pryde,

Hir richesse, that shuld be pore in spryt;

Hir wickednesse is knowe so wyde,

They servë god in fals habyt;

1185

And turnen mekenesse into pryde,

And lowlinesse into hy degrè,

And goddes wordes turne and hyde;

And that am I moved by charitè

[185]

To lettë men to livë so

1190

With all my conning and al my might,

And to warne men of hir wo

And to tell hem trouth and right.

The sacraments be soulë-hele

If they ben used in good use;

1195

Ayenst that speke I never a del,

For then were I nothing wyse.

But they that use hem in mis manére,

Or sette hem up to any sale,

I trow, they shall abye hem dere;

1200

This is my reson, this is my tale.

Who-so taketh hem unrightfulliche

Ayenst the ten commaundëments,

Or by glosë wrechedliche

Selleth any of the sacraments,

1205

I trow, they do the devell homage

In that they weten they do wrong;

And therto, I dar well wage,

They serven Satan for al her song.

To tythen and offren is hoolsom lyf,

1210

So it be don in dew manére;

A man to houselin and to shryve,

Wedding, and all the other in-fere,

So it be nother sold ne bought,

Ne take ne give for covetyse;

1215

And it be so taken, it is nought;

Who selleth hem so, may sore agryse.

On our Lordes body I do not ly,

I say soth, thorow trewë rede,

His flesh and blood, through his mystry,

1220

Is there, in the forme of brede.

[186]

How it is there, it nedeth not stryve,

Whether it be subget or accident,

But as Christ was, when he was on-lyve,

So is he there, verament.

1225

If pope or cardinall live good lyve,

As Christ commaunded in his gospell,

†Ayenës that woll I not stryve;

But, me thinketh, they live not well.

For if the pope lived as god bede,

1230

Pryde and hyghnesse he shuld dispyse,

Richesse, covetyse, and crowne on hede,

Mekenesse and povert he shulde use."

The Gryffon sayd, he shulde abye—

"Thou shal[t] be brent in balefull fyre;

1235

And all thy secte I shall distrye,

Ye shal be hanged by the swyre!

Ye shullen be hanged and to-drawe.

Who giveth you levë for to preche,

Or speke †agaynës goddes lawe,

1240

And the people thus falsly teche?

Thou shalt be cursed with boke and bell,

And dissevered from holy churche,

And clene y-dampned into hell,

Otherwyse but ye woll worche!"

1245

The Pellican sayd, "that I ne drede;

Your cursinge is of litell value;

Of god I hope to have my mede,

For it is falshed that ye shewe.

For ye ben out of charitè

1250

And wilneth vengeaunce, as did Nero;

To suffren I woll redy be;

I drede not that thou canst do.

[187]

Christ bad ones suffre for his love,

And so he taught all his servaunts;

1255

And but thou amend for his sake above,

I drede not all thy mayntenaunce.

For if I drede the worldes hate,

Me thinketh, I were litell to prayse;

I drede nothing your hye estat,

1260

Ne I drede not your disese.

Wolde ye turne and leve your pryde,

Your hyë port, and your richesse,

Your cursing shuld not go so wyde;

God bring you into rightwysnesse!

1265

For I drede not your tyranny,

For nothing that ye can doon;

To suffre I am all redy,

Siker, I recke never how soon!"

The Griffon grinned as he were wood,

1270

And loked lovely as an owle!

And swor, by cockes hertë blood,

He wolde him terë, every doule!

"Holy churche thou disclaundrest foule!

For thy resons I woll thee all to-race;

1275

And make thy flesh to rote and moule;

Losell, thou shalt have hardë grace!"

The Griffon flew forth on his way;

The Pellican did sitte and weep;

And to him-selfë he gan say,

1280

"God wolde that any of Christes sheep

Had herd, and y-takë kepe

Eche a word that here sayd was,

And wolde it wryte and well it kepe!

God wolde it were all, for his grace!"

[188]

1285

Plowman. I answerde, and sayd I wolde,

If for my travayl any wold pay.

Pelican. He sayd, "yes; these that god han sold;

For they han [greet] store of money!"

Plowman. I sayd, "tell me, and thou may,

1290

Why tellest thou mennës trespace?"

Pelican. He said, "to amende hem, in good fay,

If god woll give me any grace.

For Christ him-selfe is lykned to me,

That for his people dyed on rode;

1295

As fare I, right so fareth he,

He fedeth his birdes with his blode.

But these don yvell †ayenës good,

And ben his foon under frendes face;

I tolde hem how hir living stood;

1300

God amende hem, for his grace!"

Plowman. "What ayleth the Griffon, tell [me] why,

That he holdeth on that other syde?"

Pellican. "For they two ben [of kind], lykly,

And with [lyk] kindes robben wyde.

1305

The foul betokeneth [evill] pryde,

As Lucifer, that hygh †flowe was;

And sith he did him in evell hyde,

For he agilted goddes grace.

As bird [that] flyeth up in the ayr,

1310

And liveth by birdes that ben meke,

So these be flowe up in dispayr,

And shenden sely soules eke.

The soules that ben in sinnes seke,

He culleth hem; knele therfore, alas!

1315

For brybry goddes forbode breke,

God amende it, for his grace!

[189]

The hinder part is a lyoun,

A robber and a ravinere,

That robbeth the people in erth a-down,

1320

And in erth holdeth non his pere;

So fareth this foul, both fer and nere;

With temporel strength they people chase,

As a lyon proud in erthë here;

God amende hem for hys grace!"

1325

He flew forth with his winges twayn,

All drouping, dased, and dull.

But soone the Griffon cam agayn,

Of his foules the erth was full;

The Pellican he had cast to pull.

1330

So greet a nombre never seen ther was;

What maner of foules, tellen I woll,

If god woll give me of his grace.

With the Griffon comen foules fele,

Ravins, rokes, crowes, and pye,

1335

Gray foules, agadred wele,

Y-gurd, above they woldë hye.

Gledes and bosardes weren hem by;

Whyt molles and puttockes token hir place;

And lapwinges, that wel conneth ly,

1340

This felowship han for-gerd hir grace.

Longe the Pellican was out,

But at [the] laste he cometh agayn;

And brought with him the Phenix stout.

The Griffon wolde have flowe full fayn;

1345

His foules, that flewen as thycke as rayn,

The Phenix tho began hem chace;

To fly from him it was in vayn,

For he did vengeaunce and no grace.

[190]

He slew hem down without mercy,

1350

Ther astartë neyther free ne thrall;

On him they cast a rufull cry

When the Griffon down was fall.

He beet hem not, but slew hem all;

Whither he hem drove, no man may trace;

1355

Under the erthe, me thought, they yall;

Alas! they had a feble grace!

The Pellican then axed right,

"For my wryting if I have blame,

Who woll for me fight of flight?

1360

Who shall sheldë me from shame?

He that had a mayd to dame,

The lamb that slayn [for sinners] was,

Shall sheldë me from gostly blame;

For erthly harm is goddes grace.

1365

Therfore I praye every man,

Of my wryting have me excused."

This wryting wryteth the Pellican,

That thus these people hath dispysed;

For I am, fresh, fully advysed,

1370

I nill not maynteyn his manace.

For the devell is †oft disguysed,

To bringe a man to yvell grace.

Wyteth the Pellican, and not me,

For herof I nil not avowe,

1375

In hy ne in low, ne in no degrè,

But as a fable take it ye mowe.

To holy churche I will me bowe;

Ech man to amende him, Christ send space!

And for my wryting me alowe

1380

He that is almighty, for his grace.'

Finis.

1. Ploweman; plowe. 3. eate ynowe. 4. lyge; chynne. 5. cowe. 6. bone; skynne. 7. shoke; -drowe. 8. honge; pynne. 9. toke; tabarde; staffe. 12. pylgremage; platte. 13. bare. 14. forswatte. 15. sene. 17. behelde wele. 18. sawe. 19. knewe; snoute. 23. coulde; loute.

27. plowe. 28. meate. 29. auowe. 30. wyfe; fynde. 31. howe. 32. leude; bene; full (read fully; see l. 24); blynde. 33. fayne. 34. her; supply to; swet. 35. agayne. 36. eate. 37. The (for They; 1550, They); sayne. 38. hell. 39. payne. 41. her. 42. sayne. 43. corne. 44. speaketh. 45. preache. 46. nere; thynge. 47. ons (1550, ones); teache. 48. preachynge. 49. Saye; the. 51. praye; noman. 52. Whyle; tellynge. Colophon: fyrst parte.

53. stryfe. 55. bene. 57. great; vngrounde (!). 58. souble (error for souple). 60. foule. 61. one. 63. freers. 64. great. 65. heuyn. 68. foule mought. 70. Supply al; prease. 71. caytyffes. 72. one; encrease. 73. I-clepeth (!); londlese. 74. bene. 75. peace. 76. foule. 78. knowe. 79. trauayle. 80. ferre. 82. wodde. 83. sawe.

85. one. 86. grymme. 89. measure. 90. counsayle. 91. sharpe. 92. foule. 93. preache. 94. mekenesse. 95. teache. 96. blesse. 97. beareth wytnesse. 98. lambe; lykeneth. 99. tokenynge. 103. lowlyche; lowe. 105. crowne; couetours (read covertours). 106. pylloure (for pelure). 107. great treasours. 108. foule. 109. Preests shulde. 111. bateyle shulde. 112. her owne. 113. syttynges; hye. 114. souerayntie; house. 115. worshippe. 116. Who so (omit so); foule shall.

117. suche. 118. erthlye. 119. suche shall. 120. y-buylden her boure. 122. them to hem; supply be. 123. holde; one. 124. suche one shall (om. one). 125. peeres. 127. poore freers. 128. Nowe. 129. her. 130. noman; permagall. 131. Whyle; her. 132. suche; mote. 134. glytterande; great araye. 136. commen; maye; gaye. 137. daye. 138. great. 139. baye. 140. suche; mote. 141. punyshed (!); see l. 143. 142. sustayne. 144. her. 147. leude. 148. Suche; foule them befall (see ll. 156, 164).

149. meates. 150. songe; syttynge longe. 151. her. 152. meate; gonge. 153. meate; harpe; songe. 154. eche; mote. 155. amonge. 156. Suche; foule. 157. one. 159. staffe; pyrrey; read perrey. 160. made; lead. 161. golde; redde. 162. glytterande; golde (repeated from l. 161; read gown). 164. foule. 167. her. 168. hel. 169. her. 170. her gaye. 172. great. 179. poore. 180. Suche; foule.

182, 3. her. 184. kynge. 185. glyttryng (1550, glytteryng). 187. golde. 188. foule. 189. clepen (!); bene. 194. Antichriste; her. 196. foule. 198. done (but 1550, dome; read demed). 200. whiche. 201, 202. her. 204. suche; foule. 205. Her. 207. mote. 208. forbede (= forbēd). 209. suche. 211. mote; her.

215, 216. greater. 224. thynke. 225. Suche; stynke. 227. bowynge. 228. must nede euyll; I omit nede. 231. suche; sect sewys. 233. her. 234. Her. 235. Chrystes (!); read Christ his. 236. suche; foule. 238. her; lyfe. 240. Supply ther; great stryfe. 241. a knyfe (om. a). 243. suche. 244. suche; foule.

246. Supply he surely. 247. peace. 248. bade. 251. trusteth (!). 252. Supply such; foule. 256. roode. 257. commen. 258. Echeon. 259. poore. 260. befall; read fall. 261. Supply never. 263. Supply yet. 266. her. 267. her. 268. foule; falle. 272. her. 276. suche; foule.

282. shyppes (!); 1550, shepes. 283. ofte. 284. suche; foule. 287. poore. 289. Supply him. 292. sayne. 295. Supply there; nowe; them. 296. hoode. 297. blode. 298. buckette; (wall = well). 299. wode. 300. suche. 301. her. 302. Omit to? 304. sonne; worthe. 306. her crokettes; christall. 307. downe. 308. foule.

310. her. 315. Redde; vsyn. 316. falsshed foule. 317. Their (read Hir); her. 318. clemeth; see l. 525. 320. Supply by; raunsome. 324, 332, 340. foule. 324. to fall (omit to). 325. her. 328. her seales; dare. 329. great. 332. suche; supply false. 334. her. 336. sayne; poore. 337. eche preeste. 338. encrease. 339. heerdes; the. 340. suche.

341. falsely. 344. towne (twice). 345. raunsome. 346. christall. 348. suche. 348, 356, 364. foule. 349. gyltie. 350. Supply yet; maye. 352. maye. 353. gone. 355. poore; theyr (read hir). 356. suche. 357. suche. 358. suche crafte. 359. forbade. 360. Suche. 361. is (read ben). 363. dispyce. 364. suche. 365. sayne. 366. heuyn; holde. 367. toke. 368. solde. 369. Suche; bolde. 370. wytte. 371. colde. 372. suche.

374. leaue. 375. suche (twice). 378. Theyr (for Hir). 380. false Lucifere. 381. Lucifarre. 383. faythe; farre. 386. hounde; hungre. 387. vngratious. 388. suche. 388, 396, 404. foule. 389. heyre. 390. thynke; case. 391. dispeyre. 393. lorde. 394. anone pray. 395. purchase. 396. suche. 397. can (read conne). 398. spedde. 399. wylde. 400. redde. 401. leude boster (om. leude). 402. byshoppe; is (read as); horse. 403. be stedde. 404. Supply the; last.

405. byshoppes. 407. Suche; ranke. 408. heale none. 409. done. 410. one fors (!); misprint. 411. thanke suche. 412. suche. 412, 420, 436. foule. 413. canne; read conne; her. 414. made. 415. canne. 416. Suche; nowe. 418. her. 419. Suche. 420. suche. 422. Traueyle hungre; colde. 424. olde. 425. folde. 426. theyr (for hir); shepe. 428. suche. 429. her. 430. pouerte. 432. drynke; pyement; supply and; aparte. 433. a ferde. 434. as dyd (om. dyd). 435. dryuen her shepe; deserte. 436. suche.

437. xij. 438. Nowe; there; one. 440. echone. 443. stone. 447. nowe. 449. her. 450. leuyn. 451. But (read Ben). 452. suche. 453. plowe. 454. hate (!). 455. to hym (om. to); ynowe. 456. hatte. 457. poore; latte. 459. Suche; gnatte. 460. suche. 461. showe. 462. to kysse (om. to); fete. 463. ynowe. 464. sette; read seet (= sat). 465. Suche one; hym selfe foryete. 466. For call read tall (?); cf. l. 74. 467. wete. 468. suche; foule.

469. her. 470. golde. 472. catche sholde. 473. Her seruauntes; them (read hem); vnholde. 474. theyr (for hir). 475. holde. 476. suche. 478. fynde. 479. nowe. 480. saye behynde. 481. Howe; pynde. 482. kende; see l. 530. 483. putte; mynde. 484. amende. 485. nowe. 486. Howe. 487. howe. 488. worde; telleth (see l. 487). 490. offrende. 492. amende.

493. saye. 495. Suche hathe nowe. 497. varry. 498. wende. 500. pytie; amende. 501. lyfe. 503. sufferaunce; stryfe. 505. wysedome. 506. tende. 507. measure. 508. maye amende. 509. lyfe. 514. comprehende. 515. maynteyne. 516. amende. 517. delyghtes. 518. stronge. 519. vsen. 520. Agaynste pytie punishementes. 522. Her; worse dispende. 524. amende.

525. holy. 528. worse; wytlesse. 529. fyshe; fleshe. 530. ykende. 531. poore. 532. amende. 533. Dyuers (read Dives); suche; her dome. 534. sayne. 535. shulde done. 536. suche. 537. suche. 538. offende. 539. nowe. 540. amende. 542. nowe; yknowe. 544. trowe. 545. Eche; owe (!). 546. sende. 547. worde; folke; showe. 548. amende. 549. poore. 551. Nowe dare; poore. 552. her foe. 553. Amonge; mote. 554. suche suspende. 555. hente. 556. amende.

557. worlde. 558. loly; badde. 559. her. 560. forthe ladde. 561. dradde. 562. Supply servaunts; shende. 563. Eche; gladde. 564, 572, 580, 588. amende. 567. One; one. 569. Supply that; one. 570. defende. 571. badde. 572. suche. 573. badde; shepe. 574. forbade. 575. Swerde; shepe. 576. shepe. 578. her shepe; swerde; contende. 579. her shepe; great. 582. Supply that; chefe pastoure. 583. swerde. 584. bochoure. 586. Shulde; shepe; backe bende. 587. shoure.

590. forsoke. 591. Supply to (as in l. 592). 592. hoke. 593. shepe; dothe; coke. 594. Supply they; vntrende. 595. -boke. 596. them amende. 600. badde; behynde. 601. Suche. 602. offende. 604. suche; amende. 606. Read contrar. 608. mysse. 610. Peter (read him); reprehende. 611. But nat (om. But); heuyn blysse. 612. amende. 613. case. 616. bare. 618. stale; supply gan; myspende. 620. Supply now; amende.

622. hys false (om. false). 626. frende = fremd. 628. amende. 629. efte sone. 631. fordone. 632. sayne. 633. And ayenst (omit And); commaundementes (read maundements); crye. 634. brende. 635. suche. 636. amende. 637. Englande. 638. kynge. 639. suche. 640. Supply they (or hem); lyste. 641. her. 642. prysone; sende. 644. amende. 648. bayghted. 649. worse. 650. prysone; supply be; pende. 652. maye mende.

654. assente. 655. eche. 657. Her seales. 658. extende. 660. mischefe; supply may; amende. 662. worthe tenne pounde. 664. thyrde parte; rounde. 665. raunsounde. 666. saye suche parte; apende. 667. gothe; grounde. 668. amende. 669. fornycatioun. 670. shyllynges; paye. 671. absolution. 672. forthe; maye. 674. soule; brende. 676. suche; amende. 678. londe. 680. her honde. 681. theyr (for hir); bonde. 682. Worse beate; supply more; brende. 683. vnderstande. 684. amende.

685. Read religiouns. 686. moche laye. 690. attende. 691. hyghe. 692. amende. 694. aboute. 695. Supply the. 697. doute. 698. them defende. 699. nowe; folke; stoute. 700. kynge; nowe; amende. 701. forbode. 702. shulde. 704. shulde; lordshyppe. 705. bolde. 706. suche lordeshyppes; them (for hem). 707. her shepe; her folde.

709. countrefete. 710. her fruite. 711. Her; foryete. 712. dispyte. 713. poore. 715. her shepe. 720-1. great. 722. thre; supply han. 723. playeng. 724. kynge. 725. lette. 729. soule; fore. 731. her. 732. Her profytes. 734. poore. 736. lorde. 737. catche. 738. lorde. 739. poore. 740. syke (for seke); see l. 1313.

743. also (read als). 746. poore; spende. 748. sende. 749. her; suche. 750. treasour. 751. her paryshe. 752. -floure. 753. Her lyfe shulde. 755. her lele. 756. Suche. 759. her; supply hir. 760. great. 761. thynke. 763. dredefull. 764. Suche wretches. 765. her. 767. poore; hungre. 769. rente. 770. recke. 772. one.

773. horedome. 777. suche tabyde. 778. Howe; yelde. 779. hye; mowe. 780. Suche; wytte; nelde. 782. foryet. 785. mowe gete. 787. sette. 788. Suche treasour. 789. mote; saye. 790. holdynge. 791. iaye. 792. selfe nothynge. 793. erle; kynge. 795. tythynge; offrynge. 798. Supply els. 804. false.

808. her lorde. 811. falsely; worde. 812. her. 814. the; supply me. 815. suche; supply folk. 818. suche falsely fayne. 819. dredeful. 820. payne. 821. selfe; done. 825. Supply the. 826. her false. 828. suche. 830. Read vikere. 831. trowe; false. 834. Eche; lye. 835. Read Who speke ayeinës; her.

837. howe. 838. Onely; Christe. 840. or (read on). 841. trowe. 843. Supply same. 845. howe; amonge. 846. waye. 848. betraye. 849. maye. 851. saye. 852. blende. 853. on (read upon); her. 854. poorely; porte. 855. sacramentes; done. 856. catchynge; her comforte. 857. eche. 858. done; wronge; her dysporte. 859. afraye. 860. lorde. 862. aye. 863. sweare. 865. Suche bearen; heauen. 866. assoyle. 868. true (better trewë).

869. wrestlynge. 871. Markette beaters; medlynge. 874. debate. 875. sacramentes; sayle (!). 876. Howe; suche; gate. 879. speake. 880. sompnynge. 881. saye; supply with; lye. 882. her eye. 887. twyse; daye he (om. he). 889. mote. 890. horne. 891. wytche. 892. Suchen. 893. mote; some; stone. 895. Supply to; lyuen. 896. saye. 897. Aboute suche; great. 898. suche; stande. 900. maye.

901. That it leude people se mowe. 902. Mary thou (om. thou). 903. Aboute; nowe. 909. poore. 910. Supply in; owne. 911. her. 914. mowe; colde. 915. poore; sprete; Christe. 916. olde. 917. sweardes. 918. Baudryke (read Baudriks). 919. Suche; her. 920. suche; bene. 921. her. 922. Whome (twice). 923. bene. 925. gay. 926. mote. 929. her. 930. her shone. 932. none.

933. Nowe. 934. That men (om. That). 935. done. 937. Suche. 938. Lyke. arayde. 939. The proude (om. The); pendauntes; her. 940. Falsely; betrayde. 941. Shryfte-. 943. sacramentes. 945. her byshoppe. 948. thus (read this); sayne. 949. her. 952. Suche; eche. 953. profyte. 955. dare; sayne. 956. suche. 957. byshoppes. 958. mote. 959. her. 960. Suche prelates. 961. suche. 962. suche. 963. Howe. 964. greatly.

965. sayne. 966. them (for hem). 967. goddes goodesse (!). 968. maynteyne. 969. Her; shulde. 970. Her lyuynge leude. 971. saye; maye. 972. muste. 973. lye. 975. anone. 978. meane. 981. longe; mette. 983. Amonge; folke; sette. 984. halfe. 985. byshoppe. 987. absolution maye; them (for hem). 988. soule; fore. 993. her. 994. suche. 995. came. 996. great.

997. monke lorde. 998. kynge. 999. proude. 1000. meate; drynke; supply in. 1001. wearen; rynge. 1003. meate; drynke. 1004. on a (om. a). 1007. saye. 1008. deynties; her; foode. 1010. religion. 1012. lordshyppe; towne. 1013. Nowe. 1014. fyne clothe. 1016. meane. 1017. catchynge. 1018. great lykynge. 1019. lyuynge. 1020. Accordynge; Benette; lyuynge. 1021. her; ouerse. 1022. Her poore tenaunce. 1023. hyre (1550, hyer). 1025. farre. 1027. poore. 1028. cheryshe.

1029. commenly. 1030. poore. 1031. perfection. 1032. Her fathers ryden; her. 1034. olde. 1035. Her fathers. 1036. colde. 1037. And all (om. And). 1038. Benette. 1039. ease. 1040. besette. 1042. plowe. 1043. Threshynge; dykynge; towne; towne. 1044. halfe ynowe. 1046. ease. 1050. badde; supply ful; cherelyche. 1051. churlyche. 1052. earth. 1053. Benette. 1055. mette. 1057. Supply now. 1060. treasoure.

1062. suche. 1064. foule. 1065. tolde. 1066. makynge. 1067. coulde. 1068. wolde. 1069. goodnesse. 1070. speake; thynke. 1071. her (twice). 1074. came; kynde. 1075. trowe. 1076. lost; mynde. 1077-80. shulde. 1078. gouernayle. 1080. auayle. 1081. Eche; trauayle. 1083. assayle. 1085. poore. 1086. nothynge; hadde. 1087. shulde. 1088. nolde; dradde. 1089. wolde; sadde. 1090. lust (read list). 1091. such (read shuld). 1092. shepe; wust (read wist).

1093. prelates wolde. 1095. shulde stande; colde. 1096. Her seruauntes. 1098. worshyppe. 1100. Suche. 1102. Shulde; thynge. 1104. her kynge. 1105. clothynge. 1107. offrynge. 1108. lordshypppe (!) none. 1109. crye. 1111. hye. 1114. father. 1115. to be (om. to). 1116. Read wikke? 1118. Goostly; earthly. 1119. shulde; hane. 1121. blode. 1122. Badde. 1124. myschefe.

1125-30. Her. 1125. clothynge. 1126. treasoure; lyfe. 1128. lordshyppe. 1131. Poore; spirite. 1133. the. 1135. haste; lyue (read leve). 1136. eche. 1139. glosynge. 1141. wolde; eche; there shulde. 1142. enuye. 1146. lyfe. 1148. the; stryfe. 1149. Supply ye. 1151. neyther (read not). 1154. warme; supply be.

1157. sacramentes. 1158. speake; slye. 1159. tythynges offringes with (omit offringes); ententes. 1160. lye. 1161. done; ease. 1162. there; none. 1163. sayne; pease. 1167. wolde. 1168. Leaue; chattrynge. 1173. fore. 1174. done. 1175. done. 1176. shalte; man. 1177. Supply nay. 1179. sacramente. 1180. speake. 1181-3. her. 1182. shulde; poore; spirite. 1184. false habyte. 1186. hye.

1190. connynge. 1191. her. 1193. sacramentes. 1195. speake; dele. 1196. nothynge. 1197. vsen; mysse. 1199. trowe. 1200. reason. 1202. commaundementes. 1204. sacramentes. 1205. trowe. 1206. wronge. 1207. dare. 1208. songe. 1209. holsome lyfe. 1210. done; dewe. 1212. Weddynge. 1213. solde. 1216. maye. 1217. lye. 1218. saye; thorowe. 1219. fleshe; blode; mystrye.

1221. Howe. 1222. subgette. 1227. Ayenst. 1230. shulde. 1232. pouerte. 1235. dystrye. 1238. leaue; preache. 1239. speake agaynst. 1240. falsely teache. 1245. sayde. 1248. falshede.

1253. badde. 1254. seruauntes. 1255. amende. 1259. nothynge; estate. 1260. dysease. 1261. leaue. 1262. porte. 1263. cursynge shulde. 1264. brynge. 1266. nothynge; done. 1268. howe soone. 1269. wode. 1271. swore; bloode. 1274. reasons; the. 1275. fleshe. 1276. shalte. 1277. flewe; waye. 1278. wepe. 1279. saye. 1280. shepe. 1281. herde. 1282. worde. 1283. wrytte.

1286. trauayle; any man wolde (om. man). 1287. solde. 1288. Supply greet. 1293. lykened. 1297. done; ayenst gode. 1298. fone. 1299. howe her lyuynge stode. 1301. Supply me. 1303. Supply Pellican (wrongly prefixed to l. 1305); supply of kind. 1304. Supply lyk. 1305. foule; supply evill. 1306. flewe (read flowe; see l. 1311). 1309. byrde; supply that; ayre. 1311. into (read in); dyspayre.

1317. parte. 1319. earth a downe. 1320. none. 1321. foule; ferre. 1322. And wyth (om. And). 1323. proude; earth. 1325. (Pellican is written above this line); flewe; twayne. 1326. droupynge. 1327. came agayne. 1328. earth. 1338. great; sene there. 1336. Igurde. 1338. Whyte; her. 1339. lye. 1340. for gerde her. 1342. Supply the. 1343. stoute. 1344. fayne. 1345. rayne. 1345. flye; vayne.

1349. slewe; downe. 1350. There. 1352. downe. 1353. bete; slewe. 1358. wrytynge. 1361. mayde. 1362. And the lambe (om. And); supply for sinners. 1364. erthely harme. 1366-7. wrytynge. 1369. freshe. 1370. maynteyne. 1371. often (read oft). 1375. hye; lowe. 1378. Eche; sende. 1379. wrytynge.

I, Jack Uplande, make my mone to very god and to all

true belevinge in Christ, that Antichrist and his disciples, by

colour of holines, walken and deceiven Christes church by many

fals figures, wherethrough, by Antichrist and his, many vertues

been transposed to vices.

But the fellest folk that ever Antichrist found been last

brought into the church, and in a wonder wyse; for they been of

divers sectes of Antichrist, sowen of divers countrees and

kinredes. And all men knowen wel, that they ben not obedient

to bishoppes, ne lege men to kinges; neither they tillen ne

sowen, weden, ne repen woode, corn, ne gras, neither nothing

that man shuld helpe but only hem-selves, hir lyves to sustein.

And these men han all maner power of god, as they sayen,

in heaven and in earth, to sell heaven and hell to whom that

hem lyketh; and these wrecches wete never where to been

hemselves.

And therfore, frere, if thine order and rules ben grounded on

goddes law, tell thou me, Jack Upland, that I aske of thee; and

if thou be or thinkest to be on Christes syde, kepe thy pacience.

Saynt Paul techeth, that al our dedes shuld be don in charitè,

and els it is nought worth, but displesing to god and harm to

oure owne soules. And for because freres chalengen to be

gretest clerkes of the church, and next folowinge Christ in

livinge, men shulde, for charitè, axe hem some questions, and

[192]

pray hem to grounde their answers in reson and in holy writ; for

els their answere wolde nought be worth, be it florished never so

faire; and, as me think, men might skilfully axe thus of a frere.

1. Frere, how many orders be in erthe, and which is the

perfitest order? Of what order art thou? Who made thyn

order? What is thy rule? Is there ony perfiter rule than Christ

himselfe made? If Christes rule be moost perfit, why rulest

thou thee not therafter? Without more, why shall a frere be

more punished if he breke the rule that his patron made, than if

he breke the hestes that god himself made?

2. Approveth Christ ony more religions than oon, that saynt

James speketh of? If he approveth no more, why hast thou left

his rule, and taken another? Why is a frere apostata, that leveth

his order and taketh another secte; sith there is but oon religion

of Christ?

3. Why be ye wedded faster to your habits than a man is to his

wyfe? For a man may leve his wyf for a yere or two, as many

men do; and if †ye leve your habit a quarter of a yere, ye shuld

be holden apostatas.

4. Maketh youre habit you men of religion, or no? If it

do, than, ever as it wereth, your religion wereth; and, after that

the habit is better, is you[r] religion better. And whan ye liggen

it besyde you, than lig ye youre religion besyde you, and ben

apostatas. Why by ye you so precious clothes, sith no man

seketh such but for vaine glorie, as saynt Gregory saith?

5. What betokeneth youre grete hood, your scaplerye, youre

knotted girdel, and youre wyde cope?

6. Why use ye al oon colour, more then other Christen men

do? What betokeneth that ye been clothed all in one maner

clothinge?

7. If ye saye it betokeneth love and charitè, certes, than ye be

ofte ypocrites, whan ony of you hateth other, and in that, that ye

wollen be said holy by youre clothinge.

8. Why may not a frere were clothing of an-other secte of

freres, sith holines stondeth not in the clothes?

[193]

9. Why holde ye silence in one howse more than in another;

sith men ought over-al to speke the good and leve the evell?

10. Why ete you flesh in one house more than in another,

if youre rule and youre order be perfit, and the patron that

made it?

11. Why gette ye your dispensacions, to have it more esy?

Certes, either it semeth that ye be unperfit; or he, that made it

so hard that ye may not holde it. And siker, if ye holde not the

rule of youre patrons, ye be not than hir freres; and so ye lye

upon youre-selves!

12. Why make ye you as dede men whan ye be professed;

and yet ye be not dede, but more quicke beggars than ye were

before? And it semeth evell a deed man to go aboute and

begge.

13. Why will ye not suffer youre novices here your councels in

youre chapter-house, er that they been professed; if youre councels

been trew, and after god[d]es lawe?

14. Why make ye you so costly houses to dwell in; sith Christ

did not so, and dede men shuld have but graves, as falleth to

dede men? And yet ye have more gorgeous buildinges than

many lordes of Englonde. For ye maye wenden through the

realme, and ech night, wel nigh, ligge in youre owne courtes;

and so mow but right few lordes do.

15. Why hyre ye to ferme youre limitors, gevinge therfore

eche yeer a certain rente; and will not suffer oon in an-others

limitacion, right as ye were your-selves lordes of contreys?

16. Why be ye not under youre bisshops visitacions, and liege

men to oure kinge?

17. Why axe ye no letters of bretherhedes of other mens

prayers, as ye desyre that other men shulde aske letters of you?

18. If youre letters be good, why graunte ye them not generally

to al maner men, for the more charitè?

19. Mow ye make ony man more perfit brother for your

prayers, than god hath by oure beleve, by our baptyme and his

owne graunte? If ye mowe, certes, than ye be above god.

[194]

20. Why make ye men beleve that your golden trentall songe

of you, to take therfore ten shillinges, or at the leest fyve

shillinges, will bringe soules out of helle, or out of purgatorye?

If this be sooth, certes, ye might bring all soules out of payne.

And that wolle ye nought; and than ye be out of charitè.

100

21. Why make ye men beleve, that he that is buried in youre

habit shall never come in hell; and ye wite not of youre-selfe,

whether ye shall to hell, or no? And if this were sooth, ye

shulde selle youre high houses, to make many habites, for to save

many mens soules.

105

22. Why stele ye mens children for to make hem of youre

secte; sith that theft is agaynst goddes heste; and sithe youre

secte is not perfit? Ye know not whether the rule that ye binde

him to, be best for him or worst!

23. Why undernime ye not your brethren, for their trespas

110

after the lawe of the gospell; sith that underneminge is the best

that may be? But ye put them in prison ofte, whan they do after

goddes lawe; and, by saynt Austines rule, if ony did amisse and

wolde not amende him, ye should put him from you.

24. Why covete ye shrifte, and burying of other mens parishens,

115

and non other sacrament that falleth to Christen folke?

25. Why busie ye not to here shrifte of poore folke, as well

as of riche lordes and ladyes; sith they mowe have more plentee

of shrifte-fathers than poore folk may?

26. Why saye ye not the gospel in houses of bedred men; as

120

ye do in riche mens, that mowe go to churche and here the

gospell?

27. Why covette †ye not to burye poore folk among you; sith

that they ben moost holy, as ye sayn that ye ben for youre

povertee?

125

28. Why will ye not be at hir diriges, as ye been at riche mens;

sith god prayseth hem more than he doth riche men?

29. What is thy prayer worth; sith thou wilt take therefore?

For of all chapmen ye nede to be moost wyse; for drede of

symonye.

130

30. What cause hast thou that thou wilt not preche the

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gospell, as god sayeth that thou shuldest; sith it is the best

lore, and also oure beleve?

31. Why be ye evell apayed that secular prestes shulde preche

the gospel; sith god him-selfe hath boden hem?

135

32. Why hate ye the gospell to be preched; sith ye be so

moche holde thereto? For ye winne more by yere with

In principio, than with all the rules that ever youre patrons made.

And, in this, minstrels been better than ye. For they contraryen

not to the mirthes that they maken; but ye contraryen the gospell

140

bothe in worde and dede.

33. Frere, whan thou receivest a peny for to say a masse,

whether sellest thou goddes body for that peny, or thy prayer,

or els thy travail? If thou sayest thou wolt not travaile for to

saye the masse but for the peny, †than certes, if this be soth, than

145

thou lovest to littel mede for thy soule. And if thou sellest

goddes body, other thy prayer, than it is very symony; and art

become a chapman worse than Judas, that solde it for thirty

pens.

34. Why wrytest thou hir names in thy tables, that yeveth thee

150

moneye; sith god knoweth all thing? For it semeth, by thy

wryting, that god wolde not rewarde him but thou wryte him in

thy tables; god wolde els forgetten it.

35. Why berest thou god in honde, and sclaundrest him that he

begged for his mete; sith he was lord over all? For than hadde

155

he ben unwyse to have begged, and no nede therto.

36. Frere, after what law rulest thou thee? Wher findest thou

in goddes law that thou shuldest thus begge?

37. What maner men nedeth for to begge?

Of whom oweth suche men to begge?

160

Why beggest thou so for thy brethren?

If thou sayest, for they have nede; than thou doest it for the

more perfeccion, or els for the leest, or els for the mene. If it be

the moost perfeccion of all, than shulde al thy brethren do so;

and than no man neded to begge but for him-selfe, for so shuld no

165

man begge but him neded. And if it be the leest perfeccion, why

lovest thou than other men more than thy-selfe? For so thou art

[196]

not well in charitè; sith thou shuldest seke the more perfeccion

after thy power, livinge thy-selfe moost after god; and thus, leving

that imperfeccion, thou shuldest not so begge for hem. And if

170

it is a good mene thus to begge as thou doest, than shuld no man

do so but they ben in this good mene; and yet such a mene,

graunted to you, may never be grounded in goddes lawe; for

than both lered and lewed that ben in mene degrè of this worlde

shuld go aboute and begge as ye do. And if all suche shuld do

175

so, certes, wel nigh al the world shuld go aboute and begge as

ye do: and so shulde there be ten beggers agaynst oon yever.

38. Why procurest thou men to yeve thee hir almes, and sayest

it is so meedful; and thou wilt not thy-selfe winne thee that

mede?

180

39. Why wilt thou not begge for poore bedred men, that ben

poorer than ony of youre secte, that liggen, and mow not go

aboute to helpe themselves; sith we be all brethren in god, and

that bretherhed passeth ony other that ye or ony man coude

make? And where moost nede were, there were moost perfeccion;

185

either els ye holde hem not youre pure brethren, or worse. But

than ye be imperfite in your begginge.

40. Why make ye you so many maisters among you; sith it

is agaynst the techinge of Christ and his apostels?

41. Whos ben all your riche courtes that ye han, and all your

190

riche jewels; sith ye sayen that ye han nought, in proper ne in

comune? If ye sayn they ben the popes, why †geder ye then, of

poore men and of lordes, so much out of the kinges honde to make

your pope riche? And sith ye sayen that it is greet perfeccion to

have nought, in proper ne in comune, why be ye so fast aboute to

195

make the pope (that is your †fader) riche, and putte on him

imperfeccion? Sithen ye sayn that your goodes ben all his, and he

shulde by reson be the moost perfit man, it semeth openlich that

ye ben cursed children, so to sclaunder your †fader, and make

him imperfit. And if ye sayn that tho goodes be yours, then do

200

ye ayenst youre rule; and if it be not ayenst your rule, than might

[197]

ye have both plough and cart, and labour as other good men don,

and not so begge to by losengery, and ydell, as ye don. And if ye

say that it is more perfeccion to begge than to travaill or worch

with youre hand, why preche ye not openly, and teche all men to

205

do so, sith it is the best and moost perfit lyf to helpe of her

soules, as ye make children to begge that might have been riche

heyres?

42. Why make ye not your festes to poore men, and yeveth

hem yeftes, as ye don to the riche; sith poore men han more

210

nede than the riche?

43. What betokeneth that ye go tweyne and tweyne †togeder?

If ye be out of charitè, ye accorden not in soule.

44. Why begge ye, and take salaries therto, more than other

prestes; sith he that moost taketh, most charge he hath?

215

45. Why holde ye not saynt Fraunces rule and his testament;

sith Fraunces saith, that god shewed him this living and this

rule? And certes, if it were goddes will, the pope might not

fordo it; or els Fraunces was a lyar, that sayde on this wyse.

And but this testament that he made accorde with goddes will,

220

els erred he as a lyar that were out of charitè; and as the law

sayeth, he is accursed that letteth the rightfull last will of a deed

man lacke. And this testament is the last will of Fraunces that

is a deed man; it seemeth therefore that all his freres ben

cursed.

225

46. Why wil ye not touche no coined money with the crosse,

ne with the kinges heed, as ye don other jewels both of golde and

silver? Certes, if ye despyse the crosse or the kinges heed, than

ye be worthy to be despysed of god and the kinge. And sith ye

will receyve money in your hertes and not with youre handes, it

230

seemeth that ye holde more holinesse in your hondes than in your

hertes; and than be ye false to god.

47. Why have ye exempt you fro our kinges lawes and visitinge

of our bishoppes more than other Christen men that liven in this

realme, if ye be not gilty of traitory to our realme, or trespassers

235

to oure bishoppes? But ye will have the kinges lawes for trespas

don to you; and ye wil have power of other bishops more than

[198]

other prestes; and also have leave to prison youre brethren as

lordes in youre courtes, more than other folkes han that ben the

kinges lege men.

240

48. Why shal some secte of you freres paye eche yere a certaine

to hir generall provinciall or minister, or els to hir soverains,

but-if he stele a certain number of children, as some men sayn? And

certes, if this be soth, than be ye constrayned, upon certaine

payne, to do thefte, agaynst goddes commaundement,

245

non furtum facies.

49. Why be ye so hardy, to graunte, by letters of fraternitè, to

men and women, that they shall have part and merit of all your

good dedes; and ye witen never whether god be apayed with

youre dedes because of youre sinne? Also ye witen never whether

250

that man or woman be in state to be saved or damned; than shall

he have no merit in heven for his owne dedes, ne for none other

mans. And all were it so, that he shuld have part of youre good

dedes; yet shulde he have no more than god would geve him,

after that he were worthy; and so much shall eche man have of

255

goddes yefte, withoute youre limitacion. But if ye will saye that

ye ben goddes felowes, and that he may not do without youre

assent, than be ye blasphemers to god.

50. What betokeneth that ye have ordeined, that when such

oon as ye have mad youre brother or sister, and hath a letter of

260

your sele, that letter †mot be brought in youre holy chapter and

there be red; or els ye will not praye for him? But and ye willen

not praye specially for all other that weren not mad youre brethren

or sistren, than were ye not in right charitè; for that ought to be

commune, and namely in goostly thinges.

265

51. Frere, what charitè is this—to overcharge the people by

mighty begginge, under colour of prechinge or praying or masses

singing? Sith holy writ biddeth not thus, but even the contrary;

for al such goostly dedes shulde be don freely, as god yeveth hem

freely.

270

52. Frere, what charitè is this—to begyle children or they

commen to discrecion, and binde hem to youre orders, that been

[199]

not grounded in goddes lawe, against hir frendes wil? Sithen by

this foly ben many apostatas, both in will and dede, and many

ben apostatas in hir will during all hir lyfe, that wolde gladly be

275

discharged if they wist how; and so, many ben apostatas that

shulden in other states have ben trewe men.

53. Frere, what charitè is this—to make so mony freres in

every countrey, to the charge of the people? Sith persounes

and vicares alone, ye, secular prestes alone, ye, monkes and

280

chanons alone, with bishops above hem, were y-nough to the

church, to do prestes office. And to adde mo than y-nough is

a foul errour, and greet charge to the people; and this is openly

against goddes will, that ordeined all thinges to be don in weight,

nomber, and mesure. And Christ himself was apayed with twelve

285

apostles and a few disciples, to preche and do prestes office to all

the hole world; than was it better don than it is now at this tyme

by a thousand deel. And right so as foure fingers with a thumbe

in a mannes hande, helpeth a man to worche, and double nomber

of fingers in one hond shuld lette him more; and the more

290

nomber that there were, passing the mesure of goddes ordinaunce,

the more were a man letted to worke: right so, as it semeth, it is

of these newe orders that ben added to the church, without grounde

of holy writ and goddes ordinaunce.

54. Frere, what charitè is this—to lye to the people, and saye

295

that ye folowe Christ in povertè more than other men don?

And yet, in curious and costly howsinge, and fyne and precious

clothing, and delicious and lykinge fedinge, and in tresoure and

jewels and riche ornamentes, freres passen lordes and other riche

worldly men; and soonest they shuld bringe hir cause aboute,

300

be it never so costly, though goddes lawe be put abacke.

55. Frere, what charitè is this—to †gader up the bokes of holy

writ and putte hem in tresory, and so emprisoune hem from

secular prestes and curates; and by this cautel lette hem to

preche the gospell freely to the people without worldly mede; and

305

also to defame good prestes of heresy, and lyen on hem openly,

[200]

for to lette hem to shew goddes lawe, by the holy gospell, to the

Christen people?

56. Frere, what charitè is this—to fayn so much holines in

your bodily clothing, that ye clepe your habit, that many blinde

310

foles desyren to dye therin more than in an-other? And also,

that a frere that leveth his habit (late founden of men), may not

be assoiled till he take it again, but is an apostata, as ye sayn,

and cursed of god and man both? The frere beleveth treuth and

pacience, chastitè, mekenesse, and sobrietè; yet for the more

315

part of his lyfe he may soone be assoiled of his prior; and if he

bringe hoom to his house much good by yere, be it never so

falsly begged and pilled of the poore and nedy people in courtes

aboute, he shal be hold[en] a noble frere! O lord, whether this

be charitè!

320

57. Frere, what charitè is this—to prese upon a riche man,

and to entyce him to be buried among you from his parish-church,

and to suche riche men geve letters of fraternitè confirmed

by youre generall sele, and therby to bere him in honde that he

shall have part of all your masses, matins, prechinges, fastinges,

325

wakinges, and all other good dedes don by your brethren of youre

order (both whyles he liveth and after that he is deed), and yet

ye witen never whether youre dedes be acceptable to god, ne

whether that man that hath that letter be able by good living to

receive ony part of youre dedes? And yet a poore man, that ye

330

wite wel or supposen in certain to have no good of, ye ne geve

no such letters, though he be a better man to god than suche

a riche man; nevertheles, this poore man doth not recche therof.

For, as men supposen, suche letters and many other that freres

behesten to men, be full of false deceites of freres, out of reson

335

and god[d]es lawe and Christen mens faith.

58. Frere, what charitè is this—to be confessoures of lordes

and ladyes, and to other mighty men, and not amend hem in hir

living; but rather, as it semeth, to be the bolder to pille hir poore

tenauntes and to live in lechery, and there to dwelle in your office

340

of confessour, for winning of worldly goodes, and to be holden grete

[201]

by colour of suche goostly offices? This seemeth rather pryde

of freres than charitè of god.

59. Frere, what charitè is this—to sayn that who-so liveth

after youre order, liveth most parfitly, and next foloweth the

345

state of aposteles in povertè and penaunce; and yet the wysest

and gretest clerkes of you wende, or sende, or procure to the

court of Rome to be mad cardinales or bishoppes or the popes

chapelayns, and to be assoiled of the vowe of povertè and

obedience to your ministers; in the which, as ye sayn, standeth

350

moost perfeccion and merite of youre orders? And thus ye faren

as Pharisees, that sayen oon, and do another to the contrarye.

60. Why name ye more the patron of youre order in youre

Confiteor, whan ye beginne masse, than other saintes, as apostels,

or marters, that holy churche holde[th] more glorious than hem,

355

and clepe hem youre patrons and youre avowries?

61. Frere, whet[h]er was saint Fraunces, in making of his rule that

he sette thyne order in, a fole and lyar, or els wyse and trew? If

ye sayn that he was not a fole but wyse; ne a lyar, but trew; why

shewe ye the contrary by youre doing, whan by youre suggestion to

360

the pope ye said that Fraunces rule was mad so hard that ye might

not live to holde it without declaracion and dispensacion of the

pope? And so, by youre dede, ye lete your patron a fole, that made

a rule so hard that no man may wel kepe [it]; and eke youre

dede proveth him a lyar, where he sayeth in his rule, that he took

365

and lerned it of the holy gooste. For how might ye, for shame,

praye the pope to undo that the holy goost biddeth, as whan ye

prayed him to dispense with the hardnesse of your order?

62. Frere, which of the foure orders of freres is best, to a man

that knoweth not which is the beste, but wolde fain enter into the

370

beste and none other? If thou sayest that thyn is the best, than

sayest thou that noon of the other is as good as thyn; and in this

eche frere in the three other orders wolle say that thou lyest; for

in the selve maner eche other frere woll say that his order is

beste. And thus to eche of the foure orders ben the other three

375

contrary in this poynte; in the which if ony say sooth, that is oon

[202]

aloon; for there may but oon be the beste of foure. So foloweth

it, that if ech of these orders answered to this question as thou

doest, three were false and but oon trew; and yet no man shulde

wite who that were. And thus it semeth, that the moost part of

380

freres ben or shulde be lyars in this poynt, and they shulde

answere therto. If †ye say that an-other ordre of the freres is

better than thyn or as good; why toke ye not rather therto as to

the better, whan thou mightest have chosen at the beginning?

And eke, why shuldest thou be an apostata, to leve thyn order

385

and take thee to that that is better? And so, why goest thou not

from thyn order into that?

63. Frere, is there ony perfiter rule of religion than Christ,

goddes sone, gave in his gospell to his brethren, or than that

religion that saynt James in his epistle maketh mencion of? If

390

†ye saye 'yes,' than puttest thou on Christ, that is wysdom of

god the †fader, uncunning, unpower, or evil will. For eyther

than he coude not make his rule so good as an-other did his,

(and so he hadde be uncunning, that he might not make his rule

so good as another man might, and so were he unmighty and not

395

god); or he wolde not make his rule so perfit as an-other did his

(and so had he ben evill-willed, namely to himselfe!) For if he

might, and coude, and wold[e] have mad a rule perfit without

defaute, and did not, he was not goddes sone almighty. For if

ony other rule be perfiter than Christes, than must Christes rule

400

lacke of that perfeccion by as much as the other were more

perfiter; and so were defaute, and Christ had failed in makinge

of his rule. But to putte ony defaute or failinge in god, is

blasphemy. If thou saye that Christes rule and that religion

that saynt James maketh mencion of, is the perfitest; why holdest

405

thou not than thilke rule without more? And why clepest thou

thee rather of saynt Frances or saynt Dominiks rule or religion or

order, than of Christes rule or Christes order?

64. Frere, canst thou assigne ony defaute in Christes rule of

the gospell, with the whiche he taught al men sikerly to be saved,

410

if they kepte it to hir endinge? If thou saye it was to hard,

than sayest thou that Christ lyed; for he saide of his rule: 'My

[203]

yoke is softe, and my burthen light.' If thou saye Christes rule

was to light, that may be assigned for no defaute, for the better

may it be kept. If thou sayst that there is no defaute in Christes

415

rule of the gospell, sith Christ him-selfe saith it is light and esy:

what nede was it to patrons of freres to adde more therto, and so

to make an harder religion, to save freres, than was the religion

that Christes apostels and his disciples helden and weren saved

by; but-if they wolden that her freres saten above the apostels

420

in heven, for the harder religion that they kepen here? And so

wolde they sitten in heven above Christ himselfe for the moo and

strait observaunces; than so shulde they be better than Christ

himselfe, with misc[h]aunce!

Go now forth, and frayne youre clerkes,

425

And grounde you in goddes lawe, and geve Jack answere.

And whan ye han assoiled me that I have said, sadly in treuth,

I shall soill thee of thyn order, and save thee to heven!

If freres cunne not or mow not excuse hem of these questions

asked of hem, it semeth that they be horrible gilty against god

430

and hir even-Christen; for which gyltes and defautes it were

worthy that the order that they calle hir order were for-don. And

it is wonder that men susteyne hem or suffer hem live in suche

maner. For holy writ biddeth that thou do well to the meke,

and geve not to the wicked, but forbid to geve hem breed, lest

435

they be mad thereby mightier through you. Finis.

¶ Prynted for Jhon Gough.

Cum Priuilegio Regali.

From C. (= printed copy in Caius Coll. library, Cambridge); I give here rejected spellings; readings marked Sp. are from Speght.

3. walkyn. deceauen. 5, 6, 7. bene (for been; very often). 6. folke. founde. 9. kynreddes. 11. grasse, nether nething (sic). 12. onely. her lyfes. 13. had; Sp. han. 15. hym (for hem). wreches. 16. -selfes. 18. the. 20. teacheth. don. 21. not; Sp. nought. dyspleasynge. harme. 22. because (Sp. that). 23. greatest.

25. reason. write. 26. not; Sp. nought. 28. earthe. 29. thyne. 31. perfyte. 32. the. 33. break. 34. breake. 35. one. 36. speaketh. mor; Sp. more. lef; Sp. left. 37. leaueth. 38. one. 39. Christe. 40. abytes; Sp. habits. 41. leaue. wyfe. yeare. 42. you; read ye. leaue. abyte; Sp. habit. yeare. 44. abyte; Sp. habit. 45. weareth (twice). 46. the abbyte; Sp. your habit. 48. apostatase; Sp. apostataes. by; Sp. buy. 50. greate hoode. 51. coape. 52. one coloure. 53. bene. 57. sayde. clotynge (!). 58. maye. weare clothynge.

60. Sp. om. in before another. 61. speake. leaue. 62. eate. 65. easy. 66. ether; Sp. either. vnperfyte. 67. harde. seker; Sp. siker. 68. her. 69. selfes. 70. ye you; Sp. om. ye (!). 70, 71. deade (twice). beggers; Sp. beggars. ye; Sp. you. 72. deade. 74. heare. 75. eare; Sp. ere. Sp. haue ben (C. om. haue). 78. Sp. falleth it to. 78, 79. deade (twice). 79. gorgeous buyldinges; Sp. courts. 80. maye; Sp. now (error for mow). 81. welnygh; Sp. will (!). 83. here; Sp. heire (read hyre). geuynge. 84. yeare. certayne. one. 91. Sp. of men. 92. perfyte. Sp. brether (!). 93. baptyme; Sp. baptisme.

96. Sp. om. the. least. 97. oute. 98, 102. south; Sp. sooth. 101. abyte; Sp. habit. 103. abytes. 105. steale. 107. wether; Sp. whether. 109. vndermyne (for vndernyme); Sp. vnderneme. 111. maye. presonne; Sp. prison. 112. Sp. Augustines. dyd; Sp. doe. 114. buryenge. 115. none. 116. heare; Sp. heare to. 117. plentie. 118. folke maye. 120. heare. 122. Both you. folke amonge. 123. sayne. 124. pouertye. 125. her. bene. 126. Sp. other (for riche). 128. Sp. om. of. 130. wylte. preache.

133. payed; Sp. apaid. preache. 134. gosgel (!). Sp. bodden. hym; Sp. hem. 135. preached. 136. yeare. 139. myrtes; Sp. mirths. 142. Sp. thy; C. om. (before prayer). 144. Sp. that certes (error for than certes); C. & certes. 149. her. the. 150. thynge. 151. Sp. writest; Sp. om. him. 152. Sp. forgotten (!). 153. bearest. 154. meate. 156. the. 159. C. Of; Sp. For. 162. perfection (but perfeccion in l. 163). least. meane (often). 165. least. 166. arte.

167. charytye. sithe. 168. leauynge. 169. Sp. them (for hem). 170. doeste. 173. learned and lewd; Sp. lerid and leaud. 174. Sp. om. suche. 176. one. 177. the here. 178. C. medefull; Sp. needful. the. 182. themselfes. 183. coulde. 185. hym; Sp. them (read hem). C. or; Sp. but. 187. amonge. 188. teachynge. 189. Whose. rych. 190. yewels; Sp. iewels. improper ne; Sp. ne in proper ne in. 191. cumune; Sp. common. sayne. gether; Sp. gather. 192. Sp. om. of. 193. great. 194. in proper ne comune; Sp. in proper be (!) in common. 195. father rych. put. 197. reason. perfite. 198. father. 199. imperfyte. sayne. Sp. the (for tho).

201. carte. done. 202. lesyngery; Sp. losengery. done. 204. preach. teach. 205. perfyte lyfe. 206. be; Sp. bin. 208. feastes. 209. done. rych. 211. together. 212. charitie. 214. Sp. om. 2nd he. 220. C. as; Sp. is (!) charytie. 221. Sp. accursed; C. cursede. C. om. last. dead. 222. Sp. om. lacke. least; Sp. last. 223. dead. C. om. therefore. 226. hedde. done. 227. heade. 229. receaue. 229, 231. hartes (twice). 231. Sp. om. ye. 232. exempte. 234. gyltye. traytery. trespasers. 235. Sp. your (for oure). Sp. the trespasse (for trespas). 236. done.

240. eche yeare; Sp. ech a yere. 241. her (twice). 242. steale. certayne. sayne. 247. merite. 248. whyther; Sp. whether. payde; Sp. apayed. 249. weten; Sp. witten. 251. meryte. heauen. 252. man (for mans, s having dropped out); Sp. mans. 253. ye (for he); Sp. he. 256. folowes; Sp. fellowes. maye. 258. tokeneth; Sp. betokeneth. 259. one. made. 260. seale. mought (read mot). 261. redde; Sp. rad. Sp. And but. 262. Sp. om. 1st not. specyally; Sp. especially. made. 264. commne (!). goostely; Sp. ghostly. 266. myghtie. coloure. preachynge. prayeng. 267. write. 268. done frely. 269. frely. 271. him; Sp. hem.

272. her. 273-275. apostatase; Sp. apostataes. 278. personnes. 280. him; Sp. them. 282. foule. greate. 283. done. 284. measure. payd; Sp. apaied. 285. preache. 286. Sp. whole. Sp. om. 2nd it. 287. deal; Sp. dele. 289. let. Sp. and so the (om. so). 290. measure. 293. wryte. 295. pouertye. done. 297. treasoure. 298. rych. 299. wordly; Sp. worldly. bring her. 300. costely. abake; Sp. abacke. 301. gather (read gader). 302. wryte. put. emprysonne. 303. let. him; Sp. hem. 304. preache. frely. wordely; Sp. worldly.

306. let. 308. fayn. 309. bodely. 309, 311. abyte; Sp. habit. 311. leaueth. 311, 315. maye. 312. Sp. om. an. sayne. 315. parte. 316. home. by yeare; Sp. by the yeare. 317. courtes &; Sp. countries (perhaps better). 318. C. Sp. hold (for holden). 320. Both prease. 323. seale. beare. 324. parte. preachynges. 325. done. 326. dead. 329. receaue. 330. certaine. 331. no; Sp. to (!). 332. rych. reche; Sp. retch. 334. behesten; Sp. behoten. reason; Sp. all reason. 337. laydes (for ladyes). her. 338. pyl her. 339. dwel. 340. greate.

341. coloure. 344. mooste perfytely. 345. wyseste. 346. greatest clarkes. 347. made. 348. chappelaynes. povertye. 351. one. 354. hol (for holy); Sp. holy. holde; Sp. hold (read holdeth). them. 357. set. 358. sayne. 359. shew. 360. C. that Fraunces rule was made so harde; Sp. that your rule that Francis made was so hard. C. might; Sp. mow. 363. harde. maye. Supply it. 364. toke. 365. learned. 366. Sp. om. to. C. byddeth; Sp. bit. Sp. when; C. om. 369. fayne. 370. thyne. 371. none. thyne. 372, 374. thre. 373. C. selfe; Sp. self same. 375. one.

376. alone. one. 378. thre. one. 381. Both you; read ye. 382. thine. 384. apostate; Sp. apostata. leaue. 385. the. 388. sonne. 390. Both you; read ye. wysdome. 391. father vncunyng. Sp. om. eyther. 392, 397. coulde (twice). 393. Sp. had he. 395. perfyte. 397. made. perfyte. 398. defate; Sp. default. sonne. 401. weren. 402. put. 404. C. that saynt; Sp. which saint. the perfytest; Sp. perfectest. 405. Sp. om. than. 406. the (read thee). 408. Sp. any default or (!) assigne. 409. sekerly; Sp. sikerly. 410. her. harde.

415. easye. 416. mor; Sp. more. 418. that; Sp. of (!). 420, 421. heauen (twice). 421. Christe. 424. frayen (for frayne); Sp. fraine. 425. C. ye in; Sp. ye you in (read you in). 426. sayde. Read—And whan ye han soiled that I saide, sadly in treuthe. 427. soyll the. thyne. order; Sp. orders. the; Sp. thee. heauen. 428. C. cunne; Sp. kun. 430. her. 431. her. fordone. 432. hem lyue; Sp. hir live. 433. wryte. 434. bread leste. 435. made. Sp. om. Finis.

O noble worthy king, Henry the ferthe,

In whom the gladde fortune is befalle

The people to governe here upon erthe,

God hath thee chose, in comfort of us alle;

The worship of this land, which was doun falle,

Now stant upright, through grace of thy goodnesse,

Which every man is holde for to blesse.

The highe god, of his justyce alone,

The right which longeth to thy regalye

Declared hath to stande in thy persone;

And more than god may no man justifye.

Thy title is knowe upon thyn auncestrye;

The londes folk hath eek thy right affermed;

So stant thy regne, of god and man confermed.

Ther is no man may saye in other wyse

That god him-self ne hath the right declared;

Wherof the land is boun to thy servyse,

Which for defaute of helpe hath longe cared.

But now ther is no mannes herte spared

To love and serve, and worche thy plesaunce;

And al this is through goddes purveyaunce.

[206]

In alle thing which is of god begonne

Ther foloweth grace, if it be wel governed;

Thus tellen they whiche olde bokes conne,

Wherof, my lord, I wot wel thou art lerned.

Aske of thy god; so shalt thou nat be werned

Of no request [the] whiche is resonable;

For god unto the goode is favorable.

King Salomon, which hadde at his askinge

Of god, what thing him was levest to crave,

He chees wysdom unto the governinge

Of goddes folk, the whiche he wolde save;

And as he chees, it fil him for to have;

For through his wit, whyl that his regne laste,

He gat him pees and reste, unto the laste.

But Alisaundre, as telleth his historie,

Unto the god besoughte in other weye,

Of al the worlde to winne the victorie,

So that under his swerde it might[e] obeye;

In werre he hadde al that he wolde preye.

The mighty god behight[e] him that behest;

The world he wan, and hadde it of conquest.

But though it fil at thilke tyme so,

That Alisaundre his asking hath acheved,

This sinful world was al[le] payën tho;

Was noon whiche hath the highe god beleved;

No wonder was, though thilke world was greved.

Though a tyraunt his purpos mighte winne,

Al was vengeaunce, and infortune of sinne.

But now the faith of Crist is come a-place

Among the princes in this erthe here,

It sit hem wel to do pitè and grace,

But yet it mot be tempred in manere.

For as they fynden cause in the matere

[207]

Upon the poynt, what afterward betyde,

The lawe of right shal nat be layd a-syde.

So may a king of werre the viage

Ordayne and take, as he therto is holde,

To clayme and aske his rightful heritage

In alle places wher it is with-holde.

But other-wyse, if god him-selve wolde

Afferme love and pees bitween the kinges,

Pees is the beste, above alle erthly thinges.

Good is t'eschewe werre, and nathelees

A king may make werre upon his right;

For of bataile the fynal ende is pees;

Thus stant the lawe, that a worthy knight

Upon his trouthe may go to the fight.

But-if so were that he mighte chese,

Betre is the pees of which may no man lese.

To stere pees oughte every man on-lyve,

First, for to sette his liege lord in reste,

And eek these othre men, that they ne stryve;

For so this land may standen atte beste.

What king that wolde be the worthieste,

The more he mighte our deedly werre cese,

The more he shulde his worthinesse encrese.

Pees is the cheef of al the worldes welthe,

And to the heven it ledeth eek the way;

Pees is of soule and lyfe the mannes helthe

Of pestilence, and doth the werre away.

My liege lord, tak hede of that I say,

If werre may be left, tak pees on honde,

Which may nat be withoute goddes sonde.

With pees stant every crëature in reste,

Withoute pees ther may no lyf be glad;

Above al other good, pees is the beste;

Pees hath him-self, whan werre is al bestad;

The pees is sauf, the werre is ever adrad.

[208]

Pees is of al[le] charitè the keye,

Whiche hath the lyf and soule for to weye.

My liege lord, if that thee list to seche

The sothe ensamples, what the werre hath wrought,

Thou shalt wel here, of wyse mennes speche,

That deedly werre tourneth in-to nought.

For if these olde bokes be wel sought,

Ther might thou see what thing the werre hath do

Bothe of conquest and conquerour also.

For vayne honóur, or for the worldes good,

100

They that whylom the stronge werres made,

Wher be they now? Bethink wel, in thy mood,

The day is goon, the night is derke and fade;

Hir crueltè, which made hem thanne glade,

They sorowen now, and yet have naught the more;

105

The blood is shad, which no man may restore.

The werre is moder of the wronges alle;

It sleeth the preest in holy chirche at masse,

Forlyth the mayde, and doth her flour to falle.

The werre maketh the grete citee lasse,

110

And doth the lawe his reules overpasse.

Ther is nothing, wherof mescheef may growe

Whiche is not caused of the werre, I trowe.

The werre bringth in póverte at his heles,

Wherof the comun people is sore greved;

115

The werre hath set his cart on thilke wheles

Wher that fortune may not be beleved.

For whan men wene best to have acheved,

Ful ofte it is al newe to beginne;

The werre hath nothing siker, thogh he winne.

120

For-thy, my worthy prince, in Cristes halve,

As for a part whos fayth thou hast to gyde,

Ley to this olde sore a newe salve,

And do the werre away, what-so betyde.

Purchace pees, and sette it by thy syde,

[209]

125

And suffre nat thy people be devoured;

So shal thy name ever after stande honóured!

If any man be now, or ever was

Ayein the pees thy prevy counsaylour,

Let god be of thy counsayl in this cas,

130

And put away the cruel werreyour.

For god, whiche is of man the creatour,

He wolde not men slowe his crëature

Withoute cause of deedly forfayture.

Wher nedeth most, behoveth most to loke;

135

My lord, how so thy werres be withoute,

Of tyme passed who that hede toke,

Good were at home to see right wel aboute;

For evermore the worste is for to doute.

But, if thou mightest parfit pees attayne,

140

Ther shulde be no cause for to playne.

Aboute a king, good counsayl is to preyse

Above al othre thinges most vailable;

But yet a king within him-self shal peyse

And seen the thinges that be resonable.

145

And ther-upon he shal his wittes stable

Among the men to sette pees in evene,

For love of him whiche is the king of hevene.

A! wel is him that shedde never blood

But-if it were in cause of rightwysnesse!

150

For if a king the peril understood

What is to slee the people, thanne, I gesse,

The deedly werres and the hevinesse

Wher-of the pees distourbed is ful ofte,

Shulde at som tyme cesse and wexe softe.

155

O king! fulfilled of grace and of knighthode,

Remembre upon this poynt, for Cristes sake;

If pees be profred unto thy manhode,

Thyn honour sauf, let it nat be forsake!

Though thou the werres darst wel undertake,

[210]

160

After resoun yet temper thy corage;

For lyk to pees ther is non avauntage.

My worthy lord, thenk wel, how-so befalle

Of thilke lore, as holy bokes sayn;

Crist is the heed, and we be membres alle,

165

As wel the subject as the soverayn.

So sit it wel, that charitè be playn,

Whiche unto god him-selve most accordeth,

So as the lore of Cristes word recordeth.

In th'olde lawe, or Crist him-self was bore,

170

Among the ten comaundëments, I rede,

How that manslaughter shulde be forbore;

Such was the wil, that tyme, of the godhede.

But afterward, whan Crist took his manhede,

Pees was the firste thing he leet do crye

175

Ayenst the worldes rancour and envye.

And, or Crist wente out of this erthe here,

And stigh to heven, he made his testament,

Wher he bequath to his disciples there

And yaf his pees, which is the foundement

180

Of charitè, withouten whos assent

The worldes pees may never wel be tryed,

Ne lovë kept, ne lawë justifyed.

The Jewes with the payens hadden werre,

But they among hem-self stode ever in pees;

185

Why shulde than our pees stonde out of herre,

Which Crist hath chose unto his owne encrees?

For Crist is more than was Moÿses;

And Crist hath set the parfit of the lawe,

The whiche shulde in no wyse be withdrawe.

190

To yeve us pees was causë why Crist dyde,

Withoute pees may nothing stonde avayled;

But now a man may see on every syde

How Cristes fayth is every day assayled,

With the payens distroyed, and so batayled

[211]

195

That, for defaute of helpe and of defence,

Unneth hath Crist his dewe reverence.

The righte fayth to kepe of holy chirche

The firste poynt is named of knighthode;

And every man is holde for to wirche

200

Upon the poynt that stant to his manhode.

But now, alas! the fame is spred so brode

That every man this thing [alday] complayneth;

And yet is ther no man that help ordayneth.

The worldes cause is wayted over-al;

205

Ther be the werres redy, to the fulle;

But Cristes owne cause in special,

Ther ben the swerdes and the speres dulle.

And with the sentence of the popes bulle

As for to doon the folk payën obeye,

210

The chirche is tourned al another weye.

It is wonder, above any mannes wit,

Withoute werre how Cristes fayth was wonne;

And we that been upon this erthë yit

Ne kepe it nat as it was first begonne.

215

To every crëature under the sonne

Crist bad him-self, how that we shulde preche,

And to the folke his evangely teche.

More light it is to kepe than to make;

But that we founden mad to-fore the hond

220

We kepe nat, but lete it lightly slake;

The pees of Crist hath al to-broke his bond.

We reste our-self, and suffren every lond

To slee eche other as thing undefended;

So stant the werre, and pees is nat amended.

225

But though the heed of holy chirche above

Ne do nat al his hole businesse

Among the men to sette pees and love,

These kinges oughten, of hir rightwysnesse,

Hir owne cause among hem-self redresse.

[212]

230

Thogh Peters ship, as now, hath lost his stere,

It lyth in hem that barge for to stere.

If holy chirche after the dewetè

Of Cristes word ne be nat al avysed

To make pees, accord, and unitè

235

Among the kinges that be now devysed,

Yet, natheles, the lawë stant assysed

Of mannes wit, to be so resonable

Withoute that to stande hem-selve stable.

Of holy chirche we ben children alle,

240

And every child is holde for to bowe

Unto the moder, how that ever it falle,

Or elles he mot reson disalowe.

And, for that cause, a knight shal first avowe

The right of holy chirche to defende,

245

That no man shal the privilege offende.

Thus were it good to setten al in evene

The worldes princes and the prelats bothe,

For love of him whiche is the king of hevene;

And if men shulde algate wexen wrothe,

250

The Sarazins, whiche unto Crist ben lothe,

Let men be armed ayenst hem to fighte,

So may the knight his dede of armes righte.

Upon three poynts stant Cristes pees oppressed;

First, holy chirche is in her-self devyded;

255

Which oughte, of reson, first to be redressed;

But yet so high a cause is nat decyded.

And thus, whan humble pacience is pryded,

The remenaunt, which that they shulde reule,

No wonder is, though it stande out of reule.

260

Of that the heed is syk, the limmes aken;

These regnes, that to Cristes pees belongen,

For worldes good, these deedly werres maken,

Which helpelees, as in balaunce, hongen.

The heed above hem hath nat underfongen

[213]

265

To sette pees, but every man sleeth other;

And in this wyse hath charitè no brother.

The two defautes bringen in the thridde

Of miscreants, that seen how we debate;

Between the two, they fallen in a-midde

270

Wher now al-day they fynde an open gate.

Lo! thus the deedly werre stant al-gate.

But ever I hopë of king Henries grace,

That he it is which shal the pees embrace.

My worthy noble prince, and king anoynt,

275

Whom god hath, of his grace, so preserved,

Behold and see the world upon this poynt,

As for thy part, that Cristes pees be served.

So shal thy highe mede be reserved

To him, whiche al shal quyten atte laste;

280

For this lyf herë may no whyle laste.

See Alisandre, Hector, and Julius,

See Machabeus, David, and Josuë,

See Charlemayne, Godfray, and Arthus

Fulfild of werre and of mortalitee!

285

Hir fame abit, but al is vanitee;

For deth, whiche hath the werres under fote,

Hath mad an ende, of which ther is no bote.

So may a man the sothe wite and knowe,

That pees is good for every king to have;

290

The fortune of the werre is ever unknowe,

But wher pees is, ther ben the marches save.

That now is up, to-morwe is under grave.

The mighty god hath alle grace in honde;

Withouten him, men may nat longe stonde.

295

Of the tenetz to winne or lese a chace

May no lyf wite, or that the bal be ronne;

Al stant in god, what thing men shal purchace:

Th'ende is in him, or that it be begonne;

Men sayn, the wolle, whan it is wel sponne,

[214]

300

Doth that the cloth is strong and profitable,

And elles it may never be durable.

The worldes chaunces upon aventure

Ben ever set; but thilke chaunce of pees

Is so behovely to the crëature

305

That it above al other is peerlees.

But it may nat †be gete, nathelees,

Among the men to lasten any whyle,

But wher the herte is playn, withoute gyle.

The pees is as it were a sacrament

310

To-fore the god, and shal with wordes playne

Withouten any double entendëment

Be treted; for the trouthe can nat feyne.

But if the men within hem-self be vayne,

The substaunce of the pees may nat be trewe,

315

But every day it chaungeth upon newe.

But who that is of charitè parfyte,

He voydeth alle sleightes fer aweye,

And set his word upon the same plyte

Wher that his herte hath founde a siker weye;

320

And thus, whan conscience is trewly weye,

And that the pees be handled with the wyse,

It shal abyde and stande, in alle wyse.

Th'apostel sayth, ther may no lyf be good

Whiche is nat grounded upon charitè;

325

For charitè ne shedde never blood.

So hath the werre, as ther, no propertè;

For thilke vertue which is sayd 'pitè'

With charitè so ferforth is acquaynted

That in her may no fals sembla[u]nt be paynted.

330

Cassodore, whos wryting is authorysed

Sayth: 'wher that pitè regneth, ther is grace';

Through which the pees hath al his welthe assysed,

So that of werre he dredeth no manace.

Wher pitè dwelleth, in the same place

[215]

335

Ther may no deedly crueltè sojourne

Wherof that mercy shulde his wey[e] tourne.

To see what pitè, forth with mercy, doth,

The cronique is at Rome, in thilke empyre

Of Constantyn, which is a tale soth,

340

Whan him was lever his owne deth desyre

Than do the yonge children to martyre.

Of crueltee he lefte the quarele;

Pitè he wroughte, and pitè was his hele.

For thilke mannes pitè which he dede

345

God was pitous, and made him hool at al;

Silvester cam, and in the same stede

Yaf him baptyme first in special,

Which dide away the sinne original,

And al his lepre it hath so purifyed,

350

That his pitè for ever is magnifyed.

Pitè was cause why this emperour

Was hool in body and in soule bothe;

And Rome also was set in thilke honour

Of Cristes fayth, so that the leve, of lothe

355

Whiche hadden be with Crist tofore wrothe,

Receyved werë unto Cristes lore.

Thus shal pitè be praysed evermore.

My worthy liege lord, Henry by name,

Which Engëlond hast to governe and righte,

360

Men oughten wel thy pitè to proclame,

Which openliche, in al the worldes sighte,

Is shewed, with the helpe of god almighte,

To yeve us pees, which long hath be debated,

Wherof thy prys shal never be abated.

365

My lord, in whom hath ever yet be founde

Pitè, withoute spotte of violence,

Keep thilke pees alway, withinne bounde,

Which god hath planted in thy conscience.

So shal the cronique of thy pacience

370

Among the saynts be take in-to memórie

To the loënge of perdurable glorie.

[216]

And to thyn erthely prys, so as I can,

Whiche every man is holde to commende,

I Gower, which am al thy liege man,

375

This lettre unto thyn excellence I sende,

As I, whiche ever unto my lyves ende

Wol praye for the stat of thy persone,

In worshipe of thy sceptre and of thy trone.

Nat only to my king of pees I wryte,

380

But to these othre princes Cristen alle,

That eche of hem his owne herte endyte

And cese the werre, or more mescheef falle.

Set eek the rightful pope upon his stalle;

Keep charitè, and draw pitè to honde,

385

Maynteyne lawe; and so the pees shal stonde.

Explicit carmen de pacis commendacione, quod ad laudem
et memoriam serenissimi principis domini Regis Henrici
quarti, suus humilis orator Johannes Gower composuit.

Electus Christi,pie rex Henrice, fuisti,

Qui bene venisti,cum propria regna petisti;

Tu mala vicisti-que bonis bona restituisti,

Et populo tristinova gaudia contribuisti.

390

Est mihi spes lata,quod adhuc per te renovata

Succedent fataveteri probitate beata;

Est tibi nam gratagratia sponte data.

Henrici quarti primus regni fuit annus

Quo mihi defecit visus ad acta mea.

395

Omnia tempus habent, finem natura ministrat,

Quem virtute sua frangere nemo potest.

Ultra posse nihil, quamvis mihi velle remansit,

Amplius ut scribam non mihi posse manet.

Dum potui, scripsi, sed nunc quia curua senectus

400

Turbauit sensus, scripta relinquo scolis.

Scribat qui veniet post me discretior alter,

Ammodo namque manus et mea penna silent.

Hoc tamen in fine verborum queso meorum,

Prospera quod statuat regna futura deus.

¶ Explicit.

From Th. (Thynne, ed. 1532.); corrected by T. (Trentham MS.) I give the rejected spellings of Th. (Thynne), except where they are corrected by the MS.

1. T. worthi noble. 3. T. om. here. 4. Both the. T. chose; Th. chosen. 9. T. regalie; Th. regaly. 11. T. iustifie; Th. iustify. 12. T. ancestrie; Th. auncestry. 17. T. boun; Th. bounde. 20. T. wirche.

26. T. Axe; Th. Aske. 27. T. reqwest; Th. request. (Perhaps read—Of no request the whiche is resonable.) 29. T. axinge; Th. askyng. 30. Th. om. to. 31. T. ches; Th. chase. Th. om. the. 33. T. ches; Th. chase. 35. T. gat; Th. gate. T. pes; Th. peace. So T.; Th. in-to his last. 36. T. histoire; Th. storie. 39. T. might; Th. myght. 41. Both behight. T. beheste. 42. Th. om. he. Both had. T. conqweste. 44. T. axinge. T. achieued; Th. atcheued. 45. Both al. T. paiene; Th. paynem. 46. T. belieued. 47. T. grieued. 48. T. mihte; Th. might. 50. T. feith; Th. faithe. 53. T. mot; Th. must. 54. Th. om. as.

56. T. leid; Th. layde. 57. T. viage: Th. voyage. 59. T. axe. 61. T. silve; Th. selfe. 62, 63. T. pes; Th. peace. 70. T. Betre; Th. Better. 71. Both peace. T. euery man; Th. eueriche. T. alyue. 74. Th. lande; T. world. 76. T. cesse; Th. cease. 77. T. encresse; Th. encrease. 78. T. chief; Th. chefe. 79, 81, 82. T. weie, aweie, seie. 83. Both lefte.

90. Both al. 92. Both the. 93. T. that; Th. what. 96. T. soght; Th. ysought. 97. Both se. 98. T. conqueste. 101. T. bethenk. 102. Both gone. 103. Both Her. 108. T. om. doth; Th. dothe. 110. Both dothe. T. reules; Th. rules. 111. T. meschef; Th. myschefe. 113. T. bringth; Th. bringeth. 114. T. comon; Th. commen. 121. T. to; Th. be.

129. T. Lete; Th. Lette. 130. Th. crewel warryour. 132. Th. slough. 136. T. than; Th. that. 137. Both se. 146. T. euene; Th. euyn. 147. T. heuene; Th. heuyn. 148. T. Ha. 153. Th. om. the. 155. Th. om. 2nd of.

160. T. reson; Th. reason. 162. T. thenke; Th. thynke. 165. T. the subiit; Th. be subiecte. 169. T. er. 173. T. aftirwards; Th. afterwarde. 174. T. let; Th. lette. 176. T. er. 177. Th. styghed. 183. T. paiens; Th. paynyms. 185. Th. erre (!). 192. T. sen; Th. se. 194. Th. paynems. T. destruied.

200. Th. that; T. which. 201. T. helas; T. sprad. 202. I supply alday. 203. Th. that; T. which. 209. T. do; Th. done. T. paien; Th. payne (for payen). 211. T. to wonder; Th. wonder. For any read a? 216. Th. om. how. 217. T. euangile. 219. Both made. Th. om. the. 222. Th. selfe; T. selue. 227. T. men; Th. people.

231. Th. the (for that). 232. Th. dewte; T. duete. 238. T. hem-selue; Th. him-selfe. 242. Th. must. 246. T. om. good. T. euene; Th. euyn. 248. T. heuene; Th. heuyn. 253. Both thre. 254. Th. om. is. 256. Both highe. 260. T. sick; Th. sicke. 263. Th. helplesse; T. heliples.

269. Both Betwene. 274. T. enoignt. 276. Both Beholde; se. 278. Th. deserved (!). 280. Both lyfe. 281. T. Ector. 282. T. Machabeu. 283. T. Godefroi Arthus. 287. Both made. 288. T. mai; Th. many (!). 289. T. man (for king). 291. Th. is (for ben). 292. T. om. up. 295. T. tenetz; Th. tennes. 296, 298. T. er (for or).

305. Th. is (for it). Th. om. is. T. piereles; Th. peerles. 306. Both begete; read be gete. 316. T. perfit. 318. T. plit. 321. Th. these (for the pees). Th. ben. 326. T. proprite. 329. Both semblant. 330. T. Cassodre. Both writinge. T. auctorized. 331. Th. om. ther.

336. T. wei; Th. way. 337. Both se. 342. T. crualte; Th. creweltie. 347. T. baptisme. 359. Th. England. 370. T. seintz; Th. sayntes. T. memoire; Th. memory. 371. T. loenge; Th. legende (!). T. gloire; Th. glory.

378. Th. om. 2nd of. Both throne. 382. T. sese (for cese); Th. se (!). T. er (for or). T. meschiefe; Th. myschefe. 383. Both Sette. 384. T. draugh. 385. T. Maintene; Th. Maynteyn. 399. Th. curua; T. torua.

Cupido, unto whos comaundëment

The gentil kinrede of goddes on hy

And people infernal been obedient,

And mortel folk al serven besily,

The goddesse sonë Cithera soothly,

To alle tho that to our deitee

Ben sugets, hertly greting sende we!

In general, we wolë that ye knowe

That ladies of honour and reverence,

And other gentil women, haven sowe

Such seed of compleynt in our audience

Of men that doon hem outrage and offence,

That it our eres greveth for to here;

So pitous is th'effect of this matere.

Passing al londes, on the litel yle

That cleped is Albion they most compleyne;

They seyn, that there is croppe and rote of gyle.

So conne tho men dissimulen and feyne

With stonding dropes in hir eyen tweyne,

[218]

When that hir hertes feleth no distresse,

To blinden women with hir doublenesse.

Hir wordes spoken ben so syghingly,

With so pitousë chere and contenaunce,

That every wight that meneth trewely

Demeth that they in herte have such grevaunce;

They seyn so importáble is hir penaunce

That, but hir lady lust to shewe hem grace,

They right anoon †mot sterven in the place.

'A, lady myn!' they seyn, 'I yow ensure,

As doth me grace, and I shal ever be,

Whyl that my lyf may lasten and endure,

To yow as humble and lowe in ech degree

As possible is, and kepe al thing secree

Right as your-selven liste that I do;

And elles moot myn herte breste a-two.'

Ful hard it is to knowe a mannes herte;

For outward may no man the trouthe deme;

When word out of his mouthe may noon asterte

But it by reson any wight shuld queme,

So is it seyd of herte, as hit wolde seme.

O feythful woman, ful of innocence,

Thou art deceyved by fals apparence!

By proces women, meved of pitee,

Wening that al thing were as thise men sey,

They graunte hem grace of hir benignitee

For that men shulde nat for hir sake dey;

And with good herte sette hem in the wey

Of blisful lovë—kepe it if they conne;

Thus other-whylë women beth y-wonne.

[219]

And whan this man the pot hath by the stele,

And fully is in his possessioun,

With that woman he kepeth not to dele,

After if he may fynden in the toun

Any woman, his blinde affeccioun

On to bestowë; evel mote he preve!

A man, for al his othes, is hard to leve!

And, for that every fals man hath a make,

(As un-to every wight is light to knowe),

Whan this traitour this woman hath forsake,

He faste him spedeth un-to his felowe;

Til he be there, his herte is on a lowe;

His fals deceyt ne may him not suffyse,

But of his treson telleth al the wyse.

Is this a fair avaunt? is this honour,

A man him-self accuse thus, and diffame?

Now is it good, confesse him a traitour,

And bringe a woman to a sclandrous name,

And telle how he her body hath do shame?

No worship may he thus to him conquere,

But greet esclaundre un-to him and here!

To herë? Nay, yet was it no repreef;

For al for vertu was it that she wroughte;

But he that brewed hath al this mischeef,

That spak so faire, and falsly inward thoughte,

His be the sclaundre, as it by reson oughte,

And un-to her a thank perpetuel,

That in a nede helpe can so wel!

Althogh of men, through sleyght and sotiltee,

A sely, simple, and innocent woman

Betrayed is, no wonder, sith the citee

[220]

Of Troye—as that the storie telle can—

Betrayed was, through the disceyt of man,

And set on fyre, and al doun over-throwe,

And finally destroyed, as men knowe.

Betrayen men not citees grete, and kinges?

What wight is that can shape remedye

Ageynes thise falsly purpósed thinges?

Who can the craft such craftes to espye

But man, whos wit ay redy is t'aplye

To thing that souneth in-to hy falshede?

Women, beth ware of mennes sleight, I rede!

And furthermore han thise men in usage

That, where as they not lykly been to spede,

Suche as they been with a double visage

They prócuren, for to pursewe hir nede;

He prayeth him in his causë to procede,

And largely guerdoneth he his travayle;

Smal witen wommen how men hem assayle!

Another wrecche un-to his felowe seyth:

100

'Thou fisshest faire! She that thee hath fyred

Is fals and inconstaunt, and hath no feyth.

She for the rode of folke is so desyred

And, as an hors, fro day to day is hyred

That, when thou twinnest fro hir companye,

105

Another comth, and blered is thyn eyë!

'Now prikke on fastë, and ryd thy journey

Whyl thou art there; for she, behind thy bak,

So liberal is, she wol no wight with-sey,

But smertly of another take a snak;

110

For thus thise wommen faren, al the pak!

Who-so hem trusteth, hanged mote he be!

Ay they desyren chaunge and noveltee!'

[221]

Wher-of procedeth this but of envye?

For he him-selve her ne winne may,

115

He speketh her repreef and vileinye,

As mannes blabbing tonge is wont alway.

Thus dyvers men ful often make assay

For to distourben folk in sondry wyse,

For they may not acheven hir empryse.

120

Ful many a man eek wolde, for no good,

(That hath in love his tyme spent and used)

Men wiste, his lady his axing withstood,

And that he were of her pleynly refused,

Or wast and veyn were al that he had mused;

125

Wherfore he can no better remedye

But on his lady shapeth him to lye:

'Every womman,' he seyth, 'is light to gete;

Can noon sey "nay," if she be wel y-soght.

Who-so may leyser han, with her to trete,

130

Of his purpós ne shal he faile noght,

But he on madding be so depe y-broght

That he shende al with open hoomlinesse;

That loven wommen nat, as that I gesse!'

To sclaundre wommen thus, what may profyte

135

To gentils namely, that hem armen sholde,

And in defence of wommen hem delyte

As that the ordre of gentilesse wolde?

If that a man list gentil to be holde,

He moot flee al that ther-to is contrarie;

140

A sclaundring tonge is his grete adversarie.

A foul vice is of tonge to be light;

For who-so michel clappeth, gabbeth ofte.

The tonge of man so swift is and so wight

That, whan it is areysed up-on lofte,

[222]

145

Resoun it seweth so slowly and softe,

That it him never over-take may:

Lord! so thise men ben trusty in assay!

Al-be-it that man fynde oo woman nyce,

Inconstant, rechelees, or variable,

150

Deynouse or proud, fulfilled of malyce,

Withouten feyth or love, and deceyvable,

Sly, queynt, and fals, in al unthrift coupable,

Wikked and feers, and ful of crueltee.

It foloweth nat that swiche al wommen be.

155

Whan that the high god aungels formed had,

Among hem alle whether ther werë noon

That founden was malicious and bad?

Yis! al men woot that ther was many oon

That, for hir pryde, fil from heven anoon.

160

Shul men therfore alle aungels proude name?

Nay! he that that susteneth is to blame.

Of twelve apostels oon a traitour was;

The remënant yit godë were and trewe.

Than, if it happe men fyndë, per cas,

165

Oo womman fals, swich good is for t'eschewe,

And deme nat that they ben alle untrewe.

I see wel mennes owne falsenesse

Hem causeth wommen for to trusten lesse.

O! every man oghte have an herte tendre

170

Unto womman, and deme her honurable,

Whether his shap be outher thikke or slendre,

Or be he bad or good; this is no fable.

Every man woot, that wit hath resonable,

That of a womman he descended is:

175

Than is it shame, of her to speke amis.

[223]

A wikked tree good fruit may noon forth bring,

For swich the fruit is, as that is the tree.

Tak hede of whom thou took thy biginning;

Lat thy moder be mirour unto thee.

180

Honoure her, if thou wolt honoured be!

Dispyse thou her nat, in no manere,

Lest that ther-by thy wikkednesse appere!

An old provérbë seyd is in English:

Men seyn, 'that brid or foul is dishonest,

185

What that he be, and holden ful churlish,

That useth to defoule his owne nest.'

Men, to sey wel of wommen it is best,

And nat for to despyse hem ne deprave,

If that they wole hir honour kepe and save.

190

Thise ladies eek compleynen hem on clerkes

That they han maad bokës of hir diffame,

In which they lakken wommen and hir werkes

And speken of hem greet repreef and shame,

And causëlees yive hem a wikked name.

195

Thus they despysed been on every syde,

And sclaundred, and bilowen on ful wyde.

The sory bokes maken mencioun

How they betrayden, in especial,

Adam, David, Sampsoun, and Salamoun,

200

And many oon mo; who may rehersen al

The treson that they havë doon, and shal?

The world hir malice may not comprehende;

As that thise clerkes seyn, it hath non ende.

Ovyde, in his boke called 'Remedye

205

Of Lovë,' greet repreef of wommen wryteth;

Wherin, I trowe, he dide greet folye,

And every wight that in such cas delyteth.

[224]

A clerkes custom is, whan he endyteth

Of wommen, be it prose, or ryme, or vers,

210

Sey they ben wikke, al knowe he the revers.

And that book scolers lerne in hir childhede,

For they of wommen be war sholde in age,

And for to love hem ever been in drede,

Sin to deceyve is set al hir corage.

215

They seyn, peril to caste is avantage,

And namely, suche as men han in be wrapped;

For many a man by woman hath mishapped.

No charge is, what-so that thise clerkes seyn;

Of al hir wrong wryting I do no cure;

220

Al hir travayle and labour is in veyn.

For, betwex me and my lady Nature,

Shal nat be suffred, whyl the world may dure,

Thise clerkes, by hir cruel tyrannye,

Thus upon wommen kythen hir maistrye.

225

Whylom ful many of hem were in my cheyne

Y-tyed, and now, what for unweldy age

And for unlust, may not to love atteyne,

And seyn, that love is but verray dotage.

Thus, for that they hem-self lakken corage,

230

They folk excyten, by hir wikked sawes,

For to rebelle agayn me and my lawes.

But, maugre hem that blamen wommen most,

Suche is the force of myn impressioun,

That sodeinly I felle can hir bost

235

And al hir wrong imaginacioun.

It shal not been in hir eleccioun

The foulest slutte of al a toun refuse,

If that me list, for al that they can muse;

[225]

But her in herte as brenningly desyre

240

As thogh she were a duchesse or a quene;

So can I folkes hertes sette on fyre,

And (as me list) hem sende joye or tene.

They that to wommen been y-whet so kene

My sharpe persing strokes, how they smyte,

245

Shul fele and knowe; and how they kerve and byte.

Perdee, this grete clerk, this sotil Ovyde

And many another han deceyved be

Of wommen, as it knowen is ful wyde;

Wot no man more; and that is greet deyntee,

250

So excellent a clerk as that was he,

And other mo that coude so wel preche

Betrapped were, for aught they coude teche.

And trusteth wel, that it is no mervayle;

For wommen knewen pleynly hir entente.

255

They wiste how sotilly they coude assayle

Hem, and what falshood they in herte mente;

And thise clerkes they in hir daunger hente.

With oo venym another was distroyed;

And thus thise clerkes often were anoyed.

260

Thise ladies ne thise gentils, nevertheles,

Were noon of tho that wroughten in this wyse;

But swiche filthes as were vertules

They quitten thus thise olde clerkes wyse.

To clerkes forthy lesse may suffyse

265

Than to deprave wommen generally;

For worship shul they gete noon therby.

If that thise men, that lovers hem pretende,

To wommen weren feythful, gode, and trewe,

And dredde hem to deceyven or offende,

[226]

270

Wommen to love hem wolde nat eschewe.

But every day hath man an herte newe;

It upon oon abyde can no whyle.

What fors is it, swich a wight to begyle?

Men beren eek thise wommen upon honde

275

That lightly, and withouten any peyne,

They wonne been; they can no wight withstonde

That his disese list to hem compleyne.

They been so freel, they mowe hem nat refreyne;

But who-so lyketh may hem lightly have;

280

So been hir hertes esy in to grave.

To maister Iohn de Meun, as I suppose,

Than it was a lewd occupacioun

In making of the Romance of the Rose;

So many a sly imaginacioun

285

And perils for to rollen up and doun,

So long proces, so many a sly cautele

For to deceyve a sely damosele!

Nat can I seen, ne my wit comprehende

That art and peyne and sotiltee sholde fayle

290

For to conquére, and sone make an ende,

Whan man a feble place shal assayle;

And sone also to venquisshe a batayle

Of which no wight dar maken resistence,

Ne herte hath noon to stonden at defence.

295

Than moot it folwen of necessitee,

Sin art asketh so greet engyn and peyne

A womman to disceyve, what she be,

Of constauncë they been not so bareyne

As that somme of thise sotil clerkes feyne;

300

But they ben as that wommen oghten be,

Sad, constant, and fulfilled of pitee.

[227]

How frendly was Medea to Jasoun

In the conquéring of the flees of gold!

How falsly quitte he her affeccioun

305

By whom victórie he gat, as he hath wold!

How may this man, for shame, be so bold

To falsen her, that from his dethe and shame

Him kepte, and gat him so gret prys and name?

Of Troye also the traitour Eneas,

310

The feythles wrecche, how hath he him forswore

To Dido, that queen of Cartágë was,

That him releved of his smertes sore!

What gentilesse might she han doon more

Than she with herte unfeyned to him kidde?

315

And what mischeef to her ther-of betidde!

In my Legende of Martres men may fynde

(Who-so that lyketh therin for to rede)

That ooth noon ne behest may no man bynde;

Of reprevable shame han they no drede.

320

In mannes herte trouthe hath no stede;

The soil is noght, ther may no trouthe growe!

To womman namely it is nat unknowe.

Clerkes seyn also: 'ther is no malyce

Unto wommannes crabbed wikkednesse!'

325

O woman! How shalt thou thy-self chevyce,

Sin men of thee so muchel harm witnesse?

No fors! Do forth! Takë no hevinesse!

Kepë thyn ownë, what men clappe or crake;

And somme of hem shul smerte, I undertake!

330

Malyce of wommen, what is it to drede?

They slee no men, distroyen no citees;

They not oppressen folk ne overlede,

[228]

Betraye empyres, remes, ne duchees,

Ne men bereve hir landes ne hir mees,

335

Empoyson folk, ne houses sette on fyre,

Ne false contractes maken for non hyre!

Trust, perfit love, and entere charitee,

Fervent wil, and entalented corage

To thewes gode, as it sit wel to be,

340

Han wommen ay, of custome and usage;

And wel they can a mannes ire aswage

With softe wordes discreet and benigne;

What they be inward, sheweth outward signe.

Wommannes herte un-to no crueltee

345

Enclyned is, but they ben charitable,

Pitous, devout, fulle of humilitee,

Shamfaste, debonaire, and amiable,

Dredful, and of hir wordes mesurable:

What womman thise hath not, peraventure,

350

Ne folweth nat the wey of her nature.

Men seyn: 'our firste moder, natheles,

Made al man-kynde lese his libertee,

And naked it of joye, douteles;

For goddes hestes disobeyed she,

355

Whan she presumed tasten of a tree,

Which god forbad that she nat ete of sholde;

And, nad the devel been, namore she wolde.'

Th' envýous swelling that the feend, our fo,

Had unto man in herte, for his welthe,

360

Sente a serpent, and made her for to go

To disceyve Eve; and thus was mannes helthe

Beraft him by the fende, right in a stelthe,

The womman noght knowing of the deceyt;

God wot, ful fer was it from her conceyt.

[229]

365

Wherfore I sey, this godë womman Eve

Our fader Adam ne deceyved noght.

Ther may no man for a deceyt it preve

Proprely, but-if that she, in her thoght,

Had it compassed first, er it was wroght;

370

And, for swich was nat her impressioun,

Men calle it may no déceyt, by resoun.

No wight deceyveth but he it purpóse;

The feend this déceyt caste, and nothing she.

Than is it wrong to demen or suppose

375

That she sholde of this harm the cause be.

Wyteth the feend, and his be the maugree;

And for excused have her innocence,

Sauf only that she brak obedience.

And touching this, ful fewe men ther been,

380

Unnethes any, dar I saufly seye—

Fro day to day, as that men mow wel seen,

But that the hest of god they disobeye.

Have this in mynde, sires, I yow preye;

If that ye be discreet and resonable,

385

Ye wol her holde the more excusable.

And wher men seyn, 'in man is stedfastnesse,

And woman is of her corage unstable,'

Who may of Adam bere swich witnesse?

Telleth me this:—was he nat chaungeable?

390

They bothe weren in a caas semblable,

Sauf willingly the feend deceyved Eve,

And so did she nat Adam, by your leve.

Yet was this sinne happy to mankynde,

The feend deceyved was, for al his sleight;

395

For aught he coude him in his sleightes wynde,

[230]

God, to discharge mankynde of the weight

Of his trespas, cam doun from hevenes height,

And flesh and blood he took of a virgyne,

And suffred deeth, him to deliver of pyne.

400

And god, to whom ther may nothing hid be,

If he in woman knowe had such malyce

As men of hem recorde in generaltee,

Of our lady, of lyf reparatryce,

Nolde han be born; but, for that she of vyce

405

Was voyde, and of al vertu (wel he wiste)

Endowed, of her to be bore him liste.

Her heped vertu hath swich excellence

That al to lene is mannes facultee

To déclare it, and therfor in suspence

410

Her duë preysing put mot nedes be.

But this we witen verrayly, that she,

Next god, the best frend is that to man longeth;

The key of mercy by her girdil hongeth.

And of mercy hath every man swich nede

415

That, cessing that, farwel the joye of man!

Of her power now taketh right good hede;

She mercy may, wol, and purchace can.

Displese her nat, honoureth that womman,

And other wommen alle, for her sake!

420

And, but ye do, your sorowe shal awake.

Thou precious gemme, O martir Margarete,

Of thy blood draddest noon effusioun!

Thy martirdom ne may I nat foryete;

Thou, constant womman in thy passioun,

425

Overcoom the feendes temptacioun;

And many a wight converted thy doctryne

Unto the feith of god, holy virgyne!

[231]

But understondeth, I commende hir noght

By enchesoun of hir virginitee;

430

Trusteth right wel, it cam not in my thoght;

For ever I werrey ayein chastitee,

And ever shal; but this, lo! meveth me,

Her loving herte and constant to her lay

Dryve out of rémembrauncë I ne may.

435

In any boke also wher can ye fynde,

That of the werkes or the dethe or lyf

Of Jesu speketh, or maketh any mynde,

That womman him forsook, for wo or stryf?

Wher was ther any wight so ententyf

440

Abouten him as wommen? Pardee, noon!

Th'apostels him forsoken, everichoon.

Womman forsook him noght; for al the feyth

Of holy chirche in womman lefte only.

This is no lees, for holy writ thus seyth;

445

Loke, and ye shal so fynde it, hardely.

And therfore it may preved be therby,

That in womman regneth stable constaunce

And in men is the chaunge and variaunce!

Now holdeth this for ferme and for no lye,

450

That this trewe and just commendacioun

Of wommen is nat told for flaterye,

Ne to cause hem pryde or elacioun,

But only, lo! for this entencioun,

To yeve hem corage of perseveraunce

455

In vertu, and hir honour to enhaunce.

The more vertu, the lasse is the pryde;

Vertu so digne is, and so noble in kynde

That vyce and she wol not in-fere abyde.

[232]

She putteth vyce clene out of her mynde,

460

She fleeth from him, she leveth him behynde.

O womman, that of vertu art hostesse,

Greet is thyn honour and thy worthinesse!

Than wol we thus concluden and diffyne:

We yow comaunde, our ministres, echoon

465

That redy been to our hestes enclyne,

That of thise false men, our rebel foon,

Ye do punisshëment, and that anoon!

Voide hem our court and banish hem for ever

So that ther-inne they ne come never.

470

Fulfilled be it, cessing al delay;

Look that ther be non excusacioun.

Writen in th'ayr, the lusty month of May,

In our paleys (wher many a millioun

Of loveres trewe han habitacioun)

475

The yere of grace joyful and jocounde

A thousand and foure hundred and secounde.

From F (Fairfax); various readings from B (Bodley 638); T (Tanner 346); S (Arch. Selden B. 24); A (Ashburnham MS.); Tr. (Trin. Coll. Cam. R. 3. 20). Also in Th. (Thynne, ed. 1532); D (Digby 181); Ff (Camb. Univ. Library, Ff. 1. 6); and in the Bannatyne MS. 2. F. goddis an. 3. F. pepill. F. ben. 4. A. folk; F. folke. F. besely; A. bisyly. 5. F. Th. Of the; S. om. Of. S. Cithera; F. Sythera. S. sothly; F. oonly. 6. A. Tr. alle; F. al. 7. F. sugetes. 8. A. wole; F. wol. 10. F. wymen. A. han I-sowe. 11. F. Suche. 12. A. doon; F. do. 13. F. oure. 14. F. pitouse; effecte. 15. A. And passynge alle londes on this yle. 17. A. seyn; F. seye. 18. A. dissimulen; F. dyssimule. 19. A. Tr. S. Th. in; F. on. F. her.

20. A. herte. 20-22. F. her. 23. A. And with so pitous. S. Tr. pitouse a. 24. A. trewely; F. truly. 25. F. hert. A. han swich. 26. A. seyn; F. sey. F. her. 27. F. her. Tr. list. F. schew. 28. F. anoone. F. om. mot; S. Tr. most; Th. must (but read mot); cf. l. 35. 29. A. seyn; F. sey. F. yowe; Th. you. 31. F. While. F. lyfe. A. lasten; F. last. 33. F. Th. thing as; A.S. om. as. 34. F. youre. F. self; S. seluen. Th. lyste; F. lyst; A. lykith. 35. A. moot myn herte; F. myn hert mote. A. breste; F. brest. 36. F. herd. Th. knowe a mannes; F. know a manys. A. herte; F. hert. 37. F. outwarde. 38. S. word; F. worde. F. non astert. 39. So S. Tr.; A. sholde any wight by reson; F. Th. by reson semed euery wight to queme. 40. F. seyde; Th. sayd. F. hert; Th. herte. 41. F. om. of. 42. F. arte. F. be; Th. by. 43. F. processe. A. Tr. S. wommen meeued of; F. moveth oft woman. 44. S. that; rest om. 46. F. her. 47. F. hert set. 48. F. blesful. A.S. they; F. ye. 49. F. And thus; A.S. Tr. om. And.

50. A.S. pot; Th. pan; F. penne. 52. A. he keepith; F. kepeth he. S. not; A. nat; F. no more. 53. A. fynden; F. fynde. F. tovne. 55. A. On to; F. Vnto. 56. A. hard; F. herde. A.S. leue; F. beleue. 59. Th. traytour; F. traytoure. 60. A. faste him speedith; F. fast spedeth him. 61. Th. herte; F. hert. 62. A.S. Tr. ne; F. om. 64. F. faire avaunte. 65. F. silfe. 66. S. A. Tr. Now; F. om. S. A. him; F. Th. himselfe. A.S. a; F. om. 67. A.S. a (2); F. om. 68. F. tel; hir; hathe. 69. F. worshippe. 70. A. greet; F. grete. S. a sclander; T. Th. disclaunder. 71. F. hir; reprefe. 72. A. Tr. it; rest om. F. wroght. 73. F. myschefe. 74. F. spake; thoght. 75. F. be; Th. by. F. oght. 76. S. a thank; Tr. hye thank; F. thank. 77. D. Th. A. nede; F. rede. 78. Th. through; F. thorgh.

81. A. that; rest om. F. tel. 82. Th. through; F. thorgh. 83. A.S. Tr. Th. al; F. om. F. dovne. 84. F. fynaly. 85. A. Tr. Betrayen; B. S. T. Betray; F. Betraied. 86. F. is yt that; S. A. Tr. om. yt. 87. A. Ageynes; F. Ayens. F. falsely. 88. F. crafte suche. 89. F. wytte; A. Tr. wil. A. Tr. ay reedy is; S. redy ay is; F. is euer redy. A. tapplie; Th. taply; F. to aplye. 90. A. hy; S. Tr. hie; F. om. 93. T. A. Tr. as; F. om. F. ben. 94. B. A. Tr. Th. they; F. om. 95. Th. pursewe; F. pursw. 98. A. Smal witen; F. Lytell wote; Tr. Litel knowe. 99. F. wrechch; Th. wretche. 101. F. inconstant; feythe. 105. F. cometh. 106. F. fast (read faste). F. ride (read ryd). 107. F. While. Th. behynd; F. behinde. F. bake. 109. A. snak; F. snake; Th. smacke. 110. F. thes; pake. 111. Th. mote; F. mot.

114. F. selfe hyr. 115. F. hir reprefe; vileyny. 116. F. tong. 118. F. folke. 120. F. eke. 124. F. wer. A. D. Th. had; F. hath. 126. F. shapith. 129. F. han leyser; D. T. Th. leisur haue; A. Tr. leiser han. 130. F. purpose. 131. Th. madnesse. 132. F. homelynesse. 133. F. wymmen. 134. F. sclaunder women. 135. F. Too. 139. A. Al moot he flee. 140. Th. tonge; F. tong. 141. F. foule. A. vice; Th. vyce; F. thing. 143. A. Tr. Th. S. man; F. men.

147. Th. ben; Tr. been; F. beth. A. at (for in). A. Th. assay; F. asay. 148. F. hyt. F. o; Th. one. 149. F. varriable. 150. S. and (for or). S. proud; F. proude. 152. F. vnthrift; Th. vntrust. 154. F. swich; D. Th. suche. 155. D. god the hie. 156. A. alle; F. al. A. whether; F. wheither. A. was (for were). 160. F. al. 161. F. om. 2nd that. 163. Tr. goode; F. good. 164. F. caas. 165. Th. good is; F. is good. 166. F. al. 167. Th. owne falsenesse; F. oone falsnesse. 169. F. oght. 171. F. wheither. 172. F. badde. 173. F. witte. 175. F. hir.

176. F. tre gode frute. 177. F. swiche; A. swich. 178. F. Take. 179. F. Merour; Th. myrrour. 180. F. Honure; honured. 181. A. nat hir. 183. F. seyde; Th. sayd. 184. F. foule. 185. F. chirlyssh; Th. churlysshe. 187. F. wymen; Th. women. 188. D. B. T. A. Tr. for to despyse; F. to displesen. 189. F. wol. 191. F. made. 192. A. they lakken; Th. they dispyse; F. dispisen they. Th. women and her; F. wommans; A. wommenes. 193. F. grete reprefe. 194. F. yiven; D. yeve; Th. yeue. 195. F. ben. 198. Th. D. especial; F. special. 203. F. theys; noon. 205. F. grete reprefe. 206. F. grete. 207. F. case.

208. F. custome. 209. F. women. D. B. A. Th. om. 1st or. 210. F. Seye; Th. Say. 211. F. boke. 212. F. women. 213. F. louen; S. D. Tr. Th. loue. 215. A. They (glossed s. libri). F. perylle; Th. perel. F. cast. 216. F. B. wrappes (!) 217. D. S. Th. women. F. B. myshappes (!) 218. S. Th. is; F. om. A. that; rest om. 222. A.S. T. nat; D. Th. not; F. noon. F. while. 223. F. tyranie. 224. F. wymmen. 225. D. Th. many; F. mony. F. wer. 226. Th. Tyed; A. Tyd. 228. F. werray; S. veray; D. verry; Th. very. 229. F. selfe; D. silf. 230. F. folke. 232. F. mawgre; Th. maugre. 233. F. om. the. 234. F. sodenly; Th. sodainly. 236. F. ben; Th. be. F. elleccioun. 237. F. tovne; A. town.

239. Th. her; F. hir. Th. herte; F. hert. F. brenyngly. 241. F. hertys set. 242. F. Ioy. 243. F. ben. 244. Th. sharpe; F. sharp. 248. F. women. 249. S. Wote; A. Wat; F. Th. What (!). F. grete; Th. great. 252. F. aght; Th. aught. 253. Th. it; F. ys (!) F. mervaylle; Th. meruayle. 254. F. women knywen; entent. 255. F. sotyly. 256. F. falshode; Th. falsheed. F. hert ment; Th. herte mente. 257. F. this clerkys. F. hent; Th. hente. 261. F. wroghten; Th. wrought. F. wysse; Th. wyse. 262. S. fillokes (for filthes). F. weren; Th. were. 263. F. wisse; Th. wyse. 263, 264. F. clerkis. 264. A. Th. To; F. D. The (!). 266. F. worshippe; Th. worshyp. 268. F. women. F. good. 269. F. dreden; Th. dredde.

270. F. Women. 271. F. hert. 273. A. swich oon for to. 274. F. eke this women. 276. F. ben. 280. F. ben; hertys; craue (!). 281. F. I (!); for To. Th. Moone. 282. F. lewde. 286. F. longe processe. F. slye; Th. slygh. 287. F. damesele; Th. damosel. 288. F. wytte. 289. F. peyn; Th. payne. T. Th. schulde; F. holde (!). 291. F. assaylle; Th. assayle. 292. F. bataylle; Th. batayle. 293. F. whiche. 294. F. hert; Th. herte. 295. F. yt moot folowen; A. moot it folwen. 296. F. grete. 297. F. dysceve. 298. F. constance; ben. 299. F. clerkys. 301. F. pite.

302. F. frendely; Th. frendly. 303. F. flee (!); golde. 304. F. quyt; hir. 305. F. gate; wolde. 306. F. bolde. 307. F. hir. 308. F. kept; grete. 310. F. wrechch; Th. wretche; A. man. 314. F. That (for Than). F. hert; Th. herte. 315. F. mischefe; hir. 316. Th. natures (for Martres). 318. F. oothe in no; A. ooth noon ne; S. T. Th. othe ne. 320. A. Th. herte; F. hert. A. In herte of man conceites trewe arn dede. 324. A. wommannes; Th. D. womans; F. a womans. Th. wicked crabbydnesse. 326. F. the; harme. 327. F. No fors; A. Yee strab (or scrab). Th. Beth ware women of her fykelnesse. F. take; S. and take. 329. F. smert; Th. smerte. 331. F. sle. 332. F. folke.

335. F. Empoysone folkys; set. 337. F. perfyte. 338. D. B. Th. A. entalented; F. entenlented. 339. F. Be; Th. Al; rest To. F. sytt. 340. F. women. 342. A. softe; F. Th. soft. 343. F. outwarde. 344. A. Wommannes; F. Th. Womans. 346. F. Pitouse devoute ful. 348. F. om. and. 350. F. hir. 351. F. oure; Th. our. A. firste; F. Th. first. 353. F. Ioy; Th. ioye. 356. A. nat; F. ne. 357. F. nade; Th. ne had; A. nad. F. she ne wolde. 358. F. The enviouse; Tr. Thenvyous. F. suellyng. F. fend. 359. Th. herte; F. D. hert. 359. F. Sent; hir. 361. F. deceyve; Th. disceyue. 363. F. woman. 364. F. Gode wote; hir.

365. F. good; Tr. goode. F. woman. 369. F. er; A. Th. or. 370. F. hir. 373. F. cast. 374. F. wronge. 375. F. harme. A. of that gilt. 376. F. fende; mawgre. 377. F. hir. 378. F. oonly. F. breeke; D. Th. brake. 379. F. that; Th. this. F. ben. 381. A. D. mowe; T. mow; Th. may; F. now. 385. A. Th. holde; F. hold. 386. F. Th. where; B. whan. 388. F. swiche. 391. A. F. feende; Tr. worme. 392. F. dide; Th. dyd. 394. F. feende. 395. F. sleythes; Th. sleyghtes; A. sleightes.

397. F. trespase; Th. trespace. F. the hevenes; A. Tr. S. Th. om. the. 398. F. tooke. 401. F. suche. 403. F. Yf (for Of). F. lyfe. 405. F. woyde; Th. voyde. 406. F. hir. 408. F. leene; Th. leane; S. low; A. weyke. 410. Th. dewe. F. moot. 411. A. we witen; rest I sey. F. verraly. 412. F. men (for man). 413. F. mercye; hir girdille. 414. F. mercye. 415. F. farewel; Ioy. 417. F. mercye. 418. F. honureth; Th. honoureth. 419. A. Tr. alle; F. al. 423. F. martirdome. Th. Thou louer trewe. thou mayden mansuete. 425. F. feendis. 427. From A; F. B. omit (!).

430. A. nat; Tr. not; rest neuer. 431. F. om. I. 433. F. hert; hir. 434. F. of my; Th. om. my. 435-448. Precedes 421-434 in Th. 435. F. where. 436. F. werkis; lyfe. 438. F. wommen (read womman, as in l. 442). F. stryfe. 439. F. ententyfe. 441. So Th.; F. B. forsoken hym. 442. F. forsooke. 443. F. left oonly. 444. Tr. holy wryt thus; F. thus holy wryt. 445. F. Lok. 446. So A.; F. B. I may wel preve herby. 447, 448. F. constance, variance. 450. F. trew; Th. trewe. 451. A. is nat told for; F. tolde I nat for; Th. tel I for no. 453. F. oonly loo. 455. F. honure; Th. honour. Th. auaunce. 458. A.S. she; rest he.

459, 460. A.S. She; rest He. S. hir; F. hi (!); rest his. 461. F. wertu. 462. F. Gret; honor. 464. F. oure; echon. 465. F. oure. 466. F. D. om. false. F. reble; Th. rebel. 469. A. ynne; F. in. F. more neuer; A. om. more. 471. S. Tr. that; rest om. 472. F. the ayer; A. their; Tr. theyre. F. moneth. 473. F. oure; where; milion. 474. F. louers trwe. 475. F. Iocunde.

Colophon. D. T. amatoribus; F. om. B. has—The lettre of Cupide, god of love, directed to his suggestys louers.

VI. TO THE KINGES MOST NOBLE GRACE; AND TO THE LORDES AND KNIGHTES OF THE GARTER.

Cestes Balades ensuyantes feurent faites au tres noble Roy Henry le quint (que dieu pardoint!) et au tres honourable conpaignie du Jarter.

To you, welle of honour and worthinesse,

Our Cristen king, the heir and successour

Un-to Justinians devout tendrenesse

In the feith of Jesu, our redemptour;

And to you, lordes of the Garter, 'flour

Of chevalrye,' as men you clepe and calle;

The lord of vertu and of grace auctour

Graunte the fruit of your loos never appalle!

O lige lord, that han eek the lyknesse

Of Constantyn, th'ensaumple and the mirour

To princes alle, in love and buxumnesse

To holy chirche, O verray sustenour

And piler of our feith, and werreyour

Ageyn the heresyës bitter galle,

Do forth, do forth, continue your socour!

Hold up Cristes baner; lat it nat falle!

[234]

This yle, or this, had been but hethenesse,

Nad been of your feith the force and vigour!

And yit, this day, the feendes fikilnesse

Weneth fully to cacche a tyme and hour

To have on us, your liges, a sharp shour,

And to his servitude us knitte and thralle.

But ay we truste in you, our prótectour;

On your constaunce we awayten alle.

Commandeth that no wight have hardinesse,

O worthy king, our Cristen emperour,

Of the feith to despute more or lesse

Openly among people, wher errour

Springeth al day and engendreth rumour.

Maketh swich lawe, and for aught may befalle,

Observe it wel; ther-to be ye dettour.

Doth so, and god in glorie shal you stalle.

II.

Ye lordes eek, shyninge in noble fame,

To whiche appropred is the maintenaunce

Of Cristes cause; in honour of his name

Shove on, and putte his foos to the outrance!

God wolde so; so wolde eek your ligeaunce;

To tho two prikketh you your duëtee.

Who-so nat kepeth this double observaunce

Of merit and honour naked is he!

Your style seith that ye ben foos to shame;

Now kythe of your feith the perséveraunce,

In which an heep of us arn halte and lame.

Our Cristen king of England and of Fraunce,

And ye, my lordes, with your alliaunce,

And other feithful people that ther be

(Truste I to god) shul quenche al this nuisaunce

And this land sette in hy prosperitee.

[235]

Conquest of hy prowesse is for to tame

The wilde woodnesse of this mescreaunce;

Right to the rote repe ye that same!

Slepe nat this, but, for goddes plesaunce

And his modres, and in signifiaunce

That ye ben of seint Georges liveree,

Doth him servyce and knightly obeisaunce;

For Cristes cause is his, wel knowen ye!

Stif stande in that, and ye shul greve and grame

The fo to pees, the norice of distaunce;

That now is ernest, torne it into game;

Dampnáble fro feith werë variaunce!

Lord lige, and lordes, have in rémembraunce,

Lord of al is the blessed Trinitee,

Of whos vertu the mighty habundaunce

You herte and strengthe in feithful unitee! Amen.

Cest tout.

From P. (Phillipps 8151); also in Ed. (ed. 1542). 1. Ed. honour; P. honur. 2. P. Our right cristen; Ed. om. right. Ed. the heire; P. om. the. 6. P. chiualrie; Ed. cheualry. 8. P. nat; Ed. neuer. 10. Ed. om. the. 11. P. loue and; Ed. humble. 14. P. bittir; Ed. bytter. 15. P. foorth; Ed. forthe (twice). 16. P. Ed. Holde.

19. P. fikilnesse; Ed. crabbydnesse. 20. P. Weeneth; Ed. Weneth. 22. P. seruiture; Ed. seruytude. 25. P. Commandith; Ed. Commaundeth. 26. Ed. O; P. Our. Ed. our; P. and. 27. Ed. dispute. 28. P. where; Ed. Her. 29. P. Spryngith; engendrith. 30. P. Makith. P. aght; Ed. ought. 31. P. been; Ed. be. 32. P. Dooth. 33. P. Yee. 34. P. approped (!). 38. Ed. duite. 39. P. keepith; Ed. kepeth. 40. P. nakid; Ed. naked. 41. Ed. om. that. P. yee been. 43. P. arn; Ed. be. 44. P. Engeland and; Ed. England and of. 45. P. yee. 46. P. othir. 47. P. qwenche. P. nusance; Ed. noysaunce (read nuisance).

49. P. Conqueste; Ed. Conquest. 50. Ed. myscreaunce. 51. P. roote rype; Ed. rote repe. P. yee. 52. P. Sleepe; Ed. Slepe. 54. P. yee been. 55. P. Dooth. 56, 57. P. yee. 57. P. shuln; Ed. shal. P. greeue. 58. Ed. the; P. and. 59. Ed. tourne. 60. Ed. Nowe kythe of your beleue the constaunce. 62. P. blissid; Ed. blysfull.

My noble sones, and eek my lordes dere,

I, your fader called, unworthily,

Sende un-to you this litel tretys here

Writen with myn owne hand full rudëly;

Although it be that I not reverently

Have writen to your estats, yet I you praye,

Myn unconning taketh benignëly

For goddes sake, and herken what I seye.

I complayn sore, whan I remembre me

The sodeyn age that is upon me falle;

More I complayn my mispent juventè

The whiche is impossible ayein to calle.

[238]

But certainly, the most complaynte of alle

Is for to thinke, that I have been so nyce

That I ne wolde no virtue to me calle

In al my youthe, but vyces ay cheryce.

Of whiche I aske mercy of thee, lord,

That art almighty god in majestè,

Beseking thee, to make so even accord

Betwix thee and my soule, that vanitè

Of worldly lust, ne blynd prosperitè

Have no lordship over my flesshe so frele.

Thou lord of reste and parfit unitè,

Put fro me vyce, and keep my soules hele.

And yeve me might, whyl I have lyf and space,

Me to conforme fully to thy plesaunce;

Shewe upon me th'abundaunce of thy grace,

In gode werkes graunt me perséveraunce.

Of al my youthe forget the ignoraunce;

Yeve me good wil, to serve thee ay to queme;

Set al my lyf after thyn ordinaunce,

And able me to mercy, or thou deme!

My lordes dere, why I this complaint wryte

To you, alle whom I love entierly,

Is for to warne you, as I can endyte,

That tyme y-lost in youthe folily

Greveth a wight goostly and bodily,

I mene hem that to lust and vyce entende.

Wherfore, I pray you, lordes, specially,

Your youthe in vertue shapeth to dispende.

Planteth the rote of youthe in suche a wyse

That in vertue your growing be alway;

[239]

Loke ay, goodnesse be in your exercyse,

That shal you mighty make, at eche assay,

The feend for to withstonde at eche affray.

Passeth wysly this perilous pilgrimage,

Thinke on this word, and werke it every day;

That shal you yeve a parfit floured age.

Taketh also hede, how that these noble clerkes

Write in hir bokes of gret sapience,

Saying, that fayth is deed withouten werkes;

So is estat withoute intelligence

Of vertue; and therfore, with diligence,

Shapeth of vertue so to plante the rote,

That ye therof have ful experience,

To worship of your lyfe and soules bote.

Taketh also hede, that lordship ne estat,

Withoute vertue, may not longe endure;

Thinketh eek how vyce and vertue at debat

Have been, and shal, whyles the world may dure;

And ay the vicious, by aventure,

Is overthrowe; and thinketh evermore

That god is lord of vertue and figure

Of al goodnesse; and therfore folowe his lore.

My mayster Chaucer, god his soulë have!

That in his langage was so curious,

He sayde, the fader whiche is deed and grave,

Biquath nothing his vertue with his hous

Unto his sone; therfore laborious

Ought ye to be, beseching god, of grace,

To yeve you might for to be vertuous,

Through which ye might have part of his fayr place.

[240]

Here may ye see that vertuous noblesse

Cometh not to you by way of auncestrye,

But it cometh thorugh leefful besinesse

Of honest lyfe, and not by slogardrye.

Wherfore in youthe I rede you edefye

The hous of vertue in so wys manere

That in your age it may you kepe and gye

Fro the tempest of worldly wawes here.

Thinketh how, betwixë vertue and estat

There is a parfit blessed mariage;

Vertue is cause of pees, vyce of debat

In mannes soule; for which, with ful corage,

Cherissheth vertue, vyces to outrage:

Dryveth hem away; let hem have no wonning

In your soules; leseth not the heritage

Which god hath yeve to vertuous living.

Taketh hede also, how men of povre degree

Through vertue have be set in greet honour,

And ever have lived in greet prosperitee

Through cherisshing of vertuous labour.

Thinketh also, how many a governour

Called to estat, hath oft be set ful lowe

Through misusing of right, and for errour,

Therfore I counsaile you, vertue to knowe.

Thus 'by your eldres may ye nothing clayme,'

As that my mayster Chaucer sayth expresse,

'But temporel thing, that man may hurte and mayme';

100

Than is god stocke of vertuous noblesse;

And sith that he is lord of blessednesse,

And made us alle, and for us alle deyde,

[241]

Folowe his vertue with ful besinesse,

And of this thing herke how my mayster seyde:—

105

The firste stok, fader of gentilesse,

What man that claymeth gentil for to be

Must folowe his trace, and alle his wittes dresse

Vertu to sewe, and vyces for to flee.

For unto vertu longeth dignitee,

110

And noght the revers, saufly dar I deme,

Al were he mytre, croune, or diademe.

This firste stok was ful of rightwisnesse,

Trewe of his word, sobre, pitous, and free,

Clene of his goste, and loved besinesse

115

Ageinst the vyce of slouthe, in honestee;

And, but his heir love vertu, as dide he,

He is noght gentil, though he riche seme,

Al were he mytre, croune, or diademe.

Vyce may wel be heir to old richesse;

120

But ther may no man, as men may wel see,

Bequethe his heir his vertuous noblesse;

That is appropred unto no degree,

But to the firste fader in magestee

That maketh him his heir, that can him queme,

125

Al were he mytre, croune, or diademe.

Lo here, this noble poete of Bretayne

How hyely he, in vertuous sentence,

The losse in youthe of vertue can complayne;

Wherfore I pray you, dooth your diligence,

130

For your estats and goddes reverence,

T'enprintë vertue fully in your mynde,

That, whan ye come in your juges presence,

Ye be not set as vertules behynde.

Ye lordes have a maner now-a-dayes,

135

Though oon shewe you a vertuous matere,

[242]

Your fervent youthe is of so false alayes

That of that art ye have no joy to here.

But, as a ship that is withouten stere

Dryveth up and doun, withouten governaunce,

140

Wening that calm wol lastë, yeer by yere,

Right so fare ye, for very ignoraunce.

For very shamë, knowe ye nat, by réson

That, after an ebbe, ther cometh a flood ful rage?

In the same wyse, whan youth passeth his séson,

145

Cometh croked and unweldy palled age;

Sone after comen kalends of dotage;

And if your youth no vertue have provyded,

Al men wol saye, fy on your vassalage!

Thus hath your slouth fro worship you devyded.

150

Boëce the clerk, as men may rede and see,

Saith, in his Boke of Consolacioun,

What man desyreth †have of vyne or tree

Plentee of fruit, in the ryping sesoun,

Must ay eschewe to doon oppressioun

155

Unto the rote, whyle it is yong and grene;

Ye may wel see, by this conclusioun,

That youthë vertulees doth mochel tene.

Seeth, there-ayenst, how vertuous noblesse

Roted in youthe, with good perséveraunce,

[243]

160

Dryveth away al vyce and wrecchednesse,

As slogardrye, ryote and distaunce!

Seeth eek how vertue causeth suffisaunce,

And suffisaunce exyleth coveityse!

And who hath vertue hath al abundaunce

165

Of wele, as fer as reson can devyse.

Taketh hede of Tullius Hostilius,

That cam fro povertee to hy degree;

Through vertue redeth eek of Julius

The conquerour, how povre a man was he;

170

Yet, through his vertue and humanitee,

Of many a countree had he governaunce.

Thus vertue bringeth unto greet degree

Eche wight that list to do him entendaunce.

Rede, here-ayenst, of Nero vertulees;

175

Taketh hede also of proude Balthasar;

They hated vertue, equitee, and pees.

Loke how Antiochus fil fro his char,

That he his skin and bones al to-tar!

Loke what meschauncë they had for hir vyces!

180

Who-so that wol not by these signes be war,

I dar wel say, infortunat or nyce is.

I can no more; but here-by may ye see

How vertue causeth parfit sikernesse,

And vyces doon exyle prosperitee;

185

The best is, ech to chesen, as I gesse.

[244]

Doth as you list, I me excuse expresse;

I wolde be sory, if that ye mischese.

God you conferme in vertuous noblesse,

So that through negligence ye nothing lese!

Explicit.

From Th. (Thynne, ed. 1542); collated with A. (Ashmole 59), and Cx. (Caxton); readings also given from H. (Harl. 2251).

Title; from A. (which has folowethe nexst); Cx. has Here next foloweth a tretyse, whiche John Skogan sente vnto the lordes and gentilmen of the kynges hows, exortyng them to lose no tyme in theyr yougthe, but to vse vertues; Th. has Scogan vnto the lordes and gentylmen of the kynges house.

1. Th. A. sonnes. 2. Th. A. vnworthely. 3. Th. lytel treatyse; A. balade folowing. 4. Th. with; A. H. of. 5. Th. H. Although; Cx. And though; A. Yitte howe. 6. Th. A. estates. A. yet; H. Th. Cx. om. 8. Cx. herkne (better). 9. Th. me sore; A. H. om. me. 10. A. H. falle; Th. fal. 11. Th. But more; A. H. Cx. om. But. Th. iuuentute. 12. Th. ayen for; A. ageine. A. H. calle; Th. cal.

13. Th. H. certainly; A. comvnely. Th. A. moste. A. H. alle; Th. al. 14. A. H. for; Th. om. A. beon; Th. be. 15. A. H. no; Th. om. A. vertue; Th. vertues. A. calle; Th. cal. 16. A. ay; Th. aye. 17. A. thee; Th. the. Th. lorde. 18. Th. H. god; A. lorde. 20. Th. Betwyxe; A. Bytwene. 21. A. H. Of; Th. Cx. om. Th. blynde. 22. A. so freel; Th. H. to frele. 23. Th. lorde; perfyte. 24. A. H. Cx. soules; Th. soule. 25. Th. whyle; lyfe. 26. A. H. confourme; Th. confyrme (!). 27. A. H. vpon; Th. to. 28. Th. And in; A. H. om. And. 30. A. thee; Th. the. 31. Th. lyfe. A. H. thy governaunce. 34. A. alle whome; Cx. whom that; Th. whom. Th. moste entyrely; Cx. A. entierly. 36. A. eloste; Th. loste; H. Cx. lost. 37. A. H. goostely and bodely; Th. Cx. bodily and gostly. 38. Th. meane. 39. A. I prey you lordes; Th. lordes I pray you. A. tendrely. 41. Cx. transposes 41-80 and 81-125. A. Plantethe; Th. Cx. Plante.

43. A. ay; Th. alway. 45. Cx. The frende (!) for to withstonde; A. For to withstonde the feonde; Th. The fende to withstande. 46. Th. peryllous; H. perilous. 47. H. Th. Cx. werke; A. vse. 48. Th. parfyte. 50. Th. Writen; A. Wrote. Th. her. Th. great; H. grete; A. noble. 52. So A.; Th. And right so is estate with negligence. 57. A. Then kepe also that. 58. Cx. A. Withoute; Th. Without. 59. Cx. vice; A. H. Th. vices. 60. A. whiles; Th. while. Th. worlde. 61. A. H. ay; Th. Cx. euer. 63. Th. lorde of al; H. A. lord of. 67. Th. sayd that the; A. saide that the; H. Cx. om. that. Th. father; A. H. fader. 68. H. A. Beqwath; Th. Byqueth. Th. house. 69. So A. Cx.; Th. children and therefore laborouse. 70. H. Th. Ought; A. Aught; Cx. Owe. Th. om. to. Th. besekyng; A. beseching. 72. Th. haue; A. H. gete. Th. parte. A. feyre; Th. H. om.

74. A. Comþe. 75. A. thorugh; Cx. thurgh; Th. by. A. leofful; Th. leful; H. leeful. 77. Th. you ye; A. H. om. ye. 78. Th. house. A. soo wyse; Th. H. suche a. 79. Th. om. it. 80. H. A. worldly; Th. worldes. 81. Th. howe betwyxe; A. howe bytwene. 82. Th. parfyte. 84. H. A. for whiche with full; Th. the whiche be ful of. 85. Th. than vertue; A. om. than. 86. A. Cx. om. 1st hem. 87. A. leese; H. lesith. 89. Th. howe. A. poure; Th. poore. 90, 91. Th. great. 92. Th. H. Through; A. By. 94. Th. H. Called; A. Calde. A. offt; H. Th. Cx. om. 95. A. for; Th. H. Cx. of. 96. Th. And therfore; rest om. And. 97. A. By auncetrye thus; Th. H. Thus by your auncestres; Cx. Thus by your eldres. 99. Th. men (for man). 100. Cx. Than god is. 101. Th. sythe; lorde. Th. blyssednesse; A. blessednesse. 102. A. That (for And). A. H. alle; Th. al (1). Cx. alle; Th. al (2). For us alle A. has mankynde that.

103. So A.; Th. H. Foloweth hym in vertue. 105-125. Chaucer's poem of Gentilesse is here quoted; see vol. i. p. 392. 127. A. Howe hyely he; Th. Howe lightly. 128. A. lesse (!); Th. losse. A. H. in; Th. on. 129. A. Wherfore; Th. And therefore. A. doothe; Th. with (!). 130. A. estates; Th. profyte. 131. A. Tenprynte; Th. Tempereth (!). A. H. vertue fully; Th. fully vertue. 132. Cx. in; A. H. in-to; Th. to. 133. A. H. sette as vertulesse; Th. vertulesse than. 134. H. Cx. Ye; A. For yee; Th. Many. Th. A. nowe. 135. Cx. H. you; Th. hem. A. Thaughe one of you here of a gode matere.

136. Cx. H. Your feruent; Th. Her feruent; A. Your vnsure. 137. Th. arte. Cx. H. ye; Th. they. A. That of suche artes you liste not to. 138. Cx. A. withouten; Th. without a. 139. A. withouten; Th. without. 140. Th. calme. A. wol laste you; Th. wolde last. Th. yere by yere. 141. Cx. A. H. ye; Th. they. 142. Cx. A. H. ye; Th. they. 143. A. Cx. om. ful. 144. A. Right euen so whane. 145. A. Comthe. 146. A. Soone; Th. And sone. Th. comen the; Cx. come; A. comthe. 147. Th. if that; Cx. A. H. om. that. Cx. A. your; Th. her. A. H. no vertue haue; Cx. no vertue hath; Th. haue no vertue. 148. Th. fye. Cx. A. your; Th. her. 149. A. H. your; Th. her. Cx. H. you; Th. hem. A. has Thus hathe youre youthe and slouthe you al misgyded. 152. Cx. A. H. to haue; Th. om. (read haue). 153. A. Plenty of; Cx. Plentyuous; Th. Plentous. Th. fruite. A. H. Cx. the; Th. om. A. H. Cx. riping; Th. reapyng. 154. A. H. Cx. ay; Th. euer. A. doon; Th. do. 156. A. H. Cx. Yee may; Th. Thus may ye. A. H. wele see; Cx. see; Th. se wel. A. H. this; Th. that. A. Cx. conclusioun; Th. inclusyon (!). 157. A. youthe; Th. youth. A. Th. vertulesse. Th. moche; Cx. ofte muche; A. ay michil (read mochel). 158. Th. Nowe seeth; A. H. Cx. om. Nowe. Th. howe; A. that. 159. A. youthe; Th. youth.

160. A. Cx. vyce; H. vice; Th. vyces. 161. A. Al (for As). A. al ryote; H. Cx. Th. om. al. 162. Th. eke howe. 163. So A. Cx.; H. om.; Th. has Seeth eke howe vertue voydeth al vyce (!). 164. Th. H. Cx. whoso; A. om. so. 165. Th. ferre; A. far. Th. reason. 167. A. came frome pouertee; Th. fro pouert came. Th. hygh; A. hye. 168. Th. eke. 169. Th. howe poore. 170. A. H. Cx. humanite; Th. his humylite. 171. Th. om. a. 172. A. unto gret; Cx. to hye; Th. a man to great. 173. A. Cx. list; Th. H. lust. Th. entendaunce; rest attendaunce. 174. Th. nowe of; A. H. Cx. om. nowe. 177. Th. And loke; rest om. And. Th. howe; chare. 178. Th. tare. 179. A. meschaunces. 180. Th. H. Cx. om. that. Th. ware. 181. A. Th. infortunate. A. H. Cx. or; Th. and. 182. Th. no more nowe say; Cx. no more say; H. no more; A. more (!). Th. herby; se. 183. A. Th. Howe. A. Th. perfyte. 184. A. done exyle; Th. H. exylen al; Cx. exyles al. 185. Th. eche man to; Cx. man to; A. dethe to (dethe is put for eche). A. cheesen; Th. chose.

186. Th. A. Dothe. 187. A. Cx. wil (for wolde). Th. right sorie; A. H. Cx. om. right. 188. A. you conferme; Th. confyrme you. 189. A. no thing; Cx. H. nothing; Th. not it. Colophon. Cx. Thus endeth the traytye wiche John Skogan sent to the lordes and estates of the kynges hous.

In May, whan Flora, the fresshe lusty quene,

The soile hath clad in grene, rede, and whyte,

And Phebus gan to shede his stremes shene

Amid the Bole, with al the bemes brighte,

And Lucifer, to chace awey the night,

Ayen the morowe our orizont hath take

To bidde lovers out of hir sleepe awake,

And hertes hevy for to recomforte

From dreriheed of hevy nightes sorowe,

Nature bad hem ryse, and hem disporte,

Ayen the goodly, gladde, greye morowe;

And Hope also, with seint Johan to borowe,

Bad, in dispyt of daunger and dispeyre,

For to take the hoolsom lusty eyre:

And with a sigh I gan for to abreyde

Out of my slombre, and sodainly up sterte

As he, alas! that nigh for sorowe deyde,

My sekenes sat ay so nigh my herte.

But, for to finde socour of my smerte,

[246]

Or at the leste som réles of my peyne,

That me so sore halt in every veyne,

I roos anon, and thoghte I wolde goon

Into the wode, to here the briddes singe,

Whan that the misty vapour was agoon

And clere and faire was the morowning;

The dewe also, lyk silver in shyning

Upon the leves, as any baume swete,

Til fyry Tytan, with his persaunt hete,

Had dryed up the lusty licour newe

Upon the herbes in the grene mede,

And that the floures, of many dyvers hewe,

Upon hir stalkes gonne for to sprede

And for to splaye[n] out hir leves on-brede

Agayn the sonne, gold-burned in his spere,

That doun to hem caste his bemes clere.

And by a river forth I gan costey

Of water clere as berel or cristal

Til at the laste I found a litel wey

Toward a park, enclosed with a wal

In compas rounde, and by a gate smal

Who-so that wolde frely mighte goon

Into this park, walled with grene stoon.

And in I wente, to here the briddes song,

Whiche on the braunches, bothe in playn and vale,

So loude songe, that al the wode rong

Lyke as it shulde shiver in peces smale;

And, as me thoughte, that the nightingale

[247]

With so gret mighte her voys gan out-wreste

Right as her herte for love wolde breste.

The soil was playn, smothe, and wonder softe

Al oversprad with tapites that Nature

Had mad her-selve, celured eek alofte

With bowes grene, the floures for to cure,

That in hir beautè they may longe endure

From al assaut of Phebus fervent fere,

Whiche in his spere so hote shoon and clere.

The eyre attempre, and the smothe wind

Of Zepherus, among the blossomes whyte,

So hoolsom was and norisshing by kind,

That smale buddes, and rounde blomes lyte

In maner gonnen of her brethe delyte

To yeve us hope that hir fruit shal take,

Ayens autumpne, redy for to shake.

I saw ther Daphne, closed under rinde,

Grene laurer, and the hoolsom pyne;

The myrre also, that wepeth ever of kinde;

The cedres hye, upright as a lyne;

The philbert eek, that lowe doth enclyne

Her bowes grene to the erthe adoun

Unto her knight, y-called Demophoun.

Ther saw I eek the fresshe hawëthorn

In whyte motlè, that so swote doth smelle,

Ash, firre, and ook, with many a yong acorn,

[248]

And many a tree—mo than I can telle;

And, me beforn, I saw a litel welle,

That had his cours, as I gan beholde,

Under an hille, with quikke stremes colde.

The gravel gold, the water pure as glas,

The bankes rounde, the welle envyroning;

And softe as veluët the yonge gras

That therupon lustily cam springing;

The sute of trees aboute compassing

Hir shadowe caste, closing the welle rounde,

And al the herbes growing on the grounde.

The water was so hoolsom and vertuous

Through might of herbes growing there besyde,

Not lyk the welle, wher-as Narcisus

Y-slayn was, through vengeaunce of Cupyde,

Where so covertly he didë hyde

The grayn of cruel dethe upon ech brinke,

That deeth mot folowe, who that ever drinke;

Ne lyk the pittë of the Pegacè

Under Pernaso, where poetës slepte;

Nor lyk the welle of pure chastitè

Which that Dyane with her nymphes kepte,

Whan she naked into the water lepte,

That slow Acteon with his houndes felle

Only for he cam so nigh the welle!

Bút this welle, that I here reherce,

100

So hoolsom was, that it wolde aswage

Bollen hertes, and the venim perce

Of pensifheed, with al the cruel rage,

And evermore refresshe the visage

Of hem that were in any werinesse

105

Of greet labour, or fallen in distresse.

[249]

And I, that had, through daunger and disdayne,

So drye a thrust, thoughte I wolde assaye

To taste a draughte of this welle, or twayne,

My bitter langour if it mighte alaye;

110

And on the banke anon adoun I lay,

And with myn heed unto the welle I raughte,

And of the water drank I a good draughte;

Wherof, me thought, I was refresshed wele

Of the brenning that sat so nigh my herte,

115

That verily anon I gan to fele

An huge part relesed of my smerte;

And therwithallë anon up I sterte,

And thoughte I wolde walke, and see more

Forth in the parke, and in the holtes hore.

120

And through a laundë as I yede a-pace

And gan aboute faste to beholde,

I found anon a délitable place

That was beset with treës yonge and olde,

Whose names here for me shal not be tolde;

125

Amidde of whiche stood an herber grene,

That benched was, with colours newe and clene.

Thís herber was ful of floures inde,

In-to the whiche as I beholde gan,

Betwix an hulfere and a wodëbinde,

130

As I was war, I saw wher lay a man

In blakke and whyte colour, pale and wan,

And wonder deedly also of his hewe,

Of hurtes grene and fresshe woundes newe.

And overmore distrayned with sekenesse,

135

Besyde al this, he was, ful grevously;

For upon him he had an hoot accesse,

That day by day him shook ful pitously;

So that, for constreynt of his malady

And hertly wo, thus lying al alone,

140

It was a deeth for to here him grone.

[250]

Wherof astonied, my foot I gan withdrawe,

Greetly wondring what it mighte be

That he so lay, and hadde no felawe,

Ne that I coude no wight with him see;

145

Wherof I hadde routhe, and eek pitè,

And gan anon, so softely as I coude,

Among the busshes me prively to shroude;

If that I mighte in any wyse espye

What was the cause of his deedly wo,

150

Or why that he so pitously gan crye

On his fortune, and on his ure also;

With al my might I layde an ere to,

Every word to marke, what he seyde,

Out of his swough among as he abrayde.

155

But first, if I shulde make mencioun

Of his persone, and plainly him discryve,

He was in sothe, without excepcioun,

To speke of manhode, oon the best on-lyve;

Ther may no man ayen the trouthe stryve.

160

For of his tyme, and of his age also

He proved was, ther men shulde have ado,

For oon the beste there, of brede and lengthe

So wel y-mad by good proporcioun,

If he had be in his deliver strengthe;

165

But thought and seknesse were occasioun

That he thus lay, in lamentacioun,

Gruffe on the grounde, in place desolat,

Sole by him-self, awhaped and amat.

And, for me semeth that it is sitting

170

His wordes al to putte in remembraunce,

To me, that herdë al his complayning

And al the groundë of his woful chaunce,

If ther-withal I may you do plesaunce,

I wol to you, so as I can, anon,

175

Lyk as he sayde, reherce hem everichon.

[251]

But who shal helpe me now to complayne?

Or who shal now my style gye or lede?

O Niobè, let now thy teres rayne

In-to my penne; and helpe eek in this nede,

180

Thou woful Mirre, that felest my herte blede

Of pitous wo, and myn hand eek quake

Whan that I wryte, for this mannes sake!

For unto wo accordeth complayning

And doleful cherë unto hevinesse;

185

To sorowe also, syghing and weping,

And pitous mourning, unto drerinesse;

And whoso that shal wryten of distresse

In party nedeth to knowe felingly

Cause and rote of al such malady.

190

But I, alas! that am of witte but dulle,

And have no knowing of such matere,

For to discryve and wryten at the fulle

The woful complaynt, which that ye shal here,

But even-lyk as doth a skrivenere

195

That can no more what that he shal wryte,

But as his maister besyde doth endyte;

Right so fare I, that of no sentement

Saye right naught, as in conclusioun,

But as I herde, whan I was present,

200

This man complayne with a pitous soun;

For even-lyk, without addicioun

Or disencrees, either more or lesse,

For to reherce anon I wol me dresse.

And if that any now be in this place

205

That fele in love brenning or fervence,

Or hindred werë to his lady grace

With false tonges, that with pestilence

Slee trewe men that never did offence

In word nor dede, ne in hir entent—

210

If any suche be here now present,

[252]

Let him of routhe lay to audience,

With doleful chere and sobre countenaunce,

To here this man, by ful high sentence,

His mortal wo and his gret perturbaunce

215

Cómplayning, now lying in a traunce,

With lokes upcaste, and with ruful chere,

Th' effect of whiche was as ye shal here.—

Compleynt.

The thought oppressed with inward sighes sore,

The painful lyf, the body languisshing,

220

The woful gost, the herte rent and tore,

The pitous chere, pale in compleyning,

The deedly face, lyk ashes in shyning,

The salte teres that fro myn eyën falle,

Parcel declare grounde of my peynes alle:

225

Whos herte is grounde to blede in hevinesse;

The thought, resceyt of wo and of complaynt;

The brest is cheste of dole and drerinesse;

The body eek so feble and so faynt;

With hote and colde myn acces is so meynt,

230

That now I chiver for defaute of hete,

And, hoot as gleed, now sodainly I swete.

Now hoot as fyr, now cold as asshes dede,

Now hoot fro cold, now cold fro hete agayn;

Now cold as ys, now as coles rede

235

For hete I brenne; and thus, betwixe twayne,

I possed am, and al forcast in payne;

So that my hete plainly, as I fele,

Of grevous cold is causë, every-deel.

This is the cold of inward high disdayne,

240

Cold of dispyt, and cold of cruel hate;

This is the cold that doth his besy payne

Ayeines trouthe to fighte and to debate.

This is the cold that wolde the fyr abate

[253]

Of trewe mening; alas! the harde whyle!

245

This is the cold that wolde me begyle.

For ever the better that in trouthe I mente

With al my mighte faythfully to serve,

With herte and al for to be diligent,

The lesse thank, alas! I can deserve!

250

Thus for my trouthe Daunger doth me sterve.

For oon that shulde my deeth, of mercy, lette

Hath mad despyt newe his swerd to whette

Ayeines me, and his arowes to fyle

To take vengeaunce of wilful crueltè;

255

And tonges false, through hir sleightly wyle,

Han gonne a werre that wil not stinted be;

And fals Envye, Wrathe, and Enmitè,

Have conspired, ayeines al right and lawe,

Of hir malyce, that Trouthe shal be slawe.

260

And Male-Bouche gan first the tale telle,

To slaundre Trouthe, of indignacioun;

And Fals-Report so loude rong the belle,

That Misbeleve and Fals-Suspeccioun,

Have Trouthe brought to his dampnacioun,

265

So that, alas! wrongfully he dyeth,

And Falsnes now his placë occupyeth,

And entred is in-to Trouthes lond,

And hath therof the ful possessioun.

O rightful god, that first the trouthe fond,

270

How may thou suffre such oppressioun,

That Falshood shulde have jurisdiccioun

In Trouthes right, to slee him giltëlees?

In his fraunchyse he may not live in pees.

Falsly accused, and of his foon forjuged,

275

Without answere, whyl he was absent,

He dampned was, and may not ben excused,

[254]

For Crueltè sat in jugëment

Of hastinesse, withoute avysëment,

And bad Disdayn do execute anon

280

His jugëment, in presence of his foon.

Attourney noon ne may admitted been

T'ëxcuse Trouthë, ne a word to speke;

To fayth or ooth the juge list not seen,

There is no gayn, but he wil be wreke.

285

O lord of trouthe, to thee I calle and clepe;

How may thou see, thus in thy presence,

Withoute mercy, murdred innocence?

Now god, that art of trouthe soverain

And seëst how I lye for trouthe bounde,

290

So sore knit in loves fyry chain

Even at the deth, through-girt with many a wounde

That lykly are never for to sounde,

And for my trouthe am dampned to the deeth,

And not abyde, but drawe along the breeth:

295

Consider and see, in thyn eternal right,

How that myn herte professed whylom was

For to be trewe with al my fulle might

Only to oon, the whiche now, alas!

Of voluntè, withoute any trespas,

300

Myn accusours hath taken unto grace,

And cherissheth hem, my deth for to purchace.

What meneth this? what is this wonder ure

Of purveyauncë, if I shal it calle,

Of god of love, that false hem so assure,

305

And trewe, alas! doun of the whele ben falle?

And yet in sothe, this is the worst of alle,

That Falshed wrongfully of Trouthe hath name,

And Trouthe ayenward of Falshed bereth the blame.

This blinde chaunce, this stormy aventure,

310

In lovë hath most his experience;

For who that doth with trouthe most his cure

[255]

Shal for his mede finde most offence,

That serveth love with al his diligence;

For who can faynë, under lowliheed,

315

Ne fayleth not to finde grace and speed.

For I loved oon, ful longë sith agoon,

With al my herte, body, and ful might,

And, to be deed, my herte can not goon

From his hest, but holde that he hath hight;

320

Though I be banisshed out of her sight,

And by her mouth dampned that I shal deye,

†To my behest yet I wil ever obeye.

For ever, sithë that the world began,

Who-so list lokë, and in storie rede,

325

He shal ay finde that the trewe man

Was put abakke, wher-as the falshede

Y-furthered was; for Love taketh non hede

To slee the trewe, and hath of hem no charge,

Wher-as the false goth freely at hir large.

330

I take recorde of Palamides,

The trewe man, the noble worthy knight,

That ever loved, and of his payn no relees;

Notwithstonding his manhood and his might

Love unto him did ful greet unright;

335

For ay the bet he did in chevalrye,

The more he was hindred by envye.

And ay the bet he did in every place

Through his knighthood and his besy payne,

The ferther was he from his lady grace,

340

For to her mercy mighte he never attayne;

And to his deth he coude it not refrayne

For no daungere, but ay obey and serve

As he best coude, plainly, til he sterve.

What was the fyne also of Hercules,

345

For al his conquest and his worthinesse,

That was of strengthe alone pereles?

[256]

For, lyk as bokes of him list expresse,

He sette pillers, through his hy prowesse,

Away at Gades, for to signifye

350

That no man mighte him passe in chevalrye.

The whiche pillers ben ferre beyonde Inde

Beset of golde, for a remembraunce;

And, for al that, was he set behinde

With hem that Love liste febly avaunce;

355

For [he] him sette last upon a daunce,

Ageynes whom helpe may no stryf;

For al his trouthe, yit he loste his lyf.

Phebus also, for al his persaunt light,

Whan that he wente here in erthe lowe,

360

Unto the herte with fresh Venus sight

Y-wounded was, through Cupydes bowe,

And yet his lady liste him not to knowe.

Though for her love his herte didë blede,

She leet him go, and took of him no hede.

365

What shal I saye of yonge Piramus?

Of trew Tristram, for al his hye renoun?

Of Achilles, or of Antonius?

Of Arcite eke, or of him Palemoun?

What was the endë of hir passioun

370

But, after sorowe, deeth, and than hir grave?

Lo, here the guerdon that these lovers have!

But false Jason, with his doublenesse,

That was untrewe at Colkos to Medee,

And Theseus, rote of unkindënesse,

375

And with these two eek the false Enee;

Lo! thus the falsë, ay in oon degrè,

Had in love hir lust and al hir wille;

And, save falshood, ther was non other skille.

Of Thebes eek the false [knight] Arcyte,

380

And Demophon †also, for [al] his slouthe,

They had hir lust and al that might delyte

[257]

For al hir falshode and hir greet untrouthe.

Thus ever Love (alas! and that is routhe!)

His false leges forthereth what he may,

385

And sleeth the trewe ungoodly, day by day.

For trewe Adon was slayn with the bore

Amid the forest, in the grene shade;

For Venus love he feltë al the sore.

But Vulcanus with her no mercy made;

390

The foule chorl had many nightes glade,

Wher Mars, her worthy knight, her trewe man,

To finde mercy, comfort noon he can.

Also the yonge fresshe Ipomenes

So lusty free [was], as of his corage,

395

That for to serve with al his herte he chees

Athalans, so fair of hir visage;

But Love, alas! quitte him so his wage

With cruel daunger plainly, at the laste,

That, with the dethe, guerdonles he paste.

400

Lo! here the fyne of loveres servyse!

Lo! how that Love can his servaunts quyte!

Lo! how he can his faythful men despyse,

To slee the trewe, and false to respyte!

Lo! how he doth the swerd of sorowe byte

405

In hertes, suche as most his lust obeye,

To save the false, and do the trewe deye!

For fayth nor ooth, word, ne assuraunce,

Trewe mening, awayte, or besinesse,

Stille port, ne faythful attendaunce,

410

Manhood, ne might, in armes worthinesse,

Pursute of worship, nor no hy prowesse,

In straunge lande ryding, ne travayle,

Ful lyte or nought in lovë doth avayle.

[258]

Peril of dethe, nother in see ne lande,

415

Hunger ne thurst, sorowe ne sekenesse,

Ne grete empryses for to take on hande,

Sheding of blode, ne manful hardinesse,

Ne ofte woundinge at sautes by distresse,

Nor †juparting of lyf, nor deeth also—

420

Al is for nought, Love taketh no hede therto!

But lesings, with hir false flaterye,

Through hir falshede, and with hir doublenesse,

With tales newe and many fayned lye,

By fals semblaunt and counterfet humblesse,

425

Under colour depeynt with stedfastnesse,

With fraude covered under a pitous face

Accepte been now rathest unto grace,

And can hem-selve now best magnifye

With fayned port and fals presumpcioun;

430

They haunce hir cause with fals surquedrye

Under meninge of double entencioun,

To thenken oon in hir opinioun

And saye another; to sette hemselve alofte

And hinder trouthe, as it is seyn ful ofte.

435

The whiche thing I bye now al to dere,

Thanked be Venus and the god Cupyde!

As it is sene by myn oppressed chere,

And by his arowes that stiken in my syde,

That, sauf the deth, I nothing abyde

440

Fro day to day; alas, the harde whyle!

Whan ever his dart that him list to fyle,

My woful herte for to ryve a-two

For faute of mercy, and lak of pitè

Of her that causeth al my payne and wo

445

And list not ones, of grace, for to see

Unto my trouthe through her crueltee;

And, most of alle, yit I me complayne,

That she hath joy to laughen at my peyne!

[259]

And wilfully hath [she] my deeth y-sworn

450

Al giltëlees, and wot no cause why

Save for the trouthe that I have had aforn

To her alone to serve faithfully!

O god of lovë! unto thee I cry,

And to thy blinde double deitee

455

Of this gret wrongë I compleyne me,

And to thy stormy wilful variaunce

Y-meynt with chaunge and greet unstablenesse;

Now up, now doun, so renning is thy chaunce,

That thee to truste may be no sikernesse.

460

I wyte it nothing but thy doublenesse;

And who that is an archer and is †blent

Marketh nothing, but sheteth as he †went.

And for that he hath no discrecioun,

Withoute avys he let his arowe go;

465

For lakke of sight, and also of resoun,

In his shetinge, it happeth ofte so,

To hurte his frend rather than his fo;

So doth this god, [and] with his sharpe floon

The trewe sleeth, and let the false goon.

470

And of his wounding this is the worst of alle,

Whan he hurteth, he doth so cruel wreche

And maketh the seke for to crye and calle

Unto his fo, for to been his leche;

And hard it is, for a man to seche,

475

Upon the point of dethe in jupardye,

Unto his fo, to finde remedye!

Thus fareth it now even by me,

That to my fo, that yaf myn herte a wounde,

Mote aske grace, mercy, and pitè,

480

And namëly, ther wher non may be founde!

For now my sore my leche wil confounde,

[260]

And god of kinde so hath set myn ure,

My lyves fo to have my wounde in cure!

Alas! the whyle now that I was born!

485

Or that I ever saw the brighte sonne!

For now I see, that ful longe aforn,

Or I was born, my desteny was sponne

By Parcas sustren, to slee me, if they conne;

For they my deth shopen or my sherte

490

Only for trouthe! I may it not asterte.

The mighty goddesse also of Nature

That under god hath the governaunce

Of worldly thinges committed to her cure,

Disposed hath, through her wys purveyaunce,

495

To yeve my lady so moche suffisaunce

Of al vertues, and therwithal purvyde

To murdre trouthe, hath take Daunger to gyde.

For bountè, beautè, shappe, and semeliheed,

Prudence, wit, passingly fairnesse,

500

Benigne port, glad chere with lowliheed,

Of womanheed right plenteous largesse,

Nature did in her fully empresse,

Whan she her wroughte; and alther-last Disdayne,

To hinder trouthe, she made her chamberlayne;

505

Whan Mistrust also, and Fals-Suspeccioun,

With Misbeleve, she made for to be

Cheef of counsayl to this conclusioun,

For to exyle Routhe, and eek Pitè,

Out of her court to make Mercy flee,

510

So that Dispyt now holdeth forth her reyne,

Through hasty bileve of tales that men feyne.

And thus I am, for my trouthe, alas!

Murdred and slayn with wordes sharpe and kene,

Giltlees, god wot, of al maner trespas,

515

And lye and blede upon this colde grene.

Now mercy, swete! mercy, my lyves quene!

And to your grace of mercy yet I preye,

In your servyse that your man may deye!

[261]

But if so be that I shal deye algate,

520

And that I shal non other mercy have,

Yet of my dethe let this be the date

That by your wille I was brought to my grave;

Or hastily, if that you list me save,

My sharpe woundes, that ake so and blede,

525

Of mercy, charme, and also of womanhede.

For other charme, playnly, is ther non

But only mercy, to helpe in this case;

For though my woundes blede ever in oon,

My lyf, my deeth, standeth in youre grace;

530

And though my gilt be nothing, alas!

I aske mercy in al my beste entente,

Redy to dye, if that ye assente.

For ther-ayeines shal I never stryve

In worde ne werke; playnly, I ne may;

535

For lever I have than to be alyve

To dye soothly, and it be her to pay;

Ye, though it be this eche same day

Or whan that ever her liste to devyse;

Suffyceth me to dye in your servyse.

540

And god, that knowest the thought of every wight

Right as it is, in †al thing thou mayst see,

Yet, ere I dye, with all my fulle might

Lowly I pray, to graunte[n] unto me

That ye, goodly, fayre, fresshe, and free,

545

Which slee me only for defaute of routhe,

Or that I dye, ye may knowe my trouthe.

For that, in sothe, suffyseth unto me,

And she it knowe in every circumstaunce;

And after, I am wel apayd that she

550

If that hir list, of dethe to do vengeaunce

Untó me, that am under her legeaunce;

[262]

It sit me not her doom to disobeye,

But, at her luste, wilfully to deye.

Withoute grucching or rebellioun

555

In wille or worde, hoolly I assent,

Or any maner contradiccioun,

Fully to be at her commaundëment;

And, if I dyë, in my testament

My herte I sende, and my spirit also,

560

What-so-ever she list, with hem to do.

And alder-last unto her womanhede

And to her mercy me I recommaunde,

That lye now here, betwixe hope and drede,

Abyding playnly what she list commaunde.

565

For utterly, (this nis no demaunde),

Welcome to me, whyl me lasteth breeth,

Right at her choise, wher it be lyf or deeth!

In this matere more what mighte I seyn,

Sith in her hande and in her wille is al,

570

Both lyf and deeth, my joy and al my payn?

And fynally, my heste holde I shal,

Til my spirit, by desteny fatal,

Whan that her liste, fro my body wende;

Have here my trouthe, and thus I make an ende!'

575

And with that worde he gan syke as sore

Lyk as his herte ryve wolde atwayne,

And held his pees, and spak a word no more.

But, for to see his wo and mortal payne,

The teres gonne fro myn eyen rayne

580

Ful pitously, for very inward routhe

That I him saw so languisshing for trouthe.

And al this whyle my-self I kepte cloos

Among the bowes, and my-self gan hyde,

Til, at the laste, the woful man aroos,

585

And to a logge wente ther besyde,

Where, al the May, his custome was t'abyde,

[263]

Sole, to complaynen of his paynes kene,

Fro yeer to yere, under the bowes grene.

And for bicause that it drow to the night

590

And that the sonne his ark diurnál

Y-passed was, so that his persaunt light,

His brighte bemes and his stremes al

Were in the wawes of the water fal,

Under the bordure of our ocëan,

595

His char of golde his cours so swiftly ran:

And whyl the twylight and the rowes rede

Of Phebus light were dëaurat a lyte,

A penne I took, and gan me faste spede

The woful playntë of this man to wryte

600

Word by wordë, as he did endyte;

Lyk as I herde, and coude him tho reporte,

I have here set, your hertes to disporte.

If ought be mis, layeth the wyte on me,

For I am worthy for to bere the blame

605

If any thing [here] misreported be,

To make this dytè for to seme lame

Through myn unconning; but, to sayn the same,

Lyk as this man his complaynt did expresse,

I aske mercy and forgivënesse.

610

And, as I wroot, me thoughte I saw a-ferre,

Fer in the weste, lustely appere

Esperus, the goodly brighte sterre,

So glad, so fair, so persaunt eek of chere,

I mene Venus, with her bemes clere,

615

That, hevy hertes only to releve,

Is wont, of custom, for to shewe at eve.

And I, as faste, fel doun on my knee

And even thus to her gan I to preye:—

'O lady Venus! so faire upon to see,

620

Let not this man for his trouthe deye,

For that joy thou haddest whan thou leye

With Mars thy knight, whan Vulcanus you fond,

And with a chayne invisible you bond

[264]

Togider, bothe twayne, in the same whyle

625

That al the court above celestial

At youre shame gan for to laughe and smyle!

A! fairë lady! welwilly founde at al,

Comfort to careful, O goddesse immortal!

Be helping now, and do thy diligence

630

To let the stremes of thyn influence

Descende doun, in forthering of the trouthe,

Namely, of hem that lye in sorowe bounde;

Shew now thy might, and on hir wo have routhe

Er fals Daunger slee hem and confounde.

635

And specially, let thy might be founde

For to socourë, what-so that thou may,

The trewe man that in the herber lay,

And alle trewe forther, for his sake,

O gladde sterre, O lady Venus myne!

640

And cause his lady him to grace take.

Her herte of stele to mercy so enclyne,

Er that thy bemes go up, to declyne,

And er that thou now go fro us adoun,

Fór that love thou haddest to Adoun!'

645

And whan that she was gon unto her reste,

I roos anon, and hoom to bedde wente,

For verily, me thoughte it for the beste;

Prayinge thus, in al my best entente,

That alle trewe, that be with Daunger shente,

650

With mercy may, in reles of hir payn,

Recured be, er May come eft agayn.

And for that I ne may no lenger wake,

Farewel, ye lovers alle, that be trewe!

Praying to god; and thus my leve I take,

655

That, er the sonne to-morowe be risen newe,

And er he have ayein his rosen hewe,

That eche of you may have suche a grace,

His owne lady in armes to embrace.

[265]

I mene thus, that, in al honestee,

660

Withoute more, ye may togider speke

What so ye listë, at good libertee,

That eche may to other hir herte breke,

On Jelousyë only to be wreke,

That hath so longe, of malice and envye,

665

Werreyed Trouthe with his tirannye.

Lenvoy.

Princesse, plese it your benignitee

This litel dytè for to have in mynde!

Of womanhedë also for to see

Your trewe man may youre mercy finde;

670

And Pitè eek, that long hath be behinde,

Let him ayein be próvoked to grace;

For, by my trouthe, it is ayeines kinde,

Fals Daunger for to occupye his place!

Go, litel quayre, unto my lyves queen,

675

And my very hertes soverayne;

And be right glad; for she shal thee seen;

Suche is thy grace! But I, alas! in payne

Am left behinde, and not to whom to playne.

For Mercy, Routhe, Grace, and eek Pitè

680

Exyled be, that I may not attayne

Recure to finde of myn adversitè.

Explicit.

From Th. (Thynne, ed. 1532); collated with F. (Fairfax 16); B. (Bodley 638, imperfect); T. (Tanner 346); D. (Digby 181); S. (Arch. Selden B. 24); I have also consulted Ad. (Addit. 16165); and P. (Pepys 2006). 2. Th. reed; F. D. rede. 4. S. his (for 2nd the). 5. Th. away; F. awey. 6. Th. D. orizont; F. T. S. orisont. 7. Th. bidde al; MSS. om. al. F. T. om. lovers. 10. Th. bade. F. T. D. S. om. 2nd hem. 11. D. gladde; rest glad. All grey (or gray). 13. Th. Bade; MSS. Bad. All dispyte (dispite). 14. S. go take (rest om. go). 15. Th. syghe. 16. F. out stert. 18. Th. sicknesse; MSS. sekenes. F. S. sat; rest sate. Th. aye. Th. nye.

20. F. atte; T. at; rest at the. S. sum; rest some, summe. P. reles; D. relece; T. relese; F. relesse; Th. release. 21. F. halt; Th. halte. 22. T. S. roos; rest rose. Th. thought. 23. Th. wodde; S. wod; rest wode. Th. byrdes. 24. Th. T. D. vapoure; F. S. vapour. F. D. agoon; T. Th. agone. 25. F. morownyng; T. morownynge; Th. moronyng. 26. Th. lyke; F. lykyng (!); rest like; read lyk. 27. Th. leaues. 32. F. the (for hir). 33. Th. D. splaye; F. T. S. splay; read splayen. F. S. on; rest in. 34. Th. T. Agayne; F. Ageyn; D. Ayen. S. gold; rest golde. 35. Th. T. downe; F. dovn; D. down; S. doun. 36. Th. forthe. 37. F. berel; S. beriall; Th. byrel; T. byrell; D. birele. 39. D. S. Toward; F. Tovard; Th. T. Towarde. 40. Th. compace; MSS. compas. 41. T. myghte; S. michty (!); rest might. Th. gone; F. goon. 42. S. park; rest parke. 43. T. wente; rest went. Th. byrdes; rest briddes. S. song; rest songe. 44. Th. branches; F. T. D. braunches. Th. and (correctly); rest omit. 45. Th. sange; S. sang; P. song; F. T. D. songe. Th. woode. S. P. rong; rest ronge. 47. T. thoughte; Th. F. D. thought.

48. T. myghte; rest might. T. D. wraste; S. brest; Th. F. wrest. 49. T. breste; D. braste; Th. F. brest; S. to-brest. 51. F. T. P. tapites; Th. D. tapettes. 52. Th. F. T. -selfe (better selve). F. celured; D. coloured; S. siluered; Th. T. couered. 54. Th. beautie. F. T. may not (for may). 55. S. assaut; rest assaute. 56. Th. sphere; hotte. Th. F. T. D. shone (read shoon). 57, 59. S. wynd, kynd; rest wynde, kynde. 58. S. P. among; rest amonge. T. blossomes; D. blossoms; Th. blosomes; F. blosmes. 59. All holsom (holsum). Th. F. T. D. and so; S. om. so. 60. F. T. blomes; S. blomys; Th. blosmes; D. blossoms. 61. All gan, can; see l. 579. 62. S. that; rest om. F. their; T. theire; Th. D. there; S. thai; read hir. 63. F. D. Ayens; Th. Ayenst; T. Agayne. 64. T. S. saw; Th. F. D. sawe (!). F. ther; rest the; cf. l. 71. S. Daphin; rest Daphene; read Daphne. 65. Th. holsome; rest holsom (-sum). 68. F. phibert; Th. T. filberte; D. filberde; S. filbard. Th. F. dothe. 69. Th. S. adoun; rest doun. 70. F. I-called; rest called. 71. Th. T. D. sawe. P. hawethorn; rest hawthorn, hawthorne, hauthorne. 72. S. motle; F. motele; rest motley. (Read swoot?). Th. dothe smel. 73. All Asshe; read Ash. All oke; read ook. S. ȝong; T. fressh (!); rest yonge. S. accorne; rest acorne.

74. Th. tel. 75. S. beforn; D. before; rest beforne. Th. sawe; wel. 76. T. cours; S. courss; rest course. 77. Th. hyl; quicke streames. 78. S. P. gold; D. colde; rest golde. 78, 80. F. glas, gras; Th. glasse, grasse. 79. wel. 80. Ad. velowet. 81. Th. T. D. lustely (T. lustily) came (cam) springyng; F. lustely gan syng (!); S. lustily gan spryng. 83. Th. F. wel; T. D. welle. 85. From this point I silently correct obvious errors in spelling of Th. by collation with the MSS. Th. holsome. S. and; rest and so. 86. Th. Thorowe. S. there; rest omit. 87, 92, 94. I read lyk for lyke. 87. F. T. D. Narcius (!). 89. T. dyde; rest dyd, did. 90. S. cruell; rest omit. 95. Th. that; rest as. F. T. P. his; rest her. 101. S. perce; D. perce; Th. peerce; F. T. perysh (!) 103. Th. ouermore (!).

107. Th. F. thrust; T. thurste; P. D. thurst. 110. S. adoun; Th. F. P. downe; rest down, doun. 113-126. S. omits. 122. Th. delectable. 127. D. ynde; T. Iende; F. cende (?); Th. gende; S. of Inde. 138. S. constreynt; rest constraynyng.

147. Th. priuely me; rest me priuely. (Read busshes prively me shroude?). 151. Th. om. 2nd his. 154. For among perhaps read anon. 159. S. the; rest omit. 162. Th. therto; rest there. 168. F. P. awaped. 175. D. hem; S. thame; rest om.

179. Th. om. this. 181. So all. 184. F. delful; T. delefull; S. dulefull; D. doilfull. 187. S. quhoso; rest who. S. writen; rest write (wryte). 191. D. no knowyng haue; rest haue no knowyng. 192. S. writen; rest write (wryte). 198. F. S. as; rest om. 202. Th. disencrease; F. disencrese; T. disencrece; D. disencrees. 205. S. louyng. 206. F. hindered; S. hinderit; rest hindred.

212. F. T. deleful; S. dulfull; D. wofull. 214. S. grete; rest om. 216. S. with full; rest omit (I omit full). Compleynt; in F. only. 225. D. grownded. 227. F. S. dule; D. dooll. 230. Th. T. chyuer; F. shyuer; D. chevir; S. chill. 233. T. D. fro; S. from; Th. F. for (twice). 234. Th. T. D. yse; F. Ise; S. Iss. 239. S. distress. 241. So D. P.; S. doth his besyness; Th. euer doth his besy payne; F. euere doth besy peyn; T. euur doth his bysy hate (sic). 242. T. Agaynes; F. D. Ayens; Th. Ayenst; S. Aȝeynis. S. and to; rest om. to. 243. Th. om. wolde.

245. T. wolde; S. wold; Th. D. wol; F. will. 247. T. myghte; Th. F. might. 248. S. for; rest om. 251, 252. T. D. lette, whette; Th. F. let, whet. All despite. 253. S. Aȝeynes; T. Agaynes; F. D. Ayens; Th. Agaynst. 257. P. of wrath. 258. S. aȝeynes; T. agaynes; F. D. ayens; Th. agaynst. 260, 262. Th. tel, bel; rest telle, belle. S. rong; F. T. D. ronge; Th. range. 267, 269. S. lond, fond; rest londe, fonde. 271. Th. D. falshode; F. S. falshed; T. falsehede. 276. Th. D. be; rest ben.

277. S. sat; rest sate, satte. 281. F. non ne may; rest may non. 283. D. oth; S. soth; rest othe. 285. Th. F. T. P. clepe; D. speke; S. cleke (!). 297. T. D. fulle; Th. F. ful. 298. Th. S. one; rest oon. 299. F. more (for any). 303. Th. cal. 305. Th. fal. 306. Th. al. 307. All the name; I omit the. 308. All the blame; read ber'the.

314, 315. D. lowlyheed, speed; rest -hede, spede. 322. All Vn-to; read To. 323. F. sithe; S. sithen; rest sith. 332. Perhaps omit his. D. payn; T. peyn; rest payne (peyne). 337. S. bet; F. bette; rest better. 338. Th. F. om. 2nd his. 339. T. lady; F. ladye; rest ladyes. 346. D. perelees; F. T. S. P. pereles; Th. peerles.

347. T. liste of hym; S. can of him. 349. F. Gades; S. Gadis; rest Gaddes. 351. Th. P. om. ben. 352. S. Y-sett; D. Sette. 355. I supply he. 357. S. ȝit; rest omit. 360. S. fresch; rest omit. 363. T. dide; rest did. 368. S. eke; rest omit. 374. F. Tereus (for Theseus). 378. F. falshed; S. falshede. 379. I supply knight. 380. All eke; read also. I supply al.

382. S. and thair (for and hir); rest omit thair (= hir). 384. Th. lieges. 386. So all. 391. S. worthi knycht & hir trew; rest omit worthi and trew. I follow S.; but omit and. 393. F. T. Ipomones; Th. Ypomedes; S. P. Ypomenes; D. Ipomeus. 394. I supply was. 400. F. lovers; T. louys; rest loues. 403. S. trewe; rest trewe men. 405. Th. moost. 407. D. S. oth; rest othe. 409. F. P. S. port; rest porte. 411. S. no; rest omit. 413. Th. lytel; P. litill; D. litle; rest lyte.

414. F. nother; rest nor. 415. Th. syknesse; F. sekenesse. 419. D. Iupardy; rest in partynge (for iupartynge); read juparting; cf. l. 475. 421. F. fals (error for false); rest omit. 426. S. double (for pitous). 429. S. falss; rest om. 435. Th. F. P. bye; D. bie; T. bey; S. by. 437. Th. T. S. sene; F. seen; P. D. seyn. 438. Th. sticken; P. D. stekyn. 439. S. P. the; rest om. 447. S. ȝit; rest om.

449. I supply she. S. ysuorn; rest om. y-. 451. Th. om. have. 453. T. D. S. aboue (for of love); see l. 454. 461. S. blend (read blent); rest blynde (blinde). 462. S. as he wend (read went); Th. by wende (!); rest by wenynge (!). 464. F. T. avise; D. avice; S. aviss; Th. aduyse. 467. S. P. frend; rest frende. 468. B. begins here. I supply and. 469. T. lette; F. leteth; Th. letteth; B. D. letith; S. lattith. 471. B. F. S. he doth; Th. T. doth to. 475. Th. ieopardye; S. Iupartye; F. partie (!); B. D. T. Iupardye; P. Iupard.

488. Th. systerne. 489. S. haue schapen (for shopen). 494. F. hath; Th. haue. 501. F. B. plentevous. Th. largnesse. 508. Th. trouthe; S. treuth; rest routhe; see l. 679. 514. Th. Gyltlesse; F. Giltles; P. Gylteles.

523. F. B. P. ye (for you). 530. F. B. S. gilt; rest gylte (gilte). 533. S. aȝeynes; T. agaynes; F. B. D. ayens; Th. agaynst. 536. S. ȝow to pay; rest her to pay. 537. Th. om. eche. 538. T. D. liste; rest list. 541. All euery; read al. 543. All graunte (graunt); read graunten. 545. Th. onely sle me; MSS. slee me only. 547. S. vnto; rest om. 548. S. If (for And). 549. S. apaid; rest payd (paid). 550. For to read shal? 551. F. P. legeaunce; Th. D. ligeaunce; T. lygeaunce.

553. T. D. luste; Th. F. B. lust. S. Quherso hir list to do me lyue or deye. 555. S. hoolly; Th. holy. 560. Th. T. D. lyste; F. S. P. list. 561. S. vnto; rest to. 566. S. quhill þat me. 568. Th. mater. 571. F. B. P. hest. 573. T. liste; rest list (lust). 575. T. sike; S. to sike; Th. D. sygh; F. B. sile (!). 577. Th. no worde. 581. Th. long wisshing (!). Th. S. for; F. B. D. P. for his; T. for her. 583. S. P. gan; rest gonne (gunne).

587. S. compleynen; rest complayne. 598. T. faste; rest fast. 605. I supply here. 606. Th. dytte. 611. T. D. weste; rest west. 617. T. D. faste; rest fast. S. D. F. doun; Th. adowne; D. T. Adoun. 622. T. you; rest om.

626. S. for to; rest om. 627. MSS. welwilly; Th. wyl I (!). 636. Th. socouer (misprint). 645. S. vnto; rest to. 647. S. verily; Th. T. D. wery (!); B. very wery (!); F. werry wery (!); P. very. 650. F. B. reles; T. D. relese; Th. release; S. relesche. 656. Th. T. S. P. om. his.

659. Th. om. that. 663. Th. ialousyes; D. Ielosies; rest Ielosye. 664. T. B. P. of; rest of his. 665. S. Werreyed; D. Werried; rest Werred. 666. MSS. Princes; Th. Pryncesse. Th. pleaseth; F. pleseth; P. plesith (read plese). Th. it to your; rest om. to. 667. S. P. for; rest om. 669. Th. D. om. trewe. 673. S. for; rest om.

In Fevrier, whan the frosty mone

Was horned, ful of Phebus fyry light,

And that she gan to reyse her stremes sone,

Saint Valentyne! upon thy blisful night

Of duëtee, whan glad is every wight,

And foules chese (to voyde hir olde sorowe)

Everich his make, upon the nexte morowe;

The same tyme, I herde a larke singe

Ful lustely, agayn the morowe gray—

'Awake, ye lovers, out of your slombringe,

This gladde morowe, in al the haste ye may;

Some óbservaunce doth unto this day,

Your choise ayen of herte to renewe

In cónfirming, for ever to be trewe!

And ye that be, of chesing, at your large,

This lusty day, by custome of nature,

Take upon you the blisful holy charge

To serve lovë, whyl your lyf may dure,

With herte, body, and al your besy cure,

For evermore, as Venus and Cipryde

For you disposeth, and the god Cupyde.

For joye owe we playnly to obeye

Unto this lordes mighty ordinaunce,

[267]

And, mercilesse, rather for to deye

Than ever in you be founden variaunce;

And, though your lyf be medled with grevaunce,

And, at your herte, closed be your wounde,

Beth alway one, ther-as ye are bounde!'

Thát whan I had herd, and listed longe,

With devout herte, the lusty melodye

Of this hevenly comfortable songe

So ágreable, as by harmonye,

I roos anon, and faste gan me hye

Toward a grove, and the way [gan] take

Foules to sene, everich chese his make.

And yet I was ful thursty in languisshing;

Myn ague was so fervent in his hete,

Whan Aurora, for drery complayning,

Can distille her cristal teres wete

Upon the soile, with silver dewe so swete;

For she [ne] durste, for shame, not apere

Under the light of Phebus bemes clere.

And so, for anguisshe of my paynes kene,

And for constraynte of my sighes sore,

I sette me doun under a laurer grene

Ful pitously; and alway more and more,

As I beheld into the holtes hore,

I gan complayne myn inward deedly smerte,

That ay so sore †crampisshed myn herte.

And whyl that I, in my drery payne,

Sat, and beheld aboute on every tree

The foules sitten, alway twayne and twayne,

Than thoughte I thus: 'alas! what may this be,

That every foul hath his libertee

Frely to chesen after his desyre

Everich his make thus, fro yeer to yere?

[268]

The sely wrenne, the titmose also,

The litel redbrest, have free eleccioun

To flyen y-ferë and †togider go

Wher-as hem liste, abouten enviroun,

As they of kynde have inclinacoun,

And as Nature, emperesse and gyde,

Of every thing, liste to provyde;

But man aloon, alas! the harde stounde!

Ful cruelly, by kyndes ordinaunce,

Constrayned is, and by statut bounde,

And debarred from alle such plesaunce.

What meneth this? What is this purveyaunce

Of god above, agayn al right of kynde,

Withoute cause, so narowe man to bynde?'

Thus may I [soothly] seen, and playne, alas!

My woful houre and my disaventure,

That dolefully stonde in the same cas

So fer behyndë, from al helth and cure.

My wounde abydeth lyk a sursanure;

For me Fortune so felly list dispose,

My harm is hid, that I dar not disclose.

For I my herte have set in suche a place

Wher I am never lykly for to spede;

So fer I am hindred from her grace

That, save daunger, I have non other mede.

And thus, alas! I not who shal me rede

Ne for myn helpe shape remedye,

For Male-bouche, and for false Envye:

The whiche twayne ay stondeth in my wey

Maliciously; and Fals Suspeccioun

Is very causë also that I dey,

Ginning and rote of my distruccioun;

So that I fele, [as] in conclusioun,

[269]

With hir traynes that they wol me shende,

Of my labour that deth mot make an ende!

Yet, or I dye, with herte, wil, and thought

To god of lovë this avowe I make,

(As I best can, how dere that it be bought,

Wher-so it be, that I slepe or wake,

Whyl Boreas doth the leves shake)

As I have hight, playnly, til I sterve,

For wele or wo, that I shal [ay] her serve.

And, for her sake, now this holy tyme,

100

Saint Valentyne! somwhat shal I wryte

Al-though so be that I can not ryme,

Nor curiously by no crafte endyte,

Yet lever I have, that she putte the wyte

In unconning than in negligence,

105

What-ever I sayë of her excellence.

What-ever I saye, it is of duëtee,

In sothfastnesse and no presumpcioun;

This I ensure to you that shal it see,

That it is al under correccioun;

110

What I reherce in commendacioun

Of herë that I shal to you, as blyve,

So as I can, her vertues here discryve.—

¶ Right by example as the somer-sonne

Passeth the sterre with his bemes shene,

115

And Lucifer among the skyës donne

A-morowe sheweth to voyde nightes tene,

So verily, withouten any wene,

My lady passeth (who-so taketh hede)

Al tho alyve, to speke of womanhede.

120

And as the ruby hath the soveraintè

Of riche stones and the regalyë;

And [as] the rose, of swetnesse and beautè,

Of fresshe floures, withouten any lyë;

Right so, in sothe, with her goodly yë,

[270]

125

She passeth al in bountee and fairnesse,

Of maner ekë, and of gentilnesse.

For she is bothe the fairest and the beste,

To reken al in very sothfastnesse;

For every vertue is in her at reste;

130

And furthermore, to speke of stedfastnesse,

She is the rotë; and of seemlinesse

The very mirrour; and of governaunce

To al example, withouten variaunce.

Of port benigne, and wonder glad of chere,

135

Having evermore her trewe advertence

Alway to reson; so that her desyre

Is brydeled ay by witte and providence;

Thereto, of wittë and of hy prudence

She is the wellë, ay devoide of pryde,

140

That unto vertue her-selven is the gyde!

And over this, in her daliaunce

Lowly she is, discret, wyse, [and secree],

And goodly gladde by attemperaunce,

That every wight, of high and low degree,

145

Are gladde in herte with her for to be;

Só that, shortly, if I shal not lye,

She named is 'The Flour of Curtesye.'

And there, to speke of femininitee,

The leste mannish in comparisoun,

150

Goodly abasshed, having ay pitee

Of hem that been in tribulacioun;

For she aloon is consolacioun

To al that arn in mischeef and in nede,

To comforte hem, of her womanhede.

155

And ay in vertue is her besy charge,

Sadde and demure, and but of wordes fewe;

Dredful also of tonges that ben large,

Eschewing ay hem that listen to hewe

Above hir heed, hir wordes for to shewe,

[271]

160

Dishonestly to speke of any wight;

She deedly hateth of hem to have a sight.

The herte of whom so honest is and clene,

And her entent so faithful and entere

That she ne may, for al the world, sustene

165

To suffre her eres any word to here,

Of frend nor fo, neither fer ne nere,

Amis resowning, that hinder shulde his name;

And if she do, she wexeth reed for shame.

So trewëly in mening she is set,

170

Without chaunging or any doublenesse;

For bountee and beautee ar togider knet

In her personë, under faithfulnesse;

For void she is of newëfangelnesse;

In herte ay oon, for ever to perséver

175

Ther she is set, and never to dissever.

I am to rude her vertues everichoon

Cunningly [for] to discryve and wryte;

For wel ye wot, colour[es] have I noon

Lyk her discrecioun craftely t'endyte;

180

For what I sayë, al it is to lyte.

Whérfor to you thus I me excuse,

That I aqueynted am not with no muse!

By rethoryke my style to governe,

In her preyse and commendacioun,

185

I am to blind, so hyly to discerne,

Of her goodnesse to make discripcioun,

Save thus I sayë, in conclusioun,

If that I shal shortly [her] commende,

In her is naught that Nature can amende.

190

For good she is, lyk to Policene,

And, in fairnesse, to the quene Helayne;

Stedfast of herte, as was Dorigene,

[272]

And wyfly trouthë, if I shal not fayne:

In constaunce eke and faith, she may attayne

195

To Cleopatre; and therto as †secree

As was of Troye the whyte Antigone;

As Hester meke; lyk Judith of prudence;

Kynde as Alceste or Marcia Catoun;

And to Grisilde lyk in pacience,

200

And Ariadne, of discrecioun;

And to Lucrece, that was of Rome toun,

She may be lykned, as for honestè;

And, for her faith, unto Penelope.

To faire Phyllis and to Hipsiphilee,

205

For innocencë and for womanhede;

For seemlinessë, unto Canacee;

And over this, to speke of goodlihede,

She passeth alle that I can of rede;

For worde and dede, that she naught ne falle,

210

Acorde in vertue, and her werkes alle.

For though that Dydo, with [her] witte sage,

Was in her tyme stedfast to Enee,

Of hastinesse yet she did outrage;

And so for Jason did also Medee.

215

But my lady is so avisee

That, bountee and beautee bothe in her demeyne,

She maketh bountee alway soverayne.

This is to mene, bountee goth afore,

Lad by prudence, and hath the soveraintee;

220

And beautee folweth, ruled by her lore,

That she †n'offendë her in no degree;

So that, in one, this goodly fresshe free

Surmounting al, withouten any were,

Is good and fair, in oon persone y-fere.

225

And though that I, for very ignoraunce,

Ne may discryve her vertues by and by,

[273]

Yet on this day, for a rémembraunce,

Only supported under her mercy,

With quaking hondë, I shal ful humbly

230

To her hynesse, my rudenes for to quyte,

A litel balade here bineth endyte,

Ever as I can suppryse in my herte,

Alway with fere, betwixe drede and shame,

Lest out of lose any word asterte

235

In this metre, to make it seme lame;

Chaucer is deed, that hadde suche a name

Of fair making, that [was], withoute wene,

Fairest in our tonge, as the laurer grene.

We may assaye for to counterfete

240

His gaye style, but it wil not be;

The welle is drye, with the licour swete,

Bothe of Clio and of Caliopè;

And first of al, I wol excuse me

To her, that is [the] ground of goodlihede;

245

And thus I saye until hir womanhede:—

Balade simple.

¶ 'With al my mightë, and my beste entente,

With al the faith that mighty god of kynde

Me yaf, sith he me soule and knowing sente,

I chese, and to this bonde ever I me bynde,

250

To love you best, whyl I have lyf and mynde':—

Thus herde I foules in the dawëninge

Upon the day of saint Valentyne singe.

'Yet chese I, at the ginning, in this entente,

To love you, though I no mercy fynde;

255

And if you liste I dyed, I wolde assente,

As ever twinne I quik out of this lynde!

Suffyseth me to seen your fetheres ynde':—

[274]

Thus herde I foules in the morweninge

Upon the day of saint Valentyne singe.

260

'And over this, myn hertes lust to-bente,

In honour only of the wodëbynde,

Hoolly I yeve, never to repente

In joye or wo, wher-so that I wynde

Tofore Cupyde, with his eyën blynde':—

265

The foules alle, whan Tytan did springe,

With dévout herte, me thoughte I herde singe!

Lenvoy.

¶ Princesse of beautee, to you I represente

This simple dytè, rude as in makinge,

Of herte and wil faithful in myn entente,

270

Lyk as, this day, [the] foules herde I singe.

Here endeth the Flour of Curtesye.

From Th. (Thynne, ed. 1532). Title: Th. The Floure of Curtesy; (ed. 1561 adds—made by Ihon Lidgate). I note here the rejected spellings. 1. Feverier. 2. firy. 3. streames. 5. dutie. 6. her. 7. Eueryche; next. 9. agayne. 11. glad. 12. dothe. 15. chosyng. 18. whyle; lyfe. 20. Cipride. 22. obey.

26. lyfe. 26. closet. 27. there. 29. herde. 30. deuoute. 32. ermonye. 33. rose. 34. Towarde; supply gan. 35. eueryche chose. 39. distyl; (read distille); chrystal teeres. 41. Supply ne. 42. beames. 45. set; downe. 47. behelde. 48. inwarde. 49. aye; crampessh at (read crampisshed). 50. whyle. 51. Sate; behelde; tre. 52. sytte (read sitten). 53. thought. 54. foule. 55. chose (read chesen). 56. Eueryche; yere to yere.

57. tytemose. 58. election. 59. togyther (read togider). 60. Where as; lyst aboute envyron. 61. inclynacion. 62. empresse (read emperesse). 63. lyst. 64. alone. 66. statute. 67. al suche. 69. agayne. 70. Without. 71. Supply soothly; sene. 73. doulfully; caas. 74. ferre. 75. lyke. 76. lyste. 77. harme; dare. 79. lykely. 80. ferre. 81. none. 83. myne. 85. aye. 86. false suspection. 88. distruction. 89. Supply as; conclusyon.

91. dethe mote. 94. howe. 95. Where so. 96. Whyle; dothe; leaues. 98. wel; supply ay. 99. nowe. 103. put. 106. say; dute (read duetee). 107. presumpcion. 108. se. 109. correction. 110. commendacion. 111. her (read here). 114. beames. 115. amonge. 122. Supply as; swetenesse. 123. without. 124. eye.

125. bountie; fayrenesse. 128. reken (read reknen?). 131. semelynesse. 136. reason. 137. aye. 138. hye. 139. aye. 142. discrete and wyse (read discret wyse; and supply secree for the rime). 144. lowe. 145. glad. 147. Floure. 148. femynyte (!). 149. mannyshe; comparison. 150. aye pyte. 151. ben; trybulacion. 152. alone; -cion. 153. arne; mischefe. 155. aye. 157. Dredeful. 158. aye. 159. her (twice.)

164. worlde. 165. eeres; worde. 166. frende; foe; ferre. 167. Amysse. 169. trewly; is in sette (om. in). 171. bountie; beautie are togyther knette. 173. voyde; newfanglenesse (or read voide and newfangelnesse). 174. aye one. 175. There; sette. 176. euerychone. 177. Supply for. 178. colour; none. 179. Lyke; to endyte. 180. say. 181. Wherfore. 184. commendacion. 185. blynde; hylye. 186. discrypcion. 187. say; conclusyon. 188. Supply her. 190. lyke. 191. fayrenesse.

193. wyfely. 194. faythe. 195. setrone (!); read secree (see note). 197. lyke. 198. Alcest. 199. lyke. 202. lykened. 203. faythe. 206. semelynesse; Canace. 208. al. 209, 210. fal, al. 211. Supply her. 216. bountie; beautie. 217. bountie. 218. meane bountie gothe. 220. beautie foloweth. 221. ne fende (!); degre. 222. fre. 224. fayre; one.

228. Onely. 230. rudenesse. 233. feare; betwyxt. 234. Leste; worde. 236. had. 237. fayre; supply was; without. 239. assay. 240. gay. 241. lycoure. 242. Clye (!). 244. Supply the; grounde. 245. say. 246. might; best entent. 247. faythe. 248. yaue; sent. 250. whyle; lyfe. 251. daunynge. 252, 259. saynte Valentyne (? om. saynte). 253. begynnyng (read ginning); entent. 255. assent. 256. quicke; lyne (misprint). 257. sene; fethers.

258. mornynge (for morweninge). 260. myne; luste. 261. onely; wodde bynde. 262. Holy. 263. where so. 265. al. 266. deuoute hert; thought. 267. Lenvoye. beautie; represent. 269. entent. 270. Lyke; supply the. Colophon: Floure; Curtesy.

(A devoute balade by Lidegate of Bury, made at the reverence of oure lady, Qwene of mercy.—A.)

A thousand stories coude I mo reherce

Of olde poetes, touching this matere,

How that Cupyde the hertes gan so perce

Of his servauntes, setting hem on fere;

Lo, here the fyn of th'errour and the were!

Lo, here of love the guerdon and grevaunce

That ever with wo his servaunts doth avaunce!

Wherfor now playnly I wol my style dresse

Of one to speke, at nede that wol nat fayle;

Alas! for dole, I ne can ne may expresse

Her passing pryse, and that is no mervayle.

O wind of grace, now blow into my sayle!

O aureat licour of Cleo, for to wryte

My penne enspyre, of that I wolde endyte!

Alas! unworthy I am and unable

To love suche oon, al women surmounting,

To be benigne to me, and merciable,

[276]

That is of pitè the welle and eek the spring!

Wherfor of her, in laude and in praysing,

So as I can, supported by her grace,

Right thus I say, kneling tofore her face:—

O sterre of sterres, with thy stremes clere,

Sterre of the see, to shipmen light and gyde,

O lusty living, most plesaunt to apere,

Whos brighte bemes the cloudes may not hyde;

O way of lyf to hem that go or ryde,

Haven from tempest, surest up to ryve,

On me have mercy, for thy joyes fyve!

O rightful rule, O rote of holinesse,

And lightsom lyne of pitè for to playne,

Original ginning of grace and al goodnesse,

Clenest conduit of vertue soverayne,

Moder of mercy, our trouble to restrayne,

Chambre and closet clenest of chastitè,

And named herberwe of the deitè!

O hoolsom garden, al voyde of wedes wikke,

Cristallin welle, of clennesse clere consigned,

Fructif olyve, of foyles faire and thikke,

And redolent cedre, most dereworthly digned,

Remembre on sinners unto thee assigned

Er wikked fendes hir wrathe upon hem wreche;

Lanterne of light, thou be hir lyves leche!

Paradyse of plesaunce, gladsom to al good,

Benigne braunchelet of the pyne-tree,

Vyneyerd vermayle, refressher of our food,

[277]

Licour ayein languor, palled that may not be,

Blisful bawme-blossom, byding in bountè,

Thy mantel of mercy on our mischef sprede,

And er wo wake, wrappe us under thy wede!

O rody rosier, flouring withouten spyne,

Fountayne filthles, as beryl currant clere,

Som drope of graceful dewe to us propyne;

Light withoute nebule, shyning in thy spere,

Medecyne to mischeves, pucelle withouten pere,

Flame doun to doleful light of thyn influence

On thy servauntes, for thy magnificence!

Of al Christen protectrice and tutele,

Retour of exyled, put in prescripcioun

To hem that erre in the pathe of hir sequele;

To wery wandred tent and pavilioun,

The feynte to fresshe, and the pausacioun;

Unto unresty bothe reste and remedye,

Fruteful to al tho that in her affye.

To hem that rennen thou art itinerárie,

O blisful bravie to knightes of thy werre;

To wery werkmen thou art diourn denárie,

Mede unto mariners that have sayled ferre;

Laureat crowne, streming as a sterre

To hem that putte hem in palestre for thy sake,

Cours of her conquest, thou whyte as any lake!

Thou mirthe of martyrs, sweter than citole,

Of confessours also richest donatyf,

[278]

Unto virgynes eternal lauriole,

Afore al women having prerogatyf;

Moder and mayde, bothe widowe and wyf,

Of al the worlde is noon but thou alone!

Now, sith thou may, be socour to my mone!

O trusty turtle, trewest of al trewe,

O curteyse columbe, replete of al mekenesse,

O nightingale with thy notes newe,

O popinjay, plumed with al clennesse,

O laverok of love, singing with swetnesse,

Phebus, awayting til in thy brest he lighte

Under thy winge at domesday us dighte!

O ruby, rubifyed in the passioun

Al of thy sone, among have us in minde,

O stedfast dyamaunt of duracioun,

That fewe feres that tyme might thou finde,

For noon to him was founden half so kinde!

O hardy herte, O loving crëature,

What was it but love that made thee so endure?

Semely saphyre, depe loupe, and blewe ewage,

Stable as the loupe, ewage of pitè,

This is to say, the fresshest of visage,

Thou lovest hem unchaunged that serven thee.

And if offence or wrything in hem be,

Thou art ay redy upon hir wo to rewe,

And hem receyvest with herte ful trewe.

O goodly gladded, whan that Gabriel

100

With joy thee grette that may not be nombred!

Or half the blisse who coude wryte or tel

Whan the holy goost to thee was obumbred,

Wherthrough fendes were utterly encombred?

O wemlees mayde, embelisshed in his birthe,

105

That man and aungel therof hadden mirthe!

[279]

Lo, here the blossom and the budde of glorie,

Of which the prophet spak so longe aforn;

Lo, here the same that was in memórie

Of Isaie, so longe or she was born;

110

Lo, here of David the delicious corn;

Lo, here the ground that list [him] to onbelde,

Becoming man, our raunsom for to yelde!

O glorious vyole, O vytre inviolat!

O fyry Tytan, persing with thy bemes,

115

Whos vertuous brightnes was in thy brest vibrat,

That al the world embelisshed with his lemes!

Conservatrice of kingdomes and remes;

Of Isaies sede O swete Sunamyte,

Mesure my mourning, myn owne Margaryte!

120

O sovereignest, sought out of Sion,

O punical pome ayens al pestilence;

And aureat urne, in whom was bouk and boon

The agnelet, that faught for our offence

Ayens the serpent with so high defence

125

That lyk a lyoun in victorie he was founde;

To him commende us, of mercy most habounde!

O precious perle, withouten any pere,

Cockle with gold dew from above berayned,

Thou busshe unbrent, fyrles set a-fere,

130

Flambing with fervence, not with hete payned;

Thou during daysye, with no †weder stayned;

Flees undefouled of gentil Gedeon,

And fructifying yerd thou of Aaron.

[280]

Thou misty arke, probatik piscyne,

135

Laughing Aurora, and of pees olyve;

Columpne and base, up bering from abyme;

Why nere I conning, thee for to discryve?

Chosen of Joseph, whom he took to wyve,

Unknowing him, childing by greet mirácle,

140

And of our manhode trewe tabernacle!

From Th.; collated with A. (Ashmole 59); and Sl. (Sloane 1212). 1. A. I kouþe to you. 2. A. clerkis (for poetes); the (for this). 3. A. cane mens hertes presse (!). 4. Th. hem; A. þeire hertes. Th. in fere; A. a fuyre. 5. A. With ful daunger payeþe his subgettes hyre. Sl. weere; Th. fere. 7. Th. Sl. euer; A. aye. Sl. A. his ... doth; Th. her ... do. 8. Th. nowe; A. om. Sl. redresse. 10. A. Ellas I ne can ne may not ful expresse. 11. Th. Sl. and that; A. the whiche. 12. Th. wynde. Sl. into; Th. unto. A. þou blowe nowe to my. 13. Th. auryate; A. aureate. A. om. of. 14. A. tenspyre of whiche I thenk to wryte. Sl. wold; Th. wol. 15. A. But sith I am sonworthy (!). 16. Sl. on; Th. A. one. 17. A. To; Th. Sl. But she.

18. A. Whiche of pytee is welle. 19. Th. Sl. of; A. to. 20. Th. Sl. can; A. am. 22. A. O souereine sterre. 24. Sl. lemand (for living). Sl. most; Th. A. moste. 25. Th. Whose bright beames. Th. Sl. may; A. cane. 26. A. lyff; Th. Sl. lyfe. 27. A. frome; Th. Sl. after. 29. Sl. rote; Th. A. bote. 31. A. gynnyng of grace and; Th. Sl. begynning of grace and al. 32. A. Clennest; Th. And clenest. Th. Sl. ins. most bef. sovereyne. 33. A. Moder; Th. Mother. 34. A. al cloose closette; Th. Sl. and closet clennest. 35. Th. herbrough; Sl. herberwe. A. The hyest herber (!) of al the. 36. A. holsome; Th. Sl. closed. A. om. al. 37. A. Welle cristallyne. A. Sl. clennesse; Th. clerenesse. 38. A. Fructyff; Th. Fructyfyed. Th. fayre; A. so feyre. 39. A. om. And. A. om. most. 40. A om. on. Sl. pecchours (for sinners). A. unto; Th. Sl. that to the be. 41. Th. Sl. Or wikked; A. Er foule. A. on hem þeire wrathe. Sl. upon; Th. on. 42. Th. om. be. 43. A. Thou Paradys plesante, gladnesse of goode. 44. A. And benigne braunche. 45. A. Vyneyerde vermayle; Th. Sl. Vynarie enuermayled. Sl. food; Th. A. bote.

46. Th. ayen al langour; A. geyne langoure. A. palde that; Th. Sl. that palled. 47. Sl. Blisful bawme; A. Thou blessed; Th. Blysful blomy. 48. Sl. misericord on our myschef. Th. on our myserie; A. vppon vs spilt thou. 49. Th. awake. A. wake and wrappe vs ay vnder. 50. A. O rede roos raylling withouten. Th. without. 51. Th. al fylthlesse; A. om. al. A. currant as beryle. Th. byrel. 52. Th. Sl. of thy; I omit thy. A. Grace of thy dewe til vs thou do propyne. 53. Th. O light; Sl. Thou lyght. A. Thou louely light, shynynge in bright spere. 54. A. missers; Th. mischeues; Sl. myscheuows. A. withouten; Th. without. 55. Th. Flambe; A. Dryve. Sl. to; Th. A. the. A. om. doleful. 56. A. On; Th. Sl. Remembring. 58. Sl. Retour; Th. Returne; A. Recure. A. Sl. in; Th. in the. 59. A. To therroures of the pathe sequele. 60. A. For (for To). Sl. wandrid; Th. forwandred; A. wandering. 61. So A. Th. To faynte and to fresshe the. 62. A. To wery wightes ful reste. 63. Th. tho that; A. that hem. A. omits ll. 64-119. 64. Th. arte. 66. Sl. thou art; Th. she is. Th. diourne. 68. Th. Laureate. 69. Th. put; palastre. 71. Sl. Thow; Th. O. Th. myrthe; swetter; sytole. 72. Sl. om. also. Th. donatyfe.

74. Th. -tyfe. 75. Th. Mother; wyfe. 76. Sl. In all this. Sl. noon; Th. none. 78. Sl. trewest; Th. truefastest. 81. Sl. plumed; Th. pured. 82. Sl. larke. 83. Sl. in; Th. on. 83, 84. lyght, dyght. 85. passyon. 86. Sl. Alle; Th. om. Th. sonne. Sl. among haue us; Th. vs haue amonge. 87. Sl. dyamaunt; Th. dyametre. 88. Sl. that; Th. any. 89. halfe. 91. the. 92. Th. saphre (sic); Sl. saffyr. 95. So Sl. Th. unchaunged hem. 96. Sl. writhyng; Th. varyeng. 97. arte; her. 98. hert; see note. 99. gladed. 100. the. 102. goste; the. 103. Sl. vtterly; Th. bytterly. 104. wemlesse. Th. in; Sl. with.

106. blosme. 107. Th. prophete; Sl. prophetys. Sl. spak so long aforn; Th. so longe spake beforne. 109, 110. borne, corne. 111. Th. of lyfe in to bilde; Sl. that list to onbelde. 113. Sl. o vitre; Th. and vyte. Th. inuyolate. 115. Th. om. thy; vibrate. 116. Sl. his; Th. the. 117. Sl. kyngdamys; Th. kynges dukes. Sl. remys; Th. realmes. 118. Sl. o; Th. om. 120. A. souereine. Th. A. sought; Sl. sowth. Th. out of; Sl. of out; A. fer oute. 121-127. In Sl. only. 121. Sl. alle. 122. Sl. auryat; book and born (!); see note. 125. Sl. victory. 126. Sl. moost. 127. Sl. ony. 128. Th. golde dewe; A. glorie. 129. A. Sl. Thou; Th. Dewe (!). Sl. ferlett (!) set affere; A. fuyrles thou sette vppon; Th. fyrelesse fyre set on. 130. Sl. peyned; A. empeyred (!). 131. Sl. Th. om. Thou. A. with; Th. that. Th. A. wether. A. disteyned. 132. Th. Fleece. A. gentyle; Th. gentylest. 133. Th. Sl. insert fayrest after fructifyeng (sic). A. yerde thowe; Th. Sl. the yerde.

134. A. Thowe; Sl. Th. The. Sl. mysti; Th. A. mighty. Sl. probatyk; Th. probatyfe; A. the probatyf. 135. A. Aurora; Th. aurore. A. tholyve; Sl. Th. olyue. 136. A. Pillor from base beryng from abysme. 137. A. Why nad I langage. Sl. the for; A. hir for; Th. here. 138. Th. toke. A. Chosen of god, whome Joseph gaf (!) to wyve. 139. Th. Sl. childyng; A. bare Cryste. Th. Sl. om. greet. 140. Th. And of our manly figure the; Sl. And of oure mar (!) figure; A. And of Ihesus manhode truwe.

I have non English convenient and digne

Myn hertes hele, lady, thee with t'honoure,

Ivorie clene; therfore I wol resigne

In-to thyn hand, til thou list socoure

To help my making bothe florisshe and floure;

Than shulde I shewe, in love how I brende,

In songes making, thy name to commende.

For if I coude before thyn excellence

Singen in love, I wolde, what I fele,

And ever standen, lady, in thy presence,

To shewe in open how I love you wele;

And sith, although your herte be mad of stele,

To you, withoute any disseveraunce,

J'ay en vous toute ma fiaunce.

Wher might I love ever better besette

Than in this lilie, lyking to beholde?

The lace of love, the bond so wel thou knette,

That I may see thee or myn herte colde,

And or I passe out of my dayes olde,

Tofore singing evermore utterly—

'Your eyën two wol slee me sodainly.'

For love I langour, blissed be such seknesse,

Sith it is for you, my hertely suffisaunce;

I can not elles saye, in my distresse,

So fair oon hath myn herte in governaunce;

And after that I †ginne on esperaunce

[282]

With feble entune, though it thyn herte perce,

Yet for thy sake this lettre I do reherce.

God wot, on musike I can not, but I gesse,

(Alas! why so?) that I might say or singe,

So love I you, myn own soverain maistresse,

And ever shal, withouten départinge.

Mirrour of beautè, for you out shuld I ringe,

In rémembraunce eke of your eyen clere,

Thus fer from you, my soverain lady dere!

So wolde god your love wold me slo,

Sith, for your sake, I singe day by day;

Herte, why nilt thou [never] breke a-two,

Sith with my lady dwellen I ne may?

Thus many a roundel and many a virelay

In fresshe Englisshe, whan I me layser finde,

I do recorde, on you to have minde!

Now, lady myn! sith I you love and drede,

And you unchaunged finde, in o degree,

Whos grace ne may flye fro your womanhede,

Disdayneth not for to remembre on me!

Myn herte bledeth, for I may nat you see;

And sith ye wot my mening désirous,

Pleurez pur moi, si vous plaist amorous!

What marveyle is, though I in payne be?

I am departed from you, my soveraine;

Fortune, alas! dont vient la destenee,

That in no wyse I can ne may attayne

To see the beautè of your eyën twayne.

Wherfore I say, for tristesse doth me grame,

Tant me fait mal departir de ma dame!

Why nere my wisshing brought to suche esploit

That I might say, for joye of your presence,

'Ore a man cuer ce quil veuilloit,

Ore a man cuer the highest excellence

That ever had wight;' and sith myn advertence

[283]

Is in you, reweth on my paynes smerte,

I am so sore wounded to the herte.

To live wel mery, two lovers were y-fere,

So may I say withouten any blame;

If any man [per cas] to wilde were,

I coude him [sonë] teche to be tame;

Let him go love, and see wher it be game!

For I am brydled unto sobernesse

For her, that is of women cheef princesse.

But ever, whan thought shulde my herte embrace,

Than unto me is beste remedye,

Whan I loke on your goodly fresshe face;

So mery a mirrour coude I never espye;

And, if I coude, I wolde it magnifye.

For never non was [here] so faire y-founde,

To reken hem al, and also Rosamounde.

And fynally, with mouthe and wil present

Of double eye, withoute repentaunce,

Myn herte I yeve you, lady, in this entent,

That ye shal hoolly therof have governaunce;

Taking my leve with hertes obeysaunce,

'Salve, regina!' singing laste of al,

To be our helpe, whan we to thee cal!

Al our lovë is but ydelnesse

Save your aloon; who might therto attayne?

Who-so wol have a name of gentillesse,

I counsayle him in love that he not fayne.

Thou swete lady! refut in every payne,

Whos [pitous] mercy most to me avayleth

To gye by grace, whan that fortune fayleth.

Nought may be told, withouten any fable,

Your high renome, your womanly beautè;

Your governaunce, to al worship able,

Putteth every herte in ese in his degree.

O violet, O flour desiree,

[284]

Sith I am for you so amorous,

Estreynez moy, [lady,] de cuer joyous!

With fervent herte my brest hath broste on fyre;

100

L'ardant espoir que mon cuer poynt, est mort,

D'avoir l'amour de celle que je desyre,

I mene you, swete, most plesaunt of port,

Et je sai bien que ceo n'est pas mon tort

That for you singe, so as I may, for mone

105

For your departing; alone I live, alone.

Though I mighte, I wolde non other chese;

In your servyce, I wolde be founden sad;

Therfore I love no labour that ye lese,

Whan, in longing, sorest ye be stad;

110

Loke up, ye lovers [alle], and be right glad

Ayeines sëynt Valentynes day,

For I have chose that never forsake I may!

Explicit.

From Th. (Thynne, ed. 1532); I note rejected spellings. 1. none englysshe. 2. heale; the; to honour. 3. cleane. 4. thyne hande; socoure. 5. helpe; flour. 6. howe. 8. thyne. 11. howe. 12. made. 13. withouten; disceueraunce. 14. tout. 15. Where; beset. 17. bonde; knyt. 18. se the; myne. 22. sicknesse. 23. Sythe. 24. els say. 25. fayre one; myne. 26. begynne; read ginne.

27. thyne. 28. letter. 30. wote. 31. owne; maistres. 32. without. 35. ferre. 36. wolde (twice). 37. Sythe. 38. nylte; I supply never; breake. 39. Sythe; dwel. 43. Nowe; myne sithe. 44. euer fynde (om. euer). 45. Whose. 47. Myne; se. 48. sithe; wotte; meanyng. 49. Plures; moy. 52. destenie. 53. canne. 54. se. 55. dothe. 56. male. 58. ioye. 61. sithe myne.

66. Short line; I insert per cas. 67. Short line; I insert sone. for to; I omit for. 68. Lette; se where. 70. chefe. 71. my hert shuld. 72. best remedy. 74. espy. 76. none; I insert here. 79. without. 81. holy. 82. leaue. 84. the. 86. your loue alone; om. loue. 89. refute. 90. Whose; I insert pitous. 92. tolde. 95. ease. 96. floure.

97. Sythe; amerous. 98. Estreynes; I insert lady to fill out the line. 99. brost. 102. meane; porte. 103. say. 106. myght; none. 107. sadde. 109. stadde. 110. I supply alle; gladde. 111. Ayenst saynt. 112. chese (read chose).

Consider wel, with every circumstaunce,

Of what estat so-ever that thou be—

Riche, strong, or mighty of puissaunce,

Prudent or wyse, discrete or avisee,

The doom of folke in soth thou mayst nat flee;

What-ever that thou do, trust right wel this,

A wikked tonge wol alway deme amis.

For in thy port or in thyn apparayle

If thou be clad or honestly be-seyn,

Anon the people, of malice, wol nat fayle,

Without advyce or reson, for to sayn

That thyn array is mad and wrought in vayn;

What! suffre hem spekë!—and trust right wel this,

A wikked tonge wol alway deme amis.

Thou wilt to kinges be equipolent,

With gretë lordes even and peregal;

And, if thou be to-torn and al to-rent,

Than wol they say, and jangle over-al,

Thou art a slogard, that never thryvë shal;

Yet suffre hem spekë!—and trust right wel this,

A wikked tonge wol alway deme amis.

[286]

If thou be fayr, excelling of beautee,

Than wol they say, that thou art amorous;

If thou be foul and ugly on to see,

They wol afferme that thou art vicious,

The peple of langage is so dispitous;

Suffre hem spekë, and trust right wel this,

A wikked tonge wol alway deme amis.

And if it fallë that thou take a wyf,

[Than] they wol falsly say, in hir entent,

That thou art lykly ever to live in stryf,

Voyd of al rest, without alegëment;

Wyves be maistres, this is hir jugëment;

Yet suffre hem spekë—and trust right wel this,

A wikked tonge wol alway deme amis.

And if it so be that, of parfitnesse,

Thou hast avowed to live in chastitee,

Thán wol folk of thy persone expresse

Say thou art impotent t'engendre in thy degree;

And thus, whether thou be chast or deslavee,

Suffre hem spekë—and trust right wel this,

A wikked tonge wel alway deme amis.

And if that thou be fat or corpulent,

Than wol they say that thou art a glotoun,

A devourour, or ellës vinolent;

If thou be lene or megre of fassioun,

Cal thee a nigard, in hir opinioun;

Yet suffre hem spekë—and trust right wel this,

A wikked tonge wol alway deme amis.

[287]

If thou be richë, som wol yeve thee laud,

And say, it cometh of prudent governaunce;

And som wol sayen, that it cometh of fraud,

Outher by sleight, or by fals chevisaunce;

To say the worst, folk have so gret plesaunce;

Yet suffre hem sayë—and trust right wel this,

A wikked tonge wol alway deme amis.

If thou be sad or sobre of countenaunce,

Men wol say—thou thinkest som tresoun;

And if [that] thou be glad of daliaunce,

Men wol deme it dissolucioun,

And calle thy fair speche, adulacioun;

Yet let hem spekë—and trust right wel this,

A wikked tonge wol alway deme amis.

Who that is holy by perfeccioun,

Men, of malyce, wol calle him ipocryte;

And who is mery, of clene entencioun,

Men say, in ryot he doth him delyte;

Som mourne in blak; som laughe in clothes whyte;

What! suffre them spekë—and trust right wel this,

A wikked tonge wol alway deme amis.

Honest array, men deme, †is pompe and pryde,

And who goth poore, men calle him a wastour;

And who goth [mene], men marke him on every syde,

And saye that he is a spye or a gylour;

Who wasteth, men seyn [that] he hath tresour;

Wherfore conclude, and trust [right] wel this,

A wikked tonge wil alway deme amis.

[288]

Who speketh mochë, men calle him prudent;

And who debateth, men say, he is hardy;

And who saith litel with gret sentiment,

Som men yet wol edwyte him of foly;

Trouth is put down, and up goth flatery;

And who list plainly know the cause of this,

A wikked tonge wol alway deme amis.

For though a man were al-so pacient

As was David, through his humilitee,

Or with Salamon in wysdom as prudent,

Or in knighthode egal with Josuë,

Or manly proved as Judas Machabee,

Yet, for al that—trust right wel this,

A wicked tonge wol alway deme amis.

And though a man hadde the high prowesse

Of worthy Hector, Troyes champioun,

The love of Troilus or the kindenesse,

Or of Cesar the famous high renoun,

With Alisaundres dominacioun,

Yet, for al that—trust right wel this,

A wikked tonge wol alway deme amis.

And though a man of high or low degree

100

Of Tullius hadde the sugred eloquence,

Or of Senek the greet moralitee,

Or of Catoun the foresight or prudence,

Conquest of Charles, Arthurs magnificence,

Yet, for al that—trust right wel this,

105

A wikked tonge wol alway deme amis.

[289]

Touching of women the parfit innocence,

Thogh they had of Hestre the mekenes,

Or of Griseldes [the] humble pacience,

Or of Judith the proved stablenes,

110

Or Policenes virginal clennes,

Yit dar I say and truste right wel this,

A wikked tonge wol alway deme amis.

The wyfly trouthë of Penelope,

Though they it hadde in hir possessioun,

115

Eleynes beautè, the kindnes of Medee,

The love unfeyned of Marcia Catoun,

Or of Alcest the trewe affeccioun,

Yit dar I say and truste right wel this,

A wikked tonge wol alway deme amis.

120

Than sith it is, that no man may eschewe

The swerde of tonge, but it wol kerve and byte,

Ful hard it is, a man for to remewe

Out of hir daunger, so they hem delyte

To hindre or slaundre, and also to bakbyte;

125

For [this] hir study fynally it is

And hir plesaunce, alwey to deme amis.

Most noble princes, cherisshers of vertue,

Remembreth you of high discrecioun,

The first vertue, most plesing to Jesu,

[290]

130

(By the wryting and sentence of Catoun),

Is a good tonge, in his opinioun;

Chastyse the révers, and of wysdom do this,

Withdraw your hering from al that deme amis.

From Th. (Thynne's edition, 1532); collated with Ff. (MS. Ff. 1. 6, Camb. Univ. Library). Another copy in H. (Harl. 2251). 1. H. with; Ff. wiht; Th. om. 2. Ff. H. estat; Th. estate. Th. om. that. 3. Th. stronge. 4. Ff. avisee; H. avice; Th. besy. 5. Th. Ff. dome; H. doome. Th. sothe. H. mayst; Th. Ff. may. Th. Ff. flye; H. flee. 6. H. that; rest om. Ff. H. do; Th. doste. Th. om. right. 7. H. Ff. deme; Th. say. 8. Ff. port; Th. porte. Th. thyne. 9. All cladde. Ff. H. or; Th. and. Ff. beseyn; Th. be sayne. 10. Ff. Anon; Th. Anone (and so in other places I correct the spelling by the MSS.). 12. All made. 13. Th. H. om. right. 14. Ff. H. deme; Th. say. 15. Ff. H. wylt; Th. wolde. Ff. H. equipolent; Th. equiuolent. 16. Ff. H. grete; Th. great. 17. Ff. to-torn; Th. H. torn. 19. Ff. H. Thou; Th. That thou. 20. Th. H. om. right. 21. Ff. H. deme; Th. say.

22-35. So in H.; Th. Ff. transpose ll. 21-28 and 29-35. Th. fayre and; Ff. H. om. and. H. excellyng; Ff. Th. excellent. 23. Ff. H. Than; Th. Yet. All amerous. 24. All foule. 26. Ff. H. peple of; Th. peoples. 27. So Ff.; Th. H. Suffre al their speche and truste (H. deme) wel this. 28. Ff. H. deme; Th. say. 29. Ff. And yif hit falle; Th. If it befal. 30. Insert Than; see l. 23. 31. Ff. Thou art euer lykkely to lyue in stryve. 32. Ff. alleggement. 33. Ff. H. be maistres; Th. hem maystren. 34. So Ff.; Th. suffren their speche; om. right. 35. Ff. H. deme; Th. say. 36. H. And if; Ff. And yif; Th. If. H. it; Th. Ff. om. Th. that thou; Ff. H. om. thou. 37. Ff. H. Thou hast; Th. Haue. 39. Ff. H. Say; Th. That. Th. tengendre; Ff. to gendre. 40. Ff. Th. chaste. Ff. dyslave (better deslavee); Th. delauie. 41. Th. H. om. right. 42. Ff. H. deme; Th. say. 43. Th. om. And. 44. Th. H. om. that. 45. Th. H. deuourer; Ff. devowrer (better devourour). 46. Ff. H. lene or megre; Th. megre or leane. 47. Ff. H. her; Th. H. their. 48. Th. H. om. right. 49. Ff. H. deme; Th. say.

50. All the. Th. laude; Ff. H. lawde. 52. Ff. Th. say; H. sayne. H. that; Th. Ff. om. 53. Ff. Outher; Th. H. Or. 55. Th. What; Ff. H. Yit. Ff. Th. say. Th. H. om. right. 56. Ff. H. deme; Th. say. 57. All sadde. 58. Ff. tresone; Th. H. treason. 59. I supply that. 60. Ff. it is; Th. H. om. is. 61. Th. Callyng; Ff. H. And calle. Th. om. thy. 62. Th. H. om. right. 63. Ff. H. deme; Th. say. 64. Ff. H. Who; Th. And who. 65. Th. him an; Ff. H. om. an. 66. Th. who that; Ff. H. om. that. 69. Ff. speke; Th. say. Th. H. om. right. 70. Ff. H. deme; Th. say. 71-77. In H. only. 71. H. in; read is. 72. H. vastour. 73. I insert mene; see note. 75. H. wastith; I insert that. 76. H. coclude(!); H. om. right.

78. Ff. H. men calle him; Th. is holden. 79. Th. And who; Ff. H. Who that. Th. H. say that; Ff. om. that. 80. Th. who that; Ff. H. om. that. 81. Th. men yet; Ff. folke. Ff. H. edwyte; Th. wyte. 82. Ff. H. vp; Th. nowe. 83. H. who; Ff. ho (= who); Th. who that. Ff. H. cause; Th. trouth. 84. So H. Ff.; Th. It is a wicked tonge that alway saythe amys. 85. Ff. also; Th. H. as. 86. Th. om. his. 87. H. wisdom; Th. wisedome; Ff. wysdome. 88. Ff. to; Th. H. with. 91. So Ff. H.; Th. Some wycked tonge of hym wol say amys. 92. Ff. om. a. All had. Ff. H. om. high. 94. Ff. H. kyndenes; Th. kyndnesse. 96. Th. Wyth al; Ff. H. om. al. 98. So Ff.; Th. Some wycked tonge of hym wol say amys. 99. Ff. H. And; Th. Or. 101. H. Senek; Ff. Senec; Th. Seneca. Th. great; Ff. H. om. 102. Ff. or prudence; Th. H. and prouidence. 103. Th. The conquest; Ff. om. The. Ff. Arthurs; Th. H. Arturs. 105. See note to 96.

106-112. Not in Thynne; from Ff. H. 106. H. of; Ff. to. 108. Ff. grecildes; H. Gresieldis; I supply the. 110. H. Polycenes; Ff. Penilops. 113. H. wyfly; Th. wyfely; Ff. wylfulle (!). Th. H. trouth; Ff. trowth; read trouthe. 114. Th. had; Ff. H. hadde. Th. her; Ff. thaire; H. theyr. 115. H. Eleynes; Ff. Eleyons; Th. Holynesse (for Heleynes). Th. kyndenesse; Ff. kyndnes. 116. Ff. H. loue; Th. lyfe (!). Th. Mertia; Ff. H. Marcia. Th. Caton; Ff. H. and catoun. 117. Ff. H. Alcestys (om. the). 119. So Ff.; Th. A wycked tonge wol say of her amys. 120. Ff. suyth; H. sith; Th. sythen. H. it is; Ff. it; Th. it is so (om. that). 121. Ff. wyll (= wol); H. wil; Th. om. 122. Ff. H. om. for. 123. H. hir; Ff. ar; Th. theyr. Ff. so them hem delyte; Th. him for to aquyte. 124. Ff. Tho (for To) hindre sclaunder, and also to bacbyte; Th. Wo to the tonges that hem so delyte. 125. Ff. For thayre study fynaly it ys; Th. To hynder or sclaunder, and set theyr study in this (cf. l. 124). 126. Th. And theyr pleasaunces to do and say amis; H. And theyr plesaunce alwey to deme amys; Ff. has (as usual) A wicked tonge wol alway deme amis. 127. Ff. princesse; Th. princes. 129. Th. and most; Ff. H. om. and. Ff. plesing; Th. pleasyng.

132. H. revers; Th. reuerse; Ff. reuerce. H. wisdom; Th. Ff. wysdome. 133. H. Voydeth (for Withdraw). Ff. deme; Th. saine.

(Balade made by Lydgate.)

This world is ful of variaunce

In every thing, who taketh hede,

That faith and trust, and al constaunce,

Exyled ben, this is no drede;

And, save only in womanhede,

I can [nat] see no sikernesse;

But for al that, yet, as I rede,

Be-war alway of doublenesse.

Also these fresshe somer-floures

Whyte and rede, blewe and grene,

Ben sodainly, with winter-shoures,

Mad feinte and fade, withoute wene;

That trust is non, as ye may seen,

In no-thing, nor no stedfastnesse,

Except in women, thus I mene;

Yet ay be-war of doublenesse.

The croked mone, this is no tale,

Som whyle is shene and bright of hewe,

And after that ful derk and pale,

And every moneth chaungeth newe;

That, who the verray sothe knewe,

Al thing is bilt on brotelnesse,

Save that these women ay be trewe;

Yet ay be-war of doublenesse.

[292]

The lusty fresshe somers day,

And Phebus with his bemes clere,

Towardes night, they drawe away,

And no lenger liste appere;

That, in this present lyf now here

Nothing abit in his fairnesse,

Save women ay be founde intere

And devoid of doublenesse.

The see eke, with his sterne wawes,

Ech day floweth newe again,

And, by concours of his lawes,

The ebbe foloweth, in certain;

After gret drought ther comth a rain,

That farewel here al stabelnesse,

Save that women be hole and plain;

Yet ay be-war of doublenesse.

Fortunes wheel goth round aboute

A thousand tymes, day and night:

Whos cours standeth ever in doute

For to transmew; she is so light.

For which adverteth in your sight

Th'untrust of worldly fikelnesse,

Save women, which of kindly right

Ne have no tache of doublenesse.

What man may the wind restraine

Or holde a snake by the tail,

Or a sliper eel constraine

That it nil voide, withouten fail;

Or who can dryve so a nail

To make sure new-fangelnesse,

Save women, that can gye hir sail

To rowe hir boot with doublenesse.

At every haven they can aryve

Wher-as they wote is good passage;

[293]

Of innocence, they can not stryve

With wawes nor no rokkes rage;

So happy is hir lodemanage,

With nelde and stoon hir cours to dresse,

That Salamon was not so sage

To find in hem no doublenesse.

Therfor who-so hem accuse

Of any double entencioun,

To speke, rowne, other to muse,

To pinche at hir condicioun;

Al is but fals collusioun,

I dar right wel the sothe expresse;

They have no better proteccioun

But shroude hem under doublenesse.

So wel fortúned is hir chaunce

The dys to turnen up-so-doun,

With sys and sink they can avaunce,

And than, by revolucioun,

They sette a fel conclusioun

Of ambes as, in sothfastnesse;

Though clerkes make mencioun

Hir kind is fret with doublenesse.

Sampsoun had experience

That women were ful trewe founde,

Whan Dalida, of innocence,

With sheres gan his heer to rounde;

To speke also of Rosamounde

And Cleopatras feithfulnesse,

The stories plainly wil confounde

Men that apeche hir doublenesse.

Sengle thing ne is not preised,

Nor oo-fold is of no renoun;

In balaunce whan they be peised,

[294]

For lakke of weght they be bore doun;

And for this cause of just resoun,

These women alle, of rightwisnesse,

Of chois and free eleccioun

Most love eschaunge and doublenesse.

Lenvoy.

O ye women, which been enclyned,

By influence of your nature,

To been as pure as gold y-fyned

100

In your trouth for to endure,

Arm your-self in strong armure

Lest men assaile your sikernesse:

Set on your brest, your-self t'assure,

A mighty sheld of doublenesse.

1. From F. (Fairfax 16); collated with Ed. (ed. 1561). Also in A. (Ashmole 59), in which it is much altered; other copies in Ha. (Harl. 7578), and Ad. (Addit. 16165). 2. F. whoo. 6. I supply nat. 9. F. A. these; Ed. that. 12. F. feynt; Ha. Ed. feinte. 13. F. Ed. sene. 18. F. A. Ad. is shene; Ed. ishene. 21. F. A. who so; Ha. Ad. Ed. who. 23. Ad. these; rest om.

28. Ha. Ad. no; F. Ed. non. 29. F. So; rest That. 30. F. abytte; Ed. abieth; Ad. abydeth. 32. In the margin of F. Ad.—Per Antifrasim. 36. F. Ad. Ha. foloweth; Ed. repeats floweth from l. 34. A. Soone affter that comthe thebbe certeyne. 38. F. Ha. farewel al her; Ed. Ad. farewel here al. 48. F. Ad. Ha. haue; Ed. hath. F. tachche; Ed. teche. 51. F. slepur; Ha. sleper; Ed. Ad. slipper. 52. A. nyl; Ad. nil; Ha. wol; F. wil; Ed. will. 53. A. dryve so depe a. 54. Ed. suere. 55, 56. Ad. hir; Ha. F. her; Ed. their.

61. F. happe; Ha. Ed. happy. F. her (= hir); Ed. their. 62. F. nelde; Ed. Ha. nedle. F. Ha. her; Ed. their. 64. F. Ha. hem; Ed. them. 65. F. Wherfor; Ed. Ha. Ad. Therefore. MSS. hem; Ed. them. 67. Ed. rowme (!). 68. F. hyr; Ad. hir; Ha. her; Ed. their. 69. A. Ad. nys (for is). 71. Ed. better; F. bette; Ha. Ad. bet. 72. MSS. hem; Ed. them. 73. Ad. Ed. their. 74. F. Ed. turne; Ad. Ha. turnen. 78. F. Ambes ase; Ad. Ha. aumbes as; Ed. lombes, as (!) 82. F. weren; Ed. A. were. MSS. founde; Ed. ifound. 84. A. heres; Ad. here; Ed. heere; F. hede. 87. F. Ad. Ed. The; A. Hir. 88. MSS. hir, her; Ed. their. 90. F. oo folde; A. oone folde; Ed. ofolde.

92. F. A. Ad. weght; Ha. wight; Ed. waighte. A. borne. 96. A. Ad. Haue stuffed hem with doublenesse. 97. A. that (for which). 100. A. In alle youre touches for. Ad. trouthe for tendure. 101. For Arm read Armeth? 102. Ha. assaye. 103. F. A. Ad. tassure; Ed. Ha. to assure. 104. F. Ed. shelde; A. sheelde.

Loke wel aboute, ye that lovers be;

Lat nat your lustes lede you to dotage;

Be nat enamoured on al thing that ye see.

Sampson the fort, and Salamon the sage

Deceived were, for al hir gret corage;

Men deme hit is right as they see at y;

Bewar therfore; the blinde et many a fly.

I mene, in women, for al hir cheres queinte,

Trust nat to moche; hir trouthë is but geson;

The fairest outward ful wel can they peinte,

Hir stedfastnes endureth but a seson;

For they feyn frendlines and worchen treson.

And for they be chaungeáble naturally,

Bewar therfore; the blinde et many a fly.

Though al the world do his besy cure

To make women stonde in stablenes,

Hit may nat be, hit is agayn nature;

The world is do whan they lak doublenes;

For they can laughe and love nat; this is expres.

To trust in hem, hit is but fantasy;

Bewar therfore; the blind et many a fly.

[296]

What wight on-lyve trusteth in hir cheres

Shal haue at last his guerdon and his mede;

They can shave nerer then rasóurs or sheres;

Al is nat gold that shyneth! Men, take hede;

Hir galle is hid under a sugred wede.

Hit is ful hard hir fantasy t'aspy;

Bewar therfore; the blinde et many a fly.

Women, of kinde, have condicions three;

The first is, that they be fulle of deceit;

To spinne also hit is hir propertee;

And women have a wonderful conceit,

They wepen ofte, and al is but a sleight,

And whan they list, the tere is in the y;

Bewar therfore; the blinde et many a fly.

What thing than eyr is lighter and meveable?

The light, men say, that passeth in a throw;

Al if the light be nat so variable

As is the wind that every wey [can] blow;

And yet, of reson, som men deme and trow

Women be lightest of hir company;

Bewar therfore; the blind et many a fly.

In short to say, though al the erth so wan

Were parchëmyn smothe, whyte and scribable,

And the gret see, cleped the occian,

Were torned in inke, blakker then is sable,

Ech stik a penne, ech man a scriveyn able,

They coud nat wryte wommannes traitory;

Bewar therfore; the blinde et many a fly.

From Trin. (Trin. Coll. Cam. R. 3. 19), printed in Ed. (ed. 1561); T. (Trin. Coll. O. 9. 38); H. (Harl. 2251). 1. Trin. welle. T. abowte; Trin. about. 2. Trin. leede. 3. Trin. se. 4. T. H. Salamon; Trin. Salomon. 5. T. here (read hir); Trin. H. theyr (and elsewhere). 6. So T.; Trin. H. hit right that they se with. T. eye; Trin. ey; H. ye; (read y). 7. T. ette, alt. to ettyth; Trin. H. eteth (read et, and so elsewhere). 8. H. T. in; Trin. of. Trin. wemen; queynt. 9. Trin. H. hem nat (T. om. hem). Trin. trowth; geason (T. geson). 10. T. fulle; Trin. H. om. Trin. peynt. 12. Trin. feyne. 13. T. be; Trin. ar; H. are. Trin. chaungeabylle. 15-28. So T. H.; Trin. transposes 15-21 and 22-28. 16. Trin. wemen stond; stabylnes. 17. T. H. may; Trin. wolle. 18. Trin. doubylnes. 19. Trin. lawgh; expresse. H. om. nat. 20. H. T. in; Trin. on. Trin. theym.

22. T. yn; Trin. on. Trin. cherys. 24. T. They; Trin. For wemen. 25. Trin. shynyth. 26. Trin. sugryd. 27. T. harde; Trin. H. queynt. Trin. to aspy. 29. T. has the note: Fallere flere nere tria sunt hec in muliere. Trin. thre. 30. T. that; Trin. H. om. 31. T. hyt; Trin. om. T. properte; Trin. propurte. 32. H. haue; T. hath; Trin. om. Trin. conseyte. 33. Trin. H. For they; T. om. For. T. wepyth (read wepen); Trin. wepe. T. H. but; Trin. om. H. a sleight; T. deceyt; Trin. asteyte; Ed. a sleite. 34. Trin. teere; ey. 36-42. In T. only. 37. T. passyth. 38. T. All yff; waryabylle. 39. T. wynde; ys blow (alt. to blowth; read can blow). 40. T. yut; summen. 41. T. ther (for hir). 43. T. schorte; Trin. sothe. Trin. erthe; wanne. 44. Trin. parchemyne; scrybabylle. 45. T. H. that clepyd is; Trin. that callyd ys (read cleped). H. om. the. Trin. occiane. 46. T. yn; Trin. into; H. to. T. H. is; Trin. om. 47. T. H. Eche; Trin. Euery. Trin. yche; abylle. H. scryven; T. Trin. scriuener. 48. T. They cowde not; Trin. Nat cowde then (!). T. wymmenys; Trin. womans; H. wommans. T. treytorye; Trin. H. trechery.

(A). A SAYING OF DAN JOHN.

Ther beth four thinges that maketh a man a fool,

Hónour first putteth him in outrage,

And alder-next solitarie and sool;

The second is unweldy croked age;

Women also bring men in dotage;

And mighty wyne, in many dyvers wyse,

Distempreth folk which [that] ben holden wyse.

(B). YET OF THE SAME.

Ther beth four thinges causing gret folye,

Honour first, and [than] unweldy age;

Women and wyne, I dar eek specifye,

Make wyse men [to] fallen in dotage;

Wherfore, by counseil of philosophers sage,

In gret honour, lerne this of me,

With thyn estat have [eek] humilitee.

(C). BALADE DE BON CONSAIL.

If it befalle, that god thee list visyte

With any tourment or adversitee,

Thank first the lord; and [than], thyself to quyte,

Upon suffrauncë and humilitee

Found thou thy quarrel, what-ever that it be;

Mak thy defence (and thou shall have no losse)

The rémembraunce of Crist and of his crosse.

A. From Stowe (ed. 1561). 1. bethe foure; foole. 3. soole. 7. Distempren (!); folke whiche; supply that; bene.

B. From the same. 1. bene (read beth, as above) foure. 2. I supply than; vnwildy. 3. dare eke specify. 4. I supply to. 6. learne. 7. thine estate; I supply eek.

C. From the same. 1. befall; the. 2. aduersite. 3. Thanke; lorde; I supply than; selfe. 4. humilite. 5. Founde; quarel. 6. Make.

Half in a dreme, not fully wel awaked,

The golden sleep me wrapped under his wing;

Yet nat for-thy I roos, and wel nigh naked,

Al sodaynly my-selve rémembring

Of a matér, leving al other thing

Which I shold do, with-outen more delay,

For hem to whom I durst nat disobey.

My charge was this, to translate by and by,

(Al thing forgive), as part of my penaunce,

A book called Belle Dame sans Mercy

Which mayster Aleyn made of rémembraunce,

Cheef secretarie with the king of Fraunce.

And ther-upon a whyle I stood musing,

And in my-self gretly imagening

What wyse I shuld performe the sayd processe,

Considering by good avysement

Myn unconning and my gret simplenesse,

[300]

And ayenward the strait commaundement

Which that I had; and thus, in myn entent,

I was vexed and tourned up and doun;

And yet at last, as in conclusioun,

I cast my clothes on, and went my way,

This foresayd charge having in rémembraunce,

Til I cam to a lusty green valey

Ful of floures, to see, a gret plesaunce;

And so bolded, with their benygn suffraunce

That rede this book, touching this sayd matere,

Thus I began, if it plese you to here.

Nat long ago, ryding an esy paas,

I fel in thought, of joy ful desperate

With greet disese and payne, so that I was

Of al lovers the most unfortunate,

Sith by his dart most cruel, ful of hate,

The deeth hath take my lady and maistresse,

And left me sole, thus discomfit and mate,

Sore languisshing, and in way of distresse.

Than sayd I thus, 'it falleth me to cesse

Eyther to ryme or ditees for to make,

And I, surely, to make a ful promesse

To laugh no more, but wepe in clothes blake.

My joyful tyme, alas! now is it slake,

For in my-self I fele no maner ese;

Let it be written, such fortune I take,

Which neither me, nor non other doth plese.

If it were so, my wil or myn entent

Constrayned were a joyful thing to wryte,

Myn pen coud never have knowlege what it ment;

To speke therof my tonge hath no delyte.

[301]

And with my mouth if I laugh moche or lyte,

Myn eyen shold make a countenaunce untrewe;

My hert also wold have therof despyte,

The weping teres have so large issewe.

These seke lovers, I leve that to hem longes,

Which lede their lyf in hope of alegeaunce,

That is to say, to make balades and songes,

Every of hem, as they fele their grevaunce.

For she that was my joy and my plesaunce,

Whos soule I pray god of his mercy save,

She hath my wil, myn hertes ordinaunce,

Which lyeth here, within this tombe y-grave.

Fro this tyme forth, tyme is to hold my pees;

It werieth me this mater for to trete;

Let other lovers put hem-self in prees;

Their seson is, my tyme is now forgete.

Fortune by strength the forcer hath unshet

Wherin was sperd al my worldly richesse,

And al the goodes which that I have gete

In my best tyme of youthe and lustinesse.

Love hath me kept under his governaunce;

If I misdid, god graunt me forgifnesse!

If I did wel, yet felte I no plesaunce;

It caused neither joy nor hevinesse.

For whan she dyed, that was my good maistresse,

Al my welfare than made the same purchas;

The deeth hath set my boundes, of witnes,

Which for no-thing myn hert shal never pas.'

In this gret thought, sore troubled in my mynde,

Aloon thus rood I al the morow-tyde,

Til at the last it happed me to fynde

The place wherin I cast me to abyde

[302]

Whan that I had no further for to ryde.

And as I went my logging to purvey,

Right sone I herde, but litel me besyde,

In a gardeyn, wher minstrels gan to play.

With that anon I went me bakker-more;

My-self and I, me thought, we were y-now;

But twayn that were my frendes here-before

Had me espyed, and yet I wot nat how.

They come for me; awayward I me drow,

Somwhat by force, somwhat by their request,

That in no wyse I coud my-self rescow,

But nede I must come in, and see the feest.

At my coming, the ladies everichoon

Bad me welcome, god wot, right gentilly,

And made me chere, everich by oon and oon,

A gret del better than I was worthy;

And, of their grace, shewed me gret curtesy

With good disport, bicause I shuld nat mourne.

That day I bood stille in their company,

100

Which was to me a gracious sojourne.

The bordes were spred in right litel space;

The ladies sat, ech as hem semed best.

Were non that did servyce within that place

But chosen men, right of the goodliest:

105

And som ther were, peravénture most fresshest,

That sawe their juges, sitting ful demure,

Without semblaunt either to most or lest,

Notwithstanding they had hem under cure.

Among al other, oon I gan espy

110

Which in gret thought ful often com and went

As man that had ben ravished utterly,

In his langage nat gretly diligent;

[303]

His countenaunce he kept with greet tourment,

But his desyr fer passed his resoun;

115

For ever his eye went after his entent

Ful many a tyme, whan it was no sesoun.

To make good chere, right sore him-self he payned,

And outwardly he fayned greet gladnesse;

To singe also by force he was constrayned

120

For no plesaunce, but very shamfastnesse;

For the complaynt of his most hevinesse

Com to his voice alwey without request,

Lyk as the sowne of birdes doth expresse

Whan they sing loude, in frith or in forest.

125

Other ther were, that served in the hal,

But non lyk him, as after myn advyse;

For he was pale, and somwhat lene with-al;

His speche also trembled in fereful wyse;

And ever aloon, but when he did servyse.

130

Al blak he ware, and no devyce but playn.

Me thought by him, as my wit coud suffyse,

His hert was no-thing in his own demeyn.

To feste hem al he did his diligence,

And wel he couth, right as it semed me.

135

But evermore, whan he was in presence,

His chere was don; it wold non other be.

His scole-maister had suche auctoritè

That, al the whyle he bood stille in the place,

Speke coude he nat, but upon her beautè

140

He loked stil, with right a pitous face.

With that, his heed he tourned at the last

For to behold the ladies everichon;

But ever in oon he set his ey stedfast

On her, the which his thought was most upon.

[304]

145

And of his eyen the shot I knew anon

Which federed was with right humble requestes.

Than to my-self I sayd, 'By god aloon,

Suche oon was I, or that I saw these gestes.'

Out of the prees he went ful esely

150

To make stable his hevy countenaunce;

And, wit ye wel, he syghed tenderly

For his sorowes and woful remembraunce.

Than in him-self he made his ordinaunce,

And forth-withal com to bringe in the mes;

155

But, for to juge his most ruful semblaunce,

God wot, it was a pitous entremes!

After diner, anon they hem avaunced

To daunce about, these folkes everichoon;

And forth-withal this hevy lover daunced

160

Somtyme with twayn, and somtyme but with oon.

Unto hem al his chere was after oon,

Now here, now there, as fel by aventure;

But ever among, he drew to her aloon

Which he most dredde of living creature.

165

To myn advyse, good was his purveyaunce

Whan he her chase to his maistresse aloon,

If that her hert were set to his plesaunce

As moche as was her beauteous persone.

For who that ever set his trust upon

170

The réport of the eyen, withouten more,

He might be deed and graven under stoon

Or ever he shulde his hertes ese restore.

In her fayled nothing, as I coud gesse,

O wyse nor other, prevy nor apert;

175

A garnison she was of al goodnesse

To make a frounter for a lovers hert;

[305]

Right yong and fresshe, a woman ful covert;

Assured wel her port and eke her chere,

Wel at her ese, withouten wo or smert,

180

Al underneth the standard of Daungere.

To see the feest, it weried me ful sore;

For hevy joy doth sore the hert travayle.

Out of the prees I me withdrew therfore,

And set me down aloon, behynd a trayle

185

Ful of leves, to see, a greet mervayle,

With grene withies y-bounden wonderly;

The leves were so thik, withouten fayle,

That thorough-out might no man me espy.

To this lady he com ful curteisly

190

Whan he thought tyme to daunce with her a trace;

Sith in an herber made ful pleasauntly

They rested hem, fro thens but litel space.

Nigh hem were none, a certayn of compace,

But only they, as fer as I coud see;

195

And save the trayle, ther I had chose my place,

Ther was no more betwix hem tweyne and me.

I herd the lover syghing wonder sore;

For ay the neer, the sorer it him sought.

His inward payne he coud not kepe in store,

200

Nor for to speke, so hardy was he nought.

His leche was neer, the gretter was his thought;

He mused sore, to conquere his desyre;

For no man may to more penaunce be brought

Than, in his hete, to bringe him to the fyre.

205

The hert began to swel within his chest,

So sore strayned for anguish and for payne

That al to peces almost it to-brest,

Whan bothe at ones so sore it did constrayne;

[306]

Desyr was bold, but shame it gan refrayne;

210

That oon was large, the other was ful cloos;

No litel charge was layd on him, certayn,

To kepe suche werre, and have so many foos.

Ful often-tymes to speke him-self he peyned,

But shamfastnesse and drede sayd ever 'nay';

215

Yet at the last so sore he was constrayned,

Whan he ful long had put it in delay,

To his lady right thus than gan he say

With dredful voice, weping, half in a rage:—

'For me was purveyd an unhappy day

220

Whan I first had a sight of your visage!

I suffre payne, god wot, ful hoot brenning,

To cause my deeth, al for my trew servyse;

And I see wel, ye rekke therof nothing,

Nor take no hede of it, in no kins wyse.

225

But whan I speke after my best avyse,

Ye set it nought, but make ther-of a game;

And though I sewe so greet an entrepryse,

It peyreth not your worship nor your fame.

Alas! what shulde be to you prejudyce

230

If that a man do love you faithfully

To your worship, eschewing every vyce?

So am I yours, and wil be verily;

I chalenge nought of right, and reson why,

For I am hool submit to your servyse;

235

Right as ye liste it be, right so wil I,

To bynde my-self, where I was in fraunchyse!

Though it be so, that I can nat deserve

To have your grace, but alway live in drede,

Yet suffre me you for to love and serve

240

Without maugrè of your most goodlihede;

[307]

Both faith and trouth I give your womanhede,

And my servyse, withoute ayein-calling.

Love hath me bounde, withouten wage or mede,

To be your man, and leve al other thing.'

245

Whan this lady had herd al this langage,

She yaf answere ful softe and demurely,

Without chaunging of colour or corage,

No-thing in haste, but mesurabelly:—

'Me thinketh, sir, your thought is greet foly!

250

Purpose ye not your labour for to cese?

For thinketh not, whyl that ye live and I,

In this matére to set your hert in pees!'

Lamant. 'Ther may non make the pees, but only ye,

Which ar the ground and cause of al this werre;

255

For with your eyen the letters written be,

By which I am defyed and put a-fer.

Your plesaunt look, my verray lode-sterre,

Was made heraud of thilk same défyaunce

Which utterly behight me to forbarre

260

My faithful trust and al myn affyaunce.'

La Dame. 'To live in wo he hath gret fantasy

And of his hert also hath slipper holde,

That, only for beholding of an y,

Can nat abyde in pees, as reson wolde!

265

Other or me if ye list to beholde,

Our eyen are made to loke; why shuld we spare?

I take no kepe, neither of yong nor olde;

Who feleth smert, I counsayle him be ware!'

Lam. 'If it be so, oon hurte another sore,

270

In his defaut that feleth the grevaunce,

Of very right a man may do no more;

Yet reson wolde it were in remembraunce.

[308]

And, sith Fortune not only, by her chaunce,

Hath caused me to suffre al this payn,

275

But your beautè, with al the circumstaunce,

Why list ye have me in so greet disdayn?'

La D. 'To your persone ne have I no disdayn,

Nor ever had, trewly! ne nought wil have,

Nor right gret love, nor hatred, in certayn;

280

Nor your counsayl to know, so god me save!

If such beleve be in your mynde y-grave

That litel thing may do you greet plesaunce,

You to begyle, or make you for to rave,

I wil nat cause no suche encomberaunce!'

285

Lam. 'What ever it be that me hath thus purchased,

Wening hath nat disceyved me, certayn,

But fervent love so sore hath me y-chased

That I, unware, am casten in your chayne;

And sith so is, as Fortune list ordayne,

290

Al my welfare is in your handes falle,

In eschewing of more mischévous payn;

Who sonest dyeth, his care is leest of alle.'

La D. 'This sicknesse is right esy to endure,

But fewe people it causeth for to dy;

295

But what they mene, I know it very sure,

Of more comfort to draw the remedy.

Such be there now, playning ful pitously,

That fele, god wot, nat alther-grettest payne;

And if so be, love hurt so grevously,

300

Lesse harm it were, oon sorowful, than twayne!'

Lam. 'Alas, madame! if that it might you plese,

Moche better were, by way of gentilnesse,

Of one sory, to make twayn wel at ese,

Than him to stroy that liveth in distresse!

305

For my desyr is neither more nor lesse

But my servyce to do, for your plesaunce,

In eschewing al maner doublenesse,

To make two joyes in stede of oo grevaunce!'

[309]

La D. 'Of love I seke neither plesaunce nor ese,

310

Nor greet desyr, nor right gret affyaunce;

Though ye be seke, it doth me nothing plese;

Also, I take no hede to your plesaunce.

Chese who-so wil, their hertes to avaunce,

Free am I now, and free wil I endure;

315

To be ruled by mannes governaunce

For erthely good, nay! that I you ensure!'

Lam. 'Love, which that joy and sorowe doth departe,

Hath set the ladies out of al servage,

And largëly doth graunt hem, for their parte,

320

Lordship and rule of every maner age.

The poor servaunt nought hath of avauntage

But what he may get only of purchace;

And he that ones to love doth his homage,

Ful often tyme dere bought is the rechace.'

325

La D. 'Ladies be nat so simple, thus I mene,

So dul of wit, so sotted of foly,

That, for wordes which sayd ben of the splene,

In fayre langage, paynted ful plesauntly,

Which ye and mo holde scoles of dayly,

330

To make hem of gret wonders to suppose;

But sone they can away their hedes wrye,

And to fair speche lightly their eres close.'

Lam. 'Ther is no man that jangleth busily,

And set his hert and al his mynd therfore,

335

That by resoun may playne so pitously

As he that hath moche hevinesse in store.

Whos heed is hool, and sayth that it is sore,

His fayned chere is hard to kepe in mewe;

But thought, which is unfayned evermore,

340

The wordes preveth, as the workes sewe.

[310]

La D. 'Love is subtel, and hath a greet awayt,

Sharp in worching, in gabbing greet plesaunce,

And can him venge of suche as by disceyt

Wold fele and knowe his secret governaunce;

345

And maketh hem to obey his ordinaunce

By chereful wayes, as in hem is supposed;

But whan they fallen in-to repentaunce,

Than, in a rage, their counsail is disclosed.'

Lam. 'Sith for-as-moche as god and eke nature

350

Hath †love avaunced to so hye degrè,

Moch sharper is the point, this am I sure,

Yet greveth more the faute, wher-ever it be.

Who hath no cold, of hete hath no deyntè,

The toon for the tother asked is expresse;

355

And of plesaunce knoweth non the certeyntè

But it be wonne with thought and hevinesse.'

La D. 'As for plesaunce, it is nat alway oon;

That you is swete, I thinke it bitter payne.

Ye may nat me constrayne, nor yet right non,

360

After your lust, to love that is but vayne.

To chalenge love by right was never seyn,

But herte assent, before bond and promyse;

For strength nor force may not atteyne, certayn,

A wil that stant enfeffed in fraunchyse!'

365

Lam. 'Right fayr lady, god mote I never plese,

If I seke other right, as in this case,

But for to shewe you playnly my disese

And your mercy to abyde, and eke your grace.

If I purpose your honour to deface,

370

Or ever did, god and fortune me shende!

And that I never rightwysly purchace

Oon only joy, unto my lyves ende!'

[311]

La D. 'Ye and other, that swere suche othes faste,

And so condempne and cursen to and fro,

375

Ful sikerly, ye wene your othes laste

No lenger than the wordes ben ago!

And god, and eke his sayntes, laughe also.

In such swering ther is no stedfastnesse,

And these wrecches, that have ful trust therto,

380

After, they wepe and waylen in distresse.'

Lam. 'He hath no corage of a man, trewly,

That secheth plesaunce, worship to despyse;

Nor to be called forth is not worthy

The erthe to touch the ayre in no-kins wyse.

385

A trusty hert, a mouth without feyntyse,

These ben the strength of every man of name;

And who that layth his faith for litel pryse,

He leseth bothe his worship and his fame.'

La D. 'A currish herte, a mouth that is curteys,

390

Ful wel ye wot, they be not according;

Yet feyned chere right sone may hem apeyse

Where of malyce is set al their worching;

Ful fals semblant they bere and trew mening;

Their name, their fame, their tonges be but fayned;

395

Worship in hem is put in forgetting,

Nought repented, nor in no wyse complayned.'

Lam. 'Who thinketh il, no good may him befal;

God, of his grace, graunt ech man his desert!

But, for his love, among your thoughtes al,

400

As think upon my woful sorowes smert;

For of my payne, wheder your tender hert

Of swete pitè be not therwith agreved,

And if your grace to me were discovert,

Than, by your mene, sone shulde I be releved.'

[312]

405

La D. 'A lightsom herte, a folly of plesaunce

Are moch better, the lesse whyl they abyde;

They make you thinke, and bring you in a traunce;

But that seknesse wil sone be remedyed.

Respite your thought, and put al this asyde;

410

Ful good disportes werieth men al-day;

To help nor hurt, my wil is not aplyed;

Who troweth me not, I lete it passe away.'

Lam. 'Who hath a brid, a faucon, or a hound,

That foloweth him, for love, in every place,

415

He cherissheth him, and kepeth him ful sound;

Out of his sight he wil not him enchace.

And I, that set my wittes, in this cace,

On you alone, withouten any chaunge,

Am put under, moch ferther out of grace,

420

And lesse set by, than other that be straunge.'

La D. 'Though I make chere to every man aboute

For my worship, and of myn own fraunchyse,

To you I nil do so, withouten doute,

In eschewing al maner prejudyse.

425

For wit ye wel, love is so litel wyse,

And in beleve so lightly wil be brought,

That he taketh al at his own devyse,

Of thing, god wot, that serveth him of nought.'

Lam. 'If I, by love and by my trew servyse,

430

Lese the good chere that straungers have alway,

Wherof shuld serve my trouth in any wise

Lesse than to hem that come and go al-day,

Which holde of you nothing, that is no nay?

Also in you is lost, to my seming,

435

Al curtesy, which of resoun wold say

That love for love were lawful deserving.'

[313]

La D. 'Curtesy is alyed wonder nere

To Worship, which him loveth tenderly;

And he wil nat be bounde, for no prayere,

440

Nor for no gift, I say you verily,

But his good chere depart ful largely

Where him lyketh, as his conceit wil fal;

Guerdon constrayned, a gift don thankfully,

These twayn may not accord, ne never shal.'

445

Lam. 'As for guerdon, I seke non in this cace;

For that desert, to me it is to hy;

Wherfore I ask your pardon and your grace,

Sith me behoveth deeth, or your mercy.

To give the good where it wanteth, trewly,

450

That were resoun and a curteys maner;

And to your own moch better were worthy

Than to straungers, to shewe hem lovely chere.'

La D. 'What cal ye good? Fayn wolde I that I wist!

That pleseth oon, another smerteth sore;

455

But of his own to large is he that list

Give moche, and lese al his good fame therfore.

Oon shulde nat make a graunt, litel ne more,

But the request were right wel according;

If worship be not kept and set before,

460

Al that is left is but a litel thing.'

Lam. 'In-to this world was never formed non,

Nor under heven crëature y-bore,

Nor never shal, save only your persone,

To whom your worship toucheth half so sore,

465

But me, which have no seson, lesse ne more,

Of youth ne age, but still in your service;

I have non eyen, no wit, nor mouth in store,

But al be given to the same office.'

[314]

La D. 'A ful gret charge hath he, withouten fayle,

470

That his worship kepeth in sikernesse;

But in daunger he setteth his travayle

That feffeth it with others businesse.

To him that longeth honour and noblesse,

Upon non other shulde nat he awayte;

475

For of his own so moche hath he the lesse

That of other moch folweth the conceyt.'

Lam. 'Your eyen hath set the print which that I fele

Within my hert, that, where-so-ever I go,

If I do thing that sowneth unto wele,

480

Nedes must it come from you, and fro no mo.

Fortune wil thus, that I, for wele or wo,

My lyf endure, your mercy abyding;

And very right wil that I thinke also

Of your worship, above al other thing.'

485

La D. 'To your worship see wel, for that is nede,

That ye spend nat your seson al in vayne;

As touching myn, I rede you take no hede,

By your foly to put your-self in payne.

To overcome is good, and to restrayne

490

An hert which is disceyved folily.

For worse it is to breke than bowe, certayn,

And better bowe than fal to sodaynly!'

Lam. 'Now, fair lady, think, sith it first began

That love hath set myn hert under his cure,

495

I never might, ne truly I ne can

Non other serve, whyle I shal here endure;

In most free wyse therof I make you sure,

Which may not be withdrawe; this is no nay.

I must abyde al maner aventure;

500

For I may not put to, nor take away.'

[315]

La D. 'I holde it for no gift, in sothfastnesse,

That oon offreth, where that it is forsake;

For suche gift is abandoning expresse

That with worship ayein may not be take.

505

He hath an hert ful fel that list to make

A gift lightly, that put is in refuse;

But he is wyse that such conceyt wil slake,

So that him nede never to study ne muse.'

Lam. 'He shuld nat muse, that hath his service spent

510

On her which is a lady honourable;

And if I spende my tyme to that entent,

Yet at the leest I am not reprevable

Of feyled hert; to thinke I am unable,

Or me mistook whan I made this request,

515

By which love hath, of entreprise notable,

So many hertes gotten by conquest.'

La D. 'If that ye list do after my counsayl,

Secheth fairer, and of more higher fame,

Whiche in servyce of love wil you prevayl

520

After your thought, according to the same.

He hurteth both his worship and his name

That folily for twayne him-self wil trouble;

And he also leseth his after-game

That surely can not sette his poyntes double.'

525

Lam. 'This your counsayl, by ought that I can see,

Is better sayd than don, to myn advyse;

Though I beleve it not, forgive it me,

Myn herte is suche, so hool without feyntyse,

That it ne may give credence, in no wyse,

530

To thing which is not sowning unto trouthe;

Other counsayl, it ar but fantasyes,

Save of your grace to shewe pitè and routhe.'

[316]

La D. 'I holde him wyse that worketh folily

And, whan him list, can leve and part therfro;

535

But in conning he is to lerne, trewly,

That wolde him-self conduite, and can not so.

And he that wil not after counsayl do,

His sute he putteth in desesperaunce;

And al the good, which that shulde falle him to,

540

Is left as deed, clene out of rémembraunce.'

Lam. 'Yet wil I sewe this mater faithfully

Whyls I may live, what-ever be my chaunce;

And if it hap that in my trouthe I dy,

That deeth shal not do me no displesaunce.

545

But whan that I, by your ful hard suffraunce,

Shal dy so trew, and with so greet a payne,

Yet shal it do me moche the lesse grevaunce

Than for to live a fals lover, certayne.'

La D. 'Of me get ye right nought, this is no fable,

550

I nil to you be neither hard nor strayt;

And right wil not, nor maner customable,

To think ye shulde be sure of my conceyt.

Who secheth sorowe, his be the receyt!

Other counsayl can I not fele nor see,

555

Nor for to lerne I cast not to awayte;

Who wil therto, let him assay, for me!'

Lam. 'Ones must it be assayd, that is no nay,

With such as be of reputacioun,

And of trew love the right devoir to pay

560

Of free hertes, geten by due raunsoun;

For free wil holdeth this opinioun,

That it is greet duresse and discomfort

To kepe a herte in so strayt a prisoun,

That hath but oon body for his disport.'

[317]

565

La D. 'I know so many cases mervaylous

That I must nede, of resoun, think certayn,

That such entree is wonder perilous,

And yet wel more, the coming bak agayn.

Good or worship therof is seldom seyn;

570

Wherefore I wil not make no suche aray

As for to fynde a plesaunce but barayn,

Whan it shal cost so dere, the first assay.'

Lam. 'Ye have no cause to doute of this matere,

Nor you to meve with no such fantasyes

575

To put me ferre al-out, as a straungere;

For your goodnesse can think and wel avyse,

That I have made a prefe in every wyse

By which my trouth sheweth open evidence;

My long abyding and my trew servyse

580

May wel be knowen by playn experience.'

La D. 'Of very right he may be called trew,

And so must he be take in every place,

That can deserve, and let as he ne knew,

And kepe the good, if he it may purchace.

585

For who that prayeth or sueth in any case,

Right wel ye wot, in that no trouth is preved;

Suche hath ther ben, and are, that geten grace,

And lese it sone, whan they it have acheved.'

Lam. 'If trouth me cause, by vertue soverayne,

590

To shew good love, and alway fynd contráry,

And cherish that which sleeth me with the payne,

This is to me a lovely adversary!

Whan that pitè, which long a-slepe doth tary,

Hath set the fyne of al myn hevinesse,

595

Yet her comfort, to me most necessary,

Shuld set my wil more sure in stablenesse.'

[318]

La D. 'The woful wight, what may he thinke or say?

The contrary of al joy and gladnesse.

A sick body, his thought is al away

600

From hem that fele no sorowe nor siknesse.

Thus hurtes ben of dyvers businesse

Which love hath put to right gret hinderaunce,

And trouthe also put in forgetfulnesse

Whan they so sore begin to sighe askaunce.'

605

Lam. 'Now god defend but he be havëlesse

Of al worship or good that may befal,

That to the werst tourneth, by his lewdnesse,

A gift of grace, or any-thing at al

That his lady vouchsauf upon him cal,

610

Or cherish him in honourable wyse!

In that defaut what-ever he be that fal

Deserveth more than deth to suffre twyse!'

La D. 'There is no juge y-set of such trespace

By which of right oon may recovered be;

615

Oon curseth fast, another doth manace,

Yet dyeth non, as ferre as I can see,

But kepe their cours alway, in oon degrè,

And evermore their labour doth encrese

To bring ladyes, by their gret soteltè,

620

For others gilte, in sorowe and disese!'

Lam. 'Al-be-it so oon do so greet offence,

And be not deed, nor put to no juÿse,

Right wel I wot, him gayneth no defence,

But he must ende in ful mischévous wyse,

625

And al that ever is good wil him dispyse.

For falshed is so ful of cursednesse

[319]

That high worship shal never have enterpryse

Where it reigneth and hath the wilfulnesse.'

La D. 'Of that have they no greet fere now-a-days,

630

Suche as wil say, and maynteyne it ther-to,

That stedfast trouthe is nothing for to prays

In hem that kepe it long for wele or wo.

Their busy hertes passen to and fro,

They be so wel reclaymed to the lure,

635

So wel lerned hem to withholde also,

And al to chaunge, whan love shuld best endure.'

Lam. 'Whan oon hath set his herte in stable wyse

In suche a place as is both good and trewe,

He shuld not flit, but do forth his servyse

640

Alway, withouten chaunge of any newe.

As sone as love beginneth to remewe,

Al plesaunce goth anon, in litel space;

For my party, al that shal I eschewe,

Whyls that the soule abydeth in his place.'

645

La D. 'To love trewly ther-as ye ought of right,

Ye may not be mistaken, doutëlesse;

But ye be foul deceyved in your sight

By lightly understanding, as I gesse.

Yet may ye wel repele your businesse

650

And to resoun somwhat have attendaunce,

Moch better than to byde, by fol simplesse,

The feble socour of desesperaunce.'

Lam. 'Resoun, counsayl, wisdom, and good avyse

Ben under love arested everichoon,

655

To which I can accorde in every wyse;

For they be not rebel, but stille as stoon;

[320]

Their wil and myn be medled al in oon,

And therwith bounden with so strong a cheyne

That, as in hem, departing shal be noon,

660

But pitè breke the mighty bond atwayne.'

La D. 'Who loveth not himself, what-ever he be

In love, he stant forgete in every place;

And of your wo if ye have no pitè,

Others pitè bileve not to purchace;

665

But beth fully assured in this case,

I am alway under oon ordinaunce,

To have better; trusteth not after grace,

And al that leveth tak to your plesaunce!'

Lam. 'I have my hope so sure and so stedfast

670

That suche a lady shulde nat fail pitè;

But now, alas! it is shit up so fast,

That Daunger sheweth on me his crueltè.

And if she see the vertue fayle in me

Of trew servyce, then she to fayle also

675

No wonder were; but this is the suretè,

I must suffre, which way that ever it go.'

La D. 'Leve this purpos, I rede you for the best;

For lenger that ye kepe it thus in vayn,

The lesse ye gete, as of your hertes rest,

680

And to rejoice it shal ye never attayn.

Whan ye abyde good hope, to make you fayn,

Ye shal be founde asotted in dotage;

And in the ende, ye shal know for certayn,

That hope shal pay the wrecches for their wage!'

685

Lam. 'Ye say as falleth most for your plesaunce,

And your power is greet; al this I see;

[321]

But hope shal never out of my rémembraunce,

By whiche I felt so greet adversitè.

For whan nature hath set in you plentè

690

Of al goodnesse, by vertue and by grace,

He never assembled hem, as semeth me,

To put Pitè out of his dwelling-place.'

La D. 'Pitè of right ought to be resonable,

And to no wight of greet disavantage;

695

There-as is nede, it shuld be profitable,

And to the pitous shewing no damage.

If a lady wil do so greet out-rage

To shewe pitè, and cause her own debate,

Of such pitè cometh dispitous rage,

700

And of the love also right deedly hate.'

Lam. 'To comforte hem that live al comfortlesse,

That is no harm, but worship to your name;

But ye, that bere an herte of such duresse,

And a fair body formed to the same,

705

If I durst say, ye winne al this defame

By Crueltè, which sitteth you ful il,

But-if Pitè, which may al this attame,

In your high herte may rest and tary stil.'

La D. 'What-ever he be that sayth he loveth me,

710

And peraventure, I leve that it be so,

Ought he be wroth, or shulde I blamed be,

Though I did noght as he wolde have me do?

If I medled with suche or other mo,

It might be called pitè manerlesse;

715

And, afterward if I shulde live in wo,

Than to repent it were to late, I gesse.'

Lam. 'O marble herte, and yet more hard, pardè,

Which mercy may nat perce, for no labour,

[322]

More strong to bowe than is a mighty tree,

720

What vayleth you to shewe so greet rigour?

Plese it you more to see me dy this hour

Before your eyen, for your disport and play,

Than for to shewe som comfort or socour

To respite deth, that chaseth me alway!'

725

La D. 'Of your disese ye may have allegeaunce;

And as for myn, I lete it over-shake.

Also, ye shal not dye for my plesaunce,

Nor for your hele I can no surety make.

I nil nat hate myn hert for others sake;

730

Wepe they, laugh they, or sing, this I waraunt,

For this mater so wel to undertake

That non of you shal make therof avaunt!'

Lam. 'I can no skil of song; by god aloon,

I have more cause to wepe in your presence;

735

And wel I wot, avauntour am I noon,

For certainly, I love better silence.

Oon shuld nat love by his hertes credence

But he were sure to kepe it secretly;

For avauntour is of no reverence

740

Whan that his tonge is his most enemy.'

La D. 'Male-bouche in courte hath greet commaundement;

Ech man studieth to say the worst he may.

These fals lovers, in this tyme now present,

They serve to boste, to jangle as a jay.

745

The most secret wil wel that some men say

How he mistrusted is on some partyes;

Wherfore to ladies what men speke or pray,

It shuld not be bileved in no wyse.'

[323]

Lam. 'Of good and il shal be, and is alway;

750

The world is such; the erth it is not playn.

They that be good, the preve sheweth every day,

And otherwyse, gret villany, certayn.

Is it resoun, though oon his tonge distayne

With cursed speche, to do him-self a shame,

755

That such refuse shuld wrongfully remayne

Upon the good, renommed in their fame?'

La D. 'Suche as be nought, whan they here tydings newe,

That ech trespas shal lightly have pardoun,

They that purposen to be good and trewe—

760

Wel set by noble disposicioun

To continue in good condicioun—

They are the first that fallen in damage,

And ful freely their hertes abandoun

To litel faith, with softe and fayr langage.'

765

Lam. 'Now knowe I wel, of very certayntè,

Though oon do trewly, yet shal he be shent,

Sith al maner of justice and pitè

Is banisshed out of a ladyes entent.

I can nat see but al is at oo stent,

770

The good and il, the vyce and eek vertue!

Suche as be good shal have the punishment

For the trespas of hem that been untrewe!'

La D. 'I have no power you to do grevaunce,

Nor to punisshe non other creature;

775

But, to eschewe the more encomberaunce,

To kepe us from you al, I holde it sure.

Fals semblaunce hath a visage ful demure,

Lightly to cacche the ladies in a-wayt;

[324]

Wherefore we must, if that we wil endure,

780

Make right good watch; lo! this is my conceyt.'

Lam. 'Sith that of grace oo goodly word aloon

May not be had, but alway kept in store,

I pele to god, for he may here my moon,

Of the duresse, which greveth me so sore.

785

And of pitè I pleyn me further-more,

Which he forgat, in al his ordinaunce,

Or els my lyf to have ended before,

Which he so sone put out of rémembraunce.'

La D. 'My hert, nor I, have don you no forfeyt,

790

By which ye shulde complayne in any kynde.

There hurteth you nothing but your conceyt;

Be juge your-self; for so ye shal it fynde.

Ones for alway let this sinke in your mynde—

That ye desire shal never rejoysed be!

795

Ye noy me sore, in wasting al this wynde;

For I have sayd y-nough, as semeth me.'

Verba Auctoris.

This woful man roos up in al his payne,

And so parted, with weping countenaunce;

His woful hert almost to-brast in twayne,

800

Ful lyke to dye, forth walking in a traunce,

And sayd, 'Now, deeth, com forth! thy-self avaunce,

Or that myn hert forgete his propertè;

And make shorter al this woful penaunce

Of my pore lyfe, ful of adversitè!'

805

Fro thens he went, but whider wist I nought,

Nor to what part he drow, in sothfastnesse;

[325]

But he no more was in his ladies thought,

For to the daunce anon she gan her dresse.

And afterward, oon tolde me thus expresse,

810

He rente his heer, for anguissh and for payne,

And in him-self took so gret hevinesse

That he was deed, within a day or twayne.

Lenvoy.

Ye trew lovers, this I beseche you al,

Such †avantours, flee hem in every wyse,

815

And as people defamed ye hem cal;

For they, trewly, do you gret prejudyse.

Refus hath mad for al such flateryes

His castelles strong, stuffed with ordinaunce,

For they have had long tyme, by their offyce,

820

The hool countrè of Love in obeysaunce.

And ye, ladyes, or what estat ye be,

In whom Worship hath chose his dwelling-place,

For goddes love, do no such crueltè,

Namely, to hem that have deserved grace.

825

Nor in no wyse ne folowe not the trace

Of her, that here is named rightwisly,

Which by resoun, me semeth, in this case

May be called La Belle Dame sans Mercy.

Verba Translatoris.

Go, litel book! god sende thee good passage!

830

Chese wel thy way; be simple of manere;

Loke thy clothing be lyke thy pilgrimage,

And specially, let this be thy prayere

Un-to hem al that thee wil rede or here,

Wher thou art wrong, after their help to cal

835

Thee to correcte in any part or al.

[326]

Pray hem also, with thyn humble servyce,

Thy boldënesse to pardon in this case;

For els thou art not able, in no wyse,

To make thy-self appere in any place.

840

And furthermore, beseche hem, of their grace,

By their favour and supportacioun,

To take in gree this rude translacioun,

The which, god wot, standeth ful destitute

Of eloquence, of metre, and of coloures,

845

Wild as a beest, naked, without refute,

Upon a playne to byde al maner shoures.

I can no more, but aske of hem socoures

At whos request thou mad were in this wyse,

Commaunding me with body and servyse.

850

Right thus I make an ende of this processe,

Beseching him that al hath in balaunce

That no trew man be vexed, causëlesse,

As this man was, which is of rémembraunce;

And al that doon their faythful observaunce,

855

And in their trouth purpose hem to endure,

I pray god sende hem better aventure.

Explicit.

From Th. (Thynne, ed. 1532); collated with F. (Fairfax 16); and H. (Harl. 372). Also in Ff. (Camb. Univ. Lib. Ff. 1. 6). Bad spellings of Th. are corrected by the MSS. Title. Th. H. La ... mercy; F. Balade de la Bele Dame sanz mercy. H. adds—Translatid ... Ros. 1. Th. F. Halfe; H. Half. 2. F. H. Ff. wrapt. 3. All rose. 4. Th. Ff. -selfe; H. F. self. 5. F. matere; H. matier. Th. leuynge. 6. Th. must; F. sholde; H. shold. 7. H. to whom; F. the which; Th. whiche. Th. F. dysobey; H. sey nay. 9. Th. thynge. Ff. part; rest parte. 10. Th. F. boke; H. book. Th. La bel; F. la bele; H. om. La. H. F. sanz; Th. sauns. 11. Th. Whiche. 12. Th. secratairie; F. secretare; H. secretarie. 13. H. ther-; Th. F. her-. Th. F. stode; H. stood. 14. Th. greatly ymagenynge. 15. Th. shulde; F. H. sholde; Ff. shuld. Th. the; F. H. this. 16. Ff. avysement; rest adv. 17. F. H. Ff. Myn; Th. My. F. H. Ff. symplesse.

18. Th. -warde; strayte. 19. Th. myne. 20. Th. downe. 21. Th. conclusyon. 24. H. in-to. H. green; Th. F. grene. 25. Th. se; great. 26. F. H. Ff. bolded; Th. boldly. F. benyng; Th. benygne; H. benyngne. 27. F. H. Ff. That; Th. Whiche. Th. F. boke; H. booke. H. F. the; Th. Ff. this. Th. om. seid. 28. F. H. begynne. Th. please. (From this point I silently correct the spelling of Th.) 33. Th. Ff. by; F. H. with. 35. Ff. soleyne (for sole thus); perhaps better. 41. F. H. Ff. is; Th. doth. 42. F. felde. Th. maner of ease. 43. F. H. I; Th. as I. 44. F. H. Ff. nor doth noon other. 46. F. H. Ff. Were constreyned. 47. H. Myn eyen; F. Myn eyn; Th. My penne; Ff. My pen. Ff. neuer haue knolege; H. haue knowlege (!); Th. neuer knowe; F. haue no knowlych.

49. F. H. Ff. And; Th. Tho. Th. om. if. 53. F. H. Ff. seke; Th. sicke. 54. Th. Ff. theyr; H. F. her (often). 55. F. H. balade or. 60. F. H. Ff. lyth with hir vndir hir tumbe in graue (Ff. I-graue). 65. Th. Ff. by; F. H. with. F. hath the forser vnschete. 66. Th. sperde; Ff. spred; F. sprad; H. spradde (!). 73. Th. H. om. good. 74. Th. om. Al. H. made than. 75. F. Ff. set; H. sette; Th. shette. F. H. Ff. boundes; Th. bondes. 77. F. H. thoughtes. Th. om. my. 79. F. I (for it). 80. H. I purposid me to bide.

81. H. forth to. 83. F. H. Ff. but; Th. a. 84. F. H. gardeyn; Th. garden. 88. F. om. yet I; H. om. yet. 89. F. H. come; Th. came. 90. Th. her; F. H. Ff. their. 92. F. H. nede; Th. nedes. 95. H. F. Ff. eueryche by one and one; Th. euery one by one. 103. So Ff.; H. F. Were none that serued in that place (!); Th. Ther were no deedly seruaunts in the place. 105. Ff. peraunter. H. om. most. 106. Th. om. sitting. 110. F. com; H. come; Th. came. 111. H. F. man; Th. one; Ff. on.

115. Th. F. Ff. went; H. yode. 116. Th. F. Ff. Ful; H. At. 117. Th. om. good and right. 122. F. H. Come; Th. Came. 124. F. H. om. 2nd in. 133. F. H. feste; Th. feest. 134. Th. coude; rest couth. F. H. om. it. 138. Th. H. bode. 143. F. eey; H. yee; Th. eye. Th. F. Ff. stedfast; H. faste. 144. Th. om. the.

145. F. H. And; Th. For. Th. Ff. shot; H. sight; F. seght. 146. H. fedired; F. fedred; Ff. federid; Th. fereful. 148. Th. I, or that; F. ther that; H. I that there. Th. iestes. 151. F. H. tendirly; Th. wonderly. 154. F. H. come; Th. came. 155. F. H. om. most. F. H. ruful; Ff. rewfull; Th. woful. F. H. Ff. semblaunce; Th. penaunce. 158. F. H. these; Th. the. 159. F. H. louer; Th. man he. 160. Th. om. but. 166. All chase. 168. F. H. beautevous. 169. F. H. that; Th. so. F. H. set; Th. setteth. H. trist. 170. Th. the (rightly); H. there; F. Ff. their. 171. F. vndir a. 173. F. H. as; Th. that. 174. F. Ff. O; H. On; Th. One. F. H. vice. (!). H. ner (for 1st nor). Th. Ff. nor; H. or; F. ne. Ff. apert; Th. H. perte;F. pert. 175. Th. garyson. Th. goodlynesse. 176. All frounter.

178. F. H. Ff. her; Th. of (twice). 180. Th. standerde; F. standarte; H. standart. 183. Th. -drawe; H. -drewh. 184. Th. Ff. alone; F. H. om. 186. F. withes; H. Ff. wythyes; Th. wrethes. 188. H. Ff. thorughe; Th. through; F. thorgh. Th. no man might. 189. Th. this; H. his. F. H. come; Th. came. 191. Th. Set (for Sith). H. herbier. 192. H. them. Th. but a. 193. Th. of a certayne. 195. Th. om. And. 196. So F. H.; Th. bytwene hem two. 201. Th. more; H. Ff. neer. 204. Ff. hete; Th. heate; F. H. hert.

209. Th. Ff. gan; F. H. can. 210. F. H. The toon. 213-220. F. omits. 224. F. H. Ff. kyns; Th. kynde. 225. H. Ff. avise; Th. aduyse. 226. Th. it at; F. H. om. at. 227. H. enterprise. 228. F. H. It; Th. Yet. 229. Th. it be; F. H. om. it. 231. Th. Ff. eschewynge; F. H. escusyng. 234. F. H. to; Th. vnto. 235. All ye. Th. Ff. right; F. even; H. euyn. 237. H. om. that. 238. Th. alway; F. H. ay to. 239. F. H. om. for. 240. Th. Withouten; F. Without.

241. H. gif; F. geve. 242. F. H. ayein; Th. any (!). 243. F. withouten; H. withoughtyn; Th. withoute. 248. F. Ff. mesurabely; Th. H. mesurably. 249. Th. Ff. your thought is; F. H. ye do ful. 251. Th. thynketh; F. H. think ye. Th. whyles; H. whil that; Ff. whils that. 252. F. matere; H. matier; Th. mater. 258. F. Ff. dyffiaunce. 259. F. H. Ff. to forbarre; Th. for to barre. 262. Th. om. hath. 263 Th. eye; F. eeye; H. yee; (read y). 265. F. if that ye lyst to beholde; H. Ff. if ye liste to biholde; Th. if ye list ye may beholde. 267. H. nor; Th. F. Ff. ne.

273. Th. om. not. Th. her; F. H. Ff. his. 275. F. H. Ff. But; Th. By (!). 278. H. om. trewly. Th. Ff. nought; F. H. neuer. 281. F. beleue; H. bileue; Th. loue (!). 282. So Ff.; H. F. om. greet (Th. you dyspleasaunce!). 284. So F. Th.; H. encombrance. 290. F. I-falle; H. y-falle; Ff. falle; Th. fal. 297. Th. F. Ff. now; H. nought. 302. Th. it were; F. H. om. it. 303. F. sorow; H. sorwe; Th. Ff. sory. 304. F. H. stroye; Th. destroye. 308. F. H. oo; Th. one.

309. Th. Ff. nor; F. H. ne. 310. F. H. grete desire nor; Th. haue therin no. Th. om. right. 311. F. H. seke; Th. sicke. 312. Th. of; F. H. Ff. to. 313. F. H. their; Th. her. 317. Th. that ioy; F. H. om. that. 318. F. H. om. al. 319. F. H. their; Th. her. 320. Th. maner of age. 322. Th. by; F. H. Ff. of. Th. purchesse; F. H. purchace. 324. Th. tymes. F. om. the. H. dere his richesse bought has. Ff. rechace; rest richesse. 326. Th. in (for 2nd of). 327. F. ben; Th. be; H. are. 329. H. scoolys holden dieuly. 330. F. H. of; Th. al. 331. F. H. their hedes away. 334. F. set; Ff. sette; Th. H. setteth. 337. F. H. om. that. 340. Th. shewe; F. sue; H. Ff. sewe.

341. Th. Ff. awayte; F. H. abayte. 342. F. worching; H. worsching; Th. workyng. 344. F. H. know and fele. 346. F. H. him; Th. Ff. hem. 347. F. H. when that; Th. om. that. 348. F. H. their; Th. her. 350. All avaunced loue. 351. Th. sharpe. F. H. this; Th. thus. 352. F. H. It; Th. Ff. Yet. 354. F. ton; H. toon; Th. one. F. H. the tother; Th. that other. 355. Th. om. the. Th. certeyne (!). 356. F. wonne; H. wonnen; Th. one (!). F. H. with; Th. in. 358. F. H. is; Th. thinke. 363. F. nor; H. ner; Th. and. Th. om. certayn. 364. F. H. stant; Th. standeth. F. enfeoffed. 366. Th. om. as. 371. F. H. rightwysly; Th. vnryghtfully (!).

384. Th. Ff. ayre; F. eir; H. heire. 386. Th. Thus be. F. H. Ff. man of; Th. maner. 387. F. layth; Th. layeth; H. latith. 388. H. losith. 389. F. Ff. currisch; H. kurressh; Th. cursed. 391. Th. F. right; H. ful. 392. F. H. their; Th. her. F. worchyng; H. werchyng; Th. workynge. 393. Th. and; F. H. a. F. Th. Ff. semyng; H. menyng. 394. F. H. Their; Th. Her (thrice). Th. om. be. Th. but; F. H. not. 400. H. sorowe. 401. Th. wheder; Ff. whedre; F. H. wher. 403. F. H. Ff. if; Th. of. 404. F. Ff. Then; H. Thanne; Th. That.

408. Th. sicknesse. 410. Th. disporte. Th. me. 411. Th. Ff. nor; F. H. ne. 412. F. H. Ff. it; Th. hem. 413. Th. Ff. byrde; F. bride; H. bridde. 415. H. om. 2nd him. 416. F. H. om. 2nd him. 419. Th. farther. 420. F. H. sett lesse. 422. F. H. Ff. of; Th. for. 424. F. H. of all; Th. Ff. om. of. 425. Th. wote; F. H. wytt. 429-716. Misarranged in F. H.; Th. Ff. follow the right order. 429. (Th.) = 669 (F. H.). F. om. 2nd by. 431. F. There-of. F. H. shulde; Th. shal. 432. Th. him that cometh and goth. 433. Th. holdeth. 434. Th. as to; F. H. Ff. om. as. 435. F. H. wolde; Th. Ff. wyl. 436. Th. desyringe (!).

438. Th. To; F. H. With. F. H. best and tendyrly; Th. Ff. om. best and. 440. F. H. om. no. F. H. Ff. yift; Th. gyftes. 442. F. Wheryn hym. 443. F. H. Ff. constreynte. 444. F. H. Ff. may not; Th. can neuer. F. H. ne; Th. Ff. nor. 445. H. seche; F. beseche. 446. F. H. om. it. 450. Th. a curtyse; Ff. a corteys; F. H. curteysy. 456. Th. om. al. 460. H. loste (for left). 461. F. H. Ff. neuer formed (fourmed); Th. founded neuer. 467. Th. no (for non). F. eeyn; H. yeen. 468. H. That ne alle ar.

472. F. feoffeth. 474. Th. be (for he). 475. F. H. om. his. 477-524. Follows 572 in F. H. 477 (Th.) = 525 (F. H.). 478. Th. Ff. so; H. sum; F. some. 479. H. sowndith. 481. H. Ff. thus; Th. this. 486. F. om. ye. H. F. your sesoun spende not. 488. H. Ff. foly; Th. folly. 489. Th. H. herte. H. F. folyly; Th. follyly. 492. H. F. And; Th. om. Th. to fal. 493. H. Th. faire. 494. H. Ff. had (for hath). H. F. your; Th. Ff. his. 495. F. H. I neuer; Th. Ff. It neuer. 496. F. H. whiles. 500. H. F. not; Ff. nought; Th. neyther.

501. Th. gyfte; H. yifte. 502. Th. om. that. 503. Th. a gifte; H. F. Ff. om. a. 505. H. F. om. an. H. hurte ful fele (!). 506. H. F. Ff. in; Th. to. 508. H. F. neuer; Th. neyther. 509. H. F. Who; Th. Ff. He. 512. F. om. the. Th. reproveable. 513. F. H. feyled; Th. fayned. 514. Th. I mystoke; H. F. Ff. me mystoke. 515. F. entrepris. 516. H. F. goten. 517. H. Th. liste. 518. F. H. Secheth; Th. Seche a. 519. Th. preuayle. 523. H. hosithe (for leseth). 525-572. Follows 716 in F. H. 528. H. hoole; Th. hole. 529. H. F. it; Th. I. H. F. om. ne. 530. H. soundyng. 531. H. F. it ar; Th. I se be. Th. Ff. fantasise; F. fantasyse; H. fantaisise.

533. H. F. Ff. folily; Th. no foly (!). 534. H. Th. parte. 536. F. condyte. 538. Th. Ff. sute; H. F. suerte. H. F. in; Th. in to. 539. Th. om. which. H. F. om. that. 540. H. F. Ff. left as; Th. lost and. F. dethe (!). 542. H. Ff. Whils; Th. Whyles. Th. om. may. 544. Th. Than; H. F. Ff. That. H. not; Th. F. om. 545. Ff. full; rest om. Th. H. harde. 546. H. triew; Th. true. H. grete; Th. great. F. Ff. om. a. 547. F. H. om. the; read mochel less? 550. H. F. nyl; Th. wyl. H. Th. harde. 551. Th. no man (for nor maner). 555. Th. cast me not. 556. H. F. ther-to; Th. therof. 558. H. F. beth. 559. H. trewe; Th. true. Ff. devoyr; H. duetes; F. dewtis; Th. honour. 560. Th. gotten. H. F. due; Th. dewe. 562. H. grete; Th. great. H. Th. -forte. 564. H. F. oo; Ff. on; Th. one. H. Th. -porte.

565. Ff. H. cases; rest causes. 566. H. F. Which; Th. Ff. That. 567. H. F. Ff. entre; Th. auenture (!). 570. Th. Where I ne wyl make suche. 571. Th. but a; H. F. om. a. 573-620. Follows 668 in H. F. 573. F. matere; Th. mater. 574. Th. fantasyse; F. fantasise; H. fantesye. 576. F. Ff. avyse; Th. H. aduyse. 577. H. Ff. prefe; F. preue; Th. prise. 578. H. trouthe; Th. truthe. 579. H. Th. trewe. 581. H. Th. trewe. 583. H. Ff. deserue; Th. discerne (!). H. Th. knewe. 585. H. Ff. sueth; F. seweth; Th. swereth. 587. Th. geten; H. F. getith. 588. H. F. Ff. it haue; Th. haue it. 590. Th. H. shewe; fynde. 593. H. F. a slepe; Th. on slepe. 595. Th. H. comforte. 596. Ff. Shuld; H. F. Shulde; Th. Shal.

599. Th. sycke; H. F. seke. F. om. his. H. F. Ff. al awaye; Th. alway. 600. H. Ff. fele; Th. felen. H. sorwe; F. Ff. sorowe; Th. sore. 602. Th. om. right. Th. hindraunce. 604. H. Ff. so; Th. ful; F. om. 605. H. Th. defende. H. F. haueles; Th. harmlesse (!). 607. Th. om. the. 608. Th. gyfte; H. yifte. 609. Th. Ff. vouchesafe; H. vouchith sauf. 610. H. F. cherissh; Th. Ff. cherissheth. 611. H. Th. defaute. 613. H. F. of; Th. on. H. Th. suche. 614. H. one; F. ōn; Th. loue. 615. H. Th. One. 616. H. Th. none. 617. H. Th. her; see 618. Th. course; H. corse. Th. H. one; F. a. 618. H. F. euere newe; Th. Ff. euermore. Ff. their; Th. theyr; H. there; F. thair. 619. Th. Ff. their great; H. F. om. great. H. F. subtilite; Th. subtelte; Ff. sotelte. 621-668. Follows 524 in F. H. 621. F. oone; H. on; Th. one. Th. dothe; great. 622. H. F. Ff. be; Th. is. H. F. Ff. Iuyse; Th. iustyse. 625. So H. F. Ff.; Th. And al euer sayd god wyl. 626. Th. om. so.

627. Ff. highe; H. F. her; Th. his. H. F. shal; Th. Ff. may. 629. Th. great; F. H. om. Th. dayse; H. daies. 631. H. preys; Th. prayse. 632. F. H. Ff. for; Th. in. 633. Th. F. Theyr; H. There. 637. Th. one; H. on; Ff. won. 638. H. Ff. which (for as). 643. So F. H.; Th. As for my partie that. 644. Th. Whyle; H. F. Ff. Whils that. 645. F. H. ye; Th. it. 647. Th. H. foule. H. F. deceyued; Th. disceyued. 648. H. F. lightly; Th. light. 649. H. F. this; Th. Ff. your. 650. H. Ff. sumwhat haue; Th. haue some. 651. All Moche. H. sonner; F. sunner; Th. Ff. better. Th. to abide. Ff. fole; rest foly. Th. simplenes; rest simplesse. 653. F. Ff. avyse; Th. H. aduyse. 656. Th. as a; H. F. Ff. om. a.

657. H. There. Th. H. one; Ff. won. 659. Th. Ff. as (rightly); H. F. is. Th. H. none. 660. Th. H. bonde. 661. H. Ff. Who loueth; F. Who love; Th. Ye loue. H. F. hym-; Th. your-. H. F. he be; Th. ye be. 662. So H. F. Ff.; Th. That in loue stande. 664. Th. bileue ye; rest om. ye. 665. H. F. beth; Th. be. Th. as in; rest om. as. 666. Th. alway; H. F. alwaies. Th. one; Ff. on; H. an. 667. F. H. trusteth; Th. trust. 668. Th. H. take. 669-716. Follows 428 in F. H. 670. Th. lacke; H. F. Ff. faile. 673. H. faileth. 674. F. H. Ff. then she to; Th. thoughe she do. 675. Th. my; F. H. Ff. the. H. surtee; F. seurte. 677. H. purpos; Th. pupose. 678. Th. For the lenger ye. H. F. Ff. thus; Th. is. 680. H. F. Ff. ye; Th. you. 684. Th. om. That. H. ther; Th. her. 686. Th. great.

688. F. H. Ff. felt; Th. fele. Th. great. 691. H. F. semeth; Th. semed. 694. H. F. of; Th. do no. 696. F. damage; H. dammage; Th. Ff. domage. 697. H. F. om. wil. 699. H. dispetous. 700. Th. suche; H. F. Ff. the. 702. Th. H. harme. H. F. Ff. worship; Th. comforte. 703. H. F. Ff. bere an; Th. haue a. Th. H. suche. 704. H. F. Ff. om. And. All fayre. H. F. Ff. body; Th. lady (!). H. formed to; F. Ff. y-formed to; Th. I must affirme (!). 710. H. F. Ff. that; Th. wel. 712. H. noght; Th. not. 714. H. F. Ff. manerles; Th. mercylesse. 717. Here H. F. agree with Th. again. Ff. marbre. Th. H. harde.

720. H. F. Ff. vaileth; Th. auayleth. Th. great. 721. H. F. Please; Th. Pleaseth. Th. H. dye. 722. Th. H. dysporte. 723. H. F. Ff. or; Th. and. 724. Th. H. dethe. H. F. that; Th. whiche. 725. Th. H. disease. 726. H. F. Ff. shake; Th. slake. 728. Th. heale. 729. H. F. Ff. nyl; Th. wyl. H. F. Ff. hate myn herte; Th. hurte my selfe. 730. Th. they I; H. F. Ff. this I. 731. H. F. wel to: Th. wyl I. 732. H. F. you; Th. hem. 733. H. noo; Th. nat. H. F. Ff. song; Th. loue. Th. alone. 735. H. F. Ff. I; Th. ye. Th. H. wote. Th. none. 737. Th. One; H. On. 739. Th. H. a vauntour; cf. l. 735. 741. Th. great. 744. H. F. Ff. to boste; Th. best. 745. H. wil wele; F. Ff. wille wel; Th. ywis. H. F. Ff. that; Th. yet. 746. H. F. on; Th. in. F. Th. partyse; Ff. partyes; H. party. 747. H. F. Ff. what; Th. whan so. Th. say (for pray). 748. H. F. shal; Ff. schuld; Th. shulde.

750. Th. H. suche. Th. Ff. erth; H. F. dethe. H. F. Ff. it is not; Th. is not al. 751. H. F. preve; Th. profe. 752. Th. great villony. 753. F. Ff. Is it; Th. H. It is. Th. H. one. 755. H. F. refuse. 756. Th. renomed; H. renommeed. F. H. her (for their). 757. Th. here; H. herde. 758. Th. H. eche. 759. H. purposen; F. porposyn; Th. pursuen. 760. So H. F. Ff.; Th. Wyl not set by none il d. 761. Th. in euery; H. F. om. euery. 763. Ff. thair; F. ther; H. theym; Th. the. F. H. om. hertes. 764. Th. faithe. Th. Ff. softe and fayre; H. faire and softe. 766. F. H. Though; Th. Ff. If. All one. 768. H. banshid. 769. H. F. oo; Th. one. 770. Th. the (for 1st and); H. F. and. Ff. eke; rest eke the. 771. H. Ff. shal; Th. such. 772. H. F. ben; Ff. beth; Th. lyue. 777. F. H. Ff. visage; Th. face (!). 778. H. F. Ff. the; Th. these. Th. H. Ff. a wayte.

779. F. H. Ff. yf that we wil; Th. if we wyl here. 780. Th. H. conceyte. 781. F. H. oo; Th. a. Th. worde. H. F. Ff. allone; Th. nat one. 782. F. H. not; Th. nowe. Th. kepte. 783. H. F. Ff. pele; Th. appele. All mone (read moon). 785. H. Ff. pleyne me; F. pleyn me; Th. complayne. 786. Th. H. forgate. 787. H. elles. 788. Ff. H. F. he so sone put; Th. so sone am put. 789. Th. H. forfeyte. 791. So H. F. Ff.; Th. Nothing hurteth you but your owne conceyte. 792. H. shal ye. 793. H. F. Ones for; Th. Thus. 794. So H. Ff.; so F. (with the for ye); Th. That your desyre shal neuer recouered be. 796. Th. ynoughe. Title; in H. 797. Th. rose; H. rosse. H. F. al in; Th. Ff. in al. 798. Ff. partyd; rest departed. 799. Th. to-brast; H. F. Ff. it brest. 800. H. forth walkyng; Th. Ff. walkynge forth. 801. Th. om. Now. 803. Th. Ff. shorter; H. shorte; F. short. 805. H. Ff. whider; Th. whither. 806. F. party. F. Ff. drow; H. drowh; Th. drewe.

809. Th. Ff. thus; H. it; F. om. 811. Th. great. Title; in Th. 813. H. F. Ff. Ye; Th. The. F. trew; H. trewe; Th. true. Th. thus; H. Ff. this. 814. Ff. aventours; rest aventures (see note). Th. flie; H. F. fle. 816. Th. great. 817. Th. omits this line; from H. F. Ff. H. F. made. H. F. Ff. flaterise. 821. Th. H. estate; Ff. astate. 822. H. F. Ff. In; Th. Of. 824. Ff. haue; F. hath; H. om. Th. omits the line. 825. H. folwe ye not; F. folowe ye not; Ff. folowe not; Th. foule not. After 828, F. has—Explicit la bele dame sanz mercy; H. F. Verba translatoris. 829. Th. H. Ff. the. 833. H. F. om. al. All the. 834. Th. hir (for their). 835. Th. H. The.

837. Th. cace; H. caas. 838. H. elles. 840, 841. Th. her (for their). 843. Th. H. wote. 844. Th. om. and. 845. H. F. Wilde; Th. Ff. Lyke. 846. Ff. tabyde; Th. to abyde. 847. H. axe. 848. Th. Ff. were made; F. was made; H. made was. 850. H. F. Ff. processe; Th. prosses. 852. Th. H. trewe. 854. Th. done her; Ff. do thair; H. dothe here; F. doth thair. 855. Th. her (for their). After 856; Th. Explicit; H. Amen.

Ane dooly sesoun to ane cairfull dyte

Suld correspond, and be equivalent.

Richt sa it wes quhen I began to wryte

This tragedy; the wedder richt fervent,

Quhen Aries, in middis of the Lent,

Shouris of haill can fra the north discend;

That scantly fra the cauld I micht defend.

Yit nevertheles, within myn orature

I stude, quhen Tytan had his bemis bricht

Withdrawin doun and sylit under cure;

And fair Venus, the bewty of the nicht,

Uprais, and set unto the west full richt

Hir goldin face, in oppositioun

Of god Phebus direct discending doun.

Throwout the glas hir bemis brast sa fair

That I micht see, on every syde me by,

The northin wind had purifyit the air,

And shed the misty cloudis fra the sky.

The froist freisit, the blastis bitterly

Fra pole Artyk come quhisling loud and shill,

And causit me remuf aganis my will.

[328]

For I traistit that Venus, luifis quene,

To quhom sum-tyme I hecht obedience,

My faidit hart of luf sho wald mak grene;

And therupon, with humbil reverence,

I thocht to pray hir hy magnificence;

But for greit cald as than I lattit was,

And in my chalmer to the fyr can pas.

Thocht luf be hait, yit in ane man of age

It kendillis nocht sa sone as in youthheid,

Of quhom the blude is flowing in ane rage;

And in the auld the curage †douf and deid,

Of quhilk the fyr outward is best remeid,

To help be phisik quhair that nature failit;

I am expert, for baith I have assailit.

I mend the fyr, and beikit me about,

Than tuik ane drink my spreitis to comfort,

And armit me weill fra the cauld thairout.

To cut the winter-nicht, and mak it short,

I tuik ane quair, and left all uther sport,

Writtin be worthy Chaucer glorious,

Of fair Cresseid and lusty Troilus.

And thair I fand, efter that Diomeid

Ressavit had that lady bricht of hew,

How Troilus neir out of wit abraid,

And weipit soir, with visage paill of hew;

For quhilk wanhope his teiris can renew,

Quhill †esperans rejoisit him agane:

Thus quhyl in joy he levit, quhyl in pane.

Of hir behest he had greit comforting,

Traisting to Troy that sho suld mak retour,

Quhilk he desyrit maist of eirdly thing,

For-quhy sho was his only paramour.

[329]

Bot quhen he saw passit baith day and hour

Of hir gaincome, than sorrow can oppres

His woful hart in cair and hevines.

Of his distres me neidis nocht reheirs,

For worthy Chaucer, in the samin buik,

In guidly termis and in joly veirs

Compylit hes his cairis, quha will luik.

To brek my sleip ane uther quair I tuik,

In quilk I fand the fatall desteny

Of fair Cresseid, that endit wretchitly.

Quha wait gif all that Chauceir wrait was trew?

Nor I wait nocht gif this narratioun

Be authoreist, or fenyeit of the new

Be sum poeit, throw his inventioun,

Maid to report the lamentatioun

And woful end of this lusty Cresseid,

And quhat distres sho thoillit, and quhat deid.

Quhen Diomed had all his appetyt,

And mair, fulfillit of this fair lady,

Upon ane uther he set his haill delyt,

And send to hir ane lybel of répudy,

And hir excludit fra his company.

Than desolait sho walkit up and doun,

And, sum men sayis, into the court commoun.

O fair Cresseid! the flour and A-per-se

Of Troy and Grece, how was thou fortunait,

To change in filth all thy feminitee,

And be with fleshly lust sa maculait,

And go amang the Greikis air and lait

Sa giglot-lyk, takand thy foull plesance!

I have pity thee suld fall sic mischance!

[330]

Yit nevertheles, quhat-ever men deme or say

In scornful langage of thy brukilnes,

I sall excuse, als far-furth as I may,

Thy womanheid, thy wisdom, and fairnes,

The quilk Fortoun hes put to sic distres

As hir pleisit, and na-thing throw the gilt

Of thee, throw wikkit langage to be spilt.

This fair lady, in this wys destitut

Of all comfort and consolatioun,

Richt prively, but fellowship, on fut

Disgysit passit far out of the toun

Ane myle or twa, unto ane mansioun

Beildit full gay, quhair hir father Calchas,

Quhilk than amang the Greikis dwelland was.

Quhan he hir saw, the caus he can inquyr

100

Of hir cuming; sho said, syching full soir,

'Fra Diomeid had gottin his desyr

He wox wery, and wald of me no moir!'

Quod Calchas, 'Douchter, weip thow not thairfoir;

Peraventure all cummis for the best;

105

Welcum to me; thow art full deir ane gest.'

This auld Calchas, efter the law was tho,

Wes keeper of the tempill, as ane preist,

In quhilk Venus and hir son Cupido

War honourit; and his chalmer was thaim neist;

110

To quhilk Cresseid, with baill aneuch in breist,

Usit to pas, hir prayeris for to say;

Quhill at the last, upon ane solempne day,

As custom was, the pepill far and neir,

Befoir the none, unto the tempill went

115

With sacrifys devoit in thair maneir.

[331]

But still Cresseid, hevy in hir intent,

In-to the kirk wald not hir-self present,

For giving of the pepil ony deming

Of hir expuls fra Diomeid the king:

120

But past into ane secreit orature

Quhair sho micht weip hir wofull desteny.

Behind hir bak sho cloisit fast the dure,

And on hir knëis bair fell down in hy.

Upon Venus and Cupid angerly

125

Sho cryit out, and said on this same wys,

'Allas! that ever I maid yow sacrifys!

Ye gave me anis ane devyn responsaill

That I suld be the flour of luif in Troy;

Now am I maid an unworthy outwaill,

130

And all in cair translatit is my joy.

Quha sall me gyde? quha sall me now convoy,

Sen I fra Diomeid and nobill Troilus

Am clene excludit, as abject odious?

O fals Cupide, is nane to wyte bot thow

135

And thy mother, of luf the blind goddes!

Ye causit me alwayis understand and trow

The seid of luf was sawin in my face,

And ay grew grene throw your supply and grace.

But now, allas! that seid with froist is slane,

140

And I fra luifferis left, and all forlane!'

Quhen this was said, doun in ane extasy,

Ravishit in spreit, intill ane dream sho fell;

And, be apperance, hard, quhair sho did ly,

Cupid the king ringand ane silver bell,

145

Quhilk men micht heir fra hevin unto hell;

At quhais sound befoir Cupide appeiris

The sevin planetis, discending fra thair spheiris,

[332]

Quhilk hes powèr of all thing generábill

To reull and steir, be thair greit influence,

150

Wedder and wind and coursis variábill.

And first of all Saturn gave his sentence,

Quhilk gave to Cupid litill reverence,

But as ane busteous churl, on his maneir,

Com crabbitly, with auster luik and cheir.

155

His face fronsit, his lyr was lyk the leid

His teith chatterit and cheverit with the chin

His ene drowpit, how, sonkin in his heid

Out of his nois the meldrop fast can rin

With lippis bla, and cheikis leine and thin

160

The yse-shoklis that fra his hair doun hang

Was wonder greit, and as ane speir als lang.

Atour his belt his lyart lokkis lay

Felterit unfair, ourfret with froistis hoir;

His garmound and his †gyte full gay of gray;

165

His widderit weid fra him the wind out woir.

Ane busteous bow within his hand he boir;

Under his gyrdil ane flash of felloun flanis

Fedderit with yse, and heidit with hail-stanis.

Than Juppiter richt fair and amiábill,

170

God of the starnis in the firmament,

And nureis to all thing[is] generábill,

Fra his father Saturn far different,

With burely face, and browis bricht and brent;

Upon his heid ane garland wonder gay

175

Of flouris fair, as it had been in May.

[333]

His voice was cleir, as cristal wer his ene;

As goldin wyr sa glitterand was his hair;

His garmound and his gyte full gay of grene,

With goldin listis gilt on every gair;

180

Ane burely brand about his middill bair.

In his right hand he had ane groundin speir,

Of his father the wraith fra us to weir.

Nixt efter him com Mars, the god of ire,

Of stryf, debait, and all dissensioun;

185

To chyde and fecht, als feirs as ony fyr;

In hard harnes, hewmound and habirgeoun,

And on his hanche ane rousty fell fachioun:

And in his hand he had ane rousty sword,

Wrything his face with mony angry word.

190

Shaikand his sword, befoir Cupide he com

With reid visage and grisly glowrand ene;

And at his mouth ane bullar stude of fome,

Lyk to ane bair quhetting his tuskis kene

Richt tuilyour-lyk, but temperance in tene;

195

Ane horn he blew, with mony bosteous brag,

Quhilk all this warld with weir hes maid to wag.

Than fair Phebus, lanterne and lamp of licht

Of man and beist, baith frute and flourishing,

Tender nuréis, and banisher of nicht,

200

And of the warld causing, be his moving

And influence, lyf in all eirdly thing;

Without comfort of quhom, of force to nocht

Must all ga dy, that in this warld is wrocht.

As king royáll he raid upon his chair,

205

The quhilk Phaeton gydit sum-tyme unricht;

The brichtnes of his face, quhen it was bair,

[334]

Nane micht behald for peirsing of his sicht.

This goldin cart with fyry bemes bricht

Four yokkit steidis, full different of hew,

210

But bait or tyring throw the spheiris drew.

The first was soyr, with mane als reid as rois,

Callit Eöy, in-to the orient;

The secund steid to name hecht Ethiös,

Quhytly and paill, and sum-deill ascendent;

215

The thrid Peros, richt hait and richt fervent;

The feird was blak, callit †Philegoney,

Quhilk rollis Phebus down in-to the sey.

Venus was thair present, that goddes gay,

Hir sonnis querrel for to defend, and mak

220

Hir awin complaint, cled in ane nyce array,

The ane half grene, the uther half sabill-blak;

Quhyte hair as gold, kemmit and shed abak;

But in hir face semit greit variance,

Quhyles perfit treuth, and quhylës inconstance.

225

Under smyling sho was dissimulait,

Provocative with blenkis amorous;

And suddanly changit and alterait,

Angry as ony serpent venemous,

Richt pungitive with wordis odious.

230

Thus variant sho was, quha list tak keip,

With ane eye lauch, and with the uther weip:—

In taikning that all fleshly paramour,

Quhilk Venus hes in reull and governance,

Is sum-tyme sweit, sum-tyme bitter and sour,

235

Richt unstabill, and full of variance,

Mingit with cairfull joy, and fals plesance;

Now hait, now cauld; now blyth, now full of wo;

Now grene as leif, now widderit and ago.

[335]

With buik in hand than com Mercurius,

240

Richt eloquent and full of rethory;

With pólite termis and delicious;

With pen and ink to réport all redy;

Setting sangis, and singand merily.

His hude was reid, heklit atour his croun,

245

Lyk to ane poeit of the auld fassoun.

Boxis he bair with fine electuairis,

And sugerit syropis for digestioun;

Spycis belangand to the pothecairis,

With mony hailsum sweit confectioun;

250

Doctour in phisik, cled in scarlot goun,

And furrit weill, as sic ane aucht to be,

Honest and gude, and not ane word coud le.

Nixt efter him com lady Cynthia,

The last of all, and swiftest in hir spheir,

255

Of colour blak, buskit with hornis twa,

And in the nicht sho listis best appeir;

Haw as the leid, of colour na-thing cleir.

For all hir licht sho borrowis at hir brothir

Titan; for of hir-self sho hes nane uther.

260

Hir gyte was gray, and full of spottis blak;

And on hir breist ane churl paintit ful evin,

Beirand ane bunch of thornis on his bak,

Quhilk for his thift micht clim na nar the hevin.

Thus quhen they gadderit war, thir goddis sevin,

265

Mercurius they cheisit with ane assent

To be foir-speikar in the parliament.

Quha had ben thair, and lyking for to heir

His facound toung and termis exquisyte,

Of rhetorik the praktik he micht leir,

270

In breif sermone ane pregnant sentence wryte.

[336]

Befoir Cupide vailing his cap a lyte,

Speiris the caus of that vocacioun;

And he anon shew his intencioun.

'Lo!' quod Cupide, 'quha will blaspheme the name

275

Of his awin god, outhir in word or deid,

To all goddis he dois baith lak and shame,

And suld have bitter panis to his meid.

I say this by yonder wretchit Cresseid,

The quhilk throw me was sum-tyme flour of lufe,

280

Me and my mother starkly can reprufe.

Saying, of hir greit infelicitè

I was the caus; and my mother Venus,

Ane blind goddes hir cald, that micht not see,

With slander and defame injurious.

285

Thus hir leving unclene and lecherous

Sho wald returne on me and [on] my mother,

To quhom I shew my grace abone all uther.

And sen ye ar all sevin deificait,

Participant of dévyn sapience,

290

This greit injúry don to our hy estait

Me-think with pane we suld mak recompence;

Was never to goddis don sic violence.

As weill for yow as for myself I say;

Thairfoir ga help to révenge, I yow pray.'

295

Mercurius to Cupid gave answeir,

And said, 'Shir king, my counsall is that ye

Refer yow to the hyest planeit heir,

And tak to him the lawest of degrè,

The pane of Cresseid for to modify;

300

As god Saturn, with him tak Cynthia.'

'I am content,' quod he, 'to tak thay twa.'

[337]

Than thus proceidit Saturn and the Mone,

Quhen thay the mater rypely had degest;

For the dispyt to Cupid sho had done,

305

And to Venus oppin and manifest,

In all hir lyf with pane to be opprest

And torment sair, with seiknes incurábill,

And to all lovers be abominábill.

This dulefull sentence Saturn tuik on hand,

310

And passit doun quhair cairfull Cresseid lay;

And on hir heid he laid ane frosty wand,

Than lawfully on this wyse can he say;

'Thy greit fairnes, and al thy bewty gay,

Thy wantoun blude, and eik thy goldin hair,

315

Heir I exclude fra thee for evermair.

I change thy mirth into melancholy,

Quhilk is the mother of all pensivenes;

Thy moisture and thy heit in cald and dry;

Thyne insolence, thy play and wantones

320

To greit diseis: thy pomp and thy riches

In mortall neid; and greit penuritie

Thow suffer sall, and as ane beggar die.'

O cruel Saturn, fraward and angry,

Hard is thy dome, and to malicious!

325

On fair Cresseid quhy hes thow na mercy,

Quhilk was sa sweit, gentill, and amorous?

Withdraw thy sentence, and be gracious

As thow was never; so shawis thow thy deid,

Ane wraikfull sentence gevin on fair Cresseid.

330

Than Cynthia, quhen Saturn past away,

Out of hir sait discendit down belyve,

And red ane bill on Cresseid quhair sho lay,

Contening this sentence diffinityve:—

[338]

'Fra heil of body I thee now depryve,

335

And to thy seiknes sal be na recure,

But in dolóur thy dayis to indure.

Thy cristall ene minglit with blude I mak,

Thy voice sa cleir unplesand, hoir, and hace;

Thy lusty lyre ourspred with spottis blak,

340

And lumpis haw appeirand in thy face.

Quhair thow cummis, ilk man sall flee the place;

Thus sall thou go begging fra hous to hous,

With cop and clapper, lyk ane lazarous.'

This dooly dream, this ugly visioun

345

Brocht to ane end, Cresseid fra it awoik,

And all that court and convocatioun

Vanischit away. Than rais sho up and tuik

Ane poleist glas, and hir shaddow coud luik;

And quhen sho saw hir face sa déformait,

350

Gif sho in hart was wa aneuch, god wait!

Weiping full sair, 'Lo! quhat it is,' quod she,

'With fraward langage for to mufe and steir

Our crabbit goddis, and sa is sene on me!

My blaspheming now have I bocht full deir;

355

All eirdly joy and mirth I set areir.

Allas, this day! Allas, this wofull tyde,

Quhen I began with my goddis to chyde!'

Be this was said, ane child com fra the hall

To warn Cresseid the supper was redy;

360

First knokkit at the dure, and syne coud call—

'Madame, your father biddis you cum in hy;

He has mervell sa lang on grouf ye ly,

And sayis, "Your prayërs been to lang sum-deill;

The goddis wait all your intent full weill."'

[339]

365

Quod sho, 'Fair child, ga to my father deir,

And pray him cum to speik with me anon.'

And sa he did, and said, 'Douchter, quhat cheir?'

'Allas!' quod she, 'father, my mirth is gon!'

'How sa?' quod he; and sho can all expone,

370

As I have tauld, the vengeance and the wrak,

For hir trespas, Cupide on hir coud tak.

He luikit on hir ugly lipper face,

The quhilk befor was quhyte as lilly-flour;

Wringand his handis, oftymes he said, Allas!

375

That he had levit to see that wofull hour!

For he knew weill that thair was na succour

To hir seiknes; and that dowblit his pane;

Thus was thair cair aneuch betwix tham twane.

Quhen thay togidder murnit had full lang,

380

Quod Cresseid, 'Father, I wald not be kend;

Thairfoir in secreit wyse ye let me gang

To yon hospítall at the tounis end;

And thidder sum meit, for cheritie, me send

To leif upon; for all mirth in this eird

385

Is fra me gane; sik is my wikkit weird.'

Than in ane mantill and ane bevar hat,

With cop and clapper, wonder prively,

He opnit ane secreit yet, and out thairat

Convoyit hir, that na man suld espy,

390

Unto ane village half ane myle thairby;

Deliverit hir in at the spittail-hous,

And dayly sent hir part of his almous.

Sum knew hir weill, and sum had na knawlege

Of hir, becaus sho was sa déformait

395

With bylis blak, ourspred in hir visage,

And hir fair colour faidit and alterait.

[340]

Yit thay presumit, for hir hy regrait

And still murning, sho was of nobill kin;

With better will thairfoir they tuik hir in.

400

The day passit, and Phebus went to rest,

The cloudis blak ourquhelmit all the sky;

God wait gif Cresseid was ane sorrowful gest,

Seeing that uncouth fair and herbery.

But meit or drink sho dressit hir to ly

405

In ane dark corner of the hous allone;

And on this wyse, weiping, sho maid hir mone.

The Complaint of Cresseid.

'O sop of sorrow sonken into cair!

O caytive Cresseid! now and ever-mair

Gane is thy joy and all thy mirth in eird;

410

Of all blyithnes now art thow blaiknit bair;

Thair is na salve may saif thee of thy sair!

Fell is thy fortoun, wikkit is thy weird;

Thy blis is baneist, and thy baill on breird!

Under the eirth god gif I gravin wer,

415

Quhar nane of Grece nor yit of Troy micht heird!

Quhair is thy chalmer, wantounly besene

With burely bed, and bankouris browderit bene,

Spycis and wynis to thy collatioun;

The cowpis all of gold and silver shene,

420

The swete meitis servit in plaittis clene,

With saipheron sals of ane gude sessoun;

Thy gay garmentis, with mony gudely goun,

Thy plesand lawn pinnit with goldin prene?

All is areir thy greit royáll renoun!

[341]

425

Quhair is thy garding, with thir greissis gay

And fresshe flouris, quhilk the quene Floray

Had paintit plesandly in every pane,

Quhair thou was wont full merily in May

To walk, and tak the dew be it was day,

430

And heir the merle and mavis mony ane;

With ladyis fair in carrolling to gane,

And see the royal rinkis in thair array

In garmentis gay, garnischit on every grane?

Thy greit triumphand fame and hy honour,

435

Quhair thou was callit of eirdly wichtis flour,

All is decayit; thy weird is welterit so,

Thy hy estait is turnit in darknes dour!

This lipper ludge tak for thy burelie bour,

And for thy bed tak now ane bunch of stro.

440

For waillit wyne and meitis thou had tho,

Tak mowlit breid, peirry, and syder sour;

But cop and clapper, now is all ago.

My cleir voice and my courtly carrolling,

Quhair I was wont with ladyis for to sing,

445

Is rawk as ruik, full hiddeous, hoir, and hace;

My plesand port all utheris precelling,

Of lustines I was held maist conding;

Now is deformit the figour of my face;

To luik on it na leid now lyking hes.

450

Sowpit in syte, I say with sair siching—

Lugeit amang the lipper-leid—"Alas!"

O ladyis fair of Troy and Grece, attend

My misery, quhilk nane may comprehend,

My frivoll fortoun, my infelicitie,

455

My greit mischief, quhilk na man can amend.

[342]

Be war in tyme, approchis neir the end,

And in your mynd ane mirrour mak of me.

As I am now, peradventure that ye,

For all your micht, may cum to that same end,

460

Or ellis war, gif ony war may be.

Nocht is your fairnes bot ane faiding flour,

Nocht is your famous laud and hy honour

Bot wind inflat in uther mennis eiris;

Your roising reid to rotting sall retour.

465

Exempill mak of me in your memour,

Quhilk of sic thingis wofull witnes beiris.

All welth in eird away as wind it weiris;

Be war thairfoir; approchis neir the hour;

Fortoun is fikkil, quhen sho beginnis and steiris.'—

470

Thus chydand with her drery desteny,

Weiping, sho woik the nicht fra end to end,

But all in vane; hir dule, hir cairfull cry

Micht nocht remeid, nor yit hir murning mend.

Ane lipper-lady rais, and till hir wend,

475

And said, 'Quhy spurnis thou aganis the wall,

To sla thyself, and mend na-thing at all?

Sen that thy weiping dowbillis bot thy wo,

I counsall thee mak vertew of ane neid,

To leir to clap thy clapper to and fro,

480

And †live efter the law of lipper-leid.'

Thair was na buit, bot forth with thame sho yeid

Fra place to place, quhill cauld and hounger sair

Compellit hir to be ane rank beggair.

That samin tyme, of Troy the garnisoun,

485

Quhilk had to chiftane worthy Troilus,

Throw jeopardy of weir had strikkin doun

Knichtis of Grece in number mervellous.

[343]

With greit triúmph and laud victorious

Agane to Troy richt royally thay raid

490

The way quhair Cresseid with the lipper baid.

Seing that company cum, all with ane stevin

They gaif ane cry, and shuik coppis gude speid;

Said, 'Worthy lordis, for goddis lufe of hevin,

To us lipper part of your almous-deid.'

495

Than to thair cry nobill Troilus tuik heid;

Having pity, neir by the place can pas

Quhair Cresseid sat, nat witting quhat sho was.

Than upon him sho kest up baith her ene,

And with ane blenk it com in-to his thocht

500

That he sum-tyme hir face befoir had sene;

But sho was in sic ply he knew hir nocht.

Yit than hir luik in-to his mind it brocht

The sweit visage and amorous blenking

Of fair Cresseid, sumtyme his awin darling.

505

Na wonder was, suppois in mynd that he

Tuik hir figure sa sone, and lo! now, quhy;

The idole of ane thing in cace may be

Sa deip imprentit in the fantasy,

That it deludis the wittis outwardly,

510

And sa appeiris in forme and lyke estait

Within the mynd as it was figurait.

Ane spark of lufe than till his hart coud spring,

And kendlit all his body in ane fyre;

With hait fevir ane sweit and trimbilling

515

Him tuik, quhill he was redy to expyre;

To beir his sheild his breist began to tyre;

Within ane whyle he changit mony hew,

And nevertheles not ane ane-uther knew.

[344]

For knichtly pity and memoriall

520

Of fair Cresseid, ane girdill can he tak,

Ane purs of gold and mony gay jowáll,

And in the skirt of Cresseid doun can swak;

Than raid away, and not ane word he spak,

Pensive in hart, quhill he com to the toun,

525

And for greit cair oft-syis almaist fell doun.

The lipper-folk to Cresseid than can draw,

To see the equall distribucioun

Of the almous; but quhan the gold they saw,

Ilk ane to uther prevely can roun,

530

And said, 'Yon lord hes mair affectioun,

However it be, unto yon lazarous

Than to us all; we knaw be his almous.'

'Quhat lord is yon?' quod sho, 'have ye na feill,

Hes don to us so greit humanitie?'

535

'Yes,' quod a lipper-man, 'I knaw him weill;

Shir Troilus it is, gentill and free.'

Quhen Cresseid understude that it was he,

Stiffer than steill thair stert ane bitter stound

Throwout hir hart, and fell doun to the ground.

540

Quhen sho, ourcom with syching sair and sad,

With mony cairfull cry and cald—'Ochane!

Now is my breist with stormy stoundis stad,

Wrappit in wo, ane wretch full will of wane';

Than swounit sho oft or sho coud refrane,

545

And ever in hir swouning cryit sho thus:

'O fals Cresseid, and trew knicht Troilus!

Thy luf, thy lawtee, and thy gentilnes

I countit small in my prosperitie;

Sa elevait I was in wantones,

550

And clam upon the fickill quheill sa hie;

[345]

All faith and lufe, I promissit to thee,

Was in the self fickill and frivolous;

O fals Cresseid, and trew knicht Troilus!

For lufe of me thou keipt gude countinence,

555

Honest and chaist in conversatioun;

Of all wemen protectour and defence

Thou was, and helpit thair opinioun.

My mynd, in fleshly foull affectioun,

Was inclynit to lustis lecherous;

560

Fy! fals Cresseid! O, trew knicht Troilus!

Lovers, be war, and tak gude heid about

Quhom that ye lufe, for quhom ye suffer paine;

I lat yow wit, thair is richt few thairout

Quhom ye may traist, to have trew lufe againe;

565

Preif quhen ye will, your labour is in vaine.

Thairfoir I reid ye tak thame as ye find;

For they ar sad as widdercock in wind.

Becaus I knaw the greit unstabilnes

Brukkil as glas, into my-self I say,

570

Traisting in uther als greit unfaithfulnes,

Als unconstant, and als untrew of fay.

Thocht sum be trew, I wait richt few ar thay.

Quha findis treuth, lat him his lady ruse;

Nane but my-self, as now, I will accuse.'

575

Quhen this was said, with paper sho sat doun,

And on this maneir maid hir TESTAMENT:—

'Heir I beteich my corps and carioun

With wormis and with taidis to be rent;

My cop and clapper, and myne ornament,

580

And all my gold, the lipper-folk sall have,

Quhen I am deid, to bury me in grave.

[346]

This royall ring, set with this ruby reid,

Quhilk Troilus in drowry to me send,

To him agane I leif it quhan I am deid,

585

To mak my cairfull deid unto him kend.

Thus I conclude shortly, and mak ane end.

My spreit I leif to Diane, quhair sho dwellis,

To walk with hir in waist woddis and wellis.

O Diomeid! thow hes baith broche and belt

590

Quhilk Troilus gave me in takinning

Of his trew lufe!'—And with that word sho swelt.

And sone ane lipper-man tuik of the ring,

Syne buryit hir withoutin tarying.

To Troilus furthwith the ring he bair,

595

And of Cresseid the deith he can declair.

Quhen he had hard hir greit infirmitè,

Hir legacy and lamentatioun,

And how sho endit in sik povertè,

He swelt for wo, and fell doun in ane swoun;

600

For greit sorrow his hart to birst was boun.

Syching full sadly, said, 'I can no moir;

Sho was untrew, and wo is me thairfoir!'

Sum said, he maid ane tomb of merbell gray,

And wrait hir name and superscriptioun,

605

And laid it on hir grave, quhair that sho lay,

In goldin letteris, conteining this ressoun:—

'Lo! fair ladyis, Cresseid of Troyis toun,

Sumtyme countit the flour of womanheid,

Under this stane, late lipper, lyis deid!'

610

Now, worthy wemen, in this ballet short,

Made for your worship and instructioun,

Of cheritè I monish and exhort,

Ming not your luf with fals deceptioun.

Beir in your mynd this short conclusioun

615

Of fair Cresseid, as I have said befoir;

Sen sho is deid, I speik of hir no moir.

From E. (Edinburgh edition, 1593); collated with Th. (Thynne, ed. 1532). 1. E. Ane; Th. A (often). E. doolie; Th. doly. E. to; Th. tyl. 4. E. tragedie (I substitute -y for -ie). 6. E. Schouris (I substitute Sh- for Sch-). 7. Th. myȝt me defende. 8. E. oratur; Th. orature. 10. Th. scyled. 16. Both se. 17. Th. northern. 18. Th. shedde his. 19. Th. frost. 20. E. Artick; Th. Artike. Th. whiskyng. 21. E. remufe; Th. remoue.

24. Th. faded. 28. Th. chambre. Both fyre. 29. E. lufe; Th. loue. 30. E. youtheid; Th. youthheed. 32. E. doif; Th. dull; read douf. 34. E. phisike. 36. E. mend; Th. made. Both fyre. Th. beaked. 37. E. ane; Th. I. 40. Th. queare. 42. E. worthy; Th. lusty. 43. Th. founde. 45. Th. of his wytte abrede. 46. Th. wepte. 48. Th. esperous; E. Esperus. 49. E. quhyle. Th. and while (for 2nd quhyl). 51. E. suld; Th. wolde. 52. Th. of al erthly.

55. E. ganecome; Th. gayncome. Th. in (for than). 58. Th. in that same. 63. Th. which ended. 66. Th. authorysed or forged. 67. Th. Of some; by (for throw). 70. Th. she was in or she deyde. 71. Both appetyte. 73. Th. sette was al his delyte. 74. Th. om. of. 77. Th. As (for And); in the courte as commune. 78. Th. Creseyde. Both floure. 79. Th. were. 80. E. feminitie. 82. Th. early (for air). 84. Th. the; E. thow.

86. E. scornefull. E. brukkilnes; Th. brutelnesse. 88. E. wisdome. 91. E. wickit. 92. E. in; Th. on. Both wyse destitute. 94. E. but; Th. without. Th. or refute; E. on fute. 95. E. Disagysit; Th. Dissheuelde. Th. passed out. 99. E. inquyre; Th. enquyre. 101. Both desyre. 108. E. sone; Th. sonne. 109. E. hir; Th. his. Th. chambre. E. thame; Th. om. 110. E. aneuch in; Th. enewed. 113. Both custome. 115. Both sacrifice. Th. deuout.

117. Th. churche. 118. E. givin; Th. gyueng. E. pepill; Th. people. 120. Th. oratore. 122. Th. closed; dore. 124. Both Cupide. 125. Th. om. same. Both wyse. 126. E. Allace; Th. Alas. Both sacrifice. 127. E. devine; Th. diuyne. 132. E. Sen; Th. Sithe. 135. E. lufe; Th. loue. E. the; Th. that. 136. Th. vnderstande alway. 137. E. lufe; Th. loue. 138. Th. souple grace. 139. E. allace; Th. alas. Th. frost. 140. Th. louers; -layne. 143. Th. herde. 144. Both Cupide. E. ringand; Th. tynkyng. 145. Th. in-to. 147. Th. speres.

150. Th. course. 151. Both Saturne. 152. Both Cupide. 153. Th. boystous. E. on; Th. in. 154. Both Come. E. crabitlie; Th. crabbedly. Th. austryne. 155. E. frosnit (for fronsit); Th. frounsed. E. lyre; Th. lere. Both lyke. 156. Th. sheuered. 157. Th. drouped hole. 158. E. of; Th. at. Th. myldrop. 159. Th. blo. 160. E. ic-eschoklis; Th. yse-yckels. 162. E. Atouir; Th. Attour. 163. E. ovirfret; Th. ouerfret; read ourfret. 164. Th. garment. E. gyis; Th. gate; see l. 178. 165. Th. wyddred; wore. 166. Th. boustous; bor[e]. 167. E. gyrdill. Th. a fasshe(!); flayns. 168. Th. holstayns (!). 170. Th. sterres. 171. Th. norice; thinge. 172. Both Saturne. 173. Th. burly. 174. Th. wonders. 175. E. bene; Th. ben.

177. E. wyre; Th. wyer. Th. glyttryng. 178. Th. garment. E. gyis; Th. gyte. 180. Th. A burly; myddle he beare. 182. Th. wrathe. E. weir; Th. bere. 183. E. come; Th. came. 184. E. strife; Th. stryfe. 185. Both fyre. 186. Th. hewmonde. 187. Th. fauchoun. 190. Th. Shakyng his brande. Both come. 191. Th. glowyng. 192. E. bullar; Th. blubber. 193. Th. boore. 194. E. tuilyeour; Th. tulsure (!). Both lyke. 195. Both horne; Th. om. he. Th. boustous. 196. E. weir; Th. warre. 199. Th. norice. 201. Both lyfe. Th. erthly. 203. Th. om. all. Th. that al this worlde hath. 204. Th. a chare. 205. Th. Phiton somtyme gyded. E. upricht (!); Th. unright.

210. Th. speres. 211. Th. sorde (for soyr). 212. Both Eoye. 213. Th. Ethose. 215. Th. Perose; and eke. 216. E. Philologie; Th. Philologee. 218. E. om. gay. 219. Th. om. for. 222. Th. kembet. 224. Th. While parfite. E. perfyte. 227. E. suddanely; Th. sodaynly. 228. E. vennemous; Th. venomous. 232. Th. tokenyng. 237. E. blyith; Th. blyth. 238. Th. wyddred.

239. Both come. 242. E. reddie; Th. redy. 244. E. atouir; Th. attour. 245. Both Lyke. 250. E. phisick. Th. cledde in a scarlet. 252. E. culd lie; Th. couth lye. 253. Both come. 254. Th. spere. 256. Th. tapere. 258. E. hir (1); Th. the. 260. E. gyse; Th. gyte. 261. E. churle; Th. chorle. 262. E. bunche; Th. busshe. 263. Th. theft; no ner. 264. Th. gadred were the. 267. E. bene. 269. E. rhetorick; Th. rethorike. E. prettick; Th. practyke.

273. E. anone. E. schew; Th. shewde. 276. E. lak; Th. losse. 278. E. yone; Th. yonder. Th. wretche Creseyde. 280. E. starklie; Th. she stately. 281. E. -tie. 283. Th. She called a blynde goddes and myght. 286. E. returne; Th. retorte. E. on; Th. in. I supply 2nd on. 287. E. schew; Th. shewde (as in l. 273). Th. aboue. 289. E. devyne; Th. diuyne. 290. E. iniurie; Th. iniure. Both done. 290. E. hie; Th. hye. 292. Both goddes done. 295. Both Cupide. 299. E. modifie; Th. modifye. 300. Both Saturne.

303, 309, 323, 330. Both Saturne. 304. Both Cupide. E. scho; Th. that she. 305. Th. open. 306. Both lyfe. 308. E. abhominabill; Th. abhominable. 309. Th. doleful. 318. E. in; Th. into. 319. E. and; Th. and thy. 321. E. In; Th. Into. E. penuritie; Th. -te. 322. Th. shalte. Th. dye. 324. E. malitious. 325. E. On; Th. Of. 328. Th. sheweth through. 329. Th. om. fair. 331. Th. seate.

334. E. heit; Th. heale. 336. Th. endure. 338. Th. vnplesaunt heer. 339. Th. lere. E. ouirspred; Th. ouerspred. 342. E. This; Th. Thus. 343. Th. cuppe. Both lyke. 344. Both dreame. E. uglye. 347. Th. rose she. 348. Th. polysshed. E. culd; Th. couth. 349. E. face; Th. visage. 350. Th. were wo, I ne wyte god wate. 352. Th. om. for. E. mufe; Th. moue. 353. E. craibit; Th. crabbed. 355. Th. erthly. 356. E. Allace; Th. Alas. 357. E. for to; Th. om. for. 358. E. come; Th. came. 359. Both warne. Th. Creseyde. E. reddy; Th. redy. 360. E. syne culd; Th. efte couth. 362. E. merwel; Th. marueyle. 363. E. prayers bene; Th. bedes bethe.

365. Both chylde. 366. Both anone. 368. Both gone. 370. E. wraik; Th. wrake. 371. E. culd. 372. E. uglye. Th. lepers. 374. Th. om. he. 378. Th. ynow. E. thame; Th. hem. 380. Th. Creseyde. 382. Th. To yon; E. Unto yone. 383. Th. charite. 384. Th. lyue; erthe. 385. Th. werthe(!). 386. E. Than; Th. Whan(!). Th. Beuer; E. bawar. 387. Th. cuppe. 388. Th. secrete gate. 389. Th. Conueyed. 390. Th. There to. 393. E. knawledge. 395. E. ovirspred; Th. ouerspred.

397. E. hie; Th. hye. 399. Th. there (for thairfoir). 401. E. ovirquhelmit; Th. ouerheled. 402. E. was; Th. were. 403. Th. fare. 405, 406. Perhaps read alane, mane. 408. E. cative; Th. caytife. E. for now; Th. om. for. 409. Th. erthe. 410. Th. blake and bare. 411. Th. helpe (for saif thee of). 412. Th. werthe (!). 413. Th. bale vnberd (!). 414. Th. Vnder the great god. 415. Th. men (for nane). Th. herd. 416. Th. chambre. 417. Th. burly; bankers brouded. 418. Th. wyne. 419. Th. cuppes. 420. Th. plates. 421. Th. sauery sauce. 423. Th. pene (!). 424. Th. arere.

425. Th. thy greces. 430. E. mawis. 432. Th. renkes. E. array; Th. ray. Th. omits ll. 433-437. 434, 437. E. hie. 438. Th. leper loge. E. burelie; Th. goodly. 439. E. bunche; Th. bonch. 441. E. peirrie; Th. pirate. E. ceder; Th. syder. 442. Th. cuppe. 443. E. om. my. 444. Th. om. this line. 445. Th. ranke as roke, ful hidous heer. Th. om. ll. 446, 447. 448. Th. Deformed is. 449. Th. no pleople (sic) hath lykyng (!). 450. Th. Solped in syght. 451. E. Ludgeit; Th. Lyeng. Th. leper folke. E. allace; Th. alas. 453. Th. omits. 454. Th. freyle fortune.

455. Th. war therfore; your ende. 456. Th. places after l. 460. 459. E. that; Th. the. 460. Th. worse, if any worse. 464. Th. rosyng. 465. Th. memore. 468. Th. your hour. 469. Th. omits. 471. Th. woke. 472. Th. dole. 473. Th. remedy ne. 474. Th. rose. 477. E. Sen; Th. Sithe. E. om. that. Th. but doubleth. 479. E. To leir; Th. Go lerne. 480. E. leir; Th. lerne; read live. Th. lepers lede. 486. Th. warre.

488. Both tryumphe; laude. 489. Th. rode. 490. E. baid; Th. stode. 491. E. thai come; Th. come; read cum. 492. Th. shoke cuppes. 493. Th. om. Said. 495. Th. her (for thair). 496. Th. pyte; E. pietie. 499. Both come. 501. E. plye; Th. plyte. 502. E. it; Th. he. 504. E. awin; Th. owne. 508. Th. enprynted. 512. E. culd; Th. couth. 514. E. fewir; Th. feuer. Th. in swette. Both trimbling. 515. E. reddie. 516. Th. brest. 517. Th. many a hewe.

519. Th. pyte; E. pietie. 520. Th. gan. 521. Th. many a gay iewel. 522. E. swak; Th. shake. 523. E. om. he. 524. E. come; Th. came. 525. E. -syis; Th. -syth. 526. E. can; Th. couth. 527. Both se. 529. E. prewelie; Th. priuely. 530. Th. yon; E. yone. 534. Th. That dothe. E. humanitie; Th. -te. 536. Th. ins. a knight after is. 540. E. ovircome; Th. ouercome. 541. Th. colde atone (!). 542. Th. brest. 543. Th. om. ane; Th. one (for wane). 544. Th. Than fel in swoun ful ofte. E. culd; Th. wolde. Th. fone (!); for refrane. 547. E. lufe; Th. loue. Th. laude and al thy. 549. Th. So effated (or essated).

551. Th. promytted. 552. Th. thy selfe; furious (!). 554. Th. countenaunce (om. gude). 557. Th. were. 558. E. in; Th. on. 562. E. Quhome; Th. Whom. E. quhome; Th. whan. 563. Th. thrughout. 565. Th. Proue. 569. Th. Brittel; unto. 570. Th. great brutelnesse. 572. Th. Though. 576. Th. maner. 577. E. beteiche; Th. bequeth. Th. corse. 578. Th. toodes. 579. Th. cuppe my. 580. E. the; Th. these.

583. E. drowrie; Th. dowry (!). 587. Th. spirite. 590. E. takning; Th. tokenyng; read takinning. 593. E. withouttin. 596. E. infirmitie; Th. -te. 598. E. povertie; Th. -te. 600. Th. om. greit. 605. Th. where as she. 607. Th. Troy the toun. 612. E. cheritie; Th. charyte. 613. E. lufe; Th. loue. 614. E. schort; Th. sore (!). 616. E. Sen; Th. Sithe.

The god of love, a! benedicite!

How mighty and how greet a lord is he!

For he can make of lowe hertes hye,

And of hye lowe, and lyke for to dye,

And harde hertes he can maken free.

And he can make, within a litel stounde

Of seke folk ful hole, fresshe and sounde,

And of [the] hole, he can make seke;

And he can binden and unbinden eke

What he wol have bounden or unbounde.

To telle his might my wit may not suffyse;

For he may do al that he wol devyse.

For he can make of wyse folk ful nyce,

And [eke] in lyther folk distroyen vyce;

And proude hertes he can make agryse.

[348]

Shortly, al that ever he wol he may;

Ageines him ther dar no wight sey nay.

For he can gladde and greve whom him lyketh;

And, who that he wol, he laugheth or he syketh;

And most his might he sheweth ever in May.

For every trewe gentil herte free

That with him is, or thinketh for to be,

Ageines May now shal have som steringe

Other to joye, or elles to morninge,

In no sesoun so greet, as thinketh me.

For whan they mowe here the briddes singe,

And see the floures and the leves springe,

That bringeth into hertes rémembraunce

A maner ese, medled with grevaunce,

And lusty thoughtes fulle of greet longinge.

And of that longing cometh hevinesse,

And therof groweth ofte greet seknesse,

And al for lak of that that they desyre;

And thus in May ben hertes sette on fyre,

So that they brennen forth in greet distresse.

I speke this of feling, trewely;

For, althogh I be old and unlusty,

Yet have I felt of that seknesse, in May,

Bothe hoot and cold, an acces every day,

How sore, y-wis, ther wot no wight but I.

[349]

I am so shaken with the fevers whyte,

Of al this May yet slepte I but a lyte;

And also it naught lyketh unto me,

That any herte shulde slepy be

In whom that Love his fyry dart wol smyte.

But as I lay this other night wakinge,

I thoghte how lovers had a tokeninge,

And among hem it was a comune tale,

That it were good to here the nightingale

Rather than the lewde cukkow singe.

And then I thoghte, anon as it was day,

I wolde go som whider to assay

If that I might a nightingalë here;

For yet had I non herd of al this yere,

And hit was tho the thridde night of May.

And than, anon as I the day espyde,

No lenger wolde I in my bedde abyde,

But unto a wode, that was faste by,

I wente forth alone, boldely,

And held my way doun by a broke-syde,

Til I com to a launde of whyte and grene;

So fair oon had I never in[ne] been;

The ground was grene, y-poudred with daisye,

The floures and the gras y-lyke hye,

Al grene and whyte; was nothing elles sene.

[350]

Ther sat I doun among the faire floures;

And saw the briddes trippe out of her boures

Ther-as they had hem rested al the night.

They were so joyful of the dayes light

That they †begonne of May to don hir houres!

They coude that servyce al by rote;

Ther was many a lovely straunge note;

Some songe loudë, as they hadde pleyned,

And some in other maner vois y-feyned,

And some al out, with al the fulle throte.

They proyned hem, and made[n] hem right gay,

And daunseden, and lepten on the spray,

And evermore two and two in-fere;

Right so as they had chosen hem to-yere

In Feverere, on seint Valentynes day.

And eke the river, that I sat upon,

It made suche a noise, as it ron,

Accordaunt with the briddes armonye,

Me thoughte, it was the best[e] melodye

That mighte been y-herd of any mon.

And for delyt ther-of, I wot never how,

I fel in suche a slomber and a swow,

Not al a-slepe, ne fully wakinge;

And in that swow me thoughte I herde singe

That sory brid, the lew[e]de cukkow.

[351]

And that was on a tree right fast[e] by;

But who was than evel apayd but I?

'Now god,' quod I, 'that dyëd on the crois

Yeve sorow on thee, and on thy lewde vois!

For litel joye have I now of thy cry.'

And as I with the cukkow thus gan chyde,

I herde, in the nexte bush besyde,

A Nightingalë so lustily singe

That with her clere vois she made ringe

100

Through-out al the grene wode wyde.

'A! goode Nightingale!' quod I thenne,

'A litel hast thou been to longe henne;

For here hath been the lew[e]de Cukkow,

And songen songes rather than hast thou;

105

I pray to god that evel fyr him brenne!'

But now I wol you telle a wonder thing:

As longë as I lay in that swowning,

Me thoughte, I wiste what the briddes ment,

And what they seyde, and what was her entent,

110

And of her speche I hadde good knowing.

And than herde I the Nightingale say,

'Now, gode Cukkow! go som-where away,

And let us that can singen dwellen here;

For every wight escheweth thee to here,

115

Thy songes be so elenge, in good fay!'

[352]

'What?' quod he, 'what may thee eylen now?

It thinketh me, I singe as wel as thou,

For my song is bothe trewe and playn;

Al-though I can not crakel so in vayn

120

As thou dost in thy throte, I wot never how.

And every wight may understande me;

But, Nightingale, so may they not do thee;

For thou hast many a nyce queinte cry.

I have herd thee seyn, "ocy! ocy!"

125

How mighte I knowe what that shulde be?'

'A fole!' quod she, 'wost thou not what it is?

Whan that I say "ocy! ocy!" y-wis,

Than mene I that I wolde, wonder fayn,

That alle they were shamfully y-slayn

130

That menen aught ayeines love amis.

And also I wolde alle tho were dede

That thenke not in love hir lyf to lede;

For who that wol the god of love not serve,

I dar wel say, is worthy for to sterve;

135

And for that skil "ocy! ocy!" I grede.'

'Ey!' quod the Cukkow, 'this is a queint lawe,

That every wight shal love or be to-drawe!

But I forsake al suchë companye.

For myn entent is neither for to dye,

140

Ne, whyl I live, in loves yok to drawe.

[353]

For lovers ben the folk that been on-lyve

That most disesë han, and most unthryve,

And, most enduren sorow, wo, and care;

And, at the laste, failen of welfare;

145

What nedeth hit ayeines trouth to stryve?'

'What?' quod she, 'thou art out of thy minde!

How might thou in thy cherles herte finde

To speke of loves servaunts in this wyse?

For in this worlde is noon so good servyse

150

To every wight that gentil is of kinde.

For ther-of, trewly, cometh al goodnesse,

Al honóur, and [eke] al gentilnesse,

Worship, esë, and al hertes lust,

Parfit joye, and ful assured trust,

155

Jolitee, plesauncë, and freshnesse,

Lowliheed, and trewe companye,

Seemliheed, largesse, and curtesye,

Drede of shame for to doon amis;

For he that trewly Loves servaunt is

160

Were lother to be shamed than to dye.

And that this is sooth, al that I seye,

In that beleve I wol bothe live and deye,

And Cukkow, so rede I thou do, y-wis.'

'Ye, than,' quod he, 'god let me never have blis

165

If ever I to that counseyl obeye!

[354]

Nightingale, thou spekest wonder fayre,

But, for al that, the sooth is the contrayre;

For loving is, in yonge folk, but rage,

And in olde folk hit is a greet dotage;

170

Who most hit useth, most he shal apeyre.

For therof comth disese and hevinesse,

Sorowe and care, and mony a greet seknesse,

Dispyt, debat, [and] anger, and envye,

Repreef and shame, untrust and jelousye,

175

Pryde and mischeef, povértee, and woodnesse.

What! Loving is an office of dispayr,

And oo thing is ther-in that is not fayr;

For who that geteth of love a litel blis,

But-if he be alway therwith, y-wis,

180

He may ful sone of age have his heyr.

And, Nightingale, therfor hold thee ny;

For, leve me wel, for al thy queynte cry,

If thou be fer or longe fro thy make,

Thou shalt be as other that been forsake,

185

And than[ne] thou shalt hoten as do I!'

'Fy!' quod she, 'on thy namë and on thee!

The god of love ne let thee never y-thee!

For thou art wors a thousand-fold than wood.

For many on is ful worthy and ful good,

190

That had be naught, ne hadde love y-be!

[355]

For Love his servaunts ever-more amendeth,

And from al evel taches hem defendeth,

And maketh hem to brenne right as fyr

In trouthë and in worshipful desyr,

195

And, whom him liketh, joye y-nough hem sendeth.'

'Thou Nightingale,' he seyde, 'hold thee stille;

For Love hath no resoun but his wille;

For ofte sithe untrewe folk he eseth,

And trewe folk so bitterly displeseth

200

That, for defaute of grace, he let hem spille.

With such a lorde wol I never be;

For he is blind alwey, and may not see;

And whom he hit he not, or whom he fayleth;

And in his court ful selden trouthe avayleth;

205

Só dyvérs and so wilfúl is he.'

Than took I of the Nightingale kepe,

She caste a sigh out of her herte depe,

And seyde, 'Alas! that ever I was bore!

I can, for tene, say not oon word more;'

210

And right with that she brast out for to wepe.

'Alas!' quod she, 'my herte wol to-breke

To heren thus this false brid to speke

Of love, and of his worshipful servyse;

Now, god of love, thou help me in som wyse

215

That I may on this Cukkow been awreke!'

[356]

Me thoughte than, that I sterte up anon,

And to the broke I ran, and gat a stoon,

And at the Cukkow hertely I caste;

And he, for drede, fley away ful faste;

220

And glad was I when that he was a-goon.

And evermore the Cukkow, as he fley,

He seyde, 'Farewel! farewel, papinjay!'

As though he hadde scorned, thoughte me;

But ay I hunted him fro tree to tree

225

Til he was fer al out of sighte awey.

And thanne com the Nightingale to me,

And seyde, 'Frend, forsothe I thanke thee

That thou hast lyked me thus to rescowe;

And oon avow to Love I wol avowe,

230

That al this May I wol thy singer be.'

I thanked her, and was right wel apayed;

'Ye,' quod she, 'and be thou not amayed,

Though thou have herd the Cukkow er than me.

For, if I live, it shal amended be

235

The nexte May, if I be not affrayed.

And oon thing I wol rede thee also;

Ne leve thou not the Cukkow, loves fo;

For al that he hath seyd is strong lesinge.'

'Nay,' quod I, 'therto shal no thing me bringe

240

Fro love; and yet he doth me mochel wo.'

[357]

'Ye, use thou,' quod she, 'this medicyne;

Every day this May, or that thou dyne,

Go loke upon the fresshe dayësyë.

And though thou be for wo in poynt to dye,

245

That shal ful gretly lissen thee of thy pyne.

And loke alwey that thou be good and trewe,

And I wol singe oon of my songes newe,

For love of thee, as loude as I may crye;'

And than[ne] she began this song ful hye—

250

'I shrewe al hem that been of love untrewe!'

And whan she hadde songe hit to the ende,

'Nów farewel,' quod she, 'for I mot wende;

And god of love, that can right wel and may,

As mochel joye sende thee this day

255

As ever yet he any lover sende!'

Thus took the Nightingale her leve of me.

I pray to god, he alway with her be,

And joye of love he sende her evermore;

And shilde us fro the Cukkow and his lore;

260

For ther is noon so fals a brid as he.

Forth she fley, the gentil Nightingale,

To al the briddes that were in that dale,

And gat hem alle into a place in-fere,

And †hem besoughte that they woldë here

265

Her disese; and thus began her tale:—

[358]

'Ye witen wel, it is not fro yow hid

How the Cukkow and I faste have chid

Ever sithen it was dayes light;

I pray yow alle, that ye do me right

270

Of that foule, false, unkinde brid.'

Than spak oo brid for alle, by oon assent,

'This mater asketh good avysement;

For we ben fewe briddes here in-fere.

And sooth it is, the Cukkow is not here;

275

And therefor we wol have a parlement.

And therat shal the Egle be our lord,

And other peres that ben of record,

And the Cukkow shal be after sent.

And ther shal be yeven the jugement,

280

Or elles we shal make som accord.

And this shal be, withouten any nay,

The morow of seynt Valentynes day,

Under a maple that is fayr and grene,

Before the chambre-window of the quene

285

At Wodestok, upon the grene lay.'

She thanked hem, and than her leve took,

And fley into an hawthorn by the brook,

And ther she sat, and song upon that tree,

'Terme of [my] lyf, Love hath with-holde me,'

290

So loude, that I with that song awook.

Explicit Clanvowe.

From Th. (Thynne, ed. 1532); collated with F. (Fairfax 16); B. (Bodley 638); S. (Arch. Selden, B. 24); T. (Tanner 346); also in Ff. (Camb. Univ. Ff. 1. 6). Title: Th. Of the C. and the N.; F. B. The boke of Cupide, god of loue. 1. Th. ah; F. a; S. a. a. 2. Th. Howe; gret; lorde. 4. Th. of his; Ff. S. of hye; F. B. high hertis. 6. F. B. S. Ff. And he; Th. om. And. 7. Th. folke; om. ful. 8. I supply the. S. hole folke. 9. S. And he; rest om. And. Th. F. B. bynde; read binden. 10. Th. T. That; F. B. Ff. What; S. Quhom. 11. Th. tel; wytte. 12, 13. Th. T. transpose these lines. 12. Th. Ff. wol; rest can. 13. Th. folke. 14. I supply eke. Th. T. om. in (S. has in-to). F. lyther; S. lidder; Th. Ff. lythy; T. leþi. Th. folke. Th. T. to distroyen; rest om. to.

17. Ff. T. Ageynes; S. Ageynest; Th. Agaynst; F. B. Ayenst. Th. Ff. T. om. ther. 18. Th. glad; rest glade. 19. Th. loweth. S. has 2nd he; rest omit. F. B. don hym laugh or siketh. 20. Th. T. shedeth. 21. Th. fre. 22. F. B. om. for. 23. S. Ff. Aȝeynes; F. B. Ayenst; Th. T. Agayne. Th. nowe. 24. F. B. Other; S. Outhir; Th. T. Ff. Or. Th. ioy. F. B. S. T. ellis; Th. els. Th. T. Ff. some mournyng; rest om. some. 25. F. B. grette; Ff. S. grete; Th. moche. 26. F. then; rest whan (when). Th. may; T. mai; F. B. S. mow; Ff. mowe. Th. byrdes; S. foulis; rest briddes. 27. Th. leaues. 28. Th. T. her (for hertes). 29. Th. T. ease; S. ess; F. B. case (!). Ff. y-medled. 30. Th. ful; Ff. fulle. Th. great. 32. Th. great sicknesse. 33. S. all; rest om. Th. lacke. 35. Th. forthe; great. 36. S. trewely; Th. trewly. 37. F. B. S. For althogh; Th. T. If(!). Th. olde. 38. Th. T. I haue; rest haue I. Th. felte; sicknesse. Th. Ff. through; rest in. 39. All hote. Th. F. B. colde. Th. T. and (!); for an. Th. axes; F. B. acces. 40. Th. Howe; wote.

42. Th. T. om. yet; (Ff. has ne.) Th. T. slepe; Ff. S. slepte; F. B. slept. 43. S. naught likith vnto me; Th. T. Ff. is not lyke to me; F. B. is vnlike for to be. 45. Th. darte. 47. Th. howe. 48. Th. amonge. 50. Th. cuckowe. 51. Th. thought. 52. T. Ff. whider; S. quhider; F. B. whedir; Th. where. 54. Th. none herde. F. B. T. this; Ff. the; Th. S. that. 55. S. thridde; T. thridd; Th. F. B. thirde. 56. S. than; rest om. Th. aspyde. 58. Ff. to; Th. T. vnto; F. B. into; S. in. Th. wodde; F. B. wode. 59. Th. T. went; F. B. wente. Th. forthe. Th. boldely; Ff. T. boldly; rest priuely. 60. Th. helde. F. B. S. my; Th. Ff. the; T. me the. Th. downe. 61. F. B. come; S. cam; Th. T. came (read com). 62. All in; read inne. S. has in y-ben. 63, 64. B. transposes. 64. F. B. gras; S. greses; Th. greues; T. Ff. grenes. S. ylike; F. B. al I-like; Th. T. Ff. lyke. 65. Th. els.

66. Th. sate; downe. 67. Th. sawe; birdes. Th. trippe; T. trip; S. flee; F. B. crepe. 68. Th. T. Ff. om. had. S. thame rested; rest rested hem. 70. Th. T. om. That. All began; read begonne. Ff. to don hir; Th. T. for to done. F. B. of Mayes ben her houres (!); S. on mayes vss thair houres. 72. S. lusty (for lovely). S. straunge; rest om. 73. Ff. lowe. T. hade; rest had. S. compleyned. 74. Th. voice yfayned. 75. Ff. S. all (2); rest om. Th. Ff. T. the ful; S. fulle; F. B. a lowde. 76. F. B. pruned. All made; read maden. 80. Th. Feuerere; T. Feuirȝere; rest Marche (!). All upon; read on. 81. S. eke; rest om. 83. Th. T. with; rest to. T. Ff. briddes; S. birdis; Th. byrdes; F. B. foules. S. T. Ff. armonye; Th. armony; F. B. ermonye. 84. Th. thought. All best (!). 85. Th. myght; yherde. 86. All delyte. S. therof; rest om. Th. wotte; F. B. note; S. wote; T. wot. F. B. ner (for never). Th. howe. 87. Th. swowe; Ff. swough; S. slowe (!); B. slow (!). 88. F. B. S. on slepe. 89. Th. swowe; thought. 90. F. B. Ff. That; rest the. F. B. Ff. bridde; S. T. brid; Th. byrde. Th. Cuckowe.

91. All fast. 92. Th. yuel apayde. 93. Th. Nowe. F. B. vpon (for on). 94. Th. the. 95. Th. nowe. 96. Th. cuckowe. Th. T. thus gan; Ff. now gan; S. gan to; F. B. gan. 97. Th. B. busshe; Ff. T. bussh; F. busshes (!); S. beugh. F. B. me beside. 100. Th. T. Ff. om. out. Ff. the greues of the wode (better). 101. Th. Ah. Ff. S. thenne; T. thanne; rest then. 102. Th. haste. Ff. S. T. henne; rest hen. 103. F. B. lewde; S. lewed; T. Ff. loude (!). (The line runs badly.) 104. F. B. om. hast. 105. Th. T. om. that. Th. yuel fyre. Th. S. her; rest him. Th. bren; rest brenne. 106. Th. nowe; tel. 107. Th. laye. (The line runs badly; read longë or swowening.) 108. Th. thought; wyst. Th. T. what; rest al that. 109. Th. sayd. 110. T. hade; rest had. 111. Th. om. And. Th. T. there (for than). 112. Th. Nowe good. 113. Th. lette. 114. Th. the.

116. F. B. she (for he). Th. the. 118. Th. songe; playne. 119. Th. T. And though; rest Al-though. Th. crakel; T. crakil; S. crekill; Ff. crake; F. B. breke hit (!). Th. vayne. 120. Th. doest; S. dois; rest dost. Th. Ff. S. neuer; T. not; F. B. ner. 122. Th. done; T. S. Ff. do; F. B. om. Th. the. 123. Th. haste. Th. T. Ff. nyce queynt(e); S. queynt feyned; F. B. queint. 124. F. B. S. herd the; T. the herd; Th. the herde. Th. sayne; T. seyn; F. B. seye; S. sing. 125. Th. Howe. F. B. Who myghte wete what; S. Bot quho mycht vnderstand quhat. 126. Th. Ah; Ff. T. A; rest O. Th. foole; woste. Th. T. Ff. it; rest that. 128. Th. meane; fayne. 129. Ff. alle; S. all; rest al. Th. T. Ff. they; rest tho. Th. yslayne. 130. Th. meanen. S. aȝeines; F. B. ayen; T. again; Th. agayne. 131. F. B. al tho were dede; Th. T. Ff. that al tho had the dede. S. And al they I wold also were dede. 132. Th. thynke; T. think; S. thinkith; Ff. thenke; F. B. thenk. F. B. S. Ff. her lyue in loue. 133. Th. S. who so; rest om. so. Th. T. Ff. place not after wol. 134. Th. T. F. B. Ff. he is; S. om. he. Th. Ff. T. om. for. 136. Th. Eye; cuckowe. F. B. insert ywis before this. 137. Th. T. Ff. That euery wight shal loue or be to-drawe; F. B. That eyther I shal love or elles be slawe. 139. Th. myne. F. B. neyther; S. nouthir; Th. T. Ff. not. 140. Th. T. Ff. Ne neuer; rest om. neuer. Th. T. on; rest in.

141. Th. S. ben; Ff. T. bene; F. B. lyven (for been). 142. Th. moste (twice); disease. 143. Th. moste. F. B. S. enduren; Th. Ff. T. endure. 144. So F. B. (with of her for of); Th. T. Ff. And leste felen of welfare; S. And alderlast have felyng of welefare. 145. S. aȝeynes; Th. B. ayenst; F. T. ayens. 146. S. Quhat brid quod. Th. arte. 147. Th. T. Ff. might thou; F. maist thou; B. S. maistow. Th. Ff. churlnesse; T. clerenes (!); F. B. cherles hert; S. cherlish hert. 148. Th. seruauntes. 149. Th. none. 152. S. Honestee estate and all gentilness; Th. T. F. Ff. Al honour and al gentylnesse; B. Al honour and al gentillesse. 153. Th. ease. 154. Th. Parfyte. F. B. ensured. 155. S. and eke. 156, 157. All but the first words transposed in Th. T. 158. F. B. S. and for; Th. T. Ff. om. and. Th. done. 160. Th. T. Ff. om. 1st to. 161. F. B. Ff. om. this. F. B. S. al; Th. T. Ff. om. 162. Th. T. om. bothe. 163. F. B. S. rede I; Th. T. Ff. I rede. Th. that thou. 164. Th. T. Ff. om. Ye. F. B. she; rest he. Th. T. om. god. 165. Th. T. vnto; F. B. Ff. S. to. F. B. thy (for that).

167. F. B. the sothe; S. full sooth. Th. T. Ff. is the sothe contrayre. 168. F. B. S. Ff. loving; Th. T. loue. Th. folke. 169. Th. folke; F. B. Ff. om. F. B. hit is; Th. T. om. Th. great. 170. Th. moste (twice). F. B. he; S. it; Th. T. Ff. om. 171. F. mony an; B. mony a; Th. T. S. Ff. disease and. 172. Th. So sorowe; rest om. So. Th. many a gret. F. B. om. greet. 173. Th. Dispyte debate. I supply and. 174. F. Repreve and; B. Repreff and; S. Repref and; Th. T. Deprauyng. 175. Th. T. B. Ff. om. 1st and. Th. mischefe. S. pouertee; Ff. pouerte; rest pouert. 176. Th. T. Ff. om. What. Th. dispayre. 177. B. T. oo; S. o; F. oon; Th. one. Th. fayre. 178. Th. getteth; S. get (better). Th. blysse. 179. F. B. om. if. F. B. S. Ff. therby. 180. Th. heyre; T. eyre; S. aire; F. B. crie (!); Ff. heiere. 181. F. B. therfor Nyghtyngale. Th. therefore holde the nye. 182. Th. Ff. T. S. queynt; F. B. loude. 183. Th. T. Ff. ferre. F. of (for or). 184. Th. T. S. ben; F. B. be (read been). 185. Th. Ff. than; F. B. T. then (read thanne); S. om. F. B. shalt thou. 186. Th. the. 188. Th. T. worse. Th. folde. 189. Th. one; Ff. on; F. B. om. S. ar; rest is. 190. T. hade (twice); rest had.

191. Th. T. Ff. put evermore after For. Th. seruauntes; F. B. seruant. 192. Ff. T. euel; S. euell; Th. yuel; F. B. om. F. tachches; S. stachis (!). F. B. him. 193. F. B. him. F. B. as eny; T. right as a; Ff. right as; Th. right in a. S. be brynnyng as a. Th. fyre. 195. Th. whan; T. when; Ff. whanne (for whom). F. B. Ff. him; S. he; Th. T. hem. Th. ioy. 196. F. B. Ye (for Thou). Th. sayd. T. F. B. S. Ff. hold the; Th. be. Th. styl. 197. F. B. S. Ff. his; Th. T. it is. Th. wyl. 198. F. B. Ff. sithe; Th. T. tyme; S. tymes. Th. folke; easeth. 199. Th. folke. Th. T. Ff. he displeaseth; rest om. he. 200. F. B. And (for That). Th. corage; rest grace. Th. spyl. 201-205. From F. B. Ff. S.; Th. T. omit. 201. Ff. wille; F. wolde; B. wull; S. wole. 202. F. B. blynde; S. blynd. S. alweye; F. B. Ff. om. 203. Ff. And whom he hit he not, or whom he failith (best); F. B. And whan he lyeth he not, ne whan he fayleth; S. Quhom he hurtith he note, ne quhom he helith (!). 204. So Ff.; F. B. In; S. Into. Ff. S. his; F. B. this. F. B. selde. 205. F. B. dyuerse. 206. Th. toke. 207. Th. T. Howe she; F. B. S. om. Howe. Th. T. Ff. om. herte. 208. Th. sayd. 209. Th. not say one; T. nouȝt sey oo. 210. Th. that worde; rest om. worde. F. B. on (for out). Th. om. for. 212. Th. leude; Ff. false; rest fals. T. B. brid; Ff. bridde; Th. byrde; S. bird. F. B. Ff. to; rest om. 214. Th. helpe; some. 215. Th. cuckowe ben.

216. S. thocht; rest thought (read thoughte). F. B. S. that I; T. Ff. I; Th. he. 217-219. Th. T. omit. 217. S. gat; F. B. gatte. 218. S. hardily; F. B. Ff. hertly. 219. Ff. flyeȝ; F. flyed; B. flye; S. gan flee (read fley, as in 221). 220. Th. om. when. Th. agon; T. S. agone; Ff. goon; F. gone; B. gon. 221. F. B. fley; Th. flaye; Ff. S. flay; T. flai. 222. Th. T. om. He. Th. sayd. Th. popyngaye; F. B. papyngay; S. papaIay; Ff. papeiay. 223. T. hade; rest had. F. B. Ff. thoght me; S. as thocht me (read thoughte me); Th. me alone (to rime with 217). 224, 225. Th. T. omit. 225. F. B. Ff. sight away. 226. Th. S. than; F. B. T. then; Ff. thanne. F. B. T. S. come; Th. Ff. came. 227. F. B. seyde; Th. sayd. Th. the. 228. Th. haste. F. B. thus; S. for; Th. T. Ff. om. T. rescow; rest rescowe. 229. Th. one. Ff. I wol avowe; F. B. I avowe; Th. T. make I nowe. S. And rycht anon to loue I wole allowe. 231. Th. apayde; T. apaied. 232. F. B. Ff. S. amayed; Th. T. dismayde. 233. Th. herde. F. B. er; Th. T. Ff. erst. 235. Ff. nexte; rest next. Th. affrayde; T. affraied. 236. Th. one. 237. S. leue; rest loue (!). Th. cuckowe ne his; F. B. S. om. ne his. 238. Th. stronge leasyng. 239. F. B. S. Ff. there (for therto). T. man (for thing). 240. F. B. S. Fro; Th. T. Ff. For (!). So Ff. F. B. S.; Th. T. and it hath do me moche (T. myche) wo.

241. F. B. Yee; S. Ya. S. thou schalt vss. Th. T. Ff. om. thou. 242. Ff. F. B. er; rest or. Th. T. Ff. om. that. 243. F. B. S. fressh flour; Ff. Th. T. om. flour. S. dayeseye. 245. Th. greatly. B. lisse; F. Ff. lyssen; Th. T. S. lessen. S. om. thee. 246—end. Lost in S. 247. Th. one. Ff. my; rest the. 248. Th. the. 249. Th. T. Ff. than; F. B. then (read thanne). Th. songe. 250. F. B. Ff. hem al. Th. ben; T. bene. 251. Ff. hadde; T. hade; rest had. 252. Th. Nowe. F. most; B. must; Th. Ff. mote; T. mot. 254. Ff. mochel; F. B. mekil; T. mykil; Th. moche. Th. the. 255. So F. B. Ff.; Th. T. As any yet louer he euer sende. 256. Th. T. Ff. taketh; F. B. toke. Th. leaue. 257. Th. T. Ff. om. he. 259. Th. cuckowe. 260. Ff. noon; F. B. non; Th. T. not. T. Ff. brid; F. B. bridde; Th. byrde. 261. F. B. fley; T. fleigh; Ff. fleȝt; Th. flewe. 262. Th. byrdes; rest briddes. B. the vale; F. the wale; Th. T. Ff. that dale. 263. Th. T. gate; F. B. gat. 264. All put hem after besoughte. Ff. bysought; rest besoughten (!). 265. Th. T. disease.

266. Ff. Ye wyten; F. B. Ye knowe; Th. T. The cuckowe (!). F. B. fro yow hidde; Th. T. for to hyde (!). 267. F. B. How that; rest om. that. Th. T. Ff. fast; F. B. om. Th. chyde; T. chide; F. B. Ff. chidde. 268. Th. Ff. daye; rest dayes. 269. Th. Ff. praye; rest pray (prey). Ff. alle; rest al. 270. Th. bride; T. Ff. brid; F. B. bridde. 271. Th. o; rest oon. T. all; rest al. Th. one; T. oon; F. B. om. 273. Th. om. fewe. Th. byrdes. 274. All soth. Th. cuckowe. 276. T. Ff. lord; rest lorde. 277. T. Ff. record; rest recorde. 278. Th. cuckowe. 279. Ff. Th. T. om. And. Th. There. Th. T. yeue; F. yeuen; B. yeuyn; Ff. youe. 280. F. B. make summe; Th. T. fynally make. 281. Th. without; rest withouten. Th. T. Ff. om. any. 282. F. B. of; Th. T. Ff. after. 283 Th. T. Ff. a; F. B. the. Th. fayre. 284. Th. wyndowe. 285. Th. wodestocke; F. B. wodestok. 286. F. B. thanketh. Th. leaue toke. 287. F. B. fleye; Th. T. om. Th. T. Ff. an; F. B. a. Th. hauthorne; T. hauthorn. All broke. 288. All sate. T. Ff. song; rest songe. Th. T. that; F. B. the; Ff. a. 289. I supply my. Th. T. Ff. lyfe; F. B. lyve. After 290, Ff. has Explicit Clanvowe.

O lewde book, with thy foole rudenesse,

Sith thou hast neither beautee n'eloquence,

Who hath thee caused, or yeve thee hardinesse

For to appere in my ladyes presence?

I am ful siker, thou knowest her benivolence

Ful ágreable to alle hir obeyinge;

For of al goode she is the best livinge.

Allas! that thou ne haddest worthinesse

To shewe to her som plesaunt sentence,

Sith that she hath, thorough her gentilesse,

Accepted thee servant to her digne reverence!

O, me repenteth that I n'had science

And leyser als, to make thee more florisshinge;

For of al goode she is the best livinge.

Beseche her mekely, with al lowlinesse,

Though I be fer from her [as] in absence,

To thenke on my trouth to her and stedfastnesse,

And to abregge of my sorwe the violence,

Which caused is wherof knoweth your sapience;

She lyke among to notifye me her lykinge;

For of al goode she is the best livinge.

[360]

Lenvoy.

Aurore of gladnesse, and day of lustinesse,

Lucerne a-night, with hevenly influence

Illumined, rote of beautee and goodnesse,

Suspiries which I effunde in silence,

Of grace I beseche, alegge let your wrytinge,

Now of al goode sith ye be best livinge.

Explicit.

From F. (Fairfax 16); collated with T. (Tanner 346); and Th. (Thynne, ed. 1532). 1. F. boke; T. Th. booke. Th. foule. 2. All beaute. 3. All the (twice). 5. So all. 6. Th. abeyeng (!). 7. F. T. goode; Th. good. Th. best; F. T. beste. 9. All somme, some. Th. plesaunt; F. plesant. 10. T. thurugh; F. thorgh; Th. through. 11. All the. 12. All ne (before had). 13. So all (with the for thee). 14. Th. good. Th. best; F. T. beste. 16. I supply as. 17. T. Th. trouth; F. trouthe. 18. F. abregge; Th. abrege; T. abrigge. T. sorow; F. sorwes; Th. sorowes. 20. All amonge. T. Th. notifye; F. notefye. 21. T. Th. al; F. alle. F. T. goode; Th. good.

Th. Lenuoye; T. The Lenuoye; F. om. 24. Th. T. Illumyned; F. Enlumyned. F. Rote (with capital). All beaute. F. and of; Th. T. om. of. 25. F. Suspiries; Th. Suspires. 26. T. beseke. Th. alege. 27. F. goode; Th. T. good. After 27: Th. Explicit; F. T. om.

When that Phebus his chaire of gold so hy

Had whirled up the sterry sky aloft,

And in the Bole was entred certainly;

Whan shoures swete of rain discended †soft,

Causing the ground, felë tymes and oft,

Up for to give many an hoolsom air,

And every plain was [eek y-]clothed fair

With newe grene, and maketh smalë floures

To springen here and there in feld and mede;

So very good and hoolsom be the shoures

That it reneweth, that was old and deede

In winter-tyme; and out of every seede

Springeth the herbë, so that every wight

Of this sesoun wexeth [ful] glad and light.

And I, só glad of the seson swete,

Was happed thus upon a certain night;

As I lay in my bed, sleep ful unmete

Was unto me; but, why that I ne might

Rest, I ne wist; for there nas erthly wight,

As I suppose, had more hertës ese

Than I, for I n'ad siknesse nor disese.

[362]

Wherfore I mervail gretly of my-selve,

That I so long withouten sleepë lay;

And up I roos, three houres after twelve,

About the [very] springing of the day,

And on I put my gere and myn array;

And to a plesaunt grovë I gan passe,

Long or the brightë sonne uprisen was,

In which were okës grete, streight as a lyne,

Under the which the gras, so fresh of hew,

Was newly spronge; and an eight foot or nyne

Every tree wel fro his felawe grew,

With braunches brode, laden with leves new,

That sprongen out ayein the sonnë shene,

Som very rede, and som a glad light grene;

Which, as me thought, was right a plesaunt sight.

And eek the briddes song[ës] for to here

Would have rejoised any erthly wight.

And I, that couth not yet, in no manere,

Here the nightingale of al the yere,

Ful busily herkned, with herte and ere,

If I her voice perceive coud any-where.

And at the last, a path of litel brede

I found, that gretly had not used be,

For it forgrowen was with gras and weede,

That wel unneth a wight [ther] might it see.

Thought I, this path som whider goth, pardè,

And so I folowèd, til it me brought

To right a plesaunt herber, wel y-wrought,

That benched was, and [al] with turves new

Freshly turved, wherof the grenë gras

So small, so thik, so short, so fresh of hew,

That most lyk to grene †wol, wot I, it was.

[363]

The hegge also, that yede [as] in compas

And closed in al the grene herbere,

With sicamour was set and eglantere,

Writhen in-fere so wel and cunningly

That every braunch and leef grew by mesure,

Plain as a bord, of on height, by and by,

[That] I sy never thing, I you ensure,

So wel [y-]don; for he that took the cure

It [for] to make, I trow, did al his peyn

To make it passe al tho that men have seyn.

And shapen was this herber, roof and al,

As [is] a prety parlour, and also

The hegge as thik as [is] a castle-wal,

That, who that list without to stond or go,

Though he wold al-day pryen to and fro,

He shuld not see if there were any wight

Within or no; but oon within wel might

Perceive al tho that yeden there-without

In the feld, that was on every syde

Covered with corn and gras, that, out of dout,

Though oon wold seeken al the world wyde,

So rich a feld [ne] coud not be espyed

[Up]on no cost, as of the quantitee,

For of al good thing ther was [greet] plentee.

And I, that al this plesaunt sight [than] sy,

Thought sodainly I felt so sweet an air

[Come] of the eglantere, that certainly,

Ther is no hert, I deme, in such despair,

Ne with [no] thoughtës froward and contrair

So overlaid, but it shuld soone have bote,

If it had onës felt this savour sote.

[364]

And as I stood and cast asyde myn y,

I was ware of the fairest medle-tree

That ever yet in al my lyf I sy,

As full of blossomës as it might be.

Therin a goldfinch leping pretily

Fro bough to bough, and, as him list, he eet

Here and there, of buddes and floures sweet.

And to the herber-sydë was joining

This fairë tree, of which I have you told;

And, at the last, the brid began to sing,

Whan he had eten what he etë wold,

So passing sweetly, that, by manifold,

It was more plesaunt than I coud devyse;

And whan his song was ended in this wyse,

The nightingale with so mery a note

100

Answéred him, that al the wodë rong

So sodainly, that, as it were a sot,

I stood astonied; so was I with the song

Through ravishèd, that, [un]til late and long

Ne wist I in what place I was, ne where;

105

And †ay, me thought, she song even by myn ere.

Wherfore about I waited busily

On every syde, if I her mightë see;

And, at the last, I gan ful wel aspy

Wher she sat in a fresh green laurer-tree

110

On the further syde, even right by me,

That gave so passing a delicious smel

According to the eglantere ful wel.

Wherof I had so inly greet plesyr

That, as me thought, I surely ravished was

115

Into Paradyse, where my desyr

Was for to be, and no ferther [to] passe

[365]

As for that day, and on the sotë gras

I sat me doun; for, as for myn entent,

The birdës song was more convenient,

120

And more plesaunt to me, by many fold,

Than mete or drink, or any other thing;

Thereto the herber was so fresh and cold,

The hoolsom savours eek so comforting

That, as I demed, sith the beginning

125

Of the world, was never seen, or than,

So plesaunt a ground of non erthly man.

And as I sat, the briddës herkning thus,

Me thought that I herd voices sodainly,

The most sweetest and most delicious

130

That ever any wight, I trow trewly,

Herde in †his lyf, for [that] the armony

And sweet accord was in so good musyk,

Thát the voice to angels most was lyk.

The Leaf.

At the last, out of a grove even by,

135

That was right goodly and plesaunt to sight,

I sy where there cam singing lustily

A world of ladies; but to tell aright

Their greet beautè, it lyth not in my might,

Ne their array; nevertheless, I shal

140

Tell you a part, though I speke not of al.

†In surcotes whyte, of veluet wel sitting,

They were [y-]clad; and the semes echoon,

As it were a maner garnishing,

Was set with emeraudës, oon and oon,

145

By and by; but many a richë stoon

Was set [up-]on the purfils, out of dout,

Of colors, sleves, and trainës round about;

[366]

As gret[e] perlës, round and orient,

Diamondës fyne and rubies rede,

150

And many another stoon, of which I †want

The namës now; and everich on her hede

A richë fret of gold, which, without drede,

Was ful of statly richë stonës set;

And every lady had a chapëlet

155

On her hede, of [leves] fresh and grene,

So wel [y-]wrought, and so mervéilously,

Thát it was a noble sight to sene;

Some of laurer, and some ful plesauntly

Had chapëlets of woodbind, and sadly

160

Some of agnus-castus ware also

Chápëlets fresh; but there were many tho

That daunced and eek song ful soberly;

But al they yede in maner of compas.

But oon ther yede in-mid the company

165

Sole by her-self; but al folowed the pace

[Which] that she kept, whos hevenly-figured face

So plesaunt was, and her wel-shape persòn,

That of beautè she past hem everichon.

And more richly beseen, by manifold,

170

She was also, in every maner thing;

On her heed, ful plesaunt to behold,

A crowne of gold, rich for any king;

A braunch of agnus-castus eek bering

In her hand; and, to my sight, trewly,

175

She lady was of [al] the company.

And she began a roundel lustily,

That Sus le foyl de vert moy men call,

Seen, et mon joly cuer endormi;

And than the company answéred all

[367]

180

With voice[s] swete entuned and so small,

That me thought it the sweetest melody

That ever I herdë in my lyf, soothly.

And thus they came[n], dauncing and singing,

Into the middes of the mede echone,

185

Before the herber, where I was sitting,

And, god wot, me thought I was wel bigon;

For than I might avyse hem, on by on,

Who fairest was, who coud best dance or sing,

Or who most womanly was in al thing.

190

They had not daunced but a litel throw

When that I herd, not fer of, sodainly

So greet a noise of thundring trumpës blow,

As though it shuld have départed the sky;

And, after that, within a whyle I sy

195

From the same grove, where the ladyes come out,

Of men of armës coming such a rout

As al the men on erth had been assembled

In that place, wel horsed for the nones,

Stering so fast, that al the erth[ë] trembled;

200

But for to speke of riches and [of] stones,

And men and hors, I trow, the largë wones

Of Prester John, ne al his tresory

Might not unneth have bought the tenth party!

Of their array who-so list herë more,

205

I shal reherse, so as I can, a lyte.

Out of the grove, that I spak of before,

I sy come first, al in their clokes whyte,

A company, that ware, for their delyt,

Chapëlets fresh of okës cereal

210

Newly spronge, and trumpets they were al.

[368]

On every trumpe hanging a brood banere

Of fyn tartarium, were ful richly bete;

Every trumpet his lordës armës †bere;

About their nekkës, with gret perlës set,

215

Colers brode; for cost they would not lete,

As it would seme; for their scochones echoon

Were set about with many a precious stoon.

Their hors-harneys was al whyte also;

And after hem next, in on company,

220

Cámë kingës of armës, and no mo,

In clokës of whyte cloth of gold, richly;

Chapelets of greene on their hedes on hy,

The crownës that they on their scochones bere

Were set with perlë, ruby, and saphere,

225

And eek gret diamondës many on;

But al their hors-harneys and other gere

Was in a sute àccording, everichon,

As ye have herd the foresayd trumpets were;

And, by seeming, they were nothing to lere;

230

And their gyding they did so manerly.

And after hem cam a greet company

Of heraudës and pursevauntës eke

Arrayed in clothës of whyt veluët;

And hardily, they were nothing to seke

235

How they [up]on hem shuld the harneys set;

And every man had on a chapëlet;

Scóchones and eke hors-harneys, indede,

They had in sute of hem that before hem yede.

Next after hem, came in armour bright,

240

Al save their hedes, seemely knightës nyne;

And every clasp and nail, as to my sight,

Of their harneys, were of red gold fyne;

[369]

With cloth of gold, and furred with ermyne

Were the trappurës of their stedës strong,

245

Wyde and large, that to the ground did hong;

And every bosse of brydel and peitrel

That they had, was worth, as I would wene,

A thousand pound; and on their hedës, wel

Dressed, were crownës [al] of laurer grene,

250

The best [y-]mad that ever I had seen;

And every knight had after him ryding

Three henshmen, [up]on him awaiting;

Of whiche †the first, upon a short tronchoun,

His lordës helme[t] bar, so richly dight,

255

That the worst was worth[y] the raunsoun

Of a[ny] king; the second a sheld bright

Bar at his nekke; the thridde bar upright

A mighty spere, ful sharpe [y-]ground and kene;

And every child ware, of leves grene,

260

A fresh chapelet upon his heres bright;

And clokes whyte, of fyn veluet they ware;

Their stedës trapped and [a]rayed right

Without[en] difference, as their lordës were.

And after hem, on many a fresh co[u]rsere,

265

There came of armed knightës such a rout

That they besprad the largë feld about.

And al they ware[n], after their degrees,

Chapëlets new, made of laurer grene,

Some of oke, and some of other trees;

270

Some in their handës berë boughës shene,

Some of laurer, and some of okës kene,

Some of hawthorn, and some of woodbind,

And many mo, which I had not in mind.

[370]

And so they came, their hors freshly stering

275

With bloody sownës of hir trompës loud;

Ther sy I many an uncouth disgysing

In the array of these knightës proud;

And at the last, as evenly as they coud,

They took their places in-middes of the mede,

280

And every knight turned his horse[s] hede

To his felawe, and lightly laid a spere

In the [a]rest, and so justës began

On every part about[en], here and there;

Som brak his spere, som drew down hors and man;

285

About the feld astray the stedës ran;

And, to behold their rule and governaunce,

I you ensure, it was a greet plesaunce.

And so the justës last an houre and more;

But tho that crowned were in laurer grene

290

Wan the pryse; their dintës were so sore

That ther was non ayenst hem might sustene;

And [than] the justing al was left of clene;

And fro their hors the †nine alight anon;

And so did al the remnant everichon.

295

And forth they yede togider, twain and twain,

That to behold, it was a worldly sight,

Toward the ladies on the grenë plain,

That song and daunced, as I sayd now right.

The ladies, as soone as they goodly might,

300

They breke[n] of both the song and dance,

And yede to mete hem, with ful glad semblance.

And every lady took, ful womanly,

Bý the hond a knight, and forth they yede

Unto a fair laurer that stood fast by,

305

With levës lade, the boughës of gret brede;

And to my dome, there never was, indede,

[371]

[A] man that had seen half so fair a tree;

For underneth it there might wel have be

An hundred persons, at their own plesaunce,

310

Shadowed fro the hete of Phebus bright

So that they shuld have felt no [greet] grevaunce

Of rain, ne hail, that hem hurt[ë] might.

The savour eek rejoice would any wight

That had be sick or melancolious,

315

It was so very good and vertuous.

And with gret reverence they †enclyned low

[Un]to the tree, so sote and fair of hew;

And after that, within a litel throw,

†Bigonne they to sing and daunce of-new;

320

Some song of love, some playning of untrew,

Environing the tree that stood upright;

And ever yede a lady and a knight.

The Flower.

And at the last I cast myn eye asyde,

And was ware of a lusty company

325

That came, roming out of the feld wyde,

Hond in hond, a knight and a lady;

The ladies alle in surcotes, that richly

Purfyled were with many a riche stoon;

And every knight of greene ware mantles on,

330

Embrouded wel, so as the surcotes were,

And everich had a chapelet on her hede;

Which did right wel upon the shyning here,

Made of goodly floures, whyte and rede.

The knightës eke, that they in hond lede,

335

In sute of hem, ware chapelets everichon;

And hem before went minstrels many on,

As harpës, pypës, lutës, and sautry,

Al in greene; and on their hedës bare

Of dyvers flourës, mad ful craftily,

[372]

340

Al in a sute, goodly chapelets they ware;

And so, dauncing, into the mede they fare,

In-mid the which they found a tuft that was

Al oversprad with flourës in compas.

Where[un]to they enclyned everichon

345

With greet reverence, and that ful humblely;

And, at the last[ë], there began anon

A lady for to sing right womanly

A bargaret in praising the daisy;

For, as me thought, among her notës swete,

350

She sayd, 'Si doucë est la Margarete.'

Thén they al answéred her infere,

So passingly wel, and so plesauntly,

Thát it was a blisful noise to here.

But I not [how], it happed sodainly,

355

As, about noon, the sonne so fervently

Wex hoot, that [al] the prety tender floures

Had lost the beautè of hir fresh coloures,

For-shronk with hete; the ladies eek to-brent,

That they ne wist where they hem might bestow.

360

The knightës swelt, for lak of shade ny shent;

And after that, within a litel throw,

The wind began so sturdily to blow,

That down goth al the flourës everichon

So that in al the mede there laft not on,

365

Save suche as socoured were, among the leves,

Fro every storme, that might hem assail,

Growing under hegges and thikke greves;

And after that, there came a storm of hail

And rain in-fere, so that, withouten fail,

370

The ladies ne the knightës n'ade o threed

Drye [up]on hem, so dropping was hir weed.

[373]

And when the storm was clene passed away,

Tho [clad] in whyte, that stood under the tree,

They felt[ë] nothing of the grete affray,

375

That they in greene without had in y-be.

To hem they yedë for routh and pitè,

Hem to comfort after their greet disese;

So fain they were the helpless for to ese.

Then was I ware how oon of hem in grene

380

Had on a crown[ë], rich and wel sitting;

Wherfore I demed wel she was a quene,

And tho in greene on her were awaiting.

The ladies then in whyte that were coming

Toward[ës] hem, and the knightës in-fere

385

Began to comfort hem and make hem chere.

The quene in whyte, that was of grete beautè,

Took by the hond the queen that was in grene,

And said, 'Suster, I have right greet pitè

Of your annoy, and of the troublous tene

390

Wherein ye and your company have been

So long, alas! and, if that it you plese

To go with me, I shal do you the ese

In al the pleisir that I can or may.'

Wherof the tother, humbly as she might,

395

Thanked her; for in right ill aray

She was, with storm and hete, I you behight.

And every lady then, anon-right,

That were in whyte, oon of hem took in grene

By the hond; which when the knightes had seen,

400

In lyke wyse, ech of hem took a knight

Clad in grene, and forth with hem they fare

[Un]to an heggë, where they, anon-right,

To make their justës, [lo!] they would not spare

Boughës to hew down, and eek treës square,

[374]

405

Wherewith they made hem stately fyres grete

To dry their clothës that were wringing wete.

And after that, of herbës that there grew,

They made, for blisters of the sonne brenning,

Very good and hoolsom ointments new,

410

Where that they yede, the sick fast anointing;

And after that, they yede about gadring

Plesaunt saladës, which they made hem ete,

For to refresh their greet unkindly hete.

The lady of the Leef then gan to pray

415

Her of the Flour, (for so to my seeming

They should[ë] be, as by their [quaint] array),

To soupe with her; and eek, for any thing,

That she should with her al her people bring.

And she ayein, in right goodly manere,

420

Thanketh her of her most freendly chere,

Saying plainly, that she would obey

With al her hert al her commaundëment,

And then anon, without lenger delay,

The lady of the Leef hath oon y-sent

425

For a palfray, [as] after her intent,

Arayed wel and fair in harneys of gold,

For nothing lakked, that to him long shold.

And after that, to al her company

She made to purvey hors and every thing

430

That they needed; and then, ful lustily,

Even by the herber where I was sitting,

They passed al, so plesantly singing,

That it would have comfórted any wight;

But then I sy a passing wonder sight:—

435

For then the nightingale, that al the day

Had in the laurer sete, and did her might

The hool servyse to sing longing to May,

[375]

Al sodainly [be]gan to take her flight;

And to the lady of the Leef forthright

440

She flew, and set her on her hond softly,

Which was a thing I marveled of gretly.

The goldfinch eek, that fro the medle-tree

Was fled, for hete, into the bushes cold,

Unto the lady of the Flour gan flee,

445

And on her hond he set him, as he wold,

And plesantly his wingës gan to fold;

And for to sing they pained hem both as sore

As they had do of al the day before.

And so these ladies rood forth a gret pace,

450

And al the rout of knightës eek in-fere;

And I, that had seen al this wonder case,

Thought [that] I would assay, in some manere,

To know fully the trouth of this matere,

And what they were that rood so plesantly.

455

And, when they were the herber passed by,

I drest me forth, and happed to mete anon

Right a fair lady, I you ensure;

And she cam ryding by herself aloon,

Al in whyte, with semblance ful demure.

460

I salued her, and bad good aventure

†Might her befall, as I coud most humbly;

And she answered, 'My doughter, gramercy!'

'Madam,' quod I, 'if that I durst enquere

Of you, I wold fain, of that company,

465

Wit what they be that past by this herbere?'

And she ayein answéred right freendly:

'My fair daughter, al tho that passed hereby

In whyte clothing, be servants everichoon

Unto the Leef, and I my-self am oon.

[376]

470

See ye not her that crowned is,' quod she,

'Al in whyte?' 'Madamë,' quod I, 'yis!'

'That is Diane, goddesse of chastitè;

And, for bicause that she a maiden is,

In her hond the braunch she bereth, this

475

That agnus-castus men call properly;

And alle the ladies in her company

Which ye see of that herb[ë] chaplets were,

Be such as han kept †ay hir maidenhede;

And al they that of laurer chaplets bere

480

Be such as hardy were and †wan, indede,

Victorious name which never may be dede.

And al they were so worthy of hir hond,

[As] in hir tyme, that non might hem withstond.

And tho that werë chapelets on hir hede

485

Of fresh woodbind, be such as never were

To love untrew in word, [ne] thought, ne dede,

But ay stedfast; ne for plesaunce, ne fere,

Though that they shuld hir hertës al to-tere,

Would never flit, but ever were stedfast,

490

Til that their lyves there asunder brast.'

'Now, fair madam,' quod I, 'yet I would pray

Your ladiship, if that it might be,

That I might know[ë], by some maner way,

Sith that it hath [y-]lyked your beautè,

495

The trouth of these ladies for to tel me;

What that these knightës be, in rich armour;

And what tho be in grene, and were the flour;

And why that some did reverence to the tree,

And some unto the plot of flourës fair?'

500

'With right good wil, my fair doughter,' quod she,

'Sith your desyr is good and debonair.

[377]

Tho nine, crownèd, be very exemplair

Of all honour longing to chivalry,

And those, certain, be called the Nine Worthy,

505

Which ye may see [here] ryding al before,

That in hir tyme did many a noble dede,

And, for their worthines, ful oft have bore

The crowne of laurer-leves on their hede,

As ye may in your old[ë] bokes rede;

510

And how that he, that was a conquerour,

Had by laurer alway his most honour.

And tho that bere boughës in their hond

Of the precious laurer so notáble,

Be such as were, I wol ye understond,

515

Noble knightës of the Round[ë] Table,

And eek the Douseperes honourable;

Which they bere in signe of victory,

†As witness of their dedes mightily.

Eek there be knightës olde of the Garter,

520

That in hir tyme did right worthily;

And the honour they did to the laurer

Is, for by [it] they have their laud hoolly,

Their triumph eek, and martial glory;

Which unto hem is more parfyt richesse

525

Than any wight imagine can or gesse.

For oon leef given of that noble tree

To any wight that hath don worthily,

And it be doon so as it ought to be,

Is more honour then any thing erthly.

530

Witnesse of Rome that founder was, truly,

Of all knighthood and dedës marvelous;

Record I take of Titus Livius.

And as for her that crowned is in greene,

It is Flora, of these flourës goddesse;

[378]

535

And al that here on her awaiting been,

It are such [folk] that loved idlenes,

And not delyte [had] of no busines

But for to hunt and hauke, and pley in medes,

And many other such [lyk] idle dedes.

540

And for the greet delyt and [the] plesaunce

They have [un]to the flour, so reverently

They unto it do such [gret] obeisaunce,

As ye may see.' 'Now, fair madame,' quod I,

'If I durst ask what is the cause and why

545

That knightës have the signe of [al] honour

Rather by the Leef than by the Flour?'

'Sothly, doughter,' quod she, 'this is the trouth:

For knightës ever should be persévering,

To seeke honour without feintyse or slouth,

550

Fro wele to better, in al maner thing;

In signe of which, with Levës ay lasting

They be rewarded after their degree,

Whos lusty grene may not appeired be,

But ay keping hir beautè fresh and greene;

555

For there nis storm [non] that may hem deface,

Hail nor snow, wind nor frostës kene;

Wherfore they have this propertè and grace.

And for the Flour within a litel space

Wol be [y-]lost, so simple of nature

560

They be, that they no grevance may endure,

And every storm wil blow hem sone away,

Ne they last not but [as] for a sesoun,

That †is the cause, the very trouth to say,

That they may not, by no way of resoun,

565

Be put to no such occupacioun.'

[379]

'Madame,' quod I, 'with al my hool servyse

I thank you now, in my most humble wyse.

For now I am acértainèd throughly

Of every thing I désired to know.'

570

'I am right glad that I have said, sothly,

Ought to your pleysir, if ye wil me trow,'

Quod she ayein, 'but to whom do ye ow

Your servyce? and which wil ye honour,

Tel me, I pray, this yeer, the Leef or Flour?'

575

'Madame,' quod I, 'though I [be] leest worthy,

Unto the Leef I ow myn observaunce.'

'That is,' quod she, 'right wel don, certainly,

And I pray god to honour you avaunce,

And kepe you fro the wikked rémembraunce

580

Of Male-Bouche, and al his crueltè;

And alle that good and wel-condicioned be.

For here may I no lenger now abyde,

I must folowe the gret[ë] company

That ye may see yonder before you ryde.'

585

And forth[right], as I couth, most humblely,

I took my leve of her as she gan hy

After hem, as fast as ever she might;

And I drow hoomward, for it was nigh night;

And put al that I had seen in wryting,

590

Under support of hem that lust it rede.

O litel book, thou art so unconning,

How darst thou put thy-self in prees for drede?

It is wonder that thou wexest not rede,

Sith that thou wost ful lyte who shal behold

595

Thy rude langage, ful boistously unfold.

Explicit.

From Speght's edition (1598); I note rejected readings. 1. hie. 3. Boole. 4. sweet; raine; oft (!). 6. wholesome aire. 7. plaine was clothed faire. 8. new greene. small flours. 9. field and in mede. 10. wholsome. 11. renueth. 13. hearbe. 14. season; I supply ful. 15. season. 16. certaine. 17. sleepe. 19. earthly. 20. hearts ease. 21. Then; nad sicknesse; disease.

22. meruaile greatly; selfe. 24. rose; twelfe. 25. I supply very. 26. geare; mine. 27. pleasaunt. 28. bright. 29. great. 30. grasse. 31. sprong. 32. well; fellow. 33. lade. 34. ayen. 35. Some; red; some. 36. song (read songes); fort (sic). 38. earthly. 40. Heare; all. 41. Full; herkened; hart and with eare. 43. litle breade. 44. greatly. 45. grasse. 46. well; I supply ther. 47. some. 48. followed till. 49. pleasaunt; well. 50. I supply al; turfes. 52. thicke. 53. lyke vnto (read to); wel (!; read wol).

54. I supply as. 55. (Perhaps imperfect); all; green. 56. eglatere; see l. 80. 57. Wrethen. 58. branch; leafe. 59. an (better on). 60. I supply That; see. 61. done; tooke. 62. I supply for; all; peine. 63. all; seyne. 64. roofe. 65. I supply is. 66. thicke; I supply is; wall. 68. would all. 69. should. 70. one; well. 71. all. 72. field. 73. corne; grasse; doubt. 74. one would seeke all. 75. field; I supply ne; espide. 76. On; coast; quantity. 77. all; I supply greet; plenty. 78. all; pleasannt sight sie. 79. aire. 80. I supply Come; eglentere. 81. heart; dispaire. 82. with thoughts; contraire. 83. should. 84. soote.

85. mine eie. 87. all; life; sie. 88. blosomes. 89. leaping pretile. 91. buds. 95. eaten; eat. 97. pleasaunt then. 98. when. 99. merry. 100. all; wood. 101. sote. 103. Thorow; till. 104. I ne wist (better Ne wist I). 105. ayen (!). 106. I waited about. 107. might. 108. full well. 109. greene laurey (error for laurer); see l. 158. 111. smell. 112. eglentere full well. 113. great pleasure. 115. desire. 116. I supply to.

117. grasse. 118. downe; mine. 119. birds. 120. pleasaunt. 121. meat; drinke. 123. wholsome; eke. 126. pleasaunt; none earthly. 127. birds harkening. 128. heard. 131. Heard; their (error for his); I supply that. 132. musike. 133. like. 135. pleasant. 136. sie; came. 138. great beauty; lieth. 139. shall. 140. speake; all. 141. The (!; read In); wele. 142. were clad; echone. 144. Emerauds one and one. 145. rich. 146. on; purfiles.

148. great pearles. 149. Diamonds; red. 150. stone; went (for want). 151. head. 152. rich; dread. 153. stately rich. 155. head; I supply leves. 156. wele wrought; meruelously. 158. pleasantly. 160. were; read ware, as in 335. 161. of tho (om. of). 162. eke. 163. all; compace. 164. one. 165. Soole; selfe; all followed. 166. I supply Which; whose heauenly. 167. pleasaunt; wele. 168. beauty; -one. 169. beseene. 171. head; pleasaunt. 172. goldë (?). 173. eke bearing. 175. I supply al. 176. roundell lustely. 177. Suse; foyle. 178. Seen (sic); en dormy, before which we should perhaps supply est.

180. voice sweet. 182. heard. 183. came. 186. bigone. 187. one by one. 189. all. 190. little. 191. heard. 192. great; thundering trumps. 193. skie. 194. sie. 196. comming. 197. all. 198. wele. 199. all; earth. 200. speake; I supply of. 201. horse. 202. Pretir (!); all. 204. their (read hir?); heare. 205. rehearse. 206. spake. 207. sie; all; their (read hir?). 208. were: read ware (as in 329); delite. 209. seriall (for cereal). 210. sprong; all.

211. broad. 212. fine; richely. 213. lords; here (read bere); see 223. 214. (and often): their (for hir). neckes; great pearles. 216. echone. 217. stone. 218. horse; all. 219. them (for hem); one. 220. kings. 222. heads; hye. 223. crowns. 224. pearle. 225. eke great Diamonds; one. 226. all; horse; geare. 227. euerichone. 228. heard. 230. there guiding. 231. great. 232. herauds; purseuaunts. 233. white. 235. on; should. 237. horse. 238. him (for 2nd hem). 240. heads; knights. 241. claspe; naile. 242. their (for hir?); so in 214, 216, 218, 222, 223, 230 (there), 240; &c.

244. their (for hir?); so in 248, &c. 246. boose (!); bridle; paitrell. 248. heads well. 249. I supply al. 250. made; sene. 252. on. 253. whiche euery on a. 254. lords helme bare. 255. worth. 256. a (read any); shield. 257. Bare; neck; thred bare. 258. spheare (!); ground. 260. haires. 261. fine. were; read ware (as in 259). 262. steeds; raied. 263. Without; lords. 265. knights. 266. field. 267. were; read waren. 270. honds bare. 272. hauthorne.

274. horses. 276. sie; disguising. 277. knights. 279. their (for hir? see 275); so in 286, &c. 280. horse. 281. fellow; speare. 282. rest. 283. about. 284. Some brake; some. 285. field; steeds. 287. great pleasaunce. 290. dints. 291. none. 292. I supply than; all. 293. horse. ninth; read nine. 296. worldly (perhaps read worthy). 297. green. 300. brake; they (error for the). 301. meet; full. 302. tooke. 304. faire. 305. great.

307. I supply A; halfe; faire. 308. underneath. 309. their (for hir?); plesance. 310. heat. 311. should; I supply greet. 312. raine; haile; hurt. 313. eke. 314. sicke; melancolius. 316. enclining; read enclyned; see 344. 317. To; soot; faire. 318. little. 319. They began to. 323. mine. 325. field. 327. all; richely. 328. rich. 330. well. 331. hed. 332. well. 333. red. 334. knights; led. 335. euerichone. 336. before hem; one. 338. heads. 339. made full craftely.

344. Whereto. 345. great; humbly. 346. last. 348. daisie. 350. douset & la. 351. all. 352. well; pleasauntly. 354. I supply how. 355. noone. 356. Waxe whote; I supply al. 357. beauty. 358. Forshronke; heat; eke. 360. knights; lack; nie. 361. little. 363. down goeth all; euerichone. 364. all; one. 365. succoured. 366. assaile. 367. thicke. 368. storme; haile. 369. raine in feare; faile. 370. knights. 371. on them so; her.

372. cleane. 373. I supply clad. 374. felt; great. 376. them (for hem). 377. Them (for Hem); great disease. 378. faine; helplesse; ease. 379. one. 380. crown; well. 384. Toward them; knights. 386. Queen; great beauty. 387. Tooke. 388. great pity. 390. bene. 391. please. 392. shall; ease. 393. all; pleasure. 396. heat. 398. one; them. 399. knights; sene. 400. them. 402. To. 403. iusts; supply lo. 404. downe; eke.

405. great. 406. weat. 407. hearbs. 409. wholsome. 410. annointing. 411. gadering. 412. Pleasaunt; eat. 413. great; heat. 414. leafe; began (for gan). 415. floure. 416. should; I supply quaint. 417. eke. 418. all. 419. ayen. 420. friendly cheare. 421. obay. 422. all; hart all. 424. Leafe; one. 425. I supply al. 426. well; faire. 427. lacked; should. 428. all. 429. horse. 432. all; pleasantly. 434. sie. 435. all. 437. whol seruice.

438. gan. 439. leafe. 441. greatly. 442. eke; medill. 443. heat. 444. Flower; fle. 445. hir. 446. pleasantly; wings. 448. all. 449. rode; great. 450. knights. 451. sene all. 452. I supply that. 454. rode; pleasantly. 457. faire. 458. come; hir selfe alone. 459. All. 460. saluted (read salued); bad her good (omit her). 461. Must (read Might). 464. faine. 465. arbere. 466. ayen; friendly. 467. faire; all. 468. euerichone. 469. Leafe; selfe; one.

471. All; yes (read yis). 472. goddes; chastity. 476. all. 477. hearb. 478. kepte; alway (read ay); her. 479. beare. 480. manly (read wan). 482. all; ther (read hir). 483. I supply As; none. 484. weare; ther (read hir). 486. untrue; I supply ne. 487. aye; pleasance. 488. their harts all. 490. Till; their (read hir?). 491. faire. 493. know. 494. liked. 495. tell. 496. knights. 497. weare. 499. faire. 500. will; doghter. 501. youre desire; debonaire.

502. exemplaire. 504. certaine. 505. I supply here. 507. their (read hir? see 506); so in 512, &c. 508. leaues. 509. old bookes. 512. beare. bowes; see 270. 514. woll. 515. knights; round. 516. eke; douseperis. 517. beare. 518. It is (but read As). 519. Eke; knights old. 522. I supply it; wholly. 523. eke; marshall (!). 524. them; riches. 526. one leafe. 527, 528. done. 529. earthly. 530. Witnes. 531. deeds.

535. all; beene. 536. I supply folk. 537. delite of; busines. 539. I supply lyk. 540. great delite; I supply the; pleasaunce. 541. to; and so (omit and). 542. I supply gret. 543. faire. 544. aske. 545. knights; I supply al. 546. leafe; floure. 548. knights. 550. all. 551. leaues aye. 552. their; read hir? 553. Whose; green May may (sic). 554. aye; their beauty. 555. storme; I supply non. 556. Haile; frosts. 557. propertie. 558. floure; little. 559. Woll; lost. 560. greeuance. 561. storme will; them. 562. I supply as; season. 563. That if their (read That is the). 564. reason. 565. occupacion.

566. all mine whole. 567. thanke. 571. pleasure; will. 572. ayen; whome doe; owe. 573. woll. 574. Tell; yeere; leafe or the flour. 575. I least. 576. leafe; owe mine. 577. well done. 580. male bouch; all; crueltie. 581. all. 583. follow; great. 585. forth as; humbly. 586. tooke; hie. 587. them. 588. homeward. 589. all. 590. them; it to rede (omit to). 591. little booke. 594. shall. 595. full.

In Septembre, at the falling of the leef,

The fressh sesoun was al-togider doon,

And of the corn was gadered in the sheef;

In a gardyn, about twayn after noon,

Ther were ladyes walking, as was her wone,

Foure in nombre, as to my mynd doth falle,

And I the fifte, the simplest of hem alle.

Of gentilwomen fayre ther were also,

Disporting hem, everiche after her gyse,

In crosse-aleys walking, by two and two,

And some alone, after her fantasyes.

Thus occupyed we were in dyvers wyse;

And yet, in trouthe, we were not al alone;

Ther were knightës and squyers many one.

'Wherof I served?' oon of hem asked me;

I sayde ayein, as it fel in my thought,

'To walke about the mase, in certayntè,

As a woman that [of] nothing rought.'

He asked me ayein—'whom that I sought,

And of my colour why I was so pale?'

'Forsothe,' quod I, 'and therby lyth a tale.'

[381]

'That must me wite,' quod he, 'and that anon;

Tel on, let see, and make no tarying.'

'Abyd,' quod I, 'ye been a hasty oon,

I let you wite it is no litel thing.

But, for bicause ye have a greet longing

In your desyr, this proces for to here,

I shal you tel the playn of this matere.—

It happed thus, that, in an after-noon,

My felawship and I, by oon assent,

Whan al our other besinesse was doon,

To passe our tyme, into this mase we went,

And toke our wayes, eche after our entent;

Some went inward, and †wend they had gon out,

Some stode amid, and loked al about.

And, sooth to say, some were ful fer behind,

And right anon as ferforth as the best;

Other ther were, so mased in her mind,

Al wayes were good for hem, bothe eest and west.

Thus went they forth, and had but litel rest;

And some, her corage did hem sore assayle,

For very wrath, they did step over the rayle!

And as they sought hem-self thus to and fro,

I gat myself a litel avauntage;

Al for-weried, I might no further go,

Though I had won right greet, for my viage.

So com I forth into a strait passage,

Which brought me to an herber fair and grene,

Mad with benches, ful craftily and clene,

That, as me thought, ther might no crëature

Devyse a better, by dew proporcioun;

Safe it was closed wel, I you ensure,

[382]

With masonry of compas enviroun,

Ful secretly, with stayres going doun

Inmiddes the place, with turning wheel, certayn;

And upon that, a pot of marjolain;

With margarettes growing in ordinaunce,

To shewe hemself, as folk went to and fro,

That to beholde it was a greet plesaunce,

And how they were acompanyed with mo

Ne-m'oublie-mies and sovenez also;

The povre pensees were not disloged there;

No, no! god wot, her place was every-where!

The flore beneth was paved faire and smothe

With stones square, of many dyvers hew,

So wel joynëd that, for to say the sothe,

Al semed oon (who that non other knew);

And underneth, the stremës new and new,

As silver bright, springing in suche a wyse

That, whence it cam, ye coude it not devyse.

A litel whyle thus was I al alone,

Beholding wel this délectable place;

My felawship were coming everichone,

So must me nedes abyde, as for a space.

Rememb[e]ring of many dyvers cace

Of tyme passed, musing with sighes depe,

I set me doun, and ther I fel a-slepe.

And, as I slept, me thought ther com to me

A gentilwoman, metely of stature;

Of greet worship she semed for to be,

Atyred wel, not high, but by mesure;

Her countenaunce ful sad and ful demure;

[383]

Her colours blewe, al that she had upon;

Ther com no mo [there] but herself aloon.

Her gown was wel embrouded, certainly,

With sovenez, after her own devyse;

On her purfyl her word [was] by and by

Bien et loyalment, as I coud devyse.

Than prayde I her, in every maner wyse

That of her name I might have remembraunce;

She sayd, she called was Perséveraunce.

So furthermore to speke than was I bold,

Where she dwelled, I prayed her for to say;

And she again ful curteysly me told,

"My dwelling is, and hath ben many a day

With a lady."—"What lady, I you pray?"

"Of greet estate, thus warne I you," quod she;

"What cal ye her?"—"Her name is Loyaltè."

"In what offyce stand ye, or in what degrè?"

100

Quod I to her, "that wolde I wit right fayn."

"I am," quod she, "unworthy though I be,

Of her chambre her ussher, in certayn;

This rod I bere, as for a token playn,

Lyke as ye know the rule in such servyce

105

Pertayning is unto the same offyce.

She charged me, by her commaundëment,

To warn you and your felawes everichon,

That ye shuld come there as she is present,

For a counsayl, which shal be now anon,

110

Or seven dayës be comen and gon.

And furthermore, she bad that I shuld say

Excuse there might be non, nor [no] delay.

[384]

Another thing was nigh forget behind

Whiche in no wyse I wolde but ye it knew;

115

Remembre wel, and bere it in your mind,

Al your felawes and ye must come in blew,

Every liche able your maters for to sew;

With more, which I pray you thinke upon,

Your wordës on your slevës everichon.

120

And be not ye abasshed in no wyse,

As many been in suche an high presence;

Mak your request as ye can best devyse,

And she gladly wol yeve you audience.

There is no greef, ne no maner offence,

125

Wherin ye fele that your herte is displesed,

But with her help right sone ye shul be esed."

"I am right glad," quod I, "ye tel me this,

But there is non of us that knoweth the way."

"As of your way," quod she, "ye shul not mis,

130

Ye shul have oon to gyde you, day by day,

Of my felawes (I can no better say)

Suche oon as shal tel you the way ful right;

And Diligence this gentilwoman hight.

A woman of right famous governaunce,

135

And wel cherisshed, I tel you in certayn;

Her felawship shal do you greet plesaunce.

Her port is suche, her maners trewe and playn;

She with glad chere wol do her besy payn

To bring you there; now farwel, I have don."

140

"Abyde," sayd I, "ye may not go so sone."

"Why so?" quod she, "and I have fer to go

To yeve warning in many dyvers place

To your felawes, and so to other mo;

And wel ye wot, I have but litel space."

[385]

145

"Now yet," quod I, "ye must tel me this cace,

If we shal any man unto us cal?"

"Not oon," quod she, "may come among you al."

"Not oon," quod I, "ey! benedicite!

What have they don? I pray you tel me that!"

150

"Now, by my lyf, I trow but wel," quod she;

"But ever I can bileve there is somwhat,

And, for to say you trouth, more can I nat;

In questiouns I may nothing be large,

I medle no further than is my charge."

155

"Than thus," quod I, "do me to understand,

What place is there this lady is dwelling?"

"Forsothe," quod she, "and oon sought al this land,

Fairer is noon, though it were for a king

Devysed wel, and that in every thing.

160

The toures hy ful plesaunt shul ye find,

With fanes fressh, turning with every wind.

The chambres and parlours both of oo sort,

With bay-windowes, goodly as may be thought,

As for daunsing and other wyse disport;

165

The galeryes right wonder wel y-wrought,

That I wel wot, if ye were thider brought,

And took good hede therof in every wyse,

Ye wold it thinke a very paradyse."

"What hight this place?" quod I; "now say me that."

170

"Plesaunt Regard," quod she, "to tel you playn."

"Of verray trouth," quod I, "and, wot ye what,

It may right wel be called so, certayn;

But furthermore, this wold I wit ful fayn,

[386]

What shulde I do as sone as I come there,

175

And after whom that I may best enquere?"

"A gentilwoman, a porter at the yate

There shal ye find; her name is Countenaunce;

If †it so hap ye come erly or late,

Of her were good to have som acquaintaunce.

180

She can tel how ye shal you best avaunce,

And how to come to her ladyes presence;

To her wordës I rede you yeve credence.

Now it is tyme that I depart you fro;

For, in good sooth, I have gret businesse."

185

"I wot right wel," quod I, "that it is so;

And I thank you of your gret gentilnesse.

Your comfort hath yeven me suche hardinesse

That now I shal be bold, withouten fayl,

To do after your ávyse and counsayl."

190

Thus parted she, and I lefte al aloon;

With that I saw, as I beheld asyde,

A woman come, a verray goodly oon;

And forth withal, as I had her aspyed,

Me thought anon, [that] it shuld be the gyde;

195

And of her name anon I did enquere.

Ful womanly she yave me this answere.

"I am," quod she, "a simple crëature

Sent from the court; my name is Diligence.

As sone as I might come, I you ensure,

200

I taried not, after I had licence;

And now that I am come to your presence,

Look, what servyce that I can do or may,

Commaundë me; I can no further say."

I thanked her, and prayed her to come nere,

205

Because I wold see how she were arayed;

[387]

Her gown was blew, dressed in good manere

With her devyse, her word also, that sayd

Tant que je puis; and I was wel apayd;

For than wist I, withouten any more,

210

It was ful trew, that I had herd before.

"Though we took now before a litel space,

It were ful good," quod she, "as I coud gesse."

"How fer," quod I, "have we unto that place?"

"A dayes journey," quod she, "but litel lesse;

215

Wherfore I redë that we onward dresse;

For, I suppose, our felawship is past,

And for nothing I wold that we were last."

Than parted we, at springing of the day,

And forth we wente [a] soft and esy pace,

220

Til, at the last, we were on our journey

So fer onward, that we might see the place.

"Now let us rest," quod I, "a litel space,

And say we, as devoutly as we can,

A pater-noster for saint Julian."

225

"With al my herte, I assent with good wil;

Much better shul we spede, whan we have don."

Than taried we, and sayd it every del.

And whan the day was fer gon after noon,

We saw a place, and thider cam we sone,

230

Which rounde about was closed with a wal,

Seming to me ful lyke an hospital.

Ther found I oon, had brought al myn aray,

A gentilwoman of myn aquaintaunce.

"I have mervayl," quod I, "what maner way

235

Ye had knowlege of al this ordenaunce."

"Yis, yis," quod she, "I herd Perséveraunce,

[388]

How she warned your felawes everichon,

And what aray that ye shulde have upon."

"Now, for my love," quod I, "this I you pray,

240

Sith ye have take upon you al the payn,

That ye wold helpe me on with myn aray;

For wit ye wel, I wold be gon ful fayn."

"Al this prayer nedeth not, certayn;"

Quod she agayn; "com of, and hy you sone,

245

And ye shal see how wel it shal be doon."

"But this I dout me greetly, wot ye what,

That my felawes ben passed by and gon."

"I warant you," quod she, "that ar they nat;

For here they shul assemble everichon.

250

Notwithstanding, I counsail you anon;

Mak you redy, and tary ye no more,

It is no harm, though ye be there afore."

So than I dressed me in myn aray,

And asked her, whether it were wel or no?

255

"It is right wel," quod she, "unto my pay;

Ye nede not care to what place ever ye go."

And whyl that she and I debated so,

Cam Diligence, and saw me al in blew:

"Sister," quod she, "right wel brouk ye your new!"

260

Than went we forth, and met at aventure

A yong woman, an officer seming:

"What is your name," quod I, "good crëature?"

"Discrecioun," quod she, "without lesing."

"And where," quod I, "is your most abyding?"

265

"I have," quod she, "this office of purchace,

Cheef purveyour, that longeth to this place."

[389]

"Fair love," quod I, "in al your ordenaunce,

What is her name that is the herbegere?"

"For sothe," quod she, "her name is Acquaintaunce,

270

A woman of right gracious manere."

Than thus quod I, "What straungers have ye here?"

"But few," quod she, "of high degree ne low;

Ye be the first, as ferforth as I know."

Thus with talës we cam streight to the yate;

275

This yong woman departed was and gon;

Cam Diligence, and knokked fast therat;

"Who is without?" quod Countenaunce anon.

"Trewly," quod I, "fair sister, here is oon!"

"Which oon?" quod she, and therwithal she lough;

280

"I, Diligence! ye know me wel ynough."

Than opened she the yate, and in we go;

With wordës fair she sayd ful gentilly,

"Ye are welcome, ywis! are ye no mo?"

"Nat oon," quod she, "save this woman and I."

285

"Now than," quod she, "I pray yow hertely,

Tak my chambre, as for a whyl, to rest

Til your felawës come, I holde it best."

I thanked her, and forth we gon echon

Til her chambre, without[en] wordës mo.

290

Cam Diligence, and took her leve anon;

"Wher-ever you list," quod I, "now may ye go;

And I thank you right hertely also

Of your labour, for which god do you meed;

I can no more, but Jesu be your speed!"

295

Than Countenauncë asked me anon,

"Your felawship, where ben they now?" quod she.

"For sothe," quod I, "they be coming echon;

[390]

But in certayn, I know nat wher they be,

Without I may hem at this window see.

300

Here wil I stande, awaytinge ever among,

For, wel I wot, they wil nat now be long."

Thus as I stood musing ful busily,

I thought to take good hede of her aray,

Her gown was blew, this wot I verely,

305

Of good fasoun, and furred wel with gray;

Upon her sleve her word (this is no nay),

Which sayd thus, as my pennë can endyte,

A moi que je voy, writen with lettres whyte.

Than forth withal she cam streight unto me,

310

"Your word," quod she, "fayn wold I that I knew."

"Forsothe," quod I, "ye shal wel knowe and see,

And for my word, I have non; this is trew.

It is ynough that my clothing be blew,

As here-before I had commaundëment;

315

And so to do I am right wel content.

But tel me this, I pray you hertely,

The steward here, say me, what is her name?"

"She hight Largesse, I say you suërly;

A fair lady, and of right noble fame.

320

Whan ye her see, ye wil report the same.

And under her, to bid you welcome al,

There is Belchere, the marshal of the hall.

Now al this whyle that ye here tary stil,

Your own maters ye may wel have in mind.

325

But tel me this, have ye brought any bil?"

"Ye, ye," quod I, "or els I were behind.

Where is there oon, tel me, that I may find

[391]

To whom that I may shewe my matters playn?"

"Surely," quod she, "unto the chamberlayn."

330

"The chamberlayn?" quod I, "[now] say ye trew?"

"Ye, verely," sayd she, "by myne advyse;

Be nat aferd; unto her lowly sew."

"It shal be don," quod I, "as ye devyse;

But ye must knowe her name in any wyse?"

335

"Trewly," quod she, "to tell you in substaunce,

Without fayning, her name is Remembraunce.

The secretary yit may not be forget;

For she may do right moche in every thing.

Wherfore I rede, whan ye have with her met,

340

Your mater hool tel her, without fayning;

Ye shal her finde ful good and ful loving."

"Tel me her name," quod I, "of gentilnesse."

"By my good sooth," quod she, "Avysënesse."

"That name," quod I, "for her is passing good;

345

For every bil and cedule she must see;

Now good," quod I, "com, stand there-as I stood;

My felawes be coming; yonder they be."

"Is it [a] jape, or say ye sooth?" quod she.

"In jape? nay, nay; I say you for certain;

350

See how they come togider, twain and twain!"

"Ye say ful sooth," quod she, "that is no nay;

I see coming a goodly company."

"They been such folk," quod I, "I dar wel say,

That list to love; thinke it ful verily.

355

And, for my love, I pray you faithfully,

At any tyme, whan they upon you cal,

That ye wol be good frend unto hem al."

[392]

"Of my frendship," quod she, "they shal nat mis,

And for their ese, to put therto my payn."

360

"God yelde it you!" quod I; "but tel me this,

How shal we know who is the chamberlayn?"

"That shal ye wel know by her word, certayn."

"What is her word? Sister, I pray you say."

"Plus ne purroy; thus wryteth she alway."

365

Thus as we stood togider, she and I,

Even at the yate my felawes were echon.

So met I hem, as me thought was goodly,

And bad hem welcome al, by on and on.

Than forth cam [lady] Countenaunce anon;

370

"Ful hertely, fair sisters al," quod she,

"Ye be right welcome into this countree.

I counsail you to take a litel rest

In my chambre, if it be your plesaunce.

Whan ye be there, me thinketh for the best

375

That I go in, and cal Perséveraunce,

Because she is oon of your aquaintaunce;

And she also wil tel you every thing

How ye shal be ruled of your coming."

My felawes al and I, by oon avyse,

380

Were wel agreed to do lyke as she sayd.

Than we began to dresse us in our gyse,

That folk shuld see we were nat unpurvayd;

And good wageours among us there we layd,

Which of us was atyred goodliest,

385

And of us al which shuld be praysed best.

The porter cam, and brought Perséveraunce;

She welcomed us in ful curteys manere:

"Think ye nat long," quod she, "your attendaunce;

[393]

I wil go speke unto the herbergere,

390

That she may purvey for your logging here.

Than wil I go unto the chamberlayn

To speke for you, and come anon agayn."

And whan [that] she departed was and gon,

We saw folkës coming without the wal,

395

So greet people, that nombre coud we non;

Ladyes they were and gentilwomen al,

Clothed in blew, echon her word withal;

But for to knowe her word or her devyse,

They cam so thikke, that I might in no wyse.

400

With that anon cam in Perséveraunce,

And where I stood, she cam streight [un]to me.

"Ye been," quod she, "of myne olde acquaintaunce;

You to enquere, the bolder wolde I be;

What word they bere, eche after her degree,

405

I pray you, tel it me in secret wyse;

And I shal kepe it close, on warantyse."

"We been," quod I, "fyve ladies al in-fere,

And gentilwomen foure in company;

Whan they begin to open hir matere,

410

Than shal ye knowe hir wordës by and by;

But as for me, I have non verely,

And so I told Countenaunce here-before;

Al myne aray is blew; what nedeth more?"

"Now than," quod she, "I wol go in agayn,

415

That ye may have knowlege, what ye shuld do."

"In sooth," quod I, "if ye wold take the payn,

Ye did right moch for us, if ye did so.

The rather sped, the soner may we go.

Gret cost alway ther is in tarying;

420

And long to sewe, it is a wery thing."

[394]

Than parted she, and cam again anon;

"Ye must," quod she, "come to the chamberlayn."

"We been," quod I, "now redy everichon

To folowe you whan-ever ye list, certayn.

425

We have non eloquence, to tel you playn;

Beseching you we may be so excused,

Our trew mening, that it be not refused."

Than went we forth, after Perséveraunce,

To see the prees; it was a wonder cace;

430

There for to passe it was greet comb[e]raunce,

The people stood so thikke in every place.

"Now stand ye stil," quod she, "a litel space;

And for your ese somwhat I shal assay,

If I can make you any better way."

435

And forth she goth among hem everichon,

Making a way, that we might thorugh pas

More at our ese; and whan she had so don,

She beckned us to come where-as she was;

So after her we folowed, more and las.

440

She brought us streight unto the chamberlayn;

There left she us, and than she went agayn.

We salued her, as reson wolde it so,

Ful humb[el]ly beseching her goodnesse,

In our maters that we had for to do

445

That she wold be good lady and maistresse.

"Ye be welcome," quod she, "in sothfastnesse,

And see, what I can do you for to plese,

I am redy, that may be to your ese."

We folowed her unto the chambre-dore,

450

"Sisters," quod she, "come ye in after me."

But wite ye wel, there was a paved flore,

The goodliest that any wight might see;

[395]

And furthermore, about than loked we

On eche corner, and upon every wal,

455

The which was mad of berel and cristal;

Wherein was graven of stories many oon;

First how Phyllis, of womanly pitè,

Deyd pitously, for love of Demophoon.

Nexte after was the story of Tisbee,

460

How she slew her-self under a tree.

Yet saw I more, how in right pitous cas

For Antony was slayn Cleopatras.

That other syde was, how Hawes the shene

Untrewly was disceyved in her bayn.

465

There was also Annelida the quene,

Upon Arcyte how sore she did complayn.

Al these stories were graved there, certayn;

And many mo than I reherce you here;

It were to long to tel you al in-fere.

470

And, bicause the wallës shone so bright,

With fyne umple they were al over-sprad,

To that intent, folk shuld nat hurte hir sight;

And thorugh it the stories might be rad.

Than furthermore I went, as I was lad;

475

And there I saw, without[en] any fayl,

A chayrë set, with ful riche aparayl.

And fyve stages it was set fro the ground,

Of cassidony ful curiously wrought;

With four pomelles of golde, and very round,

480

Set with saphyrs, as good as coud be thought;

That, wot ye what, if it were thorugh sought,

As I suppose, fro this countrey til Inde,

Another suche it were right fer to finde!

[396]

For, wite ye wel, I was right nere that,

485

So as I durst, beholding by and by;

Above ther was a riche cloth of estate,

Wrought with the nedle ful straungëly,

Her word thereon; and thus it said trewly,

A endurer, to tel you in wordës few,

490

With grete letters, the better I hem knew.

Thus as we stode, a dore opened anon;

A gentilwoman, semely of stature,

Beringe a mace, cam out, her-selfe aloon;

Sothly, me thought, a goodly crëature!

495

She spak nothing to lowde, I you ensure,

Nor hastily, but with goodly warning:

"Mak room," quod she, "my lady is coming!"

With that anon I saw Perséveraunce,

How she held up the tapet in her hand.

500

I saw also, in right good ordinaunce,

This greet lady within the tapet stand,

Coming outward, I wol ye understand;

And after her a noble company,

I coud nat tel the nombre sikerly.

505

Of their namës I wold nothing enquere

Further than suche as we wold sewe unto,

Sauf oo lady, which was the chauncellere,

Attemperaunce; sothly her name was so.

For us nedeth with her have moch to do

510

In our maters, and alway more and more.

And, so forth, to tel you furthermore,

Of this lady her beautè to discryve,

My conning is to simple, verely;

For never yet, the dayës of my lyve,

[397]

515

So inly fair I have non seen, trewly.

In her estate, assured utterly,

There wanted naught, I dare you wel assure,

That longed to a goodly crëature.

And furthermore, to speke of her aray,

520

I shal you tel the maner of her gown;

Of clothe of gold ful riche, it is no nay;

The colour blew, of a right good fasoun;

In tabard-wyse the slevës hanging doun;

And what purfyl there was, and in what wyse,

525

So as I can, I shal it you devyse.

After a sort the coller and the vent,

Lyk as ermyne is mad in purfeling;

With grete perlës, ful fyne and orient,

They were couchèd, al after oon worching,

530

With dyamonds in stede of powdering;

The slevës and purfilles of assyse;

They were [y-]mad [ful] lyke, in every wyse.

Aboute her nekke a sort of fair rubyes,

In whyte floures of right fyne enamayl;

535

Upon her heed, set in the freshest wyse,

A cercle with gret balays of entayl;

That, in ernest to speke, withouten fayl,

For yonge and olde, and every maner age,

It was a world to loke on her visage.

540

Thus coming forth, to sit in her estat,

In her presence we kneled down echon,

Presentinge up our billes, and, wot ye what,

Ful humb[el]ly she took hem, by on and on;

[398]

When we had don, than cam they al anon,

545

And did the same, eche after her manere,

Knelinge at ones, and rysinge al in-fere.

Whan this was don, and she set in her place,

The chamberlayn she did unto her cal;

And she, goodly coming til her a-pace,

550

Of her entent knowing nothing at al,

"Voyd bak the prees," quod she, "up to the wal;

Mak larger roum, but look ye do not tary,

And tak these billës to the secretary."

The chamberlayn did her commaundëment,

555

And cam agayn, as she was bid to do;

The secretary there being present,

The billës were delivered her also,

Not only ours, but many other mo.

Than the lady, with good advyce, agayn

560

Anon withal called her chamberlayn.

"We wol," quod she, "the first thing that ye do,

The secretary, make her come anon

With her billës; and thus we wil also,

In our presence she rede hem everichon,

565

That we may takë good advyce theron

Of the ladyes, that been of our counsayl;

Look this be don, withouten any fayl."

The chamberlayn, whan she wiste her entent,

Anon she did the secretary cal:

570

"Let your billës," quod she, "be here present,

My lady it wil." "Madame," quod she, "I shal."

"And in presence she wil ye rede hem al."

"With good wil; I am redy," quod she,

"At her plesure, whan she commaundeth me."

[399]

575

And upon that was mad an ordinaunce,

They that cam first, hir billës shuld be red.

Ful gentelly than sayd Perséveraunce,

"Resoun it wold that they were sonest sped."

Anon withal, upon a tapet spred,

580

The secretary layde hem doun echon;

Our billës first she redde hem on by on.

The first lady, bering in her devyse

Sans que jamais, thus wroot she in her bil;

Complayning sore and in ful pitous wyse

585

Of promesse mad with faithful hert and wil

And so broken, ayenst al maner skil,

Without desert alwayes on her party;

In this mater desyring remedy.

Her next felawës word was in this wyse,

590

Une sans chaungier; and thus she did complayn,

Though she had been guerdoned for her servyce,

Yet nothing lyke as she that took the payn;

Wherfore she coude in no wyse her restrayn,

But in this cas sewe until her presence,

595

As reson woldë, to have recompence.

So furthermore, to speke of other twayn,

Oon of hem wroot, after her fantasy,

Oncques puis lever; and, for to tel you plain,

Her complaynt was ful pitous, verely,

600

For, as she sayd, ther was gret reson why;

And, as I can remembre this matere,

I shal you tel the proces, al in-fere.

Her bil was mad, complayninge in her gyse,

That of her joy, her comfort and gladnesse

605

Was no suretee; for in no maner wyse

[400]

She fond therin no point of stablenesse,

Now il, now wel, out of al sikernesse;

Ful humbelly desyringe, of her grace,

Som remedy to shewe her in this cace.

610

Her felawe made her bil, and thus she sayd,

In playning wyse; there-as she loved best,

Whether she were wroth or wel apayd

She might nat see, whan [that] she wold faynest;

And wroth she was, in very ernest;

615

To tel her word, as ferforth as I wot,

Entierment vostre, right thus she wroot.

And upon that she made a greet request

With herte and wil, and al that might be don

As until her that might redresse it best;

620

For in her mind thus might she finde it sone,

The remedy of that, which was her boon;

Rehersing [that] that she had sayd before,

Beseching her it might be so no more.

And in lyk wyse as they had don before,

625

The gentilwomen of our company

Put up hir billës; and, for to tel you more,

Oon of hem wroot cest sanz dire, verily;

And her matere hool to specify,

With-in her bil she put it in wryting;

630

And what it sayd, ye shal have knowleching.

It sayd, god wot, and that ful pitously,

Lyke as she was disposed in her hert,

No misfortune that she took grevously;

Al oon to her it was, the joy and smert,

635

Somtyme no thank for al her good desert.

[401]

Other comfort she wanted non coming,

And so used, it greved her nothing.

Desyringe her, and lowly béseching,

That she for her wold seke a better way,

640

As she that had ben, al her dayes living,

Stedfast and trew, and so wil be alway.

Of her felawe somwhat I shal you say,

Whos bil was red next after forth, withal;

And what it ment rehersen you I shal.

645

En dieu est, she wroot in her devyse;

And thus she sayd, withouten any fayl,

Her trouthë might be taken in no wyse

Lyke as she thought, wherfore she had mervayl;

For trouth somtyme was wont to take avayl

650

In every matere; but al that is ago;

The more pitè, that it is suffred so.

Moch more there was, wherof she shuld complayn,

But she thought it to greet encomb[e]raunce

So moch to wryte; and therfore, in certayn,

655

In god and her she put her affiaunce

As in her worde is mad a remembraunce;

Beseching her that she wolde, in this cace,

Shewe unto her the favour of her grace.

The third, she wroot, rehersing her grevaunce,

660

Ye! wot ye what, a pitous thing to here;

For, as me thought, she felt gret displesaunce,

Oon might right wel perceyve it by her chere,

And no wonder; it sat her passing nere.

Yet loth she was to put it in wryting,

665

But nede wol have his cours in every thing.

[402]

Soyes en sure, this was her word, certayn,

And thus she wroot, but in a litel space;

There she lovëd, her labour was in vayn,

For he was set al in another place;

670

Ful humblely desyring, in that cace,

Som good comfort, her sorow to appese,

That she might livë more at hertes ese.

The fourth surely, me thought, she liked wele,

As in her porte and in her behaving;

675

And Bien moneste, as fer as I coud fele,

That was her word, til her wel belonging.

Wherfore to her she prayed, above al thing,

Ful hertely (to say you in substaunce)

That she wold sende her good continuaunce.

680

"Ye have rehersed me these billës al,

But now, let see somwhat of your entent."

"It may so hap, paraventure, ye shal.

Now I pray you, whyle I am here present,

Ye shal, pardè, have knowlege, what I ment.

685

But thus I say in trouthe, and make no fable,

The case itself is inly lamentable.

And wel I wot, that ye wol think the same,

Lyke as I say, whan ye have herd my bil."

"Now good, tel on, I hate you, by saynt Jame!"

690

"Abyde a whyle; it is nat yet my wil.

Yet must ye wite, by reson and by skil,

Sith ye know al that hath be don before:—"

And thus it sayd, without[en] wordes more.

"Nothing so leef as deth to come to me

695

For fynal ende of my sorowes and payn;

What shulde I more desyre, as semë ye?

[403]

And ye knewe al aforn it for certayn,

I wot ye wolde; and, for to tel you playn,

Without her help that hath al thing in cure

700

I can nat think that I may longe endure.

As for my trouthe, it hath be proved wele,

To say the sothe, I can [you] say no more,

Of ful long tyme, and suffred every dele

In pacience, and kepe it al in store;

705

Of her goodnesse besechinge her therfore

That I might have my thank in suche [a] wyse

As my desert deserveth of justyse."

Whan these billës were rad everichon,

This lady took a good advysement;

710

And hem to answere, ech by on and on,

She thought it was to moche in her entent;

Wherfore she yaf hem in commaundëment,

In her presence to come, bothe oon and al,

To yeve hem there her answer general.

715

What did she than, suppose ye verely?

She spak herself, and sayd in this manere,

"We have wel seen your billës by and by,

And some of hem ful pitous for to here.

We wol therfore ye knowe al this in-fere,

720

Within short tyme our court of parliment

Here shal be holde, in our palays present;

And in al this wherin ye find you greved,

Ther shal ye finde an open remedy

In suche [a] wyse, as ye shul be releved

725

Of al that ye reherce here, thoroughly.

As for the date, ye shul know verily,

That ye may have a space in your coming;

For Diligence shal it tel you by wryting."

[404]

We thanked her in our most humble wyse,

730

Our felauship, echon by oon assent,

Submitting us lowly til her servyse.

For, as we thought, we had our travayl spent

In suche [a] wyse as we helde us content.

Than eche of us took other by the sleve,

735

And forth withal, as we shuld take our leve.

Al sodainly the water sprang anon

In my visage, and therwithal I wook:—

"Where am I now?" thought I; "al this is gon;"

And al amased, up I gan to look.

740

With that, anon I went and made this book,

Thus simplely rehersing the substaunce,

Bicause it shuld not out of remembraunce.'—

'Now verily, your dreem is passing good,

And worthy to be had in rémembraunce;

745

For, though I stande here as longe as I stood,

It shuld to me be non encomb[e]raunce;

I took therin so inly greet plesaunce.

But tel me now, what ye the book do cal?

For I must wite.' 'With right good wil ye shal:

750

As for this book, to say you very right,

And of the name to tel the certeyntè,

L'assemblè de Dames, thus it hight;

How think ye?' 'That the name is good, pardè!'

'Now go, farwel! for they cal after me,

755

My felawes al, and I must after sone;

Rede wel my dreem; for now my tale is doon.'

Here endeth the Book of Assemble de Damys.

From Th. (Thynne, ed. 1532); compared with A. (Addit. 34360); and T. (Trin. R. 3. 19). Title. Th. The assemble of ladies; T. the Boke callyd Assemble de Damys. 1. A. leef; Th. lefe. 2. Th. ceason. 3. Th. corne; gathered. A. in; Th. T. om. A. sheef; Th. shefe. 4. Th. gardyne aboute twayne; noone. 6. Th. mynde dothe fal. 7. Th. fyfthe; A. T. fift. A. T. om. the. Th. al. 13. Th. T. al; A. om. 16. Th. sayd ayen; A. seyde ageyne. 17. Th. aboute. 18. I supply of. 19. Th. ayen; A. ageyn. 21. Th. lythe. [Henceforward unmarked readings are from Thynne.]

22. All me. A. wite; Th. T. wete. anone. 23. se; taryeng. 24. Abyde; ben. 25. A. wite; Th. T. wete. 26. great. 27. desyre; processe. 28. playne. 29. noone. 30. one. 31. A. oure; Th. T. om. T. A. besynes was; Th. besynesses were doone. 34. All went (twice); read wend (= weened). 35. A. amyddis; Th. T. in the myd. aboute. 36. sothe. A. T. fer; Th. ferre. behynde. 37. ferforthe; beste. 38. mynde. 40. forthe. 41. A. so (for sore). 42. wrathe. A. stept (for did step). 43. A. thus; T. Th. om. -selfe. 44. gate. 46. great. 47. came; A. com. forthe; strayte. 48. fayre. 49. All Made. T. craftyly; A. Th. crafty. 51. T. dew; Th. dewe; A. om.

53. masonrye. A. T. compas; Th. compace. 54. T. steyers. 55. whele. 56. potte. A. Margoleyne; Th. Margelayne; T. Margelayn. 58. -selfe; folke. 59. great. 60. howe. 61. A. Ne moubliemies; Th. Ne momblysnesse; T. Ne momblynes. A. souenez; T. souenes; Th.souenesse. 62. All penses. 63. A. No no; Th. T. Ne (!). wote. 64. A. beneth; Th. T. and benche (!). Th. smoth. 65. hewe. 67. one. A. who; Th. T. om. none; knewe. 68. streames newe and newe. 70. came. 71. A. thus; Th. T. om. 74. muste. T. nedys; Th. nedest; A. nede. A. as; Th. T. om. 76. A. musyng; Th. T. om. 77. downe. 78. A. com; Th. came. 80. Th. great. 82. sadde. A. ful (2); Th. T. om.

84. A. com; Th.came. I supply there. 85. gowne. A. embrowded; T. enbrowdyd; Th. enbraudred. 86. A. souenez; Th. T. stones. 87. A. On; Th. T. In. A. the; Th. T. her. All worde; read word was. 88. A. Bien loielment as I cowde me deuyse. 89. A. euery; T. many (om. in); Th. any. 91. All was called. 92. A. than; Th. T. om. bolde. 94. agayne; curtesly; tolde. 95. be. 97. great. 99. stande. 100. A. wit; Th. T. wete. A. ful; Th. T. right. 102. hussher (A. T. vssher); certayne. 103. rodde; beare; playne. 104. knowe. 105. A. Perteyneng; Th. T. Apertaynyng. A. vnto; Th. T. to. 107. warne; -one. 108. shulde. 109. counsayle; nowe anone. 110. gone. 111. shulde. 112. I supply no.

113. A. nygh; Th. T. not(!). behynde. 114. knewe. 115. beare. 116. muste; blewe. 119. T. wordys; sleuys. 120. So A.; Th. T. be not abasshed in no maner wyse. 122. Make. 124. grefe. 125. displeased. 126. helpe. A. shul; Th. T. shal. eased. 127. T. (heading): Diligence Guyde. 129. A. shul; Th. T. shal. 130. A. shul; Th. T. shal. A. one (= oon); Th. T. om. 132. one; waye. 135. A. I sey yow for. 136. great. 137. porte; playne. 139. A. T. farewele now have I. 140. A. quod (for sayd.). 141. ferre. 144. wote.

145. Nowe; A. om. 147. one. Th. amonges; A. T. among. 148. A. Nat one quod I ey; Th. Not one than sayd I eygh; T. Not oon then sayd I O. 149. A. they; Th. T. I. done. 150. Th. Nowe; lyfe. 152. trouthe. T. A. nat; Th. not. 153. questyons. Th. be to large; A. om. to. 154. A. medle; Th. meddle. A. is (in later hand); Th. T. om, 155. vnderstande. 157. one; lande. 158. none. 160. hye. A. shul; Th. shal. fynde. 161. A. fanes; Th. phanes; T. vanes. wynde. 162. A. om. and. A. parlours; Th. parlers; T. parlors. A. both; Th. T. om. A. oo; Th. T. a. sorte. 164. disporte. 166. wote. 167. A. toke; Th. T. take. 168. Th. wol; A. T. wold. 169. A. this; Th. T. the. nowe. 170. regarde; playne. 171. A. verray; T. verrey; Th. verey. wote. 172. A. om. right. 173. A. T. ful; Th. right.

174. T. shulde I; Th. I shulde; A. shal I. 175. A. that; Th. T. om. 176. A. at; Th. T. of. 177. fynde. 178. Th. T. ye (for it); A. om. (but it seems required). 180. So A.; Th. T. you tel howe ye shal you. 181. howe. Th. her; A. T. this. 182. A. T. yow; Th. ye. gyue. 183. Th. om. that. T. depart; Th. parte; A. part. 184. A. T. soth; Th. faythe. great. 185. wote. 186. thanke; great. 187. comforte. A. suche; Th. T. om. 188. nowe; bolde; fayle. 189. A. auise; Th. aduyce. Th. and good; A. T. om. good. 198. courte. 201. nowe. 202. A. that; Th. T. om. 205. wolde se howe. A. were; Th. T. was. arayde.

207. worde; sayde. 208. apayde. 209. A. For; Th. T. And. 210. trewe; herde. 211. nowe. 212. coude. 213. Howe farre. A. that; Th. T. the. 215. A. onward; Th. T. outwarde. 217. So A.; Th. T. wolde not we were the last. 218. A. parted; Th. T. departed. Th. T. at the; A. om. the. 219. I supply a. T. and an esy. 221. far. A. onward; Th. T. outwarde. se. 222. Nowe. 225. A. myn hert quod she I gre me wele (better?). 226. A. shul; Th. shal. 227. A. dele; T. delle; Th. dyl. 228. A. was fer gon; Th. T. was past farre. 229. sawe; came. 230. aboute. 232. founde I one. 233. myne. 234. meruayle. 236. A. Yis yis; Th. Yes yes. herde.

237. T. A. your; Th. her. -one. 238. A. that; Th. T. om. A. shal. 239. Nowe. 240. A. this (for the). 241. wolde; myne. 242. wolde; gone. A. ful; Th. T. ryght. fayne. 243. certayne. 244. agayne come; hye. 245. se. A. how wele; Th. T. anone. done. 246. doute; greatly wote. 247. T. byn; A. bien; Th. be. gone. 248. A. waraunt; Th. T. warne. 249. A. T. shul; Th. shal. -one. 250. counsayle; anone. 251. A. ye (twice); Th. T. you (twice). 252. harme thoughe. A. afore; Th. T. before. 257. A. while; Th. whyles. 258. Came; sawe; blewe. 259. All broke (for brouk). Before 260: Th. T. Discrecyon purvyour. 260. wente. 261. yonge; semynge. 263. Dyscrecyon; lesynge. 264. abydynge. 266. Chefe.

Before 267: Th. T. Acquayntaunce herbyger. 267. Fayre. 268. A. herbegyer; Th. T. herbygere. 272. fewe; hyghe degre; lowe. 273. knowe. Before 274: Th. Countenaunce porter. 274. came. 275. yonge. 276. Came; therate. 277. anone. 278. Truely; fayre; one. 279. Whiche one; loughe. 280. knowe; ynoughe. 281. T. yate; A. Th. gate. 282. fayre. 284. one. 285. Nowe. 286. Take. A. as; Th. T. om. whyle. 288. A. gon; Th. go. A. eche on; Th. T. euerychone. 289. All without (!). 290. Came; toke; leaue onone. 291. A. yow; Th. T. ye. nowe. 292. thanke. 293. laboure; whiche; mede. 294. spede. 295. anone. 296. A. now; Th. T. om. 297. A. eche one; Th. T. euerychone.

298. So A; Th. T. But where they are I knowe no certaynte. 299. wyndowe se. 300. amonge. 301. A. now; Th. om. 302. stode musynge. 304. gowne; blewe; wote. 305. facyon. 306. worde. 307. A. The whiche. 308. A. O (for A). A. lettres; Th. letters. 309. A. Than ferforth as she com. came. A. vnto; Th. to. 310. T. worde; Th. wordes; A. om. (see 312). fayne. 311. se. 312. worde; none; trewe. 313. ynoughe; blewe. Above 316: Th. Largesse stewarde; T. Belchere Marchall. 318. T. sewerly; Th. surely. 319. fayre. A. right of nobil. 320. se; reporte. 322. A. Bealchiere; T. Belchere; Th. Belchier. A. the (1); Th. T. om. 323. Th. Nowe. 324. A. matiers. mynde. 326. A. or; Th. T. and. behynde. 327. one; fynde.

328. playne. 329, 330. Chamberlayne. Above 330: Th. T. Remembraunce chamberlayne. 330. I supply now. trewe. 332. aferde. A. aferd but lowly til hir. Th. sewe; T. sew; A. shewe. 333. done. 334. A. me (for ye). 335. T. A. telle; Th. shewe. 336. A. T. Without; Th. Withouten. Above 337: T. Auysen[e]s. 337. A. yit may nat; Th. T. she may not yet be. 338. A. may do; Th. T. doth. thynge. 339. A. T. met; Th. ymet. 340. matere hole; faynynge. 341. louynge. 342. A. gentillesse. 343. sothe. 344. A. name; Th. T. om. 345. se. 346. Nowe; come stande; stode. 348. I supply a. sothe. 349. A. it (for you). certayne. 350. Se; twayne (twice). 351. sothe. A. it (for that). 352. se comynge. 353. ben suche folke. A. I dare wele; T. I dare; Th. dare I. 354. A. ful; Th. T. om. 356. A. T. yow; Th. me (!). 357. frende. T. vnto; A. Th. to.

358. frenshyp; mysse. 359. ease; payne. 360. A. telle me; Th. T. take you. 361. Howe. A. whiche (for who). chamberlayne. 362. worde certaine. 363. worde. A. T. suster. 365. stode. 366. echone. 368. one (twice). 369. A. forth com; Th. T. came forth. I supply lady. 370. fayre. 372. counsayle. 374. Th. thynketh; Th. A. thynke it. 376. A. oon; Th. T. om. 377. thinge. 378. Howe; cominge. 379. one. A. Avise; Th. T. aduyse. 380. sayde. 381. T. wyse (for gyse). 382. folke. A. se; Th. T. say. vnpurueyde. 383. A. wageours; Th. T. wagers. amonge; layde. 384. most goodlest (read goodliest); see 452. 385. whiche shulde. A. And whiche of vs al preysed shuld be best. 386. came. 387. A. ful; T. Th. om. A. T. curteys; Th. curtyse. 388. Thinke. Th. T. of your; A. om. of.

389. A. herbergier; Th. herbigere. 390. A. may; Th. T. om. lodginge. 391. chamberlayne. 392. anone agayne. 393. I supply that. 394. sawe; comynge. 395. great; coude; none. 397. echone; worde. 398. worde. 399. Th. T. I ne; A. we (om. ne). 400. anone came. 401. stode; came. All to. 404. worde. 405. A. pray yow; Th. T. you pray. secrete. 407. A. quod I fyve ladies; Th. fyue ladyes quod I. 409, 410. her. 412. tolde. 413. blewe. 414. A. in; Th. T. om. 415. shulde. 416. soth; wolde; payne. 417. moche. T. wold (for 2nd did). 418. A. ye (for we). 419. Great; tarienge. 420. longe. A. sue. thynge.

421. came agayne anone. 422. -layne. 423. A. T. We bien quod I now redy; Th. We be nowe redy quod I. -one. 424. A. yow (for ye). certayne. 425. playne. 426. Besechynge. 427. trewe meanynge. 428. wente. 429. se. 430. great combraunce (read comberaunce). 431. stode. 432. Nowe stande. 433. ease. A. shal I. 435. amonge; -one. 436. T. thorow; Th. thorugh; A. thurgh. passe. 437. ease; done. 438. T. beckenyd; Th. beckende. A. there (for where). 440. -layne. 441. lefte. 442. T. salutyd. reason. 443. Th. great; T. gret; A. om. (after her). 444. A. matiers. 445. wolde. 447. se; A. so. please. 448. ease. 451. A. wite; Th. wete; T. wote. 452. se.

453. aboute. 454. A. eche a corner. 455. A. The; Th. T. om. made. A. berel; Th. Burel; T. byralle. 456. one. 457. howe. 458. A. Deyd; Th. Dyed. Demophone. 459. Th. Tysbe; A. T. Thesbe. 460. slowe; -selfe. 461. sawe; howe. Th. T. a right; A. om. a. 462. slayne. 463. Th. T. was Hawes the shene; A. was how Enclusene (? error for Melusine). 464. A. Vntriewly was; Th. T. Ful vntrewly. bayne. 466. howe; complayne. 467. certayne. 469. longe. 470. shone (= shoon). 471. Th. A. vmple; T. vmpylle. 472. folke shulde. 473. Th. through; A. thurgh (= thorugh; see 436). 475. sawe. All without. fayle. 476. aparayle. 477. grounde. 479. rounde. 480. coude. 481. wote. T. thorow; A. thurgh (= thorugh); Th. through (see 473). 482. A. til; Th. T. to. 483. farre.

484. A. wite; Th. wete; T. wot. 487. T. nedylle. 488. worde. 489. A. endurer; Th. T. endure. All you. 490. great; knewe. 491. anone. 493. came; alone. 494. Sothely. 495. spake nothynge. 496. A. T. hastily; Th. hastely. warnynge. 497. A. roome; Th. T. rome. comynge. 498. sawe. 499. helde; hande. 500. sawe. A. goode; Th. T. goodly. 501. great; stande. 502. -stande. 504. coude. 505. (above): T. Attemperaunce chaunclere. wolde. 506. wolde. T. sew; A. sue. 507. A. Sauf oo; Th. Saue a. 508. sothely. 509. moche. 510. A. matiers. alwaye. 511. forthe. 513. connynge. 514. A. dayes of al my.

515. fayre. A. none sene; Th. sene none; T. noon seen. 517. A. you; Th. T. om. 519-532. Missing in A. 520. gowne. 522. coloure blewe. T. good; Th. goodly. facyoun. 523. Th. taberde; T. taberd. T. doun; Th. adowne. 526. sorte; vente (T. vent). 527. T. ermyn; Th. Armyne. made; purfelynge. 528. Th. great; T. gret. 529. one worchynge. 530. Th. diamondes; T. dyamondes. powderynge. 531. T. purfyllys; Th. purfel (!). 532. Both made lyke (!). 533. sorte. 534. enamayle. 535. A. fresshest; Th. T. fayrest. 536. A. with; Th. T. of. great; entayle. 537. A. withouten; Th. T. without. fayle. 539. worlde. A. T. loke; Th. loken. 540. comynge forthe; estate. 541. downe. A. eche on; Th. T. euerychone. 542. A. T. vp; Th. om. wote. 543. toke; one and one.

544. done; came; anone. 547. A. Whan; Th. T. And whan. done. 548. -layne. 549. A. til; T. to; Th. vnto. 551. Voyde backe; preace. 552. Make. A. larger; Th. T. large. roume; loke. 553. take; secretarye. 554. -layne. 555. came agayne. 556. -tarye. 558. onely. 559. agayne. 560. -layne. 562. Th. secretarye ye do make come; A. T. secretary make hir come. 565. maye. A. avise; T. auyse. 566. counsayle. 567. Loke; done; fayle. 568. A. The chambrelayn whan she wist; Th. T. Whan the chamberlayne wyste of. 569. -tarye. 571. A. om. it. 572. A. ye rede hem al; T. yow there cal (!); Th. ye hem cal (!). 573. A. gode.

576. came. Th. shuld; A. T. to. T. red; A. Th. redde. 578. Rayson. A. T. wold that; Th. wyl. spedde. 579. spredde. 580. -tarie; downe echone. 581. T. rad. T. theym (= hem); Th. A. om. one by one. 582. bearyng. 583. A. T. in; Th. on. 585. made. 587. deserte; partye. 588. A. matier. Th. T. a remedy; A. om. a. 589. A. next felawes word; Th. T. next folowing her word. 590. A. Une; Th. T. Vng. T. saunz chaunger. complayne. 592. toke; payne. 593. restrayne. 594. case. 595. reason. 596. twayne. 597. wrote. 598. A. Oncques; Th. Vncques; T. Vnques. playne. 599. A. grevous (for pitous). 600. great reason. 601. A. And; Th. T. om. 602. processe. 603. made. 604. comforte. 605. Th. surete; A. suerte; T. seurte.

606. A. fonde; Th. T. sayd (!). 607. Nowe; wele. 608. Th. humbly; A. humble (!); read humbelly. her high grace; A. om. high. 609. A. Som remedy to chewe (!) in; Th. T. Soone to shewe her remedy in. 610. sayde. 611. playnynge. 612. wrothe. wele apayde. 613. se; wolde. I supply that. 614. wrothe. 615. worde; wote. 616. wrote. 617. great. 618. done. 620. mynde. A. thus; Th. T. there. 621. whiche; boone. 622. Rehersynge. I supply that. 623. Besechynge. 624. lyke; done. 626. A. vp; Th. T. om. 627. One; wrote. 628. hole. A. Of hir compleynt also the cause why; T. om. this line. 629. writinge. 630. A. knowlachyng; Th. T. knowynge. 631. wote. 632. herte. 633. toke. 634. one. A. til. A. it; Th. T. om. smerte. 635. thanke; deserte.

636. comforte. A. wayted; Th. T. wanted. comynge. 637. -thynge. 638. besechynge. 639. A. T. for her wold; Th. wolde for her. 640. A. al; Th. T. om. lyuynge. 641. trewe. A. so; Th. T. om. 642. saye. 643. nexte. A. after; Th. T. om. forthe. 645. diu; wrote. 646. A. any; Th. T. om. fayle. 647. T. takyn; Th. A. take. 648. meruaile. 649. auayle. 652. shulde. 653. great. All encombraunce. 654. moche. 655. Th. T. al her; A. om. al. 656. made. 659. wrote. 660. thinge. 661. felte great. 662. A. om. right. 663. sate; passynge. 664. lothe; wrytynge. 665. A. his; T. a; Th. om. thinge.

666. A. Se iour (for Soyes). worde certayne. 667. wrote. A. but; Th. T. om. 668. vayne. 670. Th. T. humbly; A. humble (!); see 607. desyrynge. 671. comforte; sorowe. 672. ease. 675. Th. moneste; T. A. monest. farre; coude. 676. worde. 678. T. tell (for say). 679. wolde. 681. lete se. 683. Nowe. 684. A. T. parde have knowlache; Th. haue knowlege parde. 686. selfe. 687. wote. A. that; Th. T. om. thinke. 688. herde. 689. Nowe. All hate (= hote). 691. A. wite; Th. T. wete. reason. 692. A. knowe al that hath be done afore; Th. T. haue knowlege of that was done before. 693. A. it; Th. T. it is (om. is). All without. A. any (for wordes). 694. Nothynge. A. lief; T. leef; Th. lefe. dethe. 695. payne.

697. aforne; certayne. 698. wote. 699. helpe; thinge. 700. thinke. T. I; Th. A. it. 702. I supply you. 703. longe. 706. thanke I supply a. 707. deserte. A. deservith; Th. T. serueth. 708. -one. 709. A. This lady; Th. T. The ladyes. toke. 710. A. ech; Th. T. om. 712. A. yaf; Th. T. yaue. T. in; Th. A. om. 713. one. 714. A. hem there hir answere; Th. T. hem her answere in. 716. spake; -selfe. 717. sene. 718. A. T. ful; Th. om. 720. shorte; courte. 721. A. T. paleys. 722. fynde. 724. I supply a. A. shul; Th. T. shal. 725. T. thoroughly; Th. throughly; A. triewly. 726. shal (see 724); knowe. 728. So Th.; A. shal bryng it yow bi; T. shall hyt yow tell by.

729. moste. 730. eche one by one. 732. A. vs (for 1st we). trauayle. 733. I supply a. 734. toke. 735. forthe; shulde. 736. sprange anone. 737. woke. 738. nowe; gone. 739. A. Al amased vp; Th. T. Al mased and vp (read And al amased up). loke. 740. boke. 741. All simply. 742. shulde. Th. T. be out; A. out (om. be). 743. Nowe; dreame. 745. stode. 746. shulde; none. All encombraunce. 747. toke; great. 748. nowe; boke. 749. A. wite; Th. T. wete. 750. boke. 751. So A.; Th. T. Of the name to tel you in certaynte (T. certayn). 752. A. La semble; T. Lassembyll. 753. Howe thynke. A. the; Th. T. om. 754. Nowe. 756. dreme; done. Colophon: in T. only.

¶ Moder of norture, best beloved of al,

And fresshest flour, to whom good thrift god sende.

Your child, if it list you me so to cal,

Al be I unable my-self so to pretende,

To your discrecioun I recommende

Myn herte and al, with every circumstaunce,

Al hoolly to be under your governaunce.

Most desyre I, and have, and ever shal

Thing, whiche might your hertës ese amende;

Have me excused, my power is but smal;

Natheles, of right ye ought[e] to commende

My good[e] will, which fayn wolde entende

To do you service; for al my suffisaunce

Is hoolly to be under your governaunce.

Meulx un: in herte, which never shal apal,

Ay fresshe and newe, and right glad to dispende

My tyme in your servyce, what-so befal,

Beseching your excéllence to defende

My simplenesse, if ignoraunce offende

In any wyse; sith that myn affiaunce

Is hoolly to be under your governaunce.

[406]

¶ Daisy of light! very ground of comfort!

The sonnes doughter ye hight, as I rede;

For when he westreth, farwel your disport!

By your nature anon, right for pure drede

Of the rude night, that with his boystous wede

Of derkness shadoweth our emispere,

Than closen ye, my lyves lady dere!

Dawing the day to his kinde resort,

Phebus your fader, with his stremes rede,

Adorneth the morow, cónsuming the sort

Of misty cloudës, that wolde overlede

Trewe humble hertës with hir mistihede,

Nere comfort a-dayes, whan eyën clere

Disclose and sprede my lyves lady dere.

[A stanza lost; lines 36-42.]

¶ Je vouldray:—but [the] gret[e] god disposeth

And maketh casuel by his providence

Such thing as mannës frelë wit purposeth;

Al for the best, if that our conscience

Nat grucche it, but in humble pacience

It receyve; for god saith, without[e] fable,

A faithful hertë ever is acceptáble.

Cautels who useth gladly, gloseth;

To eschewe suche it is right high prudence;

What ye said[e] onës, [now] myn herte opposeth,

"That my wryting japës, in your absence,

Plesed you moche bet than my presence!"

Yet can I more, ye be nat excusáble;

A faithful hertë ever is acceptáble.

Quaketh my penne; my spirit supposeth

That in my wryting ye finde wol som offence;

Myn herte welkeneth thus sone, anon it †roseth;

Now hot, now cold, and eft in [al] fervence;

[407]

That mis is, is caused of negligence

And not of malice; therfor beth merciable;

A faithful hertë ever is acceptáble.

Lenvoy.

¶ Forth, complaynt! forth, lakking eloquence,

Forth, litel lettre, of endyting lame!

I have besought my ladies sapience

Of thy behalfe, to accept in game

Thyn inabilitee; do thou the same!

Abyd! have more yet; Je serve Jonesse.

Now forth; I close thee, in holy Venus name;

Thee shal unclose my hertes governeresse.

Finis.

From Th. (Thynne's ed. 1532). Title. A goodly balade of Chaucer. I note here rejected spellings. 3. childe; lust. 4. selfe. 5. discrecion; recomende. 7. holy. 9. ease. 10. small. 11. Nathelesse; ought. 12. good; whiche fayne. 14. holy. 17. befall. 20. sythe. 21. holy; ben.

22. grounde; comforte. 24. disporte. 27. derkenesse. 29. resorte. 30. And Phebus (I omit And); father. 31. morowe; sorte. 32. wolden. 34. comforte. 43. great (read the grete). 45. Suche; mans (read mannes); witte. 47. grutche. 48. Read Receyve it (?); saythe withoute. 52. sayd; I supply now. 53. Read wryting of iapes (?). 54. Pleased; better (read bet). 58. Omit wol (?); some. 59. ryseth (!); read roseth. 60. Nowe hotte, nowe colde; efte; I supply al.

61. mysse. 62. therfore bethe. 64. Headed Lenuoye. Forthe; forthe lackyng. 65. Forthe. 68. inabylite. 69. Iouesse. 70. Nowe; the. 71. The.

Rex sine sapiencia: Episcopus sine doctrina.

Dominus sine consilio: Mulier sine castitate.

Miles sine probitate: Iudex sine Iusticia.

Diues sine elemosina: Populus sine lege.

Senex sine religione: Seruus sine timore.

Pauper superbus: Adolescens sine obediencia.

Go forth, king, rule thee by sapience;

Bishop, be able to minister doctryne;

Lord, to trew consayl yeve audience;

Womanheed, to chastitè ever enclyne;

Knight, let thy dedes worship determyne;

Be rightwis, jugë, in saving thy name;

Rich, do almesse, lest thou lese blis with shame.

People, obey your king and the lawe;

Age, be thou ruled by good religioun;

Trew servant, be dredful, and keep thee under awe,

And thou, povre, fy on presumpcioun;

Inobedience to youth is utter distruccioun;

Remembre you how god hath set you, lo!

And do your part, as ye be ordained to.

From Th. (Thynne, ed. 1532); I give rejected spellings. 1. forthe; the. 2. Bishoppe. 3. Lorde; trewe counsayle. 4. Womanhede. 5. lette. 6. rightous (read rightwis); iuge. 7. blysse. 9. relygion. 10. Trewe; dredeful; kepe. 11. poore; presumption. 12. distruction. 13. howe. 14. parte.

With timerous hert and trembling hand of drede,

Of cunning naked, bare of eloquence,

Unto the flour of port in womanhede

I write, as he that non intelligence

Of metres hath, ne floures of sentence;

Sauf that me list my writing to convey,

In that I can to please her hygh nobley.

The blosmes fresshe of Tullius garden soote

Present thaim not, my mater for to borne:

Poemes of Virgil taken here no rote,

Ne crafte of Galfrid may not here sojorne:

Why nam I cunning? O well may I morne,

For lak of science that I can-not write

Unto the princes of my life a-right

No termes digne unto her excellence,

So is she sprong of noble stirpe and high:

A world of honour and of reverence

There is in her, this wil I testifie.

Calliope, thou sister wise and sly,

And thou, Minerva, guyde me with thy grace,

That langage rude my mater not deface.

Thy suger-dropes swete of Elicon

Distill in me, thou gentle Muse, I pray;

And thee, Melpomene, I calle anon,

Of ignoraunce the mist to chace away;

And give me grace so for to write and sey,

[410]

That she, my lady, of her worthinesse,

Accepte in gree this litel short tretesse,

That is entitled thus, 'The Court of Love.'

And ye that ben metriciens me excuse,

I you besech, for Venus sake above;

For what I mene in this ye need not muse:

And if so be my lady it refuse

For lak of ornat speche, I wold be wo,

That I presume to her to writen so.

But myn entent and all my besy cure

Is for to write this tretesse, as I can,

Unto my lady, stable, true, and sure,

Feithfull and kind, sith first that she began

Me to accept in service as her man:

To her be all the plesure of this boke,

That, whan her like, she may it rede and loke.

When I was yong, at eighteen yere of age,

Lusty and light, desirous of pleasaunce,

Approching on full sadde and ripe corage,

Love arted me to do myn observaunce

To his astate, and doon him obeysaunce,

Commaunding me the Court of Love to see,

A lite beside the mount of Citharee,

There Citherea goddesse was and quene

Honoured highly for her majestee;

And eke her sone, the mighty god, I wene,

Cupid the blind, that for his dignitee

A thousand lovers worship on their knee;

There was I bid, on pain of death, t'apere,

By Mercury, the winged messengere.

So than I went by straunge and fer contrees,

Enquiring ay what costes †to it drew,

The Court of Love: and thiderward, as bees,

At last I sey the peple gan pursue:

Anon, me thought, som wight was there that knew

Where that the court was holden, ferre or ny,

And after thaim ful fast I gan me hy.

[411]

Anone as I theim overtook, I said,

'Hail, frendes! whider purpose ye to wend?'

'Forsooth,' quod oon that answered lich a maid,

'To Loves Court now go we, gentill frend.'

'Where is that place,' quod I, 'my felowe hend?'

'At Citheron, sir,' seid he, 'without dowte,

The King of Love, and all his noble rowte,

Dwelling within a castell ryally.'

So than apace I jorned forth among,

And as he seid, so fond I there truly.

For I beheld the towres high and strong,

And high pinácles, large of hight and long,

With plate of gold bespred on every side,

And presious stones, the stone-werk for to hide.

No saphir ind, no rubè riche of price,

There lakked than, nor emeraud so grene,

Baleis Turkeis, ne thing to my devise,

That may the castell maken for to shene:

All was as bright as sterres in winter been;

And Phebus shoon, to make his pees agayn,

For trespas doon to high estates tweyn,

Venus and Mars, the god and goddesse clere,

Whan he theim found in armes cheined fast:

Venus was then full sad of herte and chere.

But Phebus bemes, streight as is the mast,

Upon the castell ginneth he to cast,

To plese the lady, princesse of that place,

In signe he loketh aftir Loves grace.

For there nis god in heven or helle, y-wis,

But he hath ben right soget unto Love:

Jove, Pluto, or what-so-ever he is,

Ne creature in erth, or yet above;

Of thise the révers may no wight approve.

But furthermore, the castell to descry,

Yet saw I never non so large and high.

For unto heven it streccheth, I suppose,

100

Within and out depeynted wonderly,

[412]

With many a thousand daisy, rede as rose,

And white also, this saw I verily:

But what tho daises might do signify,

Can I not tell, sauf that the quenes flour

105

Alceste it was that kept there her sojour;

Which under Venus lady was and quene,

And Admete king and soverain of that place,

To whom obeyed the ladies gode ninetene,

With many a thowsand other, bright of face.

110

And yong men fele came forth with lusty pace,

And aged eke, their homage to dispose;

But what thay were, I coud not well disclose.

Yet ner and ner furth in I gan me dresse

Into an halle of noble apparaile,

115

With arras spred and cloth of gold, I gesse,

And other silk of esier availe:

Under the cloth of their estate, saunz faile,

The king and quene ther sat, as I beheld:

It passed joye of Helisee the feld.

120

There saintes have their comming and resort,

To seen the king so ryally beseyn,

In purple clad, and eke the quene in sort:

And on their hedes saw I crownes tweyn,

With stones fret, so that it was no payn,

125

Withouten mete and drink, to stand and see

The kinges honour and the ryaltee.

And for to trete of states with the king,

That been of councell chief, and with the quene,

The king had Daunger ner to him standing,

130

The Quene of Love, Disdain, and that was seen:

For by the feith I shall to god, I wene,

Was never straunger [non] in her degree

Than was the quene in casting of her ee.

And as I stood perceiving her apart,

135

And eke the bemes shyning of her yen,

Me thought thay were shapen lich a dart,

Sherp and persing, smale, and streight as lyne.

And all her here, it shoon as gold so fyne,

[413]

Dishevel, crisp, down hinging at her bak

140

A yarde in length: and soothly than I spak:—

'O bright Regina, who made thee so fair?

Who made thy colour vermelet and white?

Where woneth that god? how fer above the eyr?

Greet was his craft, and greet was his delyt.

145

Now marvel I nothing that ye do hight

The Quene of Love, and occupy the place

Of Citharee: now, sweet lady, thy grace.'

In mewet spak I, so that nought astert,

By no condicion, word that might be herd;

150

B[ut] in myn inward thought I gan advert,

And oft I seid, 'My wit is dulle and hard:'

For with her bewtee, thus, god wot, I ferd

As doth the man y-ravisshed with sight,

When I beheld her cristall yen so bright,

155

No respect having what was best to doon;

Till right anon, beholding here and there,

I spied a frend of myne, and that full soon,

A gentilwoman, was the chamberer

Unto the quene, that hote, as ye shall here,

160

Philobone, that lovëd all her life:

Whan she me sey, she led me furth as blyfe;

And me demaunded how and in what wise

I thider com, and what myne erand was?

'To seen the court,' quod I, 'and all the guyse;

165

And eke to sue for pardon and for grace,

And mercy ask for all my greet trespace,

That I non erst com to the Court of Love:

Foryeve me this, ye goddes all above!'

'That is well seid,' quod Philobone, 'in-dede:

170

But were ye not assomoned to apere

By Mercury? For that is all my drede.'

'Yes, gentil fair,' quod I, 'now am I here;

Ye, yit what tho, though that be true, my dere?'

'Of your free will ye shuld have come unsent:

175

For ye did not, I deme ye will be shent.

[414]

For ye that reign in youth and lustinesse,

Pampired with ese, and †jolif in your age,

Your dewtee is, as fer as I can gesse,

To Loves Court to dressen your viage,

180

As sone as Nature maketh you so sage,

That ye may know a woman from a swan,

Or whan your foot is growen half a span.

But sith that ye, by wilful necligence,

This eighteen yere have kept yourself at large,

185

The gretter is your trespace and offence,

And in your nek ye moot bere all the charge:

For better were ye ben withouten barge,

Amiddë see, in tempest and in rain,

Than byden here, receiving woo and pain,

190

That ordeined is for such as thaim absent

Fro Loves Court by yeres long and fele.

I ley my lyf ye shall full soon repent;

For Love will reyve your colour, lust, and hele:

Eke ye must bait on many an hevy mele:

195

No force, y-wis, I stired you long agoon

To draw to court,' quod litell Philobon.

'Ye shall well see how rough and angry face

The King of Love will shew, when ye him see;

By myn advyse kneel down and ask him grace,

200

Eschewing perell and adversitee;

For well I wot it wol non other be,

Comfort is non, ne counsel to your ese;

Why will ye than the King of Love displese?'

'O mercy, god,' quod ich, 'I me repent,

205

Caitif and wrecche in hert, in wille, and thought!

And aftir this shall be myne hole entent

To serve and plese, how dere that love be bought:

Yit, sith I have myn own penaunce y-sought,

With humble spirit shall I it receive,

210

Though that the King of Love my life bereyve.

[415]

And though that fervent loves qualitè

In me did never worch truly, yit I

With all obeisaunce and humilitè,

And benign hert, shall serve him til I dye:

215

And he that Lord of †might is, grete and highe,

Right as him list me chastice and correct,

And punish me, with trespace thus enfect.'

Thise wordes seid, she caught me by the lap,

And led me furth intill a temple round,

220

Large and wyde: and, as my blessed hap

And good avénture was, right sone I found

A tabernacle reised from the ground,

Where Venus sat, and Cupid by her syde;

Yet half for drede I gan my visage hyde.

225

And eft again I loked and beheld,

Seeing full sundry peple in the place,

And mister folk, and som that might not weld

Their limmes well, me thought a wonder cas;

The temple shoon with windows all of glas,

230

Bright as the day, with many a fair image;

And there I sey the fresh quene of Cartage,

Dido, that brent her bewtee for the love

Of fals Eneas; and the weymenting

Of hir, Anelida, true as turtill-dove,

235

To Arcite fals: and there was in peinting

Of many a prince, and many a doughty king,

Whose marterdom was shewed about the walles;

And how that fele for love had suffered falles.

But sore I was abasshed and astonied

240

Of all tho folk that there were in that tyde;

And than I asked where thay had [y-]woned:

'In dyvers courtes,' quod she, 'here besyde.'

In sondry clothing, mantil-wyse full wyde,

They were arrayed, and did their sacrifice

245

Unto the god and goddesse in their guyse.

'†Lo! yonder folk,' quod she, 'that knele in blew,

They were the colour ay, and ever shall,

[416]

In sign they were, and ever will be trew

Withouten chaunge: and sothly, yonder all

250

That ben in blak, with morning cry and call

Unto the goddes, for their loves been

Som fer, som dede, som all to sherpe and kene.'

'Ye, than,' quod I, 'what doon thise prestes here,

Nonnes and hermits, freres, and all thoo

255

That sit in white, in russet, and in grene?'

'For-soth,' quod she, 'they wailen of their wo.'

'O mercy, lord! may thay so come and go

Freely to court, and have such libertee?'

'Ye, men of ech condicion and degree,

260

And women eke: for truly, there is non

Excepcion mad, ne never was ne may:

This court is ope and free for everichon,

The King of Love he will nat say thaim nay:

He taketh all, in poore or riche array,

265

That meekly sewe unto his excellence

With all their herte and all their reverence.'

And, walking thus about with Philobone,

I sey where cam a messenger in hy

Streight from the king, which let commaund anon,

270

Through-out the court to make an ho and cry:

'A! new-come folk, abyde! and wot ye why?

The kinges lust is for to seen you soon:

Com ner, let see! his will mot need be doon.'

Than gan I me present to-fore the king,

275

Trembling for fere, with visage pale of hew,

And many a lover with me was kneling,

Abasshed sore, till unto tyme thay knew

The sentence yeve of his entent full trew:

And at the last the king hath me behold

280

With stern visage, and seid, 'What doth this old,

Thus fer y-stope in yeres, come so late

Unto the court?' 'For-soth, my liege,' quod I,

'An hundred tyme I have ben at the gate

[417]

Afore this tyme, yit coud I never espy

285

Of myn acqueyntaunce any with mine y;

And shamefastnes away me gan to chace;

But now I me submit unto your grace.'

'Well! all is perdoned, with condicion

That thou be trew from hensforth to thy might,

290

And serven Love in thyn entencion:

Swere this, and than, as fer as it is right,

Thou shalt have grace here in my quenes sight.'

'Yis, by the feith I ow your crown, I swere,

Though Deth therfore me thirlith with his spere!'

295

And whan the king had seen us everichoon,

He let commaunde an officer in hy

To take our feith, and shew us, oon by oon,

The statuts of the court full besily.

Anon the book was leid before their y,

300

To rede and see what thing we must observe

In Loves Court, till that we dye and sterve.

And, for that I was lettred, there I red

The statuts hole of Loves Court and hall:

The first statut that on the boke was spred,

305

Was, To be true in thought and dedes all

Unto the King of Love, the Lord ryall;

And to the Quene, as feithful and as kind,

As I coud think with herte, and will and mind.

The secund statut, Secretly to kepe

310

Councell of love, nat blowing every-where

All that I know, and let it sink †or flete;

It may not sown in every wightes ere:

Exyling slaunder ay for dred and fere,

And to my lady, which I love and serve,

315

Be true and kind, her grace for to deserve.

The thrid statut was clerely write also,

Withouten chaunge to live and dye the same,

Non other love to take, for wele ne wo,

[418]

For brind delyt, for ernest nor for game:

320

Without repent, for laughing or for grame,

To byden still in full perseveraunce:

Al this was hole the kinges ordinaunce.

The fourth statut, To purchace ever to here,

And stiren folk to love, and beten fyr

325

On Venus awter, here about and there,

And preche to thaim of love and hot desyr,

And tell how love will quyten well their hire:

This must be kept; and loth me to displese:

If love be wroth, passe forby is an ese.

330

The fifth statut, Not to be daungerous,

If that a thought wold reyve me of my slepe:

Nor of a sight to be over squeymous;

And so, verily, this statut was to kepe,

To turne and walowe in my bed and wepe,

335

When that my lady, of her crueltè,

Wold from her herte exylen all pitè.

The sixt statut, it was for me to use,

Alone to wander, voide of company,

And on my ladys bewtee for to muse,

340

And to think [it] no force to live or dye;

And eft again to think the remedy,

How to her grace I might anon attain,

And tell my wo unto my souverain.

The seventh statut was, To be pacient,

345

Whether my lady joyfull were or wroth;

For wordes glad or hevy, diligent,

Wheder that she me helden lefe or loth:

And hereupon I put was to myn oth,

Her for to serve, and lowly to obey,

350

Shewing my chere, ye, twenty sith a-day.

The eighth statut, to my rememb[e]raunce,

Was, To speke, and pray my lady dere,

With hourly labour and gret attendaunce,

Me for to love with all her herte entere,

355

And me desyre, and make me joyfull chere,

[419]

Right as she is, surmounting every faire,

Of bewtie well, and gentill debonaire.

The ninth statut, with lettres writ of gold,

This was the sentence, How that I and all

360

Shuld ever dred to be to over-bold

Her to displese; and truly, so I shall;

But ben content for thing[es] that may falle,

And meekly take her chastisement and yerd,

And to offende her ever ben aferd.

365

The tenth statut was, Egally discern

By-twene thy lady and thyn abilitee,

And think, thy-self art never like to yern,

By right, her mercy, nor of equitee,

But of her grace and womanly pitee:

370

For though thy-self be noble in thy strene,

A thowsand-fold more nobill is thy quene,

Thy lyves lady, and thy souverayn,

That hath thyn herte all hole in governaunce.

Thou mayst no wyse hit taken to disdayn,

375

To put thee humbly at her ordinaunce,

And give her free the rein of her plesaunce;

For libertee is thing that women loke,

And truly, els the mater is a-croke.

The eleventh statut, Thy signes for to †con

380

With y and finger, and with smyles soft,

And low to cough, and alway for to shon,

For dred of spyes, for to winken oft:

But secretly to bring a sigh a-loft,

And eke beware of over-moch resort;

385

For that, paraventure, spilleth al thy sport.

The twelfth statut remember to observe:

For al the pain thow hast for love and wo,

All is to lite her mercy to deserve,

Thow must then think, where-ever thou ryde or go;

390

And mortall woundes suffer thow also,

All for her sake, and thinke it well beset

Upon thy love, for it may be no bet.

[420]

The thirteenth statut, Whylom is to thinke,

What thing may best thy lady lyke and plese,

395

And in thyn hertes botom let it sinke:

Som thing devise, and take [it] for thyn ese,

And send it her, that may her herte †apese:

Some hert, or ring, or lettre, or device,

Or precious stone; but spare not for no price.

400

The fourteenth statut eke thou shalt assay

Fermly to kepe the most part of thy lyfe:

Wish that thy lady in thyne armes lay,

And nightly dreme, thow hast thy hertes wyfe

Swetely in armes, straining her as blyfe:

405

And whan thou seest it is but fantasy,

See that thow sing not over merily,

For to moche joye hath oft a wofull end.

It longith eke, this statut for to hold,

To deme thy lady evermore thy frend,

410

And think thyself in no wyse a cocold.

In every thing she doth but as she shold:

Construe the best, beleve no tales newe,

For many a lie is told, that semeth full trewe.

But think that she, so bounteous and fair,

415

Coud not be fals: imagine this algate;

And think that tonges wikke wold her appair,

Slaundering her name and worshipfull estat,

And lovers true to setten at debat:

And though thow seest a faut right at thyne y,

420

Excuse it blyve, and glose it pretily.

The fifteenth statut, Use to swere and stare,

And counterfet a lesing hardely,

To save thy ladys honour every-where,

And put thyself to fight [for her] boldly:

425

Sey she is good, virtuous, and gostly,

Clere of entent, and herte, and thought and wille;

And argue not, for reson ne for skille,

[421]

Agayn thy ladys plesir ne entent,

For love wil not be countrepleted, indede:

430

Sey as she seith, than shalt thou not be shent,

The crow is whyte; ye, truly, so I rede:

And ay what thing that she thee will forbede,

Eschew all that, and give her sovereintee,

Her appetyt folow in all degree.

435

The sixteenth statut, kepe it if thow may:—

Seven sith at night thy lady for to plese,

And seven at midnight, seven at morow-day;

And drink a cawdell erly for thyn ese.

Do this, and kepe thyn hede from all disese,

440

And win the garland here of lovers all,

That ever come in court, or ever shall.

Ful few, think I, this statut hold and kepe;

But truly, this my reson giveth me fele,

That som lovers shuld rather fall aslepe,

445

Than take on hand to plese so oft and wele.

There lay non oth to this statut a-dele,

But kepe who might, as gave him his corage:

Now get this garland, lusty folk of age.

Now win who may, ye lusty folk of youth,

450

This garland fresh, of floures rede and whyte,

Purpill and blewe, and colours †ful uncouth,

And I shal croune him king of all delyt!

In al the court there was not, to my sight,

A lover trew, that he ne was adred,

455

When he expresse hath herd the statut red.

The seventeenth statut, Whan age approchith on,

And lust is leid, and all the fire is queint,

As freshly than thou shalt begin to fon,

And dote in love, and all her image paint

460

In rémembraunce, til thou begin to faint,

†As in the first seson thyn hert began:

And her desire, though thou ne may ne can

[422]

Perform thy living actuell, and lust;

Regester this in thy rememb[e]raunce:

465

Eke when thou mayst not kepe thy thing from rust,

†Yit speke and talk of plesaunt daliaunce;

For that shall make thyn hert rejoise and daunce.

And when thou mayst no more the game assay,

The statut †bit thee pray for hem that may.

470

The eighteenth statut, hoolly to commend,

To plese thy lady, is, That thou eschewe

With sluttishness thy-self for to offend;

Be jolif, fresh, and fete, with thinges newe,

Courtly with maner, this is all thy due,

475

Gentill of port, and loving clenlinesse;

This is the thing that lyketh thy maistresse.

And not to wander lich a dulled ass,

Ragged and torn, disgysed in array,

Ribaud in speche, or out of mesure pass,

480

Thy bound exceding; think on this alway:

For women †been of tender hertes ay,

And lightly set their plesire in a place;

Whan they misthink, they lightly let it passe.

The nineteenth statut, Mete and drink forgete:

485

Ech other day, see that thou fast for love,

For in the court they live withouten mete,

Sauf such as cometh from Venus all above;

They take non heed, in pain of greet reprove,

Of mete and drink, for that is all in vain;

490

Only they live by sight of their soverain.

The twentieth statut, last of everichoon,

Enroll it in thyn hertes privitee;

To wring and wail, to turn, and sigh and grone,

When that thy lady absent is from thee;

495

And eke renew the wordes [all] that she

Bitween you twain hath seid, and all the chere

That thee hath mad thy lyves lady dere.

And see thyn herte in quiet ne in rest

Sojorn, to tyme thou seen thy lady eft;

500

But wher she won by south, or est, or west,

With all thy force, now see it be not left:

[423]

Be diligent, till tyme thy lyfe be reft,

In that thou mayst, thy lady for to see;

This statut was of old antiquitee.

505

An officer of high auctoritee,

Cleped Rigour, made us swere anon:

He nas corrupt with parcialitee,

Favour, prayer, ne gold that cherely shoon;

'Ye shall,' quod he, 'now sweren here echoon,

510

Yong and old, to kepe, in that †ye may,

The statuts truly, all, aftir this day.'

O god, thought I, hard is to make this oth!

But to my pouer shall I thaim observe;

In all this world nas mater half so loth,

515

To swere for all; for though my body sterve,

I have no might the hole for to reserve.

But herkin now the cace how it befell:

After my oth was mad, the trouth to tell,

I turned leves, loking on this boke,

520

Where other statuts were of women shene;

And right furthwith Rigour on me gan loke

Full angrily, and seid unto the quene

I traitour was, and charged me let been:

'There may no man,' quod he, 'the statut[s] know,

525

That long to woman, by degree ne low.

In secret wyse thay kepten been full close,

They sowne echon to libertie, my frend;

Plesaunt thay be, and to their own purpose;

There wot no wight of thaim, but god and fend,

530

Ne naught shall wit, unto the worldes end.

The quene hath yeve me charge, in pain to dye,

Never to rede ne seen thaim with myn ye.

For men shall not so nere of councell ben,

With womanhode, ne knowen of her gyse,

535

Ne what they think, ne of their wit th'engyn;

I me report to Salamon the wyse,

And mighty Sampson, which begyled thryes

With Dalida was: he wot that, in a throw,

There may no man statut of women knowe.

[424]

540

For it paravénture may right so befall,

That they be bound by nature to disceive,

And spinne, and wepe, and sugre strewe on gall,

The hert of man to ravissh and to reyve,

And whet their tong as sharp as swerd or gleyve:

545

It may betyde, this is their ordinaunce;

So must they lowly doon the observaunce,

And kepe the statut yeven thaim of kind,

Or such as love hath yeve hem in their lyfe.

Men may not wete why turneth every wind,

550

Nor waxen wyse, nor ben inquisityf

To know secret of maid, widow, or wyfe;

For they their statutes have to thaim reserved,

And never man to know thaim hath deserved.

Now dress you furth, the god of Love you gyde!'

555

Quod Rigour than, 'and seek the temple bright

Of Cither[e]a, goddess here besyde;

Beseche her, by [the] influence and might

Of al her vertue, you to teche a-right,

How for to serve your ladies, and to plese,

560

Ye that ben sped, and set your hert in ese.

And ye that ben unpurveyed, †pray her eke

Comfort you soon with grace and destinee,

That ye may set your hert there ye may lyke,

In suche a place, that it to love may be

565

Honour and worship, and felicitee

To you for ay. Now goth, by one assent.'

'Graunt mercy, sir!' quod we, and furth we went

Devoutly, soft and esy pace, to see

Venus the goddes image, all of gold:

570

And there we founde a thousand on their knee,

Sum freshe and feire, som dedely to behold,

In sondry mantils new, and som were old,

Som painted were with flames rede as fire,

Outward to shew their inward hoot desire:

575

With dolefull chere, full fele in their complaint

Cried 'Lady Venus, rewe upon our sore!

Receive our billes, with teres all bedreint;

We may not wepe, there is no more in store;

[425]

But wo and pain us frettith more and more:

580

Thou †blisful planet, lovers sterre so shene,

Have rowth on us, that sigh and carefull been;

And ponish, Lady, grevously, we pray,

The false untrew with counterfet plesaunce,

That made their oth, be trew to live or dey,

585

With chere assured, and with countenaunce;

And falsly now thay foten loves daunce,

Barein of rewth, untrue of that they seid,

Now that their lust and plesire is alleyd.'

Yet eft again, a thousand milion,

590

Rejoysing, love, leding their life in blis:

They seid:—'Venus, redresse of all division,

Goddes eterne, thy name †y-heried is!

By loves bond is knit all thing, y-wis,

Best unto best, the erth to water wan,

595

Bird unto bird, and woman unto man;

This is the lyfe of joye that we ben in,

Resembling lyfe of hevenly paradyse;

Love is exyler ay of vice and sin;

Love maketh hertes lusty to devyse;

600

Honour and grace have thay, in every wyse,

That been to loves law obedient;

Love makith folk benigne and diligent;

Ay stering theim to drede[n] vice and shame:

In their degree it maketh thaim honorable;

605

And swete it is of love [to] bere the name,

So that his love be feithfull, true, and stable:

Love prunith him, to semen amiable;

Love hath no faut, there it is exercysed,

But sole with theim that have all love dispised.

610

Honour to thee, celestiall and clere

Goddes of love, and to thy celsitude,

That yevest us light so fer down from thy spere,

Persing our hertes with thy pulcritude!

Comparison non of similitude

615

May to thy grace be mad in no degree,

That hast us set with love in unitee.

[426]

Gret cause have we to praise thy name and thee,

For [that] through thee we live in joye and blisse.

Blessed be thou, most souverain to see!

620

Thy holy court of gladness may not misse:

A thousand sith we may rejoise in this,

That we ben thyn with harte and all y-fere,

Enflamed with thy grace, and hevinly fere.'

Musing of tho that spakin in this wyse,

625

I me bethought in my rememb[e]raunce

Myne orison right goodly to devyse,

And plesauntly, with hartes obeisaunce,

Beseech the goddes voiden my grevaunce;

For I loved eke, sauf that I wist nat where;

630

Yet down I set, and seid as ye shall here.

'Fairest of all that ever were or be!

†Lucerne and light to pensif crëature!

Myn hole affiaunce, and my lady free,

My goddes bright, my fortune and my ure,

635

I yeve and yeld my hart to thee full sure,

Humbly beseching, lady, of thy grace

Me to bestowe into som blessed place.

And here I vow me feithfull, true, and kind,

Without offence of mutabilitee,

640

Humbly to serve, whyl I have wit and mind,

Myn hole affiaunce, and my lady free!

In thilkë place, there ye me sign to be:

And, sith this thing of newe is yeve me, ay

To love and serve, needly must I obey.

645

Be merciable with thy fire of grace,

And fix myne hert there bewtie is and routh,

For hote I love, determine in no place,

Sauf only this, by god and by my trouth,

Trowbled I was with slomber, slepe, and slouth

650

This other night, and in a visioun

I sey a woman romen up and down,

Of mene stature, and seemly to behold,

Lusty and fresh, demure of countynaunce,

Yong and wel shap, with here [that] shoon as gold,

655

With yen as cristall, farced with plesaunce;

[427]

And she gan stir myne harte a lite to daunce;

But sodenly she vanissh gan right there:

Thus I may sey, I love and wot not where.

For what she is, ne her dwelling I not,

660

And yet I fele that love distraineth me:

Might ich her know, that wold I fain, god wot,

Serve and obey with all benignitee.

And if that other be my destinee,

So that no wyse I shall her never see,

665

Than graunt me her that best may lyken me,

With glad rejoyse to live in parfit hele,

Devoide of wrath, repent, or variaunce;

And able me to do that may be wele

Unto my lady, with hertes by plesaunce:

670

And, mighty goddes! through thy purviaunce

My wit, my thought, my lust and love so gyde,

That to thyne honour I may me provyde

To set myne herte in place there I may lyke,

And gladly serve with all affeccioun.

675

Gret is the pain which at myn hert doth stik.

Till I be sped by thyn eleccioun:

Help, lady goddes! that possessioun

I might of her have, that in all my lyfe

I clepen shall my quene and hertes wife.

680

And in the Court of Love to dwell for ay

My wille it is, and don thee sacrifice:

Daily with Diane eke to fight and fray,

And holden werre, as might well me suffice:

That goddes chaste I kepen in no wyse

685

To serve; a fig for all her chastitee!

Her lawe is for religiositee.'

And thus gan finish preyer, lawde, and preise,

Which that I yove to Venus on my knee,

And in myne hert to ponder and to peise,

690

I gave anon hir image fressh bewtie;

'Heil to that figure sweet! and heil to thee,

Cupide,' quod I, and rose and yede my way;

And in the temple as I yede I sey

[428]

A shryne sormownting all in stones riche,

695

Of which the force was plesaunce to myn y,

With diamant or saphire; never liche

I have non seyn, ne wrought so wonderly.

So whan I met with Philobone, in hy

I gan demaund, 'Who[s] is this sepulture?'

700

'Forsoth,' quod she, 'a tender creature

Is shryned there, and Pitè is her name.

She saw an egle wreke him on a fly,

And pluk his wing, and eke him, in his game,

And tender herte of that hath made her dy:

705

Eke she wold wepe, and morn right pitously

To seen a lover suffre gret destresse.

In all the court nas non that, as I gesse,

That coude a lover †half so well availe,

Ne of his wo the torment or the rage

710

†Aslaken, for he was sure, withouten faile,

That of his grief she coud the hete aswage.

In sted of Pitè, spedeth hot corage

The maters all of court, now she is dede;

I me report in this to womanhede.

715

For weile and wepe, and crye, and speke, and pray,—

Women wold not have pitè on thy plaint;

Ne by that mene to ese thyn hart convey,

But thee receiven for their own talent:

And sey, that Pitè causith thee, in consent

720

Of rewth, to take thy service and thy pain

In that thow mayst, to plese thy souverain.

But this is councell, keep it secretly;'

Quod she, 'I nold, for all the world abowt,

The Quene of Love it wist; and wit ye why?

725

For if by me this matter springen out,

In court no lenger shuld I, owt of dowt,

Dwellen, but shame in all my life endry:

Now kepe it close,' quod she, 'this hardely.

Well, all is well! Now shall ye seen,' she seid,

730

'The feirest lady under son that is:

[429]

Come on with me, demene you liche a maid,

With shamefast dred, for ye shall spede, y-wis,

With her that is the mir[th] and joy and blis:

But sumwhat straunge and sad of her demene

735

She is, be ware your countenaunce be sene,

Nor over light, ne recheless, ne to bold,

Ne malapert, ne rinning with your tong;

For she will you abeisen and behold,

And you demaund, why ye were hens so long

740

Out of this court, without resort among:

And Rosiall her name is hote aright,

Whose harte †as yet [is] yeven to no wight.

And ye also ben, as I understond,

With love but light avaunced, by your word;

745

Might ye, by hap, your fredom maken bond,

And fall in grace with her, and wele accord,

Well might ye thank the god of Love and lord;

For she that ye sawe in your dreme appere,

To love suche one, what are †ye than the nere?

750

Yit wot ye what? as my rememb[e]raunce

Me yevith now, ye fayn, where that ye sey

That ye with love had never acqueintaunce,

Sauf in your dreme right late this other day:

Why, yis, parde! my life, that durst I lay,

755

That ye were caught upon an heth, when I

Saw you complain, and sigh full pitously;

Within an erber, and a garden fair

With floures growe, and herbes vertuous,

Of which the savour swete was and the eyr,

760

There were your-self full hoot and amorous:

Y-wis, ye ben to nice and daungerous;

A! wold ye now repent, and love som new?'—

'Nay, by my trouth,' I seid, 'I never knew

The goodly wight, whos I shall be for ay:

765

Guyde me the lord that love hath made and me.'

[430]

But furth we went in-till a chambre gay,

There was Rosiall, womanly to see,

Whose stremes sotell-persing of her ee

Myn hart gan thrill for bewtie in the stound:

770

'Alas,' quod I, 'who hath me yeve this wound?'

And than I dred to speke, till at the last

I gret the lady reverently and wele,

Whan that my sigh was gon and over-past;

And down on knees full humbly gan I knele,

775

Beseching her my fervent wo to kele,

For there I took full purpose in my mind,

Unto her grace my painfull hart to bind.

For if I shall all fully her discryve,

Her hede was round, by compace of nature,

780

Her here as gold,—she passed all on-lyve,—

And lily forhede had this crëature,

With lovelich browes, flawe, of colour pure,

Bytwene the which was mene disseveraunce

From every brow, to shewe[n] a distaunce.

785

Her nose directed streight, and even as lyne,

With fourm and shap therto convenient,

In which the goddes milk-whyt path doth shine;

And eke her yen ben bright and orient

As is the smaragde, unto my juggement,

790

Or yet thise sterres hevenly, smale and bright;

Her visage is of lovely rede and whyte.

Her mouth is short, and shit in litell space,

Flaming somdele, not over-rede, I mene,

With pregnant lippes, and thik to kiss, percas;

795

(For lippes thin, not fat, but ever lene,

They serve of naught, they be not worth a bene;

For if the basse ben full, there is delyt,

Maximian truly thus doth he wryte.)

But to my purpose:—I sey, whyte as snow

800

Ben all her teeth, and in order thay stond

Of oon stature; and eke hir breth, I trow,

Surmounteth alle odours that ever I fond

In sweetnes; and her body, face, and hond

Ben sharply slender, so that from the hede

805

Unto the fote, all is but womanhede.

[431]

I hold my pees of other thinges hid:—

Here shall my soul, and not my tong, bewray:—

But how she was arrayed, if ye me bid,

That shall I well discover you and say:

810

A bend of gold and silk, full fressh and gay;

With here in tresse[s], browdered full well,

Right smothly kept, and shyning every-del.

About her nek a flour of fressh devyse

With rubies set, that lusty were to sene;

815

And she in gown was, light and somer-wyse,

Shapen full wele, the colour was of grene,

With aureat seint about her sydes clene,

With dyvers stones, precious and riche:—

Thus was she rayed, yet saugh I never her liche.

820

For if that Jove had [but] this lady seyn,

Tho Calixto ne [yet] Alcmenia,

Thay never hadden in his armes leyn;

Ne he had loved the faire Europa;

Ye, ne yet Dane ne Antiopa!

825

For al their bewtie stood in Rosiall;

She semed lich a thing celestiall

In bowntè, favor, port, and semliness,

Plesaunt of figure, mirrour of delyt,

Gracious to sene, and rote of gentilness,

830

With angel visage, lusty rede and white:

There was not lak, sauf daunger had a lite

This goodly fressh in rule and governaunce;

And somdel straunge she was, for her plesaunce.

And truly sone I took my leve and went,

835

Whan she had me enquyred what I was;

For more and more impressen gan the dent

Of Loves dart, whyl I beheld her face;

And eft again I com to seken grace,

And up I put my bill, with sentence clere

840

That folwith aftir; rede and ye shall here.

'O ye [the] fressh, of [all] bewtie the rote,

That nature hath fourmed so wele and made

Princesse and Quene! and ye that may do bote

Of all my langour with your wordes glad!

[432]

845

Ye wounded me, ye made me wo-bestad;

Of grace redress my mortall †grief, as ye

Of all myne †harm the verrey causer be.

Now am I caught, and unwar sodenly,

With persant stremes of your yën clere,

850

Subject to ben, and serven you meekly,

And all your man, y-wis, my lady dere,

Abiding grace, of which I you requere,

That merciles ye cause me not to sterve;

But guerdon me, liche as I may deserve.

855

For, by my troth, the dayes of my breth

I am and will be youre in wille and hert,

Pacient and meek, for you to suffre deth

If it require; now rewe upon my smert;

And this I swere, I never shall out-stert

860

From Loves Court for none adversitee,

So ye wold rewe on my distresse and me.

My destinee, †my fate, and ure I bliss,

That have me set to ben obedient

Only to you, the flour of all, y-wis:

865

I trust to Venus never to repent;

For ever redy, glad, and diligent

Ye shall me finde in service to your grace,

Till deth my lyfe out of my body race.

Humble unto your excellence so digne,

870

Enforcing ay my wittes and delyt

To serve and plese with glad herte and benigne,

And ben as Troilus, [old] Troyes knight,

Or Antony for Cleopatre bright,

And never you me thinkes to reney:

875

This shall I kepe unto myne ending-day.

Enprent my speche in your memorial

Sadly, my princess, salve of all my sore!

And think that, for I wold becomen thrall,

And ben your own, as I have seyd before,

880

Ye must of pity cherissh more and more

Your man, and tender aftir his desert,

And yive him corage for to ben expert.

[433]

For where that oon hath set his herte on fire,

And findeth nether refut ne plesaunce,

885

Ne word of comfort, deth will quyte his hire.

Allas! that there is none allegeaunce

Of all their wo! allas, the gret grevaunce

To love unloved! But ye, my Lady dere,

In other wyse may govern this matere.'

890

'Truly, gramercy, frend, of your good will,

And of your profer in your humble wyse!

But for your service, take and kepe it still.

And where ye say, I ought you well cheryse,

And of your gref the remedy devyse,

895

I know not why: I nam acqueinted well

With you, ne wot not sothly where ye dwell.'

'In art of love †I wryte, and songes make,

That may be song in honour of the King

And Quene of Love; and than I undertake,

900

He that is sad shall than full mery sing.

And daunger[o]us not ben in every thing

Beseche I you, but seen my will and rede,

And let your aunswer put me out of drede.'

'What is your name? reherse it here, I pray,

905

Of whens and where, of what condicion

That ye ben of? Let see, com of and say!

Fain wold I know your disposicion:—

Ye have put on your old entencion;

But what ye mene to servë me I noot,

910

Sauf that ye say ye love me wonder hoot.'

'My name? alas, my hert, why [make it straunge?]

Philogenet I cald am fer and nere,

Of Cambrige clerk, that never think to chaunge

Fro you that with your hevenly stremes clere

915

Ravissh myne herte and gost and all in-fere:

This is the first, I write my bill for grace,

Me think, I see som mercy in your face.

And what I mene, by god that al hath wrought,

My bill, that maketh finall mencion,

920

That ye ben, lady, in myne inward thought

[434]

Of all myne hert without offencion,

That I best love, and have, sith I begon

To draw to court. Lo, than! what might I say?

I yeld me here, [lo!] unto your nobley.

925

And if that I offend, or wilfully

By pompe of hart your precept disobey,

Or doon again your will unskillfully,

Or greven you, for ernest or for play,

Correct ye me right sharply than, I pray,

930

As it is sene unto your womanhede,

And rewe on me, or ellis I nam but dede.'

'Nay, god forbede to feffe you so with grace,

And for a worde of sugred eloquence,

To have compassion in so litell space!

935

Than were it tyme that som of us were hens!

Ye shall not find in me suche insolence.

Ay? what is this? may ye not suffer sight?

How may ye loke upon the candill-light,

That clere[r] is and hotter than myn y?

940

And yet ye seid, the bemes perse and frete:—

How shall ye than the candel-[l]ight endry?

For wel wot ye, that hath the sharper hete.

And there ye bid me you correct and bete,

If ye offend,—nay, that may not be doon:

945

There come but few that speden here so soon.

Withdraw your y, withdraw from presens eke:

Hurt not yourself, through foly, with a loke;

I wold be sory so to make you seke:

A woman shuld be ware eke whom she toke:

950

Ye beth a clark:—go serchen [in] my boke,

If any women ben so light to win:

Nay, byde a whyl, though ye were all my kin.

So soon ye may not win myne harte, in trouth

The gyse of court will seen your stedfastness,

955

And as ye don, to have upon you rewth.

Your own desert, and lowly gentilness,

That will reward you joy for heviness;

And though ye waxen pale, and grene and dede,

Ye must it use a while, withouten drede,

[435]

960

And it accept, and grucchen in no wyse;

But where as ye me hastily desyre

To been to love, me think, ye be not wyse.

Cese of your language! cese, I you requyre!

For he that hath this twenty yere ben here

965

May not obtayn; than marveile I that ye

Be now so bold, of love to trete with me.'

'Ah! mercy, hart, my lady and my love,

My rightwyse princesse and my lyves guyde!

Now may I playn to Venus all above,

970

That rewthles ye me †give these woundes wyde!

What have I don? why may it not betyde,

That for my trouth I may received be?

Alas! your daunger and your crueltè!

In wofull hour I got was, welaway!

975

In wofull hour [y-]fostred and y-fed,

In wofull hour y-born, that I ne may

My supplicacion swetely have y-sped!

The frosty grave and cold must be my bedde,

Without ye list your grace and mercy shewe,

980

Deth with his axe so faste on me doth hewe.

So greet disese and in so litell whyle,

So litell joy, that felte I never yet;

And at my wo Fortune ginneth to smyle,

That never erst I felt so harde a fit:

985

Confounded ben my spirits and my wit,

Till that my lady take me to her cure,

Which I love best of erthely crëature.

But that I lyke, that may I not com by;

Of that I playn, that have I habondaunce;

990

Sorrow and thought, thay sit me wounder ny;

Me is withhold that might be my plesaunce:

Yet turne again, my worldly suffisaunce!

O lady bright! and save your feithfull true,

And, er I die, yet on[e]s upon me rewe.'

995

With that I fell in sounde, and dede as stone,

With colour slain, and wan as assh[es] pale;

[436]

And by the hand she caught me up anon,

'Aryse,' quod she, 'what? have ye dronken dwale?

Why slepen ye? it is no nightertale.'

1000

'Now mercy, swete,' quod I, y-wis affrayed:

'What thing,' quod she, 'hath mad you so dismayed?

Now wot I well that ye a lover be,

Your hewe is witnesse in this thing,' she seid:

'If ye were secret, [ye] might know,' quod she,

1005

'Curteise and kind, all this shuld be allayed:

And now, myn herte! all that I have misseid,

I shall amend, and set your harte in ese.'

'That word it is,' quod I, 'that doth me plese.'

'But this I charge, that ye the statuts kepe,

1010

And breke thaim not for sloth nor ignoraunce.'

With that she gan to smyle and laughen depe.

'Y-wis,' quod I, 'I will do your plesaunce;

The sixteenth statut doth me grete grevaunce,

But ye must that relesse or modifie.'

1015

'I graunt,' quod she, 'and so I will truly.'

And softly than her colour gan appeare,

As rose so rede, through-out her visage all,

Wherefore me think it is according here,

That she of right be cleped Rosiall.

1020

Thus have I won, with wordes grate and small,

Some goodly word of hir that I love best,

And trust she shall yit set myne harte in rest.

. . . . . .

'Goth on,' she seid to Philobone, 'and take

This man with you, and lede him all abowt

1025

Within the court, and shew him, for my sake,

What lovers dwell withinne, and all the rowte

Of officers; for he is, out of dowte,

A straunger yit:'—'Come on,' quod Philobone,

'Philogenet, with me now must ye gon.'

1030

And stalking soft with esy pace, I saw

About the king [ther] stonden environ,

[437]

Attendaunce, Diligence, and their felaw

Fortherer, Esperaunce, and many oon;

Dred-to-offend there stood, and not aloon;

1035

For there was eke the cruell adversair,

The lovers fo, that cleped is Dispair,

Which unto me spak angrely and fell,

And said, my lady me deceiven shall:

'Trowest thow,' quod she, 'that all that she did tell,

1040

Is true? Nay, nay, but under hony gall!

Thy birth and †hers, [they] be nothing egall:

Cast of thyn hart, for all her wordes whyte,

For in good faith she lovith thee but a lyte.

And eek remember, thyn habilite

1045

May not compare with hir, this well thow wot.'

Ye, than cam Hope and said, 'My frend, let be!

Beleve him not: Dispair, he ginneth dote.'

'Alas,' quod I, 'here is both cold and hot:

The tone me biddeth love, the toder nay;

1050

Thus wot I not what me is best to say.

But well wot I, my lady graunted me,

Truly to be my woundes remedy;

Her gentilness may not infected be

With dobleness, thus trust I till I dy.'

1055

So cast I void Dispaires company,

And taken Hope to councell and to frend.

'Ye, kepe that wele,' quod Philobone, 'in mind.'

And there besyde, within a bay-window,

Stood oon in grene, full large of brede and length,

1060

His berd as blak as fethers of the crow;

His name was Lust, of wounder might and strength;

And with Delyt to argue there he thenkth,

For this was all his [hool] opinion,

That love was sin! and so he hath begon

1065

To reson fast, and legge auctoritè:

'Nay,' quod Delyt, 'love is a vertue clere,

And from the soule his progress holdeth he:

[438]

Blind appetyt of lust doth often stere,

And that is sin: for reson lakketh there,

1070

For thow [dost] think thy neighbours wyfe to win:

Yit think it well that love may not be sin;

For god and seint, they love right verely,

Void of all sin and vice: this knowe I wele,

Affeccion of flessh is sin, truly;

1075

But verray love is vertue, as I fele,

For love may not thy freil desire akele:

For [verray] love is love withouten sin.'

'Now stint,' quoth Lust, 'thow spekest not worth a pin.'

And there I left thaim in their arguing,

1080

Roming ferther in the castell wyde,

And in a corner Lier stood talking

Of lesings fast, with Flatery there besyde;

He seid that women were attire of pryde,

And men were founde of nature variaunt,

1085

And coud be false, and shewen beau semblaunt.

Than Flatery bespake and seid, y-wis:

'See, so she goth on patens faire and fete,

Hit doth right wele: what prety man is this

That rometh here? Now truly, drink ne mete

1090

Nede I not have; myne hart for joye doth bete

Him to behold, so is he goodly fressh:

It semeth for love his harte is tender nessh.'

This is the court of lusty folk and glad,

And wel becometh their habit and array:

1095

O why be som so sorry and so sad,

Complaining thus in blak and whyte and gray?

Freres they ben, and monkes, in good fay:

Alas, for rewth! greet dole it is to seen,

To see thaim thus bewaile and sory been.

1100

See how they cry and wring their handes whyte,

For they so sone went to religion!

And eke the nonnes, with vaile and wimple plight,

[439]

There thought that they ben in confusion:

'Alas,' thay sayn, 'we fayn perfeccion,

1105

In clothes wide, and lak our libertè;

But all the sin mote on our frendes be.

For, Venus wot, we wold as fayn as ye,

That ben attired here and wel besene,

Desiren man, and love in our degree,

1110

Ferme and feithfull, right as wold the quene:

Our frendes wikke, in tender youth and grene,

Ayenst our will made us religious;

That is the cause we morne and wailen thus.'

Than seid the monks and freres in the tyde,

1115

'Wel may we curse our abbeys and our place,

Our statuts sharp, to sing in copes wyde,

Chastly to kepe us out of loves grace,

And never to fele comfort ne solace;

Yet suffre we the hete of loves fire,

1120

And after than other haply we desire.

O Fortune cursed, why now and wherefore

Hast thow,' they seid, 'beraft us libertè,

Sith nature yave us instrument in store,

And appetyt to love and lovers be?

1125

Why mot we suffer suche adversitè,

Diane to serve, and Venus to refuse?

Ful often sith this matier doth us muse.

We serve and honour, sore ayenst our will,

Of chastitè the goddes and the quene;

1130

Us leffer were with Venus byden still,

And have reward for love, and soget been

Unto thise women courtly, fressh, and shene.

Fortune, we curse thy whele of variaunce!

There we were wele, thou revest our plesaunce.'

1135

Thus leve I thaim, with voice of pleint and care,

In raging wo crying ful pitously;

And as I yede, full naked and full bare

Some I behold, looking dispitously,

On povertè that dedely cast their y;

1140

And 'Welaway!' they cried, and were not fain,

For they ne might their glad desire attain.

[440]

For lak of richesse worldely and of †gode,

They banne and curse, and wepe, and sein, 'Alas,

That poverte hath us hent that whylom stode

1145

At hartis ese, and free and in good case!

But now we dar not shew our-self in place,

Ne us embolde to duelle in company,

There-as our hart wold love right faithfully.'

And yet againward shryked every nonne,

1150

The prang of love so straineth thaim to cry:

'Now wo the tyme,' quod thay, 'that we be boun!

This hateful ordre nyse will don us dy!

We sigh and sobbe, and bleden inwardly,

Freting our-self with thought and hard complaint,

1155

That ney for love we waxen wode and faint.'

And as I stood beholding here and there,

I was war of a sort full languisshing,

Savage and wild of loking and of chere,

Their mantels and their clothës ay tering;

1160

And oft thay were of nature complaining,

For they their members lakked, fote and hand,

With visage wry and blind, I understand.

They lakked shap, and beautie to preferre

Theim-self in love: and seid, that god and kind

1165

Hath forged thaim to worshippen the sterre,

Venus the bright, and leften all behind

His other werkes clene and out of mind:

'For other have their full shape and bewtee,

And we,' quod they, 'ben in deformitè.'

1170

And nye to thaim there was a company,

That have the susters waried and misseid;

I mene, the three of fatall destinè,

That be our †werdes; and sone, in a brayd,

Out gan they cry as they had been affrayd,

1175

'We curse,' quod thay, 'that ever hath nature

Y-formed us, this wofull lyfe t'endure!'

And there he was contrite, and gan repent,

Confessing hole the wound that Citherè

Hath with the dart of hot desire him sent,

1180

And how that he to love must subjet be:

[441]

Than held he all his skornes vanitè,

And seid, that lovers lede a blisful lyfe,

Yong men and old, and widow, maid and wyfe.

'Bereve †me, goddesse,' quod he, '[of] thy might,

1185

My skornes all and skoffes, that I have

No power forth, to mokken any wight,

That in thy service dwell: for I did rave:

This know I well right now, so god me save,

And I shal be the chief post of thy feith,

1190

And love uphold, the révers who-so seith.'

Dissemble stood not fer from him in trouth,

With party mantill, party hood and hose;

And said, he had upon his lady rowth,

And thus he wound him in, and gan to glose

1195

Of his entent full doble, I suppose:

And al the world, he seid, he loved it wele;

But ay, me thoughte, he loved her nere a dele.

Eek Shamefastness was there, as I took hede,

That blusshed rede, and durst nat ben a-knowe

1200

She lover was, for thereof had she drede;

She stood and hing her visage down alowe;

But suche a sight it was to sene, I trow,

†As of these roses rody on their stalk:

There cowd no wight her spy to speke or talk

1205

In loves art, so gan she to abasshe,

Ne durst not utter all her privitè:

Many a stripe and many a grevous lasshe

She gave to thaim that wolden loveres be,

And hindered sore the simpill comonaltè,

1210

That in no wyse durst grace and mercy crave;

For were not she, they need but ask and have;

Where if they now approchin for to speke,

Than Shamefastness returnith thaim again:

Thay think, if †we our secret councell breke,

1215

Our ladies will have scorn on us, certain,

And [per]aventure thinken greet disdain:

Thus Shamefastness may bringin in Dispeir,

Whan she is dede, the toder will be heir.

[442]

Com forth, Avaunter! now I ring thy bell!

1220

I spyed him sone; to god I make a-vowe,

He loked blak as fendes doth in hell:—

'The first,' quod he, 'that ever [I] did †wowe,

Within a word she com, I wot not how,

So that in armes was my lady free;

1225

And so hath ben a thousand mo than she.

In Englond, Bretain, Spain, and Pycardie,

Arteys, and Fraunce, and up in hy Holand,

In Burgoyne, Naples, and [in] Italy,

Naverne, and Grece, and up in hethen land,

1230

Was never woman yit that wold withstand

To ben at myn commaundement, whan I wold:

I lakked neither silver, coin, ne gold.

And there I met with this estate and that;

And here I broched her, and here, I trow:

1235

Lo! there goth oon of myne; and wot ye what?

Yon fressh attired have I leyd full low;

And such oon yonder eke right well I know:

I kept the statut whan we lay y-fere;

And yet yon same hath made me right good chere.'

1240

Thus hath Avaunter blowen every-where

Al that he knowith, and more, a thousand-fold;

His auncetrye of kin was to Lière,

For firste he makith promise for to hold

His ladies councell, and it not unfold;

1245

Wherfore, the secret when he doth unshit,

Than lyeth he, that all the world may wit.

For falsing so his promise and behest,

I wounder sore he hath such fantasie;

He lakketh wit, I trowe, or is a best,

1250

That can no bet him-self with reson gy.

By myn advice, Love shal be contrarie

To his availe, and him eke dishonoure,

So that in court he shall no more sojoure.

'Take hede,' quod she, this litell Philobone,

1255

'Where Envy rokketh in the corner yond,

And sitteth dirk; and ye shall see anone

His lenë bodie, fading face and hond;

[443]

Him-self he fretteth, as I understond;

Witnesse of Ovid Methamorphosose;

1260

The lovers fo he is, I wil not glose.

For where a lover thinketh him promote,

Envy will grucch, repyning at his wele;

Hit swelleth sore about his hartes rote,

That in no wyse he can not live in hele;

1265

And if the feithfull to his lady stele,

Envy will noise and ring it round aboute,

And sey moche worse than don is, out of dowte.'

And Prevy Thought, rejoysing of him-self,

Stood not fer thens in habit mervelous;

1270

'Yon is,' thought [I], 'som spirit or some elf,

His sotill image is so curious:

How is,' quod I, 'that he is shaded thus

With yonder cloth, I not of what colour?'

And nere I went, and gan to lere and pore,

1275

And frayned him [a] question full hard.

'What is,' quod I, 'the thing thou lovest best?

Or what is boot unto thy paines hard?

Me think, thow livest here in grete unrest;

Thow wandrest ay from south to est and west,

1280

And est to north; as fer as I can see,

There is no place in court may holden thee.

Whom folowest thow? where is thy harte y-set?

But my demaunde asoile, I thee require.'

'Me thought,' quod he, 'no crëature may let

1285

†Me to ben here, and where-as I desire:

For where-as absence hath don out the fire,

My mery thought it kindleth yet again,

That bodily, me think, with my souverain

I stand and speke, and laugh, and kisse, and halse,

1290

So that my thought comforteth me full oft:

I think, god wot, though all the world be false,

I will be trewe; I think also how soft

My lady is in speche, and this on-loft

Bringeth myn hart †to joye and [greet] gladnesse;

1295

This prevey thought alayeth myne hevinesse.

[444]

And what I thinke, or where to be, no man

In all this erth can tell, y-wis, but I:

And eke there nis no swallow swift, ne swan

So wight of wing, ne half [so] yern can fly;

1300

For I can been, and that right sodenly,

In heven, in helle, in paradise, and here,

And with my lady, whan I will desire.

I am of councell ferre and wyde, I wot,

With lord and lady, and their previtè

1305

I wot it all; but be it cold or hot,

They shall not speke without licence of me,

I mene, in suche as sesonable be;

For first the thing is thought within the hert,

Ere any word out from the mouth astert.'

1310

And with that word Thought bad farewell and yede:

Eke furth went I to seen the courtes gyse:

And at the dore cam in, so god me spede,

†Twey courteours of age and of assyse

Liche high, and brode, and, as I me advyse,

1315

The Golden Love, and Leden Love thay hight:

The ton was sad, the toder glad and light.

[Some stanzas lost.]

'Yis! draw your hart, with all your force and might,

To lustiness, and been as ye have seid;

And think that I no drop of favour hight,

1320

Ne never had to your desire obeyd,

Till sodenly, me thought, me was affrayed,

To seen you wax so dede of countenaunce;

And Pitè bad me don you some plasaunce.

Out of her shryne she roos from deth to lyve,

1325

And in myne ere full prevely she spak,

"Doth not your servaunt hens away to dryve,

Rosiall," quod she; and than myn harte [it] brak,

For tender †reuth: and where I found moch lak

In your persoune, †than I my-self bethought,

1330

And seid, "This is the man myne harte hath sought."'

[445]

'Gramercy, Pitè! might I †but suffice

To yeve the lawde unto thy shryne of gold,

God wot, I wold; for sith that †thou did rise

From deth to lyve for me, I am behold

1335

To †thanken you a thousand tymes told,

And eke my lady Rosiall the shene,

Which hath in comfort set myn harte, I wene.

And here I make myn protestacion,

And depely swere, as [to] myn power, to been

1340

Feithfull, devoid of variacion,

And her forbere in anger or in tene,

And serviceable to my worldes quene,

With al my reson and intelligence,

To don her honour high and reverence.'

1345

I had not spoke so sone the word, but she,

My souverain, did thank me hartily,

And seid, 'Abyde, ye shall dwell still with me

Till seson come of May; for than, truly,

The King of Love and all his company

1350

Shall hold his fest full ryally and well:'

And there I bode till that the seson fell.

. . . . . .

On May-day, whan the lark began to ryse,

To matens went the lusty nightingale

Within a temple shapen hawthorn-wise;

1355

He might not slepe in all the nightertale,

But 'Domine labia,' gan he crye and gale,

'My lippes open, Lord of Love, I crye,

And let my mouth thy preising now bewrye.'

The eagle sang 'Venite, bodies all,

1360

And let us joye to love that is our helth.'

And to the deske anon they gan to fall,

And who come late, he pressed in by stelth:

Than seid the fawcon, our own hartis welth,

'Domine, Dominus noster, I wot,

1365

Ye be the god that don us bren thus hot.'

[446]

'Celi enarrant,' said the popingay,

'Your might is told in heven and firmament.'

And than came in the goldfinch fresh and gay,

And said this psalm with hertly glad intent,

1370

'Domini est terra; this Laten intent,

The god of Love hath erth in governaunce:'

And than the wren gan skippen and to daunce.

'Jube, Domine, Lord of Love, I pray

Commaund me well this lesson for to rede;

1375

This legend is of all that wolden dey

Marters for love; god yive the sowles spede!

And to thee, Venus, †sing we, out of drede,

By influence of all thy vertue grete,

Beseching thee to kepe us in our hete.'

1380

The second lesson robin redebrest sang,

'Hail to the god and goddess of our lay!'

And to the lectorn †amorously he sprang:—

'Hail,' quod [he] eke, 'O fresh seson of May,

Our moneth glad that singen on the spray!

1385

Hail to the floures, rede, and whyte, and blewe,

Which by their vertue make our lustes newe!'

The thrid lesson the turtill-dove took up,

And therat lough the mavis [as] in scorn:

He said, 'O god, as mot I dyne or sup,

1390

This folissh dove will give us all an horn!

There been right here a thousand better born,

To rede this lesson, which, as well as he,

And eke as hot, can love in all degree.'

The turtill-dove said, 'Welcom, welcom, May,

1395

Gladsom and light to loveres that ben trewe!

I thank thee, Lord of Love, that doth purvey

For me to rede this lesson all of dewe;

For, in gode sooth, of corage I †pursue

To serve my make till deth us must depart:'

1400

And than 'Tu autem' sang he all apart.

'Te deum amoris' sang the thrustell-cok:

Tuball him-self, the first musician,

With key of armony coude not unlok

So swete [a] tewne as that the thrustill can:

[447]

1405

'The Lord of Love we praisen,' quod he than,

'And so don all the fowles, grete and lyte;

Honour we May, in fals lovers dispyte.'

'Dominus regnavit,' seid the pecok there,

'The Lord of Love, that mighty prince, y-wis,

1410

He hath received her[e] and every-where:

Now Jubilate †sing:'—'What meneth this?'

Seid than the linet; 'welcom, Lord of blisse!'

Out-stert the owl with 'Benedicite,

What meneth al this mery fare?' quod he.

1415

'Laudate,' sang the lark with voice full shrill;

And eke the kite, 'O admirabile;

This quere will throgh myne eris pers and thrill;

But what? welcom this May seson,' quod he;

'And honour to the Lord of Love mot be,

1420

That hath this feest so solemn and so high:'

'Amen,' seid all; and so seid eke the pye.

And furth the cokkow gan procede anon,

With 'Benedictus' thanking god in hast,

That in this May wold visite thaim echon,

1425

And gladden thaim all whyl the fest shall last:

And therewithall a-loughter out he brast,

'I thank it god that I shuld end the song,

And all the service which hath been so long.'

Thus sang thay all the service of the fest,

1430

And that was don right erly, to my dome;

And furth goth all the Court, both most and lest,

To feche the floures fressh, and braunche and blome;

And namly, hawthorn brought both page and grome.

With fressh garlandës, partie blewe and whyte,

1435

And thaim rejoysen in their greet delyt.

Eke eche at other threw the floures bright,

The prymerose, the violet, the gold;

So than, as I beheld the ryall sight,

My lady gan me sodenly behold,

1440

And with a trew-love, plited many-fold,

She smoot me through the [very] hert as blyve;

And Venus yet I thanke I am alyve.

From MS. Trin. R. 3. 19, fol. 128; collated with the print of the same in (S.) Stowe's edition (1561). I note some rejected readings of the MS. 1. tymeros; tremlyng. 3. poort. 4. none. 9. matere. 10. Poemys; Virgile. 11. Galfride. 15. termys. 17. honoure. 18. wille; S. wil. 19, 20, 23. thowe. 24. the; anone. 25. miste.

28. litill. 29. courte. 30. bene. 31. beseche. 32. whate; nede. 34. woo. 35. soo. 36. myne. 39. kynde. 41. pleasure. 48. courte. 49. mounte. 51. maiestie. 52. sonne. 53. Cupyde; blynde; dignyte. 54. theire kne. 55. bidde; S. bid. in (read on). to pere (read tapere). 56. Marcury. 57. be; S. by. ferre. 58. whate; that it drewe (read to it drew). 59. courte. 60. se (read sey). 61. knewe. 62. courte; nye. 63. fulle faste; hie.

64. overtoke; seide. 65. Haile; wende. 66. Forsothe; one; mayde. 67. courte nowe goo. 71. withynne. 74. behelde. 76. bespredde. 77. stone; S. stones. werke. 79. thanne; emerawde. 80. Bales turkes. 82. bene. 83. shone; pease. 84. trespace; tweyne. 86. founde; faste. 87. harte. 88. maste. 89. gynith; S. ginneth. 90. please. 94. whate. 97. discrive; S. descrie. 98. sawe; none. 100. Withynne; oute.

102. sawe; verely. 103. whate; deyses; signifie. 104. floure. 105. yit; S. it. kepte; soioure. 108. obeide. 111, 117. theire. 112. whate; cowde. 113. nere (twice). 116. silke. 119. Helise. 121. beseen. 123. theire; sawe; twayn. 124. frett; payne. 125. drynke. 126. ryaltie; S. rialtee. 128. bene. 129. nere. 130. disdeyne. 132. I supply non. 133. ye; S. eye. 134. stode. 136. shapyn liche; darte. 137. Sherpe. 138. shone.

139. Disshivill crispe downe. 140. southly; spake. 141. the; faire. 143. weneth (S. wōneth). howe; eyre. 144. Grete; crafte; grete; delite. 146. occupie. 147. Cithare; nowe swete. 148. spake. 149. worde; harde. 150. myne; aduerte. 151. witte; harde. 152. bewtie; ferde. 154. Whenne. 155. whate. 157. sone. 162. howe; whate. 163. come; whate. 164. sene; Courte. 166. aske; grete. 167. none; come; courte. 171. Mercurius (see l. 56). 172. gentill feire; nowe. 173. whate thowe; S. what tho (i.e. then). 174. youre fre wille. 175. dide; wille.

176. reigne. 177. ease. ioylof; S. ialous (read iolif). 178. Youre dewtie; ferre; canne. 179. courte; youre. 181. knowe. 182. whanne youre fote; spanne. 183. be (for by); wilfull. 184. kepte youre. 185. youre (often). 186. motte. 188. S. Amidde the sea. rayne. 189. That(!); S. Then. payne. 190. suche; absente. 191. courte. 192. sone. 193. wille; youre coloure. 194. most bayte. 195. agoone. 196. drawe; Courte. 197. se howe rowhe (S. rough). 198. shewe; se. 199. myne; knele downe; aske. 201. welle; wolle none. 202. Comforte; none; councell; youre ease. 203. wille; thanne. 204. Iche. 207. please howe. 208. myne owen. 209. sprite.

211. the; S. that. 212. worche. 214. benigne harte. 215. myghtes (read might is). 216. lyste; correcte. 217. punyssh; enfecte. 221. gode; founde. 222. grounde. 223. cupide. 225. behild; S. behelde. 226. Seyng. 227. folke; wild (S. welde). 228. Theire; wele; case. 229. shone; wyndowes; glasse. 230. feire. 231. fressh. 232. bewtie. 235. penytyng (!). 237. aboute. 238. howe; feale. 239. stonyed; S. astonied. 240. thoo folke. 241. hade. 244, 245. theire. 246. To (!); read Lo; folke; blewe. 247. coloure.

248. signe. 249. southly. 250. calle. 251. bene. 252. ferre; sherpe. 253. whate done. 254. hermytes. 256. theire woo. 257. goo 258. Frely; suche libertie. 259. eche. 260. none. 261. made. 262. courte; fre; euerichone. 263. wille. 264. arraye. 265. mekely. 266. theire harte. 267. aboute. 268. se; come; high (S. hie). 269. commaunde. 270. -oute; courte; crye. 271. newe; wote; whye. 272. luste; youe sone. 273. Come nere; se; wille mote nede; done. 275. Tremelyng (S. Trembling); hewe. 277. unto the tyme (om. the); knewe. 278. yove (S. yeue); trewe. 279. laste. 280. sterne; whate. 281. ferre. 282. courte.

284. coude; espye. 285. myne; eny; myne ye. 286. gane. 287. nowe; submytte. 289. thowe; trewe. 290. seruen(!); thyne. 291. thanne. 292. Thowe shalte. 293. owe youre crowne. 295. sene; euerychone. 296. hie. 297. oure; shewe; one by one. 298. statutis; courte. 299. boke; leide; her (S. their); ye. 300. se whate; most. 301. courte. 302. redde. 303. statutis; courte; halle. 304. firste statute. 307. kynde. 308. coude thynke; harte; wille; mynde. 309. secunde statute secretely. 311. knowe; and (read or). 312. sowne. 315. kynde. 316. thridde statute. 317. om. the (supplied in S.). 318. None; woo.

319. brynde delite. 320. Withoute. 323. statute. 324. folke; fire. 325. aboute. 326. hote desire. 327. howe. 328. kepte; displease. 329. ease. 330. statute. 332. squymouse. 333. veryeuly (S. verely); statute. 335. crueltie. 336. harte exilyn. 337. statute. 339. bewtie. 340. thinke; I supply it. 341. thynke. 342. Howe. 343. woo. 344. statute. 347. helden (sic). 348. othe. 350. And shewing (om. And). 351. statute. 353. hourely laboure; grete attendaunce (S. enttendaunce). 354. harte entier.

356. fire; S. faire. 357. debonayre. 358. statute. 361. displease. 363. mekely; yerde. 365. statute; discerne. 367. thynke; arte; yerne. 373. thyne harte. 374. disdayne. 375. the. 376. yf (S. giue); reyne. 377. libertie. 378. ellis. 379. statute. knowe (read con). 380. Ie (for y). 381. lowe; kowigh (for cough). 382. ofte. 383. bring vp (om. vp). 384. moche resorte. 385. sporte. 386. statute. 387. payne; haste. 389. thou or thon (S. then); thynke; goo. 392. bette.

393. statute. 394. Whate; please. 395. thyne hartes. 396. think; I supply it; thyne ease. 397. sent (read send); harte pease (read herte apese). 398. letre; devise. 400. statute; shalte. 401. Formely; parte. 402. Wisshe. 403. thy nyghtes hartes wife (om. nyghtes). 405. whanne. 406. merely. 408. statute. 409. frende. 410. thynke. 411. shuld. 412. beste. 413. semyth (S. semth). 414. thinke; fayre. 415. Cowde. 416. thinke; wykked (read wikke); appaier. 417. Sklaunderyng; estate. 418. debate. 419. fawte; thyne ye. 421. statute. 422. counterfete. 423. honoure; -whare. 424. I supply for her; boldely. 425. gode; gostely. 426. harte.

428. Agayne; plesire. 429. wille. 430. shalte thowe. 431. crowe. 432. whate; the wille forbidde. 433. Eschewe; souerentie. 434. Hir appetide felawe (sic; S. appetite folowe). 435. statute. 436. please. 437. morowe. 438. drynke; thyne ease. 439. thyne; dyssease. 440. wynne; alle. 441. courte; shalle. 442. fewe thynke; statute. 443. reason. 445. please; ofte. 446. none othe; statute. 448. Nowe; garlant; folke. 449. (From this point, I cease to give minute corrections of spelling, such as are given above.) 451. fel (read ful). 452. delite. 455. hard; statute redde. 458. fonne. 460. In the remembraunce (I omit the). 461. And (read As).

466. It (read Yit). 468. gam; S. game. 469. bidde (read bit). 470. holy. 471. please. 476. mastresse. 481. but(!); read been. 483. the (for 1st they; S. thei). 490. be (for by). MS. savioure(!); S. soueraine. 492. hartes. 495. MS. revowe; S. renewe; I supply all. 497. made. 499. sene(!). 500. wonne; S. won. be (for by).

508. cherely (S. clerely); shone. 510. they (read ye). 517. herkyn. 518. othe; made. 519. loues (!); S. leaues. 523. bene. 524. statute (read statuts; see 520). 525. hie. 526. kepten ben. 527. ecchone. 528. owen. 531. youe; S. yeue. 534. guyse. 535. thengene.

541. be (for by). 542. sugre. 543. hart. 547. youen; S. yeuen. 548. Or; S. Of. yove; S. yeue. 551. widue; S. widowe. 552. Or (!); S. For. 554. guyde. 556. Cithera. 557. I supply the; enfluence. 559. ladis (S. ladies); please. 560. hart; ease. 561. prayer (for pray her). 563. hart. 565. filicite. 574. hote. 575. feele; S. fele.

579. woo. 580. blessedfull; S. blissedful. 581. bene. 582. ponysshe. 583. counterfete. 584. dye; S. deie. 587. Baron (read Barein); S. Barain. 588. alleide. 590. blisse. 592. eternel (read eterne); I-hired (read y-heried). 594. wanne. 595. woman vnto woman (!); S. woman unto man. 599, 613. hartes. 605. I supply to. 608. faute; excercised. 611. celcitude. 614. Compersion; S. Comparison. 615. made.

618. I supply that. 626. godely. 628. Beseche. 632. Lucorne; S. Liquor (!). 634. vse (!); S. vre. 635. harte. 637. blissed; S. blessed. 643. yove (S. yeue); to me (S. me aie, which seems better). 644. and nedely most (om. and). 648. be (for 1st by). 650. vision. 651. se (read sey). 654. I supply that; shone. 655. fercid.

663. by; S. be. 669. hartes hie. 671. guyde. 673. harte. 674. affeccion. 675. hart; styke. 679. hartes. 682. for to (om. for). 684. in kepen (!); S. I kepen. 687. preice. 689. harte; peice.

695. ye. 697. wounderly. 698. hie. 699. Who; read Whos. 704. harte. 705. piteously; S. pitously. 708. haue (!); read half. 710. Assliken (read Aslaken); S. Asken (!). 711. gryfe; S. grief. 714. womanhode (!). 717. meane; ease. 718. owen. 721. please. 724. witte. 725. spryngen (sic). 726. dowte. 729. sene. 730. sonne.

731. demeane. 732. spede; S. speke (a needless alteration). 733. MS. mir and ioye and blisse; S. mirrour ioye and blisse. 738. abeisen. 740. withouten. 742. is (read as); supply is; youen (S. yeuon). 745. be; S. by. 747. think; S. thanke. 749. the (= þe, error for ye); S. thei (!). 751. fayne. 755. opon. 756. piteously; S. pitously. 757. faier. 758. vertuse (sic). 759. heire (!). 760. ote (!); S. hote. 764. godely; whoes.

768. ye (read ee). 769. harte. 770. you (!); S. yeue. 772. grete. 776. toke. 777. harte. 781. lylly. 782. loueliessh (!); S. liuelishe. flawe (for flave). 794. prengnaunte. 800. stand. 801. one. 802. oders (!); S. odours; found. 803. switnesse; S. swetenesse.

806. pease; hidde. 807. bewry; S. bewraie. 808. bidde. 811. her intresse (read here in tresses). 812. kepte (perhaps for kempt). 820. I supply but. 821. I supply yet. MS. alcenia (!). 823. eurosa (!). 825. stode. 828. delite. 832. godely. 834. toke. 840. folowith. 841. I supply the and all. 843. I (!); S. ye.

846. give (!); read grief. 847. harte (!); read harm. 850. mekely. 852. require (!). 856. harte. 857. meke. 862. and me (S. me); read my. 868. rase. 870. delite. 871. please; harte. 872. I supply old. 874. thynkes (sic). 876. Eprent (for Enprent). 878. becommen. 879. owyn; S. owne. 880. most. 882. yf (= yif); S. giue.

883. one; harte. 884. refute. 886. allegaunce (!). 890. gode wille. 893. cheryssh. 894. gref. 896. southly. 897. and (!); read I. 902. sene (sic). 908. vppon; read on. 909. nete (error for note = noot). 910. hete (error for hote = hoot). 911. hart why (rest of line blank; I supply make it straunge). 914. For (!); S. Fro. 915. harte. 918. goddes (S. gods); read god.

921. harte. 922. beganne. 924. I supply lo; nobly (S. nobleye). 927. done (sic). 928. growen (sic); S. greuen. 939. clere; hatter (S. hotter); ye. 944, 945. done, sone. 946. ye. 948. syke; read seke. 950. serchynne; read serchen in. 951. wynne. 952. abide (read byde); thowe; kynne. 954. guyse. 955. rewth. 956. owen; lawly. 958. thowe. 959. most.

963. Cease (twice). 965. optayne. 968. rightwose (!). 970. ye may gise (or gife) this wounder wide (no sense). 973. Alas thanne youre (om. thanne); crueltie. 974. gote. 975. fostered and Ifedde. 977. Ispedde. 984. arst. 985. spritis. 993. sauf. 994. ar (for er).

998. Aryse anon quod (om. anon). 999. nytirtale. 1001. made. 1004. I supply ye. 1006. myne harte. 1007. harte; ease. 1008. please. 1009. steutes (!); error for statuts. 1014. most. 1018. thynke that it (I omit that). 1021. godely. 1023. phelobone. 1027. officers him shewe for (om. him shewe). 1030. easy pase. 1031. I supply ther.

1032. felowe. 1033. asperaunce. 1034. stode. 1035. aduersary (!). 1036. displesire (!); for Despair (see l. 1047). 1038. dysseyuene (!); error for dysseyuen. 1039. Throwest (!); S. Trowest. 1041. his (!); read hers; I supply they. 1043. gode; louith. 1048. hote. 1054. dye. 1059. Stode one. 1062. thynketh; S. thinkth. 1063. I supply hool. 1064. synne; begonne. 1065. reason. 1066. delite.

1068. appityde (!); stirre (S. stere). 1069. synne; reason. 1070. I supply dost; do wyn (read to win). 1071. synne. 1072. verely. 1073. synne; vise. 1074. synne. 1076. For verray loue may not thy freyle desire akkele (too long). 1077. I supply verray; synne. 1078. pynne. 1081. stode. 1083. woman (!). 1085. beawe. 1089. her; S. here. 1091. godely. 1094. abite. 1097. gode. 1098. sene. 1099. bene.

1106. synne. 1108. hire (!); S. here. 1114. monke; read monks. 1115. course (S. curse); abbes. 1120. aftir than other happly. 1122. libartie. 1124. appetide (!). 1127. matiers (!). 1134. revist. 1136. woo; petiously. 1138. beholde (perhaps read beheld); dispiteously. 1139. ye.

1142. gold (!); read gode or good. 1145. eas; gode. 1146. Not in the MS.; supplied by Stowe. 1150. prange (and so in S.). 1151. woo; boune. 1152. dye. 1156. stode. 1157. ware. 1159. mantaylles. 1161. there; S. their. 1168. shappe; bewtie. 1173. wordes (!). 1176. to endure. 1177. Sic. 1179. sent; perhaps read shent.

1182. blissed full (!). 1183. widue. 1184. my (read me); I supply of. 1186. forth (S. for). 1187. ded (for did). 1189. Chife. 1192. hode. 1198. toke. 1199. blasshed (for blusshed); darst (for durst). 1203. And (!); read As. 1205. harte (!); for art. 1206. previte. 1208. gaven (!). 1209. comonaltie. 1211. nede. 1214. thay (read we); secrites (!). 1215. ladys; certen. 1216. I supply per-. 1217, 1218. bryngyn; dispeire; heire.

1222. firste; I supply I; ded vowe. 1228. I supply in. 1229. lond. 1230. withstond. 1233. the (!); S. this. 1235. goith one; wotte; whate. 1236. Yonne. 1237. one. 1242. kynne; lier. 1244. ladys. 1245. vnshitte. 1246. That leith; S. Than lieth; witte. 1248. fantasie. 1250. canne; bette; reason guy. 1251. Be (for By). 1253. soiorne (!); S. soioure. 1255. rokketh (perhaps read rouketh); Cornor (!).

1259. methamorphosees; S. Methamorphosose. 1260. foo; gloose. 1263. hartes. 1269. Stode; ferre; abite. 1270. Yonne; I supply I; sprite. 1271. corious; S. curious. 1275. I supply a. 1277. bote. 1280. ferre; canne. 1285. Nowe; read Me. 1287. kyndelith. 1288. bodely. 1294. from (!); read to; I supply greet.

1299. I supply so. 1302. laday (!); S. lady. 1305. hoote or cold. 1306. withouten. 1307, 1308. harte, astarte. 1311. sene; cortis guyse. 1313. Twenty (!); read Twey. 1316. The tone. 1320. vnto; read to. 1322. sene. 1323. pleasaunce. 1324. shyne (S. shrine); rose. 1325. eke (!); S. eare. 1327. I supply it; blak (for brak). 1328. reiche (read reuth). 1329. and I me; read than I myself.

1331. not (!); read but. 1333. she (sic); read thou. 1335. taken (!); S. thanken. 1339. I supply to. 1341. heree (!); for her. 1343. reason. 1348, 1351. season. 1358. bewreye; S. bewrye. 1362. preced. 1363. oure owen. 1365. brenne; hote.

1366. Cely enarant. 1369. thus (!; S. this); hartily. 1375. dye. 1376. yf (for yive). 1377. signe (!). 1382. amoryly (!); sprong. 1383. I supply he. 1384. Sic. 1386. maketh; read make. 1387. toke. 1388. I supply as. 1389. mut; dyene; suppe. 1390. gife. 1398. south; purpose (!); read pursue. 1399. most. 1400. tue (!). 1403. on-lok. 1404. I supply a.

1406. light; read lyte. 1411. sang (!); read sing. 1412. lynette. 1416. kiȝt; S. kight. 1417. throwe. 1418. season. 1420. solempne. 1425. lest. 1431. goith. 1432. bleme (!). 1434. garlantis. 1435. reioyson; theire grete delite. 1441. smote; thrugh; I supply very; harte.

Alone walking, In thought pleyning,

And sore sighing, All desolate,

Me remembring Of my living,

My deth wishing Bothe erly and late.

Infortunate Is so my fate

That, wote ye what? Out of mesure

My lyf I hate Thus desperate;

In pore estate Do I endure.

Of other cure Am I nat sure,

Thus to endure Is hard, certain;

Such is my ure, I yow ensure;

What creature May have more pain?

My trouth so pleyn Is take in veyn,

And gret disdeyn In remembraunce;

Yet I full feyn Wold me compleyn

Me to absteyn From this penaunce.

But in substaunce Noon allegeaunce

Of my grevaunce Can I nat finde;

Right so my chaunce With displesaunce

Doth me avaunce; And thus an ende.

Explicit.

From Trin. (Trin. Coll. Cam. R. 3. 19); collated with S. (Stowe's ed. 1561). 4. S. death. Trin. wyssyng; S. wishyng. S. early. 5. Trin. soo; S. so. 6. Trin. whate Oute. S. measure. 7. Trin. lyfe; S. life. 8. Trin. In suche pore (I omit suche). S. Doe. 9. S. not. 12. S. Maie. 13. S. truthe; plain; vain. 14. S. greate disdain. 15. Trin. feyne; S. faine. S. Would. Trin. compleyne; S. complaine. 16. Trin. absteyne; S. abstaine. 17. S. None. 18. S. not. 20. S. Doeth.

Richt as povert causith sobirnes,

And febilnes enforcith contenence,

Richt so prosperitee and gret riches

The moder is of vice and negligence;

And powere also causith insolence;

And honour oftsiss chaungith gude thewis;

Thare is no more perilous pestilence

Than hie estate geven unto schrewis.

Quod Chaucere.

XXVI. From MS. Arch. Seld. B. 24, fol. 119; I give rejected spellings. 3. Rycht; grete. 7. perilouss.

This warldly joy is only fantasy,

Of quhich non erdly wicht can be content;

Quho most has wit, lest suld in it affy,

Quho taistis it most, most sall him repent;

Quhat valis all this richess and this rent,

Sen no man wat quho sall his tresour have?

Presume nocht gevin that god has don but lent,

Within schort tyme the quhiche he thinkis to crave.

Leaulte vault richesse.

XXVII. From MS. Arch. Seld. B. 24, fol. 138; I give rejected spellings. 1. Ioy; onely. 3. leste. 6. wate. 7. done. 9. richess.

1. Whan feyth failleth in prestes sawes,

And lordes hestes ar holden for lawes,

And robbery is holden purchas,

And lechery is holden solas,

Than shal the lond of Albyon

Be brought to grete confusioun.

2. Hit falleth for every gentilman

To saye the best that he can

In [every] mannes absence,

And the soth in his presence.

3. Hit cometh by kynde of gentil blode

To cast away al hevines,

And gadre to-gidre wordes good;

The werk of wisdom berith witnes.

Et sic est finis.

XXVIII. From Caxton's print of Chaucer's Anelida, &c.; see vol. i. p. 46. Also in ed. 1542, in later spelling.

Master Geffray Chauser, that now lyth in grave,

The nobyll rethoricien, and poet of Gret Bretayne,

That worthy was the lawrer of poetry have

For thys hys labour, and the palme attayne;

Whych furst made to dystyll and reyne

The gold dew-dropys of speche and eloquence

In-to Englyssh tong, thorow hys excellence.

Explicit.

XXIX. From MS. Trin. R. 3. 19, fol. 25; also in Stowe (ed. 1561). 1. MS. Chausers; Stowe, Chauser. 2. Rethoricion (!). 6. elloquence.

The text is from Thynne's first edition (1532); the later reprints are of inferior value. No MS. of this piece is known. Rejected spellings are given at the bottom of each page. Conjectural emendations are marked by a prefixed obelus (†). In many places, words or letters are supplied, within square brackets, to complete or improve the sense. For further discussion of this piece, see the Introduction.

Prologue. 1. The initial letters of the chapters in Book I. form the words MARGARETE OF. See the Introduction.

3. by queynt knitting coloures, by curious fine phrases, that 'knit' or join the words or verses together. For colours = fine phrases, cf. Ch., HF. 859; C. T., E 16, F 726.

7. for, because, seeing that; boystous, rough, plain, unadorned; cf. l. 12. The Glossary in vol. vi should be compared for further illustration of the more difficult words.

30. conne jumpere suche termes, know how to jumble such terms together. Jumpere should rather be spelt jumpre; cf. jompre in the Gloss. to Chaucer. For such words, see the Glossary appended to the present volume.

but as, except as the jay chatters English; i.e. without understanding it; cf. Ch. Prol. 642.

43. necessaries to cacche, to lay hold of necessary ideas. Throughout this treatise, we frequently find the verb placed after the substantive which it governs, or relegated to the end of the clause or sentence. This absurd affectation often greatly obscures the sense.

45. The insertion of the words perfeccion is is absolutely necessary to the sense; cf. ll. 47, 50. For the general argument, cf. Ch. Boeth. iii. [452]proses 10 and 11, where 'perfection' is represented by suffisaunce, as, e.g., in iii. pr. 11. l. 18.

50. Aristotle's Metaphysics begins with the words: πάντες ἄνθρωποι τοῦ ἐιδέναι ὀρέγονται φύσει, all men by nature are actuated by the desire of knowledge. The reference to this passage is explicitly given in the Romans of Partenay, ll. 78-87; and it was doubtless a much worn quotation. And see l. 64 below.

61. David. The whole of this sentence is so hopelessly corrupt that I can but give it up. Possibly there is a reference to Ps. cxxxix. 14. me in makinge may be put for 'in makinge me.' Tune is probably a misprint for time; lent may be an error for sent; but the whole is hopelessly wrong.

64. Apparently derived from Aristotle, De Animalibus, bk. i. c. 5. The general sense is that created things like to know both their creator and the causes of natural things akin to them (ὀικεῖα).

67. Considred; i.e. the forms of natural things and their creation being considered, men should have a great natural love to the Workman that made them.

68. me is frequently written for men, the unemphatic form of man, in the impersonal sense of 'one' or 'people'; thus, in King Horn, ed. Morris, 366, 'ne recche i what me telle' means 'I care not what people may say.' Strict grammar requires the form him for hem in l. 69, as me is properly singular; but the use of hem is natural enough in this passage, as me really signifies created beings in general. Cf. me in ch. i. l. 18 below.

80. Styx is not 'a pit,' but a river. The error is Chaucer's; cf. 'Stix, the put of helle,' in Troil. iv. 1540. Observe the expression—'Stygiamque paludem'; Vergil, Aen. vi. 323.

86. I. e. 'rend the sword out of the hands of Hercules, and set Hercules' pillars at Gades a mile further onward.' For the latter allusion, see Ch. vol. ii. p. lv; it may have been taken from Guido delle Colonne. And see Poem VIII (below), l. 349. Gades, now Cadiz.

89. the spere, the spear. There seems to be some confusion here. It was King Arthur who drew the magic sword out of the stone, after 150 knights had failed in the attempt: see Merlin, ed. Wheatley (E. E. T. S.), pp. 100-3. Alexander's task was to untie the Gordian knot.

90. And that; 'and who says that, surpassing all wonders, he will be master of France by might, whereas even King Edward III could not conquer all of it.' An interesting allusion.

96. unconninge, ignorance. There is an unpublished treatise called 'The Cloud of Unknowing'; but it is probably not here alluded to.

98. gadered, gathered. Thynne almost invariably commits the anachronism of spelling the words gader, fader, moder, togider, and the like, with th; and I have usually set him right, marking such corrections with a prefixed obelus (†). Cf. weder in l. 123 below.

110. Boëce, Boethius. No doubt the author simply consulted Chaucer's translation. See the Introduction.

117. Aristotle. The allusion appears to be to the Nicomachean Ethics, bk. i. c. 7: δόξειε δ' ἂν παντὸς εἶναι προαγαγεῖν, ... παντὸς γὰρ προσθεῖναι τὸ ἐλλεῖπον.

122. betiden, happened to me; the i is short. This sudden transition to the mention of the author's pilgrimage suggests that a portion of the Prologue is missing here.

12. thing seems to mean 'person'; the person that cannot now embrace me when I wish for comfort.

15. prison; probably not a material prison. The author, in imitation of Boethius, imagines himself to be imprisoned. At p. 144, l. 132, he is 'in good plite,' i.e. well off. Cf. note to ch. iii. 116.

16. caitived, kept as a captive; the correction of caytisned (with ſ for s) to caytifued (better spelt caitived) is obvious, and is given in the New E. Dict., s.v. Caitive.

17, 18. Straunge, a strange one, some stranger; me, one, really meaning 'myself'; he shulde, it ought to be.

21, 22. bewent, turned aside; see New E. Dict., s.v. Bewend. The reading bewet, i.e. profusely wetted, occurs (by misprinting) in later editions, and is adopted in the New E. Dict, s.v. Bewet. It is obviously wrong.

23. of hem, by them; these words, in the construction, follow enlumined. The very frequent inversion of phrases in this piece tends greatly to obscure the sense of it.

24. Margarite precious, a precious pearl. Gems were formerly credited with 'virtues'; thus Philip de Thaun, in his Bestiary (ed. Wright, l. 1503), says of the pearl—

'A mult choses pot valier, ki cestes peres pot aveir,' &c., or, in Wright's translation: 'For him who can have this stone, it will be of force against many things; there will never be any infirmity, except death, from which a person will not come to health, who will drink it with dew, if he has true faith.' See l. 133 below.

28. twinkling in your disese, a small matter tending to your discomfort. Here disese = dis-ease, want of ease. Cf. l. 31 below.

42. 'It is so high,' &c. The implied subject to which it refers is paradise, where the author's Eve is supposed to be. Hence the sense is:—'paradise is so far away from the place where I am lying and from the common earth, that no cable (let down from it) can reach me.'

59. ferdnes is obviously the right word, though misprinted frendes. It signifies 'fear,' and occurs again in ch. ii. ll. 9, 16; besides, it is again misprinted as frendes in the same chapter, l. 13.

70. mercy passeth right, your mercy exceeds your justice. This was a proverbial phrase, or, as it is called in the next clause, a 'proposition.'

80. souded (misprinted sonded by Thynne), fixed; cf. Ch. C.T., B 1769. From O.F. souder, Lat. solidare.

83. do, cause; 'cause the lucky throw of comfort to fall upward'; alluding to dice-play.

117-20. Evidently corrupt, even when we read flowing for folowing, and of al for by al. Perhaps ther in l. 119 should be they; giving the sense:—'but they (thy virtues) are wonderful, I know not which (of them it is) that prevents the flood,' &c. Even so, a clause is lacking after vertues in l. 118.

126. Thynne has ioleynynge for ioleyuynge, i.e. joleyving, cheering, making joyous. The word is riot given in Stratmann or in Mätzner, but Godefroy has the corresponding O.F. verb joliver, to caress.

Chap. II. 18. a lady; this is evidently copied from Boethius; see Ch. Boeth. bk. i. pr. 1. l. 3. The visitor to the prison of Boethius was named Philosophy; the visitor in the present case is Love, personified as a female; see l. 53 below.

20. blustringe, glance. But the word is not known in this sense, and there is evidently some mistake here. I have no doubt that the right word is blushinge; for the M.E. blusshen was often used in the sense of 'to cast a glance, give a look, glance with the eye'; as duly noted in the New E. Dict, s.v. Blush. The word was probably written bluschinge in Thynne's MS., with a c exactly (as often) like a t. If he misread it as blusthinge, he may easily have altered it to blustringe.

37. O my nory, O my pupil! Copied from Ch. Boeth. bk. i. pr. 3. l. 10; cf. the same, bk. iii. pr. 11. l. 160. In l. 51 below, we have my disciple.

60. by thyn owne vyse, by thine own resolve; i.e. of thine own accord; see Advice in the New E. Dict. § 6. Vyse is put for avyse, the syllable a being dropped. Halliwell notes that vice, with the sense of 'advice,' is still in use.

64. 'Because it comforts me to think on past gladness, it (also) vexes me again to be doing so.' Clumsily expressed; and borrowed from Ch. Boeth. bk. ii. pr. 4. ll. 4-7.

92. Love was kind to Paris, because he succeeded in gaining Helen. Jason was false to Love, because he deserted Hypsipyle and Medea. It is probable that false is misprinted for faire in l. 93; otherwise there is no contrast, as is implied by for.

93. Sesars sonke (sic) should probably be Cesars swink, i.e. Caesar's toil. I adopt this reading to make sense; but it is not at all clear why Caesar should have been selected as the type of a successful lover. [455]

96. 'And chose a maid to be umpire between God and man'; alluding to the Virgin Mary.

114-5. cause, causing, the primary cause, originating these things and many others besides. See note to Troil. iv. 829.

143. For wolde endeynous I here read wolde ben deynous, i.e. would be disdainful; see Deynous in the Gloss. to Chaucer. The New E. Dict. adopts the reading wolde [be] endeynous, with the same sense; but no other example of the adj. endeynous is known, and it is an awkward formation. However, there are five examples of the verb endeign, meaning 'to be indignant'; see Wyclif, Gen. xviii. 30; Ex. xxxii. 22; Is. lvii. 6; Job, xxxii. 2; Wisd. xii. 27.

Wethercocke is a late spelling; the proper M.E. spelling is wedercokke, from a nom. wedercok, which appears in the poem Against Women Unconstant, l. 12.

180. voyde, do away with. webbes; the web, also called the pin and web, or the web and pin, is a disease of the eyes, now known as cataract. See Nares, s.v. Pin; Florio's Ital. Dict., s.v. Cateratta; the New E. Dict., s.v. Cataract; King Lear, iii. 4. 122; Winter's Tale, i. 2. 291.

191, 192. truste on Mars, trust to Mars, i.e. be ready with wager of battle; alluding to the common practice of appealing to arms when a speaker's truthfulness was called in question. See ch. vii. 10 below (p. 31).

Chap. III. 14. Come of, lit. come off; but it is remarkable that this phrase is used in M.E. where we should now say rather 'come on!' See note to Troil. ii. 1738.

25-7. 'I never yet set any one to serve anywhere who did not succeed in his service.'

37-8. There is some corruption here. I insert Tho gan I to help out the sense, but it remains partially obscure. Perhaps the sense is:—'Often one does what one does not wish to do, being stirred to do so by the opinion of others, who wanted me to stay at home; whereupon I suddenly began to wish to travel.' He would rather have stayed at home; but when he found that others wanted him to do so, he perversely began to wish to travel.

39. the wynding of the erthe; an obscure expression; perhaps 'the envelopment of the earth in snow.' [456]

40. 'I walked through woods in which were broad ways, and (then) by small paths which the swine had made, being lanes with by-paths for seeking (there) their beech-mast.'

42. ladels, by-paths (?). No other example of the word appears. I guess it to be a diminutive of M.E. lade, a path, road, which occurs in the Ormulum; see Stratmann. Perhaps it is a mere misprint for lades.

44, 45. gonne to wilde, began to grow wild; cf. ginne ayen waxe ramage, in l. 48, with the like sense. I know of no other example of the verb to wilde.

52. shippe, ship; not, however, a real ship, but an allegorical one named Travail, i.e. Danger; see ll. 55, 75 below. many is here used in place of meynee, referring to the ship's company; some of whom had the allegorical names of Sight, Lust, Thought, and Will. The 'ship' is a common symbol of this present life, in which we are surrounded by perils; compare the parable of 'the wagging boat' in P. Plowm. C. xi. 32, and the long note to that line.

64. avowing, vowing; because persons in peril used to vow to perform pilgrimages.

105. enmoysed, comforted. Enmoise or emmoise is a variant of M.E. amese, ameise, from O.F. amaiser, amaisier, to pacify, appease, render gentle (Godefroy); answering to the Low Lat. type *ad-mitiare from mitis, gentle. See Amese in the New E. Dict. No other example of the form enmoyse is known.

116. prison; the author has forgotten all about his adventure in the ship, and is now back in prison, as in ch. i.

118. renyant forjuged, a denier (of his guilt) who has been wrongfully condemned.

124. let-games; probably from Troil. iii. 527; spoilers of sport or happiness. wayters, watchers, watch-men, guards.

153-4. For he ... suffer, a perfect alliterative line; imitated from P. Plowm. C. xxi. 212:—'For wot no wight what wele is, that never wo suffrede.' Clearly quoted from memory; cf. notes to bk. ii. ch. 9. 178, and ch. 13. 86.

157. happy hevinesse, fortunate grief; a parallel expression to lyking tene, i.e. pleasing vexation, in l. 158. These contradictory phrases were much affected by way of rhetorical flourish. For a long passage of this character, cf. Rom. Rose, 4703-50.

158. harse is almost certainly a misprint for harme; then goodly [457]harme means much the same as lyking tene (see note above). So, in Rom. Rose, 4710, 4733, 4743, we find mention of 'a sweet peril,' 'a joyous pain,' and 'a sweet hell.'

Chap. IV. 2. semed they boren, they seemed to bore; boren being in the infin. mood.

18. For or read for, to make sense; for of disese, for out of such distress come gladness and joy, so poured out by means of a full vessel, that such gladness quenches the feeling of former sorrows. Here gladnesse and joy is spoken of as being all one thing, governing the singular verb is, and being alluded to as it.

25. commensal, table-companion; from F. commensal, given in Cotgrave. See the New E. Dict.

36. clothe, cloth. This circumstance is copied from Ch. Boeth. bk. i. pr. 2. l. 19.

42. This reference to Love, as controlling the universe, is borrowed from Boeth. bk. ii. met. 8.

47. Read werne (refuse) and wol (will); 'yet all things desire that you should refuse help to no one who is willing to do as you direct him.'

56. every thing in coming, every future thing. contingent, of uncertain occurrence; the earliest known quotation for this use of the word in English.

61-2. many let-games; repeated from above, ch. iii. ll. 124-8. thy moeble; from the same, ll. 131-2.

64. by the first, with reference to your first question; so also by that other, with reference to your second question, in l. 71.

Chap. V. 8. Acrisius shut his daughter Danaë up in a tower, to keep her safe; nevertheless she became the mother of Perseus, who afterwards killed Acrisius accidentally.

16. beestes, animals, beings; not used contemptuously; equivalent to living people in ll. 17, 18.

29. Supply don; 'and I will cause him to come to bliss, as being one of my own servants.'

35. and in-to water, and jumps into the water and immediately comes up to breathe; like an unsuccessful diver.

43. this countrè; a common saying; cf. Troil. ii. 28 (and note), 42. And see l. 47 below.

71. jangelers; referring to l. 19 above. lokers; referring to overlokers; in ch. iii. l. 128.

103. eighteth, eighth; an extraordinary perversion of the notion of the sabbatical year. So below, in l. 104, we are informed that the number of workdays is seven; and that, in Christian countries, the day of rest is the eighth day in the week! kinrest, rest for the kin or people; a general day of rest. I know of no other example of this somewhat clumsy compound.

113. conisance, badge. Badges for retainers were very common at this date. See Notes to Richard the Redeless, ii. 2.

As these lines are not found in the earlier versions, it follows that the author was acquainted with the latest version.

124. a bridge; i.e. to serve by way of retreat for such as trust them. wolves, destroyers; here meant as a complimentary epithet.

127. This idea, of Jupiter's promotion, from being a bull, to being the mate of Europa, is extremely odd; still more so is that of the promotion of Aeneas from being in hell (l. 129). Cf. Europe in Troil. iii. 722.

128. lowest degrè; not true, as Caesar's father was praetor, and his aunt married Marius. But cf. C. T., B 3862.

Chap. VI. 3. enfame, infamy, obloquy; from Lat. infamia. Godefroy gives enfamer, to dishonour. The word only occurs in the present treatise; see ll. 6, 7, 15.

12. From Prov. xxvii. 6: 'Meliora sunt vulnera diligentis quam fraudulenta oscula odientis.'

48. Zedeoreys (or ȝedeoreys). I can find nothing resembling this strange name, nor any trace of its owner's dealings with Hannibal.

53. The (possibly imaginary) autobiographical details here supplied have been strangely handled for the purpose of insertion into the life of Chaucer, with which they have nothing to do. See Morris's Chaucer, vol. i. p. 32 (Aldine edition). The author tells us very little, except that tumults took place in London, of which he was a native, and that he had knowledge of some secret which he was pressed to betray, and did so in order to serve his own purposes. [459]

114. Athenes; Athene was the goddess who maintained the authority of law and order, and in this sense was 'a god of peace.' But she was certainly also a goddess of battles.

139. mighty senatoures. It has been conjectured that the reference is to John of Gaunt. In the Annals of England, under the date 1384, it is noted that 'John of Northampton, a vehement partisan of the duke, is tried and sentenced to imprisonment and forfeiture. An attempt is also made to put the duke on his trial.' John of Northampton had been mayor of London in 1382, when there was a dispute between the court and the citizens regarding his election; perhaps the words comen eleccion (common election), in l. 125 above, may refer to this trouble; so also free eleccion in l. 140. In l. 143 we must read fate, not face; the confusion between c and t is endless. Perhaps governours in l. 144 should be governour, as in l. 147. Note that the author seems to condemn the disturbers of the peace.

165. sacrament, my oath of allegiance. Note that the author takes credit for giving evidence against the riotous people; for which the populace condemned him as a liar (l. 171).

181. reply, i.e. to subvert, entirely alter, recall; lit. to fold or bend back.

189. Here the author says, more plainly, that he became unpopular for revealing a conspiracy.

193. out of denwere, out of doubt, without doubt. Such is clearly the sense; but the word denwere is rejected from the New E. Dict., as it is not otherwise known, and its form is suspicious. It is also omitted in Webster and in the Century Dictionary. Bailey has 'denwere, doubt,' taken from Speght's Chaucer, and derived from this very passage. Hence Chatterton obtained the word, which he was glad to employ. It occurs, for instance, in his poem of Goddwyn, ed. Skeat, vol. ii. p. 100:—

The right phrase is simply out of were; cf. 'withoute were' in the Book of the Duchess, 1295. I think the letters den may have been prefixed accidentally. The line, as printed in Thynne, stands thus: 'denwere al the sothe knowe of these thinges.' I suggest that den is an error for don, and the word don ought to come at the end of the line (after thinges) instead of at the beginning. This would give the readings [460]'out of were' and 'these thinges don in acte'; both of which are improvements.

200. of mene, make mention of. Cf. 'hit is a schep[h]erde that I of mene'; Ancient Metrical Tales, ed. Hartshorne, p. 74.

Chap. VII. 10. profered, offered wager of battle; hence the mention of Mars in l. 11. Cf. note to ch. ii. 191 above, p. 455.

38. discovered, betrayed; so that the author admits that he betrayed his mistress.

46. that sacrament, that the oath to which you swore, viz. when you were charged upon your oath to tell the truth. That is, his oath in the court of justice made him break his private oath.

49. trewe is certainly an error for trewthe; the statement is copied from Jer. iv. 2:—' Et iurabis ... in veritate, et in iudicio, et in justitia.' So in l. 58 below, we have: 'in jugement, in trouthe, and rightwisenesse'; and in l. 53—'for a man to say truth, unless judgement and righteousness accompany it, he is forsworn.'

56. 'Moreover, it is sometimes forbidden to say truth rightfully—except in a trial—because all truths are not to be disclosed.'

60. that worde: 'melius mori quam male vivere'; for which see P. Plowman, C. xviii. 40. Somewhat altered from Tobit, iii. 6:—'expedit mihi mori magis quam vivere.'

75. Here misprinted; read:—'may it be sayd, "in that thinge this man thou demest,"' &c. From Rom. ii. 1; 'in quo enim iudicas alterum, teipsum condemnas.'

108. Selande, Zealand, Zeeland. The port of Middleburg, in the isle of Walcheren, was familiar to the English; cf. note to C. T., Prol. 277. The reference must be to some companions of the author who had fled to Zealand to be out of the way of prosecution. rydinge, expedition on horseback, journey.

109, 110. for thy chambre, to pay the rent of your room. renter, landlord; 'unknown to the landlord.'

Chap. VIII. 1. Eft, again. Thynne prints Ofte, which does not give the sense required. Fortunately, we know that the first letter must be E, in order that the initial letters of the Prologue and chapters I. to VIII. may give the word MARGARETE. The reading Ofte would turn this into MARGARETO.

32. use Jacobs wordes. The allusion seems to be to the conciliatory conduct of Jacob towards Esau; Gen. xxxiii. 8, 10, 11. Similarly the author is to be patient, and to say—'I will endure my lady's wrath, which I have deserved,' &c.

41. sowe hem, to sew them together again. at his worshippe, in honour of him; but I can find no antecedent to his. Perhaps for his we should read her.

44. The text has forgoing al errour distroyeng causeth; but distroyeng (which may have been a gloss upon forgoing) is superfluous, and al should be of. But forgoing means rather 'abandonment.'

61. Hector, according to Guido delle Colonne, gave counsel against going to war with the Greeks, but was overborne by Paris. See the alliterative Destruction of Troy, ed. Panton and Donaldson (E. E. T. S.), Book VI; or Lydgate's Siege of Troye, ch. xii.

66. The modern proverb is: 'silence gives consent.' Ray gives, as the Latin equivalent, 'qui tacet consentire videtur (inquiunt iuris consulti).' This is the exact form which is here translated.

73. Alluding to the canticle 'Exultet' sung upon Easter Eve, in the Sarum Missal:—'O certe necessarium Ade peccatum.' See note to P. Plowman, C. viii. 126 (or B. v. 491).

95. centre, central point; from Ch. Boeth. bk. ii. pr. 7. ll. 18-20. The whole passage (ll. 94-105) is imitated from the same 'prose' of Boethius.

103. London is substituted for 'Rome' in Chaucer's Boethius. Chaucer has—'may thanne the glorie of a singuler Romaine strecchen thider as the fame of the name of Rome may nat climben or passen?' See the last note.

116-25. From the same, ll. 65-79. Thus, in l. 123, the word ofte (in Thynne) is a misprint for of the; for Chaucer has—'For of thinges that han ende may be maked comparisoun.' The whole passage shews that the author consulted Chaucer's translation of Boethius rather than the Latin text. [462]

127. and thou canst nothing don aright; literally from Chaucer: 'Ye men, certes, ne conne don nothing aright'; Boeth. bk. ii. pr. 7. 79. but thou desyre the rumour therof be heled and in every wightes ere; corresponds to Chaucer's—'but-yif it be for the audience of the people and for ydel rumours'; Boeth. bk. ii. pr. 7. 80. Hence heled (lit. hidden) is quite inadmissible; the right reading is probably deled, i.e. dealt round.

134. The words supplied are necessary; they dropped out owing to the repetition of vertue.

135-6. Again copied from Ch. Boeth. bk. ii. pr. 7. 106: 'the sowle ... unbounden fro the prison of the erthe.'

Cf. 'one looketh high as one that feareth no chips'; Lyly's Euphues, ed. Arber, p. 467. And see IX. 158 (p. 270).

34. From Chaucer, Boeth. bk. i. pr. 4. 186. The saying is attributed to Pythagoras; see the passage in Chaucer, and the note upon it.

39. a this halfe god, on this side of God, i.e. here below; a strange expression. So again in bk. ii. ch. 13. 23.

46. the foure elementes, earth, air, fire, and water; see notes to Ch. C. T., A 420, 1247, G 1460. Al universitee, the whole universe; hence man was called the microcosm, or the universe in little; see Coriolanus, ii. 1. 68.

64. I sette now, I will now suppose the most difficult case; suppose that thou shouldst die in my service.

71. in this persone; read on this persone; or else, perhaps, in this prisoune.

86. til deth hem departe; according to the phrase 'till death us depart' in the Marriage Service, now ingeniously altered to 'till death us do part.'

98, 99. accord, betrothal. the rose, i.e. of virginity; as in the Romance of the Rose, when interpreted.

99, 100. Marye his spouse. But the Vulgate has; 'Surge, et accipe puerum et matrem eius'; Matt. ii. 13. The author must have been thinking of Matt. i. 18: 'Cum esset desponsata mater eius Maria Ioseph.'

118. prophete; David, in Ps. xcvi. 5: (xcv. 5 in the Vulgate): 'omnes dii gentium daemonia.'

Chap. X. 5. last objeccion; i.e. his poverty, see ch. iii. 131, iv. 73, ix. 14. [463]

19. aver, property, wealth; 'lo! how the false man, for the sake of his wealth, is accounted true!'

26-37. Cf. Ch. Boeth. bk. i. met. 5. 22-39. Thus, slydinge chaunges in l. 31 answers to Chaucer's slydinge fortune (l. 24); and that arn a fayr parcel of the erthe, in l. 32, to a fayr party of so grete a werk (l. 38); and yet again, thou that knittest, in l. 35, to what so ever thou be that knittest (l. 36).

85-120. From Ch. Boeth. bk. ii. pr. 8. For literal imitations, compare the other haleth him to vertue by the hookes of thoughtes (l. 104-5) with Chaucer's 'the contrarious Fortune ... haleth hem ayein as with an hooke' (l. 21); and Is nat a greet good ... for to knowe the hertes of thy sothfast frendes (ll. 107-9) with Chaucer's 'wenest thou thanne that thou oughtest to leten this a litel thing, that this ... Fortune hath discovered to thee the thoughtes of thy trewe frendes' (l. 22). Also ll. 114-6 with Chaucer (ll. 28-31).

126. let us singen; in imitation of the Metres in Boethius, which break the prose part of the treatise at frequent intervals. Cf. 'and bigan anon to singen right thus'; Boeth. bk. iii. pr. 9. 149.

Chap. I. The initials of the fourteen Chapters in this Book give the words: VIRTW HAVE MERCI. Thynne has not preserved the right division, but makes fifteen chapters, giving the words: VIRTW HAVE MCTRCI. I have set this right, by making Chap. XI begin with 'Every.' Thynne makes Chapter XI begin with 'Certayn,' p. 86, l. 133, and another Chapter begin with 'Trewly,' p. 89, l. 82. This cannot be right, because the latter word, 'Trewly,' belongs to the last clause of a sentence; and the Chapter thus beginning would have the unusually small number of 57 lines.

1. Chapter I really forms a Prologue to the Second Book, interrupting our progress. At the end of Book I we are told that Love is about to sing, but her song begins with Chap. II. Hence this first Chapter must be regarded as a digression, in which the author reviews what has gone before (ll. 10-3), and anticipates what is to come (l. 61).

9. steering, government (of God), otherwysed, changed, varied; an extraordinary form.

14-8. There is clearly much corruption in this unintelligible and [464]imperfect sentence. The reference to 'the Roman emperor' is mysterious.

21. woweth; so in Thynne, but probably an error for waweth, i.e. move, shift; see waȝien in Stratmann.

34. irrecuperable, irrecoverable; irrecuperabilis is used by Tertullian (Lewis and Short).

40. armes; this refers, possibly, to the struggle between the pope and anti-pope, after the year 1378.

51-2. lovers clerk, clerk of lovers; but perhaps an error for Loves clerk; cf. Troil. iii. 41.

77. Translated from 'Fides non habet meritum ubi humana ratio praebet experimentum'; as quoted in P. Plowman, C. xii. 160. This is slightly altered from a saying of St. Gregory (xl. Homil. in Evangelium, lib. ii. homil. 26)—'nec fides humana habet meritum cui humana ratio praebet experimentum.' See note to P. Plowman (as above).

93. cockle, tares. This seems to refer to the Lollards, as puns upon the words Lollard and lolia were very rife at this period. If so, the author had ceased to approve of Lollard notions. In l. 94, love seems to mean Christian charity, in its highest sense; hence it is called, in l. 95, the most precious thing in nature.

96, 97. The passage seems corrupt, and I cannot quite see what is meant. Perhaps read: 'with many eke-names, [and] that [to] other thinges that the soule [seketh after, men] yeven the ilke noble name.' The comma after kynde in l. 96 represents a down-stroke (equivalent to a comma) in Thynne; but it is not wanted.

99. to thee, i.e. to the 'Margaret of virtue' whose name appears as an acrostic at the head of the Chapters in Book I. and Chapters I-V of Book II; moreover, we find at last that Margaret signifies Holy Church, to which the treatise is accordingly dedicated. tytled of Loves name, entitled the Testament of Love.

104. Every thing; with respect to everything to which appertains a cause which is wrought with a view to its accomplishment, Aristotle supposes that the doing of everything is, in a manner, its final cause. 'Final cause' is a technical term, explained in the New E. Dict. as 'a term introduced into philosophical language by the schoolmen as a translation of Aristotle's fourth cause, τὸ οὗ ἕνεκα or τέλος, the end or purpose for which a thing is done, viewed as the cause of the act; especially as applied in Natural Theology to the design, purpose, or end of the arrangements of the universe.' The phrase 'the end in view' comes near to expressing it, and will serve to explain 'A final cause' in the next clause.

110. the cause, the cause whereby I am directed, and that for which I ought to write it, are both alike noble.

113. this leude, &c.; I have set about learning this alphabet; for I cannot, as yet, go beyond counting up to three.

124. in bright whele, in (its) bright circuit. Chaucer has wheel in the sense of orbit; HF. 1450.

126. another tretyse. As to this proposed treatise nothing is known. Perhaps it never was written.

Chap. II. 2. in Latin. This suggests that the present chapter may be adapted from some Latin original; especially as the author only gives the sentence or general drift of it. But the remark may mean nothing, and the tone of the chapter is wholly medieval.

24. Saturnes sphere, Saturn's orbit; the supposed outer boundary of the spheres of the seven planets.

27. me have, possess me (i.e. love), since Love is the speaker; i.e. they think they can procure men's love by heaping up wealth.

29. pannes, better spelt panes; see pane in Stratmann. From O.F. pan, panne, Lat. pannus, a cloth, garment, robe. mouled, become mouldy; the very form from which the mod. E. mould-y has been evolved; see muwlen in Stratmann, and mouldy in my Etym. Dict. (Supplement). whicche, chest, from A.S. hwæcca; see P. Plowm. A. iv. 102, where some copies have huche, a hutch, a word of French origin. Thus pannes mouled in a whicche signifies garments that have become mouldy in a chest. See note to C. T., C 734.

35. seventh; perhaps an error for thirde; cf. 'percussa est tertia pars solis'; Rev. viii. 12. He is referring to the primitive days of the Church, when 'the pope went afoot.'

40. defended, forbade (opposed) those taxations. See Taylage in Ch. Glossary.

49. for his wronges, on account of the wrongs which he commits. personer, better parsoner or parcener, participant, sharer; i.e. the steward, courtier, escheator, and idle minstrel, all get something. See parcener in Stratmann.

50. 'And each one gets his prebend (or share) all for himself, with which many thrifty people ought to profit.'

51. behynde, behindhand; even these wicked people are neglected, in comparison with the losengeour, or flatterer.

52. Note the rimes, forsake, take. it acordeth, it agrees, it is all consistent; see note to l. 74 below. [466]

60. shete, a sheet, instead of a napkin to cover the bread; god refers to the eucharist.

69. dolven, buried; 'because they (the poor) always crave an alms, and never make an offering, they (the priests) would like to see them dead and buried.'

71. 'For then wrong and force would not be worth a haw anywhere.' Before plesen something seems lost; perhaps read—'and [thou canst] plesen,' i.e. and you can please no one, unless those oppressive and wrong-doing lawyers are in power and full action.'

74. ryme, rime. The reference is not to actual jingle of rime, but to a proverb then current. In a poem by Lydgate in MS. Harl. 2251 (fol. 26), beginning—'Alle thynge in kynde desirith thynge i-like,' the refrain to every stanza runs thus:—'It may wele ryme, but it accordith nought'; see his Minor Poems, ed. Halliwell, p. 55. The sense is that unlike things may be brought together, like riming words, but they will not on that account agree. So here: such things may seem, to all appearance, congruous, but they are really inconsistent. Cf. note to l. 52 above.

109. comeden is false grammar for comen, came; perhaps it is a misprint. The reference is to Gen. ix. 27: 'God shall enlarge Japheth ... and Canaan shall be his servant.' The author has turned Canaan into Cayn, and has further confused Canaan with his father Ham!

116. Perdicas, Perdiccas, son of Orontes, a famous general under Alexander the Great. This king, on his death-bed, is said to have taken the royal signet-ring from his finger and to have given it to Perdiccas. After Alexander's death, Perdiccas held the chief authority under the new king Arrhidaeus; and it was really Arrhidaeus (not Perdiccas) who was the son of a tombestere, or female dancer, and of Philip of Macedonia; so that he was Alexander's half brother. The dancer's name was Philinna, of Larissa. In the Romance of Alexander, the dying king bequeaths to Perdiccas the kingdom of Greece; cf. note to bk. iii. c. ii. l. 25. Hence the confusion. [467]

122. Copied from Ch. Boeth. bk. iii. met. 6:—'Al the linage of men that ben in erthe ben of semblable birthe. On allone is fader of thinges.... Why noisen ye or bosten of your eldres? For yif thou loke your biginninge, and god your auctor and maker,' &c.

139. After secte, supply I:—'that, in any respect, I may so hold an opinion against her sex.' Secte is properly 'suite'; but here means sex; cf. l. 134.

Chap. III. 8. victorie of strength; because, according to the first book of Esdras, iv. 14, 15, women are the strongest of all things.

9. Esdram, accus. of Esdras, with reference to the first book of Esdras, called 'liber Esdrae tertius' in the Vulgate.

9, 10. whos lordship al lignes. Something is lost here; lordship comes at the end of a line; perhaps the insertion of passeth will give some sort of sense; whos lordship [passeth] al lignes, whose lordship surpasses all lines. But lignes is probably a corrupt reading.

10. who is, i.e. who is it that? The Vulgate has: 'Quis est ergo qui dominatur eorum? Nonne mulieres genuerunt regem,' &c. But the A. V. has: 'Who is it then that ruleth them, or hath the lordship over them? Are they not women? Women have borne the king,' &c. This translates a text in which mulieres has been repeated.

17-21. From 1 Esdras, iv. 15-7: 'Women have borne the king and all the people that bear rule by sea and land. Even of them came they: and they nourished them up that planted the vineyards, from whence the wine cometh. These also make garments [Lat. stolas] for men; these bring glory unto men; and without women cannot men be.'

32. of your sectes, of your followers, of those of your sex. Cf. chap. 2. 139 above, and the note.

38. wenen, imagine that your promises are all gospel-truth; cf. Legend of Good Women, 326 (earlier version).

41. so maked; 'and that (i.e. the male sex) is so made sovereign and to be entreated, that was previously servant and used the voice of prayer.' Men begin by entreating, and women then surrender their sovereignty.

45, 46. what thing to women it is, what a thing it is for women. Ll. 45-58 are borrowed, sometimes word for word, from Ch. HF. 269-85. See note to l. 70 below, and the Introduction, § 11.

47. 'All that glisters is not gold'; see Ch. C. T., G 962, and the note. But it is here copied from Ch. HF. 272.

115. This proverb is copied from Ch. HF. 290-1; just as the proverb in l. 47 is from the same, l. 272. Compare p. 22, ll. 44-5.

20-1. by wayes of riches; cf. richesses in Ch. Boeth. bk. iii. pr. 2. 20; so also dignite answers to digne of reverence in the same, l. 21; power occurs in the same, l. 24; and renomè answers to renoun in l. 26.

55. holden for absolute, considered as free, separate, or detached; as in Ch. Boeth. bk. v. pr. 6. 169.

56. leveth in, there remain in, i.e. remain for consideration, remain to be considered. When 'bestial' living is set aside, 'manly' and 'resonable' are left.

61. riches, &c.; from Boethius. See riches discussed in Ch. Boeth. bk. ii. pr. 5; dignitè, in pr. 6; renomè, or fame, in pr. 7; and power, along with dignitè, in pr. 6.

100. songedest, didst dream; from F. songer. I know of no other example of this verb in English. However, Langland has songewarie, interpretation of dreams, P. Plowman, C. x. 302.

116. to oblige, to subject thy body to deeds of arms, to offer to fight judicially; as already said above; cf. bk. i. c. 7. 10.

138. 'Love and the bliss already spoken of above (cf. 'the parfit blisse of love,' bk. ii. c. 1. 79) shall be called "the knot" in the heart.' This definition of "the knot," viz. as being the perfect bliss or full fruition of love, should be noted; because, in later chapters, the author continually uses the phrase "the knot," without explaining what he means by it. It answers to 'sovereyn blisfulnesse' in Chaucer's Boethius.

141. inpossession is all one word, but is clearly an error. The right word is certainly imposition. The Lat. impositio was a grammatical term, used by Varro, signifying the imposing of a name, or the [469]application of a name to an object; and the same sense of O.F. imposition appears in a quotation given by Godefroy. It is just the word required. When Love declares that she shall give the name of "the knot" to the perfect bliss of love, the author replies, 'I shall well understand the application of this name,' i.e. what you mean by it; cf. l. 149.

147. A goddes halfe, lit. on the side of God; with much the same sense as in God's name; see Ch. C. T., D 50.

Chap. V. 3. richesse is singular; it was probably Thynne who put the following verbs into plural forms.

65. Cf. 'Why embracest thou straunge goodes as they weren thyne?' Ch. Boeth. bk. ii. pr. 5. 50.

25. dignites ... is as the sonne; the verb is agrees with the latter substantive sonne.

26-9. From the same as above, 4-6; the author substitutes wilde fyre for Chaucer's flaumbe of Ethna.

38. Perhaps read dignitè in suche thing tene y-wrought; 'as dignity in such a case wrought harm, so, on the contrary, the substance in dignity, being changed, rallied (so as) to bring in again a good condition in its effect.' Obscure. 'Dignities' are further discussed in Boeth. bk. iii. pr. 4.

78. Nero. The name was evidently suggested by the mention of Nero immediately after the end of Boeth. bk. iii. pr. 4 (viz. in met. 4); but the story of Nero killing his mother is from an earlier passage in Boethius, viz. bk. ii. met. 6.

81. king John. By asserting his 'dignity' as king against prince Arthur, he brought about a war in which the greater part of the French possessions of the crown were lost.

99. such maner planettes, planets such as those; referring to the sun and moon mentioned just above; ll. 87, 91. The sun and moon were then accounted as being among the seven planets.

100-1. 'That have any desire for such (ill) shining planets to appear any more in that way.'

117-8. I not, I do not know. and thou see, if thou shouldst see. Cf. Ch. Boeth. bk. iii. pr. 4. 22-7.

127. besmyteth, contaminates, defiles. Note that the author is here reproducing Chaucer's bispotten and defoulen (pr. 4. 38). The word is [470]noted in Stratmann, because the A.S. besmītan, in this sense, occurs in Mark, vii. 15. The form besmitten is commoner, four examples of it being given in the New E. Dict., s.v. besmit. The verb besmite has escaped recognition there, because the present passage has not been noted. So also, in the next line, smyteth has a like sense. Smitted occurs in Troilus, v. 1545.

138. The sentence is incomplete and gives no sense; probably a clause has dropped out after the word goodnesse. I cannot set it right.

17. Henry Curtmantil, Henry II. 'Henry short mantell, or Henry the seconde'; Fabyan, ed. Ellis, p. 260. 'In his fifty-fifth year he thus miserably expired, and his son Geoffrey of Lincoln with difficulty found any one to attend to his funeral; the attendants had all fled away with everything valuable that they could lay their hands on'; Miss Yonge, Cameos from English History (1869); p. 180.

50-2. Cf. 'Holdest thou thanne thilke man be mighty, that thou seest that he wolde don that he may nat don?' the same; ll. 23-5.

78. warnisshed, guarded. warnishe, guard; the hour of warnishe, the time of his being guarded.

81. famulers, household servants; borrowed from Chaucer's familieres in the same prose, l. 29.

82. sypher, cipher in arithmetic. Though in itself it signifies nothing, yet appended to a preceding figure it gives that figure a tenfold value. Cf. Richard the Redeless, iv. 53-4:—

114-6. Here the author suddenly dashes off to another book of Boethius; see bk. ii. pr. 6. 44-5.

117. Buserus; Chaucer has Busirides in his text of Boethius, bk. ii. pr. 6. 47 (whose text our author here follows); but Busirus in the Monkes Tale, B 3293. The true name is Busiris, of which Busiridis is the genitive case. Chaucer evolved the form Busirides out of the accusative Busiridem in Boethius. See note in vol. ii. p. 433.

118. Hugest; substituted for the example of Regulus in Boethius. Hugest is probably an error for Hengest, i.e. Hengist. The story of his slaughter of the Britons at Stonehenge by a shameful treachery is famous; he certainly 'betrayed many men.' See Fabyan, ed. Ellis, p. 66; Rob. of Gloucester, l. 2651 (ed. Hearne, p. 124). The story of his death is not inconsistent with the text. Rob. of Gloucester, at l. 2957 (ed. Hearne, p. 140) tells how he was suddenly seized, in a battle, by Eldol, earl of Gloucester, who cried out for help; many came to his assistance, and Hengist was taken alive. Shortly afterwards, at the instance of Eldad, bishop of Gloucester, Eldol led him out of the town of Corneboru, and smote his head off. Eldad's verdict was:—

The name of his betrayer or capturer is given as Collo in our text; but proper names take so many forms that it is not much to go by. Thus, the very name which is given as Eldol in one MS. of Robert of Gloucester (l. 2679) appears as Cadel in another. Fabyan calls him Edolf (p. 66), and makes him Earl of Chester. Layamon (ed. Madden, ii. 268) calls him Aldolf.

132. 'But then, as for him who could make you wretched, if he wished it, thou canst not resist it.' The sentence appears to be incomplete.

135. flye, fly; substituted for Chaucer's mous; see his Boeth. bk. ii. pr. 6. 22-4.

148-9. Why there, i.e. 'wherefore (viz. by help of these things) there is no way,' &c. Cf. 'Now is it no doute thanne that thise weyes ne ben a maner misledinges to blisfulnesse'; Ch. Boeth. bk. iii. pr. 8. 1-2.

Chap. VIII. 5. renomè, renown; answering to glori and renoun in Ch. Boeth. bk. iii. pr. 6. 1, 6. But there is not much imitation of Chaucer in the former part of this chapter. [472]

42. elementes, the four elements. Sir T. Elyot's Castel of Helthe (1539) presents the usual strange medieval notions on medicine. He begins by saying that we must consider the things natural, the things not natural, and the things against nature. The things natural are seven, viz. elements, complexions, humours, members, powers, operations, and spirits. 'The Elementes be those originall thynges vnmyxt and vncompounde, of whose temperance and myxture all other thynges, hauynge corporalle substance, be compacte: Of them be foure, that is to saye, Erthe, Water, Ayre, and Fyre.

Erthe is the moost grosse and ponderouse element, and of her proper nature is colde and drye.

Water is more subtyll and lyght thanne erthe, but in respect of Ayre and Fyre, it is grosse and heuye, and of hir proper Nature is colde and moyste.

Ayre is more lyghte and subtylle than the other two, and beinge not altered with any exteriour cause, is properly hotte and moyste.

Fyre is absolutely lyght and clere, and is the clarifier of other elementes, if they be vyciate or out of their naturall temperaunce, and is properly hotte and drye.' Cf. Ch. Boeth. bk. iii. met. 9. 13-7.

52. erthe (see the footnote) is an obvious error for eyre; so also in l. 53. But the whole of the argument is ridiculous.

68-9. Copied from Ch. Boeth. bk. iii. pr. 6. 3-4. From the Andromache of Euripides, l. 319; see the note in vol. ii. p. 439.

107-10. thilke—knotte; equivalent to 'they ne ben nat weyes ne pathes that bringen men to blisfulnesse'; Ch., as above, ll. 42-3.

122. Cf. 'But alday fayleth thing that fooles wenden'; certainly the right reading of Troil. i. 217; see note on the line; vol. ii. p. 463.

124. the sterre, the star of the Southern pole; so in the next line, the Northern pole-star.

126. out-waye-going, going out of the way, error of conduct; which may be called, as it were, 'imprisonment,' or 'banishment.' It is called Deviacion in bk. iii. ch. i. 6, which see.

130. Cf. 'It suffyseth that I have shewed hiderto the forme of false welefulness'; Ch. Boeth. bk. iii. pr. 9. 1. With line 131, cf. the same, ll. 5-7. [473]

9. The 'harmony' or music of the spheres; see Troil. v. 1812-3; Parl. Foules, 59-63, and the note in vol. i. p. 507.

37-8. sugre ... soot; cf. 'sucre be or soot,' Troil. iii. 1194; and 'in her hony galle'; C. T., B 3537.

54. Flebring; omitted in the New E. Dict., as being a false form; there is no such word. Mr. Bradley suggests flekring or flekering, which is probable enough. The M.E. flekeren, also spelt flikeren, meant not only to flutter, but to be in doubt, to vacillate, and even to caress. We may take it to mean 'light speech' or 'gossip.'

77-8. Cf. l. 81 below. Hence the sense is: 'and that thing which belongs to it (i.e. to the knot) ought to incline to its superior cause out of honour and good-will.' But it is clumsy enough; and even to get this sense (which seems to have been that intended) we must alter mores to more. The form was probably miswritten mores here owing to the occurrence of mores just above (l. 74) and just below (l. 79). It proceeds thus:—'otherwise, it is rebellious, and ought to be rejected from protection by its superior.'

129-38. Perhaps the finest passage in the treatise, but not very original. Cf. P. Plowman, C. xxi. 456-7; Ch. Boeth. bk. iv. met. 6. 20-3.

139. Imitated from Ch. Boeth. bk. ii. pr. 2. 54-5; but with the substitution of 'garmentes' for 'tonnes.'

143. proverbe, proverb. 'When bale is hext (highest), then bote is next'; Proverbs of Hending; see notes to Gamelyn, ll. 32, 631, in vol. v. pp. 478, 486. For hext our author substitutes a nyebore, i.e. a neighbour, nigh at hand.

155-70. I suspect that this account of the days of the week (though no doubt familiar in those days to many) was really copied from Chaucer's Treatise on the Astrolabe, part ii. sect. 12 (vol. iii. p. 197). For it contains a remarkable blunder. The word noon in l. 163 should, of course, be midnight; but, as Chaucer omits to say when the first planetary hour of the day occurs, the author was left to himself in regard to this point. Few people understand why the day after Sunday must needs be Monday; yet it is very simple. The principle is given in the footnote to vol. iii. p. 197 (cf. vol. v. p. 86), but may here be stated a little more plainly. The earth being taken as the centre of the planetary system, the planets are arranged in the order of the radii of their orbits. The nearest planet is the Moon, then Mercury, Venus, the Sun, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. These were arranged by the astrologers in the reverse order; viz. Saturn, Jupiter, [474]Mars, Sun, Venus, Mercury, Moon; after which the rotation began over again, Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, &c.; as before. If we now divide Sunday into twenty-four hours, and assign the first of these to the Sun, the second to Venus (next in rotation), the third to Mercury, and so on, the eighth hour will again fall to the Sun, and so will the fifteenth and the twenty-second. Consequently, the twenty-third (like the second) belongs to Venus, the twenty-fourth to Mercury, and the twenty-fifth to the Moon. But the twenty-fifth hour is the first hour of the new day, which is therefore the day of the Moon. And so throughout.

Since the twenty-second hour belongs to the Sun, and the twenty-fifth to the Moon, the planetary interval from day to day is really obtained by pitching upon every third planet in the series, i.e. by skipping two. Hence the order of ruling planets for each day (which rule depends upon the assignment of the first hour) is obviously—the Sun, the Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn; or, in Anglo-Saxon terminology, the Sun, the Moon, Tīw, Wōden, Thunor (Thur), Frige, and Sætern (Sæter).

178. Cf. 'here wo into wele wende mote atte laste'; P. Plowman, C. xxi. 210. See notes to ch. 13. 86 below, and bk. i. 3. 153.

196. slawe, slain; the usual expression; cf. Compl. of Mars, 186; Compl. unto Pitè, 112.

37. a fair parcel. Similarly, Boethius recites his former good fortune; bk. ii. pr. 3. 20-43.

45. He insists that he was only a servant of conspirators; he would have nothing to do with the plot (l. 50); yet he repented of it (l. 49); and it is clear that he betrayed it (bk. i. ch. 6. l. 189).

58. farn, for faren, fared. Fortune; cf. the complaints of Boethius, bk. i. met. 1. 19; pr. 4. 8; bk. ii. met. 1.

133. Here begins a new chapter in Thynne; with a large capital C. See note to book ii. ch. i.

Chap. XI. 11-3. Not in character; the author forgets that Love is supposed to be the speaker, and speaks in his own person.

40-8. From Ch. Boeth. bk. iii. met. 8. 3-7, 16-8; pr. ix. 12-16, 66-70; somewhat varied.

56. over his soule; cf. 'but only upon his body'; the same, bk. ii. pr. 6. 31.

56-69. The general idea corresponds with the same, bk. iii. pr. 9. I observe no verbal resemblance.

82. Thynne begins a new chapter here, with a large capital T. See note to bk. ii. ch. i.

93. Plato. This story is told of Socrates, and is given in the note to C. T., I 670, in vol. v. p. 466; from Seneca, De Ira, lib. i. c. 15.

121. habit ... monk; 'Cucullus non facit monachum'; a common medieval proverb; see Rom. Rose, 6192, and the note.

125. cordiacle is Thynne's misprint for cardiacle; cf. 'That I almost have caught a cardiacle'; C.T., C 313.

17. Donet, primer, elementary book of instruction; named from Donatus, the grammarian; see note to P. Plowman, C. vii. 215.

35. excellence of coloures, its (outward) blue colour. Blue was the emblem of constancy and truth; see note to C. T., F 644 (vol. v. p. 386). For coloures we should rather read colour; the same error occurs in l. 43 below (see footnote).

47. The following is Pliny's account of the Pearl, as translated by Holland; bk. ix. c. 35.

'This shell-fish which is the mother of Pearle, differs not much in the manner of breeding and generation from the Oysters; for when the season of the yeare requireth that they should engender, they seeme to yawne and gape, and so do open wide; and then (by report) they conceive a certaine moist dew as seed, wherewith they swell and grow big; ... and the fruit of these shell-fishes are the Pear[l]es, better or worse, great or small, according to the qualitie and quantitie of the dew which they receiued. For if the dew were pure and cleare which went into them, then are the Pearles white, faire, and Orient: but if grosse and troubled, the Pearles likewise are dimme, foule, and duskish; ... according as the morning is faire, so are they cleere; but otherwise, if it were misty and cloudy, they also will be thicke and muddy in colour.'

50. The sense of Margaryte in this passage is the visible church of Christ, as the context shews. In book iii. ch. 9. 160, the author tells us that it signifies 'grace, lerning, or wisdom of god, or els holy church.' [476]

52. mekenesse, humility; cf. l. 63. The church is descended from Christ, who is the heavenly dew.

58. beestes, living things that cannot move; the very word used by Chaucer, Boeth. bk. v. pr. 5. 20; compare the passage.

64. There is something wrong; either discendeth should be discended, or we should understand and before to; and perhaps downe should be dewe; cf. l. 68. The reference seems to be to the Incarnation.

68. Here the Protean word Margaryte means 'the wisdom of god,' judging by the context; see note to l. 50 above.

78. This does not mean 'I would have explained it better,' but 'I should like to have it better explained.'

86. Margaryte here means the visible church, as before (l. 50); to the end of the chapter.

108. yvel spekers; this seems to allude to the Lollards, who ought (he says) to be 'stopped and ashamed.'

114. This shews that Margarete does not mean a woman; for it is declared to be as precious as a woman, to whom it is likened.

121. deedly, mortal. Hence Margarete does not mean the church in general, but the visible church at the time of writing, the church militant.

Chap. XIII. 11. 'To be evil, is to be nothing.' The general argument follows Ch. Boeth. bk. iv. pr. 2. 143-94, and pr. 4.

30. determinison, determination; a correct form. Cf. venison from Lat. acc. uenationem. Accordingly, the O.F. forms were determinaison, -eson, -oison, as given by Godefroy. He supplies the example: 'Definicio, difinicion ou determineson,' from an old glossary. Hence determination is here used in the sense of 'definition,' as is obvious from the context. Thynne prints determission, which makes nonsense; and there is no such word. The present passage is entered in the New E. Dict. under determission, with the suggestion that it is an error; it might have been better to enter it under determinison (or -eson); but it is always difficult to know how to deal with these mistakes of printers and editors.

43. Austen, St. Augustin; and so Pope, Essay on Man, i. 294:—'One truth is clear, Whatever is, is right.'

49. Boece, Boethius; whom the author here mentions just once more; see his former allusion in bk. i. prologue, 110. The reference is to bk. iii. pr. 10. 153-84.

53. apeted to, sought after, longed for, desired. Apete is a correct form, as it represents an O.F. *apeter; but the usual O.F. form is appeter (Littré, s.v. appéter), from Lat. appetere. See New E. Dict., s.v. Appete, where a quotation is given from Chaucer, L. G. W. 1582. [477]But the right reading in that line is surely appetyteth, as appeteth will not scan; unless we strongly accent the initial As. See vol. ii. p. 137, l. 1582 and footnote, and the note to the line, at p. 328.

71. betterer, better; not necessarily a misprint. The form bettyrer occurs in the Catholicon Anglicum.

72. his kyndely place, its natural position; cf. Ch. Boeth. bk. iii. pr. 11. 100-2.

82. yeven by the ayre, endowed by the air with little goodness and virtue; because the dew that produced the pearl fell through the air; see note to ch. xii. 47 above. Hence matier is material, viz. the dew.

86. unpees, war. The general argument, with the contrast of colours above mentioned, occurs in P. Plowman, C. xxi. 209-21; cf. also ll. 144-66. Of these lines, ll. 210 and 212 have already been explicitly cited above: see notes to bk. i. ch. 3. 153, and to bk. ii. ch. 9. 178.

92. Pallas; we should have expected 'Minerva'; however, Pallas occurs five times in Troilus.

99. a dewe and a deblys. Under Adieu, in the New E. Dict., we find: 'fig. an expression of regret at the loss or departure of anything; or a mere exclamatory recognition of its disappearance; = away, no longer, no more, all is over with. c. 1400 Test. Love ii. (1560) 292/1. Adewe and adewe blis.'

Something has gone wrong here; the edition of 1561 (not 1560) has, at fol. 306, back (not 292) the reading 'a dewe and a deblis'; as in the text. The same reading occurs in all the earlier black-letter editions and in Chalmers; there being no other authority except Thynne. I do not understand the passage; the apparent sense is: 'his name is given a dieu and to devils'; i.e. (I suppose) is renounced. Deblis for 'devils' is a possible form; at any rate, we find deblet, deblerie, for devilet and diablerie; see New E. Dict., under Dablet and Deblerie.

115-6. 'That which is good, seems to me to be wholly good.' This is extremely significant. 'The church is good, and therefore wholly good,' is evidently intended. In other words, it needs no reform; the Lollards should let it alone. In ch. 14. 24, he plainly speaks of 'heretics,' and of the errors of 'mismeninge people.'

130. leve, believe. L. 120 shews that he hopes for mercy and pity; we may safely conclude that he had been a Lollard once. Cf. ch. 14. 2-4.

Chap. XIV. 6. Proverbes. He refers to Prov. vii. 7-22: 'Considero uecordem iuuenem, qui ... graditur in obscuro, in noctis tenebris; et ecce occurrit illi mulier ornatu meretricio, praeparata ad capiendas animas, garrula et uaga, quietis impatiens ... dicens ... ueni, inebriemur uberibus, et fruamur cupitis amplexibus ... statim eam sequitur quasi bos ductus ad uictimam.'

25. skleren and wimplen, veil and cover over. He probably found [478]the word skleire, a veil, in P. Plowman, C. ix. 5 (cf. also B. vi. 7, A. vii. 7), as that is the only known example of the substantive. The verb occurs here only. Other spellings of skleire, sb., in the MSS., are sklayre, scleyre, slaire, skleir, sleire, sleyre. Cf. Du. sluier, G. Schleier.

29. by experience; i.e. the author had himself been inclined to 'heresy'; he was even in danger of 'never returning' (l. 38).

38. shewed thee thy Margarite; meaning (I suppose) shewn thee the excellence of the church as it is.

40. Siloë, Siloam. It is a wonder where the author found this description of the waters of the pool of Siloam; but I much suspect that it arose from a gross misunderstanding of Isaiah, viii. 6, 7, thus:—'the waters of Shiloah that go softly ... shall come up over all his channels, and go over all his banks.' In the Vulgate: 'aquas Siloë, quae uadunt cum silentio ... ascendet super omnes riuos eius, et fluet super uniuersas ripas eius.' Hence cankes in l. 44 is certainly an error for bankes; the initial c was caught from the preceding circuit.

46. After Mercurius supply servaunts or children. The children or servants of Mercury mean the clerks or writers. The expression is taken from Ch. C. T., D 697:—

52. that ben fallas; that is to say, deceptions. See Fallace in the New E. Dict.

60. sote of the smoke, soot of the smoke of the fire prepared for the sacrificed ox; 'bos ductus ad uictimam'; Prov. vii. 22.

67-8. thilke Margaryte, the church; by serving which he was to be delivered from danger, by means of his amendment.

83. lache, loosen (it); from O.F. lascher, to loosen, relax. Or it may mean 'turn cowardly.'

85. 'Inueni Dauid seruum meum; oleo sancto meo unxi eum'; Ps. lxxxix. 20 (lxxxviii. 21, Vulgate).

6. Time was divided into three ages; first, the age of Error, before the coming of Christ; all that died then went to hell, whence some [479]were rescued by Christ when He descended thither. The second, the age of Grace, from the time of Christ's coming till His second advent. The third, the age of Joy, enduring for ever in heaven.

Deviacion; Thynne prints Demacion, an obvious error for Deuiacion (m for ui); in l. 26, it is replaced by Errour of misgoinge, which has the same sense, and in bk. ii. ch. 8. 126, it is called out-waye-going. The New E. Dict. has no quotation for deviation older than 1603; but here we find it.

25. I. e. Book I treats of Error or Deviation; Book II, of Grace; and Book III, of Joy.

28. whiche is faylinge without desert, which is failure without merit; these words are out of place here, and perhaps belong to the preceding clause (after shewed in l. 26). thilke, &c.; amending that first fault.

37. He says that the English alter the name Margarite-perle into Margery-perle, whereas Latin, French, and many other languages keep the true form. Cf. Lat. margarita, O.F. marguerite, margarete, Gk. μαργαρίτης, Pers. marwārīd, Arab. marjān; all from Skt. manjarī, a pearl.

45. the more Britayne, greater Britain (England and Scotland), as distinguished from lesser Britain (Brittany); see note to bk. ii. ch. 12. 47 above. Pliny says (tr. by Holland, bk. ix. c. 35):—'In Brittaine it is certain that some [pearls] do grow; but they be small, dim of colour, and nothing orient.'

56. conninge, certain knowledge; opinion, uncertain knowledge, supposition; as he proceeds to say.

62. We thus learn that it was at this date an open question, whether the sun was bigger than the earth; there were some who imagined it to be so.

68. He here mentions the quadrivium, or group of four of the seven sciences, viz. arithmetic, geometry, music, and astronomy; see note to P. Plowman, C. xii. 98.

73. These are the four cardinal virtues, Prudence, Justice, Temperance, and Fortitude; see note to P. Plowman, C. i. 131.

79. Why 'two things' are mentioned, is not clear. It was usual to introduce here the trivium, or second group of the seven arts (see note to l. 68); which contained logic, grammar, and rhetoric. For the two former he has substituted 'art,' the general term.

99. twey, two; viz. natural and reasonable; cf. l. 53. The third is moral. Hence we have the following scheme.

122. I. e. 'so that harm, (as punishment) for harm, should restrain evil-doers by the bridle of fear.'

professe and reguler; the 'professed' were such as, after a year of probation, had been received into a monastic order; the 'regular' were such as were bound by the three monastic vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.

131. obediencer, bound by obedience; used adjectivally; cf. Low Lat. obedientiarius.

134. Thus the author was himself bound by monastic vows, and was one of the 'regular' clergy.

156. refrete, refrain, burden of a song; O.F. refrait, refret (Godefroy). 'Sobs are a ready (ever-present) refrain in its meditations'; where his (its) refers to goost, or spirit, in l. 155.

157-8. comming about I not than, recurring I know not when. For than read whan, to make sense.

161. whos spirit; 'Spiritus ubi uult spirat'; John, iii. 8; 'Spiritus, diuidens singulis prout uult'; 1 Cor. xii. 11.

170. wyte that, lay the blame for that upon. Such is the right idiom; cf. 'Wyte it the ale of Southwerk, I yow preye'; Ch. C. T., A 3140. Thynne prints with for wite or wyte, making nonsense of the passage.

Chap. II. 14. lybel of departicion, bill (or writ) of separation; taken from libellum repudii in Matt. v. 31, which Wyclif translates by 'a libel of forsakyng.'

16. 'I find, in no law, (provision for) recompensing and rewarding in a bounteous way, those who are guilty, according to their deserts.'

19. Paulyn, Paulinus. But there is some mistake. Perhaps he refers to L. Aemilius Paulus, brother of M. Aemilius Lepidus the Triumvir. This Paulus was once a determined enemy of Caesar, but was won over to his side by a large bribe.

21-3. I cannot explain or understand this clause; something seems to be omitted, to which it refers.

23. Julius Caesar was accounted as following Cato in justice. The statement is obscure.

25. Perdiccas, according to the romances, succeeded Alexander the Great; see note to Bk. ii. c. 2. 116. I do not find the anecdote referring to Porus. It is not improbable that the author was thinking of Philip the physician, who revealed to Alexander 'a privy hate' entertained against that monarch by Parmenion; see the Wars of Alexander, ed. Skeat, 2559-83.

49. right as mater. Cf. 'sicut ad formam de forma procedere materiam notum est'; an often quoted passage in Guido delle [481]Colonne's Historia Troiae; see note to Legend of Good Women, 1582 (vol. iii. p. 329).

87. ende, object. The reference seems to be to Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, bk. i. c. 1, c. 2, or c. 5.

115. The Latin would be nemo inuite beatus; but I do not know where to find it.

128. free arbitrement, Lat. liberum arbitrium; introduced in order to lead up to a discussion of free will, necessity, and providence; as in Boeth. bk. v.

74. commende, coming; probably the original MS. had command, the Northern form. We have a similar form lykende, in l. 133 below. In ll. 82, 83, the usual form comming appears.

82-3. In many places, comming is used nearly with the sense of 'future'; cf. ll. 177-8.

126. Here again we have the usual ridiculous contradictions; the sense is—'being wet, I burn; without wasting, I fade.' Cf. Rom. Rose, Eng. version, 4703-50.

128. Thynne has (here and in ch. 6. 147, p. 132) vnbyde, an obvious error for onbyde, i.e. abide, remain; see ch. 7. 161, 163.

131. 'God grant (that) that thing may soon draw nigh to thee.' Neigh is here a verb, as in Bk. ii. ch. 12. 14.

164. that, that which; with nothing, yet not so as to be constrained by anything else.

171. rysinge of the sonne, rising of the sun; this example is borrowed from Ch. Boeth. bk. v. pr. 6. 103, 165.

29. and nedeful is, 'and it is necessary that, in order to desire (a thing), he may also not desire (it)'; otherwise, he does not make any choice.

30-1. The words 'But thilke ... the same to wilne' are repeated in Thynne's edition, to the destruction of the sense.

121-6. See Rom. viii. 29, 30. conformes; the Vulgate has: 'Nam quos praesciuit, et praedestinauit conformes fieri imaginis Filii sui.' [482]

165. close and one, are closed and united; here close and one seem to be verbs.

198-9. no art, in no way (?); but surely an error for nat, as wrytest nat is repeated in l. 200.

220. Too obscure to deserve the encomium for perspicuity which follows in ll. 222-5.

232. for right, &c.; 'for nothing at all exists there (i.e. in eternity) after the manner of that which is temporal.'

249. philosophical poete; Chaucer, because he translated The Consolation of Philosophy, and introduced passages from it into his poem of Troilus, notably in Book iv. 963-6, 974-1078. In l. 254, Troilus is expressly mentioned. Most likely, the allusion is to Bk. iv. 974-1078; although this deals rather with predestination than with the origin of evil.

257. storiers, gen. pl. of storier, a teller of a story; cf. O.F. historieur, an historian (Godefroy). Thynne prints starieres; which gives no sense.

262. two the laste, the last two; chapters 13 and 14; but chapter 14 has little to do with the subject.

33-7. The word welked occurs twice in Chaucer, C. T., C 738, D 277; and wiver once, Troil. iii. 1010.

63. 'Why, as soon as one has sprung up on high, does not the other spring up also?' Here 'one' and 'the other' seem to refer to 'will' and 'bliss'; cf. ll. 16, 17, 70, 71.

17. He here contemplates the possibility of yielding to persecution and threats.

64. terme of equivocas, terms of like signification; terme being an error for termes. Answering to Lat. uerba aequiuoca, words of like signification; Isidore, Orig. ii. 26 (Lewis and Short). Equivocas is formed by adding the Eng. pl. -s to the Lat. neuter plural (New E. Dict.).

Cf. the passage in P. Plowman, where Liberum-arbitrium recites [483]his names; C. xvii. 201. The first name, 'instrument of willing,' corresponds to animus: 'dum uult, animus est'; but the rest vary.

104. Thynne has vs, which is a not uncommon spelling of 'use.' I merely print 'us[e]' because us looks so unintelligible. In l. 103, the word is usage; in l. 110, we have use.

140. thinges; viz. riches, honour, and power; discussed in Book ii. chapters 5-7.

Chap. VII. 11. The idea of this Tree is copied from P. Plowman, C. xix. 4-14. Thus in l. 11, the ground in which the tree grows is said to be 'ful in thyne herte'; and in P. Plowman, the tree grows in cor-hominis, the heart of man. In P. Plowman, the tree is called True-love, the blossoms are Benign-Speech (cf. l. 16), and the fruits are deeds of Charity. See note to l. 69 below.

59. Aristotel. The reference appears to be to Aristotle, De Interpretatione (περὶ ἑρμηνείας), ch. 1. Voice seems to mean 'a word unrelated to a sentence,' i.e. not related to something else as forming part of a sentence.

69. So in P. Plowman, C. xix. 29, the tree is attacked by three wicked winds; especially 'in flouryng-tyme,' l. 35.

99. So ofte; from Ch. Troil. ii. 1380-3; note the epithet happy, the use of the sb. sweigh or swaye, and the phrase come al at ones, in both passages.

145. al is, it is all to be accounted to her wholly. To wyte usually has a bad sense; as implying blame.

160. this lady; i.e. Heavenly Love suddenly took up its place in his heart. This is rather inartistic; no wonder that the author was much astonished at such a proceeding (ch. 8. 2 below). This of course puts an end to the dialogue, but in Thynne's misarranged print the lady speaks to him again, as if it were out of his heart!

Chap. VIII. 7. lynes, written lines of writing, which he imagines to be imprinted on his understanding; see ll. 8, 13, 14 below.

91. 'Quia Christi bonus odor sumus Deo, in iis qui salui fiunt; ... aliis quidem odor mortis in mortem'; 2 Cor. ii. 15-6.

155-6. in his owne comodité, in what is suitable for him; comodites, desires that are suitable. The examples of the word in this passage are older than any given, s.v. Commodity, in the New E. Dict. Cf. ll. 159, 165.

52. The author now concludes his work with a prayer and a short recommendation of his book to the reader. Ll. 58-61 speak of its imperfections; ll. 61-6 tell us that the effort of writing it has done him good. In ll. 67-75 he anticipates future freedom from anxiety, and continuance 'in good plight.' He was then evidently unaware that his death was near at hand.

86. 'My dull wit is hindred by the stepmother named Forgetfulness.' A curious expression.

98. sightful, visible; an obvious allusion to the eucharist (l. 100). Similarly, a gem denotes a pearl, or 'margaret'; and Margaret (a woman's name) denotes grace, learning, or wisdom of God, or else holy church.

109, 110. Printed as prose in Thynne; but two riming verses seem to be intended. If so, al-le is dissyllabic.

Numerous references are given to Pierce the Ploughman's Crede, ed. Skeat (E.E.T.S.); a poem by the same author. See the Introduction.

40. queynt, quenched; because, in the solemn form of excommunication used in the Romish church, a bell was tolled, the book of offices [485]for the purpose was used, and three candles were extinguished. See Nares, s.v. Bell, Book, and Candle. Cf. ll. 165, 1241.

44. Four lines are here lost, the stanza being incomplete. We might supply them thus:—

53. stryf, strife. The struggle was between the secular and regular clergy on the one hand, and the Lollards on the other; see ll. 61-76. Each side accused the other of falseness, and the author hopes that the falser of them may suffer shame. He evidently sides with the Lollards; but, not caring to decide so weighty a question for himself, he contrives that the dispute shall be carried on by two birds, the Griffin and the Pelican.

55. sedes, seeds. The Lollards were accused of sowing tares (lolia). The author hints that seeds were sown by both of the contending parties.

57. some; referring rather to the sowers than to the seeds. In any case, it refers to the two parties.

58. souple; the text has souble, which is an obvious error. The O.F. souple means 'humble,' which is the sense here intended.

71. a-cale, chilled, frozen; cf. note to P. Plowman, C. xxi. 439; and see the New E. Dict.

73. I-cleped, called; the old text has Iclepeth, but some editions make this obvious correction. lollers, idle fellows; see the note to P. Plowman, C. x. 213.

74. 'Whoever looks on them (sees that) they are the reverse of tall.' Cf. 'a tall fellow,' and 'a tall man of his hands' in Shakespeare.

86. Griffon, griffin; a fabulous monster with the head and wings of an eagle, and the hinder parts of a lion; with probable reference to the Vulture. 'In that contre ben many griffounes ... thei han the body upward as an egle, and benethe as a lyoun.... But o griffoun is more strong thanne .viij. lyouns'; Mandeville's Travels; ch. xxvi. See l. 1317 below.

87. 'A Pelican laid his lure to (attracted to him) these lollers.' The Pelican was supposed to feed its young with blood which it drew from its own breast by wounding it, and was early considered as the type of Christian love or Charity, or of Christ himself; see l. 1293. See the illustration at p. 172 of Legends of the Holy Rood, ed. Morris. Hence it is here supposed to plead on behalf of meekness, in the long passages contained in ll. 95-716, 719-988, 991-1072, 1110-32, 1177-232, 1245-68. The Pelican is responsible for the greater part of the [486]poem, as the author distinctly says in l. 1373. Anything that is amiss, we are told, must be put down to the Pelican; the author is irresponsible, as it is only a fable.

106. pelure, costly fur; also spelt pellour; but pylloure (as in the old text) is a bad spelling. See Gloss. to P. Plowman.

111. batail, battle. It was notorious that William Spenser, bishop of Norwich, used to lead military expeditions. Thus he led one such expedition into Flanders, in 1382. Cf. l. 128.

130. peragall, equal; spelt 'peragal' or 'paragal' in Rich. the Redeless, i. 71. The old text has permagall, where the m is clearly for in; the spelling peringall being intended. Godefroy has O.F. parivel, also parigal, paregal, perigal, paringal [with intrusive n], 'adj. et s., tout à fait ègal, tout à fait semblable.' From Lat. peraequalis.

135. 'Painted and adorned with colours.' Cf. 'peynt and portred'; P. Pl. Crede, 192; 'portreid and paynt,' 121.

139. boystous, rough. The O.F. boistous meant 'lame' (F. boiteux); but Godefroy shews, in his Supplement, that it was also applied to a very rough road (as being likely to lame one); hence, generally, rough, and finally, rude, noisy, as in the E. boisterous; a word of which the etymology has not yet been fully accounted for, but may be thus explained.

159. perrey, precious stones, jewellery; see Perree in the Glossary (vol. vi). The old text has pyrrey.

162. gown, an obvious correction; old text, gold, repeated from l. 161. For 'grene gownes,' see l. 925 below.

187. gold-mastling is a compound word, and should have been printed with a hyphen. It means the same as latoun, unless latoun was an imitation of an older and richer alloy. Thus, in Wright's A.S. Vocabularies, we find: 'Auricalcum, goldmæslinc,' col. 334, 10; 'Auricalcum, goldmestling,' col. 550, 34; 'Auricalcum, Anglice latoun,' col. 567, 5. As to latoun, see note in vol. v. p. 270. Cf. A.S. mæstling, G. Messing; words of uncertain origin.

201. All-holyest, i.e. Sanctissimus (l. 230); a title given to the head of a religious order.

213-6. He, the Pope. another, (apparently) a head of a religious order, an abbot or prior. mystere, ministry, office.

220. 'He reserves nothing at all'; opin, open, a thing that is free; joint, a thing that is connected. [487]

235. Read Christ his; 'Christ keep his people from them'; the printer evidently regarded Christ his as a form of the genitive case. The proper sense of wisse is guide, or direct.

242. which of hem, which of the two popes. The rival popes were Boniface IX, elected Nov. 2, 1389, and Benedict XIII, elected Sept. 28, 1394. Clement VIII, predecessor of the latter, died Sept. 16, 1394.

255. Swearing was a dismembering of Christ; see note to C. T., C 474 (vol. v. p. 275).

281. rent, income, profit; the method of doing this is explained in The Freres Tale, D 1371-4.

282. 'They anoint the sheep's sore'; as a shepherd does with tar; see Tar-box in Halliwell; and cf. l. 707.

298. Maximien; Galerius Valerius Maximianus, usually called Galerius; emperor of Rome, 305-11; a cruel persecutor of the Christians.

297. 'They follow Christ (who went upward) to heaven, just as a bucket (that goes downward) into a well.' Said ironically; their ascent towards heaven is in a downward direction; cf. l. 402. wall for 'well' is rare, but not unexampled; cf. walle-stream, well-stream, in Layamon, vol. i. p. 121, and see walle in Stratmann.

306. 'They comb their "crockets" with a crystal comb.' A crocket was a curl or roll of hair, as formerly worn; see the New E. Dict. There is a lost romance entitled 'King Adelstane with gilden kroket'; see footnote to Havelok, ed. Skeat, p. vi. Sir F. Madden remarks that 'the term crocket points out the period [i.e. the earliest possible date] of the poem's composition, since the fashion of wearing those large rolls of hair so called, only arose at the latter end of the reign of Henry III.'

322. meynall, perhaps better spelt meyneall. It is the adj. formed from M.E. meynee, a household, and is the same word as mod. E. menial. Wyclif uses meyneal to translate Lat. domesticam in Rom. xvi. 5. The sense here is—the exaction of tithes is, with these masters, a household business, a part of their usual domestic arrangements.

325. Lit. 'They betake to farm to their sumners,' i.e. they farm out to their sumners the power of harming people as much as they can; they let their sumners make exactions. The method of doing this is fully exposed in Chaucer's Freres Tale. Cf. ll. 328, 725.

333. 'Such rascals are sure to slander men, in order to induce them to win their favour'; i.e. by compounding.

338. call, caul or head-dress, richly ornamented, and therefore expensive; see note to C. T., D 1018 (vol. v. p. 318). [488]

402. 'As good a bishop as is my horse Ball.' Said ironically; 'no better a bishop than,' &c. Ball was, and still is, a very common name for a horse.

421, 431. for Christes love, for love of Christ. The words forsake in l. 421, and wake in l. 431, are used ironically.

445. croysery, crusade, as in Rob. of Glouc. 9938. No serious crusade was intended at this time; however, the author affirms that the rival popes discouraged the idea; for each wanted men to fight for him.

473. 'Their servants are unfaithful [or unserviceable] to them unless they can double their rental.'

477. The author can find no more rimes to rime with fall, so he proceeds to 'shew' or propose another word, viz. amend.

487. 'They tell men nothing, nor (explain) how; yet, in God's word, they tell of (or count) many a slip, or omission,' i.e. find errors in the Scriptures. See Balk in the New E. Dict.

520. Read punishëments, as in the old edition; it is a word of four syllables; from O.F. punissement (Godefroy), which often appears in verse as a word of four syllables.

567. 'One, to curse to hell; the other, to slay men here (on earth)'; cf. Luke, xxii. 38.

575. 'A sword is no implement to guard sheep with, except for shepherds that would devour the sheep.' In later English, at any rate, a sheep-biter meant a thief (Halliwell). Cf. l. 583.

625. ensyse, variant of assyse, fashion, sort; 'they are, surely, of the same sort.' See Assize, sect. 8, in the New E. Dict. Bailey gives: 'Ensise, quality, stamp; Old word'; with reference, doubtless, to this very line. Cf. assyse, fashion, manner, in l. 843 below.

626. frend, evidently put for fremde, strange, foreign, averse; which was difficult to pronounce.

633. Read maundements, i.e. commandments (trisyllabic). The form [489]commaundementes is too long for the line. See mandement in Stratmann and in Chaucer.

642. to prison. Evidently written before 1401, when Lollards were frequently sent to the stake for heresy. Cf. l. 650; and see note to l. 827.

645. 'The king's law will judge no man angrily, without allowing the accused to answer.'

681. 'For they (the people) are faster in their bonds, worse beaten, and more bitterly burnt than is known to the king.' For the word brent, see note to l. 827.

693. The emperour; Constantine, according to a legend which the Lollards loved to repeat; see the full note to P. Plowman, C. xviii. 220.

695. sely kyme, innocent (or silly) wretch. Kyme answers to an A.S. *cȳma = *kūm-ja, lit. 'one who laments,' from the verb found in O.H.G. kūmjan, to lament, chū-mo, a lament; cf. Gk. γόος, wailing; Skt. gu, to sound. See O.H.G. cūm, cūmjan in Schade; and the Idg. root gu, in Fick.

723. 'A title of dignity, to be as a play-mate to them'; a curious expression. Godefroy gives O.F. 'personage, s.m., dignité, bénéfice ecclésiastique; en particulier personnat, dignité ecclésiastique qui donnait quelque prééminence au chanoine qui en était revêtu dans le chapitre auquel il appartenait.' Cotgrave has: 'Personat, a place, or title of honour, enjoyed by a beneficed person, without any manner of jurisdiction, in the church.'

724. Possibly copied from P. Plowman, B. prol. 92:—'Somme serven the king, and his silver tellen.' These ecclesiastics often busied themselves in the law-courts, to their great profit. Cf. l. 790.

743. builde; so in P. Pl. Crede, 118: 'For we buldeth a burwgh, a brod and a large.' Cf. Wyclif's Works, ed. Arnold, iii. 380.

759. gigges, concubines; see Stratmann. Roquefort has: 'Gigues, fille gaie, vive.' Cf. giglot in Shakespeare. (Initial g is here sounded as j.)

827. brent, burnt; still more strongly put in l. 1234. That heretics were sometimes burnt before 1401, is certain from Wyclif's Sermons, ed. Arnold, vol. i. pp. x, 205, as compared with p. 354. There is a case given in Bracton of a man who was burnt as early as in the reign of [490]Henry III. See the whole subject discussed in my edition of P. Plowman (E. E. T. S.), in the Pref. to B-text, p. v, Pref. to C-text, pp. xi-xiv, and the note to B. xv. 81, where Langland has 'ledeth me to brennynge.' Observe that the king is here spoken of as not presuming to burn heretics.

857. 'They want to meddle in everything, and to perform matters amiss is their amusement.'

870. at the nale = at then ale, at the ale-house; cf. note to P. Plowman, C. i. 43.

872. 'They dance and hoot with the cry of "heave and hale."' Heave is here to use exertion; cf. Troil. ii. 1289; and hale is to haul or pull. Heave and hale, or heave and hoe, was a cry used for men to pull all together; hence with heve and hale just corresponds to the modern 'with might and main.' Cotgrave has (s.v. Cor) the phrase: 'À cor et à cry, by proclamation; also, by might and maine, with heave and hoe, eagerly, vehemently, seriously.'

893. stocke, i.e. some image of a saint. An image of a favourite saint was honoured with many candles burning before it; whilst other saints were left in the dark, because they could work no miracles. The most favourite image was that of Mary; see l. 902, and cf. P. Pl. Crede, 79.

918. Baudriks, belts; baselardes, short swords, sometimes curved. See note to P. Plowman, C. iv. 461.

927. counten ... of gownes, they think much (counten) of scarlet and green gowns, that must be made in the latest fashion, in order to embrace and kiss the damsels. An awkward sentence.

930. pykes, peaks. Long-peaked shoes were much in fashion; cf. note to P. Plowman, C. xxiii. 219.

941. 'Such men will ask them (i.e. those that confess to them) for money for shriving them.' is = es, them; a curious form of the plural pronoun of the third person; see es in Stratmann.

942. 'And they desire men to creep to the cross.' 'Creeping to the cross' was an old ceremony of penance, most practised on Good Friday; see note to P. Plowman, C. xxi. 475.

943. askes, ashes; alluding to the sacrament of penance. For all other sacraments (as baptism, confirmation, holy orders, the eucharist, matrimony, and extreme unction) men had to pay. [491]

955. sans ... dyre, without (saying) 'if I may say so.' That is, ose je dyre, (dare I say it) is an apologetic phrase for introducing an unpalatable remark.

961. agryse, dread, here used in an imperative sense; 'let such men dread God's anger.' Cf. ll. 964, 1216.

1042-4. honged, hung upon, followed after. Cf. 'opon the plow hongen,' P. Pl. Crede, 421. And compare also the same, 784-8.

1050. The line is imperfect. I have supplied but, but the right word is not. For cherelich means 'expensive' or 'prodigal,' from O.F. cher, dear. This we know from the occurrence of the same rare form as an adverb in P. Pl. Crede, 582; where the sense is—'but to maintain his chamber as expensively (chereliche) as a chieftain.' See cherely in the New E. Dict. The parallel phrase not lordlych occurs in l. 1052.

1066. Crede, i.e. Pierce the Ploughman's Crede, written shortly before by the same author, and describing at length the four orders of friars.

1115. Maysters, masters; Matt. xxiii. 10. Cf. P. Pl. Crede, 574-6, 838; and C. T., D 2185, and the note (vol. v. p. 340).

1135. Read leve, not lyve; with hir leve, with what is permitted to them. For leve (leave), see l. 1238.

1272. doule, small feather, down-feather. I derive it from O.F. doulle, variant of douille, soft, something soft, from Lat. ductilis. Hence it meant something downy, and, in particular, the 'down-feather' of a bird. This is clearly the sense in Shakespeare also, where Ariel uses the expression—'one dowle that's in my plume'; Temp. iii. 3. 65; i.e. one down-feather (small feather) that is in my plumage. Dr. Schmidt is in doubt whether plume here means 'plumage,' but the [492]stage-direction expressly says that 'Ariel enters like a harpy, and claps his wings upon the table.' It is very interesting to see how well this passage illustrates Shakespeare. See Mr. Wright's note for other passages where dowl means 'soft down.' Of course, the words dowl and down are in no way connected. See my note in Phil. Soc. Trans. 1888-90, p. 3.

1280. God wolde, i.e. oh! that it might be God's will. Cf. would God, Numb. xi. 29; Deut. xxviii. 67; 2 Kings, v. 3; Rich. II, iv. 1. 117.

1305. The foul, the former or bird-like part of the griffin; see note to l. 86, and cf. l. 1317.

1339. ly, lie, i.e. deceive; because the lapwing tries to delude those who search for its nest.

1343. the Phenix. The Phœnix is here supposed, as being an unique bird, to be the king or master of all birds, and to execute vengeance on evil-doers.

1359. The sense of of is here uncertain. Perhaps of flight means 'as regards my flight,' and so 'to protect my flight.'

1361. This line is somewhat 'set back,' as in the original. But there seems to be no reason for it.

To this piece, which is an attack upon the friars, a reply was made by one of them (probably a Dominican, see notes to ll. 100, 130), which is printed at length in Wright's Political Poems and Songs (Record Series), vol. ii. pp. 39-114; together with a rejoinder by Jack Upland, printed on the same pages. The friar's reply is often cited in the Notes below, where the number refers to the page of the above-named volume. See further in the Introduction.

1. Jack Uplande, Jack the Countryman, a nickname for one who is supposed to have had but little education; cf. the Plowman's Tale.

7. The friar's reply copies several of these expressions: thus we find—'On wounder wise, seith Jak, freres, ye ben growun'; p. 42.

9. not obedient; 'unboxom to bishopis, not lege men to kynges'; p. 42. The friar asserts that they do obey the bishops; but carefully adds—'although not so fer forth as seculer preestes'; p. 44. [493]

11. 'wede, corn, ne gras, wil ye not hewen'; p. 42; repeated on p. 44. The friar retorts that they are not expected to cleanse ditches, like a Jack Upland; p. 44. We thus learn that woode in l. 11 is almost certainly an error for weede.

28. The friar evades the question as to the number of orders, and replies that he is of Christ's order; pp. 59-61.

35. Reply: St. James makes mention of two kinds of life, the active and the contemplative; we belong to the latter; pp. 63-6.

37. apostata, apostate; a term applied to a friar who left his order (see l. 42) after his year of probation had been completed, or else (see l. 42) after a probation of three months. See ll. 273-5, and 310-2 below; and the note to P. Plowman, C. ii. 98 (B. i. 104). The question here put was not answered.

40-1. Reply: it is shocking to speak of men leaving their wives like this; we are not wedded to our habit any more than a priest is to his tonsure; p. 67.

44. Reply: no. We are only punished for leaving off our habits because it implies forsaking of our rule. Our habits are not sendal, nor satin nor golden; pp. 67-8.

50. Reply: what, Jack, does your tippet mean? My wide cope signifies charity. My hood, patience in adversity. The scapulary denotes obedience to our superiors. As for the knotted girdle, ask the Franciscans; pp. 68-71.

62. Reply: a question rather for monks than friars. Why do you not put your dining-table in your cow-house? p. 72.

65. Reply: perhaps some of us go to Rome for dispensations, but most of us have need to stay at home, to keep watch over Lollards; p. 73.

74. Reply: Christ, at His transfiguration, had only three witnesses from among His apostles. And He chose only twelve apostles, out of His many followers; and see Prov. xii. 15; p. 75.

77. Reply: a man is better than a beast; yet even for your beasts you make cattle-sheds and stables. Our houses are often poor ones. Did you ever see any that resembled the Tower, or Windsor Castle, or Woodstock? Your lies are shameless; pp. 77-8. I note here Jack Upland's rejoinder; he says that he does not object to the friars having houses, but he objects to the needless grandeur of them; for it does not follow that a man who drinks a quart of wine must therefore proceed to drink a gallon; p. 76.

83. Reply: you say that we let the whole realm to farm. Why, it [494]is not ours at all! It belongs to the king. We have no more estate in the country than you have in heaven; pp. 78-9. The incompleteness of this reply is amazing.

86. The original reading must have been different here. The friar puts the question thus: Why do you pay no tribute to the king, whereas Christ paid tribute to the emperor? Reply: Christ did not pay it as a debt, but only to perform the law in meekness. The Jewish priests did not pay taxes like the commons. Priests may pay if they are willing, but not friars; pp. 79, 80.

90. Reply: we are glad to have the prayers of the poor, if their letters of fraternity are genuine; but we do not desire your paternosters; p. 80.

92. Reply: we do not make men more perfect than their baptism makes them; p. 81.

95. Reply: the golden trental, 'that now is purchasid of preestis out of freris hondis,' delivers no soul, except as it is deserved; p. 81. See note to Ch. C. T., D 1717 (vol. v. p. 331).

100. Reply: you are quite mistaken. Perhaps some Carmelite told you this, or some Franciscan. The Austin friars and the Dominicans do not say so; p. 82.

105. Reply: if you accuse us of stealing children, Christ practically did the same, by enticing disciples to follow him. See Matt. xix. 21; Luke, xiv. 33; John, xv. 19. To win souls is no robbery; pp. 83-4.

109. undernime, reprove. Reply: according to you, not even the king should maintain any discipline. The pope has a prison; and so has the bishop of Canterbury, and the bishop of London. But you do not like prisons, for you often experience them; pp. 85-6.

114. Reply: burial is not a sacrament, as you say. You contradict yourself; p. 86.

116. Reply: if, as you say, we never shrive the poor, why are parish-priests so angry with us for doing so? p. 87. Cf. note to P. Plowman, C. xiii. 21. Questions 26, 27, and 28 are passed over.

127. Reply: we do right to live of the gospel; see 1 Cor. ix. 14; Luke, x. 7; Rom. xv. 26.

130. Reply: God knows how much good the preaching of the friars has wrought; p. 89. The Dominicans especially were proud of their preaching.

133. The friar here remarks that the Wycliffites are heretics, and ought to be burnt; p. 90. The same remark is all the answer made to question 32.

141. Reply: the friars do not sell the mass; they only freely give it to those who freely give to them. Even if we did sell it, surely the parish-priests receive money for the same; this is not simony; pp. 93-5. See note to Ch. C. T., D 1749; vol. v. p. 333.

149. Reply: we write down the names only to help our own memories; for special prayers are very profitable for souls; pp. 99, 100. See note to Ch. C. T., D 1741; vol. v. p. 332. [495]

153. berest god in honde, accusest Christ. Reply: Christ was lord of all spiritually; but, as a man, he was needy. David says of Him, 'I am poor and needy, yet the Lord thinketh upon me'; Ps. xl. 17. I refer you to Matt. viii. 20; pp. 95-8.

187. Reply: you expect your servant to call you 'master.' It is not the being called 'master,' but ambition, that Christ forbids; pp. 100-1. Cf. note to Ch. C. T., D 2185; vol. v. p. 340.

189. The reply is singular, to the effect that pope John XXIV wrote against this matter, and the friars Minors (Franciscans) against him. 'Examyne her actis, and loke who hath the beter; and knowe noon other ordre this perfitnesse approveth'; p. 101.

211. Reply; going two and two together is a scriptural custom. Barnabas and Paul did so. So did Paul and Timothy. Besides, there were two tables in the law, two cherubim in the temple, and two in the tabernacle. It was not good for Adam to be alone; pp. 101-3. Cf. note to P. Plowman, C. xi. 8; and to Chaucer, C. T., C 1740.

246. As regards question 49, the friar replies to ll. 249-51, saying that, according to this, no one could pray for any one; for we cannot tell his future destiny; p. 103. Cf. note to Ch. C. T., D 2126; vol. v. p. 339.

258. Questions 50 and 51 do not seem to be noticed. Question 52 is partly answered in the reply to question 22. See l. 105.

277. Reply: you admit (l. 283) that God made all things according to weight, number, and measure. But a friar is something; ergo, God made friars according to weight, &c. Why are priests so numerous? As to a man's hand (l. 287), the number of fingers is fixed, and an extra finger is monstrous. But neither God nor holy church have fixed the number of priests or friars. 'Many hondis togider maken light werk'; pp. 105-6. Cf. note to P. Plowman, C. xxiii. 270.

At this point the friar introduces a subject not discussed in the copy of Jack Upland here printed, viz. the subject of transubstantiation. He says that Jack accuses the friars of saying that the bread is not Christ's body, but mere roundness and whiteness, and accident without subject; and Wyclif is adduced as saying that it remains material bread, and only Christ's body in a figurative sense; pp. 106-10. The rest of the friar's reply (which goes but little further) is inapplicable to our text, so that the latter part of the treatise, ll. 294-end, is left unanswered. Perhaps sections 54-64 were, at first, a somewhat later addition.

310. It was thought that to die in a friar's habit increased a man's chance of salvation; see l. 100 above.

368. This enquiry takes up a large portion of the Ploughman's Crede. The jealousy of one order against the other was very remarkable. See note to l. 100 above.

411. See Matt. xi. 30. Wyclif has—'For my yok is softe, and my charge light.'

421. The Franciscans claimed that St. Francis sat in heaven above the Seraphim, upon the throne from which Lucifer fell; see note to P. Plowman, C. ii. 105 (B. i. 105).

424-7. Evidently intended for four alliterative lines, but the third is too long; read—'And whan ye han soiled that I saide,' &c. Again, the first is too short; read—'Go, frere, now forth,' &c.

433. 'Benefac humili, et non dederis impio: prohibe panes illi dari, ne in ipsis potentior te sit'; Ecclus. xii. 6.

This piece has no English title except that printed at p. 205; for the Latin title, see p. 216. See the Introduction.

12, 13. Henry founded his title on conquest, hereditary right, and election. The first of these is referred to in ll. 9, 10; the second, in l. 12; and the third, in l. 13. See note in vol. i. p. 564, to XIX. 23.

27. I find that there is no need to insert the. Read requeste, in three syllables, as it really had a final e, being a feminine substantive. Cf. 'Et lor requestë refaison'; Rom. Rose, 4767. Requeste is trisyllabic in Troil. iv. 57; L. Good Wom. 448.

36. According to the romance of Alexander, the god Serapis, appearing in a dream, told him that his great deeds would be remembered for ever. Before this, Alexander had told his men that he hoped to conquer all the earth—'with the graunt of my god.' See Wars of Alexander, ed. Skeat, ll. 990, 1095.

57. This obviously refers to Bolingbroke's invasion, when he came, as he said, to claim his inheritance; cf. l. 65.

185. out of herre, out of (off) the hinge; like mod. E. 'out of joint.' A favourite phrase of Gower's; see his Conf. Amant. ii. 139; iii. 43, 52, 203, 211.

197. Knights were expected to defend the faith; see note to P. Plowman, C. ix. 26. Cf. ll. 243-5.

253. Three points; stated in ll. 254, 261-2, and 268; i.e. the church is divided; Christian nations are at variance; and the heathen threaten us.

281-3. These are the nine worthies; of whom three were heathen (281), three Jewish (282), and three Christian (283); as noted in Reliquiæ Antiquæ, i. 287. Sometimes they varied; thus Shakespeare introduces Hercules and Pompey among the number; L. L. L. v. 2. 538. Machabeus, Judas Maccabeus. Godfray, Godfrey of Bouillon. Arthus, King Arthur.

295. For tennes, as in Thynne, the Trentham MS. has the older spelling tenetz, which gives the etymology of 'tennis.' Tenetz is the imperative plural of the verb tenir, and must have been a cry frequently used in the jeu de paume; probably it was used to call attention, like the modern 'play!' This is the earliest passage in which the word occurs. 'No one can tell whether he will win or lose a "chace" at tennis, till the ball has run its course.' Chace is a term 'applied to the second impact on the floor (or in a gallery) of a ball which the opponent has failed or declined to return; the value of which is determined by the nearness of the spot of impact to the end wall. If the opponent, on both sides being changed, can "better" this stroke (i.e. cause his ball to rebound nearer the wall) he wins and scores it; if not, it is scored by the first player; until it is so decided, the "chace" is a stroke in abeyance'; New E. Dict.

330. Cassodore, Cassiodorus. Magnus Aurelius Cassiodorus, born about A.D. 468, was a statesman and author; his chief work being his Variarum Epistolarum Libri XII, which is six times quoted in Chaucer's Tale of Melibeus. Gower, in his Conf. Amantis, iii. 191, quotes this very passage again; thus—

332. assysed, fixed, set; cf. l. 236. Unless it means assessed, rated; a sense which is also found in Gower, viz. in his Conf. Amant. i. 5; see the New E. Dict. The passage is a little obscure.

339. Constantyn, Constantine the Great, Roman emperor from A.D. 306 to 337. Eusebius wrote a life of him in four books, which is rather a panegyric than a biography. The story here told is hardly consistent [498]with the facts, as Constantine caused the death of his own son Crispus and of young Licinius; as to which Gibbon (c. xviii) remarks that 'the courtly bishop, who has celebrated in an elaborate work the virtues and pieties of his hero, observes a prudent silence on the subject of these tragic events.' In his Conf. Amantis, iii. 192, Gower again says:—

But the particular story about the 'yonge children' to which Gower here alludes is given at length in the Conf. Amantis, bk. ii. vol. i. pp. 266-77. Very briefly, it comes to this. Constantine, while still a heathen, was afflicted with leprosy. The physicians said he could only be healed by bathing in the blood of young children. On due reflection, he preferred to retain his leprosy; whereupon, he was directed in a vision to apply to pope Silvester, who converted him and baptised him; and he was cured of his leprosy when immersed in the baptismal font. The whole city followed the emperor's example, and was converted to Christianity. This explains ll. 354-5:—'so that the dear ones, (converted) from being the hateful ones who had formerly been at enmity with Christ,' &c.

363. For debated, MS. T. has deleated, for delated, i.e. deferred; see Dilate in the New E. Dict.

380. 'these other Christian princes'; viz. in particular, Charles VI, king of France, and Robert III, king of Scotland.

393. These interesting lines tell us that blindness befell the poet in the first year of Henry IV (Sept. 30, 1399—Sept. 29, 1400); and we gather that the present poem was meant to be his last. As a matter of fact, he wrote a still later couplet in the following words:—

These lines occur in MSS. of his Vox Clamantis; see Morley, Eng. Writers, iv. 157. Notwithstanding his infirmity, Gower survived till the autumn of 1408; and was interred, as is well known, in the church of St. Mary Overies—now St. Saviour's—in Southwark, towards the rebuilding of which he had liberally contributed.

It appears that negotiations for peace, both with Scotland and France, were being prosecuted in the latter part of 1399; see Wylie, History of Henry IV, i. 82, 86. It is also probable that Gower must have written the 'Praise of Peace' before the death of Richard II in Feb. 1400, as he makes no allusion to that event, nor to the dangerous conspiracy against Henry's life in the early part of January. For these reasons, we may safely date the poem in the end of the year 1399. [499]

This poem is imitated, rather than translated, from the French poem entitled L'Epistre au Dieu d'Amours, written by Christine de Pisan in May, 1399; printed in Œuvres Poétiques de Christine de Pisan, publiées par Maurice Roy, ii. 1-27; Société des Anciens Textes Français, 1891. Hoccleve even rearranges some of the material; and Dr. Furnivall has printed all the lines of the original of which the English poet has made use, in the Notes to his edition of Hoccleve's Works, published for the Early English Text Society, in 1892. It thus appears that the lines of Christine's poem are to be taken in the following order: 1-116, 537-54, 126-30, 531-4, 131-96, 721-5, 259-520, 321-5, 271-4, 387-460, 643-77, 608-23, 559-75, 759-800. The following stanzas, on the other hand, are wholly Hoccleve's own: 71-7, 92-8, 127-33, 141-7, 162-8, 176-89, 267-73, 316-29, 379-434. The last set extends to 56 lines.

Cupid, god of Love, is supposed to write a letter to all lovers, who are his subjects, reproving men for their slander and ill-treatment of women, and defending women against all that is alleged against them. In fact, it is a reply, by Christine de Pisan, to the numerous severe things that Jean de Meun had said about women in the famous Roman de la Rose. He is expressly mentioned by name in l. 281.

I here quote, as a specimen, the first 7 lines of the original, answering to Hoccleve's first stanza—

5. 'Son of the goddess Cithera,' i.e. Venus. Cithera is an alternative spelling of Citherea, occurring in the Cambridge and Petworth MSS. of the Cant. Tales, A 2215. For the construction, see note to Ch. C. T., F 209.

16. Albion. Of course Hoccleve has adapted the poem for English readers. The original has:—'Sur tous païs se complaignent de France.'

28. I read mot for the sake of the grammar and scansion; the MSS. have most, bad spelling for most-e, the past tense. But moot occurs, correctly, as the emphatic form of mot, in l. 35. Cf. l. 410.

38. 'When no word can proceed out of his mouth but such as may reasonably please any one, it apparently comes from the heart.' [500]

54. Note the accentuation: 'Aný womán.' This accentuation of words on the latter syllable in rather unlikely cases, is a marked peculiarity of Hoccleve's verse. Cf. womán in l. 79, journéy in l. 106; axíng in l. 122, purpós in l. 130. Cf. wommán in l. 170 with wómman in l. 174.

71. To here? to her? Dr. Furnivall notes that Hoccleve frequently makes here dissyllabic, when it represents the personal pronoun. Cf. l. 70; and see his Preface, p. xli. The reading 'To hir name yet was yt no reprefe,' given in Dr. Furnivall's edition from one MS. only, affords no sense, and will not scan, as name is properly dissyllabic.

95. 'They procure such assistants as have a double face.' The accentuation of prócuren on the o was at this time common; we even find the form proker (see Stratmann).

131. 'Unless he be so far advanced in madness as to spoil all with open coarseness; for that, as I suppose, women do not like.'

184. dishonest, unworthy of honour, blameworthy. Ray gives the proverb—'it's an ill bird that bewrays its own nest'; and compares the Greek—τὸν οἴκοι θησαυρὸν διαβάλλειν.

257. hente, caught; in hir daunger, under their control, within their power.

258. It was thought that one poison would expel another; see P. Plowman, C. xxi. 156-8, and the notes.

281. Jean de Meun, author of the latter and more satirical part of the famous Roman de la Rose; see vol. i.

316-29. These two stanzas are wholly original. Hoccleve, remembering that the examples of Medea and Dido both occur in Chaucer's Legend of Good Women, here takes occasion to make an express reference to that work, which he here calls 'my Legende of Martres.' My refers to Cupid; Legend, to Chaucer's title; and Martres, to the Latin titles to some of the Legends. Thus the Legend of Hypsipyle and Medea is entitled—'Incipit Legenda Ysiphile et Medee, Martirum.' Instead of Martres, Thynne has the ridiculous reading Natures, which the editions carefully retain.

360. her, the serpent. There was a legend that the serpent had the face of a beautiful virgin. See Ch. C. T., B 360, and note; P. Plowman, B. xviii. 335, and note.

393. happy to, fortunate for; because it brought about Christ's incarnation. The allusion is to the oft-quoted sentence—'O felix culpa, O necessarium peccatum Ade,' from the Sarum missal. See note to P. Plowman, C. viii. 126. Cf. l. 396.

421. The day of St. Margaret, Virgin and Martyr, was July 20, in the Latin Church. See the edition of Seinte Marherete, by O. Cockayne, E. E. T. S., 1866.

428. I, i.e. Cupid. This stanza is spoken by Cupid, in his own character; cf. l. 431. In l. 464, he assumes the royal style of we. It is, moreover, obvious that this stanza would hardly have been approved of by Christine.

It thus appears that 'the lusty month of May,' in l. 472, is merely copied from the French; but, to the fortunate circumstance that Christine gives the exact date of her poem as 1399, we owe the fact that Hoccleve likewise gives the exact date of his poem as being 1402.

These two Balades, each of 32 lines, are written in a highly artificial metre; for, in each case, the four stanzas of which each consists shew the same rimes throughout. The riming syllables in Balade 1 are -esse, -our, and -alle; and in Balade 2, are -ame, -aunce, and -ee. A similar example of metrical arrangement occurs in Chaucer's Balade to Rosemounde. [502]

3. Justinian; emperor of Constantinople, A.D. 527-65, whose fame rests upon the justly celebrated Justinian Code of laws. The reference, fortunately, is explained by Hoccleve himself, in a longer Balade concerning Sir John Oldcastel, printed in Anglia, v. 23; and again in Hoccleve's Poems, ed. Furnivall, p. 8. Hoccleve is praising Justinian's orthodoxy, to which (as he tells us) Henry V was heir; and the exact reference is to the following clause in one of Justinian's laws, which is quoted in full in the margin of the Balade above mentioned; see Anglia, v. 28; or Poems, ed. Furnivall, p. 14. 'Nemo clericus vel militaris, vel cuiuslibet alterius conditionis de fide Christiana publice turbis coadunatis et audientibus tractare conetur,' &c. So that Justinian's 'devout tenderness in the faith' was exhibited by repressing religious discussion; cf. l. 27. See Gibbon's Roman Empire, ch. 44.

5. the Garter. The noble Order of the Garter was founded by Edward III on St. George's day, Apr. 23, 1349; cf. l. 54.

10. Constantyn. He now proceeds to liken Henry V to Constantine the Great, who was a great supporter of the church; see note above, to Poem no. IV, l. 339. Cf. Anglia, v. 29; or Poems, ed. Furnivall, p. 15; st. 28.

15. do forth, proceed, continue to do as you have done in the past. Not a common expression; see forth in Mätzner.

18. Very characteristic of Hoccleve; the accents required by the verse are thrown upon the weak words your and the. But perhaps your is emphatic. Cf. fullý in l. 20, á sharp, 21.

37. 'God would have it so; and your allegiance would also have it so.' This is explained in a sidenote in the margin: 'quia Rex illam iustissimam partem tenet.' That is, the lords ought to put down heresy, because their master the king was against it.

41. Your style, your motto; the famous 'Honi soit qui mal y pense.' Hence shame here means scandal; but foos to shame is an awkward expression in this connexion.

64. The remark—Cest tout—instead of the usual word explicit, occurs at the end of several poems by Hoccleve; see his Poems, ed. Furnivall, pp. 8, 24, 47, 51, 57, 58, 61, 62, 64, &c.

8. This reminds us of the Knight's appeal: 'Now late us ryde, and herkneth what I seye'; C. T., A 855. [503]

30. to queme, according to your pleasure. Queme is here a substantive; see Stratmann. Cf. to pay in Chaucer.

67. The quotation is inexact; cf. ll. 120, 121 below. The reference is to the Wyf of Bathes Tale, D 1121:—

97. Here the quotation, again from the Wyf of Bathes Tale (D 1131), is very close:—

100. 'Therefore God is the source of virtuous nobleness.' This depends on a passage in Boethius, bk. iii. met. 6. l. 2; see notes to poem XIV, in vol. i. pp. 553-5.

143. ful rage, very fierce. But I know of no other example of rage as an adjective.

150. The passage in Boethius is in Book i. met. 6. 11-15. Cf. Ch. vol. ii. p. 19.

168. From Chaucer, Monkes Tale, B 3862. But it may be doubted if Caesar's alleged poverty is an historical fact. Cf. p. 24, l. 128 (above).

174. Read the story of Nero in the Monkes Tale, B 3653; that of Balthasar (Belshazzar) in the same, B 3373; and that of Antiochus in the same, B 3765. Compare the lines in B 3800-1:—

There are some excellent notes relative to this poem in Schick's edition of Lydgate's Temple of Glas (E. E. T. S.); I refer to them below as 'Schick, T. G.'

4. Bole, Bull. The sun entered Taurus, in the fifteenth century, just before the middle of April. Hence the phrase Amid the Bole refers, not to the first degree of the sign, but (literally) to the middle of it. The reference must be to May 1, when the sun had just passed a little beyond the middle (or 15th degree) of Taurus.

Even here we trace the influence of Chaucer's translation of the Romaunt of the Rose; for which see notes to ll. 36, 74 below. Chaucer reiterates the mention of May, R. R. 49, 51, 55, 74, 86; and ll. 1 and 2 of the present poem answer to R. R. 53-56:—

12. with seint Johan, with St. John for their security or protection; probably suggested by The Compleynt of Mars, l. 9, which opens in a similar strain; cf. note to C. T., F 596; vol. v. p. 385.

28. Lydgate is fond of calling the sun Tytan; Chaucer has the name only once; in Troil. iii. 1464. Lydgate is here thinking of the passage in the Knightes Tale, A 1493-6, about fyry Phebus. Note that he is fond of the word persaunt; see ll. 358, 591, 613; cf. Schick, note to T. G. 328.

33. It is odd that no MS. has the form splayen; yet the final n is required for the metre, or, at any rate, to save an hiatus.

36. Lydgate here copies l. 134 of the English Romaunt of the Rose—'The river-syde costeying'—and is a witness to the genuineness of Fragment A of that poem; as appears more clearly below; see note to l. 75. The whole passage seems founded upon the Romaunt; for this walk by the river brings him to a park (a garden in the Romaunt) enclosed by a wall that had a small gate in it. It is further obvious that l. 42 is borrowed from l. 122 of the Parliament of Foules—'Right of a park walled with grene stoon.' I may remark here that I have seen a wall constructed of red sandstone so entirely covered with a very minute kind of vegetable growth as to present to the eye a bright green surface.

40. gate smal; usually called a wiket in similar poems; see Rom. Rose, 528, and Schick, note to T. G. 39.

57. attempre, temperate; observe that this word occurs in the Rom. Rose, l. 131 (only three lines above the line quoted in the note to l. 36), where the F. text has atrempee.

62. take, take effect, take hold, become set; an early example of this curious intransitive use of the verb.

64. Daphne. Cf. Troil. iii. 726:—'O Phebus, thenk whan Dane hirselven shette Under the bark, and laurer wex for drede.' And cf. C. T., A 2062; and Schick, note to T. G. 115.

68. The resemblance of philbert (Philibert's nut) to Phyllis is accidental, but it was then believed that the connexion was real; merely because Vergil has 'Phyllis amat corylos'; Ecl. vii. 63. Thus Gower has (Conf. Amant. ii. 30):—

and he gives the story of Phyllis and Demophon, saying that Phyllis hanged herself on a nut-tree. See the Legend of Good Women, 2557. Pliny alludes to 'the almond-tree whereon ladie Phyllis hanged herselfe'; Nat. Hist. xvi. 26 (in Holland's translation). See further in Schick, note to T. G. 86.

71. hawethorn; often mentioned in poems of this period; see Schick, note to T. G. 505. Cf. XX. 272, p. 369; XXIV. 1433, p. 447.

74, 75. The list of trees was evidently suggested by the Rom. Rose; see Chaucer's translation, 1379-86. Hence the next thing mentioned is a well; see the same, ll. 1409-11, 109-30. Note that the water was cold, as in R. R. 116; under a hill, as in R. R. 114; and ran over gravel, as in R. R. 127, 1556. And then note the same, 1417-20:—

It is remarkable that the French original merely has 'Poignoit l'erbe freschete et drue,' without any mention of softe or of veluët. It thus becomes clear that Lydgate is actually quoting Chaucer's version.

81. The reading seems to be lustily cam springing; it would be a great improvement to transpose the words, and read cam lustily springing. Cf. 'Abouten it is gras springing'; R. R. 1563.

87. Narcisus, Narcissus; introduced as a matter of course, because he is here mentioned in the Romaunt; see R. R. 1468—'Here starf the faire Narcisus.' [506]

88. Cupyde; cf. R. R. 1523—'Wel couthe Love him wreke tho.' And see the same, 1601-29.

92. pitte, i.e. well of Helicon, most likely; which Chaucer mixed up with the Castalian spring on Parnassus; see note to Anelida, 15. And cf. the Pegasee in C. T., F 207; and 'I sleep never on the mount of Pernaso,' F 721.

97. his houndes, his own dogs; not her, as in several MSS. For see C. T., A 2067—'his houndes have him caught.'

127. 'Of gras and floures, inde and pers'; R. R. 67. And compare l. 126 with R. R. 68.

129. hulfere, holly; Icel. hulfr, dogwood. Spelt hulwur, huluyr in the Prompt. Parv. 'The holly is still called in Norfolk hulver, and in Suffolk hulva'; Way. Cotgrave has:—'Houx, the holly, holme, or hulver-tree.' Also 'Petit houx, kneehulver, butchers broom.'

131. MS. P. has of colour; which suggests the reading—'In blakke and whyte, of colour pale and wan'; but this, though a better line, cannot stand, as it makes the words also of his hewe in l. 132 superfluous; indeed l. 132 then becomes unmeaning.

151. ure, destiny; O.F. eur, Lat. augurium; cf. F. mal-heur. See l. 302 below, and Barbour's Bruce, i. 312.

168. awhaped, stupefied: see Gloss. in vol. vi. amat, dismayed. Cf. Schick, note to T. G. 401.

172. grounde (dissyllabic) improves the line; but ground is the correct form.

176. Here the Ashmole MS. inserts 'La compleynt du Chiualier'; but wrongly. For see l. 218.

260. Male-Bouche, Evil Tongue; cf. R. R. 7357, &c.; where Fragment C has 'Wikkid-Tonge,' the F. original has Male Bouche. Cf. IX. 84 (p. 269). See Schick, note to T. G. 153.

303. purveyaunce, providence; a reminiscence of the argument in Troil. iv. 961, &c.

304. god; for the god; but the article is unnecessary; see Schick, note to T. G. 132.

305. 'And true men have fallen off the wheel'; i.e. the wheel of Fortune; cf. Troil. iv. 6.

330. Palamides, Palamedes. There were two different heroes of this name. One was the son of Nauplius, king of Euboea, who lost his life before Troy, by the artifices of Ulysses. It is said that Ulysses, envious of his fame, forged a letter to him purporting to come from Priam, and then accused him of treachery; whereupon he was condemned to be stoned to death. But the reference is rather to a much later hero, the unsuccessful lover of La bele Isoude. He was defeated by the celebrated knight Sir Tristram, who made him promise to resign his pretensions to the lady; a promise which he did not keep. See Sir T. Malory, Morte Arthure, bk. viii. c. 10, &c.

349. Gades, Cadiz; where, according to Guido, Hercules set up some columns or pillars, to shew that he had come to the end of the world. There is an extraordinary confusion as to the locality and maker of these pillars. Lydgate here follows the account in the Alexander romances, viz. that Alexander set up a pillar of marble in the furthest end of India (l. 351); on which was inscribed—'Ego Alexander Philippi Macedonis post obitum Darii usque ad hunc locum expugnando viriliter militaui'; see Alexander and Dindimus, ed. Skeat, p. 42. Lydgate has confused the two accounts.

354. Copied from Troil. i. 518:—'Of hem that Love list febly for to avaunce'; which is preceded by 'he may goon in the daunce'; see the next line.

358. Phebus. Cf. 'Whan Phebus dwelled here in this erthe adoun'; C. T., H 1. Lydgate is not, however, referring to the story in the Manciples Tale, but rather to the hopeless love of Phoebus for the daughter of Admetus; for which see Troil. i. 659-65. Cf. Schick, note to T. G. 112.

366. Tristram. See notes to Parl. Foules, 288, and to Rosamounde, 20; and to Temple of Glas, ed. Schick, l. 77.

367. Achilles fell in love with Polyxena, a daughter of Priam, according to Guido; see note to Book of the Duch. 1070; and Schick, note to T. G. 94. Antonius, Antony; see Legend of Good Women, 588.

368. See the Knightes Tale; but it is a little extraordinary that Lydgate should instance Palamon here.

372. Jason; see Legend of Good Women, 1580. For Theseus, see the same, 1945; and for Enee (Aeneas), the same, 924. [508]

379. An interesting allusion, as the story of the false Arcite was of Chaucer's invention; see his Anelida.

393. Ipomenes, Hippomenes, the conqueror of Atalanta in the foot-race; and therefore not 'guerdonles.' He is thinking of Meleager, the unsuccessful lover of the other Atalanta, her of Calydon. Chaucer seems likewise to have confused these stories; see note to Parl. Foules, 286; and cf. C. T., A 2070-2.

419. The correction is obvious. The scribes read iupartyng as inpartyng and then made it into two words. Cf. l. 475. Chaucer has juparten, Troil. iv. 1566.

461. blent, blinded. Evidently the right reading, for which MS. S. has blend. This was turned into blynde, destroying the rime.

462. went, weeneth, weens, supposes, guesses; he shoots by guess. Evidently the right word, for which MS. S. has wend. But it was easily misunderstood, and most MSS. have by wenynge, which preserves the sense, but destroys the rime. Cf. let = lets, in l. 464.

488. Parcas, Parcae, the Fates; the form is copied from Troil. v. 3. Lines 486-9 are reminiscences of Troil. iii. 734 and C. T., A 1566.

512. With the following stanzas compare Chaucer's Complaint to his Lady, and An Amorous Complaint.

554. A stock line of Lydgate's; it occurs twice in the Temple of Glas, ll. 424, 879.

612. Esperus, Hesperus, the evening-star, the planet Venus. See note to Boeth. bk. i. m. 5. 9.

627. 'Venus I mene, the wel-willy planete'; Troil. iii. 1257. Cf. gude-willy in Burns.

647. MS. B. has for very wery, meaning 'because I was very weary,' which is a possible expression; see Schick, note to T. G. 632; but verily seems better, as otherwise the line is cumbersome.

20. Cipryde, really the same as Venus, but here distinguished; see Parl. Foules, 277.

49. crampessh at must be crampisshed, i.e. constrained painfully, tortured; see note to Anelida, 171 (vol. i. p. 535).

84. Male-bouche, Evil Tongue, Slander; from the Roman de la Rose. See VIII. 260 above.

158. Alluding to the proverb—'He that hews above his head, the chips fall in his eye'; which is a warning to men who attack their betters. See I. i. 9. 20, and the note (p. 462).

190-3. Policene, Polyxena; cf. note to VIII. 367. Helayne, Helen. Dorigene; see Frankleyns Tale, F 815.

195. Cleopatre; see the first legend in the Legend of Good Women. secree, secret, able to keep secrets; a praiseworthy attribute; cf. Parl. of Foules, 395; and Lydgate's Temple of Glas, 294-5:—

It is obvious that the extraordinary word setrone (see the footnote) arose from a desire on the part of the scribe to secure a rime for the name in the next line, which he must have imagined to be An-ti-góne, in three syllables, with a mute final e! This turned secree into secrone, which Thynne probably misread as setrone, since c and t are alike in many MSS. But there are no such words as secrone or setrone; and secree must be restored, because An-ti-go-ne is a word of four syllables. We know whence Lydgate obtained his 'white Antigone'; it was from Troilus, ii. 887, where we find 'fresshe Antigone the whyte.' Antigone was Criseyde's niece, and was so 'secree' that Pandarus considered her to be the most fitting person to accompany Criseyde when she visited Troilus (Troil. ii. 1563), and again when she came to visit Pandarus himself (iii. 597).

197. Hester, Esther; see Book Duch. 987; but especially Legend of [510]Good Women, 250: 'Ester, lay thou thy mekenesse al adoun.' Judith; cf. Cant. Tales, B 939, 2289, 3761, E 1366.

198. Alceste, Alcestis; see L. G. W. 432, 511, 518. Marcia Catoun, Martia, daughter of Cato of Utica; see note to L. G. W. 252 (vol. iii. p. 298).

199. Grisilde; the Griselda of the Clerkes Tale. Again mentioned by Lydgate in the Temple of Glas, 75, 405, and elsewhere; see Schick's note to T.G. l. 75.

200, 201. Ariadne; see L. G. W. 268, 2078, &c. Lucrece, Lucretia; see the same, 1680; especially l. 1691:—'this Lucresse, that starf at Rome toun.'

206. Canacee; may be either the Canace mentioned in L. G. W. 265, or the heroine of the Squieres Tale; probably the latter. See Schick, note to l. 137 of the Temple of Glas.

214. Medee, Medea; see L. G. W. 1580. But Chaucer does not there relate how Medea committed any 'outrage.' However, he refers to her murder of her children in the Cant. Tales, B 72.

216. 'That, while goodness and beauty are both under her dominion, she makes goodness have always the upper hand.' See l. 218.

221. Read n'offende, offend not. Probably the MS. had nofende, which Thynne turned into ne fende.

229. It is remarkable how often Lydgate describes his hand as 'quaking'; see Schick's note to the Temple of Glas, 947. Chaucer's hand quaked but once; Troil. iv. 14. Cf. note to XXII. 57 (p. 539).

232. suppryse, undertake, endeavour to do. Suppryse is from O.F. sousprendre, for which Godefroy gives the occasional sense 'entreprendre.'

236. Perhaps this means that Chaucer's decease was a very recent event. Schick proposes to date this piece between 1400 and 1402.

242. Chaucer invokes Clio at the beginning of Troilus, bk. ii. (l. 8); and Calliope at the beginning of bk. iii. (l. 45).

251. Cf. Compl. Mars, 13, 14. The metre almost seems to require an accent on the second syllable of Valentyn, with suppressed final e; but a much more pleasing line, though less regular, can be made by distributing the pauses artificially thus: Upón . the dáy of . saint Válen . týne . sínge. The word saint is altogether unemphatic; cf. ll. 4, 100.

257. fetheres ynde, blue feathers; possibly with a reference to blue as being the colour of constancy. Cf. floures inde; VIII. 127.

261. The woodbine is an emblem of constancy, as it clings to its support; cf. XX. 485-7. [511]

4, 5. In l. 4, fere is the Kentish form of 'fire.' In l. 5, Thynne again prints fere, but MS. A. has hyre (not a rime), and MS. Sl. has were, which means 'doubt,' and is the right word.

7. For her, we must read his, as in l. 4. The reference is to Love or Cupid; see VIII. 354, and the note.

12. Cf. 'O wind, O wind, the weder ginneth clere,' &c.; Troil. ii. 2. Observe that Chaucer invokes Cleo (Clio) in his next stanza.

22. We may compare this invocation with Chaucer's ABC, and his introduction to the Second Nonnes Tale; but there is not much resemblance. Observe the free use of alliteration throughout ll. 22-141.

24. 'O pleasant ever-living one' seems to be meant; but it is very obscure. Notice that the excellent Sloane MS. has O lusty lemand (= leming), O pleasant shining one. Perhaps we should read leming for living; cf. l. 25.

27. Cf. 'Haven of refut'; ABC, 14. up to ryve, to arrive at; see rive in Halliwell.

28. The five joys of the Virgin are occasionally alluded to. See the poem on this subject in An Old Eng. Miscellany, ed. Morris, p. 87. The five joys were (1) at the Annunciation; (2) when she bore Christ; (3) when Christ rose from the dead; (4) when she saw Him ascend into heaven; (5) at her own Assumption into heaven.

52. propyne, give to drink; a usage found in the Vulgate version of Jer. xxv. 15: 'Sume calicem ... et propinabis de illo cunctis gentibus.'

65. bravie, prize, especially in an athletic contest; Lat. brauium, Gk. βραβεῖον, in 1 Cor. ix. 24. See note to C. T., D 75.

66. diourn denárie, daily pay, as of a penny a day; referring to Matt. xx. 2: 'Conventione autem facta cum operariis ex denario diurno.'

83. Phebus; here used, in an extraordinary manner, of the Holy Spirit, as being the spirit of wisdom; perhaps suggested by the mention of the columbe (or dove) in l. 79.

92, 93. loupe; cf. F. loupe, an excrescence, fleshy kernel, knot in wood, lens, knob. It was also a term in jewellery. Littré has: 'pierre précieuse que la nature n'a pas achevée. Loupe de saphir, loupe de rubis, certaines parties imparfaites et grossières qui se trouvent quelquefois dans ces pierres.' Hence it is not a very happy epithet, but Lydgate must have meant it in a good sense, as expressing the densest portion of a jewel; hence his 'stable (i.e. firm) as the loupe.' Similarly he explains ewage as being 'fresshest of visage,' i.e. clearest in appearance. Ewage was a term applied to a jacinth of the colour of sea-water; see New E. Dict. and P. Plowman, B. ii. 14; but it is here described as blue, and must therefore refer to a stone of the colour of water in a lake.

98. Read hértè for the scansion; but it is a bad line. It runs:—And hém . recéyvest . wíth . hértè . ful tréwe.

102. obumbred, spread like a shadow; 'uirtus Altissimi obumbrabit tibi'; Luke, i. 35. This explains to thee, which answers to tibi.

106. This stanza refers to Christ rather than to Mary; see l. 112. But Mary is referred to as the ground on which He built (l. 111).

110. corn, grain; 'suscitabo Dauid germen iustum'; Jer. xxiii. 5. Cf. 'ex semine Dauid uenit Christus; John, vii. 42.

111. ground; the ground upon which it pleased Him to build. Referring to Mary.

113. vytre, glass; Lat. uitreum. The Virgin was often likened to glass; sun-rays pass through it, and leave it pure.

114. Tytan, sun; curiously applied. Christ seems to be meant; see l. 116. But thy in l. 115 again refers to Mary. Hence, in l. 114 (as in 116) we should read his for thy.

118. Sunamyte, Shunammite; Lat. Sunamitis, 2 Kings, iv. 25. She was an emblem of the Virgin, because her son was raised from the dead.

119. Mesure, moderate, assuage. Margaryte, pearl; as an epithet of the Virgin.

121. punical pome, pomegranate; Pliny has Punicum malum in this sense; Nat. Hist. xiii. 19.

123. agnelet, little lamb; not in the New E. Dict., because this stanza is now first printed.

128. Cockle, shell; referring to the shell in which the pearl was supposed to be generated by dew. See note to I. ii. 12. 47, p. 475.

129. 'O bush unbrent'; C. T., B 1658; see the note, fyrles, set on fire without any fire (i.e. without visible cause).

probatik; certainly the right reading (as in MS. Sl.), instead of probatyf or probatyfe, as in A. and Thynne. The reference is to the O.F. phrase piscine probatique, which Godefroy explains as being a cistern of water, near Solomon's temple, in which the sheep were washed before being sacrificed. The phrase was borrowed immediately from the Vulgate version of John v. 2: 'Est autem Ierosolymis probatica piscina, quae cognominatur hebraice Bethsaida'; i.e. the reference is to the well-known pool of Bethesda. The Greek has: ἐπὶ τῇ προβατικῇ κολυμβήθρα. The etymology is obvious, from Gk. πρόβατον, a sheep. We may translate the phrase by 'sheep-cleansing pool.' Cotgrave explains it very well; he has: 'piscine probatique, a pond for the washing of the sheep that were, by the Law, to be sacrificed.'

135. Aurora, dawn; mentioned in Ch. L. G. W. 774. Cf. 'al the orient laugheth'; C. T., A 1494. And cf. 'Th'olyve of pees'; Parl. Foules, 181.

136. 'Column, with its base, which bears up (or supports) out of the abysmal depth.'

Note that, at this point, the MS. copies come to an end, and so does the alliteration. Poem no. XI is joined on to no. X in Thynne without any break, but is obviously a different piece, addressed to an earthly mistress.

1. Imitated from C. T., B 778: 'I ne have noon English digne,' &c. Cf. l. 41. And see the Introduction.

14. 'I have all my trust in thee.' The scansion is got by grouping the syllables thus: J'áy . en vóus . tóute . má . fiáunce. It is a line of the Lydgate type, in which the first syllable in the normal line, and the first syllable after the cæsura, are alike dropped.

21. This quotation is most interesting, being taken from the first line in 'Merciless Beauty'; Ch. Minor Poems; no. XI. Cf. l. 54.

77. and also, including. The 'fair' Rosamond is mentioned in P. Plowman, B. xii. 48; which shews that her name was proverbial.

100. 'The ardent hope that pricks my heart, is dead; the hope—to gain the love of her whom I desire.'

103. 'And I know well that it is not my fault; (the fault of me) who sing for you, as I may, by way of lament at your departure.' O.F. sai, I know, is a correct form.

22. I follow the order of stanzas in MS. H. (Harl. 2251), which is more complete than any other copy, as it alone contains ll. 71-7. Th. and Ff. transpose this stanza and the next one.

73. The missing word is obviously mene, i.e. middling; missed because the similar word men happened to follow it.

86. In the course of ll. 86-103, Lydgate contrives to mention all the Nine Worthies except Godfrey of Bouillon; i.e. he mentions David, Joshua, Judas Maccabaeus, Hector, Julius Caesar, Alexander, Charles (Charlemagne), and King Arthur. His other examples are Solomon, Troilus, Tullius Cicero, Seneca, and Cato; all well known.

96. Thynne has—'With al Alisaundres.' The word al is needless, and probably due to repeating the first syllable of Alisaundre.

107. We now come to examples of famous women. Hestre is Esther, and Griseldes, the Grisildis of Chaucer's Clerkes Tale. Others are Judith (in the Apocrypha), Polyxena, Penelope, Helen, Medea, Marcia the daughter of Marcus Cato Uticensis (see note to Legend of Good Women, 252), and Alcestis. They are all taken from Chaucer; Esther, Polyxena, Penelope, Helen, 'Marcia Catoun,' are all mentioned in the 'Balade' in Legend of Good Women, Prologue, B-text, 249-69; [515]and Alcestis is the heroine of the same Prologue. The Legend contains the story of Medea at length; and Judith is celebrated in the Monkes Tale. See the similar list in IX. 190-210.

110. For Policenes, Ff. has Penilops (!); but Penelope is mentioned in l. 113. Policenes is right; see IX. 190.

115. For Eleynes, the printed editions have the astonishing reading Holynesse, a strange perversion of Heleynes.

121. kerve, cut; suggested by Chaucer's use of forkerveth in the Manciple's Tale, H 340. This is tolerably certain, as in l. 129 he again refers to the same Tale, H 332-4.

130. Chaucer does not mention Cato; he merely says—'Thus lerne children whan that they ben yonge.' Both Chaucer and Lydgate had no doubt been taught some of the sayings of Dionysius Cato in their youth; for see Troil. iii. 293-4. This particular precept occurs in the third distich in Cato's first book; i.e. almost at the very beginning. See note to C. T., H 332 (vol. v. p. 443).

This piece is gently ironical throughout, as, for example, in ll. 15, 23, 31, 39, 47, &c.

32 (footnote). The remark in the margin—'Per antifrasim'—simply means that the text is ironical.

48. tache, defect; this is Shakespeare's touch, in the same sense; Troilus and Cressida, iii. 3. 175.

51. sliper, slippery; A.S. slipor; as in XVI. 262. Cf. HF. 2154, and the note.

55. 'Who can (so) guide their sail as to row their boat with craft.' Not clearly put. Is there a reference to Wade's boat? Cf. C. T., E 1424, and the note. The irony seems here to be dropped, as in ll. 71, 79.

75. sys and sink, six and five, a winning throw at hazard; see C. T., B 124, and the note. avaunce, get profit, make gain.

77, 78. Here sette seems to mean 'lay a stake upon,' in the game of hazard; when, if the player throws double aces (ambes as), he loses; see the note on C. T., B 124 as above; and see Ambs-Ace in the New E. Dict. It is amusing to find that Stowe so wholly misunderstood the text as to print lombes, as (see footnote on p. 293); for lombes means 'lambs'!

83. innocence is, I suppose, to be taken ironically; but the constancy of Rosamond and Cleopatra is appealed to as being real. For the ballad of 'Fair Rosamond,' see Percy's Reliques of Ancient Poetry.

89, 90. sengle, single. oo-fold, one-fold, as distinct from double. See the whimsical praise of 'double' things in Hood's Miss Kilmansegg, in the section entitled 'Her Honeymoon.'

6. see at y, see by the outward appearance; cf. C. T., G 964, 1059. This Balade resembles no. XIII. Cf. l. 4 with XIII. 63, 81.

7. et, eateth, eats. This contracted form evidently best suits the scansion. The copy in MS. T. had originally ette, mis-spelt for et, with ettyth written above it, shewing that the old form et was obsolescent. Et (eateth) occurs in P. Plowman, C. vii. 431; and again, in the same, B. xv. 175, the MSS. have eet, eteth, ette, with the same sense. 'The blind eat many flies' is given in Hazlitt's Collection of Proverbs. Skelton has it, Works, ed. Dyce, i. 213; and Hazlitt gives four more references.

29. The proverbial line quoted in T. is here referred to, viz. 'Fallere, flere, nere, tria sunt hec in muliere.' In the margin of the Corpus MS. of the C. T., opposite D 402, is written—'Fallere, flere, nere, dedit Deus in muliere.' See that passage in the Wife's Preamble.

33. sleight; pronounced (sleit), riming with bait; shewing that the gh was by this time a negligible quantity.

36. The reference is to the proverb quoted in the note to C. T., B 2297 (vol. v. p. 208):—

Hence light in l. 37 should be leit, as it means 'lightning'; which explains 'passeth in a throw,' i.e. passes away instantly. We also see that Lydgate's original varied, and must have run thus:—

(A). 2. Honour, i.e. advancement. The Lat. proverb is—'Honores mutant mores'; on which Ray remarks—'As poverty depresseth and debaseth a man's mind, so great place and estate advance and enlarge it, but many times corrupt and puff it up.' outrage, extravagant self-importance.

1-28. The first four stanzas are original; so also are the four at the end. These stanzas have seven lines; the rest have eight.

11. Aleyn; i.e. Alain Chartier, a French poet and prose writer, born in 1386, who died in 1458. He lived at the court of Charles VI and Charles VII, to whom he acted as secretary. Besides La Belle Dame sans Merci, he wrote several poems; in one of these, called Le Livre de Quatre Dames, four ladies bewail the loss of their lovers in the battle of Agincourt. He also wrote some prose pieces, chiefly satirical; his Curial, directed against the vices of the court, was translated by Caxton. Caxton's translation was printed by him in 1484, and reprinted by the Early English Text Society in 1888. The best edition of Chartier's works is that by A. Duchesne (Paris, 1617); a new edition is much wanted.

45. I here quote the original of this stanza, as it settles the right reading of l. 47, where some MSS. have eyen or eyn for pen.

103 (footnote). deedly, inanimate, dull, sleepy; an unusual use of the word. Only in Thynne, who seems to be wrong.

105, 106. som, i.e. some male guests. their juges, (apparently) the ladies who ruled them, whom they wooed; cf. l. 137. demure, serious, grave; an early example of the word; cf. XX. 459, XXI. 82. [518]

105. most fresshest, who had most newly arrived; 'Tels y ot qui à l'heure vinrent.'

145. The right reading is shot, as in Thynne and MS. Ff., which are usually better authorities than MSS. F. and H. The original has:—

154, 156. mes, dish or course of meats. entremes, ill-spelt entremass in Barbour's Bruce, xvi. 457; on which my note is: 'it is the O.F. entremes, now spelt entremets, [to mark its connection with F. mettre; but] mets, O.F. mes, is the Lat. missum [accusative of missus], a dish as sent in or served at table (Brachet). An entremes is a delicacy or side-dish (lit. a between-dish)'; and I added a reference to the present passage. It is here used ironically.

174. apert, as in MS. Ff., is obviously right; pert, as still in use, is due to the loss of the former syllable. prevy nor apert, neither secretly nor openly, i.e. in no way; just as in Ch. C. T., F 531.

176. frounter; answering here, not to O.F. frontier, forehead, but to O.F. frontiere, front rank of an army, line of battle; whence the phrase faire frontiere a, to make an attack upon (Godefroy). So here, the lady's beauty was exactly calculated to make an attack upon a lover's heart. Sir R. Ros has 'a frounter for'; he should rather have written 'a frounter on.' The original has:—'Pour faire au cueur d'amant frontiere'; also garnison in the preceding line.

182. 'Car ioye triste cueur traueille.' Sir R. Ros actually takes triste with ioye instead of with cueur. There are several other instances in which he does not seem to have understood his original. See below.

184. trayle, trellis-work, or lattice-work, intertwined with pliant thick-leaved branches; Godefroy has O.F. 'treille, traille, treillis, treillage'; cf. l. 195. The original has:—'Si m'assis dessoubz une treille.' A note explains dessoubz as derriere.

230. 'Et se par honneur et sans blasme Ie suis vostre.' That is, if I am yours, with honour to myself. But the translator transfers the worship, i.e. the honour, to the lady.

265. Other or me, me or some one else. But the French is:—'Se moy ou autre vous regarde,' if I or some one else look at you; which is quite a different thing.

324. rechace, chasing it back, which gives small sense; and the reading richesse is worse, and will not rime. The French has rachatz = mod. F. rachat, redemption, ransom; which has been misunderstood.

348. their is an error for his (Love's), due to the translator. 'Lors il [Amour] descouure sa fierté.'

357. oon, one; i.e. the same. MS. Ff. has wone, a very early example of the prefixed sound of w, as in modern English. See Zupitza's notes to Guy of Warwick.

393. Something is wrong. The French is:—'La mesure faulx semblant porte'; meaning (I suppose) moderation has a false appearance.

443. 'A constrained reward, and a gift offered by way of thanks, cannot agree'; i.e. are quite different.

469. 'D'assez grant charge se cheuit,' he gets rid of a great responsibility. The translator gives the contrary sense.

509. That He, not Who, should begin the line, is certain by comparison with the French:—'Il ne doit pas cuider muser.'

523-4. after-game, return-match, a second game played by one who has lost the first. I believe l. 524 to mean 'who cannot thoroughly afford to double his stakes.' To set often means to stake. The French is:—

531. it ar, they are. This use of ar with it is due to the pl. sb. fantasyes (i.e. vain fancies) immediately following; other counsayl is equivalent to 'as for any other counsel,' which implies that there are more alternatives than one.

536. 'Who would like to conduct himself,' i.e. to regulate his conduct. 'Qui la veult conduire et ne peult.'

566. That is a mere conjunction; the reading Which alters the sense, and gives a false meaning. [520]

594, 595. Hath set; 'Mettroit en mes maulx fin et terme.' Line 595 should begin with Then rather than Yet, as there is no contrast.

608. or anything at al, &c.; 'et le bien fait De sa Dame qui l'a reffait Et ramené de mort a vie'; i.e. and the kindness of his Lady, who has new made him, and brought him back from death to life. The English follows some different reading, and is obscurely expressed.

614. 'A qui l'en puisse recourir'; to whom he could have recourse. But recourir has been read as recovrir, giving no good sense.

634. reclaymed, taught to come back; a term in falconry; French, 'bien reclamez.' Opposed to hem to withholde, i.e. to keep themselves from coming back.

667. To have better, to get a better lover. But the sense is wrongly given. In the French, this clause goes with what follows:—'D'auoir mieulx ne vous affiez,' i.e. expect to get nothing better.

673. The original shews that she really refers to Pity, denoted by it in l. 671, not to the Lady herself.

706. By; French, De; hence By should be Of. Read defame of cruelty, an ill name for cruelty. The mistake is the translator's.

741. Male-bouche, Slander; a name probably taken from the Rom. de la Rose, 2847; called Wikked-Tonge in the English version, 3027.

814. avantours, boasters; see l. 735. F. text, 'venteus'; cf. 'Vanteux, vaunting'; Cotgrave.

829. The last four stanzas are original. Note the change from the 8-line to the 7-line stanza.

This sequel to Chaucer's 'Troilus,' written by Robert Henryson of Dunfermline, is in the Northern dialect of the Scottish Lowlands. Thynne has not made any special attempt to alter the wording of this piece, but he frequently modifies the spelling; printing so instead of sa (l. 3), whan for quhen (l. 3), right for richt (l. 4), and so on. I follow the Edinburgh edition of 1593. See further in the Introduction. [521]

4-6. Here fervent seems to mean 'stormy' or 'severe,' as it obviously does not mean hot. Discend is used transitively; can discend means 'caused to descend.' This is an earlier example than that from Caxton in the New Eng. Dictionary. Aries clearly means the influence of Aries, and implies that the sun was in that sign, which it entered (at that date) about the 12th of March; see vol. iii. p. 188 (footnote). Lent is 'spring'; and the Old Germanic method is here followed, which divided each of the seasons into three months. In this view, the spring-months were March, April, and May, called, respectively, foreward Lent, midward Lent, and afterward Lent; see A Student's Pastime, p. 190. Hence the phrase in middis of the Lent does not mean precisely in the middle of the spring, but refers to the month of April; indeed, the sun passed out of Aries into Taurus on the 11th of the month. The date indicated is, accordingly, the first week in April, when the sun was still in Aries, and showers of hail, with a stormy north wind, were quite seasonable.

10. sylit under cure, covered up, (as if) under his care. The verb to syle is precisely the mod. E. ceil; which see in the New E. Dict.

12. unto, i.e. over against. The planet Venus, rising in the east, set her face over against the west, where the sun had set.

20. shill, shrill. Shille occurs as a variant of schrille in C. T., B 4585; see schil in Stratmann.

32. douf (spelt doif in the old edition) is the Northern form of 'deaf,' answering to the Icel. daufr; thus a nut without a kernel is called in the South 'a deaf nut,' but in Scotland 'a douf nit'; see Jamieson. For deaf in the senses of 'dull' and 'unproductive,' see the New E. Dict.

42. Read lusty, to avoid the repetition of worthy; cf. l. 41. It should have been stated, in the footnotes, that the readings are: E. worthy; Th. lusty.

43. Referring to Troil. bk. v. In l. 92, we are told how Diomede led Criseyde away. Note particularly that, in l. 45, Henryson quotes Chaucer rather closely. Cf. 'For which wel neigh out of my wit I breyde'; Troil. v. 1262. And cf. ll. 47-9 with—'Betwixen hope and drede his herte lay'; Troil. v. 1207.

48. Quhill, till. The reading Esperus in E. is comic enough. Even Thynne has misread esperans, and has turned it into esperous. There can be little doubt that esperans here means 'hope,' as it is opposed to wanhope in the line above. The word was known to Henryson, as we find, in st. 8 of his Garment of Gude Ladyis: 'Hir slevis suld be of esperance, To keip hir fra dispair.' Cf. l. 49.

50. behest, promise; because she had promised to return to Troy within ten days; Troil. iv. 1595.

65. this narratioun, i.e. the sequel of the story, which he is about [522]to tell. He does not tell us whence he derived it, but intimates that it is a fiction; I suppose he invented it himself.

78. A-per-se, i.e. the first letter of the alphabet, standing alone. A letter that was also a word in itself, as A, or I, or O, was called 'per se,' because it could stand alone. Of these, the A-per-se was a type of excellence. One of Dunbar's Poems (ed. Small, i. 276) begins:—'London, thou art of townes A-per-se.'

79. fortunait, the sport of fortune; oddly used, as it implies that she was 'an unfortunate.' Cf. l. 89.

97. quhair, where her father Calchas (was). He was living among the Greeks; Troil. i. 80, 87.

106. In the medieval legend, Calchas was not a priest of Venus, but of Apollo, as Chaucer notes; see Troil. i. 66-70. So also in Lydgate, Siege of Troy, bk. ii. c. 17. Henryson probably altered this intentionally, because it enabled him to represent Criseyde as reproaching her father's god; see ll. 124, 134.

129. outwaill, outcast; one who is chosen out and rejected; from the verb wail, wale, to choose. There seems to be no other example of the word, though Jamieson gives 'outwailins, leavings, things of little value.'

140. forlane can hardly mean 'left alone.' If so, it would be a word invented for the occasion, and improperly formed from lane, which is itself a docked form of alane. In all other passages forlane or forlain is the pp. of forliggen; and the sense of 'defiled' is quite applicable. And further, it rimes with slane, which means 'slain.'

147. The seven planets; which, in the order of the magnitude of their orbits, are Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, the Sun, Venus, Mercury, and the Moon. And to this order the author carefully adheres throughout ll. 151-263.

155. fronsit, wrinkled; frounse is the mod. E. flounce, which formerly meant 'a pleat'; see frounce, frouncen in Stratmann, and the Gloss. to Chaucer. Misprinted frosnit in E.

'His complexion was like lead.' Lead was Saturn's metal; see C. T., G 828, and the note.

164. That gyte is the correct reading, is obvious from ll. 178, 260, where Thynne has preserved it. It is a Chaucerian word; see the Glossary in vol. vi. It seems to mean 'mantle.' The Edinburgh printer altered it to gyis, which is too general a term, at least in l. 260.

198. Compare Ch. C. T., F 1031—'god and governour Of every plaunte, herbe, tree, and flour.'

205. Alluding to Phaethon's misguidance of the chariot of the sun; [523]'And that his faders cart amis he dryve'; Troil. v. 665. Laing prints unricht; but omits to say that E. has upricht.

212-6. The names of the four horses are curiously corrupted from the names given in Ovid, Met. ii. 153, viz. Eöus, Æthon, Pyröeis, and Phlegon. As Eous means 'belonging to the dawn,' we may consider the words into the Orient, i.e. in the East, as explanatory of the name Eoy; 'called Eoy, (which signifies) in the East.' As to the name of the last horse, it was obviously meant to take the form Philegoney, in order to rime with sey (sea), and I have therefore restored this form. The two authorities, E. and Th., give it in the amazing form Philologie (Philologee), which can only mean 'philology'!

231. lauch and weip are infinitives, but appear to be meant for past tenses. If so, the former should be leuch; weip may answer to the strong pt. t. weep in Chaucer (A.S. wēop).

246. He seems to be thinking of Chaucer's Doctor of Phisyk; cf. Ch. Prol. A 425-6, 439.

256. Thynne has tapere = to appear; this passage is curiously cited, in Richardson's Dictionary, in illustration of the sb. taper!

261. churl, man; this is Chaucer's cherl, in Troil. i. 1024. See the note to that line.

263. na nar, no nearer; the moon's orbit, being the least, was the most remote from the outer heaven that enclosed the primum mobile.

273. shew, shewed; but it is false grammar, for the verb to shew (or show) was weak. Formed by analogy with blew, grew, knew; cf. rew, mew, sew, old strong preterites of row, mow, and sow.

290. As Henryson usually refrains from the addition of a syllable at the cæsura, we should probably read injure, not injury; see Troil. iii. 1018.

318. Heat and moisture characterised the sanguine temperament (see vol. v. p. 33); coldness and dryness characterised the melancholy temperament (see P. Plowman, B-text, p. xix). Cf. l. 316.

343. 'With cup and clapper, like a leper.' It was usual for lepers to carry a cup (for their own use), and a clapper or clap-dish, which was used in order to give warning of their approach, and also as a receptacle for alms, to prevent actual contact; cf. l. 479 below. Compare the following:—

lazarous is formed as an adj. in -ous from the sb. lazar, a leper; see l. 531.

382. The accent on the second syllable of hospital was not uncommon; hence its frequent contraction to spittal or spittel-house; for which see l. 391 below.

386. Read bevar or bever (Th. has beuer); the reading bawar in E. gives no sense. I see no connection with Lowl. Sc. bevar, 'one who is worn out with age,' according to Jamieson, who merely guesses at the sense, as being perhaps allied to bavard, which he also explains as 'worn out'; although, if from the F. bavard, it rather means talkative, babbling, or idle. I believe that bevar hat simply means 'beaver hat,' formerly used by women as well as by men. Even Dickens alludes to 'farmer's wives in beaver bonnets,' in Martin Chuzzlewit, ch. 5. No doubt a beaver hat was, when new, an expensive luxury, as worn by Chaucer's 'Merchant' (Prol. l. 272); but they wore well and long, and were doubtless gladly used by beggars when cast off by their original owners.

410. blaiknit, is not a derivative of M.E. blak, black, but of M.E. blāk, bleik, bleak, pallid, cheerless. It is here used in the sense of 'rendered cheerless'; and bair means 'bare' or 'barren.' See blākien in Stratmann.

413. 'Thy bale is in the growth,' or is sprouting. See Braird, the first shoots of corn or grass, in the New E. Dict., where two more examples of this phrase are cited from Henryson.

417. 'With goodly bed, and convenient embroidered bench-covers.' Burelie (mod. E. burly, prov. E. bowerly) answers to an A.S. form būr-līc, i.e. suitable for a lady's bower. This explains why it was appropriately used as an epithet for a bed. Cf. 'Quhair ane burely bed was wrocht in that wane'; Rauf Coilyear, 264. Hence 'a burly knight' was one suitable for a lady's bower, and therefore handsome, strong, well-grown, large; and by a degradation of meaning, huge, corpulent. The changes in sense are curious and instructive. In the New E. Dict., the etymology is not given. For bene, see bain in the New E. Dict.; and for bankouris, see banker.

421. saipheroun sals, saffron sauce. Saffron and salt were often used together in medieval cookery; see Two Fifteenth-Century Cookery Books, ed. Austin (E. E. T. S.). The Glossary to that book gives the spellings safroun, saferon, saferoun, and sapheron.

423. This is a very early mention of lawn. It is also mentioned in st. 10 of Lydgate's 'London Lickpeny.'

429. walk, wake. The history of this spelling is not quite clear; but the l was, in any case, mute; another spelling is wauk. I suspect that it originated in the misunderstanding of a symbol. The scribe, who wished to write wakk, used a symbol resembling lk, where the l was really the first k, indicated by its down-stroke only. For example, [525]the word rokke was (apparently) written rolke. See my article on Ghost-words; Phil. Soc. Trans. 1885, p. 369.

tak the dew, gather May-dew. The old custom of bathing the face with fresh dew on the 1st of May is referred to in Brand's Popular Antiquities. He gives an example as late as 1791. See Pepys' Diary, May 28, 1667, May 11, 1669; where we find that any day in May was then considered suitable for this health-giving operation.

433. I take on every grane to mean 'in every particular'; cf. 'a grain of sense.' We may also note the Fr. teindre en graine, to dye in grain, to dye of a fast colour; and we occasionally find grain in the sense of 'tint.' Godefroy cites 'ung couvertoer d'une graigne vermeille'; and 'une manche vermeille, ne sçay se c'est graine ou autre taincture.' Grane also means 'groan,' and 'groin,' and 'fork of a tree'; but none of these senses suit.

450. In l. 407, we have sop of sorrow, i.e. sop, or sup, of sorrow. So here sowpit in syte, sopped, or drenched, in sorrow; an expression which Jamieson illustrates from Holland's Houlate, i. 4, and Douglas's Vergil, prologue to Book viii, l. 5.

463. This expression is imitated from Chaucer's Boethius, bk. iii. pr. 6. 3—'O glorie, glorie, thou art nothing elles but a greet sweller of eres!' See note to I. ii. 8. 68 (p. 472).

492. shuik coppis, shook their cups; it implies that they waved them aloft, to attract attention. They also used their clappers.

501. ply, plight. I know of no other example of ply in this sense; but ply (usually, a fold) and plight (incorrect spelling of M.E. plyte) are closely related; the former represents Lat. plicitum, the latter, Lat. plicita; from plicare, to fold (whence E. ply, verb, to bend).

541. 'With many a sorrowful cry and cold or sad (cry of) O hone!' Here cald = sad; and Ochane is the Irish and Scotch cry of O hone! or Och hone! See O hone in the Century Dict., s.v. O.

543. will of wane, lit. wild of weening, at a loss what to do. See Gloss. to Barbour's Bruce, s.v. Will.

550. 'And climbed so high upon the fickle wheel' (of Fortune). Cf. Troil. iv. 6, 11.

567. 'For they (women) are as constant as a weathercock in the wind.' Cf. 'unsad ... and chaunging as a vane'; Ch. C. T., E 995.

589. broche and belt; Criseyde gave Diomede the brooch she had received from Troilus; see Troil. v. 1661, 1669, 1688. The belt is Henryson's addition.

In this piece, the final -e is much used as forming a distinct syllable; indeed, more freely than in Chaucer.

4. The word of is inserted in Th., Ff. and S., and seems to be right; but as hy-e should be two syllables, perhaps the words And of were rapidly pronounced, in the time of a single syllable. Or omit And.

11-5. The lines of this stanza are wrongly arranged in Thynne, and in every printed edition except the present one; i.e. the lines 12 and 13 are transposed. But as the rime-formula is aabba, it is easy to see that suffyse, devyse, agryse rime together on the one hand, and nyce, vyce, on the other. The pronunciation suffice is comparatively modern; in Chaucer, the suffix -yse was pronounced with a voiced s, i.e. as z. Note the rimes devyse, suffyse in the Book of the Duch. 901-2; suffyse, wyse, devyse, in the C. T., B 3648-9; &c. The MSS. Ff., F., and B. all give the right arrangement.

20, 23. May; cf. Troil. ii. 50-63; Rom. Rose, 51-2, 74-6, 85-6; Legend of Good Women, 108; C. T., A 1500-2.

39. hoot, hot, i.e. hopeful; cold, full of despair; acces, feverish attack, as in Troil. ii. 1315, 1543, 1578.

41. fevers whyte, feverish attacks (of love) that turn men pale; the same as blaunche fevere in Troil. i. 916; see note to that line.

48. a comune tale, a common saying. As a fact, one would expect to hear the cuckoo first. Prof. Newton, in his Dict. of Birds, says of the cuckoo, that it 'crosses the Mediterranean from its winter-quarters in Africa at the end of March or beginning of April. Its arrival is at once proclaimed by the peculiar ... cry of the cock.' Of the nightingale he says—'if the appearance of truth is to be regarded, it is dangerous to introduce a nightingale as singing in England before the 15th of April or after the 15th of June.'

As the change of style makes a difference of 12 days, this 15th of April corresponds to the 3rd of April in the time of Chaucer. It is remarkable that Hazlitt, in his Proverbs, p. 305, gives the following:—'On the third of April, comes in the cuckoo and the nightingale'; which may once have been correct as regards the latter. Hazlitt also says that, in Sussex, the 14th of April is supposed to be 'first cuckoo-day'; whereas it would better apply to the nightingale. And again, another proverb says (p. 380)—'The nightingale and the cuckoo sing both in one month.' It is clear that, whatever the facts may be, our ancestors had a notion that these birds arrived nearly at the same time, and attached some importance, by way of augury, to the possibility of hearing the nightingale first. They must frequently [527]have been disappointed. See Milton's sonnet, as quoted in the Introduction.

62. Read inne, the adverbial form; for the sake of the grammar and scansion. See Inne in the Gloss. in vol. vi. p. 135. been gives a false rime to gren-e and sen-e; shewing that grene and sene are here monosyllabic (really green and seen), instead of being dissyllabic, as in Chaucer. Sene is the adj., meaning visible, not the pp., which then took the form seyn.

70. For began, which is singular, substitute the pl. form begonne. to don hir houres, to sing their matins, &c.; referring to the canonical hours of church-service. Bell has the reading to don honoures, for which there is no early authority. Morris unluckily adopts the meaningless reading found in MSS. F. and B.

71. 'They knew that service all by rote,' i.e. by heart. Bell actually explains rote as a hurdy-gurdy; as to which see Rote (in senses 2 and 3) in the Gloss. in vol. vi. p. 218.

80. Feverere seems to have been pronounced Fev'rer'. Surely it must be right. Yet all the MSS. (except T.) actually have Marche (written Mars in Ff.), followed by upon, not on. Even Th. and T. have upon, not on; but it ruins the scansion, unless we adopt the reading March. It looks as if the author really did write Marche!

82, 85. ron, mon, for ran, man, are peculiar. As such forms occur in Myrc and Audelay (both Shropshire authors) and in Robert of Gloucester, they are perfectly consistent with the supposition that they are due to Clanvowe's connection with Herefordshire.

90. As brid is a monosyllable (cf. ll. 212, 260, 270, 271), it is necessary to make lew-ed-e a trisyllable; as also in l. 103. But it becomes lew'de in ll. 50, 94. Chaucer has lew-ëd, P. F. 616, &c.

105. him; the cuckoo is male, but the nightingale, by way of contrast, is supposed to be female.

118. playn, simple, having simple notes; cf. 'the plain-song cuckoo,' Mids. Nt. Dr. iii. 1. 134.

124. I seems to be strongly accented. It is a pity that there is no authority for inserting For before it. Otherwise, read I hav-ë.

In Old French, oci oci, represented the cry of the nightingale; Godefroy gives examples from Raoul de Houdenc, Froissart, and Deschamps. Moreover, oci was also the imperative of the O.F. verb ocire, to kill; with which it is here intentionally confused. Accordingly, the nightingale retorts that oci means 'kill! kill!' with reference to the enemies of love.

135. grede, exclaim, cry out. Not used by Chaucer, though found in most dialects of Middle-English. Clanvowe may have heard it in Herefordshire, as it occurs in Langland, Layamon, Robert of [528]Gloucester, and in the Coventry Mysteries, and must have been known in the west. But it was once a very common word. From A.S. grǣdan.

142. unthryve, become unsuccessful, meet with ill luck. A very rare word; but it also occurs in the Cursor Mundi (Fairfax MS.), l. 9450, where it is said of Adam that 'his wyf made him to unthryve.'

146. The first syllable of the line is deficient. Accent What strongly. Cf. 153-8 below.

151. The sentiment that love teaches all goodness, is common at this time; see Schick's note to Lydgate's Temple of Glas, l. 450.

153-8. Here the author produces a considerable metrical effect, by beginning all of these lines with a strong accent. There are three such consecutive lines in the Wyf of Bathes Tale, D 869-71. Cf. ll. 161, 232, 242, 252, 261, 265, 268, 270, 278.

180. Bell and Morris read haire, without authority, and Bell explains it by 'he may full soon have the hair (!) which belongs to age, scil., grey hair, said to be produced by anxiety.' But the M.E. form of 'hair' is heer, which will not give a true rime; and the word heyr represents the mod. E. heir. As the h was not sounded, it is also written eir (as in MS. T.) and air (as in MS. S.). The sense is—'For he who gets a little bliss of love may very soon find that his heir has come of age, unless he is always devoted to it.' This is a mild joke, signifying that he will soon find himself insecure, like one whose heir or successor has come of age, and whose inheritance is threatened. On the other hand, 'to have one's hair of age' is wholly without sense. Compare the next note.

185. 'And then you shall be called as I am.' I. e. your loved one will forsake you, and you will be called a cuckold. This remark is founded on the fact that the O.F. coucou or cocu had the double sense of cuckoo and cuckold. See cocu in Littré. This explains l. 186.

203. This reading (from the best MS., viz. Ff.) is much the best. The sense is—'And whom he hits he knows not, or whom he misses'; because he is blind.

216-25. All the early printed editions crush these two stanzas into one, by omitting ll. 217-9, and 224-5, and altering thoughte me (l. 223) to me aloon. This is much inferior to the text.

237. leve, believe; yet all the authorities but S. have the reading loue! Cf. l. 238.

266. Ye witen is the right reading; turned into ye knowe in F. and B. The old printed editions actually read The cuckowe!

267. A syllable seems lacking after I; such lines are common in [529]Lydgate. The reading y-chid would render the line complete; or we may read hav-ë, as perhaps in l. 124.

275. An obvious allusion to Chaucer's Parlement of Foules, in which he gives 'the royal egle' the first place (l. 330).

284. The quene; queen Joan of Navarre, second wife of Henry IV, who received the manor of Woodstock as part of her dower.

285. lay, lea; not a common word in M.E. poetry, though occurring in P. Plowman. The parliament of birds required a large open space.

1. lewde book, unlearned book. It is not known to what book this refers. It has nothing to do with the preceding poem. My guess, in vol. i. p. 40, that this piece might be Hoccleve's, is quite untenable. His pieces are all known, and the metrical form is of later date. See the next note.

11. Too long; perhaps servant should be struck out. So in l. 13 we could spare the word als. But ll. 17, 18, 19, 20, are all of an unconscionable length.

22-7. I believe I was the first to detect the obvious acrostic on the name of Alison; see vol. i. p. 40. The sense of ll. 25-6 (which are forced and poor) is—'I beseech (you) of your grace, let your writing (in reply) alleviate the sighs which I pour out in silence.'

I give numerous references below to 'A. L.', i.e. the Assembly of Ladies, printed at p. 380. The two poems have much in common.

3. Bole, Bull, Taurus. The sun then entered Taurus about the middle of April; hence the allusion to April showers in l. 4. Compare the opening lines of Chaucer's Prologue. But we learn, from l. 437, that it was already May. Hence the sun had really run half its course in Taurus. certeinly; used at the end of the line, as in A. L. 85.

10. very good; this adverbial use of very is noticeable; cf. ll. 35, 315, 409, and A. L. 479. I believe Chaucer never uses very to qualify an adjective. It occurs, however, in Lydgate.

27-8. This rime of passe with was occurs again below (114-6); and in A. L. 436-8.

30. Chaucer has hew-ë, new-ë; but here hew, new rime with the pt. t. grew. So, in A. L. 65-8, hew, new rime with the pt. t. knew. [530]

35. 'The young leaves of the oak, when they first burst from the bud, are of a red, cinereous colour'; Bell.

37. Cf. 'this proces for to here'; A. L. 27. And again, 'pitous for to here; A. L. 718.

39-42. This seems to be a direct allusion to the Cuckoo and the Nightingale, ll. 52-4:—

47. parde; a petty oath (being in French), such as a female writer might use; so in A. L. 753.

49, 50. For the herber and benches, see A. L. 48-9; also L. G. W. 203-4. For the phrase wel y-wrought, see A. L. 165.

53. Bell and Morris read wool, which is obviously right; but neither of them mention the fact that both Speght's editions have wel; and there is no other authority! Clearly, Speght's MS. had wol, which he misread as wel.

56. eglantere, eglantine, sweet-briar. Entered under eglatere in the New E. Dict., though the earlier quotations, in 1387 and 1459, have eglentere. I find no authority for the form eglatere except Speght's misprint in this line, which he corrects in l. 80 below. Tennyson's eglatere (Dirge, 23) is clearly borrowed from this very line.

75. Here espyed rimes with syde, wyde; in A. L. 193, it rimes with asyde and gyde.

89. The goldfinch is afterwards opposed to the nightingale. Hence he replaces the cuckoo in the poem of the Cuckoo and Nightingale. Just as the Cuckoo and Nightingale represent the faithless and the constant, so the goldfinch and the nightingale are attached, respectively, to the bright Flower and the long-lasting Leaf. This is explicitly said below; see ll. 439, 444. [531]

98. in this wyse; appears also at the end of a line in A. L. 589; cf. in her gyse, A. L. 603; in ful pitous wyse, A. L. 584; in no maner wyse, A. L. 605.

121. 'Withouten sleep, withouten mete or drinke'; L. G. W. 177 (note the context).

134. Here begins the description of the adherents of the Leaf, extending to l. 322, including the Nine Worthies, ll. 239-94. The reader must carefully bear in mind that the followers of the Leaf are clad in white (not in green, as we should now expect), though the nine Worthies are crowned with green laurel, and all the company gather under a huge Laurel-tree (l. 304). On the other hand the followers of the Flower, shortly described in ll. 323-50, are clad in green, though wearing chaplets of white and red flowers; for green was formerly an emblem of inconstancy.

144. oon and oon, every one of them. This phrase is rare in Chaucer; it seems only to occur once, in C. T., A 679; but see A. L. 368, 543, 710.

146. purfil occurs in A. L. 87, in the same line with by and by; and in A. L. 522-4, we find colour, sleves, and purfyl close together.

148. Cf. 'With grete perles, ful fyne and orient'; A. L. 528. For diamonds, see A. L. 530.

150. Borrowed from Chaucer, Parl. Foules, 287: 'of whiche the name I wante.' Hence wante, i.e. lack, is the right reading. The rime is imperfect.

155. The missing word is not branches, as suggested by Sir H. Nicolas, nor floures, as suggested by Morris, but leves; as the company of the Leaf is being described; cf. l. 259. The epithets fresh and grene are very suitable. The leaves were of laurel, woodbine, and agnus-castus.

160. For were read ware; see ll. 267, 329, 335, 340; the sense is wore. Chaucer's form is wered, as the verb was originally weak; Gower and Lydgate also use the form wered. The present is perhaps one of the earliest examples of the strong form of this preterite.

agnus-castus; 'from Gk. ἄγνος, the name of the tree, confused with ἀγνός, chaste, whence the second word Lat. castus, chaste. A tree, species of Vitex (V. Agnus Castus), once believed to be a preservative of chastity, called also Chaste-tree and Abraham's Balm'; New E. Dict. The same Dict. quotes from Trevisa: 'The herbe agnus-castus is alwaye grene, and the flowre therof is namly callyd Agnus Castus, for wyth smelle and vse it makyth men chaste as a lombe.'

164. oon, one. She was the goddess Diana (see l. 472), or the Lady of the Leaf.

177-8. Speght has Suse le foyle de vert moy in l. 177, and Seen et mon joly cuer en dormy in l. 178. I see little good in guessing what it ought to be; so I leave it alone, merely correcting Suse and foyle to Sus and foyl; as the O.F. foil was masculine.

Bell alters de vert to devers, and for Seen puts Son; and supplies est after cuer; but it all gives no sense when it is done. We should have to read Sus le foyl devers moy sied, et mon joli cuer est endormi; sit down upon the foliage before me, and my merry heart has gone to sleep. Which can hardly be right. The Assembly of Ladies has the same peculiarity, of presenting unintelligible scraps of French to the bewildered reader.

180. smal, high, treble; chiefly valuable for explaining the same word in Chaucer's Balade to Rosemounde.

202. Speght has Pretir, an obvious error for Prester. The authoress may easily have obtained her knowledge of Prester John from a MS. of Mandeville's Travels; see cap. 27 of that work. And see Yule's edition of Marco Polo. He was, according to Mandeville, one of the greatest potentates of Asia, next to the Great Khan.

209. cereal; borrowed from Chaucer:—'A coroune of a grene ook cerial'; C. T., A 2290. And Chaucer took it from Boccaccio; see note in vol. v. p. 87.

212. tartarium, thin silk from Tartary. Fully explained in my note to P. Plowman, C. xvii. 299 (B. xv. 163), and in the Glossary to the same. bete, lit. beaten; hence, adorned with beaten gold; see note to C. T., A 978 (vol. v. p. 64). were, (all of which) were; hence the plural.

220. kinges of armes, kings-at-arms; who presided over colleges of heralds. Sir David Lyndsay was Lord Lion king-at-arms.

234. 'And certainly, they had nothing to learn as to how they should place the armour upon them.'

252. henshmen, youths mounted on horseback, who attended their lords. See numerous quotations for this word in A Student's Pastime, §§ 264, 272, 415-8. Each of them is called a child, l. 259.

253. For every on, it is absolutely necessary to read the first upon; [533]for the sense. Each of the nine worthies had three henchmen; of these three, the first bore his helmet, the second his shield, and the third his spear.

257. Bell and Morris alter nekke to bakke; but wrongly. The shields were carried by help of a strap which passed round the neck and over the shoulders; called in Old French a guige. The convenience of this arrangement is obvious. See note to C. T., A 2504 (vol. v. p. 88).

272. In Lydgate's Temple of Glas, 508, we are told that hawthorn-leaves do not fade; see ll. 551-3 below.

286-7. 'That to beholde it was a greet plesaunce'; A. L. 59. And again—'I you ensure'; A. L. 52.

293. The reading ninth (as in Speght) is an absurd error for nine; yet no one has hitherto corrected it. How could the ninth man alight from their horses? The 'remnant' were the twenty-seven henchmen and the other knights.

323. Here begins the description of the company of the Flower. They were clad in green.

348. bargaret, a pastoral; a rustic song and dance; O.F. bergerete, from berger, a shepherd. Godefroy notes that they were in special vogue at Easter.

350. We have here the refrain of a popular French pastoral. Warton suggests it may have been Froissart's; but the refrain of Froissart's Ballade de la Marguerite happens to be different: 'Sur toutes flours j'aime la margherite'; see Spec. of O. French, ed. Toynbee, p. 302. In fact, Warton proceeds to remark, that 'it was common in France to give the title of Marguerites to studied panegyrics and flowery compositions of every kind.' It is quite impossible to say if a special compliment is intended; most likely, the authoress thought of nothing of the kind. She again mentions margarettes in A. L. 57.

351. in-fere, together; very common at the end of a line, as in ll. 384, 450; A. L. 407, 469, 546, 602, 719.

369. withouten fail; this tag recurs in A. L. 567, 646, in the form withouten any fail; and, unaltered, in A. L. 188, 537.

403. Bell thinks this corrupt. I think it means, that, before engaging with them in jousts in a friendly manner, they procured some logs of wood and thoroughly dried them. Hence To make hir justës = in order to joust with them afterwards.

417. for any thing, in any case, whatever might happen; cf. C. T., A 276, and the note (vol. v. p. 30).

457. The meeting with a 'fair lady' was convenient, as she wanted information. In the Assembly of Ladies, this simple device is resorted to repeatedly; see ll. 79, 191, 260, 400.

462, 467. My doughter; this assumes that the author was a female; so in ll. 500, 547; and in A. L. throughout.

512. Speght prints bowes for boughes; but the meaning is certain, as the reference is to ll. 270-1. Bows are not made of laurel; yet Dryden fell into the trap, and actually wrote as follows:—

This is probably the only instance, even in poetry, of knights being armed with bows and arrows.

516. Douseperes; les douze pers, the twelve peers of Charlemagne, including Roland, Oliver, Ogier the Dane, Otuel, Ferumbras, the traitor Ganelon, and others. The names vary.

520. in hir tyme, formerly, in their day; shewing that the institution of the Knights of the Garter on April 23, 1349, by Edward III, was anything but a recent event.

530. I. e. 'Witness him of Rome, who was the founder of knighthood.' Alluding to Julius Cæsar, to whom was decreed by the senate the right of wearing a laurel-crown; Dryden mentions him by name.

580. Male-Bouche, Slander; borrowed from the Rom. de la Rose. See note above, to VIII. 260.

589. Cf. 'to put it in wryting'; A. L. 664; 'she put it in wryting'; A. L. 629.

592. 'How darest thou thrust thyself among the throng?' i.e. enter into contest. Cf. 'In suych materys to putte mysylff in prees'; Lydgate, Secrees of Philosophers, ed. Steele, l. 555. [535]

Though apparently written by the authoress of the Flower and the Leaf, it is of later date, and much less use is made of the final e. That the author was a woman, is asserted in ll. 7, 18, 259, 284, 370, 379-85, 407, 450, 625.

17. the mase. They amused themselves by trying to find a way into a maze, similar to that at Hampton Court. Cf. l. 32.

29. Ll. 1-28 are introductory. The story of the dream now begins, but is likewise preceded by an introduction, down to l. 77.

34. The word went is repeated; the second time, it is an error for wend, weened. 'Some went (really) inwards, and imagined that they had gone outwards.' Which shews that the maze was well constructed. So, in l. 36, those who thought they were far behind, found themselves as far forward as the best of them.

42. That is, they cheated the deviser of the maze, by stepping over the rail put to strengthen the hedge. That was because they lost their temper.

44. The authoress got ahead of the rest; although sorely tired, she had gained a great advantage, and found the last narrow passage which led straight to the arbour in the centre. This was provided with benches (doubtless of turf, Flower and Leaf, l. 51) and well enclosed, having stone walls and a paved floor with a fountain in the middle of it.

54. There were stairs leading downwards, with a 'turning-wheel.' I do not think that turning-wheel here means a turn-stile, or what was formerly called a turn-pike. It simply means that the stair-case was of spiral form. Jamieson tells us that, in Lowland Scotch, the term turn-pike was applied (1) to the winding stair of a castle, and (2) to any set of stairs of spiral form; and quotes from Arnot to shew that a spiral stair-case was called a turnpike stair, whereas a straight one was called a scale stair. The pot of marjoram may have been placed on a support rising from the newel.

It may be noted that arbours, which varied greatly in size and construction, were often set upon a small 'mount' or mound; in which case it would be easy to make a small spiral stair-case in the centre. In the present case, it could hardly have been very large, as it occupied a space in the centre of a maze. For further illustration, see A History of Gardening in England, by the Hon. Alicia Amherst, pp. 33, 52, 78, 116, 118, 314.

60. 'And how they (the daisies) were accompanied with other flowers besides, viz. forget-me-nots and remember-mes; and the poor pansies were not ousted from the place.'

61. Ne-m'oublie-mies; from O.F. ne m'oublie-mie, a forget-me-not. Littré, s.v. ne m'oubliez pas, quotes, from Charles d'Orléans, 'Des [536]fleurs de ne m'oubliez mie'; and again, from a later source, 'Un diamant taillé en fleur de ne m'oblie mie.' The recovery of this true reading (by the help of MS. A.) is very interesting; as all the editions, who follow Thynne, are hopelessly wrong. Thynne, misreading the word, printed Ne momblysnesse; whence arose the following extraordinary entry in Bailey's Dictionary:—'Momblishness, talk, muttering; Old Word.' This ghost-word is carefully preserved in the Century Dictionary in the form:—'Momblishness, muttering talk; Bailey (1731).'

sovenez doubtless corresponds to the name remember-me, given in Yorkshire and Scotland to the Veronica chamædrys, more commonly called the germander speedwell, and in some counties forget-me-not. But we should rather, in this passage, take forget-me-not (above) to refer, as is most usual, to the Myosotis; as Littré also explains it. Here Thynne was once more at a loss, and printed the word as souenesse, which was 'improved' by Stowe into sonenesse. Hence another ghost-word, recorded by Bailey in the entry:—'Sonenesse, noise.' Cf. l. 86.

62. pensees, pansies; alluding, of course, to the Viola tricolor. The spelling is correct, as it represents the O.F. pensee, thought; and it seems to have been named, as Littré remarks, in a similar way to the forget-me-not, and (I may add) to the remember-me.

73. The authoress had to wait till the other ladies also arrived in the centre of the maze. Cf. note to l. 736.

83. blewe, blue; which was the colour of constancy; see note to C. T., F 644 (vol. v. p. 386). For the lady's name was Perseverance. It is convenient to enumerate here the officers who are mentioned. They are: Perseveraunce, usher (91); Diligence (133, 198, 728); Countenance, porter (177, 277, 295); Discretion, purveyour (263); Acquaintance, herbergeour (269); Largesse, steward (318); Belchere, marshall (322); Remembrance, chamberlain (336); Avyseness, or Advisedness, secretary (343); and Attemperance, chancellor (508). The chief Lady is Loyalty (98), dwelling in the mansion of Pleasant Regard (170).

87. Here word means 'motto.' I here collect the French mottoes mentioned, viz. Bien et loyalement (88); Tant que je puis (208); A moi que je voy (308); Plus ne purroy (364); A endurer (489). Afterwards, four ladies are introduced, with the mottoes Sans que jamais (583); Une sanz chaungier (590); Oncques puis lever (598); and Entierment vostre (616). These ladies afterwards present petitions, on which were written, respectively, the phrases Cest sanz dire (627); En dieu est (645); Soyez en sure (666); and Bien moneste (675). The words, or mottoes, were embroidered on the sleeves of the ladies (119). See Lydgate's Temple of Glas, 308-10.

224. They said a pater-noster for the benefit of St. Julian, because [537]he was the patron-saint of wayfarers. 'Of this saynt Julyen somme saye that this is he that pylgryms and wey-faryng men calle and requyre for good herberowe, by-cause our lord was lodgyd in his hows'; Caxton's Golden Legend. The story occurs in the Gesta Romanorum, c. xviii., and in the Aurea Legenda. The following extract from an old translation of Boccaccio, Decam. Day 2. Nov. 2, explains the point of the allusion. 'Nevertheless, at all times, when I am thus in journey, in the morning before I depart my chamber, I say a pater-noster and an Ave-Maria for the souls of the father and mother of St. Julian; and after that, I pray God and St. Julian to send me a good lodging at night'; &c. Dunlop, in his Hist. of Fiction, discussing this Novella, says: 'This saint was originally a knight, and, as was prophecied to him by a stag, he had the singular hap to kill his father and mother by mistake. As an atonement for his carelessness, he afterwards founded a sumptuous hospital for the accommodation of travellers, who, in return for their entertainment, were required to repeat pater-nosters for the souls of his unfortunate parents.'

241. Because she was to change her dress, and put on blue; see ll. 258-9, 313-4, 413.

457. The reference is to the Legend of Good Women, which contains the story of Phyllis, Thisbe, and 'Cleopataras.' Cf. l. 465.

463. Hawes, probably the same name as Havise, which occurs in the old story of Fulke Fitzwarine. But it is remarkable that MS. A. has the reading:—'That other sydë was, how Enclusene'; and this looks like an error for Melusene, variant of Melusine. This would agree with the next line, which means 'was untruly deceived in her bath.' The story of Melusine is given in the Romance of Partenay. She was a fairy who married Raymound, son of the Earl of Forest, on the understanding that he was never to watch what she did on a Saturday. This he at last attempts to do, and discovers, through a hole in the door, that she was in a bath, and that her lower half was changed into a serpent. He tries to keep the knowledge of the secret, but one day, in a fit of anger, calls her a serpent. She reproaches him, and vanishes from his sight. See the Romans of Partenay, ed. Skeat (E.E.T.S.).

465. From Chaucer's poem of Anelida and the false Arcite; vol. i. p. 365; for her Complaint, see the same, p. 373.

471. umple (MS. T. vmpylle), smooth gauze; from O.F. omple, smooth, used as an epithet of cloth, satin, or other stuff (Godefroy). Here evidently applied to something of a very thin texture, as gauze; see l. 473.

477. stages, steps. The chair or throne was set on a platform accessible by five steps, which were made of cassidony. Cotgrave explains O.F. cassidonie as meaning not only chalcedony, but also a kind of marble; and this latter sense may be here intended.

488. Her word, her motto; her must refer to the great lady (l. 501) to whom the throne belonged. [538]

499. tapet, a hanging cloth (Halliwell); here a portion of the hangings that could be lifted up, to give entrance.

526. After a sort, of one kind, alike. vent, slit in front of a gown. 'Vente, the opening at the neck of the tunic or gown, as worn by both sexes during the Norman period, and which was closed by a brooch'; Gloss. to Fairholt's Costume in England. O.F. fente, a slit, cleft; from Lat. findere. The collar and slit were alike bordered with ermine, covered with large pearls, and sprinkled with diamonds. Cf. also: 'Wyth armynes powdred bordred at the vent'; Hawes, Pastime of Pleasure, ed. Wright, p. 80.

536. balays, a balas-ruby; 'a delicate rose-red variety of the spinel ruby'; New. E. Dict. of entail, lit. 'of cutting,' i.e. carefully cut; the usual phrase; see New E. Dict.

539. a world, worth a world; cf. a world (great quantity) of ladies; Flower and the Leaf, 137.

576-8. Alluding to the proverb: 'first come, first served'; cf. C. T., D 389, and the note (vol. v. p. 301).

581. We find that the 'bills' are petitions made by the four ladies regarding their ill success in love-affairs.

592. I. e. yet not so much as she ought to have been, as she had all the trouble; she refers to the lady herself.

598. Oncques, ever; Lat. unquam. 'I can ever rise' seems at first sight to be meant; but ne must be understood; the true sense is, 'I can never rise'; i.e. never succeed. See the context, ll. 605-9.

680. Here, and in l. 689, the speaker is the lady of the castle. In l. 682 (as in l. 690), the speaker appears to be the fourth lady; it is none too clear.

689. I hate you, I command you. Hate should rather be written hote; perhaps it was confused with the related pt. t. hatte, was called. The reference to Saint James of Compostella is noteworthy.

697-8. And, if. ye wolde, i.e. ye wolde seme, (see l. 696), ye would think so. Seem is still common in Devonshire in the sense of think or suppose; usually pronounced zim.

699. her refers to the lady of the castle; at least, it would appear so from l. 705. Else, it refers to Fortune.

736. the water, water thrown in her face by one of her companions, who had by this time entered the arbour.

1. Moder of norture, model of good breeding. The poem is evidently addressed to a lady named Margaret.

15. Mieulx un, one (is) better; evidently cited from a motto or device. The meaning seems to be: it is better to have but one lover, and you have found one in a heart that will never shrink. In the Temple of Glas, 310, Lydgate uses the motto de mieulx en mieulx.

22-3. 'Daisy (born) of light; you are called the daughter of the sun.' Alluding to the name day's eye, which was also applied by Lydgate to the sun; see note in vol. iii. p. 291 (l. 43). Imitated from Legend of Good Women, 60-4.

29. 'When the day dawns, (repairing) to its natural place (in the east), then your father Phœbus adorns the morrow.'

34. 'Were it not for the comfort in the day-time, when (the sun's) clear eyes make the daisy unclose.' Awkward and involved; cf. Legend of Good Women, 48-50, 64-5.

48-9. god saith; implying that it is in the Bible. I do not find the words; cf. Prov. xxi. 3; 1 Pet. ii. 20.

50. Cautels, artifices, deceits; a word not used by Chaucer, but found in Lydgate; see New E. Dict.

57. Quaketh my penne, my pen quakes; an expression used once by Chaucer, Troil. iv. 13, but pounced upon by Lydgate, who employs it repeatedly. See more than twenty examples in Schick's note to the Temple of Glas, 947. Cf. IX. 229.

59. Read roseth, grows rosy, grows red, as opposed to welkeneth, withers, fades. We find the pp. rosed twice in Shakespeare; 'a maid yet rosed over,' Henry V, v. 2. 423; and 'thy rosed lips'; Titus And. ii. 4. 24. The emendation seems a safe one, for it restores the sense as well as the rime.

welkeneth should probably be welketh; I find no other example of the verb welkenen, though welwen occurs in a like sense; and welketh suits the rhythm.

60. eft, once again hot. These sudden transitions from cold to heat are common; see Temple of Glas, 356:—'For thoughe I brenne with feruence and with hete.'

64. Lydgate is always deploring his lack of eloquence; cf. notes to Temple of Glas, ed. Schick, ll. 1393, 1400.

69. I can find no such word as jouesse, so I alter it to jonesse, i.e. youth. For the spelling jonesce in the 14th century, see Littré, s.v. [540]jeunesse. The expression have more yet implies that the phrase or motto je serve jonesse is added as a postscript, and that there was some special point in it; but the application of it is now lost to us. Cf. 'Princes of youthe, and flour of gentilesse,' Temple of Glas, 970.

This poem really consists of twelve precepts, intended to redress twelve abuses. The twelve abuses are given by the Latin lines above, which should be compared throughout. The whole poem is thus easily understood.

The accent is on the first syllable of the line in most of the lines. In l. 3, the word Lord stands alone in the first foot. The lines are somewhat unsteady, quite in Lydgate's usual manner. In l. 6, jug-e is probably dissyllabic. See further in the Introduction.

This late piece abounds with imitations of Lydgate, especially of his Temple of Glas; many of the resemblances are pointed out in Schick's edition of that poem, which I refer to by the contraction 'T. G.'

'Another feature characteristic of Lydgate is his self-deprec[i]atory vein'; T. G., Introd. p. cxl. We have here an instance of an imitation of it.

8. He refers to Cicero's flowers of rhetoric. He may have found the name in Chaucer, P. F. 31. But he probably took the whole idea from a line of Lydgate's:—'Of rethoriques Tullius fond the floures': Minor Poems, p. 87.

11. Galfrid, Geoffrey de Vinsauf; his 'craft' refers to his treatise on the art of poetry, entitled 'Nova Poetria'; see note to C. T., B 4537 (vol. v. p. 257). [I once thought (see vol. i. p. 43) that Galfrid here means Chaucer himself, as he also is twice called Galfrid in Lydgate's Troy-book. But I find that Dr. Schick thinks otherwise, and the use of the word craft is on his side. At the same time, this renders it impossible for Chaucer to have written 'The Court of Love'; his opinion of his namesake was the reverse of reverential.] With ll. 4-11 compare the opening lines of Benedict Burgh's Poem in Praise of Lydgate, pr. at p. xxxi of Steele's edition of Lydgate's Secrees of Philosophers.

19. Calliope; twice mentioned by Chaucer; also by Lydgate, T. G. 1303. Lydgate's Troy-book opens with an invocation to Mars, followed by one to Calliope:—'Helpe me also, o thou Callyope'; and only [541]four lines above there is a mention of 'Helicon the welle' (see l. 22 below).

22. Elicon, mount Helicon in Bœotia, sacred to Apollo and the Muses; confused by Chaucer and his followers with the fountain Hippocrene; see note in vol. i. p. 531. Hence Lydgate's expression 'Helicon the welle' in the last note and in T. G. 706, and the reference in the text to its dropes.

suger-dropes; Lydgate was fond of sugar; he has 'soote sugred armonye,' Minor Poems, p. 182; and 'sugrid melody,' ib., p. 11. Also 'sugred eloquence'; XII. 200 (p. 288); with which cf. l. 933 below. I have observed several other examples.

28. Cf. 'This simpil tretis for to take in gre'; T. G. 1387. 'Taketh at gre the rudness of my style'; Lydgate, Secrees of Philosophers, 21.

30. metriciens, skilful in metre, poets; a word which has a remarkably late air about it. Richardson gives an example of it from Hall's Chronicle.

40. man, servant, one who does her homage; cf. Chaucer, C. T., I 772; La Belle Dame, 244; T. G. 742.

49, 50. Here the mountain of Cithæron, in Bœotia, is confused with the island of Cythera, sacred to Venus, whence her name Cytherea was derived. The mistake arose, of course, from the similarity of the names, and occurs (as said in vol. v. p. 78, note to A 1936), in the Roman de la Rose, where we find:—

Hence Chaucer makes the same confusion, but in a different way. Chaucer preserves the right name of the mountain, in the form Citheroun, which he rimes with mencioun (A 1936) and with Adoun (A 2223); but here we have the form Citharee, riming with see. For all this, the scribe corrects it to Citheron in l. 69, where he has no rime to deal with.

58. The MS. has costes that it drewe; Bell alters this to had to it drew, under the impression that drew is the pp. of draw! So again, in l. 78, he alters saphir ind, which is correct, to saphir of Inde; and [542]in general, alters the text at will without the least hint that he has done so.

80. Baleis Turkeis (MS. Bales turkes). Baleis is a better spelling, answering to F. balais in Littré. It also occurs as balai in O.F.; and the word was probably suggested by the mention of it in Rom. de la Rose, 20125:—'Que saphirs, rubis, ne balai.' Hence also the mention of it in the King's Quhair, st. 46, which see; and in the Assembly of Ladies, 536. Turkeis is the A. F. equivalent of O.F. Turkois, i.e. Turkish, as in C. T., A 2895, on which see the note (vol. v. p. 93).

81. shene, a misspelling of shine, intimating that the author has confused the adj. shene with the verb; or rather, that the poem was written at a time when the word shine could be used as riming to been; since we find similar examples in lines 561, 768. So also we find pretily riming with be in The Flower and the Leaf, 89. The pt. t. shoon occurs in l. 83.

82. Cf. 'As doon the sterres in the frosty night'; C. T., A 268. And again: 'bryght As sterrys in the wyntyr nyght'; Lydgate, Compleint following T. G., l. 548.

86. Cf. Compl. of Mars, 78-84, 104-5; C. T., A 2388 (and note); and T. G. 126-8.

92. Cf. Troil. iii. 8-21: 'In hevene and helle,' &c.; from Boccaccio; see note (vol. ii. p. 475).

105. Alceste; evidently borrowed from Ch., Legend of Good Women, 224, 293-9, 432; cf. T. G. 70-4. The quenes flour Alceste = the flower of queen Alcestis; a common idiom; see note to C. T., F 209 (vol. v. p. 376).

108. ninetene; copied from the Legend of Good Women, 283; just as the next line is from the same, 285-9. This is the more remarkable, because Chaucer never finished the poem, but mentions ten ladies only, in nine Legends. Cf. 'the book of the nynetene Ladies'; C. T., I 1086. Hawes also refers to Chaucer's 'tragidyes ... of the xix. ladyes'; Pastime of Pleasure, ed. Wright, p. 53.

120. saintes, saints, martyrs for love; cf. V. 316, above (p. 227), and the note. Cf. T. G. 414.

129. 'The king had Danger standing near him, and the queen had Disdain, who were chief of the council, to treat of affairs of state'; Bell.

138. Cf. T. G. 271, and the note, shewing how common gold hair is in Lydgate. [543]

148. In mewet, in an inaudible voice, to myself; like mod. F. à la muette (Littré).

167. non erst; false grammar for non er, no sooner; 'no soonest' is nonsense. We find, however, the phrases not erst and never erst elsewhere; see New E. Dict., s.v. Erst, § B. 4.

170. This is the earliest quotation given in the New E. Dict., s.v. Assummon; and the next is from the poet Daniel.

177. Chaucer has the compound for-pampred; Former Age, 5. I read jolif, joyful, to make sense; the MS. has the absurd word ioylof (sic); and Stowe has ialous, jealous, which is quite out of place here.

181. 'An allusion to the monkish story of the man who brought up a youth ignorant of women, and who, when he first saw them, told him they were geese. The story is in the Promptuarium Exemplorum. It was adopted by Boccaccio, from whom it was taken by Lafontaine, liv. iii. conte 1. See Latin Stories, edited by Mr. Ṭ Wright.'—Bell.

207. how, however. Cf. 'that boghten love so dere'; Legend of Good Women, 258.

229. See the Book of the Duchess, 323-34, where the painted glass windows contain subjects from the Romance of the Rose and others. The story of Dido is common enough; but the reference to Chaucer's Anelida and the false Arcite, is remarkable, especially as it occurs also in XXI. 465 above (p. 395). 'The turtel trewe' is from the Parl. Foules, 577. See the parallel passage in T. G. 44-142, where Lydgate's first example is that of Dido, while at the same time he mentions Palamon, Emilie, and Canacee, all from Chaucer.

255. grene only gives an assonance with here, not a rime. Green was the colour of inconstancy, and was sometimes used for despyt, to use Chaucer's phrase; see note to C. T., F 644 (vol. v. p. 386). White may refer to the White Friars or Carmelites, and russet to the hermits; cf. P. Plowman, C. prol. 3, C. xi. 1.

270. an ho, a proclamation commanding silence; see C. T., 2533. Quite distinct from hue (and cry), with which Bell confuses it. A hue and cry was only raised against fleeing criminals.

280. Clearly suggested by the God of Love's stern question in the Legend of Good Women, 315:—'What dostow heer So nigh myn owne flour, so boldely?' At the same time the phrase fer y-stope in yeres is from Chaucer's somdel stape in age, C. T., B 4011, on which see the note (vol. v. p. 248). See the next note.

288. Similarly the God of Love pardoned Chaucer (L. G. W. 450), but upon a condition (ib. 548).

302. Here follow the twenty statutes; ll. 302-504. They are evidently expanded from the similar set of injunctions given by Venus to the Knight in The Temple of Glas, ll. 1152-213; as clearly shewn by Schick in his Introduction, p. cxxxi. The similarity extends to the first, second, third, fifth, sixth, seventh, ninth, tenth, twelfth, fourteenth and eighteenth statutes, which resemble passages found in the Temple of Glas, ll. 1152-213, or elsewhere in the same poem. It is also possible that the author, or Lydgate, or both of them, kept an eye upon Ovid's Art of Love. See also Rom. Rose (Eng. version), 2355-950, which is much to the point.

305. This is also the first injunction in T. G. 1152-3, and is immediately followed by the second, which enjoins secrecy. The reader should compare the passages for himself.

311. MS. synk and flete; which must of course be corrected to 'sink or flete,' as in Anelida, 182; C. T., A 2397.

319. The MS. has brynde, and Stowe has brinde; so I let the reading stand. Morris has blynde, and Bell blind; neither of them has a note as to the change made. Perhaps brind = brend = burnt, in the sense of 'inflamed by passion'; or it may be an error for brim = breme, furious, applied especially to the desire of the boar for the sow. The sense intended is clear enough; we should now write 'base.'

329. passe forby, to pass by, i.e. to get out of his way; cf. C. T., B 1759, C 668. an ese, a relief, a way of escape. There is no difficulty, but all the editions have altered it to passe, for thereby, which will not scan.

332. of a sight, of what one may see. squeymous (MS. squymouse, Stowe squmous), squeamish, particular; see note to C. T., A 3337 (vol. v. p. 102). It is added that when the lady, on her part, was cruel, it was the lover's duty to toss about in bed and weep; cf. T. G. 12:—'The longe nyght walowing to and fro.' 'To walwe and wepe'; Troil. i. 699. And see Rom. Rose (Eng. version), 2553-62.

338. Cf. 'Him to complein, that he walk [read welk = walked] so sole'; T. G. 552. And cf. Book Duch. 449; Black Knight, 143; Rom. Rose, 2391-6, 2517-9.

347. helden, false grammar for held. The metre shews that it was intentional.

360-4. Cf. T. G. 1012-25; especially 'And when I trespas, goodli me correcte'; and 'neuyr yow offende.' And Ovid, Art. Amat. lib. ii. 199-202.

379-81. In l. 381, the MS. has shon (shun) distinctly; yet Morris prints shoue, and Stowe showe, destroying the sense. All have knowe in l. 379, but it should rather be con, which gives a perfect rime; for con represents A.S. cunnan, to know, and is frequently spelt cun; see Con in the New E. Dict. This statute refers to 'the comfort of Sweet-Looking'; see Rom. Rose, 2893-922; Gower, C. A., iii. 26-7.

397. 'Yeve hir giftes, and get hir grace'; Rom. Rose, 2699. 'Auro conciliatur amor'; Ovid, Art. Amat. lib. ii. 278.

412. 'And for no tales thin herte not remue'; T. G. 1182. Cf. C. T., A 3163-4; F 1483-5; and XII. 113-9 above (p. 289).

429. 'For love ne wol nat countrepleted be'; Legend of Good Women, 476. 'Quisquis erit cui favet illa, fave'; Ovid, Art. Amat. lib. i. 146.

475. 'Ai fressh and wel besein'; T. G. 1167. Cf. Rom. Rose, 2279-84. 'Munditiae placeant,' &c.; Ovid, Art. Amat. lib. i. 513.

484. 'Who loveth trewe hath no fatnesse'; Rom. Rose, 2686; 'Arguat et macies animum'; Ovid, Art. Amat. lib. i. 733.

491-504. Cf. Rom. Rose, 2419-39, 2817-20. In particular, ll. 496-7 seem to be actually copied from Rom. Rose, 2819-20: 'or of hir chere That to thee made thy lady dere.' This raises the suspicion that the Court of Love was written after 1532.

499. thou seen would be in Latin tu videatis; another example of false grammar.

526. kepten been (MS. bene); so in all the copies; but kepten is the pt. t. plural, as if we should say in Latin seruauerunt sunt. Unless, indeed, the -en is meant for the pp. suffix of a strong verb, as if we should make a Latin form seruatiti. The scansion shews that this false grammar came from the author.

536-7. Solomon and Samson; the usual stock examples. But probably in this case borrowed from Lydgate's Balade, XIV. 4 (p. 295), which is certainly quoted thrice again below.

542. This line is made up from Lydgate's Balade, XIV. 29-33, and 26; so again l. 544 resembles the same, l. 24. And Lydgate merely [546]versifies the medieval proverb: 'Fallere,' &c.; see note to XIV. 29; p. 516.

561-3. eke, lyke, a permissible rime, at a time when e had gained the mod. E. sound. See note to l. 81 above.

580. The reading blisful is certain; it is from T. G. 328:—'O blisful sterre, persant and ful of light.' The author uses persant below, in l. 849.

589. In T. G. 144, the lovers are only many a thousand; in the Kingis Quair, st. 78, they are 'mony a' million; here they are a thousand million. Such is evolution.

591. 'redresse is elegantly put for redresser';—Bell. Then let the credit of it be Lydgate's; cf. 'Redresse of sorow, O Citheria'; T. G. 701.

592. Bell prints yheried, which is obviously right; but he does not say that both the MS. and Stowe have I hired; see Troil. ii. 973, iii. 7, 1804.

593. loves bond; founded on Boethius, lib. ii. met. 8, but doubtless taken from Troil. iii. 1766; see note in vol. ii. p. 483.

611-3. Celsitude and pulcritude are words that savour of the revival of learning. Such words are common in Dunbar, who uses both of them. For celsitude, see Dunbar, ed. Small, p. 271, 76, and p. 325, 25; for pulcritude, see the same, p. 271, 74; p. 274, 2; p. 279, 5. He even rimes them together; p. 271. Hawes also uses pulchritude; Pastime of Pleasure, ed. Wright, pp. 5, 18.

628. Beseech, to beseech; note the anachronism in using the French infin. void-en with a suffix, and the Eng. beseech with none at all.

634. ure, destiny; from O.F. eur, Lat. augurium. A word that first appeared in Northern English; it occurs at least eight times in Barbour's Bruce. And in the Kingis Quair, st. 10, we have the whole phrase—'my fortúne and ure.' It is also used by Lydgate; see VIII. 151, 302, 482 (pp. 250, 254, 260). [547]

642. Here, for a wonder, is an example of the final e; the author took the whole phrase 'In thilk-ë place' from some previous author; cf. 'In thilke places' (sic); Rom. Rose, 660 (Thynne). sign, assign.

688. yove, gave; but in l. 690 the form is gave. I suspect that in l. 690, gave should be gan, and that image (for images) is to be taken as a genitive case; then the sense is—'And I began anon to ponder and weigh in my heart her image's fresh beauty.'

727. endry, suffer, endure; so again in l. 941. This ridiculous hybrid is rightly excluded from the New E. Dict., which gives, however, several similar formations. It was coined by prefixing the F. prefix en-, with an intensive force, to M.E. drien, variant of dreogen, to endure (A.S. drēogan), Lowl. Sc. dree. No other author uses it.

755. heth, heath. Here, and in l. 757, the author refers to two occasions when he was in great danger of falling in love; but he does not go into details.

768. Here we must read ee (eye) for the rime; in other cases it appears as eye, ye, y, riming with words in -y. This points to a somewhat late date; see note to l. 81 above. As for stremes, it is Lydgate's word for glances of the eye; see T. G. 263, 582. And Lydgate had it from Chaucer, who mostly uses it of sunbeams, but twice applies it to the beams from the eyes of Criseyde; Troil. i. 305, iii. 129.

782. flawe, generally explained as representing Lat. flauus, yellowish, or the O.F. flave, with the same sense. Her hair was gold, so her eyebrows may have been of a similar colour. I suspect that flawe was a Northern form; cf. braw, as a Northern variant of brave.

783. mene disseverance, a moderate distance; evidently meant with reference to Criseyde, whose one demerit was that her eye-brows joined each other; Troil. v. 813.

787. milk-whyt path, the galaxy, or milky way; but surely this is quite a unique application of it, viz. to the prominent ridge of Rosial's nose.

789. smaragde, emerald. The eyes of Beatrice are called smeraldi; Dante, Purg. xxxi. 116. Juliet's nurse said that an eagle's eye was not so green as that of Paris; Romeo, iii. 5. 222. Eyes in Chaucer are [548]usually 'as gray as glas'; the O.F. vair, an epithet for eyes, meant grayish-blue.

797. basse, kiss, buss; see Bass in the New E. Dict. ben is yet another instance of a false concord; read be, as basse is singular. See next note.

798. Cornelius Maximianus Gallus, a poet of the sixth century, wrote six elegies which have come down to us. The quotation referred to occurs in the first Elegy (ll. 97-8), which is also quoted by Chaucer; see note to C. T., C 727 (vol. v. p. 287). The lines are:—

821. Calixto, Callisto; called Calixte in Parl. Foules, 286. The story is in Ovid, Met. ii. 409, Alcmenia, Alcmene, mother of Hercules; see Ovid, Met. ix. 281; cf. Troil. iii. 1428; T. G. 123.

823. Europa, the story is in Ovid, Met. ii. 858. See Legend of Good Women, 113, and the note; T. G. 118.

824. Dane, Danae, mother of Perseus; see Ovid, Met. iv. 610. In Chaucer, C. T., A 2062, Dane means Daphne. Antiopa, mother of Amphion and Zethus; it may be noted that Jupiter's intrigues with Europa, Antiopa, Alcmene, and Danae, are all mentioned together in Ovid, Met. vi. 103-13. It follows that our author had read Ovid.

841. The word the was probably written like ye, giving, apparently, the reading ye ye; then one of these was dropped. The long passage in ll. 841-903 may be compared with the pleadings of the lover in La Belle Dame sans Merci (p. 307, above); with T. G. 970-1039; and with the Kingis Quair, st. 99. Note the expression 'of beaute rote,' T. G. 972; and 'Princes of youthe,' T. G. 970 (two lines above); see l. 843.

849. persant, piercing; common in Lydgate; T. G. 328, 756, 1341; Black Knight, 28, 358, 591, 613. Cf. 'And with the stremes of your percyng light'; Kingis Quair, 103.

865. 'To love him best ne shal I never repente'; The Compleynt of Venus, 56, 64, 72. See note to l. 875. [549]

872-3. Referring to Ch. Troilus, and Legend of Good Women, 580. 'To ben as trewe as was Antonyus To Cleopatre'; T. G. 778.

875. 'And therfore, certes, to myn ending-day'; The Compleynt of Venus, 55. See note to l. 865.

902. seen my wil, to see what I wish; but surely wil is an error for bill, petition; see l. 916. Then rede means 'read it.'

906. com of, be quick; see Troil. ii. 1738, 1742, 1750; and the numerous examples in Schick's note to T. G. 1272.

911. Stowe, like the MS., ends the line with why. Bell supplied makes thou straunge.

913. Cambrige; this form is not found till after 1400. Chaucer has Cant-e-brigg-e (C. T., A 3921) in four syllables, which appears as Cambrugge in the late Lansdowne MS., after 1420. See Skeat, A Student's Pastime, pp. 397-8.

922. and have, i.e. and have loved. On this construction, see Schick's note to T. G. 1275.

931-52. Compare the answers of the lady in La Belle Dame sans Merci (p. 309, &c.).

998. dwale, an opiate, a sleeping-draught; made from the dwale or 'deadly nightshade' (Atropa belladonna). It occurs once in Chaucer; C. T., A 4161. See my note to P. Plowman, C. xxiii. 379.

1000. y-wis afrayed, (being) certainly frightened. The use of y-wis in such a position is most unusual.

1016-7. 'Right as the fressh[e] rodi rose nwe Of hir coloure to wexin she bigan'; T. G. 1042-3.

1023. Something is lost here. There is no gap in the MS.; but there was probably one in the MS. from which it was copied. I think six stanzas are lost; see the Introduction.

1034. Dred is one of the personifications from the Roman de la Rose; see Rom. Rose, 3958; so in T. G. 631.

1042. 'Lay aside your confidence (courage), for all her white (flattering) words'; cf. Troil. iii. 901.

1049. The ton = thet on, the one; the toder = thet oder, the other. [550]Oder is a remarkable form; see Halliwell. So also brodur, in Le Bon Florence of Rome, ed. Ritson, 931.

1055. 'So I cast about to get rid of Despair's company'; hence taken, in l. 1056, is in the infin. mood.

1058. bay-window; cf. Assembly of Ladies, 163. The earliest known quotation for bay-window is dated 1428, in a prosaic document.

1060. 'As any ravenes fether it shoon for-blak'; spoken of hair; C. T., A 2144.

1083. were, wear; altered by Bell to ware, which is a form of the past tense.

1087. she seems to be spoken casually of some woman in the company; and prety man, in l. 1088, is used in a similar way.

goth on patens, walks in pattens. A very early example of the word paten. It occurs in Palsgrave (1530). fete, neat, smart; used by Lydgate; see Feat in the New E. Dict.

1095. Here the author comes back again to the Temple of Glas, 143-246, which see; and cf. The Kingis Quair, stanzas 79-93.

1150. prang, pang (MS. prange; and so in Stowe); altered to pang by Bell and Morris. 'Pronge, Erumpna' [aerumna]; Prompt. Parv. 'Throwe [throe], womannys pronge, Erumpna'; the same. 'Prange, oppression, or constraint'; Hexham's Dutch Dict. Cf. Gothic: 'in allamma ana-pragganai,' we were troubled on every side, 2 Cor. vii. 5; where gg is written for ng, as in Greek. The mod. E. pang seems to have been made out of it, perhaps by confusion with pank, to pant.

1160, 1164. 'And pitousli on god and kynde pleyne'; T. G. 224. But the context requires the reading god of kind, i.e. God of nature. In l. 1166, leften must be meant for a pp.; if so, it is erroneously formed, just like kepten above; see note to l. 526.

1173. werdes, Fates; obviously the right reading; yet the MS., Stowe, and Morris have wordes, and Bell alters the line. The confusion between e and o at this time is endless. See Werdes, Wierdes in the Gloss. to Chaucer.

1177. he, another of the company; cf. she in l. 1087. Both Morris and Bell alter the text. Bell reminds us that the character here [551]described is that of Shakespeare's Benedict. But it is obviously copied from Troilus! see Troil. i. 904-38.

1189. The word post is from Troil. i. 1000: 'That thou shalt be the beste post, I leve, Of al his lay.'

1198. Shamefastness, Bashfulness; borrowed from Honte in the Rom. de la Rose, 2821; called Shame in the E. version, 3034. Hence the reference to roses in l. 1203, though it comes in naturally enough.

1218. 'When Bashfulness is dead, Despair will be heir' (will succeed in her place). Too bold lovers would be dismissed.

1219. Avaunter, Boaster; as in Troil. iii. 308-14. The line sounds like an echo of 'Have at thee, Jason! now thyn horn is blowe!' Legend of Good Women, 1383.

1222. wowe, woo; evidently the right reading; so in Morris. Cf. The Letter of Cupid, V. 274-80 (p. 226).

1253. sojoure, sojourn, dwell, used quite wrongly; for O.F. sojur (originally sojorn) is a sb. only, like mod. F. séjour. The O.F. verb was sojorner, sojourner, whence M.E. sojornen, sojournen, correctly used by Chaucer. The sb. sojour occurs in Rom. Rose, 4282, 5150. The mistake is so bad that even the scribe has here written soiorne; but, unluckily, this destroys the rime.

1255. 'Envy is admirably represented as rocking himself to and fro with vexation, as he sits, dark, in a corner.'—Bell. For all this, I suspect the right word is rouketh, i.e. cowers, as in C. T., A 1308. Rokken is properly transitive, as in C. T., A 4157.

1257. For the description of Envy, see Rom. Rose, 247. But the author (in l. 1259) refers us to Ovid, Met. ii. 775-82, q. v.

1259. Methamorphosose; this terrible word is meant for Metamorphoseos, the form used by Chaucer, C. T., B 93. But the true ending is -eōn, gen. pl. The scribe has altered the suffix to -ees, thus carelessly destroying the rime.

1268. Prevy Thought is taken from Doux-Pensers in the Rom. de la Rose, 2633, called Swete-Thought in the E. Version, 2799; see the passage.

1315. Schick refers us, for this fiction, to the Rom. Rose, 939-82, where Cupid has two sets of arrows, one set of gold, and the other set black. Gower, Conf. Amantis (ed. Pauli, i. 336), says that Cupid shot Phœbus with a dart of gold, but Daphne with a dart of lead. In the Kingis Quair, stanzas 94-5, Cupid has three arrows, one of gold, one of silver, and one of steel. But the fact is, that our author, like Gower, simply followed Ovid, Met. i. 470-1. Let Dryden explain it:— [552]

1317. There is here a gap in the story. The speaker is Rosial, and she is addressing Philogenet, expressing herself favourably.

1328. MS. tender reich; Stowe, tenderiche; which must be wrong; read tender reuth. Confusion between ch and th is common. where I found, where I (formerly) found much lack.

1353. This notion of making the birds sing matins and lauds is hinted at in the Cuckoo and Nightingale—'That they begonne of May to don hir houres'; l. 70. It is obviously varied from Chaucer's Parl. Foules, where all the birds sing a roundel before departing. Next, we find the idea expanded by Lydgate, in the poem called Devotions of the Fowls; Minor Poems, ed. Halliwell, p. 78; the singers are the popinjay, the pelican, the nightingale, the lark, and the dove. All these reappear here, except the pelican. A chorus of birds, including the mavis, merle, lark, and nightingale, is introduced at the close of Dunbar's Thistle and Rose. The present passage was probably suggested by Lydgate's poem, but is conceived in a lighter vein.

The Latin quotations are easily followed by comparing them with The Prymer, or Lay Folks' Prayer-Book, ed. Littlehales (E. E. T. S.). They all appear in this 'common medieval Prayer-book'; and, in particular, in the Matins and Lauds of the Hours of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Matins end at l. 1407. The Matins contain:—the opening, the Venite, a Hymn, three Psalms, an Antiphon, Versicles and Responses, three Lessons (each with Versicles and Responses), and the Te Deum. The Lauds contain:—the opening, eight Psalms (the Benedicite considered as one), Antiphon, Chapter, Hymn, the Benedictus; &c. I point out the correspondences below.

1354. Observe that the nightingale sings in a hawthorn in the Cuckoo and Nightingale, 287 (p. 358).

1356. Domine, labia mea aperies, Lord, open thou my lips; 'the opening' of Matins.

1362. 'The unhappy chorister who comes late skulks in behind the desks and stalls.'—Bell.

1370. Domini est terra, Ps. xxiv (Vulgate, xxiii). The 'third psalm.' this Laten intent, this Latin signifies; intent is the contracted form of intendeth; by analogy with went for wendeth. [553]

1372. A queer reminiscence of Troil. iii. 690:—'There was no more to skippen nor to traunce.'

1373. Jube, Domine, benedicere, 'Lord, comaunde us to blesse'; versicle preceding the first lesson; which explains l. 1374.

1380. Here follows the second lesson. The lectorn is the mod. E. lectern, which supports the book from which the lessons are read.

1384. 'The glad month of us who sing.' Cf. 'lepten on the spray'; Cuckoo and Nightingale, 77 (p. 350).

1390. This looks like an allusion to the endless joke upon cuckolds, who are said, in our dramatists, to 'wear the horn'; which the offender is said 'to give.' If so, it is surely a very early allusion. Here give an horn = to scorn, mock.

1400. Tu autem, domine, miserere nobis, 'thou, lord, have merci of us,' said at the conclusion of each lesson; to which all responded Deo gratias, 'thanke we god!' See The Prymer, p. 5.

1401. Te deum amoris; substituted for Te deum laudamus, which is still in use; which concludes the matins.

1402. Tuball, who was supposed to have been 'the first musician.' As to this error, see note in vol. i. p. 492 (l. 1162).

1408. Dominus regnavit, Ps. xciii (Vulgate, xcii); the 'first psalm' at Lauds.

1411. Jubilate deo, Ps. c (Vulgate, xcix); the 'second psalm.' The third and fourth psalms are not mentioned.

1413. Benedicite, omnia opera; still in use in our morning service; counted as the 'fifth psalm.'

1415. Laudate dominum, Ps. cxlviii; the 'sixth psalm.' The seventh and eighth are passed over.

1416. O admirabile; the anthem. The E. version is:—'O thou wonderful chaunge! the makere of mankynde, takynge a bodi with a soule of a maide vouchide sauf be bore [born]; and so, forth-goynge man, with-outen seed, yaf to us his godhede'; Prymer, p. 12. The 'chapter' and hymn are omitted.

1422. Benedictus Dominus Deus Israel; still in use in our morning service. This is the last extract from 'the hours.'

1434. 'She gadereth floures, party whyte and rede To make a sotil garland'; C. T., A 1053.

1440. trew-love; a name for herb paris (Paris quadrifolia). But as the 'true-love' is described as being plited, i.e. folded, it must rather be supposed to mean a true lover's knot or love-knot, which was simply a bow of ribbon given as a token of affection, and frequently worn by the lover afterwards. The bestowal of this token nearly made an end of him. [554]

Not a true virelay, as the ending -ing does not reappear in the second stanza; for a correct example, see note to Anelida and Arcite, 256 (vol. i. p. 536). But it is of the nature of a virelay, inasmuch as the rime -ate, which concludes the first stanza, reappears in the second; and similarly, the ending -ure, which concludes the second stanza, reappears in the third; and so on, with the rime-endings -ain and -aunce. Compare the poem by Lord Rivers, in the same metre, alluded to in vol. i. p. 42.

20. The pronunciation of ende as ind is not uncommon in East Anglia, and may have been intended.

7. don but lent, lit. 'done but lent,' i.e. merely lent (you). For this idiom, see note to Ch. C. T., B 171 (vol. v. p. 145).

This Balade, printed by Stowe, seems like a poor imitation of the style of Lydgate.

References to I. (The Testament of Love) are to the Book, Chapter, and Line; thus 'I. ii. 1. 7' = Testament of Love, bk. ii. ch. 1. l. 7. References containing 'pr.' refer to the prologue to the same. In all other cases, the references are to the piece and to the line: thus 'V. 50' = Letter of Cupid, l. 50.

A deblys, (perhaps) to the devil, as if devoted to the devil, I. ii. 13. 99. See the note.

Able, imp. s. enable, VII. 32; Abled, pp. I. ii. 9. 95; fitted, I. ii. 6. 4.

Abode, 2 pt. s. didst abide, I. ii. 4. 101; Abood, pt. s. remained, I. i. 5. 31.

Abreyde, ger. to start up, awake, VIII. 15; Abraid, pt. s. started, went suddenly, XVII. 45; Abrayde, awoke, VIII. 154.

Accept, pp. accepted (as), I. ii. 13. 36; Accepte, as adj. pl. accepted, VIII. 427.

Accorde, ger. to agree, to rime, II. 477; pr. s. suits, VIII. 183; 2 pr. pl. agree, III. 212; pr. pl. I. ii. 5. 26; pres. pt. XX. 112. See Acorde.

Acorde, ger. to agree, I. ii. 8. 47; pr. s. I. ii. 2. 52; pr. pl. IX. 210; a. nothing, in no wise agree, I. ii. 2. 74.

A-drad, pp. afraid, I. ii 7. 61; IV. 89; filled with fear, I. i. 2. 12, 182. [556]

After, prep. for, I. ii. 3. 35; i.e. to get, I. ii. 14. 94; After oon, i.e. always alike, XVI. 161.

Agryse, v. feel terror, II. 360, 841, 1216; XVIII. 15; pr. pl. subj. let them fear, II. 961.

Alowe, pr. s. subj. may (He) approve, II. 1379; Alowed, pp. approved of, I. i. 8. 7.

A-maistry, v. conquer, I. ii. 11. 63; rule, I. i. 2. 105; Amaistrien, v. subdue, I. ii. 11. 32; pr. s. masters, overpowers, I. ii. 9. 60; compels, I. iii. 6. 157; pp. conquered, got by mastery, I. ii. 11. 59; overcome, I. i. 4. 28.

Apayed, pp. pleased, satisfied, III. 133, 248; Apayd, XXI. 208; wel a., well pleased, XVIII. 231; evel a., ill pleased, XVIII. 92.

Apert, adj. open; prevy nor apert, secret nor open, in no respect, XVI. 174.

Apertly, adv. openly, I. iii. 8. 108; without concealment, I. i. 8. 29; Apertely, I. iii. 2. 28.

Apeyre, v. suffer evil, be harmed, XVIII. 170; Apeyred, pp. injured, I. iii. 5. 24; defamed, I. i. 6. 11.

Appeired, pp. impaired, XX. 553; harmed (i.e. much harm is done), I. ii. 6. 161.

Arest, s. spear-rest, XX. 282. 'With spere in thyn arest alway'; Rom. Rose, 7561.

Assay, s. trial, I. i. 5. 53; V. 147; attempt, XVI. 572; Assayes, pl. trials, I. ii. 3. 72.

Assoyle, ger. to explain, I. iii. 4. 18; Asoile, v. answer, XXIV. 1283; pp. explained, I. iii. 4. 255; absolved, III. 312.

Assyse, s. way, fashion, II. 843; size, XXIV. 1313; of a., of a like size, suitable to each other, XXI. 531.

Assysed, pp. fixed, set; or perhaps, assessed, rated, IV. 332; regulated, IV. 236.

Asterte, v. escape, I. i. 7. 87; V. 38; [558]VIII. 490; start aside, give way, I. ii. 1. 70; pr. s. subj. escape, IX. 234; pt. s. escaped, XXIV. 148.

Authorysed, pp. considered as authoritative, IV. 330; Authoreist, pp. authorised, XVII. 66.

Avaunce, v. promote, VIII. 354; X. 7; succeed, XIII. 75; imp. s. refl. advance, come forward, approach, XVI. 801; pt. pl. refl. advanced, came forward, XVI. 157; pp. promoted, I. i. 7. 69.

Avayl, v. be of use, II. 1080; pp. made valid, IV. 191; pres. pt. useful, I. i. 7. 96.

Awayt, s. lying in wait, watching an opportunity, XVI. 341; attendance, VIII. 408; ambush, snare, XVI. 778.

Ayenward, adv. back again, I. ii. 6. 15; in return, I. i. 2. 102; on the contrary, on the other hand, I. iii. 4. 130; XVI. 18.

Balaunce, s. balance, IV. 263; the balance, XIII. 91; in b., in His sway, XVI. 851.

Behight, 1 pr. s. promise, assure, XX. 396; pt. s. promised, IV. 41; (apparently) commanded, XVI. 259.

Bere him in honde, make him believe, III. 323; pt. pl. bore, carried, XX. 213, 223; Berest in honde, 2 pr. s. accusest, III. 153; Beren on honde, accuse falsely, V. 274.

Besette, v. bestow, place, I. i. 9. 72; XI. 15; pp. bestowed, XXIV. 391; used, II. 1040; set up, VIII. 352.

Bestad, pp. hardly beset, IV. 88; Be-sted, pp. bestead, circumstanced, II. 403.

Bigon, pp. beset; wel b., well placed, well situate, in a good position or case, XX. 186. See Bego in the New E. Dict.

Blustringe (probably for bluschinge), s. brightness, I. i. 2. 20. See note, p. 454.

Blyfe; as bl., as quickly as possible, XXIV. 161; heartily, XXIV. 404; as soon as possible, IX. 111; XXIV. 1441.

Boystous, adj. rough, boisterous, I. i. pr. 7; II. 139; rough, poor, lowly, II. 1052; rude, XXII. 26.

Brast, pt. s. burst, XVIII. 210; 1 pt. s. I. i. 4. 1; pt. pl. XX. 490; penetrated, XVII. 15.

Breird, s. lit. blade (of grass, &c.); on br., in growth, on the increase, XVII. 413.

Brenne, pr. s. subj. burn, XVIII. 105; pr. pl. XVIII. 35; Brende, 1 pt. s. burnt, XI. 6; pt. s. subj. should burn, I. ii. 6. 29; Brent, pt. s. burnt, XXIV. 232; Brent, pp. II. 1234; Brend, pp. II. 674; pres. pt. burning, I. i. 3. 101; Brennende, I. i. 1. 21; Brennande, I. i. 1. 104.

Burely, adj. fit for a lady's bower, XVII. 417; handsome, XVII. 173; large, XVII. 180. See p. 524.

Busteous, adj. boisterous, rough, XVII. 153; huge, XVII. 166. See Boystous.

By, prep. with reference to, XVII. 278; By that, for the reason that, I. i. 7. 57.

Byte, v. bite, devour, II. 576; Bytande, pres. pt. biting, bitter, I. i. 10. 90.

Can, 1 pr. s. know, possess, XVI. 733; can pas, did pass, went, XVII. 28; can discend, caused to descend, XVII. 6; Canst, pr. s. knowest, II. 1073. [562]

Cawdell, s. a warm gruel, mixed with wine or ale, and sweetened or spiced, given chiefly to sick people, XXIV. 438. See Caudle in the N. E. D.

Chafed, pp. heated, warmed, I. ii. 12. 8; Chafinge, pr. pt. I. ii. 12. 8.

Chalenge, v. claim, I. i. 10. 66; 1 pr. s. claim, XVI. 233; pr. pl. III. 22.

Chapelet, s. chaplet, XX. 154, 236; Chapelets, pl. XX. 159, 161, 209, 222.

Charge, s. responsibility, VIII. 328; XVI. 469; burden, I. i. 3. 15; blame, XXIV. 186; pl. burdens, I. ii. 7. 69.

Cherelich, adj. prodigal, II. 1050. Read not cherelich; see note, p. 491.

Chese, ger. to choose, I. ii. 10. 21; Chesen, ger. VII. 185; 1 pr. s. IX. 249; imp. s. 3 p. let him choose, XVI. 313; Chees, pt. s. chose, IV. 31; VIII. 395; Cheisit, pt. pl. chose, XVII. 265.

Clappe, pr. pl. prate, V. 328; Clappen, I. i. 8. 33; Clappeth, pr. s. prates, V. 142.

Clepe, 1 pr. s. cry, VIII. 285; pr. pl. call, name, VI. 6; pr. pl. II. 201; imp. s. call, I. ii. 14. 75; pt. pl. called, I. ii. 2. 96; pp. I. iii. 4. 154; V. 16.

Close, pr. pl. are included, come together, I. iii. 4. 165; pp. enclosed, I. i. 1. 133; XXI. 52.

Commensal, adj. partaking of a common repast, feeding with others, I. i. 4. 25.

Comming, pres. pt. as adj. future, sure to happen, I. iii. 3. 26; I. iii. 3. 82.

Compas, s. circuit, XX. 54; a certain of c., within a certain distance round, XVI. 193; of compas, in a circle, XXI. 53.

Compteth, pr. s. accounts, I. iii. 5. 45; Compted, pp. accounted, I. ii. 10. 16; counted, I. ii. 5. 77.

Conceit, s. liking, fancy, XVI. 442; Conceyt, XVI. 476; imagination, V. 364; XVI. 791.

Conformes, adj. pl. similar, shewing conformity (with), like (to), I. iii. 4. 122.

Conne, v. know how (to), I. i. 1. 96; I. iii. 3. 120; be able, I. ii. 4. 37; pr. pl. know, II. 413, 842; IV. 24; can, V. 18; may, I. iii. 7. 160.

Contrariaunt, adj. opposing, I. iii. 2. 96; Contrariant, I. ii. 9. 65; Contrariauntes, pl. contravening, I. i. 5. 64.

Contrarien, pr. pl. contradict (it), II. 936; pt. s. subj. should contradict, I. ii. 4. 117; would oppose, I. iii. 2. 152.

Contrarioustè, s. contrariety, I. ii. 8. 50; contradiction, I. iii. 4. 229; opposition, I. iii. 1. 125.

Counterplete, v. plead against, contradict, I. i. 8. 30; v. plead against me, I. ii. 12. 101; pp. pleaded against, XXIV. 429.

Countervayle, ger. to equal, I. i. 3. 132; pp. balanced, I. iii. 5. 131.

Cure, s. care, XVI. 494; XXIV. 986; guard, XVII. 10; diligence, VIII. 311; attention, I. iii. 8. 52; cure (of souls), II. 1173; responsibility, XX. 61.

Dame, s. mother, I. ii. 2. 117; II. 1361; Dames tonge, mother-tongue, I. i. pr. 37.

Dampne, v. condemn, II. 630; pr. s. II. 224; pp. damned, I. i. 7. 55; condemned, VIII. 276.

Daungerous, adj. disdainful, XXIV. 901; cross, XXIV. 330; difficult to please, XXIV. 761; forbidding, I. i. 2. 102.

Dawe, s. pl. dat. days; by elder dawe, in olden times, II. 643. A.S. dagum.

Debat, s. strife, VII. 59; uneasiness, XVI. 698; pl. I. ii. 2. 48; combats, I. i. 4. 44.

Debated, pp. striven about, IV. 363. But read delated, i.e. deferred; the Trentham MS. has deleated, meant for delated.

Deedly, adj. mortal, I. ii. 12. 121; Deedliche, I. iii. 3. 65; Dedly, I. iii. 3. 68.

Defaut, s. default, trespass, I. i. 3. 95; XVI. 270 (obscure); XVI. 611; Defaute, fault, I. ii. 2. 17; III. 398; pl. IV. 267.

Defend, v. forbid, II. 570; pt. s. forbade, I. iii. 8. 122; II. 1115; pp. forbidden, I. iii. 3. 57.

Defoule, ger. to defile, V. 186; 1 pt. s. defiled, I. i. 8. 83; pp. I. ii. 13. 74.

Deme, v. judge, XII. 7; 2 pr. s. subj. VII. 32; pr. s. condemns, I. ii. 7. 117; pp. judged, adjudged to be true, approved, II. 67; condemned, II. 198.

Demin, v. deem, suppose, I. iii. 3. 111; pr. pl. (?), II. 510. See Deme.

Departe, v. separate, XVI. 317; sever, I. i. 1. 90; part, XXIV. 1399; impart, XVI. 440; pr. s. subj. part, I. i. 9. 86; pp. divided, I. ii. 10. 9; parted, XI. 51; rent, XX. 193.

Departing, s. separation, I. iii. 6. 158; XVI. 659; distributing, I. ii. 5. 44.

Dequace, v. suppress, I. i. 5. 77; put down, I. i. 7. 26; ger. to repress, I. ii. 1. 74.

Determine, ger. to end, I. iii. 3. 129; pp. settled, fixed, I. ii. 6. 20.

Deydest, 2 pt. s. didst die, were to die, I. i. 9. 65; pt. s. died, VII. 102.

Deynous, adj. disdainful, I. i. 1. 130; I. i. 2. 143 (see note); I. i. 3. 70; Deynouse, fem. V. 150.

Dighteth, pr. s. gets ready, II. 978; pr. s. subj. may (He) arrange or place, X. 84; pp. ornamented, II. 894; XX. 254.

Disclaunder, v. slander, II. 333; pr. pl. II. 1053; pr. s. speaks slander, I. ii. 8. 74.

Discomfiteth, pr. s. discomforts himself, grieves, I. ii. 11. 55; pp. discomforted, I. ii. 11. 57.

Discordaunt, adj. discordant, I. i. 9. 106; Discordantes, s. pl. things discordant, I. ii. 8. 54.

Disese, s. misery, woe, XVIII. 265; XX. 377; annoyance, I. i. 1. 20, 28; anger, II. 1260.

Dispende, ger. to spend, VII. 40; XXII. 16; pr. pl. II. 762; Dispent, pp. spent, I. i. 10. 53.

Disporte, ger. to amuse, interest, VIII. 602; v. refl. be merry, VIII. 10; 1 pr. s. refl. throw myself about, tumble and toss, I. i. 3. 102.

Distrye, v. destroy, II. 1235. (In II. 1144, perhaps distry should be discry, i.e. describe.)

Do, imp. s. cause, I. i. 1. 83; pp. done, IV. 97; come to an end, XIV. 18; Do way, do (it) away, put (it) aside, abandon (the idea), I. i. 9. 89.

Dradde, 1 pt. s. dreaded; feared, I. i. 3. 74; Drad, pp. frightened, II. 561; afraid, II. 1088.

Dredful, adj. timid, V. 348; XVI. 218; fearful, IX. 157; fearful (to offend), XXIII. 10.

Dresse, v. refl. advance, XXIV. 113; address myself, VIII. 203; ger. to direct, XXIV. 179; Dresse, XIII. 62; pr. pl. refl. direct themselves, II. 379; 1 pr. pl. subj. direct our way, go forward, XXI. 215; Dress you, imp. pl. (as s.), direct yourself, go, XXIV. 554; Drest, 1 pt. s. refl. advanced, XX. 456; Dressed, pt. s. refl. advanced, I. iii. 3. 2.

Duresse, s. hardness, XVI. 703; force, I. iii. 7. 71; constraint, I. i. 6. 157; stress, I. i. 1. 87; cruelty, XVI. 784.

Enforme, ger. to inform, I. ii. 11. 127; to give information, I. ii. 1. 51; pr. pl. instruct, I. ii. 2. 79.

Engendrure, s. conception, I. ii. 6. 80; nativity, I. i. 6. 101; pl. I. ii. 9. 174.

Enhaunce, ger. to exalt, V. 455; pr. pl. increase, I. ii. 8. 85; pp. advanced, II. 448.

Enpited, pp. filled with pity, I. ii. 4. 111. (The sole known example of the word.)

Entencion, s. intention, design, I. ii. 4. 42; V. 553; XXIV. 908; signification, I. iii. 2. 140; VIII. 431.

Envyroned, pp. surrounded, I. ii. 7. 94; Envyroning, pres. pt. encircling, VIII. 79.

Erst, adv. soonest; non erst (error for non er), no sooner, XXIV. 167.

Esperaunce, s. Hope, XXIV. 1033; Esperans, XVII. 48; on e., in hope, XI. 26.

Ewage, s. a precious stone having the colour of sea-water, X. 92, 93. See note.

Falsen, ger. to deceive, V. 307; pt. s. gave way, failed, I. ii. 8. 127; was false to, I. i. 2. 92.

Fantasy, s. fancy, XXI. 597; XXVII. 1; folly, XIV. 20; pleasure, I. i. pr. 26; pl. XXI. 11.

Fare, pr. pl. go, XX. 341; fare, II. 1134; Farn, pp. fared, I. ii. 10. 58.

Ferdnesse, s. fear, terror, I. i. 1. 9; I. i. 1. 59; I. i. 2. 13; I. ii. 4. 102; I. iii. 1. 123; I. iii. 6. 126.

Fere, s. companion, comrade, I. i. 2. 123; I. i. 5. 128; Feres, pl. X. 88.

Flebring, s. gossip (?), I. ii. 9. 54. Or is it an error for fabling? [571]

Flitte, v. stir, I. i. 1. 79; move, I. i. 9. 69; change, XVI. 639; remove, XX. 489; pr. pl. go away, I. i. 7. 95; Flittinge, pres. pt. volatile, fading, I. ii. 8. 102.

Flowe, pp. flown, II. 1306, 1311, 1344; come, I. i. 1. 128; gone, I. ii. 3. 69.

For, prep. on account of, I. i. 3. 156; for fear of, II. 880; XVII. 118, 207.

Forbit, pr. s. forbids, I. iii. 3. 71; Forbood, pt. s. forbade, II. 701; Forbed, II. 200; Forbode, pp. forbidden, I. ii. 2. 78; Forboden, pp. I. i. 7. 57.

Force; of f., of necessity, XVII. 202; no f., it is no matter, I. i. 1. 53.

Forthren, v. further, II. 1080; pr. s. advances, VIII. 384; pp. I. i. 9. 8.

For-thy, adv. therefore, V. 264; nat for-thy, all the same, nevertheless, XVI. 3.

Foryete, v. forget, V. 423; Foryet, pr. s. II. 465; pr. pl. I. ii. 11. 136; pp. I. i. 2. 52.

Fraunchyse, s. freedom, XVI. 236, 364; liberality, XVI. 422; privileged place, VIII. 273.

Frete, pr. pl. fret, annoy, XXIV. 940; Fretes, pr. pl. eat, devour, II. 151; Frettith, pr. pl. (or s.), vex, XXIV. 579.

Gabbest, 2 pr. s. talkest idly, I. iii. 4. 171; Gabbeth, pr. s. lies, V. 142.

Get, pr. s. gets, II. 275; Gete, pp. gotten, obtained, IV. 306; XVI. 67.

Glose, v. explain (it) away, XXIV. 1260; imp. s. XXIV. 420; pr. s. glosses over (things), dissembles, XXII. 50; pt. pl. flattered, I. ii. 7. 105; pp. commented upon, II. 312.

Glosing, s. explaining, II. 1140; flattery, I. i. 6. 14; deception, I. i. 10. 58.

Graffen, pr. pl. graft, I. ii. 3. 19; pp. I. ii. 3. 92; gr. in, become grafted into, I. i. pr. 6.

Grave, ger. to engrave, V. 280; pp. buried, VII. 67; XVI. 171; engraved, I. iii. 8. 14.

Gree, s. rank, grade, I. iii. 1. 116; favour, II. 334; XXIV. 28; to take in gr., to receive with favour, XVI. 842.

Greve, v. grieve, VI. 57; Greven, error for Greve, 1 pr. s. subj. grieve, XXIV. 928.

Grucchen, v. murmur, XXIV. 960; grumble, II. 1164; pr. s. subj. may grumble (at), II. 886; murmur at, XXI. 47.

Gubernatif, adj. governing, relating to government, political, I. i. 6. 120.

Halfe, s. side, direction, I. ii. 3. 47; a goddes h., in God's name, I. ii. 4. 147.

Halve, s. side, I. ii. 1. 7; part, I. iii. 7. 32; IV. 120; way, respect, I. ii. 12. 86.

Heird, prob. for Heir it, hear it, XVII. 415. Cf. Lowl. Sc. dude, do it (Jamieson).

Helde, v. hold, II. 704; Helden, 3 pr. s. subj. might hold, XXIV. 347 (ungrammatical).

Heledest, pr. s. didst conceal, I. i. 7. 117; pp. hidden, I. i. 8. 128 (obviously a false reading; read deled, distributed).

Helen, v. (to) heal, I. ii. 11. 23; pt. s. healed; h. with his hele, healed his heel with, I. i. 5. 45.

Hente, v. catch, I. i. pr. 12; seize, I. i. 1. 12; pr. s. catches, I. iii. 4. 115; pt. pl. caught, seized, V. 257; pp. caught, II. 555; seized, XXIV. 1144; gained, I. i. 3. 121.

Hest, s. promise, VIII. 319; Heste, VIII. 571; command, III. 106; pl. commands, II. 209; V. 354.

Hete, v. be called (probably an error for hote), I. ii. 6. 86. See Hote.

Hight, pr. s. is named, XXI. 169; 2 pr. pl. XXII. 23; do h., are called, XXIV. 145; 1 pt. s. promised, XXIV. 1319; pp. promised, VIII. 319; IX. 97.

Hing, pt. s. hung, XXIV. 1201; Hingen, pt. pl. I. i. 4. 36; pres. pt. hanging, XXIV. 139. See Hong.

Hoir, adj. lit. hoary, XVII. 163; old, feeble, XVII. 338, 445. See Hore.

Holden, pp. beholden, I. ii. 4. 122; compelled, I. iii. 7. 120; Holde, pp. bound, IV. 7.

Hole, adj. whole, IV. 226; XVIII. 7; entire, XXIV. 302; trustworthy, XIII. 39.

Hong, v. hang, XX. 245; Hongen, pr. pl. IV. 263; Hong, pt. s. hung, II. 8; Honged, pp. hung on, II. 1042. See Hing.

Hore, adj. pl. hoary, old, hence bare (as trees in winter), VIII. 119; IX. 47. See Hoir.

Hote, v. be called, I. ii. 4. 139; Hoten, have a name, XVIII. 185; Hote, pt. s. was named, XXIV. 159; pp. called, XXIV. 741.

Hye, v. refl. hasten, I. iii. 5. 71; IX. 33; imp. pl. refl. XXI. 244; pr. s. I. iii. 4. 98.

In-fere, adv. together, II. 1212; V. 458; XVIII. 78, 263, 273; XXI. 407; fully, XXI. 602.

Inpossession, s. an error for 'imposition,' i.e. the imposing of a name, I. ii. 4. 141. See the note.

Inseër, s. investigator, looker into, I. iii. 1. 141; I. iii. 9. 91; reader, I. iii. 1. 25; pl. I. ii. 1. 103.

Janglinge, s. discord, I. ii. 9. 52; gossip, I. i. 5. 19; pl. babblings, I. ii. 14. 10.

Knette, v. knit, weave, suggest, I. i. 7. 39; Knitten, pr. pl. accept, lit. knit together, I. ii. 5. 34; imp. s. knit, fasten, XI. 17; pp. knit, IX. 171; Knit, pp. chosen, I. ii. 8. 62.

Knot, s. knot, a fanciful term for the bliss for which a man strives, the summum bonum, I. ii. 4. 140.

Lache, 2 pr. s. subj. loosen (it), let go, or perhaps, turn coward, relax, I. ii. 14. 83. F. lâcher.

Leet, pt. s. caused; leet do crye, caused to be cried or proclaimed, IV. 174.

Lefte, 1 pt. s. remained, V. 443; XXI. 190; abandoned, IV. 342; Leften, error for Left, pp. left, XXIV. 1166.

Legge, v. allege, XXIV. 1065; Legen, pr. pl. allege, I. i. 7. 73; Leged, pp. alleged (to be), I. ii. 2. 103.

Lerne, ger. to learn, to be taught, XVI. 535; 2 pr. pl. teach, I. i. 4. 41; pp. instructed, XVI. 635.

Lese, ger. to lose, II. 591; IV. 295; 2 pr. s. I. i. 8. 131; pr. s. XVI. 388; pr. pl. XVI. 588; imp. pl. VII. 87.

Lesing, s. falsehood, lie, XVIII. 238; XXI. 263; XXIV. 422; pl. I. i. 6. 159; VIII. 421.

Lete, v. let go, spare, let alone, XX. 215; Let, v. pretend, XVI. 583; Lete, 2 pr. pl. allow to be, III. 362; Let commaunde, caused men to command, XXIV. 296.

Lette, v. hinder, III. 289; VIII. 251; ger. to prevent, II. 1189; pp. hindered, I. i. 8. 100.

Leve, v. leave, abandon, XVI. 534; pr. s. leaves off, ceases, I. ii. 5. 46; remains, I. ii. 4. 7; is left, XVI. 668; pp. left, I. i. 7. 22; neglected, I. ii. 9. 191.

Leven, ger. to believe, II. 895; V. 56; v. I. ii. 13. 130; 1 pr. s. XVI. 710; imp. s. XVIII. 237; pp. I. i. 4. 69.

Lewed, adj. ignorant, II. 146, 970; Lewde, unskilful, XIX. 1; ill-omened, XVIII. 50.

Lich, adj. like, similar, I. i. 5. 42; II. 303; XXIV. 696; Liche, pl. alike, I. i. 5. 46.

Ligge, ger. to lie, I. ii. 6. 90; Lig, v. II. 4; 2 pr. pl. lodge, III. 81; pr. pl. lie still, III. 181.

Light, s. lightning, XIV. 37. See note. As 'lightning' is certainly meant, a better reading would be leyt.

Lightinge, pres. pt. shining; suche lightinge, giving such a kind of light, I. ii. 6. 101.

List, pr. s. is pleased, I. i. 3. 35; XVI. 455; pr. s. prefers, likes, XVII. 256; List, 2 pr. pl. are (you) pleased, XVI. 276; pr. s. subj. may please, IX. 63; pt. s. subj. (it) should please, IX. 255.

Living, pres. pt. living, existing, (but perhaps an error for leming, i.e. shining), X. 24. See note.

Livinges, s. pl. modes of life (?), I. ii. 1. 119 (perhaps an error for livinge).

Loke, ger. to look, I. iii. 6. 97; pr. s. subj. let (him) see, II. 834; Lokeden, pt. pl. looked, I. i. 7. 105.

Longeth, pr. s. belongs, I. ii. 9. 78; II. 965; XVI. 53; is suitable, XXIV. 408; pt. s. XXI. 518.

Loos, s. praise, I. i. 7. 26; fame, VI. 8; badde l., ill fame, I. i. 6. 179.

Martyre, ger. to be martyred, IV. 341; Martred, pp. martyred, full of martyrdom, I. ii. 9. 108.

Maugrè, prep. in spite of, II. 886; V. 232; m. me, in spite of myself, unwillingly, I. iii. 3. 114.

Maugrè, s. ill will, XVI. 240; Maugree, dislike, V. 376; displeasure, I. ii. 6. 53.

Maystry, s. mastery, II. 1117; superior powers, I. ii. 2. 23. (That wolden m. me have, who wished me to have authority.)

Me, indef. pron. one, I. i. pr. 68; I. i. 1. 18; I. ii. 11. 10; I. iii. 8. 10; XXI. 22.

Medlest, pr. s. takest part, interferest, I. i. 7. 111; pp. mingled, I. ii. 13. 76; I. iii. 7. 33; XVI. 657.

Medlinge, pres. pt. meddling, I. ii. 10. 51; mixture, I. ii. 1. 92; interference, I. i. 6. 77.

Mees, s. pl. dwellings, houses, V. 334. O.F. mes, meis, meix, 'ferme ... habitation, démeure'; Godefroy.

Mene, s. mean, intermediate, III. 162; mean, I. iii. 5. 53; middle course, III. 170; mediator, I. ii. 2. 100; method, way, I. i. pr. 54; moderation (?), I. ii. 10. 43.

Meve, ger. to move, I. i. 1. 109; pr. s. moves, V. 432; 2 pt. pl. discussed, I. iii. 5. 158.

Meynall, adj. belonging to their household, domestic, II. 322. See note, p. 487.

Meyny, s. household, I. ii. 5. 52; crowd, I. i. 7. 104; followers, I. i. 6. 145.

Mis, adj. wrong, I. ii. 5. 111; II. 1197; VIII. 603; XXII. 61; pl. things that are wrong, I. ii. 9. 84.

Miscary, v. go astray, fail, I. ii. 14. 98; pp. gone astray, I. ii. 4. 106.

Misturnen, v. overturn, change the fortunes of, I. i. 10. 31; pp. altered amiss, I. ii. 5. 88; misdirected, I. ii. 4. 11.

Mo, adv. besides, X. 1; XVI. 713; adj. others, I. i. 5. 11; others besides, XVI. 329, 480; XXI. 60.

Moeble, s. (moveable) property, wealth, I. i. 3. 231; I. i. 4. 62; pl. I. i. 9. 15.

Molles, s. pl. birds of the kite or buzzard family (see the context); II. 1338. (The exact sense is not known.)

More, adj. greater, I. i. 1. 69; I. ii. 9. 73; I. iii. 1. 63; Mores, adj. gen.; that mores, of that greater thing, I. ii. 9. 74.

Mow, pr. pl. may, V. 381; Mowe, 2 pr. pl. can, III. 94; pr. pl. I. ii. 6. 155.

Nameliche, adv. especially, I. iii. 6. 100; Namely, I. i. 2. 27; III. 264; V. 322; VIII. 480.

Neighe, v. approach, I. i. 2. 32; pr. s. approaches, I. ii. 12. 14; I. iii. 4. 100; Neigh, pr. s. imp. may it come near to, I. iii. 3. 131.

Nempne, v. name, mention, I. i. 6. 172; I. iii. 8. 14; 2 pr. s. I. iii. 5. 143; 2 pt. s. didst name, I. ii. 4. 30; pp. I. i. 7. 48.

Ner, adv. nearer, XXIV. 113; Nere, XXIV. 749, 1274; nearly (i.e. it touched her very nearly), XXI. 663.

Nere, for Ne were, were it not (for), XXII. 34; n. it, were it not, I. i. 3. 119.

Never-the-latter (-later), nevertheless, I. i. 1. 19; I. i. 6. 137; I. ii. 1. 94.

Nobles, s. pl. coins so called, I. iii. 5. 120. A noble was worth 6s. 8d.

Nobley, s. nobility, I. iii. 1. 142; VII. 73; nobleness, I. i. 1. 62; XVI. 473; excellence, I. ii. 9. 62.

Not, 1 pr. s. know not, I. i. 1. 119; I. iii. 1. 158; pr. s. knows not, XVIII. 203.

Ocy, s. French oci, an exclamation imitating the cry of a nightingale, XVIII. 124, 127, 135. See note.

Onbyde, ger. to abide, I. iii. 5. 68; v. I. iii. 6. 147; remain, I. iii. 7. 161; 1 pr. s. await, I. iii. 3. 128.

On-lyve, adv. alive, II. 1223; IV. 71; VIII. 158; XIV. 22; XVIII. 141; XXIV. 780.

Ope, adj. open, XXIV. 262; Open, displayed, I. ii. 6. 79; as s. a thing open, II. 220.

Ordinaunce, s. order, XXI. 575; (apparently) self-control, decision, XVI. 153; warlike array, XVI. 818; orderly disposition, I. ii. 5. 43; a row, XXI. 57.

Orient, adj. (as applied to gems), of prime excellence, XX. 148 (see note); XXI. 528; XXIV. 788.

Out-waye, out of the way, I. i. 8. 15. (But read out-waye-going as one word, meaning deviation; see note to bk. iii. 1. 6; p. 479.)

Overthwartly, adv. contrarily, adversely, I. i. 3. 56; perversely, I. iii. 7. 155.

Ow, pr. s. ought, II. 545; Oweth, pr. s. I. iii. 5. 54; ought (to be), I. ii. 8. 64; Owe, pr. pl. I. iii. 4. 251; Owande, pres. pt. due, I. ii. 1. 104.

Pane, s. plot of ground, bed for flowers, XVII. 427; Pannes, s. pl. clothes, I. ii. 2. 29. See the note. (A better spelling is panes.)

Party, s. part, I. ii. 9. 95; XXIV. 1192; pl. On some p., in some respects, XVI. 746; Partie, adv. partly, XXIV. 1434.

Passe, ger. to surpass, excel, I. ii. 2. 12; v. II. 972; XX. 63; Pas, v. pass beyond, XVI. 76; pr. s. IX. 114; pr. pl. III. 298; pp. past away, long ago dead, I. i. pr. 77.

Personage, s. dignity, title, II. 269, 723; titles, II. 953. See note to II. 723, p. 465.

Plyte, s. condition, state (lit. fold), I. ii. 1. 8; I. ii. 9. 103; IV. 318.

Poynte; in p. to, ready to, I. i. pr. 126; pl. (perhaps) stakes, XVI. 524. See note, p. 519.

Prees, s. press, throng, crowd, XX. 592; XXI. 429; putten me in p., force me, I. i. pr. 96.

Preven, ger. to prove, to test, I. i. 5. 15; v. V. 55; pr. s. XVI. 350; pp. XVI. 586.

Professe, s. the professed member of a religious order, I. iii. 1. 130. [587]

Proporcions, s. pl. suppositions, I. iii. 3. 19. (Probably for propositions.)

Purchace, s. earning (it), obtaining (it), XVI. 322; Purchas, bargain, XVI. 74; purchase, XXVIII. 3.

Purchace, imp. s. purchase, procure, obtain, IV. 124; 1 pr. s. subj. XVI. 371.

Purvey, ger. to provide, XX. 429; v. XXIV. 1396; pp. I. ii. 14. 9; XVI. 219; destined, I. i. 1. 46.

Purveyaunce, s. providence, disposal, I. i. 3. 130; IV. 21; VIII. 303; IX. 68; provision, XVI. 165.

Pynande, pres. pt. wearisome, I. i. 6. 77; Pynd, pp. pined, tortured, II. 481.

Queynte, adj. curious, XVIII. 182; particular, II. 1013; Queinte, pretty, XIII. 8.

Queyntyse, s. finery, ornaments, II. 627; Queyntyses, contrivances, I. i. 7. 40.

Quyte, v. requite, VIII. 401; repay, IV. 279; ger. to requite, XV. c. 3; to redeem, IX. 230; Quitte, pt. s. requited, V. 304; pt. pl. V. 263.

Raddest, 2 pt. s. readest, hast thou read, I. i. 5. 6; Rad, pp. read, I. i. 2. 91; I. ii. 1. 101; XXI. 473.

Rathe, adv. soon, I. ii. 8. 9; to r., too soon, I. ii. 3. 50; Rather, comp. XVIII. 104; Rathest, superl. I. i. 5. 30.

Recche, v. reck, care, I. iii. 2. 68; III. 332; pr. s. subj. I. ii. 7. 63; pr. s. I. iii. 6. 118.

Rechace, s. ransom, XVI. 324. (An erroneous form, meant to answer to F. rachat; see note.)

Recover, s. recovery, I. i. 1. 45; Recour, I. i. 4. 14; Recure, XVII. 335; remedy, VIII. 681.

Remewe, v. move away, change, XVI. 641; ger. to remove, XII. 122; Remuf, XVII. 21.

Renne, ger. to run, I. i. 1. 107; pr. pl. X. 64; pres. pt. running, variable, VIII. 458.

Requestë, s. request (trisyllabic), IV. 27 (not request, as in the text); withoute r., unintentionally, XVI. 122.

Rethorike, s. rhetoric, I. i. 2. 133; I. iii. 1. 180; r. wise, manner of rhetoric, I. ii. 2. 3.

Reyve, v. reave, take away, XXIV. 193; bereave, XXIV. 331; ger. to rob, XXIV. 543.

Rokketh, pr. s. rocks; but prob. an error for Rouketh, i.e. cowers, XXIV. 1255.

Ron, pt. s. ran, XVIII. 82; Ronne, pp. run, I. i. 6. 70; run (its full course), IV. 296.

Sad, adj. settled, constant, steadfast, firm, XI. 107; XVII. 567; XXIV. 45.

Sadly, adv. staidly, in a staid manner, XX. 159; firmly, I. i. 1. 79; permanently, XXIV. 877.

Sely, adj. happy, I. ii. 10. 108; simple, IX. 57; innocent, II. 695, 1312.

Semblaunt, s. notice, appearance of taking notice, XVI. 107; glance, I. ii. 12. 3; mien, XVI. 293; method, I. i. 4. 13.

Sene, adj. visible, VIII. 437; XVII. 353; XVIII. 65; obvious, I. ii. 6. 156.

Sere, adj. sear, withered, dead (?), I. i. 4. 23. Cf. 'derke opinions.' Or sere may mean 'several, particular.'

Sette, v. (perhaps) lay down (a stake), XVI. 524 (see note); 1 pr. s. suppose, I. i. 9. 64; pr. pl. lay stakes (upon), run risk (upon), XIII. 77.

Sew, Sewe, ger. to follow up, pursue, XXI. 117; to sue, XXI. 420; v. sue, XXI. 594; pursue, XVI. 541; 1 pr. s. follow, pursue, XVI. 227; pr. pl. follow, II. 608, 776; go, II. 928; sue, XXIV. 265; imp. s. sue, XXI. 332.

Shapen, pp. shaped, XX. 64; Shape, II. 926; imp. pl. endeavour, VII. 40.

Shede, ger. to shed, VIII. 3; v. part, II. 275; pp. dispersed, XVII. 18; poured out, I. ii. 2. 27.

Shende, ger. to disgrace, I. i. 2. 122; I. iii. 9. 56; to harm, I. ii. 9. 57; to reprove, II. 485; v. disgrace, IX. 90; destroy, I. ii. 1. 19; pr. s. disgraces, I. ii. 2. 47; pr. s. subj. spoil, V. 132; pr. pl. subj. may (they) disgrace, XVI. 370; Shent, pp. reproached, II. 24; scolded, XVI. 766; exhausted, XX. 360; ill-treated, II. 259; disgraced, I. ii. 3. 77.

Shoop, pt. s. endeavoured, I. i. 6. 148; Shopen, pt. pl. appointed, made, I. i. 6. 77; decreed, VIII. 489.

Shroude, v. refl. (to) shelter themselves, XIII. 72; ger. to cover, hide, VIII. 147.

Sit, pr. s. impers. suits, IV. 166; V. 339; befits, IV. 52; becomes, VIII. 552. See Sitteth.

Sith, conj. since, III. 59; VII. 101; XIX. 2; Sithe, VIII. 323; Sithen, I. i. 2. 13; XVIII. 278.

Sitteth, pr. s. suits, XVI. 706; impers. (it) oppresses, I. iii. 5. 81; pres. pt. fitting, VIII. 169; XX. 141.

Skil, s. reason, I. ii. 6. 121; Skille, VIII. 378; pl. I. i. 4. 7; I. i. 9. 5.

Slee, v. (to) slay, II. 567; XI. 21; pr. s. VIII. 385; Slawe, pp. slain, I. ii. 9. 196; II. 305; VIII. 259.

Smerteth, pr. s. causes to smart, XVI. 454; Smertande, pres. pt. smarting, I. ii. 3. 115; painful, I. ii. 10. 29.

Sort, s. kind, set, XXI. 533; company, XXIV. 1157; multitude, XXII. 31; after a s., after one pattern, XXI. 526.

Sovenez, s. pl. remember-me's, plants of germander, XXI. 61, 86. See note, p. 536.

Sown, v. sound, be heard, XXIV. 312; pr. pl. tend, XXIV. 527; pres. pt. tending, XVI. 530.

Spede, v. prosper, XXI. 226; expedite, II. 395; pr. pl. succeed, XXIV. 945; Sped, pp. provided with a mate, XXIV. 560.

Spille, ger. to destroy, I. i. pr. 127; I. ii. 14. 43; to perish, to pine, I. i. 1. 7; v. perish, XVIII. 200; pr. s. spoils, XXIV. 385; Spilte, pp. destroyed, I. i. 2. 86.

Springen, pr. s. subj. (for Springe), may spring, should spring (abroad), XXIV. 725.

Springes, s. pl. growths, growing things, shoots, I. iii. 6. 4; sources, I. ii. 13. 59.

Stere, ger. to stir, move men to, IV. 71; I. i. 8. 1; pp. I. ii. 1. 111; displaced, I. i. 9. 10; pres. pt. moving, XX. 199; active, I. ii. 11. 1.

Stering, s. stirring, I. i. 4. 67; movement, I. i. pr. 82; provocation, XVIII. 23.

Sterte, pt. s. started, leapt, I. iii. 7. 160; darted, XVII. 537; 1 pt. s. started, XVIII. 216.

Stinte, v. leave off, I. i. 3. 88; pr. s. ceases, I. iii. 5. 74; Stinten, pr. pl. (error for Stinteth, pr. s. ceases), I. ii. 9. 172; pt. s. ceased, I. ii. 3. 1; pt. s. subj. were to leave off, I. iii. 7. 104; pp. stopped, VIII. 256.

Stocke, s. trunk, stem, I. iii. 7. 12; idol, II. 893; pl. the stocks, I. i. 3. 144.

Storied, pp. full of stories, representing various stories, I. ii. 13. 76.

Storiers, s. pl. gen. of story-tellers, I. iii. 4. 257. (Th. starieres.)

Stounde, s. time, IX. 64; XVIII. 6; meanwhile, XXIV. 769; sudden pain, XVII. 537; pl. times, hours, I. i. 1. 2; pl. acute pains, XVII. 542.

Stoundemele, adv. sometimes, now and then, I. ii. 13. 105; I. iii. 3. 108.

Straunge, adj. distant in manner, XXIV. 834; as s. a stranger, I. i. 1. 17.

Stremes, s. pl. glances, beams, XXIV. 768; glances, XXIV. 849; rays, VIII. 3, 592; X. 22; XXII. 30.

Sustern, s. pl. sisters, I. iii. 1. 93; Sustren, VIII. 488; Susters, XXIV. 1171.

Swete, 1 pr. s. sweat, VIII. 231; Swetande, pres. pt. sweating, laborious, I. i. pr. 72.

Tapet, s. piece of tapestry, XXI. 499, 579; Tapites, pl. tapestry, I. ii. 2. 64; carpets, VIII. 51.

Tene, s. vexation, I. ii. 10. 89; XVIII. 209; XX. 389; sorrow, I. i. 1. 3; V. 242; harm, VII. 157; anger, XVII. 194.

Terme, s. term, appointed age, I. iii. 4. 112; t. of my lyf, for all my lifetime, XVIII. 289. [596]

Ther-ayeines, adv. there-against, VIII. 533; Ther-ayenst, on the contrary, VII. 158.

Thilke, adj. that (person), I. i. pr. 85; that same, I. iii. 4. 15; pron. those, IV. 115.

Thrall, adj. subject, II. 178. (Doubtful; perhaps wol come thrall = will consent to become servants.)

Thralle, v. enthral, VI. 22; pp. made subject, I. ii. 3. 40; I. iii. 8. 168.

Throw, s. time, XX. 190; moment, short time, XIV. 37; XXIV. 538; space of time, XX. 318.

Torcencious, adj. exacting, I. i. 9. 131. Apparently a false form; it should rather be torcenous, from O.F. torconos, torcenous, exacting; see Godefroy.

Torcious, adj. exacting, I. ii. 2. 73. Probably for torcenous (see above).

To-tere, v. rend in pieces, II. 255; XX. 488; pt. s. tore to pieces, VII. 178.

Traveyled, pp. worked for, I. iii. 5. 112; Travall, pr. pl. labour, II. 426.

Trenchours, s. pl. trenchers, i.e. pieces of bread used as plates, I. i. pr. 109.

Troncheoun, s. thick and short staff (properly, a broken piece of a spear), XX. 253.

Twinkling, s. small point, least matter, I. i. 1. 28. (Lit. glimmer, glimpse.)

Underput, pp. shored up, supported, I. ii. 7. 72; subjected, I. i. 9. 38; subject, I. i. 9. 52.

Understonde, pp. understood, I. iii. 3. 77; II. 683; Understande, I. iii. 6. 65; Understont, pr. s. II. 792; Understondeth, imp. pl. V. 428.

Unneth, adv. scarcely, I. i. pr. 28; II. 789; IV. 196; XX. 46; with difficulty, I. iii. 9. 76.

Unshitte, v. open, unfasten, I. iii. 1. 160; Unshit, disclose, XXIV. 1245; Unshet, 2 pr. pl. I. i. 4. 41; pp. opened, XVI. 65.

Unweldy, adj. unwieldy, hence, infirm, XV. a. 4; XV. b. 2; weak, VII. 145.

Unwetinge, pres. pt. unwitting, I. i. 7. 110; but an error for unwist, i.e. unknown.

Voiden, v. (to) take away, XXIV. 628; escape, XIII. 52; pr. s. retreats, I. i. 5. 34.

Voyde, ger. to banish, IX. 116; v. escape, I. i. 3. 140; set aside, I. iii. 6. 15; pr. s. dispels, I. ii. 10. 34; departs, I. i. 10. 95.

Want, 1 pr. s. lack, do not possess, do not know, XX. 150; pr. s. is lacking, XVI. 449.

Weder, s. weather, I. i. pr. 123; Wedder, XVII. 4; pl. storms, I. i. 3. 63; I. ii. 9. 130; I. iii. 5. 25.

Welde, v. possess, II. 118, 416, 702; manage, XXIV. 227; 1 pr. s. I. ii. 12. 91.

Welke, 1 pr. s. wither, I. ii. 11. 105; Welked, pp. withered, old, I. iii. 5. 33; withered, wrinkled, I. iii. 5. 37.

Wellen, pr. pl. rise up, have their source, I. i. 2. 151; pres. pt. flowing, I. i. 1. 86.

Wenen, pr. pl. imagine, I. ii. 3. 38; 1 pt. s. expected, I. i. 3. 65; 2 pt. s. didst expect, I. ii. 14. 80; Wenden, pt. pl. imagined, I. ii. 11. 9; Wend (old text, went), imagined, XXI. 34; Went, pr. s. weens, imagines, guesses, VIII. 462. See note.

Werche, pr. s. subj. operate, I. ii. 13. 127; pres. pt. working, active, I. ii. 5. 43.

Were, pt. pl. subj. should be, XI. 64; Wern, pt. pl. were, I. iii. 8. 91.

Wete, ger. to know, I. i. 3. 18; Weten, 2 pr. pl. I. i. 8. 80; II. 1206; pr. pl. I. iii. 8. 128.

Wexeth, pr. s. grows, XX. 14; pres. pt. I. iii. 1. 30; Wexte, pt. s. became, I. i. 2. 24.

Weyve, ger. to put away, I. ii. 10. 40; v. put aside, I. ii. 7. 100; pr. s. subj. I. iii. 1. 136; 2 pr. s. rejectest, I. iii. 6. 154; pr. s. rejects, I. ii. 13. 95; pp. I. i. 1. 63; I. ii. 14. 36; I. iii. 8. 154.

Wheel, s. turning wheel, winding staircase, XXI. 55 (see note); orbit, I. ii. 1. 124.

Wherthrough, adv. whereby, I. i. 4. 53; X. 103; wherefore, I. ii. 13. 109.

Willers, s. pl. wishers, II. 228; gen. such w., of men who so desire, II. 780.

Wilne, ger. to desire, I. i. 6. 101; v. I. iii. 4. 11; 2 pr. pl. II. 1250; pr. pl. II. 118; pp. I. iii. 6. 111.

Wimpeln, pr. pl. cover as with a wimple, I. ii. 14. 25; pp. covered up, I. iii. 9. 76.

Wite, v. know, XXI. 749; Witen, 2 pr. pl. know, XVIII. 266; Wistest, 2 pt. s. I. i. 8. 31; Wist, pp. known, II. 1092.

Withdrawe, ger. to draw back, hold in, I. ii. 6. 84; pr. s. draws away, I. ii. 5. 129.

With-holde, pp. retained, I. ii. 8. 121; XVIII. 289; kept back, I. iii. 3. 114.

Withies, s. pl. withies, twigs of willow, XVI. 186. (F. text, Entrelacee de saulx vers.)

Withsaye, ger. to contradict, I. i. 2. 184; I. i. 8. 65; v. gainsay, II. 599.

Woir, pt. s. carried, wafted away, XVII. 165. (It seems to be merely a peculiar use of E. wore, pt. t. of wear; cf. boir, bore, in l. 166.)

Wolle, s. wool, I. ii. 2. 28 (see the note, p. 465); IV. 299; Woll, II. 177, 594.

Woweth, pr. pl. move, I. ii. 1. 21. Put for waweth; and properly singular.

Wox, 1 pt. s. became, I. i. 4. 30; grew, XVII. 102; Woxen, pp. I. iii. 5. 24.

Wreke, v. avenge, XXIV. 702; pp. VIII. 284; Wreche, pr. pl. subj. X. 41.

Wyte, ger. to blame, I. iii. 7. 145; II. 577; XVII. 134; 1 pr. s. blame (for it), VIII. 460; imp. s. blame (for), I. iii. 1. 170; imp. pl. II. 1373; V. 376.

Yede, 1 pt. s. went, VIII. 120; pt. s. I. i. 10. 111; XX. 54; pt. pl. XX. 295, 301.

Yelde, ger. to pay, X. 112; v. yield, render, II. 778; pr. s. subj. may (He) repay, XXI. 360; pr. pl. subj. may yield, I. iii. 9. 93.

Yerne, adv. quickly; as y., very quickly, I. ii. 8. 41; Yern, eagerly, XXIV. 1299.

Yeve, 1 pr. s. give, XI. 80; 2 pr. pl. III. 208; pr. pl. I. i. pr. 18; pp. XVIII. 279; XXIV. 278.

Yolden, pp. yielded, I. i. 7. 30; returned, I. i. 3. 107; repaid, I. iii. 5. 140.

Alexander, I. iii. 2. 26; II. 335; Alisaundre, I. ii. 2. 114; IV. 36; Alisander, I. i. pr. 89; IV. 281; gen. XII. 96.

Aristotel, I. iii. 2. 87; I. iii. 7. 59; Aristotle, I. i. pr. 64, 117; I. ii. 1. 105; I. ii. 5. 5.

Cipryde, Venus, IX. 20. (Venus and Cipryde, Venus and the Cyprian goddess, really one and the same.)

Cleopatre, Cleopatra, IX. 195; XXIV. 873; Cleopatras, XXI. 462; gen. XIII. 86.

Demophoon, Demophon, XXI. 458; spelt Demophon, VIII. 380; Demophoun, VIII. 70.

Henry Curtmantil, Henry II. (see the note), I. ii. 7. 17; Henry (IV.), IV. 358; gen. IV. 272.

Johan, St. John, VIII. 12; John, II. 226; gen. II. 193; king John, I. ii. 6. 81.

Jupiter, I. i. 5. 10, 127; I. ii. 9. 108; Juppiter, XVII. 169; gen. I. i. 9. 68.

Mercurius, Mercury, XVII. 239; gen. I. ii. 14. 46; Mercury, I. ii. 13. 92; XXIV. 56.

Phebus, Phoebus, VIII. 3, 358; XVII. 197; the sun, XVII. 14; XX. 1; XXII. 30; (an emblem of the Holy Ghost), X. 83; gen. VIII. 55, 597; XXIV. 88.

Tytan, s. the sun, VIII. 28; IX. 265; XVII. 9; (as an emblem of Jesus), X. 114.

A large number of the Notes refer to explanations of peculiar words and to proper names; the references to these will be found in the Glossarial Index and in the Index of Names. A few other subjects of more general interest are also discussed; the chief of these are indexed below. The references are to the pages.

Adam, P., Esq., Kidderminster.

Adams, Samuel, Esq., New Barnet.

Ainger, Rev. Canon, Hampstead, London, N.W.

Aldenham, The Right Hon. Lord.

Alderson, Mrs., Worksop.

Allbutt, Prof. Dr. T. Clifford, Cambridge.

Allen, Rev. Canon, Shrewsbury.

Allen, E. G., Bookseller, London, W.C.

Alsop, J. W., Esq., Birkenhead.

Anderson, A., Esq., M.D., Mirfield.

Anderson, J. R., Esq., Keswick.

Angus & Robertson, Booksellers, Sydney, N.S.W. (two copies).

Archer-Hind, R. D., Esq., M.A., Trinity College, Cambridge.

Armour, G. A., Esq., Chicago, U.S.A.

Armours, F. J., Esq., Glasgow.

Army & Navy Co-operative Society, London, S.W. (four copies).

Asher & Co., Booksellers, Berlin (eight copies).

Athenaeum Club, (The), London, S.W.

Athenaeum Library, (The), Liverpool.

Auddy, Sumbhoo Chunder, Esq., Calcutta.

Babcock, L. H., Esq., New York City, U.S.A.

Bacchus, Rev. F., Edgbaston.

Bacon, His Honor Judge, London, W.

Bailey, Rev. J. G., M.A., LL.D., F.S.A., Rochester.

Baillie, A. W. M., Esq., London, W.C.

Baillie's Institution Free Library, Glasgow.

Bain, James, Bookseller, London, S.W. (seven copies).

Baird, J. G. A., Esq., M.P., London, S.W.

[610]

Baker, J., & Son, Booksellers, Clifton (two copies).

Balcarres, Lord, M.P., Wigan.

Barbeau, A., Esq.

Barry, William, Esq., B.C.S., (retired) Strathavon, N.B.

Bartleet, Rev. S. E., M.A., F.S.A., Gloucester.

Bartlett, W. H., & Co., Booksellers, London, E.C.

Barwell, Rev. A. H. Sanxay, Worthing.

Beauchamp, The Right Hon. Earl, Malvern Link.

Beljame, Prof. Alexandre, University of Paris.

Bell, H. J., Esq., London, S.W.

Bell, Sheriff Russell, Campbeltown, N.B.

Bellars, W. B., Esq., Limpsfield, Surrey.

Bemrose, Sir H. H., M.P., Derby.

Bennett, R. A., Esq., Edgbaston.

Bentinck-Smith, W. F., Esq., Christ's College, Cambridge.

Bernays, Albert E., Esq., Trinity College, Cambridge.

Besant, Sir Walter, Hampstead, London, N.W.

Bevan, G. L., Esq., London, W.

Bibliotheek van de Rijks-Universiteit te Groningen.

Bibliothèque Albert-Dumont, Paris.

Bibliothèque de l'École Normale Supérieure.

Bibliothèque de l'Université de Bordeaux.

Bibliothèque de l'Université de Paris.

Bibliothèque de l'Université de Poitiers.

Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris.

Bickers & Son, Booksellers, London, W.C. (thirty copies).

Billson, C. J., Esq., M.A., Leicester.

Bilsland, William, Esq., Glasgow.

Binney, Rev. M. F., Sutton, Lancashire.

Birmingham Free Libraries; Reference Department.

Birmingham Library.

Black, Rev. C. M., Edinburgh.

Blackburn, Prof., Fort William, N.B.

Blackwell, B. H., Bookseller, Oxford (six copies).

Boardman, A., Bookseller, Bishop's Stortford.

Bois, H. G., Esq., Colombo, Ceylon.

Bolton, T. H., Esq., Manchester.

[611]

Bolton Subscription Library.

Bond, E., Esq., M.P., London, N.W.

Bootle Free Library.

Borland, William, Esq., Glasgow.

Boston Athenaeum, Boston, Mass., U.S.A.

Boston Public Library, Boston, Mass., U.S.A.

Boulter, H. B., Esq., F.R.C.S., Richmond, Surrey.

Bradley, Prof., University, Glasgow.

Brasenose College Library, Oxford.

Brear, Thomas, & Co., Ltd., Booksellers, Bradford.

Brett, Charles H., Esq., Belfast.

Brierley, H., Esq., Bury.

Brighton Public Library.

Bristol Museum Reference Library.

Brockhaus, F. A., Bookseller, Leipzig (three copies).

Brockhaus, F. A., Bookseller, London, E.C.

Brocklebank, Thomas, Esq., Irton Hall, Cumberland.

Broke, P. V., Esq., Eton College.

Brooke, Herbert Otto Wildman Goodwyn, Esq., I.C.S.

Brooke, Miss Maud, St. John's Wood, London, N.W.

Brooke, Rev. Stopford A., M.A., London, W.

Brooke, Thomas, Esq., F.S.A., Huddersfield.

Brophy, M. M., Esq., Bloomsbury, London, W.C.

Brown, John Taylor, Esq., LL.D., Edinburgh.

Brown, J. T. T., Esq., Glasgow.

Brown, William, Bookseller, Edinburgh (seven copies).

Brown, Rev. Canon William Haig, LL.D., Charterhouse, Godalming.

Browning, Oscar, Esq., King's College, Cambridge.

Bruer, R. T. Hamilton, Esq., Dornoch, N.B.

Brushfield, T. N., Esq., M.D., Budleigh Salterton.

Bryn Mawr College, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.

Buckley, Mrs. Abel, Andenshaw, near Manchester.

Buckley, R. J., Esq., Heaton Chapel, near Manchester.

Buffalo Library, Buffalo, U.S.A.

Buller, G. C., Esq., London, E.C.

Bumby, Fred. E., Esq., University College, Nottingham.

Bumpus, J. & E., Ltd., Booksellers, London, W. (six copies).

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Bunce, J. Thackray, Esq., Edgbaston.

Burne-Jones, Sir Edward, Bart., West Kensington, London, W.

Burnside, H., Bookseller, Blackheath, London, S.E.

Burrows, Dr., Hampstead, London, N.W.

Butler, A. J., Esq., Weybridge, Surrey.

Butterworth & Co., Booksellers, London, E.C.

Byrne, The Right Hon. Mr. Justice.

California State Library, Sacramento, Cal., U.S.A.

Carey, F. S., Esq., Liverpool.

Carlingford, The Right Hon. Lord, Bath.

Carlisle, The Right Hon. the Earl of, York.

Carslake, L. B., Esq., London, E.C.

Carswell, Robert, Esq., C.A., Glasgow.

Carte, Lucas D'Oyly, Esq., London, W.C.

Carter, J. M., Esq., Eton College.

Carter, T. A., Esq., Stratford-on-Avon.

Case, Robert H., Esq., B.A., Liverpool.

Caudwell, Job, Esq., F.R.S.L., Wandsworth, London, S.W.

Cecil, Henry, Esq., Bournemouth.

Chadwick, S. J., Esq., Dewsbury.

Champneys, A. C., Esq., Marlborough College.

Chance, F., Esq., London, S.E.

Chapman, J. J., Esq., Whitby.

Chapple, E., Bookseller, Plymouth.

Cheney, G., Esq., F.S.A., London, S.W.

Chester Free Public Library; T. M. Wilcock, Esq., Librarian.

Cheyne, Ernest, Esq., West Norwood, London, S.E.

Christ Church Library, Oxford.

Churchill, J., Esq., Shortlands, Kent.

Cincinnati Public Library.

Clapham, John, Esq., J.P., Manchester.

Clare College Library, Cambridge.

Clark, Prof. E. C., Cambridge.

Clark, Oscar W., Esq., M.B. Oxon., Gloucester.

Clark, W., Esq., D.C.L., F.R.S.C., Trinity College, Toronto.

Clarke, W. H. D., Esq., London, E.C.

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Claye, Capt. H. Sandford, Macclesfield.

Coats, Prof. Joseph, Glasgow.

Cobbold, Felix T., Esq., Felixstowe, Suffolk.

Cock, Alfred, Esq., Q.C., London, W.

Cohen, F., Bookseller, Bonn.

Colquhoun, E., Esq., London, W.

Columbia University Library, New York.

Colville, H. Ker, Esq., Market Drayton.

Cooke, John, Esq., M.A., Dublin.

Cooper, Miss A., London, W.

Cornell University Library, Ithaca, N.Y., U.S.A.

Corner, Samuel, Esq., B.A., B.Sc., West Nottingham (two copies).

Cornish Bros., Booksellers, Birmingham.

Corpus Christi College Library, Cambridge.

Corpus Christi College Library, Oxford.

Crabbie of Duncow, J. M., Esq., Dumfries.

Cracroft, R. W., Esq., Temple, London, E.C.

Crampton, W. T., Esq., Leeds.

Crawford, Robert, Esq., M.D., Glasgow.

Crewe, The Right Hon. Earl.

Cross, J. H., Esq., Hammersmith, London, W.

Crowther, Alfred, Esq., Huddersfield.

Cruickshank, J. W., Esq., Haslemere.

Cummings, William H., Esq., F.S.A., West Dulwich, London, S.E.

Cunliff, R. J., Esq., M.A., LL.B., Glasgow.

Currie, John, Esq., Glasgow.

Da Costa, J. M., Esq., Philadelphia, U.S.A.

Dale, Sir David.

Dale, J., & Co., Booksellers, Bradford.

Dalton, Rev. John Neale, M.A., F.S.A., Canon of St. George's, Windsor.

Darwin, W. E., Esq., Southampton.

Davey, Right Hon. Lord Justice.

Davidson, R., Esq., Port Elizabeth, South Africa.

Davidson, Thomas, Esq., Edinburgh.

Davies, J. M., Esq., F.S.S., Glasgow.

[614]

Davies, W. R., Esq.

Davis, J., Esq., Holloway, London, N.

Deighton, Bell & Co., Booksellers, Cambridge (nine copies).

Denny, A. & F., Booksellers, London, W.C. (seven copies).

Dick, James C., Esq., Newcastle-on-Tyne.

Dick, William, Esq., Edinburgh.

Dickinson, R., Esq., Dudley.

Dillon, John, Esq., M.P., Dublin.

Dixon, Joseph, Esq., London, E.C.

Doak, Rev. Andrew, M.A., Aberdeen.

Dobbie, Prof. J. J., M.A., University College, Bangor.

Doggett, Hugh G., Esq., Clifton.

Doncaster, J. H., Esq., B.A., Sheffield.

Dorey, M., Esq., Dublin.

Douglas & Foulis, Booksellers, Edinburgh (six copies).

Downing, William, Esq., Chaucer Head Library, Birmingham.

Drake, R. I., Bookseller, Eton (four copies).

Dresden Public Library.

Drexel Institute, Philadelphia, U.S.A.

Duff, Prof. J. Wight, Durham College of Science, Newcastle-on-Tyne.

Dulau & Co., Booksellers, London, W. (two copies).

Duncan, Hon. George.

Duncan, W. A., Esq., Woolton, Liverpool.

Dunn, Mrs. Colmore, London, W.

Dunn, Miss Sara R., Thirsk.

Durham, The Right Rev. Lord Bishop of.

Earle, Miss, Newnham College, Cambridge.

Eccles, Miss Jane Helen, London, S.W.

Edinburgh Free Public Library.

Edwards, Francis, Bookseller, Marylebone, London, W. (two copies).

Edwards, John, Esq., Glasgow.

Ellershaw, Rev. H., M.A., Durham.

Elliot, Andrew, Bookseller, Edinburgh.

Ellis, F. S., Esq., Torquay.

Englisches Seminar der Universität, Grätz, Austria.

[615]

Englisches Seminar der Universität, Strassburg.

Evans, H. A., Esq., Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester.

Everard, C. H., Esq., East Grinstead.

Exeter College, Oxford, The Rev. the Rector of.

Exeter College Library, Oxford.

Faber, Reginald S., Esq., London, N.W.

Faculty of Procurators (The), Glasgow.

Fairbairn, Rev. A. M., M.A., D.D., LL.D., Principal of Mansfield College, Oxford.

Fane, W. D., Esq., Grantham.

Fanshawe, H. C., Esq., Lahore, India.

Farwell, George, Esq., Q.C., London, W.

Faunthorpe, Rev. J. P., Whitelands College, Chelsea, London, S.W.

Fawn, J., & Son, Booksellers, Bristol.

Finlay, Sir Robert B., Q.C., London, W.

Firth College, Sheffield.

Fisher, W. E. Garratt, Esq., Richmond, Surrey.

Flecker, Rev. W. H., D.C.L., Cheltenham.

Fleming, George, Esq., C.B., LL.D., F.R.C.V.S., Combe Martin, N. Devon.

Fletcher, Charles E., Esq., Maidstone.

Flower, Wickham, Esq., London, S.W.

Ford, Hon. W. C., Washington, D.C., U.S.A.

Förster, Prof. Dr. Max, University, Bonn.

Foster, Prof. Gregory, London, W.

Fowler, H. W., Esq., Sedbergh.

Fox, Mrs. Hamilton, Keston, Kent.

Fox, F. F., Esq., Gloucester.

Fox, J. R., Esq., London, E.C.

Frapnell, Alfred, Esq., Clifton.

Fraser, John, Esq., Liverpool.

Frazer, J. G., Esq., Trinity College, Cambridge.

Freeman, Rev. J., Wakefield.

Freshfield, W. D., Esq., London, W.

Fry, Miss, Clifton.

Fuller-Maitland, J. A., Esq., London, W.

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Gardner, Dr., Royton, near Manchester.

Gaye, Arthur, Esq., Ealing, London, W.

Gebhardt, Prof. von, Leipzig.

Geneva Public Library.

George's Sons, Booksellers, Bristol.

Gerich, F. E., Esq., Beckenham.

Gerold & Co., Booksellers, Vienna.

Gilbert & Field, Booksellers, London, E.C. (five copies).

Gillford, George, Esq., Redland, Bristol.

Gilmour, T. L., Esq., West Hampstead, London, N.W.

Gilray, Prof. Thomas, M.A., University of Otago, Dunedin, N.Z.

Ginn, S. R., Esq., Cambridge.

Goldsmith, G. P., Esq., M.D., Bedford.

Gollancz, I., Esq., Christ's College, Cambridge.

Gordon, Rev. J. M., Redhill, Surrey.

Goulden, W. E., Bookseller, Canterbury.

Gover, W. S., Esq., London, E.C.

Gowans, Adam L., Esq., Glasgow.

Greenfield, T. C., Esq., Enfield.

Greenwood, Mrs., Withington, Manchester.

Greg, W. W., Esq., Trinity College, Cambridge.

Gregory, H. E., Esq., Hurst Green, Sussex.

Grierson, Prof. H. J. C., M.A., Aberdeen.

Griffith, G., Esq., Harrow.

Grossherzogliche Bibliothek, Weimar.

Grove, Rev. W. H., Rochester.

Guildhall Library, London, E.C.

Gully, the Right Hon. W. C., Speaker of the House of Commons.

Gunn, Thomas Butler, Esq., Banbury.

Gunn, W., Esq., Edinburgh.

Gutch, Mrs., York.

Guy, Robert, Esq., Glasgow.

Haigh, F., Esq., Leeds.

Haines, Gregory, Esq., Putney, London, S.W.

Hales, Rev. C. T., Newton-le-Willows, Yorks.

Halewood, A., Bookseller, Preston.

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Hall, F. J., Esq., Wavertree.

Hall, Joseph, Esq., M.A., Manchester.

Hallworth, Arthur, Esq., Manchester.

Hamilton, W., Esq., Liverpool.

Hannen, H. A., Esq., Ashburton.

Harben, H. A., Esq., London, W.

Harrassowitz, Otto, Bookseller, Leipzig (three copies).

Harrington, Dr., Birkenhead.

Harris, William, Esq., J.P., Edgbaston.

Harrison, Miss, York.

Hartland, E. Sidney, Esq., Gloucester.

Harvard College Library, Mass., U.S.A.

Harvey, H. C., Esq., Ryton-on-Tyne.

Harvey, Rev. Ralph, M.A., Cork.

Hatchards, Booksellers, Piccadilly, London (twelve copies).

Haupt, Prof. Dr., Giessen.

Hawthorn, J., Bookseller, Uppingham.

Heath, Prof.

Helme, Rev. Robert, Hassocks.

Heywood, John, Bookseller, Manchester (two copies).

Higgins, A. P., Esq., Downing College, Cambridge.

Hill, George W., Esq., Glasgow.

Hill, Mrs. James S., W. Hampstead, London, N.W.

Hirschfeld Bros., Booksellers, London, E.C.

Hitchman, John, Bookseller, Birmingham.

Hodgson, T. T., Esq.

Hölder, A., Esq., Vienna.

Hollingworth, Miss, London, W.

Hollins, F., Esq., Eastbourne.

Holmes, Timothy, Esq., London, W.

Hore, J. C., Esq., Highbury Hill, London, N.

Horne, A. B., Esq., Temple, London, E.C.

Hornell, R., Esq., London, E.C.

Horsfall, T. C., Esq., J.P., Macclesfield.

How, Walter W., Esq., M.A., Merton College, Oxford.

Hubbart, H. E., Esq., Nottingham.

Hudson, Rev. C. H. Bickerton, M.A., Magdalen College, Oxford.

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Hughes, W. R., Esq., F.L.S., Birmingham.

Hughes, Dr., Plymouth.

Hull Subscription Library.

Hunter, R. W., Bookseller, Edinburgh.

Hurst, G. H. J., Esq., Eton College.

Hutchison, Rev. John, D.D., Edinburgh.

Inner Temple Library, London.

Irving, C. S., Esq., Tiverton.

Jacks, William, Esq., M.P., Glasgow.

Jackson, C. H., Esq., London, E.C.

Jackson, Rev. J., Bampton, Oxon.

Jacobs, Joseph, Esq., West Hampstead, London, N.W.

James, Mrs. C. H., Merthyr Tydvil.

Jameson, T., Esq., London, W.C.

Jekyll, Colonel, London, W.

Jenkins, Mrs., Chalfont St. Peter's, Bucks.

Jenkins, Sir James, K.C.B., Plymouth.

Jesus College Library, Cambridge.

Joachim, H. H., Esq., M.A., Oxford.

John, E. T., Esq., Middlesbrough.

Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, U.S.A.

Johnson, C. P., Esq., London, W.

Johnson, E., Bookseller, Cambridge.

Johnson, H., Esq., Bath.

Johnson, Wilfrid R., Esq., Rochester.

Johnston, G. P., Bookseller, Edinburgh.

Johnstone, P. de Lacy, Esq., M.A., Edinburgh.

Jonas, Edward A., Esq., Henderson, Ky., U.S.A.

Jones, H. R., Esq., Richmond, Surrey.

Jones, R. M., Esq., M.A., Belfast.

Jones, W. Lewis, Esq., M.A., University College, Bangor.

Jones, William, Bookseller, 6 Duke St., Cardiff.

Joy, A., Esq., London, S.W.

Karkeck, Paul Q., Esq., Torquay.

Kenrick, Archibald, Esq., Edgbaston.

Kenyon, George, Esq., London, S.W.

[619]

Ker, W. P., Esq., London, W.C.

Kershaw, A. H., Esq., Bristol.

Keys, H. W., Esq., Forest Officer, Dhulia, W. Khandesh, India.

King's College, Cambridge.

King's Inns Library, Dublin.

Kirberger & Kesper, Booksellers, Amsterdam (two copies).

Kirkcudbright Institute Library.

Kitchen, T. M., Esq., Farnham.

Kitchin, George, Esq., Bromley, Kent.

Koehler's (K. F.) Antiquarium, Leipzig.

Koeppel, Prof. Dr., Strassburg.

Lake Forest University Library, U.S.A.

Lancashire Independent College, Manchester.

Landor, R. Henry, Esq., B.A., LL.M., Rugeley.

Lange, R., Esq., St. Petersburg.

Larmuth, Dr., Manchester.

Laurie, Prof. S. S., LL.D., Edinburgh.

Lawley, Hon. & Rev. S., Exminster.

Lawrence, A. J., Bookseller, Rugby.

Layton, Rev. W. E., M.A., F.S.A., Worcester Park, Surrey.

Leeds Library.

Legislative Library, Toronto.

Leigh, W. B., Esq., Heaton Mersey.

Le Soudier, H., Bookseller, Paris.

Library Company, Philadelphia, U.S.A.

Library of Parliament, Ottawa.

Linging, Edward W., Esq., London, E.C.

Linton, Frederick T. C., Esq., Edinburgh.

Littleboy, Miss Anna L., London, W.C.

Liveing, Prof. G. D., St. John's College, Cambridge.

Liverpool Free Public Library.

Locke, Cyril L. C., Esq., Winchfield.

Lowe, J. W., Esq., Temple, London, E.C.

Lyster, T. W., Esq., Dublin.

Macandrew, J., Esq., London, N.W.

Macandrew, William, Esq., Colchester.

[620]

Mac Brayne, D., Esq., Jun., Glasgow.

Mc Gee, W., Bookseller, Dublin.

Mc Gill, H. J., Esq., Elstree.

Mc Ilwraith, William, Esq., Wolverhampton.

Mack, Rev. A. W. Bradshaw, Swords.

Mackay, Rev. G. S., Doune, N.B.

McKelvie, Miss, Lamlash, Arran.

McKerrow, R. B., Esq., London, S.W.

Mackey, A. J., Esq., Twyford, Berks.

Mackinlay, J. T. C., Esq., Pollokshields, Glasgow.

Maclean, Rev. M., B.D., Brodick, Arran.

McLintock, Robert, Esq., Liverpool.

Macmillan & Bowes, Booksellers, Cambridge (twenty-four copies).

McNicol, R. S., Esq., Glasgow.

Macniven & Wallace, Booksellers, Edinburgh.

Macrory, Edmund, Esq., Q.C., Temple, London, E.C.

Madhowlal, Chinoobhai, Esq., Ahmedabad, India.

Madras Christian College Library.

Magdalen College, The President of, Oxford.

Magdalen College Library, Oxford.

Malcolm, R., Esq., Dollar.

Malden, H. E., Esq., Holmwood, Surrey.

Manchester Free Library.

Manchester Grammar School.

Manfield, Sir Philip, Northampton.

Manley, F. E., Esq., London, N.

Mann, James, Esq., Glasgow.

Marks, Geoffrey, Esq., London, W.

Marriott, W. K., Esq., Barking.

Marshall, J. W., Esq., M.A., Charterhouse, Godalming.

Martel, L. O., Esq., Paris.

Martin, Sir Theodore, K.C.B., London, S.W.

Marwick, Sir James D., LL.D., F.R.S.E., Glasgow.

Maskelyne, N. Story, Esq., Swindon.

Mason Science College Library, Birmingham.

Mathieson, F. C., Esq., Hampstead, London, N.W.

Matthews & Brooke, Booksellers, Bradford.

[621]

Matveieff, B., Esq., London, W.

Melbourne Public Library.

Melven Bros., Booksellers, Nairn.

Melville, Right Hon. Viscount, Lasswade, N.B.

Melville, Mullen & Slade, Booksellers, Melbourne (two copies).

Merchant Taylors' School Library, London, E.C.

Merton College Library, Oxford.

Metcalfe, Reginald, Esq., Penrith.

Michell, William, Esq., Redruth, Cornwall.

Middlemore, Thomas, Esq., J.P., London, W.

Middlesbrough Free Library.

Mill, Miss, Liverpool.

Miller, Rev. W., LL.D., C.I.E., Principal, Christian College, Madras.

Millson, Rev. F. E., Halifax.

Minshull & Meeson, Booksellers, Chester.

Mitchell Library (The), Glasgow.

Moberly Library, Winchester.

Moir, James, Esq., LL.D., Aberdeen.

Montefiore, Claude G., Esq., London, W. (two copies).

Montgomery, James, Bookseller, Londonderry.

Morgan, John W., Esq., Glasgow.

Morison, A. J., Esq., West Dulwich, London, S.E.

Morison, John, Esq., Glasgow.

Morris, Prof., Melbourne.

Munro, Thomas, Esq., Hamilton, N.B.

Murdoch, Rev. Alexander Guthrie, M.A., B.D., Wallacetown, Ayr.

Murison, William, Esq., M.A., Aberdeen.

Nash, Edmund, Esq., M.D., Notting Hill, London, W.

National Library of Ireland, Dublin.

Nesbitt, A., Esq., Barnes.

Nettleford, F., Esq., London, W.C.

New, G., Bookseller, Eton.

New Haven Free Public Library, New Haven, U.S.A.

New University Club, London.

New York Public Library.

New York State Library.

[622]

Newcastle-on-Tyne Public Library.

Nicholson, Prof. J., Aberdeen.

Nicholson, Prof. J. Shield, Edinburgh.

Noble, William, Esq., Liverpool.

Nock, Lawrence Frederick, Esq., Birmingham.

Normal Seminary (The), Glasgow.

Norwich Free Library.

Notcutt, H. Clement, Esq., South African College, Cape Town.

Nottingham Central Free Public Library.

Nutt, David, Bookseller, London, W.C. (five copies).

Ogilvie, Joseph, Esq., LL.D., Aberdeen.

O'Grady, Standish Hayes, Esq., Hon. Litt. D. Cantab., London, W.

Oldham Free Library.

Oliphant, T. L. Kington, Esq., Auchterarder, N.B.

Oriel College Library, Oxford.

Ormerod, William, Esq., J.P., Todmorden, Lancashire.

Orr, John F., Esq., Glasgow.

Owens College, Manchester.

Oxford and Cambridge Club, London, S.W.

Oxford Union Society, Oxford.

Parker, J., & Co., Booksellers, Oxford (two copies).

Parkinson, John Wilson, Esq., Tottenham.

Parry, C. Hubert, Esq., Rustington, Sussex.

Parsons, J. R., Esq., Yokohama, Japan.

Passauvert, Mons. A., St. Petersburg.

Paterson, Douglas, Esq., M.A., Melbourne.

Paterson, Maurice, Esq., LL.D., Free Church Training College, Edinburgh.

Paterson, William Romaine, Esq., Glasgow.

Patterson, Arthur J., Esq., Buda-Pesth.

Pattin, Dr. H. Cooper, M.A., D.P.H., Norwich.

Payne, F. J., Esq., London, E.C.

Peabody Institute, Baltimore, U.S.A.

Pearce, W. R., Esq., Glasgow.

Pearse, H., Bookseller, Rochdale.

Pembroke College Library, Cambridge.

[623]

Penson, G. W., Esq., London, W.

Peoria Public Library, Ill., U.S.A.

Perkins, Mrs. G. C., Hartford, Conn., U.S.A.

Perkins, O. T., Esq., Wellington College.

Permanent Library (The), Leicester.

Phinn, Rev. C. P., Watford.

Pinsent, Hume C., Esq., Harborne, Birmingham.

Pitman, Rev. A. A.

Pittar, P. M., Esq., London, S.W.

Platt, J. A., Esq., M.A., London, W.

Pollock, Sir Frederick, Bart., M.A., Corpus Christi College, Oxford.

Ponsonby, E., Bookseller, Dublin.

Pooler, Rev. Charles Knox, M.A., Belfast.

Port Elizabeth Public Library, South Africa.

Porter, R. T., Esq.

Portico Library, Manchester.

Poulter, R. C., Bookseller, London, W.C. (two copies).

Power, H., Esq., London, W.

Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, N.Y., U.S.A.

Price, F. G. Hilton, Esq., F.S.A., London, S.W.

Proctor, R., Esq.

Quaritch, Bernard, Bookseller, London, W. (eight copies).

Queen's College, Belfast.

Queen's College, Melbourne.

Queen's College Library, Oxford.

Quinn, M. T., Esq., M.A., F.R.Hist.S., London, S.W.

Radcliffe, F. M., Esq., Liverpool.

Raleigh, Prof., University College, Liverpool.

Reffitt-Oldfield, J., Esq., London, W.C.

Regnart, H. G., Esq., Cambridge.

Reichel, Principal H.R., M.A., University College of North Wales, Bangor.

Renouf, E. M., Bookseller, Montreal.

Renshaw, W., Esq., London, W.

Reynolds, Miss Clare, London, W.

Richards, F., Esq., M.A., Bath.

Richardson & Co., Booksellers, London, S.W.

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Ridley, Thomas D., Esq., Redcar.

Ripon, The Most Hon. The Marquis of, K.G.

Ritchie, Prof. William, South African College, Cape Town.

Rittenhouse Club, Philadelphia, U.S.A.

Robarts, N. F., Esq., F.G.S., Croydon.

Roberts, Charles J., Esq., B.A., Folkestone.

Roberts, D. Lloyd, Esq., M.D., F.R.C.P., F.R.S. Edin., Manchester.

Roberts, Sir Owen, London, E.C.

Robertson & Co., Booksellers, Melbourne (two copies).

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From the Crede.	From the Tale.
Curteis Crist (1, 140).	curteys Christ (482).
cutted cote (434).	cutted clothes (929).
y can nohȝt my Crede (8).	Suche that conne nat hir Crede (413).
At marketts and myracles, we medleth us nevere (107).	Market-beters, and medling make (871).
For we buldeth a burwȝ, a brod and a large (118).	And builde als brode as a citè (743).
portreid and peint (121).	I-paynted and portred (135).
peynt and portred (192).
y sey coveitise catel to fongen (146).	To catche catell as covytous (385; cf. 856).
[xxxiv] Of double worstede y-dyȝt (228).	With double worsted well y-dight (1002).
Than ther lefte in Lucifer, er he were lowe fallen (374).	As lowe as Lucifer such shall fall (124).
opon the plow hongen (421).	honged at the plow (1042).
povere in gost God him-self blisseth (521).	The pore in spirit gan Christ blesse (915).
ben maysters icalled, That the gentill Jesus ... purly defended (574).	Maysters be called defended he tho (1115).
to brenne the bodye in a bale of fijr (667).	Thou shalt be brent in balefull fyre (1234).
Thei shulden nouȝt after the face ... demen (670).	They nolde nat demen after th face (714).
Thei schulden delven and diggen and dongen the erthe,	Threshing and dyking fro town to town,
And mene mong-corn bred to her mete fongen (785).	With sory mete, and not half y-now (1043).
He miȝte no maistre ben kald, for Crist that defended (838).	Maysters be called defended he tho (1115).

Philosophy	relating to the body		natural: the quadrivium.
			reasonable: the trivium.
	relating to the soul: moral: the cardinal virtues.
Law	law: natural.
	right: reasonable.
	custom	written: constitution.
		unwritten: usage.

The Project Gutenberg eBook of Chaucerian and Other Pieces

THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE

		PAGE
Introduction.—§ 1. Works appended to those of Chaucer in various editions. § 2. Thynne's collection in 1532. A Praise of Women. The Lamentation of Mary Magdalen. The Remedy of Love. § 3. Other non-Chaucerian pieces. The Craft of Lovers. A Balade. The Ten Commandments of Love. The Nine Ladies Worthy. Virelai. The Judgement of Paris. A Balade pleasaunte. Another Balade. The Court of Love. § 4. Additions by Speght. Chaucer's Dream. Eight Goodly Questions. § 5. Editions and MSS. consulted. § 6. Authorities for the pieces here printed. § 7. I. The Testament of Love. § 8. The acrostic found in it. Name of the author. § 9. Fate of Thomas Usk. § 10. Idea of the work. § 11. The author's plagiarisms from Chaucer. § 12. How he stole a passage from The House of Fame. § 13. Borrowings from Troilus and Piers Plowman. § 14. The author's inaccuracies. § 15. The title; and the meaning of Margaret. § 16. Plan of the work. § 17. Outline of Book I. § 18. Outline of Book II. § 19. Outline of Book III. § 20. II. The Plowmans Tale. § 21. Never supposed to be Chaucer's. § 22. Written by the author of The Ploughmans Crede. § 23. III. Jack Upland. § 24. Date, A.D. 1402. § 25. Traces of two texts. § 26. Not originally written in alliterative verse. § 27. IV. The Praise of Peace. By John Gower. § 28. The Trentham MS. § 29. Date, A.D. 1399. § 30. V. The Letter of Cupid. By Thomas Hoccleve. § 31. VI. Two Balades. By Thomas Hoccleve. § 32. VII. A Moral Balade. By Henry Scogan. Date, about 1407. § 33. The supper at the Vintry. § 34. VIII. The Complaint of the Black Knight. By John Lydgate. § 35. His quotations from Chaucer's version of the Romaunt of the Rose. Date, about 1402. § 36. IX. The Flour of Curtesye. By John Lydgate. Date, about 1401. § 37. X. A Balade in Commendation of our Lady. By John Lydgate. § 38. A new stanza and a new MS. § 39. XI. To my Soverain Lady. By John Lydgate. § 40. XII. Ballad of Good Counsel. By John Lydgate. § 41. XIII. Beware of Doubleness. By John Lydgate. § 42. XIV. A Balade: Warning Men, &c. By John Lydgate. § 43. XV. Three Sayings. By John Lydgate. § 44. XVI. La Belle Dame sans Mercy. By Sir Richard Ros. Date, about 1460. [vi] § 45. Apparently in the Leicestershire dialect. § 46. Alan Chartier. § 47. Thynne's text and the MSS. § 48. XVII. The Testament of Cresseid. By Robert Henryson. Date, about 1460. § 49. XVIII. The Cuckoo and the Nightingale. Probably by Sir Thomas Clanvowe. § 50. The queen at Woodstock; about A.D. 1403. § 51. Clanvowe's excessive use of the final -e. § 52. His partiality for 'headless' lines. § 53. Milton's Sonnet to the Nightingale. § 54. XIX. Envoy to Alison. Not by Clanvowe. § 55. XX. The Flower and the Leaf. By the authoress of The Assembly of Ladies. § 56. The former is the earlier poem. Neither of them is by Chaucer. § 57. Variations from Chaucer's usages. § 58. Examination of the Rimes. § 59. Change in pronunciation. § 60. Gower on the Flower and the Leaf. § 61. XXI. The Assembly of Ladies. By the authoress of The Flower and the Leaf. § 62. Ordering of a medieval household. § 63. XXII. A Goodly Balade. By John Lydgate. Imperfect. § 64. XXIII. Go forth, King. By John Lydgate. § 65. Duodecim Abusiones. § 66. XXIV. The Court of Love. First printed in 1561. § 67. Tyrwhitt's plan for a Glossary to the Canterbury Tales. § 68. Moxon's edition of Chaucer; establishing an erroneous canon of Chaucer's Works. § 69. How to draw up such a canon correctly. § 70. The Court of Love discussed. § 71. The Trinity MS. and the language. § 72. Artificiality of the archaisms affected. § 73. Examination of the Rimes. § 74. Comparison with Chaucerian English. § 75. The Courts of Love. § 76. Pieces numbered XXV-XXIX. § 77. Twelve authors (at least) distinguished in the present volume. § 78. There are probably four more. § 79. Improvements in the present edition		ix
I.	Thomas Usk: The Testament of Love.
	Book I: Prologue and Chapters I-X	1
	Book II: Chapters I-XIV	46
	Book III: Chapters I-IX	101
II.	The Plowmans Tale	147
III.	Jack Upland	191
IV.	John Gower: The Praise of Peace	205
V.	Thomas Hoccleve: The Letter of Cupid	217
VI.	The same: To the Kinges most noble Grace	233
	The same: To the Lordes and Knightes of the Garter	234
VII.	Henry Scogan: A Moral Balade	237
VIII.	John Lydgate: The Complaint of the Black Knight; or, The Complaint of a Loveres Lyfe	245
IX.	The same: The Flour of Curtesye	266
X.	The same: A Balade; in Commendation of our Lady	275
XI.	The same: To my Soverain Lady	281
XII.	The same: Ballad of Good Counsel	285
[vii] XIII.	The same: Beware of Doubleness	291
XIV.	The same: A Balade: Warning Men to beware of deceitful Women	295
XV.	The same: Three Sayings	297
XVI.	Sir Richard Ros: La Belle Dame sans Mercy	299
XVII.	Robert Henryson: The Testament of Cresseid	327
XVIII.	The Cuckoo and the Nightingale; or, the Book of Cupid, God of Love. (By Clanvowe)	347
XIX.	An Envoy to Alison	359
XX.	The Flower and the Leaf (By a Lady)	361
XXI.	The Assembly of Ladies (By the same)	380
XXII.	A Goodly Balade. (By John Lydgate)	405
XXIII.	Go forth, King. (By John Lydgate)	408
XXIV.	The Court of Love	409
XXV.	A Virelai	448
XXVI.	Prosperity. (By John Walton)	449
XXVII.	Leaulte vault Richesse	449
XXVIII.	Sayings printed by Caxton	450
XXIX.	Balade in Praise of Chaucer	450
Notes to the Foregoing Pieces		451
Glossarial Index		555
Index of Names		603
Index to some subjects explained in the Notes		607