WHan that Apprill with his shouris sote
And the droughte of marche hath ꝑcid þe rote
A [...] badid euery veyne in suche licour
Of whiche vertu engendrid is the flour
Whanne zepherus eke[?] with his sote breth
Enspirid hath in euery holte and heth
The tendir croppis [...] and the yong sonne
Hath in the ram half his cours y ronne
And smale foulis mak [...] melodie
That slepyn al nyght with opyn ye
So prikith hem nature in her corage
Than longyng folk to gon on pilgremage
And palmers to seche straunge londis
To serue halowis couthe in sondry londis
And specially fro euery shiris ende
Of yngelond to Cauntirbury thy wende
The holy blisful martir forto seke
That them hath holpyn when they were seke
ANd fil in that seson on a day
In Suthwerk atte tabard as I lay
Redy to wende on my pilgremage
To Cauntirbury with deuout corage
That nyght was come in to that hosterye
Wel nyne & twenty in a companye
Of sondry folk be auenture y falle
In feleship as pilgrymys were they alle
That toward Cauntirbury wolden ryde
The chambris and the stablis were wyde
And wel were they esid atte beste
[Page] And shortly whan the sonne was at reste
So had I spokyn with hem euerichon̄
That I was of her feleship anon̄
And made forward erly fo [...]to ryse
To take our wey there as I you deuyse
But natheles whiles that y haue tyme & space
Or that y ferth [...]r in this tale pace
Me thynketh that it were accordaunt to reson
To telle you al the condicion
Of eche of hem so as it semed me
And whiche they were and of what degre
And in what [...]ray eke they w [...]ren ynne
AN [...] at a knyght I wil begynne
A kn [...]ght ther was a worthy man
That fro the tyme he first began
To riden out he loued chyualrye
Trouthe and honour fredom and [...]urtesye
Ful worthy he was in his l [...]rdis werre
And therto hadde he riden noman ferre
And as wel in cr [...]stendom as in hethenesse
And euer had [...]e honour for his worthynesse
At al [...]saundre he was whan it was wonne
Ful ofte tyme he had the boord begonne
A houen alle nacions in pruce
In lettowe hadde he reysed and in ruse
No cristen man so eften tymes as he
In granade at the sege eke hadde he be
In algrith hadde he riden and in belmarie
At [...]artage was he and eke at satalye
[Page]Whanne they were wonne
and in the grete see
At many at nobil aryue hadde be he
At mortal bataillis had he be fiften [...]
And foughte for oure feith at Tramyss [...]ne
In l [...]stis thries and hath sleyn his foo
This ilke worthy knyght hadde be also
Som tyme with the lord of Palathie
Agayn another he then man in Turkye
And euermore he hadde a souerayn price
And though he was worthy he was wise
And of his port as meke as a ma [...]de
He neuer yet vilayns worde sayde
In al his lif to nomaner wight
He was a gentil parfight knyght
Forto telle you of his aray
His bois were gode but he was not gay
Of [...]us [...]ian he wered a gippioun
Al be smered with his habergeon̄
For he was late come [...]ro his viage
And sente forto do his pilgremage
WIth hym ther was a semely yong squy [...]r
A louer and a lusti bacheler
With lockis [...] as they were leyd in presse
Of twenty yer of age he was I gesse
Of his stature he was of euene lenghte
And wonderly deliuer & greet of strenghte
And he had be som tyme in ch [...]ualrye
In Flaundris in Artoise and in Picardye
And born hym wel as of a litil space
[Page]In hope to stonden in his ladies grace
Enbrowded was he as it were a mede
Al ful of fressh flouris white and rede
Syngynge he was or floytynge al day
He was as fressh as is the moneth of may
Short was his gowne with sleuys longe & wyde
Wel couthe he sicte on hors & therto fair ryde
He couthe song make and wel endyte
Iuste and daunce portreye and eke wryte
So hote he loued that be nyghter tale
He slepte nomore than a nyghtyngale
Curteys he was lowly and seruisabyl
He carf beforn̄ his fader at the tabyl
A Yeman hadde he and seruauntis nomo
At that tyme for he list to ryde so
And he was cled in cote and hood of grene
A sheef of arowes bright and shene
Vnder his [...]elt he baar ful thriftely
Wel coude he dresse his takyl yomanly
His arowis droup [...]d not with fetheris lowe
And in his hond he baar a mighty bowe
A n [...]t h [...]d he had [...] with a broun visage
Of wodemannes craft coude he al the vsage
Op on his arme he bare agay bracer
And by his side a swerd and a bokeler
And on that other side a gay daggare
Harneysed wel and sharp as poynt of spere
A Cristofir on his brest ful shene
An horn he baar a bawdryk grene
[Page]A forster was he sothly as I gesse
THere was also a nonne a prioresse
That of hir smylynge was simpil & koy
Here grettest oth was be seynt loy
And she was clepid dame Eglentyn̄
Ful wel she song seruise diuine
Entoyned in hir boys ful semely
And frensh she spak ful fetously
Aftir the scole of stratforde at the bowe
For frensh of Paris was to hir vnknowe
At mete wel taught was she with al
She lete no morsel fro hir lippis fal
Ne wete hire fingres in hir sauce depe
Wel coude she cary a morsel of mete
That no drope fil on hir brest
In curtesie was set ful mykil hir lest
Hir ouerlippe wiped she so clene
That in hir cup ther was no ferthyng sene
Of grece whan she hadde dronke her draught
Ful semely aftir hir mete she raught
And sikirly she was of greet disport
Of plesaunce and amyable of port
And peyned here to countrefete chiere
Of courte to be statly of manere
And to be holde digne of reuerence
But forto speke of hir conscience
She was so charitable and so pietous
She wolde wepe and she saw a mous
Kawght in a trappe if it were deed or bledde
[Page]Of smale houndis hadde she that she fedde
With cost flesh mylke and wastel beed
But sore wepte she if ony of hem were ded
Or if men smoot hem with yerd smert
And al was conscience and tendir hert
Ful semely hir wympil pynched was
Her nose tretise here yen grey as glas
Her mouth smal and therto softe and reed
But sikirly she hadde a fair forheed
It was almost a span brode I trow
For hardly she was not vnder grow
Ful setice was her cloke as I was waar
Of smal coral aboute her harm she baar
A peyre of bedis gauded al with grene
And there on houg a brothe ful shene
O [...] whiche that first was wryte a cronn [...]d A
And aftir that amor vincit omnia
ANother Nonne with hir ther was
F [...] fair of hewe and bright of faas
That was her chapeleyn and prestis thre
A monk ther was fair for the maistre
Whiche afore that tyme hadde be
An out ryder he loued venore
A manly man to be an abbot able
Ful many a deynte hors hadde he in stabil
And when he wod men mighte his bridil here
Gyngelynge & whistelinge in the wynd clere
And eke as lowde as doth the chapel belle
There as the lord was keper of the sell [...]
[Page]The rewle of saint Maure & of saint Benet
Be cause he held it somwhat streyt
This ilke monk lete olde thinges passe
And held aftir the newe worlde the space
He yaf not of the text a pullet h [...]nne
That seith that hunters be not holy men
Ne that a monk whenne that he is rechelees
Is lik to a fish when it is waterlees
This is to say a monk oute of a cloistre
But that texte holde I not worth an oistre
And I say that his opinion̄ was good
What sholde he stodye and make hym wood
Vp on a book alwey in cloistir to powre
Or swynke with hondis and laboure
As austyn dide. but hou shal the worlde be serued
Let austyn haue his swynk to hym reserued
Therfore he was a pricasour a right
Grehoundis he hadde as mylk whit
Of prykynge and of huntynge for the hare
Was al his lust for no thing wolde he spare
I saw his sleuys purfiled at the hond
With grice and that the fynest of a lond
And forto fastyn his hood vnder the chynne
He h [...]dde of golde wrought a corious pynne
And eke his face as he had be anoynt
He was a lord fat and in good poynt
His yen steep and rollynge in his heed
That ste [...]yd as a furneys of leed
His bootis sowpil his hors in gret astate
[Page]Now certenly he was a feir prelate
He was not pale as a forpyned gost
A fat swan loued he lest of ony rost
His palfrey was as broun as a bery
A Frere t [...]r was awanton̄ & a mery
A lymytour and a ful solemne man
In alle the ordris four is non that so wel can
So moche of daliaunce and fair langage
He hadde made meny a fair mariage
Of [...]onge wommen at his owen cost
Vntil his ordre he was an nobil post
Ful [...]elbel [...]ued and ful famulier was he
W [...]h frankeleyns ouer al in his contre
And with worthy yemen of the toun
Fo [...] he hadde p [...]wer of confession
A [...]d plesaunt was his absolucion
[...]o them that had grete contricion
And sa [...]de hym s [...]lf more than a curat
And of his ordre he was licenciat
And an esi man to yeue penaunce
Th [...]re he wiste to haue good pitaunce
Vnto a poure ordre forto yeue
Whan that a man is wel I shryue
Yf he yaf he durste make a vaunt
Yf that a man was repentaunt
Many a man so hard is of herte
He may not wepe though he sore smerte
Therfore in stede of wepynge and praiers
Men moste yeue siluer to the poure freris
[Page]His tipet was I fossid ful of knyuys
And with pynnys to yeue faire wyuys
And certeyn he hadde amery note
Merily coude he synge and pleye at the rote
Of tidyngis he baar vtterly the pryce
Milk whit he was as the flour delyce
Therto strong he was as a champioun
And knew the tauernys wel in euery toun
And euery osteler and tapstere
Better than̄ a lazer or a beggestere
Forto vnto suche a man as he
Accordith not as by his faculte
To haue of suche sike lazers acqueyntaunce
It is not honest it may not a vaunce
Forto dele with suche poraille
But with riche and sellers of vitaille
And ouer al there as richesse sholde aryse
Curteis he was and lowly of seruise
Ther was no man nowhere so vertuous
He was the beste beggere in his [...]ous
For though a wydowe hadde not a shoo
So plesaunt was his in prin [...]ipio
Yet wolde he haue a ferthing or [...]e went
His purchace was bettir than̄ his rent
And barke he couthe as it were a whelpe
In louedayes there coude he mykyl help
For there he nas lik a cloisterer
With a threedbare cope as a poure frere
But he was like a maister or a pope
[Page]Of dub
[...]yl worstede was his semy cope
That round was as a belle out of presse
Somwhat he lispyd for his wantownesse
To make his english swete vp on his tunge
And in his harpynge whan he had I [...]unge
His yen̄ twyn [...]lyd in his hed a right
As doon the sterris in the frosty nyght
This worthy frere was callyd hubberd
A Marchaunt ther was with a forkid berd
In motley on high on his hors he sat
Vp on his hed a flaundres beuer hat
His [...]eet [...] claspid fe [...]re and fetously
His resons he spak ful solempnely
S [...]wynge alwey the encrece of his w [...]nnynge
He wo [...]de the see were kept for ony thynge
B [...]twixt Middelburgh and Orew [...]lle
[...]ell coude he in his eschaunges selle
This worthy man his witte ful wel besette
Th [...]r wi [...]e no wight that he was in dette
So esta [...]ly was he of gouernaunce
W [...]th his bargayns and with his cheuesaunce
For sothe he was a worthy man with alle
A But soth to say I not how men hym calle
Cl [...]rk ther was of Oxenforde also
That vnto logik hadde longe I go
As lene was his hors as a rake
And he was not right fat I vndertake
But lokyd holow and therto sobirly
Ful threedbare was his ouerest courtby
[Page]For he hadde gote hym yet no benefice
Ne was not wordly to haue an office
For hym was leuyr to haue at his beddis hed
Twenty bokys I clad in whit and reed
Of Aristotle and of philosophie
Thanne robis riche or fidil or sawtrie
But al be that he was a philosophre
Yet hadde he but litil gold in cofre
But al that he mighte of his frendis haue help
On bokis and on lernynge he it spent
And besely gan for the soulis praye
Of hem that yaf hym wherwith to scolaye
Of study took he most cure and hede
Not o word spak he more than nede
Short and quyk and high of sentence
Sownyng moral vertu was his prudence
And gladly wolde he lerne and gladly teche
And ther with ful softe was his speche
A Sergeante of lawe waar and wis [...]
was there that ofte hadde be at the ꝑuyse
That was also riche of excellence
Discrete he was and of gret reuerence
He semyd suche his wordis were so wise
Iustice he was ful ofte in assise
Be patent and be playn commission
For his science and his high renoun
Of fees and robis hadde he many on
So gret a purchasour was ther nowher non
Al was fee symple to hym in effect
[Page]His purchace mighte not be to hym suspect
No where so besy a man as [...]e ther was
And yet he semyd besier than he was
In teermes hadde he was & domes alle
That fro the tyme of kyng william were falle
Therto he coud [...] endite and make a thing
Ther coude no wight pynche at his writing
And euery statut coude he pleyn be rote
He rood but homely in a medle cote
I gr [...]t with a s [...]ynt of silk with barris smale
Of his ara [...] telle I no lenger tale
A Frankeleyn was in his companye
White was his berd as the deysie
And of his complexion was sanguyn
Wel loued he be the morow a cup wyn
To lyue in delite was euer his wone
For he was Epicurices owen sone
That [...]ld oppinion that pleyn delite
Was verray felicite parfite
An housholder and that a gret was he
Saynt Iulian [...]e was in his contre
Hi [...] breed his a [...] was alwey aftir one
A bett [...]r vyned man was nowher none
Withoute bake mete was he neuer in his hous
His fissh his flessh and that so plentuous
It shewde in his hous of mete and drynke
Of alle deyntees that men couthe thynke
Aftir the sundry seson of the yeer
So chaunged he his mete and his soper
[Page]Ful many a fat partrich hadde
[...]e in mewe
And meny a brem and luce in ste [...]e
Wo was his cook but his sawce were
Poynant and sharp and redy al his geer
His tabil dormaunt in his halle alway
Was redy couered al the longe day
At sessions ther was he lord and sire
Ful ofte tyme he was knyght of the shire
A lace and a gipser of silk
Hyng at his girdil as white as morow mylk
A shereue hadde he be and a coronour
Was nowhere suche a worthy vauesour
AN habirdassher ther was and a carpenter
A webbe a dyer and a tapiser
And they where clothed alle in olyuere
Of a solempne and a greet fraternite
Ful fressh and newe her geer piked was
Here knyuys chapid were not with bras
But al with siluer wrought ful clene [...] wel
Here girdelis and hir powchis eueridel
Wel semed eche of hem a fair burgeis
To sitten in the yeld halle at the deys
Enerich for the wisedom that he can
Was happely forto he an aldirman
For cateill hadde they ynow and rent
And here wyuys wolde it wel assent
And ellis certayn they were to blame
Hit is ful fair to be callyd madame
And go to vigillis al before
[Page] And haue a mantel rially I bore
A Cook they hadde with hem for the nonys
To boylle the chekens & the mary bonys
And powder marchaunt tart and galingale
Wel knew he a draughte of london ale
He coude roste sethe boyle and frye
Make mortrewys and wel bake a pye
But gret harm was it as it thoughte me
For on his chynne a Marmoyl hadde he
And blank Manger made he with the best
A Shipman was ther that woned fer bewest
For ought I woot he was of dertemouth
He r [...]od vp a rowney as he cowth
In a gowne foldynge to the kne
A daggar and a lace hangynge had he
A [...]te his necke vnder his arm adoun
The hote somer hadde made his hewe al broun
And certaynly he was a good felawe
Ful many a draughte wyn he hadde drawe
Fro burdeu [...] ward whyle the chapman sleep
Of conscience took he no keep
At ful many abataylle in that lond
He faught and hadde the higher hond
But of his craft to reken wel his tyde
His stremys and his daungers hym beside
Ther was non suche from hul in to Cartage
For wyse he was though he were ful of corage
Hardy he was and wa [...]r to vndertake
With many a tempest his berd hath quake
[Page]He knew alle the hauenes that ther were
Fro yngelond in to the Capfenester
And euery cryke in brytayne and in spayne
His barge was called the Maudeleyne
WIth vs there was a doctour of phisik
In the worlde was ther non̄ hym lik
To speke of phisik and furgerye
For he was groundid in Astronomye
He kepte his paciente a greet deel
In hour be magik natureel
Wel couthe he of fortune the accident
Of his ymage for his pacient
He knew the cause of euery maladye
Were it of cold hete moyst or drye
And were engendred of what humour
He was a very parfight practesour
The cause he knew and of his harm the rote
Anon̄ he yaf the sikman his bote
For redy alway be his apotecarye [...]
To sende hym drugges & his lettewaryes
For eche of them made other forto wynne
Her frendship was not newe to begynne
Ful wel knew he the olde Estulapius
And diascorid and eke Platearius
Olde ypocras. haly and eke Galiene
Serapion̄ rasis and eke Auicene
Anorrois damascene and Constantyn
Bernard Gatisden and Gilbertyn
Of his diete mesurable was he
[Page]For it was of no
[...]uperfluyte
But of greet norisshinge and digestible
His stody was but litil on the bybyll
In sangwen and in perce I clad with all
Lyned with taffata and whit sandall
And li [...]il he was of his disp [...]nce
He kepte that he whan in the pestelence
For gold in phisik is a cordial
Therfore he loued gold in special
A Good wif ther was of beside bat [...]e
And she was s [...]md [...]l deef: þ• was scathe
Of cloth makynge had she suche an haunt
She pass [...]d h [...]m of y [...]e or of gaunt
In al th [...] pariss [...]e wif was ther non
That to the offrynge before hir sholde goon
And if t [...]: did certayn wroth was she
Th [...]n was she oute of al charite
Her kerch [...]uys ful f [...]n w [...]re of ground
I durste swere they w [...]y [...]d thre pound
That on a sunday were on hir hed
Her h [...]syn were of fyne scarlit reed
Ful streyte I teyd and shoos ful newe
Bold was her face fair & reed of [...]ewe
She was a worthy Womman al hir lyue
Hushondis at the chr [...]che dore hadde she fyue
Withoute o [...]her company in youthe
But her of ned [...]th not to speke as nowthe
At acres had she been and at Iherusaleme
She had passid thouron many a stronge re [...]e
[Page]At rome she
had be
and at Babiloyne
At saint Iames in Galis and at Coloyne
She coude moche of wandrynge in the wey
Gap tothid was she sothly to sey
Vp on an Ambeler ful esely she sat
I wymplid wel & on hir hed an hat
As brood as it were a bokeler or a targe
A foot mantil aboute hir hippis large
And on hir helis a peire of sporis sharpe
In feleship coude she lawhe and carpe[?]
Of remedyes of loue she counde ꝑchaunce
For of that art she coude the daunce
A Good man ther was of Religion
And was a poure parson of a toun
But riche he was and holy of werk
He was also a lerned man & a clerk
That cristis gospell is trewly wolde preche
His parishons deuoutly wolde he teche
Benigne he was and wonder diligent
And in aduersite ful pacient
And suche he was proued ofte sithes
Ful loth were he to curse for his tithis
But rathir wolde he yeue[?] out of doute
Vnto his poure parishons aboute
Of his offringe and of his sustenaunce
He coude in lityl thing haue suffisaunce
Wide was his parish and housis fer a sondir
But he let not for rayn ne for thundir
In siknesse ner in myschief to visite
[Page]The ferrest in his parish more
and lite
Vp on his feet and in his hond a staf
This nobil ensample vnto his sheep he yaf
That first he wroughte & aftirward taughte
Out of the gospell the wordis he caughte
And this figure he ekyd therto
That if gold ruste what sholde Iren do
For a preest to be foul in whom we truste
No wonder is a lowd man to ruste
And shame it is yf a preest take kepe
A slotty shepherde and a clene shepe
Wel oughte a preest ensample to yeue
Be his clennesse how his sheep sholde lyue
Be sette not his benefice to hire
And lete his sheep acombre in the myre
And renne to london to saint Poulis
And seke hym a chauntrie for soulis
Othir with a bretherhede to be witholde
But duolle at hoom and kepe his folde
So that the wolf ne hadde the maistrye
He was a sheepherde and not a mercenarye
And though he holy were and vertuous
He was nat to a sinfulman to despitous
But in his speche discreet and benigne
Ne of his techyng daungerous ne digne
To drawe [...]olk to heuen with fairnesse
Be good [...]nsampyl this was his besinesse
But it [...]e ony persone obstinat
Whethe [...]t were of high or lowe astat
[Page]Hym wolde he snybbe sharply for the nonys
A better preest I trow nowhere non̄ is
He waited aftir no pompe ne reverence
He hadde no spiced conscience
But cristis lore and his apostelis twelue
He taughte but first he folowed hym selue
With him ther was a polowmā was his broder
That hadde led of dung many a fother
A trewe swynker and a good was he
Leuynge in pees and parfit charite
God loued he best with al his herte
At alle tymes they he gamed or smerte
And than his neyghebour right as hym self
He wolde thresshe and therto digge and delf
For cristis sake for euery poure wight
Withoute hire if it lay in his myght
His tithes payde he bothe faire and wel
Of his propir swynk and his catel
In a tabard he rood vp on a mere
There was also a reue and eek a Millere
A somp nour and a pardoner also
A Mancipill and my self ther was no mo
THe millere was a stout carle for the nonys
Ful big he was of braun and bonys
That proued wel for euer there he cam
At wrastlynge alwey he wolde haue the ram
He was short shuldred a thicke quarre
Ther was no dore that he nolde [...]eue of the barr [...]
Or breke it at rennynge with his hed
[Page]His berde as ony sowe or wey was
reed And therto b [...]ood as it were a spade
Vp on the cop of his nose he hade
A werte and ther ou s [...]ood a tufte of heris
Rede as the beustelis of a sowes eris
His nostrellis blak were and wyde
A swerd and a bokeler baar [...]e be his syde
His mouth as greet as is a furneys
He was a Ia [...]geler and a ioly hardeys
And that w [...]s most of synne & harlotryes
Wel coude [...]e stele corn and tolle thryes
And that he hadde a thomb [...] of go [...] pard [...]
Awhit cote and a blew ho [...]d weryd he
A bagge py [...]e coude he blowe and sowne
And there with he broughte out of towne
A Gentyl Mancipyl was ther of the tempyl
Of whiche a catour m [...]ghte take ensampyl
[...]o [...]to [...]e [...]yse in byinge of vitayl
For [...]eth [...]r he pa [...]e or took be tayl
Alg [...]te he waytyd so on his acate
That he was a [...] before and in good state
Now is nat that of god a fair grace
That suche a lewd mannys witte shal pace
The wisedom of an heep of lerned men
Of maistris hadde he moo than thries ten
That were of lawe [...]ert and corious
Of whiche ther were a dosen in that hous
Worthy to be stuardis of rente and londe
Of ony lord that is in Engelond
[Page]To make hym lyue be his owen
good In honour detles but he were wood
Othir lyue scarsely as hym list desire
And forto helpe al the shire
In ony cause that myghte falle or happe
And this mancipill set al her cappe
A Reue ther was a slendir colerik man
His berd is shaue as nygh as he can
His heris were be his eris rounde I shore
His top was dockid lik a prest before
Ful longe were his leggis and ful lene
Lik a staf ther nys no calf I sene
Wel coude he kepe a garner and a bynne
Ther was non auditour coude of hym wynne
Wel wiste he be the droughte and be the rayn̄
The yeldynge of his seed and of his greyn̄
His lordis sheep his neet and his deirie
His swyne his hors his stoor and his pultrie
Was hoolly in this reuys gouernynge
And by his couenaunt yaf the rekenynge
Seth his lord was twenty yeer of age
Ther coude noman brynge hym in rerage
Ther nas bailly ne noon other hyne
That coude his sleyghte or his couyne
They were of hym a drad as of the deth
His wonynge was fair vp on an heth
With grene treys shadowed was his place
He coude better than his lord purchace
Ful riche he was astored pryuely
[Page]His
lord he coude please discretly
To yeue ayen to hym of his owen good
And haue thank & yet acote and an hood
In yongthe he hadde lerned a good mystere
He was a wel good wright a Carpentere
This reue sat vpon awel good stot
That was al pomel gray and highte scot
A long surco [...]e of Perce vp on hym he hadde
And by his s [...]de he baar a rusty bladde
Of Norfolk was this reue of whiche I telle
Be syde a toun men calle Baldiswelle
Tuckyd he was as is a frere aboute
And euer he rood the hynderest of the rowte
ASompnour with vs was in that place
That hadde a reed cherubyn face
For sawsfleme he was with yen narow
[...]ot he was and likerous as a sparow
With blake browes skallid and pilled berd
Of his visage children were a fe [...]d
Ther nas qu [...]ksiluer litarge ne bremstone
Borace ceruse ne oyle of tartre none
Ne oynement that ichith or byte
That mighte helpe of his welkis white
Ne of his knobbis sittynge in his chekys
Well l [...]u [...]d he oynous garleek and lekys
And forto drynke reed wyne as red as blood
Than wolde he speke & crye as he wer wood
And whan he hadde wel dronke the wyn
Than wolde he speke no word but latyn
[Page]A fewe termes hadde he two or thre
That he hadde lerned of [...]um man of degre
No wondir is he herde it al the day
And eke ye knowe wel that a Iay
Can clepe watte as wel as the pope
But who coude hym in other thingis grope
Than had he spent al his philosofie
A questio quid queris wolde he crye
He was a gentil harlot and a kynde
A better felow sholde noman fynde
He wolde suffre for a quart of wyn̄
A good felow to haue his concubyn̄
A twelf monthe & excuse hym at the fulle
Ful pryuely a finche eke coude he pulle
And yf he fond owher a good felawe
He wolde teche hym anon to haue awe
In suche caas of the archedekenes cures
But yf mannys soule were in his purs
For in his purs he sholde punysshyd be
Purs is the archedekenes helle sayde he
But wel I woot he lied in dede
Of cursynge owght eche man to drede
For cursynge wil sle right as soyling saueth
And also ware hym of significaint
In daunger hadde he at his owen gise
Alle the yonge girlis of the diocyse
And knew of hir counseil & was of her rede
A garlond he hadde set vp on his hede
As greet as it were an alestalk [...]
[Page]A bokeler hadde he
maad hym of a Cake
WIth hym ther rood a gentil pardone [...]
Of rouncyuale his frend & his comper
That streight was come fro the pope of rome
Ful lowde he song com hidir lene grom
This sompnour baar to hym a styf burdon
Was neuer trompe of half so greet a soun
This pardoner hadde heer as yelow as wex
And smothe it hyng as doth a strike of flex
By [...]ounses [...]yng his lockis that he hadde
And there with his sholdris ouer spradde
But than it lay be Culpous one and one
An hood for cold wered he none
For it was trussed vp on his walet
Hym thoughte he rood vp on the newe get
S [...]ss [...]euyld saue his cappe he rood albare
[...]uc [...]e glarynge yen hadde he as hath an hare
His walet beforn hym had he in his lappe
A verna [...]le hadde [...]e sowid vp on his cappe
Brecte ful of pa [...]do [...] com f [...]o rome al hoot
Avois he hadde as smal as hath a goot
No berd hadde he ne neuer sholde haue
As moche was it as it were newe shaue
I trowe he were a geldyng or a mare
But of his [...]aft from Berwik vnto ware
Ne was ther nowher suche a pardoner
For in his male he hadde a pilow beer
Whiche that he sayde was our ladies veyll
He sayde he hadde a gobet of the seyll
[Page]That saint Petir hadde whan that he went
Vp on the se til Iesus crist hym hent
He hadde a cros of laton ful of stones
And in a glas he hadde piggis bones
But with thise reliques whan that he fond
A poure person dwellynge vp on lond
Vp on a day he gat hym more mone
Than the person gat in monethis thre
And thus hath he feyned flateriez & Iapis
He made the parson and the pepill his apis
But trewli to telle at the last
He was in chirche an noble ecclesiast
Well coude he rede a lesson or a story
But alderbest he song an offretory
For wel he wiste whan that song was sunge
He moste preche and file a while his t [...]nge
To wynne siluer as he wel can
Therfore he song the merier than
NOw haue I tolde you shortly in a claus [...]
The state the aray the nombre & the caus [...]
Why that assembled was this companye
In Sowthwerk at this gentil hostelrye
That highte the Taberd faste by the belle
But now is tyme to you forto telle
How that we hare vs that ilke nyght
Whan that we were in the hostry a light
And aftir wil I telle of our viage
And al the remenaunt of our pilgremage
But first I you pray of your curtasye
[Page]That ye ne rekene nat my vilonye
Though that I playnly speke in this matere
To telle you here wordis and hir chere
And though I speke here wordis propirly
For this ye knowe as wel as I
Who shal a [...]ale telle aftir a man
He moste reherce as nere as he can
Eu [...]r [...] [...]rd yf it be in his charge
[...] so rudely and so large
[...] moste telle his tale vntrewe
[...]hyngis or f [...]yne wordis newe
[...] spare al though he were his bro [...]h [...]r
[...] wel say o word as anoth [...]r
[...] [...]ym self ful brode in holy wat
[...] wrot no vilany is it
[...] saith who so can it rede
[...] muste be c [...]syn to the dede
[...]ls [...] [...] [...]ray you for yeue it me
[...] I sette not folk in her degre
Her [...] thyse t [...]les as they sholde stonde
My [...] short ye may w [...]l vnderstonde
GR [...]t [...]h [...]re made our o [...]t to [...] [...]u [...]ichon̄
And to sopere sette vs anon̄
He serued is with vitayll at the beste
Strong was the wyne & drynke vs liste
A semely man our host was with alle
Forto be a marchal in a lordes halle
A large man he was with yen stepe
A feyrer burgeys is ther non in chepe
[Page] Bold of his speche
and wel was I taught
And of manhood lacked he right nought
Eke therto was he right a mery man
And aftir s [...]pp [...]r to pleyn he began
And spak of myrthe among other thinges
Whan that we hadde made our rekenynges
He sayde thus now lordynges treuly
Ye be to me right welcome hertly
For be my trowthe yf I shal not ly
I saw not this [...]er so mery a companye
At onys in th [...] [...]rborow as now
Feyne wolde I [...] you myrthe yf I wiste bow
And of my my [...]the I am right now be thought
To do you ese and it shal coste you nought
Ye go to Caun [...]bury god you spede
The blisful martir quyte your mede
And wel ye woo [...] as ye go be the weye
Ye shappyn you to [...]lke and to pleye
For trewly com [...]t ne myrthe is non̄
To ride be the w [...]dom as a stoon̄
And therfore [...] I make you disport
As I sayde erst an [...] do you comfort
And if it liketh y [...]u alle be on assent
Forto ston [...]e at m [...] iugement
And forto worke [...]s I shal you say
To morow whan y [...] [...]iden on the way
Now be my fader so [...] that is ded
But ye be mery I shal y [...]u [...] you my [...]ed
Hold vp your hond withoute more speche
[Page]Our counsel shal not longe be to seche
Vs thoughte it was not worth to make vs wyse
And graunted hym withoute more avyse
And bad hym saye his verdit as hym list
Lordynges qd he now herkeneth for the best
But take it not I pray you in disdeyne
This is the poynt to speke it short & pleyne
That eche of you to shorte with your weye
In this v [...]age shal telle talis tweye
To Cauntirburyward I mene it so
And homward he shal telle other talis to
Of auerturis that whilom haue befalle
And whiche of you berith hym best of alle
That is to sey that tellith in this case
Tales of best sentence and most solace
[...]hal haue a soper of oure alther cost
[...]ere in this place sittynge by this post
Whan that ye come ayen from Caunterbury
And forto make you the more mery
I wil m [...] self go with you and ryde
Right at myn owen cost and be your gyde
And who that wol my iugement with say
Shortly shal paye all that is spent be the way
And if ye vouchesauf that it be soo
Tel me anone withoute wordis moo
And I wil hertly shape me therfore
This thing was graunted & othis swore
With ful glad herte & preyen hym also
That he wolde vouches [...]uf to do so
[Page] And that he wolde be our gouernour
And of oure talis Iuge and reportour
And sette a soper at a certayn pryce
And wol be rewlid at his deuyce
High and lowe and alle be on assent
We be accorded to the Iugement
And there vp on the wyne was set anone
We dronk and to reste went we echone
With oute euy lenger taryynge
Amorow whan the day gan sprynge
Vp roos our host and was al our cok
And gadred vs alle in a flok
And forth we riden lityl more than a paas
Vnto the waterynge of saint Thomas
And there oure hoste gan his hors areste
And sayde harkeneth lordingez yf ye liste
Ye woot our forward and I you recorde
Yf euensong and morow song acorde
Let se now who shal telle the firste tale
As euyr moot I drynke wyne or ale
Who so wil be rebel to my iugement
Shal paye for al that is be the way spent
NOw draw art or that ye further twynne
Whiche shal the firste tale begynne
Sire knyght quod he my maister & my lord
Drawith cut for that is myn accord
Cometh hithir quod he my lady Prioresse
And ye sire clerk let be your shamefastnesse
Ne stody not ley on hond euery man
[Page]Anon to withdrawe euery wight began
And shortly to telle as it was
Were it be auenture fortune or caas
The soth is this the cut fil on the knyght
Of whiche ful blithe & glad is euery wight
And telle h [...] moste as it was reson
Be fo [...]ward and be composicion
As ye haue herd what nedith wordis moo
And whan this good man saw that it was soo
As [...] that was wyse and obedie [...]
To [...] hi [...] forward be his fre assent
[...] s [...]yde sithne [...] I shal begynne the game
What welcom be cut a goddis name
Now lat vs ryde & herkyn what I say
And with that word we riden forth on the way
And [...]e began with right a mery chere
And sayde anone his tale as ye shul here
[...]Here begynneth the knyghtis tale.
WHilom as olde story telleth vs
Th [...]r was a duke that highte Theseus
Of thebes he was lord and gouernour
And in his tyme suche a conquerour
That gretter was ther none vnder sonne
Ful many a riche contre had he wonne
That with his wisedom and chiualrye
He conque [...] al the regne of femenye
That whilom was cleped Cithea
And wedded the quene Ipolita
And broughte h [...]r home in to his contre
[Page]With moche glorie
and solempnite
And eke hir yonge suster Emelye
And thus with victory and melodye
Lete I this worthy duke to Athenes ryde
And al his oost in armes hym besyde
And certis if it nere to long to here
I wolde haue tolde fully the matere
How wonne was the regne of femenye
Be Theseus and by his cheualrye
And of the grete bataille for the nonys
Betwix athenes and amasones
And how beseged was Ipolita
The faire lady quene of Cith [...]a
And of the feste tha [...] was at hir weddynge
And of the tempest at hir hom comynge
But al thinge I moot as now forbere
I haue god woo [...] a large feld to ere
And week [...]n the o [...]n in the plow
The remenant of my tale is long ynow
I wil not lette [...]k [...] none of this rowte
Let euery felow [...]elle his tale aboute
And let se now who shal the souper wynne
And there I lefte I w [...]l agayn begynn [...]
THis duke of whom I make mencion
Whan he was come almost in to the toun
He was wa [...] as he cast his ye a syde
In al his welthe and his most pryde
Where that ther kneled in the high wey
A companye of ladies twey and twey
[Page]Eche aftir other
clothed in clothes blake
But suche a d [...]y and suche a woo they make
That in this worlde nys creature lyuynge
That herde suche an other weymentynge
And of this cry they wolde neuer stentyn
Tyl they the reynys of his bridyl hentyn
What folk be ye that at myn hom comyng
Perturbe me and my feste with cryynge
Qued Theseus haue ye so gret enuye
Of myn honour that thus compleyne & crye
Or who hath you mysboden or offended
Tel me and it shal be amended
And why that ye be clothed thus in blak
The eldest lady of hem alle spak
Whanne she hadde swowned with a dedly chere
That it was rowthe to see and to here
She sayde lord to whom fortune hath yeue
Victory and as a conquerour to lyue
Nought greueth vs your glory & your honour
But we beseke you of mercy and socour
Haue mercy on our woo and distresse
Som drope of pyte for thy gentilnesse
Vp on vs wrecchid wommen let now falle
For certis lord ther is non of vs alle
That she ne hath be a duchesse or a quene
Now be we caytifs as it is wel sene
I thanked be fortune and hir fals wheel
That non astat ensureth to be weel
Now certis lord to abyde your presence
[Page]Here in this temple of goddis clemence
We haue be waytinge al this fourtenyght
Now help vs lord seth it is in thy might
I wrecched wight that wepe thus
Was somtyme wif of Campaneus
That starf at Thebes acursid be that day
And alle we that ben in this aray
And make al this lamentacion
We losten alle our husbondis in that toun
Whiles the sege there aboute lay
And yet now the olde creon wel away
That lord is now of Thebes that cyte
Fulfilled of Ire and iniquyte
He for despit and his tirannye
To do the ded bodyes vilonye
Of alle our lordis whiche that ben slawe
Hath alle the bodyes on an heep I drawe
And wol not suffre hem be non̄ assent
Neyther to be buryed ne to be brent
But makith houndis to ete hem in despyt
And with that word withoute more respyt
They fallen groflynge and crye pitously
Haue on vs wrecchid wommen som mercy
And let our sorow synke in thy hert
This gentil duke of his courser stert
With herte pitous whenne he herde hem speke
Hym toughte his herte wolde breke
Whan he saw hem so pitous and so mate
That whilom were of so great astate
[Page] And in his armes he
[...]em alle vp hent
And hem comforted in ful good entent
And swore his oth as he was trewe knyght
He wolde do so ferforth his myght
Vp on the tiraunt Creon hym to wreke
That al the pepyl of grece sholde speke
How Creon was of Theseus y serued
As [...]e that hath his deth wel deserued
And right anon withouten more abo [...]d
His baner [...]e displayde and forth he rood
To Th [...]bes ward and al his oste besyde
No ner Athenes nolde he goo ne ryde
Ne take his ese nat fully half aday
But on his wey that nyght he lay
And sente anon I po [...]ita the quene
And Emely hir yonge sustir shene
Vnto the toun of Athenes to dwelle
And forth he rideth ther is nomore to telle
HE rood the statu with spere and [...]rge
So shyneth in his whit baner larg [...]
That alle the [...]eld [...]s gliteren vp and doun
And he his baner born̄ is his penon̄
Of gold [...]ul ri [...]he in whiche therwas I bete
The Mytan whiche he wan in crete
This riche duke this riche conquerour
And in his oste of chiualrye the flour
Tyl that he cam to Thebes and a lighte
Fer in a f [...]ld there as he thoughte to fighte
But shortly to speke of this thyng
[Page]With Creon whiche was of thebes
kyng He faught and slow hym manly as a knyght
In playn bataille and put his folk to fight
And at a sawte he wan the cyte aftir
And rente a doun wal sparre and raftir
And to the ladyes he restored ageyn̄
The bodyes of her husbondis that were sleyn̄
To do obsequyes as tho was the gyse
But it were al to long to douyse
The gret clamour and the weymentyng
That the ladyes made at the buryyng
Of the bodyes and the grete honour
That The [...]eus the nobil conquerour
Doth to the ladyes when they fro hym went
But shortly forto telle is myn entent
When that this worthy duke this Theseus
Hath Creon slayn and wan Thebes thus
Stille in the felde he took al nyght his rest
And dide with al the contre right as hym list
He ransaked in the taas of bodyes dede
Hem for to strype of harneis and of wede
The pilours dide hir besinesse and cure
Aftir the bataille and the discomfiture
And befil that in that taas they fond
Thorow girt with meny a greuous wound
Two yonge knyghtis lyyng by and by
Bothe in one harneis wrought ful richely
Of whiche two arcite highte that one
And the other highte Palamon̄
[Page]Not fully quyk ne fully
ded they were
But by hir [...]otearmur and by hir gere
The herowdes knew hem best in special
Alas that they were of the blood ryal
Of Thebes and of fustryn two ybore
Out of the taas the pilours haue hem tore
And haue hem caried in to the tent
Of Theseus and he ful sone hem sent
To Athenes to dwelle there in prison
Perpetuel [...]e nolde no raunson
And whan this worthy duke hadde thus don
He took his ost and hom he goth anon
With laurer crowned as a conquerour
And there he lyueth in ioye and in honour
Terme of his lif what nedith wordis moo
And in a tour with anguysh and with woo
Dwellith Palamon and arcite
For euermore ther may no man hem quyte
THus passed yeer be yeer day be day
Tyl it fyl oues in a mornynge of may
That Emely that fairer was to se
Than is the lily vp on the stalk tree
And fressher than may with flouris newe
For with the rose colour stroof hir hewe
I not whiche was the feirer of hem two
Er it was day as was her wont to doo
She was arysen and al redy dight
For may wol haue no slogard a nyght
The seson pricketh euery gentyl herte
[Page] And maketh it out of his slepe to sterte
And sithnes a ryse to do hir obseruauncis
This makith Emely to haue remembrauncis
To do honoure to may and for to ryse
I clothed fressh was she to deuyse
Her yelow heer was broided on a tres
Be hynd her bak a long yerd I ges
And in the gardyn at the sonne vprist
She walked vp and doun as hir list
She gadred flowris part white and rede
To make a subtyl chapelet for hir led
And as an aungel heuenly she songe
The grete tour that was so thicke and stronge
Whiche of the Castel was chief dungeoun
There as the knyghtis weren in prisoun
Of whiche I tolde you and telle shal
Was euene ioynant to the Castel w [...]ll
There as this Emely had her pleyyng
Bryght was the sonne & cleer in that mornyng
And Palamon this woful prisoner
As was his wone be leue of his gailer
Was risen and romed in the chambir on hy
In whiche al the noble cyte he sy
And eke the gardyn ful of braunchis grene
There as fressh Emely the shene
Was in hir walk & rom [...]d vp and doun
This sorowful p [...]isoner this Palamoun
Goth in the chambir to and fro
And to hym self compleyned of his wo
[Page]That he was born̄ ful ofte he sayde allas
And so be fyl be auenture and [...]aas
That thorow a wyndow thikke of many a barre
Of yren greet and squaar as ony sparre
He cast his yen vp on Emelia
And ther with as he blente he cryde a
As though he were stongyn to the hert
And with that cry arcite anone vp stert
And sayde cosyn myn what eileth the
That art so pale and dedly on to see
Why [...]yest thou who hath do the offence
For goddis loue take al in pacience
Our prison for it may non other be
Fortune hath yeue vs this aduersite
Or ell [...] som wikked aspect or disposicion
Of saturne be som constillacion
Hath yeue vs this al they we had sworn̄
So stood the heuene whan we were born̄
We moste endure this is the short and playn
This Palamon answerd and sayde agayn
Cosyn forsothe of this oppinion
Thou hast a veyn ymaginacion
This prison causid me not to crye
But I was hurt now thurgh myn eye
Vnto my hert that wol my bane be
The fairnesse of a lady that I see
Yonder in the gardyn romynge to and froo
Is cause of my cryynge and my woo
I not whether she be womman or goddesse
[Page]But venus it is sothly as I gesse
And therwith al o [...]nees doun he fil
And sayde venus yf it be thy wil
Yow in this gardyn thus to transfygure
Before me sorowful wrecche thy creature
Out of this prison help that we may scape
And if it be my destenye so to hape
Be etern worlde to dye in prison
Of our lynage haue som compassion
That is so lowe I brought be tyrannye
And with that word arcyte gan espye
Where as the lady wente to and fro
And with that sighte her beaute hurte hym so
That yf Palamon were wounded sore
Arcite is hurt as moche as he or more
And with a sigh he sighed pitously
The fressh beaute shal sle me sodenly
Of hire that cometh in the yonder place
And but I haue hir mercy and hir grace
That I may se her at the leste wey
I am but ded ther is no more to sey
THis Palamon when he thise wordis herd
Dispitously he loketh and ansuerd
Whethir saist thow this in ernest or in play
Nay quod arcite in ernest be my fay
God helpe so me lust ful lityl to play
This Palamon gan knytte his browis tway
Hit were quod he to the no gret honour
Forto be fals ne to be a traitour
[Page]To me that am thy cosyn
and thy brother
I sworn̄ [...]ul depe and eche of vs to other
That neuer forto dien in the peyn
Tyl that the deth departe shal vs tweyn
Neither in loue to hyndre other
Ne in no euil caas my leue brother
But that thou sholdest truly further me
In euery caas as I sholde further the
This was thyn oth and myn certayn
I woot it wel thou darst it not withsayn
Thus art thou of my counsel withoute doute
And now thou woldist falsly be aboute
To l [...]ue my lady whom I loue and serue
And eu [...]r shal tyl myn herte sterue
Now certis fals [...]rcite thou shalt not soo
I loued hir first and tolde the my woo
[...] to my couns [...]l and to my brother sworn̄
I s [...]pos [...] thou louedist hir here b [...]orn̄
Wost thou not wel the olde clerkis sawe
That who shal [...]eue alouer ony lawe
Loue is gretter lawe be my panne
Than may be yeue to ony erthly manne
And therforee positif lawe in suche degre
Is broken alday for loue in eche degre
Aman moste nedis loue magre his hed
He may not fle it though he sholde be ded
Al be she mayde widowe or wyf
And eke it is not likly al thy lyf
To stonde in her grace nomore shal I
[Page]For wel thou wost thy self verily
That thou and I be dampned to prison
Perpetually vs gayneth no raunson
Ne stryue as did the houndis for the bone
They faught alday and yet her part was none
Ther cam a curre while that they were so wroth
And [...]aar awey the bone betwix hem bothe
And therfore at the kyngis court my broder
Eche man for hym self there is non̄ other
Loue yf thou list for I loue and shal
And sothly lief broder this is al
Here in this prison moste we endure
And euery of vs take his auenture
Gret was the stryf & long betwix hem twey
Yf that I hadde leyser forto sey
But to the effect it happed on a day
To telle it shortly as I may
A Worthy duke that highte Parotheus
That felow was to duke Theseus
But of that story list me not to endite
Duke Parotheus loued wel arcite
And hadde hym knowe at thebes yeer be yeer
And finally at the request and praier
Of Parotheus withoute euy raunson
Duke Theseus leet hym out of prison
Frely to go where hym list ouer al
In suche a gyse as I you telle shal
This was the forward playnly to endyte
Betwix duke Theseus and arcyte
[Page]That if so were that arcite were founde
Euer in his lyf be day or be stounde
In ony contre of this duke Theseus
And [...]e were caught it was acorded thus
That with a swerd he sholde lese his hed
T [...]er was non oher remedy ne reed
But takith his leue & hounward hym spedde
Let hym bewaar his lyf lith to wedde
Hit were a gret thing to te [...] and to wite
How gre [...]t sorow now suffrith arcite
Now is me shapyn eternally to dwelle
Nought in purgatory but in helle
Allas that euer lenew I parotheus
For [...]llis hadde I duelt with Theseus
I [...] in his prison with moo
[...]han hadde I be in ease and not in woo
Only the sighte of hir whom that I serue
T [...]ugh that I neuer her grace may deserue
Wol [...]e haue suffised right ynow for me
O dere cosyn Palamon quod he
Thyn is the victory of this auenture
Ful bli [...]ul in prison mayst thou endure
In prison nay certis but in paradyse
Wel hath fortune to the turned the dyse
That hath the sighte of hir in myn absence
For possible it is sethnes thou hast hir presence
And art a knyght worthy and able
That by som caas syn fortune is chaungeable
Thou mayst som tyme to thy desire atteyne
[Page]But I that am
exiled and bareyne
Of alle grace and so in gret despeir
That ther nys water erthe fyre ne eir
Ne creature that of hem made is
That may me helpe or comfort do I wis
Wel oughte I sterue in wanhope and distres
Far wel my lif my lust and my gladnes
Allas why playnen men so in com̄une
Of purneaunce of god or of fortune
That yeueth hem ofte in meny wyse
Wel better than hem self can deuyse
Som men desire to haue rychesse
That cause is of murdre or gret siknesse
And som man wolde out of his prison feyn
That in his hous of his meyne is sleyn
Infynyt harmes be in this matere
We woot not what thing we praye here
We faren as he that dronke is as a mous
A dronken man wot wel he hath an hous
But he woot not whiche is the righte wey thider
To a dronkyn man the wey is slidir
And certis in this worlde so fare we
We sekyn faste aftir felicite
But we go wrong ful ofte sikirly
Thus may we say alle and namely I
That wente haue had a gret oppinion̄
That and I myghte scape out of prison̄
Than hadde I be in Ioye and in parfyt hele
Ther now I am exiled fro myn hele
[Page]Sithnes I may not se you Emelye
I ne am but ded ther is no remedye
Vpon that other syde Palamon
Whan that be wiste arcite was goon
Suche sorow he makith that the grete tour
Resouned of his yellyng and his clamour
The pure feteris on his shynys grete
Were of his bittir salt teris wete
Allas quod he arcite cosyn myn
Of al our strif god woot the fruyt is thyn
Thou walkist now in thebes at thy large
And of my woo you yeuest lityl charge
Thou mayst say thou hast wisedom & manhede
Assemble alle the folk of our kynrede
And [...]ake warre so sharp on this contre
That by som auenture or by som trete
Thou maist haue hir to lady and to wyf
For whom I muste nedis lese my lyf
For as by w [...]y of possibilite
Sithnes thou art at large and of prison fre
And art a lord gret is thyn auauntage
More than is myn shit her in a cage
For I may wepe and wayle whylis tha [...] I lyue
With al the woo that prison may me yeue
And eke with peyne that loue me yeuyth also
That doublith al my tourment and my woo
Therwith the fyre of ielosye vp stert
With ynne his brest and hent hym by the hert
So woodly that he likly was to beholde
[Page]The box tre or the ash tre
ded or colde
That sayde se o cruel goddis that gouerne
The worlde with bidydng of your word eterne
And writen in the tabyl of the athament
Your parlement and your etern̄ gaudent
What is mankynde more vnto you holde
Than is the sheep that ronkith in the folde
For slayn is man right as anothir beest
And duellith eke in prison and in arest
And hath siknesse and gret aduersite
And ofte tyme giltlees parde
What gouernaylle is in this prescience
That giltlees turmentith Innocence
And yet encresith this al my penaunce
That man is bounde to his obseruaunce
For goddis sake to lettyn of his wil
There as a beest may al his wil fulfil
And whan a b [...]est is ded he hath no peyne
But aftir his deth man may wepe & playne
Though in this worlde he haue care and wo
Withoute doute it may stonde so
The ansuer of this lete I to deuynes
But wel I woot that in this worlde gret pyne is
Allas I se a serpent or a theef
That many a trew man hath do myschief
Goon at his large & where hym list may turne
But I muste be in prison thourgh saturne
And thourgh hym vnhappy and eek wood
That hath destroid wel nygh al the blood
[Page]Of thebes with his wast wallis wyde
And venus sletth me in that other syde
For Ielosie and feer of hym and arcite
Now wol I stynte of Palamon alite
And lete hym in his prison stille duelle
And of [...]rcite forth I wol you telle
The somer passed the nyghtis wax long
Encrecith he doubil wyse the peynes strong
Bothe of the louer and of the prisoner
I ne woot who hath the wofuller myster
For shortly to say of this Palamon
Perpet [...]elly is dampned to prison
In cheyn [...]s and in feters to be ded
And arcite is exiled on his hed
For [...]uermore and out of that contre
For neuer more shal be his lady se
Yow louers axe I now this question
Who hath the worse of arcite & of Palamon
That one may se his lady day be day
But in prison muste he dwelle alway
That other where hym list may ryde or goo
But se his lady shal he neuer moo
Now demyth as ye list ye that can
For I wil telle forth as I began
Whan that arcite to Thebes come was
Ful ofte aday he swelte and sayde allas
For se his lady shal he neuer moo
And shortly to conclude all his woo
So moche sorow ne hath creature
[Page]That i
[...] or shal be while the
world may dur
[...] His sleep his mete his drynk is hym beraft
That lene he wax and drye as is a shaft
His yen holow and grisly to be holde
His hewe falow and pale as asshyn colde
And solitary he was and euer a lone
And waylinge as he mighte makyng his mone
And yf he herde song or instrument
Than wolde he wepe he might not stent
So febyl were his spiritis and so lowe
And chaunged so that no mā coude hym knowe
His speche ne his wis though men it herde
As in his gire for al the worlde it ferde
Nought lik the louers maladye
Of heris but rathir I lik to many
Engendrid of humour malencolyk
Beforn̄ in his cell fantastyk
And shortly turned was al vp so doun
Bothe habit and disposicion̄
Of hym this woful louer dan arcite
What sholde I of his wo alday endite
Whan he endured hadde a yeer or two
This cruel turment this peyne and woo
At Thebes in his contre as I sayde
Vpon a nyght in slepe as he hym layde
Hym thoughte how that the wynged Mercury
Beforn hym stood and bad hym be mery
His slepy zerd he baar in hond vp right
An hat he baar vpon his heris bright
[Page] Araid was this
god as he took kepe
As he was whan argus took his slepe
And saide him thus to athenes thou shalt wende
There is the shape of thy woo an ende
And with that word arcite awook and stert
Now trewly how sore that me smert
Quod he to athenes wil I fare
Ne for no drede of deth shal I spare
To se m [...] lady that I serue
In [...]er presenc [...] recke I not to sterue
And with that word he caughte a mryrour
And saw that chaunged was his colour
And saw his v [...]sage al in anothir kynde
And right anon it ran hym in his mynde
That sithnes his face was disfugured
Of maladye the whiche he hadde endured
He m [...]ghte wel if that he bare hym lowe
Lyue in athenes e [...]ermore vnknowe
And s [...] his lady wel nyhe day be day
And right anon he chaunged his aray
And clad hym as a poure laborer
And a lone saue only a poure squyer
That knew his priuite and his caas
Whiche was disguysed pourely as he was
To athenes is he gon the nexte way
And to the court he wente vp on aday
And at the gate he profryd his seruise
To drug & to drawe & what men wolde deuyse
And shortly of this mater forto seyn
[Page]He fil in office
toward a chambirleyn
The whiche that was dwellyng with Emelye
For he was wyse and wel coude aspye
Of euery seruaunt whiche that serued there
Wel coude he hewe wode and watir bere
For he was yong and mighty for the nonys
And therto he was strong & big of bonys
To do that euy wight hym coude deuyse
A yeer or two he was in this seruise
Page in the Chambir of Emely the brighte
And Philostrat he sayde that he highte
But half so wel a loued man as he
Ne was ther non̄ in court of his degre
He was so gentyl of condicion
That thurgh al the court was his renoun
They sayde that it were charite
That Theseus wolde enhaunse his degre
And put hym in a worshipful seruise
There that he mighte his vertu excercise
And thus withyn awhile his name sprong
Bothe of his dedis and of his tong
That Theseus hath take hym so nere
That of his chambir he made hym a squyere
And yaf hym gold to mayntene his degre
And eke men broughte hym out of his contre
Fro yeer to yeer ful pryuely his rente
But honestly and slighly he it spente
That no man wondred how that he it hadde
And thre yeer in this wise his lif he ladd [...]
[Page] And baar hym in pees
and eke in warre
Ther was noman that Thes [...]us hadde derre
ANd in this blisse lete I now arcite
And speke I wil of Palamon alite
In derknesse horrible and in strong prison
This s [...]uen yeer hath sete this Palamon
For pyned what for woo and distresse
Who felith dowbyl woo and heuynesse
But Palamon that loue distreyueth soo
That wood out of his wit he ny goth for woo
And eke therto he is a prisoner
Per [...]etuel and not only for a yeer
W [...] cowde ryme in englissh propirly
His matirdom forsothe it am not I
Th [...]rfore I passe as lightly as I may
I wylle not taire yow alle the day
Th [...] thirde n [...]ght as olde bokis sayn
Th [...]t all this story tellith more and playn
Were it be auenture or destyne
Alas that whan a thing is shapyn it shal be
That sone aftir the mydnyght Palamon
Be help of a frend broke hath his prison
And fleeth fro the prison as sone as he may goo
For he hadde yeue his gailer drynke soo
Of clarrey made of a certeyn wyne
With nercotises and Epye of Thebes fyne
That half þ• night though men wolde hym shake
The gayler so slep [...]e he mighte not awake
And thus he fleyhe as faste as he may
[Page]The nyght was short & faste be the day
That nedis cost he moste hym self hyde
And to a groue faste besyde
With dredful herte than stalketh Palamon
For shortly this was his oppinion
That in that groue he wolde hym hyde alday
And in the night than wolde he take his way
To Thebes ward his frendis forto prey
On Theseus to helpe hym werrey
And shortly eyther he wolde lese his liff
Or wynne Emelye to his wiff
This is the effect and the entent playn
Now wil I turne to arcite agayn
That lityl wiste how nygh was his care
Tyl that fortune had brought hym in the snare
The mery larke messanger of may
Salueth in hir song the morow gray
And fity Phebus risith vs so bright
That al the orient laughith of the sight
And with his stremys dryeth the greues
The siluer droppis hangynge on the leuys
And arcite that in the court ryal
With Theseus his squyer principal
Is risyn and loketh on the mery day
And forto do his obseruaunce to may
Remembrynge on the poynt of his desire
He on his courser stirtinge lik the fire
Is riden in to the feldis hym to pleye
Out of the Court were it a myle or tweye
[Page] And to the groue of whiche that I you told
[...] By auenture his wey he gan to holde
To make hym a garlond of the greuys
Were it of wodebynde or of hawthorn leuys
And lowde [...]e song ayens the sonne shene
May al thy flowris and thy grene
Welcome be thou fressh faire May
In hope that I som grene gete may
And fro his courser with a lusty hert
In to the groue ful lustely he stert
And in a path he romed vp an doun
Where as by auenture this Palamon
Was in a bussh that noman mighte hym se
Ful sore a ferd of his deth was he
No thing knew he that this was arcite
God woot he wolde haue trowed it ful lite
But soth is sayd go sithen is many yeris
That feld hath yen and wode hath eris
Hit is ful faire aman to bere hym euyn
For alday men mete at vnset steuyn
For lityl wente arcite of his felawe
That was so nygh to herkyn of his sawe
Whan that arcite hadde romed al his fyll
Palamon in the bush now sittith styll
And arcite song al the roundel lustily
In to a study he fyl sodenly
As doon thise louers in hir queynte giris
Now in the crop and now in the breris
Now vp now doun as boket in awelle
[Page]Right as the friday sothly forto telle
Now it shyneth now it rayneth fast
Right so gan guerri venus ouer cast
The hertis of her folk right as her day
His guery thought so chaungeth his aray
Selde is the friday al the woke lik
Whan that arcite hadde songe he be gan to sike
And he set hym doun withoute euy more
Allas quod he the day that I was bore
How longe Iuno thurgh thy cruelte
Wilt thow werien thebes the Cyte
Alas y brought is to confusion̄
The blood ryal of Cadyn and amphion̄
Of Cadimis whiche that was the firste man
That Thebes bilt or first the toun began
And of the cyte first was crouned kyng
Of his lynage am I and of his ofspryng
Be verray lyne and of stok ryal
And now I am so kaytyf and so th [...]al
That he that is my mortal enemy
I serue hym and am his squyer pouerly
And yet doth me Iuno welmore shame
For I dar not be knowe myn owen name
But there as I wont was to highte arcite
Now highte I philostrat not worth amyte
Allas thou fel mars allas Iuno
Thus your ire hath our lynage al fordo
S [...]ue only on wrecchid Palamon
That Theseus martrith in prison
[Page] And ouer all this to sle me vtterly
Loue hath his firy dart so brennyngly
It stikyd thorugh my trew careful hert
That shapen was erst my deth or my shert
Ye sle me with your yen Emelye
Ye be the cause wherfore that I dye
Of al the remenaunt of myn other care
Ne secte I not the mountaunce of a tare
So that I coude do aught to your plesaunce
And with that word he fyl doun in a traunce
A longe tyme and aftirward vp stert
This Palamon that thoughte thorow his hert
He felt a cold swerd sodenly glide
For ire he quoke he nolde no lengir abyde
And whan that he hath herd arcites tale
As [...]e were wood with face ded and pale
H [...] stirt hym vp out of the bussh thicke
And sayde arcite fals traitour wicke
Now are thou [...]ent that louest my lady so
For whom that I haue this peyne and woo
And art my blood and to my counceyl sworn̄
And I ful ofte haue told the here beforn̄
And hast be iapyd here duke Theseus
And falsly hast chaunged thy name thus
I wil be ded or ellis thou shalt dye
Thou shalt not loue my lady Emelye
But I wil loue h [...]r only and no mo
For I am Palamon thy mortal fo
And though I haue no wepyn in this place
[Page]But out of prison am stert be grace
That thou sholdist dye of myn hond
For I defie the seuerte and the bond
Whiche that thou saist I haue made to the
What verrey fole thynk that loue is fre
And I wil loue hire magre al thy might
But for as muche as thou art a knyght
And woldist darrayn here be bataille
Haue here my trouthe to morow I wil not faile
Withoute witinge of ony other wight
That here I wil be founden as a knyght
And bryngen harneis right ynow for the
And chees the beste and leue the worst for me
And mete & drynke this nyght wil I bringe
I now for the & clothis for thy beddynge
And yf so be that thou my lady wynne
And sle me in this wode that I am Inne
Thou maist wel haue thy lady as for me
This Palamon answerd I graunte hit t [...]e
And thus they be departyd tyl amorow
Whan eyther of hem hath leyd her feith to borow
Occupied out of alle charite
O regne that woldist haue no felow with the
Ful soth is said that loue ne lordship
Wil not his thankes haue ony feleship
We fynde thus of arcite and Palamon
Arcite is riden anon into the toun
And on the morow anon or it were light
Ful pryuely two harneis hath he dight
[Page]Bothe sufficient
and mete to darreygne
The bataylle in the feld betwix hem tweyne
And on his hors alone as he was born̄
He caryed the harneis hym beforn̄
And in the groue at tyme and place set
This arcite and this Palamon been met
To chaunge gan the colour in her face
Right as hunters the in regne of trace
That stondeth at the gappe with a spere
Whan huntyd is the lioun and the bere
And herith hym come russhing in the greuys
And b [...]ckith bothe bowes and eke leuys
And thinkith here comyth my mortal enemy
Withoute fayle he muste be ded or I
For eyther I moste sle hym acte gappe
Or he muste sle me yf I mys happe
So fer [...]en they in chaunging of her hue
As fer as ony of hem other knewe
Ther nas no good day ne saluynge
But streyght withoute wordis of rehercyng
Euerich of hem helpith to arme other
As frendly as he were his owen brother
And aftir that with sharpe speris strong
They foynen eche at other longe
Thou myghtist wene that this Palamon
In his fighting were a lioun
And as a cruel tigre was arcite
As wilde boris gan they to geder smyte
That freten whit as foom for ire wood
[Page]Vp to the ancle foughte they in her
blood And in this wyse I lete hem fighting duelle
And forsoth I wil of Theseus telle
The destenye mynyster general
That excusith in the worlde ouyr al
The purneaunce that god hath beforn̄
So stran̄ge it is that though þe worlde had sworn̄
The contrary of a thing be ye or nay
Yet somtyme it shal falle vp on aday
That fallith not eft in a thousand yeer
For certenly our appetitys heer
Be it of pees hate warre or loue
Al is rewlid be the sighte aboue
This mene I now be mighty Theseus
That forto hunte is so desirous
And namely at the grete hert in may
That in his bed ther dawid hym no day
That he nys clad and redy forto ryde
With hunte and horn̄ and houndis be his syde
For in his huntynge hath he suche delite
That it is al his ioye and his appetite
To be hym self the grete [...]ertis [...]ne
For aftir Mars he seruyth now dyane
Cleer was the day as I haue told or this
And Theseus with al ioye and blis
With his Ipolita the faire quene
And Emely I clothyd al in grene
An huntyng ben they riden rially
And to the groue that stood ther fast by
[Page]In whiche ther was an hert as men hym tolde
Duke Theseus the streight wey hath holde
And to the launde he ridith ful right
For thider was the hert wont to haue his flight
And ouer abrook and so forth on his way
The duke wolde haue acours of hym or twey
With h [...]undis suche as he list to comaunde
And whan this duke was come to the launde
Vnder the sonne he lokyd and that anon̄
He was waar of arcite and Palamon̄
That foughten breme as it were bolis two
The bright suerdis wente to and fro
So hidonsly that with the leste strook
He semyd that it wolde haue fellyd on ook
But what they were no thing he ne woot
This duke with his sporis his courser smote
And at a sterte he was betwix hem two
And pullyd out his swerde and sayde ho
Nomo [...] on peyne of lesing of your hed
Be myghty mar [...] anon ye shul be ded
That smy [...]h ony strook that I may se
But tellith me what myster men ye be
That ben so hard [...] to fighte here
Withoute Iuge or other officere
As though it were in listis rially
This Palamon answerde hastely
And sayde syre what nedith wordis moo
We haue the d [...]th deserued bothe twoo
Two woful wre [...]his be we and knyghtis
[Page]That ben
encombred of oure lyuys
And as thow art a rightful lord and Iuge
Ne yeue vs neyther mercy ne refuge
But sle me first for saint charite
But sle my felow eke as wel as me
Or ellis hym first for they thou knowe hym lite
He is thy mortal fo this is arcite
That fro thy lond was banysshed on his hed
For whiche he hath deserued to be ded
For this is he that cam to thy yate
And sayde that he highte Philostrate
Thus he hath iaped the many a yeer
And thow hast maad hym thy chief squyer
And this is he that loueth Emely
For sithnes the day is come that I shal dy
I make pleynly my confession̄
That I am that woful Palamon
That hath thy prison broke wickedly
I am thy mortal fo and he am I
That loueth so hote Emely the bright
That I wil dye here present in her sight
Therfore I axe deth of my Iewise
But sle my felow in the same wise
For bothe haue we deserued to be slayn
THis worthy duke ansuerde anon̄ agayn̄
And saide this is a short conclusion̄
Your owen mouth be your confession̄
Hath dampned you and I wil it recorde
Hit nedith not to peyne with the corde
[Page]Ye shul be
ded be myghty mars the rede
The quene anon for verray wommanhede
Gan forto wepe and so dede Emelye
And alle the ladyes in that companye
Gret pyte was it as hem thoughte alle
That euyr suche a chaunce sholde be falle
For gentilmen they were and of gret astat
And no thing but for loue was this debaat
And sawe hir blody woundis wide and sore
And alle cryden bothe lasse and more
Haue mercy lord vpon vs wymmen alle
And on her bare knees doun they falle
And wolde haue kild hem there as they stood
Tyl at the laste slakyd was his mood
For pyte renneth sone in gentyl herte
And though he first for ire quoke and sterte
He considered shortly in a clause
The trespas of hem bothe and eke the cause
And al though that his ire hire gilt acused
Zit in his reson he hem bothe excused
And thus he thoughte wel that euery man
Wil helpe hym self in loue al that he can
And delyuer hym self out of pryson
And eke in his herte he hadde compassion
Of wommen for they were euer in one
And in his gentil herte he thoughte anon̄
And softe vnto hym self he sayde fy
Vp on a lord that wil haue no mercy
But be a lioun bothe in word and dede
[Page]To hem that ben in repentaunce
and drede
As wel as a proud dispitous man
That wil mayntene that he first began
That lord hath litil of discression̄
That in suche a caas can no diuision̄
But weyeth pryde and humbles aftir one
And shortly whan his ire is thus agon̄
He gan to loke on hem with yen blake & vglye
And spak thise wordis al on hye
The god of loue a benedicite
How mighty and how gret alord is he
Agayns his might ther gayneth non̄ obstakyl
He may be clepid a god for his mirakyl
For he can make at his owen gyse
Of euery herte as hym list deuyse
Lo here this arcite and this Palamon
That queyntly cam out of my prison̄
And mighte a lyuyd in thebes ryally
And knowen I am her mortal enemy
And that here deth lith in me also
And yet hath loue magre hir yen two
Brought hem hither bothe forto dye
Now lokith is not this an high folye
Who may be a fole but yf that he loue
Behold for goddis sake that sittith aboue
Se how they blede be they not wel arayd
Thus hath her lord the god of loue hem payd
Her wages and her fees of her seruyse
And yet they wene forto be wyse
[Page]That serue loue for aught that may falle
But this is yet the beste game of alle
That she for whom they haue this Iolite
Can hem therfore as moche thank as me
She wot nomore of al this [...]oot fare
Be god th [...]n woot a Cu [...]kow or an hare
But al muste be assayd [...]oot or cold
A man muste be a fool yong or old
I woot it be my self ful longe agoon
For in my tyme a seruaunt was I one
And therfore sethnys I knowe of louys peyne
And wot how fore hit can a man distreyne
As he that hath be caught in this laas
I yow foryeue hoolly this trespaas
And at the request of the quene that knelith here
And eke of Emely my [...]uster dere
And ye shul bothe vnto me swere
That neuer ye shal my croune dere
Ne make warre on me nyght ne day
But be my frendes in al that ye may
I yow foryeue this trespas farr and weel
And they hym swar his axing eueridee [...]
And hym of lordship and mercy prayde
And he hem grauntyd and thus he sayde
TO speke of worthy linage and richesse
Though that she were a quene or a princesse
Eche of yow bothe is worthy doutles
To wedde whan tyme is but natheles
I speke as for my sustr [...] Emely
[Page]For whom ye haue this strif
and this Ielousy
Ye woot your self ye may not wedde two
At onys theygh ye fighte euer mo
That one of you al be hym loth or lef
He mot go pype in an Iuy lef
This is to say she may not haue bothe
Al be ye neuer so ielous and so lothe
And for thy I you put in this degre
That eche of you shal haue his dest [...]ne
As hym his shapyn and herkyn in what wyse
Lo here yonre ende of that I shal deuyse
My wil is this for plat conclusion̄
Withoute ony replicacion̄
Yf that you li [...]th take it for the beste
That euerich of you shal go where hym liste
Frely withoute raunsen or daunger
And this day fifty wikes fer ne neer
Euerich of you shal bringe an hundred knight [...]s
Armed for listys vp alle rightis
Alredy to darreyne here be ba [...]ayll
And this behote I yow withoute fayll
Vpon my trowthe & as I am trew knyght
That whethir of you bothe hath that migh
May with his hundred as I spak of now
That is to sey wh [...]thir he or thow
Sle his contrary or out of listys dryue
Hym shal I yeue Emely to wyue
To whom that fortune yeueth so fair a gre
The listis shal I make on this place
[Page] And god so wisly on my sowle rewe
As I shal euene Iuge be and trewe
Ye shul non othir ende with me make
That one of you shal be ded or take
And yf ye thinke this is wel said
Saieth your auys and holde you payd
This is your ende and your conclusion
Who lokith now lighty but Palamon
Who spryngeth vp for ioye but arcite
Who cowde telle or who coude endite
The ioye that made is in this place
When Theseus hadde do so fair a grace
But doun a knees wente euery wight
And thanked hym with al her myght
And namely the Thebans ofte sithe
And thus with good hope and herte blithe
The [...] take her leue and homward they ryde
To Thebes with olde wall is wyde
I trowe men wolde it deme negligent
Zyf I foryete to telle the entent
Of Theseus that goth so besily
To make vp the listis ryally
That suche an nobyl entre as it was
I dar wel say in this worlde ther nas
The curuyt a myle ther of was aboute
Wallid with stoon and diched round aboute
Round was the shappe in maner of a compas
Ful of degrees the highest of sixty paas
That whan aman was set in on degre
[Page]He letteth not his felow forto se
Estward ther was a gate of marbil whit
Westward [...]uche another appositit
And shortly to conclude suche a place
Was non̄ in erthe in so lityl space
For in the lond ther was no craftis man
That gemetrie or ars metric can
Ne portreture ne keruar of Images
That Theseus ne yaf mete drynke & wages
The entre forto make and deuyse
And forto do his ryte and his sacrifice
He Estward hath vp on the gate aboue
In worship of venus goddesse of loue
Do make an auter and an Oratory
And on the westward in memory
Of marce hath he maad suche anothir
That coste large of gold a fothir
And northward in a tour of the wal
Of whit alabastre and reed coral
An Oratory riche forto see
In worship of dyane goddesse of chastite
Hath Theseus do wrought in nobil wise
But yet hadde I forgete to deuyse
The nobill keruynge and the portreturis
The shap the countenaunce & the figuris
That weren in the Oratoryes thre
First in the tempil of venus thou maist se
Wrought in the wal ful petously to be holde
The brokyn slepis and the sighis colde
[Page]The
sakryd terys
and the weymentynge
The firy strokys and the desirynge
That loues folkes in this worlde enduryn
The othes be her couenauntis assuren
Plesaunce hope desire and fool hardinesse
Beaute and yongthe baudry and richesse
Charmys and sorcerye lesinges and flaterye
Dispence besinesse and Ielowsye
That wered of yelow gold a garlond
And a Cuckow sittyng on her hond
Fees [...]is instrumentis carollis and daunsis
[...]ust and aray and alle the circumstauncis
Of loue whiche that I rekene and shal
Be ordir were peynted on the wall
And mo than I can make mencion
For sothly al the mounte of sitheon
Th [...]re venus hath hir principal dwellyng
Was shewd on the wal h [...]re portreyyng
With al the ioye and al the lustinesse
Nought was for [...]eten the Porters idelnesse
Ne Narcysus the faire yore agoon
Ne yet the folye of [...]yng Salamon
The enchauntement of Medea and hardynesse
Of Iason I wil not now expresse
Ne of turnus with his hard fyre corage
The riche Cresus caytifs in seruage
Thus may ye se that wisedom ne riches
Beaute sleyghte strengthe ne hardinesse
Ne may with venus holde champartye
[Page]For as she list the worlde may she gye
So alle thyse folk caught were in her lase
Tyl they for wo ful ofte sayde allas
Suffiseth thyse ensamplis one or two
And thowgh I coude rekene a thousand mo
The statu of venus glorious for to se
Was maad fletynge in the large se
And fro the nauyl doun she was
With wawis bright as ony glas
A cotel in hir right hond hadde she
And on her hed ful semely on to se
A rose garlond fressh & wel smellyng
Aboue her heed douues also fleyng
Beforn̄ hir stood her sone cupido
Vpon his shuldris wyngis hadde he two
And blynd he was as it is of [...]e seen
A bowe he baar and arowes cleen
Why sholde I not eke telle of the wall
The portreyynge that was on hit all
With in the tempyl of mighty mars the rede
Al was peynted the wallis in lengthe & brede
Lyke to the Estris of the grysly place
That hight the grete tempyl of mars in trace
In that cold northern frosty regioun
There as mars hath his souereyn mansion̄
First on the wal was peyntyd a forest
In whiche ther dwellith neyther man ne best
With knotty & knarry bareyn treys olde
Of stubbis sharp & hidous to beholde
[Page]In whiche ran as a wymbyl in a swowe
As though it a storm were sholde brest euery bow
And downward on an hil vnder abent
There stood the tempyl of marce armypotent
Wrought al of burnyd steel the whiche the entre
Was longe and streight and gladly forto se
And ther out cam a rage and suche a veyse
That it made al the gatis forto reyse
The northeren light in at the dore shon
For wyndow on the wal was ther non
Thurgh whiche men myghte ony light disserne
The doris were al of athemaundis eterne
I clenchid ouerthwart and endlonge
With Iren forto make it strong
Euery pyler the tempyl forto susteyne
Was tonne greet of yren bright and shene
There saw I first the derk ymagenyng
Of felony and al the compassing
The cruel ire reed as ony glede
The pyke purs and eke the pale rede
The smyler with the kn [...]f vnder the cloke
The shepen brennyng with the blak smoke
The treson of the murdryng in the bed
The opyn werris with woundis alle bled
Contak with blody knyf and sharp manace
Al ful of chirkyng was the sory place
The sleer of hym yet saw I there
His herte blood hath bated al his chere
The nayl I dryue in the shode an highte
[Page]The colde deth with mouth gapynge vp right
A myddyl of the tempil sat myschaunce
With discomfort and sory contenaunce
Yet saw I woodnesse lawghyng in his rage
The hunter strangled with the wilde boris corage
The sowe fretyng the child in the cradil
The cook I scalded for his longe ladil
Nought foryetyn was the infortune of Mars
The carter ouer riden with his owen hors
Vnder the wheel ful lowe he lay adoun
There were also of martirs destructioun
The barbour the boteler and the smyth
That forged sharpe swerdis in the stith
And al aboue depeynted in a tour
The high conquest sittynge in gret honour
With the sharp swerd ouer his hed
Hangynge be a subtil twyned thred
Depeynted was there the slaughtir of Iulius
O grete Nero and of antomus
Al be that tyme they were vnborn̄
Yet was her deth peynted there beforn̄
Be manassynge of Marce right be figure
So was it shewd right be portreture
As it is depaynted in the ser [...]lis aboue
Who shal be sleyn or ded for loue
Suffiseth on ensampyl in storyes olde
I may not rekene alle though I wolde
The statu of Mar [...]e vp on a carte stood
Armyd and lokyd grym as he were wood
[Page] And ouer his
hed ther shynen two figurys
Lyke vnto the figure of virgynys
That one puella hight that othir Iulius
Thies god of armys was arayd thus
A wolf ther stood beforn hym at his feet
With yen rede and of aman he eet
With subtile pensel was peyntyd this story
In redowndynge of Marce and of his glory
Now to the tempyl of dyane the chaste
As shortly as I can I wyl me haste
To [...]elle yow al the descripcion
[...]e [...]yntyd on the wallis vp and doun
Of huntynge and of shamefast chastite
There saw I how woful Calistope
Whan that dyane greuyd was with here
Was turned fro womman in to a bere
And aftir was she maad the lood sterre
Thus was [...]t peynted I can say no ferre
Her sone is eke a sterre as men may se
There saw I dyane turned vntil a tre
I mene not the goddesse dyane
But Pen [...]s doughter whiche that highte dyane
There saw I atheon an hert I makyd
For vengeaunce that he saw dyane al nakyd
I saw how that houndis haue hym caught
And fretyn hym for that they knew hym nought
Yet I peynted was a lityl furthermore
How athalante huntyd the wylde bore
And meliager and meny other moo
[Page]For whiche Diane wroughte hym care & wo
There saw I many another wonder story
The whiche me list not drawe in memory
This goddesse on an hert high is sete
With smale houndis aboute her fete
And vndernethe hir feet sh [...] hadde a mone
Wexynge it was and sholde wane sone
In gawdy grene her statu clothed was
With bowe in hond and arowes in caas
Here yen cast she ful lowe a doun
There pluto hath his derk regioun
A womman trauelynge was here beforn̄
But for hir child so longe was vnborn̄
Ful pitously Lucyna gan she calle
And sayde help for thou maist best of alle
Wel coude he peynte liuely that it w [...]oughte
With meny a floreyn he thyse huwis boughte
NOw ben thise listis maad & Theseus
That at his grete cost hath arayd thus
The templis and the auters eueridel
Whan it was don̄ it likyd hym wel
But stynte I wil of Theseus alite
And speke of Palamon and of arcite
The day approchith in here attourneyynge
That euerich sholde an hundrid knightes brynge
The bateylle to darreyne as I you tolde
And til Theseus here couenaunt forto holde
Hath euerich of hem brought an hundrid knightes
Wel I armed for the werre at al rightes
[Page] And sikirly ther
trowed many aman
That neuyr sithnes the worlde began
As forto speke of knyghthood of her hond
As fer as god hath made see and lond
Nas of so fewe so nobyl acompany
For euery wight that loued chyualrye
And wolde his thankys haue passing name
He prayde that he myghte be of that game
And wel was hym that therto chosyn was
For yf ther fyl to morow suche a caas
Ye knowe wel that euery lusty knyght
That loueth paramouris and hath his might
Were [...]t in engelond or ellis where
They wolde her thankys willen to be there
To fight for a lady a benedicite
Hit were a lusty s [...]ghte forto se
And right so ferthe they with Palamon
With hym ther wente knyghtis many [...]on
Some wolde be armed in habergeon
Some in brest place and in bright gippon
And some wol haue a p [...]r of platis large
And some wolde haue spruse sheldis & targe
Some wolde be armed on his leggis wele
And haue an ax and a mace of steel
Ther is no newe gyse but it was hold
Armed were they as I haue told
Eueriche aftir his owen oppinion
There maist thow se comyng with Palamon
Ligurge hym self the kyng of trace
[Page]Blak was his
berd & manly was his face
The cerclis of his yen in hes heed
They glowden̄ betwix yelow and reed
And lyke a griffyn loked he aboute
With kempt heris in his browis stoute
His lymes grete his brawn̄ hard & strong
His shuldres brode his armes round & long
And as the gyse was in his contre
Ful high vp on a chare of gold stood he
With four white bolis in the trace
In stede of Cote armure in his harnase
With naylis yelow & bright as ony golde
He hadde a bere skyn cool blak for olde
His longe heris were kempt behynd his bak
As ony rauen fethir it shoon̄ for blak
A wrethe of gold arme grete of huge weyghte
Vp on his hed sat. with many a stone bright
Of fyn rubyes and of fyn diamantee
Aboute his chare ther w [...]te alauntes
Twenty and mo as grete as ony steer
To honte atte lioun or ellis at the deer
And folowed hym with mosel faste I bounde
Colers of gold and torettis filyd rounde
An hundrid lordis he hadde in his rowte
Armed well as knyghtis sterne & stoute
WIth arcite as men in story fynde
The stronge Emetrus the kyng of Inde
Vp on abay stede I trappid al in steell
Armed with a cloth of gold I diapred well
[Page]Cam ridynge the
god of armys Marce
His cote armur was of cloth of tarce
Cowchid with perlis white rounde and grete
His sadyl was of brent gold newe y bete
A mantelet on his shuldris hangynge
Bret ful of rubyys bright as fyre spryngyng
His brighte cryspe heris lyke ryngys were ronne
And that was yelow & glitered as the sonne
His nose was high his yen bright and grym
His lippis rounde his colour sanguyn
A fewe frakelis in his face were spreynt
Betwix yelow and somdeel blak meynt
And as alioun he lokyd aboute faste
Of .x [...]v. yeer of age I hym caste
His berd was wel begonne forto sprynge
His throte was as a trompe sownynge
Vp on his [...]ed he weryd of laurer grene
A garlond fressh and lusty forto sene
Vpon his hed he baar for his dedwyte
An egle as ony lily whit
An hundred knyghtes hadde he with hym th [...]re
Al armed sane her hedis and al her gere
Were richely arayed in alle maner thingis
Trustith wel that erlis dukes and kyngis
Were gadred in this nobyl companye
For loue and [...]ncrece of cheualrye
Aboute this kyng ther ronnen on euery part
Wel many tame liouns and libart
And in this wyse the lordis alle and som
[Page]Been on the sunday to the cyte com
Aboute prime & in the town a light
This Theseus this duke this worthy knyght
When he hadde brought hem in to the cyte
And ynned hem euerich at his degre
He festith hem and doth hem gret labour
To ese hem and to do hem al honour
That man ne woman ne no maner wight
Of none astat so coude amende it
The mynstralcye the seruise at the feste
The grete giftis to the most and lest
The riche aray of Theseus Paleys
Ne who fat first ne last vp on the deys
Or what feirest or best daunsynge
Or whiche of theym can best daunce or synge
Ne who most felingly speketh of loue
What hawkys sitte on the perchis aboue
What houndis lyen in the slour adoun
Of all this make I no mencion̄
But of the effect that thynketh me best
Now comyth to the poynt herken yf ye list
THe sonday at night or day began to springe
Whan Palamon herde the larke synge
Al that it were not day be houris two
Vnto the temple purposeth he to go
With hool herte and with an high corage
Is risen to wende on his pilgremage
To the blisful Sithea benigne
I mene venus honourable and digne
[Page] And in her houre he
walked forth a pace
Vnto the listis there the temple was
And doun he knelith and with humble chere
And with herte sore he sayde as ye shul here
Feyrest of feyre o lady myn venus
Doughter to Iouis and spouse to vlcanus
That gladdest al the mounte of sitheon
For that loue that thou haddest to a doun
Haue pyte on my bitter teris smert
And take myn humble prayer at thy hert
All as I haue no lengthe forto telle
The eff [...]ct ne the turment of myn helle
M [...]n herte may not myn harmys be wreye
I am so sorowful that I can not seye
But lady bright that knowest wel
My thought and seest the harmys that I fele
Considere this and vewe vp on my sore
As wisly as I shal for euermore
Enforce my myght thy trewe seruaunt to be
And holde werre lady with chastite
That I make myn awwe so ye me helpe
I kepe not of armys forto yelpe
Ne I axe to morw forto haue victory
Ne renoun in this caas ne veynglorye
Of pryse of armys to blowe vp and doun
But I wolde fully haue possession
Of Emely and dye in thy seruise
Fynd thou the manere how and what wyse
I recche not but yf it may better be
[Page]To haue victory of them or they of me
So that I haue my lady in myn armys
For though so be þ• mars be grete god of armys
Your vertu is so greet in heuene aboue
That yf yow list I shal haue my loue
Thy tempyl wol I worship euermo
And on an auter were I ryde or go
I wil do sacrefice and firis bete
And yf ye wil not so my lady swete
Than praye I the to morow with a spere
That arcite me thorow the herte bere
Than recke I nat whan I haue lost my lif
Though that arcite wynne here to his wyf
This is the effect and the ende of my prayer
Yeue me my lif my blissed lady dere
Whan that the orison was don of palamon̄
His sacrefice he did and that anon̄
Ful petously with alle circumstaunces
Alle telle I not as now his obseruaunces
And al the statu of venus shoke
And made a signe wherby he took
That his prayer acceptid was that day
For though the figure shewde delay
Yet wiste he wel that grauntyd was his bone
And with glad herte he wente hym hom sone
The thirde hour equal that Palamon̄
Began to venus tempil forto gon
VP roos the sonne & vp roos Emely
And to the tempil of diane gan hye
[Page]Her maidens that with hir thider were
lad Ful redely with hem fair clothis they had
Theseus clothis and the [...]enuaunt al
That to the sacrifise longyn shal
The hornes ful of methe as was the gyse
There lackyd nought to don hir sacrifise
Smokyng the tempyl ful of clothis feir
This Emely with hert deboneir
Her body with water in a welle
But how she did there I dar not telle
But hit be ony thing in general
And yet it were a game to here it al
To hym that meneth wel it were no charge
But it is good aman to be at his large
Her bright [...]eer was kempt and vntressed al
And a crowne of grene oke serial
Vp on her hed set ful fair and mete
Two firis on the anter gan she bete
And dyde here thynges as men may be holde
In state of Thebes and in bokis olde
When kyndeled was the fyue with pitous chere
Vnto dycine she spak as ye may here
O chast goddesse of the wode grene
To whom bothe heuene and erthe & see is sene
Quene of the regne of pluto derk and lowe
Goddesse of maydens that my hert hast knowe
Ful many a yeer and wotist what I desire
As keep me fro the vengeaunce of thy fyre
That atheon aboughte trewly
[Page]Chast goddesse wel wotist thou that I
Desire to be amaiden al my lyf
Ne neuer wol I be loue ne wyf
I am thou wotist yet of thy company
Amaiden and loue huntyng and venory
And forto wal [...]yn in the wodis wilde
And not to be a wyf and be with childe
Nought wil I knowe no companye of man
Now help me lady sithnes thou may and can
For the thre fourmes that thou hast in the
And Palamon that hath suche loue to me
And eke arcite that loueth me so sore
This grace I pray the withouten more
As sende loue and pees betwix hem two
And fro me turne awey hert hertis so
That al hir hote loue and her desire
And al her besy turment and al hir fire
Be queynt or turned in another place
And if so be thou wilt do me no grace
Or yf my destenye be shapen so
That I shal nedis haue on of hem two
As send me hym that most desireth me
Beholde goddesse my clene chastite
The bittir teris that on my [...]hekis fulle
Sithnes thou art a maide & keper of vs alle
My maidenhed thou kepe & wel conserue
And whiles I lyue a maiden wil I the serue
Thise firis brenne vp on th [...] auters cleer
While Emely was thus in hir praiere
[Page]But sodenly she saw a sighte queynt
For right anon on of the fyris queynt
And quyckyd agayn and aftir that anon
That oher fyre was queynt and al agon
And as it queynt it made a whisshing
As don̄ thyse wete brondis in her brennyng
And at the brondis ende out ran anon
As it were dropis blody many on̄
For whiche so sore agast was Emely
That she was almost mad and gan to cry
For she ne wiste what it signifyed
But only for feer thus hath she cry [...]d
And wepte that it was pyte to h [...]re
And therwith al dyane gan appere
With bowe in hond right as an hunteres
And sayde doughter stynt thyn heuynesse
Among the goddis an hygh [...] it is affermed
And by etern̄ worde writen and confermed
Thow shalt be weddid vntil one of two
That haue for the so moche care and woo
But vnto whiche of hem may I not telle
Fare wel [...]or I may no lenge [...] dwelle
The fyris whiche on myn anter brenne
Shul the declarer or thow go henne
Thyn auenture of loue as in this caas
And with that word the arowes in the caas
Of the goddesse clateren faste and rynge
And forth she wente & made a vanysshinge
For whiche this Emely astonyed was
[Page] And sayde what amounteth this case
I put me vnder thy protection̄
Dyane and thy disposicion̄
And hom she goth anon the nexte wey
This is the effect ther is nomore to sey
And in the houre of Mars after this
ARcite vnto the tempil walkyd is
Of fyres of marce to do his sacrifise
With alle the rightis of his paynem wyse
With pyetous herte and high deuocion̄
Right thus to marce he sayde this orison̄
O strong god that in the regnes colde
Of trace honoured art and lord I holde
And hast in euery regne and euery lond
Of armys al the bridil in thy hond
And hem fortunest as the list best deuyse
Accepte of me my pyetous sacrifise
Yf so be that my thought may deserue
And that my myght be worthy to serue
Thy godhede that I may be on of thyn
Than prey I the rewe on my pyn
For that peyne and that hote fire
The whiche that whilom brendist for desire
Whan that thou vse dist the beaute
Of feyre yong fressh venus fre
And had of hir in thy armys thy wille
And though the onys a tyme mys fille
Whan vlcanus had caught the in his laas
And fond the liggynge be his wif alas
[Page]For that sorow that was in thy hert
Haue rowthe as wel vp on my peynys smert
I am yong and vnkonnynge as thou wost
And as I trowe with loue offendid most
Than euer was ony liuys creature
For she that doth me al this wo endure
Ne recchith neuer whether I synke or flete
And wel I woot or she me mercy hete
I muste with strengthe wynne here in place
And wel I wot withoute help and grace
Of the may not my strengthe avayle
Than help me lord to morow in my batayle
For th [...]t fyre that whilom brent the
As wel as that fyre now brennyth me
And do that I to morow haue victory
Myn the trauayl and thyn be the glory
Thy souereyn tempyl wil I most honouren
Of ony place alwey and most labowryn
In thy plesaunce and in thy craftis stronge
And in thy tempyl I wil my baner honge
And alle the armys of my companye
And euermore vntyl that I dye
Eterne fyre I wol beforn̄ the fynde
And eke to this avowe I wil me bynde
My berd my heer that hangith long adoun
That neuer yet felt offensioun
Of [...]asour ne of shere I wil the yeue
And be thy trewe seruaunt whilis I lyue
Now lord haue rowthe vp on my sorowis sore
[Page]Y
[...]ue me the victory I axe nomore
The prayer stynt & arcite the strong
The ringis that on the tempil dore hong
And eke the dores clatered so faste
Of whiche arcite somwhat hym agaste
The firis brende vp on the auters bright
That it gan al the tempil forto light
A sote smel anon the ground vp yaf
And arcita anon his hond vp gaf
And more encence in to the fire caste
With other rightis and at the laste
The statu of marce began his hanberk ringe
And with that sown he herde a mornynge
Ful lowe and dym and sayde victory
For whiche he yaf to marce honour and glory
And thus with ioye and hope wel to fare
Arcite anon to his Inne is fare
As fayn as fowle is of the bright sonne
And right anon suche strif is there begonne
For that grauntynge in heuene aboue
Betwix venus goddesse of loue
And Marce the sterne god armypotent
That Iubiter was fayn it to stynte
Tyl that the Pale Saturnus the colde
That knew so many of auenturis olde
Fond in his experience and art
That he ful sone hath plesed euery part
As soth is said [...] eld hath gret auauntage
In eld is bothe wisedom and vsage
[Page]Men may the olde out renn
[...] but not out rede
Saturn anon to stynte strif and drede
Al be it that it is ayens his kynde
Of al this strif he can remedies fynde
My dere doughter dere quod Saturne
My cours that hath so wyde forto turne
Hath more power than hath ony man
Myn is the drenchynge in the see so wan
Myn is the pryson in the derk cote
Myn is the strangeling & hangyng be the throte
The murmur and the chorlis rebellynge
The groynynge and the pryue enpoysonynge
I do vengeaunce and pleyn correction
Whiles I dwelle in the signe of the lion
Myn is the ruyne of the high halles
The fallyng of the touris and of the wallis
Vp on the mynour and vp on the Carpenter
I slough Sampson shakynge the pyler
And myne ben the maladyes colde
The grete treson and the castis olde
My lokynge is the fader of pestelence
Now wepe nomore I shal do my diligence
That Palamon that is thyn owen knyght
Shal haue his lady as thou hym behight
And marce shal kepe his knight yet natheles
Betwix you ther muste be somtyme pees
Al be ye not of on complexion
That causith alday suche diuision
I am thyn al redy at thy wille
[Page]Wep
[...] now nomore I wil thy lust fulfille
Now wol I stynte of the goddes aboue
Of marce and venus goddes of loue
And telle you al pleynly as I can
The grete effect of whiche I began
GReet was the feste in actenes that day
And eke the lusty seson of may
Made euery wight to be in suche plesaunce
That al that moneth Iuste they & daunce
And spenden it in venus high seruise
But be cause that they sholden arise
Erly forto se the grete sight
Vnto her reste wente they at nyght
And on the morow when day gan sprynge
Of hors and noyse harneis and claterynge
Ther was in hostelries al aboute
And to the Paleys ther ridith many aroute
And lordis vp on stedis and Palfreys
There maist thou se deuysinge of harneys
So vncowthe and so riche and wel
Of goldsmythrye of browderye & that subtel
The sheldis bright tes [...]eris and trappours
Gold hewed helmes hawberkis & cote armours
Raymg the speris and helmes bokelyng
Guydyng of sheldis with leyners lasynge
There as nede is they were no thing Idyl
The fomy stedes on the goldyn bridyl
Alwey gnawynge and faste the armerers also
With file and hamer prikyng to and fro
[Page]Yemen on sote
and knaues many on
With shorte staues thicke as they may gon
Pipis trompis naconers and clarion̄s
That in the bataylle blew blody sown̄s
The paleys ful of pepyl vp an doun
Here thre here. ten holdyng her question
Demynge of the theban knyghtis two
Sum sayde thus some sayde it shal be so
Some held with hym with the blak berd
Som̄ with the ballyd. some with þ• thicke herid
Some sayde he loked grym and he wolde fighte
He hath a sparth of .xx. pounde of wighte
Thus was the halle ful of demenynge
Longe aftir that the sonne gan to spryng
The grete Theseus that of his sleep is wakyd
With mynstralsie & noyse that was maked
Held yet the chambir of his paleys riche
Tyl that the theban knyghtis bothe y liche
I honoured were and in to the Paleys [...]et
Duke Theseus is at the wyndow set
Araid as he were god in trone
The pepyl preced thiderward ful sone
Hym forto seen and his high reuerence
And eke to harkyn his hest and his sentence
An herowde on a skaffold made an O
Tyl that the noyse of the pepyl was do
And whan he saw the pepyl of noyse al stille
Thus shewde he the mighty dukes wille
The lord hath of high discression
[Page] Considered that it were destruction̄
To gentil blood to fightyn in this wyse
Of mortal bataille now in this empryse
Wherfore to scape that they sholde not dye
He wil his firste purpos modifye
Noman therfore on peyne of losyng his lif
No maner shot. ne pollax. ne short knyf
Vnto the listis brynge. ne thider sende
Ne short swerd forto styke bytende
Ne noman to drawe ne bere be his syde
Ne noman shal to his felaw ryde
Foynyng if hym list on fote hym self to wreke
Ne noman so hardy this ordenaunce forto breke
And he that is at myschief shal be take
And not slayn. but brought to the stake
That shal be ordeyned on eyther syde
But thider he shal be force and there abyde
And if so falle the cheefteyn be take
On either syde or ellis sleth his make
No lenger shal the turneyyng laste
God spede you goth on and leith on faste
With longe swerdis & maces fight your fil
Goth now your wey this is the lordis wil
The vois of the pepyl towchid heuene
So lowde cryde they with mysde steuen
God saue suche a lord that is so good
He willith no destruction of blood
Vp goth the trumpis and the melodye
And to the listis ridith this companye
[Page]Be ordenaunce thourgh out the cyte large
Hangynge with cloth of gold & not with sarge
Ful like a lord this nobyl duke gan ryde
Thyse two the bans on eyther syde
And aftir rood the quene and Emely
And aftir hem of ladyes another company
And aftir hem comunes eche aftir his degre
And thus they passe thurgh the cyte
And to the listis come they betyme
Hit is not of the day yet fully pryme
When set Theseus was riche on highe
Ipolita the quene and Emelie
And other ladies in degrees abowte
Vnto the setes passeth al the rowte
And aftirward thurgh the yates of Marte
Arcite and eke the hundred of his parte
With baner reed is entred right anon
And in that selue moment Palamon
Is vnder venus estward in that place
With baner and hardy chere of face
In al the worlde to seke vp and doun
So euene withoute variacioun
Ther nere suche companyes tweye
For ther was non so wyse that coude seye
That ony hadde of other auauntage
Of worthinesse ne estate ne of age
So euen were they chosen forto gesse
And in two raungis feire they hem dresse
And when that her names red were euerichon
[Page]That in her noumbre gile was ther noon̄
Tho were the yatis shyt and cride was loude
Doth now your deuer yong knyghtis proude
The herowdes lefte hir prikyng vp and doun
Now ryngyn trompis lowde and clarioun
Ther is no more to sey but est and west
In goth the speris ful sadly in the rest
Ther shyueryn shaftis vp on sheldis thikke
He felith thorow the hert spon the prik
Vp springith speris twenty foot on highte
Out goth the swerdis as the siluer brighte
The helmes therto hewen̄ and to shrede
Out brestith the blood with stoute stremys rede
With mighty maces the bonys they to brest
And thorow the thickest they throng & threst
There stombelyn stedis strong & doun falle
He rollith vnder foot as doth a balle
He foyneth on his foot with his trunchon̄
And he hurte lith with his hors adoun
He thorow the body is [...]urt a [...]d sithnes take
Magre his heed and brought to the stake
As forward was right there he moste abide
Anothir led is on that other side
And somtyme doth hem Theseus to reste
Hem forto refresshe and drynke yf theym liste
Ful ofte aday haue the thebans two
To geder y met and wrought eyther wo
Vnhorsid hath eche other of hem tweye
Ther is no tiger in the vale of galefeye
[Page]When that her whelpe is stole when it is lite
So cruel on the hunte as is arcite
For ielous herte vp on this Palamon
Ne in belmarie ther is non so fel alioun
That huntid is or for angir wood
Ne of his pray desirith so the blood
As Palamon to sle his foo arcite
The ielous strokis on her helmys bite
Out renneth blood on bothe her sides reed
Som tyme an ende ther is of euery dede
For or the sonne out of the west went
The stronge kyng Emetrus gan hent
This Palamon as he fought with arcite
And made his sweerd depe in his flesh bite
And by the force of twenty was he take
And yolden and drawe to the stake
And in the rescous of this Palamon
The stronge kyng Ligurge is born adoun
And kyng Emetrus for al his strengthe
Is born out of his sadil a swerdis lengthe
So hiete hym Palamon or he were ytake
But al for nought he was brought to the stake
His hardy herte myghte hym helpe nought
He muste abyde when he was caught
Be force and eke be composicion
Who soroweth now but this Palamon
That muste no more go ayen to fight
And whan that Theseus hadde seye that sight
He cryde than ho. nomore for it is done
[Page]Ne non̄ shal lenger vnto his felaw gone
I wil be trewe Iuge and not party
Arcite of thebes shal haue Emely
That by his fortune hath her feir I wonne
Anon̄ ther is anoyse of pepil begonne
For ioye of this so loude and high with al
That it semed that ye listys sholde fal
WHat can now faire venus done aboue
what saith she what doth the quene of loue
[...] wepith so for wantyng of hir wil
Til that her teris in the listys fil
She sayde I am a shamed doutlees
Satorne sayde doughter hold thy pees
Marce hath his wil the knyght hath his bone
And by my hood thou shalt be esed sone
The trompe [...]tis with the lowd mynstralsie
The he rowdes that ful lowde houle and crye
Bene in her ioye for the weel of dane arcite
But herkeneth me and stynti [...]h alite
Whiche a mirakil ther be fil anone
This ferce arcite hath his helm of done
And on a courser forto shewe his face
He pryked endlong the large place
Lokyng vpward vp on this Emelye
And she agayn hym cast a frendly ye
For wommen forto speke of comune
They folow alle the fauour of fortune
And was al in his chere as in his hert
Out of the ground a fire infernal s [...]ert
[Page]From pluto sent a
[...]te request of saturne
For whiche his hors for f [...]er gan to turne
And l [...]pte a syde and found [...]yd as he lepe
And or that arcite may take kepe
He pighte hym on the pomel of his hed
That in the place he say as he were ded
His bres [...] to brosten with his sadyl bowe
As blak he lay as ony cole or crowe
So was the blood ronne in his face
Anon he was born̄ out of the place
With herte sore to Theseus paleys
Th [...] was [...]e coruyn out of his harnei [...]
And in a bed brought ful feyre and bliue
For he was yet in memory and alyue
And alwey cryynge aftir Emelye
Duke Theseus with al his companye
Is come hom to athen [...]s his cyte
With al blis and gret solempnite
Al be [...]t that this auenture was falle
He nolde not discomforte hem alle
Men sayde eke that arcite sholde not dye
He sholde be [...]elid of his maladye
And of another thing they were feyn
That of hem alle ther was non sleyn̄
Alle were th [...]y sore hurt and namely one
That with a spere was thrilled the brestbone
The othre woundis and the broke bones
Some hadde saluys made for the nones
Formaces of herbes and eke sane
[Page]They dronkyn for they wolde her lyues hane
For whiche this nobil duke as he wel can
Comforteth and honoureth euery man
And made reuell al the longe nyght
Vnto the straunge lordis as it was right
Ne there was holden no discomfytynge
But as a Iustes or a turmentyng
For sothly ther was no descomfiture
For faylyng nys but auenture
Ne to be lad be force vnto the stake
Vn yeldyn and with twenty knyghtis take
On ꝑsone allone with oute mo
And haried forth be arme foot and to
And eke his stede dryuen forth with stauys
With footmen bothe yemen and knauys
Hit was a re [...]d hym no velonye
Ther may noman clepe it a cowardrye
For whiche anon̄ duke Theseus let crye
To styntyn al rancour and enuye
The degre as wel in o side as in other
And eythir side lyk as othir brothir
And yaf hem giftis aftir her d [...]gre
And fully held a feste dayes thre
And conueyed the knyghtis worthily
Out of his town a iourney largely
And hom wente euery man the righte way
Ther was no more but farwel haue good day
BVt forto speke of Palamon & arcite
Of Palamon wil I stynte alite
[Page]But swellith the brest of arcite
and the sore
Encrecith at his hert more and more
The cloterid blod for ony lechecraft
Coruptith and in his bowk is laft
That neyther veyne blood ne ventosynge
Ne drynke of herbis may be his helpynge
The vertu expulsif or anymall
Fro that vertu I clepyd naturall
Ne may the venym voyde ne expelle
The pipis and his lungis gan to swelle
And euer lacert in his brest adoun
He is shent with venyme and corrupcion
Hym gayneth nothing forto gete his lyf
He voydeth vpward and dounward laxatif
Al is to brosten that regioun
Nature hath in hym no dominacion
And certeynly ther nature wol not wirche
Fare wel fesik go bere the man to chirche
This is al and som arcite muste dye
For whiche he sendith aftir Emelye
And Palamon that was his cosyn dere
Than sayde he thus as ye shul aftir here
Now may the woful spiryt in my hert
Declare a poynt of alle my sorowis smert
To you my lady that I loue most
Right thus be quethe I the seruise of my gost
To yow abouen euery creature
Sithnes that my lyf may no lenger dure
Alas the peyne alas the woo strong
[Page]That I for you haue
suffrid and so
long Alas the deth. alas my Emelye
Allas the departyng of our companye
Alas my hertis quene. alas my lyf
My hertis lady ender of my lyf
What is the worlde what axith men to hane
Now with his loue now cold in his grane
Alone withouten ony company
Fare wel my swete foo my Emelye
And softe take me in your armes tweye
For the loue of god & herkenyth what I say
I haue here with my cosyn Palamon̄
Had stryf and rancour many aday agoon̄
For the loue of you. and of my ielowsye
And Iupiter so wisly my soule gye
As in this worlde right now knowe I non̄
So worthy to be loued as Palamon
To serue you and wil do al his lif
And if that euer ye shul be a wif
Foryetith not the gentyl Palamon
And with that word his speche was ny agon̄
For fro his feet vnto his brest was com
The cold of deth that hath hym ouercom
And yet more ouer for in his armes two
The vital strengthe is lost and al ago
Saue only the intellectis withouten more
That dwellith in his herte sike and sore
Gan fayle whan the herte felith deth
Dusshid his yen to and fayleth his breth
[Page]But o
[...] his lady yet caste he his ye
His laste word was mercy Emelye
His spirit chaungith the hous & wente there
As I cam neuer I can not telle where
There y stynte I am no deuynyster
Of soulis fynde I not in this registre
Ne me ne list the oppinions to telle
Though y write mighte y note where they dwelle
NOw wyl I speke forth of Emelye
That soroweth and cryeth I wyl not lye
Now wepith Emelye & waylith Palamon
And Theseus his fustir toke anon
Swownynge and bare hir fro the cors away
What helpith it to tary forth the day
To telle how she wepte bothe eue and morow
For in suche caas wommen haue suche sorow
Whan that her husbondis be fro hem ago
That for the more part they sorowen so
Or ellis falle in suche a maladye
That at the laste certaynly they dye
Infynyt ben the sorowis and the teris
Of olde folk and folk of tendre yeris
In al the toun for deth of this theban
For hym ther wep [...]th bothe child and man
So greet wepynge was ther non certayn
Whan Ector was brought al fresh I slayn
To Troye allas the pyte that was there
Cra [...]chynge of chekys rentynge of here
Why woldest thow be ded this wymmen crye
[Page] And haddest golde ynough
and Emelye
No man mighte glade Theseus
Sauynge his olde fader Egeus
That knew this worldis transmutacion
As he hadde seen it chaunge vp and doun
Ioye aftir woo and wo aftir gladnesse
And shewde hym ensaumple and liknesse
Right as ther deyde neuer man quod he
That he ne loued in erthe in som degre
Right so ther lyued neuer man he seyde
In al this worlde that som tyme he deyde
This worlde is but a thorow fare ful of wo
And we be pylgryms passinge to and fro
Deth is an ende of euery worldis sore
And ouer al this yet sayde he mykyl more
To this eff [...]ct ful wisely to enhorte
The pepyl that they sholde hem recomforte
Duke Theseus with al his besy cure
Caste now where the sepulture
Of good arcite may best y makyd be
And eke most honourably in his degre
And at the laste he took conclusion̄
That there as first arcite and Palamon
Hadde for loue bataylle hem between̄
That in that selue groue swete and green̄
There as he hadde his amerous desirys
His complaynt and for loue his hote firys
He wolde make a fire in the whiche the office
Funeral he mighte fully accomplice
[Page] And [...]eet anon to hacke
[...]nd [...]o hewe
The okis olde and [...]y hem on a rewe
In [...]ulpyns wel araid forto brenne
His officers with swist feet they renne
And riden anon at his comaundement
And aftir this Theseus hath sent
Aftir a bere and he it ouer sprad
With clothis of gold the richest that he had
And of the same he clothid arcite
Vp on his hondis his glouys white
And on his hed a crowne of laurer grene
And in his hond a swerd ful bright & shene
He layde hym bare the visage on the bere
Ther with he wepte that pyte was to here
And for the pepyl sholde se hym alle
Whan it was day. he brought hym in to the halle
That thorough the cryynge and the sown
Tho cam this woful theban Palamoun
With floterid berd. and ruggid asshy heris
In clothis blak dropped al with teris
And passinge other of weping Emelye
The rewfullest of al the companye
In as muche the seruise shuld be
The more nobyl and riche in his degre
Duke Theseus leet thre stedis forth brynge
That trappid were in steel al gliterynge
And couered with the armys of arcite
Vp on the stedis grete and white
Ther satyn folk of whiche one bare his sheld
[Page]Anothir a spere vpon his hondis
held The thridde baar with hym his bowe turkeys
Of brend gold was the caas and the harneys
And riden forth a paas with sorouful chere
Toward the groue as ye shul aftir here
With slak paas and yen rede and weet
Thorow out the cite be the maister strete
That spred was al with blac wonder hye
Right of the same is the strete I wrye
Op on the right hond wente olde Egeus
And on that othir side duke Theseus
With vesselis of gold in hir hond ful fyne
And ful of hony mylk. blood and wyne
Eke Palamon with ful greet companye
And aftir that cam woful Emelye
With fire in hond as was that tyme the gyse
To do the office and the funeral seruise
High labour and ful greet apparelynge
Was at the seruise of that fire makynge
That with his grene top the heuen raughte
And twenty fadom of brede the armys straugh [...]e
This is to say the bowes were so brood
Of straw first was layd meny a lood
But how the fire was made vp an heyghte
And as to telle you what the treys highte
As ok firre birch / ash / alder holm popeler
Mapil thorn / bech / aspe / box chesteyn lynd / laurer
Wilow / elme / plane hasil and whipul [...]re
How they were fellid shal not be told for me
[Page]Ne how the goddis rennyn vp a
[...] doun
Disherited of theyr habitacion̄
In whiche they woned in reste and pees
Nymphes faunus and arnarides
Ne how the bestis and the briddes alle
Fillen for feer whan the wode gan falle
Ne how the ground agast was of the light
That was not wont to se the sonne bright
Ne how the fyre was cowchid first with stre
And than with drye stickys clouen on thre
And than with grene wode and spicery
And than with cloth of gold made with perry
And garlondis hangynge with many a flour
The mirre the encence with swete odour
Ne how arcite lay among al this
Ne what richesse abowte his body is
Ne how that Emelye as was the gyse
Put in the fyre for funeral seruise
Ne how she swowned whan made was the fyre
Ne what she spak ne what was her desyre
Ne what iewellis men in to the fyre caste
Whan that the fyre was gret & brende faste
Ne how som caste her shelde and som her spere
And of her vestimentis whiche that they were
And cuppis ful of mylk wyne and blood
In to the fyre that brent as it were wood
Ne how the grekis with an huge route
Thries riden al the fyre aboute
Op on the lift hond with an high showtynge
[Page] And thries with here speris clateringe
And thries how the ladyes gan crye
Ne how that led was homward Emelye
Ne how arcite is brent to asshen cold
Ne how the lich wakis were y hold
That ilke nyght ne how the grekis pleye
The wake pleyes kepe I not to seye
whiche wrastelith best naked with oyl anointed
Ne who that bare hym best at the poynt
I wil not telle al how they goon
Hom to attenes when the pley is doon
B [...]t shortly to the poynt than wol I w [...]nde
To make of my long tale an ende
BE proces and be lengthe of certeyn yeris
Al stynt is the mornynge and the cheris
Of grekis be on general assent
Than semyth me there was a parlement
At actenes vpon certeyn poynt and caas
And among the whiche poyntis spokyn was
To haue with certayn contrees aliaunce
And haue fully of Thebes obeissaunce
For whiche this nobil Theseus anon
Leet sende aftir gentyl Palamon
Vnwist of hym what was the cause and why
But in his blake clothis sorowfully
He cam at his comaundement an hye
Tho sent Theseus for Emelye
Whan they were set and pres was al the place
And Theseus abiden hath a space
[Page]Or ony
word cam from his wyse brest
His yen be cast there as hym list
And with a sad visage he sighed stille
And aftir that right thus he sayde his wille
The firste mouer of the cause aboue
Whan he first made the cheyne of loue
Greet was the effect & high was the entent
Wel wiste he why and what ther of he ment
For with that fair cheyne of loue he bond
The fyre the eyr the watir and the lond
In certeyn bondis that may not fle
The same prince & the same mouer quod he
Hath stablisshed in this wrecchid world a doun
Certayn dayes and duracion
To al that is engendrid in this place
Ouer the whiche day they mow not pace
Al mowe they the dayes abrigge
Ther nedith non auctorite to legge
For it is preued be experience
But that me list to declare my sentence
Than may wel men be this ordre discerne
That ilke mouer stabyl is and eterne
Wel may men knowe but it be a fool
That euery party darreynyd fro his hool
For nature hath not take his begynnyng
Of one part or of a cantel of a thing
But of a thing that parfyt is and stable
Descendyng so tyl it be corumpabyl
And therfore for his wyse purueaunc [...]
[Page]He hath so wel be set his ordenaunce
That specifieth of thingis and progressions
Sholden endure be successions
And nought etern̄ withoute ony lye
This maist thou vnderstonde and se at ye
Lo the ook that hath so long a norisshynge
Fro the tyme that he begynneth to sprynge
And hath so long lif as ye may se
Yet at the laste wastid is the tre
Considereth how that the hard stoon̄
Vnder our feet / on whiche we trede and goon̄
Yet wastith it as it lith be the wey
The brood ryuer sumtyme wexith drey
The grete townes se we wane and wende
Than ye se that al thing hath an ende
Of man of womman se we also
That nedith in one of the termys two
This is to say in yongthe or ellis in age
He moot be ded the kyng as shal a page
Som̄ in his bed som̄ in the depe see
Som̄ in the large feld as ye may se
Ther helpith nought. alle gon that ilke weye
Than may I say al thing mot nedes deye
What makith this but Iubiter the kyng
That is prince and cause of al thing
Conuertynge vs alle vnto his propre wil
For whiche it is darreyned soth to tell
And for agayns it no creature a lyue
Of no degre auaileth forto stryus
[Page]Than is it wisedom as thynketh me
To make vertu of necessite
And take it whilis we may not it eschewe
And thynketh that to vs alle it is due
And who so grucchith he doth folye
And rebel is to hym that al may gye
And certeinly a man hath most honour
To dien in his most excellent flour
Whan he is sikir of his good name
Than hath he do his frend no harm ne shame
And gladder may his frend be of his deth
Whan with honour so vp yolden is his breth
Than whan his name appallid is for age
For al foryeten is than his vasselage
Than is hit best as for a worthy fame
To dien whan he is best of name
The contrary eke for al his wilfulnesse
Why grucche we why haue we heuynesse
That good arcite of cheualrie the flour
Departyd is with duete and honour
Out of the foule pryson of this lif
Why grucchid his cosyn and his wif
Of his welfare that loueth hym so weel
Can he hem thanke nay god woot neuer a deel
That bothe his soule and eke hym offende
And yet they mowe her lustis not amende
What shal I conclude of this longe story
But aftir wo I rede vs be mery
And thonke Iupiter of al his grace
[Page] And er we departen from this place
I rede we make of sowwis two
O parfit ioye lastyng euer mo
And loketh now where most sorow is ynne
There wil I first amende and begynne
Sustir quod he this is my ful assent
With al the auyse of my parlement
That gentyl Palamon your owen knyght
That serueth you with herte and might
And euer hath do syn ye first hym knew
That ye shul of your grace on hym rewe
And take hym for husbond and lord
Lene me your hond for this is oure accord
Let se now of your wommanly pyte
He is a kyngis sones brother parde
And though he were a poure bacheler
Syn he hath serued you so meny a yeer
And hadde for you so gret aduersite
It mot be considered leuyth me
For gentyl mercy oughte to passe right
Than sayde he thus to Palamon the knyght
I trow ther nedith lityl sermonynge
To make you assent to this thinge
Cometh hithir & takith your lady be the bonde
And thus of hem bothe was made the bonde
That highte matrimony or mariage
Be al the counsel of the Baronage
And thus with al blis and melodye
Hath Palamon wedded Emelye
[Page] And god that al this worlde hath wrought
Sente hym his loue that he dere had bought
For now is Palamon in alle wele
Lyuynge in blis in riches and in hele
And Emely hym loueth so tenderly
And he here seruith so gentilly
That ther was no word hem betwene
Of ielousie or of ony othir tene
Thus endith Palamon and Emelye
And god saue al this companye
¶Here endith the knyghtis tale. ¶And begynneth the Milleris prolog.
WHan that þe knight had thus his tale told
In al the companye nas ther yong ne old
That he ne sayde it was a nobyl story
And worthy to be drawe in memory
And namely the gentilis euerichon
Our hoost lowgh and sw [...]or so mot I goon
Thus vnbokelid wel is the male
Let se now who shal telle another tale
For trewly the game is wel begonne
Now telle ye sir monk yf that ye konne
Som what to quyte with the knyght his tale
The Milward that for dronkyn was al pale
So that vnnethis vp on is hors he sat
He nolde auale nother hood ne hat
Ne abyde noman for his curtesye
But in Pilatis vois he gan crye
And swoor be armys blood and bonys
[Page]I can an nobil tale forthe nonys
The whiche I wol now quyte the knyght his tale
Our ost saw that he was dronke of ale
And sayde abyde robyn leue brothir
Sum bettir man shal telle first anothir
Abyde let vs worke thriftely
Be cokkis soule quod he that nyl not I
For I wil speke or ellis go my wey
Our hoost answerd tel on a deuyl wey
Thou art a fool thy witte is ouercome
Now herkeneth quod the myllere alle & some
But first I make a protestacion̄
That I am dronke I knowe be my soun
And therfore yf I aught mys speke or say
Wite it the ale of Suthwerk I you pray
For I wol telle a legende and a lyf
Bothe of a Carpenter and of his wif
How that the clerk hath set the wrightis cappe
The reue answerd and sayde stynt thy clappe
Let be thy lewd dronkyn harlottrye
Hit is synne and eke greet folye
To appeire ony man or hym defame
And eke brynge wyuys in suche a name
Thow maist I nowgh of othir thyngis sayn
This dronkyn Milward spak ful sone agayn
And sayde leue brothir Oswold
Who hath no wyf he is no cokeold
But I [...] not therfore that thou art on
Ther bith gode wyuys many on
[Page]Why art thou angri with my tale now
I haue a wyf parde as wel as thow
Yet nolde I not for the oxen in my plow
Take vp on me more than ynow
And deme of my self that I were one
I wol beleue that I am none
An husbond sholde not be inquisityf
Of goddis priuitees ne of his wyf
So he may fynde goddis fuson there
Of the remenaunt nedith not to enquere
What sholde I more say but this Millere
He nolde his word for noman forbere
But tolde his chorlis tale in his manere
Me ouer thynketh that I shal reherce it here
And therfore euery gentyl wight I pray
Demeth not for goddis loue that I say
Not for euyl entent but that I moste reherce
Here talis al be they better or werce
Or ellis falsen som of my matere
And therfore who so listith not to here
Turne ouer the leef and chees another tale
For he shal fynde ynowe bothe grete and smale
Of historial thing that towchith gentilnesse
And eke moralite and holynesse
Blameth not me yf that ye chese amys
The Myllere is a chorle ye know wel this
So is the reue and eke other mo
And harlottrye they tolde bothe two
Auysith you and put me out of blame
[Page] And eke men shul not make ernest of game
¶ Here begynneth the Milleres tale.
WHilom therwas dwellyng in Oxenforde
A riche chuf that gestis hadde to [...]orde
And of his craft he was a Carpenter
With hym ther was dwellinge a poure scoler
Hadde lernyd art but al his fantasye
Was turnyd for to lerne astrologye
And coude a certeyn of conclusions
To demyn by interrogacions
If that men axed hym certayn houres
Whether they shold haue drought or shoures
Or yf that men axed hym what sholde befalle
Of euery thyng I may not rekene alle
This clerk was clepid hende Nicholas
Of dern̄ loue he coude and of solas
And therto he was sly and ful pryue
And lyk amayden meke forto se
A chambir hadde he in that hostelrye
Alone withoute ony companye
Ful fetously I dight with herbis sote
And he hym self was swete as is the rote
Of licorice or of ony Cetewale
His almegeste his bokis grete and smale
His astrologye. longinge for his art
His awgrym stones lay feire a part
On sheluis cowchid at his beddis hed
His presse ycouered with a foldyng reed
And al aboue ther lay agay saw [...]re
[Page]On whiche he made a nyghtis melodye
So swete that al the chambir rong
And Angelus ad virginem he song
And aftir that he song the kyngis note
Ful often blissid was his mery throte
And thus this swete clerk his tyme spent
Aftir his sendinge and his rent
This Carpenter hadde weddid a newe wyf
Whiche that he louyd more than his lyf
Of .xxviij. yeer she was of age
Ielous he was and held her narow in cage
For she was wilde and yong & he was olde
And demed hym self lik to be a Cokewolde
He knew not Caton for his wit was rude
That biddith aman wedde his similitude
Men sholde wedde aftir hir astate
For yonthe and old ben often at debate
But s [...]then he was fallen in the snare
He mus [...]e endure as othir folk his care
As ony wesil her body gent was and smal
And therto her kyrtil pynchid with all
A seynt she weride y barrid al of silk
A barmecloth as white as morow mylk
Vp on her lendis with ful meny agore
White was her smok and browdid al before
And eke behynde on hir coler aboute
Of coleblac silk withynne and withoute
The tapettis of her white voluper
Were of the same sute of the coler
[Page]Her filet
brood of silk
and set ful hye
And sikirly she hadde a likerous ye
Ful smale I pullid were her browis two
And they were bent and blak as ony slo
She was more blisful on to se
Th [...]n is the newe pere genet tre
And softer than is the wulle of a weder
And by hir girdyl hangith a purs of leder
Tarselid with grene and perlid with laton
In al this worlde to seke vp and doun
Ther is noman so wyse that coude thenche
So gay a pupelot or so praty a wenche
Ful brighter was she shynynge of her hue
Than in the tour the nobyl forgid newe
But of her song she was as lowde and yern
As ony swalow sittynge on the bern
Therto she coude skippe and make game
As ony kid or calf folowyng his dame
Her mouth was swete as braket or methe
Or hord of appelis leyd on hey or heth
Wynsynge she was as is a ioly colt
Long as a mast and vpright as a bolt
A broche she baar vp on hir low coler
As brood as is the boos of a bokeler
Here shoon were laced on hir leggis hye
She was a prymerolle a piggis nye
For ony lord to liggen in his bed
Or yet for ony good yeman to wed
Now sire and eft sire so be fyl the caas
[Page]That on a day this
hend Nicholas
Fil with this yonge wyf to rage & to pleye
Whylis that her husbond was at Oseneye
As clerkis be ful subtil and ful queynt
And pryuely he caughte hir be the queynt
And sayde y wis but yf I haue my wylle
For dern loue of the lemman I spylle
And [...]ld here harde be the shank bones
And sayde lemman loue me at onys
Or I wol dye al so god me saue
And she sprong as a colt doth in the traue
And with her hed she wrieth faste away
She sayde I wol not kysse the be my fay
Why let be quod she let be Nicholas
Or I wyl crye out and allas
So wey your hondis for your curtesie
This Nicholas gan mercy forto crye
And spak so fayre & profred hir so fast
That she her loue graunted hym at the last
And swere her oth be saynt Thomas of kent
That she wolde be at his comaundement
Whan that she may her leyser wel espye
Myn husbond is so ful of ielosye
But ye be waar wel and be pryue
I wot right wel I am but ded quod she
Ye muste be ful dern as in this caas
Nay there of care I not quod Nicholas
A clerk hadde lowdly beset his whyle
But yf he coude a carpenter begyle
[Page] And thus they ben
acorded and y sworn
To wayte a tyme as I haue told beforn
Whan Nicholas hadde do thus euerideel
And thackyd here aboute the lendis wel
He kiste hir swete and took his sawtrye
And pleyde faste and made melodye
Than fil it thus that to the parish chirche
Cristis owen workis forto werche
This good wyf wente on an holyday
Her forhed shoon as brighte as ony day
So was it wasshe when she leet her werk
Now was ther of that chirche a parish clerk
The whiche was y clepyd absolon
Crulled was his heer and as the gold it shoon
And strowtid as a fane large and brood
Ful streyght and euene lay his ioly shode
His rode was reed his yen gray as goos
With powlis wyndowes coruen in his shoos
In hosis reed he wente ful fetously
I clad he was ful smal and fetously
In a kirtyl or a lityl waget
Ful faire and wel be the poyntis set
And ther vpon he hadde agay surplis
As whyte as blossom on the rys
Amery child he was so god me saue
Wel coude he lete blood and ek shaue
And make a chartir of lond & aquytance
In twenty maners coude he tryppe & daunce
Aftir the scole of Oxenforde tho
[Page] And with his hondis caste to
and fro
And pleye songis on a smale ribible
Therto he song somtyme a lowde quynybill
And wel cowde he play on his geterne
In al the toun nas brewe hous ne tauerne
That he ne visited it with his solace
There as ony gaylard tapster was
But soth to say he was somdel skweymous
Of fartyng and of speche daungerous
This Absolon that ioly was and gay
Goth with a senser on the holy day
S [...]singe wyuys of the parish fast
And m [...]y a louely loke on hem he cast
And namely on this Carpentires wyf
To loke on hir [...]ym toughte a mery lyf
She was so propir swete and eek likerous
I dar wel say yf she had be a mows
And [...]e a cat he wolde her hen [...]e [...]non
This parishe clerk this ioly absolon
Hath in his herte suche a loue longynge
That of no wyf toke he n [...]n offrynge
For curtesye he sa [...]e [...]e wolde non
The mone whan it was nyght bright shoon
And Absolon his g [...]terne hadde I take
For paramours he thoughte forto wake
And forth he goth iolif and amerous
Tyl he cam to the Carpenters hous
A litil aftir cock [...]s hadde I crowe
And dressed hym vp be the shot wyndowe
[Page]That was vpon the Carpenters wal
He syngith in his wis gentil and smal
Now dere lady. yf thy wille be
I pray you that ye wil thynke on me
Ful wel accordyng to his giternyng
This Carpenter herde hym synge
And spak vnto his wyf and sayde anon
What alison he rist thou not absolon
That chauntith thus vnder our bowri [...] wal
And she answerde her husbond ther with al
Yes god woot Iohn I here it [...]eridel
This passeth forth what wil ye bet than wel
From day to day this ioly absolon
So woweth her that he is wo begoon
He wakith al the nyght and al the day
He kembith his lockis brode & makith hym gay
He woweth hir be menes of brocage
And swoor he wolde be hir owen page
He syngeth brokyng as anyghtyngale
He sent aftir pyment methe & spiced ale
And wafris pypynge hoot out of the glede
And for she was of toun he profrid her mede
For som folk wol loue wommen for richesse
And some for s [...]rokis and some for iolynesse
Som tyme he sheweth his lus [...]esse: maistrie
He pleyeth he redes vp on a staffolt hye
But what auaileth hym as in this caas
She loued so this lend Nicholas
That absolon may blowe the buckis [...]orn
[Page]He ne hadde for his labour but a scorn
And thus she makith absolon her ape
And al his ernest turneth in to a Iape
Ful soth is this prouerbe it is no lye
Men say alwey the nyght is slye
Maketh oftymes leef for to be loth
For though that absolon were wood or wroth
Be cause that he fer was from hir sighte
This nyght Nicholas stood in his lighte
Now bere the wel now hend Nicholas
For Absolon may wayle and synge alas
And so befil that on a satirday
This Carpenter was gon til Osenay
And eke hende Nicholas and alison
Acordid be fully to this conclusion
That Nicholas shal shapen hym a wyle
This sely ielous husbond to begyle
And yf so be the game wente a right
She sholde slepe in his armys al nyght
For this was her desire and his also
And right anon with out wordis mo
This Nicholas no lenger wolde tary
But doith ful softe in to his chambir carye
Bothe mete and drynke for a day or tweye
And to her husbond bad her forto sey
Yf that he a [...]ed aftir Nicholas
She sholde say she nyste where he was
Of al that day she saw hym not with ye
She troweth that he is in som maladye
[Page]For that no cry her mayde myghte hym calle
He nolde answer for no thing myghte falle
This passith forth al that satirday
That Nicholas stille in his chambir lay
And eet or sleep or dede what hym list
Tyl sonday that the sonne goth to rest
This sely Carpenter hath gret meruayl
Of Nicholas or what hym myghte ayl
And sayde I am adoute be seint Thomas
It stondith not aright with Nicholas
Got shilde that he deyde sodenly
This worlde is now ful tikyl sikirly
I sawe a corps to day bore to chirche
That now amonday last I say hym wirche
Go vp quod he vnto his knaue anon
Clepe at the dore or knocke with a ston
Loke how it is and tel me boldely
This knaue goth hym vp ful sturdely
And at the chambir dore whil that he stod
He cryde and knokked as he were wood
What how what dost yow Maistir Nicholay
How may ye slepen al the long day
But al for nought he herde not a word
An hool ful lowe he fond vp on a borde
There as the cat was wont yn forto crepe
And at the hole he loked yn ful depe
Tyl at the last he hadde of hym a sighte
This Nicholas lay gapyng euyr vpright
As he hadde loked on the new mone
[Page]Adoun he goth
and tellith his maister sone
In what aray he saw this ilke man
This Carpenter to blisse hym began
And sayde help vs saint frid [...]swyde
Aman woot litil what hym shal betyde
This man is fallen with his astronomye
In som woodnesse or in sum agonye
I thoughte ay wel how it sholde be
Men sholde not knowe of goddis pryuyte
I blissed be alwey alewd man
That nought but only his beleue can
So [...]rd anothir clerk with astronomye
He walked in the [...]ldis forto prye
Vpon the [...]r [...]r [...]ys what ther sholde be falle
Tyl [...] was in a [...]arlepit y falle
He saw not that but yet be saint Thomas
Me rewith sore of hend Nicholas
He shal be [...]a [...]yd of his studyyng
If that I may be Ihesu [...]uyn kyng
Gete me a staf that I may vnderspore
Whyle that thow robyn heuyst of the dore
He shal out of this studyyng as I gesse
And to the chamb [...] dore he gan hym dresse
His knaue was a strong chorle for the nonys
And by the h [...]sp he haf it vp at onys
Into the floor the dore fyl anon
This Nicholas sat as stille as ony ston
And euye gaped vpward in the eyr
This Carpenter wende that he hadde be in despeyr
[Page] And hente hym be the sholdris mightely
And shook hym herde and c [...]yde spetously
What Nicholay what how looke adoun
Awake and thynk on cristis passion
I crouche the fro eluys and fro wightis
Therwith the nyghtspel sayde he anon rightis
On four haluys on the hous aboute
And on the thresshold & on the dore withoute
Ihesu crist and seynt Benedight
Blisse this hous from euery wickyd wyght
For nyghtis werry the wight pater noster
Where wonnest thow saint Petris suster
And at the laste this hend Nicholas
Gan for to sighe sore and sayde alas
Shal al the worlde be lost eftsones now
This carpenter answerd what says thou now
What thynk on god as we do men that swynke
This Nicholas answerde fecte me drynke
And aftir wil y speke in to the priuyte
Of certayn thingis that towchen me and the
I wil it telle the & non othir man certayn
This carpenter goth doun & comyth agayn
And broughte of mighty ale alarge quart
And when eche of hem hadde dronke his part
This Nicholas his dore faste shette
And doun the carpenter be hym he sette
He sayde Iohn myn [...]oost leue and dere
Thou shalt vp on thy trouthe swere me l [...]re
That to no wight thou shalt this counsel wrey
[Page]For it is cristis counsel that y sey
And yf thou telle it man thou art forlore
For this vengeaunce thou shalt haue therfore
That yf thou wreye me thou shalt be wood
Nay cr [...]st forbede it for his verry blood
Quod tho this sely man I am no blabbe
Ne thogh I say I am not leef to gabbe
Say what thou wilt I shal it neuyr telle
To child ne wyf be hym that harowed helle
Now Iohn quod Nicholas I wyl not lye
I haue founde hit in myn astrologye
As I haue loked in the mone bright
That now a monday next at quartir nyght
Shal falle a rayn and that so wylde & wood
That half so gret was neuer noes flood
This worlde he sayde in lesse than in an hour
Shal al be dreynt so hidons is the shour
Thus shal mankynde drenche and lese her lif
This Carpenter answerd allas my wyf
And shal she drenche alas my alisoun
For sorow of this he fyl almust adoun
And sayde is ther no remedy in this caas
Yes forgod quod hend Nicholas
Yf thou wilt worke aftir lore and rede
Thou mayst not worke aftir thyn owen hede
For this sayth Salamon that was ful trewe
Worke al be counsel and thou shalt not rewe
And yf thou worke wilt be good counsel
I vndirtake withoute mast or sayl
[Page]Yet shal I saue here
and the
and me
Hast thou not herd how saued was Noe
Whan that our lorde hadde warned hym beforn
That al the worlde with water sholde be lorn
Yes quod this carpenter ful yore ago
Hast thou not herd quod Nicholas also
The sorow of Noe with his feleship
Or that he mighte gete his wyf to ship
Hym hadde leuer I dar wel vndertake
At that tyme than alle his wetheris blake
That she hadde had a ship her self alone
And therfore wotist thou what is best to done
This askith haste and of an hasti thing
May men not preche ne make taryyng
Anon go gete vs faste in to this in
A knedynd trowgh or ellis a kemelyn
For eche of vs but loke that they be large
In whiche we mowe swymmen as in a barge
And haue therynne vitayl sufficiaunt
But for o day fy on the remenaunt
The water shal a slake and go away
Aboute pryme vp on the nexte day
But robyn may not wite of this thy knaue
Ne eke thy mayden gille I may not saue
Axe not why for though thou aske me
I wil not telle goddis pryuyte
It suffisith the but yf thy wit be mad
To haue as gret a grace as Noe had
Thy wyf shal I wel saue out of doute
[Page]Go now thy wey
and speed the here aboute
But whan thow hast for the and her and me
Y goten thyse knedyng tubbis thre
Than shalt thou honge hem in the roof ful hye
That noman of our pryuyte aspye
And whan thou thus hast don as I haue seyd
And hast our vitayl fayre in hem y leyd
And eke and axe to smyte the corde a two
Whan that the watir cometh that we may go
And breke an hool an high vpon the gabyl
Into the gardeyn ward ouer the stabyl
That we may frely passe forth our way
Wh [...]n that the grete shour is passid away
Than shul we swymme as merily I vndertake
As doth the whyte doke aftir the drake
Than wyl I clepe how alison how Iohn
Be mery for the flood wyl passe anon
And thow wilt say hayl maister Nicholay
Gode morow I se the wel for it is day
And than shal we [...]e lordis al our lif
Of al the worlde as Noe and his wyf
But of o thing I warne the ful right
Be wel auisyd on that ilke nyght
When we be entred into the ship bord
That none of vs speke no word
Ne clepe ne crye but be in his prayere
For it is goddis owen hest dere
Thy wyf and thow must hang fer a twyn
For that betwix you shal be no synne
[Page]Nomore in lokynge than ther shal in dede
This ordenaunce is do O god the spede
To morow at nyght when folk be alle a slepe
Into our knedyng tubbis wyl we crepe
And sittyn there abydyng goddis grace
Go now thy wey and haue ne lenger space
To make of this no lenger sermonyng
Men sey thus send the wyse & say no thing
Thou art so wyse it nedith the not to teche
God saue our lif and I the beseche
This sely Carpenter goth forth his weye
And to noman wold he hit bewreye
But to his wyf he tolde this priuyte
And she was waar and knew it bet than he
What al this queynte cast was for to seye
But natheles she ferde as she wolde deye
And sayde alas go forth thy wey anon
Help vs to scape or we be ded [...]chone
I am thy trewe weddid wyf
Go dere spouse and help to saue our lyf
Lo whiche a gret thing is affection
Men may dye al day of ymaginacion
So depe may impression be take
This sely Carpenter begynneth [...]o quake
Hym thynketh verily that he may se
Noes flood come walowyng as the se
To drenchen alison his hony dere
He wepith waylith and maketh sory chere
He sighed with many a sory swongh
[Page]He goth
and getith hym a
knedyng trough
And aftir that a tub and a kemelyn
And pryuely he sent hem to his in
And br [...]ng hem in the roof in pryuyte
With his owen hond he made laddres thre
To clymben be the rengis and the stalkis
Into the tubbis hangyng in the balkis
And hem vitaylith bothe trough and tub
With breed and chese & good ale in a Iub
Suffising right I now as for o day
But or that he hadde maad al that aray
He sente his knaue and eke his wenche also
Op on his erond to london forto goo
And on the sonday when it drew to nyght
He shitte his dore withoute candel light
And dressid al thing as it sholde be
And shortly vp they clomben alle thre
They sittyn[?] stille wel a furlong waye
Now pater noster clum sayde Nicholaye
And clum sayde Iohn and clum sayde alison
This Carpenter sayde his deuocion
And stylle he sittith and biddith his praiere
Awaytyng on the rayn yf he it here
The ded sleep for very werynesse
Fyl on this Carpenter right as I gesse
Aboute curfu tyme or litil more
For traueyl of his gost he gronyth sore
And eft he rowtith for his hed mys lay
Doun of the ladder stalkith Nicholay
[Page] And alison ful softe doun she spedde
Withoute wordis mo they go to bedde
Eche gan other in armes plye
There was the reuel and the melodye
And thus lieth alison and Nicholas
In besines of myrthe and solas
Tyl that the belle of laudes gan to rynge
And freris in the chauncel gan to synge
This parish clerk this absoson
That is for loue alwey so wo be gon
Vp on the monday was at Oseney
With a companye hym to disport and pley
And askid vpon a caas a cloisterer
Ful pryuely aftir Iohn the Carpenter
And he drew hym apart out of the chirche
And sayde I not I saw hym here not wirche
Sith satirday I trow that he be went
For tymbir that our abbot hath hym sent
For he is wont for tymbir for to go
And dwelle at the graunge a day or two
Or ellis he is at his hous certeyn
Where that he be I can not sothly sayn
This absolon ful ioly was and light
And thoughte now is tyme to wake alnyght
For sikirly y saw hym not steryng
Aboute his dore syn day gan to sprynge
So moot y thryue y shal or cockis crowe
Pryuely knocken at his wyndow
That stont ful lowe vp on his bowris wal
[Page]To alison now wol I tellen al
My loue longinge for yet I shal not mys
That at the leste wey I shal her kys
Som maner comfort shal I haue ꝑfay
My mouth hath icched al this longe day
That is a signe of kissinge at the leste
Al nyght y mecte eke that I was at a feste
Therfore y wyl go slepe an hour or tweye
And al the nyght than wyl I walke & pleye
Whan that the firste cok hath crowe anon
Vp risith this ioly louer absolon
And hym arayeth gay at poynt deuyse
But first he shewith grayn and licoryse
To smellen swete or he hadde kempt his heer
Vnder his tong a trew loue he beer
For therby wende he to haue be gracious
He cometh to the Carpenteres hous
And stille he stont vnder the shot wyndow
Vnto his brest it raught it was so lowe
And softe he knocketh with a semysoun
What do ye honycombe swete alson
My feyre birde my swe [...]e synamome
Awaketh lemman com and speke tome
Ful lityl thynke ye vp on my woo
That for your loue y swete there I goo
No wonder is though I swelte and swete
I morne as doth a lamb aftir the tete
I wys lemman y haue suche loue longynge
That lik a turtil trewe is my mornynge
[Page]I may not ete nomore than amayde
Go fro the wyndow Iacke fool she sayde
As helpe me god it wol not be combame
I loue another and ellis y were to blame
Wel bet than the be Ihesu absolon
Go forth thy wey or I wol throwe a stoon
And let me slepe a twenty deuyl wey
Allas quod absolon and wel awey
That trew loue was euyr euel be set
Than kis me syn it may be no bet
For Ihesus loue and for the loue of me
Wilt thou than go thy wey there with qd she
Ye certis lemman quod this absolon
Than make the redy quod she I come anon
And vnto Nicholas she sayde stille
Now pees and thou shalt lawghe al thy fille
This absolon doun set hym on his knees
And sayde y am a lord at al degrees
For aftir this y hope ther comyth more
Lemman thy grace and swete bryd thyn o [...]e
The wyndowes she vndoth and that in haste
Haue do quod she com of and spede the faste
Lest that our neyghebouris the a spye
This absolon gan wype his mouth ful drye
Derk was the nyght as piche or cool
And at the wyndow she put out her hool
And absolon hym felte ne bet ne wers
But with his mouth he kist her ers
Ful sauerly or he were war of this
[Page]Abac he stert
and thoughte it was amys
For wel wyste he a womman hadde no berd
He felte a thing al row and long herid
And sayde fy alas what haue y do
Tehe quod she and clappid the wyndow to
And Absolon goth forth a sory paas
A berd a berd quod hend Nicholas
By goddis corpus this goth fair and weel
This sely absolon herde euery deel
And on his lippe he gan for angir byte
And to hym self he sayde I shal the quyte
Who rubbith now who frotith now his lippis
With dust with cloth with sond with chippis
But Absolon that saith ful ofte alas
My soule betake I sayd he to sathanas
But me were leuyr than al this toun quod he
On this despit wrokyn forto be
Alas quod he alas that I ne hadde blent
His hoot loue was cold and al queynt
For fro that tyme that he hadde kist her ars
Of paramours set he not a cars
For he was helid of his maladye
Ful ofte paramours gan he diffye
And wepte as doth a child that is bete
A softe paas he wente hym ouer the strete
Vnto a smyth men callyd dane Gerueys
That in his forge smytith plow harneys
He sharpith the share and the cultre bisely
This Abselon knockith al esely
[Page]Of al this pley agayn no
word he yaf
He hadde more towh on his distaf
Than geruais knew and saide frend so dere
That hoot cultre in the chynmey here
As lene it me I haue therwith to doon̄
And I wol bringe it the agayn ful sone
Geruais answerd. certis were it gold
Or in a poke noblis al vntold
Thou sholdest it haue as I am trew smyth
Ey cristis foot what wil ye do ther with
Therfore quod absolon be as be may
I shal wel telle it the to morow or day
And caughte the cultre be the cold steele
Ful softe out of the dore he gan stele
And wente vnto the Carpenteris wal
He cowghed first and knokked therwith al
Vp on the wyndow. right as he did eer
This alison answerd who is there
That knockith so y warant it a thef
Why nay quod he god woot my swete lef
I am absolon thy owne derlinge
Of gold quod he I haue the brought a ryng
My moder yaf it me so god me saue
Ful fyn it is and therto wel I graue
This wol y gyue the yf thou me kysse
This Nicholas was risen forto pysse
And thoughte he wolde amende al the iape
He sholde kisse his ers or that he scape
And vp the wyndow dede he hastely
[Page] And out his ars he puttith pryuely
Ouer the buttok to the shank boon
And therwith spak this clerk Absolon
Spek swete brid I not where thou art
This Nicholas anon let fle a fart
As gret as it had be a thonder dent
That with the strook he was almost y blent
And he was redy with his yren hoot
And Nicholas amyd the ers he smoot
Of goth the skyn an hond brede abowte
The hoote cultre brende so his towte
And for the smert he wende forto dye
As he were wood for wo he gan crye
Help water water help for goddis hert
This Carpenter out of his slombir stert
And herde one crye water as he were wood
And thoughte allas now comyth the flood
He set hym vp withoute wordis mo
And with his axe he smoot the corde a two
And doun goth al he fond neyther to selle
Ne breed ne ale tyl he com to the selle
Vp on the floor and there a swoun he lay
Vp stert alisoun and Nicholay
And cryde out and harow in the strete
The neyghebours bothe smale and grete
In ronnyn forto gawryn on this man
That yet a swoun lay bothe pale and wan
For with the fal broste hath he his arme
But stonde he moste vnto his owen harm
[Page]For whan he spak he was anon bore doun
With hende Nicholas and alisoun
They tolde euery man that he was wood
So he was agast of Noes flood
Thorow fantesye that of his vanite
He hadde bought hym knedyng tubbis thre
And hadde hem hanged in the roof aboue
And that he prayde hem for goddis loue
To sittyn in the roof per companye
The folk gan lawgben at his fantesye
In to the roof they kykyn and they gape
And turned al his harm in to a iape
For what so euer this carpenter answerd
It was for nought noman his reson herde
With othis grete he was swore adoun
That he was holde wood in al the toun
For euery clerk right anon held with other
They sayde the man was wood my leue brother
And euery wight gan lawghe at this scrif
Thus swyuyd was the carpenteris wyf
For al his kepynge and al his Ielosye
And absolon hath kissed her nethir ye
And Nicholas is scalded in the toute
This tale is doon and god saue al the route
¶Here endeth the Milleres ta [...]. ¶And here begynneth the reues prolog.
WAn folk hadde lawghyn at this nyce caas
Of absolon and of hende Nicholas
Diuers folk diuersly they sayden
[Page]But for the more part they laughte & pleyden
Ne at this tale y saw noman hym greue
But yf it were only Oswold the reue
Be cause he was of Carpenteris craft
A litil yre is in his herte y laft
He gan to grucche and blame it a lyte
Si [...]the quod he ful wel I coude the quyte
With bleryng of a proud Mylleres ye
Yf that me list to speke of Rebaudrye
But y am olde me list not to pleye for age
Gras tyme is doon my foder is forage
This whyte top writith my olde yeris
Myn herte also moulid is as myn heer is
But yf I fare as doth an open ers
That ilke fruyt is euer lenger the wers
Tyl it be rotyn in mullok or in stre
We olde men I drede so fare we
Tyl we be rotyn can we not be rype
We hopyn alwey whyle the worlde wol pype
For in our wyl ther stikith euer a nayl
To haue an hoore hed and a grene tayl
As hath a leek for though our myght begon
Our wil desirith fully euer in one
For whan we may nought do than wol we speken
Yet in our cold asshen old fyre is rekyn
Four gledis haue we whiche I shal deuyse
Auauntyng lyynge anger and couetyse
Thyse four sparkelis longith vnto eld
Our olde lymys mowe we not beweld
[Page]But wil shal not fayle that is soth
And yet haue I alwey a coltis toth
As many a yeer as it is passed henne
Sen that my tappe of lif began to renne
For sikirly whan I was born anone
Deth drew the tappe of lif and let it gon̄
And euer seth hath so the tappe ronne
Tyl that almost al empty is the tonne
The streme of lif now droppith on the chymbe
The sely tunge may wel rynge and chymbe
Of wrecchidnesse that past is ful yore
With olde folk saue dotage ther is nomore
Whan that our hoost had herd this sermonyng
He gan to speken as lordly as a kyng
And sayde what amountith al this wit
What shul we speke alday of holy writ
The deuel made a reue forto preche
Or of a sowter a shipman or a leche
Say forth thy tale and tary not the tyme
Lo depford it is halfwey to pryme
Lo grenewich that many a shrewe is ynne
It were al tyme thy tale forto begynne
Now sires quod Oswold the reue
I pray you alle that ye yow not greue
Though that y answere & somdel sette his houn
For leful is with force forto sown
This dronkyn myllere hath told vs here
How that begilid was a maister carpentere
Parauenture in scorn̄ for that I am one
[Page] And be your leue I shal hym quyte anon
Right in his chorlis termys w [...]l I speke
I pray to god his necke mowe to breke
He can wel in myn ye se a stalk
But in his owen he can not se a balk
¶Here endeth the reuys prolog. ¶And here begynneth his tale.
AT trompynton not fer fro Cambrige
Ther goth a brook and ouer that a brige
Vp on the whiche brook ther stondith a mylle
And this is verry soth that I you telle
A myller was ther dwellyng many a day
As ony pecok he was proud and gay
Pipe he coude and fisshe and nettis bete
And turne cuppis and wel wrastil and lepe
And by his belt he baar a long pauade
And of a sw [...]rd ful trenchant was the [...]la [...]d
A [...]oly popper baar he in his pouche
Ther was noman for peril durste hym touche
A sheffeld thwytel bare he in his hose
Round was his face & camoysid was his nose
Also pilled as an ape was his skulle
He was a market beter at the fulle
Ther durste no wight hond vp on hym legge
That he ne swoor anon he sholde abegge
A thef he was for sothe of corn and mele
And that a sligh and vsant forto stele
His name whas I hote deynus Symkyn
A wyf he hadde come of nobyl kyn
[Page]The person of the toun hir fader was
With here he yaf many a panne of bras
For that Symkyn sholde in his blood alye
She was fostrid in a Nonnerye
For Symkyn wolde no wyse as he sayde
B [...]t yf she were wel y norisshid and amayde
To saue his astat of yemanrye
And she was proud and pert as a pye
A ful feir sight was vp on hem two
An holiday beforn hir wolde he go
With his tipet ybounde aboute his hed
And she cam aftir in a gite of reed
And Symkyn hadde hosen of the same
Ther durste no wight clepe hir but dame
Was non so hardy that wente be the way
That with hir durste onys rage or play
But yf he wolde be slayn of Symkyn
With pauade or with knyf or bodekyn
For ielous folk ben parlous euermo
Algatis they wolde her wyuys wenten so
And eke also for she was somdele smotirlich
She was as dyne as watir in a dich
And ful of ho [...]our as a pismare
Here thoughte a lady sholde hir spare
What for hir kynrede and hir nortilrye
That she hadde lernyd in the Nonerye
A doughtir hadde they betwix hem two
Of twenty yeer withoute ony mo
Sauynge a child that was of half yeer age
[Page]In cradyl it lay
and was a proper page
This wenche thicke and wel I growe was
With Camoys nose and yen grey as glas
Buttokkis brode and brestis rounde & hye
But right fair was her heer I wyl not lye
The parson of the toun for she was feyr
In purpos was to make hir his heyr
Bothe of his catell and of his mesuage
And straunge he made it of hir mariage
His purpos was to bestowe here hye
Vnto sum worthy blood of auncetrye
For holy chirche godes muste be spendid
On holy chirche blood that is descendid
Therf [...]re he wolde his holy blood honoure
Though that holy chirche sholde deuoure
Gret sokyn hadde this myller out of doute
With whete and malt of al the lond aboute
And namely ther was a gret Colege
Men clepith it the soler halle of Cambregge
There was her whete & ek hir malt I grounde
And on a day it happed in a stounde
Seek lay the Mauncipyl on amalady
Men wenden wisly that he sholde dy
Fro whom this Myllers stale bothe whete & corn
An hundrid tyme more than he did beforn
For there before he stal but curteisly
But now he was a theef ful outrageously
For whiche the wardeyn chidde & made fare
But therof set this Myllere not a tare
[Page]He
crakid bost
and sayde it was not so
Than were ther pore clerkis two
That dueldyn in this halle of whiche I sey
Testyf they were and lusty forto pley
And only for hir myrthe and reuelrye
Vp on the wardeyn bisily they crye
To yeue hem leue but a litil stounde
To go to the mylle & se her corn̄ y grounde
And hardely they durste ley her necke
The myllere sholde not stele half a pecke
Of corn be sleyghte or by force hem tene
And at the laste the wardeyn yaf hem leue
Iohn highte that on & aleyn highte that othir
Of a toun were they born that highte strodir
Fer in the north I can not telle where
They makyn redy al hir owen gere
And on her hors the sackis cast anon
Forth goth aleyn the clerk and eke Iohn
With good swerd and bokeler by her syde
Iohn knew the wey hym nedid no gyde
And at the mylle the sak adoun he leith
Aleyn spak first al hayl Symond in feith
How farith thy faire doughter and thy wyf
Aleyn welcome quod Symkyn be my lyf
And Iohn also what how what do ye here
Symond quod he by god nede hath no pere
Hym bus serue hym self that has no swayn
Or ellis he is a fool as clerkis sayn
Our mauncipyl I hope he wol be ded
[Page]Swa workis ay there wangis in his
hed And therfore I is come and this aleyn
To grynde our corn and cary it agayn
I pray you spede vs heyn in that ye may
It shal be do quod Sy [...]kyn be my fay
What wil ye do whylis it is in hond
Be god right be the hoper wol I stond
Quod Iohn and se how the corn goos yn
Yet saw I neuyr be my fadir kyn
How the hoper waggis to and fro
Ale [...]n answerd [...]ohn wolt thou so
Than wol y be benethe by my croun
And se hon the mele fall is adoun
In to the trowgh that shal be my disport
For Iohn in faith I may be of your sort
Ay is as [...]lle a Myllere as is ye
This myller smyled of her nyce [...]e
And thoughte al this is don but for awyle
Thay wene that noman may hem begyle
But be my thrifte yet shal I blere her ye
For al her sleyghte and her philosophye
The more queynte crekis that they make
The more shal I stele whan I take
In stede of flour yet wyl I yeue hem bren
The grettist clerkis be not wisest men
As whilom the wolf spak to the mare
Of al her art ne counte I not atare
Out at the dore he goth ful pryuely
When that he saw his tyme softly
[Page]He lokith vp
and doun til he hath founde
Thise clerkis hors where they stood bounde
Behynde the mylle vnder a l [...]effeel
And to the hors he goth faire and wel
He stripith of the beidyl right anon
And when the hors were loos they gan gon
Toward the feld where wilde maris renne
Forth with with wehy thurgh thicke & thynne
This myllere goth ayen no word he seyde
But doth his note & with the clerkis pleyde
Til that her corn was feire & wel grounde
And whan the mele is sackid and bounde
This Iohn goth forth & fynt his hors aweye
And gan to crye harow and wel awey
Our hors is lorn aleyn for cokkys banys
Step out on thy feet com thennys at anys
Allas our wardeyn hath his palfrey lorn
This aleyn al forgat bothe mele and corn
Al was oute of mynde his husbondry
What whilk wey is he gon he gan crye
The wyf com rennynge ynward at a renne
She said allas your hors goth to fenne
With wilde maris. as faste as he may go
Vnthank come on his hand that bond hem so
And he that bettir sholde haue knyt the reyne
Allas quod Iohn allas for cristis peyne
Ley doun thy swerd and I wil myn alswa
I is ful swifte. god woot as is a raa
Be cockis herte he shal not a scape vs bathe
[Page]Swa workis ay there wangis in his
hed And therfore I is come and this aleyn
To grynde our corn and cary it agayn
I pray you spede vs heyn in that ye may
It shal be do quod Symkyn be my fay
What wil ye do whylis it is in hond
Be god right be the hoper wol I stond
Quod Iohn and se how the corn goos yn
Yet saw I neuyr be my fadir kyn
How the hoper waggis to and fro
Aleyn answerd Iohn wolt thou so
Than wol y be benethe by my croun
And se hon the mele fallis adoun
In to the trowgh that shal be my disport
For Iohn in faith I may be of your sort
Ay is as ille a Myllere as is ye
This myller smyled of her nycete
And thoughte al this is don but for awyle
Thay wene that noman may hem begyle
But be my thrifte yet shal I blere her ye
For al her sleyghte and her philosophye
The more queynte crekis that they make
The more shal I stele whan I take
In stede of flour yet wyl I yeue hem bren
The grettist clerkis be not wisest men
As whilom the wolf spak to the mare
Of al her art ne counte I not atare
Out at the dore he goth ful pryuely
When that he saw his tyme softly
[Page]He lokith vp
and doun til he hath founde
Thise clerkis hors where they stood bounde
Behynde the mylle vnder a leeffeel
And to the hors he goth faire and wel
He stripith of the beidyl right anon
And when the hors were loos they gan gon
Toward the feld where wilde maris renne
Forth with with wehy thurgh thicke & thynne
This myllere goth ayen no word he seyde
But doth his note & with the clerkis pl [...]yde
Til that her corn was feire & wel grounde
And whan the mele is sackid and bounde
This Iohn goth forth & fynt his hors aweye
And gan to crye harow and wel awey
Our hors is lorn aleyn for cokkys banys
Step out on thy feet com thennys at anys
Allas our wardeyn hath his palfrey lorn
This aleyn al forgat bothe mele and corn
Al was oute of mynde his husbondry
What whilk wey is he gon he gan crye
The wyf com rennynge ynward at a renne
She said allas your hors goth to fenne
With wilde maris. as faste as he may go
Vnthank come on his hand that bond hem so
And he that bettir sholde haue knyt the reyne
Allas quod Iohn allas for cristis peyne
Ley doun thy swerd and I wil myn alswa
I is ful swifte. god woot as is a raa
Be cockis herte he shal not a scape vs bathe
[Page]Why ne
had thou put the
[...]pyl in to the lathe
Ille hayl be god aleyn thou is a fonne
These sely clerkis haue wel faste y ronne
Toward the fenne bothe aleyn and eke Iohn
And when the Myllere saw they were goon
He h [...]lf a busshel of her corn hath take
And [...]ad his wyf go knede it in a cake
And sayde I trow the clerkis were a ferd
Yet can a Myllere make a clerkis berd
For al her art yet let hem go her wey
Lo where they goon so lat the children pley
They gete hem nought so lightly be my croun
Thyse sely clerkis rennyn vp and doun
With kepe kepe stond stond Iossa ware derere
Ga whistle thou there and I shal kepe hym here
But shortly til it was verily nyght
They coude not though they dede al her myght
Her capil cacche he ran alwey so faste
Tyl in a diche they caughte hym at the laste
Wery and weet as beste is in the rayn
Comyth sely Iohn and wi [...]h hym aleyn
Allas quod Iohn the day that I was born
Now are we dryuen to hething and to scorn
Our corn is stole men wyl vs folis calle
Bothe the ward [...]yn and our felowis alle
And namely the Myller wel a wey
Thus pleyneth Iohn as he goth be the wey
Toward the Mylle and bayard in his hond
The Myller sittyng be the fyre he fond
[Page]For it was nyght & ferther mighte they nought
But for the loue of god they hym besought
Of herberowh and of ese as for hir peny
The myller sayde agayn yf ther be eny
Suche as hit is yet shulle ye haue your part
Myn hous is strait but ye haue lernyd art
Ye can be argumentis maken a place
A myle brood of twenty foot of space
Let se now yf this place wol suffise
Or make it romer with speche as is your gise
Now Symond saide thiz Iohn be saint Cutberd
Ay is thow mery and that is wel answerd
I haue herd say þ• men shal take of twa thingis
Swilk as he fyndis or swilk as he bringis
But specially y pray the hoost so dere
Gete vs som mete & drinke & make vs chere
And we wol trewly at the fulle
With empti hondis men may not hawkis culle
Lo here my siluer redy forto spende
This myller to the toun his doughter sende
For ale and breed and rostid hem a goos
And bond her hors that he sholde nomore go loos
And in his owen chamber he made a bed
With shetes & with chalous faire I spred
Not from his owen bed ten foot or twelue
His doughter hadde a bed al be her selue
Right in the same chambir by and by
It myghte be no bet the cause why
Ther was no romer herberow in the place
[Page]They soupen
and spekyn of sola
[...]e
And dronkyn euyr strong ale atte beste
Aboute mydnyght wente they to reste
Wel hath this Myller vernysshed his hed
Ful [...]le he was for dronke and nat red
He ye [...]ith and he spekith tho [...]ow the nose
A [...] [...]e were on the quacke or on the pose
To bedde he goth and with hym goth his wyf
As ony Iay was she light and iolyf
So was her ioly whistyl wel y wet
The cradyl at here beddis syde was set
To rocken and to yeue the childe sowke
And when that dawkyn was in the crowke
To bedde wente the doughter right anone
To bedde goth aleyn and also Iohn
Th [...]r is nomore ther nedith hem no dwale
This Myller hath so wysely bibbed ale
That as an hors he fuortith and slepe
Ne of his tayl behynde he takith no kepe
His wyf bare hym a burd [...]n ful strong
Men myghte hem here rowtyng a furlong
The wenche rowted eke par company
Aleyn the clerk that herde this melody
He pokyd Iohn and sayde slepist thow
Herdist thou euyr slyke a song or now
Lo whilk a complyn is atw [...]ne hem alle
A wylde fyre on her bodyys falle
Who herde euyr swylk a ferly thing
Ye they shal haue the flour of yll endyng
[Page]This longe nyght ther
tyd vs no reste
But yet noforce al shal be for the beste
For Iohn sayde aleyn al so mot I thryue
If that I may ye wenche wol I swyue
Som esement hath lawe shapen vs
For Iohn ther is alawe that saith thus
That yf aman in o thing be agreued
That in a nothir he shal be releued
Our corn is stole sothly hit is no nay
And we haue had an euyl fytte to day
And syn I shal haue non amendement
Ageyns my losse I wol haue esement
Be goddis sale it shal non othir be
This Iohn answerd aleyn auyse the
The myllere is a perlous man he seyde
And yf that he out of his slepe abreyde
He mighte do vs bathe a velony
Aleyn answerd I counte hym not a slye
And vp he rist and to the wenche he creep
This wenche lay vpright and fast sleep
Til he so ny was or she myghte aspye
That it hadde be to late for to crye
And shortly forto telle they were attone
Now playe aleyn for I wil speke of Iohn
This Iohn lith stille a furlongwey or two
And to hym self he made gret woo
Allas quod he this is a wickyd Iape
Now may I say that I is but an ape
Yet hath my felow somwhat for his harm
[Page]He hath the Myllars doughter in his arme
He auntrid and his nedis spedde
And I ly as a draf sak in my bedde
And whan this Iape is told anothir day
I shal be holde a daffe a cokenay
I wyl a ryse and auntre me be my feyth
Vnhardy vnsely thus men seyth
And vp he roos and softly he went
Vnto the cradyl and in his arm it hent
An bare it softe vnto his beddis feet
Sone aftir the wyf hir rowtyng leet
And gan awake and wente hir out to pisse
And cam ayen and gan her cradyl mysse
And gropid here & there but she fond non
Allas quod she I hadde almost mysgon
I hadde almost goon to the clerkis bed
Do wey benedicite than hadde I foule sped
And forth she goth til she the cradyl fond
She gropith alwey serther with her hond
And fond the bed [...] thoughte nought but good
Be cause that the Cradyl be it stood
And nyste neuer where she was for it was derk
But fayr & wel she crepte vnto the clerk
And lith ful stille & wolde haue caught a sleep
With ynne a whyle this Iohn vp leep
And on this good wyf he leyeth on sore
So mery a fytte hadde not she ful yore
He prykith harde and sore as he were mad
This ioly lyf haue thyse two clerkis lad
[Page]Tyl that the thridde cok began to synge
Aleyn wext wery in the dawnynge
For he hadde swonken al the longe nyght
And sayde fare wel my fair swete wight
The day is come I may no lenger byde
Yet euermore where so y go or ryde
I am thyn owen clerk sa haue I hele
Now dere lemman quod she go fare wele
But or thow go o thing I wol the telle
When that thou wendist homward by the melle
Right atte entre of the dore behynde
Thow shalt a cake of half abusshel fynde
That was maad of thyn owen mele
Whiche that I halp my fader forto stele
And gode lemman god the saue and kepe
And with that word almost she gan to wep [...]
Aleyn vprist and thoughte or that it dawe
I wil go crepe yn be my felawe
And fond the cradil with his hond anon̄
Be god thoughte he al wrong haue I gon
My hed is toty of my swynk to nyght
That makith me that y go not a right
I wote wel by the cradyl I haue mys go
Here lith the myllere and his wyf also
And forth he goth a twenty deuyl way
Into the bed there the myllere lay
He wende haue cropen yn be his felow Iohn
And by the myller yn he creep anon
And caughte hym be the necke & softe spak
[Page]He sayde thou swyneshede awake
For cristis soule and here a nobyl game
For by that lord that callyd is saint Iame
As I haue thryys in this short nyght
Swyuyd the mylleris doughter bolt vpright
Whylis thou hast as a coward be agaste
Ye false harlot hast thou so hast
A fals traytour fals clerk quod he
Thou shalt be ded be goddis dignite
Who durste be so bolde to do suche disperage
To my doughter that is of suche lynage
And be the throte bolle he canghte aleyn
And he hente hym dispitously agayn
And on the nose he smot hym with his fist
Doun ran the blod vp on his brest
And in the floor with nose & mouth to broke
They walowyd as piggis do in a poke
And vp they goon and doun ayen anon
Tyl that the Myllere sporned at a stoon
And doun he fyl bacward on his wyf
That w [...]ste no thing of this nyce stryf
For she was falle in slepe a litil wight
With Iohn the clerk that wakid hath al nyght
And with the fal out of her slepe she breyd
Help holy cros of bromehem she sayde
In manus tuas to the lord I calle
A wake Symond the feend is on me falle
Myn herte is brokyn I am but ded
There lieth on my wombe and on my hed
[Page]Help Symkyn for the fals clerkis fighte
This Iohn stert vp as faste as he myghte
And graspid be the wallis to and fro
To fynde astaf and she stert vp also
And knew the eftes bet than did this Iohn
And by the wall astaf she took anon
And saw a litil shymerynge of a light
For at an hole yn shon the mone light
And by that light she saw hem bothe two
But sikirly she nyste who was who
And as she saw a whit thing in her ye
An whan she gan this white thing aspie
She wende the clerk hadde werid a volupier
And with the staf she drew ay nere and nere
And wende haue hit this aleyn at the ful
And smoot the myller on the pilid skul
And doun he goth and cryde harow I dye
The clerkis bete hym wel and let hym lye
And greyden hem and eek hir hors anon
And eke hir mele and on her wey they goon
And atte mylle dore yet he took his cake
Of half a busshel flour wel I bake
Thus is the proud myller wel I bete
And hath lost the gryndynge of the whete
And payd for the soper eueridell
Of aleyn and of Iohn that beet hym well
His wyf is swyuyd and his doughtir als
Lo suche it is a myllere to be fals
And therto this prouerbe is sayd ful soth
[Page]Hym dare not wene well that euyl doth
A gilour shal euer begyled be
And god that sit in high mageste
Saue al this companye grete and smale
Thus haue I quyt the Myllere his tale
¶Here endith the reuys tale. ¶And begynneth the cokis prolog.
THe cook of london whyle the reue spak
For ioye he toughte he clawid hym on þe bak
A ha quod he for cristis owen passion
This Myllere hath a sharp conclusion
Vp on his argument of herbegage
Wel sayde Salamon in his langage
Ne preesse not euery man in thy hous
For herborwynge be nyght is perlous
Wel ought a man auisid forto be
Whom that he brynge in to his pryuite
I prey to god so yeue me sorow and care
Syn euyr that I highte hogge of ware
Herd I Myllere bet y set a werk
He hadde a Iape of malice in the derk
But god forbede that we stynten here
And therfore yf ye vouchesauf to here
A tale of me that am a poure man
I wol you telle as wel as I can
A lityl Iape that fyl in our cyte
Our ost answerd & sayde I graunte it the
Now telle on rogger loke that it be good
For many a pasty hast thou lete blood
[Page] And many a iacke of douyr hast thou
sold That had be twis hoot and twis cold
Of many a pilgrym hast thou cristis ours
For of thy persely yet fare they the wers
Now tel on gentil roger be thy name
But I pray the be not wroth for game
A man may say ful soth in game and pley
Thow saist soth sayde roger be my fey
But soth pley quade pley as the flemyng saith
And therfore harry bally be thy feyth
Be thow not wroth ar we departen here
Though that my tale be of an hostillere
But natheles I wil not telle it yet
But or we departe I wis thou shalt be quyt
And therwith al he lowgh and made chere
And sayde his tale as ye shul aftir here
¶Here endith the cokis prolog. ¶And begynneth his tale.
APrentis whilom duelt in our cyte
Of craft of vitaillers was he
As gaylard he was as goldsmyth in þ• shawe
Broun as a bery a proper felawe
With lokkis I kembid ful fetously
Daunce he coude wel and iolily
Than he was clepid Perkyn reuelour
He was as ful of loue and paramour
As is the hyue ful of hony swete
Wel was the wenche þ• with hym mighte slepe
And at euery bridale wolde he synge & hoppe
[Page]He
louyd bettir the nethir ende than the shoppe
For when ther ony ridyng was in chepe
Out of the shoppe thyder wolde he lepe
Tyl that he hadde al the sighte y seyn
And daunsed wel he wolde not come ayen
And gadrid hym a meyne of his sort
To ho [...]pe & synge & make suche disport
And there they secte steuene forto mete
To pleyyn at the dyse in suche a strete
For in the toun was ther no prentyse
That fayrer coude caste a peyre of dyse
Than Perkyn coude and therto he was fre
Of his dispence in place of pryuyte
That fond his maister wel in his chaffare
For of tyme he fond his box ful bare
For shortly a prentis that is a reuelour
That hauntith dyse riot and paramour
His maister shal it in his shoppe abye
Al haue he no part of the mynstralsye
For thefte and riot they be conuertibyll
Al can he pleye on gitern [...] or ribyble
Reuel and trouthe as in a low degre
They be ful wroth alday as men may se
This ioly prentis with his maister stood
Tyl he was neer oute of his prentishod
Al were he styborn bothe erly and late
And sumtyme led with reuel to Newgate
Where he his vnthriftynes sore aboughte
But atte laste his maister hym bethoughte
[Page]Vp on a prouerbe that saith the same
word Wel bet is roten appyl oute of horde
Then that he roten al the remenaunt
So farith it be a riotous seruaunt
It is ful lasse harm to lat hym pas
Than he sholde al the seruauntis in the plas
Therfore his maister yaf hym acquietaunce
And had hym go with sorou & myschaunce
And thus this ioly prentis hadde his leue
Now let hym riot al the nyght or leue
And ther is no theef withouten look
That helpith hym to waste or to sowke
Of that he beybe can or borow may
Anon he sellith his bed and his aray
Vnto a compiere of his owen sorte
That louyth dyse ryot and disporte
And hadde a wyf that held for contenaunce
A shoppe & swyued for hir sustenaunce
¶Here endith the Cokys tale And begynneth the man of lawis prolog
OVre hoost saw that by the bright sonne
The ark of his artificial day had [...]onne
The fourthe part and half an [...]oure & more
And theygh he were not depp [...] stert in lore
He wiste it was the .xviij. day
Of april that is messanger to may
And saw wel that the shadow of euery tre
Was in lengthe of the same quantite
That was the body erect that causid it
[Page] And therfore be the shadow he took his wit
That phebus whiche that shon so clere & bright
Degrees was .xlv. clomben on height
And for that day is in latitude
Hit is ten of the clocke [...]e gan conclude
And sodenly he plight his hors aboute
Lording [...] [...] he I warne you al the route
The fourthe part of this day is goon
Now for the loue of god and saint Iohn
Lese no tyme as ferforth as ye may
Lordingis the tyme wastith bothe nyght & day
And stelith fro vs what priuely slepynge
And what thurgh negligence in our wakynge
As doth the streme that turned neuyr agayn
Descendyng fro the mounteyn in to the playn
Wel can senek and many a philosophir
Bewaylen tyme more than gold in cofyr
For los of catell may recouered be
But los of tyme shendith vs quod he
It wyl not come ayen withouten drede
Nomore than wol Malkynes maydenhede
Whan that she hath lost it in hir wantownesse
Let vs not mowlyn thus [...]n Idelnesse
SIre man of lawe q [...] he so haue thou blis
Tel vs a tale anon as forward is
Ye be submyttyd thorough your fre assent
To stonden in this caas at my Iugement
Acquyte you now of your be heeft
Than haue ye do your deuyr at the leeft
[Page]Hoost quod he depar dien Ie assent
To breke forward is not myn entent
Beheste his dette and I wolde fayn
Plese yow / and therto wole I do my payne
For suche lawe as men yeueth another wight
He sholde hym self vse it be right
Thus wol our text but natheles certeyn
I can right now no thrifty tale seyn
That Chauser they he can but lewdly
On metris and on rymynge craftely
Hath sayd hem in suche english as he can
Of olde tyme as knoweth meny a man
And yf he hath not sayd hem leue beother
In o book he hath sayd hem in anothir
For he hath told of louers vp an doun
Mo than Ouyde made of mencion
In his Epistelis that ben olde
What sholde he telle hem sith they be told
In youthe he made of Certes of alkyon
And sith he hath spoken of euerichon
These nobil wyuys and thyse nobil louers eek
Who that wol his large volum seke
Clepyd the sayntis lyuys of cupyde
There may he see the large woundis wyde
Of lucrece and of babylone tisbe
The swerd of dido for the fals Enee
The swerd of philles for here demophon
The playnte of dyanere and of armyon
Of adryane and eke of Isiphyle
[Page]The bareyn yle
stondyng in
[...]he se
The dreynt [...]andir for his erro
The teris of Eleyne and eke the woo
Of Briseyde and of Ladomea
The cruelte of the quene Medea
The lityl childryn hangyng be the hals
For why Iason that was of loue so fals
Epymystra Penelope and alceste
Her wyfhode comendynge with the beste
But certeynly no word ne writith he
Of that wicked ensaumpyl of Canace
That loued her owen brothir synfully
Of whiche cursid storyes I say fy
Or ellis of Tirns appolonius
How that the cursid kyng antiochus
Beraft his doughter of hir maydenhede
That is so horrible a tale forto rede
Whan he here threw vp on the pament
And therfore he ful of auisement
Wolde neuer write in none of his sermons
Of suche vnkind abhomynacions
Ne I wol none reherce yf that I may
But of my tale what sholde I do this day
Me were loth be likned doutles
To myses that men clepe piarydes
Methamorphoseos woot what I mene
But nether theles I recke not a bene
They I come aftir hym the whiche hath no lak
I speke in prose let hym rymes make
[Page] And with that
word he with a sobir chere
Began his tale as ye shul after here
O Hateful harm condicion of pouert
With thrist. cold & hunger so cōfoundid
To asken help the shameth in thy hert
Yf thou non aske with nede art thou so woundid
That verry nede vnwrappith al thy woundis hid
Magre thyn hed thou muste of indigence
Or stele or begge or borow thyn dispence
Thou blamyst crist and sayst ful bitterly
He mys departiht riches temperal
Thyn neyghebour thou witist synfully
And sayst thou hast to lite and he hath al
Parfay sayst thou one day he reken shal
When that his tayl shal brenne in th [...] gl [...]de
For he not helpith the nedful in her n [...]de
Herkenyth what is the sentence of the wyse
Bet is to dyen than to haue indigence
Thy self neyghbour wol the despyse
If thou be poure farewel thy reuerence
Yet of the wiseman take his sentence
Althey that poure men be wikk
Bewaar or thou come to the prik
Yf thou be poure thy brother hatith the
And alle thy frendis fle fro the allas
O riche marchauntis ful of wele ye be
O nobyl and prudent folk as in this caas
Your baggis bith not fillyd with [...]mbes aas
But with sys synk that rennyth in your chaunc [...]
[Page]At Cristemasse mery mowe ye daunce
Ye s [...]kyn lond and se for your wynnyngis
And as wyse folk ye knowe al the state
Of reygnes that been fadir of tidingis
And talis bothe of pees and of debaat
I were right now of a tale desolaat
Ne were that a Marchan̄t gon is many a yere
Me taughte a tale whiche ye mowe here
IN Surry whylom duellyd a companye
Of Chapmen riche therto sad & trewe
That wyde where senten their spicerye
Clothis of gold & satyn riche of hewe
Her chaffare was so trusty and so newe
That euery wight hath deynte of her chaffare
And eke with hem to selle here ware
Now fyl it that the maistris of the sort
Haue shapen hem to rome forto wende
Were it for chapman hood or for disport
Non othir message wold they thyder sende
But cam hem self to rome this is the ende
And in suche place as thoughte hem auantage
For her entent they takyn her herbygage
Soiourned haue thyse marchantis in that toun
A certeyn tyme as syl for her plesaunce
But so be fyl that the excellent renoun
Of the Emperours doughter dame Constan [...]e
Reported was with euery circumstaunce
Vnto thyse marchantis in suche wyse
Fro day to day as y shal you deuyse
[Page]This was the comyn wis of euery man
The Emperour of rome god hym se
A doughter hath that sith the worlde began
To rekene as wel her goodnes as her beaute
Was neuer suche another as was she
I pray to god in honour here [...]usteyne
And wolde she were of al Enrope the quene
In here is high beaute withoute pryde
Yonghte withoute greef or folye
To alle her werkis vertu is her gyde
Humbles hath slayn in here al tirannye
She is a myrrour of al curtesie
Her herte is verry chambir of holynesse
Her hond mynyster of fredom and of almesse
And al this wis is soth as god is trew
But now to purpos let vs turne ay [...]en
Thise marchan̄tis haue do fraught her shippis newe
And when they haue the blisful mayde seyn
Home to surry they wente a geyn
And don her nedis as they dede yore
And liuen wel I can s [...]y nomore
Now fil it þ• thyse marchauntis stood in grace
Of hym that was the sow [...]n of furrye
For whan that they com fro ony straunge place
He wolde of his benigne curtesie
Make hem good chere and bisely aspye
Tidyngis of sundry regnys forto lere
The wondrys that they mighte se and here
Among othir thingis specially
[Page]Thise marchants haue tolde of dame Cōstaūce
So gret noblesse in ernest certeinly
That this sowdan hath caught so gret plesaūce
To haue her figure in his remembraunce
And al his lust and al his besy cure
Was forto loue here whilis his lif may endure
Parauenture in that large book
Whiche I clepe the heuen y wryte was
With sterrys that he his birthe took
Th [...]r he for loue sholde haue his deth allas
F [...] in the sterrys clerer than is the glas
Ys writyn god woot who so coude rede
The deth of euery man withouten drede
In sterrys many a wynter there beforn
Was wryte the deth of Ector & Achilles
Of Pompey Iulius or they were born
The stryf of Thebes and of Hercules
Of Sampson Turnus and Socrates
The deth but mennys wittis be so dul
That no man can rede it atte ful
This sowdan for his pryuy counceil sent
And shortly on this mater forto passe
He hath to hem declared his entent
And sayde hem certeyn but he mighte haue grace
To haue Custaunce in a litil space
He nas but ded and charged hem on hye
To shapen for hym som remedy
Diuers men diuers thinges saiden
They argumentis casten vp and doun
[Page]Many a sotil reson forth they layden
They spak of magyk and abusion
But finally as in this conclusion
They can not see in that non auauntage
Ne in non othir wey saue in mariage
Than saw they ther ynne suche difficultees
Be wey of reson to speke al playn
Be cause that ther was suche diuersitees
Betwix her bothe lawes that they sayn
They trowe that no cristen prince wolde fayn
Wedden his child vnder our lawes swete
That vs was taught be mahound our ꝓphete
And he answerd rathir than I lese
Custaunce I wil be cristened doutles
I moot be heris I may non other chese
I pray yow hold your argumentis in pees
Sauyth my lif and be not recheles
To geten here that hath my lif in cure
For in this wo I may not longe endure
What nedith gre [...]ter delectacion
I say be tretyse and [...]lussetrye
And by the Popis mediacioun
And al the chirche and al the chiualrye
That in destruction of mawmetrye
And in encrees of cristis lawe dere
They be accorded as ye shul here
How that the Sowdan and his baronage
And alle his liegis shul cristened [...]e
And he shal haue custaunce in mariage
[Page] And ertayn
gold I not what quantyte
And therto founde they good [...]urete
The same accorde was sworn in either syde
Now faire Custaunce almyghty god the gyde
Now wolde sum men wene as I gesse
That I sholde telle al the purueaunce
That the Emperour of his grete nobles
Hath shape for his doughter dame Custaunce
Wel may men knowe that so gret ordenaunce
May no man telle in a litil clause
As was arayd for so high a cause
Bisshoppis ben shapen with her forto wende
Lordis and ladyes of gret renoun
And other folk ynough this is the ende
And notifyed is thorough out the toun
That euery wight with deuocioun
Sh [...]lde praye crist that this mariage
Resceyue in gre and spede this viage
The day is com of hir departyng
I say that the woful [...] day is come
That ther may be no len [...]er taryynge
But forward they dresse hem alle and som
Custaunce that with sorow is al ouercom
Ful pale arisith and dress [...]th her to wende
For wel she woot ther is non other ende
Allas what wonder it is though she wepte
That shal be sent to straunge nacion
Fro frendis that here so tenderly kepte
And to be bounde vnder subiection
[Page]Of one she knoweth not the condicion
Husbondis been alle gode and haue be yore
That knowe wyuys I dar say nomore
Fadir she sayde thy wrecchid child custaunce
Thy yonge doughter fostred vp so softe
That most you loueth with obeissaunce
Ouir alle thing out take crist on lofte
Custaunce your child her recomaundith ofte
Vnto your grace for I shal to surrye
Ne shal I neuer se you more with ye
Allas vnto the barbarik nacion
I muste anon acordyng to your wil
But crist that deyde for our redempcion
So yeue me grace his hestis to fulfille
I wrecchid womman no sors though I spylle
Wommen are born to thraldom & to penaunce
And to be vnder mannys gouernaunce
I trow at troye whan Turnus brac the wal
Of Ilion nor brent was Thebes the Cyte
Ne rome for the sege of hanybal
That romayns hadde venguysshed tymes thre
Nas herd suche tender wepynge for pyte
As was in the chambir for her departynge
But forth she moot whether she wepe or synge
O frosty mornynge cruel firmament
With thy dyurnal whele that crowdest ay
And hurtelist al fro este to occidente
That naturelly wolde holde another wey
Thy crowdyng set the heuen in suche aray
[Page]At the begynnynge of this firste viage
That cruel marce hath slayn this mariage
O infortunat asc [...]ndant tortuous
Of whiche the lord is helples falle allas
Out of his angil in to the thirde hous
O Marce occitaser as in this caas
O feble mone vnhappy be thy paas
Thow knettist the there thou art not resceyued
There thou art wel fro then art thou weyuyd
Imprudent Emperour of rome allas
Was ther no philisophir in thy toun
Is no tyme bectir than anothir in this ca [...]s
Of viages is ther non election
Namely to folk of hygh condicion
Not whan a rote is of a birthe y knowe
Allas we been to lewd and ellis to slowe
To shippe is brought this woful fayre mayde
Solempuly with euery circumstaunce
Now Ih [...]su crist be with you alle she sayde
Ther is nomore but far wel fayre Custaunce
She pynyth her self to make good contenaunce
And forth I lete here saylle in this manere
And turne ayen I wol to my matere
The moder of the sowdan welle of vicis
Aspyed hath her sonys playn en [...]ent
How he wolde lete his olde sacrificis
And right anon she for her counsel sent
And they be come to knowe what she ment
And whan assemblid was this folk in fere
[Page]She sette her doun & sayde as ye shul here
Lordinges quod she ye know wel euerichon
How that my sone is in poynt forto lete
The holy lawis of our alcaron
Yeuen by goddis messanger Machomete
But on a vowe to the grete god I hete
The lif shal rathir out of my body stert
Or machometis loue go out of my hert
What sholde vs tidyn of this newe lawe
But thraldom to our body and penaunce
And aftirward in helle to be drawe
For we reneyed Mahound our creaunce
But lordis wille ye make assuraunce
As I shal say assentyng to my lore
And I shal make vs sauf for euyrmore
They sworyn and assented euery man
To lyue with hir and dye and by hir stonde
And eueriche in the beste wyse that he can
To strengthe her shal his frendis fonde
As she that hath this empryse take on honde
Whiche ye shul here as I shal deuyse
And to hem alle she spak in this wyse
We shul vs first fayne cristendom to take
Cold watre ne shal vs greue but a lyte
And I shal suche a feste and a reuel make
That as I trow I shal the sowdon quyte
For though his wyf be cristened neuyr so whit
She shal haue nede to wasshe awey the rede
Though she a fonte ful of water with her lede
[Page]O sowdonnes rote of iniquyte
Virago thou samarian the secunde
O serpent vndir femenyn beaute
I lik vnto the serpent depe in helle I bound [...]
O feyned woman al that may confounde
Vertu and Innocence thurgh thy malice
I bred is in the nest of euery vice
O sathan ennyous syn that day
That thow were chaced from our heritage
Wel knowest thow to women the olde way
Thow madist one to brynge vs in seruage
Thou wolt fordon this cristen mariage
Thyn instrument so wel a way the whyle
Makist thou of woman whan thou wilt begy [...]e
This sowdonnesse whom I thus blame & wery
Let priuely her counsel go her way
What sholde I lenger in this tale tary
She ridith to the Sowdan on a day
And sayde to hym that she wolde renye her lay
And cristendom of prestis hond fonge
Repentyng her that she hethen was so longe
Besechinge hym to don her that honour
That she myghte haue the cristen folk to feste
To plesen hem I wyl do my labour
The Sowdan saith I wyl do at your heste
And kneling thankid her of that requeste
So glad he was he nyste what to sey
She kyssid her sone and home she goth her wey
Aryuyd be this cristen folk to londe
[Page]In surry with a greet solempne route
And hastely this Sowdon sente his sonde
First to his moder and to al the regne aboute
And sayde his wyf was come withoute doute
And preyde her to ryde ayens the quene
The honour of his regne to sustene
Greet was the prees and riche was the aray
Of surriens and of Romayns met in fere
The moder of the sowdon riche and gay
Resceyuyth hir with al glad chere
As ony moder myghte her doughter dere
And to the nexte cyte there beside
A softe paas solempuly they ride
Nought trow I the triumphe of Iulius
Of whiche that lucan makith suche a boost
Was ryaller ne more corious
Than was the assemble of this blisful ost
But this scorpion this wicked gost
The sowdonnesse for al hir flaterynge
Cast vnder this ful mortally to stynge
The sowdon comyth hym self sone aftir this
So rially that wonder was to telle
And welcomyth hir with ioye and blis
And thus with ioye and blis I lete hem dw [...]lle
The fruyt of euery tale is forto telle
Men thoughte it when tyme cam for the best
That reuel to stynt and men to go to reste
The tyme cam this olde Sowdonnesse
Ordeyneth hath this feste of whiche I tolde
[Page] And to the feste cristen men dresse
In general bothe yonge and olde
There may men reuel and feste beholde
And deyntees mo than I can deuyse
But al to dere they boughte it er they ryse
O sodeyn wo that euer art successour
To wordly blis spreynt with bitternes
The ende of our Ioy and of our wordly labour
Wo occupieth the fyn of our gladnesse
Herkyn this counsel for thy sikernesse
Vp on thy glad day haue in thy mynde
The vnwaar wo that comyth the behynde
For shortly to telle at o word
The sowdan and the cristen euerichone
Been al to he wen and stiked at the borde
But it were only dame Custaunce allone
This olde Sowdonnes cursid crone
Hath with her cursid frendis there don this dede
For she her self wolde al the contre lede
Ne there was Surreyn none that was conuertid
That of the counsel of the Sowdan wotith
That he nas al to hewen or he astertid
And Custaunce haue takyn as they hotith
And in a ship steerles god it wotith
They haue her set and bid her lerne to saylle
Out of S [...]rrye ayen in to Itaylle
A certeyn tresour that she thyder ledde
And soth to sayn vitayl greet plente
They haue her yeue and clothis eek she had
[Page] And forth she
[...]ayled in to the salt se
O my Custaunce ful of benignite
O Emperours yong doughter dere
He that is lord ouyr fortune be thy stere
She blissid hir and with ful pitous wis
Vnto the cros of crist said she
O clere O woful auter holy croye
Rede of the lambis blood ful of pyte
That wesshist the worlde fro old iniquite
Me fro the fend and fro his clawis kepe
That day that I shal drenche in the depe
Victorious tre of protection trewe
That only were ordeyned forto bere
The kyng of heuen with his woundis newe
The whyte lamb that hurt was with a spere
Flemer of fendis out of hym and of here
Of whiche thy lymes feithfully extende
Me kepe and yeue me myght to amende
Yeris and dayes fleet this creature
Thorow out the se of greek in to the streyte
Of Marrok as it was her auenture
O many a sory meel may she beyte
Aftir her deth ful ofte may she wayte
Or that the wilde wawes wolde her dryue
Vnto the place where that she shal arryue
Men myghte aske why she was not slayn
And ek atte feste who myghte her body saue
And I answere to that demaunde agayn
Who sauyd Daniel in the horrible Caue
[Page]There euery wight were he maistir or knaue
Was with the lioun fret or he a stert
No wight but god that he baar in his hert
God lust to shewe his wondirful miracle
In here for she sholde se his mighty werkis
Crist that is of euery harm triacle
Be certayn menys as knowen clerkis
Doth thingis that for certeyn ende ful derk is
To mannys wit that for our ignoraunce
Ne can not knowe his prudent purueaunce
Now sith that she nas at the feste y slawe
Who kepte her fro drenching in the see
Who kepte Ionas in the fisshis mawe
Tyl he was spowted out at nynyue
Wel may men knowe it was no wight but he
That kepte the pepyl of Ebrew fro drenching
With drye foot thorugh out the see passinge
Who hath the foure spiritis of tempeste
That power haue to annoyen londe and see
Bothe No [...]th and south west and Est
Annoyeth neyther lond hous ne tre
Sothly the comaunder of that was he
That fro the tempest ay this woman kepte
As wel whan she wook as whan she slepte
Where myghte this woman mete & drynk haue
Thre yere and more lastith her vitayl [...]
Who fedde the Egipcian Mary in the Caue
Or in desert non but crist sauns faylle
Fyur thousand folk it was a gret meruaylle
[Page]With louys fyue
and fisshis two to fede
God halpe her alwey in her nede
She dryueth fo [...]th in to our occian
Thorow out our wyde se til at the laste
Vndir an hold that nemene I ne can
Fer in Northumbirland the wawys her cast
And in the sond the ship stickid so faste
That thens wolde it not al that tyde
The wil of crist was there she shulde abyde
The constabil of the castel doun is fare
To se this wrakke and al the ship he soughte
And fond this doutif womman ful of care
He fond also the tresour that she broughte
In her langage mercy she be soughte
The lif out her body forto wynne
Her to deliuer out of the wo that she was ynne
Amaner latyn corupt was her speche
But algatis ther by was she vnderstonde
The Constabil whan hym lift no lenger seche
This woful womman brought he to londe
She knelith doun and thankith cristis sonde
But what she was she wold noman sey
For foul ne fair t [...]ough she sholde dye
She said she was so masid in the se
That she forgat her mynde by her trowth
The Constabil hath of hir so gret pyte
And eke his wyf that wepen sore for rowth
She was so diligent withoute slowthe
To serue and plese euerich in that place
[Page]That al her loue that lokyn in her face
The Constabyl and dame hermegild his wyf
Were paynemys and that contre euery where
But hermegild louyd her as her lyf
And Custan̄ce hath so longe I soiourned there
In orisoun with many a bittir tere
Tyl Ihesus hath conuertid thorough his grace
Dame hermegilde the Constablis wyf of þ• place
In al that lond no cristen durste route
Alle cristen men be fled fro that contre
Thorough paynemes that conquered al aboute
The royame as wel by londe as by see
To wales thenne fledde the Cristianite
Of olde britons duellyng in that Ile
Ther was no refute for the mene whyle
But yet nere cristen britons so exyled
That ther nas som in her priuyte
Honouryd crist and hethen folk begilyd
And nygh the castel suche ther dwellid thre
That one of hem was blynd & myght not se
But it were with thicke yen of his mynde
With whiche they seen aftir men be blynde
Bright was the sonne as in a somers day
For whiche the Constabyl and his wyf also
And Custaunce hath take the right way
Toward the see a furlong wey or two
To pleyen and to romen to and fro
And in this walk the blynde men they mette
Crokid and olde with yen faste I shette
[Page]In the name of crist cryde this briton
Dame Hermegilde yeue me my sighte ageyn
This lady wax afrayd of that soun
Lest that her husbond shortly forto seyn
Wolde here for Ihesus cristis lore haue sleyn
Til custaunce made her bolde & bad her wirche
The wil of criste as doughter of holy chirche
The constabil wexte abasshid of that sighte
And sayde what amountith al this fare
Custaunce answerde sire it is cristis myght
That helpith folk out of the fendis snare
And so ferforth she gan our lawe declare
That she the Constable or it were eue
Conuerted hath and on crist made hym beleue
This Constable was no thing lord of this place
Of whiche I spak ther he Custaunce fonde
But kepte it strongly many wyntris space
Vndir alla kyng of al Northumbirlond
That was ful wyse and worthy of his hond
Ayens the scottis as men may wel here
But turne ayen I wil to my matere
Sathan that euer vs waytith to begyle
Saw of Custaunce al the perfection
And caste anon how he mighte quyte her while
And made a yong knight dwelling in þe toun
Loue here so hote of foul affection
That verily hym toughte he shal spille
But he of here onys mighte haue his wille
He wowith hir but it auaylith nought
[Page]She wolde do no synne be no way
And for despit he compassid in his thought
To make here on shamful deth to day
He waytith whan the Constabyl is away
And priuely on a nyght he crepte
In hermegildis chambir whylis she slepte
Wery forwakid in her orisons
Slepith hermegilde and Constaunce also
This knyght thorough sathans temptacions
Al softly is to the bed y goo
And ku [...]te the throte of hermegild a twoo
And leyde the blody knyf be dame Custaunce
And wente his wey there god yeue him mischan̄ [...]e
Sone aftir comyth the Constabyl hom ayeen
And eke alla that was kyng of the lond
And saw his wyf dispitously sleyn
For whom he wepte and wrong his hond
And in the bed the blody knyf he fonde
Be dame Custaunce allas what might she say
For verray wo her wit was al a way
To kyng alla was told al this myschaunce
And the tyme and where and eke the wyse
That in a ship was founde this Custaunce
As here before ye me haue herd deuyse
The kyngis herte of pyte gan aryse
When he saw the benigne creature
Falle in disese and in mysauenture
For as the lomb toward his deth is brought
So stant this Innocent a fore the kyng
[Page]This fals knight that hath this treson wrought
Bereth hir in hond she ha [...]h do this thyng
But natheles there was gret mornyng
Among the pepyl and sayden they can gesse
That she hadde not do so gret a wickednesse
For they haue seye here euyr so vertuous
And louyng hermegild right as her lyf
Of this baar witnesse euerich in that hous
Saue he that slow hermegild with the knyf
This gentil kyng hath caught a gret motif
Of this witnesse & thoughte he wolde enquyre
Deppere in this aias and trowthe forto lere
Allas custaunce thou hast no champion
Ne fighte cans thou not so wel away
But he that for our redempcion
Bond sathan and yet lith there he lay
He be thy strong champion this day
For but crist open myracle kithe
Withoute gilt thou shalt be slayn as swithe
She sette hir doun on her knees & thus she sayde
Immortal god that sauedist [...]usanne
Fro fals blame and thou mercyful mayde
Mary I mene doughtir of saint anne
Before whos child aungelis syng Osanne
If I begiltles of this felonye
My socour be or ellis I shal dye
Haue ye not se sum tyme a pale face
Of hym that hath be lad in a prees
Toward his deth where he getith no grace
[Page] And suche a colour in the knyghtis face chees
Men myghte knowe his face in all the prees
Among al the faces that was in that Route
So stant Custaunce and lokith here aboute
O quenes lynage whilom in prosperite
Duchesse and ladyes euerichone
Haue som rowthe on hir aduersite
An Emperours doughter stont allone
She woot not to whom to make her mone
O ryal lady that stondist in this drede
Fer ben thy frendes at thy greet nede
This Alla hath suche compassion
As gentil herte is fulfillyd of pyte
That from his yen ran the watir doun
Now hastely go fet a book quod he
And yf that this knyght wol swere that she
Hath this woman slayn yet wyl we vs auyse
Whom that we wyl shal be our Iustise
A briton book writen with euangelies
Was fet and there on he swoor anon
She gilty was and in the mene whyles
An hond hym smoot vp on the necke boon
That doun he fyl at onys as a stoon
And bothe his yen brest out of his face
In sighte of euery body of that place
A boys was herd in general audience
And sayde thou hast disclaundryd giltlees
The doughter of holy chirche in high presence
Thus hast thou doon and yet I holde my pees
[Page]Of this meruayll agast was al the prees
As masid folk they stonden euerichon
For drede of wreche saue Custaunce alone
Greet was the drede and eke the repentaunce
Of hem that hadde wrong suspection
Vp on this sely Innocente Custaunce
And for this mirakil in conclusion
And by Custaunces mediacion
The kyng and many another in that place
Conuertid was thankid be cristis grace
This fals knight was slayn for his vntrouthe
By Ingement of the kyng alla hastely
And yet hadde Custaunce of his deth gret routhe
And aftir Ihesus of his mercy
Made alla to wedde hir solemly
This holy maiden that is so bright and shore
And thus hath crist maad Custaunce a qu [...]e
But who was woful yf I shal nat ly
Of this weddyng but donygelde and nomo
The kyngis modir ful of tirannye
Her thoughte her cursid herte brast a two
She nolde not her sone hadde so do
Her thoughte a despyt that he sholde take
So straunge a creature vnto his make
Me list not of the chaf ne of the s [...]re
Make so long a tale as of the corn
What sholde I telle of the ryalte
Of this mariage or whiche cors goth beforn
Who bloweth in a trompe or who in a horn
[Page]The fruyt of euery tale is for to sey
They [...]et and drank daunce synge and pley
They go to bedde as it is skyl and right
For though that wyuys be ful holy thyngis
They muste take in pacient a nyght
Suche maner of necessaries as been plesingis
To folk that haue weddid hem with ringis
And sey a litil her holynesse a syde
As for the tyme it may non other betyde
On here he begate a man child anon
And to a bisshop and to his Constable eke
He took his wyf to kepe when he is gon
To scotlond ward his fomen forto seke
Now faire Custaunce that is so humble & so meke
So long is gon with childe in that stylle
She kepte her chambir abydyng cristis wyll
The tyme is come a man child she beer
Mauricius at the fontstoone they hym calle
This Constabyl doth forth come a messanger
And wroot vnto this kyng þt clepyd was alle
How that this blisful tidingis is be falle
And othir thing whiche was nedeful to saye
He takith his lettre and forth he goth his waye
This messanger to do his auauntage
Vnto the kynges moder ridith he swythe
And salueth here fayre in his langage
Madame quod he ye may be glad and blythe
And thanken god an hundrid thousand sithe
My lady the quene hath child withouten doute
[Page]To ioye
and blisse of al this regne aboute
Lo here the lettres sealid of this thing
That I muste here in al the haste I may
Yf ye wil ought to your sone the kyng
I am your seruaunt bothe nyght and day
Dame donegelde answerde al this tym̄ nay
But here al nyght I wol thou take thy rest
To morow I wol sey the what me leste
This messanger drank sadly ale and wyne
And stolen were his lettres priuely
Out of his box whilis he slepte as a swyn
And countrefetyd was ful subtilly
Anothir lettre wrought ful synfully
Vnto the kyng directyd of this matere
Fro his Constabil as ye may aftir here
The lettre spak the quene deliuered was
Of so horrible a fendly creature
That in the Castel non so hardy was
There no while ony wighte myghte endure
The modir was an elphe be auenture
I comyn be charmes or be sorcerye
And euery wight hateth hir in companye
Wo was the kyng whan he this lettre had se [...]n
But to no wight he tolde his sorowis sore
But of his owen hond he wroot ay [...]n
Welcome the sonde of crist for euermore
To me that am lerned in this lore
Lord welcome be thy lust & thy pleasaunce
My lust I put al in thy ordenaunce
[Page]Kepe this
child al be it foul or fair
And eke my wyf vnto myn hoom comynge
Crist whan hym list may make me an heir
More agreabyl than this to my likynge
This lettir he selith pryuely wepynge
Whiche to the messanger was y take sone
And forth he goth there is nomore to doon
O messanger fulfillid with dronkenes
Straunge is thy breth thy lymys flateryn ay
And thou bewreyest al secretnes
Thy mynde is lore thou iangesist as a Iay
Thy face is turned as in a newe aray
There dronkenesse reygneth in ony rowte
There is no counsel it is no doute
O donegelde I haue non english digne
Vnto thy malice and thy tirannye
And therfore to the feend I the resigne
Lete hym endityn of his treytory
Fy mamysshe fy nay be god I ly
Fy feendly spirit for I dar wel telle
Though thou here walke thy spirit is in helle
This messanger comyth fro the kyng agay [...]
And at the kyngis modr [...]s court he lighte
And she was of this messanger ful fayn
And pl [...]sid hym in al that euer she myghte
He drank and wel his girdyl vnder pyghte
He slepith and he snortith in his gyse
Al nyght til the sonne gan aryse
Aftir were his lettres stolen euerichon
[Page] And countrefetid lettres in this wyse
The kyng Comaundith his Constabil anon
Vp peyne of hongynge on high Iuyse
That he ne sholde suffre in no wyse
Custaunce in his regne forto abyde
Thre dayes and a quartir of a tyde
But in the same ship as he here fond
Here and her yong sone and al her geer
He sholde put and croude fro the lond
And charge hir that she come neuer aftir there
O my Custaunce wel may thy gost haue feer
And slepyn in thy dreme be penaunce
Whan donegelde cast al this ordenaunce
This messanger on morow whan he wook
Vnto the Castel holdith the nexte way
And vnto the Constabil he the lettris took
And whan that he this pitous lettre say
Ful often he sayde allas and wel away
Lord crist quod he hou may this worlde endure
So ful of synne is many a creature
O myghty god yf that it be thy wyll
Sithen thou art rightful Iuge hou may it be
That thou wolt suffre innocence to spylle
And wicked folk regne in prosperyte
O gode Custaunce alas so wo is me
That I moot be thy turmentour or ellis dye
On shamful deth ther is non other remedye
Wepyn bothe olde and yonge in that place
Whan that the kyng this cursid lettre sent
[Page] And Custaunce with a dedly & a paal face
The fayre may toward the ship she went
But neuer the lees she takith it in good entent
The wyl of crist and knelynge on the stronde
She sayde ay welcom be thy sonde
He that me kepte fro the fals blame
Whylis that I was on the lond amonges you
He can me kepe fro blame & eke fro shame
In the salt se although ye se not hou
As strong as euer he was he is right now
In hym I truste and in hes moder dere
That is to me my sayl and eke my stere
Her litil child lay wepyng in her arm
And kneling pitously she sayde
Pees litil childe I wol do the non harm
With that the kerchief from her hed she brayde
And ouer his litil yen it layde
And in her arm she lullith it ful faste
And in to heuene vp her yen she caste
Moder quod she and mayde bright Marye
Soth is that thorow womannys egement
Mankynde was lost & dampnyd euer to dye
For whiche thy child was on the cros to rent
Thy blisful yen saw al this turment
Than is ther no comparison betwene
Thyn wo and my wo that man may sustene
Thou saw thy childryn slayn a fore thyn yen
And yet now liueth my litil child perfay
Now lady bright to whom alle women crien
[Page]Thou glorye of
whomanhed thou faire may
Thou hauen of refut bright sterre of day
Rewe on my child that of thy gentilnesse
Rewest on euery synful in distresse
O litil child allas what is thy gilt
That neuer wroughtest synne as yet perde
Why wyll thy hard fader haue the spilt
O mercy and dere Constabil quod she
As leet my litil child dwelle here with the
And if thou darst not saue hym fro blame
So kys hym onys in his fadres name
Therwith she lokith bacward to the lond
And saide farewel husbond routhlees
And vp she goth & walkith doun the stronde
Toward her ship here folowith al the prees
And euer she praieth hir childe to holde his pees
And takith her leue with an holy entent
She blissith her and in to the ship she went
Vitaylid was the ship it is no drede
Habundauntly for her long space
And othir necessaries that sholde nede
She hadde ynow heried be goddis grace
For wynd & wedir almyghty god purchace
And brynge her hoom I can no bettir sey
But in the see she dryueth forth the wey
ALla the kyng sone aftir this
Vnto his Castel of whiche I tolde
Askyd where his wyf and his childe is
The Constabil gan aboute his hert to colde
[Page] And pleynly al the maner he hym tolde
As ye haue herd I can it telle no bettir
And shewith the kyngis seel and his lettir
And sayde lord as ye comaundid me
On peyne of deth so haue I do certeyn
This messanger turmentid was til he
Must be knowe and telle plat and playn
Fro nyght to nyght what place he had in layn
And thus be with subtil enquerynge
Imagened was be whom this gan sprynge
The hond was knowen that the lettir wroot
And al the venym of this cursid dede
But in what wyse certeinly I not
The effect is this that alla out of drede
His moder slough that men may plainly rede
For she traytour was to her ligeaunce
Thus endid olde donegelde with a myschaunce
The sorou that this alla nyght and day
Makith for his wyf and his child also
Th [...]re is no tunge that it telle may
But now wol I to Custaunce go
That fletith in the se with peyne and wo
Fyue yeer and more as likyd cristis sonde
Or that her ship approchid to ony londe
Vnder an hethen castel at the laste
The whiche the name not in my tixt I fynde
Custaunce and eke hir child vp cast
Almyghty god that saueth alman kynde
Haue on Custaunce & her child [...]um mynde
[Page]That fallen is in hethen
lond eftsone
In poynt to spille as I shal telle you sone
Doun from the Castel comyth ther many awight
To ganryn on this ship and on Custaunce
But shortly fro the Castel on a nyght
The lordis Steward god yef hym myschaunce
A theef that hadde reyned our creaunce
Com in to the ship allone & sayde hou she sholde
His lemman be whether she wolde or nolde
Tho was this wrecchid womman wo be gon
Her child cryde and she pitously
But blissed mary helpe her anon
For with her strogeling wel and myghtely
The theef fil ouer the bord al sodenly
And in the se he dreynt for vengeaunce
And thus hath crist vnwemmyd kept custan̄ce
O foul lust of luxurye lo thyn ende
Not only that thou feyntist mannys mynde
But verily thou wolt his body shende
Then of thy werk and thy lustis blinde
Is compleynynge hou many on may men finde
That nought for werk sumtyme but fole entent
To do this synne be othir sleyn or shent
How may this week womman haue the strengthe
Here to defende ay [...]ns the renegat
O Golias vnmesurable of lengthe
How myghty Dauid made the so mate
So yong of armure and so desolate
How durste he loke vp on thy face
[Page]Wel may men seen it is but goddis grace
Who yaf Iudith corage or hardinesse
To sle Olefernes in his tent
And to deliueren out of wrecchidnesse
The pepyl of god I say to this entent
That right as god spirit and vigour sent
To hem and saued out of myschaunce
He sente strengthe & vigour vnto Custan̄ce
Forth goth her ship thorow out þe narou mouth
Of Iuba [...]ter and septe driuyng ay
Som tyme west and som tyme north & south
And somtyme est ful meny awery way
Til cristis moder y blissid be she ay
Hath shapen thorow her endlees goodnesse
To make an ende of al her heuynesse
Now lete vs stynte of Custan̄ce but a throw
And speke of romayns the Emperour
That out of rome hath be lettris knowe
The slaughter of cristen folk and dishonour
Doon vnto his doughter be a fals traytour
I mene the cursid and wickyd sowdonnesse
That at the feste leet sle bothe more and lesse
For whiche this Emperour hath sent anon
His senatour with ryal ordenaunce
And othir lordis god woot meny on
On [...]urryens to take high vengeaunce
They brenne & sle & brynge hem to myschaun [...]e
Ful meny a day but shortly this is the ende
Homward to rome they shapen hem to wende
[Page]This senatour repayrith with victory
To romeward sayling ful ryally
And mette the ship as saith the story
In whiche Cu [...]taunce sit ful pitously
No thyng knew he what she was ne why
She was in suche aray that she ne wol sey
Of here astat though she sholde deye
He bryngith hir to rome to his wyf
He yaf her to here and her yong sone also
And with the senatour ladde hir lyf
Thus can our lady brynge out of wo
Woful Custaunce and many another mo
And longe tyme duellyd she in that place
In holy workis euer was her grace
The senatours wyf hir aunte was
But for al that she knew her neuer the more
I wil no lenger tarye in this caas
But to kyng Alla whiche I spak of yore
That had suche sorowe as I said before
I wol retourne and lete I wol Custaunce
Vnder the senatours gouernaunce
Kyng Alla whiche that hadde his moder slayn
Vp on aday fil in suche repentaunce
And yf I shortly telle shal and pl [...]yn
To rome he cometh & receyueth his penaunce
And put hym in the Popis ordenaunce
In high and lowe and Ihesus crist besoughte
Foryeue hym the workis that he hath wro [...]ght
The fame anon thorough rome is born
[Page]How alla
kyng shal come a pilgremage
By herbegeous that wenten hym beforn
For whiche the senatour as was the vsage
Rood hym ayens and many of his lynage
As wel to shewen his magnificence
As to doon ony kyng reuerence
Gret chere doth this nobyl senatour
To kyng alla and he to hym also
Euery of hem doth to other gret honour
And so be fyl that on a day or two
This senatour is to kyng alla go
To feste shortly and I shal not ly
Custaunces s [...]ne wente in his company
Sum men wolde say at the request of Custan̄ce
This senatour hadde led this child to feste
I may not telle euery Circumstaunce
Be as be may there was he at the leste
But s [...]th it is right at his moder h [...]ste
Beforn alla duryng the mete space
The child stood lokyng in the kyngis face
Alla the kyng of this child hath gret wonder
And to the senatour he sayde anone
Whose is this fayre child that stondith yonder
I not quod he be god and be saynt Iohn
A moder he hath but fader hath he noon
That I of woot and shortly in a stounde
He tolde alla how the child was founde
But god woot quod this senatour also
So vertuous a liuere in alle my lif
[Page]Ne saw I neuer ne herde of mo
Of wordly wymmen mayden wydow or wyf
I dar wel say she hadde leuer with a knyf
Thorow out her brest than be awoman wyke
Ther is noman coude brynge hir to the pryk
Now was this child as lik vnto Custaunce
As possible is a creature forto be
This alla hath the face in Remembraunce
Of dame Custaunce and theron musid he
Yf that the childis moder were aught she
That is his wif and priuely he sighte
And spedde hym fro the tabyl al that he mighte
Parfay quod he the fanton is in myn hed
I ought to deme of rightful Iugement
That in the salt se my wyf is ded
And aftirward he made his argument
What woot I yf crist haue hir hidir sent
My wyf be se as wel as he her sent
To my contre fro thens that she went
And aftir anon hoom with the senatour
Goth alla for to se this wonder chaunse
This senatour doth alla gret honour
And hastely he sente aftir Custaunce
But trust wel her lust not to daunce
Whan she wiste wherfore was that sonde
Vnnethis vp on her feet myghte she stonde
Whan alla saw his wyf faire he her grette
And wepte that it was routhe to se
For atte ferste loke that he on her sette
[Page]He knew verily that it was she
And for sorow as doumbe stondith as a tre
So was her herte shit in her distresse
Whan she remembrith of his vnkyndenesse
Twys she swownyth in his owen sighte
He wepte and hym excusid pitously
Now god quod he and his halowis bright
So wisly on my soule haue mercy
That of your harm as giltles am I
As is my sone Maurice so lik your face
Ellis the fend me fecche out of this place
Longe was the sobbyng & the bitter peyn
Er that her woful herte myghte sece
Gre [...]t was the pyte forto here hem compleyn
Th [...]rou whiche pleyntis gan her wo encrece
I pray you alle my labour to relece
I may not telle her wo vntil to morow
I am so wery forto speke of sorow
But finally whan the soth is wist
That all a giltlees is of hir wo
I trow an hundred tymes they bekyste
And suche a blisse is there betwix hem two
That saue the ioye that lastith euer mo
Ther nys noon I lik that ony creature
Hath s [...]ye or shal whylis the worlde may dure
Tho preyde she her husbonde mekely
In rel [...]synge of her pitous peyne
That he wolde pray her fader specially
That by his mageste he wolde enclyne
[Page]To vouchesauf sumtyme with hym to dyne
She praieth hym eek he sholde be no wey
Vnto hir fader no word of here sey
Sum men wolde seyn that the child Maurice
Doth this message vnto the Emperour
But as I gesse alla was not so nyce
To hym that is so souereyn of honour
As he that is of cristis folk the flour
Sente ony childe but it is best to deme
He wente hym self and so it may wel seme
This Emperour hath grauntid gentilly
To com to dyner as he hym besoughte
This alla was redy he lokyd bysily
Vp on this childe and on his doughter thoughte
Alla goth vnto his Inne and as hym oughte
Araid for this feste in euery wyse
As ferforth as his kunnynge may [...]uffise
The morow cam alla gan hym dresse
And eke his wyf this Emperour for to mete
And forth they riden in ioye and in gladnesse
And when she saw her fader in the strete
She lightith doun and fallith hym to fete
Fader quod she your yonge child Custaunce
Is now ful [...]ken out of your remembraunce
I am your doughter Custaunce quod she
That whilom ye haue sent in to furrye
It am I fader that in the salt see
Was put alone and dampned forto dye
Now gode fader mercy I you crye
[Page] S [...]d me nomore in to hethenesse
But thankith my lord here of his kyndenesse
Who can the piteous ioye telle all
Betwix hem thre sithenes they be thus met
But of my tale make an ende I shal
The day goth faste I may no lenger lette
Thise glad folk to dyner be y sette
In ioye and blisse at mete I lete hem duelle
A thousand fold more than y can telle
This child Maurice was sith Emperour
I maad be the Pope and liuyd cristynly
To cristis chirche dede he gret honour
But I lete al thyse storyes passe by
Of Custaunce is my tale specially
In olde romaynes gestes men may wel fynde
Mauricius lyf I bere it not in mynde
Than kyng alla whan he his tyme say
With Custaunce his holy wyf so swete
To engelond ben they come the righte way
Where as they liuen in ioye and in quyete
But lityl whyle it lasted I you behete
Ioye of this worlde but a tyme it wol abyde
Fro day to nyght it chaungith as the tyde
Who liueth euer in suche delite a day
That ne meued is eyther in conscience
Or ire or talent or [...]um kynnys affray
Enuye or pryde or passioun or offence
I ne sey but for the ende of this sentence
That lityl whyle in ioye or plesaunce
[Page]Lastith the blisse of alla with Custaunce
For deth that takith of hye & lowe his rente
When passid was a yeer as I gesse
Out of this world this kyng alla is went
For whom Custaunce hath ful gret heuynesse
Now pray we to god his soule blesse
And dame Custaunce finally to say
Toward the toun of rome goth hir way
To rome is come this holy creature
And fyndeth her frendis there hole and sound
Now is she scapid al her auenture
And when she hir fadir hath y founde
Doun on her knees fallith to grounde
Wepynge in herte for tendernesse blithe
She herieth god a hundred thousand sithe
In vertu and in holy almes dede
They liuen alle and neuer a sonder wende
Til deth departed hem this lif they lede
And farith now wel my tale is at an ende
Now Ihesus crist that of his myght may sende
Ioye aftir woo gouerne vs in his grace
And kepe vs alle that been in this place
¶Here endith the man of lawis tale. ¶And begynneth the squyeris prolog.
OVr hoost in his stiroppis stondith anon
And saide godemen herkeneth euerichon
This was a thristy tale for the nonys
Sire parissh preest quod he for goddis bonys
Tel vs a tale as was thy forward yore
[Page]I se wel that
lernyd men in lore
Conne moche good be goddis dignite
The Parson hym answerde benedicite
What eylith the man so sinfully to swere
Oure oste answerde Iankyn be ye there
I smelle a lollere in the wynd quod he
Now good men quod our host herkneth me
Abidith for goddis digne passioun
For we shul haue now a predicacion
This lollare wol preche vs here sumwhat
Nay be my fader soule that shal he nat
Sayde the squyer he shal not here preche
He shal no gospel glose here ne teche
Whe leue alle in the grete god quod he
He wolde sowe sum difficulte
Or speynh cokyl in our clene corn
And therfore o [...]te I warne the beforn
My ioly body shal a tale telle
And I shal clynke zow so mery a belle
That it shal wakyn al this company
But it shal not be of philosophy
Ne of phisik ne termes queynte of lawe
There is but litil latin in my mawe
¶Here begynneth the Squyers tale.
AT surrey in the lond of Tartarye
There dwellid a kyng þt warrid on russy
Thorow whiche ther dyde many a doughty man
This nobyl kyng was clepid Cambuscan
Whiche in his tyme was of so greet renoun
[Page]That ther was nowhere in no region
So excellent a lord in alle thing
He lackid nought that longed to a kyng
As of the secte of whiche he was born
He kepte his lay to whiche he was sworn
And therto he was hardy wyse and riche
Pitous iust and alwey y liche
Soth of his worde benign [...] and honorable
Of his corage as ony tentir stabil
Yong fressh and strong & in armys desirous
As ony bacheler dwellyng in his hous
A fair ꝑsone he was and fortunate
And kepte alwey a ryal astaat
That ther was nowhere suche a man
This nobil kyng this tartir Cambuscan
He hadde two sonys on alphete his wyf
Of whiche the eldest highte Algarsyf
That othir sone was clepid Camballo
A doughter hadde this worthy kyng also
That yongest was and highte Canace
But forto telle you of hir beaute
It lith not in my tunge ne in my connyng
I dar not take on me so high a thinge
And also myn english eke is insufficient
I muste be a clerk and a rethour excellent
That knewe the colours longing to that art
If I sholde discrye hir in euery part
I am no suche I muste speke as I can
And so be fyl this Cambuscan
[Page]Hath twenty wynter bore his dyademe
As he wente fro yeer to yeer y deme
He leet the feste of his natiuite
Done crye thorow out saray the cyte
The laste Idus of Marche aftir the yeer
Phebus the sonne ful ioly was and cleer
For he was in his exaltacion
In martis face and in his mansion
In aries the hote colerik signe
Ful lusty was the wethir and benigne
For whiche the foulis ayens the sonne sh [...]ne
That for the seson and the yonge grene
Wel loude song here affections
Hem semyd to getyn ayen here protectiouns
Agayn the swerd of wynter kene and cold
And so this kyng of whiche I you told
In ryal vestimentis sat on his deys
With dyademe ful high in his paleys
And holdith his feste solempne and riche
That in this worlde was ther non it liche
Of whiche yf I sholde telle al the ray
Than wolde it occupye a someris day
And eke it nedith not to deuyse
At euery cours the ordre of her seruise
I wol not telle of her strange sewis
Ne of her swannys ne of her heronsewis
Eke in that lond as tellen knyghtis olde
Is sum mete that is ful deynte holde
That in this lond men recke of it but smal
[Page]Ther is noman that may reporten al
I wol not tarye you for it is pryme
And for it is no fruyt but los of tyme
Vnto my firste tale y wol haue my recours
And so befil that aftir the thridde cours
Whyle that this kyng sat in his high nobleye
Herkenyng his mynstrallis here thing pleye
Beforn hym at his bord deliciously
In atte the halle dore sodeynly
Ther cam a knyght vpon a stede bras
And in his hond a brood myrrour of glas
And on his thombe he hadde of gold a ryng
And be his side a nakid swerd hanging
And vp he ridith to the high borde
In al the halle ne was ther spoke a word
For meruayll of this knyght hym to be holde
And bisely they wayten yonge and olde
The straunge knyght that cam so sodenly
Al armed saue his hed ful richely
He saluyd the kyng quene & lordis alle
By ordre as they sitten in the halle
With so high reuerence and obeisaunce
As wel in speche as in contenaunce
That Gawen with his olde curtesie
Though he com aye [...]n out of feirye
Ne coude hym amende with a worde
And aftir this before the high lord
He with manly voys sayde his message
Aftir the fourme vsed in his langage
[Page]Withoute faylle of sillabyl or lettir
And for his tale sholde seme the bettir
Accordyng to his word was his chere
As techith art of speche hem that it lere
Al be it that y can not sowne his styl
Ne y can not clymbe on so high an hille
Than say I thus to the comyn [...]ntent
Thus muche amountith that he ment
If it so be I haue it in mynde
He sayde the kyng of arabye and of ynde
My liege lord on this solempne day
Saleweth yow as he best can and may
And sendith you honour at your feste
Be me that am al redy at your heste
This stede of bras that esely and wel
Can in the space of a day naturel
This is to say in .xxiiij. houris
Where you liste in drougthe or in showris
Bere your body to euery place
To whiche your herte willith forto pase
Withoute wem of you thorough out foul or fair
Or yf you list to fle as high in the ayer
As doth an egil whan hym list to sore
This same stede shal bere you euermore
Withoute harm til ye be there ye list
Though that ye slepe on his ba [...] or reste
And turne ayeen with wringyng of a pyn
He that it wroughte knoweth many a gyn
He waytid many a constellacion
[Page]Or he hadde wrought this operacion
And knew meny a skyl & meny abonde
This myrrour eke that I haue in myn hond
Hath suche a myght that men may in it se
When ther shal falle ony aduersite
Vnto your regne or vnto your self also
And openly who is your frend or foo
And ouer al this if ony lady bright
Hath set her herte in ony maner wight
If he be fals she shal his treson se
His newe loue and al his subtilite
So openly that ther shal no thing hyde
Wherfore agayns this lusty someris tyde
This myrrour and this ring as ye may se
He sente hath to my lady Canace
Your excellent doughter that is here
The vertu of this ring yf ye wol here
Is this yf that her list it forto were
Vp on here thombe or in her purs it bere
There is no foul that fleeth vnder heuyn
That she ne shal vnderstonde his steuyn
And knowe his menyng openly & playn
And answere hym in his langage agayn
And euery gras that growith vpon the rote
She shal knowe and whom it wol do bote
Al be his wounde neuer so deep or wyde
This nakid swerd that hangith be my side
Suche vertu hath what man ye smyte
Thorow out his armure it wol kerue & byte
[Page]Were it as thicke as a
braunchid ook
And what man it woundith with the strook
He shal neuer be hool til ye list of grace
To stroke hym with the plat in the same place
There he is hurt that is as mykyl to sayn
Ye moot with the plat swerd agayn
Stroke hem in the wounde and it wol close
This is a verray soth withouten glose
It fayleth not whylis it is in your holde
And when the knyght hath thus his tale told
He roood out of the halle and doun he lighte
His stede whiche that shoon as the sonne bright
Stont in the court stille as ony stoon
This knyght in to the chambir is led anon
And is vnarmed and to mete y sette
The presentis be right richely kept
This is to say the swerd and the myrour
Been born anon in to the tour
With certeyn officers ordeyned therfore
And vnto Canace this ring is bore
Solempuly there she sat at the tabyl
But sikr [...]ly withouten ony fabyl
The hors of bras that may not be reme [...]yd
It stont as it were in the grounde y cleuyd
For none engynys wyndas ne polyue
They may hit out of the place dryue
And cause why for they con not the craft
And therfore in the place they haue it laft
Til that the knyght haue taught hem the manere
[Page]To widen hym as ye shul aftir here
Greet was the prees that swermyd to & fro
To gawrin on the hors that stood so
For it so high was so brood & so long
So wel proporcioned to be strong
Right as it were a stede of lumbardye
Therwith so horsly and so quyk of ye
As it a gentil polin courser were
For certis from his tayl vnto his ere
Nature ne art coude hym not amende
In no degre as al the pepyl wende
But euermore her most wonder was
How that it coude go and was of bras
It was of feire as al the pepyl semyd
Dyuerse folk diuersly demede
As meny hedes. as meny wittis ther been
They mormedyn as doth a swarm of been
And maken skillys aftir hir fantesie
Rehersynge of the olde poetrie
And sayde it was like the pegase
The hors that hadde wyngis forto fle
Or ellis it was the grekis hors Symon
That brought grekis vnto destruction
As men in thyse olde gestis rede
Myn herte quod oon is euermore in drede
I trow sum men of armys be therynne
That shape hem this cyte forto wynne
It were right good þ• al suche thing were knowe
Another rowned to his felow lowe
[Page] And sayde he
lied for it was rathir lik
An apparence maad be som magik
As iogelours pleyn at the festis grete
Of sondry thoughtis thus they iangil & trete
As lewd pepyl demen alday comonly
Of thingis that been maad more subtilly
Than they konne in here boundis comprehende
They demyn gladly to the badder ende
And some of theym wondrid on the myrour
That born was vp in to the maistir tour
How men myghte in it suche thing [...]s se
An other answerde and sayde it may wel be
Naturelly made by composicions
Of aungelis and of sly reflections
And sayde that in rome was suche on
They spak of alteon and of vitelon
And of Aristotill that writin in her liuys
Of queynte myrours and of prospectatiuis
As knowe they that haue her bokis herd
And othir folk haue wondrid on the swerd
That wol perissh thorough euery thing
And fil in speche of Thelephus the kyng
And of Achilles for his queynte spere
For he coude with it bothe hele and dere
Right in suche wyse as men may with the swerd
Of whiche right now ye haue your self herd
They speken of s [...]ndry hardyng of metal
And speken of medicines therwith al
And how and whan it sholde hardid be
[Page]Whiche vnknowe is algate to me
To speke than of Canaces ryng
And sayde that al suche wonder thing
Of craft of ringis herde they neuer non
Saue that be moyses and be kyng Salamon
Hadde a maner connynge of suche an art
Thus seyn the pepyl and drawen hem apart
But neuertheles some sayde that it was
Wonder to make of fern glas
And yet is glas not lik ass [...]en of fern
But for they haue knowe it so fern
Therfore secith her iangelinge & her wonder
As sore wondre som be cause of the thundir
On ebbe on flood on gossomer & on myste
And on al thing til the cause is wyst
Thus iangelyn they and demyn & deuyse
Til that the kyng gan from his bord aryse
Phebus hath lost the angil meredional
And yet ascendyng was the b [...]st ryal
The gentil lioun with his aldryan
Whan that this tartir kyng Cambuscan
Roos from his bord there he sat ful hye
Beforn hym goth the lowde mynstralcye
Tyl that he cam to his chambir of parementis
There as they sownyn dyners instrumentis
That is lik an heuen for to here
Now daunsen lusty venus children dere
For in the fish her lady sat ful hye
And lokith on hem with a frendly ye
[Page]This nobil
kyng is set vp on his trone
This straunge knyght is fet to hym ful sone
And on the daunce he goth with Canace
There is the reuel and the Iolite
That is nat abil adul man to deuyse
He muste haue knowe loue and his seruise
And be as festliche man as fresh may
That shul you deuysen suche aray
Who coude you telle the fourme of daunses
So vncouthe and so fressh contenaunces
And therto suche subtil lokyngis
For drede of Ielosie of mennys preysinges
No man but Launcelot and he is ded
Therfore I passe ouer of al this lustihede
I say nomore but in this iolynesse
I lete hem til men to sopper hem dresse
The stiward biddith spicis forto hye
And [...]ke the wyne in al this melodye
The vsshers and the squiers ben gon
The spicis and the wyne is comen anon
They ete and drynke & whan this was at ende
Vnto the tempyl as reson was they wende
The seruise don they haue that day
What nedith you to reherce here aray
Eche man woot weel that a kyngis feste
Hath plente to the moste and to the leste
And deyntees mo than be in my knowyng
And aftir sopper goth this nobyl kyng
To se this hors of bras with al the route
[Page]Of lordis
and of ladies hym aboute
Suche wondryng was therof this hors of bras
That [...]ethen the grete sege of troye was
There as men saw suche an hors also
Ne was ther suche a wondryng as was tho
But finally the kyng asked the knyght
The vertu of this courser and the myght
And prayde to telle hym his gouernanuce
The hors anon gan to trippe and daunce
Whan that this knyght leyde hond on his reyne
And sayde sire ther is nomore to sayne
But if yow list to riden ony where
Ye muste trille a pyn that stont in his ere
Whiche I shal you telle betwix vs two
Ye moot nempne hym to what place also
Orto what cuntre ye list to ryde
And whan ye come there ye list abyde
Byd hym descende and trille another pyn
For there ynne lith the effect of al the gyn
And he wol doun descende and do al your wil
And in that place he wolde abyde stil
Theygh al the worlde hadde the contrary swore
He shal not thens be drawe ne bore
And or if you li [...]t bidde hym thens goon
Trille this pynne and he wol vanysshe anon
Out of the sighte of euery maner wight
And come ayen be it be day or nyght
What that yow list clepyn hym aycen
In [...]uche a gyse as I shal to you seyn
[Page]Betwene me
and you
and that right sone
Ride when you list ther is nomore to done
Enfourmed whan the kyng was of the knyght
And hath conceyued in his wit a right
The maner and the fourme of al this thing
Ful glad and blithe was this nobyl kyng
Repeyryng vnto his reuel as beforn
The bridyl is in to the tour yborn
And kept among his iewels leef and dere
T [...]e hors vanysshed I not in what manere
Out of her sighte ye gete nomore of me
But thus y lete in lust and in iolite
This Cambuscan his lordis festeyng
Tyl wel nygh the day be gan to sprynge
THe noryce of digestiouns the sleep
Gan on hem wynke & bad hem take kepe
That muche mete and labour wol haue reste
And with a galpyng [...]uth he hem alle keste
And sayde it was tyme to lye a doun
For blood was in his domination
Cherisshed blood natures frend quod he
They thankyn hym galpynge by two by thre
And euery wight gan drawe hym to his rest
As sleep hem bad and took it for the best
Here dremys shul not be told for me
Ful where here heedes of fumosite
That causith drewe of whiche ther is no charge
They slepyn til it was pryme large
The moste part but yf it were Canace
[Page]She was ful mesurable as wommen be
For of her fader hadde she take her leue
To go to reste sone aftir it was eue
Here list not appalled forto be
Ne on the morow vnfestliche for to se
And slept her firste sleep and a wook
For [...]uche [...]oye she in hir mirrour took
Bothe of here ring and of hir myrrour
That twenty tyme she chaungith colour
And in her sleep for here impression
Of hir mirrour she hadde a vision̄
Wherfore or the sonne gan vp glide
She clepid vp her maistresse here beside
And sayde that her lust forto aryse
Thyse olde wommen that ben gladly wyse
As her maistres answerde here anon
And sayde Madame whethir wol ye goon
Thus erly for folk been alle in r [...]ste
I wool quod she aryse for me leste
No lengir slepe but walken aboute
Her maistresse clepith wommen a greet route
And vp they rysen wel ten or twelue
Vp risith fresh Canace her selue
As rody and bright as the yong sonne
That in the ram is ten degrees y ronne
No higher was she whan she redy was
And forth she walkith esely a paas
Arayd aftir the lusty seson sote
Lightly forto pl [...]y and walkyn on fote
[Page]Not but .v. or vj. of her meyne
And in a trenche ferre in a park goth she
The vapour whiche fro the erthe glode
Makith the sonne to seme rody and brood
But neuerthelesse it was fair of sighte
That it made alle her hertis for to lighte
What for the seson and the Mornynge
And for the fowlis that she herde synge
For right anon she wiste what they ment
Right be here song and knew al here entent
The knotte why that euery tale is told
If it be taried til lust be colde
Of hem that haue it harkened aftir yore
The sauour passith and euer lenger the more
For fulsamnes of prolixite
And by the same reson thinkith me
I sholde vnto the knotte condescende
And make of hir walkyng an end [...]
A mydde a tre for drede as whyte as chalk
As Canace was pleyynge in her walk
Ther sat a fawoon ouer her hed ful hye
That with a pitous voys so gan to crye
That al the wode resowned of her crye
And be [...]en hadde her self so pitouslye
With bothe her wyngis til the rede blood
Ran endlong the tre as she stood
And euyr in one she cryde alwey & shright
And with her bek her self she pyght
That ther nas tigre nor cruel beste
[Page]That duellith other in wode or in forest
That wolde haue wept yf he wepe coude
For sorow of her shriche alwey so lowde
For ther was neuer yet man on lyue
Yf that he coude a faucon wel descryue
Or herde of suche anothir of feirnes
As wel of plumage as of gentilnes
Of shap of al that mighte rekened be
A fawoon peregryn than semed she
Of fremd lond and euermore as she stood
She swowned now & now for lak of blood
Til wel nygh is she fallen fro the tre
This faire kyngis doughter Canace
That on her fynger baar the queynte ryng
Thorow whiche she vnderstood wel euery thing
That ony foul may in his leden seyn
And coude answere in his leden agayn
She hath vnderstonde what this faucon seyde
And wel nygh [...]or routhe she deyde
And to the tre she goth ful hastely
And on this faucon lokith ful pytously
And held her lappe a brood for wel she wiste
The faucon muste falle fro the twiste
Whan that it swowned next for lak of blood
Alonge while to wayte where she stood
Til at the laste she spak in this manere
Vnto the hawke as ye shul aftir here
What is the cause yf it be forto telle
That ye be in this furial peyne of helle
[Page]Quod Canace vnto this hauke aboue
Is this sorow of deth or ellis of loue
For as I trow thyse been the causis two
That causith most a gentil herte wo
Of other harm it reckith not to speke
For your self vp on your self wolde wreke
Whiche that preuyth wel that other Ire or drede
Mot be encheson of your cruel dede
Syn that I se non other wight you chace
For loue of god so do your self grace
Or what may be your help for west ne est
Saw I neuy [...] or now brid nor best
That ferde with hym self so pitously
Ye sle me with your sorow verily
I haue of you so gret compassion
For goddis loue com fro the tre adoun
And as I am a kynges doughter trewe
If that I verily the causis knewe
Of your disese yf that it lay in my myght
I wolde amende it or it were nyght
As wis helpe me grete god of kynde
And h [...]rbis shal I right ynowe fynde
To hele [...]ith your hurtis hastely
Tho shright this faucon more pitously
Than euer she did and fyl to grounde anon
And lith aswowne as ded as ony stoon
Tyl Canace hath in her lappe y take
Vnto tyme she gan out of her swowne awake
And aftir that she out of swoun gan brayde
[Page]Right in her hawkis leden thus she sayde
That pyte rennyth sone in gentil herte
Feling is simylitude in peynes smerte
Is prouyd alday as men may se
As wel by work as by auctorite
For gentil herte kidith gentilnesse
I se wel that ye haue of my distresse
Compassioun my faire Canace
Of verry wommanly benignyte
That nature in your principlis hath set
But for no hope forto fare the bet
But forto obeye to your herte fre
And forto make other be waar be me
As by the whelp chastised is the lioun
Right for that cause and that conclusioun
Whyle that I haue leyser and spaas
Myn harm y wil confesse er I paas
And euer whyle that on her sorow tolde
That othir wepte as she to water wolde
Til that the faucon bad hir be stille
And with a sigh thus she said her wille
There y was bred allas that day
And fostrid in a roche of marbyl gray
So tenderly that no thing aylid me
I ne wiste what was aduersite
Tyl I coude fle ful hye vnder the sky
Tho dwellyd a tarcelet me faste by
That semed welle of al gentilnes
Al were he ful of treson and falsnes
[Page]That is
wrappid vnder humble chere
And vnder hue of trouthe in suche manere
Vnder plesaunce and vnder besy peyne
That no wight wolde haue wend he coude feyne
So depe in greyn he died his colours
Right as a serpent hidith hym vnder flouris
Til he may see his tyme forto byte
Right so this god of loue this Ipocryte
Doth so his s [...]rymoyns and his obeysauncis
And kepith in semblaunce al his obseruauncis
That s [...]wneth vnto gentilnesse of loue
As in a tombe is al the feyr aboue
And vnder is the corps suche as ye woot
Suche was this Ipocrit bothe cold and hoot
And in this wyse he seruid his entent
That saue the fende noman wist what he ment
Til he so longe hadde wept and compleyned
And meny a yeer his seruise vnto me feyned
Til that my herte to pitous and to nyce
Al Innocent of his crowned malice
For ferd of his deth as thoughte me
Vp on his othis and his suerte
Graunte hym loue vp on this condicion
That euermo myn honour and my renoun
Were saued bothe pryue and apert
This is to seyn that aftir his desert
I yaf hym al my herte and al my thought
God woot and he and other wyse nought
And toke his herte in change of myn for ay
[Page]But soth is
said goon seth is many aday
A trewe wight and a theef thinke not on
And whan he saw the thing so fer agon
That I grauntid hym my loue
In suche agyse as y haue sayd aboue
And yeue hym my trewe herte as fre
As he swoor he yaf his herte to me
Anon this tigre ful of doubilnesse
Fil on his knees with so gret humblenesse
With high reuerence and as by his chere
So lik a gentil louer in manere
So rauysshed as it semed for ioye
That neuer Troylus ne Paris of Troye
Iason certis ne non other man
Syn lameth was that alder first began
To louen two as writen folk beforn
Ne neuer sith that first man was born
To ony womman were she neuer so wyse
So payntid [...]e his chere at poynt deuyce
As wel his wordis as his contenaunce
And so I loued hym for his obeisaunce
And for the trowthe I demed in his hert
That y [...] so were that ony thing hym smert
Al were it neuer so lite and I it wiste
Me thoughte I herde deth at my herte twiste
And shortly so ferforth this thing is went
That my wil was his willis instrument
This is to sey my wil obeyed to his wil
In alle thing aftir that reson fyl
[Page] Kepyng the boundis of my worship euer
Ne neuer hadde y thing so leef ne leuer
As hym god woot ne neuer shal nomo
This lastid lenger than a yeer or two
That I [...]upposid of hym no thing but good
But finally thus at the laste it stood
That fortune wolde that he must twynne
Out of that place whiche I was Inne
Where me was woo it is no questioun
I can not make of it discripcion
For o thing dar y telle boldly
I knowe what the peyne of deth is therby
Suche harm I mette that he ne mighte me leue
So on a day of me he took his leue
So sorowfully eke that y wende verily
That he hadde felt as muche sorow as I
When that I herde hym speke & saw his hewe
But neuerthelesse I thoughte he was so trewe
And eke that he repayre sholde agayn
With ynne a litil whyle soth to sayn
And reson wolde eke that he moste go
For his honour and ofte it fallith so
That I made vertu of necessite
And took it wel syn it nedes moste be
As I best myghte I hid fro hym my sorow
And took hym be the hond se [...]t Iohn to borow
And I sayde thus lo I am youris al
Bothe suche as I haue be to you and shal
What he answerde nedith not to reherce
[Page]Who can say bet than he that can do wers
Whan he hath al sayd than hath he doon
Therfore behoueth hym to haue a long spoon
That shal ete with a fende thus herde I say
So acte laste he muste forth his way
And forth fleith til he com there hym leste
When it cam hym to purpos for to reste
I trow he hadde the text in mynde
That al thing repeyrith to his kynde
Gladith hym self thus sey men as I gesse
Men loue of propir kynde newefangilnesse
As briddis doon that men in cagis fede
For they thou nyght & day take of hem hede
And strawe her cage feyre & softe as silk
And yeue hem suger hony bred and mylk
Yet right anon as his dore is vp
He with his feet spurneth doun his cup
And to the wode he wol and wormes ete
So newfangil ben they of her mete
And loue noueltees of proper kynde
No gentilnesse of blood may hym bynde
So ferde this Tarcellet allas the day
Though he were gentil born fresh and gay
And goodly forto se humble and fre
He saw vp on a tyme a kyte fle
And sodenly he louyd this kyte so
That al his loue is clene fro me go
And hath his trouthe falsid in this wyse
Thus hath the kyte my loue in his seruise
[Page] And I am lorn withoute remedy
And with that word this faucon gan to cry
And swouned eft in Canaces arm
Greet was the sorow for the hawkis harm
That Canace and alle her women made
They nyste how they myghte the faucon glade
But Canace hoom berith her in her lappe
And softly in plasteris gan her wrappe
There as she with her bek hadde hurt her selue
Now can not Canace but herbis delue
Out of the grounde and make plastris newe
Of herbis precious and fyne of hewe
To hele with the hauke fro day to nyght
She doth her besines and al here myght
And by her beddis hed she made a mewe
And couered it with veluettis blewe
In signe of trouthe that is in women seen
And al withoute the mewe y peyntid green
In whiche were pryntid al thyse false s [...]ulis
As been thyse tidi [...]is tarcellis and owlis
Right for dispyt were peyntid her besyde
Pies on theym forto crye and to chyde
Thus lete I Canace her hauk kepyng
I wol as now nomore speke of her ryng
Til it come efte to purpoos forto sayn
How that this faucon gat her loue agayn
Repentyng as the story tellith vs
Be mediacion of Cambalus
The kyngis sone of whiche I zou tolde
[Page]But hens forth I wol processe holde
To speken of auenturis & of batayllis
That yet was neuer herd so grete meruayllis
First y wol you telle of Cambuscan
That in his tyme many a cyte wan
And aftir wyl y speke of algarsif
How that he wan Theodora to his wif
For whom ful ofte in greet peril he was
Ne hadde he be holpyn be the hors of bras
And aftir wol I speke of Camballo
That faught in listis with bretheren two
For Canace or that he myghte here wynn [...]
And there I lefte I wol ayen begynne
Appollo whirlith vp his chare so high
Til that god Mercurius the sligh
Here endith the squy [...]ris tale. And begynneth the Marchan̄tis prolog.
WEpynge & waylinge care & other sorow
I knowe I nough bothe euen & ek a morow
Quod the marchaunt and so doth oth [...]r mo
That weddid be I trow that it be so
For wel I woot it fareth so be [...]e
I haue a wyf the worste that may be
For though the feend coupled to [...]ere were
She wolde hym ouermacche y dar wel swere
What sholde I you reherce in special
Her high malice she is a shrewe at al
Ther is a long and a large difference
Betwix grisildis grete pacience
[Page] And of my wyf the
passing cruelte
Were I vnbounde also mot I the
I wolde neuer efte come in the snare
We weddid men lyue in sorow and care
A say who so wol and he shal fynde
That y say soth be saint Thomas of Inde
As for the more part I say not al
God shilde that it sholde so be fal
A good sir oost I haue weddid be
Thyse monethis two and nomore parde
And yet I trow he that hath al his lif
Weddid be though men wolde hym ryf
Into the herte ne coude in no maner where
Telle so muche sorow as I now here
Coude telle of my wyues cursidnes
Now quod our ofte marchaunt so god you blisse
Syn ye so mykil konne [...]f that art
Ful h [...]rtely I pray you tel vs part
Gladly quod he but of myn owen sore
For sory herte I telle may nomore
¶Here endith the prolog. ¶And begynneth the Marchauntis tale.
SOmtyme ther was duellynge in lumbardye
A worthy knyght that born was at pauy
In whiche he liuyd in gret prosperyte
And lx. yeer a wyfl [...]es man was he
And folowyd his bodily delyt
On women was his hool appetyt
As doon thyse folis that ben seculer
[Page] And whan that he was
passid lx. yeer
Were it for holinesse or for dotage
I can not say but suche a gret corage
Hadde this knyght to be a weddid man
That day and nyght he doth al that he can
To aspye where he myghte weddid be
Prayyng our lord grauntinge that he
Myghte onys knowe that blisful lif
That is betwix an husbonde and his wyf
And forto lyue vnder the holy bond
With whiche god first man and wom̄an bond
Non other lif sayde he is worth a bene
For wedlok is so esy and so clene
That in this worlde it is a paradise
Thus sayde this olde knyght that was so wyse
And certeinly as soth as god is kyng
To take a wyf it is a glorious thing
And namely whan a man is old and hoor
Then is a wyf the fruyt of his tresoor
Than sholde he take a yong wyf & a feir
On whiche he myghte engendre hym an heir
And lede his lif in ioye and in solace
Where as thyse bachelers syngen allas
When that they fynde ony aduersite
In loue whiche that is but childis vanite
And trewly it sit wel to be so
That bachelers haue ofte peyne and woo
On brotil ground they bilde brotilnesse
They fynde freelte whan they wene sikirnesse
[Page]They lyue but as a
brid or as a best
In liberte and vnder non areest
There as a weddid man is in astaat
Liueth his lif blisful and ordinate
Vnder the yok of mariage I bounde
Wel may his herte in ioye & blisse habound [...]
For who can be so buxum as a wyf
Who is so trewe who is so tentif
To kepe hym seek and hool and is his make
For weel or woo she wol nat hym forsake
She is nat wery hym to loue and serue
Though he lye bedrede til he sterue
And yet some clerkis sayn it is not so
Of whiche Theophraste is on of tho
What fors theygh Theophraste doth lye
Ne take no wyf quod he for husbondrye
As forto spare in housholde thyn expence
A trewe seruaunt doth more diligence
Thy good to kepe than doth thy self wyf
For she wol clayme half part al her lif
And yf that thow be seek so god me saue
Thy verey frendis or a trewe knaue
Wol kepe the bet than she that waytith ay
Aftir thy good and hath do meny a day
But take no kepe of suche vanyte
Do fy Theophraste and herken me
A wyf is goddis ziste verily
Al other maner zistis hardely
[Page]As londis rentis pasturis
and com̄une
Or othir yeftis meuable of fortune
That passen as a shadow on a wal
But drede not yf I playnly speke shal
A wyf wil laste and in thy hous endure
Wel lenger than the liste ꝑauenture
Mariage is a ful greet sacrament
Who that hath no wyf is but shent
He liuyth helples and is al desolat
I speke of folk in seculer astat
And herken why y say not this for nought
The womman is for mannys help y wrought
The high god whan he hadde Adam makid
And saw hym allone bely nakid
God of his grete goodnesse sayde than
Let vs now make an help to this man
Lik to hym self and than he made eue
Here may ye se and here by preue
That a wyf is mannys help & his comfort
His paradyse terrestre and his disport
So buxum and so vertuous is she
They muste nedis liue in vnite
O flessh they be and of o blood I gesse
Not but one herte in wyl and in distresse
A wyf a saynte mary benedicite
How mighte aman haue ony aduersite
That hath a wyf certis I can not sey
The blisse that is betwix hem twey
Ther may no tunge telle it or herte thynke
[Page]If he be poure she helpith hym to swynke
She kepith his good & wastith it neuer a deel
And al that her husbond lust she likith weel
She saith not onys nay whan he saith ye
Do this saith he al redy sire saith she
O blisful ordre o wedlok precious
Thou art so mery and [...]ek so Ioyous
And so comendid and approued eke
That euery man that holdeth hym worth a leek
Vp on his bare knees oughte al his lif
Thankin his god that hym sent a wyf
Or ellis praye g [...]d hym forto sende
A wyf to laste to his liues ende
For than his lif is set in sik [...]cnesse
He may not be disceyued as y gesse
So that he worke aftir his wyues rede
Than may he boldely bere vp his hede
They be so trewe / and therto eke so wyse
For whiche yf thou wolt worche as the wyse
Do alwey as the woman wol the rede
Lo how Iacob as thyse clerkis rede
Be good counsel of his moder rebek
Bond the kiddi [...] skyn aboute his nek
For whiche his fadris benyson he wan
Lo Iudith as the story wel telle can
Be wyse counsel she goddis pepil kepte
And slew hym Olofernes whyle he slepte
Lo how Abigayl be good counsel that she
Saued her husbonde Nabal whan that he
[Page]Shulde haue be slayn
and loke hester also
Be good counsel deliuered o [...] of wo
The pepyl of god and made [...]ardoche
Of assuere enhaunced forto be
Ther is no thing in gre superlatif
As saith Senek aboue an humble wyf
Suffre thy wyuys tunge as Caton bit
She shal comaunde and thou shalt suffre it
And yet she wylle obeye of curtesie
A wyf is keper of thy husbondrye
Wel may the seek man bewayle and wepe
There as no wyf is the hous to kepe
I warne the if thou wysely wilt wirche
Loue wel thy wyf as crist loueth his chirche
If thou louest thy self thou louest thy wyf
Noman hatith his flessh but in his lif
He suffrith it and therfore bidde I the
Cherisshe thy wyf or thou shalt neuer the
Husbonde and wyf what so men iape or pley
Of wordly folk holden the right wey
They been knyt ther may no harm be tide
And namely on the wyuys side
For whiche this Ianuary of whiche I tolde
Considerith hath in his dayes olde
The lusty lif the vertuous quyete
That is in mariage hony swete
And for his frendis on aday he sent
To telle the effect of his entent
With face sad he hath his tale to hem told
[Page]He sayde frendis I am hoor
and old And almost god woot at n [...]y pittis brynke
Vp on my soule somwhat moste y thinke
I haue my body folily dispendid
I blissid be god it shal be amendid
For I wol be certeyn a weddid man
And that in al the haste that I can
Vnto som mayde fair and tender of age
I pray you shapith for my mariage
Al sodenly for I wol not abyde
And I wol fonde to aspye on my side
To whem y may be weddid hastely
But for as muche as ye be mo than I
Ye shul rather suche a thing espyen
Than I and where me list best alien
But o thing I warne you my frendis dere
I wyl noon old wyf haue in no manere
She shal not passe .xvj. yeer certayn
Old flessh wolde haue yong flessh fayn
Bet is a pyke than a pykerel
Better than olde beef is the tender veel
I wol no woman of twenty yeer of age
It is but bene straw and greet forage
And eke thyse olde wydowes god it woot
They conne so mykyl craft of wadis boot
So mykyl harm what that hem list
That with hem sholde I neuer lyue in rest
For sondry scolis makith subtil clerkis
Woman of many a scole half a clerk is
[Page]But certeinly a
yong thing may men gye
Right as a man with hondis warm wexe plye
Therfore I say you pleynly in a clause
I wol non olde wyf haue for this cause
For yf so were yf y hadde suche myschaunce
That I in here coude haue no plesaunce
Than sholde I lede my lif in avontrye
And so streight to the deuel whan y dye
Ne children sholde I non on here getyn
Yet hadde I leuyr houndis hadde me etyn
Than that myn heritage shulde falle
In straunge hond & thus I telle you al
I doute not I woot the cause why
Men sholde wedde and ferthermore woot I
There spekith meny men of mariage
That woot nomore of it than doth my page
For whiche causis men sholde take a wyf
Yf he may not chast be. be his wyf
Take hym a wyf with greet deuocion
Be cause of lefful procreacion
Of childryn to the honour of god aboue
And not only for paramour ne for loue
And for they sholde lecherye eschue
And yelde her dette while it is newe
Or for that eche man sholde helpe othir
In myschief as the sustir shal the brothir
And lyue in chastite ful heuenly
But sires be your leue that am not I
For god bethankid I dar make auaunt
[Page]I fele my lymys stark
and sufficiaunt
To do al that aman behoueth to do
And am strong ynough to ride or goo
Though I be hoor and fare as doth a tre
That blesmeth or that the tre grene be
A blosmed tre is neyther drye ne ded
I fele me no where hoor but on myn hed
My herte and my lymes is ay grene
As laurer that thorow the yeer is sene
And sithnys ye haue herd al myn entent
I pray you that to my wyl ye assent
Diuers men diuersly hym tolde
Of mariage meny ensamplis olde
Som blamed it some preysid it certeyn
But at the laste shortly forto seyn
As alday falleth altercacion
Betwix frendis in disputacion
Ther fyl a strif betwix his bretheren two
Of whiche that on was clepid placebo
Placebo sayde o Ianuary brother
To you telle I this tale and to non other
Ful litil nede had ye my lord so dere
Counsel to ax [...] of ony that is here
But that ye be on so ful of sapience
That you ne likith for your high prudence
To weyue fro the word of Salamon
This word s [...]yde he to vs euerichon
Worke al thing be counfel thus sayde he
And than shalt not thou repente the
[Page]But though Salamon spak suche a
word Myn owen dere brother and my lord
So wyssely god my soule brynge at reste
I holde your owen counsel for the best
For brother myn of me take this motyf
I haue be a courtman al my lyf
And yet god woot though y vnworthy be
I haue stonde in ful gret degre
Aboute lordis in ful gret astaat
Yet hadde I neuer with non of hem debaat
I neuer contraried hem trewly
I woot wel that my lord can more than I
What that he seith I holde it ferm & stabil
I say the same or othir thing semblable
A ful gret fool is ony counselour
That seruith a lord of high honour
That dar presume or onys thynke it
That his counsel sholde passe his lordis wit
Nay lordis be no folis be my fay
Ye haue your self spoken here to day
So high sentence so holy and so wel
That I consente and conferme eueridel
Your wordis and al your oppinion
Be god ther is noman in this toun
Ne in ytaille coude better haue sayd
Crist holdith hym of this ful wel payd
And trewly it is an high corage
Of ony man that stept is in age
To take a yong wyf for be my [...]ader kyn
[Page]Your herte hongith vp on a ioly pyn
Doth now in this mater as you lest
For finally I holde it for the best
Iustimis that ay sat ful stille and playde
He right on this wyse to Placebo sayde
Now brother myn quod he be pacient I pray
Syn ye haue sayd herkyn what I say
Senek among other wordis wyse
Saith that aman ought hym right wel auyse
To whom he yeuyth his good or his catel
And sithnes I ought me auyse right well
To whom I yeue my good awey fro me
Wel more I oughte for to auyse me
To whom I yeue my body for alwey
I warne you wel it is no childis play
To take a wyf withoute auysement
Men muste enqueren this is myn assent
Whether she be wyse sobir or dronklew
An out goar or othir wey a shrewe
A chidar or a wast [...]r of thy good
Riche or poure or of maners wood
Al be it so that noman fynde shal
Noon in this worlde that trottith hool in al
Ne man ne best suche as men can deuyse
But neuyrthelees it ought ynow suffyse
With ony yf so were that she hadde
Moo good vertues than vicis [...]adde
And al this axed leyser to enquere
For god it woot I haue wept ful meny a tere
[Page]Ful pryuely synne I hadde a wyf
Preyse who so wol a weddid mannys lyf
Certeyn I fynde it but cost and care
And obseruauncis of alle blissis bare
And yet god woot myn neyghebours aboute
And namely of wommen meny a route
Sayn that I haue the muste stedfast wyf
And eek the mekest one that berith lyf
But I woot best where wringith me my sho
Ye may for me right as ye like do
Auisith you ye be a man of age
How that ye entren in to mariage
And namely with a yong wyf & a feir
Be hym that made watir erthe and heir
The yongest man that is in al this route
Is besy ynough to brynge it aboute
To haue a wyf alone but trusteth me
Ye shul not plesen hire only yeris thre
This is to sayn to do hir plesaunce
A wyf axeth ful meny an obseruaunce
I pray you that ye be not euyl apayd
Well quod this Ianuary hast thou sayd
Straw for thy senek and for thy prouerbis
I counte not a paner ful of herbis
Of scole termes wyser men than thow
As thou hast herd hath sentid right now
To my purpos Placebo what sey ye
I sey it is a cursid man quod he
That lettith matrimony sikirly
[Page] And with that
word they risyn sodenly
And been assentid anon that he sholde
Be weddid whan hym list and whan he wolde
The fantesye and the besy coriousnesse
Fro day to day gan in the soule impresse
Of Ianuary aboute his mariage
Many fair shap and meny fair visage
Ther passith thorow his herte nyght be nyght
As who so took a myrour polisshed bright
And set is in a comyn market place
Than sholde he se many a figure pace
Be this myrour and in the same wyse
Gan Ianuary in his thought deuyse
Of maydens whiche duellid ther beside
He wiste not where he mighte abyde
For though that on haue beaute in her face
Anothir stont so in the peplis grace
For her sadnesse and her benignyte
That of the pepyl greet voys hadde she
And som were riche and hadde badde name
But nathelees betwix ernest and game
He atte laste appoynted hym on on̄
And leet alle othir fro his herte gon̄
And chose her on his own auctorite
For loue is blynd alday and may not se
And when he was in his bedde brought
He portreyed in his herte and in his thought
Her fressh beaute and her age tender
Her myddyl smal & her armys long & slender
[Page]Her wyse gouernaunce & her gret gentilnesse
Her wommanly beryng and her sadnesse
And when he was on her condescendid
Hym thoughte his thought mighte not be amēdid
For whan he hym self concluded hadde
Hym thoughte euery other mannys wit so badde
That impossible it were to replye
Ayens his chois this was his fantesie
His frendis sente he to at his instaunce
And prayde hem to do hym that plesaunce
That hastely they wolde to hym com
He wolde abregge her labour al and som
Nedith nomore for hym to go ne ryde
He was appoynted there he wolde abyde
Placebo cam and eke his frendis sone
And alderfirst he bad hem alle abone
That non of hem non argumentis sholde make
Ayens the purpoos whiche that he hadde y take
Whiche was plesaunt to god sayde he
And verry ground of his prosperite
He sayde ther was a maiden in the toun
Whiche that of beaute hadde gret renoun
Al were it so she was of smal degre
Suffisith hym her yowthe and her beaute
Whyche mayde be sayde sholde be his wyf
To lede in ese and holinesse his lif
And thanke god that he myghte haue her al
That no wight with his blisse parten shal
And prayde hem to labour in this nede
[Page] And shapith that he faylith not to spede
For than he fayde his spirit was at ese
Than is quod he no thing me may displese
Saue o thing prickith me my conscience
The whiche I wol reherce in your presence
Ye haue herd said ful long sithnis a goo
Thermay noman haue parfit blissis two
This is to sey in er [...]he and eek in heuyn
For they he kepte hym fro the synnys seuyn
And eke from eueriche braunche of that tre
Yet is ther so parfyt prosperite
And so gret ese and lust in mariage
That euer I am agast now in myn age
That I shal lede so mery a lif here
For sithen very heuen is bought so dere
With tribulacion and gret penaunce
How sholde I lyue in suche plesaunce
As alle weddid men doon with her wyuys
Come to the blis there crist etern on lyue is
This is my drede as yet my bretheren twey
Assoylith me this question y you prey
Iustinus whiche that hatid his foly
Answerd anon right in his [...]apery
And for he wolde his longe tale abregge
He wolde non auctorite a legge
But sayde sir yf ther be non obstakyl
Othir than this god of his highe mirakyl
And of his mercy may so for you wirche
That er ye haue your rightis of holy chirche
[Page]Ye may repente of
weddid mannys lyf
In whiche ye saye there is no stryf
And ellis god forbede but yf he sent
A wedded man grace hym to repente
Wel ofter rather than a sengil man
And therfore the beste rede that I can
Dispeyrith you not but haue in memorye
Parauenture she may be your purgatorye
She may be goddis mene and goddis whippe
That shal make your soule in to heuyn skippe
Swifter than an arow doth out of a bowe
I hope to god her aftir shul ye knowe
That ther nys noon so greet felicite
In mariage ne memory shal be
But that hit may be your saluacion
So that ye vse it as skil is and reson
The lustis of your wyf temperatly
And that ye plese her not to amerously
And that ye kepe you eke from other synne
My tale is doon for my wit is thynne
Beth not agast here of my brother
But lete vs wade fro this mater to another
The wyf of bathe yf ye haue vnderstonde
Of mariage whiche I haue in honde
Declared hath ful wel in litil space
Fareth now wel god haue you in his grace
And with this he with his brother
Hath take her leue and eche of hem of other
For when they saw it muste nedis be
[Page]So they wroughte be slighte
and by trete
That this mayde whiche that may highte
As hastely as that they myghte
Shal weddid be vnto Ianuary
I trowe it were you to longe to tary
If I you tolde of euery es [...]rit and bond
Be whiche she was feffed in his lond
Othir forto harke of her riche aray
But finally comyn is the day
That to chirche bothe been they went
Forto resceyue the holy sacrement
Forth comyth þ• preest with stole aboute his neck
And bad hir be like Sarra or rebek
In wisedom and trouthe of mariage
And sayde his orisons in his vsage
And crowchid hem & bad god sholde hym bles
And made al siker ynow with holiues
Thus been they weddid with solempnyte
And at the feste si [...]tith he and she
With other worthy folk vp on the deys
Al ful of ioye and blisse is the Paleys
And ful of instrumentis of and vitayl
The moste deynteous of alle Itayl
Beforn hym with instrumentis of suche a soun
That Orpheus of Thebes or Amphioun
Ne made neuer suche a melodye
At euery cours cam loude mynstralsie
That neuyr Ioab trompid forto here
Neyther he Theomodas half so clere
[Page]At thebes whan the cyte was in doute
Bachus the wyn hem shenkith al aboute
And venus lowh vpon euery wight
For Ianuary was becomen her knyght
And wolde bothe assayen his corage
In liberte eke as in mariage
And with here fierbrond with her hond aboute
Daunsith beforn the bayde al aboute
And certeynly I dar wel sayn right this
Emenius that god of weddyng is
Saw neuyr in his lif so mery a weddid man
Hold thow thy pees thou poete Marcian
That writist vs that ilke weddyng mery
Of her philogye and of hym Mercurye
And of songis that the Musis song
So smal and eke the penne and eke the tonge
Forto discriuen of this mariage
Whan tender youthe hadde weddid stouping age
Ther is suche that it may not be wryte
Assay you self and than may ye wyte
If that I lacke or none in this mater
May that sit with so benigne chere
Here to be holden it semed a fairye
Quene hester lokid neuyr with suche an ye
On assuere so meke a loke as she
I may you not deuyse al her beaute
But thus muche of her beaute telle I may
That she was lik the bright morow of day
Fulfillyd of beaute and of plesaunce
[Page]This Ianuary is
rauysshid in atraunce
At euery tyme he lokid in her face
But in his herte he gan her manace
That night in his armys he wolde her streyne
Harder than Paris euer dede Eleyne
But natheles yet hadde he gret pyte
That that nyght offende hir muste he
And thoughte allas o tender creature
Now wolde god she myghte wel endure
Al my corage it is so sharp and kene
I am agast she maye not sustene
But god forbede y dede al my myght
Now wolde god it were woxe nyght
And that the nyght wolde laste euermo
I wolde al this pepyl were ago
And finally he doth al his labour
As he best myghte sauyng his honour
To haste hem fro the mete in subtil wyse
The tyme cam that reson was to ryse
And aftir that men daunsid and drank faste
And spicis al aboute the hous they caste
And ful of ioye and blisse is euery man
Alle but a squier that highte Damyan
Whiche carf before the knyght meny a day
He was so rauysshed on his lady May
That for the verry peyne he was nygh wood
Almost he sweltid & swowned there he stood
When he saw her daunce with a ring on hir hand
So fressh she was and therto so likand
[Page] And to his
bed he wente hym hastely
Nomore of hym at this tyme speke I
But there I lete hym wepe ynogh & pleyne
Til fresh may wol rewe on his peyne
O Perlous fire that in the bedstraw bredith
O familier foo that his seruice bedith
O seruaunt treytour fals holy hewe
Lyk to the adder sligh & in thy bosom vntrewe
God shilde vs alle from your acqueyntaunce
O Ianuary dronken in pleysaunce
O mariage se how that thy Dannan
Thyn owen squier & thyn owen born man
Entendith for to do the a velonye
God graunte the thyn harm to aspye
For in this worlde nys wors pestilence
Than an homly foo alday in thy presence
Parfourmyd hath this day his arke diurne
No lenger may the body of hym seiourne
The orisont as in that latitude
Night with his mantel that is so derk & rude
Gan forto sprede the emyspery aboute
For whiche departith is the lusty route
Fro Ianuary with thank on euery side
Hoom to their housis lusty they ryde
There as they do thingis as hem list
And when they se her tyme they go to reste
Sone aftir this hastely this Ianuary
Wolde go to bedde he wolde no lenger tary
He drynkith Ipocraas clarrey and vernage
[Page]Of spi
[...]is hoot to encrece his corage
And meny a lectuary hadde he ful fyn
Suche as the cursid monk dan Constantyn
Hath writen in his book of coytu
To ete hem alle he wold no thing escheu
And thus to his priuy frendis sayd he
For goddis loue as sone as it may be
Leet voyde al this hous in curteys wyse sone
Men dronken and the trauers drew an [...] [...]
This brid was brought to bedde as still [...] as ston
So hastid Ianuary it most be don
And whan the bed was with the prest blissid
Out of the chambir hath euery wight hym dressid
And Ianuary hath faste in armys take
His fressh may his paradyse his make
He lulleth here and kisseth her ful ofte
With the brustillis of his berd vnsofte
L [...]k to the skyn of a fissh sharp as brere
For he was shaue al newe in his manere
He rubbith her vpon her tender face
And sayde thus allas I moste trespace
To you my spouse and you gretly offende
Or tyme com that I wyl doun descende
But natheles considerith this quod he
Ther is no workman what euer he be
That may bothe worche wel and hastely
This wolde be do at leyser parfitly
It is no force how longe that we pleye
I trow in wedlok couplid be we tweye
[Page] And I
blissid be the yok that we been ynne
For in our actis we mowe do no synne
A man may do no synne with his wyf
Ne hurte hym self with his owen knyf
Now haue we leue to pleye vs be the lawe
Thus labourith he til the day gan dawe
And than he takith a sop in fyn clarre
And vp right on his bedde sittith he
And aftir that he sang ful lowde and clere
And kissith his wyf & makith wanton chere
He was al coltissh and ful of ragery
And ful of Iargon as is a fleckid pye
The slak skyn aboute his necke shakith
While that he song so chauntid he & crakith
But god woot what may thoughte in her hert
Whan she hym saw vp sitting in his sherte
In his nyght cappe and with his necke lene
She preysith not his pleyynge worth a bene
Than sayde he thus my restyng wol I take
Now day is come I may no lenger wake
And doun he leyde his hed & slept til pryme
And aftir whan that he saw his tyme
Vp risith Ianuary and fresh may
She holdith hir chamber til the fourthe day
As vsage is of wyuys for the beste
For euery labour sumtyme must haue reste
Or ellis longe may he not endure
This is to say no liuys creature
Be it [...]ish or bryd best or man
[Page]Now wol I speke of this squyer damyan
That langurith for loue as ye shul here
Therfore I speke to hym in this manere
I say o sely Damyan allas
Answere to this demaunde in this caas
How shalt thou thy lady fressh may
Telle thy woo she wol alwey say nay
Eke yf thow speke she wyl thy wo bewreyn
God be thy help I can no bettir seyn
This s [...]k Damyan in venus grete fier
So brennyth that he dieth for desir
For whiche he puttith his lif in auenture
No lenger myghte he in this wyse endure
But priuely a penner gan he borowe
And in a lectir wroot al his sorow
In maner of a compleynt or a lay
Vnto his fressh and fair lady May
And in a purs of silk hynge it on his shirt
He hath y put and y leyd it at his herte
Thus hath Ianuary wedd [...]d fressh may
And the mone as I vnderstond that day
Out of taure was in the Cankir glidyn
So longe hath she in her chambir bidyn
As custom is vnto thyse noblis alle
A bride shal not etyn in the halle
Til dayes four or thre atte leste
Passid be than let hir go to feste
The ferthe compleet fro noone to noone
Whan that the high masse was doon
[Page]In halle sat this Ianuary
and may
As fresh as is the bright someris day
And so be fyl that this good man
Rememb [...]ith hym vpon this damyan
And sayde saynte mary how may this be
That Damyan entendith not to me
Is he ay sik or how may this betyde
His squiere whiche that stood hym besyde
Excusid hym be cause of his siknesse
Whiche lettith hym to do his besinesse
Non other cause myghte make hym care
That me forthinkith quod this Ianuare
He is a gentil squyer be my trouthe
Yf that he deyde it were harm and routhe
He is wyse discret honest and secre
As ony man I woot of his degre
And therto manly and seruysable
And forto be a thrifty man right abyl
But aftir mete as sone as euer I may
I wyl my self visite hym and may
To do hym al the comfort that I can
And for that word hym blissid euery man
That of his bounte and of his gentilnesse
He wolde so comforte hym in siknesse
His squier for it was a gentil dede
Dame quod this Ianuary take good [...]ede
That aftir mete ye with your wom̄en alle
When ye haue be in chamber out of this hall
That alle ye go to se this damyan
[Page]To do hym disport he is a gentilman
And tellith that I wol hym visite
Haue I no thing but restid me a lite
Now with this word he gan to hym calle
A squier that was marchal of his halle
And tolde hym certeyn thingis what he wolde
This fresh may hath streyght her wey holde
With alle her women vnto this damyan
Doun be his bedside anon sat she than
Confortyng hym as goodly as she may
This damyan whan he his tyme say
In priuy wyse his purs and eke his bille
In whiche that he writyn hadde al his wylle
Hath put in to hir honde withouten more
Saue that he sighed right wonderly sore
And softly to hir right thus sayde he
Mercy and that ye discouer not me
For I am ded yf that this thing be kyd
This bille hath she in her b [...]som hyd
And wente hir wey ye gete nomore of me
Vnto Ianuary comyn thenne is she
And on his beddis side sat ful softe
He takith hir and kiss [...]th hir ful ofte
And leyd hym doun to slepe and that anon̄
She feyned as that she must goone
There as ye woot euery wight most nede
And when she of this byl hath take kepe
She rente it vnto cloutis and atte laste
In the priuy softly hath she it caste
[Page]Who studieth now but fayre fresh may
And doun be Ianuary she lay
That slepte til the cow hath hym wakid
Anon he preyde her to strype her nakid
He wolde of here he sayde haue [...]um plesaunce
He sayde her clothis doth hym cumbraunce
And she obeyeth be she leef or loth
But lest that precious folk with me be wroth
How that he wroughte y dar you not telle
Or whether he thoughte it paradyse or helle
But I lete hem worche in her wyse
Til euensong and that he muste aryse
Were it be destyne or be auenture
Were it be influence or be nature
Other in constillacion that in suche astat
The heuyn stood that tyme fortunat
Was forto put a bil of venus werkis
For al thing hath tyme as sayn clerkis
To ony womman forto gete her loue
I can not sey but grete god aboue
That knoweth non acte is ca [...]selees
He demyth al for I wol holde my pees
But soth it is how that this fressh may
Hath take suche impression that day
Of pyte of this sik man Damyan
That fro hir herte she ne dryue can
The remembraunce forto do hym ese
Certeyn though whom this thing displese
I here recke not I hym assure
[Page]To loue hym best of ony creature
Thogh he nomore hadde than his shert
And alle was pyte and tender herte
Here may ye here how excellent fraunchyse
In women is whan they hem narow auyse
Som tiraunt ther is as ther be many on
That hath an herte as hard as ony stoon
Whiche wolde haue leet hym sterue in the place
Wel rather than haue grauntid hym grace
And hem reioysen in her cruel pryde
And reckid not to be an homicide
This gentil may fulfilled of al pyte
Right so of her hond a lec [...]ir made she
In whiche she grauntid of her verry grace
Ther lackith nought but only day and space
Where that she myghte to his lust suffyse
For it shal be right as he wol deuyse
And whan she saw her tyme vpon aday
To visite this damyan goth this fresh May
And subtilly a lettir doun she thriste
She takith hym by the hond & harde him twiste
So secretly that noman it w [...]ste
And [...]ad hym be al hool and sorth she went
To Ianuary whan he for her sent
Vp risith damyan the nexte morow
Al passid was his siknes and hissorow
He kembith hym & proynyth hym & pikith
He doth al that his lady lust and likith
And eke to Ianuary he goth as lowe
[Page]As euyr dede a dogge for the bowe
He is so plesaunt to euery man
For craft is al who so that it can
That euery wight is fayne to teche hym good
And fully in his ladies grace he stood
Thus lete I damyan aboute his nede
And in my tale forth I wol procede
Som clerkis holden that felicite
Hit stont in delit and therfore he
This nobil Ianuary with al his myght
In honest wyse as longeth to a knyght
Shoop hym to lyue ful deliciously
His howsing his aray as honestly
To his degre was made as a kyngis
Among other of his honest thingis
He hadde a gardyn wallith al with ston
So feir a gardyn wot I nowher non
For out of doute I verily suppose
That he that wroot the romaunce of the Rose
Ne coude of it the beaute wel deuyse
Ne priapus ne myghte not suffise
Though he be god of gardyns for to telle
The beaute of the gardyn and of the welle
That stood vnder a laurel alwey grene
Ful ofte tyme kyng pluto and his quene
Proserpina and al her feyrye
Disporten hem and make melodye
Aboute that welle and daunsed as men tolde
This nobyl knyght this Ianuary the olde
[Page]Suche deynte hath to walkyn
and to pleye
That he wol suffre no wight to bere the key
Saue he hym self of the smale wiket
He baar alwey of siluer a cliket
With the whiche whan he list vnshit
And whan he wolde paye his wyf his dette
In somer seson thyder wolde he go
And May his wyf and no wight but they two
Of thingis that were not do a bedde
They in the gardeyn parf [...]urmed haue & sped
And in this wyse meny a mery day
Lyuen this Ianuary and fresh may
But wordly ioye may not alway endure
To Ianuary ne no wordly creature
O sodeyn hap o fortune variable
Lik vnto the scorpioun vnstabil
That flaterst with thy hed when thou wilt stinge
Thy tayl is deth thorow thyn enuenymynge
O brotel ioye o thou swete poysoun queynt
O thou monster that subtilly canst peynt
Thy gestis vnder h [...]we [...]f stedfastnesse
That thou disceyuest bothe more and lesse
Why hast thou Ianuary thus disceyued
And haddist hym for thy frend resceyued
And now thou hast beraft hym bothe his yen
For sorow of whiche he desirith d [...]en
Allas this Ianuary that is so fre
Amyd his lust and his prosperite
Is now woxen blynde and al sodenly
[Page]His deth therfore desirith he vttirly
And therwith all a feer of Ielosie
Lest that his wyf shal falle in som foly
So brent his herte that he wolde fayn
That som man bothe hym & here had sleyn
For neuer after his deth ne his lyf
Ne wolde he that she were loue ne wyf
But euer lyue in clothis blake
Sool as the turtyl that hath lost his make
But atte laste aftir amonthe or twey
His sorow gan to swage as I you sey
For he wiste it may non other be
He paciently took his aduers [...]te
Saue out of doute may he not forgon
That he ne was Ielous euermore in on
Whiche ielousye was so outrageous
That neyther in halle ne in other hous
He nolde suffre here for to ryde ne go
Ne in non other place neuyr the mo
But yf that he had hond on here alwey
For whiche ful o [...]te wepith fresh may
That louyth Damyan so benignely
That she muste othir deye sodenly
Or ellis she muste haue hym a [...]te leste
She waytith when her herte wold to breste
Vp on that othir side this Damyan
Be comyn is the so [...]owfullist man
That euer was for neyther nyght ne day
Ne myghte he speke aword with fresh may
[Page]As of his purpose of none suche mater
But yf that Ianuary muste it here
That hadde an hond an ere euyr mo
And nathelees be writing to and fro
And priuy signys wiste he what she ment
And she knew of the same his entent
O Ianuary what myght the auaylle
Though thou mightist se as fer as ship doth sayl
For as good blynd is disceyued to be
As to be disceyued whan aman may se
Lo argus whiche that hadde an hundrid yen
For al that euer he coude poure or pryen
Yet was he blent and I woot so be mo
That wenyn that it is nothing so
Passe ouyr is an ese I sey nomore
This fressh may of whiche I spak of yore
In warm wex hath printid this cliket
That Ianuary baar of the smale wiket
Be whiche vnto this gardyn ofte he went
And damyan that knew here entent
The cliket countirfetid priuely
Ther is nomore to sey but hastely
Som wonder be this cliket shal be tide
Whiche ye shal here yf ye wil abyde
O nobyl Ouyde soth sayst thou god woot
What sleighte it is though it be longe & hoot
That he nyl fynde it vp in som manere
By pyramus and Tysbe may men here
Though they were kept streyt longe ouyr al
[Page]They been
accordid rownyng thorou awal
Ther is non coude haue founde suche a sleighte
But now to purpoos or that dayes .viij.
Were passid of the moneth of Iuyl be fyl
That Ianuary hath caught so greet awyl
Thorough eggyng of his wyf hym forto pleye
In his gardyn & no wight but they tweye
That in a morow vnto this may said he
Rise vp my wyf my loue my lady fre
The turtelis voys I herde my spouse swete
The wynter is goon with alle his raynes wete
Com forth with thyn yen columbyne
Now fayrer been [...]hy brestis than is wyne
The gardyn is closid al aboute
Com forth my swete spouse out of doute
Thow hast me woundid in myn herte wyf
No spot in the saw I in al my lyf
Com forth and leet vs take our d [...]sport
I care for the my wyf & for my comfort
Suche olde lewde wordis vs [...]d he
On Damyan a signe made she
That he sholde go beforn with his cliket
This Damyan hath opened the wyket
And in he stert and sat in suche manere
That no wight myght it se ne here
And stille he sat vnder abush anone
This Ianuary so blynd is as a stone
With may in his hond and no wight mo
In to this fresh gardyn is he go
[Page] And clappid to the wiket sodenly
Now wyf quod he here been but ye and I
That art the creature that I b [...]st loue
For by that lord that sit vs alle aboue
I hadde leuyr right now dye on a knyf
Than the offenden myn owen dere wyf
For goddis sake think hou y the chees
Not for couetyse ne other good doutlees
But only for the loue I hadde to the
And though that y be old & may not se
Be to me trewe and I wol telle the why
Certis thre thingis sholde ye wynne ther by
First loue of crist and to your self honour
And al myn heritage both toun and tour
I ye [...]e it yow makith chartres as yow list
This shal be do to morow or the sonne rist
So wisly god my soule brynge to blis
And I pray you of couenaunt ye me kis
And though I be ielous wite me nought
Ye be so depe pryntid in my thought
That whan I consider your beaute
And therwith al the vnliklih [...]de of me
I may not certis though I sholde dy
Forbere to been out of your company
For verry loue this is withouten doute
Now kis me wyf and lete vs rome aboute
This fressh may whan she the wordis herde
Benignely to Ianuary answerde
But first & forward she began to wepe
[Page]I haue quod she a soule forto kepe
As wel as ye and also myn honour
And of my wyfhode that tender flour
Whiche that I haue assured in your hond
Whan that the Preest to you my body bond
Wherfore I wol answere in this manere
With the leue of you my lord so dere
I praye to god that yf ye euer se that day
That I ne sterue as foule as womman may
If euer I do to my kyn that shame
Or ellis I empeyre so my name
That I be fals and yf I do that lak
To strype me and put me in a sak
And in the nexte ryuer do me drenche
I am a gentil womman and no wenche
Why speke ye thus but men be euer vntrewe
And wommen haue repreef of you ay newe
Ye can non other comynycacion I leue
But speke to vs of vntrust & vs repr [...]ue
And with that word she saw where Damyan
Sat in a bush and knele he began
And with hir fyngris signes made she
That Damyan sholde clymbe vp on a tre
That charged was with fruyt & vp he went
For verily he knewe al her entent
And euery signe that she coude make
Wel bet than Ianuary her owen make
For in a lettir she hadde told hym al
Of this matere how he wirche shal
[Page] And thus I lete hym sitte in the piry
And Ianuary with May yong and mery
BRight was the day & blew the firmament
Phebus of gold / doun his bemys hath sent
To gladen euery flour with his warmnesse
He was that tyme in geminis as y gesse
But litil fro his declinacion
And cansere of Iouis exaltacion
And so it fill that in a bright morow tide
That in the gardy on the ferthir side
Pluto that is kyng of the fairye
And many a lady in his companye
Folowing his wyf th [...] quene Preserpina
Whiche that hir rauyss [...]ed out of pina
Whilis that she gadrid flouris in a mede
In claudian ye may the stories rede
How in his grisly carte he her fette
This kyng of feyre adoun hym sette
Vp on a benche of tur [...]es fa [...]r and grene
And right anone sayde he thus to his quene
My wyf quod he ther may no wight say nay
The experience prouith it euery day
The treson whiche that women to do men
Ten hundrid thousand tellyn I can
Ensamples and of your vntrouth & brotilnes
O Salamon richest of alle riches
Fulfilled of sapien [...]e and of wordly glorye
Wel worthy be thy wordis in memory
To euery wight that wit and reson can
[Page]Thus preysith he yet the bounte of man
Among a thousand men yet fond I one
But of alle wymmen fond he neuyr non
Thus said þe kyng þt so knowith your wickidnes
And also Thesus Sirak as I gesse
Ne spekith of you but seldyn reuerence
A wylde fyre and a corupt pestilence
So falle on your bodies yet to nyght
Ne se ye not this honourable knyght
Be cause allas that he is blind and old
His owen man shal make hym Cokeold
Lo where he sit the lechour in the tre
Now wol I graunte of my mageste
Vnto this olde blynde worthy knyght
That he shal haue ayen his sight
Whan that his wyf wolde do hym vilonye
Than shal he knowe al her harlotry
Bothe in repreef of here and other mo
Ye shal quod preserpina and wol ye so
Now be my modris s [...]ris soule I swere
That she shal redily excusen her
And alle wom̄en after for her sake
Though they be in ony gilty take
With face bold they shal hem self excuse
And bere hem doun that wolde hem accuse
For lak of answer non of hem shul dyen
Al hadde he seen a thing with bothe his yen
Yet shul we so visage it hardely
And wepe and swere and chyde subtilly
[Page]That ye shul be as
lewd as fele gees
That reckith not of here auctoritees
I woot wel this though this Salamon
Fond of vs women mo foolis than on
But though he ne fond no good woman
I pray you take the sentence of the man
He ment thus that in souereyn bounte
Nys non but god that sittith in tryynte
Ey for very god that nys but on
What make ye so muche of Salamon
What though he made a tempyl goddis hous
What though he were riche and glorious
So made he eke a tempyl of false goddis
How myghte he do a thing that more bad is
Parde as fayre as ye his name enplastre
He was a lechour and eke an ydolaster
And in his elde he verry god forsook
And yf god ne hadde as saith the book
Asparyd for his fadris sake he sholde
Haue lost his regne rathir than he wolde
I yeue right nought of al the velonye
That he of women writith a butter flye
I am a woman nedis y muste speke
Or ellis swelle til myn herte to breke
For sithen ye sey that we be Iangeleressis
As euer hool I moot broke my tressis
I shal not spare now for no curtesie
To speke hym harm that wolde vs velonye
Dame quod this Pluto be no lenger wro [...]h
[Page]I yeue it vp but sith I sweer myn oth
That I wyl graunte hym his sighte agen
My word shal stonde I say you certeyn
I am a kyng it sit me not to lye
And I a quene quod she of the feirye
Her answer shal she haue I vndertake
Lete vs nomo wordis here of make
For soth I wol you no lenger tary
Now lete vs turne ayen to Ianuary
That in the gardyn with his fresh may
Syngith ful merier than the Popingeay
Yow loue y best and shal and other non
So longe aboute the aleyys is he goon
Tyl he was come ayens that pery
Where as this damyan sittith ful mery
An high among the fresh leuys grene
This[?] fresh may that is so bright and shene
Gan forto sighe and sayde allas my syde
Now sire quod she for aught that may betyde
I muste haue of the peris that I se
Or[?] y muste dye so sore longith me
To ete of the smale peris grene
Help for his loue that is of heuen quene
I telle you wel a womman in my plit
May haue in fruyt so gret an appetit
That she may dien but she of it haue
Allas quod he that I ne hadde here a knaue
That coude clymbe allas quod he
That I am blind ye sire no force quod she
[Page]But wolde ye vouchesauf for goddis sake
The pery with ynne your armys forto take
For wel I woot that ye mystruste me
Than sholde I clymbe wel ynough quod she
So I my feet myght sette vp on your bak
Certis quod he therof shal be no lak
Mighte I you helpyn with myn herte blood
He stoupith adoun and on his bak she stood
And caughte hir be a twiste and vp she goth
Ladyes I pray you be not wroth
I can not glose I am a rude man
And sodenly anon this damyan
Gan pulle vp the smok & in he throug
A greet tente a thrifty and a long
She sayde it was the meriest fytte
That euer in her lif she was at yet
My lordis tente seruith me nothing thus
He foldith twifolde be swete Ihesus
He may not swyue worth a leek
And yet he is ful gentil and ful meek
This is leuyr to me than an euynsong
And whan that Pluto saw that wrong
To Ianuary yaf ayeen his sighte
And made hym se as wel as euyr he mighte
And whan that he hadde caught his sighte agayn
Ne was ther noman of thing so fayn
But on his wyf his thought was euyr mo
Vp to the tre he cast his yen two
And saw how damyan his wyf hath dressid
[Page] [...]n suche manere as it may not be
expressid But yf I wolde speke vncurteisly
And vp he yaf a roringe and a cry
As doth the moder whan the child shal dy
Out help allas harow he gan cry
For sorow almost he gan to dy
That his wyf was swyuyd in the Pery
O stronge lady hore what dost thow
And she answerde sire what eylith yow
Haue pacience and reson in your mynde
I haue yow holpyn on bothe your yen blinde
Vp peril of my soule y shal not lyen
As me was taught to hele with your yen
Was no thing bet to make you to se
Than forto strogil with aman in a tre
Good woot y dede it in ful good entent
Strogil quod he ye algate in it went
Stif and round as ony belle
It was no wonder though her bely swelle
The smok on his brest lay so theche
And euer me thoughte he poyntid on the brech [...]
God you yeue bothe a shamys deth to dyen
He dide the so I saw it with myn yen
And ellis I behangid be the hals
Than is quod she my medicine fals
For certeinly yf ye myghte se
Ye wolde not sey thyse wordes to me
Ye haue som glymsinge and no parfit sight
I se quod he as wel as euer I myght
[Page] Thankid be
god with bothe myn yen two
And be my trowthe me thoughte he did so
Ye may deme as ye list gode sere quod she
This thank haue I for I made yow se
Allas quod she that euyr I was so kynde
Now dame quod he lat al passe out of mynde
Comdoun my leef and yf I haue myssayde
God helpe me so as y am euyl a payd
But be my fader soule I wente haue seyn
How that this Damyan hadde by the leyn
And that thy smok he leyde vp on thy brest
Ye sire quod she ye may wene as ye l [...]st
But sire qd she aman that wakith of his sleep
He may not so sodenly wel take keep
Vp on a thing ne se it so parfitly
T [...]l that he be wel adaw [...]d verily
Right so aman that longe blynd hath be
Ne may not sodenly so sone wel se
First when his sighte is new comyn agayn
As he that hath a day or tweyne y seyn
Til that your sighte y fa [...]elid be awhyle
Th [...]r may ful many a sighte yow begile
Bewar I pray yow for be h [...]uyn kyng
Ful meny a man wenyth to se a thing
And yet it is al another than it semyth
He that mysconce [...]ueth ofte mys demyth
And with that word she lepte fro the tre
This Ianuary who is glad but he
He kisseth her and clipp [...]th hir ful ofte
[Page] And on her wombe he strikith her ful softe
And to the Paleys hoom he hath her lad
Now gode men I pray you be mery and glad
Thus endith here my tale of Ianuary
God blisse vs alle and his moder Mary
¶Here endith the Marchan̄tis tale. And begynneth the prolog of the wyf of Bathe.
EXperience though non auctorite
Were in this worlde is right ynow for me
To speke of woo that is in mariage
But lordis syn y .xij. wynter was of age
Thankid be god that is eternal alyue
Husbondis at the chirche dore haue I had fyue
If I so often myghte haue weddid be
And alle were worthy men in here degre
But onys me was told not longe a go I wys
That crist wente neuyr but onys
To weddynge in the Cane of galilee
That be the same ensaumpyl taughte he me
That I weddid sholde be but onys
Lo whiche a sharp word for the nonys
Beside awelle Ihe [...]us god and man
Spak in repreef of the samaritan
Thow hast had .v. husbondis sayd he
And that ilke man that now hath the
Is not thy husbond thus he sayde certeyn
What he mente therby I can not sayn
But that I aske why that the .v. man
Was not husbond to the samaritan
[Page]How many myghte he haue in mariage
But herde y neuer tellyn in myn age
Of this noumbre very diffinicion
Men [...]owe deme and glose vp a doun
Wel I woot expresse withoutyn lye
That god bad vs w [...]xe and multiplye
That gentil text can I wel vnderstonde
For wel y woot that myn husbonde
Sholde leue fader and moder and take to me
But of noumbre no mencion ma [...]e he
Of bigamye or of Octogamye
Why sholde men speke of it velonye
[...]o here the wyse kyng Salamon
I trow he hadde wyues mo than on
As wolde to g [...]d it leefful were to me
To haue refresshing half so ofte as he
Whiche a yef [...]e of god had he for al his wyuy [...]
Noman hath such [...] that now on lyue is
God woot this nobyl kyng as to my witte
The firste nyght hadde meny a mery fytte
With eche of hem so wel was hym on lyue
Blissid be god for I haue had fyue
Of whiche I haue pikid out of the beste
Bothe of her nethir ende and eke her cheste
Diuers scolis makith diuers clerkis
And diu [...]rs practik in many sondry werkis
Makith the parfiter man to be sikerly
Of fyue husbondis scoling am I
Wel come the sixte when that [...]uer he shal
[Page]I wol hym not forsake no
thing at al
When myn husbond is fro the worlde I gon
Som cristen man shal wedden me anon
For the apostel sayth that I am fre
To wedde a goddis half where it likith me
He sayth to be weddid it is no synne
Bettir it is to beweddid than to blynne
What reckith me though men say vilonye
Of shrewde lameth and of his bigamye
I woot abraham was a ful holy man
And eke Iacob as fer as euer I here can
And eche of them hadde mo wyuys than two
And meny another man also
Where can ye say in ony manere age
That euer god defendid mariage
Be expresse wordis I pray you tel me
Or where comandid he euyr virginite
I woot as wel as ye it is no drede
The apostil when he spak of mayden hede
He sayde that ther of precept had he noon
Men may counsel awomman to be oon
But counsel is no maner com̄andement
He puttith that in our Iugement
For hadde god comanded maydenhede
Than had he dampned wedding out of drede
And certis yf ther were no seed I sowe
Virginite what sholde therof growe
Paule durste not comaunde acte leste
A thing whiche his maister yaf non heste
[Page]The dart is set vp on virginite
Cast who so may who rennyth best let se
But this word is not take of euery wight
But there as god wol yeue it of his myght
I woot wel the apostel was amayde
But natheles though he wroot and sayde
He wolde wel euery wight were as he
Al is but counsel to virginite
And forto be a wyf he yaf me leue
Of indulgence so it be not to repreue
To wedde me yf that my make dye
Withoute excepcioun of bigamye
Al were it good no woman forto towche
He mente in his bed or in his cowche
For paril it is fyre and tow to assembil
Ye knowe what this ensample may resemble
This is al and som he held virginite
More parfit than wedding in freelte
Freelte clepe I but yf he or she
Wolde ledyn her lyf in chastite
I graunte it weel I haue non enuy
Though maydenhede preferre bigamy
It likith hem to be cleen in body and gost
Of myn estate I wyl make no bost
Ful wel I knowe a lord in his hushold
Hath meny a vessel of siluer and of gold
Som been of tre and don her lord seruise
God clepith to hym folk in sondry wyse
And eche hath of god a proper yeste
[Page]Eche man as hym liste to shifte
Virginite is a greet perfection
And continence eek with deuocion
But crist that is of perfection the welle
Bad not euery wight he sholde go selle
All that he hath and yeue it to the poure
And in suche wyse folow hym and his lore
He spak to hem that wil lyue parfitly
And lordingis be your leue that am not I
I wol bestowe the flour of al myn age
In the actis & in the fruyt of mariage
Tel me also to what conclusion
Were membris maad of generacion
And of so parfit wyse a wight y wrought
Trust me wel they be not made for nought
Glose who so wol and sey vp an doun
They were made for purgacion
Of vryne and of other thingis smale
Was eke to knowe a female from amale
And for no cause ellis say ye no
The experience woot wel it is not so
So that ye clerkis with me be not wroth
I say thus they be made for both
That is to say bothe for office and for ese
Of engendernre there we god not displese
Why shulde not ellis men in bokis sette
That man shal yelde to his wyf her dette
Where with sholde he make his payement
Yf he ne vsid his sely instrument
[Page]Then were they
maa [...] vpon a creature
To purge hym and eke to engendrur [...]
But I say not this as y you tolde
That euery wight that hath suche harneis is holde
To go and vse hem in engendrure
Than sholde men of chastite take no cure
Crist was a mayde and shapyn as a man
And many an holy saynt sith the wor [...]de began
Ye l [...]uyd they euer in parfit chastite
But I nyl enuye non virginite
Leet hem with bred of pured whete befed
And lete vs vsen hoot harly bred
And yet with harly [...]ed men telle can
Our [...] Ihesus refresshid many a man
In swhich astat as god hath clepid vs
I wyl ꝑseuere I am not precious
In wyf hood wyl I vse myn instrument
As frely as my maker hath it sent
If I be daungerous god yeue me sorow
Whether he wyl at eue or a morow
Whan that hym list com forth and pay his dette
An husbond wol y haue y wol not lette
That shal be bothe my dettour and my thral
And I his tribulacion with al
Duringe the whyle that I am his wyf
The power wol I haue during al my lif
Both of his propir body and nat he
Right thus the apostel tolde it me
And bad our husbondis forto loue vs weel
[Page]Al this sentence me liketh eueridel
Vp stert the pardoner and that anon
Now dame quod he be god and be saint Iohn
Ye be an nobyl prechour in this caas
I was aboute to wedde awyf alas
What sholde I bye it my self so dere
Yet hadde y leuer wedde no wyf this yere
Abyde quod she my tale is not begonne
Nay thou shalt drynke of another tonne
Or that I go shal sauour worse than ale
And when I haue told forth my tale
Of tribulacion that is in mariage
Of whiche I am expert in al myn age
This is to sey my self haue be the whipp [...]
Than mayst thou chese whither thou wilt sippe
Of that tonne that y shal broche
Be ware of it or thow to nygh approche
For I shal telle ensamplis mo than ten
Who so wol not be waar be othir men
Be hym shal othir men correctid be
Thyse same wordis writith ptholome
Reed in his almegeste and take it there
Dame I wyl pray you yf your wyl were
Sayde this pardoner as ye began
Tel forth your [...]ale spare for noman
And teche vs yong men of your practike
Gladly quod she sith it may you like
But that y pray to al this companye
Yf that y speke aftir my fantesye
[Page]As take not a greef of that I say
For myn entent is but forto play
Now seris than wol y telle you forth my tale
As euyr I muste drynke wyne or ale
I shal say soth thyse husbondis that I hadde
Thre of hem were goode and two were badde
Vnnethe myghte they holde the statute
In whiche they were bonden vnto me
Ye woot weel what I mene parde
As helpe me god y laughe what thet I thynke
How petously a nyght y made hem to swynke
And be my faith I yaf of hem no stoore
They hadde me yeue her lond and her tresor
Me nedith not to do hem lenger diligence
To wynne her loue or do hem reuerence
They l [...]ued me so wel be god aboue
That I ne tolde no deynte of her loue
A wyse woman wyl besy hir euyr in one
To gete her loue there she hath noon
But sith I hadde hem holly in myn hond
And aftir they hadde yeue me here lond
What sholde y take kepe hem forto plese
But yf it were for my pr [...]fit or for myn ease
I held hem so a werke be my fey
That many a nyght they song wel awey
The bacon was fet for hem I trow
That som man hath in essex at donmow
I gouerned hem so wel aftir my lawe
That eche of hem ful blesful was and fawe
[Page]To brynge me feire thingis fro the feyre
They were ful feyn whan I spak to hem faire
For god it woot I chidde hem spitously
Now herke how I baar me properly
Ye wyse wyues that can vnderstonde
Thus sholde ye spekyn & bere hem an honde
For half so boldly can ther noman
Swere and lye as a woman can
I say not this but ye wyues that been wyse
But yf it be when they hem mys auyse
A wyf yf that she can her good
Shal bere hym on hond the cow is wood
And take witnesse of her owen mayde
Of here assent but herkenyth how I sayde
Sire olde kaynard is this thyn aray
Why is myn neyghebours wyf so gay
She is honourith where euer she goth
I sitte at hoom and haue no thrifty cloth
What dost thow at myn neyghebours hous
Is she so fair art thou so amerous
What rownest thou with a mayde benedicite
Sire olde lechour let thy Iapis be
And yf that I haue a gossib or a frend
With outyn gilt thou chidist as a fend
If that thou walkist hoom to her hous
Thou comyst hoom as dronke as a mous
Thou prechist on thy benche with euyl preef
Thou saist to me it is a gret myschief
To wedde a poure woman for costage
[Page] And yf she be high
and of riche parage
Thow saist that it is a very turmentry
To suffre hir pryde and hir malencoly
And yf she be fair thow verry knaue
Thow saist that euery harlot wol her haue
She may no whyle in chastite abyde
That is assaylid on euery syde
Thow s [...]yst som folk desire vs for riches
Some for our shap & some for our fairnes
And some for she can othir singe or daunce
And some for gentilnes or for daliaunce
Som for her hondis and legges smale
Thus goth al to the deuyl [...]e thy tale
Thow sayst men may kepe a castel wal
It may so longe assaylid be ouyr al
And yf she be foul thou sayst that she
Coueytith euery man that she may se
For as a spaynel she wol on hym lepe
Til she may f [...]nde som man her to chepe
Ne non so grey goos goth ther in the lake
As sayst thow be wyl withoute her make
And sayst it is an hard thing forto welde
A thing that noman wol his thank helde
Thus sayst thou lorel whan thou gost to bedde
And that no wyse man nedith forto wedde
Ne noman that entendith vnto heuyn
With wilde thund [...]r dynt and fyre leuyn
I pray god moot thyn necke al to breke
Tho sayst a dropping hous and eek smeke
[Page] And chidyng wyuys maken men to flee
Out of her howsis atonys a benedicite
What eylith suche an old man forto chyde
Thow sayst we wyuys wyl our vicis hyde
Til we be fast & than we wil hem shewe
Wel may that be a prouerbe of a shrewe
Thou sayst that men assis hors and houndis
They been assayd of dyuers stoundis
Basyns lauours or that men hem bye
Sponys stolis and alle other husbondrye
And so be pottis clothis and aray
But folk of wyuys make non assay
Til they be weddid to old dotard shrewis
And than sayst thou wel our vicis shewis
Thou sayst also that it displesith me
But yf thou wolt preyse my beaute
And but thou poure alday in my face
And clepe me fayre dame in euery place
And but thou make a feste that ilke day
That y was born and me [...]resh and gay
And but thou do me norish and honoure
And to my chamber with in my [...]oure
And to my fadris folk and myn alies
Thus sayst thou olde chorle ful of lyes
And also for that our prentice Iankyn
For his crisp heris shynynge as gold fyn
And for he squireth me bothe vp and doun
Yet hast thou caught a fals suspecion
I wyl hym not though thou were ded to morow
[Page]But tel me this why hidist thou with sorow
The keyes of thy cheste awey fro me
As wel it is my good as thyn parde
What wenyst thou to make an idiot of our dame
Now be that lord that clepid is saint Iame
Thow shalt not bothe though thou were wood
Be maister of my body and of my good
That on thou shalt forgo magre thyn yen
What nedith it of me to enquere or pryen
I trow thou woldist lokke me in thy cheste
Thou sholdist say gode wyf go where ye liste
Take your disport I wol leue no talis
I knowe you for a trewe wyf dame alis
We loue noman that takith kepe or charge
Where that we wol go and be at our large
Of alle maner men blessid mote he be
The wyse Astrologien dan Protholome
That saith right thus in his almegeste
Of alle men his wisdom it is the beste
That reckith not who hath the world in honde
Be this prouerbe thou shalt vnderstonde
Haue ye ynough what dar ye recke or care
How merily that other folkis fare
For certis olde dotardis be your leue
Ye shal haue queynte ynough at eue
Be thow neuyr wroth for myn instrument
Though it be somtyme to a good felaw lent
For he is to gret an nygard that wyl werne
A man to lighte a candel at his lanterne
[Page]He shal haue neuer the lasse light parde
Haue thou ynough thou dar not pleyne the
Thou sayst also yf that we make vs gay
With clothing or with precious aray
That it is peril of our chastite
And with sorow thou most enforcen the
And say thyse wordis in the Apostelis name
In habit made with chastite and shame
Ye women shul appareylle you quod he
And nat in tressid heer and riche perre
As peerlis ne with gold ne clothis riche
Aftir thy thought ne aftir thy rubriche
I wol not worche as moche as a gnat
Thou sayst thus I walke out as a cat
But who so wol senge the cattis skyn
Than wyl the cat duelle in his yn
And yf the cattis skyn be slight and gay
She wol not duelle in his hous half aday
But forth she wol or ony day bedawed
To shewe her skyn and go a catirwaw [...]d
This is to say yf I begay sir shrewe
I wol renne out my borel forto shewe
Sire olde fool what helpith the to espien
Though thou pleye argus with his hundrid yen
To be my warde corps as he may best
In feith he shal not kept me but me [...]est
Yet coude I make his berd so mote I the
Thou sayst eek that ther be thingis thre
The whiche thingis troublen al the erthe
[Page] And that no wight may endure the ferthe
O leue sire shrewe Ihesus short thy lif
Yet prechist thow and saist an hateful wyf
Rekenyd is for on of thyse myschaunsi [...]s
Ben ther now none othir resemblaunsis
That may be like your parablis vnto
But yf a sely wyf be on of tho
Thow liknest eke a womannys loue to helle
To bareyn lond there watir may not dwelle
Thow liknest vs eek also to wilde fire
The more it brennyth the more it hath desire
To consume euery thing that brent wold be
Thow sayst right as wormys shendyn a tre
Right so a wyf destroieth her husbonde
This knowen they that been to wyuys bonde
Lordingis right thus as ye haue vnderstonde
Bare y stifly myn olde husbondis on honde
And of other thinges both more and lesse
And al was fals but as I took witnesse
Of Iankyn our child and of myn nece also
O lord the pyne I dede hem[?] and the woo
Ful giltlees ofte be goddis swete pyne
For as an hors I coude both byte and whyne
I coude pleyne though I were in the gilt
Or ellis I hadde ofte tymes be spilt
Who so comyth first to the mylle first he grynt
I pleyned first so were our werrys stynt
They were ful glad for to excuse hem blyue
Of thing whiche they neuer agiltid her lyue
[Page]Of wenchis wolde I bere hem ful sore on
hond When that for sike vnnethe myghte they stonde
Yet tiklid I his herte for that he
Wende that I of hym hadde so gret cheerte
I swoor that al my walkyng out be nyght
Was for to spye wenchis that he dight
Vndir that colour hadde I meny a myrthe
For al [...]uche thing was gyue vs in our birthe
Disceyt wepynge spynnynge god hath yeue
To women kyndely whyle that they lyue
And thus of o thing I may auaunte me
Atte ende I hadde the bettir in eche degre
Be sleyghte or force or by som maner thing
Or by continuel murmur or grucchinge
Namely a bedde hadde they myschaunce
There wolde I chide and do hem no plesaunce
I wolde no lenger there abedde abyde
If that I felte his arm ouer my side
Til he hadde maad his raunson vnto me
Than wolde I suffre hym do his nycete
And therfore euery man this tale I telle
Wyn who so may for al is forto selle
With empty hondis men may no hawkis li [...]e
For wynnynge wolde I as his list endure
And make me then a feyned appetit
And yet in bacon hadde y neuer delit
That made m [...] that euer I wolde hem chyde
For though the Pope hadde sitten hem beside
I wolde not spare hem at her owen borde
[Page]For be my trouthe I quytte hem euery
word As so helpe me god omnipotent
Though right now I sholde make my testament
I owe hem not o word but that it is quyt
I broughte it so aboute by my wit
That they muste yeue it vp al for the beste
Or ellis hadde we neuer be in reste
For though he lokid as wilde as a lion
Yet sholde he fayle of his conclusion
Than wolde I say gode leef take kepe
How mekely lokith wilkyn our sheep
Ye sholde be al pacient and meke
Com n [...]r my spouse lat me ba thy cheke
And haue a swete spicid concience
Sith ye so speke of iobbis pacience
Suffrith alway syn ye can so wel preche
And but ye do certeyn we wol you teche
It is fe [...]r aman to haue his wyf in pees
On of vs two muste bowe doutlees
And sith a man is euer more resonable
Then a woman is ye moste be sufferabil
What eylith you to gruoche and grone
It is for ye wolde haue my queynte a lone
Why take it lo haue it euerydeel
Petir I shrewe you but ye loue it weel
For yf I wolde selle my bele chose
I coude walke as fressh as a rose
But I wol kepe it for your owen toth
Ye be to blame be god I say you soth
[Page]Suche maner wordis hadde we on honde
Now wol I speke of my firste husbonde
My firste husbond was a reuelour
Tys is to say he hadde aparamour
And I was yonge and ful of ragery
Stoborn & strong and pliant as a pie
Welcoude he daunce and harpe smale
And synge as mery as ony nychtyngale
When I hadde dronke adranghte of swete wyn
Metnllms the foule chorle the swyne
That with a staf berafte his wif har lif
For she drank wyne and I hadde be his wif
He sholde not haue dauntid me so fro drinke
And after wyne ou venus muste I thinke
For also sikir as cold eugendrith hail
A licorous month muste haue a licorons tail
In vynolent ꝑsone is no defence
This knowen lechours be experience
But lord crist whan it remembrith me
Vpon my youthe and on my Iolite
It tiklith so vpon my herte rote
Vnto thysday it doth my herte bote
That I haue had my worlde & my tyme
But age allas that al wol enuenyme
Hath me berafte my beaute & my pith
Let go fare weel the deuil go perwith
The flour is go [...]her is nomore to telle
The bren as I best may now muste I selle
Now to beright mery now wil I fonde
[Page]Now wyl I telle of my fourthe husbonde
I Sey he hadde in his herte a gret despyt [...]
That I ony other hadde delyt
But he was quyt be god and be seynt Iose
I made hym of the same wode a croce
Nat of my body in no foul manere
That certenly I made folk suche chere
That in his owen grece I made hym frye
For angir and for verry Ielousye
Be god in erthe I was his verry purgatory
For whiche I hope his soule be in glorye
For god it woot he sat ful ofte and songe
When that his sho bittirly hym wronge
Th [...]r was no w [...]ght saue god and he that wyste
In many wyse how sore I did hym twiste
He deyde when I com fro Iherusalem
And lith I graued vnder the rode beem
Al is not his toumbe so curius
As was the sepulcre of hym Darius
Whiche that appelles wroughte subtilly
It is but wast to birye hym preciously
Let hym fare wel god yeue his soule good reste
He is now in his grane and leyd in his cheste
Now of my fyfthe husbonde wol I telle
God lete her soulis neuer come in helle
And y [...]t was the fyfthe to me the moste shrewe
That fele I on my ri [...]bis re [...]w [...] by rewe
And euer shal vnto myn endyng day
But in [...]ur b [...]d he was ful fresh and gay
[Page] And therwith al also he coude so wel glose
That though he hadde bete me on euery boon
He coude wynne my loue ayeen anoon
I trowe I loued hym best for that he
Was of his loue so daungerous vnto me
We wymmen haue yf that I shal not lye
In this mater a queynte fantesye
Wayte what thing we may not lightly haue
Ther aftir wil we crye alday and craue
Forbede vs thing and that desiren we
Preese on vs and than wil we sle
With daunger vtter we al our chaffare
Greet prees at market makith dere ware
And to greet cheep is holdyn a febyl pryce
This knoweth euery woman that is wyse
MY fyfthe husbonde god his soule blesse
Wichiche I took for loue and no richesse
He sumtyme was a clerk of Oxenforde
And hadde lefte scole and wente at hoom to berde
With my gossib tho duellinge in our toun
God haue her soule her name was alisoun
She knew my herte and eek my pryuyte
Bettir than our parish prest so mot I the
To here bewreyed I my counsel al
For hadde myn husbond pissid ayens a wal
Or do a thing that he sholde haue lost his lyff
To her [...]nd also to another wyff
When that he wolde haue my bele chose
And to my Nece whiche that I loued weel
[Page]I wolde haue
told his counsel euerydell
[...]nd so I did ful ofte god it woot
That made his face ful ofte reed and hoot
For v [...]rry shame and blamed hym self that he
Hadde told to me so gret a priuyte
And so be fyl that onys in a lente
So ofte tyme I to my gossib wente
For euer I loued to be gay alleway
And forto walke in March aperyl and May
Fro hous to hous to here sondry talis
That Iankyn clerk and my gossib dame alis
And I my self in to the feldis wente
My husbond was at london al that lent
I hadde the bettir leyser forto pleye
And forto se and eke forto be seye
Of lust [...] folk what wiste I where my grace
Was shapyn forto be or in what place
Therfore I made my visitacions
To vigilis and to processions
To prechinge eke and to pilgremagis
To pleyis of myraclis and to mariagis
And w [...]rid vp on my gay scarlet gites
Thyse wormys ne these mowthis ne thyse mytis
Vpon my parel frayde hem neuer adeel
And wost thow why for they were vsed wel
Now wol I telle forth what happid me
I say that in the feldis walkid we
Til truly that we hadde suche daliaunce
This clerk and I what of my purueaunce
[Page]I spak to hym
and sayde how that he
If I were widow he sholde wedde me
For certeyn I say you for no bobance
Yet was I neuer withoute purueaunce
Of mariage ne of othir thingis eek
I holde a mons herte not worth a leek
That hath but on hool to sterte to
And yf that fayle than is al I do
I bare hym on hond / he hadde enchauntid me
My dame taughte me forsoth that sotil [...]e
And eke I sayde y mette of hym al nyght
He wolde a shamed me as I lay vp right
And al my bed was ful of very blood
But yet I hope truly ye shul do me good
For blood betokenyth gold / as I was taught
And alwas fals I dremed of him right naught
But as I folowid ay my damys lore
As wel of that as of othir thingis more
And now sire lete se what sholde y sayn
A ha by god I haue my tale agayn
Whan that my fourthe husbond was on beere
I wepte algate and made a sory chere
As wyuys motyn for it is the vsage
And with my kercher I clerid my visage
But for that I was purueyed of a make
I wepte ful lityl I dar vndertake
To chirche was my husbond born̄ on morow
With neyghbours that for hym made sorow
And Iankyn our clerk was on of tho
[Page]As helpe me
god whan I saw hym go
Aftir the beere me thoughte he had a peyre
Of leggis and feet so clene and so feyre
That al my herte I yaf vnto his hold
He was I trow twenty wynter old
But I was .xl. yf I shal sey the soth
But yet I hadde alwey a coltis toth
Gappe tothid y was but that be cam me weel
I hadde the prynt of saint venus fel
As helpe god I was a ful lusty on
And feir and riche and yong & wel begoon
And trewly as my husbondis tolde me
I hadde the beste queynte that myghte be
For certis I am al fully venerian
In felinge and my herte is Marcian
Venus me yaf my lust and likerousnesse
And Marce yaf me my sturdy hardynesse
Myn ascendaunt was taure and mars ther yn
Allas allas that euer loue was synne
In folowynge ay myn inclinacion
Be vertu of my constillacion
That made me that I coude not withdrawe
My chambr [...] of venus fro a good felaw
Yet haue I a marke of Mars vp on my face
And also in another priuy place
For god so wisl [...] be my sauacion
I louyd neuer be non discress [...]on
But euer folowid myn appetit
Al were he long short black or whit
[Page]I took no kepe so that he
liked me
How poure he was ne eke of what degre
What sholde y say but at the monthis end [...]
This ioly clerk Iankyn that was so hende
Hath weddid me with gret solempnyte
And to hym yaf I bothe lond and fee
That euer was yeue me therbefore
But aftirward me repentid it ful sore
He nolde suffre no thing of my list
Be god he smoot me onys with his fist
On the cheke for y rente out of his book aleef
That of the strook myn ere w [...]xt al deef
Stiborne I was as is a lyonesse
And of my tunge a very Iangelresse
And walke I wolde as I doon had beforn̄
Fro hous to hous al though he had ysworn̄
For whiche he ofte tyme wolde preche
And me of olde romaunce talis teche
How he simplicines gallus lefte his wyf
And he forsook her terme of al his lyf
Not but for ones opyn he her say
Lokyng out of his dore vp on aday
Anothir wyf tolde he me be name
But for his wyf was at a someris game
Withoute his wyting he forsook her eek
And than wolde he vp on his bible seke
That ilke prouerbe of Ecclesiast
Where he comaundith and biddith fast
Men shal not suffre her wyuys to royle aboute
[Page]Than wolde he say thus withouten doute
Who so bildith his hous al of salowis
And pryke his blynde hors ouer the falowis
And suffrith his wyf to seke halowis
He is worthy to be hongid on the galowis
But al for nought I set nat an hawe
Of alle his prouerbis ne of al his olde sawe
Ne I wolde not of hym correctid be
I hate hym that tellith his vicis vnto me
And so do mo god woot of vs than I
This made hym wood with me al vttirly
I wolde not forbere hym in no caas
Now wol I say soth be saint Thomas
Wh [...] that I rente out of his book a l [...]ef
For whiche h [...] smot me so that I was deef
He hadde a book that gladly bothe nyght & day
For his disport he wolde rede alway
He cl [...]pid it Valery and Theophraste
Atte whiche b [...]ok he lough alwey faste
And eke therwas a clerk som tyme in rome
A Cardinal that highte seynt Ierome
That made a book aga [...]n Ionyn [...]an
In whiche book therwas e [...]k tort [...]lan
Crisippus Tortula and belowis
That was Abbesse not fer fro Paris
And parabolis of wyse Salamon
Ouydes art and eek bokis many on
And alle thyse were bounden in on volume
And euery day and nyght was his custume
[Page]When he hadde leyser
and ony vacacion
Fro al other wordly occupacion
To redyn on this book of wickid wyuys
He knew of hem mo legendis and liuys
Than be of gode wyuys in the bible
For trustith wel it is an impossible
That ony clerk wol speke good of wyuys
But yf it be of holy fayntis lyuys
Ne of non othir woman neuer the mo
Who peyntyd the lyoun tel me who
Begod yf women hadde wrytyn storiys
As clerkis haue in her Oratorijs
They wolde haue writen of men more wickidnes
Than al the marke of Adam may redresse
The childryn of Mercury and venus
Been in her workyng ful contrarious
Mercuri louith wisedom and science
And venus louith riot and dispence
And for her dyuers disposicion
Eche fallyth in othris exaltacion
That thus god woot Mercury is dissolate
In pisces when venus is exaltate
And venus fallith ther Mercury is reysid
Therfore women of no clerk is preysid
The clerk whan he is old and may nought do
Of venus workis not worth his old sho
Than sittith he doun and writith in his dotage
That women can not kepe her mariage
But now to purpos why I tolde the
[Page]That I was betyn for a book parde
Vp on a nyght Ianstyn that was our syre
Radde on his book as he sat be the fyre
Of Eue first that for hir wickednes
Was al mankynde brought to wrecchidnes
For which that Ihesu crist hym self was slayn
That boughte vs with his herte blood agayn
Lo here expres of women may ye fynde
That woman was the los of al mankynde
To redde he me how Sampson loste his heris
Slepinge his lemman kit hem with her sheris
Thorough whiche treson lost he bothe his yen
Tho radde he yf that I shal not lyen
Of H [...]rcules and of Dyanyre
That causith hym to sette hym self a fyre
No thyng forgat he the sorow and the woo
That Socrates hadde with his wyuys two
How Exantippa cast pisse vp on his hed
This sely man sat stille as he were ded
He wipid his hed n [...] word durste he sayn
But or the thunder stynte comyth rayn
Of Philip that was the quene of Crete
For shrewdnesse hym toughte it swete
Fy spek no more it is a grisly thing
Of her horrible lust and of her likyng
Of Cletemystra for her high lecherye
That fasly made her husbond to dye
He redde it with ful good deuocion
He tolde me eke for what conclusion
[Page]Amphioraxe at Thebes loste his lif
Myn husbonde hadde a legende of his wyf
Eriphiden that for an ouche of gold
Hath priuely vnto the grekis told
Where that her husbonde hidde him in a place
For whiche he hadde at thebes a s [...]ri grace
Of lima tolde he me & of lucy
They bothe made her husbondis forto dy
That one for loue that other was for hate
Lyma her husbonde vpon an euyn late
Enpoysond him for sche was his [...]o
Lucia likerons loued her husbond so
For he sholde algatis ou here thynke
She yaf vnto hym such aloue drynke
That he was ded or it was at morow
And thus algate husbondis hadde sorow
Thanne tolde he me how that lacyuius
Compleyned how that fel man arrius
That in his gardyn growde such a tre
On which he saide how that his wyuis thre
Hanged hem selff for her hertis despitons
O leue brothir said than this arrius
Zif me a plante of that blissed tre
And in myn gardyn plantid shal it be
Of latter date of wyuis hath he red
That some haue sleyn her husbondis abed
And leet her lechour swyue hem al the nyght
Whilis that the corps lay in floor vpright
And some haue driue nailis in her brayn
[Page]Whilis that they slepte & thus they haue hem slain
Some haue yeue hem poyson in her drynke
He spak more harm than herte may thynke
And th [...]rwith al he coude mo prouerbis
Than in this worlde growe gras or herbis
Bettir is quod he thyn habitacion
Be with a lioun or with a dragon
Than with a woman vsynge forto chyde
Be [...]tir is quod he high in his roof abyde
Than with an angry wyf duellinge in his hous
They be so wickid and so contrarious
They haten that her husbondis loue ay
H [...] sayde a woman cast her shame away
Whan she cast of her smok and ferther mo
A fair woman but she be chast also
Ys lik a goldryng on a sowys nose
Who wolde leue or who wolde suppose
The wo that in myn herte w [...]s and pyne
And whan I saw that he wolde neuer fyne
To redyn on his cursid book alnyght
Al sodenly thre leuys haue I plight
Out of his book right as he redde and eek
I with my fist so took hym on the cheek
That in our fyre he fyl bacward a doun
And he vp stert as doth awood lioun
And with his fist he smot me on the hed
That in the flore I lay as I hadde be ded
And whan he saw how stylle that I lay
He was agast and wolde haue fled away
[Page]Til atte last I out of my swowne abreid
O hast thou slayn me fals theef I seid
And for my lond thus hast thou murdred me
Or I be ded zit wol I onys kisse the
And neer he cam & knelid faire adoun
And sayde dere fuster swete alisoun
As helpe me god I shal the neuir smyte
That y haue do it is thy self to wite
Foryeue it me and that I the beseke
And zit eft sonys I hitte him on the cheke
And saide theef thus muche I am be wreke
Now wol I dy I may no lenger speke
But atte laste wyth muche care and woo
We fil accordid be our selfyn two
He yaf me the bridil in my hond
To haue the gouernaunce of hons & lond
And a [...]tir of his tunge & of his hond also
And made him brenne his book anon to
And thanne whan I hadde gotyn vnto me
The maistrie & eek the souereynte
And thanne he saide myn owen trew wif
Doth as you list al the terme of your lyf
Kepe thin honour and eke myn astate
And after that day we hadde neuer debaat
God helpe me so I was to hym as kynde
As eny wyff fro denmark in to ynde
And also trewe and so was he to me
I pray to god yat sittith in mageste
So blisse his sonle for his mercy dere
[Page]Now wol I say my tale yf ye wol here
THe frere lowgh whan he hadde herd al this
Now dame quod he so haue I ioye and blis
This is a longe preambil of a tale
And when the sompnour herde the frere gale
Lo quod the Sompnour for goddes armys two
A frere wol entremete hym euermo
Lo gode men a flye and eek a frere
Wol falle in euery mannys dissh and matere
What spekist thou of preambulacion
What ambyl or trot go pysse or syt a doun
Thou lettyst our disport in this matere
Ye wolt thou so sir Sompnour quod the frere
Now be my feith I shal or that I go
Telle of a Sompnour suche a tale or two
That alle folk shal lawghe in this place
Now ellis frere y be shrewe thy face
Quod this sompnour and I beshrewe me
But yf I telle ta [...]is two or thre
Of [...]reris or that I come to Sidyngbourne
That I shal make the forto morne
For wel y woot thy pacience is goon
Our o [...]te cryde pees and that anon
And sayde let the woman telle her tale
Ye faren as folk that dronke been of ale
Gode dame tel forth your tale and that is best
Al redy sy [...]e quod she right as you list
Yf I haue licence of this worthy frere
Yes dame quod he tel forth and I wol here
[Page]Here endith the wyff of Bathes prologe.
And here begynnyth her tale.
IN olde dayes of kyng Artur
Of whiche britous spekith gret honour
Al was this lond fulfilled of fayrye
The elf quene with her ioly companye
Daunced ful ofte in meny a greue mede
This was the olde oppinion as I rede
I speke of many an hundrid yeris a goo
But now can noman se elphis mo
For now the grete charite and praiers
Of limytours and eke of othir freris
That serchen euery lond and euery streme
As thicke as motis in the sonne beem
Blissinge hallis chambris kechens and bowris
Citees Burghis castellis and eek touris
Shoppis bernys Shepens and deyries
This makith that ther be no feyries
For there as wont was to walke an elf
There walkith now the limytour hym self
I [...] vndermelis and in mornyngis
And seith his matyns and his thingis
As he goth forth in his limytacion
A woman may go sauely vp and doun
Vnder euery bussh or vnder euery tre
There is none other incubus but he
And he ne wolde do hem ony dishonour
And so befil that this kyng Artour
Hadde in his hous a lusty bacheler
[Page]That on a day com ridynge from the ryuere
And happid that allone as he was born
He saw a mayde walkynge hym beforn
Of whiche mayde anon magre her hed
Be verry force byrefte her her maydenhed
For whiche oppression was suche clamour
And suche pursute vnto kyng Artour
That dampned was this knyght to be ded
Be cours of lawe he sholde haue lost his hed
Parauenture suche was the statut tho
But that the quene and other ladyes mo
So longe praiden the kyng of grace
Til [...]e his liff grauntid in that place
And yaf hym to the quene al at her wille
To chese whethir she wolde hym saue or spylle
The quene thankid the kyng with al her might
And aftir thus spak she to the knyght
When she sawe her tyme vp on a day
Thou stondist yet in su [...]he aray
Th [...]t of thy lyf yet hast thou no [...]uerte
I graunte thy lyf yf thou canst telle me
What thing it is that women most desiren
Bewaar and keep thy necke from iren
And yf thou canst not telle it anon
I shal the yeue yet leue forto goon
A twelfmonthe and a day to seche and to lere
An answere su [...]fici [...]unt in this matere
And suerte wol I haue or that thou passe
Thy body forto y [...]ldyn in this place
[Page]Woo was this knyght
and sorowful he sighith
But he may not do al as hym likith
And atte laste he chaas hym forto wende
And come ayeen right at the yeris ende
With suche answer as god wolde hym purueye
And takith his leue & wendith forth his weye
He sekith euery hous and euery place
Where as he hopith forto fynde grace
To wite what thing women loued most
But he coude arryue in no cost
There as he myght fynde in this matere
Two creaturis accordinge in fe [...]e
Some sayde women loued best richesse
Some sayde honour som sayde Iolinesse
And ofte tymes to be widow and to be wed
Some sayde riche aray som sayde lust a bed
Some sayde that we be in herte most esid
Whan we be flaterid and plesid
He goth ful nygh the soth I wol not lye
A man shal best wynne vs with flaterye
And with attendaunce and with besines
Ben we y limyd bothe more and les
And som sayde that we loue best
Forto be fre and do right as vs list
And that noman repreue vs of our v [...]ce
But sey that we be wyse and no thing nyce
For truly ther is non of vs alle
Yf ony wight wol clawe vs on the galle
That we nel kyke for he saith vs soth
[Page]Assay
and he shal fynde it that it doth
For be we neuer so vici [...]us with ynne
We wol beholden wyse and cleen out of synne
And som̄e sayde gret delit haue we
Forto beholde stabil and eke secre
And in on pur [...]os stedfastly to dwelle
And not to bewreye that men vs telle
But that tale is not worth a rake stele
Parde we women can no thing hele
Witnes on Myda wol ye here the tale
Ouide among other thingis smale
Sayde Myda hadde vnder his longe heris
Growynge vpon his hed two assis eris
The whiche vice he hidde as he best myghte
Ful subtilly from euery mannys sighte
That saue his wyf ther wyste of it nomo
He l [...]uyd her most and trus [...]id her also
He prayde her that to no maner creature
She wolde telle of his foul diffigure
She swore hym that for al the worlde to wynne
She nolde do that velony ne synne
To make her husbonde to haue so foul a name
She wolde not it for her owyn shame
But natheles she thoughte that she deyde
That she so longe sholde a counsel hide
She thoughte it was so sore aboute her herte
That nedis som w [...]rd her moste a sterte
And sith she durste telle it to no man
Doun to the mari [...]e faste she ran
[Page]Til she cam there her herte was in fy
[...]e
And as a bitore blondrith in the myre
She leyde her mouth vnto the watir doun
Bewrey me not thou watir with thy soun
Quod she to the I telle it and to no mo
Myn husbonde hath longe assis eris two
Now is myn herte al hool now is it oute
I myght no lenger kept it out of doute
Here mowe ye se though we a tyme abyde
Yet out it muste we can no coun [...]el hyde
The remenant of the tale yf ye wil here
Redith Ouyde and there ye may it lere
This knyght of whom my tale is specially
When that he saw he mighte not come therby
This is to say what woman louen most
With ynne his brest so sorouful was his gost
But hoom he goth he mighte not soiourne
The day was come that homward moste he tourne
And in his wey as happid hym to ryde
In al his care vnder a forest syde
Where as he saw vpon adaunce go
Of ladijs .xxiiij. and yet mo
Toward whiche daunce he drow ful yerne
In hope that he sholde som wisdom lerne
But certeinly or that he cam fully there
Vanysshed was this daunce he nyste where
No creature saw he that baar lyff
Saue on the grene he saw sittyng a wyf
A fouler wight ther mighte noman d [...]uyse
[Page]Agayn this knyght this olde wyf gan ryse
And sayde sir knyght herforth lith no way
Tel me what ye seke be your fay
Parauenture it may the bettir be
Thyse olde folk can muche thing quod she
My leue moder quod this knyght certeyn
I am but ded but yf that I can sayn
What thing it is that women most desire
Coude ye me wisshe I wolde quyte wel your hire
Plight me thy trouthe here in my hond quod she
The nexte thing that I requyre the
Thou shalt it do yf it ly in thy myght
And I wol telle it you or it be nyght
Haue here my trouthe quod the knyght I graunte
Than quod she I dar wel make auaunce
Thy lyf is sauf for I wol stonde ther by
Vp on my lyf the quene wol say as I
Leet se whiche is the prowdist of hem alle
That werith othir kerchef or calle
That dar say nay that I wol the teche
Le [...] vs go forth withoute more speche
Tho rowned she a pistil in his here
And bad hym be glad and haue no fere
When they be comyn to the court this knyght
Sayde he kepte his day as he had hight
And redy was his answer for to haue sayde
Ful many a nobil wyf and many a mayde
And many a widow for that they be wyse
The quene her self sittyng as Iustyse
[Page] Assemblid been his answer for to here
And aftirward this knight was bodin [...]apere
And that euery wight was comaundid silence
And that the knyght sholde telle in audi [...]nce
What thing that wordly women loue best
This knyght stood not stille as doth a beest
But to his question anon answerde
With manly voys that al the court it herde
My liege lady thenne general quod he
Women desiren to haue souereynte
As wel of her husbondis as of hir loue
And forto ben in maistrye aboue
This is your most desire though ye wil me kille
Doth as you list I am at your wylle
In al the court ne was ther wyf ne mayde
Ne widow that contraried that he sayde
But sayde he was worthy to haue his lyf
And at that word vpstert this olde waf
Whiche that the knyght saw sittynge on the grene
Mercy quod she my souerein lady quene
Er that your court departe as doth me right
I taught this answer vnto the knyght
For whiche he plighte me his trouthe there
The firste thing I wolde hym require
He wolde hit do yf it lay in his myght
Befor this court than I pray the sir knyght
Quod she that thou me take v [...]to thy w [...]f
For wel thou wotist that I haue saued thy lyf
If I swere fals swere nay vpon thy [...]ey
[Page]The knyght answerde
and sayde wel awey
I woo [...] right weel that suche was my behest
For goddis loue chees a newe request
Take al my good and lat my body go
Nay than quod sbe I shrewe vs bothe two
For though that I be foul old and poor
I wol not for al the metal and the oor
That vnder the grounde lith othir aboue
But y thy wyf were and eke thy loue
My loue quod he nay parde my dampnacion
Allas that euer ony of my nacion
So fou [...]e sholde euer disperaged be
But al for nought the ende is thus that he
Consireyned was nedis muste he wedde
And take his olde wif and go to bedde
Now wolde som men sayn parauenture
For myn negligence I do no cure
To telle you t [...]e ioye and al the aray
That atte feste was that ilke day
To whiche thing shortly I answer shal
I say th [...]re was no feste ne ioye at al
There nas but beuynes and muchel sorow
For priuely he weddid here by the morow
And al day aftir hidde hym as an owle
So wo was hym his wif lokid so foule
Gret was the wo that the knyght had in thought
When he was with his wif a bedde y brought
He walowith and he turnyth to and fro
His ol [...]e wif lay simylinge euer mo
[Page] And sayde o dere husbonde benedicite
Farith euery knyght with his wyf as ye
Is this the lawe of kyng Artours hous
Is euery knyght of his loue so daungerous
I am your owen loue and eke y [...]ur wyf
I am she whiche that saued hath your lyf
And certis yet I dede you neuer vnright
Why fare ye thus with me the firste nyght
Ye fare lik a man hadde lost his wit
What is my gilt for goddis loue tel me it
And it shal be amended yf that I may
Amendid qd this knyght alas nay nay
It wol not be amendid neuer the mo
Thow art so lothly and so olde also
And therto comyn of so low a kynde
That litil wonder is though I walow & wynde
So wolde to god quod he myn herte wolde breste
Is this quod she the cause of your vnreste
Ye certeyn quod he no wonder it is
Now sire qd she I coude amende al this
Yf that me list or hit be daies thre
So wel ye mighte bere you vnto me
But for ye spekyn of suche gentilnes
As is descendid out of old riches
That therfore ye shulbe gentilmen
Suche arrogaunce is not worth an hen
Loke who is most vertuous alwey
Pryuy and apert and most entendith ay
To do the gentilist dedis that he can
[Page]Take hym for the grettist gentilman
First wol we clayme of hym our gentilnes
Not of our eldres for her olde riches
For though they yeue vs al her heritage
For whiche we claymen to be of here parage
Yet may they bequede for no thing
To none of vs her vertuous leuynge
That made hem gentilmen callid to be
And bad hem folowe vs in suche degre
Well can the wyse Poet of Forence
That hight daunte speke of this sentence
Lo in suche manere ryme is dauntis tale
Ful s [...]lde vp rysid be his braunchis smale
Preuys of man for god of his goodnes
Wol that of hym we cl [...]yme our gentilnes
For of our oldris may we no thing clayme
But temporel thing that may hurte & mayme
Eke euery wight woot this as wel as I
If gentilnes were plantid naturally
Vnto a certeyn lynage doun the lyne
Priuy and pert than wol they not fyne
To do of gentilnes the feir office
They mighte do no vilon [...] or vice
Take fyre and bere it in to the derkist hous
Betwix this and th [...] mounte of Cancasus
And leet men shi [...]te the doris and go thenne
Yet wol the fyre as fairly and brenne
As twenty thousand men mighte it beholde
His o [...]fice naturelly ay wol he holde
[Page]Vp peril of my lif tyl that it dye
Here may ye se how that gentrye
Is not annexed to possessioun
Suche folk ne doth her operacioun
Alwey as doth the fyre in his kynde
For god it woot men may ful ofte fynde
A lordis sone do shame and velony
And he that wol haue price of his genterye
For he was born of a gentil hous
And hadde his eldris nobil and vertuous
And nyl hem self do no gentil dedis
Ne folowen the dedis of his auncetrys
He is not gentil be he duk be he erle
Fy vileyns sinful dedis makyn a cherle
For gentilnes nys but the renome
Of thyn auncetris for her high bounte
Whiche is a straunge thing to thy persone
Thy gentilnes comyth fro god alone
Than comyth our verry gentilnes of grace
It was no thing be quedyn vs with our place
Thynkith how nobil as seith valerius
Was that romain Tullius Hostilius
That out of pouert ro [...]s to high noblesse
Redith Senek and redith ek Boece
There shul ye se expres that no drede is
That he is gentil that doth gentil dedis
And therfore l [...]ue husbonde thus I conclude
Were it that myn auncetris were rude
Yet may the hye god and so hope I
[Page]Graunte me grace to lyue vertuously
Than am I gentil when I begynne
To lyue vertuously and do awey synne
And there as ye of pouerte me repreue
That high god on whom hoolly we beleue
In ful hertis pouerte chees to lede his lyf
And syns euery man mayden or wyf
May vnderstonde that Ihesus our heuyn kyng
Ne wolde not chese a uicyous lynynge
Glad pouert is a ful honest thyng certeyn
This wol Senec and other clerkis sayn
Who so that holdith hym paid of his pouert
I holde hym riche and he had not a shert
He that coueytith he is a ful poure wight
For he wolde haue that is not in his myght
But he þ• nought hath nought coueytith to haue
Is riche al though ye holde hym but a knaue
Verry pouerte is an high ioye properly
Iuuenal spekith therof ful merily
The poure man whan he goth be the wey
Before the theu [...]s he may synge and pley
Pouert is hateful good as I ges
A ful gret brynger out of besynes
A greet amender eke of sapience
To hym that takith it in pacience
Pouerte is this al thogh it seme elenge
Possessioun that noman wolde gladly chalenge
Pouerte ful ofte whan a man is lowe
Makith his god and eke hym self to knowe
[Page]Pouert a spectakil is as thinkith me
Thorow whiche he may his very frendis se
And therfore sir sith therin ye be greued
Of my pouert late me nomore be repreued
Now sire of elde also ye repreuyd me
And certis [...]ire though non auctorite
Were in the book the gentil of hauour
Sayn that men sholde an olde wyf do honour
And clepid fader for their gentilnes
And auctours shal I fynde as I ges
Now there as ye say I am foul and old
Than drede ye not to be made Cokeold
For filthe elde and foul so mot I the
Been grete wardeyns vpon chastite
But natheles sith I knowe your delit
I shal fulfille your wordly appetit
Chees now qd she on of thyse thingis tweye
To haue me olde and foul til that I deye
And be to you a trewe humble wyff
And neuer you displese in al my lyff
Or ellis ye shal haue me yong and feyr
And take your auenture of the repeyr
That to your hous shal be by cause of me
Or in som other place may wel be
Now chees whether that ye likith
This knyght auysith hym and sikith
But at the laste he sayde in this manere
My lady my loue and my wyf so dere
I put me fully in your wyse gouernaunce
[Page]Chese it your self whiche may be more plesaunce
And most honour to you and to me also
I do no force whethir of the two
But as you likith it suffisith to me
Than I haue gote of you the maistrye quod she
Syn I may chese and gouerne you as me list
Ye certis wyf quod he I holde it for the best
Kys me quod she we be no lengir wroth
For be my trouthe quod she I wol to you be both
That is to say bothe fair and eek good
I pray to god that I muste sterue wood
But I to you be also good and trewe
As euer was wyf syn the worlde was newe
And but I be to morow as fair to sene
As ony lady Emperesse or quene
That is betwixt the est and the west
Doth with my lyf and deth as you list
And so they slepte til it was morow gray
And then she sayde whan it was day
Cast vp the curten loke how it is
And when the knyght saw verily al this
That she so fair was and so yong therto
For ioye he hent hir in his armys two
His herte was bathid in a bath of blis
A thousand tyme arowe he gan hir kis
She obey [...]d hym in euery thing
That mighte do hym plesaunce or likyng
And thus they lyue vnto her lyues ende
And parfyt ioye as Ihu vs sende
[Page]Husbondis meke
yong and fresh a bedde
And grace to our lyue hem that we wedde
And eek I pray Ihesus shorte her liuys
That wol not be gouerned be her wyuys
And olde and angry nygardis of dispence
God sende hem sone a foul verry pestilence
¶.Here endith the tale of the wyf of bathe. ¶.And begynneth the prolog of the frere.
THis nobyl limytour this worthy frere
He made alwey a maner louryng chere
Vp on the sompnour but for honeste
No vileyns word as yet spak he
But atte laste he sayde vnto the wyf of bathe
Dame qd he god you euer kepe fro scathe
For here ye haue touchid also moot y the
In scole mater a ful greet difficulte
Ye haue said muche thing right coriously
But dame here as ye riden be the wey
Vs nedith not to speke but of game
And lete auctours be a goddis name
To prechinge and to scole of clergye
And yf it likith vnto this gentil companye
I wolde you of a sompnour telle a game
Parde ye mowe wel knowen be the name
That of a sompnour may no gode be said
I pray that non of you be euyl a payde
A sompnour is a renner vp and doun
With maundementis for fornicacion
And y bete at euery townys ende
[Page]Our oste than spak a sir ye sholde be hend
[...] And certis a man of your astat
In company we wol haue no debaat
Tellith your tale and leet the sompnour be
Nay quod the sompnour let hym say by me
What so hym list when it comyth to my lot
Be god I shal hym quyte euery grot
I shal hym telle whiche a gret honour
It is to be a flateryng lymytour
And of many another maner cryme
Whiche nedith not to reherce at this tyme
And his office I shal hym telle ywis
Our ost answerde pes nomore of this
And aftir this he sayde vnto the frere
Tel forth your tale myn owyn maister dere
¶Here endith the Freris prolog. ¶And here begynneth his tale.
WHilom ther was duellyng in my contre
An archedekyn a man of high degre
That boldly did ful many an execucion
In punysshynge of euery fornicacion
Of whi [...]hecraft and eke of baudrye
Of diffamacion and auoutrye
Of chirche reuys and of testamentis
Of contract and of lak of sacrementis
Of vsurye and eke of symonye also
But certis lechours did he muche woo
They sholde syngen yf that they were hent
And smale tithers also were foule shent
[Page]If ony person wolde vpon hym pleyne
There mighte asterte no pecunial peyne
For smale tithis and smale offerynge
He made the pepyl ful pitously to synge
For or the bisshop caught hym with his hook
They were in the archedekenys book
And than hadde he thourgh his Iurisdiction
Poure of hem to do ful correction
He hadde a sompnour redy to his hond
A slygher boy was non in engelond
For sotilly he hadde his especial
That taughte hym where he mighte auayl
He knew of lechours one or two
To teche hym to foure and twenty mo
For though þe sompnour were as wood as an hare
To telle his harlotrye I wol not spare
For we be out of his correction
They haue of vs no Iurisdiction
Ne neuer shal terme of al her lyuys
Petir so be women of the styuys
Quod the sompnour put out of my cure
Pees with myschaunce or with mys auenture
Sayde our ost and leet hym telle his tale
Now tel forth though the sompnour gale
Ne sparith not myn owen maister dere
This [...]als theef the sompnour qd the frere
Hadde alwey redy bawdis to his honde
As ony hawk is to the lure in engelonde
That tolde hym al the secre that they coude
[Page]For her acqueyntaunce was nat alwey nouthe
They were alle his approwers priuely
He took hym self a gret prouffit therby
His maister knew not alwey what he wan
Withouten maundementis of lewd men
He coude sompne on peyne of cristis curs
And they were glad forto fillen his purs
And make hym grete festis at the nale
And right as Iudas hadde pursis smale
And was a theef right [...]uch a thef was he
His maister hadde but half his dute
He was yf I shal yeue hym the laude
A theef a Sompnour and eke a baude
He hadde eke wenchis at his retenu
That whether sir robert or sir hue
Or Iacke or raaf or who so that it were
That lay by hem they tolde hym in his ere
Thus were the wenchis and he of on assent
And he wolde fet a faynyd maundement
And sompne hem to the Chapetre bothe two
And pyle the man and lete the wenche go
Than wolde he say frend I shal for thy sake
Do stryke her out of our lettris blake
The dar nomore as in this caas trauayle
I am thy frend there I may the auaylle
Certeyn he knew of bribours meny mo
Than possible is to telle in yeris two
For in this worlde nys dogge for the bowe
That can an hurt dere from an hool knowe
[Page]Better than this sompnour knoweth a lechour
Or avoutrer or ellis ony Paramour
And for that was the fruyt of al his rent
Therfore on it he sette al his entent
And so befyl that onys vp on aday
This sompnour was euer waytyng his pray
Forto sompne an olde wyf horrible
Feynynge a cause for he wolde her bridil
It happid that he saw [...]orn hym ryde
Agay yeman vnder a f [...]rest syde
A bowe he baar and [...] bright and kene
He hadde vpon hym a kirtil of grene
An hat vp on his hed with strengis blake
Sire quod the sompnour heyl and wel y take
Welcome quod he and euery good felaw
Whithir ridist thou vnder this grene wode shaw
Sayde this yoman wolt thou fare with me to day
This sompnour answerde and sayde nay
Here faste by quod he is myn entent
To ridyn forto reyse vp al the rent
That longith now to my lordis duete
Art thou than a baylle ye quod he
He ne durste for velonye and shame
Say that he was a sompnour for the name
Deperdeux quod this sompnour dere brother
Thou art a baylle and I am another
I am vnknowen now in this contre
Of thyn acqueyntaunce thenne I pray the
And eek of bretherhed yf that thou list
[Page]I haue
gold and siluyr in my chist
Yf that the happith to come in our shire
Al shal be thyn right as thou wolt desire
Gramercy quod this sompnour be my feith
Euerich in other hond he leyith
Forto be sworn til that they deye
In daliaunce they ryde forth and pleye
This sompnour whiche was ful of Iangelis
As ful of venym ben thyse were [...]angelis
And euer enquiryng vpon euery thing
Broth [...]r quod he where is now your duellyng
Anothir day yf that I shal you seche
This yoman hym answerde with softe speche
Broth [...]r quod he fer in the North cuntre
Where as I hope som tyme I shal the se
Er we departe y shal the so wel wis
That of my hous ne shalt thou neuer mys
Now brother quod this sompnour I you pray
Teche me whyles ye ridith be the way
Syn that ye be a baylly and so am I
Som subtilte as tellith me seithfully
In myn office how I may most wynne
And sparith not for conscience of synne
But dere brothir tel me how do ye
Now be my trouthe dere brother said he
As I shal telle the a faithful tale
My wagis be ful stre [...]t and smale
My lord is hard to me and daungerous
And myn office is ful laborous
[Page] And therfore by extorsions I lyue
For soth I take al that men wol me yeue
Algate be sleyghte or be violence
From yeer to yeer I wynne al my dispence
I can no bettir telle the feithfully
Now certis quod the sompnour so fare I
I spare not to take god it wot
But yf it be to heuy or to hoot
That I may ge [...]e in counsel priuely
Nomore conscience of that haue I
Nere myn extorsioun I mighte not liuyn
Of suche iapis wol I not be shryuyn
Stomak ne conscience know I none
I shrewe the shrifte fadris euerichone
Wel be we met be god and be saint Iame
But leue brothir tel me thy name
Quod this sompnour in this mene whyle
This yeman gan a lityl forto smyle
Brothir quod he wolt thou that y the telle
I am a fend my duellynge is in helle
And here I ryde aboute my purchasinge
To wite if men wol yeue me ony thing
To purchace is the effect of al my rent
Loke how thou ridist for al the same entent
To wynne good thou reckist neuer how
Right so fare I for ryde wold I now
Vnto the worldis ende for a pray
A quod the sompnour benedicite what ye say
I wende ye hadde been a yoman trewly
[Page]Ye haue a mannys shap as wel as I
Haue ye than a figure determynat
In helle there ye be in your astat
Nay certeinly quod he there haue we noon
But whan vs likith we can take vs on
Or ellis make you wene we be shape
Somtyme lik a man and somtyme lik an ape
Or lik an aungel can I ryde or go
It is no wonder thing though it be so
A lowsy iogolour can disceyue the
And parde yet more craft can I than he
Why quod the sompnour ryde ye than or goon
In sundry shap and not alwey in oon
For we qd he wol vs in suche fourme make
As most auayl is our prayes forto take
What makith you to haue al this labour
Wel many a cause leue sir sompnour
Sayde this fend but al thing hath tyme
The day is short and it is passid pryme
And yet ne gat I no thing in this day
I wol entende to wynnynge yf I may
And not entende our wittis to declare
For brothir myne thy wittis ben al to bare
To vnderstonde though I tolde hem the
But for thou axist why laboure we
For sumtyme we be goddis instrumentis
And meues to do his comaundementis
When that hym list vpon his creaturis
In diuers acte and in diuers figuris
[Page]Withoute hym we haue no might certeyn
Yf that hym list to stonden there agayn
And som tyme at our pray haue we leue
Only the soule and not the body to greue
Witnes of Iob whom we dide woo
And som tyme haue we might on bothe two
This is to say on soule and on body eek
And somtyme we be suffrid for to seke
Vp on a man and do his soule vnreste
And not his body and al for the beste
Whan he withstandith our temptacion
It is a cause of his saluacion
Al be it that it was not oure entent
He sholde be saaf by goddis Iugement
And somtyme we be seruaunt vnto man
As to the archebisshop saint Dunstan
And to the apostil seruaunt was I
Yet tel me quod the sompnour feithfully
Make ye your bodyes in suche wyse alway
Of elementis the fend answerde nay
Som tyme we faynyn and som tyme we aryse
With dede bodyes in fele sondry wyse
And speke as resonabil faire and wel
As the Phitonysse did to Samuel
And yet wol som men sayn it was not he
I do no force of your diuinite
But o thing warne I the I wol not iape
Thou wolt wete algatis how we be shape
Thou shalt here aftirward my brother dere
[Page]Come where it nedith not of me to lere
For thou shalt by thyn owen experience
Conne in the chayer rede this sentence
Better than Virgile whyle he was on lyue
Or dauid also now leet vs ryde belyue
For I wol holde company with the
Til it be so that thou forsake me
Nay quod the sompnour that shal not betide
I am a yeman that knowen am ful wyde
My trouthe wol I holde to the as in this caas
Fo [...] though were the deuyl Sathanas
Take thou thy part of that men wol the yeue
And I shal myne thus may we bothe lyue
And yf that ony of vs haue more than other
Let hym be trewe and parte with his brothir
I graunte quod the deuyl be my fey
And with that word they riden forth hir wey
And right at an entre of a townys ende
To whiche the sompnour shoop hym forto wende
Th [...]y sawe a carte that charged was with hey
Whiche that a carter drof forth in the wey
Deep was the wey for whiche the Carte stood
This carter smoot and cryde as he were wood
What heyt brok heyt scot spare ye for the nonys
The fend quod he you fecche body and bonys
As ferforth as euer ye[?] were y folid
So mykil wo as I haue for you tholid
The deuyl haue bothe hors Carte and hey
Quod the sompnour here shal we haue a pley
[Page]And neer the feend he drow as naught ne were
Ful priuely and rowned in his ere
Herkyn my brother herkyn be thy feith
Herist thou not hou the carter seith
Take hit anon for he hath yeue it the
Both hey and carte and eek his capullis thre
Nay quod the deuyl / god woot neuer a [...]eel
It is not his entent trust me weel
Aske hym self yf that thou trowest not me
Or ellis stynte awhyle and thou shalt se
This carter thackid his hors on the croupe
And they begonne to drawe and to stoupe
Hait now quod he that Ihesu crist you bles
And al his hondy work bothe more and les
That was wel y twight myn owen liard boy
I pray to god saue the and saint loy
Now is my carte out of the slowgh parde
Lo brother quod the fend what tolde I the
Here may ye se myn owen dere brother
The chorle spak o thing but he thoughte another
Lat vs go forth aboute our viage
Here wynne I no thing vpon this cariage
Whan that they comyn somwhat out of the toun
This sompnour to his brothir gan to roun
Brother quod he here wonyth an old rebecke
That hadde almost as leef to lese her necke
As forto yeue apeny of her good
I wol haue .xijd. though that she be wood
Or I wol somone hir vnto our office
[Page] And yet
god woot of hir I knowe no vice
But for thou canst not as in this contre
Wynne thy cost / take here ensaumple of me
This sompnour clappid at the widowis gate
Com out he sayde thou olde verry trate
I trow thou hast som preest or frere with the
Who knockith said this wyf benedicite
God saue you sir what is your swete wyl
I haue quod the sompnour of the a bil
Vp on peyne of cursinge loke that you be
To morow beforn the Archedekenys kne
To answere to the court of certeyn thing
Now lord quod she Ihesu crist heuene kyng
So wisly helpe me as y ne may
I haue be sik and that [...]ul many a day
I may not go so fer quod she ne ryde
But I be ded so prickith it in my syde
May I nat axe a libel sire sompnour
And answere there be my proktour
To suche thing as men wol appose me
Yes quod the sompnour pay anon let se
Twelf pens to me and I wol the quyte
I shal no prouffit haue therby but lyte
My maister hath the prouffit and not I
Com of and let me ryde hastely
Yeue me .xij. pens for I may no lenger tary
Xij. pens quod she a lady sainte mary
So wisly helpe me out of care and synne
This wyde worlde though I sholde it wynne
[Page]Ne haue I not
. [...]ijd. with in my holde
Ye knowe wel that I am poure and olde
Kithe your almes ou me poure wrecche
Nay than quod he the foule fend me fecche
If I the excuse though thou sholdist be spilt
Allas qd she god woot I am not in the gilt
Pay me quod he or be swete saint anne
I wol anone bere awey thyn newe panne
For dette whiche thou owest me of olde
When that thou madist thyn husbond cokeolde
I payde at hoom for thy correction
Thow lixt quod she be my sauacion
Ne was I neuer or now widow or wyf
Sompned vnto your court in al my lyf
Ne neuer y was but of my body trewe
Vnto the deuyl blak and rowgh of hewe
Yeue I thy body and eke my panne to
And when the deuyl herde hir curse so
Vp on her knees he sayde in this manere
Now mabyll myn owen moder dere
Is this your wyl in ernest as ye saye
The deuyl quod she fette hym or he dey
And panne and al but he wol hym repent
Nay olde stot that is not myn entent
Quod the sompnour forto repent me
For ony thing that I haue had of the
I wolde I hadde thy smook and euery [...]loth
Now brothir quod the deuyl be not wroth
Thy body and this panne is myn be right
[Page]Thou shalt with me to helle yet to nyght
Where thou shalt knowe of our priuyte
More than a maister of diuinite
And with that word the soule fend hym hent
Body and soule he with the deuyl went
Where that thyse sompnours haue her heritage
And god that made aftir his ymage
Mankynde saue and gide vs alle and som
And leue that Sompnours gode men be com
Lording I coude telle you quod the frere
Hadde I had leue for this sompnour here
Aftir the text of c [...]ist Poule and Iohn
And of our other doctours meny on
Suche poyntis as your hertis mighte agryse
Al be it so nothing may I deuyse
Though that I mighte a thousand wynter telle
The peynys of that cursid peyne of helle
But forto kepe vs fro that cursid place
Wakith and praieth Ihesu of his grace
So kepe vs fro the temptour Sathanas
H [...]rkenyth this word bewaar in this caas
The lioun sittith in his awayte alway
To sle the Innocent yf that he may
Dispose ye your hertis ay to withstonde
The fend that wol make you thral and bonde
He may not tempte you ouyr your might
For crist wol be yo [...]r champioun and knyght
And pray that the sompnour hym repente
Of his mysdedis or that the deuyl hym hent
[Page]Here endith the Freris tale.
And begynnyth the Sompnours
prolog.
THis Sompnour in his stirop high stood
Vp on this frere his herte was so wood
That lik an aspin leef he quook for yre
Lordingis quod he o thing I desire
I you beseche of your curtesye
Sithe ye haue herd this fals frere lye
As suffrith me I may a tale telle
This frere bostith that he knoweth helle
And god woot that is litil wonder
Freris and fendis been but litil a sunder
For parde ye haue ofte tyme herd telle
How that a frere rauysshed was to helle
In spirit onys be auysioun
And as an aungil ledde hym vp and doun
To shewe hym the preuytes that were there
In al the place saw he not a frere
Of othir folk he saw ynowe in wo
Vnto this aungil spak this frere tho
Now sire quod he haue freris suche a grace
That non of hem shal come in this place
Yes quod the aungel many a myllioun
And vnto Sathanas he ladde hym a doun
And now hath Sathanas suche a tayl
Bradder than of a Carik is the sayl
Hold vp thy tayl thou Sathanas quod he
Shew sorth thyn ars and let the frere se
Where is the nest of Freris in this place
[Page] And er that a
furlong wey of space
Right so as bees swarme out of an hyue
Out of the deuelis ars they gon dryue
Twenty thousand freris on a route
And thorow out helle swarmed al aboute
And cam ayeen as faste as they may goon
And in to his ars they crepte in euerichon
He clippid ayeen his tayl and lay stylle
This frere when he lokid had his wille
Vp on the tormentis of this sory place
His spirit god restorid of his grace
Vnto his body ayeen and he awook
But natheles for feer yet he quok
So was the deuyl ay in his mynde
Than is it his heritage of verry kynde
God saue you alle saue this cursid frere
My prolog wil I ende in this manere
¶Here endith the prolog. And begynneth the Sompnours tale.
LOrdingis qd he in yorkshire as I gesse
Is a mersh contre that callid is holdernes
In whiche ther wente a lymytour aboute
To preche and eke to begge it is no doute
And so be fyl that on aday this frere
Hadde pre [...]hid in a chirche in his manere
And specially abouen euery thing
Excitid he the p [...]pil in his prechinge
To trentalis and to yeue for goddis sake
Where with men mighte holy housis make
[Page]There as deuyne seruyse
[...]s
honourid Nat there it is wastid and deuouryd
Ne there it nedith not to be yeuyn
As to possessioners that mowe lyuyn
Thankid be god in wele and habundaunce
Trentals sayd he deliuereyn from penaunce
Here frendis soulis as wel olde as yong
Ye whan they be so hastely y song
Not forto holde a prest Ioly and gay
He syngeth but o masse on aday
Deliuereth out anon quod he the soulis
Ful hard it is with fleshook and oulis
To been I clawed / or to brenne or bake
Now spede you hastely for cristis sake
And when this frere had said his entent
With qui cum patre / forth his wey he went
Whan folk in the chirche had yeue what hem lest
He wente his wey no lenger wolde he rest
With skippe and tippid staf y tukkid hye
In euery mannys hous he gan to poure and prye
And beggid mele or chese or ellis corn̄
His felaw hadde a staf I tippid with horn̄
A peyre of tablis of clene yuory
And a poyntel y polysshed fetously
And wroot the namys alwey as he stood
Of alle the folk that yaf hym ony good
A [...]kaunce that he wolde for hem praye
Yeue vs a busshel whete mele or reye
A goddis kichil or a crip of chese
[Page]Or ell
[...]s what you list I may not chese
A goddis half peny or a masse peny
Or yeue vs of your braun yf ye haue ony
A dagget of your blanket leue dame
Our sustir dere lo here I wryte your name
Bacon or chese or suche thing as ye fynde
A sturdy harlot wente hym ay behynde
That was hir oste and euer he baar a sak
And what men yaf hym leyde it on his bak
And whan he was oute atte dore anoon
He planed awey the namys euerichon
That he beforn hadde wryte in his tablis
He seruyd hem with nyflis and with fablis
Nay there thou liest Sompnour quod the frere
Pees quod our ost for cristis modir dere
Tel forth thy tale and spare it nat at al
So thryue y quod the sompnour so I shal
So longe he wente from hous to hous til he
Cam to an hous there he was wont to be
Refresshid more than in an hundrid placis
Seke lay the good man whoos the place is
Bedrede vp on a bench lowe he lay
Deus hic quod he O Thomas good day
Sayde this frere curtesly and fre
Thomas god yelde you ful ofte tyme quod he
I haue on this bench I fare ful weel
Here haue I etyn many a mery meel
And fro the benche he droof a wey the cat
And le [...]de a doun his potent and his hat
[Page] And eke his skrippe
and sette hym softe a doun
His felaw was walkid in to the toun
Forth with his knaue in to that osterye
Where as he shoop hym that night to ly
O dere maister sayde this sik man
How haue ye faryn syn marche began
I saw you nat this fourtenyght ne more
God woot quod he labourid haue I ful sore
And specially for thy saluacion
Haue y said many a precious orison
And for our othir frendis god hem blesse
I haue this day be at your chirche at messe
And said a sermon to my lewd wit
Nat aftir the playn text of holy wryt
For it is hard to you as I suppose
And therfore telle I you al the glose
Glosinge is a ful glorious thing certeyn
For lettir sleth as we clerkis seyn
There haue I taught hem to be charitable
And spende her good there it is resonable
And ther I saw our dame where is she
Yonder in the yerd I trow that she be
Said this man and she wol come anon
Ey maister wel com be ye by saint Iohn
Sayde this wyf how fare ye hertely
This frere arisith vp ful coriously
And here emb [...]asith in his armys narow
And kissith here swete & chirkith as a sparow
With his lippis / dame quod he right weel
[Page]As he that is your seruaunt euerideel
Thankid be god that yaf you soule & lyf
Yet saw I nat to day so fair awyf
In al the chirche so god saue me
Ye god amende the fantis sir quod she
Algatis welcome ye be by my fey
Gramercy dame that haue I founde alwey
But of your grete goodnesse be your leue
I wolde praye you that ye you not greue
I wol with Thomas speke a litil word
Th [...]se Curatouris ben not worth a tord
To gropen tenderly a mannys conscience
In shrifte and in preching is my diligence
And study on Petris wordis and Poulis
I walke aboute and clense mennys sowlis
To y [...]lde Ihesu crist his proper rent
To [...]re [...] his wordis is al myn entent
Now be your [...] dere sire quod she
Ch [...]dith hym wel for saint charite
He is ay angry as is a pissemyre
Though that he haue al that he can desire
Though I hym w [...]ye and make hym warm
And ouer hym ley my leg and myn arm
He gronyth lik our boor lith in our sty
Other disport of hym right noon haue I
I may not plese hym in no maner caas
O Thomas Ie vous d [...] Thomas Thomas
This makith the fend this most be amendid
Ire is a thing that holy god offendith
[Page] And ther of wol I speke a
word or two
Now maister quod the wyf or that ye go
What wyl ye dyne I wol go ther aboute
Now dame quod he Ie vous dy sannz doute
Haue I of a Capon but the lyuer
And of your whyte breed but a shyuyr
And aftir that a rostid piggis hed
But y ne wolde for me that no beest were ded
Than hadde I with you hoolly suffisaunce
I am a man of litil sustenaunce
My spirit hath his fosteryng in the bibyl
My body is ay so redy and so penyble
To make that my body is ful destroid
I pray you dame that ye be not annoied
Though I you my counsel so frendly shewe
Be god I nolde haue told it but a fewe
And sire quod she but o word or I goo
My child is ded with ynne this wokis two
Sone aftir that ye wente out of this toun
His deth saw I be reuelacioun
Sayde this frere at hoom in our dortoure
I dar wel say that with ynne half an houre
Aftir his deth I saw hym bore to blis
In myn visioun so god my soule wis
So dede our Sexten and our fermerer
That haue be trewe freris this .xl. yeer
They may now god bethanked of his loue
Maken her Iubilee and walkyn al aboue
And vp I roos / and al our couent eek
[Page]With many a teer
trillyng on my cheek
Withouten noyse and clatering of bellis
Te deum was our song and no thing ellis
Sone aftir to crist I bad an holy orisoun
Thankynge hym of my good reuelacioun
For sire and dame trustith me right weel
Our orisons been more effectuel
And more we se of cristis secret thingis
Than borel pepil al be they kyngis
We lyue in pensifnesse and in abstinence
And borel folk in riches and dispence
Of mete and drynke and in foul delyte
We haue the worldis lust al in despit
Lazar and diues liueden ful diuersly
And diuers guerdoms had they ther by
Who so wol praye muste faste and be clene
And satte his soule and make his body lene
We fare as saith the Apostil cloth and food
Suffisith vs though they be not ful good
The clenn [...]sse and the fastynge of vs freris
Makith that Crist ex [...]eptith our praieris
Lo moyses .xl. daies and .xl. nyght
Fastid or that god ful of his myght
Spak with hym in the mount Synay
With empty wombe of fastynge many a day
There resceyued he the lawe that was writyn
With goddis fynger and Ely wel ye wetyn
In the mounte Ore [...] or he hadde ony speche
With high god that is our lyuys leche
[Page]He
fastid longe
and was in contemplance
Aaron that hadde the tempil in gouenaunce
And eke the othir prestis euerichon̄
Into the tempil whan they sholde goon
To prayen for the pepyl and do seruise
They nolde drynke in no maner wyse
No drynke that mighte hem dronke make
B [...]t there in abstinence to praye and wake
Lest that they deyden take hede what I say
But they be sober that for the pepyl pray
Ware that I say for it ynow suffisith
Our lord Iesu as holi writ deuisith
Yaf vs ensampyl of fastinge and praieris
Therfore we mendicantis we poure freris
Been weddid to pouerte and to continoice
To charite humbilnes and pacience
To persecucion for euery rightwisnes
To weping misericord and to clennes
And therfore mowe ye se that our praiers
I speke of vs we mendicaunt freris
Be to the high god more exceptable
Than youris with your festis at your tubyl
Fro Paradis first yf I shal not lye
Was man out chasid for his glotenye
And cast was out to labour certeyn
But herken now Thomas what I shal sayn
I haue no text of it as I suppose
But I fynde a maner thing of a glose
That specially our swete lord Ihesus
[Page]Spak this by freris whan he sayde thus
Blissid ben they that poure in spiryt been
And so forth al the gospel mowe ye seen
Whethir it be liker to our professioun
Or heris that swymmen in possessioun
Fye on her Poompe and her glotenye
And of her lewdnesse I hem deffye
Me thynketh they be lik to Iomman
Fat as a whale and walke lik a swan
Al vinolent as a botel in the spence
Her praier is of ful litil reuerence
When they for soulis say the psalme of Dauid
Lo buf they sey Cor meum eructauit
Who folowith cristis gospel and his lore
But we that humble be chast and pore
Workars of goddis wordis & nat auditours
Therfore right as an hauk vp on his sours
Vp springith in to the eyr so praieris
Of charitable and chast f [...]eris
Makyn hem sowne to goddis eris two
Thomas Thomas so moot I ryde or go
And by that lord that clepid was saint Iue
Ne thou our brother were sholdist þu nener thryue
In our chapitre praye we bothe day and nyght
To crist to sende the bothe helthe and myght
Thy body forto welden ful hastely
God woot quod he no thing ther of fele I
As helpe me god as in fewe yeris
Haue I spendid on many diuers freris
[Page]Ful many
apound yet fare I neuer the bet
Certeyn my good haue I almost beset
Farwel my gold for it is al a go
The frere answerd o Thomas dost thou so
What nedith the dyuers freris forto seche
What nedith hym that hath a parfyt leche
To sechen othir lechis in ony toun
Your in constaunce is your confusioun
Hold ye than me and eke al our couent
To preye for you be not sufficient
Thomas that iape is not worth a myte
Your maladye is for we haue to lyte
And yeue that couent four and twenty grotis
And yeue that couent half a quartir otis
And yeue that frere a peny and let hym go
Nay [...] nay Thomas it may no thing be so
What is a ferthing worth partid on twelue
Lo eche thing that is onyd in hym selue
Is more strong than whan it is skaterid
Thomas of me thou shalt not be flaterid
Thou woldist haue our labour al for nought
The high god that al this worlde ha [...]h wrought
Saith that the workman is worthy his hire
Thomas of your tresour nought wol I desire
As for my self but that our Couent
To praye for you be ay so diligent
And forto holde vp cristis owen chirche
Thomas yf ye wol lerne forto wirche
Of bildynge vpon chirchis mow ye fynde
[Page]Yf it be
good in Thomas lif of ynde
Ye lyen here ful of angir and of yre
With whiche the deuyl set your herte on fire
And chiden here the holy Innocent
Your wyf that is here so meke and so pacient
And therfore Thomas trow me yf thou list
Ne stryue not with thy wyf as for the best
And bere thyse word awey now be thy faith
Touching such thing. lo what the wyse saith
With ynne thy hous ne be thou no lioun
To thy subiectis do thou noon oppression
Ne make thyn acqueyntaunce not to fle
And Thomas yet [...]ft sones warne I the
Be war of her that in thy bosom slepith
Ware fro the serpent that so slily crepith
Vndir the gras and styngeth ful subtilly
Bewar of her and herkyn paciently
That twenti thousand men haue lost her lyuys
For striuyng with her lemmans & her wyuys
Now syn ye haue so holy a meke wyf
What nedith you Thomas to make stryf
Ther nys iwys no serpent so cruell
Whan a man tredith vpon his tayl ne half so fel
As a woman is whan she hath caught yre
Verry vengeaunce is than al her desire
Ire is a synne of the grete seuyn
And ful abhominabil to the kyng of heuyn
And to hym self it is a destruction
This euery lewd vicar or parson
[Page]Can sey how Ire engendrith homicide
Ire in soth is the executour of pryde
I coude of Ire say right muche sorow
That my tale sholde laste til to morow
And therfore pray I god bothe day and nyght
That to an yrous man god sende litil myght
It is gret harm and certis gret pyte
To sette an yrous man in high degre
[...]Hylom ther was an yrous potestate
Whiche hasty was in Iugement algate
Vpon a day out riden knyghtis two
And as fortune wolde that it was so
That on of hem cam hoom that other did nought
Anon the knyght before the Iuge is brought
That sayde thus thou hast thy felow slayn
For whiche I deme the to the deth certayn
And to anothir knyght comaunded he
Go lede hym to the deth I charge the
And happid as they wentyn be the way
Toward the place where he sholde dey
The knight cam whiche that men went had be ded
Then thoughte they it were the best reed
To lede hem bothe to the Iuge agayn
They sayden lord the knyght hath not sleyn
His felaw here he stont hool a lyue
Ye shal be ded quod he so mot I thryue
This is to say bothe on two and thre
And to the [...]irste knyght right thus spak he
I dampned the thou most algatis be ded
[Page] And thou also most nedis lese thyn
hed For thou art cause why thy felaw deyeth
And to the thridde knyght right thus he sey [...]th
Thou hast not do that I comaundid the
And thus he did hem sle al thre
IRus Cambustus was eek dronkelew
And ay delitid hym to be a shrew
And so befil a lord of his meyne
That louyd wel vertuous moralite
Saide on a day betwix hem self right thus
A lorde is lost yf he be aught vicious
And dronkenesse is eke a foul recorde
Of ony man and namely of a lorde
Th [...]r is many an ye and meny an ere
Away [...]ynge on a lorde he not nat where
For goddis loue drynketh more temperatly
Wyne makith a man to lyue wrecchidly
His mynde and eek his lymys euerichon
The reuerse shalt thou se qd he anon
And preue it be thyn owen experience
That wyn ne doth to folk such offence
Ther is no wyn that bereuyth me my might
Of hond of foot ne of myn yen sight
And for despit he drank [...]u [...]he the more
An hundrid part than he did before
And right anon this yrous cursid wrecche
This knyghtis sone le [...]t beforn hym fecche
Comaundid hym he sholde beforn hym stonde
And sodenly he took his bowe in honde
[Page] And vp the
streng he pullith to his here
And with an arow he slough the child there
Now wethir haue I a siker hond or none
Quod he is al my might and mynde a goon
Hath wyn bereued me myn yen sight
What sholde I telle the answer of the knyght
His sone was sleyn ther is no more to say
Beth ware therfore with lordis for to play
Syngeth Placebo and I shal yf I can
But yf it be vnto a poure man
To a poure man men sholde his vicis telle
But not to a lord though he sholde go to helle
LO Irus turrus that strong percien
How destroyde he the ryuer of gysen
For that an hors of his was dreynt ther ynne
Whan that he wente Babilon for to wynne
He made that the ryuer was so smal
That men mighte ride and wade ouer al
Lo what sayde he that so wel teche can
Ne be no felow to an yrous man
Ne with no wood man walke by the way
Lest thou repente I wol no forther say
Now Thomas leue brother leef thyn Ire
Thou shalt me fynde as iust as a squiev [...]
Hold nat the deuylis knyf ay in thy herte
Thy anger doth me alto sore smerte
But shew to me al thy confession̄
Nay quod the sik man be saint Symon
I haue be shriue this day of my curat
[Page]I haue hym tolde al myn hert
It nedith nomore to speke of it sayde he
But yf it list of myn humylite
Yeue me than of thy good to make our cloister
Sayde he for many a muskle & meny an oyster
When othir men haue been ful wel at ese
Haue been our food our cloister forto reyse
And yet god woot vnnethe our fundement
Parfourmed is ne of our chirche ful pament
Ther is not a tile with ynne our wonys
Be god we owe fifty pound for stonys
Now help Thomas for hym that harowed helle
Or ellis moste we our bokis selle
And yf men lacke our predicacion
Than goth the worlde al to destruccion
For who so wol fro this worlde vs bereue
So god me saue Thomas be your leue
He wolde bereue out of this worlde the sonne
For who can teche and worke as we konne
And that is nat of litil tyme quod he
But seth Ely was or Elyse
Haue freris he that fynde I of recordr
In charite y thanked be our lorde
Now Thomas help for saint charite
And doun anon he sittith on his kne
This sik man wext nygh wood for yre
He wolde that the frere hadde be a fyre
With his fals dissimulacion
Suche thingis as ben in my possession
[Page]Quod he that may I yeue you
and non othir
Ye sey me thus how that I am your brothir
Ye certis qd the frere trustith me right wel
I took our dame our lettir and our seel
Now wel quod he and somwhat shal I yeue
Vnto your holy Couent whyle y lyue
And in thy hond thou shalt it haue anon̄
On this condicion and othir non
That thou departe it so my dere brother
That euery frere haue as moche as othir
This shalt thou swere on thy professioun
Withoute fraude or cauillacioun
I swere it quod the frere vp on my feith
And ther with al his hond in his he leith
Lo here my feith in me shal be no lak
Than put thy hond a doun right be my bak
Seyde this man and grope wel be hynde
Be nethe my buttok there shalt thou fynde
A thyng that I haue hid in priuyte
A thoughte this frere that shal go with me
And doun his hond he launchith to the clifte
In hope forto fynde there som good yefte
And whan this sik man felte this frere
Aboute his towel gropinge here and there
Amyd his hond he let the frere a fart
Ther is no Capul drawynge in a Cart
That mighte haue let a fart of suche a soun
The frere vp stert as doth a wood lioun
A fals chorle quod he for Cockis bonys
[Page]This hast thou in despit do for the nonys
Thou shalt a bye this fart yf that y may
His meyne with that herdyn suche aray
Com lepynge in and chasid out the frere
And forth he goth with a ful heuy chere
And fe [...]te his felow there as lay his stoor
He loked as he were a wilde boor
And grintith with the teth so was he wroth
A sturdy paas doun to the court he goth
W [...]re as ther woned a man of gret honour
To whom that he was alwey Confessour
This worthy man was lord of that vilage
This fr [...]re cam as he were in a rage
W [...]re as this lord sat etyng at his borde
Vnnethe mighte t [...]e frere speke o worde
Til atte laste he [...]yde god you se
This lord gan loke and sayde benedicite
What fr [...]re Iohn what maner worlde is this
I se wel som thing ther is amys
Ye l [...]ke as though the wode were ful of theuys
Sit doun and tel me what your greue is
And it shal be amendid yf I may
I haue quod he had a despit to day
God yelde it you a doun in your village
That in this worlde th [...]r ny [...] so poure a page
That he nolde haue abhominacion
Of that I haue receyued in the toun
And yet it greuy [...]h not me half so sore
As that the olde [...]horl with lo [...]kis hore
[Page] Blassemyd hath our holy Couent eke
Now maister quod the lord I you beseke
No maister sir quod he but seruitour
Though y haue had in scole that honour
God likith not that raby men vs calle
Nothir in market ne in our large halle
Ne fors quod he but tel me al your greef
Sir quod this frere in odious myschief
This day be tyd is myn ordre and me
And so ꝑ consequens in eche degre
Of holy chirche god amende it sone
Sir quod the lord ye woot what is to done
Distempere you not ye be my confessour
Ye be the salt of the erthe and the sauour
For goddis loue your pacience now hold
Tel me your greef and he anon hym told
As ye haue herd beforne ye woot wel what
The lady of the hous ay stylle sat
Til she hadde herd what the frere sayde
Ey goddis moder quod she the blissid mayde
Is ther aught ellis tel me feithfully
Madame quod he how thinke ye ther by
How that me thinkith quod she so god me spede
I say a chorl hath do a chorlis dede
What sholde y say god let hym neuer the
His sik hed is ful of vanite
I holde hym in a maner of a fransy
Madame quod he be god I shal not lye
But I in ony wyse may on hym a wreke
[Page]I shal di
[...]fame hym ouer al where y speke
That fals blasfemur that chargid me
To parte that wol not departid be
To euery ylike moche with myschaunce
The lord sat stille as he were in a traunce
And in his herte he rollid vp and doun
How that this chorle had dilectacion
To shewe suche a probleme to the frere
Neuer erst to now herde I of suche a matere
I trow the deuyl put it in his mynde
In ars metrik shal ther noman fynde
Beforn this day of suche a questioun
Who sholde make a demonstracion
That euery man sholde haue lik his part
As of a soun or of a souour of a fart
O nyce prowd chorle I shrew his face
Lo sirs quod the lord with hard grace
To euery y like tel me how
That a fart sholde be departid now
Hit is an impossible it may not be
Ey nyce chorle god lete hym neuer the
The rombling of a fart and euery soun
Nys but of ayer reuerberacioun
And there it wastith litil and litil awey
Ther is noman can deme be my fey
Yf that it were departid equally
What lo this chorle lo how shrewdly
Vnto my confessour to day he spak
I holde hym certayn a demonyak
[Page]Now ete your mete
and let the chorl go pley
Lete hym go hange hym self a deuyl wey
Now stood the lordis squier at his bord
That carf his mete and herde word be word
Of al this thing of whiche I haue you said
My lord quod he be not euyl a payd
For I coude telle for a gowne cloth
To you sire frere so that ye be not wroth
How that this fart sholde euyn desid be
Among your couent yf it like sithee
Tel quod the lord and thou shalt haue anon
A gowne cloth be god and be seynt Iohn
My lord quod he when that the wedir is fair
Right here before you sittyng in a chair
Let bringe a cartewhele right in to this halle
But so that it haue his spokis alle
Xij. spokis hath a carte whele comynly
And bring me .xij. freris woot ye why
For .xiij. is a couent as I gesse
Your confessour here for his wordynesse
Shal parfourme vp the noumbir of his couent
Than shul they knele doun by one assent
And to euery spokis ende in this manere
Ful sadly ley his nose shal a frer [...]
Your nobyl confessour ther [...] hym saue
Shal holde his nose vpright vnder the naue
Than shal this chorle with bely styf & tought
As ony [...]abour hider be y brought
And set hym on the wheel right of this cart
[Page]Vp on the nau
[...] and make hym l
[...]te a fart
And ye shul se vp peril of my lif
The preef whiche that is demonstratif
That equally the sound of it wol wende
And eke the stynk out at the spokis ende
Saue that this worthy man your confessour
Be caus [...] he is a man of gret honour
Shal haue the firste fruyt as reson is
The nobil vsage of freris yet it is
The worthie [...]t man of theym shal first be seruid
And certeinly he hath it weel deseruid
He hath to day taught vs so muche good
With prechinge in the pulpet there he stood
That I ma [...] vouchesauf I say for me
He hadde the firste smel of fartis thre
And so wolde al his couent hardely
He h [...]rith hym so faire and so holily
Th [...] [...]rd th [...] lady and eche man saue the frere
Sayde that Iankyn spak in this matere
As wel as Ouyde or Ptholome
Towching the chorlis they sayde subtilite
And by wyt made hym speke as he spak
He nys no fool ne demoniak
And Iankyn hath y wonne a newe gowne
My tale is doon we be a [...] Toune
¶Here begynneth the
prolog of the clerk of
Oxenford.
SIr clerk of Oxen [...]ord our ost sayde
Ye cryde as quoy & stille as doth a mayde
[Page]Were new
sponsid sittyng at the
bord This day herde I of your tunge no word
I trowe ye stody aboute som sophyme
But Salamon sayde euery thing hath tyme
For goddis sake be of good chere
It is no tyme now to stody here
Tel vs som mery tale be your fey
For what man is entrid in to a pley
He nedis moot in to the pley assente
But prechith not as freris do in lente
To make vs for our old synnys wepe
Ne that thy tale make vs not to slepe
Tel vs som mery thing of auenturis
Your termys your colours and your figuris
Kepe hem in store til so be that ye endite
High style is when men to kyngis wryte
Spekith so playn at this tyme I you pray
That we may vnderstonde what ye say
This worthy clerk benignely ansuerde
Ost quod he I am vnder your yerde
Ye haue of vs as now the gouernaunce
And therfore I shal do your obeysaun [...]e
As fer as reson askith hardely
I wol you telle a tale whiche that I
Lernyd at Padow of a worthy clerk
As preuyd is he his wordis and his work
He is now ded and leyd in cheste
I pray to god yeue hys soule goode reste
Fraunceys petrark the laureat poete
[Page]Highte this clerk whoos rethorik swete
Enlumyned al Itayle of poetrie
As Lucane did of philosophie
Or lawe or other art particuler
But deth that wol not suffre vs to duelle here
But as it were the twynkelyng[?] of an ye
Hem bothe hath slayn and alle shal we dye
But forth to telle of this worthy man
That taughte me this tale as I began
He first with high stile enditith
Er he the dite of his tale writith
A probleme in whiche discriueth he
Pemounte and of Saluces the contre
And spekyn of arpentyn the hilles hye
That been the boundes of west lumbardye
And of mount vesulus in special
Wh [...]re that the poo out of the welle smal
Takyng his first spryngynge and his cours
That Estward euer encresith in his sours
To Emeli ward to Ferrare and venise
The whiche a long thing were to deuyse
And trewly as to my Iugement
Me thinkith it a thing inpertinent
Saue that he wol conueye his matere
But thus he begynneth his tale as ye mow here
¶Here endith the prolog. And begynneth the clerkis tale of Oxenforde
THer was in the west side of Itayle
Doun at the Rote of vesulus the colde
[Page]A lusty playn habundaunt of vitayl
Where meny a toun and tour thou maist beholde
That founded were in tyme of fadris old
And meny another delectabyl sight
And saluces this noble contre hight
A Markys somtyme lord was of that lond
As were his worthy eldris hym before
And obeysaunt ay redy to his hond
Were alle his lieges bothe lasse and more
Thus in delyt he lyuyd and hath do yore
Beloued & drad thorugh fauouris of fortune
Bothe of his lordis and eke of his comune
Therwith he was to speke of lynage
The gentilest baron of lumbardye
A fair persone a strong and yong of age
And ful of honoure and of curtesye
Discret ynow his contre forto gye
Saue in som thingis he was to blame
And waltir was this yonge lordis name
I blame hym thus that he considerid not
In tyme comynge what mighte hym betyde
But on his lust present was al his thought
As forto hauke and hunte on euery syde
Wel nygh alle other curis lete he slyde
And eke he nolde and that was worst of al
Wedde no wyf for aught that mighte be fal
Only that poynt his pepyl baar so sore
That flekmele on a day they to hym went
And one of hem that wisest was of lore
[Page]Or ellis that the
lord wolde best assent
That he sholde telle hym what his peple ment
Or ellis coude he shewe wel such matere
He to the Markis sayde as ye shul here
O nobil Markis your humanite
Assurith vs and yeueth vs hardines
As ofte as tyme is of necessite
That we to you mow telle our heuynes
Acceptith now lord of your gentilnes
That we with pitous herte come to compleyne
And lete your eris not my vois disdaigne
Al haue I not to doon in this matere
More than anothir man hath in this place
Yet for as muche as ye my lord so dere
Haue alwey shewd me fauour and grace
I dar the bettir aske of you a space
Of audience to shewe our request
And ye my lord to do as you lest
For certis lord so wel vs liketh yow
And al your werk that ye haue doon and we
Ne coude not our self deuisyn how
We mighte lyuyn in more felicite
Saue o thing lord yf your wille be
That forto be a weddid man yf that ye lest
Then were your pepyl in souereyn hertis rest
Bowe ye your hed vnder the blisful yok
Of souere [...]nte and not of seruise
Whiche that men clepith spousayle or wedlok
And thynkith lord among your wittis wyse
[Page]How that our daies passen in sondry wyse
For though we slepe or wake renne or ryde
Ay fleyth the tyme it wol noman abyde
And though your grene yongthe flowre as yet
In crepith age as stylle as ony stoon
And deth manasseth euer age and smyte
In eche astate for ther escapith noon
And also certayn as we knowe echon
That we shul dye and vncerteyn we alle
Been of the day when deth shal on vs falle
Acceptith than of vs the trewe entent
That yet neuer refuseden your heste
And we wol lord yf ye wol assent
Chese you a wyf in short tyme atte leste
Born of the gentillest and of the meste
Of al this londe so that it oughte seme
Honour to god and you as I can deme
Deliuer vs out of al this besy drede
And take a wyf for high goddis sake
For yf so be it besalle as god forbede
That thorow your deth your lyf sholde slake
And that a straunge successour sholde it take
Your heritage o wo were vs on lyue
Wherfore we pray you hastely to wyue
Here meke prayer and [...]re meke chere
Made the Markis herte forto haue pyte
Ye wol quod he myn owen pepyl dere
To that I neuer erst thoughte constreyne me
I me reioysid in my liberte
[Page]That selde tyme is founde in mariage
There I was fre I muste be in seruage
But natheles I se your trewe entent
And truste vpon your wit and haue doon ay
Wherfore of my fre wil I wil assent
To wedde me as sone as euer y may
But ther as ye haue profrid me to day
To chese me a wyf I you relece
That chois and pray you of your profir sec [...]
For god it woot that childryn ofte been
Vnlik her worthy eldris hem before
Beaute comyth al of god not of the streen
Of whiche they be gendrid and y bore
I truste in god and euer haue do by fore
My mariage and myn astate and reste
I hym betake he may do as hym leste
Lete me allone in chesing of my wyf
That charge vp on my bak y wol endure
But I you pray and charge vpon your l [...]f
What wyf that y take that ye me ensure
To worshipe her whylis her lif may dure
In word and werk bothe here & eueriwhere
As she an Emperours doughter were
And ferthermore this shal ye swere that ye
Ayenst my chois shal ye neuer stryue
For sith I shal forgo my liberte
At your request as euer mot I thriue
There as my herte is set there wol y wyue
And but ye wol assente in such maner
[Page]I pray you spekith nomore of this matere
With herty wyl they sworyn and assentyn
To al this thing ther sayde no wight nay
Besekyng hym of grace or that they wentyn
That he wolde graunte hem a certayn day
Of his sponsayll as sone as euer he may
For yet alwey many of the pepyl dredde
Lest the Markis wolde no wyf wedde
He grauntid hem a day suche as hym lest
On whiche he wolde be weddid sikirly
And sayde he did al this at hir request
And they with humble entent buxomly
Kneling vp on her knees ful reuerently
Hym thankid alle and thus they haue an ende
Of here entent and hoom ayeen they wende
And here vp on he took his officers
And comaundid for the feste purueye
And to his pryue knyghtis and squieris
Suche charge yaf as hym list on hem leye
And they to his comaundement obeye
And eche of hem doth al his diligence
To do vnto that feste high reuerence
¶.Prima pars Grisildis.
NOught fer fro that paleis honourable
There as this Markis shoop his mariage
Ther stood a thorp of sighte ful delectable
In whiche that poure folk of that village
Hadden her lestis and her herbigage
And of her labour took hir sustenaunce
[Page]Aftir that the erthe yaf hem haboundaunce
Among these poure men ther duellid a man
Whiche was y holde pourest of alle
But high god somtyme sende can
In to a litil oxes stalle
Ianycola men of that throwpe hym calle
A doughter hadde he fair ynough to sight
And Grisilde this yonge maiden hight
Forto speke of vertu and of honest beaute
Than was she on of the fairest vnder sonne
And ful pouerly y fostrid vp was she
No licorous lust was thorou her hert y ronne
But ofter of the welle than of the wyn tonne
She drank and for she wolde vertu plese
Hit was hir list and hir most ese
But though this mayde so tendir were of age
Yet in the brest of hir virginite
Ther was y closid ri [...]e and sad corage
And in gret reuerence and charite
Her olde poure fader fostrid she
A fewe sheep spynnynge on feld she kepte
She wolde not be ydil til she slep [...]e
And whan she homward com she wolde brynge
Wortis or othir herbis tymes ofte
The whiche she setheth for hir lyuynge
And made her bed harde and nothyng softe
And ay she kepte her fadres lif on lofte
With obe [...]saunce and diligence
That childe mighte do to the fadris reuerence
[Page]Vp on Grisilde this poure creature
Fil of this Markis he cast his ye
As he wod on huntynge ꝑauenture
And when it be fyl that he mighte here aspye
He not with wantoun lokyng of folye
His yen cast on hir but in sad wyse
Vp on her chere he wolde hym ofte auyse
Com̄endynge in his herte her woman hed
And eke her vertu passing ony wight
Of so yong age as wel in chere as dede
For though the pepyl had no gret insight
He considered in vertu ful right
Her beaute and disposid hym that he wolde
Wedde her only yf he euyr wedde sholde
The day of weddyng cam but no wight can
Telle what maner woman it sholde be
For whiche meruayl wondrid many a man
And sayde when they were in priuyte
Wol our lorde lyue yet in vanite
Wol he not wedde allas the whyle
Why wol he hym self and vs begyle
But natheles this Markis had do make
Of gemmys set in gold and in asure
Brochis and ringis for grisildis sake
And to her clothing took the mesure
Of a mayde lik vnto her stature
And eke of her other ornamentis alle
That vnto suche a weddinge sholde be falle
The tyme of vndryn on the same day
[Page] Approchid that the weddinge sholde be
And al the Paleis put was in aray
Bothe halle and chambris ech in his degre
Housis of office stuffid with greet plente
There maist thou se of deynteous vitaylle
That may befounden as for as lastith I tayle
This ryal Markis richely araid
Lordis and ladies in his companye
The whiche that to the feste were praid
And of his retem [...] the buchelrye
W [...]th many a sown of sundry melodye
Vnto the vilage of whiche I tolde
In this aray the right wey they holde
Grisilde of this god woot ful Innocent
That for her shapyn was al this aray
To fecte watir atte welle is she went
And comyth hoom as sone as euer she may
For wel she herde say that ilke day
Tha [...] the Markis sholde wedde & yf she mighte
She wolde fayne haue seyn som of that sighte
She thoughte she wolde with othir maidens stonde
That been my felowes in our dore and se
The Markesse and therfore wol I fonde
To doon at hoom as sone as it may be
The labour whiche longeth to me
And than y may at leyser here beholde
Yf she this wey vnto the castel holde
And as she wolde ouer the thresshold goon
The Markis cam and gan her forto calle
[Page] And she set doun her wat
[...]r pot anone
Besidis the threshold in an oxis stalle
And doun vp on her knees she gan to falle
And with sad contenaunce knelid stylle
Til she hadde herd what was the lordis wille
This thoughtful Markis spak vnto the mayde
Ful sobirly and sayde in this manere
Where is your fadir o Grisildis he sayde
And she with reu [...]rence and humble chere
Answerde lord he is al redy here
And in she goth withouten lengir let
And to the Markis she her fader fet
He by the hond than took this olde man
And sayde thus when he had hym a syde
Ianycula I ne may ne I ne can
The plesaunce lenger of my herte hyde
Yf that thou vouchesauf that so betyde
Thy doughter wol I take or that I wende
As to my wyf vnto our lyuys ende
Thow louest me I woot it wel certayn
And art my feithful liege man bore
And al that likith me I dar wel sayn
It likith the and specially therfore
Tel me that poynt that I sayde before
And yf thou wolt vnto that purpos drawe
To take me as for thy sone in lawe
This sodeyn caas this man was stoned so
That reed he wext abasshid and al quak [...]ng
He stood vnnethe sayde he wordis mo
[Page]But only thus
lord quod he my willynge
Ys as ye wil nat ageyns your likynge
I wol no thyng / ye be my lord so dere
Right as you list gouernyth this matere
Yet wol I quod this Markis softely
That in your chambir I ye and she
Haue a collacion and wotist thou why
For I wol axe yf it here wil be
To be my wyf and reule her aftir me
And al this shal be do in thy presence
I nyl not speke out of thyn audience
And in the Chambir whyle they were aboute
Her tretees whiche ye shal as after here
The p [...]pyl cam in to the hous al withoute
And wondrid hem in how honest manere
And she so tentifly kepte her fader dere
But vtterly Grisilde wondre mighte
For neuer erst saw she such a sighte
No wonder it was though she were stoned
To se so greet a gest come in that place
She neuer was to suche gestis y woned
For whiche she lokid with ful paal face
But shortly this mater forto chace
These ben the wordis that the Markis sayde
To this verry benigne feithful mayde
Grisilde he sayde ye shulle wel vnderstonde
It likith vnto your fader and vnto me
That I you wedde and eke it may so stonde
As I suppose that ye wil that it so be
[Page]But thyse demaundis axe I first quod he
That sith it shal be doon in hasty wyse
Wol ye assent or ellis you auyse
I say thus be ye redy with good herte
To al my lust and that I frely may
As me best thinkith though ye lawghe or smerte
And neuer ye to grucche nyght ne day
Whan I say ye that ye say not ones nay
Nothir be word ne by frownyng contenance
Swere this and I you here assure affiaunce
Wondring vp on thyse wordis wonderly for dr [...]de
She sayde lord indigne and vnworthy
I am to [...]uche honour as ye me bede
But as ye wil your self right so wil I
And here I swere that neuer willyngly
In word or thought I wol you disobeye
Forto be ded thogh me were loth to deye
This is ynough Grisilde myn quod he
And forth he goth with a ful sobir chere
Out atte dore and aftir cam she
And to the pepyl he sayde in this manere
This is my wyf quod he that stondeth here
Honourith her and louith her I you pray
Who so me louith ther is no more to say
And for that no thing of her olde geer
She sholde bringe in to his hous he had
That women sholde dispoyle here there
Of whiche these ladyes were not ful glad
To handel her clothis where in she was [...]lad
[Page]But natheles this mayde bright of hewe
Fro foot to hed they clothid her newe
Her heris they kempt that lay vntressid
Ful rudely and with her fyngris smale
A croune on her hed they haue y dressid
And set hir ful of owches grete and smale
Of here aray what sholde I make a tale
Vnnethe the pepyl her knew for her fairnes
Whan she translatid was in suche riches
This markis hath her spousid with a ryng
Brought for the same cause and than her set
Vp on an hors snow white ful wel amblyng
And to his Paleis or he lengir let
With ioyful pepil that her ladde and met
Conueyed her and thus the day they spend
In reuel til the sonne gan descende
And shortly forth this tale forto chace
I say that to this newe Markesse
God hath suche fauour sent of his grac [...]
That it ne semyd be no liklynes
That she was born and fed in rudenes
As in a cyte or in an oxis stalle
But norisshed in an Emperours halle
To euery wight she woxen is so dere
And worshipful that folk there she was bore
And from hir birthe knew her yeer by yere
Vnnethe trowed they but durste haue swore
That to Ianycul of whiche I spak before
She deughter was as by coniecture
[Page]Hem thoughte she was anothir creature
For that euer vertuous was she
She was encrecid in suche excellence
Of the wyse god set in high bounte
And so discreet and feir of eloquence
So benigne and digne of reuerence
And coude so the peplis hertis enbrace
That eche her loued that lokid in her face
Not only of Saluces in the toun
Publisshed was the bounte of hir name
But eke beside in many a regioun
Yf one sayde well another said the same
So spredde of her bounte the name
That men and women both yong and old
Goth to Saluces vp on her to be hold
This walter lowly but nat rially
Weddid hath with fortunat honeste
In goddis pees liuyth ful honestly
At hoom and outward grace ynough had he
And for he saw that vnder low degre
Was honest vertu hid the pepyl hym held
A prudent man and that is seen ful selde
Not only this Grisilde thorow hir witt
Coude al the feet of wifly humbilnes
But yet whan that the [...]as requiryd it
The comune proffit eke coude she redresse
Ther nas discorde rancour ne heuynesse
In al the londe that she it coude a pees
And wysely brynge hem in reste and pee [...]
[Page]Thogh her husbonde were absent or none
Yf gentilmen or othir of that contre
Were wroth she wolde brynge hem attone
So wyse and ripe wordis hadde she
And in Iugement so greet equyte
That she from heuyn sent was as men wend
Pepil to saue and euery wrong to amende
Nat longe tyme aftir that this Grisilde
Was weddid she a doughter had y bore
Al had her leuyr bore a knaue child
Glad was the Markes and the folk therfore
For though amayde child cam al before
S [...]e may vnto a knaue child atteyne
Be liklihede syn she nys not bareyne
¶.Secunda pars.
THer fill as it befallith ofte tyme mo
When þt this child had sokyn but a throw
This markis in his herte he thoughte so
To tempte his wyf her sadnes to knowe
That he ne mighte out of his herte athrowe
Forbere / wherfore he purposid on a day
This maruaylous desire his wyf to assaye
He hadde assaid here ynough ofte tyme before
And fond her euer good what nedith it
Her forto tempte alwey more and more
Thogh sum man preyse it for a subtil wit
But as for me y say ful euyl it sit
To assay a wyf whan that it is no ned [...]
And put her in angwish and in drede
[Page]For which this markis wroughte in this manere
He cam a lone a nyght there as she lay
With sterne face and right ogly chere
And sayde thus Grisilde quod he that day
That I you took fro your poure a ray
And put you in astaat of high noblesse
Ye haue not that forgotyn as I gesse
I say Grisilde the present dignite
In whiche I haue put you as I trow
Makith you not foryetful forto be
That I you took i [...] poure astat fullowe
For ony weel ye muste your self knowe
Take hede of euery word what I seye
Ther is no wight that herith but we twey
Ye woot y [...]r self how that ye cam here
In to this hous it is not longe ago
And though to me ye be bothe leef and dere
Vnto my gentils ye be no thyng so
They say to hem it is gre [...]t shame and woo
Forto be subiect and been in seruage
To the that born art in so smal a vilage
And namely s [...]th thy doughter was y bore
These wordes haue they spoken doutlees
But I desire as I haue don before
To lyue my lif with hem in reste and pees
I may not in this a [...]as be recheles
I moot doon with thy doughter for the beste
Nat as I wolde but as my pep [...]l leste
And yet god woot this is ful loth to me
[Page]But natheles withoute your witynge
I wil not do but thus I wol quod he
That ye to me assente as to this thing
S [...]w now your pacience in your werkynge
That ye me highte and swoor in your village
That day that made was our mariage
Whan she hadde herd al this she not ameuyd
Neither in word neyther in chere ne in continance
For as it semyd she was not agreuyd
She saith lord al lieth in your plesaunce
My child and I with hertly obeyssaunce
Been your owen and ye may bothe saue & spille
Your owen thing do ye aftir your wille
Ther may be no thing so god my soule saue
Likyng to you that may displese me
Ne I desire no thing in ony wyse to haue
Ne dr [...]de forto lese saue only ye
This wyl is in myn herte and euer shal be
No lengthe of tyme or deth may this deface
Ne turne my corage to noon othir place
[...]lad was this Markis of her answeringe
But yet it semyd as he were not so
Al dr [...]y was his chere and his lokyng
Whan that he sholde out of the chambir go
Sone aftir this a furlong wey or two
He priuely hath told al his entent
Vnto a man and to his wyf hym sent
A maner of a serg [...]aunt was this priuy man
The whiche that f [...]ithful oftyn founde had
[Page]In thingis grete
and eke suche folk wel can
Done execucioun in thingis sadde
The lord knew weel that he hym louyd & drad
And when this seric [...]unt wiste his lordis wyl
In to the chambir he stalkid hym ful stylle
Madame he sayde ye moot forgeue it me
Though I do thing whiche I am constreyned
Ye be ful wyse and ful wel knowe ye
That lordis hestis may nat be fayned
They may weel be bewaylid or compleyned
But men muste nede vnto her lust obeye
And so wol I ther is nomore to sey
This child I am comandid forto take
And spak nomore but out the child he hent
Dispitously & gan a chere ful hidons to make
As thogh he wolde haue sleyn it or he went
Gresilde muste al suffre and consent
And as a lamb she sittith meke and stylle
And lete this cruel seriaunt do his wylle
Suspecions was the fame of this man
Suspect his face suspect his word also
Suspect the tyme in whiche he this began
Allas her doughter that she louyd so
She wende he wolde haue sleyn it tho
But natheles she neyther wepte ne siked
Confermyd to that the Markis likid
But at the laste speke thenne she began
And mekely she to the seriaunt prayde
So as he was a veray gentilman
[Page]That she muste hir
child kisse onys or it deid
[...] And in her arme she the litil child leyde
With ful sad face and g [...]n the child to blis
And lullid it and aftir gan it kisse
And thus she sayde in her benigne vois
Farwel my child I shal the neuer se
But sith I haue the markid with the holy crois
Of thilke fader blissed moot thou be
That for vs deide vpon the cros of tre
Thy soule litil child I hym betake
For this nyght shalt thou dye for my sake
I trow that to a norice in this caas
It [...]adde be grete rowthe forto se
Wel mighte a moder than haue cride allas
But natheles so sad and so stedfast was she
That she endurid al aduersite
And to the seriaunt mekely she sayde
Haue here agayn your litil yong mayde
Gooth now quod she and doth my lordis heste
But o thing wol I pray you of your grace
That but my lorde forbad it you atte leste
Burieth this litil body in som place
That bestis ne foulis it to rase
But he to that purpos no word wolde say
But toke the childe and wente vp on his way
This seriaunt cam to the lord agayn
And of Grisil [...]is wordis and of her chere
He tolde hym poynt by poynt short and pleyn
And hym presentid with his doughter dere
[Page]Sumwhat this
lord hath rowthe in his manere
But natheles his purpos h [...]ld [...]e stylle
As lordis doon whan they wyl haue her wylle
And had his seriaunt that he priuely
Sholde the child softe wynde and wrappe
With al the circumstaunce tendirly
And carye it in a cofir or in a lappe
But on peyne of his hed of forto swappe
That noman sholde knowe of this enten [...]
Ne whens it cam ne whithir that it w [...]nt
But at boleyn to his sustir dere
That ilke tyme of Pauye was Countes
He sholde it take and shewe hir this matere
Besekyng here to do her besinesse
This child to fostir in all gentilnes
And whoos child that it is he had hym hyde
From euery wight for aught that may betyde
The seriaunt goth & hath fulfilled this thing
But to this Markis now retorne we
Ful now goth he ful faste Imagenynge
Yf be his wyues chere he mighte se
Or by her word perceyue that she
Were chaungid but neuer yet coude he fynde
But euer in on lik sad and kynde
As glad as humbil as besy in seruise
And eke in loue as she was wont to be
Was she to hym in euery maner wyse
Ne of hir doughter not oword spak she
Non accident for non aduersite
[Page]Was seyn in her ne neuer her doughter name
Ne nempned she in ernest ne in game
¶.Tercia pars.
IN this astat ther past be four y [...]er
Er she with childe was but as god wolde
A man child she baar be this walter
Ful gracious and feir forto beholde
And whan that folk it to his fadir tolde
Nat only he but al his contre mery
Was for this child and god they thanke & hery
When it was two yeer olde and fro the breste
D [...]artid from his norice vp on a day
This Markis caughte yet anothir lest
To tempte his wyf yet ofter yf he may
Vnnedeles was she temptid in assay
But weddid men can no mesure
When that they fynde a pacient creature
Wyf quod this Markis ye haue herd this
My pepil berith heuy sikirly our mariage
And namely sith my sone I born is
Now it is wors than euer in al our age
The murmur sleth myn herte and my corage
For to myn [...]eris comyth the vois so smerte
That it ful nygh destroid hath myn hert
Now say they thus when walter is agoon
Than shal the blood of Ianicula succede
And be our lord for other haue we noon
Suche wordis saith my peple out of drede
Wel oughte I of suche murmur take hede
[Page]For certeinly I drede suche sentence
Though they not pleyne in myn audience
I wolde lyue in pees yf that I mighte
Wherfore I am disposid ful vttirly
As I his sustir seruyd be nyght
Right so thinke I to serue hym priuely
This warne I you that ye not sodenly
Out of your self for no wo sholde affraye
Be pacient and ther of I you pray
I haue quod she said thus and euer shal
I wol no thing in no maner certeyn
But as you list nothing greuith me at al.
Though that my doughter & my sone be slayn
At your comaundement this is forto sayn
I haue had no part of children tweyn
But first seeknes and aftir woo and pe [...]n [...]
Ye been our lord / doth with your owen thing
Right as you list axeth no leue of me
For as I lefte at hoom al my clothinge
When I cam first to you right so quod she
Lefte I my wyl and al my liberte
And took your clothinge wherfore I you pray
Doth your plesaunce I wyl your lust obey
And certis yf I h [...]dde ony prescien [...]e
Your wyll to knowe or ye your lust me tolde
I wolde it do withoute negligence
But now I woot your lust and w [...]a [...] [...]e wolde
Al your plesaunce ferm and stabil I [...]ol [...]e
For wiste I that my deth mighte do you ese
[Page]Right gladly wolde I dye you to please
Deth may not make no maner of comparison
Vnto your loue / and when this Markis say
The constaunce of his wyf he cast a doun
His yen two and wondrid that she may
In pacience suffir al this maner aray
And forth he goth with drery contenaunce
But to his herte it was ful gret plesaunce
This vgle seriaunt in the same wyse
That [...]r doughter caughte right so he
Or wors yf men can wors deuyse
Hath hent her sone that ful is of beaute
And euer in one so pacient was she
That she no chere of heuynes
But lust hym sone and aftir gan hym bles
Saue this she prayde hym yf that he mighte
Her litil sone he wolde in the erthe graue
His tendir lymes delicat in sighte
Fro foulis and fro bestis it to saue
But she non other answer of hym mighte haue
He [...]ente his wey as he no thing thoughte
But to boleyne he it tenderly broughte
This Markis wondred euer lenger the more
Vpon her pacience and that she
Had not knowe sothly therfore
That parfitly her children loued she
He wolde haue wend of som subtilte
And of malice and for cruel corage
That she hadde suffrid this with sad visa [...]e
[Page]But weel he knew that next hym self cer
[...]eyn
She louyd her children lest in euery wyse
But now of women wolde I axe ful feyn
Yf thyse assayes myght not suffyse
What coude a sturdy husbonde more deuyse
To preue her wifhood or her stedfastnes
And he contym [...]ynge euer in his sturdynes
But ther ben folk of suche maner condicion
And so wilful suche assayes to make
That can not stynte of here entencion
But right as they were boundyn to a stake
They wol not of hir firste purpos slake
Right so this Markis hath fully purposid
To tempte his wyf as he was first disposed
He waytid as yf be word or contenaunce
That she to hym was chaungid of corage
But neuer coude he fynde ony variaunce
She was ay in on herte and in visage
And the ferther that she was in age
The more trewe yf it were possibil
She was to hym and the more plesibill
For whiche it semyd thus that of [...]em two
Ther was but on will for but as walter leste
The same lust was her plesaunce also
And god bethankid al fyl for the beste
She shewde weel for non wordly vnreste
A wyf as of her self no thing ne sholde
Wille in effect but as her husbond wolde
The slaunder of Walter wonder wyde spradde
[Page]That of cruel herte he ful wickidly
For he a poure woman weddid hadde
Hath murdrid bothe his childryn priuely
Suche murmur was among hem comynly
No wonder is for to the peplis ere
Ther cam no word but that they murdrid were
For whiche there as the pepil ther before
Hadde louid him wel the skandre of his defame
Made hem that hym they hatid therfore
To be a murdrer is an hateful name
But natheles for ernest or for game
He of his cruel purpos wolde not stynte
To tempte his wyf was al his entent
Wh [...]n that his doughter .xij. yeer was of age
He in to the court of rome in subtil wyse
Enfourm [...]d of his wil sente his message
Comaundinge hem suche bullis to deuyse
As to his cruel purpoos may suffise
How that the Pope bad as for his peplis rest
That he sholde wedde anothir wyf yf he list
I say he bad he sholde countirfete
The Popis bull is makyng mencion
That he hath leue his firste wyf forto lete
As by the Popis owen dispensacion
To stynte the rancour of disc [...]nsion
Betwene his pepil and hym this said the bulle
The whiche they haue publisshed atte fulle
The rude pepil as no wonder ne is
Wende ful w [...]el that it hadde be right so
[Page]But whan thyse tidyngis cam to Grisildis
I deme that the herte of here was ful woo
But she y lik sad was euermo
Disposid was this humbyl creature
The aduersite of fortune al to endure
Abidynge euer his lust and his plesaunce
To whom that she was yeuen herte and al
As to his verry wordly sufficiaunce
But shortly yf I this story telle shal
This Ma [...]kis writen hath in special
A lettir in whiche he shewith his entent
And secretly to boleyne he hath it sent
To the erle of Pauye whiche hadde tho
Weddid his suster / prayde hym specially
To brynge hom aycen his children two
In honourable staat al openly
But o thing he hym prayde entierly
That he no wight though they did enquere
Sholde not telle whoos children that they were
But say the mayde shal weddid be
Vnto the Markis of Saluces anon
And as this erle was prayd so did he
For atte day set he on his wey is goon
And forth he rood hastly and that anoon
Toward Saluce this mayde forto gyde
Here yong brothir ridyng be hir syde
Araid was toward her mariage
This fressh may ful of gemmys cleer
H [...]r brother whiche .vij. y [...]er was of age
[Page] Araid ful fresh in her manere
And thus with gret noblesse and glad chere
Toward Saluces spedyng her iournay
Fro day to day they riden in her way
¶.Quarta pars.
AMong al this aftir his wicked vsage
This Markis is yet about to tempte more
The vtterest preef of her corage
Fully to haue experience and lore
Yf she were as stedfast as before
He on a day in open audience
Ful boistously hath said here this sentence
Certis Gresilde I had I now of plesaunce
To haue you to my wyf for your goodnes
As for your trouthe and your obeysaunce
Nat for your lynage ne for your riches
But now knowe I in verry sothfastnes
That in gret lordship yf I me wol auyse
Th [...]r is gret seruytut in sondry wyse
I may not do as euery plowman may
My p [...]pyl constreyneth me forto take
Anothir wyf and cryen day be day
And eke the peplis ran [...]our forto slake
Concentith it that dar I wel vndertake
And trewly thus much [...] I wol you say
Myn newe wyf is comyng be the way
Be strong of herte & voyde a non her place
And that dower that ye broughte me
Takith it ayen I yeue you leue of my grace
[Page]Retourneth to your fadris hous quod he
No man may alwey haue prosperyte
With euyn herte I rede you to endure
The strook of fortune or of auenture
And she agayn answerde in pacience
My lusty lord quod she I woot & wiste alwey
How that betwixt your magnificence
And my pouerte no wight can ne may
Make ony comparison it is no nay
I ne helde me neuer digne in no manere
To be your wyf neyther your chamberere
And in this hous there ye me lady made
The high god take I for witnes
And also wisly he my soule glade
I neuyr helde me lady ne maistres
But humble seruaunt to your worthynes
And euer shal whyle my lif may endure
Abouen euery wordly creature
That ye haue so longe of your benignite
Holde me in high nobles and honourey
There as I was not worthy forto be
That thanke I god to whom I prey
Foryelde it you ther is no more to sey
Vnto my fader gladly wol I wende
And with hym duelle to my liuys ende
There as I was forstrid of a child ful smal
Tyl I be ded my lif there wol I lede
A widow cleen in body herte and al
For seth I yaf to you my maydenhede
[Page]I am your trewe wyf it is no drede
God shilde [...]uche a lordis wyf to take
Another husbond or ony man to make
And of your newe wyf god of his grace
So he graunte you weel and presperite
For I wol gladly yelde her my plac [...]
In whiche I was blesful wont to be
For sith it liketh you my lord quod she
That som tyme were al my hertis reste
That y shal goon I wol go whan ye leste
But there as ye me profre such dowere
As I first broughte it is wel in my mynde
It were my wre [...]chid clothis no thing feir
The whiche to me now were hard to fynde
O goode god / how gentil and how kynde
Ye semyd by your speche and your visage
The day that maad was our mariage
But soth is said alwey I fynde it trewe
For in effect ypreuyd it is on me
Loue is not olde as when it is n [...]we
But certis lord for non aduersite
To dye in this caas it shal not be
That euer in word or werk I shal repent
That I you yeue my herte in hool entent
My lord ye woot that in my fadres place
Ye did me stripe out of my poure wede
And richely ye me c [...]ad of your grace
To you broughte y nought ellis out of drede
But feith nakidnes and my maydenhede
[Page] And here ayeen my
clothing I restore
And eke my weddyng ryng for euermore
The remenaunt of your iewell is redy th [...]y be
With ynne your chamber I dar it safly seyn
Nakid out of my fadres hous quod she
I cam and nakid muste I turne ayeen
Al your plesaunce folow wolde I feyn
But yet I hope it be not your entent
That I smokles out of your paleis went
Ye coude not do so dishonest a thyng
That ilke wombe in whiche your children lay
Sholde before the pepyl in my walkyng
Be seye albare wherfore I you pray
Let me not lik a worm go by the wey
Remembre you myn owen lord so dere
I was your wyf thogh I vnworthy were
Wherfore in guerdom of my maydenhede
Whiche that I broughte and not ayen y bere
As vouchesauf as yeue me to my mede
But suche a smok as I was wont to were
That I therwith may wrye the wombe of here
That was your wyf and here I take my leue
Of you myn owen lord leest that I you greue
The smok quod he that thou hast vp on thy ba [...]
Let it be stylle and bere it forth with the
But wel vnnethe that word he spak
But wente his wey for routhe and pyte
Be for the folk her self striped hath she
And in her smok with foot and heer al bare
[Page] Toward her fadris hous is she fare
The folk her folowyn wepyng in her wey
And fortune euer they cursid as they goon
But she fro wepyng kepte her yen dreye
Ne in this tyme word spak she noon
Her fadir that thyse tidinges herde anon
Cursid the day and the tyme that nature
Shoop hym to be a lyuys creature
For oute of doute this olde poure man
Was euer suspect of her mariage
For euer he demyd sith it be gan
That whan the lord had fulfild his corage
He wolde thinke it were a disparage
To his astat so lowe to light
And vo [...]den her as sone as euer he might
Ayens his doughter hastely goth he
For h [...] b [...] noyse of folk knew her comynge
And with her olde cote as it mighte be
He keuerid her ful soroufully wepyng
But on her body mighte he it not brynge
For rude was the cloth and she more of age
Be daies fele than was her mariage
Than with her fader for a certeyn spaas
Duellid this flour of wifly pacience
That neuer by her word ne by her face
Beforn the folk ne in her absence
Ne shewde she that her was doon offence
Ne of hir high astat no remembraun [...]e
Ne had she as by ony maner contenaunce
[Page]No wonder was for in her grete astat
Her gost was euer in pleyn humy [...]te
No tender mouth ne herte delicaat
No pompe ne semblaunce of rialte
But ful of pacient benignite
Discreet and prideles and ay honourabil
And ay to her husbond meke and stabil
Men speke of Iob and most for his humbles
As clerkis whan hem list can wel endite
Namely of men but in sothfastnes
Though clerkis preyse women but alite
Ther can noman in humbles hem aquyte
As woman can ne can be half so trewe
As women ben but it be falle of newe
¶Quinta pars.
ERo Boleyne this erle of Pauye cam
Of whiche the fante sprong both more & lesse
And in the peplis eris al and som
Was told that he a newe Markesse
With hym broughte in suche pomp [...] and riches
That neuer was seye with mannys ye
So ryal a sight in al westlumbardye
The Markis whiche that shope & knew al this
Or that this erle was come sente his message
For that sely poure creature the Marquesse
And she with humble herte and glad visage
Not with no swellyng thought in her corage
Cam at his heste and on her knees her set
And reuerently and wisly she hym g [...]et
[Page]Grisilde quod he my wil is ful entierly
This mayden that weddid shal be to me
Rec [...]yued be to morow al so rially
As it is possible in my hous to be
And eke that euery wight in his degre
Haue his astaat in sittinge and in seruise
And hye plesaunce as ye can best deuyse
I haue no woman sufficiaunt certeyn
The chambris forto araye in ordenaunce
Aftir my list and therfore wolde I fayne
That [...]h [...]n were al suche maner of gouernaunce
Thou knowest eek of old al my plesaunce
Th [...]ugh thyn aray be badde and euyl be seye
Do thy deuoyr yet atte the leste w [...]y
Not only lord that I am glad quod she
To do [...]our lust but I desire also
You first to please and serue in my degre
Withoute fayntynge and shal euer mo
Ne for no weel ne for no maner of wo
Ne shal ye gost with in my herte stynte
To loue you best with al my trew entent [...]
And with that word she gan the hous to dighte
And tab [...]is forto sette and beddis forto make
And peyned here to do al that she mighte
Prayynge the chamberers for goddis sake
To haste hem and faste swepe and shake
And she the m [...]ste seruisabil of alle
Hath eu [...]ry chambir araid and eke his halle
Aboute the vndryn gan this erle to lighte
[Page]That with him broughte thise nobil child
[...]in twey
For whiche the pepyl ran to se that sight
Of here aray mightily they were beseye
And than among hem alle they seye
That Waltir was no fool though that hym list
To chaunge his wyf for it was for the best
For she is fairer as they demyn alle
Than is Grisilde and more tendir of age
And fairer fruyt betwen hem shal falle
And more plesaunce for her high lynage
Her brothir eke so fair of visage
That hem to se the pepyl hath caught plesaunce
Comendynge now the Markis gouernaunce
O sturdy pepyl euer vnsad and vntrewe
Ay vndiscreet and chaungynge as a vane
Here may ye se the peple how newe
Ay ful of clappinge dere ynow a Iane
And changeable be right as the mane
Your dome is fals your constaunce euyl preuyth
A ful gret fool is he that on you leuith
Thus sayden sad foll [...] in that cite
When that the pepyl gadrid vp and doun
For they were glad right for the newelte
To haue a newe lady of her toun
Nomore of this now make I mencion
But to Gris [...]lde ageyn I wil me dres
And telle here constaunce and her besine
Ful besi was Gresilde in euery thing
That to the feste was tho appertinent
[Page]Right nought was she
abasshid of her clothinge
Though it were rude and somdele eke to rent
But with clad chere to the yate is she went
With other folk to grete the Markeses
And aftir doth forth her besynes
With right glad chere she his gestis receyued
And so connyngly eche in his degre
That no defaute noman perceyuyd
But ay they wondrid what she might be
That in so poure aray was forto se
And coude suche honoure and reuerence
And worthyly they preysen her prudence
In al this mene whyle she ne stynt
This mayde and eek hir brother to comende
With al her herte in ful benigne entent
So well that noman coude her presing amende
But atte laste when that lordis wende
To sictyn doun to mete he gan to calle
Grisilde as she was besy in the halle
Grisilde quod he as it were in his pley
How likith the my wyf and her beaute
Right well my lord quod she for in good fey
A fairer saw I neuer than is she
I prey to god yeue her good prosperyte
And so hope I he wil to you sende
Plesaunce ynow vnto your liues ende
O thing y beseche you and warne also
That ye not prik with no turmentrye
This tendir mayde as ye haue do mo
[Page]For she is
sostrid in her norisshinge
More tenderly and to my supposinge
She coude not aduersite wel endure
As coude a poure fostrid creature
And whan this walter saw her pacience
Her glad chere and no malice at al
And he so ofte hadde do to her offence
And she ay constant and sad as a wal
Contynuynge euer here Innocence ouer al
This sturdy Markis gan his herte dresse
To rewe vp on her wifly stedfastnes
This is ynow Grisilde myn quod he
Be now nomore agast ne euyl a payd
I haue thy feith and thy benignite
As wel as euer woman was a said
In gret astat or pouerly araid
Now knowe I dere wyf thy stedfastnes
And here in armys took and gan her kysse
And she for wonder took of hym no kep [...]
She herde not what thing be to her sayde
She farid as she hadde stert out of her slep [...]
Til she out of hir masidnes abreyde
Grisilde quod he be god that for vs deyde
Thow art my wyf non other I haue
Ne neuer I hadde as god my soule saue
This is thy doughter whiche thou hast supposid
To be my wyf that othir feithfully
Shal be myn heir as I haue disposid
Thou baar hym in thy body ful trewly
[Page]At boleyne haue I kept hem priuely
Take hem ayeen for now maist thou nat sey
That thou hast lorn none of thy childryn twey
And folk that othir wyse haue sayd by me
I warne hem wel that I haue don this dede
For no malice ne for no cruelte
But forto assay in the thy womanhede
And nat to sle my childryn god forbede
But forto kepe hem priuely and stille
Til I thy purpos knew and al thy wylle
When she this herde in swonnyng doun she fallith
For pitous ioye and aftir her swonnyng
She to her bothe here yonge childryn callith
And in her armys ful petously wepynge
Enbraced hem and tenderly kissinge
Ful lik amodir with salt teris
She badith bothe her visage and her eris
O whiche a pitous thing it was to se
Her swonn [...]nge and her pitous vois to here
Graunt mercy lorde / god thanke it you qd she
That ye haue saued me my childryn dere
Now recke I neuyr to be ded euyn here
Sith y stonde in your loue and in your grace
No doute of deth ne whan my spirit pace
O tender o dere o yonge childryn myn
Your woful moder w [...]de ful stedfastly
That cruel houndis or som foul venym
Hadde etyn you but god of his mercy
And your benigne fader so tenderly
[Page]Hath done you kepe
and in that same stounde
Al sodenly she swapt doun to g [...]ounde
And in her swoune so sadly holdith she
Her childryn two whan she gan h [...]m brace
That with greet sleyghte and greet difficulte
The childryn from here arm gon they race
O many a tere of many a pitous face
Doun ran of hem that stodyn there beside
Vnnethe aboute here mighte they abyde
Walter her gladith and her sorow slakith
She risith vp and basshith from her traunce
And euery wight her ioye and feste makith
Til she hath caught ayeen her contenaunce
Walter doth her so feithful plesaunce
That it was deynte to se the chere
Betwene hem two syn they be met in fere
Thyse ladyes whan they her tyme sey
Haue takyn here and in to chambir anon
And stripen here out of her rude aray
And in a cloth of gold that bright shoon
With a croune o [...] [...]any a riche stoon
Vp on her hed in to the halle they brought
And there she was honoured as she ought
Thus hath this pitous day a blisful ende
For euery man and woman doth his might
This day in mirthe and reuel to spende
Til on the welkyn shoon the ste [...]ys light
For more solempnyte in euery mannys sight
This [...]este was and of gretter costage
[Page]Than was the reuel of hir mariage
Ful many a yeer in high prosperite
Lyuen thyse two in concorde and in reste
And richely his doughter maried he
Vnto a lord on of the worthiest
Of al Itail and than in pees and reste
His wyuys fader in his court he kepith
Til the soule out of the body crepith
His sone succedith in his heritage
In reste and pees aftir his fadris day
And fortunat was eke in mariage
Al put he nat his wyf in gret assaye
This worlde is not so strong it is no nay
As it hath been in olde tymes yore
And h [...]rkith what this auctor saith therfore
This stor [...] is said nat for that wyuys sholde
Folow Grisilde as in high humylyte
For it were importabil though they wolde
But f [...]r that euery wight in his degre
Sholde be constant in al aduersite
As was Grisilde wh [...]rfore Petrark writith
This story whiche with high stile enditith
For sith a woman w [...]s so pacient
Vnto a mortal man wel more we oughte
Receyuen al in good that god vs sent
For gret skillis I preue that he wrought
But he ne temptid noman that he bought
As saith saint Iame yf ye his pistil rede
He preuyth folk but a day it is no drede
[Page] And suffrith vs as for our excercise
With sharpe scorgis and aduersite
Ful ofte to be bete in sondry wyse
Nat forto knowe our wil but certis he
Er we were born knew al our freelte
And for our beste is al his gouernaunce
Lete vs lyue than in vertuous suffraunce
But o word harkenyth lordingis or I go
It were ful hard to fynde now a days
Grisildis in al a contre on or two
For yf they were put to suche assayes
The gold of hem hath so badde a layes
With bras for though it be fair at ye
It wolde rathir breste on two than plye
For whiche here for the wyuys loue of Bathe
Whoos lyf and secte mighty god mayntene
In high maistrie or ellis were it s [...]athe
I wol with lusty herte fresh and grene
Sey you a song to glade you I w [...]e
And leet vs stynte of ernest matere
Herkeneth my song that saith in this man [...]re
GRisilde is ded and eek her pacience
And bothe at onys buried in Itayle
For whiche I crye in open audience
No weddid man so hardy be to assayle
His wyuys pacience in trust to fynde
Grisildis for certeyn he shal fayle
O nobil wyuys ful of prudence
Leet non humylite your tungis nayle
[Page]Ne lete no clerk
[...]oue c
[...]use or diligence
To wryte of you a story of suche meruay [...]
As of Grisilde pacient and kynde
Lest cheuache you swalow in entrail
Felowith e [...]ro that holdith no silence
But euyr answeringe atte countirtayl
Be nat a daffid for your Innocence
But sharply take on you the gouernayl
Enpryntith wel that lesson in your mynde
For comyn profit seith it may auaylle
Ye archewyuys stondith at defence
Syn ye be stronge as is a gret Camaylle
Ne suffre not that men do you offence
But sklender wyuys as febil in batayll
Beth [...]gre as a tigre is / fer in ynde
Ay clappinge as a mylle I you counsayl
Ne dredith hem not do hem no reuerence
For though thy husbond armed be in mayl
Thy wordis of thy crabbed eloquence
Shal perse his brest and eke his auentayl
In Ielousie I rede eke that thou hym bynde
And thou shalt make hym cowche as a quayl
Yf thou be fair there folk been in presence
Shew thou thy visage and thyn apparaylle
Yf thou be foul be fre of thy despence
To gete the frendis ay do thy trauaylle
Be ay of chere as light as leef on lynde
And leet hym care wepe wrynge and wayl
Verba hospitis.
[Page]THis worthy clerk whan
endid was his tale
Our oste sayde and swoor be cockis bonys
Me were leuer than a barel of ale
My wyf hadde herd this legende onys
This is a gentil tale for the nonys
As to my purpos wyste ye my wil
But thing that wil not be let it be styll
Here endith the tale of the clerk of Oxenforde And begynneth the Frankeleynes prolog.
THese olde gentil britons in her da [...]es
Of diuers auctours maden her layes
Rymed first in her owen briton tunge
Suche layes with her instrumentis they sunge
Or ellis reddyn hem for her plesaunce
And on of hem haue I in remembraunce
Whiche I shal say with as good wil as I can
Bert sires be cause I am a borel man
At my begynnynge first I you beseche
Haue me excusid of my rude speche
I lernyd neuer rethorik in certayn
Thing that I speke muste be bare and pleyn
I slepte neuer in the mount of ꝑnaso
Ne lerned Mara [...]s Tullius ne Cit [...]ero
Colowris knowe I noon withouten drede
But suche colouris as growen in the mede
Or ellis suche as men dien or peynte
Colours of rethorik be to me queynte
My spirit felith in no suche matere
But and ye list my tale shul ye here
[Page]¶Here endith the Frankeleyns
prolog ¶
And here begynneth his tale.
IN armorik that callid [...]is Britayne
Ther was a knight þ• louid & dede his payne
To serue ladyes in his beste wyse
And many a labour and meny a gret empryse
He for his lady wrought or she was wonne
For she was on the fairest vnder sonne
And eke therto comyn of high kynrede
That wel vnnethe durste the knyght for drede
Telle here his wo or peyne or disires
But a [...]te last she for his worthynes
And namely for his meke obeyssaunce
Hath suche appetit caught of his penaunce
That she priu [...]ly fil of his accorde
To take hym for hir husbond and for hir lorde
Of suche lordship as men haue ouyr hir wyuys
And forto lede in the more blisse her lyuys
Of his fre wil he swoor her as he was a knyght
That neuer in al his lyf by day ne by nyght
Ne sholde of hym take no maistrie
Ag [...]yns h [...]r wil ne kithe her Ielousie
But her obeye and fo [...]owe her wil in al
As ony louer to his lady shal
Saue the name of souereynte
That wolde he haue for shame of his degre
She thankith hym of his humb [...]enesse
She say [...]e sire of your gentilnesse
Ye proser me to haue so large a reyne
[Page]Ne wolde
god neuer betwix vs tweyne
As in my gilt were othir werre or strif
Sire I wil be your humble trewe wyf
Haue here my trouthe til my herte brest
Thus ben they bothe in quyete and in rest
For o thyng sires sauely dar I say
That frendis eueriche other muste obeye
In loue and forbere eche other nedely
Yf they wil lyue in pees and hold companye
When maistrie is come the god of loue anon
Betith her wyngis and fare wel it is goon
Loue is a thing as ony thought fre
For women of kynde desiren liberte
And nat to be constreyned as a thrall
And so doth men yf I the sothe telle shal
Loke who is most pacient in loue
He is at his auauntage al a boue
Pacience is an high vertu certeyn
For it venquyssheth as clerkis sayn
Thingis that rigour shal neuer atteyne
For euery word men may not chide or p [...]yne
Lernyth to suffre or ellis so mot I goon
Ye shal it lerne wh [...]thir ye wil or noon
For in this worlde certeyn no wight is
That he ne doth or saith somtyme amys
I [...]e siknes or constillacioun
Wyne woo or c [...]aung [...]nge of complexioun
Causith ful ofte to do amys or spekyn
On euery wrong aman may not be wrekyn
[Page]Af
[...]ir the tyme muste be temperance
To euery wight that can of gouernaunce
And therfore hath this wyse worthy knyght
To lyuyn in her suffraunce hir behight
And she to hym ful willy gan swere
That neuer sholde be defaute in here
Here men may se in humble wyse acorde
Thus hath she take her seruaunt and her lord
Seruaunt in loue and in mariage
Than was he bothe in lordship and in seruage
Seruage nay but in lordship aboue
Sithe he hath bothe his lady and his loue
His lady certis and his wyf also
The whiche lawe and loue accordith therto
And when he was in his prosperite
Home with his wyf he goth to his contre
Not fer [...]ro Padmak his dwellyng was
Where as he lyuyth in blis and in solas
Who coude telle but he that weddid had be
The ioye the ese and the prosperite
That is betwix an husbond and his wyf
A yeer or more lestith this blisful lyf
Til that this knyght of whiche I spak thus
That of kynrede was clepid Arueragus
Shoop hym to goon & duelle a yeer or twayne
In Engelond that clepid was Britayne
To seke in armys worship and honour
For al his lust he sette in such labour
And duellid there two yeer the book saith thus
[Page]Now wol I stynte of this Arueragus
And speke I wol of dorigene his wyf
That louyd her husbond as her lyf
For his absence wepith she and sikith
As doon thyse gode wyuys when h [...]m likith
She morneth wakith waylith & pleynyth
Desire of his presence so her distreyneth
That al this wyde worlde she set at nought
Her frendis that knew hir they thought
Here to comforte in al that euer they may
They prechyn here they techen here nyght and day
That causeles she sleth her self allas
And euery comfort possible in that caas
They do to here and al her besines
To auoyde her sorow and her heuynes
Men mowe so longe graue in a stoon
Be processe as ye knowen euerichon
Til som figure ther ynne pryntid be
So longe haue they conforted here tyl she
Receyued hath by hope and by reson
The enpryntinge of her consolacion
Thorow whiche her sorow began to aswage
She may not alwey duryn in suche arage
And eke Arueragus in al this care
Hath sent her lectris hom of his welfare
And that he wol come hastely agayn
Or ellis hadde this sorow [...]er hert slayn
And thus they her sorowes fo [...] to slake
Prayde her on their knees for goddis sake
[Page]To come
and Rome her in company
Awey to dryuen her derk fantesie
And finally she grauntid that request
For wel she saw it was for the best
Now stood her castel faste by the se
And ofte with her frendis walkid she
Here forto disporte vpon the bank only
Where she many shippis and bargis sy
Sayling her cours where hem list to go
But yet was that a parcel of her wo
For to her self ful ofte allas sayd she
Is ther no ship so many as I se
Wolde brynge hoom my lord than were my hert
Al warisshid of his bittir peynys smert
Anothir tyme she wolde sitte and thinke
And caste her yen dounward from the brynke
But whan she saw the grisly rockis blake
For verry feer wolde her herte quake
That on her feet she mighte not sustene
Than wolde she sit doun vp on the grene
And pitously on the see with sighes olde
And saith right thus with herte cold
Eterne god that thorow thy purueaunce
Ledist the worlde by certeyn gouernaunce
In ydil as ye say ye no think make
But lord this grisly rockis blake
That sownen rather[?] vnto foul confusion
Of wreke than to ony maner creacion
Of suche parfit god wyse and stabil
[Page]Why haue ye wrought this work vnresonab
[...]l
For by this werke North south west ne est
Ther nys y [...]ostrid man brid ne best
It doth no good to my wit but annoieth
Se ye not lorde how mankynde it destroieth
An hundrid thousand bodyes of mankynde
Haue rockis slayn al though they be not in mynde
Syn mankynde is so fair a part of thy werk
Thou it maad first lik to thyn owen merk
Than semyth it ye haue do a gret charite
Toward mankynde how mighte it than be
That ye suche menys make it to destroien
Suche menes do no good but annoien
I woot wel clerkis wol say as hem list
Be argumentis that al is for the best
Though I ne can the causis wel knowe
But that god that made the wynd to blowe
As kepe my lord this is my conclusion
To clerkis lete I al disputacion
But wolde god that alle thyse rockis blake
Were sonkyn in to helle for his sake
Thyse rockis sle my herte for feer
Thus wolde she say with many a pitous teer
Here frendis sawe that it was no disport
To romyn be the see but discomforte
And shapen forto pley somwhere ellis
They ledyn here by reueris and by wellis
And in other places dilectablis
They daunsyn and pleyn acte ches & [...] tablis
[Page]So on a day right on the morow tide
Vnto a gardyn that was there beside
In whiche that they had made her ordynaunce
Of vitayl and of oth [...]r purueaun [...]e
They goon and pleyn [...]em al the longe day
And this was in the sixte morow of May
Whiche may hath peintid with her soft showris
This gardyn ful of leuys and of flouris
And craft of mannys hond so coriously
Araid hath this gardyn trewly
That neuer was ther gardyn of suche pris
But yf it were the verry paradise
The odour of flouris and the fressh sighte
Wo [...]de haue maad ony herte lighte
That euer was born but yf gret siknes
Or to greet sorow held it in distres
So ful it was of be [...]ute with plesaunce
Anon aftir dyner gonne they daun [...]
And song also saue dorigene alone
Whiche made alwey her compleynt & hir mone
For she ne saw hym i [...] the daunce go
That was her husbond and her loue also
But natheles she must her tyme abyde
And with good hope lete her sorowis slyde
Vp on this daunce among other men
Daunsid a squier befor dorigene
That fressher was and Iolier of assay
As to my dome than is the monthe of May
He singith daunsith passing ony other ma [...]
[Page]That is or was syn the worlde began
Therwith he was yf men sholde hym discryue
On of the beste faryng men on lyue
Yong strong vertuous and wyse
And wel belouyd and holdyn in gret price
And shortly yf I the soth telle shall
Vnwytyng of this Dorigene at al
This lusty squier seruaunt to venus
Whiche that clepid was Aurelius
He louyd her best of ony creature
Two yeer or more as was his auenture
But neuer durste he telle here his greuaunce
Withoute the cup drank he al his penaunce
He was despeyr [...]d no thing durste he sey
Saue in his songis somdele wolde he wrey
This was in general his compleynynge
He said he louyd and belouyd no thing
Of suche mater made he many layis
Songis compleyntis rondels virayls
How that he durste not his sorow telle
But languyng as fier doth in helle
And dye he sayde he muste as did Ekko
For Narcrisus that durst not telle his wo
In other maner th [...]n ye here now say
Ne durste he not his wo to hir bewray
Saue ꝑauenture at festes and daunsis
There yonge [...]olk kepyn her obseruaunci [...]
It may weel ben he lokid in her face
In suche a wyse as m [...]n that axen grace
[Page]But no
thing wiste she of his entent
Natheles it happid or they thens went
Be cause that he was her neyghebour
And was a man of worship and honour
And hadde knowen hym of tymes yore
They fallen in speche and so more and more
In to his purpos drew Aurilius
And whan he saw his tyme he said thus
Madame quod he by god that this worlde made
So that I wiste I mighte your herte glade
I wolde that day that your Arueragus
Went ouer the se that I Aurelius
Had gone there I sholde neuer come ayeen
For wel I woot my seruise is in veyn
My guerdom is but brestyng of myn herte
Madame rewe on my peynys smerte
Here at your feet god wolde I were begraue
For as wisly as god my sowle saue
I ne haue as now no more leyser to seye
Haue mercy swete or ye wol do me deye
She gan to loke vp on this Aurelius
Is this your wil quod she and say ye thus
Neuer yet quod she wist I what ye ment
Ne neuer vnderstode I your entent
By that god that yaf me soule and lif
Ne shal I neuer be vntrew wif
In word ne in werk as fer as I haue wyt
I wil be his to whom I am knyt
Take this for fynal answer as of me
[Page]But aftir than in pley thus
said she
Aurely said she be high god aboue
Yet wol I graunte to be your loue
Syn I se you so pitously compleyne
Loke what day fro Englond to britaigne
Ye remeue al the rockis stoon be stoon
That they ne lette ship ne boot to goon
I say whan ye haue made this coste so clene
Of rockis that ther is no stoon I seen
Than wol I loue you best of ony man
Haue here my trouthe in al that euer I can
For I woot that it shal neuer betyde
Let suche folye out of your herte a slyde
What deynte sholde a man haue in his lyf
Forto go loue anothir mannys wyf
And her had when so that hym likith
Aurilius ful sore ofte he s [...]kith
Is ther none other grace in you quod he
No by that lord that made me
Wo was Aurily whan he this herde
And with a sorowful herte he thus answerde
Madame quod he this were impossibil
Than muste I dye in sodeyn deth hor [...]bil
And with that word he turned hym anon
Tho com her other frendes many on
And in the aleyes romedyn vp an doun
And no thing wistyn of this conclusion
And sodenly begonnen reuel newe
Til the bright sonne lost his hewe
[Page]For the occident hadde re
[...]t the sonne her light
This is as muche to say as it was nyght
And hoom they goon in ioye and solas
Saue only wre [...]chid Aurilius allas
He to his hous is go [...]n with sorowful hert
He saith that he ne may from his deth astert
He saith that he felith his herte cold
Vnto heuyn his hondis he gan holde
And on his knees hare he set hym doun
And in rauynge said this orison
Fer v [...]ry woo out of his wit he brayde
He nyste what he spak but thus he sayde
With pitous herte his pleynt hath begonne
And his prayer made first to the sonne
He said Appollo god and gouernour
Of euery planet herbe tre and flour
That yeuyst aftir thy declinacion
To eche of hem his tyme and his seson
And thyn her [...]orow chaungith lowe and hye
Therfore my lord cast ye your ye
On wre [...]chid Aurily whiche am but lorn
Lo lord my lady hath my deth sworn
Withouten ony gilt but thy benignite
Vp on my dedly herte haue som pyte
But wel I woot Phebus yf ye list
Ye may me helpe saue my lady best
Now vouchauf that I may you deuyse
How that I may be holpen and in what wyse
Your blisful sustir Lucyna the shene
[Page]That of the see clif goddesse is
and quene
Though Neptumis haue deyte in the see
Yet Emperesse aboue hym is she
Ye know wel lord / right as her desire
Is to be quyckened and lightnyd of your fyre
For which she folowith you ful bes [...]ly
Right so the see desirith naturelly
To folow her and she that is goddes
Bothe in the s [...]e and ryuers more and les
Wherfore lord Phebus this is my request
Do this mirakil or do myn herte brest
That thou next at this opposicion
With ynne whiche signe shal be the lioun
As praieth her so greet a flood to brynge
That fyue fadom at the leest it ouer spring [...]
The hiest rok that is in al Bretayne
And leet this flood endure yeris tweyne
Than certis to my lady may I sey
Holdith your hest the rokkis be awey
Lord Phebus this mirakil do for me
Pray here that she go no faster cours than ye
I say thus pray your sust [...]r that she go
No fastir cours than y [...] in y [...]i [...] two
Than shal she [...]e at euene ful alway
And springe flood laste bothe nyght and day
And but ye v [...]uchesauf in suche manere
To graunte me my souereyn lady de [...]e
Pray her to synke euery [...]k a doun
Into helle her owen derk mansioun
[Page]Vnder the grounde there Pluto duellith yn
Or neuer shal I my lady wyn
Thy tempil in delphose wol I seke
Lord Phebus se the teris on my cheke
And of my payne haue som compassion
And with that word in swonnynge he fil adoun
And longe tyme he lay in a traunce
His brothir whiche knew his penaunce
Vp caught hym and to bedde hath hym brought
Dispeiryd in this turment & in this thought
Lete I this woful creature ly
Chese he whethir he wol lyue or dy
Arueragus with hele and honour
As he that was of cheualrye the flour
Is comyn hoom and othir worthy men
A blisful herte hath now dorigen
That hast thy blisful husbond in thyn armys
The fresh kn [...]ght the worthy man of armys
That louith the as his owen hertis lyf
No thing list he to be ymaginatyf
If ony wight hadde spoke whylis he was oute
To her of loue ther of hadde he no doute
He not entendith to suche matere
But daunsith iustith and makith good cheer
And thus in ioye and blis I lete hem duelle
And of the sik Aurilius wol I telle
In langour and in turment furious
Two yeer and more lay this Aurilius
Or ony foot he mighte on erthe goon
[Page]Comfort in this tyme hadde he noon
Saue his brothir whiche was a clerk
He knew al this woo and al this werk
For to noon other creature certeyn
Of this mater he durste no word sayn
Vnder his brest he bare it more secree
Than euer did Phamphilus or Galathe
His brest was hool withoute forto seen
But in his hert ay was the arow keen
And weel I knowe of Surgeture
In surgerye ful perleus is the cure
But men mighte touche the arow or com therby
His brother wepith and waylith priuely
Tyl atte laste hym fyl in remembraunce
That whylis he was at Orliaunce in Fraunce
As yonge clerkis that been likorous
To redyn artis that been curious
Sekyn in euery halke and euery herne
Particuler science forto lerne
He hym remembrid that vp on a day
In orliaunce in a book that he say
Of magik naturel with his felow
That was that tyme a bachel [...]r of lawe
Al were he there to lerne another craft
Had priuely vp on his deslie laft
Suche a book as spak moche of operacions
And of many dyuers coniuracions
That longen to the mone and suche foly
As in our dayes is not worth a flye
[Page]For holy chirche saith in our beleue
Ne suffrith not illusion vs to greue
And whan this book was in remembraunce
Anon for ioye his herte gan to daunce
And to hym self he sayde priuely
My brothir warisshed shal be hastely
For I am siker ther be sciences
Be whiche men make diuers apparencis
Whiche alle thyse subtil tregetouris pley
For ofte at festis haue I herd seye
That tregetouris withynne an halle large
Haue made come in watir in a barge
And in the halle rowen vp an doun
Som tyme hath semed come a greet lioun
And som tyme flouris spryngyng in a mede
Som tyme wyne and grapis whyte and rede
Som tyme a Castel of lyme and stone
And when he likith it voidith anon
Thus semyth it to many a mannys sight
Now than conclude I thus yf I mighte
At orliaunce som old felow fynde
That hadde the monys mansions in mynde
Or othir magik naturel aboue
He sholde wel make my brother haue his loue
For whiche apparence a clerk may make
To mannys sight that al the rockis blake
Of Brita [...]ne were voydid euerichoon
And shippis be the br [...]nkis comyn and goon
And in such [...] fourme endure a woke or two
[Page]Than were my brothir
warisshid of his wo
Than muste she nedis holde her beheste
Or ellis he shal shame her at the leste
What sholde I make a lenger tale of this
Vnto his brotheris bed I come he is
And suche comfort he yaf hym forto goon
To Orliaunce that he vp stert anoon
And on his wey than onward is he fare
In hope forto be lissid of his care
When they were come almost to that ci [...]e
But yf it were a two forlong or thre
A yong clerk romynge hym self they meite
Whiche that in latyn thriftely hem grette
And aftir he sayde a wonder thing
I knowe quod he the cause of your comynge
And er they further ony foot wente
He tolde hem al what was here entent
This britoun clerk hym axid of felawys
The whiche he had knowen in old dayes
And he answerid hem that they ded were
For whiche he wepte ful meny a tere
Doun of his hors Aurilius light anon
And with this magicien forth he gan goon
Hoom to his hous and made hym wel at ese
Hym lackid no vitayl that hem mighte plese
So wel araid hous as there was oon
Aurilius in his lyf saw neuer noon
He shewde hym or he wente to Sopere
Forestis Parkis ful of wylde dere
[Page]There saw he hertis with her hornys hye
The grectist that were euer seye with ye
He saw of hem an hundrid sleyn with houndis
And some of arowes blede and bitter woundis
He saw where woundid were thyse wilde deer
The faucons vp on a fair ryuer
That with her beckis gan herons sleyn
To sy he knyghtis iustynge in a pleyn
And aftir this he did hym suche plesaunce
That [...]e hym shewde his lady in a daunce
In whiche hym self daunsed as hym thoughte
And when this maister þ• this magik wroughte
Saw it was tyme he clappid his hondis to
And farewel our reuel was al y do
He rem [...]ued neuer out of his hous
Whyle they saw all this meruayllous
But in his stody there as his bokis be
They sittyn stille while they saw this they thre
To hym this maistir callid his squier
And sayde hym thus is redy our soper
Almost an hour it is I vndertake
Syn I you bad our soper for to make
When that thyse worthy men wente with m [...]
In to my stody there as my bokis be
Sire quod the squier whan it likith yow
It is al redy though ye wil right now
Go we sope quod he [...]t is for the beste
Thyse armorous folk sumtyme moste haue reste
And aftir soper fyl they in trete
[Page]What sum̄e sholde the maistris guerdom be
To remeue alle the rockis in Britaigne
And eek from geronde to the mouth of sayne
He made hym straunge he swoor so god hym saue
Lesse than a thousand pound he wolde not haue
Ne gladly for that sum̄e he nolde not goon
Aurilius with blisful herte anon
Saith thus fy on a thousand pound
The wyde worlde whiche men say is rounde
I wolde it yeue yf I w [...]re lord of it
This bargayn is ful dryue and ful knyt
Ye shul be paid trewly be my trouthe
But lokith now for noon negligence ne slouthe
Ye tarye vs here no lenger than to morow
Nay quod the clerk haue here my feith to borow
To bedde he goth Aurilius whan hym lest
And wel nygh al that nyght he hadde rest
What for his bargayn and for his hope of blisse
His woful herte of penaunce hadde a lisse
Vp on the morow whan it was day
To Britayne took they the righte way
Aurilius and this Magicien hym beside
And he descended there they wol abyde
And this was as the book doth remembre
The cold frosty seson of decembre
Phebus hewe w [...]xid was lik latoun
That a fore in his hoot declinacioun
Shone as the buruyd gold with stremy [...] bright
But thenne in Capricorne adoun he light
[Page]Ther
[...] as he shone ful p
[...]al I dar wel sayn
The bittir frostis with the slit of rayn
Destroid h [...]th the grene in euery yerd
Iamis s [...]t by the fyre with dowbyl berde
And drynketh of his bugil horn the wyne
And aftir this ale bothe good and fyn
And nowel cryeth euery lusty man
Aurilius doth al that he can
To wayte a tyme of his conclusion
This is to say to make illusion
Be suche apparent Iogelrye
I can no termys of astrologie
They shewde that euery wight sholde we [...] & say
That of Britayne the rockis were away
Or ellis they were sonkyn vnder the grounde
So at the laste he hath his tyme y founde
To make his Ia [...]e and his wre [...]chidnes
Of suche a supersticion of cursidnes
His tab [...]is tolentanes forth he brought
Ful weel correctid it lackid nought
Neythir his colet ne his expan [...]s yeris
Ne his rotis ne his oth [...] geris
And by his centris and his argumentis
And his proporcinel contentis
For his equacions in euery thing
And by his eygth sp [...]ere in his workyng
He knew ful we [...]l how fer anath was sowe
Fro the hed of that fixe ari [...]s bowe
That in the .iij. spe [...]e considerid is
[Page]Ful subtilly he
calked al this
Whan he hadde his firste mansion̄
He knew the remenaunt by proporcion̄
And knew the risinge of the mone well
And in whos face and signe eueridell
And knew wel the monys mansion̄
Attendant vnto his operac [...]on̄
And he knew also wel his other obseruauncis
For suche illusions and suche myschauncis
As hethen folk vseden in tho dayes
For sothe no lenger makith he delayes
But thorow his magik a woke or tweye
It semyd that al the rockis were a weye
Aurilius yet whiche that despeyrid is
Wher he shal haue her loue or fare amys
And waytith nyght and day on this mirakil
And when he knew ther was non obstakil
That v [...]idid were the rockis echon
Doun to his maistris feet he fyl anon
And sayde I woful wre [...]ched Aurilius
Thanke you l [...]rd and my lady venus
That me haue holpe fro m [...] caris colde
And to the tempil his wey hath he holde
Where as he knew he sholde his lady se
And when he saw his tyme anon right he
With dredful herte and humbil chere
Salewid hath his souereyn lady dere
My right lady quod this woful man
Whom y most drede and loue as I [...]st ca [...]
[Page] And lothest were in al this worlde displese
Nere it for you I haue suche disese
That I moot dye here at your foot anon
Nought wolde I telle you me is wo begoon
But certis or I muste dye or pleyne
Ye sle me giltles for verry peyne
But of my deth ye haue no routhe
Thinkith now vp on your trouthe
And repente you for that god aboue
Or ye me sle by [...]use that I you loue
For Madame wel ye woot what ye haue hight
Not that I chalange ony thing of right
Of you my souereyn lady but of your grace
But in the gardyn yonder in suche a place
Ye witen right weel what ye behetyn me
And in myn hond there your trouthe plight ye
To loue me best / god woot ye sayde so
Al be it that vnworthy I be therto
Madame I speke for the honour of you
More than forto saue my hertis lif right now
I haue ydo as ye comaunded me
And yf ye vou [...]hesauf ye mowe se
Sith as you [...]st haue your hest in mynde
For quyck or ded trewe shul ye me fynde
In you lith to do me lyue or deye
But wel I woot the rock [...]s been aweye
He takith his l [...]ue and she a stoned stood
In al her face nas o drope of blood
She wen [...]e neuer to come in suche a trappe
[Page]Allas quod she that euer this sholde happe
For wende I neuer be possibilite
That suche a meruayl mighte be
That is ayens the proces of nature
And hoom she goth a sorouful creature
For ferry feer vnnethe might she go
She wepith and waylith a day or two
And swownyth that [...]owthe was to se
But why it was vnto noman tolde she
For out of towne was goon A [...]ueragus
But to her self she spak and sayde thus
With face paal and sorouful chere
In her compleynt as ye shul aftir here
Allas quod she on the fortune I pleyne
That vnwaar wrappid hast me in thy cheyne
Fro whiche to scape knowe I no so [...]our
Saue only deth or to grete dishonour
One of thyse two behouyth me to chese
But natheles yet haue I leuyr lese
My lyf than of my body haue a shame
Or knowe my self fals or lese my name
And with my deth I may be quyt Iwis
Hath ther nat many an nobil wyf or this
And meny a mayde s [...]eyn her self allas
Rathir than with her body done trespaas
Yes certes thyse story [...] berith witnes
When .xxx. tiraun [...] ful of cursidnes
Hadde sleyn cruelly Fidon atte feste
They comaundid his doughtris forto a [...]este
[Page] And brynge hem f
[...]rth in despit
Al nakid to fulfille her delit
And on her fadres blood made hem daun [...]e
Vp on the pament god yeue hem myschaunce
For whiche the woful maydens ful of drede
Rathir than they wolde lese her maydenhede
They been priuely stert in to a welle
And dreynt hem self as the bokis telle
They of m [...]ten leten enquire and seke
Of lacedomy fifty maydens eke
On whiche they wolden a done her lecherye
But was ther non of al that company
That she nas sleyn & that with glad entent
C [...]es rather to dye than to assent
To be oppressid of her maydenhede
Why sholde I thanne to dye be in drede
Lo eke the tiraunt Aristoclides
That louyd a mayde highte Stymphalides
When her fader sleyn was on a nyght
Vnto dianes goth she right
And hente the ymage in her hondis two
From whiche ymage wolde she not go
No wight the hondis of here myghte arace
Til she was sleyn right in the place
Now sith that maydens hadde suche despit
To been [...]ispoylid with mannys delit
Wel oughte a wyf rath [...]r her self to sle
Than be defoylid as thinkith me
What shal I say of Hasdr [...]aldis wyf
[Page]That at Cartage bereft her self h
[...]r lyf
When that she saw the romayns wyn the toun
She took her childryn alle & skipped a doun
In to the fyre and chaas rather to dye
Than ony romayn did her vilony [...]
Hath not Lucrece slayn her self allas
At rome for she oppressid was
Of Tarquyne for her thoughte it was a shame
To lyue whan she had lost her name
The .vij. maydens of Millesses also
Haue sleyn hem self for verey drede and woo
Nather than the folk of Galele sholde hem oppresse
Mo than a thousand storyes y gesse
Coude I telle as touching this matere
When Hellerada was sleyn his wyf so dere
Her self slough and leet her blood to glide
In hellaradas o [...]en woundis wyde
And sayde my body acte leste wey
Ther shal no wight defoylle it yf I may
What shal I of hem mo ensamplis sayn
But so many haue hem self slayn
Wel rathir than they wolde defoulid be
I wol conclude that is the beste for me
To sle my self than be defoulid thus
I wol be trewe vnto Arueragus
Or ellis sle my self in som manere
Right as dide demecions doughter dere
Be cause she ne wolde defouled be
Of Ocedasus it is ful greet pite
[Page]To rede how thy doughtris deyde allas
That slough her self in suche a maner was
As gret pite it was or wel more
The Theban mayden that for Nichamore
Her self slough right for suche maner woo
And another Theban mayden right so
For one of Macedone had her ouyr pressid
She with her deth her maydenhede redressid
What shal I sayn of Maceratis wyf
That for suche a caas beraft her self her lyf
How trewe eek was also Alcebades
That for his loue to dien rathir chees
Than forto suffre his body vnburyed to be
Whiche a wyf was Alceste also quod she
What saith Omere of Penelope
Al grece knoweth of her chastite
Parde of lacedomea is writyn thus
That whan at rome was sleyn Protholomus
No lenger wolde she lyue aftir his day
The same of nobil Prothenna telle y may
Withoute Brutus coude she neuer lyue
To whom she hadde her herte al yeue
The parfyt wyf of Archemecye
Honourid is thorow out al Barbarye
O tentquies thy verey chastite
To alle wyuys may a mirrour be
Thus pleyneth Dorigene a day or twey
Purposinge euer that she wolde dey
But natheles vp on the thridde nyght
[Page]Home comyth Ar
[...]eragus the worthy knyght
And axeth here why she w [...]pith so s [...]re
And she gan wepe euer lengir the more
And told hym al the caas by and by
How she had promysed ignorantly
The squier like as ye haue herd to fore
Hit nedeth not to reherce hit ony more
This husbond with glad chere in frendly wyse
Answerde and sayde as I shal deuyse
Is ther aught ellis Dorigene but this
Nay nay she sayde god helpe me so as wis
This is to mykil and it ne were goddis wyl
Ye wyf quod he lat slepyn and be styll
It may be wel yet ꝑauenture to day
Ye shal your trouthe holde be my fay
For god so wisly haue mercy on me
I hadde wel leuer stikid forto be
For verry loue whiche I to you haue
But ye sholde your trouthe kepe and saue
Trouthe is the hiest thing that man may kepe
But with that worde she brast anon to wepe
And sayde I you forbede on peyne of deth
That neuer whyle you lastith lyf or breth
To no wight to telle of this mysauenture
As I may lest I wol my woo endure
Ne make no contenaunce of heuynes
That folk of you may deme harm or g [...]s
And forth he clepith a squier and a mayde
Go forth anone with Dorig [...]ne he s [...]yde
[Page] And bryng her to suche a place anone
They toke her leue and on her wey they goon
But they ne wiste why she thyder wente
He wolde no wight telle his entente
This squier whiche hight Auril [...]us
On Dorigene that was amerous
Of auenture happid here to mete
Amyd the town right in the quickest strete
As she wold haue gon the wey forth right
Toward the gardyn there as she hadde hight
And he was in to the gardyn ward also
For wel he spyed when she wolde go
Out of her hous to ony maner place
But thus they metyn be auenture and grace
And he salueth her with glad entent
And a [...]id of her whithirward she went
And she answerde half as she were mad
Vnto the gardyn as my husbond bad
My trouthe forto holde allas allas
Aurilius gan wonder in this caas
And in his herte hadde gret compassion
Of her chere and of her lamentacion
And of Arueragus the worthy knyght
That bad her holde that she had hight
So loth him was yf she shol [...]e breke her trouthe
And in his herte he caughte of this gret rowthe
Considerynge the beste on euery side
That from that lust yet were hym leuer abyde
Than to do so high a folissh wre [...]chidnes
[Page]Ageyns fraunchecie
and gentilnes
For whiche in fewe wordis sayde he thus
Madame say to your lord Arueragus
That sith y se his grete gentilnes
To you and eke I se your distres
That him were leuer haue a shame & þt were routhe
Than ye to me this sholde breke your trouthe
I haue wel leuyr euyr to suffre woo
Than I departe sholde the loue beetwix you two
I you relece Madame in to your hond
Quyt euery [...]urement and euery bond
That ye haue made to me as here beforn
Sithen that tyme that ye were first born
My trouthe y plight I shal you neuer repreue
Of noon beheste and here I take my leue
As of the trewest and eke the best wyf
That euer yet I knew in al my lyf
But euery wyf bewaar of her beheste
On Dorigene remembrith acte leste
Thus can a squier do a gentil dede
As wel as can a knyght withouten drede
She thankith hym vp on her knees bare
And hoom to her husbonde is she fare
And tolde hym al as ye haue herd me said
And be ye sikir that he was wel a paid
That it were impossible me to wryte
What sholde I leng [...]r of this caas endite
Arueragus and Dorigene his wyf
In souereyn blisse ledyn forth her lyf
[Page]Neuer aftir was ther anger hem betwene
He cherisshed her though she were a quene
And she was trew to hym for euermore
Of thyse two folk ye gete of me nomore
Aurilius that his cost hath al forlorne
Cursith the tyme that he was born
Allas allas quod he that y behight
Of purid gold a thousand pound weyght
Vnto this Philosopher how shal I do
I se nomore but that I am fordo
Myn heritage y muste nedis selle
And be a beggar here I may not duelle
And shamyn al my kynrede in this place
But I of hym may gete sum grace
But natheles I wol of hym assay
At certeyn yeris and daies to paye
And thanke hym of his grete curtesie
My trouthe wol I kepe I wil not lye
With herte sore he goth vnto his cofyr
And broughte gold vnto this Philosophir
The valew of fyue hundrid pound I ges
And hym besechith of his gentilnes
To graunte hym day [...]s of the remenaunt
And sayde maistir I dar wel make auaunt
I faylid neuer of my trouthe as yet
For sikirly my dette shal be quyt
Toward you how euer that I face
To go a beggyng in my kirtil bare
But yf ye wolde v [...]uchesauf on surete
[Page]Two yeer or thre to respite me
Than were I wel for ellis mot I selle
Myn heritage ther is nomore to telle
This Philisophre sobirly answerde
And sayde thus whan he his wordis herde
Haue y not holde couenaunt vnto the
Yes certis wel and trewly quod he
Hast thou not had thy lady as the likith
No no quod he and soroufully he sikith
What was the cause tel me yf thou can
Aurilius anone his tale began
And tolde hym al as ye haue herd before
It nedith not to reherce it you nomore
He sayde Arueragus of gentilnes
Hadde leuer to dye in sorow and in distres
Than that his wyf were of her trouth fals
The sorow of Dorigene he tolde hym als
How loth her were to be a wickid wyf
And that she hadde leuer haue lost hir lyf
And her trouthe she swoor thorou Innocence
She neuer erst had herd of apparence
That made me to haue in her so gret pyte
And right as frely as he sent her to me
As frely sent I her hom to hym agayn
This is al and som th [...]r is nomore to seyn
This Philisophir answerde leue brother
Euerich of you did gentilnes to other
Thou art a squier and he is a knyght
But god forbede for his blisful myght
[Page]But a clerk coude do as gentil a dede
As wel as ony of you it is no drede
Sire I relece thy thousand pound
As now thou were cropen out of the grounde
Ne neuer or now thou haddist kno [...] [...]
For sire I wol not take a peny of the
For al my craft ne for al my trauaylle
Thou hast wel paid for my vi [...]aylle
It is ynow farwel and haue good day
And took his hors and forth he goth his way
Lordingis this question than a [...]e I yow
Whiche was the moste s [...]e as thinkith yow
Now tellith me er ye furthir wende
I can nomore my tale is at an ende
¶Here endith the Frankeleyns tale. ¶Here beg [...]nneth the second Nonnes prolog.
THe mynystre and norisshe of alle vicis
Whiche that men clepe in engl [...]sh Idelnesse
Whiche that is porter of the yate of delicis
To es [...]huen and by her contrary hem to oppresse
That is to say be leefful besines
Wel ought we to do al our entent
Lest that the fende with Idelnes vs hent
For he with his thousand cordis slye
Continually vs waytith to be clappe
Whan he may man in Idelnes aspye
He can so lightly ca [...]che h [...]m in his trappe
Til that a man behent right by the lappe
He nys not waa [...] the fend hath hym in hond
[Page]Wel oughte vs worche & ydelnes
withstond And though men drede neuer forto dye
Yet se men wel be reson doutles
That ydelnesse is hotyn slogardrye
Of whiche ther comyth neuer no good encrees
And syn that slougthe her holdith in a lees
Only forto slepe and ete and drynke
And to deuouryn al that othir swynke
And forto put vs from suche ydelnes
That cause is of so gret confusion̄
I haue here doon my feithful besines
Aftir the legend and translacion̄
Right so thy glorious lyf and passion̄
Thou with thy garlond wrought of rose of lilye
The mene I mayde and martir saint Cecily
And thou that flour art of virginis alle
Of whom that Bernard list so wel to wryte
To the at my firste begynnynge I calle
Thou comfort of vs wre [...]chis do me endite
Thy maydens deth that whan thoro [...] her merite
The eterne lyf thou graunte of the fend victory
As men mowe aftir rede in her story
Thou mayde and moder doughter of thy sone
Thou welle of mercy synful soulis to cure
In whom that god of bounte chaas forto wone
Thou humbil and high ouer euery creature
Thou noblist so ferforth ouer nat [...]re
That no disdeigne thy maker had of kynde
His sone in blood a [...] flessh to cloth [...] & wynd [...]
[Page]Whiche in the cloister of thy blisful entrees
Toke mannys shapthe the eterne loue & p [...]es
That of thy tryne compas lord and g [...]de is
Whom heuyn and erthe and se withoute les
Ay herien and thou virgine doutles
Baar of thy body and dueldist mayd pure
The creatour of euery creature
Assembl [...]d is in the [...]agnificence
With mercy goodn [...] and suche pyte
That thou that art [...]he soune of excellen [...]e
Not only helpist theym that praieth the
But oftyn tyme o [...] [...]hy benignite
Ful frely or that [...]n thyn help seche
[...]hou gos [...] [...]eforn [...]d art our [...]oulis leche
[...]ow help [...]hou [...] and meke fair mayde
Me flemyd wre [...] [...] this desert of gall
Think on the woman of Canane that sayde
That whelpis [...] som of the cromys small
That from her lo [...]s table ben y falle
And though th [...]t I vnworthy sone of Eue
Be s [...]nful yet accepte my beleue
And for that [...]eith is ded withoute werkis
So forto werkyn [...]eue me witte and space
That I be quyt from thens that most derk is
O thou that art so fair and ful of grace
Be myn aduocate in that high place
There as withouten ende is sunge Osanne
Thou cristis moder doughter dere of anne
And of thy light my soule in prison l [...]ght
[Page]That
troublid is be th
[...] cogitacion
Of my body and also be the wight
Of ertly lust and fals affection
O hauyn of refut o saluacion
Of hem that been in sorow and distresse
Now help forto my work I wol me dresse
Yet y pray you that redyn that I wryte
For yef me that I do no diligence
This ilke story besily to endite
For bothe haue I the wordis and the [...]tence
Of hym that atte seyntis reuerence
The story wroot and folowed her [...]
As ferforth as god wyl me grace se [...]
First wolde I yow the name of saint [...]
Expoune as men may in her story se
It is to say in englissh heuenys ly [...]ye
For pure chastnes of virginite
Or for she witnes hadde of honeste
And grene of conscience and of god [...]me
The swete sauour lily was her name
Or Cecily is to say the wey to blynde
For she ensaumpil was be good techinge
Or ellis Cecily as I writyn fynde
Is ioyned be a maner connynge
Of heuyn and lya in her infigurynge
The heuyn is set for thought of holynes
And lya for her lastinge besines
Cecily may eek be said in this manere
Wantyng of blyndnes for her gret light
[Page]Of sapience
and for her thewis clere
Or ellis lo this maydens name bright
Of heuyn and leos comyth of whiche be right
Men mighte her wel the heuyn of p [...]pil calle
Ensample of good & wyse workis with alle
For leos pepil in englissh is forto say
And right as men may in the heuyn se
The sonne and mone and sterris euery way
Right so men gostly in this mayden fre
Sawyn of feith the grete magnanimite
And eek the clerenes hool of sapience
And sondry werkis bright of excellence
And right so as thyse philosophris wryte
That heuyn is swift & round & eke brennynge
Right so was faire Cecily the whyte
Ful swift and besy in euery good werkyng
And rounde and hool in good ꝑseuerynge
And brennynge euer in charite ful bright
Now haue I declared you what she hight
¶THere endith the Second Nonnys prolog. ¶And here begynneth the tale.
This maiden bright Cecili as her legende saith
Was comyn of romayns of nobil kynde
And from her [...]adil vp fostrid in the faith
Of crist and baar his gospel in mynde
She neuer seced as I writen fynde
Of her praiere and god to loue and drede
Besekynge hym to kepe her maydenhede
And whan this mayde sholde vnto a man
[Page]I
weddid be that was ful of
yong age
Whiche that y clepid was valerian
And day was come of her mariage
She ful deuout and humbil in her corage
Vnder her robe of gold that sat ful feyre
Hadde next her flessh I clad her in an heir
And whyle that the Organs made melody
To god aboue thus in her herte song she
O lord my body and eek my soule gy
Vnwemmyd lest I confoundid be
And for his loue that vp on the tre
Euery seconde and thridde day she fast
Ay biddynge in her orisons ful fast
The nyght cam and to bedde must she goon
With her husbonde as it was the manere
And priuely she sayde to hym anoon
O swete and welbelouyd spouse dere
Ther is a counsel and ye wol it here
Whiche that right fayn I wolde to you seye
So that ye swere ye wil it not bewrey
Valerian gan faste to her swere
That for no caas ne thing that might be
He sholde neuer to none bewreyen her
And than at erst to hym sayde she
I haue an aungel whiche that louyth me
That with gret loue wher so I wake or slepe
Is redy ay my body forto kepe
And yf that he may felen out of drede
That ye me touche or loue in vilony
[Page]He right anon wil sle you with the dede
And in your youthe thus shul ye dy
And yf that ye in clene lif me gy
He wol you loue as me for your clennes
And shewe to you his ioye and his brightnes
This Valerian correctid as god wolde
Answerde agayn yf I shal triste the
Lete me that aungel se and hym beholde
And yf that it a ver [...]y aungel be
Than wol I do as thou hast praid me
And yf thou loue anothir man for soth
Right with this swerd than wol I sle you both
Cecily answerde anon right in this wyse
Y [...]f that you list anon right the aungel shul ye se
So that ye trowe on crist and you baptise
Goth forth to via app [...]a quod she
That from this toun stondith but mylis thre
And to the poure folkis that there duellyn
Sey hem right thus as I shal you tellyn
Tel hem that I Cecili you to hem sent
To shewen you good vrban the olde
For secretnes and for good entent
And whan that ye saint vrban haue beholde
Telle hym the wordis whiche that I to you tolde
And whan that he hath purgid you from synne
Than shal ye se that aungel or ye twynne
This Valerian is in to the place goon
And right as he was taught be her lernynge
He fond this holy man vrban anon
[Page] Among the saintis beriels lokynge
And he anon withouten taryynge
Dide his message and whan that [...] tolde
Vrban for ioye gan his hondis vpholde
The teris from his yen let he falle
Almyghty lord O Ihesu crist quod he
Sower of chastite counsellour of v [...]lle
The fruyt of that seed of chastite
That thou hast sowe in Cecily take to the
Lo lik a bisy bee withoutyn gyle
Thy seruaunt ay thyn owen thral Cecile
For that spouse that she took but newe
Ful lik a fers lioun she sendith here
As meke as euer was ony lamb to ewe
And with that word anon ther gan apere
An old man yclothid in whithe clothis clere
That hadde a book with lettir of gold in honde
And gan before valerian forto stonde
Valerian as ded fyl doun for drede
Whan he this old man sawe standing so
Whiche forthwith anone he herd hym rede
O lorde of alle o feith o god withouten mo
O cristendome and fadir of al also
Abouyn al and ouyr al euerywhere
Thyse wordis al with gold writen were
When this was red then said this olde man
Leuyst thou this thing or no say ye or nay
I leue al thing quod valerian
For sother thinge than this I dar wel say
[Page]Vnder heuyn no wight thinke may
Tho [...]nysshed this olde man he ne wiste where
And Pope Vrban hym cristened right dere
Valerian goth hoom and fyndeth Cecily
With ynne his chambir with an angel stond
This aungel hadde of rosis and of lily
Crownys two the whiche he bare in hond
And first to Cecily as I vnderstond
He yaf that on and than gan he take
That other to valerian her make
With body cleen and vnwemmyd thought
Kepith ay weel this crownys quod he
Fro Paradyse to you hem haue I brought
Ne neuer mo shal they roten be
Ne lese her sote sauyr trustith me
Ne neuer wight ne shal se hem with ye
But he be chast and hate velony
And thou valerian for thou so sone
Assentist to goddis counsel also
Say what thou list and thou shalt haue thy bone
I haue a brothir quod valerian tho
That in this worlde I loue noman so
I pray you that my brother may haue grace
To knowe the trouthe as I do in this place
The aungel sayde god likith thy request
And hothe with the palme of matirdome
Ye shul come in to his blisful reste
And with that word Tiburce his brother com
And wh [...]n that he the sauour vndernom
[Page]Whiche that rosis
and the lilyes caste
He spak vnto his brother in gret haste
And sayde I wonder this tyme of the yeer
Whens that this swete sauour comyth so
Of rosis and of lilyes that y smelle here
For thogh y hadde hem in my hondis two
The sauour mighte in me no depper go
The swete sauour that in my herte I fynde
Hath chaungid me al in another kynde
Valerian sayde two crounys haue wee
Snow whit and rose reed that shyneth clere
Whiche that thyn yen haue no might to see
And as thou smellist thourogh my prayer
So shalt thou se hem leue brother dere
If it so be thou wilt withouten slowthe
Beleue a right and knowe verry trowthe
Tiburce answerde saist thou this to me
In sothnes or in dreme I herkyn this
In dremys quod valerian haue we be
Vnto this tyme brother myn ywis
But now at erst our duelling in trouthe is
How wotist thou this qd Tiburce & in what wyse
Quod Valerian that shal I the deuyse
The aungel of god hath me the trouthe I taught
Whiche thou shalt se yf thou wilt reneye
The ydollis and be clene and ellis nought
And of the mirakyl of thyse crounys tweye
Seynt Ambrose in his prefas list forto seye
Solempuli this nobil doctour dere
[Page]Comendith
and saith in this manere
The palm of martirdom forto receyue
Seynt Cecile fulfilled of goddis yefte
The worlde and eek her chambir gan she weyue
Witnes Cecily and Tiburces shrifte
To whiche god of his bounte wolde shifte
Crownys two of flouris swete smellynge
And his aungel hem the crownys brynge
The mayde hath brought hem to blis aboue
The worlde hath wist that it is worthy certeyn
Deuocion and chastite wel forto loue
Tho shewde hym Cecily al open and pleyn
That alle ydols been but a thing in veyn
For they be dombe and therto they be deef
And charged hym his ydolis forto leef
Who so that trow [...]th nat this a best he is
Quod tho Tiburce yf I shal not lye
And she gan kisse his brest that herde this
And was ful glad be couthe trouthe aspye
This day I take the for myn alye
Said this blissed faire mayden dere
And aftir that she sayde as ye mowe here
Lo right so as the loue of crist quod she
Made me thy brotheris wyf right in this wyse
Anon for myn alye bere take I the
Syn that thou wilt thy [...] ydols dispise
Go with thy b [...]other now and the baptise
And make the cleen so that thou may beholde
That angelis face whiche thy brothir of tolde
[Page]Tiburce answerde
and sayde brother dere
First tel me whethir I shal and to what man
To whom qd he com forth with right good chere
I wyl the lede vnto the pope vrban
To Vrban brother myn quod va [...]erian
Quod tho Tiburce wolt thou me thider lede
Me thinketh that it were a wonder drede
Ne mene ye not vrban quod he tho
That is so ofte dampned to be ded
And woneth in halkis alwey to and fro
And dar not onys put forth his hed
Men sholde hym brenne in a fire so reed
Yf he were founde yf men mighte hym aspye
And we also to bere hym companye
And whyle we sekyn that diuinite
That is hid in heuene priuely
Algate b [...]ent in this worlde shal we be
To whom Cecily answerde boldly
Men mighte drede wel and skilfully
This lif to like myn owen dere brother
If this were liuynge only and non oth [...]r
But there is bettir lif in other place
That neuer shal belost ne drede the nought
Whiche goddis sone vs tolde thorow his grace
That fadris sone hath al thing wrought
And al that wrought is with a skilful thought
The gost that from the fader gan procede
Hath soulid hym withouten ony d [...]ed [...]
By worde and by mirakil lo goddis son̄
[Page]Whan he was in this worlde
declarid here
That ther is other lyf there men may woon
To whom answerde Tiburce o fustir dere
Ne s [...]ydist thou right now in this manere
Ther nas but o god lord in sothfastnes
And now of thre how maist thou bere witnes
That shal I telle quod she or that I go
Right as a man hath sapiences thre
Memorye engeny and intellect also
So in suche beynge of dyuinyte
Thre ꝑsones may ther right wel be
Tho gan she there ful bisily hym preche
Of cristis son and of his peynes teche
And many poyntis of his passion
How goddis sone in this worlde was witholde
To do mankynde pleyn remission
That ben bounde in synnys and caris colde
Alle thyse thingis she vnto Tiburce tolde
And aftir this Tiburce in good entent
With Valerian to Pope Vrban went
That thankid god & with glad herte & light
He cristned hym and made hym in that place
Parfit in his lernyng goddis knyght
And aftir this Tiburce gat suche grace
That euery day he saw in tyme and space
The aungel of god and euery maner bone
That he god a [...]id it was sped ful sone
It were ful hard be ordre forto seyn
How many wondris Ihesus for hym wrought
[Page]But atte laste to telle short
and pleyn
The sergeauntis of the toun hem sought
And hem before almache the Prefect broughte
Whiche hem appo [...]id and knew al her entent
And to the ymage of Iubiter hem sent
And sayde who so wil do no sacrifise
Swap of his hed this is my sentence here
Anone thyse martirs that I you deuyse
One Maximus that was an officere
Of the Prefectis and his Councelere
Hem hent and the sayntis forthledde
Hym self he wepte for pyte that he hadde
When Maximus had herd the sayntis lore
He gat hym of the turmentours leue
And hadde hem to his hous withouten more
And with her prechinge or it were eue
They gonne fro the turmentours forto reue
And fro Maxime and fro his folk echone
The fals feith to trowe in god allone
Cecily cam when it was woxe nyght
With preestis that hem cristned alle in fere
And afterward whan day was woren light
Cecily sayde hem with a ful stedfast chere
Now cristis owen knyghtis leef and dere
Cast al awey the workis of derknesse
And arme you with armys of brightnesse
Ye haue forsoth ydon a gret bataylle
Your cours is doon your feith hath you conserued
Goth to the croune of lif that may not faylle
[Page]The rightful Iuge whiche ye haue
seruyd Shal yeue it you as ye haue it deseruyd
And whan this thing was sayd as y deuyse
Men ledde hem forth to do sacrifyse
But when they were to the place I brought
To tellen shortly the conclusion
They nolde encence ne sacrifyse right nought
But on here knees setten hem a doun
With humbil herte and sad deuocioun
And losten bothe her heddis in the p [...]ace
Her soulis wente to the kyng of grace
This Maximus that saw this thing betyde
With pitous teris tolde it anon right
That he her soulis saw to heuyn glide
With aungelis ful of cleernes and light
A [...]d with his word conuertid many a wight
For whiche almachins did hym so to bete
With whippis of led til he is lif gan lete
Cecily hym [...]ook and buried hym anon
By tiburce and val [...]rian sothly
With ynne her bur [...]ynge place vnder the stoon
And aftir this Almachins hastely
Bad his mymstris fecchyn openly
Cecily so that she mighte in his presence
Do sacrifyse and Iubiter encence
But they conuertid at her wyse lore
Weptyn ful sore and yaf ful credence
Vnto her worde and criden more and more
Crist goddis sone whiche withoute difference
[Page]To v
[...]rry
god this is our sentence
That hath a seruaunt so good hym to serue
This with o voys we trowen though we sterue
Almachins that herde of this doynge
Bad fecche Cecily that he mighte her se
And alder first this was his axinge
What maner woman art thou quod he
I am a gentilwoman born quod she
I axe the quod he though it the greue
Of thy religion and of thy beleue
Why than began ye your question folily
Quod she that wolde two answers conclude
In o demaunde ye axid lewdly
Almache answerde to that [...]imilitude
Of whens comyth thyn answer so rude
Of whens quod she whan that she was freyned
Of conscience and of good feith vnfeyned
Almachins sayde ne takist thou no hede
Of my power and she answerd hym this
Your myght quod she is ful litil to drede
For euery mortal mannys power nys
But lik a bladder ful of wynd ywis
For with anedelis poynt when it is blowe
May al the boste of it be leid ful lowe
Ful wrongfully began thou quod he
And in wrong is yet al thy ꝑseueraunce
Wost thou nat how our Princis mighty & fre
Haue thus comaundid and made ordenaunce
That euery cristyn wight shal haue penaunce
[Page]It is a shame that the pepyl shal
So skorne and lawghe at thy folye
For comynly men woot it wel ouer al
That mighty god is in his heuenys hye
And thyse ymagis wel thou maist aspye
To the ne to hem self may do no profit
For in effect they be not worth amyte
This and suche other sayde she
And he wax wroth & bad men sholde her lede
Hoom vntil her hous and in her hous qd he
Bren her in a bath of flamys rede
And as he bad right so was it do in dede
For in a bath they gonne her faste shittyn
And nyght and day fyre they vnder bettyn
The longe nyght and eke the day also
For al the fyre and eek the grete hete
She sat al cold and fel [...]d no woo
It made her not a drope forto swete
But in that bath her lif she moot lete
For almachyns with a ful wickid entent
To s [...]e her in the Bath his sonde to her sent
Thre strokis in the necke he smoot here tho
The turmentour but for no maner chaunce
He mighte not smyte her necke atwo
And for ther was that tyme an ordenaunce
That noman sholde do to no ꝑsone suche penaunce
The fourthe strook to smyten softe or soxe
This turmentour du [...]ste do no more
But half ded with her necke coruyn there
[Page]He lefte her ly
and on his wey is went
The cristen folk whiche that aboute h [...]r were
With shetis haue the blood vp hent
Thre dayes leuyd she in this turment
And neuer cesid hem the feith to teche
That she had fostrid hem she gan to preche
And there she yaf her meuablis and her thinge
And to Pope Vrban betook hem tho
And sayde I askid this of heuene kyng
To haue respit thre dayes and no mo
To perfourme that I before haue do
Thyse soulis and that I may do wirche
Here of my hous perpetuelly a chirche
Saint Vrban with his dekenys priuely
The body fet and biried it be nyght
Among his other sayntis honestly
Her hous the chirche of saint Cecily hight
Seynt Vrban halowed it as he wel myght
In whiche in to this day in nobil wyse
Men do to crist and to his seyntis seruise
¶Here endith the Seconde Nonnes tale. And ¶Begynneth the prolog of the chauons yeman.
WHen told was the lyf of saint Cecile
Or we hadde riden fully .v. myle
At boughten vnder [...]le vs gan a take
Aman that clothid was in clothis blake
And vndernethe he waar a whyte surp [...]ice
His hakney whiche was of pomel gryce
So swatte he that wonder was to se
[Page]Hit
semyd that he hadde
prykid my
[...]s thre
Aboute the peytrel stood the fome ful hye
He was of fome as fleckid as a pye
The hakeney eek that his yeman rood vpon
So swatte that vnnethis mighte it goon
A male twifolde vp on his cropyn lay
It semyd that he caried litil aray
Al light for somer rood this worthy man
And in myn herte I wonder began
What that he was til that I vnderstood
How that his cloke was sowid to his hood
For whiche whan I hadde longe auysid me
I demyd hym [...]um chanon forto be
His [...]at hing at his bak doun by alace
For he hadde riden more than trot or pace
He rood ay prykynge as he were wood
A clote leef he hadde l [...]yd vnder his hood
For swoot and forto kepe his hed [...]ro hete
But it was ioye for to se hym swete
His forhed droppid as a stillatory
Were ful of planteyn or of peritory
And whan he was come he gan crye
God saue quod he this ioly companye
To riden in this mery companye
His yeman was eek ful of curtesie
Faste haue I pr [...]kid qd he for your sake
Be cause that I w [...]ld you ouer take
And sayde siris now in the [...]orow tyde
Out of your hosterye I [...]ow y [...] ryde
[Page] And warned here my
lord and souereyn
Whiche that to riden with you is ful feyn
For his disport he louith daliaunce
Frend for thy warnynge god yeue þ• good chaunce
Than sayde our ost certeyn it wolde seme
Thy lord were wyse and so y may wel deme
He is ful iocunde also dar y ley
Can he ought telle a mery tale or twey
With whiche he gladde may this [...]ompany
Who sir my lord ye sir withouten ly
He can of mirthe and eke of iolite
Nat but ynow also sire trustith me
And ye hym knew as wel as do I
Ye wolde wondre how wel and craftely
He coude worke and that in sondry wyse
He hath taken on hym meny a gret empryse
Whiche were ful hard for ony that is here
To bringe aboute but they of hym lere
As homely as he ridith amongis yow
Yf ye hym knew it wolde be for your prow
Ye wolde not forgon his aqueyntaunce
For michil good I dar ley in balaunce
Al that I haue in my possession̄
He is a man of hye discrecion̄
I warne you he is a passing wyse man
Wel quod our host tel me yf thou can
Is he a clerk or none tel me what he is
A clerk nay nay he is gretter than a clerk ywis
Sayde this yeman and in wordis fewe
[Page]Oste
and of his craft som what wol I shewe
Sire my lorde can suche a subtilte
That al his craft ye may not wite of me
For al the ground to Caunterbury toun
He coude all clene turne vp so doun
And paue it al with siluer and with gold
And when this yeman hath thus told
Vnto our ost he sayde benedicite
This thing is wonder meruaylus to me
Syn that thy lorde is of so high prudence
Be cause of whiche sholde men hym reuerence
That of his worship reckith he so lyte
His ouerist sloppe is not worth a myte
As in effect to hym so moot I go
It is al baudy and to tore also
Why is thy lorde so sluttyssh I the pray
And of power is bettir cloth to bey
Yf that his dede a corde with his speche
Tel me and that I the beseche
Why quod this yeman wherto axe ye of me
God helpe me so for he shal neuer the
But I wol nat auowe that I sey
And ther [...]ore kepe it se [...]ret I you prey
He is to wyse in feith as I beleue
That is ouer do it wol n [...]uer preue
And right as clerkis sayn it is avice
Wherfore in that I holde hym lewd and nyce
For whan a man hath ouer gret a wytte
Ful ofte it happith hym to mys vse it
[Page]So doth my
lord and that me greuith s
[...]re
God it amende I can say nomore
Therof no force good yeman quod our ost
Syn of the konnyng of thy lord thou bost
Tel hou he doth tel on now hardely
Syn that he is so crafty and so sly
Where duelle ye yf it be to telle tel me
In the subbarbis of [...] toun quod he
Lurkinge in hernys and in lanys blynde
Where as thyse robbers & thyse theuys bekynde
Holden her fereful priuy residence
As they that dar not shewe her presen [...]
So fare we yf we shal say the sothe
Now quod our ost lete me talke tothe
Why art thou so discolourid in thy face
Petir quod he god yeue it hard grace
I am so vsid the hote fire to blowe
That it hath chaungid my colour I trowe
I am not wont in no myrour to prye
But swynke sore and lerne multiplye
We bloundryn euer and powryn in the fyre
And for al that we faylen of our desir [...]
For euer we lacke our conclusion
To muchel folk we do illusion
And borow gold be it a pound or two
Or ten or twelue or many sommys mo
And make hem wene atte leste wey
That of a pounde we coude make twey
It is fals and ay we haue good hope
[Page]It forto do
and aftir it we grope
And this science is so fer vs beforn
We mowe it not lerne though we hadde it sworn
To ouer take it. it slit awey so faste
It wol vs make beggars atte laste
Whyle this yeman was thus in his talkynge
This chanon drew hym nere & herde al thing
Whiche this yeman spak for suspecion
Of mennys speche euer had this chanon
For Caton saith he that gilty is
Demyth al thing to be spoke of hym ywis
That was the cause he gan so nygh drawe
To this yeman to herkyn al his sawe
And thus he sayde to his yoman tho
Hold thou thy pees and speke wordis nomo
For yf thou do thow shalt it dere abye
Thou sklaun drist me here in this companye
And eke discuuerist that thou sholdest hyde
Ye quod our ost tel on what so betyde
Of al his thretyng recke thou not a myte
In feith quod he nomore I do but a lyte
And when this chanon saw it wold nat be
But that his yeman wolde telle his priuyte
He fledde awey for verry sorou and shame
A ha quod the yeman here shal ryse a game
For it is ernest to me be my feith
That fele y well what that ony man saith
And yet for al my smert and al my greef
For al my sorou labour and myschyef
[Page]I coude neuer leue it in no wyse
Now wolde to god my wit wolde suffise
To tellyn al that longith to that art
But natheles you wol I telle a part
Syn that my lord is goon I wol not spare
Suche thing as I knowe I wol declare
¶Here endith the prolog And begynneth the tale of the Chanons yeman.
WIth this Chanon I duellid .vij. yeer
And of his science am I neuer the neer
That I hadde I haue lost ther by
And god woot so haue mo than I
There as I was wont to be right fresh & gay
Of clothinge and of other good aray
Now may I were an hose vp on myn hed
And there my colour was bothe fressh & reed
Now it is wan and of a ledyn hewe
Who so it vsith sore shal he rewe
And of my swynky blent is myn ye
Lo suche auauntage it is to multiplye
That slidynge science hath made me so bare
That I haue no good where that euer I fare
And yet I am endettid so sore ther by
Of gold that I borowed trewly
That whyle I lyue I shal it quyte neuer
Let euery man bewar by me for euyr
What maner man that castith hym therto
If he continue I holde his thrift y do
For helpe me god ther by shal he not wynne
[Page]But enpeire his purs & make his wittis thynne
And whan he thorow his madnes and foly
Hath lost his owen good thorou Iepardy
Than he excitith other folk therto
To lese her good as he hym self hath do
For vnto shrewis ioye it is and ese
To haue her felowis in peyne and disese
For thus was I onys lernyd of a clerk
Of that no charge I wol [...]peke of our werk
When we be there as we shal excercise
Our eluyssh craft we semyn wonder wyse
Our termys been so clergial and queynte
I blowe the fire til my herte queynte
What sholde I telle eche proporcion
Of thingis whiche we werkyn vp and doun
As on .v. or .vj. vncis may wel be
Of siluer or sum other quantite
And b [...]sy me to telle you the namys
Of orpement brent bonys Iren squamys
That in to powder grounde be ful smal
And in an erthyn pot how put is al
And salt petir and also papir
Beforne thyse powdris that I speke of here
And wel y couerid with a lampe of glas
And of muche other thing whiche þ• there was
And of the pottis and glassis enlutynge
That of the eyr mi [...]hte passe out no thing
And of the fyre esy and smert also
Whiche that was maad & of the care & woo
[Page]That he hadde in our matier sublymynge
And in a malgamynge and Calcenynge
Of quiksiluer I clepid mercury crude
For alle our slightis we can not conclude
Our orpement and sublymyd mercury
Our grounden litarge eke on the perfury
Of eche of theym of vncis a certeyn
Not helpith vs our labour is in veyn
And eek our spiritis assensioun
Ne our maters that liyn al fix adoun
Mowe vs in our workynge onys auaylle
For lost is al our labour and trauaylle
And the coste a twenty deuyl wey
Is lost whiche we on it leye
Ther is also ful many anothir thing
That is to our craft apperteynyng
Though I be ordre hem reherce ne can
As bool Armoniak veertgrece boras
And sondry vessellis made of erthe & glas
Our vrynalis and oure descensories
Violis crossolettis and sublimotorijs
Turokis and Alembikis eke
And other suche dere ynow a leek
Not nedith it to reherce hem alle
Watirs ru [...]yfiyng and bores galle
Arsenyk sal Armoniak and brymstone
And erbis eek coude I telle many on
As Egremoigne valerian and lunarye
And other suche yf me list to tarye
[Page]Our lampes
brennyng nyght
and day
To brynge aboute our craft yf we may
Our furneys eek of calcynacion
And of watirs albificacion
Vnsle [...]kid lyme chalk gleir of an ey
Powdris dyuers asshis dong pis and cley
Serid pottis salt petir vitriole
And dyuers fyris made of wode and cole
Sal tartir alcoly and sal preparat
And combust maters and coagulat
Cley maad with hors donge or mānys her or oyle
Of tartre alym glas berme wort and argule
Rosealgar and other maters embibynge
And eke of our matirs encorporynge
And of our siluer cytrinacion
Our sementynge and also fermentacion
Our Ingottis testes and many mo
I wol yow[?] telle as me was taught also
The .iiij. spiritis and the bodyes .vij.
Be ordir as y herde my lord neueyn
The firste spirit quicsiluer clepid is
The s [...]cond orpement[?] the thridde ywis
Sal armomak and the fourthe brymstone
The bodyes seuyn loke hem here anon
Sol gold is and luna siluer we threpe
Mars Iren Mercury quicsiluer we clepe
Saturnus led [...]nd Iu [...]iter is tyn
And venus copir be my fadir kyn
This cursid craft who wol excercise
[Page]Ho shal no
good haue that he may suffise
For al the good he spendith ther aboute
He lese shal therof haue I no doute
Who so that listith vttre his folye
Let hym com forth and lerne to multiplye
And euery man that hath aught in his cofre
Let hym apere and wexe a phi [...]sofir
Prest or Chanon or ony other wight
Though he sitte at his book day and nyght
In lernynge of this eluysshe nyce lore
Al is in veyn and parde mochil more
Is to lerne alewd man this subtilte
Fy spek not ther of it wol not be
And can he lettrure or can he none
As in effect he shal fynde it allone
For bothe two be my sauacion
Concludyn in multiplicacion
Al liche w [...]el when they haue al y [...]o
This is to seyn they faylen bothe two
Yet forgat I to make rehersayll
Of watris corosiff and of lymayll
And of bodijs mollificacion
And also of her induracion
Oylis ablacions metall fusibill
To telle you al it wold passe ony bibyl
That owhere is therfore as for the lest
Of thyse namys now wol I me rest
For as I trowe I haue told y nowe
To reyse a fynde al loke he neuer so rowe
[Page]A nay let be the philosophris stoon
Elixer we clepyn we sekyn fast echon
For hadde we hym than were we sikir I nowe
But vnto god of heuyn I make auowe
For al our craft when we haue al y do
And al our sleyghte he wol not come vs to
He hath maad vs spende muche good
For sorow therof almost we wexen wood
But that good hope crepith in our herte
Supposing euer though we sore smerte
To be releuyd by hym aftirwarde
Suche supposinge I hope is hard
I warne you weel it is to seken euyr
That future temps hath made me disseuyr
In trust wher of al that euer they hadde
Yet of that art they konne not wexe sad
For vnto hem it is a bittir swete
So sem [...]th it for ne had they but a shete
Whiche that mighte wrappyn hem ynne a night
And a brate to walkyn ynne be day light
They wolde it selle and spende it in this craft
Thay can not stynte til nothing belast
And euermore where euyr that they goon
Men may hem kenne be smel of brymstoon
For al the worlde they st [...]nkyn as a goot
Her sauour is so [...]ammysh and so hoot
That though a man a myle from hem be
The sauour wol enfecte hem trustith me
Lo thus by smellyng and thredbare aray
[Page]If that men list thyse folk knowe they may
And yf a man wol axe hem priuely
Why they be clothid so vnthriftely
Right anon they wol roune in his ere
And sayen yf that they aspyed were
Men wolde hem sle be cause of her science
Lo thus this folk betraien Innocence
Pas ouer this I go my tale vnto
Er that the pot be on the fyre ydo
And metallis a certeyn quantite
My lord hem temprith and noman but he
Now is he goon I dar sey boldely
For as men say he can do craftly
Algate I woot wel he hath suche a name
And yet ful ofte he rennyth in the blame
And whyte ye how ful ofte it farith so
The pot to brekith and farwel al is do
The metallis been of so greet violence
Our wallis mowe not make hem resistence
But yf they were wrought of lym and stoon
They persyn so and thorow the wal they goon
And some of hem synke doun in to the grounde
Thus haue we lost betyme meny a pounde
And some ar skaterid al the floor aboute
Some lepyn into the fire withouten doute
Though þ• the fend in our sighte him not shewe
I trow that he with vs be that ilke sh [...]we
In helle where he is lord and sire
Ne is ther more wo rancour ne Ire
[Page]Whan that our pot is broken as I haue
said Euery man chit and holdith hym euyl apaid
Some saide it was of the fyre makyng
Some sayde nay it was of the blowynge
Than was y ferd for that was myn office
Straw quod he ye be lewd and nyce
It was not temprid as it ought to be
Nay qd the fourthe stynt and herkenyth me
Be cause our fyre was nat maad of beche
That is the cause and other none sitheche
I can telle where on it was a longe
But wel I woot gret strif is vs among
What quod my lord ther is nomore to doon
Of these parellis I wil be waar eftsoon
I am right siker that the pot was crasid
Be as be may be ye not amasid
As vsage is leet swepe the floor swithe
Pluk vp your hertis and be glad and blithe
The mullok on an heep swepid was
And on the floor cast a Canuas
And al the mullok in a side y throwe
And siftid and pikid many a throwe
Parde quod on sumwhat of our metal
Yet is there though we haue not al
And though this thinge mishappid hath as now
Anothir tyme it may be wel ynow
We put our good in auenture
A marchaunt parde may not alwey endure
Tristith me wel in his prosperite
[Page]Somtyme his godis ben
drenchid in the se
And somtyme it comyth sauf vnto londe
Pes quod my lord the next tyme I wyl fonde
To brynge our craft al in another plyte
And but I do sirs let me haue the wyte
Ther was a defaute in som what wel I woot
Anothir sayde the fyre was ouyr hoot
But be it hoot or colde I dar say this
That we concluden euer more amys
We faylen alway of that woldyn haue
And in our madnes euer more we raue
And whan we be to gedir euerichone
Euery man semyth as wyse as Salamon
But althing whiche that shyneth as gold
It is no gold as I haue here told
Ne euery appyl that is fair at ye
Nys not good what so euer men crye
Right so it farith amongis vs
He that semyth wisest be swete Iesus
Is most fool when it comyth to the preef
And he that semyth trewist is a theef
That shal ye knowe or that I from you wonde
Be that my tale be told vnto an ende
Ther is a chauon of religion
Amongis vs wolde enfect al a toun
Though it were as gret as was nynyue
Rome Alisaunder Troye or other thre
His sleyghtis and his infinit falsnes
Ne coude noman writen as I ges
[Page]Thogh that he mighte lyue a
thousand yeer
In al the worlde of falsnes nys his peer
For in his termye he wil hym so wynde
And speke his wordis so slily and so kynde
Whan he comen shal with ony wight
That he wol make hym dote anon right
But it a fend be as hym self is
Ful many aman hath he begilid er this
And wol yf he lyue may a whyle
And yet men ryde and goon meny a myle
Hym forto seke and haue his aqueyntaunce
Not knowynge of his fals gouernaunce
And yef you list to yeue me audience
I wil it telle here in your presence
But worshipful chanons religious
Ne demyth not that I slaundir your hous
Al though my tale of a Chanon be
Of euery order sum shrewe is parde
As god forbede that al a Companye
Sholde rewe a singuler mannys folie
To sklaunder you is no thing myn entent
But to correcte is that I ment
This tale was not only told for you
But eek for othir mo I wot wel how
But among cristis apostill twelue
Ther was no traitour but Iudas hym selue
Than why sholde the remenant haue a blame
That giltlees were be you I say the same
Saue only this yf ye wol herkyn me
[Page]If ony Iudas in your couent be
Remeuyth hym betymes I you rede
Yf shame or los causyn ony drede
And be no thing displesid I you pray
But in this caas herkyn what I say
IN london was a preest annueler
That there ynne hadde duelt many a yeer
Whiche was so plesaunt and so sernisable
Vnto the wyf where as he was at table
That she wolde suffre hym no thing to pay
For bord ne clothing wente he neuer so gay
And spending siluer hadde he right ynow
Wherof no force I wol procede as now
And telle my tale forth of the chanon
That broughte this prest to confusion
This fals Chanon cam vp on a day
Vnto the prestis chambir where he lay
Beseching hym to lene hym a certeyne
Of gold and he wolde quyte hym ageyn
Lene me a mark quod he but dayes thre
At my day I wyl sauns fayle quyte it the
And yf so be thou fynde me thenne fals
Anothir day hange me by the hals
This prest hym took a mark and þ• as blithe
And this chauon hym thankid ofte sithe
And took his leue and went forth his wey
And atte thridde day broughte his money
And to this prest he took this gold agayn
Wherof this preest was wonder glad & fayn
[Page]Certis quod he
nothing anoieth me
To lene a man an nobil or two or thre
Or what thing were in my possessioun
Whan he is so trewe of condicion
That in no wyse he breke wol his day
To suche a man I can not sey nay
What quod this chanon sholde I be vntrew
Nay that were a thing fallyn of new
Trowthe is a thing that I wol euer kepe
In to that day in whiche I shal crepe
In to my graue or ellis crist forbede
B [...]leuyth this as sikir as the crede
G [...]d I thanke and in good tyme be it said
That ther nas neuer man yet euyl payd
For gold ne siluer that he me lente
Ne neuer falshede in my herte I mente
And sir quod he now of my priuyte
Syn ye so goodliche haue be to me
And kidith to me so gret gentilnes
Somwhat to quyte with your kyndenes
I wil you shew yf ye list to here
I wol you teche plener the matere
How I can workyn in philosophye
Take good hede ye shul weel seen at ye
That I wil a maistrye do or I goo
Ye sir quod the preest and wol ye so
Mary ther of y pray you hertely
At your comaundement sir trewly
Quod the chanon and ellis crist forbede
[Page]Lo how this theef coude his seruise be
[...]e
Ful soth it is that suche profrid s [...]ruise
Stynketh as witnesseth the olde wyse
And right sone I wol it verifye
In this Chanon rote of al trecherye
That euer more delit hath and gladnes
Suche fendly thoughtis in his herte to expres
How cristis pepyl he may to mischief brynge
God kepe vs from his fals dissimulinge
Nought wiste this prest with whom that he delte
Ne of his harm comyng nothing he felte
O sely preest o sely Innocent
With couetyse anon thou shal be blent
O graceles ful blynd is thy conceit
No thing art thou waar of his disceit
Whiche that this fox shapen hath to the
His wylis his wrenchis thou maist not fle
Wherfore to go to the conclusion
That referrith to thy confusion
Vnhappy man anone I wil me hye
To tellyn thyn vnwit and thy folye
And eke the falsnes of that other wrecche
As ferforth as my connynge wol streac [...]e
This Chanon was my lord ye wolde wene
Sire in feith and be heuen quene
It was another Chanon and not he
That can an hundrid fold more subtilte
He hath betraid folk meny a tyme
Of his falsnes it duellith me to ryme
[Page]Euer whan I speke of his falshede
For shame of hym my chekis wexen rede
Algatis they begynnen forto glowe
For reednes haue I non right wel I knowe
In my visage for fumes diuerce
Of metal whiche ye haue herd me reherce
Consumed and wastid hath my reednes
Now takith hede of this chanons cursidnes
Sir quod he to the preest lete your man goon
For quicsiluer that we hadde it anoon
And lete hym brynge vncis two or thre
And when he comyth as fast ye shul se
A wondir thing whiche ye saw neuer or this
Sire quod the preest it shal be do ywis
He bad his seruaunt fette hym this thing
And he alredy was at his biddinge
And sente hym forth and cam anone ageyn
With this quicsiluer shortly forto seyn
And took the vncis thre to the chanon
And he hem leyde wel and faire a doun
And bad the seruaunt colis forto brynge
That he anone mighte go to his werkynge
The colis right anon were y fet
And this chanon took out a crosselet
Out of his bosom and shewde it to the preest
This instrument quod he whiche that thou seest
Take in thy [...]ond and put thy self theryn
Of this qui [...]siluer an vnce and begyn
In the name of crist to wexe a philosophir
[Page]Ther be ful fewe whiche I wolde it profre
To shewe hem thus muche of my science
For here shulle ye se by experience
That this quiksiluer I wol mortifye
Right in your sighte anon withouten lye
And make it as good siluer and as fyn
As ther is ony in your purs or myn
Or ellis where and make it malliable
And ellis hold me fals and vnstabil
Amongis folk for euer to apere
I haue a poudre that cost me dere
Shal make al good for it is cause of al
My connynge whiche I you shewe shal
Voidith your man and let hym be withoute
And shit the dore whylis we be ther aboute
Our priuyte that no man vs a spye
Whylis that we worke in this phylosofie
Allas as he bad fulfillid was in dede
This ilke seruaunt anone out yede
And his maister shitte the dore anon
And to her labour spedely they goon
This preest at this cursid Chanons biddyng
Vpon the fyre anon set this thing
And blew the fyre and bisied hym ful faste
And this Chanon in to the crosselet caste
A powder not I neuer where of it was
I made of chalk or of erthe of glas
Or somwhat ellis was not worth a flye
To blynde with this preest and bad hym hye
[Page]The colis forto couchyn al aboue
For in tokenyng that I the loue
Quod this chanon thyn hondis two
Shul werke al thing that here is do
Graunt mercy quod the preest & was right glad
And couchid the colis as the Chanon bad
And whyle he bysy was this fendly wrecche
This fals chanon the foule send hym fecche
Out of his bosom toke a bechyn cole
In whiche ful subtilly was made an hole
And ther ynne was put of siluer [...]mayl
An vn [...]e and stoppid was withouten fayl
The hole with wex to kepe the lymayl yn
And vnderstondith that this fals gyn
Was nat made there but it was maad before
And othir thingis that I you telle shal more
Here aftir whiche that he with hym broughte
Er he cam there hym to begyle he thoughte
And so he dede er that they yede atwyn
Til he hadde ternyd hym he coude not twynne
It dullith me whan I of hym speke
Of his falshede feyn wolde I me wreke
Yf I wiste how but here and there
He is variaunt he abideth nowhere
But takith hede siris for goddis loue
He took his cole of whiche I spak aboue
And in his hond he bare it priuely
And whylis this preest couchid besily
The colis as I you tolde or this
[Page]This Chanon sayde
frend ye do amys
This is not cowchid as it ought to be
But sone it shal amendid be
Now let me medle therwith but a whyle
For of you I haue pyte by sainte gyle
Ye be right hoot I se how ye swete
Haue here a oloth and wype alwey the weet
And whylis the prest wipid his face
This Chanon took his cole with sory grace
And leyde it aboue vpon the mydwarde
Of the crosselet and blew wel aftirward
Tyl that the colis gan faste to brenne
Now yeue vs drynke quod the Chanon thenne
As swithe al shal be wel I vndertake
Sit we doun and lete vs mery make
And when that this Chanon his bechyn cole
Had brought and the lymayl out of the hole
Into the crosselet it fil anon doun
And so it muste nedis be resoun
Syn it so euene aboue couc [...]i [...] was
But therof wist the preest no thing allas
He demyd al the colis liche good
For of the slighte he no thing vnderstood
And whan this alkamystre saw his tyme
Ryse vp sire preest he said anon & stond by [...]e
And for I woot wel yngot haue ye non
Goth walkith forth and bryng [...]th a chalkston̄
For I wol make of it the same shappe
That an yngot is yf it may happe
[Page] And bring eek with you a b
[...]lle or a panne
Ful of watir and ye shul wel se thanne
How that our besynes shal thryue [...] preue
And yet for ye shal haue no mysbeleue
Ne wrong conceyt of me in your absence
I wil not be out of your presence
But go with yow and com with you agayn
The chambir dore shorltly forto seyn
They opened and shit and went hir wey
And forth with hem they took the key
And comen ayen withoute ony delay
What sholde I tary al the longe day
He took the chalk and shoop it in the wyse
Of an Ingot as I shal you deuyse
I sey he took out of his owen sleue
Ateyn of siluer euyl moot he cheue
Whiche that ne was but an vnce of weyghte
And takith hede now of his cursid sleyghte
He shoop his Ingot in lengthe and in brede
Of this teyn withouten ony drede
So slighly that the preest it not aspied
And in his sleue agayn he gan it hyde
And from the fyre he took vp his mater
And in the Ingot he put it with mery cheer
And in to the water vessel he it caste
When that hym list and bad the preest as faste
Loke what ther is put in thy hond and grope
Thou shalt fynde there siluer as I hope
What deuyl of helle sholde it ellis be
[Page] Shauyng of siluer yes sire parde
He put his hond yn and took vp ateyne
Of siluer fyne and glad in euery veyne
Blithe was this preest when he sy it was so
Goddis blissing and his modris also
And alle halowes haue ye sire Chanon
Said this preest and I here malison
But and ye vouchesauf to teche it me
This nobil craft and this [...]ubtilte
I wyl be your man in al that euer I may
Quod this Chanon yet wol I make asay
The seconde tyme that ye mowe take hede
And be expert in this at your nede
Anothir day assay in myn absence
This discipline and this crafty science
Lete take another vnce quod he tho
Of quycsiluer withoute wordis mo
And do therwith as ye haue do or this
With that other whiche that siluer is
The preest hym bisieth al that euer [...]e can
To do as this Chanon this cursid man
Comaundid hym and faste blew the fyre
Forto come to the effect of his desire
And this Chanon right in this mene whyle
Al redy was this preest forto begile
And for contenaunce in his hond bare
An holow sticke take kepe and beware
In the ende of whiche was an vnce and more
Of siluer lymayl put as said is before
[Page]Was in his cole
and stoppid with wex weel
Forto kepe in his limayl euery deel
And whyle the preest was in his bisynes
This chanon with his sticke gan it dres
To hym anone and his powder cast yn
As he dede erst / the deuyl out of his skyn
Hym turne I prey to god for his falshede
For he was euer fals in thought and dede
And with his sticke aboue his crosselet
That was ordeyned with that fals get
He stirid the colts til al relente began
The wex ayens the fyre as euery man
But it a fool be woot weel it muste nede
And al that in the sticke was out yede
And in the crosselet hastliche fyl
Now gode siris what wil ye bet than wel
Whan that this preest was thus begylid ageyn
Supposinge naught but trowthe soth to seyn
He was so glad I can not expres
In no maner his mirthe and his gladnes
And to the Chanon he profrid eftsone
Body and good ye quod the chanon anone
Though I be poure crafty thou shalt me fynde
I warne the wel yet is thermore behynde
Is ther ony copir here Inne quod he
Ye quod the preest sir I trow ther be
Ellis go by vs sum and that as swythe
Now gode sire go forth thy wey and hye the
He wente his wey and with his copir cam
[Page] And the Chanon in his
hond it nam
And of that copir he weyed out an vnce
Al to symple is my tunge to pronounce
As to mynstir of my wit the dulnes
Of this Chanon rote of al cursidnes
He semyd frendly to hem that knew hym nought
But he was fendly bothe in work and thought
It werieth me to telle of his falsnes
And natheles yes wol I it expres
To that entent that men mowe bewar therby
And for non other cause trewly
He put this vnce of copir in his crocelet
And on the fyre as swithe he it set
And cast yn powder & made the preest to blowe
And in his workynge for to stoupe lowe
As he dede er and al was bu [...] a Iape
Right as hym list the preest he made his ape
And aftir in the yngot he it cast
And in the panne put it atte last
Of watir and yn he put his owen hond
And in his sleue as ye be forn̄ hand
Herde me telle he hadde of siluer a teyne
He slighly took it out this cursid heyn
Vnwetynge of the preest of this fals craft
And in the pannys botom he it laft
And in the watir rumbelith to and fro
And wondir priuely took it vp also
The copir teyn nat knowynge the preest
And hid it and hym hent be the brest
[Page] And to hym spak
and thus he sayde in game
Stoupith a doun be god ye be to blame
Help me now as ye did whyle eer
Put in your hond and lokith what is there
This preest took vp this siluer teyn anon
And than sayde the chanon leet vs goon
With thyse thre teynes which þ• we haue wrought
To som goldsmyt [...] to loke yf they be aught
For by my feith I nolde for myn hood
But yf it were siluer fyne and good
And that as swithe preuyd it shal be
Vnto the goldsmyth with thyse teynes thre
They wente and put hem in assay
To fire and hamyr might no man say nay
But that they were as hem ought to be
This soctid preest who was gladder than he
Was neuer brid gladder ayenst the day
Ne nyghtyngale in the seson of may
Was neuer noon that best list to synge
Ne lady lustier in carolinge
Or forto speke of loue or wommanhede
Ne knyght in armys done a lusty dede
To stonden in grace of his lady dere
Than hadde this preest this craft forto lere
And to the Chanon thus he spak and sayde
That for the loue of god that for vs alle deyde
As I may deserue it vnto yow
What shal this receyt coste tel me now
Be our lord quod this Chanon it is dere
[Page]I warne you wel saue I
and a frere
In Engelond can no man it make
No force quod he now sire for goddis sake
What shal I paye tel me I you pray
I wis quod he it is ful dere I say
Sire at o word yf that it list you haue
Ye shul paye .xl. pound so god me saue
And nere the frendship that ye did or this
To me sholde ye paye more ywis
This preest the summe of .xl. pound anone
Of noblis fet and took hem euerichone
To this Chanon for this ilke receit
Al his workyng was but fraude and disceit
Sire preest he sayde I kepe to haue no loos
Of my craft for I wol kepe it cloos
And as ye loue me kepe ye it secre
For yf men knewe al my subtilte
Be god they wolde haue so gret enuye
To me be cause of my philosophie
I sholde be ded ther were non other wey
God it forbede quod the prest what ye sey
Yet hadde I leuer spende al the good
Whiche that I haue or ellis were I wood
Than that ye sholde falle in suche a myschief
Weel sire haue ye wel good preef
Quod this Chanon and farewel grant mercy
And wente his wey and neuer the p [...]eest hym sy
Aftir that day when that this prest sholde
Makyn assay suche tyme as he wold [...]
[Page]Of this receyt farewel it wolde not be
Lo thus beiapid and begylid was he
Thus makith he his introduction
To bringe folk to her destruction
Considerith siris how that in eche astat
Betwix men and gold ther is debaat
So ferforth that vnnethis is ther noon
This multipliynge blindith so many one
That in good feith y trow that it be
The cause grettist of suche scarsite
Th [...]se philosophris spekyn so mistily
In this craft that men can nat com therby
For ony wit that men mowe haue now a dayys
They mowe wel chateryn as doon Iayys
And in her termys settyn her lust and peyn
But to her purpoos shul they neuer atteyne
A man may lightly lerne yf he haue aught
To multiplye and bringe his good to naught
Lo whiche a lucre is in this lusty game
A mannys mirthe it wol turne vnto grame
And empte also grete and heuy pursis
And makyn folk forto purchace cursis
Of hem that h [...]ue h [...]r good to hem lent
O fy for shame tho that haue be brent
Alas can the [...] not [...]le the fyris hete
Ye that it vse I rede that ye it lete
Lest that ye l [...]se al for be [...] than neuer is late
Neuer to thr [...]ue w [...]re to longe date
Though ye pr [...]lle euer neuer shul ye it fynde
[Page]Ye be as
bold as is
baiard the blynde
That blundrith forth and paril castith none
He is as bolde to renne ayens a stone
As forto go besidis in the wey
So faren ye that multiplye I sey
Yf that your yen can not se a right
Loke that your mynde lak not his sight
For though that ye loke right brood & stare
Ye shul wynne neuer of that chaffare
But waste al that ye mowe rappe and renne
Withdraw the fyre lest it to faste brenne
Medlith nomore with that art I mene
For yf ye do your thrift is gon ful clene
And right as swithe I wol you telle here
What Philisophris did in thi [...] matere
Lo thus saith Arnolde of the new toun
As his rosary makith mencioun
He saith right thus withouten ony lye
Ther may noman mercury mortif [...]
But yf it be by his brotheris knowlechinge
Lo how that he withsayde this thinge
Of philisophris fadir was hermes
He saith how that the dragon doutles
Ne dieth not but yf that he be sleyn
With his brothir and that is f [...]rto s [...]yn
Be the dragon mercury and non othe [...]
He vnderstondeth & brymston be his brother
That out of sol and [...]una were I d [...]awe
And therfore sayde he take hede to my sawe
[Page]Leet noman bisy hym this art forto seche
But he the entencion and the speche
Of philosophris vnderstonde can
And yf he do he is a lewd man
For this science and this kunnyng sayd he
Is of the secret of secretis parde
Also ther was a discipil of plato
That on a tyme sayde his maistir to
As his book homer wol bere witnes
And this was his demaunde in sothfastnes
Tel me the Name of that priuy stoon
And plato answerd to hym anon
Take the stoon that Thitanes men name
Whiche is that quod he magnacia is the same
Sayde Plato ye sir is it thus
This is ignotum per ignocius
What is magnacia gode sire I you prey
It is a watir that is maad I sey
Of elementis foure quod p [...]ato
Tel me the rote gode sir quod he tho
Of that watir yf it be your wille
Nay nay quod plato certeyn that I nylle
The philosophris w [...]re sworn̄ euerichone
That they sholde discuce it to noon
Ne in no book it writyn in no manere
For vnto god it is le [...]f and dere
For he wol nat that it discurid be
But where it likith to his deyte
Man to enspire and eek vnto defende
[Page]Whan that hym likith lo this is the ende
Than conclude I thus sith that god of heuyn
Ne wol nat that the philisophris neuyn
How that a man shal come vnto this stoon
I rede as for the beste let it goon
For who so makith god his aduersary
As forto workyn ony thing in contrary
Of his wil neuer shal he thryue
Though that he multiplye terme of his lyue
And there a poynt for endid is my tale
God sende euery good man bote of his bale
[...]Here endith the tale of the Chanons yeman of multiplicacōn and begynneth the tale of the doctour of phisik.
THer was as tellith titus liuyns
A knyght that clepid was virginius
Fulfilled of honour and of worthynes
Strong of frendis and of riches
A doughter he hadde be his wyff
And neuer hadde he mo in al his lif
Fair was this mayde of excellent braute
Abouen euery wight that men might se
For nature hath with souereyn diligence
Fourmed her in so greet excellence
As though she wolde say lo I nature
Thus can I fourme and peynte a creature
Whan that me list who can me countrefete
Pigmaleon not though he forge and bete
Or graue or peynt for I dar wel seyn
[Page]A
[...]pollus Zephirus sholde wirche in veyn
To graue or peynte or forge or bete
If they presumyd me to countirfete
For he that is the fourmour principal
Hath maad me his vicair general
To fourme and peynte eueriche erthly creature
Right as me list for al thing is in my cure
Vnder the mone that may wane and wexe
And for my werk no thing wol I axe
My lorde and I be fully of accorde
I made here to the worship of my lord
So do I alle myn othir creaturis
Of what colours they be or what figuris
Thus semyth me that nature wolde say
This mayde was of .xij. yeer age and twey
In whiche that nature had suche delit
For right as he can peynte a lily whit
And rody as a rose with suche peynture
She peyntid hath this nobil creature
Er she was vp on her limys fre
Were al so bright as suche colouris might be
And Phebus died hadde her tressis grete
Lik to the stremys of his burnyd hete
And yf that excellent was her beaute
A thousand fold more vertuous was she
In h [...]r ne lackith no condicion
That is to preyse ay be discrecion
As wel in body as go [...]t [...] chast was she
For whi [...]he she flourid in virginite
[Page]With alle humyl
[...]te
and abstinence
With al attemꝑaunce and pacience
With me [...]ure eek and beryng of aray
Discret she was in answerynge alwey
She was as wyse as pallas dare I seyn
Her facunde eek ful womanly and pleyn
None countirfetid termys had she
To seme wyse but aftir her degre
She spak and alle her wordis more and les
Sownynge in vertu and in gentilnes
Shamefast she was in maydens shamfastnes
Constant in herte and euer in be [...]ynes
To dryue her out of her slogard [...]y
Bacus hadde of her mouth no maistrye
For wil and thought doth venus encr [...]ce
As men in fyre wol caste oyl or grece
And of her owen vertu vnconstreynyd
She hath ful ofte tymes here syk feynyd
For that she wolde fle the company [...]
Where lightly was to trete of foly
As i [...] at festis reuellis and daunsis
That been occasions of daliauncis
Suche thyngis make childryn forto be
To sone ripe and bold as men may se
Whiche is ful parlous and hath been yore
For al to sone may she lerne lore
Of boldnes when she is a wyf
And ye maistresses in your olde lif
That lordis doughtris hauen in gouernaunce
[Page]Ne
[...]akith of my wordis no displesaunce
Thingis that been set in gouernaunce
Of lordis doughtris only for two thingis
Eythir forto kepe your honeste
Or ellis ye haue falle in freelte
And knowe wel y now the olde daunce
And conne forsake fully myschaunce
For euermore / therfore for cristis sake
Kepe wel tho that ye haue vndertake
A theef of veneson that hath forlaft
His licorousnesse and al his theuys craft
Can kepe a forest best of ony man
Now keep hem wel for and ye wil ye can
Lokith wel to no vice that ye assente
L [...]st ye dampnyd be for your euyl entente
For who so doth a treytour is certeyn
And takith hede of that I shal seyn
Of alle treson souereyn pestilence
Is when a wight betraieth Innocence
Ye fadris and ye modris also
Thogh ye haue childryn one or two
Youre is the charge of al her sufferaunce
Whylis they been in ignoraunce
Bewaar by ensamplis of your liuynge
Othir he negligent in chastisinge
That they ne pissh for I dar wel seye
If that they do ye shul it dere abeye
Vnder a shepherde softe and negligent
The wolf hath meny a sheep to rent
[Page]Suffisith ensaumplis I now as h
[...]re
For I muste turne ayen to my matere
This mayde of whiche I telle expres
She kepte her self she nedid no maistres
For in her liuynge maydens myghte rede
As in a book euery word in dede
That longith to amayde vertuous
She was so prudent and so bownteuous
For whiche out sprong on euery syde
Bothe of her bounte and of her beaute wyde
That thorow the lond they preysen hir echone
That loued vertu saue enuye alone
That sory is of othir mennys w [...]el
And glad is of his sorow and vnhele
This doctour makith this discripsion
This mayde wente in to the toun
Toward the tempil with her moder dere
As is of yonge maydens the manere
Now was ther a Iustice in the toun
That gouernour was of that region
And so befyl this Iugge his yen caste
Vp on this mayde auising her ful faste
As she cam forth by there as the Iuge stood
Anone his hert chaungid al his mood
So was he caught with beaute of this mayde
And to hym self ful priuely he sayde
This mayde shal be myn for ony man
Anone the fend in to his herte ran
And taughte hym sodenly be w [...]at sleighte
[Page]The mayden to his purpos wynne he mighte
For certis by no fors ne by no mede
Hym thoughte he was not abyl forto spede
For she was strong of frendis and eek she
Confermyd was in suche souereyn beaute
That wel he wiste he might her nat wynne
As forto make her with her body to synne
For whiche with gret deliberacion
He sente aftir a chorl in the toun
The whiche he knew ful subtil and ful bold
This Iuge vnto this chorl this tale hath told
In secret wyse and made hym to assure
H [...] sholde telle it to no creature
And yf he dede he sholde lese his hed
When assentid was this cursid ded
Glad was the Iuge and made glad chere
And yaf hym yeftis precious and dere
When shapyn was al this conspirasye
From poynt to poynt how that his lecherye
Parfourmyd shulde be ful subtilly
As ye shullyn here al openly
Hoom goth this chorl that highte claudius
This fals Iuge that highte appius
So was his name for it is no fabil
But knowen for an historial thing notabil
The sentence of it soth is out of doute
This fals Iuge goth now faste aboute
To hastyn his delyte al that he may
And so be fyl sone aftir on a day
[Page]This fals Iuge as tellith vs the story
As he was wont sat in his consistory
And yaf his domys vp on sondry caas
This fals chorle cam forth a ful gret paas
And sayde lord yf it be your wille
As doth me right vp on my pitous bille
In whiche I pleyne vp on virginius
And yf that he wil sey it is not thus
I wil preue it and fynde good witnes
That soth is that my bill wol expres
The Iuge answerid of this in his absence
I may not yeue diffinyte sentence
Leet do calle hym and I wol gladly here
Thou shalt haue right and no wrong here
Virginius cam to here the Iustices will
And right anone was red this cursid bill
The sentence was therof as ye shul here
To you my lord Appius so dere
Shewith your poure seruaunt Claudius
How that a knyght callid virginius
Ayenst the lawe and ayenst al equyte
Holdith expres ayens the wil of me
My seruaunt whiche that is my thralle be right
Whiche from myn hous was stolyn on a nyght
Whylis she was ful yong I wol it preue
Be witnes lord so that ye nat greue
She nys nat his doughter what so he say
Wherfore my lord Iustice I you pray
Yelde me my thral yf it be your wi [...]le
[Page]Lo this was al the sentence of his bille
Virginius gan vp on the chorle beholde
But hastlye er [...]e his tale tolde
He wolde a defendid it as shulde a knyght
And by witnes of many a trewe wight
That al was fals that sayde his aduersary
This cursid Iuge wolde no lenger tary
Ne here a word more of virginius
But yaf his Iugement and said thus
I deme anone this chorl his seruaunt haue
Thou shalt no lenger in thy hous her saue
Go fet her forth and put her in our warde
This chorle shal haue his thral thus I warde
And when this worthy knyght virginius
Thorow the assent of the Iuge apius
Mus [...]e before his dere doughter yeuyn
Vnto the Iuge in lechery to lyuyn
He goth hym hoom and set hym in his halle
And lete anon his dere doughter calle
And with a face ded as asshis colde
Vp on her humbil face he gan beholde
With fadris pite stikyng thorou his herte
Al wol he not from his purpos conuerte
Doughter quod he virginea by thy name
Ther been two weyys othir deth or shame
That thou must suffir allas that I was bore
For neuer thou deseruest wherfore
To dien with a swerd or with a knyf
O dere doughter whiche that al my lyf
[Page]I haue
fostrid vp with suche plesaunce
That thou ne were out of my remembraunc [...]
O doughter whiche that art my laste woo
And in my lif my laste ioye also
O gemme of chastite in pacience
Take thou thy deth for this is my sentence
For loue and nat for hate thou must be ded
My petous hond muste smyte of thy hed
Allas that euer Apius the say
Thus hath he Iuged the to day
And tolde hir al the caas as ye before
Haue herd it nedith to telle no more
Mercy dere fa [...]ir quod the mayde
And with that worde she bothe her armys leyde
Aloute his necke as she was wont to do
The teris brast out of her yen two
And sayde gode fader shal I dye
Is ther no grace is ther no remedy
No certis dere doughter myn quod he
Than yeue me leue fadir myn quod she
My deth to compleyne a litil space
For parde Iaffa zaf his doughter grace
Forto compleyne or he her slow alas
And god it woot no thing was her trespas
But that she ran her fader forto se
To welcome hym with gret solempnite
And with that worde she fyl a swo [...]ne anone
She risith vp and to her fader sayde
Blissid be god that y shal dye a mayde
[Page]Yef me my deth or that I haue a shame
Doth with your child your wil a goddis name
And with that worde she praieth ful ofte
That with his swerd he sholde smyte softe
And with that word a swonne doun she fyl
Her fadir with sorouful herte and fel
Here hed of smoot and by the top it h [...]nt
And to the Iuge he yaf it in present
As he sat in his dome in consistory
When that the Iuge it saw as saith the story
He bad take hym and hange hym al so faste
But right anone al the pepil in thraste
To saue the knyght for rowthe and for pite
For knowen was the fals iniquyte
The pepyl anon had suspect in this thing
By maner of this chorlis iangebing
That it was by assent of appius
They wiste wel that he was lecherous
Forthwith vnto this appius they gon
And cast hym in prison and that anon
Where as he slow hym self and Claudius
That seruaunt was vnto appius
Was demyd forto be hongid vp on a tre
But virginius of his grete pyte
Prayde for hym that he was exilid
And ellis certis had he be begilid
The remenaunt were hongid bothe more & lesse
That consentid were to this cursidnes
Here may men se how synne hath his merite
[Page]Beth waar for noman woot how
god wol smyte
In no degre ne in no maner wyse
The worm of conscience wol a ryse
Of wickid lif though it so priuy be
That noman woot of but god and he
Whethir that he be lewd man or lerid
He noot how sone he may be a ferid
Therfore I rede you this counsel take
Forsake synne or synne you forsake
¶Here endith the Phisicions tale. And begynneth the Pardoneris prolog.
OVr oste gan swere as he were wood
Harow quod he be naylis and be blood
This was a fals thef a curfid Iustice
As shameful deth as herte can deuyse
So falle on his body and on his bonys
To the deuyl I betake hym attonys
Allas to dere boughte she her beaute
Wherfore I say that al men mow se
That yeftis of fortune and of nature
Been cause of the deth of meny a creature
Her beaute was her deth I dar wel sayn
Allas so pitously as she was slayn
But here of wol I not procede as now
Men haue ful ofte more harm than prow
But trewly myn owen maister dere
This is a pitous tale forto here
But natheles passe ouer is no force
I pray to god so saue thy gentil co [...]ps
[Page] And thyn vrynals
and thy Iourdens
Thyn Ipocras and thyn galtens
And euery boy ful of letuary
God blisse hem and our lady seynte mary
So mote I the thou art a propir man
And lik a prelat by saint damyan
Thou hast spoke ynough I can not sey in terme
But wel I wot thou makist myn herte to erme
That almost I haue caught a Cardiakil
Be corpus dominus but yf I haue tryakil
Or ellis a draughte of corny moysty ale
Or but I here anon amery tale
My herte is lost for pite of this mayde
Thou belamy Iohn pardoner he sayde
Tel vs sum mirthis or Iapis right anon
It shal be do he sayde by seynt Runyon
But first quod he here at this ale stake
I wol bothe drynke and ete of a Cake
But right anon thyse gentils began to crye
Nay let hym telle vs of no rebaudrye
Tel vs sum moral thing that we mowe lere
Som wit and than wol we gladly here
I graunte ywis quod he but I muste thynke
Vp on sum honest thing whyl [...]s that I drynke
¶Here endith the Pardoners prolog. ¶And begynneth the Pardoners tale.
LOrdingis qd he in chirchis when I preche
I p [...]yne me to haue an haunten speche
Criyng it out as round as goth a belle
[Page]For I can be roote al that I telle
My teme is euer one and alwey was
Radix malo (rum) est cupiditas
First I pronounce whens that I come
And than my billis shewe I alle and some
Our liege lordis seal is my patent
That shewe I first my body to warent
That no man be so bolde ne preest ne clerk
Me to distourbe of cristis holi werk
And aftir that telle I forth my talis
Bullis of Popis and of Cardinalis
Of Patriarkis and Bisshoppis I shewe
And in latyn I speke wordis a fewe
To saueryn with my predicacioun
And forto stere men to deuocioun
Then shewe I forth my longe cristal stones
I cramyd in cloutis ful of bonys
Relikes they been as wenyn they echon
Than haue I in laton a sholdirbon
Whiche that was an holy iewis sheep
Gode men say I take of my wordis keep
If that this boon be wasshe in ony welle
Yf kow or calf sheep or oxe swelle
That ony worm hath ete or hym stonge
Touche he this boon anone he shal be sound [...]
And yet also more ferthirmore
Of pokkis and of scabbis and euery sore
Shal euery sheep be hool that of this welle
Drynketh a draughte take kepe of that I telle
[Page]Wol euery wight or that the cook croweth
And wold do ony thing that hym oweth
Fastynge drynke of this welle a draughte
As that holy Iew our eldris taughte
His bestis and his stoor shal multiplye
And syris also it helith ielousie
And though a man befalle in gelous rage
Leet make with this watir his potage
And neuer shal he more his wyf mystryste
Though he the defaute by her wiste
Al had she take prestis two or thre
Here is a meteyn eek ye may se
He that his hond wol put in that meteyn
He s [...]l haue multiplyyng of his greyn
Whan [...]e hath sowen be it whete or otys
So that he offre pens or ellis grotis
And men and women o thing warne I yow
If o [...] wight be in this chirche now
That hath doon synne horrible that he
Dar not for shame shryuyn be
Or ony woman be she yong or olde
That hath ymaad her husbond Cokeolde
Suche f [...]lk shal haue no power ne grace
To offir to my relikes in this place
And who so fyndith hym out of suche blame
Comyth vp and offir in goddis name
And I assoyle hem by the auctorite
Suche as by bull was grauntid me
By this gaude haue I wonne many a yeer
[Page]An
hundrid mark syn I was pardoner
I stonde lik a clerk in many a Pulpet
And shewe lewd pepyl and doun they set
I preche so as ye haue herd before
And telle an hundrid Iapis more
Than peyne I me to strecche forth myn necke
And est and west vp on the pepyl I becke
As doth a dowue sittynge vpon a bern̄
Myn hondis and my tonge gon so yern̄
That it is ioye to se my besines
Of auarice and suche cursidnes
Is al my prechinge to make hem fre
To yeue her pens and namely vnto me
For myn entent is not but forto wynne
And no thing for correction of synne
I recke not when that they be beried
Though her soulis goon a blakeberied
For certis many a predicacion
Sowneth ofte tyme of euyentencion
Some for plesaunce of folk and for flaterye
To ben auauncid be ypocrisie
And som for veynglory and som for hate
For when I dar not other whyle debate
Than wol I stynge hem with my tonge smerte
In prechinge so that they shul not as [...]erte
To ben diffamed falsly yf that [...]e
Hath trespassid othir to my bretheryn or me
For though I telle not his proper name
Men shal wol knowe it is the same
[Page]By symonye or by othir circumstauncis
Thus quyte I folk that doth vs displesauncis
Thus spit I out my venym vnder hewe
Of holynes to seme holy and trewe
But shortly myn entent I wol deuyse
I preche of no thing but of couetyse
Therfore my teme is yet and euer was
Radix oīm malo (rum) est cupiditas
Thus gan I preche the same wyse
To suche as be vsyng the syn of aueryse
But though my self be gilty in that synne
Yet can I make other folk to twynne
From auarice / and sore to repente
But that is not my principal entente
I preche no thing but for couetyse
Of this mater it ought y now suffyse
Than telle I of ensamplis many on
Of olde storyes / longe tyme agoon
For lewd pepyl louyn talis olde
Whiche thingis can they weel reporte & holde
What trow ye whylis that I may preche
And forto wynne gold & siluer forto teche
That I wil lyue in pouert wilfully
Nay nay I thoughte it neuer trewly
For I wol preche and begge in sondry londis
I wil not do no labour with my hondis
And make baskettis and lyue therby
Be cause I wol not begge Idelly
I wil non of the apostolis countirfete
[Page]Al were it yeuyn of the porest page
Or of the porest widow in a village
Al sholde her childryn sterue for famyn
Nay I wol drynke the licour of the wyn
And haue a ioly wenche in euery toun
But herkeneth lordingis in conclusion
Your likyng is that I shal telle a tale
Now I haue dronke a draughte of corny ale
Be god I hope I shal telle you a thing
That [...]al by reson be at your likynge
For though my self be a ful vicious man
Amoralle tale yet I you telle can
Whiche I am wont forto preche and also wynne
Now holde your pees my tale I wol begynne
IN flaundris sumtyme was a company
Of yonge folk that hauntedyn foly
As ryot hazard Stewis and tauernys
And pleye the harlottis in many hernys
They daunce and pleye atte dyce both day & night
And etyn and drynkyn a bouen her myght
Thorow whiche they doon the deuyl sacrifise
With ynne the deuyll tempil in cursid wyse
The superfluytees abhominabil
Here othis be so grete and dampnabil
That it is grisly forto here hem swere
Our blissid lordis body they to tere
Hem thoughte the iewis rente hym not y nough
And eche of hem at othir synne lough
And right anone cam the Tomble [...]eris
[Page]Fetis
and smale
and yong frutestris
Singars with harpis Bawdis wafreris
Suche as been verry the deuyll officeris
To kyndil and blowe the firis of lecherye
That is annexid vnto glotonye
The holy wryt take I to witnesse
That lecherye is in wyne and in dronkenesse
Lo how that dronkyn Loth vnkyndely
Lay be his doughtris two vnwetyngly
So dronke he was he nyste what he wroughte
And therfore sore repente hym oughte
Herodis who so wol the storyes seche
There may ye lerne and by ensampil teche
Whan he of wyne was repleet at his feste
Right at his owen tabil yaf his heste
To sle the Baptist Iohn ful giltlees
Senek saith eke gode wordis doutles
He saith he can no difference fynde
Betwix a man that is oute of his mynde
And a man that is dronkelew
But that woodnes fallyn is in a shrew
Perseuerith lenger than doth dronkenes
O glotenye ful of cursidnes
O cause first of our confusion
O original of our dampnacion
Til crist hadde bought vs with his blood ageyn
Lo how dere and shortly was to seyn
A bought was this cursid vilony
Corupt was al this world thorou glotony
[Page]Adam our fader
and his wyf also
Fro paradys to labour and to woo
Were dryuen for that vice it is no drede
For whylis that adam fastid as I rede
He was in Paradise and whan that he
Ete of the fruyt defendid on the tre
Anon he was out cast to woo and peyne
O glotenye on the oughte vs wel to pleyne
O wiste a man how meny maladies
Folowith of excesse and of glotenyes
He sholde be the more me [...]urabil
Of his diete sittyng at his tabil
Allas the short throte the tendir mouth
Makith that est and west North and south
In erthe in eyr in watir men to swynke
To gete a gloton mete and drynke
O Poule of this mater wel ainst thou entrete
Mete vnto wombe and wombe vnto mete
Shal god destroien bothe as Poule saith
Allas a foul thing it is be my feith
To say this worde and foulir is the dede
When men so drynkith of the white and rede
That of his throte he makith his pryue
Thorow that cursid superfluyte
The apostil wepynge saith ful petously
Ther walkyn meny of whiche you told haue I
I say it now wepynhe with pitous vois
That they been enemyes of cristis crois
Of whiche the ende is deth the wombe is her god
[Page]O wombe o bely o stynkynge
[...]od Fulfillid of dung and of corrupcion
At eyther ende of the foul is the soun
How gret cost and labour is to fynde
Thyse cookis how they stampe streyne & grynde
And turne substaunce in to accident
To fulfille al thy licorous talent
Out of the harde bonys knockyn they
The mary for they caste naught awey
That may go thorow the golet softe and sote
Of spicery of leuys barke and rote
Shal be his sause ymade by delite
To make hym yet an newe appetite
But certis he that [...]auntith suche delicis
Is ded whylis that he liuyth in the vicis
A lecherous thing is wyne and dronkenesse
It is ful of stryuynge and of wrecchidnesse
O dronken man disfigurid in thy face
Foul is thy breth [...]ul art thou to embeace
And thorow thyn dronkin nose sownyth thy soun
As though thou saydist ay Sampson Sampsoun
And yet god woot sampson drank neuer no win
Thou farist as it were a stykid swyn
Thy tonge is lost and al thyn honest curis
For dronkenes is verry sepulturis
Of mannys wit and his discrecion
In whom that drynke hath dominacion
He can no counsel kepe it is no drede
Now kepe you fro the whyte and fro the rede
[Page]Namely fro the whyte wyne of lepe
That is to selle in fissh strete or in chepe
This wyne of spayne crepith subtilly
In othir wynys growyng fast by
Of whiche ther risith suche fumosite
That when aman hath dronkyn draughtis thre
And wenyth that he be atte tonne in chepe
He is in Spayne right at the toun of lepe
Not at rochel ne at bordeux toun
And than wol he say Sampsoun Sampsoun
But herkenyth lordingis o word I you pray
That al the souereyn actis dar I say
Of victories in the olde testament
That thorou very god that is omnipotent
Were doon in abstinence and in praier
Lokith the Bibil and there ye mowe it lere
Lokith attilla the grete conquerour
Deyde in his sleep with shame and dishonour
Bledynge ay at his nose in dronkenes
A Capteyn sholde lyue in sobirnes
And ouer al this auyse you right weel
What was comaundid vnto lamuel
Nat Samuel but lamuel say I
Redith the Bibil and fynd it expresly
Of wyne yeuynge to hem that haue Iustice
Nomore of this for it may wel suffise
ANd now that I haue spoke of glote [...]y
Now wol I defende you sa [...]ard [...]y
Hasardrye is very moder of lesyngis
[Page] And of disceit
cursid forsweryngis also
Of bataylle ofte tyme and of othir mo
It is repreef and contrary vnto honour
Forto beholden a Comune hasardour
And euer the hyer that he is in astat
The more he is holden dissolate
If that a prince vse hasardrye
In al gouernaunce and al polecye
He is as by comune oppinion
Y holde the lasse in reputacion
Stillebone that was holde a wyse Embassetour
Was sent in to garnathe with gret honour
Fro Calidone to make hem aliaunce
And whan he cam hym happith this chaunce
That alle the grettist that were of that lo [...]d [...]
Ple [...]ynge atte hasarde he hem fonde
For whiche as sone as that it mighte be
He stale hym hoom ayeen to his contre
And s [...]yde there wil I not lese my name
I wol not take on me so gret defame
You forto a lye to non hasardouris
Sendith other wyse ambassi [...]touris
For be my trouthe me were leuer dye
Than I you to hasardouris shulde a lye
For ye that been so glorious [...] honouris
Shal not a lye you to hasar [...]ouris
As by my wil ne as by my trete
This wyse Philosophir thus sayd he
Loke thou vse no pley of dyse in thy hous
[Page]Loke eke how the kynge Emetrus
Sente hym a peyre of dyse in scorn̄
For he hadde vsed hasardrye ther be forn̄
For whiche he held his glorye and his renoun
At no value as of reputacioun
Lordis mighten fynde othir maner pley
Honest ynough to dryue the day awey
NOw wol I speke of othis fals and grete
A word or two as many bokes trete
Greet swering is thing abhominabil
And fals swering is a thing more reprouable
The high god forbad swering at all
Witnes of Mathew but in special
Of swering saith hol [...] Iheromye
Thou shalt swere soth thyn othis and not lye
And swere in dome and in rightwisnes
But ydil swering is a cursidnes
Behold and se that in the firste tabil
Of high goddis hestis honourabil
How that the seconde heste of hym is this
Take not myn name in ydilnes amys
Lo rather he forbedith suche swering
Or homycidy or ony other cursid thing
I say as be ordre thus it stondith
This knoweth they þ• his hestis v [...]derstondith
Hou that the seconde heste of god is that
And furthirmore I wil the telle at plat
That vengeaunce shal not parte from the hous
That of his othis is outrageous
[Page]Ey be goddis precyous herte & be his naylis
And be his blood that is in haylis
Seuyn is my chaunce and thyn is fyue & thre
Ey goddis armys yf thou falsly pley with me
This daggar shal thorow thyn herte go
This fruyt comyth of the biochid bonys two
Forsweringe Ire falsnes and homicide
Now for the loue of crist that for vs dide
Leuith your othis bothe grete and smale
For cristis sake and herkenyth my tale
Thyse ryotouris thre of whiche I telle
Longe or to pryme were ronge ony belle
Were set hem in a tauerne to drynke
And as they sat they herde a belle clynke
Before a cors was caried to his graue
That on of hem gan calle to his knaue
Go bet quod he and axe redily
What cors is this that passith forth by
And loke that thou reporte his name wel
Sire quod the boy it nedith neuer a deel
It was me told or ye cam here two houris
He was parde an old felow of youris
Al sodenly was he sleyn to nyght
For dronke as he sat on his bench vpright
Ther cam a pryue theef men clepe deth
That in this contre al pepil sleth
And with his sper he smot his herte in two
And wente his wey with oute wordis mo
And maistir er ye come in his presence
[Page]He hath a
thousand sleyn this pestelence
Me thinkith it were necessary
Forto bewaar of suche an aduersary
Deth is redy forto mete hym euermore
Thus taughte me my dame I say nomore
O seynte mary said this tauernere
The child saith soth for he hath this yere
Hens ouer a myle slayn in a gret village
Bothe man and woman child and page
I trowe his habitacion be there
To been auisid gret wisedom it were
Er that he did a man a dishonour
Ye goddis armys sayde this riotour
Is it suche peril with hym forto mete
I shal hym seke by dale and eke by strete
I shal hym sle be goddis digne bonys
Harkyn felowis we thre been alonys
Let ech of vs becomyn othris brother
And ech of vs holde vp his hond to other
And we wol sle this traitour deth
He shal be slayn he that so many sleth
Be goddis dignite or it be nyght
To gedir haue thyse thre her hertis hight
To lyue and dye ilke of theym with othir
As though he were his owen swore brothir
And vp they stert al dronke in this rage
And forth they goon toward that village
Of whiche the tauerner hath spoke befo [...]n̄
And many a grisly oth haue they sworn̄
[Page] And cristis
blissid body they to rente
Deth shal be ded yf that we may hym hente
When they haue goon not fully a myle
Right as they wolde haue goon ouer a style
An old poure man with hem mette
This olde man full mekely hem grette
And sayde thus lordingis god you se
The proudest of thyse riotours thre
Answerde what charl with hard grace
Why art thow al forwrappid saue thy face
Why l [...]uyst thou so longe in so gret age
This olde man gan loke in her visage
And sayde thus for I can not fynde
A man though I walke in to ynde
Neyther in cyte ne in village
That wol chaunge his yonthe for myn age
And therfore muste I haue myn age still
As longe tyme as it is goddis will
Ne deth allas wol not haue my lyf
Thus walke I lik a recheles caytiff
And on the grounde whiche is my modris gate
I knocke with my staf erly and late
And say leue modir lete me yn
Lo how I vanyssh flesh blood and skyn
Allas whan shal my honys be at reste
Modir with you wolde I chaunge my cheste
That in my chambir longe tyme hath be
Ye for an heir clout to wrappe ynne me
But yet to me she wol not do that grace
[Page]For whiche ful paal &
wrecchid is my face
And seris to you it is no curtesie
To speke to an olde man vilony
But y trespasse othir in word or in dede
Ye may your self in holy writ rede
Ayenst an olde man hore vp on his heed
Ye sholde a ryse wherfore I you rede
Ne doth to non olde man harm now
Nomore than ye wolde men dide to you
In age yf ye sholde longe abyde
And god be with you wher ye go or ryde
I muste go thyder as I haue to do
Nay olde chorle be god thou shalt not so
Seyde this othir hasardour anon
Thou partist not so lightly be seynt Iohn
Thou spakist right now of that treitour deth
That in this contre al our frendis sleth
Haue her my trouthe thou art his aspye
Tel where he is or thou shalt dye
Be god and by the holy sacrement
For shortly thou art one of his assent
To sle vs yonge folk thou fals theef
Now seris yf that it be to you leef
To fynde deth turne vp this crokid wey
For in that groue I hym saw last be my fey
Vnder a tre and there he wol abyde
For your boost he wil no thing hym hyde
Se ye that Oke right there ye shul h [...]m fynde
God saue you that boughte al man kynde
[Page] And you amende thus sayde this olde man
And euery of thyse riotouris so they ran
Til they cam to the tre and there they found
Of floreyns fyn golde I coyned rounde
Wel nye an echte busshellis as hem thoughte
No lengir than aftir deth they soughte
But ech of theym so glad was of that sighte
For that the floreyns so fair were and brighte
That doun they sat be the precyous hord
The worste of hem he spak the firste worde
Bretheryn quod he take kepe what I saye
My wit is greet though I bourde and playe
This tresour hath fortune vnto vs yeuyn
In mirthe and Iolite our lif to lyuyn
And l [...]ghtly as it comyth so wol we spende
[...]y goddis precyous dignyte who wende
To day t [...]at we shulde haue so fair a grace
But mighte this gold be caried fro this place
Hoom to my hous or ellis vnto youris
Than mighte we say that it were al ouris
Than were we in high felicite
But trew [...]y by day it ma [...] not be
Men wolde say that we were theuys strong
And for our owen tresour don vs honge
This tresour muste be caried be nyght
As wisely and as s [...]ly as it mighte
Wherfore I rede leet loke among vs alle
Draw cut let se wh [...]re that i [...] wil falle
He that [...]ath the shortist cut with herte blithe
[Page]Shal renne to toun
and that ful swithe
To brynge vs bred and wyne ful priuely
And two of vs shal kepe ful subtilly
This tresour we [...] and yf he wol not tarien
Whan it is nyght we wol this tresour carien
Be one assent where as vs list best
That on of hem broughte strawe in his fist
And bad him drawe & loke on whom it wold fa [...]l
And it fyl on the yongest of hem alle
And forth toward the toun he wente anone
And also sone as he was goon
That on of hem spak thus vnto that othir
Thou wotist well thou art my sworn b [...]othir
Thy profit wol I telle the right anon
Thou wost well that our felow is goon
And here is gold and that ful gret plente
That shal be departid among vs thre
But natheles yf I can shape it so
That it departid were among vs two
Had I not doon a frendis turn to the
That othir answerde y not how it mighte be
I wot wel the gold shal be ouris two
What shul we say what shul we do
Shal it be counsell sayde the firste shrewe
And I shal telle th [...] in wordis fewe
What we shul do and brynge it wel aboute
I graunte quod that othir out of doute
That be my trouthe I wol the not bewrey
Now quod he thou wotist wel we be tweye
[Page] And tweyne of vs shal strenger be than on
Loke when he is set and than anon
A ryse as though thou woldist with hym pleye
And I shal ryue hym thorough the sidis tweye
Whilis thou strogelist with hym in game
And with thy daggar loke thou do the same
And than shal al this gold departid be
My dere frend betwix me and the
Than may we bothe our lustis fulfille
And pleye atte dyse right at our owen wille
And thus accordid be thyse shrewis tweye
To sle the thridde as ye haue herd me seye
This yongest whiche that wente to the toun
Ful ofte in herte he rollid vp and doun
The beaute of thyse floreyns newe and bright
O lord quod he yf so were that I might
Al this tresour wynne to my self alone
Ther nys noman that liuyth vnder trone
Of god that sholde lyue as mery as I
And atte laste the fend our enemy
Put in his herte that he sholde poyson beye
With whiche he mighte sle his felowis twey
For why the fend fond hym in suche liuynge
That he hadde leue hym in sorow to brynge
For this was vtterly his entent
To sle hem bothe and neuer to repent
And forth he goth no lenger wolde he tary
In to the toun vnto apotecary
And prayde hym that he wolde hym selle
[Page]Som poison that he mighte his rattis quelle
And eek therwith was a polcat in his hawe
That as he sayde his capons hadde slawe
And sayde he wolde wreke hem yf he mighte
Of vermyn that destroyde hem be nyghte
The potecary answerd thou shalt haue
A thing as wisly god my soule saue
In al this worlde ther is no creature
That etyn or drynkyn hath of this confecture
Not but the mounteunce of a corn̄ of whete
That he ne shal anon his lif forlete
Ye sterue he shal and that in lasse whyle
Or thou wolt go passing half a myle
This poyson is so strong and so violent
This cursid man hath in his hond it bent
And swithe in to the strete vnto a man
As faste as euer he mighte he ran
And borwid hym large botellis thre
And in to the tweyne the poyson pourid he
The thridde he kepte clene for his drynke
For al nyght he shoop hym forto swynke
In cariynge of this gold. out of this place
And whan this riotour with sory grace
Hadde fillid ful his grete botellis thre
To his felowis ayeen repayrith he
What nedith it to sermone of it more
For right as th [...]y hadde cast his deth afore
Right so they haue hym sleyn right anone
And when this was doon than spak that one
[Page]Now leet vs sitte & drynke & make vs mery
And aftirward we wil his body bery
And aftirward it happid hym ꝑ caas
To take the botel there the poyson was
And drank and yaf his felow drynke also
For whiche anon they steruyn bothe two
But certis I suppose that Auicenne
Wroot neuer in no canoun ne in no sene
More wonder sorowis of enpoysonynge
Thus hadde thyse wrecchis two her endynge
Thus endid ben thyse homicides two
And the fals empoysoner also
O cursid synne ful of cursidnes
O traytours homicides o wickidnes
O glotony o luxury o hasardrye
Thou blashemar of crist with vilonye
And othes grete of vsage and of pryde
Allas mankynde how may it betyde
That to thy creatour whiche that the wrought
And with his precyous blood the bought
Thou art so fals and so vnkynde allas
Now gode men god foryeue you your trespas
And ware you from the synne of auarice
My holy pardoun may you alle warisshe
So that ye offir nobillis or sterlingis
Or ellis siluer sponys brochis or ryngis
Bowith your heed vnder thyse holy bullis
Comyth vp y [...] wyuys offrith of your wollis
Your names I entre in my roll anon
[Page]Into the blisse of heuyn shal ye goon
I you assoylle be my high power
You that wol offre as clene and as cleer
As ye were bore lo seris thus I preche
And Ihesu crist that is our soulis leche
So graunte you his pardon to resceyue
For that is best I wil you not deceyue
But seris o word forgat I in my tale
I haue relikes and pardon in my male
As fair as ony man in Engelond
Whiche were me yeue be the Popis hond
Yf ony of you wol of deuocioun
Offryn and haue myn absolucion
Comyth forth anon and knelith here a doun
And mekely receyueth your pardoun
And ye shul haue my pardon that ies hende
Or ellis takith pardon as ye wende
Al newe and fressh at euery tounys ende
So that ye offir alwey newe and newe
Noblis or pens whiche that been gode & trewe
It is an honour to euerich that is here
That ye mowe haue a sufficiaunt pardonere
To assoylle you in contre as ye ryde
For auenturis whiche that may betyde
For ꝑauenture ther may falle on or two
Doun of his hors and breke his ne [...]ke a two
Loke whiche a surete it is to you alle
That I am in your feleship y falle
That may assoylle you bothe more and les
[Page]Whan that the soule shal from the body pas
I rede that our ost here shal begynne
For he is most inuolupt in synne
Comyth forth sir ost and offrith right anon
And thou shalt kisse the relikes euerichon
Ye for a grote vnbokil anon thy purs
Nay nay quod he than haue I cristis curs
Let be quod he it shal not be so theche
Thou woldist make me kis thyn olde breche
And swere it were a relik of a seynt
Though it were with thy fundement I peynt
But by that cros whiche that saint Eleyn fond
I wolde I hadde thy colious in my hond
In stede of relikes othir of saintewary
Let cutte hem of I wol helpe the hem to cary
They shul be shryned in an hoggis tord
This pardoner answerd not o word
So wroth he was he wolde no word sey
Now quod our ost I wol no lenger pley
With the ne with non other angry man
But right anon the worthy knyght began
Wh [...]n that he saw that al the pepyl lough
Nomore of this for it is right ynough
Sir Pardoner be mery and glad of chere
And ye sir ost that be to me so dere
I pray you that ye kisse the pardonere
And pardoner I pray the draw the nere
And as we did let vs laughe and pley
Anon they kissid and riden forth her wey
[Page]Here endith the Pardoneris tale.
And begynneth the Shipmannys tale.
A Marchaunt somtyme was at seynt denys
That riche was wherfore men held him wise
A wyf he hadde of excellent beaute
And compenable and reuelons was she
Whiche thing causith more dispence
Than worth is al the fauour and reuerence
That men hem doon at festis and at daunsis
Suche salutacions and countenauncis
Passin as doth a shadow vp on a wal
But wo is hym that paien muste for al
The sely husbonde algate he must paye
He muste vs bothe clothe and eek araye
For his owen worship ful richely
In whiche aray we daunsyn Iolily
And yf that he naught paye ꝑauenture
Orellis list not suche spencis endure
But thynkith it is wastid and y lost
Than muste another paye for our cost
Or lene vs golde and that is parlous
This nobil Marchaunt held a nobil hous
For whiche he hadde so greet repeir
For his largenes and for his wyf was feir
That folie is but herkenyth to my tale
Among alle thyse gestis grete and smale
Ther was a monk a fair man and a bold
I trow that .xxx. winter he was old
That euer in one was drawyng to that place
[Page]This yonge monk that was so fair of face
Aqueyntid was so with the good man
Sith that their first knowlage began
That in his hous as familier was he
As is possible ony frend to be
But for asmuche as this good man
And eke this monk of whiche I began
Were bothe two born in on village
The monk of hym claymeth for cosinage
And he ayen saith not onys nay
But was as glad ther of as foul of day
For to his herte it was a greet plesaunce
Thus been they knyt with etern allyance
And eche of hem gan other forto ensure
Of brotherhede whyle that her lyf may dure
Fre was dane Iohn and namly of dispence
As in that hous and ful of diligence
To doon plesaunce and also gret costage
He nat foryat to yeue the leste page
Whan that he cam sum maner honest thing
For whiche they were as glad of his comyng
As foul is fayn whan sonne vp risith
Nomore of this for it [...]u [...]fisith
But so be fyl this marchaunt on a day
Shoop hym to make red [...] his aray
Toward the toun of B [...]uggis forto fare
To byen there aporcioun of ware
For whiche he hadde to Paris sent anon
A messanger and praid hath dan Iohn
[Page]That he sholde come to saint denys
and pl
[...]y
With hym and his wyf a day or tweye
Er he to Briggis wente in alle wyse
This nobil monk the whiche I you deuyse
Hath of his abbot as hym list licence
Be cause he was a man of high prudence
And eke an Officer out forto ryde
To se her graungis and her bernys wyde
And to saint Denys comyth hym anone
Who was so welcom as my lord dan Iohn
Our dere cosyn ful of curtesie
With hym he broughte a Iub of maluefie
And eke another ful of fyn vernage
And vitayl as was his vsage
And thus I lete hem drynke ete and pleye
This Marchaunt and this monk a day or tweye
The thridde day the Marchaunt vp risith
And on his nedis sadly hym auisith
And vp to his countirhous goth he
To rekene with hym self wel may be
Of that yeer how that it with hym stood
And how that he dispendid had his good
And yf encresid he hadde or none
His bokis and his baggis many one
He leyeth beforn̄ hym on his countyng bord
Ful riche was his tresour and his hord
For whiche ful fast his countour he she [...]te
And eke he wolde that noman sholde hym lette
Of his accountynge for the mene tyme
[Page] And thus he sat til it was
passid pryme
Dan Iohn was risen in the morow also
And in the gardyn walkid to and fro
And sayde his thingis ful coriously
This good wyf cam walking priuely
Into the gardyn there as he walkid softe
And hym salewid as she hath doon ofte
A mayde child cam in her company
Whiche as she list she may gouerne and gye
For yet vnder the yerde was the mayde
O dere cosyn myn dan Iohn she sayde
What eylith you so rathe forto ryse
Nece quod he it oughte ynough suffise
Fyue houris to slepe on a nyght
But it were for an old pallid wight
As been thyse olde weddid men that lien & dare
As in a fourme sittith a wery hare
Were al for straught wit houndis grete & smale
But dere nece why loke ye so pale
I trow certis that our good man
Hath you labourid sith the nyght began
That you were nede to restyn hastely
And with that word he lough ful merily
And with his owen thought wext al reed
This faire wyf gan shake her hed
And sayde thus ye god woot quod she
Nay cosyn it stondith not so with me
For by that god that yaf me soule and lyf
In al the r [...]me of Fraunce is ther no wyf
[Page]That lasse lust hath to that sory play
For y may synge allas and wel a wey
That I was born̄ but to no wyght quod she
Dar I not telle how it stondith with me
Wherfore I thinke out of this lond to wende
Or ellis of my self to make an ende
So ful am I of drede and of care
This monk began vp on this wyf to stare
And sayde allas myn nece god forbede
Ye for ony sorow or for ony drede
For do your self / but tel me your greef
Parauenture I may in your myschief
Counsel or helpe and therfor tellith me
Al your annoye / for it shal secret be
For on my port hose here I make myn oth
That neuer in my lif for leef ne loth
Ne shal I of no counsel you bewreye
The same quod she to you y seye
Be god and be this portose I you swere
Though men wol me al to pecis tere
Ne shal I neuer forto go to helle
Bewrey o word of thing that ye me telle
Nat for no cosynage / ne alliaunce
But verily for loue / and affiaunce
Thus been they swore and there vp on I kist
And eche talkith to other what them list
Cosyn quod she yf I hadde space
As I haue none and namly in this place
Than wolde I telle a legende of my lif
[Page]What I haue
suffrid syn I was wyf
With my husbonde al be he your cosyn
Nay qd this monk by god & by saint Martyn
He is nomore Cosyn to me
Than is the leef that hangith on the tre
I clepe hym so by seynt denys of Fraunce
To haue of hym the more acqueyntaunce
And of you whom I loue specially
Aboue alle women sikirly
This swere I you on my professioun
Tellith your greef lest he come doun
And hastith you and go awey anon
My dere loue quod she o dan Iohn
Ful leef were me this counsel to hyde
But out it moot it may no lengir abyde
My husbonde is to me the worste man
That euer was sith the worlde began
But sith I be cam a wyf it sittith not me
To telle no wight our priuyte
Neyther in bed ne in no place
God shilde I sholde it telle for his grace
A wyf sholde nat seyn of her husbonde
But al honour as I can vnderstonde
Saue vnto you thus muchel I telle shal
As helpe me god he is not worth at al
In [...] no degre the value of a flye
But yet me greuith most his nygardrye
And well ye woot that women naturelly
Desiren thingis as wel as do I
[Page]They wolde that her husbondis sholde be
Hardy and wyse / riche and therto fre
And buxom to his wyf and fressh a bedde
But by that ilke lord that for vs bledde
For his honour my self to araye
A sonday next I muste nedis paye
An hundrid frankis or ellis I am lore
Yet were I leuer to the vnbore
Than me were do disclaunder or vilony
And yf my husbonde mighte it spye
I nere but lost and therfore I you pray
Lene me this fumme or ellis muste I dey
Dane Iohn I say lene me this .C. frankis
Parde I wol not fayle you my thankis
If that ye list to do that I you pray
For at a certayn day I wol you pay
And don to you what plesaunce or seruise
That I shal doon right as ye can deuyse
And but I do god take on me vengeaunce
As foul as euer hadde genylioun of Fraunce
This gentil monk answerde in this manere
Now trewly myn owen lady dere
I haue on you quod he so gret a routhe
That I you swere and plight my trouth [...]
That whan your husbonde is to flaundris fa [...]e
I wol deliuer you out of this care
For I wyl brynge you an .C. frankis
And with þ• word he caught her by the shank [...]s
And here enbraced harde & kiste her ofte
[Page]Goth now your wey quod he al stille & softe
And lete vs dyne as sone as ye may
For be my kalander it is pryme of the day
Goth now and been as trewe as I shal be
Now ellis god forbede sir quod she
And forth she goth as ioly as a pye
And bad the cokis that they sholde hye
So that men mighte dyne atte none
Vp to her husbonde is she goon
And knockith at his countour boldly
Who is there quod he Petir it am I
Qu [...]d she what sire how longe wol ye faste
How longe tyme wil ye rekyn and caste
Your summys and your bokis & your thingis
The deuyl haue part of all suche rekenyngis
Ye haue ynough parde of goddis sonde
Com doun to day and le [...]t your baggis stonde
Ne be ye not a shamyd that dame Iohn
Shal fast [...]nge al this longe day goon
What lete vs go here amasse and go dyne
Ye quod this man litil canst thou deuyne
The cor [...]ous besin [...]s that we haue
For of vs chapmen al so god me saue
And by that lord that clepidis saint Iue
Scarcely among twies ten twelue shal thryue
Continuelly lastyng to their age
We may wel make chere and good visage
And dryue forth the worlde as it may be
And kepe our astat in priu [...]te
[Page]Tyl we be
ded or ellis that we pleye
A pilgremage or goon out of the wey
And therfore haue I gret necessite
Vp on this queynte worlde to auyse me
For euer more we muste stonde in drede
Of hap and fortune in our Chapmanhede
To Flaundris wol I go to morow at day
And come ay [...]en as sone as euer I may
For whiche dere wyf I the beseke
As be to euery wight buxum and meke
And forto kepe our good be corious
And honestly gouerne wel our hous
Thou hast ynough in euery maner wyse
That to a thrifty housold may suffise
The lackid none aray ne non vitayl
Of siluer in thy purs shalt thou not fayll
And with that word his countordore [...]e shit
And doun he goth he wolde no lenger lette
But hastely amasse was there said
And spedely the tablis were leid
And to dyner faste they hem spedde
And richely the chapman this monk fedde
And aftir dynere Dan Iohn sobirly
This chapman toke a part propirly
And sayde hym thus / cosyn it stondith so
That wel I s [...] to Briggis wol ye go
God and saint Augustyn spede you and gyde
I pray you cosyn wisely the dir ye ryde
Gouerne you also weel of your diete
[Page]Attemperly
and namely in this hete
Betwix vs two nedith no straunge fare
Farwel cosyn god shilde you fro care
And yf ony thing by day or by nyght
Yf it be in my power or in my might
That ye me wol comaunde in ony wyse
Hit shal be do right as ye wol deuyse
O thing or that ye goon yf it may be
I pray you to lene it vnto me
An hundrid frankis for a weke or tweye
For certeyn bestis that I must beye
To store with a place that is owris
[...]od helpe me so I wolde it were youris
I shal not fayle surely of my day
Nat for a thousand Frankis o myle way
But lete this thing be secret I you pray
Fo [...] [...]et this nyght this bestis muste I bey
And fare now wel myn owen cosyn dere
Gromercy of your cost and of your chere
This nobi [...] marchaunt and that anon
Answ [...]rde and sayde o cosyn myn dan Iohn
Now sikrely this is a smal request
My gold is yowris whan that ye list
And not only my gold but my chaffare
Take that ye list god shilde that ye spare
But o thing ye kn [...]we wel I nough
Of chapmen that her money is her plough
We may creaunce whyles we haue a name
But goldlees forto he it is a shame
[Page]Pay it
[...]yen whan it lith at your ese
After my might fayne wolde I you plese
Thyse hundrid frankis fette he forth anon
And priuely he took hem to dan Iohn
No wight of al this lond wiste of this lone
Sauyng this marchaunt and dan Iohn alone
They drynke and speke & rome a whyle & pleye
Til that dan Iohn ridith to his abbeye
The morow cam & forth ridith this marchaunt
To flan̄dris ward his prentis brought him auan̄t
Til he com to Briggis wel and merily
Now goth this marchaunt wel and besily
Aboute his nedis and creaunsith and bieth
He neyther pleyeth at the dys ne daunsith
But as a marchaunt shortly to telle
He ledde his lif and there I lete hym dwelle
The sunday next that this marchaunt was a gon
To saint denys is comyn dan Iohn
With croune and berd al fresh & newe shaue
In al this hous ther nas so litil a knaue
Ne no wight ellis / but he was ful fayn
That my lord dan Iohn was comyn agayn
And shortly to the poynt right forto goon
This faire wyf acordith with dan Iohn
That for his hundrid frankis he sholde al night
Haue here in his armys bolt vp right
With her leggis al so brode and so wyde
As of lengthe she may her self stryde
And this accorde parfourmyd is in dede
[Page]In mirthe al nyght a besi lif they lede
Dan Iohn fidelid on the ribibil
His mynstralsie is swetter than the quynybil
Til it was day that dan Iohn yede his way
And bad the meyne farwel & haue good day
For non of hem ne no wight in the toun
Hath of dan Iohn ony suspecioun
And forth he ridith hoom to his abbeye
Or where hym list nomore of hym I sey
This marchaunt whan that endid was the feire
To seynt denys he gan agayn repaire
And with his wyf he makith feste and chere
And tellith here the chaffar is so dere
That nedis muste he make a cheuesaunce
For he was bounden in a reconysaunce
To paye twenty thousand sheldis anon
For whiche this marchaunt is to paris goon
To borow of certeyn frendis that he hadde
A certayn of frankis & some with hym he ladde
And when that he was come in to the toun
For chierte and greet affectioun
Vnto dan Iohn he goth first hym to pleye
Nat forto axe ne borowe of hym moneye
But forto wite and se his welfare
And forto tellyn hym of his chaffare
As frendis doon when they mete in fere
Dan Iohn hym makith feste & mery chere
And he hym tolde [...]ul specially
How he hadde sped by and by
[Page] Thankid be
god al hool his marchaundise
Saue that he muste in alle maner wyse
Makyn a cheuesaunce as for the beste
And than he sholde be in ioye and reste
Dan Iohn answerde certis I am fayn
That ye in hele as comyn home agayn
And yf that I were riche as I haue blis
Of .xx. thousand sheldis sholde ye not mys
For ye so kyndely this othir day
Lent me gold and as I can and may
I thanke you be god and be seynt Iame
But natheles I took it vnto our dame
Your wyf at hoom the same gold ayen
Vp on your bench she woot it wel certeyn
Be certeyn tokenys that I can you telle
Now be your leue I may no lenger dwelle
Our abbot wol out of this toun anon
And in his company must I goon
Grete wel our dame myn owen nece swete
And farwel dere cosyn til we mete
This marchaunt which þ• was ful waar & wyse
Creaunsid hath and paid eke in paris
To certeyn lumbardis redy in her hond
The somme of golde and gate of hem his bond
And hoom he goth as mery as a popingeay
For weel he knew he stood in such aray
That nedis muste he wynne in that viage
A thousand frankis aboue al his costage
His wyf ful redy mette hym atte yate
[Page]As she was wont of
old vsage algate
And al that nyght in mirthe they be set
For he was riche and cleerly out of det
When it was day the marchaunt gan embrace
His wyf al newe and kiste her in the face
And vp he goth and makith it ful tough
Nomore quod she be god ye haue ynough
And wantownly ageyn with hym she playde
Tyl a [...]te laste the marchaunt thus sayde
Be god quod he I am a litil wroth
With you my wyf al though it be me loth
And woot ye why be god as I gesse
That ye haue maad a maner straungenesse
Betwix me and my Cosyn dan Iohn
Ye sholde haue warned me or I had gon
That he hadde you an hundrid frankis paid
Be redy token and held hym euyl apaid
For that I to hym spak of cheuesaunce
Me semyd so as by his contenaunce
But natheles be god our heuyn kyng
I thoughte to axe of hym no thing
I pray the wyf do nomore so
Tel me now or I fro the go
Yf ony dettour haue in myn absence
Y payed the lest be thy negligence
I mighte hym axe a thing that he hath paid
This wyf was not a ferd ne affraid
But boldly she sayde and that anon
Mary I diffie that fals monk day Iohn
[Page]I kepe not of his tokenys neuer a deel
He took me certeyn gold that wot I wel
What euyl the dom on his monkis snowte
For god it woot I wende withouten doute
That he had yeue it me be cause of you
To do therwith myn honour and my prow
For cosinage and eke for belechere
That he hath had ful ofte tymes here
But seth I se it stont in suche disioynt
I wol answere you shortly to the poynt
Ye haue no slakker dectour than am I
For I wol paye you redely
Fro day to day yf so be I faylle
I am your wyf skore it vp on my tayl
And ellis I shal paye as sone as euer I may
For be my trouthe I haue on myn aray
And nat in wast bestowid it eueridel
And for I haue bestowed it so weel
For your honour for goddis sake I sey
As be not worth and lete vs laughe and pleye
Ye shal my ioly body haue to wedde
Be god I wol not paye you but a bedde
Forgyue it me myn owen spouse dere
Turnyth hithir makith bettir chere
This marchaunt saw ther was non other remedy
And forto chide it were but a foly
Syn that the thing may not other be
Now wyf he sayde and I for yeue it the
And be thy lif be nomore so large
[Page]Kepe bettir thy
good this gyue I in charge
Thus endith my tale and god vs sende
Talyng ynough vnto our lyuys ende
¶Here endith the Shipmannys tale. Verba Hospitis.
WEl said by corpus dn̄s sayde our ost
Now longe moot thou sayle by the cost
Thou gentil maister gentil mariner
God yeue the monk a thousand last quad yeer
A ha felowes be waar of suche a Iape
The monk put in the mannys hood an ape
And in his wyuys eek by saint Austyn
Draweth no monkes nomore to your Inne
But now pas ouer and lete vs seke aboute
Who shal telle a tale first of al this route
Another tale and with that word he sayde
As curteisly as it hadde be a mayde
My lady Prioresse by your leue
So that I wiste I shold you nat greue
I wolde deme that ye tellyn sholde
A tale next yf so were that ye wolde
Now wil ye vouchesauf my lady dere
Gladly quod she and sayde as ye shul here
¶Here begynneth the Prioresses
prolog ¶Domine dn̄s noster quā admirabile est nomen tuū in vniuersa terra.
LOrd our lord thy name euer merueilous
Is in this large worlde I spred quod she
For nat only thy laude precious
[Page] Parfourmed is be men of dignyte
But by the mouth of childryn thy bounte
Parfourmyd is / for on thy brest sowkyng
Somtyme shewd they thyn heryynge
Wherfore in laude as I can and may
Of the and of thy whyte lily flour
Whiche that the baar and is mayde alway
To telle a story I wol do my labour
Not that y may encrece her honour
For she her self is honoure and the rote
Of beaute next her son̄ and soulis bote
O modir mayde O mayde and moder fre
O bussh vnbrent brennyng in Moyses sight
That raueysshe dist doun from the deyte
Thorou thyn humbles the gost that in the a light
Of whoos vertu / when he thyn herte whit
Conceyued was the fadris sapience
Help me to telle it in thyn reuerence
Lady thy bounte thy magnificence
Thy vertu and thy grete humylite
Ther may no tunge expresse in no science
For somtyme lady or men praye the
Thow gost beforn̄ of thy benignyte
And getist vs light of thy praiere
To giden vs vnto thy sone so dere
My konnyng is so week o blisful quene
Forto declare thyn high worthynesse
That I ne may thy wit sustene
But as a child of twelfmonth old of lesse
[Page]That can vnnethe ony
word expresse
Right so fare I and therfore I you pray
Gidith my songe as I shal you say
¶Here endith the Prioresses prolog. ¶And here begynneth her tale.
THer was in asie in a gret Citee
Among cristyn folk a Iurye
Susteyned by a lord of that contre
For foul vsurye and lucre of vilony
Hateful to crist and to his company
And thorow this strete men mighte ryde & wende
For it was fre and opyn at euery ende
A l [...]til scole of cristen folk ther stood
Doun a [...]te ferther ende in whiche ther were
Childryn an heep comyn of cristen blood
That lerned in scole yeer by yeer
Suche maner doctryne as men vsen here
This is to say to syngen and to rede
As smale children doon in her childhede
Among thyse childryn was ther a widowis son
A litil clergion .vij. yeer of age
That day by day to scole was his wone
And eke also wher that he saw the Image
Of cristis moder had he in vsage
As hym was taught to knele a doun and say
His Aue maria as he goth by the way
Thus hath this w [...]dow har litil sone taught
Our blissed lady cristis moder dere
To worship ay and he forgat it nought
[Page]For the s
[...]ly
child wolde alwey sone lere
But ay when I remembrid me on this matere
Seynt Nicholas stont euer in my presence
For he so yong to crist did reuerence
This litil childe his litil book lernynge
As he sat in the scole at his prymere
He Alma redemptoris mater herd syng
As children lernyd here antiphoner
And as he durste he drew hym nere and nere
And herkenyd ay the wordis and the note
Til he the firste vers coude al be rote
Naught wiste he what this latyn was to say
For he so yong and tender was of age
But on a day his felow gan he pray
To expoune his song and his langage
Or telle hym why this song was in vsage
This prayde he hym to constrew and declare
Ful ofte tymes vp on his knees bare
His felow whiche that elder was than he
Answerde hym thus this song I haue herd sey
Was makid of our blissid lady f [...]e
Her to salue and eke her forto preye
To be our help and socour whan we deye
I can nomore expoune in this matere
I lerne song I can but litil gramere
And is this song maad in reuerence
Of cristis moder said this Innocent
Now certeyn I wol do my diligence
To conne it al or cristmas is al y went
[Page]Though that I for my prymer be shent
And sholde be bete thries in an hour
I wol it conne our lady to honour
His felow taughte hym homward priuely
Fro day to day til he coude it al be rote
And than he song it wel and boldly
Fro word to word accordyng to the note
Twis a day it passid thorow his throte
To scoleward and homward whan he wente
On cristis modir set was al his entent
As I haue said thorou out the Iurye
This litil child as he cam to and fro
Ful merily wolde he synge and crye
O alma redemptoris mater euer mo
The swetnesse his herte persid so
Of cristis moder that he to her prey
He can not stynte of singinge by the wey
Our firste foo the serpent sathanas
That hath in Iues herte his waspis nest
Vp swal and sayde o ebreik pepil allas
Is this a thing that is to vs honest
That suche aboy shal walkyn as hym list
In our despit and synge of suche sentence
Whiche is ayenst our lawes reuerence
Fro thens forth the Iewis haue conspirid
This Innocent out of this worlde to chace
An homicide therto haue they hirid
Right at an aley at a pryue place
And as the childe gan forth by to pace
[Page]This
cursid Iue hym hent
and held faste
And cutte his throte and in a pit hym cast
I say that in a warderobe they hym threw
Where as the Ines purgid her entrayl
O cursid folk of herodis al newe
What may your euyl entent you auayl
Murdir wol out certeyn it wol not fayl
And namely as the honour of god shal sprede
The blood out crieth on your cursid dede
Martir sowdid vnto virginite
Now maist thou synge folowyng euer in on
The whyte lamb celestial quod she
Of whiche the grete euangelist saint Iohn
In pathmos wroot whiche saith that they goon
Beforn̄ this lamb & synge a song al newe
That neuer fleshly woman they ne knewe
This poure widow awaytith al nyght
Aftir her litil child and he cam nought
For whiche as sone as it was daies light
With face pale and drede and besy thought
She hath at scole and ellis where hym sought
Tyl finally so fer she gan to espye
That he last was seyn in the Iurye
With modirs pyte in her herte enclosid
She goth as she were half oute of her mynde
To euery place where she hath supposid
By liklihede her child for to fynde
And euer on cristis moder meke and kynde
She cryde and at the last thus she wrought
[Page] Among the
cursid Iues she hym soughte
She axith and she freyneth pitously
Of euery Iue that duellid in that place
To telle her yf her child wente aught forth by
Th [...]y sayde nay but Ihesu of his grace
Yaf in her thought with ynne a litil space
That in that place aftir her son she cryde
Where he was cast in a pit beside
O grete god that parfourmyst thy laude
By mouth of Innocentis lo here thy might
This gemme of chastite this emeraud
And eke of martirdom the ruby bright
There he with throte I coruyn lith vpright
He Alam redemptoris gan to synge
So loude that al the place gan rynge
The cristen folk that by the strete went
In cam forto wondir vp on this thing
And hastely they for the Prouost sent
Whiche fonde the childe freshly yet bledyng
And herieth crist that is of heuene kyng
And eke his modir honour of mankynde
And aftir that the Iues lete he bynde
This child with petous lamentacion
Vp takyn was synging this song alwey
And with honour and gret processioun
They carye hym in to the nexte abbey
His modir swonnyng by his bere lay
Vnnethe mighte the pepil that was there
This sorouful rachel meue from the bere
[Page]With turment & with shamful deth echon
This prouost doth thyse Iues forto sterue
That of this murdir wist and that anon
He nolde no suche cursidnes obserue
Euyl shal he haue that euyl wol deserue
Wherfore with wilde hors he did hem drawe
And aftir hangid hem by the lawe
Vp on his bere ay lieth this Innocent
Before the hy anter whyle the high masse last
And aftir that the abbot and his couent
Hem spedde forto bery hym ful fast
And whan they holy water on hym cast
Yet spak this child whan spreynt it was
He sang o Alma redemptoris in the plas
This abbot whiche that was an holy man
As monkes been or ellis oughte to be
This yonge child to coniure he began
And sayde o dere child I halouse the
In the vertu of the holy trinite
Tel me what is thy cause for to synge
Syn that thy throte is cut to my semynge
My throte is kut vnto myn neckeboon
Sayde this child and as be wey of kynde
I sholde a deide long tyme agoon
But Ihesu as ye in bokis fynde
Wol that his glory laste and be in mynde
And for the worship of his moder dere
Yet may I synge o alma loude and c [...]ere
This welle of mercy cristis moder swete
[Page]I
louyd alwey
and aftir my konnynge
And when that I my lif sholde forlete
To me she cam and bad me forto synge
This anteme verily in my dyinge
As ye haue herd and when that I had songe
Me thoughte she leyde a greyn on my tonge
Wherfore y synge and synge muste certeyn
In honour of that blissed mayde fre
Til fro m [...] tonge takyn is the greyn
And aftir thus sayde she to me
My litil child than wol I fecche the
W [...]n that the greyn is fro thy tonge I take
Be not agast I wil the not forsake
This holy monk this abbot of hym mene I
His tunge out caughte & toke awey the greyn
And [...]e [...]af vp the gost ful softely
And when this abbot had this meruayl sayn
His salt teris trillid doun as reyn
And groueling he fyl to the grounde
And s [...]ille he lay as he had be y bounde
The couent eke lay vp on the pament
Wepynge and [...]er [...]ying cristis modir dere
And aftir that vp they roo [...] & forth they went
And toke awey this martir fro his bere
And in a tombe of marbil stonys clere
Enclosyn they this litil body swete
There he is new god leue vs forto mete
O yonge hewe of lincolnn̄ slayn also
With cursid Iues as it is notabil
[Page]For it is but a lityl whyle a go
Prey eke for vs we sinful folk vnstabil
That of his mercy / god so merciable
On vs his grete mercy multiplye
For reuerence of his modir Mary
¶Here endith the Prioressez tale.
WHan said was this myrakil euery man
As sobir was that wonder was to se
Til that our ost to iapyn began
And than at erst he lokid vp on me
And sayde thus what maner mā art thou qd he
Thou lokist as thou woldist fynde an hare
For euer vp on the ground I se the stare
Approche neer and loke vp merily
Now ware sirs and lete this man haue place
He is shape in the wast as wel as I
This were a Popet in an arm to embrace
For ony woman smal and fair of face
He semyth eluyssh be his contenaunce
For vnto no wight doth he daliaunce
Say now sumwhat syn other folk haue said
Tel vs a tale of mirthe and that anon
Hoste quod I ne be not euyl apaid
For othir tale certeyn can I noon
But of a ryme I lernyd longe a goon
Ye quod he that is good ynow let vs [...]ere
Som deynte thing me thynkith be thy chere
.Ryme of sir Topas.
LEsten lordis in good entent
[Page] And I wol telle verament
Of mirthe and of solace
Of a knyght fair and gent
In batayl and in turnament
His name was sir Thopas
I borne he was in fer contre
In Flaundris al be yond the se
At Popering in the place
His fad [...]r was a man ful fre
A lord he was of that contre
As it was goddis grace
Sir Thopas wext a doughty sweyn
Whit was his face as paynemeyn
His lippis rede as rose
His rode is lik scarlet in greyn
As I telle you in good certeyn
He hadde a semely nose
His heer his berd was lik saffron
That to his girdil raught a doun
His shoon of cordeweyn
Of briggis were his hosyn broun
His robe was of siclatoun
That coste many a Ian
He coude hunte atte wilde deer
And ryde an hawkyng for ryuere
With grey goschauk in honde
Therto he was a greet archer
Of wrastlyng was ther none his peer
Ther ony ram sholde stonde
[Page]They
moornyd for hym par amour
Whan hem were bet to slepe
But he was chast and no lechour
And swete as is the Brembil flour
That berith the rede hepe
And so it fil vp on a day
For sothe as I you telle may
Sir Thopas wolde out ryde
He worde vp on his hors bay
And in his hond a launcegay
A long swerd be his syde
He prykid thorou a fair forest
Ther ynne is many a wilde best
Ye bothe buk and hare
And as he pryked north and est
I telle it you hym hadde almest
Betyd a sory care
Ther sprongen herbis grete and smale
The licorice and the Cetuale
And many a cloue gilofer
And notemyg to put in ale
Whethir it be moist or stale
Or forto ley in Cofir
The briddis synge it is no nay
The sperhauke and the Popingeay
That ioye was to here
The throstil made eke his lay
The wode dowue vp on the spray
He sang ful loude and clere
[Page]Sir Thopas fil in loue longinge
Al when he herde the throstil synge
And prikid as he were wood
Hes faire stede in his prikynge
So swette that men mighte hym wrynge
His sidis were al blood
Sire Thopas eke so wery was
For prikyng in the softe gras
So fiers was his corage
That doun he leyde hym in the place
To make his stede [...]um solace
And yaf hym good forage
A sainte marie benedicite
What aylith this loue at me
To bynde me so sore
Me dremyd al this nyght parde
An elf quene sholde my lady be
And slepe vnder my goore
An elf quene wol I haue ywis
For in this worlde no woman is
Worthy to be my make in toun
Al othir women I forsake
And to an elf quene y me take
Be dale and eke be doune
And to his sadil he [...]lamb anone
And prikid ouer st [...]e and stoon
An elf quen [...] to aspye
Til he so longe hath riden and goon
That he found a priuy wone
For in that cuntre was ther noon
Neythir wyf ne child one
That he had of ony drede
Tyl that ther cam a gret geaunt
His name was sir Ol [...]phaunt
A parlous man of dede
And sayde child be termegaunt
But yf thou pryke out of myn haunt
Anone I sle thy stede with mace
Here is this quene of fairye
With harpe and pype and simphonye
Duellynge in this place
The child sayde al so mot I the
To morow wil I mete with the
When that I haue myn armure
And yet I hope par ma fay
Or it be fully pryme of the day
For here shalt thou be slawe
Sir Thopas drew a bak ful faste
The geaunt at hym stones caste
Ou [...] of a fel staf slynge
Bu [...] faire ascapid sir Thopas
And al was thorough goddis grace
And thorough his fair berynge
Yet lestenyth lordyng to my tale
Meri [...] than the nyghtyngale
I wil with you roun
How [...]ir Thopas with sidys sm [...]le
[Page] Prikyng ouer hill
and dale
Is comyn agayn to toun
His mery men comaundith he
To maken hym bothe game and gle
For nedis must hym fighte
With a geaunt with heddis thre
Ful of paramour and iolyte
Of som̄e that shoon so bright
Com hithir he sayde my mynstralis
And gestours for to telle talis
Anone in myn armynge
Of romauncis that been ryal
Of Popis and of Cardinal
And eek of loue longyng
They fet hym ferst swete wyne
And mede in a masselyne
And ryal spiclory
Of gyngerbred that was so fyn
And licorice and eek comyn
With sugir that is try
He did next his whit lere
Of cloth of layke fyne and clere
A breche and eke a she [...]te
And next his sherte an haketon
And ouer that an habergeon
For Persing of his herte
And ouer that a fyn hanberk
Was al y wrought of Iuys werk
Ful strong it was of plate
[Page] And ouer that his cote armure
As whit as is the lily flour
In whiche he wol debate
His sheld was al of gold so reed
And therynne was a boris hed
A karbokil be his syde
And there se swoor an ale and bred
How that the Ieaunt shal be ded
Betyde what may be tyde
His Iambedeux were of quyreboly
His swerdis shethe of Iuory
His helm of latoun bright
His sadyl was of rewelbone
His bridyl as the sonne shoon
Or as the mone light
His spere was of fyn Cypresse
That bedith werre and no thing pees
The hed ful sharp y grounde
His stede was al dappyl grey
It goth an ambil in the way
Ful softely and rounde
Lo lordis here is o fit
If ye wol ony more of it
To telle yet wil I fonde
NOw hold your mouth pour charite
Bothe knyght and lady fre
And herkenyth to my spelle
Of a bataylle of chyualrye
And of ladyes loue drury
Men spekyn of romauncis of price
Of hornchild and of Ipotise
Of beues and of sir Guy
Of sir libeuy and of sir playndemour
But sir Thopas berith the flour
Of rial Chyualrye
His gode stede he gan be stryde
And forth vp on his wey he ryde
As sparc [...]e out of bronde
Vp on his crest he baar a tour
And there ynne stikid a lily flour
God shilde his body from shonde
And for be was a knyght aunterous
He nolde slepyn in none hous
But liggen in his hood
His bright helm was his wonger
And b [...] h [...]m lith his destrer
On herbis fyn and good
Hym self drank water of the welle
As did the kn [...]ght sir precyuelle
So worthily vnder w [...]ed
NO more quod our ost for goddis dignite
For thou so werry makist me
Of thy verry lewdnesse
That also wis my soule bles
Myn eris akyn of thy drafty speche
Suche another ryme the deuyl I beteche
This may wel be a ryme dogerel quod he
[Page]Why so quod I why wolt thou let me
More of my tale than another man
Syn it is the beste ryme that I can
Be god quod he ful plainly at o worde
Thy drafty rymynge is not word a tord
Thou dost naught ellis but spendist tyme
Sir at o word thou shalt no lengir ryme
Let se wher thou canst aught telle in geste
Or tellen in prose sumwhat that the [...]ist
In whiche ther may be som mirthe or som doctrine
Gladly quod I be goddis swete pyne
I wol you telle a litil thyng in prose
That oughte like you as I suppose
Or ellis certis ye been to daungerous
It is a moral tale vertuous
Albe it told somtyme in sondry wyse
Of sondry folk as I shal you deuyse
And thus ye woot that euery euangelist
That telle vs the passyon of crist
Ne saith not al thing as his felow doth
But natheles her sentence is al soth
And al accordinge as in her sentence
Al be ther in her telling difference
For som of hem saith more and som lesse
When they his pitous passion expresse
I mene of Mark Mathew Luke and Iohn
But doutles her sentence is al on
Therfore lordingis I you beseche
If that ye thynke I vary in my speche
[Page]As thus though that I telle somdeel more
Of prouerbis than ye haue herd before
Comprehendid in this litil tretis here
To enforce with the effect of my matere
And though I not the same wordis say
As ye haue herd yet to you alle I pray
Blameth me not for as in my sentence
Shulle ye now here fynde no difference
For the sentence of this trete lite
Aftir the whiche mery tale this I write
And therfore harkenyth what I shal say
And lete me telle my tale I you pray
Sequitur Chawcers tale.