BOOK I.
[God turne us every dreem to gode]!
[For hit is wonder], by the rode,
To my wit, what causeth swevenes
Either on morwes, or on evenes;
5
And why the effect folweth of somme,
And of somme hit shal never come;
And this a revelacioun;
10
Why this a dreem, why that a sweven,
And nat to every man liche even;
Why this a fantom, these oracles,
I noot; but who-so of these miracles
The causes knoweth bet than I,
Devyne he; for I certeinly
15
Ne can hem noght, ne never thinke
To besily my wit to swinke,
To knowe of hir signifiaunce
[The gendres], neither the [distaunce]
Of tymes of hem, ne the causes
20
For-why [this more than that] cause is;
As if folkes [complexiouns]
Make hem dreme of [reflexiouns];
Or elles thus, as other sayn,
For [to greet feblenesse] of brayn,
25
By abstinence, or by seeknesse,
Prison, stewe, or greet distresse;
Or elles by disordinaunce
Of naturel acustomaunce,
That som man is to curious
30
In studie, or melancolious,
Or thus, so inly ful of drede,
That no man may him bote bede;
Or elles, that devocioun
Of somme, and contemplacioun
35
Causeth swiche dremes ofte;
Or that the cruel lyf unsofte
Which these ilke lovers leden
That hopen over muche or dreden,
That purely hir impressiouns
40
Causeth hem avisiouns;
Or if that spirits have the might
To make folk to dreme a-night
Or if the soule, [of propre kinde],
Be so parfit, as men finde,
45
That hit forwot that is to come,
And that hit warneth alle and somme
Of everiche of hir aventures
[By avisiouns], or by figures,
But that our flesh ne hath no might
50
To understonden hit aright,
For hit is warned to derkly;—
But why the cause is, noght wot I.
[Wel worthe], of this thing, grete clerkes,
That trete of this and other werkes;
55
For I of noon opinioun
Nil as now make mencioun,
But only that the holy rode
[Turne us every dreem to gode]!
For never, sith that I was born,
60
Ne no man elles, me biforn,
Mette, I trowe stedfastly,
So wonderful a dreem as I
[The tenthe day] [dide] of Decembre,
The which, [as I can now remembre],
65
I wol yow tellen every del.
The Invocation.
But at my ginning, trusteth wel,
I wol make invocacioun,
Unto [the god of slepe] anoon,
70
That dwelleth in a cave of stoon
Upon a streem that comth fro Lete,
That is a flood of helle unswete;
Besyde a folk [men clepe Cimerie],
Ther slepeth ay this god unmerie
75
With [his slepy thousand sones]
[That] alway for to slepe hir wone is—
And to this god, that I of rede,
Preye I, that he wol me spede
My sweven for to telle aright,
80
If every dreem stonde in his might.
That is and was, and ever shal,
So yive hem Ioye that hit here
Of alle that they dreme to-yere,
85
And for to stonden alle in grace
Of hir loves, or in what place
That hem wer levest for to stonde,
And shelde hem fro [povert] and shonde,
And fro unhappe and ech disese,
90
And sende hem al that may hem plese,
That take hit wel, and scorne hit noght,
Ne hit [misdemen] in her thoght
Through [malicious] entencioun.
And who-so, through presumpcioun,
95
Or hate or scorne, or through envye,
Dispyt, or Iape, or vilanye,
Misdeme hit, preye I Iesus god
That ([dreme he barfoot, dreme he shod]),
That every harm that any man
100
Hath had, sith [that] the world began,
Befalle him therof, or he sterve,
And graunte he mote hit ful deserve,
Lo! with swich a conclusioun
As had of his avisioun
105
[Cresus], that was king of Lyde,
That high upon a gebet dyde!
This prayer shal he have of me;
I am no bet in charite!
Now herkneth, as I have you seyd,
110
What that I mette, or I [abreyd].
The Dream.
Whan hit was night, to slepe I lay
Right ther as I was wont to done,
And fil on slepe wonder sone,
115
[As he that wery was] for-go
On pilgrimage myles two
To the [corseynt] Leonard,
To [make lythe] of that was hard.
But as I [sleep], me mette I was
120
Within a [temple y-mad of glas];
In whiche ther were mo images
Of gold, stondinge in sondry stages,
And mo riche tabernacles,
And with perre mo pinacles,
125
And mo curious portreytures,
And queynte maner of figures
Of olde werke, then I saw ever.
For certeynly, I niste never
Wher that I was, but wel wiste I,
130
Hit was [of Venus] redely,
The temple; for, in portreyture,
I saw anoon-right hir figure
And also on hir heed, parde,
135
Hir rose-garlond whyt and reed,
And hir comb to kembe hir heed,
[Hir dowves], and daun [Cupido],
Hir blinde sone, and [Vulcano],
That in his face was ful broun.
140
But as I romed up and doun,
I fond that [on a wal] ther was
Thus writen, on a table of bras:
'[I wol now singe], if that I can,
The armes, and al-so the man,
145
That first cam, through his destinee,
Fugitif of Troye contree,
[In Itaile], with ful moche pyne,
Unto the strondes of Lavyne.'
And tho began the story anoon,
150
As I shal telle yow echoon.
First saw I the destruccioun
Of Troye, through the Greek [Sinoun],
[That] with his false forsweringe,
And his chere and his lesinge
155
[Made the hors broght] into Troye,
Thorgh which Troyens loste al hir Ioye.
And after this was grave, allas!
How [Ilioun] assailed was
And wonne, and king Priam y-slayn,
160
And [Polites] his sone, certayn,
Dispitously, of dan Pirrus.
And next that saw I how Venus,
Whan that she saw the castel [brende],
[Doun fro the hevene gan descende],
165
And bad hir sone Eneas flee;
And how he fledde, and how that he
Escaped was from al the pres,
And took his fader, Anchises,
And bar him on his bakke away,
170
Cryinge, 'Allas, and welaway!'
The whiche Anchises in his honde
Bar the goddes of the londe,
Thilke that unbrende were.
And I saw next, in alle [this] fere,
175
How Creusa, daun Eneas wyf,
Which that he lovede as his lyf,
And hir yonge sone [Iulo],
And eek Ascanius also,
Fledden eek with drery chere,
180
That hit was pitee for to here;
And in a forest, as they wente,
At a turninge of a [wente],
How Creusa was y-lost, allas!
That deed, [but] noot I how], she was;
185
How he hir soughte, and how hir [gost]
Bad him to flee the Grekes ost,
And seyde, he moste unto Itaile,
As was his destinee, sauns faille;
[That hit was pitee for to here],
190
Whan hir spirit gan appere,
The wordes that she to him seyde,
And for to kepe hir sone him preyde.
Ther saw I graven eek how he,
His fader eek, and his meynee,
195
With his shippes gan to sayle
Toward the contree of Itaile,
As streight as that they mighte go.
[Ther saw I thee], cruel Iuno,
That art daun Iupiteres wyf,
200
That hast y-hated, al thy lyf,
Al the Troyanisshe blood,
Renne and crye, as thou were wood,
On Eolus, the god of windes,
[To blowen out], of alle kindes,
205
So loude, that he shulde drenche
Lord and lady, grome and wenche
Of al the Troyan nacioun,
Withoute any savacioun.
Ther saw I swich tempeste aryse,
210
That every herte mighte agryse,
To see hit peynted on the walle.
Ther saw I graven eek withalle,
Venus, how ye, my lady dere,
Wepinge with ful woful chere,
215
Prayen Iupiter an hye
To save and kepe that navye
Of the Troyan Eneas,
Sith that he hir sone was.
Ther saw I [Ioves] Venus kisse,
220
And graunted of the tempest lisse.
Ther saw I how the tempest stente,
And how with alle pyne he wente,
And prevely took arrivage
In the contree of Cartage;
225
And on the morwe, how that he
And a knight, hight [Achatee],
Metten with Venus that day,
Goinge in a queynt array,
As she had ben an hunteresse,
230
With wind blowinge upon hir tresse;
How Eneas gan him to pleyne,
Whan that he knew hir, of his peyne;
And how his shippes dreynte were,
Or elles lost, he niste where;
235
How she gan him comforte tho,
And bad him to Cartage go,
And ther he shuldë his folk finde,
That in the see were left behinde.
And, shortly of this thing to pace,
240
She made Eneas so in grace
Of [Dido], quene of that contree,
That, shortly for to tellen, she
Becam his love, and leet him do
That that wedding longeth to.
245
What shulde I speke more queynte,
Or peyne me my wordes peynte,
To speke of love? hit wol not be;
I can not of that facultee.
And eek to telle the manere
250
How they aqueynteden in-fere,
Hit were a long proces to telle,
And over long for yow to dwelle.
Ther saw I grave, how Eneas
Tolde Dido every cas,
255
That him was tid upon the see.
And after grave was, how she
Made of him, shortly, at oo word,
Hir lyf, hir love, hir lust, hir lord;
And dide him al the reverence,
260
And leyde on him al the dispence,
That any woman mighte do,
Weninge hit had al be so,
As he hir swoor; and her-by demed
That he was good, for he swich semed.
265
Allas! [what harm doth apparence],
Whan hit is fals in existence!
For he to hir a traitour was;
Wherfor she slow hir-self, allas!
Lo, how a woman doth amis,
270
To love him that unknowen is!
For, by Crist, lo! thus hit fareth;
'[Hit is not al gold, that glareth].'
For, [al-so brouke I wel myn heed],
Ther may be under goodliheed
275
Kevered many a shrewed vyce;
Therfor be no wight so nyce,
To take a love only for chere,
For speche, or for frendly manere;
For this shal every woman finde
280
[That som man], of his pure kinde,
Wol shewen outward the faireste,
Til he have caught that what him leste;
And thanne wol he causes finde,
And swere how that she is unkinde,
285
Or fals, or prevy, or double was.
Al this seye I [by] Eneas
And Dido, and hir nyce lest,
That lovede al to sone a [gest];
Therfor I wol seye a proverbe,
290
That '[he that fully knoweth therbe]
May saufly leye hit to his yë';
Withoute dreed, this is no lye.
But let us speke of Eneas,
How he betrayed hir, allas!
295
And lefte hir ful unkindely.
So whan she saw al-utterly,
That he wolde hir of trouthe faile,
And wende fro hir to Itaile,
She gan to wringe hir hondes two.
300
'Allas!' quod she, 'what me is wo!
Allas! is every man thus trewe,
That every yere wolde have a newe,
If hit so longe tyme dure,
Or elles three, peraventure?
305
As thus: [of oon he wolde have fame]
In magnifying of his name;
Another for frendship, seith he;
And yet ther shal the thridde be,
That shal be taken for delyt,
310
Lo, or for singular profyt.'
In swiche wordes gan to pleyne
Dido of hir grete peyne,
As me mette redely;
Non other auctour alegge I.
315
'Allas!' quod she, 'my [swete herte],
Have pitee on my sorwes smerte,
And slee me not! go noght away!
O woful Dido, wel away!'
Quod she to hir-selve tho.
320
'O Eneas! what wil ye do?
O, that [your love], ne your bonde,
That ye han sworn with your right honde,
Ne my cruel deeth,' quod she,
'May holde yow still heer with me!
325
O, haveth of my deeth pitee!
Y-wis, my dere herte, ye
Knowen ful wel that never yit,
As fer-forth as I hadde wit,
Agilte [I] yow in thoght ne deed.
330
O, have ye men swich goodliheed
In speche, and never a deel of trouthe?
Allas, that ever hadde routhe
Any woman on any man!
Now see I wel, and telle can,
335
We wrecched wimmen conne non art;
For certeyn, for the more part,
Thus we be served everichone.
How sore that ye men conne grone,
Anoon as we have yow receyved!
340
Certeinly we ben deceyved;
For, though your love laste a sesoun,
Wayte upon the conclusioun,
And eek how that ye [determynen],
And for the more part diffynen.
345
'O, welawey that I was born!
[For through yow is my name lorn],
And alle myn actes red and songe
Over al this lond, on every tonge.
[O wikke Fame]! for ther nis
350
Nothing so swift, lo, as she is!
O, sooth is, [every thing is wist],
Though hit be kevered with the mist.
Eek, thogh I mighte duren ever,
That I have doon, rekever I never,
355
That I ne shal be seyd, allas,
[Y-shamed be] through Eneas,
And that I shal thus Iuged be—
"Lo, right as she hath doon, now she
Wol do [eftsones], hardily;"
360
Thus seyth the peple prevely.'—
But that is [doon], nis not [to done];
Al hir compleynt ne al hir mone,
Certeyn, availeth hir not a stre.
And whan she wiste sothly he
365
Was forth unto his shippes goon,
She [in] hir chambre wente anoon,
And called on [hir suster] Anne,
And gan hir to compleyne thanne;
And seyde, that she cause was
370
That she first lovede [Eneas],
And thus counseilled hir therto.
But what! when this was seyd and do,
She roof hir-selve to the herte,
And deyde through the wounde smerte.
375
But al the maner how she deyde,
And al the wordes that she seyde,
Who-so to knowe hit hath purpos,
Reed Virgile in [Eneidos]
Or the [Epistle of Ovyde],
380
What that she wroot [or that] she dyde;
[And nere hit to long to endyte],
By god, I woldë hit here wryte.
But, welaway! the harm, the routhe,
That hath betid for swich untrouthe,
385
As men may ofte in bokes rede,
And al day seen hit yet in dede,
That for to thenken hit, a tene is.
Lo, [Demophon], duk of Athenis,
How he forswor him ful falsly,
390
And trayed Phillis wikkedly,
That kinges doghter was of Trace,
And falsly gan [his terme pace];
And when she wiste that he was fals,
She heng hir-self right by the hals,
395
For he had do hir swich untrouthe;
Lo! was not this a wo and routhe?
Eek lo! how fals and reccheles
Was to [Briseida] Achilles,
And Paris to Enone;
400
And Iason to Isiphile;
And eft [Iason to Medea];
And Ercules to [Dyanira];
For he lefte hir for Iöle,
That made him cacche his deeth, parde.
405
How fals eek was he, [Theseus];
That, as the story telleth us,
How he betrayed [Adriane];
The devel be his soules bane!
For [had he laughed, had he loured],
410
He mostë have be al devoured,
And, for she had of him pitee,
She made him fro the dethe escape,
And he made hir a ful fals Iape;
415
For after this, within a whyle
He lefte hir slepinge in [an yle],
Deserte alone, right in the see,
And stal away, and leet hir be;
And took hir suster Phedra tho
420
With him, and gan to shippe go.
And yet he had y-sworn to here,
On al that ever he mighte swere,
That, so she saved him his lyf,
He wolde have take hir to his wyf;
425
For she desired nothing elles,
In certein, as the book us [telles].
But to excusen Eneas
Fulliche of al his greet trespas,
[The book] seyth, Mercurie, sauns faile,
430
Bad him go into Itaile,
And leve Auffrykes regioun,
And Dido and hir faire toun.
Tho saw I grave, how to Itaile
Daun Eneas is [go] to saile;
435
And how the [tempest] al began,
And how he loste his [steresman],
Which that the stere, or he took keep,
Smot over-bord, lo! as he sleep.
And also saw I how Sibyle
440
And Eneas, besyde [an yle],
To helle wente, for to see
His fader, Anchises the free.
How he ther fond Palinurus,
And Dido, and eek Deiphebus;
445
And every tourment eek in helle
Saw he, which is long to telle.
[Which] who-so willeth for to knowe,
He moste rede many a rowe
On Virgile or on [Claudian],
450
Or Daunte, that hit telle can.
[Tho saw I] grave al tharivaile
That Eneas had in Itaile;
And with king Latine his tretee,
And alle the batailles that he
455
Was at him-self, and eek his knightes,
Or he had al y-wonne his rightes;
And how he Turnus refte his lyf,
And wan [Lavyna] to his wyf;
And al the mervelous signals
460
Of the goddes celestials;
How, maugre Iuno, Eneas,
For al hir sleighte and hir compas,
Acheved al his aventure;
For Iupiter took of him cure
465
At the prayere of Venus;
The whiche I preye alway save us,
And us ay of our sorwes lighte!
Whan I had [seyen] al this sighte
In this noble temple thus,
470
'A, Lord!' thoughte I, 'that madest us,
Yet saw I never swich noblesse
Of images, ne swich richesse,
As I saw graven in this chirche;
But [not woot I who dide hem wirche],
475
Ne wher I am, [ne in] what contree.
But now wol I go out and see,
Right at the wiket, if I can
See o-wher stering any man,
That may me telle wher I am.'
480
When I out at the dores cam,
I faste aboute me beheld.
Then saw I but ,
As fer as that I mighte see,
Withouten toun, or hous, or tree,
485
Or bush, or gras, or ered lond;
For al the feld nas but of sond
[As smal as man may see yet lye]
In the desert of Libye;
Ne I no maner creature,
490
That is y-formed by nature,
Ne saw, me [for] to rede or wisse.
'O Crist,' thoughte I, 'that art in blisse,
Fro fantom and illusioun
Me save!' and with devocioun
495
Myn yën to the heven I caste.
Tho was I war, lo! at the laste,
That faste by the sonne, as hyë
As [kenne] mighte I with myn yë,
Me thoughte I saw an egle sore,
500
But that hit semed moche [more]
Then I had any egle seyn.
But this as sooth as deeth, certeyn,
Hit was of golde, and shoon so bright,
[That never saw men such a sighte],
505
But-if the heven hadde y-wonne
Al newe of golde another sonne;
So shoon the egles fethres brighte,
And somwhat dounward gan hit lighte.
Explicit liber primus.
The authorities are F. (Fairfax 16); B. (Bodley 638); P. (Pepys 2006); Cx. (Caxton's ed.); Th. (Thynne's ed. 1532). I follow F. mainly, correcting the spelling.
1. P. drem; rest dreme. 8. All have And why; I omit why. 9, 10. F. swevene, evene; Cx. Th. sweuen, euen. 11. Th. B. a fantome; P. a fauntom; Cx. a fanton; F. affaintome; after which, all needlessly insert why. 12. F. Th. B. P. not; Cx. note (= noot). Elide o in so. 20. All wrongly insert is before more. 24. B. of the; rest of her; I omit the (her). 26. F. B. stewe; P. stoe; Cx. stryf; Th. stryfe. 35. P. sweche; rest suche, such. 45. F. B. forwote; rest wote. 50. F. vnderstonde, followed by a metrical mark, indicating a pause: I add n. 58, 62. MSS. dreme (= dreem). 63. See note. 64. B. P. now; F. yow; rest om. 71. P. strem; rest streme (= streem); so P. drem (rest dreme) in l. 80. MSS. cometh (= com'th). 73. Cx. Th. clepe; F. clepeth. 77. F. That; rest And. 78. Th. wol; P. wol; Cx. wyl; F. B. wolde. 85. F. B. stonde; Cx. Th. stande; P. stond. Cx. alle; F. Th. al (wrongly). 88. All pouerte. 89. B. ech; F. eche. 100. I supply that. 103. P. om. a. 109, 110. Cx. seyd, abreyd; the rest seyde (sayde), abreyde (abrayde). Grammar requires seyd, abreyd; (abreyde also occurs). 117, 118. Cx. P. leonard, hard; F. Th. B. leonarde, harde. P. om. of. 119. MSS. slept, slepte; read sleep, as in l. 438. 122. F. Th. golde; Cx. P. gold; B. goold. 126. All queynt. 127. F. B. olde; Th. golde; Cx. P. gold. F. sawgh. 131. Th. This; rest The. 132. F. sawgh. 134. Th. heed; B. hed; F. Cx. hede. Cx. Th. P. parde; F. B. partee (!). 135. B. red; F. Th. rede; Cx. Rose garlondes smellynge as a mede. 136. MSS. combe. B. hed; rest hede. 139. Cx. P. brown; F. broune. 140. Cx. down; F. dovne. 141. P. fond; F. Cx. B. fonde; Th. founde. Cx. Th. wal; B. wall; F. walle. 143. F. B. say; rest synge. F. B. P. om. that. 146. F. B. Troy. 148. Cx. Th. P. Lauyne; F. B. Labyne. 152. Cx. Th. P. Troye; F. B. Troy; see l. 155. 153. All om. That. F. B. P. fals; Cx. fals vntrewe; Th. false vntrewe. 159. Cx. Th. kyng; F. B. kynge. F. y-slayne; rest slayn. 160. Th. Polytes; F. B. Polite. From this point I make no further note of obvious corrections in spelling. 172. Cx. P. Th. goddes; F. B. goddesse (wrongly) 173. F. B. -brende; rest -brenned. 174. Cx. P. this; F. B. his. 184. F. P. That dede not I how she was; B. That ded not I how she was; Cx. That rede note I how it was; Th. That rede nat I howe that it was. Read deed, and insert but. 188. Cx. Th. destyne; F. destanye. 193. Cx. Th. grauen; P. graven; F. grave; B. graue. 196. F. B. Towardes. 199. P. Iubiter; rest Iupiters; read Iupiteres. 204. F. blowe; P. Cx. Th. blowen. 210. Th. herte; rest hert. 220. F. omits from lisse to tempest in next line; the rest are right. 221, 222. F. B. stent, went; Cx. Th. stente, wente. 227. P. Cx. Th. Metten; F. B. Mette. 235. F. P. comfort; rest comforte. 237. P. folk; rest folke; but shulde is here dissyllabic. 242. F. tel; B. telle; P. Cx. Th. tellen. 257, 8. All worde, lorde. 260. Th. the; rest omit. 270. F. vnknowe; rest vnknowen. 278. Th. Or speche; rest Or (F. Of!) for speche; read For speche. Lines 280-2 3 are in Th. only, which reads some; fayrest; lest; than. 285. Cx. Th. (3rd) or; F. B. P. om. 290. F. B. therbe (= the herbe); P. Cx. Th. the herbe. 305. Cx. Th. one; P. on; F. B. love. 309, 310. All delyte, profyte. 313. For mette, Cx. Th. have mette dremyng (!). 314. F. auttour = auctour. 315. F. he; the rest she. 320. F. Th. wol; P. wille; Cx. wyl. 322. F. ha; P. B. haue; rest om. 328. All had. 329. I insert I; which all omit. 332. P. hadde; rest had. 334. Cx. telle; P. tellen; F. tel. 340. F. omits this line; the rest have it. 347. F. B. al youre; Cx. Th. P. myn (om. al). 352. F. B. om. be. 353. Th. duren; F. B. dure. 358. Th. done; rest omit. 362. All insert But before Al. 363. Cx. Th. P. Certeyn; F. B. Certeynly. 365. Cx. goon; P. gon; F. agoon; B. agon. 366. in] All in to. 370. All Allas (alas); read Eneas. 371. F. B. As; rest And. 375. Cx. Th. P. But; F. B. And. 381. F. And nor hyt were to; Cx. And nere it were to; Th. And nere it to; B. P. And ner it were to. Th. B. to endyte; F. Cx. tendyte. 387. P. thenken; F. B. thynke; Cx. Th. thynken. 391. F. B. om. was. 402. Cx. Th. P. And; F. B. omit. 410. Th. al; Cx. all; P. alle; F. B. om. 426. F. B. om. as and us. 428. F. B. om. greet. 429. B. Mercure; F. Mercure; rest om. 433. F. B. how that; rest how. 434. Cx. P. to saylle; Th. for to sayle; F. B. for to assayle. 446. Th. longe is for; F. B. is longe. Cx. P. whyche no tonge can telle. 451. For tharivaile, F. B. Th. have the aryvayle; Cx. the arryuaylle; P. the arevaille. 458. F. labina; rest Lauyna. 468. Cx. P. seyn; rest seen (sene). 473. F. B. grave; rest grauen. 475. F. B. omit in. 478. Th. sterynge any; the rest any stiryng (sterynge). 486. Cx. Th. P. was but of sonde (sande); F. B. nas but sonde. 491. I insert for. Cx. Th. P. insert I after saw; but it is in l. 489. 496. F. B. omit lo. 504. F. B. omit lines 504-507. Colophon and Title. So in Cx.; the rest omit them.
BOOK II.
Incipit liber secundus.
Proem.
Now herkneth, every maner man
510
That English understonde can,
And [listeth] of my dreem to lere;
For now at erste shul ye here
So selly an avisioun,
That [Isaye, ne Scipioun],
515
Ne king [Nabugodonosor],
Ne mette swich a dreem as this!
(10)
Now faire blisful, O [Cipris],
So be my [favour] at this tyme!
520
And ye, me to endyte and ryme
Helpeth, that on [Parnaso] dwelle
By Elicon the clere welle.
O Thought, that wroot al that I mette,
And in the tresorie hit shette
525
Of my brayn! now shal men see
If any vertu in thee be,
To tellen al my dreem aright;
(20)
Now kythe thyn [engyn] and might!
The Dream.
This [egle], of which I have yow told,
530
That shoon with fethres as of gold,
Which that so hyë gan to sore,
I gan beholde more and more,
To see hir beautee and the wonder;
But never was ther [dint of thonder],
535
Ne that thing that men calle [foudre],
That smoot somtyme a tour to poudre,
And in his swifte coming [brende],
(30)
That so swythe gan descende,
As this foul, whan hit behelde
540
That I a-roume was in the felde;
And with his grimme pawes stronge,
Within his sharpe nayles longe,
Me, fleinge, at a swappe he [hente],
And with his [sours] agayn up wente,
545
Me caryinge in his clawes starke
As lightly as I were a larke,
How high, I can not telle yow,
(40)
For I cam up, I niste how.
For so, astonied and a-sweved
550
Was every vertu in my heved,
What with his sours and with my drede,
That al my feling gan to dede;
For-why hit was to greet affray.
Thus I longe in his clawes lay,
555
Til at the laste he to me spak
In mannes vois, and seyde, 'Awak!
And [be not so a-gast], for shame!'
(50)
And called me tho by my name.
And, for I sholde the bet abreyde—
560
Me mette—'Awak,' to me he seyde,
Right in the same vois and stevene
That useth [oon I coude nevene];
And with that vois, soth for to sayn,
My minde cam to me agayn;
565
For hit was goodly seyd to me,
So nas hit never wont to be.
And herwithal I gan to stere,
(60)
And he me in his feet to bere,
Til that he felte that I had hete,
570
And felte eek tho myn herte bete.
And tho gan he me to disporte,
And with wordes to comforte,
And sayde twyës, '[Seynte] Marie!
Thou art noyous for to carie,
575
And nothing nedeth hit, parde!
As thou non harm shalt have of this;
(70)
And this cas, that betid thee is,
Is for thy lore and for thy prow;—
580
Let see! darst thou yet loke now?
Be ful assured, boldely,
I am thy frend.' And therwith I
Gan for to wondren in my minde.
'O god,' thoughte I, 'that madest kinde,
585
Shal I non other weyes dye?
Wher [Ioves] wol me [stellifye],
Or what thing may this signifye?
(80)
Ne Romulus, ne Ganymede
590
That was y-bore up, as men rede,
To hevene with dan Iupiter,
And maad the goddes [boteler].'
Lo! this was tho my fantasye!
But he that bar me gan espye
595
That I so thoghte, and seyde this:—
'Thou demest of thy-self amis;
For Ioves is not [ther-aboute]—
(90)
I dar wel putte thee out of doute—
To make of thee as yet a sterre.
600
But [er I bere thee moche ferre],
I wol thee telle what I am,
And whider thou shalt, and why I cam
To done this, so that thou take
Good herte, and not for fere quake.'
605
'Gladly,' quod I. 'Now wel,' quod he:—
'First I, that in my feet have thee,
Of which thou hast a feer and wonder,
(100)
Am [dwelling with the god of thonder],
Which that men callen Iupiter,
610
That dooth me flee ful ofte fer
To do al his comaundement.
And for this cause he hath me sent
To thee: now herke, by thy trouthe!
[Certeyn, he hath of thee routhe],
615
That thou so longe trewely
Hast served so ententifly
His blinde nevew Cupido,
(110)
And fair Venus [goddesse] also,
Withoute guerdoun ever yit,
620
And nevertheles hast set thy wit—
Although that in thy hede ful [lyte] is—
To make bokes, songes, dytees,
In ryme, or elles in [cadence],
As thou best canst, in reverence
625
Of Love, and of his servants eke,
That have his servise soght, and seke;
And peynest thee to preyse his art,
(120)
Althogh thou haddest never part;
Wherfor, al-so god me blesse,
630
Ioves halt hit greet humblesse
And vertu eek, that thou wolt make
A-night ful ofte thyn heed to ake,
In thy studie so thou wrytest,
And ever-mo of love endytest,
635
In honour of him and preysinges,
And in his folkes furtheringes,
[And in hir matere al devysest],
(130)
And noght him nor his folk despysest,
[Although thou mayst go in the daunce]
640
Of hem that him list not avaunce.
'Wherfor, as I seyde, y-wis,
Iupiter considereth this,
And also, beau sir, other thinges;
That is, that thou hast no tydinges
645
Of Loves folk, if they be glade,
Ne of noght elles that god made;
And noght only fro fer contree
(140)
That ther no tyding comth to thee,
But of thy verray neyghebores,
650
That dwellen almost at thy dores,
Thou herest neither that ne this;
For [whan thy labour doon al is],
And hast y-maad thy rekeninges,
In stede of reste and newe thinges,
655
Thou gost hoom to thy hous anoon;
And, also domb as any stoon,
Thou sittest at another boke,
(150)
Til fully daswed is thy loke,
And livest thus as an hermyte,
660
Although thyn abstinence is lyte.
'And therfor Ioves, through his grace,
[Wol that I bere thee to a place],
Which that hight the Hous of Fame,
To do thee som disport and game,
665
In som recompensacioun
Of labour and devocioun
That thou hast had, lo! causeles,
(160)
To Cupido, the reccheles!
And thus this god, thorgh his meryte,
670
Wol with som maner thing thee quyte,
So that thou wolt be of good chere.
For truste wel, that thou shalt here,
When we be comen ther I seye,
Mo wonder thinges, dar I leye,
675
Of Loves folke mo tydinges,
Bothe soth-sawes and lesinges;
And mo loves newe begonne,
(170)
And [longe y-served] loves wonne,
And mo loves casuelly
680
That been betid, no man wot why,
But [as a blind man stert an hare];
And more [Iolytee and fare],
Whyl that they [finde love of stele],
As thinketh hem, and over-al wele;
685
Mo discords, and mo Ielousyes,
Mo murmurs, and mo novelryes,
And mo dissimulaciouns,
(180)
And feyned reparaciouns;
690
Withoute rasour or sisoures
Y-maad, then greynes be of sondes;
And eke mo [holdinge in hondes],
And also mo renovelaunces
Of olde forleten aqueyntaunces;
695
Mo [love-dayes] and acordes
Then on instruments ben [cordes];
And eke of loves mo eschaunges
(190)
Than ever [cornes] were in graunges;
Unethe maistow trowen this?'—
700
Quod he. 'No, helpe me god so [wis]!'—
Quod I. 'No? why?' quod he. 'For hit
Were [impossible], to my wit,
Though that Fame hadde al the [pyes]
In al a realme, and al the spyes,
705
How that yet she shulde here al this,
Or they espye hit.' 'O yis, yis!'
Quod he to me, 'that can I preve
(200)
By resoun, [worthy for to leve],
So that thou yeve thyn advertence
710
To understonde my sentence.
'First shall thou heren wher she dwelleth,
And so [thyn owne book] hit telleth;
Hir paleys stant, as I shal seye,
Right even in middes of the weye
715
Betwixen hevene, erthe, and see;
That, what-so-ever in al these three
Is spoken, in privee or aperte,
(210)
The wey therto is so overte,
And stant eek in so Iuste a place,
720
That every soun mot to hit pace,
Or what so comth fro any tonge,
Be hit rouned, red, or songe,
Or spoke in seurtee or drede,
Certein, hit moste thider nede.
735
'Now herkne wel; for-why I wille
Tellen thee a propre skile,
And worthy demonstracioun
(220)
In myn imagynacioun.
'Geffrey, thou wost right wel this,
730
[That every kindly thing that is],
Hath a kindly stede ther he
May best in hit conserved be;
Unto which place every thing,
Through his kindly enclyning,
735
Moveth for to come to,
Whan that hit is awey therfro;
As thus; lo, thou mayst al day see
(230)
[That] any thing that hevy be,
As stoon or leed, or thing of wighte,
740
And ber hit never so hye on highte,
Lat go thyn hand, hit falleth doun.
'Right so seye I [by] fyre or soun,
Or smoke, or other thinges lighte,
Alwey they seke upward on highte;
745
Whyl ech of hem is [at his large],
Light thing up, and dounward [charge].
'And for this cause mayst thou see,
(240)
That every river to the see
Enclyned is to go, by kinde.
750
And by these [skilles], as I finde,
Hath fish dwellinge in floode and see,
And treës eek in erthe be.
[Thus every thing], by this resoun,
Hath his propre mansioun,
755
To which hit seketh to repaire,
As ther hit shulde not apaire.
Lo, this sentence is knowen couthe
(250)
Of every philosophres mouthe,
As [Aristotle and dan Platon],
760
And other clerkes many oon;
And to confirme my resoun,
Thou wost wel this, that speche is soun,
Or elles no man mighte hit here;
Now herkne what I wol thee lere.
765
'[Soun is noght but air y-broken],
And every speche that is spoken,
Loud or privee, foul or fair,
(260)
In his substaunce is but air;
For as flaumbe is but lighted smoke,
770
Right so soun is air y-broke.
But this may be in many wyse,
Of which I wil thee two devyse,
As soun that comth of pype or harpe.
For whan a pype is blowen sharpe,
775
The air is twist with violence,
And rent; lo, this is my sentence;
Eek, whan men harpe-stringes smyte,
(270)
Whether hit be moche or lyte,
Lo, with the strook the air to-breketh;
780
Right so hit breketh whan men speketh.
Thus wost thou wel what thing is speche.
'Now hennesforth I wol thee teche,
How every speche, or noise, or soun,
Through his multiplicacioun,
785
Thogh hit were pyped of a mouse,
Moot nede come to Fames House.
I preve hit thus—tak hede now—
(280)
By [experience]; for if that thou
Throwe on water now a stoon,
790
Wel wost thou, hit wol make anoon
A litel roundel as a cercle,
Paraventure brood as a [covercle];
And right anoon thou shalt see weel,
That wheel wol cause another [wheel],
795
And that the thridde, and so forth, brother,
Every cercle causing other,
Wyder than himselve was;
(290)
And thus, fro [roundel to compas],
Ech aboute other goinge,
800
Caused of othres steringe,
And [multiplying] ever-mo,
Til that hit be so fer y-go
That hit at bothe brinkes be.
Al-thogh thou mowe hit not y-see
805
Above, [hit goth yet alway under],
Although thou thenke hit a gret wonder.
And who-so seith of trouthe I varie,
(300)
[Bid him proven the contrarie].
And right thus every word, y-wis,
810
That loude or privee spoken is,
Moveth first [an air aboute],
And of this moving, out of doute,
Another air anoon is meved,
As I have of the water preved,
815
That every cercle causeth other.
Right so of air, my leve brother;
Everich air in other stereth
(310)
More and more, and speche up bereth,
Or vois, or noise, or word, or soun,
820
Ay through multiplicacioun,
Til hit be atte House of Fame;—
Tak hit in ernest [or in game].
'Now have I told, if thou have minde,
How speche or soun, of pure kinde,
825
Enclyned is upward to meve;
This, mayst thou [fele], wel I preve.
And that [the mansioun], y-wis,
(320)
That every thing enclyned to is,
Hath his kindeliche stede:
830
That sheweth hit, withouten drede,
That kindely the mansioun
Of every speche, of every soun,
Be hit either foul or fair,
Hath his kinde place in air.
835
And sin that every thing, that is
[Out of] his kinde place, y-wis,
Moveth thider for to go
(330)
If hit a-weye be therfro,
As I before have preved thee,
840
Hit seweth, every soun, pardee,
Moveth kindely to pace
Al up into his kindely place.
And this place of which I telle,
Ther as Fame list to dwelle,
845
Is set amiddes of these three,
[Heven, erthe, and eek the see],
As most conservatif the soun.
(340)
Than is this the conclusioun,
That every speche of every man,
850
As I thee telle first began,
Moveth up on high to pace
Kindely to Fames place.
'Telle me this feithfully,
Have I not preved thus simply,
855
Withouten any subtiltee
Of speche, or gret prolixitee
(350)
Of figures of poetrye,
Or colours of rethoryke?
860
Pardee, hit oghte thee to lyke;
For [hard langage and hard matere]
Is encombrous for to here
At ones; wost thou not wel this?'
And I answerde, and seyde, 'Yis.'
865
'A ha!' quod he, 'lo, so I can,
[Lewedly] to a lewed man
Speke, and shewe him swiche skiles,
(360)
That he may shake hem by the biles,
So [palpable] they shulden be.
870
But tel me this, now pray I thee,
How thinkth thee my conclusioun?'
[Quod he]. 'A good persuasioun,'
Quod I, 'hit is; and [lyk] to be
Right so as thou hast preved me.'
875
'By god,' quod he, 'and as I leve,
Thou shall have yit, or hit be eve,
Of every word of this sentence
(370)
A preve, by experience;
And with thyn eres heren wel
880
Top and tail, and everydel,
That every word that spoken is
Comth into Fames Hous, y-wis,
As I have seyd; what wilt thou more?'
And with this word upper to sore
885
He gan, and seyde, 'By Seynt Iame!
Now wil we speken al of game.'—
'How farest thou?' quod he to me.
(380)
'Wel,' quod I. '[Now see],' quod he,
'By thy trouthe, yond adoun,
890
Wher that thou knowest any toun,
Or hous, or any other thing.
And whan thou hast of ought knowing,
Loke that thou warne me,
And I anoon shal telle thee
895
How fer that thou art now therfro.'
And I adoun gan loken tho,
And beheld feldes and plaines,
(390)
And now hilles, and now mountaines,
Now valeys, and now forestes,
900
And now, [unethes], grete bestes;
Now [riveres], now citees,
Now tounes, and now grete trees,
Now shippes sailinge in the see.
But thus sone in a whyle he
905
Was flowen fro the grounde so hyë,
That al the world, as to myn yë,
No more semed than a [prikke];
(400)
Or elles was the air so thikke
That I ne mighte not discerne.
910
With that he spak to me as yerne,
And seyde: 'Seestow any [toun]
Or ought thou knowest yonder doun?'
I seyde, 'Nay.' 'No wonder nis,'
Quod he, 'for half so high as this
915
Nas [Alexander Macedo];
Ne the [king], dan Scipio,
That saw in dreme, [at point devys],
(410)
Helle and erthe, and paradys;
Ne eek the wrecche [Dedalus],
920
Ne his child, nyce Icarus,
That fleigh so highe that the hete
His winges [malt], and he fel wete
In-mid the see, and ther he dreynte,
For whom was maked moch compleynte.
925
['Now turn upward,' quod he, 'thy face,]
And behold this large place,
This air; but loke thou ne be
(420)
Adrad of hem that thou shalt see;
For in this regioun, certein,
930
[Of which] that speketh dan Plato.
These ben the [eyrish bestes], lo!'
And so saw I al that meynee
Bothe [goon] and also flee.
935
'Now,' quod he tho, 'cast up thyn yë;
See yonder, lo, the [Galaxyë],
Which men clepeth the Milky Wey,
(430)
For hit is whyt: and somme, parfey,
Callen hit Watlinge Strete:
940
That ones was y-brent with hete,
Whan the sonnes sone, the rede,
That highte [Pheton], wolde lede
Algate his fader cart, and gye.
The [cart-hors] gonne wel espye
945
That he ne coude no governaunce
And gonne for to lepe and launce,
And beren him now up, now doun,
(440)
Til that he saw the [Scorpioun],
Which that in heven a signe is yit.
950
And he, for ferde, loste his wit,
Of that, and leet the reynes goon
Of his hors; and they anoon
Gonne up to mounte, and doun descende
Til bothe the eyr and erthe brende;
955
Til Iupiter, lo, atte laste,
Him slow, and fro the carte caste.
Lo, is it not a greet mischaunce,
(450)
To lete a fole han governaunce
Of thing that he can not demeine?'
960
And with this word, soth for to seyne,
He gan alway upper to sore,
And gladded me ay more and more,
So feithfully to me spak he.
Tho gan I loken under me,
965
And beheld the eyrish bestes,
Cloudes, mistes, and tempestes,
Snowes, hailes, reines, windes,
(460)
And thengendring in hir kindes,
And al the wey through whiche I cam;
970
'O god,' quod I, 'that made Adam,
Moche is thy might and thy noblesse!'
And tho thoughte I upon [Boëce],
That writ, 'a thought may flee so hyë,
With fetheres of Philosophye,
975
To passen everich element;
And whan he hath so fer y-went,
Than may be seen, behind his bak,
(470)
Cloud, and al that I of spak.'
Tho gan I wexen in a were,
980
And seyde, 'I woot wel I am here;
I noot, y-wis; but god, thou wost!'
For more cleer entendement
Nadde he me never yit y-sent.
985
And than thoughte I on [Marcian],
And eek on [Anteclaudian],
That sooth was hir descripcioun
(480)
Of al the hevenes regioun,
As fer as that I saw the preve;
990
Therfor I can hem now beleve.
With that this egle gan to crye:
'Lat be,' quod he, 'thy fantasye;
Wilt thou lere of sterres aught?'
'Nay, certeinly,' quod I, 'right naught;
995
And why? for I am now to old.'
'Elles I wolde thee have told,'
Quod he, 'the sterres names, lo,
(490)
And al the hevenes signes to,
And which they been.' 'No fors,' quod I.
1000
'Yis, pardee,' quod he; 'wostow why?
For whan thou redest poetrye,
How goddes gonne stellifye
Brid, fish, beste, [or him or here],
As the [Raven], or [either Bere],
1005
Or [Ariones harpe] fyn,
Or [Atlantes] doughtres sevene,
(500)
How alle these arn set in hevene;
For though thou have hem ofte on honde,
1010
Yet nostow not wher that they stonde.'
'No fors,' quod I, 'hit is no nede;
I leve as wel, so god me spede,
Hem that wryte of this matere,
As though I knew hir places here;
1015
And eek they shynen here so brighte,
Hit shulde shenden al my sighte,
To loke on hem.' 'That may wel be,'
(510)
Quod he. And so forth bar he me
A whyl, and than he gan to crye,
1020
That never herde I thing so hye,
'Now [up the heed]; for al is wel;
[Seynt Iulyan, lo, bon hostel]!
See here the House of Fame, lo!
[Maistow not heren that I do?]'
1025
'What?' quod I. 'The grete soun,'
Quod he, 'that rumbleth up and doun
In Fames Hous, ful of tydinges,
(520)
Bothe of fair speche and chydinges,
And of fals and soth compouned.
1030
Herkne wel; hit is not rouned.
Herestow not the grete swogh?'
'Yis, pardee,' quod I, 'wel y-nogh.'
'And what soun is it lyk?' quod he.
'[Peter!] lyk beting of the see,'
1035
Quod I, 'again the roches holowe,
Whan tempest doth the shippes swalowe;
And lat a man stonde, out of doute,
(530)
A myle thens, and here hit route;
Or elles lyk the last humblinge
1040
After the clappe of a thundringe,
When Ioves hath the air y-bete;
But hit doth me for fere swete.'
'Nay, dred thee not therof,' quod he,
'Hit is nothing wil [byten] thee;
1045
Thou shalt non harm have, trewely.'
And with this word bothe he and I
As nigh the place arryved were
(540)
[As men may casten with a spere].
I nistë how, but in a strete
1050
He sette me faire on my fete,
And seyde, 'Walke forth a pas,
And tak thyn aventure or cas,
That thou shalt finde in Fames place.'
'Now,' quod I, 'whyl we han space
1055
To speke, or that I go fro thee,
For the love of god, tel me,
In sooth, that wil I of thee lere,
(550)
If this noise that I here
Be, as I have herd thee tellen,
1060
Of folk that doun in erthe dwellen,
And comth here in the same wyse
As I thee herde or this devyse;
And that ther [lyves body] nis
In al that hous that yonder is,
1065
That maketh al this loude fare?'
'No,' quod he, 'by [Seynte Clare],
And also wis god rede me!
(560)
But o thinge I wil warne thee
Of the which thou wolt have wonder.
1070
Lo, to the House of Fame yonder
Thou wost how cometh every speche,
Hit nedeth noght thee eft to teche.
But understond now right wel this;
Whan any speche y-comen is
1075
Up to the paleys, anon-right
Hit wexeth lyk the same wight,
Which that the word in erthe spak,
(570)
Be hit clothed reed or blak;
And hath so verray his lyknesse
1080
That spak the word, that thou wilt gesse
That hit the same body be,
Man or woman, he or she.
And is not this a wonder thing?'
'Yis,' quod I tho, 'by hevene king!'
1085
And with this worde, 'Farwel,' quod he,
'And here I wol abyden thee;
And god of hevene sende thee grace,
(580)
Som good to lernen in this place.'
And I of him took leve anoon,
1090
And gan forth to the paleys goon.
Explicit liber secundus.
511. P. listeth; Th. lysteth; F. Cx. listeneth; B. lystneth. 513. All sely; read selly (Willert). 514. Cx. Th. Scipion; F. P. Cipion; B. Cypyon. 516. Th. Alcanore. 533. Cx. Th. P. her; F. B. the. 535. F. B. kynge (by mistake for thing). 536. Cx. Th. P. smyte; F. B. smote. Cx. Th. P. to; F. B. of. 537. Cx. Th. P. brende; F. beende; B. bende. 543. Cx. Th. P. at; F. B. in. 545. F. cryinge (!). 548. Cx. P. cam; F. came. 552. P. Cx. Th. That; F. B. And. F. felynge. 557. Cx. Th. P. agast so (but read so agast); F. B. omit so. 558. Cx. Th. tho; which F. B. P. omit. 566. B. Th. nas; F. Cx. was. 570. F. that; the rest tho. 573. All seynt. 575. F. B. omit hit. 592. All made. 603. All do; read done (gerund). 618. goddesse is not in the MSS. The line is obviously too short. 621. F. Th. lytel; Cx. lytyl; B. litell; P. litil (all wrong); read lyte. 622. Cx. P. bookes songes or ditees; Th. bokes songes and ditees; F. B. songes dytees bookys. 635. F. B. and in; rest and. 647. F. frerre (by mistake). 650. Cx. Th. dwellen; P. dwelleth; F. B. dwelle. 651. F. ner; B. nor; Cx. Th. P. ne. 653. F. ymade; B. I-made; Cx. made alle thy; Th. made al thy; P. I-made alle thy. 658. Cx. P. daswed; F. B. dasewyd; Th. dased. 673. Cx. Th. comen; F. come. 676. F. sothe sawes; Cx. Th. P. sothsawes. 680. Cx. Th. ben; P. been; F. B. omit. 682. fare] Cx. Th. P. welfare. 685. Cx. Th. and; rest om. 696. F. B. acordes (!). 705. Cx. she; rest he. 711. P. heren; rest here. 715. F. and erthe; rest omit and. 717. Cx. Th. P. in; F. B. either. 723. or] F. B. or in. 727. Cx. Th. a worthy; P. a wurthy; F. worthe a; B. worth a; omit a. 739, 740. I add e in wighte, highte. 746. Cx. Th. vp; F. B. P. vpwarde. Cx. Th. P. transpose 745, 746. 755. B. it; F. om.; Cx. Th. P. he. 764. All herke; see l. 725. 766. Cx. Th. spoken; P. poken (!); F. B. yspoken. 773. Cx. Th. P. As; F. B. Of (copied from l. 772). 780. Cx. Th. P. And ryght so brekyth it; F. B. omit this line. 789. F. Thorwe; B. P. Throw; Cx. Th. Threwe. 794. F. Th. B. whele sercle (for 1st wheel); Cx. P. omit the line. (Sercle is a gloss upon wheel). 798. F. B. this; rest thus. F. B. om. to. 800. Cx. Th. P. Causeth. 803. F. Tyl; rest That. 804. F. om. thogh. 805. F. B. om. alway. 810. F. B. yspoken. 817. F. B. om. in. Read another (Willert). 821. Cx. Th. P. at the. 823. Cx. Th. P. thou haue; F. B. ye haue in. 827. F. And that sum place stide; B. And that som styde; Th. And that some stede; Cx. P. omit ll. 827-864. read And that the mansioun (see ll. 754, 831). 830. For That read Than? 838. MSS. a wey, away. 839. F. Th. B. haue before; Cx. P. omit the line. 853. Th. B. this; F. thus. 859. Th. of; F. B. or. 860. All ought. 866. P. to a lewde; Cx. Th. vnto a lewde; F. trealwed (!); B. talwyd (!). 872. All omit Quod he; cf. ll. 700, 701. 873. P. Cx. Th. I; F. B. he. F. B. me (for be). 886. P. Cx. speken; rest speke. 896. Cx. Th. gan to; rest to (!). 899. F. B. P. om. and. 911. F. B. omit this line; for Seestow, Cx. Th. P. have Seest thou. For toun, all have token; see l. 890. 912. From P.; F. B. omit this line. Cx. Or ought that in the world is of spoken; Th. Or aught that in this worlde is of spoken; see l. 889. 913. F. B. om. I seyde. 932. F. B. om. the. 951. Cx. P. lete (= leet); F. B. lat. 955. F. Cx. Iubiter. 956. F. B. fer fro; P. Cx. Th. om. fer. 957. Cx. P. grete; Th. great; F. mochil; B. mochill. 961. Cx. Th. P. alway vpper; F. B. vpper alway for. Cf. l. 884. 964. F. Th. B. ins. to bef. loken. 969. P. Cx. And; rest om. 973. Cx. Th. wryteth; F. writ. F. B. of (for a). 978. So P. Cx.; rest ins. and erthe bef. and. 984. F. B. Nas (om. he me); Th. Nas me; Cx. P. Nadde he me. 998. to] F. B. ther-to. 999. F. B. insert and before No. 1003. F. B. Briddes; P. Brid; Cx. Byrd; Th. Byrde. 1007. F. Cx. Th. B. Athalantes (-ys); P. athlauntres; see note. 1014. Cx. Th. P. As; F. Alle; B. Al. 1015. Cx. P. they shynen; F. Th. B. thy seluen (!). 1029. F. inserts that before soth. 1030. Cx. Herkne; P. Th. Herken; F. B. Herke. 1034. F. B. P. om. lyk. 1040. Cx. Th. P. the; F. P. a. Cx. Th. P. a; F. B. oo. 1044. F. P. beten; Th. B. byten; Cx. greue. 1056. Th. tel; P. tell; rest telle. 1057. Cx. Th. P. I wyl; F. B. wil I. 1063. F. B. om. And. 1071. F. B. ins. now bef. how. 1072. Th. the efte; Cx. the more; F. B. eft the; P. the. 1079. Cx. Th. hath so very; P. hath so verrey; F. B. so were (!). 1080. Cx. P. That; F. B. Th. And (!). 1088. F. Cx. Th. lerne; read lernen. Colophon.—From Cx. Th.
BOOK III.
Incipit liber tercius.
Invocation.
[O god of science and of light],
Apollo, through thy grete might,
This litel laste book thou gye!
Nat that I wilne, for maistrye,
1095
Here art poetical be shewed;
But, for the rym is light and lewed,
Yit make hit sumwhat agreable,
[Though som vers faile in a sillable];
[And that] I do no diligence
(10) 1100
To shewe craft, but o sentence.
And if, divyne vertu, thou
Wilt helpe me to shewe now
That in myn hede y-marked is—
Lo, that is for to menen this,
1105
The Hous of Fame to descryve—
Thou shalt see me go, as blyve,
Unto the nexte laure I see,
And kisse hit, for hit is thy tree;
Now [entreth] in my breste anoon!—
The Dream.
(20) 1110
Whan I was fro this egle goon,
I gan beholde upon this place.
And certein, or I ferther pace,
I wol yow al the shap devyse
Of hous and [site]; and al the wyse
1115
How I gan to this place aproche
[That stood upon so high a roche],
Hyer stant ther noon in Spaine.
But up I clomb with alle paine,
And though to climbe hit greved me,
(30) 1120
Yit I ententif was to see,
And for to pouren wonder lowe,
If I coude any weyes knowe
What maner stoon this roche was;
For hit was lyk a thing of glas,
1125
But that hit shoon ful more clere;
But of what congeled matere
Hit was, I niste redely.
But at the laste espyed I,
And found that hit was, every deel,
(40) 1130
A roche of yse, and not of steel.
Thoughte I, '[By Seynt Thomas of Kent!]
This were a feble foundement
To bilden on a place hye;
He oughte him litel glorifye
1135
That her-on bilt, god so me save!'
Tho saw I [al the half] y-grave
With famous folkes names fele,
That had y-been in mochel wele,
And hir fames wyde y-blowe.
(50) 1140
But wel unethes coude I knowe
Any lettres for to rede
Hir names by; for, out of drede,
They were almost of-thowed so,
That of the lettres oon or two
1145
Was molte away of every name;
So unfamous was wexe hir fame;
But men seyn, 'What may ever laste?'
Tho gan I in myn herte caste,
That they were molte awey with hete,
(60) 1150
And not awey with stormes bete.
For on that other syde I sey
Of this hille, [that northward lay],
How hit was writen ful of names
Of folk that hadden grete fames
1155
Of olde tyme, and yit they were
As fresshe as men had writen hem there
The selve day right, or that houre
That I upon hem gan to poure.
But wel I wiste [what hit made];
(70) 1160
Hit was conserved with the shade—
Al this wrytinge that I sy—
Of a castel, that stood on by,
And stood eek on so cold a place,
That hete mighte hit not deface.
1165
Tho gan I up the hille to goon,
And fond upon the coppe a woon,
[That alle the men that ben on lyve]
Ne han the cunning to descryve
The beautee of that ilke place,
(80) 1170
Ne coude casten no compace
Swich another for to make,
That mighte of beautee be his make,
Ne [be] so wonderliche y-wrought;
That hit astonieth yit my thought,
1175
And maketh al my wit to swinke
On this castel to bethinke.
So that the grete [craft], beautee,
The [cast], the curiositee
Ne can I not to yow devyse,
(90) 1180
My wit ne may me not suifyse.
But natheles al the substance
I have yit in my remembrance:
For-why me thoughte, by [Seynt Gyle]!
Al was of stone of beryle,
1185
Bothe castel and the tour,
And eek the halle, and every bour,
Withouten peces or Ioininges.
But many subtil compassinges,
[Babewinnes] and pinacles,
(100) 1190
Imageries and tabernacles,
I saw; and ful eek of windowes,
As flakes [falle] in grete snowes.
And eek in ech of the pinacles
Weren sondry [habitacles],
1195
In whiche stoden, al withoute—
[Ful the castel], al aboute—
[Of] alle maner of minstrales,
And gestiours, that tellen tales
Bothe of weping and of game,
(110) 1200
Of al that longeth unto Fame.
Ther herde I pleyen on an harpe
That souned bothe wel and sharpe,
[Orpheus] ful craftely,
And on his syde, faste by,
1205
Sat the harper [Orion],
And Eacides [Chiron],
And other harpers many oon,
And the [Bret Glascurion];
And smale harpers with her gleës
(120) 1210
Seten under hem in seës,
And gonne on hem upward to gape,
And countrefete hem as an ape,
Or [as craft countrefeteth kinde].
Tho saugh I stonden hem behinde,
1215
A-fer fro hem, al by hemselve,
Many thousand tymes twelve,
That maden loude menstralcyes
And many other maner pype,
(130) 1220
That craftely begunne pype
Bothe in doucet and in rede,
That ben at festes with the [brede];
And many floute and [lilting-horne],
And [pypes made of grene corne],
1225
As han thise litel herde-gromes,
That kepen bestes in the bromes.
Ther saugh I than [Atiteris],
And of Athenes dan [Pseustis],
And [Marcia] that lost her skin,
(140) 1230
Bothe in face, body, and chin,
For that she wolde [envyen], lo!
To pypen bet then Apollo.
Ther saugh I famous, olde and yonge,
Pypers of the [Duche] tonge,
1235
To lerne love-daunces, springes,
[Reyes], and these straunge thinges.
Tho saugh I in another place
Stonden in a large space,
[Of] hem that maken blody soun
(150) 1240
In trumpe, beme, and clarioun;
For in fight and blood-shedinge
Is used gladly clarioninge.
Ther herde I trumpen [Messenus],
Of whom that speketh Virgilius.
1245
Ther herde I [Ioab] trumpe also,
[Theodomas], and other mo;
And alle that used clarion
That in hir tyme famous were
(160) 1250
To lerne, saugh I trumpe there.
Ther saugh I sitte in other seës,
Pleyinge upon sondry gleës,
Whiche that I cannot nevene,
Mo then sterres been in hevene,
1255
Of whiche I nil as now not ryme,
For ese of yow, and losse of tyme:
[For tyme y-lost, this knowen ye],
By no way may recovered be.
Ther saugh I pleyen [Iogelours],
(170) 1260
Magiciens and [tregetours],
And [phitonesses], charmeresses,
Olde wicches, sorceresses,
That use exorsisaciouns,
And eek thise fumigaciouns;
1265
And clerkes eek, which conne wel
That craftely don hir ententes,
To make, in certeyn [ascendentes],
Images, lo, through which magyk
(180) 1270
To make a man ben hool or syk.
Ther saugh I thee, queen [Medea],
And [Circes] eke, and [Calipsa];
Ther saugh I [Hermes] Ballenus,
[Lymote], and eek Simon Magus.
1275
[Ther saugh I, and knew hem by name],
That by such art don men han fame.
Ther saugh I [Colle tregetour]
Upon a table of sicamour
Pleye an uncouthe thing to telle;
(190) 1280
I saugh him carien a wind-melle
Under a walsh-note shale.
What shuld I make lenger tale
Of al the peple that I say,
Fro hennes in-to domesday?
1285
Whan I had al this folk beholde,
And fond me lous, and noght y-holde,
And eft y-mused longe whyle
Upon these walles of beryle,
That shoon ful lighter than a glas,
(200) 1290
And made wel more than hit was
To semen, every thing, y-wis,
I gan forth romen til I fond
The castel-yate on my right hond,
1295
[Which that so] wel corven was
That never swich another nas;
Y-wrought, as often as by cure.
Hit nedeth noght yow for to tellen,
(210) 1300
To make yow [to longe] dwellen,
Of this yates florisshinges,
[Ne of] compasses, ne of kervinges,
[Ne how they hatte in masoneries],
As, [corbets] fulle of imageries.
1305
But, lord! so fair hit was to shewe,
For hit was al with gold behewe.
But in I wente, and that anoon;
Ther mette I crying many oon,—
'[A larges, larges, hold up wel!]
(220) 1310
God save the lady of this pel,
And hem that wilnen to have name
Of us!' Thus herde I cryen alle,
And faste comen out of halle,
1315
And shoken nobles and sterlinges.
And somme crouned were as [kinges],
With crounes wroght ful of losenges;
And many riban, and many frenges
Were on hir clothes trewely.
(230) 1320
Tho atte laste aspyed I
That pursevauntes and heraudes,
That cryen riche folkes laudes,
Hit weren alle; and every man
Of hem, as I yow tellen can,
1325
Had on him throwen a vesture,
Which that men clepe a [cote-armure],
Enbrowded wonderliche riche,
Al-though they nere nought y-liche.
[But noght nil I, so mote I thryve],
(240) 1330
[Been aboute] to discryve
Al these armes that ther weren,
That they thus on hir cotes beren,
For hit to me were impossible;
Men mighte make of hem a bible
1335
Twenty foot thikke, as I trowe.
For certeyn, who-so coude y-knowe
Mighte ther alle the armes seen
Of famous folk that han y-been
In Auffrike, Europe, and Asye,
(250) 1340
Sith first began the chevalrye.
Lo! how shulde I now telle al this?
[Ne of the halle eek what nede is]
To tellen yow, that every wal
Of hit, and floor, and roof and al
1345
Was plated half a fote thikke
Of gold, and that nas no-thing [wikke],
But, for to prove in alle wyse,
As fyn as ducat in Venyse,
Of whiche to lyte al in my pouche is?
(260) 1350
And they wer set as thikke of nouchis
Fulle of the fynest stones faire,
That men rede in the [Lapidaire],
As greses growen in a mede;
But hit were al to longe to rede
1355
The names; and therfore I pace.
But in this riche lusty place,
That Fames halle called was,
Ful moche prees of folk ther nas,
Ne crouding, for to mochil prees.
(270) 1360
But al on hye, above a [dees],
[Sitte] in a see imperial,
That maad was of a rubee al,
Which that a [carbuncle] is y-called,
I saugh, perpetually y-stalled,
1365
A feminyne creature;
That never formed by nature
Nas swich another thing y-seye.
[For altherfirst, soth for to seye],
Me thoughte that she was so lyte,
(280) 1370
That the lengthe of a cubyte
Was lenger than she semed be;
But thus sone, in a whyle, she
Hir tho so wonderliche streighte,
That with hir feet she therthe reighte,
1375
And with hir heed she touched hevene,
Ther as shynen [sterres sevene].
And ther-to eek, as to my wit,
I saugh a gretter wonder yit,
Upon hir eyen to beholde;
(290) 1380
But certeyn I hem never [tolde];
For as fele eyen hadde she
As fetheres upon foules be,
Or weren on the [bestes foure],
That goddes trone gunne honoure,
1385
As Iohn writ in thapocalips.
Hir heer, that [oundy] was and crips,
As burned gold hit shoon to see.
And sooth to tellen, also she
Had also fele up-stonding eres
(300) 1390
[And tonges], as on bestes heres;
And on hir feet wexen saugh I
Partriches winges redely.
But, lord! the perrie and the richesse
I saugh sitting on this goddesse!
1395
And, lord! the hevenish melodye
Of songes, ful of armonye,
I herde aboute her trone y-songe,
That al the paleys-walles ronge!
So song the mighty Muse, she
(310) 1400
That cleped is [Caliopee],
And hir eighte sustren eke,
That in hir face semen meke;
And evermo, eternally,
They songe of Fame, as tho herde I:—
1405
'Heried be thou and thy name,
Goddesse of renoun and of fame!'
Tho was I war, lo, atte laste,
As I myn eyen gan up caste,
That this ilke noble quene
(320) 1410
On hir shuldres gan sustene
Of tho that hadde large fame;
That with a [sherte] his lyf lees!
1415
Thus fond I sitting this goddesse,
In nobley, honour, and richesse;
Of which I stinte a whyle now,
Other thing to tellen yow.
Tho saugh I stonde on either syde,
(330) 1420
Streight doun to the dores wyde,
Fro the dees, many a pileer
Of metal, that shoon not ful cleer;
But though they nere of no richesse,
Yet they were maad for greet noblesse,
1425
And in hem greet [and hy] sentence;
And folk of digne reverence,
Of whiche I wol yow telle fonde,
Upon the piler saugh I stonde.
Alderfirst, lo, ther I sigh,
(340) 1430
Upon a piler stonde on high,
That was of [lede] and yren fyn,
Him of secte Saturnyn,
[The Ebrayk Iosephus], the olde,
That of Iewes gestes tolde;
1435
And bar upon his shuldres hye
The fame up of the [Iewerye].
And by him stoden [other sevene],
Wyse and worthy for to nevene,
To helpen him here up the charge,
(350) 1440
Hit was so hevy and so large.
And for they writen of batailes,
As wel as other olde mervailes,
Therfor was, lo, this pileer,
Of which that I yow telle heer,
1445
Of lede and yren bothe, y-wis.
For yren Martes metal is,
Which that god is of bataile;
And the leed, withouten faile,
Is, lo, the metal of Saturne,
(360) 1450
That hath ful large [wheel] to turne.
Tho stoden forth, on every rowe,
Of hem which that I coude knowe,
Thogh I hem noght by ordre telle,
To make yow to long to dwelle.
1455
These, of whiche I ginne rede,
Ther saugh I stonden, out of drede:
Upon an [yren] piler strong,
That peynted was, al endelong,
With [tygres blode] in every place,
(370) 1460
The Tholosan that highte [Stace],
That bar of Thebes up the fame
Upon his shuldres, and the name
Also of cruel [Achilles].
And by him stood, withouten lees,
1465
Ful wonder hye on a pileer
Of yren, he, the gret [Omeer];
And with him [Dares and Tytus]
Before, and eek he, [Lollius],
(380) 1470
And English [Gaufride] eek, y-wis;
And ech of these, as have I Ioye,
Was besy for to bere up Troye.
So hevy ther-of was the fame,
That for to bere hit was no game.
1475
But yit I gan ful wel espye,
Betwix hem was a litel envye.
[Oon seyde], Omere made lyes,
Feyninge in his poetryes,
And was to Grekes favorable;
(390) 1480
Therfor held he hit but fable.
Tho saugh I stonde on a pileer,
That was of [tinned yren] cleer,
That Latin poete, [dan] [Virgyle],
That bore hath up a longe whyle
1485
The fame of Pius Eneas.
And next him on a piler was,
Of coper, Venus clerk, [Ovyde],
That hath y-sowen wonder wyde
The grete god of Loves name.
(400) 1490
And ther he bar up wel his fame,
Upon this piler, also hye
As I might see hit with myn yë:
For-why this halle, of whiche I rede
Was woxe on [highte], lengthe and brede,
1495
Wel more, by a thousand del,
Than hit was erst, that saugh I wel.
Tho saugh I, on a piler by,
Of yren wroght ful sternely,
The grete poete, daun [Lucan],
(410) 1500
And on his shuldres bar up than,
As highe as that I mighte see,
The fame of Iulius and Pompee.
And by him stoden alle these clerkes,
That writen of Romes mighty werkes,
1505
That, if I wolde hir names telle,
Al to longe moste I dwelle.
And next him on a piler stood
Of soulfre, lyk as he were wood,
Dan [Claudian], the soth to telle,
(420) 1510
That bar up al the fame of helle,
Of Pluto, and of Proserpyne,
That quene is [of the derke pyne].
What shulde I more telle of this?
The halle was al ful, y-wis,
1515
Of hem that writen olde gestes,
As ben on treës rokes nestes;
But hit a ful confus matere
Were al the gestes for to here,
That they of [write], and how they highte.
(430) 1520
But whyl that I beheld this sighte,
[I herde a noise aprochen blyve],
That ferde as been don in an hyve,
Agen her tyme of out-fleyinge;
Right swiche a maner murmuringe,
1525
For al the world, hit semed me.
Tho gan I loke aboute and see,
[That ther com entring in the halle]
A right gret company with-alle,
And that of sondry regiouns,
(440) 1530
Of [alleskinnes] condiciouns,
That dwelle in erthe under the mone,
Pore and ryche. And also sone
As they were come into the halle,
They gonne doun on kneës falle
1535
Before this ilke noble quene,
And seyde, 'Graunte us, lady shene,
Ech of us, of thy grace, a bone!'
And somme of hem she graunted sone,
And somme she werned wel and faire;
(450) 1540
And somme she graunted the contraire
Of hir axing utterly.
But thus I seye yow trewely,
What hir cause was, I niste.
For this folk, ful wel I wiste,
1545
They hadde good fame ech deserved,
Althogh they were diversly served;
Right as hir suster, dame Fortune,
Is wont to serven in comune.
Now herkne how she gan to paye
(460) 1550
[That gonne hir of hir grace praye];
And yit, lo, al this companye
Seyden sooth, and noght a lye.
'Madame,' seyden they, 'we be
Folk that heer besechen thee,
1555
That thou graunte us now good fame,
And lete our werkes han that name;
In ful recompensacioun
Of good werk, give us good renoun.'
'I werne yow hit,' quod she anoon,
(470) 1560
'Ye gete of me good fame noon,
By god! and therfor go your wey.'
'Alas,' quod they, 'and welaway!
Telle us, what may your cause be?'
'[For me list hit noght],' quod she;
1565
'No wight shal speke of yow, y-wis,
Good ne harm, ne that ne this.'
And with that word she gan to calle
Hir messanger, that was in halle,
And bad that he shulde faste goon,
(480) 1570
[Up peyne] to be blind anoon,
[For Eolus, the god of winde];—
'In Trace ther ye shul him finde,
And bid him bringe his clarioun,
That is ful dyvers of his soun,
1575
And hit is cleped Clere Laude,
With which he wont is to heraude
Hem that me list y-preised be:
And also bid him how that he
Bringe his other clarioun,
(490) 1580
That highte Sclaundre in every toun,
With which he wont is to diffame
Hem that me list, and do hem shame.'
This messanger gan faste goon,
And found wher, in a cave of stoon,
1585
In a contree that highte Trace,
This Eolus, with harde grace,
Held the windes in distresse,
And gan hem under him to presse,
That they gonne as beres rore,
(500) 1590
He bond and pressed hem so sore.
This messanger gan faste crye,
'Rys up,' quod he, 'and faste hye,
Til that thou at my lady be;
And tak thy clarions eek with thee,
1595
And speed thee forth.' And he anon
[Took to] a man, that hight [Triton],
His clariouns to bere tho,
And leet a certeyn wind [to] go,
That blew so hidously and hye,
(510) 1600
That hit ne lefte not a skye
In al the welken longe and brood.
This Eolus no-wher abood
Til he was come at Fames feet,
And eek the man that Triton heet;
1605
And ther he stood, as still as stoon.
And her-withal ther com anoon
Another huge companye
Of gode folk, and gunne crye,
'Lady, graunte us now good fame,
(520) 1610
And lat our werkes han that name
Now, in honour of gentilesse,
And also god your soule blesse!
For we han wel deserved hit,
Therfor is right that we ben quit.'
1615
'As thryve I,' quod she, 'ye shal faile,
Good werkes shal yow noght availe
To have of me good fame as now.
But [wite] ye what? I graunte yow,
That ye shal have a shrewed fame
(530) 1620
And wikked loos, and worse name,
Though ye good loos have wel deserved.
Now go your wey, for ye be served;
And thou, dan Eolus, let see!
Tak forth thy trumpe anon,' quod she,
1625
'That is y-cleped Sclaunder light,
And blow hir loos, that every wight
Speke of hem harm and shrewednesse,
In stede of good and worthinesse.
For thou shalt trumpe al the contraire
(540) 1630
Of that they han don wel or faire.'
'Alas,' thoughte I, 'what aventures
Han these sory creatures!
For they, amonges al the pres,
Shul thus be shamed gilteles!
1635
But what! hit moste nedes be.'
What did this Eolus, but he
Tok out his blakke trumpe of bras,
That fouler than the devil was,
And gan this trumpe for to blowe,
(550) 1640
As al the world shulde [overthrowe];
That through-out every regioun
Wente this foule trumpes soun,
As swift as [pelet] out of gonne,
Whan fyr is in the poudre ronne.
1645
And swiche a smoke gan out-wende
Out of his foule trumpes ende,
Blak, blo, grenish, swartish reed,
As doth wher that men melte leed,
Lo, al on high fro the tuel!
(560) 1650
And therto oo thing saugh I wel,
That, the ferther that hit ran,
The gretter wexen hit began,
As doth the river from a welle,
And hit stank as the pit of helle.
1655
Alas, thus was hir shame y-ronge,
And giltelees, on every tonge.
Tho com the thridde companye,
And gunne up to the dees to hye,
And doun on knees they fille anon,
(570) 1660
And seyde, 'We ben everichon
Folk that han ful trewely
Deserved fame rightfully,
And praye yow, hit mot be knowe,
Right as hit is, and forth y-blowe.'
1665
'I graunte,' quod she, 'for me list
That now your gode werk be wist;
And yit ye shul han better loos,
Right in dispyt of alle your foos,
Than worthy is; and that anoon:
(580) 1670
[Lat] now,' quod she, 'thy trumpe [goon],
Thou Eolus, that is so blak;
And out thyn other trumpe tak
That highte Laude, and blow hit so
That through the world hir fame go
1675
Al esely, and not to faste,
That hit be knowen atte laste.'
'Ful gladly, lady myn,' he seyde;
And out his trumpe of golde he brayde
Anon, and sette hit to his mouthe,
(590) 1680
And blew hit est, and west, and southe,
And north, as loude as any thunder,
That every wight hadde of hit wonder,
So brode hit ran, or than hit stente.
And, certes, al the breeth that wente
1685
Out of his trumpes mouthe smelde
As men a pot-ful bawme helde
Among a basket ful of roses;
This favour dide he til hir loses.
And right with this I gan aspye,
(600) 1690
Ther com the ferthe companye—
But certeyn they were wonder fewe—
And gonne stonden in a rewe,
And seyden, 'Certes, lady brighte,
We han don wel with al our mighte;
1695
But we ne kepen have no fame.
Hyd our werkes and our name,
For goddes love! for certes we
Han certeyn doon hit for bountee,
And for no maner other thing.'
(610) 1700
'I graunte yow al your asking,'
Quod she; 'let your werk be deed.'
With that aboute I [clew] myn heed,
And saugh anoon the fifte route
That to this lady gonne loute,
1705
And doun on knees anoon to falle;
And to hir tho besoughten alle
To hyde hir gode werkes eek,
And seyde, [they yeven noght a leek]
For fame, ne for swich renoun;
(620) 1710
For they, for contemplacioun
And goddes love, hadde y-wrought;
Ne of fame wolde they nought.
'What?' quod she, 'and be ye wood?
And wene ye for to do good,
1715
And for to have of that no fame?
Have ye dispyt to have my name?
Nay, ye shul liven everichoon!
Blow thy trumpe and that anoon,'
Quod she, 'thou Eolus, I hote,
(630) 1720
And ring this folkes werk by note,
That al the world may of hit here.'
And he gan blowe hir loos so clere
In his golden clarioun,
That through the world wente the soun,
1725
So kenely, and eek so softe;
But atte laste hit was on-lofte.
Thoo com the sexte companye,
And gonne faste on Fame crye.
Right verraily, in this manere
(640) 1730
They seyden: 'Mercy, lady dere!
To telle certein, as hit is,
We han don neither that ne this,
But ydel al our lyf y-be.
But, natheles, yit preye we,
1735
That we mowe han so good a fame,
And greet renoun and knowen name,
As they that han don noble gestes,
And acheved alle hir lestes,
As wel of love as other thing;
(650) 1740
[Al was us never broche ne ring],
Ne elles nought, from wimmen sent,
To make us only frendly chere,
But mighte temen us on bere;
1745
Yit lat us to the peple seme
Swiche as the world may of us deme,
That wimmen loven us [for wood].
Hit shal don us as moche good,
And to our herte as moche availe
(660) 1750
To countrepeise ese and travaile,
As we had wonne hit with labour;
For that is dere boght honour
At regard of our grete ese.
And yit thou most us more plese;
1755
Let us be holden eek, therto,
Worthy, wyse, and gode also,
And riche, and happy unto love.
For goddes love, that sit above,
[Though we may not the body have]
(670) 1760
Of wimmen, yet, so god yow save!
Let men glewe on us [the name];
Suffyceth that we han the fame.'
'I graunte,' quod she, 'by my trouthe!
Now, Eolus, with-outen slouthe,
1765
Tak out thy trumpe of gold, let see,
And blow as they han axed me,
That every man wene hem at ese,
Though they gon in ful badde lese.'
This Eolus gan hit so blowe,
(680) 1770
That through the world hit was y-knowe.
Tho com the seventh route anoon,
And fel on kneës everichoon,
And seyde, 'Lady, graunte us sone
The same thing, the same bone,
1775
That [ye] this nexte folk han doon.'
'Fy on yow,' quod she, 'everichoon!
Ye [masty] swyn, ye ydel wrecches,
Ful of roten slowe tecches!
What? false theves! [wher] ye wolde
(690) 1780
Be famous good, and no-thing nolde
Deserve why, ne never roughte?
Men rather yow [to-hangen] oughte!
For ye be lyk the [sweynte] cat,
That wolde have fish; but wostow what?
1785
He wolde no-thing wete his clowes.
Yvel thrift come on your Iowes,
And eek on myn, if I hit graunte,
Or do yow favour, yow to avaunte!
Thou Eolus, thou king of Trace!
(700) 1790
Go, blow this folk a sory grace,'
Quod she, 'anoon; and wostow how?
As I shal telle thee right now;
Sey: "These ben they that wolde honour
Have, and do [noskinnes] labour,
1795
Ne do no good, and yit han laude;
And that men wende that [bele Isaude]
Ne coude hem noght of love werne;
And yit [she that grint at a querne]
Is al to good to ese hir herte."'
(710) 1800
This Eolus anon up sterte,
And with his blakke clarioun
He gan to blasen out a soun,
As loude as belweth wind in helle.
And eek therwith, [the] sooth to telle,
1805
This soun was [al] so ful of Iapes,
As ever mowes were in apes.
And that wente al the world aboute,
That every wight gan on hem shoute,
And for to laughe as they were wode;
(720) 1810
Such game fonde they in [hir] hode.
Tho com another companye,
That had y-doon the traiterye,
The harm, the gretest wikkednesse
That any herte couthe gesse;
1815
And preyed hir to han good fame,
And that she nolde hem doon no shame,
But yeve hem loos and good renoun,
And do hit blowe in clarioun.
'Nay, wis!' quod she, 'hit were a vyce;
(730) 1820
Al be ther in me no Iustyce,
Me listeth not to do hit now,
Ne this nil I not graunte you.'
[Tho come ther lepinge in a route],
And gonne [choppen] al aboute
1825
Every man upon the croune,
That al the halle gan to soune,
And seyden: 'Lady, lefe and dere,
We ben swich folk as ye mowe here.
To tellen al the tale aright,
(740) 1830
We ben shrewes, every wight,
And han delyt in wikkednes,
As gode folk han in goodnes;
And Ioye to be knowen shrewes,
And fulle of vyce and wikked thewes;
1835
Wherfor we preyen yow, a-rowe,
That our fame swich be knowe
In alle thing right as hit is.'
'I graunte hit yow,' quod she, 'y-wis.
But what art thou that seyst this tale,
(750) 1840
That werest on thy hose a [pale],
And on thy tipet swiche a belle!'
'Madame,' quod he, 'sooth to telle,
I am that ilke shrewe, y-wis,
That brende the temple of [Isidis]
1845
In Athenes, lo, that citee.'
'And wherfor didest thou so?' quod she.
'By my thrift,' quod he, 'madame,
I wolde fayn han had a fame,
As other folk hadde in the toun,
(760) 1850
Al-thogh they were of greet renoun
For hir vertu and for hir thewes;
Thoughte I, as greet a fame han shrewes,
[Thogh hit be [but] for shrewednesse],
As gode folk han for goodnesse;
1855
And sith I may not have that oon,
That other nil I noght for-goon.
And [for to gette of Fames hyre],
The temple sette I al a-fyre.
Now do our loos be blowen swythe,
(770) 1860
As wisly be thou ever blythe.'
'Gladly,' quod she; 'thou Eolus,
Herestow not what they preyen us?'
'Madame, yis, ful wel,' quod he,
'And I wil trumpen hit, parde!'
1865
And tok his blakke trumpe faste,
And gan to puffen and to blaste,
Til hit was at the worldes ende.
With that I gan aboute wende;
For oon that stood right at my bak,
(780) 1870
Me thoughte, goodly to me spak,
And seyde: 'Frend, what is thy name?
Artow come hider to han fame?'
'Nay, for-sothe, frend!' quod I;
'I cam noght hider, graunt mercy!
1875
For no swich cause, by my heed!
Suffyceth me, as I were deed,
That no wight have my name in honde.
I woot my-self best how I stonde;
For what I drye or what I thinke,
(790) 1880
[I wol my-selven al hit drinke],
Certeyn, for the more part,
As ferforth as I can myn art.'
'But what dost thou here than?' quod he.
Quod I, 'that wol I tellen thee,
1885
The cause why I stondë here:—
Som newe tydings for to lere:—
Som newe thinges, I not what,
Tydinges, other this or that,
Of love, or swiche thinges glade.
(800) 1890
For certeynly, he that me made
To comen hider, seyde me,
I shulde bothe here and see,
In this place, wonder thinges;
But these be no swiche tydinges
1895
As I mene of.' 'No?' quod he.
And I answerde, 'No, pardee!
For wel I wiste, ever yit,
Sith that first I hadde wit,
That som folk han desyred fame
(810) 1900
Dyversly, and loos, and name;
But certeynly, I niste how
Ne wher that Fame dwelte, er now;
Ne eek of hir descripcioun,
Ne also hir condicioun,
1905
Ne the ordre of hir dome,
Unto the tyme I hider come.'
'[Whiche] be, lo, these tydinges,
That thou now [thus] hider [bringes],
That thou hast herd?' quod he to me;
(820) 1910
'But now, no fors; for wel I see
What thou desyrest for to here.
Com forth, and stond no longer here,
And I wol thee, with-outen drede,
In swich another place lede,
1915
Ther thou shalt here many oon.'
Tho gan I forth with him to goon
Out of the castel, soth to seye.
Tho saugh I stonde in a valeye,
Under the castel, faste by,
(830) 1920
An hous, [that] domus Dedali,
That Laborintus cleped is,
Nas maad so wonderliche, y-wis,
Ne half so queynteliche y-wrought.
And evermo, so swift as thought,
1925
This queynte hous aboute wente,
[That never-mo hit stille stente].
And ther-out com so greet a noise,
That, had hit stonden upon [Oise],
Men mighte hit han herd esely
(840) 1930
To Rome, I trowe sikerly.
And the noyse which that I herde,
For al the world right so hit ferde,
As doth [the routing of the stoon]
That from thengyn is leten goon.
1935
And al this hous, of whiche I rede,
Was made of twigges, falwe, rede,
And grene eek, and som weren whyte,
Swiche as men to these cages thwyte,
Or maken of these paniers,
(850) 1940
Or elles [hottes] or dossers;
That, for the swough and for the twigges,
This hous was also ful of gigges,
And also [ful eek of chirkinges],
And of many other werkinges;
1945
And eek this hous hath of entrees
[As fele as leves been on trees]
In somer, whan they grene been;
And on the roof men may yit seen
A thousand holes, and wel mo,
(860) 1950
To leten wel the soun out go.
And by day, in every tyde,
Ben al the dores open wyde,
And by night, echoon, unshette;
Ne porter ther is non to lette
1955
No maner tydings in to pace;
Ne never reste is in that place,
That hit nis fild ful of tydinges,
Other loude, or of whispringes;
And, over alle the houses angles,
(870) 1960
Is ful of rouninges and of Iangles
Of werre, of pees, of mariages,
Of reste, of labour, of viages,
Of abood, of deeth, of lyfe,
Of love, of hate, acorde, of stryfe,
1965
Of loos, of lore, and of winninges,
Of hele, of sekenesse, of bildinges,
Of faire windes, of tempestes,
Of qualme of folk, and eek of bestes;
Of dyvers transmutaciouns
(880) 1970
[Of estats, and eek of regiouns];
Of trust, of drede, of Ielousye,
Of wit, of winninge, of folye;
Of plentee, and of greet famyne,
Of chepe, of derth, and of ruyne;
1975
Of good or [mis] governement,
Of fyr, of dyvers accident.
And lo, this hous, of whiche I wryte,
Siker be ye, hit nas not lyte;
For hit was sixty myle of lengthe;
(890) 1980
[Al was the timber] of no strengthe,
Yet hit is founded to endure
[Whyl that hit list to Aventure],
That is the moder of tydinges,
As the see of welles and springes,—
1985
And hit was shapen lyk a cage.
'Certes,' quod I, 'in al myn age,
Ne saugh I swich a hous as this.'
And as I wondred me, y-wis,
Upon this hous, tho war was I
(900) 1990
How that myn egle, faste by,
Was perched hye upon a stoon;
And I gan streighte to him goon
And seyde thus: 'I preye thee
That thou a whyl abyde me
1995
For goddes love, and let me seen
What wondres in this place been;
For yit, [paraventure], I may lere
Som good ther-on, or sumwhat here
That leef me were, or that I wente.'
(910) 2000
'[Peter!] that is myn entente,'
Quod he to me; 'therfor I dwelle;
But certein, oon thing I thee telle,
That, but I bringe thee ther-inne,
Ne shalt thou never [cunne ginne]
2005
To come in-to hit, out of doute,
So faste hit whirleth, lo, aboute.
But sith that Ioves, of his grace,
As I have seyd, wol thee solace
Fynally with [swiche] thinges,
(920) 2010
Uncouthe sightes and tydinges,
[To passe with thyn hevinesse];
Suche routhe hath he of thy distresse,
That thou suffrest debonairly—
And wost thy-selven utterly
2015
Disesperat of alle blis,
Sith that Fortune hath maad a-mis
The [fruit] of al thyn hertes reste
Languisshe and eek in point to breste—
[That] he, through his mighty meryte,
(930) 2020
Wol do thee ese, al be hit lyte,
And [yaf] expres commaundement,
To whiche I am obedient,
To furthre thee with al my might,
And wisse and teche thee aright
2025
Wher thou maist most tydinges here;
Shaltow anoon heer many oon lere.'
With this worde he, right anoon,
Hente me up bitwene his toon,
And at a windowe in me broghte,
(940) 2030
That in this hous was, as me thoghte—
And ther-withal, me thoghte hit stente,
And no-thing hit aboute wente—
And me sette in the flore adoun.
2035
Of folk, as I saugh rome aboute
Some within and some withoute,
Nas never seen, ne shal ben eft;
That, certes, in the world nis [left]
So many formed by Nature,
(950) 2040
Ne deed so many a creature;
That wel unethe, in that place,
Hadde I oon foot-brede of space;
And every wight that I saugh there
Rouned [ech] in otheres ere
2045
A newe tyding prevely,
Or elles tolde al openly
Right thus, and seyde: 'Nost not thou
[That is betid, lo, late or now]?'
'No,' quod [the other], 'tel me what;'—
(960) 2050
And than he tolde him this and that,
And swoor ther-to that hit was sooth—
'Thus hath he seyd'—and 'Thus he dooth'—
'Thus shal hit be'—'Thus herde I seye'—
'That shal be found'—' That dar I leye:'—
2055
That al the folk that is a-lyve
Ne han the cunning to discryve
The thinges that I herde there,
What aloude, and what in ere.
But al the [wonder-most] was this:—
(970) 2060
Whan oon had herd a thing, y-wis,
He com forth to another wight,
And gan him tellen, anoon-right,
The same that to him was told,
Or hit a furlong-way was old,
2065
But gan somwhat for to eche
To this tyding in this speche
More than hit ever was.
And nat so sone departed nas
That he fro him, that he ne mette
(980) 2070
With the thridde; and, or he lette
Any stounde, he tolde him als;
Were the tyding sooth or fals,
Yit wolde he telle hit nathelees,
And evermo with more encrees
2075
Than hit was erst. Thus north and southe
Went every [word] fro mouth to mouthe,
And that encresing ever-mo,
As fyr is wont to quikke and go
From a sparke spronge amis,
(990) 2080
Til al a citee brent up is.
And, whan that was ful y-spronge,
And woxen more on every tonge
Than ever hit was, [hit] wente anoon
Up to a windowe, out to goon;
2085
Or, but hit mighte out ther pace,
Hit gan out crepe at som crevace,
And fleigh forth faste for the nones.
And somtyme saugh I tho, at ones,
A lesing and ,
(1000) 2090
That gonne of aventure drawe
Out at a windowe for to pace;
And, when they metten in that place,
They were a-chekked bothe two,
And neither of hem moste out go;
2095
For other so they gonne croude,
Til eche of hem gan cryen loude,
'Lat me go first!' 'Nay, but lat me!
And here I wol ensuren thee
[With the nones] that thou wolt do so,
(1010) 2100
That I shal never fro thee go,
[But be thyn owne sworen brother!]
We wil medle us ech with other,
That no man, be he never so wrothe,
Shal han that oon [of] two, but bothe
2105
At ones, al [beside] his leve,
Come we a-morwe or on eve,
Be we cryed or stille y-rouned.'
Thus saugh I fals and sooth compouned
Togeder flee for oo tydinge.
(1020) 2110
Thus out at holes gonne wringe
Every tyding streight to Fame;
And she gan yeven eche his name.
After hir disposicioun,
And yaf hem eek duracioun,
2115
Some to wexe and wane sone,
As dooth the faire whyte mone,
And leet hem gon. Ther mighte I seen
Wenged wondres faste fleen,
[Twenty thousand] in a route,
(1030) 2120
As Eolus hem blew aboute.
And, lord! this hous, in alle tymes,
Was ful of shipmen and pilgrymes,
With scrippes [bret-ful] of lesinges,
Entremedled with tydinges,
2125
And eek alone by hem-selve.
O, many a thousand tymes twelve
Saugh I eek of these pardoneres,
Currours, and eek messangeres,
With boistes crammed ful of lyes
(1040) 2130
As ever vessel was with [lyes].
And as I alther-fastest wente
Aboute, and dide al myn entente
Me for to pleye and for to lere,
And eek a tyding for to here,
2135
That I had herd of som contree
That shal not now be told for me;—
For hit no nede is, redely;
Folk can singe hit bet than I;
For al mot out, other late or rathe,
(1050) 2140
[Alle the sheves in the lathe];—
I herde a gret noise withalle
In a corner of the halle,
Ther men of love tydings tolde,
And I gan thiderward beholde;
2145
For I saugh renninge every wight,
As faste as that they hadden might;
And everich cryed, 'What thing is that?'
And som seyde, 'I not never what.'
And whan they were alle on an hepe,
(1060) 2150
Tho behinde gonne up lepe,
And clamben up on othere faste,
[And up the nose on hye caste],
And troden faste on othere heles
[And stampe, as men don after eles].
2155
Atte laste I saugh a man,
Which that I [nevene] naught ne can;
But he semed for to be
(1068) 2158
[A man of greet auctoritee]....
(Unfinished.)
[[Go to Legend of Good Women]]
1101. Cx. Th. thou; P. thow; F. nowe; B. now. 1102. Cx. P. now; Th. nowe; F. yowe; B. yow. 1105. Cx. to; rest for to. 1106. F. B. men; rest me. 1107. Cx. lawrer; Th. laurer. 1113. F. B. this; rest the. 1114. F. citee; P. cite (= site); rest cyte (= syte). 1115. F. hys (for this). 1119. Cx. P. it; B. yt; F. Th. om. 1127. Th. I nyste; Cx. I ne wyst; P. I nust; F. B. nyste I neuer. 1132. F. B. fundament; rest foundement. 1135. bilt = bildeth; Th. B. bylte. 1136. F. B. om. al; cf. l. 1151. 1145. Cx. Th. Were; rest Was. 1154. F. B. folkes; rest folk. 1155. F. tymes; rest tyme. F. there; rest they. 1156. Cx. Th. P. there; F. B. here. 1162. F. om. that. 1173. I supply be. 1177. Supply craft from l. 1178, where it occurs, after cast, in Cx. Th. P. (Willert). 1178. F. To; the rest The. 1185. Cx. Th. P. ins. the before castel. 1189. F. Rabewyures or Rabewynres; B. Rabewynnes; Cx. As babeuwryes; Th. As babeuries; P. Babeweuries. 1195. F. B. om. stoden. 1197. F. om. of. 1201. F. B. vpon; rest on. 1202. F. B. sowneth; rest sowned. 1204. P. Cx. his; Th. B. this; F. the. 1206. F. Eaycidis; P. Eaycides; Cx. Th. Gacides. 1208. B. bret; Th. Briton; Cx. Bryton; P. Bretur; F. gret. 1210. F. Saten; B. Sate; Cx. Th. Sat; P. Sett; read Seten. 1210, 1, 2, 4. F. hym (for hem); P. hym (in 1210 only); B. him (in 1211, 2, 4). 1211. Cx. Th. P. gape; F. iape; B. yape. 1220. F. Cx. Th. B. to pipe; P. om. to. 1221. F. B. riede; rest rede. 1222. Cx. Th. P. brede; B. Bryede; F. bride. 1227. F. Atiteris; B. Atyterys; Cx. Th. dan Cytherus; P. an Citherus. F. B. transpose lines 1227 and 1228. 1228. F. Pseustis; B. Pseustys; Cx. Th. proserus; P. presentus. 1233. F. B. fames; rest famous. 1234. F. B. of alle; Th. of al; P. Cx. of. F. om. the. 1236. Cx. Th. Reyes; P. Reyþs; F. B. Reus. 1241. F. seight (!); for fight. 1245. F. B. trumpe Ioab. 1255. Cx. Th. P. as now not; F. B. not now. 1259. Th. pleyeng; rest pley; read pleyen. 1262. F. wrecches (wrongly); for wicches. 1269. P. magyk; rest magyke. 1270. F. B. syke; rest seke. 1271. All the. 1272. Cx. Th. P. Circes; F. Artes; B. Artys. 1273. So in all. 1274. Cx. Th. Lymote; F. Limete; B. Lumete; P. Llymote. 1275, 6. From B.; F. om. both lines. P. hem; Cx. hym; B. Th. om. 1278. Th. Sycamour; F. B. Sygamour; Cx. Sycomour; P. Cicomour. 1283. F. B. y ther; rest that I. 1285. F. B. folkys. 1286. B. I-holde; Cx. Th. P. holde; F. y-colde. 1287. Cx. P. eft; F. oft; B. all; Th. om. F. B. P. I mused. 1293. F. B. to; rest forth. 1299. Cx. P. for; rest more. 1301. B. this; rest these; see 1294. 1303. F. how they hat; B. how they hate; Cx. how the hackyng; P. Th. how the hackynge. 1304. Cx. Th. P. As corbettis(-es) and ymageries; B. As corbettz, full of ymageryes; F. As corbetz, followed by a blank space. 1309. F. hald; rest hold (holde). 1315. Cx. Th. P. shoke; F. shoon; B. shone. 1316. F. B. As (for And). 1317. P. Cx. lesynges; rest losynges; read losenges. 1318. F. frenges; B. Th. frynges. 1321. F. B. herauldes. 1326. F. crepen (!). 1327. P. wonderliche; the rest wonderly. 1328. Cx. P. Alle though; F. Th. B. As though. 1332. Cx. Th. P. cotes; F. B. cote. 1335. F. B. om. as. 1349. F. B. litel; rest lyte. 1350. B. thicke; Th. thyke; F. thik. 1351. P. Cx. Full; rest Fyne. 1353. P. As; Cx. Th. Or as; F. B. Of. 1356. P. Cx. riche lusty; rest lusty and riche. 1361. F. Sit; B. Syt; Cx. P. Sat; Th. Satte; read Sitte. 1369. F. B. om. that. 1371. F. B. omit semed be. 1372. So Cx. Th. P.; F. B. read—This was gret marvaylle to me. 1373. All wonderly; cf. l. 1327. 1374. F. B. erthe. 1377. F. B. om. to. 1404. F. synge; rest songe. 1406. F. B. or; rest and. 1411. Th. the armes; rest armes; read tharmes (i.e. th' armes). 1415. All And thus. 1416. Cx. P. nobley; F. Th. B. noble (= noblee). 1421. F. peler; B. pylere. 1425. I supply and hy. 1431. All fyne. 1432. Cx. Hym that wrote thactes dyuyne; P. om.; F. B. Th. Saturnyne. 1435. Cx. P. bare vpon; F. Th. B. he bare on. 1436. F. B. om. up. 1437. F. stonden; rest stoden. 1442. P. Cx. Th. as of other merveilles. 1443. P. Cx. piler; F. B. pilere. 1444. All here. 1450. F. B. a ful; rest ful. 1456. F. B. stonde; Cx. Th. stande; P. stond. 1460. F. B. Tholausan; Th. Tholason; P. Tolofan; Cx. tholophan. 1477. So Cx. Th. P.; F. B. seyde Omere was. 1483. I supply dan; see l. 1499. 1484. F. B. omit a. 1492. F. And; rest As; B. As I hit myght se with myn ye; P. Cx. Th. As I myght see it wyth myn ye. 1494. F. high the (= highthe); Cx. Th heyght; see l. 744. 1498. F. sturmely. 1507. F. om. a. 1510. F. B. om. al. 1515. F. inserts al of the before olde; B. inserts of the. 1527. All in-to (for in). 1530. F. alle skynnes; Cx. alle kyns. 1543. Cx. Th. grace (for cause). 1546. F. B. om. this line. 1549. F. B. herke. 1551. Cx. Th. P. yet; F. B. right. 1553. Cx. Th. P. sayd; F. quod; B. quoth. 1570. F. B. Vpon the peyn to be blynde, omitting l. 1572; Cx. Th. om. the. Read Vp, the usual idiom. 1572. In Cx. Th. only. 1585. F. B. om. that. 1594. F. B. clarioun; see l. 1597. 1599. F. B. And (for That). 1603. Cx. P. at; rest to. 1609. F. B. om. now. 1614. F. B. insert wel after be. 1618. F. B. wete; rest wote; read wite. 1621. F. B. om. wel. 1623. Cx. Th. P. And thou dan; F. B. Haue doon. 1637. P. blak; F. B. blake. 1647. Cx. Th. P. swartysh; F. B. swart, swarte. 1657. B. thridde; F. thirdde. 1661. F. ben; rest han. 1666. All werkes, pl.; see 1701. Th. That your good workes shal be wyst (perhaps better). 1668. F. B. om. Right. 1675. F. B. om. Al. 1682. F. B. Cx. Th. hath; P. have. 1686. All of bawme; omit of (Koch). 1701. werk] all werkes (werkys); see 1666, 1720, 1. 1702. B. clew; F. clywe; Cx. Th. P. torned, turned. 1707. Cx. P. To hyde; Th. To hyden; F. B. And hidden. 1709. P. Cx. fame; rest no fame. P. Cx. Th. ne (om. for); F. B. for (om. ne). 1717. F. B. Th. lyen (for lyuen); P. be; Cx. om. 1720. werk] all werkes (werkys); but see hit in 1721. 1725. F. B. Th. Al so; rest And so; read So. 1726. So F. B.; Cx. Th. That theyr fame was blowe a lofte. 1735. Cx. P. so good a; Th. as good a; F. B. as good. 1742. Th. Cx. P. in her herte; F. in hem; B. in her. 1744. Th. on; rest upon. 1745. F. B. om. the. 1748, 1749. F. a; rest as. 1750. P. Cx. To; rest The. 1765. F. B. now let se (I omit now); rest quod she. 1775. I supply ye. 1779. P. wher; Cx. Th. where; F. B. or. 1781. F. B. neuer ye; rest om. ye. 1782. F. B. om. to-. 1783. F. swynt; B. sweynte; Cx. Th. P. slepy. 1786. Cx. P. on; the rest to. 1787. Cx. Th. P. on; F. B. to. 1792. F. B. om. thee. 1793. F. B. om. they. 1801. P. blak; F. B. blake. 1804. I supply the. 1805. al is not in the MSS.; but P. has as (= al-so). 1813. All grete, gret; read gretest (Willert). 1816. MSS. doon (don, do) hem. 1818. F. B. in a; P. Cx. Th. in. 1821. B. liste; rest list, short for listeth. F. B. P. om. to; Cx. Th. insert it. 1822. P. not; which F. B. Cx. Th. omit. 1824. F. choppen; B. choppyn; Th. clappen; Cx. P. clappe. 1828. B. P. folk; rest folkes. 1834. P. vice; Cx. Th. vyce; F. B. vices. 1836. F. B. suche be; Cx. Th. P. be suche. 1843. Here P. ends. 1853. F. Th. be noght for; Cx. B. be for; read be but for (Koch). 1862. Cx. Th. they; F. B. this folke. 1880. F. selfe; read selven. 1883. Th. than; Cx. thenne; F. B. om. 1887. All thing, thinge; read thinges. Cf. l. 1889. 1891. All come. 1897. All wote (for wiste); see l. 1901. 1898. All had. 1902. All dwelled or dwellyth. 1903. F. And; rest Ne. 1906. B. the; F. om.. B. hidyr; Th. hyder; Cx. hether; F. thidder. 1907. B. Whi then; rest Why than; Koch suggests Which than; read Which-e. Ll. 1907-9 are probably corrupt; see note. 1908. I supply thus. 1926. Th. it stil; rest stil hyt. 1931. Th. B. that I; F. I haue; Cx. I had. 1938. F. B. Whiche; Cx. Th. Suche. 1940. F. Cx. B. hattes; Th. hutches. Read hottes. 1941. F. twynges (!); B. twigys. 1944. Corrupt. From Cx. Th.; B. omits the line; F. has only As ful this lo. 1946. Cx. Th. as; F. of; B. as of. Th. on; F. B. in; Cx. of. 1948. Cx. roof; Th. rofe; F. B. roue. 1952. Cx. Th. open; F. opened; B. I-opened. 1955. Cx. out (for in). 1957. F. silde; B. fylde; Cx. Th. fylled. 1961. All werres (pl.); read werre. 1962. All restes (pl.). Cx. of labour; F. Th. B. and of labour. 1967. All insert and eek before of; see l. 1968. 1975. All write mis governement as one word. 1976. All and of; omit and. 1984. F. B. and of; Cx. Th. om. of. 1997. Th. paraunter. 2009. I substitute swiche for these. 2010. Th. syghtes; rest syght. 2017. F. The frot; B. The foot; Cx. Th. The swote. Read The fruit (Koch). 2018. Cx. Th. Languysshe; F. B. Laugh. 2020. Th. B. the (for thee); Cx. the an; F. than (perhaps = the an). 2021. All insert in after yaf. 2026. F. B. insert anoon (anon) after here, which Cx. Th. omit. For here anoon read anoon heer. 2028. F. B. omit this line. 2036. F. B. omit this line; it is probably corrupt. Read Many a thousand in a route (Koch). 2042. Cx. one; F. Th. B. a. 2044. F. Rovned in; B. Rownyd yn; Cx. Th. Rowned euerych in. 2048. F. has only—That ys betydde; B. That is betyd late or now; Cx. Th. That ys betyd lo ryght now. 2049. All he; read the other (Willert). 2053. All insert And (twice) before thus; but compare the next line. 2059. All wonder most (moste). 2061. F. B. forth ryght to; Cx. forth vnto; Th. streyght to. 2063. Cx. to; rest om. 2066. F. Tho; rest To. 2069. F. B. That he; Cx. Th. Tho. F. thoo; B. tho; Cx. Th. that. 2076. F. B. Went every mouthe; Cx. Th. Wente euery tydyng. 2081. Cx. Th. vp spronge. 2083. All and (for 2nd hit). 2087. F. flygh; B. fligh; Cx. Th. flewe. 2088. F. om. I. 2090. Cx. Th. drawe; F. B. thrawe. 2091. Cx. Th. at; F. B. to. 2093. F. B. a cheked; Cx. Th. a chekked. 2095-2158. Cx. omits. 2099. B. om. the. 2103. Th. he; F. B. they. 2104. F. han on two (sic); B. haue that oon (om. of two); Th. haue one two. I supply that from B.; and also of. 2106. Th. amorowe; F. B. morwe. 2112. All yeue. 2115. Th. wane; F. B. wynne (!). 2123. Th. scrippes; F. B. shrippes. 2129. F. boystes; Th. boxes; B. bowgys. 2150. Th. gonne; B. bigonne; F. begunne. 2151, 3. F. other; B. othir; read othere (oth're), plural. 2152. F. noyse an highen (!); Th. noyse on hyghen (!); B. nose and yen; read on hye (Koch). 2153. F. B. other; Th. others. 2154. F. B. stampen; Th. stampe. 2156. I supply nevene. 2158. Here F. B. end; Cx. Th. add 12 spurious lines.
THE LEGEND OF GOOD WOMEN.
The Prologue to this Poem exists in two different versions, which differ widely from each other in many passages. The arrangement of the material is also different.
For the sake of clearness, the earlier version is here called 'Text A,' and the later version 'Text B.'
'Text A' exists in one MS. only, but this MS. is of early date and much importance. It is the MS. marked Gg. 4. 27 in the Cambridge University Library, and is here denoted by the letter 'C.' It is the same MS. as that denoted by the abbreviation 'Cm.' in the footnotes to the Canterbury Tales and Troilus and Criseyde. This text is printed in the upper part of the following pages. The footnotes give the MS. spellings, where these are amended in the text.
'Text B' occupies the lower part of the following pages. It follows the Fairfax MS. mainly, which is denoted by 'F.' In many places, the inferior spellings of this MS. are relegated to the footnotes, amended spellings being given in the text. Various readings are given from Tn. (Tanner MS. 346); T. (Trinity MS., R. 3. 19); A. (Arch. Seld. B. 24 in the Bodleian Library); Th. (Thynne's Edition, 1532); B. (Bodley MS. 638); P. (Pepys MS. 2006); and sometimes from C. (already mentioned) or Add. (Addit. 9832).
Lines which occur in one text only are marked (in either text) by a prefixed asterisk. Lines marked with a dagger (†) stand just the same in both texts. The blank space after A 60 (p. [70]) shews that there is nothing in Text A corresponding to B 69-72. Where the corresponding matter is transposed to another place, one or other text has a portion printed in smaller type.
The prologe of .ix. goode Wimmen.
A thousand sythes have I herd men telle,
†That ther is Ioye in heven, and peyne in helle;
And I acorde wel that hit be so;
But natheles, this wot I wel also,
5
That ther nis noon that dwelleth in this contree,
That either hath in helle or heven y-be,
†Ne may of hit non other weyes witen,
†But as he hath herd seyd, or founde hit writen;
†For by assay ther may no man hit preve.
10
But goddes forbode, but men shulde leve
†Wel more thing then men han seen with yë!
†Men shal nat wenen every-thing a lyë
For that he seigh it nat of yore ago.
God wot, a thing is never the lesse so
15
†Thogh every wight ne may hit nat y-see.
†Bernard the monk ne saugh nat al, parde!
†Than mote we to bokes that we finde,
†Through which that olde thinges been in minde,
†And to the doctrine of these olde wyse,
20
†Yeven credence, in every skilful wyse,
And trowen on these olde aproved stories
†Of holinesse, of regnes, of victories,
†Of love, of hate, of other sundry thinges,
†Of whiche I may not maken rehersinges.
25
†And if that olde bokes were a-weye,
†Y-loren were of remembraunce the keye.
Wel oghte us than on olde bokes leve,
Ther-as ther is non other assay by preve.
And, as for me, though that my wit be lyte,
30
†On bokes for to rede I me delyte,
†And in myn herte have hem in reverence;
And to hem yeve swich lust and swich credence,
That ther is wel unethe game noon
That from my bokes make me to goon,
35
But hit be other up-on the haly-day,
Or elles in the Ioly tyme of May;
Whan that I here the smale foules singe,
†And that the floures ginne for to springe,
Farwel my studie, as lasting that sesoun!
40
Now have I therto this condicioun
†That, of alle the floures in the mede,
†Than love I most these floures whyte and rede,
†Swiche as men callen daysies in our toun.
†To hem have I so greet affeccioun,
45
†As I seyde erst, whan comen is the May,
†That in my bed ther daweth me no day
†That I nam up, and walking in the mede
To seen these floures agein the sonne sprede,
Whan hit up-riseth by the morwe shene,
50
*The longe day, thus walking in the grene.
From A. 55-58.
(B. 53)
This dayesye, of alle floures flour,
Fulfild of vertu and of alle honour,
†And ever y-lyke fair and fresh of hewe,
As wel in winter as in somer newe—
(B. 61)
And whan the sonne ginneth for to weste,
Than closeth hit, and draweth hit to reste.
So sore hit is afered of the night,
*Til on the morwe, that hit is dayes light.
55
This dayesye, of alle floures flour,
Fulfild of vertu and of alle honour,
†And ever y-lyke fair and fresh of hewe,
As wel in winter as in somer newe,
(B. 67)
Fain wolde I preisen, if I coude aright;
60
*But wo is me, hit lyth nat in my might!
(B. 73)
For wel I wot, that folk han her-beforn
†Of making ropen, and lad a-wey the corn;
†And I come after, glening here and there,
†And am ful glad if I may finde an ere
65
Of any goodly word that they han left.
And, if hit happe me rehersen eft
That they han in her fresshe songes sayd,
I hope that they wil nat ben evel apayd,
Sith hit is seid in forthering and honour
70
Of hem that either serven leef or flour.
For trusteth wel, I ne have nat undertake
As of the leef, ageyn the flour, to make;
Ne of the flour to make, ageyn the leef,
†No more than of the corn ageyn the sheef.
75
For, as to me, is leefer noon ne lother;
I am with-holde yit with never nother.
I not who serveth leef, ne who the flour;
That nis nothing the entent of my labour.
For this werk is al of another tunne,
80
Of olde story, er [swich stryf] was begunne.
(B. 97)
†[But wherfor that I spak], to yeve credence
To bokes olde and doon hem reverence,
Is for men shulde autoritees beleve,
Ther as ther lyth non other assay by preve.
85
*For myn entent is, or I fro yow fare,
*The naked text in English to declare
*Of many a story, or elles of many a geste,
*As autours seyn; leveth hem if yow leste!
(B. 108)
Whan passed was almost the month of May,
90
And I had romed, al the someres day,
*The grene medew, of which that I yow tolde,
Upon the fresshe daysy to beholde,
And that the sonne out of the south gan weste,
And closed was the flour and goon to reste
95
For derknesse of the night, of which she dredde,
†Hoom to myn hous ful swiftly I me spedde;
†And, in a litel erber that I have,
Y-benched newe with turves fresshe y-grave,
†I bad men shulde me my couche make;
100
†For deyntee of the newe someres sake,
†I bad hem strowe floures on my bed.
†Whan I was layd, and had myn eyen hed,
I fel a-slepe with-in an houre or two.
Me mette how I was in the medew tho,
105
*And that I romed in that same gyse,
To seen that flour, as ye han herd devyse.
*Fair was this medew, as thoughte me overal;
With floures swote enbrowded was it al;
As for to speke of gomme, or erbe, or tree,
110
†Comparisoun may noon y-maked be.
For hit surmounted pleynly alle odoures,
†And eek of riche beaute alle floures.
†Forgeten had the erthe his pore estat
†Of winter, that him naked made and mat,
115
And with his swerd of cold so sore had greved.
Now had the atempre sonne al that releved,
And clothed him in grene al newe agayn.
†The smale foules, of the seson fayn,
†That from the panter and the net ben scaped,
120
†Upon the fouler, that hem made a-whaped
†In winter, and distroyed had hir brood,
†In his despyt, hem thoughte hit did hem good
†To singe of him, and in hir song despyse
†The foule cherl that, for his covetyse,
125
†Had hem betrayed with his sophistrye.
†This was hir song—'the fouler we defye!'
(B. 139)
Somme songen [layes] on the braunches clere
Of love and [May], that Ioye hit was to here,
In worship and in preysing of hir make,
130
And of the newe blisful someres sake,
(B. 145)
That songen, 'blissed be seynt Valentyn!
[For] at his day I chees yow to be myn,
†With-oute repenting, myn herte swete!'
†And therwith-al hir bekes gonnen mete.
135
[They dide honour and] humble obeisaunces,
And after diden other observaunces
Right [plesing] un-to love and to nature;
*So ech of hem [doth wel] to creature.
*This song to herkne I dide al myn entente,
140
*For-why I mette I wiste what they mente.
From A. 90.
(B. 180)
And I had romed, al the someres day,
From A. 92.
(B. 182)
Up-on the fresshe daysy to beholde.
From A. 71-80.
(B. 188)
For trusteth wel, I ne have nat undertake
As of the leef, ageyn the flour, to make;
Ne of the flour to make, ageyn the leef,
†No more than of the corn ageyn the sheef.
75
For, as to me, is leefer noon ne lother;
I am with-holde yit with never nother.
I not who serveth leef, ne who the flour;
That nis nothing the entent of my labour.
For this werk is al of another tunne,
80
Of olde story, er swich stryf was begunne.
From A. 93-96.
And that the sonne out of the south gan weste,
And closed was the flour and goon to reste
For derknesse of the night, of which she dredde,
†Hoom to myn hous ful swiftly I me spedde
From A. 106.
To seen that flour, as ye han herd devyse.
From A. 97-104.
†And, in a litel erber that I have,
Y-benched newe with turves fresshe y-grave,
†I bad men shulde me my couche make;
100
†For deyntee of the newe someres sake,
†I bad hem strowe floures on my bed.
†Whan I was layd, and had myn eyen hed,
I fel a-slepe within an houre or two.
Me mette how I was in the medew tho,
141
*Til at the laste a larke song above:
*'I see,' quod she, 'the mighty god of love!
*Lo! yond he cometh, I see his winges sprede!'
From A. 106.
To seen that flour, as ye han herd devyse,
(B. 212)
Tho gan I loken endelong the mede,
145
And saw him come, and in his hond a quene,
Clothed in ryal abite al of grene.
†A fret of gold she hadde next hir heer,
†And up-on that a whyt coroun she beer
With many floures, and I shal nat lye;
150
For al the world, right as the dayesye
†I-coroned is with whyte leves lyte,
Swich were the floures of hir coroun whyte.
For of o perle fyn and oriental
†Hir whyte coroun was y-maked al;
155
†For which the whyte coroun, above the grene,
†Made hir lyk a daysie for to sene,
Considered eek the fret of gold above.
†Y-clothed was this mighty god of love
Of silk, y-brouded ful of grene greves;
160
A [garlond] on his heed of rose-leves
*Steked al with lilie floures newe;
*But of his face I can nat seyn the hewe.
For sekirly his face shoon so brighte,
*That with the gleem a-stoned was the sighte;
165
A furlong-wey I mighte him nat beholde.
But at the laste in hande I saw him holde
†Two fyry dartes, as the gledes rede;
And aungellich his wenges gan he sprede.
†And al be that men seyn that blind is he,
170
Al-gate me thoughte he mighte wel y-see;
†For sternely on me he gan biholde,
†So that his loking doth myn herte colde.
†And by the hande he held the noble quene,
†Corouned with whyte, and clothed al in grene,
175
†So womanly, so benigne, and so meke,
†That in this world, thogh that men wolde seke,
†Half hir beautee shulde men nat finde
†In creature that formed is by kinde,
Hir name was [Alceste] the debonayre;
180
I prey to god that ever falle she fayre!
†For ne hadde confort been of hir presence,
†I had be deed, withouten any defence,
†For drede of Loves wordes and his chere,
†As, whan tyme is, her-after ye shal here.
185
Byhind this god of love, up-on this grene,
†I saw cominge of ladyës nyntene
†In ryal abite, a ful esy pas,
†And after hem com of wemen swich a tras
That, sin that god Adam made of erthe,
190
The thredde part of wemen, ne the ferthe,
†Ne wende I nat by possibilitee
(B. 289)
Hadden ever in this world y-be;
†And trewe of love thise wemen were echoon.
†Now whether was that a wonder thing or noon,
195
†That, right anoon as that they gonne espye
†This flour, which that I clepe the dayesye,
†Ful sodeinly they stinten alle at-ones,
And kneled adoun, as it were for the nones.
*And after that they wenten in compas,
200
*Daunsinge aboute this flour an esy pas,
*And songen, as it were in carole-wyse,
*This balade, which that I shal yow devyse.
Balade.
†Hyd, Absolon, thy gilte tresses clere;
†Ester, ley them thy meknesse al a-doun;
205
†Hyd, Ionathas, al thy frendly manere;
†Penalopee, and Marcia Catoun,
†Mak of your wyfhod no comparisoun;
†Hyde ye your beautes, Isoude and Eleyne,
[Alceste is here], that al that may desteyne.
210
†Thy faire body, lat hit nat appere,
†Lavyne; and thou, Lucresse of Rome toun,
†And Polixene, that boghte love so dere,
Eek Cleopatre, with al thy passioun,
Hyde ye your trouthe in love and your renoun;
215
And thou, Tisbe, that hast for love swich peyne:
Alceste is here, that al that may desteyne.
Herro, Dido, Laudomia, alle in-fere,
Eek Phyllis, hanging for thy Demophoun,
†And Canace, espyed by thy chere,
220
Ysiphile, betrayed with Jasoun,
Mak of your trouthe in love no bost ne soun;
Nor Ypermistre or Adriane, ne pleyne;
Alceste is here, that al that may desteyne.
(B. 270)
Whan that this balade al y-songen was,
From A. 179-198.
Hir name was Alceste the debonayre;
180
I prey to god that ever falle she fayre!
†For ne hadde confort been of hir presence,
†I had be deed, withouten any defence,
†For drede of Loves wordes and his chere,
†As, whan tyme is, her-after ye shal here.
185
Byhind this god of love, up-on this grene,
†I saw cominge of ladyës nyntene
†In ryal abite, a ful esy pas,
†And after hem com of wemen swich a tras,
That, sin that god Adam made of erthe,
190
The thredde part of wemen, ne the ferthe,
†Ne wende I nat by possibilitee
Hadden ever in this world y-be.
†And trewe of love these wemen were echoon.
†Now whether was that a wonder thing or noon,
195
†That, right anon as that they gonne espye
†This flour, which that I clepe the dayesye,
†Ful sodeinly they stinten alle atones,
And kneled adoun, as it were for the nones.
225
*Upon the softe and swote grene gras
(B. 301)
†They setten hem ful softely adoun,
By ordre alle in compas, alle enveroun.
First sat the god of love, and than this quene
†With the whyte coroun, clad in grene;
230
†And sithen al the remenant by and by,
As they were of degree, ful curteisly;
†Ne nat a word was spoken in the place
†The mountance of a furlong-wey of space.
I, lening faste by under a bente,
235
†Abood, to knowen what this peple mente,
†As stille as any stoon; til at the laste,
The god of love on me his eye caste,
And seyde, 'who resteth ther?' and I answerde
Un-to his axing, whan that I him herde,
240
†And seyde, 'sir, hit am I'; and cam him neer,
†And salued him. Quod he, 'what dostow heer
In my presence, and that so boldely?
†For it were better worthy, trewely,
A werm to comen in my sight than thou.'
245
†'And why, sir,' quod I, 'and hit lyke yow?'
†'For thou,' quod he, 'art ther-to nothing able.
*My servaunts been alle wyse and honourable.
(B. 322)
Thou art my mortal fo, and me warreyest,
†And of myne olde servaunts thou misseyest,
250
†And hinderest hem with thy translacioun,
And lettest folk to han devocioun
†To serven me, and haldest hit folye
To troste on me. Thou mayst hit nat denye;
For in pleyn text, hit nedeth nat to glose,
255
†Thou hast translated the Romauns of the Rose,
†That is an heresye ageyns my lawe,
†And makest wyse folk fro me withdrawe.
*And thinkest in thy wit, that is ful cool.
*That he nis but a verray propre fool
260
*That loveth [paramours], to harde and hote.
*Wel wot I ther-by thou beginnest dote
*As olde foles, whan hir spirit fayleth;
*Than blame they folk, and wite nat what hem ayleth.
*Hast thou nat mad in English eek the book
(B. 332) 265
How that [Crisseyde Troilus forsook],
In shewinge how that wemen han don mis?
*But natheles, answere me now to this,
*Why noldest thou as wel han seyd goodnesse
*Of wemen, as thou hast seyd wikkednesse?
270
*Was ther no good matere in thy minde,
*Ne in alle thy bokes coudest thou nat finde
*Sum story of wemen that were goode and trewe?
*Yis! god wot, sixty bokes olde and newe
*Hast thou thy-self, alle fulle of stories grete,
275
*That bothe Romains and eek Grekes trete
*Of sundry wemen, which lyf that they ladde,
*And ever an hundred gode ageyn oon badde.
*This knoweth god, and alle clerkes eke,
*That usen swiche materes for to seke.
280
*What seith [Valerie], [Titus], or [Claudian]?
*What seith [Ierome] ageyns Iovinian?
*How clene maydens, and how trewe wyves,
*How stedfast widwes during al hir lyves,
*Telleth Jerome; and that nat of a fewe,
285
*But, I dar seyn, an hundred on a rewe;
*That hit is pitee for to rede, and routhe,
*The wo that they enduren for hir trouthe.
(B. 334)
[For to hir love were they so trewe],
*That, rather than they wolde take a newe,
290
*They chosen to be dede in sundry wyse,
*And deyden, as the story wol devyse;
*And some were brend, and some were cut the hals,
*And some dreynt, for they wolden nat be fals.
*For alle keped they hir maydenhed,
295
*Or elles wedlok, or hir widwehed.
*And this thing was nat kept for holinesse,
*But al for verray vertu and clennesse,
*And for men shulde sette on hem no lak;
*And yit they weren hethen, al the pak,
300
*That were so sore adrad of alle shame.
*These olde wemen kepte so hir name,
*That in this world I trow men shal nat finde
*A man that coude be so trewe and kinde,
*As was the leste woman in that tyde.
305
*What seith also the [epistels] of Ovyde
*Of trewe wyves, and of hir labour?
*What [Vincent], in his Storial Mirour?
*Eek al the world of autours maystow here,
*Cristen and hethen, trete of swich matere;
310
*It nedeth nat alday thus for tendyte.
*But yit I sey, what eyleth thee to wryte
*The draf of stories, and forgo the corn?
(B. 338)
By seint Venus, of whom that I was born,
(B. 336)
Although [that] thou reneyed hast my lay,
(B. 337) 315
As othere olde foles many a day,
Thou shalt repente hit, that hit shal be sene!'
Than spak Alceste, the worthieste quene,
†And seyde, 'god, right of your curtesye,
†Ye moten herknen if he can replye
320
Ageyns these points that ye han to him meved;
†A god ne sholde nat be thus agreved,
†But of his deitee he shal be stable,
And therto rightful and eek merciable.
*He shal nat rightfully his yre wreke
325
*[Or he have herd] the tother party speke.
*Al ne is nat gospel that is to yow pleyned;
*The god of love herth many a tale y-feyned.
From A. 338, 339.
This man to yow may wrongly been accused,
†Ther as by right him oghte been excused;
†For in your court is many a losengeour,
†And many a queynte totelere accusour,
330
That tabouren in your eres many a thing
For hate, or for Ielous imagining,
And for to han with yow som daliaunce.
Envye (I prey to god yeve hir mischaunce!)
Is lavender in the grete court alway.
335
†For she ne parteth, neither night ne day,
†Out of the hous of Cesar; thus seith Dante;
Who-so that goth, alwey she moot [nat] wante.
This man to yow may wrongly been accused,
†Ther as by right him oghte been excused.
340
Or elles, sir, for that this man is nyce,
He may translate a thing in no malyce.
But for he useth bokes for to make,
And takth non heed of what matere he take;
*Therfor he wroot [the Rose and eek Crisseyde]
345
*Of innocence, and niste what he seyde;
†Or him was boden make thilke tweye
†Of som persone, and durste hit nat with-seye;
*For he hath writen many a book er this.
†He ne hath nat doon so grevously amis
350
†To translaten that olde clerkes wryten,
†As thogh that he of malice wolde endyten
Despyt of love, and hadde him-self y-wroght.
†This shulde a rightwys lord han in his thoght,
†And nat be lyk tiraunts of Lumbardye,
355
That usen wilfulhed and tirannye,
†For he that king or lord is naturel,
†Him oghte nat be tiraunt ne cruel,
†As is a fermour, to doon the harm he can.
†He moste thinke hit is his lige man,
360
*And that him oweth, of verray duetee,
*Shewen his peple pleyn benignitee,
*And wel to here hir excusaciouns,
*And hir compleyntes and peticiouns,
*In duewe tyme, whan they shal hit profre.
(B. 381) 365
†This is the sentence of the philosophre:
†A king to kepe his liges in Iustyce;
†With-outen doute, that is his offyce.
*And therto is a king ful depe y-sworn,
*Ful many an hundred winter heer-biforn;
370
And for to kepe his lordes hir degree,
†As hit is right and skilful that they be
†Enhaunced and honoured, and most dere—
†For they ben half-goddes in this world here—
This shal he doon, bothe to pore [and] riche,
375
Al be that here stat be nat a-liche,
†And han of pore folk compassioun.
†For lo, the gentil kind of the lioun!
†For whan a flye offendeth him or byteth,
†He with his tayl awey the flye smyteth
380
†Al esily; for, of his genterye,
†Him deyneth nat to wreke him on a flye,
†As doth a curre or elles another beste.
†In noble corage oghte been areste,
†And weyen every thing by equitee,
385
†And ever han reward to his owen degree.
†For, sir, hit is no maystrie for a lord
To dampne a man with-oute answere or word;
†And, for a lord, that is ful foul to use.
†And if so be he may him nat excuse,
390
[But] axeth mercy with a sorweful herte,
†And profreth him, right in his bare sherte,
†To been right at your owne Iugement,
†Than oghte a god, by short avysement,
†Considre his owne honour and his trespas.
395
†For sith no cause of deeth lyth in this cas,
†Yow oghte been the lighter merciable;
†Leteth your yre, and beth somwhat tretable!
†The man hath served yow of his conning,
And forthered your lawe with his making.
400
*Whyl he was yong, he kepte your estat;
*I not wher he be now a renegat.
But wel I wot, with that he can endyte,
[He] hath maked lewed folk delyte
†To serve you, in preysing of your name.
405
†He made the book that hight the Hous of Fame,
†And eek the Deeth of Blaunche the Duchesse,
†And the Parlement of Foules, as I gesse,
†And al the love of Palamon and Arcyte
†Of Thebes, thogh the story is knowen lyte;
410
†And many an ympne for your halydayes,
†That highten Balades, Roundels, Virelayes;
And for to speke of other besinesse,
†He hath in prose translated Boëce;
*And of the [Wreched Engendring of Mankinde],
415
*As man may in pope Innocent y-finde;
(B. 426)
†And mad the Lyf also of seynt Cecyle;
†He made also, goon sithen a greet whyl,
†Origenes upon the Maudeleyne;
†Him oghte now to have the lesse peyne;
420
†He hath mad many a lay and many a thing.
†'Now as ye been a god, and eek a king,
†I, your Alceste, whylom quene of Trace,
†I axe yow this man, right of your grace,
†That ye him never hurte in al his lyve;
425
†And he shal sweren yow, and that as blyve,
†He shal no more agilten in this wyse;
†But he shal maken, as ye wil devyse,
†Of wemen trewe in lovinge al hir lyve,
†Wher-so ye wil, of maiden or of wyve,
430
†And forthren yow, as muche as he misseyde
†Or in the Rose or elles in Crisseyde.'
†The god of love answerde hir thus anoon,
†'Madame,' quod he, 'hit is so long agoon
†That I yow knew so charitable and trewe,
435
†That never yit, sith that the world was newe,
†To me ne fond I better noon than ye.
That, if that I wol save my degree,
†I may ne wol nat warne your requeste;
Al lyth in yow, doth with him what yow leste
440
†And al foryeve, with-outen lenger space;
†For who-so yeveth a yift, or doth a grace,
†Do hit by tyme, his thank is wel the more;
†And demeth ye what he shal do therfore.
†Go thanke now my lady heer,' quod he.
445
†I roos, and doun I sette me on my knee,
†And seyde thus: 'Madame, the god above
†Foryelde yow, that ye the god of love
†Han maked me his wrathe to foryive;
†And yeve me grace so long for to live,
450
†That I may knowe soothly what ye be
That han me holpen, and put in swich degree.
†But trewely I wende, as in this cas,
†Naught have agilt, ne doon to love trespas.
†Forwhy a trewe man, with-outen drede,
455
†Hath nat to parten with a theves dede;
†Ne a trewe lover oghte me nat blame,
†Thogh that I speke a fals lover som shame.
†They oghte rather with me for to holde,
†For that I of Creseyde wroot or tolde,
460
†Or of the Rose; what-so myn auctour mente,
†Algate, god wot, hit was myn entente
†To forthren trouthe in love and hit cheryce;
†And to be war fro falsnesse and fro vyce
†By swich ensample; this was my meninge.'
465
†And she answerde, 'lat be thyn arguinge;
†For Love ne wol nat countrepleted be
In right ne wrong; and lerne this at me!
†Thou hast thy grace, and hold thee right ther-to.
†Now wol I seyn what penance thou shalt do
470
†For thy trespas, and understond hit here:
†Thou shalt, whyl that thou livest, yeer by yere,
The moste party of thy lyve spende
†In making of a glorious Legende
†Of Gode Wemen, maidenes and wyves,
475
†That were trewe in lovinge al hir lyves;
†And telle of false men that hem bitrayen,
†That al hir lyf ne doon nat but assayen
†How many wemen they may doon a shame;
For in your world that is now holden game.
480
And thogh thee lesteth nat a lover be,
†Spek wel of love; this penance yeve I thee.
†And to the god of love I shal so preye,
†That he shal charge his servants, by any weye,
†To forthren thee, and wel thy labour quyte;
(B. 495) 485
Go now thy wey, thy penance is but lyte.'
†The god of love gan smyle, and than he seyde,
†'Wostow,' quod he, 'wher this be wyf or mayde,
†Or quene, or countesse, or of what degree,
†That hath so litel penance yeven thee,
490
†That hast deserved sorer for to smerte?
†But pitee renneth sone in gentil herte;
†That mayst thou seen, she kytheth what she is.'
†And I answerde, 'nay, sir, so have I blis,
†No more but that I see wel she is good.'
495
†'That is a trewe tale, by myn hood,'
†Quod Love, 'and that thou knowest wel, pardee,
†If hit be so that thou avyse thee.
†Hastow nat in a book, lyth in thy cheste,
†The grete goodnesse of the quene Alceste,
500
†That turned was into a dayesye:
†She that for hir husbonde chees to dye,
†And eek to goon to helle, rather than he,
†And Ercules rescued hir, pardee,
†And broghte hir out of helle agayn to blis?'
505
†And I answerde ageyn, and seyde, 'yis,
†Now knowe I hir! And is this good Alceste,
†The dayesye, and myn owne hertes reste?
†Now fele I wel the goodnesse of this wyf,
†That bothe after hir deeth, and in hir lyf,
510
†Hir grete bountee doubleth hir renoun!
†Wel hath she quit me myn affeccioun
†That I have to hir flour, the dayesye!
†No wonder is thogh Iove hir stellifye,
†As telleth Agaton, for hir goodnesse!
515
†Hir whyte coroun berth of hit witnesse;
†For also many vertues hadde she,
†As smale floures in hir coroun be.
†In remembraunce of hir and in honour,
†Cibella made the dayesy and the flour
520
†Y-coroned al with whyt, as men may see;
†And Mars yaf to hir coroun reed, pardee,
†In stede of rubies, set among the whyte.'
†Therwith this quene wex reed for shame a lyte,
†Whan she was preysed so in hir presence.
525
†Than seyde Love, 'a ful gret negligence
Was hit to thee, to write unstedfastnesse
*Of women, sith thou knowest hir goodnesse
*By preef, and eek by stories heer-biforn;
*Let be the chaf, and wryt wel of the corn.
530
*Why noldest thou han writen of Alceste,
*And leten Criseide been a-slepe and reste?
*[For of Alceste shulde thy wryting be],
(B. 542)
Sin that thou wost that kalender is she
Of goodnesse, for she taughte of fyn lovinge,
535
†And namely of wyfhood the livinge,
†And alle the boundes that she oghte kepe;
†Thy litel wit was thilke tyme a-slepe.
†But now I charge thee, upon thy lyf,
†That in thy Legend thou make of this wyf,
540
Whan thou hast othere smale mad before;
(B. 551)
†And fare now wel, I charge thee no more.
(B. 566)
†At Cleopatre I wol that thou beginne;
†And so forth; and my love so shalt thou winne.'
(B. 578)
And with that word of sleep I gan a-awake,
545
†And right thus on my Legend gan I make.
Explicit prohemium.
1. thousent sythis. 2. there; heuene. 3. it. 4. wit (over erasure); read wot. 5. ne is; dwellyth; cuntre. 6. heuene. 10. goddis; schulde. 13. say (better seigh). 14. neuere. 21. trowyn; aprouede storyis. 27. ouȝte; thanne; bokys. 28. There; othyr a-say (see l. 9); be (for by). 29. thow; myn. 30, 34. bokys. 33. onethe. 39. stodye; lastynge. 48. sen; flouris a-gen; sunne to sprede. 49. be (for by); schene. 50. walkynge. 51. sunne be-gynnys. 52. it; drawith it. 53. it; a-ferid. 54. it; dayis. 55. flouris. 57. frosch. 58. wyntyr; somyr. 59. preysyn; a-ryht. 60. myn. 62. makynge ropyn. 63. C. om. And; aftyr glenynge; ther. 64. er. 65. ony; laft. 66. reherse. 67. here frosche songis. 68. wele; euele a-payed. 69. Sithe. 70. eythir seruyn lef. 71. trustyth; vndyr-take. 72. lef a-gayn. 73. lef. 74. a-gen; shef. 75. lefere non; lothere. 76. witholde; nothire. 77. ho seruyth lef. 80. old. 81. -fore. 82. bokys; don. 83. schulde autoriteis. 84. There; there; othyr a-say; be. 86. nakede tixt; englis. 87. manye (twice); ellis. 88. autourys; leuyth. 89. monyth. 90. hadde; somerys. 91. medewe. 92. frosche dayseie. 93. souht (!). 94. clothede (error for closed). 95. derknese; nyht; sche dradde. 96. spadde. 97. lytyl. 98. I-benchede; turwis frorsche I-grawe (!). 99. schulde; myn. 100. somerys. 101. flouris. 102. hadde; hid (for hed). 103. with-Inne; our. 104. medewe. 105. romede. 106. sen. 107. medewe. 108. flouris sote embroudit. 110. non I-makede. 111. surmountede; odours. 112. om. eek; beute; flourys. 113. Forgetyn hadde. 114. wyntyr; nakede. 115. hadde greuyd. 116. hadde the tempre; releuyd. 117. clothede; a-geyn. 127. I supply layes. 128. I supply May. 129. worschepe; hire. 130. somerys. 131. sungyn blyssede; volentyn. 132. I supply For; ches. 133. repentynge. 134. here bekys gunne. 135. C. is here corrupt; it has—The honour and the humble obeysaunce. I try to give some sense; in any case we must read obeisaunces. 136. dedyn othere. 137, 138. C. is again corrupt and imperfect; I supply plesing and doth wel. C. has natures, cryaturys; but read nature. 139. herkenyn; dede; entent. 140. ment. 143. comyth; hise wyngis. 144. loke. 146. Clothid. 147. frette; goold; hyre her. 148. corone sche ber. 149. mane (!) flourys. 150. dayseye. 151. I-corounede; leuys. 152. flourys; corene (sic). 159. I-broudede; greuys. 160. hed; leuys. 161. Stekid; lylye flourys. 163. schon; bryhte. 164. glem a-stonede; syhte. 165. myhte; not. 167. Tho (error for Two); fery dartis; gleedys. 168. hyse wengis. 179. the thebonoyre (sic). 180. preye; euere. 186. nynetene. 192. Haddyn euere. 199. aftyr; wentyn. 201. songyn. 202. whiche; schal. 206. Penolope. 209. destene. 221. ȝoure. 224. I-songyn. [179. thebonoyre.] [185. Byhynde.] [186. ladyis nynetene.] [192. Haddyn.] [196. whiche; dayseye.] [197. styntyn; atonys.] [198. knelede; nonys.] 225. sote. 226. settyn. 227. ordere; cumpas; in-veroun. 228. thanne. 231. degre. 234. lenynge; vndyr. 238. ho (for who). 239. axsynge. 243. bettere. 244. come; syht. 247. Myne; ben. 248. myn. 249. mysseyst. 251. lettist. 252. seruyn; haldist. 254. tixt. 258. thyn; cole. 259. fole. 260. louyth paramouris. 262. folis; spryt (sic) faylyth. 263. wete; ealyth. 264. englys ek; bok. 265. forsok. 267. Bit (for But). 268. noldist; a (for have or han); goodnes. 269. wekedenes. 270. matyr; thyn. 271. thyne bokys ne coudist; (I omit ne). 273. lx. bokys. 274. thyn-self; storyis. 275. romaynys; ek grekis. 276. sundery; whiche; ledde. 277. euere; hunderede goode; on. 278. knowith; clerkis ek. 279. vsyn sweche materis; sek. 282. maydenys; wyuys. 283. stedefaste wedewys durynge all here lyuys. 284. Tellyth. 285. hunderede. 286. pete. 287. endure; here. 289. rathere; wole (error for wolde). 290. chose; ded; sundery. 291. deiedyn; wele (for wol). 293. dreynkt (!); thy (for they); woldyn. 294. kepid maydynhed. 295. ellis wedlek; here wedewehed. 299. were hethene. 302. trowe; schal. 303. trowe. 305. epistelle (see note). 306. wyuys. 307. estoryal. 308. te (for the); autourys. 309. Cristene; hethene. 310. nedyth; to endite. 311. seye; eylyth the. 312. storyis; forgete, with gete over erasure; read forgo. 313. Be (for By). 314. Al-thow; I supply that; reneyist (sic) hast myn. 315. folys. 316. so that (for that; I omit so). 317. Thanne; worthyere (!). 320. poyntys; mevid. 322. dede (for deitee; the scribe's error). 323. ek. 325. tothyr. 327. hereth manye; I-feynyd. 328. losenger. 329. totulour. 330. tabourryn; ȝoure; manye. 332. sum. 333. prere (!). 335. che; partyth; nygh (!). 337. mote; I supply nat. 338. ben acused. 339. There; be; oughte ben excusid. 340. sere. 342. vsyth bokis. 343. takyth; hed. 344. ek. 348. wrete manye; bok. 355. vsyn. 357. oughte. 358. don. 359. must. 360. owith; o (error for of); verry. 361. Schewyn; benygnete. 362. heryn here. 363. here compleyntys. 367. Which oughtyn (!). 369. manye; hunderede wyntyr here-. 370. lordys. 372. Enhaunsede; om. 2nd and. 373. goddys. 374. don; I supply and. 388. C. wol; for ful. 389. ascuse. 390. I supply But. 397, 399, 400. ȝoure. 401. where (= whether); renagat. 403. makid lewede folk to; I omit to. 412. othyr. 413. translatid. 414. wrechede engendrynge. 436. I neuere non betere; the. 437. wele; myn. 438. wel. 456. may (for oghte). 507. herte is reste. 518. Of (for In). 526. the; onstedefastnesse. 527. sithe thow knowist here. 528. pref; ek; storyis here. 530. noldist; writyn. 531. latyn; ben. 532. thyn wrytynge. 533. wist (badly); calandier. 544. slep. 545. myn legende.
The prologe of .ix. goode Wimmen.
A thousand tymes have I herd men telle,
†[That ther is Ioye in heven, and peyne in helle];
And I acorde wel that hit is so;
But natheles, yit wot I wel also,
5
That ther [nis noon] dwelling in this contree,
That either hath in heven or helle y-be,
†Ne may of hit non other weyes witen,
†But as he hath herd seyd, or founde hit writen;
†[For by assay ther may no man hit preve].
10
But god forbede but men shulde [leve]
†[Wel more thing] then men han seen with yë!
†[Men shal nat] wenen every-thing a lyë
[But-if] him-self hit seeth, or elles dooth;
[For, god wot, thing is never the lasse sooth],
15
†Thogh every wight ne may hit nat y-see.
†[Bernard the monk] ne saugh nat al, parde!
†Than mote we to bokes that we finde,
†Through which that olde thinges been in [minde].
†And to the doctrine of these olde wyse,
20
†Yeve credence, in every skilful wyse,
That tellen of these olde appreved stories,
†Of holinesse, of regnes, of victories,
†Of love, of hate, of other sundry thinges,
†Of whiche I may not maken rehersinges.
25
†[And if that olde bokes were a-weye],
†Y-loren were of [remembraunce] the keye.
[Wel oghte us] than honouren and beleve
These bokes, [ther] we han non other preve.
And as for me, thogh that I [can but lyte],
30
†On bokes [for to rede] I me delyte,
And to hem yeve I feyth and ful credence,
†And in myn herte have hem in reverence
So hertely, that ther is game noon
That fro my bokes maketh me to goon,
35
But hit be seldom, on the holyday;
Save, certeynly, whan that the [month of May]
Is comen, and that I here the foules singe,
†And that the floures ginnen for to springe,
Farwel my book and my devocioun!
40
Now have I than swich a [condicioun],
†[That], of alle the floures in the mede,
†Than love I most these floures whyte and rede,
†Swiche as men callen [daysies] in our toun.
†To hem have I so greet affeccioun,
45
†As I seyde erst, whan comen is the May,
†[That in my bed ther daweth me no day]
†That I nam up, and walking in the mede
To seen this flour agein the sonne sprede,
Whan hit upryseth erly [by the morwe];
50
*That blisful [sighte] softneth al my sorwe,
*So glad am I whan that I have presence
*Of [hit], to doon al maner reverence,
[As she, that is of alle floures flour],
Fulfilled of al vertu and honour,
55
†And ever y-lyke fair, and fresh of hewe;
[And I love hit, and ever y-lyke newe],
*And ever shal, til that myn [herte] dye;
*[Al] swere I nat, [of this] I wol nat lye,
*Ther loved no wight hotter in his lyve.
60
*And whan that hit is eve, I renne blyve,
As sone as ever the sonne ginneth [weste],
To seen this flour, how it wol go to reste,
For fere of night, so hateth she derknesse!
From B. 53-56.
As she, that is of alle floures flour,
Fulfilled of al vertu and honour,
†And ever y-lyke fair, and fresh of hewe;
And I love hit, and ever y-lyke newe.
*Hir chere is pleynly sprad in the brightnesse
65
*[Of the sonne, for ther hit wol unclose].
*Allas! that I [ne had] English, ryme or prose,
[Suffisant] this flour to preyse aright!
*But helpeth, ye that han [conning] and might,
*Ye lovers, that can [make] [of sentement];
70
*In this cas oghte ye be diligent
*To forthren me somwhat in my labour,
*Whether ye ben [with the leef or with the flour].
For wel I wot, that ye han her-biforn
†Of [making ropen], and lad awey the corn;
75
†And I come after, glening here and there,
†And am ful glad if I may finde an ere
Of any goodly word that ye han left.
And thogh it happen me rehercen eft
That ye han in your fresshe songes sayd,
80
For-bereth me, and beth nat [evel apayd],
Sin that ye see I do hit in the honour
Of love, and eek in service of the flour,
From B. 188-196.
But natheles, ne wene nat that I make
In preysing of the flour agayn the leef,
†No more than of the corn agayn the sheef.
For as to me, nis lever noon ne lother;
I nam with-holden yit with never nother.
Ne I not who serveth leef, ne who the flour;
Wel brouken they hir service or labour.
For this thing is al of another tonne,
Of olde story, er swich thing was begonne.
*Whom that I serve as I have wit or might.
*She is the clernesse and the verray light,
85
*That in this derke worlde me [wynt] and ledeth,
*The herte [in-with] my sorowful brest yow dredeth,
*And loveth so sore, that ye ben verrayly
*The maistresse of my wit, and [nothing I].
*My word, my werk, is knit so in your bonde,
90
*That, [as an harpe obeyeth to the honde]
*[And maketh] hit soune after his fingeringe,
*Right so mowe ye out of myn herte bringe
*Swich vois, right as [yow list], to laughe or pleyne.
*Be ye my gyde and lady sovereyne;
95
*As to myn erthly god, to yow I calle,
*Bothe in this werke and in my sorwes alle.
†[But wherfor that I spak, to give credence]
To olde stories, and doon hem reverence,
And that men mosten more thing beleve
100
Then men may [seen at eye] or elles preve?
*That shal I seyn, whan that I see my tyme;
*I may not al at ones speke in ryme.
*My [besy gost], that [thrusteth] alwey newe
*To seen this flour so yong, so fresh of hewe,
105
*Constreyned me with so [gledy] desyr,
*That in my herte I fele yit the fyr,
*That made me to ryse er hit wer day—
And this was now [the firste morwe of May]—
*With [dredful] herte and glad devocioun,
110
*For to ben at the resureccioun
*Of this flour, whan that it shuld unclose
*[Agayn] the sonne, that roos as rede as rose,
*That in the brest was of [the beste] that day,
*That [Agenores doghter] ladde away.
115
*And doun on knees anon-right I me sette,
*And, as I coude, this fresshe flour I grette;
*Kneling alwey, til hit unclosed was,
*Upon the smale [softe swote gras],
From B. 180, 182.
The longe day I shoop me for to abyde ...
But for to loke upon the dayesye.
From B. 197-200.
Whan that the sonne out of the south gan weste,
And that this flour gan close and goon to reste
For derknesse of the night, the which she dredde,
†Hoom to myn hous ful swiftly I me spedde;
From B. 203-211.
†And, in a litel herber that I have,
That benched was on turves fresshe y-grave,
†I bad men sholde me my couche make;
†For deyntee of the newe someres sake,
†I bad hem strawen floures on my bed.
†Whan I was leyd, and had my eyen hed,
I fel on slepe in-with an houre or two;
Me mette how I lay in the medew tho,
To seen this flour, that I so love and drede,
That was with floures swote enbrouded al,
120
*Of swich swetnesse and swich odour over-al,
That, for to speke of gomme, or herbe, or tree,
†Comparisoun may noon y-maked be;
For hit surmounteth pleynly alle odoures,
†And eek of riche beautee alle floures.
125
†[Forgeten had the erthe his pore estat]
†Of winter, that him naked made and [mat],
And with his swerd of cold so sore greved;
Now hath the [atempre] sonne al that [releved]
That naked was, and clad hit new agayn.
130
†[The smale foules], of the seson fayn,
†That from the [panter] and the net ben scaped,
†[Upon] the fouler, that hem made a-whaped
†In winter, and distroyed had hir brood,
†In his despyt, hem thoughte hit did hem good
135
†To singe of him, and in hir song despyse
†The foule cherl that, for his covetyse,
†Had hem betrayed with his sophistrye.
†This was hir song—'the fouler we defye,
And al his craft!' And somme songen clere
140
Layes of love, that Ioye hit was to here,
In worshipinge and preisinge of hir make.
And, for the newe blisful somers sake,
*Upon the braunches ful of blosmes softe,
*In hir delyt, they turned hem ful ofte,
145
And songen, '[blessed be seynt Valentyn]!
For on his day I [chees] yow to be myn,
†Withouten repenting, myn herte swete!'
†And therwith-al hir bekes gonnen mete,
Yelding honour and humble obeisaunces
150
To love, and diden hir other observaunces
That longeth unto love and to nature;
*Construeth that as yow list, I do no cure.
*And tho that hadde doon unkindenesse—
*As dooth the [tydif], for new-fangelnesse—
155
*Besoghte mercy of hir trespassinge,
*And humblely songen hir repentinge,
*And sworen on the blosmes to be trewe,
*[So that hir makes wolde upon hem rewe],
*And at the laste maden hir acord.
160
*Al founde they [Daunger] for a tyme a lord,
*Yet Pitee, through his stronge gentil might,
*Forgaf, and made Mercy passen Right,
*[Through innocence and ruled curtesye].
*But [I ne clepe nat innocence folye],
165
*Ne fals pitee, for 'vertu is the mene,'
*As [Etik] saith, in swich maner I mene.
*And thus thise foules, voide of al malyce,
*Acordeden to love, and laften vyce
*Of hate, and songen alle of oon acord,
170
*'[Welcome, somer], our governour and lord!'
*And [Zephirus and Flora] gentilly
*Yaf to the floures, softe and tenderly,
*Hir swote breth, and made hem for to sprede,
*As god and goddesse of the floury mede;
175
*In which me thoghte I mighte, day by day,
*Dwellen alwey, the Ioly month of May,
*Withouten sleep, withouten mete or drinke.
*A-doun ful softely I gan to sinke;
*And, leninge on myn elbowe and my syde,
180
The longe day I shoop me for to abyde
*For nothing elles, and I shal nat lye,
But for to loke upon the dayesye,
*That wel by reson men hit calle may
*[The 'dayesye' or elles the 'ye of day,']
185
*The emperice and flour of floures alle.
*[I pray to god that faire mot she falle],
*And alle that loven floures, for hir sake!
But natheles, ne wene nat that I make
In preysing of the flour agayn the leef,
190
*No more than of the corn agayn the sheef:
[For, as to me, nis lever noon ne lother];
I nam [with-holden] yit with never nother.
Ne I not who serveth leef, ne who the flour;
Wel brouken they hir service or labour;
195
For this [thing] is al of another tonne,
Of olde story, er [swich thing] was be-gonne.
Whan that the sonne out of the south gan weste,
And that this flour gan close and goon to reste
For derknesse of the night, the which she dredde,
200
†Hoom to myn hous ful swiftly I me spedde
*To goon to reste, and erly for to ryse,
To seen this flour to sprede, as I devyse.
†And, in a litel [herber] that I have,
That benched was on turves fresshe y-grave,
205
†I bad men sholde me my couche make;
†For deyntee of the newe someres sake,
†I bad hem strawen floures on my bed.
†Whan I was leyd, and had myn eyen [hed],
I fel on slepe in-with an houre or two;
210
Me mette how I lay in the medew tho,
To seen this flour that I so love and drede.
And from a-fer com walking in the mede
[The god of love], and [in his hande] a [quene];
And she was clad in real habit grene.
215
†A [fret] of gold she hadde next hir heer,
†And upon that a whyt coroun she beer
With florouns [smale], [and I shal nat lye];
For al the world, ryght as a dayesye
†Y-corouned is with whyte leves lyte,
220
So were the florouns of hir coroun whyte;
For of o perle fyne, [oriental],
†Hir whyte coroun was y-maked al;
†[For which] the whyte coroun, above the grene,
†Made hir lyk a daysie for to sene,
225
Considered eek hir fret of gold above.
†Y-clothed was this mighty god of love
[In silke], enbrouded ful of grene [greves],
In-with a [fret] of rede [rose-leves],
*The fresshest sin the world was first bigonne.
230
*His gilte heer was corouned with a sonne,
*In-stede of gold, for [hevinesse] and wighte;
Therwith me thoughte his face shoon so brighte
That wel unnethes mighte I him beholde;
And in his hande me thoughte I saugh him holde
235
†Two fyry dartes, as the gledes rede;
And aungellyke his winges saugh I sprede.
†And al be that men seyn that blind is he,
Al-gate me thoughte that he mighte see;
†For sternely on me he gan biholde,
240
†So that his loking doth myn herte colde.
†And by the hande he held this noble quene,
†[Corouned] with whyte, and clothed al in grene,
†So womanly, so benigne, and so meke,
†That in this world, thogh that men wolde seke,
245
†Half hir beautee shulde men nat finde
†In creature that formed is by kinde.
From B. 276-295.
That is so good, so fair, so debonaire;
I prey to god that ever falle hir faire!
†For, nadde comfort been of hir presence,
†I had ben deed, withouten any defence,
280
†For drede of Loves wordes and his chere;
†As, when tyme is, her-after ye shal here.
Behind this god of love, upon the grene,
†I saugh cominge of ladyës nyntene
†In real habit, a ful esy paas;
285
†And after hem com of women swich a traas,
That, sin that god Adam had mad of erthe
The thridde part of mankynd, or the ferthe,
†Ne wende I nat by possibilitee,
Had ever in this wyde worlde y-be;
290
†And trewe of love thise women were echoon.
†Now whether was that a wonder thing or noon,
†That, right anoon as that they gonne espye
†This flour, which that I clepe the dayesye,
†Ful sodeinly they stinten alle at ones,
295
And kneled doun, as it were for the nones,
247
*And therfor may I seyn, as thinketh me,
*This song, in preysing of this lady fre.
Balade.
†Hyd, [Absolon], thy gilte tresses clere;
250
†[Ester], ley thou thy meknesse al a-doun;
†Hyd, [Ionathas], al thy frendly manere;
†[Penalopee], and [Marcia Catoun],
†Mak of your wyfhod no comparisoun;
†Hyde ye your beautes, [Isoude] and [Eleyne],
255
[My lady cometh], that al this may [disteyne].
†Thy faire body, lat hit nat appere,
†[Lavyne]; and thou, [Lucresse] of Rome toun,
†And [Polixene], that boghten love so dere,
And [Cleopatre], with al thy passioun,
260
Hyde ye your trouthe of love and your renoun;
And thou, [Tisbe], that hast of love swich peyne;
My lady cometh, that al this may disteyne.
[Herro], [Dido], [Laudomia], alle y-fere,
And [Phyllis], hanging for thy Demophoun,
265
†And [Canace], espyed by thy [chere],
[Ysiphile], betraysed with Jasoun,
Maketh of your trouthe neyther boost ne soun;
Nor [Ypermistre] or [Adriane], ye tweyne;
My lady cometh, that al this may disteyne.
270
[This balade] may ful wel y-songen be,
*As I have seyd erst, [by] [my lady] free;
*For certeynly, alle these mow nat suffyse
*To apperen with my lady in no wyse.
*For as the sonne wol the fyr disteyne,
275
*So passeth al my lady sovereyne,
That is so good, so fair, so debonaire;
I prey to god that [ever falle hir faire]!
†For, [nadde] comfort been of hir presence,
†I had ben deed, withouten any defence,
280
†For drede of Loves wordes and his chere;
†As, when tyme is, her-after ye shal here.
Behind this god of love, upon the grene,
†I saugh cominge of ladyës nyntene
†In real habit, a ful esy paas;
285
†And after hem com of women swich a traas,
That, sin that god Adam had mad of erthe,
The thridde part of mankynd, or the ferthe,
†Ne wende I nat by possibilitee,
Had ever in this wyde worlde y-be;
290
†And trewe of love thise women were echoon.
†Now whether was that a wonder thing or noon,
†That, right anoon as that they gonne espye
†This flour, which that I clepe the dayesye,
†Ful sodeinly they stinten alle at ones,
295
And kneled doun, as it were [for the nones],
*And songen with o vois, 'Hele and honour
*To trouthe of womanhede, and to this flour
*[That berth our alder prys in figuringe]!
*Hir whyte coroun berth the witnessinge!'
300
And with that word, [a-compas enviroun],
†They setten hem ful softely adoun.
First sat the god of love, and sith his quene
†With the whyte coroun, clad in grene;
†And sithen al the remenant [by and by],
305
As they were of estaat, ful curteisly;
†Ne nat a word was spoken in the place
†The mountance of a [furlong-wey] of space.
I kneling by this flour, in good entente
†Abood, to knowen what this peple mente,
310
†As stille as any stoon; til at the laste,
This god of love on me his eyen caste,
And seyde, 'who kneleth ther'? and I answerde
Unto his asking, whan that I hit herde,
†And seyde, 'sir, [hit am I]'; and com [him neer],
315
†And salued him. Quod he, 'what dostow heer
So nigh myn owne flour, so boldely?
†For it were better worthy, trewely,
[A worm] to neghen neer my flour than thou.'
†'And why, sir,' quod I, 'and hit lyke yow?'
320
†'For thou,' quod he, 'art ther-to nothing able.
*Hit is my relik, digne and delytable,
And thou my fo, and al my folk werreyest,
†And of myn olde [servaunts] thou misseyest,
†And hindrest hem, with thy translacioun,
325
And lettest folk from hir devocioun
†To serve me, and holdest hit folye
To serve Love. Thou mayst hit nat denye;
For in pleyn text, with-outen nede of glose,
†Thou hast [translated] the Romaunce of the Rose,
330
†That is an heresye ageyns my lawe,
†And makest wyse folk fro me withdrawe.
And of [Criseyde] thou hast seyd as thee liste,
That maketh men to wommen lasse triste,
That ben as trewe as ever was any steel.
335
*Of thyn answere avyse thee right weel;
For, thogh that thou reneyed hast my lay,
As other wrecches han doon many a day,
[By seynt Venus], that my moder is,
If that thou live, thou shalt repenten this
340
So cruelly, that hit shal wel be sene!'
Tho spak this lady, clothed al in grene,
†And seyde, 'god, right of your curtesye,
†[Ye moten herknen if he can replye]
Agayns al this that ye han to him meved;
345
†A god ne sholde nat be thus agreved,
†But of his deitee he shal be stable,
And therto gracious and merciable.
*[And if ye nere a god, that knowen al],
*Than mighte hit be, as I yow tellen shal;
350
This man to you may falsly been accused,
†Ther as by right him oghte been excused.
†[For in your court is many a losengeour],
†And many a queynte [totelere] accusour,
That tabouren in your eres many a soun,
355
Right after hir imaginacioun,
To have your daliance, and for envye;
*[These been the causes, and I shall nat lye].
Envye is [lavender] of the court alway;
†For she ne [parteth], neither night ne day,
360
†Out of the hous of Cesar; thus seith Dante;
[Who-so that goth, algate she wol nat wante].
From B. 350, 351.
This man to yow may falsly been accused,
†Ther as by right him oghte been excused.
And eek, paraunter, for this man is nyce,
He mighte doon hit, gessing no malyce,
[But for he useth thinges for to make];
365
Him rekketh noght of what matere he take;
†[Or him was boden maken thilke tweye]
†Of som persone, and durste hit nat with-seye;
*Or him repenteth utterly of this.
†He ne hath nat doon so grevously amis
370
†To translaten that olde clerkes wryten,
†[As thogh that] he of malice wolde endyten
Despyt of love, [and had] him-self hit wroght.
†This shulde a rightwys lord have in his thoght,
†And nat be lyk [tiraunts of Lumbardye],
375
Than han no [reward but at] tirannye.
†For he that king or lord is naturel,
†Him oghte nat be tiraunt ne cruel,
†As is a [fermour], to doon the harm he can.
†He moste thinke hit is his lige man,
380
*And [is] his tresour, and his gold in cofre.
†This is the sentence of [the philosophre]:
†A king to kepe his liges in Iustyce;
†With-outen doute, that is his offyce.
[Al] wol he kepe his lordes hir degree,
385
†As hit is right and skilful that they be
†Enhaunced and honoured, and most dere—
†For they ben [half-goddes] in this world here—
Yit mot he doon bothe right, to pore and riche,
Al be that hir estat be nat y-liche,
390
†And han of pore folk compassioun.
†For lo, the gentil kynd of [the leoun]!
†For whan a flye offendeth him or byteth,
†He with his tayl awey the flye smyteth
†Al esily; for, of his genterye,
395
†Him deyneth nat to wreke him on a flye,
†As doth a curre or elles another beste.
†In noble corage oghte been [areste],
†And weyen every thing by equitee,
†And ever han [reward] to his owen degree.
400
†For, sir, hit is no [maystrie] for a lord
To dampne a man with-oute answere of word;
†And, for a lord, that is ful foul to use.
†And if so be he may him nat excuse,
But asketh mercy with a dredful herte,
405
†And profreth him, [right in his bare sherte],
†To been right at your owne Iugement,
†Than oghte a god, by short avysement,
†Considre his owne honour and his trespas.
†For sith no cause of deeth lyth in this cas,
410
†Yow oghte been the lighter merciable;
†Leteth your yre, and beth somwhat tretable!
†The man hath served yow of his conning,
And forthred wel your lawe in his making.
'Al be hit that he can nat wel endyte,
415
[Yet hath he] maked lewed folk delyte
†To serve you, in preysing of your name.
†[He made the book] that hight the Hous of Fame,
†And eek the Deeth of Blaunche the Duchesse,
†And the Parlement of Foules, as I gesse,
420
†And al the love of [Palamon and Arcyte]
†Of Thebes, [thogh the story is knowen lyte];
†And many an ympne for your halydayes,
†That highten [Balades, Roundels, Virelayes];
And, for to speke of other [holynesse],
425
†He hath in prose [translated Boëce],
†And mad the Lyf also of [seynt Cecyle];
†He made also, goon sithen a greet whyl,
†[Origenes upon the Maudeleyne];
†Him oghte now to have the lesse peyne;
430
†He hath mad many a lay and many a thing.
†'Now as ye been a god, and eek a king,
†I, your [Alceste], whylom quene of Trace,
†I aske yow this man, right of your grace,
†That ye him never hurte in al his lyve;
435
†And he shal sweren yow, and that as blyve,
†He shal no more agilten in this wyse;
†But he shal maken, as ye wil devyse,
†Of wommen trewe in lovinge al hir lyve,
†Wher-so ye wil, of maiden or of wyve,
440
†And forthren yow, as muche as he misseyde
†Or in the Rose or elles in Creseyde.'
†The god of love answerde hir thus anoon,
†'Madame,' quod he, 'hit is so long agoon
†That I yow knew so charitable and trewe,
445
†That never yit, sith that the world was newe,
†To me ne fond I better noon than ye.
If that I wolde save my degree,
†I may ne wol nat werne your requeste;
Al lyth in yow, doth with him as yow leste.
450
†I al foryeve, with-outen lenger space;
†For who-so yeveth a yift, or doth a grace,
†[Do hit by tyme, his thank is wel the more];
†And demeth ye what he shal do therfore.
†Go thanke now my lady heer,' quod he.
455
†I roos, and doun I sette me on my knee,
†And seyde thus: 'Madame, the god above
†Foryelde yow, that ye the god of love
†Han maked me his wrathe to foryive;
†And yeve me grace so long for to live,
460
†That I may knowe soothly what ye be
That han me holpe and put in this degree.
†But trewely I wende, as in this cas,
†Naught have agilt, ne doon to love trespas.
†Forwhy a trewe man, with-outen drede,
465
†[Hath nat to parten with a theves dede];
†[Ne a trewe] lover oghte me nat blame,
†Thogh that I speke a fals lover som shame.
†They oghte rather with me for to holde,
†For that I of Creseyde wroot or tolde,
470
†Or of the Rose; what-so myn auctour mente,
†Algate, god wot, hit was myn entente
†To forthren trouthe in love and hit cheryce;
†And to be war fro falsnesse and fro vyce
†By swich ensample; this was my meninge.'
475
†And she answerde, '[lat be thyn arguinge];
†For Love ne wol nat countrepleted be
In right ne wrong; and lerne that of me!
†Thou hast thy grace, and hold thee right ther-to.
†Now wol I seyn what penance thou shalt do
480
†For thy trespas, and understond hit here:
†Thou shalt, whyl that thou livest, yeer by yere,
The moste party of thy tyme spende
†In making of a glorious Legende
†Of Gode Wommen, maidenes and wyves,
485
†That weren trewe in lovinge al hir lyves;
†And telle of false men that hem bitrayen,
†That al hir lyf ne doon nat but assayen
†How many wommen they may doon a shame;
For in your world that is now holde a game.
490
And thogh thee lyke nat a lover be,
†Spek wel of love; this penance yive I thee.
†And to the god of love I shal so preye,
†That he shal charge his servants, by any weye,
†To forthren thee, and wel thy labour quyte;
495
Go now thy wey, this penance is but lyte.
*[And whan this book is maad, yive hit the quene]
*On my behalfe, at Eltham, or at Shene.'
†The god of love gan smyle, and than he seyde,
†'Wostow,' quod he, '[wher this be wyf or mayde],
500
†Or quene, or countesse, or of what degree,
†That hath so litel penance yiven thee,
†That hast deserved sorer for to smerte?
†[But pitee renneth sone in gentil herte];
†That maystow seen, she kytheth what she is.'
505
†And I answerde, 'nay, sir, so have I blis,
†No more but that I see wel she is good.'
†'That is a trewe tale, by myn hood,'
†Quod Love, 'and that thou knowest wel, pardee,
†If hit be so that thou avyse thee.
510
†[Hastow nat in a book, lyth in thy cheste],
†The grete goodnesse of the quene Alceste,
†That turned was into a dayesye:
†She that for hir husbonde chees to dye,
†And eek to goon to helle, rather than he,
515
†[And Ercules rescowed hir], pardee,
†And broghte hir out of helle agayn to blis?'
†And I answerde ageyn, and seyde, 'yis,
†Now knowe I hir! And is this good Alceste,
†The dayesye, and myn owne hertes reste?
520
†Now fele I wel the goodnesse of this wyf,
†That bothe after hir deeth, and in hir lyf,
†Hir grete [bountee] doubleth hir renoun!
†Wel hath she quit me myn affeccioun
†That I have to hir flour, the dayesye!
525
†No wonder is thogh Iove hir stellifye,
†As telleth [Agaton], for hir goodnesse!
†Hir whyte coroun berth of hit witnesse;
†For also many vertues hadde she,
†As smale floures in hir coroun be.
530
†In remembraunce of hir and in honour,
†[Cibella] made the dayesy and the flour
†Y-coroned al with whyt, as men may see;
†And Mars yaf to hir coroun [reed], pardee,
†In stede of rubies, set among the whyte.'
535
†Therwith this quene wex reed for shame a lyte,
†Whan she was preysed so in hir presence.
†Than seyde Love, 'a ful gret negligence
Was hit to thee, that ilke tyme thou made
*"Hyd, Absolon, thy tresses," [in balade],
540
*That thou forgete hir in thy song to sette,
*Sin that thou art so gretly in hir dette,
And wost so wel, that [kalender] is she
*To any woman that wol lover be.
For she taughte al the craft of fyn lovinge,
545
†And namely of wyfhood the livinge,
†And alle the boundes that she oghte kepe;
†Thy litel wit was thilke tyme a-slepe.
†But now I charge thee, upon thy lyf,
†That in [thy Legend thou make of this wyf],
550
Whan thou hast other smale y-maad before;
†And fare now wel, I charge thee no more.
*'But er I go, thus muche I wol thee telle,
*Ne shal no trewe lover come in helle.
*Thise other ladies sittinge here arowe
555
*Ben in [thy balade], if thou canst hem knowe,
*And in thy bokes alle thou shalt hem finde;
*Have hem now in thy Legend alle in minde,
*I mene of hem that been in thy knowinge.
*For heer ben twenty thousand mo sittinge
560
*Than thou knowest, that been good wommen alle
*And trewe of love, for aught that may befalle;
*Make the metres of hem as thee leste.
*I mot gon hoom, the sonne draweth weste,
*To Paradys, with al this companye;
565
*And serve alwey the fresshe dayesye.
†'At Cleopatre I wol that thou beginne;
†And so forth; and my love so shalt thou winne.
*For lat see now what man that lover be,
*Wol doon so strong a peyne for love as she.
570
*I wot wel that thou mayst nat al hit ryme,
*That swiche lovers diden in hir tyme;
*It were to long to reden and to here;
*Suffyceth me, thou make in this manere,
*That thou reherce of al hir lyf [the grete],
575
*[After thise olde auctours listen to trete].
*For who-so [shal so many a storie telle],
*Sey shortly, or he shal to longe dwelle.'
And with that word my bokes gan I take,
†And right thus on my Legend gan I make.
1. T. C. A. have I herd; rest I have herd. F. B. P. om. men; the rest have it. 2. F. B. (only) om. That. 5. F. T. is; rest nis. 6. F. Tn. Th. B. P. ins. 2nd in before helle; T. A. om. 8. F. seyde. 13. F. -selfe; dooth. 14. F. sooth. 16. F. monke; all. 18. F. ben. 20. C. Yeuyn (for Yeve). 23. F. sondry. 25. F. awey; C. Tn. A. aweye. 26. F. Y-lorne; C. I-loryn; P. I-lore. F. key; C. Tn. A. keye. 27. F. ought; thanne. 28. F. there; noon. 29. F. though. A. Th. P. can; T. con; F. Tn. konne. 31. F. yiue; rest yeue. 33. F. hertly; Tn. Th. B. hertely; T. hertyly; A. hertfully. 36. Tn. A. Th. month; B. P. moneth; F. monethe. 39. C. Th. Farwel; F. Faire wel. F. boke. 40. F. thanne. F. B. suche a; T. Th. eke thys; A. lo this; Tn. ek; P. eke a. 41. F. al. 42. F. Thanne; thise. 43. C. Swyche; F. Suche. F. her (for our); rest our. 44. F. grete. 45. C. whan; F. whanne. 47. F. vppe. 48. F. floure ayein. 49. F. vprysith. 50. All sight: read sighte. 52. A. all maner; Add. hit alle maner; Th. alle; F. Th. it al; Tn. B. it alle; P. it alle. 53. Tn. T. alle; F. al (wrongly). 54. F. vertue. 55. F. faire; fressh. 57. F. hert; Tn. herte. 61. F. evere. 64. F. Hire. 66. F. englyssh. 68. F. konnyng. 69. F. sentment; rest sentement. 70. F. case. All oght, ought (wrongly); read oghte. 72. F. Whethir; read Whe'r. 73. F. -biforne. 74. F. makynge; corne. 79. F. fresshe; A. fresche; Th. fresshe. F. sayede; Tn. said. 80. F. euele apayede; Tn. euylle a-paid. 82. F. eke; Tn. ek. 83. F. witte; Tn. wit. 84. F. clerenesse; Tn. clernesse. 85. F. ledyth. 86. All hert. F. sorwfull; dredith. 88. F. witte; Tn. wyt. F. not thing (over erasure); rest nothyng. 89. F. worde. F. werkes; Tn. werkes; T. werke; A. werk. F. youre. Tn. bonde; F. bond. 90. Tn. honde; F. hond. 92. F. oute. Th. B. herte; rest hert. 93. F. pleyn; Tn. pleyne. 94. F. souereyn; Tn. souereyne. 95. F. erthely; yowe. 96. A. B. in my; rest omit 2nd in. 97. F. wherfore. A. spak; F. spake. 100. Tn. Th. B. P. men; A. man; T. they; F. om. F. eighe. 101. Tn. whan; F. whanne. 102. F. (only) om. al. T. A. at ones; Tn. atones; F. attones. 103. F. trusteth (!); A. B. thrustith; Tn. Th. P. thursteth. 104. F. fressh. 105. F. Tn. A. B. P. gledy; T. glad; Th. gredy. 106. F. feele yet the fire. 108. F. om. this. 109. F. hert. 111. F. om. that. 112. F. Agayne. F. rede; better reed, as in Th. 114. F. doghtre. 115. F. dovne; knes anoon ryght. 116. F. koude. F. fresshe; A. fresche. 118. Tn. T. smale; F. smal. 120. F. suetnesse. 124. A. eke rest omit. F. beaute. F. (only) of (for alle). 125. F. estate; C. Tn. estat. 126. F. wynter. F. B. hem; rest him. C. mat; Tn. maat; rest mate. 127. F. colde. 128. Th. the atempre; Tn. A. B. the attempre; F. thatempre; P. the a-tempred. F. alle. 131. C. T. A. from; rest of. F. nette; C. Tn. net. 132. Tn. T. A. fouler; F. foweler. 133. F. hadde; broode. 134. F. dispite; C. dispit. F. goode; C. good. 135. C. song; F. songe. C. Tn. despise; F. dispise. 136. F. cherle. 138. F. hire. Tn. T. A. fouler; C. foulere; F. foweler. 139. F. crafte; T. A. craft. 141. F. Tn. B. in preysinge; rest om. in. 144. F. hire. 146. C. ches; T. chase; P. chose; F. chees (rightly); rest chese. 147. C. herte; F. hert. 148. F. -alle hire. 150. F. hire othere. 151. F. Tn. on to; T. A. Th. B. vnto. 153. F. thoo. Tn. vnkyndenesse; F. vnkyndnesse. 154. F. dooth. 156. F. Tn. B. humblely (trisyllabic); T. Th. humbly. A. P. songen; T. sangen; rest songe. 158. F. hire. 159. F. hire (and elsewhere). 161. F. thurgh. 162. Tn. T. Th. B. P. made; F. mad. 163. F. Thurgh. 164. F. Tn. Th. P. clepe it nat; but T. A. om. it. T. also om. nat; and A. has that for nat. 165. F. vertue. 166. Tn. A. Etic; B. Etyk; F. etike; T. Ethik. 167. Tn. foules; F. foweles. 169. A. songen; T. songyn; F. Tn. B. songe. F. Tn. acorde; T. acord; A. accord. 170. F. oure. F. Tn. lorde; T. A. lord. 171. Tn. zephirus; F. Zepherus. 173. F. Hire swoote. 175. F. whiche; thoght; myght. 176. F. Duellen. Tn. A. month; T. moneth; F. monyth. 177. Tn. sleep; F. slepe. 178. F. A-dovne. 180. F. shoope. Tn. to a-bide; F. tabide. 181. F. ellis. 182. Tn. dayesye; F. daysie. 183. F. B. (only) transpose wel and men. 184. Tn. dayesie; F. daisie. 185. F. floure; A. flour. 186. T. mot; P. may; rest mote. 190. F. corne; Tn. corn. 192. F. mother (!); rest nother. 194. F. browken; her. 196. T. story; F. storye; Tn. storie. F. swiche thinge. 197. All west; read weste (as in MS. Add. 9832). 198. F. floure. All rest; read reste (as in MS. Add. 9832 and in l. 201). 199. Th. dredde (rightly); rest dred. 200. Tn. hom; F. Home. Th. spedde (rightly); rest sped. 202. F. B. (only) omit to. 208. F. leyde; A. laid. 209. F. twoo. 210. Tn. medew; F. medewe; T. A. medow. 211, 212. F. (only) transposes these lines. 211. T. A. Add. so love; rest love so. 212. Tn. com; Th. cam; rest come. 214. Tn. habit; F. habite. 215. C. hadde; rest had (badly). 216. C. whit; P. whyt; F. Tn. B. white. T. coroun; C. corone; F. corwne; Tn. Th. crowne (but corowne in ll. 220, 223). 217 (and 220). Th. florouns; Tn. floruns; F. flourouns; B. flowrouns; rest floures. 218. C. world; F. worlde. Tn. dayesie; F. daysye. 220. P. corown; F. corovne; T. coroune; Tn. Th. B. corowne; A. croun. 222. F. Hire. F. corovne; C. coroun (and in l. 223). 224. F. hire lyke. 225. F. eke; golde. 229. F. worlde; Tn. world. 230. F. Tn. gilte; T. A. gilt. Tn. heer; F. here; A. hair. 231. F. I stede; rest In stede. F. golde; Tn. gold. 232. F. thoght. In 231, 232, most MSS. have wight, bright; but C. has bryhte, riming with syhte. 233. F. myght. 234. F. thoght. 235. F. Twoo. 238. F. thoght; myght. 240. F. dooth; C. both (!). C. herte; F. hert. 241. F. helde; C. held. C. the (for this). 242. F. Corowned. 244. F. om. wolde seke. 245. F. imperfect; has only nat fynde. C. Half hire beute schulde men; A. (only) inserts of after Half. [282. C. this; for the.] [286. C. om. had.] [287. C. thredde. C. Wemen ne; for mankynd or.] 247. F. therfore. 248. F. songe. 249. F. Tn. omit. C. Hyd absalon thynne gilte tressis clere. T. A. Th. absolon thy. 250. C. meknesse; F. mekenesse. C. adoun; F. adowne. 252. C. T. P. Penolope. 253. C. Mak; rest Make. F. youre; Tn. your. C. wyfhod; F. wifhode. 254. F. youre. 255. F. comith (and in l. 262). 257. F. tovne; C. toun. 261. F. Tesbe; C. Tysbe; Tn. A. Th. Tisbe; T. Tisbee. F. Tn. Th. B. P. of; C. T. A. for. C. swich; F. suche. 263. Th. Hero; MSS. Herro. C. Th. Laodomya; rest laudomia. 266. C. T. Th. bytrayed. 267. C. soun; F. sovne. 271. F. seyde; Tn. seid. 272. Tn. mow; F. Th. mowe; T. A. may. 274. F. wole; fire. 276. F. faire; Tn. fair. 279. F. Tn. hadde; T. A. had. F. dede; Tn. deed. 282. F. Behynde; A. Behynd. 283. F. comyng; Tn. comynge. F. Nientene; Tn. nyentene; T. A. nyntene. 284. F. habite. 285. F. coome. F. wymen; T. wemen; Th. B. P. women; A. wommen. 286. F. hadde made. 290. F. echon. 291. F. wheither (pronounced whe'r). F. non. 293. F. daysie; Tn. dayesie. 294. F. styten (miswritten for stynten). T. at ones; F. attones. 295. F. knelede dovne. 296. T. A. hele; Tn. heele; F. heel. 297. F. The (for To); rest To. 298. F. bereth. 299. F. Hire; corowne. F. beryth; Tn. berth. 301. F. softly; Tn. softely. 303. F. corowne; C. corone. 304. F. remenannt; C. remenant. 306. F. worde. 308. F. floure. 309. F. Aboode; Tn. Abood. 310. F. ston. F. last; C. laste. 311. F. hyse eighen. 312. F. there. 314. F. B. (only) om. sir. C. cam; F. come. C. ner; F. nere (see l. 318). 315. A. salued; F. salwed; C. salewede. C. her; F. here. 316. F. ovne floure. 317. C. A. For; rest om. 318. F. worme; Tn. worm; C. werm. Tn. neer; F. ner. 319. F. sire. 321. Tn. relik; F. relyke. 322. F. foo; folke. 323. F. servauntes; Tn. seruauntz. 324. Tn. hindrest; F. hynderest. 325. F. folke. 326, 327. F. om. from me to serve. 328. F. pleyne. 329. F. Tn. B. om. translated (!); perhaps read translat; but see l. 425. 330. F. ayeins. 331. F. folke. 332. F. Creseyde; A. Criseide. F. seyde; the. 335. F. the. 336. T. A. that; rest om. 340. Tn. wel; F. wele. 341. F. Thoo spake. 342. F. youre. 343. A. herknen; C. herkenyn; rest herken. 348. F. alle. 349. F. Thanne myght; shalle. 350. F. mane (!). 351. C. There; rest That. F. oughte ben. 352. F. youre courte. 353. C. Tn. queynte; F. queynt. 354. F. youre; swon (!), for sown. 356. F. youre. 357. F. Thise. 358. F. B. lauendere. 360. C. hous; F. house. 362. F. eke parauntere. 363. F. myght. 364. F. B. (only) om. But. 367. Tn. som; F. somme. 368. T. vttyrly; A. vtirly; F. Tn. outrely. 371. F. Tn. B. P. And; rest As. 372. F. Despite. 373. F. shoolde. 374. F. lyke tirauntez. 376. F. kynge. F. lord ys in; rest om. in. 377. F. oght; C. oughte. F. crewel; B. cruel. 378. F. harme. 379. F. leege; C. Tn. lige; Th. T. A. B. liege. 382. F. leeges; Tn. liges; C. lygis. 384. F. hise. Th. P. in her; rest om. in. 387. F. -goddys. 388. F. mote; T. A. Add. om. bothe; poore. 389. F. hire estaat. 390. F. poore. 391. F. loo; kynde. T. A. leoun; F. lyoun. 392. F. offendith. 393. F. tayle. F. fle; C. Tn. A. B. P. flye. 394. F. esely; A. esily. C. A. genterye; F. gentrye. 396. F. dooth; best. 397. C. oghte; F. ought. F. ben arest. 399. F. Tn. Th. B. vnto; rest to. 401. C. P. or; rest of. 402. C. wol; T. ryght; rest ful. F. foule. 403. C. T. A. if; rest it. 404. C. om. But. 405. F. profereth; P. profreth. 406. F. owen; C. Tn. owene; T. oune. 407. F. oght. 409. F. dethe lyeth; caas. 410. All but T. wrongly insert to before been. 412. F. kunnyng. 413. F. furthred; Tn. forthred. F. youre. 415. C. makid; rest made (line too short). 425. F. proce; rest prose. 426. F. maade; lyfe. 427. A. sithen; rest is. F. grete. 429. F. oughte. 430. F. maade; thinge. 431. F. be; C. A. ben. 435. A. sueren; rest swere to (less happily). C. T. A. as; which the rest omit. 436. C. T. A. no; rest neuer. 437. C. T. A. he; rest om. F. wol. 438. F. lyfe (but see l. 434). 439. F. wol; wyfe. 442. C. F. answerede; Th. answerde (better). F. (only) om. thus. 444. C. knew; F. knewe. 445. C. sith; F. syn. F. worlde. 446. C. T. A. fond; F. founde. 447. F. ye; rest I. F. wolde; P. Add. wolde; rest wol, wole, wolle. 449. C. Th. lyth; Tn. lith; F. lyeth. F. liste. 451. F. yifte; dooth. 454. P. her; rest here. 455. F. dovne. 457. C. Tn. T. A. Add. ye; rest om. 459. F. Tn. Th. B. P. all om. yeve me (wrongly); C. T. A. retain it. 461. C. holpyn; Th. holpen; rest holpe. C. F. Tn. needlessly insert me after put. C. swich (for this). 462. C. trewely; F. trewly. 466. F. oght. All wrongly omit final e in oght; and all but C. wrongly insert to before blame. 467. F. spake; Tn. spede; rest speke. 473. F. ben; C. be. 477. C. this at (for that of). 478. F. holde; all the. 480. C. A. and; rest om. T. to put the out of were (for and—here). 481. F. while; yere by yere. 482. F. most partye. C. lyf (for tyme). 484. C. goode; F. good. F. wymmen; Tn. A. wommen; C. T. wemen. 485. F. trew. C. leuynge (error for lonynge). 486. C. false; F. fals. 487. From C.; F. Tn. omit this line. 488. F. women; Tn. wommen. C. Tn. A. B. P. they; F. that. 489. F. youre worlde. 490. F. the; lovere bee. 491. C. Spek; F. Speke. 493. F. servantez; Tn. seruauntz. 495. F. Goo. C. thyn (for this). 496. F. maade. 497. F. Sheene; Tn. T. Th. Shene. 502, 503. F. omits from sorer to renneth. C. sorere; T. A. sorer; rest sore. C. Tn. Th. smerte. C. pete rennyth; Tn. A. pitee renneth. F. soone. 505. C. answerde; F. answered. C. sere; F. sire; Tn. sir. 506. F. Tn. B. Na; rest No. F. moore. 508. C. T. A. that; rest om. 511. C. Tn. grete; F. gret. 512. C. Tn. dayesye; F. daysye. 514. F. eke. 516. F. agayne. 518. F. hire. 519. C. dayes eye; F. daysie. F. owene. 520. F. weel. 521. C. bothe; F. both. F. aftir hir deth. C. ek (for in). 524. C. dayesye; F. daysye. 526. F. hire goodenesse. 527, 529. C. coroun; F. corowne. 527. F. berith. 528. C. hath (badly). 529. F. Th. florouns; rest floures. 530. F. honoure. 531. In margin of F.—Cibella mater deorum. F. maade; daysye; floure. 532. C. I-coroned; F. Y-crowned. F. white. 533. C. corone; F. corowne. F. reede. 534. C. set; F. sette. 537. F. Thanne. C. gret; F. grete. F. necligence. 538. F. ys (wrongly); rest hit, it. 540. Th. forgete; F. Tn. forgate; T. A. forgat. F. songe. 542. T. A. Add. so; rest om. F. shee. 543. F. bee. 544. C. taughte; F. taught. F. crafte; Tn. T. A. craft. 545. F. wyfhode; lyvyng. 546. F. al; oght. 547. F. witte. 548. F. the. C. lyf; F. lyfe. 549. F. legende. C. wif; F. wyfe. 550. F. y-maade. 551. C. no more; F. namore. 552. F. goo; the. 555. F. Th. my; rest thy. 556. F. bookes. 557. F. misplaces now after legende; Tn. Th. place now after hem. 558. F. ben; knowyng. 559. F. here; thousande moo sittyng. 560. F. Thanne. A. that ben; T. Add. and; rest om. 561. Tn. aught; F. oght. 562. F. lest; Tn. leste. 563. F. home. F. west; Tn. weste. 564. F. thise; rest this. 565. F. fressh; Th. fresshe; A. fresche. 566. F. wole. 567. F. forthe. C. Tn. shalt; F. shal. 569. F. stronge. 571. F. Tn. A. swich; T. Th. P. suche. F. Tn. dide; T. dedyn; P. deden; Add. diden. 573. B. Suffyceth; F. Suffich (!). 574. A. lyf; F. lyfe. 575. A. listen trete; Tn. the lasse to trete (!); Add. the lesse to trete (!); rest listen for to trete (badly; omit for). 576. F. storye. 578. A. word; F. worde. 579. F. legende.
I. THE LEGEND OF CLEOPATRA.
Incipit Legenda Cleopatrie, Martiris, Egipti regine.
580
After the deeth of [Tholomee] the king,
That al Egipte hadde in his governing,
Regned his quene Cleopataras;
Til [on a tyme] befel ther swiche a cas,
That out of Rome was sent a senatour,
585
For to conqueren regnes and honour
Unto the toun of Rome, as was usaunce,
To have the world unto her obeisaunce;
And, sooth to seye, Antonius was his name.
(10)
So fil hit, as Fortune him oghte a shame
590
Whan he was fallen in prosperitee,
[Rebel unto the toun of Rome is he].
And over al this, [the suster of Cesar],
He lafte hir falsly, er that she was war,
And wolde algates han another wyf;
595
For whiche he took with Rome and Cesar stryf.
Natheles, for-sooth, this ilke senatour
[Was a ful worthy gentil werreyour],
And of his deeth hit was ful greet damage.
(20)
But love had broght this man in swiche a rage,
600
And him so narwe bounden in his las,
Al for the love of Cleopataras,
That al the world he sette at no value.
Him thoughte, nas to him no thing so due
As Cleopatras for to love and serve;
605
Him roghte nat in armes for to [sterve]
In the defence of hir, and of hir right.
This noble quene eek lovede so this knight,
Through his desert, and for his chivalrye;
(30)
As certeinly, but-if that bokes lye,
610
He was, of persone and of gentilesse,
And of discrecioun and hardinesse,
Worthy to any wight that liven may.
And she was fair as is the rose in May.
And, for to maken shortly is the beste,
615
She wex his wyf, and hadde him as hir leste.
The wedding and the feste to devyse,
To me, that have y-take swiche empryse
Of so many a storie for to make,
(40)
Hit were to long, lest that I sholde slake
620
Of thing that bereth more effect and charge;
For men may overlade a ship or barge;
And forthy to theffect than wol I skippe,
And al the remenant, I wol lete hit slippe.
[Octovian], that wood was of this dede,
625
Shoop him an ost on Antony to lede
Al-outerly for his destruccioun,
With stoute Romains, cruel as leoun;
To ship they wente, and thus I let hem saile.
(50)
Antonius was war, and wol nat faile
630
To meten with thise Romains, if he may;
Took eek his reed, and bothe, upon a day,
His wyf and he, and al his ost, forth wente
To shippe anoon, no lenger they ne stente;
[And in the see hit happed hem to mete]—
635
Up goth the trompe—and for to shoute and shete,
And peynen hem to sette on with the sonne.
[With grisly soun out goth the grete gonne],
And heterly they [hurtlen] al at ones,
(60)
And fro the top doun cometh the grete stones.
640
[In goth] the grapenel so ful of crokes
Among the ropes, and the shering-hokes.
[In with the polax presseth he and he];
Behind the mast beginneth he to flee,
And out agayn, and dryveth him over-borde;
645
He stingeth him upon his speres orde;
He [rent] the sail with hokes lyke a sythe;
He bringeth the cuppe, and biddeth hem be blythe;
[He poureth pesen upon the hacches slider];
(70)
[With pottes ful of lym] they goon to-gider;
650
And thus the longe day in fight they spende
Til, at the laste, as every thing hath ende,
Antony is shent, and [put] him to the flighte,
And al his folk [to-go], [that best go mighte].
Fleeth eek the queen, with al her purpre sail,
655
For strokes, [which that wente as thikke as hail];
No wonder was, she mighte hit nat endure.
And whan that Antony saw that aventure,
'Allas!' quod he, 'the day that I was born!
(80)
My worshipe in this day thus have I lorn!'
660
And for dispeyr out of his witte he sterte,
And roof him-self anoon through-out the herte
[Er that he ferther wente out of the place].
His wyf, that coude of Cesar have no grace,
To Egipte is fled, for drede and for distresse;
665
But herkneth, ye that speke of kindenesse.
Ye men, that falsly sweren many an ooth
That ye wol dye, if that your love be wrooth,
Heer may ye seen of women whiche a trouthe!
(90)
This woful Cleopatre hath mad swich routhe
670
That ther nis tonge noon that may hit telle.
But on the morwe she wol no lenger dwelle,
But made hir subtil werkmen make a [shryne]
Of alle the rubies and the stones fyne
In al Egipte that she coude espye;
675
And putte ful the shryne of spycerye,
And leet the cors embaume; and forth she fette
This [dede cors], and in the shryne hit shette.
[And next the shryne a pit than doth she grave];
(100)
And [alle the serpents] that she mighte have,
680
She putte hem in that grave, and thus she seyde:
'[Now love, to whom my sorweful herte obeyde]
So ferforthly that, fro that blisful houre
That I yow swor to been al frely youre,
I mene yow, Antonius my knight!
685
That never waking, in the day or night,
Ye nere out of myn hertes remembraunce
For wele or wo, for carole or for daunce;
And in my-self this covenant made I tho,
(110)
That, right swich as ye felten, wele or wo,
690
As ferforth as hit in my power lay,
[Unreprovable] unto my wyfhood ay,
The same wolde I felen, lyf or deeth.
And thilke covenant, whyl me lasteth breeth,
I wol fulfille, and that shal wel be [sene];
695
Was never unto hir love a trewer quene.'
And with that word, [naked], with ful good herte,
Among the serpents in the pit she sterte,
And ther she chees to han hir buryinge.
(120)
Anoon the neddres gonne hir for to stinge,
700
And she hir deeth receyveth, with good chere,
For love of Antony, that was hir so dere:—
And this is [storial sooth], hit is no fable.
Now, er I finde a man thus trewe and stable,
And wol for love his deeth so freely take,
705
I pray god lat our hedes never ake!
Explicit Legenda Cleopatrie, martiris.
N.B.—Readings not marked with any letter are from F. (Fairfax MS.)
580. deth. 582. queene. 583. swich. 586. tovne. 587. worlde. C. vn-to; T. vnder; rest at. 589. oght. 591. tovne. 594. wold. 595. which. 597. fulle. 598. F. (only) this; rest his. gret. 599. swich. 600. laas. 601. F. Alle; C. Tn. Al. 602. worlde; noo. 603. C. there nas to hym no thyng so dewe; rest there was no thing to him so due (all too long). 604. F. Tn. B. Cleopataras; rest Cleopatras. 607. ek. C. lovede; F. loved. 608. Thurgh; decert. 609. bookes. 611. All but T. A. Add. insert of after and; I omit it. 612. C. lyuyn; F. leven. 613. faire. 614. F. (only) om. for. 615. MSS. wax, wox; read wex. 616. C. Tn. feste; F. fest. 617. swich. 619. T. A. P. Add. long; rest longe. C. T. A. lest; F. lyst. 621. shippe. 622. A. Add. theffect; C. thefeect (sic); F. effect. 623. remenaunt. 624. woode. 625. oost. 627. Romaynes crewel. T. leoun; F. lyoun. 628. shippe. 630. Romaynes. 631. eke; rede; booth. 632. oost forthe went (C. wentyn). 633. stent; C. stente. 635. gooth. 637. sovne; gooth. 638. C. Tn. heterly; A. hatirly; F. hertely. hurtelen; attones. 639. dovne. 640. gooth. 641. C. Among; F. Amonge. 642. preseth. 643. By-hynde; maste begyneth. 646. sayle. 647. F. A. Add. him; rest hem. 648. slidre. 649. to-gedre. 651. C. Tn. laste; F. last. 652. flyght. 653. folke to-goo; goo myght. 654. ek; queene; sayle. 655. went; thik; hayle. 656. myght. 657. C. saw; F. saugh. 658. borne. 659. worshippe; lorne. 660. dispeyre. 661. thurgh-. 662. went. 665. herkeneth. T. speke; rest speken. 666. C. Tn. oth; F. oothe. 667. C. Tn. wroth; F. wroothe. 668. which. 669. C. Tn. Cleopatre; F. Cleopatrie. made. 671. C. morwe; F. morowe. 672. werknen (!). 673. Tn. rubies; F. rubees. 675. C. Tn. putte; F. put. 676. Tn. leet; C. F. let. C. cors; F. corps (and in l. 677). 678. C. pet; Tn. pyt; F. pitte. dooth. 679. C. alle; F. al. C. myghte; F. myght. 680. C. Tn. putte; F. put. sayde. 682. ferforthely. 683. ben. 687. woo. 688. couenaunt; thoo. 689. T. A. Th. wele; C. F. Tn. wel. 690. C. power; F. powere. 692. life; deethe. 693. couenaunt while. 694. seene. 696. C. word; F. worde. 700. C. receyuyth; F. receveth. 704. F. (only) wolde. 705. oure; neuere. F. take (!); rest ake.
II. THE LEGEND OF THISBE OF BABYLON.
Incipit Legenda Tesbe Babilonie, Martiris.
At Babiloine whylom fil it thus,
The whiche toun the queen Semiramus
Leet dichen al about, and walles make
Ful hye, of harde tyles wel y-bake.
710
Ther weren dwellinge in this noble toun
Two lordes, which that were of greet renoun,
And woneden so nigh, upon a grene,
That ther nas but a stoon-wal hem bitwene,
As ofte in grete tounes is the wone.
715
And sooth to seyn, that o man hadde a sone,
(11)
Of al that londe oon of the lustieste.
That other hadde a doghter, the faireste,
That [estward] in the world was tho dwellinge.
The name of everich gan to other springe
720
By wommen, that were neighebores aboute.
For in that contree yit, withouten doute,
[Maidens] been y-kept, for Ielosye,
Ful streite, lest they diden som folye.
This yonge man was cleped Piramus,
725
And Tisbe hight the maid, [Naso] seith thus;
(21)
And thus by [report] was hir name [y-shove]
That, [as they wexe in age, wex hir love];
And certein, as by reson of hir age,
Ther mighte have been bitwix hem mariage,
730
[But that hir fadres nolde hit nat assente];
And bothe in love y-lyke sore they brente,
That noon of alle hir frendes mighte hit lette
But prively somtyme yit they mette
By sleighte, and speken som of hir desyr;
735
[As, wry the gleed, and hotter is the fyr];
(31)
Forbede a love, and it is ten so wood.
This wal, which that bitwix hem bothe stood,
Was cloven a-two, right fro the toppe adoun,
Of olde tyme of his fundacioun;
740
But yit this clifte was so narwe and lyte,
It as nat [sene], [dere y-nogh a myte].
[But what is that, that love can nat espye]?
Ye lovers two, if that I shal nat lye,
Ye founden first this litel narwe clifte;
745
[And, with a soun as softe as any shrifte],
(41)
They lete hir wordes through the clifte pace,
And tolden, whyl that they stode in the place,
Al hir compleynt of love, and al hir wo,
At every tyme whan they dorste so.
750
Upon that o syde of the wal stood he,
And on that other syde stood Tisbe,
The swote soun of other to receyve,
And thus hir wardeins wolde they deceyve.
And every day this wal they wolde threte,
755
And wisshe to god, that it were doun y-bete.
(51)
[Thus wolde they seyn—'allas! thou wikked wal],
Through thyn envye thou us lettest al!
Why nilt thou cleve, or fallen al a-two?
Or, at the leste, but thou woldest so,
760
Yit woldestow but ones lete us mete,
Or ones that we mighte kissen swete,
Than were we covered of our cares colde.
But natheles, yit be we to thee [holde]
In as muche as thou suffrest for to goon
765
Our wordes through thy lyme and eek thy stoon.
(61)
Yit oghte we with thee ben wel apayd.'
And whan thise ydel wordes weren sayd,
The colde wal they wolden kisse of stoon,
And take hir leve, and forth they wolden goon.
770
And this was gladly in the even-tyde
Or wonder erly, lest men hit espyde;
And longe tyme they wroghte in this manere
Til on a day, whan [Phebus] gan to clere,
[Aurora] with the stremes of hir hete
775
Had dryed up the dew of herbes wete;
(71)
Unto this clifte, as it was wont to be,
Com Pyramus, and after com Tisbe,
And plighten trouthe fully in hir fey
That ilke same night to stele awey,
780
And to begyle hir wardeins everichoon,
And forth out of the citee for to goon;
[And, for] the feldes been so brode and wyde,
[For] to mete in o place at o tyde,
They sette mark hir meting sholde be
785
[Ther king Ninus was graven, under a tree];
(81)
For olde payens that ydoles [heried]
Useden tho in feldes to ben beried
And faste by this grave was a welle.
And, shortly of this tale for to telle,
790
This covenant was affermed wonder faste;
And longe hem thoughte that the sonne laste,
That hit nere goon under the see adoun.
This Tisbe hath so greet affeccioun
And so greet lyking Piramus to see,
795
That, whan she seigh her tyme mighte be,
(91)
At night she stal awey ful prively
With her face [y-wimpled] subtilly;
[For alle her frendes—for to save her trouthe—]
She hath for-sake; allas! and that is routhe
800
That ever woman wolde be so trewe
To trusten man, but she the bet him knewe!
And to the tree she goth a ful good pas,
For [love made her so hardy] in this cas;
And by the welle adoun [she gan her dresse].
805
Allas! than comth a wilde leonesse
(101)
Out of the wode, withouten more areste,
With blody mouthe, of strangling of a beste,
To drinken of the welle, ther as she sat;
And, whan that Tisbe had espyed that,
810
She [rist] her up, with a ful drery herte,
And in a cave [with dredful foot] she sterte,
For by the mone she seigh hit wel with-alle.
[And, as she ran, her wimpel leet she falle],
[And took noon heed, so sore she was a-whaped].
815
And eek so glad of that she was escaped;
(111)
And thus she [sit], and [darketh] wonder stille.
Whan that this leonesse hath dronke her fille,
Aboute the welle gan she for to winde,
And right anoon the wimpel gan she finde,
820
And with her blody mouth hit al to-rente.
Whan this was doon, no lenger she ne stente,
But to the wode her wey than hath she nome.
[And, at the laste, this Piramus is come],
But al to longe, allas! at hoom was he.
825
The mone shoon, men mighte wel y-see,
(121)
And in his weye, as that he com ful faste,
His eyen to the grounde adoun he caste,
And in the sonde, as he beheld adoun,
He seigh the steppes brode of a leoun,
830
And in his herte he sodeinly [agroos],
And pale he wex, therwith his heer aroos,
And neer he com, and fond the wimpel torn.
'Allas!' quod he, 'the day that I was born!
[This o night wol us lovers bothe slee]!
835
[How sholde I axen mercy of Tisbe]
(131)
Whan I am he that have yow slain, allas!
My bidding hath yow slain, as in this cas.
Allas! to bidde a woman goon by nighte
In place ther as peril fallen mighte,
840
And I so slow! allas, I ne hadde be
Here in this place a furlong-wey or ye!
Now [what] leoun that be in this foreste,
My body mote he renden, or what beste
That wilde is, gnawen mote he now myn herte!'
845
And with that worde he to the wimpel sterte,
(141)
And kiste hit ofte, and weep on hit ful sore,
[And seide, 'wimpel, allas! ther nis no more]
But thou shalt fele as wel the blood of me
As thou hast felt the bleding of Tisbe!'
850
And with that worde he smoot him to the herte.
[The blood out of the wounde as brode sterte]
As water, whan the conduit broken is.
[Now Tisbe, which that wiste nat of this],
But sitting in her drede, she thoghte thus,
855
'If hit so falle that my Piramus
(151)
Be comen hider, and may me nat y-finde,
He may me holden fals and eek unkinde.'
And out she comth, and after him gan espyen
[Bothe] with her herte and with her yën,
860
And thoghte, 'I wol him tellen of my drede
Bothe of the leonesse and al my dede.'
[And at the laste her love than hath she founde]
Beting with his heles on the grounde,
Al blody, and therwith-al a-bak she sterte,
865
And lyke the wawes quappe gan her herte,
(161)
And pale as box she wex, and in a throwe
Avysed her, and gan him wel to knowe,
That hit was Piramus, her herte dere.
[Who coude wryte whiche a deedly chere]
870
Hath Tisbe now, and how her heer she rente,
And how she gan her-selve to turmente,
And how she lyth and swowneth on the grounde,
And how she weep of teres ful his wounde,
How medeleth she his blood with her compleynte,
875
And with his blood her-selven gan she peynte;
(171)
How clippeth she the dede cors, allas?
How doth this woful Tisbe in this cas!
How kisseth she his frosty mouth so cold!
'Who hath doon this, and who hath been so bold
880
To sleen my leef? O spek, my Piramus!
I am thy Tisbe, that thee calleth thus!'
And therwith-al she lifteth up his heed.
This woful man, that was nat fully deed,
Whan that he herde the name of Tisbe cryen,
885
On her he caste his hevy deedly yën
(181)
And doun again, and yeldeth up the gost.
Tisbe rist up, withouten noise or [bost],
And seigh her wimpel and his empty shethe,
And eek his swerd, that him hath doon to dethe;
890
Than spak she thus: 'My woful hand,' quod she,
'Is strong y-nogh in swiche a werk to me;
For love shal yive me strengthe and hardinesse
To make my wounde large y-nogh, I gesse.
[I wol thee folwen deed, and I wol be]
895
Felawe and cause eek of thy deeth,' quod she.
(191)
'And thogh that nothing save the deeth only
Mighte thee fro me departe trewely,
Thou shalt no more departe now fro me
Than fro the deeth, for I wol go with thee!
900
'And now, ye wrecched Ielous fadres oure,
We, that weren whylom children youre,
We prayen yow, withouten more envye,
That in o grave y-fere we moten lye,
Sin love hath brought us to this pitous ende!
905
[And rightwis god to every lover sende],
(201)
That loveth trewely, more prosperitee
Than ever hadde Piramus and Tisbe!
And lat no gentil woman her assure
To putten her in swiche an aventure.
910
But god forbede but a woman can
Been as trewe and loving as a man!
And, for my part, I shal anoon it kythe!'
[And, with that worde, his swerd she took as swythe],
That warm was of her loves blood and hoot,
915
And to the herte she her-selven smoot.
(211)
[And thus ar Tisbe and Piramus ago].
Of trewe men I finde but fewe mo
In alle my bokes, save this Piramus,
And therfor have I spoken of him thus.
920
For hit is deyntee to us men to finde
A man that can in love be trewe and kinde.
Heer may ye seen, what lover so he be,
A woman dar and can as wel as he.
Explicit legenda Tesbe.
707. tovne; queene. 710. tovne. 711. grete. 712. C. nygh; F. neigh. 714. grette. 715. C. hadde; F. had (so in l. 717). 716. C. Tn. Th. of; rest om. 717. Tn. doghter; F. doghtre. 718. esteward; worlde. 719. eueryche. 722. C. been; F. ben. 723. Tn. som; C. sum; F. somme. 724. C. Tn. yonge; F. yong. 725. All but C. om. And. Tn. A. Tisbe; C. Th. Tysbe; F. B. Tesbe; T. Thesbe. maide. 726. C. report; F. reporte. 727. C. wex, wex; F. T. wex, wax; Tn. wox, wax; B. wox, wox. 729. C. Tn. bitwixe; F. betwex. 730. nold. 731. booth; soore. 733. Tn. priuely; F. preuely. 734. C. sleyghte; F. sleight. A. speken; Tn. T. Th. spaken; F. C. spoken. Tn. som; F. somme. C. desyr; F. desire. 735. C. wry; F. Tn. wre. glede. C. fyr; F. fire. 736. woode. 737. bitwixe; stoode. 738. a-twoo; adovne. 740. C. clyfte; F. clyft. 741. C. A. nas; rest was. C. sene; F. seene. deere. 743. twoo. 745. C. soun; F. sovne. 746. leete. 747. while. C. stode; F. stoden. 748. woo. 749. soo. 750. F. the; rest that. wale. 751. Tesbe. 752. swoote sovne. 754. C. wal; F. walle. threete. 755. dovne. C. Tn. I-bete; F. y-bette. 756. C. Tn. wal; F. walle. 757. Thurgh. C. Tn. al; F. alle. 758. C. nylt thou; F. nyltow. 759. A. Th. B. leste; C. laste; F. leest. 760. let; meete. 761. oones; myght; sweete. 762. oure. 763. the. 765. Tn. Our; F. Or (!). thurgh; ek. 766. C. oughte; F. oght. the; apayede. 767. sayde. 768. walle. C. kysse; F. kyssen. 769. foorth. 770. F. Alle; rest And. T. A. euyn-tyde; Th. euentyde; C. F. Tn. B. euetyde. 771. espyede. 772. C. wroughte; F. wroght. 775. dewe. 777. F. Come; Tn. Com (twice). Tesbe. 778. C. fey; F. faye. 779. steele awaye (C. awey). 780. euerychone. 781. gone. 782. feeldes; broode. 783. meete. 786. C. Idolys; F. ydoyles. F. heriode (!). 787. thoo; feeldes; beriede. 788. C. Tn. faste; F. fast. 790. couenaunt. 792. F. (only) om. goon. 793. F. Tn. B. om. hath; greete. 794. F. Had (!); rest And. grete lykynge. 795. C. myghte; F. myght. 796. stale. A. priuely; F. prevely. 802. gooth; goode paas. 803. caas. 804. a-downe. 805. Tn. comth; F. comith. 806. woode. 807. strangelynge. 812. moone; saugh. 813. ranne. 814. tooke; hede; soore. 815. eke. T. of; rest om. 816. C. sit; F. sytte 817. T. leones; F. lyonesse. 821. don. 822. woode. 824. home. 825. moone shoone; well. 826. C. weye; F. wey. C. com; F. come. 827. Hise eighen; adovne. 828. behelde a-dovne. 829. broode. T. leoun; F. lyoune. 832. Tn. neer; C. ner; F. nere. C. Tn. com; F. come. C. fond; F. founde. C. torn; F. torne. 833. C. born; F. borne. 834. oo; wole; boothe. 836. slayne. 837. C. as; rest om. 839. F. a; rest as. 840. slowe. 841. yee. 843. F. T. B. om. he. All renten (rente, rent) wrongly; read renden. 846. From C. (which has wep for weep); F. om. this line. 848. feele; blode. 849. bledynge; Tesbe. 852. Tn. Th. conduyt; F. conduyte; C. A. condit. 853. C. wiste nat of this; F. wyst nat this. 854. C. thoughte; F. thought. 855. F. B. om. hit. 856. C. I-fynde; F. fynde. 857. ek. 858. comith. 859. hert; eighen. 861. Booth. Tn. leonesse; F. lyonesse. 863. Tn. Betyng; F. Betynge. helis. 866. F. Th. boxe; rest box. T. wexed (for wex); A. wox; Th. B. woxe; C. F. Tn. P. was (error for wax). F. B. om. and. 868. C. herte; F. hert. 869. dedely. 870. Tesbe; heere. 873. Tn. weep; C. wep; F. wepe. 876. C. Tn. cors; F. corps. 877. dooth; Tesbe. 878. mouthe; colde. 879. ben; bolde. 880. leefe. C. Tn. spek; rest speke (wrongly). F. Tn. Th. B. om. my. 881. Tesbe. 884. C. Th. herde; rest herd. Tesbe. 885. dedely. Tn. B. P. yen; F. eyn; rest eyen. 886. dovne; gooste. 887. vpp; booste. 888. saugh. 889. eke; swerde. 890. C. spak; F. spake. C. myn (for my); rest thy (!). hande. 891. werke. 892. F. (only) puts me before give. 894. wole; folowen deede. 895. eke. 897. the; trewly. 898. F. shal; C. schat (!); rest shalt. C. A. Th. departe now; Tn. departe trewlie; F. T. B. now departe. 899. deth; goo. 900. F. Ielouse; C. gelos. 901. whilome. 903. oo. T. I-fere; which the rest omit (!). 904. C. T. A. brought vs to; F. vs broght (!). pitouse. 906. moore. 907. C. euere ȝit hade; T. euer had yet; rest omit ȝit (yet). 908. noo gentile. 909. puten. 911. Ben. 912. parte. 913. swerde. 914. warme; hoote. 915. smoote (!). 916. Tn. T. ar; F. are; C. A. is. C. I-go; rest a-goo (a go). 917. moo. 918. bookes. 919. therfore.
III. THE LEGEND OF DIDO, QUEEN OF CARTHAGE.
Incipit Legenda Didonis martiris, Cartaginis regine.
Glory and honour, Virgil [Mantuan],
925
Be to thy name! and I shal, as I can,
[Folow thy lantern], as thou gost biforn,
How [Eneas] to Dido was forsworn.
[In thyn Eneïd and Naso] wol I take
The tenour, and the grete effectes make.
930
Whan Troye broght was to destruccioun
[By Grekes sleighte, and namely by Sinoun],
Feyning the hors y-offred to Minerve,
(10)
Through which that many a Troyan moste sterve;
[And Ector had, after his deeth, appered],
935
And [fyr] so wood, it mighte nat be stered,
In al the noble tour of [Ilioun],
That of the citee was the cheef dungeoun;
And al the contree was so lowe y-broght,
And [Priamus] the king fordoon and noght;
940
And [Eneas was charged by Venus]
To fleen awey, he took Ascanius,
[That was his sone, in his right hand, and fledde];
(20)
And on his bakke he bar and with him ledde
His olde fader, cleped Anchises,
945
And by the weye his wyf Creusa he [lees].
And mochel sorwe hadde he in his minde
Er that he coude his [felawshippe] finde.
But, at the laste, whan he had hem founde,
He made him redy in a certein [stounde],
950
And to the see ful faste he gan him hye,
And saileth forth with al his companye
Toward Itaile, as wolde destinee.
(30)
But of his [aventures] in the see
Nis nat to purpos for to speke of here,
955
For hit acordeth nat to my matere.
But, as I seide, of him and of Dido
Shal be my tale, til that I have do.
So longe he sailed in the salte see
Til in [Libye] unnethe aryved he,
960
[With shippes seven and with no more navye];
And glad was he to londe for to hye,
So was he with the tempest [al to-shake].
(40)
And whan that he the haven had y-take,
He had a knight, was called [Achates];
965
And him of al his felawshippe he chees
To goon with him, the contre for tespye;
He took with him no more companye.
But forth they goon, and lafte his shippes ryde,
His fere and he, with-outen any gyde.
970
So longe he walketh in this wildernesse
Til, at the laste, he mette an [hunteresse].
A bowe in honde and arwes hadde she,
(50)
Her clothes [cutted] were unto the knee;
But she was yit the fairest creature
975
That ever was y-formed by nature;
And Eneas and Achates she grette,
And thus she to hem spak, whan she hem mette.
['Sawe ye,' quod she, 'as ye han walked wyde],
Any of my sustren walke yow besyde,
980
With any wilde boor or other beste
That they han hunted to, in this foreste,
[Y-tukked up], with arwes in her cas?'
(60)
['Nay, soothly, lady,' quod this Eneas];
'But, by thy beaute, as hit thinketh me,
985
Thou mightest never erthely womman be,
But [Phebus suster] artow, as I gesse.
And, if so be that thou be a goddesse,
Have mercy on our labour and our wo.'
'I nam no goddes, soothly,' quod she tho;
990
'For maidens walken in this contree here,
With arwes and with bowe, in this manere.
This is the regne of Libie, ther ye been,
(70)
Of which that Dido lady is and queen'—
[And shortly tolde him al the occasioun]
995
Why Dido com into that regioun,
Of which as now me lusteth nat to ryme;
Hit nedeth nat; [hit nere but] los of tyme.
For this is [al and som], it was Venus,
His owne moder, that spak with him thus;
1000
And to Cartage she bad he sholde him dighte,
And vanished anoon out of his sighte.
I coude folwe, word for word, Virgyle,
(80)
But it wolde lasten al to longe a whyle.
This noble queen, that cleped was Dido,
1005
That whylom was the wyf of [Sitheo],
That fairer was then is the brighte sonne,
This noble toun of Cartage hath begonne;
In which she regneth in so greet honour,
That she was holde of alle quenes flour,
1010
Of gentilesse, of [freedom], of beautee;
That wel was him that mighte her ones see;
[Of] kinges and of lordes so desyred,
(90)
That al the world her beaute hadde y-fyred;
She stood so wel in every wightes grace.
1015
Whan Eneas was come un-to that place,
Unto the [maister-temple] of al the toun
Ther Dido was in her devocioun,
Ful prively his wey than hath he nome.
Whan he was in the large temple come,
1020
I can nat seyn if that hit be possible,
But Venus hadde him maked invisible—
[Thus seith the book], with-outen any lees.
(100)
And whan this Eneas and Achates
[Hadden] in this temple been over-al,
1025
[Than founde they, depeynted on a wal],
How Troye and al the lond destroyed was.
'Allas! that I was born,' quod Eneas,
'[Through-out the world our shame is kid so wyde],
Now it is peynted upon every syde!
1030
We, that weren in prosperitee,
Be now disslaundred, and in swich degre,
No lenger for to liven I ne [kepe]!'
(110)
And, with that worde, he brast out for to wepe
So tendrely, that routhe hit was to sene.
1035
[This fresshe lady, of the citee quene],
Stood in the temple, in her estat royal,
So richely, and eek so fair with-al,
So yong, so lusty, with her eyen glade,
That, if [that god], that heven and erthe made,
1040
Wolde han a love, for beaute and goodnesse,
And womanhod, and trouthe, and seemlinesse,
Whom sholde he loven but this lady swete?
(120)
There nis no womman to him half so mete.
Fortune, that hath the world in governaunce,
1045
Hath sodeinly broght in so newe a chaunce,
That never was ther yit so [fremd] a cas.
[For al the companye of Eneas],
Which that he [wende han loren] in the see,
Aryved is, nat fer fro that citee;
1050
[For which], the grettest of his lordes some
By aventure ben to the citee come,
Unto that same temple, for to seke
(130)
The quene, and of her socour her beseke;
Swich renoun was ther spronge of her goodnesse.
1055
And, whan they hadden told al hir distresse,
And al hir tempest and hir harde cas,
Unto the quene appered Eneas,
And openly beknew that hit was he.
Who hadde Ioye than but his [meynee],
1060
That hadden founde hir lord, hir governour?
[The quene saw they dide him swich honour],
And had herd ofte of Eneas, er tho,
(140)
And in her herte she hadde routhe and wo
That ever swich a noble man as he
1065
Shal been disherited in swich degree;
And saw the man, that he was lyk a knight,
And suffisaunt of persone and of might,
And lyk to been a veray gentil man;
And wel his wordes he besette can,
1070
And had a noble visage for the nones,
And formed wel of braunes and of bones.
For, after Venus, hadde he swich fairnesse,
(150)
That no man might be half so fair, I gesse.
And wel a lord he semed for to be.
1075
[And, for he was a straunger, somwhat she]
[Lyked] him the bet, as, [god do bote],
[To som folk ofte newe thing is swote].
Anoon her herte hath pitee of his wo,
And, with that pitee, love com in also;
1080
And thus, for pitee and for gentilesse,
Refresshed moste he been of his distresse.
She seide, certes, that she sory was
(160)
That he hath had swich peril and swich cas;
And, in her frendly speche, in this manere
1085
She to him spak, and seide as ye may here.
'[Be ye nat Venus sone and Anchises?]
In good feith, al the worship and encrees
That I may goodly doon yow, ye shul have.
Your shippes and your meynee shal I save;'
1090
And many a gentil word she spak him to;
[And comaunded her messageres go]
The same day, with-outen any faile,
(170)
His shippes for to seke, and hem vitaile.
She many a beste to the shippes sente,
1095
And with the wyn she gan hem to presente;
And to her royal paleys she her spedde,
And Eneas alwey with her she ledde.
What nedeth yow the feste to descryve?
He never beter at ese was [his lyve].
1100
Ful was the feste of deyntees and richesse,
Of instruments, of song, and of gladnesse,
And many an amorous loking and devys.
(180)
[This Eneas is come to Paradys]
Out of the [swolow] of helle, and thus in Ioye
1105
Remembreth him of his estat in Troye.
To dauncing-chambres ful of [parements],
Of riche beddes, and of [ornaments],
This Eneas is lad, after the mete.
And with the quene whan that [he] had sete,
1110
[And spyces parted, and the wyn agoon],
Unto his chambres was he lad anoon
To take his ese and for to have his reste,
(190)
With al his folk, to doon what so hem leste.
[Ther] nas coursere wel y-brydled noon,
1115
Ne stede, for the Iusting wel to goon,
Ne large palfrey, esy for the nones,
Ne Iuwel, [fretted] ful of riche stones,
Ne sakkes ful of gold, of large wighte,
Ne ruby noon, that [shynede] by nighte,
1120
[Ne gentil hautein faucon heronere],
Ne hound, for hert or wilde boor or dere,
Ne coupe of gold, with florins newe [y-bete],
(200)
That in the lond of Libie may be gete,
That Dido ne hath hit Eneas y-sent;
1125
And al is payed, what that he hath spent.
Thus can this [noble] quene her gestes calle,
As she that can in freedom passen alle.
[Eneas sothly eek, with-outen lees],
Hath sent un-to his shippe, by Achates,
1130
After his sone, and after riche thinges,
Both ceptre, clothes, broches, and eek ringes,
Som for to were, and som for to presente
(210)
To her, that all thise noble thinges him sente;
And bad his sone, how that he sholde make
1135
The presenting, and to the quene hit [take].
[Repaired is this Achates again],
And Eneas ful blisful is and fain
To seen his yonge sone Ascanius.
But natheles, our autour telleth us,
1140
That Cupido, that is the god of love,
At preyere of his moder, hye above,
Hadde the lyknes of the child y-take,
(220)
This noble quene enamoured to make
On Eneas; but, as of that scripture,
1145
[Be as be may, I make of hit no cure].
But sooth is this, the quene hath mad swich chere
Un-to this child, that wonder is to here;
And of the present that his fader sente
She thanked him ful ofte, in good entente.
1150
[Thus is this quene in plesaunce and in Ioye],
With al this newe lusty folk of Troye.
And of the dedes hath she more enquered
(230)
Of Eneas, and al the story lered
Of Troye; and al the longe day they tweye
1155
[Entendeden] to speken and to pleye;
[Of which ther gan to breden swich a fyr],
That [sely] Dido hath now swich desyr
With Eneas, her newe gest, to dele,
That she hath lost her hewe, and eek her hele.
1160
Now to theffect, now to the fruit of al,
[Why I have told this story, and tellen shal].
Thus I beginne; hit fil, upon a night,
(240)
When that the mone up-reysed had [her] light,
This noble quene un-to her reste wente;
1165
She syketh sore, and gan her-self turmente.
She waketh, walweth, maketh many a [brayd],
As doon thise loveres, as I have herd sayd.
And at the laste, unto her suster Anne
She made her moon, and right thus spak she thanne.
1170
'[Now, dere suster myn, what may hit be]
That me agasteth in my dreme?' quod she.
'This ilke Troyan is so in my thoght,
(250)
For that me thinketh he is so wel y-wroght,
[And eek so lykly for to be a man],
1175
And therwithal so mikel good he can,
That al my love and lyf lyth in his cure.
Have ye not herd him telle his aventure?
Now certes, Anne, if that ye rede hit me,
I wolde fain to him y-wedded be;
1180
This is theffect; what sholde I more seye?
In him lyth al, to do me live or deye.'
[Her suster Anne, as she that coude her good],
(260)
Seide as her thoughte, and somdel hit with-stood.
But her-of was so long a sermoning,
1185
Hit were to long to make rehersing;
But fynally, hit may not been with-stonde;
[Love wol love]—for no wight wol hit wonde.
[The dawening up-rist out of the see];
This amorous quene chargeth her meynee
1190
The nettes dresse, and speres brode and kene;
[An hunting] [wol] this lusty fresshe quene;
So priketh her this newe Ioly wo.
(270)
To hors is al her lusty folk y-go;
Un-to the court the houndes been y-broght,
1195
And up-on coursers, swift as any thoght,
Her yonge knightes [hoven] al aboute,
And of her wommen eek an huge route.
Up-on a thikke palfrey, [paper-whyt],
With sadel rede, enbrouded with delyt,
1200
Of gold the [barres] up-enbossed hye,
[Sit] Dido, al in gold and perre [wrye];
And she is fair, as is the brighte morwe,
(280)
That heleth seke folk of nightes sorwe.
Up-on a courser, [startling] as the fyr,
1205
Men mighte turne him with ,
Sit Eneas, lyk [Phebus] [to devyse];
So was he fresshe arayed in his wyse.
The fomy brydel with the bit of gold
Governeth he, right as him-self hath [wold].
1210
And forth this noble quene thus lat I ryde
An hunting, with this Troyan by her syde.
[The herd of hertes founden is anoon],
(290)
With 'hey! [go bet]! [prik thou]! [lat goon], lat goon!
Why nil the leoun comen or the bere,
1215
That I mighte ones mete him with this spere?'
Thus seyn thise yonge folk, and up they kille
These hertes wilde, and han hem at hir wille.
Among al this to-romblen gan the heven,
The thunder rored with a grisly steven;
1220
Doun com the rain, with hail and sleet so faste,
With hevenes fyr, that hit so sore agaste
This noble quene, and also her meynee,
(300)
That ech of hem was glad a-wey to flee.
And shortly, fro the tempest her to save,
1225
She fledde her-self into a litel cave,
And with her wente this Eneas al-so;
I noot, with hem if ther wente any mo;
The autour maketh of hit no mencioun.
And heer began the depe affeccioun
1230
Betwix hem two; this was the firste morwe
Of her [gladnesse], and ginning of her sorwe.
[For ther hath Eneas y-kneled so],
(310)
And told her al his herte, and al his wo,
And sworn so depe, to her to be trewe,
1235
For wele or wo, and chaunge for no newe,
And as a fals lover so wel can pleyne,
That sely Dido rewed on his peyne,
And took him for husband, [to been] his wyf
For ever-mo, whyl that hem laste lyf.
1240
And after this, whan that the tempest stente,
With mirth out as they comen, hoom they wente.
[The wikked fame up roos], and that anon,
(320)
How Eneas hath with the quene y-gon
In-to the cave; and demed as hem liste;
1245
And whan the king, that [Yarbas] hight, hit wiste,
As he that had her loved ever his lyf,
And wowed her, to have her to his wyf,
Swich sorwe as he hath maked, and swich chere,
Hit is a routhe and pitee for to here.
1250
But, as in love, al-day hit happeth so,
That oon shal laughen at anothers wo;
Now laugheth Eneas, and is in Ioye
(330)
And more richesse than ever he was in Troye.
[O sely womman, ful of innocence],
1255
Ful of pitee, of trouthe, and conscience,
What maked yow to men to trusten so?
Have ye swich routhe upon hir feined wo,
And han swich olde ensamples yow beforn?
See ye nat alle, how they been for-sworn?
1260
Wher see ye oon, that he ne hath laft his leef,
Or been unkinde, or doon her som mischeef,
Or [pilled] her, or bosted of his dede?
(340)
Ye may as wel hit seen, as ye may rede;
Tak heed now of this grete gentil-man,
1265
This Troyan, that so wel her plesen can,
That feineth him so trewe and obeising,
So gentil and so privy of his doing,
And can so wel doon alle his obeisaunces,
And waiten her at festes and at daunces,
1270
And when she goth to temple and hoom ageyn,
And fasten til he hath his lady seyn,
And bere in his devyses, for her sake,
(350)
Noot I nat what; and songes wolde he make,
Iusten, and doon of armes many thinges,
1275
Sende her lettres, tokens, broches, ringes—
Now herkneth, how he shal his lady serve!
[Ther-as] he was in peril for to [sterve]
For hunger, and for mischeef in the see,
And desolat, and fled from his contree,
1280
And al his folk with tempest al to-driven,
She hath her body and eek her reame yiven
In-to his hond, ther-as she mighte have been
(360)
Of other lond than of Cartage a queen,
And lived in Ioye y-nogh; what wolde ye more?
1285
This Eneas, that hath so depe y-swore,
Is wery of his craft with-in a throwe;
[The hote ernest] is al over-blowe.
[And prively he doth his shippes dighte],
And [shapeth him] to stele a-wey by nighte.
1290
This Dido hath suspecioun of this,
And thoughte wel, that hit was al a-mis;
For in his bedde he lyth a-night and syketh;
(370)
She asketh him anoon, what him mislyketh—
'My dere herte, which that I love most?'
1295
['Certes,' quod he, 'this night my fadres gost]
Hath in my sleep so sore me tormented,
And eek [Mercurie] his message hath presented,
That nedes to the conquest of Itaile
My destinee is sone for to saile;
1300
For which, me thinketh, brosten is myn herte!'
Ther-with his false teres out they sterte;
And taketh her with-in his armes two.
(380)
'Is that in ernest,' quod she; 'wil ye so?
Have ye nat sworn to wyve me to take,
1305
Alas! [what womman] wil ye of me make?
I am a gentil-woman and a queen,
Ye wil nat fro your wyf thus foule fleen?
That I was born! allas! what shal I do?'
To telle in short, this noble queen Dido,
1310
She [seketh halwes], and doth sacrifyse;
She kneleth, cryeth, that routhe is to devyse;
[Coniureth him, and profreth him to be]
(390)
His thral, his servant in the leste gree;
She falleth him to fote, and swowneth there
1315
Dischevele, with her brighte gilte here,
And seith, 'have mercy! [let me with yow ryde!]
[Thise lordes], which that wonen me besyde
Wil me destroyen only for your sake.
And, so ye wil me now to wyve take,
1320
As ye han sworn, than wol I yive yow leve
To sleen me with your swerd now sone at eve!
For than yit shal I dyen as your wyf.
(400)
I am with childe, and yive my child his lyf.
[Mercy], lord! have pite in your thoght!'
1325
But al this thing availeth her right noght;
For on a night, slepinge, he let her lye,
And stal a-wey un-to his companye,
And, as a traitour, forth he gan to saile
Toward the large contree of Itaile.
1330
Thus hath he laft Dido in wo and pyne;
And wedded ther a lady hight [Lavyne].
[A cloth] he lafte, and eek his swerd stonding,
(410)
Whan he fro Dido stal in her sleping,
Right at her beddes heed, so gan he hye
1335
Whan that he stal a-wey to his navye;
Which cloth, whan sely Dido gan awake,
She hath hit kist ful ofte for his sake;
And seide, 'O [cloth], [whyl Iupiter hit leste],
Tak now my soule, [unbind me of this unreste]!
1340
I have fulfild of fortune al the cours.'
And thus, allas! [with-outen] his socours,
Twenty tyme y-swowned hath she thanne.
(420)
And, whan that she un-to her suster Anne
Compleyned had, of which I may nat wryte—
1345
So greet a routhe I have hit for tendyte—
And bad [her norice] and her suster goon
To fecchen fyr and other thing anoon,
And seide, that she wolde sacrifye.
And, whan she mighte her tyme wel espye,
1350
Up-on the fyr of sacrifys she sterte,
And with his swerd [she roof her to the herte].
But, as [myn autour] seith, right thus she seyde;
(430)
Or she was hurt, before that she deyde,
She wroot anoon, that thus began:—
1355
['Right so,' quod she, 'as that the whyte swan]
Ayeins his deeth beginneth for to singe,
Right so to yow make I my compleyninge.
Nat that I trowe to geten yow again,
For wel I woot that it is al in vain,
1360
Sin that the goddes been contraire to me.
But sin my name is lost through yow,' quod she,
'I may wel lese a word on yow, or letter,
(440)
Al-be-it that I shal be never the better;
For thilke wind that blew your ship a-wey,
1365
The same wind hath blowe a-wey your fey.'—
But who wol al this letter have in minde,
Rede Ovide, and in him he shal hit finde.
Explicit Legenda Didonis martiris, Cartaginis regine.
[[Go to Legend of Hypsipyle and Medea]]
N.B. From this point onward obvious corrections in the spelling of MS. F. are unnoticed. 928. C. has—In Naso and Eneydos wele [for wol] I take. 932. C. I offerede to; rest offred unto. 950. C. wol (= wel); for ful. 960, 961. These two lines are in C. and P. only; all former editions omit them. 964. C. clepid; rest called. 966. Tn. Th. B. tespye; C. tespie; F. to spye; T. to spy; A. to aspye. 973. C. P. cutte; F. B. knytte; rest cutted (cuttyd, cuttit). 979. So all; Oon (for Any) would read better. 994. F. Tn. Th. B. om. him. 997. Tn. ner; F. Th. B. nere; rest were (wer). 1002. F. by; rest for. 1003. T. P. Addit. a; rest om. 1006. C. Addit. is; rest om. 1018. C. thus (for than). 1019. F. (only) om. large. 1024. P. F. the; rest this. 1028. F. Tn. A. B. om. so. 1046. T. Th. was ther yet; P. more was ther; Add. was their; A. ȝit was sene; rest was yit (or yit was). F. in (for a). 1048. C. A. P. he; rest we (!). 1063. C. she hadde; A. sche had eke; P. she hedd þo; T. Add. had she; B. had; F. and (!). 1066. F. (only) om. that he. 1072. F. Tn. Th. om. he. 1074. C. P. Add. he; rest him. 1079. F. Tn. Th. B. om. that and in. 1081. F. B. mote; P. wold; rest muste (must, moost, most); read moste. 1085. F. Tn. om. and. F. Tn. B. repeat in this manere; rest as ye may here. 1091. C. massangerys; B. messagerys; A. messingeris; F. Tn. messagers; after which all but F. and B. needlessly insert to, or for to. 1094. C. Sche; rest Ful (because they put beest, she for beste, as in C). 1107. C. T. Add. ornamentis; rest pavements (error for parements, caught from l. 1106). 1112. C. For his ese and for to take. 1115. C. to iuste (for the Iusting). 1117. C. T. Add. frettid; A. P. fretted; F. B. frette; Tn. Th. fret. 1119. F. B. rubee; rest ruby. C. shynede; Tn. P. shyned; F. T. A. Th. B. shyneth. 1126. For noble all have honourable, giving two syllables too many; see ll. 1143, 1210, 1222. 1129. A. vnto; C. on to; rest to. 1139. So C. P.; F. Tn. Th. B. For to him yt was reported thus (badly). 1143. C. holy; rest noble 1144. F. T. Th. B. om. as. 1149. F. Tn. Th. B. om. ful. 1155. All but C. P. needlessly put for to (for to) twice. 1159. C. T. A. P. Add. hath; rest om. 1160. C. now comyth the freut. 1163. F. Tn. vp-reyseth (error for vp-reysed). C. A. Th. P. hadde (had); F. Tn. B. hath. C. his; rest hire (hir, her); see note. 1169. P. mon (= A.S. mán); rest mone; read moon. 1171. C. slep; rest dreme. 1173. C. Me thynkith that he. 1174. C. T. P. Add. for; rest om. 1175. T. A. P. therwith al; Th. therwith; C. ek thereto; F. Tn. om. ther. 1178. C. rede it me; rest om. it. 1179. C. T. A. P. Add. wolde; F. Tn. wil; Th. wol. 1195. Add. coursers; C. B. courseris; F. Tn. Th. coursere. 1196. F. Tn. Th. heuen (!); rest houen (houyn). 1200, 1201. C. hye, wrye; F. heighe, wreighe. 1202. C. bright (for fair). 1203. A. B. P. folk; F. Tn. T. Th. folkes; C. men. 1210. F. om. noble. T. thus lat; Addit. thus late; rest this lady (!!). 1211. T. Add. An; A. In; rest On; see l. 1191. 1215. T. A. P. ones mete him; rest him ones mete. 1217. C. T. A. Add. These; rest The. C. bestys wilde; T. A. P. wild bestys; rest wilde hertes; but read hertes wilde. 1221. C. A. it; F. Tn. B. P. is (!). 1238. I propose to read to been; all have and becom (became), which cannot possibly be scanned. 1239. C. Tn. -mo; F. -mor. 1242. C. wikke fame a-ros. 1247. F. Tn. Th. B. om. 2nd her. 1251. C. of; rest at. 1253. T. A. Add. he; rest om. 1255. F. and (for 2nd of). 1258. C. T. A. Th. olde ensamples; F. ensamples olde. 1259. C. A. how that; rest how. 1267. C. trewe; A. besy; rest privy. 1268, 1269. F. Tn. Th. B. -aunce; C. T. A. P. -aunces. 1269. C. And waytyn hire; T. Add. And plesyn hyr; Tn. A. And hir (!); F. Th. To hir (!). 1273. C. Tn. A. Th. Not; F. B. Wot. 1275. All but C. ins. and before ringes. 1281. C. F. T. B. reame; Tn. P. ream; Th. realme; A. regne. 1285. C. A. P. so; rest thus. 1296. C. A. so sore me; Add. sore me; rest me so sore. 1298. F. Tn. B. om. to. 1313. C. gre; rest degree (degre). 1314. C. to-fore (for to fote). 1319. C. T. A. Add. so; rest om. F. now me; rest me now. 1322. F. shal I yet; Tn. C. T. A. Th. yit shall I. 1323. C. T. yeue; F. yive; Tn. yif. 1324. C. hauyth; rest haue. 1326, 1327. The old printed editions omit these two lines. 1327. C. on to; T. A. Add. vnto; F. Tn. B. vpon. 1330. C. Thus; rest And thus. C. Tn. laft; F. lefte. 1332. C. lafte; F. lefte. 1333. F. (only) om. her. 1337. F. Tn. B. om. hit. 1338. All but T. A. Add. insert swete after O. 1339. F. Tn. Th. B. P. om. now. C. and brynge it of this onreste; Tn. T. Th. P. Add. vnbynde me of this vnreste; F. B. vnbynde me of this reste (!); A. me bynd of myn vnrest; I follow Tn. T. Th. P. Add. 1345. F. Tn. Th. P. om. a. C. tendite; rest to endite (endyte). 1346. A. P. Add. suster; C. T. A. sistir; rest sustren (!). 1347. C. T. A. P. Add. thing; rest thinges. 1351. C. Tn. rof. 1352. C. A. right; P. om.; rest yet (yit). 1353. A. Add. before that; C. F. T. Th. B. byforn or (byforne er); P. and befor or. 1355. C. A. that; T. Add. doth; rest om. 1356. C. Aȝens; A. Aȝeynes; Tn. Ayeinste; rest Ayenst. 1357. C. T. A. Add. make I; rest I make. 1359. C. T. A. P. that; rest om. 1360. A. contrair; P. contrarie; C. T. contrary; rest contrarious. 1363. C. T. A. P. Add. that; rest om. 1366. Tn. P. who; rest who so, or who that.
IV. THE LEGEND OF HYPSIPYLE AND MEDEA.
Incipit Legenda Ysiphile et Medee, Martirum.
Part I. The Legend of Hypsipyle.
[Thou rote of false lovers, duk Iasoun!]
Thou sly devourer and confusioun
1370
Of gentil-wommen, tender creatures,
Thou madest thy [reclaiming] and thy lures
To ladies of thy statly apparaunce,
And [of] thy wordes, [farced] with plesaunce,
And of thy feyned trouthe and thy manere,
1375
With thyn obeisaunce and thy humble chere,
And with thy counterfeted peyne and wo.
(10)
[Ther other falsen oon, thou falsest two!]
O! ofte swore thou that thou woldest dye
For love, whan thou ne feltest maladye
1380
Save foul delyt, which that thou callest love!
If that I live, thy name shal be [shove]
In English, that thy sleighte shal be knowe!
[Have at thee], Iasoun! now [thyn horn is blowe]!
But certes, hit is bothe routhe and wo
1385
That love with false loveres werketh so;
For they shul have wel better love and chere
(20)
Than he that hath [aboght] his love ful dere,
Or had in armes many a blody [box].
For ever as tendre a capoun [et] the fox,
1390
Thogh he be fals and hath the foul betrayed,
As shal [the good-man that ther-for hath payed].
Al have he to the capoun skille and right,
The false fox wol have his part at night.
[On] Iasoun this ensample is wel [y-sene]
1395
By Isiphile and Medea the quene.
In Tessalye, as [Guido] telleth us,
(30)
Ther was a king that highte [Pelleus],
That had a brother, which that highte [Eson];
And, whan for age he mighte unnethes gon,
1400
He yaf to Pelleus the governing
Of al his regne, and made him lord and king.
Of which Eson this Iasoun geten was,
That, in his tyme, in al that lond, ther nas
Nat swich a famous knight of gentilesse,
1405
Of freedom, and of strengthe and lustinesse.
After his fader deeth, he bar him so
(40)
That ther nas noon that liste been his fo,
But dide him al honour and companye;
Of which this Pelleus hath greet envye,
1410
Imagining that Iasoun mighte be
Enhaunsed so, and put in swich degree
With love of lordes of his regioun,
That from his regne he may be put adoun.
And in his wit, a-night, compassed he
1415
How Iasoun mighte best destroyed be
Withoute slaunder of his compasment.
(50)
And at the laste he took avisement
To senden him in-to som fer contree
Ther as this Iasoun may destroyed be.
1420
This was his wit; [al made he] to Iasoun
Gret chere of love and of affeccioun,
For drede lest his lordes hit espyde.
So fil hit so, as fame renneth wyde,
Ther was swich tyding over-al and swich los,
1425
That in an yle that called was [Colcos],
Beyonde Troye, estward in the see,
(60)
That ther-in was a ram, that men mighte see,
That had a flees of gold, that shoon so brighte,
That no-wher was ther swich an-other sighte;
1430
But hit was [kept] alway [with] a dragoun,
And many othere merveils, up and doun,
And with two boles, maked al of bras,
That spitten fyr, and moche thing ther was.
But this was eek the tale, nathelees,
1435
That who-so wolde winne thilke flees,
He moste bothe, or he hit winne mighte,
(70)
With the boles and the dragoun fighte;
And king [Oëtes] lord was of that yle.
This Pelleus bethoghte upon this wyle;
1440
That he his nevew Iasoun wolde enhorte
To sailen to that lond, him to disporte,
And seide, 'Nevew, if hit mighte be
That swich a worship mighte fallen thee,
That thou this famous tresor mightest winne,
1445
And bringen hit my regioun with-inne,
Hit were to me gret plesaunce and honour;
(80)
[Than were I holde to quyte thy labour].
And al the cost I wol my-selven make;
And chees what folk that thou wilt with thee take;
1450
Lat see now, darstow taken this viage?'
Iasoun was yong, and lusty of corage,
And under-took to doon this ilke empryse.
Anoon [Argus] his shippes gan devyse;
With Iasoun wente the stronge Ercules,
1455
And many an-other that he with him chees.
But who-so axeth who is with him gon,
(90)
[Lat him go reden Argonauticon],
For he wol telle a tale long y-now.
[Philotetes] anoon the sail up-drow,
1460
Whan that the wind was good, and gan him hye
Out of his contree called Tessalye.
So long he sailed in the salte see
Til in the yle [Lemnoun] aryved he—
Al be this nat rehersed of Guido,
1465
Yet seith Ovyde in his Epistles so—
And of this yle lady was and quene
(100)
The faire yonge [Isiphilee], the shene,
That whylom [Thoas doghter was, the king].
[Isiphilee was goon in her playing];
1470
And, roming on the clyves by the see,
Under a banke anoon espyed she
Wher that the ship of Iasoun gan aryve.
Of her goodnesse adoun she sendeth blyve
To witen yif that any straunge wight
1475
With tempest thider were y-blowe a-night,
To doon him [socour]; as was her usaunce
(110)
To forthren every wight, and doon plesaunce
Of veray bountee and of curtesye.
This messagere adoun [him] gan to hye,
1480
And fond Iasoun, and Ercules also,
That in a [cogge] to londe were y-go
Hem to refresshen and to take the eyr.
The morwening atempre was and fair;
And in his wey the messagere hem mette.
1485
Ful cunningly thise lordes two he grette,
And dide his message, axing hem anoon
(120)
Yif they were [broken], or [oght wo begoon],
Or hadde nede of [lodesmen] or vitaile;
For of socour they shulde no-thing faile,
1490
For hit was utterly the quenes wille.
Iasoun answerde, mekely and stille,
'My lady,' quod he, 'thanke I hertely
Of hir goodnesse; us nedeth, trewely,
No-thing as now, but that we wery be,
1495
And come for to pleye, out of the see,
Til that the wind be better in our weye.'
(130)
This lady rometh by the clif to pleye,
With her meynee, endelong the stronde,
And fynt this Iasoun and this other stonde,
1500
In spekinge of this thing, as I yow tolde.
This Ercules and Iasoun gan beholde
How that the quene hit was, and faire her grette
Anon-right as they with this lady mette;
And she took heed, and knew, by hir manere,
1505
By hir aray, by wordes and by chere,
That hit were gentil-men, of greet degree.
(140)
And to the castel with her ledeth she
Thise straunge folk, and doth hem greet honour,
[And axeth hem of travail and labour]
1510
That they han suffred in the salte see;
So that, within a day, or two, or three,
She knew, by folk that in his shippes be,
That hit was Iasoun, ful of renomee,
And Ercules, that had the grete [los],
1515
That soghten [the aventures] of Colcos;
And dide hem honour more then before,
(150)
And with hem deled ever lenger the more,
For they ben worthy folk, with-outen lees.
And namely, most she spak with Ercules;
1520
To him her herte bar, he sholde be
Sad, wys, and trewe, of wordes avisee,
With-outen any other affeccioun
Of love, or evil imaginacioun.
This Ercules hath so this Iasoun preysed,
1525
That to the sonne he hath him up areysed,
That half so trewe a man ther nas of love
(160)
Under the cope of heven that is above;
[And he was wys, hardy, secree, and riche].—
Of thise [three pointes] ther nas noon him liche;
1530
Of freedom passed he, and lustihede,
Alle tho that liven or ben dede;
Ther-to so greet a gentil-man was he,
And of [Tessalie] lykly king to be.
Ther nas no lak, but that he was agast
1535
To love, and for to speke [shamefast].
[He hadde lever] him-self to mordre, and dye
(170)
Than that men shulde a lover him espye:—
'As wolde [almighty] god that I had yive
My blood and flesh, so that I mighte live,
1540
[With the nones] that he hadde o-wher a wyf
For his estat; for swich a lusty lyf
She sholde lede with this lusty knight!'
And al this was compassed on the night
Betwixe him Iasoun and this Ercules.
1545
Of thise two heer was mad a shrewed lees
[To come to hous upon] an innocent;
(180)
For to be-dote this queen was hir assent.
And Iasoun is as coy as is a maide,
He loketh pitously, but noght he saide,
1550
But frely yaf he to her conseileres
[Yiftes] grete, and to her officeres.
[As wolde god] I leiser hadde, and tyme,
By proces al his wowing for to ryme.
But in this hous if any fals lover be,
1555
Right as him-self now doth, right so dide he,
With feyning and with every sotil dede.
(190)
Ye gete no more of me, but ye wil rede
[Thoriginal], that telleth al the cas.
The somme is this, that Iasoun wedded was
1560
Unto this quene, and took of her substaunce
What-so him liste, unto his purveyaunce;
And upon her begat he children two,
And drow his sail, and saw her never-mo.
[A lettre sente she to him certein],
1565
Which were to long to wryten and to sein,
And him repreveth of his grete untrouthe,
(200)
And preyeth him on her to have som routhe.
And of his children two, she seide him this,
That they be lyke, of alle thing, y-wis,
1570
To Iasoun, save they coude nat begyle;
And preyed god, or hit were longe whyle,
That she, that had his herte y-raft her fro,
Moste finden him to her untrewe al-so,
And that she moste bothe her children spille,
1575
And alle tho that suffreth him his wille.
And trew to Iasoun was she al her lyf,
(210)
And ever kepte her chast, as for his wyf;
Ne never had she Ioye at her herte,
But dyed, for his love, of sorwes smerte.
Part II. The Legend of Medea.
1580
[To Colcos comen is this duk Iasoun],
[That is of love devourer and dragoun].
[As matere appetyteth forme al-wey],
And from forme in-to forme hit passen may,
Or as a welle that were botomlees,
1585
Right so can fals Iasoun have no pees.
For, to desyren, through his appetyt,
(220)
To doon with gentil wommen his delyt,
This is his lust and his felicitee.
Iasoun is romed forth to the citee,
1590
That whylom cleped was [Iaconitos],
That was the maister-toun of al Colcos,
And hath y-told the cause of his coming
Un-to Oëtes, of that contre king,
[Preying] him that he [moste] doon his assay
1595
To gete the flees of gold, if that he may;
Of which the king assenteth to his bone,
(230)
[And doth him honour, as hit is to done],
So ferforth, that his doghter and his eyr,
Medea, which that was so wys and fair
1600
That fairer saw ther never man with yë,
He made her doon to Iasoun companye
At mete, and sitte by him in the halle.
Now was Iasoun a semely man with-alle,
And lyk a lord, and had a greet renoun,
1605
[And of his loke as real as leoun],
And goodly of his speche, and [famulere],
(240)
And coude of love al craft and art plenere
With-oute boke, with everich observaunce.
And, [as fortune her oghte a foul meschaunce],
1610
She wex enamoured upon this man.
'Iasoun,' quod she, 'for ought I see or can,
As of this thing the which ye been aboute,
Ye han your-self y-put in moche doute.
For, who-so wol this aventure acheve,
1615
He may nat wel asterten, as I leve,
With-outen deeth, but I his helpe be.
(250)
[But natheles, hit is my wille,' quod she],
'To forthren yow, so that ye shal nat dye,
But turnen, sound, hoom to your Tessalye.'
1620
['My righte lady,' quod this Iasoun tho],
'That ye han of my dethe or of my wo
Any reward, and doon me this honour,
I wot wel that my might ne my labour
May nat deserve hit in my lyves day;
1625
God thanke yow, ther I ne can ne may.
Your man am I, and lowly you beseche,
(260)
To been my help, with-oute more speche;
But certes, for my deeth shal I nat spare.'
Tho gan this Medea to him declare
1630
The peril of this cas, fro point to point,
And of his batail, and in what [disioint]
He mote stande, of which no creature,
Save only she, ne mighte his lyf assure.
And shortly, to the point right for to go,
1635
They been accorded ful, betwix hem two,
That Iasoun shal her wedde, as trewe knight;
(270)
And term y-set, to come sone at night
Unto her chambre, and make ther his ooth,
[Upon the goddes, that he, for leef ne looth],
1640
Ne sholde her never falsen, night ne day,
To been her husbond, whyl he liven may,
As she that from his deeth him saved here.
And her-upon, at night they mette y-fere,
And doth his ooth, and goth with her to bedde.
1645
And on the morwe, upward he him spedde;
For she hath taught him how he shal nat faile
(280)
The flees to winne, and stinten his bataile;
And saved him his lyf and his honour;
And gat him greet name as a conquerour
1650
Right through the sleight of her enchantement.
Now hath Iasoun the flees, and hoom is went
With Medea, and tresor ful gret woon.
But [unwist of] her fader is she goon
To Tessaly, with duk Iasoun her leef,
1655
That afterward hath broght her to mescheef.
For as a traitour he is from her go,
(290)
And with her lafte his yonge children two,
And falsly hath betrayed her, allas!
And ever in love a cheef traitour he was;
1660
And wedded yit the thridde wyf anon,
That was [the doghter] of the king Creon.
[This is the meed of loving and guerdon]
That Medea received of Iasoun
Right for her trouthe and for her kindenesse,
1665
That loved him better than her-self, I gesse,
And lafte her fader and her heritage.
(300)
And of Iasoun this is the [vassalage],
That, in his dayes, nas ther noon y-founde
So fals a lover going on the grounde.
1670
And therfor in her [lettre] thus she seyde
First, whan she of his falsnesse him umbreyde,
'[Why lyked me] thy yelow heer to see
More then the boundes of myn honestee,
Why lyked me thy youthe and thy fairnesse,
1675
And of thy tonge the infinit graciousnesse?
O, haddest thou in thy conquest deed y-be,
(310)
Ful mikel untrouthe had ther dyed with thee!'
Wel can Ovyde her lettre in vers endyte,
Which were as now to long for me to wryte.
Explicit Legenda Ysiphile et Medee, Martirum.
1370. A. T. Add. tender; rest repeat gentil. C. has tendere wemen gentil. 1373. A. C. farced; F. Tn. Th. farsed; B. forsed; P. filled; T. versyd. 1375. P. A. thy; rest om. 1377. Here MS. P. ends. 1386. C. T. A. Th. Add. love and; F. Tn. B. and gretter. 1387. C. A. abought; rest bought. C. T. A. Add. his; rest om. 1389. C. et (= eteth); rest eteth (etith). 1391. C. hath; rest om. (badly). 1392. C. T. Add. Al haue he; F. Alle thof he haue. 1396. F. Tn. B. and; rest as. C. Guido; T. A. Guydo; Add. Gwydo; F. Tn. Th. B. Ouyde. 1397. F. Tn. B. knyght; rest kyng (see l. 1401); see note. 1405. So C.; rest Of fredom, of strength, and of lustynesse. 1409. C. T. Add. hadde. 1418. C. To syndyn; T. Add. To send; Tn. Th. B. That to senden; F. That to selden (!). 1427. F. Tn. Th. B. ther; rest therin. C. may se. 1433. T. Th. moche; F. muche; C. meche othir. 1438. C. Oetes; rest Otes (Otys). 1443. C. T. A. Add. a; rest om. 1444. T. A. C. mightest; rest myghte. 1445. C. T. bryngyn; rest brynge (bring). 1448. C. T. A. Add. cost; rest costes. 1449. C. om. And. A. ches; F. Tn. T. B. chese; Th. chose; C. Schis (!). C. A. that; rest om. 1452. C. T. Add. om. ilke. 1457. T. A. Add. go; rest om. C. ryde; rest rede; better reden. 1460. C. T. Add. that; rest om. 1463. All insert of after yle (needlessly). Th. Lemnon; A. Lennoun; C. lenoun (for lēnoun = lemnoun); F. Tn. B. leonoun; T. Add. lenon (= lemnon). 1471. F. brake (!); A. bonk; rest banke. 1472. So C. T. A. Add.; F. Tn. Th. B. Wher lay the shippe, that Iasoun (no sense). 1476. C. F. B. hem; rest him. 1481. C. A. cog; T. Add. boote; rest cogge. 1483. F. atempree. 1486. C. T. A. Add. axinge; rest askynge. 1487. F. B. om. oght. 1489. C. T. A. Add, of; rest om. 1490. F. Tn. B. omit this line. 1498. C. endelong (as in Kn. Tale); F. endlonge. 1499. C. F. Add. these other; rest this other. 1506. F. hit; C. Tn. Th. B. it; T. A. Add. they. 1512. F. Tn. Th. B. by the (for by). 1519. F. (only) she spake moste; Add. om. most. 1523. C. euyl; A. euill; rest any othir (caught from l. 1522). 1524. C. T. A. Add. so; rest om. 1525. C. T. A. Add. him; rest hyt (it). C. areysid; rest reysed. 1526. C. om. half. 1527. C. cape; rest cope. 1536. F. A. B. Add. He; rest Him (badly). 1538. A. almychti; rest om. 1540. C. With nonys; read With th' nones. 1545. T. made; rest omit; but sense and metre require it. 1547. C. T. Add. assent; B. intente (which will not rime); rest entent (but Chaucer uses entente). 1548. F. Thise; B. As; rest And. 1550. F. B. om. he. 1552. F. B. god wolde; rest wolde god. C. T. Add. I; rest that I. 1559. C. T. somme; A. text; rest sothe (soth). 1564. F. Tn. Th. B. om. to. 1569. F. B. (only) om. they. 1573. C. Th. Muste; F. Tn. B. Most; T. A. Myght. 1578. F. And; rest Ne. 1582. F. nature; C. matier; Tn. Th. B. matire; T. A. matyr. C. apetitith; T. Add. appetyteth; rest appeteth (!). 1583. F. Tn. Th. B. to (for in-to). 1585. A. (only) this false; rest om. this. F. Th. B. om. fals. (Accent Right.) 1590. C. T. Iaconitos; A. Iacomitos; F. Tn. Th. B. Iasonicos; (Latin Iaconites). 1593. F. Vnto tho (!). C. Oetes; Add. Cetes; T Cytees (!); rest Otes. 1599. F. Tn. B. Add. and so feyre. 1605. C. T. Th. B. Add. as a leoun (lyoun). 1613. C. han; T. A. Add. haue; rest and (!). 1626. T. A. Th. lowly; F. louly; B. loulye; C. louely; Tn. lowe. 1631. C. T. A. Add. And; rest om. F. Tn. om. in. 1634. C. T. A. Add. to the point right; rest ryght to the poynt. 1642. C. T. sauyth; rest saued. F. B. there; rest here. 1643. F. Tn. B. omit; C. has And here vp a nyght, &c. 1649. C. T. gat; A. gatt; Add. Th. gate; rest gete. F. B. (only) om. him. T. gret; Add. grete; A. om.; rest a. C. ryth as; T. A. ryght as; Add. lyke as; rest as. 1652. F. Tn. Th. B. tresoures; C. tresor; T. A. Add. tresour. 1657. T. A. his; C. hire; rest om. 1659. C. thef and (for cheef). 1661. C. A. the; rest om. 1667. F. (only) om. the. 1668. C. T. A. Add. ther; rest neuer. 1671. C. Fyrst of his falsenesse whan she hym vpbreyde.
V. THE LEGEND OF LUCRETIA.
Incipit Legenda Lucrecie Rome, martiris.
1680
[Now moot I seyn the exiling of kinges]
Of Rome, for hir horrible doinges,
And of the [laste king Tarquinius],
As saith Ovyde and Titus Livius.
[But for that cause telle I nat this storie],
1685
But for to preise and drawen to memorie
The verray wyf, the verray trewe Lucresse,
That, for her wyfhood and her stedfastnesse,
Nat only that thise payens her comende,
(10)
But he, that cleped is in our legende
1690
[The grete Austin], hath greet compassioun
Of this Lucresse, that starf at Rome toun;
And in what wyse, I wol but shortly trete,
And of this thing I touche but the grete.
[Whan Ardea beseged was aboute]
1695
With Romains, that ful sterne were and stoute,
Ful longe lay the sege, and litel [wroghte],
So that they were half ydel, as hem thoghte;
And in his pley [Tarquinius the yonge]
(20)
Gan for to iape, for he was light of tonge,
1700
And seyde, that 'it was an ydel lyf;
No man did ther no more than his wyf;
And lat us speke of wyves, that is best;
Praise every man his owne, as him lest,
And with our speche lat us ese our herte.'
1705
A knight, that highte [Colatyne], up sterte,
And seyde thus, 'nay, for hit is no nede
[To trowen on the word, but on the dede].
[I have a wyf,' quod he, 'that, as I trowe],
(30)
Is holden good of alle that ever her knowe;
1710
Go we to-night to Rome, and we shul see.'
Tarquinius answerde, ['that lyketh me.']
To Rome be they come, and faste hem dighte
To Colatynes hous, and doun they lighte,
Tarquinius, and eek this Colatyne.
1715
The husbond [knew the estres] wel and fyne,
[And prively into the hous they goon];
Nor at the gate porter was ther noon;
And at the chambre-dore they abyde.
(40)
This noble wyf sat by her beddes syde
1720
[Dischevele], for no [malice] she ne thoghte;
[And softe wolle our book seith that she wroghte]
To kepen her fro slouthe and ydelnesse;
And bad her servants doon hir businesse,
And axeth hem, 'what tydings heren ye?
1725
How seith men of the sege, how shal hit be?
God wolde the walles weren falle adoun;
Myn husbond is so longe out of this toun,
For which the dreed doth me so sore smerte,
(50)
[Right as a swerd hit stingeth to myn herte]
1730
Whan I think on the sege or of that place;
God save my lord, I preye him for his grace:'—
[And ther-with-al ful tenderly she weep,]
And of her werk she took no more keep,
But mekely she leet her eyen falle;
1735
And thilke semblant sat her wel with-alle.
And eek her teres, ful of honestee,
Embelisshed her wyfly chastitee;
Her countenaunce is to her herte digne,
(60)
For they acordeden in dede and signe.
1740
[And with that word her husbond Colatyn],
Or she of him was war, com sterting in,
And seide, 'dreed thee noght, for I am here!'
And she anoon up roos, with blisful chere,
And kiste him, as of wyves is the wone.
1745
[Tarquinius, this proude kinges sone],
Conceived hath her beautee and her chere,
Her yelow heer, her shap, and her manere,
Her hew, her wordes that she hath compleyned,
(70)
And by no crafte her beautee nas nat feyned;
1750
And caughte to this lady swich desyr,
That in his herte brende as any fyr
So woodly, that his wit was al forgeten.
For wel, thoghte he, she sholde nat be geten
And ay the more that he was in dispair,
1755
The more he coveteth and thoghte her fair.
His blinde lust was al his covetinge.
[A-morwe, whan the brid began to singe],
Unto the sege he comth ful privily,
(80)
[And by himself he walketh sobrely],
1760
Thimage of her recording alwey newe;
'Thus lay her heer, and thus fresh was her hewe;
Thus sat, thus spak, thus span; this was her chere,
Thus fair she was, and this was her manere.'
Al this conceit his herte hath now y-take.
1765
And, as the see, with tempest [al to-shake],
That, after whan the storm is al ago,
Yet wol the water quappe a day or two,
Right so, thogh that her forme wer absent,
(90)
The plesaunce of her forme was present;
1770
But natheles, nat plesaunce, but delyt,
[Or an unrightful talent with despyt];
'For, maugre her, she shal my lemman be;
[Hap helpeth hardy man alday],' quod he;
'[What ende that I make, hit shal be so];'
1775
And [girt] him with his swerde, and gan to go;
And forth he rit til he to Rome is come,
And al aloon his wey than hath he nome
Unto the house of Colatyn ful right.
(100)
Doun was the sonne, and day hath lost his light;
1780
And in he com un-to a privy [halke],
And in the night ful theefly [gan he stalke],
Whan every night was to his reste broght,
Ne no wight had of tresoun swich a thoght.
Were hit by window or by other gin,
1785
With swerde y-drawe, shortly he comth in
Ther as she lay, this noble wyf Lucresse.
And, as she wook, her bed she felte presse.
'What beste is that,' quod she, 'that weyeth thus?'
(110)
'I am the kinges sone, Tarquinius,'
1790
Quod he, 'but and thou crye, or noise make,
Or if thou any creature awake,
By thilke god that formed man on lyve,
This swerd through-out thyn herte shal I ryve.'
And ther-withal unto her throte he sterte,
1795
And sette the point al sharp upon her herte.
No word she spak, she hath no might therto.
What shal she sayn? her wit is al ago.
[Right as a wolf that fynt a lomb aloon],
(120)
To whom shal she compleyne, or make moon?
1800
[What! shal she fighte with an hardy knight?]
Wel wot men that a woman hath no might.
What! shal she crye, or how shal she asterte
That hath her by the throte, with swerde at herte?
She axeth grace, and seith al that she can.
1805
'Ne wolt thou nat,' quod he, this cruel man,
'As wisly Iupiter my soule save,
As I shal in the stable slee thy knave,
And leye him in thy bed, and loude crye,
(130)
That I thee finde in suche avouterye;
1810
And thus thou shalt be deed, and also lese
Thy name, for thou shalt non other chese.'
[Thise Romain wyves loveden so hir name]
At thilke tyme, and dredden so the shame,
That, what for fere of slaundre and drede of deeth,
1815
She loste bothe at-ones wit and breeth,
And in a swough she lay and wex so deed,
Men mighte smyten of her arm or heed;
She feleth no-thing, neither foul ne fair.
(140)
Tarquinius, that art a kinges eyr,
1820
And sholdest, as by linage and by right,
Doon as a lord and as a verray knight,
Why hastow doon dispyt to chivalrye?
Why hastow doon this lady vilanye?
Allas! of thee this was a vileins dede!
1825
But now to purpos; in the story I rede,
Whan he was goon, al this mischaunce is falle.
[This lady sente after her frendes alle],
Fader, moder, husbond, al y-fere;
(150)
And al dischevele, with her heres clere,
1830
In habit swich as women used tho
Unto the burying of her frendes go,
She sit in halle with a sorweful sighte.
Her frendes axen what her aylen mighte,
And who was deed? And she sit ay wepinge,
1835
A word for shame ne may she forth out-bringe,
Ne upon hem she dorste nat beholde.
But atte laste of Tarquiny she hem tolde,
[This rewful cas, and al this thing horrible].
(160)
The wo to tellen hit were impossible,
1840
That she and alle her frendes made atones.
Al hadde folkes hertes been of stones,
Hit mighte have maked hem upon her rewe,
Her herte was so wyfly and so trewe.
She seide, that, for her gilt ne for her blame,
1845
Her husbond sholde nat have the foule name,
That wolde she nat suffre, by no wey.
[And they answerden alle, upon hir fey],
That they foryeve hit her, for hit was right;
(170)
Hit was no gilt, hit lay nat in her might;
1850
And seiden her ensamples many oon.
But al for noght; for thus she seide anoon,
'Be as be may,' quod she, 'of forgiving,
I wol nat have no forgift for no-thing.'
But prively she caughte forth a knyf,
1855
And therwith-al she rafte her-self her lyf;
[And as she fel adoun, she caste her look],
And of her clothes yit she hede took;
For in her falling yit she hadde care
(180)
Lest that her feet or swiche thing lay bare;
1860
So wel she loved clennesse and eek trouthe.
[Of her had al the toun of Rome routhe],
And Brutus by her chaste blode hath swore
That Tarquin sholde y-banisht be ther-fore,
And al his kin; and let the peple calle,
1865
And openly the tale he tolde hem alle,
And openly let carie her on a bere
Through al the toun, that men may see and here
The horrible deed of her oppressioun.
(190)
Ne never was ther king in Rome toun
1870
Sin thilke day; and she was holden there
[A seint], and ever her day y-halwed dere
As in hir lawe: and thus endeth Lucresse,
The noble wyf, as Titus bereth witnesse.
I tell hit, for she was of love so trewe,
1875
Ne in her wille she chaunged for no newe.
And for the stable herte, sad and kinde,
That in these women men may alday finde;
Ther as they caste hir herte, ther hit dwelleth.
(200)
For wel I wot, that Crist him-selve telleth,
1880
[That in Israel], as wyd as is the lond,
That so gret feith in al the lond he ne fond
[As in a woman]; and this is no lye.
And [as of] men, loketh which tirannye
They doon [alday]; assay hem who so liste,
1885
The trewest is ful brotel for to triste.
Explicit Legenda Lucrecie Rome, Martiris.
1681. F. B. dedes; rest doinges. 1682. Addit. (12524) And; rest om. 1685. F. B. to (for and); rest and. 1686. C. trewe; rest om. 1689. F. Tn. Th. B. om. he. 1693. F. omits this line; I give the spelling as in MS. T., changing thyng into thing. 1696, 1697. C. F. Tn. Th. B. wroughten, thoughten; but thoughten is bad grammar; T. A. Add. wrought, thought. 1701. C. no; rest om. 1705. C. highte; Tn. hat; rest hyght (perhaps read hatte). 1710. So C. T. Add.; rest to Rome to nyght. 1715. B. estres; C. A. estris; F. Tn. esters; T. estes (!); Th. efters (!!). 1716. All but T. Add. needlessly insert ful after And. 1718. C. they gan abyde. 1720. C. Discheuele; F. Disshevely. 1721. T. Add. oure boke seyth; C. seyth (om. our book); Th. saith Liui; rest seyth our boke. 1725. C seith; F. sayne. 1727. C. Th. so; rest to. 1728. C. sore; rest to (badly). 1729, 1730. C. has—That with a swerd me thynkyth that to myn herte It styngith me whan I thynke on that place. 1730. T. A. Add. the sege; F. Tn. B. these (for the sege); Th. this. 1731. F. my; rest his (before grace). 1736. F. the (for her). A. T. honestee; C. oneste; B. heuyte (!); F. hevytee (!); Tn. Th. heuynesse. 1737. C. Emblemyschid (!). Th. chastnesse. C. puts ll. 1738-9 after l. 1743. 1744. C. kiste; rest kissed. 1747. C. T. A. Add. shap; rest bounte. 1749. C. nas; rest was. 1751. C. brende; B. brente; F. Tn. brent. 1752. C. is al; Th. A. was al; rest was. 1754. C. T. A. Add. that; rest om. 1757. F. Tn. Th. B. On; rest A. 1760. C. Thymage; rest The ymage. 1763. F. T. This; rest Thus. 1764. C. A. now; rest newe (new). 1766. C. Yit (for That). 1770. C. om. But. 1773. C. T. A. alday; rest alway. 1776. C. forth he rit; A. Addit. (12524) forth he ride; F. Tn. Th. he forth right (!). 1784. C. T. A. Add. Were hit; rest Whether. 1787. F. felt; C. felte. 1793. C. thour-out; T. thorout; A. throughout; rest om. out. 1795. C. T. A. Add. point; rest swerd. C. vp-on; T. opon; Tn. Th. on; rest unto. 1798. C. T. A. fynt; Add. fyndyth; rest fayneth or feyneth (!). C. lomb; Add. lombe; T. A. Th. lambe; rest loue (!). 1801. C. T. A. Add. that; rest om. 1802. F. Add. sterte; rest asterte (astert). 1804. C. T. A. Add. seyth; rest seyde. 1805. C. A. Add. he; T. tho; rest om. 1807. F. Tn. Th. B. om. As. 1809. C. auouterye; F. avowtrye. 1811. C. T. A. Add. non other; rest not. 1815. C. at onys bothe; rest bothe atones. 1816. C. wex; B. wexe; Tn. wax; T. wexed; A. wox; F. Th. woxe. 1821. F. Tn. Th. B. om. 2nd as. C. worthi (for verray). 1823. C. T. A. Add. this; rest thy. 1824. C. vileyn; A. T. vileyns; Add. vilons; F. B. Tn. vilenouse; Th. villaynous. 1825. F. Tn. Th. B. insert the after to. 1829. F. Tn. Th. B. om. al. C. herys; A. heeres; F. heer; Tn. T. Th. B. here (heare, heere). C. has lost ll. 1836-1907. 1840. Add. made; T. maden; A. maid; rest make. 1846. So all but F. Tn. B.; F. B. That nolde she suffre; Tn. That wolde she suffren nat. 1847. T. opon; A. vpon; rest vnto (badly). 1857. T. A. Add. she hede; rest hede she. 1862. So T. A. Add.; rest hath by hir chaste blood. 1873. T. A. Add. as; rest om. 1876. T. A. Add. for the; rest in her. 1879. All him-self or him-selfe. 1882. F. Add. om. and. 1883. F. women; rest men. C. has lost ll. 1836-1907.
VI. THE LEGEND OF ARIADNE.
Incipit Legenda Adriane de Athenes.
[Iuge infernal, Minos, of Crete king],
Now cometh thy lot, now comestow on the ring;
Nat for thy sake only wryte I this storie,
But for to clepe agein unto [memorie]
1890
Of Theseus the grete untrouthe of love;
For which the goddes of the heven above
Ben wrothe, and wreche han take for thy sinne.
Be reed for shame! now I thy lyf beginne.
Minos, that was the mighty king of Crete,
1895
That [hadde] an hundred citees stronge and grete,
(11)
[To scole hath sent his sone Androgeus],
To Athenes; of the whiche hit happed thus,
That he was slayn, lerning philosophye,
Right in that citee, nat but for envye.
1900
[The grete Minos, of the whiche I speke],
His sones deeth is comen for to wreke;
[Alcathoe] he bisegeth harde and longe.
But natheles the walles be so stronge,
And [Nisus], that was king of that citee,
1905
So chivalrous, that litel dredeth he;
(21)
Of Minos or his ost took he no cure,
Til on a day befel an aventure,
That [Nisus doghter] stood upon the wal,
And of the sege saw the maner al.
1910
So happed hit, that, at a scarmishing,
She caste her herte upon Minos the king,
For his beautee and for his chivalrye,
So sore, that she wende for to dye.
And, shortly of this proces for to pace,
1915
She made Minos winnen thilke place,
(31)
So that the citee was al at his wille,
To saven whom him list, or elles spille;
But wikkedly he quitte her kindenesse,
And let her drenche in sorowe and distresse,
1920
Nere that the goddes hadde of her pite;
But that tale were to long as now for me.
[Athenes wan this king Minos also],
And Alcathoe and other tounes mo;
And this theffect, that Minos hath so driven
1925
[Hem of Athenes, that they mote him yiven]
(41)
Fro yere to yere her owne children dere
For to be slayn, as ye shul after here.
This Minos hath a [monstre], a wikked beste,
That was so cruel that, without areste,
1930
Whan that a man was broght in his presence,
He wolde him ete, ther helpeth no defence.
And [every thridde yeer], with-outen doute,
They casten lot, and, as hit com aboute
On riche, on pore, he moste his sone take,
1935
And of his child he moste present make
(51)
Unto Minos, to save him or to spille,
Or lete his beste devoure him at his wille.
And this hath Minos don, right in despyt;
To wreke his sone was set al his delyt,
1940
And maken hem of Athenes his thral
Fro yere to yere, whyl that he liven shal;
And hoom he saileth whan this toun is wonne.
This wikked custom is so longe y-ronne
Til that of Athenes king [Egeus]
1945
Mot sende his owne sone, Theseus,
(61)
Sith that the lot is fallen him upon,
To be devoured, for grace is ther non.
And forth is lad this woful yonge knight
Unto the court of king Minos ful right,
1950
And in a prison, fetered, cast is he
Til thilke tyme he sholde y-freten be.
Wel maystow wepe, O woful Theseus,
That art a kinges sone, and dampned thus.
Me thinketh this, [that thou were depe y-holde]
1955
To whom that saved thee fro cares colde!
(71)
And now, if any woman helpe thee,
Wel oughtestow her servant for to be,
And been her trewe lover yeer by yere!
But now to come ageyn to my matere.
1960
[The tour, ther as this Theseus is throwe]
Doun in the botom derke and wonder lowe,
Was ioyning in the walle to a [foreyne];
And hit was longing to the doghtren tweyne
Of king Minos, that in hir chambres grete
1965
Dwelten above, toward the [maister-strete],
(81)
[In mochel mirthe], in Ioye and in solas.
Not I nat how, hit happed ther, per cas,
As Theseus compleyned him by nighte,
The kinges doghter, [Adrian] that highte,
1970
And eek her suster Phedra, herden al
His compleyning, as they stode on the wal
And lokeden upon the brighte mone;
Hem leste nat to go to bedde sone.
And of his wo they had compassioun;
1975
A kinges sone to ben in swich prisoun
(91)
And be devoured, thoughte hem gret pitee.
Than Adrian spak to her suster free,
And seyde, 'Phedra, leve suster dere,
This woful lordes sone may ye nat here,
1980
How pitously compleyneth he his kin,
And eek his pore estat that he is in,
And gilteless? now certes, hit is routhe!
And if ye wol assenten, by my trouthe,
He shal be holpen, how so that we do!'
1985
Phedra answerde, 'y-wis, me is as wo
(101)
For him as ever I was for any man;
And, to his help, the beste reed I can
Is that we doon the gayler prively
To come, and speke with us hastily,
1990
[And doon this woful man with him to come].
For if he may this monstre overcome,
Than were he [quit]; ther is noon other bote.
Lat us wel [taste] him at his herte-rote,
That, if so be that he a wepen have,
1995
Wher that he dar, his lyf to kepe and save,
(111)
[Fighten] with this fend, and him defende.
For, in the prison, [ther he shal descende],
Ye wite wel, that the beste is in a place
That nis nat derk, and hath roum eek and space
2000
To welde an ax or swerd or staf or knyf,
So that, me thinketh, he sholde save his lyf;
If that he be a man, he [shal do] so.
And we shul make him balles eek also
[Of wexe and towe, that, whan he gapeth faste],
2005
Into the bestes throte he shal hem caste
(121)
To slake his hunger and encombre his teeth;
And right anon, whan that Theseus seeth
The beste achoked, he shal on him lepe
To sleen him, or they comen more [to-hepe].
2010
This wepen shal the gayler, or that tyde,
Ful privily within the prison hyde;
And, for [the hous] is [crinkled] to and fro,
And hath so queinte weyes for to go—
For hit is shapen as the mase is wroght—
2015
Therto have I a remedie in my thoght,
(131)
That, by a clewe of twyne, as he hath goon,
The same wey he may returne anoon,
Folwing alwey the threed, as he hath come.
And, whan that he this beste hath overcome,
2020
Then may he fleen awey out of this [drede],
And eek the gayler may he with him lede,
And him avaunce at hoom in his contree,
Sin that so greet a lordes sone is he.
This is my reed, if that he dar hit take.'
2025
What sholde I lenger sermoun of hit make?
(141)
The gayler cometh, and with him Theseus.
And whan thise thinges been acorded thus,
Adoun sit Theseus [upon his knee]:—
'[The righte] lady of my lyf,' quod he,
2030
'I, sorweful man, y-dampned to the deeth,
Fro yow, whyl that me lasteth lyf or breeth,
I wol nat twinne, after this aventure,
But in your servise thus I wol endure,
That, as a wrecche unknowe, I wol yow serve
2035
For ever-mo, til that myn herte sterve.
(151)
Forsake I wol at hoom myn heritage,
And, as I seide, [ben of your court a page],
If that ye vouche-sauf that, in this place,
Ye graunte me to han so gret a grace
2040
That I may han [nat but] my mete and drinke;
And for my sustenance yit wol I [swinke],
Right as yow list, that Minos ne no wight—
Sin that he saw me never with eyen sight—
[Ne no man elles, shal me conne espye];
2045
So slyly and so wel I shal me gye,
(161)
And me so wel disfigure and so lowe,
That in this world ther shal no man me knowe,
[To han my lyf, and for to han presence]
Of yow, that doon to me this excellence.
2050
And to my fader shal I senden here
This worthy man, that is [now] your gaylere,
And, him to guerdon, that he shal wel be
Oon of the grettest men of my contree.
And yif I dorste seyn, my lady bright,
2055
I am a kinges sone, and eek a knight;
(171)
As wolde god, [yif] that hit mighte be
Ye weren in my contree, alle three,
And I with yow, to bere yow companye,
Than shulde ye seen yif that I ther-of lye!
2060
And, if I profre yow in low manere
To ben your page and serven yow right here,
But I yow serve as lowly in that place,
[I prey to Mars to yive me swiche a grace]
That [shames deeth] on me ther mote falle,
2065
And deeth and [povert] to my frendes alle;
(181)
And that my [spirit] by nighte mote [go]
After my deeth, and walke to and fro;
That I mote of a traitour have a name,
[For which] my spirit [go], to do me shame!
2070
And yif I ever claime [other degree],
But-if ye vouche-sauf to yive hit me,
As I have seid, [of shames deeth I deye]!
And mercy, lady! I can nat elles seye!'
A seemly knight was Theseus to see,
2075
And yong, but of yeer and three;
(191)
But who-so hadde y-seyn his countenaunce,
He wolde have wept, for routhe of his penaunce;
For which this Adriane in this manere
Answerde to his profre and to his chere.
2080
'A kinges sone, and eek a knight,' quod she,
'To been my servant in so low degree,
[God shilde hit], for the shame of women alle!
And [leve] [me] never swich a cas befalle!
But sende yow grace and sleighte of herte also,
2085
Yow to defende and knightly sleen your fo,
(201)
[And leve] herafter that I may yow finde
To me and to my suster here so kinde,
That I repente nat to give yow lyf!
[Yit were hit better] that I were your wyf,
2090
Sin that ye been as gentil born as I,
And have a rëaume, nat but faste by,
Then that I suffred giltles yow to sterve,
Or that I let yow as a page serve;
Hit is not [profit], as unto your kinrede;
2095
But what is that that man nil do for drede?
(211)
And [to my] suster, sin that hit is so
That she mot goon with me, if that I go,
Or elles suffre deeth as wel as I,
[That] ye unto your [sone] as trewely
2100
Doon her be wedded at your [hoom-coming].
This is the [fynal ende] of al this thing;
Ye swere hit heer, on al that may be sworn.'
'Ye, lady myn,' quod he, 'or elles torn
Mote I be with the Minotaur to-morwe!
2105
And haveth her-of my herte-blood [to borwe],
(221)
Yif that ye wile; if I had knyf or spere,
I wolde hit leten out, [and ther-on swere],
For than at erst I wot ye wil me leve.
By Mars, that is the cheef of my bileve,
2110
So that I mighte liven and nat faile
To-morwe for tacheve my bataile,
I nolde never fro this place flee,
Til that ye shuld the verray preve see.
For now, if that the sooth I shal yow say,
2115
I have y-loved yow ful many a day,
(231)
Thogh ye ne wiste hit nat, in my contree.
And aldermost desyred yow to see
Of any erthly living creature;
Upon my trouthe I swere, and yow assure,
2120
Thise seven yeer I have your [servant] be;
Now have I yow, and also have ye me,
My dere herte, [of Athenes duchesse]!'
This lady smyleth at his stedfastnesse,
And at his hertly wordes, and his chere,
2125
And to her suster seide in this manere,
(241)
Al softely, 'now, suster myn,' quod she,
'Now be we duchesses, bothe I and ye,
[And sikered to the regals of Athenes],
And bothe her-after lykly to be quenes,
2130
[And saved] fro his deeth a kinges sone,
As ever of gentil women is the wone
To save a gentil man, [emforth hir might],
In honest cause, and namely in his right.
[Me thinketh no wight oghte her-of us blame],
2135
Ne beren us ther-for an evel name.'
(251)
And shortly of this matere for to make,
This Theseus of her hath leve y-take,
And every point performed was in dede
As ye have in this covenant herd me rede.
2140
His wepen, his clew, his thing that I have said,
Was by the gayler in the hous y-laid
Ther as this Minotaur hath his dwelling,
Right faste by the dore, at his entring.
And Theseus is lad unto his deeth,
2145
And forth un-to this Minotaur he [geeth],
(261)
And by the teching of this Adriane
He overcom this beste, and was his bane;
And out he cometh by the clewe again
Ful prevely, whan he this beste hath slain;
2150
And [by] the gayler geten hath a barge,
And [of] his wyves tresor [gan hit charge],
And took his wyf, and eek her suster free,
And eek the gayler, and with hem alle three
Is stole awey out of the lond by nighte,
2155
And to the contre of [Ennopye] him dighte
(271)
Ther as he had a frend of his knowinge.
Ther festen they, ther dauncen they and singe;
And in his armes hath this Adriane,
That of the beste hath kept him from his bane;
2160
And gat him ther a newe barge anoon,
And of his contree-folk a ful gret [woon],
And taketh his leve, and hoomward saileth he.
And in an [yle], amid the wilde see,
Ther as ther dwelte creature noon
2165
Save wilde bestes, and that ful many oon,
(281)
He made his ship a-londe for to sette;
And in that yle half a day he [lette],
And seide, that on the lond he moste him reste.
His mariners han doon right as him leste;
2170
And, for to tellen shortly in this cas,
Whan Adriane his wyf a-slepe was,
For that her suster fairer was than she,
He taketh her in his hond, and forth goth he
To shippe, and as a traitour stal his way
2175
Whyl that this Adriane a-slepe lay,
(291)
And [to his contree-ward] he saileth blyve—
[A twenty devil way] the wind him dryve!—
And fond [his fader] drenched in the see.
Me list no more to speke of him, parde;
2180
Thise false lovers, poison be hir bane!
But I wol turne again to Adriane
That is with slepe for werinesse [atake].
Ful sorwefully her herte may awake.
Allas! for thee my herte hath now pite!
2185
Right in the dawening awaketh she,
(307)
[And gropeth in the bedde, and fond right noght].
'Allas!' quod she, 'that ever I was wroght!
I am betrayed!' and her heer to-rente,
[And to the stronde bar-fot faste she wente],
2190
And cryed, 'Theseus! myn herte swete!
Wher be ye, that I may nat with yow mete,
[And mighte thus with bestes been y-slain?]'
[The holwe rokkes answerde her again];
[No man she saw, and yit shyned the mone],
2195
[And hye upon a rokke she wente sone],
(311)
And saw his barge sailing in the see.
Cold wex her herte, and right thus seide she.
'[Meker than ye finde I the bestes wilde]!'
Hadde he nat sinne, that her thus begylde?
2200
She cryed, 'O turne again, for routhe and sinne!
Thy barge hath nat al his [meiny] [inne]!'
Her kerchef on a pole up stikked she,
[Ascaunce that he sholde hit wel y-see],
And him remembre that she was behinde,
2205
And turne again, and on the stronde her finde;
(321)
But al for noght; his wey he is y-goon.
And doun she fil a-swown upon a stoon;
[And up she rist, and kiste, in al her care],
The steppes of his feet, ther he hath fare,
2210
And to her bedde right thus she speketh tho:—
'Thou bed,' quod she, 'that hast receyved two,
Thou shalt [answere of] two, and nat of oon!
Wher is thy gretter part away y-goon?
Allas! [wher shal I, wrecched wight, become]!
2215
[For, thogh so be that ship or boot heer come],
(331)
Hoom to my contree dar I nat for drede;
I can my-selven in this cas nat rede!'
[What] shal I telle more her compleining?
Hit is so long, hit were an hevy thing.
2220
In [her epistle] [Naso] telleth al;
But shortly to the ende I telle shal.
The goddes have her holpen, for pitee;
And, in the signe of Taurus, men may see
The [stones of her coroun] shyne clere.—
2225
I wol no more speke of this matere;
(341)
But thus this false lover can begyle
His trewe love. The devil [quyte him his whyle]!
Explicit Legenda Adriane de Athenes.
1886. F. B. Tn. Grece; rest Crete; see l. 1894. 1888. F. B. oonly for thy sake; rest for thy sake only. F. Tn. Th. B. writen is; T. A. Add. wryte I. 1890. F. vntrewe; rest vntrouthe (vntrouth). 1891. T. A. Add. the; rest om. (after of). 1895. T. A. Th. had; B. wanne; F. whan (!); Tn. om. 1897. F. happeth; A. hapned; Add. appynyd; rest happed. 1902. Th. Alcathoe (rightly); A. Alcitoe; Tn. Alcie; T. All the cyte; F. B. And the citee. 1910. F. B. hyt happed; rest happed hit. 1911. C. caughte. 1912. C. T. A. Add. for; rest om. C. om. 1922, 1923. 1923. Th. As Alcathoe; A. As Alcitoe; F. B. And Alcites; T. With all the cyte; see l. 1902. 1924. C. But (for And). 1925. F. B. Tn. B. om. that. 1927. C. T. righ[t] as ye shal here; A. rycht thus as ye schall here. 1930. C. T. A. Add. in; rest in-to. 1932. C. om. yeer. 1933. C. T. A. Add. and; rest om. C. fil (for com). 1934. C. or; Th. Add. and; rest on. 1936. T. Add. Vn-to; rest To. C. Theseus (for Minos). 1938. C. T. A. Th. Add. right; rest om. 1940. F. B. To; rest And. 1941. C. T. A. that; rest om. 1944. C. T. Add. that; rest om. 1945. Tn. Mot; C. T. Th. Mote; rest Moste (Must). 1948. C. gon (for lad). 1949. C. T. A. Add. court; rest contree. C. T. A. Add. right; rest of might. 1951. A. thilke; C. the ilke; rest the. 1954. C. T. A. Add. were depe; F. B. depe were; Tn. depe; Th. arte depe. 1955. C. hym; T. theym; rest whom. 1960. C. A. as; T. Add. that; rest om. 1962. C. T. A. Add. in; rest to. C. Tn. T. A. Add to; F. B. Th. of. 1964. A. king; rest om. C. Of Thesius that, &c. 1965. C. T. A. Add. toward; rest om. 1966. T. In mochell myrthe; Add. In moche myrth; Th. Of the towne; rest Of Athenes(!); see note. 1967. C. Tn. Th. Not; F. A. B. Wot. T. But I not how. A. happinit; rest happed. Add. ther; T. there; rest om. 1969. F. Tn. B. Add. that Adriane (badly); Th. that Ariadne. 1971. C. T. A. Add. compleynyge; rest compleynt. 1972. C. T. lokedyn; rest loked. 1973. F. B. (only) om. 1st to. C. A. sone; rest so sone. 1980. F. Tn. B. om. he. 1982. C. now certeyn; T. A. now certes; rest certes now. 1987. F. A. B. insert that before I. 1991. F. B. the; rest this. 1995. So C.; F. B. that hys lyf he dar kepe or; Tn. Th. that he his lif dar kepe or; T. that he dar his lyfe kepe and. 1997. F. Tn. B. Th. ther as; C. T. A. om. as. 1998. F. Tn. B. omit this line. So C. Th. A. Wel wote ȝe, &c. T. The best, ye wot well that he ys, &c. 1999. Addit. (12524) rome eke and space; C. bothe roum and space; rest roume (roum) and eke space. 2003. F. Tn. B. om. him. 2007. C. what (error for whan) that; Th. T. whan that; F. Tn. A. B. whan. 2008. T. A. C. achoked; Th. acheked (!); F. Tn. asleked; B. aslakyd. 2009. F. (only) the (for they). F. to helpe (!); rest to hepe. 2012. Tn. crenkled; Th. crencled; B. cruklyd. 2015. T. (only) om. a. 2016. F. B. clywe. 2019. So C. A.; so Addit. (12625) with monstre for beste; F. Tn. Th. B. And whan this best ys ouercome (!); T. And when that he thus hath ouercome (!). 2020. C. T. A. drede; rest stede; (drede gives the better rime). 2025. T. A. Th. sermoun; C. sarmoun; rest om. 2027. C. And; rest om. 2028. C. T. A. Adoun; rest Doun. 2031. C. T. A. whil; rest whiles. F. Tn. Th. B. om. lyf or. 2032. F. Tn. B. wolde; rest wil (wol). 2035. C. A. -mo; rest -more. 2039. C. A. so gret a; T. so gret; rest suche a. 2046. F. B. so me; T. so; rest me so. 2048. C. A. for; rest om. 2051. C. now; rest om. 2052. C. F. to; Tn. T. Th. B. so; A. om. 2060. F. Tn. Th. B. insert that after if. 2063. C. A. so (for 2nd to). C. A. a; rest om. 2064. C. T. A. Th. deth; F. B. dede; Tn. deed; see l. 2072. 2065. T. pouert; rest pouerte; cf. Cant. Ta. C 441. 2068. A. a traytour; rest om. a. 2069. A. go; C. T. goth; Th. mote go; F. Tn. B. mot go (for mot-e go); see l 2066. [Go = may go.] 2070. F. B. ever y; T. C. A., I ever. 2071. C. T. A. if; rest om. 2073. F. B. no more; Tn. nat; rest nat elles. 2074. F. Tn. Th. B. this Theseus; C. T. A. om. this. 2075. C. a; rest om. 2080. F. Tn. B. badly have And a. 2083. A. leue; Th. lene; C. F. B. leue or lene; Tn. leen; (leve is right); see l. 2086. 2084. C. T. A. But; rest And. 2085. So C. A. B.; F. Tn. T. Th. to sleen (badly). 2086. F. leve (sic); A. lyve; C. B. leue (or lene); Th. lene; Tn. leen; T. graunt. C. T. A. that; rest om. 2088. C. T. A., I; rest I ne. 2089. C. T. A. that; rest om. 2090. C. T. A. that; rest om. 2091. T. reaume; Tn. reame; C. reume; rest realme. 2092. C. T. giltles ȝow; A. ȝow giltles; F. Tn. Th. B. your gentilesse (!). 2095. C. that; rest that that. C. men; T. a man; rest man. C. nyl don; A. nyl do; T. wyll do (!); F. Tn. Th. B. wol not do. 2100. F. B. to be; rest om. to. 2102. A. on; rest vpon. 2107. B. lete; F. C. Tn. T. laten; A. latten; Th. letten. 2109. C. T. A. the; rest om. 2111. C. tacheue; T. A. to acheue; F. Tn. Th. B. to taken (!). C. myn; A. T. Th. my; F. Tn. B. by (!). 2113. C. prene (rightly); F. T. prefe; Tn. A. prof; Th. profe; B. trouth. 2115. C. I-louyd; A. yloued; rest loved. 2116. F. Tn. Th. B. om. hit. 2119. C. ensure. 2124. C. Th. hertely; B. hertilye; rest hertly (hertely is more correct). F. Tn. Th. B. and at his chere. 2126. C. T. A. Al; rest And. 2134. C. her-of us; rest us her-of. 2138. All was performed; the improvement is obvious. 2139. F. B. the; rest this. 2149. F. hath thys beste; rest this beste hath. 2150-2153. F. Tn. B. omit from geten to gayler (owing to repetition of gayler). 2150. So C.; T. has getyn he hath; A. Th. gotten hath. 2151. So C. T. Th.; A. has he for hit. 2152. So C. T. A. Th. 2155. C. Ennepye; F. Tn. B. Eunopye or Ennopye; T. Ennopy; A. Ennopie; Th. Enupye. 2160. C. T. A. newe; rest noble. 2161. F. Tn. B. om. ful. 2164. C. dwellede; B. Th. dwelte; Tn. A. dwelt; F. T. dwelleth. 2168. F. Tn. B. om. that. 2182. C. atake; rest y-take. 2184. C. now; T. A. gret; rest om. 2186. C. T. graspeth; A. grapid; rest gropeth. 2188. C. & al hire her. 2193. F. B. omit this line. 2194. C. shynede; T. shynyd; A. schyneth; F. Tn. Th. B. shone. 2199. C. Hadde; T. A. Had; rest Hath. F. Tn. Th. needlessly insert he after that. 2201. F. thy (for his). 2202, 2203. T. omits these lines. 2203. C. Tn. Th. B. Ascaunce; A. Ascances; F. Aschaunce. C. A. that; rest om. 2206. C. I-gon; A. ygone; T. agone; rest goon (gone). 2207. C. T. A. upon; rest on. 2208. C. kyssith; rest kyssed (but read kiste). 2210. C. om. she. 2213. C. thyn; T. A. thy; rest the. C. I-gon; A. y-gone; rest goon (gone). 2214. C. wreche. 2215. So T.; A. that any bote her come; C. that boot here ne come (wrongly); Tn. F. B. that bote none here come (wrongly); see note. 2217. C. myn selue; F. my selfe (read my selven); rest my self. 2221. C. T. A. I telle; rest telle I. 2226, 2227. A. omits these lines. 2226. C. T. Th. this false louer; F. Tn. B. these false lovers. 2227. C. Tn. T. Th. His; F. Hyr; B. Her; but all have him. Perhaps him quyte would give a smoother line.
VII. THE LEGEND OF PHILOMELA.
Incipit Legenda Philomene.
Deus dator formarum.
[Thou yiver of the formes], that hast wroght
The faire world, and bare hit in thy thoght
2230
Eternally, or thou thy werk began,
Why madest thou, unto the slaundre of man,
Or—al be that hit was not thy doing,
[As for that fyn] to make swiche a thing—
Why suffrest thou that Tereus was bore,
2235
That is in love so fals and so forswore,
That, [fro this world] up to the [firste hevene],
(10)
[Corrumpeth], whan that folk his name nevene?
And, [as to me], so grisly was his dede,
That, whan that I his foule story rede,
2240
Myn eyen wexen foule and sore also;
[Yit last] the venim of so longe ago,
That hit enfecteth him that wol beholde
[The story of Tereus], of which I tolde.
[Of Trace was he lord], and kin to [Marte],
2245
The cruel god that stant with blody darte;
And wedded had he, with a blisful chere,
(20)
King [Pandiones] faire doghter dere,
That highte Progne, flour of her contree,
[Thogh Iuno list nat at the feste be],
2250
Ne Ymeneus, that god of wedding is;
But at the feste redy been, y-wis,
The furies three, with alle hir mortel brond.
The owle al night aboute the balkes [wond],
That prophet is of wo and of mischaunce.
2255
This revel, ful of songe and ful of daunce,
[Lasteth a fourtenight], or litel lasse.
(30)
But, shortly of this story for to passe,
For I am wery of him for to telle,
[Five yeer his wyf and he togeder dwelle],
2260
Til on a day she gan so sore longe
To seen her suster, that she [saw nat longe],
That for desyr she niste what to seye.
But to her husband gan she for to preye,
For goddes love, that she [moste] [ones] goon
2265
Her suster for to seen, [and come anoon],
[Or elles, but she moste to her wende],
(40)
She preyde him, that he wolde after her sende;
And this was, day by day, al her prayere
With al humblesse of wyfhood, word, and chere.
2270
This Tereus [let make his shippes yare],
[And into Grece him-self is forth y-fare]
Unto his fader in lawe, and gan him preye
To vouche-sauf that, for a month or tweye,
That Philomene, his wyves suster, mighte
2275
On Progne his wyf but ones have a sighte—
'And she shal come to yow again anoon.
(50)
Myself with her wol bothe come and goon,
And as myn hertes lyf I wol her kepe.'
This olde Pandion, this king, gan wepe
2280
For tendernesse of herte, for to leve
His doghter goon, and for to yive her leve;
Of al this world he [lovede] no-thing so;
But at the laste leve hath she to go.
For Philomene, with salte teres eke,
2285
Gan of her fader grace to beseke
To seen her suster, that her longeth so;
(60)
And him embraceth with her armes two.
And therwith-al so yong and fair was she
That, whan that Terëus saw her beautee,
2290
[And of array that ther was noon her liche],
And yit of bountee was she [two so riche],
He caste his fyry herte upon her so
That he wol have her, how so that hit go,
And with his wyles kneled and so preyde,
2295
Til at the laste Pandion thus seyde:—
'Now, sone,' quod he, 'that art to me so dere,
(70)
I thee betake my yonge doghter here,
That bereth the key of al my hertes lyf.
And grete wel my doghter and thy wyf,
2300
And yive her leve somtyme for to pleye,
That she may seen me ones er I deye.'
And soothly, he hath mad him riche feste,
And to his folk, the moste and eek the leste,
That with him com; and yaf him yiftes grete,
2305
And him conveyeth through the maister-strete
Of Athenes, and to the see him broghte,
(80)
And turneth hoom; no malice he ne thoghte.
[The ores pulleth forth the vessel faste],
And into Trace arriveth at the laste,
2310
And up into a forest he her ledde,
And to a cave privily him spedde;
And, in this derke cave, [yif her leste],
Or leste noght, he bad her for to reste;
Of whiche her herte agroos, and seyde thus,
2315
'Wher is my suster, brother Tereus?'
And therwith-al she wepte tenderly,
(90)
And quook for fere, pale and pitously,
Right as [the lamb] that of the wolf is biten;
Or as [the colver], that of the egle is smiten,
2320
And is out of his clawes forth escaped,
Yet hit is afered and awhaped
Lest hit be hent eft-sones, so sat she.
But utterly hit may non other be.
By force hath he, this traitour, doon that dede,
2325
That he hath reft her of her maydenhede,
Maugree her heed, by strengthe and by his might.
(100)
Lo! here a dede of men, and that a right!
She cryeth 'suster!' with ful loude stevene,
And 'fader dere!' and 'help me, god in hevene!'
2330
Al helpeth nat; and yet this false theef
Hath doon this lady yet a more mischeef,
For fere lest she sholde his shame crye,
And doon him openly a vilanye,
And with his swerd her tong of kerveth he,
2335
And in made her for to be
Ful privily in prison evermore,
(110)
And kepte her to his usage and his store,
So that she mighte him nevermore asterte.
O sely Philomene! wo is thyn herte;
2340
[God wreke thee, and sende thee thy bone]!
Now is hit tyme I make an ende sone.
[This Tereus is to his wyf y-come],
And in his armes hath his wyf y-nome,
And pitously he weep, and shook his heed,
2345
And swor her that he fond her suster deed;
For which this sely Progne hath swich wo,
(120)
That ny her sorweful herte brak a-two;
And thus in teres lete I Progne dwelle,
And of her suster forth I wol yow telle.
2350
This woful lady lerned had in youthe
So that she werken and enbrouden couthe,
And weven in her [stole] the [radevore]
As hit of women hath be woned yore.
And, shortly for to seyn, she hath her fille
2355
Of mete and drink, and clothing at her wille,
And coude eek rede, and wel y-nogh endyte,
(130)
But with a penne coude she nat wryte;
But lettres can she weven to and fro,
So that, [by that] the yeer was al a-go,
2360
How she was broght from Athenes in a barge,
And in cave how that she was broght;
And al the thing that Tereus hath wroght,
She waf hit wel, and wroot the story above,
2365
How she was served for her suster love;
And to a knave a ring she yaf anoon,
(140)
And prayed him, by signes, for to goon
Unto the quene, and beren her that clooth,
And by signes swor him many an ooth,
2370
She sholde him yeve what she geten mighte.
This knave anoon unto the quene him dighte,
And took hit her, and al the maner tolde.
[And, whan that Progne hath this thing beholde,]
No word she spak, for sorwe and eek for rage;
2375
But feyned her to goon on pilgrimage
To Bachus temple; and, in a litel stounde,
(150)
Her dombe suster sitting hath she founde,
Weping in the castel her aloon.
Allas! the wo, the [compleint], and the moon
2380
That Progne upon her dombe suster maketh!
In armes everich of hem other taketh,
And thus I lete hem in hir sorwe dwelle.
The remenant is [no charge] for to telle,
[For this is al and som, thus was she served],
2385
That never harm a-gilte ne [deserved]
Unto this cruel man, that she of wiste.
(160)
Ye may be war of men, yif that yow liste.
For, al be that he wol nat, for his shame,
Doon so as Tereus, to lese his name,
2390
Ne serve yow as a mordrour or a knave,
Ful litel whyle shul ye trewe him have,
That wol I seyn, al were he now my brother,
(166)
But hit so be that he may have non other.
Explicit Legenda Philomene.
Title. From F. After which, F. has Deus dator formatorum; B. has Deus dator formarum. 2233. C. T. A. fyn; rest fende. 2239. C. A. his; F. Tn. B. this. T. that sorrowfull story. 2241. F. B. laste (error for last); Tn. A. laft (!); C. lestyth; T. Th. lasteth. 2242. C. T. A. it; rest om. C. wele; T. wyll; Add. (12524) woll; rest wolde. 2243. B. Th. Tereus; A. Tireus; C. Therius; T. Thereus; F. Teseus; Tn. Theseus (!). [Of which I tolde = whom I mentioned (l. 2234).] See next line. 2246. C. T. A. a; rest om. 2249. C. T. A. lyst; Th. lyste; F. Tn. B. baste (!). 2252, 2253. C. Tn. A. brond, wond; rest bronde, wonde. 2256. A. Lestith; rest Laste (Last). 2277. All but C. T. badly insert I after her. 2282. T. C. loueth. 2285. F. B. Tn. for; rest of. 2286. So F. Tn. Th. B.; C. T. she loueth so; A. sche loued so. 2287-92. T. omits. 2291. B. bounte; F. bounde (error for bounte); rest beaute (but see l. 2289). A. twys; Th. to; rest two (twoo); see 736. 2294. C. wilis he so fayre hire preyede. 2297. C. T. A. here; rest repeat dere. 2301. C. Tn. T. er; rest or. 2311. F. T. in-to; rest to. 2314. Tn. a-groos; A. agros; Th. agrose; F. agrosse; T. agrysyd; C. aros (!). 2316. C. Tn. Th. B. wepte; F. wepe; T. wepyd. 2319. F. Tn. Or of; B. Or; rest Or as. 2320. F. Tn. B. om. his. 2324. C. he; rest om. 2325. F. Tn. B. om. of her. 2328. F. B. longe; rest loude. 2329. C. A. and; rest om. 2332. F. B. Tn. ferde; A. fered; rest fere. 2334. A. C. kerveth; T. kutteth; rest kerf (kerfe). 2338. So C. T. A.; Th. she ne might (om. him). F. Tn. B. omit this line and have a spurious line after 2339. 2339. C. T. A. is; F. Tn. Th. B. is in. 2345. C. say (for fond). 2346. F. B. the (for this). 2350. C. T. A. lerned; rest y-lerned. 2352. F. Tn. Th. B. om. her. F. Tn. T. Th. B. radeuore (or radenore); C. radyuore (or radynore); A. raduor. 2353. F. wore (error for yore); rest yore. 2355. C. T. A. and; rest of. 2356. C. A. coude; rest kouthe (couthe, couth). P. Tn. Th. B. put and after y-nogh. 2357. C. A. coude she: T. couthe she; rest she kouthe (couth, coulde). 2359. All but T. A. om. 2nd that. F. (only) om. al. 2360. A. C. ywouen; rest wouen (woued). C. T. A. stamyn; rest stames. 2364. C. waf; Tn. B. wafe; rest waue (wave). 2369. F. Tn. Th. B. signe; rest signes. C. swor hym; T. sware she; A. suore; Th. swore; F. B. sworne (!); Tn. sworen (!). 2375. C. Th. on; T. A. in; F. Tn. B. a. 2378. Tn. her; C. here (for her); A. all hir; F. T. Th. B. hir self. 2379. So A.; so T. (omitting 3rd the); C. Allas the compleynt the wo & the mone; F. Th. Allas the wo constreynt (!) and the mone. 2380. So all. 2388. C. his; rest om. 2389. C. so; rest om. 2390. B. mordrer; F. morderere; Th. murtherer; C. T. A. morderour; Tn. mordroure. 2393. C. T. A. non othir; rest a-nother (!).
VIII. THE LEGEND OF PHYLLIS.
Incipit Legenda Phillis.
By preve as wel as by auctoritee,
2395
[That wikked fruit cometh of a wikked tree],
That may ye finde, if that it lyketh yow.
But for this ende I speke this as now,
To telle you of false [Demophon].
In love a falser herde I never non,
2400
[But-if hit were] his fader Theseus.
'God, for his [grace], fro swich oon kepe us!'
Thus may thise women prayen that hit here.
(10)
[Now to theffect turne I of my matere].
Destroyed is of Troye the citee;
2405
This Demophon com sailing in the see
Toward Athenes, to his paleys large;
With him com many a ship and many a barge
Ful of his folk, of which ful many oon
Is wounded sore, and seek, and wo begoon.
2410
And they han at the sege longe y-lain.
Behinde him com a wind and eek a rain
That shoof so sore, his sail ne mighte stonde,
(20)
[Him] were lever than al the world a-londe,
So hunteth him the tempest to and fro.
2415
So derk hit was, he coude nowher go;
[And with a wawe brosten was his stere].
His ship was rent so lowe, in swich manere,
That carpenter ne coude hit nat amende.
The see, by nighte, as any torche brende
2420
[For wood], and [posseth] him now up now doun,
Til Neptune hath of him compassioun,
And Thetis, [Chorus], Triton, and they alle,
(30)
And maden him upon a [lond] to falle,
Wher-of that Phillis lady was and quene,
2425
Ligurgus doghter, fairer [on to sene]
Than is the flour again the brighte sonne.
Unnethe is Demophon to londe [y-wonne],
Wayk and eek wery, and his folk for-pyned
Of werinesse, and also enfamyned;
2430
And to the deeth he almost was y-driven.
His wyse folk to conseil han him yiven
To seken help and socour of the queen,
(40)
And loken what his grace mighte been,
And maken in that lond som [chevisaunce],
2435
To kepen him fro wo and fro mischaunce.
For seek was he, and almost at the deeth;
Unnethe mighte he speke or drawe his breeth,
And lyth in [Rodopeya] him for to reste.
Whan he may walke, him thoughte hit was the beste
2440
Unto the court to seken for socour.
Men knewe him wel, and diden him honour;
For at Athenes duk and lord was he,
(50)
As Theseus his fader hadde y-be,
That in his tyme was of greet renoun,
2445
No man so greet in al his regioun;
And lyk his fader of face and of stature,
And fals of love; hit com him of nature;
[As doth the fox Renard, the foxes sone],
Of kinde he coude his olde faders wone
2450
Withoute lore, as can a drake swimme,
Whan hit is caught and caried to the brimme.
This honourable Phillis doth him chere,
(60)
Her lyketh wel his port and his manere.
But for I am [agroted] heer-biforn
2455
To wryte of hem that been in love forsworn,
And eek [to haste me in my legende],
Which to performe god me grace sende,
Therfor I passe shortly in this wyse;
Ye han wel herd of Theseus devyse
2460
In the betraising of fair Adriane,
That of her pite kepte him from his bane.
At shorte wordes, right so Demophon
(70)
The same wey, the same path hath gon
That dide his false fader Theseus.
2465
For unto Phillis hath he sworen thus,
To wedden her, and her his trouthe plighte,
And piked of her al the good he mighte,
Whan he was hool and sound and hadde his reste;
And doth with Phillis what so that him leste.
2470
And wel coude I, yif that me leste so,
Tellen al his doing to and fro.
He seide, unto his contree moste he saile,
(80)
For ther he wolde her wedding apparaile
As fil to her honour and his also.
2475
And openly he took his leve tho,
And hath her sworn, he wolde nat soiorne,
But [in a month] he wolde again retorne.
And in that lond let make his ordinaunce
As verray lord, and took the obeisaunce
2480
Wel and hoomly, and let his shippes dighte,
And hoom he goth the nexte wey he mighte;
For unto Phillis yit ne com he noght.
(90)
And that hath she so harde and sore aboght,
Allas! that, as the stories us recorde,
2485
She was her owne deeth right [with a corde],
Whan that she saw that Demophon her trayed.
But to him first she wroot and faste him prayed
He wolde come, and her deliver of peyne,
As I reherse shal a word or tweyne.
2490
Me list nat vouche-sauf on him to swinke,
Ne spende on him a penne ful of inke,
For fals in love was he, right as his syre;
(100)
The devil sette [hir soules] bothe a-fyre!
But of the lettre of Phillis wol I wryte
2495
A word or tweyne, [al-thogh hit be but lyte].
['Thyn hostesse,' quod she, 'O Demophon],
Thy Phillis, which that is so wo begon,
Of Rodopeye, upon yow moot compleyne,
Over the terme set betwix us tweyne,
2500
That ye ne holden forward, as ye seyde;
Your anker, which ye in our haven leyde,
[Highte] us, that ye wolde comen, out of doute,
(110)
Or that the mone ones wente aboute.
But tymes foure the mone hath hid her face
2505
Sin thilke day ye wente fro this place,
And foure tymes light the world again.
But for al that, yif I shal soothly sain,
Yit hath the [streem of Sitho] nat y-broght
From Athenes the ship; yit comth hit noght.
2510
And, yif that ye the terme rekne wolde,
As I or other trewe lovers sholde,
I pleyne not, god wot, beforn my day.'—
(120)
But al her lettre wryten I ne may
By ordre, for hit were to me a charge;
2515
Her lettre was right long and ther-to large;
But here and there in ryme I have hit laid,
Ther as me thoughte that she wel hath said.—
She seide, '[thy sailes comen nat again],
Ne to thy word ther nis no fey certein;
2520
But I wot why ye come nat,' quod she;
'[For] I was of my love to you so free.
And of the goddes that ye han forswore,
(130)
Yif that hir vengeance falle on yow therfore,
Ye be nat suffisaunt to bere the peyne.
2525
To moche trusted I, wel may I pleyne,
Upon your linage and your faire tonge,
And on your teres falsly out y-wronge.
How coude ye wepe so by craft?' quod she;
'[May] ther swiche teres feyned be?
2530
Now certes, yif ye wolde have in memorie,
Hit oghte be to yow but litel glorie
To have a sely mayde thus betrayed!
(140)
To god,' quod she, 'preye I, and ofte have prayed,
[That hit be now the grettest prys of alle],
2535
And moste honour that ever yow shal befalle!
And whan thyn olde auncestres peynted be,
In which men may hir worthinesse see,
Than, preye I god, thou peynted be also,
That folk may reden, for-by as they go,
2540
"Lo! this is he, that with his flaterye
Betrayed hath and doon her vilanye
That was his trewe love in thoghte and dede!"
(150)
But sothly, of oo point yit may they rede,
That ye ben lyk your fader as in this;
2545
For he begyled Adriane, y-wis,
With swiche an art and swiche sotelte
As thou thy-selven hast begyled me.
As in that point, al-thogh hit be nat fayr,
Thou folwest him, certein, and art his eyr.
2550
But sin thus sinfully ye me begyle,
My body [mote ye] seen, within a whyle,
Right in the haven of Athenes fletinge,
(160)
With-outen sepulture and buryinge;
Thogh ye ben harder then is any stoon.'
2555
And, whan this lettre was forth sent anoon,
[And knew] how brotel and how fals he was,
She for dispeyr for-dide herself, allas!
[Swich sorwe hath she], for she besette her so.
Be war, ye women, of your sotil fo,
2560
Sin yit this day men may ensample see;
(168)
And [trusteth], [as in love], no man but me.
Explicit Legenda Phillis.
[[Go to Legend of Hypermnestra]]
2400. F. Tn. Th. B. om. if. 2402. F. Tn. Th. B. om. may. 2408. C. his; rest om. 2409. C. sek (read seek); rest seke. 2410. A. Th. the sege; F. Tn. B. a sege; T. sege; C. thasege (good). 2412. C. T. A. ne myghte; rest myght not. 2418. C. A. ne; T. noon; rest om. 2420. A. So wood. C. A. now vp now doun; T. now vp and doun; rest vp and doun. 2422. Th. Chorus; T. Thora; rest Thorus (see note). F. Tn. B. om. Triton. 2423. F. Th. B. vp; rest vp-on. 2425. A. B. Ligurgus; C. Tn. T. Ligurges; Th. Lycurgus; F. Bygurgus (error for Lygurgus). 2430. C. That (for And). C. almost was (better than was almost in the rest). 2435. C. T. A. To; rest And. 2437. C. T. A. his; rest om. 2438. A. om. for. 2440. C. T. A. court; rest contree. 2443. F. Tn. Th. B. hath. 2444. C. T. A. of gret; rest grete of. 2445. C. of (for in). C. the; T. A. that; rest his. 2449. C. owene (for olde). 2452. A. phillis; C. Philes; Th. T. quene Phillis; rest quene. 2453. F. B. And; rest Her (Hire, Hir). 2454. A. Th. agroted; B. agrotyd; C. agrotyed; F. Tn. agroteyd; T. agroteyed. 2455. C. T. ben in love; A. ar of loue; rest in loue ben. 2459. C. T. A. deuyse; F. Tn. B. the nyse (sic); Th. the gyse. 2470, 1. T. I couthe ryght well, yef that hyt lykyd me Tell all hys doyng; but hyt ys vanyte. 2472. C. T. vnto; A. into; rest to. F. Th. B. him; rest he. 2475. F. B. omit. 2476. C. hath hire sworn; A. hath to hir suorn; Tn. to her sworne; F. T. Th. B. to hir swore. 2477. So C. A.; F. Tn. Th. B. ageyn he wolde. 2480. C. homly; F. T. B. homely; A. huimly; Tn. humble; Th. hombly. C. let; rest om. 2482. C. ne; rest om. 2483. A. C. Th. abought; F. Tn. B. yboght. 2484. F. Tn. B. om. as. A. T. stories; rest story (but this would require recordeth; indeed, C. has recordith!). 2485. C. T. A. ryght; rest om. 2487. F. Tn. Th. B. But firste wrote she to hym. 2488. C. T. A. hire delyuere; rest delyuer hir. F. pyne (error for peyne). 2489. F. B. oo; Tn. one; rest a; see l. 2495. 2491. C. T. A. Ne spende; rest Dispenden. 2493. C. a fere; T. afyre; A. in fyre; F. Tn. Th. B. on a fire (badly). 2496. C. Ostesse thyn. T. A. o thow Demophon. 2498. F. Tn. B. om. moot. 2504. F. Tn. B. om. hid. 2505. Th. thylke; C. F. Tn. B. that thilke (!); A. that ilke; T. that. 2506, 7. C. omits. 2506. A. hath lycht this. 2507. T. yef; A. if; F. B. Th. yet (error for yef); Tn. yit (error for yif). 2508. C. storm (error for streem); rest streme. Th. Scython; C. B. Sytoye; A. Cytoye; T. Sitoy; F. Tn. Sitoio (Ovid has Sithonis unda). T. y-brought; rest broght (brought). 2509. C. comyth it; T. A. cometh; F. Tn. B. come hit; Th. came it. 2517. C. A. wel hath; rest hath wel. 2518. C. T. A. thyne (thy); rest the. C. come; T. comen; F. Tn. Th. B. cometh. 2519. C. T. A. thyn (thy); rest the. 2523. C. T. A. Yif (only); F. Tn. Th. B. That (only); but read Yif that. 2525. C. T. A. pleyne; rest seyne (!). 2527. C. I-wronge; A. yronne (error for ywronge); F. Tn. Th. B. wronge. 2529. A. Quhethir ther may (but this is Scottish). 2532. All mayde. 2539. C. T. A. for by; rest forth by. 2546. A. C. T. subtilitee. 2549. C. T. A. him; rest om. A. has lost ll. 2551-2616. 2555. F. Tn. B. om. sent. 2561. So C. T.; so Tn. Th. (with now for as); F. B. And as in love truste no man but me.
IX. THE LEGEND OF HYPERMNESTRA.
Incipit Legenda Ypermistre.
In Grece whylom weren brethren two,
Of whiche that oon was called [Danao],
That many a sone hath of his body wonne,
2565
As swiche false lovers ofte conne.
Among his sones alle ther was oon
That aldermost he lovede of everichoon.
And whan this child was born, this Danao
Shoop him a name, and called him [Lino].
2570
That other brother called was [Egiste],
(10)
That was of love as fals as ever him liste,
And many a doghter gat he in his lyve;
Of which he gat upon his righte wyve
A doghter dere, and [dide her for to calle]
2575
[Ypermistra], yongest of hem alle;
The whiche child, [of her nativitee],
To alle gode [thewes] born was she,
As lyked to the goddes, or she was born,
That of the shefe she sholde be the corn;
2580
The [Wirdes], that we clepen Destinee,
(20)
Hath shapen her that she mot nedes be
[Pitouse, sadde, wyse], and trewe as steel;
And to this woman hit accordeth weel.
For, [though that Venus yaf her greet beautee],
2585
[With] Iupiter compouned so was she
That conscience, trouthe, and dreed of shame,
And of her wyfhood for to kepe her name,
This, [thoughte her], was felicitee as here.
And [rede Mars] was, that tyme of the yere,
2590
So feble, that his malice is him raft,
(30)
Repressed hath Venus his cruel craft;
What with [Venus and other oppressioun]
Of houses, Mars his venim is adoun,
That [Ypermistra dar nat handle a knyf]
2595
In malice, thogh she sholde lese her lyf.
But natheles, as heven gan tho turne,
[To badde aspectes hath she of Saturne],
That made her for to deyen in prisoun,
As I shal after make mencioun.
2600
To Danao and [Egistes] also—
(40)
Al-thogh so be that they were brethren two,
[For thilke tyme nas spared no linage]—
Hit lyked [hem] to maken mariage
Betwix [Ypermistra] and him Lino,
2605
And casten swiche a day hit shal be so;
And ful acorded was hit witterly;
The array is wroght, the tyme is faste by.
And thus Lino hath of his fadres brother
The doghter wedded, and eche of hem hath other.
2610
[The torches brennen and the lampes brighte],
(50)
The sacrifices been ful redy dighte;
Thencens out of the fyre reketh sote,
The flour, the leef is rent up by the rote
To maken garlands and corounes hye;
2615
Ful is the place of soun of minstralcye,
Of songes amorous of mariage,
As thilke tyme was the pleyn usage.
And this was in the paleys of Egiste,
That in his hous was lord, right as him liste;
2620
And thus the day they dryven to an ende;
(60)
The frendes taken leve, and hoom they wende.
The night is come, the bryd shal go to bedde;
Egiste to his chambre faste him spedde,
And privily [he let his doghter calle].
2625
Whan that the hous was voided of hem alle,
He loked on his doghter with glad chere,
And to her spak, as ye shul after here.
'My righte doghter, tresor of myn herte!
[Sin first that day that shapen was my sherte],
2630
Or by the fatal sustren [had] my dom,
(70)
So ny myn herte never thing me com
As thou, myn Ypermistra, doghter dere!
Tak heed what I thy fader sey thee here,
And werk [after thy wyser] ever-mo.
2635
For alderfirste, doghter, I love thee so
That al the world to me nis half so leef;
[Ne I] nolde rede thee to thy mischeef
For al the gode under the colde mone;
And what I mene, hit shal be seid right sone,
2640
[With protestacioun, as in this wyse],
(80)
That, but thou do as I shal thee devyse,
Thou shalt be deed, by him that al hath wroght!
At shorte wordes, thou nescapest noght
Out of my paleys, or that thou be deed,
2645
But thou consente and werke after my reed;
Tak this to thee for ful conclusioun.'
This Ypermistra caste her eyen doun,
And quook as dooth the leef of aspe grene;
Deed wex her hewe, and lyk as ash to sene,
2650
And seyde, 'lord and fader, al your wille,
(90)
After my might, god wot, I shal fulfille,
So hit to me be no confusioun.'
['I nil,' quod he, 'have noon excepcioun;']
And out he caughte a knyf, as rasour kene;
2655
'Hyd this,' quod he, 'that hit be nat [y-sene];
And, whan thyn husbond is to bedde y-go,
Whyl that he slepeth, cut his throte a-two.
For in my dremes hit is warned me
How that my nevew shal my bane be,
2660
But whiche I noot, wherfor [I wol be siker].
(100)
Yif thou sey nay, we two shul have a [biker]
As I have seyd, [by him that I have sworn].'
This Ypermistra hath ny her wit forlon;
And, for to passen harmles of that place,
2665
She graunted him; ther was non other grace.
And therwith-al a [costrel] taketh he,
And seyde, 'herof a draught, or two or three,
Yif him to drinke, whan he goth to reste,
And he shal slepe as longe as ever thee leste,
2670
The narcotiks and opies been so stronge:
(110)
And go thy wey, [lest that him thinke longe].'
Out comth the bryd, and with ful sober chere,
As is of maidens ofte the manere,
To chambre is broght with revel and with songe,
2675
And shortly, lest this tale be to longe,
This Lino and she ben [sone] broght to bedde;
And every wight out at the dore him spedde.
The night is wasted, and he fel a-slepe;
Ful tenderly beginneth she to wepe.
2680
[She rist her up, and dredfully she quaketh],
(120)
As doth the braunche that [Zephirus] shaketh,
[And husht were alle in Argon that citee].
[As cold as any frost now wexeth she];
For pite by the herte her streyneth so,
2685
And dreed of death doth her so moche wo,
[That thryes doun she fil in swiche a were].
She rist her up, and stakereth heer and there,
And on her handes faste loketh she.
'Allas! and shul my handes blody be?
2690
[I am a maid, and, as by my nature],
(130)
And by my semblant and by my vesture,
Myn handes been nat shapen for a knyf,
As for to reve no man fro his lyf.
What devil have I with the knyf to do?
2695
And shal I have my throte corve a-two?
Than shal I blede, allas! [and me beshende];
And [nedes cost] this thing mot have an ende;
Or he or I mot nedes lese our lyf.
Now certes,' quod she, 'sin I am his wyf,
2700
And [hath] my feith, yit is it bet for me
(140)
For to be deed in wyfly honestee
Than be a traitour living in my shame.
Be as be may, for ernest or for game,
He shal awake, and ryse and go his way
2705
Out at this [goter], or that hit be day!'—
And weep ful tenderly upon his face,
And in her armes gan him to embrace,
And him she [roggeth] and awaketh softe;
[And at the window leep he fro the lofte]
2710
Whan she hath warned him, and [doon him bote].
(150)
This Lino swifte was, and light of fote,
And from his wyf he ran a ful good pas.
This sely woman is so wayk, allas!
And helples so, that, or that she fer wente,
2715
[Her cruel fader dide her for to hente].
Allas! Lino! why art thou so unkinde?
Why ne haddest thou remembred in thy minde
To taken her, and lad her forth with thee?
For, whan she saw that goon awey was he,
2720
And that she mighte nat so faste go,
(160)
Ne folwen him, she sette her doun right tho,
Til she was caught and fetered in prisoun.
[This tale is seid for this conclusioun]....
[Unfinished.]
[[Go to Treatise on the Astrolabe]]
2563. C. clepid; rest called. 2571. F. B. in; rest of. 2574. F. B. hyt (for her). 2577. C. T. thewis goode I-born. 2578. Tn. B. goddesse (!); F. goddesses (!). 2581. C. mot; rest moste (muste, most). 2582. F. B. Pitouse (fem.); C. Pyetous; Tn. T. Piteous. Th. sadde (fem.?); rest sad. C. T. and; rest om. 2590. C. beraft. 2592. Th. And what; C. T. That what; F. Tn. B. And; I propose What. 2597. C. F. Tn. B. To; T. Ryght; Th. Two. 2598. C. for; rest om. 2599. C. T. As; rest And. 2600. Th. Of (for To); without authority. 2601. C. Al thow; rest And thogh (less clearly). 2603. T. C. Th. lyked; rest lyketh. 2606. F. Tn. B. witterly; rest vttyrly. 2615. F. Tn. B. om. of soun. 2619. F. Tn. B. om. right. 2620. F. Tn. Th. B. that (for the). 2624. F. Tn. Th. B. om. he. 2625. F. Tn. Th. B. voided was. F. B. om. hem. 2627. F. om. after. 2629. F. om. 1st that. 2632. C. myn; T. A. ins. my before doghter; rest om. 2633. F. Tn. Th. B. om. I. T. say; A. seye; rest seyth. 2637. C. A., I; rest om. 2640. C. A. as in this; T. now on thys; F. Tn. Th. B. as seyn these. 2643. C. nescapist; Tn. Th. B. ne scapest; F. ne schapest (!). 2652. F. Tn. Th. B. be to me. 2655. Tn. Th. y-sene; rest sene. 2656. Tn. y-goo; A. ygo; rest goo (go). 2661. F. make; rest haue. 2666. So C. T. A. (but with costret for costrel); rest And with-al a costrel taketh he tho (badly). 2667. F. Tn. Th. B. om. or three (leaving the line too short). 2668. A. to; rest om. 2670. F. B. Martotikes (for narcotikes). T. A. opies; C. opijs; Th. apies; F. Tn. B. Epies (for opies). 2671. F. Tn. Th. B. ins. to before longe. 2674. F. Tn. Th. B. om. is. 2676. F. B. beth. T. sone byn; rest om. sone. C. a (for to). 2682. F. hushst (for husht); Th. hushte; C. A. hust; Tn. houste. 2684. F. Tn. B. streyneth hir; Th. strayned her; C. T. hire streynyth; A. hir stryngith. 2686. F. Th. B. swich (suche) a were; Tn. suche awere; C. this awer; A. this awere; T. that were. 2689. F. Tn. Th. B. om. and. 2696. F. Tn. Th. B. om. me. 2697. F. B. (only) Or for And. 2709. C. T. A. at a (for at the). 2712. So T. A.; C. from his wif ran; rest from her ran. 2714. C. A. or that; rest om. that. C. forth (for fer). 2717. C. T. haddist; rest hast. 2718. C. T. To; rest And. 2721. Addit (12524), sette hyr; C. set hire; T. A. sat hyr; rest sate (om. her). 2722. F. Tn. Th. And til (for Til); B. And then.