but wast Boldely begyn go forth to thy processe Feare not syth thou arte of such surenesse Graunt mercy lorde syth it the doth lyke To licence me nowe I wol and dare boldly Assayle my purpose w t scriptures autentike My werke wol I grouÌ„d vnderset fortify Aspire my begynnyng O thou woode fury Allecto wyth thy susters and in espicial To the mother of ielousye Iuno I call ¶ Explicit prologus THis werke who so shall se or rede Of any incongruite do me not impeche Ordinatly behoueth me fyrst to procede In deduction thereof in maner as the leche His pacieÌ„tes syckenes oweth first for to sech The which knoweÌ„ medicyne he shulde aply And shortly as he can than shape a remedy Ryght so by couÌ„sayle wyllyng the to exhort O yong maÌ„ prosperous which doth abouÌ„de In thy floures of lust belongeth on the sorte Me fyrst to coÌ„sider what is roote grounde Of thy mischefe whiche is playnly founde woman farced wyth fraude and disceyte To thy confusyon moost allectyue bayte Flye the miswoman lest she the disceyue thus sayth SalomoÌ„ which tauÈt was fully the falsheed of womeÌ„ in his daies to coÌ„ceyue The lippes of a struÌ„pet ben sweter thaÌ„ hony Her throte he saith suppled w t oyle of flatery Howe be it the ende and effecte of al Byttrer is than any wormwode or gall Flye the miswoman louyng thy lyfe ware the straungers blande eloquence Straunge I cal her that is not thy wyfe Of her beautie haue me no concupiscence Her countenaunce pretendyng beneuolence Beware her signes and eye so amiable Holde it for ferme they bene disceyuable Lo an ensample what women be In theyr signes and countenaunce shortly I wol shewe the howe louers thre Loued one woman ryght entierly Eche of them knewe others malady wherfore was al theyr dayly labour who coude appproche next in her fauour At sondrye seasons as fortune requyreth Seuerally they came to se her welfare But ones it hapened loue them so fyreth To se theyr lady they al wolde not spare Of others comyng none of them were ware Tyl al they mette where as they in place Of her lady sawe the desyred face To supper sette ful smally they ete Full sobre and demure in countenaunce For there taryed none of hem for any mete But on hys lady to gyue attendaunce And in secrete wyse some signifyaunce Of loue to haue whych parceyuyng she Fetely executed thus her properte In due season as she alway espyed Euery thyng to execute conueniently Her owne louer fyrst frendly she eyed The seconde she offred the cuppe curtesly The thyrde she gaue token secretly Vnderneth the borde she trade on hys fote Through his entrayles tikled the herte rote By your leue myght I here aske a question Of you my maystres that fewe louers trace To you lykely belongeth the solucion whych of these thre stode nowe in grace Clerely to answere ye wold aske long space The mater is doutful and opinable To acertayne you I woll my selfe enable Of the foresayd thre my selfe was one No man can answere it better than I Hertely of vs beloued was there none But wattes packe we bare al by and by whych at the last I my selfe gan aspye And time as me thouÈt thaÌ„ I left the dauÌ„ce O thoughtful hert great is thy greuaunce Hence fro me hence that me for to endyte Halpe aye here afore O ye muses nyne whyloÌ„ ye were wont to be mine ayde light My penne to directe my brayne to illumyne No lenger alas may I sewe your doctrine The freshe lusty meters y t I wont to make Haue bene here afore I vtterly forsake Come hyther thou Hermes and ye furies al which fer ben vnder vs nigh the nether pole where Pluto reigneth O kyng infernal Send out thine arpies send anguysh dole Misery and wo leaue ye me not sole Of right be present must paine eke turmeÌ„t The pale deth besemeth not to be absent To me nowe I cal al thys lothsome sorte my paines tencrese my sorowes to augmeÌ„t For worthy I am to be bare of al comforte Thus syth I haue consumed and mispent Not only my daies but my fiuefolde talent y t my lorde coÌ„mitted me I can not recoÌ„pence I may not to derely abye my negligence By the path of penaunce yet wol I reuert To the welle of grace mercy there to fetche Dispisest not god the meke contrite hert Of the cocke crow alas y t I wolde not retch And yet it is not late in the seconde wetche Mercy shal I purchace by incessaunt crieng The mercyes of our lorde euer shal I syng But well mayst thou wayle wicked woman that thou shuldest disceyue thus any innoceÌ„t And in recompence of my synne so as I can To al meÌ„ wol I make leue this monumeÌ„t in shewing part of thy falsheed is myn enteÌ„t For al were to much I can not wel I wote The cause sheweth playnly he y t thus wrote If al the erth were parchement scribable Spedy for the hande and al maner wode were hewed proporcioned to pennes able Al water ynke in damme or in flode Euery man beyng a perfyte scribe good The cursednesse yet and disceyte of women Coude not be shewed by the meane of penne I flye at odyous resemblaunces The dyuels bronde cal women I myght wherby man is encensed to mischaunce Or a stynkyng rose that fayre is in syght Or deedly empoyson lyke the suger whyte whych by hys swetnesse causeth man to tast and sodaynly sleeth briÌ„geth him to his last It is not my maner to vse such langage But thys my doctrine as I may laufully I wol holy grounde wyth auctoritie sage wyllynge both wysdom and vertue edify wyne and women in to apostasy Cause wyse men to fall what is that to say Of wysdome cause them to forget the way wherfore the wyse man dothe the aduyse In whose wordes can be founde no leasyng wyth the straunger to sytte in no wyse which is not thy wyfe fal not in clyppyng wyth her but beware eke of her kyssyng kepe wyth her in wyne no altercacion Lest that thyne hert fal by enclination May a man thynkest hyde and safe lay Fyre in his bosom wythout enpayrement breÌ„nynge of his clothes or wheder he may walke on hotte coles his fete not brent As who sayth nay and wherby is ment Thys foresayd prouerbe and similitude But that thou rydde the playnly to denude From the flatterers forgettynge her gyde The gyde of her youth I meane shaÌ„fastnes which shulde cause her maydenheed to abide Her goddes behest eke she ful rechelesse Not retchyng coÌ„mitteth it to forgetfulnesse Neyther god ne shame in her hauynge place Nedes must such a woman lacke grace And al that neygh her in way of syn To turne of grace shal lacke the influence The pathes of lyfe no more to come in wherfore fyrst frende the wyth sapience Remembring god and after with prudence To thyne owne wele that
sake full ofte they suffre sore wythout women were all our ioye lore wherfore we ought all women to obey In all goodnesse I can no more say This is well knowen and hath ben or thys That women ben cause of al lyghtnesse Of knighthode norture eschewyng al malis Encrease of worshyp and of al worthynesse Therto curteys and meke and grounde of all goodnesse Glad and mery and trewe in euery wyse That any gentyl herte can thynke or deuyse And though any wold trust to your vntruth And to your fayre wordes wold aught assent In good fayth me thinketh it were gret ruth That other women shold for her gylt be sheÌ„t That neuer knew ne wist nouÈt of her enteÌ„t Ne lyste not to here y e fayre wordes ye write whyche ye you payne fro day to day tendyte But who may be ware of your tales vntrew That ye so busyly paynt and endyte For ye wyll swere that ye neuer knewe Ne sawe the woman neyther moche ne lyte Saue onely her to whom ye had delyte As for to serue of all that euer ye sey And for her loue muste ye nedes dey ThaÌ„ wyl ye swere that ye knew neuer before what loue was ne his dredfull obseruaunce But nowe ye fele that he can wounde sore wherfore ye put you in to her gouernaunce whoÌ„ loue hath ordeyned you to serue do plesauÌ„ce w t all your miÈt your lytel lyues space whyche endeth sone but yf she do you grace And than to bedde wyll ye soone drawe And sone sicke ye wyll you than fayne And swere fast your lady hath you slawe And brouÈt you sodeynly in so hygh a payn That fro your deth may no maÌ„ you restrayn wyth a daungerous loke of her eyen two That to your dethe must ye nedes go Thus wyl ye morne thus wyll ye syghe sore As though your herte anon iÌ„ two wold brest And swere fast that ye may lyue no more Myne owne lady that myght yf ye lest Brynge myne herte somdele in to rest As yf you lyst mercy on me to haue Thus your vntrouth wyll euer mercy craue Thus wol ye playne tho ye nothyng smerte These innocent creatures for to begyle And swere to hem so wounded is your herte For her loue that ye may lyue no whyle Scarsly so longe as one might go a myle So hyeth dethe to brynge you to an ende But yf your souerayn lady lyst you to ameÌ„de And yf for routh she coÌ„forte you in any wyse For pyte of your false othes sere So y e innocent weneth y t it be as you deuyse And weneth your herte be as she may here Thus for to coÌ„fort somwhat do you chere Than woll these ianglers deme of her ful yl And sayne that ye haue her fully at your wyl Lo howe redy her tonges ben and prest To speke harme of women causelesse Alas why might ye not as wel say the best As for to deme hem thus gyltlesse In your herte ywis there is no gentylnesse that of your own gylte lyst thus womeÌ„ fame Now by my trouth me thynk ye be to blame For of women cometh this worldly wele wherfore we ought to worship heÌ„ euermore And though it mishap one we ouÈt for to hele For it is all through our false lore That day and night we payne vs euermore wyth many an othe these women to begyle wyth false tales and many a wycked wyle And yf falshede shulde be reckened and tolde In women iwys full trouthe were Not as in men by a thousande folde Fro all vyces twys they stande clere In any thyng that euer I coude of here But yf entysyng of these men it make That hem to flatteren connen neuer slake I wold fayne were wher euer ye coude here without mens tising what womeÌ„ dyd amys For ther ye may get heÌ„ ye lye fro yere to yere And many a gabbynge ye make to hem iwys For I coude neuer here ne knowen er thys where euer ye coude fynde in any place That euer women besought you of grace There ye you payne with al your ful might wyth all your herte and all your besynesse To pleasen hem bothe by day and nyght Prayeng hem of her grace and gentylnesse To haue pyte vpon your great distresse And y e they wolde on your payne haue routh And slee you not sens ye meane but trouh Thus may ye se that they ben fautelesse And innocent to all your werkes slye And all your craftes that touche falsnesse They know hem not ne may hem not espye So sweare ye that ye must nedes dye But yf they wolde of her womanheed Vpon you rewe er that ye be deed And than your lady and your hertes quene Ye call hem and therwyth ye sygh sore And say my lady I trowe that it be sene In what plyte that I haue lyued full yore But nowe I hope that ye woll no more In these paynes suffre me for to dwell For of all goodnesse iwys ye be the well Lo whiche a paynted processe can ye make These harmlesse creatures for to begyle And whan they slepe ye payne you to wake And to bethink you on many a wycked wyle But ye shal se the day y t ye shal curse y e whyle That ye so besily dyd your entent Hem to begyle that falshede neuer ment For this ye knowe wel though I wolde lye In women is all trouthe and stedfastnesse For in good faythe I neuer of hem sye But moche worshyp bounte and gentilnesse Right commyng fayre and ful of mekenesse Good and glad and lowly you ensure Is thys goodly angelyke creature And yf it happe a man be in disease She dothe her busynesse and her full payne wyth all her might him to comforte please If fro hys disease she might hym restrayne In worde ne dede iwys she wol not fayne But with al her might she doth her besinesse To brynge hym out of hys heuynesse Lo what gentyllesse these women haue If we coude knowe it for our rudenesse Howe besy they be vs to kepe and saue Bothe in heale and also in sycknesse And alway ryght sory for our distresse In euery maner thus shewe they routhe That in hem is all goodnesse and trouthe And syth we fynd in hem geÌ„tilnesse trouth worshyp bounte and kyndenesse euermore Let neuer this geÌ„tilesse through your slouth In her kynde trouthe be aught forlore That in woman is and hath ben ful yore For in reuerence of the heuens quene we ought to worshyp all women that bene For of all creatures y t euer were get borne This wote ye well a woman was the best By her was recouered y e blysse y t we had lorn And through y t woman shal we come to rest And ben ysaued yf that our selfe lest wherfore me thynketh yf that we had grace we oughten honour women in euery place Therfore I rede that to our lyues ende Fro thys tyme forth whyle y t we haue space
ful besely Ryght so the see desyreth naturally To folowen her that is goddesse Both of the see and ryuers more and lesse wherfore lorde Phebus thys is my request Do thys myracle or do myne herte brest That nowe nexte at thys opposicion which in sygne shal be the lyon As prayeth her so great a floode to brynge That fyue fadome at the lest it ouer sprynge The hyest rocke in Armoryke Britayne And let thys floode dure yeares twayne Then rertes to my lady may I saye Holdeth your heste the rockes ben awaye Thys thynge may ye lyghtly done for me Pray her to gone no faster course then ye I say thus prayeth your sâ—ster that she go No faster course then ye in yeres two Then shal she be at the ful alway And spryng floode lastyng both nyght day And but she vouchsafe in suche manere To graunt me my souerayne lady dere Pray her to synken euery rocke adoun In to her owne darke regioun Vnder the grounde there pluto dwelleth in Or neuer more shal I my lady wyn Thy teÌ„ple in Delphos wol I barefote seke O lorde Phebus se the teres on my cheke And on my payne haue some compassioun And wyth y e worde in swoune he fel adoun And longe tyme he lay in a traunce His brother which y t knew of his penauÌ„ce Vp caught hym and to bed hym brought Dyspayred in thys turmeÌ„t this thought Lette I thys woful creature lye Chese he whether he wol lyue or dye ¶ Aruyragus wyth heale and great honour As he that was of chyualry the floure Is comen home and other worthy men O blysful arte thou nowe Dorigen That hast thy lusty husboÌ„de in thyne armes That freshe knight y e worthy man of armes Thot loueth the as hys owne hertes lyfe Nothynge lyst hym to be ymaginatyfe Yf any wyght had spokeÌ„ while he was out To her of loue therof had he no dout He entendeth not to suche matere But daÌ„ceth lusteth maketh her good chere And thus in ioye blysse let hym dwel And of woful Aurelius wol I tel ¶ In langour and in tourment dyspitous Two yere and more lay wretched Aurelius Er any fote on erth he myght gone Ne comforte in thys tyme had he none Saue of hys brother whych was a clerke He knewe of al thys wo and al thys werke For to none other creature certayne Of thys mater durst he no worde sayne Vnder hys brest he bare it more secre Then euer dyd Pamphilus for Galathe Hys brest was hole wythout for to sene But in hys herte aye was the arowe kene And wel ye knowen that of a sursanure In surgery is perlous the cure But meÌ„ myght touch y e arow or come therby Hys brother wepeth and wayleth priuely Tyl at the last hym fel in remembraunce That whyle he was at OrliauÌ„ce in FrauÌ„ce As these clerkes yonge that ben lykerous To reden artes they ben curiouse Seken in euery halke and in euery herne Perticuler science for to lerne He hym remembred that vpon a dey At Orliaunce in studye a boke he sey Of magyke naturel whych hys felawe That was in that tyme a bacheler of lawe Al were he there to lerne another crafte Had priuely vpon hys dere ylafte whych booke spake of mochel aperacions Touchynge the .xxiiij. mansions That longen to the moone and such folye As in our dayes is not worth a flye For holy church sayeth in our byleue Ne sustreth none illusyon vs to greue And when thys boke was in his remeÌ„brauÌ„ce Anone for ioye hys hyrte gan daunce And to hym selfe he sayd priuely My brother shal be waryshed sykerly For I am syker that there be sciences By whych men maken dyuers aparences Suche as these subtel tregetores play For ofte at feestes haue I wel herde say That tragetors wythin an hal large Haue made come in water and a barge And in the hall rowen vp and doun Somtyme hath semed a grym lyoun And somtyme floures sprynge as in a meede Somtyme a vyne and grapes whyte rede Somtyme a castel of lyme and stone And when hym lyked voyden hem anone Thus semed it to euery mannes syght ¶ Now then conclude I thus yf y t I myght At Orliaunce some olde felowe fynde That had this moones mansions in mynde Or other magyke naturel aboue He shuld wel make my brother haue his loue For wyth an apparaunce a clerke may make To mannes syght that al the rockes blake Of Britayne were yuoyded euerychone And shyppes by the brynke to comen gone And in such forme enduren a yere or two Then were my brother waryshed of hys wo Then muste she nedes holde her behest Or els he shal shame her at the lest ¶ what shuld I make a lenger tale of thys Vnto hys brothers bedde he comen is And suche comforte he yaue hym for to gone To Orliaunce that he vp sterte anone And on hys way then is he forth yfare In hope to ben lessed of hys care ¶ when they were comen almoste to y e cyte But yf it were a two furlonge or thre A yonge clerke roming by him selfe they met whych that in latyn thryftely hem gret And afterwarde he sayd a wonder thynge I knowe the cause of your coÌ„mynge And er they farther any foote wente He tolde hem al that was in her entente ¶ Thys Breton clerke asked him of felowes The whych he had knowen in olde dayes He answered hym that they deed were For whych he wept ofte ful many a tere ¶ Downe of his horse Aurelius light anone And wyth this magicien forth is he gone Home to hys house made hym wel at ese Hem lacked no vytaile that hem might plese So wel arayed an house as there was one Aurelius in hys lyfe sawe neuer none ¶ He shewed hym or he went to suppere Forestes and parkes ful of wylde dere He sawe there hertes wyth her hornes hye The greatest that euer were sene wyth eye He se of hem an hundred slaine with houÌ„des And some of arowes bled w t bytter wouÌ„des He sawe when voyded were the wylde dere These fauconers vpon a fayre ryuere That wyth the haukes han the heron slayne Tho saw he knightes iustyng in a playne And after thys he dyd hym suche pleasaunce That he hym shewed hys lady in a daunce On which him selfe dauÌ„ced as hym thought And whaÌ„ this maister y t this magike wrouÈt Sawe it was tyme he clapped his hoÌ„des to And farwel our reuel al was ago And remeued neuer out of his house whyle they sawe al this syght merueylouse But in his studye there his bokes be They saten styl no wight but they thre ¶ To him this maister called his squyer And sayd hym thus is redy our supper Almost an hour it is I vndertake Sythen I you bade our supper redy make whan that these worthy men went with me Into my studye there as my bokes be ¶ Sir ê™ the squier whan it lyketh you
no wyght and some leasyng turneth to the profyte or ease of o man and to the damage of an other man An other leasynge is for to saue hys lyfe or hys catell whych commeth of delyte for to lye in which delyte they woll forge a longe tale and paynt it wyth al circumstaunces where al the tale of y e grouÌ„d is false Some leasynge cometh for he woll susteyne hys wordes Some leasyng cometh of retchelesnesse wythout auysemeÌ„t and semblable thynges Lette vs nowe touche the vyce of flaterye whyche ne cometh not gladlye but for drede or for couetyse Flatterye is generally wronful praysynge Flaterers bene the dyuels nouryces that noryshe hys chyldren wyth mylke of losyngerye Forsoth Salomon sayeth that Flatery is worse then detraction for somtyme detractioÌ„ maketh an hauteyne man be the more humble for he dredeth detraction but certes flaterye maketh a man tenhaunce hys herte and countenaunce Flaterers be y e deuels enchauÌ„tours for they make a man to wene hym selfe be lyke that he is not lyke Those be lyke to Iudas that betraye a man to sell hym to hys enemy Flaterers ben the dyuels chapleyns y t euer singe Placebo I reken flatery in the vyces of yre for ofte tyme yf a man be wrothe wyth another then woll he flater some wyghte to sustayne hym in hys quarell Speake we nowe of suche cursynge as cometh of yrous herte Malyson generally maye be sayd euery maner power of harme Such cursing bereueth man fro the raygne of God as sayeth saynt Poule And oft tyme such cursyng wrongfully returneth ayen to him that curseth as byrd that turneth ayen to hys owne neste And ouer all thynge men ought eshewe to curse her chyldren and yeue to the deuel her engendrure as farre forth as in hem is certes it is great peryll and great synne Lette vs then speake of chydynge and reproche whych ben full great woundes in maÌ„s herte for they vnsowe the semes of frendshyp in mans herte for certes vnneth maye a man be playnly be accorded wyth hym that hym openly hath reuyled and repreued and dyslaundred Thys is a full gastly synne as Christe sayeth in the gospell And take hede nowe that he that repreueth hys neyghboure eyther he repreueth hym by some harme of paine that he hath vppon hys body as mesell croked harlot or by some synne that he doth Now yf he repreue hym by harme of payne then turneth the reâ—â—efe to Iesu Christ For payne is sende by the ryghtwyse sonde of God and by hys suffraunce be it meselry meyme or maladye And yf he repreue him vncharitably of synne as thou holour thou dronkelewe harlot and so forth Then pertayneth that to the reioysynge of the deuell whyche euer hath ioye y t men done synne And certes chydynge maye not come but of vylaynous hert for after the haboundaunce of the herte speaketh y e mouth full ofte And ye shal vnderstande that loke by any waye when any man shall chastyse or correct another that he beware froÌ„ chydyng or repryuynge for truely but he beware he maye full lyghtlye quycken the fyre of angre and of wroth whych he shulde quenche And perauenture sleeth him whych he myght chastyse wyth benignite For as sayeth SalomoÌ„ The amiable tonge is the tree of lyfe that is to saye of lyfe spirituell And sothlye a dissolute tonge sleeth the spirites of hym that repreueth and also of hym whych is repreued Lo what sayeth saynt Augustyne There is nothynge so lyke the dyuels chylde as he whych ofte chydeth A seruaunt of God behoueth not to chyde And thoughe that chydynge be a vyllainous thynge betwyxte all maner folke yet it is certis moost vncouenable bytwene a man and hys wyfe for there is neuer reste And therfore sayeth Salomon An house that is vncouered and droppynge and a chydynge wyfe ben a lyke A man whych is in a droppynge house in many places though he eschewe the droppynge in one place it droppeth on hym in an other place So fareth it by a chydynge wyfe yf she chyde hym in one place she woll chyde hym in another And therfore better and greatly more plesaunt is a morsell or lytell gobet of bread wyth ioye then an house fylled full of delyces wyth chydynge guerrynge sayeth Salomon Saynt Poule sayeth O ye women beth ye subiecte to youre husbandes as you behoueth and ought in God And ye meÌ„ loueth your wyues ad Colossenses .iij. Afterwarde speke we of scornyng whych is a wycked synne and namely when he scorneth a man for hys good werkes For certes suche scorners fare lyke the foule tode that maye not endure to smell y e swete sauoure of the vyne wheÌ„ it flourysheth These scorners bene partynge felowes wyth the dyuell for they haue ioye wheÌ„ the dyuell wynneth and sorowe yf he leseth They ben aduersaryes of Iesu Christ for they hate that he loueth that is to saye saluation of soule Speake we nowe of wycked counsayle y e whych is a traytoure for he dysceyueth hym that trusteth in hym Vt Achitofel ad Salomonem But nathelesse yet is hys wycked counsayle fyrst ayenst hym selfe for as sayeth the wyse man euery false lyuynge hath this properte in hym selfe that he that wol anoye another man he anoyeth fyrst hym selfe And men shall vnderstande that man shall not take hys counsayle of false folke ne of angrye folke or greuous folke ne of folke that loue specially to moche worldly folke namely in counsaylynge of soules Nowe cometh the synne of hem that sowe and make dyscorde amonge folke whyche is a synne that Christ hateth vtterly no wonder is for he deyde for to make concorde And more shame do they to Christe then dyd they that hym crucifyed For God loueth better that frendship be amonges folke then he dyd hys owne body which that he gaue for vnite Therfore ben they lykened to the dyuell that euer be aboute to make dyscorde Nowe commeth the synne of double toÌ„ge such as speke fayre before folke and wyckedly behynde or els they make semblauÌ„t as though they spak of good entencion or els in game and playe and yet they speake of wycked entent Nowe cometh hewrayenge of counsayle through whych a man is dyffamed Certes vnneth maye he restore the domage Nowe cometh menace that is an open folye for he that ofte menaceth he threateth more then he maye performe full ofte tyme. Nowe commeth ydell wordes that is wythout profyte of hym that speaketh the wordes and also of hym that herkeneth the wordes Or els ydel wordes ben those that ben nedelesse or wyth out entent of naturall profyte And all be it that ydell wordes be somtyme venyall synne yet shulde men doute hem for we shall yeue rekenynge of hem before God Now cometh ianglynge that maye not be wythout synne And as sayeth Salomon it is a sygne of a perte folye And therfore a philosopher sayde when men asked hym howe that he shulde please the people he answerde Do many good workes and speake few
goddes holde As I which ye haue brought fro cares cold Benigne loue thou holy bonde of thynges who so wol grace lyste the nat honouren Lo thys desyre wol flye wythouten wyngeÌ„ For noldest thou of bountie hem socouren That seruen best and most alway labouren Yet were al loste y t dare I well sayne certes But yf thy grace passed our desertes And for thou me y e leste thoÌ„ke coulde deserue Of hem that nombred ben vnto thy grace Hast holpen ther I lykely was for to sterue And me bestowed in so hygh a place That thylke boundes may no blysse pace I can no more but laude and reuerence Be to thy bounte and thyne excellence And therwithal Creseyde anone he kyst Of which certayne she felte no disease And thus sayd he nowe wolde god I wyst Myne hert swete howe I you might please what man ê™ he was euer thus at ease As I on which the fayrest and the best That euer I sey deyneth her to rest Here may men sene that mercy passeth right The experience of that is felte in me That am vnworthy to so swete a wyght But herte myne of your benignite So thynke that though I vnworthy be Yet mote I nede amenden in some wyse Ryght through y e vertue of your hye seruice And for the loue of god my lady dere syth he hath wrouÈt me for I shall you serue As thus I meane woll ye be my seere To do me lyue yf that you lyst or sterue So teacheth me howe that I may deserue Your thoÌ„ke so y t I thrugh myne ignorauÌ„ce Ne do nothyng that you be displeasaunce For certes fresh womanlyche wyfe This dar I saye that trouth and diligence That shall ye fynden in me all my lyfe Ne I woll nat certayn breken your defence And yf I do present or in absence For loue of god let slee me with the dede Yf that it lyke vnto your womanhede I wys ê™ she myne owne hertes lust My grounde of ease all myne hert dere Graunt mercy for on that is all my trust But let vs fal awaye fro this matere For it suffyseth this that sayd is here And at o worde withouten repentaunce welcome my knyght my peace my suffysaunce Of her delyte or ioyes one of the leest were impossyble to my wyt to saye But iudgeth ye that haue ben at the feest Of such gladnesse yf that hem lyst playe I can nomore but thus these ylke tway That nigh betwixen drede and sykernesse Feâ—ten in loue the great worthynesse O blysful nyght of hem so longe ysought How blyth vnto hem both two thou wer why ne had I such feest w t my soul yboght Yea or the leest ioye that was there Away thou foule dauÌ„ger and thou feere And let hem in this heuen blysse dwell That is so hygh that all ne can I tell But soth is though I can not tellen all As can myne auctour of his excellence Yet haue I sayd and god to forne shall In euery thyng all holly his sentence And yf that I at loues reuerence Haue any worde in eched for the best Doth therwithal ryght as your seluen lest For my wordes here and euery parte I speke hem all vnder correction Of you that felyng haue in loues arte And put it all in your discrettion To entreate or make diminition Of my langage and that I you beseche But now to purpose of my rather speche These ylke two that beth in armes last So loth to hem a sonder gon to were That eche from other wenden ben byraft Or els lo this was her moost feere That all this thing but nyce dreames wer For which ful oft eche of hem sayd o swete Clyppe I you thus or els do I it mete And lorde so he gan goodly on her se That neuer his loke ne bleynt froÌ„ her face And sayde O dere hert maye it be That it be soth that ye ben in this place Yea hert myne god thanke I of his grace ê™ tho Creseyde therwithal hym kyst That where her spyrite was for ioye she nyst This Troylus full oft her eyen two Gan for to kysse and sayd O eyen clere It weren ye that wrought me suche wo Ye humble nettes of my lady dere Though ther be mercy writteÌ„ in your chere God wot the text full harde is for to fynde How coude ye withouten bonde me bynde Therwith he gan her fast in armes take And well an hundred tymes gan he syke Nat such sorowfull syghes as men make For wo or els whan that folke be syke But easy syghes suche as ben to lyke That shewed his affection within Of suche syghes coulde he nat blyu Sone after this they spake of sondry thinges As fyll to purpose of this auenture And playing enterchaungeden her rynges Of which I can not tellen no scripture But well I wot a broche of golde asure In which a ruby set was lyke an herte Creseyde him yaue stacke it on his sherte Lorde trowe ye that a couetous wretche That blamâ—th loue and halte of it despyte That of tho pens y t he can muckre ketche was euer yet yeue to him suche delyte As is in loue in o poynt in some plyte Nay doutlesse for also god me saue So parfyte ioye may no nygarde haue They woll say yes but lorde so they lye Tho busy wretches ful of wo and drede That callen loue a woodnesse of follye But it shall fall hem as I shall you rede They shall forgon the whyte eke the rede And lyue in wo ther god yeue hem myschauÌ„ce and euery louer this trouth auauÌ„ce As wolde god tho wretches that dispyse Seruyce of loue had eares also longe As had Mida full of couetyse And therto dronken had as hote stronge As Cresus dyd for his affectes wronge To teachen hem that they ben in the vyce And louers nat although they holde hem nyse These ylke two of whom y t I you say whan that her hertes wel assured were Tho gonnen they to speake and to playe And eke rehersen how whan and where They knewe fyrst euery wo or fere That passed was but all suche heuynesse I thonke it god was turned to gladnesse And euer more whan that hem fyll to speke Of any thyng of suche a tyme agon with kyssyng all that tale shulde breke And fallen into a newe ioye anon And dyddeÌ„ al her myght syns they wer one For to recoueren blysse and ben at ease And paysed wo with ioye countrepeyse Reason woll not that I speake of slepe For it accordeth not to my matere God wot they toke of it full lytle kepe But lest this night that was to hem so dere Ne shulde in vayne escape in no manere It was beset in ioye and besynesse Of all that sowneth into gentylnesse But whan the cocke coÌ„mune astrologer Gan on his breest to beate and after crowe And Lucifer the dayes messaunger Gan for to ryse and
out her beames throw And estward rose to him that that coulde it knowe Fortuna maior thaÌ„ anon Creseyde with hert sore to Troylus thus seyde Myne hertes lyfe my trust all my plesauÌ„ce That I was borne alas that me is wo That day of vs mote make disceueraunce For tyme it is to ryse and hence go Or els I am lost for euer mo O nyght alas why wilt thou ouer vs houe As longe as whan Alemena laye by Ioue O blacke nyght as folke in bookes rede That shapen art by god this world to hyde At certayne tymes with thy darke wede That vnder that men myght in rest abyde wel oughteÌ„ beestes to playn folk to chyde That ther as day w t labour wold vs brest That thou thus flyest deynest vs nat rest Thou doest alas to shortly thyne offyce Tho rakle night ther god maker of kynde The for thyne haste thyne vnkynde vyce So fast aye to our himispery bynde That neuermore vnder y u grouÌ„d thou wind For now for thou so hyest out of Troye Haue I forgone thus hastly my ioye This Troylus that with tho wordes felte As thought hym tho for pitous distresse The blody teares from his hert melt As he that yet neuer suche heuynesse Assayed had out of so great gladnesse Gan therwithall Creseyde his lady dere In armes strayne holde in louely manere O cruell daye accuser of the ioye That night loue haue stole fast ywryen Accursed be thy coÌ„myng into troye For euery bore hath one of thy bryght eyen Enuyous day what lyst the so to spyen what hast thou lost why sekest thou this place There god thy light so queÌ„che for his grace Alas what haue these louers the agylt Dispytous day thyne be the payne of hell For many a louer hast thou slayne wylt Thy poring in wol nowhere let hem dwell what profrest thou thy lyght herefor to sel Go sell it hem that smal seales graue we woll the not vs nedeth no daye haue And eke the sunne Tytan gan he chyde And sayd O foole well may meÌ„ the despise That hast al night the dawning by thy side And suffrest her so soone vp fro the ryse For to disease vs louers in this wyse what hold your bed ther thou thy morow I byd god so yeue you both sorowe Therwith ful sore he syghed thus he seyd My lady ryght and of my wele or wo The well roote o goodly myne Creseyde And shall I ryse alas and shall I so Now fele I that my hert mote a two And how shulde I my lyfe an houre saue Syns that with you is all the lyfe I haue what shall I done for certes I not how Ne whan alas I shall the tyme se That in this plyte I may ben eft w t you And of my lyfe god wote how shall that be Syns that desyre ryght nowe so byteth me That I am deed anon but I retourne How shuld I long alas fro you soiourne But nathelesse myne owne lady bryght were it so that I wyst vtterly That your humble seruaunt your knight were in your hert yset so fermely As ye in myne the which truly Me leuer were than these worldes twayne Yet shulde I bet enduren all my payne To that Creseyde answered ryght anon And with a sygh she sayd O hert dere The game ywys so ferforth now is gone That fyrst shall Phebus fallen fro the spere And eueryche the Egle ben the doues fere And euery rocke out of his place sterte Er Troylus go out of Creseydes hert Ye ben so depe within my hert graue That tho I wold it turne out of my thouÈt As wysely very god my soule saue To dyen in the payne I coulde nought And for y e loue of god y t vs hath wrought Let in your brayne none other fantasy So crepe that it cause me to dye And that ye me wolde haue as fast in mind As I haue you that wolde I you beseche And yf I wyst sothly that to fynde God myght not apoynt my ioyes eche But hert myne withouten more speche Beth to me true or els were it routh For I am thyne by god by my trouth Beth glad for thy and lyue in sykernesse Thus sayd I neuer er this ne shall to mo And yf to you it were a great gladnesse To turne ayen sone after that ye go As fayne wolde I as ye it were so As wysely god myne hert bryng to rest And hym in armes toke and oft kest Ayenst his wyll syth it must nedes be This Troylus vp rose and fast hym cledde And in his armes toke his lady free An hundred tymes on his waye him sped And with suche wordes as his hert bledde He sayd farewell my dere hert swete That god vs grauÌ„t sounde sone to mete To which no worde for sorow she answerd So sore gan his partyng her distrayne And Troylus vnto his palleys ferde As wo begon as she was soth to sayne So hard him wroÌ„g of sharpe desire y e payn For to ben efte there he was in pleasaunce That it may neuer out of his remeÌ„braunce Returned to his royal palleys sone He soft vnto his bed gan for to slynke To slepe longe as he was wont to done But al for nouÈt he may wel lyg and wynke But slepe may ther non in his hert synke Thinking how she for whoÌ„ desire him breÌ„d A M. folde was worth more than he wend And in his thouÈt gan vp down to winde Her wordes al and euery countenaunce And fermely impressen in his mynde The lest poynt that to him was plesaunce And verely of thylke remembraunce Desyre al newe him brende lust to brede Gan more than erst yet toke he non hede Creseyde also ryght in the same wyse Of Troylus gan in her hert shette His worthynesse his lust his dedes wyse His gentlenesse and how she with him met Thonkyng loue he so well her beset Desyryng oft to haue her hert dere In such a place as she durst make him chere Pandare a morow which that coÌ„men was Vnto his nece and gan her fayre grete And sayd all this nyght so rayned it alas That al my drede is that ye nece swete Haue lytle leyser had to slepe and mete al this night ê™ he hath rainso do me wake That some of vs I trowe her heedes ake And nere he came sayd how stant it now This mery morowe nece how can ye fare Creseyde answered neuer the bet for you Foxe that ye ben god yeue your hart care God helpe me so ye caused all this fare Trow I ê™ she for al your wordes whyte O who so seeth you knoweth you ful lyte with that she gan her face for to wry with the shete and woxe for shame al reed And Pandarus gan vnder for to prye And sayd yf that I shall ben deed Haue here a sworde and smyt of my heed with that his arme all sodaynly
thought her herte brast a two For in her syght to her he bare him lowe So that she wende haue al his hert yknow But he was false it nas but fayned chere As nedeth not suche craft men to lere But neuerthelesse ful mykel busynesse Had he er that he myght hys lady wynne And swore he wolde dyen for distresse Or from his witte he sayd he wold twynne Alas the whyle for it was routh and synne That she vpon his sorowes wolde rewe But nothinge thinketh the false as doth the trewe Her fredom founde Arcyte in such manere That al was his that she hath much or lite Ne to no creature made she chere Further than it lyked to Arcyte There was no lacke wyth which he myght her wyte She was so ferforth yeuen hym to please That al that lyked him dyd her ease There nas to her no maner letter sent That touched loue from any maner wyght That she ne shewed hym or it was brent So playn she was and dyd her ful myght That she nyl hyde nothyng from her knight Lest he of any vntrouth her vpbreyde wythout bode his herte she obeyed And eke he made hym ialous ouer her That what any man had to her sayde Anone he wolde prayen her to swere what was y e word or make him yuel apayd Thā wende she out of her wytte haue brayd But al was but sleyght and flaterye wythout loue he fayned ielousy And al this toke she so debonairly That al his wyl her though it skylful thing And euer the lenger she loued him tenderly And dyd him honour as he were a kyng Her herte was to him wedded wyth a ryng For so ferforth vpon trouth is her entent That where he goth her hert with him wēt whā she shall eate on hym is so her thought That wel vnneth of meate toke she kepe And whan she was to her rest brought On him she thought alway tyl that she slepe whan he was absent priuely doth she wepe Thus lyueth fayre Annelyda the quene For false Arcyte that dyd her al this tene This false Arcyte of his newfanglenesse For she to him so lowly was and trewe Toke lesse deynte for her stedfastnesse And sawe another lady proude and newe And ryght anone he clad him in her hewe wote I not whether in white reed or grene And falsed fayre Annelyda the quene But neuerthelesse great wōder was it none Though he were false for it is y e kynd of mā Syth lameth was that is so longe agone To be in loue as false as euer he can He was the fyrst father that began To louen two and was in bigamye And he founde tentes fyrst but yf men lye This false Arcyte somwhat must he fayne whan he was false to coueren his traytorye Ryght as an horse y e can both byte playne For he bare her in honde of trecherye And swore he coude her doublenesse espye And al was falsenesse that she to hym ment Thus swort this thefe forthe his waye he went Alas what hert myght endure it For routh or wo her sorowe for to tell Or what man hath the connyng or the wyt Or what mā might within the chābre dwel If I to him rehersen shal the hell That suffreth fayre Annelyda the quene For false Arcyte that dyd al thys tene She wepeth wayleth swouneth pitously To grounde deed she falleth as a stone Crampysheth her lymmes crokedly She speaketh as her wytte were al agone Other colour than ashen hath she none Ne none other word speketh she moch or lite But mercy cruel hert myne Arcyte And this endureth tyl that she was so mate y t she ne hath foote on which she may sustene But forth languyshyng euer in this estate Of which Arcyte hath neyther roth ne tene His herte was els where newe and grene that on her wo ne deyneth him nat to thinke Him recketh neuer whether she flete or sinke Thys newe lady holdeth hym so narowe Vp by the brydel at the staues ende That euery worde he dred it as an arowe Her daunger made him both bowe bende And as her lust made him turne or wende For she ne graunted him in her lyuyng No grace why that he hath to syng But droue hym forth vnneth lyst her knowe That he was seruaunt vnto her ladyshyp But leste he were proude she helde him low Thus serueth he wythout meate or syp She sent him nowe to lande now to shyp And for she yaue him daunger al his fyl Therfore she had him at her owne wyl Ensample of this ye thrifty women all Take hede of Annelyda and false Arcyte That for her lyst him her dere herte call And was so meke therfore he loued her lyte The kynde of mannes herte is to delyte On thyng that straung is also god me saue for what the may not get y t wold they haue Nowe turne we to Annelyda ayen That pyneth day by day in languyshyng But whan she saw that her ne gate no geyn Vpon a day full soroufully wepyng She cast her for to make a complaynyng And wyth her owne hand she gan it write And sent it to her theban knyght Arcyte ¶ The complaynt of Annelyda to false Arcyte SO thyrled wyth y e poynt of remembraunce The swerde of sorowe whet w t false plesaūce Myne hert bare of blysse and blacke of hewe That turned is to quakyng all my daunce My suretie in a waped countenaunce Syns it auayleth nought to ben trewe For who so true is it shal her rewe That serueth loue doth her obseruaunce Alwaye to one and chaungeth for no newe I wote my selfe as wel as any wyght For I loued one w t al myne hert myght More than my selfe an hundred M. syth And called him my hertes lyfe my knyght And was all his as ferre as it was ryght And whā y t he was glad than was I blyth And his disease was my deth as swythe And he ayen his trouth hath me plyght For euermore his lady to me kythe Nowe is he false alas and causelesse And of my wo he is so routhlesse That w t a worde hym lyst not ones dayne To brynge ayen my sorowful hert in pees For he is caught vp in an other lees Ryght as him lyst he laugheth at my payn And I ne can myne hert not restrayne For to loue hym yet alway neuerthelesse And of al this I not to whom to playne And shulde I playne alas the harde stound Vnto my fo that yaue myne hert a wound And yet desyreth that myne harme be more Now certes ferther wol I neuer be founde None other helpe my sores for to sounde My desteny hath shaped so full yore I woll none other medicine ne lore I woll ben aye there I was ones bounde That I haue sayde be sayde for euermore Alas where is become your gentlenesse Your wordes full of pleasaunce humblesse Your obseruaunce in so lowe manere Your awaytyng and your besynesse On
leaues as any baume swete Tyl fyry Tytan wyth his persaunt hete Had dryed vp the lusty lycour newe Vpon the herbes in the grene mede And that the floures of manye diuers hewe Vpon her stalkes gonne for to sprede And for to splaye out her leaues in brede Agayne the sunne golde burned in his spere That down to hem cast he his beames clere And by a ryuer forth I gan costey Of water clere as byrell or crystall Tyll at the laste I founde a lytell wey Towarde a parke enclosed wyth a wall In compace rounde and by a gate small who so that wolde frely myght gone In to thys parke walled wyth grene stone And in I went to here the byrdes songe whych on the braūches both in plaine vale So loude sange that all the woode ronge lyke as it shulde shyuer in peces smale And as me thought that the nyghtyngale with so great might her voyce gan out wrest Ryght as her herte for loue wolde brest The soyle was plaine smothe wōder softe All ouersprad wyth tappettes that Nature Had made her selfe couered eke alofte wyth bowes grene the floures for to cure That in her beautye they may longe endure From all assaute of Phebus feruent fere whych in hys sphere so hote shone and clere The eyre attempre and the smoth wynde Of zepherus amonge the blosomes whyte So holsome was and so norishing by kynde That smale buddes rounde blosomes lyte In maner gan of her brethe delyte To yeue vs hope there frute shall take Ayenst Autumpne redy for to shake I sawe the Daphene closed vnder rynde Grene Laurer and the holsome Pyne The Myrre also that wepeth euer of kynde The Cedres hye vpryght as a lyne The Fylberte eke that lowe doth enclyne Her bowes grene to the erthe adoun Vnto her knyght called Demophoun There sawe I eke the freshe hauthorne In whyte motley that so swote doth smel Ashe fyrre oke wyth many a yonge acorne And many a tree mo then I can tell And me beforne I sawe a lytell well That had hys course as I gan beholde Vnder an hyll wyth quycke streames colde The grauell golde the water pure as glasse The bankes rounde the well enuyronynge And softe as veluet the yonge grasse That therupon lustely came spryngynge The sute of trees about compasynge Her shado we caste closyng the wel r◠And al the herbes growyng on the g◠The water was so holsome and so vert◠Thorowe might of herbes growyng bes◠Not lyke the welle where as Narcisu◠Yslayne was thorowe vengeance of 〈◊〉 where so couertly he dyd hyde The grayne of dethe vpon eche brinke That deth mote folowe who y e euer d◠Ne lyke the pytte of the Pegace Vnder Pernaso where poetes slepte Nor lyke the welle of pure chastyte whiche that Diane with her nymphes kept whan she naked in to the water lepte That slowe Acteon with her hondes fel Onely for he came so nyghe the wel But this welle that I here reherce So holsome was that it wolde aswag◠Bollen hertes and the venym peerce Of pensyfeheed with al the cruel rage And ouermore refesshe the vysage Of hem that were in any werynesse Of great labour or fallen in distresse And I that had thorowe daunger dis◠So drie a thrust thought I wolde assa◠To taste a draught of this welle or t◠My bytter langour if it might alaye And on the banke anon downe I laye And with myn heed vnto the welle I ra◠And of the water dranke I a good drau◠wherof me thought I was refresshed Of the brennyng that sate so nye my he◠That verily anon I gan to fele An huge parte released of my smerte And therwithal anon vp I sterte And thought I wolde walke and sem◠Forthe in the parke and in the holtes h◠And through a launde as I yed a pace And gan aboute faste to beholde I founde anon a delectable place That was beset with trees yonge and 〈◊〉 whose names here for me shal not be tol◠Amydde of whiche stoode an herber gre◠That beched was with colours new clene Thys herber was full of floures gende Into the whych as I beholde gan Betwyxe an hulfere and a wodbende As I was ware I sawe where lay a man in blacke and whyte coloure pale and wan And wonder deedly also of hys hewe Of hurtes grene and freshe woundes newe And ouermore dystrayned wyth sycknesse Besyde all thys he was full greuouslye For vpon hym he had an hote accesse That daye by daye hym shoke full pytously So that for constraynynge of hys malady And hetly wo thus lyenge all alone It was a dethe for to here hym grone wherof astonyed my fote I gan wythdrawe Greatly wondrynge what it myght be That he so laye and had no felawe Ne that I coude no wyght wyth hym se wherof I had routh and eke pyte And gan anone so softely as I coude Amonge the bushes priuely me to shroude Yf that I myght in any wyse aspye what was the cause of hys deedly wo Or why that he so pytously gan crye On hys fortune and on vre also wyth all my myght I layde an eere to Euery worde to marke what he sayd Out of hys swough amonge as he abrayde But fyrst yf I shulde make mencion Of hys person and playnly hym dyscryue He was in sothe wythout excepcion To speake of manhode one the best on lyue There maye no man ayen trouth stryue For of hys tyme and of hys age also He proued was there men shulde haue ado For one the best therto of brede and length So well ymade by good proporcion Yf he had be in hys delyuer strength But thought and sycknesse were occasyon That he thus laye in lamentacion Gruffe on the grounde in place desolate Sole by hym selfe awhaped and amate And for me semeth that it is syttyng Hys wordes al to put in remembraunce To me that herde all hys complaynyng And all the grounde of hys wofull chaunce Yf there wythall I may you do pleasaunce I woll to you so as I can anone Lyke as he sayd reherce euerychone But who shall helpe me nowe to complayne Or who shall nowe my style gye or lede O Niobe let nowe thy teeres rayne Into my penne and helpe eke in nede Thou wofull Mirre y t felest myn hert blede Of pytous wo and myne hande eke quake when that I wryte for thys mannes sake For vnto wo accordeth complaynynge And dolefull chere vnto heuynesse To sorowe also syghynge and wepyng And pytous mournynge vnto drerynesse And who that shall wryte of dystresse In party nedeth to knowe felyngly Cause and roote of all such malady But I alas that am of wytte but dull And haue no knowynge of suche matere For to dyscryue and wryte at the full The wofull cōplaynte whych y t ye shal here But euen lyke as doth a skryuenere That can nomore what that he shall wryte But as hys mayster besyde dothe endyte Ryght
come to his grace the lytelnesse wyl not suffre to auaile by no way in to his helpes Certes grace reason thylke affection foloweth Thys affection withe reason knytte dureth in eueryche trewe herte and euermore is encreasyng no ferdnesse no strength maye it remoue whyle truthe in hert abydeth Sothly whan falshed gynneth entre truth draweth away grace and ioye both but than thilke falsheed that trouth hath thus voyded hath vnknyt the bonde of vnderstondyng reason bytwene wyl and the hert And who so that bonde vndoth and vnknytteth wyl to be in other purpose thaÌ„ to y e first accorde knitteth hym wyth coÌ„trary of reason and that is vnreason Lo than wyl and vnreason bringeth a man from the blysse of grace whych thing of pure kynde euery man ought to shonne to eschewe to the knot of wyll and reaâ—on confyrme Me thynketh ê™ she by thy studâ—ent lokes thou wenest in these woordes me to contraryen from other sayenges here to forne in other place as whaÌ„ thou were somtyme in affection of wyl to thynges y t nowe han brought the in disease whiche I haue y e counsayled to voyde and thyne herte discouer and there I made thy wyl to ben chaunged whyche nowe thou wenest I argâ—e to wythholde and to kepe Shortly I say that reuers in these wordes may not ben founde for thoughe dronkennesse be forboden men shul not alway ben drinklesse I trowe right for thou thy wil out of reasoÌ„ shuld not turne thy wyll in one reason shulde not vnbyde I saye thy wyll in thy fyrst purpose wyth vnreason was closed Constrewe forthe of the remenante what the good lyketh Trewly that wyll reason shulde be knitte togyther was fre wyl of reasoÌ„ after tyme thyne hert is assentaunt to them both thou myghte not chaunge but yf thou from rule of reason varye in whyche varyaunce to come to thylke blysse desyred coÌ„trariously thou werchest no thyng may knowe wyl reason but loue alone Than yf thou voyd loue than weuest the bonde that knytteth and so nedes or els ryght lyghtly y t other gone a sondre wherfore thou seest apertly that loue holdeth this knot a maystreth hem to be bounde These thynges as a rynge in circuite of wrethe ben knytte in thy soule wythout departynge A let be let be ê™ I it nedeth not of this no rehersayle to make my soule is yet in parfyte blysse in thynkynge of that knotte NOw trewly lady I haue my grouÌ„de well vnderstand but what thyng is y e thylke spire that in to a tree shulde wexe expowne me y e thynge what ye therof meane That shall I ê™ she blithly take good hede to the wordes I the rede CoÌ„tinuaunce in thy good seruice by longe processe of time in ful hope abiding wythout any chaung to wylne in thyne hert this is the spire whych yf it be wel kepte gouerned shall so hugely spryng tyl the fruite of grace is plentuously out sprongen for although thy wyl be good yet may not therfore thilke blisse desyred hastely on the discendeÌ„ it must abyde hys sesonable tyme. And so by processe of growyng wyth thy good traueyle it shall in to more more wexe tyll it be founde so myghty that windes of yuel spech ne of stormes of enuy make not the traueyle ouerthrow ne frostes of mystruste ne hayles of ielousy ryght lytle myght haue in harmyng of suche sprynges Euery younge setlynge lyghtly wyth smale stormes is a peyred but whan it is woxen somdele in gretnesse than han great blastes and wethers but lytle myght any disauauntage to them for to werch Mine owne souerayne lady ê™ I and welth of myne herte it were lykynge vnto your noble grace therthrouÈ not to be displeased I suppose ye erren now ye makeÌ„ ielousy enuy disturbour to hem that ben your seruauntes I haue lerned ofte to forne this tyme that in euery loners hert greate plentie of ielousyes greues ben sowe wherfore me thinketh ye ne ought in no maner accompte thylke thyng among these other welked wyners and venomous serpentes as enuy mistrust and yuel speche O foole ê™ she mistrust with foly with yuel wyl medled engendreth that welked padde Trewly yf they were distroyed ielousye vndone were for euer yet some maner of ielousy I wote wel is euer redy in all the hertes of my trew seruauntes as thus to be ielous ouer hym selfe leste he be cause of hys owne disease Thys ielousy in full thoughte euer shulde be kepte for ferdnesse to lese hys loue by miskeping thorow his owne doyng in leudenesse or els thus Lest she that thou serueste so feruently is beset there her better lyketh that of al thy good seruyce she compteth not a cresse These ielousyes in herte for acceptable qualities ben demed these oughten euery trew louer by kindly euermore hauen in his minde tyll fully the grace blysse of my seruice be on hym discended at wyll And he that than ielousy catcheth or els by wenyng of hys owne folysh wylfulnesse mistrusteth truely wyth fantasy of venyme he is foule begyled Yuelwyll hathe grounded thylke mater of sorowe in hys leude soule yet not for thaÌ„ to euery wight shulde me not truste ne euery wyghte fully misbeleue the meane of these thynges owen to be vsed Sothly wythouten causeâ—â—ll euidence mystruste in ielousye shulde not be wened in no wyse person coÌ„menly such leude wickednes shulde me not synde He that is wyse with yuell wyll not be acomered can abyde well hys tyme tyl grace blysse of his seruice folowyng haue hym so mokel eased as his abyding to forehande hath him diseased Certes lady ê™ I tho of no thyng me wondreth sythen thylke blysse so precious is and kyndly good wel is and worthy in kynde whaÌ„ it is medled with loâ—e reasoÌ„ as ye to forne haue declared Why anone as hye one is spronge why springeth not the other and anone as the one cometh why receyueth not the other For euery thyng that is out of his kyndly place by full appetite euer commeth thytherwarde kyndly to draw his kyndly being therto him coÌ„strayneth And the kindly stede of this blysse is in suche wyl medled to vnbyde nedes in that it shulde haue hys kyndly beyng wherfore me thynketh anone as that wyll to be shewed kydde hym profreth thylke blysse shulde him hye thylke wil to receyue or els kynde of goodnesse worcheÌ„ not in hem as they shulde Lo be the sunne neuer so ferre euer it hathe hys kynde werching in erth great weyght on hye onloft caryed stynteth neuer tyll it come to thys restyng place waters to the see ward euer ben they drawyng thynge that is lyght blythly wyl not synke but euer ascendeth vpward draweth Thus kynde in euery thynge hys kyndely course hys beyng place sheweth wherfore be kynde on thys good wyl anone as it were spronge this blysse shulde theron discend her kynde wolde they dwelleden togyther so haue ye sayd your selfe
graue was layde After hys great passion and deth cruell who hath hym thus agayne betrayde Or what man here about can me tell where he is become the prynce of Israell Iesus of Nazareth my gostly socour My parfyte loue and hope of all honour what creature hath hym hence caryed Or howe myght thys so sodeynly befall I wolde I had here wyth hym taryed And so shulde I haue had my purpose all I bought oyntmentes full precious royall wherwyth I hoped his corps to anoynted But he thus gone my mynde is dyspoynted whyle I therfore aduertyse and beholde This pytous chaunce here in my presence Ful lytel maruayle though my herte be colde Consydrynge lo my lordes absence Alas that I so full of negligence Shulde be founde bycause I come so late All men may faye I am infortunate Cause of my sorowe mē maye vnderstande Quia tulerunt dominum meum Another is that I ne maye fonde I wotnere Vbi posuerunt eum Thus I muste bewayle Dolorem meum wyth herty wepyng I can no better deserue Tyl deth approche my herte for to kerue My herte opprest wyth sodeyne auenture By feruent anguyshe is be wrapped so That longe thys lyfe I may not endure Such is my payne suche is my mortall wo Neuerthelesse to what partye shall I go In hope to fynde myne owne turtyll true My lyues ioye my souerayne Lorde Iesu Syth all my ioye that I call hys presence Is thus remoued nowe I am ful of mone Alas the whyle I made no prouidence For thys myshap wherfore I sygh grone Socour to find to what place might I gone Fayne I wolde to some man my herte breke I note to whom I may complayne or speke Alone here I stande ful sory and ful sadde which hoped to haue sene my lorde kynge Small cause haue I to be mery or gladde Remembrynge thys bytterfull departynge In thys worlde is no creature lyuynge That was to me so good and gracious Hys loue also then golde more precious Ful sore I sygh wythout comforte agayne There is no cure to my saluation Hys brēnyng loue my herte so doth cōstraine Alas here is a wofull permutacion wherof I fynde no ioye nor consolacion Therfore my payne all onely to confesse wyth dethe I feare woll ende my heuynesse Thys wo and anguyshe is intollerable Yf I byde here lyfe can I not sustayne Yf I go hence my paynes be vncurable wher hī to fynde I knowe no place certayne And thus I not of these thynges twayne whych I maye take whych I may refuse My hert is woūded heron to thynke or muse A whyle I shall stande in thys mournyng In hope yf any vysyon wol appere That of my loue might tel some good tiding whych into ioy myght chaūge my wepynge there I trust in his grace hys mercy dere But at the leest though I therwyth me kyll I shal not spare to wayle and wepe my fyll And yf that I dye in suche auenture I can nomore but welcome as my chaunce My bones shall rest here in thys sepulture My lyfe my dethe is at hys ordinaunce It shal be tolde in euerlastyng remembraūce Thus to departe is to me no shame And also therof I am nothynge to blame Hope agaynst me hath her course ytake There is nomore but thus shall I dye I se ryght wel my lorde hath me forsake But in my cōceyte cause knowe I none why Though he be farre hence and nothyng nye Yet my wofull herte after hym doth seke And causeth teeres to ren down by my cheke Thynkyng alas I haue lost hys presence whych in this worlde was al my sustenaūce I crye and cal wyth herty dyligence But there is no wyght gyueth attendaunce Me to certifye of myne enquyraunce wherfore I wyll to al thys worlde bewraye Howe that my lorde is slayne borne awaye Though I mourne it is no great wonder Syth he is al my ioye in speciall And nowe I thynke we be so farre a sonder That hym to se I feare neuer I shall It helpeth no more after hym to call Ne after hym to enquyre in any coste Alas howe is he thus gone and loste The iewes I thynke full of mysery Sette in malyce by theyr besy cure wyth force and myght of gylefull trechery Hath entermyned my lordes sepulture And borne awaye that precious fygure Leuynge of it nothynge yf they haue done so Marred I am alas what shall I do wyth theyr vengeaunce insaciable Nowe haue they hym entreated so That to reporte it is to lamentable They bete hys body from toppe to the too Neuer man was borne that felte suche wo They wounded hym alas wyth al greuaūce The blode downe reyled in most habūdaūce The blody rowes stremed downe ouer all They hym assayled so malycyously wyth theyr scourges and strokes beestyall They spared not but smote incessauntly To satisfye theyr malyce they were full besy They spit in his face they smote here there He groned ful sore and swette many a tere They crowned him w t thornes sharpe kene The vaynes rent the blode ran downe apace wyth bloode ouercome were both hys eyen And bolne with strokes was his blessed face They hym entreated as men without grace They kneled to hym made many a scorne Lyke helhoundes they haue hym al to corne Vpon a myghty crosse in length and brede These turmētours shewed theyr cursydnesse they nayled hym wythout pyte or brede Hys precious bloode brast out in largenesse They strayned him alonge as mē mercylesse The very ioyntes all to myne apparence Ryued asonder for theyr great vyolence All thys I beholdyng w t myne eyen twayne Stode there besyde wyth rufull attendaūce And euer me thought he beyng in that paine Loked on me wyth deedly councenaunce As he had sayd in hys speciall remembraūce Farewell Magdalen departe must I nedes hens My herte is Tāquā cera liquescens whych rufull syght when I gan beholde Out of my wytte I almost dystraught Tare my heere my handes wrange solde And of y e sight my herte drāke such a draught That many a fal swounyng there I caught I brused my body fallyng on the grounde wherof I fele many a greuous woūde Thē these wretches full of al frowardnesse Gaue him to drynke eysell tempred with gal Alas that poyson full of bytternesse My loues chere caused than to appall And yet therof might he nat drinke at all But spake these wordes as him thought best Father of heuen Consummatum est Than kneled I downe in paynes outrage Clipping y e crosse within myn armes twayn His bloode distylled downe on my vysage My clothes eke the droppes dyd distayne To haue dyed for him I wolde full fayne But what shulde it auayle yf I dyd so Sythe he is Suspensus in patibulo Thus my lorde full dere was all disgysed with bloode payne and woundes many one His veynes brast hys ioyntes all to ryued Partyng a sonder the fleshe fro the bone But I sawe
they the kepe Vnto thyne herte leste her wordes crepe In his boke where I take my most grounde And in hys prouerbes sage Solomon Telleth a tale whych is playnly founde In the fyfth chapiter wheder in dede don Or mekely feyned to our instruction Let clerkes determyne but thus I am sure Much lyke thyng I haue had in vre At my wyndowe sayth he I loked out Fayre yonge people where I sawe many Amonge hem all as I loked about To a yonge man fortuned I lent myne eye Estraunged from his mynde it was lykely By y e strete at a corner nygh his owne hous He went about wyth eye ryght curyous whaÌ„ that the day his lyght gan wythdrawe And the nyght approched in the twynlyght Howe a woman came and met him I sawe Talkyng with him vnder shade of the night Nowe blyssed be god ê™ she of his myght whych hath fulfylled myne hertes desyre Aslaked my paines which were hote as fire And yet myne auctour as it is skyl To folowe I must tel her arayment She was ful nyce soules lyke to spyl As nyce in countenaunce yet as in garment For ianglyng she was of rest impacient wandryng styl in no place she stode But restlesse nowe and nowe out she yode Nowe in the house nowe in the strete Nowe at a corner she stondeth in awayte Incessauntly besy her praye for to gete To brynge to the lure whom she dothe layte Now where I left vnto my mater strayte I wol turne agayne howe she hym mette Swetely kyssed and frendly hym grette With wordes of curtesy many and diuerse Ryght as in parte I haue before tolde Nowe as I can I purpose to reherse How she flateryng sayd wyth vysage bolde I haue made vowes offringes manifolde For thy sake O myne hert O my loue dere This day I thaÌ„ke god al perfourmed were Therfore I came out and made thus astert Very desyrous your welfare to se Now I haue sene you pleased is myne hert In fayth shall none haue my loue but ye As trewe as I am to you be to me I praye you hertely dere herte come home No man shulde be to me so welcome And in good fayth the soth for to say Your comynge to me ranne in my thought Harke in your care my bed freshe and gay I haue behanged w t tapettes newe bought FroÌ„ Egypt from ferre countrees brought Steyned wyth many a lusty freshe hue Excedyng golde or Iasper in value My chaÌ„bre is strowed with myrre ensence with sote sauoring aloes with synamome Breathyng an aromatyke redolence Surmountyng olybane in any mans dome Ye shall betwene my brestes rest yf ye come Let vs haue our desyred halsyng For we maye safe be tyl in the mornyng Myne husbonde is not at home he is went Forth in hys iourney a ferre way hence A bagge with money he hath w t him hent As hym thought nedeful for hys expence Vnto my worde gyue fayth and credence Nowe is the mone yonge of syght dulle Er he come home it woll be at the fulle Thus craftely hath she hym besette wyth her lyme roddes panter and snare The sely soule caught in her nette Of her sugeed mouth alas nothyng ware Thus is he lefte gracelesse and bare Of helpe comforte and goostly socour And furthermore as sayth myne auctour As a beest ledde to hys deth doth pant Thys yonge man foloweth her in y e stouÌ„de And as a wanton lambe ful ignorant Howe he is pulled and drawen to be bouÌ„de Vnto the tyme he hath his dethes wounde And lyke a byrde that hasteth to the grynne Not knowyng the peryll of his lyfe therin Now gentle soÌ„ne saith Salomon take hede My wordes in thy brest kepe and make fast Let her not thy minde in her wayes mislede Be not disceyued lese not thy tast Many hath she wouÌ„ded many downe cast Many stronge by her hath lost theyr breth Her wayes wayes of hel leadyng to deth And in thys lytle naration precident The womans manyfolde gylt I attende The yonge man alas howe she hath shent Disceyued her husbaÌ„de her owne next freÌ„de In these both her God she doth offende To breke her spousayle to her is of no weiÈt furdermore to shew womans craft sleight A woman at her dore sate on a stal To se folkes passe by stretes of the cite wyth eye countenaunce eke she gan cal If there be any prety one come nere to me Come hyther ye pygges nye ye lytlel abe At last she sayd to a yonge man hertelâ—sse Of her disceyte vnware and defencelesse Much swetter she sayth more acceptable Is drynke whan it is stolen priuely Than whaÌ„ it is taken in fourme auowable Breed hyd and gotten ieoperdously Must nedes be swete and semblably Venyson stolne is aye the swetter The ferther the narower fette the better And whoÌ„ thys womaÌ„ sayth SolomoÌ„ festes The yong maÌ„ woteth not whoÌ„ she doth fede Of the derke depenesse of hel bene her gestes Beware yonge man therfore I the rede And howe be it chefely for thy good spede This werke to coÌ„pile I haue take in charge I must of pyte my charyte enlarge wyth the sely man which is thus begyled Her husband I meane I wol wepe wayle His payneful infortune wherby reuyled Causelesse he is neuer to conuayle Euery man yonge olde wyl hym assayle with wordes of occasyon with y e loth name And alas good soule he nothynge to blame But she that coude so yl do and wolde Hers be the blame for her demeryte And leaue that opprobrous name cokolde To apropre to hym as in dispyte Ransake yet we wolde yf we myght Of thys worde the trewe ortography The very discent and ethymology The wel and grounde of the fyrst enuention To knowe the ortography we must deryue whych is coke and colde in composicion By reason as nyghe as I can contryue Than howe it is written we knowe belyue But yet lo by what reason and grounde was it of these two wordes compounde As of one cause to gyue very iugement Themylogy let vs fyrst beholde Eche letter an hole worde doth represent As C put for colde and O for olde K is for knaue thus diuers men holde The fyrst part of thys name we haue fouÌ„de Let vs ethymologyse the secounde As the fyrst fynder mente I am sure C for calot for of we haue O L for leude D for demeanure The crafte of the inuentour ye may se lo Howe one name signifyeth persons two A colde olde knaue cokolde him selfe wening And eke a calot of leude demeanyng The seconde cause of thymposycion Of thys forsayde name was ielousye To be ielouse is greatest occasyon To be cokolde that men can aspye And though the passyon be very fyrye And of coutynuel feruence and hete The pacient aye suffreth colde on hys fete And who that is ielous and aye in a drede Is ful of melancoly and gally yre Hys wyues nose yf she misse trede He wolde cutte of