To gete ageyn that he hath lore Which she that hath his deth forbore Fortune though he wold not yelpe Al sodeynly hath sente hym helpe Whan hym thought al grace aweye There came a fyssher in the weye And sawe there a naked man stonde And whan that he hath vnderstonde The cause of hym he hath grete routhe And onely of his power trouthe Of suche clothes as he hadde With grete pyte this lord he cladde And he hym thonketh as he sholde And saith hym that it shold be yolde If euer he gete his state ageyn And prayeth that he wold seyn Yf nyghe were ony towne for hym He sayd ye pentopolym Where bothe kyng quene dwellen This tale herde he tellen He gladeth hym and gan beseche That he the weye hym wold teche And he hym taughte forth he wente And to god with good entente To sende hym ioye after his sorowe It is not passed yet mydmorowe Qualiter appollinus pentapolim adue niente ludus a giguasij ê‘ vrbem publice proclamatus est tHan thyderward his weye he nam Where sone vpon the none he came He ete suche as he myght gete And anone forth as he had ete He goeth to see the towne aboute And came there as he fonde a ronte Of yonge lnsty men with alle And as it shold tho byfalle That day was set of suche assyse That they shold in the londes gyse As he herde of the peple seye Her comune game thenne pleye And cryed was that they shold come Bothe to the game al somme Of hem that ben delyner wyght To do suche mastrye as they myght They made hem naked as they shold For so that ylke game wold And it was the custome the vse Amonges hem was none refuse The floure of al the towne was there And of the courte also there were And that was in a large place Ryght euen before the kynges face Which artestraches thenne hyght The pleye was pleyed right in his siÈt And who moste worthy was of dede Reayue he shold his mede And in the cyte bere a pryce Appolynus which was ware wyse Of euery game he coude an ende He thought to assay who so it wende Qualiter appollinus ludum gignasij vâ—nâ—ens in aula regis ad cenam hoâ—onâ—ice receptus est aNd fyl emonge hem vnto game And wan hym there suche a name So as the kyng hym self accounteth That he al other men surmounteth And baâ—e the pryce aboue hem alle The kyng bad that in to his halle At souper tyme he shal be brought And he came than lefte it nought Without companye allone Was none so semelyche a persone Of vysage of lymmes bothe If that he had what to clothe At souper tyme nethelese The kyng amyddes al the prese Lete clepe hem vp emonge hem alle And bad his marchal of his halle To setten hym in suche degre That he vpon hym myght see The kyng was sone sette and serued And he which hath his prise deserued After the kynges owne worde Was made begyn a myddel borde That bothe kyng quene hym sye He sette caste aboute his eye And sawe the lordes in estate He with hym self wexe in debate Thynkyng what he had lore And suche a sorowe he toke therfore That he satte euer stylle thought As he which of no mete rought Qualiter appollinus in cena recum â—ens nichil comedit set dolo roso vultu capite maxime ingemescebat qui tandem a filia regis confortatus citheram plectens cunctis audientibus citherando vltra modum complacuit tHe kyng behelde his heuynrsse And of his grete gentylnesse His doughter which was fayre and â—ood And atte borde byfore hym stode As it was thylke tyme vsage He bad to goo on his message And fonde to make hym glade And she dyd as hir fader bade And goeth to hym the softe paas And axeth whan what he was And prayeth he shold his thouÈtes leue He saith madame by your leue My name is hote appolynus And of my ryches it is thus Vpon the see I haue it lore The contre where as I was bore Where that my londe is my rente I lefte at tyre whan that I wente The worshyp there of which I ought Vnto the god I there betought And thus to gyder as they speke The teeris ranne doun by his cheke The kyng which toke therof good kepe Had grete pyte to see hym wepe And forth his doughter sende ageyn And prayed hir fayr gan to sayn That she wold no lenger dretrhe But that she wold anone forth fetche Hir harpe done al that she can To glade with that sory man And she to done hir faders heste Hir harpe fette in the feste Vpon a chayer which they fette Hir self nexte to this man she sette With harpe bothe eke with mowthe To hym she dyd al that she couthe To make hym chere euer be sygheth And she hym axeth how hym lyketh Madame certeys wel he sayed But yf ye the mesure played Which yf you list I shal you lere It were a gladde thynge for to here A leue syr sayth she Take the harpe lete me see Of what mesure that ye mene Tho prayeth the kyng the quene Forthwith the lordes al arewe That he somme myrthe wold shewe And taketh the harpe in his wyse He tempreth of suche assyse Syngyng he harpeth forth with alle That as a voyâ—e celâ—styalle Hem thought it sowned in her here As though it an aungel were They gladen of his melodye But moste of al the companye The kynges douÈter which it herde And thouÈt eke and that he answerd Whan that it was of hir apposed Within her herte hath wel supposed That he his grete gentylnesse His dedes ben therof wytnesse Forthwyth the wysdom of his lore It nedeth not to sâ—che more He myght not haue suche manere Of gentyl blood but yf he were Whan he hath harpyd al his fylle The kynges heste to fulfylle Awey goeth dysshe aweye goeth cup Doun goeth the borde the cloth was vp They rysen goon out of halle The kyng his chamberleyn lete calle And bad that he by al weye A chambre for this man purueye Which nygh his owne chambre be It shal be do my lord qd he Qualiter appollinus cum rege pro filia sua erudienda retentus est aPpollynus of whom I mene Tho toke his leue of kyng quene And of the worthy mayde also Which prayed vnto hir fader tho That she myght with the yonge man Of tho sciences which he can His lore haue in this wyse The kyng hir graunteth hir apprise So that hym self therto assent Thus was accorded or they went That he with al that euer he may This yonge fayr fresshe may Of that he coude shold enforme And ful assented in this forme Qualiter filia regis appolinum ornato apparatu vestiri fecit Et ipse ad puelle doctrinam in quam
for vengeaunce as god it wolde Antyochus as men may wyte With fire lyghtenyng is al to smyte His doughter hath the same chaunce So ben they bothe in one balaunce For thy our lyege lord we the seye In name of al the londe and preye That lefte al other thynge to done It lyke you to come sone And see your owne lyege men With other that ben of your ken That lyuen in longyng desyre Tyl ye be come ageyn to tyre This tole after the kyng it had Pentapolyn al ouer it sprad There was no ioye for to seche For euery man it had in speche And sayden al of one acoorde A worthy kyng shal ben our lorde That thouÈt vs first an heuynesse Is shape vs now to grete gladnesse Qualiter appollino cum vxore sua imprignata a pentapoli versus tyrum nauigantiê° contigit vxorem mortis artiaâ—â— angustiatam in naui filiam que postea thaysies vocabatur patere tThus goeth the tydyng ouer al But nede he must that nede shal Appollynus his leue took To god he al that bonde bytook With al the peple longe brode That he no lenger there abode The kyng quene sorow made But yet somdele they were glade Of suche thynge as they herde tho And thus bytwene the we le woo To shyp he goeth his wyf with childe The which was euer meke mylde And wold not departe hym fro Suche loue was bytwene hem two Lycho rida for hir offyce Was take which was a norice To wende with this yonge wyf To whom was shape a wooful lyf Within a tyme as it betyd When they were in the see amyd Out of the northe they see a cloude The storme awos the wyndes loud They blewen many a dredesul blaste The welken was al ouer caste The derke nyght the sonne hath vnder Ther was a grete tempest of thondre The mone eke the sterres bothe In blacke clowdes they hem clothe Wherof their bright loke they hyde This yonge lady wepte cryde To whom no comforte myght auayle Of chylde she began to trauayle Where she laye in a caban choos This wooful lord fro hir awos And that was longe or ony morowe So that in anguysshe in sorowe She was delyuerd al by nyght And dede in euery mannes syght But nethelesse for al this woo A mayde chylde was boren tho Qualiter appollinus mortem vxoris sue planxit Appollynus when he thys kuewe A swowne he hym self ouerthrewe That no man wyst in hym no lyf And when he woke he said a wyf My ioye my lust my desyre My welth my recoueryre Why shal I lyue thou shalt dye Ha thou fortune I the defye Now hast thou do to me thy werste A herte why ne wyl thou breste That forth with hir I myght passe My paynes were moche the lasse In suche wepyng suche crye His dede wyf which laye hym bye A thousand sythes he hir kyste Was neuer man that sawe ne wyste A sorowe to his sorowe lyche Was euer emonge vpon the lyche He fyl swownyng as he that thouÈt His owne deth which he besought Vnto the goddes al aboue With many a pytous worde of loue But suche wordes as tho were Herde neuer no mannes eere But onely thylke which he sayed The mayster shypman came prayed With other suche as ben therin And sayn that he may no thyng wyn Ageyn the deth but they hym rede He be wel ware take hede The see by weye of his nature Receyue may no creature Within hym self as for to holde The which is dede for thy they wolde As they counceyllen al aboute The deed body casten oute For better it is they sayden alle That it of hir so byfalle Than yf they sholden al spylle The kyng which vnderstode her wylle And knewe her counceyl was trewe Began ageyn his sorowe newe With pytous herte thus to seye It is al reson that ye preye Qualiter suadentibuâ— nautis corpus vxoris sue mortue in quadam cista plumbo et ferro obtusa circumligata apoolinus cum magno thesauro vna cuÌ„ quadam littera sub eius capite scripta reludi in mari proiti fecit IAm ad he but one allone So wold I not for my persone There fel suche aduersite But whan it may no better be Doth than thus vpon my worde â—ete make a coofere stronge of borde That it be fyrme with lede pytche Anone was made his coofre suche Al redy brought vnto his honde And whan he sawe redy fonde This cooffre made wel englued The deed body was besewed In cloth of golde leyed therin And for he wold vnto hir wyn Vpon somme coste a sepulture Vnder hir heed in aduenture Of golde he leyed sommes grete And of Iuels stronge byyete Copia littere capiti vxoris sue supposite Forthwith a lettre said thus Kyng of tyre Appollynus Doeth al men to wyte That heereth seeth this lettre wryte That helpeles without rede Here lâ—eth a kynges doughter dede And who that happeth hir to fynde For charite take in his mynde And do so that she begraue With that tresour that she haue Thus whan the lettre was ful spoke A none they haue the coofre sâ—oke And bounden it with yron faste So that it may with wawes laste And stoppen it by suche a weyâ— That it shal be within dreye So that no water myght it greue And thus in hope good beleue Of that the corps sâ—â—l nâ—l aryâ—e They caste it ouer borde as blyue Qualiter appoâ—â—â—ê° vxoris sue corâ—e in â—â—are proiecto Tirum reâ—â—nguens cursuÌ„â—â—um versus tharsim nauigio dolens arripuit The shippes forth on the wawes went The prynce hath chaunged his entent And saith he wyl not come at tyre As thenne but al his desyre Is first to saylen vnto tharse The wyndy storme began to scarse The sonne aryseth the weder clereth The shâ—â—man which behynde stereth Whan that he sawe the wyndes softe Toward tharse his cours he sought Qualiter corâ—us predicte deffun â—â—e super â—â—ttus apud ephesim quidem medicus nomine Cerimon cum aâ—â—auâ—â—us suis dscipulâ—s inuenit quod in hospicium â—ortans et extra cistam 〈◊〉 â— neÌ„s spirâ— cuâ—o vite in ca inuento ipsam plene sanitati restituit bâ—t now to my matere agâ—yn To telle as olde bookes seyn This dede corps of which ye knowe With wynde water was forthrowe Now here now there tyl atte laste At ephesym the see vp caste The cooffre al that was therin Of grete meruayle now begyn May hâ—re who that sâ—te stylle That god wyl saue may not spylle Right as the corps was throwe on loÌ„de There came walkyng by the stronde A worthy clerke surgyen And eke a grâ—te physycien Of that londe the wysest one Which hyght mayster Ciâ—â—mone Ther was of his dysaples somme This maistre is to the â—â—offre come He poyseth ther was somwhat in And bade hym bere it
There was it proued how it stood To Perse whiche was ful of good They maden werre in especyal Anâ— soo they dyden oâ—eral Where grete rychesse was in lond So that they left no thyng stond â—n werred but only Archade Nota ê™ greci omnem terram deâ—ellabant fertilem sed tantum ArchadiaÌ„ pro eo quam pauper et steriâ—â—s fuit pacifiâ—â— dimiserunt For there they no werres made By cause it was bareyn pouer Wherof they myght not recouer And thus pouerte was forbore He that nought had nought â–ª hath lore But yet it is â–ª a wondre thyng When that a ryche worthy kynge Or other lord what so he be Wol axe clayme propyrte In thyng whiche he hath no ryght But only of his grete myght For this may euery man wel wyte That bothe kynde lawe wryte Expressely stonde there ageyn But he mote nedes somwhat seyn Al though â–ª there be no reson ynne Whiche seche cause â–ª for to wynne For wyt that his wyl oppressed When couetyse hym hath redressed And al reson put awey He can wel fynde suche a wey To werre where as euer he lyketh Wherof that he the word entryketh That many a man of hym coÌ„pleyneth But yet alwey somme cause he feyneth And of his wrongful hert hath demed That al is wel that euer hym semed Br so he may wynne ynough For as the trewe man to the plough Only to the gaygnage entendeth Ryght so the werryour dyspendeth His tyme hath no conscyence And in this poynt for euydence Of hem that suche werres make Thou myght a grete ensample take How they hyr tyrannye excusen Of that they wrongful werres vsen And they stonde of one acord The Sâ—udyour forth with the lord The poure man forth with the ryche As of courage they ben lyche To make werres to pyle For lucre for none other skyle Wherof a propyr tale I rede As it whylome byfell in dede hIc declarat per Exemplum coÌ„tra istos principes seu alios quos cumque illicite guerre motores Et narrat de quodam Pirata in partiâ—ê° mari nis spoliatore qui cum captus fuisset in iudicium coram Rege Alexandro productus de latricinio accusatê° dixit O Alexandre vere quia cum pau cis socijs spoliorum causa naues tantuÌ„ exploro â–ª ego latrunculus vâ—ooâ— tu auteÌ„ qâ—â—a cum infinita bellatorum multitu dine vniuersam terram subiuganâ—o spoliasti Imperator diceres Ita quam sta tus tuus a statu meo differt sed eodeÌ„ animo condicionem paâ—â—lem habemus Alexander vero eius audaciam in responsione comprobans penes se familiarem retinuit Et sic bellicosus bellatori complaâ—â—t oF hym al this erthe drad When he the world so ouerlad Thurgh werre as it fortuned is Kyng Alysaunder I rede this How in a marche where he lay It felle par chaunce vpon a day A Rouer of the see was nome Whiche many a man had ouercome And slayn take her good awaye This Pylour as the boks saye A famous man in sondry stede Was of the werkes whiche he dede This prysoner afore the kyng Was brought therupon this thyng In audyence was he accused And he his dede hath nought excused And praid the kyngÌ„ to done hym ryÈt And seyd Syre yf I were of myght I haue an hert lyche vnto thyn For yf thy power were myn My wylle is moost in especyal To ryfle to gete oueral The large worldes good aboute But for I lede a poure route And am as who sayth at meschyef The name of Pylour of thyef I bere thou whiche Routes grete Maye lede take thy beyete And dost ryght as I wold doo Thy name is nothyng cleped so But thou art named Emperour Oure dedes ben of one colour And in effect of one deserte But thy Rychesse my pouerte They be not taken euen lyche And nethâ—lâ—â— he that â—s ryche This day to morowe he may by poure And in contrary also receuer A pouer man to grete ryches Men seyn for thy ryghtwysenes Be peyced euen in the balaunce The kyng his hardy contenaunce Behelde his wordes wyse And sayd vnto hym in this wyse Thyne ansuere I haue vnderstonde Wherof my wyl â—e that thou stonde In my seruyce stylle abyde And forth with al the same tyde He hath hym â—â—â—me of lyf witholde The more for he shal beholde He made hym knyght yaf hym lond Whiche afterward was of his hond Aâ— orped knyght in many a stede And grete prowesse of armes dede As the Cronyke it recorden And in this wyse they acorden The whiche of one â—â—ndycyâ—n Be sett vpon destructyon Suche Capytayne suche retenue But for to see what yssue The kyng befallyth at the laste In his grete wondre what men caste Her â—â—â—t vpon suche wrong to wynne Where no beâ—â—â—e may be Inne And deth dyâ—â—se on euery syde But when reson is put a syde And wylle gâ—nerneth the courage The fauâ—â—n with that fleeth ramage And suffreth no thyng in the weye Wherof that he may take his preye Is not more set vpon rauyne Than ylk man whiche his couyne Hath set in suche maner wyse For al the world ne may suffyse To wyl whiche is not resonable Wherof ensample concordable Lyche to this poynt of whiche I mene Was vpon Alysander sene Whiche had set al his entent So as fortune with hym went That the reson myÈt hym not gouerne But of his wylle he was so sterne That al the world he ouerâ—an And what hym lyst he took wan In inde the superyour When that he was ful conquerour And had his wylful purpoos wonne Of al this erthe vnder the sonne This kyng homeward to Macedoyne When that he cam to Babyloyne And wende moost in â–ª his empyre As he whiche was lord syre In honour for to be receyued Moost sodenlyche he was deceyued And with strong poyson enuenynâ—â—d And as he hath the world mystymed Not as he shold with his wyt Not as he wold it was acquyt Thus was he slayn that whylome slongh And he whiche ryche was ynough This day to morowe had nought And in suche wyse as he was wrouÈt In dysturbaunce of worldes pees His werre he fonde than endeles In whiche for euer dyscomfyte He was â–ª lo now for what proufyte Of werre it helpeth for to ryde For couetyse worldes pryde To slee the worldes men aboute As bestes whiche gone ther oute For ony lyf whiche reson can Ought wel â–ª to knowe that a man Ne shold thorugh no tyrannye Lyche to these other bestes dye Tyl kynde wold for hym sende I not how he it myght amende Whiche taketh awey for euermore The lyf that he may not restore For thy my sone in al weye Be wel auysed I the preye Of slaught or that thou be culpable Withoute cause resonable My fadre vnderstonde it is That ye haue sayd but ouer this I pray you
And seyth that he is mochel holde For whylome Theucer in a stede Grete grace socour to hym dede And sayth that he hym wold acquyte And prayth his fadre to respyte Achilles tho withdrough his hond But al the power of the lond When that they sawe hyr kyng thus take They fled hath the fâ—ld forsake The grekes vnto the chaas falle And for the moost part alle Of that countre the lordes grete They took wonne a grete beyete And anone after this vyctorye The kyng whiche had memorye Vpon the grete mercy thought Which the laphus toward hym wrouÈt And in presence of al the londe He took hym fayre by the honde And in this wyse he gan to seye My sone I mote by double weye Loue desyre thyn encrees Fyrst for thy fadre Achilles Whylome ful many a day or this When I shold fare amys Rescouse dyd in my quarele And kepte al myn estate in hele How so ther falle now dystaunce Among vs yet remembraunce I haue of mercy whiche he dede Than â–ª thou now in this stede Of gentylnes of fraunchesse Hast do mercy the same I gesse So wol I not that ony tyme Be lost of that thou hast do byme For how so this fortune falle Yet stant my trust abouen alle For the mercy whiche I now fynde That thou wolt after this â—e kynde And for that suche is myn espeyr And for my sone for myn he yre I the receyue al my lond I yeue sese in to thyn honde And in this wyse they accorde The cause was myserycorde The lordes do her obeysaunce To Thelaphus purueaunce Was made so that he was coroned And thus was mercy reguerdoned Whiche he to Theucer dyde to fore Loo this ensample is made therfore That thou myght take remembraunce My sone when thou seest a chaunce Of other mens passyon Take pyte compassyon And lete no thynge to the be leef Whiche to another man is greef And after this yf thou desyre To stonde ayene the vyce of Ire Counseyl the with pacyence And take in to thy conscyence Mercy to be thy gouernour So shalt thouâ—fynde no rancour Wherof thyn herte shal debate With homycyde ne with hate For cheste or melancolye Thou shalt be softe in companye Withoute conteck or foolhast For elles myght thou long wast Thy tyme or that thou haue thy wylle Of loue for the wedyr stylle Men preyse blame the tempestes My fadre I wol do your hestes And of this poynt ye haue me tauÈt Toward my self the better saught I thenke bewayle whyle that I lyne But for as moche as I am shryne Of wrathe al his circumstaunce Yeue that ye lyst to my penaunce And axe forther of my lyf Yf other wyse I be gyltyf Of ony thyng that toucheth synne My sone or we departe a twynne I shal behynde no thynge leue Amans My good fadre with your leue Than axe forth what you lyste For I haue in you suche tryste As ye that be my soule hele That ye fro me nothyng wol hele For I shal telle you the trouthe My sone art thou culpable of slouthe In ony poynt whiche to hym longeth My fadre of tho poyntes me longeth To wyte pleynly what they mene So that I maye me shryue clene Now herkne I shal the pointes deuyse And vnderstonde wel myn appryse For shryfte stant of no value To hym that wol hym not vertue To leue of vyces the folye For wynd is word but the maystrye Is that a man hym self defende Of thyng whiche is not to comende Wherof ben fewe now a daye And netheles so as I may Make vnto thy memorye knowe The poyntes of slouthe thou shalt knowe Explicit liber Tercius Incipit liber quartus dIcuÌ„t accidiaÌ„ fore nutriâ—em viaoruÌ„ Corpet in cunctis tarda que lenta bonis Que fieri possent hodie transfert piger in ceas Furato que prius hostia clandit equo Poscenti tardo negat emolumeÌ„ta cupi do Sed venê° in câ—beri ludit amore viri Iâ— in quarto libro loquitur con 〈◊〉 fessor de speciebus Accidie qua 〈◊〉 primam tardacionem vocat cuius â—â—â—diciouem pertractans Amanti suâ—â— hoc consequenter opponit bPon the vyces to procede After the cause ofemaÌ„nes dede The fyrst poynt of slouthe I calle Lachesse and is the chyef of alle Aud hath this properly of kynde To leuen al thyng behynde Of that he myght do now here He taryeth al the long yere And euermore he sayth to morowe And so he wol his tyme borowe And wyssheth after god me sende Than when he weneth to haue an ende Than is he forthest to begynne Thus bryngeth he many meschief Inue Vnware tyl that he be mescheued And may not than be releued And ryght so nother more ne lesse It stant ofloue of lachesse Somtyme he slouteth on a daye That he neuer after gete may Now sone as of this ylke thyng If thou haue ony knoulechyng That thou to loue hast done or this Telle on my good fadre yis As of laches I am be knowe That I may stonde vpon his rowe As I that am clad of his sute For when I thought my pursute To make therto set a day To speke vnto the swete may Lachesse bad abyde yet And bare on hond it was no wyt Ne tyme for to speke as tho Thus with his tales to fro My tyme in taryeng he drough When ther was tyme good ynough He sayd another tyme is better Thou shalt now sende here a letter And par caas wryte more pleyn Than thou by mouthe durst seyn Thus haue I lete tyme slyde For slouthe kept not my tyde So that laches with his vyce Ful of be hath made my wyt so nyce That what I thought speke or do With taryeng be â—eld me so Tyl when I wold myght nought I not what thyng is in my thought Or it was drede or it was shame But euer in ernest in game I wote ther is no long tyme passed But yet is not the loue lassed Whiche I vnto my lady haue For though my tonge is slouÈ to ocaue At al tyme as I haue bede Myn hert stant euer in one stede And axe besylyche grace The whiche I may not yet embrace And god wote it is maulgre myn For this I wote ryght wel afyn My grace cometh so selde aboute That is the slouthe whiche I doute More than of al the remenaunt Whiche is to loue appertenaunt And thus as touchend of lachesse As I haue told I me confesse To yow my fadre Eâ—byseche That ferthermore ye wol me teche And yf ther be of this matere Som goodly tale for to lere How I may do lachesse awey That ye it wold telle I prey To wysse the my sonne rede Among the tales whiche I rede An old ensample therupon Now herkne I wol telle on hIc ponit Confessor Exemplum contra Istos
bee For to the reson yf we se Of mans byrthe the mesure It is so comon of nature That it yâ—ueth euery man alyche As wel to the poure as to the ryche For naked they ben bore bothe The lord hath no more to clothe As of hym self that ylk thro we Than hath the pourest of the rowe And when they shal bothe passe I not of hem whiche hath the lasse Of worldes good but of charge The lord is more for to charge When he shal his compte here For he hath had his lustes here But of the body whiche shal deye Al though there be dyuers weye To deth yet is ther but one ende To whiche that euery man wende As wel the begger as the lord Of one nature of one acord She whiche oure elder moder is The erthe bothe that and this Receyueth al alyche denoureth That she to nother part fauoureth So wote I noo thynge after kynde Where I may gentylnes fynde For lak of vertu lak of grace Wherof Rychesse in many place When men wene best to stonde Al sodenly goth oute of honde But vertu set in the courage There may noo world be so saluage Whiche myght it take done aweye Tyl when that the bodye deye Then he shal be ryched soo So that may fayle neuermo That it may wel be gentylnesse Whiche yeueth so grete a sykernesse For after the condycyon Of resonable intencyon The whiche oute of the soule groweth And the vertu from vyce knoweth Wherof a man the vyce escheweth Withoute slouthe vertu seweth That is very gentylman And no thyng elles whiche he can Ne whiche he hath ne whiche he maye But for al that yet now a daye In loues court to taken hede The poure vertu shal not spede That where the ryche vyce woweth For selde it is that loue alloweth The gentylman withoute good Though his condycyon be good But yf a man of bothe two Be ryche vertuous also Than is he wel the more worth But yet to put hym self forth He muse done his besynesses For nother good ne gentylnesse May helpen hem whiche ydel be But who that woâ— in his degre Trauayle so as it belongeth It happeth ofte that he fongeth Worship ease both two For euer yet it hath be so That loue honest in sondry weye Profyteth for it doth aweye The vyce as the bookes seyn It maketh curteys of the vyleyn And to the Coward hardyesse It yeueth so that very prowesse Is caused vpon loues reule To hym that can manhood reule And eke toward the womanhede Who that therof wold taken hede For they the better affayted be In euery thyng as men may see For loue both euer his lustes grene In gentyl folk as it is sene Whiche thyng ther may no kynde arest I trowe that there is no best That he with loue shold acqueynte That he ne wold make it queynte As for the whyle that it last And thus conclude at the last That they ben ydel as me semeth Whiche vnto thyng that loue demeth For slouthen that they shold do And ouer this my sone also To speke of loue yf I shal seke After the vertu moral eke Among the hooly bokes wyse I fynde wryte in suche a wyse Who loueth not is here as dede For loue aboue al other is hede Whiche bath the vertues for to lede Of al that vnto mannes dede Belongeth for of ydelshyp He hateth al the felaushyp For slouthe is euer to despyse Whiche in dysdeyne hath al appryse And that acordeth not to man For he that wyt reson can It syt hym wel that he trauayle Vpon som thyng whiche myÈt auaile For ydelshyp is not comended But euery lawe it hath defended And in ensamples therupon The noble wyse Salamon Whiche had of euery thyng insyght Seyth as the byrdes to the flyght Be made so the man is bore To labour whiche is nought forlore To hem that thynken for to thryue For we whiche are now alyue Of hem that besy whylome were As wel in scoles as elles where Now euery day ensample take That yf it were now to make Thyng whiche fyrst they founden out It shold not be brought aboute Her lyues thenne were longg Here wyttes grete her myghtes strong Here vertues ful of besynesse Wherof the worldes redynesse In body bothe in courage Stant euer vpon his auauntage And for to drawe in to memorye Her names bothe her storye Vpon the vertu of hyr dede In sondry bokes thou myght rede Expedit in manibus labor vt de cotidiams â–ª Actibus et vita viueâ—â— poseit homo Sed qui doctrine causa fert men te labores Preualet et merita perpetu ata parat Hic loquitur centra â—ciosos quoscuÌ„que et mayime coÌ„tra istos qui excelleÌ„tis prudencie ingenium habeÌ„tes absque fructu operum torpescunt Et ponit exeÌ„pluÌ„ de diligencia predecessorum qui ad tociâ—â— humani geneis doctrinam et auxiâ—â—um suis centinuis laboribus studne gracia mediante diuina artes sci encâ—as primitus inuenerunt oF euery wysedome the parfyt The hyghe god of his spyryt Yafe to the men in erthe here Vpon the forme the matere Of that he wolde make hâ—m wyse And thus cam in the fyrst apryse Of goodes and of al good Thorugh hem that whylome vnderstode The lore whiche to hem was yeue Wherof these other that now lyue But euery day to lerne newe But al the tyme that men sewe And that the labour forth it brought There was no corn though meÌ„ it souÈt In none of al the feldes oute And or the wysedome cam aboute Of hem that fyrst tho bokes wryte This may euery wyse man wyte There was grete laboure â—â—e also Thus was none ydel of the two That on the plough hath vndertake The laboure whiche the lond hath take That other took to studye muse As he whiche wolde not refuse The labour of his wyttes alle And in this wyse it is befalle Of labour what that they bygonne We be now â—ought of that we conne Here besynes is yet sene That it stant euer alyche grene Al be it so the body deye The name of hem shal neuer aweye In the Cronyke as I fynde C ham whos labour is yet in mynde Was he whiche fyrst the lettres fonde And wrote in bebrewe with his honde Of naturel philosophye He fonde fyrst also the clergye Cadmus the lettres of gregoys Fyrst made vpon his owne choys Theges of thyng that shal byfalle He was the fyrst angnrre of alle And Philemenon by the vysage Fonde to descryue the courage Cladius Eldras Sulpyces Telmegis Panulf Frigidylles Menander Epyloquorus Solius Pandar and Iosephus The fyrst were of endytours Of olde Cronyke eke auctours And Heredot in his scyence Of metre of Ryme and of Cadence The fyrste was whiche men note And of Musyke also the note In mans voys or softe or sharp That fende Iubal of the harpe The mery
they made they telle Among the wondres that byfelle When Alexander fro Candace Cam rydend in a wylde place Vnder an hylle a caue he fond And Candalus whiche in that lond was bore was Candaces sone Hym told hou that of comon wone The goddes were in thylk caue And he that wold assaye haue A knoulechyng yf it be soth Lyght of his hors in he goth And fond therin that he sought For thoruÈ the fendes sleyÈt hym thouÈt Among other goddes mo That Scrapys spak to hym tho whome he sawe there in grete aray And thus the fende from day to day The worshyp of Idolatrye Trough forth vpon the fantasye Of hem that were than blynde And couthen nought the trouthe fynde Thus hast thou herd in what degre Of Grece Egypte Chaldee The mysbylene whylome stood And hou so they be not good Ne trewe yet they sprongen oute Wherof the wyde world aboute His part of mysbyleue took Tyl soo by felle as seyth the book That god a peple for hym selue Hath chose of the lygnages twelue Wherof the sothe redyly As it is wryten in Genesy I thynke telle in suche a wyse That it shal be to hym a pryse De Hebreorum seu Iudeorum secta quorum Sinagoga coclesia Cristi superueniente defecit aFter the flood fro whiche Noe Was sauf the world in his degre Was made as who seyth new agein Of flour of fruit of gras of grein Of beest of byrde of mankynde Whiche euer hath be to god vnkynde For not with stondynge al the fare Of that this world was made so bare And afterwarde it was restored AmoÌ„g the men was nothyng mored Toward god of good lyuyng But al was torned to lykyng After the flesshe so that foryete Was he whiche yafe hem lyfe mete Of heuene erthe creatour And thus cam forth the grete errour That they the hyghe god ne knewe But maden other goddes newe As thou hast herd me sayd to fore There was no man that tyme bore That be ne bad after his choys A god to whome he yafe his voys wherof the mysbyleue cam In to the tyme of Abraham But he fond oute the ryght weye How only men shold obeye The hyghe god whiche weldeth al And euer hath done euer shal In heuen in erthe eke in helle There is no thyng his myght may telle This Patryarche to his lygnage Forbad that they to none Image Enclyne shold in no wyse But her offrend sacryfyse With al the hoole hertes loue Vnto the myghty god aboue And they shold hym no mo And thus in thylk tyme tho Bygan the feyth vpon the erthe Whiche of byleues was the ferthe Of ryghtwysenes it was conceyued So must it nedes be receyued Of hym that al ryght is Inne The hyghe god whiche wold wynne A people vnto his owne feyth On Abraham the ground he leyth And made hym for to multyplye In to so grete a progenye That they Egypte al ouer sprad But Pharao with wrong hem lad In seruytude ayene the pees Tyl god lete sende Moyses To make the delyueraunce And for his peple grete vengeannce He took whiche to here a wonder The kyng was slayn the loÌ„d put vnder God bad the reed see deuyde Whiche stood vpryght on euery syde And yafe vnto his people a weye That they on foote it passed dreye And gone so forth in to desert Where for to kepe hem in couert The dayes when the sonne brent A large cloude hem ouer went And for to wyssen hem by nyght A fyry pyler hem alyght And when that they for hongre pleyn The myghty god began to reyne Manna fro heuen doune to grounde Wherof that eche of hem hath fonnde His fode suche ryght as hym lyst And for they shold vpon hym tryst Right as who set a tonne a broche And perced the hard roche And spronge oute water al at wille That man beste hath bronke at wyll And afterward he yafe the lawe To moyses that hem withdrawe They shold not fro that he bad And in this wyse they be lad Tyl they took in possessyon The lond of promyssyon Where that Caleph and Iosue The marches vpon suche degre Departen after the lygnage That eche of hem as herytage His pourpartye hath vnderfonge And thus stood this byleue longe Whiche of prophetes was gouerned And they had eke the peple lerned Of grete honour that sholde hem falle But at moost nede of alle They fayleden when Cryst was bore But hou that they her feyth haue lore It nedeth nought to tellen al The mater is soo general When Luafer was best in heuene And ought moost haue stond in euene Towardes god he took debate And for that he was obstynate And wold nought to trouthe enclyne He fel for euer in to ruyne And Adam eke in paradys When he stood moost in al his prysÌ„ After the state of Innocence Ayene the god brake his defence And fell out from his hye place a wey And ryght by suche maner weye The Iewes in her best plyght When they shold moost parfyght Haue stonde vpon the prophecye Tho fellen they to moost folye And hym whiche was froÌ„ heuen come And of a mayde his flesshe hath nome And was amonge hem born fed As men that wold nought be sped Of goddes sone with one voys They henge slough vpon the croys Wherof the parfyte of her lawe Fro then forth was forth drawe So that they stonde of no meryte Bnt in truage as folk subgect Withoute propyrte of place They lyuen oute of goddes grace Dyspers in al londes oute And thus the feyth is come aboutâ— That whylome in the Iewes stood Whiche is nonght parfytely good To speke as it is now be falle There is a feyth abouen alle In which the trouthe is comprehended Wherof that we ben al amended De fide Cristiana in qua perfecte le gis complementum summi â—isterij sacramentum nostreque saluacionis fundamentum infallibiliter consistere credimus tHe hyghe Almyghty mageste Of ryght wysenes of pyte The synne whiche that Adam wrouÈt When he sawe tyme than he souÈt And sende his sone fro the heuene To sette mans soule in euene Whiche than was so forfalle Vpon the poynt whiche was so byfalle That he ne myght hym self aryse Gregorye sayth in his apryse It helpeth nought a man be bore If goddes sone were vnbore For than thurgh the fyrst synne Which whilom Adam brouÈt vs Inne There sholden al men be lost But Cryst restoreth thylk lost And bought it with his flesshe blood And yf we thynken hou it stood Of thylk raunson whiche he payd As seynt gregorye it wrote sayd Al was behouely to the man For that wherof his woo bygan Was after cause of al his welthe When he whiche is the welle of helthe The hyghe creatour of lyf Vpon the nede of suche a stryf So wold for his creature Take on hym self the forfeture And suffre for the mans sake
was a knyght worthy with al And whan he sawe his chaunce falle He ferd as though he took no hede But al that euer he myght spede With hym with his felauship Forth in to grece he goth by ship Where that the kyng mynos he sought And profereth al that hym is ought Vpon the poynt of hir acorde This sterne kyng this cruel lorde Toke euery day one of the nyne And put hym in to disciplyne Of mynotaure to be deuoured But Theseus was so fauoured That he was kepte till at the last And the mene whyle he cast What mene thyng hym were best to do And felle that Adryane tho The whiche was the douÈter of mynos And had herd the worthy los Of Theseus and of his myght And sawe that he was a lusty knyght For hole herte on hym she layd And he that also of loue hir prayd So ferforth that they were alone And ordeyned that anone In what maner he shold hym saue And shope so that she dyd hym haue A clewe of threde the wiche withynne Fyrst at-the dore he shal begynne And when he wold ageyn ward wende With hym to take that one ende He â—â—â—â—t go the same wey And ouer this so as I sey Of speche she tooke hym a pelot The whiche he shold in to the throte Of mynotaure cast ryght Suche wepen also for hym she dyght That he by reson may not fayle To make an ende of his batayle For she hym taught in dyuerse wyse Tyl he was coÌ„nyng of that enpryse How he this best shold kylle And thus shortely for to telle So as this mayden hym had taught Theseus with his monstre faught And smote of his hede the which he nam And by the thred so as he cam He gothe ageyne til he were oute Than was grete wonder al aboute Mynos the tribute hath rebeced And so the werre was al seced Bitwene Athenis hem of Crete But now to speke of that swete The whos beaute was withoute wane This fayre mayden Adryane When she saw Theseus sounde Was neuer yet vppon this grounde A gladder wyght than she was tho Theseus dwellyd a day or two With this mayden spak rowned That she to hym was abandouned In all that euer she couthe So that of hyr lusty youthe Al pryuely bytwene hem twey The first floure he took awey For he so fayre hyr than behyght That euer whyle he lyue myght He shold hyr take for his wyf And as his owne hertes lyf He shold hyr loue trouthe hyr bere And she that myght not forbere So sore loueth hym ageyne That what as euer he wold seyne With al hir hert she it leuyth And thus his purpoos he acheuyth So that assured of his trouthe With hym she went that was routhe Fedra hir yong suster eke A lusty mayden sobre and meke Fulfilled of al curtosye For susterhode and companye Of loue the whiche was hem bytwene To see hir suster be made a quene Hir fader lefte forth she went With hym that al his first entent Forgate within a litel throwe So that it was al ouerthrowe When that she wend that it shold stonde The ship was blowen fro the londe Wherin they lay sailend there This Adryan had mochel fere Of that the wyndo so lowde blewe As she that of the see ne knewe And praid for to reste a whyle And so felle that vpoon an yle That this nyght they ben dreue Where he to hyr leue hath yeue And she shall londe take hir rest But that was nothyng for hir best For when she was to londe brought The whiche at that tyme thought nouÈt But al trouthe took no kepe Hath layd hir doune to slepe As she that long hath ben forwatched But certes she was euyl matched And fer from all loues kynde For more than the best vnkynde Theseus the whiche no trouthe kept While that this yonge lady slept Fulfylled of his vnkyndeship Hath forgeten al godeshyp The whiche Adryan had hym done And he bad the shypmen soone Hale vp the saile not abyde But forth he gothe the same tyde Toward Athenys there on londe He left his lady in the stronde Slepend til that she awoke But whan that she cast vp hyf loke Toward the stronde and saw no wyÈt Hyr herte than was sore aflyght That she ne wyst what to thynke But drowe hyr to the water bryncke Where so she biheld the see at large She sawe no ship she sawe no barge As ferforth as she myght kenne O lord she said suche a synne As al the world shal after here Vppon this woful woman here This worthy knyÈt hath done wroÈt I wend I had his loue bought And so deserued at nede When that he stode vppon his drede And also the loue he me behyght It is grete wondre how he myght Towardes me now be vnkynde And soo to lete out of his mynde Thyng that he said his owne mouthe But after this whan it is couthe And drawen to the worldes fame It shalle be hynderyng for his name For wel he wote and soo wote I He gaf his trouth bodyly That he my honoure shold kepe And with that word she gan wepe And sorowed more than ynough Hyr fair tresses she to drough And with hyr self she took suche a strif And she bitwene the deth the lyf Swounend lay ful oft among And all was this on hym long The whiche was to loue vnkynd so Wherof the wrong shall euermo Stonde in Cronycle of remembraunce And also it asketh a vengeaunce To be vnkynde in loues cas So as theseus than was Al though he were a noble knyght For he the lawe of loues ryght Forfeyted hath for alwey That Adryane he putt awey The whiche was a grece vnkynde dede And after that so as I rede Fedra the which her suster is He took in stede of hyr and this Fel afterward to mekel tene For that vyce of whiche I mene Vnkyndeship whore it falleth The trouthe of mannes herte it palleth That he can no good dede acquyte So may he stonde of no meryte Towardes god and also Men calle hym the worldes soo For he no more than the fende Vnto another mannes frende But al toward hym self alone For thy my sone in thy persone This vyce aboue all other flee My fader as ye teche me I thynk to doo in this matere But ouer this I wold fayn here Wherof I shal me shryue more My good sonne and for thy lore After the reule of couetyse I shalle the propyrte deuyse Of euery vyce by by Now herken be wel ware thervp Viribus ex clara res tollit luce rapina Floris et iuncta virgine mella ca pit Hic tractat super illa specie Auaricie que Rapina nuncupatur cuius mater extorcio ipsam ad deseruiendum magnatum curijs specialius commendauit I 〈◊〉 the lygnage of Audryâ—â— My sone yet there is a vyce His ryght name is Rauyne The
after trouthe the second In polecye as it is founde Which serueth to the worldes fame In worshyp of a kynges name Largesse it is whos preuylege There may no auarice abrege The worldes good was first comune But afterward vpon fortune Was thylke comyn prouffyt cesed But Whan the peple stode encresed As the lygnages wexen grete Anone for synguler byÈâ—â—e Drewe euery man to his partye Wherof comyn the fyrst enuye With grete debate warees stronge And laste emoÌ„ge the men so longe Tyl no man wyst who was who Ne which was frende ne whiche foo Whyl atte laste in euery londe Within hem self the peple fonde That it was good to make a kynge Whiche myght appesen al this thynge And yeue ryght to the lignages In partyng of her heritages And eke of al the other good And thus aboue hem al stood The kyng vpon his regalye As he whiche hath to iustefye The worldes good for couetyse So syt it wel in al wyse A kyng betwene more and lesse To sette his herte vpon largesse Toward hym self eke also Toward his peple yf not so That is to say yf that he be Toward his self large and free And of his peple take and pylle Largesse by no weye of skylle It may be said but auarice Which in a kyng is a grete vyce A kyng hehoueth eke to flee The vpce of prodegalyte That he mesure in expence So kepe that of indygence He may be saufe fro who that nedeth In al his werke the wers he spedeth Nota super hoc qued aristotilus ad Alexandrium exemplificauit de exactionibus Regis chaldeoruÌ„ aS aristotle vpon caldee Ensaumple of grete auctorite Vnto alisaunder taughte Of thylke folke that were vnsaughte Toward hir kyng for his pyllage Wherof he hade in his corage That he vnto thre poyntes entende Where that he wold his good dyspende Fyrst shold he loke how that it stood That al were of his owne good The yeftes whiche he wold yeue So myght he the better leue And eke he must taken hede Yf there be canse of ony nede Whiche oughte to be deffended Or that his goodes ben dyspended He mote eke as it is befalle Amonge other thynges alle Se the decertes of his men And after they ben of ken And of estate and meryte He shal hem largely acquyte Or for the werre or for the pease That none honoure falle in dyscreast Whiche myght torne in to deffame But that he kepe his good name So that he be not holde vnkynde For in cronycle a tale I fynde Whiche speketh som dele of this matere Here afterward as thou shalt here Hic secundum gesta Iulij exempluÌ„ ponit qualiter Rex suorum militum quos probos agnouerit indigenciam largitatis sue beneficijs releuare tenetur â–ª In rome to pursue his right There was a worthy poure knyght Whiche came allone for to seyne His cause when the courte was pleyne Where Iulyus was in presence And for hym lacketh of his dyspeÌ„ce There was with hym none aduocate To make plee for his estate But though hym lacke for to plede Hym lacketh nought of manhede He wist wel his purse was pouer But yet he thought his right receuer And o penly pouerte aleyed To the emperour thus he seyed O Iulyns lord of the lawe Behelde my counceyl is withdrawe For lacke of golde to thyn offyce After the lawe of Iustyce Helpe that I had counceyl here Vpon the trouthe of my matere And Iulyus with that anone Assygned hym a worthy one But he hym self no worde spáke This knyght was wroth fonde lake In the emperour said thus O thou vnkynde Iulyus Whan thou in thy batayle were Vpon aufrik I was there My might for the rescue I dyd And that no man in my stede Thou wotest woundes there I had But for I fynde the so bad That the ne list speke one worde Thyn owne mowthe or of thy horde To yeue a floreyn me to helpe How shold I than me be yelpe Fro this forth of my largesse Whan suche a grete vnkyndenesse Is founde in suche a lord as thou This Iulyus knewe wel y now That al was sothe which he hym tolde And for he wold not ben holde Vnkynde he toke his cause on honde And as it were of goddes sonde He yaue hym good ynough to spende For euer vnto his lyues ende And thus shold euery worthy kyng Take of his knyghtes knowlechyng Whan that he sawe they had nede For euery seruyce axeth mede But other whiche haue not deserued Thorugh vertu but of â—apes serued A kyng shal not deserue grace Though he be large in suche a place Hic ponit exemplum de rege antigo no qualiter dona regia secundum mame et minus equa discrecione moderanda sunt iT sitteth wel euery kyng to haue Discressyon whan men hym craue So that he may his gyfte wyte Wherof I fynde a tale wryte How Ciuichus a power knyght A somme whiche was ouer myght Prayed of his kyng antygonus The kyng answerd to hym thus And said how suche a yefte passeth His power estate and than he lasseth And axeth but a lytel peny Yf that the kyng wold yeue hym ony The kyng answerd it is to smalle For hym that is a lord ryalle To yeue a man so lytel thynge It were vnworshyp in a kyng By this ensaumple a kyng may lere That for to yeue is in manere For yf a kyng his tresour lasseth Without honoure thankelesse passeth Whan he hym self wyl so begyle I note who shal compleyne his whyle Ne who by right hym shal releue But nethelesse this I beleue Nota hic qd regis status a suis fidelibÈ omni fauore supportandus est The whiche with his owne londe Behoueth euery mannes honde To sette vpon necessyte And eke his kynges ryalte Mote euery lyege man comforte With good body to supporte Whan they see cause resonable For who that is not entendable To holde vp right his kynges name Hym ought for to be to blame Nota hic secundum aristotelem qua liter principum prodigalitas pauperta tem induat coâ—nneâ—â— Of polecye euer more To speke in this matere more So as the phylosophre tolde A kyng after the rule is holde To modefye adresse His yeftes vpon suche largesse Seneca sit alijs benefacito vt tibi non noâ—â—gs That the mesure not excede For yf a kyng shal in to nede It causeth ofte sendry thynges Which ben vngoodly to the kynges What man wyl not hym self mesure Men secth ful ofte that mesure Hym hath forsake so doth he That vseth prodygalite Which is the moder of pouerte Wherof the londes ben deserte And namely whan that ylke vyce Aboue a kynge stante in offyce And hath with holde of his partye The cenetous flaterye Which many a worthy kyng deceyueth Or he the fallace perceyueth Of hem that seruen to the glose For they that can plese glose Ben as men tellen
of trecherye To greue his body wyl not leue For thy with outen takyng leue As pryuelyche ashe myght He geeth to the see by nyght In shippes that ben with whete laden Her takyl redy tho they maden And haleth the saitâ— forth they fare But for to telle of the care That they of tyre began tho Whan that they wyst he was agoo It is a pyte for to here They loste lust they loste chere They took vpon hem suche penaunce Ther was no songe ther was no dauÌ„ce But euery myrthe melodye To them was thenne a maladye For vnlust of that auenture Ther was no man which toke tonsure In dredeful clothes they them clothe The bathes the stewes bothe They shyt in by euery weye Ther was no lyf which lust to pleye Ne take of ony ioye kepe But for hir liege lord to wepe And euery wyght saith as he couthe Alas the lusty floure of youthe Our prynce our hede our gouernoure Thorugh whom we stonden in honoure Without the conoune assent Thus sodeynly is from vs went Suche was the clamour of hem alle But see now what is befalle Qualiter thaliartus miles vt appolinum veneno intoxicaret ab antiâ— oche in tirum missus ipse ibidem non Inuento antiochiam rediit vpon the fyst tale playn And torne we thereto agayn Antiochus the grete syre Which ful of rancour of yre His herte bereth so as he herde Of that this prynce of tyre answerde He had a felowe bacheler Which was his pryuy counceyller And thaliart by name he hyght The kyng a strong poyson hym dyÈt Within a boxe golde therto In al haste bad hym goo Strayte vnto tyre for to coste Ne spare tyl he had loste The prynce which he wold spylle And whaÌ„ the kyng hath said his wylle This talyart in a galeye With al haste he toke his weye The wynde was good they seyled blyue Tyl he toke londe vpon the ryue Of tyre forth with al anone In to the borough he gan to gone And toke his ynne bode a throwe But for he wold not be knowe Dysgysed thenne he goeth hym oute He sawe the wepyng al aboute And axeth what the cause was And they hym tolde al the caas How sodeynly the prynce was goo And whan he sawe that it was so And that his labour was in veyn A none he torneth home ageyn And to the kyng whan he came nyghe He tolde hym that he herde syghe How that the prynce of tyre was fled So was he comen ageyn vnsped The kyng was sory for a whyle But whan he sawe that with no wile He myght acheue his cruelte He stynte his wrath lete hym be Qualiter apoollinus in portu tharsis applâ—cauit vbi in hospicoÌ„ cuiusdaÌ„ magni vin nomine strangulionis hospitatus est bVt ouer this now for to telle Of aduentures that byfelle Vnto this prynce of whom I tolde He hath his right cours forth holde By stone nedyl tyl he came To tharse there londe he name A bourgeys ryche of golde fee Was thylke tyme in that cyte Which cleped was stranguyllyo His wyf was dyonysye also This yonge prynce as sayth the book With hym his herbegage took And it befyl that cyte so Befâ—â— tyme thenne also Thouâ—gh stronge famyn which he lad Was none that ony whete had Appollynus when that he herde The myschyef how that the cyte ferde Al frelyche of his owne gyfte His whete emonge hem for to shyfte The which by shyp he had brought He yaue toke of hem right nought But sythen fyrst this world began Was neuer yet to suche a man More ioye made than they hym made For they were al of hym so glade That they for euer in remembraunce Made a fygure in resemblaunce Of hym in comyn place They set it vp so that his face Myght euery maner man beholde So that the cyte was beholde It was of laton ouer gylte Thus was his face nouÈt spylte Qualiter hellicanus ciuis tiri tharsim Veniens apollinum de insidijs anthiochi â—rrminiuit vPon a day with a route This lord to pleye goeth hym oute And on his weye of tyre he mette A man which on knees hym grette And hellican by name he hyght Which prayed his lord to haue insyÈt Vpon hym self said hym thus How that the grete antyochus Aweyteth yf that he myght hym spyl That other thought helde hym styl And thanked hym of his warnyng And bad hym telle for no thynge Whan he to tyre came home ageyn That he in tharse hym had seyn Qualiter appolinus portuÌ„ tharsis relin quens cum ipse per mare nauigio securiorem quesiuit superuenieute tempestate nauis cum omnibus preter ipsum solum in eadem contentis iuxta pentapolim periclitabatur fOrtune hath euer be muable And may no whyle stonde stable For now it hyeth now it loweth Now staÌ„te vp right now ouerthroweth Now ful of blysse now ful of bale For now as in tellyng of my tale Here afterward a man may here Which is grete routhe for to here This lord which wold done his beste Within hym self hath lytel reste And thouÈt he wold his place chauÌ„ge And seke a contre more straunge Of tharsyens his leue anone He toke is to shyp gone His cours he name with sayle vp drawe Where as fortune doth the lawe And sheweth as I shal reherce How she was to the lord dyuerce The which vpon the see she ferketh The wynde aroos the weder derketh It blewe made suche tempeste That none anker myÈt the shyp arest Which hath broken al his gere The shypmen stood in suche a fere Was none that myght bestere But euer awayte vpon the lere Whan that they shold drenchen al atones Ther was ynough within the wones Of wepyng of sorowe tho The yonge kyng maketh moche woo For to see the shyp trauayle But al that myght no thynge auayle The mast to brake the seyle to roof The shyp vpon the wawes droof Tyl that they see the londes coste Tho made a vowe leste and moste By that they myghten come a londe But he which hath the see on honde Neptunus wold not accorde But he al to brake cable corde Or they to londe myght approche The shyp to claue vpon a roche And al goeth doun in to the depe But he which al thyng may kepe Vnto this lord was mercyable And brought hym saue vpon a table Which to the londe hath hym bore The remenaunte was al forlore Therof he made mochel mone Thus was this yonge lord allone Qualiter appollinus nudus superlitus iactabatur vbi quidam piscator ipsum collobio suo vestiens ad vrtem pentapolim direxit aL naked in a poure plyte His colour which was whylom whyt Was than of water fade pale And eke be was so sore a cale That he hym self wyst of no bote It helpe no thynge for to mote
tyde That deed was trewe lecheryde Which had be seruaunt of thaise So that she was the wors at ease For she hath thenne no seruâ—se But onely thorugh this dyonyse Which was hir dedely enemye Thorugh pure treson and enuye She that of al sorowe can Tho spake she vnto hir bondeman Which câ—eped was theo phylus And made hym swere in couÌ„ceyl thus That he suche tyme as she hym sette Shal come thayse for to fette And lede hir out of al syght Where that no man hir helpe myght Vpon the stroude nygh the see And there he shal this mayden slee This chorles herte is in a traunce As he which drad hym of vengeaunâ— Whan tyme cometh another day But yâ—â— durst he not say nâ—y But swore said he shold fulfille Hir hestys at hir owne wylle Qualiter dionisia thaisim vt occideret theophoâ—o sâ—ruo suo â—radidit qui cuÌ„ nocturnanter â—ongius aâ— vâ—be ipsam ê“pe â—itê° maris iÌ„terficere ê“posuerat pirate iâ—id latitaÌ„tes thaisim de manu car nificis erupueruÌ„t ipsam 〈◊〉 vsâ—â— ciuitatem mitelenaÌ„ ducentes cuid leonino scortorum ibid magistro veÌ„dideruÌ„t aNd treson the tyme it shape So fel it that the chorles knape Hath lad this mayden where he wold Vpon the sâ—ronde what she shold She was a drad â—e oute brayde A rusty sâ—berd to hir sayde Thou shalt 〈◊〉 dede alas â—d she Why shal I soo 〈◊〉 thus quod he My lady dionise hath bede Thou shalt be murdred in this stede This mayde tho for sere shryght And â—or the â—â—â—e of god al myght She prâ—â—â—th that for a litel stouude She myÈâ— knele vpon the grounde Toward the heuen for to câ—aue Hir wooful sowâ— for to saue And with noyse with this crye Out of a barge fast by Which hyd was there on scomer fare Men sterten out were â— ware Of this feâ—on he to goo And she began to crye tho Aâ— mercy helpe for goddes saâ—e In to the barge they hir take As theues shold forth they wente Vpon the seâ— the wynde hem hente And malgre where they wold or none Tofore the weder forth they gone Ther helpe no sayle ther helpe none oore Forstormed forblowen sore In grete â—â—ryl so forthe they dryue Tyl atte laste â—â—ey aryue At Myte â—ne the cytee In hauen â—auffe whan they be The maisâ—â—r shypman made hym boun And goeth hym in to the toun And proffereth thayse for to selle One leonyum it herde telle Which mayster of the â—ordel was And bad hym goo a redy paas To fetchen hir forth he went And thayse out of his barge he hent And to this bordeâ—er he hir solde And that he by hir body wolde Take auauntage lete do crye That what man wold his lecherye Atempte vpon hir maydenhede Laye doun the golde he shold spede And thus whan he hath cryed hiâ— oute In syght of al the peple aboute Quater leoninus â—haisi ad lupa nâ—r destinauit vbi dei gracia preuenta ipsius virginitatem nullus violaâ—e po tuit He lad hir to the bordel tho No wondre is though she be woo Cloâ—s in a chambre by hir self Eche after other ten or â—welf Of yonge men in to hir wente But suche a grace god hath hir sente That for the sorowe which she made Was none of hem which power hade To done hir ony vylanye This leonyum lâ—tâ— euer espye And wayteth after grete beyete But al for nought she was forleâ—â— That no man wolde there come Whan he therof had hede nome And knewe that she was yet a mayde Vnto his owne man he sayde That he with strengthe ageyn hir leue So shold hir maydenhode byreue This man went in but so it ferde Whan he hir wooful ple yntes herde And he therof hath take grete kâ—pe Hym lyst better for to wepe Than do cught â—llys to the game And thus she kept hir self fro shame And knelyd doun to therthe prayed Vnto this man thus she sayed Yf so be that thy mayster wold That I his golde encrece shold It may not falle by thys weye But suffre me to goo my weye Out of this how 's where I am in And I shal do hym for to wyn In somme place here of the towne By so it be of relygyowne Where that honest wymmen dwelle And thus thou myÈt thy mayster telle That whan I haue a chambre there Lete hym do crye al wyde where What bord that hath his doughter dere And is in wylle that she shal lere Of suche a scole that is trewe I shal hir tâ—che of thynges newe Which that none other woman can In al this londe tho this man Hir tale hath herde he goeth ageyn And tolde vnto his mayster pleyn That she hath said therupon Whan that he sawe byyete noon At bordel bycause of hir He bad his man gâ—o and spyr A place where she myght abyde That he may wynne vpon somme syde By that she can but atte leste Thus was she saufe of this tempeste Qualiter thaisis a lupanari virgo liberata inter sacras mulieres hospiciuÌ„ habens scieâ—cias quibâ— edocta fuit nobiles regni puellas ibidem edocebat He hath hir fro the boâ—dell take But that was not for goddes sake But for the lucre as she hym tolde Now comâ—n tho that comen wolde Of wymmen in her lusty youthe To here set what thynge she couthe She can the wysdom of a clerke She can of ony lusty werke Which to a gentyl woman longeth And soÌ„me of hem she vnder fongeth To the cytole and to the harpe And whome it lyketh for to carpe Prouerbes demaundes slye And other which they neuer sye Which that scyence so wel taught Wherof she grete yeftes raught That she to lyonyum hath wonne And thus hir name is so begonne In sondry thynges that she techeth That al the londe vnto hir secheth Of yonge wymmen for to lere Now lete we this mayden here And speke of dyonyse ageyn And of theophyle the vyleyn Of which I spake of now tofore Whan thayse shold haue be forlore Qualiter theophilus ad dyonisiam mane rediens affirmauit se thaisim occidisse super quo dionisia vna cuÌ„ stran guâ—â—one marito suo dolorem in publico confingentes exâ—quias et sepulturam honorifice quantum ad extra subdola conâ—ectacione fieri constituerunt His false chorle to his lady Whan he came home pryuely He sayth madame sleyn I haue This mayde thayse is bygraue In pryuy place as ye me bede For thy madame taketh hede And kepe counceyl how so it stonde This fende which hath this vnderstoÌ„de Was glad weneth it be sothe Now herken herafter how she dothe She wepeth she soroweth coÌ„pleyneth And of sekenes which she feyneth She saith that thayse sodaynly By nyght is deed as she and I To gyder lyen nygh my lorde She was a woman of recorde And al is leued that she
flok withoute guyde Deuoured is on euery syde In lak of hem that be vnwar Shepeherdes which her wyttes beware Vpon the world in other halue The sharp pryk in stede of salue They vsen now wherof the hele They hurte of that they shold hele What shepe that is ful of wulle Vpon his bak they tose pulle Whyle ther is ony thyng to pylle And though there be none other skylle But only for they wold wynne They leue nought whan they begynne Vpon hir acte to procede Whiche is no good shepeherdes dede And vpon this also men seyn That fro the lese whiche is pleyn In to the breres they forcatche Here of for that they wolden lache With suche duresse and so bereue That shal vpon the thornes leue Of wolle whiche the brere hath tore Wherof the shepe ben al to tore Of that the herdes make hem lese â—o how they feynen chalk for chese For though they speke teche well They done â—em self therof no dele For yf the wolf come in the wey Here goostly staf is thenne aweye Wherof they shold here flok defende But yf the poure shepe offende In ony thyng though it be lyte They ben al â–ª redy for to smyte And thus how euer that they tale The strokes falle vpon the smale And vpon other that ben grete Hem lacketh hert for to bete So that vnder the clerkes lawe Men seen the merel al mysdrawe I wol not saye in general For ther be somme in specyal In whome that al vertue duelleth And tho ben as thappostel telleth Qiu vocatur a deo tanquam Aaron That god of his electyon Hath cleped to perfectyon In the maner as Aawn was They be nothyng in thylk caas Of Symon whiche the foldes gate Hath lete goth in other gate But they gone in the ryght weye Ther ben also somme as men saye That folowen Symon atte heles Who 's carte goth vpon wheles Of couetyse worldes pryde And holy chirche goth besyde Whiche she weth out ward a vysage Of that is nought in the courage For yf men loke in holy chirche Bitwene the word that they werche Ther is a ful grete difference They prechen vs in audyence That noman shal his soule empeyre For al is but a chery feyre This worldes good so as they telle Also they fayen ther is an helle Whiche vnto mannys synne is due And bydden vs therfor eschewe That wykked is and do the good Who that here wordes vnderstode It thenketh they wold do the same But yet bytwene ernest and game Ful oftyme it torned other wyse With holy tales they deuyse How merytory is thylke dede Of charyte to clothe fede The poure folk for to parte The worldes good but they departe Noo thyng nought for that they haue Also they feyn good is to saue With penaunce with abstynence Of chastyte the contynence But pleynly for to speke of that I not how that ylke body fat Whiche with that deynte metes kepe And leyen it softe for to slepe Whan it hath elles al his wylle With chastyte shal stonde stylle And netheles I can not say In aunter that I myssay Touchend of this â–ª how euer it stonde I here wyl nought vnderstonde For therof haue I nought to done But he that made fyrst the mone The highe god of his goodnes If ther be cause he it redresse But what as ony man can accuse This may reson of trouthe excuse The vyce of hem that ben vngood Is no repreef to the good For euery man his owne werkes Shal bere and thus as of the clerkes The good men ben to coÌ„mende And al these other god amende For they be to the worldes eye The myrrour of examplarye To reulen taken hede Bet wene the men the godbede Vulgaris populê° regali lege subactê° Dum iacet vt mitis digna subibit onê° Si caput extollat lex sua frena relax at Vbi sibi velle iubet rigridis Instar habet Ignis aqua dominans duo suÌ„t pietate carentes Ira tamen plebis est violenta magis dEstatu plebis vt diaint secuÌ„duÌ„ actidencia mutabilia nOw for to speke of that comune It is to drede of that fortune which hath bifalle in soÌ„dry loÌ„ des But ofte for defaute of bondes Al sodenlyche or it be wyst A tonue whan his lye aryst To breken ronne al aboute Whiche endles shold nought gone out And eke ful ofte a lytel skare Vpon a bank or men be ware â—ete in the streme which with grete peynÌ„ If euery man it shal restreyne where lawe faylleth errour groweth He is not wyse who that ne troweth For it hath proued ofte er this And thus the comyn clamour is In euery lond where peple duelleth And eche in his compleynt telleth How that the world is myswent And therupon his Iugement Yeueth euery man in sondry wyse But what man wold hym self auyse His conseyence nought mysuse He may wel at the fyrst excuse His god whiche euer stant in one In hym ther is defaute none So must it stonde vpon vs â—elue Nought only vpon ten ne twelue But plenerlyche vpon vs alle For men is cause that shal byfalle Nota contra hoc qd aliqâ—a sortem fortune aliqui influenciam planetaruÌ„ penunt per quod vt dicitur reruâ—â— euentus necessario contingit Sed pocius di cendum est qd ea que nos prosâ—er◠〈◊〉 aduersa in hoc mundo vocamus secuÌ„dum merita et demerita hominum dig no der iudicio proueniunt aNd netheles somme men wryte And sayn fortune is to wyte And som men holde oppinion That it is constellacion Whiche causeth al that a man dothe God wâ—te of bothe whiche is sothe The world as of his propre kynde Was euer vntre w as the blynde Inproperlyche he demeth fame He blameth that is nought to blame And preyfeth that is nought to preyse Thus whan he shal the thynges peyse Ther is deceyt in his balaunce And al is that the varyaunce Of vs that shold vs better auyse For after that we falle ryse The world aresteth and fallith with al So that the man is ouer al His owne cause of wele wo That we fortune clepe soo â–ª Out of the man hym self it groweth And who that otherwyse troweth Beholde the peple of Israel For euer whyle they dyden wel Fortune was hem debonayre And whan they dyden the contrayre Fortune was contraryende So it proueth wele at the ende Why that the world is wonderful And may no whyle stande ful Though that it seme wel beseyn For euery worldes thyng is vayne And euer goth the whele about And euer stant a man in doute Fortune stant no while stylle So hath ther no man his wylle Al 's fer as ony man maye knowe Ther lasteth noo thyng but a throwe Boecius O qmÌ„ dulâ—edo humane vite multa amaritudine aspersa est He world staÌ„nt euer vpon debate So may be
Empyre As he that was lord Syre And held thorugh his chyualrye Of al the world the monarchye And was the fyrst of that honour Whiche taketh name of the Emperour De seculo ferreo quod in tibeis de signatum est a tempore Iulij Cesaris vsque in Regnum Carosâ— magni Regis Franâ—orum wHere Rome than wold assaylle Ther myÈt no thyng contreuaâ—â—â—e But euery contrey must obeye Tho goth the regne of bras aweye And comen is the world of steel And stode aboue vpon the whelâ— As steel is hardest in his kynde Aboue al other that men fynde Of metalles suche was Rome tho The myghtyest last so Longe tyme among the Romayns Tyl they bycome so vyleyns That the fals emperour leo With ConstauÌ„ce his sone also The patâ—monâ—â— the Rychesse Whiche to syluester in pure Almesse The fyrst Constantinus lefte Fro holy chirche they be refte But Adryan whiche pope was And sawe the meschyef of this caas Goth in to FrauÌ„ce for to playne And prayth the grete Charâ—emayne For Crystes sake soule helâ— That he wold take the quarele Of holy chirche in his defence And Charles for the reuerence Of god the cause hath vndertake And with his hoost the waye take Ouer the MouÌ„tes of Lumbardye Of Rome al the Tyrannye With bbody swerd he ouercome And the strengthe of the Cyte nome In suche a wyse ther he wrought That holy chirche ayene he brought In to Fraunchyse dâ—thr restore The popes lust yaf hym more And thus whan he his god hath serued He toke as he hath wel deseruyd The dyademe was â—orouned Of Rome thus was abandouned Th empyre whiche cam neuer agayne In to the honâ— of no Romayn But a long tyme it sâ—oode stylle Vnder the Frensâ—he kynges wylle Til that fortune hir whele so lad That afterward the lumbardes it had NouÈt by the swerd but by the suffrauÌ„ce Of hym that was kyng of Fraunce Whiche Carl Caluuâ— clepyd was And resygned in this caas Th empyre of Rome vnto Lowys His Cosyn whiche a lumbard is And so it last in to the yere Of Alberte of Berenger De seculo nouâ—ssimis iam temporibus ad similitudinem pedum in discordiam lapso et diuiso quod post decessuÌ„ ipsius Caroli cum Imperium Roma norum in manus Longobardorum ê‘uenerat tempore Alberti Berengarij incepit Nam ob eorum diuisioneÌ„ contingit vt Almani Imperatoriam adepti sunt Magestatem in cuius soâ—â—uÌ„ quenda in principem Theonicum Otho nem nomine sublimari prinâ—tus constituerunt bVt than vpâ—n discencion They felle in dyuysyon AmoÌ„g hem self that were grete So that they lost the beyete Of worship of Worldes pees But m prouerbe netheles Men seyn â–ª ful selde is that welthe Can suffre his owne astate in helthe And that was in the lumbardes seen Suche comon stryf was hem bytween Thorough couetyse thorugh ennye That euery man drough his partye Whiche myght lede ony route Within Burgh and eke withoute The comen ryght hath no feloowe So that the gouernaunce of lawe Was lâ—st for necessyte Of that they stode m suche degre Al only thurgh deuysyon Hem nedeth in conclusion Of straunge londes helpe beside And thus for they hem self deuyde And standen oute of reâ—le vneuen Of Almayne Prynces seuen â—â—â— chosen m this condycyon That vpon her electyon Th empyre of Rome shold stondâ— And thus they left it out of honde For lak of grace and it forsoke That Almayns vpon hem toke And to confermen here astate Of that they stoden in debate They toke it the possession After the composicion Among hem self and therupon They made an Emperour that anon Who 's name the Cronycle telleth Wae Othee and so forâ—â— it duelleth For fro thylk day yet vnto this Th empyre of Rome hath be is To thalamans in this wyse As to fore ye hane herde deuyse How Danyel the sweuene expouneth Of that ymage whome he foundeth The world whiche afterward shold falle Comen is the last token of alle Vpon the feete of erthe stele So stant the world now euery dele Departed whiche bygan ryght tho Whan Rome was deuyded soâ— And that is for to rewe sore For alwey syth more more The world empeyreth euery day Wherof the soth she we may At Rome yf we begynne The walle the Cyte withynne Stand m ruyne in decaas The feld is where the paleys was The tonne is wast ouer that If we behold thylke astate Whiche whylome was of the romayns Of knyghthode of Cytezeyne To peyse now with that byforne The chaf is tâ—ke from the corne And for to speke of Romes myght Vnnethes stant ther ought vpryght Of worship or of worldes good As it byfore tyme stode And why the worship is away If that a man the sothe say The cause hath ben deuysyon Whiche moder of confusyon Is where she comyth oueral Nought only of the â—â—mporal But of the spyrytual also The dede proueth it ie so And hath do many a day or this Thorugh venym which that medled is In holy chirche of erthely thynge For Cryst hym self maketh knowlechyng That nomaÌ„ may to geder serue God the world bnt he swerue Froward that one stond vnstable And Crystes word may not be falle The thyng so open is at the eye It nedeth nought to specyfye Or speke ought more in this mater And in this wyse a man may tere How that the world is gone aboute The whiche wel nyghe is wered oute After the forme of that fygure Whiche danyel in his scupture Expowned as to fore is told Of bras of syluer of gold â–ª The world is passed a gone And now vpon his old tone It stant of brutel erthe stele The whiche acorden neuer a dele So mote it nedes swerue a syde A thyng whiche men seen deuyde Hic dicit secunduÌ„ aplÌ„m ê™ nos sumê° In quos fines seculi deuenerunt â–ª tHappostel writeth vnto vs alle And saith that vpoÌ„ vs is falle Th ende of the world so may we knowe This ymage is nyghe ouerthrowe By which this world was sygnefyed That whysome so was magnyfyed And now is old feble vyle Ful of meschyef of perylle And stant deuyded eke also Lyche to the feet that were so As I told of the statue aboue And thus men seyn for lak of loue Where as the lond deuyded is It more algace fare amys And now to loke on euery syde A man may see the world deuyde The werres â—en-so general Among the Crystene oueral That euery man now secheth wreche And yet these clerkes alday preche And seyn good dedes may none be Whiche stant nought vpon charyte I not how charyte shold stonde Where dedely werre is taken on honde But al this wo is cause of man The whiche that wytte reson can And in tokne in wytnesse That eche ymage bare lykensse
Of man none other beeste Fro fyrst vnto the mannys heste Was euery creature ordeyned But afterward was restreyned Whan that he felle they fellen eke Whan he was seke they wexen seke For as the man hath passyon Of sekenes in comparyson So suffryn other creatures Lo fyrst the heuenly fygures hIc scribit quod ex diuisionis passione singula creata detrimentum corruptibile paciuntur tHe sonne the mone eclypsen to the And ben with mannys synne wroth The purest eyre for synne alofte Hath be is corrupt ful ofte Ryght now the highe wyndes blowe And anon after they ben lowe Now cloudy and now clere it is So maye it wel prouen by this A mannes synne is for to hate Whiche maketh the welken to debate And for to see the properte Of euery thyng m his degre Bynethe here among vs here Al stant a lyche in this mater The see now ebbeth now it floweth The loÌ„d now welketh now groweth Now the trees â–ª with leues grene Now they be bare nothyng sene Now be ther lusty somer floures Now be ther stormy wynter shoures Now be the dayes now be the nyÈtes So stant ther no thynge vpryghtes Now is it lyght now is it derke And thus stant al the worldes werke After the disposicion Of man his condycyon For thy Gregory in his moral Seyth that a man in specyal The lasse world is properly And that he proueth redyly For a man of soule resonable Is to an Angel resemblable And lyche to beste he hath felyng And lyche to trees he hath growyng The stones ben so is he Thus of his propre qualyte The man as tellyth the Clergye Is a world in his partye And whan this world mystorneth The a rete world al ouertorneth The lond the set the fyrmament They axen alle jugement Ayene the man make hym warre Ther whyle hym stant al out of harre The remenaunt wold nought acord And in this wyse as I record The man is cause of al woo Why this world is deuyded so Dyuysyon the gospel sayth One how 's vpon an other layâ—h Tyl that the Reygne ouerthrowe And thus many a man doth knowe Dynysyon abouen alle Is thyng whiche maketh the world â—alle â–ª And euer hath syth it began It may fyrst proue vpon a man Quod ex sue complexionis mate 〈◊〉 diuisus homo mortalis existat tHe whiche for his coÌ„plexyon Is made vpon deuysyon Of colde hote moyst drye He mote by verray kynde deye For the contrarye of his estate Stant euermore in suche debate Tyl that a part be ouercome Ther may no fynal pees be nome But â—therwyse yf a man were Made al to geder of one mater Withoute jnterupcion Ther shold no corrupcion Engen dyr vpon that vnyte But for ther is dyuersyte Within hym self he may not last That he ne dyeth at the last But in a man yet ouer this Ful grete dyuysyon ther is Thorugh which that he is euer in strif Whyle that hym last ony lyf Quod homo ex corporis anime condicione diuisus sicut saluacionis ita dampnacionis aptitudinem ingredituz tHe body the soule also Among hem ben deuyded so That what thyng that the body hateth The soule loueth debateth But netheles ful ofte is sene Of werre whiche is hem bytwene The feble bath the vyctorye And who so draweth in to memorye Qualiter Adam a statu innocen cie diuisus a Paradiso voluptatis in terram laboris peccator proiectus est wHat hath bifalle of old new He may that werreâ—sore rewe Whiche fyrst bygaÌ„ in paradys For ther was proued what it is And dysese ther is wrought For thylke werre tho forth brought The vyce of al dedly synne Thorugh whiche dyuysyon cam ynne Qualiter populi per vniuersum orbem a cultura dei diuisi Noe cum sua sequela duntaxat exceptis diluâ—io interierunt aMonge the men in erth here And was the cause the mater Why god the grete flodes sende Of al the world made an ende But Noe with his felauship Whiche only was sauf by shyp And ouer that thorugh synne it come That Nembroth syth th empyre nome Qualiter in edificacione Turris Babilonis quam in dei contemptum Nembroth erexit lingua prius hebreica in varias linguas celica vindicta di uidebatur wHan the toure babylon hyÈt Lat make as he that wold fiÈt Ayene the high goddes myÈt Wherof deuyded anon ryÈt Was the langage in suche eutent Ther wyst none what other ment So that they myght nought procede And thus it stant of euery dede Where synne taketh the caas on hond It may vpryght not long stonde For synne of hir condycyon Is moder of al deuysyon Qualiter mundus qui in statu diuisionis quali cotidianis presenti tempore vexatur flagellis a lapide superuenien te id est a diuina potencia vsque ad resolucionem omnis carnis subito contere tur aNd tokne whan the world shal fayle For so sayth crist without â—nyle That nyghe the worldes ende Pees acord a wey shal wende And al charyte shal seace Among the men hate encrece And whan these tokenes falle Al sodenly the stone shal falle As Danyel it hath byknowe Whiche al this world shal ouerthrowe And euery man shal than aryse To ioye or elles to iuise Where that he shal for euer duelle Or streyt to heuen or streyt to helle In heuen is pees al acorde But helle is ful of suche discorde That ther may be no loue day For thy good is whyle a man may Echone to sette pees with other And louen as his owne broder So may he wynne worldes welthe And afterward his soule helthe hIc narrat exemplum de concordia et vnitate inter homines pro uocanda Et dicit quida in ArionÌ„ uuâ— Citharista ex sui cantus Cithare que consonam melodiaÌ„ tante virtutis extiterat vt ipsum non solum virtum cum viro Sed eciam Leonem cum Cerua LupuÌ„ cum agno Canem cum lepore jpsum audientes vnanimiter absque vlla discor dia ad inuicem pacificauit bUt wold god that now were one Another suche as Aryone Whiche had anâ—harp of suche tempâ—ire And therto of so good mesure He songe that the bestes wylde Made of his note tame mylde The hynde in pees with the lyon The wolf in pees with the Motoâ— The hare in pees stood with the houÌ„d And euery man vpon this ground Whiche Aryon that tyme herde As wel the lord as the Shepeherde He brought hem al in good acord So that the Comon with the lord And lord with the Comon also He set in loue bothe two And put a wey melancolye That was a lusty melodye Whan euery man with other louz And yf ther were suche one nowe Whiche coude harpe as he dyde He myght auayle in many a stede To make pees where now is hate For whan
suche a wyse And bad me that I shold shryue As couchend of my wyttes fyue And share that they were amended Of that I had hem myspended For tho be properly the gates Thorugh whiche as to the herte algates Cometh al thyng vnto the feyre Whiche may the maÌ„nys soule empeyre And now is this mater brouÈt ynne My sone I thynk fyrst begynne To wyce how thyn eye hath stonde The whiche is as I vnderstonde The moost princypal of alle Thorugh whome the perylle may befalle And for to speke in loues kynde Ful many suche a man may fynde Whiche euer cast about her eye To loke yf that they myght aspye Ful ofte thyng which he in ne toucheth But only that here herte soucheth In hyndrynge of another wyght And thus ful many a worthy kynÈt And many a lusty lady bothe Hath be ful ofte sythe wrothe So that an eye is a theef To loue doth ful grete meschyef And also for his owne part Ful ofte that ylke fyry dart Of loue which that euery maÌ„ brenneth Thorugh hym in to the hert renneth And thus a mannes eye first Hym self greueth alder werst And many a tyme that he knoweth Vnto his owne harme it groweth My sone herkne me now for thy A tale to be ware therby Thyn eye for to kepe warde See that it passe nought the warde hIc narrat Confessor exemplum de visu ab illicitis preseruando dicens qualiter Acceon Cadmi Regis Thebarum nepos dum in quadam foresta venacionis causa spaaretur accidit vt ipse quendam fontem nemorosa arborum pulcritudine circuÌ„ uentum superueniens vidit enim Dia nam cum suis Nimphis nudam in flu mine balncantem quam diligencius intuens oculos suos a muliebri nudita te nullatenns auertere volebat vnde indignata Diana ipsum in cerui figuram transformauit Vyde sayth in his booke Ensample touchend mysloke And sayth whilome ther was one A worthy lord whiche Acceone Was hote was Cosyn nyghe To hym that The bes fyrst on hyghe Vpset whiche kyng Cadme hyght This Acceon as he wel myght Aboue al other cast his chere And vsed it from yere to yere With houndes with grete hornes Among the wodes the thornes To make his huntyng his chace Where hym best thought in euery place To fyude game in his way Ther rood he for to hunte play So hym by felle vpon a tyde On his huntyng as he cam ryde In a forest all one he was He sawe vpon the grene gras The fayre fressh flonres sprynge He herd among the leues synge The throstel with the nyghtyngalc Thus er he wyst in to a dale He cam wher was a lytel pleyne Al round about wel beseyn With bnsshes grene Cedres hyghe And ther within he caste his eye A myddes the pleyne he sawe a welle So fayr ther myght noman telle In whiche Dyana naked stood To bathe play hyr in the flood With many a nimphe which her serueth But he his eye awey ne suerueth Fro her whiche was naked al And she was wonder wroth with al And hym as she whiche was goddesse Forshoop anone the lykenesse She made hym take of an herte Whiche was to fore his houÌ„des sterte That ronne besylyche aboute With many an horne many a route That maden moche noyse crye And at the last vnhappelye This hert his owne houÌ„des slough And hym for vengeauÌ„ce al to drough lO now my sone what it is A man to caste his eye amys Whiche Acceon hath dere abought Beware for thy do it nought For ofte who that hede toke Better it is to wynke than loke And for to proue it is so Ouyde the Poete also A tale whiche to this matere Acordeth sayth al 's thou shalt here hIc ponit aliud exemplum de eo deÌ„ vbi dicit ê™ quidam princeps nomine Phorceê° tres progenuit filias Gorgones a vulgo nuncupatas que vno partu exorte deformitatem monstrorum serpentinam obtinuerunt qui bus citra in etatem peruenerant talis destinata fuerat natura ê™ quicumque in eas aspiceret in lapidem subito mutabatur Et sic ê™ plures incaute respicientes visis illis perierunt fed perseus Miles Clipeo palladis gladio que mercu rij munitus eas extra montem Athelantis cohabitantes auimo audaci abs que sui periculo interfecit IN Methamor it telleth thus o How that a lord which phorcheê° a Ws hote had doughters thre Bnt vpon her natyuyte Suche was the Constellacyon That out of mannes nacyon Fro kynde they be so myswent That to lykenes of a serpent They were bothe that one Of hem was cleped stellybone That other suster Snryale The thyrd as tellyth in the tale Me'ousa hyght netheles Of Comon name Gorgones In euery countrey ther about As monstres whiche as men doute Men clepe hem but one eye Among hem thre in poure partye They had of whiche they myght see Now hath it this now hath it she After the cause nede it lad By throwes eche of hem it had A wonder thyng yet more amys Ther was wherof I telle al this What man on hem his chere cast And hem byhelde he was al 's fast Oute of a man in to a stone For shape and thus many one Deceyued were of that they wolde Mysloke where they ne sholde But Perseus that worthy knyght Whome pallas of here grete myght Halpe took hym a sheld therto And eke the god mercurye also Lent hym a swerd he as it felle Beyonde Athlans the hyghe hylle These monstres foughte ther he fond Dyuerse men of thylk lond Thorugh syght of hem mystorned were Standed as stones here and there But he whiche wysedome pro wesse Had of the god of the goddesse The sheld of pallas gan embrace With whiche he couerd sauf his face Mercurius swerd oute he drough And so he bare hym that he slough These dredeful monstres al thre Confessor â—O now my sone auyse the That thou thy syght not mysuse Case not thyn eye vpon meduse That thou be torned in to stone For so wyse man was neuer none But yf he wol his eye kepe And take of foule delyte no kepe That with lust nys ofte nome Thorugh streugthe of loue oâ—come Of myllokyng how it hath ferd As I haue told now hast thou herd My good sonne take good hede And ouer this yet I the vede That thou beware of thyne heryng Whiche to the hert the tydynge Of many a wnyte hath brought And tarye with a mannes thonght And netheles good is to here 〈…〉 thyng wherof a man maye lere That to vertu is accordauÌ„t And toward al the remenaunt Good is to torne his ere fro For esses but yf a man do soo Hym may ful ofte mysbefalle I rede ensample amonges alle Wherof to kepe wel an ere It ought put a man in fere hIc Confessor exemplum narrat vt
her mercy But syre of that ye wold mene That I shold otherwyse wene To be byloued than I was I am beknowe as in that cas Confessor My good sone telle me how Amans Now lest I wol telle you My good fadre how it is Ful ofte it hath byfalle or this Thorugh hope was not certeyne My wenyng hath be set in veyne To truste in thyng that helpe me nouÈt But onlyche of myn owne thought For as semeth that a belle Lyke to the wordes that men telle Ansueryth ryght so nomore ne lesse To yow my fadre I confesse Suche wyl my wytte hath euer set That what so hope me behet Ful many a tyme I wene it sothe But fynally no spede it dothe Thus may I telle as I can Wenyng begyleth many a man So hath it me ryght wel I wote For yf a man wol in a bote Whiche is withoute botome ro we He must nedes onerthrowe Ryght so wenyng hath ferde by me For whan I wende next haue be As I by my wenyng cast Than was I forthest at last And as a foole my bowe vnbende Whan al was fayled than I wende For thy my fadre as of this That my wenyng hath gone amys Touchend to Snrquedrye Yeue me my penaunce or I dye But yf ye wold in ony forme â— Of this mater a tale enforme Whiche were ayene this vyce set I shold fare wel the bet hIc ponit confessor exemplum coÌ„ tra illos qui in suis viribus presumeÌ„tes debiliores efficiuntur Et narrat qualiter ille Capaneê° miles m armis probatissimus de sua presumens audacia inuocacionem ad superos tempore necessitatis ex vecordia tamen et non a liter primitus prouenisse asseruit vnde in obsidione Ciuitatis Thebarum cuÌ„ ipse quodam die coram suis hostibus ad debellan dum se obtulit ignis de celo subito superueniens Ipsum armatum totaliter in Cineres conbussit mY sone in al maner wyse Surquedrye is to despyse Wherof I fynde write thus The proud knyght Capaneê° He was of suche Surquedrye That he thorugh his chyualrye Vpon hym self so mochel truste That to the goddes hym ne lust In no quarelle to beseche But sayd it was an ydel speche Whiche cause was of pure drede For lak of herte for nede And vpon suche presumpcion He held this proud oppynyon Tyl at the last â–ª vpon a day Aboute Thebes where he lay Whan it of syege was beleyne This knyght as the Cromyque seyne In al mannes syght there Whan he was proudest in his gere And how nothyng myght hym dere Ful armed with his sheld spere As he the Cyte wold assaylle God toke hym self the bataylle Ayene his pryde fro the sky A fyry thonder sodenly He sende to poudre hym smote And thus the pryde whiche was hote Whan he most in his strengthe wende Was brent lost withouten ende So that it proueth wel therfore The strengthe of man is sone lore But yf that he it wel gouerne And ouer this a man may lerne That eke ful oftyme it greueth What that a man hym self beleueth As though it shold hym wel beseme That he al other men can deme And hath foryete his owne vyce A tale of hem that be so nyce And feynen hem self to be wyse I shal telle the in suche a wyse Wherof thou shalt ensample take That thou no suche thyng vndertake hIc loquitur Confessor contra illos qui de sua scieÌ„cia presumentes aliorum condicioues dâ—udicantes indi screte redarguuÌ„t Et narrat ExempluÌ„ de quodam principe Regis Hungarie Germano qui cum featrem suum pau peribus m publico vidit humiliatum Ipsum redarguendo in contrarium edocere presumebat Sed Rex omni sciencia prepollens ipsum sic incaute presumentem ad humilitatis memoriam ter ribili prouidencia micius castigauit I Fynde vpon Surquedrye How that whilom of huÌ„garye By old dayes was a kyng Wyse honest in al thyng And so byfel vpon a daye And that was m the moneth of Maye As thylk tyme it was vsance This kyng with noble purueannce Hath for hym self his chaar arrayed Wheryn he wold ryde amayed Oute of the Cyte for to playe With lordes grete arraye Of lusty folk that were yonge Where somme pleyd somme songe And somme gone som ryde And somme pryke her hors a syde And brydlen hem now in now oute The kyng his eye cast aboute Tyll he atte last was ware And sawe comend ageyne his chare Two pylgryms of so grete age That lyche vnto a drye ymage That weren pale fade hewed And as a busshe whiche is besnewed Here berdes be hoore whyte Ther was of kynde but a lyte That they ne semen fully dede They come to the kyng bede Somme of his good pur charyte And with grete humylyte Oute of his chare to grounde he lepe And hem m bothe his armes kepe And kyst hem bothe foote honde Byfore the lordes of his lond And yaf hem of his good therto And whan he hath this dede do He goth in to his chare ageyne Tho was murmour tho was dysdeyne Tho was compleynt on euery syde They sayden of her owne pryde Echone to other what is this Oure kyng hath do this thynge amys So to abesse his Royalte That euery man it myght se And humbled hym in suche a wyse To hem that were of none empryse Thus was it spoken to fro Of hem that were with hym tho Al pryuely behynde his bak But to hym self noman spak The kynges broder in presence Was thylk tyme grete offence He toke therof was the same Abouen al other which most to blame Vpon his lyege lord hath leyd And hath vnto the lordes seyd Anone as he can tyme fynde There shal nothyng be left behynde That he wol speke vnto the kyng Now what felle vpon this thyng They were mery fayr ynongh Echone with other playd lough And fellen in to tales newe How that the fresshe floures grewe And how the grene leues spronge And how that loue among the yonge Bygan the hertes than to wake And euery byrd hath chose his make And thus the may day to th ende They lad home aye ne they wende The kyng was not so sone come That whan he had his chambre nome His broder ne was redy there And brought a tale vnto his ere Of that he had suche a shame In hyndeyng of his owne name When he hym self wold dretche That to so vyle a pouer wretche Hym deyneth shewe suche symplesse Ageynst the state of his noblesse And sayth he shal no more vse And that he mote hym self excuse Toward his lordes euerychone The kyng stode stylle as onystone And to his tale an ere he leyde And thought more than he seyde But netheles to that he herde Wel curtoysly he ansuerde And told it shold be amended And thus when that here tale was
hath that herauldye Of hem that vsen for to lye For as the nettle whiche vp renneth The fresshe rede Rose brenneth And maketh hym fade pale of hewe Ryght so this fals enuyous hewe In euery place where he duelleth With fals wordes whiche he telleth He torneth preysyng in to blame And worship in to worldes shame Of suche lesynges as he compasseth Is not so good that he ne passeth Byt wene his teth bakbyted And thorugh his fals tong endyted Lyke to the Sharnebyrdes kynde Of whos nature that I fynde That in the hotest of the day When comen is the mery may He spret his wynge vp he fleeth And vnder al aboute he seeth The fayre lusty floures spryng But therof hath he no lykyng Where he seeth of ony beste The filthe there he maketh his feste And therupon he wold alyghte There lyketh hym none other syghte Ryght so this iangler enuyous Though he a man se vertuous And ful of good condycyon Therof maketh he no mencyon But elles be it not so lyâ—e Wherof that he may see a wyte There renneth he with open mouth Behynde a man maketh it couth But al the vertu whiche he can That wol he hyde of euery man And openly the vyce telle As he whiche of the scole of helle Is taught fostred vp with â—nuye Of houshold of companye Where that he hath his propre offyce To set on euery man a vyce How so his mouth be comly His word euermore syt on wry And seyth the werst that he may And in this wyse nowe a day In loues court a man may here Ful ofte pleyne of this matere That many enuyous tale is stered Where that it may not be ansuered But yet ful ofte it is byleued And many a worthy loue is greued Thorugh bakbytynge of fals enuye IF thou haue made suche ianglarye In loues court my sone or this hIc in amoris causa huins vicij â—â—i men ad memoriam reducens CoÌ„fesfessor amanti super codem plenius opponit sHryue the therof My fadre yis But wyte ye how not openly But other while priuely Whan I my dere lady mete And thynke how I am not mete Vnto hyr hyghe worthynesse And ese I see hyr besynesse Of al this yong busty route Whiche al day pursueth her aboute And eche of them his tyme a wayteth And eche of them his tale affayteth Al to deceyue an Innocent Whiche wol not be of her assent And for men seyn vnknowâ—n vnkist Hyr thombe she helde in hyr fist So close with nâ— hyr owne hond That there may wynne noman lond She leueth not al that she hereth And thus ful ofte hyr self she skereth And is al ware of had I wyst But for al that myn herte aryst When I these comon louers see That wold not holde hem to thre But welny louen oueral Myn hert is enuyous with al And euer I am adrad of gyle In aunter yf within ony whyle They myght here Innocence enhaunte For thy my wordes ful ofte I haunte Behynden hem so as I dare Wherof my lady may be ware I say what euer cometh to mouth And wers I wold yf that I couth For when I come vnto here speche Al that I may enquere seche Of suche deceyte I telle it al And ay the worst in specyal So fayne I wolde that she wyst How lytel they ben for to tryst And what they wold what they meÌ„t So as they be of double encent Thus toward hem that wykked mene My wykked word was euer grene And netheles the soth to telle In certeyne yf it so byfelle That â—â—der trewest man y bore To chese among a thousand score Whiche were al fully for to tryst My lady loued I it wyst Yet rather than he shold spede I wold suche tales sprede To my lady yf that I myght That I wol al his peyne vnryght And therto wold I do al my peyne For certes though I shold feyne And telle that was neuer thought For al this world I myght nought To suffre another fully wynne There as I am yet to begynne For be they good or be they bad I wold none my lady had And that me maketh fnlofâ—e aspye And vsen wordes of enuye As for to make them bere a blame And that is but of thylk fame The whiche vnto my lady drawe For euer on them I renne gnawe And hynder hem al that euer I mayâ— And that is sothly for to saye But only to my lady selue I celle it nought to or twelue Therof I wol me wel auyse To speke or iangle in ony wyse That toucheth to my lady name The which in ernest in game I wold saue to my lady deth For me had leuer to lakke breth Than speke of hyr name amys Now haue ye herd touchend of this My sndre in Confession And therfor in detraxyon In loue that I haue myspoke Tesse howre wylle it shal be wroke I am al redy for to bere My peyne also for to lere What thyng that ye wol allowe For who is hounden he must bowe So wol I bowe vnto youre best For I dar make this byhest That I to yow haue nothyug hyd But told ryght as it is betyd And otherwyse of no myspeche My conseyente for to seche I can not of enuye fynde That I myspoke haue ought behynde Wherof who so euer be myspayd Now haue ye herd I haue sayd What wol ye fadre that I do My sone do no more so But euer kepe thy tonge stylle Thou myÈt the more haue of thy wille For as thou seyst thy seluen here My lady is of suche manere So wyse so ware in al thynges It nedeth of no bakbytynges That thou thy lady mys enforine For when she knoweth al the forme How that thy self art enuyous Thou shalt not be gracyous As thou parauentur sholdest be elles Ther wol no man drynk of the welles Whiche as he wote is poyson ynne Aud ofte suche as men begynne To wardes other suche as they fynde That set hem ofte fer behynde When that they wenen be byfore My good sone thou therfore Be ware leue thy wycked speche Wherof hath fallen ofte wreche To many a man byfore this tyme For who so wol his handes tyme They must be the more vncleue For many a mote shal be sene That wol not elles eleue there And that shold euery wyse man fere For who so wol another blame He sekyth ofte his owne shame Whiche elles myght be ryght stylle For thy yf that it be thy wylle To stonde vpon amendement A tale of grete entendemêt A thynke to telle for thy sake Wherof thou myght ensample take hIc loqiutur Confessor contra istos in amoris causa detrahentes qui suis obliquijs aliena solacia perturbaÌ„t et nacrat exemplum de Constancia Tibe rij Rome Imperatoris Filia omnium biztutum famosissima ob eius amozem Soldanus tunc Persie vt eam
in vxorem ducere posset cristianum se fieri misit cuius accepta caucione consilio pe lagij tunc pape dicta filia vna cum du obê° Cardinalibê° alnÌ„s que proceribê° in PersiaÌ„ maritagij caÌ„ naiugio honozifice destinata fiut que tamen obloquenauÌ„ postea detractionis varijs modis absque sui culpa dolorosa fata multipliater pas sa est a Worthy knyght in Castes law Of grete rome as is the saw The ceptre had for to ryÈt Tybery ConstaÌ„tyn he hyght Who 's wyf was cleped ytalye But they to gedre of progenye No childre hadden but a mayde And the hyr god so wel apayde That al the wyde worldes fame Spake worship of her good name Constance as the Cronyque seyth She hyght was ful of the feyth That the grettest of Barbarye Of hem whiche vseden marchandye She hath conuerted as they come Ther vpon a tyme in Rome To shewen suche thyng as they brouÈt Whiche worthely of hem she bought And ouer that in suche a wyse She hath hem with her wordes wyse Of Crystes feyth so wel enformed That they therto ben al conformed So that baptysme â–ª they receyuen And al hir fals goddes weyuen Whan they were of the feyth certeyne They gone to Barbarye ayene And ther the Soudan for hem sent And axrth hem to what eutent They haue hyr fyrst feyth forsake And they whiche haue vndertake The ryght feyth to kepe holde The mater of here tale tolde With al the hool cyrcumstaunce And when the Sowdan of ConstauÌ„ce Vpon the poynt that they ansuerde The beaute the grace herde As he whiche than was to wedde In al hast his cause spedde To send for the maryage And ferthermore with good courage He sayth be so he may hyr haue That Cryst that cam this world to saue He wol byleue recorded They ben on eyther syde accorded And therupon to make an ende The So wdan his hostage sende To Rome of prynces sones twelue Wherof the fadre was glad in hym selue And with the pope auysed Two Cardynallyz he hath assised With other lordes many mo That with his donghter they shold go To see the Sowdan be conuerted qValiter adueniente Constancia in â—arbariam mater Soldanithuiusmo di nupcias perturbare volens filium fuum vna aim dicta Constancia cardinalibus que alijs Romanis prima die ad conuiuium inuitauit Et conues centibus illis in mensa Ipsuin Soldanum omnes que ibidem preter Constanciam Romanos ab Insidijs latitantibus subdola detractione interfeci procurciurt Ipsam que Constanciam m qua dam naâ— absque gubernaculo positam y oltum mare ventorum flatibuo agitaÌ„dam in exilium diâ—gi solam constituit bVt he which was neu wel herted Enuye tho bygan to trauayle In dystourbaunce of hyr spousayle So pryuely that none was ware The modre whiche the souldan bare Was than a lyue thought this Vnto hyr self yf it so is My sone hym wedde in this manere Then haue I lost my Ioyes here For myn estate shal so be lassed Thynkend thus she hath compassed By sleyÈte how that she may begyle Here sone fylle that ylke whyle Bytwene hem two when that they were She feyned wordes in his ere And in this wyse gan to saye â–ª My sone I am by double waye With al myn hert glad blythe For that my self haue ofte sythe Desyre thou wolt as men seyth Receyue take a newe feyth Whiche shal be forthryng to thy lyf And eke so worshipful a wyf The doughter of an Emperour To wedde it shal be grete honour For thy my sone I yow byseche That yf I myght suche grace areche That I may than in especyal When that my doughter come shal So as me thynketh honeste By thylk whiche the fyrst feste Shal make vnto hyr welcomyng The Souldan graunteth hyr axyng And she therof was glad ynoughe And vnder that anone she droughe With fals wordes that she spak Couyne of deth behynde his bak And euer vpon here ordynaunce She made so that when Constaunce Was comen forth with the Romaynes Of Clerkes of Cytezeynes A Ryche feste she hem made Hyr close enuye tho she sprade And al tho that hadden be Or in apert or in pryue Of connseyll of the maryage She slough hem in a sodeyne rage Endelong the bord as they be set So that it myght not be let Here owne sone was not quyte But dyed vpon the same plyte But what the hyghe god wol spare It may not for no perylle mysfare This worthy maiden which was there Stâ—de than as who saith nygh dede for â—ere To see the fest how that it stood Whiche al was torned in to blood The dysshe forth with the cuppe alle Be bled they weren ouerable She sawe dye on euery syde No wonder though she wepte syde Makyng many a woful mone When al was slayn but she al one This old fende this Sarazyn Lete take anon this Constancyn With al the good she thyder broughte And ordeyned as she thoughte A naked ship withoute stere The whiche the good hyr in fere Vitaylles ynough for yeres fyue Where that the wynde it wold dryue She was put vpon the wawes wyld Qualiter Nauis cum Constancia in partes Anglie que tune pagana fuit prope humber sub quodam Castello regis qui tunc Allee weabatur post triennium applicuit quam quidam miles nomine Elda dicti Castelli tuÌ„c custes â–ª et naiu lete suscipiens vxori sue Hermyngylde in custodiam honoryfice commendauit bVt he which al thinges may shild Thre yere to that she cometh to londe Hyr shyp to stere hath take on honde And in to Northumberlond arryueth And happeth than that she dryueth Vnder a Castel with the stood Whiche vpon Humber bank stood And was the kynges owne also The whiche Allee was cleped tho A Saxon a worthy knyght But he bybeuyd not a ryght Of this Castel was castelleyne Elda the kynges chamberlayne A knyghtly man after his lawe And when he sawe vpon the wawe The ship dryuend alone also He bad anone men sholden go To see what it bytokene may This was vpon a somer day The shyp was loked she founde Elda within a lytel stounde It wyst with his wyf anone To ward this yong lady gone Where that they founden grete rychesse But she her wold not confesse When they her axen what she was And netheles vpon the cas Once of the shyp with grete worship They take her in to felauship As they that were of hyr glade But she no maner ioye made But sow weth sore that she fond No Crystendodom in thylk lond But elles she hath al hir wylle And thus with them she duellith stille Dame Hermegylde whiche was the wyf Of Elda lyche her owne lyf qValiter Constancia Eldam cum vxore sua Hermingylda qui antea cri stiana non extiterat ad fidem Eristi mi raculose
wol make this byhest I shal be auengyd or I go And lete a fyre make tho And bad men for to cast her ynne But fyrst she told oute al her synne And dede hem alle for to wyte How she the lettres had wryte Fro poynt to poynt as it was wrouÈt And tho she was to deth brought And brunt to fore her sones eye Wherof these other whiche it syghe And herden how the cause stood Seynâ— that the â—ngement was good Of that her sone her hath so serued For she it had wel deserued Thorugh treson of her owne tonge Whiche thorugh the londe was after songe CoÌ„staÌ„ce euery wiÈt coÌ„pleâ—neth But he who al wo dystreyneth This sorowful kynge was so bysâ—ad That he shal neuermore be glad He seyth eftsone for to wedde Tyl he wyst how that she spedde Whiche had ben his fyrst wyf Aud thus his yong vnlusty lyf He dryueth forth so as he may qValiter post â—apsum duodecim anuozum rex Allee absolucionis causa Romam proficiscens vxorem suam Constanaâ—m vna cum filio suo diuina prouidencia ibidem letus inuenit tYl it byfel vpon a day When he his werres had acheued And thought he wold be releued Of soule he le vpon the feyth Whiche he hath take than he seyth That he to Rome on pylgremage Wold go where pope was pelage To take his absolucyon And vpon this condycyon He made Edwyn his lyeutenaunt Whiche heyr to hym was apparaunt That he the bond m absence Shal rewle by prouydence Of al thyng wel bygone He took his leue forth is gone Elda which was with hym tho there At they fullyâ—â—e at Rome were Was sent to fore to purueye And he hys guyde vpon the weye In helpe to be his herbegâ—our Hath ayed who was Senatour That he his name myght kenne Of Caâ—odece he sayd Arcenne He hyght was a worthy knyght To hym goth Elda forth ryght And told hym of his lord tydyng And prayd for that his comyng He wold assygne hym herbergage And he so dyde of good courage Whan al is do that is to done The kyng hym self cam after sone This Senatour when that he come To Cust to his wyf at home Hath told how suche a kyng Allee Of grete array to the Cyte Was come cust vpon his tale With hert câ—â—se colour pale A swoune felle he meruaylleth So sodenly what thyng hyr eyleth And caught hyr vp when she woke She sygheth with a pytoue loke And feyneth sekenesse of the see But it was for the kyng Allee For ioye whiche felle in her thought That god hym hath to Towne brouÈt This kyng hath spoke with the pope And told al that he couthe grope What greueth in his conscyence And than he thought in reuerence Of his estate or that he went To make a feest anon he sente Vnto the Senatour to come Vpon the morowe other some To sytte with hym at mete This tale hath Cust not foryetâ— But to Morys hyr sone tolde That he vpon the morowe sholde In al that euer he couth myght Be present in the kynges syght So that the kynge hym ofte syghe Morys to fore the kynges â—ye Vpon the morowe where he sat Ful ofte stood vpon that The kyng his chere vpon hym cast And in his face he thought as fast He sawe his owne wyf Constance For nature as in resemblaunce Of face hym lyketh for to clothe That they were of one suyte bothe â–ª The kyng hath moeued in his thought Of that he sawe knewe it nought This childe he loueth kyndely And yett he wote noo cause why But wel he saw vnderstode That he toward Arcenne stode And axeth hym anone ryght there Yf that this child his sone were He sayd ye so I hym calle And wold it were so byfalle But it is al in other wyse And tho gan he to deuyse How he the childes modre fond Vpon the see from euery lond Within a ship was stereles And how this lady he speles â—â—orth with hir child he hath forth draw The kynge hath vnderstonde his saw The childes name axeth tho And what the modre hyght also That he hym wolde telle he preyde Moris this child is hote he seyde His modre hat Cust this I not what maner name it is But Allee wyst wel ynough Wherof somdele smylend he lough For Cust in Saxon is to seyn Constance vpon the word Romeyn But who that couthe specyfye What tho was in his fantasye Aud how his wytt aboute renneth Vpon the loue in whiche he brenneth It were wondre for to here For he was neyther there ne here But clene oute of hym self awey That he note what to thynk ne sey So feyn he wold it were she Wherof his hertes pryuete Bygan the werre of ye nay The whiche in suche balaunce lay That contenaunce for a throwe He lost tyl he myght knowe The soth but in his memorye The man whiche lyeth in purgatorye Desyreth not the heuen more That he ne longeth also sore To wyte what hym shal betyde And when the boordes were a syde And euery man was ryse aboute The kyng hath weyued al the route And with the Senatour al one He spak prayd hym of a bone To see this Cust where she duelleth At home with hym where as he telleth The Senatour was wel apayd This kyng no lenger is delayd To see this Cust goth the kyng And she was warned of the thyng And with Eleyne forth she cam Ayene the kyng he tho nam Good hede he sawe his wyf Anone with al his hertes lyf He caught hyr in his armes kyst Was neuer wyght that syghe ne wyst A man that more ioye made Wherof they weren al glad Whiche herd telle of this channce The kyng tho with his wyf CoÌ„staÌ„ce Whiche had a grete part of his wylle In Rome for a tyme stylle Abode made hym wel at case But so yet coud he neuer please Of hyr estate the trouthe pleyne His wyf that she wold hym seyne Of what conntre that she was bore Ne what she was yet therfore With al his wyt he dyde seke Thus as they lay in bed speke She prayth hym counseyleth bothe That for the worship of hem bothe So as here thought it were honest He wold an honourable fest Make or he went in the Cyte Where the Emperour shal be He graunted al that she hym prayd But in that tyme as men sayd Thylk Emperour from that day That fyrst his doughter went away He was than after neuer glad But what that ony man hym bad Of grace for his doughter sake That grace wold he nought forsake Aud thus ful grete almesse he dede Wherâ—f she had many a bede qValiter Constancia que antea per totum tempus exilij sui penes omnes incognitam se celauit tunc â—â—mum patri suo Imperatori se ipsam per omnia manifestant Qd cum
mote obeye That may he suffer by no weyâ— With strength durst he no thyng stoÌ„â— So took he lesyng vpon honde When he sygh tyme spak therto For it byfelle that tyme so His fadre grete werres had With Rome whiche he streyt lad Thorugh myÈty strength of his maÌ„hod As he whiche hath yuough knygthod And ofte hâ—m had sore greued But or the werre were acheued As he was vpon ordynaunce At home in grece it felle par chaunce Demetaus whiche ofte aboute Rydend was stood that tyme oute So that this Perse in his absence Whiche bare the tonge of pestylence With fals wordes whiche he feyneth Upen his owne broder pleyneth In pryuete behynde his bak And to his fadre thus he spak My dere fadre I am holde By wey of kynde as reson wolde That I fro yow shal no thyng hyde Whiche myght torne in ony syde In youre estate to greuaunce For thy myn hertes obeysaunce Toward yow I thenke to kepe For it is good ye take kepe Upon a thyng whiche is me told My broder hath vs al sold To hem of Rome yow also For then they behote hym tho That he with them shal regne in pees Thus hath he cast for his encres That youre estate shal go to nought And thus to proue shal be brought So ferforth that I vndertake It shal not wel mow be forsake The kyng vpon his tale ansuerd And said yf this thyng whiche he herd Be soth may be brought to proue It shal not be to his behoue Whiche vs hath shapen so the werst For he hym self shal be the ferst That shal be dede yf that I may Thus afterward vpon a day When that Demetrius was come Anone his fadre hath hym nome And bad to his broder Perse That he his tale shal reherce Of thylk treson whiche he told And whiche al vntrouthe wolde Counseylleth that so hyghe a nede Be treted where as it may spede In comon place of jugement The kyng therto yafe his assent Demetrius was put in holde Wherof that Perseus was bolde Thus stood the trouth vnder the charge And the falshede goth at large Whiche thouâ—gh byhest hath ouercome The grettest of the lordes some That preuelyche of his acord They stond as wytnesse of record The Iuge was made fauourable Thus was the lawe deceyuable So ferforth that the fronth fond Rescouse none thus the lond Forth with the kyng deceyued were The gyliles was dampned there And deyde vpon acusement But suche a fals conspyrement Though it be preuy for a throwe God wold not it were vnknowe And that was after ward wel proued In hym whiche hath that deth coÌ„troued Of that his broder was so slayn This Perseus was wondre fayn As he that â–ª tho was apparauÌ„t Upon the regne expectauÌ„t Wherof he wax so proud beyn That he his fadre in dysdeyn Hath take set at none acompte As he whiche thouÈt hym to surmouÌ„te That where he was fyrst de bonayrâ— He was tho rebelle contrayre And not as heyr but as a kyng He took vpon hym in al thyng Of malyce of tyrannye In contempt of Regalye Lyued his fadre soo wrought That when the fadre hym bethought And sawe to whedyr syde it droughe Anone he wyst wel ynough How Perse his fals tonge Hath so thenuyous belle ronge That he hath slayne his owne broder Wherof as then he knewe none other But sodenly the Iuge he nome Whiche corrupt sat vpon the dome In suche a wyse hath hym pressed That he the soth hym hath confessed Of al that he hath spoke do More sory than the kynge was tho Was neuer man vpon this molde And thought in certeyne that he wold â—engeaunce take vpon this wrong But the other party was so strongr That for the lawe of no statute There may no ryght be execute And vpon this dyuysyon The lond was torned vp so doun Wherof his herbe is so distraught That he for pure sorowe hath caught The maladye of whiche nature Is queynt in euery creature And when this kyng is passed thus This fals tonged Perseus The regyment hath vnderfonge But ther may no thyng stond longe Whiche is not vpon trouthe grounded For god whiche hath al thyng bouÌ„ded And sawe the falshede of his gyle Hath set hym but a lytel whyle That he shal regne vpon depose For sodenly as the rose So sodenly doune he felle In thylk tyme it so byfelle This newe kyng of newe pryde With strengthe shope hym for to ryde And sayd he wold Rome waste Wherof he made a besy haste And hath assembled hym an hoost In al that euer he myght most What man that myght wepen be re Of al he wold none forbe re So that it myght not be nombred The folk whiche was encombred Thorugh him that god wold ouerthrowe Anone it was at Rome knowe The pompe whiche that Perse lad And the Romayns that tyme had A consul whiche cleped was thus The name Panle Emilius A noble a worthy knyght with alle And he whiche cheef was of alle This werre on hond hath vndertake And whan he shold his leue take Of a yong doughter whiche was his She wepte what cause it is He axeth she hym ansuereth That Perseus is dede he it hereth And wondreth what she mene wold And vpon childehode hym told That Perse his lytel hound is dede Withethat he pulleth vp his hede And made ryght a glad vysage And seyd how that was a presage Touchend vnto that other Perse How that fortune hym shald aduerse He seyth for suche a prenostyke Moost of an hound was to hym lyke For as it is an houndes kynde To berke vpon a man behynde Ryght so behynde his broders bak With fals wordes whiche he spak He hath do slayn that is routhe But he whiche hateth al vntrouth The hyghe god it shal redresse For so my doughter prophetesse Forth with hyr lytel houndes deth Betokeneth thus forth he geth Conforted of this euydeucâ— With the Romayns in his defence Ageyne the grekes that be comende This Perseus as nought semende This meschyef whiche that hym abode With al his multitude rode And prayd hym vpon the thyng Of that he was bycomen a kyng And how he had his Royalme gete That he hath al the ryght foryete Whiche longeth vnto gouernaunce Wherof thorugh good ordynaunce It felle vpon the wynter tyde That with his hoost he shold ryde Oner Dauubye thylke flood Whiche al be frorn than stood So hard that he wende wel To passe but the blynde wheel Whiche torneth ofte or men beware Thylk yee whiche hors men bare To brak so that a grete partye Was dreynt of the chyualrye The rereward it took awey Cam none of hem to lond drey Paulus the worthy knyÈt romeyn By his aspye it herd seyn And hasteth al that he may So that vpon that other day He cam where he this hoost byheld And that was in a
name cleped hate That suffceth not within his gate That there cam other loue or pes For he wol make no reles Of no debate whiche is byfalle Now speke yf thou art one of alle That with the vyce hast be witholde And â—yet for ought that ye me tolde My fadre I not what it is In good feyth sone I too we yis My fadre nay but ye me leue Now lest my sone thou shalt here Haâ—â— is a wrath not shewend But of loug tyme gaderend And duelleth in the hert loken Tyl he see tyme to be wroken And than he sheweth his tempest More sodeyn than the wylde best Whiche wote no thyng what mercy is My sone art thou knowen of this My good fadee as I wene Now wote I sonidele what ye mene But I dare saufly make an othe My lady was me neuer loth I wol not swere netheles That I of hate am gylteles For when I to my lady plye Fro day to day mercy crye And she no mercy on me leyth But shrote wordes to me seyth Though I my lady loue algate Tho wordes mote I nedes hate And wold they were al dyspent Or so fer oute of londe went That I hereafter shold hem not here And yet loue I my lady dere Thus is there hate as ye may see Bytwene my lady word me The word I hate hyr I loue What so shal me betyde of loue But forthermore I wol me shryue That I haue hated al my lyue These ianglers whiche of her enuye Ben euer redy for to lye For with her fals compassement Ful often they haue made me shent And hyndred me ful oftyme When they no canse wyste â—yme But onlyche of hyr owne thought And thus ful ofte haue I bought The lye dranke not of the wyn I wold her happe were suche as myn For how so that I be now shryue Them ne may I not foryeue Tyl that I see them at debate With loue than myn estate They myghten by her owne deme And loke how wel it shold hem queme To hyndre a man that loueth sore And thus I hate hem euermore Tyf loue on hem wol do his wreche For that I shal alâ—â—cy byseche Vnto the myghty Cupydo That he so moche wolde doo So as he is of loue a god To smyâ—â— with the same rod With whiche I am of loue smyten So that they myght knowe wyten How hyndryng is a woful peyne To hym that loue wold atâ—â—ynâ— Thus euer on hem I wayte hope Tyl I may seen hem lepe a lope And halten on the same sore Whiche I do now for euermore I wold than do my myght So for to stonden in her lyght That they ne sholden haue aweye To that they wolden put aweye â–ª I wold hem put oute of the stâ—de Fro loue ryght as they me dede With that they spoke of me by mouth So wold I do yf that I â—â—uth Of hem this so god me saue Is al the hate that I haue Toward the Ianglers euery dele I wold al other ferd wele Thus haue I fader sayd my wylle Saye forth now for I am stylle My sone of that thou hast me sayd I hold me nought fully payd That thou wolt hatâ—n ony man To that acorden I ne can Though he haue hyndred to fore But this I telle the therfore Thou myght vpon my benyson Wel haten the condycyon Of tho Ianglers as thou me toldest But forthermore yf that thou woldest Hem hyndre in ony other wyse Suche haâ—â— is euer to despyse For thy my sone I wold the rede That thou drawe in by frendelyhede That thou ne myght not do by hate So myght thou gete loue algate And set the my sone in rest For thou shalt fynde it for the best And ouer this so as I dare I â—â—dâ— that thou be ryght ware Of other mens haâ—â— aboute Whiche euery wyse man shold doute For hate is euer vpon a wayte And as the fyssher on his bayte Sleeth when he seeth the fysshes fastâ— So when he seeth tyme at the last That he may worche an other woo Shal no man torne hym ther fro That hate nyl his felonye Fulfylle feyne companye Yet netheles for falâ— semblaunt Is toward hym of couenaunt Witholde so that vnder bothe The preuy wrath can hym clothe That he shal seme a grete byleue But ware the wel that thou ne loue Al that thou seest afore thyn eye So as the Gregoys whylome syghe The book of Troye who so â—â—de There maye he fyude ensample in dede hIc ponit Confesso exemplum â—oÌ„ tra illos qui cum ire sue odiuÌ„ aê‘te vindicare non possint ficta dissimuâ—acione vindictam subdole assequentur Et narrat ê™ cum Palamides princepâ— Grecorum in obsidione Troye a quibus dam suis Emulis proditorie interfectê° fuisset pater que suus Rex Namplus in patria sua tunâ— existens huiusmodi euentus certitudinem sciâ—usset grecos in sui cordis odium super omnia râ—â—â—llegit vnde contigit ê™ cum greci deuicta Troia per altum mare versus Greciam nauigio remeantes obscurissimo noctis tempore nimia ventorum tempestate iac tabantur Rex Namplus in terra sua contra litus maris vbi mâ—ioca saxoruÌ„â—minebant pericula super cacumina moÌ„cium grandissimos noctanter fecit ignes quos greci aspicientes saluum poâ— tum ibidem inuenire certissime putabant Et terram approximâ—ntes diruâ—â—is nauibus magna pars grecorum 〈◊〉 riclitabatur sOne after the destructyon When troye was al bete doun And slayn was â—amê° the king The gregoys whiche of al this thyng Ben cause tornen home ageyn There may no man his hop wythseyn It hath ben seen felt ful ofte The hard tyme after the softe By see forth as they homeward went A rage of grete tempest hem hent Iuno lete bende her party bowe The sâ—y was derk the wynd gan blowe The fyry welken bygan to thonder As though the world shold al a sonder From heuen oute of the water gates The reyny storme fel doune algates And al her tacle made vnwelde That noman myght hym self byheldâ— There may men here shipmen crye That stood in aunter for to dye He that behynde sat to stere May not the for sterne here The ship arose ageyne the wawes The lodesman hath lost his lawes The see on bete on euery syde They nysten what fortune abyde But setten hem al at goddes wylle Where he wold hem self saue or spylle And thylk tyme felle thus There was a kyng whiche Namplus Was hote he a sone had At Troye whiche the gregoys â—ad As he that was made prynce of alle Tyl that fortune lete hym falle His name was palamydes But thorugh an hate netheles Of somme of hem his deth was caste And he by treson ouer caste His fadee when he herd it telle He swore yf euer his tyme felle He wold hym venge yf that he myght
And therto his auowe he hyght And thus this kyng thurgh preuy hate Abode vpon a wayte algate For he was not of suche empryse To auengyn hym in open wyse The fame which goth wyde where Maketh knowe how that the gregois were Home with al her felaushyp Fro Troye vpon the see by shyp Namplus when he this vnderstood And knewe the tydes of the flood And sawe the wynd blowe to the lond A grete deceypt anone he fonde Of preuy hate as thou shalt here Wherof I telle al this matere This kyng the weder he gan beholde And wyst wel that they moten holde Her cours endelong the marche ryght Aud made vpon the derk nyght Of grete shydes of blokkes Greâ—â— fyre ageyne the grete rokkes To shewe vpon the hylles hyghe So that the flete of grece it syghe So it fel ryght as he thought This flete whiche an hauen sought Tho bryght fyres sawe a ferre Aud they hem drawen ner nerre And wyste wel vnderstood How al that fyre was made for good To shewe where men shold aryue And thyderward they hasten blyue And in semblauÌ„t as men seyn is gyle And that was proued thylk whyle The ship which weÌ„d hym self accroche Droof al to pyeces on the roche And so deden ten or twelue There myght no man helpe hym selue For there they wenden deth escape Withouten help her deth was shape Thus they that comen fyrst to fore Vpon the Rokkes ben forlore But thurgh noyse theyr cry The other were al ware therby And whan they began to rowe Tho myght they the soth kuowe That where they wende frendes fynde They fonde frendship al behynde The lond was than sone weyued Where that they hadden be deâ—eyued And took hem to the hyghe see Therto they sayden alle ye Fro that day forth where they were Of that they haue assayed there My sone wherof thou myght auyse How fraude stant in many wyse Among hem that gyle thynke There is no sâ—ryueyne with his ynke Whiche half the fraude wryte can That stant in suche a maner man For thy the wyse men ne demen That thynges after that they semen But after that they knowe fynde The myrrour sheweth in his kynde As hath al the word withynne And is in sothe no thyng withynne And so fareth hate for a throwe Tyl a man hath ouerthrowe Shal no man knowe by his chere Whiche is auaunt whiche is arâ—re For thy my sone thynke on this Confessor My fadre so I wol Iwys And yf there more of wrathe be Now axe for charyte As yâ— by your bokes knowe And I the soth shal be knowe hIc cohiberr nequit manum sic speÌ„â—ius Naribus hic populo se timendus erit Sepius in luctum venê° sua gaudia transfâ—rt Cumque suis â—â—â—â—â—mus talis amicus adest Est amor plâ—xu non vtique alliciendê° Fraudis 〈◊〉 impetuosa manus â–ª hIc tractat Confessor super quarâ— qâ—unta specie Ire que Impetu ositas homicidium dicuntur â–ª sed primo de impetuositate specialiter intendit â—â—ius natura spmÌ„ in naribus gestando ad omnes ire meciones in vindicta parata pacienciaÌ„ nullatenus obseruat mY sone thou shalt vnderstonde That yet to ward wrath stonde Of dedely vyces other two And for to telle her names so It is conteâ—â— homicide That be to geder on euery syde Contake so as the bokes seyn Foolhast hath to his chamberleyn Whoos counseyl al vnauysed Is pacyence most despysed Tyl homycyde with hym mete Fro mercy they be al vnmete And thus be they the worst of alle Of hem whiche vnto wrath falle In dede bothe eke in thought For they acompten theyr wrath nouÈt But yf ther be shedyng of blood And thus lyche a best wode They knowen not the good of lyf Be so they haue other swerd or knyf Hyr dedely wrath for to wreke Of pyte lyst hem not to speke None other reason they ne songe But that they haue myghâ—â—o stronge But ware hym wel in other place Where euery man behoueth grace But there I trowe it shal hym fayle To whome no mercy myght auayle But wron â—hten vpon Tyrannye That no pyte myght hem plye Now telle my sone my fader what If thou hast be culpable of that My fadre nay cryst me forbede I speke only for the dede Of whiche I was neuer culpable With no cause resonable But this is not to my matere Of shryfte why we sytten here For we be set to shryue of loue As we begonne fyrst aboue And netheles I am beknowe That as touchend of loues throwe Whan my wyttes ouer wende Myn hertes contek hath none ende But euer stant vpon debate To grete dysese of myn estate As for the tyme that it lasteth For when my fortune ouercasteth Hyr whele is to me so straunge And I see she wol not chaunge Than cast I al the world aboute And thynke how I at home in doute Haue al my tyme in veyne fpended And see not how to be amended But rather for to be empeyred As he that is wel nyhe despeyred For I ne may no thank deserue And euer I loue euer I serue And euer I am a lyche nere Thus for I stonde in suche a were I am as who sayth oute of herre And thus vpon my self I werre I brynge put oute al pees That I fulofte in such a rees Am wery of myn owne lyf So that of contek of stryf I am byknowe haue ansuerd As ye my fadre now haue herd Myn hert is wonderly begone Whiche counseyl wherof wytâ—e is one Whiche hath reson in companye I agayn whiche stand partye Wylle whiche hath hope at acord And thus these bryngen vp dyscord Wytte reson counseylen ofte That myn herte shold softe And that I shold wel renue And put out of retenue Or â—lles holde hym vnder fote For as they seyne yf that he mote His owne reule haue vpon honde There shal no wytte be vnderstonde Of hope so they tellen this That ouer al where that he is He set the hert in champartye With wysshyng with fantasye And is not trâ—we of that he seyth So that in hym there is no feyth Thus with reson wyt auysed Is wyt hope al day despysed Reson sayth that I sholde leue To loue where there is no leue To spede wyll sayth agâ—yn That suche an hert is to vyleyn Whiche dar not leue tyl that he spede Lat hope serue at suche a nede He seyth eke where an hert syt Al gouerned after wyt He hath his lyues lust for lore Aud thus myn hert is al to â—â—re Of suche a conâ—â—ck as they make But yet I may not wel forsake That he nys mayster of my thought Or that I spede or speke nought Thou dost my sone ageynst the ryght But loue is of so grete myght His lawe may noo man refuse So myght thou the better excuse And
the dede And comonlyche at euery nede The worst speche is rathest herd And leued tyl it be ansuerd The kynges the lordes grete Begonne Horestes for to threâ—â— To putten hym out of his regne He is not worthy for to regne The child whiche slough his moder soo They sayde therupon also The lordes of comon assent The tyme sett of parlement And to Athenys kyng lord To gederâ—come of one acord To knowe how the sothe was So that Horestes in this cas They senden after they come Kyng Men â—lay the wordes nome And axeth hym of this matere And he that al it myght here Ansuerd told his tale at large And how the goddes in his charge Commaunded hym in suche a wyse His owne hond to do Iuyse With this tale a Duk arose Whiche was a worthy knyght of lose His name was Menesteus And sayd vnto the lordes thus The wreche whiche Horestes dede At was thyng of the goddes â—edâ— And no thynge of his ocuelte And yf there were of ony degre An al this plaâ—â— suche a knyght That wol seyn it was no ryght I wol it with my body proue And therupon he cast his gloue And eke this noble duk Alleyde Ful many another skylle he seyde She had wel deserued wreche Fyrst for the cause of spouse breche And after wrought in suche a wyse That al the world it ought agryse When that she for so foul a vyce Was of her owne lord Mordryce They sytten al stylle herde But therto was noman ansuerde At ought hem alle he sayd skylle There is noman wythsey it wylle When they vpon the reson musen Horestes alle they â—â—cusen So that with grete solempnyte He was vnto his dygnyde Receyned coroned kyng And tho byfel a wondre thyng Egyona when she it wyst Whiche was the doughter of Egyst And suster on the modre syde To thys Horeste at thylaÌ„ tyde When she herd ho whis broder sped For pure sorowe whiche her led That he had len â—xyled She bath her owne lyf begyled Anone henge hyr self tho At hath shal be euermo To mordre who that wol assente He may not fayle to repente This fals Egyona was one Whiche to mordre Agamenone Yaue her acord her assent So that by goddes Augement Though none other man it wolde She took her Iuyse as she sholde And as she to another wrought Vengeaunce vpon her self she thought And hath of hyr vnhappy wyt A mordre with a mordre quyt Suche is of mordre the vengeaunce For thy my sone in remembraunce Of this ensample take good frede For who that thynketh his loue spede With mordre he shal with worldes shame Hym self eke his loue shame My fadre of this auenture Whiche ye haue told A yow assure Myn hertiâ— fory for to here But only for A Bold here What is to done what to leue And ouer this by your leue That ye me wold telle A prâ—y Af there be leful ony weye Withoute synne a man to slee My sone in sondry wyse ye What man that is of Traytorye Of mordre or elles Robberye Atteynt the Iuge shal not bet But he shal sleen of pure def And doth grete syune yf that he woÌ„de For who that lawe hath vpon honde And spareth for to do Iustyce For mercy doth not his offyce That he his mercy so be wareth When for one shrewe whiche he spareth A thousand good men he greueth Which suche mercy as who that bileueth To please god he is deceyned Or elles more reson be weyued The lawe stood or we were bore How that a kynges swerd is bore An sygne that he shal defende His peple make an ende Of suche as wolden hem deuoure Lo thus my sone to socoure The lawe comon ryght to wynne A man may shee withoute synne Aud therof a grete almesse So for to kepe ryght wyseuesse And ouer this for this contre An tyme of werre a man is fee Hym self his â—ous eke his lond Defende with his owne hond And slayne yf that he maye no bet After the lawe whiche is set Now fadre than A you byseche Of hem that dedely werres seche An worldes cause shedâ—n lobod Af suche an homycyde is good Confessor My sone vpon thy questyon The trouthe of myn oppynyon Ale ferforth as my wyt arecheth And as the pleyn lawe techeth A wold the telle in euydence To reule with thy conscyence Quod creat iyse deê° nâ—eat hoc homicida creatum â—ltor humano sanguine sâ— git humum Vt pecoris sic est hominis cruor heu hoÌ„ fusus Victa iacet pietas furoâ— vrget opus Angelus in term pax dixit vltima Cristi Verba so nent pacem quam mâ— guerra fugat Hic sequitur contra â—â—otoâ—â—s guerre que non solum homicidij sed vniuer se mnndi desolacionis mater existit tHe hyghe god of his iustyce That ylke foule horryble vyce Of Homycyde he hath forbede By Moyses as it was bede When goddes sone also was bore He sente his Aungel doune therfore Whome the shepeherdes herde synge â—â—es to the men of welwyllynge In erthe among vs here So for to speke in this matere After the lawe of charyte There shal no dayly werre be And eke nature it hath defended And in hyr lawe pees comended Whiche is the chyef of mannes welthe Of mannes lyf of mannes helthe But dedely werre hath this couyne Of pestylence of famyne Of pouerte of al woo Wherof this world we blamen so Whiche now the werre hath vnderfote Tyl god hym self therof do bote For al thyng whiche god hath wrouÈt In erthe werre it bryngeth to nought The chirche is brent the prest is slayn The wyf the mayde is the forlayn The lawe is lord god vnserued I not what mede he hath deserued That suche werres ledeth Inne If that he do it for to wynne Fyrst to acompte his grete cost Forth with the folk that he hath losâ— As to the worldes rekenyng There shal he fynde no wynnyng And yf he do it to purchace The heuen mede of suche a grace I can not speke netheles Cryst hath commaunded loue peâ—â— And who that worcheth the reuers I trowe his mood is ful dyuersâ— And sythen â–ª that â–ª we fynde The werres in her owne kynde Ben toward god of no deserte And eke they bryngen in pouertâ— Of worldes good it is merueyle Among the men what it maye eyle That they vs a pees ne conne set I trowe synne be the let And euery mede of synne is deth So wote I neuer how it geth But we that be of one byleue Among oure self this world I leue That better it were pees to chese Than so by double weye lese I not yf that it now so stonde But this a man may vnderstonde Who that these old lokes redeth That one is Couetyse whiche ledeth And brought the fyrst werres inne At grece yf that I shal begynne
And felle he shold go to fyght Ageyne Amon the cruel kyng And for to speke vpon this thyng within his hert he made a vowe To god sayd O lord yf thou Wol graunte vnto my men vyctorye I shal in tokne of thy memorye The fyrst lyf that I may see Or man or womman where it be Anone as I come home ageyne To the whiche art god souereyne Sleen in thy name sacryfye And thus with his chyualrye He goth hym forth where that he sholde when be had wonne what he wolde And ouercam his fomen alle May noman knowe that shal falle This duk a lusty doughter had And fame whiche the world sprad Hath brought vnto this ladyes ere How that her fadre hath do there She wayteth vpon his comynge with daunsyng with carolyng As she that wold be to fere Al other so she was therfore In masphat at her fadres gate The fyrst when he cometh ther ate And sawe his doughter he to brayde His clothes wepend he sayde O myghty god amonge vs here Now wote I not in what manere This worldes ioye may be pleyne I had al that I couthe seyne Ayene my fomen by thy grace So when I cam to ward this place There was no gladder man than I But now my lord al sodenly My ioye is torned in to sorowe For I my doughter shal to morowe To heâ—e brenne in thy seruyce To louynge of thy sacryfyce Though myn auowe so as it is The mayden when she wyst of this And sawe the sorow hyr fader made So as she maye with wordes glade Comforted hym bad hym holde His couenaunt as he was beholde Towardes god as he behyght But netheles hyr hert aflyght Of that she sawe hyr deth comend And than vnto the ground knelend To fore hyr fadre she is falle And sayth so as it is falle Vpon this poynt that she shal dye Of one thyng first she wold hym prey That fourty dayes of respyte He wold hyr graunt vpon this plyÈt That she the while may be wepe Hyr maydenhede whiche she kepe So long hath had not beset Wherof her youthe is let That she no children hath forth drawe In maryage after the lawe So that the peple is not encreced But that it myght be releced That she her tyme hath lore so She wold by his leue go With other maydens to complâ—yne And after ward vnto the peyne Of doth she wold come ageyne The fader herd his doughter seyn And therupon of one assent The maydens were anone assent That sholden with this mayden wende So for to speke vnto this ende They gone the dounes the dales With wepyng woful tales And euery with hyr maydenhode Compleyneth vpon thilk nede That she no childer had bore Wherof she hath hyr youthe lore Whiche neuer she recouere may For so fel that hyr last day Was come in whiche she shold take Her deth whiche she may not forsake â—â— thus she deyde a woful mayde For thylk cause whiche I sayde As thou hast vnderstonde aboue My fader as toward the loue Of maydens for to telle trouthe Ye haue thylk vyce of slouthe Me thynketh wonder wel declared That ye the women haue not spared Of hem that tary so behynde But yet it falleth in my mynde Toward the men hou that ye speke Of hem that wol no trauayl seke In cause of loue vpon desert To speke in wordes so couuert I not what trauayl that ye ment My sone after myn entent I wol the telle hou that I thought Hou whilome men her loues bought Thorugh grete trauail in strauÌ„ge loÌ„des Where that they wrought with her hoÌ„des Of armes many a worthy dede In sondry places as men may rede Quem probat armorum probitas venus approbat que in Torpor habet reprobuÌ„ reprobat illa virum Vecors segnicies insignia nescit amoris Nam piger ad brauium tardius ipse venit Hic loquitur quod in amoris causa milicie probitas ad armorum laboris eyercicium nullatenus torpescat tHat euery loue of pure kynde Is fyrst forth drawe wel I fynde But netheles yet ouer this Deserte doth so that it is The rather had â–ª in many place For thy who so seche loues grace Where that these worthy women arâ— He maye not than hym selue spare Vpon his trauayle for to serue Wherof that he may thank deserue These men of armes ther as they be Somtyme ouer the grete see So that by lond eke by shyp He mote trauayle for worshyp And make many hasty rodes SoÌ„tyme in pruys somtyme in Rodes And somtyme in to Tartarye So that these herauldes on hym crye Vaylant Vaylant lo where he goth And he yeueth hem gold clothe So that his name myght sprynge And to his lady ere brynge Somme tydyng of his worthynesse So that she myght of his prowesse Of that she herd men recorde The better vnto his loue acorde And daunger put oute of her mood When al men recorden good And that she wote wel for her sake That 〈◊〉 no trauayl wold forsake My sone of this trauayle I mene Now shryue the for it shal be sene If thou art ydel in this cas My fader ye and euer was For as me thynketh truly That euery man doth more than I And of this poynt yf so is That I haue ought done or this It is so lytel of acompte As who sayth it may not amonnte To wynne of loue his lusty yiftâ— For this I telle you in shryftâ— That me were leuer her loue wynne Than Prayre al that is therynne And for to slee the hethen alle I not what good ther myght falle So moche blood though ther were shad This fynde j so wryten that Cryst bad That no man other shold sle What shold I wynne ouer the see If I my lady left at home But passe they the salt fome To whome cryst bad shold preche To al the world his feyth teche But now they rucken in her nest And resten as hem lyketh best In al the swetenes of delyces Thus they defenden vs the vyces And sytten hem self al amyâ—de To slee fyghte they vs bydde Hem whome they shold as â— boke seith Connerten vnto Crystes feyth But here of haue I grete meruayle Hou they wold me byd trauayle A Saâ—â—syn yf I slee shal I slee the soule forth with al And that was neuer Crystes lote But now hoo therof I saye nomore Hic allegat Amans in sui excusacionem qualiter Achilles apud Troiam propter amorem â—olixeneâ—â— arma sua per aliquod tempus dimisit But I wol speke vpon my shriâ—â—â— And to Cupyde I make a yefte That who as euer pryce deserue Of Armes I wol loue serue As though I shold hem bothe kepe As wel wold I take kepe When it were tyme to abyde As for to trauayle for to ryde For hou as euer a man laboure Cupyde hath euer his houre For
I hane herd telle also Achilles left hs armes soo Bothe of hym self of his men At Troye fro Polyxenen Vpon hyr loue when he felle That for no chaunce that be felle Among the grekes vp or doune He wold nought ayene the touus Bâ— armed for the loue of her And so me thynketh leue syr A man of armes may hym rest Somtyme in hope for the best If he may fynde a wey nerre What shold I than go so ferre In strannge londes many a myâ—â— To ryde lese at home the whyle My loue it were a short beyete To wynne chaf lese whete But yf my lady byd wolde That I for her loue sholde Trauaylle me thynketh truly I myght flee thorugh oute the sky And so thorugh oute the depe see For al ne sett I not a sâ—re What thâ—ng that I myght elles gete What helpeth a man to haue mete When drynk lakketh on the boord What helpeth ony mans word To sey hou I trauayle fast Where as me fayllith at the last That thynge whiche I trauaylle fore O in good tyme were he â—ore That myght atteyne suche a nede But certes yf I myght spede With ony maner besynesse Of worldes trauayl than I gesse There shold me none ydelshyp Departe from hyr ladyshyp But this I see on dayes now The blynde god I wote not hou Cupyde whiche of loue is lord He set the thynges in dyscord That they that loue lest attende Ful ofte he wold hem yeue sende Moost of his grace thus I fynde That he that shold goo behynde Goth many a tyme fer to fore So wotâ— I not ryght wel therfore On wheder boord that I shal seyâ—e Thus can I nought my self counseyle But al I set on auenture And am as who seyth oute of cure For ought that I can sey or do For euermo I fynde it soo The more besynes that I lay The more that I knele pray With good wordes with softâ— The more I am refused ofte With besynes maye not wynne And in good feyth that is grete synne For I may sey of dede thought That ydel man haue I â—e nought For hou as euer that I be slayde Yet euermore I haue assayde But though my besynes last Al is but ydel at the last When theffect is ydelnesse I not what thyng is besynesse Saye what auayleth al the dede Whiche helpeth no thyng at nede For the fortune of euery fame Shal of his ende lere a name And for ought that is yet befalle And ydel man I wol me calle And after myn entendement But vpon youre amendement Myn holy fadre as yen semeth My reason my cause demeth Myn sone I haue herde the mâ—â—â—â— Of that thou haste the shrynâ—n here And for to speke of â—ydel fare Me semeth that thou tharst not â—â—â—â— But only that thou myght not spede And therof sone I wol the rede Abyde haste not to faste Thy dyes ben euery day to caste Thou nost what chauÌ„ce shall betyâ—â— Better is to wayte vppon the tyde Than rowe ayenst the stremes stronge For though so be ye thynke long â—er caas the reuolucyon Of heuene and thy condicyon Ne be not yet of one acord But I dar make this record To venus whoo 's preest that I am That sythen that I thyder cam To here as she me bad thy lyf Wherof thou els be gyltyf Thou myght herof thy conscyence Excuse of greete dylygence Whiche thou to lone hast so dyspendedâ— Thou oughtest wel to be commended But yf so be that ther ought fayâ—â— Of that thou slouthest to trauaylle In armes for to be absent And for thou makest an argument Of that thou saydest here aboue Hou achilles thurgh strengthe of loue His armes left for a throwe Thou shalt an other tale knowe Whiche is contrayre as thou shalt wiâ—â— For this a man maye fynde wryde When that knyghthode shal be werredâ— â—ust may nought thenne be preferred The bed mote than be forsake And shelde spere on hond take Which thing shal make hem after glad When they worthy kynghtâ—◠〈◊〉 â—â—â—â— Wherof soo as it cometh to honde A tale thou shalt vnderstonde Hou that a knyght shalle armes sewe And for the while hiâ—â—ase eschewe Hic dicit â—â—moris delectamento posiâ—â—siâ—â— miles arnâ—â— sua preferre defet Et ponit eâ—emplum de vâ—yxe cum ipse a bello Troiano propâ—â—r amorem â—â—â—eâ—oâ—â— remanere domi voluisset NaÌ„ plus pater Palamides cum tantis sermonibus allocutus est â— vlixes thoro sue coningis relicto labores Armorum vna cum alijs Troie magnanimus suâ—â—â—â—t â—on knyÈthode I nede thus How whylome the kyng NaÌ„ plus The fader of â—alamydes Cam for to preyen â—lyxes With other Gregoys eke also That he with hem to Troye goo Where that theâ—syege â–ª shold be Anone vpon â—enelope His wys whome that he loueth hote Thynkynde wold not hem behote But he shope than a wonder wyle Hou that he sholde hem begyle So that he myght duâ—lle stylle At home weld his loue at wylle Wherof erly at the morowe day Oute oâ—â—his bed where that he lay When he was vp he gan to fare In to the felde loke stare As he whiche feyneth to be wood He took a plough where that it stood Wheryn anone in stede of Oxes He lete do yoken grete Foxes Aud with grete salt the lond he sewe But Namplus whiche the cause knew Ayene the sleyghte whiche he feyneth Another sleyghte anone ordeyneth And felle that tyme vlyxes had A childe to sone namplus â—ad Hou men that child take shold And set hym vpon the mold Where that his fader helde the plough In thilk forugh whiche â—e tho drough For in suche wyse he thought ossaye Hou it vlyxes shold paye If that he were wood or none The knyghtes for the child forth gone The lamacus anone was fett To fore the ylough euen sett Where that his fadre shold dryue But when he sawe his chyld blyue He droof the plough oute of the weye And Namplus tho bygan to seye And hath half in a iape cryed O vlyxes thou art aspyed What is al this thou woldest mene For openlyche it is now sene That thou hast feyned al this thyng Whiche is grete shame to a kyng When that for lust of ony slouthe Thou wylt a quarel of trouthe Of armes thylk honour forsake And duelle at home for loues sake For better it were honour to wynne Than loue whiche lykyng is inne For thy take worshyp vpon honde And elles thou shalt vnderstonde These other worthy knyghtes alle Of Grece whiche vnto the calle Towardes the wol be ryght wroth And greue the per chans both Whiche shal be to the double shame Moost for the hyundrynge of thy name That thou for slouthe of ony loue Shalt so thy lustes set aboue And leue of Armes the knyghthode Whiche is the pryce of thy manhode And ought fyrst to be desyred But he whiche had his
euery theef vpon rychesse A wayteth for to robbe stele Suche â—â—ood is cause of harmes fele And also though a man at ones Of al the world within his wones The Tresour myght haue euery deele Yet had he but one mans dele Toward hym self so as I thynke Of clothynge of mete of drynke For more oute take vanyte There hath no lord in his degre And thus vpon the poyntes dyuerse Dyuersly he gan reherce What poynt hym thought for the best But pleynly for to gete hym rest He can no syker weye cast And netheles yet at the last He felle vpon the couetyse Of gold than in sondry wyse He thought as I haue sayd to fore How Tresour may be sone forlore And had an Inly grete desyre Touchend of suche recouer Hou that he myght his cause auayle To gete hym gold withoute fayle Within his hert thus he preyseth The gold sayth hou that he peyseth Aboue al other metal most The gold he sayth may lede an hoost To make werre ayene a kyng The gold put vnder al thyng And set whome hym lyst aboue The gold can make of hate loue And werre of pees ryght of wrong And long to short short to long Withoute gold may be no fest Gold is the lorde of man beste And may hem both bye selle Soo that a man may sothely telle That al the world to gold obeyeth For thy this kyng to bachus preyth To graunte hym gold but he excedeth Mesure more than hym nedeth Men tellen that the maladye Whiche callyd is Ioropesyâ— Resembled is to this vyce By weye of kynde Auaryce The more Idropesye drynketh The more thyrsteth for hym thynketh That he may not drynke his fylle Soo that there may no thyng fulfylle The lustes of his appetyte And ryght in suche maner plyte Stant euer Auaryce euer stood The more he hath of worsdes good The more he wolde kepe streyte And euer more and more coueyte And ryght in suche condicyon Wythoute good discrecyon This kyng with auaryce is smete That al the worlde it myght wete For he to Bachus then preyd That wherupon his honde he leid It sholde thorugh his touche anone Become gold therupon This god hym graunteth as he bad Tho was this kyng of Fryge glad And for to put it in assaye With al the hast that he maye He toucheth that he toucheth this And in his hond al gold it is The stone the tre the leef the gras The Floure the fruyte al gold it was Thus toucheth he while he may last But hongre att the last Hym took soo that he mote nede By wey of kynde his hongre fede The clothe was leyd the boord was set And alle was forth byfore hym set His dissh his drink his cuppe his meet But when he wold drynk or ete As to his mouth anone cam nyghe It was al gold then he syghe Of Auayrce the folye And he with that bygnne to crye And preyde Bachus to foryeue His gylt suffre hym for to lyue And be suche as he was to fore Soo that he were nought forlore This god whiche of this greuaunce Herd toke routhe vpon his repentauÌ„ce And bad hym goo forth redyly Vnto a flood was fast by Whiche paceole than hyght In whiche as sone as euer he myght He sholde hym wasshe oueral And said hym than he shal Recouere hys fyrst astate ageyn This kyng right as he herd seyn In to the flood goth fro the lond And wesshe hym bothe fote hond And so forth al the remenaunt As hym was set in â—â—uendunt And than he sawe meruayles strauÌ„ge The flood his coloure gan to chaunge The grauel with the smal stones To gold they torne al attones And he was quyte of that he had And thus fortune his chaunge lad And when he sawe his touche gone He goth hym home ryght forth soone And lyueth forth as he dyde er And put al Auaryce a fer And the ryches of gold despyseth And seyth that mete clothe suffyseth Thus hath this kyng experyence Hou fooles done the reuerence To gold whiche of his owne kynde Is lasse worth than is the rynde To sustenaunce of mans fode Then he made lawes goode And al his thyng set vpon skylle He lede his people for to tylle Her lâ—nd lyue vnder the lawe And they also shold forth drawe Bestayl seche none encrees â—f gold whiche is the breche of pees For this a man may fynde wryte To fere the tyme that gold was smyte In coygne that men the floren knewe There was wel nyhe noman vntrewe There was nother shelde ne spere Ne dedely wepen for to be bere Tâ—o was the toune withoute walle The whiche now is closed ouer alle Tho was there no broâ—â—ge in lond Whiche now taketh euery cause on hoÌ„d So may that man knowe hou the floreyn Was moder fyrst of malengyn And brynger in of alle werre Wherof this world stant oute of herre Thorugh the counseyl of auaryâ—â— Whiche of his owne propre vyce Whiche as the helle wonderful For it may neuermore be ful That what as euer cometh therynne Awey it ne may neuer wynne But sone myn do thou not so Late al suche auaryce go And take thy part of that thou hast I byd not that thou do wast But hold largesse in mesure And yf thou see a creature Whiche thorugh pouert is falle in nede Yeue hym somme good for this I rede To hym that wol not yeuen here What peyne he shal haue elles where There is a peyne among al Bynethe in helle whiche men calle The woful peyne of Tantaly Of whiche I shal the redely Deuyse hou theryn men stond In helle thou shalt vnderstâ—nd There is a flood of thylk offyce Whiche serueth al for auaryce What man that stonde shal therin He stant vp euen to the chynne Aboue his hede also there hougeth A fruyt whiche to that peyne longeth And that fruyt toucheth euer in one His ouerlyppe and therupon Suche thyrst honger hym assayleth That neuer his appetyte ne fayleth But when he wende his hongar fede The fruyt withdraweth hym at nede And though he haue his hede on hyghe The fruyt is euer alyche nyghe So is the honger wel the more And also though hym thurst sore And to the water bowe adoune The flood in suche condycyon Aualeth that his drynke areche He may not loo now whiche a wreche That mete drynk is hym so couthe And yet ther comth none in his mouth Lyche to the peynes of this flood Stant Auaryce in worldes good He hath Inough yet hym nedeth For his scarcenes it hym forbedeth And euer his honger after more Trauayleth hym alyche sore So is he peyned oueral For thy thy goodes oueral My sone loke that thou dyspende Wherof thou myght thy self amende Bothe here eke in other place And also yf thou wolt purchace To be loued thou must vse Largesse for yf thou refuse To yeue for thy
fro the lond foreyn Lye vpon to the wynde al pleyn And fro thylk Iles to the lond Ful ofte cam the wynd to hond And after the name of hym for thy The wynde is cleped Eoly And is cleped the god of wynd Loo no whou this byleue is blynd The kyng of Crete Iupyter The same whiche I spast of er Vnto his broder whiche Neptune Whiche was hote hym lyst comune Part of his god so that by shyp He made hym strong of the lordshyp Of aÌ„l the see in tho partyes Where that he wrought his tyrannyes And the straunge Iles al aboute He wan that euery man hath doute Vpon his marche for to sayle For he anone hem wold assayle And robbe that thyng that they laddeÌ„ His sauf conduyt but yf they hadden Wherof the comon voys aroos â—n euery londe that suche a loos He caught al nere it worth a stre That he was cleped of the see The god by name yet he is With hem that so byleue amys This Neptunê° whiche was thylk also Whiche was the fyrst founder tho Of noble Troye he for thy Was wel the more lete by The boresman of the shepeherdes And eke of hem that Netherdes Was of Archade hyght pan Of whome hath spoke many a man For in the wode of Nouertyne Enclosed with the trees of pygne And oute of the mount of parysye He bade of beestes the baylye And eke bynethe in the valeye Where thylk ryuer as men may seye Whiche Ladon hyght made his cours He was the cheef of gouernours Of hem that kepen tame beestes Wherof they make yet the festes In the cyte of Stursalydes And forth with al yet netheles He taught men the forth drawyng Of bestaylle eke the makyng Of Oxen of hors the same Hou men hem shold ryde tame Of foules eke so as we fynde Ful many a subtyle craft of kynde He fonde whiche noman knewe to fore Men dyd hym worshyp eke therfore That he the fyrst in thylk lond Was whiche the melodye fond Of reedes when they were rype With double pypes for to pype Therof he yafe the fyrst lore Tyl afterward men couthe more To euery craÌ„ft of mannes helpe He had a redy wyt to helpe Thorugh natural experyence Thus the nyce reuerence Of fooles when he was dede The foote was torned to the hede And clepen hym god of nature For so they maden his fygure Another god so as they fele With Iupyter vpon Semele Bygate in his auoutrye Whome for to hyde his lecherye That none therof shal take kepe In a montayne for to kepe Whiche Dyon hyght was in Inde He sente in bokes as I fynde And he by name Bachus hyght Whiche afterward when that he myÈt A wastor was al his rente In wyn bordel he dyspente But alweye he wonder bad Among the grekes a name he had They cleped hym the god of wyne And thus a gloton was dyuyne There was yet Esculapius A god in thylk tyme as thus His craft stood vpon Surgerye But for the lust of lecherye That he to Dayres doughter drough It fel that Iupyter hym slough And yet they made hym nouÈt for thy A god wyst no cause why In Rome he was long tyme so A god among the Romayns tho For as he sayd in his presence There was destroyed a pestylence When they to the yle of Delphos wente And Appollo with hem sent This Esenlapius his sone Among the Romayns for to wone And there he duelte for a whyle Tyl afterward in that yle Fro when he cam ayene he torneth Where al his lyf that he soiourneth Among the grekes tyl he deyde And they vpon hym than leyde His name god of medycyne He â—atâ—e after that ylk lyne Another god of Hercules They made whiche was netheles A man but that he was so strong In al this world that brood long So myghty was no man as he Merucyles twelue in his degre As it was couthe in sondry londes He dyd with his owne hondes Ageyne geauntes monstres bothe The whiche were horeyble lothe But he with strengthe hem ouercam Wherof so grete a prys he nam That they hym clepe amonges alle The god of strengthe to hym calle And yet there is no reson Inne For he a man was fulfylled of synne Whiche proued was vpon his ende For in a rage hym self he brende And suche a cruel mannes dede acord Acordeth nought to the good lord They made of goddes yet another Which Pluto hyght was the broder Of Iupyter he fro youthe With euery word which cam to mouth Of ony thyng when he was wroth He wold swere his comon oth By Lethen and Flageton By Cocheton and Acheron The whiche after the bookes telle Ben the chyef flodes of helle By Segne Styge he swore also That by the depe pyttes twoo Of helle the moost pryncypal Pluto these othes oueral Swore of his comon custumounce Tyl it felle vpon a chaunce That he for Iupyters sake Vnto the goddes late do make A sacryfyce for that dede One of the pyttes for his mede In helle whiche I spak of er Was graunted hym thus he ther Vpon the fortune of this thynge The name took of helle kynge Loo these goddes wel mo Among the grekes they had tho And of goddes many one Whoos names thou shalt here anone And in what wyse they deceyuen The fooles whiche her feyth receyuen Oo as Saturne is souerayn Of al goddes as they sayn So is Cybylle of goddesses The moder whome withoute gesses The folk preyn honour serue As they the whiche her lawe obserue But for to knowen vpon this Fro when she cam what she is Bethnicia the countre hyght Where she cam fyrst to mannes syght And after was Saturnus wyf By whome thre children in her lyf She bare were cleped tho Iuno Neptunus Pluto The whiche of Nyce fantasye The people wold deyfye And for her children were soo Cybelle than was also Made a goddesse they hyr calle The moder of the goddes alle So was that name bore forth And yet the cause is lytel worth A voys vnto Saturne told Hou that his owne sone hym shold Oute of his reygne put awey And he by cause of thylk wey That hym was shape suche an hate Cybelle his wyf began to hate And eke her progenye bothe And whyle that they were wrothe By Phyberem vpon a day In this auoutrye he lay On whome he Iupyter vygat And this child was after that Whiche wrouÈt al that was prophecyed As it to fore was specyfyed So when that Iupiter of Crete Was kyng a wyf vnto hym mete The doughter of Sybell he took And that was Iuno sayth the book Of his deyfycacyon After the fâ—ls oppynyon That haue I told so as I mene And for this Iuno was the quene Of Iupyter and suster â—ke The fooles vnto her seke And seyn that she is the goddesse Of Regnes bothe
Thus may no reson wel forsake That Ilke synne orygynal Ne was the cause in specyal Of mans worshyp at the last Whiche shal withouten ende last For by that cause the godhede Assembled was to the manhede In the vyrgyne where he nome Oure flesshe very man become Of bodely fraternyte Wherof the man in his degre Stondeth more worthy as I haue told Then he dyd erst a thousand fold Thorugh baptysme of the newe lawe Of the whiche Crist is lord felawe And thus the hyghe goddes myght Whiche was in the vyrgyne alyght The mans soule hath reconsyled Whiche had long ben exyled So stant the feyth vpon the byleue Withoute whiche may no man acheue To gete hym paradys ageyn But this byleue is so certeyn So ful of grace of vertu That what man that clepeth to Ihesu In clene lyf forth with good dede He may not faylen of heuen mede Soo that it stonde vppon byleue That euery man may wel acheue The whiche taken hath the ryght feyth For elles as the gospel seyth Saluacyon ther maye be none And for to preche therupone Thus Cryst bad to his Apostles alle Who 's power as now is falle On vs that be of holy chirche If we the good dedes do wirche For feyth only suffyseth nought But good dede also be wrought Now were it good that thou for thy Whiche thorugh baptysme propyrly Art vnto Crystes feyth professed Be waâ—e that thou be not oppressed With Antecrystes lollardye For as the Iewes prophecye Was set of god for auauntage Ryght so this newe tapynage Of lollardye goth aboute To sette Crystes feyth in doute The sayntes that were vs to fore By whome the feyth was first vp bore That holy chirche stood releued They oughten better be byleued Than these whiche men knowe Not holy though they feyne blowe Here lollardye in mannes ere But yf thou wylt lyue oute of fere Suche newe lore I rede eschewe And hold forth the ryght weye sewe As thyn Auncestres dyde or this So that thou byleue nought amys Cryst wrought fyrst after taught Soo that the dede his word araught He yafe ensample in his persone And we the wordes haue alone Lyke to the tree with leues grene Vpon the whiche no fruyt is sene Nota ê™ cum Anthenor palladium Troie a Templo Minerue abstulit Tho as ibidem summê° sacerdos auro corruptus oculos auertit et sic malum quasi non videns scienter fieri permisit The preest Thoas whiche of Mynerue The Temple had for to serue And the palladyon of Troye Kepte vnder keye for moneye Of Anthenor whiche he hath nome Hath suffred Antherior to come And the palladyon to stele Wherof the worshyp the we le Of the Troians ben ouerthrowe But Thoas at the same throwe When Anthenor the Iewele took Wynkend cast awey his look For a deceyte and for a wyle As he that shold hym self begyle He hyd his eyen fro the syght And wende wel that he so myght Excuse his fals conseyence I wote not yf thylk euydence Now at this tyme in here estates Excuse myght the prelates â—nowend hou the feyth dyscresyth And al moral vertu â—â—cyth Wherof that they the keyes bere But yet hem lyketh not to stere Here goosâ—ly eye for to see The world in his aduersyte They wol no labourâ— vndertake To kepe that hem is bytake Cryst dyed hym self for the â–ª feyth But now oure ferful prelate seyth The lyf is swete that he kepeth So that the feyth vnholpe slepyth And they vnder hyr ease entende And in her lust her syf dyspende And euery man do what hym lyst Thus staÌ„t this world fulfylled of misâ— That noman seeth the ryght weye The wardes of the chirche keye Thorugh myshandelyng be mys wreynt The worldes wawe hath ny dreynt The shyp whiche Peter hath to stere The forme is kept but the matere Transformed is in other wyse But yf they were gostly wyse And that the prelates weren good As they by old dayes stood It were than lytel nede Among the men to taken hede Of that they here pseudo telle Whiche now is come for to duelle To sowe Cokkyll with the corn So that the tylthe is nere hand loâ—n Whiche Cryst sewe fyrst his own hond Now stant the Cokkylle in the lond Where stood whylome the good greyne For the prelates now as men seyne For slouthen that they shold tylle And that I tro we be the skylle When there is lak in hem aboue The peple is straunged fro the loue Of trouthe in cause of Ignorance For where there is no pnrueaunce Of lyght men arn in the derk But yf the prelates wolde werk Vpon the feyth whiche they ve tâ—câ—â— Men sholde nought her weye seche Withoute lyght as now is vsed Men see the charge al day refused Whiche holy chirche hath vndertake Gregorius Quando Petrus cum Iudea Andreas cum Achaia Thomas cum Iudea et Paulus cum gente venient quid dicemus nos Moderni quorum fossum talentum pro nichiâ—â— computabitur But who that wold ensample take Gregorye vpon his Omelye Ageyne the slouthe of Prelacye Compleyneth hym thus he seyth When Peter fader of the feyth At Domesday shal with hym bryng Iudeam whiche thorugh his prechyng He wan Andrew with Achay Shal come his dette for to pay And thomas este with his beyete Of ynde poule the routes grete Of sondry londes shal presente And we fulfylled of lond rente Whiche of this world we holden here With voyde hondes shal appere Touchend oure cure spyrytual Whiche is oure charge in specyal I not what thyng it may amounte Vpon thylk ende of oure acompte Where Cryst hym self is audytour Which taketh none hede of wyn honour The offyce of the Chauncellery Or of the kynges tresorye Ne for the wryt ne for the wyll To warant may not then auayle The world which now so wel we â—row Shal make vs than but a mowe Soo passe we withoute mede That we none otherwyse spede But as we rede that he spedde The whiche his â—oâ—des besauntes he dde And therupon gat none enâ—rees But at this tyme netheles What other man his thanke deserue The world so lusty is to serue That we with hym ben al acorded And that is wyst wel recorded Thorugh oute this erthe m al londes Late knyÈâ—es wynne with her hondes For oure tonges shal be stylle And stonde vpon the Flesshes wylle It were a trauayl for to preche The feyth of Cryst as for to teche The folk paynem it wol not be But euery prelate holde his see With al suche as he may gete Of lusty drynk lusty mete Wherof the body fatt ful Is vnto gostely labour dull And slough to handel thylk plough But elles we be swyft Inough Toward the worldes auaryce And that is as a sacryfyce Whiche after the Apostel seyth Is openly ayene the feyth Vnto the Idoles youe graunted But netheles it is
now haunted And vertu chaunged in to vyce So that largesse is Auaryce In whos chapytre mowe we trete My fader this mater is bete So fer that euer whyle I lyue I shal the bet heed yeue Vnto my self by many weye But ouer this now wold I preyâ— To wyte what the braunches are Of Auaryce hou they fare Al 's wel in loue as other wyse My sone I the shal deuyse In suche a maner as they stonde So that thou shalt hem vnderstonde aGros iuÌ„git agÌ„ris cupidus domibus que domosque PossideaÌ„â—â—tam sic quasi solus humum Solus innumeros mulieruÌ„ spirat amores Sacra millenis sit sibi culta Menus Hic tractat Confessor super illa specie Auaricie que cupiditas dicitur quaÌ„ in amoris causa pertractans amanti super hoc opponit dAme Auarice is nouÈt soleyn Which is of gold the capiteyn But of her court in soÌ„dry wise After the scole of her apryse She hath of seruauntes many one Wherof that couetyse is one Whiche with the large world aboute To seche vauntages oute Where that he may profyte wynne To Auaryce and bryngeth inne That one halt that other draweth There is no day whiche hem bedaweth Nomore the sonne than the mone When there is ony thyng to done And namely with couetyse For he stant oute of al assyse Of resonable mans fare Where hâ— purposeth hym to fare Vpon his lucre his beyete The smal pathe the large strete The furlong the longe myle Al is but one for thylk whyle And for that he is suche one holde Dame auaryce hym hath withholde As he whiche is the pryncypal Outward for he is oueral A purueonâ— and a spye For ryght as an hungry pye The storue beestes ben awayted Ryght so is câ—uetyse affayted To loke where he may purchace For by his wylle he wold enbrace Al that this wyde world beelyppeth But euer somwhat he ouer hyppeth That he may nought al fulfylle The lustes of his gredy wylle But where it falleth in a londe That couetyse in myghty hond Iâ— sâ—t it is ful hard to fede For than he taketh none other hede But that he may purchace â— gete â—â—â— conscyence hath he al foryete And not what thyng it may amounte That he shal afterward câ—â—mpte But as the Luce in his degre Of tho that lesse ben thanhe The fysshes gretely deuoureth So that no water hem socoureth Ryght soo no lawe may rescowe Fro hym that wol not ryght allowe For where that suche one is of myght His wylle shal stonde of ryght Thus be the men destroyed ful ofte Tyl that the grete god alofte Ayene so grete a couetyse Redresse it in his owne wyse And in example of altho I fynde a tale wryte soo The whiche for it is good to lere â—â—â—afterward thou shalt here Hic ponit Confessor Exemplum coÌ„ 〈◊〉 mognates â—â—pidos Et narrat de â—â—â—sso Romanorum Imperatore qui 〈…〉 in qua speculum virgiln Ro 〈…〉 â—â—titerat dolosa circumuentê° â—â—â—â—ditate euertit vnde non solum sui â—â—sâ—â—s â—erdicionem sed tocius ciuitatis intollerabilem dampnum coÌ„tingere cau sauit wHen Rome stode â— noble plite Virgile which was tho parfite A myrrour made of his clerâ—â— And set it in the To wnes eye Of marble vpon payler withoute That they by thyrty myle aboute By day eke also by nyght In that myâ—our beholde myght â—yr enemyes yf ony â–ª were With al here ordynaunce there Whiche they ayene the cyte cast Soo that whyle thylk myrrour last Ther was no lond whiche myÈt acheue With werre Rome for to greue â–ª Wherof was grete enuye tho And felle thylk tyme soo That Rome had werres strong Ageyne Cartage stonde long The two cytees vpon debate Cartage sawe the stronge astate Of Rome in thylk myrroure stonde And thought al pryuely to fonde To ouerthrowe it by somme wyle And hanybal was thylk whyle The prynce leder of Cartage Whiche had set al his courage Vpon knyghthode in suche a wyse That he be worthy be wyse And by none other was counseyled Wherof the world is yet merueyled Of the maystryes that he wrought Vpon the marches whiche he sought And fel in thylke tyme also The kyng of puyle whiche was tho Thought ayene Rome to rebelle And thus was take the quarelle Hou to destroye this Emperour Of Rome that tho was gouernour Crassus whiche was so couetous That he was euer desyrous Of golde to gete the pyllage Wherof that puyle eke Cartage With philosophres wyse grete Begynne â–ª of this mater trete And at last in this degre There were Philosophres thre To doo thys thyng whiche vndertake And therupon they â–ª with hem toke A grete tresour of gold in cofres To Rome thus these philosophres To gedre in companye went But noman wyse what they ment When they to Rome come were So pryuely they duelt there As they that thoughten to deceyne Was none that myÈt of hem perceyue Tyl they in sondry stedes haue Her gold vnder the erthe begraue In tresours that to be holde They sheld seme as they were gold And so forth thenne vpon a day Al openly in good array â–ª To themperour they then presente And tolden it was her entente To duelle vnder his seruyse And he hem axeth in what wyse And they hym told in suche a plyte That eche of hem had a spyryt The whiche sleâ—end a nyght appereth And hem by sondry dremes lereth After the world that hath betyd Vnder the ground yf ought be hyd Of olde tresour at ony throwe They shal it in sweuene knowe And vpon this condycyon They â–ª seyn what gold vnder the toun Is hyd of Rome they wol it fynde There shal nought be left behynde Be soo that he haluen dele Hem graunteth he assenteth wele And thus cam sleyghte for to duelle With couetyse as I the telle This emperour bad redyly That they be lodged fast by Where he his owne bodye lay And when it was at morow day That one of hem sayth that he mette Whele he a gold hoord shold fette Wherof this Emperour was glad And therupon anone he had His â—â—nours for to goo myne And he hym self of that couyne Goth forth with al at his hond The tresour redy there he fond Where as they sayd it shold be And who was than glad but he Vpon this other day second They haue another gold hoord found Whiche the second mayster took Vpon his sweuene vndertook And thus the sothe â—â—peryence To themperour yafe suche credence That al his trust al his feyth So sekyrlycâ—e on hem he leyth Of that he fond hym so releued That they be parfytely beleued As though they were goddes thre Now herkne the subtylyte The thyrd mayster shold mete Whiche as they saiden shold mete Aboue hem al couthe moost And he withoute noyse or bost Al pryuelycho so as he wolde Vpon the morowe his sweuene
the beaute of her face Ne yet for vertu ne for grace Whiche she hath elles ryght Inough But for the park for the plough And other thynges whiche therto loÌ„geth For in none otherwyse ther longeth To loue but yf they profyt fynde And yf the profyte be behynde Hyr loue is euer lesse lesse For after that she hath rychesse Here loue is of proporcyon If thou hast suche condycyon My sone telle ryght as it is Myn holy fader nay Iwys Condycyon suche haue I none For truly fader I loue one So well with al myn hertes thougÌ„ht That certes though she had nought And were as poure as Medea Whiche was exyled for Creusa I wold hyr nought the lesse loue Ne though she were at hyr aboue As was the Ryche quene Candaâ—e Whiche to deserue loue grace To Alysander that was kyng Yofe many a worthy ryche thyng Or elles as Pantasylee Whiche was the quene of Femyne And grete Rychesse with hyr nam When she for loue of Hector cam To Troye in rescous of the toune I am of suche condycyon That though my lady of hyr selue Where also ryche as suche twelue I couthe not though it were so No better loue hyr than I do For I loue in so pleyne a wyse That for to speke of couetyse As for pouerte or for rychesse My loue is nouther more ne lesse For in good feyth I tro we this So couetous no man is For why he my lady syghe That he thorugh lokyng of his eye Ne sholde haue suche a stroke withyn That for no gold he myght wyn He shold nought hyr loue asterte But yf he lefte there his herte Be so it were suche a man That couthe-skylle of a woman For there be men so rude some When they among the women come They gone vnder protectyon That loue his affectyon Ne shal not take hem by the sleue For they ben oute of that byleue Hem lusteth of no lady cheere But euer thynkend here there Where as the gold is in the Cofte And wol none other loue profre But who so wote what loue amouÌ„teth And by reson trulyche acompteth Then may he knowe taken hede That al the lust of womanhede Whiche may ben in a lady face My lady hath eke of grace If men shold yeuen here apryse They maye wel seye hou she is wyse And sobre symple of contenaunce And al that to good gouernaunce Belongeth of a worthy wyght She hath pleynly for thylk nyght That she was bore as for the nones Nature set in hyr al at ones Beaute with bounte so byseyn That I maye wel afferme seyn I sawe yet neuer creature Of comlyheede of feture In ony kynges Regyon Be lyche hyr in comparyson And therto as I haue you told Yet hath she more a thousand fold Of bounte and shortely to telle She is pure heede welle And myrroure ensample of good Who so hyr vertues vnderstood Me thynketh it ought ynough suffyse Withouten other couetyse To loue suche one to serue Whiche with hyr chere can deserue To be byloued better ywys Than she par cas that rychest is And hath of gold a mylyon Suche hath be myn opynyon And euer shal neuertheles I saye nought she is haueles That she nys ryche wel at ese And hath Inough where with to plese Of worldes good whome that hyr lyst But one thyng I wold wel ye wyst That neuer for no worldes good Myn hert vnto hyr ward stood But only ryght for purr loue That wote the hyghe god aboue Now fader what ye say therto Confessor My sone I saye it is wel doo For take of this ryght good byleue What man that wol hym self releue To loue in ony other wyse He shal wel fynde his couetyse Shal sore greue hym at last For suche a loue may not last But now men seyn oure dayes Men taken but a fewe assayes But yf the cause be rychesse For thy the loue is wel the lesse And who that wold ensamples telle By old dayes as they felle Than myght a man wel vnderstond Suche loue may not long stonde Now herkne sone thou shalt here A grete ensample of this matere Hic ponit Exemplum contra istos qui non propter amorem sed propter diuicias sponsalia sumunt Et narrat de quodam Regis Apubic Senescalla qui non solum propter pecuniam vxorem duxit sed eciam pecunie comeâ—cis vxorem sibi desponsatam vendidit tO trete vpon the cas of loue Soo as we tolden here aboue I fynde wryte a woÌ„der thyng Of puyle whysome was a kyng A man of hyghe complexyon And yong but his affectyon After the nature of his age Was yet not falle in his courage The lust of women for to knowe Soo it betyd vpon a throwe This lord felle in to grete sekenes Phisyk hath done the hesynes Of sondry cures many one To make hym hoole therupon A worthy mayster whiche ther was Yafe hym counseyl vpon this cas That yf he wold haue parfyte heele He shold with a woman dele A fresshe a yong a lusty wyght To done hym compauye a nyght For than he sayd hym redely That he shal be al hole ther by And otherwyse he knewe no cure This kyng which stode in auenture Of lyf deth for medycyne Assented was of couyne His styward whome he trusteth wel He took told hym euery del Hou that this mayster hath seyd And therupon he hath hym prayd And charged vpon his lygeaunce That he do make purueaunce Of suche one as be couenable For his plesaunce delytable And bad hym hou that euer it stood That he shal spare for no good For his wylle is ryght wel to paye The styward seyd he wold assaye Bnt now here after thou shalt wyte As I fynde in the bokes wryte What couetyse in loue doth This styward for to telle soth Amonges al the men on lyue A lusty lady hath to wyue Whiche netheles for gold he took And nouÈt for loue as seyth the book A ryche marchaunt of the lond Hyr fader was hyr fond So worthely suche Rychesse Of worldes good suche largesse With hyr he yafe in maryage That only for thylk auauntage Of gold the styward hath hyr take For lucre nought for loues sake And that was in the stiward wel sene Now herkne what it wol mene The styward in his owne herte Sowe that his lord may not asterte His maladye but he haue A lusty woman hym to saue And though he wold yeue Inough Of his tresour wherof he drough Grete couetyse in to his mynde And set his honour fer behynde Thus he whome gold hath ouerset Was trapped in his owne net The gold hath made his wyttes lame Soo that sechend his owne shame He rouneth in the kynges ere And seyd that he wyste where A gentyl a lusty one Tho was thyder wolde he gone But he mote yiue yeftes grete For
they tretâ— And at last among the grete â–ª They fellen vnto his acord That Phorâ—eus of his record Whiche was an Astronomyen And eke a grete magycyen â–ª Shold of his calculacyon Serche after constellacyon Hou they the cyte myghten gete And he whiche had nought foryetâ— Of that belongeth to a clerk His study set vpon this werk So long aboute his wytte he cast Tyl that he fond outeâ—at last But yf they hadden Achylles Hereâ—werre shal be endeles And oner that he told hem pleyn In what manere he was byseyn And in what place he shal be founde Soo that within a lytel stounde Vlyxes forth with Dyomede Vpon this poynt to Lychomedâ— Agamen on to geder sent But vlyxes or he forth went Whiche was one of the moost wyse Ordeyned hath in suche a wyse That he the moost rychest aray Wherof a woman may be gay With hym he took manyfolde And ouermore as is told An harnoys for a lusty knyght Whiche burued was as syluer bryght Of swerde of plate eke of mayle As though he shold doo batayle He took also with hym by shyp And thus to geder in felaushyp Forth this Dyomede he In hope tyl they myghten see The place where Achylles is The wynde stood not than â—mys But euery topseyle cole it blewe Tyl Vlyxes the marches knewe Where Lychomede his regne had The styresman so wel hym lad That they be comen sauf to londe Where they gone oute vpon the stronde In to the burgh where that they fouÌ„d The kyng he whiche hath facounde Vlyxes dyd the message But the counseyl to his courage Why that he cam he told nought But vndernethe he was bethought In what maner he myght aspye Achilles from Deydamye And fro these other that there were Ful many a lusty lady there They pleyd them there a day or two And as it was fortuned so It fel that tyme in suche a wyse To Bachus that a sacryfyce These yong ladyes shold make And so the straunge mennes sake That come fro the syege of Troye They maden wel the more ioye There was reuel there was daunsyng And euery lyf whiche couthe syng Of lusty women in the route A fresshe carolle hath songe aboute But for al this netheles The grekes vnknowe of Achilles So weren that m no degre They â—outhen wyte whiche was he Ne by his voys ne by his paas Vlyxes than vpon this caas A thyng of high prudence hath wrouÈt For thylk aray whiche he hath bouÈt To yeue among the women there He letâ— do fetten al the gere Forth with a knyghtes harnoys eke In al a countre for to seke Men sholden nought a fayâ—er see And euery thyng in his degre Endelong vpon a boorde he leyde To Lychomede than he preyde That euery lady chesâ— sholde What thyng of al that she wold And take it as by wey of yefte For they hem self it shold shefte He sayde after her owne wylle Achylles than stood nought stylle When he the bryght helâ—e beheld The swerde the hauberk the shelde His hert felle therto anone Of al â–ª that other wold he none The knyghtes geâ—e he vnderfongeth And thylk array whiche that beloÌ„geth Vnto the women he forsoke And in this wyse as seyth the booke They knowen than whiche he was For he goth forth the grete paas In to the chambre where he lay Anone made no delay He armeth hym in knyghtely wyse That better can no man deuyse And as fortune sholde falle He cam forth to fore hem alle As he whiche tho was glad Inough But Lychomede no thyng lough When that he sawe how that it ferde And than he wyst wel herde His doughter had be forleyn But that he was so ouerseyn The wonder ouergoth his wyt For in Cronyke is wreton yet Thyng whiche shal neuer be foryete Hou that Achilles hath bygeâ—e Pyrrus vpon Deydamye Wherof cam oute the trecherye Of fals wytnes when they sayde Hou Achylles was a mayde But that was no thyng sene tho For he is to the syege go Forth with Vlyxes and Dyoinede Loo thus was proued m the dede And fully spoke at thylk whyle If one woman another begyle Where is there ony sekyrnesse When Thetys whiche was the goddesse Deydamye hath so beiaped I not hou it shal ben escaped With tho women whos Innocence Is now al day thorugh suche credence Deceyued ofte as it is sene With men that suche vntrouthe mene For they ben slye in suche a wyse That they by sleyghte by queyntyse Of fals wytnesse bryngen Inne That doth hem ofte for to wynne Where they be not worthy therw For thy my sone doo not soo My fader as of fals wytnesse The trouthe the maner expresse Touchend of loue hou it bath ferd As ye haue told I haue wel herd But for ye sayden otherwyse Hou thylk vyce of couetyse Hath yet periure of his acord If that thou lyst of som record To telle another tale also In loues cause of tyme ago What thyng it is to be forswore I wolde preye you therfore Wherof I myght ensample take My good sone for thy sake Touchand of this I shal fulfylle Thyn axyng at thyne owne wylle And the matere I shal declare How the women deceyued are When they so tender herbe be re Of that they here men so swere But when it cometh to thassay Ther fynde it fals another day As Iason dyde to Medee Whiche stant yet of auctoryte In tokne in memoryal Wherof the tale in specyal Is in the book of Troye wryte Whiche I shal do the for to wyte hIc in amoris causa ponit exemplum contra perinros Et narrat qualiter Iason priusquam ad Insulam col chos pro aureo vellere ibidem conquestando transmearet in amorem couiugium Regis Othonis filie iuramento firmius se astrinxit sed suo postea completo negocio cuÌ„ ipsaÌ„ secuÌ„ nauigio iÌ„ greciaÌ„ perduxisset vbi illa senectaÌ„ patris sui Esonis in floridam iuuentutem mirabili sciencia reformauit Ipse Iason fidei sue ligamento alijs que beneficijs post positis dictam Medeam pro quadam causa Regis Creontis filia periurus dereliquit IN grece whylome was a kyng Of whom the fame knoulechyng Byleueth yet peleus He hyghte but it felle hym thus That his fortune hyr whele so lad That he no chylde his owne had To regne after his decesse He had a broder netheles Who 's ryght name was Eson And he hath the worthy knyght Iason Bygoten in whiche in euery lond Al other passed of his hond In armes so that he the best Was named the worthyest He sought worshyp oueral Now herkne I the telle shal An auenture that he sought Whiche afterward ful dere he bought There was an Ile whiche Colchos Was cleped therof awos Grete speche in londe aboute That suche meruayle was none oute In al the wyde world nowhere As tho in that I
le there There was a shepe as it was told The whiche his flees bare al of gold And so the goddes had it sette That it ne myght a wey be fette By power of no worldes wyght And yet ful many a worthy knyght At had assayed as they dorst And euer it fel hem to the worst But he that wold it nought forsake But of his knyghthode vndertake To doo what thyng therto belongeth This worthy Iason sore alongeth To see the straunge regyons And knowe the condycyous Of other marches where he went And for that cause his hoole entent He set Colchos for to seke And therupon he dyde â–ª speke To Peleus his eme the kyng And he wel payd was of that thyng And shope anone for his passage Suche as were of his lygnage With other knyghtes whiche he chees With hym he toke Hercules Whiche ful was of chyualrye With Iason wente in companye And that was in the moneth of may When colde stormes were away The wynd was good the shyp was yare They took hyr leue forth they fare Toward Colchos but on the weye What hem byfelle is long to seye Hou Lamedon the kyng of Troye Whiche ought wel haue made hem ioyr When they to rest a whyle hym preide Oute of his lond he hem congeyde And so felle the dyssencyon Whiche afterward was destructyon Of that cyte as men may here But that is not to my matere But thus this worthy folk gregoys Fro that kyng which was not curtois And fro his land with seyl vpdrawe ThenÌ„e went hem forth many a sawe They made many a grete manace Tyl at last in to that place Whiche as they sought they arryue And stryken seyle forth as blyue They senten vnto the kyng tolden Who were there what they wolden Oetes whiche than was kyng When that he herd this tydyng Of Iason whiche was comen there And of these other what they were He thought done hem grete worshyp For they anone come oute of shyp And strayt vnto the kyng they went And by the hand Iason he hent And that wa s at the paleys gate So fer on the kyng cam on his gate Toward Iason to done hem chere And he whom lakketh no manere When he the kyng sawe in presence Yafe hym ageyn suche reuerence As to a kynges state belongeth And thus the kyng hym vnderfongeth And Iason in his arme he caught And forth in to the halle he straught And there they sat speke of thyngis And Iason told hym tho tydyngys Why he was come fayre hym prayde To haste his tyme the kyng sayde Iason thou art a worthy knyght But it lyeth in no mans myght To done that thou art come fore There hath be many a knyght forlore Of that they wolden it assaye But Iason hym wold not esmaye And seyd of euery worldes cure Fortune stant in auenture Parauenter wel parauenter woo But hou as euer that it goo It shal be with myn hond assayed The kyng tho helde hym not wel paid For he the grekes sore dredde In aunter yf Iason ne spedde He myght therof here a blame For tho was al the worldes fame In Grece as for to speke of armes For thy he drad hym of his harmes And gan to preche hym to preye But Iason wold not obeye But sayd he wold his purpoos holde For ought that ony man hym tolde When the kyng these wordes herde And sawe how that the knyÈt ansuerde Yet for he wold make hym glad After Medea gone he had Whiche was his doughter she cam And Iason whiche good hede nam When he hyr sawe ageyn hyr goth And she which was hym nothing loth Welcomed hym in to that londe And softe took hym by the honde And doune they seten bothe same She had herd spoke of his name And of his grete worthynes For thy she gan hyr eye inpresse Vpon his face his stature Aud thought hou neuer creature Was so welfarend as was he And Iason ryght in suche degre Nc myght not withholde his look But so good hede on hyr he took That hym ne thouÈt vnder the heuene Of beaute saw he neuer hyr euene With al that felle to womanhede Thus eche of other took hede Though there was no word of record Here hertes bothe of one acord Ben set to loue but as tho There myghten be no wordes mo The kyng hym made grete joye fest To al his men he yaf an hest So as they wol his thank deserue That they sholde al Iason serue Whyle that he wold there duelle And thus the day shortely to telle With many myrthes is dyspent Tyl nyght was come tho they went Echone of other took his leue When they no lenger myghten leue A not hou Iason that nyght slepe But wel I wote that of the shepe For whiche he cam in to that yle He thought but a lytel whyle Al was medea that be thought Soo that m many wyse he thought His wyt wakend or it was daye Somtyme ye somtyme nay Somtyme thus somtyme so As he was styred to fro Of loue eke of his conquest As he was holde of his heste And thus he roos vp by the morowe And took hym seynt Iohn to borow And sayd he wold fyrst begynne At loue after for to wynne The flees of gold for whiche he come And thus to hym good hert he nome Medea ryght in the same wyse Tyl day cam that she must ryse Lay bythought hyr al the nyght Hou she that noble worthy knyght By ony weye myght wedde And wel she ne wist yf he ne spedde Of thyng whiche he had vndertake She myght hyr self noo purpoos take For yf he deyde of his bataylle She most than algate fayle To geten hym when he were dede Thus she vygan to sette rede And torne aboute her wyttes al To loke hou it myght falle That she with hym bad a leyser To speke telle of his desyre And soo it felle the same day That Iason with that swete may To gyder sette hadde space To speke he besought hyr grace And she his tale goodly herd And afterward she hym ansuerd And seyd Iason as thou wylt Thou myÈt be sauf thou myÈt be spilt For wyte wel that neuer man But yf he couthe that I can Ne myght that fortune acheue For whiche thou comest but as I loue If thou wolt holde couenaunt To loue of al the remenaunt I shal thy lyf honour saue That thou the flees of gold shalt haue He sayd al at your owne wylle Madame I shal truly fulfylle Youre hest whyle my lyf may last Thus long he prayd at last She graunteth hyght hym this But when nyÈt cometh it tyme is She wold hym sende certeynly Suche one that shold hym pryuely A lone in to hyr chambre brynge He thanketh hyr of that tydyng For of that grace is hym begonne Hym thynketh al other thinges woÌ„ne The
whyle suche tydyng The whiche shall make vs bothe gaâ—â— But for he wold kepe hyr name When that he wyst it was nyhe day He said adyeu my swete may And forth with hym he took his geâ—â— The whiche she bad take hym there And streyght vnto his chambre he weÌ„t And gothe to â—ed a slepe hym henâ— And lay that no man hym awoke For Hercules hede of hym toke Tyl it was vnder of the day more And than he ganne to syke sore And sodenly abrayed of slepe And than they took of hym kepe His chamberleyns â—en soone there And make redy al his gere And he awos and vnto the kyng He went and said how to that thyng For whiche he cam he wold go The kyng therfore was wonder woo And for he wold hym fayn withdraw He told hym many a dredeful saw But Iason wold it not recorde And at the last they were accorde When that he wold not abyde A â—ote was redy at the â—yde In that which this worthy knyÈt of greâ—â— Ful armed vp at euery pece To his batayle that belongeth Toke other on hond sore him longeth Till he the water passid were And whan he cam to that yâ—â— there He set hym on his knee doun strauÈl And his carecte as he was taught He rad made his sacryfyce And sythen anoynced hym mâ— wysâ— As Medea hym hath â—ede And than he arose hym fro the 〈◊〉 And with the glewe the fiâ—e he quâ—ynt He anone after gan ateynt The grete serpent and hym slough But erst he had sorowe ynough For that serpent made hym to trauaile So hard and sore of his batayle That now he stood now he felle For long tyme soâ— it be felle Thâ—t with his swerd ne with his spere He myght not that serpent dere It was so shelled al aboute It spyld al edge tole withoute He was soo rude and hard of skyn There myght no thyng goo ther in Venym and fire to geder he cast That he â—ason greued sore with blast And yf it had not ben his oynement His rynge his enchauntement The whiche Medea took hym beforn He had with that worm be lorn But thurgh the vertu that therof caâ— Iason the dragon ouercam And he anone the tethe oute drowe And set his oxen in a plowe With the whiche he brake a pece of â—ond And sewe hem with his owne â—ond Than myght he grete merueyle see Of euery tooth in his degre SpraÌ„g vp a knyÈt with spere sheld Of the whiche ryght anon 〈◊〉 the feld Echone slough other with that Iason not Medea forgat On bothe his knees he gan doune fall And gaâ— thankyng to the goddes all The flees he took gothe to the bote The sonne shyneth bryght hote The flees of gold shone forth with all The water glystered oueralle Medea weped and syghed ofte And stode vppon a to wre aloft Al pryuely within hir self There herd it not ten or twelf She prayd and said god hym spede The knyght that hath my maidenhede And dy she loked toward the yle And when she sawe within a whyle The flees glisteryng â—geyn the sonne She said O lord al is wonne My knyght the feld hath ouereomen Now wold god that he were comen O lord god I wold he were in londe But I dare take this on honde If that she had wynges two She wold haue flowen to hym tho Streyte there he was vnto the â—ote The day wâ—s clere the sonne was hote The grekes were in grete doute The whyle that hyr lord was oute They wise not what shold betyde But waited vpon the tyde To see what ende shold falle There stood also the nobles alle Footh with the comyn of the Towne And as they loked vp doune They were ware within a throwe Where as cam the bote as they wel know And saw how â—ason brought his prey And than they gan al to sey And â—â—yden of with one sreuen O where was euer vnder heuen So noble a knyght as Iason is And wel nyâ—e al saiden this That Iason was a fayre knyght 〈…〉 t was neuer of mans myght The â—â—â—es of gold so for to wynne And thus to talk they begynne 〈…〉 that the kyng forth anone 〈◊〉 sawe the flees how that shone And when Iason cam to the londe The kyng hym self took his honde And kyssed hym â–ª and greete ioyr made â—he grekes were wonder glade And of the thyng right mery thought And forth with hym that flees they broÈt And euery man gan prece in For well was hym that myght wyn To see there of the propyrte And thus they passen the Cyte And gone vnto the place straught Medea the whiche forgate hyr naught Was redy there and saiâ— anone Welcome O worthy knyght Iason She wold haue kyst hym woÌ„der fayne But shame borned hyr agayne It was not the maner as tho For thy she durst not do so She took hyr leue and Iason wenâ—e In to his chambre she hym sente Hyr maide to see how he ferd The whiche whan she sawe and herdâ— How that he had faren oute And that it stood wel al aboute She told hyr lady what she wist And she for ioye hyr mayden kyst The bathes were than arrayd With herbes tempred and assayd And Iason was vnarmed soonâ— And dyde as it befelle to done In to his bathe he went anone And wysshe hym clene as ony â—one He took a soppe and oute he came And on his best array he name And kempt his hede when he was glad And goth hym forth al mery glad Ryght streyght in to the kynges hallâ— Aâ—pmg the grete lordes alle And made hym glad welcomyng And he hem told the tythyng Of this that how it befelle When that he wan the shepes felle Medea when she was after sent Came soone to that parlement And when she myght Iason see Was none so glad of al as she There was no ioye for to seche Of hym made euery ma n a speche Som men said one somme saide other But though he were goddes broder And myght make fire and thonder There myght be no more wonder Then was of hym in that Cyde Eche man taught other this is he That hath in his power within That al the world myght not wyn Lo here the best of al goode Thus seid they that there stood And also that walked vp and doune Bothe of the Court of the towne The tyme of souper cam anone They wysshen therto they gone Medea was with Iason set Tho was there many a deynte fet And set to â—ore hem on the boord But none soo lykyng as the word Which was ther spoke amoÌ„g hem two Soâ— as they dorst speke tho But though they â—adden lytyl space Yet they acorden in that place How Iason shold come at nyght When euery torche euery lyght Were oute than of other thynges They speken a loude for supposynges Of hem that stoden there aboute For loue is
whiche hath a route of his couyne Rauyne among the maystres dwelleth And with his seruauÌ„tes as men telleth Extorcion is now witholde Rauyne of other mennes folde Maketh his lord payeth nought For where as euer it may be sought In his how 's ther shall no thyng lack And that ful ofte abyeth the pack Of poure men that dwellen aboute Thus stoÌ„deth the comyn peple in doute The whiche can doo none amendement For whan hym fayleth payment Rauyne maketh none other skyle But taketh by strengthe what he will So ben other in the same wyse Louers as I shal deuyse That whan not els may auayle Anone with strengthe they assayle And gete of loue the sesyne When they see the tyme by Rauyne Of loue Certes fader no For I my lady loue soo For though I were as was Pompey That al the world me wold obey Or els suche as Alisandre I wold not do suche a sclaundre He is no good man that soo doth In good feyth sone thou seyst sooth For he that wol of purueannce By suche a weye his lust auaunce He shal it after sore abye But yf these old examples lye Now good fader telle me one So as they conne many one Touchend of loue in this matere Now lysten my sone thou shalt here So as it hath befallen or this In loues cause how that it is A man to take the Rauyne The pray the whiche is femenyne Hic ponit Exemplum contra istos in amoris causa raptores Et narrat qualiter Pandyon Rex Athenensis du as filias progne auteÌ„ Regi Tracie terres desponsata contigit quod cum Tereus ad instanciam vxoris sue Philomenam de Athenis in Traciam sorore visitacionis causa secum quadam vice perduceret in concupiscenciaÌ„ Philoment tanta seueritate in Itinere dilapsus est quod non solum ipse violencia sue rapine virginitateÌ„ oppressit sed et ipsiue linguam non factum detegeret forpice intulauit vnde imperpetue memorie cro nicam tanti raptoris postea vindicaruÌ„t tHer was a ryal noble kyng A ryche of al worldes thyng The whiche of his propre enherytaÌ„ce Athenis had in gouernaunce And who so thynketh therupon His name was kyng Pandyon Two doughters had he by his wyf The whiche he loued as his lyf The first doughter proygne hyght The second as she wel myght Was called faire philomene To whom felle after moche tene The fader of his purueaunce His doughter Proygne wold auance And gaf hir vnto maryage A worthy kyng of his lygnage A noble knyght also of his honde So was he kyd in euery lond Of Trace he hyght Thereus The Clerk Ouyde telleth thus This thereus his wyfe home ladde A lusty lyf with hir he hadde Till it be felle vppon a tyde This Proygne as she lay hym besyde Bethought hyr how that it myght be That she hir suster myght see And to hyr lord hir wylle she said With goodly wordes hym praid That she to hyr myghe goo And yf it lyked hym not so That than he wold hym self wende Or els by somme other sende The whiche myght hir dâ—re sufter grete And shape how they myght mete Hir lord anone to that he herd Gaue his acord thus answerd I wille he said for youre sake The wey after youre suster take My self and bryng hir yf I may And she with that there as she lay â—igan hym in hir armes to clyppe And kyssed hym with hyr softe lyppe And said syre graunt mercy And he sone after was redy And tooke his leue for to go In sory tyme dyd he soo This thereus goth forth to shippe And with hym his felaushippe By see the right cours he nam In to the Countrey til he cam Where Philomene was dwellyng And of hyr suster the tydyng He told than they were glade And mochel ioye of hym they made The fader and the moder bothe To leue hir doughter they were lothe But yf they were in presence And neuertheles at the reuerence Of hym that wolde hym self trauaile They wold not that he shold faile Of that he praid to gyue hir leue And she that wold not behynde leue In al hast made hir â—are Toward hir suster for to fare With Thereus and forth she went And be with his hole entent When she fro hir frendes is gone So sottith hym on hyr loue anone That his eyen myght he not withoâ—â— That he ne must on hyr behold And with the sight he gan desyre And set his owne herte a fyre And fire when it to towe approchetâ— To hym anone the strengthe â—â—rocheth Till with his hete it be deuoured The towe ne may be succoured And so that Tiraunt rauener When that she was in his power And he therto sawe tyme and space And he that lose hath al grace Forgate he was a wedded man And in a rage on hir he ran Ryght as a wolf that taketh his pray And she bygan to â—â—ye pray O my fader and moder dere Now help but they ne myght it here And she was of to lytel myght Defence ageyne so rude a knyght â— To make when he was so woode That he no reson vnderstoode But helde hir vnder in suche a wyse That she myght not arise But say oppressid and dysesed And yf a Goushauke had seysed A byrd the whiche durst not for fâ—â—â— Remeue and thus this Tiraunt theâ—â— Byâ—aft suche thyng as men seyn May neuer more be yolden ageyn And that was the Vyrgynyâ—â— Of suche â—auyn was pyâ—â— But when she to her self came And of meschyef hede name And knewe how that she was no maid With woful herte thus she said O thou of al men the werse Where was there euer man that dersâ— Doo suche a dede as thou hast do That day shall falle I hope soo That I shalle telle oute my fylle And with my speche I shall fulfille The wyde world in â—rede and lengthe That thou hast done to me with strâ—gth And yf that I among the peple dwelle Vnto the peple I shall it telle And yf I be with in walle Of stones closed than I shalle Vnto the stones clepe and â—â—yâ— And telle hem al the felonye And yf I to the wodes wende There shalle I â—â—le â—llâ— aâ— enâ—â— And crye it to the byrdes oute That they shall here it al aboute For I so lowde shall reherse That my voyce shall the heuen perce That it shalle sowne in goddes erâ— O fals man where is thy fere O more â—â—uel than ony beest How shalt thou hold thy byheste The whiche thou vnto my suster madesâ— O thou that al loue vngladese And arte ensample of al vntrewe Now wold god my suster knewe Of thyn vntrouthe how that it stood And he than as a lyon wode With his vnhappy hondes stronge He caught her by the tresses longe With the whiche he bond hir armes That was a feble dede of armes And to the grounde anone hyr case And oute
offendunt WHan Couetyse in poure estate Stondeth with hym self vpon debate Thurgh lack of mysgouernaunce That he vnto his sustenauÌ„ce Ne can none other wey fynde To gete hym good than as the blynde The whiche seeth not what shalle after falle That ylke vyce that which meÌ„ calle Of Robbery he taketh on honde Where thorugh the water the londe Of thyng that other men forswynke He geteth hym clothe mete drynke Hym retcheth not what to do he begyn Though theft soo that he may wyn For thy to make his purchaas He lyeth waytyng on the paas And what thyng that he seeth ther passe He taketh his paas more lasse If it be ought worth for to take He can the pakkes wel rensake So pryncly bereth none about His gold ne be it fyndeth oute Or other â—ewel what it be He taketh it as his propyrte In wodes in feldes eke Thus Robbery goth to seke Where as he may his purpoos fynde And right so in the same kynde My good sone as thou myght here To speke of loue in this matere And make a veray resemblaunce Right as a thefe maketh his cheuesaÌ„ce And robbeth mennes goodes aboute In woode in feld where he goth oute So ben there of these louers some In wylde stedes where they come And fynd there a woman able And therto space couenable Withoute let or that they fare They take a parte of that chaffare Ye though she were a shepeherdesse Yet wold the lord of wantonnesse Assay all though he be vâ—mete For other mennes good is sweâ—â— â–ª But therof wote nothyng the wyf At fâ—me the whiche loueth as hir lyf Hir lord and sytteth alwey wysshyug After hir lordes home comyng But whan he cometh home at eue Anone he maketh his wyf to leue For she not els shold knowe He telleth hir how his huÌ„te gan blowe And how his houndes haue wel ronne And how there shone a mery sonne And how his hawkes flowen wele But â—e wold telle hir neuer a dele How â—e to loue vntrewe was Of that â—e robbed in the pas And tooke his lust vnder the shawe Ageyne loue ageyne his lawe The which thyng my sene I the forbede For it iâ— an vngoodly dede For who that taketh by Robberye His loue â—e may not â—ustyfye His cause so ful oft sythe For onye that he hath ben blythe He shall be after sory thryes Examples for suche robberyes I fynde wryten as thou shalt here Acordynge vnto this matere Hic loquitur contra istos in amoÌ„â—s causa predones qui cum suam furtiue concupiscenciam aspirant fortuna in contraâ—uÌ„ operatur Et narrat quod cum Neptunus quandam virginem no mine Cornicem solam inxta more deaÌ„bulantem opprimere suo furto voluisset superueniens pallas ipsam de manibus eius virginitate seruata gracius lâ— beraâ—it I Rede how whilome wâ—s a mâ—id The fairest as Ouyde said That was in hir tyme tho And she was of the chambre also Of â—allas that is the goddesse Wyfe to mars of whome the prowesse Is gyuen to these worthy knyghtes For he is of so grete myghtes That he gouerneth the bataile Withoute hym may not auayle The strong honde but he it helpe There maye no knyght of armes yelpe But he fyght vnder his banere But now to speke of my matere This faire fresshe lusty may Alone as she went on a day Vpon the stronde for to play There cam Neptunus in the way The whiche hath the see in gouernauÌ„ce And in his herte suche plesaunce He tooke when he this maiden sygh That all his hert aroos on hyghe For he so sodenly vnware Beheld the beaute that she bare And cast anone in his herte That she shall hym no wey asterte But yf he take in auauntage From that mayden some â—â—lâ—ge Not of no broches ne of no thynges But of somme other smale thynges He thought to haue parte or that she weÌ„t And hir in bothe his armes hent And put his hond toward the Cofre Wherfor to robbe he made a profere That lusty tresour for to stele The whiche passeth other goodes feâ—â— That called is the mayâ—enhede The which is the floure of womanhede This mayde that Câ—â—nyx by name Was cleped dredyng al shame Sawe that she myght not debate And wel she wyst he wold algate Fulfylle his lust of Robberye Anone began to wepe cryeâ— And said O pallas noble quene Shewe now thy myght late be sent To kepe and saue myn honoure Help that I lese not my floure The whiche now vnder key is loken That worde was not so soone spoken When pallas shope recouyre After the wylle the desyre Of hir the whiche a mayden wâ—s And sodenly vpon this cas Oute of hir womans kynde In to a byrdes lykenes I fynde She was transformed forth with all So that Neptunus no thyng stall Of thyng that he wold haue stole With federes black as ony cole Oute of his armes in a throwe She flewe before his eyen a crowe The whiche was to hir more delyte To kepe hir maydenhede whyte Vnder the wede of fethers blake Than in perlys whyte to forsake That no lyf may restore ageyne But thus Neptune his hert in veyn Hath vppon robbery set The byrd was flowen he was let The fayr mayde is fro hym scaped So that for euer le was â—eiâ—â—ed And scoâ—â—â—d of that â—e hath â—ore My sone â—e thou ware therfore That thou no maydenhede stele Wherof men see dyseses fele Al day befalle in dyuerse wyse So as I shal the yet deuyse Another tale therupon That felle by old â—â—yes gone Hic ponit exâ—pluÌ„ coÌ„tra istos in causa virginitatis lese predonis et narrat qd cum Calistona Regis Lichoantis mire pulcritudinis filia suam virginitatem Dâ—ane conseruare castissimaâ— voluisset Et in sâ—luam que tegea dicitur inter alias â—hidem Nimphas moraturam se transtulit â–ª â—ubiter virginis castitatem subtili furto surripiens quendam filium qui postea Archas nominatus eÌ„ ex ea genuit vnde Iuno in CalistonaÌ„ semel eius pulcritudinem in vrse tur pissime deformitatem subito transfigurauit KYnâ— Lychaon vpon his wyf A doughter had a goodely lif And cleue mayden of worthy fame Calystona whoo 's right name Was cleped of many a lorde She was besought but hyr acorde To loue myght no man wyn As she that had no lust therin But swore in hyr herte said That she wold euer be a maid Wherfor to kepe hir self pees With suche as amadryades Were clexed were maydens tho And with the Nympâ—es eke also â–ª Vpon the spryng of fresshe welles She shope to dwelle nowhere ellâ—â— And thus cam this Calistona In to the wode to Tegea Where she vyrgynyte behyght Vnto Dyane therto plyghâ— Hir trouthe vpon the bowes gâ—â—ne To kepe hir maydenhede clene The whiche afterward vpon a day Was pryuely stolen away For Iubiter thorugh his queyntyse From hir it toke in suche a
tho But not vpon his wyt bygete But els where he myght hem get Of whiche he had knowe Suche was the world that ylk throwe And so he was of children ryche And therof was no man hym lyche Of parlement the day was come There ben the lordes al some Tho was prouounced purposed And all the cause hem was disclosed How Anthenor in grece ferde They sytten ay stylle and herde And tho spak euery man aboute There was alledged many a doute And many a prowde word spoke also But for the moost partye as tho They wysten not what was the best Or for to werre or for to rest But he that was withoute fere Hector among the lordes there His tale told in suche a wyse And said lordes ye ben wyse Ye knowen this as wel as I Aboue al other moost worthy Stant now in grete manhode Of worthynes and of knyghthode For who so will it wel agrope To hem bylongeth al Europe Whiche is the thyrd parte euen Of alle the world vnder the heuen And we be but folke a fewe So were it reson to eschewe The perylle or we falle therin Better is to leue than to bygyn Thyng whiche may not be acheued He is not wyse that fynde hym greued And doth so that his greue be more For who that loketh all to fore And wylle not see what is behynde He may ful ofte his harmes fynde Wyck is to strif haue the worse We haue encheson for to corse This wote I wel for to hate The grekes but or we debate With hem that ben of suche a myght It is ful good that euery wyght Be of hym self ryght wel bythought But as for me thus sey I nought For whyle that my lyf may stonde If that ye taken werre in honde Falle it to the best or to the werst I shall my seluen be the ferst To greue hem what euer I may I stylle not ones say nay To thyng which that your coūceil demeth For vnto me more wel it quemeth The werre certes than the pees But this I say netheles As me belongeth for to say Now shape ye the best way Whan Hector had said his deuyse Next after hym tho spak paryse Whiche was his broder and alyed When hym best thought thus he seid Strong thyng it is to suffer wrong And suffre shame is more stronge But we haue suffred both the two And for al that yet haue we doo What soo we myght to reforme This wrong shame in better forme Sente Anthenor as ye wel knowe And they hir grete wordes blowe Vppon hir wrongfull dedes eke And who that wol not hym self meke To pees lyst no reson take Men seyn Reson wyll hym forsake For in the multitude of men Is not the strengthe for with ten It hath be sene in trewe quarele Ayene an honderd haluendele And hath the better by goddes grace Thus hath befalle in many place And yf it lyke vnto yow alle I wylle assay how so it bifalle Oure enemy yf I may greue For I haue caught a grete byleue Vpon a pleyne poynt I wol declare This yonder day as I gan fare To hunte vnto the grete herte Whiche was to fore my houndes sterte And euery man went on his syde Hym to pursewe and I to ryde Bigan to chase sooth to say Within a whyle oute of my way I rode nyst where I was And slope me caught on the grasse Beside a welle I leyd me doune To slepe and in a vysyoun To me the god Mercurye came Goddesses thre with hym he name Mynerue Venus and Iuno And in his hond an Appel tho He held of gold with lettres wryte And thus he dyd me to wyte How that they put hem vpon me That to the fayrest of hem thre Of gold that Appel shold I gyue With eche of hem I was shryue And echone faire me behyght But Venus said yf that she myght That Appel of my gyfte gete She wold it neuermore forgete And said how that in grece londe She wold brynge in to my honde Of al this erthe the fayrest So that me thought it for the best To hyr and yaf that appel tho Thus hope I well yf that I goo But she for me wylle so ordeyne That they matere for to pleyne Shal haue or that I come ageyne Now haue ye herd that I wold seyne Saye ye what stont in youre auyse And euery man tho said his And sondry causes they recorde But at the last they acorde That parys shall to grece wende And thus the parlement took an ende Cassandre when she herd of this The whiche to parys suster is Anone she gan to wepe and wayle And said alas what may vs ayle Fortune with hir blynd whele Ne wylle not lete vs stonde wele For this I dare wel vndertake That yf parys his wey take As it is seid that he shal doo We ben euer than fordoo This mayden Cassandre hyght In al the world as it bereth syght In bookes as men fynde wryte Is that Sybell of whome ye wyte That al men yet clepen sage Whan that she wyst of this vyage How Parys shold to grece fare No woman myght werse fare Ne sorowe more than she dyde And ryght so in the same stede Ferd Helenus whiche was hir broder Of prophecy and suche another And al was holde but a iape So that purpoos whiche was shape Or were hem leef or were hem lothe Was holde and in to grece goth This parys with his retenaunce And as it felle vpon his chaunce Of grece he londeth in an yle And hym was told that same whyle Of folk whiche he began to freyne Tho wás in that yle quene Eleyne And eke of countrees there aboute Of ladyes many a lufty rowte With mochel worthy peple also And why they comen thedertho The cause stood in suche a wyse For worship and for sacryfyse That they to Venus wold make As they to fore had vndertake Some of good wyll some of biheste For than was hir hyhe feste Within a Temple whiche was there Whan parys wyst what they were Anone he shope his ordynaunce To gone te done his obeysaunce To Venus on hir hooly day And dyd vpon his best aray With grete rychesse he hym behongeth As it to suche a lord longeth He was not armed netheles But as it were in londe of pees And thus he gothe oute of ship And taketh with hym his felauship In suche maner as I yow say Vnto the temple he hold his way Tydyng whiche gothe oueral To grete smal forth with all Come to the quenes ere told How parys come that he wold Doo sacryfyce vnto Venus And whan she herd telle thus She thought how that euer it be That she wylle hym abyde and see Forth cometh parys with glad vysage In to the temple on pylgremage Where vnto Venus the goddesse He yeueth offreth grete rychesse And prayeth hyr that he pray wold On that other syde he
and to the world also He doth Reson to both the two The poure folk of his almesse Releued ben in distresse Of thurst of honger of colde The yeft of hym was neuer solde But frely yeue and netheles The myghty god of his encrces Reward hym of double grace The â—â—uen â—e doth hym to purchace And yeueth hym eke the worldis good And thus the cete for the hoode â—orgesse taketh yet no synne â—â—â—â—th bow so that euer he wynne What man hath horse men yeue hors And who none hath of hym no forâ— For he may than on foote goo Tâ—e world hath euer stond so But for to loken of the twey A man to go the syker wey Better is to yeue than to take With yeft a man may frendes make But who that taketh outher grete or small He taketh a charge forth with all And stant not fre till it be quyte So for to deme in mannes wyt It helpeth more a man to haue His owne good for to craue Of other men and make hym bonde Where els he may stonde vnbonde Seneca Si res tue tibi non sufficiunt fac vt rebus tuis sufficias Seneca counceyled in this wyse And seyth but yf thy good suffyce Vnto the lykyng of thy wylle Withdrawe thy lust and hold the stylle And be to thy good suffysaunt For that thynge is appertynaunt To trouthe causeth to be fre After the rule of charyte Whiche first begynneth of hym self For thou richest other twelf Wherof thou shalt thy self be pouer I not what thonk thou myght recoueâ— Whyle that a man hath good to yeâ—e With grete rentes he may leue And hath his frendes oneral And eueryche of hem telle shall The whiche he hath his ful pak They say a good felawe is Iack And whan it foyleth at the last Anone his pryce they ouercast For than is there none other lawe But Iak was a good felawe Whan they hym poure and nedy seâ— They lete hym passe fare wel he Al that he wende of companye Is than torned to folye But now to speke in other kynde Of loue a man may suche fynde That where they come in euery rowâ—â— They cast and wast hir loue aboute Tyl all her tyme is ouergone And than haue they loue none For who that loueth oueral It is no reson that he shal Of loue haue ony propyrâ—e For thy my sone auyse the If thou of loue hast ben to large For suche a man is not to charge And yf so be that thou hast Dyspended al thy tyme in wast And set thy loue in sondry place Though thou the substauÌ„ce of thy grace Lese at the last it is no wonder For he that put hym seluen vnder As who saith comyn ouer alle He leseth the loue specialle Of ony one yf she be wyse For loue shal not bere the pryse By reson when it passeth one So haue I sene many one That were of loue wel at ese Whiche after felle in grete dysese Thorugh wast of loue that they spent In sondry places where they went Ryght so my sone I aske of the If thou with prodegalyte Hast here or there thy loue wasted My fader nay but I haue tasted In many a place where I haue goo And yet loue I neuer one of tho But for to dryue forth the day For leueth well my herte is ay Withouten mo for euermore All vpon one for I no more Desyre but hir loue allone So make I many a pryue mone For wel I fele I haue dispended My long loue not amended My spede for ought I fynde yet If this be wast to youre wyt Of loue and prodegalyte Now good fader demeth ye But of one thyng I wyll me shrâ—â—â— That I shal for no loue thryue But yf hir self wyl me releue My sone that may wel I leue And netheles me semeth so For ought that thou bast yet mysdo Of tyme whiche thou hast myspendyd It may with grace be amendyd For thyng which may be worth the coâ—â— Per chaunce is newther wast ne loâ—â— â—â—â— what thyng stont in auenture That can no worldes creature Telle in certeyne how it shall ende Tyl he there of may see an ende So that I note as yet therfore If thou my sonne hast wonne or lore For oftyme as it is sene Whan somer hath lost al his grene And is with wynter wast bare That hym is left no thyng to spare Al is recouerd in a throwe The cold wynter is ouer blowe And styl ben the sharp showres And sodenly ayenst his flowres The somer happeneth is ryche And so per caas thy grace lyche My sone though thou be now pouer Of loue yet thou myght recouer My fader certes graunt mercy Ye haue me taught so redyly That euer whyle I lyue shall The better I may beware with all Of thyng whiche ye haue said or this But euermore how that it is Toward my shryft as it belongeth To wyte of other poyntes me longeth Wherof that ye me wolden teche With all my herte I yow byseche Explicit liber quintus Sequitur liber Sextus Incipit â—iter Sextus â— St gula quam nostrâ—m maculauit pama pâ—â—â—tum Ex veti to pomo quo do let omnis home Hec agit vt corpus anime contâ—ana spirat Quo cawsit crassa spâ—â—tuatâ—êª maâ—â—r Intus exterins si que vir tutis habentur Potibus ebrietas conuiaâ—ta â—uit â–ª Mersa sapore lebis que ba â—â—â—s inebriat hospes Indignata venus oscula caro premit hIc in sextu libro tractare intendit de illo capitali vicio quod gu la dicitur neâ— nen et eiusdem duabus soluÌ„ modo speciebns videlicet ebrietate delicacia ex quibus humane concupis â—nae oblectamentum habuÌ„dancius argumentatur tHe grete synne orygenal Whiche euery maÌ„ in gouernal Vpon his byrthe hath enemyed In paradys it was mystymed When Adam of thylk Appel bote His swete morcelle was so hote Whiche dedely made the kynde In the bookes as I fynde This vyce whiche so oute of rule Hath set vs al is cleped gule Of the whiche the brauÌ„ches ben so grete That of hem all I wol not irete But only as touchyng to two I thynke to speke of no mo Wherof the fyrst is dronkeship Whiche bereth the cuppe felauship Ful many a wonder doth that vyce He can of a wyseman make a nyce And of a foole that hym shal seme That he can al the lawe deme And yeue euery Iugement Whiche longeth to the fyrmament Bothe of the sterreâ— of the mone And â–ª thusâ— maketh a gret clerk soone Of hym that is a lewde man There is no thyng that he ne can Whyle he hath dronkeship on honde He knoweth the see he knoweth the loÌ„de He is a noble man of armes And yet no strengthe is in his armes There he was strong ynowe to fore With dronkeship it is forlore And al is chaunged his estate And wexeth anone soo feble and maâ—e
he sawe that ymage tho And taketh in his armes two And it embraceth hym ageyne And to the kyng thus gan it seyne Vlixes vnderstood wel thâ—s The token of oure acqueyntaunce is Here afterward to mochel tene The loue that is vs bitwene Of that we now suche ioye make That one of vs the deth shal take When deth cometh of destyne It may none other wyse be Vlixes tho began to praye That this figure wold hym saye What wyght he is that seyth hym so This wyght vpon a spere tho A pensel whyte was wel bigone Enbrowdred shewed hym anone Thre fysshes all of one coloure In manere as it were a toure Vpon the pensel were wrought Vlixes knewe this token nought And praid to wyte in somme partyâ— What thyng it myght â—ygnyfye A signe it is whiche answered Of an empyre and forth it ferd Al sodenly when he that said Vlyxes oute of slepe he brayd And that was ryght ayene the day That lenger slepen he ne may Ayene a man hath knowlechyng Saue of hym self of all thyng His owne chaunce no man knoweth But as fortune it on hym throweth Was yet neuer so wyse a Clerke Whiche myght knowe al goddes werk Ne the secrete whiche god hath sette Ayene a man may not be lette Vlyxes though that he be wyse With all his wytte in his auyse The more that he his sweuen acounteth The lesse he wote what it amounteth For all his calculacion He seeth none demonstracion Al pleynly for to knowe an ende But netheles how so it wende He drad hym of his owne sone That maketh hym wel the more astone And shope therof anone with all So that within a castel walle Thelamon his sone he shette Tyl he myght knowe the bette The sooth for there he ne knewe Til that fortune hym ouerthrewe But netheles for sykernesse Where that he myght wyte gesse A place strengest in his londe There lete he make of lyme sonde A strengthe where he wold dwelle Was neuer man yet herd telle Of suche another as it was And for to strengthe hym in that cas Of al his â—onde the sykerest Of seruanntes and of the worthyest To kepe hym within ward He charged hem they sholden harde And make suche an ordynaunce For loue ne for acqueyntaunce That were it erly were it late They shold bete in at the yate No mauer man what so betydde But it so were hym self it bydde But al that myght hym not auaylâ— For whome fortune wyll assayle There may be no resistence Whiche myght a man make defence That al shall be must fal algate This Cyrces whiche I spake of tate On whome Vlyxes hath bigete A childe though he it haue foryete When tymâ— came as it was wonne She was delyuerd of a sonne Whiche cleped is thelogonus The child when he was bore thus Aboute his moder to ful age That he can reson and langage In good estate was drawe forth And when he was so mochel wâ—â—th To stonde in a mannes stede Circes his moder hath hym bede That he shall to his fader go And told hym al to geder tho What man he was that hym begaâ— And when â—lelogonus herd that Was ware had ful knowlechyng How that his fader was a kyng He prayd his moder fayre this To go where that his fader is And she hym graunted that he shall And made hem redy forth with all It was that tyme suche vsaunce That euery man the congâ—ysaunce Of his Countre bare in his honde When he went in to straunge londe And thus was euery man therfore Well knowe where that he was bore For espyall or mystâ—o wynges They dyde than suche thynges That euery man may other knowe Sâ—o it bifelle in that throwe Thelogonus as in this cas Of his Contre the signe was Thre fisshes whiche he sholde bere Vpon the pynon of a spere And when he was thus arrayd And had his harneys all assayd That he was redy euerydele His moder bad hym fare wele And said hym that he shold sâ—ythe His fader grete a thousand â—ythe Thelogonus his moder kyâ—â— And took his leue where he wyst His fader was the way he name Til he vnto Nachare came Whiche of that lond the chyef Cyte Was cleped there asketh he Where was the kyng how he ferde And when that he the sooth herde Where that the kyng Vlixâ—s was Alone vpon his hoâ—s grete paas He roodâ— hym forth in his honde He bare the signall of his londe With fisshes thre as I haue told And thus he went in to that hold Where that his owne fader dwelleth The cause why he came he telleth Vnto the kepars of the gate And wold haue cemen in ther ate But shortely they hym said nay And as fayre as euer he may Besought told hem of this How that the kyng his fader is But they with proude wordes grete Biganne to manace and threte But he go fro the gate fast They wold hym take and set fast Fro wordes vnto strokes thus They felle so that Thelogonus Was sore hurte wel nyhe dede But with his sharp speres hede He maketh defence how so it falle And wan the yate vpon hem alle And hath slayne of the best fyue And they aseryeden as belyue Thorugh oute the castel al aboute On euery syde men came oute Wherof the kynges herte aflyght And he with al the hast that he myght A spere caught oute he goeth As he that nyhe was woode wroth He sawe the yates ful of blood Thelogonus where he stood He sawe also but he ne knewe What man he was and to hym threwe His spere he sterte oute asyde But desteny whiche shold betyde Befelle that ylke tyme so Thelogonus knewe no thyng tho What man it was that to hym cast And whyles his owne spere last With al the signe therupon He cast vnto the kyng anone And smote hym with a dedely wouÌ„de Vlixâ—s felle anone to grounde Tho euery man the kyng the kyng Began to crye of this thyng Thelogonus whiche sawe the caas On knees felle seid alas I haue myn owne fader slayn Now I wold deye wonder faynâ— Now slee me who that euer wylle For certes it is right good skylle He cryeth he wepeth he seid therfore Alas that euer was I bore That this vnhappy destyne So wofully cometh in by me This kyng which yet hath life ynougâ— His herte ayene vnto hym drough And to that voyce an ere he leyd And vnderstood all that he seid And gan to speke said on hyghe Bryng me this man whan he syghe Thelogonus his thought he set Vpon the sweuen whiche he met And axeth that he myght see His spere on whiche the fysshes thre He sawe vpon a pensel wrought Tho wyst he wel it faileth nought And bad hym that he telle shold Fro whens he came what he wold Thelogonus in sorowe woo So as he myght told
tho Vnto Vlixes all the caas How that Cyrces his moder was And so forth seid hym euery dele How that his moder grete hym wele And in what wyse she hym sent Tho wist Vlixes what it ment And tooke gym in his armes softe And al bledyng kyst hym ofte And said sone whyles I lyue This infortune I the foryeue After his other sone in hast He sente he bigan hym hasâ—s And cam vnto his fader tyâ—e But when he saw hym in suche plyte He wold haue ronnen vpon that other Anone slayne his owne broder Ne had ben that Vlixes Bitwene hem made acord peâ—s And to his heyre thelamacus He had that he Thelogonus With al his power shold kepe Till he were of his woundes depe Al hole and than he shold hym yâ—â—â— Londe where vpon to lyue Thelamacus when he this herde Vnto his fadâ—â— he answerd And said he wold done his wylle So dwellen they to geder stylle These bretheren and the fader sterueth Lo wherof sorcery serueth Thorugh sorcerye his lust he wan Thorugh sorcery his wo bygan Thorugh sorcerye his loue he chese Thorugh sorcerye his lyf he lese The child was getâ— in sorcerye Whiche dyd all this felonye Thyng which was ayene kynde wroÈt Vnkyndely it was bought The child his owne fader slough That was vnkyndeship ynough For thy take heede how that it is So for to wynne loue amys Whiche endeth â—l his ioye in wo For al this arte I fynde also That hath be doâ— for loues sake Where thou myght ensample take A grete Cronycle Emperyall Whiche euer in memoryall Among the men how so it wende Shal dwelle vnto the worldes ende Hic nâ—rrâ—t Exemplum quâ—â—â—ter Nectanabus ab Egiptâ— in Macedoniam fugitiâ—â—s Olimpiadem philippi re gis ibidem tunc absentis vxorem arte magiâ— decipâ—ens câ—m ipsa concubuitâ— magnum quam ex ea Alexandrum sortelogus genuit qui natus pâ—stea cum ad erudiendum sub custodia Nectanabi patrem suum ab altitudine cuiusdam turris in fossam profundam percipiens interfecit Et sic sortilâ—gus ex suo sortilegio infortunij sortem sortitus est tHe hye Creatoure of thynges Whiche is kyng of al kynges Ful many worldes chaunce Lâ—te slyde vnder his sufferaunce There wote noman the cause why But he whiche is al myghty And that proued whilome thus When that the kyng Nectanabus Whiche had Egypte for to lede But for he sey before the dede Thorugh magyke of his sorcerye Wherof he couthe a grete partye His enemyes to hym comende Fro whome he myght not hym defende Oute of his owne londe he fledde And in the wyse as he hym dredde It felle for al his wytchecraft So that Egypte was hym beraft And he desguysed fledde awey By ship held the ryght wey To Macedoyne where that he Arâ—yueth at the chyef Cyte Thre yomen of his Chambre there All only for to serue hym were The whiche he trusteth wonder wele For they were trewe as ony stele And hapneth that they with hym lad Parte of the best good he had They toke lodgyng in the towne After the disposicioun Where as hym thought best to dwelle He axeth than herd telle How that the kyng was oute go Vpon a werre he had tho But in that cyte than was The quene whiche Olympias Was hoote with solempnyte The feste of hir natyuyte As it be fell was than holde And for hir lust to biholde And prayd of the people aboute She shope hir for to ryde oute And after mete al openly Anone were al men redy And that was in the Monethe of may This lusty quene on good aray Was set vpon a mule whyte To sene it was a grete delyte The ioye that the Eyte made With fresshe thynges with glade The noble tâ—une was al behonged And euery wyght was sore alonged To sâ—e this lusty lady ryde There was grete myrthe on euery side Where as passeth by the strete Thâ—re was full many tymbre bete And many a mayde carolyng And thus thurgh out that tâ—un playeng This quene vnto a pleyne rode Where that she houed and abode To see dyuerse gâ—me pley The lusty folk Iust and torney And so forth euery other man Whiche play couthe â—is playe bigan To plese with this noble quene Nectanabus came to the grene Amonges other drough hym nyghe But when that he this lady syghe And of hir beaute hede tooke He â—â—uthe not withdrawe his loke To see nought elles in the felde But stood only hir biheld Of his clothyng of his chere He was al vnlyche other there So that it hapneth at the last The quene vpon hym hir eye cast And knewe that he was sâ—rauÌ„ge anone But he biheld hir euer in one Withoute blemysshyng of his cheere She took good â—ede of hâ—s manere And wondreth why he dyd so And bad men sheld for hym goo He came dyd hir reuerence And she axeth in sylence From whome he came what he wold And he with sobre wordes told And seyth madame a Clerke I am To yow and in message I cam The whiche I may not tellen here But yf it lyke yow to here It must be said al pryuely Where none shal be but ye and I Thus for the tyme he tooke his leue The day goth forth till it was eue That euery man mote lete his werk And she thought euer vpon this clerk What thyng it is that he wold mens And in this wyse abode the quene It passeth ouer thylk nyght Till it was on the moro we lyght She send for hym and he came With hym his Astrolahe he name Whiche was of fyne gold precious With poyntes and cercles merueylous And eke the heuenly fygures Wronght in a book full of peyntures He took this lady for to shewe And told of eche of hem by rewe The cours and the condycyon And she with grete affectyon Sate stylle herd what he wold And thus when he seeth tyme he told And feyneth with his wordes wyse A tale and seyth in suche a wyse Madame but a whyle agoo Where I was in Egypte tho And radde in scole of this scyence It felle in to my conscyence That I in to the temple went And there with all my hole entent As I my sacryfice dede One of the goddes hath me â—edâ— That I yow warne pryuely So that ye make yow redy And that ye be no thyng agaste For he suche loue hath to yow cast That ye shall ben his owne dere And he shall be youre bedfere Til ye conceyue be with child And with that word â–ª she wex al myldâ— And somdele bicame for shame And axrth hym that goddes name Whiche so wol done her companye And he seid amos of luby And she said that may I not leue But yf I see a better preue Madame quod Nectanabus In token that it shal be thus This nyght for enformacion Ye shall hane a vysyon That Amos shall to
that is falle And fonnd a crafte amonges alle Thurgh which he hath a sefoul dasited With his magyke so enchaunted That he flewe forth when it was nyÈt Vnto the kynges tent ryght Where that he lay amyddes his hoost And when he was a slepe moost With that the sefoull to hym brought Another charme whiche he wrought At home within his chambre stylle The kyng he turneth at his wylle And maketh hym for to dreme see The dragon and the pryuete Whiche was bytwene hym the quene And ouer that he made hym wene In sweuen how that the god Amoo Whan he from the quene aroos Toke forth a rynge wherin a stone Was set graue therupon A sone in whiche whan he cam nyght A lyon with a swerd he syght With a prente as he tho mette Vpon the quenes womhe he sette A seall goth hym forth his way With that the sweuen went his waye And tho bygon the kyng a wake And sighed for his wyues sake With that he lay within his tent And hath a greete woÌ„der what it ment With that he hasted hym to ryse Anone and sent after the wyse Among the whiche there was one A Clerk his name is Amphyone When he the kynges sweuen herd What it bytokeneth he answerd And said as sykerly as the lyf A god hath leyn by thy wyf And gete a sone whiche shall wynne The world al that was withynne As the lyon is kyng of beestes So shalle the world obeye his heestes Which with his swerd shal all be woÌ„ne As ferre as shyneth ony sonne The kyng was doutif of this dome But netheles when that he come Ageyne in to his owne londe His wyf with child grete he founde He myght not hym self stere That he ne made hir heuy chere But he whiche couthe of all sorowe Nectanabus vpon the morow Thorugh the deceyte of Nygromaunce Toke of a dragon the semblaunce And where the kyng sat in his halle Came in rampyng among hem alle With suche a noyse and suche a rore That they agast were all so sore As though they shold deye anone And netheles he greueth none But goth toward the deyse on hye And when he quene nyghe He stynt his noyse and his wyse To hir he profered his seruyce And leyd his honde vpon hir barme And she with goodly chere hir arme Aboute his neck ayeneward leyde And thus the quene with hym pleyde In sight of al men aboute And at the last he gan to loute And obeysaunce vnto hir make And he that wold his leue take And sodenly his lothely forme In to an egle he gan transforme And flewe and set hym on a rayle Wherof the kyng had grete meruayle For there he plumeth hym pyketh As doeth an hawke when hym wel liketh And after that him self he shoke Wherof that all the halle quoke As it a terremote were They saiden alle god was there In suche a rees and forth he flygh The kyng whiche al this wonder sighe When he cam to his chambre alone Vnto the quene he made his mone And of foryeuenes he hir prayd For than he knewe wel as he said She was with child than with a god Than was the kyng withoute rod Chastysed the quene excused Of that she had ben accused And for the gretter euydence Yet after that in the presence Of kyng philip and of other mo Whan they roode in the feldes tho A fesaunte came before her cye The whiche anone as they hir seye Fleyng lete an egge doune falle And it to brake among hem alle And as they token therof kepe They sawe oute of the shelle crepe A lytel serpent oute of the ground Whiche rampeth al aboute round And in ayene it wol haue wonne But for the brennyng of the sonne It myght not so he deyde And therupon the clerkes seide As the serpent when it was oute Went enuyroun the shelle aboute And myght not torne in ageyne So shall it falle in certeyne This child the world shal enuyroune And aboue all to bere the Crowne Hym shalle befalle in his yong age He shall desire in his courage When all the world is in his honde To turne ageyne in to the londe Where he was bore and in his weye Home ward he shalle with poyson deye The kyng whiche al this sawe herd Fro that day forth how so it ferd His Ielousye hath all foryete But he whiche hath the child begÌ„ete Nectanabus in pryuete The tyme of his natyuyte Vpon the constellacion A wayteth and relacion Maketh to the quene how she shalle dâ— And euery houre appoynteth so That no mynute therof was lore So that in due tyme is bore This child forth with therupon There fell wondres many one Of terremote vnyuersell The sonne took coloure of the stele And left his lyght the wyndes blewe And many strengthes ouerthrewe The see his propre kynde chaunged And al the world his forme chauÌ„ged The thonder with his fyry beuen So cruel was vpon the heuen That euery erthely creature Tho thought his lyf in auenture The tempest at the last seceth The child is kepte his age encreceth And Alysaunder his name is hote To whome Calystre and Arystote To techen hym philosophye Endenden and Astronomye With other thynges whiche he couthe Also to teche hym in his youthe Nectanabus took vpon honde But euery man may vnderstonde Of sorcerye how that it wende It wylle hym self proue at the ende And namely for to begyle A lady whiche withoute gyle Supposeth all that she hereth But often he that euyll stereth His ship is dreynte therin a mydde And in this caas ryght so betydde Nectauabus vpon a nyght When it was fayre sterre bryght This yong lord lad vpon hyghe Aboue a towre where as he syghe The sterres suche as he acounteth He seeth what eche of hem amounteth And though he knewe of al thynge Yet hath he no knowlechyng That shall vnto hym self befalle When he hath told his wordes alle This yong lord than hym opposeth And asketh yf that he supposeth What deth he shall hym self deye He seith or fortune is aweye And euery sterre hath lost his wonne Or els of myn owne sonne I shall be slayn I may not fle Thought Alysandre in pryuyte Herof this old dotard lyeth And or that other ought aspyeth Al sodenlyche his old bones He shoof ouer the wal for the nones And seyth hym lye doune there a part Wherof now serueth al thyn art Thou knowest al other mennes chauÌ„ce And of thy self hast ygnoraunce That thou hast said amonges alle Of thy persone it is not befalle Neccanabus whiche hath his deth Yet whyles hym lasteth lyf or brethe To Alysander he spak and seyd That he wâ—th wroÌ„g blame on hym leid Fro poynt to poynt al che cas He told how he hie sonne was Tho he whiche sory was ynough Oute of the dyche his fader drough And told his moder how it ferde In counceyl
slowe and wery soone Of euery thyng whiche is to done He is of kynde suffisaunt To hold loue his couenaunt But to hym lacketh appetyâ—â— Whiche longeth vnto suche delyte What man that taketh his kynd oâ— the ayâ—â— He shal be lyght he shall be fâ—yre De complexione sanguinis Fyrst his complexion is bloode Of al there is none so good Forth he hath bothe wylle myght To plese and pay loue his right Where he hath loue vndertake Wrong is yf he be forsake The fire of his condicion Appropreth the complexion Whiche in a mâ—n is cold hote Whoo 's propirtâ—â—s ben drye hote It maketh a man to be engynous And swyfte of foote â—ke yrous Of conteke â—ke ful of hastynesse He hath a ryght grete besynesse To thynk on loue and lytel mâ—y Though he be hote wel â— day On nyght when that he wol assay He may ful euyll his dette pay Nota qualiter quatuor complexionis quatuor in homine huÌ„acoÌ„nes diuiâ—â—m possident After the kynde of the element Thus stant a mannes kynde went As touchyng his complexion Vpon sondry dyuysyon Of drye of moyst of colde of hete And eche of hem his owne sete Appropred hath within a man And first to telle as I began Splen domus est melancolie The splen is to Melencolye Assigned for herborgery Pulmo domus est fleumatis The moyste fleume the whiche is cold Hath in the longes for his holde Ordeyned hym a propre stede And dwelleth there as he is bede Epar domus est sanguiuis To the sanguyne complexion Nature of his inspection A propre how 's hath in the lyuer For his dwellyng made delyuer Fel domus colere The fourth coloure with his hetâ— By wey of kynde his propre sete Hath in the gâ—lle where he dwelleth So as the philosophre telleth Nota de stomâ—cho qui vna cum alijs specialius deseruit Now ouer â—â—â—s is for to wyte As it is in phisike wryte Of lyuer longe of galle of splene They al vnto the herte bene Seruanntes and eche in his offyce Entendeth to doo hym seruyce As whiche is lord aboue The lyuer maketh hym for to loue The longes gyue hym wey of speche The galle serueth to doo wreche The splene doth hym to laugh play Whan al vnclennes is away Loo thus hath eche of hem in dede To suffren hem and fede In tyme of recreacion Nature hath increacion The stomake for a comune koke Ordeyneth so as seith the booke The stomak Cook is for the halle And boyleth mete for hem alle To make hem myghty for to serue The herte that he shall not sterue For a kyng in his empyre Aboue al other is lord syre So is the herte pryncipall To whome reson in special Is yeue as for the gouernaunce And thus nature his purueaunce Hath for man to lyuen here But god the whiche the sowle deâ—â— Hath formed it in other wyse That can no man pleynly deuyse But as Clerkes vs enforme That lyche to god it hath a forme Thorugh whiche forme and lykenesse The sowle hath many an hye noblesse Appropred to his owne kynde But of hiâ— wyt be made blynde Al onlyche of this ylk poynte That hir abydyng is conioynte For with the body for to dwelle That one desireth toward the helle That other vpward vnto heuen So shold they neuer stond in enâ—n But yf the flesshe be ouercome And that the sowle haue hooly nome The gouernaunce and that is selde Whyle that the â—â—esshe may he welde Al crthely thyng whiche god began Wao only made to serue man But the sowle al only made Hym seluen for to serue and glade And other beestes that men fynde They serue vnto hir owne kynde But to reson the sowle serueth Wherof the man his thonke deserueth And gete hym with his werkes good The perdurable syues foode hIc loquitur vlterius de diuisione terre â—ue post deluuium tâ—bus filijes Noe in tres partes seilicet Asiam affâ—â—cam Europam diuidebatur oF that mater it shall be told A tale lyketh many fold The better yf it be spoke pleyne Thus 〈…〉 I for to torne ageyne And telle pleynly therfore Of the erthe wherof now to fore I spake and of the waters eke So as these old clerkes speke And set propyrly the bounde After the forme of mappamounde Thorugh which the greuÌ„d in partyes Departed is in thre partyes That is Asye Affryke Europe The whiche vnder the heuen cope Begâ—ypeth al this erthe rounde As serre as stretcheth ony grounde But after that the hyhe wreche The water weyes lete oute feche And ouer goo the hylles hye Whiche euery kynde made dye That vpon myddel erthe stood Oute take Noe his bloode His sone his doughters thre They were saue so was he Her names who that rede ryght Sem Cam Iaphet the bretheren hyÈt And when thylk almyghty honde Withdre we the water fro the londe And al the rage was away And erthe was the mans weye The sones thre of whiche I told Ryght after that them self wold This world departe they begonne Asia the whiche lyeth to the sonne Vpon the marche of Oryent Was graunted by a comune assent To whome whiche was sone oldest For that partye was the best And double as moche as other two And was that tyme bounded soo Wher as the flode whiche meÌ„ nyle calleth Departed fro his cours falleth In the see Alleâ—andryne There taketh Asye first sesyne Towards the west ouer this Of Cana hym where the flood is In to the grete see rennende Fro that in to the worldes ende After Asy it is algates Till that men comen vnto the gates Of paradys and there hoo And shortely for to speke it so Of Oryent in generall Within his bounde Assy hath allâ— Nota hic de Affrica et Europa And than vpon that other side Westward as it felle thylk tyde The brother whiche hyghte cam Vpon his parte Affryke nam Iaphet Europe tho took he Thus parâ—â—d they the world in thrâ— But yet ther ben of londes fele In occident as for the chele In oryent as for the hete Whiche of the peple be forlete As londe deserte that is vnable For it may not be erable Nota de mare quod magnum Occeanum diatur The water eke hath sondry bounde After the londe where it is founde And taketh his name of thylk londes Where that it renne on the strondes But thylke see whiche no wane Is cleped the grete Occeane Oute of whiche aryse and come The hye floodes al and some Is none so lytell wel spryng Whiche there ne taketh his begynnyng Lyche a man that haleth brethe By wey of kynde so it gethe Oute of the see and in ageyne The water as the bookes seyne Nota hic secundum philosophum de quinto elemento quod omnia sub celo creata infra suuÌ„ ambitum continet cui nomeÌ„ orbis specialiter appropriatuÌ„ eÌ„ oF elementes the propyrtees How
que iusticia nominata est â—â—â—us condicio legibus incorupta vniuiaue qd suum est cquo pondere distribuit wHat is a londe there men be none What ben the men that are allone Without a kynges gouernaunce What is a kyng in his lygeaunce Where that there is no lawe in londe What is to take lawe on honde But yf the Iuges ben trewe These olde worldes with the newe Who that wyl take in euydence There may he se experience What thynge it is to kepe lawe Thorow which wronges be withdrawe And rightwysnes stande coÌ„mended Wherof the regnes ben amended For where the lawe may commune The lordes forth with the comune Eche hath his propre deute And eke the knyghtes ryalte Of bothe his worshyp vnderfongeth To his estate as it bylongeth Whiche of his worthynesse Hath to gouerne rightwysnesse As he whiche shal the lawe guyde And neuerthelesse vpon soÌ„me syde His power stante aboue the lawe To yeue bothe and to drawe The forset of the mannes lyf But thynges whiche are excessyf Ageyn the lawe he shal not doo For loue ne for hate also Imperatoriam magestatem non solum armis sÈ eciam legibus oportet esse armatam b The myghtes of a kyng be grete But yet a worthy kyng shal â—etâ— Of wronge to done al that he myght For he whiche shal the peple right Yt sitteth wel to his regalye That he hym self fyrst Iustefye Toward god in his degree For his estate is elles fre Toward al other in his persone Saue onely to the god allone Whiche wyl hym self a kyng chastyse Where that none other may suffyse So were it good to taken hede That fyrst a kyng his owne dede Betwene the vertu and the vyce Redresse than his iustyce So sette in euen the balaunce Towardes other in gouernaunce That to the powre to the ryche His lawes myght stonde in lyche He shal excepte no persone But for he may not al hym one In sondry place to Iustyce He shal of his ryal offyce With wyse consyderacion Ordeyne his dysputacion Of suche Iuges as ben lerned So that his peple be gouerned By hem that trewe ben wyse For yf the lawe of couetyse Be set vpon Iuges honde Woo is the peple of thylke londe For wronge may not hym self hyde But allas on that other syde Yf lawe stonde with the right The peple is glad stonte vp right Where as the lawe is meuable The comyn peple stante resonable And yf the lawe torne a mys The peple also mystorned is Nota hic iusticia maximinj imperato ris qui cum alicuius prouincie custodeÌ„ sibi constituere volebat primo de sui nominis sama proclamacione facta ipsius condicionem diligencius inuesti gabat aNd in ensaumple of this matere Of maxymyn a man may here Of Rome Whiche was emperour That whan he made a gouernour By weye of substytucion Of prouynce or of regyon He wold fyrst acquyre his name And lete it openlye proclame What man he were or euyl or good And vpon that his name stode Enclyned to vertu or to vyce So wold he sette hym in offyce Or ellis put hym al a weye Thus helde the lawe the right weye Whiche fonde no lette of couetyse The world stode than vpon that wyse By ensaumple thou myght rede And holde in thy mynde I rede Hic ponit exemplum de iudicibus incorruptis narrat qualiter Gaius Fabricius nuper Rome consul aurum a sampnitibus sibi oblatum remiâ—t dicens qd nobilius est aurum possidentes domino subuigare quam ex auri cupidi tate dominij libertacem amâ—â—tere IN a cronyque I fynde thus How that gayus fabricius Whiche whylom was consul of rome By whom the lawes yede come Whan the sampnytes to hym brought A somme of golde hym besought To done hym fauour in the lawe Toward the golde he gan hym drawe Wherof in al mennes loke A parte in to his honde he toke Whiche to his mowthe in al haste He put it for to smelle and taste And to his eye to his lere But he ne foude no comforte there And than he began it to despyse And tolde vnto hem in this wyse I note what is wyth golde to thryue Whan none of al my wyttes fyue Fynde sauour ne delyte therin So it is but a nyce synne Of golde to be couetouse But he is ryche and gloriouse Whiche hath in his subieccion Tho men whiche in pocessyon Ben riche of golde by this skylle For he may al day whan he wylle Or be hym lefe or be hym lothe Iustyce doon vpon hem bothe Lo thus he said with that worde He threwe tofore hym vpon a borde The golde out of his honde anone And said theym that he wold none So that he kepte his lyberte To doo Iustyce and equyte With lucre of suche rychesse Ther ben now fewe of suche I gesse For it Was thylke tyme vsed That euery Iuge was refused Whiche was not frende to comyn right But they that wolden stonde vp right For trouthe onely to Iustyce â—referred were in thylke offyce To deme Iuge comyn lawe Whiche now meÌ„ sayn is al with draw To settâ— a lawe and kepe it nought There is no comune prouffyt sought But abeue al nethelees The lawe whiche is made for pees Is good to kepe for the beste For that setteth al men in reste Hic nâ—rrat de iusticia nuper conrar â—i imperatoris cuius tempore alicuius reuerencia persone aliqua seu precum inâ—â—ruencione quacunqÈ vel auri redempcione legum statuta coÌ„mutari seu râ—dâ—â—i nullatenus potuerunt tHe rightful emperour conrâ—de To kepe pees suche a lawe made That none within the cyte In dysturbaunce of vnyte Durst ones meuen a matere For in his tyme as thou myght here What poynte that was for lawe sette It sheld for no good be lette To what persone that it were And this brought in the comyn fere Why ony man the lawe dradde For ther was none which fauour had Nota exemplum de constancia judicis vbT narrat de carunidotiro rome nuper coÌ„sule aui cum sui statuti legem nes ciens offendisset Romani que super hee penam sibi remittere noluisseÌ„t ipeÌ„ propria manu vbi nullns alius in ipsum vnidex fuit sui criminis vindic tam exâ—cutus est sO as these olde lookes sayn I fynde write where a romayn Whiche consul was of pretoyre Who 's name was caromydotâ—yre He sette a lawe for the pees That euery man be Wepenlees That came in to the counceyl how 's And elles as malicious He shal ben of the lawe dede To that statute to that rede Accorden al it shal be so For certeyn cause whiche was tho Now here what fyl herafter sone This consul had for to done And was in to the feldes ryden And they hym longe abyden That lordes of the couuceyl were And bad hym come and he came there With swerde y
guyde rule That he ne passe mote the rule Wherof that he hym self begyle For in the wymmen is no gyle Of that a man hym self bywapeth Whan he his owne wytte by iapeth I can the woman wel excuse But what man wyl vpon hym muse After the folyssh Impressyon Of his ymagynacion Within hym self the fyre he bloweth Where of the woman no thyng knoweth So may she no thynge be to Wyte For yf a man hym self excite To drenche wyl it not forbere The water shal no blame bere What may the golde though men coueite Yf that a man wyl lyue streyte The woman hath hym no thyng bouÌ„de Yf he his owne herte wounde She may not lette the folye And though so fyl of companye That he myght ony thynge purchace Yet maketh a man the first chace The woman fleeth he purseweth So that by the weye of skyl it sueth The man is cause how so befalle That he ful ofte sythe is falle Where that he may not wel aryse And netheles ful many wyse Befooled hath hem self or this As now a dayes yet it is Emonge the men euer was The sâ—ronge is febelest in this caas It syt a man by were of kynde To loue but it is not kynde A man for loue his wyt to lese For yf the month of Iuyle shal frese And that decembre shal be hote The yere mystorneth wel I wow To seen a man fro his estate Thorugh his soty effâ—mynate And leue that a man shal do It is â—s hose aboue the shoo To man which ought not to be vsed But yet the world hath ofte accused Ful grete prynces of this dede How they for loue hem self myslede Wherof manhode stode behynde Of olde ensaumples as I fynde Hic ponit exemplum qualiter pro â—o â—d Sardanapallus assirioruÌ„ prinâ—â—ps mâ—â—eri oblectamento effeminatê° fâ—e concupiscencie torpâ—rem quasi ex câ—nsuetudine adhibebat a barboro Rege â—â—doruÌ„ super hâ—c insidiante in sui feruo ris maiori voluptate subitis mutacioni bus extâ—nctus est These olde gestes tellen thus That whylom Sordanapallus Which helde al hole in his empyre The grete kyngdom of assyre Was thorugh the slouth of his corage Falle in to the ylke fyry rage Of loue which the man assoteth Where of hym self so ryotâ—th And wexeth so ferforth womannysshe That ageyn kynde as a fysshe A byde wolde vpon the londe In wymmen suche a luste he fonde That he dwelt euer in chambre stylle And onely wrought after the wylle Of wymmen so as he was bede That seldom whan in other stede If that he wolde wenden oute To seen how that it stodâ— aboute But there he kyste there he played They taughten hym a lace to â—â—ayed And weue a purs to enfyle A perle and fyl thylke whyle One barbarâ—s the prynce of mede Seeth the kyng in womanhede Was falle fro chyualrye And gate hym helpe companye And wrought so that atte laste This kynge out of his reygne he caste Which was vndoon for euer moo And yet men speken of hym so That it is shame for to here For thy to loue is in manere Nota qualiter dauid amans muliâ—reâ— propter hoc probitatâ—m armorum non minus excercuit kYng dauid had many a loue But nethelesse alweye aboue Knyghthode he kepte in suche a wyse That for no flesshly couetyse Of luste to lygge in lady armes He lefte not the luste of armes For where a prynce his lusâ—â—s sueth That he the werre not purseweth whan it is tyme to been armed His contre stante ful ofte harmed Whan the enemyes be wexe bolde That they deffence none beholde Ful many a londe hath so be lore As men may rede ofte tyme tofore Of hem that so her â—ases soughten Which after they ful dere aboughten Hic locuitâ—r qualiter regnum lasa uiâ— voluptatibus deditum de facili vin â—tâ—r Et ponit exemplum de ciro rege persarum qui cum â—ddoâ— miruÌ„ probita tis strenuissimos sibiqÈ in â—â—llo aduer santâ—s nullo modo vincere potuit cum ipsis tandem pacis tractatum dissimilans â—â—â—ordiam finalem stabilre finx it superquo â—ddi postea per aliquod tâ—mpus armis insoluti sub pacis tempore voluptatibus intendebant Quod cirâ—â— percipiens in eos armatus subito irruit ipsos que indefensibiles vincens sub imperio triâ—â—tarios subiugauit tO mochel ease is no thynge worth For it setteth euery vyce forth And euery vertu put a backe Wherof price torneth in to lacke As in a cronyke I may reherce Which telleth how the kyng of persâ— That cyrus hyght a werre hadde A geynst the people which he draddâ— Of a courte which lyddos hyght But yet for ought that he do myght As in batayle vpon the werre And had oâ— hem alwey the werre And whan he sawe wyst it wele That he by strengthe wan no dele Thenne atte laste he caste a wyle This worthy peple to begyle And toke with hem a fayned pâ—eâ— Which shold laste endelees So as he sayd in wordes wyse But he thought al in otherwyse For it btyd vpon the caas Whan that this peple in reste was They token ese many folde And worldes â—se as it is tolde By waye of kynde is the noryce Of euery luste which toucheth vyce Thus whan they were in lustes falle The werres ben forgeten alle Was none which wold the worshyp Of armeâ— but in ydelshyp They putten besynesse aweye And toke hem to daunce and pleye But moste aboue al other thynges They token hem to the lykynges Of flesshly lustes that chastyte Receyued was in no degree But euery man doth what hym lyste And whan the kyng of pers it wyste That they vnto folye entenden With his power whaÌ„ they leste weÌ„den More sodeynly than doeth the thonder He came put hem vnder And thus hath lecherye lore The londe which had be tofore The beste of hem that were tho And in the byble I fynde also Nota hic qualiter facta belli luxus infortunat Et narrat qd cum Rex amolech hebreis sibi insultantibus resis tere nequijt consilio balaam mulieres regni sui pulcherimas in castro hebre orum misit qui ab ipsis contaâ—inath graciam statim anâ—iserunt Et â—â—c ab amalech deuicti in magna multituine gladio â—â—aderunt a Tale lyke vnto this thynge How amalech the payen kynge Whan that he myght by no weyr Defende his londe put albeyr The veray peple of Israel This sarasyn as it byfelle Thorough the counceyl of balaam A rowte of fayre women nam That lusty were yonge of age And bad hem goo to the lynage Of these ebrewes forth they wente With eyen greye brolbes bente And wel arayed euery chone And whan they comen were anone Emong the brethes was none in syght But catche who that catche myght And eche of hem his sustes sought Which after they ful dere bought For grace anone began
pluriê° famulialiter intendebat Vnde placata puella in amorem appolini exazdescens infirmabâ—tur tHey toke lette as for that nyght And whan it was on morow right Vnto this yonge man of tyre Of clothes and of good attyre With golde syluer for to spende This worthy yonge lady sende And thus she made hym wel at ease And he with al that he can plese Hir serueth wel fayr ageyn He taughte hir tyl she thas certeyn Of harpe of cytole of rote With many a tewne many a note Vpon musyque vpon mesure And of hir harpe the temprure He taughte hir wel as he roel couthe But as men sayn that frele is youthe With leâ—â—er contynuaunce This mayde fyl vpon a chaunce That loue hath mad hym a quarele Ageynst yongthe fressh frele That mangre wheder she wyl or nouÈt She mote with al her hertes thought To loue to his loue obeye And that she shal ful sore obeye For the wote not what it is But euer emonge she feleth this Towchyug this man of tyre Hir herte is hote as ony fyre And other whyle it is a cale Now is she reed now is she pale Right after the condycyon Of hir ymagynacyon But euer emonge her thoughtes alle Hir thought what may befalle Or that she laughe or that she wepe She wold hir good name kepe For fere of womannysshe shame But what in ernest in game She stante for loue in suche a plyte That she hath loste al appetyte Of mete of drynke of nyghtes reste As she that note what is the beste But for to thynke al hir fylle She holde hir ofte tymes stylle Within hir chambre goeth not oute The kyng was of hir lyf in doute Which wyst no thynge what it mente But fyl a tyme as he out wente tO walke of prynces sones thre There came fyl to his knee Qualiter tres filij principum filiam regis singillatim in vxorem suis supplicacionibus postularent And eche of hem in sondry wâ—se Bysought proferith his seruyse So that he myght his doughter haue The kyng which wold hir honour saue Saith she is seek of that speche Tho was no tyme to beseche But eche of hem do make a bylle He bad wrytc his owne wylle His name his fader his good And whan she wyst how that it stood And had hyr lylles ouer seyn They shold haue answer ageyn Of this counceyl they were glad And wrote as the kyng hem bad And euery man his owne bock In to the kynges honde bytook And he it to his doughter sende And prayed hir for to make an ende And wrote ageyn hir owne honde Right as she in her herte fonde Qualiter fitia regis omnibus alijs retictis appollinum in maritu 〈…〉 preclegit tHe bylles were wel receyued But she hath al hir loues weyued And thouÈt that thaÌ„ was tyme space To put hir in her faders grace And wrote ageyn thus she sayd The shame which is in a mayde With speche dare noâ— be vnloke But in wryfyng it may be spoke So wryte I fader to you thus But yf I haue apollynus Of al this world what so besyde I wyl none other man abyde And certes yf I of hym fayle I wote right wel without fayle Ye shal for me be faderles This lettre came there was prese Tofore the kyng there as he stode And whan that he it vnderstode He yaue hem auswer by by But that was do pryuelye That â—â—â—e â—f other counceyl wyste They toke her leue where hem lyste And wente forth vpon theyr weys The kyng wold not bewreye The counceyl for no maner hye But suffreth tyl he tyme sye Qualiter rex regina in maritagium filie sue cum appolino consencierunt And whan that he to chambre is come His counceyl therto hym nome This man of tyre lete hym see The lettre al the pryuyte The which his doughter to hym sente And he his knee to grounde bente And thonked hym and hyr also And or they wente thenne a two With good herte good corage Of ful loue and ful mariage The kyng he be hole accorded And after whan it was recorded Vnto the doughter how it stode The yefte of al the worldes good Ne shold haue made hir halfe so blythe And forth with al the kyng asswithe For he wyl haue hir good assent Hath for the quene hir moder sente The quene is comen when she herde Of this matere how that is ferde She sawe debate she sawe dysese But yf she wold hir doughter plese And is therto assented ful Which is a dede wonderful For no man knewe the soth â—â—as But he hym self what man he was And nethelesse so as hym thought His dedes to the sothe wrought That he was come of gentyl blood Hym lacketh but worldes good And as therof is no dyspeyre For she shal be hir faderes heyre And he was able to gouerne Thus wyl they not the loue werne Of hym hyr in no wyse But al accorded they deuyse Qualiter appollinus filie regies nup â— sit et primo nocte cum ea concubiens ipsam inpregnauit tHe day of tyme of mariage Where loue is lorde of corage Hym thynketh longe or that he spede But atte laste vnto the dede The tyme is come in her wyse With grete offryng sacrefyse They wedde make a grete feste And euery thynge was right he neste Within how 's eke without It was so done that al aboute Of grete worshyp grete noblesse There cryed many a man a largesse Vnto the lordes hygh loude The knyghtes that be yonge prowde They Iuste fyrst after daunce The day is goo the nyghtes chaunce Hath derked al the bright sonne The lord which hath his loue wonne Is goo to bed with his wyf Where as they lede a lusty lyf And that was after somdele sene For as they pleyden hem bytwene They gete a chylde betwene hem two To whom fyl after mochel woo Qualiter amtassiatores a tiro in quodam naui pentapolim venieÌ„tes mortem regis antiochi Appollino nuÌ„ciaueruÌ„t Now haue I tolde of the spousayles But for to speke of the meruayles Which afterward to hem byfelle It iâ— a wonder for to telle It fyl a day they rode out Kyng quene al the route To pleye hem vpon the seconde Where as they seen toward the londe A shyp saylyng of grete araye To knowe what it mene may Tyl it be come they abyde Than sawe they stonde on euery syde Endlong the shyppes borde to shewe Of the penonnes a ryche rewe They axâ—d whan the shyp is come Fro tyre anone answerd somme And ouer this they sayden more The cause is they comen fore Was for to seche for to fynde Appollynus which of kynde Hir lyege lord he appereth And of the tale which he hereth He was riÈt glad for they hym tolde That
in wooful plyte And aâ— I sawe in my spyryte Me thought emonge other thus The doughter of kyng pryamus Poâ—xâ—na whom pyrrus slough Was there made sorow y nough As she which deyed gyltelis For â—oue yet was loueles And for to take the dysporte I sawe there somme of other porte And that was Circes calypse That coude done the mone clypse Of mâ—n chaunge the sykenesse Of arâ—emagique sorceresse They helde in honde many one To loue whether they wold or none But aboue al woÌ„men that there were Of wommen â— sawe foure there Who 's name be here moost coÌ„mended By hem the courte stode al amended Forth were they come in presence Men dyd theym the reueremce As though they had ben goddesses Of al the world or empresses And as me thought an ere I leyde And herd how that this other seyde Lo thyes ben the foure wyues Who 's feyâ—h was proued in hâ—r lyues For in ensaumple of al goode With mariage so they stode That fame which no grete thing hideth Yet the cronyke of hem abydeth Penolope the oone was hate Whom many a knyght had loued hote Whyle that hir lorde vlyxes lay Ful many a yere and many a day Vpon the grete syege of troye But she which had no worldes ioye But onely of hir husbond Whyle that her lorde was out of londe So wel she kept her womanhede That al the world therof toke hede And namelyche of them in grece That other woman was lucrece Wyfe to the romayn collatyne And she constreyned of tarquyne To thyng which was ayenst hir wyll She wold not hir seluen styll But deyed only for drede of shame In kepyng of hir goode name As she which was one of the beste The thyrd wyfe was hote alceste Which whan ametus shold dye Vpon his grete maladye She prayed vnto the goddes so That she resceyueth al the wo And deyed hir self to gyue hym lyfe So was this thenne a noble wyfe The fourrth wyfe which I there syghe I herde of them that were nyghe How she was clered alsione Which to seix hir lorde allone And to no mo hiâ— body kept And whaÌ„ she saw hym dreÌ„che she lepte Vnto the wawes where he swam And there a sce foul she becam And with hir wynges she hym bespâ—â—d For loue that she to hym had Loo thyse foure weren tho Which I sawe as me thought tho Emonge the grete companye Whiche loue had for to gye But yongthe whiche in special Of loues courte was marchal So â—â—sy was vpon his laye That he none hede where he laye Hath take than as I behelde Me thought I sawe vpon the feldâ— Where â—lde came a softe paâ—â— Toward venus there as she was With hym grete companye he ladde But not so fele as yongthe had The moste parte were of grete age And that was sene in her vysage And not for thy so as they myght They made hem yongely to the syght But yet I herde no pypers there To make myrthe in mannes 〈◊〉 But the â—â—nsyque I myght knowe For olde men which solbned lolbe With harpe lute â—ytole The houe daunce the caâ—â—le In suche a wyse as loue hath bede A softe paas they daunce trede And with the wymmâ—n otherwhyle With sobre there â—monge they smyle For laughter was there none on hye And netheâ—â—es ful wel I sye That they the more queynte it made For loue in whom they weren glade And there me thought I myght see The kyng dauyd with bersale And salamon was not without Passyng an hundreth in a route Of wyues of concubynes Iewesses eke and sarazyns To hym I sabe al Intendaunt I note where he was suffysaunt But nethâ—lees for al his wytte He was attached with that writte Which loue with his honde â—nseâ—eth From whom none erthly maÌ„ appeâ—eth And ouer this as for a wonder With his lâ—on whiche he put vnder With dalyda sampson I knewe Who 's loue his strength al ouerthrâ—wâ— I sawe there arystotle also Whom that the quene of grece so Hath brydeled that in thylke tyme She made hym suche a sylagesyme That he foryate al his â—ogyque Ther was none arte of his practyque Thorugh which he myght be excluded That he ne was fully concluded To loue dyd his obeysaunce And eke vyrgyle of acqueyntaunce I sawe where he the mayden preyd Which was the doughter as men seyde Of themperour whyâ—om of come Sortes plato with hym come So dyd Ouyde the poete I thought thenne how loue is swete Which hath so wyse men reclamed And was my self the lasse ashamed Or for to lese or for to wynne In the myschyef that I was in And thus I layâ— in hope of grace And whan they came to the place Where venus stode I was falle This olde men with one voyce 〈◊〉 To venus prayden formy sake And she that myght not forsake So grete a clamour as was there Leâ—e pyte come in 〈◊〉 ere And forth with al vnto cupyde She prayeth that she vpon his syde Me wold thorugh his grace sende SoÌ„me comforte that I myght amende Vpon the â—â—as which is byfalle And thus for me they preyden alle Of hem that weren olde aboute And eke somme of the yonge rowâ—â— And of gentylesse pure trouthe I herd hem telle it was grete couthe That I withouten helpe so ferdâ— And thus me thought I laye herde Hic traciat qualiter câ—pito amaÌ„tis senectâ—â—◠〈◊〉 Viscera pâ—rscâ—â—tâ—ns ignita sâ—â— concupisâ—â—cie tela ab â—o peni tus extraxit quem venus postea abâ—â—â—â—â—lore percipiens vacuum reliquid Et sic tandem prouisa senectus racionem inuocans hominem interiorem per pâ—â—ns amore infatuatum mentis sanitati pâ—enius restaurauit cVpide which may hurt hele In loues cause as for my hele Vpon the poynte which I hym prâ—yde Came with venus where I was leyde So swownyg vpon the grene gras And as me thought anone there was On euery side so grete prees That euery lyf began to prees I wote not wel how many score Suche as I spake of now toforâ— Louers that comen to beholde But moste of hem that â—en olde They stoden there that at ylke tydâ— To see what ende shal betyde Vpon the cure of my sotye There myght I here grete partyâ— Spe kyng eche his owne aduyâ— Hath tolde one that another this But emonge al this I herde They weren woo that I so ferde And sayden that for no ryote An olde man shold not assoâ—â— For as they tolden redyly There is in hym no cause why But yf he wold hym self be nyâ—â— So were he wel the more nyce And thus despuâ—â—n somme of tho And somme â—ayden no thynge so But that the wylde loues rage In maÌ„nes lyf forbereth none age Whyle there is oyle for to fyre The lampes be lyghtly set a fyre And is ful hard or it be queynte But onely yf it be somme seynte And thus me thouâ—t in sondry place God
Thynkyng vpon the bedes â—lake And how they were me betake For that I shold byd praye And whan I sawe none other waye But onely that I was refused Vnto the lyf which I had vsed I thought neuer to torne ageyn And in this Wyse soth to sayn Homewarde a softe paas I wente Where as with al myn hole entente Vpon the poynte that I am shryue I thynke to bydde whyle I lyue Marce precor xpriste populus quo gau det iste Anglia ne triste subeat rex summe resiste Corrige quosque fragiles absolue reatus vnde deo gratê° vigeat â—ocus iste beatus hE which within dayes seuen This large world forthwith the heuen Of his eternal prouydence Hath maad thylke intellygence In mannes sowle resonable Hath shape to be perdurable Wherof the â—an of his feture Aboue al erthely creature After the sowle is inmortal To thylke lord in special As he which is of al thynges The creatour of the kynges Hath the fortunes vpon honde His grace mercy for to fonde Vpon my bare knees I preye That he this londe in syker weye Wyl sette vpon good gouernaunce For yf men taken remembraunce What is to lyue in vnyte There is no state in his degre That nâ— ought to desyre pees Without which it is no lees To seche loke in to the laste Ther may no worldes ioye laste Fyrst for to loke the clergye Hem ought wel to iustefye Thynge which bylongeth to theyr cure As for to praye to proâ—â—re Our pees toward the heuen aboue And eke to sette reste loue Emonge vs on this erthe here For yf they wrought in this manere After the rule of charite I hope that men sholden see This londe amended ouer this To seche look how it is Touchend of the chyualrye Which for to loke in somme partye Is worthy for to be commendyd And in somme parte to â—e amended That of her large retenue The londe is ful of meyntenue Which causeth that comyn right In fewe contrees stonde vp â—ight Extorcyon contek rauyne Withholde ben of that couyne Al day men here grete compleynte Of the dysease of the constreynte Wherof the peple is sore oppressyd God graunte it mote be redressyd For of knyghthode thordre wolde That they deffende kepe sholde The comyn right the fraunchyse Of holy chirche in al wyse So that no wycked man it dere And therof serueth shelde and spere But for it goeth now other weye Our grace goeth the more aweye And for to â—oken ouermore Wherof the peple pleynen sore Toward the lawes of our londe Men say that trouth hath broke his boÌ„de And with brocage is goon aweye So that no man can see the weye Wher for to fynde rightwisnesse Aud yf men seke sykernesse Vpon the lucre of marchandye Compassement trycherye Of synguler prouffyte to wynne Men sayn is cause of mochel synne And namely of dyuysyoun Which many a noble toun Fro welthe fro prosperyte Hath brought to grete aduersyte So were it good to be allone For mochel grace therupon Vnto the cytees shold falle Which myght auayle to vs alle Yf thyse estates amended were So that the vertues stoden there And that the vyces were aweye Me thynketh I durst thenne seye This londes grace shold aryse But yet to loke in other wyse Ther is astate as ye shal here Aboue al other on erthe here Which hath the londe in his balaunce To hym bylongeth the lygeaunce Of clerke of knyght of man of lawe Vnder his honde al is forth drawe The marchaunt the laborer So stante it al in his power Or for to spylle or for to saue But though he suche power haue And that his myghtes be so large He hath hem nought without charge To which that euery kyng is swore So were it good that he therfore Fyrst vnto the rightwysnes entende Wherof that he hym self amende Toward his god leue vyce Which is the chyef of his offyce And after al the remenaunt He shal vpon his couenaunt Gouerne lede in suche a wyse So that there be no tyrannyse Wherof that he his peple greue Or ellis may he nought acheue That longeth to his regalye For yf a kyng wyl Iustefye His londe hem that â—en within Fyrst at hym self he must begyn To kepe rule his owne estate That in hym self be no debute Toward his god for otherwyse Ther may none erthely kyng suffyse Of his kyngdom the folke to lede But he the kyng of heuen drede For what kyng sette hym vpon pride Ad taketh his lust on euery syde And wyl not goo the right weye Though god his grace cast aweye No wondre is for atte laste He shal wel wyte it may not laste The pompe which he secheth here But what kyng with humble chere After the lawe of god escheweth The vyces the vertues selveth His grace shal be suffysauunt To gouerne al the remenaunte Which longeth to his duete So that in his prosperite The peple shal not be oppressyd Wherof his name shal be blessed For euer be memoryalle And now to speke as in fynalle Tolbchyng that I vndertook In englysshe for to make a book Which stante bytwene ernest game I haue it made as thylke same Which axe for to be excused And that my book be not refused Of lered men when they it see For lacke of curyosyte For thylke scole of eboquence Bylongeth not to my scyence Vpon the forme of rethorike My wordes for to peynte pyke As tullyus somtyme wrote But this I knowe thus I wote That I haue done my trewe peyne With rude wordes with pleyne In al that euer I couthe myght This book to wryte as I behyght So as sekenes it suffre wolde And also for my dayes olde That I am feble Impotente I wote not how the world is wente So praye I to my lordes alle Now in myn age how so byfalle That I mote stonden in theyr grace For though me lacke to purchace Her worthy thanke as by deserte Yet the symplesse of my pouerte Desyreth for to do plesaunce To hem vnder whos gouernaunce I hope spker to abyde But now vpon my last tyde That I this book haue made wryte My muse dothe me for to wyte And saith it shal be for my beste Fro thie day ferth to take reste That I nomore of loue make Which many a horte hath ouertake And ouertorned as the blynde Fro reson in to salbe of kynde Where as the wysdem goeth aweye And can not see the right weye How to gouerne his owne estate But euery day stante in debate Within hym self can not leue And thus for thy my synal leue I take now for euermore Without makyng ony more Of loue of his dedely hele Which no physycyen can hele For his nature is so dyuers That it hath euer somme trauers Or of to moche or of to lyte That playnly may no man delyte
the shryfte of thy matere Thou shalt of hem the soth here And vnderstonde now wel the caaâ— Venus Saturnus doughter was Whiche al daunger put awey Of loue fond to lust a wey So that of her in sondry place Dyuerse men fâ—lle in to grace And suche a lusty lyf she lade That she dyuers children hade Now one by this now one by that Of hyr it was that maâ—s bygat A childe whiche cleped was Armenâ— Of hyr also cam Andragene To whome mercurye fader was Anchyses bygate Eneas Of hyr also and Herycon Byten bygat and therupon When that she sawe ther was none other By Iupyter her owne broder She lay he bygat Cupyde And thylke sone vpon a tyde When he was come vnto his age He had a wonder fayr vysage And fonde his moder amerous And was also lecherous So when they werâ— bothe alone As he whiche eyen had none To reson his moder kyst And she also that nothyng wyst But that whiche vnto his lust bylongeth To ben her loue hym vnder fongeth Thus was he blynde she vnwys But neuertheles this cause it is Whiche cupyde is the god of loue For he his moder durst loue And she whiche thouÈt her lustes foÌ„de Dyuers loues took on honde Wel more than I the told here And for she wold hyr self skere She made comon that dysport And set â— lawe of suche a port That euery woman myght take What man her lyst nought forsake To ben as comon as she wold She was the fyrst also whiche told That women shold her body selle Semyramys so as men telle Of Venus kepte thylk apryse And so dyde in the same wyse Of Rome fayre Neabolye Whiche solde her body to Regolye She was to euery man felawe And held the lust of thylk lawe Whiche Venus of her self began Wherof that she the name wan Why men hyr clepen the goddesse Of loue eke of gentylnesse Of worldes lust of plesaunce See nowe the foule myscreauncâ— Of grekes in thylk tyme tho When Venus took her name soo There was no caâ—se vnder the mone Of the whiche they hadden tho to done Of wel or woo where so it was That they noo token in that caâ— A god to helpe or a goddesse Wherof to take my wytnesse Nota de epistola Dindimi Regis Bragmannorum Alexandro magno directa vbi dicit ê™ Greci tunc ad corpo ris conseruacionem pro singulis membris singulos deds specialiter appropri ari credunt The kynge of BragmaÌ„s Dyndymus Wrote vnto Alysander thus In blamyng of the grekes feyth And of the mysbyleue he seyth How they for euery membre hadden A sondry god to whome they spradden Here armes of helpe besoughten Mynerue for the hede they soughten For she was wyse of a man The wytte reson that he can As in the celles of the brayn Wherof they made her souerayn Mercurye which was in his daweâ— A grete speker of fals lawes On hym the kepyng of the tonge They layde when they speke or songe For Bachus was a gloton eke Hym for the throte they byseke That he it wolde wasshen ofte With soote drynkes with softe The god of shulders of armes Was hercules for he in armes The myghiyest was to fyght To hym the â—ymmes they behyght The god whome they cleâ—â—n mart The brâ—â—t to kepe hath for his part For with the herte in his ymage That he adresse to his courage And of the galle the goddesse For she was ful of hastynesse Of wrath lyght to greue also They made sayd it was Iuno Cupyde whiche the brond of fyre Bare in his hond he was the syre Of the stomack whiche boyleth euer Wherof the lustes ben the leuer To the Goddesse Cereâ—es whiche of the corne yafe her encrees Vpon the feyth that tho was take The wombes cure was betake And Venus thorugh the lecherye For whiche they her deyfye She kept al doune the remenaunt The whiche be to thylke offyce appertenaÌ„unt Nota de prima Idolorum cultura que ex tribus precipue statuis exorta eÌ„ quarum prima fuit illa quam in filij sui memoriam quidam Panceps noiÌ„â— Cirophanes a Sculptore Promotheo fabricari constituit Thus was dyspers in sondry wyse The mysbyleue as I deuyse with many an Image of entaylle Of suche as myght not hem auayle For they withoute lyues chere Vnmyghty be to see or here Or speke or do or elles fele And yet the fooles to hem knele whiche is her owne hande werke A lord hou this byleue is derke And fer frâ— resonable wyt And netheles they done it yet That was this day a raggyd trâ— To morowe vpon his mageste Stant in the Temple wel beseyne How myght a mans reson seyne That suche a stok may helpe or greue But they be of suche byleue And vnto suche goddes calle It shal to hem ryght so byfalle And faylâ— hem at moost nede But yf the lyst to taken heede And of the fyrst Image wyte Petorynuâ— therof hath wryte And eke Nygagorus also And they afferme wryte so That promotheus was to fore And fonde the fyrst craft therfore And Cyre phanes as they tâ—lle Thurgh couÌ„scil which was take in hell In remembraunce of his lygnage Lete setten vp the fyrst Image Of Cyrophanes seyth the book That he for sorowe whiche he took Of that he sawe his sone dede Of comfort kne we none other rede But lete do make in remembraunce A fayre Image of his semblaunce And set it in the market place Whiche openly to fore his face Stood euery dâ—y to dene hym case And they that than wold please The fader shold it obeye When that they comen thylk weyâ— Staâ—nda siatua fuit illâ—â—uaÌ„ ad sui patris â—eli culture in Rex Ninus â—â—eri et adorari decreuit Etsic de nomiÌ„e â—â—li posica Bel Belzebub Idolum â—â—â—â—â—uit And of Ninus kyng of Assyvr Arede hou that in his Empyre â—e was noet after the second Of hem that fyrst Images found For he ryght in semblable caas Of Belus whiche hyr fader was From Nembroth in the ryght lyne Lete make of gold stones fyne A precyous Image ryche After his fader evenlyche And therupon a lawe he sette That euery man of pure dette With sacryfyce with truage Honour shold thylk Image So that within tyme it felle Of Belus cam the name of Belle Of Bel can Belsabub so The mysbyleue went tho Tercia statua fuit illa que ad honorem Apis Regis Grecorum sculpta fu it cui nomen postea Scrapis inponentes quasi deum pagani coluerunt The thyrd Image next to this When the kyng of Grece Apys Was dede they made a fygure In resemblaunce of his stature Of this kyng Apys seyth the book That Serapys his name took In whome thorugh long contynuauÌ„ce Of mysbyleue a grete creaunce They hadden and the reuerence Of sacryfyce and of encence To hym
appolinus a facie regis fugiens quamplura prout inferius intitulatur propter amorem pericula passus est oF a cronycle in dayes gone The which is cleped pantâ—one In loues cause I rede thus How that the grete aniyochus Of whom that antioche took His first name as saith the bock Was coupled to a noble quene And had a doughter them bytwene But which fortune came to honde That dethe which no kyng may with stonde But euery lyf it mote obeye This worthy quene toke aweye The kyng which made mochel mone Tho stode as who saith hym allone Without wyf but nethelees His doughter which was peerlees Of bewete dwelte aboute hym stylle But whan a man hath welth at wyl The flesshe is freel falleth ofte And that this mayde tendre softe Which in hir faders chambre dwelte Within a tyme wyst felte For lykyng of concupiscence Withouten insyght of conscyence The fader so with lustes blente That he caste al his entente His owne doughter for to spylle The kyng hath leyser at his wylle With strengthe whan he tyme seye The yonge mayden he forleye And she was tendre ful of drede She coude not hir maydenhede Defende thus she hath forlore The floure whiche she hath longe bore It helpeth not though she wepe For they that shold hir body kepe Of wymmen were absent as than And thus this mayden goeth to man The wylde fader thus deuoureth His owne flessh which none secoureth And that was cause of mochel care But after this vnkynde fare Out of the chambre goeth the kynge And she laye styl of that thynge Within hir self suche sorowe made Ther was nouÈt that myght hir glade For fere of thylke horryble vyce With that came in the norice Which fro chyldehode hir had kepte And axed hir yf she had slepte And why hir chere was vnglad But she which hath be ouer lad Of that she myght not be wreke For shame coude vnnethys speke And nethesse mercy she prayed With wepyng eye thus she sayed Alas my suster wel away That euer I sawe this ylke day Thyng which my body firsst begat In to this world onelych that My worldes worshyp hath byrefte With that she swowneth now efte And euer wissheth after deth So that welny she lacketh breth That other which hir wordes herde In comfortyng of hir answerde To lete hir faders foule desyre She wyst no recouryre Whan thynge is do ther is no lote So suffren they that suffren mote Ther was none other which hym wist So hath this kynge al that he lyste Of his lykyng of his plesaunce And last in suche a contynuunce And suche delyte he toke there in Hym thought it was no syn And she durst hym no thyng withsey But fame which goeth euery wey To sondry royames aboute The grete bewte telleth out Of suche a mayde of hye parage So that for loue of mariage The worthy princes come sende As they which al honour wende And knew no thyng how that it stode The fader whan he vnderstode That they his doughter thus lysought With al his wyt he caste sought How that he myght fynde a lette And suche a statute thenne he sette And in this wyse his lawe taxeth That what man his doughter axeth But he coude his questyon Assoyle vpon sugestyon Of certeyn thynges that byfelle The which he wold vnto hem telle He shold in certeyn lese his hede And thus there were many dede Her hedes stondyng on the gate Tyl atte laste longe late For lacke of answer in the wyse The remenaunte that weren wyse De aduentu appoâ—oni in autiochiam vbi ipse filiam regis antioche in vxorem postulauit Escheweden to make assay Tyl it befyl vpon a day Appollynus the prynce of tyre Which hath to loue a grete desyre As be which in his hygh mode Was lykyng of his hâ—te blode A yonge a fresshe a lusty knyght As he laye musyng on a nyght Of the tydynge whiche he herde He thought to assay how that it ferde He was with worthy companye A rayed with good nauye To shyp â—e goeth the wynde hym dryueth And saileth tyl that he ariueth Saufe in the porte of antyoche He londeth goeth to approche The kynges courte his presence Of euery natural science Which ony clerke hym coude teche He coude ynough in his speche Of wordes he was eloquent And whan he sawe the kyng present He prayeth he must his doughter haue The kyng ageyn began to craue And tolde hym the condycyon How fyrst vnto his questyon He mote answere fayle nought Or with his heed it shal be bought Questio regis antiochi sâ—â—lere vehor materna caâ—ne vâ—sooâ— quero patrem me um matris mee viruÌ„ vxoris mee filiuÌ„ aNd he hym axeth what it was The kyng declareth hym the caas With sterne lock stâ—rdy chere To hym said in this manere With felonye I am vp bore I ete haue it not forbore My mod rs flessh whos husbond My fader for to seche I fonde Which is the sene eke of my wyf Herof I am inquysytyf And who that can my tale saue Al quyte he shal my doughter haue Of his answer yf he fayle He shal be deed without fayle For thy my sone qd the kyng Be wel aduysed of thie thyng Which hath by lyf in Ieopartye Appolâ—ynus for his partye When he this ouâ—sâ—yon had herde Vnto the kyng he hath answerde And hath reherced one one The poyntes said therupon The questyon which thou hast spoke Yf thou wylt that it be vnlâ—ke It toucheth al the pryuyte Betwyxte thyn owne chylde the And stante al vpon you two The kyng was wonder sorâ—â—tho And theuÈt yf that he said it oute Thenne were he shamed al aboute With sly wordes with felle He said my sone I shal the telle Though thou be lytel of wytte It is no meruayle as yet Thyn age may it not suffyse But loke wel thou not despyse Thyn owne lyf for of my grace Of thyrty dayes ful of space I graunte the to ben aduysed And thus with loue tyme assysed This yonge prynce forth he wente And vnderstood wel what it mente Within his herte as he was lered That for to make hym afered The kyng his tyme hath so deloyed Wherof he drad was amayed Of treson that he deye shold For he the kyng trouth tolde And sodeynly the nyght tyde The morowe wold he not abyde Al pryuelye his barge he hente And home ageyn to tyre he wente And in his owne witte he sayed For drede yf he the kyng bewrayed He knewe so wel the kynges herte That deth ne shold he asterte The kyng wold hym so pursewe But he that wold his deth eschewe And knewe al this tofore the honde Forsake he thought his owne londe For there wold he not abyde For wel he knewe on somme syde This tyraunt of his felonye By somme manere