fraudulentely supplanted Celestine his predecessour howe afterwarde he was taken by the frenche kynge and put in pryson where be endured great hunger and thyrst and at last dyed most wretchedly fo xliij ¶ The prophecye of Iochim the abbotte fo xliiij ¶ Howe Ioab capiteyne of the booste of Dauid slewe Abner and howe Achitofell for enuy that he hadde that Cusy was preferred afore hym benge hym selfe fo eodem ¶ The description of enuy fo eodeÌ„ ¶ Howe the vertue of charite is against enuy and how Constantine themperour was healed of his lepre fo xlv The contentes of the thirde boke ¶ Of the synne of yre and of his fyue spyces of whiche the fyrst is called Melancolye fo xlvij ¶ How Machareus the sonne of Eolus the kynge gotte his syster Canace with childe fo xlviij ¶ How Tyresias was transformed into the shap of a woman fo xlix ¶ Of the seconde spyce of yre named cheste or stryfe and what harme cometh therof fo eodem ¶ Of the noble vertue Pacience with an example of Socrates his wyfe fo l. ¶ Howe Tyresias was ordeyned iuge betwene Iupiter and Iuno in a stryfe betwene hem fo li. ¶ Howe the crowe that was whyte became blacke fo eodem ¶ why Iupiter cutte of the tonge of Lara fo eodem ¶ Of hate the thyrde spice of yre fo lij ¶ How Nauplus reuenged him on the grekes for that his sonne Palamides was slayne trayterously at the siege of Troye fo eodem ¶ Of conteke and homicide whiche be the fourth fyfte spices of wrath fo liij ¶ The answere of Diogenes to Alexander fo liiij ¶ The history of Pyrramus and Thysbe and howe eche slewe them selfe for loue fo eodem ¶ Of the vengeaunce that Athamas and Demophon purposed to do in theyr couÌ„trey after they returned from Troye and howe by the wysedome of the prudent Nestor they were pacified fo eod ¶ Howe Clytemnestra by the counsayle of Egisthus slew her husboÌ„d kyng Agamemnon how his sonne Horestes toke vengeaunce therof fo eodem ¶ Of the mouers of warre which not onely do cause homicide but also desolation of al the worlde fo lix ¶ Howe the grekes made warre in to euery countrey that was ryche and fertyle but bycause Archady was baâ—ayne and poore it abode styll in peace fo lx ¶ Of the aunswere that the see rouer made whan he was taken and brought before kynge Alexander fo eodem ¶ An example of kynge Alexander and of his vnlefull warres whiche nâ—t withstandynge he conquered all the worlde he was by dethe subdued fo lxi ¶ Howe lyghte forgyuenes doth cause offence fo eodem ¶ Of the nature of a byrde the which hath a visage lyke to a man fo eodeÌ„ ¶ An example of pite howe beneficiall it is to mankynde fo lxij ¶ The contentes of the fourth boke ¶ Of the synne of slouth and of his spices of the which the fyrst is called Latchesse fo lxiij ¶ Howe Aeneas lefte Dido behynde hym at Carthage and howe she sâ—ewe hir selfe fo eodem ¶ The epistoll that Penelope wrote to Ylixes in blaminge him for his latches and longe taryenge at Troye fo eodeÌ„ ¶ How the ingenious warke that Gros test was aboute .vii. yere was through laches of a moment all loste fo lxiiii ¶ Of the latches of the fyne folisshe virgins fo eodem ¶ Of a spyce of Slouth called Pusyllanimite fo eodem ¶ Of Pigmalion and his ymage that he made in iuorie fo lxv ¶ Howe the kynge Lygdus doughter was transformed in to a man fo eodeÌ„ ¶ Of the vyce Foryettylnes fo lxvi ¶ Of Demophon and Phillis howe 〈◊〉 â—â—nge her selfe for loue fo lxvii ¶ Of the vice of Negligence fo lxviii ¶ â—owe Phaeton lad his fathers carte â—â—â—we through negligence be set all 〈◊〉 worlde a fyre fo eodem â—â—we Dedalus and Icharus his son 〈…〉 the ayre fo eodem ¶ 〈…〉 spâ—ce of Slouthe called ydel◠〈…〉 fo xix 〈…〉 the kinge of Armenis daughter 〈…〉 â—â—me a company of the fairy 〈◊〉 whom rode a lady alone that ca◠〈◊〉 horse haliers fo lxx 〈…〉 auowed to sacrifice to god 〈…〉 came to welcom him home 〈◊〉 was his owne daughter that 〈…〉 bewayle her virginite fo lxxi 〈…〉 for the cause of loue valiant exâ—â—â— of â—hiualrye shulde not be lefte at 〈◊〉 tyme. fo lxxii 〈…〉 Achilles for the loue of Polixeâ—◠〈◊〉 to do armes at Troye fo eodem 〈…〉 Vlyxes was taken by the greâ—â—â—â— to go to Troye and what wren◠〈◊〉 â—ought to tary at home with his 〈◊〉 fo lxxiii ¶ Howe Proâ—â—eselaus settynge his wi 〈…〉 I le aparte had leuer dye hoâ—â—rably at Troye than abyde at home â—â—ydelnes fo eodem ¶ Howe kinge Saul not withstandinge that Samuel and the Phytones tolde him he shulde be slayne preferred chyualry and wente to batayle fo eodem ¶ Howe Chiro a centaure encoraged Achilles in youth to be hardy fo lxxiiii ¶ Howe Hercules for loue of Deianire conquered Achilous fo eodem ¶ Howe Penthesilea the quene of Amazons came to Troye for Hectors sake and there dyd dedes of armes fo eodem ¶ Howe for the fame of chiualry Philimenis came to Troye and gatte to haue thre maydens sent him yerely from the royalme of Amazons fo lxxv ¶ Howe Aeneas by his conqueste gotte the loue of Lauine and the realme of Italye fo eodem ¶ Howe Gentilnesse is ofte preferred and what gentilnes is fo lxxvi ¶ Of the diligence of our predecessours and theyr doctrine fo eodem ¶ Of the thre stones that the philosophres made that is to say Vegeta Animall and minerall fo lxxvii ¶ Of Sompnolence whiche is chamberlayne to Slouth fo lxxviii ¶ Of kinge Leix and Alceon his wyfe whiche lepte in to the see and dreynte hir selfe for hir husbondes sake fo lxxix ¶ Howe Lephalus by watchynge gate Aurora his loue fo lxxx ¶ Howe Io was transformed into a Lowe and put to the kepinge of Argus by Iuno and howe Mercurius slewe him fo lxxxi ¶ Of the laste spyce of Slouthe called Tristresse which causeth wanhope fo eo ¶ Howe Iphis the sonne of Theucer loued a mayde and how whan he coude not get her loue he henge him self at her fathers gate and howe the goddes therfore turned the mayde in to an harde stone fo lxxxii ☞ The contentis of the fyfte boke ¶ Of Louetise Auarice which is the rote of al euels of his spices fo lxxxiii ¶ Howe Meda the kynge of Frige vndiscretly desyred that euery thynge the whiche he touched myght be torned in to golde fo lxxxiiii ¶ Of the vyce of Ielosie fo lxxxvi ¶ How Vulcanus toke Venus his wyfe a bedde with Mars whom to se he called all the goddis and they for his labour laughed him to scorne fo lxxxvii ¶ Of the false sectes of goddes how they firste began by the painims fo eodeÌ„ ¶ The pistoll sent by the kinge of Brag
the dukes helpe sought And he so as they hym besought A place graunteth for to dwell But after when he hard telle Of the maner howe they haue do The duke let shape for them so That of a poyson whiche they drunke They hadden that they han beswunke And all this made auaunt of pryde Good is therfore a man to hyde His owne price for if he speke He may lyghtelyche his thanke breke In armes lyeth none auantance To him which thinketh his name auaÌ„ce And be renomed of his dede And also who that thynketh to spede Of loue he may not hym auaunte For what man thylke vyce baunte His purpose shall full ofte faylle In armes be that woll trauaylle Or elles loues grace atteyne His lose tonge he mote restreyne whiche beryth of his honoure the keye For thy my sonne in all weye Take ryght good hede of this mattere I thanke you my father dere This schole is of a gentyl lore And if there be ought elles more Of pryde whiche I shall eschewe Nowe axeth forth and I woll shewe what thynge that ye me woll enforme Confessor My sonne yet in other forme There is a vyce of prydes lore whiche lyke an hawke whaÌ„ he will sore Fleeth vp on hygh in his delyces After the lykynge of his vices And woll no mans reson knowe Tyll he doune falle and ouerthrowe This vice vaynglorye is hote wherof my sonne I the by hote To trete and speke in suche a wyse That thou the myght better auyse Gloria perpetuos pregnat mundana dolores Qui tamen est vanus gaudia vana cupit Eius amiciciam quem gloria tollit inanis Non sine blandicijs planus habebit homo Verbis compositis qui scit strigila re fauellum Scandere fallata iura valebit eques Sic in amore magis qui blanda subornat in ore Verba per hoc brauiuÌ„ ê™ nequit alter habet Et tamen ornatos cantus varios que paratus Leta que corda suis legibus optat amor ¶ Hic loquitur de quinta specie superbie / que Inanis gloria vocatur Et eiusdem victi naturaÌ„ primo describene super eodem in amorie causa Confessor amanti consequenter opponit The proude vice of vaynglorye Remembreth nought of purgatorye His worldes ioyes ben so great Hym thynketh of beuen no beyete This lyues pompe is all his pes yet shall he deye netheles And therof thynketh he but a lyte For all his lust is to delite In newe thynges proude and vayne As farforth as he may attayne I trowe if that he myght make His body newe he wolde take A newe forme and leaue his olde For what thyng that he may beholde The whiche to comon vse is straunge Anone his olde guyse chaunge He woll and falle therupon Lyke vnto the Camelyon whiche vpon euery sondry hewe That he beholt he mote newe His colour and thus vnauysed Ful ofte tyme he stant disguysed More ioylife than the byrde in maye He maketh hym euer fresshe and gaye And doth all his aray disguyse So that of hym the newe guyse Of lusty folke all other take And eke he can carolles make Roundel balade and verelay And with all this if that he may Of loue gete hym auauntage Anone he waxt of his corage So ouer gladde that of his ende He thynketh there is no deth coÌ„mende For he hath than at all tyde Of loue suche maner pryde Hym thynketh his ioy is endeles Confessor Now shryue the sonne in goddes pees And of thy loue telle me playne yf that thy glorye hath be so vayne Amans My father as touchend of all I may not well ne noughten shall Of vayne glorye excuse me That I ne haue for loue be The better adressyd and arayde And also I haue ofte assayde Roundel balades and vyrelay For her on whom myn hert laye To make and also for to peynte Carollys with my wordes queynte To set my purpose alofte And thus I sange themforth full ofte In halle and eke in chambre aboute And made mery amonge the route But yet ne ferde I not the bet Thus was my glorye in vayne beset Of all the ioy that I made For when I wolde with her glade And of her loue songes make She sayde it was not for her sake And lyste not my songes here Ne wyten what the wordes were So for to speke of myn arraye yet coude I neuer be so gaye Ne so well make a songe of loue wherof I myght ben aboue And haue encheson to be gladde But rather I am ofte adradde For sorowe that she sayth me nay And netheles I woll not saye That I nam gladde on other syde For fame that can nothynge hyde All day woll brynge vnto myn ere Of that men speken here and there Howe that my lady beryth the price Howe she is fayre howe she is wyse Howe she is womanlyche of chere Of all this thynge whan I may here what wonder is though I be fayne And eke when I may here sayne Tydynges of my ladys he le All though I may not with her dele yet am I wonder gladde of that For when I wote her good estate As for that tyme I dare well swere None other sorowe may me dere Thus am I gladed in this wyse But father of your lores wyse Of whiche ye be fully taught Nowe telle me if ye thynke ought That I therof am to wyte Of that there is I the acquite My sonne he sayde and for thy good I woll that thou vnderstode For I thynke vpon this mattere To tell a tale as thou shalt here Howe that ageyne this proud vice The hygh god of his iustice Is wrothe and great vengeaunce doth Nowe herken a tale whiche is soth Though it be nought of loues kynde A great ensample thou shalt fynde This vayne glorye for to fle whiche is so full of vanyte Humane generis cum sit tibi gloria maior â—epe subâ—sse solet proximis ille polor 〈◊〉 eâ—â—a graues descensus sepe subibit 〈◊〉 humilis stabile molle que firmat iter 〈◊〉 innumeris nolutat fortuna per orbem Cum magis alta petis inferora time 〈…〉 â—â—nfessor exemplum contra vicium 〈…〉 narranâ— qualiter Nabugodono◠〈◊〉 â—asdeâ—rum cum ipse in omni sui mages◠〈…〉 cessâ—or extitiffet deus eius superbiaÌ„ 〈…〉 ipsum extra formam homine 〈…〉 fenum commedentem transmutauit 〈…〉 â—â—tenum penitens cum ipse potenci◠〈…〉 misertus deus ipsuÌ„ in suâ— regni 〈…〉 â—â—ta sanâ—tate â—mendatum graciosius 〈◊〉 There was a kynge that moch myght whiche Nabugodonosor hyght Of whom that I spake here to fore Yet in the byble this name is bore For all the worlde in thoryent was hole at his commaundement As than of kynges to his lyche was none so myghty ne so ryche To his empire and to his lawes As who sayth all in thylke dawes were obeysaunt and trybute bere As though he god of erthe were with strength he put kynges vnder
Thus say I not that I full ofte Ne haue whan I spake moste softe Parcas sayde more than ynough But so well halt no man the plough That he ne balketh other whyle Ne so wel can no man affyle His tong that somtyme in rape Hym may some lyght worde ouerscape And yet ne meneth he no cheste But that I haue ayene her best Full ofte spoke I am beknowe And howe my wylle is that ye knowe For whan my tyme cometh about That I dar speke and say all out My longe loue of whiche she wot That euer in one alyche hot Me greueth than all my dysese I telle and though it her dysplese I speke it forth and nought ne leue And though it be besyde her leue I hope and trowe netheles That I do not ayene the pes For though I telle her all my thought She wot well that I chyde nought Men may the hyghe god beseche And he wol here a mans speche And he not wroth of that he seyth So yeueth it me the more feyth And maketh me hardy soth to sey That I dar wel the better prey My lady whiche a woman is For though I telle her that er is Of loue whiche me greueth sore Her ought not be wroth the more For I without noyse or crye My playnt make all buxomly To putten all wrath away Thus dar I say vnto this day Of cheste in ernest or in game My lady shall me no thynge blame But ofte tyme it bath betyde That with my seluen I haue chid That no man couthe better chyde And that hath ben at euery tyde whan I cam to my selue allone For than I made a preuy mone And euery tale by and by whiche as I spake to my lady I thynke and peyse in my balaunce And drawe in to my remembraunce And than if that I fynde a lacke Of any worde that I my spake whiche was to moche in any wyse Anone my wyttes I despyse And make a chyding in myn hert That any worde me shulde asterte whiche as I shuld haue holden ynne And soforth after I begynne And loke if there was elles ought To speke and I ne spake it nought And than if I may seche and fynde That any worde be lefte behynde whiche as I shulde more haue spoke I wolde vpon my selfe be wroke And chyde with my selfe n so That all my wyt is ouer go For no man maye his tyme lore Recouer and thus I am therfoe So ouer wroth in all my thought That I my selfe chyde all to nought That for to moche or for to lyte Full ofte I am my selfe to wyt But all that may me not auayle with cheste though I me trauayle But oule on stoke and stoke on oule The more that a man defoule Men wote wel whiche hath the werse And so to me nis worth a kerse But torneth vnto myn owne hede Though I telle that I were dede wolde euer chyde in suche a wyse Of loue as I to you deuyse ¶ But fader nowe ye haue all herd In this maner howe I haue ferd Of cheste and of dyssencyon yeue me your absolucyon Confessor ¶ My sonne if that thou wystest all what cheste doth in speciall To loue and to his welwyllinge Thou woldest fleen his knowlegeynge For who that most can speke fayre And lerne to be debonayre Is most acordende vnto loue Fayre speche hath ofte brought aboue Full many a man as it is knowe whiche elles shuld haue ben right lowe And fayled mochel of his wylle For thy holde thy tonge stylle And lete thy wytte thy wylle reste So that thou falle not in cheste which is the sours of great dystaunce And take in to remembraunce If thou myght gete Pacyence whiche is the leche of all offence As tellen vs the olde wyse ¶ Paciencia est vindicta omnium iniuriarum For whan nought elles may suffyse By strengthe ne by mans wyt Than Pacyence it ouer syt And ouer cometh at laste But he may neuer longe laste whiche woll not bowe er that he breke Take hede sonne of that I speke Amans ¶ My fader of your goodly speche And of the wytte whiche ye me teche I thanke you with all myn hert For that word shall me neuer astert That I ne shall your wordes holde Of Pacyence as ye me tolde Al 's ferforth as myn hert thynketh And of my wrath it me forthynketh But father if ye forth with all Some good ensample in specyall Me wolden teche of some Cronyke It shulde well myn hert lyke Of Pacyence for to here So that I myght in my mater The more vnto my loue obeye And putten my disese aweye ¶ Hic ponit Confessor Exemplum de paciencia in amore contra lites habenda Et narrat qualiter Vxor Socratis ipsum quodam die mustie sermonibus litigauit Sed cum ipse absque vlla responsione omnia probra pacienter sustulit / indignata Vxor quandam ydriam plenam aque / quam in manu tenebat super caput viri sui subito effudit dicens Euigila et loquere / qui respōdens tunc ait O vere iam scio / et expertus sum quod post ventorum rabiem sequuntur imbres Et isto modo litis contumeliam sua paciencia deuicit Confessor My sonne a man to bye hympes Behoueth suffer as Socrates Ensample left whiche is wryte And for thou shalt the soth wyte Of this ensample what I mene All though it be nowe lytell sene Amonge the men thylke euydence Yet he was vpon pacyence So set that he hym selfe assay In thinge whiche myght him most mispay Desyreth and a wikked wyfe He weddeth which in sorow and stryfe Ageynst his ease was contrayre But he spake euer softe and fayre Tyll it befelle as it is tolde In wynter whan the day is colde This wyfe was fro the welle come where that a pot with water nome She hath and brought it in to howse And sawe howe that her sely spouse was set and loked on a boke Nygh to the fyre as he whiche toke His ease as for a man of age And she began the wood rage And axeth hym what diuel he thought And bare on hond that hym ne rought what labour that she toke on honde And sayth that suche an husbonde was to a wyfe not worth a stre He sayd nother nay ne ye But helde hym stille and lete her chyde And she which may her selfe not hyde Began within for to swelle And that she brought in fro the welle The water pot she hent a lofte And badde hym speke and he all softe Sat stylle and nought a word answerd And she was wroth that he so ferd And axeth hym if he be dede And all the water on his hede She poured out and bad hym a wake But he whiche woll not forsake His pacience than spake And sayde howe that he fond no lake In no thynge whiche she hadde do For it was wynter tyme tho And wynter as by
semeth for of yuor whyte He hath it wrought of suche delyte She was rody on the cheke And redde on her lyppes eke wherof that he hym selfe begyleth For with a goodly loke she smyleth So that through pure impression Of his imagination with all the herte of his courage His loue vpon this fayre image He set and her of loue preyde But she no worde ayenewarde sayd The longe day what thynge he dede This image in the same stede was euer by that at meate He wold her serue and prayde her eate And put vnto her mouth the cup And whan the borde was taken vp He hath her vnto his chaumbre nome And after whan the nyght was come He leyde her in bedde all naked He was forwepte he was forwaked He kyste her colde lyppes ofte And wyssheth that they were softe And ofte he rowneth in her eare And ofte his arme now here now there He layde as he her wolde enbrace And euer amonge he asketh grace As though she wyst what it ment And thus hym selfe he gan tourment with suche disease of loues peyne That no man myght hym more peyne But howe it were of his penaunce He made suche countenaunce Fro day to nyght and prayde so longe That his prayer is vnderfonge whiche Venus of her grace herde By night and whan that he werst ferde And it lay naked in his arme The colde image he felte warme Of flesshe and bone and full of lyfe Lo thus he wanne a lusty wyfe whiche obeisaunt was at his wyll And if he wolde haue holde hym stylle And nothing spoke he shuld haue failed But for he hath his worde trauayled And durst speke his loue he spedde And bad all that he wolde abedde For er they wente than a two A knaue childe betwene hem two They gate whiche was after hote Paphus of whom yet hath the note A certayne ile whiche Paphos Men clepe and of his name it rose By thts ensample thou myght fynde That worde may worche aboue kynde For thy my sonne if that thou spare To speake loste is all thy fare For slouthe bryngeth in all wo And ouer this to loke also The god of loue is fauourable To hem that ben of loue stable And many a wondre hath befall wherof to speake amonges all If that ye lyste to taken hede Therof a solempne tale I rede whiche I shall telle in remembraunce Vpon the sorte of loues chaunce 〈◊〉 Hic venit exemplum super eodem qualiter 〈◊〉 Lâ—gdus vxori sue Thelacuse pregnanti minaâ—atur â—qâ—si filiam pareret / infans occideretur ouâ— tamen postea cum filiam ediderat Isis dea partâ—s tunc presens filiaÌ„ nomine Iphi appellari 〈◊〉 more masculi educare admonuit quam 〈◊〉 filium credens / ipsam in maritagium filie 〈◊〉 principis etate solita copulanit / Sed cuÌ„ 〈◊〉 debitum sui comugu vnde foluere non ha◠〈◊〉 in sui aduitorium interpellebat qui su◠〈◊〉 miserti femineum genus in masculinum 〈…〉 nature in Iphe per â—ia transmutarili THe kynge Lygdus vpon a stryfe Spake vnto Thelacuse his wife which thaÌ„ was with child great He swore it shulde nought be lette That if she haue a doughter bore That it ne shulde be forlore And slayne wherof she sory was So it befelle vpon this cas whan she delyuered shulde be Iâ—â—s by nyghte in pryuete â— whiche of childynge is the goddesse Came for to helpe in that distresse Tyll that this lady was all smalle And had a doughter forth with all whiche the goddesse in all weye Bad kepe and that they shulde seye It were a sonne and thus Iphis They named hym and vpon this The father was made for to wene And thus in chambre with the quene This Iphis was forthe drawe tho And clothed and arrayed so Ryght kynges as a sonne sholde Tyll after as fortune it wolde whan it was of a tenne yere age Hym was betake in mariage A dukes doughter for to wedde whiche Iaunte hyght and ofte a bedde These chyldren lay she and he whiche of one age bothe be So that within tyme of yeres Together as they ben play feres Lyggende abedde vpon a nyght Nature whiche doth euery wyght Vpon her lawe for to muse Constreyneth hem so that they vse Thyng which to hem was all vnknow wherof Cupyde thylke throwe Toke pite for the great loue And lette do sette kynde aboue So that her lawe may ben vsed And they vpon her luste excused For loue hateth nothynge more Than thing which stant ayenst the lore Of that nature in kynde hath set For thy Cupyde hath so besette Her grace vpon this auenture That be accordant to nature whan that he sygh his tyme best That eche of hem hath other kest Transformeth Iphe into a man wherof the kynde loue he wan Of lusty yongth Iante his wyfe And tho they ledde a mery lyfe whiche was to kynde none offence And thus to take an euidence It semeth loue is welwyllende To hem that ben contynuende with besy herte to pursue Thynge whiche that is to loue due wherof my sonne in this matere Thou might ensample taken here That with thy great besynesse Thou myght atteyne the rychesse Of loue that there be no slouth ¶ I dare well say by my trouth Al 's ferre as my wytte can seche My father as for lacke of speche But so as I me shrofe tofore There is none other tyme lore wherof there myght be obstacle To lette loue of his miracle whiche I beseche day and nyght But father so as it is ryght In forme of shryfte to be knowe what thynge belongeth to the slowe your fatherhode I woll preye If there be forther any weye Touchende vnto this ilke vice ¶ My sonne ye of this office There serueth one in specyall whiche lost hath his memoriall So that he can no wyt witholde In thynge whiche he to kepe his holde wherof fulle ofte hym selfe he greueth And who that moost vpon hym leueth whan that his wyttes ben so weyued He may full lyghtly be deceyued Mentibus oblitus alienis labitur ille Quem probat accidia non meminisse sui Sic amor incautus qui uoÌ„ memoratur ad horas Perdit et offendit quod cuperare nequit ¶ Hic tractat Confessor de vitio obliuionis / quaÌ„ mater eius Accidia ad omnes virtutum memorias necnon et in amoris causa immemorem se constituit ¶ To serue Accidie in his office There is of slouth an other vice whiche is cleped Foryettylnes That nought may in his herte impresse Of vertue whiche reason hath set So clene his wyttes be foryete For in tellynge of his tale No more his herte than his male Hath remembraunce of thylke fourme wherof he shulde his wytte enfourme As than and yet ne wote why Thus is his purpose nought for thy Forlore of that he wolde abyde And scarsely if he seeth the thridde To loue of that he had ment Thus many a louer hath be
hinde And hateth all besynes There is yet one whiche ydelnes Is cleped and is the noryce In mans kynde of euery vyce whiche secheth cases many folde In wynter doth he nought for colde In somer may be nought for hete So wether that he trese or swete Or be he in or be he oute He woll ben ydel all aboute But if he pley ought at dies For who as euer take fees And thynketh worshyp to deserue There is no lorde whome he woll serue As for to dwelle in his seruyce But if it were in suche a wise Of that he seeth parauenture That by lordship and by couerture He may the more stonde stylle And vse his Idelnesse at wylle For he ne woll no trauaylle take To ryde for his ladis sake But lyueth all vpon his wysshes And as a catte wold ete fysshes without wetynge of his clees So wolde he do but netheles He fayleth ofte of that he wolde ¶ My sonne if thou of suche a molde Art made now telle me pleine thy shrift ¶ Nay fader god I yeue a yift That toward loue as by wytte All ydel was I neuer yette Ne neuer shall whyle I may go ¶ Now sonne telle me than so what hast thou done of besyshyp To loue and to the ladyship Of her whiche thy lady is ¶ My fader euer yet er this In euery place in euery stede what so my lady hath me hede with all myn hert obedyent I haue ther to be dylygent And if so is that she byd nought what thing that than in to my thought Cometh fyrst of that I may suffyse I bowe and profer my seruyce Somtime in chamber sōtyme in hall Ryght so as I se the tymes fall And whan she goth to here masse That tyme shall nought ouerpasse That I ne approche her lady hede In aunter if I may her lede Vnto the chapel and ageyne Than is not all my wey in vayne Somdele I may the better fare whan I that may not fele her bare May lede her clothed in myn arme But after warde it doth me harme Of pure imagination For than this collation I make vnto my seluen ofte And say O lorde howe she is softe How she is round how she is small Now wolde god I hadde her all without daunger at my wylle And than I syke and sytte stylle Of that I se my besy thought Is torned Idel in to nought But for all that let I ne may whan I se tyme a nother day That I ne do my besynes Vnto my ladyes worthynes For I therto my wytte affayte To se the tymes and awayte what is to done and what to leue And so whan tyme is by her leue what thynge she byt me don I do And where she byt me gon I go And whan her lyst to clepe I come Thus hath she fullyche ouercome Myn ydelnesse tyl I sterue So that I mot her nedes serue For as men seyn nede hath no lawe Thus mot I nedely to her drawe I serue I bowe I loke I lowte Myn eye foloweth her aboute what so she woll so woll I whan she woll syt I knele by And whan she stout than woll I stonde And whā she taketh her werk on honde Of weuynge or of embrouderye Than can I not but muse and prye Vpon her fyngers longe and smale And nowe I thynke and nowe I tale And nowe I synge and nowe I syke And thus my contenaunce I pyke And if it falle as for a tyme Her lyketh nought abyde byme But busy en her on other thynges Than make I other taryenges To dryue forth the longe daye For me is loth departe awaye And than I am so symple of port That for to feyn some disporte I play with her lytel hounde Nowe on the bed nowe on the ground Nowe with the byrdes in the cage For there is none so lytel page Ne yet so symple a chamberere That I ne make hem all chere And all for they shuld speke wele Thus mow ye se my besy whel That goth not ydelyche aboute And if her lyst to ryden oute On pylgremage or other stede I come though I be not bede And take her in myn arme alofte And set her in her sadel softe And so forth lede her by the brydel For that I wolde not ben ydel And if her lyst to ryde in chare And that I may therof beware Anone I shape me to ryde Ryght euen by the chares syde And as I may I speke amonge And other whyle I synge a songe whiche Ouyde in his bokees made And sayd O what sorowes gladde O whiche wolull prosperite Belongeth to the propirte Of loue who so wol hym serue And there fro may no man swerue That he ne mote his lawe obeye And thus I ryde forth my weye And am ryght besy ouerall with herte and with my body all As I haue sayde you here tofore My good fader telle therfore Of ydelnes if I haue gylt ¶ My sonne but thou telle wylt Ought elles than I may nowe here Thou shalt haue no penaunce here And netheles a man may se Howe nowe a dayes that there be Full many of suche hertes slowe That woll not besyen hem to knowe what thynge loue is tyl at last That he with strengthe hem ouercast That maulgre hem they mote obeye And done all ydelshyp awey To serue wel and besyliche But sonne thou art none of syche For loue shall the wel excuse But otherwyse if thou refuse To loue thou myght so par caas Ben ydel as somtyme was A kynges doughter vnauysed Tyl that Cupyde her hath chastysed wherof thou shalt a tale here Accordaunt vnto this matere ¶ Hic ponit Confessor exemplum contra istos qui amoris occupationem omittentes / grauioris infortunii casus expectant / Et narrat de quadā Armenie regis filia que huiusmodi conditionis in principio inuentutis ocio sapersiftens / mirabili postea visione castigata in amoris obsequium pre ceteris efficitur ¶ Of Armenye I rede thus There was a kynge whiche Herupus was hote and he a lusty mayde To doughter had and as men sayde Her name was Rosiphele whiche tho was of great renome For she was bothe wyse and feyre And shulde be her fathers heyre But she had one defaut of slouth Towardes loue that was routh For so well couthe no man seye whiche myght set her in the weye Of loues occupacion Through none imagination That scole wolde she not knowe And thus she was one of the slowe As of suche hertes besynesse Tyll whan Venus the goddesse whiche loues courte hath for to reule Hath brought her in to better rule Forth with Cupyde with his might For they maruayle of suche a wyght whiche tho was in her lusty age Desyreth nouther mariage Ne yet the loue of peramours whiche euer hath ben the cōmon cours Amonge hem that lusty were So was it after shewed there For he that hye hertes loweth with fyry dart whiche he throweth Cupydo
desire with helpe and comforte of the fyre Forth with this stone as it is sayde which to the sonne and mone is layde For to the redde and to the white This stone hath power to profyte It maketh multiplication Of golde and the fyxacion It causeth and of his habyte He doth the werke to be parsyte Of thilke Elyxer whiche men call Alconomy as is befalle To hem that whylom were wyse But nowe it stant all otherwyse They speken fast of thilke stone But howe to make it nowe wote none After the sothe experience And netheles great diligence They setten vp thilke dede And spyllen more than they spede For alway they fynde a lette whiche bringeth in pouerte and dette To hem that ryche were tofore The losse is had the lucre is lore To get a pounde they spenden fyue I not how suche a crafte shall thryue In the maner as it is vsed It were better be refused Than for to worchen vpon wene In thinge which stant not as they wene But not for thy who that it knewe The science of hym selfe is trewe Vpon the forme as it was founded wherof the names yet be grounded Of hem that fyrst it founden out And thus the fame goth all about To suche as soughten besynes Of vertue and of worthynes Of whom if I the names calle Hermes was one the fyrst of all To whom this arte is moste applied Geber therof was magnified And Ortolan and Moryen Amonge the whiche is Auicen whiche fonde and wrote a great partie The practyke of Alconomy whose bokes pleynly as they stonde Vpon this crafte fewe vnderstonde But yet to putten hem in assay There ben full many nowe a day That knowen lytell what they mene It is not one to wyte and wene Informe of wordes they it trete But yet they faylen of beyete For of to moche or of to lyte There is algate founde a wyte So that they folowe not the lyne Of the partyte medycine whiche grounded is vpon nature But they that wryten the scripture Of Greke Arabe and Caldee They were of suche auctorite That they fyrst founden out the wey Of all that thou hast herde me sey wherof the cronyke of her lore Shall stonde in price for euermore But towarde our marches here Of the Latyns if thou wolte here Of hem that whylom vertuous were and therto laborious Carment made of her engyne The fyrst letters of latyne Of whiche the tonge romayn came wherof that Aristarchus nam Forth with Donat and Dyndymus The fyrst reule of scole as thus Howe that latyne shall be compowned And in what wyse it shall be sowned That euery worde in his degre Shall stonde vpon congruite And thilke tyme at Rome also was Tullius Cicero That writeth vpon Rethorike How that men shuld her wordes pyke After the forme of cloquence whiche is men seyne a great prudence And after that out of hebrewe Ierome whiche the langage knewe The byble in whiche the lawe is closed In to latyne he hath transposed And many an other writer eke Out of Caldee Arabe and Greke with great labour the bokes wyse Translateden and otherwyse The latyns of hem selfe also Her study at thylke tyme so with great trauayle of scole toke In sondry forme for to loke That we may take her euidence Vpon the lore of the science Of craftes bothe and of clergie Amonge the whiche in poesie To the louers O uyde wrote And taught if loue be to hote In what maner it shulde akele ¶ For thy my sonne if that thou fele That loue wrynge the to sore Beholde O uyde and take his lore ¶ My father if they might spede My loue I wolde his bokes rede And if they techen to restreyne My loue it were an idell peyne To lerne a thynge which may not be For lyche vnto the grene tre If that men take his rote awey Ryght so myn herte shulde deye If that my loue be withdrawe wherof touchende vnto this sawe There is but onely to pursewe My loue and idelshyp eschewe ¶ My good sonne soth to seye If there be siker any weye To loue thou hast sayde the best For who that woll haue all his rest and do no trauayle at nede It is no reason that he spede In loues cause for to wynne For he whiche dare nothyng begynne I not what thynge he shulde acheue But ouer this thou shalte beleue So as it syt the well to knowe That there ben other vices slowe whiche vnto loue do great lette If thou thyn herte vpon hem sette Perdit homo causam linquens sua iura sopori Et quasi dimidium pars sua mortis habet Est in amore uigil Venus et ê™ habet uigilanti Obsequium thalamis fert vigilata suis ☞ HIC loquitur de Sompnolencia / que Accidie Cameraria dicta est / cuins natura semimortua alicuius negotii vigilius obseruari sopori sero torpore recusat vnde quatenus amoreÌ„ concernit Confessor Amanti diligeÌ„tius opponit ¶ Towarde the slowe progeny There is yet one of companye And he is cleped Sompnolence whiche dothe to Slouth his reuerence As he whiche is his chamberleyn That many an honderde time hath lein To slepe when he shulde wake He hath with loue truce take That wake who so wake wyll If he may couche adowne his byll He hath all wowed what hym lyst That ofte he goth to bedde vnkyst And sayth that for no druery He woll not leue his sluggardy For though that no maÌ„ it wold alowe To slepe leuer than to wowe Is his maner and thus on nyghtes when he seeth the lusty knyghtes Reuelen where these women are Awey be sculketh as an hare And gothe to bed and leyth hym softe And of his slouthe he dremeth ofte Howe that he stycketh in the myre And howe he sytteth by the fyre And claweth on his bare shankes And howe he clymeth vp the bankes And falleth in the slades depe But than who so take kepe when he is falle in suche a dreme Ryght as a shyp agaynst the streme He routeth with a slepy noyse And brustleth as a monkes froyse when it is throwe in to the panne And otherwhile selde whanne That he may dreme a lusty sweuen Hym thynketh as thoughe he were in heueÌ„ And as the world were holly his And than he speaketh of that and this And maketh his exposition After his disposition Of that he wold in suche a wyse He dothe to loue all his seruise I not what thonke he shall deserue But sonne if thou wolte loue serue I rede that thou do not so ¶ A good father certes no I had leauer by my trouth Er I were sette on suche a slouth And bere suche a slepy snoute Bothe eien of my heed were out For me were better fully dye Than I of suche sluggardye Had any name god me shelde For whan my mother was with childe And I lay in her wombe close I wolde rather Atropos whiche is goddesse of all
is cast vpon a dee But yet a man may full ofte see Iâ—owe of suche netheles whiche euer put hem selfe in pres To get hem good and yet they fayle ¶ And for to speke of this entayle Touchende of loue in thy mattere My good sonne as thou myght here That ryght as it with tho men stood Of infortune of worldes good As thou hast me herde tell aboue Ryght so full ofte it stant by loue Though thou coueyte it euermore Thou shalte haue no dele the more But only that whiche is the shape The remenant is but a iape And netheles inowe of tho There ben that nowe coueite so That where as they a woman se ye ten or twelue though there be The loue is nowe so vnauised That where the beautie stant assised The mans herte anone is there And rouneth tales in her ere And seyth howe that he loueth streyte And thus he sette hym to coueyte And hondred though he sawe a day So wolde he more than he may So for the great couetyse Of sotye and fool emprise In eche of hem he fynt somwhat That pleaseth hym or this or that Some one for she is whyte of skynne Some one for she is noble of kynne Some one for she hath a rody cheke Some one for that she semeth meke Some one for she hath eyen greye Some one for she can laugh and pleye Some one for she is longe and smalle Some one for she is lyte and talle Some one for she is pale and bleche Some one for she is softe of speche Some one for that she is camused Some one for she hath nat be vsed Some one for she can daunce and syng So that some thyng of his lykyng He fynt and though no more he fele But that she hath a lytell hele It is inough that he therfore Hir loue and thus an hundred score whyle they be newe he wolde he had whom he forsaketh she is bad The blynde man no colour demeth But all is one ryght as hym semeth So hath his lust no iugement whom couetyse of loue blent Hym thynketh that to his couetyse Howe all the worlde ne may suffyse For by his wylle he wolde haue all If that it myght so befall Thus is he comon as the strete I set nought of his beyete My sonne haste thou suche couetyse ¶ Nay fader suche loue I despyse And whyle I lyue shal don euer For in good feyth yet had I leuer Than to coueyte in suche aweye To ben for euer tyll I deye As pouer as Iob and loueles Out taken one for haueles His thonkes is no man a lyue For than a man shulde all vnthryue There ought no wyse man coueyte The lawe was not set so streyte For thy my selfe with all to saue Suche one there is I wold haue And none of all this other mo ¶ My sonne of that thou woldest so I am not wroth but ouer this I woll the telle howe it is For there be men whiche other wyse Ryght onely for the couetyse Of that they seen a woman ryche There wol they all her loue affyche Nought for the beaute of her face Ne yet for vertu ne for grace whiche she hath elles ryght ynough But for the parke and for the plough And other thingis which therto loÌ„geth For in none other wyse hem longeth To loue but if they profyte fynde And if the profyte be behynde Her loue is euer lesse and lesse For after that she hath rychesse Her loue is of proportion If thou hast suche condition My sonne telle ryght as it is ¶ Myn holy fader nay ywys Condycyon suche haue I none For truly fader I loue one So well with all myn hertes thought That certes though she had nought And were as power as Medea whiche was exyled for Creusa I wolde her nought the lesse loue Ne though she were at her aboue As was the ryche quene Candace whiche to deserue loue and grace To Alysander that was kynge â—afe many a worthy ryche thynge Or elles as Panthasylee whiche was the quene of Femyne And great rychesse with her nam whan she for loue of Hector cam To Troye in rescous of the towne I am of suche condycion â—hat though my lady of her selue were also ryche as suche twelue I â—â—nth not though it were so No better loue her than I do â—or I loue in so playne a wyse That for to speke of couetyse As for pouerte or for rychesse Thy loue is nother more ne lesse Foâ— in good feyth I trowe this So couetous no man there is For why and he my lady sye That he through lokynge of his eye He shuld haue suche a strocke within That for no golde he myght wyn He shuld nought her loue asterte But if 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 whan they amonge the women come They gon vnder protectyon That loue and his affectyon Ne shal not take hem by the sleue For they ben oute of that beleue Hem lusteth of no lady chere But euer thynkend there and here where as the golde is in the cofer And wol none other loue profre But who so wote what loue amouÌ„teth And by reason trulyche acompteth Than may he knowe and taken hede That all the lust of woman hede whiche may ben in a ladys face My lady hath and eke of grace If men shuld yeuen her apryse They may wel seye howe she is wyse And sober and symple of countenance And all that to good gouernaunce Belongeth of a worthy wyght She hath playnly for thylke nyght That she was bore as for the nones Nature set in her at ones Beaute with bounte so beseyn That I may well afferme and seyn I sawe yet neuer creature Of comly hede and of feture In any kynges regyon Be lyche her in comparyson And therto as I haue you tolde Yet hath she more a thousand folde Of bounte and shortly to telle She is pure heede and welle And myrroure and ensample of good who so her vertues vnderstood Me thynketh it ought ynough suffyse withouten other couetyse To loue suche one and to serue whiche with her chere can deserue To be beloued better ywys Than she par cas that rychest is And hath of golde a mylyon Suche hath be myn opynyon And euer shall But neuertheles I say nought she is haueles That she nis ryche and well at ese And hath ynough wherwith to plese Of worldes good whome that her lyst But one thynge I wolde wel ye wyst That neuer for no worldes good Myn hert vnto her warde stood But onely ryght for pure loue That wote the hygh god aboue Nowe fader what say ye therto ¶ My sonne I saye it is wel do For take of this ryght good beleue what man that wol hym selfe releue To loue in any other wyse He shall wel fynde his couetyse Shall sore greue hym at laste For suche
for her best For whan she was to lond brought She which that tyme thought nought But all trouth and toke no kepe Hath layd her soft for to slepe As she whiche longe hath ben forwatched But certes she was euil matched And fer from all loues kynde For more than the best vnkynde Theseus whiche no trouth kept whyle that this yonge lady slept Fulfylled of all vnkyndshyp Hath all forgeten the goodshyp whiche Ariadne hym had do And had vnto the shypmen tho Hale vp the sayle and nought abyde And forth he gothe the same tyde Toward Athenis and her on londe He left whiche lay nygh the stronde Slepend tyl that she awoke But whan that she cast vp her loke Towarde the stronde sygh no wyght Her herte was so sore aflyght That she ne wyst what to thynke But drough her to the water brinke where she behelde the see at large She sigh no shyp she sigh no barge Al 's ferforth as she myght kenne Ha lorde she sayd which a senne As all the worlde shall after here Vpon this wofull woman here This worthye knyghte hath done and wrought I weÌ„d I had his loue bought And so deserued at nede whan that he stode vpon his drede And eke the loue he me behyght It is great wonder howe he might Towardes me nowe ben vnkynde And so to lette out of his mynde Thyng which he sayd his owne mouth But after this whan it is couth And drawe to the worldes fame It shall ben hyndrynge of his name For well he wote and so wote I He yafe his trouthe bodely That he myn honour shulde kepe And with that worde she gan wepe And soroweth more than inough Hyr faire tresses she to drough And with her selfe she toke such a strife That she betwene the deth and life Swounende lay full ofte amonge And all was this on hym alonge whiche was to loue vnkynde so wherof the wronge shall euermo Stonde in cronyke of remembrance And eke it asketh a vengeance To ben vnkynde in loues cas So as Theseus than was All though he were a noble knyght For he the lawe of loues ryght Forfayted hath in all waye That Ariadne he put away whiche was a great vnkynde dede And after that so as I rede Phedra the whiche his syster is He toke in stede of hir and this Fell afterwarde to mekell tene For thilke vyce of whiche I mene Vnkyndshyp where it falleth The trouthe of mannes herte it palleth That he can no good dede acquyte So may be stonde of no meryte Towardes god and eke also Men calle hym the worldes fo For he no more than the fende Vnto none other man is frende But all toward hym selfe alone For thy my sonne in thy persone This vyce aboue all other flee ¶ My fader as ye teche me I thynke to do in this matere But ouer this I wolde fayn here wherof I shall me shryue more ¶ My good sonne as for thy lore After the reule of couetyse I shall the propyrte deuyse Of euery vyce by and by Nowe herken and be wel ware therby 〈◊〉 ex â—lara res tollit luce rapina Floribus et iuncta virgine mella capit ¶ Hâ—c tractat super illa specia cupida que rapina 〈◊〉 â—atur cuius mater extorcio ipsam ad desâ—â—â—â—nduÌ„ magnatuÌ„ curiis specialius coÌ„meÌ„dauit ¶ In the lygnage of auaryce My sonne yet there is a vyce His ryght name it is rauyne whiche hath a route of his couyne Rauyne amonge the maysters dwelleth And with his seruauntes as men telleth Extorcion is nowe witholde Rauyne of other mennes folde Maketh his lardyr and payeth nought For where as euer it may be sought In his hous there shall no thynge lacke And that fulofte abyeth the packe Of powre men that dwelle a boute Thus stant the coÌ„mune people in doute which can do none amendement For whan hym fayleth paiement Rauyne maketh non other skylle But taketh by strength al that he wille So ben there in the same wyse Louers as I the shall deuyse That whan nought elles may auayle Anone with strength they assayle And gette of loue the sesyne when they se tyme by rauyne For thy my sonne shryue the here If thou hast ben a Rauynere Of loue ¶ Certes father no For I my lady loue so For though I were as was Pompey That all the worlde me wolde obey Or els suche as Alisaundre I wolde nought do suche a sclaunder It is no good man whiche so doth ¶ In good feyth sonne thou sayst sothe For he that woll of purueance By suche a wey his luste auaunce He shall it after sore abye But if these olde ensamples lye ¶ Nowe good father telle me one So as ye connen many one Touchende of loue in this matere ¶ Now lyst my son thou shalte here So as it hath be befall er this In loues cause howe that it is A man to take by rauyne The preye whiche is feminyne ¶ Hic ponit exemplum contra istos in amoris causa raptores Et narrat qualiter Pandyon tex Athen .ii. filias vez ProgneÌ„ PhilomenaÌ„ habuit Progne autem regi Tracie Therreo desponsata contigit quod cum Tereus ad instantiam vxoris sue Philomenam de Athen in Traciam sororie visitationis causa secum quadam vice perduceret in concupiscentiam Philomene tanta seneritate in Itinere dilapsus est quod ipse non solum sue violentia rapine virginitatem eius oppressit sed et ipsius linguam ne factum detegeret forcipe mitula nit vnde imperpetue memorie ceonicam tanti raptoris austeritatem miro ordine dii postea vindicarunt ¶ There was a ryall noble kynge A ryche of all worldes thynge whiche of his propre enheritance Athenis had in gouernance And who so thynketh therupon His name was kynge Pandyon Two doughters had he by his wyfe The whiche he loued as his lyfe The fyrst doughter Progne hyght And the seconde as she well myght was cleped faire Philomene To whom fell after mochel tene The father of his purueaunce His doughter Progne wolde auarice And gaâ—e hir vnto mariage A worthy kyng of high lignage A noble knyght eke of his honde So was he kyd in euery londe Of Trace he hyght Thereus The clerke Ouide telleth thus This Thereus his wyfe home lad A lusty lyfe with her he had Tyll it befelle vpon a tyde This Progne as she lay hym besyde Bethought hir howe that it myght be That she hir suster myght se And to hir lorde hir wyll she sayde with goodly wordes and hym preyde That she to hir myght go And if it lyked hym not so That than he wolde hym selfe wende Or els by some other sende whiche myght hir dere suster grete And shap◠〈◊〉 that they myght mete Hir lordâ— anone to that he herde yafe his accorde and thus answerde I wyll saide he for thy sake The wey after thy syster take My selfe and brynge hir if I
Vnto the fruyt of ryghtwysnes But who that wolde do largesse Vpon the reule as it is yeu So myght a man in trouth lyue Toward his god and eke also Toward the worlde for both two Largesse awayteth as bylongeth To neyther part that he ne wrongeth He kepeth him self he kepeth his freÌ„des So stant he saufe to both his endes That he excedeth no measure So well he can hym selfe measure wherof my sonne thou shalt wyte So as the philosophe hath wryte Prodigus et parcus duo sunt extremaque largus Est horum medius plebis in ore bonus ¶ Nota hic de virtute largitatis que ad opposituÌ„ auaricie inter duo extrema videlicet percimoniaÌ„ et prodigalitem specialiter consistit ¶ Betwyx the two extremities Of vice stont the properties Of vertue and to preue it so Take auarice and take also The vice of prodigalite Betwyx hem liberalite whiche is the vertue of largesse Stant and gouerneth his noblesse For tho two vices in discorde Stonde euer as I fynde of recorde So that betwene her two debate Largesse ruleth his astate For in suche wyse as auarice As I tofore haue tolde the vice Through streit holding through scarsnesse Stant contrary to largesse Ryght so stant prodigalite Reuers but nought in suche degre For so as auarice spareth And for to kepe his treasour careth That other all his owne and more Ayene the wyse mannes lore yeueth and dispendeth here and there So that hym recheth neuer where whyle he may borowe he woll dispende Tyll at last he saith I wende But that is spoken all to late For than is pouerte at gate And taketh hym euen by the sleue For erst woll he no wysedome leue And ryght as auarice is synne That wolde his treasour kepe wynne Ryght so is prodigalite But of largesse in his degre whiche euen stant betwene the two The hygh god and man also The vertue eche of hem commendeth For he hym seluen fyrst amendeth That ouer all his name spredeth And to all other where it nedeth He yeueth his good in suche a wyse That he maketh many a man aryse whiche els shulde falle lowe Largesse may not ben vnknowe For what londe that he reigneth inne It may not fayle for to wynne Through his desert loue and grace where it shall fayle in other place And thus betwene to moche and lyte Largesse which is nought to wyte Holt euer forth the myddel way But who that wol torne away Fro that to prodigalyte Anone he leueth the propyrte Of vertu and goth to the vyce For in suche wyse as Auaryce Leueth for scarsenes his good name Ryght so that other is to blame which through his wast mesur excedeth For no man wote what harm it bredeth whyle that a man hath good to yeue with great rowtes he may leue And hath his frendes ouerall And eueryche of hym telle shall The whyle he hath his ful packe They say a good felawe is Iacke whan it fayleth at last Anone his pryce they ouercast For than is there none other lawe But Iacke was a good felawe whan they hym poure and nedy see They let hym passe and fayre well he Al that he wend of companye Is than torned to folye But nowe to speke in other kinde Of loue a man may suche fynde That where they come in euery rowte They cast and wast her loue aboute Tylle all her tyme is ouergone And than haue they loue none For who that loueth ouerall It is no reason that he shall Of loue haue any propyrte For thy my sonne auyse the If thou of loue hast be to large For suche a man is not to charge And if it so be that thou hast Dyspended al thy tyme in wast And set thy loue in sondry place Though thou the substance of thy grace Lese at the last it is on wonder For he that put hym seluen vnder As who sayth comyn ouer all He leseth the loue speciall Of euery one if she be wyse For loue shall noughe bere his prise By reason / whan it passeth one So haue I sen full many one That were of loue wele at ese whiche after felle in great dysese Through wast of loue that they spent In sondry places where they went Ryght so my sonne I aske of the If thou with prodigalite Hast here and there thy loue wasted ¶ My father nay but I haue tasted In many a place as I haue go 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 alone So make I many a priue mone For well I fele I haue dispended My longe loue and not amended My spede for ought I fynde yet If this be wast vnto your wytte Of loue and prodigalite Nowe good father demeth ye But of o thynge I wyll me shryue That I shall for no loue thryue But if hir selfe wyll me releue ¶ My sonne that I may well leue And netheles me semeth so For ought that thou hast yet mysdo Of tyme whiche thou hast spended It may with grace ben amended For thyng which may be worth the cost Perchaunce is nother wast ne lost For what thyng stant on auenture That can no worldes creature Tell in certayne howe it shall wende Tyll he therof may sene an ende So that I note as yet therfore If thou my sonne hast wonne or lore For ofte tyme as it is sene whan sommer hath lost all his grene And is with wynter wast and bare That hym is lefte nothynge to spare All is recouered in a throwe The colde wyndes ouerblowe And stylled ben the sharpe shoures And sodeinlyche ayene his floures The sommer happeneth and is ryche And so percase thy grace is lyche My sonne though thou be now pouer Of loue yet thou might recouer ¶ My fader certes graunt mercy ye haue me taught so redyly That euer whyle I lyue shall The better I may be ware with all Of thynge which ye haue sayd er this But euermore how that it is Toward my shryfte as it belongeth To wyt of other poyntes me longeth wherof that ye me wolden teche with all my herte I you byseche Explicit liber quintus ☞ HIG IN SEXTO LIBRO tractare intendit de illo capitali vicio quod gula dicitur nec non et eiusdem duabus solummodo speciebus videlicet ebrietate et delicacia / ex quibus humane concupiscencie oblectamentum habund anciue augmentatur ¶ Incipit liber Sextus Est gula que nostrum maculauit prima parentuÌ„ Ex verito pomo quo dol et omnis homo Haec agit vt corpus animae contraria spiâ—â—â— Quo caro fit crassa spiritus atque macer Intus et exterius si quae virtutis habentur Potibus ebrietas conuiciata ruit Mersa sapore labis qÌ„ Bacchus inebriat hospes Indignata Venus oscula raro premit THe
enuyroned The kinge him selfe hath abandoned To the temple in good entente The dore is vp and in he wente where as with great deuocion Of holy contemplacion within his herte he made his shryfte And after that a ryche yefte He offreth with great reuerence And there in open audyence Of hem that stoden all aboute He tolde hem and declareth oute His happe suche as him is befalle There was no thinge foryete of alle His wyfe as it was goddes grace whiche was professed in the place As she that was abbesse there Vnto his tale hath leyed hir ere She knewe the voys and the vysage For pure ioy as in a rage She straught to him all at ones And fyl a swoune vpon the stones / wherof the temple flore was paued She was anone with water laued Tyl she came to hir selfe ageyne And than she began to seyne A blessed be the hygh sonde That I may se my husbonde whiche whylom he and I were one The kynge with that knewe hir anone And toke hir in his arme and kyst And all the towne this sone it wyst Tho was there ioye manyfolde For euery man this tale hath tolde As for myracle weren glade But neuer man suche ioye made As doth the king which hath his wyfe And whan men herde how that her lyfe was saued and by whom it was They wondred all of suche a cas Through all the londe arose the speche Of mayster Cerimon the leche And of the cure whiche he dede The kynge hym selfe tho hath hede 〈◊〉 seke the quene forth with hym 〈◊〉 â—he the towne of Ephesym 〈◊〉 leue and go where as they be 〈◊〉 neuer man of his degre Hath do to hem so mychell good And he his profyte vnderstode And graunteth with hem for to wende And thus they maden there an ende And token leue and gone to shyp 〈◊〉 had the hole felaushyp ¶ Qualiter Arcelinus vna cum vxore et filia 〈…〉 â—â—â—lâ—eâ—â—t ¶ This king which now hath his desire Saith he woll holde his cours to Tyre They hadden wynde at wyll tho with topsayle coole and forth they go And stryken neuer tyll they come To Lyre wher as they haue nome And â—â—nden hem with mochell blysse There was many a mouth to kysse Eche one welcometh other home But whan the quene to londe come And Thayse her doughter by her syde The whiche ioy was thylke tyde There may no man 's tunge telle They seyden all here cometh the welle Of all womannysshe grace The kynge hath take his royall place The quene is in to chambre go There was great fest arayed tho whan tyme was they gone to mete All olde sorowes ben foryete And gladen hem with ioyes newe The discoloured pale hewe Is nowe become a ruddy cheke There was no myrth for to seke ¶ Qualiter Appolinus Athenagord cuÌ„ Thase vxore sua super Tyrum coronari fecit ¶ But euery man hath what he wolde The kynge as he well coude and shulde Makth to his people right good chere And after sone as thou shalt here A parlement he had sommoned where he his doughter hath coroned Forth with the lorde of Mitelene That one is kynge that other quene And thus the fathers ordynaunce This londe hath set in gouernaunce And sayde that he wolde wende To Tharse for to make an ende Of that his doughter was betrayed wherof were all men well payed And said howe it was for to done The shyppes weren redy sone ¶ Qualiter Appolinus a Tyro per mare versus Tharsim iter arripiens vindictam coÌ„tra StraÌ„gulionem et Dionisiam vxorem suam ê“ inuiria quaÌ„ ipsi taâ—si filie sue italeruÌ„t iudicialiter affecutus est ¶ A strong power with hym he toke Vpon the skye he cast his loke And sygh the wynde was couenable They hale vp ancre with the cable They seyle on hye the stere on honde They seylen tyll they come a londe At Tharse nygh to the cite And whan they wysten it was he The towne hath done hym reuerence He telleth hem the violence which the traytour Strangulio And Dionise hym had do Touchynge his doughter as ye herde And whan they wyst how it ferde As he whiche pees and loue sought Vnto the towne this he besought To done him right in iugement Anone they weren both assente with strengthe of men and comen sone And as hem thought it was to done Atteyne they weren by the lawe And demed so honged and drawe And brent and with wynde to blowe That all the worlde it might knowe And vpon this condicion The dome in execucion was put anone withoute fayle And euery man hath great meruayle whiche herde tellen of this chaunce And thonked goddes purueaunce whiche doth mercy forth with iustice Slain is the mordrer and the mordrice Through very trouth of rightwysnesse And through mercy saue is simplesse Of hir whom mercy preserueth Thus hath he wel that wel deserueth ¶ Qualiter Artestrate PeÌ„tapolim rege mortuo ipsi de regno epistolas super hoc Appolino direx erunt Vnde Appolinus vna cum vxore sua ibideÌ„ aduenientes ad decus imperii cum magno gaudio coronati sunt ☞ whan al this thinge is done ended This kinge whiche loued was frended A letter hath whiche came to hym By ship fro Pentapolym In whiche the londe hath to him wrytte That he wolde vnderstonde and wyte Howe in good mynde and in good pees Deed is the kinge Artestrates wherof they all of one accorde Him prayden as her lyege lorde That be the letter wol receyue And come his reygne to receyue whiche god hath yeue him and fortune And thus besought the commune Forthwith the great lordes all This kinge sighe howe it is befalle Fro Tharse and in prosperite He toke his leue of that cyte And goeth him in to ship ayene The wynde was good these was pleyne Hem nedeth not a ryffe to slake Tyl they Pentapolym haue take The loude which herde of that tydinge was wonder glad of his cominge He resteth him a day or two And toke his counceyl to him tho And set a tyme of parlement where al the londe of one assente Forthwith his wyfe haue him croned where all good him was forsoned Lo what it is to be wel grounded For he hath fyrst his loue founded Honestly as for to wedde Honestly his loue he spedde And had chyldren with his wyfe And as him lyst he led his lyfe And in ensaumple his lyfe was wryte That all louers mighten wyt Howe at laste it shal be sene Of loue what they wolden mene For se nowe on that other syde Antiochus with all his pryde whiche set his loue vnkyndely His ende had sodeynly Set ageyn kynde vpon vengeaunce And for his lust hath his penaunce ¶ Lo thus my sonne might thou lerâ— what is to loue in good manere And what to loue in other wyse The mede aryseth of the seruyce Fortune though she be not stable yet at somtyme is
fauourable To hem that ben of loue trewe But certes it is for to rewe To se loue ageyn kynde falle For that makth sore a man to falle As thou might of tofore rede For thy my sonne I wolde the rede To let all other loue a weye But if it be through suche aweye As loue and reason wold accorde For elles if that thou discorde And take luste as doeth a beste Thy loue may nought ben honeste For by no skyl that I fynde Suche luste is nought of loues kynde ¶ Confessio amantis / vnde pro finali conclusione consilium confessoris impetrat ¶ My fader howe so that it stonde Your tale is herde and vnderstonde As thinge whiche worthy is to here Of great ensaumple and great matere wherof my fader god you quyte But in this poynte my selfe acquyte I may right wel that neuer yet I was assoted in my wyt But onely in that worthy place where all lust and all grace Is set if that Daunger ne were But that is all my moste fere I not what ye fortune acoumpte But what thinge Daunger may amoūte I wot wel for I haue assayed For whan myn hert is beste arayed And I haue all my wyt through sought Of loue to beseche hir ought For all that euer I syke may I am concluded with a nay That o sillable hath ouer throwe A thousand wordes on a rowe Of suche as I best speke can Thus am I but a leude man But fader for ye ben a clerke Of loue and this matere is derke And I can euer lenger the lasse But yet I may not lete it passe Your hole counceyl I beseche That ye me by some weye teche what is my best as for an ende ¶ My sonne vnto the trouth wende Nowe woll I for the loue of the And lete all other tryfles be ⧠Hic super amoris causa finita confessione 〈◊〉 Genius ea / que sibi salubrius expedi 〈◊〉 consilio finaliter iniungit ¶ The more that the nede is bye The more it nedeth to be slye To him whiche hath the nede on honde I haue well herde and vnderstonde My sonne all that thou hast me seyed And eke of that thou hast me prayed Nowe at this tyme that I shall As for conclusion final Counceyl vpon thy nede set So thinke I fynally to knette Thy cause there it is to broke And make an ende of that is spoke For I behight the that gyfte Fyrst whan thou come vnder my shryft That though I towarde Venus were Yet spake I suche wordes there That for the presthode whiche I haue Myn order and myn estate to saue I sayde I wolde of myn offyce To vertu more than to vyce Enclyne and teche the my lore For thy to speken ouermore Of loue whiche the may auayle Take loue where it may auayle For as of this whiche thou arte in By that thou seest it is a synne And synne may no pryce deserue whithoute pryce and who shall serue I note what proffyt might auayle This foloweth it if thou trauayle where thou no proffyt hast ne pryce Thou arte towarde thy selfe vnwyse And syth thou mightest lust atteyne Of euery lust the ende is peyne And euery peyne is good to flee So is it wonder thinge to se why suche a thynge shall be desyred The more that a stocke is fyred The rather in to asshe it torneth The fote which in the weye sporneth Full ofte his hede hath ouerthrowe Thus loue is blynde and can not knowe where that he goeth tyl he be falle For thy but if it so befalle with good counceyle that he be ladde Hym ought for to ben a drad For counceyl passeth all thinge To him whiche thinketh to ben a kinge And euery man for his partye A kyngdome hath to iustifye That is to seyn his owne dome If he misrule that kyngdome He leseth him selfe that is more Than if he lost shyp and ore And all the worldes good with alle For what man that in speciall Hath not him selfe he hath not els No more the perles than the shels Al is to him of o value Though he had all his retynewe The wyde worlde ryght as he wolde whan he his herte hath not with holde Towarde him selfe al is in vayne And thus my sonne I wolde seyne As I sayd er that thou aryse Er that thou falle in suche awyse That thou ne might thy selfe recouer For loue which that blynde was euer Makth all his seruauntes blynde also My sonne and if thou haue ben so Yet is it tyme to withdrawe And set thyn herte vnder that lawe The whiche of reason is gouerned And not of wylle and to be lerned Ensaumple thou hast many one Of nowe and eke of tyme a gone That euery lust is but a whyle And who that wyl him selfe begyle He may the rather be disceyued My sonne nowe thou hast conceyued Somwhat of that I wolde mene Here afterwarde it shall be sene If that thou leue vpon my lore For I can do to the no more But teche the the ryght weye Nowe chese if thou wylt lyue or deye ¶ Hic loquitur de controuersia que in ter confessorem et amantem in fine confessionis versabatur ¶ My fader so as I haue herde Your tale but it were answerde I were mochel for to blame My wo to you is but a game That feleth not of that I fele The felynge of a mans hele May not be lykened to the herte I nought though I wolde a sterte And ye be fre frome all the peyne Of loue wherof I me pleyne It is right easy to commaunde The herte / which fre goeth on the laūde Not of an oxe what him eyleth It falleth ofte a man merueyleth Of that he seeth another fare But if he knewe him selfe the fare And felte it as it is in soth He shulde do right as he doth Or elles wors in his degre For wel I wote and so do ye That loue hath euer yet ben vsed So mote I nede ben excused But fader if ye wolde thus Vnto Cupyde and to Venus Be frendly toward my quarele So that my herte were in hele Of loue whiche is in my breste I wote wel than a better preste was neuer made to my behoue But all the whyle that I houe In none certeyn betwene the two I not where I to wel or wo Shall torne that is all my drede So that I not what is to rede But for fynall conclusion I thynke a supplicacion with playne wordes and expresse wryte vnto Venus the goddesse The whiche I praye you to bere And brynge ageyne a good answere Tho was betwene my preste and me Debate and great perplexite My reason vnderstode him wele And knewe it was soth euery dele That he hath sayd but not for thy My wylle hath no thynge set there by For towchinge of so wyse a porte It is vnto loue no disporte Yet might neuer man beholde Reason where loue was withholde They be
mans to kynge Alexander fo xci ¶ The fyrste culture or worshippinge of ydols fo eodem ¶ The seconde that fonde out ymages fo xcii ¶ The thyrde ymage fo eodem ¶ Of the Iewes Synagoge the which fayled whan the churche of Chryste began fo eodem ¶ Of the Chrysten feyth fo xciii ¶ Howe Thoas the high preste of the Temple of Mynerue was corrupted with gold and how he turned his face a syde wyttyngly whyle Anthenor toke awey the Palladium fo eodem ¶ A notable sayenge of saynte Gregory touchinge the increace of the Christen feyth fo xciiii ¶ Of the spice of auarice that is called Couetyse fo eodem ¶ A great and notable example of the Couetous emperour of Rome calledde Crassus fo eodem ¶ Of them that serue princes and grutche at theyr rewarde fo xcvi ¶ Howe themperour Frederike herde two poure men stryue of which the one sayd that he may wel be ryche whome the kinge woll and the other sayde he who that god woll shall be ryche and howe themperour made a proffe therof fo eodem ¶ Of the kynges stewarde that shamfully folde his wyfe for couetousnesse of money fo xcviii ¶ Of the spices of Auarice called false witnes and periurye fo xcix ¶ Howe Thetis clothed Achilles hir sonne in a maydes clothinge and sente him to kinge Lychomede where he lay with his doughter got hir with child bow at last he was perceiued fo eodeÌ„ ¶ Howe Iason woÌ„ne the flees of golde and after falsly forsoke Medea for loue of Creusa fo ci ¶ How Medea by her artemagik made olde Eson that was Iasons father yonge agayne fo cv ¶ Howe the golden flees came fyrste in to the yle of Colchos fo cvi ¶ Of the spyce of auarice whiche is called vsurye fo cvii. ¶ Howe Iuno auenged her vpon Eccho for hir baudrye fo cviii ¶ Of the spice of auarice that is called Scarsnesse fo cix ¶ Howe the Romayne nigarde called Babione was deceyued of his fayre loue Viola by the liberalite and gentilnesse of Croceus fo eodem ¶ Of that monstrous spyce of auarice the whiche is called Ingratitude or vnkyndnes fo cx ¶ How vnkindely Adrian the Senatour of Rome quytte the kindenesse of the poure man called Bardus which saued his lyfe fo eodeÌ„ ¶ Howe vnkyndly and falsly duke Theseus quytte the great kyndenes of the yonge lady Ariadne fo cxii ¶ Of the spice of auarice the whiche is called Rauyne the whose mother is called Extorcion fo cxiii ¶ How Thereus rauisshed Philomene and howe hir syster Prognes and she did reuenge it fo eodem ¶ Of the spice of auarice that is called Thefte fo cxvi ¶ How Neptune wolde haue rauisshed the fayre virgin Cornix howe she was preserued from him by Pallas fo cxvii ¶ Howe Iupiter transformed him selfe in to the lyknesse of a mayden and so rauisshed Calisto fo eodem ¶ what the fayre yonge man Phirinus did to th ende that he wolde kepe his chastyte fo eodem ¶ A comendacion of virginite fo cxviii ¶ Howe the emperour Valentinian reioysed more that he hadde subdued his flesshe kepte him selfe a virgine than of all his other victories fo eodem ¶ Of the spyce of Couetousnes called secrete thefte fo cxix ¶ Howe Phebus defouled the mayde Leucothea and how hir father therfore buryed hir quycke fo cxx ¶ Howe Hercules chaunged raymente with his loue Iole howe therby Fauâ—â—â— was dsceyued and came to bedde to Hercules fo cxxii ¶ Of the spyce of Couetyse called Saâ—â—lege fo eodem ¶ Of thre great Capytaines that comâ—â—â— sacrylege fo eodem ¶ Of the wrytyng that the hand wrote 〈◊〉 walle in the tyme of Balthasar 〈◊〉 fo cxxiii ¶ Of â—â—â—ke in Rome that was called 〈…〉 whiche committed sacrylege 〈…〉 conscience fo eodem 〈◊〉 â—owe Paris kinge Priamus sonne 〈◊〉 â—â—ly rauysshed in the temple of 〈◊〉 â—ayre Helayne kynge Menalay 〈◊〉 howe he ledde hir awaye with 〈◊〉 fo cxxiiii ¶ Of the vertue the whiche is called 〈◊〉 that stondeth betwene Libeâ—â—â—â— and Prodigalyte fo cxxvi The contentis of the syxte boke ¶ Of the synne of Glotonny and of 〈◊〉 spyces that longe therto Dronkeship and Delycacy fo cxxvii ¶ Of Iupiters two tonnes fo cxxx ¶ Howe Bacchus beinge destitute of drynke for him and his hoste prayde vnto Iupiter and howe he was satisfyed to his mynde fo eodem ¶ Howe Trystram was of loue dronke on Bell I soulde fo eodem ¶ Howe the dronken Centaures rauisshed the fayre Ipotacia the same daye that Perithous wedded hir fo eodem ¶ Howe Galba and Vitellus two gentylmen of Spayne for there riote were iuged to deth and howe they chees to dye beinge dronken fo eodem ¶ Of that spyce of glotonnye that is called Delycacy fo eodem ¶ The euangelical exemple of Diues Lazar ageynste the delycate fo cxxxii ¶ The delicate syght in loue fo cxxxii ¶ The delyte of the ear in loue fo cxxxiii ¶ The delycate thought in loue fo eodeÌ„ ¶ The delicacy of Nero fo eodem ¶ Howe Delicacy and dronkenesse prouocke carnall concupiscence fo cxxxiiii ¶ The names of bokes and authors that wrote as welle of naturall as cursed magike fo eodem ¶ Howe Vlisses returninge home from the syge of Troye / arriued in the I le of Cilli where dwelt the great witche Circes on whome he begate a sonne that after slewe him fo cxxxv ¶ Howe Nectanabus by his arte magike deceyued Olimpias king Philippe of Macedones wyfe whyle be was absent and on hir gote Alexander the great Conquerour and howe he was afterwarde of his owne sonne the same Alexander slayne fo cxxxvii ¶ Howe Zorastes the fyrste fynder of art magyk laughed at his birth howe the king of Surrie slewe him fo cxl ☞ The contentis of the .vii. boke ¶ Of the doctryne of Aristotel whiche he taught Alexander and how philosophie is deuided into thre partes fo eodeÌ„ ¶ Of Theoryke the fyrste part of philosohie / the which is departed vpon thre that is to say Theologie Phisyke and Mathematike fyrste of Theologâ— fo eo ¶ Of essencia whiche is thâ—â— maner wyse fâ—â—odem ¶ Of the seconde parte of Theorike called phisike fo eodem ¶ Of the thirde parte of Theorike called Mathematike whiche conteyneth in it .iiii. sciences the fyrst of them is Arithmetike fo eodem ¶ Of Musike the seconde parte of Mathematike fo eodem ¶ The thirde spice of Mathematike whiche is called Geometrie fo eodem ¶ The creation of the .iiii. elementes of theyr propertes fo cxlii ¶ Of the erthe the fyrst element fo eo ¶ Of the water the second elemeÌ„t fo eo ¶ Of the aire the third element fo eodeÌ„ ¶ Howe the ayre is deuided into thre periferiis fo eodem ¶ Of the first periferi of th aire fo eodeÌ„ ¶ Of the second periferi of th aire fo eo ¶ Of the thirde periferi of thair fo eod ¶ Of the fleinge
tolde the trouth of his foole fo eodem ¶ Howe Roboas by enclyning to yonge counsayle and refusynge of olde lost .x. partes of his kyngedome fo eodem ¶ whether were beter a wise prince with yuell counsayle or a folisshe prince with good counseyle fo clxvi ¶ Of Anthonius whiche by example of Scipio sayde he had leauer to saue o 〈…〉 his owne people than slee an L. of 〈◊〉 â—emes fo eodem ¶ Of â—he fyfte polycie belongynge to a prynce called chastite fo eodem ¶ Howe a prynce to reioyce his mynde ought some tyme to beholde beautyfull women fo clxvii ¶ Howe Sardanapaulus became all womanliche wherby he was subdued and lost his realme fo eodem ¶ Howe kynge Dauid for the loue of women lefte not of the exercise of knighthode fo eodem ¶ How Cirus the kinge of Perse coude not subdue the Lydes tyll by disceyte be caused them to falle to lykinges of flesshely lustes fo eodem ¶ Howe Amoleche by counsayle of Balaam sent feyre women to the hebrewes whiche were cause that the hebrewes were ouercome and discomfite fo clxviii ¶ Howe Salomon was ouercome with carnall concupiscence and howe by then ticiment of his concubines he dyd worshyppe false goddes fo eodem ¶ Howe Achias the prophet shewed before vnto Ieroboas the son of Nabal that after Salomons deth he shulde reigne ouer .x. tribes of Israell fo eodem ¶ Howe Arrous the sonne of Tarquine by a false imagination deceyued and subdued the Gabiens fo clxix ¶ How and vnder what maner Arrous rauished Lucrece fo eodem ¶ Howe the worthy knyght Virginius slough his owne doughter because she shulde not lese her virginite fo clxxii ¶ A ryght notable example bowe the delite and lust in maryage ought to be moderate by the seuen husbondes of Sara the doughter of Raguelis which were slayne the fyrst night of their mariage by a fende called Asmodius And howe Thoby was preseruedde by the counseile of the angel Raphael fo eodeÌ„ ⧠The contentis of the eyght boke ¶ Howe some in loues cause do against nature as in theyr kynred and syâ—rede both contrary to the lawes of reasone and of the churche fo clxxiii ¶ Howe Caius Calygula lay by his owne thre sisters and afterwarde exiled them And howe Amon also ageynste kinde rauished his owne syster Tâ—amar the whiche dede he dere a bought â—fterwarde fo clxxiiii ¶ How Loth lay by his owne two doughters and gote on them two sonnes of the which the one was called Moab and the other Amon fo clxxv ¶ A wretched example of a king named Antiochus whiche defouled his owne doughter and of the probleme that he put to them that desyred to haue her vnto wyfe fo eodem ¶ Howe Appolyn of Tyre came to Antioche and desyred the kinges doughter and howe he assoyled the kynges probleme fo eodem ¶ what the question was that the kyng Antiochus put to them that desyred to haue his doughter fo clxxvi ¶ Howe Appolyn for feare of the great and cruelle kynge Antiochus fledde aweye and durste not abyde in his owne propre countrey fo clxxvii ¶ Howe the kynge Antiochus sente a â—â—â—ht pryuely to Tyre to slee Appolyne 〈◊〉 poyâ—â—n fo eodem ¶ Howe Appolyn arriued in the hauen of â—haâ—â—â— and was lodged with Stranâ—â—â—â— fo eodem ¶ Howe one Hilcane a citezen of Tyre 〈◊〉 â—o Tharse and howe he knewe Apâ—â—â—â—â— and warned hym of Antiochus 〈◊〉 and howe Appolyn therfore for 〈◊〉 â—â—â—rfe and sayled to Pentapolyn 〈◊〉 â—â—we he dydde behaue hym selfe 〈◊〉 fo clxxvij ¶ Howe the kynges doughter of Penâ—â—â—â— loued Appolyn and forsoke all 〈◊〉 â—â—r his sake that offered to marye 〈◊〉 â—â—d howe atte laste he maryed 〈◊〉 fo eodem ¶ Howe Appolinus wyfe trauayled on the 〈◊〉 and howe she there dyed and of the great calamites that felle to hym afterwarde fo clxxix ¶ How Appolyn delyuered his doughter to nource and of the wretched chances that she had fo clxxx ¶ Of the dole and beuynes that Appolâ—â— made whaÌ„ he thought his doughter hadde ben deed and howe at laste he sonde her fo clxxx iij. ¶ Howe Apolyn mette with his wyfe that he for deade before hadde cast in to the see fo clxxxiiij ¶ Howe Apolin toke wreche on Strangulio and Dionyse his wyfe for theyr falsheed fo eodem ¶ Howe the louer for a fynal conclusion of his confession desyred counsayle of his confessor fo clxxxv ¶ Howe fynally Genius enioyneth the louer these thynges that be bolsome for hym fo eodem ¶ The controuersye that felle betwen the confessor and the louer in the ende of his confession fo clxxxvi ¶ The fourme of a supplication that Genius in the louers behalfe delyuered to Venus fo eodem ¶ The aunswere that Venus made to the same supplication after she hadde resceyued it fo clxxxvij ¶ Howe Venus scorneth them which that in theyr olde age sette theyr hartes to be louers fo eodem ¶ Howe the mockynge exhortation of Venus had almost slayne the louer for sorowe fo eodem ¶ The names of the ioly louers bothe yonge and olde that came to comforte this louer in his dedly peyne fo eodem ¶ Howe Cupyde whan he had serched the bowels of the louer and fonde that he was wetheredde awey by age drewe out of hym his fyry darte fo clxxxix ¶ Howe the state of manne is compared to the monthes of the yere fo Lxc. ¶ Here in the ende he maketh a recapitulation on that that he promysed touchynge loues cause in the begynnynge of the boke for he concludeth that all delectation of loue out of Charite is nothynge fo Lxci ¶ Thus endeth the table of this warke entitled Gower de Confessione Amantis ¶ To the moste victorious / and our moste gracious soueraigne lorde kynge Henry the .viii. kynge of Englande and of France / Defender of the feyth / and lorde of Irelande c. PLutarke wryteth / whan Alexander had discoÌ„fyte Darius the kynge of Perse / amonge other iewels of the sayde kynges there was founde a curyous lyttell cheste of great value / whiche the noble kynge Alexander beholdynge / sayde This same shall serue for Homere whiche is noted for the great loue and fauour / that Alexander had vnto lernynge But this I thynke veryly / that his loue and fauour therto / was not so great as your gracis whiche caused me / moost victorious / and most redoubted souerayne lorde / after I had printed this warke / to deuyse with my selfe / whether I myght be so bolde to presente your hyghnesse with one of them / and so in your gracis name putte them forthe your moste hygh and most princely maieste abasshed and cleane discouraged me so to do / both bicause the present as concernynge the value was farre to symple / as me thought / and bycause it was none other wyse my acte / but as I toke some peyne to prynte it more correctly than it was before And though I shulde
This boke vpon amendement To stonde at his commaundement with whom myn herte is of acorde I sende vnto myn owne lorde whiche of Lancastre is Henry named The hyghe god hath hym proclamed Full of knyghthode and al grace So wolde I nowe this werke embrace with holle truste and holle beleue God graunte I mote it well acheue â—â—â—â—as preterituÌ„ praesens fortuna beatum 〈◊〉 et antiquas uertit in orbe mas 〈…〉 â—â—rerâ—m concors dilectio pacem â—â—mâ—â—â—cies hominis nuncia mentis erat 〈◊〉 aâ—â—olor tunc temporis aura refulsit 〈◊〉 planç cuncque fuere â—â—ae Nâ—â—â—que latens odium â—ultuÌ„ depingit amoris 〈…〉 sub fiâ—ta tempus ad arma tegit 〈…〉 â—â—aâ—â—s mutabile cameliontis 〈…〉 â—â—egnis sunt noua iura nouis 〈…〉 â—pâ—uerant solidissima sicque per orbem â—â—â—cantur nâ—â— eo contra quietis habent 〈…〉 â—eâ—â—coâ—e vt dicunt secunduÌ„ temâ—â—â—◠〈…〉 â—â—icet tempore regio Riâ—â—◠〈…〉 secundâ— Anno regni 〈◊〉 â—â—â—to decimo ¶ If I shall drawe in to my mynde 〈◊〉 â—â—me passed than I fynde 〈◊〉 â—â—â—ide stode in all his welthe 〈…〉 the lyfe of man in helth 〈…〉 plâ—nte tho was rychesse 〈◊〉 the fortune tho was prowesse 〈…〉 knyghthode in prys by name 〈…〉 the wide worldes fame 〈…〉 Cronycles is yet withholde 〈…〉 â—â—we thâ— was holde 〈…〉 â—â—â—â—â—â—ge oâ— regalye 〈…〉 â—â—d all the Baronye 〈◊〉 â—â—pped was in his astate 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 es knewe no debate 〈◊〉 people stode in obeysaunce 〈◊〉 the rule of gouernaunce 〈◊〉 â—â—â—â—s with rightwysnesse keste 〈◊〉 â—arite tho stode in reste 〈◊〉 â—â—â—â—nes herte the courage 〈◊〉 â—â—â—wed then in the visage 〈◊〉 â—â—â—de was lyke to the conceyte 〈◊〉 semblaunt of deceyte 〈◊〉 was there vnenuied loue 〈◊〉 was vertue set aboue Aâ—â—â—â—ce was put vnder fote Nowe staâ—te the crope vnder the rote The worlde is chaunged ouerall And therof moste in speciall That loue is falle in to discorde And that I take in to recorde Of euery londe for his partye The comen voyce / whiche may not lye Nought vpon one but vpon all Is that men nowe clepe and calle And seyn / that reignes bene deuided In stede of loue is hate guyded The werre wol no pees purchace And lawe hath take her double face So that Iustice out of the way with ryghtwysenes is gone away And thus to loke on euery halue Men sene the sore without salue whiche all the worlde hath ouertake Ther is no reigne of all out take For euery clymat hath his dele After the turnynge of the whele whiche blynde fortune ouerthroweth wherof the certayne no man knoweth The heuen wote what is to done But we that dwelle vnder the mone Stonde in this worlde vpon a were And namely but the power Of them that bene the worldes guides with good counseylle on all sides Ben kept vpright in suche a wyse That hate breke nought thassise Of loue / whiche is all the chiefe To kepe a reigne out of mischiefe For all reason wolde this That vnto him / whiche the heed is The membres buxom shall bowe And he shulde eke their trouth alowe with all his hert / and make them chere For good counseyll is good to here All though a man be wyse hym selue yet is the wysdome more of twelue And if they stonde both in one To hope it were then anone That god his grace wolde sende To make of thylke werre an ende whiche euery day nowe groweth newe And that is greately for to rewe In specyall for Christes sake whiche wolde his owne lyfe forsake Amonge the men to yeuen pees But nowe men tellen netheles That loue is from the worlde departed So stant the pees yneuen parted with them that lyuen now a dayes But for to loke at all assayes To hym / that wold reson seche After the comen worldes speche It is to wonder of thylke werre In which none wote who hath the wer For euery lond hym selfe deceyueth And of dysese his parte receyueth And yet take men no kepe But thylke lorde / whiche all may kepe To whom no counseyll may be hyd Vpon the worlde / whiche is betide Amende that / wherof men pleyne with trewe hertes and with pleyne And reconsele loue agayne As he / whiche is kynge souerayne Of all the worldes gouernaunce And of his hygh purueyance Afferme pece bytwene the londes / And take their cause in to his bondes So that the world may stande appesed And his godheede also be plesed Quas coluit Moses uetê° aut nouus ipse IoaÌ„nes Hesternas leges uix colit ista dies Sic prius Ecclesia bina uirtute polita Nunc magis inculta pallet uâ—taque uia Pacificam Petri naginam mucro resumens Horruit ad Christi uerba cruoris iter Nunc tamen assiduo gladiuÌ„ de sanguine tinctuÌ„ Vibrat auaricia lege repente sacra Sic lupê° est pastor pat hostis mors miserator Praedoque largitor pax et in orbe timor ¶ De statu cferi vt dicunt secunduÌ„ spuÌ„asia videlicet tempore Roberti Gisbonensiâ— / qui nomen Clementis fortitus est sibi tunc Antipape ¶ To thynke vpon the dayes olde The lyfe of clerkes to beholde Men seyn how that they were tho Ensample / and rewle of all tho which of wisdome the vertue soughten Vnto the god fyrste they besoughten As to the substaunce of their schole That they ne sholde not befole Her wytre vpon none erthly werkes whiche were ayene the astate of clerkes And that they myghten flee the vyce whiche Symon hath in his offyce wherof he taketh golde in bonde For thylke tyme I vnderstonde The lumbarde made non eschaunge The bisshopryches for to chaunge Ne yet a letter for to sende For dignyte / ne for prouende Or cured / or without cure The churche kay in aduenture Of armes and of brigantaylle Stode no thynge then vpon bataylle To fyght or for to make cheste It thought them then not honeste But of symplycite and pacyence They maden then no defence The courte of worldly regallie To them was then no bayllie The vayne honour was nought desired whiche hath the proude herte fyred The humylite was tho withholde And pryde was a vyce holde Of holy churche the largesse / yafe then and dyd great almesse To poure men that had nede They were eke chast in word and dede wherof the people ensample toke Their lust was all vpon the boke Or for to preche or for to pray To wysse men the ryght waye Of suche as stode of trouth vnlered Lo thus is Peters bargestered Of them that thylke tyme were And thus came fyrste to mannes ere The feyth of Christe and all good Through them that then were good And sobre / and chaste / and large wise And nowe men seyn is other wyfe Symon the cause hath vndertake The worldes swerde in hond is take And that is wounder netheles whan Christe him selfe hath bode pees And set it in his testement How nowe that holy churche is went Of
whiche Acteon 〈◊〉 â—hete and he was Cosyn nyghe 〈◊〉 hâ—m that Thebes firste on high By set whiche kynge Cadme hyght This Acteon / as he wel myght A 〈◊〉 all other cast his chere And vsed it from yere to yere with houndes and with great bornes Amonge the wodes / and the thornes To make his huntynge / and his chace where hym best thought in euery place To fynde game in his way There rode he for to hunte and play So hym befelle vpon a ryde On his huntynge as he can ryde In a foreste a lone he was He sawe vpon the grene gras The fayre floures fresshe sprynge He herd amonge the leues synge The throstel / with the nyghtyngale Thus er he wyste in to a dale He came / wher was a lytell pleyne All rounde aboute / well beseyne with busshes grene / and cedres bye And there within he caste his eye A myddes the playne he sawe a welle So fayre there myght no man telle In whiche Diana naked stode To bathe and play her in the flode with many nimphes / which her serueth But he his eye awey ne swerueth From her / whiche was naked all And she was wonder wroth with all And hym / as she whiche was goddesse Fo rs hope anone / and the likenesse She made him taken of an herte whiche was tofore his houÌ„des sterte That rone besily aboute with many an horne / and many a route That maden moche noyse and crie And at the laste vnhappilye This hert his owne houndes slough And hym for vengeaunce all to drough ¶ Lo nowe my sone what it is A man to caste his eye amis whiche Acteon hath dere abought Beware for thy / and do it nought For ofte / who that hede toke Better is to wynke than to loke And for to prouen it is so Ouide the Poete also A tale whiche to this matere Acordeth sayth / as thou shalt here ¶ Hic ponit aliud exeÌ„pfuÌ„ de eodeÌ„ vbi dicit quod quid aÌ„ princeps nomine Forcus tres progenuit filias Gorgones a vulgo nuncupatas que vno partu exorte deformitateÌ„ monstroruÌ„ serpentinaÌ„ obtinuerunt quibus cuÌ„ in etatem peruenerant talis destinata fuerit natura quod quicuÌ„que in eas aspiceret in lapideÌ„ fubito mutabatur et sic quaÌ„plures incaute respicientes visis illis perierunt sed Perseus miles clipeo Palladis / gladioque Mercurij munitus eas extra monteÌ„ AtlaÌ„tis cohabitaÌ„tes aio audaci absque sui periculo interfecit ¶ In Methamor it telleth thus How that a lorde / whiche Forcus was hote / had doughters thre But vpon their natiuite Suche was the constellacion That out of mannes nacion Fro kynde they be so myswent That to the lykenes of a serpent They were bothe / and that one Of them was cleped Stellybone That other suster Suryale The thyrde as telleth in the tale Medusa hyght / and netheles Of comon name Gorgones In euery countrey there about As monstres / whiche that men doute Men clepen them / and but one eye Amonge them thre in purpartie They had / of whiche they myght se Nowe hathe it this / nowe hath it she After that cause and nede it ladde By throwes eche of them it hadde A wonder thyng yet more amys There was / wherof I telle all this what man on them his chere caste And them behelde / he was al 's faste Out of man in to a stone Forshape / and thus full many one Deceyued were / of that they wolde Misloke / where they ne shulde But Perseus / that worthy knyght whome Pallas / of her great myght Halpe / and toke hym a shelde therto And eke the god Mercury also Lent hym a swerde he as it fylle Beyonde Athlans the hyghe hylle These moÌ„stres sought / there he fonde Diuerse men of thylke londe Through sight of them mistorned were Standinge as stones here and there But he which wysdome and prowesse Hath of the god and the godesse The shelde of Pallas gan embrace with whiche he couereth saufe his face And Mercurius swerde out he drough And so he bare hym / that he slough These dredfull monstres all thre Confessor ¶ Lo nowe my sonne auyse the That thou thy syght not misuse Cast not thin eye vpon Meduse That thou be torned in to stone For so wyse man was neuer none But yf he woll his eye kepe And take of foule delyte no kepe That he with luste nis ofte nome Through strengthe of loue / ouercome Of mislokynge howe it hath ferde As I haue tolde / nowe hast thou herde My good sonne take good hede And ouer this I the rede That thou beware of thine herynge whiche to the harte the tydinge Of many a vanite hath brought To tarye with a manes thought And netheles good is to here Suche thynge / wherof a man may lere That to vertue is accordaunt And towarde all the remenaunt Good is to torne his ere fro For elles but a man do so Hym may full ofte mysbefalle I rede ensample amonges alle wherof to kepe wel an eare It ought put a man in feare ¶ Hic confessor exempluÌ„ narrat / vt non ab auris exauditione fatua animus deceptus inuolâ—atur Et dicit qualiter ille serpens qui aspis vocatur quendaÌ„ preciosissimuÌ„ lapidem nomine caâ— bunculuÌ„ in sue frontis medio geftans coÌ„tra verba incantantis aurem vnaÌ„ terre affigeÌ„do prema aliaÌ„ sue caude stimulo firmissime obturat ¶ A serpent / whiche that aspidis Is cleped / of his kynde hath this That he the stone noblest of all The whiche that men CarbuÌ„cle call Bereth in his heed aboue on high For whiche whan that a man by slight The stone to wynne / hym to daunte with his carecte hym wolde enchaunte Anone as he perceyueth that He leyth downe his one eare all plat Vnto the grounde / and halt it fast And eke that tother eare al 's faste He stoppeth with his taylle so sore That he the wordes / lasse or more Of his enchauntement ne hereth And in this wyse hym selfe he skyereth So that he hath the wordes wayued And thus his eare is nought deceyued ¶ Aliud exempluÌ„ super eodeÌ„ qualiter rex Vlix es cuÌ„ a bello Troiano versus Greciam nauigio remiaret et prope issa monstra a maxima Syrenes micuâ—ata angefica voce canorans ipsum veÌ„â—â—rum aduersitate nauigare oporteret omnium nautarum suorum aures obturari coegit ¶ In other thyng who that recordeth Lyke vnto this sample acordeth whiche in the tale of Troye I fynde Syrenes of a wonder kynde Ben monstres / as the bokes tellen And in the great see they dwellen Of body bothe and of vysage Lyke vnto women of yonge age Vp fro the nauyl on highe they be And downe benethe as men may se They bere of fysshes the fygure And ouer this of suche nature They beâ— that with so swete a
steuen Lyke to the melodye of heuen In womens voyce they synge with notes of so great lykinge Of suche measure / of suche musyke wherof the shippes they beswyke That passen by the costes there For wâ—an the shipmen lay an eare Vnto the voyce in there aduyce They wene it be a paradise whiche after is to them an helle For reson may not with them dwelle whan they the great lustes here They can not theyr shippes stere So â—â—syly vpon the note They herken and in suche wyse assote That they their ryght cours and weye Forâ—ete and to their eare obeye And saylen / tyll it so befalle That they in to the perylle falle where as the shippes ben to drawe And they be with the monstres slawe But fro this perylle netheles with his wysedome kynge Vlyxes Escapeth and it ouer passeth For he to fore the hande compasseth That no man of his companye Hath power vnto that folye His care for no luste to caste For he then stopped al 's faste That non of them may here them singe So whan they come forth saylinge There was suche gouernaunce on bond That the monstres haue withstonde And slough of them a great partye Thus was he saufe with his nauye This wyse kynge through gouernaunce Confessor ¶ Herof my sonne in remembraunce Thou myght ensample taken here As I haue tolde / and what thou here Be well ware / and yeue no credence But if thou se more euydence For if thou woldest take kepe And wysely couthest warde and kepe Thyne eye and eare / as I haue spoke Than haddest thou the gates stoke Fro suche foly / as cometh to wynne Thyn hertes wytte / whiche is within wherof that nowe thy loue excedeth Measure / and many a peyne bredeth But if thou couthest sette in rewle Tho two / the thre were ethe to rewle For thy as of thy wyttes fyue I woll as nowe no more shryue But only of these ylke two Tel me therfore if it be so Hast thou thyne eye ought mystbrowe Amans ¶ My fader ye / I am beknowe I haue them cast vpon Meduse Therof I may me nought excuse Myn hert is growen in to stone So that my lady there vpon Hath suche a printe of loue graue That I can nought my selfe saue Opponit Confessor ¶ what saiste thou sonne / as of thin ere My fader I am gylty there For whan I my lady here My witte with that hath loste his stere I do nought as Vlyxes dede But falle anon vpon the stede where as I se my lady stonde And there I do you vnderstonde I am to pulled in my thought So that of reason leueth nought wherof that I may me defende Confessor ¶ My good sonne god the amende For as me thynketh by thy speche Thy wyttes be ryght far to seche As of thyn eare / and of thyn eye I woll no more specifye But I woll asken ouer this Of other thynge howe that it is Celsior est aquilaque leone forcior ille Quem tumor elati cordis ad alta mouer Sunt species quinque quibus est superbia ductrix Clamat et in multis mundus adheret eis Laruando faciem ficto pallore subornat Fraudibus hypocrisis mellea uerba suis Sicque pios animos quam saepe ruit muliebres Ex humili uerbo sublatitante dolo ¶ Hic foquitur quod septem sunt peccata moria fia quoruÌ„ caput superbia varias speties habet earuÌ„ prima hypocrisis dicitur cuius proprietateÌ„ secunduÌ„ vitium Confessor amanti declarat ¶ My sonne / as I shall the enforme There ben yet of a nother forme Of dedly vyces seuen applyed wherof the herte is often plyed To thyng / which after shal hym greue The fyrst of them thou shalt beleue Is pryâ—◠〈◊〉 â—â—che is principall And haâ—â— with hym in speciall Mynistres fyue full dyuerse Of whiche as I the shal reherce The fyrst is sayde hypocrisye If thou art of his companye Telle forth my sonne / shryne the clene Amans ¶ I wote not fadre what ye mene / But this I wolde you beseche That ye me by somwey teche what is to ben an hypocrite And than if I be for to wyte I woll beknowen / as it is Confessor ¶ My sonne / an hypocrite is this A man whiche feyneth conscyence As though it were all innocence without / and is not so within And doth / so for he wolde wynne Of his desyre the veyne astate And whan he cometh anone there at He sheweth than / what he was The corne is torned in to grasse That was a Rose / is than a thorne And he that was a lambe beforne Is than a wolfe and thus malyce Vnder the colour of iustyce Is had / and as the people telleth These ordres wyten where he dwelleth As he that of her counseyll is And thylke worde / whiche they er this Forsoken / he draweth in ayene He clotheth ryches as men seyne Vnder the symplest of pouerte And doth to seme of great deserte Thynge / whiche is lytell worthe within He seyth in open / phy / to synne And in secrete there is no vyce Of whiche that he nys a noryce And euer his chere is sobre and softe And where he goth he blesseth ofte wherof the blynde worlde he dretcheth But yet all onely he ne stretcheth His rewle vpon relygion But next to that condicion In suche as clepe them holy churche It sheweth eke howe he can worche Amonge the wyde furred hodes To gete them the worldes goodes And them selfe ben thylke same That setten moste the worlde in blame But yet in contrarye of their lore There is nothynâ— they louen more So that femynge of lyght they werke The dedes / whiche are inwarde derke And thus this double hypocrisye with is deuoute apparancye A vyser set vpon his face wherof towarde the worldes grace He semeth to be ryght wel thewed And yet his herte is all besbrewed But netheles he stant beleued And hath his purpos ofte acheued Of worship / and of worldes welthe And taketh it / as who sayth by stelthe Through couerture of his fallas And ryght so in semblable cas This vyce hath eke his offycers Amonge these other seculers Of great men / for of the smale As for to accompt he set no tale But they that passen the coÌ„mune with suche hym lyketh to coÌ„mune And where he sayth / he woll socoure The people / there he woll deuoure For nowe a day is many one whiche speketh of Peter and of IohnÌ„ And thynketh Iudas in his hert There shall no worldes good astert His hande and yet he geueth almesse And fasteth ofte / and hereth messe with mea culpa whiche he seyth Vpon his breste full ofte he leyth His hande and cast vpwarde his eye As though Christes face he seie So that it semeth at syght As he alone all other myght Rescue with his holy dede But yet his herte in other stede Amonge his beades moste
oâ— this cause he was respited 〈◊〉 that the death hym was acquited 〈…〉 â—ll that he was exyled Yâ—â— he his loue had so begyled â—hat he shall neuer come ayene yâ—â— hâ— that is to trouth vnpleyne He may not faylen of vengeaunce And eke to take remembraunce Of that hypocrisie hath wrought On other halue men shulden nought To lyghtly leue all that they here But than shulde a wyseman stere The shyp whan suche wyndes blowe For fyrst though they begynne lowe At ende they be nought meuable But all to broke mast and cable So that the shyp with sodayne blast whan men leste wene to ouercast As nowe full often a man may se And of olde tyme howe it hath be I fynde a great experyence wherof to take an euydence Good is and to beware also Of the peryll or hym be woo ¶ Hic vsterius ponit exemplum de issa etiam hipocrisia / que inter virum et virum deciptens periculo sissima consistit / Si narrat qualiter Gâ—eci in obsidione ciuitatis Troie cum ipsam vi apprehendere nullatenus potuerut fallaci animo cum Troianis pacem vt dicunt pro perpetuo statuebant et super hoc quendam equm mire grassionis de ere fabricatum ad sacrificaÌ„dum in tempso Minerue confingentes Of them that ben so derke within At Troye also if we begynne Hypocrisie it hath betrayde For whan the grekes had all assayed And fonde that by no batayle Ne by no syege it myght auayle The towne to wynne through prowesse This vice fayned of symplesse Through sleyght of Cale as of Cryse It wanne by suche a maner wyse An horse of brasse they lette do forge Of suche entayle and of suche a forge That in this worlde was neuer man That suche an other werke began The crafty werkeman Epius It made and for to telle thus The grekes that thoughten to begyle The kynge of Troye in thylke whyle with Antenor and with Ence That were bothe of the citie And of the counsell the wysest The rychest / and the myghtiest In priue place so they treate with fayre behestes and yeftes greate Of golde / that they than haue engined To gether / and whan they be couined They feynen for to make peace And vnder that neuer the lesse They shopen the destruction Bothe of the kyng and of the towne And thus the fals peace was take Of them of Grece and vndertake And thervpon they fonde awey where strength myght not awey That sleyght shulde helpe than And of an ynche a large spanne By colour of the peace they made And tolden howe they were gladde Of that they stonden in accorde And for it shall ben of recorde Vnto the kynge the grekes sayden By way of loue and thus they prayden As they that wolde his thanke deserue A sacrifyce vnto Mynerue The peace to kepe in good intent They must offre or that they went The kynge counsayled in the case By Antenor and Eneas Therto hath youen his assent So was the playne trouthe blent Through counterfete hypocrisie Of that they shulden sacrifye The grekes vnder the holynes Anone with all besynesse Theyr hors of brasse lette faire dight whiche was to sene a wonder syght For it was trapped of hym selue And had of smale wheles twelue Vpon the whiche men inough with craft toward the towne it drougb And goth glystrende ayenst the sonne Tho was there ioye inough begonne For Troye in great deuocion Came also with procession Ayenst this noble sacrifyce with great honour and in this wyse Vnto the gates they it brought But of theyr entre whan they soughte The gates weren all to smale And therupon was many a tale But for the worshyppe of Mynerue To whome they comen for to serue They of the towne whiche vnderstode That all this thyng was done for good For peace wherof that they be gladde The gates that Neptunus made A thousande wynter ther to fore They haue anone to broke and tore The stronge walles downe they bet So that in to the large strete This horse with great solemnite was brought within the citie And offered with great reuerence whiche was to Troye an euidence Of loue and peace for euermo The grekes token leaue tho with all the hole felaushyppe And forth they wenten in to shyppe And crossen sayle and made hem yare Anone as though they wolden fare But whan the blacke wynter nyghte without mone or sterre lyght Bederked hath the water stronde All priuely they gone to londe Full armed out of the nauye Symon whiche was made their espie within Troy as was conspired whan tyme was a token fyred And hath with that their waye holden And comen right as they wolden There as the gate was to broke The purpose was full take and spoke Er any man may take kepe whyle that the citie was a slepe They slowen all that was within And token what they myghten wynne Of suche good as was suffisaunt And brenden vp the remenaunt And thus come out the trechery whiche vnder false hypocrisie was hydde and they that wened peace Tho myghten fynde no release Of thilke swerde whiche al deuoureth Full ofte and thus the swete soureth whan it is knowe to the taste He spylleth many a worde in waste That shall with suche a people trete For whan he weneth moste beyete Than is he shape mooste to lese And ryghte so if a woman chese Vpon the wordes that she hereth Som man when he most true appereth Than is be forthest fro the trouth But yet full ofte and that is routh They speden that be moost vntrue And louen euery day a newe wherof the lyfe is after lothe And loue hath cause to be wrothe But what man his luste desyreth Of loue and thervpon conspireth with wordes feyned to deceyue He shall not fayle to receyue His peyne as it is ofte sene Confessor ¶ For thy my sonne as I the mene It fytte the well to take hede That thou eschewe of thy manhede Hâ—pocrisie and his semblaunt That thou ne nought be deceyuaunt To make a woman to beleue Thynge whiche is not in thy beleue 〈◊〉 suche feynt hypocrisie O◠〈◊〉 is all the trecherye Through whiche Loue is deceiued ofte 〈◊〉 fâ—â—â—ed semblaunt is so softe 〈◊〉 â—â—hes loue maye beware 〈◊〉 thy sonne as I well dare â—â—â—ge the to flee that vyce â—â—at many a woman hath made nyce 〈◊〉 loke thou deale not with all Amans 〈◊〉 father nomore I shall Confessor Nowe son kepe that thou hast swore â—or this that thou haste herde before 〈◊〉 â—â—yd the fyrst poynt of pryde 〈…〉 vpon that other syde 〈◊〉 â—â—yue and speake ouer this Touchande of pryde yet there is The poynte seconde I the behote whiche Inobedience is hote 〈◊〉 quaÌ„ frangi melius reputatur et olle 〈…〉 â—â—ad cacabium pugna â—alere nequit 〈…〉 lex hoim neque lex diuina valebit 〈◊〉 multotiens corde reflectit amor 〈◊〉 fleâ—tir amor noÌ„ est
flecteÌ„dus ab ullo â—â—rigorâ—ilius plus elephaute riget Dâ—â—â—â—â—tur amor poterit quos scire rebelles â—â—â—â—ibus sortem prestat habere rudem Sed qui sponte sui subicit se cordis amore Frangit in aduersis omnia fata pius ¶ Hâ—c loquitur de secunda a specie superbie / que Inâ—â—ediâ—ng dicitur Et primo illins vicii natura simpliciter declarat Et tractat coÌ„fequeÌ„ter super iffa inobedieÌ„tia / que in curia Cupidinis exosa amoris camÌ„ ex sua I de sillitate sepissime retardat ¶ This vice of inobedience Agayne the reule of conscyence All that is humble he disaloweth That he towarde his god ne boweth After the lawes of his heste Not as a man but as a beaste whiche gothe vpon his lustes wylde So goth this proude vyce vnmylde That he disdayneth all lawe He not what is to be felawe And serue may be not for pryde So is he ledde on euery syde And is that selue / of whom men speake whiche woll not bowe or that he breke I not if loue myght hym plye For els for to iustifye His herte I not what myght auayle For thy my sonne of suche entayle If that thyn herte be disposed Telle out and let it nought be glosed For if that thou vnbuxome be To loue I not in what degre Thou shalte thy good worde acheue ¶ My father ye shall well beleue The yonge whelpe whiche is affayted Hath not his mayster better awayted To couche / whan he saith go lowe That I anone / as I may knowe My lady wyll me bowe more But other whyle I grutche sore Of some thynges / that she doth wherof that I woll tell soth For of two poyntes I am bethought That though I wolde I might nought O beye vnto my ladies best But I dare make this behest Saufe only of that ylke two I am vnburome of no mo Confessor what ben tho two tell on quod he My father this is one that she Commaundeth me my mouthe to close And that I shulde her nought appose In loue of whiche I ofte preche And plenarly of suche a speche Forbere and suffre her in peace But that ne myght I netheles For all this worlde obey I wys For whan I am there as she is Though she my tales mought alowe Ayene her wyll yet mote I bowe To seche if that I myght haue grace But that thynge may I not embrace For ought that I can speke or do And yet full ofte I speake so That she is wroth and sayth be stylle If I that beest shall fulfylle And therto ben obedyent Than is my cause fully shent For specheles may no man spede So wote I not what is to rede But certes I may nought obeye That I ne mote algates saye Some what of that I wolde mene For euer it is a lyche grene The great loue whiche I haue wherof I can not bothe saue My speche and this obedience And thus full ofte my silence I breke and is the first poynt wherof that I am out of point In this and yet it is no pride Nowe then vpon that other syde To telle my disobeysaunce Full sore it stant to my greuaunce And may not synke in to my witte Full ofte tyme she me bytte To leuen her and chese a newe And saith if I the sothe knewe Howe farre I stonde from her grace I shulde loue in an other place But therof woll I disobeye For also well she myght seye So take the mone there it sytte As brynge that into my wytte For there was neuer roted tree That stode so faste in his degree That I ne stande more faste Vpon her loue / and may not caste Myn herte awey all though I wolde For god wote though I neuer shulde Sene her with eye after this daye yet stout it so that I ne maye Her loue out of my breast remue This is a wonder retenue That maulgre where she woll or none Myn herte is euermo in one So that I can none other chese But whether that I wynne or lese I mote her louen tyll I deye And thus I breke as by that wey Her bestes and her commaundynges But truly in none other thynges For thy my father what is more Touchande vnto this ylke lore I you beseche after the forme That ye playnly me wolde enforme So that I may myn herte reule In loues cause after the rule Murmur in aduersis ita concipit ille superbus Pena quod ex bina sorte purget cum O bina fortunae cum spes in amore resistu Non sine mentali murmure plangit amans ¶ Hic loquitur de murmure et planctu / qui super omnes afios inobedientie secretiores / vt ministri issi beseruiant ¶ Toward this vice / of which we trete There ben yet tweye of thilke estrete Her name is murmure and complaynt Ther can no man her chere peynt To sette a gladde semblaunt therin For though fortune make them wynne yet grutchen they / and if they lese There is no waye for to chese wherof they myght stonde appesed So ben they commonly disesed There may no welth ne pouerte Attempren them to the deserte Of buxomnes by no wyse For ofte tyme they despise The good fortune as the badde As they no mannes reasone hadde Through pride / wherof they ben blinde And ryght of suche a maner kynde Ther be louers that though they haue Of loue all that they wolde craue yet woll they grutchen by some weye That they wolde not to loue obeye Vpon the trouth as they do shulde And if them lacketh that they wolde Anon they falle in suche a peyne That euer vnbuxomly they pleyne Vpon fortune and curse and crye That they woll not her hertes plye To suffre tyll it better falle For thy if thou amonges all Hast vsed this condicion My sonne in thy confession Nowe telle me plainly what thou arte Amans ¶ My father I beknowe a part So as ye tolden here aboue Of murmure / and complaynt of loue That for I se no spede commende Agaynst fortune complaynende / I am as who sayth euermo And eke full ofte tyme also whan so as that I se and here Of heuy worde / or heuy chere Of my lady I grutche anone But wordes dare I speke none wherof she myght be displesed But in myn herte I am disesed with many a murmour / god it wote Thus drynke I in myn owne swote And though I make no semblaunt Myn herte is all disobeisaunt And in this wyse I me confesse Of that ye clepe vnbuxomnes Nowe tell what your counsayle is Confessor ¶ My sonne as I the rede this what so befall of other weye That thou to loues hest obeye As far as thou it myght suffice For ofte syth in suche a wyse Obedience in loue auayleth where all a mans strength fayleth wherof if thou liste to wytte In a cronicle as it is writte A great ensample thou mayste fynde whiche nowe cometh to
newe bryde whiche laye within Though it be nought with his acorde In armes she beclept her lorde And prayd as he was torned fro He wolde hym torne ayenward tho For nowe she sayth we be both one But he lay stylle as any stone And euer in one she spake and prayede And bad hym thynke / on that he sayde when that he toke her by the honde He herd and vnderstode the bonde Howe he was set to his penaunce And as it were a man in traunce He torneth hym all sodenly And sawe a lady lay hym by Of eyghtene wynter age whiche was the fayreste of vysage That euer in all this worlde he syghe And as he wolde haue take her nygh She put her honde and by his leue Besought hym that he wolde leue And saythe for to wynne or lese He mot one of two thynges chese where he woll haue her suche on nyght Or elles vpon dayes lyght For he shall not haue both two And he bygan to sorowe tho In many a wyse and caste his thought But for all that yet coude he nought Deuyse hym selfe whiche was the beste And she that wolde his hert reste Prayeth that he shulde chese algate Tyll at the laste longe and late He sayde O ye my lyues he le Saye what ye lyste in my quarell I not what answere I shall yeue But euer whyll that I may lyue I woll that ye be my maystresse Foâ— I can not my selfe gesse whiche is the beste vnto my choyce Thus graunte I yow myn holl voyce Chese for vs both / I yow praye And what as euer that ye saye Ryght as ye woll / so woll I. ¶ My lorde she sayde grant mercy For of this worde that ye nowe sayne That ye haue made me souerayne My destny is ouerpassed That neuer here after shall be lassed My beaute whiche that I nowe haue Tyll I be take in to my graue Both nyght and day as I am nowe I shall all wey be suche to you The kynges doughter of Cecyle I am and felle but syth a whyle As I was with my father late That my stepmother for an hate whiche towarde me she hath begonne Forshope me tyll I hadde wonne The loue and the soueraynte Of what knyght that in his degre All other passeth of good name And as men sayne ye ben the same The deed proueth it is so Thus am I yours for euermo Tho was plesaunce and ioye inough Echone with other playd and lough They lyue longe and well they ferde And clerkes that this chaunce herde They wryten it in euidence To teche howe that obedience May well fortune a man to loue And sette hym in his luste aboue As it befelle vnto this knyght Confessor For thy my sonne if thou do ryght Thou shalt vnto thy loue obeye And folowe her wyll by all wey Myn holy father so I wyll For ye haue tolde me suche a skylle Of this ensample nowe tofore That I shall euermo therfore Here afterwarde myn obseruaunce To loue and to his obeysaunce The better kepe and ouer this Of pryde if there ought elles is wherof that I me shryue shall what thynge it is in speciall My father asketh I you pray Confessor Nowe liste my sonne and I shall saye For yet there is surquedrye whiche stante with pryde of companye wherof that thou shalt here anone To knowe if thou haue gylt or none Vpon the forme as thou shalt here Nowe vnderstonde well the matere Omnia scire putat sed se presumpcio nescit Nec sibi cousimile quem putat esse parem Qui magis astutus reputat se vincere bellum In laqueos Veneris forcius ipse cadit Sepe cupido virum â—ibi qui presumit amanteÌ„ Fallit er in vacuas spes redit ipsa vias ¶ Hic loquitur de tercia specie superbie que presumpcio dicitur cuius naturam primo secundum vitium confessor simpliciter declarat Surquedrye is thylke vice Of pryde whiche the third office Hath in his court and will not knowe The trouth tyll it ouerthrowe Vpon his fortune and his grace Cometh Had I wyste full ofte a place For he doth all his thynge by gesse And voydeth all sykernesse None other couÌ„seyll good hym semeth But suche as hym selfe demeth For in suche wyse as he compasseth His witte alone all other passeth And is with pryde so through sought That he all other set at nought And weneth of hym seluen so That suche as he is there be no mo And thus he wolde beare a price So fayre so semely nor so wyse Abouen all other and nought for thy He sayth not ones graunte mercy To god whiche all grace sendeth So that his wittes he despendeth Vpon hym selfe as though there were No god whiche myght auayle there But all vpon his owne wytte He stant / tyll he falle in the pytte So ferre that he may not aryse ¶ Hic tractat confessor cum amante super illa saltem presumptione ex cuius superbie quem plures fatui amantes cum maioris certitudinis in amore spem sibi promittunt inexpediti citius destituuntur And ryght thus in the same wyse The vice vpon the cause of loue So proudely set the hert aboue And doth hym pleynly for to wene That he to louen any quene Hath worthynes and suffisaunce And so without purueiaunce Full ofte he heweth vp so hye That chyppes fallen in his eye And eke full ofte he weneth this There as he nought beloued is To be beloued all there beste Nowe sonne telleth what so the lest Of this that I haue tolde the here Amans Ha father be nought in a were I trowe there be no man lesse Of any maner worthinesse That halt hym lasse worthy than I To be beloued and not for thy I say in excusynge of me To all men that loue is fre And certes that may no man werne For loue is of hym selfe so derne It luteth in a mannes herte But that ne shall not me asterte To wene for to be worthy To loue but in her mercy But fyre of that ye wolde mene That I shulde other wyse wene To be beloued than I was I am beknowe as in this case Confessor My good sonne telle me howe Amans Nowe liste and I woll telle you My good father howe it is Full ofte it hath befalle or this Through hope that was not certeyne My wenynge hath be set in vayne To trust in thing that helpe me nought But onely of myn owne thought For as it semeth that a bell Lyke to the wordes that men telle Answerith ryght so no more ne lesse To you my father I confesse Suche wyll my wytte hath ouer sette That what so hope me behete Full many a tyme I wene it soth But fynally no spede it doth Thus may I tellen as I can wenynge begyleth many a man So hath it me ryght wel I wote For if a man wolde in a bote whiche is without botome rowe He must nedes ouerthrowe Ryght so
is yeue Of deathe whiche shall not be foryeue The kynge whan it was nyght anone This man assent and bad hym gone To trompen at his brothers gate And he whiche mote done algate Goth forth and doth the kynges beste This lorde whiche herde of this tempest That he tofore his gate blewe Tho wyst he by the lawe and knewe That he was sekerly deade And as of helpe he wyst no rede But sende for his frendes all And tolde them howe it is befalle And they hym aske cause why But he the sothe not for thy Ne wyst and there was sorowe tho For it stode thylke tyme so This trompe was of suche sentence That there ayene no resystence They coude ordeyne by no weye That he ne mote algate deye But if so that he may purchace To gette his lyege lordes grace Their wyttes thervpon they cast And ben appoynted at last This lorde a worthy lady had Vnto his wyfe whiche also drad Her lordes death and children fyue Betwene hem two they had aliue That weren yonge and tender of age And of stature and of visage Ryght faire and lusty on to se Tho casten they that he and she Forthe with theyr childre on the morowe As they that were full of sorowe All naked but of smocke and sherte To tendre with the kynges herte His grace shulde go to seche And pardon of the deathe beseche Thus passen they that wofull nyght And erly whan they sawe it lyght They gone them forth in suche a wise As thou tofore hast herde diuyse All naked but their shertes one They wepte and made moche mone Their here hanged about their eares with sobbynge and with sory teares This lorde goth then an humble pas That whilom proude and noble was wherof the citie sore a flyght Of them that sawen thylke syght And nethelesse all openly with suche wepyng and with suche cry Forth with his children / and his wyfe He goth to praye for his lyfe Vnto the courte whan they be come And men therin haue hyed nome There was no wyght if he them sye From water myght kepe his eye For sorowe whiche they maden tho The kynge supposeth of this wo And feyneth as he nought ne wyst But netheles at his vpryste Men tolde hym howe it ferde And whan that he this wonder herde In hast he goth in to the halle And all at ones downe they falle If any pite may be founde The king which seeth theÌ„ go to grouÌ„de Hath asked them what is the fere why they be so dispoyled there His brother sayde A lorde mercy I wote none other cause why But onely that this night full late The trompe of deathe was at my gate In token that I shulde dye Thus we be come for to preye That ye my worldes deathe respyte Ha foole howe thou art for to wyte The kynge vnto his brother saide That thou arte of so lytell frayde That onely for a trompes sowne Hath gone dispoiled through the town Thou and thy wyfe in suche manere Forthe with thy children that ben here In syght of all men aboute For that thou sayst thou art in doubt Of death whiche stant vnder the lawe Of man and man may it withdrawe So that it may perchaunce fayle Nowe shalt thou not for thy meruayle That I downe from my chare alyght whan I behelde to fore my syght In them that were of so great age Myn owne dethe through their ymage whiche god hath set by lawe of kynde wherof I may no bote fynde For well I wote suche as they be Ryght suche am I in my degree Of flesshe and bloud and so shall dey And thus though I that lawe obeye Of whiche that kynges be put vnder It ought be well the lesse wonder Than thou whiche arte without nede For lawe of londe in suche a drede whiche for to accompte is but a iape As thing which thou myght ouerscape For thy my brother after this I rede that sethen that so is That thou canst drede a man so sore Drede god with all thyn herte more For all shall dye and all shall passe As well a lyon as an asse As well a begger as a lorde Towardes deathe in one accorde They shall stonde and in this wyse The kynge with his wordes wyse His brother taught and all foryeue Confessor For thy my sonne if thou wolt lyue In vertue thou must vice eschewe And with lowe herte humblesse sewe So that thou be not surquedous Amans My father I am amorous wherof I wolde you beseche That ye me by some waye teache whiche myght in loues cause stonde Confessor My sonne thou shalte vnderstonde In loue and other thynges all If that surquedry falle It may to hym not well betyde whiche vseth thylke vice of pride whiche tourneth wysedome to wenyng And sothfastnes into lesynge Through foule imagination And for thyn enformation That thou this vice as I the rede Eschewe shalte a tale I rede whiche felle whylom by dayes olde So as the clerke Ouide tolde ¶ Hic in speciali tractat Confessor cum Amante contra illos / qui de propria formositate presumentes amorem multeris dedignaÌ„tur Et narrat exemplum / qualiter cuiusdam principis filius 〈◊〉 mine Narcissus estino tempore / cum ipse venationis causa quendam ce ruum solus cum suis canibus exagitaret in grauem sitim incurrens necessitate coÌ„pulsus ad bibenduÌ„ de quodam fonte 〈◊〉 inclinquit vbi ipse faciem suaÌ„ pulchei rimam in aqua percipiens putabat se per hoc illaÌ„ Nâ—â—â—ham / quam poete Echo vocant in flumine â—â—â—am suis oculis conspexisse / de cuius amore 〈…〉 laqueatus / vt ipsaÌ„ ad se de fonte ex◠〈◊〉 pluribus blandicus adulabatur / sed cuÌ„ 〈◊〉 nâ—â—â—â—tenus perficere potuit pre nimio lanâ— deficiens contra lapides ibidem adiacen◠〈◊〉 exuerberans cerebrum effudit There was whylom a lordes sonne whiche of his pryde a vice wonne Hath caught that worthy to his lyche As sechen all the worldes ryche There was no woman for to loue So hygh he set hym selfe aboue Of stature and of beaute bothe That hym thought all women lothe 〈◊〉 was there no comparyson As towarde his condition This yonge lorde Narcissus hyght No strength of loue bowe myght His herte whiche is vnafyled 〈◊〉 at laste he was begyled 〈◊〉 of the goddes purueyaunce 〈◊〉 telle hym on a day perchaunce That he in all his proude fare Vnto the forest gan to fare Amonge other that there were To hunt and disporte hym there And whan he came in to the place where that he wolde make his chace The houndes were within a throwe Vncoupled and the bornes blowe The great herte anone was founde with swyfte feete set on the grounde And be with spore in horse syde Hym hasteth faste for to ryde Tyll all men be lefte bebynde And as he rode vnder a lynde Besyde a roche as I the telle He sawe where spronge a lusty welle
layde That to my syster ne to my brother In all this worlde ne to none other ye durst telle a pryuete So well my father as to me For thy my father I you praye Ne casteth nought that hert away For I am she that wolde kepe your honour and with that to wepe Her eie may not be forbore She wyssheth for to ben vnbore Er that her father so mystryst To tellen her of that he wyst And euer amonge mercy she cryed That he ne shulde his counscile hyde From her that so wolde hym good And was so nygh flesshe and bloud So that with wepynge at last His chere vpon his childe he caste And sorowfully to that she prayde He tolde his tale and thus he sayde The sorowe doughter which I make Is not all onely for my sake But for the bothe and for you all For suche a chaunce is me befalle That I shall er this thyrde day Lese all that euer I lese may My lyfe and all my good therto Therfore it is I sorowe so what is the cause alas quod she My father that ye shulden be Dead and distroyed in suche a wise And he began the poyntes deuyse which as the kyng tolde him by mouth And sayd her playnly that he couthe Answere to no poynt of this And she that hereth howe it is Her counsayle yafe and sayd tho My father syn it is so That ye can se none other weye But that ye must nedes deye I wolde pray you of o thynge Lette me go with you to the kynge And ye shall make hym vnderstonde Howe ye my wyttes for to fonde Haue layde your answere vpon me And telleth hym in suche degre Vpon my worde ye wol abyde To lyfe or deth what so betyde For yet perchaunce I may purchace with some good word the kynges grace your lyfe and eke your good to saue For ofte shall a woman haue Thynge whiche a man may not areche The fader herd his doughters speche And thought there was no reason in And sawe his owne lyfe to wynne He couthe done hym selfe no cure So better he thought in auenture To put his lyfe and all his good That in the maner as it stode His lyfe incerteyne for to lese And thus thynkende he gan to chese To do the counseyle of this mayde And toke the purpose whiche she sayd The day was come forth they gone Vnto the courte they come anone where as the kynge in his iugement was sette and hath this knyght assent Arrayed in her beste wyse This mayden with her wordes wyse Her father ledde by the honde In to the place where he fonde The kynge with other which he wolde And to the kynge knelende he tolde As he enfourmed was tofore And prayeth the kyng that he therfore His doughters wordes wolde take And sayth that he woll vndertake Vpon her wordes for to stende Tho was ther great meruaile on hoÌ„de That he whiche was so wyse a knyght His lyfe vpon so yonge a wyght Besette wolde in ieopardye And many it helden for folye But at laste neuertheles The kynge commaundeth ben in peace And to this mayde he cast his chere And sayde he wolde her tale here And badde her speke and she began My lyege lorde so as I can Quod she the poyntes which I herde They shall of reason ben answerde The fyrst I vnderstonde is this what thynge of all the worlde it is which men most helpe hath lest nede My lyege lorde this wolde I rede The erthe it is whiche euermo with mannes labour is bego As well in wynter as in Maye The mannes honde doth what he may To helpe it forth and make it ryche And for thy men it delue and dyche And eren it with strength of plough where it hath of hym selfe inough So that his nede is at leste For euery man byrde and beast Of floure and grasse and rote rynde And euery thynge by wey of kynde Shall sterue and erthe it shall become As it was out of erthe nome It shall to erthe tourne ageyne And thus I may by reason seyne That therthe is most nedeles And most men helpe it netheles So that my lorde touchande of this I haue answerde howe that it is ¶ That other poynt I vnderstode whiche most is worth and most is good And costeth leest a man to kepe My lorde if ye woll take kepe I saye it is Humilite Through whiche the hygh Trinite As for deserte of pure loue Vnto Marye from aboue Of that he knewe her humble entent His owne sonne adowne he sent Aboue all other and her he chese For that vertu which that bodeth pes So that I may by reason calle Humilite moost worthe of all And lest it costeth to maynteyne In all the worlde as it is seyne For who that hath huÌ„blesse on honde He bryngeth no werres in to londe For he desyreth for the best To serten euery man in reste ¶ Thus with your hygh reuerence Me thynketh that this euydence As to this poynt is suffisaunt And touchende of the remenaunt whiche is the thyrde of your askynges what lest is worth of all thynges And costeth most I telle it Pryde whiche may not in the heuen abyde For Lucifer with them that felle Bare Pryde with hym in to helle There was pryde of to great cost whan he for pryde hath heuen loste And after that in Paradyse Adam for pryde lost his pryce In myddell erth And eke also Pryde is the cause of all wo That all the worlde ne may suffise To stanche of pride the reprise Pryde is the heed of all synne whiche wasteth all and may not wynne Pryde is of euery mysse the prycke Pryde is the worste of all wycke And costeth moost and lest is worth In place where he hath his forth Thus haue I sayde that I woll say Of myn answere and to you pray My lyege lorde of your offyce That ye suche grace and suche iustice Ordeyne for my father here That after this when men it here The worlde therof may speake good ¶ The kyng which reason vnderstode And hath all herde howe she hath said was inly gladde and so well payde That all his wrath is ouer go And he beganne to loke tho Vpon this mayden in the face In whiche he fonde so mochell grace That all his price on her he leyde In audience and thus he sayde My fayre mayden well ye be Of thyn answere and eke of the Me lyketh well and as thou wylte Forâ—eue be thy father gylte And if thou were of suche lygnage That thou to me were of parage And that thy father were a pere As he is nowe a bachylere So syker as I haue a lyfe Thou shuldest than be my wyfe But this I saye netheles That I woll shape thyn encrease what worldes good that thou wolte craue Axe of mi yeft thou shalt haue And she the kynge with wordes wise Knelynge thanketh in this wyse My lyege lorde god mote
you quite My father here hath but a lyte Of waryson and that he wende Had all be lost but nowe amende He may well through your noble grace with that the kynge ryght in his place Anon forthe in that fresshe hete An Erledome whiche than of eschete was late falle in to his honde Vnto this knyght with rent and londe Hath youe and with his chartre sesed And thus was all the noyse appesed This maiden which sate on her knees Tofore the kynges charitees CoÌ„men death and sayth euermore My lyege lorde ryght nowe tofore ye sayde and it is of recorde That if my father were a lorde And pere vnto these other great ye wolden for nought elles lette That I ne shulde be your wyfe And thus wote euery worthy lyfe A kynges worde mote nede be holde For thy my lorde if that ye wolde So great a charite fulfylle God wote it were well my wylle For he whiche was a bachylere My father is nowe made a pere So whense as euer that I cam An erles doughter nowe I am This yonge kynge whiche peised all Her beaute and her wytte withall As he whiche was with loue hente Anone therto yafe his assente He myght not the place asterte That she nys lady of his herte So that he toke her to his wyfe To holde whyle that he hath lyfe And thus the kyng towarde his knight Accordeth hym as it is ryght And ouer this good is to wyte In the cronyke as it is wryte This noble kynge of whom I tolde Of spayne by tho dayes olde The kyngedome had in gouernaunce And as the boke maketh remembrance Alphons was his propre name The knyght also if I shall name Dom Petro hyght and as men telle His doughter wyse Petronelle was cleped whiche was full of grace And that was sene in thylke place where she her father out of tene Hath brought made her selfe a quene Of that she hath so well disclosed The poyntes wherof she was opposed Confessor Lo now my sonne as thou might here Of all this thinge to my mattere But one I take and that is pride To whom no grace may betyde In heuen he felle out of his stede And Paradyse hym was forbede The good men in erthe hym hate So that to belle he mote algate where euery vertue shall be weyued And euery vice be resceyued But Humblesse is all other wyse whiche moost is worth and no reprise It taketh ageyn but softe and fayre If ony thynge stant in contraire with humble speche it is redressed Thus was this yonge mayde blessed The whiche I spake of nowe tofore Her fathers lyfe she gatte therfore And wanne withall the kynges loue For thy my sonne if thou wolt loue It sytte the well to leaue pryde And take Humblesse on thy syde The more of grace thou shalt gete Amans ¶ My father I woll not foryete Of this that ye haue tolde me here And if that any suche manere Of humble porte may loue appaye Here afterwarde I thynke aslay But nowe forthe ouer I beseche That ye more of my shryfte seche Confessor ¶ My good sonne it shall be do Nowe herken and lay an eare to For as touchende of prydes fare Al 's ferforth as I can declare In cause of vice in cause of loue That hast thou playnly herde aboue So that there is no more to saye Touchende of that but other wey Touchende enuye I thynke telle whiche hath the propre kynde of helle without cause to mysdo Towarde hym selfe and other also Here afterwarde as vnderstonde Thou shalte the spices as they stonde Explicit liber primus ¶ Hic in secundo libro tractat de inuidia / et eius speciebus / quarum dolor alterius gaudii prima nuncupatur / cuius conditionem / secundum vitiuÌ„ Confessor primitus describens amanti quatenus amoreÌ„ concernit suê‘ eodeÌ„ coÌ„sequenter opponit ¶ Incipit liber Secundus Inuidiae culpa magis est attrita dolore Nam sua mens nullo tempore laeta manet Quo gaudent alii dolet ille nec vnus amicus Est cui de puro commoda velle facit Proximitatis honor sua corda veretur et omnis Est sibi laetitia sic aliena dolor Hoc etenim uitium quam sepe repugnat amaÌ„ti Non sibi sed reliquis dum fauet ipsa Venus Est amor ex propria motu fantasticus quae Gaudia fert alijs credit obesse sibi NOwe after pride the secoÌ„de There is whiche many a wofull stounde Towardes other bearethe aboute within hym selfe and not without For in his thought he brenneth euer whan that he wote an other leuer Or more vertuos than he whiche passeth hym in his degre Therof he taketh his maladye That vyce is cleped hotte enuy For thy my sonne if it be so Thou arte or hast ben one of tho As for to speke in loues cas If euer yet thyn hert was Sicke of an other mannes bele ¶ So god auaunce my quarele My father ye a thousande syth whan I haue sene another blythe Of loue and hadde a goodly chere Ethna whiche brenneth yere by yere was than nought so hote as I Of thylke sore for whiche priuely Myne hertes thought within brenneth The ship which on the wawes renneth And is forstormed and forblowe Is nat more payned for a throwe Than I am than whan I se Another whiche that passeth me In that fortune of loues yefte But father this I telle in shryfte That no where but in a place For who that lese or fynde grace In other stede it may nought greue But thus ye may ryght well beleue Towarde my lady that I serue Though that I weste for to sterue Myn hert is full of suche foly That I my selfe may not chasty whan I the court se of Cupide Approche vnto my lady syde Of hem that lusty ben and fresshe Though it auayle them not a resshe But onely that they ben of speche My sorowe is than not to seche But whan they rownen in her ere Than groweth all my moste fere And namely whan they talen longe My sorowe than be so stronge Of that I se them well at ease I can not telle my disease But syre as of my lady selue Though she haue wowers .x. or twelue For ne mystruste I haue of her 〈◊〉 greueth nought for certes syr I 〈◊〉 in all this worlde to seche 〈◊〉 woman that in dede and speche 〈◊〉 cetter auyse her what she doth Ne better for to saye a sothe 〈◊〉 her honour at all tyde 〈◊〉 yet gette her a thanke besyde 〈◊〉 â—â—â—theles I am beknowe Thy whan I se at any throwe 〈◊〉 if I may it here That she make any man good chere Though I therof haue not to done My thought woll entermete hym sone For though I be my seluen straunge Enuye maketh myn hert chaunge That I am sorowfully be stade Of that I se another glade with her but of other all Of loue what so may befall Or that he
fayle or that he spede Therof take I but lytell hede Nowe haue I sayde my father all As of this poynte in speciall As ferforthly as I haue wyste Nowe axeth forder what you lyste ¶ My sonne er I aske any more I thynke somdele for thy lore Tell an example of this mattere Touchende enuy as thou shalt here wryte in Ciuyle this I fynde Though it be not the houndes kynde To eate chaffe yet woll he werne An oxe whiche cometh to the berne Therof to taken any fode And thus who that it vnderstode It stant of loue in many a place who that is out of loues grace And may hym selfe not auayle He wolde an other shulde fayle And if he may put any lette He doth al that he may to lette wherof I fynde as thou shalt wytte To this purpose a tale wrytte ¶ Hic ponit confessor exemplum contra istoâ— saltem / qui in amoris causa altorum gandiis inuideÌ„tes ne quaquam per hoc fibi ipsis proficiuÌ„t Et narrat qualiter quidaÌ„ inuines miles nomine Acis / queÌ„ Galathea Nimpha puscherrima toto corde peramauit / cum ipsi sub quadaÌ„ rupe iuxta fitus maris colloquium aduinicem habuerunt / Polyphemus gigas concussa rupe magnam inde partem super caput Acis ab alto proiiciens ipsuÌ„ per inuidiam interfecit Et cum ipse super hoc dictam Galatheam rapere voluisset Neptunus gigante obsistens / ipsaÌ„ inuiolataÌ„ salua custodia preseruanit Sed et du miserti corpus Acis defucti in fonteÌ„ aque dulcissime subito traÌ„smutaruÌ„t ¶ There ben of suche mo than twelue That be not able as of them selue To get loue and for enuye Vpon all other they aspye And for them lacketh that they wolde They kepe that none other shulde Touchend of loue his cause spede wherof a great ensample I rede whiche vnto this matter accordeth As Ouid in his boke recordeth How Polyphemus whylom wrought when that he Galathe besought Of loue whiche he may not latche That made hym for to wayte watche By all weyes howe it ferde Tyll at the laste he knewe and herde Howe that an other had leue To loue there as he mote leue As for to speake of any spede So that he knewe none other rede But for to wayten vpon all Tyll he may se the chaunce fall That he her loue myght greue whiche he hym selfe may not acheue This Galathe sayth the poete Aboue all other was vnmete Of beaute that men than knewe And hadde a lusty loue and trewe A bachyler in his degre Ryght suche an other as was she On whom she hath her hert set So that it myght nought be let For yeft ne for no byheste That she ne was all at his best This yonge knyght Acis was hote whiche her ageynwarde also hote All only loueth and no mo Herof was Polyphemus wo Through pure enuye and euer aspyde And wayteth vpon euery syde when he to geder myght se This yonge Acis with Galathe So longe he wayteth to and fro Tyll at the laste he founde hem two In pryue place where they stode To speke and haue her wordes good The place where as he them syghe It was vnder a banke nyghe The greatse and he aboue Stode and behelde the lusty loue whiche eche of them tyll other made with goodly chere and wordes glade That all his hert hath sette a fyre Of pure enuye and as a vyre whiche flyeth out of a myghty bowe Awey he fledde for a throwe As he that was for loue wode whan that he sawe howe it stode This Polypheme a geaunt was And whan he sawe the soth cas Howe Galathe hym hath forsake And Acis to her loue take His herte may it not forbere That he ne roreth as a beare And as it were a wylde beast In whom no reason myght areste He ranne Ethna the hylle about where neuer yet the fyre was out Fulfylled of sorow and great disease That he sawe Acis well at ease Tyll at the last he hym bethoughte As he whiche all enuy sought And tourneth to the banke ageyne where he with Galathe hath seyne That Acis whom he thought greue Though he hym selfe may not releue This geaunt with his rude myght Part of the bake he shofe downe right The whiche euen vpon Acis fylle So that with fallynge of this hylle This Polyphemus Acis slough wherof she made sorowe inough And as she fledde from the londe Neptunus toke her by the honde And kepte her in so faste a place Fro Polypheme and his manace That he with his false enuye He myght atteyne her company This Galathe of whom I speke That of her selfe maye not be wreke without any semblaunt feyned She hath her loues death compleyned And with her sorowe and with her wo She hath the goddes moued so That they of pitie and of grace Haue Acis in the same place There he lay deade into a welle Transformed as the bokes tell with fresshe stremes and with clere As he whylom with lusty chere was fresshe his loue for to queme And with this rude Polypheme For his enuye and for his hate They were wroth and thus algate My sonne thou myght vnderstonde That if thou wolte in grace stonde with loue thou must leue enuye And as thou wylte for thy partye Towarde thy loue stonde fre So must thou suffer a nother be what so byfalle vpon thy chaunce For it is a vnwyse vengeaunce whiche to none other man is lefe And is vnto hym selfe grefe Amans My fader this ensample is good But howe so euer that it stode with Polyphemus loue as tho It shall not stonde with me so To worchen any felonye In loue for no suche enuye For thy if there ought elles be Nowe axeth forth in what degre It is and I me shall confesse with shryfte vnto youre holynesse Vita sibi solito mentalia gaudia liuor Dum videt alterius damna doloris agit â—â—â—dus obridet hodie fletus aliorum â—â—â—â—s cui proprios craftina fata parent 〈◊〉 amore pari stat sorte iocosus amantes Cum vidit illusos inuidus ille quasi 〈◊〉 in uacuum speret tamen ipse leuamen A â—â—â—ius casu lapsus et ipse simul ¶ Hâ—â— segnitur confessor de secunda specie inuiâ—◠〈◊〉 gâ—udium afterius doloris dicitur / Et 〈◊〉 â—â—â—dem vicu materiam tractans amantis 〈◊〉 â—â—am super eodem vsterius inueftigat My good sonne yet there is A vice râ—uers vnto this whiche enuious taketh his gladnes Of that he seeth the heuynesse Of other men For his welfare 〈◊〉 whan he wote another care 〈◊〉 that an other hath a falle He thynketh hym selfe aryst with all Suche is the gladshyppe of enuye In worldes thyng and in partye Full ofte tymes eke also In loues cause it stanâ— ryght so If thou my sonne haste ioye hadde whan thou an other sawe vngladde Shryue the therof My fader yis I am byknowen vnto
you this Of these louers that louen streyte And for that poynt which they coueyte Beâ— pursuauntes from yere to yere In loues court when I may here How that they clymbe vpon the whele And whan they wene all shall be wele They ben downe throwe at laste Than am I fed of that faste And laugh of that I se them loure And thus of that they brewe soure I drynke swete and am well eased Of that I wote they ben diseased But this whiche I you telle here Is onely for my lady dere That for none other that I knowe Me recheth not who ouerthrowe Ne who that stonde in loue vpryght But be he squyer be he knyght whiche to my lady warde pursueth The more he leseth of that he seweth The more me thynketh that I wynne And am the more gladde within Of that I wote hym sorowe endure For euer vpon suche auenture It is a comforte as men seyne To hym the whiche is wo beseyne To sene an other in his peyne So that they bothe may complayne where I my selfe may not auayle To sene an other mannes trauayle I am ryght gladde if he be lette And though I fare not the bet His sorowe is to myn herte a game whan that I knowe it is the same whiche to my lady stant inclyned And hath his loue not termyned I am ryght ioyfull in my thought If suche enuye greueth ought As I beknowe me culpable ye that be wyse and resonable My fader telleth your aduyse Confessor My sonne enuye in to no pryse Of suche a forme I vnderstonde Ne myght by no reason stonde For this enuye hath suche a kynde That he woll set hym selfe behynde To hynder with a nother wyght And gladly lese his owne ryght To make another lese his And for to knowe howe it so is A tale lyche to his mater I thynke telle if thou wylte here To shewe properly the vyce Of this enuye and the malyce ¶ Hic ponit Confessor exemplum contra illum / qui sponte sui ipsius detrimentum in alterius penam maiorem patitur / Et narrat / quod cum Iupiter angelum suum in forma hominis / vt hominum condiciones exploraret ab excelso in terram misit / contigit / ê™ ipse angelus duos homines / quorum vnus cupidus et alter inuidus erat itinet ando spacio quasi vnius diei coÌ„mitabatur Et cum sero factum esset Angelus eorum noticie se ipsum tunc manifestans dixit / ê™ quid quid alter eoruÌ„ ab ipso donari sibi peci erit illud statim obtinebit / ê™ et socio suo secum comitanti affirmat duplicandum Super quo cupidus impeditus auaricia sperans sibi diuicias carpete duplicatas primo petere recusauit Quod cum inuidus animi aduerteret naturam sui vicii concernens ita vt socius suus vtroque sumine priuare tur se ipsum monoculum fieri constantur primus ab Angelo postulabat Et sic vnius inuidia alterius auariciam maculanit Of Iubiter thus I fynde ywrite How whylom that he wolde wyte Vpon the pleyntes whiche he harde Amonge the men howe that it ferde As of her wronge condycion To do iustifycacyon And for that cause downe he sent An Aungell whiche aboute went That he the soth knowe may So it befelle vpon a day This angell which hym shuld enforme was clothed in a mans forme And ouertoke I vnderstonde Two men that wenten ouer londe Through whiche he thought to aspye His cause and goth in companye This Aungell with his wordes wyse Opposeth hem in sondry wyse Nowe lowde wordes and nowe softe That made hem to desputen ofte And eche of hem his reason hadde And thus with tales be hem ladde with good examynacyon Tyll he knewe the condicion what men they were bothe two And sawe wel at last tho That one of hem was coueytous And his felawe was enuyous And thus whan he hath knowlechyng Anone he feyned departynge And sayde he mote algate wende But herken nowe what fell at ende For than he made hem vnderstonde That he was there of goddes sonde And sayd them for the kyndship That they haue done him felauship He wolde do some grace agayn And bad that one of hem shuld sayne what thynge is hym leuest to craue And he it shall of yefte haue And ouer that eke forth with all He sayth that other haue shall The double of that his felawe axeth And thus to them his grace he taxeth The coueytous was wonder gladde And to that other man he badde And seyth that he fyrste axe shulde For he supposeth that he wolde Make his axinge of worldes good For than he knewe well howe it stood If that hym selfe by double weyght Shall after take and thus by sleyght By cause that he wolde wynne He badde his felawe fyrste begynne This enuyous though it be late whan that he sawe be mote algate Make his axinge fyrste he thought If he worship or profyte soughte It shall be double to his fere That wold he chese in no manere But than he sheweth what he was Towarde enuye and in this cas Vnto this angel thus he sayde And for his yefte this be preyde To make hym blynde on his owne eye So that his felawe no thynge sye This worde was not so so ne spoke That his one eye anone was loke And his felawe forth with also was blynde on both his eyen two Tho was that other gladde inough That one wept and that other lough He set his one eye at no cost wherof that other two hath lost Of thylke ensample whiche fell tho Men telle nowe full ofte so The worlde empeyreth comonly And yet wote none the cause why For it accordeth nought to kynde Myn owne harme to seche and fynde Of that I shall my brother greue I myght neuer wel acheue what seyst thou sonne of this foly My fader but I shulde lye Vpon the poynt which ye haue sayde yet was myn hert neuer layde But in this wyse as I you tolde But euermore if that ye wolde Ought elles to my shryft saye Touch and enuye I wolde praye My sonne that shall well be do Nowe harken and lay thyn care to Iâ—â—â—e pars est detractio pessima pestem Quâ— magis infamem flatibus oris agit Lâ—â—gua venenato sermone repercurit auris Sic vâ—in alterius scandala fama volat Mortibus a tergo quos inficit ipsa fideles 〈◊〉 ignori sepe salute carent 〈◊〉 generosus amor linguam coÌ„seruat vt cius 〈◊〉 â—um quod loquitur nulla sinistra gerat ¶ 〈◊〉 â—â—â—tat Confessor de tercia specie inuidie 〈◊〉 â—â—tio dicitur cuius morsus vipereos lesa 〈◊〉 â—â—ma deplangit â—ouchend as of enuyous brood I â—â—te not one of all good â—ut netheles suche as they be 〈◊〉 there is one and that is he â—â—che cleped is Detractyon 〈◊〉 to confirme his actyon 〈◊〉 hath withholde Malcbouche 〈◊〉 tonge nother pill
ne crouche 〈◊〉 hâ—re so that he pronounce A pleyâ—e good worde without frounce where behynde a mans backe 〈◊〉 though he preise he fint some lacke whiche of his tale is ay the laste That all the price shall ouercaste And though there be no cause why yet wâ—ll be iangle not for thy As he whiche hath the herauldye Of hem that vsen for to lye For as the nettle whiche vp renneth The fresshe rede rose brenneth And maketh him fade and pale of hewe Ryght so this fals enuyous hewe In euery place where he dwelleth with fals wordes whiche he telleth He torneth preysynge in to blame And worship in to worldes shame Of suche lesynge as he compasseth Is non so good that he ne passeth Betwene his tethe and is backbyted And through his fals tonge endyted Lyke to the Sharnebudes kynde Of whose nature this I fynde That in the hotest of the day whan comen is the mery may He spret his wynge and vp he fleeth And vnder all aboute he seeth The fayre lusty floures sprynge But therof hath he no lykynge where he seethe of any beste The fylthe there he maketh his feste And there vpon he woll alyghte There lyketh hym none other syghte Ryght so this iangler enuyous Though he a man se vertuous And full of good condycion Therof maketh he no mencyon But elles be it not so lyte wherof that he may sette a wyte There renneth he with open mouth Behynde a man and maketh it couth But all the vertue whiche he can That woll he byde of euery man And openly the vyce telle As he which of the schole of helle Is taught and fostred vp with enuye Of housholde and of companye where that he hath his propre offyce To sette on euery man a vice Howe so his mouth be comely His worde sytte euermore a wry And sayth the worste that he may And in this wyse nowe a daye In loues court a man may here Full ofte pleyne of this mater That many enuyous tale is stered where that it may not be answered But yet full ofte it is beleued And many a worthy loue is greued Through backbytynge of false enuy ¶ If thou haue made suche ianglary In loues court my sonne er this Shryue the therof My father yis But wyte ye howe not openly But otherwhyle priuely whan I my dere lady mete And thynke howe that I am not mete Vnto her hyghe worthynesse And eke I se the besynesse Of all this yonge lusty route whiche all day preesen her aboute And eche of them his tyme a wayteth And eche of them his tale affayteth All to deceyue an innocent whiche woll not be of her assent And for men sayne vnknowe vnkiste Her thome she holt in her fyfte So close within her owne honde That there wynneth no man londe She loueth not all that she hereth And thus ful ofte her selfe she skiereth And is all ware of HAD I VVIST But for all that myn hert a ryste whan I these comon louers see That wolde not holde hem to thre But well ny louen ouer al Myn hert is enuyous with all And euer I am adradde of gyle In aunter if with any wyle They myght her innocence enchaunte For thy my wordes ofte I haunte Be hynden hem so as I dare wherof my lady may beware I say what euer cometh to mouth And wers I wolde if that I couth â—or whan I come vnto her speche And that I may enquere and seche Of suche deceyte I telle it all And ay the worst in speciall So fayne I wolde that she wyst Howe lytell they ben for to tryst And what they wold what they meÌ„t So as they be of double entent Thus toward hem that wycke mene My wycked worde was euer grene And netheles the soth to telle In certayne if it so befelle That alder trewest man ybore To chose amonge a thosand score whiche were all fully for to tryst My lady loued and I it wyst yet rather than he shulde spede I wolde suche tales sprede To my lady if that I myght That I shuld all his loue vnryght And therto wolde I do my payne For certes though I shulde feyne And telle that was neuer thought For all this worlde I myght nought To suffre an other fully wynne There as I am yet to begynne For be they good or be they badde I wolde none my lady badde And that me maketh full ofte aspye And vsen wordes of enuye And for to make them bere a blame And that is but of thylke same The whiche vnto my lady drawe For euer on them I rounge and gnawe And hynder hem all that euer I maye And that is sothly for to saye But onely to my lady selue I telle it nought to .x. ne twelue Therof I woll me well auyse To speke or iangle in any wyse That toucheth to my lady name The whiche in ernest and in game I wolde sauen to my deth For me hadde leuer to lacke breth Than speke of her name amys Nowe haue ye herd touchend of this My father in Confession And therfore of detraction In loue that I haue my spoke Telle howe ye wyll it shall be wroke I am all redy for to bere My peyne and also to forbere what thynge that ye woll allowe For who is bounden he must bowe So woll I bowe vnto your best For I dare make this byhest That I to you haue nothynge hyd But tolde ryght as it is betyde And otherwyse of no myspeche My conscyence for to seche I can not of enuy fynde That I my spoke haue ought behynde wherof loue ought be myspayde Nowe haue ye herde and I haue saide what woll ye fader that I do ¶ My sonne do no more so But euer kepe thy tonge styll Thou myght the more haue thy wyll For as thou seyst thy seluen here My lady is of suche manere So wyse so ware in all thynge It nedeth of no bakbitynge That thou thy lady mys enforme For whan she knoweth all the forme Howe that thy selfe art enuyous Thou shalt not be so gracyous As thou parauenture shuldest be elles There wol no man drinke of tho welles whiche as he wote is poyson ynne And ofte suche as men begynne Towardes other suche they fynde That set hem ofte fer behynde when that they wenen be byfore 〈◊〉 good sonne and thou therfore 〈◊〉 and leue thy wycke speche 〈…〉 hath fallen ofte wreche 〈◊〉 many a man before this tyme 〈…〉 so wyll his handes lyme 〈◊〉 muste be the more vnclene 〈…〉 a mote shall be sene 〈…〉 well not clene elles there 〈◊〉 that shulde euery wyse man fere 〈◊〉 who so wyll another blame 〈◊〉 â—keth ofte his owne shame 〈◊〉 â—lles myght be ryght styll 〈◊〉 if that it be thy wyll 〈…〉 vpon amendement 〈◊〉 of greate entendement 〈◊〉 telle for thy sake 〈◊〉 thou myght ensample take 〈…〉 confâ—ssor câ—ntra iftos in amoris 〈…〉 suus obloquiâ—s aliena fo◠〈…〉 et narrat â—xemplum de Conâ—
ten myle enuyroune where as it thought hym for the beste Hath sondry places for to reste And as fortune wolde tho He was dwellend at one of tho The kynge Allee forth with thassent Of Custe his wife hath thyder sent Morice his sonne as he was taught To Themperour and he goth straught And in his father halue he sought As he whiche his lordship sought That of his hygh worthynes He wolde do so great mekenes His owne towne to come and se And yâ—ue a tyme in the cyte So that his fader might hym gete That he wolde ones with hym ete This lorde hath graunted his requeste And whan the day was of the feste In worship of the Emperour The kynge and eke the Senatour Forth with her wynes bothe two with many a lorde and lady mo On hors ryden hym ageyne Tyll it befell vpon a playne They sygh where he was comend with that Constaunce anone preyend Spake to her lorde that he abyde So that I may tofore ryde To ben vpon his bien venu The fyrste whiche shall hym salu And thus after her lordes graunt Vpon a mule white amblaunt Forth with a fewe rode this quene They wondred what she wolde mene And ryden after a softe pas But whan this lady comen was To themperour in his presence She sayde aloude in audience My lorde my father wel you be And of this tyme that I se your honour and your good bele whiche is the helpe of my quarele I thanke vnto the goddes myght For ioye his hert was aflyght Of that she tolde in remembraunce And when he wyste it was Constaunce was neuer father halfe so blythe wepend be kyste her ofte sythe So was his hert all ouercome For though his mother were come Fro deth to lyfe out of the graue He myght no more wonder haue Than he hath whan that he her syghe with that her owne lorde come nyghe And is to themperour obeyed And when the fortune is bewreyed Howe that Constaunce is come aboute So harde an hert was none oute That he for pyte tho ne wepte Arcenius which her fonde and kepte was than gladde of that is falle So that with ioye amonge hem all They ryden in at Rome gate This Emperour thought all to late Tyll that the pope were come And of tho lordes sende some To pray hym that he woll haste And he cam forth in all haste And whan that be this tale herde How wonderly this chaunce ferde He thanked god of his myracle To whose myght may be none abstable The kyng a noble feste hem made And thus they were all gladde A perlement or that they went They setten vnto this entent To put Rome in full espeyre That Moris was apparent heyre And shulde abyde with hem stylle For suche was all the londes wylle ¶ Qualiter Mauricius cum imperatore vâ— heres imperu remansit et rex Affee et Constantia in Angliam regressi sunt ¶ whan euery thynge was fully spoke Of sorowe queynt was all the smoke Tho toke his leue Alle the kynye And with full many a ryche thynge whiche thmperour hym badde yeue He hath a gladde lyfe for to lyue For be constance hath in his honde whiche was the comfort of his londe For whan that he come home ageyne There is no tonge that myght seyne what ioye was that ylke stounde Of that he hath his quene founde whiche fyrst was sent of goddes sonde whan she was dryuen vpon the stronde By whome the mysbileue of synne was lefte and Chrystes feyth came inne To hem that whilome were blynde But he whiche hyndreth euery kynde ¶ Quafiter rex Alle in Anglia post biennium humane carnis resofucionem subiens nature debitum persofuit post cuius obitum Constancia cum patre suo Rome se transtulit moraturam ¶ And for no gold may be forbought The deth comend er he besought Toke with this kynge such acqueyntaÌ„ce That he with all his retenaunce Ne myhht not defende his lyfe And thus he parteth from his wyfe whiche than made sorowe ynoughe And therupon her hert droughe To leue Englond for euer And go where she hadde leuer To Rome whens that she came And thus of all the londe she nam Her leue and goth to Rome ageyne And after that the bokes seyne She was not there but a throwe whan deth of kynde hath ouerthrowe Her worthy father whiche men sayde That betwene her armes deyde And afterward the yere suende The god of her hath made an ende And fro this worldes fayrye Hath take her in to companye ¶ Morys her sonne was coroned whiche so ferforth was abandoned To Christes feyth that men hym calle Morys the chrystnest of all And thus the whele menynge of loue was at last set aboue And so as thou haste herd tofore The fals tunges were lore whiche vpon loue wolde lye For thy touchend of this enuye whiche longeth vnto bakbitynge Be ware thou make no lesynge In hvndrynge of another wyght And if thou wolde be taught aryght what mischyfe bakbitynge doth By other weye a tale soth Nowe myght thou here next sewend whiche to this vyce is acordend ¶ Hic ponit Confessor exemplum contra istos detractores qui in alterius vitupertum mendatia confingentes dissamacionem fieri procurant Et narrat qualiter Perseus Philippi regis Macedonu filius Demetrio fratri suo ob euis probitatem inuidens / composito detractionis mendacio ipsum apud patrem suum mortaliter accusauit dicens ipse non solum patrem / sed et totum Macedonii regnum Romanis hostibus pro ditorie vendidisset quem super hoc in iudicium producens â—testions que indicibus auro subornaâ—â—â— quamvis falsissime morte condempnatum 〈◊〉 quo defuncto eciam et pater infra breue 〈…〉 â—ortuus est Et sic Perseo successiue regnaâ—te deus huiusmodi detractionis inuidiam abâ—â—â—â—â—â—s 〈◊〉 sum cum vniuersa suorum pugnatoruÌ„ 〈…〉 extra Danubii fluuium ab Aemilo 〈◊〉 â—â—norum Consule enentu bellico interâ—â—◠〈…〉 Ita quod ab illo die Macedonii 〈◊〉 penitus destructa Romano Imperio 〈…〉 deseruiuit / et eins detractio / quam 〈◊〉 aâ—ium conspiranerat / in sui ipsius diffama 〈◊〉 pre â—erpetno dinulgata consistit ¶ In a Cronyke as thou shalt wytte A great ensample I fynde wrytte whiche I shall telle vpon this thynge Philyp of Macedony the kynge Two sonnes hadde by his wyfe whose fame yet in Grece is ryfe Demetrius the fyrste brother was hote and Perseus that other Demetrius men sayden tho The better knyght was of the two To whom the londe was attendant As he whiche heyre was apparaunt To regne after his fathers day But that thyng whiche no water may Quenche in this world but euer brenneth In to his broders hert it renneth The proud enuye of that he syghe His brother shulde clyme on hyghe And he to hym mote than obeye That may he suffer by no weye with strength durst he no
felde where the baners ben displayed He hath anone his men arrayde And whan that he was enbatayled He goth and hath the felde assayled And slough and toke all that he fonde wherof the Macedonye londe which through king Alisander honored Longe tyme stode was tho deuoured To Perse and all that infortune They wyte so that the comune Of all the londe his heyre exile And he dispeyred for the whyle Disguysed in a poore wede To Rome goth and there for nede The crafte whiche thylke tyme was To worken in latouÌ„ and in bras He lerneth for his sustenaunce Suche was the sonnes purueyaunce And of his father it is sayde In stronge prison that he was leyde In Albe where that he was deade For honger and defaulte of breade The hounde was token and prophecie That lyche an hounde he shulde dye whiche lyche was of condition whan he with his detraction Barke on his brother so behynde Confessor To what profyte a man may fynde whiche hyndre woll an other wyght For thy with all thyn hole myght My sonne eschewe thylke vice Amans My father elles were I nyce For ye therfore so well haue spoke That it is in myn herte loke And euer shall but of enuye If there be more in his bailye Towardes loue say me what ¶ My sonne as gyle vnder the hat with sleyghtes of a Tregetour Is hyd enuye of suche colour Hath yet the fourthe deceyuaunt The whiche is cleped fals Semblaunt wherof the mater and the forme Nowe herken and I the shall enforme Nil bilinguis aget nisi duplo concinat ore Dumque diem loquitur nox sua vota tegit Vultus habet luceÌ„ tenebias mens sermo saluteÌ„ Actus sed morbum dat suus esse grauem Pax tibi quaÌ„ spoÌ„det magis est prenostica guerre Commoda si dederit disce subesse dolum Quod pater esse fides in eo fraus estque politi Principium pacti finis habere negat O quem condicio talis deâ—ormat amantem Qui magis apparens est in amore nihil ¶ Hic tractat Conffessor super quarta specie inâ—â—â—â—e / que Dissimulacio dicitur cuius vustus quanto maioris amicicie apparenciam oftendit / â—â—â—te subtisioris dosi fallacias ad decipiendum mâ—nâ— maginatur ¶ Of fals Semblaunt if I shall tell Aboue all other it is the welle Out of the whiche deceyt floweth There is no man so wyse that knoweth Of thylke flode whiche is the tyde He howe he shulde hym selfe n guyde To take saufe passage there And yet the wynde to mans ere Is softe and as it semeth oute It maketh clere weder all aboute But thought it seme it is not so For fals Sâ—mblaunt hath euer mo Of his counsayll in companye The derke vntrewe hipocrysye whose worde discordeth to his thought For thy they ben to gyder brought Of one couyne of one hous holde As it shall after this be tolde Of fals Semblaunt it nedeth nought To telle of olde ensamples ought For all day in experyence A man may see thylke euydence Of fayre wordes whiche he hereth But yet the barge enuye stereth And halt it euer fro the londe which fals SemblauÌ„t with ore in hond It roweth and woll not arryue But let it on the wawes dryue In great tempest and great debate wherof that loue and his estate Empeyreth And therfore I rede My sonne that thou fle and drede This vyce and what that other seyn Let thy semblaunt be trewe and pleyn For fals Semblaunt is thylke vice whiche neuer was without office where that enuye thynketh to gyle He shall be for that ylke whyle Of pryue counsayll messagere For whan his semblaunt is moste clere Than is he moste derke in his thought Thought men hym se they knowe hym nought But as it sheweth in the glas Thynge whiche therin neuer was So sheweth it in his vysage That neuer was in his courage Thus doth he all his thing by sleyghte ¶ Nowe lay thy conseyence in weyght My good sonne and shryue the here If thou were euer customere To fals Semblaunt in any wyse ¶ For ought I can me yet auyse My good father certes no If I for loue haue don so Nowe asketh I wolde pray yowe For elles I wot neuer howe Of fals semblaunt that I haue gylt ¶ My sonne and sethin that thou wylt That I shall aske gab nought But telle if euer was thy thought with fals Semblaunt and Couerture To wytte of any creature Howe that he was with loue ladde So were he sory were he gladde whan that thou wystyst howe it were All that he rouneth in thyn ere Thou toldest forth in other place To setten hym fro loues grace Of what woman that the best lyste There as no man his counseyll wyst But thou by whome he was deceyued Of loue and from his purpose weyued And thoughtest that his disturbaunce Thyn owne cause shulde auaunce As who sayth I am so selce There may no mannes priuete Ben heled halue so well as myn Arte thou my sonne of suche engyn Telle on My good father nay As for the more parte I saye But of somedele I am beknowe That I may stonde in thylke rowe Amonge hem that slaundres vse I woll not me therof excuse That I with suche colour ne steyne whan I my best semblant feyne To my felowe tyll that I wote All his counseylle bothe colde and hote For by that cause I make hym chere â—â—ll I his loue knowe and here And if so be myn hert soucheth 〈◊〉 ought vnto my lady toucheth 〈◊〉 that he woll me telle 〈…〉 I renne vnto the welle 〈…〉 water in the fyre 〈…〉 his carre amyd the myre 〈…〉 I haue his counsayle knowe 〈…〉 syth I ouerthrowe 〈…〉 he weneth best to stonde 〈◊〉 this I do you vnderstonde 〈…〉 man loue elles where 〈…〉 my lady be nought there 〈…〉 tell I wyll it hyde 〈…〉 no worde escape asyde 〈…〉 disceyte of no semblaunt 〈…〉 bâ—cke I no couenaunt 〈…〉 â—â—keth â—at in other place 〈…〉 no man of his grace 〈…〉 to be inquisitife 〈◊〉 â—â—â—we an other mans lyfe where that he loue or loue nought That toucheth nothing to my thought 〈…〉 it passeth through myn care 〈…〉 as a thynge that neuer were 〈…〉 foryete and layde besyde 〈◊〉 if it touche on any syde My lady as I haue er spoken My neâ—â—es ben nought than loken For certes whan that betyt My wyll myn herte and all my wytte Ben fully sette to herken and spere â—hat any man woll speke of her Thus haue I feyned company Full ofte for I wolde aspye what thynge it is that any man Telle of my worthy lady can And for two causes I do this The fyrste cause wherof is If that I myght herken and seke That any man of her mysspeke I woll excuse her so fully That whan she wyst it inderly Myn hope shulde be the more To haue her thanke for euermore That other cause I you assure Is why that I
man hath sowe And maketh common of propyrte with sleyght and with subtylte As men may sen from yere to yere Thus cleymeth he the bote to stere Of whiche another mayster is ¶ For thy my sonne if thou er this Haste ben of suche profession Dyscouer thy Confession Hast thou supplanted any man ¶ For ought that I you telle can Myn holy father as of dede I am withouten any drede And gilteles but of my thought My conscience excuse I nought For were it wronge or wer it ryght Me lyketh no thynge but myght That I ne wolde longe er this Of other mans loue Iwys By wey of supplantatyon Haue madde appropryacyon And holde that I neuer nought Thoughe it another man forthought And all this speke I but of one For whome I lete all other gone But her I may not ouerpasse That I ne mote alwey compasse We rought not by what queyntyse So that I myght in any wyse Fro suche that my lady serue Her hert make for to swerue without any parte of loue For by the goddes all aboue I wolde it myght so befalle That I alone shuld hem all Supplant and welde her at my wylle And that thynge may I nought fulfylle But if I shulde strength make And that dare I nought vndertake Though I were as was Alysander For therof myght ryse a sklander And certes that shall I do neuer For in good feyth yet hadde I leuer In my symplesse for to dye Than worche suche supplantarye Of other wyse I woll not say That if I fonde a syker way I wolde as for conclusyon worche after supplantation So hyghe a loue for to wynne Nowe father if that this be synne I am redy to redresse The gylt of whiche I me confesse ¶ My good sonne as of supplant The dare not drede tant ne quant As for no thynge that I haue herde But onely that thou haste misferde Thynkend and that me lyketh nought For god beholt a mans thought And if thou vnderstode in soth In loues cause what it doth A man to ben a supplantour Thou woldest for thyn owne honour By double way take kepe Fyrste for thyn owne estate to keke To be thy selfe so well be thought That thou supplanted were nought And eke for worship of thy name Towardes other do the same And suffer euery man haue his But netheles it was and is That in awayte at all assayes Supplant of loue in our wayes The leef full ofte for the leuer Forsaketh and so it hath done euer Ensample I fynde therupon ¶ Qualiter Agamemnon de amore Breffeide Achillem et Diomedes de amore Criseide Troilum supplantauit ¶ At Troye howe that Agamemnon Supplanted the worthy knyght Achilles for that swete wyghte whiche named was Brisseida And also of Cryseyda whome Troylus to loue ches Supplanted hath Diomedes ¶ Qualiter Amphitrium socium suum Getam qui Alemenam peramauit seipsum loco alterius cautelo sa supplantacione substituit ¶ Of Geta and Amphitryone That whilom were both as one Of frendship and of companye I rede howe that Supplantarye In loue as it betyd tho Begyled hath one of hem two For this Geta that I of mene To whom the lusty fayre Alemene Assured was by wey of loue whan he beste wende haue ben aboue And sykerest of that he hadde Cupido so the cause ladde That whyle he was oute of the weye Amphitrion her loue aweye Hath take in this forme he wrought By nyght vnto the chambre he sought where that she lay and with a wyle He counterfeteth for the whyle The voys of Geet in suche a wyle That made her of her bedde aryse wenende that it were he And lete hym in and whan they be To gyder a bedde in armes faste This Geta cam than at laste Vnto the dore and sayde vndo And she answered and badde hym go And sayde howe that a bed all warme Her lyefe lay naked in her arme She wende that it were soth Lo what supplant of loue doth This Geta forth beiaped went And yet ne wyst he what it ment Amphitrion hym hath supplanted with sleyght of loue and her enchauÌ„ted And thus put euery man oute other The ship of loue hath lost his rother So that he can no resone stere And for to speke of this mattere Touchende loue and his supplaunt A tale whiche is accordaunt Vnto thyn care I thynke enforme Nowe herken for this is the forme ¶ 〈◊〉 amoris causa contra fraudeÌ„ detractioâ—â—â—◠〈◊〉 Confessor exemplum / Et narrat de 〈◊〉 Romani imperatoris filio / qui probitates 〈◊〉 â—um super omnia exercere affectans nescien◠〈◊〉 â—â—ita mare in partes Persie ad deferâ—â—â—â—dum Sosdanâ— super guerras cil solo misite 〈…〉 suo ignotus se transtulit Et cum 〈…〉 fama super altes ibidem celsior 〈…〉 contigit vt in quodam bello contra 〈…〉 Egipti 〈◊〉 sosdanus a sagitia morâ—◠〈…〉 priusquam moreretur quendaÌ„ 〈…〉 suâ—â—â—tetissimiâ—â—to nobili Romano 〈…〉 qualiter filia sua sub paterne 〈…〉 vinculo aduirata est ê™ quicumque 〈…〉 eâ— afferret ipsum in coningeÌ„ pre◠〈…〉 Defuncto autem Soldan◠〈…〉 â—ayre dicitur itinerantes 〈…〉 suo â—â—uius misteru 〈…〉 nâ—â—tanter a bursa demini 〈…〉 que audiuit vsui 〈…〉 appsiciuit 〈◊〉 sic ser 〈…〉 Soldani filta 〈…〉 ¶ Of thylke citie chiefe of all wâ—â—â—e men the noble Rome call 〈…〉 set to Christes fayth 〈…〉 as the cronyke sayth 〈◊〉 â—rour the whiche it ladde 〈…〉 that he no werres hadde 〈…〉 thynge disobeysaunt 〈…〉 to Rome appertenaunt 〈…〉 was tourned in to reste 〈◊〉 it thought hem for the best 〈…〉 it thought nothynge so And that was onely vnto tho 〈◊〉 herte stode vpon knyghthode 〈◊〉 most of all his manhode 〈◊〉 worthy sonne of the emperour 〈◊〉 wolde ben a werriour 〈◊〉 that was chyualrous Of worldes fame and desyrous Began his father to beseche That he the werres myght seche In straunge marches for to ryde His father sayde he shulde abyde And wolde graunt hym no leue But he whiche wolde nought beleue A knyght of his to whom he tryst Ryght euen as he thought and lyst He toke and tolde hym his courage That he purposeth a vyage If that fortune with hym stonde He sayde that he wolde fonde The great see to passe vnknowe And there abyde for a throwe Vpon the werres to trauayle And to this poynt without fayle This knyghte whan he hath herde his lorde Is swore stant of his accorde And they that bothe yonge were So that in preuy counsayle there They ben assented for to wende And thervpon to make an ende Treasure inough with hem they token And whan the tyme is best they loken That sodenlyche in a galeye Fro Rome londe they wente their wey And londed vpon that other syde The worlde selle so that ylke tyde whiche euer his happes hath diuerse The great Soldan than of Perse Ayene the Calyphe of Egypte A werre whiche that hym beclypte Hath in a
and cloth And saufely tournen home ageyne without losse of any greyne Through charite thus he dispendeth His good wherof he amendeth The poore people and countreuayleth The harme that he hem so trauayleth And thus the wofull nyghtes sorowe To ioye is torned on the morowe All was thankynge all was blyssynge whiche erst was wepynge and cursynge These women gone home glad inough Echone for ioye on other lough And prayde for this lordes hele whiche hath released the quarele And hath his owne wyll forsake In charite for goddes sake But nowe hereafter thou shalte here what god hath wrought in this matere As he that dothe all equyte To hym that wrought charite He was ayenewarde charitous And to pite he was pytous For it was neuer knowe yet That charite gothe vnaquyt The nyght whan he was layde to slepe The hygh god whiche wold hym kepe Saynt Peter saynt Poule hym sende By whom he wolde his lepre amende They two to hym slepende appere Fro god and sayd in this manere O Constantyn for thou hast serued Pyte thou hast pite deserued For thy thou shalte suche pite haue That god through pite woll the saue Thou shalte so double he le fynde Fyrste for thy bodelyche kynde And for thy wofull soule also Thou shalt be hole of both two And for thou shalte not the despeyre Thy lepre shall no more empeyre Tyll thou wylte sende thervpon Vnto the mount of Celyon where Syluester and his clergye To gyder dwellen in company For drede of the whiche many a day Hast ben a so to Christes lay And hast destroyed to mochel shame The prechours of his holy name But now thou hast somdele appesed Thy god and with good dede plesed That thou thy pyte hast bywaryd Vpon the blod which thou hast spared For thy to thy saluacyon Thou shalt haue Informacyon Suche as Syluester shall the teche The nedeth of none other leche This Emperour whiche all this herde Graunt mercy lorde he answerde I woll do so as ye me say But of one thynge I wold pray what shall I telle vnto Syluester Of your name or of your ester And they hym tolde what they hyght And forth with all out of his syght They passen vp in to the heuen And be awoke out of his sweuen And clepeth and men come anone And tolde his dreme and therupon In suche a wyse as he hem telleth The mount where Syluester dwelleth They haue in all haste sought And foundeÌ„ he was with heÌ„ brought To themperour whiche to hym tolde His sweuen and elles what he wolde And whaÌ„ Siluester hath herd the king He was ryght ioyfull of this thyng And hym began with all his witte To techen vpon holy wrytte Fyrst howe mankynde was forlore And howe the hygh god therfore His sonne send from aboue whiche borne was for mans loue And after of his owne choys He toke his deth vpon the croys And how in graue he was beloke And howe that he hath helle broke And toke hem out that were hym leue And for to make vs full beleue That he was very goddes sonne Ayene the kynde of mans wonne Frodeth he rose the thyrde day And whan he wolde as he well may He styghe vp to his father euen with flesshe and bloudin to the heuen And ryght so in the same forme In flesshe and bloud he shall reforme whan tyme cometh the quycke dede At thylke wofull day of drede where euery man shall take his dome As well the mayster as the grome The myghty kynges retenue That day may stande of no value with worldly strength to defende For euery man mote than entende To stande vpon his owne dedes And â—â—ue all other mennes nedes That day may no counsayle auayle The piâ—dour and the plee shall fayle 〈◊〉 â—entence of that ylke daye 〈◊〉 none appele sette in delay â—â—ere may no golde the iudge plye â—â—at bene shall the soth trie 〈◊〉 setten euery man vpryght As well the plowe man as the knyghte The lâ—nde man the great clerke Shall stonde vpon his owne werke 〈◊〉 suche as he is founde tho Sâ—che shall he be for euermo There may no peyne be released There may no ioye ben encreased 〈◊〉 endeles as they haue do He shall receyue one of two ¶ Thus Syluestre with his sawe The grounde of all the newe lawe with great deuocion he preacheth Fâ—â— poynt to point and plainly techeth Vnto this heathen emperour And sayth the hygh creatour Hath vndersonge his charite Of that he wrought suche pite whan he the chyldren had on honde Thus whan this lord hath vnderstoÌ„d Of all this thynge howe that it ferde Vnto Syluestre he than answerde with all his holle herte and seyth That he is redy to the feyth And so the vessell whiche for bloud was made Syluestre there it stode with cleane water of the welle In all haste he lette do felle And sette Constantyne therinne All naked vp to the chynne And in the whyle it was begonne A lyght as though it were a sonne Fro heuen in to the place come where that he toke his christendome And euer amonge the holy tales Lyke as they weren fysshes scales They fellen from hym nowe and efte Tyll that there was nothynge belefte Of all this great maladye For he that wolde hym purifye The hygh god hath made hym clene So that there lefte nothynge sene He hath hym clensed bothe two The body and the soule also Tho knewe this emperour in dede That Christes feyth was for to drede And sende anone his letters out And lette do cryen all aboute Vpon peyne of deth that no maÌ„ weyue That he baptysme ne receyue After his mother quene Eleyne He sende and so betwene hem tweyne They treaten that the citie all was christned and she forth with all This emperour which hele hath fouÌ„d within Rome anone lette founde Two churches whiche he dyd make For Peter and for Poules sake Of whome he hadde a vysion And yafe therto possessyon Of lordeshyppe and of worldes good But howe so that his wylle was good Towarde the Pope and his fraunchyse yet hath it proued otherwyse To se the worchynge of the dede For in cronyke thus I rede Anone as he hath made the yefte A voycee was herde on hygh the lefte Of whiche all Rome was adradde And sayd this day venym is shadde In holy churche of temporall whiche medleth with the spirituall And howe it stant of that degre yet maye a man the sothe se God may amende it whan he wylle I can therto none other skylle But for to go there I began Howe charite may helpe a man To bothe worldes I haue sayde And if thou haue an eare layde My sonne thou myght vnderstonde If charitie be take on honde There foloweth after mochel grace For thy if that thou wylt purchace Howe that thou myght enuy flee Acqueynt the with charite whiche is the vertue souerayne ¶ My father I shall do my peyne For this ensample whiche ye
tolde with all myn herte I haue witholde So that I shall for euermore Eschewe enuye well the more And that I haue or this mysdo yeue me my penaunce or I go And ouer that to my matere Of shryfte whyle ye sytten here In priuete betwene vs tweye Nowe aske what there is I prey Confessor ¶ My good sonne and for thy lore I woll the telle what is more So that thou shalte the vices knowe For whan they be to the full knowe Thou might hem wel the better eschue And for this cause I thynke fewe The forme bothe and the matere As nowe sewende thou shalte here whiche vice stant nexte after this And whan thou wost howe that it is As thou shalt bere my deuyse Thou myght thy selfe better auyse Explicit liber secundus ¶ Hic in tercio libro tractat super quinque speciebus ire quarum prima melancolia dicitur / cuinvitium Confessor primo describens amati / super codem consequenter opponit ¶ Incipit liber tertius Ira suis paribus est par furijs Acherontis Quo furor ad tempus nil pietatis haber Ira melancolicos animos perturbat ut équo Iure sui pondus nulla sâ—atéra tenet Omnibus in causis grauat ira inter amantes Illa magis facili sorte grauamen agit Est vbi uir discors leuiterque repugnat amori Saepe loco ludi fletus ad ora uenit IF thou the vyces lyste to knowe My sonne it hathe not be vnknowe Fro fyrste that men theyr swerdes grounde That there nis none vpon this grounde A vyce forreyne fro the lawe wherof that many a good felawe Hath be distraught by sodeyne chaunce And yet to kynde no pleasaunce It dothe but where he most acheueth His purpose moste to kynde he greueth As he whiche out of conscience Is ennemy vnto pacyence And is by name one of the seuen whiche ofte hath set the worlde vneuen And cleped is the cruell ire whose herte is euermore on fyre To speke amysse and to do bothe For his seruauntes ben euer wrothe ¶ My good father telle me this what thynge is ire Sonne it is That in our englysshe wrath is hote whiche hath his wordes ay so hote That all a mannes pacyence Is fyred of the vyolence For he with hym hath euer fyue Seruauntes that helpen hym to stryue The fyrst of hem melancoly Is cleped whiche in company An honderde tymes in an houre woll as an angry beast soure And no man wote the cause why My sonne shryue the nowe for thy Hast thou be melancholyen ¶ My father ye by seynt Iulyen But I vntrewe wordes vse I may me not therof excuse And all maketh loue well I wote Of whiche myn herte is euer hote So that I brenne as doth a glede For wrath that I may not spede And thus full ofte a day for nought Saufe onlyche of myn owne thought I am so with my seluen wroth That howe so that the game goth with other men I am not gladde But I am well the more vngladde For that is other mens game It tourneth me to pure grame Thus am I with my selfe oppressed Of thought whiche I haue impressed That all wakynge I dreme and mete That I alone with her mete And pray her of some good answere But for she wolde not gladly swere She sayth me naye withouten othe And thus waxe I within wroth That outwarde I am all affrayed And so distempered and so esmayed A thousande tymes on a daye There sowneth in myn eares nay The whiche she sayde me tofore Thus be my wyttes all forlore 〈◊〉 â—â—â—nely whan I begynne â—â—â—cken with my selfe withinne Howe many yeres ben agone 〈◊〉 I haue truely loued one And neuer toke of her other hede And euer a lyche for to spede 〈…〉 the more I with her deale 〈◊〉 that my hap and all my heale 〈◊〉 thinketh is ay the lenger the ferre 〈…〉 â—â—â—ngeth my gladship out of erre 〈◊〉 of my wyttes ben empeyred And I as who sayth all dispcired For â—â—â—tly whan that I muse And thynke howe she woll me refuse I am with anger so bestadde 〈◊〉 this worlde myght I be gladde 〈◊〉 for the while that it lasteth 〈◊〉 so downe my ioye it casteth And by the forther that I be whan I ne may my lady se The more I am redy to wrathe That for the touchynge of a lath Or for the tournynge of a stre I wode as doth the wylde see And â—m so melancolyous That there nys seruaunt in myne house Ne none of tho that be aboute That eche of hem ne stant in doubte And wenen that I shulde raue For angre that they se me haue And so they wondre more and lasse That they seen it ouerpasse But father if it so betyde That I approche at any tyde The place where my lady is And than her lyketh ywys To speke a goodly worde vnto me For all the golde that is in Rome Ne couth I after that be wroth But all myn angre ouer gothe So gladde I am of the presence Of her that I all offence Foryete as though it were nought So ouer glad is my thought And netheles the sothe to telle Ayenewarde if it so befelle That I at thylke tyme sye On me that she my seaste her eye Or that she lyst not loke And I therof good hede toke Anone into my fyrste estate I tourne and am with that also mate That euer it is a lyche wycke And thus myn honde ayene the prycke I hurte and haue done many a day And go so forth as I go may Full ofte bytynge on my lyppe And make vnto my selfe a whyppe with whiche in many a chele and hete My wofull herte is so to beate That all my wyttes ben vnsofte And I am wrothe I not how ofte And all it is melancolye whiche groweth on the fantasye Of loue that me woll not loute So beare I forthe an angry snoute Fulle many tymes in a yere But father nowe ye sytten here In Loues stede I you beseche That some ensample ye me teche wherof I may my selfe appease Confessor ¶ My sonne for thyn hertes ease I shall fulfyll thy prayere So that thou myght the better lere what mischiefe that this vice stereth whiche in his anger nought forbeareth wherof that after hym forthynketh whan he is sobre and that he thynketh Vpon the foly of his dede And of this poynt a tale I rede ¶ Hic ponit Confessor exemplum contra istos / qui cum vires amoris non sunt realiter experti contra alios amantes melancolica seueritate ad it acnndiaÌ„ vindicte prouocantur Et narrat qualiter rex â—olus filium nomine Machareum et filiam nomine Canacem habuit / qui cum ab infantia vsque pubertaiem inuicem fuerant educati Cupido tandeÌ„ cum ignito iaculo amborum cordis desideria amorose penetrauit / ita ê™ natura Canacis cooperante a fratre suo inpregnata par turit super quo pater
intollerabilem inuentutis concupiscentiam ignorans / nimiaque furoris melancolia preuentus / dictam filiam cum partu delorisissimo casu interfeci diuidicauit ¶ There was a kynge whiche Eolus was hote and it befell hym thus That he two children had fayre The sonne cleped was Machayre The doughter eke Canace hyght By day bothe and eke by nyght whyle they be yonge of coÌ„mon wonne In chambre they to gether wonne And as they shulden pleyd hem ofte Tyll they be growen vp alofte In the yongthe of lusty age whan kynde assaileth the courage with loue and doth hym for to bowe That he no reason can allowe But halte the lawes of nature For whome that loue hath vnder cure As he is blynde hym selfe ryght so He maketh his clyent blynde also In suche maner as I you telle As they all day to gether dwelle This brother myght it not asterte That he with all his hole herte His loue vpon his syster cast And so it felle hem at the laste That this Machayre with Canace whan they were in a preuy place Cupyde baâ— hem fyrst to kysse And after she whiche is maystrysse In kynde and teacheth euery lyfe without lawe positife Of which she taketh no maner charge But kepeth her lawes all at large Nature toke hem in to lore And taught hem so that ouermore She hath hem in suche a wyse daunted That they were as who saith enchaÌ„ted And as the blynde an other ledeth And tyll they falle nothynge dredeth Ryght so they had none in syght But as a byrde whiche woll a lyght And seeth the meate and not the nette whiche in deceyt of hym is sette These yonge folke no peryll sye But all was lykynge in her eye In that they felle vpon the chaunce where wyt hath lore his remembrance So longe they to gether assemble The wombe arose she gan to tremble And helde her in her chambre close For drede it shulde be disclose And come vnto her fathers care wherof the sonne had also fere And feyneth cause for to ryde For longe durst he not abyde In aunter if men woll seyne That he his syster hath forleyne For yet she had it not be knowe whose was the childe at thylke throwe Machayre goth Canace abyt The whiche was not delyuered yet But ryght sone after that she was ¶ Nowe list and herken a wofull cas The soth whiche may not ben hyd was at laste knowe and kydde Vnto the kynge howe that it stode And whan that he it vnderstode Anone into Melancolye As though it were a frenesye He felle as he whiche nothynge couthe Howe maysterfull Loue is in youthe And for he was to loue straunge He wolde not his herte chaunge To be benigne and fauourable To Loue but vnmerciable Betwene the wawe of wode and wroth In to his doughters chambre he gothe And sye the childe was late bore wherof he hath his othe swore That she it shall full sore abye And she beganne mercy to crye Vpon her bare knees and prayde And to her father thus she sayde Haue mercy father thynke I am Thy childe and of thy bloud I cam That I mysdede youth it made And in the flouddes bad me wade where that I sawe no peryll tho But nowe it is befalle so Mercy my father do no wreche And with that worde she loste speche And felle downe swouned at his fote As she for sorowe nedes mote But his horrible crueltie That myght attempte no pitie Out of her chambre forth he wente All full of wrath in his entente And toke the counsayle in his herte That she shall not the deth asterte And he whiche is melancolyen Of pacyence hath not lyen wherof he may his wrath restreyne And in this wylde wode peyne whan all his reason was vntame A knâ—ght he cleped by his name And toke hym as by wey of sonde A naked swerde to beare on honde And sayde hym that he shulde go And telle vnto his doughter so In the maner as he hym bade Howe she that sharpe swerdes blade Receyue shulde and do withall So that she wote where to she shall Forth in message goth this knyght Vnto this wofull yonge wyght This sharpe swerde to her he toke wherof that all her body quoke For well she wyst what it ment And that it was to thylke entent That she her seluen shulde slee And to the knyght she sayde ye Nowe that I wote my fathers wyll That I shall in this wyse spyll I wyll obeye me therto And as he woll it shall be do But now this thing may be none other I woll a letter vnto my brother So as my feble hande may wryte with all my wofull herte endyte She toke a penne on honde tho Fro poynt to poynt and all the wo As ferforth as her selfe it wote Vnto her deadly frende she wrote And tolde howe that her fathers grace She myght for nothynge purchace And ouer that as thou shalt here She wrote and sayd in this manere ¶ O thou my sorowe and my gladnes O thou my hele and my syckenes O thou my wanhope and my trust O thou my disese and all my lust O thou my we le O thou my wo O thou my frende O thou my fo O thou my loue O thou my hate For the mote I be deade algate Thylke ende may I not asterte And yet with all myn holle herte while that there lasteth me any breath I woll the loue vnto my death But of o thynge I shall the preye If that my lytell sonne deye Let hym be buryed in my graue Besyde me so shalte thou haue Vpon vs both remembraunce For thus it stondeth of my greuaunce Nowe at this tyme as thou shalt wite with teares and with inke wryte This letter I haue in cares colde In my right honde my penne I holde And in my lefte my swerde I kepe And in my barme there lyeth to wepe Thy chylde myn whiche sobbeth fast Nowe am I come vnto my last Fare well for I shall sone dye And thynke howe I thy loue abye The pomell of the swerde to grounde She set and with the poynt a wounde Through out her hert anone she made And forth with all pale and fade She felle downe deed fro ther she stode The childe lay bathende in her bloude Out rolled from the mother barme And for the bloud was bote warme He basketh hym about therin Ther was no bote for to wynne For whiche he can no pyte knowe The kynge cam in the same throwe And sawe howe that his doughter died And howe this baby all blody cryed But all that myght hym not suffyse That he ne badde to do Iuyse Vpon the chylde and bere hym out And seche in the forest aboute Som wylde place that it were To cast hym out of honde there So that some beste hym may deuoure where as no man hym shall socure All that he badde was done in dede A who harde euer synge or rede Of
suche a thynge as tho was do But he whiche ladde his wrath so Hath knowe of loue but a lyte But for all that he was to wyte Through his sodeyne melancolye To do so great a felonye ¶ For thy my sonne howe so it stonde By this cas thou myght vnderstonde That if thou euer in cause of loue Shalt deme and thou be so aboue That thou myght leade it at thy wylle Let neuer through thy wrath spylle whiche euery kinde shulde saue For it syt euery man to haue Rewarde to loue and to his myght Ayenst whos strengthe may no wyght And sith an hert is so streined The reddour ought to be restreined To hym that may bet aweye whan he mote to nature obeye For it is sayde thus ouerall That nedes mote that nedes shall Of that a lyfe doth after kynde wherof he may no bote fynde what thinge nature hath set in lawe Ther may no mans myght withdrawe And who that worcheth there ayene Full ofte tyme it hath be seyne There hath befalle great vengeaunce wherof I fynde a remembraunce ¶ Hic narrat qualiter Tiresias in quodam moÌ„te duos serppentes inuenit pariter commiscentes quos cum virga percussit Irati dil ob hoc naturam impediuit ipsum contra naturam a forma virili immuliebrem transmutarunt ¶ Ouide after the tyme tho Tolde an ensample and sayde so Howe that whylom Tiresyas As he walkend goth par cas Vpon an hygh mounteyne he sygh Two serpentes in his weyâ— nyghe And they so as nature hem taught Assembled were and he tho cought A yerde whiche he bare on honde And thought that he wolde fonde To lette hem and smote hem bothe wherof the goddes weren wrothe And for he hath destourbed kynde And was so to nature vnkynde Vnkyndelyche he was transformed That he which erst a man was formed In to a woman was forshape That was to hym an angry iape But for that he with anger wrought His anger angerlyche he bought Confessor ¶ Lo thus my son Ouide hath wryte wherof thou myght by reason wyte More is a man than suche a best So myght it neuer ben honest A man to wrathen hym to sore Of that another doth the lore Of kynde in whiche is no malyce But onely that it is a vyce And though a man be resonable yet after kynde he is meuable To loue where he woll or none Thynke thou my sonne therupon And do melancolye aweye For loue hath euer his luste to pleye As he whiche wold no lyfe greue Amans ¶ My fader that I may well leue All that ye telle it is skylle Let euery man loue as he wylle Be so it be not my lady For I shall not be wroth there by But that I wrath and fare amys Alone vpon my selfe it is That I with bothe loue and kynde I am so bestad that I can fynde No wey howe I it may asterte whiche stant vpon myn owne hert And toucheth to none or her lyfe Sauf onely to that swete wyfe For whome but if it be amended My gladde dayes ben dispended That I my selfe shall not forbere The wrathe whiche I nowe bere For therof is none other lyche Nowe asketh forth I yowe beseche Of wrathe if there ought elles is wherof to shryue Sonne yis 〈…〉 litem que linguae frena resoluens 〈…〉 infames currit vbique vias 〈…〉 mitrix quos educat ista loquaces 〈…〉 a latere linquit habere vagos 〈…〉 agens tacitâ— no qui celet ore 〈…〉 â—â—ptan carpit amoris iter 〈…〉 super secunda specie ire 〈…〉 ex cuius coÌ„turelus innumerosa 〈…〉 tam in amoris causa quÌ„i aliter 〈…〉 sepissime exorta est OF wrath the second is chest which hath the wyndes of teÌ„pest To kepe and mani a sodeine blast He bloweth wherof ben agast 〈◊〉 â—hat desyren pes and reste Hâ— is that ylke vngoodly este 〈◊〉 many a lusty loue hath twynned 〈◊〉 hereth euer his mouth vnpinned 〈◊〉 â—hat his lyppes ben vnloke And his courage is all to broke That euery thynge whiche he can telle It springeth vp as doth a welle wâ—â—che may no man of his stremes hide Bâ—â— renneth out on euery syde Sâ— boylen vp the foule sawes That cheste wote of his felawes For as a syue kepeth Ale Râ—ght so can cheste kepe a tale All that he wote he woll dysclose And speke er any man oppose As a cyte withoute walle where men may gon out oueralle withouten any resystence So with his croked eloquence He speketh all that he wote with ynne wherof men lese more than wynne For often tyme of his chydinge He bryngeth to hous suche tydynge That maketh werre at beddes bede He is the leueyn of the brede whiche soureth all the past about Men ought well suche one to doute For euer his bowe is redy bent And whome he hyt I tell hym shent If he may perce hym with his tonge And eke so loude his belle is ronge That of the noyse and of the soune Men feren hym in all the towne well more than they done of thonder For that is cause of more wonder For with the windes which he bloweth Full ofte syth he ouer throweth The Cytees and the polycye That I haue herde the people crye And echone sayde in his degre Ha wycke tonge wo thou be For men sayn that the harde bone All though hym selfe haue none A tonge breaketh it all to pyeces He hath so many sondry spices Of vyce that I may not wel Descriue hem by a thousand dele But whan that he to cheste falleth Full many a wonder thynge befalleth For he ne can no thynge forbere Nowe telle my sonne thyn answere If it hath euer so betyde That thou at any tyme hast chyd Toward thy loue Fader naye Suche cheste yet vnto this daye Ne made I neuer god forbede For er I synge suche a crede I hadde leuer to be lewed For than were I all beshrewed And worthy to be put a backe with all the sorowe vpon my backe That any man ordeyne couthe But I spake neuer yet by mouthe That vnto chest myght touche And that I durst ryght wel vouche Vpon her selfe as for wytnes For I wote of her gentilnes That she me wold wel excuse That I no suche thynges vse And if it shulde so betyde That I algates must chyde It myght not be to my loue For so yet neuer was I aboue For all this wyde worlde to wynne That I durst any worde begynne By which she myght haue be amoued And I of cheste also reproued But rather if it myght her lyke The beste wordes wolde I pyke whiche I couthe in myn hert chese And serue hem forth in stede of chese For that is helpelyche to defye And I wolde so my wordes plye That myghten wrath and cheste auale with tellynge of my softe tale Thus dar I make a forward That neuer vnto my lady ward yet spake I word in suche a wyse wherof that chest shulde aryse
wey of kynde whiche stormy is as men it fynde Fyrste maketh the windes for to blowe And after that within a throwe He reyneth and the water gates Vndoth and thus my wyfe algates whiche is with reason well beseyn Hath made me bothe wynde and reyn After the season of the yere And than he set hym ner the fyre And as he myght his clothes dryed That he nomore o worde ne seyd wherof he gat hym somdele rest For that hym thought was for the best ¶ I not if thylke ensample yet Acordeth with a mans wyt To suffer as Sosacrates dede And if it fal in any stede A man to lese so his galle Hym ought amonge the women alle In Loues court by Iugement The name bere of pacient To yeue ensample to the good Of pacience howe that it stode That other men it myght knowe Amans ¶ And sonne if thou at any throwe Be tempted ayenst pacyence Take hede vpon this euidence It shall par case the lesse greue Amans ¶ My fader so as I beleue Of that shall be no maner nede For I woll take so good hede That er I fall in suche assay I thynke eschewe if that I may But if there be ought elles more wherof I myght take lore I pray you so as I dare Nowe telleth that I may beware Some other tale of this matter Confessor ¶ Sonne it is euer good to lere wherof thou myght thy word restreyne Er that thou falle in any peyne For who that can no counseyl hyde He may not fayle of wo besyde whiche shall befalle er he it wyte As I fynde in the bokes wryte ¶ Hic ponit Confessor exemplum quod de alterius lite intromittere cauendum est Et narrat qualiter Iupiter cum Iunone super quadam que sitione litigabant / videlicet vtrum vir an mulier in amoris concupiscentia feruencius ardebat super quo Tiresiam eorum Iudicem constituebant Et qui ille contra Iunonem in dicte litis causa sentenciam diffiniuit irata de ipse deum amborum oculorum lumme claritatis absque remissione priuauit Confessor ¶ Yet cam there neuer good of stryfe To seche in all a mans lyfe Though it begyn on pure game Full ofte it torneth in to grame And doth greuaunce on som syde wherof the great clerke Ouide After the lawe whiche was tho Of Iupiter and of Iuno Maketh in his bokes mencion Howe they felle at dissencyon In maner as it were a borde As they began for to worde Amonge hem selfe in pryuete And that was vpon this degre whiche of the two more amorous is Or man or wyfe And vpon this They myght not acorde in one And toke a Iuge therupon whiche cleped is Tyresyas And bad hym demen in this cas And he withoute auysement Avene Iuno gafe Iugement This goddes vpon his answere was wrothe and wolde not forbere But toke awey for euermo The lyght frome both his eyen two whan Iupiter this hurt hath sene Another benefyte there ayene He yafe and suche a grace hym doth That for he wyste be sayde soth A â—oth sayer he was for euer But yet that other were leuer â—â—ue hadde the lokynge of his eye Than of his worde the prophecye But howe so that the loth went 〈◊〉 was the cause of that he hent So great a peyne bodyly ¶ 〈◊〉 sonne be thou ware there by And holde thy tonge stylle close For who that hath his worde dysclose 〈◊〉 he wyte what he mene 〈◊〉 full ofte nyghe his tene 〈◊〉 leseth full many tyme grace 〈◊〉 that he wold his thank purchace And ouer this my sonne dere 〈◊〉 other men if thou myght here 〈◊〉 priuyte what they haue wrought 〈◊〉 counseyl and dyscouer it nought For cheste can no couÌ„seyl hele Or be it wo or be it wele And take a tale in to thy mynde The whiche of olde ensample I fynde ¶ 〈…〉 Confessor exemplum contra illos 〈…〉 causa allterius consilium reuelare 〈…〉 Et narrat qualiter quedaÌ„ auis tunc 〈…〉 â—â—mine Cornus consilium domine sue 〈…〉 denudauit vnde coÌ„tigit non so◠〈…〉 Coronidem interfect sed et Coruum 〈…〉 tanquam nix albus fuit in piceum coâ—â—rem pro perpetou transmutari Phebus which maketh the dais light A loue he had whiche tho byght Coronis whom abouen all He pleseth But what shall befalle Of loue there is no man knoweth But as fortune her happes throweth So it befell vpon a chaunce A yong knyght toke her acqueintaunce And had of her all that he wolde But a fals byrd which she hath holde And kept in chambre of pure youthe Dyscouerith all that euer he couthe The byrdes name was as tho Coruus the whiche was than also well more whyte than any swan And he the shrewe all that he can Of his lady to Phebus sayde And he for wrath his swerd out braide with whiche Coromde anone he slough But after hym was wo ynough And toke full great repentaunce wherof in token and remembraunce Of hem whiche vsen wycke speche Vpon this byrde he toke his wreche That there he was snowe whyte tofore Euer afterwarde cole blake therfore He was transformed as it sheweth And many a man yet hym beshreweth And clepen hym in to this day A Rauen by whome yet men may Take euydence whan he crieth That some my shap it sygnifyeth Beware therfore and say the best If thou wolt be thy selfe in rest My good sonne as I the rede ¶ Hic soquitur super eodem Et narrat qualiter Lara Nimpha eo quod Iupiter Iuturnam abulterauit / Iunoni Ionis vxori secretum reuelauit Qua propter Iupiter ira commotus singua Laris prins abscisa / ipsam postea in profundum Acherontis exulem pro perpetuo mancipauit ¶ Lo in another place I rede Of thilk Nymphe which Lara hyght For she the priuete by nyght How Iupiter lay by Iuturne Hath told god made her ouertorne Her tonge he cut and in to helle For euer he sent her for to dwelle As she that was not worthy here To ben of loue a chambrere For she no counsayle couth bele And suche a dayes be nowe fele In loues courte as it is sayde That lette her tonges gone vnteyde My sonne be thou none of tho To iangle and telle tales so And namely that thou ne chyde For cheste can no counsayle hyde For wrathe sayde neuer wele ¶ My father sothe is euery dele That ye me teche and I woll holde The rule whiche I am holde To flee the cheste as ye me bydde For well is hym that neuer chydde Nowe telle me forth if there be more As touchynge vnto wrathes lore Daemonis est odium quasi scriba cui dabit ira Materiam scripti cordis ad antra sui Non laxabit amor odii quem frena restringunt Nec secreta sui iuris adire sciuit ¶ Hic tractat Confessor de tercia specie ire que odiuÌ„ dicitur cuius natura omnes
ire inimicitias ad mentem reducens issas vsque ad tempus vindic te vefut scriba demonis in cordis papiro commemorandas inserit ¶ Of wrathe yet there is an other whiche is to cheste his owne brother And is by name cleped hate That suffereth not within his gate That there come other loue or peace For he woll make no release Of no debate whiche is befalle Nowe speke if thou arte one of all That with this vice hath he witholde ¶ As yet for ought that ye me tolde My father I not what it is ¶ In good fayth sonne I trowe yis ¶ My father nay but ye me lere ¶ Nowe lyst my son thou shalt here Hate is a wrath not shewende But of longe tyme gatherende And dwelleth in the herte loken Tyll he see tyme to be wroken And than he sheweth his tempest More sodeyne than the wylde beast whiche wote nothynge what mercy is My sonne arte thou knowen of this ¶ My good father as I wene Nowe wote I somedele what ye mene But I dare saufely make an othe My lady was me neuer lothe I woll not swere netheles That I of bate am gylteles For whan I to my lady plye Fro day to day and mercy crye And she no mercy on me leyth But shorte wordes to me seyth Though I my lady loue algate Tho wordes mote I nedes hate And wolde they were all dispent Or so ferre out of londe went That I neuer after shulde hem here And yet loue I my lady dere Thus is there hate as ye may se Betwene my ladyes worde and me The worde I hate and her I loue what so shall me betyde of loue But furthermore I woll me shryue That I haue hated all my lyue These ianglers whiche of her enuye Ben euer redy for to lye For with her false compassement Full often they haue made me shent And hyndred me full ofte tyme whan they no cause wyste byme But onlyche of her owne thought And thus full ofte haue I bought The lye and dronke not of the wyne I wolde her happe were suche as myne For howe so that I be nowe shriue To hem may I nought foryeue Tylle I se hem at debate with loue and with myn estate They myghten by her owne deme And loke how wel it shuld hem queme To hyndre a man that loueth sore And thus I hate hem euermore Tyl loue on hem wold done his wreche For that shall I alway beseche Vnto the myghty Cupydo That he so mochel wolde do So as he is of loue a god To smyte hem with the same rod with whiche I am of loue smyten So that they myght knowe and wyten Howe byndrynge is a wofull peyne To hym that loue wold atteyne Thus euer on hem I wayte and hope Tyll I may sene hem lepe a lope And halten on the same sore whiche I do nowe for euermore I wolde than do my myght So for to stonden in her lyghte That they ne shulden haue awey To that they wolden put awey I wolde hem put out of the stede Fro loue ryght as they me dede with that they speke of me by mouthe So wolde I do if that I couth Of hem and thus so god me saue Is all the hate that I haue Towarde the ianglers euery dele I wolde all other ferde wele Thus haue I father sayd my wylle Say forth nowe for I am stylle ¶ My sonne of that thou hast me sayd I holde me nought fully payde That thou wolte haten any man To that accorden I ne can Though he haue hyndred the tofore But this I telle the therfore Thou myght vpon my benyson well haten the condicion Of the ianglers as thou me toldest But furthermore of that thou woldest Hem byndre in any other wyse Suche hate is euer to despyse For thy my sonne I wolde the rede That thou drawe in by frendely hede That thou ne myght not do by hate So myght thou gete loue algate And sette the my sonne in rest For thou shalte fynde it for the best And ouer this so as I dare I rede that thou be ryght ware Of other mens hate about whiche euery wyse man shulde dout For hate is euer vpon awayte And as the fyssher on his bayte Sleeth whan he seeth the fysshes faste So whan he seeth tyme at last That he may worche an other wo Shall no man tourne hym therfro That hate nyll his felony Fulfyll and feyne companye yet netheles for false semblaunt Is towarde hym of couenaunt witholde so that vnder bothe The preuy wrath can hym cloth That he shall seme a great beleue But ware the well that thou ne leue All that thou seest afore thyn eie Soas the Gregoys whylom sye The boke of Troye who so rede There may he fynde ensample in dede ¶ Hic ponit Confessor exemplum contra illos / qui cuÌ„ ire sue odium aperte vindicare non possint ficta dissimulatione vindictam subdole assequentur Et narrat quod cum Palamides princeps Grecorum in obsidione Troie a quibusdam suis emulis proditorie interfectus fuisset / paterque suus rex Nauplus in patria sua tunc existens / huiusmodi euentus certitudinem sciuisset grecos in sui cordis odium super omnia recollegit vnde contigit ê™ cum greci deuicta Troia per altum mare versus Greciam nauigio remeantes obscurrissimo noctis tempore nimia ventoruÌ„ tempestate iactabantur rex Nauplus in terra sua contra litus maris / vbi maiora saxorum eminebant pericula super cacumina moncium grandissimos noctanter fecit ignes / quos greci aspicientes saluum portum ibidem inuenire certissime putabant / Et teri am aproximaÌ„tes diruptis nauibus magna pars grecorum periclitabatur SOnne after the destruction whan Troy was all beate downe And slain was priamus the king The gregoys whiche of all this thinge Ben cause tornen home ageyne There may no man his hap withseyne It hath ben sene and felte full ofte The harde tyme after the softe By see as they forth homewarde went A rage of great tempest hem hent Iuno let bende her partie bowe The sky waxe derke the wind gan blow The fyry welken began to thonder As though the world shuld al a sonder From heuen out of the water gates The reyny storme felle downe algates And all her tacle made vnwelde That no man myght hym selfe bewelde There may men her shypmen crie That stode in aunter for to dye He that behynde sat to stere May not the for sterne here The shyp arose agayne the wawes The lodesman hath loste his lawes The see on beate on euery syde They nysten what fortune abyde But sett hem well in goddes wyll where he hem wolde saue or spyll And it felle thylke tyme thus There was a kynge whiche Nauplus was hote and be a sonne hadde At Troye whiche the gregoys ladde As he that was made prynce of all Tyll that fortune let
and iewe whiche neuer man yet myght eschewe And that was loue as it is happed whiche hath her bertes so betrapped That they by all weyes seche Howe that they might wynne a speche Her wofull peyne for to lysse who loueth wel it maye not mysse And namely whan thereben two Of one accord howe so it go But if that they some weye finde For loue is euer of suche a kynde And hath his folke so wel affayted That howe so that it be awayted There may no man the purpos let And thus betwene hem two they set An hoole vpon a wal to make Through whiche they haue her couÌ„seil take At all times whan they might This faire Mayde T is be hight And he whome she loued hote was Piramus by name hote So longe her lesson they recorden Tyl at the laste they acorden By nyghtes tyme for to wende Alone out fro the Townes ende where was a welle vnder a tree And who cam fyrst or she or he He shulde stille there abyde So it befelle the nyghtes tyde This mayde whiche desguysed was All pryuely the softe paas Goth through the larg town vnknowe Tyll that she cam within athrowe where that she lyked for to dwelle At thylke vnhappy fresshe welle whiche was also the forest nyghe where she comend a lyon syghe In to the felde to take his pray In haste and she tho fledde away So as fortune shuld falle For fere and lete her wympell falle Nyghe to the wel vpon therbage This wylde lyon in his rage A beste whiche he founde there out Hath slayn and with his blody snowte whan he hath eten what he wolde To drynke of thylke stremes colde Come vnto the welle where he sonde The wympill whiche out of her honde was falle and he it hath to drawe Be bledde aboute and all forgnawe And than he straught him for to drynke Vpon the fress he welles brynke And after that out of the playne He torneth to the wode agayne And Tisbe durste not remewe But as a byrde whiche were en mewe within a buss he she kepte her close So styll that she not arose Vnto her selfe and playneth ay And fell whyle that she there lay This Piramus cam after sone Vnto the welle and by the mone He fonde her wympyl blody there Cam neuer yet to mannes ere Tydynge ne to mannes syght Meruaylle whiche so sore a flyght A mans herte as it tho dede To hym whiche in the same stede with many a wofull complaynynge Bygan his handes for to wrynge As he whiche demeth sykerly That she be dede and sodeynly His swerde all naked oute he breyde In his fool hast and thus he sayde I am cause of this felonye So it is reason that I dye And she is dede by cause of me And with that worde vpon his kâ—e He felle and to the goddes all Vnto the heuen he gan to call And prayd syn it was so That he may not his loue as tho Haue in this worlde that of her grace He might her haue in other place For here wolde he not abyde He sayth but as it shall betyde The pomel of his swerd to ground He set and through his hert a wound He made vp to the bare hylte And in this wyse hym selfe spylte with his foolhaste and deth he nam For she within a whyle cam where he lay dede vpon his knyfe So woful yet was neuer lyfe As Tysbe was whan she hym sygh She myght not one worde on hygh Speke for her hert shette That of her lyfe no prys she sette But dede swonynge downe she felle Tyll afterward it so befell That she out of her trauns awoke with many a wofull pytous loke Her eye alwey amonge she caste Vpon her loue and at the laste She caught breth and sayde thus O thou which art cleped venus Goddesse of loue and thou Cupyde whiche loues cause haste for to guyde I wote nowe wel that ye be blynde Oâ— thylke vnhap whiche I now finde Onely betwene my loue and me This Piramus whiche here I se â—â—â—â—end what hath he deserued Yoâ— he thyn hest hath kept and serued And was yonge and I both also All is why do ye with vs so Ye set our hertes both a fyre And made vs suche thynge desyre wherof that we no skyl couthe But thus our fresshe lusty youthe without ioy is all despended whiche thynge may neuer be amended For as for me this woll I seye That me is leuer for to deye Than lyue after this sorowfull daye And with this worde where as he laye Her loue in armes she embraseth Her owne deth and so purchaseth That nowe she wepte nowe she kyste Tyll at the laste or she it wyste So great a sorowe is to her falle whiche ouergoth her wyttes all And she whiche myght not asterte The swerdes poynte ayenste her hert She set and fell downe therupon wherof that she was dede anone And thus both on a swerd bledend They were found dede lyggend ¶ Nowe thou my sonne hast herd this tale Beware that of thyn owne bale Thou be not cause in thy foolhaste And kepe that thou thy wytte ne waste Vpon thy thought in auenture wherof thy lyues forfeture May falle and if thou haue so thought Er this tell on and hyde it nought ¶ My fader vpon loues syde My conscyence I wol not hyde Howe that for loue of pure wo I haue ben ofte be moued so That with my wysshes if I myght A thousand tymes I yow plyght I hadde storuen in a day And therof I me shryue may Though loue fully me ne slowe My wyll to deye was ynowe So am I of my wyl culpable And yet she is not mercyable whiche may me yeue lyfe and bele But that her lyst not with me dele I wote by whos counsayl it is And hym wolde I longe tyme er this And yet I wolde and euer shall Sleen and destroye in especyall The golde of nyne kynges londes Ne shulde hym saue fro myn bondes In my power if that he were But yet hym stant of me no fere For nought that euer I can manace He is the hinderer of my grace Tyl he be dede I may not spede So mote I nedes taken bede And shape howe that he were awey If I therto may fynde a weye ¶ My sonne telle me nowe for thy whiche is that mortall enemy That thou manacest to be dede ¶ My fader it is suche a quede That where I come he is tofore And doth so that my cause is lore ¶ what is his name Hit is Daunger whiche is my ladis counseyler For I was neuer yet so slygh To come in any place nygh where as she was by nyght or day That Daunger ne was redy ay with whome for speche ne for mede yet myght I neuer of loue spede For euer this fynde I soth All that my lady sayth or doth To me Daunger shall make an ende And that maketh al mi world misweÌ„de And euer I aske
his helpe but he May be wel cleped Sauns pyte For ay the more I to hym bowe The lesse be woll my tale allowe He hath my lady so englewed She woll not that he be remewed For euer he hongeth on her seyl And is so preuy of counseyll That euer whan I haue ought bede I fynde Daunger in her stede And myn answere of hym I haue But for no mercy that I craue Of mercy neuer a poynt I hadde I fynd his answere ay badde That worse myght it neuer be And thus betwene Daunger and me Is euer werre tyl he dye But myght I ben of suche maystrye That I Daunger hadde ouercome with that were all my ioy come Thus wolde I wonde for no synne Ne yet for all this worlde to wynne If that I myght fynde a sleyght To lay all my state in weyght I wolde hym fro the Courte deseuer So that he come ayenewarde neuer Therfore I wysshe and wolde fayn That he were in some wyse slayn For whyle he stant in thylke place Ne gete I not my ladys grace Thus hate I dedely thylke vyce And wolde he stood in none offyce In place where my lady is For if be doo I wote wel this That outher he shall dye or I within a whyle and not for thy On my lady full ofte I muse How that she may herselfe excuse For if that I dye in suche a plyte Me thynkethe she myght not be quyte That she ne were an bomycyde And if it shulde so betyde As god forbede it shulde be By double wey it is pyte For I whiche all my wyl and wyt Haue yeue and serued euer yet And than I shuld in suche a wyse In rewardynge of my seruyce Be dede Me thynketh it were routh And ferthermore I telle trouth She that hath euer be wel named were worthy than to be blamed And of reasone to be appeled whan with o word she myght haue he◠A man and suffreth hym to deye A who sawe euer suche a wey A who sawe euer suche distresse without pyte gentylnesse withoute mercy womanhede That woll so quyte a man his mede whiche euer hath be to loue trewe ¶ My good fader if ye rewe Vpon my tale telle me nowe And I wol stynte and herken yow ¶ My sonne attempre thy courage Fro wrath and let thyn hert assuage For who so wol hym vnderfonge He may his grace abyde longe Or he of loue be receyned And eke also but if it be weyued There myght mochel thynge befalle That shulde make a man to falle Fro loue that neuer afterwarde Ne durst he loke thyderwarde In harde weyes men gone softe And er they clymbe auyse them ofte And men seen all day that rape reweth And who so wycked ale breweth Full ofte he mote the werse drynke Better it is to flete than to synke Better it is vpon the brydell chewe Than if he fel and ouerthrewe The hors and stykked in the myre To cast water in the fyre Better is than brenne vp al the howe 's The man whiche is malycious And foolhasty full ofte he falleth And selden is whan loue hym calleth For thy better is suffer a throwe Than to be wylde and ouer throwe Suffraunce hath euer be the best To wysen hym that secheth rest And thus if thou wylt loue spede My sonne suffer as I the rede what may the mous ayen the cat And for thylke cause I aske that who may to loue make a werre That he ne hath hym selfe the werre Loue asketh pees and euershall And who that fyghteth most withall Shall best conquere of his empryse For this they tellen that ben wyse whiche is to stryue and haue the werse To hasten is nought worth a kerse Thynge that a man may not acheue That may not wel be done at eue It mot abyde tyll the morowe N◠hast not thyne owne sorowe My sonne and take this in thy wytte He hath not loste that wel abitte Ensample that it falleth thus Thou myght well take of Pyramus whan he in haste his swerd out drough And on the poynt hym selfe slough For loue of Tisbe pitously For he her wymple fonde blody And wende a beste hadde her slayn where as hym ought be ryght fayn For she was saffe ryght besyde But for he wolde not abyde This meschyefe felle For thy beware My sonne as I the warne dare Do thou no thynge in suche a rees For suffraunce is the well of pees Though thou to loues courte pursewe yet syt it wel that thou eschewe That thou the courte not ouerhast For so thou myght thy tyme wast But if thyn happe therto be shape It may not helpe for to rape Therfore attemper thy courage Foolhast doth none auauntage But ofte it set a man behynde In cause of loue and I fynde By olde ensamples as thou shalt here Touchend of loue in this mater ¶ Hic ponit Confessor Exemplum contra illos qui in amoris causa nimia festinatione concupiscentes tardius expediunt Et narrat qualiter pro eo quod Phebus quādam virginem pulcher rimam nomine Daphnem nimia amoris acceleratione insequebatur / Iratus Cupido cor Phebi sagitta aurea ignita ardencius vulnerauit Et econtra cor Daphne quadam sagitta plumbea / que frigidissima fuit / sobrius perforauit / Et sic quanto magis Phebus ardencior in amore Daphnem persecutus est tanto magis ipsa frigidior Phebi concupiscenciam toto corde fugitina dedignabatur ¶ A mayden whylom there was one which Daphnes hight such was none Of beaute than as it was sayde Phebus his loue hath on her laide And therupon to her he sought In his foolhast and so besought That she with hym no reste hadde For euer vpon her loue he grad And she sayde euer vnto hym nay So it beselle vpon a day Cupyde whiche hath euery chaunce Of loue vnder his gouernaunce Sygh Phebus hasten hym so sore And for he shulde hym haste the more And yet not speden at laste A dart throughout his hert he caste whiche was of golde and all a fyre That made hym many folde desyre Of loue more than he dede To Daphne eke in the same stede A dart of leed he caste and smote which was all colde and no thyng hote And thus Phebus in loue brenneth And in hast aboute renneth To loke if that he myght wynne Thus was he euer to begynne For euer awey fro hym she fled So that he neuer his loue sped And for to make hym full beleue That no foolhast myght acheue To gete loue in suche degre This Daphne in to a laurel tre was torned whiche is euer grene In token as yet it may be sene That she shall dwelle a mayden stylle And Phebus faylen of his wylle By suche ensamples as they stonde My sonne thou myght vnderstonde To hasten loue is thynge in veyn whan that fortune is there ageyne To take where a man hath leue Good is and elles he
mote leue For whan a mannes happes faylen There is no hast may auaylen ¶ My fader graunte mercy of this But whyle I se my lady is No tre but holde her owne forme There may me no man so enforme To whedyr part fortune wende That I vnto my lyues ende Ne wolde her serue euermo Confessor ¶ My sonne syth it is so I say no more but in this cas Beware howe it with Phebus was Nought onely vpon loues chaunce But vpon euery gouernaunce whiche falleth vnto mannes dede Foolhast is euer for to drede And that a man good counseyl take Er he his purpose vndertake For counseyl put foolhast a wey ¶ Nowe good fader I yow prey That for to wysse me the more Some good ensample vpon this lore ye wolde me telle of that is wrytte That I the better myght wytte Howe I foolhast shulde eschewe And the wysedome of counseyl sewe ¶ My sonne that thou myght enforme Thy pacience vpon the forme Of olde ensamples as they felle Nowe vnderstonde what I shall telle ¶ Hic ponit Confessor exemplum contra illos qui nimio furori accensi vindictam Ire sue vlira quam decet coÌ„sequi affectant Et narrat qualiter Athemas et Demephon Reges cum ipsi a bello Troiano ad propria remeassent et asuis ibidem pacifice recepti non fuissent congregato aliunde pugnatorum exercitu regiones suas non solum incendio vastare sed et omnes in eisdem habitantes a minimo vsque admaiorem in perpetnam vindicte memoriam gladio interficere feruore iracun die proposuerunt Sed rex Nestor qui senex et sapiens fuit / tractatus inter ipsos reÌ„ges et eorum regna â—â—ta pace huiusmodi impetuositatem initius pacificauit ¶ when noble Troye was byleyn And ouercome and home ageyne The gregoys torned from the siege The kynges fonde her owne lyege In many place as men sayde That hem forsoke and dysobeyde Amonge the whiche felle this case To Demephon and Athemas That were kynges both two And bothe were serued so Her lieges wolde not hem receyue So that they mote algates weiue To seche londe in other place For there fonde they no grace wherof they token hem to rede And soughten frendes at nede And eche of hem assureth other To helpe as to his owne broder To vengen hem of thylke oultrage And wynne ayene her herytage And thus they ryde aboute faste To getten hem helpe and at laste They hadden power suffysaunt And maden than a couenaunte That they ne shulde no lyfe saue Ne prest ne clerke ne lorde ne knaue Ne wyfe ne chylde of that they fynde whiche bereth vysage of mans kynde So that no lyfe shall be socoured But with the dedely swerde deuoured In suche foolhast her ordynaunce They shapen for to do vengeaunce whan this purpose was wyst knowe Among there host tho was their blowe Of wordes many a speche aboute Of yong men the lusty route were of this tale gladde ynough There was no care for the plough As they that were foolhastyfe They ben acorded to the stryfe And seyn it may not be to great To vengen hem of suche forfet Thus sayth the wylde vnwyse tonge Of hem that there weren yonge But Nestor whiche was olde bore The salue sawe tofore the sore As he that was of counseyle wyse So that anone by his aduyse There was a preuy counsayle nome The lordes ben to gether come This Demephon and Anthemas Her purpose tolden as it was They setten all styll and herde was non but Nestor hem answerde He badde hem if they wolde wynne They shulden se er they begynne Her ende and set her fyrst entent That they hem after ne repent And asketh hem this question To what fynall conclusyon They wolden Regne kynges there If that no people in londe were And seyth it were a wonder wyerd To â—een a kynge bycomen an hyerd where no lyfe is but onely beste vnder the lygeaunce of his heste For who that is of man no kynge The remenaunt is as no thynge He forth eke if they pourpose bolde To 〈◊〉 the people as they two wolde whan they it myght not restore Aâ—â—â—â—ce it shulde abidge sore 〈…〉 the wylde beastes wonne where whylom dwelt mans sonne Anâ— for that cause he bad hem treate A d stynt of tho manaces great Better is to wynne by fayre speche He seyth than suche vengeance seche For whan a man is moost aboue Hym nedeth most to gette hym loue ¶ whan Nestor hath this tale sayde Ayene hym was no worde withsayde It thought hem all he sayde wele And thus fortune her deadly whele Fro werre tourneth in to pees But forth they went en netheles And whan the countreys harde seyne Howe that her kynges be beseyne Of suche a power as they lad was none so bolde that hem ne drad And for to seche peas and gryth They sende and prayde anon forthwith So that the kynges ben appeased And euery mans herte is eased All was foryete and not recorded And thus they ben to geder acorded The kynges were ayene receyued And pees was take and wrath weyued And all through counseyl whiche was good Of hym that reson vnderstode ¶ By this ensample sonne attempre Thyn hert and let no wyl dystempre Thy wytte and do no thing by myght whiche may be do by loue and ryght Foolhast is cause of mochel wo For thy my sonne do not so And as touchend of Homycyde which toucheth vnto loues syde Ful ofte it falleth vnauysed Through VVYL which is not wel assised whan wytte and reason ben awey And that foolhast is in the wey wherof hath falle great vengeaunce For thy take in to remebraunce To loue in suche a maner wyse That thou deserue no iuyse For well I wote thou myght not lette That thou ne shalt thin hert sette To loue where thou wolt or none But if thy witte be ouergone So that it torne vnto malyce There wote no man of thylke vyce what perylle that there may befalle wherof a tale amonges alle whiche is great pyte for to here I thynke for to tellen here That thou such murdre micht withstoÌ„d whan thou the tale hast vnderstonde ¶ Hic ponit Confessor exemplum contra illos qui ob sue concupiscencie desiderium Homicide efficiuntur Et narrat qualiter ClyteÌ„nestra vxor Regis Agamemnonis cum ipse a bello Troiano domi rediffet consilio Egisti / quem adultera peramauit sponsum suum in cubili dormientem sub noctis silencio trucidabat cuius mortem fisius eius Horestes tunc iunioris etatis postea diis admonitus crudelissima seueritate vindicauit ¶ Of Troye at thylke noble towne whose same stant yet of renowne And euer shall to mannes ere The syege laste longe there Er that the grekes it myght wynne whyle Priamus was kynge therin But of the grekes that lyen aboute Agamemnon ladde all the route This thynge is knowen ouerall But yet I thynke
in specyall To my matter therupon Telle in what wyse Agamemnon Through chance that may not be weiued Of loue vntrewe was deceiued An olde sawe is who that is slygh In place were he may be nyghe He maketh the ferre leef loth Of loue and thus ful ofte it goth There whyle Agamemnon bataylleth To wynne Troye and it assaylleth From home and was longe tyme there Egystus drough his quene nere And with the leyser whiche he hadde This lady at his wyll he ladde ClyteÌ„nestre was her ryght name She was therof greatly to blame To loue there it may not laste But felle to mischiefe at laste For whan this noble worthy knyght Fro Troye came the fyrst nyght That he at home a bedde laye Egistus longe er it was daye As this Clytenestre hym had assent And weren bothe of one assent By treason slough hym in his bed But mourder whiche may not beÌ„ hed Spronge out to euery mans eare wherof the londe was full of feare ¶ Agamemnon hath by this quene A sonne and that was after sene But yet as than he was of youth A babe whiche no reason couth And as god wolde it felle hym thus A worthy knyght Taltibius This yonge childe hath in kepynge And whan he herde of this tydynge Of this treason of this mysdede He gan within hym selfe to drede In aunter if this false Egiste Vpon hym come er he it wyste To take and mourther of his malice This childe whiche he hath to noryce And for that cause in all haste Out of the londe he gan hym haste And to the kynge of Crete he straught And hym this yonge lorde betaught And prayde hym for his fathers sake That he this childe wolde vndertake And kepe hym tyll he be of age So as he was of his lygnage And tolde hym ouer all the cas Howe that his father mourthred was And howe Egistus as men sayde was kynge to whom the londe obeyde ¶ And whan Idomeneus the kynge Hath vnderstondynge of this thynge which that this knyght hym hath told He made sorowe many folde And toke the childe vnto his warde And sayde he wolde hym kepe warde Tyll that he were of suche a myght To handle a swerde and be a knyght To vengen hym at his owne wylle And thus Horestes dwelleth stylle Suche was the childes right name whiche after wrought mochel shame In vengeaunce of his fathers deth The tyme of yeres ouergeth That he was man of brede length Of wyt of manhode and of strength A fayre persone amonges all And he beganne to clepe and call As he whiche come was to man Vnto the kynge of Crete than Prayende that he wolde hym make A knyght and power with hym take For lenger wolde he not beleue He sayth but prayth the kynge of leue To gone and cleyme his heritage And venge hym of thylke oultrage whiche was vnto his father do The kynge assenteth well therto with great honor knight him maketh And great power to hym betaketh And gan his iourney for to caste So that Horestes at laste His leue toke and forth he goth As he that was in his herte wroth His fyrste playnt to be mene Vnto the cytie of Athene He goth hym forth and was receyued So there was be nought deceyued The duke and tho that weren wyse They proferen hem to his seruice And he hem thonketh of theyr proffer And sayd hym selfe he wolde gone offer Vnto the goddes for his spede And all men yeue hym rede So goth he vnto the temple forth Of yeftes that be mochell worth His sacrifyce and his offrynge He made and after his askynge He was answerde if that he wolde His estate recouer than he sholde Vpon his mother do vengeaunce So cruell that the remembraunce Therof myght euermore abyde Aâ—â— he that was an homicide â—â—d of her owne lorde mourdrice Hâ—â—â—stes whiche of thylke office 〈◊〉 nothyng glad and than he prayde Vâ—â—o the goddes there and sayde 〈◊〉 they the iugement deuyse â—â—we he shall take the iuyse And thervpon he had answere Tâ—â—t he her pappes shulde of tere 〈◊〉 of her breast his owne hondes Aâ—â— for eâ—sample of all londes 〈◊〉 â—oâ—s she shulde be to drawe 〈◊〉 houndes had her bones gnawe â—â—â—â—out any sepulture 〈◊〉 was a wofull auenture And whan Horestes hath all herde 〈◊〉 that the goddes haue answerde â—â—rth with the strength whiche he lad The duke and his power he had And to a citie forth they gone The whiche was cleped Cropheone where as Phoicus was lorde and fire whiche profereth hym withouten hyre His helpe and all that he may do As he that was right glad therto â—o greue his mortall ennemy And tolde hym certayne cause why Howe that Egyste in maryage His doughter whylom of full age Forlay and afterwarde forsoke whan he Horestes mother toke Men sayne olde synne newe shame Thus more and more arose the blame Ayene Egyste on euery syde Horestes with his hoste to ryde Began and Phoicus with hym went I trowe Egyst shall hym repent They ryden forth vnto Mycene There lay Clytemnestre thilke quene The whiche Horestes mother is And whan she herde telle of this The gates were faste shette And they were of her entre lette Anone this citie was without Beleyne and seged all about And euer amonge they it assayle Fro day to nyght and so trauayle Tyll at last they it wonne Tho was there sorowe inough begonne Horestes dyd his mother calle Anone tofore the lordes all And eke tofore the people also To her and tolde his tale tho And sayde O cruell beast vnkynde Howe mightest thou in thyn hert finde For any luste of loues draught That thou accordest to the slaught Of hym whiche was thyn owne lorde Thy treason stant of suche recorde Thou myght thy werkes not forsake So mote I for my father sake Vengeaunce vpon thy body do As I commaunded am therto Vnkyndely for thou hast wrought Vnkyndelyche it shall be bought The sonne shall the mother slee For that whylom thou saydest ye To that thou shuldest nay haue sayd And he with that his hondes hath laid Vpon his mother breast anone And rent out from the bare bone Her pappes both and caste away Amyddes in the cart way And after toke the deade cors And lete it be drawe awey with hors Vnto the hounde vnto the Rauen She was none other wyse grauen Egystus whiche was elles where Tydynges comen to his eare Howe that Mycenes was beleyne But what was more herd be not sayne with great manace and mochel boste He drough power and made an hoste And came in the rescous of the towne But all the sleyght of this treasone Horestes wyst it by a spye And of his men a great partie He made ambusshement abyde To wayte on hym in suche a tyde That he ne myght her honde escape And in this wyse as he hath shape The thynge befell so that Egyst was take er he hym selfe it wyst And was brought forth his hoÌ„des
/ belmolum inierunt Et cuÌ„ Achilles dictum regeÌ„ in bello ê“stratuÌ„ occidere voluisset Thelaphê° pietate tuâ— ipsum clipeo cooperiens veniam pro rege a patre postulauit pro quo facto ipse rex adhuc vinens Thephalum regni sui heredem libera vo luntate constituit ¶ He may not faylen of his mede That hath mercy For this I rede In a Cronycke I fynde thus whan Achilles with Telaphus His sonne toward Troye were It fell hem er they come there Ayene Theucer the kynge of Mese To make warre and for to sese His londe as they that wolden reigne And Theucer put out of his reigne And thus the marches they assaylle But Theucer yafe to hem bataille They foughten on both sydes faste But so it happneth at laste This worthy greke this Achilles The kynge amonge all other ches As he that was cruel and felle with swerd in honde on hym he felle And smote hym with a dethes wounde That he vnhorced fell to grounde Achilles vpon hym alyght And wolde anone as he wel myght Haue slayn hym fulliche in the place But Thephalus his faders grace For hym besought and for pyte Prayth that he wolde let hym be And cast his sheld betwene hem two Achilles asketh hym why so And Thephalus his cause tolde And sayth that he is mochel holde For whylome Theucer in a stede Great grace and socour to hym dede And sayth that he hym wolde acquyte And praythe his fader to respyte Achles tho withdrough his honde But all the power of the londe whaÌ„ that they sawe her kyng thus take They fled and hathen the felde forsake The grekes vnto the chaas falle And for the moste part all Of that couutre the lordes great They toke and wonne a greate beyete And anone after this victorye The kynge whiche hadde memorye Vpon the great mercy thought which thelaphus taward him wrought And in presence of all the londe he toke hym fayre by the honde And in this wyse he gan to seye My sonne I mote by double weye Loue and desyre thyn encrees Fyrste for thy fader Achilles whylâ—â—â— full many a day er this whan I shulde haue fare amys Rescouse dyd in my quarele And kept all myn estate in hele How so there falle nowe distaunce Amonge vs yet remembraunce I haue of mercy whiche he dede As than and thou nowe in this stede Of gentilnes and of fraunchesse Hast do mercy the same I gesse So woll I not that any tyme Be loste of that thou haste do hyme For how so this fortune falle yet stant my truste abouen all For the mercy whiche I nowe fynde That thou wylt after this be kynde And for that suche is myn espeyr And for my sonne and for myn heyre I the receyue and all my londe I yeue and sese in to thyn honde And in this wyse they accorde The cause was mysericorde The lordes do her obeysaunce To Thelaphus and purueaunce was made so that he was coroned And thus was mercy reguerdoned wâ—câ—e he to Theucer did tofore To this ensample is made therfore That thou myght take remembraunce 〈…〉 and whan thou seest a chaunce 〈◊〉 other mens passion 〈◊〉 â—â—te and compassion And lâ—t no thinge to the be leef whiche to another man is greef And after this if thou desyre 〈◊〉 â—â—â—nde aâ—en the vice of Ire 〈◊〉 the with pacience 〈◊〉 take in to thy conscyence 〈◊〉 to be thy gouernour 〈◊〉 â—halt thou fele no rancour 〈◊〉 thyn herte shall debate with homicide ne with hate yâ—t â—heste or melancolye 〈◊〉 â—halt be softe in companye withoute contecke or foolhast For â—iâ—es myght thou longe wast Thy tyme er that thou haue thy wylle Of loue for the wedir stylle Men preyse and blame the tempestes ¶ My fader I woll do your hestes And of this poynt ye haue me taught Toward my selfe the better saught I thâ—nke be whyle that I lyue But for as moche as I am shryue Of wrath and all his circumstaunce â—â—ne what ye lyste to my penaunce And aske forther of my lyfe yf otherwyse I be gyltyf Of any thynge that toucheth synne ¶ My sonne er we depart a twynne I shall behynde no thinge leue ¶ My good fader by your leue Than asketh forth what so you lyfte For I haue in you suche a tryfte As ye that be my soule hele That ye fro me nothynge wol hele For I shall telle you the trouthe ¶ My son art thou culpable of slouthe In any poynt whiche to hym longe h◠¶ My fader of thou pointes me longeth To wyte pleynly what they mene So that I maye me shriue clene ¶ Now herke I shal tho pointes deuise And vnderstonde well myn appryse For shryfte stant of no value To hym that woll hym nought vertue To leue of vyces the folye For worde is wynd but the maystrye Is that a man hym selfe defend Of thynge whiche is not to commende wherof ben fewe nowe a daye And netheles so as I may Make vnto thy memorye knowe The pointes of slouth thou shalt know ☞ Explicit liber tercius ⧠☞ Hic in quarto libro loquitur confessor de speciebus Accidie quarum primam tardacionem vocat cuius condicionem pertractans Amanti super hoc consequenter opponit ☞ Incipit liber quartus ⧠Dicunt accidiam fore nutricem viciorum Torpet et in cuntis tarda que leuta bonis Que sieri possent hodie transfert piger in cras Furatoque prius hostia claudit equo Poscenti tardo negat emolumenta Cupido Sed Venus in celeri ludit amore viti VPon the vices to procede After the cause of mannes dede The fyrst poynt of slouth I calle Lachesse and is the chief of all And hath this properly of kind To leuen all thynge behyned Of that he myght do nowe here He taryeth all the longe yere And euermore he sayth To morowe And so he woll his tyme borowe And wyssheth after God me sende That whan he weneth to haue an end Than is he forthest to begyn Thus bryngeth he many a meschiefe in Vnware tyll that he be mescheued And may not than be releued And ryght so nother more ne lesse It stant of loue and of lachesse Some tyme he sloutheth on a daye That he neuer after gete may Nowe sonne as of this ilke thynge If thou haue any knowlechynge That thou to loue hast done er this ¶ Telle on My good fader yis As of laches I am beknowe That I may stonde vpon his rowe As I that am cladde of his sute For whan I thought my pursute To make and therto set a day To speke vnto that swete may Lachesse hadde abyde yet And bare on honde it was no wyt Ne tyme for to speke as tho Thus with his tales to and fro My tyme in taryenge he drough whan there was tyme good ynough He sayd another tyme is better Thou shalt nowe senden her a letter And par caas wryte more
pleyn Than thou by mouth durstest seyn Thus haue I let tyme slyde For slouthe and kept not my tyde So that laches with his vyce Full ofte hath made my wyt so nyce That what I thought to speke or do with taryenge he held me so Tyl whan I wolde and myght nought I not what thynge was in my thought Or it was drede or it was shame But euer in ernest and in game I wote there is longe tyme passed But yet is not the loue lassed whiche I vnto my lady haue For though my tonge is slow to craue At all tyme as I haue bede Myn hert stant euer in o stede And asketh besylyche grace The whiche I may not yet embrace And god wote that is maulgre myn For this I wote ryght wel afyn My grace cometh so selde aboute That is the slouthe whiche I doubte More than of all the remenaunte whiche is to loue appartenaunte And thus as touchende of lachesse As I haue tolde I me confesse To you my fader I beseche That ferthermore ye wol me teche And if there be to my mattere Some goodly tale for to here How I may do lachesse awey That ye it wolde telle I prey ¶ To wysse the my sonne and rede Amonge the tales whiche I red An olde ensample therupon Nowe herken and I wol telle on ☞ Hic ponit Confessor exemplum contra istos qui in amoris causa tardantes delinquunt Et narrat qualiter Dido regina Cartaginis Ened ab incendus Troie fugitinum in amorem fuum gauisa suscepit / qui cum postea in partes Italie a Cartagine bellaturum se transtulit nimiam que ibidem moram faciens / tempus redditus sui ad DidoneÌ„ vltra moduÌ„ tardauit / ipsa intolleâ—abili dolore coÌ„cussa sui cordis intima gladio traÌ„sfodit Aâ—ayne lachessein loues caas I fynde howe whylome Eneas Home Anchyses to sonne hadde with great nauye whiche he ladde Fro Troye arryueth at Cartage wherfore a whyle his herbergage He toke and it betid so with her whiche was a quene tho Of the Cyte his acqueintaunce He wan whos name in remembraunce Is yet and Dido she was hote whiche loueth Eneas so hote Vpon the wordes whiche he sayde That all her herte on hym she layde And dyd all holy what he wolde But after that as it be shulde Fro thens he goth toward Itayle By shyp and there his arryuayle Hath take and shope hym for to ryde But she whiche may not longe abyde The hote payne of loues throwe Anon within alytel throwe A letter vnto her knyght hath wryte And dyd hym pleinly for to wyte If he made any taryinge To dretche of his ayen commynge That she ne myght hym fele and se She shulde stonde in suche degree As whylome stode a swan to fore Of that she hadde her make lore For sorowe a fether in to her brayne She shâ—of and hath her selfe slayn As kynge Menander in a lay Thâ— soth hath fonde where she lay Spraulend with her wynges twey As she whiche shulde than deye For loue of hym which was her make And so shal I do for thy sake Thâ—â—â—nene sayde wel I wote Lo to Ence thus she wrote with many a nother word of compleynt But he which had his thoughtes feynt Towardes loue and full of slouth His tyme let and that was routhe For she whiche loueth hym to fore Desyreth euer more and more And whan she sawe hym tary so Her hert was so full of wo That compleynend manyfolde She hath her owne tale tolde Vnto her selfe and thus she spake A who fonde euer suche a lacke Of slouth in any worthy knyght Nowe wote I well my deth is dyght Through him which shuld haue be my lyfe But for to stynten all this stryfe Thus whan she syghe none other bote Ryght euen vnto her hert rote A naked swerd anone she threfte And thus she gat her selfe reste In remembraunce of all slowe wherof my sonne thou myght knowe Howe tarynge vpon the nede In loues cause is for to drede And that hath Dido sore abought whose deth shall euer be bethought And euermore if I shal seche In this matter another speche In a Cronycke I fynde wryte A tale whiche is good to wyte ¶ Hic loquitur super eodem qualiter Penolope Vlixem maritum suum in obsidione Troie diucius morantem ob ipsius ibidem tardacionem epistola sua redarguit ☞ At Troye whan kynge Vlyxes Vpon the sege amonge the pres Of hem that worthy knyghtes were Abode longe tyme stylle there In thylke tyme a man may se Howe goodly that Penelope whiche was to hym his trewe wyfe Of his lachesse was pleyntyfe wherof to Troye she hym sende Her wylle by letter thus spekende My worthy loue and lorde also It is and hath be euer so That where a woman is alone It maketh a man in his persone The more hardy for to wowe In hope that she wolde bowe To suche thynge as his wylle were whyle that her lorde were els where And of my selfe I telle this For it so longe passed is Syth fyrste that ye frome home went That welle nygh euery man is went To there I am whyle ye be oute Hadde made and eche of hem aboute whiche loue can my loue secheth with great prayer and me besecheth And some maken great manace That if they myght come in place where that they myght her wylle haue There is no thynge me shulde saue That they ne wolde worch thynges And some telle me tydynges That ye ben deed and some seyne That certaynly ye ben beseyne To loue a newe and leaue me But howe as euer that it be I thonke vnto the goddes all As yet for ought that is befall May no man do my chekes rede But netheles it is to drede That lachesse in contynuaunce Fortune myght suche a chaunce whiche no man after shulde amende ¶ ' Lo thus this lady compleynende A letter vnto her lorde hath wryte And prayde him that he wolde wyte And thynke howe that she was al his And that he tarye not in this But that he wolde his loue acquyte To her ayenewarde and not wryte But come hym selfe in all haste That he none other paper waste So that he kepe and holde his trouth without lette of any slouthe ¶ Vnto her lorde and loue liege To Troye where the great siege was leyde this letter was conueyde And he whiche wysdome hath purueid Of all that to reason belongeth with gentyll herte it vnderfongeth And whan he hath it ouer rad In parte he was right inly glad And eke in parte he was disesed But loue his hert hath so through sesed with pure imaginacyon That for for none occupacyon whiche be gan take on other syde He may not flytte his herte asyde For that his wyfe hym had enformed wherof he hath hym selfe conformed with all the wyll of his courage To shape and take the viage Homewarde what tyme that he may So that hym thynketh of a
day A thousande yere tyll he may se The visage of Penelope whiche he desyreth moost of all And whan the tyme is so befall That Troye was distroyed and brent He made no delayment But goth hym home in all hye where that he fonde tofore his eie His worthy wyfe in good estate And thus was sesed the debate Of loue and slouth was excused which doth great harm wher it is vsed And hindreth many a cause honest ¶ Nota ad huc de quodam Astrologo super eodem qui quoddam opus ingeniosum quasi ad complementum septennios perducens vnius momenti tardacione omni sui operis diligentiam penitus frustrauit ¶ For of the great clerke Grostest I rede howe busy that he was Vpon the clergye an heed of bras To forge and make it for to telle Of suche thynges as befelle And seuen yeres besynesse He layde but for the lachesse Of halfe a mynute of an houre Fro fyrst he began laboure He loste all that he hadde do And other whyle it fareth so In loues cause who is slowe That he without vnder the wowe By nyght stant full ofte a colde whiche myght if that he had wolde His tyme kepte haue be within ¶ Nota ad huc contra taidationem de virginibus fatuis que nimiam moram facientes intraÌ„te sponso ad nupcias / cum ipso non introierunt ¶ But slouth may not profyt wynne But he may synge in his Carole Howe late ware came to the dole where he no good receyue myght And that was proued well by nyght 〈◊〉 of the maydens fyue 〈◊〉 â—â—ylke lorde came for to wyue 〈◊〉 that her oyle was aweye To lyght hym lampes in his wey Her slouth brought it so about Fro hym that they be shette without wherof my sonne be thou ware Al 's ferforth as I telle dare For slouthe muste ben awayted And if thou be not well affayted In loue to eschewe flouthe My some for to telle trouthe Thou myght not of thy selfe ben able To wynne loue or make it stable All though thou myghtest loue acheue ¶ My father that I may well leue But me was neuer assygned place where yet to gette any grace Ne me was no suche tyme appoynted For than I wolde I were vnioynted Of euery lymme that I haue And I ne shulde kepe and saue Myn houre bothe and eke my stede If my lady it hadde bede But she is otherwyse auysed Than graunt suche a tyme assised And nethelesse of my lachesse There bâ—th by no defaulte I gesse Of tyme loste in that I myght But yet her lyketh not alyght Vpon no lure whiche I caste Foâ—â—y the more I crye faste The lesse her lyketh for to here So for to speke of this matere I seche that I may not fynde I haste and euer I am behynde And wote not what it may amount But father vpon myn accompte whiche ye ben sette to examyne Of â—hayfte after the discipline Say what your best counsayle is ¶ My sonne my counseyle is this Howe so it stande of tyme ago Do forthe thy besynes so That no lachesse in the be founde For slouthe is myghty to confounde The spede of euery mans werke For many a vice as saith the clerke There hongen vpon slouthes lappe Of suche as make a man myshappe To pleyne and telle of Had I wyst And thervpon if that the lyste To knowe of slouthes cause more In speciall yet ouermore There is a vicefull greuable To hym whiche is therof culpable And stant of all vertues bare Here after as I shall declare Qui nihil attemptat nihil expedit oreque mutâ— Munus amicitie â—ur sibi raro capit Est modus in uerbis sed ei qui parcit amori Verba referre sua nouifauet ullus amor ¶ Hic loquitur Confessor de quadam specie Accidie / que pusillanimitas dicta est / cuius imaginatiua formido neque virtutes aggredi neque vicia fugere audet / sicque vtriusque vite tam actiue quam contemplatiue premium non attingit ⧠Touchende of slouth in his degre There is yet pusillanimite whiche is to say in this langage He that hath lyttell of courage And dare no mans werke begynne So may he nought by reason wynne For who that nought dare vndertake By right he shall no profyt take But of this vice the nature Dare nothynge sette in auenture Hym lacketh bothe worde and dede wherof he shulde his cause spede He woll no manhode vnderstonde For euer he hath drede vpon honde All is peryll that he shall saye Hym thynketh the wolfe is in the waye And of imaginacion He maketh his excusacion And feyneth cause of pure drede And euer he fayleth at nede Tyll all be spylte that he with dealeth He hath the sore which no man heleth The whiche is cleped Lacke of herte Though euery grace aboute hym sterte He woll not ones stere his fote So that by reason lese he mote That woll not aunter for to wynne And so forth sonne if we begynne To speke of loue and his seruice There ben truantes in suche a wyse That lacken hert whan best were They speken of loue and right for feare They waxen dombe and dare not telle without sowne as dothe the belle whiche hath no clapper for to chyme And ryght so they as for the tyme Ben herteles without speche Of loue and dare nothynge eseche And thus they lese and wynne nought For thy my sonne if thou arte ought Culpable as touchende of this slouthe Shryue the therof and telle me trouth ¶ My father I am all beknowe That I haue ben one of the slowe As for to telle in loues cas Myn herte is yet and euer was Although the worlde shuld al to breke So fearful that I dare not speke Of what purpose that I haue nome whan I towarde my lady come But lette it passe and ouer go ¶ My sonne do no more so For after that a man pursueth To loue so fortune seweth Ful ofte and yeueth her happy chance To hym whiche maketh continuance To preye loue and to beseche As by ensample I shall the teche ☞ Hic in amoris causa loquitur contra pusilla nimes Et dicit / ê™ amans pro timore verbis obtumescere non debet sed concinnando preces sui amoris expeditionem tutius prosequatur / Et ponit Confessor exemplum qualiter Pigmalion pro eo ê™ preces continuauit quandam imaginem eburneam cuius pulchritudinis concupiscentia illaqueatus extitit in carnem et sanguinem ad latus suum tranformatam sentiit ¶ I fynde how whilom there was one whose name mas Pigmalyone whiche was a lusty man of youth The werkes of entayle he couthe Aboue all other men as tho And through fortune it felle hym so As he whom loue shall trauayle He made an image of entayle Lyche to a woman in semblaunce Of feature and of countenaunce So fayre yet neuer was fygure Ryght as a lyues creature She
Excuse me of neglygence Towardes loue in all wyse For though I be none of the wyse I am so truly amorous That I am euer curyous Of hem that can best enforme To knowen and wyten all the forme what falleth vnto loues craft But yet ne fond I nought the hast whiche myght vnto the blade acorde For neuer herd I man recorde what thynge it is that myght auayle To wynne loue withoute fayle yet so fer couthe I neuer fynde Man that by reason ne by kynde Me couthe teche suche an arte That he ne fayled of a parte And as toward myn owne wytte Contryue I couthe neuer yet To fynde any sikernesse That me myght other more or lesse Of loue make for to spede For leueth wel withouten drede That if there were suche aweye As certaynly as I shall deye I hadde it lerned longe a go But I wote wel there is none so And netheles it may wel be I am so rude in my degre And eke my wyttes ben so dul That I ne may nought to the full Attayne vnto so hyghe a lore But this I dar sey ouermore All though my wyt ne be not stronge It is not on my wyl alonge For that is besy nyght and day To lerne all that he lerne may How that I myght loue wynne But yet I am as to begynne Of that I wolde make an ende And for I not howe it shall wende That is to me my moste sorowe But I dare take god to borowe As after myn entendement None other wyse neglygent Than I you saye haue I not be For thy pur seynt charyte Telle me my fader what you semeth ¶ In good feith sonne wel me quemeth That thou thy selue hast thus acquyte Toward this in whiche no wyght Abyde may for in an houre He lest all that he may laboure The longe yere so that men seyne what euer he doth it is in veyne For through the slouth of negligence There was yet neuer suche scyence Ne vertue whiche was bodely That nys destroyed and lost therby Ensample that it hath be so In boke I fynde wryte also ☞ Hic contra vicium negligencie ponit Confessor exemplum Et narrat / quod cum Phaeton filius Solis currum patris sui per aera regere deliuerat admo nitus a patre vt equos ne deuiâ—rent equa manu diligencius refrenaret ipse con filium patris sua negligencia pretiriens equos cum curru nimis basse errare permisit / vnde non solum incendio orbem inflammauit sed et ipsum de cuâ—â—u cadentem in quoddam fluuium demergi aâ— interitum causauit ⧠Phebus whiche is the son hote That shyneth vpon erthe hote And causeth euery lyues helth He hadde a sonne in all his welth whiche Phaeton hyght he desyreth And with his moder he conspyreth The whiche was cleped Clemene For helpe and counsayl so that he His faders cart lede myght Vpon the fayre dayes lyght And for this thynge they both prayde Vnto the fader And he sayde He wolde wel but forth with all Thre poyntes he hadde in speciall Vnto his sonne in all wyse That he hym shulde wel auyse And take it as by weye of lore 〈◊〉 fyrst was that he his hors to sore Tâ—â—pryke And ouer that he tolde â—â—at he the reynes fast hold And also that he be ryght ware In what maner he ledeth his chare That he mistake not his gate But vpon auâ—sement algat He shuld bere a syker eye That he to lowe ne to hye His cart dryue at any throwe wherof that he myght ouerthrowe And thus by Phebus ordinaunce Toke Phaeton in to gouernaunce The Sonnes cart which he ladde But he suche vayn glory hadde Of that he was set vpon hygh That he his owne estate ne sygh Through negligence and toke none hed So myght he wel not longe spede For he the hors withouten lawe The cart let aboute drawe where as hym lyketh wantonly That at the last sodenly For he no reason wolde knowe This fyry cart he droue to lowe And fyreth all the worlde aboute wherof they weren all in doute And to the god for helpe cryden Of suche vnhappes as betyden Phebus whiche sawe the neglygence Howe Phaeton ayene his defence His chare hath dryue oute of the weye Ordeyneth that he fel aweye Out of the cart in to the flood And dreint lo nowe howe it stood with hym that was so negligent That fro the hyghe fyrmament For that he wolde go to lowe He was anone downe ouerthrowe In hyghe estate it is a vyce To go to lowe and in seruyce It greueth for to go to hye wherof a tale in Poesye ☞ Exemplum super eodem de Icharo filio Dedali in carcere Minotauri existente cui Dedalus vt inde euolaret alas componens firmiter iniunxit ne nimis alte propter solus ardorem ascenderet quod Icharus sua negligencia post ponens cum altius sublimatus fuisset subito ad terram corruens expirauit ☞ I fynde how whylom Dedalus whiche hadde a sonne and Icharus He hight though him thought loth In suche pryson they were both with mynotaurns that aboute They myghten no where wenden oute So they bygonnen for to shape Howe they the pryson myght escape This Dedalus which fro his youthe was taught and many craftes couthe Of fethers and of other thynges Hath made to flee dyuers wynges For hym and for his sonne also To whome he yafe in charge tho And hadde hym thynke therupon Howe that his winges ben set on with wax and if he toke his flyght To hyghe all sodenlyche he myght Make it to melt with the sonne And thus they haue her flyght begonne Out of the pryson fayre and softe And whan they weren both alofte This Icharus began to mounte And of the counseyll none acompte He set whiche his fader taught Tyl that the sonne his wynges caught wherof it melt and frome the hyght withoutten helpe of any flyght He felle to his destruction And liche to that condition There fallen oftimes fele For lacke of gouernaunce in wele Al 's wel loue as other weye ¶ Nowe good fader I you preye If there be more in this mattere Of slouth that I myght here ¶ My sonne as for thy dylygence whiche euery mans conscyence By reason shulde reule and kepe If that the lyste to take kepe I wol the tellen abouen all In whome no vertu may befall whiche yeueth vnto the vyces rest And is of slouthe the slowest Absque labore vagus vir inurilis ocia plectens Nescio quid presens vita valebit ei Non amor in taâ— misero viget imo valoris Qui faciunt opera clamat habere suos ☞ Hic loquitur Confessor super illa specie accidie que Ocium dicitur / cuius condicio in virtutum cultura nullius occupacionis diligenciam admitteÌ„s / cuiuscuÌ„que expedicioneÌ„ cause noÌ„ attigit ⧠Among these other of slouthes kind whiche al laboure set be
and of fals enuye Full ofte medled with disease But thylke loue is well at ease whiche sette is vpon mariage For that dare shewen the vysage In alle places openly A great meruayle it is for thy Howe that a mayde woll lette That she her tyme ne besette To haste vnto thylke feste wherof the loue is all honeste Men may recouer losse of good But so wyse a man yet neuer stode whiche may recouer tyme ylore So may a mayden well therfore Ensample take of that she straungeth Her loue longe or that she chaungeth Her herte vpon her lustes grene To mariage as it is sene For thus a yere two or thre She lefte er that she wedded be whyle she the charge myght beare Of children whiche the worlde forbere Ne may but if it shulde fayle But what mayden that in her spousaile wolde tarie whan she take may She shall perchaunce an other day Be let whan that her leuest were wherof a tale vnto thyn eare whiche is culpable vpon this dede I thynke telle of that I rede ☞ Hic ponit exemplum super eodem Et narrat de filia Iepte / que cum ex sui patris voio in holocaustum deo occidi et offerri deberet ipsa pro eo / quod virgo fuit et prolem ad augmentationem populi dei nondum genuisset .xl. dierum spacium vt cum suis sodalibus virginibus suam defleret virginitatem priusquam moreretur / in exemplum asiorum a patre postulauit ¶ Amonge the iewes as men tolde There was whylom by dayes olde A noble duke whiche Iepte hyght And felle he shulde go to fyght Agayne Amon the cruell kynge And for to speke vpon this thynge within his herte he made a vowe To god and sayd A lorde if thou wolte graunt vnto thy man victorie I shall in token of thy memorie The fyrste lyfe that I may se Of man or woman where it be Anone as I come home ageyne To the whiche arte god souereyne Sleen in thy name and sacrifie And thus with his chiualrie He goth hym forth so as he shulde And wanne all that he wynne wolde And ouercame his fomen alle May no man knowe that shall falle This duke a lusty doughter had And fame whiche the worldes sprad Hath brought vnto this ladyes eare Howe that her father hath do there She wayteth vpon his comynge with daunsynge and with carolynge As she that wolde be tofore All other and so she was therfore In masphat at her fathers gate The fyrst and whan he cometh ther at And sygh his doughter he to brayde His clothes and wepende he sayde * O myghty god amonge vs here Nowe wote I that in no manere This worldes ioy may be playne I had all that I couth sayne Ayene my fomen by thy grace So whan I came towarde this place There was no gladder man than I But nowe my lorde all sodeynly My ioye is tourned in to sorowe For I my doughter shall to morowe To hewe and brenne in thy seruice To louynge of thy sacrifice Through myn auowe so as it is The mayden whan she wyst of this And sawe the sorowe her fatheer made So as she may with wordes glade Comforted hym and had hym holde His couenant as he was beholde Towardes god as he behyght But netheles his herte aflyght Of that she sawe her deathe comende And than vnto the grounde knelende Tofore her father she is falle And sayth so as it is falle Vpon this poynt that she shall deye Of one thinge fyrst she wolde hym prey That forty dayes of respyte He wolde hir graunt vpon this plyght That she the whyle may bewepe Her maydenhode whiche she to kepe So longe hath kept and not be set wherof her lusty youth is lette That she no children hath forth drawe In mariage after the lawe So that the people is not encreased But that it myght be released That she her tyme hath lore so She wolde by his leue go with other maydens to complayne And afterwarde vnto the payne Of death she wolde come ageyne The father herde his doughter seyne And thervpon of one assent The maydens were anone assent That shulden with this mayden wende So for to speake vnto this ende They gone the downes and the dales with wepynge and with wofull tales And euery wyght her maydenhede Complayneth vpon thilke nede That she no children hadde bore wherof she hath her youth lore whiche neuer she recouer maye For so felle that her laste daye was come in whiche she shulde take Her dethe whiche she may not forsake Lo thus she deyde a wofull mayde For thylke cause whiche I sayde As thou hast vnderstonde aboue ¶ My father as towarde the loue Of maydens for to telle trouthe ye haue thylke vice of slouthe Me thinketh ryght woÌ„der wel declared That ye the women haue not spared Of hem that taryen so behynde But yet it falleth in my mynde Towarde the men howe that ye speke Of hem that woll no trauayle seke In cause of loue vpon deserte To speke in wordes so couerte I not what trauayle that ye ment ¶ My sonne and after myn entent I woll the telle what I thought Howe whylom men her loues boughte Through great trauaile in strange loÌ„des where that they wrought with her hondes Of armes many a worthy dede In sondry places as men may rede QueÌ„ ê“bat armoruÌ„ ê“bitas Venus ap ê“bat er queÌ„ Torpor habet reprobum reprobat illa uiruÌ„ Vecors segnicies insignia nescit amoris Nam piger ad brauium tardius ipse uenit ☞ Hic loquitur quod in amoris causa militie probitas ad armorum laboris exercitium nullatenus torpescat ¶ That euery loue of pure kynde Is fyrst forth drawe well I fynde But nethelesse yet ouer this Deserte dothe so that it is The rather had in many place For thy who secheth loues grace where that these worthy women are He may not than hym selue spare Vpon his trauayle for to serue wherof that he may thanke deserue where as these men of armes be Sometyme ouer the great see So that by londe and eke by ship He mote trauayle for worshyp And make many hasty rodes Somtime in Pruys somtyme in Rodes And some tyme in to Tartarye So that these herauldes on hym crie Vaylant vaylant lo where he goth And than he yeueth hem golde cloth So that his fame myght sprynge And to his ladyes eare brynge Some tydynge of his worthynesse So that she myght of his prowesse Of that she herde men recorde The better vnto his loue accorde And daunger put out of her mood whan all men recorden good And that she wote well for her sake That be no trauayle woll forsake My â—â—â—ne of this trauayle I mene Now shryue the for it shall be sene If thou arte ydell in this cas ¶ My father ye and euer was For as me thynketh truely That euery man doth more than I As of this poynt
anone in stede of oxes He let do yoken great Foxes And with great salt the londe be sewe But Nauplus which the cause knewe Ayene the sleyghte whiche he feyneth Another sleyghte anone ordeyneth And fell that tyme Vlyxes hadde A chylde to sonne and Nauplus radde How men that sonne take shulde And set hym vpon the molde where that his fader helde the plough In thilk forough which he tho drough For in such wyse he thought assaye Howe it Vlyxes shulde paye If that he were wood or none The knightes for this child forth gone Telemachus anone was fette To fore the plough and euen sette where that his fader shulde dryue But whan he sawe his chylde as blyue He droof the plough out of the weye And Nauplus tho began to seye And hath halfe in a â—ape cryed O Vlyxes thou art aspyed what is all this thou woldest mene For openlyche it is nowe sene That thou hast feyned all this thynge which is great shame to a kynge whan that for lust of any slouthe Thou wyltâ—n a quarel of trouthe Of armes thylke honour forsake And dwelle at home for loues sake For better it were honour to wynne Than loue whiche lykynge is ynne For thy take worshyp vpon honde And elles thou shalt vnderstonde These other worthy kynges all Of Grece whiche vnto the calle Towardes the wol be ryght wroth And greue the perchans both whiche shall be to the double shame Most for the hyndrynge of thy name That thou for slouthe of any 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 hadde his herte fyred Vpon his wyfe whan he this herd Nought one word there ayene answerd But torneth home haluynge ashamed And hath within hym selfe so tamed His herte that all the sotye Of loue for chyualrye He lefte and be hym leef or loth To Troye forth with hem he goth That he hym myght not excuse Thus stant it if a knyght refuse The lust of armes to trauayle There may no worldes ease auayle But if worshyp be with all And that hath she wed ouerall For it syt wel in all wyse A knyght to ben of hyghe empryse And putten all drede aweye For in this wyse I haue herd seye 〈◊〉 narrat super â—odem qualiter Laodomia 〈…〉 vâ—or voâ—ens ipsum a bello 〈…〉 secunt retinere fatatam sibi mortem in 〈◊〉 Trâ—â—e prenunciauit sed ipse miliciam poci 〈…〉 affectans Troiam adut vbi sue mor◠〈…〉 perpetue laudis Cronicam ademit ⧠The worthy knyght Prothesalay On his passage where he lay Toward Troye thylke syege She whiche was all his owne lyege â—â—â—domye his lusty wyfe whiche for his loue was pensyf As he whiche all her hert hadde Vpon a thynge wherof she dradde A letter for to make hym dwelle Fro Troye send hym thus to telle Howe she hath asked of the wyse Touchend of hym in suche a wyse That they haue done her vnderstond Toward other howe so it stonde The destyne it hath so shape That he shall not the deth escape In caas that he arryue at Troye For thy as to hyr worldes ioye with all her herte she hym preyde And many another cause alleyde That he with her at home abyde But he hath cast her letter a syde As he whiche tho no maner hede Toke of her wommanlyche drede And forth he goth as nought ne were To Troye and was the fyrste there whiche londeth and toke arryuayle For hym was leuer in the bataylle He seyth to deyen as a knyght Than for to lyue in all his myght And be reproued of his name Lo thus vpon the worldes fame Knyghthode hath euer yet beset whiche with no cowardys is let ☞ Adhuc super eodem qualiter Rex Saul nâ— obstante ê™ Samuelem a Phitonissa fuscitatum et conturatil vesponsum ê™ ipse in bello moreretur accepisset hostes tameÌ„ suos aggrediens milicie famaÌ„ cuÌ„tis huius vitâ— blaÌ„demeÌ„tis preposuit ⧠Of kynge Saul also I fynde ♣ whan Samuel out of his kynde Through that the Phitones hath lered In Samarye was arered Longe tyme after that he was dede The kynge Saul hym asketh rede If that he shall go fyght or none And Samuel hym sayd anone The fyrst day of the batayle Thou shalte be slayn withoute fayle And Ionathas thy sonne also But howe as euer it felle so This worthy knyght of his courage Hath vndertake the vyage And wolde nought his knyghthode let For no perylle he couth set wherof that bothe his sonne and he Vpon the Mount of Gelboe Assemblen with her enemyes For they knyghthode of suche a prys By olde dayes than belden That they none other thynge behelden And thus the fader for worshyp Forth with his sonne of felaushyp Through lust of armes weren dede As men may in the byble rede They whos knyghthode is yet in mynd And shall be to the worldes ende ⧠Hic loquitur ê™ miles in suis primordiis ad audaciam pronocari debet Et narrat qualiter Chiro Centaurus Achillem qui secum ab infan cia in montem Peleon educauit vt audax efficere tur primitus edocuit quod cum ipse venacionibus ibidem insifteret leones et tigrides huinsmodique animalia sibi resistentia et nulla alia fugitiua agitaret et sic Achilles in inuentute animatus famosissime militie probitateÌ„ postmoduÌ„ ad optanit ANd for to loken ouermore It hath and shall ben euermore That of knyghthode the prowesse Is grounded vpon hardynesse Of hym that dare wel vndertake And who that wolde ensample take Vpon the forme of knyghtes lawe Howe that Achilles was forth drawe with Chiro whiche Centaurus hyght Of many a wonder here he myght For it stood thylke tyme thus That this Chiro this Centaurus within a large wyldernesse where was lyon and leonesse The lepard and the Tygre also with hert and hynd buk and do Had his dwellenge as tho befylle Of Peleon vpon the hylle wherof was than mochel speche There hath Chiro this chyld to teche what tyme he was of twelue yere age wherfore to maken his courage The more hardy by other weye In the forest to hunt and pleye whan that Achilles walke wolde Centaurus badde that he ne shulde After no best make his chas whiche wolde fleen out of his place As buke and do and herte and hynde with whiche he may no werre fynde But tho that wolden hym withstonde There shuld be with his dart on honde Vpon the Tygre and the lyon Purchace and make his venyson As to a knyght is acordaunt And therupon a couenaunt This Chiro with Achilles set That euery day withoute lette He shulde seche a cruel best Or sle or wounden at the lest So that he myght a token brynge Of bloude vpon his home comynge And thus of that Chiro hym taught Achilles suche an herte caught That he no more a lyon drad whan
he his dart on honde had Than if a lyon were an asse And that hath made hym for to passe All other knyghtes of his dede whan it cam the great nede As it was afterward wel knowe ¶ Lo thus my son thou myght knowe That the courage of hardinesse Is of knyghthode the prowesse whiche is to loue suffysaunt Abouen all the remenaunt That vnto loues court pursue But who that wold no slouth eschewe Vpon knyghthode and not trauayle I not what loue hym shuld auayle But euery labour asketh why Of some reward wherof that I Ensamples couth tel ynough Of hem that towarde loue drough By olde dayes as they shulde ¶ My fader therof here I wolde ¶ My sonne it is wyl reasonable In place whiche is honourable If that a man his herte sette That than he for no slouthe lette To do what longeth to manhede For if thou wolt the bokes rede Of Launcelot and other mo There might thou seen how it was tho Of armes for they wold atteyne To loue whiche withouten peyne May not be gette of ydelnesse And that I take to wytnesse An olde Cronycke in speciall The whiche in to memoryall As wryte for his loues sake Howe that a knyght shal vndertake ☞ Hic dicet ê™ miles priusqua amoris amplexu dignus efficiatur euentus bellicos victoriosus amplectere debet / et narrat qualiter Hercules et Achillous propter Deianiram Calidonie regis filiam singulare duellum ad inuicemnierunt / cuins victor Hercules existens armorum meritis amorem virginis laudabiliter conquestauit ☞ Ther was a kynge which Oenes was hote and he vnder pees Held Calydonye in his empyre And hadde a doughter Deyanyre Men wyst in thylke tyme none So fayre a wyght as she was one And as she was a lusty wyght Ryght so was than a noble knyght To whome Mercurye fader was This knyght the two pylers of bras The whiche yet a man may fynde Set vp in the deserte of Inde That was the worthy Hercules whos name shall ben endeles For the meruayles which he wrought This Hercules the loue sought Of Deyanyre and of this thynge Vnto her fader whiche was kynge He spake touchend of maryage The kynge knowend his hye lynage And dead also his myghtes sterne To hym ne durst his doughter werne And netheles this he hym seyde Howe Achilous er he fyrst preyde To wedden her and in acorde They stode as it was of recorde But for all that this he hym grauÌ„teth That which of hem that other dauÌ„teth In armes hym she shulde take And that the kynge hath vndertake This Achilous was a geaunt A subtyl man a deceyuaunt whiche through Magyke and sorcerye Couthe all the worlde of recherye And whan that he this tale herde Howe vpon that the kynge answerd with Hercules he must feyght He trusteth nought vpon his sleyght Al onely whan it cometh to nede But that whiche voydeth all drede And euery noble herte stereth The loue that no lyfe forbereth For his lady whome he desyreth with hardynesse his herte fyreth And sente hym worde without fayle That he woll take the batayle They setten day they chosen felde The knyghtes couered vnder shelde To gyder come at tyme sette And eche one is with other mette It fel they foughten bothe on fote There was no stone there was no rote whiche myght letten hem the weye But all was voyde and take aweye They smyten strokes but a fewe For Hercules whiche wolde shewe His great strengthe as for the nones He stert vpon hym all at ones And caught hym in his armes stronge This geaunt wote he may not longe Endure vnder so harde bondes And thought he wold out of his boÌ„des By sleyghte in some maner escape And as he couthe hym selfe forshape In lykenesse of an adder he slypte Oute of his honde and forth he skipte And ofte as he that fyght wolle He torneth hym in to a bolle And gan to belwe in suche a soune As though the world shuld al go doune The grounde he sporneth he trauÌ„ceth His large hornes he auaunceth And cast hem here and there aboute But he whiche stant of hem no doute Awayteth wel whan that he came And hym by bothe bornes nam And all at ones he hym caste Vnto the grounde and helde hym faste That he ne myght with no sleyght Out of his honde gete vpon heyghte Tylle he was ouercome and yolde And Hercules hath what he wolde The kynge hym graunted to fulfylle His askynge at his owne wylle And she for whome he hadde serued Her thought he hath hir wel deserued And thus with great desert of armes He wan hym for to lygge in armes As he whiche hath it dere abought For otherwyse shulde he nought ⧠Nota de penthefilea Amazonie regina que Hectoris amore colligata / contra Pirrum Achillis filium apud Troiam arma ferre eciam personaliter non recusauit And ouer this if thou wylte here Vpon knyghthode of this mattere How loue and armes ben acqueynted A man may se bothe wryte and peynted So ferforth that Penthesyle whiche was the quene of Femyne The loue of Hector for to seke And for thonour of armes eke To Troye cam with spere and shelde And rode her selfe in to the felde with maydens armed all aroute In rescus of the Towne a boute whiche with the grekes was belein ☞ Nota qualiter Philimenia propter milicie famam a finibus terre in defensionem Troie veniens tres puellas a regno Amazonie quolibet anno percipiendas sibi et heredibus suis imperpetuum ea de causa habere promeruit ⧠Fro Paphlagonie as men sein ♣ whiche stant vpon the worldes ende That tyme it lyked eke to wend Philimenis whiche was kynge To Troye and came vpon this thynge In helpe of thylke noble towne And all was that for the renoune Of worship and of worldes fame Of whiche he wolde bere a name And so he dyd forth with all He wan of loue in specyall A fayr trybute for euermo For it felle thylke tyme so Pyrrus the sonne of Achylles This worthy quene amonge the pres with dedely swerd sought oute fonde And slough her with his owne honde wherof this kynge of Paphlagonye Penthesyle of Amazonie where she was quene with hym ladde with suche maydens as she hadde Of hem that were left alyue Forth in his shyp tyl they aryue where that the body was begraue with worsyp and the women saue And for the goodshyp of this dede They graunten hym a lusty mede That euery yere for his truage To hym and to his herytage Of maydens fayre he shall haue thre And in this wyse spedde he whiche the fortune of armes sought with his trauayle his ease he bought For other wyse he shulde haue fayled If that he hadde nought trauayled ☞ Nota pro eo quod Eneas regem Turnum in bello deuicit non solum amorem Lauine / sed et regnum Italie sibi
subiugaium obtinuit ☞ Eneas eke within Itayle He had he wonne the bataylle And done his myght so besyly Ayene kynge Turne his enemy He hadde nought Lauine wonne But for he hath hym ouer ronne And gat his prys he gat her loue By these ensamples here aboue Lo nowe my sonne as I haue told Thou myght wel se who that is bold And dar trauayle and vndertake The cause of loue he shall be take The rather vnto loues grace For comonlyche in worthy place The women louen worthynesse Of manhode and of gentylnesse For the gentils be most desyred ¶ My fader but I were inspired Through lore of you I wote no weye what gentylnesse is for to seye wherof to telle I you beseche ¶ The grounde my sonne for to seche Vpon this diffinicyon The worldes constitucion Hath set the name of gentylnesse Vpon the fortune of rychesse whiche of longe tyme is falle in age Than is a man of hyghe lynage After the forme as thou shalt here But no thynge after the matere For who that reason vnderstond Vpon rychesse it may not stonde For that is thynge whiche fayleth ofte For he that stant to day alofte And all the worlde hath in his wones To morowe he fallyth all at ones Oute of ryches in to pouerte So that therof is no deserte whiche gentylnesse maketh abyde And for to loke on other syde Howe that a gentylman is bore Adam whiche was all tofore with Eue his wyfe as of hem two All was alyche gentyll tho So that of generacyon To make declaration There may no gentylnes be For to the reason if we se Of mannes byrthe the measure It is so common to nature That it yeueth euery man alyche As well to the poore as to the ryche For naked they ben bore bothe The lorde no more hath for to clothe As of hym that ilke throwe Than hath the poorest of the rowe And whan they shull both passe I not of hem whiche hath the lasse Of worldes good but as of charge The lorde is more for to charge whan god shall his accompte here For he hath had his lustes here But of the body whiche shall deye All though there be dyuers weye To deth yet is there but one ende To whiche that euery man shall wende As well the begger as the lorde Of one nature of one accorde She whiche our olde mother is The erthe bothe that and this Receyueth and alyche deuoureth That she do nouther part fauoureth So were I nothynge after kynde where I may gentylles fynde For lacke of vertue lacketh of grace wherof Rychesse in many place whan men best wene for to stonde All sodeynly goth out of honde But vertue sette in the courage There may no worlde be so saluage whiche myght it take and done away Tyll when that the body deye And than he shall be ryched so That it may fayle neuermo So may that well be gentylâ—â—se whiche yeueth so great a sikernes For after the condicion Of reasonable intencyon The whiche out of the soule groweth And the vertue fro vice knoweth wherof a man the vice escheweth without slouth and vertue seweth That is a very gentyll man And nothynge els whiche he can Ne whiche he hath ne whiche he may But for all that yet nowe a day In loues courte to taken hede The poore vertue shall not spede where that the ryche vice woweth For selde it is that loue alloweth The gentyll man withouten good Though his condition be good But if a man of bothe two Be ryche and vertuous also Than is he well the more worth But yet to put hym selfe forth He must done his besynesse For nother good ne gentylnesse May helpen hem whiche idel be But who that woll in his degre Trauayle so as it belongeth It happeth ofte that he fongeth worshyppe and ease bothe two For euer yet it hath be so That loue honest in sondry wey Profyteth for it dothe aweye The vice and as the bokes seyne It maketh curteys of the vileyne And to the cowarde hardyesse It yeueth so that the very prowesse Is caused vpon loues reule To hym that can manhode reule And eke towarde the womanhede who that therof woll taken hede For though the better affayted be In euery thynge as men may se For loue hath euer his lustes grene In gentyll folke as it is sene whiche thynge there may no kind arest I trowe that there is no beaste If he with loue shulde acqueynt That he ne wolde make it queynt As for the whyle that it laste And thus I conclude at last That they ben ydell as me semeth whiche vnto thynge that loue demeth For slouthen that they shulden do And ouer this my sonne also After the vertue morail eke To speke of loue if I shall seke Amonge the holy bokes wyse I fynde wrytte in suche a wyse ☞ Nota de amore charitatis vbi dicit qui non diliget / manet in morte who loueth not as here is dede For loue aboue all other is hede whiche hath the vertues for to lede Of all that vnto mannes dede Belongeth For of ydelshyp He hateth all the felaushyp For slouthe is euer to despyse whiche in disdeyne hath all appryse And that acordeth nought to man For he that wyt and reason can It syt hym wel that he trauayle VpoÌ„ such thinge whiche myght auayle For ydelshyp is nought comended But euery lawe it hath defended And in ensample thereupon The noble wyse Salomon whiche hadde of euery thynge insyght Seyth As the byrdes to the flyght Ben made so the man is bore To labour whiche is nought forbore To hem that thynken for to thryue For we whiche are nowe a lyue Of hem that besy whylome were As wel in schole as elles where Nowe euery day ensample take That if it were nowe to make Thyng which that they fyrste founden out It shuld not be brought aboute Her lyues than were longe Her wyttes great her myghtes strong Her hertes full of besynesse wherof the worldes redynesse In bopy both and in courage Stant euer vpon his auauntage And for to drawe in to memorye Her names bothe and her historye Vpon the vertu of her dede In sondry bokes thou myght rede Expedit de manibus labor vt de coridianis Actibus ac vita viuere poscit homo Sed qui doctrina causa fert meute labores Praeualet et merita perpetuata parat ☞ Hic loquitur contra ociosos quoscumque et maxime contra istos qui excellentis prudencie ingenium habentes absque fructu operum torpescunt Et ponit exemplum de diligencia predecessorum qui ad tocius humani generis doctrinam et auxiliuÌ„ suis coÌ„tinuis laboribus et studus gracia mediante diuina artes et sciencias primitus inueneruÌ„t ⧠Of euery wysdome the parfyt ♣ The hyghe god of his spyryt yafe to men in erth here Vpon the forme and the mater Of that he wolde make hem wyse And thus cam in the
it belongeth But slouthe no lyfe vnderfongeth whiche is to loue appertenaunt ¶ My fader vpon the couenaunt I dare wel make this auowe Of all my lyfe in to nowe Al 's ferforth as I can vnderstonde yet took I neuer slepe on hond whan it was tyme for to wake For though myn eye it wolde take Myn herte is euer there ageyne But netheles to speke it pleyne All this that I haue sayde you here Of my wakynge as ye may here â—t toucheth to my lady swete For other wyse I you byhete In straunge place whan I go Me lyst no thynge to wake so For whan the women lysten playe And I her se not in the waye Of whome I shulde myrthe take Me lyst not longe for to wake But if it be for pure shame Of that I wolde eschewe a name That they ne shuld haue cause none To seye A lo where suche one That hath forlore his contenaunce And thus amonge I synge and daunce And feyne lust there none is For ofte syth I fele this Of thought which in min herte falleth whan it is nyght myn hede appallyth And that is for I se her nought whiche is the waker of my thought And thus as tymelyche as I may Fâ—loâ—tâ— â–ª whan it is brode daye I 〈◊〉 of all these other leue And go my wey and they beleue That seen per cas her loues there Aâ—d I go forth as nought ne were Vâ—to my bed so that alone I may there lygge syghe and grone â—â—d wysshen all the longe nyght 〈◊〉 that I se the dayes lyght I not if that be sompnolence But vpon your conscience Myn holy fader demeth ye ¶ My sonne I am well payd with the Of slepe that thou the sluggardye By nyght in loues companye Eschewe hast and do thy payne So that thy loue dare not pleyne For loue vpon his lust wakende Is euer and wold that none ende wherof the longe nyght is sette wherof that thou beware the bette To telle a tale I am bethought Howe loue and slepe acorden nought ⧠Hic dicit ê™ vigilia in amantibus / et non sompnolencia laudanda est Et ponit exemplum de Cephalo filio Phebi / qui nocturno silencio auroram amicam suam diligencius amplectene Solem et Lunam interpellabat / videlicet ê™ sol in circulo ab oriente distantiori curruÌ„ cuÌ„ luce sua retardaret et quod Luna sphera sua longissima orbem circuens noctem continuaret / ita vt ipsum Cephalam amplexibus Aurore volutuÌ„ priusquaÌ„ dies illucesceret suis deliciis adquiescere diutius permittere dignarentur ⧠For loue who that lyst to wake By nyght he may ensample take Of Cephalus whan that he lay with Aurora the swete may In armes all the longe nyght But whan it drough towarde the lyght That he within his herte sye The day whiche was the morowe nye Anone vnto the Sonne he preyde For lust of loue and thus he sayde O Phebus whiche the dayes lyght Gouernest tyl that it be nyght And gladdest euery creature After the lawe of thy nature But netheles there is a thynge whiche onlyche to thy knowlechynge Belongeth as in pryuete To loue and to his dute whiche asketh not to ben a pert But in sylence and in couert Desyreth for to be beshadyd And thus whan that the lyght is faded And vesper sheweth hym alofte And that the nyght is longe and softe Vnder the clowdes derke and stylle Than hath this thyng most of his wille For thy vnto thy myghtes hye As thou whiche art the dayes eye Of loue and myght no counseyl hyde Vpon this derke nyghtes tyde with all myn herte I the beseche That I pleasaunce myght seche with her whiche lyeth in myn armes withdrawe the baner of thyn armes And lete thy lyghtes ben vnborne And in the sygne of Capricorne The hous appropred to Saturne I preye the that thou wolt soiourne where ben the nyghtes derke and longe For I my loue haue vnderfonge whiche lyeth here by my syde naked As she whiche wolde ben awaked And me lyst no thynge for to slepe So were it good to take kepe Nowe at this nede of my prayer And that the lyke for to stere Thy fyry â—art and so ordeyne That thou thy swyft hors restrayne Lowe vnder erthe in occident That they toward thoryent By sercle go the longe weye And eke to the Dyane I preye whiche cleped art of thy noblesse The nyghtes mone and the Goddesse That thou to me be gracyous And in Cancro thyn owne hous Ayene Phebus in opposite Stond at this tyme and of delyte Beholde Venus with a gladde eye For than vpon Astronomye Of due constellacyon Thou makest prolifycacion And dost that chyldren ben begete whiche grace if that I myght gete with all myn herte I woll serue By nyght and thy vygylle obserue Lo thus this lusty Cephalus Prayed vnto Phebe and to Phebus The nyght in lengthe for to drawe So that he myght do the lawe In thylke poynt of loues beste whiche cleped is the nyghtes feste with outen slepe of sluggardye whiche Venus oute of companye Hath put awey as thylke same which lustles fer from game In chambre doth full ofte wo A bedd whean it falleth so That loue shulde ben awayted But slouthe whiche is euyl affayted with slepe hath made his retenue That what thinge is to loue due Of all his dette he payeth none The wote not howe the nyght is gone Ne howe the daye is come aboute But onely for to slepe and route Tyl hyghe mydday that he aryse But Cephalus dyd otherwyse As thou my sonne hast herd aboue ¶ My fader who that hath his loue A bedde naked by his syde And wold than his eyen hyde with slepe I not what man is he But certes as touchend of me That felle me neuer yet er this But other whyle whan so is That I may catche slepe on honde Lyggend alone than I fonde To dreme a mery sweuen or day And if so falle that I may My thought with suche a sweuen plese Me thynke I am somdele at ese For I none other comfort haue So nedeth nought that I shall craue The Sonnes carte for to tary Ne yet the Mone that she carye Her cours a longe vpon the heuen For I am nought the more in euen Towardes loue in no degre But in my slepe yete than I se Somwhat in sweuen of that me lyketh whiche afterward myn herte entryketh whan that I fynde it other wyse So wote I not of what seruyce That slepe to mans case doth ¶ My sonne certes thou sayst soth But onely that it helpeth kynd Somtyme in Physyk as I fynde whan it is take by mesure But he which can no slepe mesure Vpon the reule as it belongeth Fulofte of sodeyne chaunce he fongeth Suche infortune that hym greueth But who these olde bokes leueth Of sompnolence howe it is wryte There may aman the sothe wyte If that he wolde
ensample take That other whyle is good to wake wherof a tale in Poesye I thynke for to specyfye ☞ HIC loquitur in amoris causa contra istos qui sompnolencie dediti ea que seruare tenentur amittunt Et narrat quod cum Io puella pulcherrima a Iunone in vaccant transformata et in Argi custodiam sic deposit fuisse superueniens Mercurius Argum dormien tem occidit vt ipsam vaccam a pastura rapiens quo voluit / fecum perduxet ☞ Ouyde telleth in his sawes Hawe Iupiter by olde dayes Lay by a mayde whiche Io was cleped wherof that Iuno His wyfe was wrothe and the goddesse Of Io torned the lykenesse In to a Cowe to go there oute The large feldes all aboute And gette her mete vpon the grene And therupon this hyghe quene Betoke her Argus for to kepe For he was seldon wonte to slepe And yet he had an hondred eyen And all alyche wel they syen Now harken how that he was begiled Mercurye whiche was all affyled This Cowe to stele he came desguysed And had a pype wel deuysed Vpon the notes of musyke wherof he myght his ere 's lyke And ouer that he had affayted His lusty tales and awayted His tyme and thus in to the felde He came where Argus he beheld with â—o whiche besyde hym went with that his pype anon he hent And gâ—n to pype in his manere Thyrge whiche was slepy for to here And in his pypynge euer amonge He tolde hym such a lusty songe That he the fool hath brought a slepe There was none eye that myght kepe His hede whiche Mercurye of smote And forth with all anone fote hote He stale the cowe whiche Argus kepte And all this fel for that he slepte Ensample it was to many mo That mochel slepe doth ofte wo whan it is tyme for to wake For if a man this vyce take In sompnolence and hym delyte Men shuld vpon his dore wryte His Epytaphe and on his graue For he to spylle and nought to saue Is shaped and though he were dede ¶ For thy my sonne hold vp thin hede And let no slepe thyn eye englue But whan it is to reason due ¶ My fader as touchend of this Ryght so as I you tolde it is That ofte a bedde whan I shulde I may not slepe though I wolde For loue is euer faste byme which taketh none hede of one tyme For whan I shall myn eyen close Anone my hert he woll oppose And hold his schole in suche a wyse Tylle it be day that I aryse That selde it is whan that I slepe And thus fro sompnolence I kepe Myn eye and for thy if there be Ought elles more in this degre Nowe aske forth ¶ My sonne yis For slouth whiche as moder is The forth drawer and the Noryce To man of many a dredful vyce Hath yet another last of all whiche many a man hath made to falle where that he myght neuer aryse wherof for thou the shalt auyse Er thou so with thy selfe mysfare what vyce it is I woll declare Nil fortuna inuat vbi desperacio ledit Quo desiccat humor non viridescit humus Magnanimus sed amor speÌ„ ponit et inde saluteÌ„ Cousequitur ê™ ei prospera fata fauent ☞ Hic loquitur super vltima specie accidie que Trifticia siue desperacio dicitur cuius obstinata condicio tocius consolacionis spem deponens ali cuius remedii quo liberari poterit fortunam sibi euenire impossibile credit ☞ whan slouth doth all that he may To dryue forth the longe day Tylle he become to the nede Than at last vpon the dede He loketh howe his tyme is lore And is so wo begone therfore That he within his thought conceiueth Trystesse and so hym selfe deceyueth That he wanhope bryngeth inne where is no comforte to begynne But euery ioye hym is delayed So that within his herte affrayed A thousande tyme with one breth wepende he wyssheth after deth whan he fortune fynt aduerse For than he woll his hope reherse As though his worlde were all forlore And sayth alas that I was bore Howe shall I lyue how shall I do For nowe fortune is thus my foo I wote well god me woll not helpe what shulde I than of ioye yelpe where there no bote is of my care So ouercast is my welfare That I am shapen all to stryfe Alas that I nere of this lyfe Er I be fullyche ouertake And thus he wyll his sorowe make As god hym myght not auayle But yet ne woll he not trauayle To helpe hym selfe at suche a nede But sloutheth vnder suche a drede whiche is affermed in his herte Ryght as he myght nought asterte The worldes wo whiche he is inne Also whan he is falle in synne Hym thynketh he is so fer culpable That god woll not be mercyable So great a synne to foryeue And thus he leueth to be shriue And if a man in thilke throwe wold hym couÌ„seile he wolde not knowe The soth though a man it fynde For trystesse is of suche a kynde That for to mayntene his foly He hath with hym obstinacy whiche is within of suche a slouth That be forsaketh all the trouth And woll to no reason bowe And yet he can not alowe His owne skylle but of hede Thus dwyneth he tyll he be dede In hyndrynge of his owne estate For where a man is obstinate wanhope falleth at laste whiche may nat longe after laste Tyll slouth make of hym an ende But god wote whyther he shall wende ¶ My sonne and ryght in suche manere There be louers of heuy chere That sorowen more than is nede whan they be taried of her spede And can not them selfe rede But lesen hope for to spede And stynten loue to pursewe And thus they faden hyde and hewe And lustles in her hertes waxe Herof it is that I wolde axe If thou my sonne arte one of tho ¶ A good father it is so Out take o poynt I am beknowe For els I am ouerthrowe In all that euer ye haue seyde My sorowe is euermore vnteyde And secheth ouer all my veynes But for to counsayle of my peynes I can no bote do therto And thus withouten hope I go So that my wyttes ben empeyred And I am as who saith dispeyred To wynne loue of thilke swete without whom I you behete Myn herte that is so bestadde Ryght inly neuer may be gladde For by my trouth I shall not lye Of pure sorowe whiche I drye For that she saith she wyll me nought with dretchynge of myn owne thought In suche a wanhope I am falle That I ne can vnethes calle As for to speke of any grace My ladyes mercy to purchace But yet I say nought for this That all in my defaute it is That I am neuer yet in stede whan tyme was that I me bede Ne sayde and as I durst tolde But neuer fonde I that she wolde For ought she knewe of myn entent To
speke a goodly worde assent And netheles this dare I say That if a synfull wolde preye To god of his foryeuenes with halfe so great a besynesse As I haue do to my lady In lacke of askynge of mercy He shulde neuer come in helle And thus I may you sothly telle Saufe onely that I crie and bydde I am in tristesse all amydde And fulfylled of desperaunce And therof yeue me my penaunce Myn holy father as you lyketh ¶ My sonne of that thyn herte syketh with sorowe myght thou not amende Tyll loue his grace woll the sende For thou thyn owne cause empeirest what tyme as thou thy selfe despeirest I not what other thinge auayleth Of hope whan the herte fayleth For suche a sore is incurable And eke the goddes ben vengeable And that a man may right well frede These olde bokes who so rede Of thinge whiche hath befalle er this Nowe here of what ensample it is ☞ HIC narrat qualiter Iphis / regis Theucer filius eb amorem cuiusdam puelle nomine Araâ—arathen quaÌ„ neque donis aut precibus vinâ—â—â—â—â—tuit / deâ—perans ante patris ipsius puelle 〈◊〉 nectanter se suspendit vnder dii commoti 〈◊〉 â—nellum in lapidem durissimam transmutâ—â—nt quam rex Theucer vna cuÌ„ filio suo apud Sâ—â—â—num in Templo veneris pro perpetua 〈◊〉 morta sepeliri et locari fecit ¶ whylom by olde dayes fer Of Moâ—e was the kynge Theucer whiche had a knyghte to sonne Iphis Of loue and he so maistred is That he hath set all his courage As to regarde of his lygnage Vpon a mayde of lowe estate But though he were a potestate Of worldes good he was subiecte To loue and put in suche a plyte That he excedeth the measure Of reason that hym selfe assure He can nought For the more he praid The lasse loue on hym she layde He was with loue vnwise constreined And she with reason was restreyned The lustes of his herte he seweth And she for drede shame escheweth And as she shulde toke good hede To saue and kepe her womanhede And thus the thinge stode in debate Betwene his lust and her estate He yaue he sende he spake by mouth But yet for ought that euer he couthe Vnto his spede he fonde no weye So that he cast his hope aweye within his hert he gan despeyre Fro day to day and so empeire That he hath lost all his delyte Of lust of slepe of appetyte That he through streÌ„gth of loue lasseth His wyt and reason ouerpasseth As he whiche of his lyfe ne rought His death vpon hym selfe he sought So that by nyght his weye he nam There wyst none where he becam The nyghte was derke there shone no mone Tofore the gates he cam sone where that this yonge mayde was And with this wofull worde alas His deadly pleyntes he began So styll that there was no man It herde and than he sayde thus O thou Cupyde O thou Venus Fortuned by whose ordynaunce Of loue is euery mans chaunce Ye knowen all myn hole hert That I ne may your hondes astert On you is euer that I crie And you deyneth not to plie Ne towarde me your eare enclyne Thus for I se no medicine To make an ende of my quarele My deth shall be in stede of hele Ha thou my wofull lady dere whiche dwellest with thy father here And slepest in thy bedde at ease Thou wotest nothynge of my disease Howe thou and I be nowe vnmete A lorde what sweuen shalt thou mete what dremes hast thou now on honde Thou slepest there and I here stonde Though I no death to the deserue Here shall I for thy loue sterue Here shall I a kynges sonne dye For loue and for no felonye whether thou therof haue ioy or sorow Here shalt thou se me deed to morowe O harde herte abouen alle This death whiche shall to me falle For that thou wolde not do my grace It shall be tolde in many place That I am deed for loue and trouth In thy defaute and in thy slouth Thy daunger shall to many mo Ensample be for euermo when they the wofull death recorde And with that worde he toke a corde with whiche vpon the gate tre He henge him selfe that was pite The morowe cam the nyght is gone Men come out and sygh anone where that this yonge lorde was deed There was an hous without rede For no man knewe the cause why There was wepynge there was cry This mayden whan she it herde And sigh this thinge howe it mysferde Anone she wyst what it ment And all the cause howe it went To all the worlde she tolde it out And preyeth to hem that were aboute To take of her the vengeaunce For she was cause of thilke chaunce why that this kynges sonne is spylt She taketh vpon her selfe the gilt And is all redy to the peyne whiche any man her wolde ordeyne But if any other wolde She saith that her selfe she sholde Do wreche with her owne honde Through out the worlde in euery loÌ„de That euery lyfe therof shall speke Howe she her selfe it shulde wreke She wepeth she cryeth she swouneth ofte She caste her eien vp alofte And sayde amonge full pitously O god thou wost that it am I For whom Iphis is thus beseyne Ordeyne so that men may seyne A thousande wynter after this Howe suche a mayden dyd amys And as I dydde do to me For I ne dydde no pite To hym whiche for my loue is lore Do no pite to me therfore And with this worde she fell to grouÌ„de A swoune and there she laye astounde The goddes which her pleyntes herd And sygh howe wofully she ferde Hir lyfe they toke awey anone And shopen hir into a stone After the forme of hir image Of body both and of visage And for the meruayle of this thynge Vnto the place came the kynge And eke the quene and many mo And whan they wysten it was so As I haue tolde it here aboue Howe that Iphis was deade for loue Of that he had be refused They helden all men excused And wondren vpon the vengeaunce And for to kepe remembraunce This fayre image mayden lyche with company noble and ryche with torches and great solempnite To Salamyne the Citie They leade carie forth withall This deade corps and seyne it shall Besyde thilke image haue His sepulture and be begraue This corps and this image thus In to the citie to Venus where that goddesse her temple had Together bothe two they ladde This ilke image as for myracle was set vpon an hygh pinacle That all men it myght knowe And vnder that they maden lowe A tombe ryche for the nones Of marble and eke of Iaspre stones wherin that Iphis was beloken That euermore it shall be spoken And for men shall the sothe wyte They haue her ephitaphe wryte As thynge whiche shulde abyde stable The letters grauen in a table Of marble were and sayde this Here lyeth whiche
sloughe hymselfe Iphis For loue of Araxarathen And in ensample of the women That suffren men dyen so Hir forme a man may seen also Howe it is tourned flesshe and bone In to the figure of a stone He was to nesshe and she to harde Beware for thy here afterwarde ye men and women bothe two Ensampleth you of that was tho ¶ Lo thus my sonne as I the say It greueth by diuers waye In dispeire a man to falle whiche is the last braunche of all Of slepe as thou hast herde deuyse wherof that thou thy selfe auyse Good is er that thou be deceyued wher that the grace of hope is weyued ¶ My father howe so that it stonde Nowe haue I pleynly vnderstonde Of stouthes courte the properte wherof touchende in my degree For euer I thynke to beware But ouer this so as I dare with all myn hert I you beseche That ye me wolde enforme and teache what there is more of your appryse In loue al 's well as otherwyse So that I may me cleane shryue ¶ My sonne whyle thou arte alyue And hast also thy full mynde Amonge the vices whiche I fynde There is yet one suche of the seuen whiche all this worlde hath set vneuen And causeth many a wronge where he the cause hath vnderfonge wherof hereafter thou shalte here The forme bothe and the matere ¶ Explicit liber quartus ¶ Hic in quinto libro intendit Confessor tractare de auaritia que omnium malorum radix esse dicitur necnon de eiusdem vicii speciebus et primum ipsuis auaritie naturam describit ¶ Incipit liber quintus Of â—â—at auaricia naturae legibus et quae Largus amor poscit strictius illa netat Omâ—â— quod est nimium uiciosum dicitur auruÌ„ Veâ—â—ia sicut oues seruat auarus opes Non decet ut soli seruabitur aes sed amori Debet homo solam solus habere suam FYrste whan the hyghe god beganne This worlde and that the kynde of man was fal into no gret encreâ— For worldes good was tho no pres But all was set to the commune They speken than of no fortune Or for to lese or for to wynne Tyll Auarice brought it in And that was wheÌ„ the world was woxe Of man of hors of shepe of oxe And that men knewen the money Tho went pees out of the wey And werre came on euery syde whiche all loue leyde asyde And of common his propre made So that in stede of shouell and spade The sharpe swerde was take on honde And in this wyse it cam to londe wherof men made dyches depe And hygh walles for to kepe The golde whiche auarice encloseth But all to lytell hym supposeth Though he mighte all the worlde purchase For what thing that he may enbrace Of golde of catell or of londe He let it neuer out of his honde But gette hym more and halt it fast As though the worlde shulde euer last So is he lyche vnto the helle For as these olde bokes telle what cometh ther in lasse or more It shall departe neuermore Thus whan he hath his cofer loken It shall not after ben vnstoken But whan hym lyst to haue a syght Of golde howe that it shyneth bright That he theron may loke and muse For otherwyse he dare not vse To take his part or lesse or more So is he poore and ouermore Hym lacketh that he hath inough An oxe draweth in the plough Of that hym selfe hath no profite A shepe ryght in the same plyte His wolle beareth but on a day An other taketh the flees away Thus hath he that he nought ne hath For he therof his parte ne tath To seye howe suche a man hathe good who so that reasone vnderstoode It is vnproperlyche sayde That good hath hym halt him tayde That he ne gladdeth nought withall But is vnto his good a thrall And a subiecte thus serueth be where that he shulde mayster be Suche is the kynde of thauarous My sonne as thou art amorous Telle if thou fare of loue so ¶ My father as it semeth no That auarous yet neuer I was So as ye setten me the cas For as ye tolden here aboue In full possession of loue yet was I neuer here tofore So that me thynketh well therfore I may excuse well my dede But of my wyll withouten drede If I that treasour myght gete It shulde neuer be foryete That I ne wolde it faste holde Tyll god of loue hym selue wolde That death vs shulde departe a two For leueth well I soue her so That euen with myn owne lyfe If I that swete lusty wyfe Myght ones welden at my wylle For euer I wold holde hir stille And in this wyse taketh kepe If I her had I wolde her kepe And yet no fryday wolde I fast Though I her kepe and helde fast Fye on the bagges in the â—â—st I had inough if I her kyst For certes if she were myn I had her leuer than a myn Of golde for all this worldes ryche Ne myght me make so ryche As she that is so inly good I set nought of other good For myght I gette suche a thynge I had a treasour for a kynge And though I wolde it fast holde I were than wel beholde But I myght pype nowe with lasse And suffre that it ouer passe Not with my wyll for thus I wolde Ben auorous if that I sholde But father I herde you sey Howe the auarous hath yet some wey wherof he may be glad For he May whan hym lyst his treasure se And grope and fele it all aboute But I full ofte am shet theroute There as my worthy tresour is So is my life liche vnto this That ye me tolden here to fore Howe that an oxe his yoke hath bore For thynge that shulde hym not auaile And in this wyse I me trauayle For who that euer hath the welfare I wote wel that I haue the care For I am had and nought ne haue And am as who sayth loues 〈◊〉 Nowe deme in your owne thought If this be auarice or nought ¶ My sonne I haue of the no wonder Though thou to serue be put vnder with loue whiche to kynde accordeth But so as euery boke recordeth It is to kynde no pleasaunce That men aboue his sustenaunce Vnto the golde shall serue and bowe For that may no reason auowe But auarice netheles If he may getten his encrees Of golde that wolde he serue and kepe For he taketh of nought els kepe But for to fylle his bagges large And all is to hym but a charge For he ne parteth nought withall But kepeth it as seruaunt shall And thus though that he multiplie His golde without treasorye He is for man is nought amended with golde but if it be dispended To mans vse wherof I rede A tale and take therof good hede Of that befelle by olde tyde As telleth vs the clerke Ouyde ☞ HIC loquitur contra istos auaros ef narrai
owne entent Though she no thyng but honour meÌ„t whaÌ„ that the lord cometh hom ageyne The iangler must somwhat seyn So what withoute and what withinne This feuer is euer to begynne For where he cometh he can not ende Tyl deth of hym hath made an ende For though so be that he ne here Ne se ne wyte in no manere But all honoure and womanhede Therof the Ielous taketh none hede But as a man to loue vnkynde He cast his stafe and as the blinde And fynt defaulte where is none As who so dremeth on a stone Howe he is leyde and groneth ofte whan he lyeth on his pylowe softe So is there nought but stryfe and chest whan loue shuld make his fest It is great thynge if he her kysse Thus hath she loste the nyghtes blysse For at suche tyme he grutcheth euer And bereth on honde there is a leuer That she wolde another were In stede of hym abedde there And with tho wordes and with mo Of Ielousye he torneth her fro And lyeth vpon that other syde And she with that draweth her asyde And there she wepeth all the nyght A to what peyne she is dyght That in her youth hath so beset The bond whiche may not ben vnknet I wote the tyme is ofte cursed That euer was the gold vnpursed The whiche was layd vpon the boke whan that all other she forsoke For loue of hym but all to late She pleyneth for as than algate She mote forbere and to hym bowe Though he ne woll it nought allowe For man is lord of thylke feyre So may the woman but empeyre If she speke ought ageyn his wylle And thus she beryth her peyne stylle But if this Feuer a woman take She shall be wel more harde shake For though she both se and here And fynde that there is no mater She dare but to her selfe pleyne And thus she suffreth double peyne ¶ Lo thus my sonne as I haue wryte Thou myght of Ielousye wyte His feuer and his condycyon whiche is full of suspectyon But wherof that this feuer groweth who so these olde bokes troweth There may he fynde howe it is For they vs teche and telle this Howe that this feuer of Ielousye Somdel it groweth of sotye Of loue and somdele of vntrust For as a sekman lest his lust And whan he may no sauoure gete He hateth than his owne mete Ryght so this feuerous malady whiche caused is of fantasye Maketh the Ielous in feble plyte To lese of loue his appetyte Through feyned informacyon Of his ymaginacyon But fynally to taken hede Men may wel mak a lykelyhede Bytwene hym whiche is auarous Of golde and hym that is Ielous Of loue in o degre They stonde both as semeth me That one wold haue his bagges styl And nought departen with his wyll And dare not for the theues slepe So fayne he wolde his treasour kepe That other maye not well be glad For euermore he is adrad Of these louers that gone aboute In aunter if they put hym oute So haue they bothe lytell ioye As wel of loue as of moneye ¶ Now hast thou son of my techynge Of Ielousy a knowlechynge That thou myght vnderstonde this Fro whance he cometh and what he is And eke to whome that he is lyke Beware for thy thou be not syke Of thylke feuer as I haue spoke For it woll in hym selfe be wroke For loue hateth no thynge more As men may fynde by the lore Of hem that whylom were wyse Howe that they speke in many wyse ¶ My fader sothe is that ye seyn But for to loke there ayen Before this tyme howe it is falle wherof there myght ensample falle To suche men as ben Ielous In what maner it is greuous Ryght fayn I wolde ensample here ¶ My good sonne at thy prayere Of suche ensamples as I fynde So as they comen nowe to mynde Vpon this poynt of tyme agone I thynke for to tellen one ⧠HIC ponit Confessor exemplum contra istos maritos quos Zelotipia maculauit Et narrat qualiter Vulganus cuius vxor Venus extitit suspecioneÌ„ inter ipsaÌ„ MarteÌ„ coÌ„cipieÌ„s eoruÌ„ gestus diligeÌ„tins explorabat Vnde coÌ„tigit ê™ cuÌ„ ipse quadaÌ„ vice ambos inter se pariter amplexantes in lecto nudos inuenit et exclamans omnem cetum deorum et dearuÌ„ ad tantum spectaculum conuocauit / super quo tamen derisum pocius quam remedium a tota cohorte consecutus est ⧠Ouyde wrote of many thynges Amonge the whiche in his wrytynges He told a tale in poesye whiche toucheth vnto Ielousye Vpon a certayne cas of loue Amonge the goddes al aboue It felle at thylke tyme thus The god of fyre whiche Vulganus Is hote and hath a crafte forth with Assygned for to be the smyth Of Iupiter and his fygure Both of vysage and of stature Is lothly and malgracyus But yet he hath within his hous As for the lykynge of his lyfe The fayre Venus to his wyfe But Mars whiche of bataylles is The god an eye had vnto this As he whiche was chyualrous It felle him to ben amorous ♣ And thought it was great pyte To se so lusty one as she Be coupled with so lourd a wyght So that his peyne day and nyght He dyd if he her wynne myght And she that had a good insyght Toward so noble a knyghtly lord In loue fel of his acorde There lacketh nought but tyme place That he nys sycker of her grace But whan two hertes fallen in one So wyse a wayte was neuer none That at sometyme they ne mete And thus this fayre lusty swete with Mars hath ofte companye But thylke vnkynde Ielousye whiche euermore the herte opposeth Maketh Vulcanus that he supposeth That it is not wel ouerall And to hym selfe he sayd he shall Aspye better if that he may And so it felle vpon a daye That he this thynge so slyghtly ledde He fonde hem both two a bedde All warme echone with other naked And he with crafte all redy maked Of stronge cheynes hath hem bounde As he togeder hem had founde And lefte hem both lygge so And gan to clepe and crye tho Vnto the godes all aboute And they assembled in a route Come all at ones for to se But none amendes hadde he But was rebuked here and there Of hem that loues frendes were And sayden that he was to blame For if there felle hym any shame It was through his mysgouernaunce And thus he lost contenaunce This god and let his cause falle And they to scorne hym laughen all And losen Mars out of his hondes wherof these erthely husbondes For euer myght ensample take If suche a chaunce hem ouertake For Vulcanus his wyfe bewrayd The blame vpon hym selfe he layde wherof his shame was the more whiche ought for to ben a lore For euery man that lyueth here To reulen hym in this matere Though suche an happe of loue asterte yet shuld he not
belle So is she cleped the goddesse Bycause of hym ne more ne lesse ¶ Lo thus my sonne as I the tolde The grekes whylom by dayes olde Her goddes had in sondry wyse And through the lore of her appryse The Romaynes helde eke the same And in worshyp of her name To euery god in specyall They made a temple forth withall And eke of her yeres day Attytled hadde and of array The temples weren than ordeyned And eke the people was constreyned To come and done her sacrifyce The preestes eke in her offyce Solempne made thylke feastes And thus the grekes lyke to beastes That men in stede of god honour which myght nought hem selfe socour whyle that they were alyue here And ouer this as thou shalt here ¶ The grekes fulfylled of fantasy Sayne eke that of the hylles hye The goddes ben in specyall But of her name in generall They hoten alle Satiry ¶ There ben of nymphes properly In the beleue of hem also O reades they sayden tho Attytled ben to the montaynes And for the woddes in demeynes To kepe tho ben Dryades Of fresshe welles Naiades And of the nymphes of the see I fynde a tale in properte Howe Dorus whilom kyng of grece whiche hadde of infortune a pece His wyfe forth with his doughter alle So as the happes shulde falle with many a gentylwoman there Dreynt in the salte see they were wherof the grekes that tyme sayden And suche a name vpon hem layden Nereydes that they ben hote The nymphes which that they note To reygne vpon the stremes salte Lo nowe if this beleue halt But of the nymphes as they telle In euery place where they dwelle They ben all redy obeysaunt â—s damoyselles attendaunt To tho goddes whose seruyse They mote obey in all wyse wherof the grekes to hem beseke with them that ben goddesses eke And haue in hem a great credence And yet without experience Saufe onely of illusyon whiche was to hem dampnacion For men also that were deed They hadden goddes as I rede And tho by name Manes hyghten To whoÌ„ ful great honour they dyghten So as the grekes lawe sayth whiche was ayene the right feyth ¶ Thus haue I tolde a great partie But all the holle progenie Of goddes in that ilke tyme To longe it were for to ryme But yet of that which thou hast herde Of mysbeleue howe it hath ferde There is a great diuersite ¶ My father ryght so thinketh me But yet one thynge I you beseche whiche stant in all mennes speche The god and the goddesse of loue Of whom ye nothynge here aboue Haue tolde ne spoken of her fare That ye me wolde nowe declare Howe they fyrst come to that name ¶ My sonne I haue lefte it for shame Bycause I am her owne preest But for they stonde nygh thy brest Vpon the shryfte of thy matere Thou shalt of hem the soth here And vnderstonde now well the cas Venus Saturnus doughter was whiche all daunger put aweye Of loue and fonde to lust a weye So that of her in sondry place Dyuers men fell in to grace And suche a lusty lyfe she ladde That she dyuers children hadde Nowe one by this now one by that Of her it was that Mars begat A childe whiche cleped was Armene Of her also cam Andragene To whom Mercury father was Anchyses begatte Eneas Of her also and Herycon Byten begatte and thervpon whaÌ„ that she sigh ther was none other By Iupiter her owne brother She lay and he begat Cupyde And thylke sonne vpon a tyde whan he was come vnto his age He had a wonder fayre visage And fonde his mother amorous And he was also lecherous So whan they were bothe alone As he whiche eyen had none To se reson / his mother kyst And she also that nothyng wyst But that / whiche vnto his lust beloÌ„geth To bene her louer hym vnderfongeth Thus was he blynde / and she vnwys But neuertheles this cause it is whiche Cupide is the god of loue For he his mother durst loue And she which thought her lustes foÌ„de Diuers loues toke on honde wel more than I the tel here And for she wolde her selfes here She made comon that disporte And set a lawe of suche a porte That euery woman myght take what man her lyste and nought forsake To ben as comon as she wolde She was the fyrst also whiche tolde That women shulde her body selle Semyramys so as men telle Of Venus kepte thilke appryse And so dyd in the same wyse Of Rome faire Neabolye whiche sold her body to Regoly She was to euery man felawe And helde the lust of thilke lawe whiche Venus of her selfe beganne wherof that she the name wanne why men her clepen the goddesse Of loue and eke of gentylnesse Of worldes lust and of pleasaunce ¶ Se nowe the foule myscreaunce Of grekes in thilke tyme tho whan Venus toke her name so There was no cause vnder the mone Of the which they haddeÌ„ tho to done Of wel or wo where so it was That they no token in that caas A god to helpe or a goddesse wherof to take my wytnesse ¶ Nota de epistola Dindimi regis Bragmannoâ—um Alexandro magno directa vbi dicit ê™ Greci 〈◊〉 ad corporis coÌ„seruacioneÌ„ ê“ sigulis meÌ„bris singulos deos specialiter appropriari credunt ¶ The kynge of BragmaÌ„s Dyndymus wrote vnto Alysander thus In blamynge of the grekes feyth And of the mysbyleue he sayth Howe they for euery membre hadden A sondry god to whom they spradden Her armes and of helpe besoughten ¶ Mynerue for the hede they soughteÌ„ For she was wyse and of a man The wytte and reason whiche he can Is in the celles of the brayn wherof they made her souerayn ¶ Mercurye whiche was in his dawes A great speker of fals lawes On hym the kepynge of the tonge They layd whan they speke or songe ¶ For Bacchus was a gloton eke Hâ— in for the throte they byseke That he it wolde wasshen ofte with fooâ—e drynkes and with softe ¶ The god of shulders and of armes was Hercules for he in armes The myghtyest was to fyght To hym the lymmes they behyght ¶ The god whom they clepen Mart The brest to kepe hath for his part For with the herte in his ymage That he addresse to his courage ¶ And of the galle the goddesse For she was ful of hastynesse Of wrath and lyght to greue also They made and sayd it was Iuno ¶ Cupyde whiche the brond of fyre Bare in his hond he was the syre Of the stomocke whiche boyleth euer wherof the lustes ben the leuer ¶ To the goddesse Cereres whiche of the corne yafe her encrees Vpon the feyth that tho was take The wombes cure was betake ¶ And Venus through the lechery For whiche they her deifye She kept all doune the remenaunt To thylke office appertinaunt ¶ Nota de prima Idolorum cultura / que
lytel nede Among the men to taken hede Of that they heren pseudo telle whiche nowe is come for to dwelle To sowe Cockyl with the corn So that the tylthe is nygh forlorn whiche Chryst sewe fyrst his own hond Nowe stant the Cockylle in the lond where stode whylom the good greyne For the prelates nowe as men seyne For slouthen that they shuld tylle And that I trowe be the skylle whan there is lacke in hem aboue The people is straunged to the loue Of trouth in cause of ignoraunce For where there is no purueaunce Of lyght men erren in the darke But if the prelates wolden werke Vpon the feyth whiche they vs teache Men shulden nought her way seche without lyght as nowe is vsed Men se the charge all day refused whiche holy churche hath vndertake ¶ Gregorius Quando Petrus cum Iudea / Andreas cum Achia Thomas cum India / et Paulus cuÌ„ gente venient quid dicemus nos moderni quoruÌ„ fossuÌ„ talentuÌ„ ê“ nichilo coÌ„putabitur ¶ But who that wolde ensample take Gregory vpon his O melye Ageyne the slouth of Preclacye Compleyneth hym and thus he sayth whan Peter father of the faith At Domesday shall with hym brynge Iudeam whiche through his preching He wan and Andrewe with Achay Shall come his dette for to pay And Thomas eke with his beyete Of Inde and Poule the routes great Of sondry londes to present And we fulfylled of londe rent whiche of this worlde we holden here with voyde hondes shall appere Touchende our cure spirtuall whiche is our charge in specyall I not what thynge it may amount Vpon thilke ende of our accompte whiche Christ hym selfe is auditour which taketh none hede of vein honour The office of the Chauncellery Or of the kynges treasory Ne for to wryte ne for to tayle To warrant may not than auayle The worlde which now so wel we trow Shall make vs than but a mowe So passe we without mede That we none otherwyse spede But as we rede that he spedde The whiche his lordes besaunt hedde And thervpon gat none encrees But at his tyme netheles what other man his thanke deserue The worlde so lusty is to serue That we with hym ben all accorded And that is wyst and well recorded Through out this erthe in all londes Let knyghtes wynne with her bondes For our tonges shall be stylle And stande vpon the flesshes wyll It were a trauayle for to preche The fayth of Christ as for to teche The folke paynem it woll not be But euery prelate holde his see with all suche as he may gette Of lusty drynke / of lusty meate wherof the body fatte and full Is vnto gostely labour dulle And slough to handle thylke plough But els we ben swyfte inough Towarde the worldes auarice And that is as a sacrifyce whiche after that thapostle sayth Is openly ayene the fayth Vnto the idols youe and graunted But netheles as it is nowe haunted And vertue chaunged into vice So that largesse is auarice In whose chaptre nowe we trete ¶ My father this matter is bete So far / that euer whyle I lyue I shall the better hede yeue Vnto my selfe by many weye But ouer this nowe wolde I prey To wyte what the braunches are Of auarice and howe they fare Al 's well in loue as otherwyse ¶ My sonne and I the shall deuyse In suche a maner as they stonde So that thou shalt vnderstonde A gros iungit agris Cupidus domibê° domosque Possidiat totam sic quasi solus humum Solus et innumeros mulierum spirat amores Vt sacra millenis sit sibi culta Venus ☞ Hic tractat Confessor super illa spetie auaritie que cupiditas dicitur / quam in amoris causa pertractans amanti super hoc opponit ¶ Dame auarice is nought soleyne whiche is of golde the capiteyne But of her courte in sondry wyse After the schole of her apryse She hath of seruauntes many one wherof that couetyse is one whiche with the large worlde about To seche thauauntages out where that he maye the profyte wynne To auarice and bryngeth it inne That one halt that other draweth There is no day whiche hem bedaweth No more the sonne than the mone whan there is any thynge to done And namely with couetyse For he stant out of all assyse Of reasonable mans fare where he purposeth hym to fare Vpon his lucre and his beyete The small pathe the large strete The furlonge and the longe myle All is but one for thilke whyle And for that he is suche one holde Dame auarice hym hath with holde As he whiche is the princypall Outwarde for he is ouer all A purue our and an espye For ryght as of an hungry py The storue beastes ben awayted Ryght so is couetyse affayted To loke where be may purchace For by his wyll be wolde enbrace All that this wyde wolrde beclyppeth But euer be somwhat ouerhyppeth That he may nought all fulfylle The lustes of his gredy wylle But where it falleth in a londe That couetyse in myghty honde Is sette it is full harde to fede For than he taketh none other hede But that he may purchace and gete His conscience hath all foryete And not what thynge it may amount That be shall afterwarde accompte But as the Luce in his degre Of tho that lesse ben than he The fysshes gredily deuoureth So that no water hem socoureth Ryght so no lawe may rescowe Fro hym that woll not ryghte allowe For where that suche one is of myghte His wyll shall stonde in stede of ryghte Thus ben the men distroyed full ofte Tyll that the great god alofte Ayene so great a couetyse Redresse it in his owne wyse And in example of all tho I fynde a tale written so The whiche for it is good to lere Hereafterwarde thou shalt here ¶ Hic ponit Confessor exemplum contra magnates cupidos / Et narrat de Crasso Romanorâ— Imperatore qui turrimin qua speculum Virgiâ—â— Rome fixum extiterat doloso circumuentus cupiditate euertit vnde non solum sui ipsius perdicionem sed tocius ciuitatis intollerabilem damnum contingere causauit ¶ whan Rome stode in noble plite Virgile whiche was tho parfite A mirrour made of his clergie And sette it in the townes eye Of marbre on a pyller without That they by thirty myle about By day and eke also by nyght In that myrrour beholde myght Her ennemyes / if any were with all her ordynaunce there whiche they ayene the citie cast So that whyle thilke myrrour last Ther was no lond which might acheue with werre Rome for to greue wherof was great enuy tho And it felle that ilke tyme so That Rome had werres stronge Ageyne Carthage and stode longe The two cities vpon debate Carthage sygh the stronge astate Of Rome in thilke myrrour stonde And thought all priuely to fonde To ouerthrowe it by some wyle And Haniball was thilke whyle
a loue may not laste But nowe men seyn in oure dayes Men maken but a fewe assayes But if the cause be rychesse For thy the loue is well the lesse And who that wold ensamples telle By olde dayes as they felle Than myght a man wel vnderstonde Suche loue may not longe stonde Now herken sonne thou shalt here A great ensample of this matere ¶ Hic ponit exemplum contra istos / qui non propter amorem sed propter diuicias sponsalia fumunt Et narrat de quodam regis Apulie Se nescalo / qui non solum propter pecuniam vxoreÌ„ duxit sed eciam pecunie commercis vxorem sibi desponsatum vendidit ¶ To trete vpon the cas of loue So as we toâ—d here aboue I fynde wryte a wonder thynge Of Puyle whylom was a kynge A man of hygh complexion And yonge but his affectyon After the nature of his age was yet not falle in his courage The lust of woman for to knowe So it betyd vpon a throwe This lorde felle in to great sekenes Physyke hath done the besynes Of sondry cures many one To make hym holle and therupon A worthy mayster whiche there was Yafe hym counseyle vhon this cas That if he wolde haue parfyte hele He shuld with a woman dele Atress he a yonge a lusty wyght To don hym companye a nyght For than he sayde hym redely That he shal be al hole ther by And other wyse he knewe no cure The kyng whiche stode in a venture Of lyfe and deth for medicine Assented was and of couyne His stewarde whom he trusteth well He toke and tolde hym euery dele How that this mayster had sayde And thervpon he hath hym prayde And charged vpon his lygeaunce That he do make purueaunce Of suche one as be couenable For his pleasaunce and delitable And badde hym how that euer it stode That he shall spare for no good For his wyll is ryght well to pay The stewarde sayde he wolde assay ¶ But now here after thou shalt wyte As I fynde in the bokes wryte what couetyse in loue doth This stewarde for to telle soth Amonges all the men on alyue A lusty lady hath to wyue whiche netheles for golde he toke And nought for loue as sayth the boke A ryche marchaunt of the londe Her fader was and he her fonde So worthely and suche rychesse Of worldes good and suche largesse with her he yafe in mariage That onely for thilke auauntage Of good the stewarde hath her take For lucre and nought for loues sake And that was afterwarde wel sene Nowe herken what it woll mene The stewarde in his owne hert Sigh that his lorde may not asterte His maladie but he haue A lusty woman hym to saue And though he wolde yeue inough Of his treasour wherof he drough Great couetyse in to his mynde And set his honour ferre behynde Thus he whom golde hath ouersette was trapped in his owne nette The golde hath made his wyttes lame So that sechende his owne shame He ronneth in the kynges eare And sayd hym that he wyst where A gentyll and a lusty one Tho was and thyther wolde he gone But he mote yeue yeftes great For but it be through great beyete Of golde he sayd he shulde not spede The kynge hym bad vpon the nede That take an hundrede pouÌ„de he shuld And yeue it where that he wolde Be so it were in worthy place And thus to stonde in loues grace This kyng his golde hath habandoned And whan this tale was full rouned The stewarde toke the gold and went within his herte and many a went Of couetyse than he cast wherof a purpose at laste Ayene loue and ayene his ryght He toke and sayde how thilke nyght His wyfe shall lygge by the kynge And goth thynkende vpon this thynge Towarde his inne tyll he cam home In to the chaumbre and than he nome His wyfe and tolde her al the cas And she whiche redde for shame was with bothe her handes to hym prayde Kâ—â—lende and in this wyse sayde That she to reason and to skylle In what thynge that he bydde wyll Is redy for to done his beste But this thynge that were not honeste That he for golde her shulde selle And he tho with his wordes felle Forth with his gastely countenaunce Sayth that she shall done obeysaunce And folowe his wylle in euery place And thus through strength of his manace Her innocence is ouerladde wherof she was so sore adradde That she his wylle mote nede obeye And thervpon was shape a weye That he his owne wyfe by nyght Hath out of all mennes syght So priuely that none it wyst Brought to the king which as hym list May do with her what he wolde For whan she was there as she sholde with hym a bedde vnder the cloth The stewarde toke his leue and goth In to the chambre fast by But howe he slepte that wote not I For he sygh cause of ielousy ¶ But he whiche hath the company Of suche a lusty one as she Hym thought that of his degre There was no man so well at ease She doth all that she may to please So that his herte all holle she had And thus this kynge his ioye lad Tyll it was nygh vpon the day The stewarde than where she lay Cam to the bedde and in this wyse Hath bydde she shulde aryse The kynge sayth nay she shall not go The stewarde sayde nothynge so For she mote gone er it be knowe And so I swore at thilke throwe whan I her fette to you here The kynge his tale wolde not here And seith how that he hath her bought For thy she shall departe nought Tyll he the bryght day beholde And caught her in her armes folde As be whiche lyst for to pleye And bad his stewarde gone aweye And so he dyd ayene his wylle And thus his wyfe a bedde stylle Lay with the kynge the longe nyght Tyll that it was hygh sonne lyght But who she was he knew nothynge Tho cam the stewarde to the kynge And prayde hym without shame In sauynge of her good name He myght leaden home ayene This lady and tolde hym pleyne Howe that it was his owne wyfe The kynge his ere vnto this stryfe Hath leyde and whan that he it herde well nyhe out of his wyt he ferde And sayde A caytife moste of all where was it euer or this befall That any Cokarde in this wyse Betoke his wyfe for couetyse Thou hast bothe her and me begyled And eke thyn owne estate reuyled wherof that buxome vnto the Here after shall she neuer be For this auowe to god I make After this day / if I the take Thou shalte be honged and to drawe Nowe loke anone thou be withdrawe So that I se the neuer more This stewarde that drad hym sore with all the hast that he may And fled awey the same day And was exyled oute of lond ¶ Lo there a nyce husbond whiche
thus his wyfe hath loste for euer But netheles she hadde a leuer The kynge her weddeth and honoureth wherof her name she socoureth whiche erst was lost through couetyse Of hym that lad her other wyse And hath hym selfe also forlore My sonne be thou ware therfore where thou shalt loue in any place That thou no couetyse embrace The whiche is not of loues kynde But for all that a man may fynde Nowe in this tyme of thylke rage Full great dysese in maryage whan venym medleth with the suger And maryage is made for lucre Or for the lust or for the hele what man that shall with other dele He may not fayle to repent ¶ My fader suche is myn entent But netheles good is to haue For good may oft tyme saue The loue whiche shuld elles spylle But god whiche wote my hertes wylle I dar wel take to wytnesse yet was I neuer for rychesse Be set with maryage none For all myn herte is vpon one So frely that in the persone Stant all my worldes ioye alone I aske nother parke ne plough If I her hadde it were ynough Her loue shulde me suffyse withouten other couetyse Lo nowe my fader as of this Touchend of me ryght as it is My shryfte I am be knowe pleyn And if ye wol ought elles seyn Of couetyse if there be more In loue agropeth out the sore Fallere cum nequeat ê“pria vir fraude subornat Testes sit ê™ eis uera retorta fides Sicut agros cupidus dum querie amans mulieres Vult testes falfos falsus habeâ—â— fuos Non sine uindicta periurus abibit in eis Visu qui cordis intima cuncta uidet Fallere periuro non est laudanda puellam Gloria sed falso conditionis opus ☞ HIC tractat super illis auaricie speciebus / que falsum testimonium et periurium nuncupantur quorum fraudulenta circumuentio tam in cupiditatis quam in amoris causa sui desiderit proposituÌ„ quaÌ„ sepe fallaciter attingit ⧠My sonne thou shalt vnderstonde Howe couietse hath yet on honde In specyall two counseylours That ben also his procurours The fyrst of hem is fals wytnesse whiche euer is redy to wytnesse what thyng his mayster woll hym hote Periure is the second hote which spareth nought to swere an othe Though it be fals and god be wrothe That one shall fals wytnes bere That other shall the thynge forswere whan he his charged on the boke So what with hepe what with croke They make her maister ofte winne And woll nat knowe what is sinne For couetise and thus men seyn They make many a fals bargeyn There may no trewe quarel aryse In thylke queste of thylke assyse where as they two the people enforme For they kepe euer o maner forme That vpon golde her conscience They founde / and take her euidence And thus with fals witnes and othes They winne hem mete drinke clothes Right so there be who that hem knew Of these louers ful many vntrewe Nowe may a woman fynde ynowe That eche of hem whan he shall wowe Anone he wyl his hande downe leyne Vpon a boke and swere and seyne That he wol feyth â—nd trouth bere And thus he profeâ—eth hym to swere To seruen euer tyll be dye And all is very trechery For whan the soth hym selfe tryeth The more he swereth the more he lyeth whan he his feyth maketh all thermest Than may a woman trust hym lest For tyll he may his wyll acheue He is no lenger for to leue Thus is the trothe of loue exyled And many a good woman beguyled And eke to speke of fals wytnesse There ben now suche many I gesse That lyche vnto the prouysours They make he her preuy procuratours To tell howe there is suche a man whiche is worthy to loue and can All that a good man shulde conne So that with lesynge is begonne The cause in whiche they woll procede And also syker as the crede They make of that they knowen fals And thus full ofte about the halfe Loue is of fals men embraced But loue whiche is so purchaced Come afterwarde to lytell pryse For thy my sonne if thou be wyse Nowe thou hast herde this euidence Thou myght thyn owne conscience Oppose if thou hast be suche one ¶ Nay god wote father I am none Ne neuer was for as men sayth whan that a man shall make his fayth His hert and tonge must accorde For if so be that they discorde Than is he fals and els nought And I dare say as of my thought In loue it is not discordable Vnto my worde but accordable And in this wyse father I May ryght well swere and saufly That I my lady loue well For that accordeth euery dele It nedeth nought to my soth sawe That I wytnesse shulde drawe Into this day for euer yet Ne myght it synke in to my wyt That I my counsayle shulde seye To any wyght or me hewreye To sechen helpe in suche manere But onely for my lady dere And though a thousande men it wyste That I her loue and than hem lyst with me to swere / and to wytnesse yet were that no fals wytnesse For I dare vnto this trouth dwelle I loue her more than I can telle Thus am I father gylteles As ye haue herde and netheles In your dome I put it all ¶ My sonne wyte in specyall It shall not commonlyche fayle All though it for a tyme fayle That fals wytnesse his cause spede Vpon the poynt of his falsheed It shall well afterwarde be kyd wherof so as it is betyd Ensample of such thynges blynde In a cronyke wryte I fynde ⧠HIC PONIT exemplum de iffis qui falsum testificantes amoris innocentiam circumueniunt / Et narrat qualiter Thetis Achillem filium suum ad o lscentem muliebri vestitum apparatu afferens esse puellam inter regis Lithomedis filias ad educandum produxit Et sic Achilles decepto rege filie sue Deidamie sociâ— et cubicularia effectus super ipsam Pirrum genuit qui postea mire probitatis miliciam affecutus mortem patris sui apud Troiam Polixent Tirrannice vindicauit ¶ The goddesse of the see Thetis She had a sonne and his name is Achilles whom to kepe and warde whyle he was yonge and in to warde She thought hym saufly to betake As she whiche drad for his sake Of that was sayde of prophecie That he at Troy sholde dye whan that the citie was beleyne For thy so as the bokes seyne She cast her wyt in sondry wyse Howe she hym myght so desguyse That no man shuld his body knowe And so befelle that ilke throwe whyle that she thought vpon this dede There was a kyng whiche Lychomede was hote and he was well begone with faire doughters many one And dwelte ferre out in an yle Nowe shalt thou here a wonder wyle This quene whiche the mother was Of Achilles vpon this cas Her sonne as
had be forleyn But that he was so ouerseyn The wonder ouergoth his wyt For in Cronike is written yet Thing whiche shall neuer be foryete Howe that Achilles hath begette Pytrus vpon Deydame wherof came out the trecherye Of fals witnes when he sayde Howe that Achilles was a mayde But that was nothyng sene tho For he is to the syege go Forth with Vlyxes and Dyomede ¶ Lo thus was proued in the dede And fully spoke at thylke whyle If o woman an other begyle where is there any sekyrnesse whā Thetis which was thā the goddesse Daydamye hath so beiaped I not howe it shall bene escaped with tho women whose innocence Is nowe al daye through suche credence Deceyued ofte as it is sene with men that suche vntrouth mene For they ben slygh in suche a wyse That they by sleyght and by queyntise Of fals wytnes bryngyn inne That doth hem ofte for to wynne That they be not worthy therto For thy my sonne do not so ¶ My father as of fals wytnesse The trouth and the maner expresse Touchende of loue howe it hath ferde As ye haue tolde I haue well herde But for ye sayden other wyse Howe thylke vice of couetyse Hath yet periur of his acorde If that you lyst of some recorde To telle an other tale also In loues cause of tyme ago what thynge it is to be forswore I wolde preye you therfore wherof I myght ensamble take ¶ My good sonne and for thy sake Touchende of this I shall fulfyll Thyn axynge at thyne owne wyll And the mattere I shall declare Howe the women deceiued are whan they so tender hertes bere Of that they here men so swere But whan it cometh vnto thassay They fynde it fals a nother day As Iason dyd vnto Medee whiche stante yet of auctoritie In token and in memoriall wherof the tale in speciall Is in the boke of Troye writte whiche I shall do the for to wytte ⧠Hic in amoris caufa ponit exemplum contra periuros Et narrat qualiter Iason priusquam ad Insulam Colchos pro aureo vellere ibidem conquestando transmearet in amorem et coningium Medee regis Othonis filie iuramēto firmius se aftrinxit sed suo postea completo negotio cil ips◠secum nauigio in Cretiam perduxisset vbi illum senectam patris sui Efonis in floridam inuentutē mirabili scientia reformauit Ipse Iason fidei sue ligamento aliis que beneficiis post positis dictam Medeam pro quadam Crensa regis Creontis filia periurus dereliquit ¶ In grece whylom was a kynge Of whom the fame and knowlegyng By leueth yet and Peleus He hyghte but it felle hym thus That his fortune hir whele so lad That he no childe his owne had To reignen after his decesse He had a brother netheles whose ryght name was Eson And he the worthy knyght Iason Begatte the whiche in euery londe All other passed of his honde In armes so that he the best was named and the worthyest He sought worshyp ouer all Nowe herken and I the tell shall An aduenture that he sought whiche afterwarde full dere he bought ¶ There was an yle whiche Colchos was cleped and therof aroos Great speche in euery londe aboute That suche meruayle was none oute In all the wyde worlde no where As tho was in that yle there There was a shepe as it was tolde The whiche his flees bare all of golde And so the goddes had it sette That it ne myght away be fette By power of no worldes wyght And yet full many a worthy knyght It had assayed as they dorst And euer it fell hem to the worst But he that wolde it nought forsake But of his knyghthode vndertake To do what thynge therto belongeth This worthy Iason sore alongeth To se the straunge regions And knowe the conditions Of other marches where he went And for that cause his hole entent He set Colchos for to seche Cnd therupon he made a speche To Peleus his eme the kynge And he wel payde was of that thynge And shope anone for his passage Suche as were of his lignage with other knyghtes whiche he chees with hym he toke and Hercules whiche full was of chiualrie with Iason wente in company And that was in the moneth of may whan colde stormes were away The winde was good the ship was yare They toke her leue and forth they fare Towarde Colchos but on the weye what hem byfelle is longe to seye Howe Laamedon the kynge of Troy whiche ought well haue made hem ioye whan they to rest a whyle hym preyde Out of his londe he them congeyde And so befelle the dissention whiche after was destruction Of that citie as men may here But that is nought to my matere But thus the worthy folke gregoys Fro that kynge whiche was not curtois And fro his londe with seyl vpdrawe They went hem forth and many a sawe They made and many a great manace Tyll at last in to that place whiche as they sought they arryue And stryken seyle and forth as blyue They senten vnto the kynge and tolden who weren there and what they wolden ¶ O etes whiche was then kynge whan that he herde this tydynge Of Iason whiche was comen there And of these other what they were He thought done hem great worshyp For they anone come out of shyp And streyght vnto the kynge they wente And by the honde Iason he hente And that was at the paleys gate So far the kyng came on his gate Towarde Iason to done hym chere And he whom lacketh no manere whan he the kynge sigh in presence Yafe hym ageyne suche reuerence As to a kynges state belongeth And thus the kynge hym vnderfongeth And Iason in his arme he caught And forth in to the halle he straught And there they sat and speke of thinges And Iason tolde hym tho tydynges why he was come and faire hym preide To hast his tyme the kyng thus said Iason thou art a worthy knyght But it lyeth in no mans myght To done that thou arte come fore There hath bene many a knyght forlore Of that they wolden it assaye But Iason wolde nat hym esmaye And sayde of euery worldes cure Fortune stant in auenture Paranter well paranter wo But howe as euer that it go It shall be with myn bonde assayed The kyng tho helde hym not wel payd For he the grekes sore dredde In aunter if Iason ne spedde He myght therof beare a blame For tho was all the worldes fame In grece as for to speke of armes For thy he drad hym of his harmes And gan to preache and to preye But Iason wolde not obeye But sayde he wolde his purpos holde For ought that any man hym tolde The kynge whan these wordes herde And sigh how that this knight āswerde Yet for he wolde make hym glad After Medea gone he bad whiche was his doughter and she cam And Iason whiche good hede
gan floure and beare And waxe all fresshe and grene ageyne whan she this vertue had seyne She lette the leeste droppe of all Vpon the bare floure downe fall Anone there sprong vp floure and gras where as the droppe fall was And waxe anone all medowe grene So that it myght well be sene Medea than knewe and wyst Her medicine is for to tryst And gothe to Eson there he lay And toke a swerde was of assay with whiche a wounde vpon his syde She made that there out may slyde The bloud within whiche was olde And seke and trouble feble and colde And tho she toke vnto his vse Of herbes of all the best Iuse And poured it in to his wounde That made his veynes full and sounde And tho she made his woundes close And toke his honde and vp he rose And tho she yafe hym drynke a draught Of whiche his youth agayne he caught His heed his herte and his visage Lyche vnto twenty wynter age His hore heres were away And lyche vnto the fresshe may whan passed bene the colde shoures Ryght so recouereth he his floures ¶ Lo what myght any man deuyse A woman shewe in any wyse More hertely loue in any stede Than Medea to Iason dede Fyrst she made hym the flees to wyn And after that frome kyth and kyn with great treasore with hym she stale And to his fader forth with all His elde hath torned in to youthe which thyng none other woman couth But howe it was to her a quyt The remembraunce dwelleth yet ¶ Kynge Peleus his eme was deed Iason bare croune on his heed Medea hath fulfylled his wyll But whan he shuld of ryght fulfyll The trouth which to her afore He had in the I le of Colchos swore Tho was Medea most deceyued For he an other hath receiued whiche doughter was to kynge Creon Creusa she hyght and thus Iason As he that was to loue vntrewe Medea lefte and toke a newe But that was afterwarde so a bought Medea with her art hath wrought Of cloth of golde a mantell ryche whiche semeth worthe a kynges ryche And that was vnto Creusa sent In name of yefte and of present For systerhode hem was betwene And whan that yonge fresshe quene That mantyl lapped her aboute Anon therof the fyre sprange oute And brent her both fleshe and bone Tho cam Medea to Iason with both her sonnes on her honde And sayd O thou of euery londe The moste vntrewe creature Lo this shall be thy forfayture with that she both his sonnes slough Before his eie and he out drough His swerde wold haue slayne her tho But farewell she was ago Vnto Pallas the court aboue where as she pleyneth vpon loue As she that was with that goddesse And he was lefte in great distresse ¶ Thus might thou se what sorowe it doth To swere aÌ„ oth which is not soth In loues cause namely My son be well ware for thy And kepe that thou be not forswore For this whiche I haue tolde tofore Ouide telleth euery dele ¶ My father I may leue it wele For I haue herde it ofte saye Howe Iason toke the flees aweye Fro Colchos But yet herde Inought By whom it was fyrst thyder brought And for it were good to here If that you lyst at my prayere Go telle I wolde you beseche ¶ My sonne who that woll it seche In bokes he may fynde it wryte And netheles if thou wolt wyte In the maner as thou hast preyde I shall the tell howe it is seyde ☞ NOTA QVALITERAVâ—â—â—m â—ellus in partes insule Colchos primo de 〈◊〉 Athamas rex Neiphylen habuit coningeÌ„ 〈◊〉 Phriâ—um et Hellen genuit Mortua auâ—â—m Neiphylen Athamas Innouem regis Cadâ—â—â—â—â—m postea in vxorem duxit que more noâ—â—â—â—e dictos infantes in tantum recollegit odiuÌ„ que ambos in mari proicipenes regem procuraâ—â— ende Iuno compaciens quendam Arietem â—â—â—ndem aureo veftitum vellere ad litus natan tâ—m definanit super cuiu â— dorsum pueros apâ—â—â— iuâ—it / quo facio Aries super vndas regressus cum solo Phrixo sibi adhereute in Colchos â—â—â—sicuit vbi Iuno dictum Arietem cum solo â—â—â—ere / prout in aliis canitur cronicis sub are â—a custodia collocauit ¶ The fame of thylke shepes felle whiche in Colchos as it befelle was all of gold shal neuer deye wherof I thynke for to seye Howe it cam fyrst in to that yle There was a kynge in thylke whyle Towardes grece and Athamas The cronycke of his name was And had a wyf which NiphyleÌ„ hyght By whom so as fortune it dight He had of children yonge two ¶ Frixus the fyrst was of tho A knaue childe ryght faire with all A doughter eke the whiche men call Helle he had by his wyfe But for there may no mans lyfe Endure vpon this erth here This worthy quen as thou might here Er that the children were of age Toke of her ende the passage with great worshyp and was begraue what thinge it lyketh god to haue It is great reason to ben his For thy this kynge so as it is with great suffrance it vnderfongeth And afterwarde as hym belongeth whan it was tyme for to wedde A newe wyfe he toke to bedde whiche Ino hight and was a mayde And eke the doughter as men sayde Of Cadme whiche a kyng also was holde in thylke dayes tho ¶ whan Ino was the kynges make She cast how that she myght make These childre to her father loth And shope a wyle ayene hem both whiche to the kynge was all vnknowe A yere or two she let do sowe The lond with soden whete aboute wher of no corne may spryngen oute And thus by sleyght and by couyne Aros the derth and the famyne Through out the londe in suche a wyse So that the kynge a sacrifice Vpon the poynte of this distresse To Ceres whiche is the goddesse Of corne hath shape hym for to yeue To loke if it may be foryeue The mischiefe whiche was in his londe But she which knewe tofore the honde The circumstance of all this thynge Ageyn the comyng of the kynge In to the temple hath shape so Of her accorde that all tho whiche of the temple prestes were Haue sayde and full declared there Vnto the kynge but if so be That he delyuer the countre Of Phryxus and of Helle bothe with whom the goddes ben so wrothe That whyle tho childre be within Suche tylthe shall no man begyn wherof to gette hym any corne Thus was it sayde thus was it sworne Of all the prestes that there are And she whiche causeth all this fare Seyde eke therto what that she wolde And euery man than after tolde So as the quene had hem preyde The kynge whiche hath his ere leyde And leueth all that euer he herde Vnto her tales thus answerde And seyth that leuer is hym to chese His children bothe for to lese Than hym and all the remenant
Of hem whiche are appertenant Vnto the londe whiche he shall kepe And bade his wyfe to take kepe In what manere is best to done That they delyuerde were sone Out of this worlde and she anone Two men ordeyneth for to gone But fyrste she made hem for to swere That they the chyldren shulde bere Vnto the see that none it knowe And hem therin both throwe The children to the see ben lad where in the wyse as Ino bad These men be redy for to do But the goddesse whiche Iuno Is bote appereth in the stede And hath vnto the men forbede That they the children nought ne slee But bad hem loke in to the see And taken hede of that they syghen There swam a shepe tofore her eyen whose flees of burned golde was all And this goddesse forth with all Commandeth that without let They shulde anone the childre set Aboue vpon the shepes back And all was do ryght as she spak wherof the men gone home ageyne And fell so as the bokes seyne Helle the yonge mayden tho whiche of the see was wo bego For pure drede her hert hath lore That fro the sheepe whiche hath her bore As she that was swounēde feynt She fell and hath hir selfe adreynt with Phrixus this sheepe forth swam Tyll be to the yle of Colchos cam where Iuno the goddesse he fonde whiche toke the sheepe vnto the londe And set it there in suche a wyse As thou tofore hast herde deuise wherof cam after all the wo why Iason was forswore so Vnto Medee as it is spoke ¶ My father who that hath to broke His trouth as ye haue tolde aboue He is not worthy for to loue Ne be beloued as me semeth But euery newe loue quemeth To hym that newefangle is And netheles nowe after this If that you lyst to taken hede Vpon my shryfte to procede In loues cause ayene the vice Of couetyse and auaryce what there is more I wolde wyte ¶ My sonne this I fynde wryte There is yet one of thylke brood whiche only for the worldes good To make a treasoure of money Put all conscience aweye wherof in thy confession The name and the condition I shall here afterwarde declare whiche maketh one riche an other bare Plus capit usura sibi quam debetur et illud Fraude collocata saebe latenter agit Sic amor excessus quam saepe suos ut auarus Spirat et unius tres capit ipse loco ¶ Hic tractat de illa specie Auaricie que vsura dicitur cuius creditor in pecunia tātum numerata plus quam sibi de iure debetur incrementum lucri adauger ¶ Vpon the benche syttende on hye with Auarice vsure I syghe Ful clothed of his owne sute whiche after golde maketh chase sute with his brocours that renne aboute Lyche vnto ratches in a route Suche lucre is none aboue grounde whiche is nat of tho ratches founde For where they see beyete sterte That shall hem in no wyse asterte But they it driue in to the net Of lucre whiche Vsure hath set Vsure with the ryche dwelleth To all that euer he byeth and selleth He hath ordeyned of his sleyght Mesure double and double weyght Outwarde he selleth by the lasse And with the more he maketh his tasse wherof his hous is full within He recheth nought be so he wyn Though that there lese ten or twelue His loue is all toward hym selue And to none other but he se That he may wynne suche thre For where he shall ought yeue or lene He woll ayenward take a bene There he hath lent the smal pese And ryght so there ben many of these Louers that though they loue alyte That skarsly wolde it weye a myte yet wolde they haue a pound ageyn As doth vsure in his bargayne But certes suche vsure vnlyche It falleth more vnto the ryche Al 's well of loue as of beyete Than vnto hem that ben nought great And as who saith bē simple and pouere For selden is whan they recouere But if it be through great deserte And netheles men se pouerte with pursuite of countenance Full ofte make a great cheuaunce And take of loue his auauntage For with the helpe of his brocage That maken seme where is nought And thus full ofte is loue bought For litel what and mochell take with false weightes that thy make ¶ Nowe sonne of that I sayde aboue Thou wotest what vsure is of loue Tell me for thy what so thou wylt If thou therof hast any gylte ¶ My father nay for ought I here For of tho poyntes ye tolden here I wyll you by my trouth assure My weyght of loue and my mesure Hath be more large / and more terteyne Than euer I toke of loue ageyne For so yet couthe I neuer of sleyghte To take ageyne by double weyghte Of loue more than I haue yeue For also wys mote I be shryue And haue remission of synne As so yet couth I neuer wynne Ne yet so mochel soth to seyne That euer I myght haue halfe ageyne Of so full loue as I haue lent And if myne hap were so well went That for the hole I myght haue halfe My thynketh I were a goddesse halfe For where vsure wolde haue double My conscience is not so trouble I byd neuer as to my dele But of the hole an haluen dele That is none excesse as me thynketh But netheles it me forthynketh For well I wote that wol nat be For euery day the better I see That howe so euer I yeue or lene My loue in place that I mene For ought that euer I axe or craue I can nothynge ayenewarde haue But yet for that I wol not lete what so befalle of my beyete That I ne shall yeue and lene My thought and all my loue so clene That towarde me shall nought beleue And if she of her good leue Rewarde wolde me nought ageyne I wote the last of my bargeyne Shall stonde vpon so great a lost That I may neuer more the cost Recouer in this worlde tyll I dye So that touchende of this partie I may me well excuse and shall And for to speke forth withall If ony brocour for me went That poynt come neuer in myn entent So that the more me meruayleth what thynge it is my lady eyleth That all myn herte and all my tyme She hath and do ne better hyme I haue herde sayde that thought is free And netheles in priuitie To you my fader that bene here Myn hole shrifte for to bere I dare myn herte well disclose Touchende vsurie as I suppose whiche as ye tellen in loue is vsed My lady may not bene excused That for o lokynge of her eie Myn hole herte tyll I deye with all that euer I may and can She hath me wonne to hir man wherof me thynketh good reson wolde That she somdele rewarde shulde And yeue a parte there she hath all I not what falle
herafter shall But in to nowe yet dare I seyne Hir lyst neuer yeue ageyne A goodly worde in suche a wyse wherof myn hope myght aryse My great loue to recompense I not howe she hir conscience Excuse wol of this measure By large weyght and great measure She hath my loue and I haue nought Of that whiche I haue dere abought And with myn herte I haue it payde But all this is asyde layde And I go loueles aboute Hir ought stonde in full great doute Tyll she redresse suche a synne That she wol al my loue wynne And yeueth me not to lyue by Nought al so moche as grant mercy Hir lyst to seye of whiche I myght Some of my great peyne alyght But of this poynt lo thus I fare As he that payeth for his chaffare And byeth it dere and yet hath none So mote he nedes poure gone Thus bye I dere and haue no loue That I ne may nought come aboue To wynne of loue none encrece But I me wyl ne the lese Touchende vsure of loue acquite And if my lady be to wyte I pray to god suche grace hir sende That she by tyme it mote amende ¶ My sonne of that thou hast answerde Touchende vsure I haue al herde Howe thou of loue hast wonnen smale But that thou tellest in thy tale And thy lady therof accusyst Me thiketh these wordes thou misusest For by thyn owne knowlechyng Thou sayst howe she for one lokyng Thy hole herte fro the she toke She may be suche that hir o loke Is worthe thyne herte many folde So hast thou well thyn herte solde whan thou hast that is more worthe And eke of that thou tellest forthe Howe that hir weyght of loue vneuen Is vnto thyne vnder the heuen Stonden euer in euen that balance whiche stont in loues gouernance Suche is the statute of his lawe That though thy loue more drawe And peyse in the balance more Tho myght not aske ageyn therfore Of duetie but all of grace For loue is lorde in euery place There may no lawe hym iustifye By reddour / ne by company That he ne wol after his wylle whome that hym lyketh saue or spylle To loue a man may welle begynne But whether he shall les or wynne That wote no man tyl at last For thy coueyt not to fast My sonne but abyde thyn ende Percase all may to good wende But that thou hast me tolde and sayde Of o thynge I am ryght well payde That thou by sleyght ne by gyle Of no brocour hast otherwhyle Engyned loue of suche dede Is sore venged as I rede ¶ Hic ponit exemplum contra istos maritos qui vltra id quod proprias habent vxores ad noue voluptatis in crementum alias multeres superfâ—ne lucrari noÌ„ vereÌ„tur Et narrat qualiter Iuno vindictam suam in Ecco in huiusmodi mulierum lucris adquirendis de coÌ„silio mariti sui Ionis mediatrix exstiterat ¶ Brokers of loue that dceyuen No wonder is though they receyuen After the wronge that they deseruen For whom as euer that they seruen And do pleasance for a whyle yet at the last her owne gyle Vpon her owne heed descendeth The whiche god of his veÌ„geaÌ„ce sendeth As by ensample of tyme ago A man may fynde it hath be so It selle some tyme as it was sene The hygh goddesse and the quene Iuno tho had in company A mayden full of trechery For she was euer in acorde with Iupiter that was hir lorde To get hym other loues newe Through suche brocage was vntrewe All other wyse than hym nedeth But she the whiche no shame dredeth with queynt wordes and with slye Blent in suche a wyse her ladys eye As she to whom that Iuno tryst So that therof she nothyng wyst But so priuie may be nothyng That it ne coÌ„meth to knowlechyng Thynge done vpon the derke nyght Is after knowen on dayes lyght So it befelle that at last All that this slygh mayden cast was ouer cast and ouerthrowe For as the sothe mote be knowe To Iuno it was done vnderstonde In what manere her husbonde with fals brocage hath taken vsure Of loue more than his mesure whan he toke other than his wyfe wherof this mayde was gyltife whiche had bene of his assent And thus was all the game shent She suffred hym as she mote nede But the brocour of his misdede She whiche hir counseile yafe therto On hir is the vengeange do For Iuno with hir wordes hote This mayden whiche Eccho was hote Reproueth and sayth in this wyse O traytresse of whiche seruice Hast thou thyn owne lady serued Thou hast great peyne well deserued Thy slygh wordes for to peynt with flaterye that is so queynt Towardes me that am thy quene wherof thou madest me to wene That my husbonde trewe were whan that he loueth els where All be it so hym nedeth nought But vpon the it shall be bought The whiche art priuie to tho doynges And me full ofte of thy lesynges Deceyued hast nowe is the day That I thy whyle quite may And for thou hast to me counceled That my lorde hath with other dealed I shall the sette in suche a kynde That euer vnto the worldes ende All that thou herest thou shalte tell And clappe it out as doth a belle And with that worde she was forshape There may no vice her mouthe escape what man that in the worlde cryeth withouten faile Eccho replieth And what worde / that hym lust to sayn The same worde she sayth agayn Thus she whiche whylome had leue To dwelle in chamber mot belyue In wodes and on bylles both For suche brocage as wyues loth whiche doth her lordes hertes chaunge And loue in other places straunge For thy if euer it so befalle That thou my sonne amonges all Be wedded man hold that thou hast For than all other loue is waste O wyfe shal wel to the suffyse And than if thou for couetyse Of loue woldest aske more Thou shuldest don ayen the lore Of all hem that trewe be ¶ My fader as in this degre My conscience is nought accused For I no suche brocage haue vsed wherof that lust of loue is wonne For thy speketh forthe as ye begonne Of auyryce vpon my shryft ¶ My son I shall the braunches shifte By order as they ben set On whome no good is wel beset Pro uerbis uerba minius pro munere reddi Conuenit ut pondus equa stateta gerat Propterea Cupido non daâ— sua dona cupido Nam qui nulla serit gramina nulla mete◠¶ Hic tractat auctor super illa specie Auaricie que parcimonia dictiur cuius natura tengx aliqualem sue substaÌ„ntie porcionem aut deo aut hominibus participate nullatenus consentit ¶ Blynd Auaryce of his lygnage For counceylle and for cosynage To be witholde ayen largesse Hath one whose name is sayd scarsnesse The whiche is keper of his how 's And is so throughout auarous
That be no good lete out of honde Though god hym selfe it wolde fonde Of yest shuld he no thynge haue And if a man it wold craue He must than fayle nede where god hym selfe may not spede And thus scarcenes in euery place By reson may no thonke purchace And netheles in his degre Aboue all other most pryue with auaryce stant be this For he gouerneth that there is In eche astate of his offyce After the reule of thylke vyce He taketh he kepeth he halt he bynt That lyghter is to flee the flynt Than gete of hym in baâ—d or neysshe Only the value of a reysshe Of good in helpynge of an other Nought though it were his owne brother For in the cas of yefte and loue Stant euery man for hym alone Hym thynketh of his vnkyndshype That hym nedeth no felawshyp By so the bagge and be accorden Hym rycheth nought what men recordeÌ„ Of hym he it euyll or good For â—ll his truâ—â—e is on his good So that alone be falleth ofte whan he best weneth stonde alofte Al 's well in loue as other wyse For loue is euer of some repryse To hym that woll his loue holde For thy my sonne as thou arte holde Touchende of this telle me thy shryfte Hast thou be scarse or large of gyfte Vnto thy loue to whom thou seruest For after that thou well deseruest Of gyfteÌ„ thou myght be the bette For that good holde I well be set For which thou myght the better fare Than is no wysedome for to spare For thus men seyne in euery nede He was wyse that fyrst made mede For where as mede may not spede I not what helpeth other dede Full ofte be fayleth of his game That wyll with ydellbonde reclayme His hawke / as many a nyce doth For thy my sonne telle me soth And sayth the trouth if thou hast be Vnto thy loue or scarse or fre ¶ My father it hath stonde thus That if the treasour of Cresus And all the golde of Octauyan Forth with the rychesse of Indian Of perles and of ryche stones were all to gether myn at ones I sette it at no more account Than wolde a bare strawe amount To gyue it her all in a daye Be so that to that swete may It myght lyke more or lesse And thus bycause of my largesse ye may well vnderstonde and leue That I shall nought the worse acheue The purpos whiche is in my thought But yet I yafe her neuer nought Ne therto durst a profre make For well I wote she woll nought take And yeue woll she nought also She is eschewe of bothe two And this I trowe be the skylle Towardes me for she ne wyll That I haue any cause of hope Nought al 's moche as a drope But toward other as I may seÌ„ She taketh and yeueth in suche degre That as by wey of frendelyhede She can so kepe her womanhede That euery man speketh of her wele But she wol take of me no dele And yet she wote wel that I wolde yeue and do both what I shulde To plesen her in all my myght By reason this wote euery wyght For that may by no wey asterte There she is mayster of the herte She mote pe mayster of the good For god woâ—e wel that all my mode And all myn herte and all my thought And all my good whyle I haue ought Al 's frely as god hath it gyue It shall be hers whyle I lyue Ryght as her lyst her selue commande So that it nedeth no demaunde To aske of me if I haue be scarse To loue for as to tho parse I wylle answere and sey no ¶ My sonne that is ryght well do For often tyme of scarcenesse It hath be sen that for the lesse Is lost the more as thou shalt here A tale lyke to this matere ¶ HIC LOQVITVR CONâ—â—◠〈◊〉 / qui â—uaricia stricti largitatis bene â—ici◠〈◊〉 amoris causa confundunt Et ponit exemplum quaâ—itâ—â—â— Croceus largus et hilaris Babionem â—â—arum et tenacem de amore Viole / que pulâ—herrima fuit / donis largissimis circumuenit ☞ Scarcenes and loue acord neuer For euery thynge is wel the leuer whan that a man hath bought it dere And for to speke in this matere For sparynge of a lytell cost Ful oft tyme a man hath lost The large cote for the hode what man that searse is of his good And wol not gyue he shall nought take with gyfte a man may vndertake The hygh god to plese and quenie with gyft a man the worlde may deme For euery creature boâ—e If thou hym yeue is glad therfore And euery gladshyp as I fynde Is comforte vnto loues kynde And causeth ofte a man to spede So was he wyse that fyrst yafe mede For mede kepeth loue in hous But where the men be coueytous And sparen for to yeue a parte They knowen nought Cupydes arte For his fortune and his appryse Disdeyneth alle couetyse And hateth alle nygardye And for to loke of this partie A sothe ensample / howe it is so ¶ I fynde wryte of Babio whiche had a loue at his menage There was no fayrer of hyr age And hyght Viola by name whiche full of youth / and full of game was of her selfe / and large and fre But suche an other churche as be Men wysten nought in all the londe And had affayted to his honde His seruaunt / the whiche Spodius was hote and in this wyse thus The worldes good of suffisaunce was had / but lykynge and pleasaunce Of that belongeth to rychesse Of loue stode in great distresse So that this yonge lusty wyght Of thinge whiche felle to loues ryght was euyll serued ouer all That she was tho bego withall Tyl that Cupyde and Venus eke A medicine for the seke Ordeyne wolden in this cas So as fortune thanne was Of loue vpon the destine It fell ryght as it shulde be A fresshe a free / a frendly man That nought of auarice can whiche Croceius by name hyght Towarde this swete cast his syght And there she was cam in in presence She sygh hym large of dispense And amorous and glad of chere So that her lyketh well to here The goodly wordes whiche he sayde And thervpon of loue he prayde Of loue was all that he ment To loue and for she shulde assent He gafe her gyftes euer amonge But for men sayen that mede is stronge It was well sene at thilke tyde For as it shulde of ryght betyde This Vyola largesse hath take And the nygarde she hath forsake Of Babio she wyll no more For he was grutchende euermore There was with hym none other fare But for to pinche for to spare Of worldes mucke to gette encres So goth the wretche loueles Beiaped for his scarsite And be that large was and fre And sette his herte to dispende This Croceius his bowe bende whiche Venus toke hym for to bolde And shotte as ofte as euer
he wolde ¶ Lo thus departeth loue his lawe That what man woll nought be felawe To yeue and spende as I the telle He is nought worthy for to dwell In loues courte to be relieued For thy my sonne if it be lieued Thou shalt be large of thy dispense ¶ My father in my conscience If there be any thynge amys I wolde amende it after this Towarde my loue namely ¶ My sonne well and redily Thou sayst so that well payde withall I am and further if I shall Vnto thy shrifte specifie Of auarice the progenie what vice sueth after this Thou shalt haue wonder howe it is Amonge the folke in any reigne That suche a vice myght reigne whiche is comune at all assayes As men may fynde now a dayes Cuncta creatura deus et qui cuncta creauit Damnant ingrati dicta que facta uiri Non dolor a longe stat quo sibi talis amicam Traxit et in sine deserit esse suam ¶ Hic loquitur supra illa aborta specie auaricie que ingratitudo dicta est cuius condicioni non solum creator sed etiaÌ„ cuncte creature abhominabilem detestantur ¶ The vice lyke vnto the fende whiche neuer yet was mans frende And cleped is vnkyndeshyp Of Couyne and of felaushyp with auarice he is witholde Hym thiÌ„keth he shuld nought ben hold Vnto the mother whiche hym bare Of hym may neuer man beware He wol not knowe the meryte For that he wolde it not aquite whiche in this worlde is mochel vsed And fewe ben therof excused To tell of hym is endeles And thus I say netheles where as this vice cometh to londe There taketh no maÌ„ his thonke on boÌ„de Though he with all his myght serue He shall of hym no thonke deserue He taketh what any man wyl yeue But whyle he hath o day to lyue He wol nothyng rewarde ageyne He grutcheth for to gyue a greyne where he hath take a berne fulle That maketh a kynde herte dulle To sette his trust in suche frendeshyp There as he fynt no kyndeshyp And for to speke wordes pleyne Thus here I many a man compleyne That nowe on dayes thou shalte fynde At nede fewe frendes kynde what thou hast done for hem tofore It is forgetten as it were lore The bokes speken of this vice And tellen howe that god of his Iustice By way of kynde and eke nature And euery lyuis creature The lawe also who that it can They dampne an vnkynde man ¶ It is all one to sey vnkynde As thinge whiche done is agayne kynde For it with kynde neuer stode A man to yelde euyll for good For who that wolde taken hede A beest is glad of a good dede And loueth thylke creature After the lawe of his nature And whiche doth hym ease for to se Of this matere auctoritie Full oft tyme it hath befalle wherof a tale amonge vs all whiche is of olde ensamplarie I thynke for to specifie ¶ Hic narrat quod bestie in fuis beneficiis hominem ingratum naturaliter precellunt Et ponit Exemplum de Adriano RomÌ„ senatore qui in qua dam foresta venationibus infistens dum predaÌ„â—â—â—sequeretur in cifternam profundam nescia faâ—â—â—â— corruit vbi super peruenieÌ„s quidaÌ„ pauper â—â—mine Bardus inmissa cordula putans hominem extraviâ—â—e primo Simeam extraxit Secundo sâ—â—â—entem Certio Adrianum qui pauperem desâ—â—â—â—ens aliquid ei pro benefacto reddere recusaâ—â—â— Sed tam serpens quam simea gratuita beâ—â—â—â—entia ipsum singulis donis remunerauerunt ¶ To speke of an vnkynde man I fynde howe whylome Adryan Of Rome whiche a great lorde was Vpon a day as he par cas To wode in his huntyng went â—t hapneth at a sodein wente After the chase as he pursueth Through hap whiche no maÌ„ escheweth He felle vnware in to a pyt where that it myght not be let The pyt was depe and he felle lowe That of his men none myght knowe where he became for none was nygh whiche of his fall the mischiefe sygh And thus alone there he lay Clepende and criende all the day For socoure and deliuerance Tyll ageyne eue it fell par chaunce A whyle or it began to nyght A poure man whiche Bardus hyght Come forth walkende with his asse And had gethered hym a tasse Of grene styckes and of drye To selle whom that wolde hem bye As he whiche had no lyuelode But whan he myght suche a lode To towne with his asse carye And as it felle hym for to tarye That ylke tyme nyghe the pytte And hath the trusse fast knytte He herde a voyce whiche cried dymme And he his ere to the brymme Hath leyde and herde it was a man whiche sayde O helpe here Adrian And I wyll yeuen halfe my good The poure man this vnderstod As he that wolde gladly wyn And to this lorde whiche was within He spake and sayde if I the saue what sikernes shall I haue Of couenant that afterwarde Thou wolt me gyue suche rewarde As thou behyghtest nowe before That other hath his othes swore By heuen and by the goddes all If that it myght so befalle That he out of the pyt hym brought Of all the goodes whiche he ought He shall haue euen haluen dele This Bardus seyde he wolde wele And with this worde his asse anone He let vntrusse / and therupon Downe goth the corde in to the pyt To whiche he hath at ende knyt A staffe wherby he sayde he wolde That Adryan hym shulde holde But it was tho per chance fallen In to that pyt was also fallen An ape whiche at thylke trowe whaÌ„ that the corde cam downe lowe And sodenly therto he skypte And it in both his armes clypte And Bardus with his asse anone Hym hath vp draw and he is gon But whan he sygh it was an ape He wend all had ben a iape Of fayery and sore hym dradde And Adryan eft soone gradde For help and cryde and preyde faste And he eft sone his corde caste But whan it cam vnto the grounde A great serpent it hath by wounde The whiche Bardus anone vp drough And than hym thought welynough It was fantasyne that be herd The voys and he therto answerd what wyght art thou in goddes name I am quod Adryan the same whose good thou shalte haue euen halfe Quod Bardus than a gods halfe The thyrde tyme assay I shall And cast his corde forth withall In to the pyt and whan it came To hym this lorde of Rome it name And therupon hym hath adressed And with his honde ful ofte blessed And than he had to Bardus hale And he whiche vnderstode his tale Betwene hym and his asse all softe Hath drawen and set hym vp a lofte without harme all easely He sayth nat ones grant mercy But straught hym forth in to the cyte And let this poure Bardus be And netheles this symple man His couenant so as he can Hath asked and that other sayde If it
so be that he vpbrayde Of ought that hath be spoke or do It shall be venged of hym so That hym were better to be dede And he can tho no other rede But on his asse agayne he cast His trusse and hyeth homewarde faste And whan that he came home to bed He tolde his wyfe howe that he sped But fynally to speke ought more Vnto this lorde he dradde hym sore So that one worde he durst ne sayne And thus vpon the morowe agayne In the maner as I recorde Forth with his asse and with his corde To gader wode as he dyd er He goth and whan that he cam ner Vnto the place where he wolde He gan his ape anone beholde whiche had gadred al aboute Of styckes here and there a route And leyde hem redy to his honde wherof he made his trusse and bonde Fro day to day and in this wyse This ape profreth his seruise So that he had of wode ynough Vpon a tyme and as he drough Towarde the woode he sigh besyde The great gastly serpent glyde Tyll that she cam in his presence And in hir kynde a reuerence She hath hym do forth withall A stone more bryght than a Christall Out of her mouth to fore his way She let downe fall and went away For that he shall not be adrad Tho was this poure Bardus glad Thankende god and to the stone He goth and taketh it vp anone And hath great wonder in his wytte Howe that the beest hym hath a quitte where that the mans son hath fayled For whom he had most trauayled But all he put in goddes honde And torneth home and what he fonde Vnto his wyfe he hath it shewde And they that were bothe lewde Acorden that he shulde it selle And he no lenger wolde dwelle But forth anone vpon the tale The stone he profreth to the sale And ryght as he hym selfe it sette The ieweller anone forth fette The golde and made his payment Therof was no delayement Thus whaÌ„ this stone was bought sold Homward with ioy many folde This Bardus goth and whan he cam Hom to his how 's and that he nam His gold out of his pours within He fonde his stone also therin wherof for ioye his herte playde Vnto his wyfe and thus he sayde ¶ Lo here my golde lo here my stone His wyfe hath wonder thervpon And asketh hym howe that may be Nowe by my trouth I not quod be But I dare swere vpon a boke Vnto my marchaunt I it toke And he it had whan I went So knowe I nought to what entent It is nowe here but it be goddes grace For thy to morowe in other place I wylle it fonde for to selle And if it woll not with hym dwelle But crepe in to my purse ageyne Than dare I sauely swere and seyne It is the vertue of the stone The morowe came and he is gone To seche aboute in other stede His stone to selle and so he dede And lefte it with his chapman there But whan that he came els where In presence of his wyfe at home Out of his purs and that he nome His golde fonde his stone withal And thus it felle hym oueral where he it solde in sondry place Suche was the fortune and the grace But so well may nothynge be hyd That it his at last kyd This fame goth aboute Rome So ferforth that the wordes come â—o the emperour Iustynyan And he let sende for the man And asked hym howe that it was And Bardus tolde all the cas Howe that the worme and eke the beste Al though they made no biheste His trauayle hadden well aquyt But he whiche had mans wyt And made his couenant by mouth And swore therto all that he couth To parte and gyue halfe his good Hath nowe foryete howe that it stood As he whiche wol no trouth holde This emperour al that he tolde Hath herde and thylke vnkyndnesse He sayde he wolde hym selfe redresse And thus in courte of iugement This Adryan was than assent And the quarell in audience Declared was in the presence Of the emperour and many moo wherof was mochel speche tho And great wondrynge amonge the prese But at last nethelese For the partie whiche hath pleyned The lawe hath demed and ordeyned By hem that were auised wele That he shal haue the haluen dele Throughout of Adryans good And thus of thylke vnkynde blode Stant the memory vnto this day where that euery wyse man may Ensamplen hym and take in mynde what shame it is to ben vnkynde Ageyne the whiche reason debateth And euery creature it hateth For thy my sonne in thy offyce I rede flee that ylke vyce For ryght as the cronycle seyth Of Adryan howe he his feyth Foryate for worldes couetyse Ful oft in suche a maner wyse Of louers nowe a man may se Ful many that vnkynde be For wel byhote and euel last That is her lyfe for at last whan that they haue her wylle do Her loue is after soone ago what sayst thou sonne to this cas ¶ My fader I wyl saye allas That euer suche a man was bore whiche whan he hath his trouth swore And hath of loue what he wolde That he at any tyme shulde Euer after in his hert fynde To sen fal and to ben vnkynde But fader as touchend of me I may not stond in that degree For I toke neuer of loue why That I ne may go therby And do my profyte els where For any spede I fynde there I dare wel thynken all aboute But I ne dare not speke it oute And if I dorst I wold pleyne That she for whom I suffer peyne And loue her euer a lyche hote That nother yeue ne byhote In rewardynge of my seruyce Hit lyst her in no maner wyse I wylle not sey that she is kynde And for to sey she is vnkynde That dare I not by god aboue whiche demeth euery herte of loue He wote that on myn owne syde Shall none vnkyndenes abyde If it shall with my lady dwelle Therof dare I no more telle Nowe good father as it is Tell me what thynketh you of this ¶ My sonne of that vnkyndshyp The whiche towarde thy ladysshyp Thou pleynest / for she woll the nought Thou art to blamen of thy thought For it may be that thy desyre Though it brenne euer / as doth the fyre Percase to her honour mysset O rels tyme come nought yet whiche stant vpon thy destine For thy my sonne I rede the Thynke well what euer the befall For no man hath his lustes all But as thou toldest me before That thou to loue art nought forswore And hast done no vnkyndnesse Thou myght therof thy grace blesse And leue nought that continuance That there may be none suche greuance To loue as is vnkyndshyppe wherof to kepe thy worshyp So as these olde bokes tale I shall the telle a redy tale Now herken and be well ware therby For I wyll telle it
mirthe amoÌ„ge And sâ—yth ba nowe I am a brydde He nowe my face may ben hyd Though I bene lost my maydenhede Shall no man se my chekes rede Thus medleth she with ioye wo And with her sorowe myrth also So that of loues maladye She maketh dyuers melodie And sayth loue is a wofull blysse A wysedome whiche can no man wysse A lusty feuer a wounde softe This note she reherseth ofte To hem / whiche vnderstonde hir tale Nowe haue I of this nyghtyngale whiche erst was cleped Philomene Tolde all that euer wolde mene Both of her forme and of her note wherof men may the storye note And of her suster Progne I fynde How she was tourned out of kynde In to a swalowe swyfte of wynge whiche eke in wynter lyeth swownynge There as she may no thynge be sene But whan the wodde is woxen grene And â—omen is the sommer tyde Tha fleeth she forth ginneth to chyde And chetereth out in her langage what falsehede is in maryage And telleth in a maner speche Of Thereus the spouse breche She wol not in the woddes dwelle For she wolde openlych telle And eke for that she was a spouse Amonge the folke she cometh to house To do these wyues vnderstonde The falshode of her husbonde That they of hem beware also For there be many vntrewe of tho Thus ben the susters bryddes bothe And ben towarde the men so lothe That they ne wyll for pure shame To no mans honde be tame For euer it dwelleth in her mynde Of that they fonde a man vnkynde And that was fals Thereus If suche one be amonge vs I note but his condition Men say in euery region within towne and eke without Nowe reigneth comonly aboute And natheles in remembraunce I wyll declare / what vengeance The goddes hadden hym ordeyned Of that the susters hadden pleyned For anone after he was chaunged And from his owne kynde straunged A lapwynke made he was And thus he hoppeth on the gras And on his heed there stont vp ryght A crest in token of a knyght And yet vnto this day men seyth A lapynke hath lost his feyth And is the byrde falsest of all Beware my sonne er the so fall For if thou be of suche couyne To get of loue by rauyne Thy lust it may the falle thus As it befelle to Thereus ¶ My father god forbede Me were leuer be fortrede with wylde horses / and to drawe Er I ageyne loue and his lawe Dyd ony thynge or loude or styll whiche were not my ladies wyll Men sayen that euery loue hath drede So foloweth it that I hir drede For I hir loue and who so dredeth To plese his loue and serue hym nedeth Thus may ye knowe by this skyll That no rauyne done I wyll Ageyne hir wyll by suche a wey But whyle I lyue I wyll obeye Abydynge on hir courtesye If any mercy wolde hir plye For thy my father as of this I wote nought I haue do amysse But farthermore I you beseche Some other poynte that ye me teche And asketh forthe if there be ought That I may be the better taught 〈◊〉 ut ex spoliis grandi quam saepe tumultu Quo graditur populus latro perurget iter Mâ— amor ex casu poterit quo capere praedam Silâ—cus est aptus cetera nulla timet ¶ Hic loquitur super illa cupiditatis specie quam lurtum vocant cuius ministri alienius legis offen sam non meiuentes tam in amoris causa quam aliter suam quam sepe conscientiam offendunt ¶ whan Couetyse in poure estate Stont with hym selfe vpon debate Through lacke of his mysgouernaunce That he vnto his sustenaunce Ne can no nother way fynde To get hym good than as the blynde which seeth nought what shal after fall That ylke vice whiche men call Of Robbery he taketh on honde wherof by water and by londe Of thyng whiche other men beswynke He getteth hym clothe mete and drinke Hym retcheth nought what he begyn Through thefte so that he may wyn For thy to make his purchaas He lyeth awaytende on the paas And what thyng that he seeth ther passe He taketh his parte or more or lasse If it be worthy to be take He can the pakkes well ransake So priuely bereth none aboute His golde that he ne fynt it oute Or other iewell what it be He taketh it as his proprete In wodes and in feldes eke Thus robbery goth to seke where as he may his purchas fynde And ryght so in the same kynde My good sone as thou myght here To speke of loue in the mattere And make a very resemblance Right as a thefe maketh his cheuesance And robbeth mens goodes aboute In wode and felde where he goth oute So bene there of these louers somme In wylde stedes where they come And fynden there a woman able And therto place couenable withouten leue er that they fare They take a parte of that chaffare Ye though she were a shepeherdesse Yet woll the lorde of wantonnesse Assay all though she be vnmete For other mennes good is swete But therof wote nothynge the wyfe At home whiche loueth as her lyfe Her lorde and syt all day wysshynge After her lordes home comynge But whan that he comethe home at eâ—e Anone he maketh his wyfe beleue For she nought els shulde knowe He telleth her how his hunt hath blow And howe his boundes haue well ronne And howe there shone a mery sonne And howe his hawkes flowen wele But he wol telle her neuer a dele Howe he to loue vntrewe was Of that he robbed in the pas And toke his lust vnder the shawe Ageyne loue an ageyne his lawe The which thing my son I the forbede For it is an vngoodly dede For who that taketh by robberye His loue he may not iustifye His cause and so fuloft sythe For ones that he hath ben blythe He shall ben after sory thryes Examples for suche robberyes I fynde wryten as thou shalt here Acordende vnto this matere ¶ HIC LOQVITVR CONtra istos in amoris causa predones qui cum suam furtiue concupiscenciam aspirant fortuna in contrarium operatur Et narrat quod cum Neptunus quandam virginem nomine Cornicem solam iuxta mare deambulantem opprimere suo furto voluisset superueniens Pallas ipsam de manibus eius virginitate seruata gracius liberauit ☞ I rede how whilom was a maide The fayrest as Ouyd sayde whiche was in her tyme tho And she was of the chamber also Of Pallas whiche is the goddesse And wyfe to Mars of whome prowesse Is youe to these worthy knyghtes For he is of so great myghtes That he gouerneth the batayle withouten hym may nought auayle The stronge bonde but he it helpe There may no knyght of armes yelpe But he fyght vnder his banere But nowe to speke of my matere This fayre fresshe lusty may Alone as she went on a day Vpon the stronde for
that the floure of maydenhede was thylke tyme holde in pris And so it was and so it is And so it shall for euer stonde And for thou shalte it vnderstonde Nowe herken a tale nexte sewende Howe may denbede is to commende ¶ Hic loquitur de virginitatis commendatione vbi dicit quod nuper Imperatores ob tanti status dignitatem virginibus cedebant in via ¶ Of Rome amonge the gestes olde I fynde howe that Valery tolde That what man was tho emperour Of Rome he shulde done honour To the virgyn and in the weye where he hir mete he shulde obeye In worshyp of virginitie whiche was tho a great dignitie Nought onelyche of the women tho But of the chaste men also It was commended ouerall And for to speke in speciall Touchend of men ensample I fynde ¶ Hic loquitur qualiter Phirinus inuenuÌ„ Rome pulcherimus / vt illesam sud virginitate conserna ret ambos oculos ernens vultus sui decoreÌ„ abho minabilem constituit ¶ Phirinus whiche was of mans kinde Aboue all other the fayreste Of Rome and eke the comlyest That well was her which hym myght Beholde / and haue of hym a syght Thus was be tempted ofte sore But for he wolde be no more Amonge the women so coueyted The beaute of his face streyted He hath and put out bothe his eyen That all women / whiche it seyne That afterwarde of hym ne rought And thus his maydenheed he bought So may I proue wel for thy Aboue all other vnder the sky That maydenheed is for to preyse who that the vertues wolde peyse whiche as the apocalipsis recordeth To Christe in heuen best accordeth So may it shewe well therfore As I haue tolde it here to fore In heuen and eke in erth also It is excepte to bothe two Out of his flesshe a man to lyue Gregory hath this ensample yeue And sayth it shall rather be tolde Lyche to an angell many folde Than to the lyfe of mans kynde There is no reason for to fynde But only through the grace aboue In flesshe without flesshely loue A man to lyue chaste here And netheles a man may here Of suche / that haue bene er this And yet there bene but for it is A vertue whiche is selden wonne Nowe I this matter haue begonne I thynke tellen ouer more whiche is my sonne for thy lore If that the lyste to taken hede To trete vpon the maydenheed Vt â—osa de spinis spineto preualet orta Et â—ilii flores cespite plura ualent Sic sibi uirginitas carnis sponsalia uincit Aeternos flaetus quae fine labe parit The boke seyth that a mans lyfe Vpon knyghthode in warre and stryfe Is set amonge his ennemyes The freyle flesshe whose nature is Ay redy for to spurne and fall The fyrst foman is of all For thylke warre is redy ay It warreth nyght it warreth day So that a man hath neuer rest For thy is thylke knyght the best Through myght grace of gods sonde whiche that batayle may withstonde wherof yet dwelleth the memorie Of hem that some tyme the victorie Of thylke deedly warre hadden The hygh prowesse whiche they ladden wherof the soule stode amended Vpon this erthe it is commended ¶ Hic loquitur qualiter ValeÌ„tinianus imperator euÌ„ ipse octo genarius plures prouincias Romano Imperio belliger sub iugauit dixit se super omnia magic gandere de eo / quod contra sue carnâ—â— concupiscentiam victoriam optinuisset / nam et ipse virgo oibuâ— diebus vite sue castissimus ê‘mansuÌ„ ¶ An emperour by olde dayes There was and he at all assayes A worthy knyght was of his honde There was none suche in all the londe But yet for all his vassellage He stode vnwedded all his age And in cronyke as it is tolde He was an hundred wynter olde But whan men wolde his dedes peyse And his knyghthode of armes preyse Of that he dyd with his hondes whan he the kynges of the londes To his subiection put vnder Of all that preise hath he no wonder For he it set of none accounte And sayd all that may not amounte Ayens a poynt whiche he hath nome That he his flesshe hath ouercome He was a virgyne / as he sayde On that batayle his prys he layd ¶ Lo nowe my sonne auyse the ¶ Ye fader all this may well be But if all other dede so The worlde of men were sone a go And in the lawe a man may fynde Howe god to man by wey of kynde Hath set the worlde to multyplye And who that woll hym iustify It is ynough to do the lawe And netheles your good sawe Is good to kepe who so may I wol nought there ayen say nay ¶ My sonne take it as I say If maydenheed be take away without lawes ordinaunce It may not fayle of vengeaunce And if thou wolte the soth wyten Beholde a tale the which is wryten Howe that the kynge Agamemnon whan he the citie of Lesbon Hath wonne a mayden there he fonde whiche was the fayrest of the londe In thylke tyme that men wyst He toke of her what hym lyst Of thynge whiche was most precious wherof that she was daungerous This fayre mayde cleped is Chryseys the doughter of Chrisys whiche was that tyme in speciall Of thylke temple pryncipall where Phebus had his sacryfyce So was it well the more vyce Agamemnon was than in way To Troywarde and toke a wey This mayden whiche he with hym lad So great lust in hyr he had But Phebus whiche hath great dysdein Of that his maideÌ„ was forlein Anone as he to Troy came Vengeaunce vpon this dede he name And sent a comune pestylence They soughten than her euydence And maden calculacion To knowe in what condycion This deth cam in so sodenly And at laste redyly The cause and eke the man they fonde And forth with al the same stounde AgameÌ„non opposed was whiche hath knowen all the cas Of the foly whiche he hath wrought And therupon mercy they sought Toward the god in sondry wyse with prayer and with sacrifyce The mayden home ayene they send And yafe her good ynough to spende For euer whyles she wolde lyue And thus the synne was forgyue And all the pestylence seced Lo what it is to ben encrecid Of loue / whiche is ylle wonne It were better nought begonne Than take a thynge withoute leue whiche thou most after nedes leue And yet haue mâ—â—gre forth with all For thy to robben ouerall In loues cause if thou begynne I not what ease thou shalt wynne ¶ My sonne be well ware of this For thus of robbery it is ¶ My father your examplarie In loues cause of robberie I haue it ryght well vnderstonde But ouer this howe so it stonde yet wol I wyte of your apprise what thynge is more of couetyse Insidiando latens tempus rimatur et lioram Fur quibus occulto tempore furta parat Sic
what semblaunce Ryght as him lyst hym selfe transforme For if I were of suche a forme I sey than I wolde flee In to her chamber for to se If any grace wold falle So that I myght vnder the palle Some thynge of loue pyke and stele And thus I thynke thoughtes fele And though there of no thynge be soth yet ese as for a tyme it doth But at last whan I fynde That I am fall in to my mynde And se / that I haue stonde longe And haue no profyte vnderfonge Than stalke I to my bedde within And this is all that euer I wynne Of loue whan I walke on nyght My wyll is good but of my myght Me lacketh both / and of my grace For who so that my thought embrace yet haue I nought the better ferde My father Lo nowe haue ye herde what I by stelth of loue haue do And howe my wylle hath be therto If I be worthy to penaunce I put it to your ordynaunce ¶ My sonne of stelth I the behete Though it be for a tyme swete At ende it doth but lytell good As by ensample howe that it stood whylome I may the tell nowe ¶ I pray you father tell me howe ¶ My sonne of him which goth dy day By wey of stelthe to assay In loues cause and taketh his pray Ouide saide as I shall say And in his Methamor he tolde A tale whiche is good to holde ¶ Hic in amoris causa super isto latrocinio quod de nocte contingit / ponit exemplum Et narrat quod cum Leucothea Orcami filia in cameris sub arcta matris custodia virgo presernabatur Phebus eius pulchritudinem concupiscens in conclaue bomus elata luce subintraÌ„s virginis pudiciciam matre obsente deflorauit vnde ipsa inpregnata iratus pater filiam suam ad sepeliendum vinam effodit ex cuius tumulo florem quem solsequium vocant dicuÌ„t tunc coÌ„sequeÌ„ter primitus accreuisse ¶ The poet vpon this matere Of stelth wrote in this manere Venus whiche hath the lawe in honde Of thyng whiche may not be withstoÌ„de As she whiche the tresoure to warde Of loue hath within hir warde Phebus to loue hath so constreyned That he without rest is peyned with all his heete to coueyte A mayden / whiche was warded streyte within chambre and kepte so cloos That selden was / whan she discloos Goth with hir mother for to play Leuchothea so as men say â—his mayden hyght and Orchamus Hir father was and befelle thus This doughter that was kept so dere And had be fro yere to yere Vnder hir mothers discipline A clene mayde and a virgine Vpon the wose natiuitie Of comely heed and of beautie Nature hath set all that she may That lyche vnto the fress he may whiche other monethes of the yere Sourmounteth so without pere was of this mayden the feyture wherof Phebus out of measure Hir loueth and on euery syde Awayteth if so may betyde That he through any sleyght myght Hir lusty maydenheed vnryght The whiche were all his worldes welth And thus lurkynge vpon his stelth In his awayte so longe he lay Tyll it befell vpon a day That he through out hir chambre wall Came in all sodeynlych and stall That thynge that was to hym so liefe But woo the whyle he was a thefe For Venus whiche was enemy Of thylke loues mychery Discouerith all the pleyne caas To Clymene whiche than was Towarde Phebus his concubyne And she to let the couyne Of thylke loue dedely wrothe To pleyn vpon this mayde she goth And tolde hir father howe it stode wherof for sorowe well nyghe wode Vnto hir mother thus he sayde Lo what it is to kepe a mayde To Phebus dare I nothyng speke But vpon hir it shall be wreke So that these maydens after this Mowe take ensample what it is To suffre hir maydenhede be stole wherof that she the deth shall thole And bad with that to make a pytte wherin he hath his doughter sette As he that woll no pyte haue So that she was all quyke begraue And deide anone in his presence But Phebus for the reuerence Of that she had ben his loue Hath wrought through his power aboue That she spronge vp out of the molde In to a floure was named golde whiche stonte gouerned of the sonne And thus whan loue is euyll wonne Full ofte it comethe to repentayle ¶ My fader that is no meruayle whan that the counceyll is bewreyed But oft tyme loue hath pleyed And stolle many a pryue game whiche neuer yet cam in to blame what that the thynges weren hydde But in youre tale as it betydde Venus discouereth all the cas And eke also brode day it was whan Phebus suche a stelthe wrought wherof the mayde in blame he brought That afterward he was so lore But for ye sayden nowe to fore Howe stelth of loue goth by nyght And doth his thynges oute of syght Therof me lust also to here A tale lyche to the matere wherof I myght ensample take ¶ My good sonne for thy sake So as it befelle by dayes olde And so as the poet it tolde Vpon the nyghtes mycherye Nowe herken a tale of poesye ¶ HIC PONIT EXEMPLVM super eodem quod de nocte contingit Et narrat qualiter Hercules cum Iole in quadam spelunca nobili Thophis dicta sub monte Tmolo vbi silua Batchi est â—ospicio pernoctaruÌ„t Et cum ipsi variis lectis seperatim iacentes dormieruÌ„t coÌ„tigit lectum Herculis vestimentis Iole â—ectum que Iole pelle le onis qua Hercules induebatur operari super quo Faunus a silua descendens speluncam subintrauit temptans si forte cum Iole sue concupiscentie voluptatem nesciente Hercule furari posset Et cum ad lectum Herculis muliebri palpata veste ex casu peruenisset putans Iolen fuisse cubiculum nudo corpore ingreditur quem sencieÌ„s Hercules manibus appreheÌ„sum ipsum ad terram ita fortiter allisit vt impoteÌ„s sui corporis effectê° vsque mane ibidem requieuit Vbi Saba cum Nym phis siluestribus superueniens ipsum sic illusum deridebat ¶ The myghtiest of all men whan Hercules with Iolen whiche was the loue of his courage To gether vpon a pylgremage Towarde Rome shulden go It fell hem by the way so That they vpon a day a caue within a roche founden haue whiche was ryall and glorious And of entayle curious By name and Thophis it was hote The sonne shone tho wonder hote As it was in the somer tyde This Hercules whiche by his syde Hath Iolen his loue there whan they at thylke caue were He seyd he thought it for the best That she hir for the bete rest All thylke day and thylke nyght And she that was a lusty wyght It lyketh hir all that he seyde And thus they dwell yet and pleyde The longe day and so befyll This caue was vnder the hyll Of Tmolus whiche was
gloue So nygh the weder they wyll houe As who sayth she shall not foryet Nowe I this token of her haue gete Thus halowe they the hye feste Suche thefte may no churche areste For all is lefull that hem lyketh To whome that elles it myslyketh And eke ryght in the selfe kynde In great cytees men may fynde This lusty folke that make hem gay And wayte vpon the holy day In churches and in mynstres eke They gon the women for to seke And where that suche one goth about To fore the fayrest of the route where as they sytten all a rewe There wylle he moste his body shewe His croked kempt and therupon set An ouche with a chapelet Or elles one of grene leues whiche late come oute of the greues All for he shulde seme fressh And thus he loketh on his flesshe Ryght as an hauke which hath a syght Vpon the fowle there he shall lyght And as he were a fayrye He sheweth hym to for her eye In holy place where they sytte Al for to make her hertes flytte His eye no where woll abyde But loke and pry on euery syde On her and her as hym best lyketh And other whyle a monge he syketh Thynketh one of hem that was for me And so there thynken two or thre And yet he loueth none of all But where as euer his schaunce falle And netheles to sey a soth The cause why that he so doth Is for to stele an herte or two Out of the churche er that he go And as I sayd it here aboue All is that sacrylege of loue For well may be that he steleth awey That he neuer after yeld may Telle me for thy my sonne anone Hast thou do sacrylege or none As I haue sayd in this manere ¶ My fader as of this matere I wyll you telle redyly what I haue do but truly I may excuse myn entent That I neuer yet to churche went In suche maner as ye me shryue For no woman that is on lyue The cause why I haue it last May be for I vnto that crafte Am nothynge able for so stele Though there be women not so fele But yet wylle I not sey this whan I am there my lady is In whom lyeth holy my quarele And she to churche / or to chappele woll go to matens or to messe That tyme I wayte welle and gesse â—o churche I come and there I stonde Aâ—â— though I take a boke on honde 〈◊〉 countenaunce is on the boke 〈◊〉 toward her is all my loke 〈◊〉 is falle that I pray Vnto my god an somwhat say Of pater noster or of crede 〈◊〉 is for that I wolde spede So that my bede in holy churche There myght som myracle wirche â—y ladys herte for to chaunge whiche euer hath he to me so straunge So that all my deuocion And all my contemplacion with all myn herte and my corage Is onely set on her ymage And euer I wayte vpon the tyde If she loke any thynge asyde That I me may of her auyse Anone I am with couetyse So smyte that me were lefe To be in holy churche a thefe But not to stele a vestement For that is nothyng my talent But I wolde stele if that I myght A glad worde or a goodly syght And euer my seruice I profere And namely whan she woll gone offre For than I lede hir if I may For somwhat wolde I stele away whan I beclyppe hir on the wast Yet at lest I stele a tast And other whyle grant mercy She saith and so wynne I therby A lusty touche a good worde eke But all the remenant to seke Is fro my purpos wonder ferre So may I say as I sayde erre In holy churche if that I wowe My conscience I wolde allowe Be so that vp amendement I myght gete assygnement where for to spede in other place Suche sacrilege I holde a grace And thus my father soth to say In churche ryght as in the way If I myght ought of loue take Suche hansell haue I nought forsake But fynally I me confesse There is in me no holynesse whyle I hir se in holy stede And yet for ought that euer I dede No sacrilege of hir I toke But if it were of worde or loke Or els if that I her frede whan I towarde offrynge hir lede Take therof what I take may For els bere I nought away For though I wolde ought els haue All other thynges bene so saue And kepte with suche a priuilege That I may do no sacrilege God wote my wyl netheles Though I must nedes kepe pees And maugre myn so let it passe My wyll therto is not the lasse If I myght other wyse away For thy my father I you pray Tell what you thynketh therupon 〈◊〉 I therof haue gylte or none ¶ Thy wyll my sonne is for to blame The remenant is but a game That I haue the tolde as yet â—ut take this lore in to thy wyt That all thynge hath tyme and stede The churche serueth for the bede The chambre is of an other speche But if thou wystest of the wreche Howe sacrilege it hath abought Thou woldest bettre be bithought And for thou shalte the more amende A tale I wyll on the dispende ¶ Hic in amoris causa super istius vicii articulo ponit exemplum Et narrat pro eo quod Parys Priami regis filius Helenam Menelai vxorem in quadam Grecie Insula a templo Veneris sacriligus abduxit illa Troie famosiffima obsidia ê‘ vniuersa orbis climita diuulgata precipue cansabat ita quod huiusmodi sacrilegium non solum ad ipsius regis Pitami omniumque fuorum interitum / sed ad perpetuam vrbis desolacionem vindicte fomitem ministrabat ¶ To all men as who sayth knowe It is and in the worlde through blowe Howe that of Troye Lamedon To Hercules and to Iason whan toward Colchos out of Grece By se seylend vpon a pece Of londe of Troye reste preyde But he wrothfully comeyde And for they found hym soo vylleyne whan they came into grece ageyne with power that they get myght Towardes Troye they hem dyght And there they toke suche vengeaunce wherof stant yet the remembraunce For they destroyed kynge and all And leften but the brent walle The grekes of Troyens many slowe And prisoners they toke inowe Amonge the whiche there was one The kynges doughter Lamedon Essiona the faire thynge whiche vnto Thelamon the kynge By Hercules and by thassent Of all the holle parliament was at his wylle yeue graunted And thus hath Grece Troy daunted And home they tourne in suche manere But after this nowe shalt thou here The cause why this tale I telle Vpon the chaunces that befelle ¶ Kynge Lamedon whiche deide thus He had a sonne one Priamus which was nought thilke tyme at home But whan he herde of this he come And fonde howe the citie was falle whiche he began anon to walle And made
To hir and yafe the apple tho Thus hope I well if that I go That she for me woll so ordeyne That they matere for to pleyne Shull haue or that I come ayene Nowe haue ye herde that I woll seyne Say ye what stant in your auys And euery man tho sayde his And sondry causes they recorde But at last they accorde That Parys shall to grece wende And thus the parliament toke ende ¶ Cassandra whan she herde of this The whiche to Parys syster is Anone she gan to wepe and weyle And sayde alas what may vs eyle Fortune with her blynde whele Ne woll nought let vs stonde wele For this I dare well vndertake That if Parys his way take As it is sayde that he shall do we ben for euer than vndo The whiche Cassandra than hyght In all the worlde as it beareth syght In bokes as men fynde write Is that Sibille of whom ye wyte That all men yet clepen sage whan that she wyst of this viage How Paris shall to grece fare No woman myght worse fare Ne sorowe more than she dyd And ryght so in the same stede Ferde Helenus whiche was hir brother Of prophecy and suche another And all was holde but a iape So that the purpose whiche was shape Or were hem lefe or were hem lothe was holde and in to Grece goth This Paris with his retenance And as it fell vpon his chaunce Of Grece he londeth in an yle And hym was tolde the same whyle Of folke / whiche he began to freyne Tho was in thyle quene Heleyne And eke of countrees there aboute Of ladies many a lusty route with mochel worthy people also And why they comen theder tho The cause stode in suche a wyse For worshyp and for sacrifyce That they to Venus wolden make As they to fore had vndertake Some of good wyll and some of bihest For than was hir by he fest within a temple whiche was there whan Parys wyst what they were Anone he shope his ordinance To gone to done his obeysance â—o Venus on hir holy day Aâ—d dyd vpon his best aray with great richesse he hym behongeth 〈◊〉 to suche a lorde belongeth He was nought armed netheles Bâ—t as it were in londe of pees And thus he goth forth out of shyp Aâ—d taketh with hym his felaushyp 〈◊〉 suche manere as I you say Vnto the temple he helde his way ¶ Tydyng / whiche goth ouerall To great and small forthe withall Come to the quenes ere and tolde Howe Parys came and that he wolde Do sacrifice to Venus And whan she herde tell thus She thought / howe that it euer be That she wyll hym abyde and se Forth cometh Parys with glad visage In to the temple on pilgremage where vnto Venus the goddesse He yeueth and offreth great rychesse And prayeth hir that he pray wolde And than asyde he gan beholde And se where that this lady stode And he forthe in his fresshe mode Goth there she was made hir chere As he well couth in his manere That of his wordes suche plesance She toke that all hir aqueyntance Al 's ferforth as the herte lay He stale / er that he went away So goth he forthe and toke his leue And thought anone as it was eue He wolde done his sacrilege That many a man shulde it abedge whan he to shyp ayene was come To hym he hath his counsayle nome And all deuysed the matiere In suche a wyse as thou shalt here within nyght all priuely His men he warneth by and by That they be redy armed sone For certeyne thynge whiche is to done And they anone ben redy all And echone other gan to call And went hem out vpon the stronde And toke a purpose there a londe Of what thynge that they wolden do Towarde the temple and forth they go So felle it of deuocion Heleyne in contemplacion with many an other worthy wyght was in the temple and woke all nyght To bydde and praye vnto thymage Of Venus as was than vsage So that Parys ryght as hym lyst In to the temple er they it wyst Came with his men all sodenly And all at ones set askry In hem whiche in the temple were For tho was moche peple there But of defence was no boote So suffren they that suffre mote Paris vnto the quene wente And her in both his armes bente with hym and with his felaushyp And forth they here her vnto shyp Vp goth the sayle and forth they wente And suche a wynde fortune hem sent Tyll they the hauen of Troy caught where out of shyp anone they straught And gone hem forth towarde the towne The whiche came with processyon Ayene Paris to sene his pray And euery man began to say To Parys and to his felaushyp All that they couthen of worshyp was none so lyttell man in Troye That he ne made myrthe and ioye Of that Parys had wonnen Heleyne But all that myrthe is sorowe and peyne To Helenus and to Cassandre For they it tolden shame and sklaundre And losse of all the comon grace That Parys out of holy place By stelth hath take a mans wyfe wherof he shall lese his lyfe And many a worthy man therto And all the citie be for do whiche neuer shall be made ayene And so it fell ryght as they seyne The sacrilege whiche he wrought was cause why the grekes sought Vnto the towne and it belay And wolden neuer parte away Tyll what by sleight what by strength They had it wonnen in brede and length And brente / and slayne that was within Nowe se my sonne suche a synne Is sacrilege in holy stede Beware therfore and byd thy bede And do nothyng in holy churche But that thou myght by reason worche And eke take bede of Achilles whan be vnto his loue chees Polixena that was also In holy temple of Apollo whiche was the cause why he dyede And all his lust was leyde asyde And Troylus vpon Crescyde Also his fyrst loue leyde In holy place and howe it ferde As who seyth all the worlde it herde Forsake he was for Dyomede Suche was of loue his last mede For thy my sonne I wolde rede By this emsample as thou myght rede Seche els where thou wylte thy grace And ware the well in holy place what thou to loue do or speke In aunter if it so be wreke As thou hast herde me tell to fore And take good hede also therfore Vpon the forme of auaryce More than of ony other vyce I haue deuyded in partyes The braunches whiche of companyes Through out the worlde in generall Be nowe the leders ouer all Of couetyse and of periurie Of fals brocage and of vsurie Of scarcenes and of vnkyndeshyp which neuer drough to felaushyp Of robberye and of pryue stelth whiche due is for the worldes welth Of rauyne and of sacrylege which maketh the conscyence agrege All though it may ryches atteyne It floureth but it shall not greyne
So that withoute mete and drynke Of lusty thoughtes whiche I thynke Me thynketh I myght stonden euer And so it were to me leuer Than suche a syght for to leue If that she wolde yeue me leue To haue so mochel of my wylle And thus thinkende I stonde styll withoute blenchinge of myn eye Ryght as me thought that I seye Of paradys the most ioye And so there whyle I me reioy Vnto myn herte a great desyre The whiche is hoter than the fire All sodenlyche vpon me renneth That all my thought within brenneth And am so ferforth ouercome That I note where I am become So that amonge tho hertes stronge In stede of drynke I vnderfonge A thought so swete in my courage That neuer pyement ne vernage was halfe so swete for to drynke For as I wolde than I thynke As though I were at myn aboue For so through dronke I am of loue That all that my soty demeth Is soth as than it to me semeth And whyle I may tho thoughtes kepe Me thynketh as though I were a slepe And that I were in goddes barme But whan I se myn owne harme And that I sodenlyche awake Oute of my though and hede take Howe that the sothe stant in dede Than is my sykernesse in drede And ioye torneth in to wo So that the hete is all ago Of suche soty as I was inne And than ayenwarde I begynne To take of loue a newe thurst whiche me greueth all there worst For than cometh the blanche Feuer with chele and maketh me so to cheuer And so it coldeth at myn herte That wonder is howe I asterte In suche a poynte that I ne deye For certes there was neuer keye Ne frosen is vpon the walle More inly cold than I am all And thus suffer I the hote chele whiche passeth other peynes fele In colde I brenne and frese in hete And than I drynke a better-swete with dry lippe ang eyen wete Lo thus I temper my dyete And take a draught of suche relees That all my wyt is herteles And all my hert there it sytte Is as who sayth witoute wytte So that I preue it by reason In makynge of comparyson There may no difference be Betwyx a dronkeÌ„ man and me But all the werst of euerychone Is euer that I thurst in one The more that my herte drynketh The more I may so that me thynketh My thurst shall neuer be acquâ—ynt God shelde that I be not dreynt Of suche a superfluite For wele I fele in my degre That all my wytte is ouercast wherof I am the more agast That in defaute of ladyshyp Perchaunce in suche a dronkeshyp I may be dead er I beware For certes father this I dare Beknowe and in my shryfte telle But I a draught haue of that welle In whiche my deth is and my lyfe My ioye is tourned in to stryfe That sobre shall I neuer worthe But as a dronken man for worthe So that in londe where I fare The lust is lore of my welfare As he that may no bote fynde But this me thynketh a wonder kynde As I am drunke of that I drynke Of these thoughtes that I thynke Of whiche I fynde no relees But if I myght netheles Of suche a drynke as I coueyte So as me lust haue o receyte I shulde assobre and fare we le But so fortune vpon her whele On hygh me deyneth not to sette For euermore I fynde a lette The botiler is not my frende whiche hath the key by the bende I may well wysshe and that is waste For well I wote so fresshe a taste But if my grace be the more I shall assay neuermore Thus am I dronke of that I se For tastynge is defended me And I can not my seluen staunche So that my father of this braunche I am gylyfe to telle trouth ¶ My sonne that me thynketh routh For loue dronke is the mischyefe Aboue all other the moste chyef If he lusty thought assy whiche may his sory thurst alay As for the tyme yet it lesseth To hym whiche other ioye mysseth For thy my sonne aboue all Thynke well how so it the befall And kepe thy wyttes that thou hast And let hem not be dronke in wast But netheles there is no wyght That may withstonde loues myght But why the cause is as I fynde But that there is dyuerse kynde Of loue dronke why men pleyneth After the courte whiche all ordeyneth I wyll the telle the manere Now lyst my sonne and thou shalt here ¶ Hic narrat secundum poetam qualiter in suo cellario duo dolia Iupiter habet quorum primuÌ„ figuoris dulcissimi / secundum amarissimi plenum ronsistit ita quod ille / cui fatata est prosperitas de dulci potabit Alter vero cui aduersabitur poculum gustabit amarum ¶ For the fortune of euery chaunce After the goddes purueaunce To man it groweth frome aboue So that the spede of euery loue Is shape there er it befalle For Iupiter abouen all whiche is of goddes souerayne Hath in his seller as men fayne Two tonnes full of loue drynke That maketh many a herte synke And many an herte also to flete Or of the sowre or of the swete That one is full of suche pyement whiche passeth all entendement Of mans wyt if he it taste And maketh a ioylyfe herte in hast That other bytter as the galle whiche maketh a mans hert palle whose dronkeship is a sykenesse Through felynge of the bytternesse Cupyde is botyler of bothe whiche to the leefe and to the lothe yeueth of the swete and of the soure That som laugh and some loure But for so moche as he blynde is Full oft tyme he goth amys And taketh the badde for the good whiche hyndreth many a mans fode withoute cause and forthereth eke So ben there som of loue seke whiche ought of reason to ben bole And som comen to the dole In happe and as hem selfe lest Drynke vndeserued of the best And thus this blynde botiler yeueth of the trouble in stede of chere And eke chere in stede of trouble Lo howe he can the hertes trouble And maketh men dronke al vpon chauÌ„ce withoute lawe of gouernance If he drawe of the swete tonne Than is the sorowe all ouer ronne Of loue dronke shall nought greuen So to be drunke euery euen For all is than but a game But whan it is nought of the same And be the better tonne draweth Suche dronkeshyp an herte gnaweth And febleth all a mannes thought That better him were haue droÌ„k nought And all his bree haue eaten drye For than he leseth his lusty weye with dronkeship and wote not whyther To go the wayes bene so slydre In whiche he may percas so fall That he shall breke his wittes all And in this wyse men ben drunke After the drynke they haue drunke But all drynken not ylyke For some shall synge some shal sike So that it me nothynge merauyleth My sonne
of loue that the ayleth For I wel knowe by thy tale That thou hast dronken of the dwale which bytter is tyll god the sende Suche grace that thou myght amende But sonne thou shalt bydde and pray In such a wyse as I shall say That thou the lust well atteyne Thy wofull thurstes to restreyne Of loue and taste the swetenes As Bacchus dyd in his distres whan bodelyche thurste hym hent In straunge londes where he went ¶ Nota hic qualiter potus aliquando sicienti precibus adquiritur Et narrat exemplum / quod cuÌ„ Bacchus de quodam bello ab Oriente repatriaÌ„s in quibusdam Lybie partibus alicuius generis potum non inuenit / fusis ad Ionem precibus / apparuit / ei aries qui terra pede percussit / statim que fons emanauit / et sic potum petenti peticio preualuit ¶ This Bacchus sonne of Iupiter was hote and as he went ferre By his fathers assignement To make a werre in Orient And great power with hym he ladde So that the hygher honde he hadde And victory of his ennemyes And tourneth homwarde with his prise In suche a countrey whiche was drey A meschiefe fell vpon the weye As he rode with his company Nygh to the strondes of Lybie There myght they no drynke fynde Of water nor of other kynde So that hym selfe and all his hoste were for defaut of drynke almoste Distroyed and than Bacchus prayde To Iupiter and thus he sayde O hygh father that seest all To whom is reason that I shall Beseche and pray in euery nede Beholde my father and take hede This full thurst that we be inne To staunche and graunt vs for to wynne And saufe vnto the countrey fare where that our lusty loues are waytende vpon our home comynge And with the voyce of his prayenge whiche herde was to the goddes hye He sygh anone tofore his eye A wether which the grouÌ„de hath spurned And where he hath it ouerturned There spronge a welle fresshe and clere wherof his owne botylere After the lustes of his wylle Yaue euery man to drynke his fylle And for this ilke great grace Bacchus vpon the same place A ryche temple let arere whiche euer shulde stonde there To thrusty men in remembrance For thy my sonne after this chaunce It sytte the well to taken hede So for to prey vpon thy nede As Bacchus preyde for the well And thinke as thou hast herde me tell Howe grace he gradde grace he had He was no foole that fyrst so rad For selden get a dombe man londe Take that prouerbe and vnderstonde That wordes ben of vertue grette For thy to speke thou ne lette And aske and preye erely and late Thy thurst to queÌ„che and thynke algate The botiller / whiche bereth the keye Is blynde as thou hast herde me seye And if it myght so betyde That he vpon the blynde syde Parcas the swete tonne a raught Than shalte thou haue a lustye draught And waxe of loue dronke sobre And thus I rede thou assobre Thyn herte in hope of suche a grace For dronkeshyp in euery place To whether syde that it turne Doth harme maketh a man to spurne And ofte falle in suche a wyse where he percas may nought aryse ¶ Hic de amoris ebrietate ponit exempluÌ„ qualiter Tristrans ob potuÌ„ queÌ„ Brangweyn in vani ei porrexit de amore belle Isolde inebriatê° extitit ¶ And for to loke in euidence Vpon the sothe experience So that it hath befall er this In euery mans mouth it is Howe Trystram was of loue dronke with bele I solde whan they dronke The drinke which Brangweine hem betok Er that king Mark his eme hir toke To wyfe as it was after knowe And eke my sonne if thou wylte knowe As it hath fallen ouer more In loues cause and what is more Of dronkeshyp for to drede As it whylome befell in dede wherof thou myght the better eschewe Of dronken men that thou ne sewe The company in no manere A great ensample thou shalt here ¶ Hic de periculis ebrietatis causa in amore contingentibus narrat / quod cum Perithous illam pulcherrimam Ipotatiam in vxorem duceret / quosdam qui Lentauri vocabantur / inter alios vicinos ad nupcias inuitanit qui vino imbuti / none nupte formocitatem aspicientes duplici ebrietate a mensa Ipotaciam a Peritho marioto suo impetu rapuerunt ¶ This fynde I wryte in poesye Of thylke fayre Ipotasye Of whose beaute there as she was Spake euery man and felle per cas That Perythous so hym sped That he to wyfe her shulde wed wherof that he great ioye made And for he wolde his loue gladde Ageyne the day of mariage By mouthe bothe and by message His frendes to the fest be prayd with great worshyp and as men sayd He hath this yonge lady spoused And whan that they were all housed And set and serued at mete There was no wyn whiche may begete That there ne was plenty ynoughe But Bacchus thylke tonne drough wherof by way of dronkeshyp The greatest of the felaushyp were oute of reason ouer take And Venus whiche also hath take The cause most in speciall Hath yeue hym drynke forth with all Of thylke cuppe whiche exciteth The lust wheren a man deliteth And thus by double wey dronke Of lust that ylke fyry fonke Hath made beÌ„ as who seith half wode That they no reason vnderstode Ne to none other thynge they seyen But hir whiche to fore her eyen was wedded thylke same day That fresshe wyfe that lusty may Of her it was all that they thoughten And so farforth her lustes saughten That they whiche named were Centauri at the feste there Of one assent of one accorde This yonge wyfe maugre hir lorde In suche a rage away forth ladden As they whiche none insyght hadden But onely to her drunken fare whiche many a man hath made misfare In loue al 's wel as other weye wherof if I shall more seye Vpon the nature of this vice Of custome and of exercise The mans grace howe it fordoth A tale whiche was whylom soth Of fooles that so dronken were I shall reherce vnto thyne ere ¶ Hic loquitur specialiter contra vicium illoruÌ„ / qui nimia potacione ex consuetudine ebriosi efficiuntur Et narrat exemplum de Galba et Vitello qui potentes in Hispania principes fuerunt sed ipse cotidiane ebrietatis potibus assuetii tanta vicinis intulerunt enormia / quod tandem toto coÌ„clamante populo pena sententie capitalis in eos iudicialiter diffinita est qui prinsquaÌ„ morereÌ„tur vt penaÌ„ mortis alleuiareÌ„t spontanea vim ebrietate sopiti quasi porci semimortui gladio interierunt ¶ I rede in a cronicle thus Of Galba and of Vitellus The whiche of Spayne both were The greattest of all other there And bothe of o condition After the disposition Of glotony and dronkshyp That
was a sory felaushyp For this thou myght wel vnderstonde That man may welle not longe stonde whiche is wine dronke of co men vse For he hath lore the vertues wherof reason shuld hym doth And that was sen vpon hem both Men seyn there his no euydence wherof to knowe a difference Betwene the dronken and the wode For they be neuer nother good For where that wyne doth wyt a weye wysdome hath lost the ryght weye That he no maner vyce dredeth No more than a blynd man thredeth His nedel by the sonne lyght No more is reason than of myght whan be with dronkeshyp is blent And in this poynt they weren shent This Galba both and eke Vytelle Vpon the cause as I shall tell wherof good is to take hede For they two through her dronkenhede Of witles excitation Oppressed all the nacion Of Spayne for all foule vsaunce whiche done was of continuaunce Of hem whiche all day dronke were There was no wyfe ne mayden there what so they were or fayre or foule whom they ne taken to defoule wherof the londe was often wo And eke in other thynges mo They wroughten many a sondry wroÌ„ge But howe so that the day be longe The derke nyght cometh at last God wolde nought they shulden last And shope the lawe in suche a wyse That they through dome to the Iuyse Bâ— damned for to be forlore But they that had be tofore Eâ—â—lyned to all dronkenesse Her ende than bare wytnesse For they in hope to asswage The peyne of dethe vpon the rage That they lasse shulden fele Of wyne let fyll full a meele And dronken tyll so was befell That they her strengthes losen all withouten wyt of ony brayne And thus they ben halfe deed slayne That hem ne greueth but a lite ¶ My sonne if thou be for to wite In ony poynt whiche I haue sayde wherof thy wyttes bene vnteyde I rede clepe hem home ageyne ¶ I shall do father as ye seyne Al 's ferforth as I may suffise But well I wote that in no wyse The dronkeshyp of loue aweye I may remue by no weye It stant nought vpon my fortune But if you lyst to coÌ„mune Of the seconde glotonye whiche cleped is delicacye wherof ye spake here to fore Beseche I wolde you therfore ¶ My sonne as of that ylke vice whiche of all other is the noryce And stant vpon the retenue Of Venus so as it is due The properte howe that it fareth The boke herafter nowe declareth Deliciae cum diuiciis sunt iura potentum In quibus orta Venus excitat ora gulae Non sunt deliciae tales que corpora pascunt Ex quibus impletus gaudia uenter agit Qui completus amor maiori munere gaudet Cum data deliciis mens in aman te fatur ☞ HIC tractat super illa specie gule que delicatia nuncupatur cuius mollicies volupiuose carni personis precipue potentibus queque compla centia corporaliter ministrat ¶ Of this chapter in whiche we trete There is yet one of suche dyete To whiche no pore may attayne For all is past as payndemayne And sondry wyne and sondry drynke wherof that he woll eate and drynke His cookes ben for hym affayted So that his body is awayted That hym shall lacke no delyte Al 's ferforth as his appetite Suffyseth to the meates hote wherof the lusty vice is hote Of Gule the delycacye whiche all the holle progenye Of lusty folke hath vndertake To fede whyle that he may take Rychesse wherof to be founde Of abstinence he wote no bounde To what profyte it shulde serue And yet phisyke of his conserue Maketh many a restrauracion Vnto his recreacion whiche wolde be to Venus lefe Thus for the poynt of his relefe The cooke whiche shal his meate aray But he the better his mouth assay His lordes thonke shall ofte lese Er he be serued to the chese For there may lacke not so lyte That he ne fyut anone a wyte But his lust be fully serued There hath no wight his thonke desued And yet for mans sustenaunce To kepe and holde in gouernance To hym that woll his hele gete Is none so good as comon mete For who that loketh on the bokes It seyth confection of Cookes A man hym shulde well auyse Howe he it toke and in what wyse For who that vseth that he knoweth Full selden sikenes on hym groweth And who that vseth metes straunge Though his nature empayre chaunge It is no wonder lyefe sonne whan that he doth ayene his wonne For in sikenes this I fynde Vsage is the seconde kynde In loue al 's well as other wey For as these holy bokes sey The bodely delyces all In euery poynt howe so they fall Vnto the soule done greuance And for to take in remembrance A tale accordant vnto this whiche of great vnderstanding is To mans soule reasonable I thynke tell and is no fable ¶ HIC PONIT EXEMPLVM contra iftos delicatos et narrat de diuite et Lazaro quorum gefta in euangelio Lucas euidentius describit ¶ Of Christis worde who wol it rede Howe that this vice is for to drede In theuangile it telleth pleyne whiche mote algate be certeyne For Christe hym selfe it bereth wytnesse And though the clerke and the clergesse In laten tonge it rede and synge yet for the more knowlechynge Of trouthe whiche is good to wite I shal declare as it is wriie In englyshe for thus it began ¶ Christe seith there was a ryche man A myghty lorde of great astate And he was eke so delycate Of his clothynge that euery day Of purpre and bysse he made hym gay And ete and dranke therto his fyll After the lustes of his wyll And he whiche all stode in delice And toke none hede of thilke vice And as it shulde so betyde A poure lazer vpon a tyde Came to the gate and axed mete But there myght he nothyng gete His deedly hungre for to staunche For he whiche had his full paunche Of all lustes at borde Ne deyneth not to speke a worde Onlyche a Cromme for to yeue wherof this poure myght leue Vpon the yefte of his almesse Thus lay this poure in great distresse A colde and hongred at the gate For whiche he myght go no gate So was he wofully besene And as these holy bokes seyn The houndes comen fro the haile where that this sycke man was falle And as he lay there for to deye The woundes of his maladye They lycken for to done hym ese But he was full of suche dysese That he may not the deth escape But as it was that tyme shape The sowle fro the body passeth And he whom nothynge ouerpasseth The hygh god vp to the heuen Hym toke where he hath set hym euen In Abrahams barme on hyghe where he the heuens ioye syghe And had all that he haue wold And fell as it befall shulde This ryche man the same throwe with sodeyn deth was
ouerthrowe And forth withouten ony went Vnto the bell straught he went The fende in to the fyre hym drough where that he had peyne ynough Of flame whiche that euer brenneth And as his eie about renneth Towarde the heuen he cast his loke where that he sygh and hede toke Howe lazar set was in his see Al 's farre as euer he myght see with Abraham and than he prayde Vnto the patriarche and sayd Sende lazar downe fro thylke sete And do that he his fynger wete In water so that he may droppe Vpon my tonge for to stoppe The great hete in whiche I brenne But Abraham answerde then And sayde to hym in this wyse Salomon Qui obturat aures suas ad clamoreÌ„â—â—â—â—â—rum ipse clamabit et non exaudictur ¶ My sonne thou the myght auise And take in to thy remembrance Howe lazar had great penance whyle he was in that other lyfe But thou in all thy lust iolyfe The bodely delices soughtest For thy so as thou than wroughtest Nowe shalte thou take thy rewarde Of deedly peyne here afterwarde In hell whiche shall euer last And this lazar nowe at last This worldes peyne is ouerronne In heuen and hath his lyfe begonne Of ioye whiche is endeles But that thou preydest netheles That I shall lazar to the sende with water on his fynger ende Thyne hote tonge for to kele Thou shalte no suche graces fele For to that foule place of synne For euer in whiche thou shalte be inne Cometh none out of this place thyder Ne none of you may comen hyder Thus be ye parted nowe a two The ryche ayeneward cryde tho O Abraham sythe it so is That lazar may nought do me this whiche I haue axed in this place I wolde pray an other grace For I haue yet bretherne fyue That with my father bene a lyue To gether dwellende in one hous To whom as thou arte gracious I pray that thou woldest sende Lazar so that he myght wende To warne hem how the worlde is went That afterward they be not shent Of suche peynes as they drye Lo this I praye and this I crye Howe I may not my selfe amende The patriarke anone sewende To this prayer answerde Nay And sayde hym howe that euery day His bretherne myght knowe and here Of Moyses on erthe here And of prophettes other mo what hem was best and he sayth no But if there myght a man aryse From deth to lyfe in suche a wyse To tellen hem howe that it were He sayde than of pure fere They shulden well beware therby Quod Abraham nay sikerly For if they nowe wyll not obey To suche as teche hem the wey And all day teache and all day telle Howe that it stant of heuen and helle They wyll not than taken hede Though it befelle so in dede That any deade man were arered To ben of hym no better lered Than of an other man on lyue ¶ If thou my sonne canst descriue This tale as Christe hym selfe it tolde Thou shalt haue cause to beholde To se so great an euidence wherof the sothe experience Hath shewed openlyche at eye That bodely delicacye Of hym whiche yeueth none almesse Shall after falle in great distresse And that was sene vpon the ryche For he ne wolde vnto his lyche A cromme yeuen of his brede Than afterwarde whan he was dede A droppe of water hym was werned Thus may a mans wyt be lerned Of hem that so delytes taken whan they with deth ben ouertaken That erst was swete is than sowre But he that is a gouernour Of worldes ioye if he be wyse within his herte he set no prise Of all the worlde and yet he vseth The good that he nothyng refuseth As he whiche lorde is of the thynges The ouches and the ryche rynges The cloth of golde and the perrye He taketh and yet the delicacye He leueth though he were all this The best mete that there is He eateth and drynketh the best drynke But howe that euer he eate or drynke Delicacie he put aweye As he whiche goth the ryght weye Nought only for to fede and clothe His body but his soule bothe But they that taken other wyse Her lustes bene none of the wyse But nowe a day a man may se The worlde so full of vanite That no man taketh of reason hede Or for to clothe or for to fede But all is set vnto the vice To newe and changen his delice And ryght so chaungeth his astate He that of loue is delicate For though he had to his honde The best wyfe of all the londe Or the fayrest loue of all yet wolde his herte on other fall And thynke hem more delicious Than he hath in his owne hous Men seyne it is nowe ofte so Auyse hem well they that so do And for to speke in other waye Full ofte tyme I haue herde saye That he whiche hath no loue acheued Hym thynketh that he is not relieued Though that his lady make hym chere So as she may in good manere Hir honour and hir name saue But he the surplus myght haue Nothynge withstandynge hir astate Of loue more delicate He set hir chere at no delyte But if he haue all his appetyte My sonne if it with the be so Tell me ¶ Myn holy father no For delycate in suche a wyse Of loue as ye to me deuise Ne was I neuer yet gyltyfe For if I had suche a wyfe As ye speke of what shulde I more For than I wolde neuer more For lust of any womanhede My herte vpon none other fede And if I dyd it were a waste But all without suche repaste Of lust as ye me tolde aboue Of wyfe or yet of other loue I faste and may no fode gete So that for lacke of deintie mete Of whiche an herte may be fedde I go fastynge to my bedde But myght I getten as ye tolde So mochel that my lady wolde Me fede with her gladde semblaunte Though me lacke all the remenaunt yet shulde I somdele ben abeched And for the time wel refreshed But certes fader she ne doth For in good feyth to tellen soth I trowe though I shulde sterue She wolde not her eye swerue My herte with one goodly loke To fede and thus for suche a coke I may go fastinge euermo But if so is that any wo May fede a mans herte we le Therof I haue at euery mele Of plente more that ynough But that is of hym selfe so tough My stomake may it not defye Lo suche is the delycacye Of loue whiche my herte fedeth Thus haue I lacke of that me nedeth But for all this yet netheles I say not I am gylteles That I somdele am delycate For els were I fully mate But if that I some lusty stounde Of comforte and of ease founde To take of loue some repast For though I with full taste The lust of loue may not fele Myn honger otherwyse I kele Of smale lustes whiche I pyke And for
lycke hony of the thorne And as who seith vpon the brydell I chewe so that all is ydell As in effecte the fode I haue But as a man that wolde him saue whan he is syke by medycyne Ryght so of loue the famyne I fonde in all that euer I may To fede and dryue forth the day Tylle I may haue the great fest whiche all my honger might areste Lo suche ben my lustes thre Of that I thynke and here and se I take of loue my fedinge with oute tastinge or felynge And as the plouer doth of the heyre I liue and am in good espeyre That for none suche delycacye I trowe I do no gloteny And netheles to your auys Myn holy fader that ben wys I recommande myn estate Of that I haue ben delicate ¶ My sonne I vnderstonde wele That thou hast tolde here euery dele And as me thinketh by thy tale It ben delytes wonder smale wherof thou takest thy loues fode But sonne if that thou vnderstode what is to ben delicious Thou woldest not be curious Vpon the lust of thyn astate To ben to hote or delycate wherof that thou reason excede For in the bokes thou might rede If mans wysdom shall be sewed It ought wel to ben eschewed As wel by reason as b◠kynde Of olde ensamples as men fynde ¶ Hic loquitur de delicacia Neronis qui corpora libus delicus magis adherens spiritualia gandia minus obtinuit ¶ That man that wolde hym well auise Delycacye is to dispyse whan kynde accordeth not withall wherof ensample in specyall Of Nero whylom may be tolde whiche ayens kynde manyfolde His lustes toke tyll at last That god hym wolde all ouercaste Of whome the cronyke is so pleyne Me lust no more of hym to seyne And netheles for glotony Of bodely delycacy To knowe his stomake how it ferde Of that no man tofore herde which he within hym selfe bethought A wonder subtyle thyng he wrought Thre men vpon election Of age and of complection Lyche to hym selfe by all way He toke towardes hym to playe And eate and dranke as well as he Therof was no diuersite For euery day whan that they ete To fore his owne bourde they sete And of suche meate as he was serued All though they had it not deserued They token seruice of the same But afterwarde all thilke game was into wofull ernest tourned For whan they were thus soiourned within a tyme at after mete Nero whiche had not foryete The lustes of his freel astate As he whiche all was delycate To knowe thylke experience The men let come in his presence And to that one the same tyde A courser that he sholde ryde Into the felde anone he hadde wherof this man was wonder gladde And goth to prycke and praunce aboute That other while that he was out He layde vpon his bedde to slepe The thyrde whiche he wolde kepe within his chambre fayre and softe He gothe nowe vp nowe downe ful ofte walkynge a pace that he ne slepte Tyll be whiche on the courser lepte was comen fro the felde ageyne Nero than as bokes seyne These men dyd done take all thre And slough hem for he wolde se The whose stomacke was best defyed And whan he hath the sothe tryed He founde that he whiche goth the pas Defyed beste of all was whiche afterwarde he vsed aye And thus what thynge vnto his paye was most pleasant he lefte none with ony lust he was begone wherof the body myght glade For he no abstynence made But most of all erthely thynges Of women vnto the lykinges Nero set all his hole herte For that lust hym shulde not asterte whā that the thurst of loue him caught where that hym lyst he toke a draught He spareth nether wyfe ne mayde That suche a nother as men sayde In all this worlde was neuer yet He was so dronke in all his wit Through sondry lustes whiche he toke That euer whyle there is a boke Of Nero men shall rede and synge Vnto the worldes knowlechynge My good sonne as thou hast herde For euer yet it hath so ferde Delycacy in loues cas without reason is and was For where that loue is herte sette Hym thynketh it myght be no bet All though it be not fully mete The luste of loue is euer swete Lo thus to gether of felaushyp Delycacy and dronkshyp wherof reason stant out of herre Haue made many a man erre In loues cause moste of all For than howe so that euer it fall wytte can no reason vnderstonde But let the gouernaunce stonde To wylle whiche than wexeth so wylde That he can not hym selfe shylde Fro the perylle but oute of fere The way he secheth here and there Hym retcheth not vpon what syde For oft tyme he goth besyde And doth such thynge withoute drede wherof hym ought wel to drede But whan that loue assoteth sore It passeth all mens lore what lust it is that he ordeyneth There is no mans myght restreyneth And of god taketh he none hede But lawles withouten drede His purpos for he wolde acheue Ayenst the poyntes of the beleue He tempteth heuen erthe and helle Here afterward as I shall telle Dū stimulai amor quic quid iubet orta voluptas Auder et aggreditur nulla timenda timens Omne quod astra queunt lierbarū siue potestas Seu vigor inferni singula temptat amaus Quod nequid ipse deo mediante parare sinistrū Daemonis hoc magica credulus arte parat Sic sibi non curat ad opus quae retia tendit Dūmodo nudatam prendere posset anem ¶ Hic tractat qualiter ebrietas et delicacia omnis pudicicie contrarium infligantes inter alia ad carnalis concupiscencie promocionem sortilegio magicam requirunt who dare do thinge which loue ne dare To loue is euery lawe vnware But to the lawes of his best The fysshe the fowle the man the beest Of all the worldes kynde lowteth For loue is he which nothyng douteth In mannes herte where it sytte He counteth nought toward his wytte The wo no more than the we le No more the hete than the chele No more the wete than the drye No more to lyue than to dye So that to fore ne behynde He seeth no thynge but as the blynde withoute insyght of his courage He doth meruayles in his rage To what thynge that he wol him drawe There is no god there is no lawe Of whome that he taketh any hede But as baiarde the blynde stede Tyll he falle in the dytche a mydde He gothe there no man wyll hym bydde He stant so ferforthe out of rewle There is no wytte that may hym reule And thus to tell of hym in sothe Full many a wonder thynge he dothe That were better to be lafte Amonge the whiche is witche crafte That somme men clepen sorcerie whiche for to wynne his drewry with many a circumstance he vseth There is no poynt whiche he refuseth ¶ Nota de
autorum nec non et librorum tam natâ—â— alis quam execrabilis magice nominibus ¶ The crafte whiche that Saturnus founde To make pykes in the sounde That Geomance cleped is Ful ofte he vseth it amys And of the floode his ydromance And of the fyre the pyromance with questions eche one of tho He tempteth ofte and eke also Aeromance in iugement To loue be bryngeth of his assent For these craftes as I fynde A man may do by way of kynde Be so it be to good entent But he goth all another went For rather er he shulde fayle with â—y gromance he wolde assayle To make his incantacion with bote subfumygacion Thylke arte whiche spatula is hote And vsed is of comon rote Amonge paines whiche that crafte eke Of whiche is auctor Thosez the greke He wercheth one and one by rowe Razel is not to hym vnknowe The Salamones Candarye His Ideac his Eutonye The fygure of the boke withall Of Balamuz and of Ghenball The seale and therupon thymage Of Thebith for his auantage He taketh and some what of Gybere whiche helpliche is to this matere Babylla to her sonnes seuen whiche hath renounced to the heuen with Cernes bothe square and rounde He traceth ofte vpon the grounde Makynge his inuocation And for full information The schole whiche Honorius wrote he pursueth and lo thus Magyke he vseth for to wynne His loue and spareth for no synne And ouer that of his soty Ryght as he secheth sorcery Of hem that bene magycyens Ryght so of the naturyens Vpon the sterres from aboue His wey he secheth vnto loue Al 's ferre as he hem vnderstondeth In many a sondry wyse he fondeth He maketh ymage he maketh sculpture He maketh wrytynge he maketh fygure He maketh his calculacions He maketh his demonstrations His hours of astronomy He kepeth as for that partye whiche longeth to the inspection Of loue and his affection He wolde in to the helle seche The deuell hym selfe to beseche If that he wyst for to spede To gete of loue his lusty mede where that he hath his herte set He bydde neuer fare bet Ne wytte of other heuen more My sonne if thou of suche a lore Hast ben er this I rede the leue ¶ Myn holy father by your leue Of all that ye haue spoken here whiche toucheth vnto this matere To telle soth right as I wene I wote not o worde what ye mene I woll not say if that I couth That I nolde in my lusty youth Beneth in helle and eke aboue To wyn with my ladyes loue Done al that euer that I myght For therof haue I none insyght where afterwarde that I am become So that I wonne and ouercome Hir loue whiche I moste coueyte ¶ My sonne that gothe wonder streyte For this I may well tell sothe There is no man whiche so dothe For all the crafte that he can caste That he ne byeth it at laste For often he that wyll begyle Is guyled with the same guyle And thus the guyler is beguyled As I fynde in a boke compyled To this matere an olde histoire The whiche comth now to my memoire And is of great ensamplarye Ayene the vice of sorcerye wherof none ende may be good But howe whylome therof it stood A tale whiche is good to knowe To the my sonne I shall biknowe ¶ Nota contra istos ob amoris causam sortilegos vbi narrat in exemplum quod cum Vlixes a subuersione Troie repatriare nauigio voluisset ipsum in Insula Cilli vbi illa expertissima maga nomine Cyrces regnauit coÌ„tigit applicuisse quem vt in sui amoris concupiscentiam exardesceret Circes omnibus suis incantationibus vincere conabatur Vlixes tamen Magica potentior ipsam in amore subegit Ex qua filium nomine Telegonum genuit qui postea patrem suum interfecit et sic contra fidei naturam genitus coÌ„tra generationis naturam patricidium operatus est ¶ Amonge hem whiche at Troy were Vlixes at the syege there was one by name in speciall Of whom yet the memoriall Abydeth for while there is a mouthe For euer his name shall be couthe He was a worthy knyght and a kynge And clerke knowende of euery thynge He was a great Rethorien He was a great magicien Of Tullius the Rethoryke Of kynge Zorastes the magyke Of Ptolome thastronomye Of Plato the philosophye Of Daniel the slepy dremes Of Neptune eke the water stremes Of Salomon and the prouerbes Of Macer all the strength of herbes And the phisyke of hipocras And lyche vnto Pythagoras Of surgery he knewe the cures But some what of his auentures whiche shall to my matter accorde To the my sonne I wyll recorde This king of which thou hast herd sein From Troy as he goth home ageyne By shyp he founde the see dyuerse with many a wyndy storme reuerse But he through wisdom which he shapeth Ful many a great peryl escapeth Of whiche I thynke tellen one Howe that maugre the nedell and stone wynde dryue he was all sodeynly Vpon the strondes of Cylly where that he must abyde a whyle Tway quenes weren in that yle Calipso named and Cyrces And whan they herde how Vlyxes Is londed there vpon the Ryue For hym they senden also blyue with hym suche as he wolde he nam And to the courte to hem he cam These quenes were as two goddesses Of arte magyke sorceresses That what lorde cometh to that ryuage They make hym loue in such a rage And vpon hem assote so That they woll haue er that he go All that he hath of worldes good Vlyxes well this vnderstode They couth moche he couthe more They shape and cast ayenst hym sore And wrought many a subtyle wyle But yet they myght hym not begyle But of the men of his nauye They two forshope a great partie May none of hem withstonde her hestes Some parte they shopen in to bestes Some parte they shopen in to foules To beres tygres apes oules Or els by some other wey Ther myght nothynge bem disobey Suche crafte they had aboue kynde But that arte couth they not fynde Of whiche Vlyxes was deceyued That he ne hath hem all weyued And brought hem in to suche a rote That vpon hym they bothe assote And through the science of his arte He toke of hem so well his parte That he begat Circes with childe He kepte hym sobre made hem wylde He set hym selue so aboue That with her good and with her loue who that therof beliefe or lothe All quite in to his shyp he gothe Circes to swolle bothe sydes He lefte and wayteth on the tydes And straught throughout the salte fome He taketh his cours comth him home where as he founde Penelope A better wyfe there may none be And yet there bene ynowe of good But who that hir goodship vnderstood â—â—o fyrst that she wyfehode toke â—â—we many loues she forsoke And howe she bare hir all aboute
quarum prima Theorica / secunda Rhetorica tertia Practica nuncupata est de quarum condicionibus subsequenter per singula tractabit ☞ Incipit liber Septimus ⧠Omnibus in causis sapiens doctrina salutem Consequitur nec habet quis nisi docttus opeÌ„ Naturam superat doctrina uiro quod et ortus Ingenij docilis noÌ„ dedit ipsa dabit Non ita discretus hominum per climata regnat Quin magis ut sapiat indiget ipse scholae I Genius the preest of loue My son as thou hast praid aboue That I the schole shall declare Of Aristotle and eke the fare Of Alysaunder bowe he was taught I am somdele therof distraught For it is not the matere Of loue why we sytten here To shryue so as Venus badde But netheles for it is gladde So as thou sayst for thyn appryse To here of suche thynges wyse wherof thou myght thy tyme lysse So as I can I shall the wysse For wysedome is at euery throwe Aboue all other thynge to knowe In loues cause and els where For thy my sonne vnto thyn eare Though it be not in the registre Of Venus yet of that calistre And Aristotle whylom wryte To Alysaunder thou shalt wyte But for the lores ben dyuers I thynke fyrst to the reherce The matter of philosophy whiche Aristotle of his clergie wyse and experte in the science Declared thilke intelligence As of the poyntes principalle wherof the fyrst in specialle Is Theoryke whiche is grounded On him which al the worlde hath fouÌ„ded which coÌ„prehended al the lore And for to loken ouermore Next of science the seconde Is Rhetoric whose facounde Aboue all other is eloquent To telle a tale in iugement So well can no man speke as he The last science of the thre It is practyke whose office The vertu trieth fro the vice And techeth vpon good thewes To fle the company of shrewes whiche stant in disposicion Of mannes fre election Practyke enformeth eke the rewle Howe that a worthy kynge shall rule His realme both in werre and pees Lo thus dane Aristoteles These thre sciences hath deuided And in nature also decyded wherof that eche of hem shall serue The first whiche is the conserue And keper of the remenaunte As that whiche is most suffisaunt And chiefe of the philosophye If I therof shall speciphye So as the philosopher tolde Nowe barke kepe that thou it holde Prima creatorem dat scire scientia summum Qui capit agnoscit sufficit illud ei Plura viros quandoque iuuat nescire sed illud Quod vidit ex pediens sobrius ille sapit ¶ HIC TRACTAT DE PRIma parte philosophie que theorica dicitur / cuius natura triplici dotata est sciencia / scilicet Theologia Phisica et Mathematica Sed primo illam partem Theologice declarabit ¶ Of Theoryk principalle The philosopher in specialle The propirtes hath determined As thilke whiche is enlumined Of wisdome and of hygh prudence Aboue all other in his scyence And stant departed vpon thre The i frst of whiche in his degre Is cleped in philosophye The science of Theology That other named is phisike The thyrde is seide Mathematike Theologie is that science whiche vnto man yeueth euidence Of thynge whiche is not bodely wherof men knowe redely The high almyghty trinite whiche is o god in vnite withouten ende and begynnynge And creature of all thynge Of heuen of erthe and of hell wherof as olde bokes tell The philosopher in his reason wrote vpon this conclusion And of his writynge in a clause He clepeth god the fyrste cause whiche of hym selfe is thylke good withouten whom nothynge is good Of whiche that euery creature Hath his beynge and his nature After the beynge of the thynges There ben thre formes of beynges ¶ Nota quod triplex dicitur assencia Prima teÌ„poranea que incipit definit Secunda perpetua que incipit / et non definit / Tercia sempiterna / que nec incipit nec definit ¶ Thynge whiche began and ende shal That thynge is cleped temporall There is also by other way Thynge whiche began shall not dey As soules that ben spirituell Her beynge is perpetuell But there is one aboue the sonne whose tyme neuer was bigonne And endles shall euer be That is the god whose mageste All other thinges shall gouerne And his beinge is sempiterne The god to whome all honoure Belongeth he is creatoure And other ben his creatures He commaundeth the natures That they to him obeien all withouten him what so befalle Her might is none and he may all The god was euer and euer shall And they begonne of his assente The times al ben present To god and to hem all vnknowe But what him lyketh that they knowe Thus both an angel and a man The whiche of all that god began Ben chief obeien goddes might And he stont endeles vp right To this science ben pryue The clerkes of diuinite The whiche vnto the people preche The feythe of holy churche and teche whiche in one â—as vpon beleue Stant more than they can preue By wey of argument sensyble But netheles it is credible And doth a man great mede haue To him that thynkth him selfe to saue Theology in suche a wyse Of highe science and highe aprise â—â—oue all other stant vnlyke And is the fyrst of theorike ¶ 〈◊〉 de secunda parte Theorice que Phisica 〈◊〉 ¶ Phisike is after the seconde Through whiche the philosophre hath foÌ„de To teche sondry knowlechynges Vpon the bodelyche thinges Of man of beest of herbe of stone Of fâ—â—he of fowle of euerichone That ben of bodely substaunce The nature and the circumstaunce Through this science it is full sought Which vaileth which vaileth nought 〈…〉 tercia parte Theorice / que Matheâ—â—◠〈◊〉 â—uius condicio quaruor in se conti◠〈◊〉 â—â—â—gencias scilicet Arithmeticam MusicaÌ„â—â—â—â—â—meâ—â—â—m / et Astronomiam Sed primo de 〈…〉 natura dicere intendit ¶ The thrid point of Theoryk whiche cleped is Mathematyk Deuided is in sondry wyse And â—rant vpon diuers apprise The ferst of whiche is Arthmetik And the second is said Musik The therd is eke Geomatry Also the forth Astronomye ¶ Of Arthmetyk the matere As that of whiche a man may lere what Algorysme in nombre amounteth whan that the wyse man accounteth After the formel proprete Of Algorismes a b c. By whiche multiplication Is made and diminution Of sommes by thexperience Of this arte and of this science ¶ Nota de musica que secunda parâ— artis mathematice dicitur ¶ The seconde of mathematike whiche is the science of musike That teacheth vpon armony A man to maken melody By voice and soune of instrument Thrugh notes of accordement The whiche men pronounce alofte Nowe sharpe notes and nowe softe Nowe hye notes and nowe lowe As by Gam vt a man may knowe whiche techeth the prolacion Of note and the condition ¶ Nota de
he was fully taught Of wysdom which was him betaught ¶ Nota hic de prima planeta / que aliis inferior luna dicitur ¶ Benethe all other stont the Mone The whiche hath with the see to done Of floodes hygh ebbes lowe Vpon his chaunge it shall be knowe And euery fysshe whiche hath a shelle Mote in his gouernaunce dwelle To wexe and wane in his degre As by the mone a man may se And all that stont vpon the grounde Of his moysture it mote be founde All other sterres as men fynde Ben shynende of her owne kynde Out take only the mone lyght whiche is not of hym selfe bryght But as he takth it of the sonne And yet he hath nought all full wonne His light that he nis somdell derke But what the lette is of that werke In Almagest it telleth this The mones cercle so lowe is wherof the sonne oute of his stage Ne seth him not with full visage For he is with the grounde beshaded So that the mone is somdele faded And may not fully shine clere But what man vnder his powere Is bore he shall his place chaunge And seche many londes straunge And as of this condicion The mones disposicion Vpon the londe of Alemayne Is set and eke vpon Britayne whiche nowe is cleped Englonde For they trauayle in euery londe ☞ De secunda planeta que Mercurine dicitur ¶ Of the planetes the seconde Aboue the mone hath take his bonde Mercurye and his nature is this That vnder him who that borne is In boke he shall be studious And in writinge curious And slowe and lustles to trauayle In thinge whiche els might auayle He loueth ese he loueth rest So is be not the worthiest But yet with somdele besinesse His hert is set vpon rychesse And as in this condicion Theffecte and disposicion Of this planete and of his chaunce Is moste in Borgoyne and in Fraunce ☞ De tercia planeta / que Venus dicitur ¶ Next to Mercurye as wolle befalle Stont that planet whiche men call Venus whose constellacion Gouerneth all the nacion Of louers where they spede or none Of whiche I trowe thou be one But whetherward thin happes wende Shall this planete shewe at ende As it hath do to many mo To some wel to some wo. And netheles of this planete The moste party is softe and swete For who that therof takth his byrth He shall desire ioy and myrthe Gentyl curtoys and debonayre To speke his wordes softe and fayre Suche shal he be by wey of kinde And ouerall where he may fynde Plesaunce of loue his herte boweth with all his might and ther he woweth He is so forforth amorous He not what thinge is vicious Touchend loue for that lawe There may no maner man withdrawe The whiche Veneryen is bore By wey of kinde And therfore Venus of loue the goddesse Is cleped but of wantoÌ„nesse The climate of her lecherye Is most comune in lumbardye ¶ 〈◊〉 de sole qui medio planetarum residens â—â—â—â—rum principatum obtinet ⧠Next vnto this planete of loue The bright sonne stont aboue whiche is the hindâ—rer of the night And fortherer of the dayes light As he whiche is the worldes eye Through whome the lusty companye Of fowles by the morowe singe The fresshe floures sprede and springe The hygh tre the grounde beshadeth And euery mans hert gladdeth And for it is the hede planete Howe that he sitteth in his sete Of what richesse of what nobleye These bokes telle and thus they seye ⧠Nota de curru solis necnon de vâ—rio eiusdem apparatu ¶ Of golde glistrende spoke and whele The sonne his carte hath faire and we le In whiche he sitte and is coroned with bright stones enuyroned Of whiche if that I speke shall There be tofore in speciall Set in the front of his corone Thre stones whiche no persone Hath vpon erth and the first is By name cleped Licuchis That other two cleped thus Astrices and Ceraunus In his corone and also behynde By olde bokes as I fynde There ben of worthy stones thre Set eche of hem in his degre wherof a Christall is that one whiche that corone is sette vpon The seconde is an adamant The thirde is noble and auenaunt whiche cleped is Idriades And ouer this yet netheles Vpon the sydes of the werke After the wrytynge of the clerke There sytten fyue stones mo The Smaragdine is one of tho Iaspis and Elitropius And Vendides and Iacinctus Lo thus the corone is beset wherof it shyneth well the bet And in suche wyse his lyght to sprede Syt with his Diademe on heed The sonne shynende in his carte And for to lede hym swithe and smarte After the bryght dayes lawe There ben ordeyned for to drawe Four hors his chare and hym withall wherof the naâ—â—â— telle I shall Eritheus the first is hote The whiche is redde and shyneth hote The seconde Acteos the bryght Lampes the thirde courser hight And Philogeus is the ferth That bringen lyght vnto this erth And gone so swifte vpon the heuen In foure and twenty houres euen The carte with the bryght sonne They drawe so that ouer ronne They haue vnder the cercles bye All mydde erthe in suche an bye And thus the sonne is ouer all The chefe planet imperiall Aboue hym and beneth hym thre And thus betwene hem renneth he As he that hath the middel place Amonge the seuen and of his face Ben glad all erthely creatures And taken after the natures Her ease and recreacion And in his constellacion who that is bore in speciall Of good wille and of liberall He shall be founde in all place And also stonden in mochel grace Toward the lordes for to serue And great profyte and thonke deserue And ouer that it causeth yet A man to be subtyl of witte To worch in golde and to be wise In euery thinge whiche is of prise But for to speken in what cost Of all this erth he regneth most As for wisdom it is in grece where is appropred thilke spece ☞ Nota de quinta planeta / que Mars dicitur ☞ Mars the planete bataillous Next to the sonne glorious Aboue stant and doth meruailles Vpon the fortune of batayles The Conquerours by dayes olde were vnto this planete holde But who that his natyuite Hath take vpon the propirte Of Martis disposicion By wey of constellacion He shall be fers and full hastyfe And desirous of werre and strife But for to tellen ridily In what climate most commonly That this planete hath his effecte Saide is that he hath his aspecte Vpon the holy londe so caste That there is no pees stedfaste ☞ Nota de sexta planeta / que Iupiter dicitur ¶ Aboue Mars vpon the heuen The sixte planete of the seuen Stant Iupiter the delicate whiche causeth pees and no debate For he is cleped the planete whiche of his kynde softe and swete Attempreth all that to hym longeth And whom this
this cruelkinge So toke that he fro mannes forme In to a wolfe he let transforme And thus the cruelte was kyd whiche of longe tyme he had hyd ¶ A wolfe he was than openly The whose nature priuely He had in his condicion And vnto this conclusion That tyranny is to despyse I fynde ensample in sondry wyse And namelyche of hem full ofte The whome fortune hath set alofte Vpon the werres for to wynne But howe so that the wronge begynne Of tiranny it may nought laste But suche as they done at laste To other men suche on hem falleth For ayene suche pite calleth Vengeaunce to the god aboue For who that hath no tender loue In sauynge of a mannes lyfe He shall be founde so gyltyfe That whan he wolde mercy craue In tyme of nede be shall none haue ¶ Nota qualiter leo hominibus stratis percit ¶ Of the nature this I fynde The fiers lyon in his kynde whiche goth rampende after his pray If he a man fynde in his way He wyll hym sleyen if he withstonde But if the man couthe vnderstonde To fall anone tofore his face In signe of mercy and of grace The lyon shall of his nature Restreigne his Ire in such mesure As though it were a beste tamed And torne aweye halfyng ashamed That he the man shall nothyng greue Howe shold than a prynce acheue The worldes grace yf that he wolde Destroye a man whan he is yolde And stante vpon his mercy alle But for to speake in specialle There haue be suche and suche there be Tyrantes whose hertes no pyte May to no poynt of mercy plye That they vpon her tyrannye Ne gladen hem the men to slee And as the rages of the see Ben vnpitous in the tempeste Ryght so may no pite areste Of cruelte the great vltrage whiche the tyrant in his corage Engendred hath wherof I fynde A tale whiche comth nowe to mynde ¶ Hic loquitur precipuâ— contra tyrannos illos qui cum in bello vincere possuÌ„t humani sanguiniâ— effusionem saturari nequeunt et narrat in exemplum de quodam Persarum rege cuius nomen Spartachus erat qui pre ceteris tunc in oriente bellicosus et victoriosus quoscuÌ„que gladio vincerâ— poterat / absque psetate interfici constituit Seb tandem sub manu Thomiris Marsegittarum regine in bello captus ê™ a diu quesiuit seueritatem pro seueritate finaliter inuenit Nam et ipsa quoddam vas de sanguine Persarum plenum ante se afferre decreuit in quo caput tyraÌ„m vsque ad mor tem mergenâ— dixit O tyrannorum crudelissime semper esnâ—iens sanguinem sitisti ecce iam ad saturitatem sanguinem bibe ¶ I rede in olde bokes thus There was a duc whiche Spartachus Men clepe and was a warriour A cruel man a conquerour with stronge power the whiche he lad For this condition he had That where hym hapneth the victoire His lust and all his most gloire was for to slee and not to saue Of raunsome wolde he no good haue For sauynge of a mans lyfe But all gothe to the swerde and knyfe So leefe hym was the mans bloode And netheles yet thus it stode So as fortune aboute went He fell ryght heire as by discent To Pers and was coroned kynge And whan the worshyp of this thynge was falle and he was kynge of Pers If that they weren fyrste diuers The tyrannies whiche he wrought A thousant folde wel more he sought Than afterwarde to do malyce Tylle god vengeaunce ayene the vice Hath shape For vpon a tyde whan he was hieste in his pryde In his rancour and in his hete Ayene the quene of Mersagete whiche Thomiris that tyme hyght He made werre all that he myght And she which wolde her londe defende Her owne sonne ayene him sende whiche the defence hath vndertake But he discomfite was and take And whan this kinge hym had in honde He wol no mercy vnderstonde But dyd hym slee in his presence The tydynge of this violence whan it cam to the mothers eare She sende anone ay wyde where To suche frendes as she had A great power tyll that she lad In sondry wyse tho she cast Howe she this kynge may ouercast And at last accorded was That in the daunger of a pas Through whiche this tyrant shuld pas She shope his power to compas with strength of men by suche a wey That he shall not escape awey And when she had thus ordeined She hath hir owne body feyned For fere as though she wolde flee Out of hir londe And whan that he Hath herde howe that this lady fledde So fast after the chase he spedde That he was founde out of araye For it betyd vpon a daye In to the paas whan he was fall The cubusshementes to breaken all And hym beclipte on euery syde That flee ne myght be not asyde So that there weren deed and take Two hundred thousande for his sake That weren with hym of his hooste And thus was leyed the great booste Of hym and of his tyranny It halpe no mercy for to cry To hym whiche whylome dyd none For he vnto the quene anone was broughte whan that she him sye This worde she spake and sayd on hye O man whiche out of mannes kynde Reason of man hast lefte behynde And lyued worse than a beste whom pyte myght none areste The mannes blode to shede and spylle Thou haddest neuer yet thy fylle But nowe the laste tyme is come That thy malyce is ouercome As thou tyll other men hast do Nowe shall be do to the ryght so Tho bad this lady that men shulde A vessell brynge in whiche she wolde Se the vengeance of his Iuise whiche she began anone deuyse And toke the princis whiche he ladde By whom his chiefe councell he hadde And whyle hem lasteth any breth She made hem blede to the deth Into the vessell where it stode And whan it was fulfylde of bloud She cast this tyraunt therin And sayde hym Lo thus myght thou wynne The lustes of thyne appetyte In bloud was whylom thy delyte Nowe shalte thou drynken all thy fylle And thus onelyche of goddes wylle He whiche that wolde hym selfe strauÌ„ge To pite fonde mercy so straunge That he without grace is lore So may it well shewe the more That cruelte hath no good ende But pite howe so that it wende Makth that god is merciable If there be cause reasonable why that a kynge shall be pytous But els if he be doubtous To sleen in cause of ryghtwysenesse It may be sayde no pytousnesse But it is pusyllanimyte whiche euery prynce shulde flee For if pite mesure excede Knyghthode may not alwey procede To do iustyse vpon the ryght For it belongeth to a knyght As gladly for to fyght as reste To sette his lyege people in reste whan that the warre vpon hem falleth For hem be mote as it befalleth Of his knyghthode as a lyon Be
that they the lawe excede For who that wolde take hede what after fyll in this matere There myght be well the soth here whan she was wedded to Thoby And Raphael in company Hath taught hym howe to be honest Asmode wan nought at thylke feste And yet Thoby his wylle had For he his lust so goddely ladde That both lawe kynde is serued wherof he hath hym selfe preserued That he fyll not in the sentence Of whiche an open euidence Of this ensample a man may se That whan lykynge in the degre Of mariage may forsweye well ought hym than in other weye Of lust to be the better aduysed For god the lawe hath assysed As well to reason as to kynde But he the beastes wolde bynde Onely to lawes of nature But to the mannes creature God gaue hym rason forth withall wherof that he nature shall Vpon the causes modifye That he shall do no lechery And yet he shall his lustes haue So ben the lawes both saue And euery thinge put out of sclaunder As whylom to kynge Alysaunder The wyse philosopher taught whan he his fyrst lore caught Not only vpon chastite But vpon all honeste wherof a kynge hym selfe may taste How trewe how large how iuste howe chaste Hym ought of reason for to be Forth with the vertue of pite Through which he may great thoÌ„ke deserue Toward his god that he pÌ„serue Hym and his people in all welthe Of pees richesse honour and helth Here in this worlde and elles eke My sonne as we tofore speke In shryfte so as thou me seydest And for thyn ese as thou me preydest Thy loue throwes for to lysse That I the wolde telle and wysse The forme of Aristotles lore I haue it seyde and somdele more Of other ensamples to assaye If I thy paynes myght alay Through any thynge whiche I can say ¶ Do weye my father I you pray Of that ye haue vnto me tolde I thanke you a thousand folde The tales sounden in min ere But yet my herte is ellys where I may my selfe not restreyne That I name euer in loues peyne Suche lore coude I neuer gete whiche might make me foryete O poynte but if so were I slepte That I my tydes ay ne kepte To thinke on loue and on his lawe That hert can I not withdrawe For thy my good fader dere Leue and speke of my matere Louehend of loue as we begonne If that there be ought ouer ronne Or ought foryete or lefte behynde whiche falleth vnto loues kynde wherof it nedeth to be shryne Now asketh so that whyle I lyue I might amende that is amys ¶ My good dere sonne yis Thy â—hryfte for to make playne Theâ—e is yet more for to layne Of loue whiche is vnaduysed But for thou shalt ben well aduysed Vnto thy shryfte as it bylongeth A pointe whiche vpon loue bongeth And is the laste of all tho I wyl the telle and than ho. ¶ Explicit liber septimus ⧠â—â—ff quam ad instantiam amantie confessi â—â—â—essor Genius super hic que Aristoteles regem Aleâ—â—drum edocuit vna cum aliarum cronicaruÌ„ exeÌ„ples seriose tractauit iam vltimo in isto octaâ—o â—â—lumine ad confessionem in amoris causa regâ—â—diens tractare proponit super hoc quod non nullo primordia nature ad libitum voluptuose coÌ„sequentes nullo humano rationis arbitrio seu â—cclesie legum impositione a suis excessibê° debite refrenantur vnde quatenus amorem concernit amantis conscientiam pro finali sue confessioniâ— materia Gemne rimari conatur ⧠INCIPIT LIBER OCTAVVS Qâ—â— fauet ad uiciuÌ„ uetê° haec modo regula coÌ„fert â—eâ—noue contra qui doceâ—ordo placet â—â—us amor dudum non dum sua lumina caepit Quo Venus impositum deuia fallititer THe myghty god whiche vnbegonne Stoute of hym selfe hath begonne Al other thinges at his will The heuen him lyste to fulfylle Of all ioye where as he Sit entronysed in his see And hath his angels hym to serue Suche as him lyketh to preserue So that they mowe nought forsweye But Lucyfer he put aweye with al the route apostasyed Of hem that ben to him alyed whiche oute of heuen in to helle Frome aungels in to fendes felle where that there nys no ioye of lyght But more derke than any nyght The payne shall ben endelesse And yet of fyres netheles There is plente but they ben blake wherof no syght may be take Thus whan the thinges ben byfalle That Lucyfers courte was falle where deedly pryde hem hath conueied Anone forthwith it was purneyed Through him whiche all thinges may He made Adam the syxte daye In paradyse and to his make Him lyketh Eue also to make And had hem crece and multiplye For of the mannes progenye whiche of the woman shall be bore The nombre of aungels which was lore whan they oute of the blysse felle He thought to restore and fille In heuen thylke holy place which stode the voyde vpon his grace But as it is wel wyst and knowe Adam and Eue but a throwe So as it shuld of hem betyde In Paradyse at thylke tyde Ne dwelten and the cause whye wryte in the boke of Genesye As who sayth all men haâ—e herde Howe Raphael the fyry swerde In bonde â—oke and droue hem out To geteâ—er lyues fode aboute Vpon this wofull erthe here Meâ—odre saith to this matere As he by reuelacion It had vpon a vision Howe that Adam and Eue also Virgines comen bothe two In to the worlde and were ashamed Tyll that nature hath hem reclaimed To loue and taught hem thylke lore That fyrst they kyste and ouer more They done that is to kynde due wherof they hadden fayre issue A sonne was the fyrste of all And Caym by name they hym call Abel was after the seconde And in the geste as it is founde Nature so the cause ladde Two doughters eke dame Eue hadde The fyrste cleped Calmana was and that other Delbora Thus was mankynde to begynne For thy that tyme it was no synne The suster to take the brother whan that ther was of chois non other To Caym was Calmana betake And Delbora hath Abel take In whom was gete natheles Of worldes folke the fyrste encres Men sein that nede hath no lawe And so it was by thylke dawe And laste vnto the seconde age Tyll that the great water rage Of Noe whiche was sayde the flood The worlde whiche than in synne stood Hath dreinte out take lyues eyght Tho was mankynde of lytell weyght Sem Cam Iaphet of these thre That ben the sonnes of Noe The worlde of mans nacion In to multiplication was restored newe ageyne So ferforth as these bokes seyne That of hem thre and her issue There was so large a retinue Of nacyons seuenty and two In sondry place eche one of tho The wyde worlde haue enhabyted But as nature hem hath excyted They toke than lytel hede The brother of the suster hede To wedde
confracti viscera perscrutans ignita sue coÌ„cupisceÌ„tie tela ab eo penitus extraxit queÌ„ Venê° postea absque calore percipiens / vacuum reliquit Et sic tandeÌ„ prouisa senectus rationeÌ„ inuocans homineÌ„ interiorem perprins amore infatuatum mentis sanitati plenius restaurauit ¶ Cupyde whiche may hurte and he le In loues cause as for my hele Vpon the poynte which him was preyd Cam with Venus where I was leyde Swounend vpon the grene gras And as me thought anone there was On euery syde so great prees That euery lyfe began to prees I wot not wel howe many score Suche as I spake of nowe tofore Louers that comen to beholde But most of hem that were olde They stoden there at thylke tyde To se what ende shall be tyde Vpon the cure of my soty Tho might I here greate partye Spekende and eche his owne aduys Hath tolde one that another this But amonge all this I herde They weren wo that I so ferde And sayden that for no ryote An olde man shulde not assote For as they tolden redyly There is in him no cause why But if he wolde him selfe be nyce So were he wel the more nyce And thus desputen some of tho And some sayden no thinge so But that the wylde loues rage In mannes lyfe forbereth none age whyle there is oyle for to fyre The lampe is lyghtly set a fyre And is full herde er it be queynte But onely if he be some seynte whiche god preserueth of his grace And thus me thought in sondry place Of hem that walken vp and doune There was diuers opynion And so for a whyle it last Tyl that Cupyde to the laste Forthwith his moder ful aduysed Hath determined and deuysed Vnto what poynte he wol descende And all this tyme I was lyggende Vpon the grounde tofore his eyen And they that my disese syen Supposen nought I shulde lyue But he whiche wolde than yeue His grace so as it may be This blynde god whiche may not se Hath groped tyl that he me fonde And as he put forth his honde Vpon my body where I laye Me thought a fyry launcegaye which whilom through my hert he cast He pulleth oute and also fast As this was do Cupyde nam His wey I not where he becam And so dyd all the remenaunt whiche vnto him was entendaunt Of hem that in a vysyon I had a reuelacion So as I tolde nowe tofore But Venus went nought therfore Ne Genius / whiche thylke tyme Aboden both fast bime And she whiche may the hertes bynde In loues cause eke vnbynde Er I out of my traunce aroos Venus whiche helde a boxe cloos And wold not I shold deye Toke out more colde thenne ony keye An oyntement and in suche poynte She hath my wounded herte anoynte My temples and my reynes also And forth with al she toke me tho A wonder myrrour for to holde In whiche she had me to beholde And take hede of that I seye wherin anone my hertes eye I cast and sawe my colour fade Myn eyen dym and all vnglade My chekes thynne and all my face with elde I might se deface So ryueled and so wo beseyn That there was no thingeful ne pleyn I sawe also myn hearts hore My wyll was tho to se no more On whiche for there was no pleasaunce And then into my remembraunce I drewe myn olde dayes passed And as reason it hath compassed ¶ Quod status hominis mensibus anni equiperatur ¶ I made a lykenes of my selue Vnto the sondry monthes twelue wherof the yere in his estate Is made and stant vpon debate That lyke to other none accordeth For who the tymes wel recordeth And than at Marche if he begyn whan that the lusty yere comth in Tyll that Auguste be passed SepteÌ„bre The myghty yongth he may remembre In whiche the yere hath his deduite Of grasse of lefe of floure of fruite Of corne and eke the wyny grape And afterwarde the tyme is shape To frost to snowe to wynde to reyne Tyll efte that Marche be come ageyne The wynter woll no sommer knowe The grene lefe is ouerthrowe The clothed erth is than bare Dispoyled is the sommer fare That erst was hete is than chele And thus thynkende thoughtes fele I was out of my swowne affraide wherof I sygh my wyttes strayde And gan to clepe hem home ageyne And whan reason it herde seyne That loues rage was aweye He cam to me the ryght weye And hath remeued the sotye Of thilke vnwyse fantasye wherof that I was wont to playn So that of thylke fyry payne I was made sobre and hole inough Venus behelde me than and lough And axeth as it were in game what loue was I for shame Ne wyst what I shulde answere And netheles I gan to swere That by my trouth I knew him nought So ferre it was out of my thought Ryght as it had neuer be ¶ My good sonne tho qd she Nowe at this tyme I leue it wele So goth the fortune of my whele For thy my counseyle is thou leue ¶ Madame I said by your leue Ye wyten well and so wote I That I am vnbehouely Your courte fro this day for to serue And for I may no thonke deserue And also for I am refused I pray you to ben excused And nâ—theles as for to last whyle that my wyttes with me laste Touchende my confession I axe an absolucion Of Genius er that I go ¶ The preest anone was redy tho And sayde Sonne as of thy shryfte Thou hast full pardon and foryefte Foryete it thou and so wyll I. ¶ My holy father graunt mercy Quod I to hym and to the quene I fyll on knees vpon the grene And toke my leue for to wende But she that wolde make an ende As therto whiche I was most able A paire of bedes blacke as sable She toke and hynge my necke about Vpon the gaudees all without was wryte of golde pur reposer Lo thus she sayd IohnÌ„ Gower Now thou art at last cast Thus haue I for thyn ease caste That thou of loue no more seche But my wyll is that thou beseche And pray hereafter for the pees And that thou make a pleyne relees To loue whiche taketh lytel hede Of olde men vpon the nede whan that the lustes ben awey For thy to the nys but o wey In whiche let reason be thy guyde For he may sone hym selfe mysgyde That seeth not the peryll tofore My sonne be well ware therfore And kepe the sentence of my lore And tary thou my courte no more But go there vertue morall dwelleth There ben thy bokes as men telleth whiche of longe tyme thou haste wryte For this I do the well to wyte If thou thyn hele wyll purchace Thou myght not make sute and chace where that the game is not prouable It were a thynge vnreasonable A man to be so ouersaye For thy take hede of that I
a tyme yet they lyke If that ye wysten what I mene ¶ Nowe good sonne shryue the clene Of suche deynties as ben good wherof thou takest thyn herte foode ¶ My father I shall you reherse Howe that my fodes ben diuerse So as they fallen in degree One fedynge is of that I se An other is of that I here The thyrde as I shall tellen here â—t groweth of myne owne thought And els shulde I lyue nought For whom that fayleth foode of herte He may nought well the dethe asterte Nota qualiter visus in amore se continet delicatê° Â¶ Of syght is all my fyrst foode Through whiche myne eye of all goode Hath that to hym is accordant A lusty foode suffisant whan that I go towarde the place where I shall se my ladies face Myn eye whiche is lothe to faste Begynneth anone to hungre so faste That hym thynketh of an houre thre Tyll I there come and he hir se And than after his appetite He taketh a fode of suche delite That hym none other deyntie nedeth Of sondry sightes he hym fedeth He seeth hir face of suche coloure That fressher is than any floure He seeth hir front is large and pleyne without frounce of any greyne He seeth hir eyen lyche an heuen And seeth hir nose streyte and euen He seeth hir rudde vpon the cheke And seeth hir redde lyppes eke Hir chynne accordeth to the face All that he seeth is full of grace He seeth hir necke rounde and clene Therin may no bone be sene He seeth hir handes faire and whyte For all this thynge without wyte He may se naked at lest So is it well the more feste And well the more delicacie Vnto the fedyng of the eye He seeth hir shap forth with all Hir body rounde hir myddell small So well begone with good array whiche passeth all the lust of may whan he is moste with softe showres Full clothed in his lusty flowres with suche sightes by and by Myn eye is fedde but fynally whan he the porte and the manere Seeth of hir womannysshe chere Than hath he suche delite on honde Hym thynketh he myght styll stonde And that he hath full suffisance Of lyuelode and of sustenaunce As to his parte for euermo And if it thought all other so Fro then wolde he neuer wende But there vnto the worldes ende He wolde abyde if that he myght And feden hym vpon the syght For though I myght stonden aye In to the tyme of domes daye And loke vpon her euer in one yet whan I shulde fro her gone Myne eye wolde as though he faste Ben honger storuen also faste Tylle efte ayen that he her sey Suche is the nature of myn eye There is no lust so deyntefull Of whlche a man shulde not be full Of that the stomake vnderfongeth But euer in one myn herte loÌ„geth For loke howe that a goshauke tyreth Ryght so dothe he / whan that he pyreth And tooteth on her womanhede For he may neuer fully fede His lust but euer a lyche sore Hym hongreth so that he the more Desyreth to be fedde algate And thus myn eie is made the gate Through which the deinties of my thought Of lust ben to min herte brought Ryght as myn eye with his loke Is to myn herte a lusty cooke Of loues foode delycate ¶ Qualiter auris in amore delectatur ¶ Ryght so myn eare in his state where as myn eie may not serue Can well myn hertes thonke deserue And feden hym fro day to day with suche deintes as he may For thus it is that ouer all where as I come in speciall I may here of my lady price I here one say that she is wyse An other sayth that she is good And some men seyne of worthy blood That she is come and is also So fayre that no where is none so And some men preyse her goodly chere Thus euery thynge that I may here whiche sowneth to my lady good Is to myn eare a lusty foode And eke myn eare hath ouer this A deynty feaste whan so is That I may here her seluen speke For than anone my faste I breke On suche wordes as she sayth That full of trouth full of feyth They ben and of so good disporte That to myn eare great comforte They done as they that ben delices For all the meates and the spices That any Lumbarde couth make Ne ben so lusty for to take Ne so farforth restauratyfe I sey as for myn owne lyfe As ben the wordes of her mouth For as the wyndes of the south Ben moste of all debonaire So when hir lust to speke faire The vertue of her goodly speche Is verily myn hertes leche And if it so befalle amonge That she carole vpon a songe whan I it here I am so fedde That I am fro my selfe so ledde As though I were in Paradys For certes as to myn auys whan I here of her voyce the steuen Me thynkth it is a blysse of heuen And eke in otherwyse also Ful oft tyme it falleth so Myn ere with a good pitaunce Is fed of redinge of romaunce Of ydoyne and of Amadas That whylome were in my cas And eke of other many a score That loueden longe er I was bore For whan I of her loues rede Myn ere with the tale I fede And with the lust of her histoire Somtime I drewe in to memoire Howe sorowe may not euer last And so hope cometh in at last whan I none other fode knowe And that endureth but a throwe Right as it were a chery feste But for to counten at lest As for the whyle yet it eseth And somdele of my hert appeseth For what thinge to my ere spredeth whiche is plesaunt somdele it eseth with wordes suche as he may gete My lust in stede of other mete Lo thus my fader as I you sey Of lust the whiche myn eye hath seye And eke of that my ere hath herde Full ofte I haue the better ferde And tho two bryngen in the thrydde The whiche hath in myn herte amydde His place take to aray The lusty thoughtes whiche assay I mote and namelyche on nyghtes whan that me lacketh all sightes And that min heringe is awey Than is he redy in the wey My rere souper for to make Of whiche my hertes fode I take Qualiter cogitatus impressiones leticie imaginatiuas cordibus inferit amantum ¶ This lusty cookes name is hote Thought whiche hath euer his pottes hote Of loue boylend on the fire with fantasye and with desire Of whiche er this full ofte be fedde Myn herte whan I was a bedde And than he set vpon my borde Bothe euery syght and euery worde Of lust whiche I haue herd or seyne But yet is not my fest all pleyn But all of woldes and of wysshes Therof haue I my full disshes But as of felynge and of taste Yet myght I neuer haue o repaste And as I haue sayd to forne I