shal not scapen one That Troyan is and for the great feere He durst not that ye dwelte lenger there what woll ye more o louesom lady dere Let Troye and troyans fro your herte pace Dryue out y t bytter hope make good chere And clepe ayen the beaute of your face That ye wyth salte teeres so deface For Troye is brought in suche a ieopardye That it to saue is nowe no remedye And thynketh wel ye shal in grekes fynde A more parfyte loue er it be nyght Then any troyan is and more kynde And bet to seruen you woll done hys myght And yf ye vouchsafe my lady bryght I woll ben he to seruen you my selue Yea leauer then be lorde of Greces twelue And wyth y t worde he gan to waxen reed And in hys speche a lytel whyle he quoke And cast asyde a lytell wyth hys heed And stynte a whyle afterwarde he woke And sobrely on her he threwe hys loke And sayd I am al be it to you no ioye As gentyll a man as any wyght in Troye For yf my father Tydeus he seyde Ilyued had I had ben er thys Of Calcidony and Arge a kynge Creseyde And so hope I that I shal be ywys But he was slayne alas the more harme is Vnhappely at Thebes all to rathe Polymyte and many a man to scathe But herte myne sythe that I am your mā And ben the fyrst of whome I seche grace To serue you as hertely as I can And euer shall whyle I to lyue haue space So that er I departe out of thys place Ye woll me graunt that I maye to morowe At better leyser tell you of my sorowe what shulde I tell hys wordes y t he seyd He spake ynough for o daye at the mest It preueth well he spake so that Creseyde Graunted on the morowe at hys request For to speake wyth hym at the leest So that he nolde speake of suche matere And thus she to hym sayd as ye mowe here As she that had her herte on Troylus So fast that there maye it none arace And straungely she spake and sayd thus O Diomede I loue that ylke place There I was borne Ioues for thy grace Delyuer it soone of all that doth it care God for thy myght so leue it well to fare That grekes wold her wrath on Troy wrek Yf that they myght I knowe it wel ywys But it shall naught befallen as ye speke And god to forne and farther ouer thys I wote my father wyse and redy is And that he me hath bought as ye me tolde So dere I am the more vnto hym holde That Grekes ben of hygh condition I wote eke wel but certayne men shal fynde As worthy folke wythin Troy toun As connyng as parfyte and as kynde As ben betwyxtr Orcades and Inde And that ye coude well your lady serue I trowe eke well her thanke for to deserue But as to speke of loue ywys she seyde I had a lorde to whome I wedded was The whose myne herte was all tyll he deyde And other loue as helpe me nowe Pallas There in myne herte nys ne neuer was And that ye ben of noble and hygh kynrede I haue well herde it tellen out of drede And that doth me to haue so great a wonder That ye woll scorne any woman so Eke god wote loue and I ben fer asonder I am dysposed bet so mote I go Vnto my death playne and make wo what I shall after done I can not say But trewly as yet me lyst not play Myne herte is nowe in tribulatioun And ye in armes besy daye by daye Herafter when ye wonnen haue the toun Perauenture then so it happen may That when I se that I neuer ere say Then woll I werke y t I neuer ere wrought Thys worde to you ynoughe suffysen ought To morow eke wol I spekē wyth you fayne So that ye touchen naught of thys matere And when you lyst ye may come here againe And er ye gone thus moche I saye you here As helpe me Pallas wyth her heere 's clere Yf that I shulde of any greke haue routhe It shulde be your seluen by my trouthe I saye not therfore that I wol you loue Ne say not nay but in conclusioun I meane well by god that syt aboue And therwythall she caste her eyen doun And gā to sigh said Troilus Troy toun Yet bydde I god in quyete and in reste I maye you sene or do myne herte breste But in effecte and shortly for to saye Thys Diomede all freshly newe agayne Gan preasen on and faste her mercy praye And after thys the soth for to sayne Her gloue he toke of which he was ful fayne And fynally when it was woxen eue And all was well he rose and toke hys leue The bryght Venus folowed aye taught The way there brode Phebus downe alight And Cythera her chare horse ouer raught To whyrle out of the lyon yf she myght And Signifer hys candels sheweth bryght when that Creseyde vnto her bedde wente wythin her fathers fayre bryght tente Retournyng in her soule aye vp downe The wordes of thys sodayne Diomede Hys great estate and peryl of the towne And that she was alone and had nede Of frendes helpe and thus be gan to brede The cause why the soth for to tell She toke fully purpose for to dwell The morow came and goostly for to speke This Diomede is come vnto Creseyde And shortly leste that ye my tale breke So wel he for hym selfe spake and seyde That all her syghes sore downe he leyde And fynally the sothe for to sayne He lefte her the great of all her payne And after this the storye telleth vs That she him yaue the fayre baye stede The whiche she ones wan of Troylus And eke a broche and that was lytel nede That Troylus was she yaue this Diomede And eke the bet from sorowe him to releue She made him weare a pencell of her sleue I fynde eke in stories els where whan through the body hurte was Diomede Of Troylus tho wepte she many a teere whā that she sawe his wyde woundes blede And that she toke to kepen him good hede And for to healen him of his smerte Men sayn I not that she yaue him her herte But trewly the storie telleth vs There made neuer woman more wo Than she whan that she falsed Troylus She sayd alas for nowe is clene ago My name in trouthe of loue for euermo For I haue falsed one the gentyllest That euer was and one the worthyest Alas of me vnto the worldes ende Shal neyther ben ywritten nor ysonge No good word for these bokes wol me shēde Irolled shall I ben on many a tonge Throughout y e worlde my bel shal be ronge And women moste woll hate me of all Alas that suche a caas me shulde fall They wol sayne in as moche as in me is I haue hem done dishonour welaway Albe I nat
deuyse But al to dere they boughten it or they ryse O Soudon wo y t euer thou art successour To worldly blisse springed with bytternesse The ende of ioye of our worldly laboure wo occupyeth the ende of our gladnesse Herken thys counsayle for thy sekernesse Vpon thy glad day haue thou in mynde The vnware wo or harm y t cometh behynde For shortly for to tellen at a worde The Soudon and the christen euerychone Ben al to hewe and stycked at the borde But it were onely dame Custaunce alone Thys olde Soudonnesse curled crone Hath wyth her frēdes done thys cursed dede For she her selfe wolde al the countre lede Ne there was surreyn none y t was cōuerted That of the coūsayle of the Soudon wot That he nas al to heawe er he asterted And Custaūce han they taken anone fotehot And in a shyppe al sternelesse god wot They han her set bydden her lerne to sayle Out of Surrey ayenwarde to Itayle A certayne tresour that she thyder ladde And soth to sayne vytayle great plente They han her yeuen clothes eke she had And sorth she sayled in the salte se O my custaunce ful of benignite O Emperours yonge doughter dere He that is lorde of fortune be thy stere She blesseth her and w t ful pytous voyce Vnto the crosse of Christ tho sayd she O clere o welful aulter holy croice Reed of the lambes blode ful of pyte That washe y e worlde fro y e olde iniquite Me fro the fende and fro hys clawe kepe That daye that I shal drenchen in the depe Victorious tree protection of trewe That onely worthy were for to bere The kynge of heuē with hys woūdes newe The whyte lambe that hurt was w t a spere Flemere of fendes out of hym and here On whych thy lymmes faythfully extenden Me kepe yeue me myght my lyfe to amēdē Yeares and dayes fleteth thys creature Thrughout y e see of Grece vnto the strayte Of Marocke as it was her auenture O many a sory mele may she bayte After her death ful ofte may she wayte Or that the wylde waues wolde her dryue Vnto the place there she shulde aryue Men mightē askē why she was not slayne Eke at the feest who myght her body saue I answere to that demaunde agayne who saued Daniel in that horrible caue Ther euery wyght were he master er knaue was wyth the lyon frette or he asterte No wyght but god that he bare in his herte God lyst to shewe his wonderful myracle In her for she shuld sene his mighty werkes Christ that is to euery harme tryacle By certayne meanes often as knowē clerkes Doth thinge for certayne ende y t ful derke is To mans wytte that for our ignoraunce Ne can not knowe hys prudent purueyaūce Now syth y t she was not at y e feest yslawe who kepeth her fro the drenchyng in the see who kept Ionas in the fyshes mawe Tyl he was spouted out at Neniue wel may mē knowe it was no wight but he That kept y e people Ebrake from drenchyng wyth drye fete through the see passyng Who hath the foure spirites of y e tempeste That power had both to anoye lande see Both north and south also west and este Anoyeth nether see ne lande ne tre Sothly the cōmaunder therof was he That fro y e tempest aye thys woman kepte As wel when she woke as when she slepte wher might this womā mete drynke haue Thre yere more how lasteth her vitayle who fedde the Egipcyan Marye in the caue Or in deserte none but Christ sans fayle Fyue thousand folk it was as gret maruaile With loues fyue and fysshes two to fede God sent his toyson at her great nede She driueth forthe in to our Occian Throughout the wylde see tyl at the laste Vnder an holde that nempne I ne can Fer in Northumberlōde the waue her caste And in the sande her shyppe stycked so faste That thence nolde it not of al a tyde The wyl of Christ was y t she shuld ther byde The constable of the castel downe is fare To seen this wrecke al the shyp he sought And fonde this wery woman ful of care He founde also the tresoure that she brought In her langage mercy she besought The lyfe out of her body for to twyn Her to delyuer of wo that she was in A mauer latyn corrupte was her speche But algates therby was she vnderstonde The constable whā hym lyst no lenger seche Thys woful woman brought he to londe She kneleth downe thāketh goddes sonde But what she was she wolde no man sey For soule ne fayre though she shulde dey She sayd she was so mased in the see That she foryate her mynde by her trouthe The constable of her hath so great pyte And eke his wyfe that they wepen for routh She was so dyligent withouten slouthe To serue and plese eueryche in that place That al her louen that loken in her face The cōstable dame Hermegilde his wyfe Were paynems and that cōtre euery where But Hermegylde loued her ryght as her lyfe And Custaunce hath so long soiourned there In orisons with many a bytter tere Tyl Iesu hath conuerted through his grace Dame Hermegylde cōstablesse of that place In al that londe durst no christen route Al christen folke ben fledde from that coūtre Through paynems that conquered al about The plages of the North by londe and see To wales fledde the christianyte Of olde Bretons dwellyng in that I le There was her refuge for the meane whyle But yet nas ther neuer christē bretō so exiled That there nas some in her priuete Honoured Christe heathen folke begyled And nye the castel suche there dwellen thre That one of hym was blynde might not se But it were with thylke eyen of his mynde with whiche men seen after they ben blynde Bright was the sonne as in somers day For whiche the constable and his wyfe also And Custaunce han taken the ryght way Towarde the see a furlong waye or two To playen and to romen to and fro And in her walke thre blynde men they met Croked and olde with eyen faste yshette In y e name of Christ cryed this blind bretō Dame hermegylde yeue me syght agayne This lady ware a frayde of the soun Leste that her husbonde shortly for to sayne wold her for Iesus Christes lore haue slayne Til Custāce made her bolde bad her werch The wyl of Christ as doughter of his cherch The cōstable wore abashed of that syght And sayd what amounteth al thys fare Custance answerde syr it is Christes might That helpeth folke out of the fendes snare And soferforth she gan our lawe declare That she the constable er that it was eue Cōuerted hath on Christ made hym bileue This cōstable was nothing lord of this place Of which I speke ther he Custaunce fonde But kept it strongly many a
As in a tombe is al the fayre aboue And vnder the cors suche as ye wote Suche was this ipocrite colde and hote And in this wyse he serued his entent That saue the fende non wist what he ment Tyl he so long had weped and complayned And many a yere hys seruyce to me yfayned Tyl that myn hert to pitous and to nyce Al innocent of hys cruel malyce For ferde of hys dethe as thought me Vpon hys othes and hys suretee Graunted hym loue vpon this condition That euermore myn honour and my renoun were saued bothe preuy and apert This is to say that after hys desert I yaue hym al myn hert and all my thought God wote and in other wyse nought And toke his hert in chaunge of myn for aye But sothe is sayd gone sythen many a day A trewe wight and a thefe thynketh not one And whan he sawe the thyng so fer ygone That I graunted hym fully my loue In suche a gyse as I haue sayd aboue And yeuen hym my trewe hert as fre As he swore he yafe his hert to me Anon this Tygre ful of doublenesse Fyll on hys knees with so deuout humblesse with hye reuerence and eke by his chere So lyke a gentyl louer as of manere So rauyshed as it semed for ioye That neuer Troylus ne Paris of Troy Iason certes ne non other man Syn Lamet was that alderfyrst began To louen two as writen folke beforne Ne neuer sythen Adam was borne Ne couthe man by twenty thousande parte Counterfete the sophymes of hys arte Ne were worthy to vnbocle hys galoche Ther doublenesse or faynyng shulde aproche Ne so couth thanke a wight as he dyd me His maner was an heuen for to se Tyl any woman were she neuer so wyse So paynteth he hys chere poynt deuyse As wel hys wordes as hys countenaunce And I so loued hym for hys obeysaunce And for the trouthe that I demed in his hert That yf so were that any thyng hym smert Al were it neuer so lyte and I it wyst Me thought I fetel dethe at my herte twyst And shortly so ferforth this thyng went That my wyl was his wylles instrument That is to say my wil obeyed his wyl In al thyng as ferre as reason fyl Kepyng the boundes of my worshyp euer Ne neuer had I thyng so lefe ne so leuer As hym god wote ne neuer shal no mo This last lenger than a yere or two That I supposed of hym nothyng but good But fynally thus at the last it stode That fortune wolde that he most twyn Out of that place whiche that I was in where me was wo it is no questyon I can not make of it discriptyon For o thyng dare I tel boldely I knowe what the payne of dethe is therby Suche harm I felte that he ne might beleue ¶ So on a day of me he toke hys leue So sorowfully eke that I wende verely That he had felte as moche harm as I whaÌ„ that I herde him speke saw his hewe But natheles I thought he was so trewe And eke that he repaire shulde agayne withyn a lytel whyle sothe to sayne And reason wolde eke that he must go For hys honour as ofte happeth so That I made vertue of necessite And toke it wel sythe it must nedes be As I best might I hidde fro hym my sorow And toke him by y e hond seit Iohn to borow And sayd thus lo I am yours al Beth suche as I haue ben to you and shal what he answerde it nedeth not reherce who can sayn bet than he who can do wers whan he had al wel ysaid than hath he done Therfore behoueth hym a longe spone That shal eten with a fende thus herd I say So at the last he mote forth hys way And forthe he sleâ—th til he come there him lest whan it come hym to purpose for to rest I trowe he had thylke text in mynde That al thyng repayring to hys kynde Gladeth him selue thus sayn men as I gesse Men louen of kynde newfanglenesse As briddes don that men in cages fede For though y u nyght day take of hem hede And strawe her cage fayre and softe as sylke And gyue hem sugre hony breed and mylke Yet right anon as hys dore is vppe He with his fete wold sporne adown his cup And to the wood he wolde and wormes eate So newfangled ben they of her meate And louen nouelries of proper kynde No gentylnesse of blode may hem bynde So ferde thys Tercelet alas the day Tho he were gentel borne freshe and gaye And goodly for to se and humble and free He sawe vpon a tyme a kyte flee And sodaynly he loued this kyte so That al hys loue is clene fro me goo And hath hys trouthe falsed in this wyse Thus hathe the kyte my loue in her seruyce And I am lorne without remedy And with y e worde this faucon gan to crye And swouned ofte in Canaces barme Great was y e sorowe for that haukes harme That Canace and all her women made They nyst how they might her faucon glade But Canace home bereth here in her lappe And softely in playsters gan her wrappe There as she w t her becke had hurt her selue Nowe can not Canace but herbes delue Out of the grounde and make salues newe Of herbes precious and fyne of hewe To helen with the hauke fro day to nyght She dothe her besynesse and all her might And by her beddes heed she made a mewe And couered it with veluettes blewe In sygne of trouthe that is in women sene And al withouten y e Mewe is peynted grene In which were peynted al these false foules As ben these tydefes tercelettes and owles Ryght for dispyte were peynted hem besyde Pyes on hem for to crye and chyde Thys leue I Canace her hauke kepynge I wol nomore as nowe speke of her rynge Tyl it come efte to purpos for to sayn How that this faucon gate her loue agayn Repentant as the story telleth vs By mediatyon of Camballus The kynges sonne of whiche I of tolde But hensforthe I wol my proces holde To speken of auentures and of batayls That yet was neuer herd of so gret marueâ—ls Fyrst wol I tel you of Cambuscan That in hys tyme many a cyte wan Howe that he wan Theodora to hys wyfe And after wol I speke of Algarsyfe For whom ful ofte in great peryl he was Ne had he ben holpen by the horse of bras And after wol I speke of Camballo That fought in listes with the brethern two For Canace er that he myght her wyn And there I left I wol agayn begyn ¶ Explicit secunda pars Apollo whirleth vp his chare so hye Tyl that the god Mercurius house he slye ¶ There can be founde no more of this foresayd tale whiche hath ben sought in dyuers places ¶ Here foloweth the wordes of the Marchaunt to the Squyer and the wordes of
drenched hem selfe as bokes tell They of Messene let enquire and seke Of Lacidomony fyfty maydens eke On which they wolde haue don her lechery But there was none of al that company That she nas slayne and with a glad entenâ— Chese rather for to dyen than for to assent To ben oppressed of her maydenhede why shulde I than to dye ben in drede Lo eke the tyraunt Aristoclides That loued a mayde y t hight Symphalydes whan that her father slayne was on a nyght Vnto Dyanes temple gothe she anon ryght And hente the ymage with her armes two Fro whiche ymage wolde she neuer go No wight might fro it her hondes race Tyl she was slayne right in the selfe place Now sythnes y t maydens had such dispyte To ben defouled with mannes foule delyte wel ought a wyfe rather her selfe slee Than be defouled as thynketh me What shal I say of Hasdruballes wyfe That at Cartage byrafte her selfe her lyfe For whaÌ„ she sawe y e romanes wan the town She toke her chyldren al and lepte adown Into the fyre and chese rather to dye Than any roman dyd her villanye Hath not Lucrece islayne her selfe alas At Rome there she oppressed was Of Tarquyne for her thought it was shame To lyue whan that she had lost her name The eyght maydens of Melesye also Han slayn hem selue for very drede and wo Rather than folke of Gaule shuld heÌ„ oppresse Mo than a thousande stories as I gesse Couthe I nowe tel as touchyng this matere ¶ whan Abradas was slayn his wife so dere Her selfe slowe and let her bloode to glyde In Abradas woundes brode and wyde And sayd my body at the leste way There shal no wight defoule yf I may ¶ What shulde I mo ensamples herof sayn Sythens that so many han hem selfe slayn Wel rather than they wolde defouled be I wol conclude that it is best for me Wel rather slee my selfe in some manere As dyd demoâ—tious doughter dere Bycause that she nolde not defouled be ¶ O Sedasus it is ful great pyte To reden howe thy doughters dyden alas That slowen hem selfe for such a maner caas As great a pyte was it or wel more The Theban mayden that for Nychanore For one of Macedone had her oppressed with her dethe her maydenhede she redressed ¶ What shal I sayne of Nycerates wyfe That for suche case birafte her selfe her lyfe ¶ Howe trewe was eke to Alcibyades His loue that for to dyen rather thees Than for to suffren his body vnburyed be ¶ Lo whiche a wyfe was Alceste ê™ she what saythe Homere of good Penelope Al Grece knoweth of her chastyte ¶ Parde of Laodomia is written thus That whaÌ„ at Troy was slayn Protheselaus No lenger nolde she lyue after his day ¶ The same of noble Portia tel I may withouten Brutus couthe she not lyue To whom she had al her herte igyue ¶ The parfyte wyfehode of Artemisy Honoured is throughout al Barbary ¶ Oh Thenta quene thy wifely chastyte To al wyues may a myrrour be The same thyng I saye of Bilâ—a Of Rodogone and eke Valeria ¶ Thus playned Dorigene a day or twey Purposyng euer that she wolde dey But nathelesse vpon the thyrde nyght Home came Arueragus the worthy knight And asked her why she wepte so sore And she gan wepen euer lenger the more ¶ Alas ê™ she that euer was I borne Thus haue I said ê™ she thus haue I sworn And tolde him al as ye haue herde before It nedeth not to reherce it no more ¶ This husboÌ„de w t glad chere in soÌ„drie wyse Answerde and sayd as I shal you deuyse Is there aught els Dorigene but this ¶ Nay nay ê™ she god helpe me so as wys This is to moche and it were goddes wyl ¶ Ye wyfe ê™ he let slepe that is styl It may be wel yet parauenture to day Ye shal your trouthe holde by my fay For god so wysly haue mercy on me I had wel leuer stycked for to be For very loue whiche that I to you haue But yf ye shulde your trouthe saue Trouth is the hyest thyng that meÌ„ may kepe But with that worde he brast anon to wepe And said I you forbyd on payne of dethe That neuer whiles you lasteth lyfe or brethe To no wight tel of this misauenture As I may beste I wol my wo endure Ne make no countenaunce of heuynesse That folke of you may deme harme ne gesse And forthe he cleped a squier and a mayde Gothe forthe anon with Dorigene he sayde And bringeth her in suche a place anone They toke her leue on her way they gone But they ne wyste why she thyder went She nolde no wight tel her entent ¶ This squier whiche that hyght Aurelius On Dorigen whiche that was so amerous Of auenture happed her to mete Amydde the towne right in the hye strete As she wolde haue gon the way forthe right Towarde the garden there as she had hyght And he was to the garden warde also For wel he spyed whan she wolde go Out of her house to any maner place But thus they met of auenture or of grace And he salueth her with glad entent And asked of her whyther that she went ¶ And she answerde halfe as she were madde Vnto the garden as my husbonde badde My trouthe for to holde alas alas Aurelius gan wondren of this caas And in his hert had great compassyon Of her chere and of her lamentation And of Aruyragus the worthy knyght That bade her holde al that she had hyght So loth he was y t she shuld breke her trouth And in hys herte he caught of it great routh Consydryng the beste on euery syde That fro his luste were him better abyde Than do so hye a churlishe wretchydnesse Ayenst fraunchise ayenst al gentylnesse For whiche in fewe wordes said he thus Madame saythe to your lorde Aruiragus That sythen I se this great gentylnesse Of hym and eke I se wel your distresse That ye to me thus shuld holde your trouthe Certes me thynketh it were great routhe I haue wel leuer euer to suffre wo Than departe the loue bytwyxt you two I you relese madame into your honde Quyte euery surement and euery bonde That ye haue made to me as here byforne Sythens thylke tyme that ye were borne my trouth I plight I shal you neuer repreue Of no beheste and here I take my leue As of the trewest and the beste wyfe That euer yet I knewe in al my lyfe But euery wight beware of her byheste On Dorigene remembreth at the leste Thus can a squyer done a gently dede As wel as can a knyght withouten drede ¶ She thonked hym vpon her knees al bare And home vnto her husbonde is she fare And tolde him al as ye han herde me sayde And be ye syker he was so wel apayde That it were vnpossible me to write What shulde I lenger of this case endyte Arueragus and
these noble thinges him sent And bad his sonne howe that he shuld make The presentynge and to the quene it take Repayred is thys Achates agayne And Eneas full blysfull is and fayne To sene hys yonge sonne Ascanyus For to hym it was reported thus That Cupido that is the god of loue At prayer of hys mother hye aboue And the lykenesse of the chylde ytake Thys noble quene enamoured for to make On Eneas but of that scripture Be as be maye I make of it no cure But soth is thys y e quene hath made suche chere Vnto this child that woÌ„der is to here And of the presente that hys father sent She thanked hym ofte in good entent Thus is thys quene in pleasaunce ioye wyth all these newe lusty folke of Troye And of the dedes hath she more enquyred Of Eneas and all the storye lered Of Troye and all the longe day they twey Entendeden for to speke and for to pley Of whych there gan to breden suche a fyre That sely Dido hath nowe suche desyre wyth Eneas her newe geste to deale That she loste her hewe and eke her heale Nowe to theffecte nowe to the frute of all why I haue tolde thys storye and telleÌ„ shall Thus I begynne it fell vpon a nyght when that the moone vpreysed had her lyght Thys noble quene vnto her reste wente She sygheth sore gon her selfe turmente She waketh waloweth made many braid As done these louers as I haue herde sayd And at the laste vnto her suster Anne She made her mone riÈt thus spak she thaÌ„ Nowe dere suster myne what may it be That me agasteth in my dreme quod she Thys ylke newe troyan is so in my thought For that me thynketh he is so wel ywrought And eke so lykely to ben a man And therwyth so mykell good he can That al my loue and lyfe lyeth in hys cure Haue ye not herde hym tell hys auenture Nowe certes Anne yf that ye rede me I woll fayne to hym ywedded be Thys is y e effecte what shulde I more seyne In hym lyeth all to do my lyue or deyne Her suster Anne as she y t coulde her good Said as her thought somdele it withstode But here of was so longe a sermonynge It were to longe to make rehersynge But fynally it maye not be wythstonde Loue woll loue for no wyght wol it wonde The dawnynge vp ryst out of the see Thys amerous quene chargeth her meyne The nettes dresse and speares brode kene An huntynge woll thys lusty freshe quene So prycketh her thys newe ioly wo To horse is all her lusty folke ygo Vnto the court the houndes ben ybrought And vp on courser swyfte as any thought Her yonge knyghtes heuen all aboute And of her women eke an huge route Vpon a thycke palfraye paper whyte wyth sadell reed enbrouded wyth delyte Of golde the barres vp enbossed hygh Sate Dido all in golde and perrey wrygh And she is fayre as is the bryght morowe That healeth sycke folkes of nyghtes sorow Vpon a courser startlynge as the fyre Men myght turne hym wyth a lytell wyre But Eneas lyke Phebus to deuyse So was he freshe arayed in hys wyse The fomy brydell wyth the bytte of golde Gouerneth he ryght as hym self hath wolde And forth thys noble quene thys lady ryde On huntynge wyth thys troyan by her syde The heerde of hartes founden is anone with hey gobet prycke thou let gon let gone why nyll the lyon comen or the beare That I might him ones meteÌ„ w t this speare Thus sayne this yonge folke vp they kyll The wylde hartes haue hem at her wyll Amonge al thys to romblen gan the heuen The thonder rored wyth a grysly steuen Downe come y e rayne w t hayle slet so faste wyth heuens fyre that made so sore agaste Thys noble quene and also her meyne That eche of hem was glad awaye to flye And shortly fro the tempest her to saue She fled her selfe into a lytell caue And wyth her went thys Eneas also I not wyth hem yf there went any mo The auctoure maketh of it no mencion And here began the depe affection Bytwixt hem two this was y e fyrst morowe Of her gladnesse gynnyng of her sorowe For there hath Eneas ykneled so And tolde her all hys hurte and all hys wo And sworne so depe to her to be trewe For well or wo and chaunge for no newe And as a false louer so well can playne That sely Dido rewed on hys payne And toke him for husboÌ„de became his wife For euer more whyle that hem laste lyfe And after thys when y t the tempest stente with myrth out as they came home they weÌ„t The wycked fame vp rose and that anone Howe Eneas hath wyth the quene ygone In to the caue and demed as hem leste And when y e kyng y t Yarbas hyght it wyst As he that had her loued euer hys lyfe And wowed her to haue to hys wyse Such sorow as he hath maked suche chere It is a ruthe and pyte for to here But as in loue aldaye it happeth so That one shall laughen at anothers wo Nowe laugheth Eneas and is in ioye And more richesse then euer was in Troye O sely woman full of innocence Full of pyte of truthe and contynence what maked you to men to trusten so Haue ye such routh vpon her fayned wo And haue suche olde ensamples you beforne Se ye not all howe they ben forsworne where se ye one that he ne hath lafte his lefe Or ben vnkynde or done her some myschefe Or pylled her or bosted of hys dede Ye maye as well it sene as ye may rede Take hede nowe of thys great gentylman Thys troyan that so well her please can That fayneth hym so trewe and obeysynge So gentyll and so preuy of hys doynge And can so well done all hys obeysaunce To her at feestes and at daunce And wheÌ„ she goeth to temple home ageine And fasten tyll he hath hys lady seyne And bearen in hys deuyses for her sake Not I not what and songes wolde he make Iusten and done of armes many thynges Sende her letters tokens broches rynges Now herkneth how he shal his lady serue There as he was in peryll for to sterue For honger and for myschefe in the see And desolate and fledde fro hys countree And all hys folke wyth tempest al to dryuen She hath her body eke her realme yeuen In to hys honde there she myght haue bene Of other lande then of Cartage a quene And lyued iÌ„ ioy ynough what wold ye more Thys Eneas that hath thus depe yswore Is wery of hys crafte wythin a throwe The hote ernest is all ouerblowe And priuely he doth hys shyppes dyght And shapeth hym to steale awaye by nyght Thys Dido hath suspection of thys And thought well that it was all amys For in hys bedde he lyeth a nyght
sake full ofte they suffre sore wythout women were all our ioye lore wherfore we ought all women to obey In all goodnesse I can no more say This is well knowen and hath ben or thys That women ben cause of al lyghtnesse Of knighthode norture eschewyng al malis Encrease of worshyp and of al worthynesse Therto curteys and meke and grounde of all goodnesse Glad and mery and trewe in euery wyse That any gentyl herte can thynke or deuyse And though any wold trust to your vntruth And to your fayre wordes wold aught assent In good fayth me thinketh it were gret ruth That other women shold for her gylt be sheÌ„t That neuer knew ne wist nouÈt of her enteÌ„t Ne lyste not to here y e fayre wordes ye write whyche ye you payne fro day to day tendyte But who may be ware of your tales vntrew That ye so busyly paynt and endyte For ye wyll swere that ye neuer knewe Ne sawe the woman neyther moche ne lyte Saue onely her to whom ye had delyte As for to serue of all that euer ye sey And for her loue muste ye nedes dey ThaÌ„ wyl ye swere that ye knew neuer before what loue was ne his dredfull obseruaunce But nowe ye fele that he can wounde sore wherfore ye put you in to her gouernaunce whoÌ„ loue hath ordeyned you to serue do plesauÌ„ce w t all your miÈt your lytel lyues space whyche endeth sone but yf she do you grace And than to bedde wyll ye soone drawe And sone sicke ye wyll you than fayne And swere fast your lady hath you slawe And brouÈt you sodeynly in so hygh a payn That fro your deth may no maÌ„ you restrayn wyth a daungerous loke of her eyen two That to your dethe must ye nedes go Thus wyl ye morne thus wyll ye syghe sore As though your herte anon iÌ„ two wold brest And swere fast that ye may lyue no more Myne owne lady that myght yf ye lest Brynge myne herte somdele in to rest As yf you lyst mercy on me to haue Thus your vntrouth wyll euer mercy craue Thus wol ye playne tho ye nothyng smerte These innocent creatures for to begyle And swere to hem so wounded is your herte For her loue that ye may lyue no whyle Scarsly so longe as one might go a myle So hyeth dethe to brynge you to an ende But yf your souerayn lady lyst you to ameÌ„de And yf for routh she coÌ„forte you in any wyse For pyte of your false othes sere So y e innocent weneth y t it be as you deuyse And weneth your herte be as she may here Thus for to coÌ„fort somwhat do you chere Than woll these ianglers deme of her ful yl And sayne that ye haue her fully at your wyl Lo howe redy her tonges ben and prest To speke harme of women causelesse Alas why might ye not as wel say the best As for to deme hem thus gyltlesse In your herte ywis there is no gentylnesse that of your own gylte lyst thus womeÌ„ fame Now by my trouth me thynk ye be to blame For of women cometh this worldly wele wherfore we ought to worship heÌ„ euermore And though it mishap one we ouÈt for to hele For it is all through our false lore That day and night we payne vs euermore wyth many an othe these women to begyle wyth false tales and many a wycked wyle And yf falshede shulde be reckened and tolde In women iwys full trouthe were Not as in men by a thousande folde Fro all vyces twys they stande clere In any thyng that euer I coude of here But yf entysyng of these men it make That hem to flatteren connen neuer slake I wold fayne were wher euer ye coude here without mens tising what womeÌ„ dyd amys For ther ye may get heÌ„ ye lye fro yere to yere And many a gabbynge ye make to hem iwys For I coude neuer here ne knowen er thys where euer ye coude fynde in any place That euer women besought you of grace There ye you payne with al your ful might wyth all your herte and all your besynesse To pleasen hem bothe by day and nyght Prayeng hem of her grace and gentylnesse To haue pyte vpon your great distresse And y e they wolde on your payne haue routh And slee you not sens ye meane but trouh Thus may ye se that they ben fautelesse And innocent to all your werkes slye And all your craftes that touche falsnesse They know hem not ne may hem not espye So sweare ye that ye must nedes dye But yf they wolde of her womanheed Vpon you rewe er that ye be deed And than your lady and your hertes quene Ye call hem and therwyth ye sygh sore And say my lady I trowe that it be sene In what plyte that I haue lyued full yore But nowe I hope that ye woll no more In these paynes suffre me for to dwell For of all goodnesse iwys ye be the well Lo whiche a paynted processe can ye make These harmlesse creatures for to begyle And whan they slepe ye payne you to wake And to bethink you on many a wycked wyle But ye shal se the day y t ye shal curse y e whyle That ye so besily dyd your entent Hem to begyle that falshede neuer ment For this ye knowe wel though I wolde lye In women is all trouthe and stedfastnesse For in good faythe I neuer of hem sye But moche worshyp bounte and gentilnesse Right commyng fayre and ful of mekenesse Good and glad and lowly you ensure Is thys goodly angelyke creature And yf it happe a man be in disease She dothe her busynesse and her full payne wyth all her might him to comforte please If fro hys disease she might hym restrayne In worde ne dede iwys she wol not fayne But with al her might she doth her besinesse To brynge hym out of hys heuynesse Lo what gentyllesse these women haue If we coude knowe it for our rudenesse Howe besy they be vs to kepe and saue Bothe in heale and also in sycknesse And alway ryght sory for our distresse In euery maner thus shewe they routhe That in hem is all goodnesse and trouthe And syth we fynd in hem geÌ„tilnesse trouth worshyp bounte and kyndenesse euermore Let neuer this geÌ„tilesse through your slouth In her kynde trouthe be aught forlore That in woman is and hath ben ful yore For in reuerence of the heuens quene we ought to worshyp all women that bene For of all creatures y t euer were get borne This wote ye well a woman was the best By her was recouered y e blysse y t we had lorn And through y t woman shal we come to rest And ben ysaued yf that our selfe lest wherfore me thynketh yf that we had grace we oughten honour women in euery place Therfore I rede that to our lyues ende Fro thys tyme forth whyle y t we haue space
dyd this Eolus but he Toke out hys blacke trumpe of bras That fouler than the deuyll was And gan this trumpe for to blowe As all the worlde sholde ouerthrowe Throughout euery regioun wente this foule trumpes soun As sâ—â—yfte as a pellet out of a gonne whan fyre is in the pouder ronne And suche a smoke gan out wende Out of the foule trumpes ende Blacke blo grenysshe swartyshe rede As dothe where that men melte lede Lo all on hye from tewell And therto one thynge sawe I well That the ferther that it ranne The greter wexen it began As dothe the ryuer frome a well And it stanke as the pyt of hell Alas thus was her shame yrâ—nge And gyltlesse on euery tonge Tho came the thyrde company And gone vp to the dees to hye And downe on knees they fell anon And sayden we ben euerychon Folke that han full trewly Deserued fame ryghtfully And prayde you it myght be knowe Ryght as it is and forthe blowe I graunt ê™ she for nowe me lyste That your good workes shall be wyst And yet ye shall haue better loos Ryght in dispyte of all your foos Than worthy is and that anone Lette nowe ê™ she thy trumpe gone Thou Eolus that is so blake And out thyne other trumpe take That hyght Laude and blowe it so That through the wolde her fame go All easely and nat to fast That it be knowen at the last Full gladly lady myne he sayde And out hys trumpe of golde he brayde Anone and sette it to hys mouthe And blewe it eest west and southe And northe as loude as any thonder That euery wyght hath of it wonder So brode it ran or that it stene And certes all the brethe that went Out of hys trumpes mouthe smelde As men a potte full of baume helde Amonge a basket full of roses This fauour dyd he to her loses And ryght wyth this I gan espy There came the fourth company But certayne they were wonder fewe And gonne to standen on a rewe And sayden certes lady bright we haue done well wyth all oure myght But we ne kepe to haue fame Hyde our workes and our name For goddes loue for certes we Haue surely done it for bounte And for no maner other thyng I graunt you all your askyng ê™ she let your workes be deed Wyth that aboute I tourned my heed And sawe anon the fyfte route That to thys lady gan loute And downe on knees anone to fall And to her tho besoughten all To hyden her good werkes eke And sayd they yeue nat a leke For no fame ne suche renoun For they for contemplacioun And goddes loue had it wrought Ne of fame wolde they nought What ê™ she and be ye woode And wene ye for to do good And for to haue of that no fame Haue ye dispyte to haue my name Nay ye shall lyen euerychone Blowe thy trumpe and that anone ê™ she thou Eolus I hote And rynge these folkes workes by note That all the worlde may of it here And he gan blowe her loos so clere In hys golden clartoun That through the worlde went the soun All so kyndly and eke so softe That theyr fame was blowe a lofte Tho came the syxt companye And gan fast to Fame crye Ryght verily in thys manere They sayden mercy lady dere To tell certayne as it is we haue done neyther that ne thys But ydell all our lyfe hath be But nathelesse yet pray we That we may haue as good a fame And great renome and knowen name As they that haue do noble iestes And acheued all her questes As well of loue as other thyng All was vs neuer broche ne ryng Ne els what fro women sent Ne ones in her herte yment To maken vs onely frendly chere But mought temen vs on bere Yet let vs to the people seme Suche as the worlde may of vs deme That women louen vs for woode It shall do vs as moche good And to our herte as moche auayle The counterpeyse ease and trauayle As we had wone wyth labour For that is dere bought honoure At regarde of our great ease And yet ye muste vs more please Let vs be holde eke therto worthy wyse and good also And ryche and happy vnto loue For goddes loue that sytteth aboue Though we may nat the body haue Of women yet so god me saue Lette men glewe on vs the name Suffyseth that we haue the fame I graunt ê™ she by my trouthe Nowe Eolus wythouten slouthe Take out thy trumpe of golde ê™ she And blowe as they haue asked me That euery man wene hem at ease Though they go in full badde lease Thys Eolus gan it so blowe That through the worlde it was yknowe Tho came the seuenth route anone And fyll on knees euerychone And sayd lady graunt vs soone The same thyng the same boone That this next folke haue done Fye on you ê™ she euerychone Ye masty swyne ye ydel wretches Full of roten slowe tet ches what false theues where ye wolde Ben famed good and nothyng nolde Deserue why ne neuer thought Men rather you to hangen ought For ye be lyke the slepy catte That wolde haue fysh but wost thou what He woll nothyng wete hys clawes Yuell thrifte come to your iawes And on myne yf I it graunt Or do fauour you to auaunt Thou Eolus thou kyng of Trace Go blowe this folke a sory grace ê™ she anone and wost thou howe As I shall tell the ryght nowe Say these ben they that wolde honour Haue and do no kyns labour Ne do no good and yet haue laude And that men wende that beelle Isaude Ne coude hem nat of loue werne And yet she that grynt at querne Is al to good to ease her herte This Eolus anon vp sterte And with his blacke clarion He gan to blasen out a soun As lounde as belleth wynde in hel And eke therwith sothe to tel This sowne was so ful of iapes As euer mowes were in apes And that went al the worlde aboute That euery wight gan on hem shoute And for to laugh as they were wode Suche game founde they in her hode Tho came another company That had ydone the trechery The harme and great wickednesse That any herte couden gesse And prayed her to haue good fame And that she nolde do hem no shame But gyue hem loos and good renoun And do it blowe in claryoun Nay wys quod she it were a vyce Al be there in me no iustyce Me lyst nat to do it nowe Ne this I nyl graunt it you Tho came there leapyng in a route And gan clappen al aboute Euery man vpon the crowne That al the hall gan to sowne And sayd lady lete and dere we ben suche folkys as ye may here To tel al the tale a ryght we ben shrewes euery wyght And haue delyte in wickednesse As good folke haue in goodnesse And ioye to be knowen shrewes And ful of vyce and wicked thewes
lyghtlye come to the grace that thou longe hast desyred of thilke iewel Hast thou not herde many ensamples howe I haue comforted and releued the scholers of my lore who hathe worthyed kynges in the felde who hath honoured ladyes in boure by a perpetual myrroure of theyr trouthe in my seruyce who hath caused worthye folke to voyde vyce shame who hath holde cyties and realmes in prosperitie yf the lyste cleape ayen thyne olde remeÌ„braunce thou coudest euery poynt of this declare in especyall and saye that I thy maystresse haue be cause causyng these thynges and many mo other Nowe ywys madame quod I al these thinges I know well my selfe and that thyne excellence passeth the vnderstandynge of vs beestes and that nomans wyt erthly may comprehende thy vertues well than ê™ she for I se the in disease and sorow I wote wel thou art one of myne nories I maye not suffre the so to make sorow thyne owne selfe to shende but I my selfe come to be thy fere thyne heauye charge to make to seme the lesse for woo is hym that is alone And to the sory to beÌ„ moned by a sorowfull wyght it is greate gladnesse Right so with my sycke frendes I am sycke and with sorye I can not els but sorowe make tyll whan I haue hem releued in suche wyse that gladnesse in a maner of countrepaysyng shal restore as mokel in ioy as the passed heuynesse beforne dyd in tene And also ê™ she whan anye of my seruauntes ben alone in solitary place I haue yet euer busyed me to be with hem in comfort of theyr hertes and taught hem to make songes of playnte and of blysse and to endyten letters of rethorycke in queynt vnderstaÌ„dynges to bethynke hem in what wyse they mygt best theyr ladyes in good seruice plese and also to lerne maner in countenaunce in wordes in bearynge and to ben meke and lowlye to euery wyght his name fame to encrease and to yeue great yeftes and large that his renome may spryngen but the therof haue I excused for thy losse and thy great costages wherthrough thou art nedy arne nothynge to me vnknowen but I hope to god somtyme it shall ben amended as thus as I sayde In nortuoure haue I taught al myne and in curtesie made hem expert their ladyes hertes to wyn and yf any wolde endeynous or proude or be enuious or of wretches acquayntaunce hasteliche haue I such voyded out of my schole for all vyces trulye I hate vertues and worthynesse in all my power I auaunce Ah worthye creature ê™ I and by iuste cause the name of goddesse dignely ye mowe beare In the lyth y e grace through which any creature in this worlde hath any goodnesse truly all maner of blysse and precyousnesse in vertue out of the springen and wellen as brokes and ryuers proceden from theyr sprynges and lyke as all waters by kynde drawen to the see so all kyndly thynges thresten by full appetyte of desyre to draw after thy steppes and to thy presence approche as to theyr kyndely perfectioÌ„ How dare than beestes in this world ought forfayte ayenste thy deuyne purueyaunce Also ladye ye knowen all the pryuye thoughtes in hertes no counsayle may ben hydde from your knowynge wherfore I wot well lady that ye knowe youre selfe that I in my conscyence am and haue ben wyllyng to your seruyce al coulde I neuer do as I shulde yet forsothe fayned I neuer to loue otherwise thaÌ„ was in myne herte and yf I coulde haue made cheare to one and ythought an other as many other done all daye afore myne eyen I trowe it wolde not me haue vayled Certes quod she haddest thou so done I wold not now haue the here vysited Ye wete wel lady eke quod I that I haue not played racket nettyll in docke out and with the wethercock waued and truly there ye me sette by accorde of my conscience I wolde not flye tyll ye and reason by aperte strength made myne herte to tourne In good faythe quod she I haue knowe the euer of tho condicions and sytheÌ„ thou woldest in as moche as in the was a made me pryuy of thy counsayle and iuge of thy conscience though I forsoke it in tho dayes tyl I sawe better my tyme wold neuer god that I shulde now fayle but euer I wyll be ready wytnessynge thy soth in what place that euer I shall ayenste all tho that wol the contrary susteyne And for as moch as to me is nought vnknowen ne hydde of thy pryuy hert but al hast thou tho thinges made to me open at the full that hath caused my commynge into this prison to voyde the webbes of thyne eyen to make the clerly to se the erroures thou hast bene in and bycause that men bene of dyuers condicyons some adradde to saye a soth and some for a sothe anon readye to fyght and also that I maye not my selfe bene in place to withsaye thylke men that of the speaken otherwyse than the sothe I woll and I charge the in vertue of obedyence that thou to me owest to wryten my wordes and set hem in wrytynges that they mowe as my wytnessyng ben noted amonge the people For bookes wrytten neyther dreden ne shame ne stryue conne but only shewen the entent of the writer and yeue remembraunce to the hearer and yf anye woll in thy presence saye anye thynge to tho wryters loke boldlye truste on Mars to answer at the full For certes I shall hym enfourme of all the trouthe in thy loue with thy conscience so that of his help thou shalt not varye at thy nede I trowe the strongeste and the best that may be founde woll not transuers thy wordes whereof than woldest thou drede GReatlye was I tho gladed of these wordes and as who saith wexen somdele lyght in hert both for the auctoritie of wytnesse also for syckernesse of helpe of the forsayd be hest and sayd Trulye ladye now am I well gladded through coÌ„fort of your wordes be it now lykynge vnto your nobleye to shewe whiche folke defame your seruauntes syth your seruyce ought aboue all other thynges to bene commended Yet quod she I se well thy soule is not all out of the amased cloude the were better to here thynge y t the myght lyght out of thyne heuy charge and after knowynge of thyne owne heelpe than to styrr swete wordes suche reasons to here for in a thoughtfull soule and namelye suche one as thou arte woll not yet suche thynges synken Come of therfore and let me sene thyne heuye charge that I maye the lyghtlyer for thy comforte purueye Now certes ladye quod I the moost coÌ„fort I myght haue were vtterly to wete me be sure in herte of that Margaryte I serue and so I thynke to done wyth all myghtes whyle my lyfe dureth ThaÌ„ quod she mayest thou thereafter in suche wyse that myspleasaunce ne entre In good fayth quod I there shall no myspleasaunce be