by nyght whiche sheweth hym to mans syght They clepen Eges the whiche brenneth Lyke to the currant fyre that renneth Vpon a corde as thou haste sene when it with poudre is so besene Of sulphur and other thynges mo There is a nother fyre also whiche semeth to a mans eye By nyghtes tyme as though there flye Aâ—ragon brennynge in the skye And that is cleped proprely Daâ—li wherof men say full ofte Lo where the fyrye drake a lofte Fleeth vp in th aire and so they deâ—en But why the fyres suche semen Of sondry forme to beholde The wyse philosophre tolde So as to fore it hath bene herde Lo thus my sonne it hath ferde Of ayre the due proprete In sondry wyse thou myght se And howe vnder the firmament It is eke the thyrde element whiche enuyroneth bothe two The water and the lande also ☞ Nota de igne quod est quartum elementum ¶ And for to tell ouer this Of elementes whiche the forthe is That is the Fire in his degre whiche enuironeth thother thre And is without moyste all drye But lyst nowe what seyth the clergie For vpon hem that I haue sayde The creatour hath set and leyde The kynde and the complexion Of all mennes nacion Foure elementes sondry there be Lyche vnto whiche of that degre Amonge the men there bene also Complections foure and no mo wherof the philosophre treteth That he nothyng behynde leteth And seyth howe that they bene diuerse So as I shall to the reherce ⧠Nota hic qualiter secundum naturam quatuor elementoruÌ„ quatuor in humano corpore complexiones scilicet MelaÌ„colia Flengma SaÌ„guis et Colera naturaliter constituuntur vnde primo de Melancolia dicendum est ⧠He whiche naturith euery kynde The myghty god so as I fynde Of man whiche is his creature Hath so deuyded the nature That none tyll other well accordeth And by the cause it so discordeth The lyfe whiche feleth the sykenesse May stonde vpon no likernesse ¶ Of therthe whiche is colde and dry The kynde of man Melancolye Is cleped and that is the fyrste The moste vngoodlyche and the werste For vnto loues werke on nyght Hym lacketh both wyll and myght No wondre is in lusty place Of loue though he lese grace what man hath that complexion Full of imagination Of dedes and of wrathfull thoughte He freteth hym seluen all to noughte ☞ De complexione fleugmatis ¶ The water whiche is moyste colde Maketh fleme whiche is manyfolde Foryetel slowe and wery sone Of euery thynge whiche is to done He is of kinde suffisaunt To holde loue his couenaunt But that him lacketh appetyte whiche longeth vnto suche delyte ⧠De complexione sanguinis what man that takth his kind of thaier He shall be lyght he shall be fayre For his complexion is bloode Of all there is none so good For he hath both wyll and might To please and pay loue his right where as he hath loue vndertake wronge is if that he forsake ☞ De complexione colere ¶ The first of his condicion Appropreth the complexion whose properties ben drye and hote whiche in a man is coler hote It maketh a man ben engynous And swyfte of fote and eke yrous Of conteke and foole hastynesse He hath a ryght great besynesse To thynke on loue and lytell may Though he be hote well a day On nyght whan that he woll assay He may full euyll his dettes paye ⧠Nota qualiter quatuor complexiones quatuor in homine habitationes diuisim possident ☞ After the kynde of thelement Thus stant a mans kinde went As touchend his complexion Vpon sondry diuision Of drye of moyst of chele of bete And eche of hem his owne sete Appropred hath within a man And first to telle as I began ☞ Splen domus melancolie The splen is to Melancolye Assigned for berbyrgery ⧠☞ Pulmo domus flengmatis ¶ The moyst fleume with the colde Hath in the longes for his holde Ordeined him a propre stede To dwell there as he is bede ⧠Epar domus sanguinis ⧠¶ To the sanguine complexion Nature of his inspection A propre bous hath in the lyuer For his dwellinge made delyuer ☞ Fel domus colere ⧠¶ The drye coler with his bete By wey of kynde his propre sete Hath in the galle where be dwelleth So as the philosophre telleth ☞ Nota de stomacho qui vna cum aliis cordi sâ—ecâ—alius deseruit ¶ Nowe ouer this is for to wyte As it is in phisike wryte Of lyuer of longe of galle of splene They all vnto the herte bene Seruauntes and eche in his offyce Entenden to don him seruice As he whiche is chiefe lorde aboue The lyuer makth him for to loue The longe gyueth him wey of speche The galle serueth to do wreche The splen doth him to laugh and plâ—y whan all vnclennes is a way Lo thus hath eche of hem his dede To susteynen hem and fede In tyme of recreation Nature hath increation The stomake for a comune koke Ordeined so as sayth the boke The stomake cooke is for the ball And boyleth mete for hem all To make hem myghty for to serue The herte that he shall nought sterue For as a kynge in his empire Aboue all other is lorde and syre So is the herte principall To whom reason in speciall Is yeue as for the gouernance ¶ And thus nature his purueance Hath made for man to lyuen here But god whiche hath the soule dere Hath formed it in other wyse That can no man pleynely deuise But as the clerkes vs enforme That lyche to god it hath a forme Through which figure which likenesse The soule hath many an high noblesse Appropried to his owne kynde But of hir wyttes ben made blynde Al onelyche of this ylke poynte That hir abydyng is conioynte Forth with the body for to dwelle That one desireth towarde belle That other vpwarde to the heuen So shall they neuer stonde in euen But if the flesshe be ouercome And that the soule haue holly nome The gouernance and that is selde whyle that the flesshe him may bewelde All erthely thynge whiche god began was only made to serue man But he the soule all onely made Hym seluen for to serue and glade All other bestes that men fynde They seruen vnto her owne kynde But to reason the soule serueth wherof the man his thonke deserueth And get hym with his workes goode The perdurable lyues foode ☞ Hic laquitur vlterinâ— de diuisione terre que post diluuium tribus filiis Noe in tres partes scilicet Asiam Affricam / et Europam diuidevatur ¶ Of what matere it shall be tolde A tale lyketh many folde The better if that it be spoke pleyne Thus thynke I for to tourne ageyne And telle plenerly therfore Of the erthe wherof nowe tofore I spake and of the water eke So as these olde bokes speke And sette properly the bounde After the forme of
Mappamounde Through which the grounde by purparties Departed is in thre parties That is Asye Affrike Europe The whiche vnder the heuen cope Begrypeth all this erthe rounde As ferre as stretcheth any ground But after that the high wreche The water weyes let out seche And ouergo the hylles bye whiche euery kynde made dye That vpon myddell erth stode Out take Noe and his bloode His sonnes and his doughters thre They were saue and so was he Her names who that rede ryght Sem Cam Iaphet the brethern hyght And whan thylke almighty bonde withdrough the water fro the londe And all the rage was away And erth was the mans waye The sonnes thre of whiche I tolde Ryght after that hem selfe wolde This worlde departe they begonne Asia whiche lay to the sonne Vpon the marche of Oryent was graunted by commune assent To Sem whiche was the sonne eldest For that partie was the best And double as moche as other two And was that tyme bounded so wher as the floud whiche men Nile calleth Departed fro his cours and falleth In to the see Alexandryne There taketh Asye first sesyne Towardeth weste and ouer this Of Canabim where the flode is In to the great see rennende Fro that in to the worldes ende Estwarde Asye it is algates Tyll that men comen to the gates Of paradys and there ho. And shortely for to speake it so Of Orient in generall within his bounde Asye hath all ¶ De Affrica et Europa ¶ And than vpon that other syde westwarde as it fell thylke tyde The brother whiche was hote Cam Vnto his parte Affryke nam Iaphet Europe tho toke he Thus parten they the worlde on thre But yet there ben of londes fele In Occident as for the chele In oriente as for the hete whiche of the people be forlete As londe deserte that is vnable For it may not ben habitable ¶ Nota de mare quod magnuÌ„ OceanuÌ„ dicitur ¶ The water eke hath sondry bounde After the londe where it is founde And takth his name of thylke londes where that it renneth on the strondes But thilke se whiche hath no wane Is cleped the great Ocean Out of whiche aryse and come The hye flouddes all and some Is none so lytell well sprynge whiche there ne takth his begynnynge And lyche a man that lacketh brethe By wey of kynde so it gethe Out of the see and in ageyne The water as the bokes seyne ¶ Nota hic secundum philosophum de quinto elemento quod omnia sub celo creata infra suum ambitum continet cui nomen orbis specialiter appropriatum est ¶ Of elementes the properties How that they stonden by degrees As I haue tolde nowe myght thou here My good sonne all the matere Of erthe of water ayre and fyre And for thou sayst that thy desyre Is for to weten ouermore The forme of Aristotles lore He sayth in his entendement That yet there is an element Aboue the foure and is the fyfte Set of the highe goddes yefte The whiche that Orbis cleped is And therupon he telleth this That as the shelle bole and sounde Encloseth all aboute rounde what thynge within a neye belongeth Ryght so this Orbis vnderfongeth These elementes euerychone whiche I haue spoke of one and one But ouer this nowe take good hede My sonne for I wol procede To speake vpon Mathematyke whiche grounded is on Theoryke The science of Astronomye I thynke for to specifye without whiche to tell playne All other science is in vayne Towarde the schole of erthly thynges For as an egle with his wynges Fleeth aboue all that men fynde So doth this science in his kynde Lege planetarum magis inferiora reguntur 〈◊〉 â—ed interdum regula fallit opus 〈◊〉 â—dâ—ante deo sapiens dominabitur astris 〈◊〉 nec immerito quod nouitatis agunt ☞ Hic soquitur de artis Mathematice quarta 〈◊〉 que astronomia nuncupatur cui eciam Astiâ—â—ogia socia connumeratur Sed primo de seâ—â—em planetis que inter astra potenciores existuÌ„t Iâ—â— piendo a luna seorsum tractare intendit ¶ Bynethe vpon this erthe here Of all thynges the matere As tellen vs they that ben lerned Of thynge aboue it stont gouerned That is to seyne of the planetes The cheles bothe and eke the hetes The chaunces of the worlde also That we fortune clepen so Amonge the mennes nacion All is through constellacion wherof that some man hath the wele And some men haue diseses fele In loue as well as other thynges The state of realmes and of kynges In tyme of pees in tyme of werre It is conceiued of the sterre And thus seyth the naturien whiche is an Astonomyen But the diuine saith other wyse That if men were good and wyse And plesant vnto the godhede They shulde not the sterres drede For one man if hym well befalle Is more worthe than be they all Towardes hym that weldeth all But yet the lawe originall whiche he hath set in the natures Mot worchen in the creatures That therof may be none obstacle But if it stonde vpon miracle Through praier of som holy man And for thy so as I began To speke vpon astronomye As it is write in the clergie To telle howe the planetes fare Some parte I thynke to delare My sonne vnto thin audience Astronomy is the science Of wisdom and of high coninnge whiche makth a man haue knowleching Of sterres in the fermament Figure circle and mouement Of eche of hem in sondry place And what betwene hem is of space Howe so they moue or stonde fast All this it telleth to the last Assembled with astronomy Is eke that ilke astrology The whiche in iugement accounteth Theffecte what euery sterre amounteth And howe they causen many a wonder To the clymates that stond hem vnder And for to telle it more pleyne These olde philosophers seyne That Orbis whiche I spake of er Is that whiche fro therthe a ferre Beholde and firmament it calle In whiche the sterres stonden all Amonge the whiche in speciall Planettes seuen principalle There ben that mannes syght demeth By thorizont as to vs semeth And also there ben signes twelue whiche haue her cercles by hem selue Compassed in the Zodiake In whiche they haue her places take And as they stonden in degre Her cercles more or lesse be Made after the proportion Of the erthe whose condicion Is sette to be fundament To susteyne vp the firmament And by this skylle a man may knowe The more that they stonden lowe The more ben the cercles lasse That causeth why that some passe Her due cours tofore an other But nowe my lieue dere brother As thou desyrest for to wyte what I fynde in the bokes wryte To telle of the planettes seuen How that they stonde vpon the heuen And in what point that they ben in Take hede for I woll begyn So as the philosopher taught To Alysaunder and it be taught wherof that
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
Enuy eis nought And other wyse if it besought Vpon what syde as euer it falle It is the werst vyce of alle whiche of hym selfe hath most malyce For vnderstonde that euery vyce Som cause hath wherof it groweth But of enuye no man knoweth Fro whens he cam but out of helle For thus the wyse clerkes telle That no spryte but of malyce By wey of kynde vpon a vyce Is tempted and by suche a way Enuye hath kynde put a waye And of malyce hath his sturrynge wherof he maketh his bakbytinge And is hym selfe therof dyseased So may there be no kynde pleased For ay the more that he enuyeth The more ayene hym selfe he plyeth Thus stant Enuye in good espeyre To ben hym selfe the dyuels heyre As he whiche is the next lyche And forthest from the heuen ryche For there may he neuer wonne ¶ For thy my good dere sonne If thou wolt fynde a syker weye To loue put enuye aweye ¶ Myn holy fader reason wolde That I this vice eschewe shulde But yet to strength my courage If that ye wolde in auauntage Therof set a recouere It were to me a great desyre That I this vice myght flee ¶ Nowe vnderstond my sonne see There is physyke for the seke And vertues for the vices eke who that the vyces wolde eschewe He mot by reason than sewe The vertues For by thylke weye He may the vyces done aweye For they to geder may not dwelle For as the water of the welle Of fyre abateth the malyce Ryght so vertu fordoth the vyce Ayene Enuye is Charyte whiche is the moder of pyte That maketh a mans hert tender That it may no malyce engender In hym that is inclined therto For his courage is tempred so That though he might him selfe releue yet wolde he not another greue But rather for to do plesaunce He bereth hym selfe the greuaunce So fayne he wolde another ease wherof my sonne for thyn ease Nowe herken a tale whiche I rede And vnderstonde it well I rede ¶ Hic ponit Confessor exempluÌ„ de vertute Chatitatis contra Inuidiam / Et narrat de Constantino Esene filio qui cum Imperu Romani dignitaiem obtenue rat a morb o lepre infectus medici pro sanitate recuperanda ipsum in sanguine puerororum masculo rum balneare proposuerâ—t sed cum innumera multitudo matrum cum fuâ—â—e huiusmodi medicina causa in circuitu palacâ—i affuisset / Imperator que eorum gemitus elamores percepisset charitate motus ingemiscens sic aâ— O vere eft ipse dominus qui se facit seruum pietatis Et his dictis statum suum cunctipoteâ—â—s medele committens sui ipsius mordum â—acius quam infancium mortem benignius elegit vnde ipse qui antea paganus et leprosus extiterat ex vnda baptismatis tenatus utrinusque materie tant corporis quam anime diuino miraculo consecutus est salutem AMonge the bokes of latyn I fynde it wryt of Constantyne The worthy emperour of Rome Suche infortunes to hym come whan he was in his lusty age The leper caught in his vysage And so forth ouer all aboute That he ne myght ryden out So left he both shelde and spere As he that myght hym not bestere And helde hym in his chamber close Through all the worlde the fame arose The great clerkes were assent And com at his commaundement To tret vpon this lordes he le So longe they to geder dele That they vpon this medicine Appoynten hem and determyne That in the maner as it stode They wolde hym bath in childes blod within seuen wynter age For as they sayen that shulde assuage The lepre and all the violence whiche that they knowe of accidence And not by wey of kynde is falle And therto they acorden alle As for fynall conclusyon And tolden her opinion To themperour And he an one His counsayll toke and therupon with letters and with seales out They send in euery londe about The yonge chyldren for to seche whose blode they sayd shulde be leche For themperours maladye There was ynough to wepe and crye Amonge the moders whan they herde Howe wofully this cause ferd But netheles they mot howe And thus women there come ynowe with chyldren soukend on the tete Thâ—â— were many teres lete But were hem lyefe or were hem loth The women and the thyldren both Into the paleys forth he brought with many a sory hertes thought 〈◊〉 hem whiche of her body bore The chyldren hadde and so forlore 〈◊〉 a while shulde se 〈◊〉 moders wepe in her degre And many of hem a swoune falle The yonge babyes cryeden alle This noyse arose this lorde it herde And loked out and how it ferde He sawe and as who sayde abrayde Oâ—â—e of his slepe and thus he sayde O thou dyuyne purueaunce whiche euery man in the balaunce Of kynde hast formed to be lyche The pore is bore as is the ryche And dieth in the same wyse Vpon the fole vpon the wyse Sekenesse and bele enter comune May none eschewe that fortune whiche kynde hath in her lawe sette Her strengthe and beaute ben besette To euery man a lyche free That she preferreth no degree As in the disposition Of bodely complection And eke of soule reasonable The poore childe is bore as able To vertue as the kynges sonne For euery man his owne wonne After the lustes of his assaye The vice or vertue chese maye Thus stande all men fraunchysed But in estate they ben deuysed To somme worshyp and rychesse To some pouerte and distresse One lordeth an other serueth But yet as euery man deserueth The worlde yeueth not his yeftes here But certes he hath great matere To be of good condicion whiche hath in his subiection The men that ben of his semblaunce And eke he toke his remembraunce Howe he that made lawe of kynde wolde euery man to lawe bynde And badde a man suche as he wolde Toward hym selfe ryght such he shuld Towarde an other done also ¶ And thus this worthy lorde as tho Set in balaunce his owne estate And with hym selfe stode in debate And thought howe it was not good To se so mochell mannes bloudde Be spylte by cause of hym alone He sawe also the great mone Of that the mother were vngladde And of the wo the children made wherof that his herte tendreth And suche pitie within engendreth That hym was leuer for to chese His owne body for to lese Than se so great a mourdre wrought Vpon the bloud which gilteth nought This for the pyte whiche he toke All other leches he forsoke And put hym out of auenture Allonly to goddes cure And sayth who that woll mayster be He mote be seruaunt to pite So ferforth he was ouercome with charite that he hath nome His counsayle and his offycers And badde vnto his treasourers That they his treasour all about Departe amonge the poore route Of women and of chyldren both wherof they might hem fede
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
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
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
There myght no peryll hym dere In water maye it not be dreynte where as it cometh the fyre is queynt It daunteth eke the cruel heste There may none quad that man arest where so he be on se or londe That hath this rynge vpon his honde And ouer that she gan to seyne That if a man wyl ben vnsayne within his honde holde close the stone And he may inuysyble gone The rynge to Iason she betaught And so forth after she hym taught what sacrifyce he shuld make And gan out of her cofer take Hym thought an heuenly fygure whiche all by charme and by coniure was wrough eke it was through writ with names whiche he shuld wyte As she hym taught tho to rede And had hym as he wold spede without rest of any whyle whan he were londed in that yle He shuld make his sacryfyce And rede his carecte en the wyse As she hym taught on knes doun bent Thre sythes towerd oryent For so shuld he the goddes plese And wyn hym selfe mochel ese And whan he had it thryse radde To open a boxe she hym badde That she there toke hym in present And was full of suche oignement That there was fyre ne venym none That shulde fastenen hym vpon whan that he were anoynt withall For thy she taught hym howe he shall Anoynt his armes all aboute And for he shulde nothinge doute She toke him than a maner glue The whiche was of so great vertue That where a man it shulde cast It shulde bynde anone so fast That no man myght it done away And that she had by all waye He shulde into the mouthes throw Of tho two oxen that fyre blowe Therof to stoppe the malice The glue shall serue of that office And ouer that her oignement Her rynge and her enchauntement Ayene the serpent shulde hym were Tyll he hym slee with swerde or spere And than he may saufely inough His oxen yoke in to the plough And the teeth sowe in suche wyse Tyll he the knyghtes se aryse And eche of other downe be leyde In suche a maner as I haue sayde ¶ Lo thus Medea for Iason Ordeyneth and prayeth thervpon That he nothynge foryete shulde And eke she prayeth hym that he wold whan he hath all his armes done To grounde knele and thonke anone The goddes and so forth by ease The flees of golde he shulde sese And whan he had it sesed so That than he were sone ago without any taryenge whan this was sayde into wepynge She fel as she that was through nome with loue and so porth ouercome That all her worlde on hym she sette But whan she sygh there was no lette That he mote nedes parte her fro She toke hym in her armes two An honderde tymes and gan hym kysse And sayde O all my worldes blysse My trust my luste my lyfe myn hele To ben thyn helpe in this quarele I pray vnto the goddes all And with that word she gan downe fall Of swoune and he her vp nam And forthe with that the mayden cam And they to bedde anone her brought And than Iason her besought And to her seyde in this manere My worthy lusty lady dere Comforteth you for by my trouth It shall not fallen in my slouth That I ne woll throughout fulfylle your hestes at your owne wylle And yet I hope to you bringe within a whyle suche tydynge The whiche shall make vs bothe game ¶ But for he wolde kepe her name whan that he wyst it was nygh day Hâ— sayde adewe my swete may And forth with hym he nam his gere which as she had take hym there And straught vnto his chambre went Aâ—d goth to bedde and slepe hym hent And lay that no man hym a woke For Hercules hede of hym toke 〈◊〉 it was vndâ—rne high and more Aâ—d than he gan to sygh sore And sodeynly he brayde of slepe 〈◊〉 they than toke of hym kepe 〈◊〉 â—hamberleins ben soone there And maden redy all his gere And he arose and to the kynge He went and sayde howe to that thing For whiche he cam he wolde go The kynge therof was full wo And for he wolde hym fayne withdraw He tolde hym many a dredefull sawe But Iason wolde it nought recorde And at laste they accorde whan that he wolde nought abyde A bote was redy at tyde In which this worthy knyght of grece Full armed vp at euery pece To his batayle whiche belongeth Toke sore in honde sore hym longeth Tyll he the water passed were ¶ whan he cam to that yle there He set hym on his knees doun straught And his carecte as he was taught He rad and made his sacryfyce And sythe anoynte hym in that wyse As Medea hym hath bede And than arose vp fro that stede And with the glewe the fyre he queynt And anone after he atteynt The great serpent and hym slough But erst he had sorowe ynough For that serpent made hym trauayle So hard and sore of his batayle That nowe he stood and nowe he felle For longe tyme it so befelle That with his swerd and with his spere He myght not the serpent dere He was so sherded all aboute It hueld all edge tole withoute He was so rude and hard of skyn There myght no thynge go there in Venym and fyre to geder he cast That he Iason sore a blast And if it ne were his oyntement His rynge and his enchauntement whiche Medea toke hym before He had with that worme be lore But of vertu whiche therof cam Iason the dragon ouercam And he anone the tethe out drough And set his oxen in his plough with whiche he brake a pece of lond And sewe it with his owne hond Tho myght he great merueyle se Of euery toth in his degre Sprong vp a knyght with spere sheld Of whiche anone ryght in the feld Echone slough other and with that Iason Medea not forgat On both his knees he gan downe falle And gafe thonke to the godddes all The flees he toke and gothe to hote The sonne shyneth bryght and hote The flees of gold shone forth with all The water glysterd ouerall Medea wept / and syghed ofte And stode vpon a towre alofte All pryuely within her selfe There herd it not nen ne twelfe She prayd and sayd O god him spede The knight which hath my maideÌ„hede And aye she loketh toward the yle But whan she sygh within a whyle The flees glisterynge ageyn the sonne She sayd O lord all is ywonne My knyght the feld hath ouercomen Nowe wolde god he were comen O lorde god I wolde he were in londe But I dare take this on honde If that she had wynges two She wolde haue flowen to hym tho Streyght there he was vnto the hote The day was clere the sonne hote The grekes were in great doute The whyle that her lorde was oute They wyst not what shuld betyde But wayted euer vpon the tyde To se what ende shulde falle There stoden
sigh therto But what she dyd in that matere It is a wonder thynge to here But yet for the nouelrye I thynke tellen a great partye ⧠Nota quibus medicamentis Essonem senet tute decrepitum ad sue inuentutis adolescenciam prudens Medea reduxit ¶ Thus it befell vpon a nyght whan there was nought but sterre lyght She was vanisshed ryght as her lyst That no wyght but her selfe wyst And that was at mydnyght tyde The worlde was stylle on euery syde with open heed and foote all bare Her here to sprad she gan to fare Vpon her clothes gyrte she was All specheles vpon the gras She glode forth as an adder doth None other wyse she ne goth Tyll she came to the fresshe flode And there a whyle she withstode Thryes she turned her aboute And thryes eke she gan downe loute And in the flode she weet hir here And thryes on the water there She gaspeth with a dretchynge onde And tho she toke her speche on honde Fyrst she began to clepe and call Vpwarde vnto the sterres all To wynde to ayre to see to londe She preyde and eke helde vp her honde To Echates and gan to crie whiche is the goddesse of Sorcerie She sayde helpeth at this nede And as ye maden me to spede whan Iason came the flees to seche So helpe me nowe I you beseche with that she loketh and was ware Downe fro the skye there came a chare The whiche dragons aboute drowe And tho she gan her heed downe bowe And vp she styghe and faire and well She drofe forth by chare and wheel Aboue in the ayre amonge the skyes The londe of Crete in tho parties She sought and fast gan her hyghe And therupon the hulles hyghe Of Othryn and Olymphe also And eke of other hulles moo She fonde and gethereth herbes snote She pulleth vp some by the rote And many with a knyfe she shereth And all in to her chaar she bereth Thus whā she hath the hulles sought The flodes there foryate she nought Erydyan and Amphrysos Peneyee and eke Sperceydos To hem she went and there she nome Bothe of the water and of the fome The sonde and eke the small stones whiche as she chese out for the nones And of the rede see a parte That was behouelyche to her art She toke and afterwarde that about She sought sondry sedes out In feldes and in many greues And eke a parte she toke of leues But thynge whiche myght her most auayle She fōde in Crete in thessaile In dayes and nyghtes nyne To make with this medicine She was purueyed of euery pece And torneth homward in to grece Before the gates of Eson Her chare she lette away to gone And toke out fyrst that was therin For tho she thought to begyn Suche thynge as semeth impossible And made her selfe n inuysible As she that with the aire enclosed And might of no man be disclosed She toke vp turues of the londe without helpe of mans honde And heled with the grene gras Of whiche an Aulter made there was Vnto Echates the goddesse Of arte magyke and maistresse And efte an other to inuent As she whiche dyd her holle intent Tho toke she feldwodde and verueyne Of herbes ben not better tweyne Of whiche anone without let These aulters ben about set Two sondry pyttes fast by She made and with that hastely A wether which was black she slough And out therof the bloud she drough And dyd in to the pyttes two warme mylke she put also therto with hony meynt and in suche wyse She gan to make hir sacrifice And cried and prayde forth withall To Pluto the god infernal And to the quene Proserpyne And so she sought out all the lyne Of hem that longen to that crafte Behynde was no name laft And prayd hem all as she well couth To graunt Eson his fyrste youth This olde Eson brought forth was tho Away she bad all other go Vpon peryll that myght falle And with that worde they wenten all And lefte there them two alone And tho she began to gaspe and gone And made signes many one And sayd her wordes therupon And with spellynge and her charmes She toke Eson in both her armes And made hym for to slepe fast And hym vpon her herbes cast The blacke wether tho she toke And hewe the flesshe as doth the cooke On eyther aulter part she layde And with the charmes that she sayde A fyre downe from the sky alyght And made it for to brenne lyght And whan Medea sawe it brenne Anone she gan to sterte and renne The fyry aulters all about There was no best whiche goth oute More wylde than she semeth there Aboute her shulders henge her heere As though she were oute of her mynde And torneth in to another kynde Tho lay there certeyne wodde clefte Of whiche the peces nowe and efte She made hem in the pyttes wete And put hem in the fyry hete And toke the bronde with all the blase And thries she began to rase About Eson there as he slepte And efte with water / whiche she kepte She made a cercle about hym thries And efte with fyre of sulphur twyes Full many another thynge she dede whiche is not wryten in the stede But she ran vp so and doune She made many a wonder soune Somtyme lyche vnto the cocke Somtyme vnto the lauerocke Somtyme cacleth as an henne Somtyme speketh as don the men And ryght so as her iargon strangeth In sondry wyse her forme chaungeth She semeth fayre and no woman Forth with the craftes that she can She was as who saith a goddesse And what her lyst more or lesse She dyd in bokes as we fynde That passeth ouer mannes kynde But who that woll of wonders here what thyng she wrought in this mater To make an ende of that she gan Suche meruayl herd neuer man ¶ Apoynted in the newe mone whan it was tyme for to done She set a cauldron on the fyre In whiche was al the hole a tyre where on the medicine stode Of Iuse of water and of bloude And lette it boyle in suche a plyte Tyll that she sygh the spume whyte And tho she cast in rynde and rote And sede and floure that was for bote with many an herbe and many a stone wherof she hath there many one And eke Cimpheius the serpent To her hath all her scales lent Chelidre hir yafe hir adders skyn and she to boyle cast hem in And parte eke of the borned oule The whiche men here on nightes houle And of a rauen whiche was tolde Of nyne hondred wynter olde She toke the heed with all the bylle And as the medycine it wylle She toke herafter the bowele Of the se foule and for the bele Of Eson with a thousand mo Of thynges that she had tho In that caldron to gyder as blyue She put and toke than of olyue A drye braunche hem with to stere The whiche anone
et herbis que ad artis Magice naturalis operacionem specialius conueniunt ¶ Vpon sondry creacion Stant sondry operacion Som worcheth this som worcheth that The fire is hote in his estate And brenneth what he may atteyne The water may the fyre restreyne The whiche is colde and moyst also Of other thynge it fareth ryght so Vpon the erthe amonge vs here And for to speke in this manere Vpon the heuen as men may fynde The sterres ben of sondry kynde And worchen many sondry thynges To vs that bene her vnderlynges Amonge the whiche forth withall Nectanabus in speciall whiche was an Astronomyen And eke a great magycyen And vndertake hath thylke emprise To Alisandre in his apprise As of magyke naturele To knowe enformeth hym somdele Of certeyne sterres what they mene Of whiche he seyth there ben fyftene And sondrily to euerychone A gras belongeth and a stone wherof men worchen many a wonder To set thynge bothe vp and vnder ⧠â—â—â—ma stella vocatur Aldeboran cuius laâ—â—â— Caâ—â—nneâ—lus et herba anabulla est ¶ To tell ryght as he began The fyrst sterre Aldeboran The clerest and the moste of all By ryght name men it call whiche lyche is of condition To Mars and of complexion To Venus and hath therupon Carbunculum his propre stone His herbe is annabulla named whiche is of great vertue proclamed ¶ Secunda stella vocatur Clota feu Pliades câ—â—â—s lapis Christallum et herba feniculus est ¶ The seconde is not vertules Clota or els Plyades It hate and of the mones kynde He is and also this I fynde He taketh of Mars complexion And lyche to suche condition His stone appropred is Christall And eke his herbe in speciall The vertuous yenel it is ¶ Tertia stella vocatur Algol cuius lapis Dâ—â—mans et herba heleborum nigtum est ¶ The thyrde whiche comth after this Is hote Algos the clere rede whiche of Saturne as I may rede His kynde taketh and eke of Ioue Complexion to his behone His propre stone is Diamant whiche is to hym moste acordant His herbe whiche is hym betake Is hote Eleborum the blake Quarta stella vocatur Alhaiot cuius lapis Saphirus et herba Marrubium est ¶ So as it falleth vpon lotte The fourth sterre is Alhaiotte whiche in the wise as I saide er Of Saturne and of Iupiter Hath take his kinde and there vpon The Saphir is his propre stone Marrubium his herbe also The whiche acorden both two ☞ Quinta stella vocatur Canis maior / cuius lapis Berillus / et herba sauina est ¶ And Canis maior in his like The fifthe sterre is of magike The whose kynde is venerien As saith this astronomien His propre stone is sayde Berille But for to worche and to fulfille Thynge whiche to this science falleth There is an herbe which men calleth Saueyne and that behoueth nede To hym that woll his purpose spede ¶ Sexta stella vocatur canis minor cuius lapis Achatis et herba primula est ¶ The sixte sewende after this By name canis minor is The whiche sterre is Mercuriall By wey of kynde and forth withall As it is wry ten in the carte Complexion he taketh of Marte His stone and herbe as seyth the schole Ben Achates and Primerole ¶ Septima stella vocatur Arial cuius lapis gâ—â—gonza et herba celidonia est ¶ The seuenth sterre in speciall Of this science is Ariall whiche sondry nature vnderfongeth The stone whiche ê“pre vnto him loÌ„geth Gorgonza properly it hight His herbe also whiche he shall ryght Vpon the worchynge as I mene Is Celidone fresshe and grene ¶ Octaua stella vocatur Ala corui cuius lapis honochinus et herba lappacia est ¶ Sterre Ala corui vpon heyght Hath take his place in nombre of eyght whiche of his kynde mote performe The wyll of Marte and of Saturne To whom Lappacia the gret Is herbe but of no beyete His stone is Honochinus hote Through which meÌ„ worcheÌ„ great riote ¶ Nona stella vocatur Alaezel cuius lapis Smaragdus et herba salgea est ¶ The nynthe sterre fayre and we le By name is hote Alaezele whiche taketh his propre kynde thus Bothe of Mercurie and of Venus His stone is the grene Emeraude To whom is gyuen many a laude Saulge is his herbe appertynant Abouen all the remenant ¶ Decima stella vocatur Almareth cuius lapis Iaspis et herba plantago est ¶ The tenthe sterre is Almareth whiche vpon lyfe and vpon deth Through kynde of Iupiter and Marte He doth what longeth to his parte His stone is Iaspe and of plantayne He hath his herbe souerayne ¶ Vndecima stella vocatur venenas cuius lapis Adamas et herba cicorea est ¶ The sterre enleuenth is Venenas The whose nature is as it was Take of Venus and of the Mone In thynge whiche he hath for to done Of Adamaunt is that perrye In whiche he worcheth his maistrye Thylke herbe also which hym befalleth Cicorea the boke hym calleth ¶ Duodecima stella vocatur Alpheta cuiê° lapis Topasion et herba rosameri ¶ Alpheta in the nombre set And is the twelfte sterre yet Of Scorpio whiche is gouerned And takth his kynde as I am lerned And hath his vertue in the stone whiche cleped is Topasione His herbe propre is rosemaryne whiche shapen is for his couyne ¶ Tertiadecima stella vocatur Cor Scorpionis cuius lapis Serdis et herba Astrologia est ☞ Of these sterres which I mene Cor Scorpionis is threttene The whos nature Mart and Ioue Haue youen vnto his bihoue His herbe is astrologye which foloweth his astronomye The stone which that this sterre allowth Is Sardis whiche vnto him bowth ¶ Quartadecima stella vocatur botercadent cuius lapis Crisolitus et herba saturea est ¶ The sterre whiche stant next the last Nature of him this name cast And clepen him Botercadent whiche of his kind obedient Is to Mercurye and to Venus His stone is called Crisolitus His herbe is cleped Satureye So as these olde bokes seye ¶ Quintadecima stella vocatur cauda scorpionis cuiê° lapis Calcidonis et herba maiorana est ¶ But nowe the laste sterre of all The tayle of Scorpio men calle whiche to Mercury and to Saturne By wey of kynde more returne After the preparation Of due constellation The calcidone vnto hym longeth whiche for his stone he vnderfongeth Of maioran his herbe is grounded Thus haue I said how they ben fouÌ„ded Of euery sterre in speciall whiche hath his herbe and stone withall As Hermes in his bokes olde witnesse bereth of that I tolde ¶ Nota hic de auctoribus illis qui ad Astronomie scientiam pre ceteris studiosius intendentes libros super hoc distinctis nominibus coÌ„posueruÌ„t ¶ The science of Astronomye whiche principall is of clergye To deme betwene wo and we le In thynges that bene naturele They had a great trauayle on bonde That made it