HANDBOUND AT THE

UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO PRESS

CHE ALDINE EDITION

OF THE BKITISH

POETS

THE POEMS OF GEOFFREY CHAUCER

IN SIX VOLUMES

VOL V

HE POETICAL WORKS OF GEOFFREY CHAUCER

EDITED BY EICHARD MOKRIS LL.D.

Member of the Council of the Philological Society, Editor

of " Specimens of Early English,"

Sfc., S>c., 8>c.

WITH MEMOIR BY SIR HARRIS NICOLAS

VOL. V.

LONDON

GEORGE BELL & SONS YORK STREET COVEIs7T GARDEN

1889

:HISWICK rFE.ss:-c. WHITTINGHAM AND co. TOOKS COUKT,

CHANCF.KV LANE.

CONTENTS.

VOL. V.

Page

ROYLUS AND CRYSEYDE.

Book V 1

Chauceres A. B. C 78

Chaucer's Dream 86

toe Boke of the Duchesse . . * 155 '

)f Quene Anelyda and False Arcyto . • 196

?HE HOUSE OF FAME.

Book I ... 209

Book II. . . > 224

Book III 242

'HE LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN.

The Prologue of Nine Goode Wymmen . . . 2J6

Legenda Cleopatrie Martiris, Egipti Regiue . 294 Legenda Tesbe Babilon, Martiris . . .298

Legenda Didonis, Martiris Carthaginis Regine . 305 Legenda Ypsiphile et Medee, Martiris . . .318

Legenda Lucrecie Rome, Martiris . . . 328

Legenda Adriane de Athenes .... 335

Legenda Philomene ...••• 345

Legenda Phillis . ... 351

Legenda Ypermystre 356

TROYLUS AND CRYSEYDE.

INCIPIT LIBER QTJINTTJS. I.

PROCHEN gan the fatel destyne, That Joves hath in dispossisioun, And to yow, angry Parcas, sustren thre, Comitteth to don execucioune ; For whiche Criseyde most out of the towne, And Troilus shal dwellen forth in pyne, Til Lachesis his thred no longer twyne.

ii.

The golde tressed Phebus, heigh on lofte, Thries hadde alle with his bemes clere, The snowes molte ; and Zephirus as ofte 10

Ybrought ayeyn the tender leves grene, Syn that the sone of Ecuba the queene Bygan to love hire firste, for whom his sorwe Was alle, that she departe sholde a morwe.

in.

Ful redy was at prime Dyomede, Criseyde unto the Grekes oste to lede ; For sorwe of which she felt hire herte blede, VOL. v. B

Z TROYLUS AND CRYSEYDE.

As she that nyste what was best to rede ; And trewely, as men in bokes rede, Men wiste never womman han the care, 20

Ne was so loth out of a town to fare.

IV.

This Troilus, withouten reed or lore, As man that hath his joyes ek forfore, Was waytynge on his lady everemore, As she that was sothfaste, crop and mooie Of al his lust or joyes here tofore : But Troylus, now farewel al thy joye ! For shaltow nevere se hire eft in Troye.

v.

Soth is, that while he bode in this manere, He gan his wo ful manly for to hyde. That wel unnethes it sene was in his chere ; But at the yate ther she sholde oute ryde, With certeyn folk he hoved hire tabide, So wo bygon, al wolde he nought hym pleyne, That on his hors unneth he sat for pepie.

VI.

For ire he quook, so gan his herte gnawe,

Whan Dyomede on horse gan him dresse,

And seyde unto hymself this ilke sawe,

1 Alias !' quod he, ' thus foule a wrechedenesse !

Whi suffre Ich it ? whi nyl Ich it redresse ? 40

Were it not bet at oones for to dye,

Than everemore in langoure thus to crye ?

TROYLUS AND CRYSEYDE. 3

VII.

Why nyl I make atones rich and pore To have inough to done or that she go ? Whi nyl I brynge alle Troie upon a rore ? Whi nyl I slen this Dyomede also ? Whi nyl I rather with a man or two, Stele hire awey ? Whi wol I this endure ? Whi nyl / holpen to myn owene cure ? '

VIII.

But whi he nolde don so fel a dede, 50

That shal I seyn, and whi hym liste it spare ; — He hadde in herte alweyes a manere drede, Leste that Criseyde, in rumour of this fore, Shold han ben slayn ; lo ! this was al hise care ; And elles certeyn, as I seyde yore, He hadde it done withouten wordes more.

ix. *

Criseyde when she redy was to ride,

Ful sorwfully she sighte, and seyde, ' Alias ! '

But forth she mot, for ought that may betide,

And forth she rite ful sorwfully a pas ; 60

Ther is non other remede in this cas.

What wonder is, though that hyre score smerte,

'When she forgothe hire owen swete herte ?

x.

This Troilus, in gise of curteysie, With hauke on hond, and with an huge route Of knyghtes, rood and dide hyre compaynye,

4 TROYLUS AND CRYSEYDE.

Passynge alle the valeye fer withoute ;

And ferther wold ban riden out of doute

Ful fayn, and wo was hym to gon so soone,

But torne he moste, and it was eke to done. 71

XI.

And right with that was Antenor ycome Oute of the Grekes oste, and every wight Was of it glad, and seyde he was welcome : And Troilus, al nere his herte lighte, He peyned hym with al his fulle myght Hym to with-holde of wepynge at the leeste, And Antenor he kyste, and made feeste.

XII.

And therwithal he most his leve take,

And caste his eye upon hire pitously,

And neer he rood, his cause for to make, so

To tate hire by the honde al sobrely :

And Lorde ! so she gan wepen tendrely !

And he ful soft and sleighely gan hire seye,

* Now hold youre day, and do me not to dye.'

xni.

With that his curser turned he aboute,

With face pale, and unto Dyomede

No worde he spak, ne non of al his route ;

Of whiche the sone of Tideus tooke hede,

As he that couthe moore than the credo

In swiche a craft, and by the reyne hire hente, oo

And Troilus to Troye homwarde he wente.

TROYLUS AND CRYSEYDE. 5

XIV.

This Dyomede, that ledde hyre by the bridel, When that he saugh the folk of Troye awaye, Thoughte, ' Al my laboure shal not been on ydel, If that Y may, for somwhat shal I seye ; For at the werste, it may yit shorte oure weye ; I have herde seyde ek, tymes twyes twelve, He is a fool that wol foryete hyme-selve.'

xv.

But natheles, this thoughte he \vel ynoughe That ' certeinliche I am aboute noughte, 100

If that I speke of love, or mak it tough ; For douteles, if she have in hire thoughte Hym that I gesse, he may not ben ybrought So soone aweye, but I shal fynde a meene, That she nat wit as yet shal what I meene.'

XVI.

This Dyomede, as he that koude his goode, When this was don, gan fallen forth in speche Of this and that ; and axed whi she stood In swiche disese, and gan hire ek byseche That if that he encresse myght or eche, no

With any thyng hyre ese, that she sholde Comaunde it hym, and seyde he don it wolde.

XVII.

For treweliche he swor hire as a knyghte, That ther nas thyng with whiche he myght hire

plese, That he nolde don his peyne and al his myght,

6 TROYLUS AND CRYSEYDE.

To don it, for to don hire hert an ese : And preyde hire she wold hire sorwe apese, And seyde, ' Iwis we Grekes kan have joye To honouren yow, as wel as folk of Troye.'

XVIII.

He seyde ek thus: — 'I woot yow thynketh

straunge, — 120

No wonder is, for it is to yowe newe, — Thacqueyntaunce of this Troyans to chaunge For folk of Grece, that ye nevere knewe : But wolde nevere God, but if as trewe A Greke ye shold amang us alle fynde, As any Troyan is, and ek as kynde.

XIX.

' And by the cause I swor yow righte lo now To ben youre frende and helper to my myghte, And for that more acqueyntaunce ek of yow Have Ich had than another straunger wight, iso So fro this forth I preye yow, day and nyght, Comaundeth me, how sore that me smerte, To don al that may like unto youre herte ;

xx.

' And that ye me wolde as youre brother trete,

And taketh nought my frendeschipe in dispit.

And though youre sorwes ben for thynges grete,

Not I nat whi, but out of more respit,

Myn herte hath for tamende it grete delit ;

And if I may youre harmes nat redresse,

I am right sory for youre hevynesse. no

TROYLUS AND CHYSEYDE. 7

XXI.

1 For though ye Trojans with us Grekes wroth Han many a day ben, alwey yet, parde !

0 god of love, in soth, we serven both : And for the love of God ! my lady fre, Whom so ye hate, as beth not wroth with me ; For trewely ther kan no wight yow serve, •That half so loth youre wreth wolde disserve.

XXII.

* And ner it that we been so neigh the tente Of Calkas, which that sen us bothe may,

1 wold of thys yow telle alle myn entente, 150 But this enseled til another day :

Yeve me youre honde, I am and shal ben ay, God helpe me so ! whil that my lif may dure, Youre owen, aboven every creature.

xxirr.

' Thus seyde I nevere or now to womman borne ;

For God myn herte as wisly glade so !

I lovede never womman here beforne,

As paramoures, ne nevere shal no mo :

And for the love of God ! beth not my fo,

Al kan I nought to yow, my lady deere, ieo

Compleyne aright, for I am yit to leere.

XXIV.

4 And wondreth nought myne owen lady bryghte, Though that I speke of love to yow thus blyve ; For I have herde or this of many a wighte,

8 TROYLUS AND CRYSEYDE.

Hath loved thynge he nevere saugh his lyve : Ek I am not of power for to stryve Ayenis the god of love, but hym obeye I wol olwey, and mercy I vow preye.

XXV.

' Ther ben so worthy Imyghtes in this place, And ye so faire, that everich of hem alle Wol peynen hym to stonden in youre grace ; But myght to me so faire a grace falle, That ye me for youre servaunt wolde calle, So lawely, ne so trewely yow serve non of hem, as I shal til I sterve.'

XXVI.

Criseyde unto that purpos lite answerde, As she that was with sorwe oppressed so, That, in effect, she nought his tales herde But here and ther, now here a worde or two : Hire thought hire sorwful herte braste a-two ; : For when she gan hire fader fer espie, Wei neigh down of hire hors she gan to sye.

XXVII.

But natheles, she thonkede Dyomede,

Of alle his travaile and his goode chere,

And that hym liste his frendschip hyre to bede ;

And she accepteth it in goode manere,

And wol do fayn that is hym lief and deere ;

And trusten hym she wolde, and wel she myght e,

As seyde she, and from hire hors shalighte.

TROYLUS AND CRYSEYDE. XXVIII.

Her fader hath hire in his armes ynome, 190

And twenty tyme he kyste his doughter swete, And seyde : — ' 0 dere doughter myn, welcome !' She seyde ek, she was fayn with hym to mete, And stood forth muwet, mylde, and mansuete ; But here I leve hire with hire fader dwelle, And forth I wol of Troilus yow telle.

XXIX.

To Troye is come this woful Troylus,

In sorwe aboven alle sorwes smerte ;

With felon look, and face dispitouse,

Tho sodeinly doun from his hors he sterte, 200

And thorwgh his paleys, with a swollen herte,

To chaumbre he wente, of nothyng took he hede,

*Ne non to hym dar speke a worde for drede.

XXX.

And ther his sorwes, that he spared hadde, He yaf an issue large, and * Deth !' he criede ; And in hise throwes, frenetike and madde, He curseth Jove, Apollo, and ek Cupide ; iHe curseth Ceres, Bachus, and Cipride, iHis birthe, hymself, his fate, and ek nature, And save his lady, every creature. 210

XXXI.

To bedde he goth, and weyleth ther and torneth

In furie, as doth he Ixion in helle ;

And in this wyse he neigh til day sojourneth,

10 TROTLUS AND CRTSEYDE.

But tho bigan his herte alite unswelle, Thorugh teres, whiche that gonnen up to welle ; And pitously he cryed upon Criseyde, And to hym-self right thus he spake and seyde.

XXXII.

' Where is myn owene lady, lief and deere ? Where is hire white breste, where is it, where ? Where ben hir armes, and hire eyen clere, 22 That yesternight this tyme with me were ? Now may I wepe allone many a tere, And graspe aboute I may, but in this place Save a pilow, I fynde naught tembrace.

xxxni.

' How shal I don ? when shal she com ay em ?

I not alias ! whi lete Ich hire to go ?

As wolde God Ich hadde as tho ben sleyne !

0 herte myn Criseyde ! 0 swete fo !

0 lady myn ! that I love and namo,

To whom for evere mo myn herte I dowe, 23

Se how I dye ! ye nyl me not rescowe.

XXXIV.

' Who seth yow now, my righte lode-sterre ? Who sit right now or stante in youre presence? Who kan conforten nowe youre hertes werre ? Now I am gon, whom yeve ye audiens ? Who speke^A for me right now in my absens ? Alias ! no wight ; and that is al my care, For wel woot I as yvel as T ye fare.

THOYLUS AND CRrSEYDE. 11 XXXV.

' How shold I thus ten dayes fulle endure When I the firste nyght have al this tene ? 240 How shal she don ek, sorwful creature ? For tendrenesse, how shal she thus sustene Swiche wo for me ? 0, pitous, pale, and grene, Shal ben youre fresche wommanliche face, For langour, er ye torne unto this place.'

xxxvi.

And when he fille in any sloumberynges,

Anon bygynne he sholde for to grone,

And dremen of the dredefulleste thynges

That myghte ben : as mete he were allone

In place horrible, makynge ay his mone ; 250

Or meten that he was omanges alle

His enemys, and in hire honde falle.

xxx VH.

And therwithalle his body sholde sterte, And with the sterte alle sodeynliche awake ; And swiche a tremour fele aboute his herte, That of the fere his body sholden quake : And therwithal he sholde a noyse make, ind seme as though he sholde fal/e depe, From heigh of loft, and than he wolde wepe,

XXXVIII.

ind rewen on hymself so pitously, -MO

That wonder was to here hise fantasye. Another tyme he sholde myghtely-

12 TROTLTJS AND CRYSEFDE.

Conforte hymself, and seine it was folie, So causeles, swiehe drede for to drye ; And eft bygynne his aspre sorwes newe, That every man myghte on his sorwes rewe.

XXXIX.

Who koude telle arighte, or ful discryve

His wo, his pleynt, his langoure, and his pyne ?

Nought al the men thp.t han or ben on lyve ;

Thow redere maist thi-self fulle wele devyne, 27

That swich a wo my wit kan not defyne ;

On ydel for to write it shold Y swynke,

When that my wit is wery it to thynke.

XL.

On hevene yet the sterres weren seene, Although ful pale ywoxen was the moone ; And whiten gan the orisounte sheene Al esterwarde, as it wonte is to done ; And Phebus, with his rosi carte, soone Gan efter that to dresse hym up to fare, When Troilus hath sente efter Pandare.

XLT.

This Pandare, that of al the day byforne Ne myght han comen Troilus to see, Although he on his hed it hadde sworne ; For with the kynge Priam alday was he, So that it lay nought in his liberte Now/ter to gon ; but on the morwe he wento To Troilus, when that he for hym sente.

TROTLUS AND CRTSEYDE. 13 XLII.

For in his herte he koude wel devyne,

That Troilus al nyght for sorw wooke,

A.nd that he wolde telle hym of his pyne ; 200

Phis knew he wele ynowgh withouten booke ;

For which to chaumbre streight the wey he tooke,

And Troilus tho sobrelich he grette,

A.nd on the bed ful soone he gan hym sctte.

XLIII.

My Pandarus/ quod Troilus, ' the sorwe Which that I drye, I may not longe endure ; [ trow I shal not lyven til to morwe ; For whiche I wolde alweys, on aventure, I*o the devysen of my sepulture The fourme, and of my moble thow dispone soo Right as the semeth best is for to done.

XLIV.

But of the fir and flaumbe funeral, Cn which my body brennen shal to glede, taid of the feste and pleyes palestral it my vigile, I preye the take gode hede That that be wel : and offre Mars my stede, My swerd, my helme : and, leeve brother deere, My shelde to Palas yef, that shyneth clere.

XLV.

The poudre in which myn herte ybrend shal turne, Chat preye I the thow tak, and it conserve sio in a vesselle, that men clepeth an urne

14 TROYLUS AND

Of gold ; and to my lady that I serve, For love of whom thus pitouslyche I sterve, So yeve it hire ; and do me this pleasaunce, To prey en hire kepe it for a remembraunce.

XLTI.

A For wel I fele by my maladye,

And by my dremes now and yoore ago,

Al certeinly that I mot nedes dye :

The owle ek, which that hette ^Lscaphilo,

Hath efter me shright al this nyghtes two ; 320

And god Mercurie ! of me now, woful wreche,

The soule gide, and when the list it fecche.'

XLVII.

Pandare answerde and seyde, ' Troilus, My deere frende, as I have told the yoore, That it is folie for to sorwen thus, And causeles, for whiche I kan namore ; But who so wol nat trowen rede ne lore, I kan not sen in hym no remedie, But lat hym worchen with his fantasie.

XLvin.

* But, Troilus, I preye the telle me nowe, 330

If that thow trowe er this that any wight

Hath loved paramours as wel as thow ?

Ye, God woot ! and fro many a worthy knyght

Hath his lady gon, ye, a fourtenyghte,

And he not yit made halvendel the care ;

What nede is the to maken alle this fare ?

TROYLUS AND CKVTSEYDE. 15

XLIX.

Syn day by day thow maist thy-selven see [hat from his love, or elles from his wyf, V. man mot twynnen of necessite, iTe, though he love hire as his owen life ; 340

STet nyl he with hymself thus make stryfe ; ?or wel thow woost, my leve brother deere, Chat alwey frendes may nought ben ifeere.

L.

Row don this folk that seen hire loves wedded 3y frendes myght, as it bitit ful ofte,

d sen hem in hire spouses bed ybedded ? }od woot, they take it wysely, faire, and soft ; 7or-whi goode hope halt up hire herte oloft ; Ind for they kan a tyme of sorwe endure, Vs tyme horn hurt, a tyme doth hem cure. 350

LI.

So sholdestow endure, and laten slyde The tyme. and fonde to be glad and light ; fen dayes nys so longe nought tabide ; V.nd syn she the to comen hath behight, >he nyl hire heste breken for no wight ; ?or drede the nought, that she nyl fmden weye !o come ayein, my lif, that dorst I leye.

LII.

Thy swevenes ek, and alle swich fantasie )ryve oute, and late hem faren to myschaunce ; ?or they precede of thy malencolye, seo

16 TROYLUS AND CRYSEYDE.

That doth the feele in slepe al this penaunce : A straw for alle swevenes signifiaunce ! God help me so, I counte hem nought a bene, Ther wot no man aright what dremes mene.

LIII.

1 For prestes of the temple tellen this,

That dremes ben the revelacions

Of Goddes ; and as wel they telle ywis,

That they ben infernals illusiouns.

And leches seyn that of complexions

Proceden they, or fast, or glotonye ;

Who woot in-soth thus what they signifie ?

* Ek oother seyn, that thorwgh impressions, —

As if a wight hath fast a thynge in mynde, —

That therof cometh swiche avisions :

And oother seyne, as they in bokes fynde,

That efter tymes of the yere, by kynde,

Men dreme, and that theffect goth by the moone ;

But leve no dremen, for it is nought to done.

LV.

Wel worth of dremes ay this olde wyves,

And, treweliche, ek augurye of thise foweles, 380 {

For fere of which men wenen leese hire lyves,

As ravenes qualm, or schrychynge of thise owlis,

To trowen on it, bothe fals and foul is ;

Alias, alias, so noble a creature

As is a man, shal dreden swich ordure !

TROYLUS AND CRYSEYDE. 17

LYI.

'For which with al myn herte I the beseche, Unto thi-self that alle this thow foryive ; And ryse now up, withouten more speche, And lat us cast how forth may best be dryve This tyme ; and ek how fresshly we may lyve, 390 When that she cometh, the whiche shal be right

soone ; God help me so ! thy best is thus to doone.

LYII.

' His, lat us speke of lusty lif in Troye That we han led, and forth the tyme dryve, And ek of tyme corny nge us rejoye, That bryngen shal oure blisse now so bilive ; And langour of this twye dayes fyve We shal therwith so foryete or oppresse, That wel unneth it don shal us duresse.

LVIII.

' This town is ful of lordes al aboute, *oc

And trewes lasten al this mene-qwyle ; Go we pi eye us in som lusty route, To Sarpedon, not hennes but a myle ; And thus thow shalt the tyme wel bygile, And dryve it forth unto that blisful morw, That thow hire se, that cause is of thi sorwe.

ux.

; Now ris, my dere brother Troilus ; For certes it non honur is to the To wepe, and in thy bed to jouken thus ; YOL. y. c

18 TROYLUS AND CRYSEYDE.

For treweliche of o thynge trust to me, — 410 If thow thus ligge, a day, or two, or thre, The folk wo! wene that thow for cowardyse The feynest sik, and that thow darst not rise/

LX.

This Troilus answarde, ' 0 brother deerc ! This knowen folk that han isuffred peyne, That though he wepe, and make sorwful cheere That feeleth harm and smert in every veyne, No wonder is ; and though Ich evere pleyne, Or alwey wepe, I nam nothynge to blame, Syn I have lost the cause of al my game. 4

LXI.

' But syn of fyne force I moot aryse,

I shal aryse, as soone as ever Y may ;

And God, to whom myn herte I sacrifise,

So send us hastely the tenthe day ;

For was ther nevere fowl so fayn of May

As I shal ben, when that she cometh in Troye,

That cause is of my tormente and my joye.

LXII.

' But whider is thi reed,' quod Troilus,

' That we may pleye us best in al this town ?

' By God, my conseile is,' quod Pandarus, 4

' To ryde and pleyen us with kynge Sarpedoun.'

So longe of this they speken up and down,

Til Troilus gan at the last to assente

To ryse, and forth to Sarpedon they wente.

TROYLUS AND CRYSEYDE. 19

LXIII.

Phis Sarpedoun, as he that honourable (Vas evere hys lyve, and ful of heigh prowesse, >Vith al that myght yserved ben on table, That deynte was, al cost it grete rychesse, le fed hem day by day ; that swich noblesse Ills seyden bothe the meest and ek the leste, 440 |j Vas nevere er that day wiste at any feeste.

LXIV.

I for in this world ther is noon instrumente )elicious, thorugh wynde, or touch on corde, us fcr as any wight hath ever wente, 'hat tonge telle, or herte may recorde, tat at that feste, it nas wel herd acorde fof ladj^es ek so faire a compaignye m daunce, er tho, was nevere yseyn with eye.

LXV.

hit what availleth this to Troylus,

liat for his sorwe nothynge of it roughte, 450

!ut evere in oon, as herte pietus,

fel bisily Criseyde his lady soughte?

'n hire was evere al that his herte thoughte, I fow this, now that, so faste ymagynynge, j 'hat glad, ywis, kan hym no feestynge.

LXVI.

hise laydyes ek that at this feeste ben, yn that he saugh his lady was aweye, t was his sorwe up-on hem for to sen,

20 TROYLUS AND CRYSEYDE.

Or for to here on instrumentz so pleye ; For she that of his herte bereth the keye, Was absente, lo ! this was his fantasie, That no wight sc/iolde maken melodye.

LXVII.

Nor ther nas houre in al the day or nyghte, When he was ther as no man myght hym here, That he ne seyde, ' 0 lufsom lady bryghte, How have ye faren syn that ye were here ? Welcom, y wys, myn owen lady deere ! ' But, walaway ! al this nas bwt a maze, Fortune his howen entended bet to glaze.

LXVIII.

The lettres ek that she of olde tyme Hadde hym isente, he wold allone rede An hondreth sythe attwexen none and prime, Refigurynge hire shap, hire wommanhede, Withinne his herte, and every worde or dede That passed was ; and thus he droofe tan ende The ferthe day, and seyde he wolde wende.

LXIX.

And seyde, ' Leve brother Pandarus, Intendestow that we shal here bileve, Til Sarpedon wol forth congeyen us ? Yet were it fayrer that we toke oure leve : For Goddes love, lat us now soone at eve Cure leve take, and homwarde lat us torne ; For trewely I nyl not thus sojorne.'

TROYLUS AND CRYSETDE. 21

LXX.

Jandare answerde, ' Be we comen hyder

Do fecchen fir and rennen horn ayein ?

jod help me so ! I kan nat tellen whider

fife myghte goon, if I shal sothely seyn,

Ther any wight is of us moore feyn

Than Sarpedon ; and if we hennes hye

Thus sodeynly, I holde it vilenye. 490

LXX I.

Syn that we seyden that we wolde bleve iVith hym a wowke, and now thus sodeynly - The ferthe day to take of hym oure leve, 3e wolde wondren on it trewely : Lat us holden forth oure purpos fermely ; \nd sen that ye byhighten hym to bide, lolde forward now, and efter lat us ride.'

LXXII.

This Pandarus, with site peyne and wo

ktade hym to dwelle ; and at the wekes end,

>)f Sarpedon they tok hire leve tho, 500

d on hire weye they spedden hem to wende : iuod Troilus, * Now Lorde me grace sende,

at I may fynden at myn home comynge, /riseyde comen ! ' and therwith gan he synge.

LXXIII.

Ye, ha.sil-wode ! ' thoughts this Pandare, ind to hymself ful softely he seyde, God woot, refreyden may this hoote fare,

22 TROYLUS AND CRYSEYDE.

Er Calkas sende Troilus Criseyde !' But natheles he japede thus and seyde, And swor, iwis, his herte hym wel bihighte, She wolde com as soone as evere she myghte.

LXXIV.

When they unto the paleys were yeomen

Of Troilus, they doun of hors alighte,

And to the chaumbre hire wey than han they

nomen ;

And into tyme that it gan to nyghte, They spaken of Criseyde, the lady brighte ; And efter this, when that hem both<3 leste, They spedde hem fro the soper unto reste.

LXXV.

0 morw, as soone as day bigan to clere, This Troilus gan of his slepe to breyde, And to Pandare, his owen brother deere, ' For love of God,' ful pitously he preyed^, ' As go we sene the paleys of Criseyde ; For syn we yit may have namoore feeste, So lat us seen hire paleys at the leste.'

LXXVI.

And therwithalle, his meynye for to blende,

A cause he fonde in tpwne for to go,

And to Criseydes hous they gonnen wende ;

But Lorde ! this cely Troilus was wo !

Hym thought his sorwful herte braste atwo ; 530

For when he saugh hire dorres spered alle,

Wel neigh for sorwe adoun he gan to falle.

TRQYLUS AND CRYSEYDE. 23

LXXYir.

Therwith, when he was ware, and gan biholde How shet was every wyndow of the place, As frost hym thoughte his herte gan to colde ; For which, with chaunged deedlich pale face, Withouten word, he forth bygan to pace ; And as God wolde he gan so faste ryde, That no wight of his contenaunce espiede.

LXXVIII.

Than seyde he thus : — ' 0 paleys desolat ! 540

0 hous of housses, whilom beste yhight !

0 paleys empti and disconsolat !

0 thow lanterne, of which queynte is the light !

0 payleys, whilom day, that now ert nyght !

Wei oughtestow to falle, and I to dye,

Syn she is wente that wonte was us to gye.

LXXIX.

' 0 paleys, whilom crowne of houses alle,

Enlumyned with sonne of alle blisse !

0 rynge, fro which the ruby is out falle !

0 cause of wo, that cause has ben of blisse ! 550

Yit syn I may no bet fayn wold I kysse

Thi colde dores, dorst I for this route;

And farewel shryne, of which the seint is oute !

LXXX.

Fherwith he caste on Pandarus his ye, With chaunged face, and pitous to beholde ; And when he myght his tyme aright espie,

24 TROYLUS AND CRYSEYDE.

Ay as he rode, to Pandarus he tolde

His newe sorwe, and ek his joyes olde,

So pitously, and with so dede an hewe,

That every wight myght on his sorwes rewe. 560

LXXXI.

Fro thennes-forth he rydeth up and down, And every thynge com hym to remembraunce, As he rode forth by the places of the town, In which he whilom had alle his plesaimce : — * Lo ! yonder saugh Ich myn owen lady daunce ; And in that temple, with hire eyen clere, Me caughte firste my righte lady deere.

LXXXII.

' And yonder have I herd ful lustili

My deere herte laugh ; and yonder pleye

Saugh Ich hire oones ek ful blisfully ; 570

And yonder oones to me gan she seye

' Now goode swete ! love me wel, I preye ;

And yonder so gladly gan she me beholde,

That to the deth myn herte is to hir holde.

LXXXIII.

' And at that corner in the yonder hoitsc, Herde I myn alderlevest lady deere, So wommanly, with vois melodyous, Syngen so wel, so goodely and so clere, That in my soule yit me thynketh Ich here The blisful sown ; and in that yonder place My lady first me tooke unto hire grace.'

TROYLUS AND CRYSEYDE. 25

LXXX1V.

Than thought he thus, ' 0 blisful lord Cupide ! When / the processe have in memorye, How thow me hast weryed on every syde, Men myght a book mak of it lyk a story ! What nede is thee to seke on me victorye, Syn I am thyn, and holly at thi wille ? What joye hastow thyn owene folk to spille ?

LXXXV.

* Wei hastow, lord, ywroke on me thyn ire, Thow myghty god ! and dredeful for to greve ! Now mercy, god ! thow woost wel I desire 591 Thy grace moost, of alle lustes leeve !

And lyve and dye I wol in thi beleve ; For which I naxe in guerdon but a boone, That thow Criseyde ayein me sende soone.

LXXXVI.

* Destreyne hire herte as faste to retourne, As thow doost myn to longen hire to see ; Than woot I wel that she nyl naught sojourne : Now blisful lorde ! so cruwel thow ne be

Unto the blode of Troye, I preye the, eoo

As Juno was unto the blode Thebane,

For which the folk of Thebes caught hire bane/

LXXXV II.

And efter this he to the yates wente, Ther as Criseyde oute rode a ful goode pas, And up and doun ther made he many a wente,

26 TROYLUS AND CRYSEYDE.

And to himself ful oft he seyde, ' Alias ! Fro hennes rod my blisse and my solas ! As wolde blisful God now for his joye, I myght hire seen ayein com into Troye !

LXXXVIII.

'And to the yonder hille I gan hire gyde; eio Alias ! and ther I took of hire my leeve ; And yonde I saugh hire to hire fader ryde, For sorwe of which myn herte shal to-cleve ; And hider horn I com when it was eve ; And here I dwelle, out-cast from alle joye, And shal, til I may seen her eft in Troye/

LXXXIX.

And of hym-self ymagyned he ofte,

To be defet, and pale, and waxen lesse

Than he was wont, and that men seyde solte,

' What may it be ? who kan the sothe gesse, 620

Why Troylus hath alle this hevynesse ? '

And al this nas but his melencolye,

That he hadde of hym-self swich fantasye.

xc.

Another tyme ymagynen he wolde,

That every wyght that wente by the weye

Hadde of him routhe, and that they seyne sholde,

' I am right sory, Troilus wol deye.'

And thus he drof a day yit forth or tweye,

As ye han herde ; swich lyf right gan he lede.

As he that stood bitwixen hope and drede. eso

TROYLUS AND CRYSEYDE. 27

XCI.

For which hym liked in his songes shewe Thencheson of his wo, as he best myghte, And made a song of wordes but a fewe, Somwhat his woful herte for to lighte : And when he was from every mannes sighte, With softe vois, he of his lady deere, That absent was, gan synge as ye may here.

XCII.

' 0 sterre, of which I lost have alle the lighte, With herte soore, wel oughte I to bewaylle, That evere derk in tormente, nyght by nyght, 640 Towarde my deth, with wynde in steere I saylle > For whiche the tenthe nyght if that I faile The gidynge of thi bemes bright an houre, My ship and me Caribdes wol devoure.'

xcnr.

This songe when he thus songen hadde soone

He fel ayein into his sikes olde;

And every nyght, as was his wone to doone,

He stood, the bryghte mone to beholde ;

And al his sorwe he to the moone tolde,

And seyde, * Iwis, when thow ert horned newe esc

I shal be glad, if alle the world be trewc.

xciv.

* I saugh thyne homes old ek by the morwe, WTian hennes rode my righte lady deere, That cause is of my torment and my sorwe ;

28 TROYLUS AND CRYSEYDE.

For which, 0 bryghte Luclna the cleere ! For love of God ! renne fast aboute thy spere ; For when thyne homes newe gynnen sprynge, Than shal she come that may my blisse brynge.'

xcv.

The day is moore, and longer evere nyght

Than they ben wonte to be, hym thoughts tho ; 660

And that the sonne wente his course unright,

By longer weye than it was wonte to go ;

And seyde, ' Iwis, me dredeth everemo

The sonnes sone, Pheton, be on lyve,

And that his fader carte amys he dryve/

xcvi.

Upon the walles fast ek wold he walke,

And on the Grekes oost he wolde se ;

And to hymself right thus he wolde talke : —

' Lo, yonder is myn owene lady free,

Or elles yonder, ther the tentes bee, 670

And thennes cometh this eyr that is so soote,

That in my soule I feele it doth me boote.

xcvu.

' And hardyly, this wynde that moore and moore

Thus stoundemele encresseth in my face,

Is of my ladys depe sykes sore ;

t preve it thus, for in noon nother place

Of al this town, save oonly in this space,

Feele I no wynde that souneth so lyke peyne ;

It seith ' Alias ! whi twynned be we tweyne ?'

TROYLUS AND CRYSEYDE. 29-

XCYIII.

This longe tyme he dryveth forth right thus, esa

Tille fully passed was the nynthe nyght ;

And ay bysyde hym was this Pandarus,

That bisily dide al his ful/e myght

Hym to confort, and mak his herte light ;

Yevynge hym hope alweye, the tenthe morwe

That she shal come, and stenten al his sorwe.

xcix.

Upon that other syde eke was Criseyde

With wommen few omange the Grekes stronge>

For which ful oft a day, ' Alias !' she seyde,

* That I was borne ! wel may myn herte longe

After my deth, for now lyve I to longe ; C9i

Alias ! and I ne may it not amende,

For now is wers than evere yit I wende.

c.

' My fader nyl for nothynge do me grace

To gon ayein, for nought I kan hym queme ;

And if so be that I my terme pace,

My Troilus shal in his herte deme

That I am fals, and so it may wel seme.

Thus shal Ich have unthonke on every syde ;

That I was borne, so walawey the tyde ! TOG?

ci.

' And if that I me put in jupartye

To stele awey by nyghte, and it befall e

That I be caught, I shal be hold a spye ;

30 TROYLUS AND CRYSEYDE.

Or elles, lo ! this drede I moost of alle, If in the hondes of som wreche I falle, I nam but lost, al be myn herte trewe : Now myghty God, thow on my sor'we re we !*

en.

Ful pale ywoxen was hire bright^ face,

Her lymes lene, as she that al the day

Stood when she dorste, and loked on the place 710

Ther she was borne, and she dwelte had ay,

And al the nyght wepynge, alias ! she lay ;

And thus, despeyred oute of alle cure,

She ledde hire lyf, this woful creature.

cm.

Ful oft a day she sighte ek for destresse,

And in hire-self she wente ay pourtreynge

Of Troilus the grete worthinesse,

And alle his goodely wordes recordynge,

Syn first the day hire love bigan to sprynge ;

And thus she sette hire woful herte afire, 720

Thorugh remembraunce of that she gan desire.

CIY.

In al this world ther nys so cruwel herte, That hire hadde herd compleyne in hire some, That nold han wopen for hire peynes smerte ; So tendrely she wepte, bothe eve and morwe, Hire nedede non teris for to borwe; And this was yet the werste of al hyre peyne, 'Ther was no wight, to whom she dorst hire pleyne.

TROYLUS AND CRYSEYDE. 31

CV.

Ful rewfully she loked upon Troye, Byhelde the toures heigh, and ek the hallis ; T.JO ' Alias !' quod she, ' the plesaunce and the joye, The which that now al tourned into galle is, Have Ich hadde oft withinne tho yonder wallis !

0 Troilus, what dostow now ?' she seyde ;

' Lord ! whether thow thynke yet upon Oiseydc !

cvi.

' Alias ! I nadde y trowed on youre lore, And wente with yow, as ye me redde or this, Thanne hadde I now not siked half so sore : Who myght han seyde, that I hadcfe don amys, To stele away with swich oon as he is ? 710

But al to late cometh the latuarye, When men the cors unto the grave carye.

CVTI.

' To late is now to speko of that matere, Prudens, alias ! oon of thyn eyen thre *Me lakked alwey, er that I com here : On tyme ypassed wel remembred me, And present tyme ek koude Ich wel ysee ; ?But future tyme, er I was in the snare, IKoude I not sen ; that causeth now my care.

CVIII.

* But natheles, bitide what bitide, 750

1 shal to morw at nyght, by est or weste, Out of this oost stele, on som maner side,

32 TROYLUS AND CRYSEYDE.

And gon with Troilus, wher as hym leste ; This purpos wol I hold, and this is beste, No fors of wikked tonges janglerye, For evere on love han wreches hadde envye.

cix.

* For who so wole of every worde tak hede, Or mien hym by every wightes wit, Ne shal he nevere thryven, out of drede ; For that thai som men blamen evere yit, Loo ! other maner folk comenden it ; And as for me, for alle swich variaunce, Felicitc clcpe I my suffisaimce.

ex.

1 For which, withouten any wordes moo, To Troye I wol, as for conclusion/ But, God it woot ! er fully monthes two, She was ful fer fro that entencioun ! For bothe Troilus and Troyes town Shal knotles thorughout hire herte slyde, For she wol take a purpos for tabide.

CXI.

This Dyomede, of whom yow telle I gan,

Goth now withinne hymself ay arguynge,

With al the sleighte and alle that evere he kan,

How he may best with shortest taryinge,

Into his net Criseydes herte brynge ;

To this entente he koude nevere fyne,

To fisshen hire he layde out hook and lyne.

TBOYLUS AND CRYSEYDE. 33

CXII.

But natheles, wel in his herte he thoughte,

That she nas nat without a love in Troye,

For nevere sithen he hire thennes broughte, 780

Ne koude he sen her laughe, or maken joye ;

He nyst how best hire herte for tacoie,

But for tasaie, he seyde ' nought it ne greveth,

For he that nought nasayeth, nought nacheveth.'

CXIII.

Yet sayde he to hymself upon a nj^ght, Now am I nought a fool, that woot wel how Hire wo for love is of another wight, And hereupon to gon asaye hire nowe, I may wel wete it nyl not ben my prow ; For wyse folk in bokes it expresse, 790

Men shal nought wowe a wight in hevynesse.

CXIY.

' But who-so myghte wynnen swich a floure From hym for whom she morneth nyght and day, He myghte seyn he were a conqueroure.' And right anon, as he that bolde was ay, Thought in his herte, ' happe how happe may, Al shold I dye, I wol hire herte seche ; I shal namore lesen but my speche.'

cxv.

This Dyomede, as bokes us declare, Was in his nedes prest and corageous, soo

With stierne vois, and myghty lymes square, VOL. v. D

34 TROYLUS AND CRYSEYDE.

Hardy, testif, strong, and chivalrus

Of dedes, like his fader Tydeus ;

And som men seyn he was of tonge large,

And heire he was of Calcidoyne and Arge.

cxvi.

Criseyde mene was of hire stature

Therto of shap, of face, and ek of cheere,

Ther myghte be no fairer creature ;

And ofte tyme this was hire manere,

To gon ytressed with hire heres clere a

Doun by hire coler, at hire bak byhynde,

Which with a threde of gold she wolde bynde.

ex vn.

And save hire browes joyneden ifeere,

Ther nas no lakke in ought I kan espien ;

But for to speken of hyre eyen clere,

Loo ! trewely they writen that hire seyen,

That Paradys stood formed in hire yen ;

And with hire riche beaute everemore

Strof love in hire, ay whiche of hem was moore.

CXVIII.

She sobre was, ek symple, and wyse withalle, 820

The best ynorissed ek that myghte be,

And goodely of hire speche in general,

Charytable, estatliche, lusty, and free ;

Ne neveremoo ne lakked hire pyte,

Tendre herted, slidynge of corage ;

But trewely I kan not telle hire age.

TKOYLUS AND CRYSEYDE.

35

CXIX.

And Troilus wel woxen was in heighte,

And complet formed by proporcioun,

So wel that Kynde it nought amenden myghte ;

Yong, fresshe, strong, and hardy as lyon ; 830

Trew as steele in ech condicioun ;

On o/the best enteched creature,

That is or shal, while that the world may dure.

cxx.

And, certeinly, in story it is yfounde, That Troilus was nevere unto no wight, As in his tyme, in no degre secunde In during do, that longeth to a knyghte ; Al myght a geaunt passen hym of myght, His herte ay with the firste and with the beste paregal, to dure do that hym leste. 840

cxxi.

|But for to tellen forth of Dyomede :—

fit fel, that efter on that tenthe day

pyn that Cryseyde out of the cite y^de, This Dyomede, as fressh as braunche in May, Dom to the tente ther as Crisseyde lay,

llnd feyned hym with Calkas han to doon ;

put what he mente I shal yow tellen soone.

cxxn.

priseyde, at shorte wordes for to telle, Welcomed hym, and doun by hire hym sette, iind he was ethe ynough to maken dwelle ; sso

36 TROTLUS AND CRTSEYDE.

And efter this, withouten longe lette, The spices and the wyn men forth hem fette, And forth they speke of this and that yfeere, As frendes don, of whiche som shal ye here.

CXXIII.

He gan firste fallen of the werre in speehe

Bytwyxen hem and the folk of Troye toun,

And of thassege he gan ek hire beseche

To tellen him what was hire opinyoun :

Fro that demaunde he so descendeth doun

To axen hire if that hire straunge thoughts seo

The Grekis gyse, and werkes that they wroughte?

cxxiv.

And whi hire fader tarieth so longe

To wedden hire unto som worthy wighte ?

Criseyde that was in hire peynes stronge,

For love of Troylus, hire owene knyghte,

Als ferforthe as she konnynge hadde or myght,

Answerde hym tho ; but, as of his entente,

It semede not she wiste what he mente.

cxxv.

But, natheles, this ilke Dyomede

Gan in hymself asseure, and thus he seyde : — 870

' If Ich arighte have taken of yow hede,

Me thynketh thus, 0 lady myn Crisseyde !

That, syn I firste hond on youre bridel layde,

When ye out com of Troye by the morwe,

Ne koude I nevere sen yow but in sorwe.

TKOYLUS AND CRYSETDE. 37

CXXVI.

• Kan I not seyn what may the cause be,

But if for love of som Troyan it were ;

The which right soore woolde athynken me,

That ye for any wighte that dwelleth there,

Sholden spille a quarter of a teere, sso

Ur pitously youre-selven so bygile ;

For dredeles it is nought worth the while.

cxxvii.

The folk of Troye, as who seith alle and some, In prison ben, as ye youre-selven see ; Fro thennes shal not oon on lyve come, For al the gold atwixen sonne and see ; Trusteth wel, and understondeth me, Ther shal not oon to mercy gon on lyve, Al were he lord of worldes twyes fyve.

CXXVIII.

1 Swich wreche on hem for fecchynge of Eleyne Ther shal ben take, er that we hennes wende, 89 1 That Manes, which that goddes ben of peyne, Shal ben agaste that Grekes wol hem shende ; And men shul drede, unto the worldes ende From hennesforth, to ravysshen any queene, So cruel shal our wreche on hem be seene.

CXXIX.

•' And but-if Calkas lede us with ambages, That is to seyn, with dowble wordes slye, Swich as men clepe ' a worde with two visages,'

38 TROYLUS A1S7D CRYSEYDE.

Ye shal wel knowen that I nought ne lye, 900 And al this thynge right sen it with youre ye, And that anoon, ye nyl not trow how soonc, Now taketh hede, for it is for to doone.

cxxx.

4 What ! wene ye youre wyse fader wolde

Have yeven Antenor for yow anoon,

If he ne wiste that the cite sholde

Destrued ben ? why, nay ! So mot I gon !

He knewe ful wel ther shal not scapen oon

That Trojan is ; and for the grete feere,

He dorste not ye dwelte longer there. 9io

CXXXI.

; What wol ye moore, lufsom lady deere ?

Late Troye and Trojan fro youre herte pace ;

Dryve oute that bittre hope, and make goode chore,

And clepe ayein the beaute of youre face,

That ye with salte teeris so deface,

For Troye is brought in swich a jupartye,

That it to save is now no remedye.

CXXXIT.

' And thenketh wel, ye shal in Grekes fynde

A moore parfite love, or it be nyght,

Thanne any Trojan is, and moore kynde, 920

And bet to serven yow wol don his myght ;

And if ye vowchesaufe my lady bryghte,

I wol ben he to serven yow me-selve,

Ye ! levere than ben a lord of Grekes twelve.'

TROYLUS AND CRYSEYDE. 39

CXXXIII.

And with that worde he gan to wexen rede,

And in his speche a litel while he quooke,

And caste aside a litel with his hed,

And stynte a while ; and efterwarde he wooke,

And sobreliche on hire he threw his looke,

And seyde, ' I am, albeit yow no joye, 930

As gentil man as any wighte in Troie.

CXXXIY.

* For if my fader Tydeus,' he seyde,

' Ylived hadde, Ich hadde ben or this,

Of Calcidoyne and Arge a kyng, Criseyde ;

And so hope I that I shal yit, ywys :

But he was slayne, alias ! the moore harme is,

Unhappilye at Thebes al to rathe,

Polymyte, and many a man to scathe.

cxxxv.

* But herte myn ! syn that I am youre man,

And ben the firste of whom I seche grace, 910

To serve yow as hertely as I kan,

And evere shal, while I to lyve have space.

So er that I departe out of this place,

Ye wol me graunte that I may to morwe,

At better layser telle yow my sorwe/

cxxxvi.

What sholde I telle hise wordes that he seyde? He spake inowgh for a day atte meeste ; Tt preveU wel he spak so, that Criseyde

40 TROYLUS AND CRYSEYDE.

Graunted on the morwe at his requeste, For to speken with hym atte leste, 950

So that he nolde speke of swiehe matere ; And thus she to hym seyde, as ye mow here,

cxxxvn.

As she that hadde hire herte on Troilus So faste, that ther may it noon arace ; And straungely she spak and seyde thus : — ' 0 Diomede, I love that ilke place Ther I was borne ; and, Joves, for his grace Delyvere it soone of alle that doth it care ! God for thi myght so lene it wel to fare !

CXXXVIII.

' That Grekes wolde hire wrath on Troye wreke,

If that they myght, I know it wel, ywis ; %i

But it schal nought byfallen as ye speke ;

And God toforne, and ferther over this,

I woot my fader wyse and redy is,

And that he me hath bought, as ye me tolde,

So deere I am the more unto hym holde.

CXXXIX.

' That Grekes ben of heigh condicioun,

I wot ek wel ; but certein men shal fynde

As worthy folk withinrie Troye town,

As konnynge, as parfite, and as kynde, 970

As ben betwyxen Orcades and Inde ;

And that ye koude wele youre lady serve,

I trow ek wel hire thonke for to desserve.

TROYLUS AND CRYSEYDE. 41

CXL.

But as to speke of love, iwis/ slie seyde, * I had a lord to whom I wedded was, He whos myn herte al was til that he deyde ; And other love, as help me now Pallas ! Ther in myn herte nys, ne nevere was ; And that ye ben of noble and heigh kynrfide, I have wel herd it tellen, out of drede. 980

CXLI.

And that doth me to han so grete a wonnder, That ye wol scornen any womman so ; Ek, God woot, love and I ben fer asonder ; I am disposed bet, so mot I go, Unto my deth to pleyne and maken wo ; What 1 shal efter done I kan not seye, I But trewelich as yet me luste not pleye.

CXLII.

' Myn herte is now in tribulacion,

And ye in armes bysi day by day ;

Here-efter whan ye wonnen han the town, 990

Paraunter than, so it happen may,

That when I se that I nevere er sey,

Thanne wol I werke that I never er wroghte ;

iThis word to yow ynough suffisen oughte.

CXLIII.

' To morvve eke wol I speke with yow fayne, So that ye touchen naught of this matere ; And when yow luste, ye may com here ayeynne,

42 TROYLUS AND CRYSEYDE.

And er ye gon, thus muche I seye yow here ; — As helpe me Pallas, with hire heres clere, If that I sholde of any Greke han routhe, 1000 It sholde be youre-selven, be my trouthe !

CXLIV.

1 1 say not therfore that I wol yow love, Ny say not nay ; but, in conclusioun, I mene wele, by God that sitt above !' And therwithal she caste hire eyen down, And gan to syke, and seyde, ' 0 Troye town ! Yet bid I God, in quiete and in reste I may yow sen, or do myn herte t reste !

CXLV.

But in effect, and shortly for to seye,

This Diomede alle fresshly newe ayein 1010

Gan presen on, and fast hire mercy preye ;

And efter this, the sothe for to seyne,

Hire glove he toke, of wiche he was ful fayne ;

And, finaly, when it was woxen eve,

And alle was wel, he roos and tooke his leve.

CXLVI.

The bright^ Venus folwed and ay taughte

The wey ther brode Phebus doun alighte ;

And Cynthea hire char hors over raughte,

To whirle out of the Leon, if she myghte ;

And Signifer his candels sheweth brighte, 102*

When that Criseyde unto hire bedde wente,

In -with hire fadres faire bryghte tente.

TROYLUS AND CRYSEYDE. 43

CXLYII.

Retournynge in hir soule ay up and doun The vvordes of this sodeyn Diomede, His grete estate, and peril of the town, And that she was allon, and hadde nede Of frendes help ; and thus bygan to brede The cause whi, the sothe for to telle, That sche tok fully the purpos for to dwelle.

CXLVIII.

The morwen com, and gostly for to speke, 1030

This Diomede is com unto Criseyde ; And shortly, kste that ye my tale breke, wel he for hymselfe spake and seyde, That alle hire sykes score adown he layde ; And finaly, the sothe for to seyne,

He refte hire of the grete of al hire peyne.

CXLIX.

And efter this, the storye telleth us,

That she him yaf the faire baye steede,

The whiche she ones wan of Troilus ;

And eke a broch (and that was litel nede) 10*0

That Troilus was, she yaf this Diomede ;

And ek the bet from sorw hym to releve,

She made hym were a pensel of hire sieve.

CL.

I fynde ek in stories elleswhere,

When thorugh the body hirte was Dyomede

Of Troilus, tho wepte she many a teere.

44 TKOYLUS AND CRTSEYDE.

When that she saugh hise wyde woundes blede, And that she toke to kepen hym good hede, And for to helen hym of his sorwes smerte, Men seyn, I not, that she yaf hym hire herte. 1050

CLI.

But trewelyche, the storye telleth us, Ther made nevere womman more wo Than she, when that she* falsede Troylus ; She seyde, ' Alias ! for now is clene ago My name of trouthe in love for everemo ; For I have falsed oon the gentileste That evere was, and oon the worthyeste.

CLII.

' Alias ! of me unto the worZdes ende

Shal neither ben ywriten nor ysonge

No good worde, for this bokes wol me shende :

/rolled schal I ben on many a tonge ; 1061

Thorughout the world my belle schal be ronge ;

And wommen most wol haten me of alle ;

Alias ! that swich a cas me sholde falle !

CLIII.

' They wol seyn, in as muche as in me is,

I have hem don dishonoure, walaway !

Al be I not the firste that dide amys,

What helpeth that to don my blame away ?

But syn I se ther is no better way,

And that to late is now for me to re we, 1070

To Dyomede algate I wol be trewe.

TKOYLUS AND CRTSEYDE. 45

CLIV.

' But, Troilus, syn I no bettre may, And syn that thus departen ye and I, Yet preye / God so yeve yow right good day ; As for the gentileste trewely, That evere Y say, to serven faithfully, \nd beste kan ay his lady honour kepe ;' ind with that word she braste anon to wepe.

CLV.

And certes, yow to haten shal I nevere, And frendes love, that shal ye han of me, icso And my goode worde, al shold I lyve evere ; And trewely I wol right sory be, For to sen yow in adversite ; And giltelees I wot wel I yow leeve, And alle shal passe, and thus tak I my leve/

CLVI.

But trewely how longe it was betweyne,

That she forsoke hym for this Dyomede,

Ther is non auctour telleth it, I wene ;

Tak every man now to his bokes hede,

He shal no time fynden, out of drede ; 1090

For though that he bigan to wow hire soone,

Er he hire wan, yet was there more to doone.

CLVII.

'Ne me ne list this sely womman chyde ! Ferther thanne the storie wol devyse ; Hire name, alias ! is puJ/yshed so wyde,

46 TROYLUS AND CRYSEYDE.

That for hire gilte it ought ynough suffise ; And if I myght excuse hire any wyse, For she so sory was for hire untrouthe, Ivvis I wold excuse hire vet for routhe.

CLVIII.

This Troilus, as I before have tolde, noo

Thus dryveth forth as wel as he hathe myght ;

But ofte was his herte hote and colde,

And namely that ilke nynthe nyght,

Whiche on the morwe she hadde hym byhight

To com ayeyn : God woot, ful litel reste

Hadde he that nyght ! nothynge to slepe hym l<?ste.

CLIX.

The laurer-crowned Phebus, with his hete Gan in his course ay upwarde as he wente, To warmen of the este se the wawes wete, And Nysus doughter song, with fressh entente, When Troilus his Pandare efter sente ; 1111

And on the walles of the town thei pleyde, To loke if they kan sen ought of Criseyde.

CLX.

Til it was none they stoode for to se

Who that ther come, and every manere wight

That com fro fer, they seyden it was she,

Til that thei koude knowen hym aright :

Now was his herte dul, now was it light,

And thus bijaped stonden for to stare,

Aboute nought, this Troilus and Pandare 11-20

TROYLUS AND CRYSEYDE. 47

CLXI.

To Pandarus this Troilus tho seyde, For ought I woot, byfor noon sykerly, i»to this town ne cometh not here Criseyde ; She hath ynough to doen, hardily,

wynnen from hire fader, so trow I ; lire olde fader wol yet make hire dyne

that she go, God yeve his herte pyne ! '

CLXII.

*andare answarde, ' It may wel be certein, And forthy lat us dyne, I the beseche, And after noon than maistow com ayein:' nso And horn they go, withouten moore speche, And comen ayein ; but longe may they seche,

Dr that thei fynde that they efter #ape ;

fortune hem bothe thenketh for to jape.

CLXIII.

iuod Troilus, ' I se wel now that she

taried with hire olde fader so, Phat, er she come, it wol neigh even be. 3ome forth, I wol unto the yate go ; Thise portours ben unkonnynge everemo, knd I wol done hem holden up the yate, iuo is nought ne were, although she come late.'

CLXIV

Che day goth fast, and efter that cometh eve,

d yet com nought to Troilus Criseyde ; le loketh forth by hegge, by tre, by greve,

48 TROYLUS AND CRYSEYDE.

And fer his hed over the walle he layde, And at the laste he torned hym, and seyde, ' By God, I wot hire menyinge now, Pandare ! Almoost iwys al newe is my care.

CLXV.

' Now, douteles, this lady kan hire good ;

I wote she meneth riden prively ; 1150

I comende hire wysdom, by myn hode !

She wol not maken peple nycely

Gaure on hire when that she comth ; but softely

By nyght into the town she thenketh ride,

And dere brother thenke not longe tabide,

CLXVI.

' We han nought elles for to don, iwys ;

And Pandarus, now woltow trowen me ?

Have here my trouthe, I se hire ! yonde she is !

Heve up thyn eyen man, maystow not se ?'

Pandare answerde, ' Nay, so moot I the ! neo-

Al wronge, by God ! what seistow man? wher arte?

That I se yonde is but a fare carte.'

CLXVII.

' Alias ! thow saist right soth/ quod Troilus ;

' But hardely it is not al for nought,

That in myn herte I now rejoysse thus,

It is ayenis som good, I have a thought ;

Not I not how, but sen that I was wroughte,

Ne felt I swich a confort, dar I seye ;

She comth to nyght, my life that dorste I lye I*

TROYLUS AND CRYSEYDE. 4$

CLXVIII.

Pandare answerd, ' It may be wel ynough/ 117 And helde with hym of al that ever he seyde, But in his herte he thought, and softly lough, And to hymself ful sobreli«he he seyde, 1 From hasel woode, ther jolye Robin pleyde, Shal com al that that thow abydest here ! And farewel al the snowgh of feme yere !'

CLXIX.

The wardeyn of the yates gan to calle

The folk which that withoute the yates were,

And bad hem dryven in hire bestes alle,

Or al the nyght they moste bleven there ; nso

And fer withinne the nyght, with many a teere,

This Troilus gan homwarde for to ride,

For wel he seth it helpeth nought tabyde.

CLXX.

But natheles, he gladded hym in this, He thoughte he mysacounted haddo his day, And seyde, ' I understonde have al amys, For thilke nyght I laste Criseyde seye, She seyde, ' I shal ben here, if that I may, *Er that the moone, 0 deere herte swete, The Leon passe oute of this Ariete ;' 1190

CLXXI.

' For which she may yet holde al hire biheste,' And on the morwe unto the yate he wente, And up and down, by weste and ek bi este, VOL. v. re

50 .TROYLUS AND- CRYSEYDE.

Upon the walles made he many a wente, But al for nought ; his hope alwey hym blenfcej For which at nyght, in sorwe and sikes sore, He wente hym home, withouten any moore.

CLXXII.

This hope al clene out of his herte fledde,

He nath wheron now lenger for to honge ; 1199

But, for the peyne, hym thought his herte bledde,

So were his throwes sharpe, and wonder stronge ;

For when he saugh that she aboode so longe,

He nyste what he juggen of it myghte,

Syn she hath broken that she hym byhighte.

CLXXIIT.

The thridde, ferthe, fyfte, and sexte day After tho dayes ten, of whiche I tolde, Betwixen hope and drede his herte lay, Yet somwhat trusten on hire hestes olde; But when he saugh she nold hire terme holde, He kan now sen non other remedye, 1210

But for to shape hym sone for to dye.

CLXXIV.

Therwith the wykked spirit, God us blesse ! Which that men clepeth wode jalousie, Gan in hym crepe, in al this hevynesse ; For whiche, because he wolde soone dye, He ne ete ne dranke for his melencolye, And ek from every compaynye he fledde ; This was the lyf that al the tyme he ledde.

TROYLUS AND CRYSEIDE. ol

CLXXV.

Ie so defet was, that no maner man

Jnneth hym myghte knowen there he wente ; 1220 So was he leen, and therto pale and wan, And fieble, that he walketh by potente, And with his ire he thus hymselven shente :

Jut who so axed hym whereof hym smerte, He seyde his harme was al aboute his herte.

CLXXVI.

ful ofte, and ek his moder deere, lis bretheren and his sustren gonne hym freyne Whi he so sorwful was in al his cheere, And what thyng was the cause of al his peyne ? $ut al for nought, he nold his cause pleyne ; 1230 Jut seyde, he felte a grevous maladye Aboute his herte, and fayne he wolde dye.

CLxxvn.

So on a day he layde hym down to slepe ; And so byfel, that in his slepe hym thoughte, IThat in a forest faste he welke to wepe, 'For love of hire that hym thise peynes wroughte ; \A.nd up and doun as he that forest soughte, Se mette he saugh a boor, with tuskes grete, that slepte ayein the brighte sonnes hete.

CLXXYIII.

And by this boor, fast in hir armes folde, . 12*0 Lay kyssyng ay his lady bright Criseyde ; For sorw of which, whan he it gan biholde,

52 TKOTLUS AKD CRYSETDE.

And for despit, out of his slepe he breyde, And loude he criede on Pandarus, and seyde, ' 0 Pandarus, now know I, crope and roote ! I nam but ded, there is non other boote !

CLXXIX.

' My lady bryghte, Criseyde, hath me bytrayed, In whom I trustede moost of any wighte ; She elleswhere hath now hire herte apeyde ; The blisful goddes, thorwgh hire grete myghte, Han in my drein yshewed it ful righte ; 125

Thus, in my drem, Criseyde have I biholde ;' And ^al this thynge to Pandarus he tolde.

CLXXX.

' 0 my Criseyde, alias ! what subtilte ?

What newe lust ? what beaute ? what science?

What wrathe of juste cause have ye to me ?

What guilte of me ? what fel experience

Hath fro me raft, alias ! thyn advertence ?

0 trust, 0 feith, 0 depe aseuraunce !

Who hath me reft Criseyde, al my plesaunce ?

CLXXXI.

' Alias ! whi lett Ich yow from hennes go ? 126

For which wel neigh out of my wit I breyde ;

Who shal now trowe on any othes moo ?

God woot I wende, 0 lady bright Criseyde,

That every word was gospel that ye seyde !

But who may beste bigile if hym liste,

Than he on wliom men weneth best to triste ?

TROYLUS AND CRYSEYDE. 53

CXXXLII.

What shal I don, my Pandarus, alias ? I fele nowe so sharpe a newe peyne, Syn that ther is no remedye in this cas, 1270

That bet were it I with myn hondes tweyne My-selven slewe, than alway thus to pleyne ; For thorwgh the deth my wo shold have an ende, Ther every day with lif myself I shende/

CLXXXIII.

Pan dare answerde and seyde, ' Alias, the while

That I was born ! have I not seyde or this

That dremes many a maner man bigile ?

And whi ? For folk expounden hem amys :

How darstow seyn that fals thy lady is,

For any dreme, right for thyn owen drede ? 1280

Lat be this thought, thow kanst no dremes rede.

CLXXXIV.

' Paraunter ther thow dremest of this boor, It may so be that it may signifye Hire/ae&r, whiche that old is and ek hoor, Ayein the sonne lyth o poynte to dye ; And she for sorwe gynneth wepe and crye, And kysseth hym, ther he lyth on the grounde ; Thus sholdestow thy dreme aright expounded

CLXXXV.

' How myght / than don,' quod Troilus,

' To know of this, ye, were it nevere so lite ?* 1290

'Now seyestow wisely/ quod this Pandarus;

54 TROYLUS AND CRYSEYDE.

1 My rede is this, syn thow kanst wel endite, That hastily a letre thou hire write, Thorugh whiche thow shalt wel bryngen it abouto To knowe a soth of that , thow ert in doute.

CLXXXVI.

' And se now why : for this I dar wel seyn,

That if so is, that she untrewe be,

I kan not trowen that she wol write ayein ;

And if she write, thow shalZ ful soone see,

As whether she hath any liberte isoo

To come ayein, or elles in som clause

If she be let, she wol asigne a cause.

CLXXXVII.

1 Thow hast not writen hire syn that she wenter Nor sche to the ; and this I dorste laye, Ther may swich cause ben in hire entente, That hardily thow wolt thy-selven seye, That hire abood the best is for yow tweye : Now write hire than, and thow shalt fele soone A sothe of al ; ther is namoore to doone.'

CLXXXVIII.

Acorded ben to this conclusion, isio

And that anon, thise ilke lordes two ;

And hastily sit Troilus adoun,

And rolleth in his herte to and fro,

How he may best descryven hire his wo ;

And to Criseyde, his owen lady deere,

He wrote righte thus, and seyde as ye may here.

TROYLUS AND CRYSEYDE. 55

THE COPY OF THE LETTER. CLXXXIX.

* Right fresshe floure ! whos I ben have and shal, Withouten part of ellesewhere servyse,

With herte, body, lyf, lust, thought, and alle !

I, woful wight, in everych humble wyse 1320

That tonge telle, or herte may devyse,

As oft as matere occupieth place,

Me recomaunde unto youre noble grace.

cxc.

* Liketh it yow to wyten, sweete herte, As ye wel knowe, how longe tyme agon That ye me left in aspre peynes smerte, When that ye wente, of which yit boote non Have I non had, but evere wors bigoon Fro day to day am I, and so mot dwelle,

While it yow liste, of wele and wo my welle ! 1330

cxci.

' For which to yow, with dredeful herte trewe, I write (as he that sorwe drifth to write) My wo, that every houre encresseth newe, Compleynynge as I dar, or kan endite ; And that defaced is, that may ye wite, With teres, which that fro myneyen reyne ; They wolden speke, if that they koude, and pleyne.

cxcn.

' Yow first beseche I, that youre eyen clere, To look on this defouled ye nat holde : And over al this, that ye, my lady dere, 1340

CS TROYLUS AND CRYSEYDE.

Wol vouche-saufe this letre to beholde ; And by the cause ek of my cares colde, That sleth my wit, if ought amys masterte, Foryeve it me, myn o wen swete herte.

cxcm.

[' Yf any servaunt durst, or aught aryght

Upon hys lady pitously compleyne,

Than wene I that I oughts be that whyght ;

Considered thys, that ye thys monethes tweyne

Han taryed, there ye seyde, sothe to seyne.

But dayes ten ye nolde in hoste sojourne ; isso

But in two monethes yit ye not retourne.

cxciv.

' And, for as moche as me mote nedys lyke Alle that you lust, I dar not pleyne more, But humbly, wyth sorowful sykes syke, You write I myn unresty sorowes sore ; Fro day to day, desiring evermore To knowen fully, yif youre wille it were, How ye han ferde and don while ye ben there.

cxcv.

' The whos welfare and hele eke God encrece

In honour suche, that upward in degre iaeo

Hit grow alwey, soo that it never cese,

Ryght as your herte ay can, my lady fre,

Devise, I prey to Gode so mote it be,

And graunt it, soone that ye upon me rewe,

As wisly as in al I am unto you trewe.

TROYLUS AND CRYSEYDE. 57

CXCVI.

* And yf it lyke yow to knowen of the fare

Of me, whos woo ther may no wyght discryve,

I can no more, but cheste of every care,

At wrytyng of thys letre I was on lyve,

Al redy oute my wooful gost to dryve, 1370

Wych I delay, and holde hym yit in honde,

Upon the syght of matere of youre sonde.

cxcvu.

Myn eyen twoo, in veyne wyth wych I see, . Of sorowfule terys salte ar woxen welles ; My songe in pleynt of myn adversite, My good in harme, myn ese eke woxen helle is, My joye in wo ; I can sey you nought ellys, But tournede is, for wych my lyf I warye> Every joye or ese in hys contrarie.

cxcvnr.

' Wych with your commyng horn ayen to Troye

Ye may redresse, and, more a thousand sithe, issi

Than ever I hade, encrecen in me joye ;

For was ther never herte yit so blithe

To have hys lyf, as I shal ben as swyth

As I you see; and though no manere routhe

Com in to you, yit thenkyth on youre trouthe.

cxcix.

' And yef so be my gilt dethe have deserved,

Or yf you lust no more upon me see,

In guerdon yit of that I have you served,

58 TROYLTJS ANT) CRYSEYDE.

Beseche I you, myn oume lady free, 1390

That herupon ye wolde write me, For love of Gode, my ryghte lodestere, That dethe may make an ende of al my were.

cc.

' If other cause aught dothe you for to dwelle, Than with youre letre ye may me reconforte ; For though to me youre absence is an helle, Wyth pacience Y wyl my woo conforte, And with youre letre of hope I wyl disporte : Now writeth, swete, and lat me thus not pleyi/e ; Wyth hope, or dethe, delivereth me from peyne.

cci.

' Iwys, myn oune dere herte trewe, 1401

I wote that whan ye next upon me se,

So lost have I myn hele and eke myn Aewe, Criseyde shal not conne knowe me ; Iwys, myn hertes day, my lady fre, Soo thrusteth ay myn herte to beholde Your beaute, that unnethe my lyf I holde.

CCII.

I 1 sey no more, al have I for to seye To you we! more than I tellen may ;

But whether that ye do me lyve or deye, wio

Yit prey I Gode so yeve you ryght gode day ; And fareth wel, godely feyre fresshe may, As she that lyf or deth me may comaunde, And to your trouthe ay I me recomaunde.

TROTLtTS AND €RYSEYDK. 59

ccm.

Wyth hele swych, but that ye yeven me Tlie same hele, I shal noon hele have ; In you lieth, whan you list that it so be, The day on wyche me clothen shal my grave ; In you my lif, in youre myght for to save Me fro disese of alle peynes smerte ; 1420

And fare now wele, myn oirne swete herte !

' Le vostre TV

CCIV.

Thys letre forth was sent unto Criseyde, Of wych hir answere in effect was thys : — Ful pitously she wrote ayen and seyde, That al so sone as that she myght y wys, She wolde come, and mende that was amys ; And finally, she wrote hym and seyde thanne, She wolde come, ye, but she nyste whanne.]

ccv.

But in hire letre made she swich feeste, HSO

That wonder was, and swerth she loveth hym beste,

Of which he fonde bwt botmeles biheste.

But Troilus thou mayst now, est or weste,

Pipe in an ivy leefe, if that the leste.

Thus goththe world ; God shilde us fro meschaunce,

And every wight that meneth trouthe avaunee !

ccvi.

Encressen gan the wo fro day to nyght

Of Troilus, for tarynge of Criseyde ;

And lessen gan his hope and ek his myght,

CO TROYLUS AND CRYSEYDE.

For which al doun he m his bed hym leyde ; 1440 He ne ete, ne dronk, ne slepe, ne worde seyde, Ymagynynge ay that she was unkynde, For which wel neigh he wex out of his mynde.

ccvn.

This dreme, of which I tolde have ek biforne,

May nevere come out of his remembraunce ;

He thought ay wel he had his lady lorne,

And that Joves, of his purveiaunce,

Hym shewed hadde in slepe the signifiaunce

Of hire untrouth, and his disaventure,

And that the boor was shewed hym in figure. 1450

CCVTII.

For which he for Sibille his suster sente,

That called was Cassandre al aboute,

And al his dreme he told hire or he stente,

And hire bysought assoylen hym the doute

Of the stronge boor, with tuskes stoute ;

And finaly, withinne a litel stounde,

Cassandre bygan right thus his dreme expounde.

ccix.

She gan first smyle, and seyde, ' Brother dere,

If thaw a soth of this desirest knowe,

Thow most a fewe of olde stories here, neo

To purpos how that fortune overthrowe

Hath lordes olde, thorwgh which withinne a tArowe

Thow wel this boor shalt know, and of what kynde

He comen is, as men in bokes fynde.

TROYLUS AND CRTSEYDE. 61

CCX.

1 Diane, which that wroth was and in ire, I For Grekes nolde don hire sacrifise, |Ne incens upon hire auter sette afire, i So for that Greekes gonne hire so despise, Wrak hir in a wonder cruwel wyse; For, with a boor, as grete as ox in stalle, 1470 She made, up frete hire corne and vynes alle.

ccxi.

To sle this boor was al the centre raysed, Omanges which ther come this boor to se A maide, on of this worlde the beste preysed ; And Meleager, lorde of that centre, He lovede so this fresshe mayden free, That with his manhode, or he wolde stente, This boor he slough, and hire the hed he sente»

ccxn.

' Of which, as olde bokes tellen us,

Ther roos a contek and a grete envye ; 1480

»And of this lorde descended Tideus

By ligne, or elles olde bokes lye:

And how this Meleager gan to dye

Thorwgh his moder, wol I yow nought telle,

For al to long it were for to dwelle.'

QCXIII,

She told ek how Tideus, or she stente,

Unto the stronge cite of Thebes,

To cleymen kyngdom of the cite, wentd

62 TROYLUS AND CRYSEYDE.

For his felawe daun Polimytes, Of whiche the brother daun Ethiocles 1490

Ful wrongfully of Thebes held the strengthe. This tolde she by proces al by lengthe.

ccxiv.

She told ek how Hemonydes asterte, When Tideus slough fifty knyghtes stoute ; She told ek al the prophecies by herte, And how that seven kynges with hire route Besegeden the cite alle aboute ; And of the holy serpent, and the welle, And of the furies alle she gan hym telle.

ccxv

Associatprofugum Tideus primus P olynycem, 1500 Tidea legatum docet insidias'que secundus, Tercius Hemoniden canit, et vates latitantes, Quartus habet reges ineuntes prelia septem ; Mox furie lenne quinto harrantur et anguis, Archimori bustum sexto ludusque leguntur. Dat Grayos Thebes et vatem Septimus umbiis, Octavo cecidit Tideus, spes, vita Pelasgis ; Ypomedon nono moritur cum Parthonopeo, Fulmine percussus decimo Gappaneus superatur, JJndecimo sese perimunt per vulnera fratres, i Argiva flentem, narrat duodenus et ignem.

ccxvi.

Of Archinoris burynge, and the pleyes.

And how Amphiorax fil thorwgh the grounde,

How Tideus was slayn. lord of Argeyes,

TROYLUS AND CRYSEYDE. 63

And how Ypomedon in litel stounde

Was dreynt, and d^ed Parthonope of wounde ;

And also how Cappaneus the proude,

With thunder dynt was slayn, that criede loude.

ccxvir.

She kan ek telle hym how that either brother,

Ethiocles and Polymyte also, 1520

jjit a scarmyche ech of hem slough other,

And of Argyves wepynge and hire wo,

And how the town was brente she told ek tho ;

And so descendeth doun from gestes olde

To Diomede, and thus she spak and tolde.

ccxvm.

* This ilke boor bitokneth Diomede,

Tideus sone, that doun descended is

Fro Meleagre, that made the boor to blede ;

And thy lady, wher-so sche be, ywis,

This Dyomede hire herte hath, and she 7zis : 1530

Wepe if thow wolt, or lefe, for out of doute

This Diomede is inne, and thow ert oute.'

ccxix.

' Thow saist nat soth/ quod he, ' thow sorceresse !

IS^ith al thi false goost of prophecie !

Thow wenest ben a grete devineresse !

Now sestow nat this fool of fantasie,

Peyneth hire on ladys for to lye ?

kAwey !' quod he, ' ther Joves yeve the sorwe !

Thow shalt be fals paraunter yet to morwe !

64 TROYLUS AND CRYSEYDE.

CCXX.

' Als wel thow myghtest lyen on Alceste, 1540

That was of creatures (but men lie)

That ever weren, kyndest, and the beste ;

For when hire housbonde was in jupartye

To dye hymself, but if she wolde dye,

SAo ches for hym to dye, and gon to helle,

And starf anon, as us the bokes telle.'

ccxxi.

Cassandre goth, and he, with cruel herte,

Foryat his wo for angre of hire speche ;

And from his bed al sodeynly he sterte,

As though al hool hym hadd ymade a leche j 15

And day by day he gan enquere and seche

A soth of this, with al his fulle cure,

And thus he driveth forth his aventure.

CCXXII.

Fortune, which that permutacioun

Of thynges hath, as it is hyre committed,

Thorwgh purveiaunce and disposicioun

Of heigh Jove, as regnes shal ben flitted

Fro folk in folk, or when they shal ben smitted,

Gan pulle awey the fetheres bright of Troie,

Fro day to day, til they ben bare of joie. isi

ccxxirr,

Amange al this, the fyne of the parodye Of Ector gan approchen wonder blyve ; The fate wold his soule shold unbodje,

TROYLUS AND CRYSEYDE. 65

And shapen hadde a mene it out to dryve, Ayeins which fate hym helpeth not to stryve ; But, on a day, to fighten gan he wende, At which alias ! he caughte his lyves ende.

ccxxiv.

For which me thenketh every manere wi^ht That haunteth armes oughte to bewayle The deth of hym that was so noble a knyght : For, as he drough a kynge by thavantaille, 1571 tinware of this, Achilles, thorwgh the maylle, And thorwgh the body, gan hym for to ryve ; And thus the worthy knyght was brought of lyve.

ccxxv.

For whom, as olde bokes tellen us,

Was made swiche wo, that tonge it may not telle ;

And namely, the sorwe of Troilus,

That next hym was of worthinesse welle ;

d in this wo gan Troilus to dwelle, That what for sorwe, and love, and for unreste, Ful oft a day he bad his herte breste. 1581

ccxxvr.

'But, natheles, though he gan hym despaire, And drede ay that his lady was untrewe, STet ay on hire his herte gan re'paire, ind as thise lovers don, he sought ay newe To gete ayein Criseyde, brighte of hewe ; ind in his herte he wente hire excusynge, That Calkas caused alle hire taryinge. VOL. v. F

66 FROYLUS AND CRYSEYDE.

CCXXVII.

And ofte tyme he was in purpos grete,

Hymselven like a pilgrym to degyse, 159(

To sen hire ; but he may not conterfete,

To ben unknowen of folk that weren wyse,

Ne fynde excuse aright that may suffise,

If he omange the Grekes knowen weere ;

For whiche he wepte ful oft and many a teere.

ccxxvm.

To hire he wroot yet ofte tyme al newe. Ful pitously, he left it nought for slouthe, Besechynge hire, that syn that he was trewe, That she wol come ayein, and hold hire trouthe ; For which Criseyde upon a day for routhe, ieo< I take it so, touchynge al this matere, Wroot hym ayein, and seyde as ye may here.

CCXXIX.

' Cupides sone, ensaumple of goodlyhede,

0 swerde of knyghiAod, sours of gentilesse, How myght a wight in tormente and in drede, And heleles, yow sende as yet gladnesse ?

1 herteles, I sik, / in destresse,

Syn ye with me, nor I with yow may dele, Yow neither sende Iche herte may, nor hele.

ccxxx.

' Your letres ful, the papir al ypleynted, iei

Conceyved hath myn hertes pite ;

I have ek seyn, with teeris alle depeynted,

TROYLUS AND CRYSEYDE. 67

'cure letre, and how that ye requeren me 'o come ayein ; which yet ne may not be ; lut whi, leste that this letre fotmden were, fo mencion ne make I nowe for fere.

ccxxxi.

revous to me, God woot, is youre unreste, oure haste, and that the Goddes ordinaunce semeth nat ye take it for the beste ; >r other thyng nys in youre remembraunce, thenketh me, but oonly youre pleasaunce ; 1621 t beth not wroth, and that I yow beseche, r that I tarye is al for wikked speche.

CCXXXII.

?or I have herde wel more than I wende uchynge us two, how thynges ban ystonde, liche I shal with dissimulynge amende ; id, beth not wroth, I have ek understonde, )w ye ne don but holden me in honde ; it now no fors, I kan not in yow gesse, t alle trouthe and alle gentilesse. 1630

CCXXXIII.

om 1 wole, but yet in swich disjoynte Jtonde as now, that what yere or what day tat this shal be, that kan I nought apoynte ; It in effect I preye yowe, as I may,

your good word, and of youre frendschip ay ; •p trewely while that my lif may dure,

for a frend, ye may in me assure.

68 TROYLUS AND CRYSEYDE.

CCXXXIV.

' Yet preye I yow, an evyl ye ne take That it is short which that I to yow write ; I dar not ther I am wele letres make, ie|

Ne nevere yet ne koude I wel endite ; Ek grete effect, men write in place lite, The entente is alle, and not the letres space ; And farth now wel, God have you in his grace !

* La vostre C.' ccxxxv.

This Troilus this letre thought al straunge, Whan he it saugh, and sorwftillyche he sighte ; Hym thought it like a kalendes of chaunge ; But, finaly, he ful ne trowen myghte, That she ne wold hym holden that she hyghte ; For with ful yvel wil list hym to leve, if

That lovet^ wel, in swiche cas, though hym gre

ccxxxvi.

But natheles, men seyn that, at the laste, For any thyng, men shal the sothe see ; And swich a cas betid, and that as faste, That Troilus wel understood that she Nas not so kynde as that hire oughte be ; And finaly, he woot now out of doute, That al is lost that he hath ben aboute.

CCXXXVII.

Stood on a day in his malencolye

This Troilus, and in suspicioun

Of hire, for whom he wende for to dye ;

TROYLUS AND CRTSEYDE. 69

nd so bifel, that thorwghout Troie town,

s was the gyse, iborn was up and down

manere cote armur, as seith the storie,

iforn Deiphebe, in signe of his victorie.

CCXXXVIH.

ie whiehe cote, as telleth Lollius, eiphebe it hadde rent fro Diomede ie same day ; and when this Troilus saugh, he gan to taken of it hede, ie:o

vrysinge of the lengthe and of the brede, ad al the werke ; but, as he gan biholde, il sodeynli his herte gan to colde,

ccxxxix.

\ he that on the coler fonde withinne broche, that he Criseyde yaf that morwe tat she from Troie moste nedes twynne, remembraunce of hym, and of his sorwe ; id she hym layde ayein hir feith to borwe, • kepe it ay ; but now ful wel he wiste, ;8 lady nas no langer on to truste. 1680

CCXL.

3 goth hym horn, and gan ful soone sende

r Pandarus ; and al this newe chaunce,

id of this broche, he told hym word and ende,

mpleynynge of hire herte variaunce,

18 longe love, his trouth, and his pennaunce ;

id after Deth, withouten wordes moore,

1 fast he cried, his rest hym to restoore.

70 TROYLUS AND CRYSEYDE.

CCXLI.

Than spak he thus : — ' 0, lady myn Criseyde, Wher is youre feith, and wher is youre biheste ' Wher is your love, where is youre trouth?' he seyc t Of Diomede have ye now al this feeste ! i6f|

Alias ! I wold han trowed at the leeste, That syn ye nold in trouthe to me stonde, That ye thus nold han holden me in honde.

CCX1.II.

1 Who shal now trow on any othes mo ?

Alias ! I nevere wold han wende, or this,

That ye, Criseyde, koude han chaunged'so,

Ne but I hadde agilt, and don amys ;

So cruel wende I nought youre herte, iwys,

To sle me thus ! alias ! youre name of trouthe i7<|

Is now fordon, and that is al my routhe.

CCXLIII.

' Was ther non other broch yow liste lete, To feife with youre newe love,' quod he, ' But thilke broch that I, with teris wete, Yow yaf, as for a remembraunce of me ? Non other cause, alias ! ne hadde ye, But for despit ; and ek for that ye mente Al outerly to shewen youre entente.

CCXLIV.

' Thorwgh which I se, that clene out of youre my Ye han me caste, and I ne kan nor may i*

For al this world withinne myn herte fynde

TROYLUS AND CRYSEYDE. 71

To unloven yow a quarter of a day ; In cursed tyme I borne was, walawey ! That yow,- that dothe me al this wo endure, Yet love I best of any creature.

CCXLV.

' Now God/ quod he, l me sende yet the grace, That I may meten with this Diomede ! And trewely, if I have myghte and space, Yet shal I make, I hope, his sides blede :

0 God !' quod he, ' that oughtest taken hede 1720 To ferthren trouthe, and wronges to punice, Whi nyltoiy don a vengeaunce of this vice ?

CCXLVI.

' 0 Pandarus, that in dremes for to truste *Me blamed hast, and wonte oft ert upbreyde, Now maistow sen thi self, if that the liste, ^How trew is now thi nece, bright Criseyde ! In sondry formes, God it woot !' he seyde, ' The goddes shewen bothe joye and teene In slepe ; and by my dreme it is now seene.

ccxLvn.

' And certeinly, withouten more speche, 1730

From hennesforth, as ferforth as I may, Myn owen deth in armes wol I seche ; —

1 recche nat how sone be the day ; But trewely, Criseyde, swete may,

'Whom I have ay with al my myght ^served, That ye thus don, I have it not deserved.'

72 TROYLUS AND CRYSEYDE.

CCXLVIII.

This Pandarus, that al thise thynges herde, And wiste wel he seyde a soth of this, He nought a word ayein to hym answarde, For sory of his frendes sorwe he is, i<

And shamed for his nece hath don amys ; And stont astoned of thise causes tweye, As stille as stone ; a word ne koude he seye.

CCXLIX.

But at the laste thus he spak and seyde, ' My brother deere, I may do the namore ; What shold I seyn ? I hat, iwis, Criseyde ! And, God woot, I wol hat hire everemore : And that thow me bisoughtest don of yore, Havynge unto myn honour ne my reste Right no rewarde, I dide al that the leste. r

CCL.

* If I dide ought that myghte lyken the, It is me liefe ; and of this treson now, God woot that it a sorwe is unto me ; And, dredeles, for hertes ese of yow, Right faine I wolde amende it, wiste I how : And fro this worlde, Almighty God I preye, Deliver hire soone ! I kan namore seye/

CCLI.

Grete was the sorwe and pleynte of Troilus ; But forth hire cours fortune ay gan to holde ; Criseyde loveth the sone of Tydeus, 1760

TROYLUS AND CRYSEYDE. 73

And Troilus mot wepe in cares colde. Swich is this world, who-so it kan biholde ! In ech estat is litel hertes reste ! God leve us for to take it for the beste !

CCLII.

In many cruel bataille, out of drede,

Of Troilus, this ilke noble knyght,

(As men may in this olde bokes rede)

Was seen his knyghthod and his grete myghte ;

And, dredeles, his ire day and nyghte,

Ful cruely the Grekes ay aboughte, 1770

And alwey moost this Diomede, he soughte.

CCLIII.

And ofte tyme I fynde that they mette With blody strokes, and with wordes grete, Assayinge how hire speres weren whette ; And, God it woot, with many a cruel hete Gan Troilus upon his helm to bete ; But, natheles, Fortune it nought ne wolde, Of otheres honde that either dyen sholde.

CCLIV.

And if I hadde taken for to write

The armes of this ilke worthi man, 1780

Than wold Ich of his battailles endite ;

But for that I to writen first bygan

Of his love, I have seyde as I can.

His worthy dedes, who-so lest hem here,

Rede Dares ; he kan telle hem alle ifeere.

74 TROTLUS AND CRYSEYDE.

CCLV.

Besechynge every lady bright of hewe,

And every gentil womman, what she be,

That al be that Criseyde was untrewe,

That for that gilt she be not wroth with me.

Ye may hire gilt in otheres bokes se, 1790

And gladlier I wol write, if yow leste,

Penelopes trouthe, and good Alceste.

CCLVT.

Ny sey nat this al only for thise men, But moost for wommen that betraised be Thorwgh false folk, (God yeve hem sorwe, amen !) That with hire grete wit and subtilite Betraise yow : and this commeveth me To spek ; and in effect yow alle I preye Beth war of men, and herkenetA what I seye.

CCLVII.

Go, litel boke, go, litel myn tregedie ! isoo

Ther God my maker, yet er that I dye,

So sende me myght^to maken som comedye !

But litel book, no makynge thow nenvye,

But subgit be to alle poesie,

And kysse the steppes, wheras thow seest space,

Of Virgile, Ovyde, Omer, Lucan, and Stace.

ccLvra.

And, for ther is so grete dyversite

In Erglissh, and in writynge of our tonge,

So preye I to God, that non myswrite the,

TROYLUS AND CRYSEYDE. 75

Ne the mys-metere, for defaute of tonge ! isio And red wher so thow be, or elles songe, That thow be understonde, God I beseche ! But yet to purpos of my rather speche.

CCLIX.

The wrath, as I bigan yow for to seye,

Of Troilus, the Grekes boughten deere ;

For thousandes his hondes maden dye,

As he that was withouten any peere,

Save Ector in his tyme, as I kan here ;

But, walawey ! save only Goddes wille,

Dispitously hym slough the fiers Achille. 1820

CCLX.

And when that he was slayn in this manere, His lighte gost ful blisfully is wente Up to the holughnesse of the seventhe spere, In convers letynge everych elemente ; And ther he saugh, with ful avysemente, The erratyk sterres, herkenynge armonyfi. With sownes ful of hevenyssh melodic.

CCLXI.

And down from thennes faste he gan avyse

This litel spot of erth, that with the se

Embraced is ; and fully gan despice 183U

This wreched world, and helde al vanyte,

To respect of the pleyne felieite

That is in hevene above : and at the laste,

Ther he was slayn his lokynge down he caste.

76 TROYLTJS AND CRY/SEYDE.

CCLXII.

And in hymself he lough right at the wo Of hem that wepten for his deth so faste, And dampned al our werk that folweth so The blynde luste, the which that may not laste, And sholden al our herte on hevene caste ; And forth he wente, shortly for to telle, 1840

Ther as Mercuric sorted hym to dwelle.

CCLXIII.

Swich fin hath, lo ! this Troilus for love !

Swich fyn hath al his grete worthynesse !

Swich fyn hath his estat real above !

Swich fyn his luste, swich fyn hath his noblesse !

Swich fyn hath false worldes brotelnesse !

And thus bigan his lovynge of Cryseyde,

As I have tolde, and in this wise he deyde.

CCLXIV.

0 yonge fresshe folkes, he or she,

In which that love up groweth with youre age, isso

Repeireth horn fro worldly vanyte,

And of youre herte up casteth the visage

To thilke God, that after his ymage

Yow made, and thynketh al nys but a faire,

This worlde that passeth soon, as floures faire.

CCLXV.

And loveth hym the which that right for love, Upon a crois, oure soules for to beye, First starfe and roos, and sitt in heven above, For he nyl falsen no wight, dar I seye, That wol his herte alle holly on hym leye ; i860

TROYLUS AND CRYSEYDE, 77

And syn he best to love is, and most meke, What nedeth feyned loves for to seke ?

CCLXVI.

Lo ! here of payens corsed olde rites ! Lo ! here what alle hire goddes may availle ! Lo ! here this wreched worldes appetites ! Lo ! here the fyn and guerdon for travaille, Of Jove, Apollo, of Mars, and swich rescaille ! Lo ! here the forme of olde clerkes speche In poetrie, if ye hire bokes seche.

LENVOYE DTJ CHATJCER.

CCLXVII.

0 MORAL Gower, this boke I directe 1870

To the, and to the philosophical Strode,

To vouchen-sauf, ther nede is, to correcte,

Of youre benignites and zeles goode.

And to that sothfast Criste that sterf on roode,.

With al myn herte, of mercy evere I preye,

And to the Lord right thus I speke and seye : —

CCLXVIII.

Thow Oon, and Two, and Thre, eterne on lyve,.

That regnest ay in Thre, and Two, and Oon,

Uncircumscript, and al maist circumscrive !

Us from visible and invisible foon issa

Defende, and to thi mercy everichon,

So mak us, Jesu, for thy mercy digne,

For love of Maide and Moder thyn benigne !

EXPLICIT LIBER TROILI ET CRISEYDIS*

CHAUCERES A. B. C.

CALLED LA PRIERE DE NOSTRE DAME.

A.

'LMYGHTY and alle mercyable Quene, To whom al this worldefleeth forsocoure To have relees of synne, of sorowe, of

teene !

Gloriouse Virgyne, of alle floures flour, To the I flee confounded in errour ! Help, and releve, thow mighty debonayre, Have mercy of my perilouse langour ! Venquysshed hath me my cruel adversayre.

B.

Bountee so fix hath in thine hert his tent That wel I wote thow wolte my socour be ; Thow kanst not werne hym that, with good entent, Axeth thyn helpe, thyn herte is ay so free ! Thow art largesse of pleyn felicitee, Havene and refute of quyete and of reste ! Loo how that theves seven chacen me ! Helpe, Lady bryght, er that my shippe to-breste !

CHAUCERES A. B. C. 79

c.

Comfort ys noon, but in yow, Lady dere !

For loo my synne and my confusioun,

Which oughte not in thy presence for to appere,

Han take on me a grevouse accioun,

Of verray ryght and disperacioun !

And, as by ryght, they myghten wel sustene,

That I were worthy my damnacioun,

Nere mercye of yow, blysful hevenes quene !

D.

Doute is there noon, Quene of misericorde, That thou narte cause of grace and mercye here ; God vouchedsaufe thurgh the with us tacorde : For certes, Cristes blysful moder dere ! Were now the bowe ybent in swiche manere, As hyt was first, of justice and of ire, The rightful God nolde of no mercye here ; But thurgh thee han wee grace as we desire.

E.

Evere hath myn hope of refute in the be : For here before ful often in many a wyse, Unto mercy hastow receyved me. But mercy, Lady ! at the grete assise, Whan we shal come before the hye justise ! So litel good shal then in me be founde, That, but thou er that day correcte me, Of verray ryght my werke wol me confounde.

F.

Fleyng, I flee for socour to thy tent, Me for to hide fro tempest ful of drede,

80 CHAUCERES A. B. C,

Besekyng yow, that ye yow nat absents, Though I be wikke. 0 help yet at this nede J Alle have I ben a best in wytte and dede, Yet, Lady ! thow me clothe with thyn grace, Thyne enemy and myn, Lady, take hede ! Unto my dethe in poynte ys me to chace.

G.

^..oriouse mayde and moder ! whiche that never Were bitter nor in erthe nor in see, But ful of swetnesse and of mercye ever, Help, that my fader be nat wrothe with me ! Speke thow, for I ne dar nat him yse ; So have I doon in erthe, alias the while ! That certes, but that thow my socour be, To synke eterne he wol my goost exile.

H.

He vouchedesauf,. telle hym, as was hys wylle,

Become a man as for oure alliaunce,

And with his bloode he wroote that blysful bille

Upon the crois, as general acquytaunce

To every penytent, in ful creaunce :

And therfore, Lady bryght ! thow for us pray,

Than shalt thou bothe stynte alle grevaunce,

And maken our foo to faylen of hys pray.

I.

I wote hyt wel thow wolt ben oure socour, That art so ful of bountee in certeyne ; For, whan a soule falleth in errour, Thy pitee gooth and haleth hym ageync,

CHAUCERES A. B. C. 81

That makestow hys pees with his sovereyne, And bryngest him out of the crookede strete : Who so the loveth he shal nat love in veyne, That shal he fynde, as he the life shal lete.

K.

Kalendres enlumyned ben bothe they That in this worlde ben lyghted with thi name, And who-so goothe with yow the ryghte wey, Hym thar nat drede in soule to be lame ; Now, Queene of comfort ! sithe thou art that same, To whom I seche for my medycine, Lat not my foo no more my wounde entame ; 'Myn hele into thyn hande al I resygne.

L.

Lady, thy sorwe kan I not purtreye

Under the crois, ne his grevous penaunce :

But, for youre bothe peynes, I yow preye,

Lat not our aller foo make his bobaunce,

That he hath in his lystes, with meschaunce,

Convicte that ye both han boght so dere ;

As I seyde erste, thou grounde of our substaunce !

Continew in us thy pitouse eyen clere.

M.

'Moises that saugh the bussh with flambes rede Brennynge of which there never a stikJte brende, Was signe of thyn unwemmed maydenhede. Thou art the bussh, on which ther gan discende The Holy Goost, the which that Moises wende TOL. v. G

82 CHAUCER ES A. B. C.

Had ben afire : and this was in figure. Now, Lady ! fro the fire thou us defende, Which that in helle eternally shal dure.

N.

Noble princesse, that never haddest pere !

Certes yf any comfort in us be,

That cometh of the, Christes moder dere !

We han none other melodie or gle,

Us to rejoyse in oure adversite,

Ne advocate noon, that wol and dar so preye

For us, and that for as litel hire as ye,

That helpen for an Ave Marie or tweye.

0.

0, verray light of eyen that ben blynde !

0 verray lust of labour and distresse !

0 tresorere of bounte to mankynde,

The whom God chees to moder for humblesse !

From his ancile he made the maistresse

Of heven and erthe, our bille up for to bede ;

This world awaiteth ever on thy godenesse,

For thou ne failest never wight at neede.

P.

Purpos I have sommetyme for to enquere, Wherefore and why the Holy Goost the soughte, Whan Gabrieles voys come to thyn ere ; He nat to werre us swich a wonder wroughte, But for to save us, that he sithen boughte : Than nedeth us no wepene us for to save,

CHAUCERES A. B. C. 83

But oonly there as we dide nat as we oughfy Do penytence, and mercy axe and have.

Q.

Queene of comfort, yet whan I me bethynke, That I agilte have bothe hym and thee, And that my soule ys worthy for to synke, Alias ! I, katyf, whider may I fle ? Who shal unto thy Sone my mene be ? Who, but thy selfe, that art of pitee welle ? Thou hast more routhe on oure adversite, Than in this world myght any tonge telle.

R.

Redresse me, Moder, and eke me chastise ! For certeynly my fadres chastisynge That dar I nat abiden in no wise, So hidouse is his ryghtful rekenynge. Moder ! of whom our mercy gan to springe, Be ye my juge, and eke my soules leche. For ever in yow is pitee aboundynge To eche that wil of pite yow beseche.

S.

Soth is, that he ne graunteth noo pitee Withoute the ; for God of his goodenesse Foryeveth noon, but hyt lyke unto thee : ! He hath the made vikaire and maistresse Of alle this worlde, and eke governesse • Of hevene, and he represseth his justise After thy wille : and therfore witnesse I He hath the corowned in so rialle wise.

84 CHAUCERES A. B. C.

T.

Temple devoute ! ther God hathe his won}rnge, Fro whiche these misbeleved deprived been, To yow my soule penytent I brynge, Keceyve me, I kan no ferther fleen. With thornes venymouse, 0 hevene Qtiene ! For which the erthe acursed was ful yore, I am so wounded, as ye may wel seene, That I am lost almost, hit smert so sore,

V.

Virgyne ! that art so noble of apparayle, That ledest us into the hye toure Of Paradyse, thou me wysse and counsayle, How I may have thy grace and thy socoure : Alle have I ben in filthe and in erroure, Lady ! unto that contrey thou me adjourne, The cleped is thy benche of fressh floure, Ther as that mercye ever shal sojourne.

X.

Christe thy Sone that in this worlde alyght

Upon a crois to suffre hys passioun,

And eke suffrede that Longius hys herte pighte,

And made hys herte blode to renne adoun,

And alle was this for my savacioun :

And I to him am fals and eke unkynde,

And yet he wol not my dampnacioun :

This thanke I yow, socour of alle mankynde !

Y.

Ysaac was figure of his dethe certeyne, That so ferforth his fader wolde obeye,

CHAUCERES A. B. C. 85

That hym ne roughte nothing to be sleyne : Ryght so thy Sone lyste, as a larabe, to deye : Now, Lady ful of mercy ! Y you preye Sith he his mercye mesured so large, Be ye nat skant, for al we synge and seye, That ye been fro vengeaunco ay oure targe.

Z.

Zacharye yow clepeth the opene welle, That wass^h synful soule out of hys gilte ; Therefore this lesson ought I wele to telle, That, nere thy tendre herte, we were spilt. Now, Lady brighte ! sith thou kanste and wilt Been to the sede of Adam mercyable, Brynge us to that paleyce that ys bilte To penytentys, that been to mercye able.

EXPLICIT.

CHAUCER'S DREAM.

HEN Flora the queene of pleasaunce, Hadcfo whole achieved thobeysaunce Of the fresh and newe season, Thorow out every region,

And with her mantle whole covert

That winter made hadcfe discovert

Of aventure, withoute light,

In May, I lay upon a night

Alone, and on my lady thoughts,

And how the lord that her wrought e, 10

Couth well entaile in imagery

And shewed hadde great maistry,

When he in so little space

Made such a body and a face,

So great beauty with swich features

More than in other creatures ;

And in my thoughts as I lay

In a lodge out of the way,

Beside a well in a forest,

Where after hunting I tooke rest, 20

Nature and kind so in me wrought^,

That halfe on sleepe they me brought^,

CHAUCER'S DREAM. 87

And gan to dreame to my thinking,

With mind of knowliche like making,

For what I dreamed, as me thoughts,

I saw it, and I slepte nought ;

Wherefore is yet my fulle beleeve,

That some goode spirit that eve,

By meane of some curious port,

Bare me, where I saw payne and sport ; so

But whether it were I woke or slepte,

Well wot I of, I lough and wepte,

Wherefore I woll in remembraunce,

Put whole the payne, and the pleasaunce,

Which was to me axen and hele,

Woulde God ye wist it every dele,

Or at the least, ye might o night

Of such another have a sight,

Although it were to you a payne,

Yet on the morow ye woulde be fayne, 40

And wish it mights longe dure ;

Then might ye say ye hadde good cure,

For he that dreamed and weneiA he see,

Much the better yet may hee

Wite what, and of whom, and where,

And eke the lasse it woll hindere,

To thinke I see this with mine eene,

Iwis this may not dreame kene,

But signe or signifiaunce

Of hasty thing souning pleasaunce, so

For on this wise upon a night,

As ye have heard, withoute light,

Not all wakyng, ne full on sleepe,

About such houre as lovers weepe

And crie after here ladies grace,

88 CHAUCER'S DREAM.

Befell me this wonder cace,

Which ye shall heare and all the wist/,

So wholly as I can devise,

In playne English evill written,

For sleepe writer, well ye witten, ec

Excused is, though he do mis,

More than one that waking is,

Wherefore here of your gentilnesse,

I you requyre my boistousnesse

Ye lete passe, as thing rude,

And heareth what I woll conclude ;

And of the endityng taketh no heed,

Ne of the tearmes, so God you speed,

But let all passe as nothing were

For thus befell, as ye shall here. 70

Within an yle me thought I was, Where wall and yate was all of glasse, And so was closed round about That leavelesse none come in ne out, Uncouth and straunge to beholds, For every yate of fine golde A thousand fanes, aie turning, Entuned had, and briddes singing, Divers, and on each fane a paire, With open mouth again here ; so

And of a sute were all the toures, Subtily corven after floures, Of uncouth colours during aye, That never been none seene in May, With many a small turret hie, But man on live could I non sic, Ne creatures, save ladies play, Which were such of here array

CHAUCER'S DREAM. 89

That, as me thought, of goodlihead

They passeden all and womanhead ; 90

For to behold hem daunce and singe,

It seemede like none earthly thinge,

Such was here uncouth countinaunce

In every play of right usaunce;

And of one age everichone

They seemed all, save onely one,

Which had of yeeres suffisaunce,

For she mighte neyther sing ne daunce,

But yet her countenaunce was so glad,

As she so fewe yeeres had had 100

As any lady that was there,

And as little it did her dere,

Of lustines to laugh and tale

As she hadde full stuffed a male

Of disportes and newe playes :

Fayre hadcfe she been in her daies,

And maistresse seemede well to be

Of all that lusty companie ;

And so she might, I you ensure,

For one the conningeste creature no

She was, and so said everichone,

That ever her knew, there faylede none,

For she was sober and well avised,

And from every fault disguised,

And nothing usede but faith and truth ;

That she nas young it was great ruth,

For every where and in ech place,

She governed her, that in grace

She stode alway with poore and riche,

That, at a word, was none her liche, 120

Ne halfe so able maistres to be

90 CHAUCER'S DREAM.

To such a lusty companie.

Befell me so, when I avised Hadde the vie that me suffised, And whole thestate every where, That in that lusty yle was there, Which was more wonder to devise Than the joieux paradise, I dare well say0, for floure ne tree, Ne thing wherein pleasaunce mighte bee iso There faylede none, for every wight Hadcfc they desirede, day and night, Riches, heale, beauty, and ease, With every thing that hem mighte please, Thinke and have, it coste no more ; In such a country there before, Had I not bene, ne hearde telLs That lives creature mighte dwelle. And when I hadde thus all aboute The yle avised throughout^ HO

The state, and how they were arayed, In my heart I were well payed, And in my selfe I me assured That in my body I was well ured, Sith I might have such a grace To see the ladies and the place, Which were so faire, I you ensure, That to my dome, though that nature Would ever strive and do her paine, She shoulde not con ne mow attaine 150

The leaste feature to amende, Though she would all her conning spends, That to beautie might availe, It were but paine and lost travaile,

CHAUCER'S DREAM. 91

Such part in here nativitie

Was hem alarged of beautie,

And eke they had a thing notable

Unto here death, ay durable,

And was, that here beauty shoulde dure,

Which was never seene in creature, ieo

Save onely there (as I trowe)

It hath not be iwist ne knowe,

Wherefore I praise with here conning,

That during beautie, riche thing,

HadcZe they been of here lives certaine,

They hadcfe been quite of every paine.

And when I wende thus all have seene, The state, the riches, that mights beene, That me thought impossible were To see one thing more than was there, 170 That to beauty or glad conning Serve or availe might any thing ; All sodainly, as I there stood, This lady that couthe so much good, Unto me came with smiling- chere, And saide, " Benedicite, this yere Saw I never man here but you, Tell me how ye come hider now ? And your name, and where ye dwells ? And whom ye seeke eke mote ye telle, iso And how ye come be to this place, The soth well told may cause you grace, And els ye mote prisoner be Unto the ladies here, and me, That have the governaunce of this yle :" And with that word she gan to smile, And so did all the lusty rout

$2 CHAUCER'S DREAM.

Of ladies that stood her about. ' Madame ' (quod I) ' this night ipast, Lodged I was and slepte fast In a forest beside a welle, And now am here, how should I telle ? Wot I not by whose ordinance, But onely Fortunes purveiance, Which pnteth many, as I gesse, To travaile, paine, and businesse, And letteth nothing for here truth, But some sleeth eke, and that is ruth, Wherefore, I doubt her brittilnes, Her variance and unsteadfastnes, So that I am as yet afraid, And of my being here amaid, For wonder thing seemeth me, Thus many freshe ladies to see, So faire, so cunning, and so yonge, And no man dwelling hem amonge : Not I not how I hider come, Madame,' (quod I) ' this all and some. What should I faine a long processe To you that seeme such a princesse ? What please you commaund or saye, Here I am you to obaye, To my power, and all fulfills, And prisoner bide at your wille, Till ye duly enformed be Of every thing ye aske me.'

This lady there, right well apaid, Me by the hande tooke, and saide, * Welcome prisoner adventurus, Right glad am I ye have said thus,

CHAUCER'S DREAM. 93,

And for ye doubte me to displease, I will assay to do you ease:" And with that word, ye anon, She, and the ladies everichon Assembled, and to counsaile wente, And after that soone for me sente, And to me said on this manere, Word for word, as ye shall here.

1 To see you here us thinke marvaile, And how withoute bote or saile, 230

By any subtilty or wyle, Ye get have entre in this yle ; But not for that, yet shall ye see That we gentille women bee, Loth to displease any wight, Notwithstanding our greate right, And for ye shall well understands The olde custome of this londe, Which hath continued many yere, Ye shall well wete that with us here 240. Ye may not bide, for causes twaine, Which we be purposed you to saine.

' Thone is this, our ordinance, Which is of long continuance, Woll not, sothly we you telle, That no man here among us dwelle, Wherefore ye mote needs retourne, In no wise may ye here sojourne.

' Thother is eke, that our queene Out of the realme, as ye may seene, 2H-

Is, and may be to us a charge, If we lete you goe here at large, For which cause the more we doubte,

94 CHAUCER'S DREAM.

To doe a fault while she is oute, Or suffer that may be noysaunce, Againe our old accustomaunce."

And whan I hadcfe these causes twaine /-heard, 0 God ! lo ! what a paine All sodainly about mine hart There came at ones and how smart, aeo

In creeping soft as who shoulde steale, Or doe me robbe of all mine heale, And made me in my thought so fraid, That in courage I stode dismaid. And standing thus, as was my grace, A lady came more than apace, With huge prease her about, And tolde how the queene without Was arived and woulde come inne, Well were they that thider mighte twiune, 270 They hiede so they woulde not abide The bridling here horse to ride, By five, by sixe, by two, by three, There was not one abode with me, The queene to meet everichone, They went, and bode with me not one : And I, after a soft pase, Imagining how to purchase Grace of the queene, there to bide, Till good fortune some happy guide 280

Me sende mighte, that woulde me bringe Where I was borne to my wonninge, For way ne foot ne knew I none, Ne witherward I niste to gone, For all was sea about the yle, No wonder though me liste not smile,

CHAUCER'S DREAM. 95

Seing the case uncouth and straunge,

And so in like a perilous chaunge ;

Imagining thus walking alone,

I saw the ladies everichone, 290

So that I mighte somwhat offere,

Sone after that I drew me nere,

And tho I was ware of the queene,

And how the ladies on their kneene,

With joyous wordes, gladly advised,

Her welcomed^ so that it suffisedtf,

Though she princesse hole hadcfe be

Of all environed is with see :

And thus avising, with chere sad,

All sodainly I was so glad, 300

That greater joy, as mote I thrive,

1 trow ha&de never man on live,

Than I tho, ne hearte more light,

When of my lady I hadde sight,

Which with the queene come was there,

And in one clothing both they were,

A knight also there well beseene,

I saw that come was with the queene,

Of whome the ladies of that yle

Had huge wonder longe while, 310

Till at the last right soberly,

The queene her selfe full cunningly,

With softe wordes in good wise,

Saide to the ladies young and nise,

' My sisters, how it hath befalle,

I trow ye know it one and alle,

That of long time here have I beene,

Within this yle biding as queene,

Living at ease, that never wighte

96 CHAUCER'S DREAM.

More parfit joy have ne mighte, S2»

And to you been of governance,

Such as ye found in \vhole pleasance,

In every thing as ye kcowe,

After our custome and our lowe,

Which how they first founds were,

I trow ye wote all the manere,

And who the queene is of this yle,

As I have been longe while,

Ech seven yeeres not of usage,

Visit the heavenly armitage, 330

Which on a rocke so highe stonds,

In strange sea out from all londs,

That to make the pilgrimage

Is called a long perillous viage,

For if the wind be not good frend,

The journey dures to the end

Of him that it undertake^,

Of twenty thousand one not scaped ;

Upon which rock groweth a tree,

That certaine yeeres beared apples three, 340

Which three apples who may have,

Been from all displeasaunce save,

That in the seven yeere may falle,

This wote ye well one and alle,

For the first apple and the hext,

Which groweth unto you next,

Hath three vertues notable,

And keepeth youth aie durable,

Beauty and looke, ever in one,

And is the best in everichone. 550

' The second apple red and grene, Onely with lookes of your yene,

CHAUCER'S DREAM. 97

You nourished in pleasaunce Better than partridge or fesaunce, And feede?^ every lives wight Pleasantly with the sight.

' The third apple of the three, Which groweth lowest on the tree, Who it beared may not faile That to his pleasaunce may availe. seo

so your pleasure and beauty rich, Your during youth ever zliche, Your truth, your cunning, and your weale, Hath aye floured, and your good heale, Without sicknes or displeasaunce, Or thing that to you was noysaunce, So that ye have as goddesses, Lived above alle princesses : Now is befall, as ye may see ; To gather these said apples three, 370

I have not failed againe the day, Thitherward to take the way, Wening to speed as I had ofte, But whan I come, I find alofte My sister which that here stands, Having those apples in her hands, Avising hem and nothing said, But looked as she were well paid : And as I stood her to beholde, Thinking how my joyes were colde, 3*0

Sith I those apples have ne mighte, Even with that so came this knighte, And in his armes of me aware, Me tooke, and to his ship me bare, And saide, though him I never hadcfe seen, TOL. v. H

98

Yet had I long his lady been,

Wherefore I shoulde with him wende,

And he woulde to his lives ende

My servant be, and gan to singe

As one that hadde wonne a rich things ; 390

Tho were my spirits fro me gone,

So sodainly everichone,

That in me appearede but death,

For I felte neither life ne breath,

Ne good ne harme none I knew,

The sodaine paine me was so new,

That hadcZe not the hasty grace be

Of this lady, that fro the tree

Of her gentilnesse so hied

Me to comfort, I hadde died, 400

And of her three apples, one

In mine hande there put anone,

Which brought againe mind and breath,

And me recovered^ from the death,

Wherefore, to her so am I hold0,

That for her alle things do I wolde,

For she was lech of all my smart,

And from great paine so quite mine hart,

And, as God wote, right as ye heare,

Me to comforte with friendly cheare 410

She did her prowesse and her might,

And truly eke so dide this knight,

In that he couth, and ofte said,

That of my wo he was ill paid,

And cursede the ship that hem there brought^,

The mast, the master that it wrought^ ;

And as ech thing mote have an end,

My sister here your brother frend,

99

Con with her words so womanly

This knight entreat, and conningly, 420

For mine honour and his also,

And saide that with her we shoulde go

Both in her ship, where she was brought,

Which was so wonderfully wrought,

So cleane, so rich, and so araid,

That we were both content and paid,

And me to comfort and to please,

And mine hearte to put at ease,

She toke great paine in little while,

And thus hath brought us to this yle, AOG

As ye may see, wherefore echone,

I pray you thanke her, one and one,

As heartily as ye canne devise,

Or imagine in any wise.'

At once there tho men mighte seen

A world of ladies fall on kneen

Before my lady, that there about

Was left none standing in the rout,

But altogither they went at ones

To kneele, they sparede not for the stones, 440

Ne for estate, ne for hei*e blood,

Well shewede there they couth much good,

For to my lady they made such feast,

With suche wordes, that the least,

So friendly and so faithfully

Said was, and so cunningly,

That wonder was, seing here youtfie,

To here the language they couthe,

And wholly how they governed were,

In thanking of my lady there, 450

And said by wrill and maundement,

100 CHAUCER'S DREAM.

They were at her commaundement.

Which was to me as great a joy,

As winning of the towne of Troy

Was to the hardy Greekes stronge,

Whan they it wan with siege longe,

To see my lady in such a place

So received as she iho was :

And when they talked had a while

Of this and that, and of the yle,

My lady, and the ladies there,

Altogether as they were,

The queene her selfe began to playe,

And to the aged lady saye :

' Now seemeth you not good it were,

Sith we be altogither here,

To ordaine and devise the best,

To set this knight and me at rest ?

For woman is a feble wight

To rere a warre against a knight,

And sith he here is in this place,

At my liste, danger or grace,

It were to me, a great villany

To do him any tiranny,

But faine I woulde, now will ye here,

In his owne country that he were,

And I in peace, and he at ease,

This were a way us both to please,

If it mights be ; I you beseech,

With him hereof ye fall in speech/

This lady tho began to smile,

Avising her a little while,

And with glad chere she said anone,

' Madam, I will unto him gone,

CHAUCER'S DREAM. 101

And with him speake, and of him fele

What he desired every dele :'

And soberly this lady tho,

Her selfe and other ladies two

She tooke with her, and with sad chere,

Saide to the knight on this manere, 490

' Sir, the princes of this yle,

Whom for your pleasance many mile

Ye sought have, as I understands,

Till at the last ye have her fonde,

Me sent hath here, and ladies twaine,

To heare alle thing that ye saine,

And for what cause ye have her sought,

Faine woulde she wote, and whol your thought,

And why you do her all this wo,

And for what cause ye be her fo ? son

And why, of every wight unware,

By force ye to your 'ship her bare,

That she so nigh was agone,

That mind ne speech haddfe she none,

But as a painfull creature,

Dying, abode her adventure.

That her to see indure that paine,

Here weell say unto you plaine,

Right on your selfe ye did amisse,

Seeing how she a princes is.' 510

This knight, the which cowthe his good,

Right of his truth meved his blood,

That pale he woxe as any lead,

And lookt as he woulde be dead,

Blood was there none in nother cheke,

Wordlesse he was and semede sicke,

And so it provede well he was,

102 CBAUCER'S DREAM.

For withoute moving any paas,

All sodainely as thing dying,

He fell at once downe sowning, 520.

That for his wo this lady fraide,

Unto the queene her hyed and saide,

' Cometh on anon as have ye blisse,

But ye be wise, thing is amisse,

This knight is dead or will be soone,

Lo, where he lyeth in a swoone,

Withoute word, or answering

To that I have said, any thing

Wherefore, I doubte that the blame

Mighte be hindering to your name, 530

Which floured hath so many yere,

So longe, that for nothing here,

I would in no wise he dyede,

Wherefore good were that ye hyede

His life to save at the least,

And after that his wo be ceast,

Commaund him void, or dwelle,

For in no wise dare I more melle

Of thing wherein such perill is,

As like is now to fall of this.' 540

This queene right tho full of great feare,

With all the ladies present there,

Unto the knight came where he lay,

And made a lady to him say :

1 Lo, here the queene, awake for shame !

What will ye doe, is this good game ?

Why lye ye here, what is your mind ?

Now is well seene your wit is blind,

To see so many ladies here,

And ye to make none other chere, SM

CHAUCER'S DREAM. 103

But as ye set hem all at noughts ;

Arise, for his love that you boughte :

But what she said, a word not one

He spake, ne answer gave her none.

The queene of very pitty tho,

Her worship, and his like also,

To save there she did her paine,

And quoke for feare, and gan to saine

For woe, ' Alas, what shall I doe ?

What shall I say this man unto ? 560

If he die here, lost is my name,

How shal I play this perillous game ?

If any thing be here amisse,

It shall be said, it rigour is,

Whereby my name impayre mights,

And like to die eke is this knighte :'

And with that word her hand she laide

Upon his brest, and to him saide,

' Awake my knight ! lo, it am I

That to you speake, now tell me why 570

Ye fare thus, and this paine endure,

Seing ye be in country sure,

Among such friends that would you heale,

Your hertes ease eke and your weale,

And if I wist what you might ease,

Or know the thing that might you please,

I you ensure it shoulde not faile,

That to your heale you might availe :

Wherefore, with all my heart I praye

Ye rise, and let us talke and playe ; 580

And see ! how many ladies here

Be comen for to make good chere/

All was for nought, for still as stone

104 CHAUCER'S DREAM.

He lay, and word spoke none. Long while was or he mighte braide, And of all that the queene hadcfe said, He wiste no word, but at the laste, ' Mercy/ twise he cryede faste, That pittie was his voice to heare, Or to behold his painefull cheare, 59

Which was not fained well to sein, Both by his visage and his eyn, Which on the queene at once he caste, And sighed as he woulde to-brast<?, And after that he shrighte so That wonder was to see his wo, For sith that payne was first named, Was never more wofull payne attained, For with voice dead he gan to plaine, And to himselfe these wordes saine, 6<

* I wofull wight full of malure, Am worse than dead, and yet dure, Maugre any payne or death, Against my will I fell my breath : Why nam I dead sith I ne serve, And sith my lady will me sterve ? Where art thou Death, art thou agast ? Well, shall we meete yet at the last, Though thou thee hide, it is for nought, For where thou dwelst thou shalt be sought; Maugre thy subtill double face, 6]

Here will I die right in this place, To thy dishonour and mine ease ; Thy manner is no wight to please, What needes thee, sith I thee seche, So thee to hide my payne to eche ?

CHAUCER'S DREAM. 105

And well wost thou I will not live,

Who woulde me all this world here give,

For I have with my cowardise,

Lost joy, and heale, and my servise, 6-20

And made my soveraigne lady so,

That while she liveth I trow my fo

She will be ever to her end,

Thus have I neither joy ne frend ;

Wote I not whether hast or sloth

Hath caused this now by my troth,

For at the hermitage full hie,

When I her saw first with mine eye,

I hiede till I was alofte,

And made my pace small and softe, 630

Till in mine armes I had her faste,

And to my ship bare at the laste,

Whereof she was displeased so,

That endles there seemed her wo,

And I thereof hadcfe so great fere,

That me repent that I come there,

Which hast I trow gan her displease,

And is the cause of my disease :'

And with that word he gan to cry,

' Now Death, Death !' twy or thry, 640

And motred wot I not what of slouth,

And even with that the queene, of routh,

Him in her armes tooke and sayde,

' Now mine owne knight, be not evill apaid

That I a lady to you sente

To have knowledge of your entente,

For, in good faith, I meante but well,

And would ye wist it every dele,

Nor will not do to you ywis ;'

106 CHAUCER'S DREAM.

And with that word she gan him kisse, eso

And prayed him rise, and saide she woulde

His welfare, by her truth, and tolde

Him how she was for his disease

Right sory, and faine would him please,

His lyfe to save : these wordes tho

She saide to him, and many mo

In comforting, for from the paine

She would he were delivered faine.

The knight tho up caste his een,

And whan he sawr it was the queen, eeo

That to him hadde these wordes said,

Right in his wo he gan to braide,

And him up dressed for to knele,

The queene avising wonder wele :

But as he rose he overthrew,

Wherefore the queene, yet eft anew,

Him in her armes anon tooke,

And pitiously gan on him looke,

But for all that nothyng she sayde,

Ne spake not like she were well payd, 670

Ne no chere made, nor sad ne light,

But all in one to every wight

There was scene conning, with estate,

In her without noise or debate,

For save onely a looke piteous,

Of womanhead undispiteous,

That she showed in countenance,

For seemed her hearte from obeisance,

And not for that she did her reine

Him to recure from the peine, 688

And his hearte to put at large,

For her entent was to his barge

CHAUCER'S DREAM. 107

Him to bryng against the eve,

With certaine ladies and take leve,

And pray him of his gentilnesse^

To suffer her thenrcesforth in peace,

As other princes hadde before,

And from thenwesforth for evermore,

She would him worship in all wise,

That gentilnesse mights devise, «90

And payne her wholly to fulfills,

In honour, his pleasure and wille.

And during thus this knightes wo,

Present the queene and other mo,

My lady, and many another wight,

Ten thousand shippes at a sight,

I saw come over the wawy flood,

With saile and ore, that as I stood

Hem to behold, I gan marvaile

From whom mights come so many a saile, 700

For sith the tyme that I was bore,

Such a navie there before

Had I not seene, ne so arayed,

That for the sight my hearte playede

To and fro within my breste

For joy, long was or it woulde reste,

For there was sailes full of floures,

After castels with huge toures,

Seeming full of armes brighte,

That wonder lusty was the sights, 710

With large toppes, and mastes longe,

Richly depeint, and rear amonge,

At certain times gan repaire

Smalle birdes, downe from thaire,

And on the shippes bounds about

108 CHAUCER'S DREAM.

Sate and song with voice full out,

Ballades and layes right joyously,

As they cowth in here harmony,

That you to write that I there see,

Mine excuse is it may not be, 720

For-why the matter were to long

To name the birds and write here song :

Whereof, anon, the ty dings there

Unto the queene soone brought were,

With many alas, and many a doubt,

Shewing the shippes there without.

Tho gan the aged lady weepe,

And said, ' Alas, our joy on sleepe

Soone shall be brought, ye, long or night,

For we descried been by this knight, 730

For certes, it may none other be,

But he is of yond companie,

And they be come him here to seche/

And with that word her faylede speche.

' Withoute remedy we be destroid/

Full oft said all, and gan conclude,

Holy at once at the laste,

That best was shit here yates faste,

And arme hem all in good langage,

As they hadJe done of old usage, 740

And of faire wordes make here shot,

This was here counsaile and the knot,

And other purpose tooke they none,

But armed thus forth they gone

Toward the walles of the yle,

But or they come there long while,

They mette the greate lord of bove,

That called is the god of love,

CHAUCER'S DKEAM. 109

That hem avised with such chere,

Right as he with hem angry were : 750

Avayled hem not here walls of glassc,

This mighty lord let not to passe,

The shutting of here yates faste,

All they had ordaind was but waste,

For when his shippes hadde founde land,

This lord anon, with bow in hand,

Into this yle with huge prease

Hiede fast, and woulde not cease

Till he came there the knight gan lay ;

Of queene ne lady by the way 760

Tooke he no heede but forth paste,

And yet all followed at the laste ;

And when he came where lay the knight,

Well shewed he he hadde great might,

And forth the queene called anone,

And all the ladies everichone,

And to hem said, ' Is not thus routh,

To see my servaunt for his trouth,

Thus leane, thus sicke, and in this payne,

And wot not unto whom to playne, 770

Save onely one withoute mo,

Which might him him heale and is his fo?'

And with that word his heavy brow

He shewede the queene and lookede row ;

This mighty lord forth tho anone,

With o looke her faultes echone

He can her shew in little speech,

Commaunding her to be his lech,

Withouten more, shortly to saye, 779

He thoughts the queene soone should obaye,

And in his hond he shoke his bowe,

110 CHAUCER'S DREAM.

And saide right soone he woulde be knowe,

And for she hadcfe so long refused

His service, and his lawes not used,

He let her wite that he was wroth,

And bent his bow and forth he goth

A pace or two, and even there

A large draught, up to his eare,

He drew, and with an arrow grounde

Sharpe and new, the queene a wounds 790

He gave, that piersed unto the hearte,

Which afterward full sore gan smarte,

And was not whole of many yeare ;

And even with that, ' Be of good cheare,

My knight,' (quod he) ' I will thee hele,

And thee restore to parfite wele,

And for each payne thou hast endured,

To have two joyes thou art cured :'

And forth he paste by the rout,

With sober cheare walking about, soo

And what he said I thoughts to heare,

Well wist he which his servaunts were,

And as he passed anon he fond

My lady, and her tooke by the hond,

And made her chere as a goddesse,

And of beaute called her princesse,

Of bounty eke gave her the name,

And saide there was nothyng blame

In her, but she was vertuous,

Saving she woulde no pity use, sio

Which was the cause that he her soughte,

To pntte that far out of her thoughts,

And sith she hadde whole richesse

Of womanhead and frieskdlinesse,

CHAUCER'S DREAM. Ill

He said it was nothing sitting

To voide pity his owne leggyng,

And gan her preach and with her playe,

And of her beauty told her aie,

And saide she was a creature

Of whom the name should endure, 820

And in bookes full of pleasaunce

Be put for ever in remembraunce,

And, as me thoughts, more friendly

Unto my lady, and goodlely

He spake, than any that was there,

And for thapples I trow it were,

That she had in possession ;

Wherefore, long in procession,

Many a pace, arme under other,

He welke, and so dide with none other, 830

But what he woulde commaund or say^,

Forthwith needes all must obaye,

And what he desired at the lest,

Of my lady, was by request ;

And when they long together hadde been©,

He brought^ my lady to the queen e,

And to her saide, ' So God you speed,

Shew grace, consents, that is need.'

My lady tho, full conningly,

Right well avised and womanly 340

Downe gan to kneele upon the floures,

Which Aprill nourished hadde with shoures,

And to this mighty lord gan saye,

' That pleaseth you, I woll obaye,

And me restraine from other thought,

As ye woll all thing shall be wrought.'

And with that word kneeling she quoke;

112 CHAUCER'S DREAM.

That mighty lord in armes her tooke,

And said, * Ye have a servaunt one,

That truer living is there none, £50

Wherefore, good were, seeing his trouth.

That on his paines ye hadcfe routh,

And purpose you to heare his speeche,

Fully avised him to leeche,

For of one thyng ye may be sure,

He will be yours while he may dure/

And with that word, right on his game,

Me thought he lough, and tolde my name,

Which was to me marvaile and fere,

That what to do I niste there, 860

Ne whether was me bet or none,

There to abide, or thus to gone,

For well wend I my lady wolde

Imagen or deme that I hadde told

My counsaile whole, or made complaint

Unto that lord, that mighty saint,

So verily each thing unsought

He said, as he hadcfe knowne my thought,

And tolde my trouth and mine unease

Bet than I couth have for mine ease, 870

Though I hsid.de studied all a weke,

Well wiste that lord that I was seke,

And woulde be leched wonder faine,

No man me blame, mine was the paine :

And when this lord had alle said,

And longe with my lady plaid,

She gan to smile with spirit glade,

This was the answere that she made,

Which put me there in double peine,

That what to do, ne what to seine «s&

CHAUCER'S DREAM. 113

Wist I not, ne what was the beste, Ferre was my herte then fro his reste. For, as I thoughts, that smiling signe Was token that the heart encline Woulde to requests reasonable, Because smiling is favorable To every thing that shall thrive, So thought I tho ; anon, blive, That wordlesse answere in no toun Was tane for obligatioun, soo

Ne called surety in no wise, Amongst hem that called been wise* Thus was I in a joyous dout, Sure and unsurest of that rout, Right as mine hearts thought it were, So more or lesse wexe my fere, That if one thought made it wele Another shent it every dele, Till, at the last, I couthe no more, But purposed, as I dide before, 900

To serve truly my lives space, Awaiting ever the yeare of grace, Which may falle yet or I sterve, If it please her that I serve, And served have, and woll do ever, For thyng is none that me is lever Than her service, whose presence Mine Heaven is whole, and her absence An Hell, full of divers paines, Whych to the death full oft me straines. 9io Thus in my thoughtes as I stood, That unneth felt I harme ne good, I saw the queene a little paas VOL. v. i

114 CHAUCER'S DREAM.

Come where this mighty lord tho was,

And kneelede downe in presence there

Of all the ladies that there were,

With sober countenaunce avised,

In fewe wordes that well suffised,

And to this lord, anon, present

A bill, wherein whole her entent 920

Was written, and how she besoughte,

As he knew every will and thoughts,

That of his godhead and his grace

He woulde forgive all old trespace,

And undispleased be of time past,

For she would ever be stedfast,

And in his service to the death

Use every thought while she hadcfe breath ;

And sight and wept, and saide no more ;

Within was written all the sore 930

At whycta bill the lord gan smile,

And said he woulde within that yle

Be lord and syre, both east and west,

And cald it there his newe conquest,

And in great councell tooke the queene,

Long were the tales hem betweene,

And over her bill he reade thrise,

And wonder gladly gan devise

Her features faire and her visage,

And bad good thrift on that image, 940

And saied he trowed her compleint

Should after cause her be corseint,

And in his sleeve he putte the bille,

Was there none that knew his wille,

And forth he walke apace about

Beholding all the lusty rout,

CHAUCER'S DREAM. 115

Halfe in a thought with smiling chere,

Till at the last, as ye shall here,

He turned unto the queene ageine,

And saide, ' To morne, here in this pleine, 950

I woll ye be, and alle yours,

That purposed ben to weare flours,

Or of my lusty colour use,

It may not be to you excuse,

Ne none of youres in no wise,

That able be to my servise,

For as I said have here before,

I will be lord for evermore

Of you, and of this yle, and alle,

And of all youres, that have shalle 980

Joy, peace, ease, or in plesaunce Your lives use without noysaunce ; Here will I in state be scene/ And turned his visage to the queene, ' And you give knowledge of my wille, And a full answere of your bille.' Was there no nay, ne wordes none, But very obeisaunt seemed echone, Queene and other that were there, Well seemed it they hadJe great fere, ore

And there tooke lodging every night, Was none departed of that night, And some to read olde romances, Hem occupied for here pleasances, Some to make verelaies and laies, And some to other diverse plaies : And I to me a romance tooke, And as I reading was the booke, Me thoughts the sphere Imdde so runne,

116 CHAUCER'S DREAM.

That it was rising of the Sunne, &z

And such a prees into the plaine

Assemble gone, that with great paine

One mighte for other go ne stand*,

Ne none take other by the hand*?,

Withouten they distourbed were,

So huge and great the prees was there.

And after that within two houres, This mighty lord all in floures Of divers colours many a paire, In his estate up in the aire, 990

Well two fathom, as his hight, He set him there in all here sight, And for the queene and for the knight, And for my lady, and every wight In hast he sente, so that never one Was there absent, but come echone : And when they thus assembled were, As ye have heard me say you here, Withoute more tarrying, on hight, There to be seene of every wight, 1000

Up stood among the prees above A counsayler, servaunt of Love, Which seemed well of great estate, And shewede there how no debate Owe ne goodly mighte be used In gentilnesse, and be excused, Wherefore, he said, his lordes wille Was every wight there shoulde be stillt, And in pees, and one accord, And thus commaunded at a word, 101; .

And can his tongue to swiche language Turne, that yet in all mine age

CHAUCER'S DREAM. 117

Heard I never so conningly

Man speake, ne halfe so faithfully,

For every thing he saide there

Seemed as it insealed were,

Or approved for very trewe :

Swiche was his cunning language new«,

And well according to his chere,

That where I be, me thinke I here 1020

Him yetalway, when I mine one

In any place may be alone :

First con he of the lusty yle

Alle thastate in little while

Rehearse, and wholly every thing

That causede there his lords comming,

And every wele and every wo,

And for what cause ech thing was so,

Well shewed he there in easie speech,

And how the sicke hadde need of leech : 1030

And that whole was, and in grace,

He tolde plainly why each thing was,

And at the last he con conclude,

Voided every language rude,

And saide, ' That prince, that mighty lord,

Or his departing, would accord

Alle the parties there present,

And was the fine of his entent,

Witnesse his presence in your sight,

Which sit among you in his might :' 1040

And kneelede downe withouten more,

And not o word ne spake he more.

Tho gan this mighty lord him dresse, With cheare avised, to do largesse, And said unto this knight and me,

118 CHAUCER'S DREAM.

' Ye shall to joy restored be,

And for ye have ben true, ye twaine,

I graunt you here for every paine

A thousand joies every weeke,

And looke ye be no lenger seeke. 1054

And both your ladies, lo, hem here

Take ech his own, beeth of good chere,

Your happie day is new begumie,

Sith it was rising of the Suiwe,

And to all other in this place

I graunt wholly to stand in grace,

That serve th truely, withoute slouth,

And to avaunced be by trouth.'

Tho can this knight and I downe kneele,

Wening to doe wonder welc, io«ff

* Seeing, 0 Lord, your great e mercy,

Us hath enriched so openly,

That we deserve may never more

The leasts part, but evermore,

With soule and body truely serve

You and youres till we sterve."

And to here ladies there they stoode,

This knight that couthe so mikel goode,

Went in hast, and I also,

Joyous, and glad were we tho, 1070

And also rich in every thought,

As he that all hath and ought nought,

And hem besought in humble wise,

Us taccepte to here service,

And shew us of here friendly cheares,

Which in here treasure many yeares,

They hadcfe kept, us to great paine,

And tolde how here servants twaine,

CHAUCER'S DREAM. 119

Were and woulde be, and so had ever,

And to the death chaunge woulde we nerer,

Ne doe offence, ne thinke like ille, iosc

But fill here ordinance and wille :

And made our othes freshe new0,

Our olde service to renewe,

And wholly heres for evermore,

We there become, what might*? we more ?

And well awaiting, that in slouth

We made ne. fault, ne in our trouth,

Ne thoughts not do, I you ensure,

With our wille, where we may dure. 109C

This season past, againe an eve, This lord of the queene tooke leve, And said he would hastely returne, And at good leisure there sojourne, Both for his honour and for his ease, Commaunding fast the knight to please, And gave his statutes in papers, And ordent divers officers, And forth to ship the same night He went, and soone was out of sight, noo Ajid on the morrow, when the aire Attempred was and wonder faire, Early at rising of the Sunne, After the night away was rumie, Playing us on the rivage, My lady spake of her voyage, And saide she made smalle journies, And held her in straunge countries, And forthwith to the queene wente, And shewed her wholly her entente, me And tooke her leave with cheare weeping,

120 CHAUCER'S DREAM.

That pitty was to see that parting i For to the queene it was a paine, As to a martyr new yslaine, That for her woe, and she so tender, Yet weepe I oft when I remember ; She offerde there to resign e, To my lady eight times or nine, Thastate, the yle, shortly to telle, If mighte it please her there to dwells, 1120 And saide for ever her linage Shoulde to my lady doe homage, And hers be hole withouten more, Ye, and all heres for evermore : ' Nay, God forbid,' my lady ofte, With many conning word and softe, Saide, ' that ever such thing should^ beeno, That I consents shoulde, that a queene Of your estate, and so well named, In any wise shoulde be attamed ; mo

But woulde be faine with all my herte, What so befell, or how me smerte, To doe thing that you mighte please, In any wise, or be your ease :' And kissede there, and bad good night, For which leve wepte many a wight; There miglite men here my lady praised, And such a name of her araised, . What of cunning and friendlinesse,

What of beauty with gentilnesse, IHO

What of glad and friendly cheares, That she used in all her yeares, That wonder was here every wight, To say well how they did here might ;

CHAUCER'S DREAM. 12]

And with a prees, upon the morrow,

To ship her brought, and what a sorrow

They made, when she should under saile,

That, and ye wist, ye woulde mervaile.

Forth goeth the ship, out goeth the sonde,

And I as a wood man unbonde, uso

For doubt to be behinde there,

Into the sea withouten fere,

Anon I ran, till with a wawe,

All sodenly, I was overthrawe,

And with the water to and fro,

Backward and forward travailed so,

That mind and breath nigh was agone

For good ne harme knew I none,

Til at the last with hookes tweine,

Men of the ship with mikel peine, neo

To save my life, dide such travaile,

That, and ye wist, ye woulde mervaile,

And in the ship me drew on hie,

And saiden alle that I woulde die,

And laide me long downe by the maste.

And of here clothes on me caste,

And there I made my testamente,

And wiste my selfe not what I mentd,

But whan I said had what I woulde,

And to the mast my wo all tolde, 1170

And tane my leave of every wight,

And closed mine eyen, and lost my sight,

Avised to die, without more speeche,

Or any remedy to seeche

Of grace new, as was great need :

My lady of my paine tooke heed,

And her bethought how that for trouth

122 CHAUCER'S DREAM.

To see me die it were great routh,

And to me came in sober wise,

And softly said, ' I pray you rise, ii&o

Come on with me, let be this fare,

All shall be wel, have ye no care, •

I will obey, ye, and fulfills,

Holy in all that lordes wille,

That you and me not long ago,

After his list commaundede so,

That there againe no resistence

May be withoute great offence,

And, therefore, now loke what I say,

I am and will be friendly aye, nw

Rise up, behold this avauntage,

I grauntg you inheritage,

Peaceably withoute strive,

During the daies of your live.'

And of her apples in my sieve

One she put, and tooke her leve

In wordes few and saidtf, ' Good hele,

He that all made, you send and wele :'

Wherewith my paines, all at ones,

Tooke such leave, that all my bones, 1200

For the newe durense pleasaunce,

So as they couthe, desirede to daunce,

And I as whole as any wight,

Up rose, with joyous heart and light,

Hole and unsicke, right wele at ease,

And all forget hadcfe my disease,

And to my lady, where she plaide,

I went anone, and to her saide :

' He that all joies persons to please

First ordainedtj with parfite ease, 1210

CHAUCER'S DREAM. 123

And every pleasure can departs,

Send you madame, as large a parte,

And of his goodes such plenty,

As he hath done you of beauty,

With hele and all that may be thought,

He send you all as he all wrought :

Madame,' (quoth I) ' your servaunt trew,

Have I ben long, and yet will newe,

Withoute chaunge or repentaunce,

In any wise or variaunce, 1220

And so will do, as thrive I ever,

For thing is none that me is lever

Than you to please, how ever I fare,

Mine hartes lady and my welfare,

My life, mine hele, my lech also,

Of every thing that doth me wo,

My helpe at need, and my surete

Of every joy that longeth to me,

My succours whole in alle wise,

That may be thought or man devise, 1230

Your grace, madame, such have I founde,

Now in my need that I am bounds

To you for ever, so Christ me save,

For heale and live of you I have,

Wherefore is reasoun I you serve,

With due obeisaunce till I sterve,

And dead and quicke be ever youres,

Late, early, and at all houm.'

Tho came my lady small alite,

And in plaine English con consite 1240

In wordes few, whole her entente

She shewede me there, and how she mente

To me-wardes in every wise,

124 CHAUCER'S DREAM.

Wholly she came at here devise,

Withoute processe or long travell,

Charging me to keepe counsell,

As I woulde to her grace attaine,

Of which commaundement I was faine,

Wherefore I passe over at this time,

For counsell corded not well in rime, 1250

And eke the oth that I have swore,

To breake me were better unbore,

Why for untrue for evermore

I shoulde be holde, that nevermore

Of me in place shoulde be reports

Thing that availe might, or comforte

To mewardes in any wise,

And ech wight woulde me dispise

In that they couth, and me repreve,

Which were a thing sore for to greeve, 1250

Wherefore hereof more mencion

Make I not now ne long sermon,

But shortly thus I me excuse,

To rime a councell I refuse.

Sailing thus two daies or three,

My lady towardes her countree,

Over the waves high and greene,

Which were large and deepe betweene,

Upon a time me called, and saide

That of my hele she was well paid, 1270

And of the queene and of the yle,

She talkede with me longe while, 0 all that she there hadde seene, And of the state, and of the queene, And of the ladies name by name, Two houres or mo, this was her game,

CHAUCER'S DREAM. 125

Till at the last the wind can rise,

And blew so fast, and in such wise,

The ship that every wight can saye,

' Madame, er eve be of this day0, 1280.

And God tofore, ye shall be there

As ye woulde fainest that ye were,

And doubts not within sixe hours,

Ye shall be there, as all is yours.'

At which wordes she gan to smile,

And saide that was no long while,

That they her set, and up she rose,

And all about the ship she gose,

And made good cheare to every wight,

Till of the land she had a sight, 1290

Of which sight glad, God it wot,

She was abashed and aboot,

And forth goeth, shortly you to telle,

Where she accustomed was to dwelle,

And received was, as good right,

With joyous cheere and heartes light,

And as a glad new aventure,

Pleasaunt to every creature,

With which landing tho I awoke,

And found my chamber full of smoke, isocu

My cheekes eke unto the eares,

And all my body wet with teares,

And all so feeble and in such wise

I was, that unneth might I rise,

So fare travailed and so faint,

That neither knew I kirke ne saint,

Ne what was what, ne who was who,,

Ne avised what way I woulde go,

But by a venturous grace,

J26 CHAUCER'S DREAM.

I rose and walkte, sought^ pace and pace, isio

Till I a winding staire found,

And held the vice aye in my hond,

And upward softly so can creepe,

Till I came where I thoughts to sleepe

More at mine ease, and out of preace,

At my good leisure, and in peace,

Till somewhat I recomfort were

Of the travell and greate feare

That I endured hadde before,

This was my thought withoute more, 1323

And as a wight witlesse and faint,

Withoute more, in a chamber paint

Full of stories old and divers,

More than I can now rehearse,

Unto a bed full soberly,

So as I mighte full southly,

Pace after other, and nothing saide,

Till at the last downe I me laide,

And as my mind wouldg give me leve,

All that I dreamed h&dde that eve, isso

Before ft all I can rehearse,

Right as a child at schoole his verse,

Doth after that he thinketh to thrive,

Right so did I for all my live,

I thoughts to have in remembraunce,

Bothe the paine and the pleasaunce,

The dreame whole, as it me befell,

Which was as ye here me telle.

Thus in my thoughts as I lay,

That happy or unhappy day, mo

Ne wot I not, so have I blame,

Of ihilke two which is the name :

CHAUCER'S DREAM. 127

Befell me so, that there a thoughts,

By processe new on sleepe me broughts,

And me governed^ so in a while,

That yet againe within the yle,

Methought I was, whereof the knight,

And of the ladies I had a sight,

And were assembled on a greene,

Knight and lady, with the queene, 1350

At which assembly there was said,

How they alls content and paid

Were wholly as in that thing,

That the knight there shoulds be king,

And they would all for sure witnesse

Wedded be boths more and lesse,

In remembraunce withouts more,

Thus they consents for evermore,

And was concluded that the knight

Departs shoulds the same night, iseo

And forthwith there tooke his voiage

To journey for his marriage,

And returne with such an hosts,

That wedded mights be least and mosts,

This was concluded, written and sealed,

That it mights not be repealed

In no wise, but aie be h'rme,

And should all be within a tearme,

Withouts more excusation,

Both feast and coronation. isrti

This knight which had de thereof the charge,

Anon into a little barge

/-brought was late against an eve,

Where of all he tooke his leave ;

Which barge was as a mannss thought,

128

After his pleasure to him brought,

The queene herselfe accustomed aye

In thilke same barge to playe,

It needeth neither mast ne rother,

I have not heard of such another, 1330

No maister for the governaunce,

Hie sayled by thought and pleasaunce,

Without^ labour, east and west,

Alle was one, calme or tempest,

And I wente with at his request,

And was the first praied to the fest.

Whan he came in-fo his countree,

And passed hadcZe the wavy see,

In an haven deepe and large

He left his rich and noble barge, 1390

And to the court, shortly to telle,

He wente, where he wont was to dwells,

And was received as good right,

As heire, and for a worthy knight,

With alle the states of the lond,

Which came anon at his firste sond,

With glade spirits full of trouth,

Loth to do fault or with a slouth,

Attaints be in any wise ;

Here riches was here olde servise, uot .

Which ever trew hadcfe be fonde,

Sith first inhabit was the Iond0,

And so received there her king,

That forgotten was no thing,

That owe to be done ne mights please,

Ne here soveraine lord do ease,

And with hem, so shortly to saye,

As they of custome hadde done aye,

CHAUCER'S DREAM. 129

For seven yere past was and more,

The father, the olde wise and hore uio

King of the land tooke tJio his leve

Of all his barons on an eve,

And told hem how his dayes past

Were all, and comen was the last,

And hartily prayed hem to remember

His sonne, which yong was and tender,

That borne was here prince to be,

If he returne to that countree

Mights, by adventure or grace,

Within any time or space, 1420

And to be true and friendly aye,

As they to him had de bene alway :

Thus he hem prayde, withoute more,

And tooke his leave for evermore.

Knowen was, how tender in age,

This younge prince a great viage

Uncouth and straunge, honours to seche,

Tooke in honde with little speeche,

Which was to seeke a princesse

That he desired^ more than richest, 1430

For her greate name that flourede so,

That in that time there was no mo

Of her estate, ne so well named,

For borne was none that ever her blamed :

Of which princes somewhat before,

Here have I spoke, and some will more.

So thus befell as ye shall heare,

Unto here lord they made such cheare,

That joy was there to be present

To see their troth and how they mente, 1440

So very glad they were ech one,

VOL. v. *

130 CHAUCER'S DREAM.

That hem among there was no one,

That desirede more richesse,

Than for here lord such a prineesse,

That they mighte please, and that were faire,

For fast desirede they an heire,

And saide great surety were ywis.

And as they were speaking of this,

The prince himselfe him avised,

And in plaine English undisguised, 1450

Hem shewed hole his journeye,

And of here counsell gan hem preye,

And told how he ensured was,

And how his day he mighte not passe,

Without diifame and greate blame,

And to him for ever a shame,

And of here counsell and avise,

There he prayth hem once or twise,

And that they woulde within ten daies,

Avise and ordaine him such waies,

So that it were no displeasaunce,

Ne to this realme over great grievaunce,

And that he have mighte to his feast,

Sixty thousand at the least,

For his intent within short while

Was to returne unto his yle

That he came fro, and kepe his day,

For nothing would he be away.

To counsaile tho the lords anon,

Into a chamber everychone, i*r«

Togither went, hem to devise,

How they mights best and in what wise,

Purveye for here lords pleasaunce

And the realmes continuaunce

CHAUCER'S DREAM. 131

Of honor, which in it before

Hadde continued evermore.

So, at the last, they founde the waies,

How within the nexte ten daies,

All mighte with paine and diligence

Be done, and cast what the dispence use

Mights draw, and in conclusion,

Made for ech thing provision.

Whan this was done, wholly tofore

The prince, the lordes all before

Come, and shewed what they h&dde done,

And how they couthe by no reason

Finde that within the ten daies,

He mighte departs by no waies,

But woulde be fifteene, at the least,

Or he return e mighte to his feast : 1490

And shewed him every reason why

It mighte not be so hastily,

As he desirede, ne his day

He mighte not keepe by no way,

For divers causes wonder greate :

Which, whan he heard, in such an heate

He fell, for sorow and was seke,

Still in his bedde whole that weke.

And nigh the tother for the shame,

And for the doubt, and for the blame 1500

That on him mighte be aret,

And oft upon his brest he bet,

And said, * Alas, mine honour for aye,

Have I here lost cleane this day,

Dead would I be ! alas, my name

Shall aye be more henceforth in shame,

And I dishonoured and repreved,

132 CHAUCER'S DREAM.

And never more shall be beleeved :'

And made swich sorow, that in trouth,

Him to behold it was great routh :

And so endured the dayes fiftene,

Till that the lordes on an even

Him come, and tolde they ready were,

And shewed in few wordes there,

How and what wise they hadde purvey d

For his estate, and to him said,

That twenty thousand knights of name,

And forty thousand without blame,

All come of noble ligne,

Togider in a compane,

Were lodged on a rivers side,

Him and his pleasure there tabide.

The prince tho for joy up rose,

And where they lodged were, he goes

Without^ more that same nighte,

And these his supper made to dighte,

And with hem bode till it was dey,

And forthwith to take his journey,

Leving the streight, holding the large,

Till he came to his noble barge ;

And when this prince, this lustie knight,

With his people in armes brighte,

Was comen where he thought to pase,

And knew well none abiding was

Behind, but all were there present,

Forthwith anon all his intent

He told hem there, and made his cries

Through his oste that day twies,

Commaunding every lives wight,

There being present in his sight,

CHAUCER'S DREAM. 133

To be the morow on the rivage,

Where he beginwe would his viage.

The morrow come, the cry was kept,

Fewe was tfiere that night that slept,

But trussed and purveied for the morrow,

For fault of ships was all here sorrow,

For save the barge, and other two,

Of shippes there saw I no mo :

Thus in here doubtes as they stoode,

Waxing the sea, comming the floods, 1.550

Was cried, ' To ship goe every wighte,'

Then was but hie, that hie mighte,

And to the barge me thought echone

They wente, without was left not one.

Horse, male, trusse, ne bagage,

Salad, speare, gard-brace, ne page,

But was lodged and roome ynough,

At which shipping me thought I lough,

And gan to marvaile in my thought,

How ever such a ship was wrought, io«o

For what people that can encrease,

Ne never so thicke mighte be the prease,

But all hadde roome at here wille,

There was not one was lodged ilk,

For as I trow, my selfe the last

Was one, and lodged by the mast.

And where I looked I saw such rome,

As all were lodged in a towne.

Forth goth the ship, said was the creed,

And on here knees for here good speed, 1570

Downe kneeled every wight a while,

And praiede faste that to the yle

They mighte come in safety,

134 CHAUCER'S DREAM.

The prince and all the company,

With worship and withoute blame,

Or disclaunder of his name,

Of the promise he shoulde retourne,

Within the time he dide sojourne,

In his londe biding his host,

This was here prayer of least and most ; isefl

To keepe the day it mighte not been,

That he appointed hadc/e with the queen,

To returne without^ slotith,

And so assured had his trouth,

For whiche fault this prince, this knight,

During the time slepte not a night,

Such was his wo and his disease,

For doubt he shoulde the queene displease.

Forth goeth the ship with suche speed,

Right as the prince for his great need 1590

Desire would after his thoughts,

Till it into the yle him broughte,

Where in hast upon the sand,

He and his people tooke the land,

With hartes glad, and chere light,

Weening to be in Heaven that night :

But or they passedew a while,

Entring in toward that yle,

All clad in blacke with chere piteous,

A lady which never dispiteous loob

Hadde be in all her life tofore,

With sory chere, and harte to-tore,

Unto this prince where he gan ride,

Come and said, ' Abide, abide,

And have no hast, but fast retourne,

No reason is ye here sojourne,

CHAUCER S DREAK. 135

For your untruth hath us discried,

Wo worth the time we us alliede

With you, that are so soone untrewe,

Alas, the day that we you knewe ! ieio

Alas, the time that ye were bore,

For all this lond by you is lore !

Accursed be he you hider brought^.

For all your joy is turnd to nought,

Your acquaintance we may complaine,

Which is the cause of all our paine.'

' Alas, madame,' quoth tho this knight,

And with that from his horse he light,

With colour pale, and cheekes lene,

'Alas, what is this for to mene ? 1620

What have ye said, why be ye wroth ?

You to displease I woulde be loth,

Know ye not well the promesse

I made have to your princesse,

Which to perfourme is mine intent,

So mote I speed, as I have ment,

And as I am her very trewe,

Withoute change or thoughts newe,

And also fully her servand,

As creature or man livand 1630

May be to lady or princesse,

For she mine Heaven and whole richesse

Is, and the lady of mine heale,

My worldes joy and all my weale,

What may this be, whence cometh this speech ?

Tell me, madame, I you beseech,

For sith the first of my living,

Was I so fearfull of nothing,

As I am now to heare you speake ;

136 CHAUCER'S DREAM.

For doubt I feele mine hearts breake ; leio

Say on, madame, tell me your wille,

The remenaunt is it good or ille ?'

* Alas/ (quod she) ' that ye were bore,

For, for your love this land is lore !

The queene is dead, and that is ruth,

For sorrow of your great untruth ;

Of two partes of the lusty route,

Of ladies that were there aboute,

That wont were to talke and play,

Now aren dead and cleane away, 1650

And under earth tane lodging newe;

Alas, that ever ye were untrewe !

For when the time ye set was past,

The queene to counsaile sone in hast,

What was to doe, and said great blame

Your acquaintaunce cause would and shame,

And the ladies of here avise

Prayede, for need was to be wise,

In eschewing tales and songs,

That by hem make would ille tongs, 1660

And sey they were lightly conquest,

And prayed to a poore feast,

And foule had here worship weived,

When so unwisely they conceivede,

Here rich treasour, and here heale,

Here famous name, and here weale,

To put in such an aventure,

Of which the sclaunder ever dure

Was like, without helpe of appele,

Wherefore they need had of counsele, i<j?f

For every wight of hem woulde say

Here closed yle an open way

CHAUCER'S DREAM. 137

Was become to every wight,

And well appreved by a knight,

Which he alas, without paysaunce,

Hadcfc soone acheved thobeisaunce :

All this was moved at counsell thrise,

And concluded daily twise,

That bet was die withoute blame

Than lose the riches of here name, 1680

Wherefore, the deathes acquaintaunce

They chese, and left have here pleasaunce,

For doubt to live as repreved,

In that they you so soone beleeved,

And made here othes with one accord,

That eate ne drinke, ne speake word,

They shoulde never, but ever weping

Bide in a place without^ parting,

And use here dayes in penaunce,

Without desire of allegeaunce, 1690

Of which the truth, anon, con preve,

For-why the queen forthwith her leve

Toke at hem all that were present,

Of her defauts fully repent,

And diede there withouten more :

Thus are we lost for evermore ;

What should I more hereof reherse ?

Comen within, come see her herse,

Where ye shall see the piteous sight,

That ever yet was she wen to knight, 1700

For ye shall see ladies stonde,

Ech with a great rod in hire honde,

/-clad in black, with visage white,

Ready each other for to smite,

If any be that will not wepe.

138

Or who that maketh countenaunce to slepe ;

They be so bet, that eU -so blewe

They be as cloth that died is newe,

Such is their parfite repentance ;

And thus they kepe here ordinance, 1710

And will do ever to the death,

While hem enduref/z any breath.'

This knight tho in armes twaine, This lady tooke and gan her saine, * Alas, my birth ! wo worth my life !' And even with that he drew a knife, And through gowne, doublet, and sherte, He made the blood come from his herte, And set him downe upon the greene, And full repent closed his eene, 1720

And save that ones he drew his breath, Without more thus he tooke his death. For which cause the lusty hoast, Which in a battaile on the coast, At once for sorrow such a cry Gan rere thorow the company, That to the Heaven heard was the sowne, And under therth als fer adowne, That wilde beastes for the feare So sodainly afrayed were, 1730

That for the doubt, while they mighte dure, They ran as of here lives unsure, From the woodes unto the plaine, And from the valleys the highe mountaine They sought, and ran as beastes blind*?, That cleane forgotten had here kinde. This wo not ceased, to counsaile wente These lords, and for that lady sente,

CHAUCER'S DREAM. 139

And of avise what was to done,

They her besoughte she say woulde sone. 1740

Weeping full sore, all clad in blake,

This lady softly to hem spake,

And saide, ' My lordes, by my trouth,

This mischiefe it is of your slouth,

And if ye had<& that judge woulde right,

A prince that were a very knight,

Ye that ben of astate echone,

Die for his fault should one and one ;

And if he hold hadcZe the promesse,

And done that long^A to gentilnesse, 1750

And fulfilled the princes behest,

This hastie farme hadde bene a feast,

And now is unrecoverable,

And us a slaunder aye durable ;

Wherefore, I say, as of counsaile,

In me is none that may availe,

But, if ye list, for remembraunce

Purvey and make such ordinaunce,

That the queene, that was so meke,

With all her women, dede or seke, 1760

Might in your land a chappell have,

With some remembraunce of her grave,

Shewing her end with the pity,

In some notable olde city,

Nigh unto an high way,

Where every wight mighte for her pray,

And for all hers that have ben trewe ;*

And even with that she changed hewe,

And twise wished after the death,

And sight, and thus passed her breath, mo

Then saidc the lordes of the hoste,

140 CHAUCER'S DREAM.

And so conclude least and moste,

That they would ever in houses of thacke

Here lives lead, and weare but blacke,

And forsake all here pleasaunces,

And turn all joy to penaunces,

And beare the deade prince to the barge,

And named hem should have the charge ;

And to the hearse where lay the queen,

The remenaunt went, and down on kneen, 1780-,

Holding here hond^s on high, con crie,

* Mercy, mercy,' everich thrie,

And cursede the time that ever slouth

Should have such masterdome of trouth.

And to the barge a long mile,

They bare her forth, and in a while

Alle the ladies one and one,

By companies were brought echone,

And past the sea and tooke the land,

And in new herses on a sand, 1790

/-put and brought were all anon,

Unto a city closed with stone,

Where it hadde been used aye

The kinges of the land to lay,

After they raigned in honours,

And writ was which were conquerours,

In an abbey of nunnes which were blake,

Which accustomed were to wake,

And of usage rise ech a night

To pray for every lives wight ; 1300

And so befell as in the guise,

Ordeint and said was the servise,

Of fhilke prince and of the queen,

So devoutly as mights been.

CHAUCER'S DREAM. 141

And after that about the herses,

Many orisones and verses,

Without^ note full softely,

Said were and that full heartily,

That all the night till it was day,

The people in the church con pray is-io

Unto the holy Trinitie,

Of these soules to have pitie.

And when the night ipast and lonne Was, and the newe day begonne, The yonge morrow with rayes rede, Which from the Sunne over all con spredej, Atempered clere wag and faire, And made a time of wholsome aire, Befell a wonder case and strange, Among the people and gan change 182$

Soone the word and every woo Unto a joy, and some to two : A bird, all fedred blew and greene, With brighte rayes like gold betweene, As smalle thred over every joynt, All full of colour strange and coint, Uncouth and wonderfull to sights, Upon the queenes herse con lights, And song full low and softely, Three songes in her harmony, issa

Unletted of every wight, Till, at the last, an aged knight Which seemed a man in great thought Like as he set all thing at nought, With visage and eien all forwept And pale, as man longe unslept,, By ihilke herses as he stood

142 CHAUCER'S DREAM.

With hasty hondling of his hood

Unto a prince that by him paste

Made the bridde somewhat agast, isio

Wherefore she rose and left her song,

And departs from us among,

And spread her winges for to passe

By the place he entred was,

And in his hast, shortly to telle,

Him hurt, that backeward downe he fell.

From a window richly ipeint

With lives of many divers seint,

And bet his wings and bledde faste,

And of the hurt thus died and paste, 1350

And lay there well an houre and more,

Till, at the last, of briddes a score

Come and sembled at the place

Where the window ibroken was,

And made swiche waimentacioun,

That pity was to heare the soun,

And the warbles of Jiere throtes,

And the complaint of here notes,

Which from joy clean e was reversed,

And of hem one the glas soone persed, i860

And in his beke of colours nine,

An herbe he broughte flourelesse, all greene,

Ful of smalle leaves and plaine,

Swart and longe with many a vaine,

And where his fellow lay thus dede,

This hearbe down laide by his hede,

And dressed it full softily,

And hong his head and stood thereby,

Which hearb, in lesse than halfe an houre,

Oan over all knit, and after floure is;o

CHAUCER'S DREAM. 143

Full out and wexe ripe the seede,

And right as one another feed0

Would, in his beake he tooke the graine,

And in his fellowes beake certaine

It put, and thus, within the third,

Up stood and pruned him the bird,

Which dead hadde be in all our sight,

And both togither forth here flight

Tooke singing from us, and here leve,

Was none disturb hem woulde ne greve ; isso

And when they parted were and gone

Thabbesse the seedes soone echone

/-gadred had, and in her hand

The herb she tooke, well avisand

The leafe, the seed, the stalke, the floure,

And said it had a good savour,

And was no common herb to finde,

And well approved of uncouth kinde,

And than other more vertuouse,

Who so have it mighte for to use 1390

In his neede, flowre, leafe, or graine,

Of here heale mighte be certaine ;

And laid it downe upon the herse

Where lay the queene, and gan reherse,

Echone to other that they hadefe seene,

And taling thus the sede wex greene,

And on the drie herse gan springe,

Which thoughts me a wondrous thinge,

And after that floure and newe seed,

Of which the people all tooke heed, IKM

And said, it was some great miracle,

Or medicine fine more than triacle,

And were well done there to assay,

144 CHAUCER'S DREAM.

If it might ease in any way

The corses, which with torche light,

They waked haddk there all that night.

Soone dide the lordes there consents,

And all the people thereto contents,

With easie wordes and little fare,

And made the q-ueenes visage bare, wo

Which shewed was to all about,

Wherefore in swoone fell whole the rout,

And were so sory, most and leasts,

That long of weeping they not ceaste,

For of here lord the remembraunce

Unto hem was such displeasaunce,

That for to live they called a paine,

So were they very true and plaine ;

And after this, the good abbesse

Of the graines gan chese and dresse 192C

Three, with her fingers clean e and smalle,

And in the queenes mouth by tale,

One after other full easily,

She putte and full conningly,

Which shewede soone such vertue,

That preved was the medicine true,

For with a smiling countenaunce

The queene uprose, and of usaunce,

As she was wont, to every wight

She made good cheere, for which sight 1930

The people kneeling on the stones.

Thoughts they in Heaven were soule and fepnes •

And to the prince where he lay,

They wente to make the same assay ;

And whan the queene it understood,

And how the medicine was good,

CHAUCER'S DREAM. 145

She prayede she might have the graines To releve him from the paines Which she and he hadcfe both endured, And to him went, and so him curede, 1940 That within a little space, Lusty and fresh on live he was And in good hele and hole of speech, And lough, and said, ' Gramercy leech,' For which the joy throughout the town, So great was that the belles sown Afraied the people, a journay About the city every way, And come and askede cause and why, They rongen were so stately ? i960

And after that the queene, thabbesse Made diligence, or they woulde cesse, Such, that of ladies soone a rout Shewing the queene was all about, And called by name echone and tolde, Was none forgotten young ne olde ; There mighte men see joyes newe, When the medicine fine and trewe, Thus restored had every wight, So well the queene as the knight, i960

Unto perfit joy and hele, That fleting they were in such wele As folke that would in no wise, Desire more perfit paradise. And thus, whan passed was the sorrow, With mikel joy soone on the morrow, The king, the queene, and every lord, With all the ladies by one accord, A generall assembly VOL. v. L

146 CHAUCER'S DREAM.

Great cry throughouter the country, 197 The which after as here intent Was turned to a parliament, Where was ordained and avised Every thing and devised, That please mighte to most and leasts, And there concluded was the feaste, Within the yle to be ^holde With full consent of young and olde, In the same wise as before, As thing shoulde be withouten more ; i93( And shipped and thither wente, And into straunge realmes sente To kinges, queenes, and duchesses, To divers princes and princesses, Of here linage, and can pray That it mighte like hem at that day Of marriage, for here sport, Come see the yle and hem disport, Where shoulde be jousts and turnaies, And armes done in other waies, 1990

Signifying over all the day, After Aprille within May ; And was avised that ladies tweine, Of good estate and well beseine, With certain e knightes and squiers, . And of the queenes officers, In manner of an embassade, With certain letters closed and made, Should^ take the barge and departs, And seeke my lady every parte, 2000

Till they her founds for any thing, Both charged have queene and king,

CHAUCER'S DREAM. 147

And as here lady and maistresse,

Her to beseke of gentilnesse,

At thilke day there for to been,

And oft her recommaund the queen,

And prayeth for all loves to haste,

For, but she come, all woll be waste,

And al the feast a businesse

Without^ joy or lustinesse : 2011)

And tooke hem tokens and good speed

Praide God send, after here need.

Forth wente the ladies and the knights,

And were out fourteene daies and nights,

And brought^ my lady in here barge,

And had well sped and done here charge ;

Whereof the queene so hartily glade,

Was, that, in soth, such joy she hadde

When fhilke ship approched lond,

That she my lady on the sond 2020

/-met, and in armes so constraine,

That wonder was behold hem twaine,

Which to my dome during twelve houres.

Neither for heat ne watry shoures,

Departed^ not no company,

Saving hemselfe but none hem by,

But gave hem leisour at here ease,

To rehearse joy and disease,

After the pleasure and courages

Of here young and tender ages : 2030

And after with many a knight

/-brought were, where, as for that nignt,

They partede not, for to pleasaunce,

Content was hert and countenaunce

Both of the queene and my maistresse.

148 CHAUCER'S DREAM.

This was that night here businesse :

And on the morrow with huge rout,

This prince of lordes him about,

Come and to my lady saide

That of her comming well apaid 2040

And glad he was, and full conningly

Her thanked and full heartily,

And lough and smiled, and said, ' y wis,

That was in doubt in safety is :'

And commaundede do diligence,

And spare for neither gold ne spence,

But make ready, for on the morow

Wedded, with saint John to borrow,

He woulde be, withouten more,

And let hem wite this lesse and more. 2050

The morow come, and the service

Of mariage, in such a wise

Said was, that with more honour

Was never prince ne conquerour

7-wedde, ne with such company

Of gentilnesse in chivalry,

Ne of ladies so greate route,

Ne so beseen, as all aboute

They were there, I certifie

You on my life withouten lie. 206?

And the feast hold was in tentis, As to telle you mine entent is, In a rome, a large plaine Under a wood in a champaine, Betwixt a river and a welle, Where never had abbay, ne selk Ben, ne kirke, house, ne village, In time of any maimcs age :

CHAUCER'S DREAM. 149

And durede three monthes the feasts,

In one estate and never eeaste, 2070

From early the rising of the Sonne,

Till spent the day was and yronne,

In justing, dauncing, and lustinesse,

And all that sownede to gentilnesse.

And, as me thoughts, the second morrow, When ended was all olde sorrow, And in surety every wight Hadcfo with his lady slept a night. The prince, the queene, and all the rest, Unto my lady made request, 2080

And her besought oft and praied To mewards to be well apaied, And consider mine olde trouth, And on my paines have routh, And me accept to her servise, In such forme and in such wise, That we both mighte be as one, Thus prayede the queene, and everichone : And, for there shoulde be no nay, * They stinte justing all a day, 2090

To pray my lady and requere Be content and out of fere, And with good hearte make friendly cheare, And said it was a happy yeare : At which she smiled and said, ywis, " I trow well he my servaunt is, And woulde my welfare, as I triste, So would I his, and would he wiste How, and I knewe that his trouth Continue woulde without^ slouth, suo

And be such as ye here report,

150 CHAUCER'S DREAM.

Kestraining both courage and sport,

I couthe consent at your request,

To be i-named of your fest,

And do after your usaunce,

In obeying your pleasaunce ;

At your request this I consent,

To please you in your entent,

And eke the soveraine above

Commanded hath me for to love, 2110

And before other him prefer,

Against which prince may be no wer,

For his power over all raigneth,

That other woulde for nought him paineth,

And sith his will and yours is one,

Contrary in me shall be hone."

Tho (as me thoughts) the promise

Of marriage before the mese

Desired was of every wight

To be imade the same night, 2120

To put away all maner doute

Of every wight thereabouts,

And so was do ; and on the morrow,

When every thought and every sorrow

Dislodged was out of mine herte,

With every wo and every smerts,

Unto a tent prince and princesse,

Me thoughts, broughte me and my maistress€,

And saide we were at full age

There to conclude our marriage, 2130

With ladies, knightes, and squiers,

And a great host of ministers,

With instruments and sounes diverse,

That longe were here to rehearse,

CHAUCER S DREAM. 151

Which tent was church perochiall,

Ordaint was in especiall,

For the feast and for the sacre,

Where archbishop, and archdiacre,

Songe full oute the servise,

After the custome and the guise, 2140

And the churches ordinaunce ;

And after that to dine and daunce

Brought were we, and to divers plaies,

And for our speed ech with praies,

And merry was most and leaste,

And said amended was the feaste,

And were right glad lady and lord,

Of the marriage and thaccord,

And wished us heartes pleasaunce,

Joy, hele, and continuance, 2150

And to the ministrils made request,

That in encreasing of the fest,

They woulde touches here cords,

And with some new joyeux accords,

Moove the people to gladnesse,

And praiden of all gentilnesse,

Ech to paine hem for the day,

To shew his cunning and his play.

Tho beganne sownes mervelous

Entuned with accords joyous, 2ieo

Round about alle the tentes,

With thousandes of instruments,

That every wight to daunce hem pained*?,

To be merry was none that fainede,

Which sowne me troubled in my sleepe,

That fro my bedcfe forth I lepe,

Wening to be at ihilke feast,

152 CHAUCER'S DREAM.

But when I woke all was iceast,

For ther nas lady ne creature,

Save on the wal/es olde portraiture 2170

Of horsmen, haukes, and houndes,

And hurt<? deere full of woundes,

Some like bitten, some hurt with shot,

And, as my dreame, seemed that was not ;

And when I wake, and knew the trouth,

And ye h&dde seen, of very routh,

I trow ye would have wept a weke,

For never man yet halfe so seke ;

I went escaped with the life,

And was for fault that sword ne knife 2iso

I finde ne mighte my life tabridge,

Ne thing that kervede, ne had edge*

Wherewith I mights my woful paines,

Have voided with bleeding of my vaines.

Lo, here my blisse, lo, here my paine,

Which to my lady I do complaine,

And grace and mercy her requere,

To ende my wo and busie fere,

And me accepts to her servise,

After her service in such avise, 2190

That of my dreame the substaunce

Mights once turne to cognisaunce,

And cognisaunce to very prove

By full consent and goode leve,

Or eUes without more I pray,

That thilke night, or it be day,

I mote unto my dreame returne,

And sleeping so, forth aie sojourne

About the yle of pleasaunce,

Under my ladies obeisaunce, 2200

CHAUCER'S DREAM. 153

In her servise, and in such wise, As it please her may to devise, And grace ones to be accepts, Like as I dreamed when I slepte, And dure a thousand yeare and ten, In her good will, Amen ! Amen !

FAIREST of faire, and goodliest on live,

All my secret to you I plaine and shrive,

Requiring grace and of complaint,

To be healed or martyred as a saint, 2210

For by my trouth I sweare, and by this booke,

Ye may both heale and slea me with a looke.

Go forth mine owne true hart innocent,

And with humblesse, do thine observaunce,

And to thy lady on thy knees present

Thy servise new, and think how great pleasance

It is to live under thobeisance

Of her that may with her lookes softe

Give thee the blisse that thou desires t ofte.

Be diligent, awake, obey, and drede, 2220

And not too wild be of thy countenaunce, But meeke and glad, and thy nature feede. To do each thing that may her pleasance, When thou shalt sleep, have aie in remembrance Thimage of her which may with lookes softe Give thee the blisse that thou desirest ofte.

And if so be that thou her name finde Written in booke, or eUes upon walk, Looke that thou, as servaunt true and kinde,

154

CHAUCER'S DREAM.

Thine obeisaunce, as she were there withalle ; 2230 Paining in love is breeding of a falle From the grace of her, whose lookes softe May give the blisse that thou desirest ofte.

Ye that this ballade readtf shalle, I pray you keepe you from the falle.

THE BOKE OF THE DUCHESSE;

OR, THE DETHE OF BLANCHE.

HAVE grete wonder, be this lyghte, How that I lyve ; for day ne nyghte I may nat slepe welnygh noght, I have so many an ydel thoght,

Purely for defaulte of slepe,

That, by my trouthe I take no kepe

Of noothinge, how hyt commeth or gooth.

Ne me nys nothynge leve nor looth ;

Al is ylyche goode to me,

Joye or sorowe, wher so hyt be. 10

For I have felynge in nothynge,

But, as yt were a mased thynge,

Alway in poynt to falle adoun ;

For sorwful ymagynacioun

Ys alway hooly in my mynde.

And wel ye woote, agaynes kynde

Hyt were to lyven in thys wyse ;

For nature wolde nat suffyse,

To noon erthely creature,

Nat longe tyme to endure 20

Withoute slepe, and be in sorwe.

And I ne may, ne nyght ne morwe,

156 THE EOKE OF THE DUCIIESSE.

Slepe ; and thys melancolye And drede I have for to dye, Defaulte of slepe and hevynesse, Hath sleyn my spirite of quyknesse, That I have loste al lustyhede ; Suche fantasies ben in myn hede, So I not what is best too doo.

But men myght axe me, why soo I may not sleepe, and what me is. But natheles, who axe£& this, Leseth his axing trewely ; My selven cannot telle why The soothe ; but trewely as I gesse, I hold it to be a sicknes That I have suffred this eight yere, And yet my boote is never the nere. For there is phisicien but one, That may me heale, but that is done ; Passe we over untille efte ; That wil not be, mote nedes be lefte ; Our firste matere is good to kepe.

So whan I sawe I mighte not slepe, Til now late this other night Upon my bedde I sate upright, And bade one reche me a booke, A romaunee, and it me toke To rede, and drive the night awaye : For me. it thoughts beter playe, Then either atte chesse or tables.

And in this boke were written fables, That clerkes had in olde time, And other poets, put in rime, To rede, and for to be in minde,

THE BOKE OF THE DUCHESSE. 157

While men lovecte the la we in Kinde.

This boke ne speake but of suche thinges,

Of quenes lives, and of kinges,

And many other thinges smale.

Amonge al this I fonde a tale eo

That thoughts me a wonder thing.

This was the tale : — There was a king That hight Seyes ; and had a wife, The bests that mighte beare lyfe, And this quene hight Alcyone. So it befil, therafter sone, This king wol wenden over se. To tellen schortly, whan that he Was in the see, thus in this wise, Soche a tempest tho gan to rise, 70

That brake her maste, and made it fal/e, And cleft here schippe, and dreint hem alls, That never was founde, as it telles, Bord, ne man, ne nothing elles. Right thus this king Seys loste his life.

Now for to speake of Alcyone his wife : — This lady that was left at home, Hath wonder that the king ne come Home, for it was a longe terme. Anone her herte began to yerne ; sc

And for that, her thought evermo It was not wele ; her thoughts so. She longede so after the king, That certes it were a pitous thing To tel her hertely sorowful life, That she hadde, this noble wife. For him, alas ! she loved alderbeste, Anone sche sente both este and weste

158 THE BOKE OF THE DUCHESSE.

To seke him, but they founde him nought.

* Alas/ quoth she, ' that I was wrought ! 90 And where my lord, my love, be dede ? Certes I ml never eate brede,

I make avowe to my God here, But I mowe of my lord here.'

Soche sorowe this lady to her toke, That trewely I, which made this boke, H&dde suche pittee and suche routhe To rede hir sorwe, that by my trowthe I ferde the worse al the morwe And after, to thenken on hir sorwe. 100

So whanne this lady koude here noo worde, That no man myghte fynde hir lord, Ful ofte she swouned, and sayde, ' Alas ! ' For sorwe ful nygh woode she was ; Ne she koude no rede but oon, But doune on knees she sate anoon, And wepte, that pittee was to here.

* A ! mercy, swete lady dere ! ' Quod she, to Juno hir goddesse,

* Helpe me out of thys distresse, no

And yeve me grace my lord to se

Soone, or wete wher so he be,

Or how he fareth, or in what wise ;

And I shal make yowe sacrifise,

And hooly youres become I shal,

With gode wille, body, hert, and al.

And, but thow wilte this, lady swete,

Sende me grace to slepe and mete

In my slepe somme certeyn sweven,

Wher thorgh that I may knowe even 120

Whethir my lorde be quyke or ded/

THE BOKE OF THE DUCHESSE. 159

With that worde she henge doun the hed, And felle a swowne, as colde as stoon. Hyr women kaught hir up anoon, And broughten hir in bed al naked ; And sche, for weped and for waked, Was wery ; and thus the dede slepe Fil on hir, or she toke kepe, Throgh Juno, that had herde hir bone, That made hir to slepe sone. 130

For as she prayede, ryght so was done Indede ; for Juno ryght anone Callede thus hir messagere To doo hir erande, and he come nere. Whan he was come, she bad hym thus : —

' Go bet,' quod Juno, to Morpheus ; ' Thou knowest hym wel, the god of slepe ; Now understonde wel, and take kepe. Sey thus on my halfe, that he Go faste into the grete se, HO

And byd him that, on alle thynge, That he take up Seys body, the kynge, That lyeth fill pale, and nothynge rody. Bid hym crepe into the body, And doo hit goon to Alcyone The quene, ther she lyeth allone ; And shewe hir shortly, hit ys no nay, How hit was dreynt thys other day ; And do the body speke ryght soo, Ryght as hyt was woned to doo, ' 15*

The whiles that hit was alyve ; — Goo now faste, and hye the blyve.'

This messager toke leve and wente Upon hys wey, and never ne stente

160 THE BOKE OF THE DUCHESSE.

Til he come to the derke valey<?,

That stant betwexe roches tweye.

Ther never yet grew corne ne gras,

Ne tre, ne noght that oughte was,

Beste, ne man, ne noght elles,

Save that there were a fewe welles 201

Come rennynge fro the clyffes adoun,

That made a dedely slepynge soun ;

And ronnen doun ryght by a cave,

That was under a rokke ygrave

Amydde the valey, wonder depe.

There these goddys lay and slepe,

Morpheus and Eclympasteyre,

That was the god of slepes eyre,

That slepe, and dide noon other werke.

This cave was also as derke 170

As helle pitte, overal aboute, They hadcfe good leyser for to route, To envye who myghte slepe beste. Some henge her chyn upon hir breste, And slept upryght hir hed yhedde ; And somme lay naked in her bedde, And slepe whiles the dayes laste.

This messager come fleynge faste, And cried, ' 0 how ! awake anoon ! ' Hit was for noght, there herde hym noon. iso 'Awake !' quod he, ' Who ys lythe there ?' And blew his home ryght in here eere, And cried, ' Awaketh !' wonder hye.

This god of slepe, with hys oon ye Caste up, and axede, ' Who clepeth there f ' 1 Hyt am I/ quod this messagere. Juno bad thow shuldest goon.'

THE BOKE OF THE DUCHESSE. 101

And tolde hym what he shulde doon,

As I have tolde yow here tofore,

Hyt ys no nede reherse hyt more ; 190

And went hys wey whan he had de sayede.

Anoon this god of slepe abrayede

Out of hys slepe, and gan to goon,

And dyd as he hadJe bede hym doon ;

Tooke up the dreynte body sone,

And bare hyt forth to Alcyone

Hys wife, the quene, ther as she lay,

Ryght even a quarter before day,

And stood ryght at hys beddys fete,

And called hir ryght as she hete 200

By name, and sayede f — ' My swete wyfe,

Awake ! let be your sorwful lyfe !

For in your sorwe there lyth no rede ;

For certes, swete, I am but dede,

Ye shul me never on lyve yse.

But, goods swete herte loke that ye

Bury my body ; for, suche a tyde,

Ye mowe hyt fynde the see besyde.

And farewel swete, my worldes blysse !

I praye God youre sorwe lysse ; 210

To lytel while oure blysse lasteth ! ' With that hir eyen up she casteth,

And sawe noght: — * Alas !' quod she, for sorwe,

And deyede within the thridde morwe. But what she sayede more in that swowe,

I may not telle yow as now,

Hyt were to longe for to dwelle;

My firste matere I wil yow telle,

Wherfore I have tolde you this thynge,

Of Alcione, and Seys the kynge. m

VOL. v. M

162 THE BOKE OF THE DUCHESSE.

For thus moche dar I say« welle, I hadcZe be dolven every delle, And ded, ryght thorgh defaulte of slepe, Yif I ne hadde redde, and take kepe Of this tale nexte before ; And wol I telle yow wherfore, For I ne myghte, for bote ne bale, Slepe, or I hadde redde thys tale Of this dreynte Seys the kynge, And of the goddis of slepynge. 230

Whan I hadde redde thys tale wel, And overloked hit everydel, Me thoghte wonder yf hit were so ; For I hadde never herde speke, or tho. Of noo goddis, that koude make Men to slepe, ne for to wake ; For I ne knewe never God but oon. And in my game I sayede anoon, (And yet me lyst ryght evel to pleye,) Rather than that Y shulde deye 240

Thorgh defaulte of slepynge thus, I wolde yive thilke Morpheus, Or hys goddesse, dame Juno, Or somme wight ellis, I ne roghte who, To make me slepe, and have some reste, — I wil yive hym the alder-beste Yifte, that ever he abode hys lyve. And here onwarde, ryght now as blyve, Yif he wol make me slepe a lyte, Of downe of pure dowves white, 250

I wil yif him a federbedde, Rayed with golde, and ryght wel cledde, In fyne blak satyn de owter mere,

THE BOKE OF THE DUCHESSE. 163

And many a pelowe, and every here

Of clothe of Reynes to slepe softe,

Kim thar not nede to turnen ofte.

And I wol yive hym al that fallys

To a chaumbre ; and al hys hallys,

I wol do peynte with pure golde,

And tapite hem ful manyfolde, 2«o

Of oo sute ; this shal he have,

Yfl wiste where were hys cave,

Yf he kan make me slepe sone,

As did the goddesse, quene Alcyione.

And thus this ylke god Morpheus

May wynne of me moo fees thus

Than ever he wanne : and to Juno,

That ys hys goddesse, I shal soo do,

I trow that she shal holde hir payede.

I hadde unnethe that worde ysayede, 270 Ryght thus as I have tolde hyt yow, That sodeynly, I nyste how, Suche a luste anoon me tooke To slepe, that ryght upon my booke I fil aslepe; and therwith evene Me mette so ynly swete a swevene, So wonderful, that never yitte Y trow no man hadde the wytte To konne wel my sweven rede.

No, not Joseph, withoute drede, 2so

Of Egipte, he that xedde so, The kynges metynge, Pharao, No more than koude the lest of us.

Ne nat skarsly Macrobeus, He that wrote al thavysyon That he mette ofkynge Scipion,

104 THE BOKE OF THE DUCHESSE.

The noble man, the Affrikan,

Suche merveyles fortunede than,

I trowe arede my dremes even.

Loo, thus hyt was ; thys was my sweven. 290

Me thoghte thus, that hyt was May, And in the dawnynge, tJier I laye Me mette thus in my bed al naked, And lokede forth, for I was waked With smale foules, a grete hepe, That had afrayed me out of my slepe, Thorgh noyse and swettenesse of her songe. And as me mette, they sate amonge Upon my chambre roofe wythoute, Upon the tyles overal aboute ; sou

And songe everych in hys wyse The moste solempne servise By noote, that ever man, Y trowe, Had herde. For somme of hem songe lowe. Somme high, and al of oon acorde. To telle shortly att oo word, Was never herde so swete a steven, But hyt hadcfe be a thynge of heven, So mery a soune, so swete entewnes, That, certes, for the toune of Tewnes, ?io

I nolde, but I had herde hem synge, For al my ehambre gan to rynge, Thorgh syngynge of her armonye ; For instrument nor melodye Was no-where herde yet halfe so swete, Nor of acorde ne halfe so mete. For ther was noon of hem that feynede To synge, for eche of hem hym peynede To fynde oute of mery crafty notys;

THE BOKE OF THE DUCHESSE. 165

They ne sparede not her throtys. 320

And, soothe to seyn, my chambre was

Ful wel depeynted, and with glas

Were alle the wyndowes wel yglasyd

Fill clere, and nat an hoole ycrasyd;

That to beholde hyt was grete joye.

For holy al the story of Troye

Was in the glasynge y wrought thus ;

Of Ector, and of kynge Priamus,

Of Achilles, and of kynge Lamedon,

And eke of Medea and of Jason, 334

Of Paris, Eleyne, and of' Lavyne ;

And alle the wallys, with colouris fyne

Were peynted, bothe text and glose,

And al the Romaunce of the Rose.

My windowes were shette echon,

And throgh the glas the sonne shon

Upon my bed with bryghte bemys,

With many glade, gilde stremys ;

And eke the welken was so faire,

Blewe, bryghte, clere was the ayre, 340

And ful atempre, for sothe, hyt was ;

For nother to colde nor hoote yt nas,

Ne in al the walkene was a clowde.

And as I lay thus, wonder lowde Me thoght I herde an hunte blowe, Tassay hys home, and for to knowe Whether hyt were clere, or horse of soune.

And I herde goynge, bothe uppe and doune, Men, hors, houndes, and other thynge, And al/e men speke of huntynge, 350

How they wolde slee the hert with strengtho, And how the hert had upon lengthe

166 THE BOKE OF THE DUCHESSE.

So much embosed, Y not now what.

Anoon ryght whan I herde that, How that they wolde on huntynge goon, I was ryght glad ; and up anoon Tooke / my horsy and forthe I wente Out of my chambre ; I never stente, Til I come to the felde withoute ; Ther overtoke Y a grete route sao

Of huntes and eke of foresterys, And many relay es aiid lymerys ; And hyed hem to the forest faste, And I with hem. So at the laste I axed oon ladde a lymere, ' Say, felowe ! whoo shal hunte here ?' Quod I ; and he answered ageyn, ' Sir, themperour Octovyen,' Quod he, ' and ys here faste by/ ' A goddys halfe, in goode tyme P quod I ; 37Q ' Go we faste P And gan to ryde. Whan we come to the forest syde, Every man didde ryght anoon, As to huntyng fille to doon.

The mayster hunte, anoon, fote hote. With a grete home blewe thre mote, At the uncouplynge of hys houndys. Withynne a while the herte founde ys, I-hallowed, and rechased faste Longe time ; and so at the laste sso

This hart rused, and staale away Fro alle the houndes a prevy way The houndes hadde overshotte hym alle, And were upon a defaulte yfalle. Therwyth the hunte, wonder faste.

THE BOKE OF THE DUCUESSE. 167

Blewe a forleygne at the laste.

I was go walked fro my tree, And as I wente, there came by mee A whelpe, that faunede me as I stoode, That hadde yfolowed, and koude no goode. oo Hyt come and crepte to me as lowe, Ryght as hyt had<:/e me yknowe ; Hylde doun hys hede, and joyned hys erys, And leyde al smoothe doun hys herys. I wolde have kaught hyt ; and anoon Hyt fledde, and was fro me «goon. And I hym folwed, and hyt for the wen to Doun by a flowry grene wente Ful thikke of gras, ful softe and swete, With flourys fele, faire under fete, 400

And litel used, hyt semede thus ; For both Flora, and Zephirus, They two, that make floures growe, Hadde made her dwellynge ther I trowe. For hit was on to beholde, As thogh therthe envye wolde To be gayer than the heven ; To have moo floures swiche seven, As in the walkene sterris be. Hyt hadde fcrgete the povertee no

That wynter, thorgh hys colde monves Hadcfe made hyt suffre; and his sorwes Alle was forgeten, and that was sene ; For al the woode was waxen grene ; Swetnesse of dewe hadde made hyt waxe.

Hyt ys no nede eke for to axe Where ther were many grene greves, Or thikke of trees, so ful of leves ;

168 THE BOKE OF THE DUCHESSE.

And every tree stoode by hymselve

Fro other, wel ten fete other twelve. 120

So grete trees, so huge of strengthe,

Of fourty, fifty fedme lengthe,

Clene, withoute bowgh or stikke,

With croppes brocfe, and eke as thikke,

They were not an ynche asonder,

That hit was shadewe overal under.

And many an herte and many an hynde

Was both before me and behynde.

Of faunes, sowres, bukkes, does,

Was ful the woode, and many roes, 430

And many sqwireles, that sete

Ful high upon the trees and ete,

And in hir maner made festys.

Shortly, hyt was so ful of bestys,

That thogh Argus, the noble counter

Sete to rekene in hys counter,

And rekene with his figuris tenne,

For by tho figures mowe alle kenne,

Yf they be crafty, rekene and noumbre,

And tel of every thinge the noumbre, 4io

Yet shulde he fayle to rekene evene

The wondres me mette in my swevene.

But forthe they romede ryght wonder faste

Doune the woode ; so at the laste

I was war of a man in blak,

That sete, and hadde turned his bak

To an ooke, an huge tree.

' Lorde I' thogh* I, ' who may that be ?

What ayleth hym to sitten here ?'

Anoone ryght tho I wente nere. 450

Than founde I sitte, even upryght,

THE BOKE OF THE DUCHESSE. 169

A wonder welfarynge knyght,

(By the maner me thoghte soo)

Of good mochel, and ryght yonge therto,

Of the age of foure and twenty yere,

Upon hys berde but lytel here,

And he was clothed al in blake.

I stalked even unto hys bake,

And there I stoode as stille as ought.

The soth to saye, he sawe me nought ; 460

For- why he henge hys hede adoun,

And with a dedely sorwful soun,

He made of ryme tenne vers or twelfe,

Of a compleynt ?mto hymselfe,

The moste pitee, the moste rowthe

That ever I herde ; for by my trowthe

Hit was gret wonder that Nature

Myghte suffre any creature

To have suche sorwe, and be not ded.

Ful petuose pale, and nothynge red, 470

He sayed a lay, a maner songe,

Withoute noote, withoute songe ;

And was thys, for ful wel I kan

Reherse hyt ; ryght thus hyt began : —

* I have of sorwe so grete wone, That joye get I never none,

Now that I see my lady bryghte,

Which I have loved with al my myght^, Is fro me dede, and ys agoon. Alias ! Dethe, what ayleth thee, 430

That thou noldest have taken me

Whan that thou toke my lady swete ? That was so faire, so fresh, so fre, So goode, that men may wel se.

.170 THE BOKE OF THE DUCHESSE.

Of al goodenesse sche hadcfe no mete.'

Whan he hadde made thus his compleynt€, His sorwful herte gan faste faynte, And his spiritis wexen dede ; The bloode was fled for pure drede Doun to hys h^rte, to make hym warme, 490 For wel hyt felede the hert had harme ; To wete eke why hyt was adrad By kynde, and for to make hyt glad ; For hit ys membre principal Of the body ; and that made al Hys hewe chaunge, and wexe grene And pale, for ther noo bloode ys sene In no maner Zym of hys.

Anoon therwith, whan I sawgh this, He ferde thus evel there he sete, soo

I went and stoode ryght at his fete, And grette hym ; but he spake noght, But arguede with his oune thoght, And in hys wytte disputed^ faste, Why, and how hys lyfe myghte laste ; Hym thought hys sorwes were so smerte, And lay so colde upon hys herte.

So throgh hys sorwes and hevy thoght, Made hym that he herde me noght, For he hadcfe welnygh loste hys mynde, sio Thogh Pan, that men clepe the god of kynde, Were for hys sorwes never so wrothe. S But at the last, to sa)Tie ryght sothe, / He was war of me, how Y stoode Before hym, and did of myn hoode, And had ygret hym, as I best koude. Debonayrl}*, and nothyng lowde,

THE BOKE OF THE DUC1IESSE. 171

He sayde, ' I prey the be not wrothe,

I herde the not, to seyn the sothe,

Ne I sawgh the not, syr, trewely.' 520

' A goode sir, no fors !' quod Y ;

I 1 am ryght sory, yif I have oughte Distroubled yow out of your thoughte ; Foryive me, yif I have mystake.'

' Yis, thamendys is lyght to make/ Quod he, ' for ther lyeth noon therto ; Ther ys nothynge mis-sayde, nor do/

Loo ! how goodely spake thys knyghte, As hit hadde be another wyghte ; And made hyt nouther towgh ne queynte. sso And I sawe that, and gan me aqueynte With hym, and fonde hym so tretable, Ryght wonder skylful and resonable, As me thoghte, for al hys bale ; Anoon ryght I gan fynde a tale To hym, to loke wher I myght oughte Have more knowynge of hys thoughte.

' Sir quod I, ' this game is doon ; I holde that this hert be goon ; These huntys konne hym no wher see/ 540

' Y do no fors therof,' quod he ; ' My thoughte ys there on never a dele.' ' Be oure lorde I' quod I, ' Y trow yow wcle ; Ryght so me thenketh by youre chere. But, sir, oo thyng wol ye here ? — Me thyuketh in grete sorowe I yow sec ; But certys, sir, yif that yee Wolde ought diseovre me youre woo, I wolde, as wys God helpe me soo ! Amende hyt, yif I kan or may. 560

17'2 THE BOKE OF THE DUCHESSE.

Ye mowe preve hyt be assay ;

For, by my trouthe, to make yow hool

I wol do alle my power hool.

And telleth me of your sorvves smerte,

Paraventure hyt may ese your herte,

That semeth ful seke under your syde.'

With that he loked on me asyde,

As who say th, * Nay, that wol not be.'

' Graunt mercy ! goode frende/ quod he,

( I thanke the, that thow woldest soo ; 560

But hyt may never the rather be doo.

No man ne may my sorwe glade,

That maketh my hewe to fal and fade ;

And hath myn understondynge lorne,

That me ys woo that I was borne.

May noght make my sorwes slyde,

Nought alle the remedyes of Ovyde,

Ne Orpheus, god of melodye ;

Ne Dedalus, with his playes slye ;

Ne hele me may noo phisicien, 570

Noght Ypocras, ne Galyen ;

Me ys woo that I lyve houres twelve.

But whoo so wol assaye hymselve,

Whether his herte kan have pi tee

Of any sorwe, lat him see me.

Y wrechche, that deth hath made al naked

Of al the blysse that ever was maked,

Yworthe, worste of alle wyghtys,

That hate my dayes and my nyghtys;

My lyfe, my lustes, be me loothe 530

For al wel-fare, and I be wroothe.

The pure deth ys so ful my foo,

That I wolde deye, hyt wolde not soo :

THE BOKE OF THE DUCHESSE.

For whan I folwe hyt, hit wol flee ; I wolde have hyra, hyt nyl nat me. This ys my peyne wythoute rede, Alway deyinge, and be not dede. That Thesiphus that lyeth in helle, May not of more sorwe telle. And who so wiste alle, be my trouthe, eoe My sorwe, but he hadcfe rowthe And pitee of my sorwes smerte, That man hath a fendely herte. For whoso seeth me firste on morwe, May seyn he hath mette with sorwe : For Y am sorwe, and sorwe ys Y ; Alias ! and I wol telle thee why ; "Myjoye is tourned to pleynynge, And al my lawghtre to wepynge ; My glade thoghtys to hevynesse, coo-

In travayle ys myn ydelnesse, And eke my reste ; my wele is woo,

My goode ys harme, and evermoo In wrathe ys turned my pleyinge, And my delyte into sorwynge ;

Myn hele ys turned into sekenesse,

In drede ys al my sykernesse ;

To derke ys turned al my lyghte,

My wytte ys foly, my daye ys nyghte.

My love ys hate, my slepe wakynge, r,i»

My merthe and meles ys fastynge ;

My countenaunce ys nycete,

And al abawed, where so I be ;

My pees is pledynge, and in werre.

Alias, how myght I fare werre ?

My boldenesse ys turned to schame,.

174 THE BOKE OF THE DUCHESSE.

For fals Fortune hath pleyde a game

Atte the chesse with me, alias the while!

The trayteresse fals and ful of gyle,

That al behoteth, and nothyng halte, 620

She gothe upryght, and yet she halte,

That baggeth foule, and loketh faire,

.The dispitouse debonaire,

That skorneth many a creature.

An ydole of fals portrayture

Ys she, for she wol soone varien.

She is the mowrcstres hede ywrien,

As fylthe, over ystravved with flourys.

Hir moste worschippe and hir flourys

To lyen, for that ys hyr nature. oso

Withoute feythe, lawe, or mesure,

She ys fals ; and ever lawghynge

With one yghe, and that other wepynge.

That ys broght up, she sette al doun ;

I lykne hyr to the scorpioun,

That ys a fals flatterynge beste ;

For with his hede he maketh feste,

But al amydde hys flaterynge,

With hys tayle hyt wol stynge,

And envenyme, and so wol she. <wo

She ys thenvyouse Charite,

That ys ay fals, and semeth wele

So turneth she hyr false whele

Aboute, for hyt ys nothynge stable,

Now by the fire, now at table.

For many oon hath she thus yblent, !

She is pley of enchauntement,

That semeth oon, and ys not soo. ; ,-.. [J

The false thefe ! what hath she doo;

THE BOKE OF THE DUCHESSE. 175

Trovvest thou ? by oure Lorde, I wol the seye : —

At the chesse with me she gan to pley* ; 651

With hir false draughtes dyvers

She staale on me, and toke my fers ;

And whan I sawgh my fers avvaye,

Alias ! I kouthe no lenger playe ;

But seyde, farewel, swete ! ywys,

And farewel, al that ever ther ys !

Therwith Fortune seyde, l chek here !'

And ' mate' in the myd poynt of the chckkere,

With a poune errante, alias ! 660

Ful craftier to pleye she was

Than Athalus, that made the game

First of the ehesse, so was hys name.

But God wolde I had oones or twyes,

Ykoude, and knowe the jeupardyes,

That kowde the Greke Pythagoras,

I shulde han pleyde the bet at ches,

And kept my fers the bet therby.

And thogh wherto ? for trewely

I holde that wysshe not worthe a stree : 670

Hyt hadde be never the bet for me.

For Fortune kan so many a wyle,

Ther be but fewe kan hir begile,

And eke she ys the lasse to blame.

My selfe, I wolde have do the same,

Before God, had I be as she ;

She oghte the more excused be.

For this I say yet more therto, —

Had I be God, and myghte have do

My wille, whan she my fers kaughte, eso

I wolde have drawe the same draught* :

For, also wys God yive me reste !

176 THE BOKE OF THE DUCHESSE.

I dar wel swere, she tooke the beste.

But throgh that draught I have lorne

My blysse ; alias, that I was borne !

For evermore Y trowe, trewely,

For al my wille, my luste holly

Ys turned ; but yet what to doone ?

Be oure Lorde, hyt ys to deye soone ;

For nothynge I leve hyt noght, coo

But lyve and deye ryght in this thoght.

For there nys planete in firmament,

Ne in ayre ne in erthe noon element,

That they ne yive me a yifte, echoon,

Of wepynge, whanne I am alloon.

For whan that I avise me wel,

And bethenke me everydel,

How that ther lyeth in rekenynge

Inne my sorwe for nothynge ;

And how ther Jevyth noo gladnesse ' 7W»

May glade me of my distresse ;

And how I have loste suffisaunce

And therto I have no plesaunce :

Than may I saye, I have ryght noght.

And whan al this falleth in my thoght.

Alias ! than am I overcome,

For that ys doon is not to come.

I have more sorowe than Tantale/

And whan I herde hym telle thys tale Thus pitously, as I yow telle, 710

Unnethe myght I lenger dwelle : Hyt dyde myn herte so moche woo.

' A, goode sir !' quod I, « say not soo ! Have some pitee on your nature, That formede yow to creature.

THE BOKE OF THE DUCHESSE. 177

Remembretfi yow of Socrates ;

For he ne countede nat thre strees

Of noght that Fortune koude doo.

* No,' quod he, i I kan not soo.'

1 Why so, good syr ? yis parde !' quod Y ; r»

'* Ne seye noght soo ; for trewely,

Thogh ye hadcfe loste the ferses twelve.

And ye for sorwe mordred your selve,

Ye sholde be dampned in this cas,

By as goode ryght as Medea was,

That slogh hir children for Jason ;

And Phillis also for Demophon

Henge hir selfe, so weylawaye !

For he hadcfe broke his terme deye

To come to hir. Another rage 730

~H.a,dde Dydo, the quene eke of Cartage,

That slough hir selfe, for Eneas

Was fals ; which a foole she was !

And Ecquo died, for Narcissus

Nolde nat love hir ; and ryght thus

Hath many another foly doon.

And for Dalida diede Sampson,

That slough hymselfe with a piler.

But ther is no man alyve here

Wolde for o fers make this woo.' 740

' Why so ? quod he ; ' hyt ys not soo ; Thou woste ful lytel what thou menyst, I have loste more than thow wenyst.' Loo ! sir, how may that be ?' quod I. ' Goode sir, telle me al hooly, In what wyse, how, why and wherfore, That ye have thus youre blysse lore ?' ' Blythely !' quod he ; ' come, sytte adown J

VOL. V. N

178 THE BOKE OF THE DUCHESSE.

I telle hyt the up a condicioun,

That thou shalt hooly with al thy wytte 150

Do thyn entente to herkene hitte.'

' Yis, syr' — ' Swere thy trouthe therto —

' Glady — Do thanne holde hereto/

' I shal ryght blythely, so God me save,

Hooly with al the witte I have,

Here yow as wel as I kan.

' A goddys halfe ! quod he, and began : —

' Syr,' quod he, ' sith ferste I kouthe Have any maner wytte fro you the, Or kyndely understondynge, 760

To comprehende in any thynge What love was, in myn oune wytte, Dredeles, I have ever yitte Be tributarye, and yive rente To Love hooly, with goode entente, And throgh plesaunce become his thralle, With goode wille, body, hert, and alle. Al this I putte in his servage, As to my lorde, and did homage ; And ful devoutely I prayed hym tho, 770

He shulde besette myn herte so, That hyt plesaunce to hym were, And worshippe to my lady dere.

' And this was longe, and many a yere (Or that myn herte was set owhere) That I dide thus, and nyste why ; I trowe hit come me kyndely. Peraventur I was therto moste able, As a white walle, or a table ; For hit ys redy to cachche, and take 790

Al that men -mile theryn make.

THE BOKE OF THE DUCHESSE. 179

Whethir so men wilZe portrey or peynte, Be the werkes never so queynte.

' And thilke tyme I ferde ryght so, I was able to have lerned tho, And to have kende as wel, or better Paraunter, other arte or letre ; But for love came firste in my thoght. Therfore I forgate hyt noght. I ches love to my firste erafte, 790

Therfore hit ys with me ?/lafte ; For- why I toke hyt of so yonge age, That malyce hadde my corage Nat that tyme turned to nothynge, Thorgh to mochel knowlachynge. For that tyme Yowthe, my maistresse, Governede me in ydelnesse ; For hyt was in my firste youthe, And thoo ful lytel goode Y couthe, For alle my werkes were flyttynge, eoo

That tyme, and al my thoght varyinge. Al were to me ylyche goode That I knewe thoo, but thus hit stode.

' Hit happede that I came on a day Into a place, ther that I say Trewely the fayrest companye Off ladyes, that evere man with ye Hadc?e sene togedres in oo place. Shal I clepe hyt happe, other grace, That broghte me there ? nay, but Fortune, sio That ys to lyen ful comune ; The false trayteresse pervers ! God wolde I koude clepe hir wers ; For now she worcheth me ful woo,

180 THE BOKE OF THE DUCHESSE*.

And I wol tel/e sone why soo.

• Amonge these ladyes thus echoon, Sothe to seyn, I sawgh oon That was lyke noon of the route ; For I dar swere, withoute doute, That as the somerys sonne bryghte 820

Ys fairer, clerer, and hath more lyghte Than any other planete in hevene, The moone, or the sterres sevene ; For al the worlde, so hadde she Surmountede hem al of beaute, Of maner, and of comelynesse, Of stature, and of so wel sette gladncssc ; Of godelyhede, and so wel beseye ; Shortly what shal.Y seye? By God, and by his halwes twelve, 83a

Hyt was my swete, ryght al hir selve. She hadde so stedfaste countenaunce, So noble porte, and meyntenaunce. And Love, that h&dde wel herd my boone, Had espyed me thus soone, That she ful sone, in my thoght, As helpe me God, so was Y kaught So sodenly, that I ne toke No maner counseyl, but at hir loke, And at myn herte ; for-why hir eyen 840

So gladly, I trow, myn herte seyen, That purely tho myn oune thoght Seyde, hit were beter serve hir for noght, Than with another to be wel. And hyt was sothe, for every del, I wil anoon ryght telle the why. ' I sawgh hir daunce so comelely.

THE BOKE OF THE DUCHESSE. 181

Carole and synge so swetely,

Lawghe, and pleye so womanly,

And loke so debonairly ; 8-50

So goodely speke and so frendly ;

That certes Y trowe that evermore,

Nas seyne so blysful a tresore.

For every heer upon hir hede,

Soth to seyne, hyt was not rede,

Ne nouther yelowe, ne broune hyt nas ;

Me thoghte most lyke gold hyt was.

And which eyen my lady hadde !

Debonaire, goode, glade, and sadde,

Symple, of goode mochel, noght to wyde. SGO

Therto hir looke nas not asyde,

Ne overtwert, but besette so wele,

Hyt drew and tooke up everydele

Alle that on hir ganw beholde.

Hir eyen semed anoon she wolde

Have mercy, (foolys wenden soo)

But hyt was never the rather doo ;

Hyt nas no counterfeted thynge,

Hyt was hir oune pure lokynge,

That the goddesse, dame Nature, 870

Hadde made hem opene by mesure,

And cloos ; for were she never so glad,

Hyr lokynge was not foly sprad,

Ne wildely, thogh that she pleyde ;

But ever, me thoght, hir eyen seyde,

* Be God, my wrathe ys al foryive !'

Therwith hir lyste so wel to lyve,

That dulnesse was of hir adrad.

She nas to sobre, ne to glad ;

In alle thynges more mesure, 880

182 THE BOKE OF THE DUCHESSE.

Hadde never, I trowe, creature.

But many oon with hir loke she herte,

And that sate hyr ful lytel at herte ;

For she knewe nothynge of her thoght.

But whether she knew, or knew it noght,

Algate she ne rought of hem a stree.

To gete hyr love noo nerre was he

That woned at home, than he in Ynde ;

The formest was alway behynde.

But goode folke over al other, 89i

She loved as man may do hys brother ;

Of whiche love she was wounder large,

In skilful placis that bere charge.

But which a visage hadde she thertoo !

Alias ! myn hert ys wonder woo,

That I ne kan discryven hyt.

Me lakketh both Englyssh and wit,

For to undo hyt, at the fulle ;

And eke my spiritis be to dulle,

So grete a thynge for to devyse ; &oo

I have no witte that kan suffise

To comprehende hir beaute ;

But thus moche dar I sayn, that she

Was white, rody, fressh and lyvely hewed,

And every day hir beaute newed,

And negh hir face was alderbest ;

For, certys, Nature hadcfe swich lest,

To make that faire, that trewely she

Was hir chefe patrone of beaute,

And chefe ensample of al hir werke, 910

And mounstre ; for be hyt never so derke,

Me thynkyth I se hir ever moo.

And yet, more over, thogh alfe thoo

THE BOKE OF THE DUCHESSE 183

That ever levede were now alyve, Ne sholde haw founde to diskryve In al hir face a wikked sygne, For hit was sad, symple, and benygne. ' And which a goodely, softe speche, Hadde that swete, my lyves leche ! So frendely, and so wel ygrounded, 920

Up al resoun so wel yfounded, And so tretable to a\le goode, That I dar swere wel by the roode, Of eloquence was never founde So swete a sownynge facounde ; Ne trewer tonged, ne skorned lasse, Ne bet koude hele, that by the masse, I durste swere, thogh the pope hit songe, That ther was never yet throgh hir tonge, Man ne woman gretely harmed ; 930

As for hit was al harme hyd. Ne lasse flaterynge in hir worde, That purely, hir symple recorde, Was founde as trewe as any bonde, Or trouthe of any mannys honde. Ne chyde she koude never a dele, That knoweth al the worlde ful wele. ' But swiche a fairenesse of a nekke Hadcfe that swete, that boon nor brekke Nas ther noon seen that mys-satte ; 040

Hyt waswhite,smothe,streght, and pure flatte. Withouten hole or canel boon ; As be semynge, hadcfe she noon.

' Hyr throte, as I have now memoyre, Semed a rounde toure of yvoyre, Of goode gretenesse, and noght to grcte,

184 THE BOKE OF THE DUCHESSE.

And goode faire White she hete,

That was my lady name ryghte.

She was bothe faire and bryghte,

She ha.dde not hir name wronge. 950

Ryght faire shuldres, and body longe

She had ; and armes every lyth,

Fattyssh, flesshy, nat grete therwith ;

Ryght white handes, and nayles rede,

Rounde brestes ; and of good brede

Hyr hippes were ; a streight flat bakke ;

I knewe on hir noon other lakke,

That al hir lymmes nere pure sywynge,

In as ferre as I hadcfe knowynge.

Therto she koude so wel pleye 960

Whan that hir lyst, that I dar seye,

That she was lyke to torche bryght,

That every man may take of lyght

Ynogh, and hyt hathe never the lesse.

Of maner and of comlynesse,

Ryght so ferde my lady dere.

For every wight of hir manere

Myghte cachche ynogh, yif that he wolde,

Yif he had eyen hir to beholde.

For I dar swere wel, yif that she 9:a

Had amonge ten thousande be,

She wolde have be, at the lest,

A chefe meroure of al the fest,

Thogh they had<& stonde in a rowe,

To mennys eyen, that koude have knowe.

For wher so men h&dde pleyed or wakyd,

Me thoghte the felysshyppe as naked

Withouten hir, that sawgh I oones,

As a corowne withoute stones.

THE BOKE OF THE DUCIIESSE. 185

Trewely she was to myn eye, 930

The soleyne fenix of Arabye ; For ther lyveth nevir but oon, Ne swich as she, ne knowe I noon.

To speke of godenesse, trewely she Had as moche debonairyete, As ever had Hester in the Bible, . And more, yif more were possyble. And sothe to seyn, therwythalle She had a wytte so generalle, So hoole enclyned to alle goode, 9*c

That al hir wytte was set by the rode, Withoute malyce, upon gladnesse. And therto I sawgh never yet a lesse Harmeful than she was in doynge, I sey not that she ne hadde knowynge What harme was, or elles she Hadde koude no good, so thenketh me. And trewely, for to speke of trouthe, But she had hadde, hyt hadde be routhe. Therof she hadde so moche hyr dele, looc

And I dar seyn, and swere hyt wele, That Trouthe hymselfe, over al and alle, Hadcfe chose hys maner principalle In hir, that was his restynge place. Therto she hadde the moste grace, To have stedefaste perseveraunce, And esy attempry governaunce, That ever I knewe, or wyste yittc,. So pure suffraunt was hir wytte. And resoun gladly she understoode, 1010

Hyt folowed wel, she koude goode. She usede gladly to do wel ;

186 THE BOKE OF THE DUCHESSE.

These were hir maneres every del.

' Thenvith she lovede so wel ryght, She wronge do wolde to no wyght ; No wyght myghte doo hir noo shame, She lovede so wel hir oune name.

* Hyr lust to holde no wyght in honde, Ne, be thou siker, she wolde not fonde, To holde no wyght in balaunce, 1021

By halfe word, ne by countenaunce, But yif men wolde upon hir lye. Ne sende men into Walakye, To Pruyse, and to Tartarye, To Alysaundre, ne into Turkye, And byd him faste anoon that he Goo hoodeles into the drye se, And come home by the Carrenare ; And seye ' Sir, be now ryght ware, That I may of yow here seyn, 1030

Worshyppe, or that ye come ageyn.

' She ne usede no suche knakkes smale, But wherfor that Y telle my tale ; —

Ryght on thys same, as I have seyde, Was hooly al iny love i-leyde ; For, certes, she was that swete wife, My suffisaunce, my luste, my lyfe, Myn happe, myn hele, and al my blysse, My worldys welfare, and my goddesse, And I hooly hires, and every del.' 1040

' By oure Lorde !' quod I, ' I trowe you wel ! Hardely, your love was wel besette ; I not how ye myght have doo bette.' ' Bette ? ne no wyght so wele,' quod he. ' Y trowe hyt wel, sir,' quod I, ' parde ! '

THE BOKE OF THE DUCHESSE. 187

* Nay, leve hyt wel :' — ' Sire, so do I;

I leve yow wel, that trewely

Yow thoughts that she was the beste,

And to beholde, the alderfayreste,

Who soo hadde loked hir with your eyen.' 1050

1 With myn ? nay, alle that hir seyen,

Seyde and swore hyt was soo.

And thogh they ne hadde, I wolde thoo

Have loved best my lady free,

Thogh I had hadde al the beaute

That ever had Alciiyades ;

And al the strengthe of Ercules ;

And therto hadde the worthynesse

Of Alysaunder ; and al the rychesse

That ever was in Babyloyne, ioeo

In Cartage, or in Macedoyne,

Or in Rome, or in Nynyve ;

And therto also as hardy be,

As was Ector, so have I joye,

That Achilles slough at Troye ;

(And therfore was he slayn alsoo

In a temple ; for bothe twoo

Were slayne, he and Antylegyus ;

And so seyth Dares Frygius,

For love of Polixena) 1070

Or ben as wise as Mynerva ;

I wolde ever, withoute drede

Have loved hir, for I moste nede.

' Nede ? Nay trewely I gabbe nowe ! Noght nede ; and I wol telle ho we. For of goode wille myn hert hyt wolde, And eke to love hir I was holde, As for the fairest and the beste.

188 THE BOKE OF THE DUCHESSE.

She was as good, so have I reste,

As ever was Penolopee of Grece, ' 10*

Or as the noble wife Lucrece,

That was the best, (he telleth thus

The Romayne Tytus Lyvyus,)

She was as good, and nothynge lyke,

Thogh hir stories be autentyke ;

Algate she was as trewe as she.

1 But wherfore that I telle the, Whan I firste my lady say ? I was ryght yonge, sothe to say, And ful grete nede I hadde to lerne, IOM Whan myn herte wolde yerne. To love hyt was a grete empryse, But as my wytte koude beste suffise, After my yonge childely wytte, Withoute drede, I besette hytte, To love hir in my beste wyse, To do hir worshippe, and the servise That I koude thoo, be my trouthe Withoute feynynge, outher slouthe. For wonder feyne I wolde hir se. 1100

So mochel hyt amended me, That whan I sawgh hir first amorwe, I was warished of al my sorwe Of al day after ; til hyt were eve Me thoghte nothyng myghte me greve, Were my sorwes never so smerte. And yet she sytte so in myn herte, . That, by my trouthe, Y nolde noght For al thys worlde, oute of my thoght Leve my lady; noo, trewely !' 1110

* Now by my trouthe, sir/ quod I,

THE BOKE OF THE DUCHESSE. 181>

* Me thynketh ye have suche a chaunce As shryfte, withoute repentaunce/

' Repentaunce ? nay, fy I' quod he, ' Shulde Y now repente me To love ? nay, certis, than were I wel 1

Wers than was Achetofel, Or Anthenor, so have I joye ! The traytour that betraysede Troye : Or the false Genelloun, 1120-

He that purchased^ the tresoun Of Rowlande, and of Olyvere. Nay, while I am alyve here, I nyl foryete hir never moo.' 1 Now, goode syr/ quod I thoo, ' Ye han wel tolde me here before, Hyt ys no nede to reherse more, How ye sawgh hir firste, and where ; But wolde ye telle me the manere, To hire which was your firste speche, nso-

Therof I wolde yow beseche ; And how she knewe first your thoght, Whether ye loved hir or noght ; And telleth me eke what ye have lore.

I herde yow telle here before. Yee, he seyde, < thow nost what thou menyst,. I have lost more than thou wenyst.' 1 What losse ys that ?' quod I thoo, ' Nyl she not love yow ? ys hy t soo ? Or have ye oght doon amys, IHO

That she hathe lefte yow ? ys hyt this ? For Goddys love, telle me alle.' ' Before God,' quod he, ' and I shalie. I say ryght as I have seyde,

190 THE BOKE OF THE DUCHESSE.

On hir was al my love leyde,

And yet she nyste hyt nat never a del,

Noght longe tyme, leve hyt wel ;

For ryght be siker, I durste noght,

For al this worlde, tel hir my thoght ;

Ne I wolde have wraththed hir trewely. use

For wostow why ? she was lady

Of the body ; she hadde the herte.

And who hath that may not aster te.

' But for to kepe me so fro ydelnesse, Trewely I dide my besynesse To make songes, as I best koude. And ofte tyme I songe hem loude, And made songes, this a grete dele, Althogh I koude not make so wele Songes, ne knowe the arte al, nee

As koude Lamekys sone, Tuballe, •That founde out firste the art of songe. For as hys brothres hammers ronge, Upon hys anvelet, up and downe, Therof he tooke the firste sowne. But Grekes seyn of Pitagoras, That he the firste fynder was Of the arte ; Aurora telleth soo ; But therof no fors of hem twoo. Algatis songes thus I made, ma

Of my felynge, myn herte to glade : And, loo ! thys was alther firste, I not wher hyt were the werste.

' Lorde ! hyt maketh myn herte lyght, Whan I thenke on that swete wyght, That is so semely on to se, And wisshe to God hit myghte so be

THE BOKE OF THE DUGHESSE. 191

That she wolde holde me for hir knyght, My lacty that is so fayre and bryght.

1 Now have I tolde the, sothe to say, nso My firste songe. Upon a day, I bethoghte me what woo And sorwe that I suffrede thoo For hir, and yet she wyst hyt noght, Ne tel hir, durst I nat, my thoght. Alias ! thoght I, Y kan no rede ! And but I telle hir, I am but dede ; And yif I telle hyr, to seye ryght sothe, I am adred she wol be wrothe,

Alias ! what shal I thanne doo? 1190

In this debate I was so woo,

Me thoghte myn herte brast atweyne.

So, at the last, sothe to sayne,

I bethoghte me that Nature,

Ne formede never in creature,

So moche beaute trewely

And bounte, wythoute mercy.

' In hope of that, my tale I tolde,

With sorwe, as that I never sholde,

For nedys ; and mawgree myn hede ±200

I most have tolde hir, or be dede :

I not wel how that I beganne,

Ful evel reherse hyt I kan ;

And eke, as helpe me God withalle.

I trowe hyt was in the dismalle,

That was the woundes of Egipte;

For many a worde I overskipte

In my tale for pure fere,

Lest my wordys mys-sette were*

With sorweful herte, and woundes dede, 1210

192 THE BOKE OF THE DUCHESSE.

Softe, and quaky nge for pure drede And shame, and styntynge in my tale For ferde, and myn hewe al pale, Ful ofte I wexe bothe pale and rede ; Bowynge to hir I heng the hede, I durste nat ones loke hir on, For witte, maner and al was goon. I seyde : ' Mercy,' and no more ; Hyt nas no game, hyt sate me sore.

' So at the laste, sothe to seyne, 1224

Whan that myn herte was come ageyne, To telle shortely al my speche, With hool herb j I gan hir beseche That she wolde be my lady swete ; And swore, an 1 gan hir hertely hete Ever to be ste< Jfast and trewe, And love hir £ Iwey fresshly newe, And never other lady have, And al hir worshippe for to save, As I best koude ; I swore hir this, 1231

For youres is alle that ever ther ys, For evermore, myn herte swete ! And never to false yow, but I mete, I nyl, as wysse God helpe me soo !

' And whan I hadde my tale ydoo, God wote she acountede nat a stree Of al my tale, so thoghte me. To telle shortly ryght as hyt ys Trewely hire answere hyt was this ; I kan not now wel counterfete 12-10

Hyr wordys, but this was the grete Of hir answere ; she sayde, * Nay ! ' Al outerly : alias ! that day,

THE BOKE OF THE DUCHESSE.

193

The sorwe I suffred and the woo,

That trewely Cassandra, that soo

Bewaylede the destrticcioun

Of Troye, and of Ilyoun,

HadJe never swich sorwe as I thoo.

I durste no more say thertoo,

For pure fere, but stale away. 1250

And thus I lyvede ful many a deye,

That trewely I hadde no nede,

Ferther than my beddes hede,

Never a day to seche sorwe ;

I fonde hyt redy every morwe,

For-why I loved hyr in no gere.

' So hit befel another yere, I thoughte ones I wolde fonde, To do hir knowe, and understonde My woo ; and she wele understode, 1260

That I ne wilnede thynge but gode And worshippe, and to kepe hir name, Over alle thynges, and dred hir shame, And was so besy hir to serve, And pitee were I shulde sterve, Syth that I wilnede noon harme, ywys.

* So whan my lady knewe al thys, My lady yaf me, al hooly,

noble yifte of hir mercy, Savynge her worshippe by alle weyes ; 1270 Dredles, I mene noon other weyes. And therwith she yaf me a rynge ; I trowe hyt was the firste thynge. But yif myn herte was iwaxe Gladde, that is no nede to axe. As helpe me God, I was as blyve

VOL. T. o

194 THE BOKE OF THE DUCHESSE.

Reysed, as fro dethe to lyve,

Of 8lle happes the alderbeste,

The gladdest and the moste at reste.

For trewely that swete wyght, 1230

Whan I hadde wrong, and she the ryght,

She wolde alway so goodely

Foryeve me so debonairely,

In al my yowthe, in aUe chaunce,

She tooke me in hir governaunce.

Therwyth she was alway so trewe,

Our joye was ever ylyche newe ;

Our hertys werne so evene a payre,

That never nas that oon contrayre

To that other, for noo woo : 1290

For sothe ylyche they suffrede thoo

00 blisse and eke oo sorwe bothe ; Ylyche they were bothe glade and wrothe, Al was us oon, withoute were.

And thus we lyvede ful many a yere, So wel I kan nat telle how.'

' Sir !' quod I, ' where is she now ?' ' Now ?' quod he, and stynte anoon ; Therewith he waxe as dede as stoon, And seyde, ' Alias, that I was bore ! isoo

That was the losse ! and herebefore

1 tolde thee that I hadde lorne, Bethenke how I seyde here beforne, Thow wost ful lytel what thow menyst, I have lost more than thow wenyst. God wote, alias ! ryght that was she.'

' Alias ! sir, how ? what may that be?'

1 She ys ded :'— ' Nay ?'— ' Yis, be my trouthe ! '

' Is that youre losse ? be God, hyt ys routhe ! '

THE BOKE OF THE DUCHESSE. 195

And with that worde, ryght anoon, mo

They ganne to strake forth ; al was doon, For that tyme, the herte huntynge.

With that me thoghte that this kynge, Gan homewarde for to ryde, Unto a place was ther besyde, Which was from us but a lyte, A longe castel with wallys white, Be seynt Johan, on a ryche hille, As me mette ; but thus hyt fille.

Ryght thus me mette, as I yow telle, 1320 That in the castell ther was a belle, As hyt hadde smyte oures twelve ; Therewyth I awooke my selve, And fonde me lyinge in my bedde ; And the booke that I hadde redde, Of Alcyione and Seys the kynge, And of the goddys of slepynge, I fond hyt in myn honde ful evene. Thoght I, thys ys so queynt a swevene, That I wol, be processe of tyme, 1330

Founde to put this swevene in ryme, As I kan best, and that anoon ; This was my swevene ; now hit ys doon !

EXPLICIT THE BOZE OF THE DUCHESSE.

OF QUENE ANELYDA AND FALSE ARCYTE.

HOU ferse God of armes, Mars the rede, That in thy frosty centre called Trace, Within thy grisly temples ful of dreder Honoured art as patroun of that place I

With thee, Bellona, Pallas, ful of grace !

Be presente, and my songe contynew and guye ;

At my begynnyng thus I to the crye.

' For hit ful depe is sonken in my mynde,

With pitous hert, in Englyssh to endyte

This olde storie, in Latyn which I fynde, 30

Of quene Analida and fals Arcite,

That elde, which al can frete and bite,

(As hit hath freten mony a noble storie)

Hath nygh devoured out of cure memorie.

' Be favorable eke thou Polymnya On Parnaso that hathe thy sustres glade, By Elycon, not fer from Cirrea, Syngest with vois memorial in the shade, Under the laurer, which that may not fade.

OF QUENE ANELYDA AND ARCYTE. 197

And do that I my shippe to haven wynne, 20

First folow I Stace, and after him Corynne.

Jamque domos patrias Cithiee post aspera gentis, Prelia laurigero subeuntem Thesea curru, I,etifid plausus missusque ad sidera vulgi, &c.

When Theseus, with werres longe and grete,

The aspre folke of Cithe had overcome.

Tho, laurer crouned, in his chare, gold bete,

Home to his contre houses is he come ;

For whiche the peple blisful al and somme,

So criden, that to the sterres hit wente, 30

And him to honouren dide al her entente.

Beforne this duke, in signe of victorie, The trompes come, and in his baner large, The ymage of Mars ; and in token of glorie, Men myghte sene of tresoure mony a charge, Mony a bright helme, and mony a spere and targe, Mony a fresh knyght, and mony a blysful route, On hors, on fote, in al the felde aboute.

(pnlita his wife, the hardy quene

Of Cithea, that he conquered hadcfe, 40

With Emelye her yonge suster shene;

Faire in a chare of golde he with hym ladJe,

That al the grounde about her char she spradcfe

With brightnesse of beaute in her face,

Fulfilled of largesse and of al/e grace.

With his tryumphe, and laurer crouned thus, In al the floure of fortunes yevyng,

198 OF QUENE ANELYDA

Let I this noble prince, this Theseus,

Towarde Athenes in his wey ryding,

And founde I wol iune shortly to bringe, no

The sleye wey of that I gan to write,

Of quene Anelida and fals Arcite.

Mars, whiche that thro his furiouse course of ire,

The olde wrethe of Juno to fulfille,

Hath set the peples hertis bothe on fire

Of Thebes and Grece, and everiche other to kille

With blody speres, rested^ never stille,

But throng now her, now ther, amonge hem bothe,

That everyche other slough, so were they wrothe.

For when Amphiorax and Tydeus, ec

Ipomedon and Prothonolope also

Wer ded, and slayn proude Campaneus,

And when the wrecches Thebans bretheren two

Were slayn, and kyng Adrastus home ago,

So desolat stode Thebes and so bare,

That no wight coude remedie of his care.

And when the olde Creon gan espye,

How that the blood roial was broght adoun,

He helde the cite by his tyrarfnye,

And dyde the gentils of that regioun T>

To ben his frendes, and duellen in the toune.

So what for love of him, and what for awe,

The noble folke wer to the toune idrawe.

Among alle these, Anelida the quene Of Ermony was in that toune duellyng, That fairer was then is the sunne shene,

AND FALSE ARCYTE. 199

Thoroghout the worlde so gan her name springe, That her to seen had every wyght likynge ; For, as of trouthe, is ther noon her ilyche, Of al the wymen in this worlde riche. so

Yonge was this quene, of twenty yer of elde, Of mydil stature, and of suche fairenesse, That Nature had a joy hir to behelde, And for to speken of her stidfastnesse, •She passed^ bothe Penelope and Lucresse, And shortly, yf she shal be comprehended, [n her myghte nothing been amended.

This Theban knyght eke, for so the to seyne, Was yonge, therto withal a lusty knyght, But he was double in love, and nothing pleyne, 90 .\nd subtil in that crafte, overe eny wyght, &nd with his kunnyng whan this lady bryght : For so ferforthe he can her trouthe assure, That she him trusted over eny creature.

What shuld I seyn ? she loveth Arcite so

That when that he was absent eny throw,

Anoon her thoght her herte brast atwo ?

For in her sight to her be bare hym low,

So that she wende have al his hert yknowe ;

But he was fals, hit nas but feyned chere, 100

As nedeth not to men suche craft to lere.

But nevertheles ful mykel besynesse Had he, er that he myght his lady wynne. And swor he wolde dyen for distresse.

200 OF QUENE ANELYDA

Or from his wit he seyde he wolde twynne. Alas the while ! for hit was routhe and synne, That she upon his sorowes wolde rewe, But nothing thinketh the fals as doth the trewe.

Her fredom fonde Arcite in suche maner,

That al was his that she hath, both moche and lyte ;

Ne to no creatur ne made she chere, 111

Ferther then it lykede to Arcite ;

Ther was no lak with wAiche he myght hir wite,

She was so ferforth yevin hym to plese,

That al that lyked him hit dyd her herte ese.

Ther nas to her no maner lettre isente That touched love, from eny maner wyght, That she ne shewed hit him er hit was brent ; So pleyn she was, and did her ful/e myght, That she nyl hiden nothing from her knyght, 120 Lest he of eny untrouthe her upbreyde ; Withoute bode his herte she obeyde.

And eke he made him jelouse over her,

That what that eny man hadde to her seyde,

Anoon he wolde prey en her to swere

What was that worde, or make hym evel apaide ;

Then wende she out of her wyt have breyd,

But alle was but sleght and flaterie ;

Without^ love he feynede jelousye.

And aMe this toke she so debonerly, iso

That al his wil, her thoght hit skilful thing ; And ever the lenger she loved him tendirly, And did him honour as he wer a kyng.

AND FALSE ARCYTE. 201

Her hert was wedded to him with a ringe ; For so ferforth upon trouthe is her entent, That wher he gooth, her herte with him wente.

When she shal ete, on him is so her thoght,

That wel unnethe of mete toke she kepe ;

And whenne she was to her reste broght,

On him she thoght ay til that she slepe ; uo

When he was absent, prevely she wepe.

Thus lyveth feire Anelida the quene,

For fals Arcite, that did her al this tene.

This fals Arcite, of his newfanglerasse,

For she to hym so louly was and trewe,

Toke lesse deynte for her stidfastnesse,

And saw another lady, proude and newe,

And ryght anon he clad him in her hewe, —

Wot I not whethir in white, rede, or grene, —

And falsede fair Anelida the quene. 150

But neverthelesse, grete wonder was hit noon

Thogh he were fals, for hit is the kynde of man,

Sith Lamek was, that is so longe agoon,

To ben in love as fals as evere he can ;

He was the firste fader that began

To loven two, and was in bigamye.

And he fonde tentes first, but-yf men lye.

This fals Arcite sumwhat most he feyne, When he wex fals, to coveren his traitorie, Ryght as an hors, that can both bite and pleyn ; For he bar her on honde of trecherie, ,i&i

And swore he coude her doublenesse espie,

202 OF QUENE ANELYDA

And al was falsnes that she to him mente ;

Thus swore this thefe, and forthe his way he wente.

Alas ! what herte myght endure hit,

For routhe or wo, her sorow for to telle ?

Or what man hath the cunnyng or the wit ?

Or what man mighte within the chambre duelle,

Yf I to him rehersen shal the helle

That suffreth feyr Anelida the quene, 170

For fals Arcite, that did her al this tene ?

She wepith, waileth, and swowneth pitously,

To grounde dede she falleth as a stoon ;

Craumpysshe^ her lymes crokedly ;

She speketh as her wit wer al agoon ;

Other colour then asshen hath she noon,

Ne non other worde speketh she moche or lyte,

But ' Mercie ! cruel herte myn, Arcite !'

And thus endureth, til that she was so mate That she ne hath foot, on which she may sustene, But for languisshing evere in this estate, isi

Of which Arcite hath nother routhe ne tene; His herte was elleswher newe and grene ; That on her wo. ne deyneth him not to thinke ; Him rekketh never wher she flete or synke.

His newe lady holdeth him so narowe Up by the brydil, at the staves ende, That every worde he dred hit as an arwe ; Her daunger made him bothe bowe and bende, And as her luste, made him turne or wende ; ioc For she ne graunted him in her lyvynge, No grace, whi that he hath lust to singe :

AND FALSE ARCYTE. 203

But drof hym forthe, unnethe list her knowe

That he was servaunt unto her ladishippe ;

But lest that he wer proude, she helde him lowe.

Thus serveth he, withoute mete or sippe,

She sent him now to londe, and now to shippe,

And for she yafe him daunger al his fille,

Therfor she had him at her oune wille.

Ensample of this, ye thriftie wymmen alle, 200

Take here Anelida and fals Arcite,

That for her list hym her dere herte calle,

And was so meke, therfor he loved her lyte ;

The kynde of mannes hert is to delyte

In thing that straunge is, also God me save !

For what he may not gete, that wolde they have.

Now turne we to Anelida ageyn,

That pyneth day be day in langwisshinge ;

But when she sawe that her ne gat no geyn,

Upon a day, ful sorowfully wepinge, 210

She cast her for to make a compleynyng ;

And with her oune honde she gan hit write,

And sent it to her Theban knyght Arcite.

THE COMPLEYNT OF FAIRE ANELYDA UPON FALS AUCYTE.

' So thirled with the poynt of remembraunce, The suerde of sorowe, ywhet with fals plesaunce, My herte bare of blis, and blake of hewe. That turned is to quakyng al my daunce.

204 OF QUENE ANELYDA

My suerte into a wAaped countenaunce,

Sith hit availeth not for to ben trewe :

For who-so truest is, hit shal hir rewe, 220

That serveth love, and dothe her observaunce

Alwey to oon, and chaun^eth for no newe.

' I wot my self as wel as eny wight,

For I loved oon, with al my hert and myght

More then my self an hundred thousand sithe,

And cleped him my hertis life, my knyght,

And was al his, as fer as hit was ryght,

And when that he was glad, then was I blithe.

And his disese was my deth as swithe,

And he ayein, his trouthe me had iplyght, 230

For everemore hys lady me to kythe.

* Alas ! now hath he left me causeles,

And of my wo he is so routheles,

That with a worde him list not ones deyne,

To bring ayen my sorowful hert in pes,

For he is caght up in another les;

Ryght as him list, he laugheth at my peyne,

And I ne can myn herte not restreyne

That I ne love him alwey neveretheles,

And of al this I not to whom me pleyne. 240

'And shale I pleyn, (alas ! the harde stounde !) Unto my fo, that yafe my hert a wounde, And yet desireth that myn harme be more ? Nay, certis ! ferther wol I never founde Non other helpe my sores for to sounde ; My destany hath shapen hit so yore, I wil non other medecyne ne lore.

AND FALSE ARCYTE. 205

I wil ben ay ther I was ones bound e, That I have seide, be seide for evermore.

' Alas ! wher is become your gentilesse ? 250

Youre wordes ful of plesaunce and humblesse ? Your observaunces in soo low manere ? And your awayting, and your besynesse, Upon me that ye calden your maistresse, Your sovereigne lady in this worlde here ? Alas ! is ther nother worde ne cherp, Ye vouchesafe upon myn hevynesse ? Alas ! youre love, I bye hit al to dere.

' Now certis, suete, thogh that ye

Thus causeles the causer be, 260

Of my dedely adversyte,

Your manly resoun oght it to respite,

To slene your frende, and namely me,

That never yet in no degre

Offended yow, as wisly he

That al wote of wo my soule quyte.

* But for I shewed yow, Arcite,

Al that men wolde to me write,

And was so besy yow to delyte,

My honor safe meke, kynde, and fre, 270

Therfor ye put on me this wite :

And of me rekfo not a myte,

Thogh the suerde of sorow byte

My woful herte, thro your cruelte.

' My swete foo, why do ye so for shame ? And thenke ye that furthered be your name.

206 OF QUENE ANELTDA

To love a newe, and ben untrewe ? Nay !

And put yow in sclaunder now and blame,

And do to me adversite and grame,

That love yow most, God wel thou wost ! alway?

And come ayein, and be al pleyn somme day, 281

And turne al this, that hath be mys, to game ;

And ' al foryeve/ while that I lyve may.

* Lo, herte myn, al this is for to seyn,

As wheder shal I prey or elles pleyn ?

Whiche is the wey to doon yow to be trewe ?

For either mot I have yow in my cheyn,

Or with the do die ye mot departe us tweyn ;

Ther ben non other mene weyes newe,

For God so wisly upon my soule rewe, 290

As verrely ye sleen me with the peyn ;

That may ye se unfeyned of myn hewe.

' For thus ferforthe have I my dethe soght,

My self I mourdre with my prevy thoght ;

For sorowe and routhe of your unkyndnesse,

I wepe, I wake, I fast, al helpeth noght ;

I weyve joy that is to speke of oght,

I voyde companye, I fle gladnesse ;

Who may avaunt hir beter of hevynesse,

Then I ? and to this plyte have ye me broght, 300

Withoute gilt, me nedith no witnesse.

' And shal I prey, and weyve womanhede ? Nay ! rather dethe, then do so foule a dede, And axe mercie, an giltles what nede ? And yf I pleyn what lyfe I lede, Yow rekketh not ; that know I out of drede,

AND FALSE ARCYTE. 207

And if I to yow myn othes bede,

For myn excuse, a skorne shal be my mede,

Your chere floureth, but wol not sede,

Ful longe agoon I oght have taken hede ; 310

' For thogh I hadcfc yow to morowe ageyii,

I myght as wel holde Apprile fro reyn,

As holde yow to make yow be stedfasi.

Almyghty God, of trouthe the sovereign !

Wher is the trouthe of man ? who hath hit slayn ?

Who that hem loveth, she shal hem fynde as faste,

As in a tempest is a roten maste.

Is that a tame best, that is ay feyn

To renne away, when he is lest agaste ?

* Now mercie, swete, yf I myssey ! 320 Have I seyde oght amys, I prey ?

I not, my wit is al awey.

I fare as dothe the songe of chanteplure ;

For now I pleyn, and now I pley,

I am so mased that I dey,

Arcite hath borne awey the key

Of al my worlde, and my good aventure,

* For in this worlde ther is no creature, Wa/kynge in more discomfiture,

Then I, ne more sorowe endure, 330

And yf I slepe a furlonge wey or tweye,

Then thenketh me that your figure

Before me stont clad in asure,

Efte to suere yet a newe assure,

For to be tnew, and mercie me to preye.

208 OF QUEENE A^ELYDA AND ARCYTE.

* The longe nyght, this wonder sight I drye,

And on the day for this afray I dye,

And of al this ryght noght, ywis, ye reche,

Ne neveremo myn yen two be drie,

And to your routhe, and to your trouthe I crie ;

"Rut, welawey ! to fer be they to feche, 341

Thus holdeth me my destany a wreche,

But me to rede out of this drede or guye,

Ne may my wit, so weyke is hit, not streche.

' Then ende I thus, sith I may do no more,

I yif hit up for now and evermore ;

For I shal never efte put in balaunce

My seknernes, ne lerne of love the lore ;

But as the swan, I have herd seyd ful yore,

Ayeins his dethe shal singen his penaunce, sso

So singe I here the destany or chaunce,

How that Arcite, Analida so sore

Hath thirled with the poynt of remembraunce/

[Whan that Annelyda, this woful quene, Hath of her hande written in this wyse, • With face deed, betwyxe pale and grene, She fel a-swoune ; and sythe she gan to ryse, And unto Mars avoweth sacrifyse Within the temple, with a sorouful chere, That shapen was, as ye may plainly here.]

EXPLICIT,

THE HOUSE OF FAME.

D turne us every dreme, to goode ! For hyt is wonder, be /the roode, To my wytte, what causeth swevenes Eyther on morwes, or on evenes ; And why theffecte folweth of somme, And of somme hit shal never come ; Why that is an avisioun, And why this is a revelacioun ; Why this a dreme, why that a swevene, And noght to every man i-lyche evene ; 10 Why this a fawtome, why these oracles, I not : but who-so of these meracles The causes knoweth bet then I, Devyne he ; for I certemly Ne kan hem noght, ne never thinke To besely my wytte to swinke, To knowe of hir significaunce The gendres, neyther the distaunce Of tymes of hem, ne the causis, For-why this is more then that cause is ; 20 As yf folkys complexiouns, Make hem dreme of reflexiouns ; Or ellis thus, as other sayne, For to grete feblenesse of her brayne, VOL. v. p

210 THE HOUSE OF FAME.

By abstinence, or by sekenesse,

Prisoun, stewe or grete distresse ;

Or ellis by disordynaunce,

Or naturell acustumaunce,

That somme man is to curiouse

In studye, or melancolyouse ;

Or thus, so inly ful of drede,

That no man may hym bote bede ;

Or ellis that devocioun

Of somme, and contemplacioun,

Causeth suche dremes ofte ;

Or that the cruelle lyfe unsofte

Whiche these ilke lovers leden,

Oft hopen over moche or dreden,

That purely here impressions

Causeth hem avisions ;

Or yf that spiritis have the myght

To make folke to dreme anyght ;

Or yf the soule, of propre kynde,

Be so parfit as men fynde,

That yt forwote that ys to come,

And that hyt worneth al and some

Of everyche of her aventures,

Be avisions, or be figures,

But that oure flessh ne hath no myght

To understonde hyt aryght,

For hyt is warned to derkly ;

But why the cause is, noght wote 1,

Wei worth of this thynge grete clerkys.

That trete of this, and other werkes ;

For I of noon opinioun

Nyl as now make mensyoun ;

But oonly that the holy roode

THE HOUSE OF FAME. 211

Turne us every dreme to goode ;

For never sith that I was borne,

Ne no man elles me beforne, 60

Mette, I trowe stedfastly,

So wonderful a dreme as I,

The tenthe day now of Decembre ;

The which, as I kan yow remembre,

I wol yow telle every dele.

But at my begynnynge, trusteth wele, I wol make invocacioun, With special devocioun Unto the god of slepe anoon, That dwelleth in a cave of stoon, 70

Upon a streme that cometh fro Lete, That is a floode of helle unswete, Besyde a folke men clepeth Cymerie ; There slepeth ay this god unmerie, With his slepy thousande sones, That alwey for to slepe hir wone is ; That to this god that I of rede, Prey I, that he wolde me spede, My swevene for to telle aryght, Yf every dreme stonde in his myght so

And he that mover ys of alle That is and* was, and ever shalle, So yive hem joye that hyt here, Of alle that they dreme to-yere ; And for to stonderaalin grace Of her loves, or in what place That hem were levest for to stonde, And shelde hem fro poverte and shonde. And fro unhappe and eche disese, And send hem alle that may hem plese, w

212 THE HOUSE OF FAME.

That take hit wele and skorne hit noghte

Ne hyt mysdeme in her thoght,

Thorgh maliciouse entencioun.

And who-so, thorgh presumpcioun,

Or hate, or skorne, or thorgh envye,

Dispite, or jape, or vilanye,

Mysdeme hyt, pray I Jhesus God,

That dreme he barefote, dreme he shod,

That every harme, that any man

Hath had sythen the worlde began, loc

Befalle him thereof, or he sterve,

And graunt he mote hit ful deserve,

Loo, with suche a conclusioun,

As had of his avisioun

Cresus, that was kynge of Lyde,

That high upon a gebet dide.

This prayer shal he have of me ;

I am no bet in charitye.

Now herkeneth, as I have yow seyde, What that I met or I abreyde. no

Of Decembre the tenthe day, Whan hit was nyght, to slepe I lay, Ryght ther as I was wonte to done, And fille on slepe wonder sone, As he that wery was for-goo On pilgrymage myles two To the corseynt Leonardo, To make lythe of that was harde.

But as I slepte,memette I was Withyn a temple ymade of glas ; 120

In whiche ther were moo ymages Of golde, stondynge in sondry stages, And moo ryche tabernacles,

THE HOUSE OF FAME. 213

And with perre moo pynacles,

And moo curiouse portreytures,

And queynt maner of figures

Of golde werke, then I sawgh ever.

But certeynly I nyste never

Wher that I was, but wel wyste I,

Hyt was of Venus redely, 130

This temple ; for in portreyture,

I sawgh anoon ryght hir figure

Naked fletynge in a see.

And also on hir hede, parde,

Hir rose garlonde white and rede,

And hir combe to kembe hyr hede,

Hir dowves, and daun Cupido,

Hir blynde sone, and Vulcano,

That in his face was ful broune.

But as I romed up and doune, iw

I fonde that on a walle ther was

Thus writen on a table of bras ; —

* I wol now say yif I kan,

The armes, and also the man,

That first came, thorgh his destanee,

Fugityfe of Troy countree,

In Itayle, with ful moche pyne,

Unto the strondes of Lavyne.'

And tho began the story anoon,

As I shal telle yow echoon. iso

First sawgh I the destruccioun Of Troy, thorgh the Greke Synoun, With his false forswerynge, And his chere and his lesynge Made the hors broght into Troye, Thorgh which Troyens lost al her joye

214 THE HOUSE OF FAME.

And aftir this was grave, alias, How Ilyoun assayled was And wonne, and kynge Priam yslayne, And Polite his sone, certayne, 160

Dispitously of daun Pirrus.

And next that sawgh I how Venus Whan that she sawgh the castel brende, Doune fro the hevene gan descende, And bad hir soYif* Eneas flee ; And how he fled, and how that he Escaped was from al the pres, And tooke his fader, Anchises, And bare hym on hys bakke away. Cryinge ' Alias and welaway !' 170

The whiche Anchises in hys honde Bare the goddesse of the londe, Thilke that unbrende were.

And I saugh next in al hys fere, How Creusa, daun Eneas wife, Which that he lovede as hys lyfe, And hir yonge sone lulo, And eke Askanius also, ;, Fledden eke with drery chere, That hyt was pitee for to here ; iso

And in a forest as they wente, At a turnynge of a wente, How Creusa was yloste, alias ! That dede, not I how she was ; How he hir soughte, and how hir goste Bad hym to flee the Grekes oste, And seyde he most unto Itayle, As was hys destanye, sauns faille, That hyt was pitee for to here,

THE HOUSE OF FAME. 215

When hir spirite gan appere 190

The wordes that she to hym seyde, And for to kepe hir sone hym preyde.

Ther sawgh I grave eke how he, Hys fader eke, and his meynee, With hys shippes gan to sayle Towardes the contree of Itaylle, And streight as that they myghte goo.

Ther saugh I the, crewel Juno, That art daun Jupiteres wife, That hast yhated, al thy lyfe, 200

Alle the Troyanysshe bloode, Renne and crye, as thou were woode, On Eolus, the god of wyndes, To blowe oute of alle kyndes So lowde, that he shulde drenche Lorde, lady, grome, and wenche Of al the Troyan nacioun, Withoute any savacioun.

Ther saugh I suche tempeste aryse, That every herte myght agryse, 210

To see hyt peynted on the walle.

Ther saugh I graven eke withalle, Venus, how ye, my lady dere, Wepynge with ful woful chere, Prayen Jupiter an hye To save and kepe that navye Of the Trojan Eneas, Sythe that he hir sone was

Ther saugh I Joves Venus kysse, And graunted of the tempest lysse. 22C

Ther saugh I how the tempest stente, And how with alle pyne he wente,

216 THE HOUSE OF FAME.

And prevely toke arryvage In the contree of Cartage ; And on the morwe how that he, And a knyghte highte Achate, Mette with Venus that day, Goynge in a queynt array, As she hadde ben an hunteresse, With wynde blowynge upon hir tresse ; 230 How Eneas gan hym to pleyne, Whan that he knewe hir, of his peyne ; And how ^-dreynte his shippes were, Or elles lost, he nyste where ; How she gan hym comfort thoo, And bad hym to Cartage goo, And ther he shulde his folke fynde, That in the see were lefte behynde. And, shortly of thi^ thyng to pace, She made Eneas so in grace 240

Of Dido, quene of that contree, That, shortly for to telle, she Became hys love, and lete hym doo That that weddynge longeth too. What shulde I speke it more queynte, Or peyne me my wordes peynte, To speke of love ? hyt wol not be ; I kannot of that faculte. And eke to telle the manere How they aqueynteden in fere, 230

Hyt were ft longe processe to telle, And over longe for yow to dwelle. Ther sawgh I grave, how Eneaa Tolde Dido every caas, ,

That hym was tyd upon the see.

THE HOUSE OF FAME. 217

And aftir grave was how shee Made of hym, shortly at oo worcle, Hyr lyfe, hir love, hir luste, hir lorde ; And did hym al the reverence, And leyde on hym alle dispence, 260

That any woman myghte do, Wenynge hyt had al be so, As he hir swore ; and herby demede That he was good, for he suche semede.

Alias, what harme doth apparence, Whan hit is fals in existence ! For he to hir a traytour was ; Wherfore she slowe hir selfe, alias !

Loo, how a woman dothe amys, To love hym that unknowe ys ! 270

For, be Cryste, lo thus yt fareth ; Hyt is not al golde that glareth. For, al-so browke I wel myn hede, Ther may be under godelyhede Revered many a shrewde vice ; Therfore be no wyght so nyce, To take a love oonly for chere, Or for speche, or for frendly man ere ; For this shal every woman fynde, That some man, of his pure kynde 280

Wol shewen outward the fairest, Til he have caught that what him lest ; And than wol lie causes fynde f And sweren how that she ys unkynde, Or fals, or prevy double was. Alle this sey I be Eneas And Dido, and her nyce lest, That loved al to sone a gest ;

218 THE HOUSE OF FAME.

Therfore I wol seye a proverbe,

That he that fully knoweth therbe, 290

May savely ley hyt to his ye ;

Withoute drede, this ys no lye.

But let us speke of Eneas, How he betrayed hir, alias ! And lefte hir ful unkyndely.

So whan she saw al utterly, That he wolde hir of trouthe fayle. And wende fro hir to Itayle, She gan to wringe hir hondes two. ' Alias !' quod she, ' what me ys wo ! soo

Alias ! is every man thus trewe, That every yere wolde have a newe, Yf hit so longe tyme dure ? Or elles three, peraventure ? As thus : — of oon he wolde have fame In magnyfying of hys name ; .Another for frendshippe, seyth he ; And yett ther shal the thridde be, That shal be take for delyte, Loo, or for synguler profite.' 310

In suche wordes gan to pleyne Dydo of hir grete peyne, As me mette redely ; None other auttour alegge I. ' Alias ! ' quod she, ' my swete herte, Have pitee on my sorwes smerte, And slee me not ! goo noght awey ! ' 0 woful Dido, weleaway ! ' Quod she to hir selfe thoo. ' 0 Eneas ! what wol ye doo ? S20

0, that your love, ne your bonde,

THE HOUSE OF FAME. 219

That ye ban sworne with your ryght honde,

Ne my crewel deth,' quod she,

* May holde yow stille here with me !

0, haveth of my deth pitee !

Ywys my dere herte, ye

Knowen ful wel that never yit,

As fer-forth as ever I hadcfe wytte,

Agylte yowe in thoght ne dede.

0, have ye men suche godelyhede sso

In speche, and never a dele of trouthe ?

Alias, that ever hadJe routhe

Any woman on any man !

Now see'I wel, and telle kan,

We wrechched wymmen konne noon arte ;

For certeyne, for the more parte,

Thus we be served everychone.

How sore that ye men konne grone,

Anoon as we have yow receyved,

Certdnly we ben deceived ; 340

For, though your love laste a sesoun,

Wayte upon the conclusyoun,

And eke how that ye determynen,

And for the more part diffynen.

0, weleawey that I was borne !

For thorgh yow is my name lorne,

And al youre actes red and songe

Over al thys londe, on every tonge.

0 wikke Fame ! for ther nys

Nothinge so swifte, lo, as she is. 350

0, sothe ys, every thynge ys wyste,

Though hit be kevered with the mysto.

Eke, though I myghte dure ever,

That I have do rekever I never,

220 THE HOUSE OF FAME.

That I ne shal be seyde, alias,

Y- shamed be thourgh Eneas,

And that I shal thus juged be : —

Loo, ryght as she hath done, now she

Wol doo eftesones hardely.

Thus seyth the peple prevely." seo

But that is do, nis not to done ;

For al hir compleynt ne al hir moone,

Certeynly avayleth hir not a stre.

And when she wiste sothely he Was forthe unto his shippes agoon, She into hir chambre wente anoon, And called on hir suster Anne, And gan her to compleyne thanne ; And seyde, that she cause was, That she first loved kym, alas, 370

And thus counseylled hir thertoo. But what ! when this was seyde and doo, She rofe hir selfe to the herte, And dyede thorgh the wounde smerte. But al the maner how she dyede, And al the wordes that she seyde, Who-so to knowe hit hath purpos, 'Rede Virgile in Eneydos, Or the epistile of Ovyde, What that she wrote or that she dyde ; sso And nor hyt were to longe tendyte, Be God, I wolde hyt here write.

But, weleaway ! the harme, the routhe, That hath betyd for suche untrouthe, As men may ofte in bokes rede, And al day se hyt yet in dede, That for to thynke hyt a tene is.

THE HOUSE OF FAME. 221

Loo Demophon, duke of Athenys, How he forswore hym ful falsly, And trayied Phillis wikkidly, 390

That kynges doghtre was of Trace, And falsly gan hys terme pace ; And when she wiste that he was fals, She honge hir selfe ryght be the hals, For he had doo hir suche untrouthe ; Loo ! was not this a woo and routhe ?

Eke lo how fals and reccheles Was to Breseyda Achilles, And Paris to Enone,

And Jason to Isiphile, 400

And eft Jason to Medea, Ercules to Dyanira; For he left her for Yole, That made hym cache his dethe, parde.

How fals eke was he, Theseus ; That, as the story telleth us, How he betrayed Adrian e ; The devel be hys soules bane ! For had he lawghed, had he loured, He moste have be devoured, 410

Yf Adriane ne had ybe. And, for she had of hym pite, She made hym fro the dethe escape, And he made hir a ful fals jape ; For aftir this, withyn a while, He lefte hir slepynge in an ile, Deserte allone, ryght in the se, And stale away, and lete hir be ; And tooke hir suster Phedra thoo With him, and gan to shippe goo. 42C

222 THE HOUSE OF FAME.

And yet he had yswore to hire, On alle that ever he myghte swere, That so she saved hym hys lyfe, He wolde have take hir to hys wife, For she desirede nothing ellis, In certeyne, as the booke tellis,

But to excusen Eneas Fullyche of al his trespas, The booke seyth Mercure sauns fayle, Bade hym goo into Itayle, 430

And leve Auffrikes regioun, And Dido and hir faire toun. Thoo sawgh I grave how that to Itayle Daun Eneas is goo for to assayle ; And how the tempest al began, And how he lost hys sterisman, Which that the stere, or he toke kepe, Smote overe borde, loo, as he slepe.

And also sawgh I how Sybile And Eneas, beside an yle, 440

To helle wente, for to see His fader Anchyses the free. How he ther fonde Palinurus, And Dido, and eke Deiphebus, And every torment eke in helle Sawgh he, which is longe to telle. Which who-so willeth for knowe, He most rede many a rowe On Virgile or in Claudian, Or Daunte, that hit telle kan. 450

Tho sawgh I grave al the aryvayle That Eneas had in Itayle ; And with kynge Latyne kvs tretee,

THE HOUSE OF FAME 223

And alle the batayles that hee

Was at hymselfe, and eke hys knyghtis,

Or he had al ywonne hys ryghtis ;

And how he Turnus reft his lyfe,

And wanne Lavim'a to his wife ;

And alle the mervelouse signals

Of the goddys celestials ; 460

How mawgree Juno, Eneas

For al hir sleight and hir compas,

Acheved alle his aventure ;

For Jupiter tooke of hym cure,

At the prayer of Venus,

The whiche I prey alwey save us,

And us ay of oure sorwes lyghte.

When I hadde scene al this syghte In this noble temple thus, ' A lorde !' thought I, ' that madest us, 470 Yet sawgh I never suche noblesse Of ymages, ne suche richesse, As I saugh grave in this chirche ; But not wote I whoo did hem wirche, Ne where I am, ne what contree. But now wol I goo oute and see, Ryght at the wiket, yf Y kan See ought where stiryng any man, That may me telle where I am.'

When I oute at the dores came, 430

I faste aboute me behelde, Then sawgh I but a large feldc, As fer as that I myghte see, Withouten toune, or house, or tree, Or bussh, or gras, or eryd londe ; For al the felde nas but s<wle,

224 THE HOUSE OF FAME.

As smale as man may se yet lye

In the desert of Lybye ;

Ne no maner creature,

That ys yformed be nature, 490

Ne sawgh / me to rede or wisse.

4 0 Criste,' thought I, * that art in blysse,

Fro fantome and illusioun

Me save !' and with devocioun

Myn eyen to the hevene I caste.

Thoo was I war at the laste,

That faste be the sonne, as hye

As kenne myght I with myn ye,

Me thought I sawgh an egle sore,

But that hit semede moche more 001

Then I had any egle seyne.

But, this as soothe as deth certeyne,

Hyt was of golde, and shone so bryght,

That never sawgh men such a syght,

Sut-if the hevene hadde ywonne

Al newe of God another sonne ;

So shon the egles fetheres biyghte,

And somewhat dounwarde gan hyt lyghte.

EXPLICIT LIBER PRIMUS.

I

LIBER SECTJNDUS.

OW herkeneth every maner man, That Englissh understonde kan, And listeneth of my dreme to lere ; For now at erste shullen ye here

So sely an avisyoun,

That I saye ne Cipioun,

THE HOUSE OF FAME. 225

Ne kynge Nabugodonosor,

Pharoo, Turnus, ne Eleanor,

Ne mette suche a dreme as this.

Now faire blisfulle, 0 Cipris, 10

So be my favor at this tyme !

And ye me to endite and ryme

Helpeth, that on Parnaso dwelle,

Be Elicon the clere welle.

0 Thought, that wrote al that I mette, And in the tresorye hyt shette Of my brayne ! now shal men se Yf any vertu in the be, To tellen al my dreme aryght ; Now kythe thyn engyne and myght ! 20

This egle of whiche I have yow tolde, That shone with fethres as of goldc, Which that so highe gan to sore, I gan beholde more and more, To se her beaute and the wonder ; But never was ther dynt of thonder, Ne that thynge that men calle foudre, That smote sommetyme a toure to powdre, And in his swifte comynge brende, That so swithe gan descende, 3d

As this foule when hyt behelde, That I a-roume was in the felde ; And with hys grymme pawes stronge, Withyn hys sharpe nayles longe, Me, fleynge, in a swappe he hente, And with hys sours ayene up wente, Me caryinge in his clawes starke, As lyghtly as I were a larke, How high, I cannot telle yow, VOL. T. Q

226 THE HOUSE OF FAME.

For I came up, Y nyste how. so

For so astonyed and asweved

Was every vertu in my heved,

What with his sours and with my drede,

That al my felynge gan to dede ;

For-whi hit was to grete affray.

Thus I longe in hys clawes lay, Til at the last he to me spake In mannes vois, and seyde, ' Awake ! And be thou not agaste, for shame ! ' And calfede me tho by my name. so

And for I sholde the bet abreyde, Me mette, ' awake' to me he seyde, Ryght in the same vois and stevene, That useth oon I koude nevene ; And with that vois, soth for to seyne, My mynde came to me ageyne, For hit was goodely seyde to me, So was hyt never wonte to be. And herewithalle I gan to stere, As he me in his fete to-bere, eo

Til that he felt that I had hete, And felte eke tho myn herte bete. And thoo gan he me to disporte, And with wordes to comforte, And sayede twyes, ' Seynt Mary ! Thou arte noyouse for to cary, And nothynge nedith it, pardee ; For, al-so wis God helpe me, As thou noon harme shalt have of this ; And this caas that betydde the is, 70

Is for thy lore and for thy prowe, Let see ! darst thou yet loke nowe ?

THE HOUSE OF FAME. 227

Be ful assured, boldely,

I am thy frende.' And therewith I

Gan for to wondren in my mynde.

' 0 God/ thought I, < that madeste kynde,

Shal I noon other weyes dye ?

Wher Joves wol me stelleiye,

Or what thinge may this sygnifye ?

I neyther am Ennok, ne Elye, ^ &

No Romulus, ne Ganymede,

That was ybore up, as men rede,

To hevene with daun Jupiter,

And made the goddys botiller/

Loo, this was thoo my fantasye !

But he that bare me gan espye,

That I so thought and seyde this : —

* Thow demest of thy-selfe amys ; For Joves ys not theraboute,

I dar wel putte the out of doute, »o

To make of the as yet a sterre.

But er I bere the moche ferre,

I wol the telle what I am,

And winder thou shalt, and why I cam

To do thys, so that thou take

Goode herte, and not for fere quake/

* Gladly/ quod I. < Now wel/ quod he : ' First, I, that in my fete have the,

Of which thou haste a fere and wonder.

Am dwellynge with the god of thonder, 100

Whiche that men callen Jupiter,

That dooth me flee ful ofte fer

To do al hys comaundement.

And for this cause he hath me sent

To the : now herke, be thy trouthe !

228 THE HOUSE OF FAME.

Certeyn he hath of the routhe, That thou so longe trewely Hast served so ententyfly Hys blynde neviwe Cupido, And faire Venus also, . no

Withoute guerdoun ever yitte, And neverthelesse hast set thy witte, - (Although in thy hede ful lytel is) To make songes, dytees, and bookys In ryme, or elles in cadence, As thou best canst in reverence Of Love, and of hys servantes eke, That have hys servyse soght, and seke ; And peynest the to preyse hys arte, Although thou haddest never parte ; 120

Wherfore, al-so God me blesse, Joves halt hyt grete humblesse, And vertu eke, that thou wolt make A nyghte ful ofte thyn hede to ake, In thy studye so thou writest, And evermo of love enditest, In honour of hym and preysynges, And in his folkes furtherynges, And in hir matere al devisest, And noght hym nor his folke dispisest, 130

Although thou maiste goo in the daunce Of hem that hym lyst not avaunce. Wherfore, as I seyde, ywys, Jupiter considereth wel this ; And also, beausir, other thynges ; That is, that thou hast no tydynges Of Loves folke, yf they be glade, Ne of noght elles that God made ;

THE HOUSE OF FAME. 229

And noght oonly fro ferre con tree,

That ther no tydynge cometh to thee, HO

Not of thy verray neyghebors,

That duelle almoste at thy dors,

Thou herist neyther that nor this,

For when thy labour doon al ys,

And hast ymade rekenynges,

Instid.of reste and newe thynges,

Thou goost home to thy house anoon,

And, also dombe as any stoon,

Thou sittest at another booke,

Tyl fully dasewyd ys thy looke, 150

And lyvest thus as an heremyte,

Although thyn abstynence ys lyte.

And therfore Joves, thorgh hys grace,

Wol that I bere the to a place,

Which that hight the House of Fame,

To do the somme disport and game,

In somme recompensacioun

Of labour and devocioun

That thou hast had, loo ! causeles,

To Cupido the rechcheles. 160

And thus this god, thorgh his merite,

Wol with somme maner thinge the quyte,

So that thou wolt be of goode chere.

For truste wel that thou shalt here,

When we be come there as I seye,

Mo wonder thynges, dar I leye,

Of Loves folke moo tydynges,

Both sothe-sawes and leysinges ;

And moo loves newe begonne,

And longe yserved loves wonne ; nc

And moo loves casuelly,

230 THE. HOUSE OF FAME.

That betyde, no man wote why,

But as a blende man stert an hare ;

And more jolytee and fare,

While that they fynde love of stele,

As thinketh hem, and over al wele;

Mo discordes, and moo jelousies,

Mo murmures, and moo novclrics,

And moo dissymulacions,

And feyned reparacions; iso

And moo berdys in two oures

Withoute rasour or sisoures

Ymade, then greynes be of sondes ;

And eke moo holdynge in hondcs,

And also mo renoveilaunces

Of olde forleten aqueyntaunces ;

Mo love-dayes, and acordes

Then on instrumentes ben cordes ;

And eke of loves moo eschaunges,

Than ever cornes were in graunges ; 190

Unnethe maistow trowen this ?'

Quod he. ' Noo, helpe me God so wys !'

Quod I. ' Noo? why?' quod he. « For hytte

Were impossible to my witte,

Though hadde Fame alle the pies

In alle a realme, and alle the spies,

How that yet he shulde here al this,;

Or they espie hy t.' — * 0 yis, yis ! '

Quod he, to me, ' that kan I prove

Be resoun, worthy for to leve, 200

So that thou }*eve thyn advertence

To understonde my sentence.

' First shalt thou here where she dwelleth, And so thyn oune boke hyt tellith,

THE HOUSE OF FAME. 231

•

Hir paleys slant as I shal sey

Ryght even in-myddes of the wey

Betwexen hevene, erthe, and see ;

That whatsoever in al these three

Is spoken either prevy or aperte,

The aire therto ys so overte, 210

And stant eke in so juste a place,

That every soune mot to hyt pace,

Or what so cometh fro any tonge,

Be hyt rouned, red, or songe,

Or spoke in suerte or in drede,

Certeyn hyt moste thider nede.

' Now herkene wel ; for- why I wille Tellen the a propre skille, And worche a demonstracioun In myn ymagynacioun. 220

' Geffrey, thou wost ryght wel this, That every kyndely thynge that is, Hath a kyndely stede ther he May best in hyt conserved be ; Unto whiche place every thynge, Thorgh his kyndely enclynynge, Moveth for to come to, Whan that it is awey therfro. As thus, loo, thou maist al day se That any thinge that hevy be, 230

As stoon or lede, or thynge of wight, And bere hyt never so hye on hight, Lat goo thyn hande, hit falleth doune. Ryght so sey I, be fire, or soune, Or smoke, or other thynges lyghte, Alwey they seke upward on highte, While eche of hem is at his large ;

232 THE HOUSE OF FAME.

Lyghte thinges upwarde,anddoimwarde charge.

And for this cause mayste thou see,

That every ryver to the see 240

Enclyned ys to goo by kynde.

And by these skilles, as I fynde,

Hath fyssh duellynge in floode and see,

And trees eke in erthe bee.

Thus every thinge by this reasoun

Hath his propre mansyoun,

To which he seketh to repaire,

As there hit shulde not apaire.

Loo, this sentence ys knowen kouthe

Of every philosophres mouthe, 250

As Aristotile and daun Platoun,

And other clerkys many oon,

And to confirme my reasoun,

Thou wost wel this, that speche is soun,

Or elles no man myght hyt here ;

Now herke what Y'wol the lere.

* Soune ys noght but eyre ybroken, And every speche that ys yspoken, Lowde or pryvee, foule or faire, In his substaunce ys but aire ; 260

For as flaumbe ys but lyghted smoke, Ryght soo sotine ys but aire ybroke. But this may be in many wyse, Of which I wil the twoo devyse, As soune that cometh of pipe or harpe. For whan a pipe is blowen sharpe, The aire ys twyst with violence, And rent : loo, this ys my sentence ; Eke, whan men harpe strynges smyte, Whether hyt be moche or lyte, 270

THE HOUSE OF FAME. 233

Loo, with the stroke the ayre to-breketh ; Eight so hit breketh whan men speketh. Thus wost thou wel what thinge is speche.

/ Now hennesforthe Y wol the teche, How every speche, or noyse, or soune, Thurgh hys multiplieacioime, Thogh hyt were piped of a mouse. Mote nede come to Fames House. I preve hyt thus : — Take hede now Be experience, for yf that thow . 2sc

Throwe on water now a stoon, Wel wost thou hyt wol make anoon A litel roundelle as a sercle, Par a venture brode as a cover cle ; And ryght anoon thow shalt see wele, That sercle wol cause another whele, And that the thridde, and so forth, brother, Every sercle causynge other, Wydder than hymself erst was. And this fro roundel to com pas, 290

Eche aboute other goynge, Caused of othres sterynge, And multiplyinge evermoo, Til that hyt be so fer ygoo That hyt at bothe brynkes bee. Although thow mowe hyt not ysee Above, hyt gooth yet at/ under, Although thou thenke hyt a grete wounder. And who-so seyth of trouthe I varye, Bid hym proven the contrary e. 300

And ryght thus every worde, ywys, That lowde or pryvee yspoken ys, Moveth first an ayre aboute,

234 THE HOUSE OF FAME.

And of thys movynge, out of doute,

Another ay re anoon ys meved,

As I have of the watir preved,

That every cerjcle cause th other.

Ryght so of ayre, my leve brother ;

Everych ayre other stereth

More and more, and speche up bereth, sio

Or voys, or noyse, or worde, or soun,

Aye through multiplicacioun,

Til hyt be atte House of Fame ; —

Take yt in ernest or in game.

' Now have I tolde, yf ye have in mynde, How speche or. soun, of pure kynde Enclyned ys upwarde to meve ; This mayst thou fele wel I preve. And that sum place or stede, ywys, That every thynge enclyned to ys, 320

Hath his kyndelyche stede : That sheweth hyt, withoute drede, That kyndely the mansioun Of every speche, of every soun, Be hyt eyther foule or faire, Hath hys kynde place in ayre. And syn that every thynge that is Out of hys kynde place, ywys, Moveth thidder for to goo, Yif hyt awey may be therfro, 330

As I before have preved the, Hyt seweth, every soun. parde, Moveth kyndely to pace, Al up into his kyndely place. And this place of which I tclle, Ther as Fame lyst to duelle,

THE HOUSE OF FAME. 235

Ys sette amyddys of those threo,

Hevene, erthe, and eke the see,

As most conscrvatyf the soun.

Than ys this the conclusyoun, 3*0

That every speche of every man,

As Y the telle first began,

Moveth up on high to pace

Kyndely to Fames place.

' Telle me this now feythfully, Have I not preved thus symply, Withouten any subtilite Of speche, or grete prolyxite Of termes of philosophic,

Of figures of poetrie, 3*0

Or coloures of retorike ? Pardee, hit oughte the wel lyke ; For harde langage, and hard matcre Ys encombrouse for to here Attones ; wost thou not wel this ?' And Y answered and seyde, ' Yis/ ' A ha !' quod he, ' lo, so I can, Lewdely to a lewed man Speke, and shewe hym swyche skiles, That he may shake hem be the biles. ?,«?o

So palpable they shulden be. But telle me this now pray Y the, How thenketh the my conclusyoun ?' ' A goode persuasioun/ Quod 7, ' hyt is ; and lyke to be, Ryght so as thou hast preved me.' ' Be God/ quod he, ' and as I leve, Thou shalt have yet, or hit be eve, Of every word of thys sentence^

236 THE HOUSE OF. FAME.

A preve by experience ; 370

And with thyn eres heren wel,

Toppe and taylle, and everidel,

That every word that spoken ys,

Cometh into Fames House, ywys,

As I have seyde ; what wilt thou more ? '

And with this word upper to sore, .

He gan and seyde, ' Be seynt Jame,

Now wil we spekew al of game.

' How fairest thou ?' quod he to me. ' Wel/ quod I. ' Now see/ quod he, aso ' By thy trouthe, yonde adoune, Wher that thou knowest any toune, Or hous, or any other thinge. And whan thou hast of ought knowynge, Looke that thou warne me, And Y anoon shal telle the, How for that thou art now therfro.'

And Y adoun to loken thoo, And behelde feldes and playnes, And now hilles, and now mountaynes, 390 Now valeys, and now forestes, And now unnethes grete bestes ; Now ryveres, now citees, Now tonnes, and now grete trees, Now shippes seyllynge in the see.

But thus sone in a while hee Was flowen fro the grounde so hye, That al the worlde, as to myn ye, No more semede than a prikke ; Or elles was the aire so thikke 400

That Y ne myghte not discerne. With that he spak to me as yerne,

THE HOUSE OF FAME. 237

And seyde : " Seestow any token,

Or ought that in this world of spoken ?'

I seyde, ' Nay.' ' No wonder nys,' Quod he, ' for half so high as this, Nas Alexandre Macedo Ne the kynge, daun Cipio, That saw in dreme, at poynt devys, Helle and erth, and paradys ; «io

Ne eke the wrechche Didalus, Ne his childe, nyse Ykartis, That fleegh so highe, that the hete His wynges malte, and he fel wete In myd the see, and ther he dreynt, For whom was maked moch compleynt.

* Now turne upward,' quod he, * thy face, And beholde this large place, This eyre ; but loke thou ne be Adrad of hem that thou shalt se ; 420

For in this regioun certeyn, Dwelleth many a citezeyn, Of which that speketh daun Plato. These ben eyrysshe bestes, lo !' And so saw Y alle that meynee, Boothe goone and also flee. * Now,' quod he thoo, ' cast up thyn ye ; Se yonder, loo, the galoxie, Whiche men clepcth the melky weye, For hit ys white : and somme, parfeye, 430 Kallen hyt Watlynge strete, That ones was ybrente wyth hete, Whan the sonnes sonne, the rede, That highte Phetoun, wolJe lede Algate his fader carte, and gye.

238 THE HOUSE OF FAME,

The carte hors gonne wel espye,

That he kouude no governaunce,

And gan he for to lepe and taunce,

And beren hym now up, now doun,

Til that he sey the Scorpioun, 44fl

Whiche that in heven a synge is yit.

And he for ferde lost hys wyt

Of that, and lat the reynes goon

Of his hors ; and they anoon

Gonne up to mounten, and doun descende,

Til both the ayre and erthe brende ;

Til Jubiter, loo, atte laste

Hym slowe, and fro the carte caste.

Loo, ys it not a mochil myschaunce,

To lat a foole han governaunce 450

Of thing that he can not demeyne ?'

And with this word, sothe for to seyne, He gan upper alwey for to sore, And gladded me ay more and more, So feythfully to me spake he.

Tho gan I loken under me, And behelde the ayerisghe bestes, Cloudes, mystes, and tempestes, Snowes, hayles, reynes, wyndes, And hir gendrynge in hir kyndes, -leo

Alle the wey thrugh whiche I came ; < 0 God/ quod Y, < that made Adam, Moche is thy myght and thy noblesse.'

And thoo thought Y upon Boesse, That writ of thought may flee so hye, With fetheres of philosophye, To passen everyche elemente ; And whan he hath so fer ywente,

THE HOUSE OF FAME.

Than may be seen, behynde hys bak,

Cloude, and erthe, that Y of spak. 470

Thoo gan Y wexen in a were, And seyde, ' Y wote wel Y am here ; But wher in body or in gost, I not ywys, but God, thou wost ! ' For more clere entendement, Nas me never yit ysent. And than thought Y on Marcian, And eke of Anteclaudian, That sooth was her descripcioun Of alle hevenes regioun, 480

As fer as that Y sey the preve ; Therfore Y kan hem now beleve.

With that this egle began to cryi>, ' Lat be/ quod he, ' thy fantasye, Wilt thou lerne of sterres aught?'

* Nay, certenly/ quod Y, ' ryght naught.''

* And why ? For Y am now to olde/ ' Elles I wolde the have tolde/ Quod he, ( the sterres names, lo,

And al the hevenes sygnes ther to, 4»o

And which they ben.' ' No fors,' quod I.

' Yis, pardee/ quod he, t wostow why ?

For whan thou redest poetrie,

How goddes gonne stellifye

Briddes, fisshe, best, or him, or here,

As the ravene or eyther here,

Or Arionis harpg fyne,

Castor, Polex, or Delphyne,

Or Athalantes doughtres sevene,

How alle these arne set in hevene ; 500

For though thou have hem ofte on honde,

240 THE HOUSE OF FAMte.

Yet nostow not wher that they stonde/

' No fors,' quod Y, ' hyt is no nede,

I leve as wele, so God me spede,

Hem that write of this matere,

Alle though I knew her places here ;

And eke they semen here so bryghte,

Hyt shulde shenden al my syghte,

To loke on hem.' ' That may wel be/

Quod he. And so forthe bare he me 510

A while, and than he gan to crye,

That never herd I thing so hye,

; Now up the hede, for alle ys wele ;

Seynt Julyane, loo, bon hostele !

Se here the House of Fame, lo !

Maistow not heren that I do?'

' What ?' quod I. ' The grete soun/

Quod he, ' that rumbleth up and doun

In Fames House, ful of tydynges,

Bothe of feire speche and chidynges, 520

And of fals and that soth compouned ;

Herke wel ; hyt is not rouned.

' Herestow not the grete swogh?'

1 Yis, perde/ quod Y, ' wel ynogh.'

( And what soune is it lyke?' quod hee.

' Peter ! betynge of the see/

Quod Y, ' ayen the roches holowe,

Whan tempest doth the shippes swalowe,

And lat a man stonde, out of doute,

A myle thens, and here hyt route. sac

Or elles lyke the last humblynge

After a clappe of oo thundringe,

When Joves hath the aire ybete

But yt doth me for fere swete.'

THE HOUSE OF FAME. 241

' Nay, drede the not therof/ quod he, Hyt is nothinge wille biten the, Thou shalt non harme have truely.'

And with this word both he and Y As nygh the place arryved were, As men may casten with a spere. 540

I nyste how, but in a strete He sette me fair upon my fete, And seyde, * Walke forth a pace, And take thyn aventure or case, That thou shalt fynde in Fames place.'

' Now/ quod I, ' while we han space To speke, or that I goo fro the, For the love of God, telle me, In sooth, that wil I of the lere, Yf thy s noyse that I here 550

Be, as I have herd the tellen, Of folke that doun in erthe dwellen, And cometh here in the same wyse, As I the herde, or this, devyse? And that there lives body nys In al that hous that yonder ys, That maketh al this loude fare?' * Noo,' quod he, ' by seynte Clare ! And also wis God rede me, But o thinge wil Y warne the, seo

Of the whiche thou wolt have wonder. Loo, to the House of Fame yonder, Thou wost how cometh every speche, Hyt nedeth noght efte the to teche. But understonde now ryght wel this, Whan any speche yeomen ys Up to the paleys. anon ryght

VOL. v. B

242 THE HOUSE OF FAME.

Hyt wexeth lyke the same wight,

Which that the worde in erthe spak,

Be hyt clothed rede or blak ; 570

And so were hys lykenesse,

And spake the word, that thou wilt gesse

That it the same body be,

Man or woman, he or she.

And ys not this a wonder thynge ?'

' Yis/ quod I tho, i by heven kynge ! '

And with this worde, * Farewel/ quod he,

' And here I wol abyden the,

And God of hevene sende the grace,

Some goode to lerne in this place.' sac

And I of him toke leve anoon,

And gan forthe to the paleys goon.

EXPLICIT LIBER SECUNDTJS.

LIBER TERTIVS.

0 GOD of science and of lyght,

Apollo, thurgh thy grete myght,

This lytel laste boke thou gye !

Nat that I wilne for maistrye

Here art poetical be shewed.

But, for the ryme ys lyght and lewed,

Yit make hyt sumwhat agreable,

Though somme vers fayle in a sillable ;

And that I do no diligence,

To shewe crafte, but o sentence. 10

And yif devyne vertu thow,

Wilt helpe me to shewe now,

THE HOUSE OF FAME. 243

That in myn hede ymarked ys, (Loo, that is for to menen this, The Hous of Fame for to descry ve) Thou shalt tho se me go as blyve Unto the next laurer Y see, And kysse yt, for hyt is thy tree. Now entreth in my brest anoon.

Whan I was fro thys egle goon, 20

I gan beholde upon this place. And certein, or I ferther pace, I wol yow al thys shape devyse Of hous and citee ; and al the wyse How I gan to *hys place aproche, That stood upon so hygh a roche, Hier stant there noon in Spayne. But up I clombe with alle payne, And though to clymbe grevede me, Yit I ententyf was to see, so

And for to powren wondre lowe, Yf I koude eny weyes knowe What maner stoon this roche was, For hyt was lyke a thynge of glas, But that hyt shoon ful more clere ; But of what congeled matere Hyt was, nyste I redely. But at the laste espied I, And founde that hit was everydele, A roche of yse, and not of stele. 10

Thought I, ' By seynt Thomas of Kent, This were a feble fundament, To bilden on a place hye ; He ought him lytel glorifye That heron bilte, God so me save !'

244 THE HOUSE OF FAME.

Tho sawgh I the oon halfe ygrave With famouse folkes names fele, That had yben in mochel wele, And her fames wide yblowe. But wel unnethes koude I knowe so

Any lettres for to rede Hir names be ; for, oute of drede, They were almost of thowed so, That of the lettres oon or two Were molte away of every name, So unfamouse was wox hir fame ; But men seyn, ' what may ever laste ?'

Thoo gan I in myn herte caste, That they were molte awey with hete, And not awey with stormes bete. eo

For on that other syde I say Of this hille, that northewarde lay, How hit was writen ful of names, Of folkes that hadden grete fames Of olde tymes, and yet they were As fressh as men hadde writeii hem here The selfe day, ryght or that oure That I upon hem gan to poure. But wel I wiste what yt made ; Hyt was conserved with the shade, 70

AUe this wrytynge that I sigh, Of a castel stoode on high ; And stoode eke on so colde a place, That hete hyt myghte not deface.

Thoo gan I up the hille to goone, And fonde upon the cop a woone, That alle the men that ben on lyve Ne han the kunnynge to descrive

THE HOUSE OF FAME. 245

The beaute of that ylke place, Ne coude casten no compace so

Swich another for to make, That myght of beaute be hys make ; Ne wonderlyche so ywrought, That hyt astonyeth yit my thought, And maketh alle my wytte to swynke On thilke castel to bethynke. So that the grete beaute The caste, the curiosite Ne kan I not to yow devyse, My wit ne may me not suffise. 90

But natheles alle the substance I have yit in my remembrance ; For-why me thoughts, by seynte Gyle, Alle was of stone of beryle, Bothe castel and the toure, And eke the halle, and every boure, Wythouten peces or joynynges. But many subtile compassinges, As rabewyures and pynacles, Ymageries and tabernacles, too

I say ; and ful eke of wyndowes, As flakes falle in grete snowes. And eke in ech of the pynacles Weren sondry habitacles, In whiche stode, alle withoute, Ful the castel alle aboute, Of al maner of mynstralles, And gestiours, that tellen tales Bothe of wepinge and of game. Of alle that longeth unto Fame. no

There herd I pleyen upon an harpe

246 THE HOUSE OF FAME.

That sowneth bothe wel and sharpe,

Orpheus ful craftely,

And on the syde faste by

Sat the harper Orioun

And Eacides Chiroun.

And other harpers many oon,

And the grete Glascurioun.

And smale harpers with her glees,

Saten under hym in sees ; i'2t

And gunne on hym upward e to g;ipe,

And countrefet hym as an ape,

Or as crafte countrefeteth kynde.

Tho saugh I stonden hym behyncle, A-fer fro hem, alle be hemselve, Many thousand tymes twelve, That maden lowde menstralcies In cornemuse and shalmyes, And many other maner pipe, That craftely begunne to pipe, iso

Bothe in doucet and in riede, That ben at festes with the bride. And many flowte and liltyng home, And pipes made of grene corne, As han thise lytel herde gromes, That kepen bestis in the bromes.

Ther saugh I than Atileris, And of Athenes daun Pseustis, And Marcia that lost her skynne, Bothe in face, body, and chynne, HO

For that she wolde envien, loo, To pipen bet than Apollo.

There saugh I fames, olde and yoiige, Pipers of alle Duche tonge,

THE HOUSE OF FAME. 247

To lerne love-daunces, sprynges, Reu^s, and these straunge thynges.

Tho saugh I in another place, Stonden in a large space Of hem that maken blody soun, In trumpe, beme, and claryoun ; lao

For in feight and blodeshedynges Ys used gladly clarionynges.

Ther herd I trumpen, Messenus, Of whom that speketh Vergilius.

There herd I trumpe Joab also, Theodomas, and other mo, And &\le that usede clarioun, In Cataloigne and Aragoun, That in her tyme famous were To lerne, saugh I trumpe there. ieo

Ther saugh I sit in other sees, Pleyinge upon sondry glees, Whiche that I kannot nevene, Moo than sterres ben in hevene, Of whiche I nyl not now ryme, For ese of yow, and losse of tyme : For tyme ylost, this knowen ye, Be no way may recovered be.

There saugh I pleyen jugelours, Magiciens, and tregetours, 170

And phitonisses. charmeresses, Olde wiches, sorceresses, That use exorsisaciouns, And eke thes fumygacioims ; And clerkes eke, which konne \vel Alle this magikes naturel, That craftely doon her ententes.

248 THE HOUSE OF FAME.

To maken, in certeyn ascendentes,

Ymages, lo, thrugh which magike,

To make a man ben hool or syke. 190

Ther saugh I the quene Medea,

And Circes eke, and Calipsa.

Ther saugh JT Hermes Ballenus,

Limeote, and eke Symon Magus.

(Ther sawgh I tho, and knew by name,

That by such art doon men han fame.}

Ther saugh I Colle Tregetour

Upon a table of sygamour

Pleyew an uncouth e thynge to telle ;

Y saugh him carien a wynd-melle 190

Under a walshe-note shale.

What shuld I make lenger tale, Of alle the pepil Y ther say, Fro hennes into domesday ?

Whan I had al this folkys beholde, And fonde me louse and noght y/tolde, And oft 1 musede longe while Upon these walles of berile, That shoone ful lyghter than a glas, And made wel more than hit was, 200

To semen every thynge, ywis, As kynde thynge of Fames is ; I gan to romen til I fonde The castel yate on my ryght honde, Which that so wel y-corven was, That never suche another nas ; And yit it was be aventure Ywrought, as often as be cure.

Hyt nedeth noght yow more to tellen, To make yow to longe duellen, 210

THE HOUSE OF FAME. 249

Of these yates florisshinges,

Ne of compasses, ne of kervynges,

Ne how they hat in masoneries,

As corbetz, (ful of imageries.)

But, Lord ! so faire yt was to shewe,

For hit was alle with gold behewe.

But in I went, and that anoon ;

Ther mette I cryinge many oon,

' A larges, larges ! hald up wel !

God save the lady of thys pel, 220

Our oune gentil lady Fame,

And hem that wilnen to have name

Of us !' Thus herd Y crien alle,

And faste comen out of halle,

And shoon nobles and sterlynges.

And somme crouned were as kynges,

With corounes wroght ful of losynges ;

And many ryban, and many frenges

Were on her clothes trewely.

Thoo atte last aspyed Y 230

That pursevauntes and herauldcs, That crien ryche folkes laudes, Hyt weren ; alle and every man Of hem, as Y yow tellen can, Had on him throwen a vesture, Whiche that men clepen a cote armure, Enbrowded wonderlycAe ryche, As though ther nere nought ylyche. .

But noght wyl I, so mote Y thryve, Ben aboute to dyscryve 240

Alle these armes that ther weren, That they thus on her cotes beren For hyt to me were impossible ;

250 THE HOUSE OF FAME.

Men myghte make of hem a bible,

Twenty foote thykke Y trowe.

For certeyn who-so koude i-knowe

Myghte ther alle the armes seen,

Of famouse folke that han ybeen

In Auffrike, Europe, and Asye,

Svth first began the chevalrie. 250

Loo ! how shulde I now tel al thys ?

Ne of the halle eke what nede is, To tellen yow that every walle Of hit, and flore, and roof, and alle, Was plated half a foote thikke Of gold, and that nas no thynge wikke, But, for to prove in alle wyse, As fyne as ducat in Venyse, Of whiche to litel al in my pouche is ? And they wer set as thik of nouchis 260

Fyne, of the fynest stones faire, That men reden in the Lapidaire, As greses growen in a mede. But hit were alle to longe to rede The names ; and therfore I pace. But in this lusty and ryche place, That Fames halle called was, Ful moche prees of folke ther nas, Ne crowdyng, for to mochil prees. But al on hye, above a dees, 270

Sit in a see imperially That made was of a rubee alle, Which that a carbuncle ys ycalled, Y saugh perpetually ystalled, A femynyne creature ; That never formed by nature

THE HOUSE OF FAME. 251

Nas suche another thing yseye.

For altherfirst, soth for to seye,

Me thoughts that she was so lyte,

That the lengthe of a cubite, 280

Was lengere than she semede be ;

This was gret marvaylle to me,

Hir self tho so wonderly streighte,

That with hir fete the erthe she reighte,

And with her hed she touched hevene,

Ther as shynen sterres sevene.

And therto eke, as to my witte,

I saugh a gretter wonder yitte,

Upon her eyon to beholde,

But certeyn Y hem never tolde. 200

For as feele yen hadde she,

As fetheres upon foules be,

Or weren on the bestes foure,

That Goddes trone gunne honoure,

As Johan writ in thapocalips.

Hir heere that oundye was and crips,

As burned gold hyt shoon to see.

And sothe to tellen also shee

Had also fele up stondynp; eres

And tonges, as on bestes heres ; 300

And on hir fete wexen saugh Y

Partriches winges redely.

But, Lorde ! the perry and the richesse I saugh sittyng on this godesse ! And, Lord ! the hevenysshe melodyc, Of songes ful of armonye, I herd aboute her trone ysonge, That al the paleys walles ronge ! (So songe the myghty Muse, she

252 THE HOUSE OF FAME.

That cleped ys Caliope, 310

And hir eighte sustren eke

That in her face semen meke)

And evermo eternally,

They synge of Fame as thoo herd "Y,

* Heryed be thou and thy name,

Goddesse of renoun or Fame.'

Tho was I war, loo, atte laste, As I myn eyen gan up caste, That thys ilke noble quene On her shuldres gan sustene 320

Bothe armes, and the name Of thoo that hadde large fame ; Alexander, and Hercules, That with a shert hys lyfe les ! And thus fonde Y syttynge this goddesse, In noble honour and rychesse ; Of which I stynte a while nowe, Other thinge to tellen yowe.

Tho saugh I stonde on eyther syde, Streighte doun to the dores wide, 330

Fro the dees many a pelere Of metal, that shoon not ful clere, But though they ner of no rychesse, Yet they were made for gret noblesse, And in hem gret sentence. And folkes of digne reverence, Of whiche I wil yow telle fonde, Upon the piler saugh I stonde.

Alderfirste loo ther I sighe, Upon a piler stonde on highe, 340

That was of lede and yren fyne, Hym of secte Saturnyne,

THE HOUSE OF FAME. 253

The Ebrayke Josephus the olde,

That of Jewes gestes tolde ;

And he bare on hys shuldres hye,

The fame up of the Jurye.

And by hym stonden other sevene,

Wise and worthy for to nevene,

To helpen him here up the charge,

Hyt was so hevy and so large. MC

And for they writen of batayles,

As wel as other olde mervayles,

Therfor was, loo, thys pilere,

Of whiche that I yow telle here,

Of lede and yren bothe y wys.

For yren Martes metal ys,

Which that God is of batayle.

And the lede withouten faille,

Ys, loo, the metal of Saturne,

That hath a ful large whele to turne. aeo

Thoo stoden forthe on every rowe

Of hem, which that I koude knowe,

Though I hem noght be ordre telle.

To make yow to longe to duelle.

These, of whiche I gynne rede, There saugh I stonde, out of drede, Upon an yren piler stronge, That peynted was, al endelonge, With tigres blode in every place, The Tholauson that highte Stace, 3:0

That bare of Thebes up the fame Upon his shuldres, and the name Also of cruelle Achilles. And by him stood, withouten lees, Ful wonder hye on a pilere

254 THE HOUSE OF FAME,

Of yren, he, the gret Omere ;

And with him Dares and Tytus

Before, and eke he Lollius,

And Guydo eke de Columpnis,

And Englyssh Gaunfride eke, ywis. sso

And eche of these, as have I joye,

Was besye for to here up Troye.

So hevy therof was the fame,

That for to here hyt was no game.

But yet I gan ful wel espie,

Betwex hem was a litil envye.

Oon seyde that Omere made lyes,

Feynynge in hys poetries,

And was to Grekes favorable ;

Therfor held he hyt but fable. wo

Tho saugh I stonde on a pilere, That was of tynned yren clere, That Latyn poete Virgile, That bore hath up longe while 1 The fame of pius Eneas.

And next hym on a piler was Of coper, Venus clerke, Ovide, That hath ysowen wonder wide The grete god of loves name. And ther he bare up wel hys fame, 400

Upon this piler also hye, As I myght hyt see with myn ye : For-why this halle of whiche I rede, Was woxen on high, the length, and brede, Wel more be a thousande dele, Than hyt was erst, that saugh I wel.

Thoo saugh I on a piler by, Of yren wrogh*- f~J eturnily,

THE HOUSE OF FAME. 255

The grete poete, daun Lucan,

And on hys shuldres bare up than, 410

As high as that Y myghte see,

The fame of Julius, and Pompe.

And by him stoden alle these clerkes,

That writen of Romes myghty werkes,

That yif Y wolde her names telle,

Alle to longe most I dwelle.

And next him on a piler stoode Of soulfre, lyke as he were woode, Daun Claudian, the sothe to telle, That bare up than the fame of helle, 420

Of Pluto, and of Proserpyne, That quene ys of the derke pyne.

What shulde I more telle of this ? The halle was al ful, ywis, Of hem that writen al of the olde gestes, As ben on trees rokes nestes ; But hit a ful confuse matere Were alle the gestes for to here, That they of write, and how they hight. But while that Y beheld thys syght, 430

I herd a noyse aprochen blyve, That ferd as been doon in an hive, Ay en her tyme of oute fleyinge ; Ryght suche a maner murmurynge, For al the world hyt semede me.

Tho gan I loke aboute and see, That ther come entryng into the halle, A ryght grete companye withalle, And that of sondry regiouns, Of alles-kynnes condiciouns, 4 »<»

That duelle in erthe under the mono,

25G THE HOUSE OF FAME.

Pore and ryche. And also sone

As they were come into the halle,

They gonne doun on knees falle,

Before this ilke noble quene,

And seyde, ' Graunte us, lady shene,

Eche of us of thy grace a bone !'

And somme of hem she grauntede sone,

And somme she wernede wel and faire ;

And somme she grauntede the contraire 450

Of her axyng outterly.

But this I sey yow trewely,

What her cause was, Y nyste.

For of this folke ful wel Y wiste,

They hadde good fame eche deserved,

(Although they were diversely served.)

Ryght as her suster, dame Fortune,

Ys wonte to serven in comune.

Now herke how she gan to paye That gonne her of her grace praye, 460

And ryght lo, al thys companye Seyden sooth, and noght a lye.

' Madame/ quod they, ' we be Folke that here besechen the, That thou graunte us now good fame, And let our werkes han that name. In ful recompensacioun Of good werkes, yive us good renoun.'

* I werne yow hit,' quod she, ( anoon, Ye gete of me good fame noon, 470

Be God ! and therfore goo your wey/ Alias/ quod they, ' and welaway ! Tolle us what may your cause be/

' For me ne lyst hyt noght/ quod she,

THE HOUSE OF FAME. 257

' No wyght shal speke of yow, ywis,

Good ne harme, ne that ne this/

And with that worde she gan to calle

Her messangere that was in halle,

And lad that he shulde faste goon,

Upon the peyne to be blynde anoon, 430

For Eolus the god of wynde,

' In Trace there ye shul himjinde,

And bid him bring his clarioun,

That is ful dyvers of his soun,

And hyt is cleped Clere Laude,

With which he wonte is to hiraude

Hem that me list ypreised be :

And also bid him how that he

Brynge his other clarioun,

That highte Sclaundre in every toun, 490

With which he wonte is to diffame

Hem that me liste, and do him shame.

This messenger gan faste goon, And founde where in a cave of stoon, In a contree that highte Trace, This Eolus, with harde grace, Helde the wyndes in distresse, And gan hem under him to presse, That they gonne as beres rore, He bonde and pressed hem so sore. 500

This messanger gan faste crie, ' Ryse up,' quod he, ' and faste hye, Til that thou at my lady be ; And take thy clarioun eke with the, And spede the forth.' And he anoon, Toke to a man that highte Tritoun, Hys clarions to bere thoo,

VOL. v. s

258 THE HOUSE OF FAME.

And lete a certeyn wynde to goo,

And blewe so hydously and hye,

That hyt ne lefte not a skye sio

In alle the welkene longe and brode.

This Eolus no where abode, Til he was come to Fames fete, And eke the man that Triton hete ; And ther he stode as stille as stoon. And herwithal ther come anoon Another huge companye Of goode folke and gunne crie, ' Lady graunte us good fame And lat oure werkes han that name, 520

Now in honour of gentilesse, And also God your soule blesse ! For we han wel deserved hyt, Therfore is ryght that we ben wel quyt.'

' As thryve I,' quod she, ' ye shal faylle, Good werkes shal yow noght availle To have of me good fame as now. But wete ye what ? Y graunte yow, That ye shal have a shrewde fame, And wikkyd loos and worse name, 530

Though ye good loos have wel deserved. Now goo your wey for ye be served ; Have doon ! Eolus, let see ! Take forth thy trumpe anon/ quod she ; ' That is ycleped Sklaunder lyght, And blow her loos, that every wight Speke of hem harme and shrewedenesse, In stede of good and worthynesse. For thou shalt trumpe alle the contraire, Of that they han don wel or fayre.' sio

THE HOUSE OF FAME. 259

Alias, thought I, what aventures Han these sory creatures, For they amonges al the pres, Shul thus be shamed gilteles ! But what ! hyt moste nedes be. What dide this Eolus, but he Toke out hys blake trumpe of bras, That fouler than the Devel was, And gan this trumpe for to blowe, As al the worlde shuld overthrowe. 55«

That thrughout every regioun, Wente this foule trumpes soun, As swifte as pelet out of gonne, Whan fire is in the poudre ronne. And suche a smoke gan out-wende, Out of his foule tiMmpes ende, Blak, bloo, grenyssh, swart, and rede, As dothe where that men melte lede, Loo, alle on high fro the tuelle. And therto oo thing saugh I welle, 500

That the ferther that hit ran, The gretter wexen hit began, As dooth the ryver from a welle. And hyt stank as the pitte of helle. Alias, thus was her shame yronge, And giltelesse on every tonge.

Tho come the thridde companye, And gunne up to the dees to hye, And doun on knes they fille anoon, And seyde, ' We ben everychoon 5T«

Folke that han ful Cruelly Deservede fame ryghtfully, And praye yow hit mot be knowe,

260 THE HOUSE OF FAME.

Ryght as hit is, and forth y-blowe.'

' I graunte,' quod she, ' for me leste That now your goode werkes be wiste ; And yet ye shul han better loos, In dispite of alle your foos, Than worthy is, and that anoon : Late now/ quod she, * thy trumpe goon, Thou Eolus, that is so blake ; And out thyn other trumpe take That highte Laude, and blowe yt soo That thrugh the worlde her fame goo, Esely and not to faste, That hyt be knowen atte laste/

' Ful gladly, lady myn,' he seyde ; And oute hys trumpe of golde he brayde- Anoon, and set hyt to his mouthe, And blew it est, and west, and southe, And northe, as lowde as any thunder, That every wight hath of hit wonder, So brode hyt ran or than hit stynte. And, certes, al the breth that wente Out of his trumpes mouthe smelde, As men a potte ful of bawme helde Amonge a basket ful of roses ; This favour did he til her loses.

And ryght with this Y gan aspye, Ther come the ferthe companye, (But certeyn they were wonder fewe) And gunne stonden in a rewe, And seyden, ' Certes, lady bryghte, We han doon wel with al our myghte, But we ne kepen have no fame. Hide our werkes and our name,

THE HOUSE OF FAME. 261

For Goddys love ! for certes we

Han certeyn doon hyt for bounte,

And for no maner other thinge.'

6 1 graunte yow alle your askynge,' 6io

Quod she ; * let your werkes be dede/

With that aboute Y clywe myn hede, And saugh anoon the fifte route That to this lady gunne loute, And doun on knes anoon to falle ; And to hir thoo besoughten alle, To hiden her goode werkes eke, And seyden, they yeven noght a leke For no fame, ne suche renoun ; For they for contemplacioun, 620

And Goddes love, hadde ywrought, Ne of fame wolde they nought.

1 What ?' quod she, ' and be ye woode ? And wene ye for to doo goode, And for to have of that no fame ? Have ye dispite to have my name ? Nay, ye shul lyen everychoon ! Blowe thy trumpes and that anoon/ Quod she, ' thou, Eolus yhote, And rynge this folkes werkes be note, 830

That alle the worlde may of hyt here.' And he gan blowe hir loos so clere, In his golden clarioun, That thrugh the worlde wente the soun. Also kenely, and eke so softe, But atte last hyt was on lofte.

Thoo come the sexte companye, And gunne fast on Fame crie. Ryght verraly in this manere

262 THE HOUSE OF FAME.

They seyden : — ' Mercy, lady dere ! To telle certeyn as hyt is, We ban doon neither that ne this, But ydel al cure lyfe ybe. But, natheles, yet preye we, That we mowe han as good fame, And gret renoun and knowen name, As they that han doon noble gestes, And acheved alle her lestes, As wel of love as other thynge ; Alle was us never broche ne rynge, Ne elles nought from wymmen sent ; Ne ones in her herte yment, To make us oonly frendly chere, But myghten temen us wpon bere, Yet lat us to peple seme Suche as the worlde may of us deme, That wommen loven us for wode. Hyt shal doon us a moche goode, And to oure herte as moche avaylle The countrepese, ese, and travaylle, As we \\adde wonne hyt with labour ; For that is dere boght honour, At regard of oure gret ese. And yet thou most us more plese ; Let us be holden, eke therto. Worthy, wise, and goode also, And riche, and happy unto love. For Goddes love that sit above, Thogh we may not the body have Of wymmen, yet, so God yow save, Leet men gliwe on us the name ; Sufficeth that we han the fame.'

THE HOUSE OF FAME. 263

* I graunte/ quod she, / be my trouthe ! Now Eolus, withouten slouthe, Take out thy trumpe of golde/ quod she, ' And blow as they han axed me, That every man wene hem at ese, Though they goon in ful badde lese.' This Eolus gan hit so blowe, That thrugh the worlde hyt was yknowe. eso

Thoo come the seventh route anoon, And fel on knees everychoon. And seyde, ' Lady, graunte us sone The same thing, the same bone, That this nexte folke han doon.'

' Fy on yow/ quod she, ' everychoon ! Ye maisty swyne, ye ydel wrechches, Ful of roten slowe techches ! What ? false theves ! or ye wolde, Be famous good, and nothing nolde 690

Deserve why, ne never ye roughte Men rather yow hangen oughte ! For ye be lyke the swynte catte, - That wolde have fissh ; but wastow whatte ? He wolde nothinge wete his clowes. Yvel thrifte come to your jowes, And eke to myn yif I hit graunte, Or do yow favour yow to avaunte ! Thou Eolus, thou kynge of Trace, Goo, blowe this folke a sory grace/ 700

Quod she, ' anoon; and wostow how, As I shal telle yow ryght now. Sey, These ben that wolden honour Have, and do nos-kynnes labour, Ne doo no good, and yet han lawde ;

264 THE HOUSE OF FAME.

And that men wende that bele Isawde, Ne coude hem noght of love werne ; And yet she that grynt atte querne, Ys alle to good to ese her herte.'

This Eolus anoon up sterte, 710

And with his blake clarioun He gan to blasen out a soun, As lowde as beloweth wynde in helle. And eke therwith, sothe to telle, This soune was so ful of japes, As ever mowes were in apes. And that went al the worlde aboute, That every wight gan on hem shoute, And for to lawgh as they were wode ; Suche game fonde they in her hode. 720

Tho come another companye, That had ydoon the trayterye, The harme and greter wikkednesse, That any herte kouthe gesse ; And prayed her to han good fame, And that she nolde doon hem no shame, But yeve hem loos and good renoun, And do hyt bio we in a clarioun, * Nay, wis !' quod she, ' hyt were a vice ; Al be ther in me no justice, 730

Me ne lyst not to doo hyt nowe, Ne this nyl I graunte yowe.'

Tho come ther lepynge in a route, And gunne choppen al aboute Every man upon the crowne, That alle the halle gan to sowne, And seyden, ' Lady, leefe and dere, We ben suche folkes as ye mowe here.

f

THE HOUSE OF FAME. 265

To telle al the tale aryght,

We ben shrewes every wyght, 740

And han delyte in wikkednes,

As goode folke han in godenes ;

And joye to be knowen shrewes,

And ful of vices and wikked thewes ;

Wherefore we prayerz, yow a rowe,

That oure fame suche be 3/-knowe,

In alle thing ryght as hit is.

Y graunte hyt yow/ quod she, ' ywis.

But what art thow that seyst this tale,

That werest on thy hose a pale, zso

And on thy tipet suche a belle ?'

' Madame/ quod he, ' sothe to telle,

I am that ylke shrewe, ywis,

That brende the temple of Ysidis

In Athenes, loo, that citee.'

' And wherfor didest thou so ?' quod she.

' By my thrift/ quod he, ' madame,

I wolde fayn han hadde a fame,

As other folke hadde in the toune,

Alle-though they were of grete renoune 760

For her vertue and her thewes,

Thought Y, as gret fame han shrewes,

(Though hit be noght) for shrewedenesse

As goode folke han for godenesse ;

And sith I may not have that oon,

That other nyl Y noght forgoon.

And for to gette of fames hire,

The temple set Y alle a-fire.

Now doon, our loos be blowen swithe,

As wisly be thou ever blythe.' 770

* Gladly/ quod she. ' Thow Eolus,

266 THE HOUSE OF FAME.

Herestow not what this folke prayen us ??

' Madame, yis, ful wel/ quod he,

' And I wil trumpen hit, parde !'

And toke his blake trumpe faste,

And gan to puffen and to blaste,

Til hyt was at the worZdes ende.

With that Y gan aboute wende, For oon that stoode ryght at my bake, Me thoughte goodely to me spake, TSO

And seyde, ' Frende, what is thy name ? Artow come hider to han fame ?' 1 Nay, forsothe, frende !' quod I ; ' I cam noght hyder, graunt mercy For no suche cause, by my hede ! Sufficeth me, as I were dede, That no wight have my name in honde. I wote my-self best how Y stonde, I For what I drye or what I thynke, \I wil my selfe alle hyt drynke, 790

Certeyn for the more parte, As ferforthe as I kan myn arte.' ' But what doost thou here ?' quod he. Quod Y, < That wyl Y tellen the, The cause why Y stonde here. Somme newe tydyngis for to lere, Somme newe thinge, Y not what, Tydynges other this or that, Of love, or suche thinges glade. For, certeynly, he that me made eoo

To come hyder seyde me Y shulde bothe here and se, In this place, wonder thynges ; But these be no suche tydynges

THE HOUSE OF FAME. 267

As I mene of. — ' Noo ?' quod he.

And I answerede, ' Noo parde !

For wel Y wote ever yit,

Sith that first Y hadde wit,

That somme folke han desired fame

Diversly, and loos and name ; 8io

But certeynly I nyste howe,

Ne where that Fame duelled, er nowe ;

And eke of her descripcioun,

Ne also her condicioun,

Ne the ordre of her dome,

Unto the tyme Y thidder come.'

* Why than, loo, be these tydynges,

That thou now hider brynges,

That thou hast herde ?' quod he to me ;

' But now, no fors ; for wel Y se 820

What thou desirest for to lere.

Come forth, and stonde no lenger here,

And Y wil the, withouten drede,

In suche another place lede,

Ther thou shalt here many oon.'

Tho gan I forthe with hym goon, Oute of the castel, so the to seye. Tho saugh Y stond in a valeye, Under the castel faste by, An house, that domus Dedaly, 880

That Laborynftis ycleped ys, Nas made so wonderlych ywis. Ne half so queyntelych ywrought. A^nd evermo, so swyft as thought, This queynte hous about e wente, That n evermo stiHe hyt stente. And theroute come so grete a novae,

268 THE HOUSE OF FAME.

That had hyt stonde upon Oyse,

Men myght hyt han herd esely

To Rome, Y trowe sikerly. s*o

And the noyse which I have herde,

For alle the world right so hyt ferde,

As dooth the rowtynge of the stoon,

That from thengyne ys leten goon.

And al thys hous of whiche Y rede, Was made of twigges, sal we, rede, And green eke, and somme weren white, Swiche as men to these cages thwite, Or maken of these panyers, Or elles hattes or dossers ; 850

That for the swough and for the twy^ges, This house was also ful of gygges, And also ful eke of chirkynges, And of many other werkynges ; — And eke this hous hath of entrees As feele as of leves ben on trees, In somer whan they grene ben, And on the rove men may yet seen A thousand holes, and wel moo, To leten wel the soune oute goo. 860

And eke be day in every tyde Been alle the dores opened wide, And they be nyght echoon unshette, Ne porter ther is noon to lette Ne maner tydynges in to pace : Ne never rest is in that place. That hit nys filde ful of tydynges, Other loude or of whisprynges ; And over alle the houses angles, Ys ful of rounynges and of jangles, 870

THE HOUSE OF FAME. 269

Of werres, of pes, of manages,

Of restes, of labour, and of viages,

Of abood, of deeth, of lyfe,

Of love, of hate, acorde, of stryfe,

Of loos, of lore, and of wynnynges.

Of hele, of sekenesse, of bildynges,

Of faire wyndes, of tempestes,

Of qwalme of folke, and eke of bestes ;

Of dyvers transmutacions.

Of estates and eke of regions ; 880

Of trust, of drede, of jelousye,

Of witte, of wynnynge, of folye ;

Of plente, and of grete famyne,

Of chepe, of derthe, and of ruyne ;

Of good or mysgovernement,

Of fire, and of dyvers accident.

And loo, thys hous of which I write, Syker be ye, hit nas not lyte ; For hyt was sixty myle of lengthe, Alle was the tymber of no strengthe ; 890 Yet hyt is founded to endure, While that hit lyst to Aventure, That is the moder of tydynges, As the see of welles and of sprynges ; And hyt was shapen lyke a cage.

* Certys,' quod Y, ' in al myn age, Ne saugh Y suche a hous as this.' And as Y wondrede me, ywys, Upon this hous, tho war was Y, How that myn egle, faste by, 900

Was perched hye upon a stoon ; And I gan streghte to hym goon, And seyde thus : — ' Y preye the

270 THE HOUSE OF FAME.

That thou a while abide me For goddis love, and lete me seen What wondres in this place been ; For yit paraventure Y may lere Somme good theron, or sumwhat here That leef me were, or that Y wente/

' Petre ! that is myn entente/ 9io

Quod he to me ; ' therfore Y duelle, But certeyn oon thyng I the telle, That, but I bringe the therinne, Ne shalt thou never kunne gynne To come into hyt, out of doute, So faste hit whirleth, lo, aboute. But sithe that Jovys, of his grace, As I have seyde, wol the solace, Fynally with these thinges, Unkouthe syghtes and tydynges, 920

To passe with thyn hevynesse, Soch routhe hath he of thy distresse, (That thou suffrest debonairly, And wost thy-selfen outtirly, Disesperat of alle blys, Syth that fortune hath made amys The frot of al thyn hertes reste LangwisA and eke in poynt to breste,) That he thrugh hys myghty merite, Wol do than ese, al' be hyt lyte, 930

And yaf in expresse commaundement, To whiche I am obedient, To further the with al my myght, And wisse and teche the aryght, Where thou maist most tydynges here, Shaltow here anoon many oon lere/

THE HOUSE OF FAME. 271

With ihilke worde he ryght anoon, Hente me up bytwexe his toon, And at a wyndowe yn me broghte, That in this hous was, as me thoghte ; 940

And therwithalle me thought hit stente, And nothinge hyt aboute wente ; And me set in the flore adoun. But whiche a congregacioun Of folke, as I saugh rome aboute, Some within and some withoute, Nas never seen, ne shal ben eft, That, certys, in the worlde nys left, So many formed be Nature, Ne dede so many a creature, 050

That wel unnethe in that place Hadde Y a fote brede of space, And every wight that I saugh there, Rouned in eche others ere, A newe tydynge prevely, Or elles tolde alle oppenly Ryght thus, and seyde, ' Nost not thou That ys betyd, late or now?

' No,' quod he, ' Telle me what.' And than he tolde hym this and that, 960

And swore therto that hit was sothe, 1 Thus hath he sayde,' and ' Thus he dothe,' And * Thus shal hit be,' and ' Thus herde Y seye/ * That shal be founde, that dare I leye.' That alle the folke that ys a lyve, Ne han the kunnynge to discryve, Tho thinges that I herde there, What aloude, and what in ere. But al the wonder most was this : —

272 THE HOUSE OF FAME.

Whan oon had herde a thinge, ywis, 970

He come forthright to another wight,

And gan him tellen anon ryght,

The same thynge that him was tolde,

Or hyt a forlonge way was olde,

But gan sommewhat for to eche

To this tydynge in this speche

More than hit ever was.

And nat so sone departed nas

That he fro him thoo he ne mette

With the thridde ; and, or he lette 980

Any stounde, he told hym als ;

Were the tydynge sothe or fals,

Yit wolde he telle hyt natheles,

And evermo with more encres,

Than yt wase erst. Thus north and southe,

Went every mothe fro mouthe to mouthe,

And that encresing evermoo,

As fire ys wont to quyk and goo

From a sparke sprongen amys,

Tille alle a citee brent up ys. 990

And whan that kit was ful yspronge, And woxen more on every tonge Than ever hit was, and went anoon Up to a wyndowe out to goon, Or but hit myghte oute there pace, Hyt gan oute crepe at somme crevace, And flygh forthe faste for the nones.

And somtyme saugh I thoo, at ones A lesyng and a sad sothe-sawe, That gonne of aventure thrawe, 1000

Out to a wyndowe for to pace ; And, when they metten in that place,

THE HOUSE OF FAME. 273

They were acheked bothe two,

And neyther of hem most out goo ;

For other so they gonne crowde,

Til eche of hem gan crien lowde,

' Lat me go first !' — ' Nay, but let me !

And here I wol ensuren the

Wyth the vowes that thou wolt do so,

That I shal never fro the go, me

But be thyn oune sworen brother !

We wil us medle eche with other,

That no man, be they never so wrothe,

Shal han that on or two, but bothe

At ones, al beside his leve,

Come we a morwe or on eve,

But we cried or stille yrouned.'

Thus saugh I fals and sothe, compouned,

Togeder fle for oo tydynge.

Thus oute at holes gunne wringe 1020

Every tydynge streght to Fame ; And she gan yeve eche hys name, After hir disposicioun, And yaf hem eke duracioun, Some to wexe and wane sone, As dothe the faire white mone, And lete hem goon. Ther myght Y seen Wended wondres faste fleen, Twenty thousand in a route, As Eolus hem blew aboute. 1030

And, lord ! this hous in alle tymes Was ful of shipmen and pilgrimes, With scrippes bret-ful of leseyngs, Entremedled with tydynges, And eke allone be hemselve.

VOL. v. T

274 THE HOUSE OF FAME.

0, many a thousand tymes twelve Saugh I eke of these pardoners, Currours, and eke messangers, With boystes crammed ful of lyes, As ever vessel was with lyes. iotf

And as I alther-fastest wente About, and did al myn entente, Me for to pleyen and for to lere, And eke a tydynge for to here, That I had herd of somme contre That shal not now be tolde for me ; For hit no nede is, redely ; Folke kaw hit synge bet than I. For alle mote oute other ]#te or rathe, Alle the sheves in the lathe. 1050

I herde a grete noyse withalle In a corner of the halle, Ther men of love tydynges tolde, And I gan thiderwarde beholde ; For I saugh rennynge every wight, As fast as that they hadden myght ; And everyche criede, ' What thing is that ?' And somme sayde ' I not never what.' And whan they were alle on an hepe, Tho behynde begunne up lepe. 1000

And clamben up on other faste, And up the noyse an-highen kaste, And troden faste on otheres heles, And stampen, as men doon after eles.

Atte laste I saugh a man, Whiche that I nat, ne kan, But he semede for to be A man of grete auctorite.

THE HOUSE OF FAME. 275

And therewithalle I abrayde Out of my sleepe, halfe afraide ; we

Remembring welle what I h&dde scene, And how hye and ferre I hadde beene In my goost ; and hadcfe gret wonder Of that the god of thunder Hadde let me knowen ; and began to write Lyke as yee have herd me endite. Wherefore to study and rede alway. I purpose to do day by day.

Thus in dreaming and in game, Endeth this lytel booke of Fame. lose

HERE ENDETH THE BOOKE OF FAME.

THE PROLOGUE OF NINE GOODE WYMMEN.

THOUSANDE tymes I have herd telle, There ys joy in hevene, and peyne in

helle,

And I acorde wel that it ys so ; But, natheles, yet wot I wel also, That ther is noon dwellyng in this countree, That eythir hath in hevene or helle ybe, Ne may of hit noon other weyes witen, But as he hath herd seyde, or founde it writen ; For by assay ther may no man it preve.

But God forbede but men shulde leve 10

Wel more thing then men han seen with eye ! Men shal not wenen every thing a lye But-yf hymselfe yt seeth, or elles dooth ; For, God wot, thing is never the lasse sooth, Thogh every wight ne may it not ysee. Bernarde, the monke, ne saugh nat alle parde ! Than mote we to bokes that we fynde, (Thurgh which that olde thinges ben in mynde) And to the doctrine of these olde wyse, Yeve credence, in every skylful wise, 20

That tellen of these olde appreved stories, Of holynesse, of regnes, of victories, Of love, of hate, and other sondry thynges,

LECiENDE OF GOODE WOMEN. 277

Of whiche I may not maken rehersynges • And yf that olde bokes were awey, Ylorne were of remembraunce the key. Wei ought us, thanne, honouren and beleve These bokes, there we han noon other preve.

And as for me, though than I konne but lyte, * On bokes for to rede I me delyte, so

And to hem yive I feyth and ful credence, And in myn herte have hem in reverence So hertely, that ther is game noon, That fro my bokes maketh me to goon, But yt be seldom on the holy day, Save, certeynly, whan that the monethe of May Is comen, and that I here the foules synge, And that the floures gynnen for to sprynge, my boke, and my devocioun !

Now have I thanne suche a condicioun, 40

That of alle the floures in the mede, Thanne love I most thise floures white and rede, Suche as men callen daysyes in her toune. To hem have I so grete affeccioun, As I seyde erst, whanne comen is the May, That, in my bed ther daweth me no day, That I nam uppe and walkyng in the mede, To seen this floure ayein the sonne sprede, Whan it up rysith erly by the morwe ; That blisful sight softneth al my sorwe, sc

So glad am I, whan that I have presence Of it, to doon it slle reverence, As she that is of alle floures flour, Fulfilled of al vertue and honour, And evere ilike faire, and fressh of hewe. And I love it, and evere ylike newe.

278 PROLOGUE TO THE

And ever shal, til that myn herte dye ;

Al swere I nat, of this I wol nat lye,

Ther lovede no wight hotter in his lyve.

And, whan that hit ys eve, I renne blyve, efl

As sone as evere the sonne gynneth weste,

To seen this flour, how it wol go to reste,

For fere of nyght, so hateth she derkenesse !

Hire chere is pleynly sprad in the brightnesse

Of the sonne, for ther yt wol unclose.

Alias, that I ne had Englyssh, ryme, or prose,

Suffisant this flour to preyse aryght !

But helpeth ye that han konnyng and myght,

Ye lovers, that kan make of sentement ;

In this case oghte ye be diligent, 70

To forthren me somwhat in my labour,

Whethir ye ben with the leef or with the flour,

For wel I wot, that ye han herbiforne

Of makynge ropen, and lad awey the corne ;

And I come after, glenyng here and there,

And am ful glad yf I may fynde an ere

Of any goodly word that ye han left.

And thogh it happen me rehercen eft

That ye han in your fresshe songes sayede,

Forbereth me, and beth not evele apayede, so

Syn that ye see I do yt in the honour

Of love, and eke in service of the flour,

Whom that I serve as I have witte or myght.

She is the clerenesse and the verray lyght,

That in this derke worlde me wynt and ledytli,

The hert in-with my sorwful brest yow dredith,

And loveth so sore, that ye ben verravly,

The maistresse of my witte, and nothing I.

My worde, my werkes, ys knyt so in youre bond

LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN. 279

That as an liarpe obeieth to the hond, 90

That maketh it soune after his fyngerynge, Ryght so mowe ye oute of myn herte bringe Swich vois, ryght as yow lyst, to laugh e or pleyne ; Be ye myn gide, and lady sovereyne. As to my ertheJy God, to yowe I calle, Bothe in this werke, and in my sorwes alle.

But wherfore that I spake to yive credence To olde stories, and doon hem reverence, And that men mosten more thyng beleve Then they may seen at eighe or elles preve ; '• 100 That shal I seyn, whanne that I see my tyme ; I may nat all attones speke in ryme. My besy gost, that trusteth alwey newe, To seen this flour so yong, so fressh of he we, Constreyned« me with so gredy desire, That in myn herte 1 feele yet the fire, That made me to ryse er yt wer day, And this was now the firste morwe of May, With dredful hert, and glad devocioun For to ben at the resurreccioun no

Of this flour, whan that yt shulde unclose Agayne the sonne, that roos as rede as rose, That in the brest was of the beste that day, o That Agenpres doghtre ladde away. And doune on knes anoon r}rght I me sette, And as I koude, this fressh« flour I grette, Knelyng alwey, til it unclosed was, Upon the smale, softe, swote gras, That was with floures swote enbrouded al, Of swich swetnesse, and swich odour over-al, i2« That for to speke of gomme, or herbe, or tree, Comparisoun may noon ymaked be ;

280 PROLOGUE TO THE

For yt surmounteth pleynly alle odoures. And of riche beaute of floures. Forgeten hadde the erthe his pore estate

<> Of wyntir, that him naked made and mate, And with his swerd of colde so sore greved ; Now hath thatempre sonne alle that releved That naked was, and clad yt new agayn. The smale foules, of the seson fayn, 130

That of the panter and the nette ben scaped, Upon the foweler, that made hem awhaped In wynter, and distroyed hadde hire broode, In his dispite hem thoghte yt did hem goode To synge of hym, and in hir songe dispise The foule cherle, that for his coveytise, Had hem betrayed with his sophistrye. This was hire songe, ' The foweler we deffye, And al his crafte.' And somme songen clere Layes of love, that joye it was to here, HO

In worshippynge and in preysing of hir make ; And, for the newe blisful somers sake, Upon the braunches ful of blosmes softe, In hire delyt, they turned hem ful ofte, And songen, 'Blessed be seynt Valentyne ! For on his day I chees yow to be myne, Withouten repentyng, myn herte swete ! ' And therewithalle hire bekes gonnen meete, Yeldyng honour, and humble obeysaunces To love, and diden hir othere observaunces 150 That longeth onto love, and to nature ; Construeth that as yow lyst, I do no cure. And thoo that hadde doon unkyndenesse,

\ As dooth the tyjiif, for newfangelnesse, Besoghte mercy of hire trespassynge,

LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN. 281

And humblely songe hire repentynge,

And sworen on the blosmes to be trewe,

So that hire makes wolde upon hem re we,

And at the laste maden hire acorde.

Al founde they Daunger for a tyme a lord, iso

Yet Pitee, thurgh his stronge gentil myght,

Forgaf, and made mercy passen ryght

Thurgh Innocence, and ruled Curtesye.

But I ne clepe yt nat innocence folye,

Ne fals pitee, for vertue is the mene, «

As EtAike seith, in swich maner I mene.

And thus thise foweles, voide of al malice,

Acordeden to love, and laften vice

-Of hate, and songe alle of oon acorde,

1 Welcome Somer, oure governour and lorde.' 1:0

And Zepherus, and Flora gentilly

Yav to the floures, softe and tenderly,

Hire swoote breth, and made hem for to sprede,

As god and goddesse of the floury mede.

In whiche me thoght I myghte, day by day,

Dwellen alwey, the joly monyth of May,

Withouten slepe, withcuten mete or drynke.

Adoune ful softely I gan to synke,

And lenynge on myn elbowe and my syde,

The longe day I slpope me for tabide iao

For nothing ellis, and I shal nat lye.

But for to loke upon the daysie ;

That men by reson wel it calle may

The daisie, or elles the ye of day,

The emperice, and floure of floures alle.

I pray to God that faire mote she falle.

And alle that loven floures, for hire sake :

But, natheles, ne wene nat that I make

282 PROLOGUE TO THE

Tn preysing of the flour agayn the leef,

No more than of the corne agayn the sheef : 190

For as to me nys lever noon ne lother,

I nam withholden yit with never nother.

Ne I not who serveth leef, ne who the flour,

Wei browken they her service or labour,

For this thing is al of another tonne,

Of olde storye, er swiche thinge was begonne.

Whan that the sonne out of the south gan weste, And that this floure gan close, and goon to reste, For derknesse of the nyght, the which she dredcfe, Home to myn house full swiftly I me spedde 200 To goon to reste, and erly for to ryse, To seen this flour sprede, as I devyse. And in a litel herber that I have, That benched was on turves fressh ygrave, I bad men sholde me my couche make ; For deyntee of the newe someres sake. I bad hem strawen floures on my bed. Whan I was leyde, and hadcfe myn even hed, I fel on slepe, in-with an houre or twoo, Me mette how I lay in the medewe thoo, 210

To seen this flour that I love so and drede ; And from a fer come walkyng in the mede The God of Love, and in his hande a quene, And she was clad in real habite grene ; A fret of gold she hadde next her heer, And upon that a white corowne she beer, With flourouns smale, and, I shal nat lye For al the worlde ryght as a daysye Ycorouned ys with white leves lyte, So were the flowrouns of hire coroune white ; 220 For of oo perle, fyne, oriental,

LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN. 283

Hire white coroune was imaked al,

For which the white coroune above the grene

Made hire lyke a daysie for to sene,

Considered eke hir fret of golde above.

Yclothed was this myghty God of Love

In siike enbrouded, ful of grene greves,

In-with a fret of rede rose leves,

The fresshest syn the worlde was first begonne.

His gilte here was corowned with a sonne 230

In stede of golde, for hevynesse and wyghte ;

Therwith me thoght his face shoon so brighte

That wel unnethes myght I him beholde ; /

And in his hande me thoght I saugh him holde

Twoo firy dartes, as the gledes rede,

And aungelyke hys wynges saugh I sprede.

And, al be that men seyn that blynd ys he,

Algate me thoghte that he myghte se ;

For sternely on me he gan byholde,

So that his loking dooth myn herte colde. 240

And by the hande he helde this noble quene,

Corowned with white, and clothed al in grene,

So womanly, so benigne, and so meke,

That in this world, thogh that men wolde seke,

Half of hire beutS shulde men nat fynde

In creature that formed ys by kynde.

And therfore may I seyn, as thynketh me,

This songe in preysyng of this lady fre.

Hyd, Absalon, thynne gilte tressis clere;

Ester, ley thou thy mekenesse al adown ; 250

Hyde, Jonathas, al thy frendly manere ;

Penelopee, and Marcia Catoun,

Make of youre wifhode no comparysoun ;

284 PROLOGUE TO THE

Hyde ye youre beautes, Ysoude and Eleyne, My lady comith, that al this may disteyne.

Thy faire body lat yt nat appere,

Lavyne ; and thou Lucresse of Rome tonne,

And Polixene, that boghten love so dere,

And Cleopatre, with al thy passyoun,

Hyde ye your trouthe of love, and your renoun, 260

And thou, Tesbe, that hast of love suche peyne,

My lady comith, that al this may disteyne.

7 Hero, Dido, Laudomia, alle yfe£0j

And Phillis, hangyng for thy Bemophoun,

^ And Canace, espied by thy chere, Ysiphile betraysed with Jasoun, Maketh of your trouthe neythir boost ne soun, Nor Ypermystre, or Adriane, ye tweyne, My lady cometh, that all this may dysteyne.

This balade may ful wel ysongen be, 270

As I have seyde erst, by my lady fre ; For certeynly al thise mowe nat suffise, To apperen wyth my lady in no wyse. For as the sonne wole the fire disteyne, So passeth al my lady sovereyne, That ys so good, so faire, so debonayre, I prey to God that ever falle hire faire. For nadde comfort ben of hire presence, I hadde ben dede, withouten any defence, For drede of Loves wordes, and his chere, 280 As, when tyme ys, herafter ye shal here.

Behynde this God of Love upon the grene I saugh comyng of ladyes nientene In real habite, a ful esy paas ;

LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN. 285

And after hem come of wymen swich a traas, That syn that God Adam hadde made made of erthe, The thridde part of mankynde, or the ferthe, Ne wende I nat by possibilitee, Had ever in this wide worlde ybee, And trewe of love, thise women were echon. 290 Now wheither was that a wonder thing or non, That ryght anoon, as that they gonne espye This flour, which that I clepe the daysie, Ful sodeynly they stynten al attones, p

And knelede doune, as it were for the nones, And songen with o vois, * Heel and honour To trouthe of womanhede, and to this flour ,Q That bereth our alder pris in figurynge, Hire white corowne beryth the witnessynge ? ' And with that word, a-compas enviroun, soe

They setten hem ful softely adoun. First sat the God of Love, and syth his quene With the white corowne, clad in grene ; And sithen al the remenaunt by and by, As they were of estaat, ful curteysly, Ne nat a worde was spoken in the place, The mountaunce of a furlong wey of space. I, knelyng by this floure, in good entente Aboode, to knowen what this peple mente, As stille as any ston ; til at the laste 310

This God of Love on me hyse eighen caste, And seyde, ' Who kneleth there ?' and I answerde Unto his askynge, whan that I it herde, And seyde, * It am I,' and come him nere, And salwed him. Quod he, ' What dostow here. So nygh myn oune floure, so boldely ? Yt were better worthy trewely

286 PROLOGUE TO THE

A worme to neghen ner my flour than thow.'

' And why, sire,' quod I, ' and yt lyke yow ?

' For thow,' quod he, ' art therto nothing able. 320

Yt is my relyke, digne and delytable,

And thow my foo, and al my folke werreyest,

And of myn olde servauntes thow mysseyest,

And hynderest hem, with thy translacioun,

And lettest folke from hire devocioun

To serve me, and holdest itfolye

To serve Love. Thou maist it nat denye,

For in pleyne text, withouten nede of glose,

Thou hast translated the Romaunce of the Rose,

That is an heresye ayeins my lawe, 330

And makest wise folke fro me withdrawe ;

And of Cresyde thou hast seyde as the lyste,

That maketh men to wommen lasse triste,

That ben as trewe as ever was any steel.

Of thyn answere avise the ryght weel,

For thogh thou reneyed hast my lay,

As other wrecches han doon many a day,

By seynte Venus, that my moder ys,

If that thou lyve, thou shalt repenten this

So cruelly, that it shal wele be sene.' 340

Thoo spake this lady, clothed al in greene, And seyde, ' God, ryght of youre curtesye, Ye moten herken yf he can replye Agayns al this that ye have to him meved ; A God ne sholde nat be thus agreved, But of hys deitee he shal be stable, And therto gracious and merciable. And yf ye nere a God that knowen alle, Thanne myght yt be as I yow tellen shalle ; This man to yow may falsly ben accused, :>,.=*?

LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN. 287

Ther as by right him oughte ben excused ;

For in youre courte ys many a losQngeour, > >

And many a queinte totolere accusour, ^/

That tabouren in youre eres many a sown,

Ryght affcirliire ymagynacioun,

To have youre daliance, and for envie.

Thise ben the causes, and I shal nat lye,

Envia ys lavejidere of the court alway ;

For she ne parteth neither nyght ne day,

Out of the house of Cesar, thus seith Dante ; seo

Who so that gooth, algate she wol nat wante. \

' And eke, parauntere, for this man ys nyce, He myghte doon yt, gessyng no malice ; For he useth thynges for to make, Hym rekketh noght of what matere he take ; Or him was boden maken thilke tweye Of somme persone, and durste yt nat withseye ; Or him repenteth outrely of this. He ne hath nat doon so grevously amys, To translaten that olde clerkes writen, 370

As thogh that he of malice wolde editen, Despite of Love, and had himselfe yt wroght. This shoolde a ryghtwis lord have in his thought, And nat be lyke tirauntes of Lumbardye, That han no reward but at tyrannye. For he that kynge or lorde ys naturel, Hym oghte nat be tiraunt ne crewel, As is a fermour, to doon the harme he kan ; He moste thinke yt is his leege man, And is his tresour, and his gold in cofre. sso

This is the sentence of the philosophre : A kyng to kepe hise leeges in justice, Withoutcn doute that is his office.

288 PROLOGUE TO THE

Al wol he kepe hise lordes in hire degree, As it ys ryght and skilful that they bee Enhaunced and honoured, and most dere, ' For they ben half goddys in this world here, Yit mote he doon bothe ryght to poore and rychc, Al be that hire estaate be nat yliche ; And han of poore folke compassyoun. S9C

For loo, the gentil kynde of the lypun ! For whan a flye offendith him or biteth, He with his tayle awey the flye smyteth Al esely ; for of his gentrye Hym deyneth nat to wreke hym on a flie, As dooth a curre, or elles another best. In noble corage oughte ben arest, And weyen every thing by equytee, And ever have rewarde unto his owen degree. For, syr, yt is no maistrye for a lorde 40*

To dampne a man, without answere of wo .-de, And for a lorde, that is ful foule to use. And it so be, he may hym nat excuse, But asketh mercy with a dredeful herte, ; And profereth him, ryght in his bare sherie, To ben ryght at your owen jugement, Than oght a God, by short avysement, Consydre his owne honour, and hys trespas ; For syth no caus of dethe lyeth in this caas, Yow oghte to ben the lyghter merciable ; 410

Leteth youre ire, and beth sumwhat tretable ! The man hath served yow of his kunnyng, And furthred wel youre lawe in his makyng. Al be hit that he kan nat wel endite, Yet hath he made lewde folke delyte To serve you. in preysinge of your name.

LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN. 289

He made the book that hight the Hous of Fame,

And eke the Deeth of Blaunche the Duchesse,

And the Parlement of Foules, as I gesse,

And al the Love of Palamon and Arcite 420

Of Thebes, thogh the storye ys knowen lyte ;

And many an ympne for your haly dayes,

That highten Balades, Roundels, Virelayes.

And for to speke of other holynesse,

He hath in proce translated Boece,

And made the Lyfe also of Seynt Cecile.

He made also, goon ys a grete while,

Origenes upon the Maudeleyne.

Hym oughte now to have the lesse peyne,

He hath maade many a lay, and many a thynge. 430

1 Now as ye be a God, and eke a kynge, I your Alceste, whilom quene of Trace, [ aske yow this man, ryght of your grace, That ye him never hurte in al his lyve, And he shal sweren to yow, and that blyve, He never more shal agilten in this wyse, But shal maken, as ye wole devyse, Of wommen trewe in lovyng al hire lyf, Wher so ye wol, of mayden or of wyf, And forthren yow as muche as he mysseyde, 440 Or in the Rose, or elles in Creseyde.'

The God of Love answerede hire anoon, ' Madame,' quod he, ' it is so long agoon That I yow knewe so charitable and trewe, That never yit, syn that the worlde was newe. To me ne founde Y^ better noon than yee ; If that ye wolde save my degree, I may ne wol nat werne your requeste ; A.1 lyeth in yow, dooth wyth hym as yow liste.

VOL. v. IT

290 PROLOGUE TO THE

I al foryeve withouten lenger space ; 45fl

For who-so yeveth a yifte or dooth a grace, Do it bytyme, his thank ys wel the more, And demeth ye what he shal do therfore. Goo thanke now my lady here/ quod he. I roos, and doune I sette me on my knee, And seyde thus : — ' Madame, the God above Foryelde yow that the God of Love Han maked me his wrathe to foryive, And grace so longe for to lyve, That I may knowe soothly what ye bee, 460

That han me holpe, and put me in this degree. But trewely I wende, as in this cas Naught have agilt, ne doon to love trespas ; For-why a trewe man, withouten drede, Hath nat to parten with a theves dede. Ne a trewe lover oght* me not to blame, Thogh that I spake a fals lovere som shame. They oghte rather with me for to holde, For that I of Creseyde wroot or tolde, Or of the Rose, what-so myn auctour mente, 470 Algate, God woot, yt was myn entente To forthren trouthe in love, and yt cheryce, And to ben war fro falsnesse and fro vice, By swiche ensample ; this was my menynge.' And she answerde, ' Lat be thyn arguyrige, For love ne wol nat countrepleted be In ryght ne wrong, and lerne that of me ; Thow hast thy grace, and holde the ryght therto. Now wol I seyn what penance thou shalt do For thy trespas, understonde yt here : — 4-se

Thou shalt while that thou lyvest, yere by yere, The moste partye of thy tyme spende

LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN. 291

In makyng of a glorious legende,

Of goode wymmen, maydenes, and wyves,

That weren trew in lovyng al hire lyves ;

And telle of false men that hem bytraien, ^

That al here lyf ne don nat but asayen

How many women they may doon a shame,

For in your worlde that is now holde a game.

And thogh the lyke nat a lovere bee, 490

Speke wel of love ; this penance yive I the.

And to the God of Love I shal so preye,

That he shal charge his servauntes, by any weye.

To forthren thee, and wel thy labour quyte :

Goo now thy weye, this penaunce ys but lyte.

And whan this book ys made, yive it the quene

On my byhalfe, at Eltham, or at Sheene.'

The god of love gan smyle, and than he seyde : — ' Wostow,' quod he, ' wher this be wyf or mayde, Or queene, or countesse, or of what degre, 500 That hath so lytel penance yiven thee, That hast deserved sore for to smerte ? But pite renneth soone in gentil herte : That maistow seen, she kytheth what she ys/ /• And I answerde, ' Nay, sire, so have I blys, No more, but that I see wel she is good.' * That ie a trewe tale, by myn hood P Quod Love, ' and thou knowest wel, pardee, If yt be so that thou avise the. , Hastow nat in a book lyth in thy cheste, 510

The grete goodnesse of the quene Alceste, That turned was into a dayesye ? She that for hire housbonde chees to dye, And eke to goon to helle, rather than he, And Ercules rescowed hire, parde,

292 PROLOGUE TO THE

And broght hir out of helle agayne to blys ? *

And I answerde ageyn, and sayde, ' Yis,

Now knowe I hire. And is this good Alceste,

The dayesie, and myn owene hertes reste ?

Now fele I weel the goodnesse of this wyf, 520

That both after hir deth, and in hir lyf,

Hir grete bounte doubleth hir renoun.

Wei hath she quyt me myn affeceioun,

That I have to hire flour the dayesye.

No wonder ys thogh Jove hire stellyfye,

As telleth Agaton, for hire goodenesse,

Hire white corowne berith of hyt witnesse ;

For also many vertues hadde shee,

As smale jlorouns in hire corowne bee.

In remembraunce of hire and in honoure sso

Cibella maade the dayesye and the floure

Ycrowned al with white, as men may see,

And Mars yaf to hire a corowne reede, pardee,

In stede of rubyes sette among the white.'

Therwith this queene wex reed for shame a lyte,

Whanne she was preysed so in hire presence.

Thanne seyde Love, ' A ful grete necligence

Was yt to the, that ilke tyme thou made,

' Hyd Absolon thy tresses' in balade, .

That thou forgate hire in thy songe to sette, 540

Syn that thou art so gretly in hire dette,

And wost wel t^iat kalender ys shee

To any woman that wol lover bee :

For she taught al the crafte of fyne lovyng,.

And namely of wyf hode the lyvyng,

And alZe the boundes that she oghte kepe;

Thy litel witte was thilke tyme aslepe.

But now I charge the upon thy lyfe,

LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN. 293

That in thy legende thou make of thys wyfe,

Whan thou hast other smale ymaade before ; 550

And fare now wel, I charge thee na more.

But er I goo, thus muche I wole the telle,

Ne shal no trewe lover come in helle.

Thise other ladies sittynge here arowe,

Ben in thy balade, yf thou kanst hem knowe,

And in thy bookes alle thou shalt hem fynde ;

Have hem in thy legende now alle in mynde,

I mene of hem that ben in thy knowyng.

For here ben twenty thousande moo sittyng

Thanne thou knowest, goode wommen alle, seo

And trewe of love for oght that may byfalle ;

Make the metres of hem as the lest ;

I mot goon home, the sonne draweth west,

To Paradys, with al thise companye ;

And serve alwey the fresshe daysye.

At Cleopatre I wole that thou begynne.

And so for the, and my love so shalthou wynne ;

For lat see now what man that lover be,

Wol doon so stronge a peyne for love as she.

I wot wel that thou maist nat al yt ryme, 570

That swiche lovers dide in hire tyme ;

It- were to long to reden and to here ;

Sufficeth me thou make in this manere,

That thou reherce of al hir lyfe the grete,

After thise olcb auctours lysten for to trete.

For who-so shal so many a storye telle,

Sey shortly or he shal to longe dwelle/ •

And with that worde my bokes gan I take,

And ryght thus on my legende gan I make.

294 LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN.

INCIPIT LEGENDA CLEOPATRIE MAR- TIRIS, EGIPTI REGINE.

FTER the deth of Tholome the kyng, That al Egipte hadde in his governyng, Regned hys queene Cleopataras ; Til on a tyme befel ther swich a cas, That out of Rome was sent a senatour, For to conqueren regnes and honour, Unto the toune of Rome, as was usaunce, To have the worlde at hir obeysaunce, And sooth to seye, Antonius was his name. So fil yt, as Fortune hym oght a shame, 10

Whanne he was fallen in prosperitee, Rebel unto the toune of Rome ys hee. And over al this, the suster of Cesar He lafte hir falsly, er that she was war, And wold algates han another wyf, For which he took with Rome and Cesar strif.

Natheles, forsooth this ilke senatour, Was a full worthy gen til werreyour, And of his deeth it was ful gret damage. But Love hadJe brought this man in swich a rage, 20 And him so narwe bounden in his laas, Alle for the love of Cleopataras, That al the worlde he sette at noo value ; Hym thoghte ther was nothing to him so due As Cleopataras for to love and serve ; Hym roghte nat in armes for to sterve In the defence of hir and of hir ryght.

LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN. 295

This noble queene ek lovede so this knyght, Thurgh his desert and for his chivalrye ; As certeynly, but-yf that bookes lye, 30

He was of persone, and of gentilesse, And of diserecion, and of hardynesse, Worthy to any wight that liven may ; And she was faire, as is the rose in May. And to maken shortely is the beste, 'She wax his wif, and hadde him as hir leste.

The weddyng and the feste to devyse, To me that have ytake swich emprise, Of so many a storye for to make, Yt were to longe, lest that I sholde slake 40

Of thing that beryth more effecte and charge ; .For men may overlade a shippe or barge. And forthy, to effect than wol I skyppe, And al the remenaunt I wol let yt slyppe.

Octovyan, that woode was of this dede, Shoop him an oost on Antony to lede, Al outerly for his destructioun, With stoute Romaynes, crewel as lyoun ; To shippe they wente, and thus I let hem sayle.

Antonius, that was war, and wol nat fayle so To meten with thise Romaynes, yf he may, Took eke his rede, and booth upon a day His wyf and he and al hys oost forthe wente To shippe anoon, no lenger they ne stente, And in the see hit happed hem to mete. Up gooth the trumpe, and for to shoute and shete, And paynen hem to sette on with the sonne ; With grisly soune out gooth the grete gonne, And hertely they hurtelen al attones, And fro the toppe doune cometh the grete stonos.

296 LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN.

In gooth the grapenel so ful of crokes, 61

Amonge the ropes, and the sheryng hokes ; In with the polax preseth he and he ; Byhynde the maste begynneth he to fle, And out agayn, and dryveth hym over borde ; He styngeth hym upon hys speres orde ; He rent the sayle with hokes lyke a sithe ; He bryngeth the cuppe, and biddeth hem be blithe ; He poureth pesen upon the hacches slidre, With pottes ful of lyme, they goon togedre. 7C And thus the longe day in fight they spende Til at the last, as every thing hath ende, Antony is shent, and put hym to the flyghk, And al hys folke to-goo, that best goo myghte. Fleeth ek the queene with al hir purpre sayle, For strokes which that went as thik as hayle ; No wonder was, she myght it nat endure. And whan that Antony saugh that aventure, 1 Alias/ quod he, ' the day that I was borne ! My worshippe in this day thus have I lorne ! ' so And for dispeyre out of hys wytte he sterte, And roof hymself anoon thurghout the herte, Er that he ferther went out of the place. Hys wyf, that koude of Cesar have no grace, To Egipte is fled, for drede and for distresse. But herkeneth ye that speken of kyndenesse. Ye men that falsly sweren many an oothe, That ye wol dye yf that your love be wroothe, Here may ye seen of women which a trouthe. This woful Cleopatrie hath made swich routhe, »c That ther nys tonge noon that may yt telle. But on the morowe she wol no lenger dwelle, But made hir subtil werkmen make a shryne Of bile the rubeos and the stones fyne

LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN. 297

In al Egipte that she koude espye ;

And put ful the shryne of spicerye,

And let the corps enbawme; and forth she fette

This dede corps, and in the shryne yt shette.

And next the shryne a pitte than dooth she grave,

And alle the serpentes that she myght have, 100

She put hem in that grave, and thus she seyde : —

' Now, love, to whom my sorweful hert obeyde,

So ferforthely, that fro that blysful houre

That I yow swor to ben al frely youre ;

(I mene yow, Antonius, my knyght,)

That never wakyng in the day or nyght,

Ye nere out of myn hertes remembraunce,

For wele or woo, for carole, or for daunce ;

And in my self this covenaunt made I thoo,

That ryght swich as ye felten wele or woo, 110

As ferforth as yt in my powere lay,

Unreprovable unto my wif hood ay,

The same wolde I felen, life or deethe ;

And thilke covenaunt while me lasteth breethe

I wol fulfille ; and that shal wel be seene,

Was never unto hir love a trewer queene.'

And wyth that worde, naked, with ful good herte,

Amonge the serpents in the pit she sterte.

And ther she chees to han hir buryinge.

Anoon the neddres gonne hir for to stynge, 120

And she hir deeth receveth with good chere,

For love of Antony that was hir so dere.

And this is storial, sooth it ys no fable.

Now er I fynde a man thus trewe and stable.

And wolde for love his deeth so frely take,

I prey God lat oure hedes nevere ake !

EXPLICIT LEGENDA CLEOPATRE MARTYRIS.

298 LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN.

INCIP1T LEGENDA TESBE BABILON, MARTIRIS.

'>T Babiloyne whylom fil it thus ThewhichetounethequeeneSimyramus Leet dichen al about, and walles make Ful hye, of harde tiles wel ybake : There were dwellynge in this noble toune. Two lordes, which that were of grete renoune, And woneden so neigh upon a grene, That ther nas but a stoon wal hem betwene, As ofte in grette tounes ys the wone. And sooth to seyn, that o man had a sone, 10

Of al that londe oon the lustieste ; That other had a doghtre, the faireste That esteward in the worlde was tho dwellynge. The name of everyche gan to other sprynge, By worn men that were neyghebores aboute ; For in that contre yit, wythouten doute, Maydenes ben ykept for jelousye Ful streyte, leste they diden somme folye.

This yonge man was cleped Piramus, Tesbe highte the maide (Naso seith thus). 28

And thus by reporte was hir name yshove, That as they wex in age, wax hir love. And certeyne, as by reson of hir age, Ther myghte have ben betwex hem mariage, But that hir fadres nold yt not assente, And booth in love ylike score they brente,

LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN. 299

That noon of al hir frendes myghte yt lette.

But prevely sommtyme yit they mette

Be sleight, and spoken somme of hire desire,

As wre the glede and hotter is the fire ; so

Forbeede a Jove, and it is ten times so woode.

This wal, which that bitwixe hem bothe stoode, Was cloven atwoo, right fro the toppe adoune, Of olde tyme, of his foundacioun. But yit this clyft was so narwe and lite Yt was nat seene, deere ynogh a myte ; But what is that that love kannat espye ? Ye lovers twoo, yf that I shal nat lye, Ye founden first this litel narwe clifte, And with a soune as softe as any shryfte, 40

They leete hir wordes thurgh the clifte pace, And tolden, while that they stoden in the place, Al hire compleynt of love, and al hire woo. At every tyme whan they dorste soo, Upon the o syde of the walle stood he, And on that other syde stood Tesbe, The swoote soune of other to receyve. And thus here wardeyns wolde they disceyve, And every day this walle they wolde threete, And wisshe to God that it were doune ybete. 50 Thus wolde they seyn : — ' Alias, thouwikked walle! Thurgh thyn envye thow us lettest alle ! Why nyltow cleve, or fallen al atwo ? Or at the leeste, that thow wouldest so, Yit woldestow but ones let us meete, Or oones that we myghte kyssen sweete, Than were we covered of oure cares colde. But natheles, yit be we to the holde. In as muche as thou suifrest for to goou

300 LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN.

Our wordes thurgh thy lyme and eke thy stoon, eo Yet oghte we with the ben wel apayede.'

And whan these idel wordes weren sayde, The colde walle they wolden kyssen of stoon, And take hir leve, and foorth they wolden goon. Alle this was gladly in the evetyde, Or wonder erly, lest men it espyede. And longe tyme they wroght in this manere, Til on a day, whan Phebus gan to clere, Aurora with the stremes of hire hete, Hadcfe dried uppe the dewe of herbes wete, 70 Unto this clyfte, as it was wont to be, Come Piramus, and after come Tesbe. And plighten trouthe fully in here faye, That ilke same nyght to steele awaye, And to begile hire wardeyns everychone, And forth out of the citee for to gone. And, for the feeldes ben so broode and wide, For to meete in o place at o tyde, They sette markes ; hire metyng sholde bee Ther kyng Nynus was graven, under a tree ; so (For olde payens, that ydoles heriede, Useden thoo in feeldes to ben beriede) And faste by his grave was a welle. And shortly of this tale for to telle, This covenaunt was affermed wonder faste, And longe hem thoghte that the sonne laste, That it nere goon under the see adoune.

This Tesbe hath so greete affeccioun, And so grete lykynge Piramus to see, That whan she seigh hire tyme myghte bee, afl At nyght she stale awey ful prevely, With hire face ywympled subtilly.

LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN. 301

For al hire frendes, for to save hire trouthe, She hath forsake ; alias, and that is routhe, That ever woman wolde be so trewe, To trusten man, but she the bet hym knewe ! And to the tree she gooth a ful goode paas, For love made hir so hardy in this caas ; And by the welle adoune she gan hir dresse. Alias ! than comith a wilde leonesse 100

Out of the woode, withouten more arreste, With blody moouth of strangelynge of a beste, To drynken of the welle ther as she sat. And whan that Tesbe had espyed that, She ryst hire up, with a ful drery herte, And in a cave, with dredful foot she sterte, For by the moone she saugh yt wel withalle. And as she ranne, hir wympel leet she falle, And tooke noon hede, so soore she was awhaped, And eke so glad that she was escaped ; no

And ther she sytte, and darketh wonder stille. Whan that this lyonesse hath dronke hire fille, Aboute the welle gan she for to wynde, And ryght anoon the wympil gan she fynde, And with hir blody mouth it al to-rente. Whan this was don, no lenger she ne stente, But to the woode hir wey than hath she nome.

And at the laste this Piramus ys come, But al to longe, alias, at home was hee ! The moone shoone, men myghte wel ysee, 120 And in hys wey, as that he come ful faste, Hise eighen to the grounde adoune he caste ; And in the sonde as he behelde adoune, He seigh the steppes broode of a lyoune ; And in his herte he sodeynly agroos,

302 LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN.

And pale he wex, therwith his heer aroos, And nere he come, and founde the wimpel torne. 1 Alias/ quod he, * the day that I was borne ! This oo nyght wol us lovers boothe slee ! How shulde I axen mercy of Tesbee, 130

Whan I am he that have yow slayne, alias ? My byddyng hath z-slayn yow in this caas ! Alias, to bidde a woman goon by nyghte In place thereas a peril fallen myghte ! And I so slowe ! alias, I ne hadde bee Here in this place, a furlong wey or yee ! Now what lyon that be in this foreste, My body mote rente, or what beste That wilde is, gnawen mote he now my herte ! ' And with that worde he to the wympel sterte, HO And kiste it ofte, and wepte on it ful sore ; And seyde, ' Wympel, alias ! ther nys no more, But thou shalt feele as wel the blode of me, As thou hast felt the bledynge of TesbeY And with that worde he smot hym to the herte ; The blood out of the wounde as brode sterte As water, whan the conduyte broken ys. Now Tesbe, which that wyste nat this, But syttyng in hire drede, she thoghte thus : — * Yf it so falle that my Piramus iso

Be comen hider, and may me nat fynde, He may me holden fals, and ek unkynde.' And oute she comith, and after hym gan espien, Booth with hire hert, and with hire eighen ; And thoghte, ' I wol him tellen of my drede, Booth of the lyonesse and al my dede.' And at the laste hire love than hath she founde, Betynge with his helis on the grounde,

LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN. 303

Al blody ; and therwithal abak she sterte, And lyke the wawes quappe gan hir herte, leo And pale as boxe she wax, and in a throwe A vised hir, and gan him wel to knowe, That it was Piramus, hire herte dere.

Who koude write which a dedely chere Hath Tesbe now? and how hire heere she rente? And how she gan hir selve to turmente? And how she lyth and swowneth on the grounde ? And how she wepe of teres ful his wounde ? How medeleth she his blood with hir compleynte ? How with his blood hir selven gan she peynte? How clippeth she the dede corps ? alias ! 171

How dooth this woful Tesbe in this cas ? How kysseth she his frosty mouthe so colde ? * Who hath doon this ? and who hath ben so bolde To sleen my leefe ? 0 speke Piramus ! I am thy Tesbe, that thee calleth thus ! ' And therwithal she lyfteth up his heed.

This woful man that was nat fully deed, Whan that he herde the name of Tesbe crien, On hire he caste his hevy dedely eyen, iso

And doune agayn, and yeldeth up the gooste.

Tesbe rist uppe, withouten noyse or booste, And saugh hir wympel and his empty shethe, And eke his swerde, that him hath doon to dethe. Than spake she thus : — * Thys woful hande,' quod

she,

' Ys strong ynogh in swiche a werke to me ; For love shal me yive strengthe and hardynesse, To make my wounde large ynogh, I gesse. I wole the folowen deede, and I wol be Felawe, and cause eke of thy deeth/ quod she. iso

304 LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN.

' And thogh that nothing save the deth oonJy, Myghte the fro me departe trewely, Thou shal noo more now departe fro me Than fro the deth, for I wol goo with the.

' And now ye wrecched jelouse fadres oure, We that weren whilome children youre, We prayen yow, withouten more envye That in oo grave we moten lye. Syn love hath us broght this pitouse ende. And ryghtwis God to every lover sende, 200

That loveth trewely, moore prosperite Than ever hadde Piramus and Tesbe. And let noo gentile woman hire assure, To putten hire in swiche an aventure. But God forbede but a woman kan Ben as trewe and lovynge as a man, And for my parte I shal anoon it kythe.' And with that worde his swerde she took as-swithe, That warme was of hire loves blood, and hoote, And to the herte she hire selven smoote. 210

And thus are Tesbe and Piramus agoo. Of trewe men I fynde but fewe moo In al my bookes, save this Piramus, And therfore have I spoken of.hym thus. For yt is deyntee to us men to fynde A man that kan in love be trewe and kyndfc.

Here may ye seen, what lover so he be, A woman dar and kan as wel as he.

EXPLICIT LEGENDA TFSBE.

LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN. 305

INCIPIT LEGENDA DIDONIS, MARTIRIS CARTHAGINIS REGINE.

[LORIE and honour, Virgile Mantuan, Be to thy name ! and I shal as I kan Folowethylanterneasthou goste byforn, How Eneas to Dido was forsworne, In thyne Eneyde. And of Naso wol I take The tenour and the grete effectes make.

Whan Troy i-broght was to destruccion By Grekes sleight, and namely by Synon, Feynyng the hors offred unto Minerve, Thurgh which that many a Trojan moste sterve, ic And Ector had after his deeth appered ; And fire so woode, it myghte nat ben stered, In al the noble tour of Ylion, That of the citee was the cheef dungeon ; And al the contree was so lowe ybroght, And Priamus the kyng fordoon and noght ; And Eneas was charged by Venus To fleen away ; he tooke Ascanius That was his sone in his ryght hande and fledde, And on his bakke he baar, and with him ledde 2C His olde fader, cleped Anchises ; And by the wey his wyf Creusa he lees, And mochel sorowe hadde he in his mynde, Er that he koude his felawshippe fynde. But at the laste, whan he hadde hem founde, He made him redy in a certeyn stounde, And to the see ful faste he gan him hye, VOL. v. x

306 LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN.

And sayleth forth with al his companye

Towarde Ytayle, as wolde destanee.

But of his aventures in the see, w

Nys nat to purpos for to speke of here,

For it acordeth nat to my matere.

But as I seyde, of hym and of Dydo

Shai. be my tale, til that I have do.

So longe he saylled in the salte see, Til in Lybye unneth arryved he, So was he with the tempest al to-shake. And whan that he the havene had ytake, He had a knyghte was called Achates, And him of al his felawshippe he ches 40

To goon with him, the contree for tespye. He toke witn him na more companye, But forth they goon, and lafte hise shippes ride, His fere and he, withouten any guyde.

So longe he walketh in this wildernesse, Til at the last he mette an hunteresse, A bowe in hande, and arwes hadde shee ; Hire clothes were knytte unto the knee. But she was yit the fairest creature That ever was yformed by nature ; 50

And Eneas and Achates she grette, And thus she to hem spak whan she hem mette.

* Sawe ye/ quod she, ' as ye han walked wide, Any of my sustren walke yow besyde,

With any wilde boor or other beste, That they han hunted to in this foreste, Ytukked up, with arwes in hire cas?'

* Nay soothly, lady ! ' quod this Eneas ; ' But by thy beaute, as yt thynketh me,

Thou myghtest never erthely woman be, so

LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN. 307

But Phebus suster artow, as I gesse. And yf so be that thou be a goddesse, Have mercy on oure labour and oure woo.'

' I nam no goddesse soothely/ quod she thoo ; * For maydens walken in this contree here, With arwes and with bowe, in this manere. This is the regne of Libie ther ye been, Of which that Dido lady is and queene.' And shortly tolde al the occasioun Why Dido come into that regioun, 70

Of which as now me lusteth nat to ryme ; It nedeth nat, it nere but los of tyme. For this is al and somme ; it was Venus His owene moder, that spake with him thus ; And to Cartage she bad he sholde him dighte, And ranysshed anoon out of his sighte. I koude folwe worde for worde Virgile, But it wolde lasten al to longe while.

This noble queene, that cleped was Dido, That whilom was the wife of Sicheo, so

That fairer was than the bryghte sonne, This noble toune of Cartage hath begonne ; In which she regneth with so grete honoure, That she was holde of alle quenes floure, Of gentilesse, of fredome, of beautee, That wel was him that myght hir oones see. Of kynges and of lordes so desired, That al the worlde hire beaute hadde yfired, She stoode so wel in every wyghtes grace.

Whan Eneas was come unto that place, 90

Unto the maistre temple of al the toune, Ther Dido was in hir devocioun, Ful prively his wey than hath he nome.

308 LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN.

Whan he was in the large temple come, I kannat seye yf that hit be possible, But Venus hadde him maked invisible ; Thus seith the booke, withouten any les.

And whan this Eneas and Achates Hadden in the temple ben over-alle, Than founde they depeynted on a walle, 100

How Troy and al the londe destrued was. ' Alias, that I was born ! ' quod Eneas. ' Thurghout the worlde oure shame is kid so wide Now it is peynted upon every side. We that weren in prosperitee, Be new disclaundred, and in swiche degre, No lenger for to lyven I ne kepe/ And with that worde he braste out for to wepe So tendirly that routhe it was to seene.

This fresshe lady, of the citee queene, no

Stoode in the temple, in hire estat royalle, So richely, and eke so faire withalle, So yonge, so lusty, with hire eighen glade, That yf that God that hevene and erthe made, Wolde han a love, for beaute and goodenesse, And womanhode, and trouthe, and semlynesse, Whom sholde he loven but this lady swete ? Ther nys no woman to him halfe so mete. Fortune, that hath the worlde in governaunce, Hath sodeynly broght in so newe a chaunce, 120 That never yit was in so fremde a cas. For al the companye of Eneas, Which that he wende han loren in the see, Aryved ys noght fer fro the citee. For which the grettest of his lordes, some By aventure ben to the citee come

LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN. 309

Unto that same temple for to seke

The queene, and of hire socour hir beseke ;

Swich renowne was ther spronge of hir goodnesse.

And whan they hadde tolde al hire distresse, And al hir tempeste and hire harde cas, isi

Unto the queene appered Eneas, And openly beknew that it was he. Who hadde joy thanne, but his me?/nee, That hadden founde hire lord, hire governour ?

The queene sawgh they dide him swich honour, And had herde ofte of Eneas er thoo, And in hir herte liadde routhe and woo, That ever swiche a noble man as hee Shal ben dishereted in swiche degree. 140

And sawgh the man, that he was lyke a knyghte, And suffisaunt of persone and of myghte, And lyke to ben a verray gentilman. And wel hys wordes he besette kan, And hadde a noble visage for the noones, And formed wel of brawnes and of boones ; And after Venus hadde swich fairenesse, That no man myghte be half so faire I gesse, And wel a lorde him semede for to bee. And for he was a straunger, somwhat shee iso Lyked him the bette, as God do boote, To somme folke often newe thinge is swoote. Anoon hire herte hath pitee of his woo, And with pitee, love come alsoo : And thus for pitee and for gentillesse, Refresshed mote he ben of his distresse.

She seyde, certes, that she sory was, That he hath had swich peril and swiche cas ; And in hire frendely specho, in this manere

310 LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN.

She to him spake, and seyde as ye may here. 160

' Be ye nat Venus sone and Anchises ? In good faythe, al the worshippe and encres That I may goodly doon yow, ye shal have ; Youre shippes and your meynee shal I save.' And many a gentil worde she spake him too, And comaunded hire messageres goo The same day, withouten any faylle, Hys shippes for to seke and hem vitaylle. Ful many a beeste she to the shippes sente, And with the wyne she gan hem to presente, no And to hire royalle paleys she hire spedde, And Eneas alwey with hire she ledde. What nedeth yow the feste to discryve ? He never better at ese was his lyve. Ful was the feste of deyntees and richesse, Of instruments, of songe, and of gladnesse, And many an amorouse lokyng and devys.

This Eneas is comen to Paradys Out of the swolowe of helle ; and thus in joye Remembreth him of his estaat in Troye. iso

To daunsyng chambres ful of parements, Of riche beddes, and of pavements, This Eneas is ladde after the meete. And with the queene whan that she hadde seete, And spices parted, and the wyne agoon, Unto hyse chambres was he lad anoon To take his ease, and for to have his reste With al his folke, to doon what so hem leste.

Ther nas coursere wel ybridled noon, Ne stede for the justyng wel to goon, 199

Ne large palfrey, esy for the noones, Ne juwel frette ful of riche stoones,

LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN. 313

Ne sakkes ful of gold, of large wyghte,

Ne rubee noon that shyneth by nyghte,

Ne gentil hawteyn faukone heroneer,

Ne hound for hert, or wilde boor or deer,

Ne coupe of golde, with floryns newe ybette,

That in the londe of Lybye may ben gette,

That Dido ne hath hit Eneas isente ;

And al is payed, what that he hath spente. 200

Thus kan this honourable queene hir gestes calle,

As she that kan in fredome passen alle.

Eneas soothly eke, withouten les, Hath sent to his shippe by Achates After his sone, and after ryche thynges, Booth ceptre, clothes, broches, and eke rynges ; Somme for to were, and somme for to presente To hire, that alle thise noble thinges him sente ; And bad hys sone how that he sholde make The presentynge, and to the queene it take. 210

Repeyred is this Achates agayne, And Eneas ful blysful is and fayne, To seen his yonge sone Ascanius. For unto him yt was reported thus, That Cupido, that is the god of love, At prayere of his moder hye above, Hadde the liknesse of the childe ytake, This noble queene enamoured to make On Eneas. But of that scripture Be as be may, I make of yt no cure. 220

But sooth is this, the queene hath made swich chere Unto this childe that wonder is to here ; And of the present that his fader sente, She thanked him ful ofte in goode intente.

Thus is this queene in pleasaunce and in joye,

312 LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN.

With al this newe lusty folke of Troye.

And of the dedes hath she moore enquered

Of Eneas, and all the storie lered

Of Troye ; and al the longe day they tweye

Entendeden for to speke and for to pleye. 230

Of which ther gan to breden swich a fire,

That sely Dido hath now swich desire

With Eneas hir newe geste to deele,

That she loste hire hewe and eke hire heele.

Now to theffecte, now to the fruyt of al, Why I have tolde this storye, and tellen shal.

Thus I bygynne : — It fil upon a nyght, Whan that the moone upreysed hadde hire lyght, This noble queene unto hire reste wente. She siketh soore, and gan hire selfe turmente ; 240 She waketh, walwithe, maketh many a brayde, As doone thise lovers, as I have herde sayde ; And at the laste, unto hire suster Anne She made hir mone, and ryght thus spake she thanne.

* Now dere suster myn, what may it be That me agasteth in my dreme ?' quod she. * This ilke Trojane is so in my thoghte, For that me thinketh he is so wel ywroghte, And eke so likely to ben a man, And ^erwithal soo mykel good he kan, 2,50

That al my love and lyf lyth in his cure. Have ye nat herde hym telle his aventure ? Now certes, Anne, yif that ye rede me, I wil fayne to him ywedded be ; ' (This is theffect ; what sholde I more seyn ?) ' In him lith alle, to doo me lyve or deyn/

Hir suster Anne, as she that kouth hire goode, Seyde as hire thoght, and somedel yt withstoode.

LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN. 313

But herof was so longe a sermonynge,

Yt were to longe to make rehersynge. 200

But, finally, yt may nat be withstonde ;

Love woll love, for no wyght wol yt wonde.

The dawenyng upryst oute of the see, This amorouse queene chargeth hire meynee The nettes dresse, and speres brood and kene ; An huntynge wol this lusty fresshe queene, So priketh hire this newe joly woo. To hors is al hire lusty folke ygoo ; Unto the courte the houndes ben ybroughte, And up on coursere, swyfte as any thoughte, 270 Hir yonge knyghtes heven al aboute, And of hir women eke an houge route. Upon a thikke palfrey, paper white, With sadel rede, enbroudet with delyte, Of golde the barres, up enbosed heighe, SUte Dido, al in golde and perrey wreighe. And she is faire as is the bryghte morwe, That heeleth seke folkes of nyghtes sorwe. Upon a coursere, startlyng as the fire, Men myghte turne him with a lytel wire, 230

Sitte Eneas, lyke Phebus to devyse, So was he fressh arrayed in hys wyse. The fomy bridel, with the bitte of golde, Governeth he ryght as himselfe hathe wolde. And foorth this noble queene, this lady ride On huntyng, with this Trojan by hire syde. The heerde of hertes founden ys anoon, With ' Hay ! goo bet! prike thou ! lat goon, lat goon ! Why nyl the lyoun comen, or the bere, That Y myght hym ones mcten with this spere ? ' 290 Thus seyn thise yonge folke, and up they kylle

314 LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN.

The wilde hertes, and ban hem at here wille.

Amonges al this, to romblen gan the hevene ; The thonder rorede with a grisly stevene ; Doune come the rayne, with haile and sleet so fastej With hevenes fire, that ys so sore agaste This noble quene, and also hire meynee, That yche of hem was glad awey to flee ; And shortly, fro the tempest hire to save, She fled hire selfe into a lytel cave, 300

And with hire wente this Eneas alsoo. I not with hem yf ther went any moo ; The auctour maketh of hit no mencioim. And here beganne the depe affeccioun Betwix hem two ; this was the firste morwe Of hire gladnesse, and gynnynge of hir sorwe. For there hath Eneas yknyled soo, And tolde hir al his herte and al his woo ; And sworne so depe to hire to be trewe For wele or woo, and chaunge for noo newe, 310 And as a fals lover so wel kan pleyne, That sely Dido rewed on his peyne, And toke hym for housbonde, and became his wife For evermor, while that hem laste lyfe. And after this, whan that the tempest stente, With myrth, out as they come, home they wente.

The wikked fame up roos, and that anoon, How Eneas hadcfe with the queen e ygoon Into the cave, and demed as hem liste. And whan the kynge thatYarbas hight,hit wiste, 320 As he that had hire loved ever his lyfe, And wowed hire to have to hys wife, Swiche sorowe as he hath maked, and suche chere, Yt is a rewthe and pitee for to here.

LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN. 315

But as in love alday it happeth 'soo, That oon shal lawghen at another es woo ; Now lawghec? Eneas, and is in joye, And more riches than ever was in Troye.

0 sely woman, ful of innocence, Ful of pitee, of trouthe, and conscience, 330

What maked yow to men to trusten soo ? Have ye suche rewthe upon hir feyned woo, And han suche ensaumples olde yow beforne ? Se ye nat alZe how they ben forsworne ? Where se ye oon that he ne hath lafte his leefe ? Or ben unkynde, or don hir some myscheefe ? Or pilled hir, or bosted of hys dede ? Ye may as wel hit seen as ye may rede. Take hede now of this grete gentilman, This Trojan, that so wel hire plese kail, 340

That feyneth him so trewe and obeysinge, So gentil, and so privy of his doynge ; And kan so wel doon al his obeysaunce To hir, at festes and at daunce, And whan she gooth to temple, and home agayne, And fasten til he hath his lady sayne ; And beren in his devyses for hire sake Wot I not what ; and songes wolde he make, Justen, and doon of armes many thynges, Send hire letres, tokens, broches, and rynges. 350 Now herkneth how he shal his lady serve.

Ther as he was in peril for to sterve For hunger and for myscheef in the see, And desolate, and fledde fro his contree, And al his folke with tempeste al to-driven, She hath hir body and eke hir reame yiven Into his hande, theras she myghte have beene

316 LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN.

Of other lande than of Cartage a queene,

And lyved in joy ynogh ; what wolde ye more f

This Eneas, that hath thus depe yswore, 360 Ys wery of his crafte within a throwe ; The hoote erneste is al over bio we. And prively he dooth his shippes dyghte, And shapeth him to steele awey by nyghte.

This Dido hath suspecion of this, And thoughts wel that hit was al amys ; For in his bedJe he lythe a nyght and siketh, She asketh him anoon what him mysliketh ; ' My dere herte which that I love mooste ? '

* Certes,' quod he, 'thys nyght my fadres gooste Hath in my slepe me so sore turmentede, 371

And eke Mercure his message hath presentede, That nedes to the conqueste of Ytayle My destany is soone for to sayle, For whiche me thynketh, brosten ys myn herte.' Therwith his false teeres oute they sterte And taketh hir within his armes twoo.

' Ys that in ernest ? ' quod she ; * wol ye soo ? Have ye nat sworne to wife me to take ? Alias, what woman wol ye of me make ? 380

I am a gentil woman, and a queene ; Ye wol nat fro your wyfe thus foule fleene ! That I was borne, alias! what shal Y doo?'

To telle in short, this noble queene Dido She seketh halwes, and doothe sacrifise ; She kneleth, crieth, that routhe is to devyse ; Conjureth him, and profereth him to bee Hys thral, hys servant, in the lest degre. She falleth him to foote, and swowneth there, Disshevely with hire bryghttf gelte here, 390

LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN. 317

And seith, ' Have mercy ! let me with yow ryde ;

These lordes, which that wonnen me besyde,

Wol me destroien oonly for youre sake.

And ye wole now me to wife take,

As ye han sworn, than wol I yive yow leve

To sleen me with your swerd now soone at eve,

For than shal I yet dien as youre wife.

I am with childe, and yive my childe his lyfe !

Mercy lorde, have pitee in youre thought !'

But al this thing avayleth hire ryght nought, 400

For on a nyght sleping he let hir lye,

And staal awey upon his companye,

And as a traytour forthe he gan to sayle

Towarde the large countree of Ytayle.

And thus hath he lefte Dido in woo and pyne,

And weddid there a lady highte Lavyne.

A clooth he lefte, and eke his swerde stondynge

(Whan he fro Dido staale in hire slepynge,)

Righte at hir beddes hed : so gan he hye,

Whanne that he staale awey to his navye. 410

Which clooth, whan sely Dido gan awake, She hath i-kyste ful ofte for hys sake ; And seyde, i 0 swete clooth, while Jupiter hitleste, Take my soule, unbynde me of this imreste, I have fulfilled of fortune al the course/ And thus, alias, withouten hys socourse, Twenty tyme yswowned hath she thanne. And whan that she unto hir suster Anne Compleyned had, of which I may not write, So grete routhe I have hit for to endite, 420

And bad hir noryce and hir sustren goon To feche fire, and other thinges anoon, And seyde that she wolde sacrifie ;

318 LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN.

And whan she myght hir tyme wel espye,

Upon the fire of sacrifice she sterte,

And with his swerde she roof hire to the herte.

But, as myn auctour seythe, yit thus she s^yde,

Or she was hurte, beforne or she deide,

She wroot a letter anoon, that thus biganne.

' Ryght so/ quod she, ' as the white swanne 430 Ayenst his deeth begynneth for to synge ; Ryght so to yow I make my compleynynge, Nat that I trowe to geten yow agayne, ( For wel I woot that hit is al in vayne, Syn that the goddys ben contrariouse to me. But syn my name ys loste thurgh yow,' quod she, •* I may wel leese a worde on yow, or letter, Albeit I shal be never the better. For thilke wynde that blew your shippe away, The same wynde hath blowe awey your fay.' 440 But who-so wool al this letter have in mynde, Rede Ovyde, and in him he shal hit fynde.

EXPLICIT LEGEND A. DIDONIS, MARTIRIS, CABTAGENIS EEGINE.

INCIPIT LEGENDA YPSIPHILE ET ME DEE, MARTIRIS.

HOU roote of false lovers, duke Jason ! Thou slye devourer, and confusyon Of gentil women, gentil creatures ! Thou m'adest thy reclaymynge and thy lures

LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN. 319

To ladies of thy staately aparaunce, And of thy wordes farsed with plesaunco, And of thy feyned trouthe, and thy manere, With thyne obeysaunce and humble chere, And with thy countrefeted peyn and woo ! Ther other falsen oon, thou falseste twoo ! 10

0. ofte swore thou that thou woldest deye For love, whan thou ne felteste maladeye, Save foule delyte, which that thou callest love ! If that I lyve, thy name shal be shove In Englyssh, that thy sleighte shal be knowe ; Have at the, Jason ! now thyn horn is blowe ! But certes, it is bothe rowth and woo, That love with false lovers werketh soo ; For they shalle have wel better and gretter chere Than he that hath i-bought love ful dere, 20

Or had in armes many a blody box. For ever as tender a capon eteth the fox. Though he be fals, and hath the foule betrayed,. As shal the goode man that therfor payed ; Alle thof he have to the capon skill e and ryghte, The false fox wil have his part at nyghte. On Jason this en sample is wel yseene, By Isiphile and Medea the queene. In Tessalye, as Ovyde telleth us, Ther was a knyght that highte Pelleus, 30

That had a brother whiche that hight Eson. And whan for age he myghte unnethes gon, He yaf to Pelleus the governynge Of al his regne, and made him lorde and kynge. Of whiche Eson this Jason geten was ; That in his tyme in al that lande ther nas Nat suche a famouse knyghte of gentilesse,

320 LEGENDS OF GOOJ/E WOMEN.

Of fredome, of strengthe, and of lustynesse.

After his fader deeth he bar him soo,

That there nas noon that lyste ben his foo, 40

But dide him al honour and companye.

Of which this Pelleus hath grete envye,

Imagynynge that Jason myghte bee

Enhaunced so, and put in suche degree,

With love of lordes of his regioun,

That from hys regne he may be put adoun.

And in his witte a nyghte compassed he

How Jason myghte beste destroyed be,

Withoute sclaunder of his compassemente.

And at the laste he tooke avysemente, 50

To senden him into some fer contre,

There as this Jason may distroyed be.

This was his witte, al made he to Jasoun

Grete chere of love and of affeccioun,

For drede leste his lordes hyt espyede.

So felle hyt so as fame renneth wide,

Ther was suche tidynge overalle, and suche los,

That in an ile that called was Colcos,

Beyonde Troye estewarde in the see,

That ther was a ram that men myghte see, eo

That had a flees of golde, that shoon so bryghte,

That no wher was ther suche another syghte,

But hit was kept alway with a dragoun,

And many other mervels up and doun ;

And with twoo booles maked al of bras,

That spitten fire; and muche thinge ther was.

But this was eke the tale nathelees,

That who-so wclde wynne thilke flees,

He moste booth, or he hit wynne myghte,

With the booles and the dragoun fyghte ; 70

LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN. 321

And kyng Otes lorde was of that ile.

This Pelleus bethoughte upon this wile,

That he his nevywe Jason wolde enhorte

To saylen to that londe, him to disporte.

And seyde, ' Neviwe, yf hyt myghte be,

That suche worshippe myghte falle the,

That thou this famouse tresor myghte wynne,

And brynge hit my regyoun wythinne,

It were to me grette plesaunce and honoure ;

Thanne were I holde to quyte thy laboure, 8«

And al the costes I wole my-selfe make ;

And chese what folke thou wilte wyth the take.

Let see nowe, darstow taken this viage ? '

Jason was yonge, and lustie of corage. And undertooke to doon this ilke emprise. Anoon Argus his shippes gan devyse.

With Jason wente the stronge Hercules, And many another that he with him ches. But who-so axeth who is with him goon, «

Let him rede Argonauticon, 90

For he wol telle a tale longe ynoughe. Philoctetes anoon the sayle up droughe, Whan the wynde was good, and gan him hye Out of his contree called Tessalye. So louge he sayled in the salte see, Til in the ile of Lemnos arryved he. Al be this not rehersed of Guydo, Yet seyth Ovyde in hys Epistoles so ; And of this ile lady was and queene, The faire yonge Ypsiphile the shene, 100

That whilom Thoas doughter was, the kynge.

Ypsiphyle was goon in hire pleynge, And romynge on the clyves by the see.

TOL. v. T

322 LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN

Undei a brake anoon espiede shee

Where lay the shippe that Jason gan arryve.

Of hire goodnesse adoun she sendeth blyve,

To weten, yf that any straunge wyghte

With tempest thider were yblow anyghte,

To doon hem socour, as was hir usaunce,

To forthren every wyghte, and don plesaimce no

Of very bountee, and of curteysie.

This messagere adoun him gan to hye, And founde Jason and Ercules also, That in a cogge to londe were ygo, Hem to refresshen, and to take the eyre. The morwenyng atempree was and faire, And in hys wey this messager hem mette ; Ful kunnyngely these lordes twoo he grette, And did his message, askynge hem anoon If they were broken, or woo begoon, 120

Or hadde nede of lodesmen or vitayle ; For socoure they shulde nothinge fayle, For it ivas outerly the queues wille.

Jason ansuerde mekely and stille ; ( My lady/ quod he, ' thanke I hertely Of hire goodnesse ; us nedeth trew«ly Nothing as now, but tkat we wery bee, And come for to pley out of the see, Til that the wynde be better in oure weye.'

This lady rometh by the clyfFe to pleye iso

With hire meynee, endelonge the stronde, And fyndeth this Jason and thyse other stonde In spekynge of this thinge, as I yow tolde.

This Ercules and Jason gan beholde How that the queene it was, and faire hir grette, Anoon ryght as they with this lady mette.

LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN. 323

And she tooke hede, and knywe by hire manere,

By hire array, by wordes, and by chere,

That hit were gentil men of grete degree.

And to the castel with hir ledeth shee no

These straunge folke, and dooth hem grete honour ;

And axeth hem of travaylle and labour

That they han suffred in the salte see ;

So that withynne a day two or three

She knywe by the folke that in his shippes bee,

That hyt was Jason, full of renomee,

And Ercules, that hadde the grete los,

That soughten the aventures of Colcos.

And did hem honour more than before,

And with hem deled ever the lenger the more ; 150

For they ben worthy folke withouten les.

And, namely, she spake most with Ercules,

To him hir herte bare, he shulde bee

Sad. wise, and trewe, of wordes avysee,

Withouten any other affeccioun

Of love, or any other ymaginacioun.

This Ercules hathe this Jason preysed. That to the sonne he hath hyt up reysed, That halfe so trewe a man ther nas of love Under the cope of hevene, that is above ; ieo

And he was wyse, hardy, secre, and ryche ; Of these thre poyntes there nas noon hym liche. Of fredome passed he, and lusti/<ede Alle thoo that lyven, or ben dede. Therto so grete a gentil man was he, And of Tessalye likly kynge to be. Ther nas no lakke, but that he was agasto To love, and for to speke shamefaste ; Him lever had himselfe to mordre and dye,

324 LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN.

Than that men shulde a lover him espye. 170

As wolde God that I hadde iyive

My bloode and flessh, so that I myghte lyve

With the 6ones, that he hadde oughe-where a wile

For his estaat ! for suehe a lusty lyfe

She sholde lede with this lusty knyghte !

And al this was compassed on the nyghte

Betwix him Jason, and this Ercules.

Of these twoo here was a shrewede les,

To come to house upon an innocent,

For to bedote this queene was her entent. 1*1

Thise Jason is as coy as ys a mayde ;

He loketh pitousely, but noght he sayde

But freely yafe he to hir counselleres

Yiftes grete, and to hire officeres,

As God wolde that I leyser had and tyme,

By processe al his wowyng for to ryme !

But in this house yf any fals lover be,

Ryght as himselfe now dothe, ryght so did he,

With feynynge, and with every sotil dede.

Ye gete no more of me, but ye wol rede 190

The original that telleth al the cas.

The sothe is this, that Jason weddid was Unto this queene, and toke of hire substaunce What-so him lyste unto hys purveyaunce ; And upon hir begate he children twoo, And drough his saylle, and saugh hir never moo. * A letter sente she to hym certeyn, Which were to longe to written and to seyn ; And him repreveth of his grete untrouthe, And prayeth him on hir to have some routhe. 200 And of his children two, she sayede him this ; That they be lyke of alle thinge, ywis,

LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN. 325

To Jason, save they couthe nat begile. And prayede God, or hit were longe while, That she that had his herte yrefte hir fro, Most him fynden to hir untrewe alsoo ; And that she moste booth hir children spille, And alle thoo that suffreth hym his wille ; And trewe to Jason was she al hir lyve, And ever kept hir chaste, as for his wyve ; 210 And hadrfe never she joye at hir herte, But dyede for his love of sorwes smerte. To Colcos comen is this duke Jasoun, That is of love devourer and dragoun, As nature appeteth forme ahvey, And from a forme to forme it passen may ; Or as a welle that were botomeles, Ryght so kan Jason ne have no pes, For to desiren, thurgh his appetite, To doon with gentil wymmen hys delyte ; 220

This is his luste, and his felicite. Jason is romed forthe to the cite, That whylom cleped was Jasonicos, That was the maister toune of al Colcos, And hath ytolde the cause of his comynge [Into JEetes, of that contree kynge ; Praynge him that he moste doon his assay To gete the flese of golde, yf that he may. Of which the kynge assentith to hys bone, And dothe him honour as hyt is to done, 230

So ferforthe, that his doghtre and his eyre, Medea, which that was so wise and feyre, That feyrer saugh ther never man with ye, He made hire doone to Jason companye Atte mete, and sitte by him in the halle.

326 LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN.

Now was Jason a semely man withalle, And like a lorde, and had a grete renoun, And of his loke as rial as lyoun, And goodly of his speche, and famulere, And koude of love al crafte and arte plenere 240 Withoute boke, and everyche observaunce. And as fortune hir oughte a foule meschaunce, She wex enamoured upon this man.

' Jason,' quod she, ' for oght Y se or kan, As of this thinge the whiche ye ben aboute, Ye, and your-selfe ye put in moche doute ; For who-so wol this aventure acheve, He may nat wele asterten, as Y leve, Withouten dethe, but I his helpe be. But nathelesse, hit ys my wille,' quod she, 250 * To furtheren yow, so that ye shal nat dye, But turne sounde home to youre Tessalye.'

' My ryghte lady/ quod thys Jason, ' thoo, That ye han of my dethe or of my woo Any rewarde, and doon me this honour, I wote wel, that my myght, ne my labour, May not deserve hit in my lyves day ; God thanke yow, ther Y ne kan nor may. Youre man am I, and louly yow beseche To ben my helpe, withoute more speche ; 260

But certes for my dethe shal I not spare.'

Thoo gan this Medea to him declare The peril of this case, fro poynt to poynte Of hys batayle, and in what disjoynte He mote stonde ; of whiche no creature Save oonly she ne myght hys lyfe assure. And shortely, ryght to the poynt to goo, They been accorded ful betwex hem two,

LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN. 327

That Jason shal hir wedde, as trewe knyght,

And terme ysette to come soone at nyght 270

Unto hir chambre, and make there hys oothe

Upon the goddys, that he for leve ne loothe

Ne shulde hire never falsen, nyght ne day,

To ben hir husbonde while he lyve may,

As she that from hys dethe hym saved there.

And here upon at nyght they mete yfere,

And doth his oothe, and goothe with hir to bedc/e,

And on the morwe upwarde he him spedcfo,

For she hath taught him how he shal not faile

The flese to wynne, and stynten hys batayle ; 280

And saved him his lyfe and his honour,

And gete a name as a conquerour,

Ryght thurgh the sleyghte of hir enchauntement.

Now hath Jason the fleese, and home ys went With Medea, and tresoures ful grete woone ; But unwiste of hir fader she is goone To Tessalye, with duke Jason hir leefe, That afterwarde hath broght hir to myschefe. For as a traytour he ys from hire goo, And with hir lefte yonge children twoo, 290

And falsly hath betrayed hir, alias ! And ever in love a cheve traytour he was ; And wedded yet the thridde wife anon, That was the doghtre of kynge Creon.

This ys the mede of lovynge and guerdoun, That Medea receyved of Jasoun Ryght for hir trouthe, and for hir kyndenesse, That loved hym beter thane hir-selfe, Y gesse ; And lefte hir fadir and hire heritage. And of Jason this is the vassalage, 300

That in hys dayes nas never noon yfounde

328 LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN.

So fals a lover goynge on the grounde.

And therfore in her letter thus she sayde,

First whan she of hys falsnesse hyra umbrayae .—

' Why lykede me thy yelow heere to see,

More than the boundes of myn honeste ?

Why lykede me thy youthe and thy fairenesse,

And of thy tonge the infynyte graciousnesse?

0, haddest thou in thy conquest ded ybe,

Ful mykel untrouthe hadde ther dyed with the ! '

Wei kan Ovyde hir letter in verse endyte. su Which were as now to longe for me to write.

EXPLICIT LEGENDA YSIPHILE ET MEDEE MARTIRUM.

INCIPIT LEGENDA LUCRECIE ROME, MARTIRIS.

;OW mote I sayne thexilynge of kynges Of Rome, for the horrible doynges Of the laste kynge Tarquynyus, As saythe Ovyde, ands Titus Lyvyus. But for that cause telle I nat thys story, But for to preysen, and drawen to memory The verray wife, the verray Lucresse, That for hir wifehode, and hir stedfastnesse, Nat oonly that these pay ens hir comende, But that i-cleped ys in oure legende 10

The grete Austyne, hath grete compassyoun Of this Lucresse that starfe in Rome toun.

LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN. 328

And in what wise I wol but shortly trete, And of this thynge 1 touche wil but the grete.

Whan Ardea beseged was aboute With Romaynes, that ful sterne were and stoute, Ful longe lay the sege, and lytel wroghten, So that they were halfe ydel, as hem thoghten. And in his pley Tarquynyus the yonge Gan for to jape, for he was lyghte of tonge ; 20 And sayde, that hyt was an ydel lyfe ; No man dide ther more than hys wife. * And lat us speke of wives that is best ; Preise every man hys owne as hzm lest, And with oure speche let us ease oure herte.'

A knyght, that highte Colatyne, up sterte, And sayde thus : — ' Nay, for hit ys no nede To trowen on the worde, but on the dede. I have a wife/ quod he, ' that as I trowe Ys holden good of a\le that ever hir knowe. so Go we to Rome, to nyght, and we shul se/ Tarquynyus answerde, * That lyketh me/ To Rome they be come, and faste hem dighte To Colatynes house, and doun they lyghte, Tarquynyus, and eke this Colatyne. The housbonde knywe the estres wel and fyne, And ful prevely into the house they goon. For at the gate porter was there noon : And at the chambre dore they abyde. This noble wyfe sate by hir beddys syde 40

Disshevely, for no malice she ne thoghte, And softe wolle, sayeth our boke, that she wroghte, To kepen hir fro slouthe and ydilnesse ; x A.nd bad hir servauntes doon hir besynesse ; \nd axeth hem, * What tydynges heren ye ?

330 LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN.

How sayne men of the sege ? how shal yt be ? God wolde the walles werne falle adoune ! Myn housbonde ys to longe out of this toune, For which the drede doth me so to smerte ; Ryght as a swerde hyt styngeth to myn herte, so Whan I thenke on these or of that place. God save my lorde, I pray him for his grace !' And therwithalle ful tendirly she wepe, And of hir werke she toke no more kepe, But mekely she let hire eyen falle, And thilke semblant sat hir wel withalle. And eke the teeres ful of hevytee, Embelysshed hire wifely chastitee. Hire countenance ys to her herte digne, For they acordeden in dede and in signe. 60

And with that worde hir husbonde Colatyne, Or she of him was ware, come stertyng ynne, And sayede, ' Drede the noght, for I am here ! ' And she anoon up roos, with blysful chere, And kyssed hym, as of wives ys the wone.

Tarquynyus, this prowde kynges sone, Conceyved hath hir beaute and hir chere, Hire yelow heer, hir bounte, and hire manere, Hir hywe, hir wordes that she hath compleyned, And by no craft hire beaute was not feyned ; 70 And kaughte to this lady suche desire, That in his herte brent as any fire So wodely that hys witte was foryeten, For wel he thoghte she shulde nat be geten. And ay the more he was in dispaire, The more he covetyth, arid thoght hir faire ; Hys blynde lust was al hys covetynge. On morwe, whan the brid began to synge,

LEGENBE OF GOODE WOMEN. 331

Unto the sege he cometh ful pryvely,

And by himselfe he walketh sobrely, so

The ymage of hir recordyng alwey newe ;

Thus lay hir heer, and thus fressh was hir hewe,

Thus sate, thus spake, thus spanne, this was hir

chere,

Thus faire she was, and thys was hir manere. Al this conceyte hys herte hath new ytake, And as the see, with tempeste al to-shake, That after whan the storm e ys al agoo, Yet wol the watir quappe a day or twoo ; Ryght so, thogh that hir forme were absent, The plesaunce of hir forme was present. 90

But natheles, nat plesaunce, but delyte, Or an unryghtful talent with dispite, 1 For mawgree hir, she shal my lemman be : Happe helpeth hardy man alway/ quod he,

* What ende that I make, hit shal be soo !' And gyrt hym with his swerde, and gan to goo, And he forthe-ryght til he to Rome ys come, And al allon hys way than hath he nome, Unto the house of Colatyne ful ryght ;

Doune was the sonne, and day hath lost hys lyght. And inne he come unto a prevy halke, 101

And in the nyght ful thefely gan he stalke, Whan every wyght was to hys reste broght, Ne no wyghte had of tresoun suche a thoght, Whether by wyndow, or by other gynne. With swerde ydrawe, shortly he cometh ynne There as she lay, thys noble wyfe Lucresse, And as she woke, hir bed she felt<? presse : 1 What best ys that/ quod she, « that weyeth thus?'

* I am the kynges sone Tarquynytis,' 110

332 LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN.

Quod he ; ' but and thow crye, or noyse make,

Or yf thou any creature awake,

Be thilke God that formede man on lyve,

This swerde thurgh thyn herte shal Y ryve.'

And therwithal unto hir throte he sterte,

And setie the swerde al sharpe unto hir herte.

No worde she spake, she hath no myght therto,

What shal she sayne ? hir wytte ys al agoo !

Ryght as a wolfe ihatfint a lomb allone,

To whom shal she compleyne or make mone ? 120

What ? shal she fyghte with an hardy knyghte ?

Wei wote men a woman hath no myghte.

What ! shal she crye, or how shal she asterte,

That hath hir by the throte, with swerde at herte ?

She axeth grace, and seyde al that she kan.

' Ne wolt thou nat ? ' quod this cruelle man ; ' As wisly Jupiter my soule save, I shal in the stable slee thy knave, And lay him in thy bed, and lowde crye, That I the fynde in suche avowtrye ; 130

And thus thou shalt be ded, and also lese Thy name, for thou shalt not chese.' Thise Romaynes wyfes loveden so hir name At thilke tyme, and dredden so the shame That what for fere of sklaundre, and drede of dethe, She loste both attones wytte and brethe ; And in a swowgh she lay, and woxe so ded, Men myghten smyten of hir arme or hed, She feleth nothinge, neither foule ne feyre.

Tarquynyus, thou art a kynges eyre, HO

And sholdest as by lynage and by ryght Doon as a lorde and as a verray knyght. Why hastow doon dispite to chevalrye ?

LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN. 333

Why hastow doon thys lady vylanye ? Alias, of the thys was a vilenouse dede !

But now to the purpose ; in the story I rede, Whan he was goon al this myschaunce ys falle. Thys lady sent aftir hir frendes alle, Fader, moder, housbonde, alle yfere, And dysshevelee with hir heere clere, 150-

In habyte suche as wymmen usede thoo Unto the buryinge of hir frendes goo, She sytte in halle with a sorowful syghte. Hir frendes axen what hir aylen myghte, And who was dede, and she sytte aye wepynge. A worde for shame ne may she forthe out-brynger Ne upon hem she durste nat beholde, But atte laste of Tarquyny she hem tolde This rewful case, and al thys thing horryble. The woo to telle hyt were impossible ie*>

That she and al hir frendes made attones. Al hadrfe folkes hertys ben of stones, Hyt myght have maked hem upon hir rewe, Hire herte was so wyfely and so trewe. She sayde that for hir gylt ne for hir blame Hir housbonde shulde nat have the foule name ; That nolde she nat sufFre by no wey. And they answerde alle unto hir fey, That they forgaf hyt hyr, for hyt was ryght. Hyt was no gilt; hit lay not in hir myght. no And seyden hire ensamples many oon. But al for noght, for thus she seyde anoon : 1 Be as be may/ quod she, ' of forgyfynge ; Y wol not have noo forgyft for nothinge/ But pryvely she kaughte forth a knyfe, And therwithalle she rafte hir-selfe hir lyfe ;

334 LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN.

And as she felle adoun she kaste hire loke,

And of hir clothes yet hede she toke ;

For in hir fallynge yet she hadde care,

Lest that hir fete or suche thynge lay bare, iso

So wel she lovede clennesse, and eke trouthe !

Of hir had al the toune of Rome routhe,

And Brutus hath by hir chaste bloode swore,

That Tarquyny shulde ybanysshed be therfore,

And al hys kynne ; and let the peple calle,

And openly the tale he tolde hem alle ;

And openly let cary her on a bere

Thurgh al the toune, that men may see and here

The horryble dede of hir oppressyoun.

Ne never was ther kynge in Rome toun 190

Syn thilke day ; and she was holden there

A seynt, and ever hir day yhalwed dere,

As in hire lawe. And thus endeth Lucresse

The noble wyfe, Titus beryth wittnesse.

I telle h}7t, for she was of love so trewe,

Ne in hir wille she chaungede for no newe,

And in hir stable herte, sadde and kynde,

That in these wymmen men may al day fynde,

Ther as they kaste hire herte, there it dwelleth.

For wel I wot, that Criste himself telleth, 200

That in Israel, as wyde as is the londe,

That so grete feythe in al the londe he ne fonde,

As in a woman ; and this is no lye.

And as for men, loketh which tirannye

They doon al day, assay hem who-so lyste,

The trewest ys ful brotil for to triste.

.EXPLICIT LEGENDA LTTCRECIE, EOME, MAETIEIS.

LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN. 385

INCIPIT LEGENDA ADRIANE DE ATHENES.

UGE infernal Mynos, of Crete king, Now cometh thy lotte ; now com

mestow on the rynge. Nat oonly for thy sake writen ys this

story, '

But for to clepe ageyn unto memory Of Theseus the grete untrewe of love, For which the goddis of heven above Ben wrothe, and wreche han take for thy synne. Be rede for shame ! now I thy lyfe begynne.

Mynos, that was the myghty kynge of Crete, That wan an hundred citees stronge and grete, 10 To scole hath sent hys sone Androgeus To Athenes, of the which hyt happeth thus, That he was slayne, lernynge philosophic, Ryght in that citee, nat but for envye.

The grete Mynos of the whiche I speke, His sones dethe ys come for to wreke, And the citee besegeth harde and longe ; But natheles, the walles be so stronge, And Nysus, that was kynge of that citee, So chevalrouse, that lytel dredeth he ; 20

Of Mynos or hys oste toke he no cure. Til, on a day, befel an aventtire, That Nisus doghtre stode upon the walle, And of the sege sawe the maner alle. So hyt happede, that at a skarmysshynge, She caste hir hert upon Mynos the kynge,

336 LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN

For hys beaute, and hys chevalrye,

So sore, that she wende for to dye.

And, shortly of this processe for to pace,

She made Mynos wynnen thilke place, .so

So that the citee was al at his wille,

To saven whom hym lyst, or elles spille.

But wikkidly he quytte her kyndenesse,

And let hir drenche in sorowe and distresse,

Ner that the goddys had of hir pite ;

But that tale were to longe as now for me.

Athenes wanne this kynge Mynos also,

As Alcathoe and other tounes mo ;

And this theffect, that Mynos hath so dryven

Hem of Athenes, that they mote hym yiven 10

Fro yere to yere hir owne children dere

For to be slayne, as ye shal after here.

Thys Mynos hath a monstre, a wikked beste, That was so cruelle that withouten areste, Whan that a man was broght into hys presence, He wolde hym ete ; ther helpeth no defence. And every thridde yere, withouten doute, They casten lotte, as hyt came aboute, On ryche, on pore, he most hys sone take, And of hys childe he moste present make so

To Mynos, to save him or to spille, Or lat his best devoure him at his wille. And this hath Mynos doon right in dyspite, To wreke hys sone was sette all his delyte ; , And make hem of Athenes hys thralle Fro yere to yere, while he lyven shalle ; And home he saileth whan this toune ys worine This wikked custome is so longe yronne, Til of Athenes kynge Egeus,

LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN. 337

Moste senden his oune sone Theseus, 60

Sith that the lotte is fallen hym upon,

To be devoured, for grace is ther non.

And forth is lad thys woful yonge knyght

Unto the countree of kynge Mynos ful of myght,

And in a prison fetred faste ys he,

Til the tyme he shulde yfreten be.

Wei maystow wepe, 0 woful Theseus, That art a kynges sone, and dampned thus ! Me thynketh this, that thow depe were yholde To whom that saved^ the fro cares colde. 70

And now yf any woman helpe the, Wei oughtestow hir servant for to be, And ben hir trewe lover yere by yere ! But now to come agayn to my matere.

The tour, ther this Theseus ys ythrowe, Doune in the bothome derke, and wonder lowe, Was joynynge to the walle of a foreyne, And hyt was longynge to the doghtren tweyne Of Mynos, that in hire chambres grete Dweltene above the maystre strete so

Of Athenes in joy and in solace. Wot I not how hyt happede parcase, As Theseus compleyned hym by nyghte, The kynges doghtre that Adriane hyghte, And eke hir suster Phedra, herden alle Hys compleynt, as they stode on the walle, And loked upon the bryghte mone ; Hem liste nat goo to bedde so sone. And of hys woo they hadde compassyoun ; 'A kynges sone to be in swiche prisoun, 90

And be devoured, thoughte hem grete pitee. Than Adriane spake to hir suster free,

VOL. v. z

338 LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN.

And seyde, ' Phedra, leve suster dere. This woful lordes sone may ye not here, How pitousely compleyneth he hys kynne, And eke his pore estate that he ys ynne ? And gilteles ; certes now hit ys routhe ! And yf ye wol assents, by my trouthe, He shal be holpen, how soo that we doo.'

Phedra answerde, ' Ywys, me ys as woo 100 For him, as ever I was for any man ; And to his helpe the beste rede that I kan, Ys, that we doon the gayler prively To come and speke with us hastely, And doon this woful man with him to come ; For yf he may the monstre overcome, Than were he quyte ; ther ys noon other bote ! Lat us wel taste him at hys herte rote, That yf so be that he a wepne have, Wher that hys lyfe he dar kepe or save, no

Fighten with this fende and him defende. For in the prison, ther as he shal descende, Te wote wel that the best is in a place That nys not derke, and hath roume and eke space To welde an axe, or swerde, or staffe, or knyffe. So that me thenketh he shulde save hys lyffe ; Yf that he be a man, he shal do so. And we shal make him balles eke alsoo Of wexe and towe, that whan he gapeth faste, Into the bestes throte he shal hem caste, 120

To sleke hys hunger, and encombre hys tethe. And ryght anoon whan that Theseus sethe The beste asleked, he shal on hym lepe To sleen hym or they comen more to kepe. This wepen shal the gayler, or that tyde,

LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN. 339

?ul prively within the prisoun hyde :

Lnd for the house is crynkled to and fro,

Lnd hath so queynte weyes for to go.

•"or yt is shapen as the mase is wroght ;

?herto have I a remedy in my thoght, 130

i'hat by a clywe of twyne, as he hath goon,

?he same way he may returne anoon,

folwynge alway the threde, as he hath come.

Lnd whan this beste ys overcome,

?hanne may he fleen away out of this stede,

Lnd eke the gayler may he wyth him lede,

ind him avaunce at home in his contree,

>yn that soo grete a lordes sone ys he/

rhys ys my rede yf that ye dar hyt take ;

Vhat shulde I lenger sermoun of hyt make ? ' HO

[Tie gayler cometh, and with hym Theseus.

\"han these thynges ben acorded thus.

Ooime sytte Theseus upon hys knee,

The ryghte lady of my lyfe/ quod he,

Y sorwful man, ydampned to the doth,

?ro yow, whiles that me lasteth breth,

! wol not twynne aftir this aventure.

But in youre servise thus 1 wol endure ;

Chat as a wrechche unknowe I wol yow serve

For evermore, til that myn herte sterve. 150

?orsake I wol at home myn herytage,

bid, as I sayde, ben of your courte a page,

iff that ye vouchesafe that in this place,

Sfe graunte me to have suche a grace,

[hat I may have not but my mete and drinke ;

taid for my sustenaunce yet wol I swynke,

[lyght as yow lyste ; that Mynos ne no wyght,

tyn that he sawe me never with eighen syght,

340 LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN.

Ne no man elles shal me konne espye,

So slyly and so wele I shal me gye, ie

And me so wel disfigure, and so lowe,

That in this worlde ther shal no man me knowe,

To han my lyfe, and to have presence

Of yow, that doon to me this excellence.

And to my fader shal I sende here

This worthy man that is your gaylere,

And him so guerdone that he shal wel bee

Con of the gretest men of my contree.

And yif I durste sayne, my lady bryght,

I am a kynges sone and eke a knyght, j ?r

As wolde God, yif that hyt myghte bee,

Ye weren in my contree alle three,

And I with )TOW, to bere yow companye.

Than shulde ye seen yf that I therof lye.

And yf that I profre yow in lowe manere,

To ben youre page and serven yow ryght here,

But I yow serve as lowly in that place,

I prey to Marce to yeve me suche grace,

That shames dede on me ther mote falle,

And dethe and poverte to my frendes alle, i&O

And that my spirite be nyghte mote goo

After my dethe, and walke to and froo,

That I mote of traytoure have a name,

For which my spirite mot goo to do me shame !

And yif ever Y clayme other degre,

But ye vouchesafe to yeve hyt me,

As I have seyde, of shames deth Y deye !

And mercy, lady ! 1 kan no more seye.'

A semely knyght was this Theseus to sec, And yonge, but of twenty yere and three. iw> But whoso hadde yseen hys contenaunce,

LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN. 341

3e wolde have wepte for routhe of his penaunce : ?or which this Adriane in this manere, ^.nswerde to hys profre and to hys chere.

' A kynges sone, and eke a knyght/ quod she. To ben my servant in so lowe degre, }od shelde hit, for the shame of wymmen alle, Lnd lene me never suche a ease befalle ! k.nd sende yow grace and sleyght of hert also fow to defende, and knyghtly sleen your fo ! 200

d lene hereaftir I may yow fynde me and to my suster here so kynde, Chat I ne repente not to yeve yow lyfe ! fet wer hyt better I were your wife, >yn ye ben as gentil borne as Y, tnd have a realme nat but faste by, Chen that I suffrede your gentillesse to sterve, )r that I lete yow as a page serve ; lyt is not profet, as unto your kynrede. 3ut what is that, that man wol not do for drede ? ind to my suster syn that hyt is so, 211

Chat she mote goon with me yf that I goo. )r elles suffre deth as wel as I, Chat ye unto your sone as trewely, )oon hir be wedded at your home comynge. rhis ys the fynal ende of al this thynge ; ife, swere hit here, upon al that may be sworne !'

* Yee, lady myn,' quod he, ' or elles tome Mote I be with the Minotawre to morowe ! V.nd have here of myn herte bloode to borowe, 220 iTif that ye wol ! Yf I h&dde knyfe or spere, [ wolde hit laten out, and theron swere, For then at erst, I wote ye wol me'leve. By Mars, that ys chefe of my beleve,

342 LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN.

So that I myghte lyven, and nat fayle

To morowe for to taken my batayle,

Y nolde never fro this place flee,

Til that ye shulde the verray prefe see.

For now, yf that the sothe I shal yow save,

I have loved yow ful many a daye, *!Sfl

Thogh ye ne wiste nat, in my contree,

And aldermoste desirede yow to see,

Of any erthely lyvynge creature.

Upon my trouthe I swere and yow assure,

These seven yere I have your servant bee.

Now have I yow, and also have ye mee,

My dere hert, of Athenes duchesse !'

This lady smyleth at his stedfastnesse, And at hys hertely wordys, and at his chere, And to hir suster sayde in this manere : — 24*

' And softely now, suster myn/ quod she, ' Now be we duchesses both I and ye, And sykered to the regals of Athenes, And both heraftir lykly to be queenes, And saved fro hys deth a kynges sone As ever of gentil wymen ys the wone, To save a gentilman, enforthe hir myght, In honest cause, and namely in his ryght. Me thinketh no wyght ought us hereof blame, Ne beren us therfore an evel name/ 250

And shortely of this matere for to make, This Theseus of hir hath leve ytake, And every poynt was performed in dede, As ye have in the covenant herde me rede ; Hys wepne, his clyw, hys thing that I have sayde Was by the gayler in the house ylayde, Ther as this Mynatowre hath hys dwellyng,

LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN. 343

Ryght faste by the dorre at hys entrynge,

And Theseus ys ladde unto hys dethe ;

And forthe unto this Mynataure he gethe, seo

And by the techynge of thys Adriane,

He overcome thys beste and was hys bane,

And oute he cometh by the clywe agayne

Ful prively. When he thys beste hath slayne,

And by the gayler gotten hath a large,

And of his wives tresure gan it charge,

And tok hys wif, and eke hir suster free,

And by the gayler, and wyth hem alle three

Ys stole away out of the londe by nighte,

And to the contree of Ennopye hym dyghte, 270

There as he had a frende of his knowynge.

There festen they, there dauncen they and synge,

And in hys armes hath thys Adriane,

That of the beste hath kepte him from hys bane.

And gate him there a noble barge anoon,

A.nd of his countre folke a grete woon,

And taketh hys leve, and homewarde sayleth hee ;

And in an yle, amydde the wilde see,

There as ther dwelleth creature noon

Save wilde bestes, and that ful many oon, sso

He made his shippe a-londe for to sette,

And in that ile halfe a day he lette,

And sayde on the londe he moste him reste.

Hys maryners han don ryght as hym leste ;

And, for to telle schortly in thys case,

Whanne Adriane hys wyfe aslepe was,

For that hir suster fairer was than she,

He taketh hir in hys honde, and forth gooth he

To shyppe, and as a traytour stale hys way,

While that thys Adriane aslepe lay, 290

344 LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN.

And to hys contree-warde he sayleth blyve, (A twenty devel way the wynde him dryve !) And fonde hys fader drenched in the see. Me lyste no more to speke of hym, pardee ! These false lovers, poyson be her bane !

But I wol turne ageyne to Adryane, That ys with slepe for werynesse ytake ; Ful sorwfully hir herte may awake. Alias, for the myn herte hath pitee ! Ryght in the dawenynge awaketh shee, soo

And gropeth in the bed, and fonde ryght noght.

* Alias,' quod she, * that ever I was wroght ! I am betrayed/ and hir heer to-rent«, And to the stronde barefote faste she wente, , And cryede, ' Theseus, myn herte swete ! Where be ye, that I may not wyth yow mete ? And myghte thus with bestes ben yslayne.' The holowe roches answerde hir agayne. No man she sawe, and yet shone the mone, And hye upon a rokke she wente sone, 310

And saw hys barge saylynge in the see. Colde waxe hir hert, and ryght thus sayde she : —

' Meker than ye fynde I the bestes wilde ! ' (Hath he not synne, that he hir thus begylde ?) She cried, ' 0 turne agayne for routhe and synne, Thy barge hath not al thy meyny ynne.' Hir kerchefe on a pole stykede shee, Ascaunce that he shulde hyt wel ysee, And hym remembre that she was behynde, And turne agayne, and on the stronde hir fynde. But al for noght ; hys wey he ys i-goon, 321

And doune she felle a-swowne on a stoon ; And up she ryste, and kyssed in al hir care

LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN. 345

The steppes of hys fete, there he hath fare,

And to hir bedde ryght thus she speketh thoo : —

* Thow bedd/ quoth she, ' that haste receyved

twoo,

Thow shalt answere of twoo and not of oon, Where ys the gretter parte away i-goon ? Alias, where shal I wreched wyght become ? For though so be that bote noon here come, 330 Home to my contree dar I not for drede ; I kan my selfe in this case not rede/

What shulde I telle more hir compleynynge ? Hyt ys so longe hyt were an hevy thynge. In hyr epistil Naso telleth alle, But shortly to the ende tel I shalle. The goddys have hir holpen for pitee, And in the sygne of Taurus men may see The stones of hir corowne shyne clere ; I wol no more speke of thys matere. 340

But thus these false loveres kan begyle Hire trewe love ; the devel quyte hym hys while !

EXPLICIT LEGENDA ADRIANE DE ATHENES.

INCIPIT LEGENDA PHILOMENE.

HOW yiver of the formes, that hast

wroght

The faire worlde, and bare hit in thy ; , thoght

Eternally or thow thy werke beganne,

346 LEGENDE OF GOODlS WOMEN.

Why madest thow unto the sklaunder of manwc,—

Or al be that hyt was not thy doyinge,

As for th&tjine to make suche a thynge, —

Why suffrest thow that Tereus was bore,

That ys in love so fals and so forswore,

That fro thys worlde up to the firste hevene

Corrumpeth, whan that folke hys name nevene ? 10

And as to me, so grisly was hys dede,

That whan that I this foule story rede,

Myn eyen wexen foule and sore also ;

Yet laste the venym of so longe ago,

That infecteth hym that wolde behold e

The story of Tereus, of which I tolde.

Of Trase was he lorde, and kynne to Marte,

The cruelle god that stante with blody darte,

And wedded hadde he, with blisful chere,

King Pandyones faire doghter dere, 20

That hyghte Proygne, floure of hir eontree ;

Thogh Juno Zwste nat at the feste bee,

Ne Ymeneus, that god of weddyng is.

But at the feste redy ben, ywys,

The furies thre, with al hire mortel bronde.

The owle al nyght about the balkes wonde,

That prophete ys of woo and of myschaunce.

This revel, ful of songe, and ful of daunce,

Laste a fourtenyght or lytel lasse.

But shortly of this story for to passe, 30

(For I am wery of hym for to telle)

Fyve yere hys wyfe and he togedir dwelle ;

Til on a day she gan so sore longe

To seen hir suster, that she sawgh not longe,

That for desire she nyste what to seye,

But to hir husbonde gan she for to preye

LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN. 347

For Goddys love, that she moste ones goon

Hir suster for to seen, and come anoon.

Or elles but she moste to hyr wende,

She preyde hym that he wolde aftir hir sende. 40

And thys was day be day al hir prayere,

With al humblesse of wyfehode, worde and chcre.

This Tereus let make hys shippes yare, And into Grece hymselfe ys forthe yfare, Unto hys fader in lawe, and gan hym preye, , To vouche-safe that for a moneth or tweye, That Philomene, his wyfes suster, myghte On Proigne hys wyfe but ones have a syghte ; • And she shal come to yow agayne anoon, My selfe with hyr, I wil bothe come and goon, so And as myn hertes lyfe I wol hir kepe.'

Thys olde Pandeon, thys<kynge, gan wepe For tendernesse of herte for to leve Hys doghtre goon, and for to yive hir leve ; Of al thys worlde he loved<? nothinge soo ; But at the laste leve hath she to go. For Philomene with salte teres eke Gan of hir fader grace to beseke, To seen hir sustre that hir longeth soo, And hym enbraceth with hir armes twoo. 60

And ther-with-alle so yonge and faire was she, That whan that Tereus sawgh hir beaute, And of array that ther nas noon hir lyche, And yet of bounte was she too so ryche, He caste hys firy hert upon hir soo, That he wol have hir how-soo that hyt goo, And with hys wiles kneled and so preyde, Til at the laste Pandeon thus seyde : —

* Now sone/ quod he, * that arte to me so dere.

348 LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN.

I the betake my yonge doghtre dere, ?o

That bereth the key of al myn hertes lyfe.

And grete wel my doghter and thy wyfe,

And yeve hir leve sommetyme for to pleye,

That she may seen me oones or I deye.'

And sothely he hath made him ryche feste,

And to hys folke, the moste and eke the leste,

That with him come : and yaf him yeftes grete,

And him conveyeth thurgh the maistir strete

Of Athenes, and to the see him broghte,

And turneth home ; no malyce he ne thoghte. so

The ores pulleth forthe the vessel faste,

And into Trace arryveth at the laste ;

And up into a forest he hir ledde,

And into a cave pryvely hym spedde,

And in this derke cave, yif hir leste,

Or leste noght, he bad hir for to reste ;

Of which hir hert agrosse, and seyde thus : —

' Where ys my suster, brother Tereus ? ' And therewithal she wepte tendirly, And quok for fere, pale and pitously, so

Ryghte as the lambe that of the wolfe ys by ten. Or as the colver that of thegle ys smyten, And ys out of his clawes forthe escaped, Yet hyt ys aferde and awhaped Lest hit be hent eftesones : so sate she. But utterly hyt may none other be, By force hath this traytour done a dede, That he hathe refte hir hir maydenhede Maugre'e hir hede, be strengthe and by his myght. Loo, heere a dede of men, and that aryght ! 100 She crieth ' Suster !' with ful longe stevene, And ( Fader dere ! helpe me God in hevene !

LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN. 349

Al helpeth nat. And yet this false thefe,

Hath doon thys lady yet a more myschefe,

For ferde lest she sholde hys shame crye,

And done hym openly a vilanye,

And with his swerde hire tonge of kerf he,

And in a castel made hir for to be,

Ful prively in prison evermore,

And kept hir. to his usage and to hys store, no

So that she ne mighte never more asterte.

0 sely Philomene, woo ys in thyn herte ! Huge ben thy sorwes, and wonder smerte ! God wreke the, and sende the thy bone ! Now ys hyt tyme I make an ende sone.

This Tereus ys to hys wyfe ycome, And in hyse armes hath hys wyfe ynome, And pitously he wepe, and shoke hys hede, And swore hire that he fonde hir suster dede ; For which the sely Proigne hath suche woo, 120 That nyghe hire sorwful herte brake atwoo. And thus in teres lat I Proigne dwelle, And of hir suster forthe I wol yow telle.

This woful lady ylerned had in yowthe, So that she werken and enbrowden kowthe, And weven in stole the radevore, As hyt of wymmen hath be woved 7/ore. And, shortly for to seyn, she hath hir fille Of mete and drynke, of clothyng at hire wille, And kouthe eke rede wel ynogh and endyte, isft But with a penne she kouthe nat write ; But letteres kan she weve to and froo, So that by the yere was agoo, She hadde woven in a stames large, How she was broght from Athenes in a barge.

350 LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN.

And in a cave how that she was broght,

And al the thinge that Tereus hath wroght,

She wave hyt wel, and wrote the story above,

How she was served for hir suster love.

And to a knave a rynge she yaf anoon, HO

And prayed hym by signes for to goon

Unto the quene, and beren hir that clothe ;

And by eygne sworne many an othe,

She shulde hym yeve what she geten myghte.

Thys knave anoon unto the queene hym dyghte And toke hit hir, and al the maner tolde. And whanne that Proigne hath this thing beholde, No worde she spake for sorwe and eke for rage, But feyned hyr to goon on pilgrymage To Bachus temple. And in a lytel stounde 150 Hire dombe suster syttyng hath she founde Wepynge in the castel hir-self allone. Alias, the woo, constreynt, and eke the mone That Proigne upon hir dombe suster maketh ! In armes everych of hem other taketh ; And thus I lat hem in her sorwe dwelle.

The remnant ys no charge for to telle, For this is al and somme, thus was she served, That never harme agylte ne deserved^ Unto thys cruelle man, that she of wyste. 160

Ye may be war of men yif that yow lyste. For al be that he wol not for the shame Doon as Tereus, to lese hys name, Ne serve yow as a morderere or a knave, Ful lytel while shul ye trewe hym have. That wol I seyne, al were he nowe my brother, But hit so be that he may have another.

EXPLICIT LEGENDA PHILOMENE.

LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN. 351

1NCIPIT LEGENDA PHILLIS.

preve, at wel as by auctorite, That wikked frute cometh of wikked tree, That may ye fynde yf that hy t liketh yo w. But for thys ende I speke thys as now,

To telle yow of fals Demophone.

In love a falser herde I never none,

But hit were hys fader Theseus ;

God for hys grace fro suche oon kepe us !

Thus these wymen prayen that hit here ;

Now to theffect turne I of my matere. 10

Distroyed ys of Troye the citee ;

This Demophon come saylyng in the see

Towarde Athenes to hys paleys large.

With hym come many a shippe, and mony a barge

Ful of folke, of whiche ful many oon

Ys wounded sore, and seke, and woo begoon,

And they han at a sege longe ylayne.

Byhynde him come a wynde and eke a rayne,

That shofe so sore, hys saylle myghte not stonde.

Hym were lever than al the worlde a-londe, 20

So hunteth hym the tempest to and fro !

So derke hyt was, he kouthe no-wher go,

And with a wawe brosten was hys stere.

Hys shippe was rent so lowe, in suche manere,

That carpenter koude hit nat amende.

The see by nyght as any torche brende

For wode, and posseth hym up and doune ;

Til Neptunus hath of hym compassyoun,

And T/jetis, Chorus, T?iton, and they alle,

352 LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN.

And maden him upon a londe to falle, 30

Wherof that Phillis lady was and quene,

Lycurgus doghtre, fayrer on to sene,

Than is the floure ageyn the bryghtd sonne.

Unneth ys Demophoon to londe ywonne,

Wayke and eke wery, and his folke forpyned

Of werynesse, and also enfamyned,

And to the dethe he was almoste ydreven,

Hys wise folke counseyle han hym yeven,

To seken helpe and socour of the quene,

And loken what hys grace myghte bene, 40

And make in that londe somme chevissaunee,

To kepen hym fro woo and fro myschaunce.

For seke he was, and almoste at the dethe ;

Unnethe myght he speke, or drawe brethe :

And lyeth in Rhodopeya hym for to reste.

Whan he may walke, hym thoght hit was the bescc

Unto the contree to seken for socoure.

Men knewe hym welle and dide hym honoure ;

For at Athenes duke and lorde was hee,

As Theseus hys fader hath ybe, so

That in hys tyme was grete of renoun,

No man so grete in al hys regioun ;

And lyke hys fader of face and of stature,

And fals of love ; hyt came hym of nature,

As doothe the fox Renarde, the foxes sone ;

Of kynde he koude hys olde fadres wone

Withoute lore, as kan a drake swymme

Whan hit ys kaught and caried to the brymme.

Thys honourable quene doth him chere, And lyketh wel hys porte and hys manere. ftf But I am agroteyd here beforne, To write of hem that in love ben forsworn*

LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN. 353

And eke to haste me in my legende,

Which to performe, God me grace sende

Therfore I passe shortly in thys wyse.

Ye have wel herde of Theseus the #yse,

In the betraysyng of faire Adriane,

That of hir pitee kepte hym fro hys bane

At shorte wordes, ryght so Demophone,

The same way, the same path hath gone, 70

That did his false fader Theseus.

For unto Phillis hath he sworne thus,

To wedden hir, and hir his trouthe plyghte,

And piked of hyr al the good he myghte,

Whan he was hole and sounde, and had hys reste,

And doth with Phillis what-so that him liste,

As wel kouthe I, yif that me leste soo,

Tellen al hys doynges, to and fro.

He sayede to hys contree moste him sayle, For ther he wolde hire weddyng apparaylle so As fille to hir honour and hys also, And openly he tok his leve tho, And to hir swore he wolde not sojourne, But in a moneth ageyn he wolde retourne. And in that londe let make hys ordynaunce, As verray lorde, and toke the obeisaunce, Wel and homiely, and his shippis dyghte, And home he gooth the nexte wey he myghte. I For unto Phillis yet come he noght, And that hath she so harde and sore yboght, 90 Alias, that the story doth us recorde, She was hir oune dethe with a corde, Whanne that she segh that Demophon her trayede. iBut firste wrote she to hym, and faste hym prayede He wolde come and dely ver hir of peyne,

TOL. v. A A

354 LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN.

As I reherse shal oo worde or tweyne.

Me lyste nat vouche-safe on hym to swynke,

Dispenden on hym a penne ful of ynke,

For fals in love was he ryght as hys syre ;

The Devel set hire soules both on a fire ! 100

But of the letter of Phillis wol I wryte,

A worde or tweyne althogh hit he but lyte.

' Thyn hostesse/ quod she, ' 0 Demophone, Thy Phiilis, which that is so woo begone, Of Rhodopey, upon yow mot compleyne, Over the terme sette betwix us tweyne, That ye ne holden forwarde, as ye seyde. Your anker, which ye in oure haven leyde, Hyght us that ye wolde comen out of doute, Or that the mone ones went aboute ; no

But tymes foure, the mone hath hid hir face Syn that thylke day ye wente fro this place ; And foure tymes lyghte the worlde ageyn. But for al that, yet I shal soothly seyn, Yet hath the streme of Sithon nat i-broght From Athenes the shippe ; yet come hit noght. And yf that ye the terme rekne wolde, As I or other trewe lovers sholde, I pleyne nat, God wot ! beforne my day.' But al hir letter writen I ne may 120

By ordre, for hit were to me a charge ; Hir letter was ryght longe, and therto large. But here and there, in ryme I have hyt layde There as me thoghte that she hath wel sayde.

She seyde, ' The say lies cometh nat ageyn, Ne to the worde there nys no fey certeyn. But I wote why ye come nat/ quod she ; * For I was of my love to yow so fre.

LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN. 355

And of the goddys that ye han forswore,

That hire vengeaunce fal on yow therfore, iso

Ye be nat suffisaunt to bere the peyne.

To moche trusted I, wel may I seyne,

Upon youre lynage and youre faire tonge,

And on youre teres falsely out-wronge.

How kouthe ye wepe soo be crafte?' quod she :

' May there suche teres i-feynede be ?

Now certes yif ye wolde have in memorye,

Hyt oughte be to yow but lytel glorie,

To have a sely mayde thus betrayed ! 1.39

To God,' quod she, ' prey I, and ofte have prayed,

That hyt be nowe the gretest prise of alle,

And moste honour that ever yow shal befalle.

And when thyn olde auncetres peynted be,

In which men may her worthy nesse se,

Then pray I God, thow peynted be also,

That folke may reden, forth by as they go : —

' Lo this is he, that with his flaterye Betrayed hath, and doon hir vilanye, That was his trewe love in thoghte and dede.'

' But sothely of oo poynt yet may they rede, 150 That ye ben lyke youre fader, as in this ; For he begiled Adriane, ywis, With suehe an arte, and suche soteltee, As thou thy selven haste begiled me. As in that poynt, althogh hit be nat feire, Thou folwest hym, certeyn, and art his eyre. But syn thus synfully ye me begile, My body mote ye seen, within a while Ryght in the havene of Athenes fietynge, Withouten sepulture and buryinge, ieo

Though ye ben harder then is any stone.'

356 LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN.

And whan this letter was forthe sent anone, And knyw how brotel and how fals h-3 was, She for dispeyre fordidde hir-self, alias ! Suche sorowe hath she for he beset hire so ! Be war ye wymmen of youre sotile fo ! Syns yet this day men may ensample se, And as in love trusted no man but me,

EXPLICIT LEGENDA PHILLIS.

INCIP1T LEGENDA YPERMYSTRE.

CN Grece whilom weren brethren twoa Of which that oon was called Danoo, That many a sone hath of hys body wonne,

As suche false lovers ofte konne.

Amonge hys sones alle there was oon,

That aldermoste he loved of everychone.

And whan this childe was borne, this Danoo

Shope hym a name, and called hym Lyno.

That other brother called was Egiste.

That was in love as fals as ever hym lyste. 10

And many a doghtre gate he in hys lyfe ;

Of which he gate upon his ryghte wife

A doughter dere, and did hyt for to calle,

Ypermystra, yongest of hem alle.

The whiche childe, of hir natyvite,

To alle goode thewes borne was she,

As lykede to the goddes or she was borne,

LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN. 357

That of the shefe she shulde be the corne.

The wirdes that we clepen destanye,

Hath shapen hir, that she moste nedes be 20

Pitouse, sad, wise, trewe as stele.

And to this woman hyt acordeth wele ;

For though that Venus yaf hir grete beaute,

With Jubiter compouned so was she,

That conscience, trouthe, and drede of shame,

And of hir wyfehode for to kepe hir name,

This thoghte hire was felicite as here.

And rede Mars, was that tyme of the yere

So feble, that his malice ys him rafte ;

Repressed hath Venus hys cruelle crafte. so

And what with Venus, and other oppressyoun

Of houses, Mars hys venym ys adoun,

That Ypermystra dar not handel a knyfe

In malyce, thogh she shulde lese hir lyfe.

But natheles, as heven gan thoo turne,

To badde aspectes hath she of Saturne,

That made hir to dye in prisoun.

And I shal after make mensioun,

Of Danoo and Egistis also. .

And thogh so be that they were brethren twoo, 40

For thilke tyme nas spared no lynage,

Hyt lyketh hem to maken mariage

Betwix Ypermestra and hym Lyno,

And casten suche a day hyt shal be so,

And ful acorded was hit wittirly.

The array ys wroght, the tyme ys faste by

And thus Lyno hath of his fadres brother

The doghter wedded, and eche of bsm hath other.

The torches brennen, and the lampes bryghte,

The sacrifices ben ful redy dyght, 50

358 LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN.

Thencence out of the fire reketh sote,

The floure, the lefe, ys rent up by the rote,

To maken garlandes and corounes hye ;

Ful ys the place of sounde of mynstralcye,

Of songes amorouse of mariage,

As thilke tyme was the pleyne usage.

And this was in the paleys of Egiste,

That in his house was lorde, as hym lyste.

And thus that day they driven to an ende ;

The frendes taken leve, and home they wende ; GO

The nyght ys comen, the bride shal go to bedtfc.

Egiste to hys chambre fast hym spedde,

A.nd prively he let his doghter calle,

Whanne that the house voyded was of alle.

He loked on hys doghter with glad chere,

And to hir spak as ye shal after here.

* My ryghte doghter, tresoure of myn herte, Syn firste day that shapen was my sherte, Or by the fatale sustren hadde my dome, So ny myn herte never thinge me come 70

As thou, Ypermystra, doughter dere ! Take hede what thy/ader seythe the here, And wirke after thy wiser ever moo. For alderfirste, doghter, I love the soo That al the worlde to me nys halfe so lefe, Ne nolde rede the to thy myschefe, For al the good under the colde moone, And what I meene, hyt shal be seyde ryght soone, With protestacioun, as seyn these wyse, That but thou do as I shal the devyse, so

Thou shalt be ded, by hym that al hath wrought! At shorte wordes thou ne schapest nought Out of my paleyse or that thou be dede,

LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN. 359

3ut thou conscente and werke aftir my rede ; Take this to the for ful conclusioun.' This Ypermystra caste hir eyen doun, .\nd quoke as dooth the lefe of aspe grene ; Ded wex hir hewe, and lyke as ashe to sene ; And seyde, ' Lorde and fader, al youre wille, After my myght, God wote I shal fulfille, &o

So hit be to me no confusioim.'

I nyl/ quod he, 'have noon excepcioun.' And out he k^ughte a knyfe as rasour kene. Hyde this/ quod he, ' that hyt be not i-sene ; And whan thyn housbonde ys to bedcfe goo, While that he slepeth kut hys throte atwoo ; Tor in my dremes hyt is warned me, low that my nevywe shal my bane be, Jut which I not ; wherfore I wol be siker. iTif thou say nay, we two shal make a byker, 100 As I have seyde, by him that I have sworne !'

This Ypermystra hath nygh hire wytte forlorne, And, for to passen harmlesse of that place, She graunted hym ; ther was noon other grace. And therwithal a costrel taketh he tho And seyde, ' Hereof a draught, or two, Yife hym to drynke whan he gooth to reste, And he shal slepe as longe as ever the leste, The narcotikes and opies ben so stronge. 109

And goo thy way, lest that hym thynke to longt

Oute cometh the bride, and with ful sobre chere, As ys of maiden^s ofte the manere, To chambre broght with revel and with songe. And shortly, leste this tale be to longe, This Lyno and she beth i-broght to bedde, And every wight out at the dore hym spedde.

360 LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN.

The nyght ys wasted and he felle aslepe ;

Ful tenderly begynneth she to wepe ;

She riste hir up, and dredefully she quaketh,

As dothe the braunche that Zepheriis shaketh, 120

And hussht were alle in Argone that citee.

As colde as eny froste now wexeth shee,

For pite by the herte streyneth hir soo,

And drede of dethe doth hir so moche woo,

That thries doun she fil in swich a were,

She ryst hir up and stakereth her and there,

And on hir handes faste loketh she.

' Alias, shal myn handes blody be ?

I am a mayde, and as by my nature,

And be my semblant, and by my vesture, 130

Myn handes ben nat shapen for a knyfe,

As for to reve no man fro hys lyfe !

What devel have I with the knyfe to doo ?

And shal I have my throte korve a twoo ?

Than shal I blede, alias, and be i-shende !

And nedes coste thys thing mot have an ende ;

Or he or I mot nedes lese oure lyfe.

Now certes/ quod she, ' syn I am hys wyfe,

And hathe my feythe, yet is hyt bet for me

For to be ded in wyfely honeste, HO

Than be a traytour lyvyng in my shame.

Be as be may, for erneste or for game,

He shal awake and ryse and go hys way

Out at this goter, or that hyt be day.'

And wepte ful tendirly upon his face,

And in hir armes gan hym to embrace,

And hym she roggeth and awaketh softe,

And at the wyndow lepe he fro the lofte,

Whan she hath warned hym and doon hym bote.

LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN. 361

This Lyno swyft was and lyght of fote, wo

And from hir ranne a ful goode pace. This sely womman ys so wayke, allace, Helpeles, so that er she ferre wente, Her crewel fader did hir for to hente.

Alias, Lyno, why art thou so unkynde ? Why ne hast thou remembred in thy mynde, And taken hir, and ledde hir forthe with the ? For when she saw that goon away was he, And that she myghte not so faste go, Ne folowen hym, she sate hir doun ryght thoo, ieo Til she was kaught and fetred in prisoun. This tale ys sayde for this conclusioun.

HERE KNDETH THE LEGENDE OF GOODE WOMEN.

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