THE
CANTERBURY TALES
O F
CHAUCER.
To which are added.
An ESSAY upon his La n g u a g s ai>fll
Versification; an Introductory
Discourse; and Notes,
T O L. II.
LONDON,
Pfhitcd for T. PAYNE, at the Mews-gatc.
M D C C L X X V»
CONTENTS OF THE SECOND VOLUME.
The Clerkcs Prologue. — — Pag. t*
The Clerkes Tale. — — ^ 3,
The Marchantes Prologue. — — 53.
The Marchantes Talc. — — 54.
The Squieres Prologue. — *• — 99.
The Squieres Tale, — — — 100.
The Frankeleines Prologue. — — 126.
The Frankeleines Tale. — — — 128.
The Do6loures Prolo(i;ue. — — 162.
The Doctoures Tale. — — — 165.
The Pardoneres Prologue. — — ij-^.
The Pardoneres Tale. — — 17^,
The Shipmannes Prologue, — — 200.
The Shipmannes Tale. — — — 201.
The Prioreffes Prologue. — — 218.
The PriorefTes Tale. — — — 219.
jPrologue to Sire Thopas. — — 229.
The Rime of Sire Thopas. — — 230.
Prologue to Melibeus. — — — 239.
TThe tale of Melibeu;. — • — — 241.
Vol. II. a 2 CANTER.
4 *7r*j*>»^r * ^
I
THE
CANTERBURY TALES.
THE CLERKES P R O L 6 G U Jt.
Sire Clerk of Oxenforde, our 'hoft^ faid,
Ye ride as ftille and coy, as doth a maid,
Were newe fpoufed, fitting at the bord :
This day ne herd I of your tonge a word. 7880
I trow ye fludie abouten fom fophime :
But Salomon faith, that every thing hath time.
For Goddes fake as beth of better cliere.
It is no time for to ftudien here.
Tell us fom mery tale by your fay ;
For what man that is entred in a play,
He nedes moft unto the play alTent.
But precheth not, as freres don in Lent,
To make us for our olde finnes wepe,
Ne that thy tale make us not to flepe. 7890
Tell us fom mery thing of aventures.
Your termes, your coloures, and your figures,
Kepe hem in ftore, til fo be ye endite
• Hie ftile, as whan that men to kinges write.
Speketh fo plain at this time, I you pray.
That we may underflonden what ye fay.
This worthy Clerk benignely anfwerde ;
Hofte, quod he, I am under youryerde.
Vol. n. B Ye
1 THE CLERKES PROLOGUE.
Yc have of us as now the governance.
And therfore wolde I do you obeyfance, 79OO
As % as refon afketli hardely :
I woi you tell a tale, which that I
Lerncd at Padowe, of a worthy clerk.
As preved by his wordes and his werk.
He is now ded, and nailed in his chelle,
I pray to God fo yeve his foule refte,
Fraunceis Petrark, the laureat poete,
Highte this clerk, whos rethorike fwete
Enlumined all Itaille of poetrie.
As Lynyan did of philofophie, 79^0
Or law, or other art particulere :
But deth, that wol not fuffiie us dwellen here.
But as it were a twinkling of an eye.
Hem both hath flaine, and alle we fhul dye*
But forth to tellen of this worthy man^
That taughte me this tale, as I began,
I fay that firfl he with hie ftile enditeth
(Or he the body of his tale writeth)
A prolieme, in the which defcriveth he
Piemont, and of Saluces the contree, 7900
And fpeketh of Apennin the hilles hie,
That hen the boundes of weft Lumbardie :
And of mount Vefulus in fpecial,
Wher as the Poo out of a welle final
Taketh
THE GLERKES TALE. ^
Taketh his firfle Ipringing and his fours,
That eftward ay encreleth in his cours
To Emelie ward, to Ferare, and Venife,
The which a longe thing were to deviie.
And trewely, as to my jugement,
Me thinketh it a thing impertinent, 793^
Save that he wol conveyen his matere :
But this is the tale which that ye mow here,
THE CLERKES TALE.
T H E R is right at the Weft lide of Itaille
Doun at the rote of Vefulus the cold,
A lufty plain, habundant of vitaille,
Ther many a toun and tour thou maift behold.
That founded were in time of fathers old.
And many another delitable lighte,
And Saluces this noble contree highte.
A markis whilom lord was of that lond, 794Q
As were his worthy elders him before.
And obeyfant, ay redy to his hond.
Were all his lieges, bothe lefle and more :
Thus in delit he liveth, and hath don yore.
Beloved and drad, thurgh favour of fortune.
Both of his lordes, and of his commune,
Therwith he was, to fpeken of linage,
The gentileft yborne of Lumbardie,
B 2 A fairc
4 THE CLERKES TALE.
A faire perfon, and ftrong, and yong of age,
And ful of honour and of curtelie : 795^
Difcret ynough, his contree for to gle,
Sauf in fom thinges that he was to blame,
And Walter was this yonge lordes name,
I blame him thus, that he confidered nought
In time coming what might him betide.
But on his lull prefent was all his thought.
And for to hauke and hunt on every fide :
Wei neigh all other cures let he flide.
And eke he n'old (and that was worft of all)
Wedden no wif for ought that might befall. 7960
Only that point his peple bare fo fore.
That flockmel on a day to him they went.
And on of hem, that wifeft was of lore,
(Or elles that the lord wold beft aflent
That he Ihuld tell him what the peple ment,
Or elles coud he wel fhew fwiche matere)
He to the markis faid as ye fhull here.
O noble markis, your humanitec
Aflureth us and yeveth us hardineffc^
As oft as time is of neceflitee, 797^
That we to you mow tell our hevlnefle :
Accepteth, lord, than of your gentillelTc,
That
THE CLERKES TALE. 5
That we with pitous herte unto you plaine.
And let your eres nat my vols difdaine,
Al have I not to don in this matere
More than another man hath in this place,
Yet for as moch as ye, my lord fo dere,
Han alvvay fhewed me favour and grace,
I dare the better aike of you a fpace
Of audience, to fhewen our requeft, 7980
And ye, my lord, to don right as you left.
For certes, lord, fo wel us liketh you
And all your werke, and ever have don, that we
Ne couden not ourfelf devifen how
We mighten live in more felicitee :
Save o thing, lord, if it your wille be.
That for to be a wedded man you left,
Than were your peple in foverain hertes reft.
Boweth your nekke under the blisful yok
Of foveraintee, and not of fervife, 7990
Which that men clepen fpoufaile or wedlok :
And thinketh, lord, among your thoughtes wife.
How that our dayes palTe in fondry wife ;
For though we flepe, or wake, or rome, or ride,
Ay fleth the time, it wol no man abide.
B 3 And
6 THE CtERKES TALE.
And though your grene youthe flourc as yet,
In crepeth age ahvay as ftill as fton,
And deth manafeth every age, and finit
In cche eftat, for ther efcapeth non :
And al fo certain, as we knowe eche on 8cpO
That we fliul die, as uncertain we all
Ben of that day whan deth fhal on us fall.
Accepteth than of us the trewe entent.
That never yet refufeden your heft.
And we wol, lord, if that ye wol aflent,
Chefe you a wife in fhort time at the meft,
Borne of the gentiileft and of the befl
Of all this lond, fo tliat it oughte feme
Honour to God and you, as we can demc.
Deliver us out of all this befy drede, 801O
And take a wif, for highe Goddes fake :
For if it fo befell, as God forbede.
That thurgh your deth your linage fhuldc flake.
And that a ftrange fuccefTour fhuld take
Your heritage, o ! wo were us on live :
Wherfore we pray y^u haftily to wive.
Hir meke praiere and hir pitous there
Made the mark is for to han pitee.
Yc
THE GLERKES TALE. 7
Ye wol, quod he, min owen peple dere.
To that I never er thought conllrainen me, 8020
I me rejoyced of my libertee,
That felden time is found in mariage ;
Ther I was free, I mofte ben in fervage.
But natheles I fee your trewe entent.
And truft upon your wit, and have don ay :
Wherfore of my free will I wol alTent
To wedden me, as fone as ever I may.
But ther as ye han profred me to-day
To chefen me a wif, I you relefe
That chois, and pray you of that prefer cefe. 8030
For God it wot, that children often ben
Unlike hir worthy eldres hem before,
Bountee cometh al of God, not of the flren,
Of which they ben ygendred and ybore :
I truft in Goddes bountee, and therfore
My mariage, and min eftat, and reft
I him betake, he may don as him left.
Let me alone in cheiing of my wif,
That charge upon my bak I wol endure :
But I you pray, and charge upon your lif, 8040
That what wif that I take, ye me alTure
B 4 To
8 THE CLERKES TALE.
To worfliip hire while that hire lif may dure,
In word and werk both here and elles vv^here,
As fhe an emperoures doughter were.
And forthermore this fliuln ye fwere, that ye
Again my chois fliul never grutch ne flrive.
For fith I flial forgo my libertee
At your requeft, as ever mote I thrive,
Ther as min herte is fet, ther wol I wive :
And but ye wol affent in fwiche pianere,
I pray you fpeke no more of this matere. §050
With hertly will they fworen and aiTenten
To all this thing, ther faide not o wight nay :
Befeching him of grace, or that they wenten,
That he wold granten hem a certain day
Of his fpoufaile, as fone as ever he may,
For yet alway the peple fomw^hat dred,
Left that this markis wolde no wif wed.
He granted hem a day, fwiche as him left.
On which he wold be wedded ilk erly, 8060
And faid he did all this at hir requeft ;
And they with humble herte ful buxumly
Kneling upon hir knees ful reverently
Him thonken all, and thus they han an end
Of hir entente, and home agen they wend.
And
THE CLERKES TALE. 9
And hereupon he to his officeres
Commandeth for the fefte to purvay.
And to his privee knightes and fquieres
Swiche charge he yave, as him lift on hem lay :
And they to his commandement obey, 8070
And eche of hem doth al his diligence
To do unto the fefte al reverence.
Pars fecunda.
Nought fer fro thilke paleis honourable,
Wher as this markis fhope his mariage,
Ther ftood a thorpe, of lighte delitable,
In which that poure folk of that village
Hadden hir beftes and hir herbergagc.
And of hir labour toke hir fuftenance.
After that the erthe yave hem habundance.
Among this poure folk ther dwelt a man, 8c 80
Which that was holden poureft of hem all :
But higlie God fomtime fenden can
His grace unto a litel oxes ftall :
Janicola men of that thorpe him call.
A doughter had he, faire ynough to fight,
And Griiildis this yonge maiden hight.
But for to fpeke of vertuous beautee,
Than was fhe on the fairefl under fonne :
Fuj
JO tHE CLERKES TALE.
Ful pourely yfoftred up was fhe :
No likerous luft was in hire herte yronne : 8090
Wei ofter of the well than of the tonne
She dranke, and for fhe wolde vertue plefe,
She knew wel labour, but non idel efe.
But though this mayden tendre were of age.
Yet in the brefl of hire virginitee
Ther was enclofed fad and ripe corage :
And in gret reverence and charitee
Hire olde poure fader foftred flie :
A few fheep fpinning on the feld fhe kept.
She wolde not ben idel til fhe flept. 81 bo
And whan fhe homward came, fhe wolde bring
Wortes and other herbes times oft.
The which fhe fhred and fethe for hire living.
And made hire bed ful hard, and nothing foft :
And ay fhe kept hire fadres lif on loft
With every obeifance and diligence.
That child may don to fadres reverence.
Upon Grifilde, this pourd creature,
Ful often fithe this markis fette hi<; eye,
As he on hunting rode paraventure : 8 1 1 o
And whan it fell that he might hire efpie,
He
mm
THE CLERKES TALE. n
He not with wanton loking of folie
His eyen caft on hire, but in fad wife
Upon hire chere he wold him oft avife,
Commending in his herte hire womanhedc,
And eke hire vertue, palling any wight
Of fo yong age, as wel in chere as dede.
For thougli the peple have no gret inlight
In vertue, he confidered ful right
Hire bountee, and difpofed that he wold 8 1 20
Wcdde hire only, if ever he wedden fhold.
The day of wedding came, but no wight can
Tellen what woman that it Ihulde be.
For which mervaille wondred many a man, |
And faiden, whan they were in privetee,
Wol not our lord yet leve his vanitee ?
Wol he not wedde > alas, alas the while !
Why wol he thus himfelf and us begile ?
But natheles this markis hath do make
Of gemmes, fette in gold and in afure^ 8 1 30
Broches and ringes, for Grifildes fake,
And of hire clothing toke he the mefurc
Of a maiden like unto hire flature.
And eke of other ornamentes all.
That unto fwiche a wedding Ihulde fall.
The
12 THE CLERKES TALE.
The time of underne of the fame day
Approcheth, that this wedding fhulde be, '^
And all the paleis put was in array,
Both halle and chambres, eche in his degree,
Houfes of office ftuffed with plentee 8140
Ther mayft thou fee of deinteous vitaille.
That may be found, as fer as lafteth Itaille.
This real markis richely arraide,
Lordes and ladies in his compagnie.
The which unto the fefte weren praide.
And of his retenue the bachelerie.
With many a foun of fondry melodic,
Unto the village, of the which I told,
In tliis array the righte way they hold.
Grifilde of this (God wot) ful innocent, 815a
That for hire fhapen was all this array.
To fetchen water at a welle is went.
And cometh home as fone as ever fhc may.
For wel fhe had herd fay, that thilke day
The markis fhulde wedde, and if fhe might,
She wolde fayn han feen fom of that light.
She thought I wol with other maidens ilond,
That ben my felawcs, in our dore am! fee
The
THE CLERKES TALE. 13
The markifefTe, and therto wol I fond
To don at home, as fone as it may be, 8160
The labour which that longeth unto me.
And than I may at leifer hire behold.
If Ihe this way unto the caflel hold.
And as fhe wolde over the threfwold gon.
The markis came and gan hire for to call.
And fhe fet doun hire water-pot anon
Belide the threfwold in an oxes flail,
And doun upon hire knees fhe gan to fall.
And with fad countenance kneleth flill.
Til fhe had herd what was the lordes will. 8170
This thoughtful markis fpake unto this maid
Ful fob^rly, and faid in this manere ;
Wher is your fader, Grifildis ? he faid.
And fhe with reverence in humble chere
Anfwered, lord, he is al redy here.
And in fhe goth withouten lenger lette,
And to the markis fhe hire fader fette.
He by the hond than toke this poure man,
And faide thus, whan he him had afide :
Janicola, I neither may ne can 8180
Lenger the plefance of min herte hide,
If that thou vouchefauf, what fo betide
Thv
14 THE CLERK ES TALE.
Thy doughter wol I take or that I wend
As for my wif, unto hire lives end.
Thou lovefl me, that wot I wcl certain.
And art my faithful liegeman ybore.
And all that liketh me, I dare wel fain
It liketh thee, and fpecially therfore
Tell me that point, that I have faid before.
If that thou wolt unto this purpos drawe, 8190
To taken me as for thy fon in lawe.
This foden cas this man aftoned fo.
That red he wex, abaift, and al quaking
He flood, unnethes faid he wordes mo.
But only thus ; Lord, quod he, my willing
Is as ye wol, ne ageins your liking
I wol no thing, min owen lord fo dere.
Right as you lift, governeth this matere.
Than wol I, quod this markis foftcly,
That in thy chambre, I, and thou, and flie, 8 200
Have a collation, and woft thou why }
For I wol alk hire, if it hire wille be
To- be my wif, and reule hire after me :
And all this fhal be don in thy prefence,
I wol not fi^eke out of thin audience.
And
THE CLERKES TALE. 15
And in the chambre, while they were aboute
The tretee, which as ye fhul after here,
The peple came into the hous withoute.
And wondred hem, in how honeft manerc
Ententifly fhe kept hire fader dere : 8a lO
But utterly Grifildis wonder might.
For never erft ne faw Ihe fwiche a fight.
No wonder is though that fhe be afloned.
To fee fo gret a gell come in that place.
She never was to non fwiche geftes woned.
For which fhe loked with ful pale face.
But fhortly forth this matere for to chace,
Thife arn the wordes that the markis faid
To this benigne, veray, faithful maid..
Grifilde, he faid, ye fhuln wel underflond, 8a20
It liketh to your fader and to me.
That I you wedde, and eke it may fo llond
As I fuppofe, ye wol that it fo be :
But thife demaundes alkc I firfl (quod he)
That lin it fhal be don in hafly wife,
Wol ye afTent, or elles you avife ?
I fay this, be ye redy with good herte
To all my lull, and that I freely may
As me beft thinketh do you laugh or fmerte,
And
36 THE CLERKES TALE.
And never ye to grutchen, night ne day, 8230
And eke whan I fay ya, ye fay not nay.
Neither by word, ne frouning countenance ?
Swere this, and here I fwere our alliance*
Wondring upon this thing, quaking for drcdc.
She faide ; Lord, indigne and unworthy
Am I, to thilke honour, that ye me bede.
But as ye wol yourfelf, right fo wol I :
And here I fwere, that never willingly
In werk, ne thought, I n'ill you difobcic
For to be ded, though me were loth to deic. 8 240
This is ynough, Grifilde min, quod he.
And forth he goth with a ful fobre chere.
Out at the dore, and after than came fhe.
And to the peple he faid in this manere :
This is my wif, quod he, that ftondeth here,
Honoureth her, and loveth hire, I pray.
Who fo me loveth, ther n'is no more to fay.
And for that nothing of hire olde gere
She fhulde bring into his hous, he bad
That women Ihuld defpoilen hire right there, 8250
Of which thife ladies weren nothing glad
To handle hire clothes whcrin fhe w^as clad :
But
THE CLERKfeS TALS. if.
But natheles this maiden bright of heW
Fro foot to hed they clothed lian all new*
Hire heres haft they kempt, that lay iintrelTed
Ful rudely, and with hir fingres final
A coroune on hil'e h^d they han ydrefTed,
And fette hire ful of nouches o;ret and fmal :
o
Of hire array what fliuld I make a tale ?
Unneth the peple hire knew for hire fairneffe, 8260
VVIian file tranfmew^ed was in fwiche richelTe.
This markis hath hire fpoufed with a ring
Brought for the fame caufe, and than hire fettc
Upon an hors fnow-white, and wel ambling,
And to his paleis, or he lenger lette,
(With joyful peple, that hire lad and mette)
Conveyed hire, and tlius the day they fpende
In revel, til the fonne gan defcende.
And fhortly forth this tale for to chace,
I fay, that to this newe markifeffe 827a
God hath fw4che favour fent hire of his grace,
That it ne femeth not by likelineile
That fhe was borne and fed in fudenefle,
As in a cote, or in an oxes ftall.
But nouriflied in an emperoures hall.
Vol. II. C Ta
t^ THE CLEJlKES TALE.
To every wight flie waxen is fo dere.
And worfhipful, that folk ther fhe was bore.
And fro hire birthe knew hire yere by yere,
Unnethcs trowed they, but dorfl han fwore,
That to Janicle, of which I fpake before, SaSd
She doughter n'as, for as by conjecture
Hem thoughte fhe was another creature.
For though that ever vertuous was fhe.
She was encrefed in fwiche excellence
Of thewes good, yfet in high bountee.
And fo difcrete, and faire of eloquence.
So benigne, and fo digne of reverence.
And coude fo the peples herte enbrace.
That eche hire loveth that loketh on hire face.
Not only of Saluces in the toun 829Q
Publifhed was the bountee of hire name,
But eke belide in many a regioun,
If on faith wel, another faith the fame :
So fpredeth of hire hie bountee tlie fame.
That men and women, yong as wel as old,
Gon to Saluces upon hire to behold.
Thus Walter lowly, nay but really,
Wedded with fortunat honeftetee,
ia Goddes pees liveth ful efily
M
THE CLERKES TALE. t^
At home, and grace ynough outward had he : 8 300 .
And for he faw that under low degree
Was honeft vertue hid, the peple him held
A prudent man, and that is feen ful feld,
-;
Not only this Grifildis tliurgh hire wit
Coude all the fete of wifly homlineffe.
But eke whan that the cas required it.
The comune profit coude fhe redrefle :
Ther n'as difcord, rancour, ne hevinefTe
In all the lond, that fhe ne coude appefe.
And wifely bring hem all in hertes efe. 8310
Though that hire hufbond abfent were or non,
If gentilmenj Or other of that contree
Were wroth, fhe wolde bfingen hem at on.
So wife and ripe wordes hadde fhe.
And jugement of fo gret equitee,
That fhe from heven fent was, as men wend,
Peple to fave, and every wrong to amend.
^ Not longe time after ttiat this Grililde
Was wedded, flie a doughter hath ybore,
All had' hire lever han borne a knave childe : 8320
Glad was the mark is and his folk therfore.
For thougk a maiden childe come all before,
C 2 She
^ THE CLERKES TALE.
She may unto a knave child atteine
By likelyhed, fin fhe n'is not barreinc.
Pars tertia.
Thcr fell, as it befalleth times mo,
Whan that this childe had fouked but a throwc.
This markis in his herte longed fo
To tempt his wif, hire fadnelTe for to knovve.
That he ne might out of his herte throwe
This mar\'eillous defir his wif to alTay, 83 30
Needles, God wot, he thought hire to aiFray.
He had affaied hire ynough before,
And found hire ever good, what nedeth it
Hire for to tempt, and alway more and more ?
Thougli fom men praife it for a fubtil wit,,
But as for me, I fay that evil it lit
To affay a wif whan that it is no nede.
And putten hire in anguifli and in drede.
For which this markis wrought in this mancre ;
He came a-night alone ther as flie lay 8340
With fterne face, and with ful trouble chere.
And fayde thus ; Grifilde, (quod he) that day
That I you toke out of your poure array.
And put you in eftat of high noblelTe,
Ye han it not forgetten, as I geffe,
I fay,
THE CLERKES TALE, at
1 fay, Grililde, this prefent dignitep.
In which that I have put you, as I trow,
Maketh you not forgetful for to be
That I you toke in poure eftat ful low.
For ony wele ye mote yourfelven know. 8350
Take hede of every word that I you fay,
Ther is no wight that hereth it but we tway.
Ye wote yourfelf wel how that ye came here
Into this hous, it is not long ago,
And though to me ye be right lefe and dere.
Unto my gentils ye be nothing fo :
They fay, to hem it is gret fhame and wo
For to be fuggetes, and ben in fervage
To thee, that borne art of a fmal linage.
And namely lin thy doughter was ybore, 8360
Thife wordes han they fpoken douteles.
But I delire, as I have don before.
To live my lif with hem in reft and pees :
I may not in this cas be reccheles ;
I mote do with thy doughter for the beft.
Not as I wold, but ^s my gentils left.
And yet, God wote, this is ful loth to me :
But natheles withouten youre weting
C 3 I vvol
cs THE CLERKES TALE.
I wol nought do, but thus wol I (quod he)
That ye tp me aiTenten in this thing. ^37®
Shew now youre patience in youre werking,
That ye me hight and fwore in youre village
The day that maked was Qur mariage.
Whan fhe had herd all this, flie not ameved
Neyther in word, in chere, ne countenance,
(Fqf as it femed, fhe was not agreved)
She faydfe ; Lord, all lith in your plefance.
My child and I, with hertely obeifance
Ben youres all, and ye may fave or fpill,
Your owen thing : werketh after your will. 838Q
Ther may no thing, fo God my foule fave,
Like unto you, that may difplefen mc :
J^e I delire nothing for to have,
Ne drede for to lele, lauf only ye :
This will is in myn herte, and ay fhal be.
No lengt}i pf time, or deth may this deface,
Ne change my corage to an other place.
Glad was this markis for hire anfwering.
But yet he feined as he were not fo,
Al drcry was his chere and his Igking, 8390
Whan that he fhuld out of the chambre go,
Spnc after this, a furlong way or two,
He
THE CLERK ES TALE. 33
He prlvely hath told all his entent
Unto a man, and to his wif him fent.
A maner fergeant was this prive man.
The which he faithful often founden had
In thinges gret, and eke fwiche folk wel can
Don execution on thinges bad :
The lord knew wel, that he him loved and drad.
And whan this fergeant wifl: his lordes will, 8400
Into the chambre he ftalked him ful ft ill,
Madame, he fayd, ye mote foryeve it me.
Though I do thing, to which I am conft reined ;
ye ben fo wife, that right wel knowen ye.
That lordes heftes may not ben yfeined.
They may wel be bewailed and complained,
"But men mote nedes to hir luft obey.
And fo wol I, ther n'is no more to fay^
This child I am commanded for to take.
And fpake no more, but out the child he hent 8410
Defpitoufly, and gan a chere to make.
As though he wold have flain it, or he went.
Grifildis moft al fuffer and al confent :
And as a lambe, fhe iitteth meke and ftilJ,
And let this cruel fergeant do his will.
C 4 Sulpecious
^4 THE CLERKES TALE.
Sufpecious was the diffame of this man,
Sufpe£l his face, fufpe£l his word alfo,
Sufpeft the time in which he this began :
Alas ! hire doughter, that (he loved fo.
She wende he wold han flaien it right the, 842.O
But natheles flie neither wept ne fiked,
Conforming hire to that the markis liked.
But at the laft to fpeken flie began.
And mekely ilie to the fergeant praid
(So as he was a worthy gentilman)
That flie i"pight kiffe hire child, or that it deid ?
And in hire barme this litel child flie leid,
With ful fad face, and gan the child to bliffe.
And lulled it, and after gan it kifTe,
And thus flie fayd in hire benigne vols : 8430
Farewel, my child, I i'hal thee never fee,
But fm r have thee marked with the crois,
Of thiike fader ybleiTcd mote thou be.
That for us died upon a crois of tree :
Thy foule, litel child, I him betake,
for thU night fhalt thou dien for my fake.
I trow that to a norice in this cas
It had ben Jia?d this routhe for to fee
Wcl
THE CLERKES TALE.
2$
Wei might a moder than han cried alas,
But natheles fo fad ftedfaft was fhe, 8440
That fhe endured all adverlitee.
And to the fergeant mekely fhe fayde,
Have here agen your litel yonge mayde.
Goth now (quod fhe) and doth my lordes heft r.
And o thing wold I pray you of your grace,
But if my lord forbade you at the left,
Burieth this litel body in fom place.
That beftes ne no briddes it to-race.
But he no word to that purpcs wold fay,
But toke the child and went upon his way. 8450
This fergeant came unto his lord again.
And of Grifildes wordes and hire chere
He told him point for point, in fhort and plain,
And him prefented with his doughter dere.
Somwhat this lord hath routhe in his manere.
But natheles his purpos held he ftill.
As lordes don, whan they wol have hir will,
And bad this fergeant that he prively
Shulde this child ful fofte wind and wrappc.
With alle circumftances tendrely, 8460
And carry it in a cofre, or in a lappe ;
But upon peine his hed of for to fwappc
That
«6 THE CLERKES TALE.
That no man fhulde know of his entenr,
Ne whens he came, ne whider that he went ;
But at Boloigne, unto his fufter dere.
That thilke time of Pavie was countefle.
He fhuld it take, and fhew hire this materc,
Befeching hire to don hire befineffe
This child to follren in all gentillefle,
And whos child that it was he bade hire hide 8470
From every wight, for ought that may betide.
This fergeant goth, and hath fulfilde this thing.
But to this marquis now retorne we ;
For now goth he ful fall imagining.
If by his wives chere he mighte fee.
Or by hire wordes apperceive, that fhe
Were changed, but he never coud hire findc.
But ever in on ylike fad and kinde.
As glad, as humble, as befy in fervice
And eke in love, as fhe was wont to be, 8480
Was fhe to him, in every maner wife ;
Ne of hire doughter not a word fpake fhe :
Non accident for non adverfitee
Was feen in hire, ne never hire doughters name
Ne nevcned fhe, for erneft ne for game.
Pars
THE CL]£RKES TALE.
Pars quaria.
In this eftat ther pafled ben foure yere
Er fhe with childe was, but as God wold,
A knave childe flie bare by this Waltere
Ful gracious, and fair for to behold :
And whan that folk it to his fader told^ 8490
Not only he, but all his contree mery
Was for this childe, and God they thonke and hery.
Whan it was two yere old, and from the bred
•Departed of his norice, on a day
This markis caughte yet another left
To tempte his wif yet ofter, if he may,
O ! nedeles was fhe tempted in affay.
But wedded men ne connen no mefure.
Whan that they finde a patient creature,
Wif, quod this markis, ye han herd or this 8500
JMy peple fikely beren our mariage.
And namely fin my fone yboren is.
Now is it werfe than ever in al our age :
The murmur fleth myn herte and my coragc.
For to myn eres cometh the vois fo fmerte.
That it wei nie dellroyed hath myn hertc
Now
aS THE CLERKES TALE.
Now fay they thus, whan Walter is agon,
Than flial the blood of Janicle fuccede,
And ben our lord, for other han we non :
Swichewordes fayn my peple, it is no drcde. 85 lO
Wei ought I of fwiche murmur taken hede.
For certainly I drede al fwiche fentence,
Though they not plainen in myn audience.
I wolde live in pees, if that I might :
Wherfore I am difpofed utterly.
As I his fufter ferved er by night.
Right fo thinke I to ferve him prively.
This warne I you, that ye not fodenly
Out of yourfelf for no wo fhuld outraie,
Beth patient, and therof I you praie. i852©
I have, quod fhe, fayd thus and ever fhal,
I wol no thing, ne n'lll no thing certain,
But as you lift : not greveth me at al.
Though that my doughter and my fone be flain
At your commandement : that is to fain,
I have not had no part of children twein.
But firft fikeneffe, and after wo and peine.
Ye ben my lord, doth with your o\s'en thing
Right as you lift, alketh no rede of me :
For
THE CLERKES TALE. 29
For as I left at home al my clothing
Whan I came firft to you, right fo (quod flie)
Left I my will and al my libertee,
And toke your clothing : wherfore I you prey.
Doth your plefance, I wol youre luft obey.
And certes, if I hadde prefcience
Your will to know, er ye your luft me told,
I wold it do withouten negligence :
But now I vvote your luft, and what ye wold.
All your plefance ferme and ftable I hold.
For wift I that my deth might do you efe, 854a
Right gladly wold I dien, you to plefe.
Deth may not maken no comparifoun
Unto your love : and whan this markis fay
The conftance of his wif, he caft adoun
His eyen two, and wondreth how flie may
In patience fuffer al this array :
And forth he goth with drery contenance.
But to his herte it was ful gret plefance.
This ugly fergeant in the fame wife
That he hire doughter caughte, right fo he 8550
(Or werfe, if men can any werfe devife)
Hath hent hire fone^ that ful was of beautee 5
And ever in on fo patient was fhe.
That
ja THE CLERkES TAtfo
That fhe no chere made of hevinefTe,
But kill hire fone and after gan it bleflTe.
Save this Ihc praied him, if that he might,
^ire litel fone he wold in erthe grave,
His tendre Jimmes, delicat to fight.
Fro foules and fro beftes for to fave*
But Ihe non anfwer of him mighte have, 8560
He went his way, as him no thing ne rought.
But to Boloigne he tendrely it brdught.
This markis wondreth ever lenger the more
Upon hire patience, and if that he
Ne hadde fothly knowen therbefore.
That parfitly hire children loved fhe.
He wold han wend that of fom fubtiltee
And of malice, or fo*i- cruel corage.
That fhe had fufFred this with fad vifage.
But wel he knew, that next himfelf, certain S^'j0
She loved hire children beft in every wife.
But now of women wold I afken fayn.
If thife aiTaies mighten not fuffife ;
What covrd a fturdy hufbond more devife
To preve hire wif hood, and hire ftedfaflnefle^
And he continuing ever in fturdincfle ?
But;
THECLERKESTALfi. 31
But ther ben folk of fwiche condition.
That, whan they han a certain purpos take.
They can not ilint of hir entention,
But, right as they were bounden to a ftake, 85 80
They wol not of hir firfte purpos flake :
Right fo this markis fully hath purpofed
To tempt his wif, as he was firft diipofed.
He waiteth, if by word or contenance
That fhe to him was changed of corage i
But never coud he finden variance.
She was ay on in herte and in vifage,
And ay tlie further that fhe was in age.
The more trewe (if that it were poilible)
She was to him in love, and more penible. 8590
For which it femed thus, that of hem twa
Ther was but o will ; for as Walter left, *"
The fame luft was hire plefance alfo ;
And God be thanked, all fell for the beft.
She fhewed wcl, for no worldly unreft
A wif, as of hirefelf, no thing ne fholde
Wille in efFeft, but as hire hufbond wolde.
The fclandre of Walter wonder wide Ipradde,
That of a cruel herte he wikkedly,
Fo?
S± TH£ CLERKES TALE.
For he a poure woman wedded hadde, 86co
.Hath murdred both his children prively :
Swich murmur was among hem comtinly.
No wonder is : for to the peples ere
Ther came no word, but that they murdred were.
For which ther as his peple therbeforc
Had loved him wel, the fclandre of his difFamc
Made hem that they him hateden therfore :
To ben a murdrour is an hateful name*
But natheles, for erneft ne for game,
He of his cruel purpos n'olde ftente, 86 lO
To tempt his wif was fette all his entente.
Whan that his doughter twelf yere wa^ of age.
He to the court of Rome, in fubtil wife
Enformed of his will, fent his meflagc,
Commanding him, fwiche billes to devife.
As to his cruel purpos may fuffife.
How that the pope, as for his peples reft
Bade him to wed another, if him left.
I fay he bade, they fhulden contrefete
The popes bulles, making mention 862a
That he hath leve his ftrfte wif to lete,
As by the popes difpenfation.
To ftinten rancour and diftenlion
Betwix
THE CLERKES TALE. 33
Betwlx his peple and him : thus fpake the bull,
The which they han publisflied at the full.
The rude peple, as no wonder is,
Wenden ful wel, that it had ben right fo :
But whan thile tidings came to Grilildis,
I deme that hire herte was ful of wo ;
But file ylike fad for evermo 8630
Difpofed was, this humble creature,
The advei-fitee of fortune al to endure ;
Abiding ever his luft and his plefance,
To whom that fhe was yeven, herte and al.
As to hire veray worldly fuffifance.
But fhortly if this llorie tell I Ihal,
This markis writen hath in fpecial
A lettre, in which he flieweth his entente,
And fccretly he to Boloigne it fentc.
To the crl of Pavie, which that hadde tlip 864Q
"Wedded his fuller, prayed he ipecially
To bringen home agein his children two
In honourable eftat al openly :
But o thing he him prayed utterly,
That he to no wight, though men wold enqucre,
Shulde not tell whos children that they were.
Vol. IL D But
34 THE CLERK ES TALE.
But fay, the maiden iliiild ywedded be
L'^nto the markis of Sakices anon.
And as this erl was prayed, fo did he,
For at day fette he on his way is gon 8650
Toward Saluces, and lordes many on
In rich arraie, this maiden for to gide.
Hire yonge brother riding hire befide.
Arraied was toward hire mariage
This fresfhe maiden, ful of gemmes clere,
Hire brother, which that feven yere was of age,
Arraied eke ful frefli in his manere :
And thus in gret noblefle and with glad chere
Toward Saluces leaping hir journay
Fro day to day they riden in hir way. 8660
Pars quinta.
Among al this, after his wicked ufage.
This markis yet his wif to tempten more
To the utterefte prefe of hire corage.
Fully to have experience and lore.
If that file were as ftedefaft as before,
He on a day in open audience
Ful boiftouily hath faid hire this fentence :
Ccrtes, Grifilde, I had ynough plcfancc
To han you to my wif, for your goodnefle,
And
THE CLERKES TALE. 3^
And for your troutlie, and for your obeyfance, 8670
Not for your linage, ne for your riclieffe,
But now know I in veray fothfaftnefie,
That in gret lordfliip, if I me wel avife,
Ther is gret fervitude in fondry wife*
I may not don, as every ploughman may :
My peple me conftreineth for to take
Another wif, and cricn day by day;
And eke the pope rancour for to flake
Confenteth it, that dare I undertake :
And trewely, thus moche I \Vol you fay, 8680
Mv newe wif is coming by the way.
Be Urong of herte, and voide anon hire place.
And thilke dower that ye broughten me
Take it agen, I grant it of my grace,
Returncth to your fadres hous, (quod he)
No man may alway have profperitee.
With even herte I rede you to endure
The ftroke of fortune, or of aventure.
And flie agen anfwerd in patience :
My lord, quod flie, I wote, and wifl alway, 8690
liow that betwixen your magnificence
And my poverte no wight ne can ne may
D 2 Maken
36 THE CLERKES TALE.
Maken comparifon, it is no nay ;
I ne held me never digne in no manere
To be your wif, ne yet your chamberere.
And in this hous, ther ye me lady made,
(The highe God take I for my witnelTe,
And all fo wifly he my foule glad)
I never held me lady ne maiftrefle,
But humble fervant to your worthinefle, 8 700
And ever flial, while that my lif may dure,
Aboven every worldly creature.
That ye fo longe of your benignitee
Han holden me in honour and nobley,
Wheras I was not worthy for to be,
That thanke I God and you, to whom I prey
Foryelde it you, ther is no more to fey :
Unto my fader gladly wol I wende.
And with him dwell unto my lives ende ;
Ther I was foftred of a childe ful fmal, 87 10
Til I be ded my lif ther wol I lede,
A widew clene in body, herte and al.
For fith I yave to you my maidenhedc.
And am your trewe wif, it is no drede,
God fhilde fwiche a lordes wif to take
Another man to hulbond or to make.
And
THE CLERKES TALE. 37
And of your newe wif, God of his grace
So graunte you wele and profperite : •.
For I wol gladly yelden hire my place.
In which that I was blisfui wont to be. 8 7 20
For fith it liketh you, my lord, (quod fhe)
That whilom weren all myn hertes reft.
That I fhal gon, I wol go whan you left.
But ther as ye me profre fwiche dowaire
As I hrft brought, it is wel in my mind,
It were my wretched clothes, nothing faire.
The which to me were hard now for to find.
O goode God ! how gentil and how kind
Ye femed by your fpeche and your vifage.
The day that maked was oure marriage ! 8730
But foth is faid, algate I find it trewe.
For in effc£l it preved is on me.
Love is not old, as whan that it is newe*
But certes, lord, for non adverfitec
To dien in this cas, it fhal not be
That ever in word or werke I flial repent.
That I you yave min herte in hole entent.
My lord, ye wote, that in my fadres place
Ye dide me ftripe out of my pourc wede,
D 5 And
38 THE CLERKES TALE.
And richely ye clad me of your grace ; S740
To you brought I nought elles out of dredc.
But faith, and nakednefle, and maidenhedc ;
And here agen your clothing I reftorc,
And eke your wedding ring for evermore.
The remenant of yonr jeweles redy be
Within your chambre, I dare it faliy fain :
Naked out of my fadres hous (quod iTie)
I came, and naked I mote turne again.
All your plefance wolde I folvve fain :
But yet I hope it be not your cntcnr, ^75-
That I fmokles out of your paleis went.
Ye coudc not do fo diilionefl a tiling.
That thiike wombe, in which your chiUren lay,
Shulde before the peple, in my walking,
Be feen al bare : wherfore I you pray
Let me not like a worme go by the way :
Remembre you, min owcn lord fo dcre,
I was your wif, though I unworthy were.
Wherfore in, guerdon of my maidenhede,
Which that 1 brought and not agen I here, 8760
As vouchefauf to yeve me to my mede
But fwiche a fmok as I was wont to were,
Thfit I thcrwith may wrie the wombe of hire
That
THE CLERKES TALE. 39
That was your wif : and here I take my leve
Of you, min owen lord, left I you greve.
The fmok, quod he, that thou haft on thy bake,
Let it be ftill, and bere it forth with thee.
But wel unnethes thilke word he fpake.
But went his way for routhe and for pitee.
Before the folk hirefelven ftripeth flie, ^77^
And in hire iiuok, with foot and hed al bare.
Toward hire fadres hous forth is flie fare.
The folk hire folwen weping in hir wey,
And fortune ay they curfen as they gon :
But file fro weping kept hire eyen drey,
Ne in this time word ne fpake flie non.
Hire fader, that this tiding herd anon,
Curfeth the day and time, that nature
Shope him to ben a lives creature.
For out of doute this olde poure man 8780
Was ever in fufpe£l of hire mariage :
For ever he demed, ftn it firft began,
That whan the lord fulfilled had his corage,
Him wolde thinke it were a difparage
To his eftat, fo lowe for to alight,
And voiden hire as fone as ever he might.
D 4 Agcin
40 THE CLERKES TALE.
Agein his donghter haftily goth he,
(For he by noife of folk knew hire coming)
And with hire olde cote, as it might be,
He covereth hire ful forwefully weping: S790
But on hire body might he it not bring.
For rude was the cloth, and more of age
By daies fele than at hire mariage.
Thus with hire fader for a certain fpace
Dwelleth tliis flour of wifly patience.
That nother by hire wordes ne hire face,
Beforn the folk, ne eke in hir abfence,
Ne fhewed fhe that hire was don ofTence,
Ne of hire high eftat no remembrance
Ne hadde fhe, as by hire contenancc. 8800
No wonder is, for in hire gret eftat
Hire goft was ever in pleine humilitee ;
No tendre mouth, no herte delicat,
No pompe, no femblant of realtee ;
But ful of patient benignitee,
Difcrete, and prideles, ay honourable,
And to hire hufbond ever meke and ftablc.
Men fpeke of Job, and moft for his humbleffe.
As cicrkes, whan hem lift, can wcl endite,
Namely
THE CLERKES TALE. 41
.Namely of men, but as in fothfaftnefle, 8810
Though clerkes preifen women but a lite,
Ther can no man in hurableffe him acquite
As woman can, ne can be half fo trewe
As women ben, but it be falle of newe.
Pars fexta*
Fro Boloigne is this erl of Pavie come.
Of which the fame up fprang to more and lelTe :
And to the peples eres all and fome
Was couth eke, that a newe markifefle
He with him brought, in fwiche pomp and richefic,
That never was ther feen with mannes eye 8820
So noble array in al Weft Lumbardie.
The markis, which that (hope and knew all this^
Er that this erl was come, fent his meifage
For thilke poure fely Griiildis,
And (lie with humble herte and glad vifagc,
Not with no fwoUen thought in hire coragc.
Came at his heft, and on hire knees hire fettc,
Aixd reverently and wifely fhe him grette.
Griftlde, (quod he) my will is utterly,
This maiden, that dial wedded be to me, 8830
Received be to-morwe as really
As
4» THE CLERKES TALE.
As it poffible is in myn hous. to be :
And eke that every wight in his degree
Have his eflat in fitting and fervice,
And high plefance, as I can bcft devile.
I have no woman fufiifant certain
The chambres for to array in ordinance
After my kift, and therfore w^olde I fain,
That thin were all fwiche manere governance :
Thou knowell eke of old all my plefance ; 8 840
Though thin array he bad, and evil befey,
Do thou thy devoir at the lefte wey.
Not only, lord, that I am glad (quod (lie)
To don your luft, but I delire alfo
You for to ferve and plefe in my degree,
Withouten fainting, and fhal evermo :
Ne never for no wele, ne for no wo,
Ne flial the goft within myn herte ftentc
To love you bcft with all my trewe entente.
And with that word flie gan the lious to dight,
And tables for to fette, and bcddes make, 8851
And peined her to don all that flic might.
Praying the chambereres for Goddes fake
To haften hem, and faftc fwepe and fliake.
And
THE CLERKES TALE. 43
And flie the molle ferviceabie of all
Hath every chambre arraied, and his hall.
Abouten undern gan this erl alight,
That with him brought thife noble children twey :
For which the peple ran to fee the light
Of hir array, fo richely befey : 8860
And than at crft amonges hem they fey.
That Walter was no fool, though that him left
To change his wif ; for it was for the beft.
For fhe is fairer, as they demen all.
Than is Griiilde, and more tendre of age.
And fairer fruit betwene hem (liulde fall,
And more plefant for hire high linage :
Hire brother eke fo faire was of vifagc.
That hem to feen the peple hath caught plefance,
Commending now the markis governance. 8870
O ftormy peple, unfad and ever untrewe,
And undifcrete, and changing as a fane,
Delighting ever in rombel that is newe,
For like the mone waxen ye and wane :
Ay ful of clapping, dere ynough a jane.
Your dome is fals, your conftance evil preveth,
A ful gret fool is he that on you leveth.
Thus
44 THE CLERKES TALE.
Thus faiden fade folk in that citee,
Whan that the peple gafed up and doun :
For they were glad, right for the noveltee, 8880
To have a newe lady of hir toun.
No more of this make I now mentioun,
But to Grifilde agen I wol me drefle,
And telle hire conflance, and hire belinefle.
Ful befy was Grifilde in every thing.
That to the fefte was appertinent ;
Right naught was flie abaift of hire clothing,
Though it were rude, and fomdel eke to- rent.
But with glad chere to the yate is went
With other folk, to grete the markifefle, 8 890
And after that doth forth hire befmefle.
With fo glad chere his geftes flie receiveth,
And conningly everich in his degree,
That no defaute no man apperceiveth,
But ay they wondren what flie mighte be,
That in fo poure array was for to fee,
And coude fwiche honour and reverence.
And worthily they preifen hire prudence.
In all this mene while flie nc {lent
This maide and eke hire brother to commend 8900
With
TH^ CLE RKES TALE. a^
With all hire herte in ful benlgne entent,
So wel, that no man coud hire preife amend :
But at the laft whan that thife lordes wend
To Utten doun to mete, he gan to call
Grifilde, as fhe was befy in the hall.
Grililde, (quod he, as it were in his play)
How liketh thee my wif, and hire beautee >
Right wel, my lord, quod fhe, for in good fay,
A fairer faw I never non than fhe ;
I pray to God yeve you profperitee ; 89 lO
And fo I hope, that he wol to you fend
Plefance ynough unto your lives end.
O thing befeche I you and warne alfo.
That ye ne prikke with no turmenting
This tendre maiden, as ye han do mo :
For fhe is foflred in hire norifhing
More tendrely, and to my fuppofing
She mighte not adverfitee endure,
As coude a poure foftred creature.
And whan this Walter faw hire patience, 8920
Hire glade chere, and no malice at all.
And he fo often hadde hire don offence,
And fhe ay fade and conflant as a wall.
Continuing ever hire innocence over all.
This
46 THE CLERK ES TALE,
This ftiirdy markis gan his herte drcffe
To rewe upon hire vvifly ftedefaftneHc.
This is ynough, Giifilde min, quod he,
Be now no more agaft, ne evil apaid,
I have thy faith and thy henignitee,
As wel as ever woman was, aflaid 8930
In gret eftat, and pourelicli arraid :
Now know I, dere wif, thy ftedefaftnelle,
And hire in armes toke, and gan to kelTe.
And fhe for wonder toke of it no kepe ;
She herde not what thing he to hire faid :
She ferde as flie had flert out of a flepe,
Til fhe out of hire mafednefle abraid.
Grifilde, quod he, by God that for us deid,
Thou art my wif, non other I ne have,
Ne never had, as God my foule fave. 8940
This is thy doughter, which thou haft fuppofed
To be my wif; that other faithfully
Shal be min heir, as I have ay difpofed ;
Thou bare hem of thy body trewely :
At Boloigne have I kept hem prively ;
Take hem agen, for now maift thou not fay,
That thou haft lorn non of thy children tway.
And'
THE CLERKES TALE.
47
And folk, that otherwife lian fald of me,
I warne hem wel, that I have don this dede
For no malice, ne for no crueltee, S950
But for to alfay in thee thy vvomanhede :
And not to ilee my children (God forbede)
But for to kepe hem prively and flill,
Til I thy purpos knew, and all thy will.
Whan file this herd afwoune doun flie falleth
For pitous joye, and after hire fwouning
She both hire yonge children to hire calleth,
And in hire armes pitoufly weping
Embraceth hem, and tendrely killing
Ful like a moder with hire falte teres 8960
She bathed both hir vifage and hir heres*
O, which a pitous thing it was to fee
Hire fwouning, and hire humble voistohere !
Grand mercy, lord, God thank it you (quod flie)
That ye han faved me my children dere :
Now rekke I never to be ded right here.
Sin I ftond in your love, and in your grace.
No force of deth, ne whan my fpirit pace,
O tendre, o dere, o yonge children mine,
Your wo ful mother wened fledfailly, 8970
That
k
48 THE CLERKES TALE.
That cruel houndes, or fom foul verminc
Had eten you ; but God of his mercy.
And your benigne fader tendrely
Hath don you kepe : and in that fame ftound
Al fodenly flie fvvapt adoun to ground.
And in hire fwough fo fadly holdeth fhe
Hire children two, whan Ihe gan hem embrace,
That with gret Height and gret difficultee
The children from hire arm they gan arrace :
O ! many a tere on many a pitous face 8980
Doun ran of hem that ftoden hire befide,
Unnethe abouten hire might they abide.
Walter hire gladeth, and hire forwe flaketh.
She rifeth up abaflied from hire trance.
And every wight hire joye and fcfte maketh,
Til fhe hath caught agen hire contenance.
Walter hire doth fo faithfully plefance,
That it was deintee for to feen the chere
Betwix hem two, fin they ben met in fere.
Thife ladies, whan that they hir time fey, 8990
Han taken hire, and into chambre gon.
And flripen hire out of hire rude arrcy,
And iin a cloth of gold that brighte fhone.
With a coroune of many a riche flone
Upon
THE CLERK ES TALE. 49
Upon hire lied, they into hall hire broughte ;
And tlier fhe was honoured as hire ought.
Thus hath this pitous day a blisful end ;
For every man, and woman, doth his might
This day in mirth and revel to difpend,
Til on the welkin fhone the llerres bright : 9OOO
For more folempne in every mannes fight
This fefte was, and greter of collage,
Than was the revel of hire mariage.
Ful many a yere in high profperitec
Liven thife two in concord and in reft,
J^nd richely his doughter maried he
Unto a lord, on of the worthieft
Of all Itaille, and than in pees and refl
His wives fader in his court he kepeth,
Til that the foule out of his body crepeth. 90 lO
His fone fuccedeth in his heritage.
In reft and pees, after his fadres day :
And fortunat was eke in mariage,
Al put he not his wif in gret alTay :
This world is not fo ftrong, it is no nay,
As it hath ben in olde times yore, ,
And herkneth, what this au£lour faith tii^rTore.
- Vol. IL E This
so THE CLERKES TALE.
This ftory is faid, not for tliat wives fliuld
Folwe Griiilde, as in humilitee,
For it were importable, tho they wold ; 9026
But for that every wight in his degree
Shulde be conftant in adverfitee,
As was Griiilde, therfore Petrark writeth
This ftorie, which with high ftile he enditetli.
For fith a woman was fo patient
Unto a mortal man, wel more we ought
Receiven all in gree that God us fent.
For gret ikill is he preve that he wrought :
But he ne tempteth no man that he bought,
As faith feint Jame, if ye his piflell rede ; 9030
He preveth folk al day, it is no drede.
And fufFreth us, as for our exercife.
With (harpe fcourges of adverfitee,
Ful often to be bete in fondry wife ;
Not for to know our will, for certes he
Or we were borne, knew all our freelctee ;
And for our befl is all his governance ;
Let us than live in vertuous fufTrance,
But o word, lordings, herkeneth, or I go :
It were flUhard to fiadcn now adaycs 9040
In
THE CLERKES TALE. _ji
In all a toun Grifildes three or two :
For if that they were put to fwiche afTayes,
The gold of hem hath now fo bad alayes
With bras, that though the coine be faire at eye.
It wolde rather braft atwo than plie.
For which here, for the wives love of Bathe,
Whos lif and al hire fe£te God maintene
In high niaiftrie, and elles were it Icathe,
I wol with lurty herte fresfhe and grene.
Say you a fong to gladen you, I wene ; 9050
And let us flint of erneftful matere.
•Herkneth my fong, that faith in this manerc.
Grifilde is ded, and eke hire patience.
And both at ones buried in Itaillc :
For which I crie in open audience.
No wedded man fo hardy be to aflaille
His wives patience, in truft to find
Grifildes, for in certain he flial faille,
O noble wives, ful of high prudence,
Let non humilitee your tonges naile : 906Q
Ne let no clerk have caufe or diligence
To write of you a florie of fvviche niervaillc.
As t)f Grifildis patient and kinde,
Lefl Chichevache you Iwalwe in hire entraille.
E 2 Folwctii
$z THE CLERKES TALE.
Folweth ecco, that holdeth no filence.
But ever anfweretli at the countretaille :
Beth not bedaffed for your innocence.
But fharply taketh on you the governaille :
Emprenteth wel this leflbn in your minde,
For comun profit, fith it may availle. 907 a
Ye archewives, itondeth ay at defence,
Sin ye be ftrong, as is a gret camaille,
Ne fuffreth not, that men do you ofience.
And fclendre wives, feble as in bataille,
Beth egre as is a tigre yond in Inde ;
Ay clappeth as a mill, I you counfaiile.
Ne drede hem not, doth hem no reverence.
For though thin hufbond armed be Ln maille.
The arwes of thy crabbed eloquence
Shal perce his brefl, and eke his aventaillc i 9080
In jaloufie I rede eke thou him binde.
And thou ilialt make him couche as doth a quaille*
If tlvou be falre, ther folk bea in prefencc
Shew thou thy vifage, and thin apparaille :
If thou be foule, be free of thy difpence,,
To get thee frendes ay do thy travaille ;
Be ay of chere as light as lefe on linde.
And let. him care, and wepe, and wrings andwailte.
THL
THE MARCHANTES PROLOGUE. 53
THE MARCHANTES PROLOGUE.
Weping and walling, care and other forwe
I have ynough, on even and on monve, 9c 90
Quod the marchant, and lb have other mo,
That wedded ben ; I trowc that it be fo :
For wel I wot it fareth fo by me,
I have a wif, the werlle that may be,
For though the fend to hire y coupled were,
She wolde him overmatche I dare wel fwere.
What fhulde I you reherfe in fpecial
Hire high malice ? flie is a flirew at al.
Ther is a long and a large difference
Betwix Grifildes grete patience, 9100
And of my wife the paffing crueltee.
Were I unbounden, all fo mote I the,
I wolde never eft comen in the fnare.
We wedded men live in forwe and care,
AflTay it who fo w^ol, and he ftial finde
That I fay foth, by feint Thomas of Inde,
As for the more part, I fay not alle ;
God fhilde that it fliulde fo befalle.
A good lire hofte, I have y wedded be
Thife monethes two, and more not parde ; o 1 1 o
And yet I trowe that he, that all his lif
Wifles hath ben, though that men wolde him rife
E 3 Into
54 THE MARCHANTES PROLOGUE.
Into the herte, ne coiule in no manere
Tellen fo much forwe, as I yon here
Coud tellen of my wives curfednefle.
Now, quod our hofte, marchant, fo God you bleffe.
Sin ye fo mochel knowen of that art,
. Ful hertely I pray you tell us part.
Gladly, quod he, but of min owen fore
For lory herte I tellen may no more. 9120
THE MARCHANTES TALE.
Whilom ther was dwell incj In Lumhardle
A worthy knight, that born was at Pavie,
In which he lived in gret profperitee;
And fixtv yere a wifies man was he.
And folwcd ay his bodily del it
On women, ther as was his appetit.
As don thife fooles that ben feculerc.
And whan that he was palled fixty yere,
Were it for holineiTe or for dotage,
I cannot fain^ but fwiche a gret corage 9 1 30
Hadde this knight to ben a wedded man,
That day and night he doth all that he can
To efpicn, wher that he might wedded be ;
Praying our lord to granten him, that he
Mighte ones knowen of that blisful lif,
That is betwix an huibond and his wif,
And
THE MARCHANTES TALE. 55
And for to live under that holy bond,
With which God firlle man and woman bond.
Non other lif (faid he) is worth a bene :
For wedlok is fo efy and lb clene, 9140
That in this world it is a paradile.
Thus faith this olde knight, that was fo wife.
And certainly, as foth as God is king,
To take a wif, it is a glorious thing,
And namely whan a man is old and hore,
Than is a wif the fruit of his trefore ;
Than fhuld he take a yong wif and a faire.
On which he might engendren him an heire,
And lede his lif in joye and in folas,
Wheras thife bachelers (ingen alas, 9^5^
Whan that they finde any adverfitee
In love, which n'is but childifli vanitec.
And trewely it iit wel to be fo.
That bachelers have often peine and wo :
On brotel ground they bilde, and brotelnelTr
They finden, whan they wenen likernefTe ;
They live but as a bird or as a befte,
In libertee and under non arefte,
Ther as a wedded man in his eftat
Liveth a lif blisful and ordinat, 9160
Under the yoke of mariage ybound ;
Wel may his herte in joye and blifle abound.
E 4 Fqr
56 THE MAXCH ANTES TALI.
For who can be fo buxom as a wif ?
Who is fo trewe and eke lb ententif
To kepe him, like and hole, as is his make ?
For wele or wo flie n'ill him net forfake :
She n'is notwery him to love and ferve,
Though that he lie bedrede til that he llerve.
And yet fom clerkes lain, it is not fo,
Of which he Theophrall is on of tho : 91 70
What force though Theophrall lift for to lie ?
Ne take no wif, quod he, for hufbondrie,
As for to fpare in houfliold thy difpence ;
A trewe fervant doth more diligence
Thy good to kepe, than doth thin owen wif.
For flic wol claimen half part al hire lif.
And if that thou be like, fo God me fave.
Thy veray frendes or a trewe knave
Wol kepe thee bet than fhe, that waiteth ay
After thy good, and hath don many a day. 9 1 80
This fentence, and an hundred thinges wcrfc
Writeth this man ther God his bones curfe.
But take no kepe of al fwiche vanitee,
Dcfieth Theophraft, and herkeneth me.
A wif is Goddes yefte veraily ;
All other maner yeftes hardely.
As londes, rentes, pafture, or commune.
Or m.ebles, all ben yeftes of fortune,
Thar
THE MARCHANTESTALE. 57
^hat palTen as a fhadow on the wall :
But drede thou not, if plainly fpeke I fhal, 919O
A wif wol lart and in thin hous endure,
Wei lenger than thee lift paraventure.
Mariage is a ful gret facrament ;
He which that hath no wif I hold him fhent ;
He liveth helples, and all defolat :
(I fpeke of folk in feculer eftat)
And herkneth why, I fay not this for nought.
That woman is for mannes helpe ywrought.
The highe God, whan he had Adam maked.
And faw him al alone belly naked, 9200
God of his grete goodnelTe faide than.
Let us now make an helpe unto this man
Like to himfelf, and than he made him Eve.
Here may ye fee, and hereby may ye preve.
That a wif is mannes helpe and his comfort.
His paradis terreftre and his difport :
So buxom and fo vertuous is flie.
They moften nedes live in unitee :
O flefh they ben, and o flefli, as I gelTe,
Hath but on herte in wele and in diftrelTe. 92 lO
A wif? a ! feinte Marie, hencdkke^
How might a man have any adveriite
That hath a wif ? certes I cannot feye.
The blifle the which that is betwix hem tweye
Thct
4l THE MARCH ANTES TALE.
Ther may no tongc telle or hcrte thinke.
If he be poure, fhe helpeth liini to fwinke ;
She kepeth his good, and vvafteth never a del ;
All that hire hufbond doth, hire liketh wel ;
She faith not ones nav, whan he faith ve :
Do this, faith he; alredy, fire, faith flie. 9220
O blisful ordre, o wedlok precious,
Thou art fo mery, and eke fo vertuous.
And fo commended, and approved eke,
That every man that holt him worth a leke,
Upon his bare knees ought all his lif
Thanken his God, tliat him hath lent a wif.
Or elles pray to God him for to fend
A wif, to laft unto his lives end.
For than his lif is fet in fikerneffe.
He may not be deceived, as I ge^^^y 9 2 30
So that he werche after his wives rede ;
Than may he boldly beren up his hede.
They ben fo trewe, and therwithal fo wife.
For which, if thou wilt werchcn as tlie wife.
Do alway fo, as women wol thee rede.
Lo how that Jacob, as thife clerkes rede.
By good confeil of his mother Rebekke
Bounde the kiddcs ikin about his nckke ;
For which his fadres benifon he wan.
Lo JvKjit% as the ftorie eke tell can, 9240
THE MARCHANTES TALE. 59
By good confeil Ihe Goddes peple kept,
And flow him Holofernes while he flept.
Lo Abigail, by good conleil how flie
Saved hire hufbond Na]:)al, whan that he
Shuld han be llain. And loke, Hefber ahb
By good confeil delivered out of wo
The peple of God, and made him Mardochee
Of AlTuere enhaunfed for to be.
Ther n'is no thing in gree fuperlatif
(As faith Senek) above an humble wif. 9250
Suffer thy wives tonge, as Caton bit,
She fhal command, and thou flialt fuffren it,
And yet flie wol obey of curtelie.
A wif is keper of thin huflx)ndrie : -
Wei may the fike man bevsaile and wepe,
Ther as ther is no wif the lious to kepe.
I warne thee, if wifely thou wilt werche,
Love wel thy wif, as Crill loveth his cherche :
If thou lovefl thyfelf, love thou thy wif.
No man hateth his flefli, but in his lif 9263
He foftreth it, and therfore bid I thee
Cherifli thy wif, or thou fhalt never the,
Hufbond and wif, what fo men jape or play,
Of worldly folk holden the fiker way :
They ben fo knit, ther may non harm betide,
And namely upon the wives lide.
For
6o THE MARCHANTES TALE.
For which this January, of whom I told,
Confider^cd hath witliin his dayes old
The lufty lif, the vertuous quiete.
That is in manage hony-fwete. 9270
And for his frendes on a day he fent
To tellen hem th* efFefl of his entent.
With face fad, his tale he hath hem told :
He fayde, frendes, I am hore and old.
And almoft (God wot) on my pittes brinkc.
Upon my foule fomwhat moil I thinke,
I have my body folily difpended,
Blefled be God that it fhal ben amended :
For I wol ben certain a wedded man,
And that anon in all the haft I can. 9280
Unto fom maiden, faire and tendre of age,
1 pray you fhapeth for my mariage
All fodenly, for I wol not abide :
And I wol fonde to efpien on my fide.
To whom I may be wedded haftily.
But for as moche as ye ben more than I,
Ye (hullen rather fwiche a thing efpien
Than I, and wher me befte were to allien.
But o thing warn I you, my frendes dere,
I wol non old wif han in no manere : 929O
She fhal not paiTen twenty yere certain.
Old fifh and vonge flelli wold I have fain.
Bet
THE MARCHANTES TALE. 6»
Bet is (quod he) a pike than a pikerel.
And bet than old beef is the tendre veel,
I wol no woman thirty yere of age.
It is but beneftraw and gret forage.
And eke thife olde widewes (God it wote)
They connen fo moch craft on Wades bote.
So mochel broken harm whan that hem left,
That with hem ftiuld I never live in reft. 9300
For fondry fcoles maken fubtil clerkes ;
Woman of many fcoles half a clerk is.
But certainly, a yong thing men may gic,
Right as men may warm wax with handes plie.
Wherfore I fay you plainly in a claufe,
I wol non old wif han right for this caufe.
For if fo were I hadde fwiche mcfchance.
That I in hire ne coude have no plefance.
Than fhuld I lede my lif in avoutrie,
And fo ftreight to the devil whan I die. 93i<^
Ne children (huld I non upon hire geten :
Yet were me lever houndes had me cten,
Than that min heritage fhulde fall
In ftraunge hondes : and this I tell you all.
I dote not, I wot the caufe why
Men fhulden wedde : and furthermore wot I,
Ther fpeketh many a man of manage.
That wot no more of it dian wot my page,
For
6z THE MARCHANTES TALE.
For which caufes a man fliuld take a wif.
If he ne may not liven chaft his lif, 9320
Take him a wif with gret devotion,
Becaufe of leful procreation
Of children, to the honour of God above.
And not only for paramour or love ;
And for they fhulden lecherie efchue,
And yeld hir dette whan that it is due :
Or for that eche of hem fhuld helpen other
In mefchefe, as a fuller fhal the brother.
And live in chaftitee ful holily.
But, fires, (by your leve) that am ndt I, 9350
For God be thanked, I dare make avaunt,
I fele my limmes flark and fuffifant
To don all that a man belongeth to :
I wot myfelven bell what I may do.
Though I be hoor, I fare as doth a tre.
That blofmeth er the fruit y woxen be ;
The blofmy tre n'is neither drie ne ded :
I fele me no wher hoor but on my hed.
Min herte and all my limmes ben as grene,
As laurer thurgh the ycre is for to fene. 934©
And lin that ye han herd all min entent,
I pray you to my will ye wolde affent.
Diverfe men diverfely him told
Of manage many enfamples old ;
Som
THE MARCHANTES TALE. 63
Som blamed it, fom praifed it certain ;
But atte lafte, fhortly for to fain,
(As all day falleth altercation,
Betvvixen frendes in difputifon)
Ther fell a ftrif betwix his brethren two,
Of which that on was cleped Placebo, 9350
Juftinus fothly called was that other.
Placebo fayd ; O January brother,
Ful litel nede han yc, my lord fo dere,
Confeil to alke of any that is here ;
But that ye ben fo ful of fapience.
That you ne liketh for your high prudence.
To weivcn fro the word of Salomon.
This word fayd he unto us everich on ;
Werke alle thing by confeil, thus fayd he.
And than ne fhalt thou not repenten thee. 9360
But though that Salomon fpake fwiche a word,
Min owen dere brother and my lord.
So wifly God my foule bringe at reft,
1 hold your owen confeil is the beft.
For, brother min, take of me this motif,
I have now ben a court-man all my lif.
And God it wot, though I unworthy be,
I have ftonden in ful gret degree
Abouten lordes of ful high eftat :
Yet had I never witli non of hem dcbat, 9370
VpL. II. E 8 never
64 THE MARCHANTES TALX
I never hem contraried trewely.
I wot wel that my lord can more than I ;
What that he faith, I hold it firme and ftablc,
I fay the fame, or elles thing fcmblable.
A ful gret fool is any confeillour.
That ferveth any lord of high honour.
That dare prefume, or ones thinken it.
That his confeil fliuld palTc his lordes wit.
Nay, lordes be no fooles by my fay.
Ye han yourfelven (hewed here to-day 9380
So high fentence, fo holily, and wel.
That I confent, and confirme every del
Your wordes all, and your opinio^.
By God ther n'is no man in al! this toun
Ne in Itaille, coud bet han yfa^^ ;
Crifl holt him of this confeil wel appaid.
And trewely it is an high coragc
Of any man that ilopen is in age.
To take a young wif, by my fader kin :
Your herte hongeth on a joly pin. 939^
Doth now in this matere right as you left.
For finally I hold it for the beft.
Juftinus, that ay ftille fat and herd,
Right in this wife he to Placebo anfwerd.
Now, brother min, be patient I pray,
Sin ye han faid, and herkneth what I fay.
Senek
TH£ MARCH AN T^-ES TALE 6^
Senek among his other wordes wife
Saith, that a man ought him right wel avife,
To whom he yeveth his lond or his catel.
And fith I ought avifen me fight wel, 940O
To whom I yevc my good away fro me,
Wel more I ought avifen me, parde,
To whom I yeve my body : for alway
1 warne you wel it is no childes play
To take a wif without aviiement.
Men muft enqueren (this is min afTent)
Wheder fhe he wife and fobre, or dronkelewe,
Or proud, bt elles other waies a fhrew,
A chidefter, or a waller of thy good,
Or riche or poure, or elles a man is wood. 9410
Al be it fo, that no man finden fhal
Non in this world, that trotteth hoi in al,
Ne man, ne befte, fwiche as men can devife,
But natheles it ought ynough fuffiee
With any wif, i'f fo were that fhe had
Mo goode the we J, than hire vices bad :
And all this axeth leifer to enquere.
For God it wot, I have wept many a tere
Ful prively, fin that T had a wif.
Praife who fo wol a wedded mannes I if, 94,zQ
Certain I find in it but coll and care.
And obfervances of alle blilTes bare.
Vol. II. F An4
66 TH£ MARCH ANTES TALE.
And yet, God wot, my ncighcbours aboUte,
And namely of women many a route,
Sain that I have the mofte ftedefaft wif,
And eke the mekeft on that bereth lif.
But I wot belt, wher wringeth me my fho.
Ye may for me right as you liketh do.
Avifeth you, ye ben a man of age,
How that ye entren into mariagc 943^
And namely with a yong wif and a faire.
By him that made water, fire, erthe, and air&
The yongeft man. that is in all this route,
Is befy ynow to bringen it aboute
To han his wif alone, trufleth me :
Ye {hul not plefen hire fully yeres three,
This is to fain, to don hire ful plefance.
A wif axetla ful many an obfervance.
I pray you that ye be not evil appaid.
Wei, quod this January, and hall thou faide ? 944O
Straw for Senek, and ftraw for thy proverbes,
1 counte not a panier ful of hcrbes
Of fcolc termes ; wifcr men than thou.
As thou hail herd, affented here right now
To my purpos : Placebo, what faye yc ?
I fay it is a curfed man, quod he,
That lettcth matrunoine fikerly.
And with that word they rifen fodcnly,
And
THE MARCHANTES TALE. 67
And ben afiented fully, that he fholde
be wedded whan him lift, and wher he Woldc. 9450
High fantalie and curious beiinelTe
Fro day to day gan in the foule eiUpreiTe
Of January about his mariage.
Many a faire fhap, and many a faire vifage
Ther pafTeth thurgh his herte night by night;
As who {o toke a mirrour polijQied bright.
And fet it in a comune market pliee.
Than fliuld he fee many a figure pace
By his mirrouq and in the fame wife
Gan January in with his thought devife 9460
Df maidensj which that dwelten him befide :
He wifte nbt Wher that he might abide.
For if that on have beautee in hire face.
Another ftont fo in the peples grace
For hire fadnelfe and hire benignitee,
That of the peple the greteft tois hath fhe :
And fom were riche and hadden a bad name.
But natheles^ betwix erneft and game^
He at the laft appointed him on on.
And let all other from his herte gonj 947^
And chees hire of his owen audtoritee^
t'or love is blind all day, and may not fee.
And whan that he was in his bed y brought.
He purtreied in his herte and in his tliou^ht
F 2 Hire
6S THE MARCHANTES TALE.
Hire frefhe beautee, and hire age tendre,
Hire middel fmal, hire armes long and fclertdre,
Hire wife governance, hire gentillefle,
Hire womanly bering, and hire ladneffc.
And whan that he on hire was condefcended.
Him thought his chois it might not ben amended ;
For whan that he himfelf concluded had, 948 1
Him thought eche other mannes wit fo bad.
That impoffible it were to replie
Again his chois ; this was his fantafie.
His frendes lent he to, at his inilance,
And praied hem to don him that plefancc.
That haftily they wolden to him come ;
He wolde abregge hir labour all and fome :
Nedcd no more to hem to go ne ride,
He was appointed ther he wolde abide. 94^^
Placebo came, and eke his frendes fonc,
And alderfirft he bade hem all a bone,
That non of hem non argumentes make
Again the purpos that he hath ytake :
Which purpos was plefant to God (faid he)
And veray ground of his profperitce.
He faid, ther was a maiden in the toun,
Which that of beautee hadde gret renoun,
Al were it fo, fhe were of fmal degree,
Sufficeth him hire youth and hire beautee : 9500
Which
THE MARCHANTES TALE. -69
Which maid (he faicl) he wold han to his wif
To lede in efe and holinefle his life :
And thanked God, that he might han hire all,
That no wight with his blifle parten fhall :
And praied hem to labour in this nede.
And fhapen that he faille not to fpede.
For than, he fayd, his fpirit was at efe ;
Than is (quod he) nothing may me difplefe,
Save o thing pricketh in my confcience,
The which I wol reherfe in your prefence, 95 1©
I have (quod he) herd faid ful yore ago,
Ther may no man han parfite bliffes two,
This is to fay, in erthe and eke in heven.
For though he kepe him fro the finnes feven.
And eke from every branch of thilke tree.
Yet is ther fo parfit felicitee.
And fo gret efe and luft in mariage,
That ever I am agaft now in min age.
That I fhal leden now fo mery a lif.
So delicat, withouten wo or ftrif, 95 20
That I flial han min heven in erthe here.
For fin that veray heven is bought fo dere
With tribulation and gret penance,
How fhuld I than, living in iwiche plefancc
As alle wedded men don with hir wives,
Come to the blilTe, ther Crift eterae on live is }
F 3 This
I
70 THEMARCMANTES TALE.
This is my drede, and ye, my brethren twele,
Aflbileth me this queflion I preie.
Juftinus, which that hated his folic,
Anfwerd anon right in his japerie ; 953^
And for he wold his longe tale abrege,
He wolde non auftoritee allege,
But fayde, fire, {o ther be non obilacle
Other than this, God of his hie miracle,!
And of his mercy may fo for you werche.
That er ye have your rights of holy cherche.
Ye may repent of wedded mannes lif.
In which ye fain ther is no wo ne ftrif :
And elles God forbede, but if he fent
A wedded man his grace him to repent 9540
Wei often, rather than a fingle man.
And therfore, lire, the beft rede that I can,
Defpeire you pot, but haveth in memorie,
Paraventure fhe may be your purgatorie;
She may be Goddesmene and Goddes whippe ;
Than fhal your foule up unto heven fkippe
Swifter than doth an arow of a bow.
I hope to God hereafter ye fhal know.
That ther n'is non fo gret felicitee
Jn manage, ne never more fhal be, 9550
That you fhal let of your falvation^
So that ye ufe, as flcill is and refon,
Thq
THE MARCHANTES TALE. 71
The luftes of your wif attemprely,
And that ye plefe hire nat to amoroufly :
And that ye kepe you eke from other finne.
My tale is don, for my wit is but thinne.
Beth not agaft hereof, my brother dere.
But let us waden out of this matere.
The wif of Bathe, if ye ban underftond.
Of mariage, which ye now ban in bond, 95^0
Declared hath ful wel in litel fpace :
Fareth now wel, God have you in his grace.
And with this word this Juftine and his brother
Han take hir leve, and eche of hem of other.
And whan they faw that it muft nedes be,
They wroughten fo by fleighte and wife tretee,
That fhe this maiden, which that Maius bight.
As haftily as ever that fbe might,
Shal wedded be unto this January.
I trow it were to longe you to tary, 957®
If I you told of every fcript and bond.
By which that fhe was feoffed in his lend ;
Or for to rekken of hire rich array.
But finally yeomen is the day.
That to the chirche bothe ben they went.
For to receive the holy facrament.
Forth Cometh the preeft, with ftole about his nekke.
And bade hire be like Sara and Rebekke,
F4 In
72 THE MARCHANTES TALE,
In wifdome and in trouthe of mariage ;
And layd his orifons, as is ufage, 9580
And crouched hem, and bade God fliuld hem bklTe,
And made all fiker ynowAvith holineffe.
Thus ben they wedded with folempnitce -;
And at the fefte fitteth he and Ihe
With other worthy folk upon the deis,
Al fulof joye and blifTe is the paleis.
And ful of inftruments^ and of vitaille.
The mofle deinteous of all Itaille.
Beforn hem ftood fwiche inllruments of foun.
That Orpheus, ne of Thebes Amphion, 9S9^
Ne maden never fwiche a melodie.
At every coitrs in came lou^e minltfalcie.
That never Joab tromped for to here,
Ne he Theodomas yet half fo clere
At Thebes, whan the citee was in doute,
Bacchus the win hem Ikinketh a] aboute,
And Venus laughcth upon- every wight,
(For January was become hire knight,
And wolde bothe aflaien liis corage
Jn libertee, and eke in manage) 960^
And w^ith hire firebrbnd in liire bond aboute
Danceth before the bride and all the route^
^nd certainly I dare right wcl ifay thi?,
Ymeneus, that Gbd of wedding is,
THE MARCHANTES TALE. 73
Saw never his lif fo mery a wedded man.
Hold thou thy pees, thou poet Marcian,
That writell us that ilke wedding mery
Of hire Philologie and him Mercurie,
And of the fonges that the Mufes fonge :
To fmal is both thy pen and eke thy tonge 96 lO
For to defcriven of this mariage.
Whan tendre youth hath wedded ftouping age,
Ther is fwiche mirth that it may not be writen ;
AflTaieth it yourfelf, than may ye witen
ff that I lie or non in this matere.
Maius, that fit with fo benigne a chere,
Hire to behold it femed faerie,
Quene Heller loked never with fwiche an eye
On AiTuere, fo meke a look hath fhe,
I may you not devife all hire beautee; 962O
But thus moch of hire beautee tell I may,
That fhe was like the brighte morwe of May
Fulfilled of all beautee, and plefance.
This January is ravifhed in a trance.
At every time he loketh in hire face.
But in his herte he gan hire to manace.
That he that night in armes wold hire flreine
Harder than ever Paris did Heleine.
But natheles yet had he gret pitce
That thilke night ofFenden hire mufl he, 9630
And
74 THE MARCHANTES TALE.
And thought, alas, o tendre creature,
Kow vvolde God ye mighten wel endure
All my corage, it is lb fharpe and kene ;
I am agail ye fhal it nat iuflene.
But God forbede, that I did all my might.
Now wolde God that it were waxen night.
And that the night wold laflen ever mo.
I wold that all this peple were ago.
Apd iinaHy he doth all his labour,
As he beft mighte, faying his honour, 96iic
To hafte hem fro the mete in fubtil wife.
The time came that fefon was to rife,
And after that men dance, and drinken faft,
And fpices all about the hous they caft.
And ful of joye and blifle is every man.
All but a fquier, that highte Damian,
Which carf beforn the knight ful many a day :
He was fo ravilht on his lady May,
That for the veray peine he was nie wood ;
Almofl he fwelt, and fwouned ther he flood : 965G
So fore hath Venus hurt him with hire brond,
As that fhe bare it dancing in hire bond.
And to his bed he went him haftily ;
No more of him as at this time fpekc I ;
But ther I let him wepe ynow and plaine.
Til frefhc May wol rewen on his peine.
P peri-
THE MARCHANTES TALE, 75
O perilous fire, that in the bedftraw bredeth !
J© famuler fo, that his fervice bedeth !
O fervant traitour, falfe of holy hewe,
Like to the nedder in boroiu.ilic untrevve, 9660
God Iheldc us alle from your acquaintance!
O January, dronken in plefance
pf mariage, fee how thy Damian,
Thin owen fquier and thy boren man,
Entendeth for to do thee vilanie :
God grante thee thin homly fo to efpie.
For in this world n'is werfe peftilence,
Than homly fo, all day in thy prefence,
Parformed hath the fonne his arke diurne,
No longer may the body of him fojourne 9670
On the orifont, as in that latitude :
Night with his mantel, that is derke and rude,
Gan overfprede the Hemifperie aboute :
For which departed is this lufty route
Fro January, with thank on every fide.
Home to hir houfes luftily they ride,
Ther as they don hir thinges, as hem left.
And whan they faw hir time gon to reft.
Sone after that this haftif January
Wol go to bed, he wol no longer tary. 9680
He drinketh Ippcras, clarre, and vernagc
Of fpices hot, to .encrefen his coragc :
And
76 THEMARCHANTES^TALE,
And many a letuarie had he ful fine,
Swiche as the curfed monk dan Conilantine
Hath written in his book de Caitu ;
To ete hem all he wolde nothing efchue ;
And to his privee frendes thus fayd he :
For Goddes love, as Tone as it may be.
Let voiden all this hous in curteis wife.
And they han don right as he wol devifc. 9690
Men drinken, and the travers drawe anon ;
The bride is brought a-bed as ftill as Hon ;
And whan the bed was with the preeft yblefled.
Out of the chambre hath every wight him drefled.
And January hath fall in armes take
His frefhe May, his paradis, his make.
He lulleth hire, he kifleth hire ful oft ;
With thicke briftles of his berd unfoft.
Like to the Ikin of houndfifh, fliarp as brere,
(For he was fliave al newe in his manere) 9 7 00
He rubbeth hire upon hire tendre face,
And fayde thus ; Alas ! I mote trefpace
To you, my fpoufe, and you gretly offend.
Or time come that I wol doun defcend.
But natheles confidereth this, (quod he)
Ther n'is no werkman, whatfoever he be,
That may both werken wel and haftily :
This wol be don at leifer parfitly.
tHEMARCHANTESTALE. 77
It is no force how longe that we play ;
In trewe wedlok coupled be we tway ; 97l<>
And bleffed be the yoke that we ben intie,
For in our a£les may ther be no finne.
A man may do no linne with his wif,
Ne hurt himfelven with his owen knif :
For we have leve to play us by the lawe.
Thus laboureth he, til that the day gan dawc,
And than he taketh a fop in fine clarrc,
And upright in his bed than iitteth he.
And after that he fang ful loud and clere,
And kift his wif, and maketh wanton chere. 9726
He was al coltifh, ful of ragerie,
And ful of jergon, as a flecked pie.
The ilacke fkin about his necke (haketh,
While that he fang, fo chanteth he and craketh.
But God wot what that May thought in hire hertc.
Whan flic him faw up fitting in his fherte
In his night cap, and with his necke lene :
She praifeth not his playing worth a bene*
Than fayd he thus ; my refte wol I take
Now day is come, I may no lenger wake ; 9730
And doun he layd his hed and flept til prime.
And afterward, whan that he faw his time^
Up rifeth January, but frefhe May
Held hire in chambre til the fourthe dav.
As
y8 THE MARCHANTES TALE;
As ufage is of wives for the befte.
For every labour fomtime mofle ban refte.
Or dies longe may he not endure ;
This is to fay, no lives creature,
Be it of fiib, or brid, or beft, or man;
Now wol I fpeke of woful Damian, 974^
That langureth for love, as ye Ihul here ;
Therfoi-e 1 fpeke to him in this raancrc;
I fay, O fely Damian, alas 1
Anfwer to this demand, as in this cas^
How fhalt thou to thy lady freflic May.
Tellen thy wo ? She wol alway fay nay ;
Eke if thou fpeke, fhe wol thy wo bewrein ;
God be thin help, I can no better fein.
This fike Damian in Venus fire
So brenneth, that he dieth for defire ; 975^
For which he put his lif in aventure.
No lenger might he in this wife endure.
But prively a penner gan he borwc.
And in a lettre wrote he all his forwe^
In manere of a complaint or a lay,
Unto his faire frefhc lady May.
And in a purfe of filk, heng on his fherte,
He hath it put, and layd it at his herte.
The mone that at none Was thilke day
That January hath wedded frefhe May 9760
In
THE MARCHANTES TALE. 7§
In ten of Taure, was into Cancer gllden ;
So long hath Maius in hire chambre abiden.
As cuflome is unto thife nobles allei
A bride fhal not etcn in the halle^
Til dayes four or three dayes at the lefle
YpafTed ben, than let hire go to fefle.
The fourthe day complete fro none to none^
Whan that the highe mefle was ydone.
In halle fat this January and May,
As frefh as is the brighte fomers day. 977^
And fo befel, how that this goode man
Remembred him upon this Damian,
And fayde ; Seinte Marie, how may it be.
That Damian entendeth not to me ?
Is he ay like ? or how may this betide >
His fquiers, which that ftoden ther beiidc,
Excufed him, becaufe of his fikneffc,
Wliich letted him to don his befinefle :
Non other caufe mighte make him tary.
That me forthinketh, quod this January ; 9786
He is a gentil fquier by my trouthe,
If that he died, it \yere gret harme and routhe.
He is as wife, difcret, and as fecree.
As any man I wote of his degree.
And therto manly and eke fervifable,
And for to ben a thrifty man right ablci
But
«o THE MARCHANTES TALfi-
But after mete as foncf as ever I may ,
I wol myfelfe vifite him, and eke May,
To don him all the comfort that I 'Can.
And for that word him bleflfed every man, 979^
That of his bountee and his gentillelTc
He wolde fo comforten in fikneffe
His fquier, for it was a gentil dedc.
Dame, quod this January, take good hcde,
At after mete, ye with your women alle,
(Whan that ye ben in chambre out of this haUe)
That all ye gon to fee this Damian :
Doth him difport, he is a gentil man,
And telleth him that I wol him vifitc,
Have I no thing but refted me a lite : 98CO
And fpede you fafte, for I wol abide
Til that ye flepen faile by my fide.
And with that word he gan unto him callo
A fquier, that was marfhal of his halle,
And told him certain thinges tliat he wolde.
This freflie May hath llreight hire way yholdc
With all hire women unto Damian,
Doun by his beddes lide lit fbe than.
Comforting him as goodly as fhe may.
This Damian, whan that his time he fay, 9810
In fecree wife, his purfe, and eke his bill.
In which that he y written had his will,
Hath
THEMARCHANTESTALE. Si
tiath put into hire hond vvithouten more,
Stive that he fiked wonder depe and fore.
And foftely to hire right thus layd he ;
Mercie, and tliat ye nat difcover me :
For I am ded, if that this thing be kid.
This purle hath ilie in with hire bofome hid.
And went hire way ; ye get ho more of me;
But unto January ycome is flie, 9820
That on his beddes fide fate ful foft.
He taketh hire, and kifl'eth hire ful oft :
And layd him doun to llepc, and that anon.
She feined hire, as that fhe mufle gon
Ther as ye wote that every wight mot nede;
.And whan flie of this bill hath taken hedc,
She rent it all to cloutes at the lafl,
And in the privce foftely it cail.
Who ftudieth now but fairc frefhe May ?
Adoan by olde January ilie lay, 9^30
That ilepte, til the cough hath him awaked:
Anon he prayd hire ftripen hire al naked,
^,He wolde of hire, he faid, have fom plefance ;
And faid, hire clothes did him encombrance.
And fhe obeieth him, be hire hfe or loth.
But left that precious folk be with me wroth, ,
How that he wrought, I dare nat to you tell,
Or wheder hire thought it paradis or hell;
Vol. ir. G But
82 THE MARCHANTES TALE.
But thcr I let hem werken in hir wife
Til evefong rang, and that they mud arife. 9840
Were it by deftinee, or aventure.
Were it by influence, or by nature.
Or conflellation, that in fwiche eftat
The heven flood at that time fortunat.
As for to put a bill of Venus werkes
(For alle thing hath time, as fayn thife clerkes)
To any woman for to get hire love,
I cannot fay, but grete God above.
That knoweth that non a£l is caufeles.
He deme of all, for I wol hold my pees, 985O
But foth is this, how that this freflie May
Hath taken fwiche impreffion that day
Of pitee on this fike Damian,
That fro hire berte fhe ne driven can
The remembrance for to don him efe.
Certain (thought Ihe) whom that this thing dilplefe
I rekke not, for here I him affure.
To love him befl: of any creature.
Though he no more hadde than his fhertc.
Lo, pitee renneth fone in gentil herte. 9860
Here may ye feen, how excellent franchifc
In women is whan they hem narwe avife.
Som tyraunt is, as ther ben many on,
That hat^i an herte as hard as any Hon,
• . Which
ITHE MARGHANtES TALE. 8/
Which wold han lette him fterven in the place
Wei rather than han granted him hire grace : ^ •
And hem rejoycen in hir cruel pride, ~'
And rekken not to ben an homicide.
This gentil May, fulfilled of pitee,
Kiglit of hire liond a lettre maketh fhe, 9S70
In which fhe granteth him hire veray grace ;
Ther lacked nought, but only day and place,
VVher that fhe mis^ht unto his luft fuffice :
For it flial be, right as he wol devife.
And whan flie faw hire time upon a day
To viliten this Damian goth this May,
And fotilly this lettre doun flie threfl
Under his piKve, rede it if him left.
She taketh him by the hond, and hard him twift:
So fecretly, that no wight of it wift, 9880
And bade him ben all hoi, and forth flic went
To January^ whan he for hire fent.
Up rifeth Damian the nexte morwe,
Al paflTed was his iikneffe and his forwe.
He kembeth him, he proineth him and piketh.
He doth all that his lady luft and liketh;
And eke to January he goth as lowe.
As ever did a dogge for the bowe.
He is fo plefant unto every man,
(For craft is all, who fo that don it cjia) 989O
G 2 That
«4 THE MARCHANTES TALE.
That every wight is fain to fpeke him good ;
And fully in his ladies grace he flood.
Thus let I Damian about his nede,
And in my tale forth I wol precede.
Som clerkes holden that felicitee
Stant in delit, and therfore certain he
This noble January, with all his anight
In honeft wife as longeth to a knight,
Shopc him to liven ful delicioufly.
His houfing, his array, as honeftly 9900
To his degree was maked as a kinges.
Amonges other of his honeft thinges
He had a gardin walled all with fton.
So fayre a gardin wote I no wher non.
For out of doute I veraily fuppofe.
That he that wrote the Romant of the Rofe,
Ne coude of it the beautee wel dcvife ;
Ne Priapus ne mighte not fuffife,
Though he be god of gardins, for to tell
The beautee of the gardin, and the well, 99 to
That llood under a laurer alway grene.
Ful often time he Pluto and his qucne
Proferpina, and allc hir faerie,
Difporten hem and maken melodic
About that well, and daunced, as men told.
This noWc knight, this January the old
Swichc
THE MARCHANTES TALE. 85
Swielje deintee hath in it to walke and pley.
That he wol fufFre no wight here the key,
Sauf he himfelf, for of the fmal wiket
He bare ahvay of filver a cliket, 9920
With which whan that him lift he it unfliette.
And whan that he wold pay his wives dette
In fomer fefon thider wold he go.
And May his wif, and no wight but they two ;
And thinges which that were not don a-bedde,
He in the gardin parfourmed hem and fpedde.
And in this wife many a mery day
Lived this January and frefhe May,
But worldly joye may not alway endure
To January, ne to no creature. 993^
O foden iiap, o thou fortune unftable.
Like to the Scorpion fo deceivable,
That flatreft with thy hed whan thou woU fting ;
Thy tayl is deth, thurgh thin enveniming,
O brotel joye, o fwete poyfon queinte,
O monftre, that fo fotilly canft peintc
Thy giftes, under hewe of ftedfaftneffe.
That thou deceivcft bothe more and lefTe,
Why hail thou January thus deceived,
T'hat haddeft him for thy ful frend received ? 994Q
And now thou haft beraft him both his eyeq,
Fpr fQi'we of which defireth he to dyen,
G 3 Alas !
$6 THE MARCH ANTES TALE.
Alas ! this noble January free,
Amidde his lull and his profperitec
Is waxen blind, ^nd that al fodenly.
He wepeth and he waileth pitojiilly ;
And therwithall, the fire of jaloufie
(Left that his wif lliuld fall in fom folic)
So brent his herte, that he woldf5 fain,
That fom mai> had both him and hire yllain ; 99^0
For nother after his deth, ne in his lif,
Ne woW he that flie were jjp loye ne wif.
But ever live ^s a widewe in clothes blake.
Sole as the turtle that hath loft hire make.
But at the laft, after a mojieth or tway
His forwe gan aftwagen, foth to lay.
For whan he wift it might non ether be.
He patiently toke his adverfitee ;
Sav€ out of doute he ne may nat forgpn.
That he n'asjalpus ey^r more in on ; 9960
Which jaloulie it was fo outrageous,
That neither ia halle, ne in non other hous,
Ne in non other plape never the mo
He n'olde fuffre hire for to ride or go.
But if that he had honde on hire alway.
For which ful often wepeth frefhe May,
That loveth Damian io brenningly,
That file mofte either dien fodenly.
Or
T H E M A R C H A N T ES T A L E. 87
Or elles fhe mofle han him as hire left :
She waited whan hire herte wold to-breft. 997®
Upon that other fide Damian
Becomen is the forwefulleft man
That ever was, for neither night ne day
Ne might he fpeke a word to fr^fhe May,
As to his purpos of no fwiche matcre,
But if that January muft it here,
That had an hand upon hire evermo.
But natheles, by writing to and fro,
And privee iig^es, wift he what fhe ment,
And fhe knew eke the fin of his entent. 0980
O January, what might it thee availe,
Though thou might feen, as fer as fhippes faile ?
For as good is blind to dec^eived be,
As be deceived, whan a rjian may fee.
Lo Argusj which that had an hundred eyen.
For all that ever he coude pore or prien,
Yet was he blent, and, God wot, fo ben mo.
That wenen wifly that it be not fo :
Pafie over is an efe^ I fay no more.
This frefhe May, of which I fpake of yore, 9990
In warm wex hath enprented the clilcet.
That January bare of the fmal wiket,
Py which intb his gardin oft he went ;
And Damian that knew all hire entent
G 4 The
S« THE MARCH ANTES TALE,
The cllket contrefeted pnvely ;
Tjher n'is fio more to lay, but haftily
6om wonder by this tlike|: fhal betide,
Which ye fliul heren, if ye wol abide.
O noble Ovjde, foth fayeft thou, God wote,
What fleight is it if lovp be long and hote, icooo
That he n'ill find it out in fom nianere ?
By Pyramus and Thlfbc jpiay men lere ;
Though they were kept ful long and ftreit over all>
They ben accorded, rowning thurgh a wall, j'f
Ther no wight coude han founden fwiche a fleightc.
But now to purpos ; er that daies eighte
Were palTed of the month of Juil, befill.
That January hath caught fo gret a will,
Thurgh egging of his wif, him for to play
In his gardin, and no wight but they tway, lOOjo
That in a morwe unto this May faid he;
Rife up, my wif, my love, my lady free^
The turtles vois is herd, myn owen fwete ;
The winter. is gon, with all his raines wete.
Come forth now with thiri eyen columbine.
Wei fairer ben thy breft§ than ony wine.
The gardin is encloled all aboute ;
Come forth, my white fpoufe, for out of doutc,
Thou haft me wounded in myn hcrtc, o wif :
Jip fppt in thee n'as never in all thy lif. 4OC2Q
Coii^e
THE MARCHANTES TALJE. I9
Come forth, and let us taken our diiport,
I chefe thee for my wif and my comfort^
Swiche olde lewed wordes ufed he.
On Damian a ilgne made fhe,
That he fhuld go before vyith his cliket, z
This Damian hath opened the wiket,
And in he llert^ and tha.t in fwiche manere.
That no wight might him peyther fee ne here.
And Hill Ke fit under a bufh. Anon
This January, as blind as is a Hon, IO93O
With Maius in his hand, and no wight mo,
Into this frefhe gardin is ago,
And clapped to the wiket fodenly.
Now, wif, quod he, here n'is but thou, and I,
That art the creature that I befl love :
For by that lord that Ht }n hevcn above,
I hadde lever dien on a knif, .
Than thee offenden, dere trewe wif.
For Goddes fake, thinke how I thee cliees.
Not for no covetife dou teles, ICQ40
But only for the love I had to thee.
And tliough that I be old and may not fee,
Beth to me trewe, and I wol tell you why ;
Certes three thinges fhal ye win therby;
Firft love of Crift, and to yourfelf honour,
And all min heritage, toun and tour,
I ycvc
90 THE MARGHANTES TALE,
I yeve it you, maketh chartres as you left :
This fhai be don to-lnorwe er fbnne reft,
So wifly God my foule bring to blifle ;
I pray you on this covenant ye me kiffe. 10050
And though that I be jalous, wite me nought ;
Ye ben ib depe enprented in my thought.
That whan that I consider your beautee.
And therwithall the unlikely elde of me,
I may not certes, though I fhulde die,
Forbcre to ben Out of your compagnie
for veray love ; this is withouten doute :
Now kifle me, wif, and let us rome aboute.
This frefhe May, whan fhe thife wordes herd,
Benignely to January anfwerd, 10060
But firft and fojr^ard fhe began to wepe :
I have, quod fhe, a foule for to kepe
As wel as ye, apd alfo min honour,
And of my wif hood thilke tendre flour.
Which that I have afTured in your hond,
Whan that the preeft to you my body bond :
Wherfore I wol anfwere in this manere,
With leve of you, myn oWen lord fo derc.
I pray to God that never daw that day,
That I ne fterve, as foule as woman may, 10070
If ever I do unto my kin that fhame.
Or elles I empeire fo my name.
That
THE MARCHANTES Ti^LE. 91
That I be falfe ; and if I do that lakke,
Do ftripei> me and put me in a fakke.
And in .the nexte jriver do me drenche :
I am a gentil woman, and no wenche.
Why rpeke ye thus ? but men beri ever untrewc.
And womea han reprefe of you ay mewc.
Ye con non other daliance, I Icve,
But fpeke to us as of untruft and repreve. 10080
And with that word ihe faw wher Damlan
Sat in the bufh, and coughen Ihe began ;
And with hire finger a figne made fhe.
That Damian fhuld climbe up on a tre,
..That charged was with fruit, and up he went ;
For veraily he knew all hire entent.
And every figne that fhe coude make,
Wei bet than January hire owen make.
For in a lettre fhe had told him all
Of this matere, how that he werken fhall. 10090
And thus I let him fitting iri the pery.
And January and May roming ful mery.
Bright was the day, and blew the firmament ;
Phcbus of gold his ftremes doun hath fent
To gladen every flour with his warmnefTe •
He was that time in Geminis, I gefTe,
But litel fro his declination
Of Cancer, Joyes exaltation*
An4
92 THE MARCHANTES TALE.
And fo befell in that bright morwc tide,
That in the gardin, on the ferther fide, fOiOO
Pluto, that is the king of Faerie,
And many a ladie in his compagnie
Folwing his wif, the quene Proferpina,
Which, that he ravisfhed out of Ethna,
While that flie gadred floures in the mede,
(In Claudian ye may the ftory rede,
How that hire in his grifely carte he fette)
This king of Faerie adoun him fette
Upon a benche of turves frefhe and grene.
And right anon thus faid he to his quene. lOiiO
My wif, quod he, ther may no wight fay nay.
The experience fo preveth it every day,
The trcfon which that woman doth to man.
Ten hundred thoufand ftories tell I can
Notable of your untrouth and brotelnefTe.
O Salomon, richcft of all richeffe,
Fulfilled of fapience, and worldly gloric,
Ful worthy ben thy wordes to memoric
To every vfight, that wit and refon can.
Thus praifeth he the bountee yet of man ; 10120
Among a thoufand men yet fond I on,
Put of all women fond 1 never non.
Thus faith this king, thatknewe your wikkedneffe ;
And Jefusy Filius Sirach, as I geffe,
H?
THE MARCH ANTES TALE. 93
He fpeketh of you but felden reverence.
A vvilde fire, a corrupt peftilence,
So fall upon your bodies yet to-night S
Ne fee ye not this honourable knight }
Becaufe, alas ! that he is blind and old.
His owen man fhal make him cokewold. 10130
Lo, wher he lit, the lechour, in the tree.
Now vvol I graunten of my majeftec
Unto this olde blinde worthy knight,^
That he flial have again his eyen light.
Whan that his wif wol don him vilanie ;
*rhan Ihal he knowen all hire harlotrie.
Both in reprefe of hire and other mo.
Ye, lire, quod Proferpine, and wol yc fo ?
Now by my modrc Ceres foule I fwere.
That I fhal yeve hire fuffifant anfwere, I0I4C>
And alle women after for hire fake ;
That though they ben in any gilt ytake.
With face bold they fhul hemfelve excufe,
And here hem doun that wolden hem accufc.
For lacke of anfwere, non of us Ihul dien.
Al had ye feen a tiling with bothe youre eyen,
Yet fhul we fo vifage it hardely,
And wepe and fwere and chiden fubtilly.
That ye fliul ben as lewed as ben gees.
WTiat rekketh me of your audloritees ? 10150
I ^:ote
94 TH£ MARCHANTES fXtife
1 wote wel that this Jewe, this Salomon,-
Fond of us women fooles many on :
But though that he ne fond no good woman^
Ther hath yfonden many an other man
Women ful good, and trewe, and vertuous *
"WitneiTe on hem that dwehe in Criftes hous^
With martyrdom they prcved hir conftancfe.
The Romain geftes maken remembrance
Of many a veray trewe wif alfo*
But, fife, ne be not wroth, al be it fo, I0i6d
Though that he faid he fond no good woman,
I pray you take the fentence of the man :
He ment thus, That in foverain bountee
K'is non but God, no, nouther he ne flie.
Ey, for the veray God that ri'is but on^
What maken ye fo moche of Salomon ?
What though he made a temple, Goddes hous ?
What though he riche were and glorious ?
So made he eke a temple of falfe goddes,
How might he don a thing that more forbode is ?
Parde as faire as ye his name emplaftrc, 10171
He was a lechour, and an idolaftre,
And in his elde he veray God forlbke.
And if that God ne hadde (as faith the bokc)
Spared him for his fathers fake, he fliolde
Man loft his regne rather than he wolde.
I fete
THE MARCHANTES TALE.9^v
I fete nat of all the vllanie.
That he of women wrote, a boterflic,
I am a woman, nedes moile I fpeke.
Or fwell unto that tmie min herte breke, 10180
For fin he faid that we ben janglerefles.
As ever mote I brouken hole my trefles,
I fhal nat fparen for no curtefie
To fpeke him harm, that fayth us vilanle.
Dame, quod this Pluto, be no lenger wroth^
I yeve it up : but fin I fwore min oth.
That I wold graunten him his fight again.
My word fhal ftand, that warne I you certain :
I am a king, it fit me not to lie.
And 1, quod (lie, am quene of Faerie, 10193
Hire anfwere flie fhal han I undertake.
Let us no more wordes of it make,
Forfoth, quod he, I wol you not contrary.
Now let us turne again to January,
That in the gardin v/ith his faire May
Singeth wel merier than the popingay :
You love I beft, and fhal, and other non.
So long about the alleyes is he gon.
Til he was comen again to thilke pery,
Wher as this Damian fitteth ful mery l020a
On high, among the frefhe leves grene.
This frelheMay, that is fo bright and fhene,-
Gan
96 THE MARCHANTES TAL£.
Gan for to like, and faid ; alas my ilde !
Now, fire, quod fhe, for ought that may betide
I mofle have of the peres that I fee.
Or I mofle die, fo fore longeth me
To ctcn of the fmalc peres grene ?
Help for hire love that is of heven q\iene<
I tell you vvel a woman in my plit
May have to fruit fo gret an appetit, 1021O
That (he may dien, but fhe of it have.
Alas ! quod he, that I n'adde here a knave,
That coude climbe, alas ! alas ! (quod he)
For I am blinde. Ye, fire, no force, quod flic ;
But wold ye vouchefauf for Goddes fake,
iThe pery in with ygur amies for to take,
(For wel I wot that ye miflruften me)
Than wold I climben wel ynough, (quod fhe)
So I my fote might fet;ten on your back.
Certes, faid he, therin flial be no lack, 10220
Might I you helpen mith min hertc blood.
He ftoupeth doun, and on his back flie flood^^
And caught hire by a twifl, and up flie goth.
(Ladies, I pray you that ye be not wroth,
I can nat glofc, I am a rude man :)
And fodenly anon this Damian
Gan puUen up the fmock, and in he throng.
And whan that Pluto faw this grete wrong,
Ta
tHE MARCH ANTES TALE. 97
To January he yaf again his fight,
And made him fee as wel as ever he might.
And whan he thus had caught his light again,
Ke was ther never man of thing fo fain :
But on his vvif his thought was ever mo.
Up to the tree he cali his eyen two,
And faw how Damian his wife had dreffed
Tn fwiche raanere, it may not ben exprefled,
Sut if I vvolde ipeke uncurteilly.
And up he yaf a roring and a cry,
As doth the mother whan the child flial die ;
Out ! helpe ! alas ! harow ! he gan to cry ; 1024Q
Uronge lady ftore, what doeft thou ?
And fl\.e anfwered : lire, what aileth you ?
Have patience and rcfon in your minde,
1 have y6u holpen on both your eyen blinde*.-
Up peril of my foule, I fhal nat lien,
As me was taught to helpen with your eyen.
Was nothing better for to make you fee.
Than ftrogle with a man upon a tree j
God wot, I did it in ful good entent.
Strogle ! quod ,he, ye, algate in it went. 10250
God ycve you both on fhames dcth to dien.
He fwived thee, I faw it with aiin eyen.
And elles be I honged by the halfe.
Than is, quod £lie, my medicine al falfe.
Vol. II. H For
9^ THE MARCHANTESTALE.
For certainly, if that ye mighten fee^
Ye wold not fay thife wordes unto me.
Ye have fom glimfing, and no parfit fight.
I fee, quod he, as vvel as ever I might,
(Thanked be God) with both min eyen two.
And by my feith me thought he did thee fo. 10260
Ye mafe, ye mafen, goode fire, quod fhe ;
This thank have I for I have made you fee :
Alas ! quod fhe, that ever I was fo kind.
Now, dame, quod he, let al pafTe out of mind :
Come doun, my lefe, and if I have milTaid,
God helpe me fo, as I am evil appaid.
But by my fadres foule, I wende have fein.
How that this Damian had by ihee lein.
And that thy fmock had lein upon his breft. IO269
Ye, fire, quod (he, ye may wene as you left :
But, fire, a man that waketh of his ilepe,
He may not fodenly wel taken kepe
Upon a thing, ne fecn it parfitly.
Til that he be adawed veraily.
Right fo a man, that long hath blind ybe.
He may. not fodenly fo wel yfec,
Firft whan his fight is newe comen agcin.
As he that hath a day or two yfein.
Til that your fight yfateled be a while,
Ther may ful many a fighte you begilc, 10280
Beware
I
THEMARCHANTESTAtE. 99
Beware, I pray you, for by heven king
Ful many a man weneth to fee a thing,
And it is all another than it femeth :
He which that mifconceiveth oft mifdemeth.
And with that word fhe lep doun fro the trec»
This January who is glad but he ?
He kilTeth hire, and clippeth hire ful oft,
And on hire wombe he ilroketh hire ful foft ;
And to his paleis home he hath hire lad.
Now, goode men, I pray you to be glad, 10290
Thus endeth here my tale of Januarie,
God bleffe us, and his moder Seinte Marie.
THE SQUIERES PROLOGUE.
B Y Goddes mercy, fayde oure Ilofte tho.
Now fwiche a wif I preie God kepe me fro.
1^0, fwiche fleightes and fubtilitees
In women ben ; for av as befv as bees
Ben they us fely men for to deceive,
And from a fothe wol they ever weive.
By this Marchantes^ tale it preveth weL
But natheles, as trewe as any liele, 10300
I liave a wif, though that fhe poure be ;
But of hire tonge a labbing flirewe is fhe ;
And yet flie hath an hepe of vices mo.
Therof no force ; let all fwich« thinges go.
H 2 ^ But
loo THE SQUIERES PROLOGUJ!.
But wete ye what ? in confeil be it feyde.
Me reweth fore I am unto hire teyde ;
For and I fhulde rekene every vice,
Which that fhe hath, y v^^is I were to nice ;
And caufe why, it Ihulde reported be
And told to hire of fom of this compagnie, 103 1<>
(Of whom it nedeth not for to declare,
Sin women connen utter fwiche chafFare)
And eke my wit fufficeth not therto
To tellen all ; wherfore my tale is do.
Squier, come ner, if it yourc wille be.
And fay fomwhat of love, for certes ye
Connen theron as moche as any man.
Nay, lire, quod he, but fwiche thing as I cttrt
With hertly wille, for I wol not rebelle
Agein youre luft, a tale wol I telle. 1032O
Have me excufcd if I fpeke amis ;
My vville is good ; and lo, my tale is this.
THE SQJJIERES TALE.
At Sarra, in the lond of Tartaric,
Thcr dwelt a king that werreied Ruflie,
Thurgh which ther died many a doughty man.i
This noble king was cleped Cambufcan,
Which in his time was of fo gret rcnoun.
That thcr n'as no whcr in no rcgioun
Si
THE SQJJIERES TALE. loi
So excellent a lord in alle thing :
Him lacked nought that longeth to a king, 1033O
As of the fefte of which that he was bornc^
He kept his lay to which he was yfworne.
And therto he was hardy, wife, and riche.
And pitous and juft, and alway yliche ;
Trewe of his word, benigne and honourable ;
Of his corage as any centre flablc ;
Yong, frefli, and ftrong, in armes defirous,
As any bacheler of all his hous.
A faire perfon he was, and fortunate
And kept alway fo wel real eftat, 1034O
That ther n*as no wher fwiche another man.
This noble king, this Tartre Cambufcan,
Hadde two Tones by Elfeta his wif.
Of which the eldeft fone highte Algarfif,
That other was ycleped Camballo.
A doughter had this worthy king alfo.
That yongefl was, and highte Canace :
But for to tellen you all hire beau tee.
It lith not in my tonge, ne in my conning,
I dare not undertake fo high a thing : 10350
Min Englifh eke is unfufficient.
It mufle ben a Rethor excellent.
That coude his colours longing for that art.
If he Ihuld hire defcriven ony part :
H 3 lam
102 THE SQUIERES TALE.
I am non fwichc, I mote fpeke as I can.
And fo befelt, that whan this Cambufcan
Hath twenty winter borne his diademe,
Af he wa? Wont fro yere to yere I deme,
He let tlitf' jfefte of bis nativitee
IDoa crieri, thnrghoiit Sarra his citee, 10360
The laft Idus of March, after the yere.
Phebus the fonne ful jolif was and clere.
For he was nigh his cxakation
In Maites face, and in his manfion
In Aries, the colerike hote iigne :
Ful lufty was the wether and benigne,
For which the foules again the fonne fhcne,
What for the fefon and the yonge grenc,
Ful loude fongen hir affeftions :
Hem femed han gctten hem proteftions 10370
Again the fwerd of winter kene and cold.
This Cambufcan, of which I have you told.
In real veftiments, fit on his dels
With diademe, ful high in his paleis ;
And holt his fefte fo folempne and fo riche.
That in this world ne was ther non it lichc.
Of which if I jQial tellen all the array.
Than wold it occupie a fomers day ;
And eke it nedpth not for to devife
At every cours tlie order of hir fervicc. 10380
I wol
THE SQJJIERES TALE. 103
Iwol not tellen of hir ftrange fewes,
Ne of hir fvvannes, ne hir heronfewes.
Eke in that lond, as tellen knightes old,
Ther is fom mete that is ful deintee hold,
That in this lond men recche of it ful fmal :
Ther n'is no man that may reporten al.
I wol not tarien you, for it is prime.
And for it is no fruit, but lofle of time.
Unto my purpofe I wol have recours.
And fo befell that after the thriddc cours 10390
While that this king fit thus in his nobley,
Herking his miniftralles hir thinges pley
Beforne him at his bord delicioufly,
In at the halle dore al fodenly
Ther came a knight upon a flede of bras.
And in his hond a brod mirrour of glas ;
Upon his thombe he had of gold a ring.
And by his fide a naked fwerd hanging :
And up he ridech to the highc bord.
In all the halle ne was ther fpoke a word, 10400
For mervaille of this knight ; him to behold
Ful befily they waiten yong and old.
This ftrange knight that come thus fodenly
Al armed fave his hed ful richely,
Salueth king and quene, and lordes alle
By order, as they faten in the halle,
H 4 With
104 THE SQJJIERES TALE.
With Co high reverence and obfcrvance,
As wel in fpeclie as in his contenance.
That Gawain with his olcle curtefic,
Though he were come agen out of faerie, 10410
Ne coude him pot amenden with a word.
And after this, beforn the highe bord
He with a manly vois fayd his meflage,
After the fomie ufed in his langagc,
Withouten vice of fill able or of kttcr.
And for his talc fliulde fenie the better.
Accordant to his wordes was his chere.
As techeth art of f]^che hem that it lere,
Al be it that I cannot foune his ftile,
^e cannot climben over fo high a ftile, IC42Q
Yet fay I this, as to comun entenr,
Thus niuch amounteth all that ever he ment.
If it fo be that I have it in mind
He fayd ; The king of Arabic and of Inde,
My liege lord, on this folcmpne day
Salueth you as he bell can and may,
And fendeth you in honour of your feft^
By me, that am al redy at your heile.
This flede of bras, that efily and wel
Can in the fpace of a day naturel, 10450
(TJiis is to fayn, in four and twenty houres)
Whep fo you lift, in drought or clles Ihoures,
Beren
THE SQUIERES TALE. lo^
Beren your body into every place,
To which your herte willeth for to pace,
Withouten wemme of you, thurgh foule or fairer
Or if you lift to fieen as high in the aire,
As doth an egle, whan him lift to fore.
This fame ftede flial here you evermore ..
Withouten harme, till ye be ther you left,
(Though that ye flepen on his back or reft) 10440
And turne again, with writhing of a pin.
He that it wrought, he coude many a gin ;
He waited many a conftellation.
Or he had don tliis operation.
And knew ful many a fele and many a. bond.
This mirrour eke, that I have in min hond.
Hath fwiche a might, that men may in it fee,
Whan ther flial falle ony adverfitee
Unto your regne, or to yourfelf alfo.
And openly, who is your frend or fo. 10450
And over all this, if any lady bright
Hath fet hire herte on any maner wight.
If he be falfe, fhe ftul his trefon fee.
His newe love, and all his fubtilt;ee
So openly, that ther Dial nothing hide.
Wherfore again this lufty fomer tide
This mirrour and this ring, that ye may fc.
He hath fent to my lady Canace,
Your
io6 THE SQUIERES TALE,
Your excellente doughter that is here.
The vertue of this ring, if ye wol here, 10460
Is this, that if hire lift it for to were
Upon hire thombe, or in hire purfe it here,
Ther is no foule that fleeth under heven,
That fhe ne fhal wel underftond his fteven.
And know his mening openly and plaine.
And anfwere him in his langage again :
And every gras that groweth upon rote
She fhal eke know, and whom it wol do bote.
All be his woundes never fo depe and wide.
This naked fwerd, that hangeth by my fide, 10470
Swiche vertue hath, that what man that it fmitc,
Thurghout his armure it wol kerve and bite.
Were it as thicke as is a braunched oke :
And what man that is wounded with the ftroke
Shal never be hole, til that you lift of grace
To ftrok^n him with the platte in thilke place
Ther he is hurt ; this is as much to fain.
Ye moten with the platte fwerd again
Stroken him in the wound, and it wol clofc.
This is the veray foth withouten glofe, 10480
It failleth not, while it is in your hold.
And whan this knight hath thus his tale told,
He rideth out of halle, and doun he light ;
His ftedc, which that (hone as fonne bright,
Stant
THE SQ^UIERES TALE. 107
Stant in the court as flille as any fton.
This knight is to his chambre ladde anon.
And is unarmed, and to the mete yfette.
Thife prelents ben ful richelich yfette,
This is to fain, the fvverd and the mirrour,
And borne anon into the highe tour, 10490
With certain officers ordained therfore 5
And unto Canace the ring is bore
Solempnely, ther fhe fat at the table ;
But likerly, withouten any fable,
The hors of bras, that may not be remued ;
It ftant, as it were to the ground yglued;
Ther may no man out of the place it drive
For non engine, of windas, or polive :
And caufe why, for they con not the craft.
And tlierfore in the place they han it laft, 10500
Til that the knight hath taught him the manere
To voideii him, as ye fhal after here,
Gret was the prees, that fwarmed to and fro
To gauren on this hors that ilondeth fo :
For it fo high was, and fo brod and long.
So wel proportioned for to be ftrong,
Right as it were a ftede of Lumbardie ;
Therwith fo horfly, and fo quik of eye,
As it a gentil Poileis courfer were :
For certes, fro his tayl untp his ere 105 10
Nature
^^ THE SQUIERES TALE.
Nature ne art ne coud him not amend
In no degree, as all the peple wend.
But evermore hir moile wonder was,
How that it coude gon, and was of bras ;
It was of faerie, as the peple femed,
Divcrfe folk diverfely han demed ;
As many heds, as many wittes ben.
They murmured, as doth a fwarme of been,
And maden ikilles after hir fantafies,
Reherfing of the olde poetries, 1 05 20
And fayd it was ylike the Pegafee,
The hors that hadde winges for to flee,
Or elles it was the Grekes hors Sinon,
That broughte Troye to dcftru£lion.
As men moun m thife olde geftcs rede-,
Min herte (quod on) is evermore in drede,
I trow fom men of armes ben therin,
That fhapen hem this citee for to win :
It were right good that al fwichc thing were know.
Another rowned to his felaw low, 10539
And fayd^ He lieth, for it is rather like
An apparence yinade by fom magike,
As jogelours plaien at thife feftes gretc.
Of fondry doutes thus they jangle and trete.
As lewed peple demen comunly
Of lliinges, that ben made more fubtilly,
Than
THE SQjaiERES TALE, 109
Than they can in hit lewedneffe comprehendc.
They demen gladly to the badder ende.
And fom of hem wondred on the mirrour.
That born was up in to the maifler fbur, IO540
How men mighte in it fwiche thinges fee*
Another' anfwerd, and fayd, it might wel be
Naturelly by compolitions
Of angles, and of {[\t refle£tions ;
And faide that in Rome was fwiche on.
They fpeke of Alhazen and Vitellon,
And Ariftotle, that writen in hir lives
Of queinte mirrours, and of proipcftivcs,
As knowen they, that han hir bookes herd.
And other folk han wondred on the fwerd^ 10550
That woldc percen thurghout every thing :
And fell in fpeche of Telephus the king.
And of Achilles for his queinte fpere,
For he coude with it bothe hele and derc.
Right in fwiche wife as men may with the fwcrd.
Of which right now ye have yourfelven herd.
They fpeken of fondry harding of metall.
And fpeken of medicines thervvithall,
And how, and whan it fhuld yharded be.
Which is nnknow algates unto me. 10560
Tho fpeken they of Canacees ring;
And faiden all, that fwiche a wonder thing
0£
no THE SQJJIERES TALE,
Of craft of ringes herd they never non,
Save that he Moifes and king Salomon
Hadden a name of conning in fvviche art.
Thus fain the peple, and drawen hem apart.
But natheles fom faiden that it was
Wonder to maken of feme afhen glas,
And yet is glas nought like aflien of feme,
But for they han yknowen it fo feme, 1057^^
Therfore cefeth hir jangling and hir wonder.
As fore wondren fom on caufe of thonder^
On ebbe and floud, on goflbmer, and on mill.
And on all thing, til that the caufe is wift.
Thus janglen they, and demen and devife.
Til that the king gan fro his bord arife.
Phebus hath left the angle meridional.
And yet afcending was the befte real.
The gentil Lean, with his Aldrian, ^0579^
Whan that this Tartre king, this Cambufcan,
Rofe from his bord, ther as he fat ful hie :
Befosne him goth the loude minftralcie,
Til he come to his chambre of parements,
Ther as they foundcn divers inftruments.
That it is like an heven for to here.
Now daunccn lufty Venus children dere :
For in the fifh hir lady fat ful hie,
Ami loketh on hem with a frendly eye.
This
THE Sa.UIERES TALE; iii
This noble king is fet upon his tronc ;
This flraunge knight is fet to him ful fonc, IO59O
And on the daunce he goth with Canace.
Here is the revell and the jolitee,
That is not able a dull man to devife :
He muft han knowen love and his fervife.
And ben a feftlich man, as frefli as May^
That fhulde you dcvifen fwiche array.
Who coude telJen yo\i the forme of daunces
So uncouth, and fo frefhe contenaunces,
Swiche fubtil lokings and diflimullngs,
For dred of jalous mennes appcrceivings ? 10600
No man but Launcelot, and he is ded.
Therfore I pafle over all this luftyhed,
I fay no more, but in this jolinefle
I lete hem, til men to the fouper hem drelTc, .
The fteward bit the fpices for to hie
And eke the win, in all this melodic ;
The ufhers and the fquierie ben gon.
The fpices and the win is come anon :
They ete and drinke, and whan this had an end.
Unto the temple, as refon was, they wend : io6io
The fervice don, they foupen all by day.
What nedeth you reherfen hir array I
Eche man wot wel, that at a kinges fell
Is plentqe, td the moil and to the Icfl^
And
112 THE SQJLJIERES TALE.
And deintees mo than ben in my knowing*
At after* fouper goth this noble king
To feen this hors of bras, with all a route
Of lordes and of ladies him aboute*
Swiche wondring was ther on this hors of bras,
That lin the gret alTege of Troye was, 10620
Ther as men wondred on an hors alfo,
Ne was ther fwiche a wondring, as was tho*
But finally the king aiketh the knight
The vertue of tliis courfer, and the might.
And praied him to tell his governaunce.
This hors anon gan for to trip and daunce,
"Whan that the knight laid hond up on his rein.
And faide, fire, ther n'is no more to fain.
But whan you lift to riden any where.
Ye moten trill a pin, ftant in his ere, 1063O'
Which I dial tellen you betwixt us two,
Ye moten nempne him to what place alfo,
Or to what contree that you lift to ride*
And whan ye come ther as you lift abide.
Bid him defcend, and trill another pin,
(For therin lieth the efFeft of all the gin)
And he wol doun defcend and don your will.
And in that place he wol abiden ftill :
Though al the world had the contrary fwore.
He Ihal not tliennes be drawe ne be bore, 1064O
Or
THE SQJJIERES TALE. iij
Or if yon lift to bid him thennes gori,
Trille this pin, and he wol vanifh anon
Out of the fight of every maner wight,
And come agen, be it by day or nlghr.
Whan that you lift to clepen him agaiii
In fwiche a guife, as I fhal to you fain
Betwixen you and me, and that ful fone.
Ride whan you lift, ther n'is no more to done.
Enfourmed whan the king was of the knighf.
And hath conceived in his wit aright 10650
The maner and the forme of all this thins^.
Ful glad and blith, this noble doughty kin^^
Repaireth to his revel, as beforne.
The bridel is in to the tour yborne,
And kept among his jewels lefe and defe' i
The hors vanifht, I n*ot in what manere,
Out of hir light, ye get no more of me i
But thus I lete in luft and jolitee
This Cambufcan his lordes fefteying,
Til that wel nigh the day began to fpring. 1066®
Pars fecundat
The norice of digeftion, the flepe,
Gan on hem winke, and bad hem taken kepe^
That mochel drinke, and labour wol have reft ;
And with a galping mouth hem all he keft,
Vol. IL I And
2r4 THE SQJ7I£RES TALE.
And faid, that it was time to lie adoun,
For blood was in his dominatioun :
Cherifheth blood, natures frend, quod he.
They thanken him galping, by two by three ;.
And every wight gan drawe him to his reft,.
As flepe hem bade, they toke it for the beft. 106 70^
Hir dremes fhul not now be told for me ;
Ful were hir hedes of fumoiltee,
That caufeth dreme, of which ther is no chargc-
They flepen til that it was prime large,.
The mofte part, but it were Canace ;
She was ful mefurable, as women be.
For of hire father had fhe take hire leve
To gon to reft, fone after it was eve ;
Hire lifte not appalled for to be.
Nor on the morwc unfeftliche for to fee; 10680
And flept hire firfte flepe, and than awoke.
For fwiche a joye flie in hire herte toke
Both of hire queinte ring, and of hire mirrour.
That twenty time fhe ehaunged hire colour ;
And in hire flepe right for the impreftion
Of hire mirrour fl>e had a vilion.
Wherfore, or that the fonnegan up glide.
She clepeth upon hire maiftrefle hire befide.
And faide, that hire lufte for to arife.
Thife olde women, that ben gladly wife, io69>
M
THE SQjJIERfeS TALE. its
As IS hire maiflrefle, anfvvcrd hire anon,
And faid ; Madame, whider wol ye gon
Thus erly ? for the folk ben all in reft*
I wol, quod fhe, arifen (for me left
No longer for to flepe) and walken aboute.
Hire maiftrellb clepeth women a grct route,
And up they rifen, wel a ten or twelve ;
Up rifeth freflie Canace hirefelve^
As rody and bright, as the yonge fonne,
That in the ram is foure degrees vronne ; 10700
No higher was he, whan llie redy was ;
And forth flie walketh elily a pas.
Arrayed after the lufty fefon fote
Lightely for to playe, and walken on fotc.
Nought but with live or lixe of hire meinie ;
And in a trenche forth in the park goth fhe.
The vapour, which that fro the erthe glode,
Maketli the fonne to feme rody and brode :
But natheles, it was fo faire a iight,
That it made all hir hertes for to light, 10710.
What for the fefon, and the morwening.
And for the foules that (lie herde fing.
For right anon flie wifte what they ment
Right by hir fong, and knew al hir entent.
The knotte, why that every tale is tolde^
If it be taj-ied til the luft be colde
I z Of
Ii6 THE SQUIERES TALE.
Of hem, that lian it herkencd after yore.
The favour paffeth ever lenger the more.
For fulfumneflc of the prolixltee :
And by that fame refon thinketh me 10720
I fliuld vinto the knotte condefcendc,
And makenol^hire walking fone an cndc.
Amidde a tree for-dry, as white as chalk.
As Canace was playing in hire walk,
Ther fat a faucon over hire hed ful hie.
That with a pitous vois fo gan to eric.
That all the wood refouned of hire cry.
And beten had hirefelf fo pitoufly
With both hire winges, til the redel)lood
Ran endelong the tree, ther as fhe flood. lO'jTpi
And ever in on alway fhe cried and fhright.
And with hire bek hirefelven (he fo twight,.
That ther n'is tigre, ne no cruel beft.
That dwelleth other in wood, or in foreft.
That n*olde han wept, if that he wepen coude.
For forwe of hire, fhe fliright alway fo loude.
For ther was never yet no man on live.
If that he coude a faucon wel defcrive.
That herde of fwiche another of fayrenelTe
As wel. of plumage, as of gentilelTe, loyjf>
Of fliape, of all that might yrekcned be.
A faucon peregrine iemed fhe
Of
THE SQ^UIERES TALE. 117
Of fremde lond, and ever as flie ftood.
She fwouned now and now for lack of blood.
Til wel nei8:h is Ihe fallen fro the tree.
This faire kinges doughter Canace,
That on hire finger bare the queinte ring,
Thurgh which fhe underftood wel every thing
That any foule may in his leden fain.
And coude anfvvere him in his leden again, 10750
Hath underflonden what this faucon feyd,
And wel neigh for the routhe almofl flie deyd :
And to the tree fhe goth ful haftily,
And on this faucon loketh pitoufly,
And held hire lap abrode, for wel flie wifl
The faucon mufte fallen from the twifl
Whan that fhe fwouned next, for faute of blood.
A longe while to waiten hire fhe flood,
Til at the lafl flie fpake in this manere
Unto the hauk, as ye fhul after here. 1 07 60
What is the caufe, if it he for to tell.
That ye ben in this furial peine of hell ?
Quod Canace unto this hauk above ;
Is this for forwe of deth, or loffe of love ?
For as I trow, thife be the caufes two.
That caufen mofl a gentil herte wo.
Of other harme it nedeth not to fpeke,
for ye yourfelf upon yourfelf awreke,
I 3 WhicK
nS THE SQUIERES TALE.
Which preveth wel, that other ire or drede
Mote ben enchefon of your cruel dcde, IC770
Sin that I fe non other wight you chace.
For the love of God, as doth ypurfelven grace :
Or what may be your helpe ? for weft ne eft
Ne faw I never er novy no brid ne heft,
That ferde with himfelf fo pitoufly.
Ye fie me with your forwe veraily,
I have of you fo gret compaffioun.
For Gpddes love come fro the tree adoun j
And as I am a kinges doughter trewe.
If that I veraily the caufes knewe 10780
Of your difefe, if it lay in my might,
I wold amend it, or that it were night,
As wifly help me the gret God of kind.
i\nd herbes Ihal I right ynough yfind,
Tf o helen with your hurtes haftily.
Tho fliright this faucon yet more pitoufly
Than ever flie did, and fell to ground anon, .
And litli afv/oune, as ded as lith a fton,
Til Canace hath in hire lappe hire take,
Unto th^t time fhe gan of fwoune awake ; 10790
And after that Ihe out pf fwoune abraide,
iR^ight in hire haukes leden thus flie fayde.
That pitee renneth fone in gentil herte
(peling his iimilitude in peines fmerte)
Is
THE SQJJIERES TALE. 119
f s proved alie day, as men may fee.
As wel by werke as by au£lorltee,
For gentil herte kitheth gentillefle.
I fee wel, that ye have ^n my diflreffc
Compaffion, my faire Canace,
Of veray womanly benignitee, 1080D
That nature in your principles hath fet.
But for non hope for to fare the bet.
But for to obey unto your herte free.
And for to maken other yware by me.
As by the whelpe chaftifed is the leon.
Right for that caufe and that concluHon,
While that I have a leifer and a fpace,
Min harme I wol confeifen er I pace.
And evejT while that on hire forwe told.
That other wept, as flie to water wold, 10810
Til that the faucon bad hire to be ftill.
And with a like right thus Hie faid hire tilL
Ther I was bred, (alas that ilke day !)
And foftred in a roche of marble gray
So tendrely, that nothing ailed me,
I ne will not what was adverlitee,
Til I coud flee ful high under the Ikie,
Tho dwelled a tercelet me fafte by.
That femed welle of alle gentillefle,
Al were he ful of trefon and falfenelle, 10820
I 4 k
I JO THE SQJJIERES TALE.
Jt was fo wrapped- under humble cliere,
And under hew of trouth in fwiche nianerc.
Under plefance, and under befy peine,
That no wigjit coud have wend he coude feine.
So depe in greyn he died his coloures.
|l;ght as a ferpent hideth him under floures.
Til he may fee his time for to bite ;
Right fo this god of loves hypocrite
Doth fo his ceremonies and obeifance.
And kepeth iii femblaunt alle his obfervanc.e, 10830
That founeth unto gentilleffe qf love.
As on a tpmbe is all the faire above,
And under is the corps, fwiche as ye wote ;
Swiche was this hypocrite both cold and bote,
And in this wife he ferved his entent.
That, fave the fend, non wifte what he ment :
Til he fo long had weped and complained.
And many a yere his fervice to me fained.
Till that min herte, to pitous and to nice,
Al innocent of his crowned malice, 10840
f or-fered of his deth, as thoughte me.
Upon his othes and his feuretee,
Graunted him love, on this cpnditioun.
That evermo min honour and renoun
Were faved, bothe privee and apert ;
'J'Jii^ 19 1^0 fa V, that, after his defert,
I yavc
THE SQU IE RES TALE. xn
I yavc him all min herte and all my thought,
(God wote, and he, that other wayes nought)
And toke his herte in chaunge of min for ay.
But foth is faid, gon fithen is many a day, 10850
A trewe wight and a theef thinken not on.
And whan he faw the thing fo fer ygon,
That I had granted him fully my love.
In fwiche a guife as I have faid above.
And yeven him my trewe herte as free
As he fvvpre that he yaf his herte to me.
Anon this tig^re, ful of doublenefle,
Fell on his knees with fo gret'liumbleffe.
With fo high reverence, as by his chere.
So like a gentil lovpr of manere, 10860
So ravifhed, as it femed, for the joye.
That never Jafon, ne Paris of Troye,
Jafon } certes, ne never other man,
Sin Lamech was, that alderfirft began
To loven two, as writen folk beforne,
Ne never lithen the firil man was borne,
Ne coude man by twenty thoufand part
Contrefete the fophimes of his art ;
Ne were worthy to unbocle his galoche,
Ther doublenelTe of falning fliuld approche, 10879
Ne coude fo thanke a wight, as he did me.
pis maner was an heyen for to fee
To
122 THE SQJiriERES TALE.
To any woman, were fhe never fo wife ;
So painted he and kempt, at point devife.
As wel his wordes, as his contenance.
And I fo loved him for his obeifance.
And for the trouthe I demed in his herte.
That if fo were that any thing him fmerte,
Al were it never fo lite, and I it wilt.
Me thought I felt deth at iTiyn herte twifl, 10880
And fhortly, fo ferforth this thing is went.
That my will was his willes inftrument;
This is to fay, my will obeied his will
In alle thing, as fer as refon fill,
Keping the boundes of my worfhip ever :
Ne never had I thing fo lefc, ne lever.
As him, God wot, ne never fhal no mo.
This lafteth lenger than a yere or two.
That I fuppofed of him nought but good.
But finally, thus at the laft it flood, 10890
That fortune wolde that he mufle twin
Out of that place, which that I was in.
Wher me was wo, it is no queflion ^
I cannot make of it dcfcription.
For o thing dare I tellen boldely,
I know what is the peine of deth therby,
Swiche harme I felt, for he ne might byleve.
So on a day of me he toke his leve,
?8
THE S QUI ERES TALE. 123
So forweful eke, that I wend verally,
That he had felt as mochel harme as I, IC900
Whan that I herd him fpeke, and faw his hewe.
But natheles, I thought he was fo trewe.
And eke that he repairen fliuld again
Within a litel while, foth to fain.
And refon wold eke that he mufte go
For his honour, as often happeth fo.
That I made vertue of neceffitee.
And toke it wel, lin that it mufte be.
As I beft might, I hid fro him my forwe,
And toke him by the hond, Seint John to borwc,
And faid him thus; lo, I am youres all, 10911
Beth fwiche as I have ben to you and (liall.
What he anfwerd, it nedeth not reherfe ;
Who can fay bet than he, who can do werfe }
Whan he hath al wel faid, than hath he done.
Therfore behoveth him a ful long fpone,
That llial ete with a fend ; thus herd I fay.
So at the lafl he muile forth his way.
And forth he fleeth, til he come ther him left.
Whan it came him to purpos for to reft, 1092Q
I trow that he had thilke text in mind.
That alle thing repairing to his kind
Giadeth himfelf; thus fain men as I gefle:
Men loven of propre kind newefangelnefte,
As
124 THE SQJUIERES TALE.
As briddes don, that men in cages fede.
For though thou night and day take of hem hede.
And ftrew hir cage faire and foft as filke,
And give hem fugre, hony, bred, and milke,
Yet right anon as that his dore is up,
He with his feet wol fpurnen doun his cup, 1093a
And to the wood he wol, and wormes ete ;
So newefangel ben they of hir mete.
And loven noveltees of propre kind ;
No gentillefle of blood ne may hem birKJ.
So ferd this tercelet, alas the day !
Though he were gentil borne, and frefli, and gay.
And goodly for to feen, and humble, and free,
He faw upon a time a kite flee.
And fodenly he loved this kite fo.
That all his love is clene fro me ago : 1094O
And hath his trouthe falfed in this wife.
Thus hath the kite my love in hire fervice.
And I am lorn withouten remedy.
And with that word this faucon gan to cry,
And fwouneth eft in Canacees barme.
Gret was the forwe for that haukes harme.
That Canace and all hire women made ;
They n^iflen how they might the faucon glade.
But Canace home bereth hire in hire lap.
And foftply in plaftres gan hire wrap, JQg^o
Thcr
THE S QUI ERE S TALE. 125
Ther as (he with hire bek had hurt hirefelve^
Now cannot Canace but herbcs delve
Out of the ground, and maken falves newc
Of herbes precious and fine of hewe.
To helen with this hauk ; fro day to night
She doth hire befineire, and all hire might.
And by hire beddes hed (he made a mew.
And covered it with velouettes blew,
In figne of trouth, that is in woman fene ;
And all without the mew is peinted grene, 10960
In which were peinted all thife falfe foules,
As ben thife tidifes, tercelettes, and owles ;
And pies, on hem for to cry and chide,
Right for defpit were peinted hem beiide,
Thus lete I Canace hire hauk keping.
I wol no more as now fpeke of hire ring.
Til it come eft to purpos for to fain,
How that this faucon gat hire love again
Repentant, as the ftory telleth us,
By mediation of Camballus 10970
The kinges fone, of which that I you told.
But hennesforth I wol my procefle hold
To fpeke of aventures, and of bataillcs,
That yet was never herd fo gret mervailles.
Firll wol I tellen you of Cambufcan,
That in his time many a citee wan :
And
J26 THE SQjnEHES TALE.
And after wol I fpeke of Algarfif,
How that he wan Theodora to his wif,
For whorii ful oft in gret peril he was,
Ne had he ben holpen by the hors of bras. 10980
And after Wol I fpeke of Camballo,
That fought in liftes with the brethren two
For Canace, er that he might hire winne.
And ther I left I wol again beginne*
THE FRANK EL EI NES PROLOGUE.
In faith, Squier, thou haft thee wel yquit
And gentilly, I preife wel thy wit,
Quod the Frankelein ; confidering thin youthe.
So felingly thou Ipekeft, fire, I aloue the
As to my dome, ther is non that is here,
Of eloquence that flial be thy pere, 10990
If that thou live ; God yeve thee goode chance,
And in vertue fend thee continuance.
For of thy fpeking I have gret deintee*
I have a fone, and by the Trinitee
It were me lever than twenty pound worth lond,
Though it right now were fallen in my hond.
He were a man of fwiche difcretion,
As that ye ben : fie on pofleflion,
2 But
THE FRANKELEINES PROLOGUE. 127
But if a man be vertuous withal.
I have my fone fnibbed, and yet fhal, l lOOO
For he to vertue lifteth not to entend.
But for to play at dis^ and to difpend.
And lefe all that he hath, is his ufage ;
And he had lever talken with a page.
Than to commune with any gentil wight,
Ther he might leren gentilleffe aright. "1
Straw for your gentilleffe, quod our ho!le%
What ? Frankelein, parde, fire, wel thou woll.
That eche of you mote tellen at the left
A tale or two, or breken his behefl. no 10
That know I wel, fire, quod the Frankelein,
I pray yau haveth me not in difdein.
Though I to this man ipeke a word or two.
Tell on thy tale, withouten wordes mo.
Gladly, fire hofte, quod he, I wol obey
Unto your will ; now herkeneth what I fey j
I wol you not contrarien in no wife.
As fer as that my wittes may fufSce^
I pray to God that it may plefen you.
Than wot I wel that it is good ynow. 1 102O
Thife olde gentil Bretons in hir dayes
Of diverfe aventures maden layes,
Rimeyed in hir firfte- Breton tonge :
Which laves with hip inllruments they fonge.
Or
148 THE FRANKELEINES PROLOGUE*
Or elles redden hem for hir plefance,
And on of hem have I in remembrance,
Which I fhal fayn with good wille as I can.
But, fires, becaufe I am a bore I man.
At my beginning -firft I you befeche
Have me excufed of my rude fpeche. 1 103O
I lerned never rhetorike certain ;
Thing that I fpeke, it mote be bare and plain.
I llept never on the mount of Pernafo,
Ne lerned Marcus Tullius Cicero.
Colours ne know I non, withouten drcde.
But fwiche colours as growen in the mede.
Or elles fwiche as men die with or peinte ;
Colours of rhetorike ben to me queinte ;
My fpirit feleth not of fwiche mate re.
But if you luft my tale fhul yc here. 1 104a
THE FRANKELEINES TALE.
In Armorike, that called is Bretaigne,
Ther was a knight, that loved and did his peine
To ferve a ladie in his befte wife ;
And many a labour, many a gret emprife
He for his lady wTOught, or fhe were wonne :
For fhe was on the fairefl under fonne,
And eke therto comen of fo high kinrede.
That wel unnethes durfl this knight for dred*
Tell
THE FRANKELEINES TALE. 129
Tell hire his wo, his peine, and his diftrefle.
But at the laft, fhe for his worthineffe, 1 1050
And namely for his meke obeyfance,
Hath fwiche a pitee caught of his penance^
That prively Hie fell of his accord
To take him for hire hufbond and hire lord,
(Of fwiche lordfliip as men han over hir wives)
And, for to lede the more in blllTe hir lives.
Of his free will he fwore hire as a knight.
That never in all his lif he day ne night
Ne fhulde take upon him no maiftrie
Agains hire will, ne kithe hire jaloulie, 11060
But hire obey, and folwe hire will in al,
As any lover to his lady fhal :
Save that the name of Ibv erainetee
That wold he han for fhame of his degree.
She thonked him, and with ful gret humblefT©
She faide ; {ire, lin of your gentillelTe
Ye profren me to have fo large a reine,
Ne wolde God never betwix vis tweine,
As in my gilt, were either werre or ftrif :
Sire, I wol be your humble trewe wif, 11070
Have here my trouth, till that myn herte breile.
Thus ben they both in quiete and in relle.
For o thing, fires, fauiiy dare I feie.
That frendes everich other muft obele.
Vol. II, K If
fso THE FRANKELEINES TALE,
If they wol longe holden compagnie.
Love wol not be conftreined by maiftric.
Whan maiftrie cometh, the God of love anon
Beteth his winges, and farevvel, he i» gon.
Love is a thing, as any fpirit free.
Women of kind defiren libertee, I1080
And not to be conilreined as a thral ;
And fo don men, if fothly I fay fhal.
Loke who that is mofl patient in lovC, ^ >
He is at his avantagc all above.
Patience is ati high vertue certain.
For it venquifheth, a» thife clerkes fain,
Thinges that rigour never fhulde atteine.
For every word men may not chide or pleinc.
Lerneth to fuffren, or, fo mote I gon.
Ye fliul it lerne whether ye wol or non. 1 1090
For in this world certain no wight ther is.
That hene doth or fayth fomtime amis*
Ire, likenelTe, or conftellation.
Win, wo, or changing of complexion,
Caufeth fill oft to don amis or fpeken :
*On every wrong a man may not be wreken.
After the time mull be temperance
To every wight that can of governance.
And therfore hath this worthy wife knight,
(To liven ill efe) fufFrance hire bchight ; I noo
And
THE FRANKELEINES f ALE. iji,
And fhe to hii'n ful vvifly gan to fwere,
'I'hat never fhuld ther be defaiite in here.
Here may men feeri an humble wife accord i
Thus hath fhe take hire fervant and hire lord.
Servant in love, and lord in mariage.
Than was he both in lordfhip and fervage >
Servage ? nay, but in lordfhip al above.
Sin he hath both his lady and his love :
His lady certes, and his wif alfo,
The which that law of love accofdeth to. iiiiO
And whan he was in this profperitee.
Home with his wif he goth to his contree.
Not fer fro Penmark,' thef his dwelling was,
Wher as he liveth in bliffe and in folas.
Who coude tell, but he had wedded be.
The joye, the efe, and the profpcriteey
That is betwix an hufbond and his: wif?
A yerc ami more lalleth this blisful lif.
Til that this knight, of which I fpake of thus,
That of Cairrud was cleped ArviraguS, 1 1 120
Shope him to gort and dwelle a yere or twaine
In Englelond, that clepe'd was eke Bretaigne,
To fekc in armes worfhip and honour :
^For all his lufl he fet in fwiche labour)
And dwelte ther two yere ; the boqk faith thus.
Now wol I flint of this Arviragus,
K a, Ami
J2i TftE FRANKELEINES TALK
And fpeke I wol of Dorigene his wif,
That loveth hire hufbond as hire hertes lif.
For his abfence wepeth flie and fiketh,
As don thife noble wives whan hem liketh ; 11130^
She morneth, waketh, waileth, fafteth, pleineth ;
Delir of his prefence hire fo diftraineth,
That all this wide world fhe fet at nought.
Hire frendes, which that knew hire hevy thought,
Comforten hire in all that ever they may ;
They prechen hire, they telle hire night and day,
That caufeles fhe fleth hirefelf, alas !
And every comfort poffible in this cas
They don to hire, with all hir befinefTe,
Al for to make hire leve hire hevlnefie. iii4«
By procefTe, as ye knowen everich on.
Men mowe fo longe graven in a flon.
Til fom figure therin emprented be :
So long han they comforted hire, til fhe
Received hath, by hope and by refon,
The emprenting of hir confolation,
Thurgh which hire grete foi-we gan afluage ;
She may not alway duren in fwiche rage.'
And eke Arviragus, in all this care.
Hath fent his lettres home of his welfare, 11150
And that he wol come kiilily again,
Or elles had tliis forwe hire herte llain.
Hire
THE FRANKELEINES TALK, xjj
Hire frendes faw hire forwe gan to flake,
And preiden hire on knees for Goddes fake
To come and romen in liir com]:agnie,
Away to driven hire derke fantalie :
And finally fhe granted that rcquefl.
For vvel flie faw that it was for tlie befl.
Now flood hire caflel fafle by the fee.
And often with hire frendes walked fhe, i n6o
Hire to difporten on the biink an hie,
Wher as fhe many a fhip and barge fie,
Sailing hir conrs, wher as hem lifl to go.
But than was that % parcel of hire wo.
For to hirefelf ful oft, alas ! faid fhe.
Is ther no. fhip, of fo many as I fee,
Wol bringen home my lord ? than were my lierte
Al warifhed of his bitter peines fmerte.
Another time wold flie fit and thinke.
And cafl her eyen dounward fro the brinke ; 1 1 170
But whan flie faw the grifly rockes blake.
For veray fere fo wold hire herte quake,
That on hire feet flie might hire not fuflene.
Than wold flie fit adoun upon the grene.
And pitoufly into the fee behold,
And fay right thus, with careful fikes cold,
Eterne God, that thurgh thy purveance
}L.edell this world by certain governanccj
K ^ In
IJ4 THfe iFRANkELEINES TALE,
In idel, as men fain, ye nothing make.
But, lord, thife grill y fendly roclces blakc, JII^Q
That femen rather a foule confuiion
pf werk, than any fairc creation
Of fwichc a parfit wife God and flabfe,
Why han ye wrought this werk unTeronabfc ?
for by this werk, north, fouth, ne weft, ne eft^
Ther n'is yfoftred man, ne brid, ne beft :
It doth no good to my wjt, but anoyeth.
See ye not, lord, how mankind it deftroyeth ?
An hundred thoufand bodies of fnankind
^lan rockes llain, al be they not in mind * 1 1 J9Q
Which mankind is fo faire part of thy werk,
Thou madeft it like to thyn owen me'rk.
Than, femeth ir^ ye had a gret chcrtee
Toward mankind ; biit ho\y than may it be,
That ye fwiche menes make it to deftroyen*?
W'hich menes don no good, but ever anoyeh,
I wote wel, clerkes wol fain as hem left
By arguments, that all is fpr the beft,
Though I ne can the caufes nought yknovv ;
But thilke God that made the vy-ind to blow, i'i2CQ
As kepe my lord, this is my conclufton 2
To clerkes lete I all difputifon :
But wolde God, that all thife rockes blakc
Were fonken into helle for his fake.
Thi&
THE FRANKELEINES TALE. 13$
Thife rockes flee mln herte for the fere.
Tlius wold (he fay with many a pitous tcrc.
Hire frendes faw that it vv.as qo diiport
To romen by the fee, but difcomfort,
And fhape hem for to plaien fomwher elles^
They leden hire by rivers ^nd by weiles, 11 Zi9
And eke in other places delitable ;
They dancen and they play at ches and tables..
So on a day, right in the monve tide.
Unto a gardin that was ther befide,
In which that they had made hir ordinanQC
Of yitaille, and of other purveance,
They gon and plaic hem all the longe day :
And this was on the iixte morwe of May,
Which May had peinted with his fofte flioures
This gardin Cul ©f leves ^nd of fioures : 1 1220
And craft of marines hond fo curioully
Arrayed had this gardin trewely,
That never w^s ther gardin of fwiche pris,
But if it wer-e the veray paradis.
The odour of floures, and the frefhe iight.
Wold han yraaked any herte light
That ever was born, but if to gret lik^nefTe
Or to gret forwe held it in diftreffe,
!So ful it was of beautee and plefance.
And after dinner gonnen they lo dance 1 1 230
K 4 And
136 THE FRANKELEINES TALE.
And fing alio, fauf Dorigene alone,
Which made ahvay hire complaint and hire monC|^
For file ne faw him on the dance go.
That was hire hufbond, and hire love alfo :
But natheles fhe mull: a time abide,
'And with good hope let hire forwe flide.
Upon this dance, amonges other men.
Danced a fquier before Dorigen,
That frellier was and jolier of array,
As to my dome, than is the month of May. 1 1240
He iingeth, danceth, palling any man.
That is or was iin that the world began ;
Therwith he was, if men fliuld him difcrive.
On of the befte faring men on live,
Yong, ftrong, and vertuous, and riche, and wife.
And wel beloved, and holden in gret prife.
And fhortly, if the foth I tellen ilial,
Unweting of this Dorigene at al.
This lui^y fquier, fervant to Venus,
Which that ycleped was Aurelius, 11250
Had loved hire beft of any creature
Two yere and more, as was his aventure ;
But never dorft he tell hire his grevance,
Withouten cup he dranke all his penance.
He was dilpeired, nothing dorft he fay,
gauf in his fonges fomwhat wold he wray
THE FRANKELEINES TALE. 137
His wo, as In a general complaining ;
He faid, he loved, and was beloved nothing.
Of fwiche matere made he many layes,
Songes, complaintes, roundels, virelayes; 11260
How that he dorlle not his forwe telle,
But languiflieth, as doth a furie in hellc ;
And die he muft, he faid, as did Ecco
For Narciffus, that dorft not tell hire wo.
In other maner than ye here me fay,
Ne dorft he not to hire his wo bewray,
Sauf that paraventure fomtime at dances,
Ther yonge folk kepen hir obfervances.
It may wel be he loked on hire face
In fwiche a wife, as man that axeth grace, 1 1270
But nothing wifte flie of his entent.
Natheles it happed, or they thennes went,
Becaufe that he was hire neighebour,
And was a man of worfliip and honour,
Aud had yknowen him of time yore.
They fell in fpeche, and forth ay more and more
Unto his purpos drow Aurelius ;
And whan he faw his time, he faide thus.
Madame, quod he, by God that this world made,
So that I wift it might your herte glade,' 11280
I wold that day, that your Arviragus
Went over fee, that I Aurelius
Haa
IjS THE FRANKELEINES TALE;
Had went ther I fhuld never come again ;
For wel I wot my fervlce is in vain,
My guerdon n'is but breiling of min hertc,
Madame, rueth upon my peines fmerte.
For with a word ye may me flecn or favc.
Here at your feet God wold that I were grave,
I ne have as now no leifer more to fey :
Have mercy, fwete, or ye wol do me dey. 1 1290
She gan to loke upon Aurelius ;
Is this your will (quod flie) and fay ye thus ?
Never erfl (quod fhe) ne will I what ye ment :
But now, Aurelie, I know your cntent.
By thiike God that yaf me foule and lif,
Jsfe fhal I never ben an untrewe wif
In word ne werk, as fer as I have wit,
I wol ben his to whom that I am knit :
Take this for final anfwer as of me.
But after that in play thus faide fhe. 113PO
Aurelie, (quod fhe) by high God above
Yet wol I granten you to ben your love,
(Sin I you fee fo pitoufly complaine)
Loke, what day that endelong Bretaignc
Ye remue all the rockes, {Ion by Hon,
That they ne letten fhip ne bote to gon,
I fay, whan ye ban made the coft fo dene
Of rockes, that thcr n'is no flon yfene,
Th^n
THE FRANKELEINES TALE. ij>
Than wol I love you beft of any man,
Have here my trouth, in all that ever I can • 1 1 3 lO
For wel I wote that it flial never betide.
Let fwiche folie out of your herte glide.
What deintee ihuld a man have in his lif
For to go love another mannes wif,
That hath hire body whan that ever him liketh ?
Aurelius ful often fore fiketh ;
Is ther non other grace in you ? quod he.
No, by that lord, quod fhe, that maked inc.
Wo was Aurelie whan that he this herd.
And with a forweful herte he thus anfwerd. J1320
Madame, quod he, this were an impoflible.
Than mofte I die of foden deth horrible.
And with that word he turned him anon.
Tho come hire other frendes many on,
And in the alleyes romed up and doun.
And nothing will of this conclufioun.
But fodenly begonnen revel riewe,
Til that the brighte fonne had loll his hewe,
For the orizont had reft the fonne his light;
(This is as much to fayn as it was night) 1 1330
And home they gon in mirthe and in fbias ;
Sauf only wrecche Aurelius, alas I
He to his hous is gon with forweful herte,
Pe faith, he may not from his deth aflertc.
7 Him
I40 THE FRANKELEINES TALE.
Him femeth, that he felt his herte cold.
XJp to the heven his hondes gan he hold.
And on his knees bare he fet him doun,
And in his raving faid his orifoun.
For veray wo out of his wit he braide,
He n'ifte what he fpake, but thus he faide ; 1 1 340
With pitous herte his plaint hath he begonne
Unto the goddes, and firft unto the fonne.
He faid ; Apollo, God and governour
Of every plante, herbe, tree, and flour.
That yeveft after thy declination
To eche of hem his time and his fefon,
As that thin herbergh changeth low and hie ;
Lord Phebus, caft thy merciable eie
On wrecche Aurelie, which that am but lorne.
L05 lord, my lady hath my deth yf\yprne IJ350
Withouten gilt, but thy benignitee
Upon my dedly herte have fom pitee.
For wel I wot, lord Phebus, if you left.
Ye may me helpen, fauf my lady, beft.
Now voucheth fauf, that I may you devife
How that I may be hojpe and in what wife.
Your blisful fufler, Lucina the fhene.
That of the fee is chief goddefle and quene.
Though Neptunus have deitee in the fee,
Yet emperice aboven liim is llie : 11 360
THE FRANKELEINES TALE. 141
Ye knowe wel, lord, that right as hire defirc
Is to be quiked and lighted of your fire,
For which fhe folweth you ful befily,
Right fo the fee defireth naturelly '
To folwen hire, as flic that is goddeffe
Both in the fee and rivers more and lefle,
Wherfore, lord Phebus, this is my requefl:.
Do this miracle, or do min herte breft ;
That now next at this oppofition.
Which in the figne fhal be of the Leon, 1 1570
As preyeth hire fo gret a flood to bring,
That five fadome at the left it overfpring
The higheft rock in Armorike Bretaigne,
And let this flood enduren yeres twaine :
Than certes to my lady may I fay, '^
Holdeth your heft, the rockes ben away.
Lord Phebus, this miracle doth for me.
Prey hire fhe go no fafter cours than ye ;
I fay this, preyeth your fufter that (he go
No fafter cours than ye thife yeres two : 1 138Q
Than flial fhe ben even at ful alway.
And fpring-flood laften bothe night and day*
And but flie vouchefauf in fwiche manere
To graunten me my foveraine lady dere,
Prey hire to finken every rock adoun
Into hire oweix derke regipun
Undef
142 THE FRANKELEINES TAtE;
Under the ground, ther Pluto dwelleth in.
Or nevermo flial I my lady win^
Thy temple in Delphos wol I barefoot {eke.
Lord Phebus, lee the teres on my cheke, ii39<2f
And on my peine have foin compaffioun.
And with that word, in forwe he fell adotin.
And longe time he lay forth in a trance^
His brother, which that knew of his penance.
Up caught him, and to bed he hath him brought.
Difpeired in this turmerit and this thought
Let I this woful creature lie,
Chefe he for me whether he wol live or difew
Arviragus with hele and gret honour
(As he that was of chevalrie the flour) 1 140C)
Is comen home, and other worthy men :
O, blisful art thou now, thou Dorigen,
That haft thy lufty hufbond ini thin armes.
The frefhe knight, the worthy man of arme^.
That loveth thee, as his owen hertes lif :
Nothing lift him to be imaginatif.
If any wight had fpoke, while he was cute.
To hire of love ; he had of that no doutc ;
He not entendeth to no fwiche matere.
But danceth,jufteth, and maketh mery chere.11410
And thus in joye and bliiTe I let hem dwell.
And of the fik* Aurelius wol i telL
THE FRANKELEINES TALE. 149
In langour and in turment furious
Two yere and more lay wrecche Aurclius,
Er any foot on erthe he mighte gon ;
Ne comfort in this time ne had he non,
Sauf of his brother, which that was a clerk.
He knew of all this wo and all this werk ;
For to non other creature certain
Of this matere he dorfle no word fain; 114^0
Under his brell he bare it more fecree.
Than ever did Pamphilus for Galathee.
His breft was hole withouten for tp fecn,
But in his herte ay was the arwe kehe.
And wel ye knowe that of a furfanure
In furgerie is perilous the cure.
But men might touch the arwe or come tlierby.
His brother wepeth and waileth prively.
Til at the lall him fell in remembrance.
That while he was at Orleaunce in France, 1 1430
As yonge clerkes, that ben likerous
To reden artes that ben curious,
Seken in every halke and every herne
Particuler fciences for to lerne.
He him remembred, that upon a day
At Orleaunce in ftudie a book he fay
Of Magike naturel, which his felaw.
That wa^ that time a bacheler of law>
X44 THE FRANKELEINES TALE*
Al were he ther to lerne another craft.
Had prively upon his defk ylaft ; 1 1440
Which book fpake moche of operations
Touching the eight and twenty manfions
That longen to the Mone, and fwiche folic
As in our dayes n'is not worth a flie :
For holy cherches feith, in our beleve,
Ne fuffi-eth non illufion us to greve.
And whan this book was in his remembrance^
Anon for joye his herte gan to dance.
And to himfelf he faied prively ;
My brother filial be wariflied haftily : 1 1450
For I am liker that ther be fciences.
By which men maken divers apparences,
Swiche as thife fubtil tregetoures play.
For oft at feftes have I wel herd fay,
That tregetoures, within an halle large,
Have made come in a water and a barge.
And in the halle rowen up and doun.
.Somtime hath femed come a grim leoun.
And fomtime floures fpring as in a mede,
Somtime a vine, and grapes white and rede, 1146^
Somtime a caftel al of lime and fton,
And whan hem liketh voideth it anon :
Thus femeth it to every mannes iight.
Now than conclude I thus, if that I might
2 A^
THE FRANKELEINESf t AtE. 14J
fit Orleapnce Tom oldc felavv find,
That hath, thh^ Moncs manlions in mind,
Or other, Magike naturel aloove,
He fhuld wel make my brother have his love*
For with an apparehce a clerk may make
To mannes fight, that all* the rockes blake 1 1470'
Of Bretaigne were yvoided everich on^'
And ihippes by the brihke comeri and gon,'
And in fwiche forme endure a day or two :
Than were my bf-bther warifhed of his wo,'
Than nluft (he nedes holdeh hire beh'eft.
Or elles he fhal fhame hire at the left.
What ftiulcl I make a lehg^r tald of this ?
tJnto his brothers bed he com6n is,
And fwiche comfort he yaf him',' for to gon
To Orleaunce, that he up ftert ancn, li^-ScS
And on* his Way forthward than is he fare.
In hope for to ben lified of his care.'
Whari they were come ahiioft to that citee.
But if it were a tvvo furlong or three^
A yonge clerk roming by hi'mfelf they mettc,'
Which that in Latine thriftily hem grette.
And after that he iayd a vronder thing ;
I know, quod h^, the caufe of you'r coming:'
And or they forther any foote Went,
He told hem all that \Vas in hir entent, 1 1496^
Voi, It L ThU
146 THE FRANKELEINES TALE-
This Breton clerk him axed of felatves.
The which he had yknowen in olde dawes.
And he anfwered him that they dcde were.
For which he wept ful often many a tere.
Doun of his hors Aurelius light anon.
And forth with this magicien is gon
Home to his hous, and made hem wel at efe i
Hem lacked no vitaille that might hem plefe*
So wel arraied hous as ther was on,
Aurelius in his lif faw never non. 1150©
He fhewed him, or they went to foupcre,
Forefles, parkes ful of wilde dere.
Ther faw he hartes with hir homes hie.
The gretefl tliat were ever feen with eie^
He faw of hem an hundred flain with houndcs^
And fom w4th arwes blede of bitter w^oundes.
He faw, whan voided were the wilde dere,
Thife fauconers upon a faire rivere.
That with hir haukes han the heron flain*
Tho faw he knightes juften in a plain. 1 151©
And after this he did him fwiche plefance.
That he him fliewed his lady on a dance,
On which himfelven danced, as him thought.
And whan this maifter, that this magike wrought^
Saw it was time, he clapped his hondes two.
And farewcl, al the revel is ago.
And
TH£ FllANlCELEIN£S TALE. 14^
And yet remued they never out of the hous,
While they faw all thile fightes merveillous ;
But in his ftudie, ther his bookes be,
They laten ftill, and no wight but they three*
To him this maifter called his fquier, 11 520
And fayd him thus, may we go to fouper-5
Ahnoft an houre it is, I undertake,
Sin I you bade our fouper for to make,
Whan that thife worthy men wenten Avith mfc
Into my ftudie^ thet* my bookes be.
Sire, quod tliis fquier, whan it liketh you.
It is al redyj though ye wol right now.
Go we than fdupe^ quod he, as for the beflj
Thife am.orous folk fomtime mofte han reft. 1153^
At after fouper fell they in tretee
What fumme fliuld this maifters guerdon be.
To remue all the rockes of Bretaignc,
And eke front Gerounde to the mouth of Saine.
He made it ftrange, and fwore, fo God him fave,
Lefle than a thoufand pound life wold not have,
Ne- gladly for that fumme he wold not gon»
Aurelius with blisful herte anon
Anfw^ered thus ; fie on a thoufand pound :
This wide world, which that men fayn is round,
i wold it yeve, if I wTre lord of it. 1 1541
This .bargainc is ful drive, for we ben knit ;
La Yc
148 THE FRANKELEINES TALfc
^t fhul be paled trewely by my troutfi.
But lokcth, for non negligence or flouth,
Ye tarie us here no lenger than to morwe*
Kay, quod this clerk, have here my faith to borWC4
To bed is gon Aurelius whan liim left,
And wel nigh all that night he had his reft,
■V\'hat for his labour, and his hope of blifle.
His woful herte of penance had a lifle. 1 1550
Upon the morwc whail that It Was day,
To Bretaigne token tliey the righte way,
Aurelie, and this magicien him belide.
And ben defcended ther they wold abide :
And this was, as the bookes me remember.
The colde frofty fefon of December.
Phebus waxe old, and hewed like faton^
That in his bote declination
Shone as the burned gold, with ftremes bright ;
But now in Capricorne adoun he light, 1156©
Wher as he ftione ful pale, I dare wel fain.
The bitter froftes with the fleet and rain
Dcrftroyed han the grene in every yerd.
Janus fit by the fire with double berd.
And drinketh of his bugle horn the wine :
Beforn him ftant braune of the tufked fwine,
^nd nowel crieth every lufty man.
Aurelius in all that ever he can,
Dotb
TH^ FRANKELEINES TALE, i^^
Doth to his maifler chere and reverence,
And praieth him to don his diligei^e ^157^
To bringen him out of his peini^s fmert^,
Or with a fwerd that he wold Hit his herte.
This fotil clerk fwlche routh hath on this man.
That night and day he fpedeth him, that he oan.
To wait a time of his conclufton;
This is to fayn, to smake illusion,
py fwich^ an apparence or joglerlc,
(I can no termes of Ailrologie)
That fhe and every wight fhuld weneand fay,
That of Bretaigne the rockes were away, 1 15S0
,Or elles they w^re fqnken under ground*
So at the laft he hath his time yfound
To make his japes and his wjetchedneirc
Of fwiche a fuperftitious curfednefle.
His tables Toletanes forth he brought
JFul wel corre£ted, that ther lacked nought,.
Nother his colleft, ne his expans yeres,
Nother his rotes, ne his ^other geres.
As Jjsn Jijis centres, and his argumentes,
And his proportionel cpnvenientes 11590
For his equations in every thing.
And by his eighte fperes in his werking,
He knew ful wel how fer Alnath vi^as Ihove
Fro the hed of thilke fix Aries above,
L 3 That
ISO THE FRANKELEINES TALE,
That in the ninthe fpere confidered is,
Ful ibtilly he calculed all this.
Whan he had |pund his firfte jnanfion.
He knew the remenant by proportion ;
J\nd knew the rifing of his Mone wel,
^nd in whos face, and ter^iie, and every del ;
And knew ful wel the mones maniion ii6oi
Accordant to his operation ;
And knew alfo his other obfervanccs.
For fwiche iliuiions and fwiche mefchanccs.
As hethen folk uled in thilke daies.
For which no lenger maketh he delaies,
But thurgh his raagike, for a day or tway,
It femed all the rockes were away.
Aurelius, wliich that defpeired is.
Whether he flial han his love, or fare amis, i i6i»
Awaiteth night and day on this miracle :
And whan he knew that ther was non obflacic.
That voided were thife rockes everich on,
Doun to his maimers feet he fell anon.
And fayd ; I vvoful wretch Aurelius,
Thanke you^ my lord, and lady min Venus,
Thai me han holpen fro my cares cold.
And to the temple his way forth hath he hold,
Theras he knew he fliuld his lady fee.
And whfiii he faw his time, anon right he 1 1620
With
THE FRANKELEINES TALE. 151
With dredful herte and with ful humble cherc
Valued hath his foveraine lady dere,
My rightful lady, quod this woful man,
Whom I moll drede, and love, as I beft can,
And lotheft were of all this world difplefe,
N'ere it that I for you have fwiche difefe,
That I mull die here at your foot ajion.
Nought wold I tell liow me is wo begon,
But certes other muft I die or plaine ;
Ye fie me gilteles for veray peine. 1 1 630
But of my deth though that ye han no routh,
Avifeth you, or that ye breke your trouth :
Repenteth you for thilke God above,
Pr ye me lie, becaufe that I you love.
For, madame, wel ye wote what ye have hight ;
Not that I chalenge any thing of right
Of you, my foveraine lady, but of grace ;
But in a gardin yond, in fwiche a place.
Ye wote right wel what ye behighten me.
And in myn hond your trouthe plighten ye, 1 1 64O
To love me beft; God wote ye faied fo.
Although that I unworthy be therto • •
Madame, I fpeke it for the honour of you,
,More than to fave my hertes lif right no\v ;
I have don fo as ye 'commanded me.
And if ye vouchefauf, ye may go fee.
h 4 Potii
1^2 THE FRANKELEINES TALE.
Doth as YOU lill, have your belieft in mind,
tor quick or ded, right ther ye fhnl me find :
Jn you Ilth all to do me live or cjey,
But wej I wote the rockes ben awcy. i i^S®
He laketh his leve, and llie aftohied Hood ;
In all hire face n'as o drope of blood :
.She wened never han come in fwiche a trappc,
Alas ! quod flie, that ever this fhuld happe !
For uend I never by poflibilitee,
That Iwiche a monftre or mervaille might be :
It is again the procefTe of nature,
A I id home fhc goth ^ forweful creature,
For veray fere unnethes may flic go.
$he wepeth, waileth all a day or two, |l66o
And fwouneth, that it routhei was to fee ;
But why it was, to no wight toide fh^,
For out of toun was gon Arviragus.
tut to hirefelf the fpake, and faied thus,
"With face pale, and with ful fory chere,^
In hire com'phmt, as ye fbul after here.
Alas ! quod fhe, on thee, fortune, I plain.
That unware haft me wrapped in thy chain :
Fro which to efcapen, wote I no foccour,
Sauf only dcth, or ellcs djflionour: 1 1670
On of thife two behoveth mc to chcfe.
But natbdes, yet had I lever Itfc
THE FRANKELEINES TALE, ii?|
My lif, than of my body have a fiiame,
Pr know myfelven falfe, or lefe my name ;
And with my deth I may be ^uit ywis»
Hath ther not many a noble wif or this.
And many a maid yflaine hirefelf, alas !
Rather than with hire body don trefpas ?
Yes certes ; lo, thife flories bere witnelTe.
Whan thirty tyrants ful of curfedne/Te I j68q
Had flain Phidon in Athens at the fefl,
They commanded his doughtren for to arreil^^
And bringen hem beforne hem in delj^it
Al naked, to fulfill hir foule delit ;
And in hir fadres blood they made hem dance
Upon the pavement, God yeve hem mefchance.
For wKich thife woful maidens ful of dredc.
Rather than they wold lefe hir maidenhecfe,
They prively ben ftert into a welle,
And drei^t hemfejven, as the bookes telle, I169Q
They of Meffene let enquere aijd feke
pf Lacedomie fifty maidens ejce,
Pn which they wolden don hir lechprle :
But ther was npn of all that compagnie
That Ihe n'as flaine, and with a glad entent
Chees rather for to dien, than aflent
To ben opprelTed of hire maidenhede.
M^hy ihuld I than to dien ben in drede ?
ij:4 THE FRANKELEINES TALE.
Lo eke the tyrant Ariftoclldes,
That loved a maid hight Stimphalldes, H700
Whan that hire father ilaine was on a night,
Unto Dianes temple goth Ihe right.
And hsnte the image in hire handes two.
Fro which image wold Ihe never go,
No wight hire handes might of it arrace.
Til fhe was flaine right in the felve place.
Now fin that maidens hadden fwiche defpit
To be defouled with mannes foule delit,
Wei ought a wif rather hirefelven ile.
Than be defouled, as it thinketh me. I lyiai
What fhal I fayn of Hafdrubales wif.
That at Cartage beraft hirefelf hire lif ?
For*whan fhe faw that Remains wan the toun.
She toke hire children all, and fkipt adoua
Into the fire, and chees rather to die.
Than any Remain did hire vilanic.
^ Hath not Lucrece yflaine hirefelf, alas t
At Rome, whan that fhe oppreffed was
Of Tarquine ? for hire thought it was a fhame
To liven, whan fhe hadde lofl hire name. 1 1 720
The feven maidens of Milefie alfo
Han Ilaine hemfelf for veray drede and wo.
Rather than folk of Gaule hem fliuld opprefTe.
% Mo than a thoufand ftories, as I geffc,
Coude
THE FRANKELEINES TALE. 155
,£!oude I now tell zs touching this matcre.
Whan Abradate was flain, his wif fo dere
Hirefelven flow, and let hire blood to glide
In Abradates woundes, depe and wide.
And fayd, my body at the lefte way
Ther ilial no wight defoulen, if I may. ^17$^
What fhuld I mo enfamples hereof fain ?
pin that fa many hai> hemfelven flain
Wei rather than they wold defouled be,
J wol conclude that it is bet for me
To fie niyfelf than be defouled thus.
J wol be trewe unto Arviragus,
Or eiles fie myfelf in fome manere,
As did Deniotiones doughter dere,
Becaufe fhe w^olde not defouled be.
O Sedafus, it is ful gret pitee 1 1 -jaq.
To reden how thy doughtren died, alas !
That flowe hemfelven for fwiche maper cas.
As gret a pitee was it or wcl more.
The Theban maiden, that for Nichanorc
Hirefelven flow, right for fwiche manere wo.
Another Theban mayden did right io.
For on of Macedoine, had hire opprelTed,
She with hire deth hire maldenhed redrelTed,
What fbal I fain of Nicerates wif,
Thai for fwiche cas beraft hirefeif hire lif ?- 1 17 50
How
?5^ THE FRANKE-LEINE.S TALE,
How trewe was eke to Alcibiades
JHlis love, that for to dien rather chees.
Than for to fufFre his body unburied be 5
Lo, which a vvif was Alcefte eke ? (quod flicj
^Vhat fayth Homefe of good ^enelope ?
J^ll Grece Jcnoweth of hire chaftitee.
Parde of Laodomia Is written thus^
•Tiiat whan at Troyc was {lain Prothefilaus,
2^0 lenger woldc Ihe live after his day.
The fame of npble Portia tell J may ; 1 17,69
Withouten Brutus coude (he jiot live,
"JTo whom (he had atl Iwl hire herte yeve.
The parnt w if hood -of Arteinifi^
Honoured is thurghout all Barbarie.
O Teuta querie, thy wifiy chaftitee
To alle wives may a mirrpur be.
Thus plained Dorigene -a day or twey,
Purpolmg ever that flie wolde dey ;
But natheles upon the thridde night
Home came Arviragus, the worthy knight, 1 1 77P
And axed hire why tliat fhe weep fo fore :
And fhe gan wepen ever lenger the more.
Alas, quod flie, that ever I was yborne !
Thus have I faid, (quod Hie) Uius have I Avornc.
And told him all, as ye have herd before :
Jt ne(Jeth not rcherfe it you 00 more.
ThI?
THE FRANKELEINES TALE. 157
This hufbond with glad chere in frcndly wife
Anfwerd and fayd, as I fhal you devife.
Is ther ought elles, Dorigene, but this ?
Nay, nay, quod (lie, God helpe me fo, as wis
This is to much, and it were Goddes will. iiySl^
Ye, wif, quod he, let flepen that is ftiil,
It may be wel paraventure yet to-day.
Ye fhal your trouthe holden by my fay.
For God fo wifly have mercy on me,
I had wel lever ftiked for to be.
For veray love which that I to you have.
But if ye fhuld your trouthe kepe and fave.
Trouth is the hiefl thing that man may kepe.
But with that word he braft anon to vvepe, 1 1790
And fayd ; I you forbede on peine of deth,
Tiiat never while you lalleth lifor brcth,
To no wight tell ye this mi fa venture.
As I may befl I wol my wo endure.
Ne make no contenance of hevinelTe,
That folk of you may demen harme or gefTc.
Afid forth he cleped a fquier and a maid.
Goth forth anon with Dorigene, he faid.
And bringeth hire to fwiche a place anon.
They take hir leve, and on hir way they gon : 1 1 800
But they ne wiften why fhe thidcr went,
She n'olde no wight Jejlen hire entent..
i ^ '■' Thi*
I
i5§ THE FRANKELEINES TAL£.
This fquler, which that highte Aurelius^
On Doilgene that was fo amorous,
Of aventure happed hire to mete
Amid the toun, right iti the quikk^ft ftrete.
As fhe was bdun to go the way forthright
Toward the gardin^ ther as fhe had hight*
And he was to the gardinward alfo;
For wel he fpied whan fhe wolde go 1 18 lot
Out of hirfe hbus, to any maner place :
But thus they met of aventure or grace.
And he falueth hire with glad entent,
And axeth of hire whiderward fhe went.
And file anfwered, half as fhe were mad^
tJnto the gardin, as myn hufbond bad^
My trouthe for to hold, alas ! alas !
Aurelius gari wondreri on this cas.
And in his herte had gret compafliori
Of hire, and of hire lamentation, 1 1 82^
And of Arviragus the worthy knight.
That bad hire holden all tliat Ihe had hight.
So loth him was his wif fliuld breke hire trouthe.
And in his herte he caught of it gret routhe,
Confidering the befl on every fide,
That fro his lufl yet were him lever abide.
Than do fo high a cherlifli wretch edfjelTe
Ageins fraunchife, and alle gcntincffe ;
tTHE FliANKELEiNtS TALS. i^f
For which In fewe wordes fayd he thus,
Madame, fay to your lord Arviragus, x 183d
That iin I fee the grete gentillefle
Of him, and eke I fee wel your diftreflc^ [routhc)
*rhat him were lever have fhame (and that werj?
Than ye to me fhuld breken thus your trouthc,
I hadde wel lever ever to fuffren wo,
Than to depart the love betwix you two.
I you relefe, madame, into your hortcl
Quit every feurement and every bond.
That ye han made to nie, as herebeforiie.
Sin thilke time that ye were yborne. i j 840
Have here my trouthe, I fhal you never rcprerc
Of no be heft, and here I take my leve.
As of the treweft and the belle wif^
That ever yet I knew in all my lif.
But eyery wif beWare of hire beheft J
On Dorigene remembreth at the left.
Thus can a fquier don a gentil dede.
As wel as can a knight, withouten dredc^
She thanketh him upon hire knees bare.
And home unto hire hufbond is fhe fare, Ii85!J
And told him all^ as ye han herd me fayd :
And, trufteth me, he was fb wel apayd,
T'hat it were impoftible me to write.
What fhuld I lenger of this cas endite ?
Arviragus
j6ci THE FRANKELEINES TALE}
Arviragus and Dorigene his wlf
Jn foveraine blifle leden fortli hir lif^
Never eft ne was ther anger hem betwene •
He cherifhed hire as though fhe were a quene.
And Ihe was to hun trewe for evermore :
Of thife two folk ye get of me no more. 1 1 86o'
Aurelius, that his coft hath all forlorne,
Curfeth the time, that ever he was borne.
Alas ! quod he, alas that I behight.
Of pured gold a thoufand pound of wight
Unto this philofophre ! how fhal I do ?
I fee no more, but that I ani fordo.
Min heritage mote 1 nedes fell.
And ben a begger, here I n'ill not dwell.
And (hamen all rny kinrede in this place.
But I of him may geten better grace. 1 1876
iut natheles I wol of him afTay
At certain daies yere by yere to pay,*
Arid thanke him of his grete curtefie.
My trouthe wol I kepe, I wol not lie.
With herte fore he goth unto his cofre,
Ajid broughte gold unto this philofophre.
The value of five hundred pound I gefle.
And him befecheth of his gentilleffe
To graunt him daies of the remenauht.
And fayde ; maifter, I dare wel make avaunt,! 1880
1 failled
THE FRANKELEINES TALE, i6i
I failled riev^er of ray trouthe as yet."
For fikerly my dette ilial be quit
Towardes you', how fo that ever I fare
I'o goii a begging In my kirtle bare :
But wold ye vouchen fauf upon feurtee
Two yere or three for to refpiteh me.
Than w^ere I wel, for elles mote I fell
Min heritage, ther is no more to telL
This Philofophre fbbrely anfwerd,'
And faied thus, whan he thife wordes herd ; iiSgO
Have I not holden covenant to thee ?
Yes certes, wel and trewely,- quod he.
Haft thou riot haid thy lady as thee liketh ?
No, no, quod he, and forwefuUy he fiketh,'
What was the catife ? tell rrie if thou can.
Aurelius his tale anon began,'
And told him all as ye hari herd before.
It nedeth not reherfe it any more.
He fayd, Arviragus of gentilleffe
Had lever die in forwe and in diftrelTe, iii)o6
Than that his wif W'cre of hire trouthe falsj
The forwe of Dorigene he told him als,
How loth hire was to ben at wicked wif.
And that fhe lever had loft that day hire lif ;'
And that lier trouth fhe fwore thurgh innocence ;
She never erft hadde herd fpeke of apparence :
V«t. Hi M That
i62 THE FRANKELEINES- TALE.
That made me han of hire fo gret pltee.
And right as freely as he fent hire to me.
As freely fent I hire to him again :
This is ail and fern, ther n'is no more to fain. I igiO'
The Philofophre anfwerd ; leve brother,
Everich of you did gentilly to other :
Thou art a fquier, and he is a knight,.
But God forbede for his blisful might.
But if a clerk ccud don a o;cntil dede-
-As wel as any of you, it is no drede.
Sire, I relefe thee thy thoufand pound,
As thou right now were crope out of the ground",
Ne never er now ne haddell knowen me.
For,, fire, I wol not take a pcny of thee 11920
For alL my craft, ne nought for my travaille :
Thou hall ypaied wel for my vitaille.
It is ynough, and farewel,. have good day.
And toke his liors, and forth he goth his way.
Lordings, this quellion wold I axen now.
Which was the mofte free, as thinketh you ?
Now telletli me, or that ye further wendc
I can no more, my tale is at an ende.
THEDOCTOURES PROLOGUE.
Ye, let that paiTen, quod oure Hofle, as now.
Sire Dodtpur of Phyfikc, I prey you, i i-Q.^o*
Tell
1
fnt DDCtOURES PROLOGUE. liSj
Tell us a tale of fom honeft matere.
It fhal be doUf if that ye wol it liere^
Said this do6lour, and his tale began anon.
Now, good men, quod he, berkeneth everich oil;
THE DOCTOURESTALE.
Ther was, as telleth Titus Livius,
A knight, that cleped was Virginius,
Fulfilled of honour and worthinefTe,
Arid flrorig of frerides, and of gret richeiie.
This knight a doughter hadde by his wif.
No children had he mo in all his lif. 1 194a
Faire was this maid in excellent beautce
Aboven every wight that man may fee :
For nature hath with foverairte diligence
Yformed hire in fo gret excellence.
As though file wolde fayn, 16, I nature.
Thus can I forme and peint a creature,
Whan that me lifb ; who can me contrefete ?
Pigmalion ? not, though he ay forge and betey
Or grave, or peinte : for I dare wel fain,
Apelles, Xeuxis, fhulden werche in vain, 11950
Other to grave, or peinte, or forge, or bete,
If they prefumed me to contrefete.
For he that is the former principal.
Hath maked me his vicaire genera^
M 2 i:^
i64 THE DO CTOU RES TALE.
To forme and peinten crthly creatures
Right as me lift, and eche tiling in my cure is-
Under the mone, that may wane and waxe.
And for my werk right nothing wol I axe ;
My lord and I ben ful of on accord.
I made hire to the worfhip of my lord ; 1 1^6%
So do I all min other creaturcsj^
What colour that they han, or what figures.
Thus femeth me that nature wolde fay.
This maid of age twelf yerc. was and tway,
tn which that nature hadde fwiche delit.
For right as^ fhe can peint a lily whit
And* red a rofe, right w^ith fwiche peinture
She peinted hatb this noble creature
Er file was borne, upon hire limmes free^
Wheras by right fwiche colours fliulden be : iiq7«
And Phebus died hath hire trefles grete.
Like to the ftremes of his burned hete.
And if that excellent were hire beautee^
A thoufand fold more vertuous was lhe»
In hire ne lacked no condition,
That is to preife, as by difcretion.
As wel in goft as body, chaft was fhe : '
For which fhe floured in virginitec.
With all humilitee and abftinence,
With all altemperance and patience, II98#
THE DOCTOURES TALE. i6^
With mcfure eke, of bering and array.
Difcrete Ihe was in anfwering alway,
Though llie were wife as Pallas, dare I fain,
Hire facounde eke ful womanly and plain,
No contrefeted termes hadde fhe
To femen wife ; but after hire degree
She fpake, and all hire wordes more and lelTe
Souning in vertue and in gentilleffe.
5hamefafl flie was in maidens ihamefaftnefle,
Conftant in herte, and ever in befinefle 1 1 990
To drive hire out of idel flogardie :
;Bacchus had of hire mouth right no maillrie.
For wine and youthe don Venus encrefe,
As men in fire wol caften oile and grefe.
And of hire owen vertue unconflreined,
She hath hirefelf ful often fike yfeined.
For that fhe wolde fleen the compagnie,
Wher likely was to treten of folie,
As is at fefles, at revels, and at dances.
That ben occaiions of daliances. 1 2pOQ
Swiche thinges maken children for to be
To fone ripe and bold, as men may fee,
Which is ful perilous, and hath ben yore ;
For al to fone may fhe lernen lore
Of boldnelTe, whan fhe woxen is a wif.
And ye maiftrelTes in your oldc lif,
M 3 " That
j6^ THE DOCTOURES TALE.
That lordes dougliters han in governance,
Ne taketh of my wordes difplefance ;
Thinketh that ye ben fet in governinges
Of lordes doughters, only for two thinges, 12010
Other for ye han kept your honeftee,
Or elles for ye han fallen in freeltee,
And knowen wel ynough the olde dance.
And han forfaken fully fwiche mefchance
for evermo : th erf ore for Crifles fake
To teche hem vertue loke that ye ne flake.
A theef of venifon, that h^th forlaft
His likeroufneffe, and all his olde crjift,
Can kepe a forefl befl of any man :
Now kepeth hem wel, for if ye wol ye can. I202p
Loke we], that ye unto no vice aiTent,
Left ye be damned for your wikke entent,
For who jb doth, a tray tour is certain :
And taketh kepe of that I fl:al you fain ;
Of alle tiefoii foveraine peftilence
Is, whan a wight betrayeth innocence.
Ye fathers, and ye mothers eke alfo,
Though ye han children, be it on or mo,
Your is the charge of all hir furveance,
While that they bca under your governance. 12030
Beth ware, that by enfample of your living,
Pr by your negligence in chaflifing,
* • ' That
I
THE DOCTOURES TALE, 167
That tliey ne perifli : for I dare wel faye,
If tkat they don, ye fliul it ders abeye.
Under a fliepherd foft and negligent,
The wolf hath many a fhepe and lamb t3-rent.
SufEceth tbis efifaiiiple now as here,
For I mote turne agen to my matere.
This maid, of which I tell my tale exprelTe,
She kept hirelelf, hire rieded no maiftrelfe ; 12C40
For in hire living maidens juighten rede.
As in a book, every good word and dede,
That longcth to a maiden vertTious :
She was fo prudent and fb bounteous^
For which the famp out fprong on every iide
Both of hire beautee and hire bountee wide :
That thurgh the lend they preifed hire eqh one.
That loved veriue, f^uf envie alone,
That fory js of other mannes vvele,
And glad is of his forwe and his unhele. 12050
The dodoiir maketli this defcriptioun.
This maiden on a day went in the toun
Toward a tem.ple, with hire mother derc.
As is of yonge maidens the manere.
Now was ther than a juflice in that toun.
That governour was of that regioun ;
And fo^ befell, this juge his eyen caft
Upon this maid^ aviiing hire ful faft,
M 4 As
m THE DOCTOURES TALE.
As fhe came forth by ther this juge flood :
Anon his herte changed and his mood, I206q
So was he caught with beautee of this maid,
And to himfelf ful prively he faid,
This maiden flial be min for any man.
Anon the fend into his herte ran,
And taught him fodenly, that he by Height
This maiden to his purpos winnen might.
For certes, by no force, ne by no mede,
Him thought he was not able for to fptdc;
For file was flrong of frendes, and eke iTic
Confermedwas in fwiche foveraine bountec, 12070
That vvcl he will he might hire never winne,
As for to make hire with hire body finne.
For which with gret deliberatioun
He fent after a cherl was in the toun.
The which he knew for fotil and for bold.
This juge unto this cherl his tale hath told
In fecree wife, and made him to enfure,
He.fhulde tell it to no creature,
And if he did, he ^fhulde Icfe his hedc.
And whan affented was this curfed rede, 12085^
Glad was the juge, and maked him gret chere.
And yaf him yeftes precious and dere.
Whan fhapen was all hir confpiracic
Fro point to point, how that his lecheric
Parformed
THE DOCTOUPvES TALE. 16^
Parformed fliulde be ful fotilly.
As ye fhul here it after openly,
Home goth this cherl, that highte Claudius.
This fahe juge, that highte Appius,
(So was his name, for it is no fable.
But knowen for an hiflorial thing notable ; 12C90
The fentence of it foth is out of doute)
This falfe juge gpth now faft aboute
To hailen his delit all that he may.
And fo befell, fqne after on a day
This falfe juge, as telleth us theftorie.
As he was wont, fat in his conliilorie,
And yaf his domes upon fondry cas ;
This falfe cherl came forth a ful gret pas.
And faide ; lord, if that it be your will.
As doth me right upon this pitous bill, 121OO
In which J plaine upon Virginias,
And if that he wol fayn it is not thus,
I wol it preve, and finden good witnelTe,
That foth is that my bille wol expreffe.
The juge anfwerd, of this in his abfencc
I may not yeve diffmitif fentence.
jLet don him call, and I wol gladly here ;
Thou fhalt have right, and no wrong as now here,
Virginius came to wete the juges will,
^nd right anon was red this curfed bill; 121 10
The
i-jo THE DOCTOURES TALE.
The fentencc of It was as ye Ihul here.
To yon, my lord fire Appiiis {o derc,
Sheweth your poure fervant Claudius,
How that a knight called Virginius,
Agein the lawe, agein all equltee,
Holdeth, expreffe agein the will of me,
My fervant, which thai i^ my thral by right.
Which from min hous was ftolen on a night
While that flie was ful yong, I wol it preve
By witneile, lord, fo that it you not greve ; I212a(
She n'is his dovghter nought, what fo he fay.
Wherfore to you, my lord the juge, I pray ;
Yelde me my thral, if that it be your will.
Lo, this wa^ all th^ fentence of his bill.
Virginius gan upon the cherl behold ;
But haftily, er, he his tale told,
And wold han prevcd it, as fhuld a knight,
And eke by witneil^pg of many a wight.
That all was falfe, that faid his adverfary,]
This curfed juge wolde nothing tary, 12130
Ne here a w<;rd more of Virginius,
But yave his jugement, and faide thus.
I deme anon this cherl his fervant have.
Thou fhalt no lenger in thin hous hire favc.
Go bring hire forth, and put hire in our ward.
T'he cherl Ihal have his tlaral ; thus I award.
And
THE DOCTOURES TALE. 171
And whan this worthy knight Virginlus,
Thurgh fentence of this juilice Appius,
Mufte by force his dere doughter yeven
Unto the jugc, in lecherie to liven, 12140
He goth him home, and fet him in his hall,
And let anon his dere daughter call :
And with a face ded as afhen cold,
Upon hire humble face he gan behold,
With fadres pitee Hiking thurgh his herte,
Al wold he frorn his purpos not converte.
Doughter, quod he, Virginia by thy name,
Ther ben two waies, other deth or Ihame,
That thou mufl fuffre, alas that I was bore !
For never thou defervedeft wherfore 1215Q
To dien with a fwerd or with a knif.
Q dere doughter, ender of my lif,
Which I have foftred up with fwiche plefance,
That thou were never out of my remembrance j.
O doughter, which that art my lafte wo,
And in my lif my lafte joye alfoj^
Q gemme of chaHitee, in patience
Take thou thy deth, for this is my fentence ;
For love and not for hate thou muft be ded,
I^y pitous hond mufl fmiten of thin hed. i2i6o
Alas that ever Appius thee fay !
Thus hath he falfely juged thee to-day.
And
172 THE POCTOURES TALE.
And told hire all the cas, as ye before
Han herd, it nedeth not to tell it more.
O mercy, dere ^^ther, quod this maid.
And with that word fhe both hire armes laid
About his necke, as flie was wont to do,
(The teres brail out of hire eyen two,)
And faid, O goode father, flaal I die ?
is ther no grace ? is ther no remedie ? 12170
• No certes, dere doughter j«in, quod he.
Than yeve me leifer, father min, quod fiie,
My deth for to complaine a litel fpace :
For parde Jepte yave his doughter grace
For to complaine, or he hire flow, alas !
And God it wot, nothing was hire trefpas.
But for flie ran hire father firft to fee.
To welcome him with gret folcmpnitee.
And with that word flic fell afwoune anon,
And, after, whan hire fvvouning was agon, 12180
She rifcth up, and to hire father faid :
BlefTed be God, that I iLal die a maid.
Yeve mc my deth, or that I have a fhame.
Doth with your child your wille a goddes name.
And with that word file praied him ful oft.
That with his fwerd he wolde fmite hire foft ;
And with that word, afwoune again flie fell.
Hire father, witli fui forwefyl herte and will,
Hire
THE DOCTOURES TALE, ty^
Hire hed of finote, and by the top it bent,
And to the juge he gan it to prelent, lar^O
As he fat yet in dome in conliftoric.
And whan the juge it favv, as faitli the ftorie.
He bad to take him, and anliang him fail.
But right anon a thoufand peple in thraft
To fave the knight, for routh and for pitee.
For knowen was the falfe iniquitee.
The peple anon had fufpe£t in this thing
By maner of the cherles chalenging.
That it was by the affent of Appius ;
They wiflen wel that he was lecherous. 1 220#
For which unto this Appius they gon.
And caile him in a prifon right anon,
Wheras he How himielf : and Claudius,
That fervant was unto this Appius,
Was demed for to hange upon a tree ;
But that Virginius of his pitee
So prayed for him, that he was exiled^
And elles certes had he ben begiled :
The remenant were anhanged, more and leffe.
That were conientant of this curfednelTe. 122 id
Here men may fee how iin hath his merite :
Beth ware, for no man wot whom God vvol fmitc
In no degree, ne in which maner wife
The worme of confcience mav a«[rire
Of
174 THE bOCtOURES TALE;
Of wicked lif, though it fo privee be,
That no man wote therof, fauf God and he :
For be he lewed man or elles leted,
tie n'ot how fone that he fhal ben afered.
Therfore I rede you this confeil take^
Forfaketh imne, or fmne you forfake; I222d
THE PARDONERES PROLOGUE;
Our Hofte gah to fvvere as he were wood ;
Harow ! (quod he) by nailes and by blood,
This was a falfe clierl, and a falfe juftice.
As fliameful deth, as herte can devife.
Come to thife juges and hir advocas.
Algate this fely maide is llain, alas !
Alas ! to dere abought flie hire beautee.
Wherfore I fay, that al day man may fee,
"I'hat yeftes of fortune and of nature
Ben caufe of deth to many a creature, 12236'
Hire beautee was hire deth, I dare wel fiin ;
Alas ! fo pitoufly as fhe was flain.
Of bothe yeftes, that I fpeke of now,
Men han ful often more for harm than prow;
But trewely, min owen maifter dere,
'This was a pitous tale for to here :
But nathelesj palTe over, is no force.
I pray to God fo fave thy gentil corps.
And
THE PARDONERES PROLOGUE. 17^
And eke thyn urinals, and thy joixianes.
Thin ypocras, and eke thy galianes, J 2246
And every boill ful of thy letuarie,
God blelTe hem and our lady Seinte Marie.-
So mote I the, thou art a propre man,
And like a prelat by Seint Rcnian ;
Said I not wel ? I cannot fpeke in terme ;
But wel I wot, thou doft min herte to erme.
That I have ahr.oft caught a cafdiacle:
By corpus domini but I have triaclc.
Or elles a draught of moifl and corny ale.
Or but I here anon a mery tale, 12250^
Myn herte is loft for pitee of this maid.
Thou bel cmy^ thou pardoner, he faid,
Tel us fom mirth of japes right anon.
It fhal be don, quod he, by Seint Ronion.
Eut iirft (quod he) here at this ale-ftake
I wol both drinke, and bitcn on a cake.
But right anon thife gentiles gan to crie ;
Nay, let him tell us of no ribaudrie.
Tell us fom moral thing, that we mow lere,
Som wit, and thanne wol we gladly here. 1 2260
I graunte ywis, quod he, but I muft thinke
Upon fom honeft thing, while that I drinke.
THE PARDONERES TALE.
L'oRDiNGS, quod he, in chirche whan Ipreche,
I peine me to have an hautein ipeche,
And
176 THE PARDONERES TAL&
And ring it out, as round as gotli a bell.
For I can all by rote that I tell.
My teme is alway on, and ever was ;
Radix maloruin eft cupiditas,
Firft I pronounce whennes that I come,
And than my bulks fhew I dl and fome : 12276'
Our liege lordes Mq on my patente,
That fliew I firft my body to warrente,
That no man be fo bold, ne preeft he clerk," •
Me to difturbe cf Criftes holy iverk.
And after that than tell I forth my tales;
BuUes of popes, and of cardinales.
Of patriarkes,^ and biflioppes I fliewe,
And in Latin I fpeke a wordes fewe,
To faffron with my predication,
And for to ftere men to devotion. 12285
Than flieW I forth my longe criftal ftones,
Ycrammed ful of cloutes and of bones,
Relikes they ben, as wenen they echon.
Than have I in laton a fliulder bone,
Which that was of an holy iewes fhepe.
Good men, fay I, take of my wordes kcpe f
If that this bone be wafhe in any well,
If cow, or calf, or fhepe, or oxe fvvell,
That any worm hath etc, or worm yftonge.
Take water of that well, and wafb his tonge,
I Ani
THE PARDONERES TALE. 177
And it is hole anon : and forthermore
Of pockes, and of Icab, and every fore
Shal every Ihepe be hole, that of this well
Drinketh a draught ; take kepe of that I tell.-
If tliat the good man, that the befles oweth,
\Vol every weke, er that the cok him crovvethj
Failing ydrinken of this well a draught.
As thilke holy Jew our eldres taught.
His belles and his ftore fhal multiplle.
And, lires, alfo it lieleth jaloulie. 12303
For though a man be falle in jalous rage,
Let maken with this water his potage,
And never flial he more his wif miftrifl.
Though he the foth of hire defaute will ;
Al had file taken preelies t#o or three.
Here is a mitaine eke, that ye rhay fee :
He that his hand w^ol put in this mitaine.
He fhal have multiplying of his graine.
Whan he hath fbwen, be it whete or otes.
So that he oiFer pens or elles grotes. 123 1©
And, men and women, o thing warne 1 yoU :
If any wight be iri this dhirche now.
That hath don linrie horrible, fo that he
Dare not for fliame of it yfhriven be :
Or any woman, be flie yong or old,
That hath ymade hire hufbond cokewoM,
Vol. II, N , Swich«
178 THE PARDONERES TALE.
Swiche folk fliul han no power ne no grace
To offer to my relikes in this place.
And who fo findeth him out of fwiche blame.
He wol come up and ofier in Goddes name, 1232Q -
And I aflbylc him by the au£loritee.
Which that by bulle ygranted was to me.
By this gaude have I wonnen yere by yerc
An hundred mark, fin I was pardonere.
I flonde like a clerk in my pulpet,
And whan the lewed peple is doun ylet,
I preche fo as ye han herd before.
And tell an hundred falfe japes more.
Than peine I me to ftretchen forth my necke.
And eft and weft upon the peple I becke, 12330
As doth a dove, fitting upon a berne :
Myn hondes and my tongc gon fo yerne.
That it is joye to fee my befineffe.
Of avarice and of fwiche curfednefTe
Is all my preching, for to make hem free
To yeve hir pens, and namely unto me.
For min entente is not but for to winne.
And nothing for correction of finne.
I recke never whan that they be beried.
Though that hir foules gon a blake beried, 12340
For ceites many a predication
Cometh oft time of evil entention ;
Som
THE PARDONERES TALE. 179
Som for plefance of folk, and flaterie.
To ben avanced by hypocrilie ;
And fom for vaine glorie, and fom for hate;
For wlian I dare non other wayes debate,
Than wol I fting him with my tonge fmerte
In preching, fo that he fhal not afterte
To ben defamed f^lfely, if that he
Hath trefpafed to my brethren or to me. 1235O
For though I telle not his propre name.
Men flial wel knowen that it is the fame
By fignes, and by other circumftances.
Thus quite I folk, that don us diiplefances :
Thus fpit I out my venime under hewe
Of hoiineffe, to feme holy and trewe.
But fliortly min entente I wol devife,
I preche of nothing but for covetife;
Therfore my teme is yet, and ever was^
Radix malorum eft cupiditas, I2360
Thus can I preche again the fame vice
Which that I ufe, and that is avarice.
But though myfelf be gilty in that iinncy
Yet can I maken other folk to twinne
Fronl avarice, and fore hem to repente.
But that is not my principal entente ;
i preche nothing but for covetife.
Of this matere it ought yrtough fufFife;
N 2 Than
i8o THE PARDONERES TALE.
Than tell I hem enfamplcs many on
Ofolde ftories longe time agon. I237#
For lewed peple loven tales olde ;
Swhiche thinges can they wel report and holde.
What ? trowen ye, that whiles I may preche
And winnen gold and filver for I teche.
That I wol live in poverte wilfully ?
Nay, nay, I thought it never trewely.
For I wol preche and beg in fondry londesj
I wol not do no labour with min hondes,
Ne make bafkettes for to live therbv,
Becaufe I wol not beggen idelly. 123^
I w6l non of the apoftles contrefete :
I wol have money, w^olle, chefe, and whete,
Al were it yeven of the poureft page.
Or of the poureft Widewe in a village :
Al fhulde hire children fterven for famine *
Nay, I wol drinke the licour of the vine.
And have a joly wxnche in every toun.
But herkeneth,lordings, in concluHoun,
Your liking is that I fhal tell a tale.
Now I have dronke a draught of corny ale, 1239a
By God I hope I fhal you tell a thing,
That llial by refon ben at your liking :
For though myfelf be a ful vicious man,
A moral tale yet I you tellen can,
Which
THE PARDONERES TALE. i8r
Which I am wont to prechen, for to winne.
Now hold your pees, my tale I wol beginne.
In Flandres whilom was a compagnie
Of yonge folk, that haunteden folic.
As hafard, riot, ftewes, and tavernes ;
Wheras with harpes, lutes, and giternes, 12400
They dance and plaie at dis bothe day and night,
And ete alfo, and drinke over hir might •
Thurgh which they don the devil facrifice
Within the devils temple, in curfed wife.
By fuperfiuitee abhominable.
Hir othes ben fo gret and fo damnable,
That it is grlfly for to here hep fwere.
Our blisful lordes body they to-tere ;
Hem thought the Jewts rent him not ynough ;
And eche of hem at others linne lough. 124JQ
And right anon in comen tombefleres
Fetis and fmale, and yonge fi-uitefteres.
Singers with harpes, baudes, wafereres,
Which ben the veray devils officeres.
To kindle and blow the fire of lecherie.
That is annexed unto glotonie.
The holy writ take I to my witneiTe,
Th^t luxurie is in wine and dronkenelTe,
N 3 Lo,
;82 THE PARDONERES TALE,
Lo, how that d^-onken Loth unkindely
Lay by his daughters two unwetingly, 1242^
go dronke he was he n'ifte what he wrought.
Herodes, who fo wel the ftories fought,
Whaa he of wiae replete was at his fefle.
Right at his oweo tabie he yave his hefte
To fie en the Baptill John ful gUteles.
Seneca faith a good word douteles :
He faith he can no diiFerence find
Betwix a man that is put of his mind.
And a man whiche that is dronkelew :
But that woodneiTe, yfallen in a (hrew, 1243P
Perfevereth lenger than doth dronkeneffe.
O glotonie, full of curfedneire ;
O caufe firfl of our confufion,
O original of our damnation.
Til Crift had bought us with his blood again.
Loketh, how dere, Ihortly for to fain,
Abought was thilke curfed vilanie :
Corrupt was all this world for glotonip.
Adam our father, and his wif alfo.
Fro Paradis, to labour and to yvo, 12440
Were driven for that vice, it is no drede.
For while that Adarn failed, as I rede,
He was in Paradis, and whan that he
£te of the fruit defended on a tree,
Anon
THE PARDONERES TALE. 185
Anon he was out caft t® wo and peine.
O glotonie, on thee wel ought us plaine,
O5 wift a man how many maladies .
Folwen of excelTe and of glotonies,
He\ wolde ben the more mefurable
Of his diete, fitting at his table. I.2450
Alas ! the fhorte throte, the tendre mouth,
Maketh that Eft and Weft, and North and South,
In erthe, in air, in water, men to-fwinke.
To gete a gloton deintee mete and drinke.
Of this mater?, O Poule, wel canft thou trete.
Mete unto wombe, and worn be eke unto mete
Shal God deftroiein bothe, as Paulus faith,
Alas ! a foule thing is it by my faith
To fay this word, and fouler is the dede.
Whan man fo drinketh of the white and rede.
That of his throte he maketh his privee 12461
Thurgh thilke curfed fuperfluitee.
The Apoftle faith weping ful pitoufly,
Ther walken many, of which you told have I,
I fay it now weping with pitous vois.
That they ben enemies of Criftes crois ;
Of whiche the end is deth, womb is hir God,
O wombe, O belly, ftinking is thy cod.
Fulfilled of dong and of corruptioun ;
At either end of thee foule is the foun, 12470
^N 4 How
1^4 THE PARPPNERES TALl^
How gret labour and cell is thee to find !
Thife cokes how they ftamp, and ft^ein, and grind^
J\nd turnen fubilance into accident,
To fulfill all thy likerous talent !
Out of the harde bones knocken they
The mary, for they caften nought away,
That may go thurgh the gullet foft and fote ;
Of fpicerie, of leef, of barke, and rote,
Shal ben his faufe ymaked by delit
To make him yet a newer appetit. 1 2480
But certes he, that haunteth fwiche delices.
Is ded, while that he liveth in the vices.
A lecherous thing is wine, and dronkeneiTc
Is ful of flriving and of wretchednefle.
O dronken man, disfigured is tliy face.
Sour is thy breth, foul art thou to enbrace :
And thurgh thy dronken nofe femeth the fouq,
As though thou faideft ay, Sampfoun, Sampfoun :
And yet, God wot, Sampfoun dronk never no wine.
Thqu falleft, as it were a fliked fwine : 12450
Thy tonge is loft, and all thin honeft cure.
For dronkeneffe is veray fepulture
Of mannes wit, and his difcretion.
In whom that drinke hath domination.
He can no confeil kepe, it is no drede.
Now kepc you fro the white and fro the rede.
And
THE PARDONER^ES TALE. 185
And namely fro the white wine of Lepe,
That is to fell in Fifhftrete and in Chepe.
This wine of Spaigne crepeth fubtilly
In other \yines growing fafte by, 12500
Of which ther rifeth fwiche fumpfitee,
That whan a man hath dronken drgughtes three.
And weneth that he be at home in Chepe,
He is in Spaigne, right at the toun of Lepe,
Not at the Rochell, ne at Burdeux toun ;
And tbanne wol he fay, Sampfoun, Sampfoun.
But herkeneth, lordings, o word, I you pray.
That all the foveralne ades, dare I fay.
Of viftories ir> the Olde Teftament,
Thurgh veray God, that is omnipotent, 12510
Were don in abftinence and in prayere :
Loketh the Bible, and ther ye mow it lere.
Loke Attila, the grete cpnquerour,
Died in his flepe, with fhame and diflionour,
Bleding ay at his nqfe in dronkeneffe :
A capitaine fhulde live in fobrenelTe.
And over all this, avifeth you right wel.
What was commanded unto Lamuel ;
Not Samuel, but Lamuel fay L
Kedeth the Bible, and find it exprefly 12520
Of wine yeving to hem that have juftice.
No more of this, for it may wel fuffice.
And
i86 THE PARPONERES TALE.
And now that I have fpoke of glotonie.
Now wol I you defenden hafardrie.
Hafard is veray moder of lefinges,
And of deceite, and curfed forfweringes :
Blafpheming of Grift, manflanghter, and waft alfb
Of catel, and of time ; and forthermo
It is repreve, and contrary of honour.
For to ben hold ^ commun hafardour. X2530
And ever the higher he is of eftat.
The more he is holden defolat.
If that a Prince ufeth hafarderie.
In alle governance and policie
He is, as by commun opinion,
Yhold the leffe in reputation.
Stilbon, that was a wife embaftadour,
Was fent to Corinth with ful gret honour
Fro Calidone, to maken hem alliance :
And whan he came, it happed him par chance^ 1 2540
That all the greteft that were of that lond
Yplaying atte hafard he hem fond.
For w^hich, as fone as that it mighte be.
He ftale him home agein to his contrec.
And fayde ther, I wol not lefe my name,
Ne wol not take on me fo gret defame,
You for to allie unto non hafardours.
Sendeth fom other wife embaftadours,
For
THE PARDONERES TALE. 187
For by my tronthe, me were lever die.
Than I you fliuld to hafardours allie. 12550
For ye, that ben fo glorious in honours,
Shal not allie you to non hafardours,
As by my vville, ne as by my tretee.
This wile philofophre thus fayd he.
Loke eke how to the king Demetrius
The king of Parthes, as the book fayth us.
Sent him a pair of dis of gold in fcorne.
For he had ufed hafard therbeforne :
For which he held his glory and his renoun
At no value or reputatioun. 1 2560
Lordes may finden other maner play
Honeft ynough to drive the day away.
Now wol I fpeke of othes falfe and grete
A word or two, as olde bookes trete.
Gret fwering is a thing abhominable,
And falfe fwering is yet more reprevable.
The highe God forbad fwering at al,
WitnelTe on Mathew : but in fpecial
Of fwering fayth the holy Jeremie,
Thou fhalt fwere foth thin othes, and not lie; 1 2570
And fwere in dome, and eke in rightwifnefle ;
But idel fwering is a curfedneffe.
Behold and fee, that in the firfte table
Of highe Goddes hefles honourable.
How
168 THE PARDONERES TALR
How that the fecond heft of him Is this.
Take not my name in idel or amis,
Lo, rather he forbedeth fwiche Iwering,
Than homicide, or many an other thing.
I fay that as by ordre thus it ftondeth ;
This knoweth he that his heftes underftondeth, 1258c
How that the fecond heft of God is that.
And forthermore, I wol thee tell all plat.
That vengeance fhal not parten from his hous,
That of his othes is outrageous.
By Goddes preciou§ herte, and by his nailes.
And by the blood of Crift, that is in Hailes,
Seven is my chance, and thin is cink and treye :
By Goddes armes, if thou falfly pleye.
This dagger flial thurghout thin herte go.
This fruit cometh of the bicchel bones two, 12590
Forfwering, ire, falfenefle, and homicide.
Now for the love of Crift that for us didc,
Leteth your othes, bothe gret and fmale.
But, lires, now wol I tell you forth my talc.
Thife riotoures three, of which I tell,
Long erft or prime rong of any bell.
Were fet hem in a taverne for to drinke :
And as they fat, they herd a belle cllnke
Beforn a corps, was caried to his grave :
That on of heiii gan callen to his knave, 12600
Go
THE PARDONERES TALE. 189
Go bet, quod he, and axe redily.
What corps is this, that paffeth here forth by :
And loke that thou report his name wel.
Sire, quod this boy, it nedeth never a del ; ,
It was me told or ye came here two houres ;
He was parde an old felaw of you res.
And fbdenly he was yflain to-night,
Fordronke as he fat on his benche upright,
Ther came a privee theef, men clepen Deth,
That in this contree all the peple fleth, 1 26 lO*
And with his fpere he fmote his herte atwo,
And went his way withouten wordes mo.
He hath a thoufand flain this peftilence :
And, maifter, or ye come in his prefence.
Me thinketh that it were ful neceffarie
For to beware of fwiche an adverfarie :
Beth redy for to mete him evermore.
Thus taughte me my dame, I fay no more.
By Seinte Marie, fayd this tavernere,
The child fayth foth, for he hath llain this yere 1 2620
Hens over a mile, within a gret village.
Both man and woman, child, and hyne, and page ;
I trowe his habitation be there :
To ben avifed gret wifdome it were.
Or that he did a man a difhonour.
Ye, Ggddes armes, quod this riotour.
i^S THE PARDONERES TALE.
Is it fwiche peril with liim for to mete ?
I fhal him feke by fiile arid eke by ftrete^
I make a voW by Goddes digne bones.
Herkeneth, felawes, \ve three beii alle ones : i 2630
Let eche of us hold up his bond to other,
And eche of us becdraen others brother,
And we wol flen this falfe traitour deth :
He flial be flain, he that fo many fleth,
By Goddes dignitee, or it be night.
Togeder ban thife three hir trouthes plight
To live and dien eche of hem for other.
As though he were his owen boren brother.
And up they ftert al dronken in this rage.
And forth they gon towardes that village, 1 2640
Of which the taverner had fpoke beforn.
And many a grifly oth than liave they fworn,
And Grilles bleffed body they to-rent ;
Deth fhal be ded, if that we may him hent;
Whan they han gon not fully half a mile^
Right as they wold han troden over a ilile,
An olde man and a poure with hem mette.
This olde man ful mekely hem grette.
And fayde, thus ; Now, lordes, God you fee.
The proudell of thife riotourcs three 1 2650
Anfwerd agen ; What ? cherl, with fory grace.
Why art thou all forwrapped fave thy face ?
Why
THE PARDONERES TALE. 191
Why llveft thou fo longe in fo gret age ?
This olde man gan loke in his vifage,
And layde thus ; For I ne cannot finde
A man, though that I walked into Inde,
Neither in citee, ne in no village,
That wolde change his youthe for min age ;
And therfore mote I han min age ilill
As longe time as it is Goddes will* 1 2660
Ne deth, alas ! ne will not han my lif.
Thus walke I like a refteles caitif.
And on the ground, which is my modres gate^
I knocke with my ftaf, erlich and late,
And fay to hire, Leve mother, let me in.
Lo, how I vanifh, flefh, and blood, and fkin :
Alas ! whan fhul my bones ben at refte ?
Mother, with you wold I changen my chefle,
That in my chambre longe time hath be.
Ye, for an heren clout to wrap in me. 12670
But yet to me fhe wol not don' that grace.
For which ful pale and welked is my face*.
But, fires, to you it is no curtefie
To fpeke unto an olde man vilanie.
But he trefpafe in word or elles in dede^
In holy writ ye moun yourfelven rede ;
Ageins an olde man, hore upon his hede.
Ye fliuld arife : therfore I yeve you rede,
Ne
igi TH^ PARDONERES TALfi.
Ne doth unto an olde man nbn harm now^"
No more than th&t ye wold a man did you 1 2680
In age, if that ye may fo long abide.
And God be with you, wher ye go or ride.
I mofle go thider as I have to go.
Nay^ olde cherlj by God thou fhalt not fd,
Sayde this other hafardour anon ;
Thou parteft not fo lightly by Seint John.
Thou fpake right now of thilke traitour deth'y
That in this contree all our frendes fleth ;
Have here my trouth as thoii art his efpie ;
Tell wher he is, or thou flialt it abic, 1265^
By God and by the holy Sacrement ;
For fothly thou art on of his alfent
To flen us yonge folk, thou falfe thefe.
Now, fires, quod he, if it be you fo lefe
To hnden deth, tourne up this croked way^
For in that grove I left him by rily fay
Under a tree, and ther he wol abide ;
Ne for your boil he wol him nothing hide.
Se ye tliat oke ? right ther ye fhuln him find.
God fave you, that bought agen mankind, 12706
And you amende ; thus fayd this olde man.
And everich of thife riotoures ran.
Til they came to the tree, and ther they found
Of Floreins fine of gold yebined round,-
VVcI
THE PARDONERES TALE. 193
Wei nigh an eighte builiels, as hem thought.
No lenger as than after deth they fought.
But eche of hem fo glad was of the fight,
For that the floreins ben fo faire and bright.
That doun they fette hem by the precious hord.
The werfte of hem he fpake the firfle vvord* 1 27 16
Brethren, quod he, take kepe what I Ihal fay ;
My wit is gret, though that I bourde a/id play.
This trefour hath fortune unto us yeven
In mirth and joUtee our lif to liven.
And ligbtly as it cometb, fo wol we fpend.
Ey, Goddes precious dignitee, who wend
To-day, that we fliuld ban fo faire a grace >
But might this gold be caried fro this place
Home tQ myn hous, or elles unto youres,
(For wel I wote that all this gold is oures) 12720
Thanne were we in high fclicitee.
But trewely by day it may not be ;
Men woldeh fay that we were theeyes ftrong.
And for our owen trefour don us hong.
This trefour muft ycaried be by night
As wifely and as fleighly as it might.
Wherfore I rede, that cut among U3 alle
We drawe, and let fee wher the cut wol falle :
And he that hath the cut, with herte blith,
Shal rennen to the toun, and that ful fwith, 12730
Vol. II, O And
1.94 THE PARDONERES TAt^
And bring us bred and- win ful prively :
And two of us fhal kepen fubtilly
This trefour wel : and if he wol not tarieir^
Whan it is night, we wol this trefour caries
By on aflent, wher as us thinketh beft. *
That on of hem the cut brought in his feft^
And bad hem drawe and loke wher it wold falle^
And it fell on the yongeft of hem alle :
And forth toward the toun he went anon.
And. al fo fone as that he was agon, 12740^
That on of hem fpake thus unto that other ;
Thou woteft wel thou art my fworen brother.
Thy profite wol I tell thee right anon.
Thou woft wel' that ourielaw is agon.
And here is gold, and that ful gret plentee.
That fhal departed ben among us thr£e.
But natheles, if I can fhape it fo.
That it departed were among us two.
Had I not don a frendes turn to thee ? .
That other anfwerd, I n'ot how that may be r
He wote wel that the gold is with us tweye. 12751*
What Ihuln w^e don ? what fhuln we to him feye I
Shal it be confeil ? fayd the firfle fhrewe ;,
And I fhal tellen tliee in wordes fewe
What we fhul don, and bring it wel aboute,
Lgrante, quod that other, out of doute,
That
tMe ?ardone1es tale. 19I
tlThat by iriy ttouth 1 wol thee not bewrele.
Now, qviod the firfl, thou woli wel we htti tv^clti
And tweie of us fhul ftren^ef be than on.
Loke, whari that he is fet, thoti right anori 12760^
Arifej as thougK thbu Woldeft With hitm play ;
And i fHal rive him thurgh the fides tway,
While that thou iirogleft with Him" as in game.
Arid with thy daggef loke thbii do the fartife |
And than fhal all this gold departed be,
My dere frerid, betwixeh thee and me i
Than mouii we bothe buf Inftes al fiilfiile,'
And play at dis right alt our owen Wille.
And thus aiccorded ben thife fhfewes tweye,
To fieri the thridde,^ as ye h'i(n herd me feye. iijjb
This ybngett, which that wente to the tburi,
Ful oft in herte he rblleth tip and dottri
The bea!utee of thifb floreins n6We and bright;
O luordy qddd he, if fo were that I might
Have all this tr^four to mfyfelf alone,
Ther n'is no itiari thit liveth under the tronb
Of God, that &uid6 live fo' i^efy as I,
And at the laft the fend our eriemy
Putte in his thought, that He lliuld poifori beye,'
With which he mighte flen his felaws tweye. 1278*0
For why, the fend fond him in fwiche living.
That he had leve to forwe him to bring.
G 2 F<*
196 THE PARDONERES TALE.
For this was outrely his ful entente
To (len hem both, and never to repente.
And fortli he goth, no lenger wold he tary.
Into the toun unto a Potecary,
And praied him that he him wolde fell
Som poifon, that he might his ratouns quelU
And eke ther was a polkat in his hawe,^
That, as he fayd, his capons had yflawe : 12790
And fayn he wolde him wreken, if he might.
Of vermine, that deilroied hem by night.
The Potecary anfwerd. Thou fhalt have
A thing, as wifly God my foule fave.
In all this world ther n'is no creature.
That ete or dronke hath of this confe£lure.
Not but the mountance of a corne of whete.
That he ne dial his lif anon forlete ;
Ye, Herve he fhal, and that in leiTe while,
Than thou wolt gon a pas not but a mile : 12800
This poifon is fo ftrong and violent.
This curfed man hath in his bond yhent
This poifon in a box, and fwithe he ran
Into the nexte flrete unto a man.
And borwed of him large botelles three ;
And in the two the poifon poured he ;
The thridde he kepte clene for his drinke.
For all the night he fliope him for to fwinke
THE PARDONERES TALE. 197
f n carying of the gold out of that place.
And whan this riotour with fory grace 12810
Hath filled with win his grete botelles three.
To his felawes agen repaireth he.
What nedeth it therof to fennon mpr^ ?
For right as they had caft his deth hefore.
Right fo they han hijn llain, and that anon,
-And whan that this was don, thus fpake fliat on ;
Now let us fit and drinke, and make us mery.
And afterward we wiln his body bery.
And with that word it happed him par casy
T'o take the botelle, ther the poifon was, 12820
And dronke, and yave his felaw drinke alfo,
For which anon they ftorven bothe two.
But certes I fuppofe that Avicenne
Wrote never in no canon, ne in no fenne.
Mo wonder fignes of empoifoning,
Than had thife wretches two or hir ending«
Thus ended ben thife homicides two,
And eke the falfe empoifoner alfo,
O curfednelTe of alle curfedneiTe !
O traitcfurs homicide ! O wickedneffe ! 1 285©
O glotonie, luxurie, and hafardrie !
Thou blafphemour of Crift with vilanie.
And othes grete, of ufage and of pride !
Alas ! mankinde, how may it betide.
|9« THE PARD0NERE3 TAl-E.
That to thy Cre^tour, which that thee \vrought,
And with his precious herte- blood thee bought,
Thou' art fo falfe and fo unkind, alas !
Now, good men, God foryeve you your tre^as;
And ware you fro the finne' of avarice,
Min holy pardon may you all warice, |2?4<^
$o that ye ottre nobles or flarlinges,
Or elles iilver broches, fpones, ringes.
Boweth your hed under this holy Bulle.
Cometh up, ye wives, and offreth of your wolle z
Your names I entre here in rny roll anon J
Into the blifle of hpen fliul ye gon; '
1 you alToile by min high powere.
You that wi4n offre, as clene and eke as clere
As ye were borne, Lo, iires, thus I preche ;
And Jefu Crift, that is our foules leche, J 2859
So graunte you his pardon ^o receive;
For that is bell, Iwol you not deceive.
But, iires, o word forgate I in my t:ale^
\ have relikes and pardon in my male, ' '
As faire as any liian in Englelond,
Which v^'ere me yeven by the Popes hond,
If any of you wol of devotion
pffren, and han min abfolution,
Cometh forth anon, and kneleth her^ adoun^
^nd mekcly receiveth my pardoun, 1286Q
• '' " dt
THE PARDONERES TALE, t^
Or elles taketh pardon, as ye wende,
Al newe and frefhc at every tonnes ende,
^o that ye offiren alway newe and newe.
Nobles or pens, which that ben good and trcwe*
It is an honour to everich that is here.
That ye moun have a fufiifant pardonere
To aflbilen you in contree as ye ride,
For aventures, which that moun betide.
Paraventure ther may fallc on, or two,
Doun of his hors, and breke his necke atwa
Loke, which a feurtee is it to you alle, 128,71
That I am in your felawfhip yfalle.
That may alToile you bothe more and laiTe,
Whan that the foule fhal fro the body palTe*
I rede that our hofte Ihal beginne.
For he is moil envoluped in iinne.
Come forth, lire hofte, and ofFre firil anon,
And thou fhalt kifle the relike^ everich on.
Ye for a grote ; unbpkel anon thy purfe.
Nay nay, quod he, than have I Grilles curfe.
Let be, quod he, it fhal not be, fo the ich, 12881
Tho.u woldeft make me kifle thin plde brech,
And fwere it were a relike of a feint.
Though it were with thy foundement depeint.
But by the crois, which that Seint Heleine fond,
I wolde I had thin coilons in min hond,
P 4. Iniledc
IPO THE PARDQNE^ES'TALE.
Inflede of relikes, or of feintuarie.
l,et cut hem of, I wol thee help hem cariej
^hey fliul be fhrined in an hogges tord.
This Pardoner aniwered not a word; ?28qQ
So wroth he was, no word ne wolde he fay.
Now, quod our hofle, I wol no lenger play
With thee, no with non other angry man.
But right anon the worthy knight began,
(Whan that he faw that all the peple lough)
No more of this, for it is right ynough.
Sire Pardoner, be mery and glad of chere •
And ye, lire hofte, that ben to me fo -dere,
I pray you that' ye kilTe the Pardoner ;
And, Pardoner, I pray thee draw thee ner, 12909
And as we 'diden, let us laugh and play.
Anon they kiffed, and riden forth hir way.
THE SHIPMANNES PROLOGUE.
OUR hofte upon his ftirrops ilode anon.
And fajde ; Good men, herkeneth everich on,
3^his was a thrifty tale for the nones.
Sire [arifn preeft, quod he, for Goddes bones^
Tell us a tale, as was thy forvyard yore ;
I fee wel that ye lerned men in lore
Qdn mochel good^ by Goddes dignitee.
The Perfon him anfwerd, Bemdiciu ! 12910
Wh^
yng SHIPMANNES PROLOGUE, 401
J^hat eileth the man, fo finfully to fwere ?
Our holle anfwerd, O Jankin, be ye there ?
Now, good men, quod our holle, herkneth to me.
I fmell a loller in the wind, quod he.
Abideth for Goddes digne paHiorj,
For we fhul han a predication : ^
This loller here wol pyechen us fomwhat.
Nay by my fathers foule, that fhai he nat,
Sayde the Shipman, here Jhal he nat preche,
He Ihal no gofpel glofen here pe teche. 1292O
We Icven all in the gret God, quod he.
He wolde fowen fom difficultee.
Or fpringen cockle in our clefie corne.
And therfore, hofle, I warne thee beforne.
My joly body fhal a tale telle,
^nd I fhal clinken you fo mery a belle.
That I fhal waken alj this compagnie :
But it fhal not ben of philofophie,
Ne of phyiike, ne termes queinte of lawe ;
Ther is but litel Latin in my mawe, 12930
THE SHIPMANNES TALE.
A March ANT whilom dwelled at Seint Denife,
That riche was, for which men held him wife,
A wif he had of excellent beautee,
^d compaignable, and revelous was fhe.
Which
«04 THE SHIPMANNES TALE.
Which is a thing that caufeth more difpence^
-Than wqrth is all th^ chere and reverence.
That ra^a heiji don at fefles and at dances.
Swiche falutatlons and contenance^
paffen, ,?.s doth a fliadwe upon the Ajvall :
But wo i§ him that rpayen jniote for all, 1294*
The fely hufbond algate he mote pay.
He mote us clothe and he mote us array-
All for hi^ pwen worfliip ricbely ;
Jn which array we dancen jolily.
And if that he may not paraventure,
pr elle.s lufl ^ot fwiche difpence endure^
But thinketh it is wafterd and yloft,
Than mote andther payen for our coft,
Or lene us gold^ and that is perilous.
This noble Marchant held a worthy hous, I29?G|
for which he had all day fo gret repaire
for his largeiTe, and fo? his wif was faire,
That wonder is : but herkeneth to my tale.
Amonges all thife geftes gret and fmale,
Ther was a Monk, a faire man and a bold^^
i trow a thritty winter he was ^W,
That ever in on was drawing to that place.
This yongc Monk, that was fo faire of face^
Acquainted was fo. with this goode man,
SithcD xhsx, iiix j&die knowlege began, ^^9^^
' Tha^
yiJE SIflPMANNES TALE, ^oy
That in his hous as familier was he,
As it poflible is any frend to be.
And for jas mochel as this goode man
And eke this Monk, of which that I begap^
Were bothe two yborne in o village.
The Monk him claimeth, as for colinage.
And he again him fayd not ones nay,
But was as glad therof, as foule of day ;
For to his herte it was a gret plefance.
Thus ben they J;nit \yith eterne alliance, 1 2070
And eche of hem gan other for to enfure
pf brotherhed, while ^hat hif lif may dure.
Free yvas Dan John, and i^amely of difpence
As in that hous, and ful of diligence
To don plefance, and alfo gret collage ;
He not forgate to yeve the lefte page
In all that hous ; but, after hir degree.
Jle yave the lord, and fithen his meinee.
Whan that he came, fom maner honeft thing;
For which they were as glad of his coming 12980
As foule is fayn, whan that the fonne up rifeth.
No more of this as now, for it fuffifeth.
But fo befell, this Marchant on a day
ghope him to maken redy his array
Toward the toun of Brugges for to fare^
!J'q byen ther a portion of ware :
^©4 THE SHIPMANNES TALE.
For which he hath to Paris fent anon
A meffager, and praied hath Dan John
That he fhuld come to Seint Denis, and pleie
•With hi^, and with his wif, a day or tweie, 1299x5
-Or he to Brugges went, in alle wife.
This rvoble Monk, of which T you devife.
Hath of his Abbot, as him lift, licence,
(Becaufe he was a man of 'high prudence.
And eke an oihicer out fox to ride,
T-o feen hir granges, and hir bernes wide)
And unto Seint Denis he cometh anon.
Who w^s fo welcome as my lord Dan John,
Our 4ere couiin, ful of curtefie ?
With him he brought a jubbe of Malvdie, j ^OOQf
And eke another ful of fine Vernage,
And volatile, as ay was his ufage :
And thus I kt hejoi ete, and drinke, and pleye.
This marchant and this ^onk, a day or tweye.
The thridde day this marchant up arifeth,
ji^nd on his nedes fadly him avifetlr;
And up into his countour hous goth h^,
To reken with himfelve©, wel luay be.
Of thilke yere, how that it witli him ilood,
And how that he difpended had his good, 1301O
And if that he encrefed were or non.
tto bookes and his bagges many on
' u^
THE SHIPMANKES TALE, 205
He layth beforn him on his counting bord.
Ful riche was his trefour and his hord ;
For which ful fall his countour dore he fhet ;
And eke he n'olde no man fhuld him let
Of his accountes, for the mene time :
And thus he fit, til it was pafTed prime.
Dan John was rifen m the morwe alfo,
And in the gardin walkcth to and fro^ 1302a
And hath his thinges fayd ful curteifly.
This goode wif came walking prively
Into the gardin, ther he walketli foft,
And him falueth, as fhe hath don oft :
A maiden child came in hire compagnie,
Which as hire lull fhe may governe and gvCj,
For yet under the yerde was the maide.
O dere cofin min Dan John, fhe faide.
What aileth you fo rathe for to arife ?
Nece, quod he, it ought ynough fuffife 1303^
Five houres for to llepe upon a night :
But it were for an olde appalled wight.
As ben thife wedded men, that lie and dare.
As in a fourme fittetli a wery hare,
Were al forllraught with houndes gret and fmale.
But, dere nece, why be ye fo pale ?
I trowe certes, that our goode man
Hath you laboured, iith this night began,
« That
io6 THE SHIPMANNES TALEi
That you were riede to refteri Hafiily.
And with that word he lough ful merily^ ^3046
And of his oweii thought he wexe all red.
This faire wif gan for to fhakc hire hed.
And faied thus 3 Ye, God wotc all, quod fhe,
Kay, cofin min, it ftant riot fo with mc.
For by that God, that y^ve me foule and lif^
}n all the reame of Fraunce is ther no wif>
That lafTe lufl hath to that Tory play :
For I may iinge alas and wala wa
That I was borne, but to no wight (quod Ihe j
Dare I not tell how that it llant with me. ijo^Of
Wherfore I thinke out of this lond to wende.
Or elles of myfelf to make an eilde,
So ful am I of drede and eke of care.
This monk began upbn this wif to flarc^
And fayd, Alas ! my nece, God forbede,
That ye for any forwe, or any drede,
Fordo yourfelf : but telleth me your grefc,
Paraventure I may in your mifchefe
Confeile or helpe : and therfore telleth mt
All your annoy, for it fhal ben fecree; 13066
For on my Portos here 1 make an oth.
That never in my lif, for lefe ne loth,
Ne fhal I of no confeil you bewray.
The fanie agen to you, quod flie, I fay.
By
THE SHIPMA^NNES TALE. 507
By God and by this Portos I you Iwerc,
Though men me wolden all in peces tere^..
Ne fhal I never,, fortogon to helle,
Bewrey o word of thing that ye me tellj
Nought for no cofinage^, ne alliance.
But veraily for love and affiance^ IS^^
Thus ben they fworne, and hereupon they kifte,.
And eche of hem told other what hem lifte.
Cofin, quod fhe, if that I had a Ipace,
As I have non, and namely, in this place,
Tlian wold I tell a legend of my lif,
What I have fuffred lith I was a wif
With min hufbond, al be he your cofin.
Nay, quod this monk, by God and Seint Martlny
He n'is no more colin unto me.
Than is the leef that hangeth on the tree : i ^oS(>
I clepe him fo by Seint Denis of France
To han tlie more caufe of acquaintance-
Of you, which I have loved fpecially
Aboven alle women likerly^
This fwere I you on my profeifioun r
Telleth your grefe, lefc that he come adoun^
And haileth you, and goth away anon.
My dere love, quod Ihe, o my Dan John,
Ful lefe were me this confcil for to hide,
But out it mote,, I may; no lenger abide. 13090
io5 THE SHIPMANNES TALE,
Myn hufbond is to me die werfle man^
That ever was lith that die world began :
But fith I am a wif, it fit not me {
To tellen no wight of our privetee^
Neither in bed, ne in non other place ;
God fhilde I Ihulde it tellen for his grace ;
A wif ne fhal not fayn of hire hufbond
But all honour, as I can underflond ;
Save unto you thus moch I tellen fhal :
As helpe me God, he is nought worth at all, 13100-
In no degree, the value of a file.
But yet me greveth moft his nigardie i
And wel ye wot, diat women naturally
Defiren thinges fixe, as wel as I.
They wolden that hir hufbondes fhulden be'
Hardy, and wife, and riche, and therto free^
And buxome to his wif, and fr;efli a-bedde.
But by that ilke Lord that for us bledde^
For his honour myfelven for to array,
A fonday next I mufle nedes pay 131 ic/
An hundred franks, or elles am I lorne.
Yet were me lever that I were unborne.
Than me were don a fclandre or vilanie.
And if min hufbond eke might it efpie,
I n'ere but lofl ; and therfore I you prey
Lene me this fumme, or elles mote I dey,
Dan
fHE SHIPMANlSrES TALE. 20^
Dan John, I fay, lene me this hundred frankes ;
Parde I wol not faille you my thankes,
If that you lifl to do that I you pray.
For at a certain day I wol you pay, 131 26'
And do to you what plefance and fervice
That I may don, right as you lift devife :
And but I do, God take on me vengeance.
As foul as ever had Genelon of France.
This gentil monk anfwerd in this manere;
Now trewely, min owen lady dere,
I have (quod he) on you fo grete a routhe^
That I you fwere, and plighte you my trouthe^
That whan your hufbond is to Flahdres fare,
I wol deliver you out of this care, 1313O
For I wol bringen you an hundred frankes.
And with that word he caught hire by the flank es.
And hire embraced hard, and kifte hire oft.
Goth now your way, quod he, al ftille and foft^
And let us dine as fone as that ye may,
For by my kalender it is prime of day :
Goth now, and beth as trewe as I fhal be.
Now elles God forbede, lire, quod fhe •
And forth fhe goth, aa joly as a pie.
And bad the cokes that they fliuld hem hie^ l$i4<i
So that men mighten dine, and that anon.
Up to hire hufbond is this wif ygon.
Vet. II. P And
2i<> rm^ s mvMA n;n EiS^: t al^
And knQcketh.at his; countour boldejy,
^i eji la ? (^uo4 he. Peter, it am I,
Quod flie. What, fire, how Ipnge vvol yc fail ^
How longc time^vt^lye rejken aiid.caft
Your fummes^ and ypur bookes, and your thlnges>
The devil have p3:rt of all fwiche rekeninges,.
Ye han ynough parde of Goddes fonde.
Come doun to-day, and let your bagges ftondc.
Ne be ye not. alhamed, that Dan John i^J^V
Shal failing all this day elenge gon ?
What? let us^ here a maiTe, and go we dlne.^
Wif, quod this man, litel canil thou <iivinc.
- The curious befmelTe tliat we have :
For of us chapmen,, all fo God me fave.
And by tliat lord that cleped is^ Seint Ive,.
Scarfly amonges twenty, ten ih'ul thrive
(5ontinudl)>, lairing unto- oure age*
We. moun wel maken chere and good vifage, I3i6#
And driven forth the world- as- it may be.
And kepen oure eilat in privitee.
Til we be ded,, or elles that we.play^-
A pilgrimage, or gon out of the way,-
And therfore have I gret necelfitec
Upon this queinte world to avifen mc.
For evermore mote we ilond in drede
€5f hap and fortune in our chapmanhedc.
THE SHIPMANNES TALE. in
To Flandres wol I go to-morwe at day.
And come agein as fone as ever I may : 13170
For which, my dere wif, I thee befeke
As be to every wight buxom and meke,
And for to kepe out* good be curious,
And honeftly governe wel our hous.
Thou haft ynough, in every maner wife.
That to a thrifty honfllold may fuffice;
Thee lacketh non array, ne no vitaille ; t
Df filver in thy purfe fhalt thou not faille.
And with that word his couritour dore he fliette,
And doun he goth ; no lenger wold he lette ;
And haftily a rnafle was ther faide, J3iSi
And fpechly the tables were ylaide,
And to the diner fafte they hem fpedde,
tAnd richely this monk the chapman f&dde.
And after diner Dan John fobrely
This chapman toke apart, and prively
He faid him thus ; Cofm, it ftondeth {Oy
That, wel I fee, td Brugges ye wol go,
God and Seint Auftin fpcde you and gide,
I pray you, colin, wifely that ye ride; 13190'
Governeth you alfo of your diete
Attemprely, and namely in this hete,
Betwix us two nedeth no ftrange fare ;
F?«:ewel, colin, God fhilde you fro care*
Pa if
iTi -niE SHlPMANNES TALf.
If any thing tlier be by day or night.
If it lie in my power and my might,
That ye me wol command in any wile.
It flial be don, right as ye wol devife.
But o thing or ye go, if it may be,
I wolde prayen you for to lene me ijacX?
An hundyed frankes for a weke or tweye,
For certain. belles that I mulle beye,
To ftoren with a place that is oures :
(God helpe me fo, I wold that it were youres)
I fhal not faille furely of my day.
Not for a thoufand frankes, a mile way.
But let this thing be fecree, I you preye ;
For yet to-night thife beftes mote I beye.
And fare now wel, miri owen cofiri dere,
Grand mercy of your coft and of your chere. 132 id
This noble marchant gentilly anon^
Anfwerd and fald, O colin min Dan John,
Now fikerly this is a fmal requeft^ :
My gold is youres, whan that it you Iclle,
And not only my gold, but my chaftare :
Take what you left, God fliilde that ye fpare.
But o thing is, ye know it wel ynough
'Of chapmen, that hir money is hir plough.
We moun creancen wliile we han a name,
But goodjes for. to ben it is no gamq. lo^ii^
Pay
THE SHIPMANNES TALE, 21^
Pay it agen, whan it lith in your efe ;
After my might ful fayn wold I you plefe.
Thifc hundred frankes fet he forth anon.
And prively he toke hem to Dan John :
No wight in al this world wift of this lone.
Saving this marchant, and Dan John alone.
They drinke, and fpeke, and rome a while and pleye^
Til that Dan John rideth to his abbeye.
The morwe came, and forth this marchant ridetk
To Flandres ward, his prentis wel him gideth,
Til he came in to Brugges merily. 132 3 J
Now goth this marchant fafte and befily
About his nede, and bieth, and creanceth ;
He neither playeth at the dis, ne danceth •
But as a marchantj fjiortly for to tell.
He ledeth his lif, and ther I let him dwell.
The fonday next the marchant was agon.
To Seint Denis yeomen is Dan John,
With croune and berde all frefh and newe yfhave.
In all the hous ther n*as fo litel a knave, 1324©
Ne no wight elles, that he n'as ful fain,
For that my lord Dan John was come again.
And Ihortly to the point right for to gon^
This faire wif accordeth with Dan John,
That for thife hundred frankes he fliuld all night
Haven hire in his amies bolt upright :
P3 Mi
2t^ rnt SHlFlVlA^^'E^S TALlE.
And this accord payfo^i'iTied was in dede.
In mirth all night a bify lif they ledc
Til it was day, that Dan John yede his wiay.
And bad the meinie farewel, have good day. 13250
For non of' hem, lifc no Wight in the toiin,
Hath of Dan John right non fufpec\:ioun ;
And forth he rideth liome to his abbey,
pr wher him lifle, no more of him Tfey.
This merchant, wh'^n that ended Was the faixc^
To Seifit Penis he gan for to repaire,
And with his wif he maketh fefte and chere,
And telleth hire that chaffare is fo dere,
That liedes rpulle Tie inik^e'a clieVifance,
For he was bonde In a rec6griirance, 132^60
To payen twenty tlioufahd fheldes ariori.
For which this marchant is 'to Paris ^on
To borwe of certain frehdes th^theTi^dde
A certain frank'es, and fcin with him he ladd^.
And whan that he was come in to the toUn,
For gret chiertee and gret affefliouh
Unto ban John he goth him firft to pleye ;
Not for to axe or borwe of him moneye,
But for to wete and feen of his welfare,
And for to tfeireh him of his. chaffare, i3^7P
As frendes don, whan they ben mette in ferc.
Dan John him maketh fcfle and mery chere ;
And
T H E S HIP M A N N E% T A L £. tf j
And he him tolde agen ful fpecially,
How he had \vel ybought and gracionfly
^Thanked be God) iall "h6fe 'his ifiarcliahdifc t
Save that lie muft in alle manere Wife
Maken a chevifarice, as for his befte :
And than he fhulic ben in joye and refic.
Dan John anfwered, ^ertb I am fain,
That ye in he]e be comen home again : 13^8©
And if that I were riclie, as have IblifFe,
Of twenty thdnlarid fheldes ^uld y^e hot milTc,
'For ye-fo kindely this otlicr day
Lente me gold, and as I can and may
I thanke you, by God and by Seint Jame,
But natheles I toke unto our Dan>e,
Your wif at home^ the fame giold again
Upon your benche, fhe wote it wel certain,
By certain tokenes ^that I can hire tell.
Now by your leve, I may bo leng^r dweH^ 1329©
Our abbot wol X)ut -of this tbun anon^
And in his compagnie I ^ipufte goa.
Orete wel our dame, miii owen nece iVp^ete^
And farewel, dere coiin, tii we mete.
This marchant which that was ful ware and ml^
iCreanced hath, and paide eke in Paris
^o certain Lumbardes redy in hir hond
^he ^umme of gold, and gate of hem hi$ bond,
«i.6 THE SHIPMANNES TAL?.
And home he goth, mery as a popingay,
JFor wel he knew he flood in fwiche array, I330f>
That nedes mufte he winne in that viage
A thoufand frankas, above aU his coftage.
His wif ful redy niette him at the gate.
As fhe was wont of old ufage algate :
And all that night in mirthe they ben fette.
For he was riche, and clerely out of dette.
Whan it was day, this marchant gan enbrace
His wif all newe, and kifte hire in hire face.
And up he goth, and maketh it ful tough.
l^Jo more, quod flie, by God ye have ynough :
And wantonly agen with him fhe plaide, 133U
Til at the lafl: this marchant to hire faide.
By God, quod he, I am a litel wrothe
With you, my wif, although ii: be me lothe :
And wote ye why ? by God, as that I gefle.
That ye han made a manere ftrangenelTe
Betwixen me and my colin Dan John.-
Ye fliuld have warned me, or I had gon,
That he you had an hundred frarikes paide
By redy token : and held him evil apaide, 1332O
For that I to hirh fpake of chevifance : , '-''
][Me femed fo as by his contenance)
iBut natheles by God our heven king,
I ^houghte not to axe of him no thing.
I pray
;rHE SHIPMANNES TALE. 217
.1 pray thee, wif, ne do thou no more fo.
Tell me alway, er that I fro thee go,
Jf any dettour hath in min abfence.
Ypaide thee, left thurgh thy negligence
J might him axe a thing that he hath paide.
This wif was not aferde ne aifraide, ' 1333O
But boldely fhe faide, and that anon ;
Mary I defie that falfe monk Dan John,
I kepe not of his tokenes never a del :
He toke me certain gold, I wote it wel.
What ? evil thedome on his mor;kes fnoute :
For, "God it wote, I wend withouten doute.
That he had yeve it me, becaufe of you.
To don therwith min honour and my prow.
For cofinage, and eke for belle chere^
That he hath had ful often times here. 1334'®
But fith I fee I ftonde in fwiqhe disjoint,
I wolanfwere you ihortly to the point.
Ye have mo flakke dettours than am I :
For I wol pay you wel and redily
Fro day to day, and if fo be I faille,
I am your wif, fcore it upon my taile.
And I fhal pay as fone as ever I may.
For by my trouth, I have on min array,
!And not in wafte, beftowed it every del,
And for I have beftowed it fo wel J'^Z^O
^in THE SHiPMANNES TALI,
For your Honour, for Goddes Talce T fay,
As betli not wrothe, "but let us laugh and plajr.
Ye fhaLiTiy joly "body Han to Ai*edde ;
By God I ri'lW riot pay you but ^-beddc :
JForyeve 7t me, min 6\vdn fponfe (fere;
Turtle hitherivard ah3 mkketh 'better chere.
This marchatrt faKv thei- was no Temedy ;
And for to chide, it n'ere biit -a -foly,
SIth that the thing may not amended be.
Now, wif, he 'faid, and I joVyeye it thec^ ^33^
But by thy lif nc be 'ho more fo Vdfge;
Kepe bet^my good, this yeye Tthee in.ch<irge^
Thus endet'h now ^my tale, and Gad us fehdc
Taling ynlotagh, %nib &dr liVcs 'en^.
THE "pRIOfeJEBSES PRpLjOQUE,
We L faid by corpiis Domini ^ quod our Hofte,
Now longe mote thou fallen by the cofte.
Thou gentil Maift6r, gerttil Marijfiere.
God give the liionke a thoufand 1 aft quad yerc,
A ha, felawes, beth ware of fwiche a jape.
The mou'ke put in the manrtes hode an ape, 13370
Ai)dmhis Wifes ek^e, by Seint Atiftin.
Dfaweth no rafori^es more into yotirin*.
^HE PRIORESSES imOLOGtJE. 519
But now paffe 'oVer, and let us feke abotite,
Who fhal now tellen firft of all this route
JVnother tale : and with that word he .faid^
^s cufteifiy as it liad ben a itiSid,
My lady PnordlTe, by your leve,
So that I wift i ifhiild you not agreve,
1 wolde demen/that ye tellen {hdld
A tale ne^ft, if'fo were that ye wold. i JJSq
J^ow wol ye vouchefauf, my lady dere ?
Gladly, quod ihe, and faide as ye fliul here,
THE PRipRESSES TALE.
O Lord pur lord, thy name' how merveillous
Is in this large world yfprad ! (quod flie)
For not al only thy laude precious
Parfourmed is by men of <lignitee,
But by the mouth of children thy bount€0
Parfourmed is, for on the breft fouking
Somtime lliewen they thin herying,
Wherfore in laude, as I can bell and may, 13390
pf thee and of the white lily flour,
Which that thee bare, and is a maide alway,
To tell a ftorie I wol do my labour ;
J>[ot that I may dncrefen hire honour.
For
2*0 THE PRIORESSES TALE,
For fhe hirefelyen is honour and rote
Of bountee, next hire fone, and foules bote.
O mother maide, o maide and mother frc,
O bufhe unbrent, brenning in Moyfes fight.
That ravifliedeft doun fro the deitee,
Thurgh thin humblefle, thegoft that in thee alight f
Of whos vertue, whan he thin hejte light, 1 340 1
Conceived was the fathers fapience :
Helpe me to tell it in" thy reverence.
Lady, thy bountee, thy magnificence.
Thy vertue and thy gret humilitee,
Ther may no tonge exprefle in no fcience :
For fomtime, lady, or men pray to thee.
Thou gofl beforn of thy benignitee.
And geteft us the light of thy prayere.
To giden us unto thy fone fo dere. ^3410
My conning is jfo weke, o blisful quene,
For to declare thy. grete worthineffe,
That I ne may the weighte not fuftene ;
But as a child of twelf moneth old or lefle,
That can unnethes any word exprefle,
^IgHt fo fare I, and therfore I you pray,
Gidetli my fong, that I fhal of you fay.
TflEK.
THE PRIORESSES TALE, aai
Ther was in Afie, in a gret citcc,
Amonges Criften folk a Jevverie,
Suflened by a lord of that contree, ^34-^^
For foule ufure, and lucre of vilanic.
Hateful te Crift, and to his compagnie :
And thurgli the flrete men mighten ride and wendc.
For it was free, and open at eyther ende.
A litel fcole of Criften folk ther ftood
Doun at the ferther ende, in which ther were
Children an hepe comen of Criften bloody
That lerned in that fcole yere by yere,
Swiche manere do£lrIne as men ufed there :
This is to fay, to fingen and to rede, *34ji^
As fmale children don in hir childhede.
Among thife children was a widewes fone,
A litel clergion, fevene yere of age.
That day by day to fcole was his wone.
And eke alfo, wheras he fey the image
Of Criftes moder, had he in ufage.
As him was taught, to knele adoun, and faj
Jw Marie^ as he goth by the way.
^ Thus
hi THE PRIORESSES tale;
Thus hath this widewe hire litel fone ytaught
Our blisful Lady, Criftes m6der dere, 1 5440
To worfhip ay, and he forgate it naught :
For fely childe vtoI alway fone lere;
But ay, whan I remembre on this matere^
Seint Nicholas ftant ever in my prefence^
For he fo yong to Crifl did reverence.
This litel childe his litel book lerning^
Avhe fate in the fcdie at his primere^.
tie J/ma redemptoris herde fing,
As children lered hir antiphonere :
And as he doi-ft, he drovv him nere and nere, I34i^-
And herkened ay the wordes and the note.
Til he the firile vers coude al hf rote.
Nought wift he what this Latin was to fay^-
For he fo yonge and tendre was of age ;
But on a day his felaw gan he pray
To expounden him this fong in his langage.
Or telle him why this fong was in ufage :
This prayde he him to conftrue and declare,
Ful often time upon his knees barcw
His felaw, which that elder was thaA he> 13466'
Anfwerd him thus : This fong, I have herd fay,
tV-as maked of our blisful Lady frc,
tttirt
THE P III ORES S E S T AX E. is^
Hire to falue, and eke hire for to prey
To ben our help, and fpcour whan we dey,
I can no more expound in this matere :
I lerne fong, I eao but fmal grammere.
And is this fong maked in re^erei\ce
Of Crifles moder t faid tiiis innocent y
Now certes I wol don my diligence
To conne it all, or Cri^ftemalTe be went, r347^
Though that I for my primer llial be flient,
And fhal be beten tbries in an houre,
J wol it conne, our Ladie for to honoure^
His felaw taught him homeward prively
Fro day to day, til he coude it by rote.
And than he fong it wel and boldely
Fro word to word according w.i*h the note ;
Twies a day if* palTed thurgh his throte,
'Po fcoleward and homeward whan he wente :
©nCriftes moder fet was his entente.- 1^^%^
As I have faid, thurghouf the Jewerie
I'his litel child as he came to and fro,.
Ful merily than wold he ling and crie, .
O Alma redemptoris^ ever mo :
f he fweteneflc hath his herte perfed fo •
. * m
iH THE PRIORESSES TALE:
Of Crimes moder, that to hire to pray
He cannot ftint of finging by the way.
Our firfte fo, the ferpent Sathanas,'
That hath in Jewes herte his wafpes neft.
Up fwale and laid, O Ebraike peple, alas ! 13490
Is tliis to you a thing that is hoiieft.
That fwiche a boy flial walken as him lefle
In your deipit, and fing of fwiche fentence.
Which is again our lawes reverence ?
From thennesforth the Jewes ban confpired
This innocent out of this world to chace :
An homicide therto ban they hired.
That in an aleye had a privee place.
And as the child gan forthby for to pace.
This cuj-fed Jew him bent, and held him faft.
And cut bis throte, and in a pit him caft. 13501
I fay that in a wardrope they him threwe,
Wher as thife Jewes purgen hir entraille.
O curfed folk, of Hcrodes alle newe,
What may your evil entente you availle >
"Mordre wol out, certein it wol not faille.
And namely ther the honour of God fhal fpredc :
' The blood out crieth on your curfed dedc.
O imrtyt
THE PRIORESSES TALE. 22^
O martyr fouded in virginltee)
Now maifi thou linge, and folwcn ever in on
The white lamb celeftial, quod fhe, ^SS^^
Of which the gtet Evangelifb Seint John
In Pathmos wrote^ Which fayth that they that gon
Beforn this lamb, and finge a fong al newe.
That never fleflily woman they ne knewe.
This poiire widewe awaiteth al that night
After hire litel childe, and he came nought :
For which as fone as it was dayes light.
With face pale of drede and befy thought.
She hath at fcole and elles wher him fought.
Til finally fhe gan fo fer afpie, ^35^^
That he lafl feen was in the Jewerie.
With modres pitee in hire breft enclofed
She goth, as (he were half out of hire minde,
To every place, wher fhe hath fuppofcd
By likeiihed hire litel child to iinde :
And ever on Crilics moder meke and kind«
She cried, and at the lalle thus (lie wrought.
Among tlie eurfed Jewes flie him fought.
She freyneth, and flie praieth .pitoufly ^Sj^o
To every Jew that dwelled in thiike place.
Vol. II. Q, T«
w-
226 THE PRIORESSES TALE.
To telle hire, if hire child went ought forth by :
They fayden. Nay ; but Jefu of his grace
Yave in hire thought, within a litel fpace.
That in that place after hire fone Ihe cride,
Ther he was caften in a pit beiide*
O grete God, that parformefl: thy laude
By mouth of innocentes, lo here thy might !
This gemme of chaflitee, this emeraude.
And eke of martirdome the rubie bright, 1354^
Ther he with throte ycorven lay upright.
He JIma redemptons gan to linge
So loude, that all the place gan to ringe.
The Criflen folk, that thurgh the ftrete wentc,
In comen, for to wondre upon this tiling:
And haftifly they for the provoft fente.
He came anon withouten tarying.
And herieth Crift, that is of heven king,
And eke his moder, honour of mankind,
And after that the Jewes let he binde. 13550
This child with pitous lamentation
5Vas taken up, iinging his fong alway :
And with honour and gret proceflion,
They caricn him unto the next abbey.
His
THE PRIORESSES TALE. 227
His moder fwouning by the here lay ;
Unnethes might tlie peple that was there
This newe Rachel bringen fro his here.
With turment, and with fhameful deth eche on
This provofl doth thiie Jewes for to llerve,
That of this morder wille, and that anon ; 1 3560
He n'olde no fwiche curfednelle obferve :
Evil fhal he have, that evil wol deferve.
Thcrfore with wikle hors he did hem drawe.
And after that he heng hem by the lawe.
Upon his here ay lith this innocent
Bcforn the aiiter while the malfe lail :
And after that, the abbot with his covent
Han fpedde hem for to berie him fui faft :
And whan they holy water on him cafl.
Yet fpake this child, whan fpreint vvas the holy water.
And fang, alma ^edemptoris mater. ^357 1
This abl^ot, which that was an holy man.
As monkes ben, or elles ought to be.
This yonge child to conjure he began.
And faid ; O dere child, I halfe thee
In vertue of the holy Trinitee,
Tell me what is thy caufe for to fing,
Sith that thy throte is cut to my feming,
0.2 My
228 THE PRIORESSES TALE.
My throte Is cut unto my nekke bon,
Saide this child, and as by way of kinde 135S0
I fhuld have deyd, ye longe time agon :
But Jefu Crilt, as ye in bookes finde,
Wol that his glory lafl and be in minde.
And for the worfhip of his moder dere.
Yet may I ling alma loude and clcre.
This welle of mercie, Criftes moder fvvetc,
I loved alway, as after my conning :
And whan that I my lif fhulde forlete,
To me file came, and bad me for to ling
This antem veraily in my dying, ^359©
As ye han herde, and, whan that I had fonge.
Me thought fhe laid a grain upon my tonge.
Wherfore I fing, and fing I mote certain
In honour of that blisful maiden free.
Til fro my tonge of taken is the grain.
And after that thus faide fhe to me ;
My litel child, than wol I fetchen thee,
Whan that the grain is fro thy tong ytake :
Be not agafte, I wol thee not forfake.
This holy monk, this abbot him mene I, 13600
His tonge out caught, and toke away the grain ;
And
THE PRIORESSES TALE. 229
Arid he yave up the goft ful foftely.
And whan this abbot had this wonder fein,
His falte teres trilled adoun as reyne :
And groff he fell al platte upon the ground.
And ftill he lay, as he had ben ybound.
The CO vent lay eke upon the pavement
Weping and herying Criftes moder dere.
And after that they rifen, and forth ben went,
And toke away this martir fro his here, 1 36 10
And in a tombe of marble ftones clere
Enclofen they his litel body fwete :
Ther he is now, God lene us for to mete,
O yonge Hew of Lincoln, flain alfo
With curfed Jewes, as it is notable.
For it n'is but a litel while ago.
Pray eke for us, we linful folk unliable,
That of his mercy God fo merciable
On us his grete mercie multiplie.
For reverence of his moder Marie, 13620
PROLOGUE TO SIRE THOPAS,
Whan faid was this miracle, every maa
As fober was, that wonder was to fee.
Til that our hofte to japen he began,
And than at erfl he loked upon me,
aa And
230 PROLOGUE TO SIRE THOPAS.
And faide thus ; What man art thou r quod he.
Thou lokeft, as thou woldeft finde an hare,
For ever upon the ground I fee thee flare.
Approche nere, and loke up merily.
Now ware you, fires, and let this man have place.
He in the vvafte is fiiapen as wel as 1 : 13630
This were a popet in an arme to enbrace
For any woman, fmal and faire of face.
He femeth elvifh by his contenance,
For unto no wight doth he daliance.
Say now fomwhat, lin other folk han faide ;
Tell us a tale of mirthe and tliat anon.
Hofle, quod I, ne be not evil apaide.
For other tale certes can I non,
But of a rime I lerned yore agon.
Ye, that is good, quod he, we fhullen here 13640
Som deintee thing, me thinketh by thy chere.
THE RIME OF SIRE THOPAS.
L I s T E N E T H, lordinges, In good entent,
And I wpl tel you verament
Of mirthe and of folas,
Al of a knight was faire and gent
In
THE RIME OF SIRE THOPAS. 231
In bataille and in turnament.
His name was lire Thopas.
Yborne he was in fer contree.
In Flandres, al beyonde the fee.
At Popering in the place, 1365O
His father was a man ful free.
And lord he was of that contrce.
As it was Goddes grace.
Sire Thopas was a doughty fwain.
White was his face as paindemainc
His lippes red as rofe.
His rudde is like fcarlet in grain.
And I you tell in good certain
He had a femely nofe.
His here, his berde, was like fafroun, 13660
That to his girdle raught adoun.
His fhoon of cordewane ;
Of Brugges were his hofen broun ;
His robe was of chekelatoun.
That cofte many a jane.
He coude hunt at the wilde dere.
And ride on hauking for the rivere
CL4 With
2^2 THE RIME OF SIRE THOPAS.
With grey gofhank on hondc :
Therto he was a goad archere,
Of wraftling was ther non his pere, ^3^7^
Ther ony rain Ihuld ftonde.
Ful many a maide bright in hour
They mourned for him par amour y
Whan hem were bet to flepe ;
But lie was chafle and no lechour,
And fvvete as is the bramble flour.
That bereth ^he.red hepe.
And (o it fell upon a day,
Forfoth, as I you tellen may.
Sire Thopas wold out rick ; 13680
He worth upon his ftede gray.
And in his hond a launcegay,
A long fvyerd by his fide.
He priketh thurgh a fair^ foreft,
TherJn is many a wilde beft,
Ye bothe buck and hare,
And as he priked North and Eil,
J telle it you, him had almefte
Pctid4e a fory c^re,
Ther
THE RIME OF SIRE THOPAS. 233
Ther fpringen herbes grete and fmalc, 1 3690
The licoris and the fetewale,
And many a cloue gllofre.
And notemuge to put in ale.
Whether it be nioift or ilale.
Or for to lain in cofre.
The briddes iingen, it is no nay,
The fperhauk and the popingay.
That joye it was to here,
The throftel cok made eke his lay.
The wode dove upon the fpray 1370O
He fang ful loude and clere.
Sire Thopas fell in love-longing
Al whan he herd the throflel fing.
And priked as he were wood ;
His faire ftede in his priking
So fwatte, that men might him wring.
His fides were al blood.
Sire Thopas eke fo wery was
For priking on the fofte gras.
So fiers was his corage, 1371*
That doun he laid him in that place
To maken his ilede fom folace.
And yaf him good forage.
A, Seinte
^54 THE RIME OF SIRE THOPAS.
A, Seinte Mary, benedicite.
What aileth this love at me
To binde me fo fore ?
Me dremed all this night parde.
An elf quene fhal my lemman be,
And flepe under my gore.
An elf quene wol 1 love ywis, 1372O
For in this world no woman is
Worthy to be my make || in toun, —
All other women I forfake,
And to an elf quene I me take
By dale and eke by doun.
Into his fadel he clombe anon.
And priked over flile and flon
An elf quene for to efpie,
Til he fo long had ridden and gone.
That he fond in a privee wone 1373^
The contree of Faerie.
Wherin he foughte North and South,
And oft he fpied with his mouth
In many a foreft wilde,
For in that contree n'as ther non,
That to him dorft ride or gon,
Neither wif ne childe.
Til
THE RIME OF SIRE THOPAS. 235
Til that ther came a gret geaunt.
His name was Sire Olipliaunt,
A perilous man of dede, ^3740
He fayde, Child, by Termagavmt,
But if thou prike out of myn haunt.
Anon I flee thy ftede || with mace —
Here is the Quene of Faerie,
With harpe, and pipe, and fimphonie.
Dwelling in this place.
The child fayd, Al fo mote I the.
To morwe wol I meten thee.
Whan I have min armourc.
And yet I hope par ma fay ^ ^375^
That thou fhalt with this launcegay
Abien it ful foure ; |1 thy mawe
Shal I perce, if I may,
Or it be fully prime of the day.
For here thou Ihalt be flawe.
Sire Thopas drow abak ful faft ;
This geaunt at him Hones caft
Out of a fel ftaffe fling :
But faire efcaped child Thopas,
And all it was thurgh Goddes grace, 13760
And thurgh his faire bering.
Yet
-36 THE RIME OF SIRE THOPAS.
Yet lifleneth, lorefings, to my tale,
Merier than the nightingale^,
For now I wol you roune.
How Sire Thopas with fides fmale,
Priking over hill and dale.
Is comen agein to toune.
His mery men commandeth he,
To maken him bothe game and gle,
For nedes muft he fighte, 13770
With ageaunt with hedes tliree.
For paramour and jolitee
Of on that flione ful brighte.
Do come, he fayd, my mineftrales
And geflours for to tellen tales
Anon in min arming,
Of romaunces that ben reales.
Of popes and of cardinales.
And eke of love-longing.
They fet him firft the fwete win, 13780
And mede eke in a mafelin,
And real fpicerie,
Of ginger-bred that was ful fin.
And llcoris and eke com in,
With fuger that is trie.
He
THE RIME OF SlRE TJHOPAS. 257
He didde next his white lere
Of cloth of lake fin and clere
A breche and eke a fherte.
And next his fhert an haketon,
And over that an habergeon, ^379^
For percing of his herte.
And over that a fin hauberk,
Was all ywrought of Jewes werk,
Ful llrong it was of plate,
And over that his cote-armourc,
i\s white as is the lily floure.
In which he wold debate.
His fheld was all of gold fo red,
And therin was a bores hed,
A charboucle befide ; 13800
And ther he fwore on ale and bred
How that the geaunt fhuld be ded.
Betide what fo betide.
His jambeux were of cuirbouly,
His fwerdes fheth of ivory,
His helme of latoun bright.
His fadel was of rewel bone.
His bridel as the fonne Ihone,
Or as the mone light.
HI
IS
438 THE RIME OF SIRE THOPAS.
His fpere was of fin cypres, 13810
That bodeth werre, and nothing pees,
The hed ful fharpe yground.
His ftede was all dapple gray,
It goth an aumble in the way
Ful foftely and round || in londe —
Lo, Lordes min, here is a fit ;
If ye wol ony more of it.
To telle it wol I fond.
Now hold your mouth pour charitey
Bothe knight and lady fre, 1 38 20
And herkeneth to my fpell.
Of bataille and of chevalrie.
Of ladies love and druerie,
Anon I wol you tell.
Men fpeken of romaunces of pris,
Of Hornchild, and of Ipotis,
Of Bevis, and Sire Guy,
Of Sire Libeux, and Pleindamour,
But Sire Thopas, he bereth tlie flour
Of real chevalrie. 1 3830
His goode flede he al beflrodc,
And forth upon his way he glodc,
As
THE RIME OF SIRE THOPAS. 239
As fparcle out of bronde ;
Upon his creft he bare a tour.
And therin ftiked a lily flour,
God fliilde his corps fro flionde.
And for he was a knight auntrous,
He n'olde flepen in non hous,
But liggen in his hood,
His brighte hehii was his wanger, 13840
And by him baited his deftrer
Of herbes fin and good.
Himfelf drank water of the well,
As did the knight Sire Percivell
So worthy under wede.
Til on a day
PROLOGUE TO MELIBEUS.
No more of this for Goddes dignitee,
Quod oure hofte, for thou makefl me
So wery of thy veray lewednefle,
That al fo wifly God my foule blelTe, ^3^S^
Min er^es aken of thy drafty fpeche.
Now fwiche a rime the devil I beteche ;
This
240 PROLOGUE TO MELIBEUS.
This may wel be rime dogerel, quod he.
Why lb r quod I, why vvolt thou letten mc
More of my tale, than an other man.
Sin that it is the befte rime I can ?
By God, quod he, for plainly at o word.
Thy drafty riming is not worth a tord :
Thou doft nought elles but difpendeft time.
Sire, at o word, thou fhalt no lenger rime. 13860
Let fee wher thou canft tellen ought in gefle.
Or tellen in profe fomwhat at the lefte.
In which ther be fom mirthe or fom do£lrine.
Gladly, quod I, by Goddes fwete pine
I wol you tell a litel thing in profe.
That oughte liken you, as I fuppofe.
Or elles certes ye be to dangerous.
It is a moral tale vertuous,
Al be it told fomtime in fondry wife
Of fondry folk, as I ilial you devife. 1387(5
As thus, ye wote that every Evangelift,
That telleth us the peine of Jefu Crift,
Ne faith not alle thing as his felaw doth :
But natheles hir fentence is al foth.
And alle accorden as in hir fentence,
Al be ther in hir telling difference :
For fom of hem fay more, and fom fay leffe,
Whan they his pitous paffion cxpreffe ;
I mene
f'ROLdGU'E TO IVlELtBEUS. ij^i
I ttene of Mark and Mathew, Luke and John,
But douteles hir fentence is all on. 13880'
Therfore, lordinges all, I you' befedie,
If that ye thinke I vary in my fpechc,-
As thus, though that I telle fofn del more
Of proverbes, than ye han hcrde before
Comprehended In this litel tfetife here.
To enfofcefi with the eff^ft of my matefe,'
And though I not the fame wordes fay
A« ye han herde,. yet to you ^Ile I pray
Blameth me not, for, as in my fentence,
Shul ye nowher finden no difference ^3890
Fro the fentence of thilke tretife lite.
After the which this mery tale I write.
Artd therfore hcrkeneth what I fhal lay,-
And let me tellen all my tale I pray^
THE TALE Of M E L I B E U S.
A YONGE man called Melibeus, mighty
and riche, begate upon his wif, that called was
Prudence, a dotighter whith that called was
Sophie.
Upon a day befell, that he for his difport is
Went info the feldes him to playe. His wif
and eke his doughter hath he laft within his
ToL, IL R bous.
*42 THE TALE OF MELIBEUS.
hous, of which the dores weren faft yftiette. Fouref
of his olde foos han it efpied, and fetten ladders
to the walles of his hous, and by the windovves
ben entred, and beten his wif, and wounded
his doughter with five mortal vvoundes, in five
fondry places; this is to fay, in hire feet, ii>
hire hondes, in hire eres, in hire nofe, and in
hire mouth; and leften hire for dede, and wen-^
ten away.
Whan Melibeus retorned was into his hous,
and fey al this mefchief, he, like a mad man,
rending his clothes, gan to wepe and crie*
Prudence his wif, as fer forth as Ihe dorfle,
befought him of his weping for to ftint : but
not forthy he gan to crie and wepen ever lenger
the more.
This noble wif Prudence rcmembred hire upoi*
the fentence of Ovide, in his book that cleped
is the Remedie of love, wheras he faith ; he is a
fool that diflourbeth.the moder to wepe, in the
deth of hire childe, til fhe have wept hire filtcy
as for a certain time : and than flial a man doa
his diligence with amiable wordes hire to re-
conforte and preye hire of hire weping for to
£ftinte. For which refon tliis noble wif Pru-
dence fuffi-cd hire houlbond for to vvepe and crie,
THE TALE OF MELlBEUS. 243
as for a certain fpace ; and whan Ihe faw hire
time, flie laycle to him in this wife. Alas ! my
lord, quod llie, wliy make ye yoitrefelf for to
be like a fool > Foricthe it apjyerteiiieth not to
a wife iTiaft, to maken fwiche a forwe; You re
doughter, with the grace 6f God, dial warifh
and cfcape. And al were it fo that ihe right
now were dede, ye ne ought not as for hire
deth ybutefelf to deftroye; Senek faith ; the wife
fnan Ihal not take to gret difcomfort for tlie
deth of his children, but certes he fhulde fuffrea
it in patience, as wel as he abideth the deth of
his owen propre |)erfone;
This Melibeus anfweted anon and faide : wha^
man (quod he) fliulde of his weping ftinte, thatT
hath fo gret a csrufe for to wepe ? Jefa Cti%
bur Lord, himfelf wepte for the deth of La-
?:arus his frend. Prudence anfwered ; certes wel
I wote, attempre weping is nothing defended,
to him that foYweful is, among folk in forwe,
but it is roller graunted him to wepe. The
Apoftle Poule unto the Romaines writeth ; man
flial rcjoyce with hem that makcn joye, and
wepen with fwiche folk as wepen. But though
attempre weping be y granted, outrageous w^e-'
ping certes is defended. Mefure of wepiog
R a ih^lic
244 THE TALE OF MELIBEUS.
fhulde he confidered, after the lore that techeth
us Senck. Whan that thy frend is dede (quod
he) let not thin eyen to moille ben of teres, ne
to muche drie : although the teres comen to thin
eyen, let hem not falle. And whan thou haft
forgon thy frend, do diligence to get agein ano-
ther frend : and this is more wifdom than for to
wepe for thy frend, which that tliou haft lorne,
for therin is no bote. And therfore if ye go-
verne you by fapience, put aw^ay forwc out of
youre herte. Remembreth you that Jefus Sirak
fayth ; a man that is joyous and glad in herte,
it him conferveth fiorifliing in his age : but
fothly a forweful herte raaketh his bones drie.
He faith eke thus, that forwe in herte ileeth ful
many a man. Salomon fayth, that right as
mouthes in the fhepes fleefe anoien to the clothes,
and the fmale woripes to the tree, right fo
anoieth forwe to the lierte of man. Wherfore
us ought as wel in the deth of oure children,
as in the lofle of oure goodes temporel, have
patience.
Remembre you upon the patient Job, whan
he hadde loft his children and his temporej fub-
ftaunce, and in his body endured and received
ful many a grevous tribulation, yet fayde he
thus:
THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 245
thus : Oure Lord hath yeve it to me, oure
Lord hath bcraft it me; ri^ht as oure Lord
hath wold, right fo is it don ; yblefled be the
name of oure Lord. To thife forefaide thinges
anfwered Melibeus unto his wif Prudence : all
thy wordes (quod he) ben trewe, and therto
profitable, but trewely min herte is troubled
with this forwe fo grevoufly, that I n'ot what
to don. Let calle (quod Prudence) thyn trewe
frendes alle, and thy linage, which that ben
wife, and telleth to hem your cas, and herken^th
what they faye in confeilling, and governe you
after hir fentence. Salomon faith ; werke all
thinges by confeil, and thou fhalt never repente.
Than, by confeil of hi« wif Prudence, this
Melibeus let callen a grct congregation of
folk, as furgiens, phificiens, olde folk and yonge,
and fom of his olde enemies reconciled (as by
hir femblant) to his love and to his grace : and
fherwithal ther comen fome of his neigheboures,
that diden him reverence more for drede than
for love, as it happeth oft. Ther comen alfo ful
many fubtil flaterers, and wife Advocats lerned in
the lawe.
And whan thife folk togeder aflembled weren,
thi$ Melibeus in forweful wife fliewed hem his
■R- 3 ca5,
246 THE TAlyE OF MELIBEU^.
cas, and by the manere of his fpeche, it femcd thai:
in herte he bare a cruel ire, redy to don venge-
aunce upon his foos, and fodeinly delired that
the werie fliulde beginne, but natheles yet
axed he his confeil upon this matere. A fur-
gien, by licence and alTent of fwiche as weren
wife, up rofe, and unto M^libeus fayde, as yc
moun here.
Sire, (quod he) a? to us furgiens apperteineth,
that we do to every wight the befte that we can,
wher as we ben withhplden, and to our patient
that \ye do no damage : wherfofe it happeth many
time and ofte, that whan twey men han evericli
wounded other, o fame furgien heleth hem both,
wherforc unto our art it is not pertinent to noricc
werre, ne parties to fupporte. But certes, as to
die warilliing of youre doughter, al be it fo that
periloufly Hie be wounded, we fhuin dp fo en-
tentif befineflfe fro day to night, that with the
grace of God, fhe flial be hole and found, as fone
as is pofhble. Almpfi right in the fame wife the
philjciens anfwerden, fave that they faiden a
fewe wordes more : that right as maladies ben
cured by hir contraries, right fo flial man vvariflie
werre. His neigheboures ful pf enyie, his feined
frendes that femed reconciled, and his fiaterers,
maden
THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 247
•maden femblant of weping, and ejnpeired and
agregged muchel of this matere, in preyiing
gretly Melibee of might, of power, of richeiTe,
and of frendes, delpifing the power of his adver-
faries : and faiden outrely, that he anon fhulde
wreken him on his foos, and beginnen werre.
Up rofe than an Advocat that was wife, by
leve and by confeil of other that were wife, and
fayde : Lordinges, the nede for the which we
ben affembled in this place, is a ful hevie thing,
and an heigh matere, becaufe of the wrong and
of the wakkedneffe that hath be don, and eke by
refon of the grete damages, that in time conir
ipg ben poiiible to fallen for the fame caufe,
and eke by refon of the gret richefle and power
of the parties bothe, for the which refons, it
were a ful gret peril to erren in this matere.
Wherfore, Melibeus, this is oure fentence ; we
jconfeille you, aboven alle thing, that right anon
thou do thy diligence in keping of thy propre
perfone, in fwiche a wife that thou ne want non
efpie ne watche, thy body for to fave. And
after that, we confeille that in thin hous thou
fette fuffifant garni fon, fo that they moun as
}yel thy body as thy hous dcfende. But certes
for |to meeven werre, ne fodenly for to do venge-
R 4 ^ aunce,
;48 THE TALE OF MELIBEUS.
aunce, we moun not deme in fo fel time thijf
it were prpfitable. Wherfore yve axen leifer an<i
fpace to h^ve deliiberation in tl^ls cas to deme ^
for the cpmune proverb.e faith tlms; He tha^t
fone demeth, lone flial r^pente. And e^e men
fain, that thilke juge is wife, tK^t fone under-
llondeth a matere, and jugeth by leifer. ppr al
be it fo, that al tarying be anoifal, algates it js
not to repreve in yeving of jugement, ne in
. vengeance taking, whan it is fuffifant and refon-
able. And that fhewed our Lord Jefu Crift by
enfample, for whan that the woman that was
taken in advoutrie, was brought in his prefence
to knowen what lliuld be don with hire jjerfone,
al be it that he wift wel himfelf what that lie
wt)lde anfwere, yet nc wolde he not anfwere
fodeinly, but he wolde have delibera|:ion, and in
the ground he wrote twies ; and by thife caufes
we axen deliberation : and we fhuln than by
the grace of God confcille the thing that (hal
be profitable.
L^p llerte than the ypnge folk at ones, and
the mofl partie of that compagnie han fcorncd
this olde wife man, and begonnen to make noife
and faiden; Right fo as while that iren is hot
fjien (hulde finite, right fo men ihuln do wrcken
hir
THE TALE OF MELIBEUS.
iiir wrocges, while that they ben frefhe and
nevve : and with loude voys they criden werre,
werre. Up rofe. tho on of thife olde wife, and
with his hand fnade countenaunce that men
ihuld holde h^m flille, and yeve him audience.
Lordinges, (quod he) ther is ful many a man
that crieth werre, \yerre, that wote ful litel what
werre amounteth. Werre at his beginning hath
fo gret an entring and fo large, that every wight
may ente^ .whan him liketh, and lightly find
werre : but certes what end that flial befalle,
jit is not light to know. For fothly whan
. that werre is one^ begonne, ther is ful many a
.child unborne of his moder, that fhal llerve
yong, by caufe of thillce werre, other elles live
in forwe, and dien in wretchednefle : and ther-
fore or that any werre be begonne, men muft
have gret confeil and gret deliberation. And
whan this olde man wende to enforcen his tale
by refons, w^el nie alle at ones begonne they to
rife, for tp breken his tale, and bidden him, ful
oft his wordes for to abregge. For fothly he
that precheth to hem that liften not heren his
wordes, his fermon hem anoieth. For Jefus
Sirak fayth, that muiike in weping is a noious
thing. This is to fayn, as muche availleth to
fpekc
2SO THE TALE OF MELIBEUS.
^kc bcforn folk to which his fpeche anoietli,
as to finge beforne him that wcpeth. And whan
til is wife man faw^ that him wanted audience,
al fhamefaft he fette him doun agein. For Sa»
lomon faith : ther as thou ne mayft have non
audience, enforce thee not to fpeke. I fee wel,
(quod this wife man) that the comune proverbe
is foth, that good confeil wanteth, whan it is
moll: nede.
Yet had this Melibeus in his confeil many
folk, that prively in his ere confeilied him cer-
tain thing, and confeilied him the contrary in
general audience. Whan Melibeus had herd
that the greteil partie of his confeil wiere ac-
corded that he fhulde make w-erre, anon he con-
fented to hire confeilling, and fully affermed
hir fentcnce. Than dame Prudence, whan that
llie faw how that hire hofbonde fhope him for
to awreke him on his foos, and to beginne werre,
file in ful humble wife, whan fhe faw hire time,
fayde him thefe wordes : my lord, (quod flie)
I you befeche as hertly as I dare and can, ne
liafte ycsa not to fafte, and for alle guerdons as
yeve me audience. For Piers Alphonfe fayth ;
who fo that doth to thee puther good or liarme,
hafle tliee not to quite it, for in this wife thy
frend
THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 251
frend wol abide, and thin enemie fhal the lenger
live in drede. The proverbe fayth ; he hafteth
wel that wifely c^i> abide : and in wikked haft
}s no profits.
This Melibee anfwered unto his wif Pru-
dence: I purpofe not (quod he) to werken by
thy confeil, for many caufes and refons : for
certes every wight wold hold me than a fool ;
this is to fayn, if I for thy confeiiling wolde
change thinges, that ben ordeined and affirmed
by lb many wife men. Secondly, I fay, that
all vy^omen ben wicke, and non good of hem
all. For of a thoufand men, faith Salomon, I
found o good man : but certes of alle women
good woman found I never. And alfo certes,
if I governed me by thy confeil, it fliulde feme
that I had yeve thee over me the maiftrie : and
God forbede that it fo were. For Jefus Sirak
fayth, that if the wif have the maiftrie, flie is
jcontrarious to hire hufbond. And Salomon
fayth ; never in thy lif to thy wif, ne to thy
jchildc, ne to thy frend, ne yeve no power over
thy felf: for better it were that thy children
axe of thee thinges that hem nedeth, than thou
fee thy felf in the handes of thy children. And
alfo if I wol werche by thy confeiiling, certes
it
^z THE TALE OF MELIBEUS.
it muft be fomtime fecree, til it were time
that it be knowen : and this ne may not be, if
1 lluilde be confeilled by thee. [For it is writ-
ten ; the janglerie of women ne can no thing
liide, fave that which they wote not. After the
Philofophre fayth ; in wikked confeil women
Tcnquifhen men : and for thife refons I ne owe
not to be confeilled by thee.]
Whan dame Prudence, ful debonairly and with
grct pacience, had herd all that hire houfbonde
liked for to fay, than axed fhe of him licence
for to fpeke, and fayde in this wife. My lord,
(quod fhe) as to your firil refon, it may lightly
ben anfwerd : for I fay that it is no folic to
chaunge confeil whan the thing is chaunged, or
dies whan the thing femeth otherwife than it
femed afore. And moreover I fay, though that ye
have fworne and behight to performe your em-
prife, and nevertheles ye weive to performe thilke
fame emprlfe by juft caufe, men fhuld not fay
therfore ye were a Iyer, ne forfworn : for the
book fayth, that the wife man maketh no le-
fing, whan he turneth his corage for the better.
And al be it that your emprife be eftabliflied and
ordeined by gret multitude of folk, yet thar
you not accomplifli thilke ordinance but you
liketh :
THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 25^
liketh : for the trouthe of tliinges, and the pro-
fit, ben rather founden in fevve folk that bcii
wife and ful of refon, than by gret multitude
of folk, ther every man cryeth and clattereth
what him liketh : fothty fwiche multitude is
not honeft. As to the fecond refon, wherai
ye fay, that alle women ben wickc : fave your
grace, certes ye defpife alle women in this wife,
and he that all defJDifeth, as faith the book, all
difplefeth. Aud Senek faith, that who fo wol
have fapience, dial no man difpreife, but he
iTial gladly teche the fcience that he can, with-
out prefumption or pride : and fwiche tliinges as
he nought can, he (hal not ben afliamcd to
lere hem, and to enquere of lelTe folk than him-
felf. And, Sire, that ther hath ben ful many a
good woman, may lightly be preved : for certes.
Sire, our Lord Jefu Crifl n'okle never han de-
fcended to be borne of a woman, if all \vomea
had be wicked. And after that, for the gi-et
bountee that is in women, our Lord Jefu Crifl,
whan he was rifen from deth to lif, appered
rather to a woman than to his Apoftles. And
though that Salomon fayde, he found never no
good woman, it folvveth not therfore, that all
women be wicked : for though that he ne found
no
i54 THE TALE OF MELlgEtTS.
no good vvomarij certes many another man hatll
founcle many a woman ful good and trewe* Or
elles peraventure the entent of Salomon was
this^ that in ibveraine bourltee he found nd
woman ; this is to fay, that ther is no wighf
that hath foveraine bountee, fave God alone^
as he himfelf recordeth in his EvangelieSv For
ther is no creature fo good, that him rre wanteth
fomwhat of the perfection of God that is his
maker* Youre thridde refon is this ; ye fay that
if that ye governe you by my confeil, it fliuldo
feme that ye had yeve me the maiftrie and tlic
iordfhip of your perfon* Sire, fave your grace^
it is not fo ; foi^ if fo were that no maa iliulde
be tonfeilled but only of hem that han lordfliip
and maiftrie of his perfon, men n'olde not be
confeilled fo often : for fothly thilke man tliat
Jifketh confeil of a purpos, yet hath he free chois
whether he wol werke after that confeil or non.
And as to your fourth refon, ther as ye fain that
the janglerie of women can hide thinges that
they wot not ; as who fo fayth, that a woman
can not hide that flie wotc ; Sire, thife worde?
ben underftonde of women that ben janglerelTe?
and wicked ; of which women men fain that three
thinges driven a man oUt of his hous^ tliat i« to
fay.
THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. i$f
iky, fmoke, dropping of raine, and wicked wives*
And of fwiche women Salomon fayth, That a
man were better dwell in defert, than with a wo-*^
man that is riotous. And, fire, by your leve,
tliat am not I ; for ye have ful often affaied my
gret filence and my gret patience, and eke how
wel that I can hide and hele thinges, that men
oughten fecretly to hiden. And fothly as to
your fifthe refon, wheras ye fay, that in wicked
confeil women venquifhen men ; God wote that
thilke refon flant here in no flede : for under-
ilondeth now, ye axen confeil for to do wicked-
neffe ; and if ye wol werken wickedneifcj^ and
your wif reftraineth thilke wicked purjxDS, aud
overcometh you by refon and by good confeil,
certes your wif ought rather to be preifed than
to be blamed. Thus fhulde ye unJerllonde tlic;
philofophre that fayth, In wicked confeil wo-
men venquillien hir hulbondes. And ther as yc
blamen all women and hir refons, I dial iliewe
you by many enfamples, that many women have
ben ful good, and yet ben, and hir confeil hole-
f6me and profitable. Eke fom men han fayd,
that the confeil of women is either to dere, or
dies to litel of pris. But al be it fo that ful
nuny a vvomaa be bad, and Ui.re confeil vile and
nough't
i^e tHE TALE OF MELIBfetTS.
nought worth, yet han men founden ful many ss-
good woman, and difcrete and wife in confeillingo-
Lo, Jacob, thurgh the good confeil of his mother
Rebecke, wan the benifon of his father, and
the lordfliip over all his brethren. Judith, by
hire good confeil, delivered, the citee of Bethulie,
in which flie dwelt, out of the honde of Holo-
fern, that had it befegfcd, and \Volde it al deftroye.'
Abigail delivered Nabal hire hbufbond fro Da-
vid the king, that wolde hari flain him,- and
appefed the ire of the king by hire wit, arid by
hire good confeilling. Heller by hire confeil
enhaunced gretly the peple of God, in the regne
of Affuerus the king. And the fame bountee
in good confeilling of many a good womarj
moun men rede and tell. And further more,'
whan that oure Lord had created Adam oure
forme father, he fayd in this wife; it is not
good to be a man allone : make we to him an
helpe femblable to himfelf. Here moun ye fee
that if that women weren not good, and hir
confeil good and profitable, oure Lord God of
heven wolde neither han wrought hem, ne called
hem helpe of man, but rather confufion of man-.
And ther fayd a clerk ones in two vers ; what
is better than gold ? Jaipve, What is better
thaiv
THE TALE OF MELIBEU^. 2,-7
tlian jafpre ? wifdom. And what is better than
Wiiclom ? woman. And what is better than a
good woman ? nothing. And, Sire, by many
other refons moun ye leen, that many women
ben good, and hlr coafeil good and profitable.
And therfore. Sire, if ye wol trofte t6 my con-
feil, I flial rellore you yo'ur doughter hole and
found : and I wol don to you fo muche, that yc
fhuln have honour in this cas.
Whan Melibee had herd the wordes of his
wif Prudence, he fayd thus : I fe wel that the
word of Salomon is foth ; for he faith, tliat
wordes, that ben fpoken difcretly by ordinaunce,
ben honiecombcs, for they yeven fwetenefTe to
the foule, arid hdlfomneffe to the body. ApA^
wif, becaufe of thy fwete wordes, and eke for'
I have preved arid affaied thy grete fapi^nce and,
thy grete trouthe, I wol governe me by thy coa-
feil in alle thins:.
Now, Sire, (quod dame Prudence) and fm
that ye vouchefafe to be governed by my con*
foil, I wol enforme you how that ye fliuln go-
verne yourfelf, in chefing of youre ccnfeillours.
Ye fliuln iirfl in alle your werkes mekely be-
fechen to the heigh God, that he wol be your
confeillour : and fliapeth you tc Iwiche entente
Vol. II. S that
358 THE TALE OF MELIBEUS.
that he yeve you confeil and comforte, as taught
Tobie his fbne ; at alle tunes thou flialt blefle
God, and preie him to dreffe thy wayes ; and
loke that alle thy confeils ben in him for ever-
more. Seint James eke fayth ; if any of you
have nede of fapience, axe it of God. And af-
terwarde, than fhullen ye take confeil in your-
felf, and examine wel your owen thoughtes, of
fwiche thinges as you thinketh that ben beft for
your profit. And than fliuln ye drive fro yout
herte three thinges that ben contrarious to good
comfeil ; that is to fayn, ire, coveitife, and ha-^
ftinelTe.
Firft, he that axeth confeil of himfelf, certes
he muft be vrithouten ire, for many caufes.
The iirft is this ; he that hath gret ire and wrath
in himfelf, he weneth alway that he may dor
thing that he may not do. And fecondly, he
that is irous and wroth, he may not wel dem» :
and he that may not wel deme, may not wel
confeille. The thridde is this ; he that is irous
and wroth, as fayth Senek, ne may not fpeke
but blan^eful thinges, and with his vicious-
wordes he ftirreth other folk to anger and to ire.
And eke. Sire, ye mufl drive coveitife out of
your herte. For the ApoiUe fayth, that coveitife
i»
THE tALfe OF MELIBEUS. 2^9
is the rote of alle harmes* And trofteth we],
that a coveitdus man ne can not deme ne thinke,
but only to fulfille the ende of his coveitife ;
and certes thit ne may never ben accompliled ;
for ever tlie more liaboundance that he hath of
richefle, the more he delireth* And, Sire, ye
mull alfo drive out of youre herte haftinelie :
for certes ye ne moun not deme for the befle
a foden thought that falleth in youre herte, but
ye mull: avile you on it ful ofte : for as ye have
herde herebefbrn, tlie commune proverbe is this;
he that font demeth, fone repenteth.
Sire, ye ne be not aUvay in like difpoHtion,
for certes fom thing that fomtime lemeth to
you that it is good for to do, another time it
femeth to you the contrarie.
And w^han ye han taken confell in yourfelfj
and han demed by goodideliberation fvviche thing
as you femeth befte, tlian rede I you that ye
kepe it fccree* Bewreye not your confeil to
no perfone, but if fo be that ye wenen likerjy,
that thurgh yOure bewreying youre condition
ilial ben to you more proiitable. Fov Jefus
Sirak faith : neither to thy foo ne to thy frend
difcover not thy feci^^e,. ne thy folie : for they
woln yeve you audience and loking, and fdp-/
S 2 portation
26o THE TALE OF MELIBEIT^.
portation in youre prefence, and fcorne you in
youre abfence. Another clerk fayth, that fcarfly
fhalt thou finden any perfone that may kepe thy
confeil fecrely* The book fayth; while that
thou kepeft thy confeil in thin herte, thou ke-
peft it in thy prifon : and whan thou bewreyeil
thy confeil to any wight, he holdeth thee in his
fnare. And therfore you is better to hide [^your
confeil in your herte, than to preye him to
whom ye han bewreyed youre confeil, that he
wol kepe it clofe and ftille. For Seneca fayth :
if fo be tfiat thou ne mayft not thin owcn con-
feil hide, how dareft thou preyen any other
wight thy confeil fecrely to kepe } but natheles^
if thou w^ene fikerly that thy bewreying of thy
confeil to a perfone wol make thy condition to
llonden in the better plight, than fhalt thou telle
him thy confeil in this wife. Firfl, thou fhalt
make no femblant whether thee were lever pees
or werre, or this or that ; ne fhewe him not
thy will ne thin entente ; for trofle wel that
communly thcfe confeillours ben flaterers, name-
ly tiie confeillours of grete lordes, for they en-
forcen hem alway rather to fpeken plefant wordes
enclining to the lordes luft, than wordes that
ben trewe gr profitable : and therfore men fayn,
that
THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 261
that the riche man hath felde good confeil, but
if he have it of himfelf. And after that thou
fhalt coniider thy frendes and thin enemies.
And as touching thy frendes, thou llialt confider
which of hem ben moft feithful and moil wife,
and eldeft and moft apprevcd in confeilling : and
of hem Ihalt thou axe thy confeil, as the cas
requireth.
I fay, that firft ye fhuln clepe to youre con-
feil youre frendes that ben trewe. For Salomon
faith : that right as the herte of a man deliteth
in favour that is fwote, right fo the confeil of
trewe frendes yeveth fweteneffe to the foule.
He fayth alfo, ther may nothing be likened to
the trewe frend : for certes gold ne filver ben
not fo muche worth as the good will of a trewe
frend. And eke he fayth, that a trewe frend
is a ftrong defence; who fo that it findeth,
certes he findeth a gret trefor. Than fliuin ye
eke coniider if that your trewe frendes ben dif-
crete and wife : for the book faith, axe alway
thy confeil of hem that ben wife. And by this
fame refon fhuln ye clepen to youre confeil
youre frendes that ben of age, fwiche as han
feyn and ben expert in many thinges, and ben
appjreved in confeiliinges. For the book fayth,
S3 in
%^z THE TALE OF MELIBEUS.
in olde men is al the fapience, and in longc
time the prudence. And Tullius fayth, that
grete thingps ne ben not ay accompliled by
llrengthe, .ne by delivernelTe of body, but by
good confeil, by auftoritee of perfones, and by
fcience : the which three thinges ne ben not
feble by age, but certes they enforcen and en-
crefen day by day. And than fliuln ye kepo
this for a general reule, Firfl ye fliuin clepe to
youre confeil a fewe of youre frendes that ben
especial. For Salomon faith; many frendes have
thou, but among a thoufand chefe thee on to
be thy con fei Hour. For al be it fp, that thou
firil ne telle thy confeil but to a fewe, thoi^
may eft afterwarde tell it to mo folk, if it be
nede. But loke alvvay that thy confeillours
have thilke three conditions that I have fayc^
before ; that is to fay, that they be tyewe, wife,
^nd of olde experience. And werke not alway
in every nede by on cpnfeillour allone : for
fomtime behoveth it to be confeilled by many.
For Saloinon fayth ; falvation of thinges is wher
as ther ben many confeillours.
Now iith that I have told you pf which folk.
ye fhuldc be confeilled : now wol I teche you
yjrhich confeil ye ought to efchue. Firil ye iliuln
cfchuc
THE TALE OF MELIBEUS, 263
cfchue the confeilling of foolcs ; for Salomon
fayth. Take no confeil of a fool : for he ne can
not confellle but after his owtn liift and his af-
feftion. The book fayth, the propretee of 9,
fool is this : He troweth lightly harme of every
man, and lightly troweth 3II bountee in himfelf.
Thou flialt eke efchue the confeilling of all
flaterers, fwiche as enforcen hem rather to
preifen youre perfone by flaterie, than foi: to tell
you the fothfaftneflc of thinges.
Wherfore Tullius fayth, Among alle the pefti-
lences that ben in frendfliip, the greteft is flaterie.
And therfore it is more nede that thou efchue and
drede flaterers, than any other peple. The book
faith, Thou fhalt rather drede and flee fro the fwetc
wordes of flatering preifers, than fro the egre
wordes of thy frend that faith thee fothes. Salo-
Xiion faith, that the wordes of a flaterer is a
fnare to cacchen innocentes. He fayth alfo, He
that fpeketh to his frend wordes of fweteneflTe and
of plefaunce, he fetteth a net beforne his feet to
cacchen him. And therfore fayth Tullius, En-
cline not thin cres to flaterers, ne take no confeil
of wordes of flaterie, And Caton fayth, Avife thee
wel, and efchue wordes of fwetenefle and of ple-
faunccp And eke thou fhalt efchue the confeil-
S 4 ling
264 THE TALE OF MELIBEUS,
ling of thin olde enemies that ben reconciled.
The book fayth, that no wight retourneth fafe^
ly into t;he grace of lus olde enemic. And Yfope
fayth, Ne trofl not to liem, to which thou hat^
fomtime had werre or eninitee, ne telle hem not
thy confeil. And Senek telleth the caufe why.
It m?iy not be, fayth he, thcr as gret hre hatii
long tinie endured, that ther ne dvvelleth fom
vapour of warmnefle. And therfore laith Salo-
mon, In thin olde foo troft thou never. For
fikerly, though thin enemie be reconciled, and
maketh thee chere pf humilitee, and louteth to
thee with liis hed, i>e troft him never : for certes
he maketh thilke feined humilitee more for his
profite, than for any love of thy perfone ; bcr
caufe that he demeth to have Yi6:orie oyer thy
perfone by fvviche feined cont^nance, - the which
yi(5torie he might not have by ftrif of werre.
And Peter iVJphonfe fayth ; Make no felawfliip
with thin olde enemies, for if thou do hem bountee,
they wollcn perverten it to wickednefle. And
ckc thou mull efchue tlie confcilling of hem that
ben thy ferv3,unts, and beren thee gret reve-
Kpnce : for paraventure they fein it more fpr
.drede than for love. And therfore faith a philo-
^pjphre in this wife : Ther i$ no wight parfi^Iy
trewc
THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 26^
trewe <to him that he to fore dredeth. And Tul-/
lius fayth, Ther n'is no might fo gret of any
emperour that longe may endure, but if he have
more love of the peple than drede. Thou fhalt
alfo efchue the confeilling of folk that ben dronke-
kwe, for they ne can no confeil hide. For
Salomon fayth, Ther n'is no privetee ther as
regneth dronkenneffe. Ye Ihuln alfo have in fuf-
pe6; the confeilling of fwiche folk as confeille you
o thing prively, and confeille you the contrarie
openly. For Cafllodore fayth, That it is a
manere fleighte to hinder his enemy whan he
Iheweth to don a thing openly, and werketh
prively the contrary. Thou fhalt alfo have in
iufped the confeilling of wicked folk, for hir
confeil is alway ful of fraude. And David
fayth ; Blisful is that man that hath not folwed
the confeilling of fhrewes. Thou fhalt alfo
efchue the confeilling of yonge folk, for hir
confeilling is not ripe, as Salomon faith.
Now, Sire, iith I have fhewed you of which
folk ye fhullen take youre conleil, and of which
folk ye fhullen efchue the confeil, now wol I techc
you how ye fhuln examine your confeil after the
dodrine of Tullius. In examining than of
your confeillours, ye (liuln coniidre many ihinges.
Alderfii-ft
^66 THE TALE OF MELIBEUS.
Alderfirft thou flialt confidre that in thiike
thlag that thou purpofeft, and upon what thing
that thou wolt have confeil, that veray trouthe
be laid and conferved ; this is to lay, telle
trewely thy tale : for he that fayth falfe, may
not wel be confeilled in that cas, of which he
lieth. And after this, thou flialt confidre the
thinges that accorden to that thou purpofeft for
to do by thy confeillours, if refon accord therto,
and eke if thy might may atteine therto, and if
the more part and the better part of thin confeiU
lours accorden therto or no. Than flialt thou
confidre what thing fhal folwe of that confeiU
ling; as hate, pees, werre, grace, profite, or
domage, and many other thinges : and in allc
thinges thou flialt chefe the befte, and weive alle
other thinges. Than fhalt thou confidre of what
roote is engendred the matere of thy confeil,
^nd what fruit it may conceive and engendre.
Thou flialt eke confidre alle the caufes, front
whennes they ben fprongen. And whan thou
haft examined thy confeil, as I have faid, and
which partie is the better and more profitable,
snd haft appreved it by many wife folk and
olde, than fhalt thou confidre, if thou mayft per-
form? it and maken of it a good ende. For
certes
THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 267
certes refon wol not that any man fhulde be-
ginne a thing, but if he mighte performe it a$
him oughte : ne no wight lliuidp take upon
him fo hevy a charge, that he might not beren
it. For the proyerbe fayth ; he that to muche
cmbraceth diftreineth litel. And Caton faith ;
aflay to do fwiche thinges as thou haft power
to don, left the charge opprefle thee fo fore, that
thee behoveth to weive thing that thou haft be--
gonne. And if fo be that thou be in doute,
whether thou mayft performe a thing or non,
chefe rather to fuffre than to beginne. And
Peter Alphonfe fayth ; If thou haft might to
don a thing, of which thou muft repente, it is
better nay than ya : this is to fayn, that thee is
better to holde thy tonge ft i lie than for to fpeke.
Than mayft thou underftonde by ftronger re-
fons, that if thou haft power to performe ^
werk, of which thou fhalt repente, than is thee
better that thou fuffre than beginne. Wei fain
they that defenden every wight to afTaye a thing
of which he is in doute, whether he may per-
forme it or non. And after whan ye han ex-
amined youre confeil, as I have faid beforne, and
knowen wel that ye moun performe yoyr em-
prife, confenne it than fadly til it be at an endc.
Now
268 THE TALE OF MELIBEUS.
Now is it refon and time that I fhewe you
whan, and wherfore, that ye moiin chaunge your
con fell, withouten repreve. Sothly, a id an may
change his purpos and his confeil, if the caufc
cefeth, or whan a newe cas betideth. For the
lawe faith, that upon thinges that newly be-
tiden, behoveth newe confeil. And Seneca
fayth ; if thy conleil is comen to the eres of
thin enemies, chaunge thy confeil. Thou mayfl
alfo chaunge thy confeil, if fo be that thou find
that by errotir, or by other caufe, harme or
damage may betide. Alfo if thy confeil be
diflionefte, other elles come of diflionefte caufe,
chaunge thy confeil : for the lawes fain, that
all beheftes that ben diflionefte ben of no value :
and eke, if fo be that it be impoflible, or may
not goodly be performed or kept.
And take this for a general reule, that every
confeil that is affermed fo ftrongly, that it may
npt be chaunged for no condition that may be-
tide, I fay that thilke confeil is wicked.
This Melibeus, whan he had herd the doc-
trine of his wif dame Prudence, anfwered in this
wife. Dame, quod he, as yet unto this time
ye han wel and covenably taught me, as in ge-
neral, how I Dial goYcrne me in the chellng
9ncl
THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. ^^
and in the withholding |of my Gonfei Hours : but
now wold I fain that ye wold condefcend in
efpecial) and telle me how liketh you, or what
iemeth you by oure confeillours that we hart
chofen in oure prefent nede.
My lord, quod fhe, I befeche you in alle
humbleffe, that ye wol not wilfully replie agein
my refons, ne diflemprc your herte, though T
fpeke thing that you difplefe ; for God wotc
thaty as in min entente, I fpeke it for your befte,
for youre honour and for yourc profite eke,,
and fothly I hope that youre benignitee wol taken
it in patience. And trofleth me wel, quod (lie,
that youre confeil as in this cas ne fhulde not
(as to fpeke proprely) be called a confeilling, but
a motion or a meving of folic, in which con-
feil ye han erred in many a fondry wife.
Firft and forward,, ye han erred in the ^f-
fembling of youre confeillours : for ye Iholdc
firft han cleped a fewe folk to youre confeil,
and after ye mighte han fliewed it to mo folk,
if it hadde be nede. But certes ye han fodeinly
cleped to your confeil a gret multitude of pe^
pic, ful chargeant and ful anoyous for to here.
Alfo ye han erred, for thcr as ye fhulde han only
cleped to youre cojifeile youre trewe frendes, olde
and
i^o THE TALE OF MELiBEUS.
and wife, ye han cleped ftraurige folk, yongd
folk, falfe tlaterers, and enemies reconciled, and
folk that don you reverence withouten love. And
eke ye han erred, for ye han brought with you
to youre confeil ire, coveitife, and haftifnefle, the
which three thinges ben contrary to every con-
feil honeft and profitable : the which three thinges
ye ne han not anientifled or deftroyed, neither iri
yourefelf rte in yourei confei Hours, as you oughts
Ye han erred alfo, for ye han fhewed to youre
confeillours youre talent and youre affeftions to
make werre anon, and for to do vengeaunce^
and they han efpied by youre wordes to what
thing ye ben enclined : and therfore han they
confeilled you rather to youre talent, than ta
youre profite* Ye han erred alfb, for it femeth
that you fuffiocth to han ben confeilled by thift
confeillours o?nly, and with litel avis, wheras in
fo high and fo gret a nede, it had ben neceflaric
mo confeillours, and more deliberation to per-
forme your emprife. Ye han erred alfo, for ye
han not examined your confeil in the forefaid
manere, ne in due mancre, as the cas requireth.
Ye han crfed alfo, for ye han maked no divifion
betwix youre confeillours ; this is to fayn, betwix
youre trewe frendes and youre fein^d confei l-»
lours ;
THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. aft
lours : ne ye han not knowe the wille of your
trewe frendes, olde and wife, but ye han eaft alle
hir wordcs in an hochepot, and enclined your hertc
to the more part and to the greter nombre, and
ther be ye condefcended ; and lith yc wot wel
that men fliuln alway finde a greter nombre of
fooles than of wife men, and therfore the confeil-'
lines that ben at con ereo^at ions and multitudes of
folk, ther as men take more regard to the nom-
bre^ than to the fapience of perfones, ye feen
wel, that in fwiche confeillings fooles han the
maiflrie. Melibeus anfwered and faid agein t
I graunte wel that I have erred ; but ther as
thou haft told me herebeforne, that he n'is not
to blame that chaungeth his confeil in certain
cas, and for certain and juft caufes, I am al re-
dy to chaunge my confeil right as thou wolt
devife. The proverbe fayth ; for to don finnc
is mannifh, but certes for to perfevere long in
finne is werke of the DiveL
To this fentence anfwered anon dame Pru-
xlefice, and faide ; examineth (quod flie) wel
your confeil, and let us fee the which of hem
han fpoken moft refonably, and taught you beft
confeil. And for as muche as the examination
is neceflarie, let us beginne at the Surgiens and
at
i^i THE TALE OF MELIBEtJS.
at the Phyficiens, that firft fpaken in this matef.
I fay that Phyficiens and Surgiens han fayde
you in youre confeil difcretly, as hem oughtc :
and in hir fpeche faiden ful wifely, that to the
office of hem appefteineth to don to every wight
honour and profite, and no wight to anoye, and
after hir craft to don gret diligence unto the
cure df hem which that they han in hir go-
vernaunce. And, Sire, right as they han an-
fwered wifely and difcretly, right fo rede I that
they be highly and foverainly guerdoned for hir
noble fpeche, and eke for they fhulden do the
more ententif befinelTe in the curation of thy
dere doughter. For al be it fo that they ben
youre frendes, therfore fliullen ye not fuffrenj
that they ferve you for nought, but ye oughte
the rather guerdone hem, and fliewe hem your«
largefle. And as touching the propofition, which
the Phyficiens entreteden in this cas, this is to fain,
that in maladies, that a contrarie is warifhed by
another contrarie ; I wold fain knowe how yc
underflonde thilke text, and what is youre fen-
tence. Certes, quod Melibeus, I underftond it
in this wife ; that right as they han don me a
contrarie, right fo fhulde I don hem another ;
for right as they him venged hem opon me and
don
TilE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 27^
clbh me wrong, right fo, flial I venge me upon
hem, and don hem wrong, and than have I cured
a contrarie by another.
Lo, lo, quod dame Prudence, how lightly is
every man enclined to his owen delire and his
owen plefaunce ! ccrtes (quod flie) the wordes
of the Phyficiens ne fliulden not han ben un-
derftonden in that wife ; for certes wickednelTe
is not contrarie to ^ wickednelTe, ne vengeaunce
to vengeaunce, ne wrong to wrong, but they
ben femblable : and therfore a vengeaunce is
not warifhed by another vengeaunce, ne a wrong
by another wrong, but everich of hem en-
crefeth and aggreggeth other. But certes the
Wordes of the Phyiiciens fhulden ben under-
ftonde in this wife; for good and wickednefle
ben two contraries, and pees and werre, ven-
geaunce and fuffraunce, difcord and accord, and
many other thinges : but certes, wickednefle
flial be wariflied by goodneflTe, difcord by ac-
cord, werre by pees, and fo forth of other
thinges. And hereto accordeth Seint Poule the
Apoftle in many places ; he fayth, ne yelde
not harme for harme, ne wicked Ipeche fdf
wicked fpeche, but do wel to him that doth to
thee harme, and blefle him that faith to thee
Vou IL T harme.
274 THE TALE OF MELIBEUS.
harme. And in many other places he amonelleth
pees and accord. But now wol I fpeke to you
of the confeil, which that was yeven to you by
the men of lawe, and the wife folk, and old
folke, that fayden alle by on accord as ye han
herd beforne, that over alle thinges ye fliuln
do youre diligence to kepe youre perfone, and
to warneftore your lioufe : and faiden alfo, that
in this cas you oughte for to werchen ful
avifely and with gret deliberation. And, Sire,
as to the firft point, that toucheth the keping
of youre perfone, ye fhuln underftond, that he
that hath werre, fhal ever more devoutly and
mekely preien beforne alle thinges, that Jefu
Crift of his mercie wol han him in his pro-
tection, and ben his foveraine helping at his
nede : for certes in this world ther is no wight
that may be confeilled ne kept fuflifantly, with-
oute the keping of oure lord Jefu Crift. To
this fentence accordeth the Prophete David that
fayth: if God ne kepe the citee, in idel wa-
keth he that kepeth it. Now, Sire, than fhuln
ye committe the keping of youre perfone to
youre trewe frendes, that ben appreved and
yknowe, and of hem fhuln ye axen helpe, youre
perfone for to kepe. For Caton faith; if thou
THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 275
iiave nede of helpe, axe it of thy frendes, for -
ther n'is non fo good a Phylicien as thy trewe
frendi And after this than fliuin ye kepe you
fro alle ftraunge folk, and fro lieres, and have
alway in fufpe£l hir compaignie. For Piers
Alphonfe fayth : ne take no compaignie by the
way of a ftraunge man, but if fo be that thou
have knov^^en him of lenger time : and if fo be
that he falle into thy compaignie paraventnre
withouten thin afTent, enquere than^ as fubtilly
as thou maift, of his converfation, and of his lif
beforne, and feine thy v^ay, faying thou wolt
go thider as thou wok not go : and if he here
a fpere, hold thee on the right fide, and if he
bere a fwefd, hold thee on his left fide. And
after this than fliuln ye kepe you wifely from
all fwiche manere peple as I have fayed be-
fore, and hem and hir confeil efchue. And
after this than fhuln ye kepe you in fwiche
manete, that for any prefumption of yourc
ftrengthe, that ye ne defpife not, ne account not
the might of your adverfary fo lite, that ye let
the keping of youre perfone for your pre-
fumption ; for every wife man dredeth his ene-
mie. And Salomon fayth; welful is he that
of alle hath drede ; For certes he that thurgh
T z the
276 THE TALE OF MELIBEUS.
the hardineffe of his herte, and thurgh the har-
dineffe of himfelf, hath to gret prefumption,
hhii fhal evil betide. Than fhuln ye ever-
mo countrewaite emboyflements, and alle ef-
piaile. For Senek fayth, that the wife man
that dredeth harmes, efchueth harmes ; ne he ne
falleth into perils, that perils efchueth. And
al be it fo, that it feme that thou art in fiker
place, yet fhalt thou alway do thy diligence in
keping of thy perfone ; this is to fayn, ne be
not negligent to kepe thin perfone, not only fro
thy greteft enemy, but alfo fro thy lefte ene-
my. Senek fayth ; a man that is wel avifed, he
dredeth his lefte enemie, Ovide fayth, that
the litcl wefel wol flee the gret boll and the
wilde hart. And the book fayth ; a litel thorne
may prikke a king ful fore, and a litel hound
wol hold the wilde bore. But natheles, I fay
not thou Ihalt be fo coward, diat thou doutc
wher as is no drede. The book faith, that
fom men [han taught hir deceivour, for they
han to muchQ dreded] to be deceived. Yet fhalt
thou drede to be empoyfoned ; and [therforc
fhalt thou] kepe thee fro the compagnie of
fcorners : for the book fayth, with fcorners nc
make no compagnie, bytflee hir wordes as venime.
Now
THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 277
Now as to the fecond point, wheras you re
wife confeillours confeilled you to warneftore
your hous with gret diligence, I wolde fain
knowe how that ye underftode thilke wordes,
and what is youre fentence.
Melibeus anfwered and faide ; Certes I under-
ftond it in this wife, that I flial warneftore min
hous with toures, fwiche as han caftelles and
other manere edifices, and armure, and artehies,
by which thinges I may my perfone and myn
hous fo kepen and defenden, that min enemies
fliuln ben in drede min hous for to ap-
proche.
To this fentence anfwered anon Prudence*
Warneftoring (quod flie) of heighe toures and
of grete edifices, is with grete collages and with
grete travaille; and whan that they ben ac-
compliced, yet ben they not worth a lire, but
if they ben defended by trewe frendes, that ben
olde and wife. And underftonde wel, that the
greteile and llrongefte garnefon that a riche
man may have, as wel to kepen his perfone as
his goodes, is, that hq be beloved with his fub-
gets, and with his neigheboures. For thus fayth
Tullius, that ther is a maner garnefon, that no
^Tian may venquilh ne difcomfite, and that is
T 3 a lord
£78 THE TALE OF MELIBEUS-
a lord to be beloved of his citizeins, and of his
peple,
Now, Sire, as to the thridde point, wheras
youre olde and v^ife confeillours fay den, that
you ne oughte not fodeinly ne haftily proceden
in this nede, but that you oughte purveyen and
appareilen you in this cas, with gret diligence
and gret deliberation ; trewely, I trowe, that they
fayden right wifely and right foth. For Tul-
lius fayth : in every nede er thou bcginne it,
appareile thee with gret diligence. Than fay
I, that in vengeaunce taking, in werre, in ba-
taille, and in warnefloring, er thou beginne, I
rede that thou appareile thee therto, and do it
with gret deliberation. For TuUius fayth, that;
longe appareiling tofore the bataille, maketh
fhort vi£lorie. And Cafliodorus fayth : the gar-
nefon is ftronger, whan it is longe time ayifed.
But now let us fpeken of the confeil that w^as
accorded by youre neighcboures, fwiche as don
' you reverence wdthouten love ; youre olde ene-
mies reconciled; your fiatereres, that confeilled
you certain thinges prively, and openly con-
feilled you the contrarie; the yonge folk alfo,
that confeilled you to venge you, and to make
werre anon. Certes, Sire, as 1 have fayde bcr
fornc.
THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 279
forne, ye han gretly erred to han cleped fwiche
maner folk to youre confeil, which confeillours
ben ynough reproved by the refons aforefaid.
But natheles, let us now defcende to the fpeclal.
Ye fhul firft proceden after the dodlrine of Tul-
lius. Certes the trouthe of this matere or of this
confeil nedeth not diligently to enquere, for it is
wel wift, which they ben tliat han don to you
this trelpas and vilanie, and how many tref^
palburs, and in what manere they han don to you
all this wrong, and all this vilanie. And after
this, than fhuln ye examine the fecond condi-
tion, which that the fame Tullius addeth in this
matere. For Tullius putteth a thing, which that
he clepeth confenting : this is to fayn, who ben
they, and which ben they, and how many, that
confenten to thy confeiJ. in thy wilfulnefle, to
don haftif vengeaunce. And let us confidre alio
who ben they, and how many ben they, and
which ben they, that confenteden to youre adi-
verfaries. As to the firft point, it is wel knowen
which folk they be that confenteden to your©
wilfulneffe. For trewely, all tho that confeileden
you to maken fodein werre, ne ben not youre
frendcs. Let us now coniidrc which ben they
th^t ye holden fo gretly youre frendes, as to
T 4 your^
28o THE TALE OF MELIBEUS,
youre perfone : for al be it fo that ye be mighty
and riche, certes ye ne ben but ailone : for certcs
ye ne han no child but a doughter, ne ye ne han
no brethren, ne cofms germains, ne non other
nigh Icinrede, wherfore that youre enemies for
drede fliulde ftinte to plede with you, or to de-
ftroye youre perfone. Ye knowen alfo, that your
richefles moten ben difpended in diverfe parties;
and whan that every wight hath his part, they no
wollen taken but litel regard to venge your&
deth. But thin enemies ben three, and they
han many brethren, children, cofins, and other
nigh kinrede : and though fo were, that thou
haddeft flain of hem two or three, yet dwellen
ther ynow to wreken hir deth, and to flee thy
perfone. And though fo be that youre kinrede
be more ftedefaft and iiker than the kin of your
adverfaries, yet natheles youre kinrede is but a
fer kinrede ; they ben but litel fibbe to you, and
the kin of voure enemies ben nio;h iibbe to hem.
And certes as in that, hir condition is better than
youres. Than let us conlidre alfo of the con-
feilling of hem that confeilled you to take fodeln
vengeance, whether it accorde to refon : and
certes, ye knowe wel, nay ; for as by right and
fefon^ ther may no man taken vengeauncc on no
wight,
THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 281
Wightybut the juge that hath the jurifdiftion of it,
whan it is ygraunted him to take thilke venge-
aunce haftily, or attemprely, as the lawe requireth.
And yet moreover of thilke word that Tullius
clepeth confenting, thou fhalt confidre, if thy
might and thy power may confente and fuffice to
thy wilfulnefle, and to thy confeillours : and
certes, thou mayeft wel fay, that nay ; for filierly,
as for to fpeke proprely, we moun do nothing
but only fwiche thing as we moun don rightfully :
and certes rightfully ye ne mowe take no venge^
ance, as of youre propre au£loritee. Than mowc
ye fen that your power ne confenteth not, ne ao
cordeth not to youre wilfulneffe. Now let us
examine the thridde point, that Tullius clepeth
confequent. Thou fhalt uuderftonde, that the
vengeaunce that thou purpofeft for to take, is the
confequent, and therof folweth another venge-
ance, peril, and werre, and other damages
withouten nombre, of which we ben not ware,
as at this time. And as touching the fourthc
point, that Tullius clepeth engendring, thou
fhalt conlider, that this wrong which that is
idon to thee, is engendred of the hate of thin
enemies, and of the vengeaunce taking upon
$hat wold engender another vengeaunce, and
iiiuchej
2t2 THE TALE OF MELIBEUS.
Hiuchel forwe and wafting of riehelTes, as I fayde
ere.
Now, lire, as to the point, that TuUius clep^
cth caufes, which that is the laft point, thou Ihalt
tinderftonde, that the wrong that thou haft re^
ceived, hath certaine caufes, which that clerkes
clepen oriensy and efficiens^ and caufa longinq^ua^
and caufa propinqua^ this is to fayn, the fer caufe,
and the nigh caufe. The fer caufe is almighty
God, that is caufe of alle thinges ; the ner caufe,
is thin three enemies ; the caufe accidental was
hate ; the caufe material, ben the five woundes
of thy doughter ; the caufe formal, is the maner
of hir werking, that broughten ladders, and
clomben in at thy windowes ; the caufe final was
for to flee thy doughter ; it letted not in as muchc
as in hem was. But for to fpeke of the fer caufe,
as to what ende they fhuln come, or what fhal
finally betide of hem in this cas, ne can I not
deme, but by conjefting and fuppoling : for we
iliuln fuppofe, that they fliuln come to a wicked
ende, becaufe that the book of Decrees fayth :
Selden or with gret peine ben caufes ybrought to
a good ende, whan they ben badly begonne,
Now, Sire, if men wold axen me, why that
^God fufTred men to do you this vilanie, ccrtes I
can
THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 2%$
can not wel anfwer, as for no fothfaftneffe. For
\he Apollle fayth, that the fciences, and the
jugements of oure Lord God Ahiiighty ben ful
depe ; ther may no man comprehend ne ferchc
Jiem fuffiiantly. Natheles, by certain prefump-
tions and conjeftings, I hold and beleve, that
God, which that is ful of jailice and of right-
\vifeneffe, hath fufFered this betide, by jufl caufe
refonable.
Thy name is Melibee, this is to fayn, a man
that drinketh hony. Thou haft dronke fo muche
\ionj of fwete temporel richelTes, and delices, and
honours of this world, that thou art dronken,
and haft forgetten Jefu Crift thy creatour : thou
. ne haft not don to him fwiche honour and re-
verence as thee ought, ne thou ne haft wel
ytaken kepe to the wordes of Ovide, that fayth :
Under the honey of the goodes of thy body is
hid the venime that fleth the foule. And Salo-
mon fayth : If thou haft founden hony, eto of it
that fufficeth ; for if thou ete of it out of mefure,
thou fhalt fpewe, and be nedy and poure. And
peraventure Crift hath thee in defpit, and hath
tourned away fro thee his face, and his eres of
mifericorde ;j and alfo he hath fufFred, that thou
liiaft ben punillied in the manere that thou haft
ytrefpafed.
2^ THE TALE OF MELIBEUS.
ytrefpafed. Thou haft don linne again oure
Lord Crift, for certes the three enemies of man-
kind, that is to fayn, the flefh, the fend, and the
^world, thou haft fuffred hem entre into thin
lierte wilfully, by the windowes of thy body,
and haft not defended thyfelf fuffifantly agein
hir alTautes, and hir temptations, fo that they
han wounded thy foule in five places, this is to
fayn the dedly finnes that ben entred into thyn
herte by thy five wittes : and in the fame manere
our Lord Crift hath wold and fuffred, that thy
three enemies ben entred into thyn hous by th©
windowes, and han ywounded thy doughter in
the forefayd manere.
Certes, quod Melibee, I fee wel that ye en-
force you muchel by w^ordes to ovcrcomen me,
in f\viche manere, that I fhal not venge me on
mine enemies, fhewing me the perils and the
evils that mighten falle of this vengeaunce : but
who fo wolde confidre in alle vene;eaunces the
perils and evils that mighten fue of vengeaunce
taking, a man wold never take vengeaunce, and
that were harme : for by the vengeaunce taking
ben the wicked men diftevered fro the goodc
men. And they that han will to do wicked-
nciie, rcftreincn hir wicked purpos, whan they
fen
THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 2^;
fen the punifliing and the chaftifing of the
trefpafonrs. [To this anfvvered dame Prudence i
Certes, quod fhe, I graunte you that of venge-
aunce taking cometh muche evil and mudic
good ; but vengeaunce taking apperteineth not to
everich on, but only to juges, and to hem that
ban the jurifdidion over the trefpafours ;] and
yet fay I more, that right as a finguler perfonc
iinneth in taking vengeaunce of another man,
right fo linneth the juge, if he do no venge-
aunce of hem that it ban deferved. For Senek
fayth thus : That maifter (he fayth) is good, that
preveth fhrewes. And Caffiodore faith : A man
dredeth to do outrages, whan he v^ot and know-
cth, that it difplefeth to the juges and foveraines.
And another fayth : The juge that dredeth to do
right, maketh men flirevves. And Seint Poule
the Apoftle fayth in his Epiflle, whan he vvriteth
unto tlie Romaines, that the juges beren not
the fpere withouten caufe, but they beren it to
punifhe the fhrewes and mifdoers, and for to de-
fende the good^ men. If ye wiln than take
vengeaunce of youre enemies, ye fhuln retournc
^r have your recours to the juge, that hath the
jurifdi6lion upon hem, and he fhal punifhe hem,
as the lawe axeth and requireth.
A, faydf
286 THE TALE Of MELlBEUS.
Ay fayd Melibee, this vengeaunce liketh itic
nothing. I bethink me now, and take hede
how that fortune hath noriflied me fro my child-
hode, and hath holpen me to palTe many a ftronge
pas : now^w^ol I afTayen hire, trowing, with Goddes
helpe, that flie flial helpe me my fhame for to
venge.
Certes, quod Prudence, if ye wol werke by my
confeil, ye fhuln not aflaye fortune by no way t
Xie ye ne fliuln not lene or bowe unto hire, after
the wordes of Senek ; for thinges that ben folily
don, and the that ben don in hope of fortune,
fhuln never come to good ende. And as the
fame Senek fayth : The more clere and the more
fliining that fortune is, the more brotel and the
foner broke fhe is. Trufteth not in hire, for flic
n'is not ftedefaft ne ftable : for whan thou trow-
eft to be moft fiker and feure of hire helpe, flic
wol faille and deceive thee* And wheras ye
fayn, that fortune hath noriflied you fro youre
childhode, I fay that in fo inuchel ye fhuln the
lefle trufte in hire, ind in hire wit. For Senek
faith : What man that is noriflied by fortune,
ihe maketh him a gret fool. Now than fin ye
deflre and axe vengeaunce, and the vengeaunce,
that is don after the lawe and before the juge, ne
liketh
THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 287
iiketh you not, and tlie vengeaunce, that is don
in hope of fortune, is perilous and uncertain,
than have ye non other remedie, but for to have
your recours unto the foveraine juge, that
vengeth alle vilanies, and wronges ; and he fhal
venge you, after that himfelf witnefleth, wheras
he faith ; Leveth the vengeaunce to me, and I
dial do it.
Melibeus anfwered : If I ne venge me of the
vilanie that men han don to me, I fompne or
warne hem, that han don to me vilanie, and allc
other, to do me another vilanie. For it is writ-
ten ; If thou take no vengeaunce of an olde vila-
ny, thou fompneft thin adverfaries to do thee a ,
newe vilanie : and alfo for my fuffraunce, mea
wolden do me fo muche vilanie, that I might nei-
ther here it ne fufleine ; and fo fhulde I ben put
and holden over lowe. For fom men fain. In
muchel fufFring lliul many thinges falie unto
thee, which thou Ihalt not mowe fuffre.
Certes, quod Prudence, I graunte you wel, that
overmuchel fufFraunce is not good, but yet nc
folweth it not therof, that every perfone to
whom men don vilanie, fhuld take of it venge-
aunce : for that apperteineth and longeth all only
to the juges, for they thul venge the vilanies and
injuries :
aSg THE TALE OF MELlBEUS.
injuries : and therforc tho two aufloritees, that
ye han fayd above, ben only underllonden in the
juges : for whan they fufFren overmuchel the
wronges and vilanies to be don, withouten pu-
nifliing, they fompne not a man all only for to
do newe wronges, but they commaunden it : al
fo as a wife man fayth, that the juge that cor-
re£leth not the linner, commaundeth and bid-
deth him do finne. And the juges and foveraines
mighten in hir lond fo muche fufFre of the
ftirewes and mifdoers, that they fhulden by
Iwiche fuffraunce, by proces of time, wexen
of fwuche power and might, that they fhuld puttc
out the juges and the foveraines from hir places,
and atte lafte maken hem lefc hir lordfhippes.
But now let us putte, that ye have leve to
venge you : I fay ye be not of might and power,
as now to venge you : for if ye wol maken com-
parifon unto the might of youre adverfaries, ye
fliuln finde in many thinges, that I have fhewed
you er this, that hir condition is better than
youres, and therforc fay I, that it is good as
now, that ye fuffre and be patient.
Forthermore ye knowen wel, that after the
commune faw, it is a woodnefle, a man to flrivc
with a flfonger, or a more mighty man than he is
himfclf;
THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 2%g
liimfelf ; and for to ftrive with a man of even
ilrengthe, that is to fay, with as flrong a man as
he is, it is peril ; arid for to flrive with a weker
manj it is folic ; arid therfore fhulde a man flee
ftriving, as muchel as he mighte. For Salomon
fayth : It is a gfet worfhip to a man to kepe
him fro rioife and ftrif. And if it fo happe, that
a man of ofretef mighte arid ftreno-the than thou
art, do thee grevaunce : ftudie and belie thee rJl-
ther to llille the fame grevaunce, than for to
venge thee. Foi* Senek fayth, that he putteth
him iri a gtete peril, that ftriveth with a gret^r
man than he is himfelfi And Caton fayth ; If a
man of higher eftat or degree, or more mighty
than thouj do thee anoye or grevance, fuffre
him ; for he that ones hath greved thee, may an-
other time releve thee and helpe thee. Yet
fette I cas, ye have bothe might and licence for
to venge you, I fay that ther ben ful many thinges
that (huln reiireine you of vengeance taking, and
make you for td encline to fuffre, and for to han
{)atience in the wronges that han ben don to you*
Firft and forward, if ye wol confidre the defautes
that ben in youre owen perfpne, for which de-
fautes God hath fuffred you have this tribula-
tion, as I have fayd to yDu herebeforne. For
^ Vol. II. U the
290 THE TALE OF MELIBEUS.
the Poete fayth, that we oughten patiently taken
the tribulations that comen to us, whan that we
thinken and confideren, that we han delervxd to
have hem. And Seint ^Gregorie fayth, that
whan a man confidereth wel the nombre of his
defautes and of his finnes, the peincs and the
tribulations that he fufFereth, femen the leffe unto
him. And in as muche as him thinketh his
finnes more hevy and grevous, in fo muche
femeth his peine the lighter and the elier unto
him. Alfo ye owen to encline and bowe youre
herte, to take the patience of oure Lord Jefu
Crift, as fayth Seint Peter in his Epiftles. Jefu
Crill (he faith) hath fuffred for us, and yeven
enfample to every man to folwe and fue him, for
he dide never linne, ne never came ther a vilains
word out of his mouth. Whan men curfed him,
he -curfed hem nought ; and whan men beten
him, he manaced hem nought. Alfo the gret
patience, which Seintes that ben in Paradis han
had in tribulations that they han fuffred, with-
outen hir defert or gilt, oughte muchel flirre you
to patience. Forthermore, ye fliulde enforce
you to have patience, confidering that the tri-
bulations of this world but litel while endure,
and fone palTed ben and gon, and the joye that a
m;ui
THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 291
man feketh to han by patience in tribulations is
perdurable ; after that the i^poftle fayth in his
JLpiitle ; the joye of God, he fayth, is perdura-
ble, that is to fayn, everlafling, Alfo trowetli
and beleveth ftedfaftly, that he n'is not wel
ynoriflied ne wel ytauglit^ that cannot have pa*-
tience^ or wol not receive patience* For Salo-
mon fayth, that the do£irine and wit of a man
is knowen by patiencCi And in another place
he fayeth, that he that is patient, governeth him
by gret prudence* And the fame Salomon faith :
The angrie and wrathful man maketh noifes,
and the patient man attempreth and ftilleth hem.
He faitli alfo, It is more worth to be patient than
for to be right ilrong. And he that may have the
lordfliipe of his ovven herte, is more to preife, than
he that by his force or ftrengthe taketh gret citees.
And therfore fayth Seint James in his Epiflle,
that patience is a gret vertue of perfection,
Certes, quod Melibee, I gravinte you, Dame
Prudence^ that patience is a gret vertue of per-
fection, but every man may not have the per-
fection that ye feken, ne I am not of the nom-
bre of the right parht men : for min herte may
never be in pees, unto the time it be venged.
And al be it fo, that it was gret peril to min
- U 2
enemies
29* THE TALE OF MELIBEUS.
enemies to do nie a vilanie in taking veno^eaunce
upon itie, yet token they non hede of the peril,
but fulfilleden hir wicked will and hir corage ; and
therfore me thinketh men oughten not reprevc
me, though I put me in a litel peril for to venge
me, and though I do a gret excefle, that is to
fayn, that I venge on outrage by another.
A, quod dame Prudence, ye fayn your will
and as you liketh ; but in no cas of the world a
man fliulde not don outrage ne excefle, for to
vengen him. For Caffiodore fayth, that as evil
doth he that vengeth him by outrage, as he that
Joth the outrage. And therfore ye fhuln venge
you after the ordre of right, that is to fayn, by
the lawe, and not by excefle, ne by outrage.
And alfo if ye wol venge you of the outrage
of you re adverfaries, in other manere than right
commaundeth, ye flnnen. And therfore fayth.
Senek, that a man fhal never venge flirewed-
ncfle by flirewednefle. And if ye fay that right
axeth a man to defende violence by violence,
and fighting by fighting : certes ye fay foth,
whan the defence is don withouten intervalle,
or withouten tarying or delay, for to defends
him, and not for to venge. And it behoveth,
that a man putte fwiche attemperaunce in his de-
fence^
THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. ^293
fence, that men have no caufe ne mater to re-
preve him, that defendeth him, of outrage .7nd
cxcelTe, for elles were it againe refon. Parde ye
knowen wel, that ye maken no defence as now,
for to defende you, but for to venge you : and
fo flieweth it, that ye han no will to do youre
dede attemprely : and therfore me thinketh that
patience is good. For Salomon fayth, that he
that is not patient, fhal have gret harme.
Certes, quod Melibee, I graunte you, that whan
a man i^ impatient and wrothe of that that touch-
eth hiiji not, and that appeiteiaeth not unto him,
though it harme him it is no wonder. For the
la we faith, that he is coupable that entremetetk
or medleth with fwiche thing, as apperteineth not
unto him. And Salomon faith, that he that
entremeteth of the noife or ftrif of another man,
is like to him that taketh a ftraunge hound by
the eres : for right as he that taketh a ftraunge
hound by the eres is otherwhile bitten with the
hound, right in the fame wife, it is refon that he
have harme, that by his impatience medleth him
of the noife of another man, wheras it apper-
teineth not unto him. But ye knowe wel, that
this dede, that is to fayn, my greef and my dif-
^fe, toueheth me right nigh. And therfore
U 3 though
294 THE TALE OF MELIBEUS,
tliough I be wroth and impatient, it is no iiicrr
vaille : and (f^ving your-grace) I cannot lee that
it might gretly harme me, though I took venge-
avmce, for I am richer and more mighty than
min enemies ben : and vvel knowe ye, that by
money and by haying grete poiTcffions, ben alie
thinges of thig world governed. And Salomon
fayth, that allje thinges obeye to money.
Whan Prudence had herd hire huibond avaunte
him of his richelTe and of his money, dif-
preifing the power of his adverfaries, flie fpakc
and fayd in this wife : Certes, dere Sire, I graiinte
you that ye ben riche and mighty, and that
richclTes ben good to hem that han wel ygeten
hem, and that wel conne ufen hem. For right
as the body of a man may not liven withouten
foul, no more may it liven withouten tem-
porel goodes, and by richeffes may a man
gete him grete frendes. And therfore fayth
Pamphilus : If a netherdes doughter (he fayth)
be riche, flie may chefe of a thoufand men,
which flic wol take to hire hufbond : for of a
thoufaml men on wol not forfaken hire ne re-r
fufcn hire. And 'this Pamphilus faith alfo : If
thou be right happy, that is to fayn, if thou be
fight rjche, thou Ihalt finde a gret nombre of
felawc-"^.
THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. ig;
felawes and frendes ; and if thy fortune chaunge,
that thou wexe poure, farewel frendfhipe and
felawflilpe, for thou flialt be al allone withouten
any compaignb, but if it be the compalgnie of
poure folk. And yet fayth this Pamphilus more-
over, that they that ben bond and thralle of
linage, fliuln be made worthy and noble by
richeffes. And right fo as by richeffes ther
comen many goodes, right fo by poverte com^
ther many harmes and eviles : for gret poverte
conflreineth a man to do many eviles. And
therfore clepeth Cafliodore poverte the moder
of ruine, that is to fayn, the moder of overthrow-
ing or falling doun. And therfore fayth Piers
Alfonfe : on of the greteft adveriitees of this
world, is whan a free man by kinde, or of birthe,
is conftreined by poverte to eten the almefle of
his enemie. And the fame fayth Innocent in on
of his bookes : he fayth, that fo rweful and mif-
happy is the condition of a poure begger, for if
he axe not his mete, he dieth for hunger, and if
he axe, he dieth for fhame ; and algates necef"
fitee conflreineth him to axe. And therfore
fayth Salomon, that better it is to die, than for
to have fwiche poverte. And as the fame Salo-
jnon fayth : Better it is to die of bitter deth, than
U 4 for
i^ THE TALE OF MELIBEUS.
for p liven in fwiche wile. By tliife refons that
I have fald unto you, and by many other refons
that I coude faye, I grauiite you that richelTes
ben good to hem that wel geten hem, and tQ
hem that wel ufen tho richell'es : an,d therfore
wol I fliewe you how ye fhuln behaye you ir;
gadering of youre richeffes, apd in what ipanere
ye fliuln ufen hem.
Firft, ye fhuln geten hem withouten gret
defir, by good leifer, fokingly, and not over
haftifly, for a man that is to defiring to gete
richeffes, abandoneth him firft to thefte and to
alle other eviles. And therfore fayth Salomon :
He that hafteth him to befily to wexc riche, he
fhal be non innocent. He fayth alfo, that the
richefTe that hailily cometh to a man, fone and
lightly goeth and pafTeth from a man, but that
richefTe that cometh litel and litel, wcxeth alway
an4 multiplieth. And, Sire, ye fhulen gete
richefTes by youre wit and by youre travaille,
unto youre profite, and that withouten wrong or
harme doing to any other perfone. lor the
)awe fayth : Thpr maketh no man himfelf riche,
if he do harme to another wight ; this is to fay,
that nature defendeth and forbedeth by right,
^at no man n^ake himfelf riche, unto the hannc
of
THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 597
of another perfone. And Tullius fayth, that np
forwe, ne no drede of deth, ne nothing that may
falle unto a man, is fo muchel ageins nature, as a
man to encrefe his owen profite, to harme of an-
other man. And though the grete men and
the mighty men geten richeffes more lightly
than thoy, yet fhal,t thou not ben idcl ne flowc
to do thy profite, for thou fhalt in alle wife flee
idelnelTe, For Salomon fayth, that idelneffe
techeth a man to do many eyiles. And the fame
Salomon fayth, that he that travailleth and be-
lieth him to tillen his lond, fhal ete bred : but
he that is idel, and cafteth him to no befinelTe nc
occupation, flial fallc into poverte, and die for
hunger. And he that is idel and flow, can never
find covenable time for to do his profite. For
ther is a verfifiour fayth, that the idel man
excufeth him in Winter, becaufe of the gretc
jcold, and in Sommer by enchefon of the hete.
For thife caufes, fayth Caton, waketh, and en-
clineth you not over muchel to flepe, for over
muchel refle norifheth and caufeth many vices.
And therfore fayth Seint Jerome ; Doeth fom
good dedes, that the devil which is oure enemie,
ne finde you not unoccupied, for the devil ne tak-
eth not lightly unto his werking fwiche as he find-
eth occupied in goode werkes, r^^
;i98 THE TALE OF MELIBEUS.
Than thus In geting richeffes ye muilen flee
klelneiTe. And afterward ye lliuln ufen the
riclieffes, which ye han geten by youre wit and
by youre travaille, in fwiche manere, that men
holde you not to fcarce ne to fparing, ne fool-
large, that is to fay, over large a fpender : for
right as men blamen an avaricious man, becaufe
of his fcarcitee and chincherie, in the fame wife
is he to blame, that fpendeth over largely. And
therfore faith Caton ; Ufe (fay th he) the richefles
that thou haft ygeten in fwiche manere, that
men have no matere ne caufe to calle thee nother
wretche ne chinche : for it is a gret fliame to a
man to have a poure herte and a riche purfe.
He fay th alfo : the goodes that thou haft ygeten,
ufe hem by mefure, that is to fayn, fpende mefu-
rably ; for they that folily waften and difpenden
the goodes that they han, whan they han no
more propre of hir owen, than they fliapen hem
to take the goodes of another man^ I fay than
that ye fliuln flee avarice, uflng youre richcfles
in fwiche manere, that men fayn not that your
richefles ben yberied, but that ye have hem ii^
youre might, and in youre welding. For a wife
Ttian repreveth the avaricious man, and fayth
thus in two vers. Wherto and why berieth a
man
THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 299
inan his goodes by his gret avarice, and know-
ieth wel, that nedes mull he die, for deth is the
end of every man, as in this prefent lif ? and for
vviiat caiile or enchefon joineth he him, or knit-
teth he him fo fafl: unto his goodes, that alle his
wittes mown not diffeveren him, or departen him
from his goodes, and knoweth wel, or oughte to
knowe, that whan he is ded, he fhal nothing
here w^ith him out of this world ? And therfore
fayth Seint Augufline, that the avaricious man
is likened unto helle, that the more it fwalweth,
the more defir it hath to fw^alwe and devoure.
And as wcl as ye wolde efchue to be called an
avaricious man or chinche, as wel fliulde ye kepe
you and governe you in fwiche a wife, that men
calle you not fool-large. Therfore faith Tul-
lius : The goodes of thin hous ne fliulde not ben
hid ne kept fo clofe, but that they might ben
opened by pitee and debonairetee ; that is to fayn,
to yeve hem part that han gret nede ; ne thy
goodes fhulden not ben fo open, to be every
mannes goodes. Afterward, in geting of youre
richelTes, and in uiing of hem, ye fhuln alway
have three thinges in youre herte, that is to fay,
pure Lord God, confcience, and good name,
piril, ye fliuin have God in youre berte, and for
no
Soo THE TALE OF MELIBEU5.
Ro richelTe ye fhuln do no thing, which may in
any manere clifplefe God that is your creatour
and maker. For after the word of Salomon, it
is better to have a litel good with love of God,
than to have muchel good, and lefe the love of
his Lord God, And the Prophete fayth. That
better it is to ben a good man, and have litel good
and trefor, than to be holden a fhrewe, and have
grete richeffes. And yet I fay forthermore, that
ye fhulden alway do youre befineffe to gete you
richeffes, fo that ye gete hem with good con-
fcience. And the Apoftle fayth, that ther n'is
thing in this world of which we fliulden have fo
gret joye, as whan oure confcience bereth us good
witneffe. And the Wife man fayth : The fub-
ilaunce of a man is ful good, whan linne is not in
mannes confcience. Afterward, in geting of
youre richeffes, and in ufing of hem, ye mufl
have gret befineffe and gret diligence, that youre
good name be alway kept and confer ved. For
Salomon fayth, that beter it is, and more it
availeth a man to have a good name, than for ro
have grete richeffes : and therfore he fayth in an-
other place : Do grete diligence (faith Salomon)
in keping of thy frendes, and of thy good namp,
for it Ihal lengcr abide with thee, than any trtr
for,
THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. jof
for, be it never fo precious. And certes, he
iliulde not be called a Gentilman, that after God
and good confcience, alle thinges left, ne doth his
diligence and belineffe, to kepen his good name.
And Caffiodore fayth, that it is a figne of a
gentil herte, whan a man loveth and deftreth to
have a good name. And therfore fayth Seint
Auguftine, that ther ben two thinges that arn
right neceifarie and nedeful ; and that is good
confcience, and good los ; that is to fayn, good
confcience to thin owen perfone inward, and
good los for thy neighebour outward. And he
that trofteth him fo muchel in his good con-
fcience, that he defpifeth and fetteth at nought
his good name or los, and recketh not though he
kepe not his good name, n'is but a cruel cherl.
Sire, now have I fhewed you how ye fhulden
do in geting richefles, and how ye fhuln ufen
hem : and I fee wel that for the truil that ye han
in youre richefles, ye vviln meve werre and
bataille, I confeille you that ye beginne no ba-
taille ne werre, in truft of youre richefles, for they
ne fufiicen not vverres to mainteine. And ther-
fore fayth a Philofophre : That man that delir-
cth and wol algates han werre, fhal never have
fuffifaunce : for the richer that he is, the greter
difpences
3oi THE TALE OF MELil^EUS.-
difpences mufl he make, if he wol have woriliip
and vidlorie. And Salomon faith, that the
greter richeiies that a man hath, the mo dif-
pendours he hath. And, dere Sire, al be it fo,
that for your rich.ciTes ye moun have muchel
folk, yet behoveth it not, ne it is not good to be^
ginne werre, wheras ye moun in other manerc have
pees, unto yOure worfliip and profite : for the
viftorie of batailles that ben in this world, lith
not in gret nombre or multitude of peple, ne in
the vertue of man, but it lith in the will and in
the bond of oure Lord God almighty. And ther-
fore Judas Machabeus, which was Goddes knight,
whan he fhulde lightc again his adverfarie, that
hadde a greter nombre and a greter multitude of
folk, and ftrenger than was the peple of this
Machabee, yet he recomforted his litel com-
paignie, and fayde right in this wife : Al fo
lightly (fayde he) may our Lord God almighty
yeve vidlorie to a fewe folk, as to many folk ;
for the vi£torie of a bataille cometh not by the
gret nombre of peple, but it cometh from oure
Lord God of heven. And, dere Sire, for as
muchel as ther is no man certaine, if it be wor-
thy that God yeve him viftorie or not, after that
Salomon fayth, therforc every man fhulde gretly
drede
THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 303
drede werres to beginne : and becaufe that in
batailles fallen many perils, and it happeth other
while, that as fone is the gret man ilain, as the
litel man ; and, as it is ywritten in the fecond
book of Kinges, the dedes of batailles ben aven-
turous, and nothing certain, for as lightly is on
hurt with a fpere, as another ; and for ther is
gret peril in werre ; therfore fhnlde a man fiec
and efchue werre in as muchel as a man may-
goodly. For Salomon fayth : He that loveth peril,
fl;ial falle in peril.
After that Dame Prudence had fpoken in this
manere, Melibee anfwerd and faide : I fee vvel,
dame Prudence, tliat by youre faire wordes and
by youre refons, that ye haa fliewed me, that
the werre liketh you nothing : but I have not
yet herd your confeil, how I flial do in this
nede.
Certes, quod fhe, I confeille you that ye ac-
corde with youre adyerfaries, and that ye have
pees with hem. For Seint James fayth in his
Epiflle, that by concorde and pees, the fmalc
richeffes wexen grete, and by debat and difcordc
grete richeffes fallen doun. And ye k no wen wel,
that on of the greteft and mofte foveraine thing
that is in this world, is unitee and pees. And
therfore
30+ tHE TALE OF iVlELlBEUS.
therfore fayde oure Lord Jefu Crift to his Apoltles
in this wife : Wei happy and blefled ben they
that loven and purchafen pees, for they ben called
the children of God. A, quod Melibec, now fee
I wel, that ye loven not min honour, ne my wor-
ihipe. Ye knowen wel that min adverfaries han
begonne this debat and brige by hir outrage,
and ye fee wel, that they ne requeren ne prayen
me not of pees, ne they axen not to be recon-
ciled ; wol ye than that I go and meke me, and
obeye me to hem, and crie hem mercie ? For-
foth that were not my worfliipe : for right as
men fayn, that overgret homlinefTe engendreth
difpreifing, fo fareth it by to gret humilitce or
mekenefle.
Than began dame Prudence to make fcmblaunt
of wrathe, and fayde : Certes, Sire, (fauf your
grace) I love youre honour and youre proiite,
as I do min owen, and ever have don ; ye, ne
non other, feyn never the contrary : and if I had
fayde, that ye fliulde han purchafed the pees and
the reconciliation, I ne hadde not muchel mif-
take me, ne fayde amis. For the Wife man
fayth: The diflention beginneth by another
man, and tlie reconciling beginneth by thyfelf.
And the Prophete faith ; Flee Ihrewednef^
and
THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 30^
and do goodneffe ; feke peef and folwe it, in
as inuchel as in thee is. Yet fay I not, that
ye fhuln rather purfue to youre adverfaries for
pees, than they fhuln to you : for I know wel
that ye ben fo hard-herted, that ye wol do
nothing for me ; and Salorhon fayth : he that
hath over .hard an herte, atte lafte he fhal mif-
happe and miilide.
Whan Melibee had herd dame Prudence
make femblaunt of wrath, he fayde in this wife.
Dame, I pray you that ye be not difplefed of
thinges that I fay, for I knowe wel that J am
angry and wroth, and that is no wonder ; and
they that ben wroth, woten not wel what they
don, ne what they fayn. Therfore the Prophete
fayth, that troubled eyen han no clere fighte.
But fayth and confellleth me as you liketh, for
I am redy to do right as ye wol defire. And
if ye repreve me of my folic, I am the more
holden to love you and to preife you. For
Salomon faith, that he that repreveth him that
doth felie, he fhal find greter grace, than he
that deceiveth him by fwete wordes.
Than fayde Dame Prudence; I make no fem^
blaunt of wrath ne of anger, but for youre
grete profite. For Salomon faith : he is niore
Vol. II, X worth.
3o6 THE TALE OF MELIBEUS.
worth, that repreveth or chideth a fool for his
folie, fliewing him femblaunt of wrath, than
he that fupporteth him and preifeth him in his
nlifdoing, and laugheth at his folic. And this
fame Salomon faith afterward, that by the
forweful vifage of a man, that is to fayn, by the
fory and hevy countenance of a man, the fool
corre£teth and amendcth himfelf.
Than faid Melibee; I fhal not conne an-
fwere unto fo many faire refons as ye putten to
•me and fhewen : fayth fhortly youre will and
youre confeil, and I am al redy to performe and
fulfille it.
Than Dame Prudence difcovered all hire will
unto him and faide : I confeille you, quod flic,
above alle thinges that ye make pees betwene
God and you, and be reconciled unto him and
to his grace, for as I have fayde you herebe-
foren, God hath fuffered you to have this tri-
bulation and difefe for youre finnes : and if ye
do as I fay you, God wol fende youre adver-
faries unto you, and make hem falle at youre
feet, redy to do youre will and youre com-
maundements. For Salomon fayth; whan the
condition of man is. plefaunt and liking to God,
he chaungeth. the hertes of the mannes adver-
faries.
THETALE OF MELIBEUS. 307
fanes, and conftreineth hem to befechen him of
pees and of grace. And I pray you let me
fpeke with your adverfaries in privee place, for
they Ihuln not knowe that it be of youre will
or youre aflent ; and than, whan I knowe hir
will and hir entente, I may confeille you the
more feurely.
Dame, quod Melibcus, doth youre will and
youre liking, for I putte me holly in youre dif-
polition and ordinaunce.
Than Dame Prudence, when fhe fey the good
will of hire hufbond, delibered unto hire, and
toke avis in hire felf, thinking how fhe might
bring this nede unto goode ende. And whan
fhe fey hire time, fhe fent for thife adverfarie$
to come unto hire in to a privee place, and
fhewed wifely unto hem the grete goodes that
comen of pees, and the grete harmes and perils
that ben in werre; and faide to hem in a goodly
manere, how that hem oughte have gret repent-
aunce of the injuries and wronges, that they
hadden don to Melibeus hire lord, and unto hire
^nd to hire doughtcr.
And whan they herden the goodly wordes of
Dame Prudence, they weren fo ftirprifed and
raviilied, and hadden fo gret joye of hire, that
X 2 wonder
3o8 THE TALE OF MELIBEUS
wonder was to telle. A, lady, quod they, yc
have fhewed unto us the bleffing of fwetenefl'e,
after the faying of David the Prophete ; for the
rcconeiling, which we be not worthy to have
in no manere, but we oughten requeren it with
grete contrition and humilitee, ye of yourc
grete goodneffe have prefented unto us. Now
fee we wel, that the fcicnce and conning of
Salomon is ful trewe ; for he faith, that fwetc
wordes multiplien and encrefen frendes, and
maken fhrewes to be debonaire and meke.
Certes, quod they, we putten oure dede, and all
cure matere and caufe, al holly in youre good
will, and ben redy to obeye unto the fpechc
and commaundemcnt of my lord Melibeus.
And therfore, dere and benigne lady, we prayc
you and befeche you as mekely as we conne and
moun, that it like unto youre grete goodnefle
to fulfille in dede youre goodly wordes. For
we confideren and knowelechen, that we han
offended and greved my lord Melibeus out of
mefure, fo fer forth, that we ben not of power
to maken him amendes ; and therfore we oblige
and binde us and oure frendes, for to do all his
will and his commaundements : but peraventurc
he hath fwiche hevinefle and fwiche wrath to
us
THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 309
us ward, becaufe of oure offence, that he wol
enjoynen us fwiche a peine, as we moun not
bere ne fuftelne ; and therfore, noble ladie, wc
befeche to youre womanly pittee to take fwieh©
avifement in this nede, that we, ne oure frendes,
ben not diflierited and deftroied, thurgh oure
folie.
Certes, quod Prudence, it is an hard thing
and right perilous, that a man putte him all
outrely in the arbitration and jugement, and in
the might and power of his enemie : for Sa-
lomon fayth: leveth me, and yeveth credence
to that that I fhall fay : to thy fone, to thy wif,
to thy frend, ne to thy brother, ne yeve thou
never might ne maiftrie over thy body, while
thou livefl. Now, fith he defendeth that a man
fhulde not yeve to his brother, ne to his frend,
the might of his body, by a ftrenger refon he
defendeth and forbedeth a man to yeve him-^
felf to his enemy. And natheles, I confeille
you that ye miftrufte not my lord ; for I wot
wel and know veraily, that he is debonaire and
meke, large, curteis, and nothing defirous ne
coveitous of good ne rlchefTe : for ther is no-
thing in this world that he delireth, fave only
^^orfhipe and honour. Forthermore I know wel,
X 3 and
510 THE TALE OF MELIBEUS.
and am right fure, that he fhal nothing do in
this nede withouien my confeil ; and I fhal fo
werken in this cas, that by the grace of oure
Lord God ye fliuln be reconciled unto us.
Than faiden they with o vois ; worfhipful
lady, we putten us and oure goodes al fully in
youre will and difpofition, and ben redy to
conic, what day that it like unto youre nobleflc
to limite us or afligne us, for to make oure obli-
gation and bond, as flrong as it liketh unto
youre goodnefle, that we moun fuliille the will
of you and of my lord Melibee.
Whan Dame Prudence had herd the anfwcr
of thife men, fhe bad hem go agein privcly,
and fhe retourned to hire lord Melibee, and told
him how flic fond his adverfaries ful repentaunt^
knowleching ful lowly hir finnes and ,trefpas,
and how they weren redy to fuffren all peine,
requering and preying him of mercy and pitee.
Than faide Melibee; he is wel worthy to
have pardon and foryevenefTc of his finne, that
fcxcufeth not his finne, but knowlecheth, and
repenteth him, axing indulgence. For Senek
feith ; ther is the remiflion and foryevenefTe,
wher as the confefiion is ; for confeflion is
ncighebour to innocence. And therefore 1 af-
fentc
THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 311
^nte and conferme me to have pees, but it is
good that we do nought withouten the aflent
and will of oure frendes.
Than was Prudence right glad and joyeful,
and faide ; certes, lire, ye han wel and goodly
an(wered : for right as by the confeil, affent,
and helpe of your frendes, ye han be ftired^ to
viJnge you and make werre : right fo withouten
hir confeil fhul ye not accord you, ne have
pees with youre adverfaries. For the lawe
feith : ther is nothing fo good by way of kinde,
as a thing to be unbounde by him that it wa6
ybounde.
And than Dnme Prudence, withouten delay
or tarying, fent anon hire melTageres for hir
kin and for hir bide frendes, which that were
trewe and wife : and told hem by ordrc, In the
prefence of Melibee, all the materCj as it is
.above expreffed and declared ; and preied hem
that they wold yeve hir avis and confeil, what
were bell to do in this nede. And whan Me-^
libeus frendes hadden taken hir avis and delibe-
ration of the forefaid matere, and hadden ex-
•amined it by gret belineiTe and gret diligence,
they yaven ful confeil for to have pees and refte,
X 4 and
312 THE TALE OF MELIBEUS.
and that Melibee (liulde receive with good herte
his adverfaries to foryevenefle and mercy.
And whan dame Prudence had herd the af-
fent of hire lord Melibee, and the confeil of
his frendes, accord with hire will and hire en-
tention, (he was wonder glad in hire herte, and
fayde : ther is an olde Proverbe, quod fhe, fayth,
that the goodneffe that thou maift do this day,
do it, and abide not, ne delay it not til to
morwe : and therfore I confeille, that ye fende
yourc ipeflageres, fwiche as ben difcrete and
wife, unto youre adverfaries, telling hem on
youre behalf, that if they wol trete of pees and
of accord, that they fl-jape hem, withouten delay
or tarying, to come unto us. Which thing
parfourmed was indede. And whan thife tref-
pafours and repenting folk of hir folies, that is
to fayn, the adverfaries of Melibee, hadden
herd what thife meffageres fayden unto hem,
they weren right glade and joyeful, and an-
fwerdcn ful mekely and benignely, yelding
graces and thankinges to hir lord Melibee, and
to all his compagnie: and fliopen hem with-
outen delay to go with the meflagcrcs, and
obeyc to the commaundement of hir lord Me-
libee.
And
THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 313
And right anon they token hir way to the court
of Melibee, and token with hem fom of hir trcwe
frendes, to make feith for hem, and for to ben
hir borwes. And whan they were comen to
the prefence of Melibee, he faide hem thife
wordes : it flant thus, quod Melibee, and foth
it is, that ye caufeles, and withouten fkill and
refon, han don grete injuries and wronges to
me, and to my wif Prudence, and to my doughter
alfo, for ye han entred into myn hous by vio-
lence, and have don fwiche outrage, that alle
men knowen wel that ye han deferved the deth :
and therfore wol I know and wete of you, whe-
ther ye wol putte the punifhing and chaftiling,
and the vengeaunce of this outrage, in the will
of me and of my wif, or ye wol not.
Than the wifeft of hem three anfwered for
hem alle, and faide. Sire, quod he, we knowen
wel, that we ben unworthy to come to the court
of fo gret a lord and fo worthy as ye ben, for
we han fo gretly miftaken us, and han offended
and agilte in fwiche wife agein youre high lord-
fliipe, that trewely we han deferved the deth;
but yet for the grete goodnelfe and debonairetee
that all the world witnelfeth of youre perfone,
we fubmitten us to the excellence and benio-nitec
of
314 THE TALE OF MELIBEUS.
of youre gracious lordfhipe, and ben redy t©
obcye to alle youre comandements, befeching-^
you, that of youre merciable pitee ye wol conii-
dere oure grete repentance and lowe fubmiffion,
and graunte us foryevenefle of cure outragious
trelpas and offence : for wel we knowen, that
youre liberal grace and mercie ftrelchen heni
forther into goodnelTe, than don oure outragious
giltes and trefpas into wickedneffe ; al be it that
Gurfed^y and dampnably we han agilte agairt
youre hlghe lordihipe.
Than Melibee toke hem up fro the ground ful
benignely, and received hir obligations, and hir
"bondes, by hir othes upon hir plegges and borwes,
and affigned hem a certain day to retourne unto
his court for to receive and accept fcntence and
jugement, that Melibee wolde commande to be
don on hem, by the caufes aforefaid ; which
thingcs ordeined, every man retourned to his
hous.
And whan that dame Prudence faw hire time,
fhe freined and axed hire lord Melibee, what
vengeance he thoughte to taken of his adver-
faries.
To which Melibee anfwerd, and faide : certes,
quod he, I thinkc and purpofe me fully to
di file rite
THE TALK OF MELIfeEUS. 31^
difheritfe h^m df ill tliat ever they han, and for
to putte heril ih etWe for eVer.
Certes, quod Dame Prudence, this were a
cruel fentence, and muchel agein refon. For
ye ben riche ynough, and han no nede of other
mehnes good; and ye might lightly in this
wife gete you a coveitous name, which is a vi-
oous thing, and oughte to ben efckevved of
^very good man : for after the fawe of the
Apoftle, coveitife is rote of alle harmes. And
therfore it were better for you to lefe muchel
good of your owen, than for to take of hir good
in this manere. For better it is to lefe good
with worfliip, than to winne good with vilania
and (hame. And every man oughte to do his
diligence and his belineffe, to gete him a good
name. And yet flial he not only belie him in
keping his good name, but he fhal alio en-
forcen him alvvay to do fom thing, by which
he may renovelle his good name : for it is writ-
ten, that the olde good los, or good name, of a
man is fone gon and paffed, whan it is not
newed. And as touching that ye fayn, that yc
wol exile your adverfaries, that thinketh me
muchel agein refon, and out of mefure, con-
fidered the power that they han ycven you
upon
3i6 THE TALE OF MELIBEUS.
upon hemfelf. And it is written, that he is
tjrorthy to lefe his privilege, that mifufeth th^
might and the power that is yeven him. And
I fette cas, ye might enjoine hem that peine
by right and by lawe, (which I trowe ye mowc
not do) I fay, ye might not putte it to exe-
cution peraventure, and than it were like to re-
tourne to the werre, as it was beforn. And
therfore if ye wol that men do you obeifaunce,
ye muft deme more curteifly, that is to fayn,
ye muft yeve more efie fentences and jugements.
For it is written : he that moft curteifly com-
mandeth, to him men moft obeyen. And ther-
fore I pray you, that in this neceilitee and in
this nede ye cafte you to overcome youre herte.
For Senek fayth, that he that overcometh his
herte, overcometh twies. And Tullius faith :
thcr is nothing fo commendable in a gret lord,
as whan he is debonaire and meke, and appefedi
him lightly. And I pray you, that ye wol novy
forbere to do vengeaunce, in fwiche a manere,
that your good name rnay be kept and con-
fcrved, and that men mown have caufe and
matere to preife you of pitee and of mercy;
and that ye have no caufe to repente you of
thing that ye don. For Seneke faicth: he over-
cometh
THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 317
cometli in an evil manere, that repenteth him
of his vi6torie. Wherfore I pray you let mercy
be in youre herte, to the efFe£l and entente, that
God ahnighty have mercy upon you in his Jail
jugement : for feint James faith in his Epiftle :
jugement withoute mercy fhal be do to him,
that hath no mercy of another wight.
Whan Melibee liad heard the grete Ikillts and
refons of dame Prudence, and hire wife infor-
mations and techinges, his herte gan encline to
the will of his wif, confidering hire trewe en-
tente, enforced him anon and aflented fully to
wwken after hire confeil, and thanked God, of
whom procedeth all goodneffe and all vcrtue,
that him fent a wif of fo gret difcretion. And
whan the day came that his adverfaries fhuldc
appere in his prefence, he fpake to hem ful
goodly, and faide in this wife. Al be it fo, that
of youre pride and high prefumption and folic,
and of youre negligence and unconning, ye have
mifborne you, and trefpafed unto me, yet for
as muchel as I fee and behold youre grete bu-
rn ilitee, and that ye ben fory and repentant of
youre giltes, it conftreineth me to do you grace
and mercy : wherfore I receive you into my
grace, and foryeve you outrely alle the offences,
injuries.
3ia THE TALE OF MELIBEUS.
injuries, and wronges, that ye have don agein
nie and mine, to this effeft and to this ende,
that God of his endeles mercie wol at the time
of cure dying foryeve us oure giltes, that we
han trefpafed to him in this wretched world :
for douteles, if we be fory and repentant of the
finnes and giltes, which we han trefpafed in the
fight of oure Lord God, he is fo free and fo
nierciable, that he wol foryeven us oure giltes,
and bringen us to the blilTe that never hath
ende. Amen,
THE END OF THE SECOND VOLUME.
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY
iik^^i
