\ STUDIA IN
THE LIBRARY
of
VICTORIA UNIVERSITY
Toronto
tf % fife 0f $|lan.
Suits, LXXXIII.
1901.
BERLIN : ASHER & CO., 13, UNTER DEN LINDEN.
NEW YORK: C. SCRIBNER & CO.; LEYPOLDT & HOLT.
PHILADELPHIA : J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO.
ENGLISHT BY
JOHN LYDGATE, A.D. 1426,
FROM THE FRENCH OF
GUILLAUME DE DEGUILEVILLE, A.D. 1335.
EDITED FROM 3 FIFTEENTH-CENTURY MSS. IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM,
COTTON, VITELLIUS, C xiii (VELLUM, IMPERFECT),
COTTON, TIBERIUS, A vii (VELLUM, A FRAGMENT), AND
STOWE 952 (PAPER, COMPLETED BY JOHN STOWE,
ABOUT 1600 A.D.)
BY
F. J. FURNIVALL, M.A. CAMBRIDGE,
HON. DR. PHIL. BERLIN, HON. D.LITT. OXFORD,
FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR OF THE EARLY ENGLISH TEXT SOCIETY.
PART II.
LONDON :
PUBLISHED FOR THE EARLY ENGLISH TEXT SOCIETY
BY KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH, TRUBNER & Co.
PATERNOSTER HOUSE, CHARING-CROSS ROAD, W.C.
, 1901
E5
ho. 77
pt.2
TO
THK MEMOUY OF OLD
3obn Stowe,
THE ELIZABETHAN TAILOR,
WHO LOVED MS8. AND ANTIQUITY;
AND TO WHOSE COPY THE COMPLETENESS
OF THE FOLLOWING TEXT IS DUE.
(gttra Series, Lxxxm.
RICHAKD CLAY 4 SONS, LIMITED, LONJ>ON * BUNGAY.
/ ask Grace Dicu for a Cart to carry my Armour. 241
And that thow err, neueradel."
The pylgrym : The PUO*-
" Alias," quod I. " what may thys be, J &* 1 f9"h
for turning
That, off my foly nycete, 8688 !*",
I am be-kome an Erde 1 man, [> i>erde St.]
And noon other crafft ne kan,
A rud shepperde, thorgh my folye,
And ha for-sake chyualrye, 8692
Armys that longen to a knyht,
Ther-off cowplaynynge day & nyht.
And syker, so I may ryht wel,
Whan I consydre euerydel 86 96
Hou dauyd (who lyst takew kep) tiio'pavui
J v * was first a
Was fyrst an Erde, 2 & kepte 3 shep ; ["herdest. 3 kept St.] shepherd,
But, thorgh hys manly gouernauwce,
Hym-sylff affter he dyde avauwce 8700 and then a
m -I , i j. i mighty king.
To be callyd a myghty kyng,
Thorgh hys vertuous lyuyng,
And \vyth al thys, a famous knyht.
Wherfor, I pray yow anoou ryht, 8704 i ask for a
Lyk your hest, doth your deuer
To ordeyne me a sorner,
Myn barneys ther-in for to karye ; to carry my
And her-vp-on that ye nat tarye, [stowe, leaf 155] 8708
But in al hast that ye me spede,
That whan yt falleth 4 I ha nede, [* ffuyiietiie st.]
Myn armure be nat fer me ffro,
Whaw that I ha nede ther-to." 8712
Grace dieu : grace Die>,
Quod grace dieu anoon to me, aTrva'iT 6
' Thow hast abydynge ay wyt/t the gk,>
A seruant and a chaii?berere, [leaf i.se, bk.]
Wych in soth, (as thow shalt lere,) 8716
Lesyth hyr tyme, & doth ryht nouht,
A Damyselle : 5 lat hyr be soulit, r 5 stowe]
To trusse thyn barneys euerydel.
ffor yiff hyr lyst, she kan ryht wel 8720 who ran pai-k
/T i ss i- L \ : "" 1 c ' an ' y " iy
(1 naue oli hyre no maner doute,) irms.
Trusse, and bern yt ek a-boute,
And folwe the owher 6 so thou go ; [<" wiier St.]
PILGRIMAGE. K
242 Grace Dieu shows me a Servant with Eyes at her lack;
Grace pieu. ' And by my couwsayl, lat her so, 8724
Syth that she kan do hyr deuer,
Bo the be thy seruant & somer.'
The Pilgrim. fllQ pylgrym I
i say i Ma dame," (to speke feythfully.)
haven't a
servant. i ha noon sywch WT/t/i me," quod I. 8728
Grace Dieu GfaC6 dlBU !
' Certys,' quod she, ' thou hast swych on ;
I shal hyr shewe to the a-noon,
uids me look Yiff in thy sylff ther be no lak :
Looke be-hynden at thy bak !' [Stowe, leaf 155, back] 8732
The Pilgrim. The pylgiym \
i do o, And so I dyde, lyk as she
The same tyme comaurcdyd me,
and see a Be-held bak ward, & saw 1 sywch on : [' saw om. St.]
woman
Wheroff astonyd I was a-noon, 8736
And fyl in-to a ful gret doute,
Be-cause, whan I be-lield aboute,
without eyes, I sawh that eyen hadde she noon,
Ne 2 mor than hath a stole or ston ; [ 2 NO St.] 8740
Wych was to me a thyng hydous ;
lyke a mon- She sempte, a best monstruows,
stnms beast.
Outward, by hyr co?jtenau?zce.
But tho I hadde a rerae??tbraurcce 8744
Ho\v Grace dieu hadde don to me
Touchynge myw eyen, \vyih wych I se,
Wyth them to make me se the bet,
In myn erys wha?i they wer set, 8748
By hyr oune puruyaunce ;
Wher-oflf havyng a reme?)tbraunce,
[leaf 137] I gan consydre & loke wel
Hyr shap & maner euerydel. 8752
nut on look- Tvl at the laste, I dyde fynde
ing turther, J
i see her eyes In hyr haterel, fer be-hynde,
are set J
behind her. Tweyiio Eyen ff nl cler & bryht ;
Wych was to me a wonder syht. 8756
And on thys thyng gretly mtisynge,
To grace dieu my-sylff tournynge,
Sodeynly I tho abraydc 1 ,
And, astonyd, to hyre I sayde : 8760
ivho is a Treasurer of Knowledge and Experience. 24 3
The pylgiym : 1 PC. has this heading 4 lines higher.] The Pilgrim.
"Ma dame," quod I, ("yiff ye lyst lere,) [stowe, leaf ise] iteiiGnu-e
' v J J J Uieuthat
I ha founde a chauwberere,
Me suyng at my bak be-hynde,
Off whom I hadde to-forn no mynde 8764
Nor no maner remewbrauwce ;
And syker, I ha no gret plesawice
Off hyr offyce nor hyr seruise ;
Cause why, I shal devyse : 8768
Me semeth she ys vngracyous,
Counterfeet & monstruous :
And as me semeth in my syht, i doubt if
this monster
She ne kan nat, halff a-ryht, 8772 "an truss and
keep my
Wt/t/i me trussen myw armure, armour.
Nouther kepe myn harneys sure."
Grace dieu. : Orace Difu
1 Certys,' quod Grace dieu ryht tlio,
' I wot my sylff yt ys nat so : 8776
She kan hem trusse most trewly, assures me
she I'un,
And beren 2 also sykerly. [ 2 beren St., bern c.]
Wherfor, in thyn oppynyouw,
Tyl thow haue occas'iouw 8780
Or som cause, dyspreyse hyr nouht ;
ffor whan the trouthe ys clerly souht,
Thow shalt knowe wol that she
Ys ful necessarye to the, 8784
Yiff thow lyst maken 3 prOliydence [ 3 maken St., makem C.] [leaf 137, bk.]
Off any koiuzyng or scyence, and can also
teach me.
Yt to concevue wyt/j-oute' lak,
' By cause hyr Eyen stonden bak, 8788 Her eyes
J being in her
Yt ys a sygne (as thow shalt lere) b , ack > .
show she is a
That she is a tresourere Exp^rieTR'ef
Off konnyng & of sciencys, [stowe, leaf ise, back]
And off all Experyencys 8792
That be commyttyd to hyr garde ;
Yiff thow kowne a-ryht rewarde,
Thyngis passyd, thow shalt fyndo "'I 10 kac i' s
J thuiLCS l>:ist
Schc kepeth hem closyd in hyr mynde, 8796 ta bar mind.'
Sore shet wyt/t lok & keye,
That they go nat lyhtly awey.
244 Her name is Memory. To her I entrust my Armour.
Past tilings
she knows,
but not future
ones.
Her name is
Memory.
The Pilgrim,
[leaf 138]
Tho' I doubt
lier fitness,
I commit my
armour to
Memory's
charge.
' Al 1 thynges off antyquyte, [> Aiie st.]
Storyes that auctoryaed 2 be, [ z auntorysed st.] 8800
And thywges digne off Reme??ibraurace,
And al the olde gouernaunce
Wych a-for thys hath 3 be do, phast.]
She kan devyse, no whyht so, 8804
Fresshly renewyd in hyr thouht.
' And yet, to-forn, she seth ryht nouht,
Nor a-parceyueth no mane?* thyng
OfE that shal folvve in hyr seyyng,
Off wysdam, Armys, nor vyctorye.
And hyr name ys " memory e " ;
And so thow shalt off Ryght hyr calle
Her-affter-ward, what euer falle.
And wherso that 4 thou wake or slepe,
Tak hyr thyw armure for to kepe ;
And she wyl make no dauwger,
But the to serue, & 5 don hyr deuer."
The pylgrym to memoyre.
Than quod I to thys chaimberere :
"Wych that* han your eyen clere, P
Only be-hynde (yifF yt be souht)
& to-forn ne se ryht nouht,
ffor off thynges that passyd be,
Ys your Charge 7 for to Se; 17 Charge only St. Stowe, leaf 157]
And I to-forn shal taken hede :
But I stonde in a mane?- drede,
In what wyse ye shal sustene
To remembre, (thus I mene,)
Or so gret a charge to bere,
Off thynges out off mynde feere, 8
Hem to reporte, wyt/i-oute blame
But, for ye han so good a name,
And, to bere, 9 ben ek couenable,
Strong also & seruysable ;
To yow thys armure I conmytte,
Out off your garde that they nat flytte."
[Illai/k in MS. for an Illumination.]
And she tooke 10 [hem] fill lowly [ 10 tooko st., took c.]
In-to hyr kepyng fynally, 8836
8808
8812
[nimt om. st.]
8816
You who)]
8820
8824
[ myn fleer St.] 8828
t beere St.]
8832
8840 says I am
now ready to]
go on ray
journey.
[>oonSt.] 8844
[ * om. St.]
8848
except for the
bread,
[leaf 138, bk . ]
8852
[St. & C.]
Moses gives me Bread for my Journey to Jerusalem. 245
And in hyr tresour vp hew layde.
And Grace dieu tha?i to me sayde :
Grace dieu : grace meu.
Quod she a-noon, ' tak hed her-to !
Now artow redy for to go
As a pylgrym on thy lournee
To lerusaleem the cyte ;
Redy in al (yt ys no drede),
Save off o 1 thyng thow hast nede,
Only off bred, 2 (wytft-oute more,)
Ther-wyth thy skryppe to astore :
Off wych bred 2 I ha the told.
' But I the rede, be nat to bold
To take noon (in no degre,)
W?/t/i-outen lycence or conge
Off the ladyes (in substauwce) [stowe, leaf 157, back]
Wych ha that bred in gouernamice.
And alderfyrst : thow ek observe,
That thow ko?me yt wel dysserve,
And thy sylff, aforn to make
To be worthy yt to take
Off the ladyes, benygne off cherys,
Wych ther be set ffor awmenerys :
Wit/i-oute hem, put the nat in pres.'
Thanne wente I to 3 Moyses,
Hy?>i be-souhte, to my good sped,
ffor to youe 4 me off that bred.
And he me gaff yt ful goodly :
And in my skryppe, a-noon I
Putte that bred most off vertu.
Thanwe to me spak Grace dieu :
Grace dieu:
Quod Grace dieu to me tho blythe,
' By my counsayl, offte sythe
Lok ther-to that thow tak hede
Whan thow shalt eiyn off thys bred,
Thy syluew gostly to dysporte,
And thyn herte to recouwforte,
Therby tarme thy sylff ryht wel,
Let than in Iron or in stel ;
which I am
to make my-
8856 self worthy
to take.
[vn-toSt.] 8860 The PUprim.
I go to Moses.
[ yeve St.]
8864
[C. & St.]
He gives me
bread freely,
?nd Ip.it it
in my sknp.
'8868 says that
8872
when I ent
tins litviiil, I
shall In-
armed.
246 As I wont touch tny Armour, &race Dieu calls me Coic-ard.
Grace Dieu
reproaches
me
for not daring
to wear my
armour.
[leaf 139]
They are not
good war-
riors, who
hang their
shield* upon
the wall.
They pretend
they'd slay
linns.
Imt have
their arms
in a curt
behind em.
' Therby to han experyence
ffor to make resistence 8876
Ageyn al thy mortal ffon.
' But herkene vn-to me A-noon :
Conceyue (for conclusions)
Yt ys a gret 1 confus'ioun paffuiiest. stowe, leaf iss] 8880
To the (yiff thow lyst to lere,)
That she wych ys thy chauwberere
Sholde, affter the, thyn arrays here ;
And thow thy-sylff darst hem nat were, 8884
Nor vjyih thy fynger touche he??i nouht,
Swych dred & fer ys in thy thouht,
Thow braydest on a koward knyht,
Keseniblynge hem that dar nat ffyht : 8888
I holde hem nat goode werryours,
Manly knyhtes, nor conquerours,
That hange her sheldys vp on 2 the wal, [ vp on c., on st.]
To make a mowstre in specyal, 8892
Outward by, as by apparence,
ffor to shewe the excellence
Off ther rychesse by fressh array ;
And ther bodyes, nyht nor day, 8896
Nor them sylff, dar nat a-vauce
To handle 8 nouther swerd nor launce ; P T Ta 1 n 'J{j^ 6 J ''
But outward shewyn ffressh pey?*tures
Off dyuers bestys and ffygures, 8900
Lyk to manly champyouws,
As they wolden si en lyouws
In dyffence off ther contre.
And yet, par oas, yt may so be, 8904
Ther bodyes strongely 4 tassure, [ 4 strongeiy st., strongly c.]
They stuffe her somerys vtyih armure,
Wych ay hem folweth at the bak,
That in shewyng ther be no lak ; 8908
And for al that, (who taketh hede)
And yt kome vn-to the nede,
(I mene, as off a mortal werre,) [sto-ve, leaf us, hack] 8911
They wolde he? sylff holde 5 afferre, [ 5 holde st., om. c.]
To preue her manhood & hyr myght.
' But I holde hym a manly knyght,
The way to Jerusalem is full of foes. I should go armd. 247
The manly
knight
bears his
armour on
his back,
especially
when deadly
war is going
on.
The way to
Jerusalem
is beset with
enemies,
' Wych off hys harneys (fer & ner)
Ys hym syluew. the somer, 8916
And bereth hys armure on hys bak,
On liys Enmyes to take wrak ;
And in hys harneys, day & nyht
Ys fourcde redy, lyk a knyht, 8920 [leaf 139, bk.]
Off prouydence hy?Ji sylfE to kepe,
And ther-in, day and nyht doth slepe,
lledy to sende hyw vryth hys hond,
Namly, whan he ys in a lond 8924
Wher the werre ys ay mortal,
' And truste \vel in especyal,
That the land & the contre
Toward Jerusalem the cyte, 8928
Thow mayst nat passe yt, fer nor ner,
Wr/t/i-oute pe?*eil & gvet daunger.
Yt ys ay ful off Enneniyes,
Off brygaiwtys, & fals espyes, 8932
And off ffomen fful despytous.
' And in thys passage perillous,
Me semeth (in no maner wyse,)
That yt may to the suffyse, 893G
Thy stonys platly, nor thy staff slynge,
(Wych vryth the that thow dost brynge),
But yiff thow do thy deuer,
To haue vft/th the thy Somer, 8940
To ber thy armys on thy bak,
Bet than in bowgys or cloth sak.
' Yt 1 wer a gret derysioun ['Andytst. stowe, leaf 159]
To the, and gret conftisiom?, 8944
Yiff tliy chauibrere sholde he??? brynge,
And thow, for lak off fforseyynge,
Stoode thy syllff disconsolaat,
Dysarmyd, nakyd, & chek-maat, 8948
Consydred 2 that thy chaw?iberere [ 2 connydrc St.]
Ys lasse off myght & off powere
Than thow thy-sylff[e] sholdest be,
Yiff thow be gouernyd by equyte.' 8952
The pylgrym :
" Certeys ye seyn rylit wel at al.
againstwliom
your stones
and staff will
not suffice ;
and it would
be a great
derision to
you
to be found
unarmed mid
check-mute.
248 Tko' I ivas too fat, I am now jit, lut have no Servant.
The piigHm. " But I wolde in esfecyal
[leaf 140] Wyten how yt myghte be,
Or whehr the faute 1 \ver in me, [' the defaute st.] 8956
The cause 2 platly of thys cas, pstowe]
That I so sone dysarmyd was ;
i ask why i And why I myghte' nat endure
could not
anno r ur the The hevynesse off my;i armure." 8960
annour
Grace Ditn GiaCC
' Hastow,' qiwd she, ' no Remewbraiwce, *
How I the tolde, 3 in substatwce, [ 3 toiae st., told c.]
says i was Thow wer to fat, and to lykynge,
To gret and large (as by semynge,) 8964
The to putte in a venture
So hevy armure to endure 1 '
The Pilgrim. The pylgrym :
" I wel remewbre," 4 so ye sayde, [* Remembre me st.]
And thys defautys on me ye layde ; 8968
And yet ye sayde to me no wrong; [stowe, leaf 159, back]
i sny i now But now I ffele mv sylff mor strong
leel stronger. '
To ben armyd, on 5 good entente, [ 5 in st.]
Yiff so be that ye assente." 8972
Grace Dieu. GraCC
Grace Dieu ' Wostow what thow art ? ' qwod she :
whether rm ' Yiff thow be On, declare to 6 me ; [ to am. st.]
Yiff thow be double outher tweyne,
Tel me A-noon & nat ne feyne. 8976
Lat ther be no varyau?ice
or have a Whcr tllOW haUC 7 gOUgJ'naunce [ 7 hast the St.]
man too.
Off any mane/- other wyht
Than off thy sylff : tel on now ryht.' 8980
The Pilgrim. Xh.6 pylgrym '.
" Ma dame," quod I. " yiff ye lyst se,
Off thys thyng ye axe me,
(Yiff ye lyst pleynly to 8 cowcerne,) [toom.st.]
i any i have I haue no mo for to gouerne 8984
no one but _ . .
myself. But mysylft, nor to comauwde.
[leaf no, bk.] I haue merveyl off your demauwde ; [c. &st.]
What ye mene, off this qucstyoxui ,,
AV//t//-outc a declaracyowj." ,, 8988
Grace dieu:
Grace Dieu says my Servant is now my Master. 249
' Yiff vn-to me good audyence, Grace pieu^
And also do thy dyllygence Gi ;f < Dieu
J J J tells me that
Terkne 1 a-noon what I shal say ; [' TO herken St.]
And thy sylff shalt nat seyw nay ; 8992
But I shal preue the contrayre,
That thou hast an aduersavre, [stowe, icafico] i have an
adversary,
And On ek off thy moste foot),
Whom that thow off yore agon 8996 one formerly
under my
Hast yhad in gouernaunce, control,.
And dost ful bysy attewdaunce
ffor to cherysshe day & nyght,
"W//t/fc al thy power, and thy myght ; 9000
A daye's, for to fede hy??i offte, but now
fosterd by me
And a nyht, to leyn hjm soffte ; with luxuries.
Wyt7< metys most delycyous,
And, \\yth deyntes outragons, 2 [* outrageous St.] 9004
Thow dost ful besy attendance
To ffostren hy?i to hys plesaunce.
' What-euere cost ther-on be spent,
Thow takest noon heed in thyw entent, 9008
But al hys lustys to obeye.
' And yet I dar afferme & seye,
He was ordeyned for to be HO was or-
diiiiied to be
Soget & seruamtt vn-to the, 9012 my servant,
And tabyde in thy servyse.
' But now ys tournyd al that guyse,
Pleynly, yiff thow lyst to se ;
ffor lie hath now the souereynte, 9016
Lordshepe & domynaciou?t,
That ffyrst was in subiecc'ioim.
And to cocludew, at word,
Thow art soget, & he ys lord ; 9020 [leaf ui]
And yet he was dely vered the, [c. & st.] ^ \l"
Thy seruaunt euere to ha be ;
But he ys now thy most enmy, >""' m y ,
J J ' ercatest foe
And doth hys power outterly, 9024
Euey-e in on, the to werreye,
And day & nyght to dysobeye,
And for thy lustys ay to varyc,
Yn-to the to be contrarye, [stowe, io:r 100, back] 9028
250 Grace Dieu describes how I pamper my Foe (niy Body).
grace Dieu. ' Nat-w?/t7<-stondynge the dyllygence,
The costys & the gret expense
That thow dost hywi for t plese,
And hys Gredynesse tapese : 9032
NOW he ia Thow beyst 1 hym many fressh loAvel, pbyeststj
pampered
by you. And sparest nat off thy catel
To beyn 2 hym knyue's & tablettys, [byenst.]
Eyche gyrdelys & corsettys, 9036
YOU buy Clothes off sylk & off skarlet,
him silks and . .
pearls. Embrawdyd, & wym perlys 3 ffret : ppeiiesst.]
Al hys desyrs thow pursues,
Somwhyle to lede hym to the stewes, 9040
YOU bathe To wasshe & bathe hym tendyrly,
him, J J '
ia;- him on And to leyii hym soff telv
feutherbeds, * '
On ff ether beddys, mad ful wel,
ffor to slepe hys vndermel ; 9044
And afterward to kembe hys lied :
ami give him Wt/t7i wynes also, whyt & red,
Wj/th nialuesyn & ypocras,
Thow dost to hym ful gret so 1 as, 9048
And art mor bysy hym to queme
Than thy-sylff, I dar wel deme.
YOU wait As a norysshe on 4 hyr enfauwt. [* noryse / to St.]
on him like
a nurse. Thow art eugre attendaurat 9052
To ffostren hym, lyk hys delyt,
[leaf ui, bk.j And to serue hys appetyt ;
And shortly, whan thow hast al do,
And yet he Thow hast noon so mortal ffo ; 9056
is yonr dead-
liest foe fp or the, to trayshe 5 vfykh al hys myht, [' traysshen St.]
He lyth a waytynge day & nyht ;
And hys ffamylyaryte
Ys ful noyous vn-to the. 9060
ffor Enmy noon ys so perillous,
So dredful, nor contagyous,
unearth. In al the 6 ertlie, fer nor ner, [ 6 the St., on. c. stowe, icafiei]
As an enmy ffamylyer, Famiiiaris immious st., om. c. 9064
NOT SO gretly to be drad 7 U dradde . . sadde St.]
Off ffolkys that be wyse & sad. 7
' And yiff thow lyst to lern off me,
Tak good lied ; for thys ys he [St. & c.] 9068
I ask ivho my Foe is, that I may kill him and cut Mm up. 251
' Wych wolde nat suffre the to lere,
Noon Armys nor noon barneys were,
The to dyffende fro thyn enmyes,
Brygauwtys and other false espyes ; . [C. &st.] 9072
And shortly (yiff I shal nat tarye)
He ys thy gretest aduersarye
That thow hast, & most to drede :
Be war therfor, & talc bet hede.' 9076
The pylgrym :
" Ma dame," quod I, " yiff ye lyst se,
I merveylle what he sholde be,
He that ye accuse and blame,
And put on hyw so gret dyffame, 9080
How that he sholde, day & nyht,
Be bysy (as ffer as he hath myght)
To traisshe 1 me, as a fals tractour, [' traysshe St.]
And to my Avorshype & honour 9084
Don any derogaciouw
By swych cowpassyd fals traisoun.
" I pray yow for to tellen me
What maner whyht he 2 sholde be. [ a that he St.] 9088
Telleth me ek whar he was born,
And warneth me off hy?/i to-forn ;
Telleth hys name & hys fygure,
That I may my sylff assure 9092
Ageyn hys mortal Enmy te, [stowe, leaf 101, bk.]
That I myghte avengyd be.
And, by my trouthe, a-noon I shal
Dysmewbren hy? on pecys smal, 9096
Quyk on the Erthe, what-eue?-e he be,
And ye hys name tellen me.
And yet thys vengauwce, in no wyse
Myghte nat ynowh suffyse, 9100
Thogh al quyk (to my? entente)
I dysmembrede hy? ther he wente."
Grace dieu :
' Certys,' <\uod she, ' thow seyst ryht wel :
But, & thow wylt wyten eue?ydel, 9104
And conceyve ek in thy thoulit,
Xe wer thy-sylff, he wer ryht nouht,
He stopt
your wearing
armour.
He is your
greatest
enemy.
The Pilfirim.
I wonder who
this Ibe is,
who's alwnys
tryhiK to de-
base me.
[leaf 142]
I ask what
ig his name,
so Hint I
mny at once'
out, him into
little bits.
252 Grace Dieu will journey with me, and describe my Foe.
Your foe is
a oompoond
corruption.
Grace Dieu
w!th j me," ey
[leaf H2, bk.]
who my foe
The Pilgrim.
I'm very
ptaMdw*
Grace Dieu
is ir,iiiiK'
with me,
and will de-
Bcril)C my foe
to me.
' Nor, w?/t7j-oute the, certeyw,
He ne wer nat but in veyn ; 9108
ffor ffolkys, nouther yong nor olde,
Sholde nat on hy??i be-holde,
But haue hyw in despyt, certeyu,
In repreff, & in gret desdeyn, 9112
(Ne wer thy sylff, I the ensure,)
ffor but a lyknesse off ordure,
And a statue off slyym 1 vnclene, C 1 siymest.]
*
(Vnderstond wel what I mene,) 9116
Donge & putrefacciourc,
A Kareyn off corrupoyoura :
Thow shalt yt fynde (in wordys fewe,)
As openly I shal the shewe, 9120
Whan thow gy?mest thy passage.
And, for thyra owne avauratage,
I W yi go W yt/i the off enteiit, 9123
And, holdyilg OUr 2 parlemeilt, ['oureSt. Stowe, leal 102]
, T , , .
Thow & I, to-gydre yttere,
What that he ys, I shal the lere.'
y e pilgrime 3 [ s In Stowe's hand. The Pylh'ryme St.]
" Go we," quod I / " I am wel payd
Off al that euere ye ha sayd ; 9128
But specyaly I vow requere
; T J J
That ye & I may qon yfere,
J ^
And departe 4 nat our way ; [ 4 depart St.]
And that ye wyl me goodly say
(Lyk to your oppynyouw)
The maner & condic'iovw
Off myw. enmy, & off me,
"VVhil that we 5 to-gydre be,
No whyht but ye & I yfere,
Excepte that my chaiu/tberere
Wyt/i me haveth 6 myw armure; [berethst.]
And my syluen mor tassure,
That in hyre ther 7 be no lak ; u ther ther c., thcr st.]
Me folweth alway at the bak."
Grace Dieu. 8 c st., om. c.]
Quo/I grace dieu, ' ffor to declare
Thy? Enmy plcynly, & nat spare, 9144
9132
[ 5 we St., ye c.] 9136
9140
She describes him : he is Worms-meat. I am his slave. 253
Grace Diett
says my Foe
is loathsome,
hrod from
worms,
anil shall rot
and return lo
thrill.
' He ys foul & ek terry ble 1 L 1 to on-yWe st.]
Lothsom also, & (Xlyble,
Off condycyoun ful dyuers,
Right contrayre & peruers ; 2 [" pan-ers st.] 9148
Was engendryd (I dar assure)
And brouht forth, as 3 by nature, [ 3 asst., om.c.]
Off woormys that in erthe krepe,
And lyggen in the soil ful depe. 9152
He ys a worme, & shal also [stowe, leaf 102, back]
Be wormys mete ; tak hed her-to !
Off wormys (in especyal)
He took hys orygynal; 9156 [leaf us]
And in-to wormys he shal tourne,
And wyth wormys ek soiourne ;
In the erthe 4 putrefye ; [* the Erthe st., thertiie c.]
And wormys shal hy??i ek defye, 91 GO
Torne hym to foul corrupcyoun :
Swych ys hys condycioun.
'And nat for-thy (tak hed & se,)
Euery nyht he lyth \\ytfi the 9164
A-bedde ; and truste ek trewly, 5 [ 5 Trueiy St.]
Ye parte 6 neuere company. [ departest.]
And vn-to the yt ys gret shame,
And a mane?- off dyffame 91G8
To the, & gret conf usioun ;
Affter hys replecyoun,
He may nat purge hym on no syde
But thow hym lede, & be hys guyde; 9172
In chaujubre, goyng to pryvee,
Hys chau?ttberleyn thow mustest be :
Wz/tTi-oute the (yt stondeth so)
That he sotlily may no-thyng do : 9176
Thow art hys pyler & hys potent ;
And ellys he were Inpotent,
Blynde, & lame donteles, 7 [ 7 douties st.]
Deff, and also specheles, 9180
And off no roputac'iou/i,
Ne wer thy supportac'ioim.
' And yet to spoke in general,
He lean to the no thank at al : 9184
And yet lie
lies nightly
in bed with
me.
I shamelessly
RO to the
]>rivy with
him.
Without DM
he'd be blind,
lame, ileuf,
and dumb.
254 / mustn't slay my Foe, but must correct him l>y Penance.
' Hys fro ward conuersacyouw
Ys off swych condyciouu.'
The Pllfirim. Y e pilgrime. 1 C 1 In Stowe's hand. The Pylgryme St., leaf 163]
" Ma dame," quod I, " al that ye seyn,
I vnderstonde yt wel certeyn ; 9188
But I merveylle ful gretly
[leaf 1*8, bk.] That ye lyst nat to me pleynly
i beg Grace Make ful relacvoun.
Dieu t ex-
plain clearly And clerly demowstraciowi, 9192
who my foe
i8 Wyt7i toknys bothew hih & lowe,
Attonys that I myghte hy?H knowe ;
ffor thanue, nouther nyht nor day
Ther sholde be makyd no delay, 9196
WytA-oute respyt or pyte
ttmt i may But that I sholde a-vengyd be
kill him. Ot/
(Wyt/i-oute support or favour)
By cruel deth, on that traytour." 9200
Grace Dieu GraCG DieU. 2 [ St., om. C.]
says be must " Nat-wwt/^-stondynce hys offence,
not be slain,
but chastised, fo slen hy?tt thow hast no lycence ;
That may be suffryd in no wyse.
But thow mayst hy??i wel c hasty se/ 9204
And correcte' by due 3 peyne, i 3 dew St.]
an.i kept And f ro vycys hy?/i restreyne.
from vices. J J J
And, whan that he doth forfete.
As a mayster thow shalt hy??t beto, 9208
And correcte hy? by travaylle,
Nat as a tyraunt by battaylle,
By cruel Rygour nor vengauwce,
But reforme hy??i by penaunce, 9212
At-wyxe the yok off loue & drede.
ffor (yiff thow lyst to taken hede,)
He must do Penaunce ys hys cheff maystresse, [stowe, leaf ics, back]
Hym to chastyse & to redresse : 9216
She shal, off al dyffaute & blame,
Refreynen hy^u, & make hy?/i tame,
Off dyscreciourc wel a-vysed.
And whan she hath hy?w wel clrstyscd, 9220
She shal (as thow shalt vnderstond,)
Make hy? redy to thyn hond,
My Foe is my Body and Flesh, and is to be kept under. 255
As A seruavwt, the to serue, men.
Lyk a sergavwt, to obserue 9224
Lowly, What thoW byst 1 hy?tt do, C 1 byddest St.] [leaf 144]
i ii e Your foe
And nat sey nay, nor go ther-lro, mus t be your
But be at thy comaumlement.! 9227
' Thys sholdest thow, off 2 good entent, [' offst.,on. c.]
(Lyk vn-to an holsom leche,)
Rather desyre, than any vvreche.
Ifor (yiff thow look w//t/< Eyen cler,)
He stondeth nat vnder daurager 9232
Off dethe to the, no maner wyse ;
ffor thow art bounde to deuyse YOU must
look to Ins
Hys goostly elthe 3 & wel-ffare; [ heitnest.] health;
And oner thys, nat for to spare, 9236
(Wherso that he wake or slepe)
ffrom al pereyl 4 hym to kepe, [*peryiiest.]
Wherso that thow be dul or ffressh ;
ffor thys, thy Body & thy fflessh, 9240 for he u your
J ' J J J own body
He that I mene, the sylue 5 same, [ 5 seive St.] and fleah.
Off hym I kan noon other name."
The Pylgryme. 6 f 6 st., <m. c.] The pilgrim.
"Ma dame," quod I, " what may thys be 1 ?
Whether drome I, other 7 ellys ye 1 ['orst.] 9244
ffor (as fer as I kan espye,)
I merveylle off your fantasye, i wonder at
Or by what weye ye wolde gon. [stowe, leaf 101]
Ys nat my body & I al on 1 9248 n<i i R k if
my body mid
I trowe yis ; & ellys wonder, x ar>n>t lie -
Or how myhte we be assonder?
Ys he a-nother than am 1 1
I pray yow, tel me ffeythfully, 9252
(And me declareth the sothnesse 8 [ 8 sothfastnesse st.]
W?/t7i-outen any dowbylnesse,)
What that ye mene verrayly ;
fFor her ys no whyht but ye & I, 9256
Except only my chawnberere,
Wych that folweth us 9 ryht here. [ 9 v$ St.]
" A-noon to me doth sygnefye, [leaf ut.bk.]
Wher yt be trouth or fayrye 9260
nn 1111 Alv " " llc
lhat we shold beu on or tweyne : or two?
25G If I were in a cosy place, would I stay there ? I would.
Grace Dieu
asks
if I were in a
place full of
ease ami
solace, sur-
rounded with
all good
things,
would I stay
or depart ?
The Pilgrim.
I say
I would
remain.
Grace Dieu
[leaf 1 1,'iJ
nsksif I'd
give up my
pilgrimage
fur rest.
92G4
nnd t!UC "
9268
9272
9276
9280
" Tel on a noon, & doth nat ffeyne."
Grace Dieu. 1 [st.,om.c.]
Quod Grace dieu : ' out off my mouth
Wente neuere north nor south,
Est, nor west, no lesyng,* L ^l^nua]
Illusyoun, nor fals dremyng.
But I axe a questyouu :
Answers ther-to by good resoun :
' Yitf thow were now in a place
fful off merthe & off solace,
Wyth mete & drynke, at good ese,
And wyth al thys, the to plese,
Haddyst thy comaundementys
Off hallys, chauwbrys, & gaye Tentys,
Soffte beddys, dysport & play,
And euery thyng vn-to thy pay,
Havyng no lak vp-on no syde ; [stowe, leaf lei, back]
Yiff thow myghtest ther abyde
At thy choys ffrely alway,
Woldestow gladly parte a-way,
Or ellys stylle 8 abyde there ? p styiie Eiiys st.]
Tel on boldly, & ha no if ere.'
Y e pilgrim 4 [* In Stowe's hand. The Pylgryme St.]
" Ma dame," quod I, " dysplese yow nouht ;
I sey ryht as lyth in my thouht :
Myn hertys ese for to swe,
I wolde abyde (& uat remowe,)
ffor my esc, euere in on,
leather tha?i thenys 5 for to gon ; p then* St.] 9288
ffor yt ys profy table tabyde 6 [ 6 to abyde st.]
Wher that a man, on euery syde
ilyndeth vn-to hys plesaunce
Soiour, 7 w//t/i-oute varyaurice.' p sokour st.] 9292
Grace Dieu. 8 [8st.,o.c.]
' Ys that verrayly,' (\iiod she,
' Soth that thow hast sayd to me 1
I vnderstonde, by thy language,
Thow woldest leue thy pylgrymage, 9296
And platly settyu hyt a-syde,
Only for resto, & ther a-byde.'
9284
Grace Dieu reproves my ivillingness to stay in comfort. 257
The Pylgryme. 1 [> st., om. c.] Thpngr;m.
" Ma dame,"quod I, " for my dysport,
"\Vher I fond 2 ese & counfort, pFondeist.] 9300
I wolde abyde a whyle there, [stowe, leaf IGSJ i say IM stay
& while*
Tyl I sawh tyme & good leyser."
dieil. 3 P In Stowe's hand. Grace Dieu St.] Grace Diea,
To me she sayde a-noon ryht than : reproaches
' wrechche ! o thow vnhappy man ! 93,04 o wretch;
Tak hed, & be mor ententyff, \m\\\\
How here, in thys mortal lyff,
Thogh that a man renne euermore,
He may neuere hast hym to sore 9308
To kome to tymely to that place.
' I putte caas, that he ha space if youconid
go on daily,
fforth to procede, day be day,
At good leyser vp-on hys way. 9312
Her-vp-on I axe the,
Yiff thow haddyst lyberte,
loye, merthe, & al solace,
Woldestow fro thylke place, 9316 would you
stop there ?
Yiff thow haddyst fre chois at wylle
Kemewen, or a-byde sty lie 1 '
Y e pilgrime 4 [* In Stowe's hand. The Pylgryme St.] TTie Pilgrim.
" Alias ! " qz^od I, " what may I seyn 1
I kan nat wel answere a-geyn. 9320
But o thyng I wot ryht wel ;
The cyrcuwstancys eue?*ydel i say, Yes;
Consydryd vp-on eue?y syde,
Par cas, rather I 5 sholde abyde, [ 5 rather than i St.] 9324 fleafH5,bk.]
Than ben to hasty to precede,
Tyl I sawh I muste nede unless i was
_ , , obliged to
Goon forth Oft neceSSy te : [Stowe, leaf 1C5, back] move.
In caas thaw wolde I haste me." 9328
Grace Dieu : grace PI
Quod Grace dieu tharane vn-to me :
' By thyn answere, I do wel se teiu me
That thyn entencyoiw ys trouble,
And thy wyl ys also double ; 9332 >y > i8 .,
J J (loiihle and]
Thy inward thouht ek varyable,
Thy purpos dyuej-s & vnstable,
PILGIUMAGB. S
258 Grracc Dieu accuses me of being double-minded, two-willd.
She iy, one
day I'll go,
anotlier I'll
stay.
The Pilgrim.
I agree.
She'll prove
me double-
minded.
[leaf HO]
The Pilgrim.
I usk her
what I really
am.
' Consydryd vp-on outlier syde,
How som whyle thoAV wylt abyde, 9336
And a-nother tyme also,
Thow art in wyl 1 forth for to go; [' wyiiest.]
Now in travaylle, now in reste,
And offte thow thywkest, for the beste, 9340
Sty lie in a place to soiourne ;
And sodeynly thy wyl 2 doth tourne, pwyttest.]
ffor to holde thy passage ;
Thy purpos double off vysage, 9344
Constreyned by a dyuers lawe,
Now forth, & now y t doth wyt/t-drawe ;
Selde or neuere off O 3 thouht ; poo St.] 9347
The toon wyle, & the 4 tother nouht." [ 4 wyiie the St.]
The pylgrym :
" Ma dame," quod I, " lyk as ye seyn,
fful trewe I ffele yt, in certeyn."
Grace dieu :
Thaw qiwd she ; " lat nat the greue [stowe, leaf iec]
Vp-on thy wordys ; thogh I preue, 9352
And thogh I make an Argument,
That thow art double in thyn entent,
Alway nat on, 5 in certeyne, [ s oon st.]
But partyd ofte in-to tweyne. 9356
ffor yt ys knowe, off yore agon,
That two wyllys be nat on,
Wych be seueryd in o thouht,
And off entent acorde nouht. 9360
ffor, how myghte they accorde,
Whan they drawe nat by o 6 corde 1 [ fi they nat he / off oo St.]
Thys knoweth euej-y maner whyht,
That hath off Resou?* any syht" 9364
The pylgrym :
" Ma dame," quod I / " I yow be-seche,
Clerly 7 that ye wyl me teche U ciereiy St.]
What that I am ; wych seyn that I
Am nat the same that my body. 9368
What am I thawne ] thys wolde I se,
Yiff ye lyst enfourmen me :
Tlier wcr no thyng to me so leff,
Self-knowledge the best. Man is tJie Image of God. 259
" As knowe her-off A trewe preff." 9372
Grace dieu : Qrace pieu
Quod grace dieu : ' yt semeth wel,
Thow hast nat lernyd eue/'ydel
Tliyngys nouther hih nor lovve, 9375
Syth thy sylff thow 1 kanst nat knowe ; p om. St.] tells me i
don't know
The wych, a-boue al other thyng [stowe, leaf 106, back] myself.
Ys the beste 2 knowelychyng [ 3 best St.]
That man may han in thys 3 lyff here. p thys St.]
' And, yiff thow lyst platly lere, 9380
To knowe thy sylff ys bet knowyng "g^^jK,. **
Than to be Emperour outher kyng, SS^SZ^T %% M
Or for to knOWen al SCyeilCeS, t tenorate St. and riches.
Practykes, & expe?yer>ces ; 9384
Or to han al the rychesse
Off thys world 1 (in sothfastnesse),
Or the tresour euerydel,
But syth thow knowest nat rylit wel 9388
Thy sylff, as thow sholdest kuowe,
(Wyth cyrcu?nstaucys hih & lowe,)
Me semeth (as in myn avys,)
Taxe and lerne, 4 thow art wys. [* TO axe and lem St.] 9392 [leaf 146, bk.]
And I shal telle the feythfully
In thys matere, trewely, 5 [ 5 trewiy c., St.]
What that I fele in myw entent
Shortly, as in sentement : 9396
1 The Body, fyrst, (be nat in doute,) Apart from
Off wych 6 I spak closyd w//t/t-owte, [ 6 the winch St.]
Whan yt ys fro the segregat,
Dysseueryd & separat, 9400
Thanne off the, (I dar wel seyn
And afferme yt in certeyn)
Off god thow art the portrature, y are the
image of
Thymage 7 also, and ffygure ; p Theymagest.] 9404 God.
And 8 off nouht (yiff thow kanst so) I 8 And nat st.]
He ffounnede & he made the,
(That lord 9 ffyrst, in thy creauwcc,) [ 9 Lordest.]
To hys owue resemblau?zce 9408
And ymage, wych off lyknesse
Most dygnc, & worthy off noblcssi^, [stowo, u-afic7j
260 / am the son of God, not of Thomas DeGuillevylle.
Grace Dieu. ' A prent 1 (to Spekc off dygnyte) [ Apparent St.]
He myghte nat ha set on 2 the p sette in st.] 9412
Mor worthy, nor mor notable,
Than to hym sylff 3 resemblable. [ 3 seiven St.]
God pave you He gaff to the, off liys goodnesse,
Cler syht off Kesouw, & ffayrnesse, 4 [* Fayrenesse St.] 941 G
And off nature to be mor lyht
Than any ffoul that ffleth in flyht,
And neuere to deyen, ek wyt/t-al,
and made you ffor he made the Immortal, 9420
immortal.
Permanent, & euere 5 stable. pekest.]
And tadwellyd 6 Immutable, [ 6 to have dweiiyd St.]
Yiff thow nat haddyst, off entent,
fforfetyd hys comauwdement ; 9424
Than haddystoAV, thorgh thy Benoun,
Excellyd in co??^parysour^ :
Cowparysouw myghte noon ha be
Deaf u7] To thy noblesse & dygnete, 9428
Off hewene nor Erthe, in certeyn,
!N"or (to declare & speke in pleyn,)
Bryd, nor other creature,
Except off angelys the nature. 9432
God u your God ys thy ffader, (tak hed her-to)
father.
YOU are God's And, thow art hys sone also,
son,
Most excellynge off kynrede
That eue7-e was (wyt/i-oute drede), 9436
Most noble, & off grettest style ;
and not the ffor off Thomas de guillevyle
son of *
Thomas de Thow art nat sone on that party
Guilleville, J
I dar afferme, & seyn trewly, 9440
"Who-euere gruchche, or make stryff [stowe, leaf 107, back]
That he nat hadde, in al hys lyff,
To seke, in al hys nacyouw,
No sone off swych condycyauw, 9444.
Douhter nouther (yt ys no fable,)
Off kynrede" so notable. [ 7 kynrede St.]
from wimse But, off Engendrure bodyly,
your body. Thow haddest off hy??& thy body, 9448
Wych kam off hym by nature :
The wych body (I kan assure 8 ) [ 8 dar Ensure st.]
Tho man's Body is foul, his Soul springs from God. 261
1 Ys to the (tak bed her-to,)
Thyw Eumy & thy grettest foo,
' On that party (yiff thow lyst se,)
Eoos fyrst the grete Enmyte ;
Nature hath yt so ordeyned ;
But yt thorgh vertu be restreyned.
For the ffrut (what-euere yt be)
Bereth the tarage off the tre
That yt kam fro (I dar assure) ;
tfor yt were ageyn nature,
A Thorn to bern a Fygge soote ;
The bud hath tarage 1 off the rooto, [' Fr. te>
Lyk as an appyl or a pere,
Thogh yt be born, neue/-e so fere,
Yt savoureth (whan that al ys do,)
Off the Tre that yt kam fro.
' And semblably haue in mynde,
Manys body, as be kynde, 9468
As off hyw sylff (be wel certeyn),
May ber no ffrut but foul & veyn
Ordure & 2 corrupci'ouw, P and ffouii St.]
Slym & putrefaccioun. 9472
' But yiff thy gynnyng be wel souht, [stowe, leaf ics]
Off swych fylthe thow kome 3 nouht :
ff or fyrst, in thy creaci'OUfi [ J swyche ffylthe . . kam St.]
Your body is
your greatest
foe.
As the tree is,
so is its fruit.
9452
945G
9460
9464 [leaf 147, bk.]
Mali's body
0:111 bear only
foul fruit.
But you arc
Thow haddyst no producc'iouto
(Yiff I shal declaren al)
Off no man that was mortal.
Thy makynge may nat be ameadyd,
ffor off god thou art descended ;
And pleynly (yiff thou vnderstondys,)
God made neuere w#t/t hys hondys
Her in erthe (what sholdc I feyne 4 )
Off mankynde mo than tweyne ;
Vii-to wyche (wytTi-oute wheer)
He co??imyttede hys power,
And gaff to hem an exau?playre,
Other, lyk hem, to make fay re,
Lyk thexamples in 5 general,
To hyw reseruynge in specyal
9476
9480
[* ffeync St.]
9484
9488
[ 5 the Ensainplis St.]
descended
from God.
He oreute<l 2
of mankind,
ami 1'inpow-
erd them to
(rente others'
bodies,
but roai-rvd
to llimaelf
262 God set your Soul in your Body, that you might subdue it.
Grace Dieu.
the creation
of spirits.
He put you,
your Houl,
to dwell
awhile in
your body,
[leaf 148]
to try you,
and see how
you'd behave.
Between you
and your body
there is con-
tinual war-
fare.
If you force
it down,
it'll not dare
rebel against
you.
' Off spyrytys (in conclusion?*)
Thordynawjce & the ffasown,
Off wych he wolde (as hy skyl)
Noon other medle, by hys wyl.
' And her-vp-on (yiff thow lyst se,)
The same lord, he made the
Off hys goodnesse, for thy prowh ;
And in the 1 body wher thow art now
He the putte (as I dar telle),
Ther a whyle for to dwelle,
And ther tabyde (thys, the cheff)
For tassaye the by preff ;
And by thy port 2 also dyscerne
How thow 3 sholdest the gouerne
Prudently, both fer & ner ;
And yiff thow dydest thy dever
To 4 dyffende thy party, [* For to St.]
Yiff lie 5 wolde holde chauwpartye
Ageyn[y]s the in any wyse.
ffor, (as I shal to the devyse,)
Atwyxe 6 yow (yt ys no faylle)
Ther ys werre & strong bataylle,
And contynuelly ther shal be,
But so falle, thow yelde the,
And putte the in subiecciouTi
Thorgh hys fals collusi'ouw,
By hys deceyt & flaterye 7
Evere to haue the maystrye
Over the (in cdnclus'iouw)
Whyl he hath domynacioun.
' But yiff that thow (as yt ys ryht,)
Dyscouwfyte hy?>t by verray niyghte,
And by force ber hywt dou?i
Lyk a myglity champyoim,
Than shal-tow (bothe fer & ner,)
Over hyw ban ful power,
That he shal neuere, for no quarelle,
Ageyn[y]s the, dor rebel le,
To Interupte thy?i entente.
' And trewly, but thy sylff assente
9492
9496
tliey St.]
9500
[* part St.]
[3 thow am. St.] 9504:
[Stowe, leaf 168, back]
[5 he St., ye C.] 9508
[ Atwix St.]
9512
9516
[_' Flaterye St., flatry C.]
9520
9524
9528
Your Body ever seeks to betray you to your Foes. 263
' He shal neuere be so bold,
The to wytftstonde, as I ha told. 9532
' He ys Dalyda, thow art Sampson/* ;
Tho\v art strong (as by resouw),
Sturdy on thy feet to stonde :
Suffre liym nat, the to \vyth -stonde, 9536
Nor over the to han l maystrye [' imue the St.]
ffor no glosyng nor flatrye. 2 [ J fflaterye St.]
' And yiff thou take hed 3 ther-to, [simiest.]
She ne 4 kan nat ellys do ; [natst.] 9540
But w?/t7< flatrye 5 & deceyt, [ 5 fflaterye st.]
Nyht & day lyn in a-wayt,
And swych wach on the doth make,
To make thyn enmyes the to take 9544
At mescheff, whan they may the fynde.
And yiff thow wylt, sche 6 shal the bynde. Vfaf^fa
Sher thy;* heer whyl thow dost slope, #*<.]
But thow ko?me thy-cylnen kepe. 9548
And overmor, I the ensure,
Thy cousayl al she 7 Avyl dyscure, Fhest.,c.]
And thy secretys euerichon,
To phylystees that be thy ffoon. 9552
Other frenshepe, truste 8 me, t 8 trust vn-to st.]
She 9 hath pleynly noon to the. [ 9 HeC.,st.]
' Now ches, & to my speche entendc,
How thow wylt thy syllf dyflende ; 9556
Be nat to thy confus'ioim
Ueceyued as whylom was Sampsou.'
The pylgrym:
" Ma dame," to grace dieu quod I,
" I merveylle ful gretely ; 10 [ J0 greteiy st., gretiy c.j 9560
fl'or pleynly (as yt 11 doth me seme) [ yt st., o. c.]
Outlier I slepe or 12 I dreme [' outher St.]
That ye, a-mong your wordys alle,
Lyst a ' Spyryt' me to calle, 9564
\Vych wyt/t my body do abyde,
Wher-so that I go or ryde ;
And seyw, I am to 13 cler seyng ; [ |3 sost.]
And me scmeth I se no thyng. 9568
Aiid ek I take good hed hcr-to,
Your body
is Delilah,
them art
Sampson.
[leaf 148, bk.]
It watches
day ami night
to give you
over to your
foes,
and will dis-
close your
scnvts to the
Philistines.
I wonder at
Grace Dieu's
calling me u
Spirit,
2G4 Grace Dicu likens Soul and Body to the Sun and Clouds.
The Pilrtrhn.
and saying
that my Body
is as blind
as a stone,
[leaf 149]
I ask her to
explain all
this.
Grace Dieit.
She says :
The HUH is
sometimes
bright,
and some-
times under
a cloud.
What causes
day when
the sun is
hid?
I say, Pue-
bus,
whose light
shines even
thro clouds.
[leafUD.bk.]
9576
9580
" How ye afferme, & seyn also,
That my body, wych seth so wel, [Stowe, leaf IGD, back]
How that he seth neueradel, 9572
But ys as 1 blynd as ys a 2 ston. [> om. st. *as eny St.]
And your wordys euerychon
Ben so vnkouth & 3 merveyllous, [ 3 and so St.]
And to my wyt so dauwgerous,
That they faren, whan I hem here,
As a flee were in myw Ere ;
I am astonyd so outterly.
I pray you tel me mor clerly,
That I may wyte (by som niene)
Off al thys thyng, what that 4 ye mene." [*tuat om. st.]
Grace dieu:
' Tak hed,' quod she, ' yiff thow korane,
And se somwhyle how the so/me,
Wykh hys bemys bright & clere,
Most ffressh in hys mydday spere,
The same tyme, vnder a cloude,
Offtii sythe he doth hym schrowude,
That men may nat be-holde & se
The bryhtenesse 5 off hys bewte. [ s bryiitnesse c.]
Wher-vp-on, I the comaunde
To answere to thys demauwde :
Whan the sowne ys closyd so
That hys clernesse ys ago,
Tel on, & 6 Answere, yiff thow may, [ 6 Teiie on St.]
Off what thyng causyd ys the day.'
The pylgrym:
" To telle' shortly in a clause :
Off day, ther ys noon other cause [Stowe, leaf 170]
But phebus, as I kan espye.
Thogh hys bemys, vnder skye
Ben hyd, yet yt ys no doute,
Al the lyht that sheweth oute,
Ys ycausyd eueyydel
Off the sowne (who loke wel) ;
Thorgh a skye hys lyht doth passe,
To shewe yt forth in euery place.
And shortly ellys (yt ys no nay)
9584
9588
9592
9596
9600
The Sun is the Soul; the Body is tlie Cloiul darkening it. 265
" ~W?/t/i-oute hys lylit, ther wer no day." 9608 without the
J J J sun there
Grace dieu : were " <li| y-
Orace Dieu
/-\ 7 r* . i i
Quod Grace dieu : ' answere me ;
ask* how 1
How maystow parceyue or se, cu " f? 6 the
r j sun thro a
Or in any wyse espye doud -
Hys bryhte bemys thorgh a skyeT 9612
The pylgrym:
" Ryht so," quod I. " as thorgh a verre, Men see his
J beams afar,
Men sen hys bemys shyne a-ferre, they see
J J fire through
Or as mew sen off fPyr the lyht, a lantern.
Thorgh a lanterne cler & bryht." 9616
Grace dieu : Graee Dieu -
Quod Grace dieu a-noon to me : The sun
means the
' What thow hast sayd, tak lied,' quod she, ? OU J 8l ;iV^
' ' in the Boity.
' And vnderstond ffyrst in thy syht,
By the S07me that shyneth bryht, 9620
Thy soule cler, in especyal,
W//t/i-Inne thy body wych ys mortal.
Off thys mater we hatie an honde, [stowe, leaf no, back]
Ther-bj r thy soule I vnderstonde. 9624
' Thy body (yiff thow kanst espye) T1)e bo^y is
Vs dyrk, as ys a clowdy skye ; ck)Ud y 8k y>
And lyk also (who kan dyscerne)
To a smoky, blak lanterne. 9628
And nat for-thy (I dar expresse) nd yt th
' Soiirsbri
Men may sen, thorgh the bryhtnesse i'
Off the soule (yt ys no doute),
And the clernesse, for wyt/-oute. 9632
Clerkys recorde yt in ther skolys ;
And other wene, that be but ffolys,
In ther foltyssh fals demyng,
That al the cler enlwmynyng 9636
Wher-off that pore skye (lo,) 1 [> skyioostj
Wher-wyth the sowle ys shrowdyd so,
Eclypsyd off hys fayr bryhtnesse.
And ne were the gret dyrknesse 9640 But for the
body
Off thys skye (who loke a-ryht), [leafisoj
r r i i i. u i_ i i i t lu> Soul could
Ihe sowle sholde han so cler a syht see from K^I
At o look, fro the oryent
To sen in-to the Occident. 9G44
266 The So-id's eyes pierce farther wlwii freed from tlte Body.
Grace PI fit. ' ffor off the body (trustc me)
The Eyen, no verray eyen be,
But lyk to glas, (I dar wel seyn),
Wher-thorgh the clere soule ys seyn, 9648
And outward (\vyth hys bemys bryht)
Yiveth tber-to clernesse and lyht.
Tiie soul has ff or the sowle, (who taketh hede.)
no need of
bodily eyes. Qff bodyly eyen hath no nede, 9G52
No mor than, in semblable caas,
The bryhte sowne hath off the glas,
Nouther byforn, noutlier be-hynde. [suwe, leaf 171]
' And conceyue also in thy mynde, 96. r )6
xiie spiritual That Eyen wych ben espyrytual,
eyes pierce ,
farther Wyth-oute spectacle or ffenestral,
Sen off hem syllf mor parfytly,
fferther perce, & mor clerly, 96GO
when they Tha?i whan 1 the bodyly dyrknesse. [ wium that St.]
are free from
darkness'*
ffor gostly Eyen sen wel the bet,
Whan yt ys so they be nat let 9664
"NVy/tA bodyly Eyen that ben outward,
And han to no-thyng ther reward,
But to thynges off veynglorye,
Tliat be passynge & transytorye, 96G8
Dyrked w?/t/< a worldly skye.
Tho Tobias And whvlom blyildU 2 Was Tobve [* Wyiule St., blynd t 1 .]
wax blind
in his bodily off bodyly eyen, as w/yt/i-oute ;
But inwardly (yt ys no doute) 9672
He was nat blynded off hys syht,
But hadde hys eyun cler & bryht ;
ins mind's I mene, the Eyen off hys mynde : /
even taught
hison, ffor by tho Eyen (as I ffynde) 9676
Oaf i5o, bk.] He tauhte hys sone, & clerly tolde
The weye that he sholde holde
In hys passage', & nouht erre.
and were Hvs Even wer cler as any sterre, 9680
clear us a , J
star. Off hys mynde, wych made hyw se ;
And ellys yt myghte neuere ha be,
Off hys inward inspeccyoiw. t 3 if>'n-''.> st., witit instmccion
J i J ,,i Hiari/tn.]
To yove him swych instruccyouM 3 9684
The Soul sees. The Body is blind. The Soul works the Wits. 267
' How he sholde hym goueme,
Wyt/i-oute the siht 1 wych ys eterne, [stowe, leaf m, back]
I mene, the siht 1 spyrytual, [> sights St.]
Wych ys gostly & eternal. 9688
' That syhte, 1 hy age wasteth nouht ;
And (yiff the trouthe be wel souht,)
Thy bodyly eyen (truste 2 me,) [ trust St.]
"SY/yt/i hem thow mayst no thyng yse. 9692
The soule seth al by cler lookyng,
And the body seth nothyng ;
Blynd w//t/<-Innen & w>yt/*-oute.
And ner the soule, (yt ys 110 doute,) 9696
Seyhg cler he shold ha noon,
Na mor than hath the 3 colde ston. past.]
' And as yt ys tovvchyng syht,
Evene so (who looke a-ryht) 9700
Yt ys off al thy wyttys fyue ;
ffor who seyth nay, or gey7i 4 yt stryue, [* ageyn St.]
Euerych off hem, in sentement,
Ys but a mane? 1 instrument, 9704
The wych, touchyng ther werkyng,
Off the they receyve euery thyng ;
ffor, wyt/f-outen helpe off the,
They no thyng here, they no thyng se, 9708
Xor no thyng thay may reporte.
And yiff thow dyst 5 hem nat supporte, [ 5 dydestst.]
And sustenyst wyth thy myghte, 9711
Eryng, 6 Smellyng, Touch & Syht, [ Heryng stj
Tliy body wer nat euevydel
IJut a verray foul dongel,
Impotent, and feble also,
Gather to inevyn or to go.' 9716
The pylgrym:
" Thanne, w//t/< your supportacioiu^, [stowe, leafn^j
I axe off you thys questyou/i ;
And ffryst off aH I thus begynne :
'How may the sowle that ys w/yt//-innc, 9720
ler the body that ys w#t/i-oute ? '
To me assoylleth fyrst thys doute ;
ffor yt semeth mor Keson,
Grace Dieu.
The spiritual
sight wastes
nut l>y age.
Tlie Soul sees
all.
The body is
blind within
and without.
So, each of
your Five
Wits
is an instru-
ment thro
which you
and your Soul
work.
Without the
Soul
[leaf ir.
the Hotly is
impotent and
feeble.
The Pilgrim
How may the
soul within
In-ill- the bo.ly
without ?
268 Grace Dieu explains the relation of Soul and Body.
The pilgrim. " (As to my oppynyou?z,) 9724
surely the The body outward (thus I niene)
thiii',' (soul)
within is Sholde the soule inward sustene.
lx>nie up by
the body Yiff ye grante to speke at large, 9727
without.
Thyng that conteneth, berth 1 the charge, [ l bereth St.]
And bereth vp al, to myw entent :
And thyng, wyt/t-Inne that ys content,
That thyng ys born, as semeth me.
And her-vp-on I wolde se, 9732
Syth that ye ben prudent & wys,
A good answere, by your avys."
Grace Dieu. Grace dleU ',
1 Vp-on thy questiouw to conclude
say s NO. An answore, as by symylytude : 9736
Conceyue fyrst in thyra entent,
Thy clothyng & thy vestyment.
TaVe your Contene thy boady 2 euerydel p Body st.]
clothes out- *
skteyour "Wvt/i-Innen : yiff thow loke wel, 9740
body. * *
Thy body closyd ys wyt/i-Inne ;
And but yiff thow fro resouM twynne,
Thow wylt nat geyn-seyn vn-to me,
clothes'^ the Thow beryst thy clothys, & they nat the, 9744
not the' And fully ben in thy depoos ;
clothes you. J J
And yet thow art wyt/i-Inne hem cloos ; [stowc, leaf 172, bk.]
And, (yiff thow clerly kanst dyscerne,)
[ieafi5i,bk.] At thy lust dost hem gouerne ; 9748
And (to seyn shortly in substauwce,)
Thow hast off hem the goueniaunce.'
Th Pilgrim. Tj^g pylgrym :
" And ys yt lyk, ma dame," <\uod I,
" In al, off me & my body ? " 9752
Grace Die*. GfaC6 dlCU '.
' To yive the 3 mor cler evydence, p the the st.]
I putte a maner dyfference ;
Leff the chaff, & tak the corn :
The soul The sowle bereth, & ys born. 9756
bears, and is
borne, it ffor ffyrst, the sovvle pryncypally
sustains the r J J L J
body- Susteneth & bereth the body ;
And parcel-lyk 4 (to thy n entent) [* poeiie i y ke St.]
The body bereth by accident 9760
How the Soul rules the Body, tlio the Body contains it. 269
Grace Dieu.
And tho the
Body bears
the Soul,
its ]>owen<
return to the
Soul.
9776
[* ledethe . . too & too St.,
letleht . . two & two C.]
9780
' The sowle, but her-on reporte,
The myghte, the vertu, ay resorte
Off the body, in certeyn,
Evere vn-to the sowle ageyn. 9764
' And evydence her-on to make :
Thow mayst a cler exaumple take,
Yiff thow eue?-e dydest 1 se [ dycwest euere St.]
Any shyp a-myd 2 the see, [* sinppe / in St.] 9768
(Shortly declaryng, at a 3 word,) poo St.]
The maryner w?/t//-Inne the bord
Ledeth the shyp, (tak hed her-to,)
And ys \iyrn sylff ylad also. [stowe, learns] 9772
Tak here Exaumple, & be wel sad,
But he yt ladde, he 4 wer nat lad. [yt St.]
' Semblably, by exaumple cler,
Thy sawle ys cheff maryner,
Ledere & governeresse
Off thy body, in sothnesse :
She ledeth 5 hym ay too & too,
And ys hyr syllf ylad also,
ffor, at hyr lust & hyr talent,
She, by hyr owne fre assent,
Ledeth the body, as yt ys skyl.
ffor the body, but by hyr wyl, 9784 [leaf 152]
Hath no power, (yt ys no drede)
No syde, the sowle for to lede.
' Arid therfor, do thy besy peyne,
Havyngo the body in thy demeyne, 9788
To lede hym so, & he ek the,
In thys dredful worldly see,
fful off wyndys & Tempest,
And wawes boyllynge Est & west, 9792
That, by assent, here 6 in your live, [ here St., her c.]
At goode hauene ye may aryvc,
And at good port, wha?z cruel deth
Schal make hyw yelden vp the breth.' 9796
The pylgrym:
" Ma dame, sothly, I do lere,
By your wordys that I here,
To forthre me, & nat to tarye.
The mariner
leads the
ship,
tho he is
borne by it ;
so the Soul
governs the
Body,
tho she is
in it.
Strive, there-
fore,
so to guide
your Body
that you may
reach the
Haven when
you die.
Tlie Pi'gnm.
270 As my Body has darkend my Spirit, she will disembody me.
The Pilurim.
I ask Grace
Dieu to take
off my heavy
body,
that I may
have more
knowledge of
my body has
closed my
spiritual eyes.
She will take
me out of it.
" Yt wer to me rylit necessarye, [ That st., om. c.] 9800
1 That off your grace ye wolde blyue, [stowe, leaf 173, back]
Out off my shyp make maryue ; 2 [ to make me aryue St.]
I mene thus, ma dame, that yo
Wolde in al haste dyspoylle me 9804
Off my body, wych ys greuous,
Hevy, gret, & ponderous,
That f myghte off hy? a-noon ryht
Haue kuovvelychyng & ek a 3 syht pekest] 9808
Mor cler, to make me vnderstonde
The mater that we haue an 4 honde, [i St.]
To sen \\yrn, how he ys cowpassyd, 9811
Wych hath so offte to me 5 trespassyd ; ^ % l^* 1 --
And yet he wyl nat, for myw ese,
Hys Eancour a-geyns me appese.
' But yet I pray yow feythfully,
To don your deuer ffynally, 9816
That I may sen hyw (& nat ellys),
Wher he be swych as ye me tellys ;
ffor I nat vnderstond ywys,
What ye ha sayd, nor what he ys." 9820
Grace dieu:
' I may ryht wel be-leve,' quod she,
' Thys thyng so vnkouth & secre,
That thow art dyrkyd in thy syht,
Yt to cousydre & sen 6 a-ryht.
And the cause why thow art let
Ys, for thy body hath so shet
Thy gostly Eyen (in substaurace)
W//t/t a clowde off ygnorauwce,
And dyrked w//t/i a mysty skye,
That thow mayst nat wel espye
The secrenesse, 7 yong nor Old.
And as to-forn I ha the told,
Other obstacle ys ther noon
But thy body, blynd as a ston ; 8 [ 8 as stoon St.]
He dyrketh so thy?i Inward syht.
But for thy sake, a-noon ryht 9836
I schal assayen & provyde,
Thy body for to leyri asyde,
["seen St.] 9824
9828
[Stowe, leaf 174]
F secretenesse St.] 9832
Mi/ Body falls from me, and I fly into the Air. 271
' flro the 1 take yt, yiff 2 I kan, ['thetost. y iffthatst.] Grace Difu.
That thow mayst cocey ve than 9840 But only for
J a time.
Off hywi hooly the gouenuuwce,
And what he ys, as in substaunce.
But thow mustest, iu certeyn, i must then
he put back
Affter, sone, resorte ageyn 9844 in my Body
To thyn olde d welly ng place,
Tyl that deth, a certeyw space,
Schall the dyspoylle, and make twynne 3 [' a twynne St.]
ffro the body that thow art Inne.' 9848
The Pylgryme: 4 [ st., om . c.] The pilgrim,
And Grace dieu a-noon me took,
(I not, wher that 5 I slepte or wook,) [* whether st.]
& made (for short conclus'iowz,)
My body for to falle a-douw. 9852 My body fail*
And affter that, a-noon ryht and i'am
carried into
Me sempte that I took my flyht, the air.
And was ravisshed in-to. the hayr, [leaf iss]
A place delytable & ffayr. 9856
[Blank in MS. far an Illumination.]
And me thouht ek, in my syht, [stowe, leaf m, back] i seem to
become light,
I was nat hevy, but verray lyht, nd see
J J clearly.
And my beholdyng was so cler,
That I sawh bothe fer & ner, 9860
Hih & lowe, & oueral.
And I was ryht glad vryth-al ;
Al was wel, to my plesaurace,
Save a maner dysplesauwce 9864
I hadde off thync, in certevn, i feel sad
that I must
That I muste go dwelle agevn tr haok t()
J my Body.
Wytft-InJie my body, wych that lay
Lyk an hevy lompe off clay ; 9868
Wych to me was no forthryng,
But.perturbaunce, & gret lettyng,
Thyder to resorte off neAve.
Tho wyst I wel that al was trewe 9872
That grace dieu hade seyd to me.
And thawne I wen to for to se i i <)ok t it,
Wher the body slepte or nouht.
And whan I hadde longe souht, 9876
272 I see that my Body is my greatest Foe.
The Pilgrim.
and feel its
pulse.
My body is
dead.
I defy it.
Grace Dieu
[leaf 153, bk.]
bids me
recognise
that my I'oc,
my Body,
would not let
me bear arms
against my
enemies.
But I must go
iut u it again.
The Pilfirim.
I think now
that my iinn-
our is light.
1 Grace Difi.
ptost.]
Tastyd hys pows * in certeyne, [ l tried ins pulse]
And gropyd euery nerff & veyne,
And fond in hym no breth at al,
But ded & cold as a ston wal. 9880
And whan I dyde al thys espye,
Hys gouernau?ice I gan defye.
Grace dieu:
Tho'grace dieu spak vn-to me,
' Lifft vy thyn Eyen, beholde & se,
Yiff thow kowne now clerly ; 2 [* kan . . Clerelye St.]
Knowe in erthe thy gret enmy, [stowe, leaf 175]
He that wolde nat suff re the here
Noon Armys, nor noon harneys were,
Causynge, thow myghtest nat endure,
Vp-on thy bak to bere Armure,
The to dyffende fro thyw Enmyes,
ffro brygauratys & false espyes,
Wych the 3 werreyen euermore.
Off hym, I ha the told be fore,
That yt ouhte ynowh suffise ;
Yet, as I shal to the devyse,
Thow mayst nat chesyn, in certeyn,
Wyt7i-Innen hy? to entre Ageyn,
Retrussen hym, & ek recharge
(Bothe in streyth 4 & ek in large)
Bern hyw wyt/i the in thy vyage,
Whyder thow gost on pylgrymage.'
The pylgrym:
" Ma dame, myn entenc'iouw
Was now, & my deuociiouw, 990i
Off newe to haue Armyd me,
Assayed yiff yt wolde ha be,
That I myghte ha bor Armure,
My sylff the bettre to assure ; 9908
ffor, as now, to my semyng,
They be nat hevy, no maner thyng,
Nor lyk the cdnceyt off my thouht ;
They weye 5 but a thyng off uouht." [ 5 -ey St.] 9912
Grace dieu:
'Certys,' quod she, 'no moi-'they doth; [stowe, leaf 175, bk.]
9884
9888
9892
9896
[ + streight* St.] 9900
/ re-enter my senseless Body and feel my Joy is gone. 273
' And therfore thow seyst ful soth.
But thow shalt vnderstonde me
YifE thow dyst now armen the, 9916
And woldest now a-noon begywne
In the poynt that thou art Inne,
Thy meryte to reknen al,
Nor thy deceit, ne wer but smal ; 9920
ffor thyw Armure thow must vse,
And feythfully yt nat refuse,
Whan thow art entryd (thys the chef?,)
Thy body that lyth now blynd & deff, 9924
Doom also, and insensyble,
Wych muste wyth the be penyble,
Sustene also, & be suffrable.
ffor he wyl also be partable 9928
Off thy merytes & guerdouns,
As he was off thy pass'iouws :
Your decertys shal be al on.
"Wherfore, enhaste the a-noon, 9932
In-to hym for to retourne,
Ther a whyle to soiourne
Wyih hym, as thow hast don toforn.
And, that your tyme be nat lorn, 9936
Than off assent & wyl entere,
Wyl he 1 be to-gydre yffere, pyest.]
Enarme yow, & make yow strong
ffor to wyt/istondyn euery wrong.' 9940
And whan she hadde al to me sayd,
"Wher 2 1 was wel or evele a-payd, p whether St.]
I sawh ther was noon other geyn ;
I was retrussyd, & a-geyn 9944
WytA the body that I kam fro ;
And certey?ily me thouhte tho, [stowe, leaf 176]
I was nakyd, and al bare
Off al my loye & my wel-fare ; 9948
ffor al was gon in moment.
And tho I hadde agey Talent
(Me sempte yt myghte nat be forbore)
To loue, as I dide affore ; 9952
& holy vn-to hys entente,
PILGRIMAGE. T
[leaf 151]
says I must
use my arm-
our when I
re-enter my
body, now
senseless.
My body
will share
my merits.
I must hasten
to enter it
again.
The Pi! prim.
I am clothed
again in my
body,
and feol that
all my joy is
gone.
274 / weep and sorrmv, for now I am bound to my Body,
The Pilgrim.
[leaf 154, bk.]
I begin to
weep and
sigh.
Grace Dieu
says
tears belong
to women
only.
The Pilgrim.
I tell her that
all my mirth
has gone.
I, who could
fly in the sky,
am now cast
down
and bound by
iny body.
Me thouhte I gan a-noon assente,
ffully tokeyen hys plesauwce.
Thus aparceyvnge my woful chaurcce, 9956
Clerly sawh wyt/t-Inne me,
That I sholde deceyved be,
Lyk as I was off yore agon.
And tho I gan to wepe a-noon, 9960
Sifie & sorwe, & seyn "alias !
What shal I don now in thys cas 1
Or to what party in certeyne
Shal I drawen off thys tweyne ? " 9964
Grace dieu:
Qtiod grace dieu, ' what may thys be ?
Why wepystow ? what eyleth the,
So thy syluen to dyscounforte ?
ffor trewly (as I kan reporte,) 9968
"Wo-nvnrr Rr tonrlr-A rpvvQ arrmp Tiirpissirmm est in liomine pru-
W epyng & tenare teiys grene, de l nte> remedium in roris //
Only to wowmew appartene, Seneca /~ st - leaf 176 > <"" c -
Whan sodeyraly they falle in rage,
And nat to men off strong corage.' 9972
The pylgrym:
" Certys," quod I / " I may wel wepe ; [St., leaf ne, back]
ffor, (yiff ye lyst to takew kepe,)
My loye, my myrthe & my plesauwce,
Myn El the, & al 1 my suffysaunce, [' heithe and, St.] 9976
Sodeynly me han forsake.
I may cowpleyne, & sorwe make,
ffor, whylom, aboue the skye
I was wont to fle 2 ful hihe, [* flye St.] 9980
And hadde also ful glad repayre
Wyth bryddys fleyng in the hayr, 3 [ Eyre St.]
In my most lusty fressh sesouw ;
But now I am avaylyd doww, 9984
I fynde (by gret aduersyte)
Al that ys contrayre vn-to me.
I am venquisshed, I am bor doun,
My vertu (in conclusi'ou?*) 9988
Hath lost hys myht, hys excellence ;
ffor now, ther ys no resystence
On my party (as yt ys founde) ;
/ am chaind like an Ape. Why is my Body so strong ? 275
" ffor, off the body, wher I am boiwde, 9992
Ys hool my force, & al my myght,
(Wych ys ageyn al skyle & rylit,)
And buryed quyk, (yt stondeth so,)
I Am in erthe, wher-euere I go ; 9996
(Thys verray Ernest, & no Tape,)
Cheyned, ryht as ys An Ape,
Vn-to a clog, 1 & must yt swe, [' the ciogge St.]
And fro thenys may nat remewe ; 10000
ffor my body, gret & large,
Ys the Clog that me doth charge,
Wych letteth, vtyth hys grete wheyhte,
That I may nat flen an hyhte 2 ; [stowe, leaf 177] 10004
ffor euere, vryili hys mortal lawe, [ 2 heyght* St.]
Douw to therthe lie doth me drawe.
" I trowe (shortly in sentence)
The word ywrete in sapyence 10008
Was whilom seyd off me ywys,
Who kan take hed ; and yt ys thys :
' A body corrupt (vt vs no nav) Corpus ?", od . corram ^ v r' A -
j c \j j j i fjravat Ammam. bapiencie.
Greveth the soule 3 nyht & day, * Capita. St., am . c.]
Kepeth hyra in captyvyte ; p body c., St.] 10013
Yt may nat gon at lyberte,
Nouther wakynge nor a-slepe ; '
ffor wych, certys, I may wel wepe, 10016
And seyn ' alias,' & sory be,
Off my grete adue?-syte."
Grace dieu:
' Thare haue in mynde, for any slouthe,
That vn-to the I tolde trouthe.' 10020
The pylgrym:
" Your wordys alle I do aduerte,
& thanke you \\i/ih al myw herte.
Off hem I am ryht wel apayd ;
ffor al that euere ye han sayd 10024
Ys verray soth, & no lesyng,
" But I be-seche yow off thyng,
Yiff I durste you compelle,
word that ye lyst me telle : 10028
What ys the cause (declareth why,) [stowe, leaf 177, back]
[leaf 155]
I am buried
alive,
and cbaind
like an Ape
to a Clog,
my Body
prevents my
flying.
I believe,
with the Book
of Wisdom,
that a corrupt
Body grieves
the Soul.
So I may well
weep.
Gracs Dieu.
The Pilgrim.
I thank
Grace Dieu
tor what she
has told me,
[leaf 155, bk.]
and ask her
276 The Body is bold on his own Dunghill, and must le suMued.
why I'm not
as strong as
my body.
says my body
isn't stronger
than I am.
But lie's in
his own
country,
and every one
is bold on his
own dunghill.
What I have
to do is to
attack him,
play him at
chess,
[leaf 156]
and check-
mate him ;
keep him
low by absti-
nence,
" That he ys mor strong than I ;
Or why am I not (telleth me),
As strong or myghty as ys he?" 10032
Grace dieU '. 1 [ l St., ce Dieu in Stowe't hand, in margin in C.]
' Yiff the roote he wel out souht,
Strengere than thow, that ys he nouht.
But her-vp-on now herkne me :
Thow mayst nat, in no degre, 10036
Hym venquisshe (in co?jclus'ioiw),
Oppressyn hym, & here hym douw
So myghtyly in hys centre,
As thow sholdest, yiff that he 10040
Hadde hys conuersaciouw
Wher thow hast domynaci'oun.
' In hys contre he doth now dwelle.
Therfor shortly, I the telle, 10044
He hath the gretter avauwtage ;
And yt ys sayd off ffolkys Sage,
And a prouerhe wryte off old,
How that euery whyht ys hold 10048
Vy-on hys owne (erly & late),
At the dongel at hys gate ;
Strong to make resystence.
& men sen hy experyence, 10052
Ech man mor myghty off hys hond,
Whan he ys in hys owne lond :
Thys doth hym trustee, & he hold.
' But for al thys that I ha told, 10056
Tak hed in no maner wyse, [stowe, leaf ITS]
Ne let nat, for no cowardyse,
Hym tasaaylle ffer nor ner ;
ffor yiff thow kowne, at the cheker, 10060
Thy drawhtys drawe, & wel pleye,
Make hym lowly to oheye
Vp-on hys dongel, in hys estat,
Ther, to hym to seyn ' chek maat ; ' 10064
Thys maat shal he, thorgh thy puissaunce,
To holde hym vnder gouernauwce.
And lyst that he do noon offence,
Kepe hym lowe wv/t/i ahstynence, 10068
The Body is to be brought under. The Sandhill and Ant. 277
' Voyde hym fro replecyouw, Grace pteu.
And governs hy??^ so, by Kesouw, g vern
by reason ;
Off mete and drynk, only that he
Ne do no superfluyte. 10072
Lat hym lytel Ete or drynke ;
Mak hym labour & ek swynke ; make him
Lytel slepe, & gret wakyng ;
Dyscyplynes 1 & ek betyng, C 1 Dyssypiyned St.] 10076
Yiff to hym in many wyse.
' And thus thow shalt hym best chastyse :
Devout wepyng w?/t/t orisouws,
And hooly medytacyouws, 10080
Wyth Instrumentys off penaunce,
Shal off thy cause do vengauwce,
Best iustefye 2 thy party ; I 2 lustyse St.]
And they shal make the fynally 10084
(Wyt/i-oute contradictions)
To haue hym in subiecciou>& ;
And, for thyw encres off glorye,
Yiue the renouw & vyttorye 10088
Whyl thow SO dost, nygllt & day, [Stowe, leaf 178> back]
And he shal neuere dor 3 seyn nay. pdarst.]
' And to fforther thyw entent,
Lat vs tweyne, by assent, 10092 she takes me
to a hill of
Gon vn-to an hyl off sond, <*
Wych stant her al-most at the hond : 4 [ 4 at honde St.]
A soffte pas, lat vs go walke.'
Verba Peregrin! 5 : [ 5 St. in margin, om.C.] The Pilgrim.
And as we wente & gon 6 talke, [6gonest.] 10096
A sondy 7 hyl she gan me shewe ; U sodeyn st.]
And thus she sayde, on wordys fewe :
[Grace Dieu]: orac* pie*.
1 Leifte vp thyw eye a-noon,' quod she,
' And ffyrst off al, be-holde & se 10100 deaf isc, bk.]
HOW that an Ampte. a best smal, .i. Formica. St., om. C. andshowsme
an ant
herte, body, myght & al,
To nouht elles doth entende,
But on thys hylle 8 vp tascende, p hyiie St., hyi c.] 10104 ^"jf^.j
And, in hyr paas & clymbyng soffte, sheisonni
swept down,
She ys bor dou?<, & let ful offte
278 The Ant, often swept down, reaches the top of the Sandhill.
Grace Dieu.
and can't get
to t In- top of
the bill.
The sand is
so dry and
small that it
carries her
down.
But she
climbs up
[leaf 157]
The Pilgrim.
and at last
reaches the
top, and rests
there.
Grace Dieu.
This is a pat-
tern of your
body and you.
' Wyth powdry sondys out off nouwbre,
Wych hyr passage so encoumbre, 10108
And hyr desyre 1 ek restreyne, [> desires St.]
That she may nat fully atteyne
The hyest party off the hyl,
ffor she ys let ageyw hyr wyl. 10112
[Blank in MS. for an Illumination.]
And thogh she peyne hyr nyht & day,
Evere the soond lyth in hyr way,
Overwhelmeth, & bereth hyr dourc,
Contrayre to hyr entenci'oun, 10116
Yt ys so sotyl, drye & smal,
And wonder brotyl ek w?/t/*-al,
That, by reuoluci'ouw, [Stowe, leaf 179]
Yt rebateth & bereth douw 10120
Thys lytel beste that I off telle.
' But for al that, she wyl nat dwelle
In the vale cast douw lowe,
Ther tabyden any throwe ; 10124
But hyre afforceth a-noon ryht
To remouwte wijih al hyr myght,
Hyr sylff aff orcynge, newe & newe,
Euere hyr labour to renewe, 10128
(Lyk a myghty champyoun)
Thogh she wer offte avalyd douw.'
But at the laste, thorgh hyr labour,
I sawh hyr, lyk a conquerour, 10132
Wyth hyr travaylle renewyd offte
Gete vp on the hyl a-loff te ;
And ne wolde neuere lete
Tyl yt was cowqueryd in quyete ; 10136
And tha?zne off ryht, as for hyr 2 beste [ 2 the St.]
Vp-on the cop 3 she dydfe reste. pcoppest.]
Grace DieU 4 : [* St., in Stowe't hand in C.]
Quod grace dieu tho vn-to me :
' Her, thow mayst beholde & se 10140
(Yiff thow lyst to loke a-ryht)
The forcys (platly) & the myght
Bothe off thy body & off the ;
And in 5 a pleyn Exaumple se [ 5 in c., om. St.] 10144
Do like the Ant : when your Body keeps you down, resist it. 279
' Off thampte, wych ys doura [i]falle
Among the brotyl sondys alle.
Yiff he, at euery fallyng douw, 10147
Hadde lost hys myght & hys renouw [stowe, leaf 179, back]
ffor to recure the hylle a-geyn,
Tha/zne al hys labour were in weyn ;
But, for on 1 dysconfyture r^ASt. No<a St., om. c.]
He wyl nat cessyn to recure 10152
That he hath lost, (as by hys wyl,)
Tyl he be hih"e vp on the hyl.
' And yiff thow clerly vnderstond,
Thy body ys the hyl off sond, 10156
The wyche, 2 thorgh hys brotylnesse, 3 [ a whiche St., wych c.]
And powdrys of vnstabylnesse, [ 3 Brotylnesse St.]
Ys redy (off entenciouw,)
Evere to make the falle doun, 10160
And to dyrken (off entent,)
Tlie eye off thyw entendeme?it
To kepe the in the vale lowe.
'And whan he may espye or knowe 10164
That thow, in any maner wyse,
Woldest on the hyl aryse,
Wyt/i sondry 4 reuoluciouws [*sondyst.j
Off dyuers temptaci'ourts 10168
He travayleth (thys, no tale)
Lowe to holde the, in the vale,
Wyih hys sturdy vyolence,
But thow make resistence 10172
Be tyme's & at prime face
Whara he begynneth to manace.
' And to wy t/istonde hys f elle 5 niyghte, V- ffoui st.]
At the gy/inyng thow must be lyhte, 10176
Mawgre hym, \fyih herte & wyl,
ffor to gete vp on the hyl ;
And thy lourne nat to tarye,
Ther ys no bettre exau??plarye 10180
Than thampte (yiff thow tak hede)
Vp-ward the hyl thy sylff to spede.' tstowe, leaf iso]
' Remewibre, in thy?i entencyoiw
The precept off kyng salomouw, 10184
Grace Diett.
Now your
body is the
hill of sand
which dark-
ens your un-
derstanding.
[leaf 157, bk.]
When it sees
you want to
climb up,
it tempts you
to keep down,
unless you
resist at once,
and iri't up
the hill.
The nut is
your best ex-
ample.
Komomber
I lu> pi-rcvi'l
ol Kini;
Solomon
280 Solomon lade folk imitate the Ant. Avoid Sloth.
Grace piev. ' Wych, in hys book of sapyence,
who com- Cornauwdede (shortly in sentence)
manded men
to go to the And bad 1 men taken bed ber-to, [>badenst.]
To the Ampte ffor to go, 10188
and to avoid Tavoyde slouthe, cheff noryce
Sloth, the J J
mother of And moder vn-to euery vyce.
all vices.
' Salomoun. vnderstood & ffond
The pereyl off thys hyl off sond 10192
In hys tyme, & ek ther-to,
The nature off the Ampte also ;
Ther-off, 2 whaw he wrot in hys book, pwher-offst.]
& good bed also he took 10196
To thampte in sothfastnesse,
Wha?i he bad voyde al ydelnesse.
Beware of ' Be war, therfore, off sleuthe, I rede
And euere 3 among, tak good heede pst. &c.] 10200
[leaf iss] Off hys sleyhty false 4 whyles, pffaisst.]
sloth's tricks, Off hys tieynes & hys guyles.
Voyde hy?7i fro the by the roote ;
Kep hyw lowehe 5 vnder foote ; [ 5 lowhe / ay st.] 10204
Hys powdry sondys, trede hem doun,
of tem S ta and8 ^ e son( tys ff a l Temptacyouw,
tions. (Whos noumbre no man may acou^ite.)
Wych wyl nat suffre the to mourete 10208
Vp on the hyl, to reste a-loffte,
They wyl 6 lette the so offte, [wyiiest.]
Or thow mayst ha ful vyctorye.
' And haue alway in memory e, 10212
Your body Thys sondy hyl ys thy body, Exposicton. St., m. c.
prevents your ' J J J J J >
*rtue in Wych letteth the (as most Enemy,)
That thow mayst nat in vertu ryse. [stowe, leaf iso, back]
' But alderfyrst thow must despyse 10216
Slouthe, as I shal the lere ;
Than by ese thow shalt co?zquere,
Wyth Thampte, (in certeyw space)
To clymbe aboue the hyl by grace. 10220
' And haue alway wel in mynde,
That thow shalt thyw enemy ffynde
It is a slug, Slowh 7 & ful off slogaidye, [7 Slowthe St.]
and lies long ' '
in bed. Longe a bcdde for to lye, 10224
/ am never to trust or obey my Body, which is my Foe. 281
' Slombrynge eucre, & neclygent, Grace Dieu.
And contrayre to thyw entent,
Ay awaytynge (lyk as espye)
To brynge the in lupartye. 10228
Truste hym nat ! ne, 1 for no chauwce, P nor St.] Don't trust
J ' your body ;
Have in hym noon affyauwce
ffor no ffavour nor flatrye ; 2 [* Fiaterye St.]
ffor I dar pleynly certefye, 10232
Yiff thow obeye hym nyh 3 or ferre, pnygHst.] never obey it;
Than he wyl be-gynne a werre
A-geyn[y]s the, most peryllous,
Most dredful & contagyous, 10236
(Be yt be nyhte, outher be day)
To disturble on thy way, [ieafi58,bk.]
Wytft al hys power he wyl ffonde.
And thus thow may st wel vnderstonde, 10240 n is your
mortal
To knowe & wyte fynally enemy.
"Who ys thy mortal ennemy.
' Now go thy way, for y t stant so, NOW go on
That I mot nedys fro the go ; 10244 y
I may no lengre, on thy weye
Ledyn the, nor mor cowveye.
I haue abyden longe ynowh : [stowe, leafisi]
I nmste, ffro the, gon hewnys nougfi; 10248 i must leave
ffor a gret while (to thjn entent)
I haue holde a parlement
Wyth the, & her-to ben thy guyde. Grace Dien
ffarwel ! for I may nat abyde.' 10252 tarew^n.
The Pylgryxne. 4 [* stowe, om . cj T he pn g ri m .
" Ma dame," quod I a-noon right 5 tho, [ 5 st. om. right]
" Certys, yiff ye go me fro, i declare i
... am lost it she
I am but lost; recure 6 ys noon, [ 6 Recover st.] goes.
Al so sone as ye ar gon." 10256
Grace DieU. 7 C 7 St., om. C.] Grace Dieu
Qttod grace Dieu, ' I wot that wel ;
But I wyl that thow knowe, & ffel,
What I shal 8 seyw the in substaimce. [ shall? i st.]
Som folk ha fey th, & gret ffyaUWCe 9 [ and Affyaunce St.] bidsmenot,
In dyuers ffrendys ; & off gret trust, 10261 folk, trust m
Sette their hope & hertys lust
I am not to
trust in her.
If I offend,
[leaf 159]
she will not
sustain me.
282 Grace Dieu's Stone of Invisibility. She leaves me.
Grace Dieii. ' As they sholde hem neue?- ffaylle,
Wych offte ful lytel may avaylle. 10264
They wene ful offte, in ther degre,
By hew for to supportyd be,
Yiff they hadde, in any place,
Outher offendyd or do trespace. 10268
' But towchyng thys, I wyl thovv se,
Her-in ne truste 1 nat in me, [> Her-inne / ne trust st.]
Yiff thow off ende, nor do nat wel,
I wyl sustene the neueradel, 10272
Nor SUppOrte the nat ywyS, 2 P St. transposes these lines.]
To ffyn thow sholdest don amys, 2 [stowe, leaf isi, back]
Nor ber the vp agen[y]s ryht.
For off ttijn eye, nor off thy syht, 10276
I wyl no tyme be seyn off the,
But whan yt lyketh vn-to me,
And whaw yt ys to my plesauwce,
Vp-on thy goode gouernauwce, 10280
Than, whan me lyst, I kome a-noon.
' ffor, I haue a certeyw ston
"Wherthorgh (trewe as any byble,)
I kan me makyn invysible 10284
Whan that me lyst, a-noon ryht,
And hyden me out off thy siht,
And shrowden me, bothe Est & west,
Whan thow wenyst to han me best, 10288
fful ffer Ifro the, in aventure :
And therfor, thus in 8 me assure, p i st.]
Wha?i thow dost 4 wel, I am present; [+ dost c., o>. st ]
And yiff thow erre in thyw eutent, 10292
ffarwel, a-noon I am ago.
And now I muste 5 parte also, pmnstst.]
(Wherso thow 6 be glad or lyht,) [ 6 that thow St.]
As for a while out off thy siht.' 1029G
And ryght a-noon, as she hath sayd.
God wot, I was ful evele apayd
Off hyr departynge ; in myra herte
Yt made me ful sore smerte ; 10300
Me lyst nat lawhe neueradel,
ffor me lykcde no thyng wel
She has a
stone which
makes her
invisible.
When I do
well, she'll
be with me :
when ill,
she's off.
The Pifffrim.
Grace Dieu
leaves me,
to my sorrow.
/ call Memory, with my Armmtr, and meet a big Churl. 283
The Pilgrim.
I proceed
on my
pilgrimage.
[leaf 159, bk.]
Memory
brings my
armour,
which was
Hyr departyng nor absence ;
They dyde to me so gret offence. 10304
& yet for-thy, yt ys no nay,
fforth I wente vp-on my way [Stowe,ieafi82]
Wych that I afor be-gan.
And in my mynde a-noon yt ran, 10308
To calle memoyre 1 vn-to me, pMemoryest.]
That she sholde redy be
Tawayte vn-to 2 me, & don hyr cure ponst.]
To brynge ruyw harneys & armure ; 10312
And bad she sholde for-gete hem nouht :
And affter me she hath he?rc brouht,
So as I had lyst in my way,
I fylle in any sodeyw ffray ; 10316
And trew[e]ly (yt ys no drede)
I hadde off hem inly gret nede ;
ffor I fond gret Encoimbremeritys ;
By peryllous weyes & by wentys 10320
I hadde had 3 gret aduersyte, p had hadde St.]
And off te also in perel be, often of great
Hadde nat myw harneys & armure
Don to me ful gret socour. 10324 b.eip tome.
Yet offte, thorgh my slouthe, alias,
I stood in many peryllous caas ;
But yiff I hadde wel armyd be,
I hadde nat (in no degre) 10328
Suffryd so myche, yt ys no nay.
But tho beffyl vp-on my way,
As I wente a paas forth pleyn,
I mette a cherl, a gret vyleyn, 10332
"VVych in the way a-gayn me wente,
Wyt/i hys browhes 4 fersly bente : [* Browyu St.]
Hys look, hys cher, al for the wrak,
And a gret staff on hys bak, 10336
Clobbyd, & boystous ffor to se,
& was yhewe 5 out off A tre ['y-hewyd St.]
Callyd in ffrench A cornowler. 6 [stowe, leaf isz, back]
And whan thys cherl gan neyhen ner, [ Cornowber stj
As yt sempte, by hys passage, 10341
He wente uat on 7 pylgymage, U went not / on inn stj
I meet a
Churl, a great
villain,
with a big
cherry-tree
stuff. (Cor-
itoiller.)
(Cornillier :
m. The long
cherrie, wild
cherrie, or
Cornill tree.
1611. Cot-
grave.)
284 The Churl asks who I am, and why I dare go ly this place.
The Churl
[leaf 160]
enquires
whit her I am
bound.
The Pilgrim.
I fear lie'H
attack me,
Deaf 160, bk.]
but I answer
flainly that
am going on
pilgrimage,
and I beg
him not to
stop me.
reproaches
me tor break-
ing the king's
orders.
Nor was no pylgry? in certeyn.
But whan we mette, thus he gan sey/i : 10344
[Blank in MS. for an Illumination. ,]
TVio tM-irlo flViofl 1 [> Later in margin. 'The rewd clmrle' in
T1 - Stowe's hand. ' The llwde Cherl ' St.]
' What may thys be 1 ' quod he a-noon ;
' Whyder shal thys pylgrym gon ?
To what cost ys hys vyage ?
Or whyther 2 goth he on pylgrymage? [ whedir St.] 10348
ffor he semeth (yt ys no nay)
To ben a pylgrym, by hys array.
But he get no bettre grace,
Or he passe out of thys place ; 10352
He shal ffyrst (in c6nclusiou?i)
Answere to 3 my questions. ' pvn-tost.]
Wheroff I wex 4 abaysshed tho, [* wexide st.]
Whan I herde hym spekyn so: 10356
I dradde, by hys fers vysage,
That he, in hys sodeyw rage,
By hys lookys & hys chere
As he gan a-prochen nere, 10360
That he wolde assayllen me :
[Blank in MS. for an Illumination.]
The Pylgrym. 5 [ 5 st., <. c.] [stowe, leafiss]
But, lowly, in 6 my degre [ 6 thus in st.]
I axede 7 hym what he wold ; paskydest.]
And platly vn-to hym I tolde, 10364
(As me sempte no thyug amys,)
I axede no-thyng that was hys.
I seyde, ' I wente on pylgrimage ;
Prayynge hyw that my passage 10368
He sholde nat lette in no degre,
Syth the weye was large & ffre.'
The Rwde Vyleyil. 8 [ 8 St-, 'rude vyleyn ' in margin, C.]
Thys boystous, sturdy, ffers vyleyn,
To me answerde thus ageyn, 10372
(Off whom to-forn I ha yow told)
' How artow hardy ; how artow bold,
ffor to go for-by thys place,
The la we and statutys for to passe, 9 ppacest.j 10376
Or t$ do swych dysplesauxce
/ begin to quake, but Lady Reason takes my part. 285
[* brynge St.] 10383
Nichil tuleritis in viam, neqi/e
virgam neqwe peram. Luce
9 Capitulo, (3 versu).
' Ageyn 1 the kyngys ordynaimce ; [' Agyns St.]
Or to vsurpe by vyolence
A-geyn the precept & dyffence 10380
Off the kyng, wych yore agora
Bad pylgrymes euerychon,
Nat bern, 2 off no presumpcioun,
Nouther skryppe nor bordoun 1
And thow, off foly gouernauwce,
Dost ageyn hys ordynau/zce ;
And thow hast (sothly 3 for to seyne,) [stowe, leaf iss, back]
Offendyd hym in bothe tweyne. [ 3 shortly St.] 10388
Wherevp-on, answere to me,
How thow durstest hardy be
ffor to don so gret offence
Ageyri hys royal excellence ! ' 10392
And trewly, in thys sodeyw caas
I gret[e]ly astonyd was,
And, for fer, be-gan to quake,
What Answere I sholde make 10396
Vn-to hys vnkouthe opposaylle,
Wych for my party myghte avaylle.
And whyl I stood astonyd so,
At my bak I sawh riht tho 10400
Kome, for my protecciioim,
A lady that callyd was Resouw,
Wych cryede lowde vn-to me,
And bad ' I sholde in no degre, 1 10404
In no wyse, answere ageyn,
ffor my part, to that vyleyn ;
ffor she was, by commauwdement
Off Grace dieu, vn-to me sent, 10408
ffor my party to speke & plete,
And answere hym in al hys heete,
To hym that stood thus in my way.'
And she ne made no delay 10412
Thys lady Resourc, but abrayde, 4 [ 4 obreyde St.]
And to the cherl right thus she sayde :
ReSOne. 5 [ 5 In Stowe'a hand. 'Resonn' St.]
' Sey, thow cherl,' a-noon quod she,
' What ys thy charge 1 ? declare me ! 10416
The Churl.
I have
offended
axainst the
king's ordi-
nance, by
having scrip
and staff.
The Pilgrim.
I am afraid
how to an-
swer.
[leaf 161]
Reason comes
to my aid,
sent by Grace
Dieu,
and answers
for me.
Reaton.
286 Reason rebukes the Churl. He asks for her Commission.
reproves the
Churl.
She tells the
Churl he
looks like a
Reaper or
Mower,
or a false
Spy,
and she de-
mands his
name,
and why he
has that big
Staff on his
back.
Cleafl61,bk.]
The Churl
supposes
Reason is
some May-
oress.
The Chnrl
demands her
name.
' Thow semyst froward & pervers, [stowe, leaf ist]
Off thy port, strauwge & dyvers.
Thow semyst (as I kan devyse,)
A repman, for thyw vnkouth guyse, 10420
Or A mowhere wy th thy l sythe ; [' the St.]
Or, to dyscryve the now blythe,
I trowe thow art som ffals espye ;
But the trouthe nat denye ; 10424
Tel me thy name ; spare nouht !
And tel me wher thow hast ek souht
The boystous staff vp-on thy bak,
Wher-in I ffynde ful gret lak ; 10428
ffor yt ys nat accordynge,
But ff reward, pleynly, in semywge,
As fer as I reherse kan,
To euery wel gouernyd man.' 10432
[Blank in MS. for an Illumination.]
Thys cherl, lenyng vpon 2 hys staff, ponst.]
To resouw, thys answere he gaff : 3 P yaffe St.]
The Cherl. 4 [*st.,'cherr <*<, c.]
Thys cherl, by maner off dysdeyne,
Vn-to resotm thus gan seyne : 10436
' I trowe,' quod he, ' by lyklynesse 5 P lyknesse St.]
Thow art chose som mayresse,
Or wexe off newe so fortunat
To be som lady off gret estat ; 10440
But, for al thy presunicioiw
I WOlde S6 6 thy CO??imyssioU7Z, [ Fayn wolde I se St. (If. 181, bk.)]
(ffor al thy port & strange guise, 7 ) 10443
Thy ffredam also, & ff rauwchyse ; 7 [ 7 st. transposes these lines.]
Lyst affterward thow falle in blame.
Shewe hem to me, & tel thy name ;
ffor, by noon other mene weye,
I wyl no thyng vn-to the seye, 10448
Nor the answere, truste 8 me, [ 8 trust on St.]
To lete hy?n gon at lyberte.'
[Resoun]
Thanne, 9 resou?i, nat to hasty, p Than St.]
But by leyser ful prudently 10452
Toward hy??i castynge hyr look,
Grace Dieu's Commission to Reason. 287
' Out off a Coffyn a lettre took ; Reaton.
To hyw sayde, & spak but lowe,
I wyl that thow my power knowo : 10456 she shows
J * him her
Haue her ther-off inspeccyouw, commission.
And se her my commyssiouw.
And whan thow hast y t rad & seyn, Deaf 162]
Thow shalt wel knowen, in certeyn, 10460
Why I am kome, wyt/i-oute blame,
My power also, & my name.'
The Vyleyn. 1 C 1 St., ' vyleyn in margin, C.] The Churl
Quod he, wych koude no curteysye,
' I koude neuere yet 2 clergy e. pyittnost.] 10464 says he can't
J J read :
And yiff thy power shal be wyst, ? he must read
Ked yt thy sylff, yiff that the lyst.'
And she yt radde w?/t/t good wylle : ne pugrtm.
The cherl was coy & stood ful stylle. 10468
And whatt that he hyr power seth, [stowe, leafiss] while she
J does so, the
Grupchynge, he grunte wyth hys teth, c ' iurl grinds
Hys grete malys for to kythe, **"* &ans
And shook hys berd fful offte sythe ; 10472 bles -
Gan to groyne mor & more,
And off despyt to gruchche sore,
Whan she hath maad, 3 ope & cler, p made St.]
Al theffect off hyr power, 10476
ffro poynt to poynt, vp-on a rowe.
And yiff ye lyst pleyrcly to knowe,
Loo, her, by declaraci'ouw,
Hyr power & co??imyssunm : 10480
The Comision of Reason. 4 ^"j^S^^f** graces.
' Grace dieu, by whos goueraau?zce, Reason's
power and
By whos myght & whos puissauwce, fro'mGrace 1
Kynges in euery regi'ouw, Dieu>
Prynces & lordys off renoun, 10484
Ben gouernyd in ther estatys,
(Bothe Temporal, & ek prelatys,)
To Our cosyn, 3 dame Resou?z, [ 5 Commyssioun St.]
Off fame worthy, & off renouw, 10488
Who??i al our court doth magnefye
As to the nexte off our allye,
Elthe, G loye, & contyuuance, [ 6 Heitho st.]
288 Reason is to summon the Churl, Rude Entendement.
Grace DUu's ' Worsliepe, & long perseuerauwce, 10492
Commitsion .
to Reason. Wyth power, by our ccwimyssioiw,
[leaf 162, bk.] For to don execucyoure,
ShfMstopro- JJedreS, & amendement, 1 [> St. transposes the8e lines.]
Off fawtys wych in our parlement 1 [stowe, leaf iss, back]
Be compleynyd on, day by day, 10497
Off pylgrymes wych passen by the way,
Voyde off guile & al deceyt,
How on 2 ly th falsly in a-wayt, poonst.] 10500
Hem to dysturble, robbe & reue,
And in her passage hem to greue ;
against a ^ cherl ff reward & daiwgerous,
Churl, called
tendeme n nt, Off cher & P ort malycyous, 10504
And ay pervers in hys entent,
Whose name ys ' rud Entendemewt '
Wych lyth awaytyng, by gret mescheff,
By hihe 3 weyes, lyk a theff ; [Miyest.] 10508
Day & nyht, gret wach doth make,
who robs pit- Cely pylgrymes for to take,
grims of their , , /
scrips and To robbe hew (oil entencyouft)
staves,
Off ther skryppys, & bordoure, 10512
And stuff 4 that they han vryth hem lad. [stuffest.]
' And thys cherl, to be mor drad, 5 [ 5 ladde . . dradde St.]
And supportyd on ech syde,
ancUias Hath ytake a maas off pryde, 10516
a Mace of "
Pride, A staff off ffals extorci'ouw,
Callyd by Rebellious
(Trewly for to specefye)
the staff of ' The staff off obstynacye,' 10520
Obstinacy,
GrauTztyd off pryde, by assent,
Vn-to rud Entendement.
' And thus thys .iii. 6 ccmfederat, [ thre St.]
Causen a ful 7 gret debaat p foulest.] 10524
and annoys And a perillous mortal stryff
pilgrims. . , _
To pylgrymes in thys present lytt,
Ther weyes, when they ha w?/t/i-set. 8 [ 8 sette . . mette St.]
'And trewly now, thys iii 9 be met, 8 [thes thre St.]
I kan no bet 10 amendement, [ 10 better St.] [stowe, leaf ise]
Reason is to
[leaf 163] But that Rud Entendement 10530
summon this -r> j .
cimri. Be somownyd to appere,
Reason is to try, and do vengeance on Rude Entendement. 289
' By som maner off y cere 10532
Off youres, ageyn a certeyre day,
Wyt/i-oute prolongyng or dellay.'
And her-vp-on, by mauwdement,
"We haue youe a comauwdement 10536
That thys cherl hyra nat excuse,
Nor your maundement nat refuse,
But kome to stonde at lugement,
A day assygned co?wpetent. 10540
' And to don execuciourc,
Lych 1 to your coramyssiouw, pLykeSt. seei-ioeei.]
Vp-on thys cherl, for hys trespace.
Letteth nat, nor doth no grace, 10544
But yow auengeth on that wrechche,
Lyk as your power forth doth strechche.
ffor in thys caas most necessarye,
We make yow our commyssarye, 10548
On our hyhalue, wyt/i al your myght,
To executen & to don ryht
Wher ye sen that most ys nede.
'Lo her ys al, taketh good heede 10552
To vnderstonden your power.
The daate couwtyd, a thowsand yer,
Thre hundryd over, thrytty & on, 2 [ 2 oon . . agoon St.]
Wryte & asselyd nat yore agon, 2 10556
And sent by ful commyssi'ouw,
Vn-to thys lady dame Kesouw.'
The wyche, whaw she hadde rad, 3
Off contenaurcce demewr & saad 3
She abrayde by good avysement [stowe, leaf ise, back]
And sayde to Eud Entendement
Rescmn : 4 [* st., om. c.]
' By euydence, notable & cler,
Thow hast,' quod she, 'herd my power : 10564
I ha declaryd yt vn-to the.
Now gyff answere ageyn to me !
Rude Intendement : 5 [ 5 In Stowe's hand. Entendement St.]
' And what artow,' a-noon quod he,
' Touchyng thy power, lat me se ! ' 10568
Rescmn : 6 [ st., om. c.]
PILGRIMAGE. U
Grace Dien'n
Committion
to Reason.
She is to do
execution on
Rude En-
tendement,
10559
[ Radde . . Sadde, St.]
as the Com-
missary of
Grace Dieu.
The commis-
sion is of the
year 1331.
bids Rude
Entendement
answer.
[leaf 163, bk.]
Rude En-
tetiflement
asks who she
its.
290 Rude Entendement says Reason steals folk's Corn.
says
' Lady Rea-
son.'
She chaff's
him.
Rude En-
tentleuient
says Reason's
name is de-
famed.
So he asks
to know her
power and
might.
Rude En-
teiidement
[leaf 16i]
accuses Rea-
son of steal-
ing folk's
in. M! at the
mill.
' Hastow nat herd me Ead 1 yt al, [> redde St.]
And told ek in especyal,
Eecord by my coramyss'iouTe,
That I am callyd ' dame Eesouw ' ? 10572
I trowe thy wyt ys fer the fro ;
Or I deme yt stondeth so
Thow louest somwher paramours,
Or besy art 2 to maken tours p thow art st.i 10576
Or castellys, by gret devys,
Therby to getera the A prys."
Rude Entendement : 8 pst.,om.c.]
' I haue,' quod he, ' vp & dou?i
Herknyd thy commyssiouw, 10580
And vnderstonde yt eue?ydel ;
And therby I se f ul wel [stowe, leaf is?]
That thy name ys ek ' Eesouw.'
' But a replicaci'ouw 10584
I wyl make vp-on thy name,
"Wych ys hyndred by dyffame ;
fEor that name sykerly
Ys dyffamyd ful gretly ; 10588
Wherfore I myghte nat for-bere
ffor to axe what thow were,
To knowe thy power & thy myght :
Me sempte her-in I hadde ryht.' 10592
Resoun : 4 [* st, om. c.j
' Seystow,' quod she, ' that my name
Ys a name off dyffame
Or dysclaimdrycl 1 lat me se
How or where that myghte be.' 10596
Rude Enf endement : 5 p st., <H. c.]
' Certys,' quod he, 'yiff thow lyst here,
The place wel I shal the lere ;
I wyl nat spare, but platly telle :
Thow art dyffamyd at the melle, 6 10600
And disclaundryd off ffals mesour,
By robberye off mele & flour
6 Ration est au mmtlin: Pro. (Belike because Grist is taken
in, and delivered out, by measure.) Cotgrave, 1611.
Unison, (sailor's) ration. ' Jlatio, mesure.' D'Aruis.
Reason admits that a false Mill-Measure is cald Reason. 291
' The peple present, them be-forn,
Stelynge ther greyn & ek ther corn.' 10604
ReSOn : 1 C 1 In Stowe's hand. Resoun St.]
' Eecord off ff olkys that be sage, [stowe, leaf 187, back]
' Sclawzdere ys no vasselage ; '
And phylosofres ek expresse,
' To sclauwdere, ys no worthy nesse, 10608
Nor dyffames, forth to telle.'
' And as touchy ng off the melle,
Thow myghtest ther peraventure
Seen & be-holden A mesure 10612
Wych (by folkys oppynyouw,)
Bereth the name off ' Resowz.'
And wyle 2 that folkys so yt calle, [* while St.] 10615
To shrowde hys falshede, & tapalle, 3 C 3 to paiie St.]
But 4 for al that, (yt ys no drede, [* But, om. st.]
Who that wysly taketh hede,)
Thogh yt bere name off Resouw,
Yt ys but fals decepci'ouw, 10620
Vnder a colour off ffals laude,
ffor to hyden deceyt & fraude.
4 A-T\vyxe a name, & existence,
Men mvt 5 sette a dyfference ; [smowest.] 10624
ffor vnder name off sothfastnesse,
Offte ys wrouht ful gret falsnesse ;
And vnder honest couerture,
Offte ys hyd ful gret ordure. 10628
In many a place yt ys ek seyn,
That pompe, pryde, and fals dysdeyn,
Courtyned 6 Avyt/i, humylyte, [ 6 contyned St.]
7 Assenden to grete 7 dygnyte; p ' st. (c burnt)] 10632
But feyned symplesse, out off doute,
At the laste yt breketh oute.
' Ech vyco ek (in conclusi'ouw)
Haueth thys condycyoun, 10636
To shewen out an exaumplayre [stowe, leafiss]
Off vertu, wych that ys contrayre
To hym by fals apparence,
To yive a mancr evydence 10640
To blynde the peplys, by shewyng
Riule En-
tendement.
Beaton
says this is
mere slander.
No doubt you
may see at a
mill,
a Measure
cald Reason,
meant to con-
ceal a miller's
rascality ;
but you must
distinguish
between a
name and the
thing it
names.
Pride is often
curtaind by
Humility.
[leafNU.bk.]
Every vice
hides itself
under nn p-
parent virtue.
292 Reason asserts her Worth. The Churl denies it.
But tho"
Vices some-
times have
the name of
Virtue,
pure Virtue
shines clear.
And 1 1m a
false mill-
ineasure is
cald ' Reason,'
I, Reason,
am not to
blame,
but am
worthy of
honour.
For Reason
cannot err.
[leaf 165]
Virtue
shrouds not
itself.
I am Reason.
Rude En-
tfndement
gays, Do you
think me a
Fool?
I know what
is what,
' Off that they ffayllen in beyng,
That men sholden off he?tt deme 10643
They wer swych 1 lyk as they seme c 1 Outward were simche st.]
Outward, as by ther feyned cher.
' But vertu, that stondeth euere cler,
Wyth coue?'ture off no veyn laude,
Ys nat dyffacyd by no ffraude ; 10648
And thogh that vyces, by fals ffame,
Off vertu som tyme haue A name,
Cler 2 vertu (who so loke wel) pcierest.]
Therby ys spottyd neueradel, 10652
But shyneth clerere & mor bryht,
That falsnesse may nat cloude hys lyht ;
But in hys bryhtnesse doth endure.
' And thogh that I, off fals mesure 10656
(To shrowde yt by decepcyoun,)
Am I-callyd ther Kesourc
At the Melle, by fals diffame,
My sylff ther-off am nat to blame ; 10660
But rather sholde, (in many wyse,)
Off prudent folkys that be wyse,
Keceyve worshepe & hihe renoiiw,
Lych my name, callyd Resoim. 10664
' ffor Resouw, platly. nyhe nor ferre,
By no falsnesse may nat erre.
The name off vertu helpeth nouht 10667
Vertu voyde out off the thouht; [stowe, leaf m, back]
And vertu wyl hym-sylff nat shrowde
~Wyt?i dyrknesse off no mysty cloude,
But shewe hy w-sylff fforth openly :
My name ys Kesoura, & swych am I.' 10672
Rude Illtendiment : 3 C 3 I" Stowe's hand. Entendement St.]
' Syker,' qtwd rude Entendement,
' Wenystow I be so blent
That I knowe no maner thyng
Off thy sotyl Argwyng ] 10676
' I knowe kanvas, I knowe sylk,
I knowe the flye dreynt in the my Ik,
I knowe A mesour, fful & halff,
I knowe the kowh & ok the kalff, / 10680
Rude Entendement declares Reason did steal the Corn. 293
10684
[i alle oone St.] 10688
[* om. St.]
10692
10696
[Stowe, leaf 189]
[SMylleStJ 10700
' Affter that men by name hem calle,
And dyfference off bestys alle.
' I knowe the name off thys & that,
I knowe an houred, I knowe a caat,
And off bothe I knowe how,
That nouther off hem ys calff nor kow
I knowe ther namys euerychon :
Ther namys & they ben al on. 1
And 2 I dar seyn w?/t/i-oute blame,
Gladly euere, affter the name
ffolweth the condiciouw.
' Wherfor 1 sey thow art Kesoim
And how resouw ys ek thy name,
A name sclaiwdryd by dyffame ;
And as I told the her-to-forn,
' Syth that Resouw stal the corn,
Than was the corn stolew by the : '
Yt may noon other wyse be,
But euene lyk as I the telle,
That al the water off the melle 3
(Wych maketh yt tourne rouwd aboute,)
May nat suffyse (yt ys no doute)
To wasshe away the gret dyffame,
Nor the disclaiwdre off thy name.
Thow mayst, by fals collusiouw,
ffynde an excusacioim
To putte yt fro the euerydel ;
But her-vp-on, trust me ryht wel r
tfor sotylte, nor no queyrctyse,
I vnderstonde noon other wyse
Touchyng thy name, nor neuer shal,
Than I ha told : lo, her ys al ! '
Resown : 4
' By thy wordys, yt doth sue,
fful sotylly thow kanst argue ;
And thy premysses for to make,
fful ffayre exaumples thow kanst take, 107 1G
By SOtyl declaraciOUWS Ratio loquitwr yronice. St.
To preue thy conclusi'ouws,
Thy/i entent to bryngen Inne.
Rude En-
tendement.
and that dog
and cat are
not cow and
calf.
Things are
what their
names say
they are.
You are
Keason,
and you stole
the Corn.
All the mill-
water can't
wash the dis-
grace off your
name.
10704 [leaf 165, bk.]
You may
make what
excuses you
like,
10708
10712
[*St., OOT.C.]
but I sny
you stole the
Corn.
ironically
praises the
Churl's argu-
ment,
294 Reason, asks why fiude Entendement robs Pilgrims.
and asks him
if his name is
not Rude Kn-
tendeuient.
Rudt En-
tendement
says that
though men
call him so,
he is not such
as they
think;
they are ruder
than he.
[leaf 166]
Rtaton.
Reason asks
why he lies
in wait to rob
pilgrims of
their staffs
and scrips,
and why he
thug offends
Grace Dieu.
' Yt were fill hard off the to \vy wne,
Or to getyrc avauwtage ;
Thow art so prudewt & so sage,
And dost in wysdaw so excelle.
' But I pray the for to telle,
What ys thy name, Est or west,
By wych thow art knowe best :
As I conceyue in my entent,
Artow nat rude EntendSment 1 '
Rude Entendement : *
Quod rudentendement 2 ryht tho,
' Thogh that men me calle so
By my name, (what so they mene,)
I am nat swych lyk as they wene ;
ffor yt may pleywly so befalle,
That somme off hem that so me calle,
Yiff they consydre by & by,
They be m6r Eud 3 thaw am I,
And mor ek insuffycyent
Off konnyng, as by lugement.'
Rescmn : l
Qttod resouw tharaie, ful sad off cher,
' Touchyng that thow hast sayd 4 her,
Yt doth ynowh to me suffyse ;
But, I merveille in what wyse,
Why or wharfore, so by deceyt
That thow lyggest in a-wayt
Vp-on the weyes (yt ys no faylle)
Pylgrymes only to assaylle,
In cytes, borwes, & in touns,
ffor to reue hew ther bordouws ;
Her skryppes ek to take away,
As they walke by the way.
' Tel on platly, & nat spare ;
But thy power ffyrst declare,
How thow art bold, & hast no ryht
So toffendyn in the siht
Off grace dieu, (as I ha sayd,)
Wych ys, sothly, evele apayd,
And taketh grctly in greuauwce
10720
10724
[Stowe, leaf 189, back]
10728
[i St., om. C.]
[ 2 Rude Entendeinent St.]
10732
[ Rude St.] 10736
[*seydeSt.] 10740
10744
10748
10752
[Stowe, leaf 190]
10756
Because God orderd him to' Reason shows this is alterd. 295
[ A k c., and St.] 10768
[* St.,
. c.]
' The maner ofB thy goue?*naunce.'
Rude Entendement : * pst.,oi.c.]
' Yiff thow wylt a whyle dwelle,
The cause pley?zly I shal telle. 10760
In the gospel, yt ys rad 2
How the kyng hyw. syluew bad, 2 [* radde . . badde St.]
' No man to bern 3 out off hys tou, [* bewm St.]
Nouther skryppe nor bordoun.' 10764
And platly, for to kepe hys lawe,
I wyl nat feyne nor wyt/i-drawe,
But, off hool entenc'iourc,
Be-reue skryppe & ek 4 bordou?i
ffro pylgrymes, wher they passe :
They gete off me noon other grace.'
Resoun : 5
' Touchynge thyn oppynyouw
Off -the skryppe & the bordourc,
(Yiff yt be clerly coraprehendyd,)
Thogh they somtyme wer dyffendyd,
That dyffence ys now wyt/i-drawe,
And they be suffryd by the lawe,
That pylgrymes (nyh & ferre)
In pylgry mages may hem bere,
Hem to sustene in ther walkyng ;
ffor noon vnworshepe to a kyng,
Thogh somwhyle, syth b.6 hath myghte,
Chau7^ge hys lawes off verray ryht.
' And cause off chauwgyng (in certeyn)
Off thys lawe I shal the seyn :
Who that hath Achevyd wel
Hys pylgrymage, euerydel,
Yt nedeth hym nat 6 (who kan se)
Longer a pylgrym for to be. 10788
Therfor (tak good hed to thys !)
A man no lenger pylgrym ys,
Than he hath skryppe & bordouw ;
ffor bothen (in conclusi'oun) 10792
Ne serue to noon avauntage,
Whan men ha don ther pylgrymage.
7 'And Cryst Ihesw / ys Terme and Fyne / [?-' St., om. c.]
Rttde En-
ttndement
refers her to
the King's
command in
the gospel,
and says he
won't stop
taking Pil-
grims scrips
and staves.
10772
10776
10779
[Stowe, leaf 190, back]
10784
[ s nat hym St.]
[leaf 106, bk.]
says the
Gospel prohi-
bition \s now
withdrawn,
and pilgrims
may carry
staves to help
them in walk-
ing.
Pilgrims are
so only while
they have
crip and
staff.
296 Reason shows that Christ bade Pilgrims bear Scrip & Staff.
Reaton.
Christ is the
goal of every
Pilgrim's
pilgrimage.
When the
Apostles
reacht Him,
[leaf 167]
He at first
forbade them
to take scrip
or staff.
But before
He died,
He modified
the com-
mand,
see the gospel
of St. Luke,
ii. 3,
and told
them to take
satchel,
scrip and
staff,
' Wheder / that euery / goode Pylgryme / 10796
Tendytfr / in. his pylgrymage / 7
And who that hath swych avaimtage
To kome to hyra, he may sey wel
That he hath endyd eue?ydel 10800
Hys pylgrymage, & fiaylleth nouht
To kome to that that he hath souht. 1 [ l bought st.]
Thus thapostles, On by on,
Kome to hym euerychon), 10804
Travayllynge nyht & day :
As parfyt pylgrymes in ther way,
By choys & by ellecci'ourc
And also by vocaciioure 10808
They kam to hy??i, (yt ys no nay)
And thawne to hem 2 he gan say, [ hem St., hym c.]
Bad hem, ' in cy te nor in toww,
Nouther ber skryppe nor bordoiw.' 10812
And they, in euery maner thyng, [stowe, leaf 191]
Lowly obeyde hys byddyng.
' But to-forn he sholde deye,
That precept he gan modef ye 10816
To hys dysciples, (as I rede,)
ffor he sawh they sholde ha nede,
Affter hys deth, whan he wer gon ;
Therfor he bad hem euerychon, 10820
Vn-to her protecciouw
To haue a skryppe & a bordourc.
Inlr tViA rmsr>plp-r
.e gospeier,
and He'd give
them food.
l hoftet saccalnm, tollat, similiterf
& peraw f Luce> t capit ^
Wher the text ys pleyn & cler : [fsiwcetst.] 10824
He byddeth (who kan loke wel)
* That who that haveth a sachel, 3 p Sageiie St.]
Lat hym (to hys dyffenciouw,)
Take a skryppe & a bordouw, 10828
And a staff vp-on to reste,
ffor ye shal fynde yt for the beste ;
Swych thynges ben vn-to yow due,
Affter me yiff ye shal sue, 10832
And folwen my gouernauwce ;
And ye shal hauew suffysauwce
Off brede, 4 wherso that ye be, [* brede St., bred c.]
Rude Entendement disputes this. Reason re-affirms it. 297
' Tyl tyme that ye kome to me, 10836 Beaton.
In your nede yow to releue.'
' Wher-vp-on I may wel preue, Therefore
it is at all
That y t ys at alle tymes M"l es v^rmis-
J J sible to pil-
Permyssyble to pylgrymes 10840 8[ ru ' a ^ benr
To bern A skryppe & ek a staff; . Bta "-
ffor ther mayster, lycence hew gaff;
Kecord the byble, yiff yt be souht.
' Wherfor, medle the ryht nouht 10844 so don't stop
pilgrims.
Tarest 1 pylgrymes by vyolence, [' TO im Rest St., leaf 191, back] oafw.bk.]
ffor they han ther-to lycence,
Mawgre thy malys & thy myghte ;
ffor ther conge shal off ryht 10848 Their leave
lusts till their
Laste to hem in ther vyage, cu'ls'" 11 * 8
Tyl they ha don her pylgrymage.'
Rude Entendement: 2 [*st.,o.c.] SSS^'t
' The wordys that thow dost specefye,
Ar but wordys off mokarye ; 10852 "ay NO.
ffor yiff so stood, thys myghty kyng alien? HU*
Hadde dyffendyd any thyng
That he hadde ordeyned or ysayd,
Off the textys 3 that thow hast lay d, piutisst.] 10856
They sholde ha be 4 (who lyst to look.) [ be c., om. St.] He'd have
/ \ v '/ struck 6ni out
Yracyd clene out off the book, of the book -
Lych vn-to hys ordynauwce,
W?/t7i-oute any vary au wee.' 10860
ReSOUTl^ : *t s St., om.C.} Beaton
' That ys nat so,' a-noon quod she, disputes this:
' ffor, off ryht & equyte,
Ech 6 thyng (ohortly for to ryme,) [ 6 Echo St.] things have
their time,
Muste duely 7 haue hys tyme : U Most dueiiy st.] 10864
I dar afferme that yt ys soth,
What men seyn, or what mew doth ;
Consydred 8 wel, by cler seyug, [ 8 consyderyng St.]
The Trewe cause off euery thyng, 10868
Thenchesouw & mutaci'ouTzs, and then
change.
The dedys & narraciouns
Off alle thyng, (who loke wel) ; [stowe, leaf 192]
And cause also why the gospel 10872 The gospel
* is more
Ys mor plesynge to the siht P leasi "if lo
298 How Obstinacy ruind Natal and Pharaoh.
Reaton.
those who
understand
aright, than
to others.
[leaf 168]
Rudu En-
temlement.
Rude KM-
teMdement
declares that
Reason takes
no heed of
truth.
bids Rude
KlltiTl'lrllli'Tlt
lay down his
Staff of Oh-
Btinacy.
Nabal and
Pharaoh
' To folk that vnderstonde a-ryht
Than to swych, wych in ther thouht
Vnderstonde ther-off ryht nouht ; 10876
Euene lyk (& thus I mene)
As in A medwe ffressh & grene,
Wher as folkys do repayre,
The mor that ther be flourys fayre, 10880
Lusty, soote, & fressh off hewe,
Spredynge a-brood vryth bawme newe,
ffolkys, the mo 1 (I dar endyte) ['merest.]
To loke ther-on hem-sylff delyte.' 10884
Rude Entendement 2 : P st., on, c.]
Thy s cherl, boystous 3 in hys entent, p boystous c., om. St.]
Callyd ' Eud Entendement,'
ffroward in hys oppynyouw,
Abrayde a-non vn-to Resoun. 10888
Quod he felly, to ben a-wreke,
' Yt ar but fantasmes that ye speke ;
ffor, pleynly, as thynketh me,
' ff alsnesse,' ye namen now bewte. 10892
Off trouthe also (yt ys no drede,)
Ye lyst take no maner hede.
Do her-vp-on what euer ye kan,
ffor I wyl holde that I be-gan.' 10896
Resouw 4 : [* st., om. c.]
' Certys,' quod Resoun, ' a-noon ryht tho, [stowe, if. 194, bkj
Thow ne shalt no thyng do so ;
But (for short conclusions)
Thow shalt ley thy staff a-donn ; 10900
Thow hast lenyd ther-on to longe, 1
Thorgh oppynyouws ffals & wronge \)
And folyly, affter thy lust,
Ther-in to myche 5 set thy trust, [ 5 inne to muche st.] 10904
ffor by thys staffe' 6 (lyst to me,) [taffe st., staff c.]
In the byble as thow mayst se,
Nabaal & kyng PharaouTZ
Wer brouht vn-to confusi'ourz : 10908
They lynede 7 so longe vp-on that staff p
Wych that pryde vn-to hem gaff,
The staff callyd ' obstynacye,'
Eude Untcndement stopt the Jeivsfrom turning Christians. 299
[leaf 168, hk.]
came to grief
through
obstinacy.
' That, thorgh ther pompous surquedye, 10912 Reaon
Ther owne deth (for lak off grace,)
They dyde wylfully purchace ;
ffor they were pompous & Ellat,
And in ther hertys indurat, 10916
Ek obstynat in ther entent,
Only for Rud Entendement ;
Was to her grete dysavayl,
Xhe pryncypal off ther coimsayl. 1092fr
' ffor thys cherl, ffroward & ffel,
Made hem for to be rebel,
And voyden (shortly in sentence)
The vertu off obedience ; 10924
Ek ouermor (as thow shalt se,)
Yiff Hud Entendement nadde be,
The lewes (in conclusions)
Hadde lefft 1 ther oppynyouw, p letrte St.] 10928
And ther heresyes wyth-drawe, [stowe, leaf m]
And tournyd hem to crystys la we ;
And, in ther cowversioun,
Take the skryppe & the bordourc, 10932
And lyk pylgrymes hem gouernyd,
And ful clerly ek dyscernyd,
Wych now he dyrked vnder skye,
Only for ther obstynacye. 10936
' That staff, I rede the to ley doun,
And leff thy Eude oppynyoura ;
And leue ther-on no mor at al,
Lyst at the laste thow haue a ffal.' 10940
Rud Entendement:
Qtiod Rud entendement to 2 Eesoun : pvntost.]
' Thy proverbys, nor thy sermouw,
Kor al that euere thow dost me rede,
I take ther-off no maner hede, 10944
ffor al thy peynted wordys swete,
My staff in soth I wyl nat lete ;
But as me thynketh for the beste,
Ther-vp-on I wyl me reste, 10948
Wher-euere I walke by the weye,
And in ryht nouht to the obcye,
But for Rude
Entende-
uieut,
tlit Jtfir*
would have
turnd Chris-
tians,
and become
Pilgrim*.
Rude En-
tendement
refuses to
be guided
by Beason,
and deflen
her power.
300 Reason lids me disregard Rude Entendennent.
[leaf 169]
Reanon
summons
Rude Kntcn-
detnent to the
Assizes at
Doomsday.
The Pilgrim.
Reason bids
me go on my
way,
As Rude En-
temUmient's
liead is hard-
er than stone,
and nil re.. son
is lost, on
him,
' Holden niyw owne, as yt ys ryht,
Mawgre thy power & thy myght.' 10952
Resoim :
Quod Eesouw ; ' thanne I se ful wel,
And aparceyue 1 euerydel, [' appercey vc yt st.]
By thy wordys Eude & pleyn, [stow*, leaf 193, back]
That yt were to me but veyn, 10956
Mor to talke off thys matere
To the, wych that lyst nat here, 2 piwestj
Nor accorde to my?? Entent ;
But, at the grete lugement 10960
Wher tassyses 3 shal be holde, p Thassyses st.]
Al couert falsenesse to vnfolde,
I somowne the, ther tappere,
To Answere iu thys matere ! 10964
Looke thow be ther, thylke day r
WytTz-oute prolongyng or delay.'
Affter al thys, (as ye shal se,)
Eesourc kam ageyn to me, 10968
And bad me go forth on my way,
And ha no dred, 4 nyht nor day [ drede st.}
Off thys Hud Enteiidement ;
(Resoun.)
'ffor fynally, (in sentement,) 10972
W?/t7i-inne aij hevy styth off stel,
A ffethre sholde entre as wel
As any doctryne (yt ys no dred)
Sholde entre in-to hys hed. 10976
' ffor thys Eud entendement
Ys vfyih Eudnesse so yblent,
That dyamawnt, I trowe, ys noon,
Nor noon other maner ston 10980
So indurat, to mollefye,
As he ; for ffals obstynacye
Hath blendyd 5 hym by hyr decyt, p biyndede st.]
That wher he cachcheth a conceyt, 10984
Ther-vp-on he wyl ay holde,
ffor all the skyles that I tolde ;
Nor resouw that I koude seyn, [stowe, leaf 194]
Al was but lost, and sayd in veyn ; 10988
/ beg Reason to be my Guide to Jerusalem. 301
' In hys Rudnesse he kepte hym cloos, [leafiso, bk.]
And wyl nat chau??gen hys purpos.
' Wherfor go forth, & ha no drede, i am there-
fore not to
!Nor tak off hym no maner hede ; 10992 heed him,
But hold thy weye 1 forth as blyue : [ way St.] but to go
forth on my
ffor, w?/tfr a cherl to stonde & stryue, journey
Yt wolde nat hut lyte avaylle :
Lat hy?n -wyth hys wyndes saylle, 10996
ffrowardly ageyn the strem,
"VVhil thow gost to lerusaleem. to _ Jerusalem
without fear
Be off hy??i no thyng afferd, of Rude En-
' teuclement.
Thogh he shake on the hys herd ; 11000
Lat hy??i gruchche, & mowhes make,
And his Chyn vp-on the shake,
Wexe ek pale for envye
And on hys staff 'obstynacye' 11004
Lat hym reste, & stonde stylle :
Hold thow thy way / ay forth at wylle I'//
The pylgrym. Thepugnm.
" Ma dame," (\uod I, " yt stondeth so,
I wot nat what ys hest to do, 11008
But ye, off your benygnyte,
Lyst for to conveye me
And ben my guyde vp-on the way, i aic Reason
to I* my
Me to goueme nyht & day, 11012 guide,
Tyl I kome to that cyte
Wych I caste for to se.
ffor, w?/t7i-oute' yow, certeyn
My labour ys nat but in veyn : [stowe, leaf 101, back] 11016
Yt ys so pe?-yllous a passage, as the pas-
That I shal ffynde in my vyage dangerous.
Many anoyes, mo than on,
I kan nat rekne hem eue?ychon; 11020
Pcreilles that on 2 the weye lye; [ J inst.]
But yiif I hadde cowpanye
Off yow, yt wokle ynowh suffyse .
Me to supporte in many wyse." 11024
Reanon.
Quod Resouw tha?me a-noon to me, [leaf no]
' fful wel I myghte gon wyt// the,
302 I go on my way, and meet a Damsel fcatherd like a Dove.
She says she
coiUd go,
but clouds
would rise,
and I should
lose sight of
her.
She will be
with me
while I am
in the right
way:
otherwise,
not.
When I want
her, she'll be
with me.
11028
[i vnkoutlie St.] 11032
The Pilgrim.
I proceed on
my way,
' And nat departe out off thy siht
Al the whyle that thow gost ryht,
And holdest forth the evene way ;
But offte sithe (yt ys no nay)
Ther shal a-twen vs (who espyes,)
Aryse two fful vnkouth 1 skyes,
Wonder blak off ther colours,
Off smoky myste's & vapours,
That somwhyle, off dyrknesse
And off the owgly ffoul thyknesse, 11036
Off sondry chaunges that shal be,
Thow shalt lese the syht off me.
'And somtyme, ful glad off chere,
Thow shalt se me ffressh & cler, 11040
Affter the weye that thow dost holde,
Lyk to-forn, as I the tolde.
ffor thow holdest the weye ryht,
Thow shalt se me cler & bryht. 11044
' And fynally, yiff thow go wrong,
I wyl me hyden (euere among,) [stowe, leaf 195]
Out off thy syht, & shrowden me
That thow shalt me nowher se. 11048
'Wherfor, off me whan thow hast nede,
Sek me no ferther (as I rede)
Her nor ther, vp-on no syde,
But wher thy syluen dost abyde. 11052
Yiff thow me seke ther due'ly,
Thow shalt me fyndera ay redy.
' Now, on thy lourne, forth the spede
Syth to tarye thow hast no nede.' 11056
[* In Stowe's hand.]
[ sadde . . . badde St.]
[* me St., om. C.]
11060
11064
Off hyre answere I wex al sad, 3
Yet forth I wente, a* she me bad, 3
Eemewynge me 4 fro that place,
Me recomaundynge to hyr grace ;
And prayde god ful Enterly
[leaf 170, bk.] Me to conveye sykerly,
Wyt/j-outen any dysturbaunce,
And me to sauen fro myschaunce,
To be my guyde, & wysshen me
The Fcatherd, Dove-like Damsel is playing at ball. 303
ffor to kome to the cyte The p;i g rim.
Whyder to gon, tho I me caste.
And forth I wente wonder faste, 11068
"NVf/t/i my bordou?i in my hond ;
And in the weye a-noon I fond dam^f 6 ' *
A damysele off queynte array,
Wych me mette vp-on the way. 11072
And lyke a dowue (as thoughts me)' t 1 "Jftn^j" tlie *S*^ Hto
She was ffetheryd for to fle ;
And On her leggVS bothe two. [Stowe, leaf IDS, back] on both her
legs.
Lyk a dowve she was also, 11076
And endownyd soffte & ffayr,
Smothe as 2 gossomer in the hayr. [* as a St.]
And trewly (as I koude espye)
Me sempte thys mayden off ffolye, 11080
Now her, now ther, ageyw a wal she is piy
7 " ing at ball.
That she pleyede at the bal,
Rewnynge alway vp & doiw.
And thanne I hadde affecci'oure 11084
To wyten pleynly & enquere
Hyr name, and what she dyde there.
[Blank in MS. and in St. for an Illumination.']
The pylgrym:
" Damysele," a-noon quod I,
" I merreylle ful gretly 3 pgreteiyst.] 11088 i ask her
why her legs
Off your ffethres ffressh & shene, we featherd,
What they tokne or what they mene ;
And that ye ben endowned so
Vp-on your loggys bothe two ; 11092
ffor, syth tyme that I was born,
I sawhe neuere her-to-fforn
Noon y ffetheryd, saufflly 4 only ye : [auffst.]
ffor, by lyknesse, ye may fle 11096
Whaw that ye lyst, hih & lowe ;
And ffayn ther-fore, I wolde knowe,
(Yiff ye lyst to specefye)
What your ffetherys sygnefye ; 11100
And your endownyng, vp & dou, [stowe, leaf i%]
I wolde ther-off ha som resoun ;
And or ye any ferthcr go,
304 The Featherd Girl's name is Youth, and she is skittish.
and what her
name is.
The Featherd
Girl, Youth.
The Pilgrim.
I tell her
she's worth
The Featherd
Girl. Youth,
says she does
no harm to
the prudent.
[leaf 171, bk.]
Slie i* called
'Youth. 1
She winces
like a wild
colt,
11107
, dede C.]
11116
11120
Your name I wolde wyte also." 11104
The ffetherede:
' Certys,' quod she, ' whan thow dost knowe
The cause pleynly (hih & lowe)
Wheroff I serue, sothly in dede
Thow shalt off nie han ful gret drede.' 1 [' drede st
The pylgrym:
" Ye ben trewly (as semeth me)
So ffressh and vnkouth for to se,
Se lusty ek off port & chere,
That no man myghte bey ft 2 to dere, pbyenst.] 11112
Off yow to han possessions :
And me semeth off resouw,
(By lyklynesse, as I kan ffel,)
A man myghte nat loue to wel
Your persone, by lyklyhede.
And as touchynge any drede
That men sholde han off you, certeyn,
Me semeth swych dred wer but in veyn."
The ffetherede :
' Thow seyst fful soth, & ryght trewly :
"Who me vseth prudently,
And nat outrageth in no wyse,
But hyw gou^rneth lyk the wyse,
Swych, fro pereyl may wel eskape.
And trust her-on, (yt ys no jape,)
My gouernauwce (who kan espye),
Ther-in ys fourede no ffolye ;
And yet off custom, at the laste,
In grete 3 pereyll, ffolk I caste, [ grete St., gret c.]
(As yt ys fful offte seyn)
And longe or they may ryse ageyn.
' And my name ys ek fful kouthe,
ffor I am ycallyd ' youthe ' ;
I passe bothe thorgh thywne & thykke,
And I kan wynse ageyn the prykke,
As wylde coltys in Arras,
Or as bayard out off the tras,
Tyl I a lassh haue off the whyppe ;
ffor now" I renne, & now I skyppe, 11140
11124
[Stowe, leaf 1%, back]
11128
11132
11136
Youth trips, sings, climbs trees, and amitses herself. 305
11H3
[ Alle daungerys St.]
11148
' And now I lepe louy pe 1 ; C 1 merry foot.]
Now I sterte, & now I ffle.
Selde abydyng in thouht,
Al dauregerous 2 I sette at nouht,
Wyth wyldenesse I go to scole ;
Now I sprynge, now I carole ;
I tryppe, I crye, synge & dauwce,
And euere ful off varyauwce,
And fBul selde abyde in On.
I wrastle, & I caste the ston ;
I breke bothen hegge & wal,
And clymbe trees 3 oueral p trees St., tres c.] 1 1 152
In gardyns wher the ffrut ys good.
And who that euere be wroth or wood,
I ne take no maner hede.
' Sestow nat wel, in verray dede, 11156
By my ffethrys cler & bryht,
Vp-on my ffeet, how I am lyht,
And as swyfft (sothly to tel) [stowe,ieafi7]
As why lorn was Asael. 2 Reguw 2 capituio, st.,om.c. 11160
But the byble doth vs lere
He bouhte hys swyfftnesse al to dere ;
And ofEte sythes, out off nou??zbre,
To gret swyfftnesse doth encoumbre, 11164
As olde storyes telle kaan ;
ffor bet ys yt, on wyseman 4 [ yt y . . wyse St., wys c.]
Slowh off ffoote, wyth prudence,
Than ffoure other (in sentence) 11168
Lyht off ffoote, vfyih hyr ffolye,
Wych hem sylue?i kan nat guye,
Nor by wysdom kan nat werche,
' Wherffor somtyme holy cherche 11172
Whylom made an ordynauwce,
That no man sholde ha gouemauwce
In hys bowndys (yt ys no drede)
But yiff he hadde ff eet off led, 11176
In gret sadnesse to endure.
' But off al thys I do no cure ;
I wyl be ffethryd, & go ffle,
And among, go sporte me ; 11180
PILGRIMAGE. X
starts and
runs.
trips, sings,
dances, and
is always
changing.
She climbs
trees and
steals fruit.
She is as fleet
as Asahel.
[leaf 172]
But one slow
wise man is
better than
four fast fools.
In spite of
Holy Church,
Youth means
to amuse her-
self.
306 Youth plays Hockey, Dice & Merils, & reads Romances.
Mit routh 'Pleye at the cloos, among, I shal,
plays hockey, And somwhyle Rennyn at the bal
Wyth a Staff mad lyk an hook ;
Arid I wyl han a kampyng crook ; 1 1184
ffor I desyre, in my depos,
ffor to han noon other croos.
' And among, I wyl nat spare
hunts, fishes, To hunte for Inert, ffor buk & hare ; 11188
Somtyme ffysshe, & cachche ffowlys,
And somtyrae pleyen at the bowlys ;
shoots at Among, shetyn 1 at bessellys, [' shetcn st]
plays at And affter pleyn 2 at the merellys, [stowe, leaf w, back]
merits (with - T , , i i iiinn
pawns), Now at the dees, m my yong age, [pieyenst.] 11193
at dice and
hazard, Bothe at hassard & passage ;
Now at the ches, now at the tablys,
reads only Rede no storyes but on ff ably s, 11196
On thyng that ys nat worth a lek ;
plays at Pleye at the keyles & the q uek :
ninepins and '
quickboard, bomwhyle my wyttys I applye
hears songs, To here song & menstralcye, 1 1 200
And pleye on dyuers Instrumentys :
And the ffyn of myn entent ys
[leaf 172, bk.] To folwe the lust off my corage,
and is joiiy. And to spende my yonge age 11204
In merthe only, & in solace,
ffolwe my lustys in ech place ;
Her only de- Ther-to hooly I me enclyne,
sure.'an'iishe Bather than to han doctryne 11208
despises her
parents' Off ffader, moder, thogh they be wyse,
teaching. J
Al ther techyng I despyse ;
And in no thyng ys set my cure,
But my lustys to procure.' 11212
The pugrim. The pylgrym :
"Trewly," quod I a-noon ryht tho,
' ' Wolde god y t stoode so
That ye wer mevyd, & that a-noon,
To passe the way that I shal gon." 11216
nisi Youth. Yowthe :
' "Whyder-ward (tel on, lat se,)
Wyltow holde?z thy lourne 1 '
Youth goes with me. We see a Damsel playing with a Glove. 307
The pylgrym ' [stowe, leaf ws]
" To Jerusalem, the ryhte way
I wyl holde, yiff that I may." 11220
Yowthe :
Quod yowthe, ' ther ys no mor to seye ;
A whyle I wyl the conveye.'
The pylgrym:
" Kan ye teche me a-noon
The ryhte way how I shal gon ? " 11224
Yowthe :
' ffor soth,' quod yowthe, ' nat ryht wel,
But we shal faylle neueradel ;
ffor we shal ffynde wel certeyn
Som whyht that shal the trouthe seyw, 11228
And the ryhte weye vs lere.'
And whyl that we spak thus yffere,
So as yowthe gan me conveye,
Me thouthe I sawh a fforkyd weye 11232
Partyng at an heg on tweyne,
Thykke and thornyssh in certeyne ;
And hadde nat the heg ybe,
The same way, as sempte me,
By the which" I sholde ha gon, ,,
Hadde in sothnesse ben but on ;
But the heg wych stood atwen,
Departyd yt (men myghte sen), [stowe, leaf 198, back] 11240
And the passage ek devyde :
The ton was set on the ryht syde ;
The tother path (I gan be-holde)
On the lefft party gon holde. 11244
And on the lefft hand I sawh a-noon
A damysele sy tte on a ston ;
Hyr on 1 hand on hyr brest was layd, C 1 oon St.]
And in the tother (as I abrayd) 11248
[Blank in MS. for an Illumination.]
She held a gloue VantOUwly, 2 [* Glove wantonly St., glove v . . C.]
And tournyd yt fful ffetysly
Aboute hyr ffyngres vp & doun.
And shortly in conclusioun, 11252
By maner off hyr gouernau?zce
The Pilgrim.
I ask Miss
Youth the
way to Jeru-
salem.
Mitt Youth.
She says we
shall find
some one to
tell it us.
The Pilgrim.
We come to a
forkt way,
[StandC.] 11236 Pea' I"]
one path
going to the
right,
and the other
to the left.
We take the
left road, and
meet a damsel
Bitting on a
stone,
fingering a
glove.
308 We see a Net-Maker (Ldbmir^ making and undoing nets.
The Pilgrim.
This Damsel
looks lazy.
At her right
hand sits a
Net-maker
(LABOUR),
[leaf 173, bk.]
who makes
and unmakes
a net.
Of him I ask
the way to
Jerusalem,
Nit-Maker,
Labour.
The Pilgrim.
and say I
want to cross
the great sea.
I sawh, & by hyr cowtenaimce,
A womman (as by lyklynesse)
But off lytel bysynesse, 11256
By hyr labour, ouht to wynne :
Hyr lyst nat carde nouther spymie,
Nor, to getyn hyr dyspence,
Do no maner dyllygence. 1 p off dyUygence st.] 11260
On whos ryht hand I sawh on sytte
Sobyrly, & lyst nat fflytte,
But kept hywi covert in the shade ;
And olde nattys ageyn he made, 11264
Wych, ffor no labour wolde spare,
But besy was hem to repare ;
And off hyw thus stood the caas.
fful gretly I astonyd was, 11268
Thynkynge hys labour was in 2 veyn ; p in St., hole c.]
He made, & hem vnmade ageyn ; [Stowe, leaf 199]
Wher-in me sempte a ful gret lak :
And ffyrst off al, to hym I spak : 11272
The pylgrym:
" My ffrend," quod I, " a-noon ryht here
I pray the that thow wost me lore
The beste weye, & most certeyne,
Off thys ilke weyes tweyne 11276
Wych that lyen a-for my fface ;
ffor neuere yet I dyde pace
By noon off hem, in al my lyff ;
Wherffor tel me (& mak no stryff) 1 1280
Wych ys the beste & most certeyn."
The Natte-makere :
The natte-makere answerde ageyn :
' Whyder castestow (in thy syht)
ffor to holde thy weye ryht ? ' 1 1284
The pylgrym:
" Syker," qiiod I, "now herkne me
I wolde passe the grete se,
And oversaylle the salte strem,
To kome vn-to Jerusalem ; 11288
Off wych cyte, told longe aforn,
The bysshop was off mayde born."
The Net-Maker says Miss Idleness sends Pilgrims wrong. 309
The Natte-makere :
' Trewly, syr, \vykh your grace, [Stowe, leaf 199, backj
I sytte no thyng in thys place 11292
ffor to teche men the weye ;
Nor, pylgrymes to conveye,
Yt ys no parcel off my charge ;
But off thys tweyne weyes large, 11296
As ffolk reporte in many lond,
That the weye on the lefft hond,
Wher-as the damysele doth sytte,
(And ne lyst nat for to fflytte,) 11300
Ys a passage ful pe?-yllous,
And to pylgrymes encombrous.
And thys damysele queywte,
Off malys doth neuere feynte 11304
To calle pylgrymes nyht & day,
To make hem go the same way,
Wher they do gret pej-eyl ffele,
Be they armyd neuere so wel. 11308
' But, trewly, by myw avys,
Swych pylgrymes as be wys,
They that ben in vertu strong,
Shal lete the way that ly[e]th wrong, 11312
And tracen in hyr pylgrymage
On the ryht hand in ther vyage ;
The wych, fful many on hath take,
And affterward hath yt for-sake, 11316
Brooke thorgh the hegg by vyolence,
And ther-in don fful gret offence ;
Toward the lefft path tournyd bak,
Tyl they ha fallyn on the wrak 11320
Off ffalse guydes : by the lore
Off me, her-off thow gest 1 no more : [' gest St.]
Wherso that thow wynwe or lese,
Off thys two weyes thow mayst chese. 1 11324
The pylgrym ./ [stowe, leafaooj
" Syre, I pray the off o thyng :
Touchyng thy labour in 2 werchyng, [ and St.]
Tel me the cause (in certeyn)
Why makestow, & vndost ageyn 11328
Net-Maker,
Labour,
says it's not
his business
to tell folk
the way :
but the left
road is very
dangerous,
[leaf 174]
and the
quaint Dam-
sel (Idleness's
daughter) al-
ways tries to
make Pil-
grims go that
way.
But he ad-
vises me,
DeQuilleville,
to take the
right-hand
path, tho
many have
I can choose
one of the
two.
Th Pilgrim.
310 Net-Maker Labour says Difference of Hanks must exist.
The pilgrim. " Thy werk so offte sythe a day ?
The semeth trewly (I may say),
Ther-in (who consydreth al,)
Thy wyt ys verray dul & smal, 11332
(As to myw oppynyouw)
Ydel, thyw occupacioura :
Yiveth to me an evydence
To yive to the no credence 11336
To no thyng that thow hast me sayd ;
[leaf HI, bk.] And though" that thow be euele apayd, [St. and c.]
I shal seyn trouthe, as semeth me :
i ask why the Yt wer merveyl thow sholdest the 1 ptheest.] 11340
Net-Maker
makes and go symple a crant on the to take,
unmakes his " x
nets, To make nattys, & vnmake ;
The wyche 2 crafft (whan al ys souht) [ a which* St., wych c.]
Ys so pore, yt. wynneth nouht." 11344
Net-Maker, The nat-makere :
- ' Touchyng my crafft, wych I vse,
and am told
To the I may me thus excuse :
Thogh yt be symple, & pore off name,
Therfor thow sholdest me nat blame : 11348
that each one Swych as I kan, swych I acheue :
must work
according to Thys, no cause me to repreue,
his powers. ' *
.Nor to rebuke off no ffolye.
' Yiff ye aduerten prudently, 11352
Everyman Euery man hath nat a fibrge, [Stowe, leaf ZOO, bk.]
gold crowns Crownys off gold, in for to forge ;
NOT ffolkys alle, 3 yong nor old, p aiie St., aiu c.]
Kan nat the crafft to chauwge gold; 11356
Nor alle may nat be lowelerys :
Ech crafft hath hys offycerys :
Nor alle ffolk may nat noblys telle ;
or sell rubies. Nor alle ffolk may nat Eubyes selle ; 11360
ffor kownyng thawne wer off no prys,
Yiff ech man were alyche wys.
' Lerne ek off me, thys sentence,
There must Ther muste be a dyfference 11364
be diversity
(Pleynly yiff thow lyst to knowe,)
of ranks and Off EstatyS hih & lowe,
crafts. i <v m
And oft crafftys ek also.
Let each do well. Cart & Plough bear up Church & State. 311
' And tak also good heed herto, 11368
Yiff all ffolk in a Regioiw
Hadden On 1 occupacioim C'oonst.]
In the Rychest crafft of alle,
Deme thawne what sholde falle : 11372
Thawne al ylyche (yiff thow tok 2 hed) p take St.]
The ffoot as good as ys the hed ;
A knaue also, by hys werkyng,
Sholde ben Egal wyt/t the 3 kyng ; p a st.] 1 1376
The wych (who wysly kan espye,)
Ne wer no maner polycye,
But rather a confus'iouw
In euery mane?' Regi'oiw. 11380
1 Wherfor, in Townys & cytes,
Lat men lyuen lyk her degres :
Wyse ffolk that kan dyscerne,
Lat hem by wysdam so governe 11384
That no man ne haue no wrong ;
And swych as myghty ben, & strong,
VTyth myghte lat hem the lond dyffende ; [Stowe, leaf 201]
Net-3faker,
Labour.
[leaf 175]
Otherwise the
foot were as
good as the
head,
a knave equal
to the king.
Let wise men
govern by
wisdom,
11392
11395
And clerkys to ther studye entende ;
And labourerys, lat hew werche ;
And spyrytual ffolk off the cherche,
Lat ther occupac'ioim
Ben in contewplaci'oim,
In deuocioiw & prayere ;
Voyde he??* ffrcwi offyce seculer ;
Lat hem go lyue lyk ther bond ;
And swyche 4 ffolk as tyle the lond, [* swyche St., swych c.]
Lat hem do trewly ther labour,
Bothe in drouht & ek in shour ;
ffor trewly (yiff I rekne shal)
Carte & plowh, they ber vp al
The clergye & the cheualrye.
' And overmor, ffor my partye,
Thogh my crafft (in co?clusioim)
Be off no reputaci'ouw,
Swych as I kan, swych I ha wrouht ;
And therfore rebuke me nouht ;
ffor crafftys vsyd in pouerte
11388 clerks study,
[NotaSt. later.] 11400
11404
labourers
work,
churchmen
Sray, and not
o secular
duties.
Let land-
tillers work
in drought
and rain,
for Cart and
Plough bear
up Clergy and
Chivalry.
312 As Rust dulls a Sword, so Idleness, ly Vice, ruins the Soul.
Net-Maker,
Labour.
Poor crafts
are needful.
[leaf 175, bk.]
The net is
made and un-
made to avoid
idleness.
If Labour
knew other
trades, he'd
work at em,
and not undo
his net
As a sword
sometimes
rusts,
Tht Pilgrim.
Net-Maker,
Labour.
BO men rust
and go wrong
thro idleness.
The rust of
vice destroys
the bright-
ness of virtue.
' May nat alle refusyd be :
Crafftys poore be necessarye ;
And ffor me, lyst the nat to tarye,
Euery crafft (& thus I mene)
Mut gouerne other, & sustene,
So yt be don w?/t7&-oute slouthe,
And due'ly ywrouht in trouthe ;
And thus thow shalt my wordys take.
And thogh that I make & vnmake,
Blame me nat, ffor (in sothnesse)
I do yt to voyden ydelnesse.
' And yiff I, lyk thyw oppynyou?i,
Koude other occupaci'ouw,
I wolde yt done, be wel certeyn,
And nat vnmake thys natte ageyn,
ffor wych thow dost repreue me.
And her, thyng I axe off the :
What ys the cause (ffer or ner)
That a swerd burnysshed cler,
Somwhyle rusteth, as thow mayst se,
Leseth hys bryhtnesse & bewte ] '
The pylgrym:
" Touchyng thyw askyng, in certeyn,
Me to answere, yt wer but weyn ;
Thow hast thy sylff (who kan ffel,)
The cause ytold, pleynly & wel."
The Natte-makere :
' So as a swerd (I dar expresse,)
Yffadyd ys off hys bryhtnesse,
And off hys clernesse ek also,
Whan men take noon hed ther-to,
But rusteth & ffareth al amys,
Eyght so a man that ydel ys,
& kan hyw sylff nat occupye,
(By resemblauwce thow mayst espye,)
In-to hys 1 sowle (thus I be-gynne)
The rust off vyces or off synne
Doth a-way (wyt/i-oute gesse)
11408
11412
11415
Non (facile capitar a di-
abolo, qui bono vacat ex-
/
11420
[Stowe, leaf 201, back]
11424
11428
11432
11436
11440
[i In thy St.]
Off alle 2 vertu the clernesse;
But excercysc (in sentence)
p alle St., al C.] 11444
How the World despises the Poor, and holds the Rich wise. 313
11456
sadde . . . cladde St.]
1 And contynual dyllygence,
Born vp vftfih vertuous labour,
Ys bet than any ffoorbysshour
Ageyn the rust off ydelnesse,
Off vertu to gyue perfyt clernesse.'
The pylgrym: cstowe, leaf 202]
"Now, gentyl ffrend," a-noon quod I,
" Tel me thy name trew[e]ly,
Wych art so wys off answerynge :
Tel on, & mak no mor taryynge."
The Natte-makere :
' To telle the trouthe verrayly,
Yt befalleth comourcly
(As clerkys wryte, that be sad, 1 )
"Whaw a man ys ffebly clad, 1
And outward hath noon apparence,
Phylysophres (in ther sentence)
And Ek poetys that wer wys,
They seyn swych on ys off no prys
Nor off no reputaci'ouw
Affter the worldys oppynyouw.
And thys comouwly the language
That thylke ffolkys be most sage,
And wysest holden (in certeyn),
That be ffressh, & wel beseyn,
And kan make hem syluew gay
Wyth ryche fforewrys & array,
And devyses most vnkouth,
Swych ffolk, in euery mawhys 2 mouth,
Be wysest holde in thys world here.
' And ouermor, as ye shal lere,
Thogh a man wer neuere so wys,
And hadde lernyd at Parys,
Thys thryrty yer at scole be
In that noble vnyuersyte,
And hadde ful experyence
Off euery wysdom & scyence,
& koude exponere euery doute,
And wer but porely clad wyt/t-oute,
Men wolde dcrae most comouwly [St. & c.]
11448
11452
11460
11464
11468
Net-Maker,
Labour.*
[leaf 176]
Work is the
best remedy
for the ills of
Idleness.
The Pilgrim.
I ask the
Net-Maker
bis name.
Net-Maker,
Labour,
says that
when a man
is poorly clad,
he is little
esteenid;
11476
[Stowe, leaf 202, back] 11480
but if he has
rich furs and
dress,
he's held
wise.
Though a
man had
studied at
Paris for
thirty years,
and could
clear every
doubt,
if he were
poorly clad
[leaf 176, bk.]
314 Philosophy left the Universities. Labour supports the State.
Net-Maker,
Labour,
he would
be accounted
a fool.
Philosophy
has left the
universities
and lives in
cities with
welldrest
folk.
Farewell
Knowledge,
if he has a
bad coat !
I don't
wonder that
you think
me unwise,
' because my
clothes are
torn.
' And yet,
without me,
Adam and
his offspring
had not been.
or Noah.
' I sustain the
whole state.
[leaf 177]
* That hys wysdom wer ffoly, [st.&c.] 11484
And that he \ver a fool at al
By oypynyoim general :
So they reherse in ther sentence ;
ffor wysdom now, & sapyence, 11488
Practyk off phylosofye, [St. & c.]
Off arsmetryk & gemetrye,
Off Astronomye & musyk,
And experyence off physyk, 11492
Ys ffled now fro vnyuersytes,
And dwelleth in borwes & cytes
Wyih folk that wel arrayed be
At the eye, as men may se. 11496
' And ffarwel kormyng, now euery day,
Wher ther ys no ffressh array !
Wyt/i-oute array, konnyng, farwel !
Wherfor I merveylle neueradel 11500
Thogh thow me settyst at no prys,
Nor thogh thow boldest me nat wys,
By cause my ray ys al to-rent.
And yet, by good avysement, 11504
Yiff thow loke wel aboute,
I am he (yt ys no doute,)
Who so lyst to taken hed,)
That yiue to alle 1 folk ther bred, [ aiie St., aiu c.] 1 1508
Or shortly (ellys for to seye) Nota. Nota. st. (later).
They sholde ellys for hunger deye,
Ne were 2 I & my werchyng ; ? were St., wer c.]
Ye, bothe adam & hys off-spryng. [stowe, leaf 203] 11512
Hadde I nat be, (yt ys no ffaylle,)
What myghte the gret shyp avaylle
Off Noe (in conclusi'ouw)
Nor al hys generaciouw ? 11516
' And, ffor to speke in general,
I sustene & her vp al,
& yt ys I, ech hour & space,
That makth the tyme shortly pace 11520
W?/t/i-oute anoy or perturbaurcce ;
ffor I am he, by remewbraurice,
Syth adam the Appyl heet, [c. & st.]
Labour shows me the right road. Idleness a pretty Girl. 315
' Wych wwt/i labour & wvt/i swet [c.&st.] 11524 Net-Maker,
TT - A- S Lal """'-
Haue youe ftoode & pasture , 1>ye alwa . g
To euery levyng creature, $ * to
Bothe to best & ek to man, ma "'
Syth 1 ty me that the world be-gan psyththest.] 11528 since the
* world began.
Wher-off I am no thyng to blame.
And my verray ryhte name My name is
J J ' Labour and
Ys (wyt/i-oute mor sarnion) occupation.'
" Labour & Occupaciouw." [tfota st. later} 11532
' I rechche nat, wha?i al ys do,
Wych thow me calle off bothe two ;
And folkys alle that stonde in grace,
By me vn-to the cyte pace 11536 I've told you
the right (and
The ryhte way wyt/i-oute lak. nghtnand)
And for that ffyrst to me thow spak,
The ryhte way, 2 the* to lere, [ weye, 316/11,596]
Off thy a two weyes that ben here, 11540
And I ha told the myn avys,
Now ches the beste, syth thow art wys.' bert 96 the
The pylgrym:
And thaTi a-noon, as ye shal here, [stowe, leaf zos, back]
Whyl we spak togydre yffere, 11544
My body (for hys gret plesaunce)
Gat hym wyt7i youthe acqueyntauwce,
& bothe, voyded off dyscord,
"Wher 3 yfalle off on accord. [* Were St.] 11548
" And Yowthe (off wych aforn I sayde)
Vn-to me thus gan abrayde :
' Yt wer syttynge (as semeth me) ^Us Youth :
J J < \ / tells me to
And accordynge to thy degre, 11552
To gon and getyn aqueywtauwce,
And, to haue som dalyauwce,
The bet thy sylff ffor to provyde
Wyth hyr that syt on the lefft syde, 11556
Thylke damysele, I mene, [c.&st.] [leafm.bk.]
go instead to
Whicn ys so goodly on to sene, ,, the pretty
Damsel, Miss
And to hyr doctryne yiue som feyth. Idle h es fVt
And thow mayst sen how that she leyth 11560
Vnder hyr armole, hyr on hond ;
And (yiff thow kanst wel vnderstond)
316 / ask pretty Miss Idleness the way to Jerusalem.
who has a
Glove in one
hand.
She'll teach
me the way
better than
the Net-mak-
er, Labour.
The Pilgrim.
So I (of
course) go
and salute
pretty Mi as
Idleness,
and ask her
the way to
Jerusalem.
3fis Idlenexs
says,
[leaf 178]
' This is the
king's high-
way,
easy and
smooth,
' In the tother bond (parde)
A Gloue she halt, as thow mayst se. 11564
Go to hyre, & do thy cure ;
And I trowe, off aventure,
She wyl the teche, & pleynly seyn
The weye wych ys most certeyn, 11568
Bet than thys cherl that sytteth here,
Swart and owgly off hys chere,
Wych ys a verray tormentour
To putte ffolkys to labour, 11572
And may to the no thyng avaylle,
But vexyn the wyt/i gret travaylle.'
And by hys consayl (off entente)
Vu-to hyre a-noon I wente ; 11576
And ffyrst, as me thouhte yt due, [stowe, leaf 201]
I gan hyr goodly to salue.
And she, devoyde off al dysdeyne,
Mekly saluede me ageyn. 11580
And alderfyrst (shortly to seye)
Humblely I gan hyr preye
That she wolde, off coortesysye,
Govorne me also, & guye, 11584
Teche me, & sey nat nay,
In my vyage the ryhte way,
By wych pylgrymes euerychon
To lerusalem wer wont to gon." 11588
The damysele:
' Certys,' quod she, off cher benygne^
' I ne knowe noon other sygne
Nor other tookne, in thys passage,
Off ffolk that gon on pylgrymage ; 11592
But I knowe (be wel certeyn)
Yiff I shal the trouthe seyn,
On hors, on foote, in general,
Thys the weye most royal, 1159G
Callyd the kynge's hihe 1 weye. [' high* St., iuh c.]
And her-wyt^-al, I dar wel seye
Yt ys most esy off passage
To ffolkys old & yong off age, 11600
Smothe & pleyn, (yt ys no nay,)
She shows me the Highway to Pleasure, Revels and Games. 317
11604
p luyt st.]
' And most yvsyd nyht & day ;
And by thys ylke same weye,
Gladly ffolkys I conveye,
Swych as loue paramours,
To ward the voode, to gadre fflours,
Soote rosys & vyolettys, 11607
Ther-off to make hem chapePettys, p chapel- st., chapi- c.]
And other fflourys to her plesaimce. [stowe, leaf 204, back]
' And in thys weye I teche hem dauwce ;
And also, ffor ther lady sake,
Endyte lettrys, & songys make
Vp-on the glade somerys dayes,
Balladys, Roundelays, vyrelayes.
I teche hem ek, (lyk ther ententys,)
To pleye on sondry Instrumentys,
On harpe, lut, 2 & on gyterne,
And to revelle at tav^rne,
Wyth al 3 merthe & mellodye,
On rebube 4 and on symphony e; puebubest.] 11620
To spende al the day in ffablys,
Pleye at the ches, pley at the tablys,
At treygobet 5 & tregetrye, p and at Treygobett st.]
In karyyng & in logolory : 11624
And to al swych maner play,
Thys the verray ryhte way.'
The pylgrym:
" Trew[e]ly, to my plesaunce,
ffor your noble dalyaunce 11628
I wolde (off good entenci'ourc)
Knowe your condycyouw ;
Youre Name also, yiff that ye
Lyst goodly to telle hem me."
The damysele:
' Yiff thow wylt abyde a throwe,
My name and al, 6 thow shalt wel knowe : [ 6 aiie St., on. wei.]
I am a poopet, 7 in sothnesse, u Poepet st.]
Douhter to Dame Ydelnesse, 11636
Set her, 8 by hyr ordynau/zce. ['here St.] [stowe, leaf 205]
And al my joye & my plesaunce
Ys, by hyr wyl that her 8 me sette,
Missldlenett.
' and I guide
lovers along
it to gather
flowers,
' and teach
em to dance,
11612 'make songs,
11616 ''play music,
[Stowe, leaf 204, back]
[st.&c.] 11632
' revel at the
tavern,
' and play
at back-gam-
mon and
juggling.'
The Pilgrim.
I ask her who
she is.
[leaf 178, bk.]
The Damsel
says she is
the daughter
of Idleness.
318 Idleness only combs her hair, reads Romances, & does Folly.
thinks only
of her gloves
fitting well,
of combing
her hair,
and reading
romances.
She cherishes
folks' bodies
in folly,
makes em
play the Gal-
lant merrily,
[leaf 179]
and dresses
them gaily.
The road to
Pleasure is
broad and
easy;
that to Duty
narrow and
hard.
' My glovys streythly on to sette : 1 1640
I take off no-thyng elle's hed,
But, offte a day, kombe mjn hed,
Prye ech hour in a merour,
God wot, that ys most my labour, 11644
Wake a nyhtys, slepe a day, [c. & St.]
And specyally the haly day
I study e among (thys the caas)
In Elenches off ff alias, 11648
Out to ffynde thynges newe,
To make ffablys seme trewe ;
And, above al other thynges,
On romauwcys ffondyd on lesynges, 11652
Ther-in ys my studye most.
' And I am ek, in euery cost,
Paramour to thy body,
Yt to cherysshe in al ffolye. 11656
And wherso that thow slepe or wake,
Labour, I make the forsake ;
And by my wyl (ek in certeyne)
Thow shalt dure 1 no maner peyne, c 1 endure St.] 11660
But lyon, 2 sewen, & make a-vauwt, p lyen St.]
And muryely pleyen the Galawnt.
' I make ff oik, vp-on ther hed,
To were chaplettys off whyht & red, 11664
Pyke her naylles, wernays take,
And al travaylle to forsake,
Studye ffor to ffynde off newe, [stowe, leaf 205, back]
Devyses mad off many an hewe, 11668
ffolk to make hew ffressh & gay,
And hem dysguyse in ther array :
Thys myn offys, yer by yere.
' Now ches a-noon, whyl thow art here, 11672
"Wyche weye 3 thow wylt take ; p which* way St.]
And wherso that thow slepe or wake,
Thow shalt lerne a thyng off me :
Thys same weye wych thow dost se, 11676
Ys large & pleyn, esy to pace ;
The tother, streiht, & hard to trace,
And ff ewe ffolkys go thcr-by :
Idleness tells me how sharply Penance's thorny rods prick. 319
4 Thys, mor plesauwt & redy. 11680 jfinioimeu,
Now, syth thow hast dyscreci'oun
Mak thy sylff Elleccyouw.' choose!
The pylgrym: The pt'onm.
" Trew[e]ly," quod I a-noon,
" Thys two weyes wer but on, 1 [loonst.] 11684
Ne wer only (as ye may sen)
Thys ylke heegg that stant betwen.
Wherfor I pray that ye nat lette, i ask who set
J up the hedge
To telle who the heggg her sette." 11688 dividing the
two paths.
Ydelnesse : ins* mentis
1 Touchyng thys heg that stondeth here, says the
Yt was maad (yiff thow lyst lere,) tween was set
Off a gret turmenteresse Tormentress,
Wych doth to ffolk fful gret dystresse ; 11692
And she maketh pylgrymes alle, [stowe, leaf 206]
Penytence, hyr sylff to calle. Penance 36 r
Who hath wytA hyre Aqueyntauwce,
Muste endure gret penauwce : 11696
Hatfful she ys off cher & fface
To alle that by thys weye pace,
I mene, the weye that I am Inne ;
But who that lyst ffro me to twynne, 11700
And the tother weye take, [st.&c.] peamo.bk.]
I dar pleynly vndertake, And ail who
r J J
go
On leg, on ffoot, on too & hele, ,, w i u ,
with sharp
He shal fful sharpe thornys ffele, 11704 th 8 -
Gret prykyng, I the ensure,
And sharp, wyt/i-outere al mesure,
ffor they be sharpe, & no-thyng soffte.
' And thys lady kometh fful off te 11708
(I mene thys lady dame Penauwce 8 Dame
x J J . Penance
~Wyth whom I ha noon acqueyntauwce) ;
To thys heg she kometh al day,
Maketh yerdvs, & coth hyr way, 11712 daily makes
J J ' J J ' rods and
Besmys also, 2 sotyl & queynte. p also St., alle c.] brooms of the
And day nor nyht she doth nat ffeynte
To make ay newe in hyr werkynge,
Instrumentys ffor chastysynge 11716 to chastise
Off synne, by gret ordynawzce,
sin.
320 Idkness tells me to take the left road, Moral Virtue the right.
Ifitsldlenen.
Folk don't
like this
Dame Pen-
ance.
Tie Pilgrim.
I mean to
take the right
Pth,
but Miss
Youth per-
suades me
to take the
left.
[leaf 180]
Then I meet
a lady stand-
ing at a gate ;
her name
is Moral
Virtue,
and she bids
me take the
right path,
thro' her
gate.
I see two
postern
gates,
looking dan-
gerous.
So I leave
both,
' Thys same lady, Dame Penauwce ; [c. & St.]
And in hyr occupac'iouw
ffolk haue but smal affecci'ouw. 11720
I ha the tolde off hyre to-fforn,
Off instrumentys that she hath born),
Off Bysme, off hamer, off thywges mo.'
And thanne I thouhte I wolde go 11724
By the path & by the weye cstowe, leaf zoe, back]
By wych the man gan me conveye,
That made the nattys in certeyn,
Vnmade & made hem effte ageyn. 11728
And, lyk as tauhte me my guyde,
I drewh toward the ryhte 1 syde P right* St., ryht c.]
And in that weye lyst nat tarye ;
But youthe a-noon, to me contrary e, 11732
fful besy was me ffor ta let 2 ; p to litte St.]
Seyde the tother way was bet,
More 3 hawntyd, the passage, p More St., Mor c.]
Off ffolk that gon on pylgrymage. 11736
And fforth the same weye I helde,
Tyl that a-fforn me I be-held, 4 c* beheide St.]
Eeysed on hihte, a lytel wal,
Two posternys & a gate smal 5 ; p smal St., final c.] 11740
And mid the gaate a lady stood,
That was bothe ffayr & good,
(I pray god, ffayre 6 mot hyr ff alle ! [ ffayre St.]
And vertu moral mere hyr calle. 11744
And she A-noon, off hyr goodnesse,
Off bouwte and off gentyllesse,
(As she that lyst to be my guyde,)
Bad, I sholde on the tother syde 11748
Declyne nouther to nor ffro,
But by the same gate go
Wher as she stoode, 7 lyue ryht, p stoode St., stood c.]
And I conceyvede in my syht, 11752
And fful clerly gan dyscerne
On owther party a posterne,
And sawh that they were e"ncoumbrous
To passe by, & daungerous : 11756
Bothe I leffte (as was niy ffaate),
[oral Virtue tells me to take the Right-hand Road. 321
And lyne ryht vn-to the gaate
The weye I held, by hyr byddynge, [stowe, leaf 207]
Wher as she stood hyr sylff lenyng. 1 1 760
[Blank in MS. for an Illumination.]
The pylgrym:
And lyst she ffouwde in me som lak,
Vn-to hyre ryht thus I spak :
" Ma dame," qwod I / "I stonde in wher 1 [> wiierest.]
Touchynge thys weyes that ben her; 11764
I not off hem wych I shal holde."
And she to me fful goodly tolde
And specyally gan charge me,
The fforeyn 2 posternys ffor to ffle; p stowe] 11768
[Vertu Moral]
' And do thy power and thy myght
To holde the weye that goth ryht,
The weye (I mene) ryht as lyiie,
Wher I stonde, & nat declyne 11772
On nouther party, nyht nor day,
Also ffer fforth as thow may.'
She sayd ek, as I vnderstood,
That 'he ys an archer good 11776
Wych ffaylleth nat hy??i-sylff taquyte,
Ahvay the marke ffor to smyte ;
And no man blamen hym ne may,
Thogh he hytte yt nat alway :
So he do trewly hys deuer,
Wyth hys arme to smyte yt net
In al hys beste ffeythfful wyse,
Yt doth ynowh to hym suffyse
That in hys drawyng he nat ffeyne.
And therfor do thy besy peyne
Aforn, thy sylff so to provyde,
Teschewe the weyes that gon asydo
Hold the myd, in especyal.
' ffor I am callyd ' vertu moral,
Polytyk, & general ' ;
And myw offyce her-wyt/i-al 11792
I contene (as clerkys shevves)
Al 3 the pathys to goode thewes, [ 3 Ami ai st. 1
PILGRIMAGE, Y
The Pilgrim.
11780
11784
[Stowe, leaf 207, back]
[C. & St.]
I ask Moral
Virtue which
way I shall
take.
[leaf 180, bk.]
Moral Virtue
says I must
keep the right
roatl, where
she stands,
and not turn
out of it.
As an archer
can't always
hit his mark,
and is not to
1 '< blamed
if he does his
best,
so I must go
straight,
and keep the
middle path.
My teacher's
name is
Virtue, Moral,
Politic, and
General.
She shows
the paths to
goodness.
322 How am I to avoid Vices, that eat like Cankerworms ?
Moral Virtue
wishes to
get rid of her
extremities,
[leaf 181]
\yhich work
like the can-
kenvorm
By the ex-
tremities, the
posterns,
Pilgrims
must not go,
if they want
to gel to
Jerusalem.
The Pilgrim.
I ask how
I'm to avoid
ranker-like
vices.
The ryhte way, & ther degres ;
' And yet I haue extremytes 11796
(Who kan looke on ech a syde,)
The wych I wolde fro me devyde,
As fferfforth as I kan or may
Severyn "hem, and caste a-way, 11800
ffor cause they be vycyous
In my syht, & ryht greuous.
' ffor thyse extremytees, in soth,
ffarn ryht as a kanker doth, 11804
I mene the werm (who lyst se)
That ffreteth the herte off a tre,
And, wv/t/t hys ffret & wyt/i hys rage,
Doth to tymber gret damage. 11808
Yiff thylke werm (yt ys no nay)
Be nat the rather kut away
And dysseveryd ffrom hys place,
The tre so sore he wyl manace 11812
Vp to the croppe 1 fro the roote, [ croppe St., crop c.]
That affterward ther ys no bote,
As mew may sen in many tres.
' And semblaly thextremytes 11816
The posternys that be fforeyne,
Wych that ben in nouwbre tweyne,
I haue he?n fro me put a-way
W?/t/A-OUte ffauor Or 2 delay, [ 2 or eny Stowe, leaf 208] 1 1 820
Off entent that, in thys place,
Pylgrymes noon shal by he?n pace,
That wyl ouer the grete see 11823
To Jerusalem the cyte; tu^^e^cHnTs^a'aeTx-
ffor yiff they wente by that passage, p r r a Jvcr6/2rw d [iv!] S z'
Yt wer pereyl & gret damage.' st>> om ' c '
The pylgrym:
" Ma dame, \vyih your reuerence,
I wolde se som evydence, 11828
Yiff yt wer possyble, me to knowe
By som exauwple (hih~ or lowe,)
How thys vyces (som or alle,)
Lyk to kanker, ye hew calle." 11832
Vertu moral:
Moral Virtue shows how Virtues have attendant Vices. 323
Vices are like
cankers,
at the ex-
tremities of
Virtues.
[leaf 181, bk.]
Force is a
cardinal
virtue, with
two vices,
and Fool-
hardiness.
' Semblably as dyuers tres,
Kankres han in ther degres,
Kyht so vertues (douteles)
Han dyuers extremytes, 11836
Kankres at outlier ende,
That ffrete on hem wherso they wende.
' Lo, her, Exauwple in especyal !
fforee ys a vertu Cardynal, 11840
The wych hath a kanker double,
On outlier party hy?/i to trowble,
To dystroye hym nyht & day
Yiff they ne be nat kut a- way 11844
Wonder peryllous to deuyse ;
The ton ys callyd ' Cowardyse ' J [Stowe, leaf 208, back] Cowardice
The tother (yiff I shal expresse)
Ycallyd ys ' Foolhardynesse,' 11848
Wych \\yih fforee may nat abyde,
They be so ffer set out asyde,
ffer ffro fforee at two posternys.
But fforee so wysly hy??& gouemys 11852
That he hath no thyng a-doo
Wyth noon of thys werrnys two ;
ffor in myd place (as I yOW tolde) In medio eonsistit virtus.
fforee, off custom doth hym holde. 11856
' A-nother exawnple ye may se
Touchynge Lyberalyte,
Wych hath also (who kan dyscerne)
Set ffer ffrom hy??i at a posterne
The ffalse werm off covey tyse,
Wych ys ycallyd Auaryse.
' The tother Kanker (who lyst se)
Ys callyd Prodygalyte ;
And a-twen thys wermys tweyne,
Mydde l place (ffor mor certeyne) [' Mydde St., Myd c.]
Halt hym Lyberalyte.
Go, red Ethikes, wher thow shalt se 11868
(Whan-so-euere that thow ha space)
Vertu set ay in myd 2 place, pmyddc St.]
Wher as they most clerly shyne,
And many kankres wych on he-//* myne. 11872
11860
Force is in
the middle
place.
Liberality
also has two
vices,
Avarice and
11864 Prodigality.
Rend Aris-
totle's Kthlcs,
and you'll
find Virtue
set in the
middle.
324 / confess that I have gone ly two wrong roads.
Uorairirtiie.
Good pil-
grims must
go the middle
way,
and avoid
side gutes.
[leaf 182]
They must
follow Virtue
in their
youth.
I, DeGuille-
ville, confess
that I have
gone wrong.
Moral Virtue
doesn't won-
der at it, for
all roads fork,
and even
Ueometrinns
11880
11884
11888
11892
' But goode pylgrymes that ha grace,
Alway by the myddys pace ;
Exauwple 1 off whom b[y] nyht & day [ 1 Bexaupiest.,o.by]
Hold alway the mene way. 1187G
Lat moral vertu be thy guyde
ffle posternys that stonde a side,
By whos pereyl (who taketh hede) [c. & St.] [stowe, leaf 209]
Many a pylgrym hath be ded.
' And whyl that youthe (herkne me,)
ffressh and lusty abyt wv/t/i the,
Yi&. the to vertu ech hour and space ;
ffor, whan youthe a-way doth pace
W?/t7(-oute vertu (truste me,)
Yt ys ful hard (who that kan se,)
Vertu to wynne, whara youthe ys gon.
Who that in youthe lyst lerne noon,
ffor custoom take in tendre age,
(As seyn thys olde ffolkys sage,)
Wyt/i-oute 2 labour (thys no nay,) p out St., o. c.]
Ys ful hard to parte away.'
The pylgrym.
"Ma dame," quod I, "so mot I the,
I wende sykerly ta be
In the ryhte weye ywys ;
But, certys, I ha gon amys,
ffor I ha chose (and thus yt stood) ^
Two euele weye's ffor on good :
I not what yt may sygnefye,
That I thus erre thorgh my ffolye."
Vertu moral:
' Ha no merveyl in thy siht ;
flor ther ys weye noon so ryht
That yt ne fforketh out asyde
By many pathys that yt devyde,
Wych cause ffolkys euere among,
fful offte sythi-s to go wrong.
' And many on that thow dost sen,
Ys nat ther-for A Geometryen
Wv/t/<-In a compas (ha thys in mynde)
Thogh he ko?me out the centre fynde ;
11896
11900
11904
[Stowe, leaf 209, back]
11908
Moral Virtue lids me pray to find the right way, & Truth. 325
Moral Virtue
' ffor verrayly (who kan devyse)
Yt ys fouwde out but in l wyse ; [> in on St.] 11912
Yet ffolkys ffaylle dyuersly
To ffynde yt out by geometry.
An Archer eke, in thymie and thykke, [stowe, leaf 200, back] [leaf isa, bk.]
can't find the
right way by
geometry.
[st.&c.] 11916
,
11920
11924
11928
11932
Faylleth somtyme off the prykke.
H Wherfore, to ffynde the ryhte weye,
Yt ys good, to god to preye.
Yet in prayere, bothe day & night,
The weye goth nat alway ryht,
ffor, bothe in psalmys & in vers
Ther ben pathys fful dyuers,
And also ek in Orysouws,
Out forkyd by entenci'ouns j
As thus : who that kan aduerte :
The mouth dyuerseth ffro the herte ;
But herte and mouth be bothen on :
By dyuers pathys, in soth, they gon ;
And, (pleynly ffor to specefye,)
So?mne preye, by ypocrysye,
Off the peple to be seyn,
And ther prayer ys but in veyn ;
So?nme also preye ffor Rychesse,
To wynne worshepe & noblesse,
Tave 2 encres & in worldly glorye,
And, ffor thynges transytorye,
Worldly honour ffor to wynne,
Prayer ek mad 3 in dedly synne,
ffor cruelte or ffor vengauwce,
Or, to brynge men to meschauwce
Swych prayer hath no deuocyou?z ;
Yt ys nat worth a smal botouw,
' Al thyse ar 4 pathys fforkyd wrong [* Aiie thes am St.]
To make pylgrymes eueramong 11944
To gon Amys in ther passage.
' And syth 5 thow gost on pylgrymage, [ 5 ytn St., wych c.]
Evere enquere, nyht and day, ^ t 'bM v iwimfe"vIp^6 d *i6]
Tyl thow ha fou?*de the ryhte way ; 11948
Lat, in thyn askyng, be no slouthe [ 6 semitis (rightly} St.]
Tyl thow be brouht vn-to the trouthe.'
[*C., St. To have]
Therefore
pray.
Paths are
very diverse.
11936
eke made. Stowe, leaf 210]
11940
Heart and
Mouth go
ditrereNt
ways.
Some pray to
be seen of
men.
or for money
or worldly
honour.
Such prayer
isn't worth a
button.
I, IteGuille-
ville, must
enuuire night
ana day, till
I find the
right wa}-.
326 J talk with the Spirit of Mortification of the Body.
Thefilgrim.
[leaf 188]
I see a body
St IVtrl it OU
the cross,
and a spirit
speaking to
it*
The Pilgrim.
I ak (In-
spirit wliy
he's there.
3Inrtiflcalion
of the Body
says lie U a
pilgrim,
iiinl liis Body
brought him
into the
wrong way ;
[leaf 183, bk.]
And so I gan to hyre doctryne
My?i erys besyly enclyne, 11952
fful wel avysyng me ryht tho,
By wych postern e I sholde go.
And whyl I gan be-thynke me,
To-for my fface I dyde se 11956
A body vp on a cross dystreyned,
And, as me thouhte, gretly peyned,
[Blank in MS. for an Illumination^
To-fforn, a syde, and at the bak.
And to the body a spyryt spak, 11960
The body crossyd lyk a roode,
The spyryt in the weye stood ;
The body ek (as thouhte me,)
Myd the hegh, hong on a tre, 11964
Hys wyttys crossyd, as ye shal here,
Mouth, handys, Eye & Ere; [stowe, leaf 210, back]
The nase also, for smellyng,
Was crossyd ek, to my semyng. 11968
And 1 on the spyryt my look I layde, C 1 And St., An c.]
And to hy?ft ryht thus I sayde :
The pyl m:
" I pray, the, ffrend, tel me A -noon,
Or we any ferther gon, 11972
What causeth the to stonden here :
I am abaysshyd off thy chere,
But thow (lyk myn affecciouw)
Make a declarac'ioutt," 11976
Mortyfycaciou?i off the body :
( I am a pylgrym (soth to seye,)
That wolde ha take the same weye
fful yore agon, ne haddo be
Thys lord that hangeth vp on the tre : 11980
nro the weye on the tother syde
He brouhte me, and was my guyde ;
Me made (ther ys no mor to seye,)
Vn-to hys lust ffully tobeye, 11984
And Tacomplysshe hys byddyng
Wyt/i-oute gruchchyng in eue?y thyng.
' But trowly in thys passage
By Jidp of Dame Peiiance, the Spirit conquerd the Body. 327
' I hadde ffounde gret damage, 11988
Hadde nat the grace off god ybe ;
And therfor, ffor tavenge me,
I ha the maner wel devysed, 1 [ avysed St.]
Wherby that he ys her chastysed, 11992
Wytfi ffauour and the gouernavmce
Off a lady callyd Penaurece, [stowe, leaf 211]
Wych, wyt/f hyr hamer (as thow mayst se,)
Smot the nayles in-to the tre, 11996
Euene as I bad hyr do.
' And thanne A-noon he was ago :
In-to thys heg he took the weye,
And thus I made hym to obeye jj 12000
To my plesaunce in euery thyng,
So that no mater off wyusyng
Ys ffouwde in hym in fflessh nor bon,
(To seke hys mewbrys euerychon,) 12004
Gruchchyng, nor rebelli'oiw,
Nor no contradicci'oun.'
The pylgrym:
Thanne in the sylue same place
He gan A-noon to tourne hys face, 12008
And sayde (as ye shal here and se)
To the body vp on the Tre :
Mortyfycacioure off the body :
' Hastow wel herd what I ha sayd 1
Tel on ! artow nat wel apayd 12012
Me tobeye wylf ully
(As Resouw axeth skylfully) [St., o. c.]
Whan so that me lyst comau?ide 1
Answere anoon to my demaunde ! ' 12016
The body answereth:
' Certys,' (\uod the body tho,
' Algate now yt standeth so,
I mUSte, off 2 neCCSSyte [ 3 off verrey, Stow o, leat^ll, bm'k]
Yow obeye, mawgre me. 12020
But yiff I myghte (thys no lape,)
ffiom your bou^dys wel eskape,
In no thyng (shortly ffor to seyc,)
To yow I woldc no mor obeye.' 1 2021
by help of
'Lady
Penance,'
and entirely
subdued it.
The Pilgrim.
Mortification
of the Boily
asks the Body
if it will obey
him.
The Botly OH
the Cross
says it can't
help itself;
if it could,
it wouldn't
obey.
328 The Body must be suldued till it obeys tlie Spirit gladly.
The Spirit
declares the
body
shall remain
on the cross
till it is meek
and humble,
and shall
follow with a
cross on its
back,
like Christ,
who com-
plained not.
[leaf 184, bk.]
The Pilftrim.
I ask why
the Body is
so bound !
Mortification
of the Body
says he was
granted a
castle, on first
coming to
the country,
The spyryt:
Thaw quod the spyryt, ' syth yt ys so,
I shal the telle what I wyl do :
To kepe me (bothe ffer & ner)
ffrom al peryl & al daimger 12028
That thow woldest don to me :
Thow shalt be stylle vp on thys Tre
Tyl thow, by ffeythful obeysauwce,
Be mek & humble to my plesaiwce. 12032
' Yet shallow nat ay her abyde ;
ffor I shal gon, & be thy guyde ;
And thow shalt (wyt/t-oute lak)
Wyth a croos vp-on thy bak, 12036
Wyth spyryt off humylyte,
ffolwe, & bern yt affter me,
Off hool entent, in 1 al vertu, [' and St.]
That thow mayst swen cryst ihesu, 12040
Wych in hys gospel byt & seyth,
(To whom men musten yiven ffeyth,)
' He ys nat worthy (thus seyth he)
Nor hable for to ffolwe me, 12044
The wych, vp on hys shuldere,
Lyst, off dysdeyw, no croos to 2 bere.' [* to om. st.]
He bar yt ffyrst Inym sylff, certeyn,
Wyt/t-oute gruchchyng or dysdeyn 12048
To shewe exauwple & sygne also, [Stowe, leaf 212]
That affter hym we sholde go
Crossyd off entenc'iouw,
Kemewbrynge on hys passiouw.' 12052
The pylgrym to the spyryt:
To the spyryt tho quod I :
" Tel and declare ffeythfully,
What nedede yt so many place
To crossen hyt in hed & ffaee ? 1 2056
I pray the, teche me A-noon,
Or we any fferther gon."
Mortyfycaciou/j off the body :
' Yiff thow kanst vnderstonde wel,
To' me was youe?z a castel 12060
Wha/i I kam ffyrst to thys contre,
WemustbartJie Windoivs (Senses) of our Body against Vices. 329
' Off entent I sholde be Mortification.
. of the Body.
Eue/'e ther-m, & nat gon oute,
Te kepe me sur 1 ffro euery doute [ sure St.] 12064
Whyl that I a pylgrym were,
That enmy noon me sholde dere
By noon assaut, vp-on no syde,
Yiff I koude wysly provyde 12068 an a defence
against his
nor my syltt on 2 euery part pin St.] enemies;
ffro shot off quarel, or cast off dart,
Or ffro shetyng off croos bowes,
Outher at wyketys or wywdowys 12072 hut he left
-ITl ppi O /-\ 111 n ' S w'lMloWS
Ylefft 3 Open reklesly, p vieffte st.] open,
Off neclygence or ffooly,
And be nat dyffencyd wel [stowe, leaf 212, back] 12075
Wyth barrys off yren nor off stel, Finest" st!,. c.
Nor yclosyd by good devys,
Overthwertyd \vyth no latys ;
ffor wych, myw Enmyes many tyme, and ins foes
/-r i 11 ' f\r,n wounded him
(Bothe at eve and ek at prime) 12080 thru them.
Whan they open haue hem ffouwde,
They han me hurt wyth many a wonde,
The wych fful sore doth me greue.
' But, off entent me to releue, 12084
I haue ordeyned (by gret avys) NOW he has
-P, ~, 01, the windows
Barrys oft yren & latys, barred and
The ffenestrallys to Amende
In cross wyse, me to dyffende. 12088 [leafiss]
' And ech pylgrym. in thys world here, And every
TT n i . , Pilgrim must
Uadae nede ftor to lere bar the win-
dows of his
The fenestrall//s off hys body, boi 'J r '
ffor to crosse hem myghtyly, 12092
And hem to kepe in surete.
' And no dyffence so good maybe,
As in croos 4 wyse (yiff they be wys) [* a croos St.]
To close 5 ther wyndowes \vyth latys, [ 5 st. closes c.] 12096
In remewbrau/jce (ffor ther goode) in remem-
branceof
Oft hym that heng vp on A roode. Christ,
' And, to dyffende vs ffro dau^ger
12100 and make a
Kannei 1 of the
Cross.
Lat vs maken a baner
Off the croos, ffor our dyffence
330 How Mortification marks his 5 Senses with the mark Tau.
Mortification
of the Body.
Out of our
body's win-
dows we
must lian<?
Banners of
the Cross.
As shown in
Ezekiel ix.
87,
all that had
the mark Tau
on their fore-
heads escaped
death.
[leaf 185, bk.]
So I, Mortifi-
cation, have
my windows,
my five sens-
es, marked
with Tau,
to keep out
my foes.
And my
name is Mor-
tification,
Chastising,
Oppression
or Taming of
the Flesh.
' Ageyn the dredf ul vyolence
And assaut off our enmyes.
'And at ech wyket, ffor Espyes 12104
At ffenestrall?/s & at cornerys,
Lat be hangen out banerys
Off the croos, and put hem oute,
Our Enmyes to sette in doute; 12108
ffor yt ys a kouthe thyng, [stowe, leaf 21:!]
Men drede the baner off a kyng ;
As yt ys ffyguryd wonder wel
In the book off Ezechyel, 12112
The .ix. capytle (who taketh hede), ix s vavituta.
Wher openly ye may rede
That, by the tookne off Tav, Me;noraHdwst.,o.c.
The sygne was off so gret vertu, 12116
That they that hadde yt (yt ys no drede)
Wel enprented in ther fforhed,
By the vertu (yt ys no jape)
ffro the deth they dyde Eskape : 12120
They wer dyffencyd by thylke sygne,
That no whyht inyghte ageyw 1 hem malygue. [' gcyn stj
' And, ffor to kepe thys castel,
I forge te neueradel 1212-1
To be mor myghty by vertu,
To marke my wy7idowes w?yt/< Tav,
The wyndowes off my wyttys ffyue,
Ageyn my ffoomew ffor to stryue, 12128
That my ffoomen spyrytual
Entre nat by no ffenestrall.
' Now, as thow lyst me to comaiwde,
I haue answeryd to thy demauwde ; 12132
And my name (in conclusiouw)
Ys callyd Mortificacioura \
Off tlie fflessh, or chastysyng^
Oppression, or ellys dawntyng. 12136
' Ches now, off thys namys alle,
By wych that thow wylt me calle ;
And god I praye, wyt/j al myn herte,
To grau;te me I may adue/'te, 121-10
ffor wysdom or ffor ffolye,
/ iveep, and reproach my Body for having injured me. 331
12152
Euere that I may yt mortefye.' [stowe, leaf 213, back]
Thawwe he made no mor delay,
But wente fforth vp-on hys way; 12144
The body affter hyw gan gon,
And bar hys croos alway in on,
And was with" hym ay Crucyffyed?. [St., c. ha a blank nne.]
And whan I hadde al thys espyed, 12148
[Ulank in MS. for an Illumination.]
In myn herte I was fuii wo,
That I myghte nat do so
As off hem I do reporte ;
And gretly gan me dyscomforte ;
The pylgrym dysconfortyd.
And, ffor thys vnkouth wof ul caas,
fful offte sythe I seyde ' alias '
Vn-to my sylff, in cowpleyny?ige,
Wepte, and gan myw hondys wrynge ;
And, in my dedly mortal wo,
Vn-to my sylff I seyde tho :
" Al that thow wendyst ha be toward,
Ys but a passage that goth bakward.
Thow gost nat as thow sholdest do." [c. & St.] 12161
And to my body I seyde also :
" Alias ! why naddestow ybe
Crucefyed vp on a tre 1
Crossyd thy-syllf also be-tymes,
To ha go fforth \fyili pylgrymes
On pylgrymage ? alias the whyle ! I
Thy grete slouthe wyl me be-guyle, '
And don to me fful gret offence
Thorgh thy grete neclygence,
"VVych, yiff I hadde aforn espyed,
Thow sholdest ha be crucefyed
C\Y//t//-oute mercy or pyte) ' sto ^J.* a ^
Vn-to the deth vp-on A tre,
And born a croos vp-on thy bak."
And whyl that I thus to hy/M spak,
Constreyned vfyih fful gret dystresse,
Myd off al myn hevynesse,
Sodeynly (as ye shal here)
12156
In via Dei non pro-
gredi, regredi &c c'
litr[\M\\it>t. St., om.C.
12164
12168
12172
putting the next line
12176
The Pilgrim.
' Mortifica-
tion ' departs.
I am jfrently
discom-
forted ;
I weep, and
wring my
hands,
[leaf 186]
and reproach
my body,
whose sloth
has beguild
me.
Had I known
this sooner,
I'd have
crucified my
body.
332 Gh'ace Dicu bids me subdue my Flesh. I see a Wheel.
Then Grace
Dieu appears.
She says that
he goes right
who subdues
his flesh,
[leaf 186, bk.]
and does
]>enance with
the cross on
his buck ;
Th Pilgrim.
while I am
slow to pro-
ceed.
My excuse is
that I'm too
weak tn bear
the cross.
The Piff/rim.
I see a Wheel
in the way,
which
Graff Dim.
T <jawh draff* rHmi ftnnpTP Apparuit gratia del [Ad Titum
sawn trrace aieu appere, 2o Ctlpitulo , (versu xi) st-]
The wych, in ful goodly wyse 12181
Bad me that I sholde aryse ;
[Blank in MS. for an Illumination.]
Sayde to me, off hyr grace,
1 Her ys noon abydyng place 12184
ffor to soiourne (yt ys no drede) ;
And also (yiff thow lyst take hede,)
Thow hast clerly had a syht
That thys pylgrym goth most right, 12188
And moste dydd? hym-sylff avaiwce [c. & St.]
Thet on hys fflesshe tooke vengauwce,
I mene hym (yiff thow ha mynde)
The wych vp-on hys bak behynde 12192
Bar hys croos, to do penauwce.
But thow, in al thy gouernaunce,
Art verray slowh, 1 as I wel knowe, [' siowth* St.]
That syttest at the erthe lowe, 12196
And lyst no fferther fforth to gon.'
To whom I answerde 2 a-noon, [ 2 answer* St.]
Sayde, in al myw hevynesse,
That yt was ffor ffebylnesse, 12200
" I was nat off my wyl at large,
Nor strong to ber so gret a charge [stowe, leaf 2is, back]
As the pylgryw off whom we spak,
Wych bar hys croos vp-on hys bak." 12204
Grace dieu:
' Lefft 3 vp thyn eye, & looke wel ! p Lyffi St.]
Sestow nat,' quod she, ' a whel
Large and round, & off gret myght ? '
And I a-noon lefft vp my syht, 12208
And sawh a whel (yt ys no doute)
By vyolence tourne aboute
Contynuelly to-ffor my fface,
Myd the weye I sholde pace. 12212
The pylgrym:
And I answerde, touchyng thys whel,
" Ma dame," quod I, " I se yt wel."
Grace dieu :
' Wel ,' quod she, ' than tak good hed
Within this Wheel is another, both revolving. 333
' In fforthryng off thyw owne spede. 12216 Grace DJU
Thys whel ys (I the ensure) SK,*,d
A lyknesse and A ff ygure, "eT Ple l
And pleynly (yiff I shal nat tarye)
Vn-to the an exauwplarye, 12220
The to gouerne in thy vyage, to guide me
Yiff thow wylt in thy pylgrymage grimage.
Be wel exspleyted 1 (in certeyn), [' expieyted St.] [leaf 197]
And ellys thy lahour ys in veyn, 12224
Lesynge thy travayH euerydel.
' Tak hed,' (ytiod she, 'how in thys whel in the wheel
Ther ys wyt/i-inne (yiff thow kanst se) [stowe, leaf 215]
A-nother off lasse quawtyte, 12228 is another
smaller one,
Tornynge contrayre (by hys syyt)
To- ward the party opposyyt; Vertut partem oppoitam. st.,o.c.
And off tyrnber, wrouht fful clene, with four
wooden
Hath .ini. spookys yt to sustene, 12232 spokes set on
a big axle,
Set vp-on an Extre large,
Off the sweygh to bere the charge.'
And sothly (as I koude espye)
Hadde nat ben A Boterflye 12236
Ther-on tournyng round aboute,
I wolde ha dempte (w//t/i-oute doute)
Tournynx ech w?/t7i-Innen other. each turning
J " within the
That yt hadde be noon other 12240 other,
But the same sylue whel B "V h , ns E ? e -
clnel saw in
Wych whylom Ezechyel i li i5yi7 i x"'io
Sawh in hys avys'iouw,
As hooly wryt maketh menciouw. 12244
The pylgrym : The puari>.
And off thys whel (pleynly to lere), i ask her to
J \f J J tell me more
Off Grace dieu I gan enquere, whed tlie
That she wolde (in conclusion??,)
Make a declaraci'ouw. 12248
Grace dieu : Grace Diflt -
Quod grace dieu to me Anoon, she reminds
me that I
' Yiff thow reme??ibre, nat yore agon, the 8 ima d e 'Jf
How thow off god (I the ensure)
Art thymage and creature.' 12252
The pylgrym:
334 The Whwl signifies Lust, The Body hinders the Spirit.
As I had my
beginning
from God,
I must re-
turn to Him,
like a planet
returns to
its starting
place.
The Pilgrim. " Cei'tyS," qilOcl I, " in SubstaUTOCe, [Stowe, leaf 215, back]
I lia thys \vel ill remewbraiwce."
Grace bieu. Grace dieu :
[leaf is?, bk.] < Conceyue,' quod she, ' thaw, in thy syht,
Yt muste ffolue, off verray ryht, 12256
Syth thow haddest, in allo 1 thyng, [ aiie St., ail c.]
Off liym orygynal begynnyng,
And were off hyw (yiff yt be souht)
In eue?y party maad & wrouht, 12260
To hym, off verray ryht certeyn,
Thow must resorte & tourne ageyn, ~i
As by mevyng natural,
Ageyn to thyn orygynal. 12264
' Tak exau??iple pleyn & cler :
As by mevyng circular
In hys tournyng by corapasse 2 [ 2 compace St.]
Ageyn resorte th to hys place 12268
That he kam ffro whan he be-gan,
How ffer aboute that he ran ;
And Trewly, in no mocyowi
Ys noon so gret perfecc'iovw 12272
As off a spyryt hym to releue,
Ageyn the body ffor to meue ;
The wych (who loke verrayly)
Ys to the spyryt most enmy ; 12276
Wych eue?-e ys bysy, day be day,
To taryen hym vp-on hys 3 way, [ 3 his St., thys c.j
And (I dar wel afferme thys)
Meketh hyra offte to gon amys. 12280
And thogh thow go nat alway wel
Yet dyscouraforte the neue/'adel ;
Tak euere hed, yong and old, [stowc, leaf 210]
Off thoxaumple I ha the told j 1 2284
Vp-on wych, yiff thow wylt dwelle,
Mor clerly I shal the telle.
' Thys sayde whel (who kan espye)
That I off spak, doth sygnefye 12288
Lust off the body, in hys mevyng,
Wych clerkys calle (in ther wrytyng
And name yt) Sensualytc ;
The Spirit
moves
against the
Uody,
which strives
to delay it.
The Wheel
signifies Lust
of the body,
Sensuality,
The Spirit is delayd by the Body, as Planets ly Retardations. 335
' The wych wyl nat brydled be, 12292 [leaf iss]
But ffroward euere in hys entent, Orace Difu -
Mevyng toward the occyclcnt,
Evere in on, bothe day & nyht, 12295
W?/t/i swych a swegh 1 & swych a myght p sweyghte St.]
That, wher the spyryt gruchche or moume, which drags
He maketh hym offte to retourne back when it
__ , . . moves to the
vV yih hy w ageyn by vyolence, East.
Mawgre al hys resystence, 12300
Al-thogh the spyryt (in hys entent)
Meueth toward the oryent,
Wych thenys kara. & yiff he sholde
Thyder ageyn, fful ffayn he wolde : 12304 The spirit
m -i ji -r-< L 11. .o .1 alway travels
loward the Est, in alle 2 thyng, p alia St., ai cj
He travaylleth in hys mevyng
Wych (be 3 my red) shal neuere tarye, p by st.]
But labour, & be contrarye 12308 contrary to
To the mevyng off the body,
And contynue vertuously
Bexau??iple (as I dyde specefye
To the,) off the boterflye, 12312 like the
Wych ay ffro the Occident whiehoow
rp . / . - fro n Wert
Toumeth toward the orient, to East.
In hys labour hym to quyte,
Tyl he by vertu, lyte and lyte, [stowe, leaf 210, back] 12316
So longe ageyn the whel doth go,
Tyl the marke that he kam ffro,
Wyth gret labour he may atteyne.
' And evene lych (in certeyne) 12320
The planetys alle seuene The seven
TT . , . . , . , planets, mov-
Holde her coura in the 4 heuene, [* in to stj ing in the
_ . heavens,
Wych trewly, in ther mevynges,
Han fful many gret lettynges 12324 nredeiaya by
-r, , retardations
By sondry retardaciouws,
And be contrayre mocyou7is,
Or they may (yt ys no doute)
Ther cyrcuyt go round aboute; 12328 [leaf iss, bk.j
And yet ther wyl and ther entent in their
efforts to
Ys ay to-ward the oryent
ffro when they kam, (yt ys no fable) ;
336 Of ' Coelum mobile,' Epicycles, Eccentrics, Erratics.
Grace Dieu.
return to the
same point
from which
they set out.
The Planets
try to go
East,
but 'Ccelum
mobile,' the
heaven,
draws them
to the West.
In the Epi-
cycles they
retrograde,
and BO they
become
stationary
in the Ec-
centrics,
are cald Er-
ratics,
and take long
to complete
their course.
And as these
heavenly
bodies are
retarded,
[leaf 180]
even so the
Silgrim is
elayd and
hinderd in
his course,
cince he \
Microcosm.
' And thyderward they be mcveable, 12332
To thylke poynt to kome ageyn,
ffro wych they meuede ffyrst certeyn.
Off ther cours, thys thentent ;
But the heuene and the ffyrmament 12336
Wych clerkys calle (yiff ye lyst se)
In latyn Celuw mobile,
Contrayre ffro the Oryent,
Draweth hem to the Occident 12340
Wyth hys sweygh" 1 (yt ys no nay,) [' sweyghu St.]
And taryeth hem mor in A day
Than they be mevyng cyrculer
May recuryn in A 2 yer paiieast.] 12344
Toward the Est in ther mevyng.
' And yet they haue mor lettyng,
(Who the verray trouthe wyste,)
ffor, Avhan they travaylle to resyste 12348
To the heuene callyd ' mobyle,'
In the Epicicles whan they be, [stowe, leaf 217]
They make hem retrogradyent,
And cause hem in the ffyrmament 12352
Ther tabyde stacionarye,
Out off ther cours ordynarye,
And sette hem in the excentrykes,
Wher thay be callyd Erratykes. 12356
Retournyng nat (shortly to ryme,)
But by processe off long tyme.
' And sythe, thys bodyes celestyal,
In ther mevyng natural, 12360
Ben let thus in ther 3 mooyouws, [ s lette . . her St.]
And han swych retardacyou/ts
To ben hyndred in ther labour,
Or they may han ful recour 12364
To the place they kam ffyrst fro ;
Merveylle nat thogh yt be so
That thow be let in thy vyage,
And Encoumbryd, in thy passage, 12368
Off Retardac'iouws that falle,
Syth ' Mycroeosme,' men the calle ;
And microcosme ys a word
Resistance to Sensuality, and Perseverance, win Heaven. 337
Wych clerkys calle ' the lasse world.' 12372 Grace Dim.
And in thy way, haue in raynde ; the Less
Epicicles thow shalt ffynde,
' Off Infortunyes fful dyuers,
Off sodeyn caas, fful peruers ; 12376
ffor thy lyff (yt ys no doute,) u *?*\ l lke
Ys lyk a cercle that goth aboute,
Rourad and swyfft as any thouht,
Wych in hys course ne cesset 1 nouht [ l cessethe st.] 12380
Yiff he go ryht, and wel compace
Tyl he koine to hys restyng place, us resting-
J J J * place is in
Wych ys in god, yiff he wel 2 go pwyiust.] 12383 God:
Hys owne place wych he kam ffro. [Stowe, leaf 217, bk.]
But yet, in al hys mocyoura,
He hath noon Exempc'iouw ;
ffor Epicicles (who hath reward) !t p 18 *' 9 ..
epicycles that
Make the offte go bakward 12388 |X|?* ) '
In thy cours, the to tarye,
And to make th& stacyonarye,
Excentryked, day be day,
To make the gon out off the way 12392 making it go
westward,
Westward, vn-to the Occident : <* t the
east.
Whan thow sholdest gon to 3 thoryent, [ 3 gon to c., go st.]
fful offte sythe thow gost abak.
' And the planetys that I off spak, 12396 The Planets
show you that
Also ek the Boterflye, Ksuaf
Vn-to the Exemplefye
To don thy labour, and nat ffeyne,
And myghtyly thy sylff to peyne 12400 [leaf 189, bkj
In thy mevyng, that thow nat be
Ylet by sensualyte,
Wych on thy way doth gret greuauwce,
But yiff thow haue perseueraunce. 12404 and will ims
J perseverance,
' Yet in thy cours be alway strong :
By processe off tyme long,
Thow shalt retourne ageyw by grace y u Bha11
J J c return to
Vn-to thyre owne due place, 12408 rest in God.
Eeste in god, and ther abyde.
' Thogh that thow be set asyde,
Thyder to atteyne soone,
PILGRIMAGE. Z
338 The Revolutions of the Sun & Planets an example to man.
Grace Dieu. ' Tak exau??iple by the moone, 12412
T Al ee ample How he ys let ek in hys way,
of the Moon. * J '
Somtyme the space off A day;
But by hys labour (in certeyn)
He recureth yt ageyn, 12416
Sothly wtt/i-Inne A moneth space
To resorte to 1 hys place. [vntost.]
' And yiff thow lyst tak hed her-to, [stowe, leaf nsj
The some recureth ek also, 12420
By his mevyng cyrculer,
Loos off a day wzt/t-Inne A yer.
' Satourne, that syt so hyh and ffer,
The moon
returns to
his place in
a month.
The sun,
Saturn,
Jupiter.
12424
[ paeyently St.]
all run
their natural
course.
And the planete lubyter,
They take pacyenly 2 alway ;
Thogh they be let sow tyrae a day,
They dysconforte hew neueradel,
ffor they recure ageyn fful wel
(By pacyence and abydyng)
Al that they suffre in ther mevyng
Ther naturel cours (I yow 3 ensure)
Pacyently they muste endure ;
Yt nolde avaylle hem to be wroth ;
ffor Satourn, aboute hys cours he goth
In Thrytty yer, and lasse nouht ;
And lubiter (yiff yt be souht),
By hys mevyng cyrculer,
Hys cours parformeth in xij yer j
They muste ha ther-to so gret 4 space
Or they resorte to ther place.'
The pylgrym:
" Ma dame, wj't/i your grace and pes,
To me yt semeth douteles,
My labour may me nat avaylle ;
I do but lese my travaylle :
and may not Los off a day, lyk as ye seen,
recover one _
day in thirty I may nat recure ageyn :
years.
I vnderstonde, ffer nor ner,
Almost the space off thrytty yer. 1 2448
Alias ! I am to ffer be-hynde : [stowe, leaf 218, back]
What conforte tluwne 5 sholde I ffynde, ['thanst.]
Saturn re-
volves in
thirty years,
[leaf 190]
Jupiter in
twelve.
The Pilgrim.
I lament
that I am so
far behind,
12428
[> you St., am. C.]
12432
12436
[ therto grete St.]
12440
12444
Sensuality, A man may sin mortally in a Moment. 339
" So gret 1 labour to endure,
My place ageyn ffor to recure.
Thogh day be day (in certeyne)
I dyde dyllygence and peyne
ffor to resorte, yt wyl nat be ;
The cours off sensualyte,
To my desyr ys so ff reward,
To make me to go bakward,
That by reuoluci'ouw
My tyme I lese, and my sesoun ;
ffor, the mor I me constreyne
To do my labour and my peyne,
The mor to me she ys contrayre,
In my lourne me to tarye ;
And trewly I kan nat espye
What al thys doth sygnefye."
Grace dieu:
Quod grace dieu fful sobyrly,
' I speke nat off a 2 day only,
But in an hour (yiff thow kanst se)
Yt may happe so to be,
How that A man in A moment
May slen hjm sylff, off entent
Or casuely, on se or lond,
Lese a merabre, ffoot or hond,
"VVych he shal, peraventure,
In thrytty yer, nat recure
Ageyn, so myghte hew the cas,
To refourme yt as yt was.
' And semblably to be-guyrane,
Yiff thow ha don a dedly synne.
Wheroff the strook the soule sleyth,
And offte ys cause off cruel deth ;
ffor swerd ya noon, nor spere, founde,
So peryllous to mayme and wonde
As dedly synne, (to reknew al,)
The wych ycallyd ys ' mortal ',
Be-cause hys hurtys ffynally
Ben in effect verray dedly.
' And yiff thow sle thy-syluew so
P grete St.]
The Pi/prim.
12452
12456 Sensuality
ever drags me
back.
12460
12464
Orace Dieu.
ponst.] 12468
[C. & St.]
A man may
kill self in
12472 a moment.
[leaf 190, bk.]
12476
12480 If a man sins
mortally,
[Stowe, leaf 219]
12484
12488
340 Christ's Sufferings are Salvation to the Penitent.
and cannot
recover in 30
>rears,
he should not
despair.
Jesus suffered
death to save
men.
His passion
secures sal-
vation
[leaf 191]
to the peni-
tent.
The Pilgrim.
These ex-
amples are
unsuited to
my case.
The planets
have their
set times,
and must
return to
their first
position.
' Wiih dedly synne, as somme do,
And myghtest nat in Thrytty yer
Ben hool and sownd, but stonde in wher 12492
Touchyng thy sauaci'oun,
Yet, as to myra oppynyoim,
Thow sholdest nat thy sylff dyspeyre,
Thy mortal syknesse to apeyre, 12496
Nor thy syluew dysconforte,
But inwardly the Eeconforte,
And specialy in thyng
Thanke ihesu, that blyssyd kyng 12500
Lyst suffre dethe 1 ffor thy sake, p detu c., dethe St.]
Thy deedly wondys, hool to make ;
WitVoute whos dethe, 1 1 ensure,
Thow myghtest nat to lyff recure, 12504
Nor, thy grete loos (certeyn),
"Wtt/i-oute hys dethe x wywne ageyn ;
ffor hys hooly passi'oiw
Ys salue and fful sauac'ioura 12508
To ffolk that haven in constau?zce 2 p inconstauce St.]
Off her synne's re"pentaurace ;
ffor penauwce ys so vertuous
And acceptable to cry st ihesus, 12512
That who that doth yt hertyly,
Off hys synnes hath remedy.'
The pylgrym:
To grace dieu quod I ryht tho, [stowe, leaf 219, back]
" Ma dame, in soth yt stondeth so, 12516
Your exaumples by rehersaylle
May to me fful lyte avaylle,
ffor they be nat (who looke wel)
Vn-to purpos neueradel. 12520
" ffor the planetys hifi in heuene,
In ther mevyng, alle seuene,
How so they in her cours be let,
Yet ther Termys ben yset, 12524
And ther bouwdys, (in certeyn,)
What tyme they shal resorte ageyn,
By terme and 3 lymytaciou/z, p and by St.]
WM-oute any transgressi'ouw ; 12528
/ urge that my Sins prevent my return to Innocence. 341
" Off ther tyme they may nat erre, the puyrim
As yt ys set, nyh nor fferre,
But that they shal, at certeyn space,
Ketourne to her due place, 12532
At ther tyme, whan-euere yt be.
"But yt stant nat so vrith me,
~No thyng at al, off my retour ;
And cause why, ffor my Errour 12536
Hath no lymytac'iouws ;
ffor I, thorgh my transgressi'ouws,
So long 1 tyme ther-in soiourne, [ longest.]
That I shal neuere ageyn Eetourne 12540
To entre the place that I kam ffro.
" Touchynge the boterflye also,
Therby, to myw oppynyouw,
I ha noon informac'iouw 12544
As off hys mevyng on the whel ;
ffor, at hys lust, (who loke wel)
He may go slowh, he may go lyht, [stowe, leaf 320]
He hath .iiij. wynges ffor the fflyht; 12548 has 4 wings,
And whan he seth yt may avaylle,
He may chese, in hys travaylle,
At hys lust, abyde and reste
By good leyser, ffor the 2 besto : [*his stj 13552
Al thys consydred prudently,
I dar wel seyn, so may nat I."
Grace dieu:
' Myn examples, trewly,' qttod she,
' May to purpos taken be, 12556
Yiff thow aduerte wel ther-to ;
ffor, set thys cas, that yt be so
That thys planetys, in her mevyng,
May nat erre no maner thyng, 12560
Nouther ffaylle, but in certeyn
To ther places retourne ageyn
ffro whenys they kam, On and alle ;
Yet sowme off hem, I sey, may ffalle 12564
As yt be-ffyl, the trouthe wyst,
Whan seyn lohan the ewangclyst
Sawh, among the sterrys alle,
I'.ul , thru in >
transgres-
sions,
I shall never
return to
innocence.
[leaf 191, bk.]
The butterfly
on the wheel
and ran
settle \vherg
he likes.
I can't.
Grace Dieu
says that,
even if the
planets must
return to
their places,
some may
fall,
ns St. John
saw one full
342 Tho Lucifer fall for ever, Repentance will restore me.
Grace Dieu.
from heaven
to earth.
This Star
was called
' Absinth,'
Wormwood
(Rev. viii. 10,
11),
signifying
1 Lucifer/
[leaf 192]
He shall
never return
again to his
first position.
But tho you
fall from the
Firmament
of Faith,
yet, if you
repent,
' How On ffrom heuene dyde ffalle 12568
Lyk a brond off ffyr \vith levene
Donn to the Erthe ffro the heuene ;
The wyche sterre, I dar wel seyn,
Retournede neuere yet ageyn 12572
Thyder ffro whens he dyde ffalle ;
And ' Absinthium ' men hyra calle,
Be cause he doth sygnefye,
Thorgh hys pryde and ffals envye, 12576
The bryhte auwgel that ffel so ffer, [stowe, leaf 2-20, back]
I mene the Auwgel Lucyfer
ffro the heuene in-to dyrknesse ;
And he hath ek mor bytternesse 12580
Than any woormood growyng here.
And, Trewly, yiff thow lyst lere,
That he whylom (thus stood the caas,)
Bryhter than any sterre was : 12584
Truste me wel, and be certeyn
That he shal neuere Eetourne ageyn
To the place that he kam ffro.
' But off the, yt stant nat so ; 12588
And ffyrst, by thys exau?ple layd
To conferme that I ha sayd :
Thogh thow a-mong, in thyn extent, 12591
ffalle doure ffro the ffyrmament A Firmamento Fidei St., om.C.
Off verray ffeyth, dou?i ffro so fer
With the Angel lucyfer,
And thy ffal and thy soiourn
Were wit/i-oute mor retourn, 12596
That thow sholdest ay and euere
In thyn errour so perseuere,
And woldest nat thy sylff avauwce,
The tamende 1 by repentau^ce, [' St., tamememie c.] 12600
Thaw, thorgh thyw erroure and ffolye,
Thow stoode in gret 2 lupartye pgretest.]
To kome ageyn to thyra degre.
' But yiff thow woldest amende the, Noa St., om. c.
And off herte and hool entente 12605
Resorte ageyn, and the repente
Off al that euere thow hast mysdo,
I must rest oil the Wlied, and climb aloft up its Spokes. 343
' Thow sholdest neuere haue erryd so, 12608 Grace meu.
But that thow sholdest (truste me) you simii
C i i j -L bereceivd
fiul wel ageyn recey ved be ; again.
And vfith al thys, only by grace, [stowe, leaf 221] Yousimiibe
Eestoryd to thy ffyrste place : 12612 your first
place,
Ther-to thow sholdest ha no let,
Thy terme, thy 1 boundys, ben so set, [landst.]
And markys ffor thy savacyouw
Only by crystys passi'oiw : 12616
Truste me wel, and thus yt ys, [leaf 102, bk.j
They wyl nat suffre the gon Amys,
Whyl thow the boldest by resou?* ami not go
Wyth-Inne thy lymytaciouw, 12620
Nat to Erryn, nyh 2 nor ffer ; p i>yht c., nyghe st.]
But so ne may nat lucyfer, Lucifer must
11 ever remain
ffor he muste abyde and dwelle i eii-
"Wit/i-oute Eetourne, styH in helle ; 12624
He may haue noon other graunt.
And thys Exauwiple ys suffysauwt
Off the planetys told off me,
In thy passage tenformew the. 12628
' And fferther-more, the to guye A to the
b J Uutterfly
Totichynge also the boterflye,
Off wych Exauwple, in thyn Avys,
Thow settyst ther-off but lytel prys 12632
But yiff thy wyt, off Eesoun seth,
The .iiij. wynges wit/i wych he ffleth, with 4 wing,
And hys ffeet ek (tak bed ther-to)
Make hyw on the whel to go 12636 Iie rests
the wheel,
At leyser, hy?ji sylff to spede. aml is can-led
By wych exau?nple (as I rede)
Thow shalt hy?u folwe in sondry wyse ;
And ffyrst off all*?, the avyse 12640
How thys whel hath (yt ys no doute.) concerning
J 'f the wheel
.iiij. 3 spokys strechchyd oute, [ 3 Foure st.]
Vp-on wych, ffor thy beste,
Thow mayst Wel thyw syluC7l reste, [Stowe, leaf 221, back] you can rest
And by ese, soffte and soffte 12643 andciimb
aloft.
Clymben tyl thow kome aloffte.
' Thys spokys .iiij. 4 off most vertu [ Foure st.]
344 Fin to look to the 4 parts of Christ's Cross. Miss Youth.
Grace Dieu.
These 4
spokes are
in Christ's
cross.
[leaf 193]
Ezekiel saw a
Wheel
(ix. 14)
' Ben in the croos off cryst ihesu, 12648
The wyche 1 ben yset fful wel E 1 wych c., wiuche St.]
Wit/i-Inne in the myddel whel,
Off wyche, wtt/i hys eyen bryhte,
Ezechiel hadde a syhte : 12652
Hys prophesye doth vs lere,
To hyra a whel ther dyde appere,
Wych hym thouhte (in sondry placys)
with 4 faces, By semyng hadde .iiij. 2 ffacys, [* Foure St.] 12656
ffor to shewyn in ffygure
Auctorysed by scrypture
(Yiff thow lyst to haue in mywde)
.iiij. 3 helpys thow mayst fynde p Foure St.] 12660
In crystys cros, (yifE thow take hede,)
In thy lourne the to spede ;
Wych .iiij. shal the 4 Solace, [* Foure the shalle St.]
Make the to thy ffyrste place 12664
ffor to retourne the weye ryht.
' As longe as thow hast a syht
To .iiij. 5 partyes off crystis cros, p Foure St.]
Ne drede the neuere off no los, 12668
Nor off hyndryng in thy vyage.
And looke, in thy pylgrymage,
Wher-so-euere thow repayre,
Ther-off to take thyw exauwplayre, 12672
ffor thow mayst no bettre do.'
And whan she hadde sayd me so,
Thys Grace dieu, affter a-noon,
ffarwel, fro me, she was a-gon 12676
Al sodeynly out off my syht. [Stowe, leaf 222]
But tharcne, off cher fful glad and lyht,
Youthe
And with hyr ffresshe ffethrys ffayre,
Youthe gan to me repayre, 12680
And to me sayde in hyr manere :
' Thow art a ff ool ! what dostow here 1
Tak good hed to my sentence !
Thow art mad, to yive credence, 12684
To leue and herknen euerytale
Or syngyng off the nyhtyngale ;
typifying
4 helps in
Christ's cross
to aid you
on your
journey.
As long as
you look to
the 4 parts
of the Cross,
you'll get on.
The Pilgrim.
Grace Dieu
departs.
3fist Youth.
Youth ' tells
me I'm a fool,
and mad to
believe every
tale I bear.
Miss Youth persuades me to climb up on her lack. 345
12696
Vicina est hpsib?< adoles-
cenia, & variorum cupidita-
tum feruore salens. . .
Ambrosius. St., om. C.
1 ' Ther-in ys no melody,
Whos song ys euere ' Occy, occy,' 12688
"VVych ys to seyne, whan she hath do,
" Go sle thy sylff ! " she meneth so.
Leff al thys thyng, and go with me ;
ffor, thys weye wych thow dost se, -12692
Ys penyble and e"ncombrous,
Dredful also, and envyous ;
Thy myght, thy power,' ben ago ;
Thy body ys wery ek also ;
The weye wyl make the to tarye,
ffor yt ys ffroward and contrarye,
And ffer also ffro thyn entente ;
And I ther-to wyl nat assente. 12700
' And in fforthryng ek off the
I wyl nat go, but I wyl ffle ;
ffor thow and I shal han repayr,
Nat on the ground, But in the hayr, 12704
Wher thow shalt fynde no maner lak ;
ffor I wyl trusse the on my bak, [stowe, tear 222, back]
Ber the fforth (yt shal nat ffaylle)
That thow shalt fele no trawaylle 12708
In thy vyage, but ful soffte
I shal ber the hih" a-loffte,
That thow mayst sen aboute Botmd,
The se, the heyr, and al the ground ; 12712
And al that euere ffolkys do,
Thow shalt be-holde and sen also.'
The pylgrym:
" Yst in thy power, answere me,
Thus to ber me, awl to ffle 1 " 12716
Youthe :
' Ther-to I haue suffysauTzce,
So yt be to thy plesauwce ;
And that thow shalt knowe agon,
Skyp on my bak, and lat vs gon, 12720
And in effect thow shalt wel se
How that I shal helpyn the.'
[6 lines blank in MS. for an Illumination.]
And I, wj't/i-oute mor abood,
Mi Youth.
[ If. 193, bk.]
The Nightin-
gale's song
' occy ' means
only go and
kill yourself.
Youth tries to
dissuade me
from my
journey,
and to abide
with her.
She will fly
up in the air,
and take me
on her back,
so that I can
see all things.
The Pilgrim.
bids me skip
on her back.
[leaf 194]
346 Youth flies aloft with me and drops me. I meet Gluttony.
The Pilgrim.
So I climb
up on it.
Miss Youth
bears me
aloft,
over the high.
to a path
large and
wide,
where she
throws me
dowu.
[leaf 191, bk.]
I meet a
hideous old
hag,
holding a
big bag in
her teeth.
Clamb on hyr bak \vher-as she stood. 12724
To hyre yt was no grevauwce ;
ffor, as lyhtly (in substauwce)
I was take vp in-to lyte, 12727
As a chykne oft' 1 a kyte, psimideoffst.] [stowe, leaf 223]
Al sodeynly, or I was war ;
And on hyr bak, fforth she me bar
Vn-to the hegh, and was my guyde
Stretth 2 vn-to the tother syde. p streght* St.] 12732
And to that weye she hath me born)
Wych that I hadde lefft to-forn,
And held to me ful wel forward ; 3 p ffrowarde St.]
But grot encombraiwce affterward 12736
Ther-off ys ffallen vn-to me,
And fful gret aduersyte,
Wych I shal telly n in substauwce,
As they kome to reme??ibrauwce. 12740
Whan I was passyd the hegh alias,
ffynally thys was the caas :
Yowthe me brouht (and thus yt stood,)
In-to a weye large and brood, 12744
And sayde she wolde, off al that day,
No ferther ber me on my way.
And so, wher yt were 4 sour or soote, [* were st., om. c.]
She trew 5 me doun. I wente on foote [ 5 threwe c.]
Ay be that hegh, douw costeyynge. 12749
"And, wi't/i-oute long 6 taryynge, [ longest.]
In the weye that she me sette,
An Olde 7 wekke a-noon I mette, u oide st., oid c.] 12752
Hydous and owgly off hyr look ;
And off hyr shap, good hed I took ;
Hyr Eyen royllynge in hyr hed,
Hyr fface colouryd was lyk 8 led, [ s lyk was to st.] 12756
Hyr noose heng douw to hyr chyn,
Hyr mouth fful large, and ek ther-in
With hyr teth (as I beheld,)
A fful large sak she held ; 12760
Ther-in a tonge she held also,
And Eampawntly she gan to go [stowe, leaf 223, back]
Vn-to mo-ward, off cruelte,
Gluttony is mistress of Epicureans, whose God is their Belly. 347
Lych as she wolde ha stranglyd me ; 12764 The pugrim.
[7 lines blank in MS. for an Illumination.]
Gan hyr handys to me strecche,
And felly sayde ' Anew, 1 thow wrechche ! c 1 Arrow st.]
Thow skapyst nat : ' she swor, seyn 2 george, [* seynt St.]
She wolde me stranglyn by the Gorge : 12768 The old hag
Thus yt sempte, as hy hyr cher ; strangle me.
And I hadde-on no gorger
In my dyffence, but drowh abak,
And vn-to hyre ryht thus I spak : 12772
The pylgrym:
" What artow," a-noon quod I, i ask her
why she's so
" That komyst so dyspytously, pitefiii.
Thow Olde wekke, 3 'with meschauwce, p vekke St.]
ffroward oif look and contynaunce ; 12776
and al that euere I se on the,
fful gretly dyspleseth me."
Glotonye : Gi*ttony.
f I am,' quod she, ' as thow shalt lere, [leaf 195]
Off Epicuris chyldre dere, 12780 she says she
is the mother
Verray moder and maystresse, and mistress
J J _*, of the follow-
And off that sorte gouCTTiereSse : ersofEpi-
curua,
I goue;*ne hem, (thus stant the cas,)
Who that euere her ffader was.' 12784
The pylgrym: [stowe, leaf 221]
"fful ffayn," quod I / "I wolde se
What Epicuriens sholdii be."
Glotonye :
' They be (ffor short conclusioun)
A sect off thys condiciouw, 12788 nsectwhfeb
Wych holde, and lerne thys off me, happiness
mi r iv i consists in
That pe?iyt ffelycyte indulging
v *v * ill, J i .. yourappetite.
Ys, that a man lyk hys delyt,
ffolwe alway hys appetyt ; 12792
Ther Sak, ther wombe, (I vndertake.) Their godis
r^ffl ^1 A A 4-i 1 1 their belly.
Oa liem ther goddys they do make ; 1
Ther loye and al ther bysynesse
Ys only set in lykerousnesse ; 12796
ffor, thys Sect alway most thywkes They think
J most of meat
On dyue?-s metys and on drynkes :
348 The hag Gluttony describes her greedy drinking & eating.
Gluttony.
The Epicu-
reans
enjoy only
superfluity
and indulg-
ence.
[leaf 193, bk.]
Gluttony.
The old hag's
name is
' Gluttony .'
She drinks
more than
she needs,
and stuff* her
belly with as
much as :;
in. MI could
live by,
.jellies, pot-
ages,
ypocras,
malmsy, etc.
She dances
and drinks
all night.
She is also
cald ' Gastri-
margia"
(Greek for
gluttony'}.
12804
12808
' To thys Sect yt ys endwed, 12799
With rost 1 somwhyle, and with stewyd,
To be seruyd, and metys bake,
Now to ffrye, now steykes make,
And many other soteltes.
And dyuers ffourcdyn out deywtes ;
ffor al thys sect, I the ensure,
Be nat content that nature [stowe]
Yservyd be with suffysauwce ;
But ther loye and ther plesau?zce
Stant in 2 superfluyte ; [ J aiie / in St.]
And hooly ther ffelycyte
(Affter ther oppynyouw) [stowe, leaf 224, back]
Ys in delectacyoun.' 12812
The pylgrym:
" What ys thy name ? tel on," quod I.
Glotonye :
And she Answerd redyly,
' To sey trouthe, and nat to lye,
My name in soth ys ' Glotonye.' 12816
My sak, I ffelle vp to the brynke,
And neuere I spare ffor to drynke,
fful offte whan I ha no nede ;
And I allone (yt ys no drede) 1 2820
fful offte sythe, off 3 lykerousnesse, [Must.]
ffylle my pauwche, off gredynesse,
Wtt/t as myche (trew(e)ly)
As .iij. men rnyghte lyue by, 12824
Swyche as hauerc indygence ;
ffor, in Eyot and dyspence,
In wast, in reuel and outrages,
Spent in gelees 4 and potages, [* Geeies St.] 12828
And dyuers drynkes ffor solas,
Eomney, clarre, 5 ypocras, [ 5 ciarre and st.]
In malvesyn, and in Osey,
The longe nyht I daunce and plcy, 12832
And cesse nat to drynke alway ;
Go to bedde whan yt ys day ;
And somme* clerkys a-mong alle,
' Castriniargia ' 6 me calle.' [scastrymagiast.] 12836
Gluttony sivallmvs mussels whole, and eats till sJie's sick 349
12844
12848
12852
The Pylgrym:
" Declare me, and nat ne ffeyne,
What ' castrimargia ' * ys to seyne." [ Castrimagia St.]
Glotonye : [stowe, leaf 225]
' " Castrimargia," 2 ys plouwgyn doura p Castrimagia St.]
Off mussellys by submerciouw ; 12840
Wyth-oute chawyng, douw they lauwche,
Devouryd hool in-to the pawnche ;
And ther they be so depe ydreynt,
In the mawe to-gydre meynt,
That my sak, by submercioun,
Ys offte tournyd vp so douw.
Whan yt ys fful and overleyn,
Yt goth out by the gorge ageyn ;
Over bord, al goth to wrak ;
And thus I voyde among my sak ;
The Tempest draweth douw the sayl.
' I make tracys, as doth a snayl,
With drawlyng 3 on my mokadour,
And efft ageyn do my labour
(As an vngry 4 wolff, certeyn,)
ff or to ffylle my pook 5 ageyn.
' I may resemble wel to Bel,
Off whom that speketh Danyel,
The ydole that devourede al :
My bely round, and no thyng smal,
And wt't/i my nose long and round,
I trace affter, as doth an hound,
To ffynde the ff wet 6 wher mete ys good ; c 6 ffwt St.]
And, by the goolet off myn hood 12864
The beste 7 goth ; yiff that I may, [' best St.]
Thys lyff I lete nyht and day.'
The pylgrym:
" Yet off a 8 thyng I pray the, [Stowe, leaf 225, back] [SoneSt.]
That thow woldest tellyn me : 12868
Yiff thow the ffyllest (in thyw avys)
Off metys that ben off lytel prys,/^
As off benys or browne 9 bred, / [ brovne St., brown c.]
(Rome ther any in thyrc hed,) 12872
Thy?? appetyt for to staiiHche,
[ 3 drawyng St.]
[* hungry St.]
[ pawnche St.] 12856
12860
The Pilffrim.
Gluttony.
Gastrimargia
(or Gluttony)
means swal-
lowing mus-
sels unchewd.
[leaf 196]
When Glut-
tony's belly
is overloaded,
she sicks its
contents up.
She makes
slimy tracks
on her hand-
kerchief,
and tries to
re-fill her
belly.
Sheresembles
Bel, of which
Daniel spoke.
With her nose
she trucks the
scent of good
meals.
The Pilgrim.
I ask her if
she eats
beans and
brown bread.
350 Gluttony is Greediness. Gluttony wants a long Gidlet.
Gluttony
gorges gross
food as well
as delicate.
[Ieafl96,bk.]
Men may do
excess and
superfluity
with bean
bread.
Gluttony
consists in
greediness.
The Pilffrim.
I ask what
Taste is.
Gluttony.
Taste is the
mouth of my
3-inch gullet.
I wish it
was as long
as a crane's
neck,
that I might
fill it with
mussels and
fried collops,
12876
12880
12884
[ Thy c., They St.]
12888
" Swych harde metys in thy pawnche ? "
Glotonye :
Quod she, ' thow shalt ful wel espye,
The custom ys off glotonye,
As wel (yiff I shal expresse,)
In grete metys to don excesse,
(Who the trouthe wel espyes,)
As wel as in delycacyes ;
ffor men as wel may doun outrages
With bene bred and swyd 1 potage,
Excesse and superfluyte,
Als wel as in curyouste :
The mete nat causeth the excesse,
But the ffretyng gredynesse, : .
They 2 maketh only the Glotouw,
And nat the mete in no sesoun :
Tast, that ys the pryncypal,
And lust ther-off, that causeth al.' No v " c ^ 8e GregS.*' ln
The pylgrm:
Than quod 1 / " I pray the,
What thyng ys ' Tast ' ? declare me." 12892
Glotonye : [Stowe, leaf 226]
' Yiff I to the declare shal,
Therby inward passeth al ;
And ther-in ek myn appetyt
Hath specially al hys delyt ; 1 2896
Yt ys the mouth off my sachel,
Wherby passeth euerydel ;
By that golet, large and strong,
Off mesour nat .iij. 3 Enche long ; [ three St.] 12900
I wolde, ffor delectaciouw,
That yt were (off hys ffacoun,)
Long as ys a kranys nekke ;
Tharane I nolde off nothyng wrekke, 12904
But only (yiff I shal telle)
With fatte mussellys yt to ffelle,
With lard, and collopys wel yf ryed ;
How hard they were to be defyed, 12908
I wolde ther wer ffou?zde no lak
In the stuffyng off my sak,
Gluttony s greedy Eyes. The deadly Tongue in her Mouth. 351
' Wycli that hath a double mouth,
To receyue north and sowth, 12912
Al deyntes that may be fouwde ;
ffatte mussellys large and Rounde,
I threste hew in fful lykerously.
' And yet myn Eyen be mor gredy, 12916
Mor desyrous to do gret wast
Than ys my sak outher my tast :
To ther desyre, in no wyse
Nothyng may ynowh suffyse ; 12920
Myw Eyen, thorgh none suffysauwce,
Don to my stomak gret grevauwce,
Mor peryllous than swyrd or knyfif,
ffor to shorte a manhys 1 lyff; pmanysst.] 12924
And ffynally, (who that kan se,) [stowe, leaf 226, back]
Excesse and superfluyte
Slen mo men, nyh and ffere,
Than outher swerd, dagger or spere.' 12928
The pylgrym:
" Syth excesse and swych outrage
Don to the so gret damage,
Off mussellys smale and grete,
Why lystow vrith hem surfeete, 12932
Syth thow concludest (in sentence)
In surfet ys gret pestylence ] "
Glotonye :
1 Wtt/i-Inne my mouth (as thow shalt lore,)
I bere A touch, (yiff thow wylt here,) 12936
A Touch off gret infecci'oun
The wyche, 2 by corrupc'iouw, p wych c., whiche St.]
Wher that euere he haue repeyr,
He infecteth al the heyr, 12940
And sleth mo ffolk by vyolence
Thaw any other pestylence.
' That touch, by touchyng redyly,
Ys mad so sharpe and so gredy 12944
By touch off metys delycat,
Tha?me he to Eesowi obstynat,
Mut, wit/i hys touch, touchyra som whyht, [Sto-D, leaf 227]
Or ellys wolde he, a-noon ryht, 12948
Gluttony.
[leaf 197]
Gluttony's
eyes are still
more greedy
than her
mouth and
taste.
Excess slays
more men
than sword,
spear.
The Pilgrim.
I ask her why
she stuff's her-
self with
mussels.
Gluttony
says she has
a Touch in
her mouth.
that infects
the air and
slays more
folk than the
Plague does.
This Touch
is made so
greedy by
delicate
meats
that it must
touch some
one.
[IcaflUT.bk.]
352 Gluttony's Tongue talks evil, and shames its owner.
Taste, or
Touch, seeks
only its own
gratification. '
The Pilgrim.
I ask the
name of this
Touch.
Gluttony
a cursed
neighbour,
the Tongue
that talks
villainy
when it has
drunk strong
wines.
The Pilgrim.
Gluttony.
[leaf 198]
' Wexyn wod, 1 or by outrage [ l aK<re<j/rowobc.,wooaest.]
Sodeynly ffalle in-to a rage,
The to 2 touche, as yt ys due ; p too St.]
The tother touch ay doth hy??i sue ; 12952
And semblably, (who lyst to se,)
Ryht thus ffareth tast by me,
Wych lytel rechchet 8 off my profyt, p Rechcheth* St.]
So that he haue hys owne delyt.' 12956
The pylgrym:
" Ma dame," quod I, " what euere ffalle,
What shal I thys Touch ycalle 1 "
Glotonye :
' Thow shalt calle hyra, ffer and ner,
The ffleynge massager, 12960
Off wynge's swyft, wych wyl nat dwelle,
Euery thyng out for to telle : ^S
Al that euere ys in the herte, j^ J
Ther shal no thyng besyde asterte ;
And most, a-mong thys ffolkys alle,
A shrewde neihbour, mew hym calle ;
Or a clyket fful mortal,
Wych opneth and vncloseth al. [stowe, leaf 227, back]
' And hys condiciou?& ek ys thys,
Gladly euere to seyn Amys ;
And most he doth hym sylff applye
ffor to speke vyllenye, 12972
And ther-vp-on tabyde longe.
Whan he hath dronke wynes stronge,
And with deyntes ffeld hys sak,
Thanne al thyng goth to wrak, 12976
What he touchet, I ensure,
So ffer he goth out off mesure.'
The pylgrym:
" What ar they, off her tongys large,
That wit/z wyn hem overcharge?" 12980
Glotonye :
* Ther-in ys most hys appetyt,
And ther-in he hath most delyt.
By hym I am out off mesure
Brouht, that I may nat endure ; 12984
Ecclesia8tici 28 -
12964
12967
Drunkenness robs a man of his Wits, & makes him yuarrd. 353
' Offt by hyw I ffalle in blame,
In gret dyshonour and dyffame ;
ffbr he me gaff (who loke wel)
Thys sak also, and thys phonel
Wyth wych my wynes I vp towne.
And whan that I haue onys gowne [stowe, leaf 228]
To kwnon vp, (as thow mayst se,)
I take ther-off so gret plente,
Swych habouwdauwce and swych foysouw,
That I lese wyt and resouw,
Dyscreciouw, wysda?n and mynde,
That I kan no weye 1 ffynde
To gon vn-to myn owne hous,
Mad and dronke, as ys A mous.
' Than spek I nat but Eibaudye,
Outrage and gret vyllenye ;
I haue noon other Elloquence ;
ffor thaw I do no reuerence,
Nouther to god, (in no manere,)
Nor to hys owne moder dere ;
ffor yiff I shal the trouthe expresse,
Whan I am ffalle in dronkenesse, 2 P^
My tonge thaw I gyrane to 3 broche, [ 3 to c., om. st.]
That, yiff Kesouw wolde aproche,
I bydde hyra shortly (thys no nay,)
To take hys leue, and gon hys way.
And also in my dronkenesse
I sey the same to Ryhtwysnesse ;
ffor thogh prudence and equyte,
Sapyence And veryte,
Hadden \viih me tho to done,
They sholde be put abak fful sone.
'Wit/i sobyrnesse, nor attemprauwce,
I wyl haue noon acqueyntauwce :
They be no thyng off myn allye ;
I haue off hem but moquerye ; [stowe, leaf 228, back]
ffor, wher dronkenesse ys guyde,
Ech vertu ys set asyde ;
And whan wit/i wyn ful ys myw horn,
I am ff ers as an vnycorn ;
PILGRIMAGE. A
12988
12992
way St.] 12996
13000
13004
13008
13012
13016
13020
13024
A
Gluttony.
It brings its
owner into
dishonour.
Excess in
wine causes
loss of
reason.
of discretion,
iind wisdom;
it begets
ribaldry, and
irreverence
to (toil and
the Virgin.
It sends off
righteous-
ness, equity,
and truth ;
[leaf 198, bk.]
mocks at
temperance,
354 The Glutton's 2 Bellies, Drunkenness and Greediness.
Gluttony.
and quarrels
with every
on?.
The Glutton
has 'I bellies,
like a Bittern,
The Pilgrim.
Gluttony.
which arc of
the kin of
Venus.
Excess breeds
Lechery.
The 1st belly
is Drunken-
ness; the 2nd,
Greediness.
Both stuff
themselves
full
[leaf 199]
to the brink.
They cause
lechery.
' ff or, thaw bothe, in wrong and ryht,
I wyl stryue with euery whyht,
Tak vp quarellys, and dyffame,
Sette on euery whyht a blame,
And, lyk a bole, (yt ys no dred,)
Myw Eyen Eollyn in myw hed ;
Lyk a bo tore, 1 I haue also
Two wombys wharc I haue A-do.'
The pylgrym:
" Expowne me, and nat ffeyne,
Hastow verrayly wombys tweyne?"
Glotonye :
' Trewly,' quod glotonye to me,
' I haue tweyne, as thow mayst se,
Wych ben ful nyh (who kan espye,)
Off the kynrede and allye
Off Venus ; ffor lykerousnesse
Off welfare, and gret excesse,
Engendre and cause naturelly"
fflesshly lust and lechery.
* And the ffyrst off thys kynrede
Ys callyd (who that taketh hede)
Off som ffolkys ' Dronkenesse,'
And the tother ' Gredynesse '
Off sondry metys and deyntes ;
And bothe two, in ther degres,
Wyl ther placys occupy e,
Drynke and ete by envye.
Evere ther glotons appetyt
Ys so ful off ffals delyt,
So grecly and so vnstauwchable,
Ther Etyk ys so importable ;
Now I ete, and now I drynke ;
Tyl I be ful vp to the brynke,
I do alway my besy peyne.
And trew(e)ly thys wombys tweyne,
Wych al devoure, and neuere slake,
Make Venus to a-wake
Out off hyr slep, (lyk as I sayde,)
And causeth hyre fful offte abrayde.
13028
[! The Bittern was supposed to
have two stomachs.]
13032
13036
13040
[Stowe, leaf 229] 13044
13048
13052
13056
13060
/ see old Venus, Jier face niaskt, riding a wild sow. 355
Gluttony.
Venus is
tackt to the
Glutton's tail.
' And for that I am glotonye,
I dar trewly specefye 13064
How Venus (yt ys no ffayl)
Euere me sueth at the tayl ;
We departe seld or neuere,
ffor we be to-gydre euere ; 13068
She wyl nat parte, yiff she may.
* And whom that I, be riyht or day,
Areste, or make to abyde,
Wher-so that he go or ryde, 13072
I brynge hym off entencioure
To ben vnder subiectiouw [stowe, leaf 229, back]
Off Venus ; for she and I
Confedryd ben so trew[e]ly, 13076
That ffolkys vnder my demeyne,
Swych as be lacyd in my cheyne,
Or sesyd, (ther ys no mor to seye,)
Vn-to hyre they niuste obeye.' 13080
The pylgrym:
" I praye, declare a-noon to me,
"What thyng thys Venus sholde be."
Glotonye :
Qtiod glotonye, ' wit/i-oute glose,
Thow shalt off hyre (I suppose) 13084 [leaf 199, bk.]
Hyryn tydynges A-noon ryht,
Off hyr power and off 1 hyr myght; ['offe., om.st.]
And thanne, yiff thow wylt enquere,
What she ys, she wyl the lere.' 13088
And, whyl I stood 2 musynge thus, [* stoode St.]
I sawh a-noon wher that Venus j
Kam rydynge on a swyn savage,
And in hyr hand, a ffals vysageC 13092
I sawh hyr bern, fful brood and large,
To-fforn hyr Eyen, lyk A targe.
And thys Venus trew(e)ly
Was Arrayed queyntely; \ 13096
ffor hyr clothys and hyr array [stowc, leafaso]
Defoulyd wern wt't/i donge and clay,
ffor wych (in euery mane/' place)
She gan shroude and hyde hyr face 13100
All gluttons
must obey
her.
The Pilgrim.
I ask who
Venus is.
Gluttony.
TJie Pilgrim.
Venus ap-
pears on a
wild boar
bearing a
targe or mask
before her
face.
Her clothes
are foul with
dung and
clay.
356 Venus sends a dart into my heart. Slie hates Virginity.
The Pilfrrim.
Venus smites
me with a
dart,
thru my eye,
to the heart.
[leaf 200]
The Pilgrim.
Dame Venus
says
fthe's a foe to
Virginity,
who, if she
had not
taken refuse
in religion,
Vnder hyr hood, so couertly
That no man ne 1 myghte espy [' ne St., om. c.]
[7 lines blank in MS. for an Illumination.]
The maner off hyr gouernaimce
Outward by hyr cowtenaiwce, 13104
ffor hyr fface was nat bare ;
And, to me-ward as she gan ffare,
~With a sharp dart wych she bar
She smette me, or I was war, 13108
(Longe or I koude aduerte,)
Thorgh the Eye vn-to the herte.
My Elm was lefft behywde, alias !
My^fiace bare (thys was the cas) ; 13112
Ageyn Venus vyolence,
I hadde as tho no bet dyffence.
The pylgrym:
" 0, thow Olde ! what hastow do,
Vnwarly me to smy te so ? " 13116
Olde venus:
' Reporte off me, and sey ryht thus, [stowe, leaf 230, back]
That I am callyd Dame venus.
My dwellyng and my manciouw
(To me Ordeyned off Resou)
Ys in the Eeynys most certeyn,
Ther wyl no clerk ageyns thys seyn ;-
I chace a-way al chastyte,
And, werray 2 vyrgynyte :
Vyrgynyte, whylom off ryht,
To the Auwgellys cler and bryht
Was suster, and ther nexte allye
But now (yiff I shal nat lye
Touchyng parfyt vyrgynyte,)
/ \Vher that euere she may me se,
She halt hyr nose, and wol 3 be go, [*woidst.]
Vp-on hyre I stynke so ; 13132
To hyre I am so gret Enmy,
That, but 4 she hadde ffynally [* That but st. But that c.]
ffled ffor hyr savacyou?*
Whylom in-to Relig'iouw, 13136
She hadde (wit/i-OUte mor refut.) Grauew inimicum sortita
V '/ cat castitas, cui no solu
13120
[* werreye St.] 13124
13128
Virgin must stay at home. Why Venite hates Virginity. 357
Experto, creile, Episeopim,
loquor corawj deo, now mew-
disse repen, de quorum
Ca8l , non ,, suspieabar
qztoci Ambrosij vel leroniuii
impudica turpitudine.
l.ic AugustiiKM. St.,o).C.
L i by c ., timrghe my st.]
i, anddedeby my 1 pursuit S te K 7i^4iel 8 n
Wher the castel ys so strong,
That I may do to hyre no wronge,
!N"or the fforteresse wynne, Not st.
As longe as she halt hyr wi't/i-Inne ;
But yiff so be (yt ys no doute)
That she go a-brood wM-oute L * du ^ w c f 08 t,Z"ow e M\b"ni/ w rd
At large, and haue hyr lyberte, 13145
As Dina wente for to se
Wowmen off that reg'ioun,
(As holy wryt maketh menciouw) GenesU 32 capituio, St., om. c.
lacobys douhter (thys the cas) 13149
And she a-noon dyffoulyd was, [stowe,
And the slauwdre gret arose, H [ c st v
Be-cause she kepte hyr sylff nat 4 cloos. [* nat c., in St.]
' Ek I ne haue noon avau?ztage 13153
ffor to harme nor do damage
Nat the valu off An Oystre ^
Whyl chastyte kepeth hys cloystre, 13156
And goth nat out in no maner,
Than ffarvel 5 al my power.' [? ffarweiie st.]
The pylgrym:
" Tel on a-noon, and nat ne ffeyne,
What ys thoffence off thys tweyne, 13160
Off maydenhed or chastyte ?
What wrong han 6 they don to the, [hauest.]
That thow hew hatest in thy thouht 1
Declare in hast, and tarye nouht." 13164
Venus :
' ffyrst, vndcrstonde and herkne mo,
That neuere yet Vyrgynyte
Wolde in no place abyde,
But I wer out, and set asyde : 13168
To hyre I am abhomynable,
Contraryous and dyffamsible ;
I stynke on hyre, wher enere she be. [stowe, leaf 231, back]
' And ek hyr suster Chastyte, 13172
Wher euere that she me espy,
She ffleth hyr way, and cryeth " ffy \ "
ffor wher yt thowhe, 7 or olle>- ffrose, L 7 n>a'i
Old renut.
would bave
been slain.
If Virginity
go abroad,
[leaf 200, bk.]
as Dinah
(Jacob's
daughter)
went,
( Geaesit
xxxiv. 1, 2),'
she will come
to harm.
While Clias-
tit y keeps in
its cloister,
Venus has no
power.
The Piliirtm.
I ask, what
wrong, Vir-
ginity and
Chastity have
done to
Venus.
1. Virginity
thinks Venus
is abomin-
able,
and stinks.
2. Chastity
always rtees
from Venus,
and says Fy '.
358 Venus has malignd Chastity in the ' Romance of the Hose.'
Old Venus.
Chastity
made Joseph
flee from
Potiphar's
wife,
[leaf 200]
and will
never touch
Venus.
So Venus has
therefore to
slander
Chastity,
as she does in
her Romance
of the Roie,
where Chas-
tity is eald
False-Sem-
blaut.
The Pilgrim.
I tell Venus
that she has
no right to
call the Ro-
mance of the
Rose hers.
I know its
author (G. de
Loris).
' Leuere she hadde hyr mantel lese, 13176
Thaw abyden in the place
Wher that she may se my fface.
' She made Joseph, by gret 1 stryff. Genest* 39 capituio.
losenb, relicto pallio,
ffl en ff ro Putyffarys wyff, c 1 grete St.] ffugit. St., om. c.
Lefft hys mantel, and also 13181
A-noon ffrom hyre he was a-go ;
ffor chastyte (by oppynyoura,)
Haueth thys condyciouw, 13184
That she sauff ne wyl nat vouche,
In no wyse me to touche.
' And whan that I hyr maner se,
That yt wyl noon other be, 13188
Than I am besy, be dyffame,
ffor to putte on hyre a blame,
By som sclauwdre ffalsly ffovwde,
Hyr goode name to corcfounde, 13192
By swych ffolk (shortly to telle)
That ar wont vtith me to dwelle,
And tabyden in myn hous,
Off condiciouTi vycyous, 13196
That ar glad ay to myssaye,
And chastyte ffor to werraye,
As yt sheweth (wit7i-oute glose)
In my Komaimce off the Eose ; "^S^hSR** 1 13200
Make hyr name to bere appallyd, [stowe, leaf 232]
And Faulssemblant to be callyd :
In that book by my notary e, 13203
Wych to hyr name ys ffuH 2 contrarye. [ 2 St., om. c.]
And cause why that I do thus
Geyn chastyte fful vertuous,
Ys ffynally (yiff thow lyst se),
She wyl no queyntauwce han wztA me.' 13208
The pylgrym:
" Wherfor seystow in any wyse,
And wrongfully lyst to devyse
Mong thyw Errours, on and alle,
Thys Bomamzce thyn to calle? 13212
Thy part ther-off ys nene? - adel ;
ffor I knowe that maw Iful wel
Jean de Meun grafted non-Love things into the Romance. 359
" Wiih euery maner cyrcu?staunce,
Wych. that made that Roinaunce." 13216
Venus :
' Thys Romaunce (in cdnclusiouw),
I may calle yt off Resouw
Myn owne book, (whaw al ys do.)
And I my sylff made yt also ; 13220
And yiff that thow consydre wel,
Gynnynge, ende, and euerydel, 1 [ Eucrydei St., euerdei c.j
He speketh ther (yiff thow kanst se)
Off nateilya-butjoff me, 13224
Except only (yt ys no doute)
My clerk, my skryveyn, racede oute
Off strange ffeldys as I be-held,
And sewh yt in A-nother field, 13228
ffolkys wenynge (yt ys no dred)
That he hadde sowhe 2 the same sed [sewest.j
Vp-on hys owne lond eerteyn.
' But to declare the trouthe pleynj 13232
He dyde nat so, no thyng at al,
In strauwge feldys, for he yt stal,
(Al be yt so by fful gret lak,)
He put al in hys owne sak 13236
Be-cause only (who kan ffele)
He caste the trouthe to cowcele ;
Off surquedye, (yt ys no nay,)
Wolde ha born yt with hym away, 13240
Al be, sothly, (who haue a syht)
He hadde ther-to no manor ryht ;
' But affterward he was ascryed
By a normauTzd, and espyed, 13244
Wych loude cryede, awl made A sou/*,
Yt was no ryht nor no Resou
Off other ffolkys gadryng
To make hys berthene by stelyng. 13248
But for al that, forth he wente,
Nouht abaysshed in hys entente,
But boldely, or I was war,
fforth with \iyrn hys stelthe he bar, 13252
Ympyd yt in / in my romawice,
The Pilgrim.
says the Ro-
mance of the
Rose is tiers,
for she is the
subject of it,
from begin-
ning to end,
tho' Jean de
Meun strayd
into other
subjects
deceitfully.
But he was
found out
and denounst
by a Norman.
This .lean de
Meun grafted
his non-Love
[leaf 202]
material into
Vcnus's Ro-
mance,
360
Jean de Meun was exposed by a Norman.
to her great
displeasure.
Rut Jean de
Meun was
found out by
a Norman,
which made
him hate
Normandy.
Male bouche
therefore tied
from Nor-
mandy,
and lied about
monks, &c.
The Pilgrim.
I tell old
Venus
[leaf 202, bk.]
that Jean de
Meun is
rightly called
'Male
bouche ; '
1 Wych was to me gret dysplesaurece ;
ffor my wyl was, that he no thyng [stowe, leaf 2333
Sholde ha set in hys wxytyng, 13256
No thyng (as to myn entent,)
But yt wer to me pertynent,
Or accordynge to my matere,
Or at the leste (as ye shal here), 13260
That he hadde set in 1 no mor [ l sette inne St.]
But that was off hys owne stor :
He was askryed off hys ffolye
Off On yborn in Normawndye ; 13264
ffor wych, neuer affter (by couenauwt)
He louede neue?-e no Normauwd :
The Romamice kan yt wel declare,
In wych he wrot (and lyst nat spare,) 13268
That Male-bouche (yt ys no lye)
ffledde ffyrst out off Normawndye ;
Wher-off he made a strong lesyng,
Lyede also in hys wrytyng, 13272
Off relygious, euele 2 to speke, pweiest.]
And vp-on hem to ben a-wreke,
To my ffauour (as ye may se)
Be-cause I piirsue chastyte.' 13276
The pylgrym:
" Than may I ryht wel certeyn
Afferme, that thow and thy skryveyn
Ben replevysshed (who kan se)
Off malys and inyquyte ; 13280
ffor who-so, thogh he wer my brother, [stowe, leaf 2.-J8, back]
Wyl gladly seyn evel off A-nother
I may off hym seyn (Est and south,)
That he haueth no good mouth ; 13284
ffor -with hys tonge (who that touche,)
He may be callyd ' Male bouche.'
Wherfor trewly thy skryveyn
Hihte 3 'Male bouche,' I dar wel seyn, pHathest.] 13288
Whan he (voyde off al flavour)
Gan appelle hys neyhbour,
Only for he dyde hym ascrye,
To seyn the trouthe, and lyst nat lye. 13292
Old Vemis says I cannot escape her Dart. She is ugly. 361
" And thow (who taketh hed ther-to)
Hast a wykked mouth also,
Wych, off thyri Inyquyte,
Hast lyed vp-on Chastyte, 13296
To make goode ffolk hyr haate,
And ageyn hyr to debate."
Venus :
' Thow seyst soth, (yt ys no drede,)
But thow shalt wyte (in verray dede) 13300
My condiciouw ys to lye ;
And pleynly, (yiff thow ko?me espye)
Be ryht wel war alway off me ;
With lyyng I shal deceyue the.' 13304
The pylgrym:
" Tel on to me the cause why ; [stowe, leaf 234]
Why hastow smet me vnwarly ? "
Venus :
' What trowestow for to go ffre
Whyl that I am so nyfc by the ? 13308
Kay, nay ! that may nat be-falle.
Thow knowest nat thassautys alle
Off my werk, nor the manere,
But by processe thow shalt lere; 13312
Wherso-eue/'e that I assay lie,
Off my pray I wyl nat ffaylle ;
And wher I hurte wztft my darte,
Yt ys ful hard ffor 1 to departe pttomestj 13316
Wit/t-outen harm ffro my daiwger,
Whom-eue?-e I marke, ffer or ner,
I dar yt swern (in verray sothe)
By myw hed ykempt so smothe.' 13320
The pylgrym:
" Syth thow art kempt so sotylly
And arrayed so ffresshely, 2 [ a m-essheiy St., irresshiy c.]
As thow sayst in thyw language,
Why hydestow thy vysage 13324
That I may nat clerly yt 3 se? p yt om. St.]
ffor som deceyt I trowe yt be."
VenUS 4 : [ In Stowe's hand, Venus St.] [Stowe, lc;if 231, back]
' Wher-euere that I repayr,
The Pilgrim.
Old Yenut
She will
deceive me
by lying.
[Cap. iii. 47,
prose]
The Pilgrim.
Old Venus
says I shall
learn the
reason of her
attack on me.
I cannot
escape her
dart.
[leaf 203]
The Pilgrim.
I ask her \vliy
she hides her
face.
362 The hideous Face and Iwrrihh Haunts of Old Venus.
Because she
isn't fair.
She has gay
gowns but
wrinkled
cheeks, and
is hideous.
Her face ia
hidden, be-
cause she is
not fair,
and fre-
quents dark
places.
[Cap. iv. 48,
prose.]
She rides a
bad-temperd
horse.
[leaf 203, bk.]
She lives in
horrible
places like a
sow,
in dung and
clay.
She is foul,
and therefore
wears a
mask,
' Truste wel, I am nat ffayr ; 13328
And yiff I hadde gret fayrnesse,
I wolde nat hyde yt in dyrknesse.
And thogh that I be kempt 1 ryht wel, [> kept St.]
Yt ne sueth neueradel 13332
That I am ffayr, for in array,
Thogh that I be queynte and gay, ~ ;
I am ryht foul for to beholde ;
My chekys Eympled and ryht Olde, 13336
And ful hydous, (yt ys no nay)
And mor horryble thaw I dar say.
' And ther-for be ryht wel certeyn,
I hyde me that I be nat seyn, 13340
And holde me euere in placys dyrke, |
Go by cornerys that be myrke ;
And I ne haue no mane?- syth 2 [ J syghtst.]
At mydday whaw the sowne ys bryht
In hys spere ful hih aloffte ;
And I me putte in pereil offte,
Yiff thow knewe my passages,
Placys off my gret outrages
Wych I vse, truste me,
Ther-off thow w oldest astonyd be :
' I Ryde vp-on A cursyd hors,
I trowe nowher be no wors ;
ffor placys that be most peryllous,
Most horryble and hydous,
Most dredful and most vnsure,
Ther I logge, off nature :
Thys my custom, day be day,
As a sowhe, in donge and clay, j
Ther ys my lust most to dwelle ;
I am mor ffoul than I kan telle :
Ryht foul I am in abstracto :
But yet mor ffoul in Concrete
I am holde, a thowsand ffold ;
And, therfor, as I ha told,
I ber thys wonderful peynture, 13365
Thys ffalse vysagij, thys ffigure,\
Off cntent, in euery place,
13344
13348
13352
[Stowe, leaf 235]
13356
13360
Concretum deo concuruit, Sitb-
iectum cum accidente // Ab-
stractum est illttd quod ab-
strahitKr a sitbieeto, vt albedo
cretum est respec
St., om. C.
ab albo, qftia con-
tu albedinis.
Old Venus paints Tier face. She looks out for Pilgrims. 363
P ffrowneys St.]
P Fourme St.]
' ffor to shrowde ther-wit7* my fface,
And my ffeturys ffor to hyde,
That men espyen in no syde
My scornyng nor my mokerye,
In ff rench ycallyd ' Farderye '
And in ynglyssh, off old wrytyng,
Ys ynamyd ek ' poppyng '
"VVych, whan ffolkys ffaH in age,
Maketh Ryvelys in the vysage,
And large ffrowneys 1 I ensure.
' And, also, ageyn nature,
I make ffolkys ffor to deme
By crafft outward, my sylff to seme
ffayrere than eue?'e that I was,
To looke in merour or in glas.
' Also my condici'oura
Ys to walkyn vp and douw,
JSTow in towne, now in the field ; [stowe, leaf 235, back]
In place I abyde seld,
But yt be by swych a fortune 2
Wher my lust I may parfourme ;
I mene, placys off dyffame,
Wych, to reherse, ys gret shame ;
Wher-off my clerk, off whom I tolde,
Hath yseyd lyk as he wolde,
Spekynge ful outragously,
And gaff Exaumple ffynally
ffor to spoke off dyshoneste,
Off entent (as thow mayst se)
Out off my slep me to awake, 3
In a-wayt, I sholdij take
Pylgrymes that walke by the way,
Hem tareste, and make affray,
Off fforce douw hem bowe hyr chyne,
And tobeye my doctryne.
' He wende I hadde ben a-slepe ;
But the weyes I do kepe
Xyht and day, (yt ys no les ;)
And I am nat rekkeles,
But hem areste in euery place,
13368
13372
13376
to hide her
hideous face,
smearing it
with white
lead, ceruse,
or 'popping,'
which makes
wrinkles in
it.
13380
13384
13388
Venus is al-
ways on the
move,
in town or
country,
in places of
ill repute.
[leaf 204]
13392
13396
P to wake C., tawake St.]
13400
She's ever on
the watch to
take in Pil-
grims,
13404
wllflVVtT
they go.
None escape
her save by
flight.
The Pilgrim.
[Stowe, leaf 236]
364 Venus' s Officers : Eape, Incest, Adultery, Sodomy.
' Wlier-so-euere that they pace ;
Ther skapeth noon, day nor nyht,
But yiff yt be only by fflyht ;
I may nat ffaylle, ffer nor ner,
Yiff myw offycerys done ther dever.'
The pylgrym:
Thanne quod I / " I pray the
Lat me sen hem, what they be ;
But I leue, in myn entent,
That they be nat her present."
Venus :
' ffor sothe, I haue hem her with me,
But I wil nat shewe hem the ;
Yet neuertheles, yiff thow wylt dwelle,
The namys off hem I shal telle :
The ffyrste callyd ys ' raptus,'
The tother ' stupruw,' And next, ' Incestus,'
The ffourthe, ' Adulteriuw,'
The ffyffthe, ' Fornicaceouw.'
'Raptus ffor^soth (by descry vyng,)
Ys ycallyd ' Ravysshyng
Off woramen ' (who so taketh hede),
A Synne gretly for to drede.
' And stuprum (wtt/i-oute wene,)
Ys off maydenys that be clene.
' ' Incestus ' ys a synne in dede,
A man to taken hys kynrede.
' The ffourthe ys ' avout[e]rye '
Witii wyves by ffoul lecherye.
' Another ther ys, wych for me
Shal nat here rehersyd be,
Nor told, in no maner wyse,
"Wych houeth 2 ynowh to suffyse ;
And yt shal nat ffor me be wyst,
Vnderstond yt as ye 3 lyst.
1 Ech by hy??i sylff ys vycyous,
And to vse, ff ul perillous ;
I wyl nat telle hem out at al.
But to swych (in especyal)
As dwelle wt't/i me, youg and old,
13408
13412
13416
13420
The names of
her officers
are
Raptus,
[leaf 204, bk.]
ravishing
women ;
Stuprum,
rape of
Virgins ;
Incestus,
of one's kin ;
Adulterium,
with wives ;
Sodomy shall
not be named.
13424
[1 in St.]
These are
dangerous
to practice.
13428
13432
13436
[* hawethe St.]
[Stowe, leaf 236, back]
['the St.] 13440
13444
Venus threatens me. Gluttony, a Bawd, sells live Flesh. 365
c And be wit/j-holde in myn housliold ;
Yet I dar make descripci'ouw ;
They be ffoul ofE condiciouw,
Off shap, off ffourme, I the ensure,
And ryht lothsom off ffygure.
' With hem I marke many On,
Pylgrymes that by the weye l gon ;
The 2 may skapen on no syde.
' And be ek war, yiff thow abyde,
A-mong other, I shal the sniyte,
In abydyng yiff thow delyte ;
Or thow must be in thy ffleyng,
Swyfft as A tygre in rennyng,
But, ffor al that, I dar say,
I shal nat fayllen off my pray,
ffor al thy fflyht. whyl glotonye
Hath power the ffor to guye,
Al koninieth to my subiecci'ouw,
Wher she hath domynaciouw.'
The pylgrym:
" I may yive credence wel her-to,
ffor glotonye me tolde so,
That thow or she, selde or neuere,
Lyst a-sonder to dysseuere.
But, as ffer as I kan lere,
Ye ben to-gydre ay yffere :
She causeth ffyrst, in substauwce,
That I off the haue acqueyntauwce."
Tharaie glotonye fful redyly
Answerde, that was faste by,
Glotonye :
' Yiff thow me calle, in sothnesse,
Lyk as I am, A Bocheresse,
Or in ffrench (who loke wel)
I am callyd a ' Makerel,'
Whos offyce (to specefye,)
Ys in ynglysshe ' bauderye ; '
And lerne, (ffor conclus'iou?t,)
That ys verrayly my surnou? ;
ffor, (the soth yiff I shal telle,)
Old Ventu
13448
[i way St.] 13452
[ 2 They St.]
13456
13460
13464
[Stowe, leaf 237]
13476
marks Pil-
grims by
these Officers
of hers,
and will smite
me too unless
I flee.
13468
13472
[leaf 205]
She is leagued
with Glut-
tony.
The Pilgrim.
I believe this,
as Gluttony
first told me
of Venus.
Gluttony.
Gluttony nays
she is a
Butcheress,
whose trade
is liuwdry :
3G6 Gluttony and Venus bind me hand and foot, like a Calf.
Gluttony.
she sells live
flesh,
and gets
twice as much
for it as any
other Butcher
does.
[leaf 205, bk.]
Gluttony is
no fish, tho'
she's cald a
Miickerel.
[A hee Baud,
Maquereau.
A she Baud,
Mnquerelle.
Sherwood.]
says they
have me.
The Pilgrim.
Gluttony
seizes me by
the throat.
She and
Venus bind
me hand and
foot
' Quyk flessh I vse for to selle ; 13484
And yet (who vnderstondeth me)
I ha lernyd wel to sle
Mo bestys (in conclusions)
Than .iij. 1 Bbcherys in som toim. [Uiu-ee St.] 13488
But what fflessh euere that I selle,
Mor money at the stalle I telle,
Double (yiff I shal sey 2 soth,) [ i sey the St.]
Than any other bocher doth ; [stowe, leaf 237, back] 13492
ffor wych, my name t[o] expj'esse 3 [ 3 texpresse c. st.j
Thow mayst me calle a ' bocheresse '
Or a bawde, and no thyng lye,
That selleth fflessh by bauderye. 13496
' I am no ffyssh (who loke wel)
Thogh I be callyd A ' makereL'
Wych in ffrauwce ys a name
Off gret 4 sclauwdre and diffame ; [* grete St., gret c.j 13500
And I shal lerne the, parcel
Off my crafft to knowe somdel :
I haue abyde in soth to longe,
Thogh my powerys be wonder stronge.' 13504
Venus : 5 [Blank in MS.] p st., o>. c.]
' Sothly,' quod Venus, ' thow seyst wel ;
But ne dred the neueradel,
ifor, by the wordys that thow hast told,
We" han <5n hym fful good 6 hold, i? goode st.] 13508
Wych shal tourne to no Tape ;
ffor he may nat our handys skape,
Nor, out off our dauwger gon.'
The Pilgrim:
And by the throte thawne anoon 13512
Glotonye held me so ffaste,
To grouwde almost that she me caste.
And Venus gan to neyen ner,
And, fful dredf ul off hyr cher, 1 35 1 G
Gan ley to hand, me to cowfourade.
And they han me so sore bounde, [stowe, leaf ws]
Hand and ffoot, and leggys to,
I myghte nat meue, to nor 7 ffro ; [ 7 ne St.] 13520
That I dar afferme (and seyn,
They tie me to the tail of Venus 's sow, and leat & rob me. 367
13536
Who hadde al the manor seyn,)
I was lyk (he myghte ha told)
Tacalff l wych sholde ha be sold [' TO a calf] 13524
In som market ffaste by,
On stallys in the bochery.
In swych dysioynt they ladde me,
Myn Eyen cloos, I myghte nat se ; 13528
And for they wolde nat off me ffayl,
They bond me to a swyne's tayl,
I mene, the swyn off dame Venus,
fful dredfful and fful contagyous, 13532
[6 lines blank in MS. for an Illumination.]
The wyche 2 (by fful mortal lawe) p wycu c., which* st.]
At hys tayl gan me to drawe,
And to brynge me vp on the wrak,
Thys ylke two that I off spak,
Venus, and ek Glotonye,
To shewe on me ther tyrantrye,
Gan bete on me, and bonche sore.
And affter thys, they dyde more
They Eobbede me off my treasour ;
And ffor that I ffond no socour
A-geyn ther myght, (as I ha told,)
Bothe my syluer and my gold ;
And nakyd they wolde ha spoyled me,
Nadde sothly thyng be : 3 [ 3 y-be St.]
They sawh on komen ffaste by,
Vnwar, \fiih a gret company
And pleynly (as I koude deme,)
A pylgrym he dyde seme,
And a gret lord (yt ys no nay)
By lyklyhed off hys array. 13552
Venus : 4 [Blank in MS.] [* st., om. c.]
Quod Venus thawne, ' by my wylle,
Lat hym lyn a whyle stylle,
Tyl we may, ffrom al daunger,
Spoyllen hym at bet leyser. 13556
' Her kometh on, me semeth now,
Wych ys mor lykly ffor 5 our prow, [ 5 to st.]
AVlumi we tweyne wyl nat ffaylle
like a calf,
and fasten
me to the tail
of Venus's
swine,
[leaf 206]
which drags
me about,
while Venus
and Gluttony
beat me
13540
[Stowe, leaf 238, back]
13544
13548
and rob me
of all my
money.
But some one
com eg in
sight, witli a
great com-
pany.
tells Gluttony
to let me lie,
368 The Sow drags me thwt the mud. The Ne'iceomer is beaten.
while they
assail the
Newcomer.
The Pilgrim.
[leaf 206, bk.]
Venus and
Gluttony
leave me,
and the BOW
draws me
through the
mud.
Venus and
Gluttony
attack the
Newcomer,
a great lord ;
beat him,
pull him to
the ground,
blindfold
him,
stretch him
on the bare
hide of a
sampler,
and bind him
fast.
[leaf 207]
* ffor to spoyllen and assaylle ; 13560
We wyl vs bothe putte in pres.'
[The Pilgrim:]
And whyl they leffte me thus in pes,
I koude make no declyn ;
So euere in On the cruel swyn 13564
Me drowh out off the hihe way
Among the donge, among the clay,
At hys tayl, me to confou/ide,
To wych I was so sore bouwde. 13568
And whil I lay thus in dystresse, [stowe, leaf asg]
A-noon I gan myw Eyen dresse
To be-holde how thylke tweyne
"Wer dyllygent, and dyde her peyne, 13572
The lord tassaylle, that I off spak ;
And made hym fyrst, fro horse bak,'
Maugre hys myght, to lyhte doure ;
ffor, mercy nor remyssyouw 13576
Ther was noon, on no party ;
They hym beete fful cruelly ;
And by the throte they hyw took,
And pullyd hyw so that he shook, 13580
Leyde hym lowe douw to grouwde ;
And hys Eyen so they bouwde,
That he loste 1 look and syht, [Uoostst.]
Hys force, hys power, and hys myght. 13584
And affter that, thogh he wer strong,
They gan strechche hym forth along,
On a barhyde off A Somer,
Lyk a beste off A bocher, 13588
Voyde off pyte and off shame.
And for he was a man off name
(Semynge, by hys contenauwce,)
Therfor they tooke mor vengaunce 13592
Vp-on hym, and bouwde hyw sore ;
And Venus swyn, with brustlys hoore,
Drowh hym forth On the bar hyde
Endelong and ek a-syde, 13596
[6 lines blank in MS. for an Illumination.]
By brookys and by sloos fowle, [stowe, leaf 239, back]
The Newcomer is ill-treated and rdbd. Nobody helps him. 3G9
A-mong the clay they hym dyffoule ;
On hym they were so cruel,
The bar hyde halp l neueradel ; pimipest.] 13600
ffbr thys olde wekkys tweyne
Gan hyra cerche, and ek coiistreyne ;
In Query place they han hym souht ;
They took hys good, they leffte hym nouht, 13604
And to hym dyde gret disesse.
And to me yt was noon ese
To beholdyll and to Se * (* St. trantposei these ne.]
Ther tyranye, ther cruelte ; * 1 3608
And trew(e)ly 2 yt sat me sore, [ 2 trewiy c., st.]
That the folk I spak off yore
Halp nafc hyr lord, but hyw forsook,
And, noon hed off hym 3 they took, p hym om. st. 13612
But in hys mescheff lefft hym sool ;
And lyk as he hadde ben a ffool,
They scorned hym, and hadde game,
And gan la when at hys shame ; 13616
[6 lines blank in MS. for an Illumination.]
They halp hym nouht, but leet hym be
In hys grete aduersyte,
Markede hym in hys mescheff, [stowe, leaf 2*0]
Ther he lay bourcden as a theff, 13620
Scornywge at hys bak behynde.
And swych iblkys men may fynde
In many place (yiff yt be souht) ;
Whan a man ys to mescheff brouht, 13624
And falle in-to aduersyte,
iful fewe frendys than hath he ;
At mescheff, they hym for-sake,
And but a lape off hym they make, 13628
Al be yt so, that they beforn
Wer supported and vp born
By hys lordshepe, in ther degre.
"Whan he stood in prosperyte, 13632
Than they wolde make hem strong,
To stonde wit/t hym in ryht and wrong,
Wit/i false behestys (as I ha told,)
In al hys werkys make hym bold, 13636
PILGRIMAGE. B B
The Pilprim.
He is be-
fouled in the
clay and
sloughs,
robbed and
cruelly used ;
his followers
leave him,
withacoru.
[leaf 207, bk.]
Men often
thus forsake
their friends
in adversity.
370 Tho bound, I try to reach the Hedge mi the other side.
Let no mini
trust to for-
tune.
The pilgrim. That they wolde \vith hym abyde
ffor lyff or deth, on euery syde ;
But fynally, whan al ys do,
I ha wyst lordys deceyved so 13640
In dyvers centres, mo than on,
"Whan ther ffrenshepys \ver agon.
Lat no man trusten on ffortune,
Wych selde, in on, lyst to centime. 13644
And thus thys man, brouht to the poynt,
Stood allone in swych dysioynt,
And in gret mescheff, as dyde I ; [stowe, leaf 210, back]
ffor, Venus and Glotony 13648
In swych mescheff hadde hym brouht,
That off hys lyff he rouhte nouht,
ffor hys grete aduersyte.
But than I gan remewbre me 13652
As I lay bouwden in the place,
I wolde assayen ffor to pace
The hegh, that was so thykke and strong,
Off wych I tolde, nat go fful long ; 13656
And for mor ese and sofftenesse,
I thouhte I wolde my syluew dresse
To the path on the tother syde ;
ffor, wher as tho I dyde abyde, 13660
Me sempte the place peryllous,
Bothe dredful 1 and dotous. [> Lothe dredefuii St.]
I gan a-noon to neyhen ner
To- ward the hegh, and her and ther 13664
I gan consydren in my mynde,
Yiff I myghte an hoole ffynde
To pace by, that wer nat thykke
fful off thorn ys me to prykke. 13668
Al thys I gan consydre and se,
Swych routhe I hadde, and pyte,
A-mong the sharpe busshys alle,
That my body sholde falle 13672
In any dauwger or damage,
Yiff I passede 2 that passage ; [ 2 passed* St., possede c.]
Prayde god, for hys pyte,
ffrom swych harm to saven me; 13676
I, bound,
remember
the hedge,
and try to
reach it.
I draw near
the hedge,
[leaf 208]
which is full
of thorns,
and I pray
to God.
/ am caught and bound. I see a hideous old Hag, Sloth. 371
ffor I stood in fful gret drecl, [Stowe, ieaf]
Lyk a bryd that kan no Red,
"VVych, in hyr gret mortal ffer,
Loketh her, and loketh ther, 1 3680
And for dred begywneth quake,
Whan she ys in the panter take,
Or engluyd with bryd-lym,
Al hyr ffethrys fful off slym, 1 3684
Or vnwarly, in heth or holt,
Ys y-slayn with arwe or bolt,
Whil she ys besy to escape,
The ffoulere kan hyr so be-Iape. 13688
Ryght so fferd I, al out off loynt,
Brouht vn-to the same poynt ;
But ' who that wyl nat wha?i he may,
He ys a fool, (yt ys no nay,) 13692
And he ne shal nat whaw he wolde.'
ffor whyl I stood and gan be-holde
Now her now ther, and for ffer shake,
Vnwarly, by the fleet ytake, 13696
I was bouwden, and forth lad,
That for fer I was nyh" mad,
And knew nat what was best to do ;
But, amyd off al my wo, 13700
I sawh a wekke, 1 Old and hydous, c 1 vekke St.]
Off look and cher ryht monstrous,
Pyled and seynt as any kaat, [c. & st.]
And moosy 2 -heryd as a raat. pmosyst.] 13704
[6 lines blank in MS. for an Illumination.]
And thys wekke 3 (as I was war) [ 3 vekke st.] [stowe, if. 2*1, bk.]
Vnder hyr Arm, an Ax she bar,
Lych a bocher that wyl slen
Grete bestys, and affter ffleen, 13708
And sythen put hew to larder.
Lyk swych a wowman was hyr cher ;
ffor bestys at ther ffeet be-hynde,
With a corde she dyde bynde, 13712
And cordys ek (as I was war)
Gret plente, on hyr Arm she bar,
And affter, -with hyr owne hond,
The Pilgrim.
I am in great
fear,
like a bird
(Miiiiht with
lime.
As I stare
about,
I am seizd
and bound.
I see an old
Wekke or
[leaf 208, bk.]
Hag,
with an axe
under her
arm,
and ropes on
it.
372 The hag Sloth seizd me because I cald her ' old'
She binds
me by the
feet.
I ask the
ugly old
tiling why
she attackt
me unawares.
The Pilgrim. Strongly by the ffeet me bond ; 13716
In the knotte ther was no lak ;
And thawne thus to hyr I spak :
Pilgrym [In Stowe's hand, pylgrym St.]
" 0, thow Olde Ryvelede whyht !
ffoul and owgly off thy syht ! 13720
Why artow, off thy cruelte,
Kome vnwarly thus on me,
ffals, and a traytour in werkyng,
And spak no word in thy koiuyng? J3724
I wot, by tooknes off thy fface,
Thow kam neuere out off no good place,
Nor, thogh thow haddest the Reue? % s sworn,
I wot that thow wer neuer born 13728
Off no good moder, out off drede.
And as touchynge thy kynrede,
Be thyn array (yt semeth wel) [stowe, leaf 212]
I shold yt preysen neueradel. 13732
ffle fforth thy way, and cast the bondys
That thow beryst, out off thyw hondys."
[Sloth] :
Quod she, (as in conclusion*)
' I am no Gerfawk nor fawcouw, 13736
Nouther sparhawk nor Emerlyouw,
Nor lyk to thyri oppynyourc ;
Ches nor bellys, nyfi nor ffere,
To be bouwde I wyl nat bere ; 13740
ffor, al ffre, w^tA-oute charge,
My lust ys for to gon at large.
Sloiltlie. [In Stowe's hand, slowthe St.]
'Trust me wel, bothe hih" and lowe, 13743
By ffeyth that I my ffader howe, 1 i l ffader owe St., trade howe c.]
Thow shalt nat (whaw al ys do,)
ffro my dauwger escape so ;
But thow shalt, for al thy pryde,
Ben arestyd, and abyde, 13748
Be cause thow hast ben so bold
To calle me ' stynkynge and old ; '
And causeles thus blamyd me,
Wych haue in many a place be, 13752
[leaf 209]
The Hag
Sloth.
Sloth says
she is no
falcon,
but will be
tree.
I shall not
escape her.
She seize! me
because I cald
her old.
13756
[Stowe, leaf 242, back]
olde St., Old C.] 13760
[ a St., om. C.]
13768
St., om. C.]
Sloth's Master is the Chief Butcher of Hell.
1 In somer aud in wynter shours,
In chauwbrys off thys Emperours,
Off kynges, dukys, (who lyst sek,}
And off grete bysshopys ek,
Off abbotys, pryours, and prelatys,
And many other grete estatys,
Wych neuer was (to ther semynge)
Callyd Olde 1 nor stynkynge,
Wher-off I wyl avenge me ;
But yiff thow the stronger be,
Aud mor off power, than am I.
I shal the venquysshe cruelty.'
The Pylgrym 2 :
Than off hyre I gan enquere,
That she wolde me pleynly lere,
Awl declare, by short avys,
Bothe hyr name and hyr offys.
Slouthe 3 :
1 The trouthe,' yiff I shal the telle,
* With a mayster I do dwelle.
ffel and vnkouth off hys cher,
And ys off hello cheff Boocher ;
And \vith thys corde (yt ys no drede)
Al pylgrymes to hyw I lede,
As thys Bocherys don a beste.
Swych as I may in soth aresto,
I bynde hem by the feet echon ;
And I ha lad hym many on,
And yet I hope that I shal,
And thy sylff in especial ;
Trustc wel, for haste nor rape,
Tho\v shalt not fro my dauwger skape.
' But ffyrst off aH I shal me spede,
To thylke place the to lede ;
ffor I am she (my name ys spronge)
That lye a bedde with ft'olkys yonge,
And make hew tourne to and ffro ;
I 4 close her Eyen bothe two,
I make hew slope, dreme awl slombre,
Yonge folkys out off noumbre ;
373
13772
13776
[Stowe, leaf 2*3]
13780
13784
t'An.lSt.]
She has been
among kings
and nobles,
13764
and will lie
avengd on
me for abus-
ing her.
The Pilgrim.
I enquire
her name and
office.
[feaf209,bk.]
Sloth.
Her Master
is the chief
lilll c-lli'l- uf
Hell.
She leads nil
pilgrims to
him,
and inlcnils
to lead mi .
She lies in
lied with
ynuiig Iblk,
anil niakrs
om nluniln'r
374 Sloth works ly the Baven's ' eras,' to-morrmv, putting-off.
makes the
Mariner sleep
till his ship
is wreckt.
She makes
brambles
fjrow in
gardens.
[leaf 210]
She goes by
the Raven's
crat (to-
morrow),
and puts
everything
off.
Her name is
Sloth,
or Idleness,
or Heaviness,
' I make the Maryner fful ffast
Lyn and slepe vnder the mast, 13792
Tyl hys vessel, by som cost,
Be ydrownyd and ylost ;
I breke al hys gouernaylle,
By costys, wher as he doth say lie ; 13796
And myd off many strauwge se,
The wrak ys maad only by me.
flbr lak, in soth, off governaimce,
I cause that al goth to meschaimce, 13800
Ther loodmawage, ther sttuff, ther wynesu
' I cause also that, in gardynys,
(Who so lyst to looke aboute,)
That bremblys, netlys, fful gret route, 13804
Wexe and encresse round a rowe,
And many 1 weedy s that be nat sowe ; [ l in many St.]
And for tamende hem, day be day,
I putte y t euere in-to delay ; 13808
ffor I lernede, syth go fful long, [stowe, leaf 243, back]
The maner off the Rauenys song,
Wych by delay (thys the cas)
Ys wont to synge ay ' craas, craas ; ' V 13812
That song I kepe wel in my thouht,
Thys lessouw, I forgete yt nouht ;
My custom ys ek, what I may,
Al thyng to puttyn in delay ; 13816
And, myn vsage off Olde 2 daate, p oide St., old c.]
What I shal done, to don yt late ;
Wherfor off ryght (to seyn the trouthe)
My name ys ycallyd ' slouthe ' ; 13820
ffor I am slowh and encombrows,
Haltynge also, and Gotows,
Off my lyme's crampysshyrjge,
Maymed ek in my goynge, 13824
Coorbyd, 3 lyk ffolkys that ben Old, p Croobyd St.]
And afowndryd ay w/t/i cold ;
On ech whedyr, I putto blame,
And, ther-fore, Slouthe ys my name, 13828
Off custom callyd ' Ydelnesse.'
' Thow mayst mo calle ek ' hevynesse,'
Sloth's Elijah-Axe. Her Ropes, Sloth and Negligence. 375
' ffor what thyng cue?* that I se, sioth
Shortly yt dyspleseth me, 13832
And, ther-off no tale I telle,
ffor, I am the same Melle is a MUI that
That tourneth ay and grynt ryht nouht, doesn't
Save waste vp-on myn owne thouht ; cA 13836
Wit/i Envye my sylff I were, #
And ther-for, thys ax I bere ;
Off wych Ax the name ys ryff, [stowe,ieaf!4i] Her axe
' Werynesse off A manhys lyff,' 13840
As thus, for verray slogardy,
A man for slouthe ys wery.
'Thys Ax (the byble Avyl nat lye) [c.&st.] [leaf 210, bk.j
Made the prophete Helye, 13844 waasancti-
Whan he ffledde out off Bersabee, prophet
Elijah
Twyes slumbre vuder a tre
Callyd lunypre, 1 wher he slep ; p lunypere St.] when he slept
under the
But an Auwgel (or he took kep) 13848 Jjper tree
(1 Kings xix,
Pookede hyw, and made hyw ryse.
' Wyth thys Ax, in the same wyse,
Clerkys I do ther reste take she makes
At ther book, whan they sholde wake, 13852 when they
J should wiike.
The pelwe to lyn vnder ther hed,
il'or slouthe hevyere than led,
And ffor they be soget to me, 13855
The trow the theroff thow mayst se, [St., line blank in c.]
Be no ropys mad at Clervaws (cwten-mn
Abbey, fd. by
(ffor they wer makyd at Nervaws) sf Bernard.)
(? Nervieux.)
The ton off hem (to seye" 2 trouthe) [ 2 sey c., St.]
By name ys ycallyd ' Slouthe,' 13860 Her ropes are
J / / called Sloth
And the tother (in sentence) and Neca-
gence.
Ys ynamyd ' Neclygence,'
Strong to bynden and enbrace,
And ther hertys for to lace ; 13864
Wyth wych, throtys, sore I bynde, With tliei)e
That they ha nouther wyl nor mynde,
But for neclygence spare,
To the prest for to declare 13868 i"; *, r,,iu
jromt; to con-
Thcr trespace by deuocyoiw ' [stmvo, iit 211, lurk ' ti^ion.
Lowly in confessiiouii.
376 Sloth's Rapes : 1. Hope of Long Life ; 2. Foolish Fear ;
Other 5 cords
she bears.
[leaf 211]
The first,
Hope of Long
Life.
The second,
Foolish
Dread,
which stops
folk telling
their sins.
They're like
birds fright-
end by a
Scarecrow.
Tliey won't
13884
confess their
lius.
[leaf 211, bk.]
' I her ek other cordys ffy ve ;
And ther namys to descry ue : 13872
[8 lines blank in MS. for an Illumination.]
1 The fyrst ys ' hope off longe 1 lyff ,[ E 1 longe St., long c.]
Wych in thys world ys now fful ryff,
That causeth mew, for lak off grace,
To truste that the" 2 shal ha space p they St.] 13876
Longe ynowh, to telle ther errour,
Ther synne ek, to ther confessour.
' The secunde ys (who lyst take hed,)
Off clerkys callyd ' ffoly dred,' ' 13880
Wych, off ffoly, maketh hem spare,
The trouthe, outward to declare,
Ther synne's clerly to dyscure.
' And they be lyk (I dar ensure)
To bryddys ffleyng in the hayr,
Wych dar nat haven ther repayr,
To touche nouther corn nor greyn,
Be cause only that they ha seyn 13888
A Shewelys 3 enarmyd in the ffeld p imnge, scarecrow]
Wiih bowe ay bent, wt't/i spere or sheld,
To ffleyen hem fro ther pasture,
Wych ys but A ded ffygure,
An apparence, and noon harm doth
The wych resembleth wel (in soth)
To a prest, in hys estaat,
A confessour or a curaat,
Swych as han luredicciioure
ff or to here confessions ;
And trewly, what they here or se,
They muste be mwet and secre,
Ther tonge may telly out no thyng ;
ffor they be dowmb in ther spekyng,
As an ymage wrouht off Tre or ston ;
Ouht to seyu, power ha they noon ;
They may here, but no thyng declare ;
ffor wych, folk sholde no-thyng spare
To tellyn out ther synnes and offence
To ther curatys wyth humble reuerence,
And gaste hem nouht by noon oppynyoura
13892
[Stowe, leaf 2 45] 13896
13900
13904
13908
3. Shame ; 4. Hypocrisy ; 5. Despair. Hell's Hangman. 377
[! ffructuously St.,
ffrustuously C.]
' To shewyn pleynly ther conf essi'ouw ;
ffor goode prestys (who so taketh hed)
In ther kepyng haven greyn and bred, 13912
Bred off lyff, sed ek off scyence,
And goostly ffoode ek off elloquence,
Hys sogetys fructuously 1 to ffeede
With doctrine whaw that they ha nede. 13916
' The thrydde Corde ys ycallyd ' Shame,'
Causynge A man, he dar nat attame
To telly n out hys ffautys, nor expresse,
Only for dred and ffor shamfastnesse. 13920
' The ffourthe corde callyd ' Papyllardie,' |(
Wych ys a mane/ 1 off ypocrysie ;
Wolde ben holden mor hooly thaw he ys,
Dar nat telle (whan he hath don arays) 13924
Hys grete ffautys in confessions [stowe, leaf 215, back]
Lyst hys curat kauth 2 oppynyoim [* kaught* st.]
Ageyns hy?tt, ffor hys gret offence ;
Vnder colour off feyned Innocence, 13928
Kepeth cloos, and doth the trouthe spare,
Tyl he ffalle in the dewellys snare,
ffor shamfastnesse in confessiouw.
' The ffyff te corde ys ' Desperaciouw ' : 13932
Thys the Corde, pleynly, and the laas,
Wyth wych whilom hangyd was ludas
Whan he hadde traysshed cryst ihesu ;
Wych corde ys ffer ffrom aH vertu, 13936
Off vyces werst (shortly for to telle) ;
ffor he that ys hangema/* off helle,
With the corde off desperaciouw
Hangeth aH (in conclusiouw) 13940
ffolk endurat 3 in ther entente, [ 3 indurat St.]
That dysespeyre, and wyl nat repente, 1
Keuer in thys world whyl they ben alyve.
' And w/t/i thys cordys, that be in nouwtbre ffy ve,
I shal don al my besy peyne, 13945
Yiff that I may, thy throte to restreyne,
Hale the fforth, and no longer d\velle
By the way wych ledeth vn-to hclle.' 13948
[The Pilgrim]:
Sloth.
Her third
coni is
Shame.
The fourth,
' Hypocrisie,
or outward
shew of re-
ligion, a
counterfeit-
ing of zeale
in religion,
Pape/urdie.'
(Cotgrave.)
The fifth,
Deapuir,
with which
Judas was
hanged.
Hell's hang-
man liangH
all folk who
drspair and
won't repent.
With the'e
roju's, Slnili
'II huul me
off
[leaf 212]
378 Sloth binds me worse. A white Dove frees me. I see Pride.
The Pilgrim.
Sloth smites
me with her
axe,
binds me
wall fresh
1 'ill. (Is,
anil begins to
pull me away.
But a white
dove releases
me,
and breaks
my bonds.
I .see two
1 >rr>ns,
[leaf 212, bk.]
one carrying
the other
puffy one
( Pride 1 on
her neck.
One (Pride)
is like a lion.
And affter thys, by hyr grete sleylite,
And hyr Ax that was so gret off wheyhte,
Lyk a theff And A ffals ffeloun,
She smot me so that I fyl a-douw ; 13952
[8 lines blank in MS. for an Illumination.]
ffor I ne hadde power nouther myght, [stowe, leaf 246]
On my fifeet for to stonde vp ryht.
And affter that, ful sore she me bond
W<t/4 the cordys that were in hyr hond : 13956
Over myn throte, ffyrst she gan \\Qin caste,
And knette hem affter wonder streight and ffaste ;
And ffro the hegh, by hyr mortal la we,
Cruelly she gan me for to drawe, 13960
Wher-off I felte gret anoy and greff,
Lyk tatfalle 1 in-to gret ruescheff l (to have fallen) to faiie St.]
And gret dystresse, only nadde be
A whyht dowhe, wych that I sawh fle 13964
To- ward hegh, wych my cordys brak,
And Ellys hadde I sothly go to wrak ;
But she was sent vn-to me by grace,
Me to socoure in the same place. 13968
And whan I sawh that I was vnbou?*de,
The cordys brak, that wer gret and rouwde,
Vp on my ffeet I gan me for to dresse ;
And as I myghte (for verray weiynesse), 13972
To-ward the hegh I wende ha gon ful ryht ;
But ther I sawh, fful owgly off ther sylit,
Two that wern to me ful contrayre,
And to my purpos gretly aduersayre, 13976
At the pendant off an hyl douu lowe ; [C. & St.]
And on off hem (as I koude knowe) ,,
In my beholdyng (lyk as I was war) f
Vp-on hyr nekke, she the tother bar; 13980
And she that was vp-on the bale yborn), [stowe, leaf ate, bk.]
Was gretly bolle and yswolle aforn, i
And in hyr hand she bar a staff fful round, *
Wych whilom Grew on A werray 2 ground. [warryst.]
[8 lines blank in MS. for an Illumination.]
And off hyr look (in myu inspeccyoun) 13985
She was lyk to a ffcrs
Pride described. SJie lids me yield to her.
379
And hornyd ek as an vnycorn ;
And in hyr hand also she bar an horn, 13988
And lyk a skryppe (ek afferme I dar)
A peyre belwys aboute hyr nekke she bar ;
And she hadde On (as was hyr delyt)
On hyr shuldres, A mantel large off whyt, 13992
A peyre off spores poynted (soth to say)
Lyk the bek off a somer lay,
Shewyng out that she was maystresse
Vn-to hyre that was hyr porteresse, 13996
I mene, tholde 1 that bar hyre on hyr bak, [' the oldest.]
Whos clothyng was shapyn lyk a sak.
But she that rood, off whom I 2 tolde, pist. to-fom ic.]
Maade the tother 3 lede hyr wher she wolde ; 14000
And she that bar, (ye shal vnderstonde,) [ s = tu- other]
Held a large merour in hyr bond,
Hyr owgly ffeturys to beholde ami se. [ 4 to om. St.]
And than I gan a-noon to 4 remewbre me, 14004
Seyde, " alias ! what hap haue I, or grace !
AH they that I mete in thys place,
Ben olde, echon, to-forn and ek be-hynde ; [st.&c.]
I am gretly astonyd in my mynde ; [stowe, leaf 247] 14008
They wyl me slen, thorgh som dysaventure,
Or me Outrage, I shal y t nat recure ; "
ffor she that rood vp-on the olde a-foru,
I herde a-ffer, how she blew hyr horn,) 14012
And ffaste gan affter me to ryde,
To me sayde, as I stood a syde,
The Olde Pride: 5 pst.,om.c.]
' Yeld the ! ' quod she in al hast to me,
Or thow shalt deye ; yt wyl noon other be." 14016
The Pylgrym: 6 [st.,om.c.j
" What artow," cpiod I to that olJe ;
" Wenystow I so sone sholde
Yelde me, and knowe nat thy name,
Wttft-oute mor? in soth I wer to blame; 14020
Tliyn offyce ek, and also thy power,
Or that [ me yelde prysowner."
Pride : T U P>'"de St. In StowVs hand C.J
' Vndentond wel ffyrst, and so,
The Pilgrim.
and has spurs
as sharp as a
jay's beak.
She's mis-
tress of the
woman who
carries her,
and holds a
large mirror
in her hand.
[leaf 213]
I am in great
dread, as I
think they'll
kill me.
bid* me
yield.
The Pilgrim.
I ask her
name and
office.
380 Pride was Lucifer's Daughter. She ruind Adam.
was bred in
Heaven.
Her father
was Lucifer.
wlio was cast
down to hell,
[leaf 213, bk.]
and she with
him.
On earth she
saw Adam,
tempted him,
and made
him cat the
fruit,
for which
lie was driven
out of
Paradise.
'And wyte yt wel, that I am she 14024
Off aH Olde sothly the Eldest :
Whylom, in hevene I hadde a nest ;
And ther I was Eyred and yleyd,
And engendryd ek (as yt ys seyd), [stowe, leaf 217, back]
Thogh yt be hill, and hewnys flier. 14029
' My ffader was ynamyd Lucyf er ;
Off bryd ther was neuer (in-to thys day)
In bussh nor brauwche leyd swych an Ey ; i. Ouu st.
ffor affter tyme that I Eyred was, 14033
Wyth thys belwys (trewly thys the caas)
I blewe ther so horryble a blast,
That my ffader was a-noon douw cast 14036
ffroni that hih" hevenly mansions,
In-to helle cast fful lowe donra :
To-fforn he was a bryd ful cler and bryht, 14039
And passyngly ffayr vnto the 1 syght, c 1 to the St., burnt c.]
Noble, gentyl, and also ek mor cler
Thaw Phebus ys in hys mydday sper ;
But now he ys blak, and mor horryble
Than any deth, also mor terry ble. 14044
' And shortly ek (in conclusions)
"With my ffader I was also cast douw,
In-to thys Erthe dovw ful lowe ;
And ther I sawh and dyde knowe 14048
On ymad ful fressh off fface,
ffor to restore a-geyn my place ;
The wych, wha?i I dyde espye,
At liym I hadde gret envye, [ 14052
And caste that I wolde assay
ffor to lette hyw off hys way.
And w^t/i-Inne a lytel throwe,
I took my belwys, and gan blowe, 14056
And made on hym so fel a suit,
I made \\yin Etyn off the frut
Wych was dyffendyd hy? (certeyn) [stowe, leaf 248]
Off hys lord, cheff and souereyn ; 1 4060
Wher-for he was (after my devys,)
Affter chacyd out off paradys ;
Ther he loste hys avau/ttage. t
Pride breeds Discord, War, Blood-shed. She will rule all. 381
She causes
discord and
dissension,
war and
battle,
[leaf2H]
and incited
the first
shedding of
blood.
' Thus wrouht I ffyrst in my yong age : 14064 Pride.
And day be day I ne cessede nouht
Tyl I hadde gret harmys wrouht ;
ffor yt am I, both nyh and ferre,
That make A-mong gret lordys, werre ; 14068
I cause al dissenci'ouws,
Dyscord and indygnaciouws,
And make hem, by ful gret envye,
Everych other to dyffye ; 14072
ffor I am leder and maystresse,
Cheventayne and guyderesse,
Bothe off werre and off bataylle.
I make off plate and of maylle 14076
Many devyses, mo than on ;
And to rekne hew euerychon,
Yt wolde dou?z but lytel good.
' I causede ffyrst, shedyng off blood ; 14080
I ffond vp fyrst, devyses newe,
Kaye's off many sondry hewe ;
Off short, off long, I ffond the guyso ;
Now streight, now large, I kan devyse, 14084
That men sholde, for syngulerte,
Beholde and lokyn vp-on me.
I wolde be holden ay sanz per,
And by my syluen synguler ; [stowe, leaf 213, back] 14088
I wolde also that, off degre,
Ther wer noon other lyk to me ;
Yiff any dyde me resemble,
Myn herte wolde for Ire tremble, 14092
Eyve atwo almost for tone.
'What euere I sey, I wyl sustene,
Be yt wrong or be yt ryht ;
And I wyl ek, off verray myght, 14096
Be cheff mayster aboue echon :
Other doctryne kepe I noon.
' I hate also, in myn entent,
Good consayl and avysemcnt, 14100
And overmor, thus ys yt,
I preyse noon other mawhys 1 wyt, [' mamiys St.]
But myn owne, what so be-falle,
She will be
held peerless,
and be every
one's master.
She hates
good counsel
and advice.
382 Prides Contempt of others, and love of Flattery.
Nothing is to
be dune or
said, gave by
her.
[leaf 2H, ok.]
She thinks
alt otlier folk
Asses.
But she re-
fuses praise,
by way of
mockery,
saying it's a
joke;
but this is
only sham
humility
to make folk
flatter her
more.
Site leaps for
.joy on hear-
ing flattery.
' ffor that I holde best off alle ; 1 4104
And me semeth that I kan <
Mor than any other man ;
Ther-wit/j I am ek best apayd,
No thyng ys wel dourc nor wel sayd, 14108
By noon off hih nor lowh degre,
But yiff yt be only by me
Gouernyd al, to my delyt ;
And ek I wolde ha gret despyt, 14112
ffor bothe in hopen and in cloos
I wolde be preysed, and ha the loos ;
ffor I wolde no maw wer preysed, [c. & st.]
Worshepyd, nor hys honour reysed, 14116
But I allone, mor ne lasse; [Stowe, leaf 249]
ffor I holde ech man an Asse
Saue I, wych, a-boue ech on,
Am worthy to haue the prys allone. 14120
' And sothly yet, whan mew me preyse,
Or vfith laude myw honour reyse,
Outward I do yt al denye,
And sey 'yt ys but mokerye 14124
That they so lyst my prys avauwce j
I sey I ha no suffysaunce
Lyk to her oppynyoura,
To haue swych coramendaci'ouw : ' 14128
And al thys thynges I expresse,
To shewe a maner of meknesse
Outward, as by apparence,
Thogh ther be noon in Existence. 14132
I wit/i-seye hem, and swere soore,
Off entent that, mor and more
They sholde myrc honour magnefye
To-for the peple by flaterye, 1 [' flaterye, flatry c.] 14136
Taferme off 2 me, bothe fer and ner, [*on st.]
That my wyt ys synguler.
* And whan I here ther flatrynges,
Ther grete bost, ther whystlynges, 14140
ffor verray loy I hoppe and dauwce,
I ha ther-in so gret plesauwce,
That, lyk a bladder, in ech cost
Pride looks fierce & grand; lut she's mere Bladder & Foam. 383
' I wex swolle with ther host, 14144
And thywke my place and my degre [stowe, leaf 219, back]
Muste grotly enhaurzsyd be,
And tliynke yt sytteth wel to me
Tave a cheyre 1 off dygnyte, pchayerst.] 14148
Lyk as I were a gret pryncesse,
A lady, or A gret ducbesse,
Worthy for to were A Crowne.
' And whaw I se Rourad envyrouwe, 14152
ffolk me Obeye on euery part,
I resemble a ffers lyppart ;
Off port, off 2 cher, I-rous ami ffel, [ s and St.]
And off my lookys ryht cruel 14156
I be-holde on hem so rowe,
And gynne to lefften vp the 3 browe [ 3 gyn . . . my St.]
Off verray Indygnacioim,
Off contenauttce lyk a lyou?z, 14160
As thogh I myghte the skye's b) 7 nd :
Al ys but smoke, al ys but wynd, v
Lyk a bladdere that ys blowe,
Wych, wtt/i-Inne a lytel thro we, 14164
Pryke yt \\iih a poynt, a-noon,
And ffarwel, al the wynd ys gon,
Tliat men ther-off may no thyng se.
'And lyk as foom amyd the se 14168
Ys reysed hihe wit/i a wawe,
And sodeynly ys efft wtt/<-drawe,
That men sen ther-off ryht nowht,
Ryght so the wawes off my thouht, 14172
By pryde reysed hih" a-loffte,
With vnwar wynd be chauwgyd offte.
'Ech mawhys ffawtys besyde me, [stowe, leaf 250]
Saue myw owne, I kan wel se; 14176
But I parceyue neueradel
Off no tbyng that they do wel.
' To alle scornerys, in sothnesse,
I am lady and maystresse ; 14180
And off the castel off land own,
That off scornyng hath cheff renouw,
By Okie 4 tyme (as rueu may sen) [ oide St., old c.]
Pride
likes to sit on
a Cliair of
Dignity like
a Duchess.
[leaf 215]
Wlien folk
obey her,
she looks like
a Lion ;
but it's only
a bladder i
prick it, and
it collapses.
She sees all
men's faults,
not her own ;
and not their
good works.
Of the Castle
of Lnndon
384 Pride's Horn of Cruelty, and Bellows of Vain-glory.
Pride. < I was som tyme crownyd quen. 14184
she was j$ u t the pj'ophete ysaye,
crowned J J '
queen; Whan he dyclij me espye,
j" a d . cursed by He cursyde (off ful yore ago,)
Bothe my crowne and me also. ^^^SS^ 1*188
[leaf 215, bk.] < My name ys, 'that wyl feynte
Eue?-e to be nyce and queynte ' ;
And I am she (yt ys no dred)
The horn in That ber an horn in my forhed, 14192
her head de- -
notes cruelty. Wych ys ycallyd ' Cruelte,'
To hurte folk aboute me :
Off verray surquedy and pryde,
I smyte and wynse on euery syde ; 14196
Prest nor clerk, I wyl noon spare ;
And wyth my syluen thus I ffare,
Mor cruel, in my ffelle rage,
Than a Boole wylde and savage, 14200
Wych rent a-douw bothe roote and rynd.
Her bellows, < j her thys belwes fful off wynd.
spurs and
staff, j her thys sporys, I her thys staff,
Wych that my ffader to me gaff; 14204
horn, and I here thys horn (who looke wel),
white mantle. I were also a why t mantel, [Stowe, leaf 250, back]
To close ther vnder (vp and dourc)
Al my guyle and my tresouw. 14208
' ffro tyme long, out off memoyre,
The bellows is Thys belwes callyd ben ' veyngloyre,'
Ther-wi't/i to quyke the ffyr ageyn,
To make ffoolys in certeyn, 14212
Thogh they be blak as cole or get,
Off me whan they ha kauht an het,
To semyn in ther owne syht
That they in vertu shynew bryht, 14216
Bryhter than Any other man
That was syth the world be-gan,
Or any that they alyve knowe.
once blown in ' Thys Belwes I made whilom Blowe 14220
the forge of
Nphnrnad- In the fforgc, with gret bostyng,
Off Nabugodonosor the kyng,
That bostede in hys regiourc
Vainglory ruins Renown. Fable of the Fox and Raven. 385
' That the cyte l off Babiloim p citee st.] 14224
Wyth al 2 hys grete Ryalte, p aii St., om. c.]
Wyth al 2 hys fforce and hys bewte,
Was bylt and mad by hym only :
Thys was hys bost ; and ffynally
Wit/i thys belwes I made a levene,
The fflawme touchyde nyh" the heuene,
But affterward yt gan abate,
Yt lasteth nat by no long date.
' And as gret wynd (who lyst to se)
Smyt al the ffrut douw off A tre,
Brawnche and bowh, and levys fayre,
And ther bewte doth apayre,
Ryght so the wynd off veyn glorye
Be yt off conquest or vyctdrye,
Or off what vertu that yt be
Yt bloweth yt dou?i (as me?i may se),
Worshep, honour, Renouw, ffame
Ther ys in bostyng so gret blame,
ffor bryddes that flen in the hayr,
And hyest make ther repayr,
Thys wynd kan maken hem avale,
Talyhte lowe douw in the vale.
' Hastow, a-for-tyme, nat herd sayd,
How for an Exaiuuple ys layd,
That a Reuene, 3 Or north or souht, 4
Bar a chose wit/t-Inne hyr mouht*
As she fley ouer a ffeld ;
The wyche, 5 wha?i the ffox beheld,
Thoghte that he wolde yt haue ;
Sayde, ' Ravene, god yow saue,
And kepe yow fro al meschannoe !
Prayynge yow, for my plesauwce,
That ye lyst, at my pray ere,
Wyth your notys fressh and clere
Syngen som song off gentyllesse,
And your goodly throte vp dresse,
Wych ys so fful off melodye
And off hevenly Armonye ;
ffor trewly, as I kan dy scenic,
PILGRIMAGE. C C
Pride
14228
14232
[Stowe, leaf 251]
14236
14240
14244
14248
P Ravene St.]
[* Southe . . Moutlie St.]
14251
[5 which* St., wych C.]
14256
[leaf 216]
burnt theCity
of iiabylou.
As wind
blows the
fruit off a
tree,
so Vainglory
blows down
Fame.
14260
Fable of the
Kaven and
the Fox.
The Raven
flew with a
cheese in her
beak.
The Fox begd
her to sing
[leaf 210, bk.]
with her lieu*
venly voice.
386 Fable of the Fox and Maven. Flattery spoils all virtues.
prMe. Ther ys harpe nor gyterne, [stowe, leaf 251, back] 14264
Syniphonye, nouther crowde,
Whan ye lyst to synge lowde,
Ys to me so gracyous,
So swete, nor melodius 14268
As ys your song wt't/t notys clere ;
rue FOX said And I am komen ffor to here,
he'd come to
hear her sing Off entent, in-to thys place,
a motet.
A lytel motet wit/* your grace.' 14272
' And whan the Eavene hadde herknyd wel
The ffoxys speche euerydel,
As she that koude nat espye
Hys tresouw nor hys fflaterye, 1 [ nutrye c., St.] 14276
The Raven ffor to synge she dyde hyr peyne,
opend her *
beak, dropt And gan hyr throte for to streyne,
tl' cheese,
and the FOX And thcr-wzt/i maade an owgly SOUM.
made off with
' Ther whyles the chese fyl a-douM, 14280
And the ffox, lyk hys entente,
Took the chese, and forth he wente.
The Raven And thys deceyt (yiff yt he souht.)
was deceived J J \J J
by flattery. Was only by my bylwes wroulit, 14284
"With false 2 wynd off treclierye, p fab c., St.]
Thorgh the blast off fflaterye, 1
The wych, -with hys sugryd galle,
Euery vertu doth appalle 14288
And bet yt dou on every syde.
' Ther-for lat no man abyde
The wyndes, that ben so peryllous,
Off thys belwys contagyous ; 14292
Let every Lat ech man, (in especyal.Y
man consider v '
he U mortal. Consydren that he ys mortal, [ 3 thynke St., tliynk C.]
And thynke 3 that swych wynd in-dede [stowe, leaf 252]
Bloweth But on asshes dede, 14296
That wyl wit/i lytel blast a-ryse,
[leaf 217] And dysparpyle in many wyse;
And affter swych dyspers'iouji
Al goth in-to perdiciomi. 14300
' Thys belwes ek (yt ys no drede)
Causeth (who-so taketh hede)
Bombardys and cornemusys,
blows flutes
and musical
instruments
that quench
Virtue's
light.
Pride inspires Music. Her Peacock's tail. Her Boasting. 387
' Thys ffloutys 1 ek, with sotyl musys, [ ffleutys st.] 14304
And thys shallys 2 loude crye, pohaivysst.]
And al swych other menstralcye,
Wit/i ther blastys off bobbaunce,
Don offte tyme gret grevauwce ; 14308
ffor, wyth ther wyndes off gret niyght,
They quenche, off vertu al the lyht ;
They blowe many a blast in veyn, [ 3 chaffe / fro St.]
They seuere the chaff fer fro 3 the greyn. 14312
' Thys wynd also, (as ye shal lere,)
Whan yt taboureth 4 in rayn Ere, [* tabourethe st.]
And vfith hys blast hath ther repay r,
Bereth me An hand that I am ffayr,
Noble also, and ryht myghty,
Curteys, wys, and ful worthy,
Vfiift swyche wyndes cryyng lowd.
A-noon I gynne wexen proud ;
But whan ther wynd ys ouergon,
ffrut ther-off ne kometh noon ;
Al ys but wynd (yt ys no doute,) [stowe, leaf zni
Turnynge as offte sythe aboute
As phane doth, or wheder-cok.
' And my Tayl, lych a pocok,
Offte sythe on heihto I reyse,
Witlt swych wynd, wha/i nierc me preyse.
And whan I ha swych prys ywonne,
I swolle, 5 gret as any tonne, [ 5 sweiie St.]
Lyk to brestyn i'or swollyng ; 6 [ B sweiiynge St.]
Ne wer I hadde som aventyng
To make the Avynd fro me twywne,
Wych ys closyd me with-Inne,
Me semeth ellys al wer lorn.
' And, therfore I bere thys horn,
Wych that callyd ys ' bostyng,'
Or voyde pownche, 7 by som lesyng. [ 7 pawnche St.]
And trewly, wit/i my?t hydous blast,
Alt the bestys I make a-gast,
Off my centre, for verray clredo,
Make hewt to lefft vp hyr hed.
' And off tl : tyme I boste also
14320
back]
14324
14328
14332
14336
14340
\\it\\ con-
tinual flut-
tery, and
blowing of
the bellows,
she waxes
proud.
But all is
wind, with-
out fruit.
Pride sticks
up her tail
like a Pea-
cock.
[leal 217, bk.]
She bears the
Horn of
lioasting.
At its noise
all the lieuats
quake.
boasts of
tilings she
never did,
her lineage,
possession g,
and acquaint-
ance.
When she's
done any-
thing not-
able,
up goes her
talc, and slic
cackles like a
hen that's
laid an egg.
388 Pride's Boasting and Gadding over Tier doings.
Pride f Off thyng wher neue?' I hadcle a-do, 14344
My sylff avauwce, off thys and that,
Off thynges wych I neuer kam at.
' I boste also off my lynage,
That I am komc off hih" parage, 14348
Born in An hous off gret renouw ;
That I ha gret pocessi'ouw,
And that I kan ful many a thyng,
And am aqueynted vtith the kyng. 14352
'I booste and blowe offte A day, [stowe, leaf 253]
Whan that I ha take my pray,
Or whan that I, (lyk myw awys,)
Ha done a thyng off any prys, 14356
Achevyd, by my gret labour,
Thyng resownynge to honour ;
Consayl ther-off I kan noon make ;
Vp with my tayl, my ffethrys shake, 14360
As, whan an henne hath layd an Ay,
Kakleth affter, al the day ;
Whan I do wel any thyng,
I cesse neuere off kakelyng, 14364
But telle yt forth in euery cost ;
I blowe myw horn, and make bost ;
I sey ' Tru / tru,' and blowe my ffame,
As hontys whan they fynde game. 14368
Ryht so, Avhaw that I do wel,
Avauntyng I tell yt euerydel,
And axe also off surquedy,
' Hath any man do so, but I, 14372
Outlier off hih or lowh degre *? '
' And, but ech man herkne me,
(Wher yt to hem be leff or loth,)
"With hem in soth I am ryht wroth, 14376
Be yt wrong, or be yt ryght.
And I wyl here noon other whyht,
But so be I be herd to-forn,
Wha?* that euere I blowe myw horn. 14380
' And thus thow mayst wel knowen how
She resem- I resemble the Cookkoow,
hies the
cuckoo, Wych Vp-011 O 1 lay halt SO long, ['OoSt. (leaf 253, hack)]
[leaf 218]
Unless folk
listen to her,
she gets
wroth.
Pride is fond of Argument and Chatters like a Jay. 389
which knows
only one
song.,
Pride will
always argue,
prove white
black,
and make
great noise
about it.
Sometimes
she'll extol
Fasting
* And kan synge noon other song. 14384 Pride.
' And avawntyng (who taketli lied)
Ys sayd off wynd (yt ys no dred)
Wych ys voyde off al prudence
In sliewyng out off hys sentence; 14388
And on ech tliyng (in hys entent)
He wyl make an Argument,
Sustene hys part and make yt strong, 1 14391
Wher that yt be ryht or wrong, 1 C 1 stronge . . . wronge c.]
Sette a prys and sette A lak,
And preue also that whyht ys blak ;
And who-euere ageyn \\yrn stryne,
He wyl ffyhte watA hyra blyue, 14396
And, holdyng hys oppynyourc,
Make a noyse and a gret souw
ffor to supporter hys entent,
Lyk as yt wer a thonder dent. 14400
' Somtyme he wyl, off surquedye,
ffastyng, gretly maguefye,
And prechyn ek (by gret bobbaunce)
Off abstynencc and off penauwoe; 14404
And yiff hys pawnche be nat fful,
Wynd and wordys rud 2 and dul I 3 Rude St.]
Yssen out fful gret plente,
To make al f olkys that hy w se, 1 4408
Vp-on hym to stare and muse
And to here hys Cornemose 3 : [ 3 Cornemvse St.]
Swych hornys (who that vnderstoode)
Ar wont to make noon liuntys goode ; 14412
Hys hornys he bloweth al the day, [stowe, leaf 254]
And langleth euere lyk a lay,
A bryd that callyd ys ' Agaas,' ^SSS^S^Sf^ "
"Wych. wyl suffren in no caas 14416
No bryd aboute hyr nest to make,
Wit/t noyse, she doth \\yrn so a-wake.
' Thus alle ffolk that here hys bost
Wyl eschewe (in euery cost) 14420
Oft' swych a bostour that kan lye,
The dalyatmce and the companyc.
' And off my spores, to spccefye Her spurs.
to make folks
stare.
[leaf 218, bk.]
Slie chatters
like a Jay or
Magpie.
390
Pride's Spurs of Disobedience and Rebellion.
Pride.
Of her Spurs,
one is called
Disobedience,
tlie other
Rebellion.
The first
made Adam
eat of the
fruit,
and take
Eve's advice.
The second,
King Pha-
raoh wore,
[leaf 219]
when he re-
fused to let
the people of
Israel go,
' What they tookne or signefye, 14424
Thow shalt wyte (and thow abyde)
That offte I shape for to ryde,
And am ful loth, in cold or heet,
ffor to gon vp-on my ffeet, 14428
Yiff tliat myw hors be faste by, 1 [ifastiyst.]
And al myw harneys be redy.
' On off my spores (in sentence)
Ys callyd ' Inobedyence ; ' < 14432
The tother (in conclusions)
Callyd ys ' Rebellion n.'
1 The fi'yrste 2 made, (by my sut,) [ 2 flyrst . . . suyt st.]
Adam to Etyn off the ffrut 14436
That was forboode to hyw afforn ;
But thys spore, sharpere thaw thorn),
Maade hym stedefastly beleue
The comzsayl and tlie reed of Eue, 14440
Aforn ytake out off hys syde ;
Eut to the frut she was hys guyde.
' The tother spore, hadde also [stowe, leaf sst, back]
and was by it
brought to
confusion.
Vp-on hys Ele, kyng Pharao, v
Whylom a kyng off gret renouw,
And hadde in hys subieccioun
(As the byble kan wel tel)
Al the peple off Israel,
And in thraldam and seruage,
In hys woodnesse and hys rage
Wolde nat grauwte hew lyberte
To gon out off hys contre
(In hooly wryt, as yt ys ryff) ;
And, for thys Pharao held stryff
Ageyn mor myghty thaw he was,
ffynally (thus stood the caas,)
By the spore off Itebellyouw
He was brouht to cowfusiouw.
' Hard ys to sporne ageyn an hal,
Or a crokke a-gey?j a wal ;
Swych wynsyng, thorgh liys foly,
Ageyn the lord most myghty,
Made hyw, that he was atteynt,
14444
14448
14452
14456
Prides Staff of Obstinacy, on whicli Saul leant.
391
Pharaoh was
a fool to
strive against
God.
But Pride
made him
trust in her
Spur of Re-
bellion.
' And myddes off the see ydreynt. 14464 _ Pride.
' He was a ffool, (yt ys no faylle,)
The grete mayster for tassaylle,
That ys lord most souerayne ;
But pryde tliat tyme held hys reyne,
Off malys and off 1 surquedye, [' om. c., st.]
ffor to trustee and affye
In thys spore that I off spak,
Tyl he fyl vp-on the wrak. 14472
'NOW Wyl I Spek en off the Staff [Stowe, leaf 855] Pride's staff,
"VVych that pryde to me gaff,
And I, to my protecciouw,
Bar yt in-stede off a bordouw, 14476
And ther-vp-on (for my beste)
Off custoom I lene and reste ;
And who that wolde yt take a-Avay,
With hym I wolde make ffray 2 ; p affray St.] 14480
I wyl lene yt for no techyng 8 pthyngst.]
ffor no coiwsayl nor no prechyng,
But, obstynat in my?i entent,
I voyde resouw and argument; 14484
ffor with thys staff (who kan eutende)
Myn offencys I dyifende.
' ffor thys staff, (in sentement,)
"NVhylom Kud 4 entendement, [* iu.de st.] 14488
The cherl, held by rebellion/?,
Whan he dysputede with llesou/>,
And eallyd ys ' Obstynacye ',
On wyche (the byble wyl nat lye) 14492
Lenede whilom kyng Saul,
Whan he (off Resoiw rud and dul,)
Was reprevyd off Samuel,
A prophete in Ysrael, 14496
ffor the grete vnleful pray
That he took vp-on a day
In Amalech, most liyche thy?/ges,
As, in the ffyrste book off kynges, 14500
]\Iakyd ys cler meneyou/i.
'And I, for my rebellious,
Hatyd am in many wyse, [stowe, leaf 255, baokj
to lean on,
[leaf 219, bk.]
and defend
her offences
with.
This staff,
Obstinacy,
was held by
Rude Enten-
dement
(p. 288 above).
Saul too leant
upon it wlien
reproved by
Samuel,
for sparing
the cattle
he took from
Amaluk,
1 Kings (=
1 Samuel xv.
9-33).
392 Pride keeps Pagans in idolatry, and damns Jews.
Prirle
is hated by
wise folk, and
drives away
God's grace.
She keep* the
heathen to
their idol-
atry,
[leaf 220]
and the Jews
to their
obstinacy,
lending em to
perdition and
damnation.
Her mantle,
fair without,
(like snow
over a dung-
hill,)
' Off alle folkys that be wyse ;
And ek, thorgh my Inquyte,
I am cheff cause, and make me
Grace dieu ; to-for my fface
She may byden in no place :
"YVher-as I am, she diielleth nouht.
' And ek also (yiff yt be souht)
I cause paynymes, euerychon,
ffrom ther Errour they may nat gon,
Ydolatrye to for-sake,
And the ffeyth of cryst to take,
fErom ther errour hem w/t/r-drawe,
And to kome to cry sty s lawe ;
They be blynded so by me,
And Indurat, they may nat se
To c6nue?*te as they sholde do.
' And the lewes ek also
I nyl stynte, nor cesse nouht,
Tyl off entent I haue hew broulit
To ther ffynal perdyc'ioure
And to ther dampnaciuniw :
I debarre hem from al grace,
That the hegh they may nat pace ;
The hegh, I mene, off penawzce,
Ther-by to kome to repentauwce :
I sterte aforn "hem (in certeyn)
And make hem for to tourne ageyn,
ffor to wynse and dysobeye,
And to tourne A-nother weye.
' Ek to the, I wyl nat spare,
Off my Mantel to declare,
Wych ys fayr by apparence,
And haueth ek gret excellence,
Both off shap and off bewte
Owtward (who that lyst to se),
ffor couere (yt ys no doute)
Al the fowle that ys wyth-oute,
As Snowh (who that loke wel)
Maketh whyht a ffoul dongel ;
And lyk also as fressh pcynture
14504
14508
14512
14516
14520
14524
14528
14532
[Stowe,leaf25G]
14536
14540
Prides Mantle hides her foulness. She's like an Ostrich. 393
' Maketh fayr a sepulture 14544 pnae.
On euery party, syde and brynke, covers stink
of carrion
WttA-InnS thogh yt ffoule stynke within,
Off karyen and off roote boonys ;
So thys mantel (for the noonys) 14548
Maketh me (in my repayr)
Outward for to semyw ffayr, and makes
J her look holy.
Parfyt, and off gret holynesse.
' But, yifF Outward my foulnesse 14552
"VVer open shewed to the syht,
I sholde be ffoul, and no thyng bryht :
My mantel overspredeth al; [leaf 220, bk.]
But who that (in especyal) 14556
Inwardly knewe herte and thouht, [c. & st.]
Blowh, and he shal fynde nouht; souffle; si, narien. st.,o.c.
"Wherfor, by descripcioure,
I bere the sygnyficaciowi [c.&st] 14560
In resemblance, and am lych Pride is like
an oslrich,
Taffoul 1 callyd an Ostrych, ['To a fowl]
Off whom the nature euerydel [stowc, leaf 250, back]
Ys vnderstonde by my mantel. 14564
'Thys 2 ffoul hath fethres fressh to se, [* Thys St., Thy c.] ^{j^ 8
ffayre wynges, and may nat ffle, wln'Tbut* 1
Nor fro the erthe (in hys repayr) cauno ' fl y-
He may nat score in-to the heyr ; 14568
Yet men Avolde demy, off resou,
And wene in thor oppynyouw,
By dpparence, to ther syht,
That he Aver liable to the fflylit ; 14572
But he ffleth nat, whaw al ys do.
' And by m\n habyt ek also s<> 1>r , id ' 8
J mantle
Men myghte deme ther-by in al
That I were celestyal, 14576
Goostly and contemplatyff, ;] !'er
l(M)k spint-
Parfyt, and hooly off my lyff, ual -
liable to fllen vp to heuene,
Her aboue the sterrys seuene ; 14580
And how my conuersaciouri
AVer nat in erthe lowe doui ;
But who tho troullic kaii wel se,
304 Pride's Mantle of Hypocrisy. The Fox and the Herrings.
Her mantle's
name is
Hypocrisy.
It's lined
with foxskin.
[leaf 221]
Story of the
fox roitrniiii;
himself dead.
A carter flung
him into his
load of
herrings.
and the Fox
ate his fill of
em and went
off.
14592
[stowe, leaf 257]
' I nouther kan, nor may nat fle ; 14581
I her thys mantel but for ffrauilc,
Off ffolk outward to haue A laude ;
And the name to specefye,
Callyd ys 'ypocrysye,'
Therby outward 1 a prys to wynne.
' And the forour wych ys wa
Off fox skynnes euerydel ;
Al be that, outward, my mantel
Ys y woven (by gret delyt)
Off shepys wolle, soffte and whyt,
I were yt on (soth to seye)
By fawssemblauHt whaw I preye ;
And who lyst knowe verrayly,
Many men vse yt mo than I,
Wrappe hem ther-in, in ther nedc,
In hope the bettre for to spede.
' I covere slouthe vnder meknesse,
And grete 1 ffelthe vnder fayrnesse ; [' grete St., gret c.]
Sey (whan rathest I Avyl greuo)
Sanctificetw in my be-leve;
' And as the ffox (yt ys no dred)
Maatle hym oonys as lie wer ded,
And off fals fraude, (yt ys no nay,)
Myddes off the way lie lay,
Ded only by resemblauwce
Outward, by cher and cowtenauce
Thus he feynede ful falsly,
Seynge a carte passe by
fful off haryng (ther yt wente) ;
And the cartere vp hy w hente ;
In-to the carte a-non hywi threwh,
ffor he in sotli noon other knewh.
And whyl the carter forth hym leddc,
On the haryng the fox hyt fedde ;
He heet hys felle, and wente hys way.
'And euene lyk, fro day to day, 14620
Vnder thys mantel I me wrye, [stowe, leaf >:>-, back]
Wych callyd ys ' ypocrysye,'
By wych (eiiy, and ek ful laat,)
14596
14600
14604
14608
14612
14616
The old hag Flattery, who carries Pride on her lack. 395
[St.&C.] 14628 [leaf 221, bk.]
If she liiuln't
her cloak on,
' I ha be brouht to hill estaat 14624
fful offte sythe, (as mew may se)
And reysed vn-to 1 hih" degre. C 1 vppetost.]
' But yiff thys mantel wer asyde,
Vnder wych I do me hyde,
Off ffolk (that vnderstonde wel)
I shold be preysed? neueradel ; [stowe MS.]
For ffolkys wolden at me chace, [st. & c.]
Hunte at me in euery place, 14632
Sette on me ful many a lak.
' And she that bereth me on hyr bak,
I shal the maner off hyr telle,
Yiff thow wylt a whyle dwelle.' 14636
The Pylgrym asketfi: 2 pst., m.c.]
Tha?me quod I, or she was war,
Vn-to the olde that hyr bar :
" Certys, in myn oppynyouw,
Off lytel reputaci'ouw, 14640
Nor off no prys, thow sholdest be,
Be thyn offyce, (as semeth me,)
To bern A best so cruel,
Vp-on thy bak, Irous and fel." 14644
The Olde Answerde: 3 pst.,om.c.]
' I am she that ful wel kan [stowe, leaf 258]
Scorne and mokke many A man ;
And to myn offyce, yt ys due,
ffolkys lowly to salue. 14648
' Lordys that ben off gret estaat,
On hem I wayte, Erly and late ;
In wrong and ryght, I kan hem plese,
And pleynly to ther hertys ese, 14652
fful gret plesau?ice I kan do ;
My song to hem ys ' placebo,'
And they ful wel vp-on me leve,
I seye 4 nat that sholde hem greue ; [ 4 seye St., sey c.] 14656
And thogh" they kan me nat espye,
Vn-to hem I kan wel lye.
' And my crafft I thus devyse :
I sey to ffoolys, they be wyse, 14660
And to folk that ben hasty,
wise folk
would hunt
her out.
The Pilgrim.
I tell the
second person
who hore
Pride on her
back-
that she's no
good.
OM Flutter;!.
Her descrip-
tion and
office.
To Lords,
she sin^s
placebo ;
slio jilc-asrs
everyone l>y
lying.
396 Flattery lies to folk, and is most welcome at Courts.
[leal 222]
tells tyrants
they are
pitiful.
Flattery ' I afferme l boldely C 1 afferme yt St.]
They be mestirable and ffre,
And off ther port fFul attempre.
' I sey also (off tfals en tent,)
To ffolkys tliat be neclygent,
That they in vertu be besy ;
And to tyrauutys, ful boldely
I afFerme, and sey hem thus,
That they off herte be pytous ;
I swere yt, for to make liem sure.
' And placys ful off old ordure, \
I kan strowhe with Rosshys grene,
That ther ys no ffelthe sene.
And I kan sette (or folk take hed)
A Coyffe vp-on a skallyd heed :
Thys myn offyce, and noon other ;
' And at the kynge's hous, my brother,
I am welkomyd off eue?y man,
So wel to hem I plese kan,
ffor in that court ys no gestour,
I yow ensure, nor tregetour,
That doth to hem so gret plesau?zce
As I do w't/i my dallyaunce,
They han in me so gret delyt.
1 Yet for al that, my?i appetyt
Ys to deceyue hem, grene and rype ;
So swetly \vibh my ffloute I pype,
My song ys swettere, he??2 tagree,
Tha?i off meremaydenys in the se,
Wych, wit/i ther notys that they sowne,
Cause folkys for to drowne
"With ther soote mellodye.
' My ryhtii name ys ' Flatrye,' [= Fiaterye]
Callyd ' cosyn to Tresouw,'
And by dyssent off lynii dou?j
Eldest douhter off Falsnesse,
Cheff noryce off Wykkednesse ;
And aH thys olde ffolk (certeyn)
Her-to-fforn that thow hast seyn,
[icaf2i2,bk.] I cxceptc off hem neuere on,
At kings'
I'-Mirts
no one is BO
welcome as
she.
Her song is
sweeter than
tluit of raer-
inaiiU.
Her name is
' Flattery,'
cousin to
Treason.
14664
14668
14672
[Stowe, leaf 258, back]
14676
14680
14684
14688
14692
14696
14700
Flattery the Nurse of Pride. The Mirror & the Unicorn. 397
' I haue hem fostryd eue?-ychon
"With my mylk, on and alle,
In tast lyk sugre ; but the galle 14704
Ys hyd, they may yt nat espye.
' And, w/t/. my mylk off fflateryo l t 1 fflatrye c. St.]
I was noryce, ami ek guyde, [stowe, leaf 259]
In especyal vn-to Pryde, 14708
Vn-to whom, in sothfastnesse,
I am verray porteresse.
And, that in me ther be no lak,
I bere hyre euere vp-on my bak, 14712
And ellys she, in sowre and soote,
She sholde shortly gon on 2 fote.' [* vnder St.]
The Pylgrym: 3 pst.,om.c.]
Tha/me quod I, " answere to me ;
Thylke merour wych I se, 14716
Wych thow beryst, ther-in to prye,
Tel on, what yt doth sygnefye ! "
Flatrye: 4 [st., .c.]
' Herdestow neuere her-to-forn
Telly n, how the vnycorn, 14720
Off hys nature, how that he
fforgetefch al hys cruelte,
And no manor harm ne doth,
Wha that he be-halt (in soth) 14724
Hys owne hed, and hath a syht
Ther-off, witfr-Inne a merour bryht 'I '
The Pylgrym: 5 pst.,o.c.]
" I haue herd 6 sayd," quod I, " ryht wel [stowe, leaf 250, back]
Ther-oft' the mane?- euery del." [ 6 herd st., her c.] 14728
Flatrye: 7 [7st.,om.c.]
Tliau quod she, ' I wyl nat spare,
Off Ecsouw, Pryde to compare
To the vnycorn (off ryht),
The wych, \vha?& he hath a syht 14732
Off hym sylff in A merour,
And beholdeth the rygour
Off hys port, he bereth hywi ffayrc,
And gynneth wexyn debonayre. 14736
And thys merour (in substauMce)
was nurse to
Pride,
and is lier
Porteress.
Slie hears
' Pride ' upon
her back.
T/te Pilgrim.
I ask Flattery
what her
Mirror
typifies.
Flattery.
As the iini-
corn gives uj)
liis cruelty
when he looks
in a glass,
F'nftery.
so, when
Pride sees
herself in a
mirror,
[leaf 223.
slio (urns
398 Flattery 's Mirror of Agreement. The Serpent Envy.
Flatter ii.
Her mirror is
called ' Ac-
cordance.'
She always
agrees with
Pride,
who then is
not fierce,
and doesn't
poke with her
horn.
Flattery al-
ways agrees
with what
Pride says ;
and is the
Echo
to every one's
talk,
whether right
or wrong.
The Pilgrim.
While we are
talking,
I see an old
woman,
with spears
in her eyes,
[leaf 223, bk.]
gliding on
the grass like
a serpent.
14740
14744
14748
['here St.] 14752
[Stowe, leaf 2CO]
' Ys ycallycl ' Accord aiwce,'
Resownywg ay (be wel certeyn)
To al that pryde lyst to seyn,
To holde wyth hym in ech degre,
Wt't/<-outo, al contraryouste ;
ffor whyl that folk hys wordys preyse,
And on heyhte hys honour reyse,
Al that whyle (in sykernesse)
Pryde leuetli hys fFersnesse,
And ellys, lyk an vnycorn,
He vvolde hurtle w/t/i his horn,
That no thyng, on se nor londe,
Sholde hys cruelte wtt/i-stonde.
' And for thys cause, to my socour,
I ber 1 with me thys merour,
ffro hys sawes nat dyscorde ;
What-euere he seyth, I accorde
And assente ay wel ther-to.
' Who vnderstant, I am Echcho
Among the rokkys wylde and rage,
Wych answere to euery age :
To yong and old, what so they seyn,
I answere the same ageyn,
In ryght and wrong, to ther menyng,
And contrarye hem in no thyng.'
[The Pilgrim:]
And whyl that I held companye
And dalyawice with fflatrye,
Heryng the maner and 2 the guyse P and St., ad c.]
Off hyr deceyt in many wyse,
I sawh an old on, ful hydous,
Off look and cher ryht outragous,
Off whom ful sore I dradde me ;
And in hyr Eyen I dyde se
Tweyne sperys 3 sharp and kene } p sporys St.]
And she glood vp-on the grene, '
(Me sempte, by good avysement)
On all foure, lyk a serpent,
Megre and lene, off chore ami look
And for verray Ire she shook,
14756
147GO
14764
14768
14772
14776
The Serpent-Hag, Envy, carries two others on her bach 399
Dreye as a "bast, voyde off blood,
Hyr fflessh wastyd, (and thus yt stood,)
Men myghte sen bothe nerffe and bon,
And hyr loyntes eue/'ychon). 14780
Other tweyne (I was wel war,)
I sawh, that on hyr bak she bar,
Wonder dredful and horryble,
And to beholde ful terry ble : 14784
[6 lines blank in MS. for an Illumination.]
On off hem (by gret outrage) [stowe, leaf 200, back]
Veylled was in hyr vysage,
That men ne sholde hyr face se,
Nor hyr port in no degre ; 14788
Hyr lokkys wern ryht End and badde ;
In hyr ryht hand A knyff she hadde,
And in hyr lyfFt (as sempte me)
A boyst wit/t oynemewtys had she ; _ 14792
But hyr knyff, stel 1 sharp and kene, ['ffuist.j
Was hyd, that no man myghte yt sen,
Be-hynde hyr bak ful couertly.
The tother vekke, that rood on hill, 14796
Hadde in hyr hand a swerd also,
And (as I took good hed ther-to)
Endelong yt was yset,
fful off Eerys, and y-ffret 14800
Off swych folkys as wer wood.
The toon Ende, (thus yt stood,)
She yt held wit7i-Inne hyr mouth,
Wych was a thyng ful vnkouth. 1 4804
And ther-wit/i-al, she, 2 euere in on, p she St., the c.]
ff aste gnew vp-on a bon ;
And (bettre hede 3 ek as I took,) p hede St., hed c.]
She hadde also a long flessh-hook, 14808
Double-fforkyd at the ende,
Sharp and krokyd for to rende.
The Pylgrym: 4 [*st.,om.c.]
Thys thynges whan I gan beholdo,
Off the wych aforn I tolde, 14812
I abrayd vriih al my peyne ; [stowe, leaf 201]
And off hyre that bar the tweyne
Tfie Pilgrim.
Tlie Serpent-
hag (Envy)
bore two
others on her
back.
One was
veiled,
and held a
knife in her
right hand,
behind her
back.
The other
liau' had a
sword in her
hand.
full of ears,
[leaf 22 4]
(and held one
end in her
mouth,)
and a long
flesh-hook.
400 False Envy is the daughter of Pride, by Satan.
The Pi/grim.
1 ask the hag
(Envy) the
names of the
three.
Envy.
The Serpent-
hag says she
is
False Envy,'
daughter to
I'l-itU- and
Satan.
[leaf 22 1, bk.]
She has upset
every fort and
castle.
She is the
beast that
devoured
Joseph,
as Jacob
thought.
14824
14828
[ J aC.,o). St.]
Vp-on liyr bak / I gan enquere,
That she lyst me for to lere,
And declaren vn-to me
Wheroff they seruede alle thre,
And off that owgly cowpanye
They wolde her namys specefye. 14820
Envye Answerde : x c 1 stowe, leaf 201. om. c.j
' I merveylle nat,' y wys, quod- she,
' Thogh [tliat] thow abaysshed be ;
fEor the trouthe, yiff I shal seye,
We wolde make the to deye
Or thow sholdest yt espye.
'fEor I am callyd 'Fals Envye,'
Douhter to Pryde : why lorn I was
Conceyved wha that Sathanas
By hys cursyd moder lay,
Sythe go fEul many a 2 day ;
And trustly, thogh I be nat ffayr,
I am hys doubter and hys hayr,
Who so lyst seke out the lyne.
'And shortly to determyne,
Who so that consydre wel,
Ther ys strengthe nor castel,
Nouther cyte, borgh" nor touw,
But that I, by fals tresouw,
Haue hew tournyd vp so doura
By slauhtre and gret occis'ioiw.
And haue her-off the lasse wonder,
Wluw I devydede hem assonder.
' I am that beste (who taketh kep)
That devowrede whilom Joseph,
fEor whom lacob, in gret peyne,
Gan to sorwen and co??ipleyne,
Sayde, in hys mortal rage,
How a beste most savage
Hadde hys chyld falsly devowryd,
Wher-off he myghte nat be socouryd ;
He fEelte yt at hys herte roote.
'And vn-to me ys nothyng soote 14852
(The trouthe yiff I shal expresse,)
14832
14836
[Stowe, leaf 261, back]
14840
14844
14847
genes/* 27 Capitulo
Hi'st ia deuorauit
losep . . . St., om.C.
Envy delights in other folks' grief. She'll never die. 401
' But other folkys bytternesse ;
And whan I so ffolk lene and bare,
That ys my norysshyng and welffare
And thus wiih me the game goth :
Gladdest I am, whan folk ar 1 wroth
Thr meschdff (I yow ensure)
Ys my fedyng and pasture ;
The mylk off other mewhys greff ,
Off my fostryng ys most cheff ;
And yiff I hadde ther-off plente,
I sholde be faat 2 in my degre,
And for I ha nat my?z Entent
Off plente, therfor, I am shent ;
I wexe megre, pale and lene,
Dyscolouryd, off verray tene,
As I sholde yelde vp the breth ;
And no thyng so sone me sleth
At alle tymes, as whan I se
Other folk in prosperyte ;
And ther habundauwce in good,
That dryeth and sowketh vp my blood.
(The trouthe, yiff I shal yow teche)
Evene lyk an horse leche.
'And I dar seyn, (in my?i avys,)
Yiff that I were in paradys,
I sholde deye, and nat abyde,
To beholde, on euery syde,
The loye and the ffelycyte
Off hem that ben in that centre ;
To me yt sholde be grete 3 wrong,
ffor to duellyn hem among ;
Yt wolde myw herte assonder rende
And platly, to the worldys ende,
I dar wel cowferme and seye,
I, euvye, shal neuere deye,
Nor in no cas yelde vp the breth ;
ffor he that ys ycallyd ' deth,'
Thorgh-out the worldc, 4 fyually,
Shal be ded as sone as I.
' I am that bestc serpentyne,
PILGRIMAGE.
Envy.
[' arn St.]
14860
Nothing is
sweet to her
but bitterness
to other folk.
Theirsorrows
are her best
food.
Pffattst.] 14864
14868
[Stowe, leaf 262]
14872
14876
14880
[leaf 225]
Nothing so
grieves tier
as the pros-
perity of
others.
Were she in
Paradise,
she'd die at
seeing others'
joy.
P grete St., gret C.]
14884
14888
Yet ' Envy '
shall never
die nut of the
world.
[* worlde St., world C.]
14892
D D
402 The two Spears in the eyes of Envy. One picrst Christ.
Envy
is a Serpent
who hates
every one.
She carries
two spears in
her eyes ;
[leaf 225, bk.]
the one is
called Wrath
of other folks'
Prosperity,
the other,
Joy of their
Adversity.
With the first
Saul, angry
and envious,
tried to kill
David.
14896
14900
14904
14908
With the
other, Christ
wns pierced
to the heart
by Longius.
' Wych, off entent, my sylff enclyne,
With alle folkys to debaate ;
And alle ffolkys ek I haate ;
I loue no thyng (thys the cas)
Hill nor lowe, hault nor baas,
In hevene, erthe, nor in the se ;
I ha despyt off chary te,
And ek also, in every cost, [stowe, leaf 202, back]
I werreye the holy gost ;
And vfiih thys sperys (in certeyne)
Set wit/t-Inne myw Eyen tweyne,
I werreye euery maner whyht ;
I taake noon heed off wrong nor ryht,
Reward off no man alyue.
' And the namys to descry ue,
Off thys sperys that I tolde, [C. & St.]
Wych that thow dost 1 [in me] beholde : '
The Ton ys namyd (Truste me)
' Wrath the off the prosperyte
Off other ffolkys me besyde,
Wher that euer I go or ryde ; '
The tother callyd ys off me, ,
' loye off ffolkys aduersyte : ']
Yt maketh me glad, and nothyng dul ;
And \vith the ffyrste spere, kyng Saul,
He afforcede hym-sylff ther-wz'M,
ffor taslayn 2 kyng Davyd ; [* to ha siayn st.] 1 4920
Hanger 3 fret on hy?rc so sore, [ 3 Aunger st.]
Whara he herde the prys was more
Off Davyd thaw off hyw-sylff , alias !
Off envye (and thus yt was) 14924
He hadde so inly gret dysdeyn,
So gret despyt (ek in certeyn)
That he ne myghte (I ensure)
In hys herte the wo endure. 14928
1 The tother spere off wych I spak
Ther-wit/t was taken fful gret wrak,
ffor ther-wat/i, (who that lyst aduerte,)
Cryst was percyd to the herte [stowe, leaf 203] 14932
By the hand off Longius
14912
14916
Envy's eyes slay like the Basilisk's. Her two Daughters. 403
Envy.
The Jews'
scorn paind
Christ more
than His
death did.
' (As the gospel telleth vs)
Affter hys grevous passiovw.
' And yet (as in conclusions) 14936
Whan he drank Eysel and galle,
Scornyng off the lewe's alle,
Ther mowyng and derys'iouw
"Was to hyw gretter pass'iouw 14940
In hys suffrytig, or he was ded,
Than was the sharpe sperys hed,
Wych, A-mong hys peynes smerte,
Rooff that lord vn-to the herte. 14944 [leaf 226]
' And thys sperys bothe two,
Yplauretyd ben (tak hed her-to)
Myd off myn herte and off my thouhte,
And fro me departe nouht ; 14948
And fro myre eyen (yt ys no doute)
Thys two sperys kam fyrst oute ;
And ther (yiff I shal nat feyne)
They be set lyk homes tweyne, 14952
And Round aboutere envyroiw
They envenyme as poysouw.
' Myn eyen ben off kynde lyk
The Eyen off a basylyk, 14956
Wych, wi't/t a sodeyn look, mew sleyth,
And maketh hem yeldyn vp the breth ;
And who that dwelleth nyh" by me,
He deyeth A-noon as I hym se ;
Ther may no mare hym-sylff for-bere,
But my two douhtres that I bere.
' Yiff thow lyst a whyle dwelle,
At bet leyser they may the telle
Than may I, (on euery syde)
Be cause only that they ryde
Vp-on my bak, at ese and reste ;
flor they ha leyser at the beste,
(Who taketh hed) mor than haue I ;
Therfore oppose hew by and by,
What I am, bothe fer and ner,
And they wyl telle the my manor.' 14972
The Pylgrym : l p st., om. c.]
14960
[Stowe, leaf 263, back]
14964
14968
Envy's two
spears came
from her
and shed
poison round
her.
Her eyes slay
like the eye
of a basilisk,
and kill her
neighbours.
Only her two
daughters
can live with
them,
who ride upon
her back.
Shi> bids me
question
them.
404 Envy's daughter, Treason, carries out her Mother s malice.
I ask Envy's
upper
Daughter
The pilgrim. And fyrst off alle, tho I spak
To hyre that sat vp-on the bak
Off Envye, formest off alle,
Bytter off look as any galle,
As she hadde ben in rage,
Shrowdyd to-forn al hyr 1 vysage,
14976
who she is.
[leaf 226, bk.]
Treano n.
She is called
' Treason,'
by whom is
executed the
malice and
venom of
her mother
' Envy.'
She was first
put to school
under her
father,
who taught
her Sister to
pat men's
flesh.
Eequerynge hyre nat to spare,
What she was, for to declare. [st&c.] 14980
Tresouw Answerde : 2 c 2 st., om . c.]
Quod she, for short conclusions, [St. & c.]
' Yiff thow lyst knowe, I am Tresoiu* ;
And yiff that ffolkys knewen me,
My fellashepe they wolde ffle, 14984
Eschewe yt, but he wer a ffool,
Lete me abyde allone, al sool,
Off me, so peryllous ys the suit.
' ffor thorgh me ys execut, 14988
Off my moder callyd Envye, [stowe, leaf 264]
Al the malys (who kan espye),
Hyr wyl, hyr lust, and hyr lykyng,
And hyr venym in euery thyng. 14992
And, for hyr-sylff may nat fulfylle
Al hyr malys at 3 hyr wylle, pandst.]
Ther-for, off gret Inyquyte,
ffyrst to scole she sette me, 14996
Bad, I sholde myn herte caste
To practyse and lerne faste,
ffynde a way, by soimne 4 vyce [* somwe st., som c.]
Tacomplysshen hyr malyce, 15000
Hyr cursyd fals affecciouw
To putte in execuc'iouw.
'And I wyl tellyn (off entente)
ffyrst wher I to scole wen te ; 15004
Off wyche 5 scole (thys the caas), p wiiiche st., wych c.]
Myw owne ffader mayster was ;
Wych tauhte my sustcr fyrst to frete,
And the fflessh off mew to ete, 15008
As yt were, for the noonys,
Gnawe and Roraige hem to the boonys.
he me sawh the same whylc,
Treason's Father gives her a false Face and a Knife. 405
15016
' ' Koine ner,' qtiod he, ' for vn-to guyle
I se (by cler inepeccioun)
Ys liool thy dysposiciiou ;
To lerne and practyse in malyce
And in every other vyce,
Tliow art off wyt ami komiyng liable
To be fals and d^ceyvable.
Be fals inward, and outward sad, 1 [stowe, leaf 201, bacU]
And ther-off I wyl be glad 1 . [' sadde-ghuiae St.] 15020
Wherso-euere that we gon. 1
' And vfith that word he took A-noon
Vn-to me, by gret corage,
Out off a Boyst, a fals vysage,
Took yt me f ul couertly.
A knyff ek, wych fful prevyly
I am wont to bere vrith me,
Hyd, that ffolk ne may yt se.
' Than my fader gan abrayde,
And to me ryht thus he sayde,
' Douhter,' quod he, ' tak good hede
Yiff the fowlere ay in dede
Showede hys gynnes and hys snarys
To thrustelys and to ffelde-ffaarys,
Hys lymtwygges, hys panterys,
And hys nettys by reverys, 2
Bryddes, ffor al hys grete peyne,
Ther-to wolde neuer atteyne,
But hem eschewe wt't/i al her myght,
Beete her wynges, take her fflyht, 15040
Hys trappes aH, a-noon for-sake ;
ffor wych, douhter, whan thow wylt make
Any tresoun or co??ipace,
Shew outward an humble face ; 15044
Thogh thyn herte be venymous,
And off malys outragous,
(Tak hed her-to, my douhter dere,) [stowe, leaf 205, back, t,.p]
Outward, alway shew good chore ; [stowe, leaf 201, back, foot]
And, to hyde thy vyolence, 15049
T^ooko t.hnw V>P bv ninnroTiPP Nn sunt occtiltaoinres insidie
.ow ue, uy appai ioe, (]H . im (iue i ilt( . riltj sllll simi i itu .
Sootyl off port and off manure,
15012 Trea,on.
Treason's
father says
lier disposi-
tion is wholly
[leaf 227]
to evil.
15024
15028
15032
[' Kyvcrys St.] 15036
He gives her
a false vimige
and a knife.
Her father's
advice and
exhortation.
When she
wants to trick
folk,
she is to show
Koocl rliuur
outwardly.
[leaf 227, l)k.]
406 Treason is to be treacherous like Joab, Judas, Tryphon.
is to imitate
the Scorpion,
look amiable,
and 8ting folk
in the back.
Her father
gives her
a box, oint-
ment.
a sharp knife,
and a false
face.
With these 4
things many
a man has
perished,
as Joab slew
Amasa
(2 Sam. zz.
912).
See also
Judas who
betrayed
Christ;
and read of
Tryphon's
treachery in
thf Macca-
bees (xii. 39
xiii. 1-31).,
[leaf 228]
She is to use
her knife,
'And plesauwt alway off thy chere. 15052
' Do as doth the scorpyouw,
Wych by symulaciouw
Outward (as by resemblauwce)
Ys Amyable off contenaimce, 15056
And at the bak (or folk take hede,)
With styngyng causeth folk to blede.
' And ther-for, off entenci'ouw,
That thow sue hys condiciouw, 15060
I ha the yoven (off entent)
A Boyst her, with an oynement.
Vnder couert, to gyrcne a stryff,
I ha the taken a sharp 1 knyff, p sharp* St.] 15064
And also, for mor avauwtage,
In-to thy hand a fals vysage ;
And vrith thys .iiij. 2 (who rekne kan) pffourest.]
Ther hath perysshed many A man ; 15068
ffor in Regura, ye may se
That loab (thorgh hys cruelte,
As yt ys kouthe, ageyn al ryht)
Slowh Amasa, A 8 worthy knyht. [ the St.] 15072
' Ek whilom in the same caas
Stood the traytour callyd ludas,
Whan he traysshed cryst ihesu
(That blyssyd Jord, off most vertu) 15076
To the lewes fful yore agon. [stowe, leaf 265, back]
And thow mayst Redyn, off tryphon
The ffals tresouw, many weyes,
In the book off Machabeyes. 15080
'And al thys tresouws 4 wrouht off Old,
Vn-tO the I haue hem told, [ alle his Tresoun St.]
To thyw offyce, as yt ys due,
Off entent that thow hem sue ; 15084
And that thow mayst hem wel reporte,
Thyw owne moder to couraforte,
ffor to helpyw hyr ffulfylle
The surplus off hyr owne wylle, 15088
And lat thy couert venym byte.
' Spare nat also to 5 smyte [ 5 for to St.]
Wyth thys knyff, cloos ami secre,
Treason is to blind Lords with Flattery, & then kill them. 407
15096
15100
15104
p fflaterye st., fflatrye c.]
but smear her
face with the
pleasant oint-
ment,
and keep her
poiaou hid.
She is to blear
lords' eyes
with the Oint-
ment of
Flattery.
Kings and
princes are
often de-
ceived by it,
' Whan thow hast opportunyte ; 15092 Treason.
And loke that thow be dyllygent,
Wyth thy plesaiwt vnyment 1 c 1 oynemcnt st.]
Tenoynte-wyth thy vysage,
That men sen nat thyra outrage;
Be war that yt be nat apert ;
Kep al thy venyw in covert,
Ellys thow dost nat worth a lek.
' Shew the outward, ay humble and mek,
Contrayre to that thow art wit^-Inne,
Whan any tresoura thow wylt gywne ;
And looke thow take hed ful offte,
With thy wordys smothe and soffte,
And with thy speche off fflaterya, 2
To blere many a lordys Eye ;
ffor, with enoyntyng off swych thywges,
Lordys, prynces, and ek kynges, [stowe, leaf zee] 15108
Other many dyuers estatys,
Bothe bysshopys and prelatys,
Ha ben ther-wit/t deceyved offte.
' But, for the oynement ys soffte, 15112
They han echon (in ther entent,)
Savour in that oynement ;
They desyre, for ther plesauwce,
That ffolkys in ther dally aurcce 15116
Sey no thyng that hem dysplese,
But al that may be to he? ese,
Wher-so that yt be ryht or wrong.
'Ther-for, my doubter, euer among, 15120
Spare nat Ay to be bold ;
But that thow (as I ha told)
In thy speche and thy language,
With a fflatryng ffals vysage, 15124
Enoynt hew with thys Oynement.
And whan thow hast hem ther-w/t/t blent, /
With tresouw covcryd in thy thouht,
Smyt with the knyff, and spare nouht, 15128
With swych malys and cruelte,
That they may ncue/' recuryd be.
' And whaw. my ffadcr, gou ful yore,
for they de-
sire to liear
only thinKS
pleasant.
She is always
to be bold
in greasing
them with
her flattery,
[leaf 228, bk.]
;mil wlu-n
she's blinded
em,
she's to
wound um
deadly.
408 Treason flatters and stabs; lites and stings to death.
Treason
is sent forth
upon her
mother's
back.
She lias be-
come a great
mistress of
her father's
lore.
She can bite
silently,
and use both
ointment and
knife.
She is like a
serpent hid
by flowers.
[leaf 229]
Her sting is
deadly.
She lies in
wait to
deceive.
'Hadde in scole tauht me thys loore, 15132
Than was I leff t vp on A sak.
HiB vp on my moder bak,
As thow seat, ther-on to Kyde,
And she ageyn to be my guyde. 15136
' And trewly, yiff I shal expresse,
I am bekome A gret maystresse
ffro poynt to poynt, as thow mayst se,
Off that my ffader tauhte me, 15140
Bothe off speche and language,
And to shewe a fals vysage
Whan that me lyst in my?z entent ;
And also with the oynement 15144
Off wych I tolde nat longe ago,
And with the knyff yhyd also
Vnder my cloke : off fals tresouw
I ha lernyd my lessouw, 15148
And reporte yt in my 1 mynde. c 1 my St., <m. c.]
* I kan byte also be-hynde
With my sharpe toth fful wel,
And yet ne berke neueradel. 15152
I kan Enoynten euery loynt,
And affter, with my knyve's 2 poynt, ['knymust.]
Whaw me lyst to make wrak,
I kan wel smyten at the bak 15156
With my tresouw ff raudulent ;
ffor I resemble the serpent,
Wych, vnder herbys fressh and soote,
Ys wont to daren by the roote, 15160
Coueryd with many a lusty fflour.
' But ther ne may be no socour
Ageyii my styngyng, in no degre,
Whan I haue opportunyte. 15164
And vnder colour, by deceyt,
I lygge euermor in awayt,
Simple and coy, off 3 port ful lowe, [ 3 off my St.]
That men my tresouw may nat knowe, 15168
Who-so-euere kometh or goth. [stowe, leaf 267]
' Men ne knowe alway cloth, 4 [ goothe . . . cioothe St.]
Thogh the colour fresshly shynes ;
Treason is hidden and artful. Few escape her nets. 409
1 Nor men ne deme nat 1 alway wynes ; 2
Thogh they blosme or budde fay re,
Som wynd or ffrost may yt apayre,
Or som 3 tempest wzt/t hys rage,
To-f or the tyme off the ventage :
By exaumple, ys off te sene,
Som whilwh ful off levys grene,
Wych hath ful many werm witft-Inne,
That fro the herte wyl nat twynne
Tyl they conswme yt euerydel,
The trouthe her-off ys prevyd wel,
And I resemble (who kan se)
Vn-to the sylue same Tre.
I am the brygge, the plane 4 also,
That vnwarly wyl breke atwo
Whan mew ther-on haw most her tryst ;
My tresouw neuer toforn ys wyst.
' To leue on me, yt ys gret ffolye,
ffor I dar pleynly specefye,
Tak hed, 5 for yt ys no lape,
Yt ys ful hard a man tescape,
Outher by wyt or by resouw,
ffro my nettys off tresouw,
As longe as I haue avauwtage
ffor to bere thys ffals vysage
With" me 6 euer, off entenciou?&,
ffor I am callyd dame Tresouw,
Wych, by 7 the crafft that I wel kan,
Have be-traysshed many a man,
What wi't/i fflatrye and -with ffables.
1 1 pley nouther at ches nor tables ;
And yiff yt happe (ffer or ner)
That I pley at the cheker,
Outher with hih" or lowh estat,
To he?w ful offte I sey ' chek mat '
Wha?j they wene (in ther degre)
Best assuryd for to be ;
flor, by sleyhte off my drawyng,
I ouerkome bo the Rook and kyng ;
ffro myn Engyn ther skapeth noon.
15173
[ 3 sommo St.]
15176
Siic is like
tlie worm in
the heart of
a willow ;
15180
15184
[*piankst.]
15188
like a plank
that will
break.
Her treason
is never
known be-
forehand.
[5 hede St.]
15192
15196
[ 6 st.; c. burnt.]
15200
15204
It's hard to
escape her
nets.
[leaf 229, bk.]
She has be-
trayed many
a man.
When she
plays at
chess,
she mates,
15208
and bents
Hook and
Kk*
None escape.
410
Treason is to kill me, but is stopt by Detraction.
says her
mother
'Envy' lias
charged her
to bring mil
to her, dead.
St. Nicholas
even shall
not help me,
though be
raised three
clerks from
the dead.
The Pilgrim.
She looks like
killing me,
[leaf 220]
but is
restrained by
her sister,
who is to
tell me her
name.
and then join
Treason iii
slaying me.
' Also, off fful yore agon, 15212
Thogh thow kanst yt nat espye,
My moder, that callyd ys Envye,
Hath had to the in thouht and dede
Gret emnyte and gret hatrede ; 15216
Wher-vp-on, she hath to me
Yove in 1 charg to take the, past.]
And comauwlyd, by hyr leue,
Off thy lyff the to be-reue, 15220
And to don myw hool entente,
Ded, to hyre, the to 2 presente ; [ to st., om . c.]
And that thys thyng be do in rape.
' And therfor thow shalt nat eskape ; 15224
Thow stondest in so hard a caas
That the bysshop seyw Nycholas,
ffro deth ne slial nat helpyrc the,
That whilom Eeysede clerkys thro 15228
ffro deth to ly ve (men wry ten so) ; [stowe, leaf aes]
But he hath no thyng now a-do,
The to socoure in no degre,
Ageyn my myght to helpyw the.' 15232
And with that word (yt ys no ffaylle)
She be-gan me to assaylle
fful mortally off look and cher,
And gan aproche and neyhen ner, 15236
Made a maner 3 contenaunce pmanereoffst.]
ffor to smyte by resemblauwce,
Tyl the tother ffoul and old
That stood be-syde stout and bold, 15240
Wit/i-drouli hyr hand, and off fals guyle
Bad hyre to abyde a whyle :
Detracciown 4 : c 4 st., om .c.-\
'Buster,' quod she, 'be nat hastyff !
Lat hyjrc a whyle haue hys lyff,
And abyde a lyte throwe
Tyl that he my name knowe ;
And tharaie ye, and I also,
Shal assaylle hy??i bothe two 15248
So mortally, that he shal deyc,
And eskape no mane? 4 weye.
in tke marain
Pride is to see me die. Detraction and Envy hate me.
411
[i Were St.] 15252
15256
15260
15264
[3 St., om. C.]
15268
' ffor, but I (in myw entent)
Wher 1 at hys deth wit/t yow present,
Myw herte wolde assonder Eyue.
And ye slial sen (her, as blyue) [stowe, leaf 268, back]
Our bothen Awnte callyd Pryde,
Off vyces alle lord and guyde :
But yiff he were with vs also,
He sholde deye for verray wo.
And he hath power most, and myght
And the cause, off verray ryht
To hyra parteneth touchyng deth ;
Ther-for, or any man hyra sleth,
Lat yt be don bassent 2 off Pryde, p by assent]
And we shal stonde by hys syde.'
Traysouw : 3
Quod traysouw, ' I assente wel
That we werkyn euerydel
As ye ha sayd to-forn, and cast ;
But I wolde ha yt done in hast,
That in vs ther wer no lak.'
Than she that sat vp-on the bak,
Ryght hydous off enspecci'oun, 4 [* inspeccioan St.]
I mene sothly, Detracc'iouw
Abrayde, off gret cruelte,
And sayde thus in hast to me :
Detracciouw : 5
1 How artow,' quod she, ' so hardy
To bern a staff so boldely ?
I haate stavys euerychon,
Off pylgrymes, whan they gon [stowe, leaf aeo]
On pylgrymage wher they wende,
Whan they be crossyd At the ende.
In hem I ffynde alway som luk,
And berke at hem behynde her bak
Thogh to-forn I be plesauwt,
And resemble Faulz-semblauwt,
Wych hateth the and other mo ;
So doth my moder ek also,
Whos herte doth for Anger ryve.
'And whyl that thow art her alyvc [ here St.] 15288
Detraction.
Their Aunt,
or Uncle,
Pride,' is
also to be pre-
sent at my
death,
and agree to
it.
Treason.
' Treason '
assents.
[leaf 230, bk.]
The Pilfirim.
15272 'Detraction 1
[5 St., om. C.]
15276
15280
15284
Detraction.
hates pil-
grims with
staffs,
and crosses
at top.
False-Sem-
blant and
Envy hate
me too.
412 Detraction is eager to devour me. She likes rotten carrion.
Detraction
and Envy will
eat me ulive.
No dog is
greedier to
eat raw tlesli,
than Detrac-
tion is to
devour me.
Slie eats
only stinking
1110:1*.
[leaf 231]
gnawing and
chewing it.
The Pilgrim.
I say that
as a smith
can't make an
axe without
steel,
so she can't
(dander with-
out cause.
' We shal the Etyn, fflessli and bon ;
Other grace thow getyst noon
Off vs, thogh thow make stryff ;
ffor thow sawh neuere, in al thy lyfF, 15292
Nor ne koudest yet espye,
Houndys in the bocherye
Mor gredy, rawh flessh to ete,
Than I am now, the to ffrete ; 15296
ffor my throte ys al blody,
Lych a wolff that ys gredy,
Shep in a folde for to strangle,
And to devoure hem in som Angle. 15300
' Stynkynge kareyn, 1 her and ther, [ l kareyns st.]
Ys my f oode most enter ;
In hyllys and in valys lowe,
Lyk a Raven or lyk a crowe, 15304
On swych mosselles most I thynke,
And ha best savour whaw they stynke.
Myn appetyt, yt ys so kene [stowe, leaf 209, back]
I loue no flessh 2 wha?z. yt ys clene ; ['fflesshe St., tiesshiy c.]
Yt mvt stynken north ami south, 15309
Or yt kome wet/i-Inne my mouth ;
And al the felthe that mere seth,
Ys fyrst gnawen in my teth, 15312
And ychawyd vp and douw :
My mayster tauhte me thys lessouw,
Whan that I to scole wente,
To recorde yt in myw entente.' 15316
The Pylgryme: 3 pst.,om.c.]
u I trowe thow koudest forge a-ryht
Yiff thow fouwde day or nyht
Mater or cause to forge by ;
But I suppose verrayly, 15320
No smyth ne may forge wel
An Ax off yren nor off stel ;
But yiff he hadde on off the tweyne
Thogh" he euere dyde hys peyne, 15324
He sholde nat fynde the rnaner how ;
No mor (I suppose) ne kanstow."
Detracciown : 4 [
Detraction devours men's good names, & tears them to lits. 413
' Trewly yiff thow lyst lere,
I kan ffynde ynowh matere : 15328
I am so prudent and so wys ;
Good, I kan tourne in-to malys ;
Trewe inenyng and goodnesse,
I chaunge in-to wykkednesse. 15332
' ffor me, I make ay soin resoiw
By fals Interpretaciouw,
What good werk I se men do.
Wyn in-to water I chaiwge also; 15336
I tourne ek by collusioura
Tryacle to venym and poysouw.
Applys ffayre I kan enpayre,
Thogh they be bothe good and ffayre ; 15340
Worshepe I tourne in-to dyffame ;
On folkys goode, I putte ay blame ;
Ther goode name, in halle and boure,
As Eawh fflessh I kan devoure.' 15344
The Pylgryme: 1 [ist.,oi.c.]
" Her-vp-on I pray the,
Thy name that thow telle me."
Detraccioun : 2 P st., om. c.]
' To make a short desc? > ipciouw,
I am callyd ' Detraccioun '; 15348
Thys the sentence off my lawe :
With my teth I rende and gnawe.
Off folkys fflessh, by gret avys,
I make mortrews and 3 colys [ and eke St.] 15352
Vn-to my moder callyd Envye.
Whan she hath any malladye,
I make hyr sowpe yt vp a-noon,
Whan I ha grounde both flessh and bon. 1535G
' She me made gouemeresse
Off hyr kychene, and maysteresse :
Ther kometh no mete in hyr syhte
But yiff that I to-forn yt dyhte ; 153GO
And hyr thank for to dysserue,
Off strauTzge mes I kan hyr serue,
"With flarsyd Erys ITul off poysoura
Put on A spy to by traysouw. 153G4
sayts he can
always find
material.
She turns
goodness to
malice,
wine to
water,
remedy to
poison.
[leaf 230, bk.]
She devours
men's good
name like
raw flesh.
The Pilgrim.
Her name is
' Detraction.'
She makes
broth of
men's flesh,
for ' Envy,'
her mother,
and sorvos
her with r:irs
si ul't with
poiiton.
Her office is
to wound,
414 Detraction's Tongue is sharp ; her Fleshhook rends fame.
Detraction. * Swetteie tha/z samoutt outher karp,
My tonge ys, that spyte sharp
Wych hath the ofFyce and the charge
ffor to make a woiwde' large ; 15368
Yt kerueth sharpe, and mor narwe
Than any quarel or hookyd arwe,
Thogh the bo we be stronge bent
fFro the place that yt ys sent : 15372
Wyth wych fful many a 1 man ys kut. [' a c., om. st.]
' And on thys spyte, the Erys be put,
Off folk that yiven audyence,
ffor to heryn the sentence 15376
And thabomynable sown
Off sklaundre and off detraccioiw,
ffor to lestene hem fer or ner.
And thus I Am maad hasteler 15380
ffor to do my 2 bysynesse, [stowe, leaf 270]
To serue my moder in hyr syknesse.' [* done my fui St.]
The Pylgryme : 3 c 3 stowe, leaf 271, om. c.]
" Wherfor," quod I, " berstow that Crook,
Dowble-forkyd as a flessh-hook ? " 15384
Detracciovw : 4 C 4 st., om. c.]
' Tak hed,' qtiod [s]he, 6 ' and thow shalt se [ 5 1 c., st.]
How that I werke in my degre :
ffyrst off aH (yiff thow lyst lere),
Whan I percyd haue an Ere 15388
Thorgh-out, and fynde no dyffence,
Tha?i I do my dyllygence,
With my flesshhook to a-proche ;
And ther-wtt/i-al I do acroche, 15392
Rende away, vfit?i som fals blame,
The Renoura and the goode name
Off folke, 6 thogh ther be no preff ; [ 6 ftoike st., ffoik c.]
ffor I am wers thaw ys a theff, 15396
Wych day and nyht doth hys labour,
ffro merz to stelyn ther tresour.
' But I stele off entenciourc
Ther goode fame and ther renowz, 15400
which is Wych (shortly for to specefye)
worse than
robbery. Ys wors thaw any roberye.
[leaf 231]
by slander
and detrac-
tion.
The Pilgrim.
Detraction.
When she
has pierst
an ear,
her fleshhook
takes away
good folks'
name,
Detraction is a thief, and cooks men's repute as Soup. 415
Pronwbiorww 22 Ctipitulo
Melius eat nomou bonum
UiuiciJB.
The Pylgryme: 1 [st.,om.c.]
" Than, record off thyra owne mouth,
Thow art a theff, both north and souht ; 15404
ffor a good name (I dar expresse)
Ys bet than gold or gret rychesse."
Detraccioun : 2 p st., om. c.]
' Thow mayst wel seyn yt off Resoura ;
ffor, as the wyse Salomouw 15408
In hys provcrbys bereth wytnesse,
That gold, tresour, and gret Rychesse,
A good name doth wel al surmounte, pkanst.] 15411
Who that lyst 3 a-ryht acounte.
' And her-vp-on I make A preff,
That ther ys noon so perillous theff
As he that steleth a- way the flame, 15415
The renouw, and the goode 4 name [ goode St., good c.]
Off a man in hys contre,
Off malys and Inyquyte ;
ffor swych A thetf (be wel certeyn)
May yt nat restore ageyn ; 15420
5 And with-oute Restitution [* * St., om. c.]
ShaH I neuere ha fful pardon ;
I shaH be asshamydl sore,
His goode Name to Restore, 15424
That I hadde onys sayde certeyn,
For to Revoke my worde ageyn. 5
Myn Awnte (I wot ryht wel also) [stowe, leaf 272]
Wolde nat accorde ther-to.' 15428
The Pylgrym : 6 [." stowe, leaf 272, om. c.]
" I wolde wyte what thow dost than,
Whan thow hast Robbyd thus A man
Off hys honour and goode 4 ffame :
What dostow thanne \viih hys name?" 15432
Detraccioun : 7 C 7 st -. - C
' I wyl answere to thy demauTide :
I 8 maake a maner off vyauwde [AndSt.]
Off that name douteles ;
And next, affter the fyrste mes, 15436
Wyth swych A Coolys I hyr serue,
Ellys she sholde for hunger sterue :
The Pilgrim.
I call her a
Thief,
for, n Solo-
mon shows,
[leaf 232, bk.]
a g<xxl name
is above
richeB,
and, once
stolen,
cnnnot he
restored.
The Pilijrim.
I cook the
name
and nerve it
to my mother
Knvv us a
Simp for lu-r
416 Detraction is worse than Hell, and hurts holy folk.
Detraction.
This cheers
Envy,
and she
makes De-
traction her
Cook and
Potager.
The Pilgrim
says 'I never
saw a worse
Beast than
you are.'
Detraction.
[leaf 238]
Hell can
only hurt
those whom
it binds,
and cannot
injure the
holy.
Detraction '
hurts the
present and
absent,
pond folk as
well as bud,
even St. John,
were he in
earth.
'Thys secouwde cours (yt ys no dred,) 15439
Doth gret good Vn-to hyr lied J 1 [ l drede . grete goode / . hede St.]
Whaw she hath sowpyd that potage,
Off verray custoom and vsage ;
ffor wycS I am mad 2 ' cusyner/ p mad o. st.]
And for hyr mouth, ' cheff potager.' ' 15444
The Pylgryme : 3 P st., om. c.]
" ffor auht that I espye kan
Sythe tyme that the world began,
I sawh never, nor fond or now, [stowe, leaf 272, back]
A werse best thaw art thow." 15448
Detracciouw : 4 [ st., om. c.]
' Al ys trewe that thow dost telle,
ffor I am wers thaw any helle ;
ffor trewly helle hath no myght
To don harm to Any whyht 15452
But to the ffolk that he hath bouwde.
' But I kan hurte, and make a wouwde,
Nat only to folk present,
But vn-to hem that ben absent. 15456
Helle ek (as I telle' kan,)
May damage noon hooly man ;
ffor thogh in helle wer sey?i lohn),
Off peyne sholde he ffelyn noon, 15460
ffor hys parfyt hoolynesse
Sholde lyhte al ther dyrknesse,
And quenche also (yt ys no drede)
The brennynge ek off euery glede. 15464
' But I kan hurte (truste me,)
An hundryd myle by-yownde se.
ffro my wondyng, (thys no iape)
By absence no man may eskape. 15468
Afftere, I hurte in absence
Mor Grevously thaw in presence,
Goode folk as wel as badde,
That to-forn good renouw hadde. 15472
' Trust ek wel (yiff thow lyst knowe)
Yiff seyw lohn) were in erthe lowe,
That hadde for hys perfectyouw
And holynesse, so gret Renoura, 15476
Detraction's power. I attack her, Envy, and Treason. 417
' ffor aH hys vertues good and fay re,
Yet I koude hys name apayre
By tfals report, and that ful hlyue ;
ffor ther ys noon so good alyve, 15480
ISTor neuere was, in-to tliys day,
But that I koude fynde a way,
Hys name and hys vertues alle,
ffor tapeyre hem or apalle, 15484
By som fals wynd reysed aloff te ;
And so I haue don ful off te ;
Swych ys my condiciouw
Wych callyd am ' Detracciouw." 15488
The Pylgrym : [Stowe, onleaf273,om.C.]
And whan L longe lestnyd hadde,
Gretly in my herte I dradde ;
And, to w/t/i-stonde hys cruelte,
I caste for to armen me, 15492
Lyst that thys thre wolde a-noon,
By assent vp-oii) me gon,
Affter that Detracciouw
Hadde maade an ende off hyr sarmoim, 15496
Wt't/i-outew any mor abood ;
ffor they round aboute stood,
Echon redy me tassaylle [stowe, leaf 273, back]
Mortally, as by 1 batay lie. [Hnstj 15500
ffyrst I lookede me be-hynde,
And gan enqueryw off my my?de,
To taken me my swerd in haste,
Or I eny ferther paste ; 15504
Gaff also to hyro in charge,
Ifor to taken me my targe ;
ffor shortly, loyscr hadde I noon,
Other Armure to done vp-on. 15508
And, lyk to my comauwlement,
She took hem me off good entent,
In hope they sholde me avaylle.
And I be-gan hew to asaaylle, 15512
Sette vp-on, to my power.
And they, malycyous off chcr,
Seynge I wolde me dyffende
PILGRIMAGE. K K
Detraction
can Must any
man's reputa-
tion, however
good he is.
[leaf 233, t.k.]
The Pilgrim.
I fear attack
from Knvy,
Treason and
Detraction,
and arm my-
self,
take my
sword and
shield,
and assail my
foes.
418 A white Dove affrights my Foes. I meet Wrath.
The Pilgrim.
But they
charge me.
The white
dove alights
on my head,
[leaf 234]
and frightens
my enemies.
They desist,
threatening
vengeance
on me when
Grace Dieu
is away.
The dove
disappears.
I meet one
armed with
sharp niiil -;,
like a hedge-
hog,
[leaf 234, bk.]
girt with
a falchion,
Gan Att onys on me descende 155 1C
Lykly tahaue had the bet off me,
Hadde nat the whyhte dowe be,
Wych, me to couwforte in my dred,
Alyhte adouw vp-on myw hed, 15520
[6 lines blank in MS. for an Illumination.]
And goodly gan me to couwforte,
Makyng myn Emnyes to resorte
ffor verray ffer, and stonde asyde,
That they durste nat abyde 15524
But off maalys cryede out, [stowe, leaf 27*]
And, on me gan make a shout,
Swoor (I haue yt wel in mynde,)
Yiff they myghten euere fynde 15528
Me at large, by any way,
Whaw. Grace Dieu wer 1 gon away [ J wer St., when c.]
They wolde (thorgh her cruelte)
Vp-on me avengyd be. 15532
And how yt ffyl, I wyl nat spare,
Vn-to yow for to declare.
Off me trewly, thus stood the caas :
Whan that I delyuered was 15536
Off my dedly mortal foon,
Yt fyl so, and that a-noon,
The whyte dowe had take hyr flyght.
And was agon out off my syht 15540
Vn-to hyr lady Grace dieu,
Wych that hath so gret vertu.
Tharaie off me, thus yt be-fyl.
As I wente toward an hyl, 15544
With on I mette, hydous and wykke,
And al hys body Arm yd thykke
Wt't/i hallys that wer sharp and kene :
And as I koude deme and sene, 15548
Lyk a skyn off an yrchown
He was arrayed vp and douw,
Ygyrt \vith a brood f awchon ; [c. & St.]
In euery hand a callyoun, [? caniou, a flint stone] 15552
Out off wyche (yt ys no doute)
The rede fyr gan sparklyn oute ; [stowe, leaf 274, back]
Wrath describes himself. His delight is in Vengeance. 419
And yt sempte by hys vysage
That he was ffallyn in A rage ; 15556
And in hys mouth A sawe off stel
He bar, that was endentyd wel
[7 lines blank in MS. for an Illumination.]
With teth ffyled for to byte ;
And lyk as thogh he wolde smyte, 15560
He caste hys look vn-to me-ward.
And whan I took ther-to Keward,
Aud off hys port gan haue a syhte,
I Axede hym what that he hihte. 15564
Wrathe : X P In Stowe's hand, C, Wraththe St.]
' Tak thys,' quod he, ' in wordys fewe :
I am kome for to shewe
To the (off hoi entenciouw)
ffully myw occupaciiouw, 15568
As thow shalt wyte wt't/i-Inne A throwe.
And yiff thow lyst my name knowe,
I am the olde, most owgly,
Skywned rowh and yrchownly ; 15572
Myn heer vntressyd and vndyht,
And in Ordre nat kempt A-ryht,
Douhter to that Eowhe yrchouw
Wych euere (in hyr entenc'iouw) 15576
Ys to vertu grettest Enniy ; [stowe, leaf 2753
With, whos prykkes mortally
She hath hyr sylff Enarmyd me,
To shewe outward my cruelte.
And who-euere to me aproche,
A-noon I marke liym wz't/i my broche,
Perce hy?re thorgh, by gret vengauwce :
ffor thys my loye and most plesauwce, 15584
Voyde off mercy and al pyte,
Euere for tavengyd be
On aH that do me any wrong ;
ffor off power I am mor strong, 15588
That god only, off hys suffrauwce,
Hath in myrc hand yput vengaunce
And fully execucioxw,
By lettre and by cowmyss'ioufi : 15592
The Pilgrim.
and a steel
saw in his
mouth.
I ask his
name.
His name and
occupation.
He is (lie
rough-skind
son of the
hedgehog,
daughter of
Virtue's
greatest foe.
[C.&St.] 15580 [leaf 235]
He is void
of mercy and
and is clothed
with venge-
ance nml
execution.
420 Wrath' s name is ' Touch me not.' He makes folk bestial.
is sharper
than bramble
or thorn,
or any hedge.
His name is
'Noli me
tangere,'
' touch me
not.'
He i void of
all reason,
[leaf2S5,bk.]
blinding
people,
.iinl making
them bestial.
' ffor wych I am (in myn Entcnt)
Deyngnows and inpacyent,
Mor sharp (behynden and beforn,)
Than brembel, or any maner thorn. 15596
And who that 1 lyst to close hys vynes, [>sost.]
Or Rouwd abouten hys gardynes
"With my sharpnesse eloos aboute,
He sholde ha no maner doute 15GOO
Off entryng in, nor off no ffon ;
ffor hegh so sharp ys makyd noon
So stronge wrouht, nor so myghty,
That ys drad so myche as I,
Nor so despytous by to pace. [stowe, leaf 275,
' My name callyd in ech place
Ys thys, ' Noli me tangere ' ;
ffor I haue ' carmen et ve ' ; 15608
Thys to seyne, (yiff yt be souht)
Be war that thow touche me noiiht.
With me I haue (Eve and morwe)
Lame/z tacioiw, dool and sorwe ; 15612
ffor I, devoyde off al Resoim,
Wyl cachche A-noon occasi'oiw
(Thogh" that ther no cause be)
A-noon for to avenge me [c. &st.] 15616
I putte al folk in swych affray.
' And as a Bakke at mydday
ffleth, and yet may se no syht
Thogh that the so?me shynli bryht, 15620
Ryght so, off malys and off pryde,
Wherso-euere that I abyde,
I blynde ffolkys off al Resou7^,
And, for lak off descreciouw, 2 [ 2 dyscreowjm st.] 15624
I cause ]\em that they may nat so
But bestyally in tlier degre.
I trouble he??i (in especyal)
That they be verray bestyal ; 1 5628
I make hem looke pale and megre,
Yive he?u vergows and vynegre
To encresse her trouble and 3 wo, pandc., o.st.]
And yive hem other sawtys mo; 15632
Wrath makes folk revengeful, and is litter as Wormwood. 421
' Mor to folkys colleryk
Than to folkys fflewniatyk.
' I make also (as I wel kan) [stowe, leaf 270]
In the ffyrmament off a man 15636
"Whom that phylosoffres Alle
' The lasse world ' a mara they callc
In thcr bookys (so they wryte) ;
And in that world I kan excyte 15640
The wyndes off dyssenciouw
And thondrys off rebellious.
' I dyrke (wtt/i-oute Awysement)
Ther wyt and ther entendement, 15644
And clypse also ther Resouu
(ffor lakkyng off dyscreci'ou/i),
And cause hew to ben despytous,
Vengable and maleucolious, 15648
I am so verray serpentyne.
' Whan Ire doth my?i herte myne,
I am so venymows (in soth),
I bolle as any crepawd doth ; 15652
I make blast, I bio we and yelpe ;
I am the by cliche gret -with whelpe,
That whelpeth kenetys off meschaimce,
Euere redy to do vengaunce. 15656
In loue, I kan ha no swetnesse,
ffor, I haue mor sharpnesse
Than outlier brambel, bussh or brere.
' And I am ek (as thow shalt lere) 15660
"NYlian I am steryd in my blood,
Mor sowr an/1 bytter tha?i wormood ;
Ne wer vengauuce, I wer but lorn,
ffor, I am the sharpe thorn 15664
Off Wycll (by de.SCr/pciOUn) [Stowe, leaf 276, back]
Iudicu/ maketh nienci'ouw, K^rodiat,,,- u iwn ,uu,. iiuiic >.
Offttula. C., uui. M.
Off wych the ffyr sprang out A-noon,
And }>rente the cedrys euerychon. 15668
ffor who ne toncheth, in myn Ire,
W/t// Anger I renne anoon affyre,
AVlian any wynd at me dotli bknvr,
may yt by the smoke knowc.
In man, the
lllil'1-lK-OSlll (If
less world.
Wratli
avnikens
darkens their
wit,
and eclipses
their reauon.
He iii as
venomous as
a toud,
[leaf i:i]
and sliarjwr
than briar or
bush,
or than the
liramMe of
Jothuin,
wliich liiirnl
tin: cTilar*
lias two hard
stones,
to cause fire,
422 Wrath's stones, Despite and Strife. Sis iron, Impatience.
wrath < I hurtle thys harde stoonys tweyne,
Smyte fyr -with al my peyne ;
Make the sparklys out to gon ;
And yiff I hadde ynowh bronstoon, 15676
I sholde (off malys, in my werkyng,)
Sette affyre al maner thyng
"WWi-oute mercy or respyt.
' On off thys stonys ys ' Despyt ' 15680
YcaUyd / the tother hyhte 'Stryff' :
Wz't/i wyche tweyne, al my lyff
I haue, in hih" and lowe estaat,
Mad folkys offten at debaat ; 15684
And off thys two, by mortal lawe,
Whylom forgyd was thys 1 sawe, [myst.]
The wych, (As thow mayst beholde)
Wiih-In my sharpe teth I holde ; 15688
And in the forgyng, ek ther-wit/i
The hamer Stryff, despyt the Stytfc. 2 [* stythe St., styhhe c.]
' And the yren (by sentence)
Callyd was ' Inpacyence' 15692
Wych was dolven out off helle,
Wher that blake ffendys dwelle.
And (yiff thow lyst sen al the caas,) [stowe, leaf 277]
Thus the sawe endentyd was, 15696
And al teth set by and by
Wrouht by me f ul crafftyly.
' ffyrst (as I shal her expresse,)
A lady callyd ' Eyghtwysnesse,' 15700
Smyth and also forgeresse
[a line blank in C. ; no gap in St.]
Off al vertues, rekne echon,
Hyr sylff hem forgeth, on by on ; 15704
And she hath (in conclusiiouw,)
A ffyle callyd ' Correcc'iouw '
With wych (thogh yt be nat soote)
She ffyleth synnes to the roote, 15708
That no Eust (I the ensure)
May ther kankren nor endure,
She skoureth yt a-way so clene,
That noon ordure may be sene. 15712
Despite 'and
Strife : '
these forged
the Saw he
holds in big
teeth,
made by the
hammer
Strife
[leaf 236, bk.]
out of the
Iron Impa-
tience, which
was dug out
of hell.
' Righteous-
ness '
with the file
of ' Correc-
tion '
Wrath's Saw cuts love in two> & divided Jacob and Esau. 423
15716
15720
[i sharp* St., sharp C.]
15724
[Stowe, leaf 277, back]
' And yet she hath assayed offte,
Wit/i hyr ifyle (no thyng soffte)
Vp-on my cursyd yren hard,
Eebel, rusty, and fro ward,
ffor to do the rust a-way.
And as she fylede day be day
Vp-on my yren, rowh and old,
Ther-off she made (as I ha told)
Thys sharpe 1 sawe (in verray dede)
Wych that callyd ys ' Hatrede.'
And wyth thys sawe (tak hed her- to)
Ys I-sawhe and kut a two,
Payfyt loue and vnyte,
Concord and ffraternyte ;
Off charyte and allyauwce
Maad also dysseueraunce ;
Yt cut a two ech vertu.
' In lacob and Esav
Thow mayst sen a pleyn fygure
Yiff thow rede the scrypture :
Thys sawhe made hem gon assonder,
The Ton her, the tother yonder ;
And longc" 2 tyme assonder were, ["longe St., long c.]
1 And thys sawhe also I bere
(As thow sest) her in my mouth
Wher-euere I go, both Est and south,
Off entent (be wel certeyu)
Whan-euere I pray, or sholde seyn
My pater noster nyht or day,
Tlianne I sawhe my-sylff a-way
ffrom the hooly trynyte :
I preve yt thus, (as thow mayst se,)
1 pray god (off entenc'iouw)
Off my synnes to han pardou,
Evene lyk to my socour
So 3 I forgyve my neihhebour.
In my prayere ek I sette,
That he forgyuii me my dctte
As I forgyve folk thoffence
That to me dyde vyolence ;
ffled this Sav
night and
day,
which severs
concord and
fraternity,
15728 [leaf 237]
Odenit ergo Esau lacob Pixit-que venient dies
vt occidaw* lacob. Genam .27. capitulo
15732
15736
15740
15744
[3 AS st.] 15748
as in the case
of Jacob and
Esau.
[Camb. proio,
cap. oxlix.]
Wrath bears
thin Saw
always,
and turns
it a<*ainftt
himself in
prayer.
42 -i Wrath makes Murderers, and slew Apostles and Martyrs,
Wrath
never for-
gives his foes,
and so his
prayer fails.
[Camh. prose,
cap. cl.J
[leaf 237, bk.]
Satim first
bore Wrath's
saw.
His falchion
makes
knights of
his own con-
dition,
\J (
^ A
i
murderers
like Barab-
bas.
Tyrants like-
wise wore it,
when they
slew the
Apostles and
Martyrs.
Kings should
hunt them
out.
' And to conclude, (yiff yt be soulit,)
I forgyve her-off 1 ryht nouht; E 1 ther off St.]
Than muste yt folwe (off equyte)
My prayere ys ageyn[e]s me : 15756
To- ward my-sylff (by mortal lawe) [stowe, leaf 278]
Wrongly I tourne tliys ylke sawe
In the wych ys no profyt,
Worshepe, honour, but fals delyt, 15760
But gret damage and harm ful offte.
' And he that sholde stonde aloff te,
Holdynge thys sawhe (thys the caas,)
He ys be-nethe, and stont most baas; 15764
In signe wheroff, (who lyst knowe,)
Sathanas, he ys most lowe,
Wych fyrst off alle bar thys sawe.
'My fawclioura ek, wha?i I yt drawe, 15768
Wych that hangeth by my syde
Ther-wzt/t offte I kan provyde
To maken (off Entenc'iouw)
Knyhtys off my condicioun ; 15772
Swych I mene, in ther degre,
As thys mordererys be.
Ther-wyth I gyrde hem euerychon,
Off wyche Barrabas was On, 15776
As he that was an homycyde.
' And looke ek on the tother syde,
Tyrauwtys wer gyrt wz't/i thys 2 fawchoun [*thest.]
Wha;z they (\vith ful gret pass'iou?i) 15780
Slowhe thapostellys ek also,
And holy martyrs bothe t\vo
Swych tjTau?jtys, in ther rage,
Lyk to bestys most savage 15784
Tournyd were fro ther Resou/t,
Wors than Beere, boor or lyoun,
Wych that dwelle in wyldernesse. [stowe, leaf 278, back]
' And ryhtful kynges, iu sotlmesse, 15788
Sholde liunte hem out, and at hem cliace,
AVlier they dwelle in Any place,
Both beforn and ek behynde,
Kather thaw outlier liert or hynde. 15792
Wrath and Tribulation rush to attack me.
425
[' my St., thy C.]
' Ther-for, wzt/i-outc wordys mo,
Be Avysed what thow wylt do ;
Yiff thow wylt stonden at dyffence,
Ageyn me maken resystence
With thy swerd, and wtt/< thy targe,
"Wych that ys so brood and large :
Off hem I haue no mane?- doute,
Be cause thow art nat wit/j-oute,
The to dyffende, fro poynt to poynt,
Clad a-bove w/t/i a purpoynt ;
And I shal ek (yt ys no drede)
Haue helpe, yiff yt be nede,
Ageyns the to do vengaiwce
The to bryngen to outraurace.'
The pilgrym : l [' I Stowe's hand. The Pylgrym St.]
" Be war, touche me nat," quod I ;
" ffor yiff thow do, (fynally,)
I am cast, in my 2 dyffence,
ffor to make resystence
As longe as me lasteth breth ;
fful myghtyly vn-to the deth,
I shal nat spare, (yt ys no faylle)."
And ffyrst he gan me thus assaylle ;
Hys callyourcs to-gydre he smoot [stowe, leaf 270]
Tyl they gan to wexen hoot,
And ther-wit& he gan loude crye.
And than at erst I gan espye ;
ffro the hyl descendyng douw,
Kam vfiih hym ' Trybulaciotwt,'
Off stature gret and large
Wit/j-oute sheld or any targe.
To mo-ward she gan hyr dresse.
In hyr hand, (by gret duresse,)
A gret hamer I beheld ;
And in the tother hand she held
A peyre off pynsouns ek ther-wytl
And A Barmfel off A smyth,
At hyr brest she hadde vp-bou?dc.
Tribulacion : 3 [SlnStowe'shaml. Trybulat-ioii St.J
Quod she to me, ' thow art wel fou/ale.
15800
15804
15808
15828
[leaf 238]
The Pilgrim.
[Not in
Camb. prose.]
I defy Wrath.
15812
15816
15820
15824
He knocks
his rlints to-
gether,
and shouts,
and comes
against me
with 'Tribu-
lation '
[In Camb.
prose iv. 15.]
arnid with
a great Ham-
mer
and a pair of
Pinchers.
426 Tribulation is Heaven's Goldsmith, and makes Crowns.
^Tribulation
was sent by
' Ire,'
[leaf 238, bk.]
and doe*
not fear my
weapons.
The Pilgrim.
I ask the use
of her tools.
Tribulation
says that if
she had an
anvil she
would forge
me a Crown
of Life.
She is the
Goldsmith
of Heaven,
and forges
Crowns of
Paradise.
' Thow knowest (I trowe, in thyrc entent)
That Ire hath me to 1 the sent : [ l vntost.] 15832
Thys sawe shal me ber record ;
ffor he and I ben off accord ;
Mawgre thy myght, thow mvst ley douw
Her, affor me, thy Bordouw. 15836
* Thow hast nat On, in thy dyffence, [st. & c.]
No Gambysoiw 2 off pacyence, p St., c. burnt]
For off thy targe 2 and off 3 thy swerd p Targe / nor st.]
I am in no wyse afferd; 15840
They may no thyng avaylle the,
ffor to ffyhte ageynes 4 me.' [* ageyns c., st.]
tllG pilgrym : 5 [ 5 In Stowe's hand. The Pylgryin St.]
" Touchyng thy name, me lyst nat lere ;
But off the I wolde enquere, 15844
Wher-off thy/i Instreumentys thre
Servyn, that thow beryst -with the."
[ 6 In Stowe's hand. Trybulacion St.]
' Myw instrumentys (in wordys ffewe)
Declare openly, and she we 15848
(Shortly in conclus'ioura)
What ys myw occupaciiouw.
Me wanteth no thyng but a styth,
But I sholde, lyk a smyth, 15852
fforge A-noon (wz't/i-oute stryff)
Vn-to the A crowne off lyff.
But, for cause (yiff thow ha mynde)
That thy Styth ys lefft behynde 15856
Off neclygence, ther thow gost,
Thow stanst in pereyl to be lost.
And for thy styth ys now away,
I shal the smyten, yiff I may ; 15860
Thaw thow shalt, wt't/i-Inne A trowe, 7 p throwe st.]
My koraiyng and my crafft wel knowe.
' I am gold-smy th (in sothnesse)
Off hevene, and the forgeresse 15864
Wych in erthe (by gret avys)
fforge the crownys off paradys ;
ffor \vith my w hamer, mor and more [stowe, leaf aso]
I batre the metal wonder sore, 158G8
Tribulation's Hammer of Persecution & Tongs of Distress. 427
' ffor to preve wel the metal
That yt be founde good at al,
By assay, bothe ffer and ner.
And in A ffurneys bryht and cler,
To preve yt good, (as I the tolde)
With my Toongys I yt holde
fful offte sythe, and spare yt nouht.
And whan I ha the trouthe out souht,
And ffynde that ther be no let,
Yiff yt be good, I make yt bet.
Yiff yt be wykke, (truste me,)
I make yt wors (as ffolk 1 may se).
' Myw hamer, by descrypcioura,
Ys callyd ' persecucioiw,'
Wych doth to ffolk ful gret offence :
Whaw the doublet off pacyence
Ys devoyded from her bak,
Than go, farewel, al goth to wrak ;
Ther manhood and ther renouw
Al tourneth to confusi'ouw.
' lob, whilom by pacyence,
Hadde yt On in hys dyffence,
And other seyntys, fer and ner
Rehersyd in our kalender.
1 My toonges (as I shal expresse)
Ben ycallyd ek 'Dystresse,'
Wych that werkyn to an herte
fful gret anguissh and gret smerte ; 15896
And in a pressour off gret peyne [stowe, leaf aso, back]
They kan ful offte A man dystreyne
Bothe wit/i-outen and wit/i-Inne,
As gold ffoyl ybetyn thywne.
Swych pressyng (who kan espye)
Causeth, from a ma?ihys Eye,
The salte terys dystyllc doiw,V
Mukynge A demonstraciouw,
And an evydent massage
Off sorwe in herte and gretu 2 rage [' grete St., gret c.]
' Thys Barmfel also that I were,
And a-ffor my brest yt bere,
betters metal
15872 [leaf 239]
tests it iu a
furnace,
15876
[J men St.] 15880
15884
15888
15892
improves
good metal,
and worsens
bad.
Her Hammer
is called ' Per-
secution,'
with which
she over-
comes
patience.
Her tongs are
Distress,
and squeeze
a man as thin
as gold foil.
15900
15904
[C.&St.] 15908 [leaf 239, bk.]
428 Tribulation's Apron of Shame. She threatens me.
Tribulation.
Her breast-
apron is Con-
fusion or
Shame.
,
She will
smite me on
the back,
to fulfil Ire's
desire ;
and 1 shall
burst or
groan.
' Empty ves-
sels make
most sound.'
The unvirtu-
ous have no
peace when
persecuted.
[leaf 240]
' Callyd ys by ryhtful name [c. & st,]
' Confusions ' or ellys ' Shame ' ;
As thus (for to specefye)
Whan I do swych tonnentrye 15912
Wiih my bytter peynys strong
Be yt ryht or ellys wrong
To don execuc'iouw
Outher be cyvyle or kanoun ; 15916
The shame ther-off, and the 1 outrage, [' gretc st.]
Shewyd ys in the vysage ;
And most he hath occas'ioun,
That most hath persecution;*. 15920
' And I shal preue A-noon by the,
Yiff thovv koraie ashamyd be.
I shal assaye for to smyte
Vp-on thy bak, my sylff taquyte 15924
ffor to fulffylle the talent [stowe,ieaf28i]
That Ire hath in hys entent
Enclosyd by ful mortal lawe.
ffor whyle that Ire bereth the sawe, 15928
Thow shalt, by persecuc'iouw,
Outher breste, or make a soun
Outward, as by som gruchchyng,
Or by som noyse in c6??ipleynyng : 15932
A voyde vessel, pype, or tonne,
Whan the lycour ys out Ronne,
Who smyt ther-on / vp / or doun,
Yt maketh outward a gret soun, 15936
Mor thaw to-forn, whan yt was ful ;
And therf<5re, who that ys dul
And voyde off vertu (douteles)
By pacyence kan ha no pes, 15940
Whan he, by trybulac'ioiw,
Suff reth 2 persecuc'ioun, [ 2 suffrethe my st.]
Wrong, or any maner wo :
Adonay me tolde so, 15944
Whan she me made fyrst a smyth,
ffor to forge vp-on hyr Styth.'
the pilrm : 3 [ 3 I Stowc's liainl, C. The Pylgrym St.]
" Yiff thovv be makyd by offys
Tribulation's 1st Commission from King Adonijah. 429
" (As thow seyst) smytli off paradys, 15948
Mak me no dylac'iou,, [stowe, leaf 2si, back]
But shewe me thy commyssicnm,
Thy power also, and thy myght,
That I may sen hem A-non ryht. 15952
ffor, but I se hem, trusts me,
I wyl in no thyng leue the
Off al that euere thow hast me told."
And she, out off A box ful old, 15956
Took out A Commyssionrt,
And sayde, lyk hyre entenci'oura :
*
['In Stowe's hand, C. Trybulac/on St.]
The Pitprim.
I ask Tribu-
lation to show
me her Com-
mission.
' Se thys,' quod she, ' and rede yt wel,
And looke yt ouer Euerydel, 15960
And ther-vp-on the wel avyse.
Yiff that it may nat suffyse,
I shal the shewe A-nother to,
Wych I haue wt't/i me also : 15964
Eed hem bothe, and thow shalt se
My power and Auctoryte.'
[8 lines blank in MS. for an Illumination.]
the pilgrym : 2 [* In Stowe's haml. Tlie Pylgrym St.]
And whan they worn vn-to me take,
A-noon I gan me redy make, 15968
liedde he? bothe two yffere ;
And fynally, yiff ye lyst hero,
And to me yiven Audyence, [St. & c.]
This was the fyrste, as in sentence. [st.&c.] 15972
The comisyon & power gyven to tribulation : 3
' Adonay, the myghty kyng p in stowe's hand. The
J ' Jo J J is ComytwiouH and Power vc ivu/
Wych ys lord off euery thyng, J e af t< 282 r f bulac '" > ^ towe>
Emperour off Ryghtwysnesse,
Whos power (in sykernesse) 15976
ISTeuere eclypsyth off hys lyht,
But shyneth euere ylyche bryht,
As he that lord ys off nature,
And cue/ in On shal so endure, 15980
As off power and off Rcnouw,
Elthe to trybulaciourc !
She produces
it.
Tribulation
bids mo read
it.
She will show
me a second
one too.
The Pilgrim.
[leaf 2M, bk.]
Here's the
first Commis-
sion.
Tribulation's
\>t Commi-
rion
from the
great king,
Adonay.
430
How Prosperity has ruind Spirituality.
Tribulation'
lit Commit-
tion
& directed
against
Prosperity '
which hath
taken castles
and towns
from Grace
Dieu and the
king,
[leaf 211]
and robbed
treasure,
specially
Spiritual
goods.
' We haue vnderstonde late,
Tydynges nat ful old off date, 15984
How the Stepmoder off vertu,
And ful enmy to cryst ihesu,
Wych callyd ys ' Prosperyte,'
Ageyn al ryht, thorgh hyr powste, 15988
Hath Our sawdyours 1 assayllod, p Sowdyours St.]
Set on hem, and nat yfaylled,
By maner off collus'ioun
Drawe her hoodys lowe douw [stowe, leaf 232, back] 15992
Ouer ther face, by swych degre
That they be blynd, and may nat se,
(Wych ys ful hard for to recure,)
And be-rafft hem ther Armure ; 15996
Only off fals presumpc'iouw,
Witfo-oute restytuc'iouw,
Take away ther Garnysouws,
The castelys also and the Touws 16000
Wych that longede off equyte
Vn-to Grace dieu and me. 2 [* to me St.]
' But now off newe, (yt ys no nay,)
ffrom vs she hath hem take away, 16004
Wtt/i-oute forberyng or favour
Dyspoylled vs off Our tresour,
And, in our tours strong and Old,
Vesellys off syluer and off gold, 16008
Take hem a-way by Tyranye,
Bextorsi'ouw and 3 roberye ; [ and by st.]
I rnene most, in especial,
Ther goodys that were Espyrytual ; 16012
Swych goostly goodys eue?ychon
Ben yrobbyd And agon ;
And thorgh hyr Eavyne and robbyng,
She hath lefft ful nyh no thyng. 16016
ffor wych, we lyst no longer tarye,
But vn-to the, Our secretarye
And Our sergauwt in thys caas,
(Wych off custom berst our maas) 16020
We (wyth al our hool entent,) [Stowe, ieaf283]
Sende vn-to the A Mauwlement,
Tribulation chastises the Prosperous, and turns them to God. 431
' And co?ranytten our power,
ffor to cerche ffer and ner, 16024
Hows by hows, wher-euere he be,
To sekyn out Prosperyte.
' And that thow, in al wyse
Be bysy, hy w for to chastyse, J 1 6028
That he no mor, by no quarelle,
Be hardy, ageyn vs to rebelle ;
Holde hym euere so lowe doun,
Chargyng, by thys commyssi'ouw, 16032
That alle tho that thow mayst fynde
(I mene, hem that be mad 1 blynde [> made St.]
Bassaut off thys Prosperyte)
Tourne her hoodys, and make hem so ; 16036
Chastyse he??*, (in thyw entent,)
And byd hem take avysement,
ffyrst, her Eyen to vnclose,
And so her hertys to dyspose, 16040
ffor to looken vp ful offte
To the hevene hih" aloffte ;
And hem syluen mor tassure, [St. & c.]
Take ageyn ther olde Armure 16044
Vn-to hem, bothe plate and may lie, ,,
(Lyst ther enmyes hem assaylle,)
Wych they ha broke, and lost in veyn ;
Lat hem reforge hem newe ageyn. 16048
' Grauwte to swych euerychon, [stowe, leaf ass, back]
Crownys vrith many A ryche ston,
I mene, to hem that, off assent,
Obeye vn-to thy maundement. [st.&c.] 16052
' And for thys skyle, (in sykernesse,)
We have maad the Forgeresse
And Goldsmyth off our hevenly tour,
ffor to don ay thy labour, 16056
To al that suffre as Cha?pyons,
ffor to forge hem ryche crownys,
Wher-so they suffre, on se or lond,
' And sese also in-to thy/i hond, 16060
Solace and play in ech cyte,
And al swych worldly vanyte,
Tribulation's
\it Commis-
sion.
This com-
mand is sent,
in order to
chastise
' Prosperity '
and all folk
whom she has
blinded,
so as to make
them look up
to Heaven.
[leaf 241, bk.]
When they
do so, they
are to have
Crowns.
Tribulation
in declared
Goldsmith of
the heavenly
tower,
to forge
crowns for
those who
suffer.
432 Tribulation is to try all folk. The obedient arc crownd.
Trihulation't
lit Commii-
tion
to bury all
vain amuse-
ments.
She is given
full power to
do her devoir.
She is to try
all folk with
affliction ;
and those
who obey her
are to be
crownd in
Heaven.
This 1st
Commission
wag dated on
the day Adam
was driven
out of Para-
dise.
' And loyes that ben transytorye,
Eevel, and al worldly glorye. 16061
And \vher thow mayst hew sen or knowe,
Burye he??i in the Erthe lowe ;
Oppresse hew with thy sharpe shours,
ffor they deceyve our sawdyours. 1 [' sowdyours st.] 16068
' And we the graurate f-ul power
Duely to don thy dever ;
To sen our vessellys euerychon,
Wher that they be voyde or noon, 16072
fful off good or wykkeduesse,
To kuowe do thy besynesse.
Touche hew w/t/t Trybulacioura ;
And yiff they Gnichche, or make sou??, 16076
Yt ys a tookne vn-to the
Off good, that they yvoyded be.
And yiff thow se by thy touchyng [stowe.ieafasi]
That they resowne no maner thyng,* 16080
Hyt ys an opue / Evydence
Off gruchchyng / ther ys noon Offence ;
For we Charge the / day by day,
Cerche hem wel / And make assay. 16084
' And who off hyh" / or lowh degre
That loAvly / wyl obey [en] the,
For hys suffrawnce / and lowlyhede
He shal be Crownydf / For hys mede 1 6088
In oure Court / CelestyaH.
Loo ! off thy power / thys ys AH,
Charge to done / Execucton,
And Fyu off oure Co?mnyssion, 16092
U Yove and wryte / (who lokc wel,)
Vnder oure owne / pryve sel
Vp-on the day / (by goode avys)
Whan Adam / Out off Paradys 16096
Exyled was / (as thow mayst se)
With" alle hys hool Posteryte,
* As the catchwords at the foot of this leaf are "Yt ys an
open," the next sheet, at least, of the Cotton MS. is missing.
I therefore copy and print it from the Stowe MS. 952, leaves
284-301, with its metrical pause-bars. F.
Tribulation's 2nd Comm., from Satan, to harass Pilgrims. 433
Znd Commit-
'
from Admiral
Satan, man's
" We know-
ing that
Adonijah's
servants are
preparing to
attack our
city,
' For ther was noon / Excepczon. [Stowe MS. only.]
1T ' And the tother Cowmyssioii 16100
That I off spak / I shaft the she we ;
And yt ys thys / In wordys Fewe :
U Thamyral / off the grete See,
Fulle off Wawes / (as men may se,) 16104 latest foe.
Which that callyc* / ys Sathan
Grettest Enmy / vn-to Man,
Foo to Adam / and hys Lynage,
For topresse hem / with hys Raage, 16108
Kyng of alle / Inyquyte, [Stowe, leaf 2w, back]
And Tormentour / off Equyte,
By wronge / and Persecucton,
Elthe / to Trybulac/own, 16112
Swych as we / may to hym sende
For tapeyre / and nat Tamende,
We haue syttyng / In oure Dongown,
Knowyng / by clere Relaczown 16116
That the Sergeauntys / Fynally
Off the myghty kyng / Adonay
Ageyn oure power / haue ytake,
And ther-vp-on / hem Redy make 16120
With vs / For to haue a-do,
And wynne the place / that we kam Fro,
And hem purpose / in that Cyte
Ther For to / Receyvert be ; 16124
And, lyke / as myghty Champyowns,
Made hem Skryppes / and Bordowns,
Seyn that they / in ther vyage,
Wyl thedyr goon / On pylgrymage, 16128
Euerych off hem / In ther degre.
' Wher-vp-on / we charge the,
Sende to the / oure Mawndement,
The yevnge / In Commaundement, 16132
That thow shalt kepe / the Passage,
To lette hem / in ther Pylgrymage f
Espye hem out in euery place,
Smyte hem / or that thow Manace ; 16136
Oppresse hem / with thy vyolence
Abowti lobys Pacyence, [stowe, leaf 285]
PILG1UMAGE. F F
and have
Scrips and
Staves
charge thee
to stop these
Pilgrims and
smite them."
434 Tribulations treatment of me depends on my Conduct.
Tribulation's
'ind Commis-
sion
from Satan,
to torture
pilgrims,
that they
may bans
themselves
as Juilas did.
Dated when
Christ on the
Cross let the
thief enter
Paradise.
The Pilgrim.
I ask Tribula-
tion whether
he means to
work God's
and Satan's
commissions
equally.
says that if,
when I'm
beaten,
I t.ike it
patiently,
Which tooke away / hys Temperalte, [StoweMs. oniy.i
He nat gruchchynge / In no degre. 16140
1T Travaylle / In thyn Entencion
To Reve hem Skryppe / and Bordon ;
Atte the herte / do hem sorvve and wo ;
And witli thy Toonges / pynche hem so 16144
On euery halff / that thow nat Fayle
To Eende out Bovel / and Entraylle ;
As the Bowelles / off ludas,
Stveyne hem / In the same caas, 16148
That they / be grete Adversyte
May hange hem selff / vp on a Tree,
H And on thys caas / both ferr and ner,
To the we gra?mte / FuH power, 16152
As by oure / Co?>imyssiou?z
Wretyn / In oure derke Dongoim,
The same tyme / whan Cryst Ih&m
Vp on the Cros / by hys vertu 1G156
Grawzted the Theeff / For a grete prys,
To Entren / In-to Paradys ! '
The Pylgrym:
" And whan I hadde / hem bothe seyn,
I tooke hem / vn-to hym ageyn, 161GO
Axede hym / anoon Right tho
Yiff he wolde / vse hem bothe twoo
Lyke Frely / In Werkynge, [stowe, leaf 285, back]
Syth thei Fyn / off ther menynge 16164
Conclude nat / In oo Sentence ;
For, as grete ys / the dyfference
Atwene hem tweyne / by Obstacle,
As bytwene venym / and Tryacle." 16168
Trybulacron :
1 When I ha take / on the the wrak,
And strongely Forgyd! / on thy Bak,
Than shaltow / by Elleccwmn
Ilaue Choys / to which Commyssiown 16172
Thow wylt the take / and ther abyde.
For jiff that thow / on yche a syde
Scyst ryght nought / In thy dyffence,
But suffrest alle / In Pacyence 16176
/ am free to let Tribulation send me either to God or Satan. 435
( With-oute Murmwre / or any Sou??, [StoweMS. only.] Tribulation.
But off hoole / Entenc'iowi
When thow Felyst / dool or Smerte,
Thankest god / with alle thyn herte, 16180 yi i thank
God for it,
Than maystow wytte / and Fully knowe
That my power / hyh" and lowe his P we r
* over me is
Is taken / In Gondusioun 5
Off the Fyrst / Cowmyssiouw. 16184
IT ' But yiff yt falle / be wel certeyn,
That thow stry ve / or gruchche ageyn But if i
In thy sylff / by vyolence
Arryuest / For Impacyence, 16188
And besy art / yt to with-stonde,
Thankest nat god / ek off hys sonde, [stowe, leaf 286]
But Fyndest / somme Fals Occasyourz
To lese thy Skryppe / and thy Bordou, 16192 and cast away
my scrip and
Castest hem / wylfully a-way, staff,
As whylom dydd 1 / (yt ys no nay) as Tiieopin-
By grete mescheef / Theophilus.
And semblably / yiff thow do thus, 16196
Than ys my Commyssioutt >" I'm
Riven over to
Yove / to thy dampnaci'ourc Satan -
By the power / off Sathan,
Which" / For to deceyve Man, 16200
Travaylleth" ay / to make hym lese.
IT ' Wher-Fore thow mayst / off bothe chese, i "ve free
choice.
And haste ek / Fre EUeccioim,
Which / off Eche Coj^niyssiouw 16204
I shaH vse / ageyn [e]s the.
1f For I ha no Lyberte,
But evene lyke / as I the Fynde,
The to Co"nstreyne / or vnbynde, 16208
Affter thy / Condiciown
To vsen / Eche Cowmyssi'oim.
IT My power ys / In alle Rewmys, Tribulation
Lyke vn-to / the Sonne Bemys, 16212 ifot'sun:' 8
Shynynge most hoote / the Sommerys day,
On Foule Erthe / and tendre Clay,
Hys grete heete / maketh hem anoon it hardens
To wexe as harde / as eny Stoon. 16216 Cay>
43 G Tribulation knocks me down, and sorely oppresses me.
Tribulation.
it melts wax.
It works
according to
folks' dispo-
sition.
The Pi/ffrim.
Tribulation
strikes me
down.
Ire wants to
wound me,
but
stops him.
He will pinch
and batter me
himself.
Tribulation
presses me
sorely.
I am helpless.
1T ' But \vex and Talwh" / yt doth Relente. [Stowe MS. only.]
And evene thus / In myn Entente, [stowe, leaf zws, back]
Lyke Folkys / Dysposicioun
Is myn / Operacfon ; 16220
And thus vsynge / myn Sergawntry,
I kan werke / dyuersly ;
Wher-ffore I rede / be war off me,
For I anoon / shal smyte the.' 16224
The Pylgrym:
And lustly Covenaunt / he held! :
He smoot me so / that Spere and Sheld!
Fro me Fyllen / douw to grourade,
Hys Strokys wertt / so Fel and Rouwde. 16228
And trewly / For my grete dystresse,
Ire kaugfite / a grete gladnesse,
And wolde / to my confus'iouw,
Ha wounded me / with" hys Fawchomz; 16232
But Trybulaczon / stoode be syde,
And badde he shulde / a whyle abyde,
Medle off hym / as yitt no more ;
' ffor I shall ffyrst / my sylff, so sore, 16236
Done on hym / so grete vengauwce,
So grete anoy / and dystourbance,
With my Toonges / streyne hym so,
And batre hym / On the bak ther-to 16240
With myn hamer / large and longe,
That hath" an heed / yfforged' stronge,
To chastyse hym / in swycli mane/'e
Ther-by that lie / shaH wel lere, 16244
As be my / Comyssyou N
That I am / Trybulacwmn.' tstowe, leaf 287]
And ffelly thus / to Ire he spak,
And euere batrynge / on my bak, 16248
With his Toonges / gan me streyne
That me sempte / ffor the peyne,
I was pressyd / In a pressour,
Voyde off helpe / and alle sokour, 16252
Compleynyng / ffor my grete penauwce,
Tyl yt ffel / In my Remembrance,
IT And hadde vnto / a worde Rcwarde
/ adopt St. Bernard's Prayer to Mary, my Refuge. 437
That I radde onys / off seynt Bernard, [Stowe MS.
How, in alle greff / and alle meschauwce,
In euery mescheff / and penaiwee,
Helpe and Refuyt / ffor to ffynde,
That a Man / shulde haue his mynde,
Off herte also / ffully Repay re
To hyr / that ffayrest ys off ffayre,
Which", thurgh / hyr humylyte,
Was Moder / and a Mayde ffree,
Whos helpe neuere was behynde
To hem that lyst / haue hyr in mynde :
She kan helpe hem / In her Nede
Best off alle / her lourne spede.
IT ffor which, / with alle myn herte Entere,
To her I make / my prayer,
And sey to hyr / with humble Chere,
The wordys Avhich" that ffolwen here,
Which" Seynt Bernard / fful longe ago
In latyn / wrote hem eke also :
IT 'Tu es Refugium meum A Tribulacwne.' [PI
wily.]
16257
16260
16264
16268
Tlie Pilgrim.
Then I recol-
lect St.. Bern-
ard's telling I
folk in trouble
to go for
refuse to
the Virgin
Mary.
worshipfuH Maystre Seynt Bernard! taught me,
that, in alle pereyllee and alle anguysshes, and in euery
Tribulacton or wordely wrechchednesse, that I sliulde
fflen ffor Ref uy t vnto the 2 // And that I sliuL V devoutly
and mekely besekyn and prayen vnto the / The same
seint Bernard? seyynge thes wordes vnto me / ' Si In-
surgant venti temptacionm/t / vt \wtet super missus est.
Yiff the bytter ffelle wyndes off temptaci'on assaylle the,
yiff thow falle, by any ffroward? aventure, vp-on the
Contagyous Rokkys of Tribulacion / Beholde the bright
glade stcrre off the see, and make thyn Invocacz'on and
thy prayer vnto that blysfull Mayde, oure Lady saynt
Marye' // And yiif yt Falle that thow be trowblyd'
in thy Conscience with" multytude off many horryble
syimes, Confus and ashamyd? with the horryble ifylthe
ther-off, and ther-vp-on thow drede the off the fferfutt
And I there-
fore pray to
her in words
englight from
St. Beruanl's
Latin Homily
16272
ii. n.17, Super
Missiw e>t:
Kd. Paris,
1839, vol. I.
16274
Pars altera,
p. 1684, or
Vol. II. p. 12,
ed. Veneiiis,
17G5, with
.
omissions
' xx]i ' <]
after ' Marye,'
1. 16,287 and
16,2'J7. H.
ht me,
Parkinson.
L euery
[ l Stowe, leaf
287, back]
shulde
He taught me
in all dangers
svoutly
16278
16283
to pray to the
Star of the
Sea,
Our Lady
St. Mary.
16288
'-' Linos 10,27(5-8 are a i[Uot;ilioii from the passage below,
1. 1G,280-16,:310. II. Parkinson.
438 Tho I fly to Mary, my sins stop me going whole-heartedly.
[Stowe MS.
only.]
St. Bernard.
16294
He said, in
all troubles,
call on Mary.
16298
While she
holds thee up,
them canst
not fall.
16303
[i Stowe, leaf
16308
[2 End of
St. Bernard']
So, in any
tribulation
I go to Her,
16312
16316
hut I can't
do so with
my whole
heart,
16320
16324
for I'm faded
and wrinkled
with sin.
16328
sentence off the domys Man // And her-vp-on be-
gynest to ffallyn in-to the dyrke pytte off Drerynesse,
vp-on the wofuft swolwfi off Dysespeyr and Desper-
aci'oiw / 'Cogita Mariam / Leffte vp thyn herte, and
thenke vp-on Marye ' // In alle pereylles, in alle
Anguysshes, In alle dotows thynges, Thynke and
calle vnto Marye // ffor alle the Avhyle thow ffolwest
vp-on that blysfuH Lady, thow raayst nat goon out off
thy weye ; whyls thow prayest to hyre, thow mayst nat
ffalle in despeyr // whiles at thow thenkyst hertly vp-
on hyre, thow mayst nat Erre // And whiles that she,
with hyr Mercyable hande holdeth" the vp, thow
mayst nat falle // And Whiles that she, with the
benygne gracious shelde l Off hyr proteccton, dyffendeth"
the / yt nedeth" the nat to drede thyn Enmyes // And
whiles that she ys thy gracious guyde in thy peryllous
pylgrymraage off this mortal lyff, thow mayst nat wexe
wery // ffor, thurgh" hyr Mercyable Conveyynge, thow
shalt arryven vp at the Agreable havene off euere-last-
ynge lyff 2 // Therffore, whan that any Tribulacion put
vp-on me or assaylleth me, To the only, and to no mo,
I haue my Recours ffor helpe // Whan) any adversyte
or wrechchydnesse swe vp-on me, In th aH-only I
ffynde refuyt and Refuge // Bot / 0, alias ! grete mater
have I to Compleyne ; ffor, but yiff Tribulaczon con-
streyne, or somme sodeyne aduersyte excyte me and
pooke vp-on me, I kan neuere, off my ffroward dysposi-
cioun, haue hertly Recours vnto the // And trewly, ffor
thys Cause, I may lustly and fuH Coveiiably take vp-on
me the name off a drye stobyll, or off a welkyd leef,
that ys ffalle douu ffrom a tree // ffor, semblably so as
a drye stobyl or a ffadyd leef ffalle to the Erth, and
neuere ys reysed vp ageyn to the braurcche he kam
ffro // Right so I, the most wrechchydf Wyght off alle
synwers, and most dyffadyd? and wylked? with synwe,
nat- with"- stondyng my grete vnhappy Infortunye which"
that I lye defoulyd Inne / yitt kan I neuere, tyl I be
mevyd with somwe anguyssh or aduersyte // bly.sfuH
lady, I ffle vnto the ; dyvert my passage vn-to the Soc-
ourable tent off thy grace // But, 0, alias ! as god
I
Thou only hope of my Soul! Take me; let me rest in Thee ! 439
dyffend*, yiff thow puttest me a- way, and Refusest my [Stowe MS.
komynge, whedir shulde I fferther fflen to ffynde
!
sokour or eny helpe ] And yiff the gretnesse off my
synrces causeden, thurgh my demerytes, that thow 16334
woldest ffor my defautes pursue me // l Alias! what MB,triQ
shulde I done // Certys, in the grete bytternesse off my
sowle, I were lyk to be dyspeyred! off hope // and than what should
myght I weH seyn vnto the, " Contra ffoliu?, quod (Job M\. 25.)
vento Rapitwr, ostendis potenciam tua??i, & stipulam 16339
sitiam [= siccam] prosequeris " // Alias, blyssed! and
mercyfuH: lady ! sholdest shewyn thy myght and thy
power ageyn a ffadyd and a welkyd leff, that ys lefft vp
and Ravysshed! witfi a sodeyn wynde, and sholdest, 16343
goode Lady, pursuen a Diye stobyl, ffeble and vn-
myghty, to witfistonde thy power // 0, thow only hope oniyjiope of
of my Sowle ! thow shalt neuere do so, namly vnto me, reject me not;
which hane avowed! to ben thy servawnt, and ffletli 16347
vnto the for socour and helpe // Nor thow, lady, shalt
nat voyde hym ffro the / whom that Tryl ml acton so sore
pursueth, to do vengaunce vpon, and he ffletli to the
ffor helpe, and hath noon other socour nor Dyuertycle 16351
to Declyne vnto, but only to the // But, benygne
Lady, off thy grace thow shalt mercyably Receyve hym, hiitmerci-
and thow shalt swetly and ffauorobly, as a Moder off me .
Mercy, ffostren hym // ffor thow, Lady, were notably 16355
ffyrmryd afforn by the Arke of Noe / In-to which" was as Noah did
J the Dove that
Receyved! the Cely Dowe. whan he Resorted! ageyn, could find no
J J land to rest
in-as-mnch as he koude ffvnde no londe to Rest vp-on !
i
his ffeet // ffor the DredffuH wawes off the sterne
ffloode hadde so oue?-fflowed! the Erth. Thus, in the 16360
same wysc, () thow blysfutt lady, thow shalt do to me,
which haue no place to fflee to but aft-only vnto the : i have no
' spot to fly to,
ffor, off thy Custonmable goodnesse and off thy be- *tily
nygne grace, thow shalt Receyve me, 2 And benygnely [* stwe, leaf
off thy Mercy, as a Destytuyt and a Desolate pore
Creature, thow shalt ffostre me in) the soote lappe off 16366
thy meroyable Mantel // ffor trewly, lady, the Rage
Floode off worldly Tribulacion kometh so sore vpon),
that I ha no Recours to Resorte vnto, but only vnto "re*iin--
pl:icc but ill
the / Xor I haue no verray Restynge place, but only in Tliee -
440 / can come to Christ only thro Thee. Thou art my Refiige.
[Stowe MS.
only.]
16373
But is not
Christ
my Refuge,
as David says
(Ps.cxliv. 2)?
16379
Truly He is.
(2 Kiagt xxii.
2)
Bat fleeing
to Thee is
fleeing to
Him.
16385
[> Ed. Paris,
1839, vol. I.
Pars altera,
Sermo de
Aquaeductu,
n. 7, p. 2170:
a parallel in
n. 8, p. 2154.
H. P.]
16390
He gives us
no good save
by Thy
hands.
[* Stowe, leaf
289, back]
16395
Thus, thro
Thee alone
can we hope
for Life,
16401
16406
thou sove-
reign Refuge
for all who
flee to Thee.
the / And therfore I may fful wel conclude, and say //
' Tu es Refugiu??* / meuw a Tribulacione / Thow art only
my Refuyt in euery Tribulacion.' But ys nat also thy
blyssyd? sonne, my sovereyn Lorde, Cryst Ihmi, my
Rescus and my Refuyt in euery Tribulacz'on 1 Seyth
nat Dauid in the sawter book // ' Dominus Firmamen-
tuw meuw, & Refugiuw meu?, & Liberator meus /
The lorde ys Firmarnetttuw, my protection, my Refuge
and my delyuerer in euery Tribulact'on / Vere ipse est
Refugium meuw, Deus meus / Saluator meus, & spe-
rabo in eum / Sothly he ys my Refuge, my lorde god /
my Savyour, And al-only I shall traste and hope in
hym' // But, blyssed! lady, ffleyng to the ys nat
ellys but a Recours vnto hym ; And who that shaH
haue Recours to hym / mvste ffirste off necessyte passyn
by the ; and by thy blyssed? niedyacourc so atteyne to
koine to hym // ffor, as the fforsayde holy Doctour
Seynt Bernard 1 recordeth", 1 'Nichil nos Deus haiere
voluit quod per tuas manus non transiret' // This to
seyn, ' the blyssed lorde / hath" so dysposyd! the Orden-
au??ce off his gracyous gyfftes, that we may ha poces-
sioura off no goodnesse but yiff yt passe by the honndes
off that blyssed' 2 Mayden' // And therfore, thow
mercyable lady, that I may haue helpe off hym in
euery Tribulacton, ffyrst yt behoveth" me that I resorte
vnto the; And therfore I may wel seyn, as I ffirst
seyde // ' Tu es Refugiw?i meuw A Tribulactone ' // And
I may wel seyn thys ffirst worde / ' Tu / Thow ' ; ffor,
sauff only Thow, ther ys noon other in whom ys hope
off vertu and off lyff / And I may say / ' Thow ' / ffor
Thow art allone, With~-out eiiy other Egal vn-to the,
ffor-as-much" as thow art syngulerly blyssyd? byfforne alle
other // And I may say ' Es,' that thow art devoyde, by
a synguler prerogatyff, ffrom alle vnclenuesse off syune ;
and so in perfytnesse off vertu Thow shalt perseveren
and abyden / in-to the worldis ende // And thow mayst
be call yd Covenably / ' Refugium,' That is to seyn,
' sovereyne ReiFuyt and Refuge ' ; ffor benygnely Thow
Receyvest, Swetly ffostryst, and mercyably closest
vnder thy Mantel off Mercy, alle tho that ffleen to the
Mary, be mine! Tribulation has driven me to Thee. 441
ffor socour and helpe // And though" thow be ordeyned? [Stowe MS.
ffor a Common Reffuge vuto alle syn?iers / yitt enclyne -
the in especyal to be myn /. ' Myn ' : why so ] Myn,
Trewly / 'Quia tibi Soli peccaui, & malum Coram te 16414
ffeci / ffor only vnto the I ha synwycB and tresspassed', BeTiiouspe-
And to-ffore thyn Eyen Done fful Outragous Offencys ' // for against '
Lady, artow my pocessioiw, sythen yt stant so, that haveisimi.
fful ofte sythe, thurgh" ffals ffauour off prosperyte and
transytorye off this wrechched! woiide, I ha fforgetyn 16419
the // Artow or shallow be myn verrey herytage, sythen Thou art my
inheritance.
I, woful wrechcn, neuere ne Dydd! no Dygne servyse
vnto the / Or J Artow yoven to me syngulerly in pro- [^stowe.ieaf
pyrte? God dyffende But I cleyme in-to my poces-
sioiui and in-to my propyr herytage // ffor-as-much" as I 16424
have euere knowen the Custoim?iably to liaue mercy
vp-on wrechches ; and I am fful wel expert, and ha
fful experyence off thy beuygne goodnesse, which", in
aH mescheff and in aH my nedys, I haue euere ffoiwde
redy vn-to me // wher-off, blyssede lady, with alle my 16429
herte I thanke the // And ffor as much" as thow hast, Thou hast
-r> rv 6Ver bee " m y
nat only at oone tyme, but at alle tymes, be Reffuyt Refuge.
and synguler Reffuge vnto me / ' Ideo te semper ven-
dico QSSQ meu??i : Therftbre euere in especyal I chalenge Thou art pc-
, , cially mine.
the to be myn. ' Vnde hoc michi ? wheroft, or by
what Tytle, komytfc this vn-to me, Or off what Doctour, 16435
Or of what Mayster, have I lernyd to Chalenge so hili a
Tresour ] ' ' Certe, a Tribulacione / Certys, off Tribula-
ci'on' / ffor, trewly I dar wel seyn in this eaas, that
Tribulaci'on was my Maystresse and my Techere ; and 16439
off hyr I lerned this lessoun, that with-outen aboode or Tribulation
sent me to
any taryyng to haue my Resort ffor Socour vn-to the, Tlie e,
off Entent that thow shuldest syngulerly be my sup-
porte and Reffuge // But how may yt be in any wyso 16443
that this shulde longen or apertenen vnto Trybu la-
c/on // Or what kon^iyng hat Trybulacion, or may in
eny wyse techen a Man the weye off Elthe] Syth hyr
Condicton ys rather to brynge a man in-to Drciyucsse ; 16447
and to Casten hym iu-to the ffroward pathys off dyses-
peyr and desperoGfton. Trewly, by clere Consyderac/on
[* Stowe, leaf
off dyners Reepectys, 2 she techeth both the Ton and 2uo,backj
442 Thou, Mary, hetying me, I shall defy all Tribulation.
[Stowe MS.
only.]
taught me to
flee to Thee.
16455
If Tribulation
tries to drive
me to despair,
164CO
I shall say,
Mary is my
Jlefuge.'
16465
16469
If he says I
am too late,
16474
my sins are
too great;
I shall an-
swer,
16478
[' Stowe, leaf
291]
Mary is ever
ready to grant
Mercy to all
who ask it.'
16483
If he still
threatens me,
16488
I shall say,
' Mary is u>y
help ;
the tother // But she taught me that I shulde fflen vnto
the; and she mevede me also that I shulde dyses-
peyre // But, ffor I sawn" Elthe in the ton, and grete
distourbawice an[d] trouble in the tother, Therffore, in
Eschwyng off dyspeyr, I chees, off hool herte, to fflen
to the ffor sokour and helpe // ffor, ffleyng to the, ys
savacz'on ; & to dyspeyr / ys deth with'-oute Remyssiouw.
Thanne, ffrom henwys fforwardf, yiff my Maystresse
Trybulacion caste hyre to ben but a Stepmoder off niyii
Elthe and my savact'on, and, sternely Rebukynge and
vndernemynge me / Mynystre vnto me any mater off
dysespeyr, To dresse me in-to the dyrke wey of drery-
nesse, I shaH answere vn-to hyre in my dyffense, and
seyn as I ffirst sayi?, ' Tu es Kef ugiuro meu-m a Tribu-
lacz'one ' // And yiff that Tribulacz'on replye ageyns me,
and be bolde or hardy to axe me why I dyspeyre nat,
or \vher myn hope Shulde ben, Or who yt ys that may
be myn helpe in this caas, or my socour in eny wyse,
I shal boldly answere ageyn, and seyn // blyssed?
lady, ' That yt ys only Thow.' And yff he contynue
in hys malys, and labour off ffrowardnesse, to subuerten
myn hope, and sey ' vnto what ende abydestow / Thow
art kome to late, Tempus miserendi preterijt / Tyme off
mercy ys ypassyd? / Quia maior est Iniquitas tua quam
vt veniam consemaris // ffor thy wykkednesse ys more
than thow mayst ha mercy off,' I shaH boldely yive
answere by syllable, and seyn ' Quia Es / ffor thow /
art,' that ys to seyne, thow abydest ffyx and stable /
1 Euer in Oon, with-outen Ende, Redy to do Mercy to
alle that Requeren the // Thane, yiff he, Confus off myn
Answere, in Thretyug wyse Replye ageyn me, and say
thes wordes that her Sue / ' Al be yt so that the blyssed*
Mayde be thy Synguler hope and thy ffuH Trust, &
euere Endelessly ys redy to do mercy / yitt truste me
wel, ffor my part, wher-so-euere that thow be, Or to
what party that thow ffle, I shaH pursue the ' ; Than,
nat-with-standyng the trouble off his Inportable malys,
I shaH answere with" a gladde herte ageyn, and seyn,
that 'thow, blyssed? Mayde / Es Refugiu? meiw/i / Art
my socour aud Rell'uyt in entry Trybulaci'on : ' wher-
Tribulation drove me to Thee. Thou art my one Comfort. 443
vpon, in Conclusicmn, I drede hys manacys nor hys [Sto-weMS.
Thretys neueradel / And sothly, blyssed? lady, I may -
wel seyn that thou art ' Reffugum,' Which" ys to i fear not
" your threats.'
seyne, a fflyght off hem that be gylty / ffor-as-much as,
nat only I, but alle tho that be gylty, fflen vnto the 16495
ffor helpe / Thairoe, yiff that Despej-acton Convyct and Mary! ail
sinners fly
confus with, & Trybulacoura axe me by what Mene I to Thee for
may knowe Thylke sonereyn Reffuge and Reffuyt off
alle that be gylty, or off whom I was taught, or who 16499
was my ledere or my guyde to koine to thylke souereyn
Reffuge / I wylle answere and [seyn] ' A Tribulacfone ' / Tribulation
ffor Trybulac/on (as I have sayd! to-fforne) was my
Maystresse and my guyde, and ys Cheff leder and
governeresse Off my passage / And whan I was slowh 16504
in my passage, with" hyr vexacion she Constreyned 1 me Thee! '"'
to fflen to the ffrom hyr fface / Semblably as a.yonge ! from the
Chylde, whan he hath espyed* the wolff, naturelly ffleth
vn-to hys Moder. Or as a Cely Dowe, whan she hath 1 Mother,
or the dove
espyed! the Sparawk, ffleth horn to hyr Colverhows. to HS nest
*" j from the
Evene 1 So, blyssed? lady, ffrom the dredfuH fface of j^: ow "
Trybulacton / to the" that art Conforteresse off alle [1 2 ^Y4kT f
Sowles that be seke, I take my fflyght / And th erf ore I 16512
may euere Recorde my Lessoura, and say, as I ffirst
sayde, ' Tu es Refugiu??i meum a Tribulacz'one ' / In the
which" wordes I do tweyne thynges / ffirst, I cleyme off
Right that thow art verrayly she in whom I truste to 16516
ffynde Comfort in alle adversyte, whan I sey / ' Tu es
Refugiura meum ' /. Secondely, I am aknowe Expresly
ffro whom that I ffle, whan I say / ' A Tribulaci'one ' /
Thanne, so as I verrayly afferme that thow art only in Tiice alone
J J ' 1 trust to find
She in whom I truste ffully to ffynde Comforte Inne /. comfort.
Goode, blyssede Lady, off thy mercyable grace, dysdeyne 16522
nat to ben ' Refugiuw meuw In Tribnlacione ' / And
nat myn only hope, but my fowrfolde hope ; ffor in
ffoure manure wyse I truste to ffynde in the Comfort
and Consolac/on // ffor who ys the vcrray liope off Thou art the
J J ImiMMifliearts
hertes that ben oppressed*, I parceyve Clerly at tho l^yi^, <'i'i )re t -
and sey 'Tu' / ffor whan the wrechchyd* werlde sliaH: 16528
drawe to an ende, and alle shaH ffayle, than thow slialt ThoushMt
not full them.
nat ffayle // ffor thanne sliaH synfuH sowles flleu to be
444
The First Consolation of Afflicted Hearts: Mary.
[Stowc MS.
only.]
The Firnt
Convolution
ofopprett
Hearts.
16535
[i Stowe, leaf
292]
This is in
'i'hee, Mary,
16539
16543
for Tliou art
my resting-
place,
16549
in whom all
Binners hope
for rest.
16553
Tho my sins
are un obsta-
cle between
me and Thee,
16558
yet I can look
at Thee thro
16563
the windows
of Holy
Scripture,
[ J Stowe, leaf
292, buck]
16568
And sec Thy
words,
shadowy d! vmler thy gracyous mantel off mercy : why 1
ffor thovv art / Refugiuw a Tribulact'one. /
Here begynneth" the ffirste Consolace'on
And hope off hertes that ben oppressyd?
With Eny Trybulacton. /
ir rhe ffyrste Consolacion that I ffynde, blyssede
Lady, ys only in the / ffor who ys the verray hope off
hertes that ben oppressed, but only Thow 1 / ffor, so as
A Pylgrym or a passagour that kometh" ffro fforeyne
Cuntres reioyseth" whan he Resorteth" to his restynge
place, wher he hopeth" in pees and quyete to abyden /
Moche more I, that am oppressyd* with Afflyccton off
my troubled! soule, and al besett witli drerynesse, whan
I leffte vp myu hede out of the dyrke angles off
wrechchydnesse, I howe to Reioysshen and to be gladde
whan I Consydre, se, and verrayly beholde tliat thow
art the Restynge place off my verray hope, and the
ffynal terme off my desolaczon // For I perceyue wel
that thow art the ]\Iete and the Marke off alle labour,
In whom the sovereyn hope off alle synfuH restyth
Inne // But wheroff and in what wyse may I knowe
thys? / Haue nat my synwes made an Obstacle / and
reysed? vp a wal betwyxe the and me? / ffor sotb, yis /
how may I tharane, sythen ther is so grete an Obstacle
sett atwen, knowen or verrayly wyten The secrete
pryvetes off thy benygnc grace I / Sothly, I wote right
wel that I may nat / But al be yt so that ther be a
Closour and a wal which lette me that I may nat sen
nor Clerly beholden the lyght off thy mercyable grace //[
yitt neuertheles I, as a wrechcbe, fferfully stonde be-
hynde the wallys, and with a ffuli dredfuH Eye looke
lime by the wyndowes // Which ben the wyndowes
that I looke Inne by 1 // Trewly, the wyndowes and the
Comfortable ffenestrallys, as yt semytli vnto me, ben
hooly Scn'ptures // The which ffuli notably make >
mencion off the grete swetnesse 2 0ff thy mercyable,
pyte // ffor by thylke agreable ffenestrallys beholdynge,'
I se and Clerly Consydre the soote sugryd wordys
which, by a specyal Inspyrac/on off the holy Gost, Thy
Tliou, Mai'y, givcst Hope of Life, and hast Mercy on all. 445
syluen saydest with" thyn hooly halwyd! mouth // ' In [Stowe MS.
me Om?us grafo'a vite & veritatis ; In me omnis spes vite -
& virtutis. Transits ad me, Om?ies qui Concupiscitis (Eccie^asti-
cut xxiv. 25-
nie, & a generaci'ombws meis Inplemini. Spiritus e?iim jwvuig.; is-
meus, dulcis, & hereditas mea super mel & ffauura;
memoria mea in generactowe seculoxum. qui edunt me, 16575
adhuc Esurient ; & qui bibunt me, adhuc sicient ' //
This to seyne, 'In me is alle grace off lyff and off
Trouthe ; In me ys alle hope off lyff and off vertu / that in Thee
Kometli and maketfi youre passage vn-to me, ye alle Life,
that hertly desyre me, and ye shal ha plente, and be 16580
ffulfylledf off my generacions // ffor my spyryt ys soote /
and myn herytage excedytfi in swetnesse, sugre and
hony. The mynde and the memorye off me shall 16583
lasten witfi-outen Ende. And who that ffedetft hym on and timt they
wlio feed on
my swetnesse, shan hungren ageyn / And they that ami drink
savourly drynken off my bouwtevous goodnesse, shart shaiiwant
J J J ' more of Thee.
effte ayeyn sore thruste ther-affter ' // ffor Ccrtys, blyssed! 16587
lady, alle ys swetnesse, alle ys Comfortable, that kometli
ffro the ; And, by thylke opne wyndowe off thy mer-
cyable grace, I Consydre And beholde in my Contem-
platyff medytac/on the grete habondauuce off mercy
and off pyte that ys in the // ffor, thow blyssed 16592
lady, yiff hooly Scrypture Eecorde and bare wytnesse turc y \dt- lp "
that thow art mercyable, pytous and benygne, and Thou'art*
tliow thy sylff bare l Eecorde her-vp-on, And theroff [" stowe, leaf
2931
ffolwed noon Effecte, preff, nor Expe> g ience / Shulde
men ben bolde or hardy ffor to seyn that the Scryp- 16597
lures wer ffals / nay, nay, god dyffende // ffor thow,
blyssed? Lady, in effect verrayly hast mercy vp-on alle and hast
inercy on
that off hool herte calle vn-to the, and Castyst fful wiio
cry t.> Tlieo
benygnolly the stremys off thy mercyable Eyen vp-on forlie 'p.
alle tho [that] hope in the, and Crye to the ffor helpe,
an[d] comfortably Receyuest hem vn-to grace; ffor, as 16603
loachym the Bysshop, Recordede // ' Tu es gloria leru-
salem ; Tu leticia Israel ; Tu honorificencia popwli //
Thow art the gladncsse and the glorye off Jerusalem ; (Judith \\.
Thow art the myrthe and the Eeioyssynge off alle 16607
Israel : and thow art the worships and the maunvfvcence i'o " the
n J J honour ol all
oft ulle peplya / ffor, more than cny scripture makytli folk -
446
The First Consolation of Afflicted Hearts: Mary.
[Stowe MS.
only.l
16613
When Theo-
philus
despaird, and
denied Christ,
16619
Thou restor-
edst him to
favour.
16623
[* Stowe, leaf
293, back]
Who ever
trusted Thee,
and lost his
desire ?
16628
16632
I lift up
my heart to
to Thee,
16637
for Thou art
my ho|>e.
16641
In Thee only
I and help,
16645
who art the
full hope of
my soul.
menci'on, Thow shedyst and powryst dou?i the Oylle off
thy Mercy vp-on syraierys / And off ffull yore agone,
that hath be thyn vsage and thy Custoom / Recorde I
take off Theophilus, 1 which", whan he was ffallyn in-to
the horryble ffoule pytt off Desperacion, and denyed* thy
blyssed! Son we Ihesu Crist, doynge homage to the, Thow,
blyssed Mayde, Thow benygne Lady, Thow gloryous
quene off pytee and off mercy, fforsoke hym nat whan
he Resorted! Ageyn vn-to the, but mercyably delyuer-
edest hym ffroni the bondys off the ffende, brekyng
and Ammllyng the Recorde, wretyn with" his owne
hande, Restorynge hym to grace and to mercy ageyn.
By swycfr wyndowes and by swych" ffenestraH / I,
stondynge behynde vnder the waH off my symies, and
looke and beholde how benygne and how MercyfuH at
thow Art // 2 ffor who yitt euere callyd! vn-to the / Or
what man euere putte liis trust or his fulle hope hertly
in the, and was defraudyd? off hys vertuous desyr 1 ? //
Whan I Remewbre and Consydre aH: thes thynges,
And so Clerly at the Eye how thow helpyst al hem
that ben oppressydf, and Reconcylest ageyn to grace
alle hem that ben dysespeyred? / And generally art
socour and helpe to alle synwerys, Ther-ffor I, wofuH
Wrechche lefffc, vp and dresse the Inward 1 Eye off
myn herte vn-to the / ffor hooly and Enterly in the
I putte myn hope stable and ffyx, pcrpetuelly to per-
seueryn and abyden, Concludyng thus withe the Pro-
phete / ' Tu es spes mea & porcio mea in terra
viuenciuwi // Thow, blyssed* lady, art myn only hope,
my part and my porct'on in the londe of euery-lastynge
lyff ' // ffor, lady, whan I am ffalle in any Trybulacion,
walke and goo Roimclc aboate the Erthe, and seke
affter the helpe off men, an[d] kan nowher noon ff'ynden
but Only in the // Than may I wel ben aknowen, and
Confesse me, and 3 seyn / ' Tu es porcio mea : Thow
allone, Lady, art my part and my porcton,' ffor thow
Dystynctly, alle other excludyd, art, were, and shalt
ben the Outer and the ffulle hope off my soule. And
ther-ffor I may Covenably applye and seyn vnto th
1 See Migne, vol. 182, p. 1143/1. 3 MS. 'and and'
The Second Consolation of Afflicted Hearts: Mary. 447
[Stowe MS.
only.]
the werdys off leremye the prophete, ' Spcs mea tu in
die Affliccionis / Thow art myn Only hope in the
dayes off myn afflycci'on ' // Et liec votest Consolaczo [ie]rwi
J J . . xliijoCopt-
mea, que est mentis spes oppresse, percipio ad occu- tul -
lum 1 . 16653
2 Here begynneth the Seconnde
Consolacion Off Hertes that ben
Oppressyd* with Trybulacton.
The seconnde Consolacz'on, O blyssedl lady, which
that I ffynde in the ys this, that whan I Consydre and
se, and in Experience ffynde, That whan alle the lustys
off this transytorye worlde passe away and nat abyde,
Thow abydest euere in Oon, stable and ffyx witli-oute
Mutabylyte, 'Quia es. / ffor thow art stedfast and
stable, shalt perseuere with-outen ende ' // And lyk as
thes Marynerys in the absence off the soime, whan the
dyrke nygftt kometfi vp-on, ha no comfort off lyglit /
but only off the loode sterre, which" off his nature
abydetfi ffyx in hys spere, and neuere draweth ffor to
declyn by medyaci'on, off which" they guye and gouerne
ther passage // Evene so I, a wofuft wrechche, in the
myd 1 see off this Troublyd* worlde fforpossyd? and ffor-
dryven with many sturdy wawes off adversyte and off
Trybulacion, whan the lytyl pore vessel off myn herte
ys oue?*caste and ffordry ven with" many ffroward? wyndes
off affliction // Thanwe have I no Comfort nor helpe
but only to leffton vp the Eye off myn herte vn-to the,
which" art verrayly callyd the Sterre off the See 3 / Only
to dyrecten and to brynge wrechches, oute off alle
Tcrupestys off Trybulaczon, to the havene and to the
blysfuH povte off euere-lastyng lyff // And her-vpon I
aparceyve 4 Therby That thow art the sothefaste loode-
Sterre off the see / ffor / Stella, a stando dicitw / A
Sterre ys seyde off stondyng ; And therffore, off Sted-
fastnesse off stondyng thow mayst wel be callyd a
Stcrre // ffor, whan alle other Erthely Creatures be
1 The catchword is 'Tu,' so a sheet of ten leaves or less is
p'.ssiMy missing, tho' I suppose the First Consolation cannot
have run much further than it does here.
3 Stella marit: see Migne, vol. 182, p. 1142/2.
[* Stowe, leaf
2'JIJ
The Second
Consolation
of troubled
Heartt.
16658
When
worldly plea-
sures pais,
Tliou, Mary,
abidest.
1G663
As seninen
in tlie niu'lit
steer by the
Load-Star,
16667
so I, amid
the waves of
adversity,
16672
find help only
in Thee, Star
of the Sea.
16G78
[ Stowe, leaf
294, back]
Thou art a
Star, for Thy
fixedness.
16684
448 The Second Consolation of Afflicted Hearts: Mary.
[Stowe MS.
only.]
Thou wert
ever stedfast,
when Thy
Son's dis-
ciples fled,
16690
when Thou
conceivedst
Him,
and keptest
Thy vir-
ginity.
16696
16700
If Thou wert
unstable,
none else
could deliver
me.
16706
[1 Stowe, leaf
25]
I pray Thee
bring me to
the haven of
everlasting
Life.
16713
Bid me,
16717
amoner the
troubles of
this world,
come to
Thee.
16722
veryable thurgh Changynge, thow Abydest stable and
stedfaste witft-out Mutabylyte / euere in Oon // And
that shewed' fful wel in the passioiw off thy blyssed?
Somie // ffor whan alle his discyples ffledde a-way,
Thow, as a ffyx Sterre, stoode euere stable In the
ffyrmament off the ffeyth" to-ffore the Croos. Thy
Stabylnesse was shewed fful wel also in the Concepczon
off thy blyssecl! sonne, That, nat with-stondyng the
promys and the beheste off the Aungel, thow stoode
euere Stable, and nat Chaiwgest thyn holy pwrpos off
thy vyrgynyte // Thy grete stabylnesse ys also ffonden
wel ffro day to day in the grete Reffuyt and Eeffuge
that thow dost to alle synful men, havyng mercy vp-on
hem euere in ther mescheff whan they ha nede ; and in
this stant moste in euery Trybulacwm the synguler
Consolation and Comfort that I have in my Sowle /
ffor trewly, blyssed' lady, yiff thow were vnstable and
varyant as other Creatures ben, I koude vp-on no syde
ffynden Comfort in myn liert // why so 1 // ffor than
were ther noone other that myght delyue? f e me out off
the trowble ffloodys off the see off thys Mortal lyff /
ffor I stoode pleynly vp-on the wrak, myd off the
ffelle Rage ffloodys off this dredfuH See, lyk to ha be
perysshed, nadde ben that thy Mercyable hande hadde
ben porrect to me- ward // And therfore, 1 thow
blyssedf lady, I make my prayer and myn Inuoccacz'on
vn-to the, to bene a Mene of Mercy to bvynge me to
the holsom?tte hauene off euery-lastyng lyff, Seyyng to
the thes wordes that her swen / Cum beato Petro / ' Si
tu es, lube me venire ad te super aquas ' / ' Si tu es ' /
that ys fforto seyn, 'ffor thow art, and neuere shalt
Cessyn ffor to ben, comwiande me // thow blyssed?
Mayde, which" art the port and the havene off Elthe
vnto wrechches, me stondyng vp-on the watrys, that ys
to seyn, mydd* off Trybulactons in this worlde, to
ouerekomen hem, and So to kome vn-to the ' // ffor,
Certys, lady, yiff so be that thow exclude my prayer
ffro thyn Erys, off alle wrechches I am the moste
wrechchyd? ; and yiff my synnes fforbarre me, that I be
nat horde demyng, also that ffor my grete offencys, I
The 2nd and '3rd Consolations of a Troubled Soul. 449
arn nat worthy to preyse the // ' Quia non est Speciosa
Laus in Ore Peccatoris / In as mycli as ther ys no
worthy prey[s]yng in the mouthe oif a SynfuH: man ' /
how shall I euere he bolde or hardy to telle iforth the
Magnyffycence off thy laude // Certys, lady, yiff I
see that I he nat henygnely herde off the, I wyl
arrettyn the cause to my syraies, and to the grete
defautys that I ha done; ffor thow, lady, ffayllest
neuere, nor thow wan test nat to do socour and helpe to
alle that deuoutly hesechyn and prayen vn-to the. Et
hoc est q?od promisisti Ecclesiastico xxiiij : " Sum, &
vsqwe ad Futuruw sec^l\urQ. non desinaui " / That is to
seyne / " I am, and in-to the worlde that is to komene,
I shaH nat Cesse ffor to be " / And ther-ffore, blyssed?
lady, he-cause thow hast ben, and euere art, and shalt
ben, Comfort and Consolacion to alle wrechches and
SynfuH men, In hope that thy Mercy and thy Consola-
cion in my grete Nede l ShaH nat ffayllen vn-to me /
Thys ys my Secownde Consolac/own, which" that I
cachche in the. /
The Thrydde Consolace'on'j
Off A Troublyd! Sowle }
The Thrydde Comfort and Consolaczon, blyssed?
lady, that I have, ys this, That I se that ffolkys,
oppressycl' with werynesse off ther owne thoughtys,
ffynden a Shadwyng place and an holsomme Ecfuge
whan they fflen to the ffor socour and helpe // wherfore,
lady, yiff I seye and beholde thatt the ffoxys off the
Erthc hadden holys to putte Inne ther heedes, And
bryddes off the heyre, nestys to breden Inne, and a
Sparwe koude ffynden out an hevese off an hous to
bredyn Inne / And a Tortyl a place to make hym Inne
a Neste to ffostren hys bryddes ther-Inne // And that
I say also this hygh" hylles, ordeyned? ffor hertys to
pasturen Inne, And in kavyc? stones ffoiwde an hoole,
an yrchouM to haue his Keffuge ther-Inne ; And amoiige
al thys, I seye the Childeren off men Dysconsolat
and Destytuyt off ther loggyng // As whrlom thy
blysscd' so?mo hadde no place wher to putte Inne his
PILGRIMAGE. G G
Mary, I am
not worthy to
praise Thee.
16727
16731
Thou never
fullest th.>.m>
who devoutly
pray to Thee.
16736
As Thou art,
and shalt be
for ever,
my hope in
Thy Mercy
is my second
Consolation.
[i Stowe, leaf
295, back]
16743
The Third
Consolation
16747
is, that as
weary folk
find refuge
ki Thee,
16752
as the spar-
row finds
house-eaves
to breed in,
16758
and tlie
lu'du'i'lmir :i
hole to hide
in,
16763
450
Mary, the Third Consolation of Troubled Souls.
16766
[i Stowe, leaf
2'JC]
ami as Thou,
JIary, art the
refuse of all
wretched,
16772
I shall turn
to Thee,
the Noah's
Ark
16778
of Salvation
for good and
bad.
Thou art
Daniel's Tree,
16785
under which
all creatures
fed.
16791
Audi ho' I'm
nut pure,
16796
[" Stowe, leaf
2!6, backj
hut bestial,
I may mend
by Thy grace.
16801
heede // Trewly, lady, and I seye rnankynde thus
dyswarre off ther herberwe, that they hadde no place,
in ther grete necessyte off Reffuge, to Dyverte to / yt
were but lytytt 1 Wondre though I were dyspurveyed*
off hope In my sowle, wher I shulde eny Consolac/on
or Comfort ffynde // But, ffor-as-mych as thow allone,
And al Only, art yoven tfor a Synguler Reffuge vn-to
Wrechchys, and Art made ther protectour and dyfFence,
And, Affter the grete oppression?* off her, art made ther
Restynge place, to abyden Inne in Equyte / wlierby I
ffynde a Path and a weye, to whom, in al mescheff and
necessyte, I shuH fflen and dyuerte vn-to // ffor thow
art, as I sayde Rathe, Thylke Arche off .Noe, vu-to the
which", and in tlie which, in tyme off grete Deluge, alle
the worlde ffley vnto, and were savyd? ther-Inne, alle
they that by grace myght Entren, as wel thes Rude
beestes, as Men that were Resownable / Right so,
blyssed? lady, thow art de verray Arke Off Mankyndes
savac/on, vnto the which", Rightful and vnriglltf'ul ffltm
to ffor helpe // And thow art ffygured* also by thylke
Tree which" that Danyel spak oft', vnder which alle
the beestes off the Erthe hadde here dwellynge place,
and vp-on whos brafichys Restyde alle the bryddes off
the heyr. And vender this Tree was the pasture and
the ffoode off alle levynge Creatures / Trewly, O blyssedf
lady, me semyth" verrayly Thow art the sylue same
Tree, vnto which" alle Resonable Creaturys ffleu vnto
ffor to ffynde socour and helpe. And sothly, Lady,
with supportacton off thy mercy, me semyth that
amonge so manye I shulde nat ben Excludydf // ffor att-
be-yt-so that I be nat liable nor worthy to be Reknyd*
amonge the Clene bryddes off hevene, which" sytten
vpon the hyh" brawjchys of Contemplacion / yett, goode
blyssedf lady / 2 Dysdeyne nat, thouh I be Rude And
Bestyall thurgh Sy/me, that I may Sytten lowe vp-on
the Erthe, by mekenesse and humylyte to amende me
vnder the agreable Bowes and brauwchys off thy Cus-
towmable grace, ther to be shadwyd and shrowdyd
with" thy mercy // And sythyn tliat eiu-ry Creatwre
tfyut ffoode and spyrytual Reflecc/on in the // Lady,
J/a/7/, the Third Consolation of Troubled Souls. 451
yiff yt be nat lefful to me, ffor my grete synncs, ifor to Tho 1 1 may
Tasten and to Etyn off thyn hooly plentevous ffruyt, Thy trait,
yett suffre, blyssed* lady, that at the leste that I may 16806
Saltern ibi ffenuw vt bos Comedam. / Haue my pasture
ther with" Rude Oxys, and walkyn as a man deiect
with" Nabugodonoser / Ther, amonge thys wylde beestys,
to ban my habitacton, to take ther party off the Remys- let me share
J the leavings
saylles leffte off hem that be gostly and Spyrytual of the spi-
ritual repast.
Repast, to my Sowle helpe // ffor trewly, lady, and
thow lyst pacyently to suffre me thus, why shulde 16813
nat my Sowle be Comfortyd? why shulde I thanwe
be dysespeyred! off thy grace // why shulde my wofuH
Eyen be dyrked with" longe abydynge in the salte
Terys off bytternesse // ffor Certys, thouh" the mul- Tllo> y 8 ; |IS
J J J ' are more Hun
tytude off my Sy?mes passe in nor^mbre the Sotyl thc sei - S! " 11 .
amale Sandys and gravett off the See, And though" 16819
I were nat worthy, ffor my wykkydnessys, to lyfften
vp myn Eyen towarde the bryghte hevene, yett, nat-
with"-standyng alle this // <Te tamen, a ffacie ffuroris
Domini, Refugimu habco // I have the, my Synguler yet Thou,
Refuge, ffor the fface of the woodnesse off my Lorde
God' // & yiff that oure fferme ffader x Adam, affter P^pkar
hys grete Offence, hadde had swych" a shadewyng place 16826
to have tournyd* vn-to, ffor to haue hydde hys nakyd^
nesse, I suppose the lorde hadde nat seyde vn-to hym /
' Adam, vbi Es ? Adam, wher Artow 1 ' // But the goode
lorde, seyng so mych" peple pe>ysshe ffor the Syime off 16830
the seyde Adam, ordeygned? the to ben a Synguler TIM.U nave.-t
Mene ffor man??ys saluac/on, off Entent, that who-so- Adam 1 * trans-
UNMMh
eucre filedde vn-to the ffor helpe and ffor Iteffuge,
shulde nat perysshen, But Restyn vnder the Shaclwe
off thy protecc/on, to be Conservyd* Ifro dampnacton IGS;').")
vnder the large off thy Chary te // Scyynge vnto the, Wci>iuyto
tliylke wordys that be wretyn In ysaye / the prophete,
xvj Capitulo : " Absconde fugientes, & vagos ne prodas ;
habitahu//t apud te profugi mei, & cetera j Esto Lati-
bulu//; uomm a Facie vastatoris" // This to seyne, "0 16840
thow blyssedf Lady, hyde hem that fllen vnto the ffor tohuteuH
J ' J Who n.M- In
helpe, and they that be vagabonde, dys[c]oure liem nat, Thee for help.
ffor synfull ffolkys that be fEugytyff shalle ffleen vn-to
452
Mary, the Fourth Consolation of Troubled Souls.
16844 the ffor socour and helpe; and be thow her dyffence
and her proteccton to-ffore the fface off the Enmy " //
My hope in And whan I ha this in my RernembrauMce. yt ys the
Thy aid,
Mary, is my Thrydde Consolac^on, which that I ff ynde Only in the,
Third Conso- J J
lation. In euery Trybulacton.
The Fourth
Contolation.
16851
[' Stowc, leaf
21)7, hack]
As I trust
and lin|H! in
Thee, Mary,
16856
I claim an
ancestral
right of re-
luge in Thee.
16861
Sinners were
the cause of
Thy being .
the Mother
of God;
16866
they made
Thee
honourd.
16871
Thou art
I iilllllll tO US
-iimri-s,
and we to
Thee.
16878
[* Stowe, leaf
21W]
Here begynneth" the
ffourthe Oonsolacion.
Certys, Lady, and yt were so that thow dyst Comfort
to alle other Synnerys save only to me, I hadde 1 Grcte
matere to Compleyne, and to make grete Sorwe And
Lamentacton // But, ffor-as-mycli as I haue a Synguler
Trust and a Specyal hope in the, to-fforne alle other,
Therffore I wyl Reioyssh in myn herte, and Cleyme off
Ryght the, in Especyal, to be my Reffuge / And thys I
Cleyme off herytage by lyneal Dyscent off Succession??,
be Tytle off myn Awncetrys, other Sywnerys that ha
be to-fforne. and Sythen thow dydest mercy vn-to
hem / I, that am a Symjer, Cleyme off Right that thow
Shalt done Mercy vn-to me // ffor Certys, by olde
tyme, lady, Synreerys that werne to-fforn<?, weryn Occa-
siouw That thow were Chosyn to ben the Moder off
god, and quene of hevene, and lady also off al the
world 1 . And certys, lady, with" Supportaczon off your
grace / hadde nat Synnerys ben, thow haddest neuere
be ReysecJ to so high a degre off worshippe ; And tlior.
ffore The holy Doctour Seynt Awstyn Seyth vn-to the
In a Meditace'on // ' Maria, nrnltum Audeo, nmltum
gaudeo / Multuw-qwe gaudiu??z, multam-qwe michi ffacis
audaciam.' '0 blyssed 1 Marye, I am gretly hardy and
bolde, and gretly I Reioysshe, and thow yevest me
grcte hardynesse ffor to speken' // ffor I speke, and as I
spcke, right so yt ys / ffor we to the, and thow to vs /
A v nyh Confederacye hath loyned vs to-gedre / That
thow ffor vs haste thylke beynge that thow art. And
trewly in the same wyse, by the Only, we haue the
beyng that we arn) // ffor yiff that 2 0ure Trespace
and oure Transgrcssiou/i hadde nat be to-fforne / Tlicr
hadde nat ffolwed! ther-vpon oure Redempci'on // And
yiff yt hadde nat be necessarye, vs to haue be bought,
Mary, the Fourth Consolation of Troubled Souls.
453
yt hadde nat be necessary e the to haue Chyldedf oure
savyour and Rede?ptour, ' Vt quid enim nescium pec-
cata p?-o peccatoribws pareres, si deesset qui peccasset /
Vt quid ffieris, mater Saluatoris, si nulla esset Indi-
gencia salutis ' / ' blyssed lady, why or Avher-ffore
slmldestow haue Chylded? and brought fForth hym tfor
Eemedye Off Sywnerys, which neuere knewe what
synwe was, yiff ther neuere hadde be noOfi that haddf
synrced 1 to-fforne // Or to what ffyn sholdestow han
ben Moder off the Savyour, yiff ther hadde be noon
Indygence off savacion 1 ' And thes wordys off Seynt
Awstyn, lady, I may Right weH seyn vn-to the // ffor
sythen Symierys were Cause and Occasyoiw off tliyn
honour and off thy Magnyffycence, by cause only off
ther grete synnes, yt semyth vn-to me, sythen that I
am a Successour off hem, Contynuynge ffro day to day
in Symie, That I, amonge alle other Sywnerys, may
Eightffully Cleymen to iflen to the ffor helpe and ffor
Reffuyt // And that thow, in Recompensacton off the
grete benefetys which thow hast Recey ved? ffor Sy wnerys,
wylt nat to me, that am a Synner, denye the Entre /
Sythyn thow, lady, off verray Right art bownden to be
Reffuge vnto Sywuerys / ' Sed, quomodo obligata // But
how, lady, artow bortnden ? ' Artow nat more bo/mden
off Equyte to RighfuH men than to Sywnerys // ffor-
soth thow art bouwde to bothe ; a ffor to Rightf lift Men
thow art bou?zden by Love, And to SynfuH Men thow
art bourtde by thyn Offyce // ffor a leche hath in hous-
holde with hym, hem that he loveth / and he hath
besyde also, wouwdyd and seke men, whom that he
Recureth and maketh hool / ffor wher-to shulde Oon
bore the name off a leche, but yiff he wolde hclyn men
off ther maladyes // Or wherto shuldestow be -callydf
the Moder off Mercy / Or wher-to shuldestow ha be
Chosen to be the Moder Off god, yiff thow aH-only
shuldest loven goode Men and RightffuH, And with
alle this shuldest nat done nor shewyn no mercy vnto
Synwcrys / Trewly thow art holden to loven and to
Cherysshen hem that be RightfuH, And to haue mercy
on hem that be SyiiffuH // And that showy th fful wett
We sinners
made needful
Thy buaring
of Christ.
16886
on 16892
As we arc the
cause of Thy
greatness,
16898
I ami all
may rightly
claim Thee,
Mary, as our
refuge.
16904
Thou art
bound to
the unright-
eous as well
as the
righteous,
[i Stowe, leaf
298, hack]
16910
The Phy-
sician heals
sick folk.
16915
Thou art
first tn havi
mrivy mi
sinners.
454
Mary, be our Refuge in Tribulation !
16923
Tliy secre-
tary, St.
Her nard, said
Thou wast
debtor to sin-
ners as well as
righteous ;
16928
16933
[i Stowe, leaf
2a]
to give sin-
ners forgive-
ness ;
and the
righteous,
grace.
16940
Therefore,
Mary, bless
them wlio
made Thee
blessed.
As sinners
caus<l Thee to
be blessed,
be our Refuge
in tribula-
tion !
Queen of
Heaven,
Loadstar of
the Sea,
by thylke Memoryal wrytyng off thy Secrctys, which"
thyn owne Secretarye, Seynt Bernard? wroot, Seyyng in
thes wordes // ' Sapientibws & Insipientib?w, iustis &
peccatoribws, Debitricem te ffecisti : Onmibus Onwia
ffactfa Est // To wyse men and to ffoolys, To RightfuH:
men And to Sywnerys / thow hast made thy syluen
doctour / ffor thow art made alle vn-to alle,' by the
plentevous habondaimce off thy Charyte. And thow
hast opnetf the Bosom off thy Mercy so largely, that
alle may taken off the plentevousnesse ther-off // He
that ys in Captyvyte, Redempc/on; the Syke Man,
Elthe ; And he that ys hevy, Consolaci'on ; And the
Synwerre, fforyiffnesse and Remyssyouw ; 2 And the
RightfuH Man, grace and perfeccion / 'Vt non sit qui
se abscondat a. Galore eius' // So that noon off no degre
may shrowden hym, but that the Sonwe of thy Charyte
shal shyne vp-on hym ; And syth" thow art be-kome
dettour to RightfuH men and to Synful men also //
Alle SynfuH men may Justly alleggyn this vers vnto
the, and seyn :
ffestina miseris / Misereri virgo beata ;
Nam te si Recolis, miseri ifecere beatam ;
Ergo, beaa, miseros quorum te Causa beauit.
[Mary, be our Refuge in Tribulation! 16946
4 verses of 8 lines each, abab, bcbc.]
(1)
blyssecf mayde / fflour off alle goodnesse,
On alle SynfuH / ha Mercy and pyte ;
Thynke how Synwerys / in verray sothefastnesse
were Cause ffirst / (who so [that] lyst se,) 16950
That ffolkys shulde / blyssyd / callyn the,
Only ordeyned? / ffor ther Savac'ion ;
Now, goode lady / off thy benygnyte
Be oure Refuge / In Trybulac'ion / 16954
(2)
U Quene off heveno / off belle ek Emperesse,
Loode Sterre / ycallciV off the See
To Marynerys / that Erryn in dyrknesse,
Thow art ther Comforte / in Alle aduersyte. 16958
Mary, be our Refuge in Tribulation !
455
Thy lygftt, ffro Tempest maketli hem go ffre,
And vp tiiryve / thurgh thy protecciion,
At the liavene / off alle ffelycyte,
And ffor tescape / Eche Trybulacton. 16962
(3)
H holy Sterre // ffyx in stabylnesse, [stowe, if. 299, bk.]
With-oute Eclypsyng / Or Mutabylyte,
Ylyche Clere / shynjiig in brygh~tnesse,
In whom the Sonne / sent ffro the deyete, 16966
lyste ffor to take / Oure humanyte,
Off Mankynde / to make Redempcton,
That thow shuldest / mayde, Moder ffre,
Be Oure Reffuge / In Trybulac'ion ! 16970
(4) Lenvoye.
^T Pryncesse, excellyng off myght and worthy nesse
Allc Creaturys / as in dygnyte /
Myn hertys body / my worldly Cheff goddesse,
Pray thy Sonwe / ta 1 mercy vp-on me. / [> to iiave]
Sytfi in alle mescheff / to thy grace I ffle 16975
Reffute to ffynde / And Consolac'ion.
And syth my trust / ys Only Sette in the,
Be my Reffuge / in Trybulac'ion. / 16978
Explicit.
2 And sothly, lady, I am Right wel a-knowe that I
was constreynedf off verray nede And necessyte, to fflen
to the ffor Socour and helpe, and Chacyd off Trybula-
cton to kome to the ffor Comfort and Consolacion /
II And trewly, yiff I seyde the Contrarye, I shulde
ffoule ffayllen off the Soth. U Now, trewly, I ata
mych" holden vn-to Trybulacton, And owe Right wel to
Callyn hyre a Maystresse off myn, that taught me, and
was so goode a guyde to ary ven vp at so holsom a Por^,
and at so notable an havene, to ffynde Reffuyt and
Refuge, 1F O blyssed lady, in the / ffor tyl I hadde
gone to Scole with Trybulacton, I savoured! IFul lytil in
the soote mylk of grace which dystylleth dotm ffro tliy
mereyable brestys to Sj'nwerys, to ftbstren hem in ther
grete nede, specyally whau they ii'alle in Try])iilacion.
And truwly I may say, llbr my party, that Trybulaci'on
bring us to
the Haven of
Felicity !
Holy Star,
in whom
Gort's Son
took hu-
manity,
be our Refuge
in tribula-
tion !
Pray thy Son
to have merry
on me !
My trust is
only in Tliee.
[ Stowe, leaf
300]
Mary, I am
driven to
Thee by
tribulation,
16982
and am much
beholden to
her
16987
for sending
me to such a
Till she
si 'in M ild me,
1 tastfd little
of the milk ,.t
thy breasts.
16993
456
16996
Blessed are
tlitt beatings
that drive a
child from
liis errors !
17002
[' Stowe, leaf
300, back]
Christ or-
(laind tribula-
tion
17008
to make us
obey our
Master.
And Tribula-
tion has sent
me to find
refuge, Mary,
in Thee.
17015
I pray Thee
17021
17026
to rescue me
in this storm,
and be nay
refuge.
17031
[* Stowe, leaf
301]
The Fourth Consolation of afflicted Souls.
was a necessarye Maystresse vn-to me, lych vnto a pro-
celle which dryveth aft sodeynly a Shyppe vn-to goode
aryvaylle. 1F And necessarye ys also thylke sharpe
prykke, that bryngeth" hym that Erreth in his passage,
ageyn to the Eight wey. 1F And wel-fuH and blyssed?
be tho betynges and Skowrynges, that Compellyn a
Chylde to declyne ffrom his trespacys and his Errours.
And ther-ffore, blyssed? lady, rather than I shulde be
Rekkeles to Eesorte vnto the, lat me Eather, vnder thy
proteccion, ffele sonme party Off Trybulacc'on. IT And,
benygne lady, I beleue 1 Verrayly, that, by the ordyn-
a?mce off thy blyssed Sonwe, Was suffryd? and ordeyned 1
as a yerde in a Maystres hande to Eestreyne neclygent
Children ffrom her Wauwtonesse and ther trwandyse,
and to compellyn hem mekely to obeye the doctryne
and dyscyplyue off ther Mayster. IF And thus, lady, I
that am Slowh", Neclygent, and ffroward? in alle vertu-
ous werkys, My Maystresse Trybulaczon, with" hyre
yerde off Dyscyplyne and of Castygacfon, She hath"
taugh"t me to komme to the in my grete nede, ffor to
ffynde in thy grete Mercy, Eefuge and Consolact'on.
IF So that thow mayst covenably seyn to me the
wordys wretyn in the Sawter book / " In Tribulac/one
inuocasti me / In Trybulacion euere thow callyst vn-to
me." H And Sothely, lady, I conffesse me, and am wel
aknowe, that yt ys So; Besechyng fful mekely vn-to
the, with" alle myn hoole herte, only off mercy and off
pytye, that thow lyst to seyn vnto me, and gracyously
to Acomplysshe and ffulfyllen in me, thy pore servauwt,
the Resydue in effect, that ffolweth" in the same vers /
" liberaui te & exaudiui te in Abscondito tempestatis /
I ha delyuered? the, and I have herde the in the dyrke
trouble off the Tempest that Assay lied? the." 1F Now,
goode blyssed? lady, do now so to thy pore seruamzt,
and Eeleve hym, off thy mercy, in the Tempest off this
grete nede, and graunte hym off Sywnes Remyssiouw,
to be vn-to hym Eefuyt and Eeffuge in eue/y Trybvi-
lacion / Prestante Vnigenito 2 Tuo, qui est benedictus in
secula seculonwi. Amen.
[Blank in MS. for an Illumination.]
Tribulation has driven me to take Refuge in God. 457
f And whyle I made my prayere,
The Owgly Smyth / as ye shall here / 1 7036
y-callydf / Trybulac'iown,
Whan She herde / myn Orysoiw,
And Saugh" / by noon Occasyouw
I wolde nat leue / my Bordou/i / 17040
Nor my Skryppe / ffor no manace ;
And sawh" how / In the same place
I hadde Chose / to myn Entent /
lieffuge / that was Suffycyent, 17044
In alle Trouble and dysese,
Myn h,ertly Sorwys / to apese,
And stynte / alle myn Aduersytc,
Anoon she seyde / thus to me : 170 18
Trybulac/on. /
II ' I am,' quod she / ' lyk off mauere
To thylke wynde / (as thow shalt here,)
That with" his blast / maketft fful offte
The levys Eyse / and fflen alofFte 17052
Toward the Skyes / hyft in the heyr. /
Thus haue I / causycl! thy Kepeyr /
Thurgh" my Trowble / pryked! the,
Vn-to Reffuge / ffor to file. / 1705G
' Caste thy look / toward! the heveue / [stowe, leaf -MI, bk.]
ffer abowe / the Sterrys Sevene /
In thy Contemplac'ion /
That wer but / as a left her doun, 17060
ffpr-welkycJ / and caste a-way,
Wych by the ground ful lowii lay, [Cotton MS. fay in* <../.>;,!,.]
But, thorgh my cowmyssi'ouw,
I ha tounid the vp-se a -douw, ['so St.] 17064
And many a-nother ek also,
AVi't/i my trouble and wit/t my wo ;
And wt't/i my toongcs I hem chace,
Ageyn the lord whaw they trespace, 17068
That I cause hem for to ffle
To god, on hem to ban pyte.
' And so??tme I have ek causyd offtc
To fflon vn-to the sterre aloffte, 17072
To whom thow ileddytst wi't/t grot labour,
The Pilgrim.
When the
ui,'ly smith,
Tribulation,
saw that I
wouldn't give
up my scrip
and >t:ill,
she said
Tribulation.
she had
driven me to
take re luge,
[leaf 242]
andliadtunul
me upside
down with
woe,
and made me
tlee to <ii >d.
Others she
hail wnt lo
Mary,
458 Tribulation drives the Stray ers back to the right way.
Tribnf-ition.
to be com-
forted by
Her.
If I ever
leave Her,
Tribulation
will harass
nil 1 ,
as she has
already dune
to many,
and driven
them back
to Mary.
Tribulation
can chastise
the dissolute
and those
predestind
to salvation.
[Ieaf2i2,bk.]
TribniaUoB
bid* me
adieu,
and warns me
to be stable.
' ffor to have off hyre, socour,
Confort and consolac'iouw,
Ageyn al tribulacioim ; 17076
Wher-in thow erryst neueradel,
But wroiihtest prudently and 1 wel.
' Kep the wel in hyr presence,
ffor, by verray expe?-yence, 17080
As sone as thow art from hyr go,
I shal nat longe be the fro,
By vertu off my commyss'iouw,
ffor to don execuc'ioim, 17084
As I ha don to many on ;
Wz't/t my toonges made hem gon,
That wer out off the weye ferre, [stowe, leaf 302]
Resorte ageyn vn-to that stcrre, 17088
Ther to haue proteccioiw
In euery trybulaciiouw.
' And thus I kan, in many wyse,
With my yerde wel chastyse 17092
Swych folkys as be dyssolut,
And chace at hem in my pursut,
Namly, folk predestynaat,
And swych as be preordynaat 17096
To kome vn-to savac'ioiw,
That kan in trybulacioura
Suff ren, and have pacyence.
' And yiff that thow, for thyn offence, [C.&st.] 17100
Hast her-to-forn haad nede off me,
And, in partye, I ha to the
Parcel declaryd off myw offys,
As thow mayst fele (yiff thow be wys) 17104
"VVit7i-oute?i any gret owtrage
Don to the, or gret damage,
Wit/<-outen many wordy s mo,
A dieu ! farwel ! for I wyl go. 17108
And be war, in thy passage,
That thow do wel thy pylgryinage,
And in thy way be iust and stable,
Lych a pylgrym good and liable.' 17112
The Pylgrym: 1 [ist., .c.]
Thinking on my nnstablcncss, I come to a wood, &scca Hag. 459
17116
17120
iSt.]
17124
17128
17132
And as I stood allone, al sool, [stowe, leaf 302, hack]
Gan cowpleyne, and make dool,
Havyng no thyng vp-on to reste,
Saue (as me sempte for the beste)
I lenede mo on my bordouw ;
ffor thogh that Trybulacknm
Wer departyd in certeyn,
She sayde she wolde kome ageyn.
But I (wherso I wooke or slepte,)
W/t/t my refuge, ay I me kepte, 1 ['
To have, by hyrc, protecctoun
Ageyn ech trybulaci'onn,
But for that I, by gret owtmge, /
Was off my port, wylde and savage,
Pyuers off my condycwmn,
And al day turnynge vp awl dou/?,
fful off chavmg and doubylnesse,
Havyng in me no stabylnesse.
And whyl I wente thus musynge,
WttA-Inne my sylff ymagynynge,
I ffyl a-noon, in my passage,^
In-to a woode ful savage ; -
Me thouhte the weyii pwyllous,
And by to passe, Encombrous ;
I knew nat what was best to done,
ffor, in a woode, a man may soone
Lese his weye, and gon amys,
Or he be war ; and thus yt ys,
As pylgrymes knowe wel echon,
That on pylgrymage gon :
Passage they fynde, narwh and streyth ; [st<we,ieafwj]
Brygauntys lyn 2 ek in a-wayt, piycnst.] 17144
And wylde bestys many on,
Tassaylle pylgrymes, wher they gon :
ffolk expert, the trouthe knowe.
And in a valoy that stood lowe, 17148
I sawh on stonden in my way,
Old and owgly, off array
Dysguysed wonder qucy/itely,
Oil' port and chere ryht vugoodly, 17152
The Piliirim.
I rest, on my
staff,
tli ink of my
changeable-
llt'BH,
I coinu tu a
wood,
wilil and
dangerous.
[C.&St.] 17136 [leaf 248]
17140
I see an old
)iaK Hlaii'liiis
in a valley.
400 I see an ugly animal, Avarice, Iroken-backt & six-handed.
The Pitorim.
Never read
I of any
beast so
marvellous,
in Daniel, .
or K/.ekiel,
or the
Apocalypse.
Her back is
broken.
[leaf 213, bk.]
Koiuul her
neck id a big
bag.
Her tongue
bungs out.
She has 6
hands :
2, tin' v ilins
of a grifl'm.
In the :,ni a
file.
Semyng to me (yt ys no faylle)
That she wolde me assay lie ;
Yt sempte so, as by hyr clier ;
And al my lyff, fer or 1 ner, [ noi -.st.j 17156
Radde I neuer, in book nor geste,
Off so merveyllous a beste ;
Nat in the Book off Danyel,
Nouther in Ezechyel, 17160
Nor in Thapocalyps off lohan,
S \vych a beste fond I noon.
I was abaysshed a-noon ryht,
Whan fyrst off hyre I hadde a syht ; 17164
In hyre I fond so many a lak :
ffyrst, she hadde a brook e bak,
Corbyd and haltyng, bo the' two ;
Off rowh frese, she hadde also 17168
A garnement shape lyk a sak,
Wych she werede vp-on 2 liyr bak : t 3 weryde on st.]
Gret nouwibre ther-on I tolde,
Off cloutys and off pachchys oldc. 17172
Aboute hyr necke, I sawli ok wel, [stowe, leaf sos, back j
That ther heng a gret sachel ; [c. & st.]
She shop hyr no-thyng for the flyht ;
ffor, that poket (to my syht,) 17176
She felde yt ful (in especyal)
Off Coper, yren, and off metal.
And as yt sempte to me also,
Hyr owne tonge halp wel ther-to, 17180
Wych heng out at hyr mouth ful 3 long. [*futo>. st.j
And aboute hyr nccke strong,
Thys lady, with hyr corbyd bak,
Was y-moselyd wit/t that sak, 17184
Sowyd sore, that nyht nor day
Yt myghte nat wel falle A- way.
In nou??ibre she liadde (I gan beholdc 4 ) r 4 as i hoi.ie st.]
Syxii handys, for I hem tolde ; 17188
And tweyne (to myw Inspection??)
Wer the pawmys off A gryffouw.
And I beheld the same whyle,
In On hand she held a ffyle, p hadae st.] 17192
Six-handed Avarice bids me do homage to her Idol. 461
fforgyd off f ul myghty stcl ;
And (as f'er as I koude fel,)
The ffyle was ymad ami ment
To ffyle brydles, off entent. 17196
Touchynge hyr other gouernaimce, 1
She held also a gret ballaimce,
Only off purpos (yiff she komie,)
To peyse the sodyak 2 and the sonne, pzwiiakst.] 17200
And caste hew in the wynd in veyn,
And neuere to callyn hew ageyn :
A large dyssh, ek I beheld,
In hyr hand how that she held. 17204
And in hyr ffyffthe hand a krokct
And on hyr hed a gret mawmet.
Hyr syxthe hand she gan to launch c
Lowe douw vn-to hyr haunche, 17208
Wych cause was (vn-to my syht) [stowe, leaf 304]
She haltede, and wente nat vp-ryht,
Lyk as a crepyl, \viih potente ;
Evene me thouhte so she wente. 17212
[9 linen blank in MS, for an Illumination.]
And, by maner off bataylle,
Thys vekke gan me to assaylle,
Off nialys and inyquyte,
And felly sayde thus to me : 17216
The old Avarice : 3 p st., om. c.j
1 1 swer to the, by my mawmet
"Wiych vp-on my?* hed ys set,
In whom ys holy my plesau7ice,
My trust pleynly, and my creaimce, 17220
I have abyde vp-on thys way
Tawayte on the ful many a day.
' Ley dou?i thy skryppo and thy bordoim, '-
And do homage to my Mahown ! 17224
ilbr yt ys he (thow shalt wel knowe)
Ey whom that I, off hih and lowe
Allowyd am, and off gret prys.
1 Hero the IHth centuiy hand in the Stowe MS. 952 stops,
and old John Stowc's handwriting begins, and goes ou to the
end.
The Piliii-'i.
In the 4th
(to weigh
tlie 7.odi;ic
and sun)
and a big
dish.
In the Mil a
crocket.
The f.th held
her hannch,
[leaf 244]
and made her
limp like a
cripple.
[Cap. iii,
prose.]
[dip. ii. iR
omitted.]
Old Avarice
says she lias
long lain in
wait tor me,
and requires
me lo do
lllMllUL-e tO
her Idol.
462 I ask Avarice to describe herself & Idol. The Vale of Sorrow.
Am rice.
Without
Avarice no
man is sure of
prosperity.
I must sub-
mit to her
idol, or die.
[leaf 241, bk.]
[Cap. iv.]
I ask her
authority,
race, and
nation ;
and what her
Idol is.
shaped like a
marmoset.
Why should
1 do homage
to a dumb
and blind
thing ?
Avarire
[Cap. v,
prose.]
bills me fol-
low her,
and see the
Vale of Sor-
row and the
Interjection
ol Lamenta-
tion.
Yholde prudent, and ryht wys. 17228
ffor no man hath, wi't/i-oute me,
Worshepe nor no dygnyte ;
In hifi estat ys no whyht Set,
But thorgh favour off my mawmet, 17232
To whom thow nivst submytte the,
Or thow shalt deye ; so mot I the ! '
Pilgrim : l [ l st. ( om. c.]
" ffyrst, thow mvst declare me [st. &c.]
Thy power and thy?i Auctoryte, , ,, 17236
Thow olde, ryvelyd off vysage,
Thy kynrede, and thy lynage,
Thy contre and thy naci'ouw,
And also off what region/? 17240
That thow art born, (I wyl ffyrst knowe,)
With bak and chyne courbyd lowe ; .
The nianer ek off thy mawmet,
Shape lyk a marmoset : 17244
Tel me hys condiciouw ;
ffor me thynketh yt no resouw
Off equyte, nor by no ryht,
Syth he ys dovvmb, and blynd off syht, , 17248
I that am born off good lynage,
Sholde vn-to hyw do now homage."
Avarice : 2 c 2 st., om. c.]
' Syth thow wylt fyrst yse,
And what my name sholde be, 17252
I wyl, as now, no thyng spare ;
But the trouthe to the declare,
That thow shalt (wt't/j-oute offence)
Yive to me the mor credence. 17256
' Yiff thow lyst the trouthe se,
Kom on a-noon, and folwe me,
And thow shalt (yiff thow kanst espye)
Here me ful lowde crye ; 17260
ffor I shaH 3 sen. duryng my lyff, ?'?*'' if f :! , 04> ^ '; k]
JO J J [_ shall M., slum C.j
The vale off sorwc?* 4 and off strytf, [*orowst.]
The woful Interiecci'oim
Most ful off Umentactoun.' 17264
Pilgrim: 5 p st., .. c.]
I see an Abbey like a Chessboard, plnnderd by all tJie Pieces. 463
The Pilgrim.
I follow her,
[Cap. vi,
prose.]
and sec an
abbey,
[leaf2Ji]
beside a
chess-board,
17276
And trewely 1 (I took good kep,) [ trewiy c., truly st.]
She wente vp to a fosse kaue dep ;
And ther she bad me loke dou ;
Wher I hadde inspecciouw 17268
Off an abbey, wych euerydel
(As I beheld the maner wel)
Was fouxdyd besydeii a cheker, [c. & st.]
Squar as ys a Tabler. 17272
[8 lines blank in MS. for an Illumination]
And I beheld 2 also witft-al, V h>kyd st.]
Ther wer esches, bothe gret and smal,
tful wel ywrouht in alF thynges.
Ther sawh I rookys ami ek kynges,
And knyhtys (ek in verray soth)
Drawen, as a ffers y-doth
In travers wyse, by bataylle,
Eue>ych other gan assaylle
Wyth sharpe swerdys, thus tlmuhtc me,
A dysguyse thyng to se ;
ffor at the ches, in al my lyff,
Sawh I neuere swych a stryff,
Nor so fers A co?ttenau?ice ;
tt'or everyche gan hy?/i sylff avaiiHce,
Whaw ther bataylle was ado,
To make hem redy for to go 17288
To that abbay ther besyde,
And, be surquedye and pryde,
Ther to forreye, what they may,
Eobbe and spoylle, and ber a- way, 17292 plunder it,
And revii hem off ther rychesse,
And brouhte/i hem in swych dystresse,
That no thyng leffte to ther refut,
But made al bare anil destytut. 17296
Whan I hadde al tliys yseyn,
How al was makyd wast and pleyn, [c. & st.]
Quod I, "what thyng meneth thys,
That thys cherche destroyed ys ? 17300
Thys ys (to myrc oppynyouit)
The woful Interiecci'ou/i!,
Wher-off pleynly (me semeth so)
with chess
men on it,
where a battle
takes place,
17280 the pieces
17284
And when the
battle is over,
all the men go
to the abbey.
and leave it
liart'.
[leaf 2 15, bk. J
[Cap. vii,
prose.]
I ask what
this ineaiiH.
464
Avarice declares that she is the Church's ruin.
The Pil/jrim
[Cap. viii,
prose.]
says this
mischief is
wrought by
her,
as Jeremiah
complained
(iv, vii, viii,
etc.)
that the
Queen of
Nations was
brought into
subjection.
Avarice causd
this ruin;
17304
and all of
her school do
as she does.
[leaf 246]
[Cap. ix,
prose.]
The Pilgrim.
[Cap. x,
prose.]
I cannot
believe she
li:i> such
jKiwer.
Euerych wyse man sholde ha wo,
And cowpleyne (I the ensure)
Thys vnhappy aventure."
Avarice : x [' st., om. c.]
' Wher thovv be wel or evele apayd,
Lo her ys al that I ha sayd.
Thys mescheff (yiff thow kanst yt se)
Ys ydon and wrouht by me,
And acowplysshed vp in dede,
Al-thogh that yt be no nede ;
Wher-off, in hys prophesye,
The nobyle prophete leremye
(As he that lyst no thyng to feyne)
Wepte sore, and gan compleyne :
' Alias ! ' quod he, ' how the pryncesse,
Off folkys alle cheff maystresse,
Ys trybutarye, and bor douw,
And brouhte in-to subieccwim ! '
' The prophete wyste aforn ryht wel,
That I sholde causen euerydel
Thys grete desolacion)
And thys habomynacion).
I and myne (yiff yt be souht)
Have thys grete mescheff wrouht.
' Thys the custom (in substauwce),
Holy the mauer and vsauwce,
Off al that to my scole go,
By my doctryne to do so,
And so to werke, by my techyng ;
fibr ther ys nouther rook nor kyng,
But ech off hem (for ther part)
Sore studyen in that art,
Eue/ych off hem to fynde a waye,
How they may to me obeye.
Thow mayst me leve in sykernesse ;
Ther owne werkys ber wytnesse.'
Pilgrim : 2 [ s st., om. c.]
" I may nat levyn (fer nor ner)
Thow sh oldest han so gret power, 17340
Wych tliat art so poryly
17308
[Stowe, leaf 805] 17312
17316
17320
17324
17328
17332
17336
Avarice's story of the king whose Paramour was Liberality. 465
" Arrayed, and so dysguesyly ;
Halt and lame, (as semeth me)
Broke-bakkyd, and foul to se. 17344
And \\iili al thys (I the ensure),
A verray monstre in nature,
(Who lyst looke, he shal yt fynde,)
And engendryd a-gey/i kynde. 17348
How sholdystow, with al thys thywges,
Ouer erlys, dukys, 1 kynges, p dukes earls St.]
Have power or domynacton
To brynge hem in subiecci'on, 17352
Sythen they, by gret noblesse,
Haven off kynde swych fayrnesse,
And brouht forth by engendrure,
Kyndely, as by nature ? " 17356
Avarice : 2 P St., om. c.]
' Yiff thow wylt a whyle dwelle, '-'
A good exaumple I shal the telle,
Reporte me wel in euery thyng :
' Ther was onys a myghty kyng, 17360
Wych that hadde, to hys plesaunce,
A lady in hys governauwce,
Whom that he louede paramour,
And took to hyre al hys tresour, [stowe, leaf 305, back] 17364
Good 3 and lowelles euery del, [ 3 goods St.]
Be-cause that he louede hyr so wel.
And shortly, thus vfiih hym stood,
She gouernede al hys good, 17368
Whos name was Lyberalyte :
She was benygne, large and fre,
Wych, in euery regiouw,
Hadde gret fame and gret Renoure. 17372
And she dyde euere hyr labour,
So to dyspendyn hys tresour,
That hys worshepe on euery syde
Gan encrece and sprede wyde ; 17376
Gat \\yin honour and gret ffanie,
And wit/4 al thys, a ryht good name.
' The story doth also specefye,
She made hys goodys multeplye, 17380
PILGRIMAGE. H H
The Pilgrim.
She (Avarice)
is so foul,
a regular
monster.
How can she
rule and sub-
due earls and
kings ?
[Cap. xi,
prose.]
explains.
She tells me
the story of a
who had a
paramour
[leaf 246, bk.]
named
' Liberality.'
By spending
his treasure
slie gaind
him great
honour and a
good name.
466 JTow Avarice imprisond Liberality, & shamed the King.
Avarice. And causede also, how that he
Was wel belovyd in hys centre ;
ffor love excellyth in worthynesse
Euery tresour and rychesse. 17384
[Cap. xii, But whaw that I thys dyde 1 espye, c 1 dydthis St.]
prose.]
seeing this, I hadde ther-off ful gret envye,
And caste to fynde occasions
ffor to tourne al vp-so-douw. 17388
the old hag I gan taproche the court ful ner,
Avarice went L
to the court, A-queyntede me with the porter
And with thoffycerys eue/ychon ;
And in-to chau??ibre I kam a-noon, 17392
Wher as the kyng a bedde lay.
stole away Whyl he sleptc. I stal away
the king's J J
(Throgh" my sleyhte in prevyte,)
while he Hys paramour Lyberalyte ; 17396
And or the kyng yt koude espye,
Benchauwteraent And sorcerye
I gan at hyre so enchace, 2 [* tenchase St.]
That she was voyded fro that place ; 17400
[leaf 247] And, by fals collus'iouw,
and shut her I shet hyre in a strong prysowj.
up in prison. J
Wher I ha cast, (shortly to telle,)
Whyl that I lyve, she shal ther dwelle; 17404
And in hyr stede (off entente,)
Then Avarice To bedde vn-to the kyng I wente,
took her , . ,
place by ^the Whyl that he Slepte Vnwarly.* 5 P slept vnwarely St.]
b y enchant- < And whan he wook al sodeynly. 17408
ment,
In stede off Lyberalyte,
In hys Armys he took nie ;
At wych tyme, by sorcerye,
I blente so the kynges Eye, 17412
became his That I be-kam hys prwamour,
paramour, . .
And hadde in guarde al hys tresour.
Wherso that he wook or slep,
Off hys worshepe I took no kep ; [stowe,ieafsoo] 17416
and tumd Hys honour, gold, hys goode fame,
his honour ' ,
to shame. Al I tournede y t to shame ;
ffor he ne myghte (who-so me knewe)
ffynde noon offycere mor vntrewe. 17420
Avai'ice was begotten in Hell by Satan.
467
' I am the same (tliys the cas,)
Off whom that whylom wrot Esdras,
Apemenen, wych, hyr sylff al sool,
Made the kyng so gret a fool :
Whan she was hevy, he was sad ;
Whaw she lowh, than he was glad ;
She took hys crowne, and leyd yt douw,
And' he, by lowh subiecciouw,
Al hyr histys dyde oheye,
ffor he durste hyr nat \vith-seye :
Thus yt stood, and thus yt was,
As thow shalt fyndew in Esdras.
' By wych exauwple, thow mayst se
That y t fareth thus by me j
ffor I kan, by my werkynges,
Deceyue prynces and ek kywges ;
And al the meyne off the cheker,
I kan make off herte enter,
To robben abbeys euerychon,
And to dyspoylle hem, on by on,
Wtt/j-outen any compassi'ouw.
'And touchyng ek my nactoun,
And my name (yiff I shal telle,)
I was engendryd fyrst in helle :
And ther the prynce Sathanas
(Yiff thow wylt wyte,) my fader was ;
And in that Valey Infernal
I was begete : lo her ys al.
' And my name ek to devyse,
I am callyd Covetyse
(Off verray ryht, and nat off wrong,)
And Avaryce, somwhyle Among ; ,
But Coveytyse, men calle me
Off verray ryht and equyte,
Whan I am mevyd in 1 my blood [ om. c., St.]
To coueyte other mewnys good.
And Avaryce mew me calle,
Whan that I fro folkys alle
Kepe al that euere I gete kan,
And wyl departe wz't/i no man,
Avarice
is she of
whom Esdras
wrote (lEidr.
iv. 2931),
17424 'Apame, the
King's con-
cubine ' (Jo-
teph. Antiq.
lib. 11, coj). 4,
Rabsaces
Themasius),
who made a
fool of the
King, and
took off his
crown.
17432
[leaf 247, bk.]
Avarice can
deceive kings,
and make em
rob abbeys.
17440
[Cap. xiii,
prose.]
17444 She was be-
gotten in hell,
of Satan;
17448
her name is
' Covetous-
ness*
17452 and 'Ava-
rice':
17456
Covetousnesg
when she
covets other*'
goods ;
Avarice when
she keeps all
17460 "begets.
468
Avarice's hands are like a Griffin's paws.
Avarice
is ill-clad on
purpose,
so as not to
waste money
on clothes.
[leaf 248]
She's like a
dog on a
haystack.
[Cap. xiv,
prose.]
Her hands
are made to
tuke,
not to give.
She shuts np
all her gold.
Her desire is
insatiable.
' Wher they be wel or evele apayed.
' And that I am thus evele arrayed,
I do yt only off entent
That my gold ne be nat spent, 17464
On clothys wastyd, nor my good.
And levere me were, bothe gowne and hood
Wer with wermys day be day
Conswmyd, and yffret a- way, [stowe, leaf aoe, back] 17468
Thaw pore folk (so god me spede,)
Sholde were hem in ther nede ;
ffor I caste me nat at al,
Neuere for to be lyberal 17472
Whyl I may walken on the ground ;
ffor I resemble vn-to that hound
Wych lyggeth in a stak off hay,
Groynynge al the longe day, 17476
Wyl suffre no beste ther-to to gon,
And yet hym sylff wyl ete noon.
' Myn handys off merveyllous fasouz,
Lyk the pawmys off a gryffourc, 17480
Be mad (wher-so I slepe or wake,)
Nat to yive, but for to take.
To axe me good, wer gret f oly ;
ffor thys my purpos, (fynaly, 17484
And as me semeth for the beste)
To shette my gold vp in my cheste :
Thys al myw hool entencwm,
Offys and occupaciion. 17488
Al good, wher yt be grene or rype,
I kan wel glenyw, I kan wel grype,
Bothe to-forn and at the bak :
What I may gete, goth in-to sak, 17492
Off entent (be wel certeyn)
Neuere to taken yt out ageyn.
' My wyl ys euere vnstauwchable,
And my desyr in-sacyable ; 17496
My thouht nor myw affecc'iouw
Ha neuere ful repleciouw.
I am the swolwh (who lyst to se)
Wych that in the salte see, 17500
Avarice is tied to her Riches like an Ape to a block. 469
[Stowe, leaf 307} 17520
' Al that euere goth forth by,
He devoureth yt Outterly,
And neuere ne sent no thyng ageyn.
Tawayte ther affter wer but veyn, 17504
ffor shortly, he devoureth al,
Coper, yren, and metal ;
Al that peyseth or yiveth soun,
To the botme yt goth 1 douw, [' botome it goythe St.] 17508
To gretter wrak than on a rok.
' And as an Ape vn-to a blok
Or to a clog, tyed -with a cheyne,
Ryht so I do my bysy peyne ; 17512
I teye my sylff (by gret dystresse)
And bynde me to my rychesse ; _J
I bynde yt nat ; yt byndeth me,
That I am bonde, and nothyng fre-,
ffor to have theroff plesaurace.
ffor lak only off suffysaunce,
I am so teyd (I may nat skape,)
With a clog, ryht as an Ape,
"VVych in soth so letteth me,
That I ha no lyberte
To gon at large hih" nor lowe.
' And yiff thow lyst also to kowe
What my vj 2 handys be, [ 2 syxe 473/17666]
I shal declare a-noon to the,
And make a demofistracion :
I Gryppe and streyne lyk a Gryffouw,
And faste I holcle ther-w/t/t-ai
Coper, yren, and ech metal ;
Streyhtly kepe yt in myra hond,
Bothe in water and on lond.
And thow aforn dyst neuere so
So cursyd handys as they be ;
Enarmyd abouten Envyroim
With the pawmys off a Gryffouw. 17536
' The fyrste hand (for to dyffyne)
By ryht ycallyd ys ' Ravyne,' r
That sheweth Gentyl outward alway,
Tyl that he 3 may cachche hys pray ; [ u st.] 17510
Avarice
is like the
Whirlpool
that sinks
everything in
[leaf 248, bk.]
As an Ape is
tied to a clog,
so is she tied
to her riches,
and has no
liberty.
17524 [Cap. xv,
prose.j
17528 Her six hands
lay hold of
everything.
17532
Her first
hand is ' Ra-
vine.'
470 Avarice's 1st hand, Ravine, and 2nd hand, Cutpur&e.
Avarice.
[leaf 219]
Her 1st hand,
Ravine, is
like a kite.
She steals
chickens,
horses, carts,
and makes
poor men sell
their cows
and oxen.
[Cap. xvi,
prose.]
She sucks em
as a spider
does a fly.
Her second
hand
[Cap. xvii,
prose.]
is set behind
her, to rob
secretly.
[leaf 219, bk.]
Its name is
Cutpurse."
' Dyspoylleth 1 pylgrymes est and west, [> dispoyiyn St.]
Bothe in woode and in Sorest,
Wit/i-outen any excepcion :
Thys ys my condyci'on, 17544:
To robbe and reue wz't/t al my myght.
' I cleyme al thyng myn off ryht ;
Myn hand ys lyk vnto 2 a kyte : p iyk to c., lyke to st.]
I take chykenys that be lyte ; 17548
Wher I ham fynde, fer or ner,
I ber hem hoom to my dyner.
Gret robbery, on folk I make ;
Hors and carte, bothe I take, 17552
With porvyaiwce and wyth vytaylle.
And off malys I wyl nat fay lie :
Yiff a pore man haue a koAvh",
Oxe or mare that draweth hys plowh", 17556
I make hem selle hem by duresse,
ffor to stauwche my gredynesse,
Wher any swych I kan espye.
And as an yreyne sowketh the flye, 17560
And hyr en troy lies 3 draweth oute, p entrails St.]
Evene lyk I renne aboute,
And cesse nat, whan I ha be-gonne,
Tyl that I my pray ha wonne. 175G4
' The tother hand, to do gret wrak,
Ys set behynden at the bak,
That no man ne sholde espye
The maner off my roberye. 17568
So secretly I kan yt vse,
Outward my falsnesse to excuse.
Thys hand ful hill vp-on A tre
Maketh many on onhangyd be; [stowe, leaf 307, back] 17572
And \viih hys ffeet (wych ys nat fayr,)
ffor to waggen in the hayr 4 [*ayre St.]
fful hih a-loffte, yt ys no dred.
' Thys hand, fro many manhys lied, 17576
Causeth the Erys be kut away ;
And thys hand, fro day to day,
Ys the hand off gret dyffame,
Callyd Cuttcpurs by name, 17580
Avarice's 2nd hand, Cutpwrse, robs, burgles, dips Florins. 471
breaks into
houses by
night,]
' Wych hath a knyff ful 1 sharp of egge, 1 [ 1 stowe] Avarice.
And yet he dar no glovys begge ; 2 P stowe] hand 2n cut-
ffor, to vse hys robbery pur * e>
Off the glovere openly, 17584
He kepeth hym cloos, al out off syht,
And vseth for to walke a 3 nyht ponstj
In narwe lanys, vp and douw.
Whara that the mone ys go dou?z, 17588
Thaw he maketh hys ordynauwce
(By gret mescheff and gret meschauwce)
ffor to vse ther brybery,
And for to havnte ther robbery : 17592 robs folk,
On no thyng ellys they sette her thouht,
ffor off hyr owne they ha ryht nouht.
1 Thys hand, by force, ageyn al ryht,
Breketh vp howsys toward nyht, 175D6
Bothe in bowrys and in hallys,
And maketh hoolys thorgh the wallys.
' Thys hand kan dygge and make niynys ;
Thys hand kan Royne also florynes ; 17600 dips florins,
Thys hand ful selde hath any reste ;
Thys hand kan brake Gofer and cheste ;
Thys hand, (in cold and ek in hete,)
Kan falsly selys counterfete, 17604
And the prent ther-off y-graue ;
And thys hand wyl also haue
(By som Engyn, or sleyhte weye)
Vn-to euery look 4 a koye. piockest.] 17608
' Thys hand kan forge (I vmlertake)
ffals monye, and the prent make.
Thys hand in frenshe 5 (I dar expresso) p freuche st.]
Ys callyd ' Poitevyneresse,' 17G12
ffor yt forgeth (thys the ffyn)
A monye callyd Poytevyn, 6
"Wych ys in valu (by a-comttyng)
fful skarsly worth halff a fferthyng. 17616
' Thys hand ek falsly beyth and sylleth ;
* Poitevine, monnaie de Poitou. ' Tine poitf.rine, e'est le quart
d'un parisi (1273 Carl de Ponthieu, Richel., 1. 10112, 1, 159 r.).'
Godefroi. Sol Parisicn . . as much as the Tornois & a quarter.
Sol Tournois, The tenth part of 0110 shilling. Cotgrave, Kill.
breaks open
coffers and
chests,
counterfeits
seals,
and has a key
to every lock.
It is called
in French
* poitevy-
noresse,'
[leaf 250]
far it forges
the 'poyte-
vyn," worth
half a far-
thing.
472 Avarices 2nd hand, Cutpurse, and 3rd Jiand, Usury.
Avarice.
Her 2nd
hand, Cut-
purse,
robs barns
and grana-
ries,
makes idle
officers,
and strips
poor folk
of all they
possess.
[Cap. xix,
prose; cap.
xviii omit-
ted.]
The third
hand
[leaf 250, bk.]
forges money,
to lessen
others' and
increase its
own.'
c And in reknynge, thys hand mystelleth.
Thys hand also (yt ys no drede)
Kan spoylle folk whan they be dede. 17620
Thys hand kan al the nyht wachche,
And ful streythly glene and kachche, [Stowe.ieafsos]
And rendyn vp (yt ys no nay,)
Al that euere lyth in hys way. 17624
' Thys hand, thogh men hadde sworn,
Kan robbe and bern away the corn
Out off bernys and garnerys ; 17627
Thys hand kan f erette in ko?myngherys l [ l conyngers st.]
Be nyhte tyme, whan men slepe ;
Thys hand, by holys kan in crepe,
And bern a-way what he may fynde,
And lyst to leue nothyng behynde; 17632
Thys hand maketh ydel offycerys
And many false labourerys.
Thys hand (ageyns al resouw)
Doth many gret extors'iouw 17636
111 eue?y lond and 2 ech COntre, [ 2 in struck out, a over C, and St.]
Worthy enhangyd for to be,
Yiff the falsnesse wer yknowe
That he doth, bothe hyh and lowe ; 17640
ffor thys hand wyl neuere spare
Pore folk, to make hew bare
And nakyd (off entenci'on)
ffrom al ther pocess'iouw. 17644
' My thrydde hand, mad by gret wyle
With the wych I ber the ffyle,
I shal, as kometh to remewbravwce,
Declare to the (in substauwce) 17648
What thyng yt doth specefye. [St. & c.]
And the trouthe doth sygnefye,
Thys hand ys wrouht ageyn nature,
Wych euere doth hys besy cure 17652
Alway (off entent vntrewe)
To forge money newe and newe,
Other folkys gold dystresse,
And hys owne to encresse, 17656
By som fals collus'ioun.
Avarice's 3rd hand, Usury. Her Balance.
473
Avarice.
Her third
hand finds
P worth a fourth more : see
note, p. 471.]
out how
to make five
into six ;
to keep grain
until bread
U dear ;
' And euere in hys entencwuw
He ffynt out weyes sotylly
ffor tencresse hym-sylff ther-by ; 17660
By maner off euchauwtement
He ffyndeth out (in hys entent)
To tourne, by hys sotylte, 17663
A Tourneys to A parysee 1 ;
By hys engyn, wyl vndertake,
Off fyve, syxe for to make.
' Thys hand kan also (in certeyn)
In gernerys shette vp hys greyn, 17668
Abydynge (with an hevy chere)
Tyl ther kome A dere yere,
At avau?itage yt to selle,
And the pans 2 ful streyhtly telle, ['pens St.] 17672
Vsynge ther-in ful many a whyle.
'And thys hand that halt the ffyle, [stowe, leaf m, back]
"VVasteth bothe gret and smal,
Consumeth and devoureth al, r 17676
Off pore folkys, the substauwce :
I pray god yive hym evele chauTzce j
ffor nothyng may thys fyle endure.
' Thys hand ycallyd ys ' Vsure,' 17680
Vsyd in ful many place,
"YVych ys to god a gret trespace,
Bothe at marketys and at ffayres.
And also pro vostys and ek may res 17684 and folk
In touwes, 3 borwys and cytes
ff oik off hyfr and lowh degres
Echon they may nat hem excuse 4
But that so?/ime off hem yt vse.'
Pilgrim : 5
" Declare to me (in substauwce,)
Wher-off serueth thy balaunche.
I trowe thow wylt ther-in ryht sone
Peyse ther-in bothe sonne and mone,
The sterrys ek, or thow ha do,
And the zodyak / also."
Avarice : 6 ['' st., o>*. c.j
' Lerne, and vnderstond me wcl,
P touns C., St.]
[St. & C.]
[* excuse St., C. burnt.}
17688
P St., om. C.]
to consume
the substance
of the poor.
Its name is }
' Usury ' ;
[leaf 251]
high and low
practise it.
The Pilgrim.
[Cap. xx,
prose.]
I ask Avarice
what her Ba-
lance is for.
17692
Avarice.
474 Avarice's 4*th hand. How she sells Time ly Usury.
Avarice 'And I shal telle the euerydel : 17696
teiu me the Grace dieu, ful yore agon,
meaning of '
her Balance. Among the planetys euerychon,
(As clerkys wel reherse ko7me,)
God set the In the zodyak sette a sonne, 17700
sun in the
zodiac, to ff or to shede hys bemys brvht,
give light to
all the world. And to mynystre hys cler lyht
Indyfferently (I the ensure)
Vn-to euery creature, 17704
And to be comouri, ther-wtA-al,
To al the world in general ;
To make the Erthe vfith frut habouwde,
That ther wer no dyffaute fowzde. 17708
' Wher-off (yiff I shal nat lye)
But Avarice I hadde in herte ful gret envye ;
wiinted it all J
for herself, ff orj y t W ente nat as I wolde ;
ffor, my wyl were, that yt sholde 17712
Vn-to my lust appropryd be,
By exauwple as thow shalt se.
' ffyrst, ageyn[e]s al resouw,
I wolde, by vsurpacwun, 17716
ffro poynt to poynt in ech degre,
[leaf 25i, bk.] The zodyak sholde obeye me, 1 [> me St., c. burnt]
Sonne and mone (ageyns alle skyll), ' [St. & c.]
Wynd and wether were at my wyll ; [c. & St.] 17720
ail put under Al put in my governauwce.
her, so that r
she might Yt to weye in my ballauwce.
weigh the
sun and ' Al thys thyng (as thow shalt SG 2 ) [ 2 sc St., C. burnt]
moon, &c. in J J o \
her Balance. J vsurp e yt vp-On H16 : 17724
The yer, I weye yt in ballauwce, [stowe.ieafsoo]
And selle [yt] ek at my plesauwce ;
And he does j se ii e the wyke, I selle the day,
sell the day
and week, (To wych no man dar seye 3 nay) [ 3 sey c., say st.] 17728
by charging So??ityme by twelue and by thryttene,
heavy in- ,
terest J5y twenty ek, and by nyntene;
And in a yer (who kan yt telle)
The pound for xx ty pans 4 I selle ; [*pensst.] 17732
The moneth also, by reknyng,
I selle for ix. or .x. shyllyng ; [c. & st.]
The wyke also for vj. or fyve,
Avarice's 4th hand. Of usurious Loans and Sales. 475
' At a-couwte that we nat stryve 17736
Affter the sorame, whaw al ys do,
That my loone kometh to ;
And lyk as euery man doth take,
Ther-on my reknyng I do make.' 17740
Pilgrim: 1 p st., om. c.]
Than, quod I anon, " lat se
Touchyng that I shal axen the ;
I wolde ther-on have thy devys :
Her ys a woode off lytel prys, 17744
Wych a woodeman selleth me ;
And in the sale, thus seyth he,
' ffor .xxx. ty shyllyng I wyl yt selle,
So that a-noon (as I shal telle) 17748
That thow to me, (lych myn entent,)
Make to me thys paycment
"VWt/t-outew any mor delay.
But y iff I graunte a lenger day, 17752
As thus, tabyde a yerys space,
Tharane I wyl (withoute grace 2 ) I 1 without grace St., c. burnt]
Have fourty shyllyng (by iuste reknyng) [c. & St.]
By -cause off myn abydyng : ' ,, 17756
Vp-on thys caas I wolde se
Wher lyk (as yt semeth the)
The sellere off the wych I telle,
Outher peysseth or doth selle 17760
The tyme, outlier the zodyak,
Off the wyche to-forn we spak."
Avarice : 3 P St., <>. c.j
' Touchyng thys thyng, now herkne me,
And I shal answeiren vn-to the : 17764
Thys cas (yiff thow lyst to lore,)
Ys vnderstonde in twey manere :
Par cas som ma?, (as thow shalt se,)
Off nede and off necessyte, 17768
Hys woode, that were by good reknyng
Worth off valu syxty shyllyng,
ffor verray nede and indygence,
Off bothe to make' recompense, 17772
ffor fourty shyllyng cloth yt selle ;
The Pilgrim.
[Cap. i,
prose.]
I put a case
to her :
A woodman
sells me a
wood for 30*.
to be paid at
once.
If I don't pay
for a year,
[leaf 252]
he charges
40.
Does the
seller sell the
time or the
zodiac ?
Avarice
says the case
is to be un-
derstood in
two ways :
if a man is
forst by want
to sell a wood
worth G0.
for 40.,
476
Avarice's 4th Jiand. How she sells Time.
Avarice.
for ready
money,
he doesn't
aell time.
The cause pleynly for to telle,
He muste haue redy payement.
[Stowe, leaf 309, back]
17776
But of old,
woodsellers
sold by
length and
breadth,
and said,
' You shall
have the
wood for so
much,
[leaf 252, bk.]
if you pay
cash down.
But if you
don't, you'll
pay a higher
price for
longer time,
as the wood
'11 grow.'
If the seller
warnd the
buyer before-
hand,
he didn't sell
time.
But if the
wood were
cut down,
and couldn't
grow,
and still the
seller raisd
iiis price,
17780
Thys marchaunt (to my lugement,
Who-so off resovm looke wel)
The tyme selleth neueradel ;
' But that marchauftt (wtt/t-oute wher,)
That abydeth al a yer,
Off hym the cas stant other wyse,
As I shal to the devyse :
By Olde 1 tyme (lyst my tale,) C 1 owe., St.]
Chapmen that made off woode 2 sale, p of wood mad st.]
They made her sale (who taketh hede) 17785
By A mesour off lengthe and brede ;
And to the byggere they wolde seyn :
' Yiff thow wylt my wodde beyn, , 17788
At word, (so god me saue !)
At swych a prys thow shalt yt haue,
So that my payement be leyd dou?a
Witft-outen mor dylaczon. 17792
And yiff thow byde a yerys day
Off my payment by dillay, s p delay st.]
I shal the telle by short avys,
I wyl yt sette at hiher prys ; 17796
ffor yiff that I A yer abyde,
My wode shal on euery syde
Wexe and encresse (I the ensure),
And multeplyen off nature.' 17800
' And yiff the marchauwt, in bargeynyng,
Telle hyra thus in hys sellyng,
To-forn, or that the wode be bouht,
The tyme in soth he selleth nouht, 17804
Nouther weyeth y t in ballauwce ;
But yiff the wode (par cas or chaurace)
Wer yhewe, or feld a-douw
T6-for ther convencion, 17808
Wych affterward (wo kara espye)
May nat encresse nor multeplye ;
Yiff he sette the sale vp sore,
As thus to sellyn yt for more, 17812
By cause off bydyug off A yer,
Avarice's 4th hand, False Semblance, & its Beggar's Dish. 477
'Than I suppose (wj'tft-oute wer,)
He peyseth (as I reherse shal,)
Hys long abydyng tyme and al. 17816
' But \\han the wode may multeplye,
Wexe and encressen at the Eye,
Than thencres and wexyng al
Ys mesuryd in especyal, 17820
And yweyed in ballawice,
Who loketh euery cyrcu??zstauwce.
' Now shal I make descrypci'on,
And a cler declaracion 17824
(Yiff thow kanst wel vnderstond) :
Thys dyssh that I holde in myra hond, [Stowe.ieafaio]
(In ffrenche callyd ' Coquynerye '
And in ynglyssh ' Trwandrye,') 17828
Thys hand I vse in bryberye, IV
In beggyng and in lasyngrye.
At eue?-y dore I axe and craue,
My sustenau/zce for to haue, 17832
And offte sythe (yt ys no dred)
I put vp many a lompe off bred
In-to my sak, (so mot I the,)
And kepe yt tyl yt mowlyd be, 17836
That yt may nothyng avaylle.
' And euery man I kan asaylle
With myw Importable cry,
I spare noon that goth forby ; 17840
And thus I axe my purchace.
And I \vyl payen in no place,
What vytaylle euere that I spende ;
And to nothyng I do 1 entende,;. [ l that i St.] 17844
But for to axen and to crye ;
And al labour I do defye ;
I wyl nat travaylle in no wyse ;
I kan my sylff so wel desguyse 17848
With my mantel al-to-rent,
That the peple ys verray blent f
With my fals illusi'oun
And feyned symulac'ioutt. 17852
' I crye and coniure al the day
then he
weighd time.
Avarice then 1
tells what she
does with her
Dish Tru-
anty.
[Cap. xxii,
prose.]
[leaf 253]
She begs with
it for bread,
tlio" she lets
that get
mouldy.
She attacks
every one.
She'll never
pay for food.
Her torn
clothes take
every one in.
478 Avarice's 4ith hand, False Semblance, & its Beggar's Dish.
Avarice
sits in crowd-
ed places,
crying for
alms;
feigning
sickness
[leaf 25S, bk.]
and blind-
ness;
lying,
and cursing
people who
give her
nothing.
[Cap. xxiii,
prose.]
With her
hand of False
Semblance
she advances
beggars of
all kinds,
who ask for
bread, cheese,
clothes.
' On pylgrymes that passe by the way,
As I wer fallyn in A rage ;
And wer that folk ha most passage, 17856
Ther I kan sytte in gret dystresse,
And crye on hem for ther almesse
With a pytous feyned face.
And, in hem to fynde grace, 17860
I feyne ful many a mallady,
As I wer in A dropesy,
Or sodeynly podagre falle ;
And alway, affter good I calle; [C.ast.] 17864
I feyne me blynd, I feyne me lame ; [St. & c.]
And for to lye, I ha no shame ;
I crye vfiih bak ycorbyd doun,
And make many a pytous souw. 17868
And thogh I fele no maner peyne,
I kan ful wel a cause feyne,
That I am falle in indygence,
ffor to beggyn my dyspence. 17872
' And yiff that folk ne yiff me nouht,
Thaw wit7i a gruchchynge hevy 1 thouht [' hevy'ow.st.]
I curse hem in-to helle pet.
Myn herte on malys ys so set, 2 [ pit . . syt St.] 17876
On ali I wolde avengyd be,
That wyl no pyte han off me. [stowe, leaf sio, back]
c Thys ys the hand off f aussemblauwce ;
And vfith thys hand, I kan avaunce 17880
Alle thys trwauwtys euerychon
Wych that on my daurcce gon,
That, by her offyce and her name,
ffor to axe, haue no shame : 17884
Brybours that gon vp and doun,
Devoyde off occupactourc,
And lyst hem sylff nothyng avaunce,
To travaylle for ther sustenaunce, 17888
As thow mayst sen ful many On
That aboute the world so gon.
' Sowme axe bred, sowme axe chese ;
And for that they wer loth to lese, 17892
Sowme axe clothys and cootys olde ;
Avarice's 4>th hand, False Semblance, & its Beggar's Dish. 479
' And some off hem arn ek ful bolde,
Off dyvers housys to axe a rente,
Wych on the byldyng neuere spente, 17896
As menstrallys and Trege tours, 1 p Tdgetonrs St.]
And other feyned sowdyours,
That with patentys aboute gon ;
And among hem euerychon, 17900
\I holde thys false pardownerys. 2 ^^"^o^are^re^t ofc\
^1 will nat spekyn of no ffrerys, t 3 stowe MS. 952, leaf 310, bk.]
whiche, in every region,
ar bound by theyr professyon 17904
vnto wilfull poverte.
wherfore they haven lyberte
to beggen, as them selff affyrm,
and on this text they them confyrm : 17908
Christ axyd, when he was her[e] man,
water of the Samaritan
I mene, the woman at the well
in erthe, when he dyd her[e] dwell ; 17912
wherfore, befull [it] is to frerys,
sythe they be no processionerys,
to get theyr lyvelode wher they may.
' To ther beggyng I say nat nay, 17916
so that they fayn[e] not in dede
to axe nat, but for veray nede,
thayr trewe sustentac'ion,
without all symulatiion, 17920
that wilfully men to them profrys ;
nat to shit vp gold in coffers,
nor to setten ther labowr
to gathar and hepe gret tresure. 17924
'as to myn opynyon,
I hold it no perfection,
thowghe that my dyshe & my sachell
can techen them the craft [ful] well; 17928
for bothc two (in sothfastnes)
bo gret[e] tookens of falsnes ; [Stowe.ieaf 311]
and who that evar dothe them vse,
I ne can them nat excuse, 17932
bo the of hyghe and low degre,
Avarice.
and rent,
which never
goes to build-
ings.
Her men are
Minstrels,
sham Sol-
diers,
Pardoners.
[Stowe MS.
952]
She won't
claim Friars,
who say
Christ's ask-
ing water of
the Samari-
tan woman
at the well
justifies their
begging.
She doesn't
condemn it if
they ask it
for their
needs,
and not to
shut up their
money in
coffers.
But she
doesn't think
their doing it
perfection.
480 Avarice's 5th hand with the Crook given ly Simon MaguS.
[Stowe MS.
952.]
Her 5th hand
with the
Crook.
The Crook
was iven her
by Simon
Magus.
Tl.e S of
Simon is
crookt
like the staff
of a bishop or
abbot.
Avarice is the
Abbess of the
Abbey
Simony.
By her 5th
hand the
hateful vice
of Simony
was brought
into Christ's
church.
1 but they be servants vnto me.
' And also, yf thow lyst to loke,
touchy nge myn hand eke with tho, crooke, 17936
I will the tell, or I ha do,
in what wyse I cam therto :
thou shalt know[e] certaynly,
that Symon Magus and Gyosy, 17940
bothe twayn, in theyr entent,
made ther-of to me present,
but the crooke, by oblacion,
was gyven to me of Symon. 17944
' and yf I shall the truthe atame,
the fyrst[e] letter of his name
is an .s. (who takythe hede,)
of shape y-krokyd in the hed ; 17948
and of his name (be well certeyn)
it is chefe capytall & cheftayn.
thow wost full well thy selfe, ywys,
that every .s. y-crokyd is, 17952
lyche a crose highe in the top,
lyche the staffe of a byshope,
or of an abot, wher it be,
thow mayst example ther-of se. 17956
' and of an abbey, in sothnesse,
I am callyd an abbesse.
whiche abbey, by gret vyllenye,
ys [y]callyd symonye. 17960
and as myn hand her with this hook,
of the .s. his nam[e] tooke,
ryght so, in conclusion,
symonye cam of symon. 17964
' and fyrst thow shalt well vnderstond,
that by falsnes of this hond,
most horryble and odyous,
was brought fyrst in-to christis hous 17968
the false vyce of symonye.
and by his feyned trecherye,
by his sleyhte, and by his gyn,
at the dore he cam not in ; . 17972
but at some travas, lych a theffe,
Avarice's 5th hand. False Shepherds. Sellers of holy Offices. 481
' wher he do the full gret myschefe ;
for wher so evar he dothe aproche,
with this staffe he can a-croche
the herts of folks by covetyse,
and ordeynythe in full cursyd wyse
sheppards to kepe christis shepe,
whiche of theyr offyse toke no kepe.
' an herd man is [yjsayd, in dede,
only, for he shuld[e] fede
his shepe with spyrituall doctryn ;
but they draw by an othar lyn :
they may be callyd, for ther werkynge,
pastours only of fedynge.
they fede them selff wjit/t haboundaunce,
and let ther shepe go to myschaunce j
I trow it is full well ysene,
them selfe be fatt, ther shepe be lene.
I trow, the most[e] part of all,
men shuld them rather wolv[e]s call
than trwii herd[e]s; yong and old,
they come to robb[e] christis fold ;
they shuld ther shepe from wolv[e]s were ;
the wool, the mylke, a-way they bere.
I can not se wher-of they serue,
that lat ther shepe at meschefe starue,
and put them selffe in gret defame.
' and they would eke make lame
grace dieu of cursydnesse,
lyke as I shall a-non exprese,
ffrom the trone of hir mageste,
by gyfte of temporalite :
his fals office I can well tell ;
he can now byen, he can now sell,
by bound [e]s of collusyon ;
and all comythe in by syr symon.
' yet at the last it shall be found
that grace d'ieu is nat bound,
ner, hathe not lost hir fraunchise
by none suche fals[e] marchandyse,
as comythe in by symony,
PILGRIMAGE.
[Stowe MS.
952.]
Avarice
17970 by simony
ordains false
shepherds to
keep Christ's
sheep,
17980
[leaf 311, bk.]
17984
who feed
. _ _ themselves
17988 and let their
sheep go lean.
17992 They're
wolves, not
shepherds.
17996
18004
18008
18012
1 1
by buying*
ami selling
holy offices.
482 A.'s oth hand. The users of Simony are worse, than Judas.
| b to we US.
952.]
Avarice.
Her 5th hand
sells and buys
God's grace.
The buying is
Simony; the
selling is Gy>
eaite, the sin
of Gehazi
(Vulg. Giesi,
Giezi), 2
Kings v. 20 ff.,
the taking of
money for
spiritual
gifts.
Those who
sell holy
offices are
like Judas,
[St., leaf 312]
nay, worse
than Judas,
for he restord
the pence he
took,
while the Si-
raonists
never return
money.
Whatever
goes into
Avarice's
sack, never
comes out
again.
' nor couetyse of Gyesy.
' this hand also with his crochet,
in swyche a maner is yset 18016
to sell and byen this gret vertwe
whiche is callyd grace dieu ;
but, kyndly to specify,
the byggyng is callyd symony, 18020
and the sellyng in certeyn,
(for to speke in wordes pleyn,)
they that it sell, for gret or lyt,
bene y-callyd Gyesite ; 18024
but symony, (who can entend,)
dothe bothe nam[e]s comprehend ;
and all that wolde thus enchace
grace dieu out of hir place, 18028
to sellen hir for gold & good,
they be mad, or el[le]s wood ;
and resemblen (in swiche cas,
/I dare affirm,) vnto ludas, 18032
that ihesu christ for mony sold
full fallsly, and the panns he told.
' and suche folke (as thynkythe me)
wers than iudas, yet thay be ; 18036
for the pennis that iudas toke,
af tar ward he it forsoke,
and restoryd it agayn ;
but this folke, be well certeyn, 18040
will for no predication
nevar make restitution,
and cawse why, (who lokythe well,)
is only this, for the sachell 18044
whiche hangythe fro my neke doune,
of nature and condic'ioun :
' what-evar into my sake ther gothe,
(who that evar be lesse or lothe,) 18048
it will nevar ysswe out ageyn ;
the entre is bothe large and pleyne,
and the mouthe to gon in by
is evar open at the entry. 18052
but to comyn out, that wyll nat be
Avarice's 6th hand, Treachery. When she's a Draper. 483
' by no maner of sotelte ;
the way is narow & streyght certeyn,
for to comyn out ageyn,
lyke a wyle in a ryver,
to cache the fysche bothe fer and nere ;
the entre large / the comynge out
is so strayt, it stant in dout.
' A-nothar hand I have also,
with whiche I werke myche wo
by a maner of roberye :
and it is callyd ' trecherye,'
withe the whiche, (who can conceyve,)
full many folk[es] I deceve.
vndar colour of ryghtwysnes,
I do to folke full gret falsnes,
that be syniple and inocent.
withe my frawd they be so blent
in marchandyse that I vse,
I can my selff e nat well excuse.
' in deceyt stant my labowr,
by fals weyght and fals mesure :
by large mesure I can byen,
and streight mesure I sell ageyn ;
in byggyng I wyll ha trwe wayt,
but in my salle I do gret slayt,
bothe in peys and in balance.
' with sobar cher and countenance
my chaffer I can well sell,
and to symple folke I tell
that it is bettar than it is,
and wittyngly I do a-mys
touchynge the pris, how that it gothe,
and falsly swere many an othe,
sober all-way, and sad of chere.
' and whan that I am a drapere, j
I hange out courteyns in the lyght,
for to blynde folkcs syght,
that men may not sen at y" full
nothar the colowr nor the wull ;
set it at hyghe pris therto,
18056
18060
[Stowe MS.
952.]
Avarice.
Her 8ack is
like a fish-pot
in a river, big
at the mouth,
close at the
out.
Her 6th hand
18064 iscald
Treachery,
18068 and cheats
simple folk.
18072
It buys by
18076
18080
18084
false.
[leaf 312, bk.]
18088 When AT*
rice is a
Draper, she
darkens her
shop,
so that folk
can't see the
18092 wool.
484 Avarice's Qtk hand. How she works sJtam Miracles
IStowe MS.
952.]
Ararice
cheats in
liorse-dcul-
md with /
iham pardons/
md relics. \_
She steals
images out of
abbeys, re-
paints tin-in,
sets jewels on
them,
puts blood
and milk in
tin-in,
and makes
imlrs for the
fluids to run
out, us if by
miracle.
These she
shows,
with sham
popes' bulls
and bishops'
seals.
and swere I myght ha sold it so
the last[e] day, to a chapman :
thus I begyll many a man 1809G
U withe this hand of whiche I tell,
bothe when I by and sell.
1 this hand myght nat well be worse :
some tyme ther-wit/i I can sell horse, 18100
and lyke a falce coursar, I can
with othis deceyue many a man.
' som tyme by borows and by towns
I walke about[en] with pardons, 18104
with reliks, and dede bones,
closyd vndar glase and stons :
I shew them vndar sell and bull,
and thus the pore people I pull, 18108
of ther sylvar I make them quite,
in falsnes I ha so gret delyght.
' to abbeys eke I can wel gon,
stell ymagis of tre and stone, 18112
thowghe they ben old, & paynt them newe,
and make them seme freshe of hewe,
with colours bothe' whit and redd ;
and at theyr brestis and at ther hedd 18116
I set berryls and crystall ;
vndar, I make an hole full smale ;
I put in oyle, wyne, and blood,
and melke also, to get[ten] good; 18120
make the lycour round about,
at small holes to rennyn out,
as it were done by myracle,
that ther nis balme nor triacle 18124
in this world, so ryche of prys,
of foltyshe people thai ben nat wys.
' I set eke out swyche ymagis,
in stret[i]s and at hermytagis, 18128
and in subbarbys at many a towne,
with bullis fret full of pardon :
byshops seles be nat behynd :
and thus I make folk[e]s blynd, 18132
by my sleyght and by my guyle.
Avarices Qth hand. She ivorks sham Miracles lyy it. 485
' and yet I vse a-nothar whyle : istowe MS.
952.]
I go to faytours of entent, Avarice
and make them eke of myn assent, 18136 [St., leaf sis]
and, by fals colusyon,
and cursyd dissymulat'ion,
I niene suche as ha no shame, makes also
to fayne them selffe bothe blynd and lame, 18140
crokyd, halt, and dome with all,
on euery leg a gret mormall, "<i aiseasd
full of plastars old and new,
to make the people on them rew. 18144
' and, for more decepcion,
I make them to be leyd a-doun. to He down
before her,
U to-forn the ymagys down to ly, images:
and for helthe lowd[e] cry, 18148
ther to have amendement.
and they and I of one assent,
I lyf t them vp niy self e anon , then she sets
em on their
and make them on ther fet to gon 18152 feet
with-outen eny more obstacle,
as all wer wrowght by myracle. as if a miracle
' the people, takynge none hede therto, wrought;
supposythe pleynly that it wer se>; 18156
with off erynge and w*t/< pilgrimagis nd folk
make offer-
come full oft to suche yma<ns, in ? 8 *"* P U -
* o ' gntnages to
for to done ther observaunco : these ilna g e8 -
and thus I can my selffe avaunce 18160
as othar losengars can,
\fiili good that is full falsly won,
whiche that the, people obeyethe full sore.
but of this thynge, as now no more 18164
I wyll nat make rehersall.
' & for this hand may myche avayle
to profet me bothe day and nyght,
I take none hede of wronge or rysht, 18168 Avarice takes
J no heed of
thowghe it to folks do gret domage, wrong or
whill I ther-in fynd advauntage.
it hathe of falshed many a braunche,
and why? I 1 put it to my haunche, [' MS. it] 18172
and to my tonge reyse it agayne :
486 Avarice's haunch, Lying; and tongue, Forsivearing.
the cawse I woll vnto the sayne :
Ava'. m y n haunche is callyd lesynge,
Her haunch and my tonge f orswerynge ; 18176
to^ie, 8 ^or- r and, to this twayn, trechery
swearing, . , , , - ,
is famylyar, and of aly,
and to them bothe, of kyndly lawe,
of custome she will evar drawe. 18180
wher they ben old or yong of age,
they be echon of o lynage,
and, by hyre, fyrst, certeyne,
myne haunche cawhte this spaven. 18184
' she made my tonge fyrst taplye
to fynd out lesynge, and to ly ;
and of lyenge I made to-forne,
[leaf sis, bk.] W as forswerynge fyrst yborn ; 18188
which sprang for wher that evar forsweryng be,
from Lying.
lesynge is nyhe, as men may se ;
and wher-so-evar that they go,
barret is nat fer them fro ; 18192
all thre bene of on accord,
with truthe evar-more at dyscord.'
pilgrim :
i ask her to "Tell on, I pray, let me se
tell me about
them. in what wyse may this be ; 18196
thow callyst thy tonge ' forswerynge,'
and thyn haunche also ' lyenge,'
whiche is so halt and corbyd doun) ;
tell me here-on some reson." 18200
Avariet Avarice :
qwod avarice, ' lay to ere,
and anon thow shalt well here,
how that I this othar day
met Truth mett with truthe vp-on the way : 18204
and Equity, -.
withe her was also equite,
and bothe tweyn, I dyd se.
of them, as I toke hede,
begging, and how they begged bothe ther bred ; 18208
they were so poore bothe two,
for theyr frynd[e]s wer all go.
and yf I shall the truthe showe,
How Avarice got a Spavin in her Leg. Her Tongue. 487
' this day they ha but frynd[c]s fewe,
ne non) ne shal, yf that I may.
' and when I met them on the way,
I gan to turne the bake full sone ;
with them I had no thynge to done ;
for me sempte, to my plesaunce,
they myght me no thyuge avaunce,
nor no profit done to me.
therfore from them I gan to fle
over the feld[e]s as they lay,
and I ne cept none hyghe way,
but forthe, lyke myn opinion,
as I rann, I fell doune ; [as, i, each afoot]
and with that fall ther was no gayne,
but that I cawht a great spavayne
vpon my lego, which e made me
for to halt, as thow mayst se ;
and sothly yet, (who loke well,)
to halt, I hate it nevar a dell,
for when wit/j haltynge I am dull,
it makythe my sake to be more full ;
haltynge dothe me more avaunce ;
therby I make chevysaunce,
for in haltynge is no synne ;
who dothe vpryght, may nothynge wynn ; (y,
haltynge me wynnythe many a grote, fv c -'
it maketh me hatter than my cote,
that I must my tunge in sothe
cast out as a dogge dothe.
' and than full off e it falleth so,
that to the kyng[e]s court I goo,
and am ther, of no man afferyd.
and whan I have the lawe's leryd,,
and am come to hyghe estat,
than I become an advocat,
and make folk[e]s to me drawe,
swyche as hav to don with lawe.
' but first I swere, wt't/j-out[en] doute,
my tunge I shall nat puten oute,
for ryght ne wrongc, ne for no thynge,
18212 [StoweMS.
952.]
tunul her
back on Truth
and Equity,
18216
18220 and fled from
them.
18224 She fell, and
gut ;i spavin
in her leg,
18228
which made
her limp.
18232 This limp
won her a lot
of money.
18236 Uprightness
makes no
!
18240
[Stowe, leaf
3H]
Avarice goes
to the King's
court,
18244 learns law,
18248
turns Advo-
cate,
and won't
speak a word
except for
pay.
488
Avarice ivill Lie to any extent for Gold.
[Stowe MS.
952.]
Avarice
works like
the tongue
of a balance,
goes wliere's
most weight
of fees.
When she
gets folks'
money,
she swears
their cause is
good, tlio' it
isn't.
She turns
right into
wrong, and
wrong into
right,
only to get
gold.
Her Tongue
is sown with
Lies.
[Stowe, leaf
:;i4, back]
' but wher I se ryght gret wynnynge. 18252
' on that party evar I hold,
lyche a balaunce of whiche y told,
whose tunge draweth to that cost,-,
wher the weyht gothe doune most-: 18256
to that party he wyll nat fyne
the balaunce to enclyne.
and so fare I when I begyne,
to holden ther I may most wyne. 18260
' whan folke me pray \fiih all ther myght
for to help them in theyr ryght,
wher the cawse be grene or rype,
a-non as I the money grype, 18264'
than I dare swaryn, by bone & blood,
that theyr cawse is trwe and good,
thoughe I know the contrary.
and than anon I wyll not tary, 18268
for gold and sylvar evar amonge,
to make ryght, thowghe it be wronge ;
for I can make, vnto hir syght,
ryght of wronge, and wrong of ryght; 18272
toume the matere vp se doune,
and preue it out by good reson,
that in the case there is no lake :
and all I do, to fyll my sake 18276
withe gold and othar men[ne]s good,
how evar aforne the case stode.
' thus haue I told the by resonne,
and mad a demonstraciion, 18280
why that my tonge (by dyscryvynge)
is [yjcallyd ' forswerynge.'
and withe lesyngs, (who lyst know,)
vp and downe it is y-sowe ; 18284
to falshed I do most avauntage,
and to truthe gretyst damage,
and in this plyht, as I the told,
ever my purpos I shall hold, 18288
that yf the lawe ne chaunge nought,
I will be fals of word and thought,
in every place, wher evar I be,
Avarice tells the meaning of the Hump on her Bade. 489
1 that no man shall leve me : 18292
now I ha told the of my sake.
' touchinge the bonche vpon my bake,
I wyll to the now specifye
what thynge it dothe signefye. 18296
this is the boch gret and hydous,
with whiche this folke relyg'ious
bene ybonchyd, full many on ;
som, I say, nat everychon, 18300
suche as by transgressyon
kepe not theyr professyon,
as they be bound by theyr degre.
' and by example, (as thow niayst se,) 18304
so as a boche or a fellon
ar cawsyd of corruption
of wyckyd humours & corrupt blood, )
of colore adust, fervent and wood, 1 8308
and othar suparfluyte ;
ryght so, ryches and gret plente
ar cawse that a ryche man,
as the gospell rehers[e] can, 1
May in-to heven have none entre,
But euen lyke as ye may se,
A camell may hym-silffe applye
To passen thorugh a nedelyes eye, 18316
Whiche is a thyng not credible, ,,
But a maner impossible,
Thys beste is so encomerous, [stowe]
Off bak corbyd and tortuous, ,, 18320
And so to passe, no thyng able.
' And euene lyk in caas semblable,
ffolkis off relygyoun,
Bounds by ther professyoun 18324
ffor to lyue in pouerte
Off ther owne volunte,
Ami to pouert hem- silffe proffesso, [ 2 iiym c., them St.]
3eue they be bocchyd with 3 richesse, [ 3 byst.] 18328
To gadre vp good 4 in ther bandoun, ['gooa st., ami Tib.]
Tresoure, and greet poce.scyoun ; [*t. & Tib.]
1 The readable part of MS. Cottou Tiberius, A. vii, k-gius here.
I Stowe MS.
952.]
Avarice.
The Bunch or
Hump on her
back
typifies the
Monks, etc.,
who don't
keep their
As swellings
are causd by
bad humours
and blood,
18312
so riches stop
a rich man's
entry into
heaven,
[Stowe 952, leaf 31 1, back]
[St. & Tib.]
[Tiberius, A
vii, leaf 39,
[Cott. Tib.,
A vii, If. 89]
as a Camel
can't po thru
a needle's
eye.
[Cap. xxxiii,
prose.]
Monks bound
to live in
poverty
arc so swollen
by riches
490 The Hump or Botch of Property stops folks' going to Heaven.
[Tiberius, A
vii (ttaind)]
Avarice.
that they
can't go thru
a little hole
into Heaven.
This little
hole means
Poverty.
So let folk
keep them-
selves from
the hump of
riches,
which will
close the gate
of Paradise,
and stop the
hole of
poverty,
[leaf 39, back]
that lets good
folk thru.
[Cap. xxxiv,
prose.]
This hump or
botch is
Property ;
and Poverty
lances and
empties it.
But Property
won't let it,
for fear of
dying.
' ffor hard it is ffor hem to trace, [St. & Tib.]
Or by so smal an hoole to passe 18332
Vp to that heuenly mansyoun,
To cleyme there habytacyoun.
THis lytle hoole (who kan se,)
Bytokeneth willefful pouerte, 18336
Receyued with-outen eny stryffe ;
ffor, pore we kam in-to this lyffe,
And nakyd, (who taketh heede ther-to,) ,,
Out off this lyffe we schal eke go. [Stowe,ieaf8i5] 18340
' Wherffore late ffolkis good heede take,
(Swyche as han this world fforsake,)
Hem to preserue by holynesse
ffrom the bocche off ffalse richesse, 18344
Whiche is a thyng (who kan discerne)
That wyl close the posterne
Of Paradys 1 and the entre, [ l st. (Tib. bturd)]
And stope the hole 1 off pouerte, 18348
Whiche is, to parffyte ffolke, the gate
To lete hem in, erly and late,
Alle that ben ffounden vertuous
In ffolkis eke relygyous. 18352
Properte.
' rf^ His Jbocche isjcallyjL' Properte,'
I Whiche is afferd off Pouerte ;
ffor pouerte (as clerkys teche) 18355
Is bothe medicyne 2 and leche [* medcyne Tib., medisyn St.]
To launche the bocche off Properte,
And voyde alle superfluyte,
And the bollynge in eche 3 syde. p on echo a St.]
' But Properte dar not Abyde [Tib.&st.] 18360
To suffre Pouerte hym to kerue, ,,
Leste off the wounde he schulye sterue
Leuere he hathe, in peyne tendure,
Than pouerte schulde his bocche recure; 18364
ffor he is dredefful, and eke arwh, [Tib.&st.]
To passe an hole that is so narwh
As hym 4 semyth in his devys, [itst.]
Outher to heven or paradys : 18368
His herte is no thyng ther-on sot.
Avarice's Idol, Gold, men's only Good and God.
491
'A J
' Now wole I speke off my mawmet.
The Mawmet:
Nd off myn ydol that is so oold,
Made off siluer and off gold, 18372
In the whiche (I the ensure)
Is the ymage and the ffygure
And the prynte (as thou mayste see)
Off the lord off the contre. 18376
This is the god whiche, by depos, 1 p depose St.]
Loueth to be schutte in hucches clos.
IT Somwhyle, that men may hym not knowe,
He wole hym hyde in erthe lowe. 18380
' This god kan make ffolkys blynde,
That to his dbseruaunce hem bynde ;
And causith hem, ageyn resoun,
To caste her loke's lowe down 18384
In-to the erthe, ageyne nature,
Hem-silife so mykel they assure
In eerthely tresoure, whiche at 2 o day pin St.]
Schal vnwarely passe away ; 18388
ffor la we 3 in erthe, on euery syde,
Lyche a molle they abyde ;
In erthe is hoolly ther labour ;~ ]
In erthe ys also ther tresour ; 18392
Erthe is ther loye and ther plesaunce ;
No thyng but erthe may hem avaunce ;
Gold and seluer makyth hem nygh wood ;
Gold is ther god, gold is ther good ; 18396
I worschipe gold and my tresour
As ffor my god and savyour ;
Saue gold, noon other god I haue.
[Illumination.]
C T Thenke not how I schal be grave 18400
_i_ In eerthe lowe, ther to be ffreete,
Corupcyoun and worme's mete,
Hydous, stynkynge, and horryble,
And to loke vp-on, odyble : 18404
"What may my gold thanne me 4 avayle, [* me than St.]
\Vhanne wormes han 5 with me batayle? t 5 have stj
But here, while I haue lyberte,
[Stowe, leaf 815, back]
p low St.]
[Tiberius,
A vii.]
Avarice.
[Cap. xxxv,
prose.]
Her Mawmet,
of silver and
gold,
is an image
of the lord of
the country,
a god,
[Tib. leaf 40]
which can
blind folk,
and make em
look on the
ground,
where they
live, like a
mole.
Their trea-
sure and joy
is all in earth.
Gold is their
only God.
They don't
think, when
they rot,
[leaf 40, back]
what their
gold Ml do
for em.
492 Avarice always tries to get goods, by Lies or Games.
[Tiberius.
Avii]
Avarice.
Gold is
her god and
mawmet;
' This thyng to-fforne I kan no 1 se, pnatst.] 18408
ffor in no thyng 1 2 kan affye, [" i St., that i Tib.]
But gold and good to multeplye.
Gold is my god and my Mawmet ; 18411
[3 all [my] hert to
[m
d S
gold St.]
for eold,
St. Lawrence
was roasted.
B
IT And al on gold myne herte 3 is sette ;
ffor golde, I dyde fful greet offence,
In colys to roste seynt Laurence. J
For he, off pite (thus it stood) [St. & Tib.]
3aue the tresoure and the good 18416
Off holy churche ffor almesse,
To pore ffolkis he 4 ffonde in distpesse. [* to foike that he st.]
[Illumination. ]
Ut I, 5 in myne oppynyoun, [ 5 1 st., o.Tib.]
am 6 not off that condicioun : [ am st., i am Tib.]
To gete good is my laboure, 18421
And to awmente my tresoure,
And (as it is to ffolke fful kouthe^)]
More in age thanne in jouthe, ' r- 1 18424
Som tyme with lesynges and with ffablys,
Som tyme at 7 chesse, som tyme at tablys, p at st., at the Tib.]
[Tib. leaf 41] At merels and the botevau?it,
At hasard and at 8 [the] devaunt, [ 8 at St., om. Tib.] 18428
And at these pleye's euerychon,
My mawmet I worschipe euere in oon.
IT ffor, wher-so 9 it be vyce or synne, [ 9 so st., om. Tib.]
I do no thyng but ffor to Wynne ; 18432
To good is al-way my repay re.
' And, ffor my Mawmet is so ffayre,
And ffulffylled off 10 alle plesaunce, p withe st.]
Do 11 ther-to som 6bseruaunce, [ u i>o St., TO do Tib.] 18436
And knele an oon vpon thy kne, [stowe, leafsie]
Lowely to 12 his deyte.
Her work is
in get money,
by lying or
gaming.
sin- worships
her inawuiet.
She bids me
kneel to it,
ffor, but 13 thow do with-out[e] more, ^fi^St'l
18440
Thow schalt abyggen it fful sore ;
And I schal ellys verrey 14 the ; [ u warreye st.]
Thow geteste no lenger trewys off me.'
The pilgrim. ^ The Pylgryme :
A Nd while sche gan me 15 assay le [ 15 me Tib., me to st.]
A\ fful cruelly, as by batayle, 18444
Alle sodeynely I dyde sen,
or she'll
worry me
Avarice
assails me.
Yoitih saves me from Avarice's attack. I enter a wood. 493
18448
[' youthe st.]
[*yfst.]
18456
How that jouthe wente atwen,
Bytwyxen Avarise and me,
Cryed trewys, and bad let be.'
1T Than jouthe spak : l
' T^iO to hym no vyolence,
I J ffor I am komen in his diffence,
Ageynse 2 the to make hym stronge. [ a agaynst St.]
Thow schalt to hym do now no wronge, 18452
(Thow 3 thow be cruel off entent,) pthowghest.]
While that I am here present.'
IF Auaryce :
' }Eue 4 thow ne were not ffaste by,
' Thow myghtteste truste ffynaly,
That I ffor no thyng wolde lette,
But that I schulde vp-on hym sette.
[Illustration.]
IT Thy komynge is not to my pay ;
Thow haste me lettyd off my pray ;
ffor the whiche, I am fful wo ;
But now to hym I may nat do,
ffor to ffulffille my talent,
While thow art with hym present.
But go thi way, and late hym be,
And anoon thow schalt wel se,
I schal hem cacchen 5 in a trappe,
And aresten by the lappe,
That he schal not skape away
ffro my daungere, ^eue 6 I may.'
IT The Pylgryme :
AXd whanne that I was at my large,
And thought I wolde me 7 discharge, 18472
ffrom alle daunger to go ffre, [ 7 me St., not Tib.]
ffrom Auaryce at lyberte,
Thorough helpe and ffavour (in this cas)
18460
18464
[ 5 caclien St., cacche Tib.]
18468
[yfSt.]
Off jouthe that my guyde was,
I wolde, as tho, no lenger byde,
But in-tawode 8 there bysyde
I entryd, whiche stood ffaste 9 by.
And as I wente, alle sodeynely
I herde oou wonder lowde crye,
18476
[ into a wood St.]
[ 9 but fast st.]
[Tiberius,
A vii.]
The Pi/grim.
' Youth ' in-
tervenes.
Youth
bids Avarice
leave me
alone.
Avarice
[leaf 41, back]
doesn't like
this,
as she can't
do what she
wants to me.
She bogs
' Youth ' to
depart,
and then
she'll trap
me.
The Pilgrim.
[leaf 42]
I enter a
wood.
18480
494 A Messenger bids me come and speak to his Mistress.
[Tiberius,
A vii.]
The Pit prim.
I am pursued
by one
bearing a
naked sword,
who bids me
speak to his
mistress.
He is in a
circle,
[leaf 42, back]
and carries a
box like a
Messenger.
And afftir me gan ffaste hym hye,
As he hadde ben in a rage.
And so straunge was his langage,
18484
He shows me
a mansion.
like a pa-
vilion,
with a Crow
sitting above.
That I ne vnderstood hym nought ;
ffor I conceyued in my thought, [stowe, leaf 316, back]
How he that affter me gan gon :
ffrenche 1 nor Latyn he spak noon, c 1 ffrenchs Tib., Frenche St.]
And in his hand (I was wel war,) 18489
A nakyd swerde how that he bar,
fful scharpe grownde ffor to byte,
And redy as he wolde smyte, 18492
And bade, I schulde me ffaste dresse,
Kome to speke with his Maystresse.
Amydde 2 the way, vpon a lond, pandmydst.]
With-in a cercle I hym ffond, 18496
[Illustration.]
WIth-in whiche (so god me save,)
I sawgh fful many a ffygure grave,
fful meruelous, as in workynge ;
And he bare armys off A kynge, 18500
A Boxe, lyche a Messangere.
And trewely, as I neyghed nere,
By sygnes that I dyde se,
I wende so that he hadde be, 18504
Hopynge the bette, at lyberte,
ffrom al daunger to skape ffre :
II To whom I spake fful boldely, 18507
And seyde, " I merveyl 3 ryght greetly P "g$fo,j
That thow byddeste me ffaste dresse
ffor to kome to thi maystresse ;
And by no tokene that I kan se,
I wote not what sche schulde be; 18512
ffor whiche, 1 preye the not to spare,
Off hir the maner to declare."
IT And he to me in worde's ffewe,
With his ffynger gan me schewe 18516
fful ffaste by, a mansyouii),
Eyght vp, lyche a pavyloun ;
And on the pomel (who lyste knowe)
Wonder hygh ther sate a krowe, 18520
The Schoolmistress's Pavilion with a Crow on the top of it. 495
18524
[i hyghe St., hygh Tib.]
18528
18536
His whynges splayynge to and ffro ;
And with the noyse he made tho,
The messangere gan newe abreyde,
And vn-to me ryght thus he seyde :
IF The Messangere :
' T)yhoolde ^one habytacyoun
JD And the hyghe 1 pavylloun :
In that place (I dar expresse)
There abydith my maystresse,
Whiche cessith, nowther nyght nor day,
To teche hir scolers what sche may,
fful many wonderfful lessouns,
And many dyuerse cdnclusyouns. [Illustration.] 18532
' A Nd, therffore, I callyd the,
.XX That thow scholdeste the maner se [stowe, leaf 3173
Off hir scole, and knowe it offte.
And ffor this skele, the crowe aloffte
Is sette, (3eue 2 thow kanste espye,)
Afftir hir scolerys flfor to crye ;
That fforby passe, bothe este and west ;
Thereffore sche hath made there 3 hir nest.
1F The pylgryme :
rtis me semyth it were ffolye
To kome there, or go fforby,
But jeue I knewe (in sentence)
What doctryne or what science,
To hir scolers sche dothe teche.
Thereffore, opunly in thy speche,
Declare what it schulde be,
Or ellys I wole not go with the."
11 The Messangere :
4 ' A yere,' quod he, ' and no mo,
ther I had to scole go ; *
COuetyse, off entente,
To that scole sche me sente
And sothely, as it semyth me,
So I trowe sche dyde the.'
IT The Pylgryme :
[-<St.,oi. Tib.]
18552
"/"^Erteynely that is not so;
[Tiberius,
Avii]
The Pilgrim.
declares that
there his
mistress
teaches her
scholars,
[leaf 43]
18539
P ther made St.]
18544
18548
whom the
Crow calls to
her.
The Pilgrim.
I say I won't
go to her un-
less he tells
me what
she'll teach
me.
The ifeiten-
ger
[leaf 48, bk.]
says Covet-
CMISIIPSS Kent
him to that
school.
Though sche and I (bothe two)
18556
496 The School of Fortune. Hmv Fortunes arc predicted.
[Tiberius,
Avii.j
The Pilgrim.
Covetousness
never told me
of the School.
The Mesten-
ger.
None enter
the school
unless sent
by Covetous-
ness.
The manner
of the school.
Its specula-
tive and prac-
tical sides
differ.
One wants to
get dignity
or treasure,
[Tib. leaf 44]
and to know
one's luck.
The Messen-
ger makes a
circle on the
ground,
with char-
acters and
figures.
" Hadde I-ffere longe dalyaunce,
Sche made no 1 maner off r^membraunce [ no St., me no Tib.]
Off this scole, in no degre,
Off whiche thow spekist off 2 to me." p off, om. st.] 18560
IT The messangere :
' rilHan I dar seyn (as thow schalt ffynde)
1 That it was, out off hyre mynde ;
ffor at this scole ther comyth no wyght
ffor to leerne, day nor nyght, 18564
But jeue that he, ffirste, (off entent,)
Be ffro covetyse I-sent.
*3it off this scole, (jeue thow wylte dwelle,)
The maner, I schal the telle : 18568
IT ffirste, whanne I was heder sent,
I wolde, by som experiment,
Or by som schorte conclusyoun,
Haue preued 3 out my lessoun;
ffor speculatyff and the practyk '")
Off this scole be not lyk j
ffor speculatyff (in sentence) I
With-outen good experience, \
Avaylith lytle or ellis nought,
How longe euere that it be sought.
IT Now take heede, and thow schalt se
I wolde haue 4 dygnyte,
Or som other greet tresour,
And ther-on sette my labour ;
And wolde knowe, to 5 this estat
Wher I schal be ffortunat.
IT ffirste, with my swerd, vp-on the ground
I make a cercle large and round,
With karectis and with 6 ffygures, [ with cm. Tib., St.]
And knowe not the aventures,
Nor the dirkenesse hydde with-Inne,
Off the karectis, whanne I gynne
To emprynte : al 7 they be sene, [ 7 tyll St.]
I wote neuere what they mene ; 18592
[Illustration.]
SAue I conyecte yt may so be,
That spiritis scholde obeye to 8 me, ["obeyst.]
[ provyd St.] 18572
18576
[*hneaSt.J 18580
P to to Tib., to St.]
[Stowe, leaf 317, back]
18584
18588
/ denounce the folly of invoking Spirits.
497
' By my 1 invocacyouns [ myne St.]
To answers to my questyouns, 18596
Swyclie sperytis as I kalle ;
And jit I knowe noon off hem alle,
Saue off entente, as thow mayste se,
That they schulde graunte me 18600
Som maner gyffte, or som gerdoun,
Concernynge myn oppynyoun,
By vertu off the cercle round,
And Carectis graven in the ground, 18604
By schewynge or by apparence,
Affter that I jeue credence.'
1f The pylgryme :
" A lie that thow doste specyffye,
J\. Is but ffalsehed and ffantesye 18608
And cursyd ymagynacyoun,
Brouth 2 in ffirste by Ulusioun. p brought St.]
" This scole is nought, in sotheffastenesse,
Whos doctryne is but cursydnesse. 18612
The scolers there-off, I holde hem wood ;
Swyche spiritis may don to the no good ;
And jeue thow koudeste the trouthe entende,
Harme they may, but not amende : 18616
They wole wyrke in 3 thi damage, \? to St.]
But no thyng to thyne avauntage,
Who that kan loke wel aboute.
" Also thi siluen 4 stante in doute [* my seicre St.] 18620
Where-off thi cercle scholde serue ;
And thynges that thow doste obserue,
Alle is but ffoly and mysbyleve, 5 [ 5 fais beieve St.]
Towchynge the spiritis, thow mayste wel leve; 18624
ffor the they wyl no thynge do wel,
ffor they the louen neuere a del."
If The Messangere :
F Dar afferme (with-oute 6 slouthe) [ 6 with-out c., St.]
J_ In party that thow haste seyde trouthe, 18628
Excepte oonly (it is no nay)
In many thynges they helpe may,
A man 7 greetly to magnyffye, , p man St., c. Muni]
Encresse also, and niultcplye, [stowe.ieafsis] 18632
PILGRIMAGE. K K
[Tiberius,
Avii.]
Necroman-
cy'i
Meuenger
gays that, by
his invoca-
tions, spirits
are made to
answer and
obey.
[leaf**, bk.]
The Pilgrim.
I declare it is
all falsehood.
The scholars
are mad ;
the spirits do
harm;
all is folly.
498
[Tiberius,
A vii.J
Neeroman-
cy't
Messenger.
[leaf 45]
but the
spirits mast
obey the
King.
The Pilgrim.
I ask the
Messenger by
what power
he compels
the Spirits.
Necroman-
cy'i
JHeitenger.
The PUnrim.
Ntcroman-
cy's
Meifenver.
He says they
will obey him
as assuming
he holds
authority
and a com*
mission from
the King.
[leaf 45, bk.]
How the Messenger makes Spirits obey him.
Whanne they be c6nstreyned to do so,
And haue no power to go ther-ffro,
Comaunded 1 to swyche obseruaunce ^maS"^^''
By hym 2 that hathe the gouernaunce [nuemst.] 18636
I mene the kyng, to whom, eche weye,
Mawgre ther myght, they muste obeye.'
f The Pylgryme :
" T Conceyue, and se wel here,
JL Thow art the kynges messangere, 18640
By the armes that thow dost were,
And by the sygnes I se the bere ;
But make 3 demonstracyoun [ s make a st.]
To me off thi comyssyoun, 18644
By what power or by what peyne
That thow mayste 4 hem so constreyne."
1T The Messangere : c* mayst st, muste in>.]
'/^Ommyssyoun I haue neuere on;
\J And trewely I dar axe non ; 18648
And though I dyde (as thow schalt se)
He wolde graunte noon to me.'
1T The Pylgryme :
" ri^Hanne wote I wel, (jeue it be sought,)
I ffor the, that they wole do ryght nought. "186 52
IT The Messangere :
ITEre vp-on, what so 30 seye,
Wote 5 wel they wole 5 obeye
Pleynely vnto my byddynge ; [ 5 1 wott . . . that they win St.]
ffor they wene that, off the kynge . 18656
I hadde fful auctorite,
Commyssyoun and fful pouste,
To maken them, lyche 6 myn entent, [' lyke st.]
To <5beye 7 my comaundement 17 or fobeyg] 18660
By vertu off myn orysoun, 8
Karectys and comurysoun 8 ; [ orison* . . . commyssions st.]
ffor drede off whiche, (be wel certeyn,)
I knowe they dar me not with-seyn.' 18664
II The Pilgryme :
" ~VTTT"Her thow be wel or yuel apayd,
y y Take good heed what thow haste sayd :
Thow haste ben ffalse in thi workyng,
/ say Magical Signs and Seals are Marks of the Devil. 499
18668
[i punishid St.]
[ J iniquite St.]
P tobbaye St.]
18672
[* bast St.]
18676
" And wrongely don vn-to thi kyng ;
Wher-ffore thow shalt I-ponysshed 1 be
ffor thi greet Inequyte, 2
To make spiritys the to obeye, 3
And swyche charges on hem leye
By disseyte and ffalse tresoun,
And, haste 4 no coramyssi'oun
ffor the to schewe on see nor lond,
And haste 4 I-made eke, with thyn hand,
Karectis and cercle round,
And compassid it vp-on the ground ;
And art so blynd, thow kanste not seen, [stowe, leaf sis, bk.]
On no party, what they mene. 18680
" And swyche karectis (I dar wel telle)
Be niarkis off the deuel off helle,
ffirste ordeyned (who kan conceyue)
Innocentis to disceyue.
And thow mayste also (truste me)
There-with thow schalt dysseyued be
ffor this selis, thow schalt ffynde,
Constreyne the, and sore bynde
By a maner allyaunce
To do the deuel swyche obseruaunce
Made to thi conffus'ioun,
As bonde or oblygacyoun ;
By whiche he wole (off verrey myght)
Cleyme the his man off ryght ;
By swyche a tytle, make hym stronge.
" And to spiritis thow doste greet wronge, 18696
Hem to constreyne in thi workynge
To brynge th6 other mennes thynge,
(Be it by day, be it by nyght,)
Vn-to whiche thow haste no ryght ; 18700
"Where-in thow art greetly 5 to blame, [ 6 gretiy St., greet Tib.]
To bydde hem in the kynges name
Or constreyne hem, ageyne resoun,
By karecte or by 6 comyssyoun, pby,o.st.] 18704
To robbe or steele, to thi ffavour,
Off other ffolkes 7 ther tresour, p flbikis St., ffoike Tib.]
By verrey fforce, ageyne 8 ryght. p agaynst St.]
(Tiberius,
A vii.j
The Pilgrim.
I declare the
Messenger
shall be
punished.
He has done
treason.
18684
18688
His char-
acters are
marks of
the Devil.
His seals
bind him to
do the Devil
allegiance.
18692 [leaf 46]
It is a wrong
against the
spirits
to constrain
them to rob
other men's
goods.
500
The Company of the Users of Spirit-conjuration.
[Tiberius,
Avii.]
The Pilgrim.
This con-
straining the
Spirits is
wrong
towards the
King,
and may be
requited in
hell.
but lie is one
only of a
great com-
pany:
Solomon,
Virgil,
Cyprian,
Abelard,
all used this
art.
Magic is not
o dangerous
" And ^eue thow loke aboute 1 ryght, p about Tib., st.]
To the kyng, vsynge this vice, 18709
Thow doste fful greet preivdice 2 [* preiudice st.]
Ageyne his lawefful ordynaunce,
Where it is boden 3 (in substaunce) [bod yn st.] 18712
And dyffendid, (who kan espye,)
Alle maner theffte and robrye, 4 [* robery st.]
In peyne off deth : take heede her-to,
And with-drawe thyne hand ther-ffro 18716
With al thi myght and al thy peyne.
Thow standeste 5 in daunger atwene tweyne ; [ 5 stanst st.]
Outher off God or off Sathan
Thow art off the leege man ; 18720
And therffore, ffor to lyue in reste,
Leeue the worste, and cheese the beste ;
ffor (schortly I schal devyse,)
Thow schalt be quytte lyke thi servyse, 18724
In helle with dampnacyoun,
Or heuene, to thi savacioun." [C.&st.]
The Messangere:
F thy worde's I 6 take hede, [ 6 words when i st.]
They putte me 7 in fful greet drede : 18728
But, o thyng comfforteth me, F me st., me not Tib.]
Whanne that I considere and se
There is so greet a company e, [Stowe,ieafsi9]
Me to susteyne in my ffolye, 18732
Off ffolkis that to-fforne haue be
Off wonder greet autoryte,
As why lorn was kyng Salamoim,
And Virgyle, off greet renoun, 18736
Cypryan and Albalart,
And many an-other in this art, [Tib. & c.]
Maystres by experyence,
And hadde also ther-to lycence 18740
(With-outen 8 eny noyse or stryffe,) [ 8 outen st., out Tib.]
flfor to vse it al her lyflfe.
' And this ilke craff te also
(Who that takyth heed ther-to,) 18744
Is not in rewarde so perillous,
Dredefful, nor superstyci'ous,
/ refuse, to go to the Messenger's Mistress, Necromancy. 501
18748
18752
18756
' As som crafftis that haue be do
With sacriffyce, and eke also
With obseruaunces, vpon mownteynes,
In deserte, 1 and eke in pleynes, C 1 decrert St.]
And in placis fful 2 savage, ["full of St.]
Solytarye, and fful off rage,
That, alle the maner ffor to noumbre,
It wolde a man greetly encombre,
As thow schalt se and knowe anon
$eue thow lyste with me to gon ;
And ff ynally, thi pas to dresse [Tib. & St.]
To hir that is the cheff maystresse
Off alle this thyng that I haue tolde,
That, 3eue thow be hardy and bolde
ffor to proche 3 to hir presence, [ 3 taproche St.]
Thow schalt haue fful experyence.'
f The Pylgryme :
" fllHat euere I schulde this thyng se, 4 [* shuid . . yse St.]
J_ God, off his grace, dyffende me ; 18764
And he be my proteccyoun
Fro 5 thylke habytacyoun ! [ 5 fro st M ? TU>.]
ffor, by opene evidence,
And by recorde off thi sentence, 18768
Thilke place, with-oute 6 wene, [ 6 with out Tib., St.]
To good 7 it doth no-thyng partene; U god St.]
ffor, by the crowe that sytte aloffte,
Makyth noyse and cryeth offte, 18772
It schewith wel how thylke place
Is devoyde, and ffer ffro grace,
And longeth (as I reherse kan)
To the Deuel and to Sathan ; 18776
ffor, save the Deuel, noon other wyght
Hathe power there, off verray ryght.
Therffore I wole me holden heere,
And to that place kome noon nere ; 18780
And trewely, (to my devys,)
Thi-silff also (jeue thow be wys,)
Thow schalt wysely with-drawe the, [stowe, leaf sio, back]
And abyde 8 here with me pabydenst.] 18784
ffor thyne owne avauntage,
[Tiberius,
Avu.]
Necroman-
cy's
Messenger.
as sacrificiul
rites in wild
spots.
The Messen-
ger bids me
go to his
Mistress.
18760 [leaf 47]
God forbid !
I say;
for, by the
crow which
sits aloft on
her pavilion,
the place
belongs to
Satan,
and I will not
go to it,
502 The Duke who preferd to be damnd with the Majority.
[Tiberius,
Avii.]
The Pilgrim,
for it means
destruction.
[leaf 47, back]
Story of the
duke of
Ffryse, who,
as he was to
be baptisd,
and had one
foot in the
well, drew it
out on
hearing
that more
folk would go
to Hell than
Heaven,
and said he
preferd being
damnd with
the majority.
[leaf 48]
Surely Solo-
mon amended
ere he died,
"Leste it turne to thi damage ;
ffor, who gothe to that mancyoun,
Gothe streytte to his destruccyoun, 18788
As ther haue do fful many oon,
Whiche here-to-fforne haue theder gon,
Eesemblynge (as I kan devyse) 18791
To hym that was the Duke of 1 Fryse, [ofst.,o.Tib.]
Whiche, whanne he shuld ha be baptisyd, [Tib. & St.]
(In story e as it ys devysed,
And as bokes kan wel telle,)
His o ffoot was putte in the welle, 18796
To haue receyved cristis lawe,
But he in haste gan it with-drawe ;
[Illustration.]
FOr hym thought he herde a cry,
That affermed certeynely, 18800
ffor synne and ffor Inyquyte,
How mo ffolke schulde dampned be
At the day off lugement,
Gon to helle, there to be brent, 18804
3e mo (as in comparisoun)
Thanne ffolk ffor ther savacyoun
Scholde that day receyued be,
To dwelle in heuene, that ffayre cyte. 18808
IT But this duke, hym-silff to encombre, 2 [* tencomber St.]
Seyde 3 with the gretteste nowmbre, pseydst.]
And wolde go, 4 thorough his ffolye, [* he would go St.]
And with hem holde 5 companye, pkepest.] 18812
There-with affermynge, in his thought,
That, off baptysme, he sette 6 nought. [ sett St.]
ffor whiche, me semeth it were ffolye,
The to halden companye 18816
With swyche ffolke in thyn entent, [Tib. & St.]
Off whiche affter thow schalt repente.
" ffor I suppose that Salamoun
(Off whom thow madest mencyoun) 18820
Wher in-ffectte, or hadde his parte,
In his dayes, off swyche arte,
As som ffolk seyne, (who kan entende,)
That hym-silffe he dyde amende 18824
Necromancy's Messenger refuses to repent.
503
[stowe, leaf 320]
18836
18839
[> what that St.]
" Off that and many another thyng,
To-ffore the hour off his deiyng,
And resceyued was to grace,
And hath in heuene a dwellynge place.
1T And semblabely, the tother man,
The grete clerke callyd Cypryan,
To-fforne his deth, lyste to fforsake
This craffte, and ffor Crystis sake,
Suffred (as made is mencyoun)
Martirdam and passyoun,
And is in heuene stelleffyed,
And with seyntis gloreffyed.
If Take heede to hem, by reed off me,
And not to hem that dampned be.
Thenke on hem that ben in blysse ;
And where as 1 thow haste don amysse,
With-drawe thy ffoot, and do penaunce,
And haue in herte re"pentaunce."
1T The Messangere :
|Ertys,' quod he (' 3eue thow lyste se,)
That thow seyste, ne may not be.
Though thyne argumente be stronge,
At that scole I haue ben longe,
And fful wel lerne'd my lessoun ;
And by sodeyne departysoun,
(Who takyth heede, it is no nay,)
So sone I may not part away,
As 2 I kan not (in myne entente)
ffynde in myne herte to repente,
Nor to departe vp-on no syde ;
I am with-hoolde ; I muste abyde,
With other scolers mo than oon,
Whiche that there to scole goon,
As ffolke may sen ther, gret ffoysoun.
' And eke my skrippe and my bordoun
Ben I-leffte in that hostage,
And lyne in maner off morgage ;
And I ne may not hem 3 recure ;
And also (as 4 I the ensure)
I gyue no force, 5 in certeyn, [ 5 fors st.]
18828
18832
[Tiberius,
Avii.]
The Pilgrim.
and went to
heaven ;
Cyprian also
forsook this
craft,
and suffered
as a martyr.
Look to the
Saints, and
not the
Damnd !
Necroman-
cy's
Metienger.
18844
18848
[Tib. & St.]
p And St.]
The messen-
ger has been
long at this
School of
Commerce
with Spirits,
and will not
leave it.
[leaf 18, back]
18852
18856
[Tib.&st.] 18860
pthem nat st.]
His scrip
and itatTare
there.
504 Necromancy: her Sword in a Book; her Wings.
[Tiberius.
Avii.]
The Pilgrim,
I think I'd
better run
away.
The Messen-
ger calls on
his mistress,
Necromancy,
to fall upon
me.
She comes
after me.
[leaf 49]
She has a
Sword
and big
Wings.
She bids me
stay and see
her craft.
She sits high
upon a tree.
Her name
is ' Necro-
mancy.'
18868
p peniious St.]
18872
pin St.]
' Though I neuere hem haue ageyn.' 18864
1T The Pylgryme :
AN"d whanne that I these wordes herde,
In maner l trewely I fferde C 1 St., Tib.
As though I hadde astonyed be ;
And, as it semed vn-to me,
I stood in a perilous 2 cas.
And therffore I abasched was,
And sawe no bette reffute to me,
But ffro that place ffor to ffle ;
ffor he (schortely, in sentence)
To whome I neuere dyde offence,
Me to bryngen in-to 3 distresse,
Gan to callen his maystresse
To koine vpon 4 me in greet rape, P vpon St., on Tib.]
That I schulde hir not escape.
And sche, off ffalse entencyoun,
Kam out off hir pavilloun 5
Affter me, that I wente abak,
Hydous off look, oolde and blak,
Off whom I greetly 6 was afferd.
In the 7 mydde off a book, sche heelde a swerd ;
Other scawberk hadde sche noon ; U i the, om. St.]
And, as I byhelde auoon,
Sche hadde (in sothe, as thoughte 8 me) E gSyg?f
Large whynges ffor to ffle. 18888
IT And, by a maner ffelonye,
Sche gan loude ffor to crye ;
And, me manasynge off pryde,
Bad me that I schulde abyde ; 18892
And ellis, mawgrey al my myght,
I schulde not skape out off hir 9 syght [ 9 his St.]
Til I hadde in partye
Somwhat seyne off hir maystrye. 18896
And towarde me hir look sche caste,
And gan to come vp-on fful ffaste ;
But as sche kam, it sempte me,
That sche sate hygh vp-on a tre, 18900
And pleynely gan to speceffye,
Hir name was ' Nygrdmauncye/
18876
P parylyon St.] 18880
[ 6 gretiy i St.] 18883
Her book, ' Death of the Soul' I meet the hag ' Heresy' 505
[Ultistration.]
[Tiberius,
AviL]
The Pilgrim.
WHiche, by my craffte 1 (in substaunce) p be craft St.]
Kan ffolke encresse, and wel avaunce, 18904
That ben in my subieccyoun
And lyste to leerne my lessoun.
2 This ilke book that thou 3 WOlte SO, P that thou om, Tib.] [leaf 49, back]
18908
Is I-callyd Mors Anime,
"Whiche is in englysche (ffor to seyn,)
' Dethe off the sowle,' in certeyn.
And this nakyd swerd whiche I hoolde,
(As thow mayste thi silffe byholde,)
There- with (ffor schorte conclusyoun,)
Whanne thow haste herde my lessoun, 2
There- with thow schalt yslayne 4 be. [*ysiayn St., siayne Tib.]
And thus sche gan manasse me,
Where-off I stood in fful greet drede :
But off grace, (as I toke hede)
A white dowue I dyde se
ffleen sodeynely towardes me ;
But with me, where as I stood,
Sche ne made no lenger 5 abood. [ 5 longest.]
And I ne made no greet delay,
But wente fforthe vp-on my way ;
And I mette (or I was war)
\
An oolde oon, whiche that 6 ffagot bar [ 6 a St.]
Vpon hir bak, and eke therto,
In hir hand sche heelde also
A peyre cysours scharpe I-grownde.
And, to me-ward as sche was bounde,
Sche bad (ffor schorte conclusyoun)
ffor to leye my skryppe adoun ;
And gan vp-on me ffor to ffrowne,
Lowde cryed, hir lyste not rowne :
H Heresye :
' IjlOr but thow leye here adoun,
M I schal, to thi conffusyoun,
Schape thi skryppe off newe array,
ffor it is not to my pay ;
2-2 om. St. The good old tailor's eye caught the second
'lesson,' 1. 18914, in his MS. instead of the first, 1. 18906.
18912
18916
18920
18924
18928
18932
Her book is
called ' Mors
Arums,'
Death of the
Soul.'
When I have
learnt her
lesson, her
sword shall
slay me.
She threatens
me.
The dove
again saves
me,
and I depart.
I meet an old
hag,
' Heresy,'
who bids me
lay down my
scrip,
18936
or it will
be shaped
otherwise
for me.
506
Heresy formd Pelagians, Arians, and other Sects.
[Tiberius,
Avii]
The Pilgrim.
[leaf 50]
I refuse to
obey her until
I know her
authority.
Herety.
[leaf 50, back]
She first
shaped the
scrip of Pe-
lagians and
Ariana.
Her name is
' Heresy.'
T
' I schal it kutte in other wyse,
Lyche as my-syluen lyste devyse.' 18940
[Illustration.]
IF The Pylgryme :
(How oolde vekke, as semeth me,
That thow mayste not clerely se ;
Wherffore me lyste, by thi byddynge,
ffor to do no maner thyng, 18944
But $eue to-fforne I knowe and se [stowe,ieafs2i]
Thy powere and thyn autorite ;
Thy worke also, and thyne office,
I wole ffirste knowe in myn avyce." 18948
[Illustration.]
Heresie: [st.,om.Tib.]
I Or pleynely, off lasse and more,
Evene afftir my ffadris lore,
I wole (off bothe 1 ffalse and trewe,) [ibotheofst.]
The skrippes kutte and schape newe, 18952
Off pylgrymes greet and smale,
Kutte hem alle on pecys smale ;
ffor it was I, my-silffe allon,
That schope the skryppes jore agon ; 18956
ffirste, off this Pellagyens,
And also off these Arryens,
And off other sectys newe,
ffounde ffalse, and 2 vntrewe, [ and fun st.j 18960
As oolde boke's speciffye ;
ffor I am callyd ' Heresye,'
The whiche do alwey 3 my labour
To brynge ffolke in greet errour,
[ all ways St., awey Tib.]
18964
That ffolwe 4 my condissiouns ; [ foiow St., ffolke Tib.]
Only by ffalse oppynyouns,
Make her hertis to declyne
Her.business. ffro the trouthe off luste doctryne, 18968
And cause hem ffor to don ther cure,
And amys to 5 expowne hooly scripture. [ 5 Amysst.]
' And, trewely, nadde bene
The greete 6 counceyle at Nycene, [ 6 greet Tib., gret St.] 18972
Ordeyned by greet Constantyn,
And nadde ben also Augustyn
Had it not
been for the
Nicean Coun
cil, and
Constantine,
and Augus-
tine,
Heresy threatens me, and her Father lars my way. 507
[i tanull St.] 18976
18980
18983
[ that om. St.]
18988
18992
' And many other greet doctours
ffor to anulle 1 niyn errours,
The skryppes off holy churche echon,
I hadde ffor-don (fful ^ore agoon,)
Off pylgrymes that passe by the way,
Sythen goon fful many a day.
' And $it I schal, what so byffalle,
Assayle the* amonge hem alle,
And myn oolde purpos holde,
In ffyre, though that 2 I brenne schulde,
I wole my wyttes alle applye,
Hardy d with obstynacye,
Contynue til the ffyre be hoot ;
Therffore I here this ffagot.
' And ffirste, thow schalt me not escape,
But newe I wole thy skryppes schape,
Or ellia I dar vndirtake
That thow schalt it here fforsake,
And leve it with me vtterly 3 : p entteriy St.]
My ffader is here ffaste by, [Stowe, leaf 321, back]
Whiche hathe power (as thow mayste se)
And 4 bothe vp-on londe and see, [yest.] 18996
Thow schalt not skape hym (in certeyne,)
But with daunger and greet peyne.'
11 The Pylgryme :
Myne eyen tho 5 1 gan vnffolde,
And anoon I gan byholde
In the weye me byfforne,
An hunte stoode 6 with his home,
Off chere and looke 7 ryght pervers.
And the passage, in travers,
With cordes he gan it ouere-leyne,
ffrette with nettys alle the pleyne.
And he brought in his companye
The ffalse vekke Heresye.
And, that men schulde hym wel knowe,
His home he gan fful lowde blowe ;
As it were to catche his pray,
Eyght so he blewe on 8 the way, [ 8 Mew vp on St.] 19012
[Illustration.]
[Tiberius,
Avii]
Hereiy.
the scrips of
Holy Church
had been
destroyed
long ago.
She will
attack me,
[leaf 51]
and reshape
my scrips.
[ 5 then St.]
19000
[ stood Tib., stode St.]
(7 look Tib., loke St.]
19004
19008
I shall not
escape her
father, Satan.
The Pilffrim.
I see him, a |
hunter with
his horn,
who strews
the plain
with nets,
and blows his
horn.
508 Heresy's Father sets nets, hooks, and lines for me.
[Tiberius,
Avii]
The Pilgrim.
[leaf 51, bk.J
He is Here-
sy's father,
and bars my
passage.
The nets are
so close that
no one can
escape.
Swimming is
the only way
cut.
Deaf 52]
The Pilgrim.
I ask the
Hunter what
Officer he is,
who snares
the King's
animals.
Bad ! his doughter Heresye, [ l bad St., And Tib.]
The passage so to 2 kepe and guye, p so to St., to Tib.]
That I scholde not, in no syde,
ffrom ther damage my sylffe provyde. 19016
And trewely (as I haue sayd)
The nettys were so narewe layd,
On 3 lond, on water, and in the hayr, p on St., in Tib.]
That I myght haue no repayr
To passe ffreely that passage.
It was so fful off mortal rage,
Off daunger and adversite,
That, but yiff 4 I amydde the see
Durste swymme, ther was no way
ffor me to passe, nyght nor day.
And there he dyde also malygne
To leyne out nettys, and assigne,
There to stoppen my passage ;
So that I ffonde noon avauntage,
ffrom his dawngere to declyne ;
ffor many an hook and many a lyne
"Were caste in-to 5 that peryllous se,
Off entente to letten me \
[Illustration.]
THat, mawgre alle my fforce and myght,
But $eue I kowde swymme aryght
Amonge the wawys ffeerse and ffelle,
1 muste vndir his dawnger dwelle.
But ffirste, while he his trappys leyde,
Vnto 6 the hunte thus I sayde : [ St., Tib. b
The Pylgryme:
19020
['yiff that Tib., yf St.]
19025
19028
19032
[ 5 in St.]
19036
[C. & Tib.]
wfl 19040
H
Ivnte," quod I, " telle me now,
What maner officere arthow, 7 [' art tou st.]
Whiche [thus] lyggeste on the way,
Vnlaweffully 8 to CaCChe pray, [ 8 vnlawfully St., vnlawefull Tib.]
Thus to make thyne arestis,
Namely on the kynges beestis ?
I trowe thow haueste no lycence
ffor to don so greet offence ;
I dar afferme (eerly and late),
Swyche hunters, the kyng doth hate ;
19045
[Stowe, leaf 322]
19048
/ see Pilgrims swimming in the sea, some upside down. 509
" And it semyth, by thi manere,
Off his, thow art noon officere." 19052
1T The hunte 1 : c hnntar st.]
aVod he, ' what makystetow swyche stryff 1
Thow art wonder Inquysytyff,
Besy also, by argument,
To hoolde with me a parlement, 19056
By langage, and longe pletyng ;
ffor, though I longe not to the kyng,
(And thow conceyue aryght I-wys,)
Som tyme I was oon off his ; 19060
And though I haue no conge* 2 piibertest.]
Off hym, to hunte in this centre",
He suffryth me here, in this place,
At his beestis ffor to chace, 19064
And assaute on hem to make.
And whanne that I by fforce hem take,
Be it by day, be it by nyght,
I cleyme hem to ben myn off ryght.' 19068
1F The Pylgryme :
ANd while I herde alle his resouns
And ffrowarde oppynyouns,
Myne herte abaschyd, gan to colde,
Namely whanne I gan byholde 19072
Pylgrymes, by greet aduersite,
fful many oon swymme 3 in the see ; [ s swymmen St.]
And they were clothyd euerychon.
And som off hem, I sawe anoon, 19076
Ther ffeet reversed vp so doun ;
And som (in myn inspeccyoun)
Sworame fforth fful euene and 4 ryght ; past]
And som hadde whynges ffor the fflyght, 19080
That afforcyd 5 hem silff fful offte [ s offeryd St.]
For to fflowe 6 fful hygh alloffte. [ for taflowe St.]
And though ther 7 purpos was so sette, p the St.]
The see hath hem fful offte lette ; 19084
[Illustration.]
SOwme, by the ffeet were bounde stronge
With knottys, off 8 herbis longe ; [ 8 of the St.]
And sowme, with wawcs wood and rage,
[Tiberius,
Avii.]
says he was
once an
officer of the
King,
and now
hunts on his
own author-
ity.
[leaf 52, bk.]
The Pilgrim.
I am cast
down, and
see many
pilgrims in
great ad-
versity in the
sea,
with their
clothes en,
and some
with their
feet in the
air,
while others
have wings;
others' feet
are clogd
with weeds.
510 The Sea is the World, in which Pride wrecks men.
[Tiberius,
Avii.)
[leaf 53]
The Pilgrim.
The sad state
of Pilgrims.
The Hunter,
Satan,
i St., Tib. blurt] 19088
[ wex St.]
tells me that
many snares
are laid for
me.
The Pilgrim.
I ask who
put the
pilgrims in
the sea.
The Hunter
Bays that
Were ysmytt 1 in ther vysage,
That they losten look and syght,
And ffeble were 2 off fforce and myght :
And, by dyuerse apparaylle,
The rage so gan hem assayle,
In many another dyuerse wyse,
Mo than I may as now devyse.
The Hunte : 3
' T Do fful wel,' quod he, 4 ' espye
JL Where-on thow castyste so thyne eye.
ffor alle thy wyles and thi lape,
Thow schalt not so ffro me eskape ; [stowe, leaf 322, back]
I schal the cacche by som crook ;
I haue leyde ffor the, las and hook,
As thow mayste thy-syluen se :
Thow schalt not skapen by this see.'
IF The Pylgryme :
(Elle me anoon, and lye nought,
As it lythe, ryght in thy thought,
These pylgrymes alle that I se,
Who hathe thus putte hem in thys 5 see 1 "
If .The hunte:
19092
[' huntar St.]
[* qwod he full well St.]
19096
19100
T
19104
[ 5 thy St.]
"TS not this,' quod he anoon,
'An hyghe 6 way ffor ffolke to goon
Therby, alle day in ther vyage, [ 6 hyghe St., hygh Tib.] 19109
Swyche as goon on pilgrymage ]
I hadde not ellis (as I haue seyde)
Myne hookys and my nettys leyde, 19112
To cacchen alle in this place
ffolke that ff orby here do pace ;
[leaf 53, bk.] ffor this greete 7 large See [ 7 greet Tib., gret St.]
Whiche that thow here doste se,' 19116
It is the world, ay fful off trowble,
fful off many wawys dowble,
And fful off woo and greet torment,
In whiche fful many a man is schent, 19120
With bellewys blowe on euery syde,
Which that myne owne douhter, Pryde,
Is wonte, with hir ffor to bere,
Good pylgrymes ffor to dere. 19124
the sea is
the world,!
full of
trouble,
in which
Pride wrecks
many.
Covetousness drowns folk. The Contemplative. ' Ortigometra.' 511
' And many a pylgryme thow mayste se
Swymme in this perelous see :
Somme off hem, (whiche is not ffeyre,)
Ther ffeet han vpwarde in the ay re 1 ; phayrst.] 19128
And alle swyche (jeue thow lyste se)
Ben thylke ffolke that charged be
With the sak off couetyse,
And ouere-lade in many wyse, 19132
That they, to swymme be not able,
Ther burthen is so Importable ;
Whiche, by ffalse affeccyoun,
Ploungith her heede's low a-down " 19136
Vnder the wawys off this world here,
That they may not (in no manere)
Swymme, ffor the hevynesse
That they bere, off greet rychesse. 19140
OTher ther ben that swymmen ryght,
And haue eke wynges ffor the fflyght ;
And tho ben ffolkis whiche, in this lyffe,
In herte ben con templatyffe, 19144
In wordely thyng haue no plesaunce,
Save in ther bare sustenaunce :
In this world, ther loye is nought ;
ffor alle ther herte and alle ther thought, 19148
And ffynal truste off ther workynge,
Is sette vp-on the heuenly kynge.
' But ffor alle that, (I the assure, 2 ) [stowe, leaf 323]
In this see they muste endure p ensure St.] 19152
Bodily, by greet penaunce,
In hevene hem sylffe 3 to avaunce. pthem aeiven St.]
And, ffor the love 4 off crist ihesu, [ love St., lawe Tib.]
They make hem whynges off vertu, 19156
To ffleen (by clene affeccyoun)
To the heuenly mansyoun ;
Whiche greetly displesith me,
Theder whanne I se hem ffle. 19160
Swyche ffolke resemblen alle
Vn-to a bryd that clerkes calle
Ortigometra in ther bokys ;
And this bryd caste his lokys 19164
[Tiberius,
AviL]
The Hunter,
Satan.
Many pil-
grims swim
in this sea.
Those with
their feet in
the air are
overladen
with the sack
of Covetous-
nest,
which plung-
es their heads
under the
world's
waves.
Some have
wings for
flight.
These are the
Contem-
plative,
whose
thoughts
are always
set on the
heavenly
King;
[leaf 54]
they must
still endure
and suffer to
gain Heaven.
They are like
the bird
Ortigometra.
512 ' Ortigometra.' Folk clogd with the Weeds of Riches.
[Tiberius,
Avii.]
The Hunter.
which, when
it is tired,
drops into
the water,
and sets up
one wing as i
sail,
till it can fly
again.
Those Pil-
grims in the
sea with their
feet bound
with weeds,
[leaf 54, bk.]
have their
minds so fixt
on worldly
prosperity
and riches,
that they can
neither swim
nor fly.
Some, too,
are blind, so
that they
can't see the
emptiness of
this world's
glory.
' To-fforne hym prudently, to se
Whanne he schal swymme in the see :
This ffoul hath whynges ffor the fflyght,
Be he 1 anoon off kyndely ryght. c 1 to best] 19168
Whanne he is wery off travayle,
And that his ffederes do 2 hym ffayle, p done St.]
Anoon (off his condiscyoun)
In-to the water he fallith doun, 19172
And thanne 3 to swymme wole not ffayle : p that St.]
Off his o whynge, he makith a ssayle,
Amonge the sturdy wawys alle
To kepe hym silffe, that he not ffalle, 19176
Til he resume ageyne his myght,
Off acustom, 4 to take his fflyght. [* custom St.]
Thus stoundemel 30 may hym se,
Som tyme swymme, som tyme fflee, 19180
In bokys as it is I-ffounde.
' But they that haue 5 fleet I-bounde [ 6 haue ther st.]
With herbes and with wedes greene,
That they may not aryght sustene, 19184
Nowther to swymme nor to fflee,
They be so bounden in the see
Off wordely 6 delectacyoun [ worldly St.]
In ther inwarde affeccyoun ; 19188
ffor alle ther hool ffelicyte
Is Sette in Veyne 7 prosperite [ 7 veyne St., verrey Tib.]
Off the world, and in rychesse,
fful off chaunge and dowblenesse, 19192
With whiche they be so 8 sore bounde, [ 8 so St., om. Tib.]
That her soulis yt wole conffounde ;
ffor they haue power none, 9 nor myght, [9 "^*Jj t-l Tib *
Nowther to swymme nor fneen 10 aryght ; pflyen st.]
So sore the world doth hem constreyne, 19197
That it were to hem greet peyne,
Her hertis ffro the world to vnbynde. 11 [ n tuunbynd st.]
'And som also be makyd 12 blynde, pmadest.] 19200
Ther eyen cloos, they may not se,
ffor to considere the vanyte
Off this worldis ffalse veyneglorye,
Euere vnsure and traiisitorye, 19204
Heresy's Father is Satan, who tempts Pilgrims.
513
19212
* rovcrbs. oi. at.
19216
' And fful off mvtabylyte, 1 C 1 mutabylyte St., mvtabytc Tib.]
Wliiche schewith to hem fful greet bewete
By a 2 maner off apparence, p a St., om. Tib.]
But it is ffalse in existence ; 19208
That is fful ffoule, dothe schewe ffayre,
Lyche a ffloure that dothe vnapay re 3 \jTib. &st. apayrest.]
Whanne it is plukkyd and leyde lowe,
Or with som sodeyne wynde I-blowe.
Whiche bewete (as wryte Salamoun)
'
Is but a ifalse decepcyoun ;
And ffolkis that beth there-with blente,
Or they be war, beth offte schente,
ffor lak ther eyen be not clere.
IF 'Eke som ther swymmes 4 (as 30 may leere) [* swyme St.]
With hand and armys strecchyd out ;
Swyche as parte her good aboute 19220
To pore ffolkis that haue neede ;
And swyche vnbynde 5 her fleet, in deede, P ky^m ] vn "
ffrom wordely 6 delectacyoun, [ worldly st.]
And off devoute entencyoun, 19224
By councel off her c6nffessour,
Vnbynde her ffeet, by 7 greet labour, u with st.]
ffor to goon in there vyages,
Barffote, to seke pilgrymages ;
Off ther synne's to haue pardoun,
fforjeuenesse and remyssyoun,
Whanne ther menynge trewely
Is voyde ffrom al ypocrysy.
ANd thus as now (withoute 8 slouthe)
To the I hauo tolde the trouthe.
' And trewely 9 3it, ouere alle thyng, c 9 sothiy St.]
I hate trowthe in my workyng ;
And off malys, bothe day and nyght,
Werrey 10 trouthe with al my myght.
' By name, callyd I am Sathan ; [ |o wen-ay st., vcrrey Tib.]
The whiche, as ffer as euere I kan, 19240
I worke, in myne entencyoun,
ffor to cacche, in my bandoun,
Alle pylgrymes (as thow mayst sc,)
That swy?/nnen in the wawy see 19244
PILGRIMAGE. L L
19228
19232
[8 without Tib.,
St.]
19236
like a flower
fades, when it
is plucked.
They who
swim with
outatretcht
arms are
those who
gave to the
poor,
j [leaf 55]
and went
pilgrimages.
Hut Truth is
hated by
Satan the
hunter,
and he is
always en-
deavouring
U lay hold
of pilgrims,
514 Satan's snares to catch folk. He personates an Angel.
[Tiberius, ' Off this world, fful off disseyte.
stitan. ' And euere I lye in greet awayte,
And no moment I ne ffyne
ffor to leyne out hook and lyne. 19248
by means of ' My lyne (by denionstracyoun)
Temptation,
I-callyd is Temptacyoun ;
And whanne that ffolke (in ther entente)
Off herte and wylle ther-to concente, 19252
Thanne on myn hook (by ffalse awayte,)
They ben I-cacchyd with the bayte ;
And thanne, by fful mortal lawe,
To my bandoun, I hem drawe. 19256
and nets ' I leye out nettes nyght and day,
spread day
and night, In water and lond, to cacche my pray.
[leaf 55, back] ' With nettys, I haue eke my repayre [stowe, loaf 224]
ffor bryddes that ffleen eke in the hayre, 19260
ffor to make hem ffalle adown
ffrom ther contemplacyown.
And, thus ffolkys to bygyle,
I am a ffoulere eke som whyle ; 19264
ffor alle that hygh or lowe goon,
I jnake nettis ffor euerychoon,
(In myne entente, it is no drede),
To cacche hem, outher 1 by ffoot or hede, [' or st.] 19268
as a spider As an vreyne wewyth 2 a calle, p wevithe St.]
weaves a net .. .
to catch flies; To make myes there-m to d ffalle. ptoom.st.]
but he cannot ' But I ne may not do no wronge
injure virtue .
To ffolke that ben in vertu stronge. 19272
I venquysche (nouther nygh nor Iferre)
No man that halte ageyne me werre ;
and manly And ffeble is my vyolence,
resistance.
Whanne ther is manly resystence. 19276
ANd $it I haue a thowsande treynes,
And as many laas and cheynes,
With 4 whiche I compasse, day by day, i*om. St.]
To lettii pylgrymes on ther way; 19280
ffor I, by ffalse illusyoun
He can trans- And by dySSUmylacyOUn, 5 [ 5 dyssimilasyon St.]
form himself - j* / ' r t x
into an angel Kan me transttorme (anoon ryght,) [ 6 me St., mys Tib.]
To lykenesse off an aungel bryght; 19284
Satan makes a Hermit kill his own Father.
515
' Take off hym the resemblaunce,
The vesage and the contenaunce,
So to disseyuen, in couert ;
And to an heremyte in desert; 19288
I 1 dyde oones so appere, V- And i Tib., i st.]
fful off ffetheres bryght and clere,
And toke 2 on me the message [ toke St., do Tib.]
Off an aungel, by my vysage, 19292
And bad vn-to that hooly man
To kepe hym warly ffrom Sathan,
ffor he was schapen, by batayle,
The nexte more we, hym to assay le ; 19296
And tolde hym also, (ffynally,
ffor to disceyve hym sotylly,)
He wolde take, (in sothenesse,)
Off hys ffader the lyknesse, 19300
Bothe vesage and contenaunce,
The maner and the resemblaunce.
[Illustration.]
' A Nd bad the heremyte anoon ryght
J\_ To fforce hym, at the ffirste syght, 19304
To smyte hym ffirste, with knyffe or swerde,
And no thyng to ben afferde
With al his myghtty vyolence,
Whanne he cam ffirste to his presence. 19308
IT And so, vpon the nexte' more we,
ffor to encresse his dool and sore we,
I made his ffader hym vesyte ; 1931 1
And anoon, this seyde heremyte, [stowe, leaf 321, back]
This Innocent, thys cely man,
"Wenynge hit hadde be Sathan,
Vp sterte anoon, and toke a knyff,
And raffte his ffader off his lyff, 19316
That he to grounde ffel downe deed.
' And thus I kan (who takyth heed)
A thousande weyes, ffolke 3 dysceyue, [ 3 ffoike to St.]
Or they my treynes 4 kan conceyue. [ trappis st.] 19320
And therffore, 5 be wel war off me, [ 5 tiierfore st., hcrfforc Tib.]
ffor I caste eke 6 dysseyuc the ; [ 6 eke to st]
3eue I at largo may the ffynde,
[Tiberius,
A vii.J
Satan.
and did once
so appear to
a hermit in
the desert,
and bade
him beware
of Satan,
[leaf 56]
who would
visit him en
the morrow
in the like-
ness of his
father :
he must kill
him at once.
Accordingly,
his father '
comes,
and the
hermit slays
him.
[leaf 50, back]
516
By crossing myself, I make Satan pmverless.
[Tiberius,
Avii.]
Satan goes
about
like a raven-
ous lion,
to devour
the Lambs of
Christ's fold.
Satan de-
clares I shall
not escape
him.
The Pilgrim.
I defy Satan,
[leaf 57]
cross
myself,
pass the
devils,
19328
' In my laas a I schal the bynde ; [ lace St.] p tendit St.]
IT ffor, as seynt Petre lyste endyte,*
And in his pystelys ffor to wryte,
I go and serche, day and nyght,
With alle my fforce, with al my myght,
Lyche a ravenous lyoun,
ffor to devoure, vp and doun,
Alle ffolkys, jonge and oolde,
That lambre 3 be off cristis ffoolde. p lambes stj 19332
I haue off hem, fful jore agoon,
Off hem devoured many oon ;
Strangelyd mo than I kan telle ;
And that 4 were to longe to dwelle, t*u St.] 19336
ffor to rekene hem alle in nowmbre,
Thousandis mo than I kan nowmbre ;
And trewely, in two hundred 3er,
I koude not telle the maner
Off alle my treynes by and by.
' And I warne the outerly,
Thow schalt not lyghttely (jeue I may,)
ffro my daunger skape away.'
IT The Pylgryme :
" "VTTHer thow be wel or yuel apayd
f T In the wordes that thow haste sayd,
I haue ffounden a greet dyffence,
To make ageyne the, resistence, 19348
And conceyued 5 it in my thought. V
Blowe thyne home, and spare nought,
ffor thow schalt ffayle (^eue that I may)
To make off me 6 schortely thi pray." [thest.] 19352
And to be more stronge in vertu,
"With the crosse off crist ihesu,
,And off his grace moste benygne,
I gan me crossen, and eke sygne, 19356
ffor to assure 7 my passage [ 7 tassure St.]
Ageyne his laas so fful off rage.
And by my crossynge, I anoon
Gan to passe hem euerichoon ; 19360
They hadde no power ffor to laste ;
ffor, by the vertu, they to-braste ;
19340
19344
Satan laments. His purpose is to lie always.
517
And I anoon gan ffaste fflee,
[stowe, leaf 325]
19364
c l st., Tib.
19368
pimntarst.]
of St.] 19372
And wolde haue taken anoon the see ;
But, longe or I entter myght,
Whan 1 Sathan off me hadde a syght,
He gan to crye (so stood the cas)
' Out and harow ! alias, alias ! '
1F Sathan the hunte weymentith 2
And tonnentyth with hym silffe. 3 pwHianyehunur
[Illustration.]
' Vnhappy, 4 and fful off meschaunoe [* st., i vnhappy Tib.]
I was, whanne I dyde me avaunce
In any wyse ffor to teche
Vertu, or 5 trowthe ffor to preche ;
ffor, it longeth not to me
To teche trouthe in no degre ;
But, off ffortune it happc so,
That I be c6nstreyned ther-to,
By vertu off som orysoun
Or by som conyurisoun, 6
That greete 7 clerkes me compelle,
The verrey trowtho" ffor to telle,
Mawgrey my wylle, off many a thyng,
By vertu off the greete 8 kyng. [ 8 gret st., greet Tib.]
ffor ellys (who that kan espye)
My purpos is, euere ffor to lye,
And 9 haue disseyued fful many a man,
Eyght as dyde lulyau.
' Though I were by hym constreyned,
And by his charm es greetly peyned,
3 it at the laste, whanne I abrayde,
I lye'd, alle that euere I sayde.
And now I oughte a-cursyd be,
Whanne that I gan medle me
To seyne a trouthe agaynes 10 kynde, [ |0 agayns Tib., st.]
Sethen men, in me may 11 noon ffynde; [nemay inmost.]
There-off I repente me fful sore,
With trowthe, medle I wole no more.'
IF The Pylgryme answerth to Satan : ! -
Sathan, thi displesaunce
Was to me fful greet plesaunce,
19384
p i st.]
19388
19392
19396
pilgrim st.j
[Tiberius,
A vii.l
and flee.
Satan la-
ments.
It's not his
work to
preuch Truth,
[leaf 57, back]
[ 6 coniurasion St.]
[" greet Tib., grctc St.]
19380
He tries to
lie always.
He'll meddle
no nmrc with
Truth.
518 / surim to a tree, and am thrown on Fortune's Wlwel.
[Tiberius,
A vii.]
The Pilffrim.
I am em-
boldened,
relying on
my scrip and
staff.
[leaf 58, Tib.]
I swim, sup-
ported by my
scrip and
staff,
and undergo
many perils.
I see a tree,
ami thinking
it an island,
I go towards
it.
[leaf 58, back,
Tib.]
Then I am
cast on a
wheel,
" Releuynge me off my distresse."
I took there-off greet hardyuesse, 19400
Made as tho 1 no lenger lette, p thow st.]
I spared nowtber hook nor nette,
But, trustynge (in conclusyoun)
Vp-on my skrippe and my burdoun,-, 19404
And there-vp-on I bylened 2 me p lened st.]
Wbanne I entryd in-to the see ;
And, in swymmynge to be more stable,
Me thought my skryppe proffitable <( 19408
To kepe me sure in herte and thought,
In my way, that I erred nought.
[Illustration.]
TRewely, 3 in this dredefful see, p yet truly st.] 19411
Is 4 greet myscheeff and adue?-syte : [*o. st.]
Many a perel (I jou ensure,)
And many a straunge aventure
I ffelte tho in my passage, 19415
Off wawys and off 5 rokkis rage, ^prfdSJTffif 3
And many a tempeste (in certeyn)
Off thondrynge, lyghtnynge, and off reyn,
And other perels that be-ffelle,
That, jeue I schulde hem alle telle, 19420
Or the myscheves alle endyte,
They were to longe for 6 to wryte. [ for St., . Tib.]
But while that I, in my passage,
Byheelde the see, sterne and savage, 19424
Me thought I sawe bysyde me,
That there stood a greene tre ;
And I was glad alle 7 thilke while, pofst.]
Wenynge there hadde ben an yle, 19428
In hope that I schulde londe,
Hastely, vp at soni stronde,
Whiche was to me fful greet plesaunce.
And as I gan my silffe avaunce, 19432
And thederward gan ffaste bye,
Anoon my sylffe I dyde aspye
(Whanne that I gan loke wel)
Tliat I was caste vp-on a whel, 19436
Off whiche to-fforne I sawgh no thynge ;
The Tree has Nests on it. Fortune, and her dmcble look. 519
19444
19448
it ueinyd St.]
1945G
[St. & Tib.]
ffor the ffloodes, in ther ffiowynge,
Hadde with his wawes euerydel
Ouere-fflowyd so that whel,
That I toke no heede there-at,
Tyl sodeynely there-cm I sat.
And wyldely the wawys smette
Vp-on this whel, ay as they mette ;.
ANd euere round, (as thoughte me,)
This whel wente aboute the tre,
Where-off, I astonyed was,
Whanne I sawe this sodeyne caas.
Vp on whiche tre anoon,
I sawgh nestys fful many oon ;
And bryddes (that I koude knowe,)
Somme hyh, and somme 1 lowe, [> som Tib., some St.] 19452
Ther nestis made (I toke good hede)
Grete and smale (it is no drede).
U And I denied, 2 in certeyne, [
That this tre hadde hoolys tweyne ;
And on the hygher hoole aloffto,
I sawe an hand putte out fful offte.
And this hand (as to my look)
To the nestis put up an hook,
And (as to myne inspeccyoun)
Was besy to pulle the nestis douii.
And as I stode a lytel throwe
At the hoole that stood moste lowe,
1 sawgh heedes lokynge oute
Towarde the brauiiches roundc aboute,
In purpos (jeue it myght haue be) t 3 ,'
To clymbe vp hyghe on that 3 tre :
They wolde haue take it ffayne in honde.
And there I sawe a lady stonde
Amonge the wylde wawys trowble,
Vp-on a whel dyuerse and dowble.
Departyd was her garnemente,
Halffe hool, and haluendel was rente \
The to party, as snow was white
To loke vp-on, oft greet delyte ;
The tother party (as thought mo)
[St. & Tib.]
19464
. . that Tib.,
. .tliilko St.]
[Stowe, leaf 2SO]
194G9
19472
19171!
[Tiberius,
Avii.)
The Pili/rim.
which re-
volves round
the tree,
and on which
are many
birds' nests.
[Tib., leaf 59]
The tree has
two holes in
its trunk ;
and out of
the upper one
goes a hand
with a hook,
trying to
ilrai; the
nests down.
A lady
(Koi-luiiel is
standing on
a wheel.
Her garment
is of two
parts,
520 My Staff" helps me. I ask Fortune to explain her Wheel, &c.
[Tiberius, Was ffoule and owgely on to se.
And hir VSae eke als
and so also is Was departyd euene a two ; 19480
her Tace. ,,,, -,-,
ihe to party was amyable,
And to byholde delytable,
Bothe off porte and off manere,
Glad and lawynge off hir chere; 19484
U The tother syde, hydous and old,
Whiche was ryuelyd many ffold ;
Dame For- And on hir schuldres rownd and square.
tune bears a
staff on her A crokyd staffe in sothe sche bare. 19488
shoulders.
And whanne I gan al this aduerte,
Dyscomff6rtyd in myn herte
\Illustration^\ p I was, and gretly gan gaste St.]
[Tib., leaf 59, fT^Hanne was I, greetly agaste 1 ;
I And my burdoun I heelde ryghte ffaste, 19492
And dyde also greetly my peyne
staff 11 y ^ 8 r YP e it w ith niyne handcs tweyne ;
And seyde, (off sodeyne moscyoun,)
" Bordoun," quod I, "bordoun, bordoun ! 19496
and tell it, But thow me helpb' 2 in this Caas, [ helpe now St.]
unless it
helps me I may 3 wepe and seyne ' alias, p may well St.]
My peynes ben so scharpe and kene.
And but thow helpe to sustene 19500
Myne nownpowere and inpotence, 4 [* impotence st.i
That I may stonden at dyffence
Vp-on my ffeet, and that anoon,
i shall be ff arc-wel ! my loye is alle agoon ! " 19504
it enables me IF But tho, thorough helpe off my bordoun,/
to rise. T ,
1 roos vp as a champyoun.
But whanne this lady dyde espye
Fortune tries That I Was VH, ScllC gall to llVG 19508
to set me r
down again. ffor to haUC putte 1116 doUll ageyn J [ 5 taputSt.]
And I trowe ryght wel certeyn,
That, but I hadde spoken ffayre,
And off my porte be debonayre, 19512
I hadde ben to 6 ffeble off myght, [ 6 to St., ffui Tib.]
Vp-on my ffeet to stonde 7 vp ryght. [Uastanast.]
[Tib., leaf eo] T)Vt I abrayde, and bade in deede
JJ that scho scholde taken heede 19516
How Fortune is ever changing, and betrays all ivho trust Jter. 521
To thilke party that was ffayre
Off hir, and putte me ffro dispayre,
And schewe, lyke hir contenaunce,
Som counfforte or som plesaunce ; 19520
And that sche wolde expowne me
What lady that sche schulde be,
Hir name, hir power, euerydel, [stowe, leaf 326, back]
Bothe off hir and off hir whel, 19524
And off the tre, and off the croppe,
And off the nestis in the coppe, 1 [ l cop st.]
And do to 2 me som avauntage, p done to St., do TH>.J
To ffurthre me in my vyage. 3 19528
H" ffortune :
' ~T~JN r me (schortely to expresse)
JL There is no maner stablenesse ;
ffor, (be hereoff ryght wel certeyn,)
Alle that I worke, is vncerteyn ;
Lyke my dowble contenaunce,
I am so fful off variaunce.
Therffore, to axe how I me guye,
It is no wysdam, but ffolye ;
I worke no thyng in certeynte,
But fful off greet duplycyte.
I am what-euere I do provyde ;
ffor I la we 4 on the ryghte 5 syde, [ 4 lawghe st.] p ryght rib., st.]
And schewe a cher off greet delyte 19541
On the party that I am white. 6 [ deiyt . . . whit st.]
Thanne men me callii ' glad ffortune ' ;
But, no while I do contune ;
ffor, longe or ffolke may aparceyue,
I lean hem sodeynely disseyue,
7 And make her loyii go to wrak
AVyth ffroward mowhiis at the bak.
'Than y, lykned 8 to the moone,
ff oik wyl chauwge my name sone ;
And fro my whel whaw they are falle,
19532
19536
I ask her
name, and
what her
Wheel, and
the Tree and
Nests mean.
Fortune.
Fortune says
ever variable
and full of
duplicity.
When she
favours folk,
they call her
({lad For-
tune ' ;
19544
[Stowe, leaf S27]
[Tib. A. 7, If. 60, bk.]
[".lykenyd St.] 19549
[Cott. ViteD.
C. 13.]
hut when she
throws them,
' Intbrtune.'
3 Stowe leaves a blank of 10 lines in his copy, and puts a side-
note "fortune should be porturatyd."
7 The text is now again taken up from MS. Cott. Vit. c. xiii.
leaf 253.
522 How Fortune plays ivith men. Her Wheel Charybdu.
Fortune. ' ' Infortune ' they me calle. 19552
To ffolk vnworthy, and nat dygne,
I am somwhyle most benygne,
Lyggynge awayt in euery cost, 19555
Off ffolk whom that 1 1 cherysshe most.
She deceives And who that On me Set hys lust, [ l that Tib., om. C., St.]
all who trust J
her - I kan deceyve hyw off hys trust.
Tak hed pleynly, and thow shalt se
A pleyn exau?Mple off thys tre, 19560
TheTreemay HOW thys tie (at WOld)
be likened to v
the world. May be resemblyd to the world.
U 'ffyrst, in thys world be grete estatys, 19563
Off kynges, prynces, and off 2 prelatys, [ 3 offoi.Tib., of St.]
Wych in thys erthe 3 chau?igen offte. p world st.]
The Nests on And the nestys hyh" aloff te
the Tree are
degrees of J} en degrees 4 off lordshepe, [* degrees Tib., dcgres C., St.]
That so offte on heihte lepe, 19568
Bothe off hyh" and lowh" degre.
Those below And they that al by-nethe be,
Loke vp-ward, and al day gaze,
As yt wer vp-on A maze : 19572
Tho be they, that so offte
want to Desyre for to clymbe aloffte
climb to high
estate. To hili estat and hih" degre,
ffrom ther estaat off pouerte. 19576
But in it, 'Sowme 5 off hem may longe abyde,
nnne stay
ion*?, their ff O r I sette hew ofFte asyde ; [(? None), some Tib., st.]
toriunes *
change. Wych thyng to hym ys no thyng soote,
Whan they be longe put vnder ffoote 19580
Thorgh my double varyau?zce.
And sowrne kan ban 6 suffysauwce, C 6 h $f*" t 8om ka " h:ilie
[iaf 234, bkj Arid ben ryht glad in ther entent
Off the lytel that god hath sent ; [Tib., leaf GI] 19584
They ha 7 no care for 8 ther dyspence. ^p^gtJ^f*i
And somme haue euere Indygence,
And kan \\ith no thyng be content,
W/t/i coveytyse they be so blent, 19588
Wych, for ther oune wrechchydnesse, [stowe, leaf 327, back]
Lyve euere in pouert and dystresse.
Tiie wheel ' Touchyiig my whel (yt ys no douk-,)
Fortune's Crook, and the Nests, or folk of high degree. 523
which always
turns
signifies that
man cannot
remain aloft,
19596
[i C., St., whiche whel
who Tib.]
' Wych tourneth euere round aboute, 19592 Fortune.
Ther may no man aloffte Abyde
But yiff so be I be hys guyde.
Yt turneth euere to and ffro ;
The pley ther-off ys meynt vfith wo ;
The wyche whel (who that 1 kan se,)
Ys a pereyl off the se,
On, the grettest off echon, 2 P one ... one St.]
ffor to rekne hem on by on ; 19600
And, thys phylisoffres alle,
' Karybdis ' lyst yt for to calle,
Yt devoureth so many A man,
Ye, mo than I reherse kan.' 19604
IT The Pylgrym 3 : c 3 Tib., piigryme st., om . c.j
" Touchy ng thy staff, tel on, lat se
What maner tookne yt may be,
That yt corbyd lych and 4 Crook, [anTib.]
And mad in maner off 5 an hook." piykest.] 10608
IT Dame Fortune 6 : c 6 Tib., om. c.]
' With thys Crook, by gret vengauwce,
ff oik, that to soon 7 I dyde avauwce, [' to fforne Tib., St.]
Thorgh my transmutacfouw,
Al sodeynly I rende hem douw, J9612
That sat in chayerys hih" aloffte ;
To whom ther fal ys 8 no thyng soffte. [T VL a ii 8 6 st. b ] ack]
Reyse vp ageyn al sodeynly
Other that be nothyng worthy, 19616
And cause ek somme (Est arid west)
ffor to bylde fful hih ther nest
And ther habytciourc ;
Sowtyme, off wyl, nat off resou?z, 19620
I take noon bed off no degre,
But only off my voluwte.'
II The Pylgryme 9 : [" Tib., om. c.]
" fful ffayn I wolde ek vnderstonde
The menyng also off the hond, 19624
At the hoole hyh aloffte,
That reyseth vp his crook so offte,
The nestys for to rende a-douw :
Tel me thexposictou?*." 19628
and is called
Chary bdis.
The Pilgrim.
I ask Fortune
about her
hookt staff.
Fortune.
She says it
brings down
those too
soon raised
up,
and raises
up others,
tho' un-
worthy.
[leaf 255]
The Pilgrim.
I ask her
about the
Hand con-
tinually rais-
ing i In-
Crook, to pull
the Nests
down.
524 No estate is safe from Fortune's tricks. I fall from her.
Fortune
says the
Ni'sts are
men of tlie
highest de-
gree.
These Princes
and Lords
can never be
safe against
mutability,
against trea-
son and
poison.
[leaf 255, bk.]
When For-
tune smiles
on Folk, she
lies in wait to
I rick em.
IT Dame Fortune * : IE Tib., om. cj
' The nestys hifi vp-on the tre,
That beii hyest off degre,
Ben they off ryht and good resouw
That eutre by successions,
As kynges, by iust enherytauwce,
Whom that trOUthe lyst avaUWCe 2 [ 2 trouthe habundaunce Tib.]
Only by lyneal dy scent,
Hys lyges echon 3 off assent ;
Or, 4 for lak off success'ioxm,
Swyche as by ellecc'iowi
Ben reysed vp to hih" degre,
As many pn'nces and lordys be.
' Thogh I to hem have envye,
To reve hem off ther Regalye,
Yet, thogh I ther-to haue no niyght
ffor to robbe hem off ther ryht,
Yet (who lyst looke with Eyen cler)
They be ful offte in my daimger;
ffor they may nat assuryd be
Ageyn my mutabylyte,
Nor ageyn my mortal stryff ;
ffor offte sythe they lese her lyff
By compassyng off ffals Tresouw,
By mordre also, and poysoun.
And trewly, al thys frowardnesse
Ys tookned 5 by the crookydnesse
Off my staff and off my crok,
Wrong 6 at the ende, as ys an hook.
' And whan I loke v/iih Eyen cler,
Lawhe on ffolk, 7 and make hem cher,
Thanne lygge I rathest in a-wayt,
ffor to don hem som deceyt.
' Lo, her ys al ; go forth 8 thy way ;
And truste wel, yiff that I may,
What weye cuere, that thow go,
Or thy pylgrymage be do, 19664
Tourne yt to sour, outlier to swcte,
Onys I shal yet 9 with the mete.' p ther St.]
H Fortune is walkyd. 10 [> Kb., om. c., st.]
[Stowe, leaf 328] 19632
[s leegis echone Tib.] 19636
[*OrTib., OffC., of St.]
19640
[Tib., leaf 62] 19644
19648
19652
tokenyd St.]
[ wron S e St.] 19656
folk, om. Tib., folke St.]
19660
[8 ftbrthc Tib., forthe
St., foth C.]
Cast off lyy Fortune, I am disconsolate.
525
19668
C 1 That i, Tib.]
p low. Tib.] 19672
19680
[stowe]
[ 5 fui, om. Tib.]
19684
[ 6 sharp inghe St.]
And ffortune wente her way A-noon.
And also sone as she was gon,
I stood in dred and in gret doute
Vp-on hyr whel turnynge aboute,
Tyl that, 1 by reuoluc'iouw,
I 2 was cast fful lowe A-douw,
By power off that 3 double quene ;
ffor, I myghte me nat sustene,
In iupartye and in gret dred,
Wysshynge that I hadde be ded. [stowe, leaf m, back] 19676
And in trouble and gret peyne, [Tib., leaf 62, back]
Thawne I gan my sylff 4 compleyne,
Dysconsolaat off al vertu,
Only for lak off Grace Dieu,
That was whylom to me ffrendly,
Whom I ha lost thorgh my foly,
Wher-off I felte ful 5 gret offence,
That I forsook so penytence,
Only (alias !) for lak off grace,
By hyr sharpe heggh 6 to passe,
Wher I myhte have had socours,
And medycyne to myw Errours,
By hyr spyrytual doctryne
ffro the wyche I dyde enclyne.
Alias, my woful aventure,
That I leffte myn Armure
Behynde me, alias, in veyn !
But yiff I myhte hem gete ageyn, 7
I sholde 8 lyue bettre in pes, [ 8 . would St.] 19695
And n6 mor ben SO rekeleS ; 9 [ 9 rekeles Tib., rekles C., recles St.]
But, alias my woful ffaate !
I make my c6wpleynt al to late ;
ffor I stonde in Iupartye
Only off deth, thorgh my ffolye. 19700
Alias ! what may I now best werche 1
sacramentys off the cherche,
1 hope by grace wel certeyn,
I receyvede yow nat in veyn ; 19704
But now, alias, that I am falle,
I ha lost yow, 10 on and u alle, [JJ JJK^-r 40 " Tib " yow su
19688
19692
ageyn Tib., hole in 3fS. C.,
get them agayne St.]
The Pilgrim.
Fortune de-
parts,
and I am
thrown from
her wheel.
I lament my
loss of Grace
Dieu,
[leaf 256]
and my hav-
ing left my
armoui
behind,
I am in
jeopardy.
526 The White Dove appears, with a Bill from Grace Dieu
The Pilfjrim.
I find no
support in
my scrip and
staff.
When I first
saw the
vision of the
Heavenly
C'ty,
I was eager
to go there.
Now I am
stopt, and I
weep.
[leaf 256, bk.]
But soon the
white dove
appears to
me with a
bill
from Grace
Dieu,
giving me
advice,
And ha no sustentac'iouw
In my skryppe nor my bordoura, 19708
Wher-on that I may lene me,
Toward lerusalem the cyte.
And thogh al day I studye and muse,
How shal I my sylff excuse, 19712
Or what answere 1 shal I make,
Off al that I ha vndertake,
And behifite in my corage,
To fulfylle my vyage, 19716
What 2 fyrst I hadde inspecci'oun [ (? Whan,) what St.]
Off that noble Royal touw,
Wyth-Inne A merour, shene and bryht,
Wych gaff to me so cler a lyht, 19720
That ther-wyth-al I was a-noon [Stowe, leaf 320]
Ravysshed, thyder for to gon ;
But I may synge ' weyllaway ' ;
I am arestyd on the way, 19724
And dystourblyd her, wepynge.
And whyl I lay thus cdrapleynynge,
And knewh non helpe nor respyt,
A-noon ther kam A dowe whyht 19728
Towardys me, by goddys wylle,
And brouhte me a lytel bylle,
And vndyde yt in my syht ; 19731
And affter that she took hyr flyht, [St. & c.]
And, fro me gan passe away.
And I, wit/i-oute mor delay,
Gan the bylle to vnf olde ;
And ther-in I gan beholde, 19736
How Grace dieu, to myn avayl,
In that bylle gaff me couwsayl,
1 That I sholde, ful hurablely
Knelynge on my knes, 3 deuoutly ponknesst.j 19740
Salue, with fful good avys,
The blyssede quen off paradys,
Wych bar, for Our savaczon, 4 [* savation st.] 19743
1 Some leaves arc out of Tib. A. vii, after these catchwords,
: Or what aiiswere. '
and an ABC Prayer, ivhich the Poet Chaucer englisht. 527
The ffrut off Our redempczon. 1 C 1 redemtion St.]
And the ffourme off thys prayere
Ys ywrete, as ye shal here,
In Ordre pleynly (who kan se)
By maner off An .A. b. c. ;
And ye may knowe yt sone, and rede, \
And seyn yt whan that ye ha nede. I
the translator 2 : pst.,o.c.]
And touchynge the translaciou?^
Off thys noble Orysouw, 19752
Whylom (yiff I shal nat feyne)
The noble poete off Breteyne,
My mayster Chaucer, in hys tyme,
Affter the Frenche he dyde yt ryme, 19756
Word by word, as in substauwce,
Ryght as yt ys ymad in Frauwce, J
fful devoutly, in sentence,
In worshepe, and in reuerewce 19760
Off that noble hevenly quene,
Bothe moder and a mayde clene.
And sythe, he dyde yt vndertake,
ffor to translate yt ffor hyr sake, 19764
I pray thys [Quene] that ys the beste, [c. & St.]
ffor to brynge hys soule at reste,
That he may, thorgh hir prayere, [S bS leaf329 '
Aboue the sterrys bryht and clere, 19768
Off hyr mercy and hyr grace
Apere aff orn hyr sonys fface, [C. & St.]
"VVyth seyntys euere, for A memory e,
Eternally to regne 3 in glory e. [ 3 regme c., rengne St.] 19772
And ffor memoyre off that poete,
Wyth al hys rethorykes swete,
That was the ffyrste in any age
That amend ede our langage ; 19776
Therfore, as I am bouwde off dette,
In thys book I wyl hym sette,
And ympen thys Oryson
Affter hys translac'ion, 19780
My purpos to determync,
That yt shal enhvmyuc
The Pilgrim.
and a form of
prayer,
19748 like an ABC,
translated
by CHAUCEK
from the
French.
[leaf 257]
May the
Queen of
Heaven give
him a place
above the
stars !
He was the
first to amend
our language.
His poem
will be in-
serted here,
as a set-off
to the writer's
debt,
528
Chaucer's ABC Prayer to the Virgin.
in order that
folk may see
Our Lady's
ABC.
Thys lytyl book, Hud off makyng,
Wyth som clause off hys wrytyng. 1
And. as he made thys Orysouw
Off ful devout entencfouw,
And by maner off a prayere,
Ryht so I wyl yt settyn here,
That men may knowe and pleynly se
Off Our lady the .A. b. c. 2
19784
19788
Queen of
Pity,
IMS. Ff. v. 30, Cam)). Univ. Libr., leaf 112, back,]
Incipit carmen secun&um. ordinem Litteraxum
alphabet!.
'cfc>C
(1. A.)
Al mihty and al merciable queene, 51 Cap m lvii m
To whom fat* al J)is world fleeth for socour,
To haue relees of sinne, of sorwe and teene,
Gloriowse virgine, of alle floures flour, 19794
i flee to thee. To fee j flee, confounded in errour ;
Help and releeue, fou mihti debonayre !
Haue mercy on my perilous langour !
yenquisshed me hath my cruelle aduersaire 19798
(2. B.)
Bountee so fix hath in fin herte his tente,
Jjat 1 wel j wot 1 thou wolf my socour bee.
Jjou canst* notf warne him, fat with good entente
Axeth fin helpe j fin herte is ay so free; 19802
Jjou art 1 largesse of pleyn felicitee,
Hauene of refute, of quiete and of reste.
Loo how fat theeves sevene chasen mee !
Help, lady briht, er fat my ship to-breste ! 19806
1 Compare Scogan's quoting Chaucer's Salade of Gcntilncsse,
though without its Envoy, in his Poem to his pupils, Henry
IV.'s sons. Thynne's Chaucer, 1532, leaf 380, back, col. 1;
llnyX p. 547, col. 1.
2 The remainder of this leaf, 257 of the MS., is left blank,
the scribe never having copied- iu Chaucer's poem. It is printed
above from the first of the Society's Parallel-Texts. John Sto\ve
also left blank three leaves of his copy, putting A, 13, C, etc.,
where the successive stanzas should start.
Have mercy
on me!
Thou wilt
help me.
Seven thieves
chase me.
Chaucer's ABC Prayer to the Virgin.
529
(3. C.)
Comfort 1 is noon, but in yow ladi deere ;
ffor, loo, my sinne and my confusi'own
(Which ouhten not 1 in f i presence appeere,)
Han take on me a greevous accumn. 19810
Of verrey riht 1 and desperaci'own ;
And as bi riht 1 , J>ei mihten wel susteene
Jjatf j were wurf i my dampnaciown,
Nere merci of you, blisful heuene queene ! 19814
(4. D.)
DOwte is f er noon, fou queen of misericorde,
J>at fou nart cause of grace and merci heere ;
God vouched saf, thoruh fee, -with us to accorde ;
ffor, certes, crystes blisful mooder deere, 19818
Were now Jje bowe bent 1 in swich maneere [leaf us]
As it was first 1 , of justice and of jre,
)3e rihtf ul god, nolde of no mercy heere ;
But 1 thoruh fee han we grace, as we desire. 19822
(5. E.)
Euere hath myn hope of refuit been in fee ;
ffor heer biforn, ful ofte, in many a wyse
Hast 1 fou to misericorde resceyued me ;
But 1 merci, ladi, at 1 Jje grete assyse,
Whan we shule come bifore f e hye iustyse !
So litel fruit shal f arcne in me be f ounde,
Jjat 1 , but fou er fat 1 day l me wel 2 chastyse 1 , [L ^'^% " w
Of verrey riht 1 my werk me wole confownde. 19830
(6. F.)
Fleeinge, j flee for socour to f i tente,
Me for to hide from tempeste ful of dreede,
Biseeching yow, fat ye you not absente
fouh j be wikke, 0, help yit 1 at 1 fis neede ! 19834
Al haue j ben a beste in wil and deede,
Yit, ladi, fou me clof ci with f i grace !
Jjin enemy and myn, (ladi, tak heede !)
Vn-to my deth, in poynt 1 is me to chace. 19838
(7. G.)
Gloriows mayde and mooder, which fat neuere
Were bitter, neife?- in ecrf ij nor in see,
Chaucer.
19826
ion
Thru thee,
God was re-
conciled to
us.
My hope of
refuge has
been ever in
thee.
Help me at
this need !
PILGRIMAGE.
MM
530
Chaucer's ABC Prayer to the Virgin.
Speak for me,
or I shall go
to Hell!
Christ won
pardon for
every peni-
tent.
When a man
errs, thou
setst him
straight.
Let not the
Fiend brag
But 1 ful of swetnesse, & of merci euere,
Help, Jjat my fader be not wroth with me ! 19842
Spek }>ou ! for j ne dar not him ysee.
So haue j doon in eerfe, (alias ]>er-while !)
J)af certes, but if J)ou my socour bee,
To stink eterne, he wole my gost exile. 19846
(8. H.)
He vouched saaf, tel him, as was his wille, [leaf us, back]
Bicomen a man, to haue oure alliaunce ;
And with his precious blood he wrot 1 J>e bille
Vp-on Jje crois, as general acquitaunce 19850
To euery Penitent 1 in ful criaunce ;
And ferfore, ladi brihf, J>ou for us praye !
)5awne shalt fou bope stinte al his greuaunce,
And make oure foo to failen of his praye. 19854
(9. I.)
I wof it wel, J>ou wolf ben oure socour,
J>ou art 1 so ful of bowntee in certeyn ;
ffor, whan a soule falleth in errour,
Jji pitee goth & haleth him ayein ; 19858
paraie makest 1 pou his pees with his souereyn,
And bringest him out* of fe crooked strete.
Who so fee loueth, he shal not 1 loue in veyn ;
Jjat shal he fynde, as he J>e lyf shal lete. 19862
(10. K)
Kalendeeres enlumyned ben Jjei
fat 1 in Jris world ben lighted vfith J)i name ;
And who-so goth to yow pe rihte wey,
Him thar not* drede in soule to be lame. 19866
Now, queen of comfort 1 , sithe pou art 1 pat same
To whom j seeche for my medicyne. [ MS. vntame]
Laf not 1 my foo no more my wownde entame l ;
Myn hele, in-to fin hand, al j resyne. 19870
(11. L.)
Ladi, pi sorwe kan j not< portreye
Vnder J?e cros, ne his greevous penaunce ;
But, for youre bof e's peynes, j yow preye,
Lat not 1 oure alder foo make his bobaunce, 19874
Jjat he hath, in hise lyste's of mischaunce, [leaf iu]
Chaucer's ABC Prayer to the Virgin. 531
Contact 1 bat ye hope haue bouht so deere. Chaucer.
As j seide erst 1 , bou ground of oure substaunce, that he has
rumd me !
Continue on us bi pitous eyen cleere ! 19878
(12. M.)
Moises, bat sauh be bush with flawmes rede
Brenninge, of which ber neuer a stikke brende,
was signe of bin vnwemmed maidenhede.
bou art 1 be bush on which ber gan descende 19882
be Hoh'gosf, be which bat 1 Moyses wende
Had ben a-fyir : and bis was in figure.
Now, ladi, from be f yir bou us deufende, Defend us
from Hell
which bat in helle eternalli shal dure ! 19886 flre!
(13. N.)
Noble princesse, bat neuere haddest peere !
Certes, if any comfort 1 in us bee,
Jjatt cometh of bee, bou cristes niooder deere.
We han noon oober melodye or glee, 19890
Vs to reioyse in oure aduersitee ;
Ne aduocatt noon, bat wole, & dar so preye YOU, Lady,
* are our sole
ft or us, and bat for litel hire as yee, ai>a unpaid
advocate.
bat helpen for an Aue-Marie or tweye. 19894
(14. 0.)
O verrey light of eyen bat ben blynde ! o light of th
verrey lust of labour and distresse !
tresoreere of bowntee to mankynde !
bee whom god ches to mooder for humblesse ! 19898 mother of
Christ,
ff rom his ancille he made be maistresse
Of heuene & eerbe, oure bille up for to beede.
bis world awaiteth euere on bi goodnesse, thou faiiest
no one in
ffor bou ne faiiest neuere wight at neede. 19902 need.
(15. P.)
Purpos I haue, sum time for to enquere, [leaf m, back]
Wherfore and whi be Holi Gosf bee souhte :
Whan Gabrielles vois cam to 1 bin ere, [Ms.vnto]
He, not" to werre us, swich a wunder wrouhte, 19906
But 1 for to saue us bat he sithen bouhte.
ba?me needeth us no wepene us for to saue, we've only
But oonly ber we diden not, as us ouhte, ask^r" 1 ' to
Doo penitence, and mcrci axe and haue. 19910 Smll
532
Chaucer's ABC Prayer to the Virgin.
To whom
shall I flee,
but to thee ?
Chastise me,
judge, and
heal me !
God forgives
only those
who please
thee.
I bring ray
penitent soul
to thee.
199H
19918
19921
ter hys
19926
(16. Q.)
Queen of comfort 1 , yit whan j me bithinke
pat 1 j agilf haue bope him and pee,
And pat 1 my soule is wurthi for to sinke,
Alias, j, caityf, whider may I flee?
Who shal vn-to pi sone my mene bee ?
Who but 1 pi-self, paf art 1 of pitee welle.
Jjou hast 1 more reuthe on cure aduersitee,
)3an in pis world mihf any tunge telle.
(17. R.)
Redresse me, mooder, and me chastise !
ffor certeynly, my faderes chastisinge,
J)af dar j nouhf abiden in no wise ;
So hidous is hys 1 rihful rekenynge [1M ?;^.
Mooder, of whom oure nwci gan to springe
Beth ye my juge, & eek my soules leche ;
ffor euere in you is pitee haboundinge
To eche, pat 1 wole of pitee you biseeche.
(18. S.)
Soth is, pat 1 God ne granteth no pitee
With-oute pee ; for God, of his goodnesse,
fforyiveth noon, but 1 it 1 like vn-to pee.
He hath pee maked, vicair & maistresse
Of al pe world, and eek gouemowresse [leaf us]
Of heuene ; and he represseth his iustise
After pi wil ; and perfore, in witnesse,
He hath pee corowned in so rial wise.
(19. T.)
Temple deuouf, per god hath his woninge,
ffro which pese misbileeued depriued 1 been !
To you, my soule penitent 1 j bringe.
Resceyue me ! I can no ferpere fleen. 19938
With thomcs venymous, heuene queen,
ffor which pe eerpe acursed was ful yore,
I am so 2 wownded, as ye may wel seen, [*OW.MS.]
pat j am lost 1 almost 1 ; if smerf so sore. 19942
(20. V.)
Virgine, paf arf so noble of apparaile,
And ledesf us in-to pe hye tour*
19930
19934
f 1 pryued, John's and
Laud MSS.]
Chaucer's ABC Prayer to the Virgin.
533
Of Paradys ! f ou me wisse, and cownsaile
How j may haue fi grace & J>i socour, 19946
All haue j ben in filthe and in errour.
Ladi, vn-to fat court 1 f ou me aiourne,
Jjaf cleped is fi bench, freshe 1 flour, [ MS. fresh]
J3er-as fat 1 merci euere shal soiourne. 19950
(21. X = Ch.)
Xpc 2 Jji sone, fat in fis world alighte, [=christus}
Vp-on f e cros to stiff re his passioan,
And eek 3 fat Longius his herte pighte, [ 3 MS. eek suffred]
And made his herte blood to renne adozm : 19954
And al was fis for my saluaciown ;
And j to him am fals, and eek vnkynde ;
And yit he wole not 1 my dampnac'iozm :
Jjis thanke j yow, socour of al mankynde. 1 9958
(22. Y.)
Ysaac< was figure of his deth, certeyu, [leaf its, back]
J)atf so fer-forth his fader wolde obeye,
f at* him ne rouhte no-thing to be slayn ;
Kihfc soo J)i sone lust, as a lamb, to deye. 19962
Now, ladi ful of merci, j yow preye,
Sithe he his merci mesured so large,
Be ye not 1 skantt ! for alle we singe & seye
Jjafr ye ben from vengeawnce ay cure targe. 19%6
(23. Z.)
Zacharie yow clepeth J>o opene welle
To wasshe sinful soule out* of his gilt 1 ;
)?e/'fore J)is lessown ouht j wel to telle,
Jjaf, nere J>i tender herte, we weren spilt*. 19970
Now, ladi bry^te, 4 sithe J>ou canst and wilf,
Ben to J>e seed of Adam merciable, [+ MS. om., b^t Gy.]
And 5 bring us to Jjaf palai's fat is bilt 1 [ 5 And John's MS. om.]
To penitentes fat ben to merci able ! Amen ! 19974
U Explicit* carmen.
Lady, lead,
me to thy
Court of
Mercy !
Whan T, wyth good deuoci'omz, [stowe, icafsso]
Hadde 6 sayd thys Orysoiw, [ 6 whau witii g. a. i had si.]
Off the ffloodys the grete Rage
somwhat to a-svvagc, /
Christ shed
His blood for
me.
As Christ
died for me,
do you,
Lady, shield
me!
Bring us to
the Palace
built for
penitents !
[leaf 258]
The Pilf/rim.
The waves
IX>;;HII to
abate after
1J9/O this prayer.
534
The two halves of the Lady Astronomy- Astrology.
The Pilgrim.
I reach a hill
of sand,
and find one
lady writing
in the sand,
and another
lady leaning
on a red
spear.
I see only
half the body
of the Lady
Astronomy-
Astrology.
[leaf 258, bk.]
I ask her if
this sea pro-
duces such
monsters as
he is.
And the wyndes, for myw ese,
Gan in party to apese.
The whel I leffte, off ffortune,
Wych selde in One 1 doth contune; t 1 one St., on c.] 19982
I swam forth, in ful gret ffer ;
I knew no waye, her ne ther ;
Tyl at the laste, off grace, I fond
A verray lytel hyl off sond, 19986
And thyderward I gan me dresse,
To reste me for werynesse.
And there, in soth, A-noon I ffond
A lady wrytynge in the sond, 19990
Lokynge toward the ffyrmament
Thorgh a lytel instrument.
A-nother lady I sawh ek ther,
That lenede hyre on A red sper : 19994
I myhte nat beholde her wel,
ff or I sawh but the halvendel
Off hyr body, nor hyr fasown ;
And (as to myw inspecciiouw,) [stowe, leaf sso, back] 19998
In hyr hand she held a spere,
Lokynge vp on the sterrys clere.
And douw I sat, and gan beholde
Thys .ij. ladyes off wych I tolde; 20002
ffor I was wery off travaylle.
And yiff yt myhte me avaylle,
I dyde also my besy peyne
To sen the maner off hem tweyne. 20006
And to hyre (A-noon ryht,)
That was but halff On 2 in my syht, [ one St.]
I sayde a-non as ye shal here,
Sojwwhat abaysshed off my chere : 20010
[The Pilgrim:]
" Tel on," quod I, " lat me se ;
Be ther swych monstres in thys 3 Se [ 3 yest.]
Abydynge, lyk as ye do seme ?
ffor I kan noon other deme, 20014
But, monstres that ye sholde be,
By sygne's outward that I se.
Yiff thow mayst speke, nat ne spare,
The visible half of the Lady is cold Astronomy.
535
" The trouthe to me for to declare." 20018
Astrology : l C l st., om. c.]
Quod she, ' I may speke wel,
And I ha lost ek neueradel
Off my speche nor language.
And thogh I shewe to thy vysage, 20022
My-sylff, but halff on, in thy syht,
Wych halff (who so loke a-ryht)
Ys ryht noble and honurable,
And also ryht Auctorysable.' 20026
Pilgrime: 2 p St., om. c.]
" Touchyng thys halff, tel on clorly,
What maner thyng ye mene ther-by.
The tother part, what sholde yt be,
Wych as now I may nat se 1 " 20030
Astrology : 3 P St., ? striogye (in tnargin) C.]
' Certys, (thogh thow yt nat espye,)
She ys callyd Astronomye,
Wych ys wont to wake a-nyht,
To loke vp on the sterrys bryht. 20034
Off whom, whylom thus stood the cas :
In Egypt ffyrst she norysshed was,
Of thylke noble prudent kyng
Wych excellede in konnyng, 20038
And was callyd (as thow mayst se)
The noble wyse Tholomee,
(So thys clerkys Olde hyra calle,)
That ffond the cours off sterrys alle, [stowe,ieafS3i] 20042
Mevynge in ther bryhte sperys,
Bothe be dayes and by yerys ;
How that they move, long or sone,
And the cours off sonne and mono ; 20046
ffond out the eclypses (by resouw) [c. & St.]
In the tayl off the dragouw,
Or in the hed (wit/i-oute lake) ;
The cours ek off the zodyake. 20050
' And many mo conclusion ns
Off hevenly transmutacwniras
He ffond al out, by gret labour ;
Whcr-ffore, worshcp and gret honour, 20054
Antrology
says that the
half of her I
is noble.
The Pilgrim.
I ask what
the visible
half is,
and what thu
invisible.
Aitroloav-
The visible
part is Astro-
nomy,
noitrisht first
in Kgypt,
by Ptolemy,
who found
out the
courses of
the stars,
[leaf 259]
the eclipses,
and the
zodiac,
536
The Lady Astrology justifies her teaching.
Attrotopy.
whereby he
gaind great
honour.
Constella-
tions
have influ-
ences on the
earth
which are
cald Neces-
sity,
or Natural
Dominion,
on account
of which her
invisible half
is named
Astrology,
[leaf 259, bk.]
and termd
superstitious.
But consider:
' Thys worthy kyng gat in hys tyrne,
Wych wer to long for me to ryme.
The causes and theffectys alle,
Wych off her mevyng sholde falle 20058
By ther mevyng, (wztA-oute 1 lak :) C 1 with out c., St.]
Thys ys the halff that I off spak ;
And, al thys ys my partye,~
Wych I calle Astronomy e. 20062
' I sey also (yiff thow take hed,)
That ther be (yt ys no dred)
Many constellaci'ouws
And many varyaci'oims ; 20066
And lyk affter ther dyfferences,
They yive in erthe influences,
Many dysposiciouws
And dyvers operaczouws. 20070
' And yiff I durste speke in pleyn,
And the trouthe apertly seyn,
I wolde affermen vn-to the,
To caUe al thys < Necessyte,' 20074
Or name yt ' Dysposic'ioun/
Or ' Naturel Domynyouw.'
And therfor, toucyhng al thys Art,
Namyd for the tother part, 20078
I am callyd ' Astrologye ; '
The tother part, ' Astronomye.'
' And be-cause I telle more
Than Astronomye dyde off yore, 20082
Off ffolk to me-ward envyous,
Calle me ' superstycyous,'
Be-cause off the dyfference,
That I glose the scyence, [C. & st.] 20086
And expoune it (fer & nere)
Ryht as me lyst, on my manere ; ,,
And after myne opinioun,
Expoune the conclusyons, [stowe, leaf ssi, back] 20090
And preve them out, fro day to day, [c. & St.]
Who that euere ther-to seyth nay.
' ffor, I pray the, lat now se,
How myhte yt falle, or elles be, 20094
The differing Dispositions of Men are due to the Stars. 537
20098
20102
[ 2 contrary & dispitious St.]
20106
c ff or to deme y t off resouw
By cler 1 demonstraci'ouw, [Merest.]
Her in thys world, (by good avys,)
On ys a fool, A-nother wys ;
Thys man glad, that man Irous ;
He lovynge, he envyous ;
On, ffrownyrcg, lokyng nat ffayre ;
A-nother, off cher ys debonayre ;
A-nother, off port ys gracyous ;
A-nother, contrayre and despytous ; 2
On, stedefast, A-nother vnstable j
A-nother, in loue varyable.
On wyl do ryht, A-nother wrong ;
Thys man ys ffeble, that maw ys strong,
Thys man pensyff, that man ys sad,
He thys ys wroth, he that ys glad ;
Thys man hasty in werkynge,
Another ys soffte and Abydynge ;
Thys man ys hevy, that man ys lyht ;
Thys goth be day, that man be nyht ;
On vseth trouthe, he trecherye,
And to stele by Roberye.
man ys trewe, A-nother ffals,
And somme Am hangyd by the hals ;
And (who lyst loken her-wyth-al,)
O man ys gret, A-nother sinal ;
Som man loueth wysdam and scyence ;
Som man, ryot and dyspence ;
Som man ys large, som man ys hard ;
Som man ys ek a gret nygard ; [C. & St.]
He 3 thys A coward, he that ys bold ; [ 3 his St.]
And som man halt a good houshold ;
And somme, off hertly indygence,
Ar ff ul streyhte off ther dyspence ;
And som man, durynge al hys lyff,
Kan nat lyve but in stryff.
'Wher-off komen al thys dyfferencys,
But off hevenly influencys,
By gouernaurace (who loketh al)
Off the bodyes cclestyal 1
Aitrolofftr.
we see some
men are wise,
others
foolish,
some right,
some wrong,
some hasty,
some soft,
201H
20118
20122
20126
some true,
some false,
[leaf 260]
some liberal,
some miserly.
20130
All these
differences
are due to
celestial in-
fluences.
538
God made the whole World subject to the Stars.
Attrolopy.
Men's bodies
here
follow their
Constella-
tions, which
are the
' second
causes.'
The Creator
made each
thing work
after its kind,
as St. Augus-
tine records.
[leaf 260, bk.]
Both Dame
Fortune and
Chary bdis
are under
subjection to
the heavens;
and men
reckon their
hours :md
days accord-
ing to the
heaven's
movements,
good or bad,
'And I dar also specefye, [stowe, leaf 332]
As the planetys dyversefye
Aboue, (who so koude knowe,)
So the bodyes her doura lowe 20138
(Affter myn oppynyouw)
flblwe ther constellaczouw.
ffor, thys philisoffres alle,
The ' secovmde causys ' dyde hew calle : 20142
Affter ther name (in wordys ffewe)
Ther effectys they must she we,
Or elles I wolde boldly seyn,
They tooke ther name but in veyn. 20146
' The creatour, at begynnyng,
Whan he hem made in hys werkyng,
He gaff hem power, (clerkes ffynde)
Euerych to werkyn in hys kynde, 20150
And for to meve to som ffyn.
' And as the doctour seynt Awstyn
Recordeth shortly in sentence,
The lord, off hys magnyfycence, 20154
Suffreth hem, (who-euere muse)
Affter ther kynde her cours to vse.
' And dame Fortune ek also,
And hyr Karybdis 1 bothe two, [' carbdes St.] 20158
With al hyr domynaciouw, [C. & St.]
Stant vnder subieccwmn
Off the hevene, off verray ryht, ,,
Ai 2 hyr power and hyr myght [-*om. St.] 201 62
Ys 2 youe to hyre at certeyn tymes,
Bothe at Eve and ek at prymes,
To executes hyr 3 power [ ther St.]
Vnder the sterrys bryht and cler : 20166
Bothe hyr dedys infortunat,
And ek hyr werkys ffortunat,
Bothe to lawhen and to wepe.
'And, men muste her 3 houres kepe, 20170
To rekne al the daye's sevene
Affter the mevyng off the hevene ;
Wych be goode, And wych contrayre,
Wych amende, and wych a-payre, 20174
Homer lelievd in the Influence of the Stars on Men. 539
c Aff ter the sterrys hem assure
In good, or in Evele A venture ;
Wych hourys ben happy And Ewrous,
And wych also malicious.
' And shortly, (who consydreth al)
Affter the bodyes celestyal,
Lych as they her cours done holde,
And the Stocyenes 1 wolde ^psS
Holden wiih me, (yiff they wer here,)
In ther bookys as they lore.
' And Mathesis wolde cowferme
Al that euere I afferme,
Make a confyrmaciouw
Vp-on myn oppynyouw,
By ther Argument's cler.
And the poete ek, Homer,
Whylom merour off elloquence,
Contentyth ek to thys sentence :
He seyth in hys wrytyng thus :
At rysyng vp off Phebus,
That whan hys bemys y-reysed be,
He yiveth ech man volunte
And wyl (ther kan no man sey nay,)
How he shal gouerne hym that day.
' And aff ter Phebus ordynauwce,
Sorame ha sorwe, and som plesau?*ce ;
Thys poete (in conclusions)
Leueth 2 on thys oppynyouw :
And what-so other folkys do,
I leue ther-on my sylff also ;
And my levyng that thow sest here,
Yfouwdyd ys on a red sper ;
And yiff thow kanst yt wel espye,
My leuyng doth so sygnefye.
1 Now tel on, and thyn herte bolde,
Wyche 3 party thow wylt holde, p whiche St., wych c.]
And make a demoustraci'ouw 20211
Affter thyn oppynyourc ;
And as thow hast her-in creaunce,
Outlier ffeyth or affyauwce.' 20214
Astrology.
as the stars
certify.
20178
n'S stj k] 20182
20186
20190
20194
20198
[* levethe St.] 20202
20206
This, the
Stoics hold,
and Mathesis.
And Homer,
the mirror of
eloquence,
says that the
Sun, at his
rising,
[leaf 261]
gives man
will to rule
himself every
day 5
and that the
Sun allots
sorrow and
pleasure to
men.
Like Homer,
I believe
this.
What is your
opinion ?
540
/ hold Astrology to be Superstition.
The Pilgrim.
\ feel ahusht
and afraid,
and I ask
counsel of
Reason.
Then I
answer:
[leaf 261, bk.]
Astrology is
superstition.
You seem to :
have been
in the sky,
to have
discoverd
ttie stars'
secrets,
and got
Venus to tell
you when
she'll join,
The Pilgrim: [st.,o.c.]
Whan I herde hyr wordys alle,
Off look and cher I gan to palle,
And wex abaysshed mor and more,
And be-gan to syhe sore ; 20218
Thoghte in myw herte, off grete * ff er, [' gret c., St.]
I was nat passyd al dauwger
[Line wanting in both MSS., tho' neither has a gap.]
As yet, in thys streyth passage ; 20222
[Blank in MS. for an Illumination.]
Thouhte also, (so god me rede !)
That I hadde ful gret nede,
Touchynge thys oppynyouw,
To axe cownsayl off Eesouw. 21226
I answerde to that party :
"Thow spekyst," quod I, "ful largely.
God grauwte me (to myw entent) [stowe, leaf 333]
In thys mater A-vysement, 20230
My wordys so, for texpresse,
That ffynally I may represse
Thyn errours and thyw ff olye,
Groundyd on Astrologye, 20234
Wych ne be nat vertuous,
ffor they be superstyc'ious.
" Yt semeth as thow haddest ben
Hih" in the hevene, for to sen 20238
Al aboute, nyh and ff erre,
And axyd ther, off euery sterre,
Ther coursys and ther moctouws
And ther reuoluci-ouws, 20242
And dyscuryd ther secres
To the, and al ther pryvytes,
Wych ar good, wych ar malygne,
Whan they shal entren any sygne, 20246
Or entren any mancioim,
Ther to haue domynyovm.
" I trowe, thow wylt the makyn bold,
How that Venus hath the told 20250
The tyme assygned, whan that she
Shul, next, conyoyned be
Astrology defends belief in the Planets' influence.
541
"And declaryd to the / the day
Whan that she shal parte away 20254
ffro mars, that ys hyr owne knyht :
In hevene thow haddyst her-off a syht.
Wher wer thow euere so pryve,
Or with the sterrys so secre, 20258
To knowe the power and the myght
That god hath yove to hem off ryht ]
" I dar affermen her a-noon,
Sterrys and planetys, euerychon, 20262
Be soget to hys power royal
And to hys ryht Imperyal.
What-so-eue?-e thow kanst allegge,
They ha noon other pryvylegge, 20266
ffraunchyse nor coramyssioiw,
But vnder hys domynacwmw ;
And vn-to that (I dar wel seye)
Alle the planetys muste obeye, 20270
And fro that ordre neuere varye,
Who-eue?*e afferme the contrarye."
[Astrology.]
Quod she a-noon ageyn to me,
c Neuer in my lyff ne dyde I se 20274
No pryvylege (touchyng thys thyng) [stowe, leaf 333, back]
Yove 1 to the sterrys in ther mevyng; pgyven st.]
Nor, in the heuene so hih" and fferre,
I spak 2 neuere vfith no sterre ; [ J spake st.] 20278
Nor I nat knowe ther secres, 3 [ 3 secretes st.]
Ther mevyng, nor ther pryvytes,
Nor how ther cours aboff 4 ys lad,
But as I haue in bookys rad,
And ther conceyved by wrytyng,
Bothe off her cours and ther mevyng.
' And also long experyence
Hath yove to me ther-off scyence ;
Ek olde clerkes her-to-fforn
That wer ful longe or thow wer born
Yt dyde ynowh to hem suffyse,
To knowe the maner and the guyse
Off grete effectys off the hevene,
The Pilgrim.
and when
part from
Mars.
But I say
that stars
and planets
are subject
to God,
and must
obey His
orders ;
they have
no privilege
or commis-
sion from
Him.
[leaf 262]
Aitroloffy.
Astrology
declares she's
not been to
the stars and
askt their
secrets,
[ or aloff C., aloft St.]
20282
20286
20290
but she has
read old
books,
and old clerks
were con-
tent to know
the effects of
the heavens,
542
/ answer Astrology's arguments.
Astrology.
and trust in
them.
She believes
in the influ-
ences of
Planets and
Stars,
which are no
derogation
from God's
power.
[leaf 262, bk.]
Tho' a king
grants a com-
mission to
Provosts,
his power is
not restraind
by it.
The Pilgrim.
I rejoin, that
this answer is
insufficient.
A King
doesn't lose
his power by
appointing
deputies.
' And off the 1 planetys alle sevene. c 1 the St., om. c.]
Ther-in, ful myche they sette her lust,
And ther-in was fynally 2 her trust, [* fynaiiy was St.] 20294
As they by wrytyng specefye.
' And I ful 3 gretly ek affye P will St.]
In the hevenly mocwnws
And in ther reuoluciouws, 20298
Conceyvynge that, by ther mevyng,
That, alone 4 the myhty kyng, [* tha alone st.]
Ys no party (fer nor ner)
The mor excludyd fro hys power, 20302
Nor exempt in no degre
ffrom hys imperyal powste ;
But semblably (and thys ys soth)
As a kyng off custom doth, 20306
Off hys myght and hih renouw
Graunteth a commyssi'ouw
ffor a space, or al ther lyves,
To hys provostys 5 or bayllyves ; [* provosts st.] 20310
Yet for al that, in no manere
He restreyneth nat hys powere.'
[The Pilgrim:]
" Thyn answere, I conceyve yt wel,
"Wych may suffyse neueradel, 20314
No mor than may a rede 6 sper [ reade St., red c.]
Suffyse off myght, nor off power
(Who-so the trouthe espye kornie)
To endure to bern 7 A tonne, [stowe, leaf 334] 'pberest.]
ffor yiff the kyng (shortly to devyse) 20319
Hadde yove 8 hys power in swych wyse [ 8 have gyve st.]
To hys provdstys, 9 and ek also [ 9 provost c.]
To hys bay lyves, 10 bothe two, [ 10 baylys C., baylyvs St.]
And hadde hem mad ther-off certeyn,
And myghte yt nat repelle ageyn,
Tharaie he were (to our purpos)
Dysbarryd, and from hys power clos.
" And evene lyk (to our entent)
Off planetys and the fyrmament,
And off sterrys the moci'ouw,
Yiff they hadde cowmyss'iouw
20323
20326
20330
As God ordaind Stars to give Light, He must rule them. 543
"Vp-on al thyng, 1 hih and lowe, [UhyngeSt.]
Her in erthe that men knowe,
Bothe to shette and ek vnclose,
And as hym lyst, ffor to dyspose 20334
At ther owne voluwte,
That yt myhte noon other be,
But as the hevene (in substauwce)
Lyst to tourne the ordynauwce ; 20338
Than muste ther power (who kan se)
Be fallen off necessyte,
As the sterrys wolde ordeyne :
The kyng ne myght yt nat restreyne ; 20342
ffor he, off verray volunte,
Hath wyth-drawen hys powste. [C. & St.]
Thus thow woldest hym exclude,
And by thy wordy s ek conclude, 20346
That alle thynges that her be,
Sholde falle off necessyte,
Wherby (who that kan dyscerne)
The lord that al hath to gouerne, 20350
Sholde, by hys coramyssiioura,
Kestreyne hys domynaciourc,
Wych ys A maner impossible.
And as to me, no thyng credyble, 20354
What-euere her-on thow lyst to seyn.
" But I wyl answere the ageyn,
Touchyng the hevenly moczouws,
Ther power and ther commyssiiouws, 20358
Ther influencys and ther mevyng :
Al thys, they haue yt off the 2 kyng ptheyrc.]
And off the lord (who kan concerne)
That hevene and erthe doth gouerne. 20362
And trewly, in A-nother wyse
Than thy sylff dost her 3 devyse. p here St.]
" Touchyng ther power, (tak good heede,
In Genesis thow mayst yt rede;) [stowe, leaf 334, bk.] 20366
He ordeynede sterrys for to shyne,
To yive lyht, and enlwmyne,
And to the world, by ther bryhtnesso,
To yive couwfort and clernesse ; 20370
their power
would be of
Necessity,
[leaf 268]
excluded.
It is impos-
sible that the
Lord, who
governs all,
should grant
a commis-
sion;
and as to the
power of the
stars,
we read in
Genesis,
that God or-
daind stars
to shine, and
Rive light to
the world:
544 The Stars are only Signs of God, & can't affect His work.
20386
20390
The Pilgrim. " And to dyscerne, (who loke a-ryht)
To knowe the dayes wel fro nyht,
He sette hem ther (by certeyn lynes)
As for markys and for sygnes : 20374
Lat the byble wel be souht,
And other thyng thow fyndest nouht.
" Off the power that he hem sette, 20377
Ther-off he wyle no thyng hew 1 lette; [ l hemom.st.]
but their I But "shortly, al ther gouernauwce
government
is with Him. Abydeth vnder hys puissauwce ;
[leaf 263, bk.] He byndythe, 2 and vnbynt also ; [* St., vndoth c.]
What euere hym lyst, that mot be do ; 20382
And word that her ys sayd,
(And ful notable to be layd,
To be put in remembrauwce,
My conclusions to Avausce,)
God gave the That the sterrys ffer above,
stars only for *
signs, w er only nor sygnes yove,
That thynges (who so lyst to se)
Wyth hem sholde markyd be.
"And who that euere ageyn malygnes,
and marks of They be but markys, nor but sygnes
Off thylke lord celestyal,
That syt above, and rewleth al, 20394
Sterrys and constellacfouws.
"And as in cytes and in townys,
Maystres off dyvers crafftys
Hang out, on polys 3 and on raff tys, [boiysst.] 20398
JDyuers sygnys hih" and lowe,
Wher-by that men ther crafft may knowe ;
As sowme off hem hang out lyouws,
Somme Eglys and gryffouws, 20402
Peynted on bordys and on stagys,
Dyuers Armys and ymages
(In cytes mo than .ix. or ten,)
Wherby man knowe thys 4 craffty men; [nhesst.] 20406
But wher-so-euere they hangyd be,
Hih aloffte, that men may se,
NO one but a' He wer A ffool, and nothyng sage,
fool would _,.
think that lliat wolde dome in hys corage, 20410
as, in cities
and towns,
divers crafts
are denoted
such as lions
and griffins
;inted on
where men
can see them.
TJie Stars and Firmament witness tJieir Maker, God. 545
" That thys markys, on pool or rafft,
Kan no thyng medlen off the crafft,
Nor helpe ther-to, (yt ys no ffayl,)
Nor to the crafFty men avayl. [stowe.ieafsss] 20414
" And at tavernys (we'tft-oute wene)
a Thys tooknys nor thys bowys 2 grene, [*c. Tib. leves St.]
Thogh they shewe ffressh and ffayre,
The wyn they mende nat, nor apeyre, 20418
Nor medle no thyng (thys the ffyn)
Off the sale nor 3 off the wyn, D more Tib.]
N6r hath no thyng to gove"rne,
Off the celer nor taverne : 20422
By hem ys no thyng do nor let ;
They be ther, hut for markys set.
" And semblably, to Our entent,
The sterrys and the ffyrmament, 20426
Planetys and constellaczouws,
Cerclys, sygnes, nor mans'iouws,
Ar (to speke in wordys ffewe)
No-thyng but markys, for to shewe 20430
Off the workman, and off 4 the lord I poffom.Tib.]
That made al thyng wiih A word.
" In erthe, ther ys no taverner,
That couchyd hath in hys celer 20434
So many wynes red nor whyht,
Nor other drynkes off delyt,
As thys lord hath Beverages
Off Grace, 5 y-mad ffor sondry ages. p gracys st.] 20438
And off al thys, (who lyst to se,)
The sterrys, no-thyng but toknys be,
That al our goody s, her doiw lowe,
Kome fro that lord (who lyst to knowe) ; 20442
And alle the gyfftys ek off grace
Descende from that hevenly place.
" He party th hys gyfftys dyversly,
And, off hys grace and hys mercy, 20446
AH folkys ha suffysaiwce,
Plente ynowh, and habondaunce ;
ffor, off hys grace (as yt ys skyl,)
The Pilgrim.
The green
boughs hung
out at a
tavern
[leaf 264]
don't affect
the wine :
they're only
signs.
So also the
stars and
constellations
do but show
their Lord
and Maker.
No taverner
on earth has
such wines
and drinks
as God has
for His folk.
From Him
we have all
our goods,
and gifts of
grace ;
every one
has enough,
1 Tib. A vii. starts again with leaf 63.
PILGRIMAGE.
N N
546
The Stars have no influence on Men's lives.
The Piliirim.
as is His
will.
[leaf 264, bk.]
Don't believe
that the Stars
have any
influence for
good or evil.
If they had,
a man might
as well be
a thief or
robber
as a true
man,
since Neces-
sity would
make him
one.
If the Stars
have ordaind
it must be BO,
why should
a thief be
punisht,
or a true man
rewarded,
as the stars
are the cause
whereby a
man does
well?
Moreover, the
Sacraments
would avail
nought,
** He parteth, as yt ys hys wyl. 20450
" Therfor lat grace be thy guyde, [Tib., leaf 63, back]
And al thy resouws set asyde ;
And wene nat, in thyw entent,
The sterrys nor the ffyrmament 20454
Ha no vertu (witTi-oute glose)
Good or evel, for 1 to dyspose, p for om. Tib.]
But as the lord celestyal
Ordeyneth, that governeth al. 20458
Wher-for, beholde and loke a-ryht,
And deme off resoim in thy syht,
And he with me nat evele apayd.
" Yiff yt wer soth that thow hast sayd, 20462
Yt wer as 2 good (thys, the cheff) [ 2 all st.]
To hen a rohbere and a theff,
(By the resouws that thow gan, 3 ) [ 3 began St.]
As for to ben A trewe man, 20466
ffolwynge, off necessyte,
That yt myhte noon other be ; [Stowe, leaf sas, back]
The sterrys, the hevene, bothe two,
Han ordeyned yt mot be so 20470
By ther hevenly influence,
Wyth-outew any resystence.
Why sholde A theff thara punysshed be,
That fro robbry may nat ffle ; 20474
Or A trewe man, by resouw,
Vertuous off condyctouw,
Mawgre hys wyl and* al hys myht, [* wit* St., and Tib.]
Escheweth wrong, and doth al ryht. 20478
Touchyng hys meryte nor gerdoure,
He noon dysserveth, off resouw,
ffor the sterrys euerydel
Ben only cause that he doth wel. 20482
Wher-vp-on (who-so taketh hede)
Bothe sholde haue ylyche mede,
Good or harm, wher-so the werche.
"And also off al hooly 5 cherche, [ 5 iiooiy om. Tib.] 20486
Yiff thy resouTis wer certeyn,
The sacramentys wer in veyn
In thys cas (yiff yt be souht) ;
The time of a Man's Birth has nought to do with his Life. 547
20506
" ffor they sholde a-vaylle nouht,
J^or to mankynde do l no good. t 1 c., Tib., be St.]
" And Cryst Ihesu, that shadde hys blood,
Only mankynde for to save,
What effecte 2 sholde haue [* Tib., effect c., St.] 20494
Hys peyne or grete passi'ouw,
To brynge vs to savaciouw, [ 3 c., Tib., do well St.]
Yiff no man myghte don evel 3 nor good,
But evene so as the hevene stood? 20498
Ther wer noon helpe nor socour ;
The wych 4 wer a gret errour, [ wiuche Tib.]
A man to leve in any 5 wyse [ 5 c., Tib., such a St.]
So as thow dost her devyse ; 20502
ffro 6 wych, I pray god me preserue ! [ 6 Tib., ffor c., St.]
" Thow seyst also, men sholde obseme
Houres and constellacwmws
ffor sondry operactovms ;
The ascendent, consydre and se,
Off a mawhys natyvyte,
To ffynde the dysposicwmw
Off A manhys condyciouw,
To good or evel, 7 be kyndely lawe
Off nature, he sholde drawe ;
The wyche (who 8 the trouthe espyes)
Ar 9 but fables, and ful off lyes ; [ 9 c., Tib., as St.] 20514
ffor men ha seyn 10 her-to-fforn, [ 10 sene St., seyne Tib.]
Two chyldren in moment born,
The ton ryht good and fortunat,
And the tother infortunat; 20518
And men ha seyn 5 ek at tyme,
(Bothe at Evyw and at pryme,)
Twey men that a crafft wel koraie :
At On hour they ha be-goraie ; [Tib., leaf GI, back] 20522
The ton Off hem ful wel hath wrouht,
And the tother hath 11 do ryht nouht.
And tweyne, on hour (who kan espye)
Han bothe had malladye : c 11 The tother he hath Tib.] 20526
The ton was mad hoi by nature,
The tother myghte nat endure, [c. & st.]
But hath deyed, in certeyn :
20490 The Pilgrim.
20510
F badd St.]
[Stowe, leafS36]
[8 C., Tib., who-so St.]
[leaf 265]
nor the death
of Christ.
If no man
conld do evil
or good but
as the Stars
direct,
there'd be no
help for us.
As to hours
and constel-
lations,
you say that
a man's
nativity
controls his
disposition
and con-
dition, &c.:
these are
fables and
lies.
For we see
that, of two
children born
together, one
is fortunate,
the other un-
fortunate ;
that of two
sick, one
must live,
[leaf2Gr,,l>k.]
the other die :
548 Predestination does not dash tvith Man's Free Will.
The Pilgrim.
so nativity's
influence IB
nonsense.
Of 100,000
men in battle,
all were not
born on the
same day,
though all are
slain.
Yet some folk
are predesti-
nate to bliss,
and some to
damnation*
But the cause
is not God's
foreknow-
ledge :
it is the great
difference in
the life thtit
folk lead,
which sends
tin-in to
siilviition or
damnation.
Though God
knows it all
[leaf 266]
beforehand,
men are free
to choose
[Mn St.] 20538
[3 ones St.]
[* martis St., marrys C.]
20542
20546
" Wherfor thy resouws be but veyn. 20530
" Or telle me also a resouw
Touchynge thyw oppynyouw :
An hundryd thousand men assaylle
Euerych other in bataylle ; 20534
Wher-off kometh ther 1 destyne, [ c., Tib., that St.]
That they ben alle at o lourne,
And yet par cas (yt ys no nay)
They wer nat alle born) on 2 o day,
Nor they nat entre, nyh nor ferre,
AH at tonys 3 in-to that werre ;
And yet, by Martys 4 mortal la we.
Euerychon they ben yslawe :
Tel the cause what may thys be,
And spek no mor off destyne.
" Yet som folk ben ordynat,
And also predestynat,
Prescryt 5 to-forn to loye and blysse, cs - p pSjffi b p ] rescyt "
Off the wych som other mysse,
Swych as (in conclus'iouw)
Gon vn-to 6 dampnaci'ouw). [ c., St., in to Tib.] 20550
"And, trewly 7 (yt ys no dred) [Ureweiy Tib.]
The cause ys nat (who taketh hed,)
The dy vyne prescyence ;
But the grete dyfference 20554
Ys causyd off good and off badde,
Affter the lyff that they her ladde. [ 8 Tib., the St., thy c.]
And in this 8 world (bo the ffer and ner, 9 )
As they rowede in the Ryuer, f 9 ^H^l^^^ 11 20558
So?ttme to loye, sowme to peyne,
ffro synne as they hem-sylff restreyne ;
The goode to savaci'ouw,
The evele vn-to dampnacfouw, 20562
Constreyned no-thyng by destyne, [stowe, leaf sse, back]
But by ffre wyl and lyberte. p thyng <m. St.]
"Thogh god knewe al thys thyng 10 to-forn,
Many 11 day or they wer born, [ Many a st.] 20566
Hys knowyng nor hys prescyence,
Vn-to man doth noon offence,
ffredam ys yove 12 to hem to chese, ["gyvenstj
God, not the Stars, is the cause of Disease and Defect. 549
20574
20578
20582
20586
" Whether hyra lyst to wywne or lese ; 20570 The pn g rim.
ffor, knowyng (who that looke wel)
Off god, ne causeth neueradel
Wher them lyst, off bothe tweyne,
To gon to loye, outher to peyne.
" And, ther-for, do by my lore,
And off destyne spek no more ;
ffor the planetys euerychon,
And the sygnes, on by On,
And euery sterre, in hys degre,
Mevyn by the volunte
Off the lord that syt alofftej
" And also (as yt falleth offte)
ffolkys that in thys world her be,
(At the Eye as thow mayst se,)
So??ime be lame, and feble off myght ;
And somme strong, and gon vp-ryht,
And many welde hem sylff ryht wel ;
But, off the sterrys neueradel,
Nor off the hevenly influence,
Strengthe, myght, nor impotence,
Be nat causyd (on no syde)
But as the lord lyst to provyde.
" No man blynd, nor no man lame
Born the gospel seyth the same ;
ffor whan cryst, in swych A cas,
Off the lewys axyd was,
(As in lohan ye may fynde,)
Why the blynde maw was bor 1 blynde, ['boniest.} 20598
He told hem pleynly at A word,
'To prove the workys off the 2 lord, ["owe St.]
And hys dedys by myracle,
W^t/i-outen any mor obstacle ; '
And other cause was ther noon,
As seyth the gospel off seyn lohnX
" And nothyng thorgh the rnoczou?*
Off sterrys dysposiciouw, 20606
Was thys blyndnesse to hyw sent.
" And davyd seyth ' the fyrmament
Was ordeyned, at O word,
20590
20594
whether
they'll go to
joy or pain.
Say no more
of Destiny.
All the stars
move by the
will of God.
Tho' some
folk are
lame and
weak,
others
strong,
i lie stars and
heavenly in-,
fluences are
not the cause,
but only God.
As to the
blind,
St. John says
Christ told
the Jews the
man was
born blind to
show His
mirarulous
power,
20602 [leaf 266, bk.]
and not by
the stars'
disposal.
David i!e-
c-larex the
firmament
was urdaind
550 Astrology contends for the Power of Stars over Men.
to declare the
works of the
Lord.
Ptolemy says
a wise man
lias power
over all con-
stellations.
Sapiens dommabitur astris.
[3 wyse St., wys C.J
The Pilgrim. To telle the WerkyS off the lord. Cell enarrant. 20610
The sterrys, he 1 makyd for to shyne, [stowe, leaf 337]
Vp-on the Erthe tenlwmyne ; [ be St.]
Hih" in hevene to abyde,
A-sonder only to devyde 20614
The day and ek the dyrke nyht.
"And in hys Centyloge a-ryht,
The grete clerk, kyng 2 Tholome, [ grete kynge St.]
Affermeth ther (who lyst to se); 20618
He seyth (As I reherse kan)
That in erthe A wyse' 3 man
Haueth domynacwmw
Above ech constellactouw." 20622
And affter he hadde herd me seyn,
Thus he answerde me ageyn :
Astrologye : 4 [* st, om. cj
' Affter thy wordys rehersyd here,
The heuene, with hys sterrys clere, 20626
Sholde hauew, in substauwce,
But lytel power or puissauwce,
And sholde also, by thy devys,
Ben also off lasse prys 20630
Thaw ys the erthe', her dou?& lowe,
With greynys and with sedys sowe ;
ffor the Erthe, wher-on we gon,
Bryngeth fforth ffruites many On, 20634
Euerych grouynge in hys kynde,
And flourys fayre, as thow mayst fynde ;
And yet, for al hys gret ffayrnesse,
The hevene haueth mor noblesse [St. &c.] 20638
Than hathe therthe in hys degre, ,,
By many effects, as man may se ; ,,
And it also more necessary.
And shortly, (for me lyst nat tarye,) ,, 20642
In hevenly myght and puissauwce,
The erthe hath al hys governawice.'
[The Pilgrim] :
" In som thyng thow seyst ful soth,
Touchyng that the hevene doth. 20646
In erthe, ther sholde no?* groyns spry?zge,
Attrology
answers me :
According to
this, the
heavens have
little power,
and are of less
worth than
the earth
with its
fruits and
flowers.
[leaf 267]
Yet the
heavens are
nobler than
it,
and govern
the earth.
The Pilgrim.
True, say I,
Han has Free Will ; is not subject to Stars. Astronomy. 551
" Nor ffruitys non yt sholde forth brynge,
Ne wer the hevene (wyth hys myght)
Gaff ther-to, couwfort and lyht ; 20650
ffor the hevene, thorgh hys bryhtnesse,
Thorgh hys hete, and hys clernesse,
Causeth in erthe many a payre
fflourys and ffruit to sprynge fay re, 20654
And yiveth ther-to (as thow mayst se)
fful grete gyfftys off bewte,
Lych as the lord off most renoun
Hath yove hew by co?myssiiouw. 20658
11 But hys power, nor hys powste,
Ne strechchet nat (who lyst to se,
Neuere sythe the world by-gan,) [stowe, leaf 337, back]
Touchynge the gouernaurece off man. 20662
ffor man hath choys and voluwte,
ff redam also, and lyberte.
Hevene ne sterrys, bothe two,
Ther- wit/* haue no-thyng to do, 20666
Nor neuer aforn, power hadcle,
To cause hym 1 to don good or badde. [> them St.]
" But whaw I mette ffyrst wit/i the,
Off thyng thow spak to me, 20670
Touchyng thy tother halff partye
Wych callyd ys ' Astronomy e.'
Tel me a-noon, and have y-do, [St. & c.j
Ys she ff er now f ro the go ? 20674
Wher ys hyr habytactouw,
Hyr dwellyng, or hyr manci'ou?* ] "
Astrologie : 2 [ 2 st., o. c.]
' Wher that she be, her or yonder, [St. & c.]
We ne be nat ffer asonder, 20678
ffor vnder hyre proteccwnms
I make dyvynackaws ;
And by hyr power grauretyd me,
I have scolerys two or thre, 20682
Wych that on me euere abyde,
And departe nat fro my syde.'
Pilgrim : 3 [ 3 st., om. c.]
" Tel on a-noon, I pray the,
The Pilgrim.
the heavens
do give light
and heat to
the earth ;
but they
don't govern
man.
Man has
choice and
freedom ;
and neither
sky nor stars
can make him
do good or ill.
Now tell me
about
Astronomy.
[leaf 267, bk.]
Astrology.
Astronomy is
near me.
Slie has two
Scholars tor
divining :
The Pilgrim.
552 Of Pyromancy, Aeromancy, and Hydromancy.
The Pilgrim.
Attrology.
the first is
Pyromancy,
who divines
in the fire.
The second is
Af'rmaney,
who divines
by air.
[leaf Z68]
The third is
Hydro-
mancy, who
divines by
water.
The fourth is
" Declare her namys here to me, 20686
And thy-sylff no-thyng excuse,
Wher thow dost swych craff tes vse ;
ffor syth thow seyst so nyh they be,
With al myn herte I wolde hem se." 20690
Astrologie : l [ J st., <m. c.]
' fEor to ff ulfylle thy desyr :
The ffyrste place ys in the ffyre ;
And my scoler, ffyrst off echon,
Wher-so-euere that we gon, 20694
(I kan hyr in no wyse excuse,)
In that place she doth yt vse.
And she (as I shal specefye)
Callyd ys ' Pyromancye ' : 20698
ff ro thennys she may nat wel dysseuere ;
And in the ffyr she dwelleth euere ;
And therby (in conclusions)
She maketh hyr dyvynaciouw, 20702
Be yt ffoul or be yt ffayr.
' My secouwde scoler in the hayr 2 p is the ayre St.]
Pleynly, affter my doctryne,
At alle tymes doth devyne ; 20706
And therfor (yiff thow koraie espye,)
Hyr name ys callyd ' Aermancye.'
' The thrydde ys off fful gret renouw,
And hath hyr habytac'iouw [stowe, leafsss] 20710
In the se (who kan dyscerne);
Whom Neptunus doth goueme ;
By whom (the story telleth thus)
The myghty man Neptanabus, 20714
fEader to Alysauwdre the kyng,
Wrouht fful many A dyuers thyng ;
And in the water and in the se
"Was al hys crafft, as thow mayst se. 20718
Ther-fore (me lyst nat for to lye,)
Yt ys callyd Ydromancye,
By water (in conclus'iouw),
Augurye or dyvynaci'ouw. 20722
< The ffourthe, (yt nedeth nat telle,)
ffor, awhyle yiff thow wylt dwelle,
Geomancy claims to fix Sowing-times, and to foretell Crops. 553
' Thow shalt A-noon, her in presence
Sen ther, off experyence, 20726
ffor yt ys wrouht by mawhys bond,
Somwhyle in erthe and in sond :
Ther-fore (shortly to specefye)
Yt ys callyd Geomancye.' 20730
[The Pilgrim] :
Than quod I, " tel on to me,
What be the poyntys that I se :
Declare to me, and nat ne ffaylle,
What may they helpyn or A-vaylle." 20734
Geomanc[y]e 1 : C 1 st., m. c.]
' Be-twyxen ernest and ek game,
' Geomancye,' her ys my name.
Astrologye ys my maystresse,
That dyde my name to the" expresse ; 20738
To whos doctryne and whos sentence
I yive ffeyth and fful credence ;
And by thys poyntys, I kan knowe
Whan ys tyme to Ere and sowe; 20742
And wher, thys nexte yer certeyn, [C. & st.)
Ther shal be plente off frut and greyn.
And I kan telle, nyh" and fferre,
Bothe off pes and ek off werre ; 20746
And in effect, I wyl nat ffaylle
To telle the ffyn off a bataylle.
And, that I lese nat my labour,
I take the tyme and ek the hour 20750
Whan that I my werk begynne,
Who shal lesyn, or who shal wynne,
Or who shal ffaylle 2 off hys plesawzce ; [ 3 who siiaiian St.]
ffor thys poyntj ha resemblauwce 20754
To the sygnes in the hevene,
And to the planetys alle .vij. 3 p seven St.]
' And, I taake also good heed
To the tayl and to the bed, 20758
Hih" a loffte, off the dragouw,
Wha?e I ffourme my questyouw,
Wher-on, by hevenly influence, [stowe, leaf -iss, back]
I yive trewe and iust sentence 20762
Astrology.
Geomancy,
who divines
by earth and
sand.
The Pilgrim.
Geomancy
sets forth her
occupation.
By her
Points she
can tell times
for sowing
[leaf 268, bk.]
and future
crops,
peace and
war,
loss and
success,
by the signs
in the sky
and planets,
and the tail
and head of
the Dragon,
554
/ reproach Geomancy fw trusting in Astrology.
The Pilgrim.
Geomancv.
and the sky's
influence.
The Pilgrim.
I scold
Geomancy,
and say it
is fully to
trust in
Astrology,
[leaf 269]
She has no
sense in her
head,
and her craft
is dangerous
to simple
folk.
I bid her go,
as I'm afraid
I'm in danger
of falling
' On every thyng, and ech demaimde,
Lyk as my ffygures me comauwde.'
Pilgrym : x [ st, om. c.]
"Tel fforth to me euerydel,
Wher-off serveth that tuel." 20766
Geomancy : 2 p st., om. c.]
' I looke thorgh (off hool entent)
Vp-ward to the ffyrmament,
To han, vn-to my questi'ouw,
A maner dysposicfouw, 20770
Or that I my ffygur sue,
How the hevene doth influe.
Pilgryme : 3 p st., om. c.]
" Now I teUe the Outterly,
That thow art ryht vnhappy, 20774
And dygne (to myw oppynyoure)
OfB shame and off confus'ioun,
That, so myche off thy ffolye
Trustest in astrology e, 20778
"Wenyng, at thy 4 comauwdement, pthestj
ffor to make the ffyrmament
As thow lyst, ryht at thyre hond,
ffor to descende vp-on the sond, 20782
By influence avale a-doure
By cause off thy questioura ;
Wenynge ta fond 5 Out a weye [ 5 to a found st.]
That the hevene the sholde obeys. 20786
" In thyn hed ys no resoure,
Clernesse nor dyscreci'ou?* ;
Thy craffb and thow be 6 peryllous [6be,o.st.]
To symple ffolkys vertuous, 20790
To brynge hem in mysgouernaunce.
I praye god, saue me fro meschau/ice,
And ffro thy gret Inyquyte !
Go hens, that I no mor the" se ! 20794
I drede me gretly in my thouht,
That I am in pereyl brouht ;
Namly in thys dredful se,
I trowe sothly that I be 20798
ffalle on a pereyl doutclcs,
/ sail to another Isle, and meet the hag Idolatry. 555
20802
[ 2 cyrces St., cyces C.]
[ theyr St.] 20806
Wych that callyd ys 'Cyrces.' "
iThys tweyne loude gan to crye, E 1 A s t rol ^ e ] and Geoman y
And gan vn-to me specefye
That I was falle vp-on Cyrces, 2
And that I sholde (douteles,
By no treyne nor by no lape)
ffrom ther 3 daunger nat escape.
And I, for dred, gan haste me
Streyht ageyn vn-to the se,
And leffte hem bothe on An ylond, /
Makynge ther poyntys in the sond. [stowe, leaf 339] 20810
And tharaie I gan to bydde and preye,
That god wolde helpe me 4 on my weye, [Ti ai,f Laf esT here
ffrom alle 5 stormys in my passage, [* aUem' Tc' stV
And also fro the gret outrage 20814
Off wyndes wych that, bin" and lowe, [C. & St.]
Sternely at me gan blowe.
And in the same sylue whyle,
I sawh apere a lytel yle, 20818
Wher-off I hadde gret gladnesse ;
And thyderward I gan me dresse ;
Kauhte so ffer vp -with myn hond,
That, off grace, I kam to lond. 20822
And ther I sawh, off cher fful bold,
A vekke, hydous and ryht old,
And wonder Ougly off hyr chere ;
Hyr handys she beet also yffere ; 20826
And hyr lawhyng to determyne,
Lych an hors she gan to wyne. 6 [ 6 wbyne Tib.]
And I, my look vp-on hyr leyde,
And evene thus to hyre I seyde : 20830
The Pylgryme : 7 u Tib., pilgrim st., om. c.]
" thow most tfoul in beholdyng,
Tel on the cause off thy lawhyng ! "
Ydolatrle : [C- > margin; Idolatrye Tib., St.]
' Kom On, and entre in w/'t/* me,
And the cause thow shalt se.' 20834
[The Pilgrim]: (.Blank for Illumination inC.]
And I entrede by hyr byddyng ;
And ther I ffond On 8 syttyng / [ 8 oou Tib., on st.]
The Pilgrim.
into Cyrcea.
They tell me
I have thus
fallen.
So I sail off,
and leave
Astrology
and Geo-
maiicy on the
island.
[leaf 269, bk.]
Then I find
another little
isle,
and meet on
it a hideous
old hag
(Idolatry),
who whinnies
like a horse,
Idolatry.
and who
bids me
come into
her house.
I enter witli
her, and find
556 In Idolatry's house I see a Carpenter worship an Idol.
The Pilgrim.
an image on
a chair,
crownd like
a king,
[leaf 270]
with a shield
painted with
black flies
and spiders,
[Tib., leaf 65, back]
[Tib., C., & St.]
20838
20842
and a churl
kneeling and
sacrificing
to it.
The churl
is a carpenter
or a mason.
Idolatry.
Idolatry
delights in
seeing the
churl worship
the Image,
and wants
me to kneel
to it
In A chayer, an ymage,
Eyht ffoul off look and off vysage :
He sat crownyd lyk a kyng,
In hys bond a swerd holdyng ;
Vp-on hys shuldrys brood and large
Me thouhte that he had a targe,
Wyth blake fflye's al depeynt :
Yreynes 1 wern A-mong hem meynt; [ And vreynes Tib.]
[An Illumination follows this line in Tib.]
And (wych that ys ful foul to nevene) 20845
Ther was a maner off smoky levene 2 p heuene Tib.]
Wych the ydole dyde embrace.
And round aboutew in the place, ,,
Yt was fful (I yow ensure)
Off bryddes dunge and foul ordure. 20850
To-for thys mawmet (in certeyn)
I sawh knelyn a vyleyn,
With powdrys and 3 with fumys blake, [ 3 and om. Tib.]
Sacryfyse for to make 20854
To thys ydole, vrith hys sheld.
And he that 4 knelede (as I be-held) [* that om. Tib.]
Was 5 (to myw Oppynyouw) p And was Tib.]
A Carpenter or a masoun. 20858
Idolatry e : 6 [ Tib., St., in margin C.]
Thawne thys dame Ydolatrye, [stowe, leaf sso, back]
ffoul and horryble off look and Eye,
' Behold,' t^uod she, ' and looke wel, [Tib., leaf 66]
And se the maner euerydel 20862
How I ha 7 loye and gret gladnesse phaueTib.]
To sen thys cherl, by gret humblesse,
Toward thys mawmet hym-sylff tavauwce, 8 [ 8 to vaunce Tib.]
Don worshepe, and dbseruawrece; 20866
And I abyde, for to se
That thow shalt knele vp-on thy kne,
To-fforn hym, by devociouw.
fforsake thy skryppe and thy bordouw ; : 20870
And, to hys myghty excellence,
Don worshepe and reuerence.'
The Pylgryme: 9 [ Tib., pngrim st., om. o.j
Lyst for thys thyng I ffyl 10 in blame, ["> Lcste . . ttciie Tib.]
Idolatry strives to deface the ivorship of God.
[i And Idolatrye Tib.]
[2 free Tib., St., ff C. burnt]
1C., Tib., St.]
20878
20882
If Deuteronomi. 6 (13)
Dominum deum tuum
timebis, & ill! soli se[r-
vies]. Tib., om. C., St.
20886
[leaf 270, bk.]
Idolatry.
She explains
that she is
' Idolatry,'
and her ob-
ject is to
abolish the
worship of
God.
She is the
friend and
daughter of
20890
[Tib., leaf 66, back]
I' Tel on ffyrst, what ys thy name." 20874 m Pilgrim.
Dame Idolatrye : [Tib., Ydolatre St., Ydolatrye in margin C.]
' Ydolatrye 1 I am,' quod she,
'And off ffolkes that be ffre, 2
Thys my custom and vsage
ffor to brynge hem in seruage.'
And I kan, by collusi'ouw,
Tourne al estatys vp-so-douw,
And sette (thogh ffolk hadde yt sworn,)
That ys bakward, to go beforn.
To dyfface, ys my labour,
The kynges worshepe and honour,
And al that to my sylff applye.
ffor I am callyd ' Ydolatrye,'
The wyche (who wel loke kan)
ff rend and douhter to Sathan ;
ffor Sathan (shortly for to telle)
In mawmetys I make hyra dwelle.
' By thys cherl vp-on hys kne,
Her thow mayst exaumple se,
How he, wyth al hys dyllygence,
Doth hym honour and reuerence,
Wenynge, by hys apparaylle,
The mawmet myhte to hym avaylle.
ffor Sathan, that ys cloos wit/4-Inne, i'
To Infecte hys soule wyth synne,
And hys wyttys to entrouble,
Yiveth an answere wych ys double,
Wych hath (to marren hys entent,)
A maner off double entendement,
And leueth hyra euere in none-certeyn, 3 p ^^vn?r^3
Or kepeth hym Muet 4 off dyscleyn ; [* muyt St., Muet Tib.]
And hys 5 requeste doth refuse, L 5 his Tib., hyr c., her St.]
To make the fool more for 6 to muse, [ 6 for c., St., om. Tib.]
Lose hys tyme, off wylfulnesse. 20907
' And yet, in al hys wrechchydnesse, [stowe, leaf sto]
Efft 7 he doth hys dyllygence, [' oaie Tib., eft st.]
Wit/i 8 smoke and ffyr hy?;i to encense, [ 8 with om. Tib.]
Prayeth hys Mawmet nat to fay lie, 20911
To yive Answere, and hym 9 consaylle, [ 9 c., Tib., hem St.]
20894
20898
20902
who is en-
closed in the
idol,
and always
gives answers
with a double
meaning.
Tlie churl
prays the idol
for an an-
swer;
558 The Cai'penter who made the Idol, yet prays to it.
[leaf 271]
Idolatry.
but it hears
not, and an-
swers not,
for it is dumb
as a stone,
and as dead
as wood.
Whoever be-
lieves in it is
a fool.
Yet the car-
penter first
made the
Idol,
and knows
it can't help
him.
That's why
I taught.
The Pilgrim.
I bid the car-
penter rise,
[leaf 271, bk.]
and ask for-
giveness for
his guilt.
' And helpe hym, that he myghte spede,
To forthre hym in hys gret nede,
Syth he in hym doth so affye.
' Se how thys fool, off hys ffolye,
Seth how hys Mawrnet, ffoul off chere,
Herys 1 hath, 2 and may nat here;
And syttynge also in hys se,
Eyen hath, and may nat se ;
But ys as dowmb as stok or ston ;
20914
eres Tib., St.]
;* he hath Tib.J
20922
And hath ffet, and may nat gon,
Nor from hys chayer, a foot remewe,
Thogh al the world hym woldii sue.
* Hys swerd, hys targe, in bataylle
May to hym ryht nouht avaylle ; 20926
ffor he ys ded, as ston or 3 tre. [ 3 c., Tib., in St.] [Tib., leaf 67]
And 4 trewly (so as thynketh me,) [* And ooniy Tib.]
Who doth to swych on, 5 reverence, p oon Tib., one St.]
ReqUerynge 6 hys benyVOlence, [ Requyrynge Tib., requeryth St.]
He ys (for short conclus'iouw) 20931
A fool, in myn oppynyouw. (/!
' And for to touchyn hym mor ner,
The Same Sylue 7 Carpenter P selffe same St., same silffe Tib.]
Dyde a-forn hys bysy peyne 20935
To forge hym, wyth hys handys tweyne,
And make hym ffyrst off swych entaylle,
And wot he may nothyng avaylle
To helpe hym, whan that 8 al ys do.
They ben A-coursyd, bothe two :
And thys the cause (wyth-outii more)
ffyrst why that I lowh so sore.'
The Pylgryme: 9 [Tib.,piigrimst.,ow.c.]
Yet nat-wyth-stondyng, off entente,
To the cherl 10 A-noon I wente, [ 10 cimrie Tib.]
Bad hym a-ryse, and that a-noon,
And that he sholde thenys gon, 20946
And leue hys fals oppynyouw,
Go take 11 hys skryppe and hys bordouw, c " ^c"^;^]
And, off hertc ful mekly,
Gon and crye the kyng, mercy 20950
Off the gylt and the trespace
20938
[ 8 that OCT. St., whan ne
Tib.]
If Sapientz'e 14". (8)
fT Idolum maledictum
[est] et qui fecit illud.
20942
T
Why Idolatry is not justified ly Pilgrims adoring Images. 559
That he hadde don in that place,
And that hys herte was so set
To worshepe A Marmoset, 20954
Wych to helpe, (fer nor ner,)
Hath no puissaurace nor power, [stowe, leaf 340, back]
"VVher-ofE (wM-oute mor respyt,)
The Cherl in herte hadde gret despyt, 20958
And felly gan a-geyn abrayde,
And vn-to me ryht thus he sayde : [Tib., leaf 67, back]
The Vyleyne : l U St., veleyne Tib., . . yleyn C., in margin.']
' How darstow 2 me her repreue, p darste thow Tib.]
Or thyw. herte so to greue, 20962
To sen me don swych (Sbseruauwce
Wit// al myw hoole affyauwce,
To thys yddles set on stages,
Syth pylgrymes, in ther 3 passages
Honowre and worshepe, euerychon,
Ymages off tymber and off ston ;
And crystene peple, ful nyh alle,
On ther knes to-forn hem falle ;
And, whan al to-gydre ys souht,
They may helpe yow ryht nowht,
Nor done to yow noon avauwtage,
N"o mor than her, may myw ymage.'
1T The Pylgryme : 4 [* Tib., pilgrim st., om . cj
"That thow woldest her conclude,
Thy resouns ar 5 but rude,
ffor, sothly, we nothyng laboure
The ymages to honoure, 20978
Stook nor ston-, nor that men peyntes ;
But we honoure the holy seyntes
Off whom they beryn the lyknesse,
In our mynde, to enpresse,
By clere 6 demonstracwmws,
Ther martyrdam, ther passi'omzs,
Ther holy lyff, ther 7 myracles
Wych ben to vs but 8 spectacles,
And as mcrours, that represente
Ther trewe menyng and ther 9 entente,
Ther grete labour and vyctorye ;
The Pilgrim.
Pther om. Tib.] 20966
20970
20974
[ 5 C., St. they are, Tib., St.
The Q-iyllable line it yood.]
20982
[ clere St., cler C., cleer Tib.]
[7 and ther Tib.]
[ 8 but St., but as C.] 20986
['ther om. St.]
He scorns
me,
and asks how
I dare reprove
him
when pil-
grims wor-
ship images
of wood and
stone also ;
yet they help
no more than
his own Idol
doea.
The Pilgrim.
I tell him
this is not so.
We Chris-
tians honour
the saints
[leaf 272]
for their
miracles,
SCO Christian Images are meant to be read like Books.
The pilgrim. " That we sholde ha memorye, [Tib., leafesj 20990
and make By hem, a kalender to make,
from them a
calendar of What they suftrede for crystes sake,
Patriarchs, , J
Patryarches and prophetys,
Wych in hevene haue now her setys ; 20994
The 1 passi'oim off cryst hym-sylue, C 1 And the Tib.]
[An Illumination follows in Tib.]
of Christ and And off hys apostelys twelue,
His Apostles, *
and Martyrs. And oft martyrs that wer vyctours ;
The pacyence off cdnfessours, 20998
And off maydenes, in ther degre,
That deyde 2 in vyrgynyte, p c., deyed Tib., dyed St.]
As clerkys in ther lyve's 3 ffynde. pboksst.]
Our images " Ymages presents to Our mynde, 21002
express the , , ,
Saints' holy And to vs, clcrly expresse,
lives,
Off her ly vyng the holynesse ;
And for thys skyle, (wit/i-oute let)
and are Ymages in cherches ben vp set : 21006
set up in
churches And vn-to folkys many On,
fful gret profyt also they done,
Namly, to swych (I yow ensure)
that the un- That ne kan, no lettrure ; 21010
learned may ~, . . . , ,
read from ttor, on ymages whan they lookys,
totaf fi ft Ther they rede, as in ther bookys/ ^^.'.^ihb.]
and learn What they Ouhte off ryht to SUe, [Tib., leaf 68, back]
and to avoid. And also what they Shal 5 eschewe, [ 5 schulde Tib., slmld St.]
Ther they may yt clerly lere. 21015
" But off thy mawmet, I wolde here,
"Wych may the no thyng socoure,
[leaf 272, bk.] Why thow sholdest hyw honoure. 21018
slwuid'ife ff r (who that any resouw kan,)
ido r i! h whicn e Wit^-Inne, enclosyd ys Sathan,
Satan" 18 And ther hym-sylff hath mad a se,
The pry nee off al inyquyte, 21022
and win hurt The wyche 6 (shortly for tendyte,) [ 6 wiwche Tib., St., wycii c.]
ally ? fful mortally he shal the quyte,
Whan he seth tyme, and best leyser.
And therfor, now, whyl thow art her, 21026
Off thy Mawmet for to telle,
Sey on ; for I ne may nat dwelle."
7 meet the old hag Sorcei^y, who hooks me. 561
The Vyleyn : l P St., veleyne Tib., am. C.] The Villain.
' Thow gest 2 no mor, as now, for me ; P geste Tib., getst St.]
But off thyng I warne the ; 21030
Yiff thow in thys place abyde, The car-
penter de-
Myn ax shal thorgh thy nekke glyde, c!" e8 m e ' U
But yiff 3 thow do to myw linage, pjeueiib.] idoVt
Lowly worshepe and homage. 21034 f d ^ hi P his
Ches yiff 3 the lyst, and lat me se,
ffor thow gest 4 no mor off me.' [ getest St., geste Tib.]
The Pylgryme : 5 [ s Tib., Pilgrim St., om. C.J Tht Pilgrim^
Than I stood in fful gret doute. fe^ lngreat
And as I tournede me aboute, 21038
Myd off thys He that I off tolde,
And Query party gan beholde,
Myd off thys se, lookyng ech way
How I myhte eskape a- way ; 21042
And to-for myw Eye 6 I fond peynestj [Tib., leaf 69]
A Maryssh, or elles a merssh 7 lond, u mershe St.] w'wl^a 40 "
That peryllous was, and ful profourade, marsh.
And off ff ylthes ryht habouwde. 2 1 046
And thyder-ward as 8 I gan hye [Swasc.] imwta^oid
A vekke Old me dyde espye,
Komyng wtt7i an owgly cher; [stowe, leaf 841, back]
Vp-on hyr hed, a gret paner; 21050
In hyr ryht hand (as I was war,)
An hand kut off, me sempte she bar.
And^ Or any hede I took, 9 [ I took Tib. (C. burnt), she toke St.] [leaf 273]
She kauhte me 10 with a crokyd hooke. 10 P a -^ g b gg- 6lOTI * ) '
[Blank in MS. for an Illumination, given in Tib.
The old Witch has, in her left hand, a long stick,
hookt under the Pilgrim's left armpit; and her
right hand grasps a big cut-off hand by its wrist.]
And as she gan me faste holde, hoiVof'me
I axede hyre what that she wolde, 21056 ^ her
And make 11 a declarac'iorm p 1 make c., Tib., St.]
Off name and off condyc'iouw.
*IT Sorcerye : 12 P* Tib., St., om. C.] Sorcery
Quod she : 'vnderstond me thus; 21059
My name yS ' BythalaSSUS,' 13 U 3 bythalassus Tib., Bythassus C., St.] tells me she
Wych ys to scyne', (who lyst 14 se) P 4 lyste Tib., lyst c., St.] lassus,
PILGRIMAGE. O O
562
Sortilege or Sorcery, who should be cold Malefice.
Sorcery.
and her
name is
Sortilege or
Sorcery
[ 3 som C., Tib., some St.]
[ Cortylage Tib.]
not at St., nat C.,
not Tib.]
(with knives,
and oint-
ments, &c., in
her basket);
[leaf 273, bk.]
but she
should be
cald ' Male-
flee,'
as her drinks
' A ffamous pereyl off the se,
In wych (wyth-outen any grace) [Tib., leaf 69, back]
Alle 1 If oik that forby pace, [ Aiie Tib., AI c., AH st.] 21064
And alle tho that thorgh me gon,
I make hem perysshen, 2 euerychon. [ 2 peryshe st.]
' And also ek touchyng my name,
I am callyd (by gret dyffame, 21068
As som 3 ffolkys specefye,)
' Sortylege 4 or Sorcery e.'
Many f olkys thus me calle ;
And yet they hate me nat 5 alle ;
I am be-lovyd, bo the ffer and ner. 21073
' And I ber ek in thys paner
(Who that wit/i-Inne lyst to seke) t
Many knyves and hoodys ek, 21076
Dyvers wryte's and ymages,
Oynemewtys and herbages,
Gadryd in constellac'iouws ;
ffor I obserue my sesowzs, 21080
and make off hem elleccyouw [Tib.]
afftir myne oppynyoun.
And 'Maleffyce', folkes 6 alle, [Tib.] [ Maiyfite folks st.]
Off ryght, they shulde me so calle. [Tib.] 21084
I have ful many evel vsages [Tib. & c.]
Off drynkes and off beverages, ,,
Wherby I make (her and yonder,)
ffrendys for to parte assonder; 21088
ffor, WZt/i fals COwiurySOUWS 7 U C. & Tib., conjurations St.]
and enchant
ments ruin
folk,
And wi't/i myw incawtaci'ouws,
And many dyuers enchauwtement,
Sondry folk ben off te shent.
And, with dyuers crafftys ek,
I kan make men ful sek ;
and kin some. And somme also ful cursydly
ffor to deye sodeynly.
' And, in lordys ek presencys,
I kan make ek 8 apparencys
Whan that me lyst, ful many On,
Yiff I sholde telle he?re euerychon.'
21092
21096
[Stowe, leaf 212]
[ 8 eke make Tib.]
[Tib., leaf 70]
21100
The Pilgrim.
ITThe Pylgryme:'
[9 PilRrim Tib., St.,oj.C.]
How Sorcery went to the Devil's School, and lost her Soul. 563
on t* scolars . many a St., scolers . . many
011 Tib ^ 8Colery8 1 _ manyng c.]
" Tel on, (we't/i-oute mor taryng,)
Wher lernystow al thy komiyng. 1 "
11 Sorcerye : 2 [* Tib., St., erye, in margin C.]
' Sothly, (as I reherse kan,)
TIT i r, ,1 nitm
I lernede my korenyng oft Sathan, 21104:
J
[An Illumination follows in Tib., of the Devil and
four women, one with a long-headed rod, and an-
other with a child in her arms.]
Wych halt hys scole nat hewnys ffer,
And hath ydon ful 3 many A yer. pydonest.]
And to that scole kome and gon, 21107
Off seolprvs ful manv 4
lerys iui uidiiy
And he, aboue al maner thyng,
Ys ful glad off ther komyng.
And off that Art, in many wyse,
Ther, I ha 5 lernyd the guyse. phaueTib.] 21 11 2
And offte 6 sythe (yiff thow lyst se,) [ offte c., Tib., eft st.]
Ther, wyth othor scolerys be.'
11 The Pylgryme : 7 U Tib., piignm st., om. c.]
"Tel on (and make no mor lettynge 8 ) [Tib., leaf 70, back]
What gaff thow hjm for thy kmrnynge" ? " ^^r)]
IT Sorcerye : 10 [' kunnynge Tib., conynge St.] [i" Tib., St., om. C.]
' The trouthe, yiff I telle shal, 21117
My soule I gaff hy??i, hool and al,
And forsook (by chaffaryng)
The werkys off the myghty kyng. 21120
And who that euere wyl do so,
And to that scole approche vn-to,
He may (yiff that I shal nat lye,)
ffynde ther swych u mercerye.' P 1 ^J^/Jg st - ffynde '
H The Pylgryme : 12 [" Tib., Pilgrim St., om. C.]
"Thow hast (as I shal devyse,) 21125
Mad a shrewde 13 marchaumyse, P schrewya Tib.]
To yeue 14 A thyng off gret noblesse, [ M yueC., jeueTib.]
Excellyng ek in worthynesse, 21128
And also off so 15 gret vertu, p so c., St., om. Tib.]
ff or a thyng off no valu,
And (off trouthe and off resouw)
Most wyl 16 off reputacmira ; [ w vyie Tib., vyii st.] 21132
ffor the wych, (I dar wel telle,)
Sorcery.
she got her
learning from
satan(who
has his school
near),
[leaf 274]
Sorcery.
in return for
The Pilgrim.
i ten her
she's made a
bad deal,
to give her
worthless
564 Of the face Physiognomy, and the hand Chiromancy.
The Pilgrim.
and that
she stands in
great peril,
Sorcery.
but she
doesn't
repent, ,
and will not
change tho'
she goes to
Hell for it.
[leaf 274, bk.]
The Pilffrim.
I ask her
what the
cut-off hand
means.
Sorcery.
She says
Mathesis
gave it her
long ago,
and also a
whole face,
cald ' Physi-
ognomy,' and
the hand is
Chiro-
mancy,' to
tell folks' for-
tunes by.
The Pilirrim.
Sorcery.
[G-syll. line]
-M:m is cald a
Microcosm,
[3 haue St.] 21140
[Tib., leaf 71]
[Stowe, leaf 842, back]
21144
[* Tib., om. C., St]
[Tib.]
21148
" In grete 1 pereyl thow dost dwelle, [> gret c., St., gvet Tib.]
(Off verray soth, And off no lape,)
Neuere lykly to eskape." 21136
1T SorCerye : 2 P Tib., St., in margin C.]
' Al thy seyyng, euerydel,
I wot my-sylff that, wonder wel ;
fEor I stonde in swych meschauwce
That I ha 3 no repentauwce ;
I am so ffer ybrouht wit7i-Inne,
And engluyd so with synne,
So clevynge vp-on myw errour,
That I truste on no socour ;
ffor thogh I sholde go to helle,
I wyl nat go ffro that I telle.'
IF The Pylgryme : 4
" Declare to me, and haue Ido,
Where-off seruith that hand also
whiche thow 5 holdyst now so ffaste :
Thys thyng, expowne to me in hast." [ 5 thow st., that Tib.]
1T SorCerye : 6 [' Tib., St., erye in marc/in C.]
Quod she to me ageyn 7 a-noon ; [' ageyn, om.Tib.]
' Math esis, fful yore agon, [C.&TU>.] 21152
Gaff yt to me (by gret outrage,)
And also ek 8 an hool vysage, [ 8 c., Tib., eke also St.]
Wych that I haue in my depoos,
Her, wit/i-Inne my paner cloos. 21156
Yt ys ycallyd ' Physonomye,' 9
And thys hand 'Cyromancye,' 9 '[ Tib. transposes these lines.]
To telle the dysposiczoxms
Off ffolk, and ther condyc'iouws.'
1T The Pylgryme : 10 j [' Tib.,
" Tel on ! expowne that thyng to me,
In what wyse that myhte be,
Or that thow and I dysseuere ;
if or, at that scole I was neuere."
11 Sorcerye : u
' Herdystow neuere (off aventure)
That a man, in scrypture,
Off thys 12 phylosofres alle, F That off these Tib.]
How 'Mycrocosme' 13 they hym caUe, [13 ^^..^ a]
21160
, om . c.j
21164
[" Tib., st., n.c.]
[Tib., leaf 71, back]
Man is a Microcosm. His hand is starrd like the Heavens. 565
21176
21184
.C.]
' (Shortly to tellen, at word)
Nat ellys but ' the lasse world T 21170
IF The Pylgryme : l l 1 Tib., pilgrim St., om. c.]
" I haue herd yt 2 in scolys offte, [ J And i haue herd Tib.]
Ther yrad, 3 bothe loude and soffte." P ^^^j- where l
IF Sorcerye : * [* St., . . erie i margin C.]
' Thyn Answere mvt be verrefyed ; 21173
Thys lasse world ys stellefyed
Lych hevene, and as the ffyrmament,
Ther-off to make A lugement,
Vnderstonde by bothe two,
The vysage and the hand also,
Vp-on wych, by trewe syht,
Men may yive a doom A-ryht y
Telle the condyc'iouns
By dyvers lyneac'iouns
Wych ther be set (I the ensure,)
Eyht as sterrys off nature.
IF The Pylgryme r 5 C 5 Tib., pugvim st.,
" To thy wordy s I may accorde
In party, and nat dyscorde,
That a man whom we nevene
Ys ysterryd as the hevene ;
But her-vp-on, in substaunce,
Thow puttest nat in re"membraurace,
Namynge thylke lyneact'ouws,
By namys off constellaw'ouws ; [Tib, leaf 72] 21192
ffor trewely 6 (who kan remembre) [ - K treweiy in... trewiy c.,
The body off man, and euery mewbre,
Ben off erthe, in certeyn,
And to erthe shal tourne ageyn.
" And, afftor philisofres talys,
Ther ben hylles, ther ben wales, 7
Medwes, ryvers, bothe' two,
Wylde bestys ek also,
And grete ffeldys men may sen,
And pathes that hem departeth 8 a-twen, [ departe rib.]
And places also off desert,
Somme open, somme couert : 21204
Thys be the lyneac'iouws
Sorcery.
or the less
world,
The Pilgrim.
Sorcery.
which is
stanl like
the sky ;
that is, by
man's face
and hand.
21180 [leaf 275]
By the lines
in them,
man's fate
can be told ;
they are
Nature's
Stars.
[Stowe, leaf 34S]
21188
21196
[ 7 talis . . valys Tib., tallis . .
vallis St.]
21200
The Pilgrim.
I partly agree
with you,
Sorcery.
But recollect,
man's body
is of earth,
and will
turn to earth.
Philosophers'
tali's say that
there are hills
and valleys,
fields and
paths,
and lines uald
566 Man's Heaven is his Soul; his Sun is his Reason.
The Pilgrim.
Constella-
tions in man's
hands and
faces,
whereby
their disposi-
tions can be
divined.
But all this
is fables and
liea.
[leaf 275, bk.]
The only
heaven in
man is his
soul,
and of this,
the Sun or
intellect
is his reason :
and his good
example is
the Stars.
Clerks call
the less
world iii;iii,
and his Stars
make him
cald Celestial.
But to sup-
pose that
shapes and
lines
" Y-namyd constellac'iouws,
In the handys and the vysage,
Wherby, clerkys that be sage, 21208
Affter thyw oppynyouw,
Make dyvynac'iouw,
And declare to the and me
(Who that kan beholde and ae) 21212
A manhys 1 dySpOSic'iOUW. P mannes Tib., mans St.]
" But al thy s, in conclus'iouw ;
To devyne, by swych 2 thynges, [* swyche Tib., snche St.]
Ar but fables and lesynges. [c.&Tib.] 21216
ffor, (yiff thow wylt trewly nevene,)
In A man, ther ys noon hevene,
(ffor to name yt trewely. 3 ) [ trewiy c., truly St.]
But hys sowle al only. 21220
What so euere ther-off thow teller,
That ys hys hevene, and nothyng ellys :
Thus clerkys seyn, that trouthe kowne.
And, off thys, the bryhte soraie ;s 21224
Namyd ys (in sentement)
Intellect Or entendement.' 4 [* C., nb., Incelent or encendement St.]
The mone 5 (in COncluSlOUw) [ s mone Tib., name C.]
Ys ycallyd hys resoun, [Tib., leaf 72, back] 21228
Hys vertues, and goode thewes.
" And good exauraple that he shewes,
Tho ben the sterrys bryht and clere,
Wych that in thys heuene apere. 21232
And hooly clerkys, in bookys kan,
' The lasse world ' thus calle A man.
And who that hath most holynesse
In vertu, haveth most bryhtnesse : 21236
Wych sterrys make a mare at al
To be callyd ' celestyal,' [stowe, leaf 343, back]
And concluden (off Kesourc,)
Hevenly dysposic'iouw. 21240
Thys the trowthe, we't/*-oute glose.
" And lyk thy wordys, I suppose,
Affter the CaaS off thy Seyyng. 6 t 6 seiynge Tib., sayenge St.]
That swyche toknys outward shewyng, 21244
ffygures or 7 lyneac'iouws, ['and Tib.]
Marks in a man's Hand or Face can't control his Acts. 567
" Shewede the condyczouws,
And outward made ther-on A skyl
Off governauwce towchyng hys wyl, 21248
Off folkys inclinac'iouws,
Yt ai 1 but fals fuildaCM)UWS, [ That are Tib.]
(Ther-vp-on, who lyst to se,)
To conclude necessyte, 21252
That yt muste be so off ryht.
" ffbr tooknys, in A manhyS 2 Syht, [ mannes Tib., mans St.]
And sygnes (bothe at eve and prime,)
Deceyve and fay lie ful ofte tyme, 21256
To folk that looke with eyen cler.
Ryght as, off A tauerner,
The grene bussh that hangeth out r \
Ys a sygne (yt ys no doute,) 21260
Outward, folkys for to telle,
That witft-Inne ys wyn to sell.
And for al that, (I the ensure)
Yt may f alle 3 off aventure, p&yiest.] [Tib, leaf 73] 21264
ffor alle the bowes, rekne echon,
That, wit/i-Inne, wyn ys ther noon.
" And Eveue (to purpos off thys cas-,)
Yt ffyl thus off Ypocras, 21268
The phylysofre ful famous,
Ryht prudent and vertuous,
Off whom the ffygur and ymage
And tooknys alle off hys vysage, 21272
Wer ybrouht to Phylemouw,
A phylisofre off gret renoun,
ffor to descryue hem by and by,
And to concluden naturelly 21276
Al the inclynac'iiouns
And also the condiciouws
Off Ypocras, that was so wys.
" And Philemoiw (by short avys) 21280
Ccncluclede (as in sentement)
That he was incontynent,
And off hys ly vyng vycyous,
And naturely ek lecherous. 21284
ffor (whan he took good heed ther- to,)
The Pilfrrim.
govern Man's
will is
[leaf 276]
They are but
signs, and oft
deceive.
As a taverner
hangs out a
green bust
for a sign,
that wine is
on sale in-
side;
but some-
times it isn't.
The shape
and linage of
the philoso-
pher Hippo-
eras
were brought
to Phylemon,
who, by
them, ad-
jiulgd him to
be a vicious
man.
568
Chiromancy &c. are accursed Arts.
The Pilgrim.
[leaf 276, bk.]
Bat Hippo-
eras bridled
liia inclina-
tions by his
reason, aud
lived virtu-
ously.
His outward ;
shape and
lines caused
no necessity.
Therefore
these arts are
superstitious,
and accurst.
Chuck em
into the sea.
Then I broke
away from ,
Sorcery
and went to
a rock,
and was soon
surrounded
by the sea.
" The tooknys outward told hyra so,
By Open demonstrac'iouw. [stowe, ieafs]
" But ypocras, (off good resouw) 21288
By vertu only, dyde hys peyne,
Alle the sygnes to restreyne,
ffor-dyde hys inclynacfouw
Wy th a brydel off resourc ; 21292
And wyth hys fflessh held swych a stryff,
That he was vertuous off lyff.
" The tooknys (who so lyst to se)
Causede noon necessy te ; 21296
ffor, thogh they gaff an apparence, '
They wer fals 1 in existence, p were ffaise Tib.]
And maden a ful strong lesyng [Tib., leaf 73, back]
To Phylemouw in hys demyng. 21300
" Wher-for, lerne thys off me ;
Lat thy ffantasyes 2 be, p ffantesye Tib.]
ffor to brynge 3 folk in 4 rage, P ^^"V] 3 8 a > St ' ]
Both off thyw hand and thy vysage, 21304
And also ek off thy paner
Wyche 5 that thow shewest her. [ s wMche Tib., St., wych c.]
ffor they be superstycious,
Cursyd, and ryht contagyous; 21308
And therfor, by the rede off me,
A-noon let cast hem in the Se."
And in thys poynt, good hed I took,
And brak 6 loos oute off hys hook ; [ 6 brake Tib., St.]
And, wyth-oute mor delay,
Wente forth vp-on my way,
Tyl at the laste I gan Aproche
ffaste by vn-to A roche.
And I a-noon (off goode entente)
Ther-vp-on, a-noon I wente.
And to thys roche large 7 and squar,
The se kam douw, or I was war,
And besette me round aboute ;
Wher-off I stood in ful gret doute,
And hadde in herte fful gret wo,
Whan I was besegyd so
Wyth the floodys sterne and hug,
21313
21316
[7 longe Tib.]
21320
21324
The old Enchantress, Scyiia, or Conspiracy. 569
And knew, 1 as tho, no refuge, [kneweTib.,knewC., St.] The Pilgrim.
Confort nor consolac'ioim. peaf 277]
And sodeynly I sawh kome doim 21328 Anoiden-
" chantress
A wonder Old enchauwteresse, " (Scyiia)
' comes to me,
And to me-ward she gan hyr dresse.
And I sawh wel ek ther I stood,
On the wawes how she rood, 21332 riding on
the waves,
Off look and chere 2 fful pervers ; [* chere St., cher c.]
And howndys manye and dyvers [Tib., leaf 74]
She hadde, behynde and ek beforn; [stowe, leaf 344, back]
And myghtyly she blewh an horn, 21336
Made hyr houredys a gret route, houmisat 61
ffor tassaylle me round aboute. me -
[Blank in MS. for an Illumination, given in Tib.,
of the Hornblmoer on the loaves, and the Pilgrim on
his little bit of ground, and eight hounds round
Mm.]
And as I stood vp-on the wrak,
Evene thus to me she spak : 21340
IT Scilla, (or) Conspiracciovw : 3 ^Ji^Z'^cn **".<>
N nargin^.u Conspiracy.
Quod she, ' thow must descende a-douw,
She bids me
ffor ther geyneth no rauwsouw co " ie d wn
or her dogs
But that thow shalt devoured be 'ii devour me.
Off thys houwdys, that thow dost se.' 21344
1F The Pylgryme : * [* Tib., pilgrim st., om. c.] re puonm.
" Certys," quod I, " yt is no nay,
I stonde in a perillous way ;
But, I praye the, in thys rage,
Let me nat off my passage, 21348 i ask her not
to hinder me
Nor bryng me nat in no dyffame
Tyl that thow ha told thy name, [Tib., leaf 74, back] tm she's told
* me her name,
And shewyd, by relac'ioun,
Thy maner, and thy condyciiouTZ." 21352
Scilla, Conspiracyoiw : 5 [? Tib., st., om. c.] scyiia.
' My name (for short conclus'iouw) [leaf 277, bk.]
IT n i c n ' t slle sa .V 8 it>s
Ys callyd ' Conspiraczoure, conspiracy,
Or ellys (what so euere falle,)
' Scilla ' ek thow mayst me calle ; 21356 or sciiia,
And am ek (yiff thow lyst 6 Se) [ 6 lyste to Tib., lyst C., St.] a peril of the
On off the pereilles off the se.
sea.
570
Conspiracy's Hounds that carry out her Frauds.
Scylla, or
Conspiracy.
She hunts
folk who row
in it,
and makes
her hounds
bark at 'em.
They bite
grievously,
and are
coupled by
great oaths.
If they don't
bark, they
bite men,
and work by
fraud.
She tells a
story of two
kings
who went
to war.
The first
attackt, with
his knights,
[leaf 278]
who had
sworn the
day before to
fight well.
But they
iaild him,
' I chace at hem that ther-in Howe,
And make the felle floodys flowe, 21360
ffolkys for to putte in doute,
Do myn houwdys, ful gret route,
Berkyn, and gret noyse make ;
And grete bestys for to take 21364
Wtt/i-oute noyse or 1 berkyng : [ l or greet Tib. j
Wonder grevous ys ther bytyng.
I couple hem "with myn owne hondys,
And grete hothes 2 ben the bondys [ otb.es Tib.] 21368
Wyth wych I make ther allyauwce,
Bothe by feyth and assurauwce.
' Wyth the noyse that they make,
Pylgrymes offte they don a- wake ; 21372
And thogh they berke nat On A man,
fful mortally they byten kan ;
And thogh they byten by greet 3 sleyhte, P gr fS" gre
Ther berkyng ys no thyng on heyhte ; 21376
Ther fraude ys do so couertlye,
That no maw may yt espye ;
ffor, vnder colour, (in sothnesse,) 21379
They wyl ha 4 thank for her falsnesse. [* woie haue Tib.]
' And, to purpos off thys thyng, '- 1 ra *f,aff n i 3 f '
Yt ffyl onys, that a kyng, to war ' ]
A-geyn a-nother kyng nat ferre,
Off purpos held A mortal werre ;
And with the meyne that they wt't/i-held,
Bothe they kam in-to the ffeld. [stowe.ieafsis]
'The ffyrste kyng that I off telle,
WM 5 knyhtys that aboute hym dwelle, P .[^- th
On whom he trustede as hys lyff,
Gan fyrst asayllen in thys stryff ;
But for al that, I, w/tfe my wyle,
Thus I dyde the kyng begyle :
I made hys knyhtys, the 6 day to-forn, [theyc.]
Vn-to hym for to be sworn,
Ther-vp-on her lyff to spende,
That they sholde hym wel dyffende,
And knyhtly gouerae the bataylle.
' But at the poynt, they dyde \iyrn faylle ;
21384
21389
21392
21396
How Scylla makes a King's Knights deceive him. 571
' They entren in wM manly chere ;
And whan they gan assemble yfere,
Off purpos, thys 1 knyhtys eue?ychon
Wer y-yolden, On by On,
By sleyhte and by collusiouw,
To make hyw paye ther rauwsouw.
Wherfor, the same kyng, alias,
"Was decey ved in thys caas ;
With shame and gret cowfusi'ouw
Drowh bak vn-to hys pavyll'ioura,
Supposynge, in hys drede,
That thys knyhtys off manhede
Hadde be take in that dystresse,
Off manhood and off hih prowesse.
And therfor, touchyng ther raurasouw,
The kyng made ther redempciouw.
And whan that they kam to hys syht,
He thankede hem with al hys myght,
Demynge, off manhood, for hys sake,
That they hadde, echon be take,
And lovede hem more than beforn,
Be-cause they han hem so wel born :
But al was fals decepc'ioiw,
Contrayre to hys oppynyoura.
'And swyche 2 houwdys douteles,
God wot, I ha mo than a les ;
Off hem, plente and gret foysoiw,
ffor to cachche me venysouw,
Off ffatte bestys, hih" off gres,
With howndys that be nat Rekkeles,
To chachche, 3 and brynge what they may,
Hoom to my larder, day be day.
Swych houradys, myn horn wel knowe,
And they wyl kome whan I blowe,
And fawne also whan they me seth.
And thow most fele ther sharpe teth ;
And 4 truste' wele, they shal nat faylle, [* And Tib., for St.]
In al hast, the tassaylle.' 5
And wyth the blowyng off hyr horn,
(Bothe behynde and beforn,)
21400
these Tib., thes St.]
21404
[TJb., leaf 75, back]
21408
21412
21416
21420
[ 2 swyche Tib., swych C.
suche St.]
21424
21428
P cache St.]
21432
Scylla, or
Conspiracy.
and surrerd-
erd, in order
to make him
pay their
ransom.
So the king
had to re-
treat,
and redeem
his knights.
Then he
thankt them
for their
manhood,
and lovd
them ;
but the whole
thing was a
fraud.
[leaf 278, bk.]
Scylla has
many hounds
to catch her
venison, e.
[ 5 to assaylle Tib., to assayll St.]
[Stowe, leaf, 345, back]
[Cf$ylt. Hue]
When Scylla
blew her
lion i,
572 Scylla's hounds lite me. / am on a rock in the sea.
The Pilgrim.
her hounds
attackt me !
But the
waves make
her and her
dogs
withdraw,
Scylla.
she threaten-
ing to be
revenged if
she finds me
again.
The Pilgrim.
[leaf 279]
I am left
alone in
torment,
As cruelly as the houwdys kan,
Vp-on me echon they ran, [Tib., leaf 76] 21440
And gan assaylle me mortally :
They berke, Hhey byte, 1 ryht felly, P J am. St., they bete Tib.]
And to me dyde ful gret wrong,
The grete lemerys wer so strong. 21444
And hadde nat the floodys be,
That drowh ageyn in-to the See,
And ek Scilla (of whom I tolde,)
With hyr Eyen ffoul and Olde, 21448
Caste hyr look on me A-non,
And sayde that she muste gon
Bakward, and hyr-sylff wit7i-drawe
"Wyth the flood and wyth the wawej 21452
[Scylla or Conspiration.]
' But ffyrst,' quod she, ' ha thys in mynde,
A-nother tyme, yiff I the ffynde,
Truste fully, I shal be
Bet avengyd vp-on the.' 21456
[The Pilgrim.]
And whan hyr houwdys and she wer gon,
I leffte behynden al aHon,
[Blank in MS. for an Illumination, given in Tib.,
of the Pilgrim lying on his little oval green Island
in the sea, his bare knees, chest, and right arm
showing thro' rents in his torn white ro&e.]
Al to-torn and rent with wondys
Thorgh bytyng off hyr cruel houwdys, 21460
"Wyth gret sorwe and pass'iouw,
In torment and afflicc'iouw ;
And me remembryng in certeyn, [Tib., leaf 76, back]
That yiff the floodys kome ageyn,
She sholde, tencresse vrith my wo.
Kome ageyn hyr-sylff also ;
Therfore, to fflen out off hyr syhte,
In the beste wyse I myghte.
and try to get I dyde my labour and my cure,
In hope my syluew to assure,
Yiff I myhte, by hap or grace,
To drawe to som other place.
to some other
place.
21464
21468
21472
In a trance, I see a Tower revolving like a Wheel. 573
[leaf 97 Tib., 846 Stowe]
21488
And whyl I lay thus in A trance,
In gret Anoy and perturbaunce,
I herde a voys mellodyus,
Wonder soote and gracyous, 21476
Wych was to me f ul gret plesaunce ;
ffor I forgat al my grevaunce,
My dool and al my pass'ioim,
Wyth meUodye off thylke souw. 21480
But as I stood thus in a wher,
And drowhe 1 me toAvard the ryver, [1 x drowu c;.]'' And
A Tour I sawh, wylde and savage,
And squar aboutew, off passage, 21484
[An Illumination of the Tower follmcs in Tib., with
flames coming out of six holes below the battlements.
The Pilgrim is shown on his Island.]
Wych hadde Rounde 2 ffenestrallys, [* Round c., St., rownd Tib.]
Percyd thorgh, vp-on the wallys ;
At wyche hoolys, (out off doute,)
Smoke and flawme passede oute ;
And yet thys tour (who loke wel,)
Tournede abouten as a whel
[Blank in MS. for an Illumination.]
Vp-on the iflodys Envyrouw,
Wyth the wawes vp and douw. 21492
Somwhyle (as I koude knowe)
The hiest party was most lowe ;
And also (ek I sawh ful offte)
The lowest party set aloffte ; 21496
And thus, by transmutaciouw,
Yt turnede alway vp so douw.
And in thys whyle, euer Among,
I herde a melodyous song, 21500
Off On (as I koude vnderstond,)
That ber a phetele 3 in hys hond ; [ 3 phethcie Tib., piietcii st.]
And thys menstral (soth to seyne)
Was departyd evene a tweyne : 21504
ffrom the myddel vp, A man,
Donward (as I reherse kan)
A bryd Avynged merveyllously,
Wyth pawnys streynynge mortally. 21508
The Pilorim.
In a trance,
I hear a me-
lodious voice,
which makes
me forget my
grief.
I go towards
the river,
and see a
square tower,
[leaf 279, bk.]
which turna
round like a
wheel
with the
waves.
Sometimes
the top is at
the bottom ;
and then the
bottom is at
the top.
In the Wheel
is a Minstrel,
who is man
above and
bird below.
574 A Merman, Worldly Gladness, tells me what he does.
The Pilgrim.
[leaf 280]
Worldly',
Gladness.
This Minstrel
offers to play
to me, as he
:an play
everything,
and amuses
lords as well
as shepherds.
He sings
and dances a
weddings ;
and his name
is ' Worldly
Play,'
a Mermaid
(or Merman)]
of the Sea.
He makes
people forget
their Creator,
and ruins
them.
[leaf 280, bk.]
p Tib., margin c.]
pl ? y r e ^ p f Tfore st P ] eyn to
21517
\? And om. Tib.]
[Blank in MS. for an Illumination, given in Tib., of
a Bird-man flying to the Pilgrim, a curvd fiddle
in his left hand, its curvd bow in his right.]
And thys beste l f ul savage, L 1 beeste Tib., best c.j
Lyk a man off hys vysage,
Spak to me fful curteysly ; [Tib., leaf 77, back]
And thus he sayde muryely ; 2 P merely Tib.] 21512
IF Gladnesse off the World : 3
' Tel on to me (and sey nat nay,)
What maner solace, or what play
Lovest thow best : tel on, lat se,
And I shal pleyn to-fore 4 the ;
ffor I kan (lych to thyn entent)
Pleye on euery instrument ;
And, 5 for to make lordys cher,
Bothe at ches and the cheker,
The drawhtes ther-off, ful wel I kan,
Ye / bet than any other man.
And whan that ylke play ys do,
ffor shepperdys I kail also,
At the merellys, best off alle,
Whan so that they lyst me calle,
Pype and taboure in the strete,
Wyth lusty folkys whan I 6 mete.
' At weddynges, to do plesauwce,
I kan karole wel, and 7 daurece;
In euery play I do excelle.
And yt wer to long to telle
The dysportys and the playes
That I vse on somer dayes :
My loye ys al in merthe and game ;
And ' Worrldly 8 Play,' that ys my name. [ 8 wordeiy Tib.]
' Men may me calle (off equyte)
A Mermayden off the se, [stowe, leaf 346, back]
That synge off custom, ay gladdest,
To-forn a storm and 9 a tempest, p or St., and Tib.] 21540
To make ek folk 10 (thys my labour,) [ w foike eke Tib.]
To forgete ther creatour ;
And folk in my subiecctoun,
I brynge hem to destrucctoun.' [Tib., leaf 78] 21544
21520
21524
[ they Tib.] 21528
p and wel TU>.]
21532
21535
How Admiral Satan built the Turning Tmvcr. 575
IT The Pylgryme : 1 P Tib., PUgrim St., o. C.] The Pilgrim.
" Thogh thow be-gynne in gladnesse,
Thow endest euere in wrechchydnesse ;
Ellys I wolde, for my plesauwce,
Wyth the haven aqueyntauwce. 21548
I pray the, put me out off doute i ask him
what the
Oft thys tour turnynge aboute ; Turning
J J ' Tower
What maner thyng that yt may be, means.
ffyrst off alle, that wolde I se." 21552
HWordely Gladnesse: 2 p m, wrMiy gudn* worjdiy
J St., om. C.J Gladness.
' ffyrst, 3 (yiff thow lyst to SO,) [ 3 Fyrste Tib., Fyrst C., St.]
mi i ^ i n> 1 1 He says that
The grete Amyral oft the see, Satan; Ad-
Wych that callyd ys Sathan, sea, began
Thys tour sothly he began ; 21556
ffor he fyrst (off entencwraw)
Made ther hys habytacwuw.
And other shyp ne hath he noon,
Among the floodys for to gon, 21560
In the wyche, by gret deceyt, i
He ly th euere in a-wayt, ? nd e y er . Iies
J ' in wait fur
Wyth pylgryines to holde stryff, pilgrims.
And to make hem lese her lyff. 21564
He seth, bothe by hyl and vale,
Thorough 4 thy Ike hoolys smale, f* ^"^'s- Thor(?h c -
By what weye that they gon ;
(Amongys wyche, thow art on,) 21568
And, to deceyve hem in her weye, He bids me
play sweet
Her he maketh me sytte, and pleye 8 ngs t de-
ceive them.
Wiih soote song and armonye,
Alle pylgryme's to espye. 21572
Yt behoueth the taproche,
Or that thow go ner to that roche.' [Tib., leaf 78, back]
The Pylgryme : 5 [ s Tib., Pilgrim St., om. C.] TAePilprim.
" ExpOWlie fyi'St-lyk 6 my desyr ; [ 6 ffirste Tib., fyrst lyke St.] I ask him to
J J J explain the
Wherfor serueth the smoky ffyr 21576 smoky fire
- J J tliat comes
That ysseth 7 at the hoolys oute, [" yssyth Tib., yssuythe St.] j > "} e f i * h h
In thylke tour 8 round aboute : [towreTib.] Tower.
Wych thyng, fyrst to me declare ; peaf asi]
And thanne to pleye, I shal nat spare." 21580 W orJM V
^1 Worlfll V GladllPSSO 9 C 9 wo '-l'y C. in margin, Wordely
Uiy VJlclUI ^ . ( ; h
. Tib->
St.]
576 Satan's fires stir up Lust,& Love ofRiclies, but all perish.
He says,
Sutan has
here his
dwelling ;
and with his
fire he makes
folk amorous.
' Sathan, devoyded off al grace,
Haveth tlier hys dwellyng place.
In thylke dyrke ffyr, (nat bryht,) [stowe, leaf 3*7] 21583
Ther he lyht, 1 bothe daye and nyht ; C 1 lythe Tib., lyethe St.]
And A-mong the smokys blake,
Ther he gan hys bed to make.
And wyth that ffyr despytous,
He maketh f olkys amerous ; 21588
[.4 double Illumination in Tib.: on the left a man
hissing and embracing a woman ; on the right two
men playing at dice.]
And wit/i the flawme he kan enbrace,
fiblkys hertys to han solace
In worldly loye (at A word)
Mor than in ther sovereyn lord. 21592
' The folkys wych, in ther desyr,
That nyht and day bre/me in thys ffyr,
Ar thylke ffolkys (fynally)
Wych that brenne so fervently, 21596
Worldly goodys, whaw they be-gynne,
To encressyn and to wynne,
Gret tresour to multeplye ;
In the wych they nior affye 21600
Inwardly, in ther entent,
Than in the lord, that al hath sent,
ffiowynge and ebbynge in thys se,
Sow tyme with gret prosperyte, p towr St., tourne Tib.] 21604
Somwhyle, whan the tourn 2 doth varye,
The world they fynde to he??i contrarye ;
Al goth to wrak ; they may nat chese ;
And thogh so falle that they lese, 21608
And fyude fortune in nowncerteyn, 3
Yet they wylle hem awntre 4 ageyn
To say lien in 5 thys perillous see,
So ful off mutabylyte ;
ffor the hoote smoky ffyr
Neue?-e quencheth, in her desyr.
rieaf28i,bk.] And by his 6 sleyhtys, thus Sathan, [hisTib.,st.,c.6ttr<]
He hath deceyvyd many A man. [St.&c.] 21616
Let now se, and make no lape,
The people
who burn in
his fire
are those
who heap up
riches,
which they
trust more
than God,
and for this
purpose ven-
ture on the
sea of muta-
bility.
[ 3 no certayne St., nown
certeyne Tib.]
[* aventer St., aventure
hem Tib.]
[5 on Tib.]
21612
The Merman thrmvs me into the Sea. Youth rescues me. 577
P:
[ ffedle Tib.] 21628 ;
[ 5 to om. Tib.] 21631
< Wher thow hys treynes kanst 1 eskape.' [ {^ I S i |i f i] can8t hu
11 The Pylgryme : 2 [* T>b-. Pilgrim st., om. c.]
" Wyth-Oute long processe to make,
Hys tour and hym, her I forsake ; 21620
And, (shortely 3 to Specefye,) P schortely Tib., shortly C., St.]
Swyche pleyes I defye,
Wych bryng a man in sorwe and shame.
But yiff that any other game [Tib., leaf 79, back] 21624
Thow kanst, I wyl abyde and se
The nianer, how yt lyketh me."
And thys menstral thaw a-noon
Maade hys ffythele 4 for to gon,
And song wyth-al fful lustyly.
And wyth hys syngyng, sodeynly
To me he gan to 5 tourne hys tayl ;
And wyth hys pawnys, 6 sharp as A nayl, [stowe, if. 347, bk,]
By the Arm he gan me streyne : [ c., St., jAwmes Tib.]
Mawgre my myght and al my peyne,
Horrybely 7 he Caste me [ 7 Horybely Tib., Horrybly C., horyble St.]
Amyddes off the grete se, 21636
[An Illumination folloivs in Tib., of the Pilgrim
thrown off his Island into the sea, the Bird-
Merman playing his own fiddle, and Youth (with
wings) embracing him.
Among the wawes, ffer be southe.
And nadde ben 8 that tyme, Youthe, [ 8 ne had be st.]
(Off wych I thouhte no thyng tho,
ffor she was ffled, off yore ago,)
I suppose that I hadde be
Perysshed Amyddys off the se.
But Youthe than, in hyr Ketour, j
Was to myw helpe gret socour ; /
ffor Youthe, in the same place,
The Meremayden gan enbrace,
That redy was, off cruelte,
Thylke tyme to ha stranglyd me,
And dou to me gret vyolence.
But, for loye off the presence
Off thys Youthe that I off spak,
I eskapede from hyr wrak, 21652
PILGRIMAGE. P P
21640
21644
[Tib., leaf 80]
21648
The Piltrrim.
I repudiate
these games,
which bring
a man to
shame.
The Merman
I lays his
.Idle and
ings ;
and then
seizes me and
throws me
into the sea.
I should have
drownd, had
not Youth
saved me,
who embraces
the Merman,
[leaf 282]
578 / swim back to my Isle, and lament my sad case.
The puprim. And hadde myw Arm ageyw at large ;
And (wit/A-oute 1 shyp or barge,) [' wiuout Tib., St.]
while i swim I gan swymme, vfith-Irme a whyle,
isle. Ageyn vn-to that same yle 21656
ffro the wych that I kam ffro.
Whan the meremayde was go
I mene, thys worldys fals solace,
That gan so sore at me to chace ; 21660
But lyst 2 she sholde ha takew me, [" leste Tib., lest st.]
I swam f ul f aste amyd the se ;
ffor dred off hyre, I was in were.
Youth re- But Youthe and she, to-gydre yfere, 21664
joices with OJ J
the Merman, ff u l g re ^ J y e ^gy g an
and forsakes And thus hath Yowthe me forsake ;
me.
ffor than I loste hyr in certeyn,
That she to me kam neuer ageyn. 21668
so i git down And douw I sat, ffor werynesse,
and lament. e.
And gan co??ipleyne in gret dystresse :
\Blarik in MS. for an Illumination, given in Tib,, of
the Pilgrim sitting on his Island.]
11 Alias," quod I, (myd off my wo,) [Tib., leaf so, back]
" Alias, alias ! what shal I do ? 21672
HOW simii i How shal I, wrechche, eskape a- way
Out off thys yle 1 weyllavay !
Five enchant- ffor, by .V. 3 EnchaUTitereSSCS, [ 3 C., St., ffor ffyue Tib.]
ressesCScylla, *
am ^ rount in g ret dystressys, 21676
?a"suhav"e And in g ret Peyli douteles :
tog'rlatZ. ffor SciUa ffyrst, and ek Cyrces,
tress, jj an caus yj me t g 0n A-mys ;
[leaf 282, bk.] Syr6n6S, 4 and KaribdlS, [* Tib., C. burnt, Sirines St.] 21680
And Bythalassus, 5 worst of alle, [ s Tib., st., c. burnt]
Ben attonys on me falle ; [stowe,icaf3i8] [st.&c.]
And, mortally me to be-guyle,
in this we? They han me brouht in-to thys He, 21684
Long in sorwe to soiourne,
And kan non other wey retourne,
To ffynde socour in thys cas.
I may wel sorwe and seyn alias ! 21688
Out off my wey, in nourccerteyn, 6 [ nouncerteyn Tib.]
And kan no mene to konio Ageyn.
I pray to God, and a Ship nears me, with a Dove on it. 579
"Was neuere pylgrym in swych poynt, 21691
Trewly , nor in swych disioynt. 1 [ c., Tib., suche ioynt St.]
" Now, goode god, off thy grete grace,
Be my socour in thys place !
ffor thow, for my savaciouw,
Art the pomel off my bordovw. 21696
To the, as for my 2 cheff coimfort, p the Tib., my st.]
In thys nede I ha resort,
To brynge me, throgh thy grete myglit,
In-to the weye I may go ryht, 21700
And ben supportyd (fer and ner)
Wyth that charbouwcle bryht and cler,
Wych that, wyth hys bemys bryht,
Yiveth vn-to my bordourc lyht. 21704
"Now parte 3 wit h me, off thy clernesse, p parten st.]
And bryng me Out off my dystresse,
Out off thys dedly mortal rage ! [Tib., leaf si]
ffor, syth tyme off my tendre age, 21708
My trust, and myw affyavwce,
My loye, and al my suffisaunce,
Al hooly hath be?a in the,
Ageyns al aduersyte, 21712
In euery peyne and ech labour,
To fynden confort and socour.
And now I 4 stonde in so gret drede, [* i St., that c., Tib.]
Helpe me in thys grete 5 nede ! " [ 5 gret c., St., greet Tib.]
And whyl I gan me thus cowpleyne, 21717
Evene A-myd off al my peyne,
I sawh, A-myddys off the se,
A shype 6 say lie towardys me ; [ 6 sbype St., shyp c.] 21720
And evene above, vp on the mast
(Wherfor I was the lasse A-gast,)
I sawh a croos 7 stonde, (and nat flytte,)
And ther-vp-on, A dowe sytte, [ 7 crosse Tib., crose st.] 21724
Whyt as any rnylk or snowh,
Wheroff I hadde loye ynowh.
[An Illumination follows in Tib., of a Ship with its
fore and hind castles, and a Dove on a Cross at
the top of the mast. The Pilgrim is on his isleJ\
And hi thys shyp (a-geyn al shours,)
The Pilgrim.
No pilgrim
ever was in
such straits
as I am.
Good God,
help me !
Thou art the
pomel of my
staff,
and support-
est me with
the carbuncle
that lights it.
Bring me
out of my
distress !
[leaf 283]
Then, in the
midst of my
trouble,
a ship sails
towards me,
with cross
and a white
dove on its
mast.
580
Grace Dieu comes to me again, out of the Ship.
The Pilgrim.
and castles
and towers.
I forget all
my sorrows.
The ship
casts anchor,
and Grace
Dieu de-
scends from
it.
[leaf 283, bk.]
I kneel, and
pray her to
help me.
Grace Dieu.
She says she
has sought
me long on
sea and land,
and asks
21732
[Stowe, leaf 348, back]
Ther wer castellys, and ek tours, 21728
Wonder dy vers mansi'ouws, [Tib., leaf si, back]
And sondry habytactoures,
(By resemblavmce and semyng,)
Lych the loggyng off A Kyng :
And as I took good hed ther-at,
Al my sorwes I for-gaat ;
[Blank in MS. for an Illumination.]
JSTamly, syttyng on A roche, Arystoteles (later)
Whan I sawh the shyp aproche 21736
Toward the He War 1 I abood, P where Tib., wher St.]
Wych dyde to me f ul gret good ;
Kamly, whan yt kam so faste,
And began ther, Anker caste. 21740
Out off wych ther ys descendyd,
On, that myhte nat ben amendyd,
I mene, the lady off most vertu,
Wych was callyd Grace Dieu. 21744
[Blank in MS. for an Illumination, given in Tib., of
Grace Dieu, come out of the Ship (from tchich the
Dove has gone) on to the Island, and the Pilgrim
'kneeling to her. A second Illumination of like
kind is on the top of leaf 82.]
And ffyrst, whan that I dyde hyr se,
I ffyl a-dourc vp-on my kne,
Prayede 2 hyr helpen in thys nede, p i prayed Tib.]
To me that stood in so gret drede, 21748
Out off thys He, only by grace,
To helpyn that I myhte pace.
[Grace Dieu] :
' What ys al thys ? ' A-noon quod she ; ; [leaf sz, Tib.]
' Whens komestow ? wher hastow be ? 21752
fful longe (as thow shalt vnderstond)
I ha the souht, On se and lond,
God woot, in ful good entent ;
And yt wer mor cowvenyent 21756
That thow sholdest, affter me
Ha souht, wher that I hadde be.
But tel me, or thow go asyde,
Castestow, 3 her for tabyde, p c., Tib., cast towe St.] 21 760
Grace Dieu bids tne go back to Dame Penance.
581
' Or to restyn any whyle
Wy th-Inne thys dredf ul peryllous yle 1 '
Pilgrim: 1 [st.,oi.c.]
"Certys, I stoonde in grete 2 where [*gretc., St., greet Tib.]
Off that I am aryved here ; 21764
I whot 3 nat be what a venture. p woot Tib., wot St.]
And trewely 4 I yOW ensure, [ trewely Tib., trewly C., truly St.]
Tabyden her ys no plesauwce,
But a-nooy, and gret grevauwce; 21768
And fayn I wolde (wyth al my myght)
Kome to the weye that goth ryht ;
And, Out Off thys He gO, [Tib., leaf 8, back]
So fful off sorvven 5 and off wo." [frowst.] 21772
U Grace Dieu: 6 cTib.,st.,)aivc.]
Thanne I caste, for thy sake,
In-to my shyp, the for to take,
Only off mercy and pyte.
Entre in, and I shal lede the 21776
(Wyth-outen any mor delay,)
In-to A mor surer way :
That lyne ryht shal lede the
To the place and the cyte 21780
Wych thow hast (wt't/i herte and thouht,)
Long tyme, as a pylgrym, souht. [stowe, leaf 349}
' In myd weye thow must abyde,
And nat tourne on nouther syde. 21784
And, redyly thy-sylff tavauwce,
Thow shalt fynde dame Penauwce,
Whom thow leff test folyly ; U wenteste thow Tib., wenst tow St.]
And therfor wentystow 7 wrongly : 21788
Wyth hyre thow woldest nat soiourne ;
But thow shalt ageyn retourne [ 8 hegg Tib., heyghe st.j
Toward the heggh 8 off hyr pla?mtyng,
And seyen 9 to hyre thy felyng.' [ neye Tib, seyn c.] 21792
H The Pylgrym: 10 [ 10 pgrim Tib., St., ow. c.]
" Ma dame," quod I, " that ys my wyl ;
ffor (off resouw and off skyl)
Ech pylgrym sholde (what he may,)
Desyre to gon the shortest way ; 21796
Yt wer goodly to do so.
Grace Dieu.
whether I
mean to stop
on the isle,
[leaf 284]
The Pll,jrim.
I tell her No:
I want to
leave the
island.
Then she bids
me enter her
ship,
and return
to Dame
Penance.
The Pilgrim.
[leaf 281, bk.]
582 / am to bathe in a Cistern, fild ivith drops from an Eye.
The Pilgrim.
I thank
Grace Dieu,
who leads me
to a rock,
with an Eye,
out of which
drops like
team run to
a cistern
nar. .
Gract Dieu.
In this I
must bathe
before I enter
her ship.
Grace Diru.
This rock is
formed of
hard hearts
of men.
21804
[i theder Tib., thethar St.]
P hard C., St., Tib.]
21808
" And, for the co?*fort that ye ha do
To me, off mercy mor than ryht,
I thanke yow wyth al my myght." 21800
And than thys lady, off hyr grace, [Tib., leaf as]
Brouhte me vn-to a place
Wych, syth tyme that I was born),
I hadde neuere seyn to-forn ;
And thyder 1 she made me to gon
To a roche off harde 2 ston
And, At an eye, ther ran oute
Dropys off water al aboute :
The dropys wer (to my semyng)
Lych salte terys off wepyng ;
And in-ta 3 cisterne ther besyde, P ta St., to a Tib.]
The dropys go/me for to glyde. 21812
U Grace Dieu : 4 [* Tib., st., om . c.]
' ffyrst,' (]iiod Grace Dieu to me,
1 In thys vessel that thow dost se,
Wyth water off the harde ston
Thow must be bathyd, and that A-noon; 21816
Wych shal helpe, and be refuge
To hele thy wondys large and huge ;
[Blank in MS. for an Illumination, given in Tib., of
tears dropping, from an Eye in a hill, into an
oblong marble bath, Grace Dieu, with Jiands
spread, speaking to the Pilgrim.]
ffor in my shyp thow entryst nouht,
Tyi thy wouwdys be clene souht.' 21820
U The Pylgrym : 5 r, 5 Tib., pilgrim st., om. c.]
" I pray yow to 6 declare me, [Tib., leaf ss, back]
Thys Eye, with dropys, that I Se; [ Madame I preye you Tib.]
That 30 wolde specefye
What thyng that yt doth sygnefye." 21824
U Grace Dieu answerith : 7 t 7 Ti c b .",^^5 st -
' Thys roche (yiff thow wylt wyt A-non)
Wych ys hard as any ston,
Ar the hertys, in ech estaat,
Off folkys wych ben Indurat 21828
To knowe ther errour and ther synne,
Iti wych that they be fallyn Inne ;
The Second Baptism for Sinners like Magdalen & Peter. 583
Grace Dieu.
These hearts
Grace Dieu
softens, and
makes their
tears run out
of the Eye for
contrition.
' Tyl I SOD! whyle lyst to Se [Stowe, leaf SW, back]
(Only off mercy and pyte,) 21832
To tourne her herte, hard as a ston,
And make the 1 water out to gon, [' there Tib., the st.]
At ther eye to renne doim 2 padounTib.]
By sorwe and by contriciouw. 21836
' The 3 salte terys han ther her cours : [ 3 The o. Tib.]
Ryht as a welle hath hys sours
Vpward, vritii water quyk and cler,
And renneth in-ta 4 gret ryver, [ 4 in ta St., in to a Tib.] 21840
Ryht so, by dystyllaciouw
The crystal terys descends doun,
Whan folk 5 for ther synnes wepe. [ 5 wiwnne foike Tib.]
'And swyche 6 dropys I do kepe, [ 8 swyche Tib., swycn c.]
And the water euerydel, 21845
To make A bath, in a vessel,
ffor wondyd folk that fele peyne
In conscience, and sore pleyne, 21848
Tyl they for elthe 7 and sure'te, (7 heeithe Tib.]
Wyth thys bath y wasshen be ;
ffor yt recureth eue/-y wonde, [Tib., leaf 84]
Callyd 'bapteme the secouwde,' 21852
That doth a- way al 8 grevaiwce. [ 8 aiieTib.]
Wyth wych water, dame Penauwce
Jklaketh a lye (I the ensure,)
To wasshen a- way al ordure ; 21856 [leaf 235, bk.]
In wyche bathe 9 (in certeyne)
The hooly wowman Mawdeleyne
Ywasshen was, tak hed her-to.
Thapostel Peter ek also, 21860 andst.peter ;
And many mo than I may telle,
Wer ywasshen in thys welle ;
And so shaltow, by red off me,
Yiff' tho\v lyst to purgyd be.' 21864
U The Pylgryme : 10 C 10 Tib., pilgrim st., om . c.]
" Ma dame, (yiff that ye lyst to se,)
Thys vessel (as semeth vn-to me,)
Ys nat halff fful ; and Trewely n ^ t ^g > st T j b - Trcwly c -
Therfore I drede fynally 21868
That I may nat bathyd be,
[9 whiche biitlie St.,
wych bath C., Tib.]
They make a
bath in the
vessel, for
folk with
wounded con-
sciences to
wash in ;
and this is
calld the
second
Baptism,
in which the
Magdalene
was cleansed,
as I am to be.
The Pilprim.
I say the
vessel is only
half full.
584 Grace Dieu smites the Rock, and Water flows from it.
Grace Dieu.
The Pilgrim.
Grace Dien
Etits out her
and.
The white
dove brings
her a wand,
like the rod
of Motes,
[leaf 286]
with which
Grace Dieu
smites the
rock,
Grace Dieu.
[i Tib., grace dieu St.,
urn. C.]
21872
21875
[ a Tib., St., om. C.]
[ s anon to her flyenge St.]
[ 5 sraot Tib.]
" But yiff ther were mor plente."
U Grace Dieu Answerith : l
Quod she to me (as in substauwce),
' Thow hast off water suffysauwce.'
She sayde soth, as I wel ffond,
And putte forth A-noon hyr hond
Toward hyr shyp off gret delyt.
And thanne a-noon, a 2 dowe whyt
Retournyd ys at hyr callyng,
And kam to hyre A-noon fleyng. 3
In hyr beek she brouht A wond,
\Vych Grace Dieu took in hyr hond ; 21880
And tharaie the dowe (in certeyn) [Tib., leaf 84, back]
ffley vn-to the shyp a-geyn. [stowe, leafsso]
Thys yerde sempte (douteles)
Lyk 4 to the yerde off Moyses, [c.,st.,o.Tib.] 21884
Wyth wych (the byble seyth apert,)
The ston he smette, 5 in desert ;
And vriih the water that out ran,
Off Israel, bothe beste and man,
Drank ynowh in habondauwce,
Ther was so huge suffysauwce.
And trewly, as to myn entent,
By sygnes that wer evydent,
Wyth the same yerde a-noon,
Grace Dieu smette 5 on the ston.
And thawne the roche, Rowh and hard,
(I hadde ther-to ful good reward) 21896
At an eye (yt ys no doute)
The water gan to rownen oute
In-to the vessel that I off spak,
That off plente ther was no lak. 21900
[Grace Dieu]:
Qttod Grace Dieu A-noon to me,
' Now thow hast ynowh plente
Off water, (I dar vndertake,)
Suffysauwtly a bath to make ; 21904
[Blank in MS. for an Illumination, given in Tib.,
of the Pilgrim in a square ivhife bath, filling with
the drops from an Eye in a green rock, by which
21888
21892
Grace Dieu.
lukewarm,
and nice to
batbe in.
The Pilgrim.
I get into the
bath,
but feel faint,
[leaf 286, bk.]
and cannot
long stay.
, st .
21920
/ get into the Bath, but soon get out again, which is wrong. 585
Grace Dieu stands, mth a long wand in her right
hand.]
'And mor holsom yt ys to the, [Tib., leaf 85]
Be-cause the water (as thow mayst se,)
Ys lewk : therfor yt ys mor hable,
And to bathys mor cou?/ifortable.' 21908
[The Pilgrim]:
And Grace dieu me bad A-noon,
In-to the bath I sholde gon.
And in I wente A-noon, by grace,
And ther a-bood but lytel space ; 21912
ffor (to rehersyn euerydel)
The bath lyke"de me nat ryht wel :
I gan feynte on euery syde,
Wher-fore I myhte nat abyde 21916
In that bath to stonde 1 stable ; [' c., Tib., bathe to stond St.]
ffor, I was nat resemblable V^
To kyng Davyd in my bathyng, !^ u
Wych, wyth the terys off hys wepyng,
"Wyssh hys bed-strawh 2 euerydel, p wysche . . bedstraw Tib.]
Hys bed also, (who loke wel).
And 3 off the bath whan I was go,
Grace Dieu 'A-non kam to :
U Now Grace Dieu spekyth : 4
Quod she, ' wenystow to be
Al hool off thyw infyrmyte,
And off thyn wondys euerychon,
That so sone art out gon,
Out off thys ylke holsom welle,
And lyst nat ther 5 no lenger dwelle ?
1 What woldestow ha sayd to me,
Yiff I hadde wrappyd the,
Nakyd, cast the vp and dourz
In thorny s for thy savaci'oun,
Ther ta suffryd 6 sharp prykyng ;
Or, A-mong netlys fful bytyng,
Bak and brest, and euery syde ;
Whan thow myghtest nat abyde
In soffte water, by suffrauwce,
Thy-sylff in Elthii 7 to avauce ?
[* out Tib., St.]
21924
[ Tib., grace dieu
St., om. C.]
21928
not ther in Tib.]
21932
[Stowe, leaf 350, back]
When I'm
out,
Grace Dieu.
Grace Dieu
reproves me
for not stop-
ping in the
bath.
What should
I have said
to her if she'd
cast me
naked into
thorns
[ to a suffred Tib.,
to sofer St.]
21936 or nettles
[Tib., leaf 85, back]
[7 helthe Tib.] 21940
instead of
sott water ?
586 Grace Dieu reproaches me. I plead for pity, & will do well.
Grace pieu. ' Tel vn-to me the manor how,
HOW can i What wysc thow shalt entre now
now enter
her ship with In-to my shvp. wher dame Penauwce
Dame Pen- * J *'
ance? Haueth al the gouernaurace, 21944
Bothe to bynden and vnbynde?
I trowe thow wylt abyde behywde,
And make her-off a long delay,
And I shal seylle forth on my way.' 21948
The Pilgrim. ^ The Pylgryme : * P Tib., Pilgrim St., om. C.]
" Madame," tha/me a-noon quod I,
[Tib., leaf ss, " Haueth 2 on 3 me pyte and mercy ! [* Hath Tib., havythe st.]
back]
i ask for pity With-in joure schippe, so doth 4 provyde, [Most]
' ercy ' By-hynde that I not abyde. 21952
i promise To trowthe, aeue 5 ae lyste entende. Pyfst.]
that I will . .. T
amend in With-m joure schippe I schal amende.
her ship,
And redresse also (I-wys,)
Alle that I haue don amys. 21956
U Considerith also in 3oure syght,
as a knight, That in batayle, a manly knyght,
when wound- .
ed, acquires (By exaumple, as it is ffounde)
courage. Whanne he hathe kaught eny 6 wounde, 21960
Not-withstondynge his langour, [ hath ons cawht a st.]
It encresith his vygoor,
Makith hym, off cher and off vysage,
The more hardy 7 off corage, [Hmrdy st., hard Tib.] 21964
Grete empryse vndertake,
ffor drede off deth, hem not fforsake."
Grace Dieu. IT Grace dieU anSWerith : s [ 8 grace dieu St.]
Grace Dieu S~~\ vod grace (lieu anoon ryght,
Wi*., leaf 86] \2v/ ' Byholde and se a noble knyght, 21968
Makynge thyne owne chaumberer, 9 V ch&ritere ']
To bere thyne armure as 10 a sqvyer, [wiykest.]
Whiche mayste not thy silff assure
ffor to berne hem, nor endure. 21972
i ought ' I wolde seen, to-ffore wytnesse,
show ome Som knyghttely deede off hygh prowesse
brave deed f 8 u-J rt. i of- 1.
Accomplyschid, thorough thi myght,
To bere recorde thow art a knyght, 21976
3 Many leaves are here missing in the MS. Cott. Vit., c. xiii. ;
but the missing portion is supplied from MS. Cott. Tib. , A vii.
Grace Dicu warns me that I must keep my Promises. 587
' By armes proved in som coste. [Tiberius,
Thow art no thyng but wynde and boste, Grace men.
Byhotynge myche, whan al is wrought, than pro-
And in deede doste ryght nought.' 21980
If The Pylgryme: The p ^'>-
M
Adame," quod I, " y t is no ffayle, \
I schal amende with travayle ;
And, I hope, vexacyoun [stowe, leaf ssi]
Schal ^eue to me fful hygh renoun, 21984
To conquere som excellence ?. m e excel-
ling acts ;
By vse and longe experyence.
" I haue pleynely, in the see, and that rve
* J J ' been ship-
Nauffragus fful long I-be, 21988 ***.
And suffred (bothe este and weste.) a . nd * e
V / through
Many 1 perel and greet tempeste, L 1 many a St.] tern' 8 *"* 1
And ait I stonde in a deluge. i am stm
in a deluge.
But jeue I haue off $ou reffuge,
With-in ^oure schippe me ffor to marke,
As Noe was with-in his arke,
I may not (schortely to telle,)
Escape out off this 2 ffloodes ffelle." pthesst] 21996
H Grace dieu answerith: [grace dieu st.]
wel provyded in thi thought,
That thow behote me ryght nought,
3eue thow wolte 3 my thanke disserue, [' wyit St.]
But that thow wolte 3 trewely obserue ; 22000
ffor bette it is, not vndertake, it ' be"er
not to make
And avowys noon to make, promises,
Than to make hem by assent,
And breke hem affter, off entent : 22004 and break
them after-
Swhiche avowes, loue I nought, wards.
But they be made off herte and thought.
Wherff ore, with-out eny slouthe, i must keep
mine.
Kepe thyne heeste to me, off trouthe.' 22008
IT The Pylgryme: The pugrim
supportacyoun, I assure her
It is myne entencyoun,
My promysse, bothe' 4 day and nyght, [* bothe om. St.] i \\\\\ keep
To kepe yt, as I haue byhyght." 22012
fl Grace dieu answerith: [grace dieu sto
588
Grace, Dieu takes me to her Ship ' Eeligion!
[Tiberius,
Aviii
The Pilgrim.
Then Grace
Dieu takes
me to the
shore, where
the ship is.
Its bonds are
loose.
The osiers
round it
break,
and Its hoops
come apart.
[Tib., leaf 87]
I ask Grace
Dieu the
name of the
ship,
whose cap-
tain I blame,
for letting its
bonds break.
Grace Dieu.
This ship is
' Religion,'
which is
bound with
circum-
stances and
observances.
Voung folk
neglect the
observances ;
THanne Grace dieu, with good chere,
Ladde me doun to the revere ;
And there we han a schippe I-ffonde.
With greete bondis it was bounde ; 22016
But the bonde's sat not cloos ;
The moste parte off hem were loos ;
The smale osyers, here and Bonder, ' 22019
To-brake 1 thanne, and 2 wente asonder, K^J|J f f I1 "- < J r i k Tib>]
* L* alUl LllilIL ol.J
The hopes about the vessel,
Bycause they were not bounde wel ;
3 it the hoopes (it is no nay)
Were stronge I-nowgh at good assay ; 22024
Deffaute in hem was ffounde noon ;
But, ffor the osyers nygh echon
Were broke ffyrste (as it is ffounde),
Wherffore the hoopys were vnbounde. 22028
U The Pylgryme : c 1 with out Tib., st.]
" 1% /["Adame," quod I, " with-oute 3 blame,
XT JL Off $oure schippe, telle me the name,
And who that scholde it wel gouerne ;
ffor sothely, as I kan discerne,
The gouernour, is not wys,
(As me thynket 4 in myn avys,)
That lyste suffren (off ffolye)
The boondes breke so reklesselye
In myddes off the perelous see,
In whiche there is no surete."
U Grace dieu answerith:
' ri^His schippe (as by discripcyoun)
J_ I-callyd ys Eelygyoun ; I 22040
Whiche is bounde with circumstauncis,
And ffret with dyuerse obseruauncis.
And while that it is bounde wel,
It may perysche neueradel ; 22044
But jonge ffolkes neclygent,
That entre this schippe off entent,
And, thorough ther mys-gouernauncis,
Kepe not the obseruauncis 22048
That were made by ffolkis olde,
ffor to breke hem ben fful bolde :
22032
[ thynkythe St.]
22035
[Stowe, leaf 851, back]
If small things in Religion are neglected, great ones will be. 589
' ffirste, thosyerys smale,
Telle off hem but lytel tale,
Caste hem byhynden at her bak,
Where-thorwgh the schippe goth al to wrak :
Breke the smale circumstauncis,
And ffare-wel the greete 6"bseruauncis !
ffor, $eue the smale comaundementis
Be not kepte in ther ententis,
The greete (in conclusyoun)
Gon vn-to destruccyoun.
The smale (bo the in colde and heete,)
Be wardeynes off the greete ;
And jeue the smale sothely ffayle,
Aryght this schippe ne may not sayle.
Breke the smale here and Bonder,
And the greete muste goon assonder.
Thus the schippe off religyoun
Gothe offte to distruccyoun.
So, wolde god, ther lyvynge
Were lyke now ther gynnynge,
The schippe scholde the better preve,
Ageyne al tempeste hym 1 -silffe releve :
It were almesse, by the roode.
' 3it I hoope som are gode,
Swyche as to holynesse entende ;
And who doth not, god hym amende !
God 3eue hem grace so to dresse
The maste 2 vpward, by holynesse,
And that they may, to her avayle,
By grace, so to crosse sayle,
That in the wynde be no debat
To make ther passage ffortunat ;
That redely they may, and blyue,
At the hauene vp taryve,
Where loye and blysse (who kan disserne)
Is endelesly, and lyffe enterne.
U Now cheese ffreely, affter my lawe,
To whiche castel thow wolt drawe; [stowc, leaf 352]
And in my schippe, they ben echon
Bylte fful ffayre, off lyme and stoon.
22052
22056
22060
[Tiberius,
A vii. |
Grace Itieu.
then the
osiers break,
and the ship
goes to pieces.
If small
observances
are not held,
[Tib., leaf 87,
back]
the larger are
destroyed.
22064
22068
[i them St.] 22072
[' The mast St.
must Tib.]
Thus the ship
of religion is
often ruind.
Still, I hope
some folk are
good,
22076
, He
22080
22084
22088
and will keep
the mast up
by holiness,
so that they
may get to
the haven of
joy and bliss,
and eternal
life.
She asks me
which castle
I'll go to.
590 I decide to enter the Cistercian Castle (Order of Monks}.
[Tiberiui,
Avii.]
Grace Dieu.
[Tib., leaf 88]
I may choose
the house of
the Cisterci-
ans, Cluniacs,
Carthusians,
or Friars
Preachers
or Minors,
etc.
All stand on
firm ground,
and are safe
against the
foe.
Therefore I
ought to
choose one
and enter,
[Tib., leaf 88,
back]
as tin- sea of
the World
will assail me
daily.
The Pilflrim.
I choose
the castle of
Cystews, the
Cistercian
order,
Grace Dieu.
' And sythen thow haueste lyberte
ffor to entren or go ffre, 22092
Cheese amonge these towres alle,
At whiche gate' thow wolte calle.
H Ther 1 ben the Cystews ffaste by ; [ l her St.]
And not fful ffer is eke Clwny. 22096
Byholde 3onder a Chartrehous,
2 An ordur that is full vertuous. 2 [* * st., om. Tib.]
Thow mayste eke sene ffrere Prechours,
And other that callyd ben Menours ; 22100
Ordres off many other 3 guyse, [ a nothar St.]
Mo tkanne as now I kan 4 devyse : [* i can as now St.]
Cheese at thyne owne volunte, p wilt St.]
In whiche off alle thow wolte 5 be. [Illustration.] 22104
' A lie they stonde in 6 stable grownd, [oust.]
JTjL. To kepe, bothe saaff and sownd,
Body and soule, (it is no drede)
Who kepith his rule in verrey deede. 22108
And these placis agreable,
Alle they ben dyffensable
Ageyne the flende and alle his myght,
That man assayleth day and nyght 22112
In this mortal trowbely see,
ffulffilled with greet aduersyte.
And, therflfore, 3eue thow do wel,
Entre anoon in som castel, 22116
There thow mayste (at a word)
Kepe the within schippes bord.
This wordely see (it 7 is no ffayle) 17 it St., om. Tib.]
Eche day off newe the schal assayle ; 22120
Wherffore I councel the to ffle,
Whyle thow haste myght and lyberte.'
1T The Pylgryme:
" Adame," quod I, " whan al ys sought,
I haue chose (off herte and thought,) 22124
Off Cystews, (in eche syde)
In that castel to abyde,
In-to that ffortresse I wole gon."
Grace Dieu: 8 c 8 st., om. Tib.]
'Entre my schyppe,' quod sche, ' anoon.' 22128
M
The Porter ' Dread of God.' The King is in the Castle. 591
And affter that, sche lyste not dwelle, [Tiberius,
But gan hir hanker vp to pulle, Orace ^^.
P
And in the see, fforthe bygan to sayle and the ship
Towarde the castel, $eue it wolde avayle, 22132 andstuStolt!
Me to spede on 1 my lorne. Pvponst.]
And at the laste, I ffonde a large entre ; i go to the
But, off entente, stylle awhile I stood
Sool by my silffe, and at the gate abood. 22136
IT The pylgryme : The puprim.
Orter," quod I, in haste, " I preye the, and ask ad-
', . mittanceof
At this castel graunte me entre, the porter,
ffor Grace dieu hathe me hyder brought, [stowe, if. 352, bk.]
Off the entre that I ffayle not." 22140
1T The Porter answerith: The porter.
Vod the porter anoon to me, who says he
* must first
'3eue I knewe, and dyde se have the
' > King's
That the kyng wolde it avowe, permit.
Thyne entre I scholde alowe ; 22144
But the wylle 2 off the kyng [' will is St.] [Tib., leaf 89]
There-off I knowe no maner thyng.'
IT The Pylgryme : The pu ff rim.
" r I lElle me thanne, lyke myne entent,
JL Is the kyng hym-silffe present 1 "
IT The porter answerith : The porter.
' r I lEuste wel, as thow schalt leere, 22149
I I wolde not ellis sytten heere :
It is a sygne (eerly and late,)
Whanne thow seeste me at the gate, 22152
To telle (by good avysement,) The King is
m, i , - iu the castle.
Ihe kyng hym-silfre ys here present.
HH
1
The Pylgryme: {Illustration.}
Elle me thy name, off gentillesse, 22155
With-outen 3 eny straungenesse." [ 3 outen St., out Tib.]
' A
/\
XJL
U The Porter answerith : TV^ Porter.
Nd I schal 4 telle the with-out schame : [ 4 1 shall the St.] [Tib., leaf 89,
back]
Drede oil god, that is my name ; The Porter's
Whiche is ground (with-out offence) "iTead'of
Off wysdam and Sapyence. 22160
I voyde synne, and vyces chace, avoiding sin,
That noon 5 may entree in this place ; [ 5 oon st., men Tib.] 'g vi ^.
592 The Porter lets me into the Castle. I see its Buildings.
chastising ;
sinners,
of whom
none enter.
The Pilgrim.
The pilgrim's
desire is to
serve the
King.
The Porter.
The Pilgrim.
[Tib., loaf 90]
He lets me
into the
Monastery,
and I see its
cloister,
chapter-
bouse, etc.,
with servitors
serving.
1 Nowther oolde nor jonge off age
Schal have heere 1 noon herbergage; [Uherst.] 22164:
ffor this staffe (jeue thow take heede)
With the greet pa?'lom 2 of leed, [* piom>-st.]
Is I-callyd (in substaunce)
' Off god almyghtty, the vengaunce ; ' 22168
And there- with-al, in cruel wyse,
Alle synners I chastyse.
' And with this ylke sturdy Maas,
I putte hem out a fful greet paas ; 22172
ffor noon swyche (3eue thow lyste 3 lere,) P none . . lyst st.]
Ben hardy to entre here.'
U The Pylgryme :
I yre, 4 1 praye the, oonly off 5 grace, [J fjfdt ' O f St.] ^
I may entren in this place ; 22176
ffor myne entente and my menynge
Is to do servyse to the kyng."
1T The Porter answerith :
' 5Eue I knewe that it 6 were so, l* it st., om, Tib.]
f With-outen many worde's mo 22180
Thow scholdeste haue graunte off me,
To entren at good lyberte.'
U The Pylgryme :
" "TN other wyse neuere a del
_|_ Wole I not entren in 7 this castel, [nnom. st.]
But ffor to do the kyng aervyse." 22185
And thanne, in fful goodly wyse,
I was leten in off the porter : [stowejcafsss]
Hym lyste to make no daunger. 22188
U Aboute I wente, byholdynge
Vp-on many a ryche thynge ;
I sawe A cloystrejand A dortour,
A chapytleaous 8 and A ffreytour ; c 8 chapytie hons st.]
And there- with-al, a ffayre Hostrye, 22193
And a large ffermerye ;
And, off God, thanke to dysserve,
ffayre meyne I sawgh there serve. 22196
And, I suppose ffor my beste,
There to herborewe and to reste,
On ther cam, and preyed me,
Charity greets me. I meet the fair Lady Lesson. 593
And hir name was Charite. >' 22200
[Illustration,]
TO pylgrymes, in goodly wyse,
Sclie dyde moste trewely the servyse.
With chere benygne, and glad vysage,
Sche brought hem to ther herbergage ; 22204
And euere sche was moste ententyff,
With-outen 1 noyse or eny stryff : [' outen st., out Tib.]
To serue pore ffolkys alle,
That ffor helpe to hir calle, 22208
Sche was besy euere more.
And in this book, not goon fful ^ore,
I spake off hir, dowteles,
ffor sche heelde the wrytte off pees, 22212
Whanne Moyses, the byschop cheeff,
Gan departe the releeff
To pilgrymes (in substaunce)
To jeuen hem ther sustynaunce. 22216
ANd 2 thorough the cloystre, thanne anoon,
By the waye as I gan goon, pandom. St.]
Off a venture in my repayre,
I mette a lady Inly ffayre, 22220
Bothe off schappe and off stature ;
And sche bare (I ^ou ensure)
In hir hand, a smal coffyn
Whiche was made off parchemyn. 22224
A white dowve (it is no dowte)
Alle-way sewyd hir abowte. [Illumination."]
51 The Pylgryme :
ANd as I lokyd heere and ther,
I stood in a maner wher, 22228
What tokenes it 3 myght be, [ tooknys that it St.]
The thynges that I dyde se ;
Prayed hir in goodly wyse,
That sche wolde anoon devyse 22232
There-off by exposicyoun,
A cleer sygnyffycacyoun.
H Lessoun declarith : 4 [ decianth, om . st.]
[Tiberius,
AviL]
The Pilgrim.
Charity
greets me.
She shows
pilgrims to
their lodging,
[Tib., leaf 90,
biw;k]
and is busy
in serving.
See p. 134,
above, where
I speak of her
with Moses.
Tltewely,' quod sche, there as sche stood,
' I ne thenke no thyng but good,
PILGRIMAGE.
Thro' the
cloister
I meet a fair
lady (Lesson)
with a small
parchment
box;
and a while
dove follows
her.
[Tib., leaf 91J
I ask her
what these
tilings ineuii.
She says she
22236
Q Q
594 Lady Lesson, atid Lady Hagiograptiy, described.
[Tiberius.
Avii.]
Lady Lexson.
is the Sub-
cellarer and
Pittance!-,
and feeds the
soul with
holy
thoughts,
supplied by
the Mercer
and Clois-
terer,
The PUgrim.
to whom she
takes me.
This lady's
body is
[Tib., leaf 91,
back]
olear on one
side,
and clouded
on the other.
' ffor I am Sowcelerere l
Off this place, and Pytauncere,
I menystre the lyffiode
To the sowle, and eke the ffoode :
I ask her
name and
station.
[' sawcelerere St.]
[Stowe, leaf 353, back]
22241
22244
[ J that om. St.]
[MoysterC.] 22248
The herte I ffeede (the pawnche nought,)
With fful many an hooly thought.
My ffoode is soote and cherischynge,
And ryght hoolsom in tastynge ;
Whiche ffoode is delyuered me
By on whom that 2 thow schalt se;
ffor sche is bothe A Mercer :f
Off this place, and cheeff Cloystrer.' 4
U The Pylgryme :
Lyke the desyre whiche that I hadde,
To that lady sche me ladde ;
Whiche (schortely to speceffye)
Plente hadde off Mercerye,
And moste delytable off syght,
Sehe hadde Merours ffeyre and bryght.
But this lady merveyllous
W^s off schappe suspecyous ;
ffor I took good heede ther-to :
Sche departyd was on 5 two ;
That made hir body to devyde,
Wonder cleer on the ryght syde ;
But (as I aspyen koude,)
Hir lyfffce was schadewed with a clowde. [Ilfamiitcction.]
ANd whanne that I byheelde the guyso
Off alle hir queyntii marchaundy.se, L ) i ) i ) G4
"Madame," (paod I, "in certeyn,
Wonder ffayne I woldti beyn,
Somwhat off joure thynges heere,
3eue so were 30 wolde lere 22268
To me (by schorte conclusi'oun,)
3oure name and ^oure condicyoun."
II Agyographe :
2225:
22256
[' ill St.]
22260
3 Merrier: m. A good Pedlcr or ineane Haberdasher of
small wares ; a tradesman that retailes all manner of small
ware, and hatli no better then a shed or booth for a shop. 1611.
Cotgrave (1650).
Why Hayiography is bright on one side, dark on the other. 595
T Am,' quod sche, ' cheeff noryce
22284
[* St. repeat* 12 here:
/ea/358 *]
22288
To alle ffolkes that ffleen vyce. 22272
2^o cloyster is worthe (who looke aboute)
On no syde whan I am out.
I makii cloystris fferme and stable,
Worsehipe-full 1 and honowrable ; C 1 full St., cm. Tib.]
And my name (jeue thow lyste se,) 22277
Is callyd Agyographe,
Whiche is to seyne (I the ensure,)
Off holy wrytynge the scripture. IT Sancta, crip[tura] 22280
And at ffeyrcs and at ffeestis,
I reste in skynnes off dede bestis.'
H The Pylgryme:
" T~\Eclare me, and doth not ffeyne,
I J Why be 30 partyd thus on tweyiie
The to parte, 2 wonder ffayre off cheere,
Lusty, amyable, and cleere ; 2
The tother party, 3 wonder myrk,
Schrouded with a cloude dyrk."
II Agyographe:
Was not, 1 quod sche, ' sothe to say,
,1, Lyche the", borne vp-on a day,
But by processe and leyser,
And by space off many a ^er. 22292
' By oolde tyme (stylle and loude,)
I was schadewed with a cloude,
And fful derkely kepte in cloos,
Tyl tymc that the sonne aroos 22296
I rnene, the tyme that was to-ffom
That Cryst ihesu lyste to be born,
Thilkii tyme, my party ryght,
Off a cleer skye kaught his lyght ; 22300
Tlio whiche skye, proffetys seyde,
Was that blessed lioly mayde,
Off lesse bothe braunche and (flour,
That bare Ihesti, oure saviour. 22304
' That tynu-, with his streemes clere,
ffirste my bryghtteiiesse dyde appere ;
And alle derkenesse to termyne,
Only by grace whiche is devyne. 22308
[Tiberius,
Avii]
Hugiography
She ia chief
nurse to all
who rtee vice,
and her name
is Hauyo-
Ktt'p'iy,
[Tib., leaf 92]
the writing
of Scripture
on beasts'
skins or
parchment.
The Pi'i/i-im.
She has one
side bright,
and the
other dark,
Hagiooraphy
localise
she was not
born on one
Jay.
Her dark-
side signifies
the time
before Christ,
her bright
side the time
after Him.
[Tib., leaf U'J,
bockj
596 Hagiography's dark Side, and the Goods she has.
[Tiberius,
Her dark side
is enlishtend
by the bright,
a the ow
Testament is
explained by
The pi>nri m .
I ask her to
explain this,
' But the party off my vysage
Whiche is clowded with vmbrage,
Off cleernesse scholde haue no reporte,
But ^eue he hadde his resorte 22312
To that party, by vertu,
Off the cleernesse off crist ihmi ;
Where-off, 1 lakkynge dyscrescyoun, [' wherfore st.]
Thow madeste a lymytacyoun, 22316
Affermynge (by a maner slouthe,)
My dyrke 2 parte wher voyde off trouthe : ^ay^ifb]
I mene as thus, (in sentement,)
That the oolde testament 22320
Were derke and cloudy off his syght,
3eue that it ne took his lyght
(Claryffyed by entendeinent)
Off the newe testament, 22324
Whos schynynge (in conclusyoun)
Is cause off oure savacyoun.'
IT The Pylgryme :
IXpowne this with-oute 3 glose, [ 3 out Tib., st.]
May rose i
She says she
sells oint-
ments,
to relieve
sick folk,
[Tib., leaf 93]
knives,
horse ami
man,
And 30 schal haue the ffyrstc rose 22328
That I may ffynde (yt is no nay)
In the moneth of ffresche may."
U Agyographe :
Vod sche, ' jeue I schal the telle,
Mercerye I haue to selle, 22332
In boystes, soote oyneinentis,
There-with to don allegementis
To tfolkes whiche that 4 be not glade, [ 4 that st., om. c.]
But discorded 5 and mallade, [ 5 discomfited st.] 22336
And hurte with perturbacyoun, 6 [stowe, leaf 354, back]
Off many trybulacyOUnS : [ 6 perturbacions St., perturbacyoun Tib.]
I haue knyties, phyllettys, callys,
At ffeestes to hangen vp on wallys ; 22340
Korabes (mo than nyne or ten,)
Bothe ffor horse and eke ffor men ;
Merours also, large and brode,
And, ffor the syght, wonder gode ; <{ 22344
Off hem I haue fful greet plente
ffor ffolke that hauen volunte [Illumination.]
Sdyiograpky's Mirrors. One makes me too fair. 597
' ^ X T)yholde hem-silffe ther-ynne, [' to st., om. Tib.] [Tiberius,
J3 Wher they be cleene, or tfoule of synne. a^^^
' But, som ffolke hem-silffe byholde 22349 to show folk
ffor to hyde her ffylthes oolde, theyVe'nure
Whiche ther bewete dothe apayre.
And somme merrours schewen ffayre, 22352
By apparence off bewte,
Though that ther be no bewte :
Alle these thynges (who takith kep)
I haue hem towched on an hep. 22356
$eue here be aught that may $011 plecse, i may take
mi -L. L ii- wll!it 1 please
lake it at tnyne owne eese. of her stuck.
[The Pilgrim :} The pu ar \m.
H In these thynges ffresche off delyte,
I sawgh there-in fful greet proffyte, 22360
And also in her acqueyntaunce,
Preyed hir to haue suffraunce, [Tib., leaf os,
To graunte me leyser, and good ese, 22363
To seen what thyng me myghte 2 pleese.
And, by good inspeccyoun,
Hadde turned al 3 vp SO dotm, P all tournyd St.] I turn her
3,-i T i j things upside
eue eny thyng I koude espye down,
Amonge alle hir mercerye. 22368
Vp and down I dyde se to find what
, T7 , , ,, 1111 pleases me
What thyng Jyked beste to me ; best.
But, amonge hir thyngos alle, i find a gix s
__ T , which shows
Vp-on a merour I was nalle, 22372 me more r.iir
1171 -l i j i_- i tluuilam;
Whiche schewyd me, in his gla,
More ffayre in sothenessc than I wa,
By apparence sodeynely
The merour lyed verily : 4 [* sodeynely Tib n vcriiy st.] 22376
I knewe it wel in exystence
And by oolde experyence.
Whan the trouthii was conceyved,
I wystii wel 1 was deceyved ; 22380
To hir sayde, (in myne avys,)
That to hir it was no prys
To schewen out swyehe mercerye, and i find
Off merours to make men to pryc. L'L'.'584 l i"i-
^f Agyographe ',
598
[ Tibsrius,
Avii.]
Hagiograpliy's mirror ' Adulation.'
~T Schewe no tliyng, in sotlie,' quod sche,
that mirrors
are of dif-
ferent kinds,
22388
22392
22396
22400
The Pilgrim.
and the one
I have
' But as it is in veryte.
she explains I wole hoolclen my byheste,
As ffolkes maken me requeste ;
ffor, as ffer fforthe as I kan,
I wole deceyue no maner man ;
The deceytes, ffeytheffully [stowe, leafsss]
I wole schewe hem opunly.
Merours ther ben in many wyse,
As Craffty ffolkes kan devyse,
[Tib., leaf 9i] Whiche schewen dyuerse vysages
And many wonderfful ymages,
Whiche to declare, I wole not dwelle :
Reede perspectyff, and that wole telle,
And schewen out the varyaunce
Off dyuerse ffacys, by demonstraunce.'
If The Pylgryme:
ANd off a merour that I ffonde,
Whiche that I heelde in inyn hande, 1
I preyed hir, with-oute 2 schame, [ 2 out Tib., St.]
To> telle me there-off the name. 22404
Ilaoiograptiv [[ AgyOgraphe : 3 P agiographye St.]
' "FT Yt were good to bye and lowe,
1 I That allii ffolkes scholde knowe,
And there-off hadde a trewe syght,
lustely what this merour hyght, 22408
That ffolkes (ffor greet lak off lyght)
Were not deceyued in her syght.
THis merour (by descripcyoun)
Is called Adulacyoun : 22412
This is (withouten eny blame)
Veryly his ryghte 4 name ; [* rygut Tib., st.]
ffor, take good heede, that fflateryng
Is engendred off lesyng : 22416
Somme callen hir Placebo,
ffor sche kan maken an Eccho,
Answere euere ageyn the same,
Because that he wole haue no blame. 22420
Though it be ageyne resoun,
There is no contradiccyoun,
is cald ' Adu-
lation.'
Now, flattery
comes from
lying.
and is raid
by some,
' placebo,'
because she
echoes folk's
wishes.
This flattering Mirror lies, and deceives folk.
599
22428
' ffor, bothe off newe, and ^ove agon,
ffolkes sothely (mo than on)
Han in Adulacyoun
ffounde fful greet decepcyoun :
Lordes (wherffore I seye ' alias ! ')
Han be dysseyued in this caas, f
And, by advlacyoun
Brought to ther destruccyoun.
1F fflaterye : l C 1 om. St. Ilagiographv still tfeakt.']
'"TT^Or this custom hath fflaterye, pieynst.]
JL To seyne 2 thus by losengerye
"Whanne hym lykyth to bygyle,
ffulsely by his sotyl while,
To hem that be moste vycyous,
How that they are vertuous ;
And though they ben to vyces tliral,
They seyne eke they be lyberal,
Though they be streyte and ravynous,
And greete nygardes in her hous.
They callij ffame and hygh renoun,
Raveyne and ffalse cxtorcyoun.
Though they be ffooles, and off no prys,
They afferme that they are wys.
U AVho that tvustith in swyche langage,
He is a ffool, and no thyng sage, [stowe, leaf 355, back]
And ffolyly spcnte his labour,
That lokyth in any swyche merour ;
And namely, whanne al is do,
That he knowith it is not so.
' Eche wyght knowe hym-syluen kan, /
Bette thanne eny other man.
Leff, off 3 fflaterye the sentence, [ leve of
And jeue to trouthe fful credence ;
Thow knoweste bet thi-silffe, (off ryght,)
Thanne doth eny other wyght.
H ' Late 4 lordus (Avhanne they kan cspye,) [*ietst.]
Sctte asyde alle fflaterye !
But now, alias, it stondytli so,
They be disseyued by Eccho ; 22400
And ther sogetes, in many cost, >-ts st.j
22432
22436
22440
22444
22448
22452
22456
[Tiberius,
Avii.]
[Tib., leafy t,
back]
Adulation
haa brought
many to
destruction.
The vicious
are told they
ure virtuous ;
f.mls, that
they are
wise.
He who
trusts flat-
terers is a
fool.
[Tib., leaf 95]
I/onls are
tlcrc'ivi'il bv
Krh,.,
600
Flatterers cause bloodshed. A worsening Hfirror.
[Tiberius,
Avii.]
Haoiogrophy
and wrong
the poor,
because flat-
terers
tell them that
poor folks'
goods belong
to them of
right.
Thi* causes
rebellion
[Tib., leaf 95,
back]
and btood-
ehed.
Wherefore,
take this
other mirror,
and look in it.
The Pilgrim.
I refuse tlw
mirror,
but look in
another,
and vicious.
' Ben by fflaterye lost,
And put in greet oppressyoun
And in greet tribulacyoun ; 22464
I mene, by swyche as be stronge,
To pore men ffor to do wronge,
And suppose, thorough, ther greet myght,
That they may doon it off ryght j 22468
fflaterers bere hem so on hande,
Whiche, day and nyght, aboute hem stonde,
And fful ffalsely hem counsayle
To dispoyle the porayle ; 22472
Seyn, 1 the good is herys off ryght ; [ seyne St.]
Whiche causith, in the peplys syght,
fful greet envye and greet haterede,
Whanne they be pressed with greet drede ; 22476
And causith, by swyche oppressynges,
Greete rwmours and rysynges,
And, som while, rebellyoun
In many dyuerse regyoun ; [Illumination.'] 22480
ffor lak oonly off polosye 2 ppoieciest.]
Off ff olke aboue, that scholde hem guye ;
Causith, som while, schedynge off blood.
Wherffore this meroure, jeue it be good, 22484
Take it to thi pocessyoun,
To haue there-in Inspeccyoun.'
11 The Pylgryme:
" "1% /TAdame," quod I, "}ow not displeese,
J_T_1_ This myroure schal do me noon eese : 22488
For, 3 wher-so that I leese or wynne, [ 3 for St., om. Tib.]
I wole neuere looke there-Inne."
But ryght anoon, myne happe it was
To loken in another glasse, 22492
In the whiche (withouten wene)
I sawe my-sylff, ffoule and vncleene,
And to byholde, ryght hydous,
Abhomynabel and vecyous. 22496
Thilke 4 merour and that glas [* Tiuike St., That rib.]
Schewyd to me what I was. [Illumination.] [siowe, if. sse]
"VrTHerffore, off rancour and dysdeyn,
. f T The same merour I caste ageyn, 22500
The Mirror of Conscience. Lady Lesson. Holy Scripture. 601
'N 1
With-out abood, 1 in liir panere, [* abod St.]
ffrowarde off look, and eke off chere,
And gan my bale awey to turne ;
And therffore score I gan to morne. 22504
IF Agyographe :
"Ow I se wel, by thy 2 contenaunce, ptiiy st,, ow.Tib.]
And also by thy goueraaunce,
Thow haste no luste to loke and se
In this merour (yt semyth me) 22508
Callyd 'the 3 Merour off Coney ence,' p the on. St.]
Whiche schewith (by trewe experyence,
With-out Eccho or fflaterye,
Or eny other losengerye,) 22512
Vn-to a man, what ymage
He bereth aboute, or what 4 visage, [* what om. St.]
The portrature, ryght as it is,
And in what thyng he dothe amys,
And how he schal the be'tte entende,
Alle his ffylthes to amende.'
1F Lessown [the Subcellarer] :
THanne quod the southe-Celerer : 5
' Towchynge hir, the Mercer,
It is to hir, displesaunce,
That thow wolte not han aqueyntaunce
With hir, whiche sothely myght be
fful greet profFyte vn-to the, 22524
In what thow scholdeste haue ado.
' And ^eue I wyste thow woldeste 8O,
I wolde maken the to ben able.
Eche day to sytten at hir table; 22528
With hir to be comensal,
Off Cheerte 6 in especyal. [ cherite stj
And 7 (}eue I schal the trouthe telle) [st&Tib.] p for St.]
In howsholde with hir I dwells, 22532
And am to hir, off custom, ner.
' And the name off this Mercer
I-callyd is ' hooly scripture, 1
Whiche ffor to leren, I do my cure, 22536
In a vessyl off Parchemyn :
Off ffee, I calle the offyce myn :
[Tiberius,
A vi i.
leafOH]
The Pilyrim.
This I throw
away.
Hagiograph]/
tells me it is
22516
[I sowcelerer St.]
22520
the Mirror of
Conscience,
which shows
a man as he
is,
and how he
shall amend.
Lady Leson.
The Sub-
cellarer
offers to fit
me
to ait at table
with the Mer-
cer or Pedlar,
[Tib., leaf 96,
back] ,
whose nnme
is Holy Scrip-
ture,
kept in parch-
ment.
G02 The Holy Ghost's grace follmvs Study, Two more Ladies.
[Tiberius,
Avii.]
Lad// Leaon.
Her name is
* Le.iHon ' or
' Study.'
If I will know
her,
Orace of the
Holy GhOSt
shall follow
me,
iiinl she will
show me ce-
lestial secrets.
[Tib., Iciif 97]
The PUiii-im.
Then I see
two more
ladies,
one hearing
cords,
the other a
file and a
targe.
' In swyche a vessel, euery coost, 22539
I bere it that they 1 be not lost. [' it St.: :-a Te*tament,p.&m.]
Therto I do my dylygence,
To kepe it ffrom alle vyolence ;
ffor it may not (as thow doste 2 se,) [maystst.]
In noon other vessel be, 22544
To kepe it in savacyoun ;
And my name is eke ' Lessown,'
And ' Studye,' amonge these clerkes alle,
Whiche off bothe, thow lyste me calle.
'And ffirste, ^eue thow haue plesaunce,
With me to liauen aqueyntaunce,
Thow schalt aqueyntyd ben anoon
With these la dyes euery chou,
Verreyly at thyne ownc lyst :
In my byheste haue ffully tryst,
ffor grace off the hooly goost
Schal ffolewe the in euery coost,
Ryght as this whyte dowue doth,
Ay sueth me, and that is soth,
Whiche schal the teche and tellen al
The secrees celestyal.
ffor, sche is off hevene (ffer and ner)
The verrey trewe messager.
Erly at more we, and at eve
Estudyantys 3 sche kan releve,
To ^eue hem her reffeccyoun
By myne ad-mynystracyoun.' 4
Other two ladyes I sawe also
To the chapitre that wente tho ;
The ton off hem, bar in hir hondis,
Cordiis and eke strongc bondis ; ^Illumination.']
THe thothcr (in the same while)
In hir mouthe sche bare a ffyle 22572
Eudentyd ; the tcth there-off were large ;
And on hir breste, a fful brood targe.
H The Pylgryme :
ANd or they ffurther myghtu 5 goon, [ 5 wysiit Tib., st.]
I requyred hem anoon, 22576
Tc tulle me (by good avys,)
22548
22552
22556
[Stowe, leaf 35C, back]
22560
estudiauncy s St.] 22564
[* admyn . . St., and
min . . Tib.]
22568
Lady Obedience, with her Discipline, and Prudence. 603
[Tiberius,
A vu.]
Bothe ther names and ther offis.
U Obedyence :
THe lady that the boondys bar,
To me seyde (as I was war), 22580
' I am,' quod sche, ' (schortely to expresse),
Of this hous the 1 cheeff pryoresse, [' theom. St.]
Nexte Grace Dieu (in substaunce,)
I haue here 2 the gouernaunce, P here st., off Mr Tib.] 22584
(Bothe byfforne and eke byhynde.)
And with these boondb's eke I bynde,
(Wher-so that they be soure or swete,)
Off ffolkes bothe hand and ffete, 22588
That they, in no wyse, doore .i. audent St., om. Tib.
Passen by noon opene doore : .i. pr iiostium St., om. Tib.
/' I holde hem in, lyke prisoners,
And off look and eke off cherys ; 22592
And my name (in sentence)
Callyd is Obedyence.
' My boondes and my lygameutys
Ben dyuerse comaundementys, 22596
To holden in subieccyoun
ffolkes off relygyoun.
IT And off my ffylb to termyne,
It is I-called Dyscyplyne : 22600
And that I (bothe northe and south)
Am wonte to here it in my mouth,
Betokeneth reprehensyoun
Off ffolke, ffor her transgressyoun, 22604
There-with I secure in euery syde,
That ther may no ruste abyde, [Illumination.]
Nowther ffylthe, ffor noon offence.
' My targe callyd ys ' Prudence : ' 22608
Euery thyng (I the ensure)
to gouerne it by mo.sure.' [Tib. & St.]
IT And, as I hadde good reward, ,,
I sawgh oon in-to the ffreyterward 22612 i then see
Goon a mesurable paas, [stowe, leaf 857]
Wonder sobre off look and ffaas,
And no thyng dissolut off cher : another i.i.iy
Armyd sche was with a gorger. 22616 a gorger,
The laily
with tin-
bonds is the
chief Prioress
of the Cjn-
vent,
[Tib , leaf 97,
back]
and with her
bonds she
binds fork,
and detains
them indoors.
Her name is
Ouedienue.
Her bonds
are Com-
mandments
to keep
M,,nk and
Nuns in
subjection.
The file is
' Discipline,"
which scours
oil' i In- rust
of filthy sins.
[Tib., leaf 98]
The targe is
' Prudence.'
604
Lady Abstinence, and her Gorger 'Sobriety.'
[Tiberius,
Avu.]
The Pili/rim.
whom I uskt
to tell her
name.
and explain
the coverd
tables, the
folk skiing
at them,
and the dead
people serv-
ing them.
Abitinencg.
S!ie says she
is the Re-
fectorer, who
manages the
Refectory
and feeds
the folk.
Her name is
Abstinence.
Her Qorger
is ' Sobriety.'
[Tib., leaf 98,
back]
The dead
who serve
at table, are
the Founders
and endowers
of religious
houses,
who thus
daily feed
monks and
nuns.
The Pylgryme:
Off whom I gan anoon enquere,
That sche wolde goodly leere
To me (by schorte conclusyoun)
Hir name and hir condissyoun ; 22620
And off the tablys cured echon,
And there-ate syttynge many on ; l [' a one St.]
And also, as I dyde obserue,
Noon other ffolke at mete serve, 22624
But ffoHges deede euere more,
Where-off I was abaschyd sore.
U Abstynence :
' T Am,' quod sche, ' the Freytourer
J_ Off this hous, and Boteler, 22628
And mynystre the sustenaunce
To ffolkes, lyke to ther plesaunce.
I kepe hem hool, I kepe hem cleene,
By a mesurable meene, 22632
That, surffet be not to blame.
' Abstynence,' that is my name ;
And my gorger that thow doste se,
Is I-callyd ' Sobrete/3 [' sobriete St.] 22636
To kepe the gorge in 3 sobrenesse, [by St.]
ffrom sorffet, and al excesse.
d these ffolkes that ben deede,
Whiche that serue, (^eue thow take heede,)
Be thilke ffolkes euerychon, 22641
Whiche that, off $ore agoon,
To-fforne her deth, off holynesse
And off verrey parffytenesse, 22644
Made the ffoundacyoun
Off ffolkys off relygyoun ;
Endowyd 4 hem with greet snbstaunce, [* enduyd St.]
Ther-by to haue ther sustynaunce. 22648
II And ffor that skele (as I devyse)
They done 5 eche day her servyse, [ s done St., don Tib.]
And ben to hem eke servysable
Whanne they sytten at the table. 22652
' And ageyneward, sothe to seye,
The tother ffor hem wake and praye,
The two ladies, Chastity and Willing Poverty. 605
' Bothe by day and eke by nyght, [Tiberius,
As they are bounden, off dewe ryght, 22656 Absence.
To ther SOwlis tO don SOCOWre, In return for
And afftirward to the dortoure.' latter pray
__, _., . _ for their
[The Pilgrim]: Founders'
IWote not wel what it mente, 22659 TitePiigrim.
I sawgh how tweyne 1 ladyes wente : ''.^'ribV i then see
rp, o tf i / T \ two more
Ihe on- on hem, (as I was war,) [Honest.] ladies,
T i i i olle (Chas-
ln lur hand, a stall sche bar : tity) with a
Staff, the
Ihe tother, save a gambesoun, other naked,
except her
Was nakyd (in myne inspeccyoun). 22664 f^"
And sche that bare the staff, anon jacket),
ffro bed to bed sche is agon
Thorowgh-out the dortour (by and by), The first
V J J/ ' (Chastity)
And made the beddes fful clenly : 22668 made the
l>o<ls, and
And with clothis cleene and white laid wllite
sheets over
Sche spradde hem ouer, by delyte, them<
That no thyng ne lay a 3 wroiige. p a St., on. Tib.] 22671 [Tib., leaf so]
Sche that was nakyd, gan a songe, [lUttminatwtk] The naked
one sani:
WHiche (to putte in remembraunce) [stowe, ir. 357, bk.] this song:
Was pleynely this, as in substaunce :
U The ffyrste verse off the song :
' ~|" Schal synge, with al my myght, wuang
JL And so I howe, 4 off verrey ryght. 22676
I am nakyd, as 56 may Se ; [* owe, ought: have St.] I am naked;
By no thyng men may holden me : no one can
J ' hold me.
Thowgh they me pursue, day and nyght,
To hold[e] me they have no myght. 5 [St., om. Tib.] 22680
H The secunde verse :
Smale i^osterne I may pace, i can pass
through a
And, thorough thykke and thynne trace ; narrow door,
ffor, thow that ffolkes dyde her peyne,
They may off me no thyng restreyne, 22684
Affter, euere thow 6 they chace. [ 6 thoghe St.]
H The thryde verse :
Am ' WyllefTull Pouerte : ' i am wining
J Poverty.
And, off myne owne volunte, [Tib., leaf <M,
back]
5 The 2nd and 3rd verses have only 5 lines each ; the first
ought to have the same ; but as Stowc's 6th line stops the line-
numbering getting uneven, I put it in.
I
GOG Willing Poverty, and her jacket Patience.
[Tiberius, ' I despyse alle rychesse ; 22688
i sleep Slepe in loye and sekyrnesse,
Nol'fief can Nor theves may not robbe me.' [Illumination.']
r ^, ffri *. The Pylgryme:
i o to the ^P llir that so nakyd was,
nuked iiuiy. J_ I gan to hasten a greet paas ; 22692
Bysoughtte hir that sche nolde spare,
Hir name, to me ffor to declare.
wining n Pouerte :
Poverty.
name > 3 eue ! scbal tel16 tne >
I
I am ' wyllefful Poverte ; ' 22696
Povei-ty,' ffor, 1 to swyche pouerte I haue me take, l l om. st.]
and has And the world I haue fforsake,
given up all
property Eychesse and alle pocessyoun,
save her Save oonly this Gambysoun, 22700
jacket J
Patience, Whiche is callyd 'Pacyence.'
And therffore, with-out offence,
fforsake I haue the Tempera!
[Tib., if. ioo] ffor goodes that ben celestyall : [Tib.&st.] 22704
in exchange mi i 11
for celestial There is my rychesse and gerdoun,
My.tresowre and my pocessyoun.'
piian m . ^ The Pylgryme :
Preye the that thow not tarye :
Why is it caUyd ' voluntarye ' ] " 22708
wuii lig f Pouerte:
Poverty.
mi
1 Ther may no thyng a man avayle ;
fs'Se^v'm- (What manor thyng that euere it be,)
illgly - But it be doon off volunte. 22712
see next a Kome fforthe. and se an exanplayre 2 [ 2 exempiayre St.]
case of
involuntary Off povertc not voluntarye.'
poverty.'
And, with-oute 3 more lettynge, p out Tib., st.]
she shows Sche Schewyd me oon, ffelle off lokynge : 22716
me an old
woman Groyiiyngo sche sat. ffrownynge and sad :
frowning and 7 -
sad. And off hir cheere sche was not glad.
' Here thow 4 mayste seen pouerte [*timw st., om.Tib.]
Whiche is no thyng off volunte. [Illumination.^ 22720
[Tib., if. 100, Thow mayste off hir 5 anon enque-re, 5 [ 5 - 5 St., Tib. torn.]
And the trouthe sche schal the leere.
U The Pylgryme :
beoan8e %ste this (it is no ffayle,)
How Impatient Poverty plays tricks to get money. 607
nn
I
oolde," quod I, " so ffoule off cheere, [Tiberius,
What cause haste thow to abyden 1 heere ^g-, 6 - lf - m pn'm-im
Amonge this ffayre companye [' hastow tabiden st.] 22725 i ask the old
r\ i J i) T j. ii woman why
Oft ladyes I 1 trowe thow art a spye. she is among
Thow owghttyest not, with so ffoule a fface, ladies.
To 2 abyden in so ff eyre a place." p TO >. st.] 22728
11 Pouerte Impacyent : 3 [ 3 impacyent Tib., om. St.] Impatient
* ' Poverty.
QYod sche, 'the trowthe ffor to kythe, ghe , Im
Thow haste seyne fful offte sythe Poverty,'
With lordes, ladyes, (it is no doute,) [st. &Tii>.] You've'often
In her 4 chawmbres rounde abowte 22732 am" ladies' ds>
For to maken dyuerse Tapes, [ timyr st.] )I1IS '
Foxes rennen, and eke apes, foxes ami
apes to make
Dysporte and pleye on euery syde : ' lorthem.
And semblably, here I 5 abyde ; [ i here st.] 22736
Where-off thow scholdest me not 6 ropreve ; ["" not me st.]
ffor vn-to hem, no thyng I greve ;
It dothe hem non dysavauntage,
ffor to my silffe is the damage. 22740
A
aeue men me callen ' Pouerte,' ['and, om. st.] Weil: ns
take my
Anil I 8 take it not at gree [iom. st.] poverty
Thorough my ne no wne 9 Impacyence, [ownest.] 22743 impatiently
My grucchynge doth no wight 10 offence, P^JJBJ&Tg* w'iiV'""
(Who so takyth heede ther-to) " bove ^ '
But to my silffe, and to no mo.
Off ffolkes oif dyscressyoun, discreet folks
J hold me in
I am had in derysyoun ; 22748 <ienmn
like" lords
They holde off me but a lape, Jo tlieil- ape*-
As a lord dothe off his ape.' [Tib., ir. 101]
The Pylgryme: The pup*,,,.
" TTyt semyth, as 12 by thy resemblaunce ["MOW. st.]
I 1 And by thy owgely 13 contenaunce, [" own st.]
By lyfftyiige vp off thy mosel, 22753 Your lifting
That thow pleyest the ape wel : mu/./.ie shown
that vim ]ilay
And that thow art the comune ape, MwApewtB,
xifforij tfolke to pleye and Lip.-." 'I'llM
II Pouerte Impacyent :
11 I 7ieed lianlly say in an E. K. Text that the vulgar error of
holding that 'like' is iiot a conjunction, is <hic to ignorance!.
Like, from 'like as,' is a conjunction; Like, from 'like to <>r
unto, 'is a preposition. Sec S. Walker, L'rit.nn ,S7/ nl,-<: v/>. . ii. 115-1'J:3.
608 / leave Impatient Poverty, and go to Lady Chastity.
< f I lHat is thorough myne Impacyence,
impatient JL And ffor lak off pacyence,
Poverty.
That makyth me in herte swelle,
She answers:
That comes And, with greetc wyndes belle, 22760
from lack of '
patience, That dothe my lyppes hyghe 1 reyse, c 1 iiygu Tib., high St.]
which pouts
my HP*. Whiche, no man ne schulde preyse ;
and makes ffor it makyth a demonstraunce
me look like
an ape. Ore an apys contenaunce. 22764
' I love no manor besynesse,
But oonly slouthe and ydelnesse.
' Ryghtffully, thorough my dyssert, 2 pdecertst.]
I may ben callyd wel ' Povert.' 22768
Off good, I haue no maner thyng,
i always grin But as the 3 bycche, ay groynyng, [ s a St.]
like a bitch ! ' i_ i V
Wel worse sothely than I seme ;
Off euery thyng, the worst I deme.' 22772
The Pylgryme :
Then i leave A Noon I laffte hir companye,
her, and go /% *
to the lady JLA_ And gan me ffaste ffor to hye
who made the
beds in the To hir that, with hir lokes glade,
Dormitory.
In 4 the dortoure beddes made ; [ in St., But in Tib.] 22776
[Tib., if. 101, And curteysely I gan hir preye, [St. & Tib.]
To me sche wolde hir name seye. [stowe, leaf sss, back]
chattity. u Dame 5 chastyte : [ 5 Dame om. st.]
' T Am callyd by my name,
J_ The ffeyre, with-oute 6 spotte or blame, [ out Tib., St.]
That may, in no place endure 22781
Where that ffylthe is, or ordure.
She is Dame And of 7 ffolkeS that me Se, t 7 of St., om. Tib.]
Chastity,
Chatelaine I am 8 Callvd Chastyte : [ 8 They calle Tib.] 22784
of the castle.
Off thys castel, chasteleyne,
Whiche, day and nyght, I 9 do my peyne pi. St.]
ffor to kepen this castel
ffrom schotte off Gonne and of 10 quarel. [ 10 ofst., om. Tib.]
she is well; And therffore I am armed wel, 22789
armd,
Bette thanne in yren and n steel ; [ ll Bet than yren outlier st.]
Xyght and day is my laboure, [st.&Tib.]
For to dyffeude 12 euery toure, [ 1J for to defenden St.]
Bothe 13 erly and also late, [ St., Tib. rd] 22793
castie and And on myne handys, I haue off plate, [1 'll 'urn i nut ion.]
/ see Lady Prayer, winging her way to the Sky.
A
Peyre 1 gloues, ffor dyffence,
I-callyd ' Dowble Contynence,' \
[* fortassaille St.] 22800
[3 a St., am. Tib.]
22804
[i peyre of St.]
22796
Myghty venus to rechace,
And to putte hir ffro that place, [Tib. & St.]
That sche may haue noon entre
ffor to assayile 2 chastyte,
Whiche schal, as a 3 conquerour,)
Kepe and deffende the dortour,
' To alle my ffreendes, I wole socoure,
That with herte me honowre,
Hem to kepe ffrom vnclennesse,
While I to hem am cheeff maystresse.'
U The Pylgryme :
Afftir this, anoon I wente
In-to the mynstre (off good entente), 22808
And, asyde castynge my syght,
(I sawe a lady ffayre and bryght,
Sad off contenaunce and off 4 cheere; poffow. st.]
And sche bare, lyke a messangere, 22812
A boyste ; and anon ryght, [6-tyiiaWe line}
Toward the heuene sche took hir fflyght ;
ffor (as I kowde byholde and se,)
Sche was whynged, ffor to ffle. 22816
ANd trewely (as I koude espye,)
Sche ffleye 5 ffer aboue the skye. [ 5 flyghst.]
And, as me thoughte, longe and large, [St. &Tib.]
Affor hir brest, sche bare a targe ; 22820
And (schortely as I kan reherse)
The sylve heuene sche dyde perse.
And I thought (in sotheffastenesse)
Hir laboure and hir besynesse 22824
Was ffor to maken (in certeyne)
Deede men to ryse 6 ageyne. [Myvest.]
And I gan ffor to neyghe 7 nere, U neyi?ii Tib., nynbe St.]
Preyed hir (off herte entere) 22828
To jeue me infformacyoun
Off name and of 8 condyscyoun. [" and of st., and Tib.]
IF Prayere :
"y name, jeue thow lyste to here, [stowe, leaf. -inn]
I am, off ffolke, callyd ' Prayere ' ; 22832
PILGRIMAGE. R R
609
[Tiberius,
Avii.]
Chastity.
stop Venus
[Tib., If. 102]
from assail-
ing chastity.
M
The Pilgrim.
In t In-
minster
I see a
winged lady,
sad of coun-
tenance.
who flies
upward,
above the
[Tib., If. 102,
back]
and into
heaven,
whose busi-
ness is to
make dead
men rise
again.
Prayer.
Her name is
' Prayer.'
010 The Dead who wait on the Monks are Endmvers of Orders.
LTiberiua,
Avii.]
Prayer.
She gays that
these dead
folk
[Tib., If. 103]
Are good men
who, while
living, gave
of their alms
to sustain
this house,
and provide
the monks
a competent
livelihood,
that they
might pray
for them.
She flies to
heaven
to present
Ood with
well-meant
prayers.
Her Targe
is Fervent
Continuation
of Prayer.
' And lerne off me that (off resoun,) [St. &Tib.]
Eche man is worthi the guerdoun
(Yf l that trouthe be obserued,)
Lyke as he hath trewely deserued. 22836
And eche wyght, ffor his good dede, [ l Tib. would be 1 3eue.']
Is worthi to resseyue his mede,
Lyke his meryte, off equyte.
' These deede ffolk whiche thow doste se, 22840
[Illumination. Pilgrim, Angel, and two dead Men.]
Ben they whiche, euery day suynge, [Tib. & St.]
$euen lyuelode and fost[e]rynge
To ly vynge ffolkes that here-in dwelle :
In what wyse, I schal the telle. 22844
Whanne they alyue were heere present,
They gaff off herte, in 2 good en tent, [ s and St.]
Thorough ther parffyte holynesse,
In-to this hous fful greet almesse ; 22848
And, to ther sustentacyoun,
They made the ffoundacyoun
Off this ylke same 3 hous; p same nke St.]
And jaff vnto relygyous 22852
Meete and drynke (off good entent)
And lyuelode competent ;
Off purpos (sothe ffor 4 to seye) [*forom. st.]
That they scholde ffor hem preye. 22856
And so they don, bo the day and nyght,
Off consuetude and off ryght.
' Wherffore, callyd I am ' Prayere,'
Whiche that am the messagere 22860
That fflee 5 to heuene with whynges lyght, [ s fly st.]
ffer aboue the sterres bryght,
To-ffore the lord, to presente
Prayere made in good entente, 22864
Lyche as these ffolkes haue in charge.
' And the name eke off my Targe,
Is Fervente Contynuacyoun
Off preyere by devocyoun. 22868
IlOr there nys 6 halpeny nor fferthyng, [ 6 nys St., is Tib.]
But it requerith his guerdownyng
More trewely (jeue it be tolde)
Lady Orison takes Prayers to Heaven, and will guide me. 611
' Thanne the sowme a thowsande ffolde, 22872
In the lyffe that is eterne,
Off hym that eche thyng kau concerne,
Eternally lyvyng in glory. [stoweMs.,ieaf359]
' Prayer abreggeth purgatory, [St. &Tib.] 22876
And alleggeth (in certeyne,)
Of sowles the greete 1 peyne, [> greet Tib., gret st.]
And gyveth to hem remyssyoun.
Wher-ffore I am callyd 'Orysoun,' 22880
That do off ffolkes the message
To 2 god, by fful swyffte passage. p to St., And to Tib.]
The requested I kan speede, 22883
Off ffolke that preye in love and dreede, [stowe, leaf 359, bk.]
And make the procuracyoun
Off Prayere and off Orysoun.
ANd with the kyng (take heede also,
Who hath any thyng ado 22888
To expleyten his laboure)
I am cheveste procuratoure ; [st. & Tib.]
And euere my supplycacyoun,
Whanne 3 it is grownded on resoun,
It is never, I dar devyse, p wimn St., Euere Tib.] ,,
Not refusyd, in no wyse.
WHerffore, by the reed off me,
$eue thow wolte 4 gon to that Cyte,
I schal the schewe the ryghte 5 way, [ 5 rygiit Tib., St.]
And the passage (it is no nay)
Gladdely eke, }eue it may pleese. k
' And also, ffor to doon the eese, 22900
I schal the lene a mansyoun,
To make thyne habytacyoun :
It sytte wel, bothe 6 to hygh and lowe, [botheow. st.]
Thy comynge ther afforne be 7 knowe ; [?tost.] 22904
ffor who that schal haue there entre,
Knowe, to-fforne, it muste be ;
Nor n6 man may haue there hostage,
But I to-fforne do his message. 22908
' And off the theeff , in his hangynge, [Tib. & st.]
Whanne he henge by the myghty kynge ,,
Crist ihexu, vp-on the roode,
22892
22895
[Tiberius,
Avii.]
Prayer.
[Tib., If. 103,
back]
Prayer
shortens
Purgatory.
She is ' Ori-
son,' and
takes prayers
to heaven ;
and her en-
treaty is never
refused by
God.
She says slip
will show me
the way to
the City,
and lend me
a house there,
for the com-
ing of all
must be
known be-
forehand.
[Tib., If. 104]
612 Lady Prayer will take my Message to the Heavenly City.
[Tiberius, ' That deyed ffor oure alder goode ; 22912
prwer. Off whom the theeff fful humbely
Even of the Axed off that lord mercy ;
penitent tliief rrii .. , re i_-
npon tbe Ihe same tyme, nor his socoure,
waTthemes- I 1 wente afforne enbassatoure, [> i st., And Tib.] 22916
sengerto . . .
Heaven; And trewely dyde his message,
And made 2 redy his passage, [ a TO make St.]
That he myght resseyued be
In Paradys, that ffayre centre. 22920
ANd semblabely, as by my reed,
By this exaumple take good heed,
That thow be" not putte in blame,
Thy-silffe, ffor to do the schame. 22924
Thow haste as greet neede, at a preeff, 3 [ 3 ?meeffTib.]
I 4 sothe, as hadde the seyde theeff. [*inst.]
and he win And, to ffurther thy vyage,
aetorine. I wole my silfFe don thi message.' 22928
The pilgrim, f The Pylgryme :
Nd thanne anoon, Avith humble cheere
I thankyd tho vnto Preyere,
i accept her And seyde, " my cause to amende,
That to-fforne I wolde hir sende, 22932
ffor my reffute and my socoure,
ffor to ben my procuratoure."
Anoon affter, in certeyne,
Whanne I hadde the place seyne, [stowe, leafsoo] 22936
And, by cleer inspeccyoun,
Mad*my vysitacyoun,
A 1
A Nd in my way as I gan go,
[Tib., if. 10*. jLjL Within the place to and ffro, [st.&xib.] 22940
Of aventure me by-fforn,
Ti\en i nee I sawgh one that blewe an horn. ,,
.Lady blow- fe
ing a horn. And made a noyse wonder lowde. ,,
And (as I espy en koude) 22944
In organys and in sawtrye ,,
She made a wonder melodye.
[Illumination: the Pilgrim, with a Woman at an
Organ, bloicing a cow's horn ; beyond, a table with
a Harp on it. One large and Jive small windows
in the room.]
The, Handmaid, and her Horn of Call on God for Help. CIS
WHom I by-sought, off hardynesse,
To me, that sche wolde expresse, 22948
(Off hir grace, in goodly wyse,)
Her office, and her servyse.
1T Latrya : [Xar/jcia, the state of a hired workman.]
' /^\ff this place, ffolkes alle,
\_J ' Latrya ' l they me calle. [> Lat-er-ia] 22952
Myne offyce is moste in wakynge,
To kepe the gate aboute the kynge.
I wacche thereon, day and nyght,
Do my fforse, 2 and eke my myght, pservysst.] 22956
ffor to lyne 3 aye in awayt, p iy st.]
That there be ffounden no dysceyt.
Nowther behynde nor beforn ; [Tib. & St.]
ffor thanne anoon I blowe myn horn. 22960
' Who lythe to longe, I make hym ryse ;
Slogardes alle, I 4 chastise, [*aiiidost.]
And to slouthe I do greet sorewe ;
ffor, bothe at eeue and eke at morew, 22964
I kepe the howre's off rysynge,
To do worschipe vnto 5 the kynge. [ 5 vnto st., to Tib.]
Alle ffolkes vp I calle,
That no slomber on hem ffalle. 22968
' Myne home is Invocacyouu
Off Deus in adiutorium :
I blowe myn horn toward mydnyght,
To reyse vp ffolkes anoon ryght; 22972
I suffre hem not, off sleep to deye.
Myne orgones, I tempre ffor to pleye,
And vp-on hem I make a sown
With-OUten IntermySSyOWn. sine intermissione orare. St.owi.Tih.
' And trewely, alle my melodye 22977
Is in songe off Persalmodyc. 6 [ 6 and paaimody st.]
And, devoutely, in myne ententis,
I calle so myne Instruments ; 22980
ffor thylke kyng that is most stronge,
Moste hym delytyth in swyche songe ;
To hym it 7 is moste pertynente, p it om. st.]
Whanne it is songe off good entente, 22984
In cleunesse and in purete.'
[Tiberius,
Avii.j
The Pilarim,
I ask what
her work is.
T.ntriii.
Slu' gays she
is Latria,
a handmaid.
She keeps
the gate of
the (.'untie
day and
night,
[Tib., If. 105]
makes folk
get up,
and whips
sluggards.
Her horn is
cald Invoca-
tion of God
to help.
She blows
it at mid-
night,
ami xings
Psalmody,
in which
the King
delights.
614 Obedience warns me of the Hardships of my Journey.
[Tiberius,
A Til.}
The Pilgrim.
Then I see
the lady who
had bonds in
her hands.
Obedience.
She is Obedi-
ence,
[Tib., If. 105,
back]
and asks me
if I come
there a* a
py.
I tell her
that I want
to go to
Jerusalem.
Obedience.
She says the
beds and pas-
sage are hard.
The Pilf/rim.
I assure her
that I don't
mind that.
Obedience
then binds
me
T I ^
1
And while that Latrya spak to me,
I sawgh the lady, whiche in J hir handys C 1 lady within st,]
Whiche I off spak, that bar the bondys, 2 [stowe.ieafseo.bk.]
Sad and demure off hir vysage. [* bands st.] 22989
To me sche takytli hir passage :
H Obedyence :
Elle me/ quod sche, ' on euery part 22991
Verely what that thou art, [stowe MS., Tib. burnt]
And the truthe specifye,
Yf thou come ought as espye [st. & Tib.]
Into this place, to or 3 ffro, pandst.]
Or thou eny ffurther go.' 22996
H The Pylgryme :
" ~E /TAdame," quod I, " haue on me ruthe.
jLr JL I am no spye, in good trouthe ;
My purpos is, and that anoon, [st. & Tib.]
To lerusalem ffor to goon. 23000
And, the weyiis as I sought,
Hedre grace dieu me brought ,,
Only my waye ffor tabrygge,
And to eschewe eche other brygge." 23004
IT Obedyence : 4 [ latria st.]
' Tolde she the not (^eue thow haue mynde,)
Here-in that thow scholdest ffynde
Beddes harde, and no thyng soffte,
As it is I-prevcd offte 23008
Off ffolke off euery maner age :
And heere is a fful hard passage.'
The Pylgryme :
Ow harde euere that it be,
Trewely I schal it take at gre ; 23012
To grace dieu, what that I kan,
Serue hir as hir trewe man."
H
Obedyence :
[St. & Tib.]
3 latria St.]
' Take heder thy ffeet and thyne hondes ; ' 6 [St. & Tib.]
I shall them bothe knett in bands. CStowe MS. 952, 23016
leat ot>0, back]
thow shalt ha ges [lyke] a i'aucou,
8 There is only one more after leaf in MS. Cott. Tib. A. vii, and
the portion of the poem contained on that leaf, which is nearly
illegible, is not missing in Vit. c. xiii. W. WOOD (copier).
Obedience binds me securely. Envy, &c. get into the Castle. 615
23020
23024
] 23028
[> nine and thirty]
23032
1 only of entenci'oun,
without eny contrariouste,
that [thou] shalt ylured be.'
Pilgrim :
she band me foot and hand also,
that to meve to ne fro
I hadd no manor lyberte ;
nor ray tonge was not fre
for to speke, but by lycence ;
nor in the seller, nor in the spence,
ete nor drynke on no syde,
but lycens were my gyde.
And, for tacounte the terme entier,
the Space of XXXIX 1 yere
I was bound of volunte,
to obedience (as ye may se),
as the statuts, fayn and well,
bound the folk of that castell.
and truly, in hert nor in thought, [stowe.ieafsei]
my bondes 2 greuyd me ryght nought ; ["bonds st.] 23036
but (as it comythe to re"meinbraunce)
ther befell a wondar chaunce :
the portar happede on a day
to ben fer out of the way ;
the kynge was absent eke also ;
and, in absence of bo the two,
(and the gate' was vnshet,)
ther cam in, withoute 3 let,
a thefe, that no man coude espye,
that was callyd Falls Envye :
hir two doughtars, the ton, ' Treson '
called / the tother, ' Detraction ' :
with them (by gret cruelte)
Scilla, a monstre of the se,
and her hounds hir folowynge
with grete noyse and gret barkynge.
and this meyne, in the castell
made noyse and gret revell :
In a lenton (who lyst se)
they made the ladyes for to He
(Stowe MS.
952.]
The Pilgrim.
foot and
hand;
for 39 years.
[3 without St.] 23044
23048
My bonds
<Um't trouble
me.
One day the
Porter of the
Castle was
out,
the King
absent,
and the
Castle-gaU
open.
In came
False Envy,
Treason,
Detraction,
and Scylla,
with hounds,
23052
and drove out
Die Ladies.
616 / ride the horse, Good Renown, aivay from Envy, &c.
(Stowe MS.
952.]
The Pilgrim.
Envy,
Treason, and
Detraction
sought me.
I got a horse,
to escape
from them.
Seylla,
Scylla.
This Horse
wag Good
Henown,
with the four
feet,
1. Void of
Defame.
out of thilke holy bowzdes.
and Scilla folowed with hir hounds,
gan at them sore enchace ;
and Envy, thrughe all the place, 23060
with hir dough ters (out of doute,)
gan to seke me round about.
they were conspiryd alle 1 thre p ail St.]
playnly to devoure me, 23064
only by conspiraci'on
of envie and detraccion.
their felowship I forsoke ;
and anon an horse I toke, 23068
for to flyen, with all my myght,
to escape out of hir syght.
and truly, for no maner rape,
theyr treynes 2 I myght not eskape. ptreynsst.] 23072
quod Scilla then, (of gret despyt,)
' he weny the for to have respit,
and by his horse to bene socowryd,
that he shall nat ben devowryd 23076
of vs by persecution.'
' ye, for all that,' quod Treason,
* as it is [vnjto vs dwe,
aftar hym we shall pursue. 23080
what maner of horsse myght he have, [stowe, leaf an, back]
that from owr daunger shuld hym save 1 '
Scilla :
quod Scilla, ' I shall well telle,
yf ye lyst a while dwelle : 23084
this horse is cawlyd ' Good Renowne,'
whiche hathe (in conclusyon)
f owr fette hym to susteyne ;
and elles 3 (without eny wene) peiust.] 23088
he shuld (to his confusion,)
at myscheffe halten even a-downe,
with thre, tweynii, or with one,
vpryght he shuld nevar gon, 23092
but stomble aye, and gon a-myse.
' the firste 4 fote of his horse is, [* first St.]
that he have no condic'ion
The Feet of the /torse, Good Rcnoivn. The Serpent. Envy. 017
' sownynge to dyffamaci'on,
this is to seyne, touchynge shame,
that he be voyde of dyffame.
' The second, (to his advantage,)
that he be borne out of servage :
this to meane, that he, in all,
out of thraldome be lyberall.
' The third, (withouten all outrage,)
to be borne in trwe manage,
' the fourthe is, a foot full good,
of nature that he be nat wood,
nor that he, by no frolage,
be nat fallen into rage.
' these fowre feet (in sothnesse),
of truthe all- way bere witnesse ;
but we (by conspiratiouw)
shall maken hym alryght a-doune ;
and, shortly, (to owr avayle),
here-on we shall haue a consayle.'
and, lyke to theyr opynyon,
fyrst ther spake Detraction :
quod she, ' I can a noble songe
that aye resownythe vnto wronge,
[ Stowe MS.
952.]
Sci/ll-a.
The feet of
tin- horse
Good Be-
nown.'
2. Free-born.
3. Legiti-
mate.
4. Sane.
23096
23100
23104
23108
23112
23116 Detraction
That Ddn Of InUldict t^ at ^ an coluber in via, cerastes in semita,
mordens ungulas equi, ut cadut ascensor ejus
Jiat coluber in via. *.-Q'nei* xiiv. 17.]
'this songe I wot ryght welle,' qwod she, 23121
' was I-songen first for me.
to vse it, I am nat rekles,
I am the honied Cerastes, 1 I 1 Kcpaurnp, cerastes, a horned serpent.]
whiche evar (as ferforthe as I may,) 23125
trace ever the wronge way.
and covertly, in my werkynge,
I vse for to byte and stynge ; 23128
with tethe & tonge I do most wrake,
evar behynden at the bake.
' the horse of hym, in difFame,
[ ?io blank in MS.] 23132
so priveily I shall disceyve, [Stowe, leaf 362j
that he shall nat apparceyve.
I shall be falshed so prevyd,
says she is
the Horned
Serpent that
bites and
stings folk
behind their
bucka,
and she will
upset my
burse.
018 Envy wounds me. Dogs tear me. My legs & arms are broken.
I Stowe MS.
968.]
The Pilgrim.
Detraction
makes my
horse lull
with her
Serpent-
tongue.
I tumble
down among
the hounds.
Envy wounds
me with 3
spears,
and the dogs
tear me.
Treason hits
me on the
head with a
club;
and breaks
my legs and
arms.
Then they
leave me.
' to make hym halten in some syde ; 23136
whiche so sore shall hym greve,
that he shall not mowe releve.'
' Sothly,' quod tho Treason,
' that good was hir oppinion.' 23140
and when she hadd hir tale do,
echon they accordyd well therto ;
the houndes 1 stoden at abaye [ hounds st.]
and gan barke, by gret affray. 23144
and at[te] last, Detraction
made myn hors to falle a-doun,
and to halten in swyche wyse
that I myghte 2 nat a-ryse : [ mygiit st.] 23148
withe a tonge of a serpent
myne horse and I were bothe shent ;
And doun at erthe, in gret affray,
amonge the houndes ther I lay. 23152
and aftar (by great felonye)
I was assay lyd by Envye ;
and wi't/i thre speres sharpe ground,
she gave to me many a wound. 23156
and of Scilla, the cruell hounds,
gaue me many mortall wounds ;
I was to-torne with ther chas.
and than cam Treason wtt/t hir mas, 23160
hevy as a clobbe of leed,
and ther-of set me on y e hede ;
lege and arme she brake in twayne,
that yet I fell the grete 3 payne p gret St.] 23164
of that ylke mortall stryffe,
and shall felle it all my lyffe.
and whill I lay thus in a traunce
of grete anoye and grete grevaunce, 23168
those olde 4 vekkes dispitious, [*oidst.]
[No gap in MS.]
they me left in full gret drede,
wenynge that I had be dede. . 23172
and comfort, truly was ther none,
for all my fryndes 5 were gon : [ 5 tvynOa St.]
in prison, lay Charite ;
/ make myself a wooden Leg, and anoint my bmises. 619
Mercy was hound, & eke Pitie, 23176
whiche lykyd me nothyng well,
and Scilla cawsyd everydell ;
for my sorow and my grevaunce
was to her full gret pleasaunce ; 23180
and it grevyd hir full sore
that I hadde 1 harme no more; [stowe, leaf SGS, bit.] [IMS. had]
and she (of indignation,)
made a quarell to Treason, 23184
that she dyd no more veugaunce,
to encrese my wofull chaunce.
wherfore I (in myn entent)
I axyd a ryghtfull iugement, 23188
cast my gage tofore the kynge,
to have amende of all this thynge ;
and, for this great transgression,
I made a-pele vppon Treson ; 23192
and complaynynge thus my wo,
I lay, and turnyd to and fro,
inaymyd in so mortal! wyse
that I myghte 2 nat aryse p myght St.] 23196
on my fete, for gret destrese ;
and vpreard my-selfe to drese.
I made me a leg of tre
to rysen (yf it wold ha be) ;
and that leg (in my discese)
dede me after full gret ese ;
for, to my gret confusion,
lost I hadde 3 my bordon ;
I mist not where, in serteyn,
tyll Grace Dieu it brought ageyn,
whiche that found it on a dny
at the turnynge of a waye.
and in thes wofull auentures,
as I anoynted my bresures,
complaynynge early on a morow,
as I lay, and made sorowe,
when phebus, with his beme's bryght,
gilt the hylle's 4 with his lyght,
to chase the myste's that were durku,
23200
[Stowe MS.
952.]
The Pilgrim.
Seylla is de-
lighted at my
wounds,
and re-
proaches
Treason for
not having
injured me
more.
I accuse
Treason
before the
King,
and (tho' my
arms are
broken)
make myself
a leg of wood,
[had st.] 23204
23208
23212
and anoint
my wounds.
At morn,
[ hylls St.]
620 Ovid comes, and pities me. He'll curse my harmers.
[Stowe MS.
962.]
The Pilgrim.
old Ovid
comes to me,
pities me,
The Pilgrim.
says he loves
me,
and will curse
n iy injurers.
The Pilgrim.
to me there come a full old clerk e, 23216
whom, sythe tyme that I was bore,
I had nevar sene tofore ;
and his booke on me he layd,
and euen thus to me he sayd : [stowejeafses] 23220
Ouidius :
quod he, 'of true affection,
I ha gret compassyon
on thy sorowe and on thy doole,
that thow liggest here all soole 23224
in grete myscheffe (as semethe me)
wher-of I haue full gret pyte.'
Pilgrim :
" for to put me in certeyne,
I pray the that thou woldest seyn 23228
thy name openly to me,
that I myghte l thanken the." [ l mygut st.]
Ouidius :
' of my name it stondethe thus ;
I am callyd Ovydius, 23232
whiche loue thez, more than thou canst wene :
here-aftar it shall be sene.
and yf thow haddyst, her4o-forne,
in my tyme, in sothe be borne, 23236
to thy consolation
I shold haue towght tJiee a lessonne,
whiche shuld ha be to thy plesaunce,
and shuld ha made tliee in substaunce 23240
ffull sufficiauut, in many a thynge,
bothe in doctryne and in connynge.
but I am come to denounce
a sertayn curse, & to pronounce, 23244
011 alle 2 thilke the sentence, [*aiist.]
whiche vnto the ha don offence,
whiche sentence (in wordes 3 fewe) [ 3 words st.]
to the in latyn I shall shewe, 23248
Terra sibi fruges fy cetera / '
Pilgrim :
whan his vers weren all ysayd,
vnto hyin thus I abrayd :
/ leave Vengeance to God. Acrostic of my Name.
621
[Stowe MS.
952.]
The Pilgrim.
I tell Ovid
that I'll pat;
off cursing
till God
judges at
Doomsday.
Ovid goes;
" that ye (of true affection,)
have on me compassyon, 23252
on my doolie and on my smert.
I thanke yow with all myn hert; [Stowe, leaf ses, back]
hut I ha no devosyon
In cursynge nor in malison ; 23256
I shall delay [e]n all cursynge,
tyll tyme that the myghty kynge,
by iugement, eche thyng shall deme,
as vnto hym it shall but seme, 23260
of ryghtwisenesse, to provide."
and in this wise, the clerke Ovide
went his way, and lefte 1 me p left St.]
lyggynge in great adversitie ; 23264
and to expresse (in complaynynge)
my grete 2 sorow by writynge, [ great St.]
I will myn owne name shewe,
sette out by lettars on a rowe 23268
at the gynnynge of this ditie
in eche ballad as ye may se,
of Frenche and Lattyn, bothe I-fere,
ryght anon as ye shall here. 23272
hauythe me excusyd of my rudenesse,
thowghe I to you my name expresse :
[ACROSTIC OF GUILLAUME DE DEGUILVEVILLE'S NAME:
GUILLERMUS DE DEGUILEVILLA.]
and T, De
Ouileville,
will tell you
my name by
an Acrostic.
(1)
Grato messium tempore,
Quant nature sez beaux l fruiz dore, 2
Et prompta sunt in liquore
Ses vins qu'encore pas n'affore, 4
Quo folium in arbore
Se commence a deuenir sore,
Et boreas in equore
Si n'est pas trop nuysant encore. 8
(2)
"\7ldi scriptum in margine
V Ou cestuy escript s'enracine,
Mirandam pulcritudine,
Grace dieu, du ciel royne digne, 12
Me vocantem ex nomine :
' Vien auant, et si t'achemine
Mecum, quia regimine
Tu as mestier, et de doctrine.' 16
(3)
ILla me duxit prospere
En 1'ung des chasteaulx de son pere,
Exhortaudo summopere,
Que 1'un de leans ie fusse frere, 20
Virginiqwe puerpere,
Estoille de mer pure et clere,
Me servum vellern tradere,
En la faisant ma bonne mere. 24
1 beaux, Petit print, om. St.
2 Stowe ends here. The rest is copied from Petit's French edition of Lc
romant dcs trois Pcltrvnaicfcs. Lc premier pclcrinaigc eat de I'hommc durant
qu'est en vie . . . ab. 1500. Foeillet .Ixxxiiij. col. 2, sign, l.iiij.
622 Acrostic of my Name : Guillermus DC DeGuilevilla.
(4)
T Egis audite nouelle,
Jj Plaisante me fut la nouuelle,
Nam, mel mundi inixtum felle,
Si me nuysoit a la forcelle. 28
Tune pellem dedi pro pelle,
Pour seruir h ceste pucelle,
Puro sperans frui melle,
Pour quoy la vie se renouuelle. 32
(5)
LOngo cursu pacifice
Remains ou chastel sans malice,
Vtilitati publice
Entendant, selon mon office. 36
Sparsim apparent rubrice
1 A tout chascun, s'il n'est trop nyce,
Nam factuni est theatrice,
Sans quelconque notable vice. 40
(6)
EA propter prodiente
D une cauerne pestilente,
Inuidia furiente,
Et du bien de 1'autruy dolente, 44
Improuise ac repente,
Seilla la lisse pulluleute,
Proditione presente,
Sans nul delay me mist en vente. 48
(7)
"HAbida sic orta peste,
Xl De corner fist .tres grant moleste
Cum canibus atqrte reste ;
Moy, comme vne sauuaige beste, 52
Alba circumtecta veste,
De chasser se monstra moult preste ;
Alta echo bosci teste,
Trop me fut ceste chace agreste. 56
(8)
ME persequens indefesse,
La tres cruelle veneresse,
Ac violenter me subesse
Fist a ses chiens hors de lesse, 60
Sicqwe clamare necesse
Bien me fut, pour yssir de presse,
Sed, si potuit prodesse,
N'est pas bien ceste chose expresse. 64
(9)
VAluisset facta pace,
Se traliison vne autre trace
Non intrasset sine face,
Ann qu'on n'apperceust la face ; 68
Nam, duce nicticorace,
Par le coup d'une grosse masse,
Ostenso vultn fallace,
Si m'abatit en my la place. 72
(10)
Qlc persequitur peruerse
O Tous temps / et assault et reuerse
Viros, sinderesis terse,
Faulse trahison la peruerse ; 76
Et timendnm, si sic per se,
Au dedans du chastel conuerse,
Me per hanc oues disperse
Soient par maniere bien diuerse. 80
(11)
DEtraction cum mnrmure,
Pour luy ayder, tres grande cure
Subministrant, et gutture,
Par le dur glaiue qui trop duve ; 84
Asseruntqwe de iure,
Que faire doyuent grant iniure
Hominibus vite pure,
2 Que le siisdit chastel enmure. 88
( l ?\
~f~t Xpertus hoc minis dure,
Jj Soustiens leur griefue forfaicture,
Maxime cum nullo rure ;
Bestes y ait do tel facture, 92
Turpissime sunt figure,
Et sans ouuraige de nature ;
Vnde earum iacture
Plus griefues me sont sans mesiire. 96
(13)
DE quarum turpitudine,
Et du tout mauuaise conuine,
Exaratur in margine,
De ceste voye ou ie chemine, 100
Non qttorf alie pagine
D'auctorite saincte et diuinc,
Maiores certitudine 103
N'en contiennent mieulx la doctrine.
(14)
EArum tormentum grane,
I Plus assez que cy ne 1'agraue
Sustinui / non pro caue
Trahison qui les maulx encaue, 108
Sepe mihi dicens aue,
Combien qu'elle me fust moult hauo,
Me prostrauit ictu claue,
En faisant de moy son espauc. 112
(15)
C\ Eauiter sic, et nocue,
vJ El m'abatit de sa massuc,
Constat ouibus pascne,
Que bien i'ay ma peine perdue, 116
Et castrum superuacue,
Pour auoir la teste tondue,
Intraui nam preeipue;
Mon csperance y est rompue. 120
Fo. Ixxxiiij, back.
2 Leaf 84, back, col. 2.
Acrostic of my Name : Guillermus De DcGuilevilla. 023
(16)
~l TT semirem virge iesse,
V Me mist grace de dieu en Iesse ;
Quod {"merer magna messe,
M'acertena par grant promesse ; 124
Sed video nunc expresse,
Dont grande doleur mon cueur presse,
Quod egredi est necesse,
Et ailleurs celebrer ma messe. 128
(17)
ID, si seruato ordine,
Et bonne paix a marie digne,
De qua, cum moderamine,
A elle plaindre ie me fine. 132
Potuissem pro nemine
Qui en cestuy monde chemine,
Stetissem tanto turbine,
Demourant hors de discipline. 136
(18)
LEgatus celi curie
1 Pleust a saincte vierge marie,
Quatinus nunc summnrie,
Et de plain sans point farderie, 140
Cognosceret ex serie,
Se ie dy voir on menterie,
Et quis currentis fnrie
A punicion demerie. 144
(19)
EX hoc iustificatiue,
A bon aduis tournant 1'estriue,
Deus auctoritatiue
Osteroit tout ce qui estriue ; 148
Impediret causa tme
Sa nef, qu'a bon port elle n'arriue,
Simul, et miscratine
Me leroit il grace hastiue. 152
(20)
VTinam nutu gratie,
Gardieune qu'est de ma vie,
Impetum tante furie,
En memoire ie n'eusse mie ; 156
Sed defectus iusticio,
Qui on poulce fut endormie
Im cellula memorie,
Trestous les iours Harou i'en crie. 160
(21)
TLlud nesciens nescire,
_L A dur colier mon ame tire,
Presertim cum inuenire
Je ne puisse, ou trouueray mire, 164
Qui iam velit subuenire
A ma playe las qui s'empire
Ex descensu magne ire,
Dont souuent ie ne suis pas sire. 168
(22)
T Vcis creator optime,
Jj Estre vueillez fort anime
Succurrendi promptissime
A tel giief dont suis opprime ! 1 72
Et sum certus firniissime,
Se luy est mon fait intime,
Michi succurret proxime,
Et sera mon vieil roil lime. 176
(23)
T Egi quodam volumine,
lj Quant fait est bien examine
Justicie libramine,
Qui a tort, est tantost mine ; 180
Kt iustus not redit sine
Honneur, quant Ie plait est find,
Et iudici sine fine
Est vray salut predestine. 184
(24)
A Rbores solis et June,
fi Se m'eussent dit quant ie fuz ne,
Cui casui vel fortune
2 Je seroye ioinct et adune, 188
Non dedissem causam prime
Pour ainsi estre destine,
Nam semper me trahens fune,
Grande traliison m'a esgrune. 3 192
1 Fo. Ixxxv.
3 The French goes on :
OR ai ie dit que vne aduenture
Au chastel ie trouuay moult dure,
Pour Ie portier qui ne fut pas
A la porte gardant Ie pas,
Fo. Ixxxv., col. 2.
Que cestes vieilles n'y entrassent,
Et que leurs chiens n'y amenassent ;
Mais pour ce ne doy ie pas taire
Ce que par apres i'en vy faire.
This French edition was 'corrected' by a Monk of DeGuilleville's monastery,
and was printed in or about 1500 by " Maistre Barthole et Jehan petit" (title,
last line), and "A paris, Au soleil d'or / en la maison Maistre bertholdn "
(Fo. j. back, col. 1), as the " Correcteur," P. Virgin, says.
Prof. Paul Meyer refers me to three other Acrostics by DeGuileville on his
own name : 1. in Le Ptfcrinagr. dc I'Amc, Roxburghe Club, 1895, p. 57-64, in
alternate French and Latin lines, beginning
624 The King comes back, and orders the Arrest of my Foes.
[Stowe VS.
952.]
The Pilgrim.
Now I've
told alt the
harm that
Scylla, Envy,
and Detrac-
tion did me.
When the
king came
back
I told him
my wrongs.
The King
had procla-
mation made
for my foes'
arrest,
now I ha told myn adventure
of all that evar I dyd endure, 23276
of Scilla and her houndes fell,
and eke (as ye ha hard me tell)
of Envy and of Treason,
and of falce Detraction. 23280
how they ha wrought to my hyndrynge
In the absens of the kynge
and of his portar, in sertayne.
But when they were come home agayne, 23284
and enteryd in-to the castell,
it lyked me ryght wonder wefl.
a-non I went to his presens,
and tolde hym of the gret offens 23288
whiche that Scilla wtt/t hir hounds
had don to me wt7an his bounds,
by the conspiracion
of Envy and [of] Treason : 23292
my wrong I dyd specifye.
the kynge a-non let make a crye,
that were-so-evar they myght be
found in towne or in citie, [stowe,ieaf364] 23296
I race Dieu, du ciel royne,
F Semper regnans sine fine,
Cognoissant pous et orine,
Et magistra medicine . . .
and making the writer's name "Guillermus de Guille villa" as above; 2. in
the same volume, an Acrostic in French only, in three separate sections
the third in but a few MSS. p. 348-53, 376-8 (see note, p. 356 there),
having the guile with one I only: "Guillermus de Guilevila"; this begins,
p. 348 :
Et en rien n'est descordable,
Qui en .iii. est distincter . . .
C\ racieuse est 1'assemblee
\J Qui n'est onques dessemblee,
3. In the Ptterinagc Jliesucrist, Roxburghe Club, 1897, p. 119-130, in French
only. This begins :
I lorieus Dieu, dont te vint il
IT Qu'envoias ci aval ton fil,
Et que pelerin le feis
G
Bien savoies, qu'en tel courtil,
N'avoit pour li May ne Avril,
Et son soulas point n'i veis.
This Acrostic makes the name " Guillermus de Deguilevilla " ; but the editor
of the Roxburghe volume, the late Prof. Stiirzinger, notes on p. 125 that ten
MSS. leave out one couple of the DC stanzas, thus reducing the name to
"Guillermus de Guilevilla."
I may add here that the prose treatise on the Virgin as the sinner's Refuge
from Tribulation, and the Consolation of Afflicted Hearts, p. 437, etc., above, is
substituted by Lydgate for about a page of DeGuileville's French verse, Foeillct.
Ivij., cols. 2-4, which I shall print in the Forewords to this Part II.
The Ladies return to the Castle, to work fearlessly. 625
that folke shuld them spare nought,
to his presens till they were brought,
for he cast hym, anone ryght,
on them to done iustice and ryght,
that they go no more at large ;
and gave his porter eke in charge
forto shette the gates sore,
that they entre there no more,
nor that they have ther no chere.
and then I saughe a messagere
wher the kynge of custome dwells,
In the castell rynge bells,
for to rnaken assemble",
where the kynge set in his se,
of the ladyes that ther dwell,
(of whome to-forne ye have herd tell,)
that suffred gret oppressyon
of Envy and Detracci'on,
of Scillas houndes, 1 by berkynge,
in th[e] absens of the kynge,
of their drede and mortall rage,
wher-of they suffred gret damage.
'Madams,' quod this messegere,
c the kynge, most myghty of power,
whiche hathe, in great charitie,
(in effecte, as ye shall se,)
and purposethe in his entent,
he hathe be longe from yow absent,
(as ye know yowr-selffe full well,)
but of new, to this castell,
he is come for his pleasaunce ;
and he hathe made an ordynaunce
and statutes full covenable,
to yow echon) ryght profytable,
commaundynge yow, echon, in dede,
that, hens-forthe, ye ha no drede
of your enemys, nor hevynesse,
but that yow do yowr besynesse
(as it is the kynge's 2 will)
yowr office truly to fulffyll,
PILGRIMAGE.
23300
23304
23308
[Stowe MS.
952.]
The Pilgrim.
that he might
punish them.
[' hounds St.]
[Stowe, leaf 36t, back]
[ kyngs St.]
2333G
s s
Then the
bells were
rung to
assemble the
Ladies of the
Castle,
23312
23316
23320
whom Envy,
Detraction,
and Scylla's
Dogs had
worried.
The Kinift
Mestenger.
The Ladies
were told
23324
23328
23332
not to fear
their toes,
but do their
work.
62G The Ladies live happily. I resolve to visit Castles,
I Sto we IKS.
952.]
The King's
Mestenger.
The Pilgrim.
Then every
lady did her
duty quietly
and happily.
Where the
pate is well
kept, no vices
can enter.
Then I re-
solvd
to visit castles
and see how
every officer
workt.
So I got
leave,
saw many
countries,
'as ye dyd, when ye began,
and bettar, yf ye bettar can ;
for the kynge (as ye shall se)
will on your foon avengid be : 23340
to yow I ha no more to say.'
than the messengar went his way,
and thes ladys, by good advyse,
full truly dyd theyr offyse, 23344
evereche, lyke to ther degre,
voyde of all contrariouste ;
and (shortly for to devyse)
wher that truthe and iustice 23348
be truly kept in any place,
I dare sayne ther abydythe grace ;
And where the gate is kept well,
of palays, maner, or castell, 23352
that vycis may ha none entrie,
that place stant in suerte,
and eche thynge tournethe for the best j
for, ther is peace, and ther is rest, 23356
and evar gladly, to theyr forthynge,
ther abyte the ryghtffull kynge ;
and ther is suraunce & eke trust.
and afftar this, I had a lust, 23360
cawght in my-selfe a great corage,
for to holden my passage,
and greatly gan my selffe delyght,
dyvers castells to vysyte, 23364
for to consythar the maner
of euery maner offycer,
How euerych dede in his degre. t^s. Cott. Viteii. c. ii,
leaf 287, begmt again.}
and it is good, a man to se 23368
many thynges, and to here,
for therby a man may lere [Stowe, leaf 865] [c. & St.]
ful moche thynge outward by syght, ,,
and take example to done right. ,, 23372
And whan I hadde ther-to lycence 1 [Mycensst.]
I wente and dede my diligence 2 p dyiygens St.]
to visiten, and to se
ful 3 many wonderful couwtre. [ 3 M om. St.] 23376
I see Religious Orders who break their Bonds. Grace Dieu. 627
[ peryshyd St.] 2338$
and ther 1 I fond ful gret foysouw [' ther St., om. c.]
Of many dyuers Religyotw ;
and I saugh, of many oon,
The grete bondes euerychon) 23380
broke, that shuld hem wel conserve,
yef they wold hem wel observe,
Kepe hem from al aduersite,
as here-to-forn ye dede se, 23384
Whan the smale wikres 2 brak, [wyrksst. (see p. sss, above.}']
The hopes wenten al to wrak,
And many shippes for lak, alias,
Was yperysshed 3 in the same cas,
and brought vnto confusi'ouw,
(toforn as is maad 4 rnens'iouw) [* made is St.]
for lak in their gouernaunces,
Nat kepyng their obseruaunces. 23392
And her-vpon I ferther wente
to sene 5 more (in myn entente). [ 5 sene St., sen c.]
And withyne a litel space
I cam into a noble place ; 23395
and at the gate I saugh somers ;
and on hem sitte, 6 fressh of chers, [ 6 sat St.]
Aungels, of gret vertu ; [t-tynabte une]
and hafter hem, kam Grace Dieu, 23400
fresshly Ridyng in a char.
and the gate (I was wel war)
Of the castel stood vnshet.
and truely, whan I had met 23404
the Somers, I gan enquere [c. &st.]
of oon, that he wold[e] lere
goodly, and informe me, [Stowe, onieafses]
whos the somers sholde 7 be, pshoidst.] 23408
Which hadde, vpon) hir weye,
Aungels hem to conveye, \6-tviiabie line] ,,
Only for to make hem strong.
The aungel:
' To Grace Dieu,' quod he, they long.' 23412
The pilgrym:
Quod I to oon that rood behynde,
" telle me wher I shal hir fyndo."
The Pilgrim.
and divers
religions
with broken
bonds,
(as yon saw ;
when the
wickers
broke, the
hoops burst,
and the ships
sank,)
for lack of
government.
At a noble
place,
I see Angels
on horses,
and Grace
Dieu in a
Chariot.
[leaf 287, bk.]
These horses,
ridden by
Angels,
aie Grace
Dieu's.
628 Grace Dieu shows me a bad old Head of a Convent
The Pilgrim.
I go to Grace
Dieu's
chariot,
nnd tell her
my adven-
tures.
[leaf 288]
Grace Dieu.
The Pilgrim.
I follow her
thru many
dwellings.
and see
Virtues and
Vices,
an old lady,
head of a
Convent,
The Auilgel: [Stowe, leaf 365, back]
Qwod thaungel, ' as it is due,
her, in hast, she shal vs sue.' 23416
[Blank in MS. for an Illumination.]
And in my way so I me bar,
that I fonde Mr in hir char ;
and a-mong hir folkes alle,
benignely 1 she gan me calle, c 1 benyngiy st., benigiy c.] 23420
and bad I shold ek ha no fere
to telle what I dede there.
The pilgrym:
And I answeryd 2 anon) ryght, P answeryd St., answerd C.]
how I wente to haue a syght 23424
of sondry castelles (it is no doute,)
that in the couwtre stood aboute,
and of folkes gouernaunce,
that ther abood for her plesaunce. 23428
Grace clieu :
Graciously, y-wys, qwod she,
' Now thou hast yfounden me
toforn or that I was ago.
but (withoute 3 wordes mo), [ without c., st.] 23432
come and folwe on after me,
and many thynges thou shalt se.'
and she ladde me, vp and doun,
by many diuerse mans'ioun, 23436
In cloystres, as wente tho
Round about, to and fro : [6-wiiabie ime\
ther I saugh vertues and ek vices,
and many dyuerse edifices. 23440
I saugh ther places ruynous,
and to dwelle in / perillous.
she shewed me, on our walkyng,
an olde lady ther haltyng, 23444
and (as by her contenaunce,)
She hadde ther gret gouernaunce :
she bar a Rewle of a masown,
and pleyed by derysi'own, 23448
and (as I coude tho espie)
by a maner mokerye.
f minded ~by St. Benedict, whose Rule was neglected. 629
In hir hand (as I was war)
a grete 1 spoon also she bar;
and as she reysed it a-lofte,
to hir mouth she putte it ofte.
[Blank in MS. for an Illumination.]
And also (as to my reward,)
hir hed was turned ek hakward,
that toforn (as I ha mynde,)
Was turned and ysette behynde.
[Grace Dieu]:
Quod Grace dieu a-noon to me,
' at the eye thou mayst se ;
this hous (yef thou canst espye,)
whilom was by masounrye
bilt, and founded spiritually
by sent Benet, feithf ully
by lyne and level of masoun,
thorugh gostly foundac'ioun,
for which, whilom parmanable,
it was tabide the mor stable.
' conceyve also, (by my doctryne,)
thyng that is maad by rule and lyne,
In it self hath more beaute
tendure, and mor stabilite.
but whan the masoun was agoon,
the rule wente, and that a-noon,
and the lyne stood nat faire
Whan the rule gan apaire;
and thus the rule, and ek the lyne,
bothe attones gan declyne.
and feithfully, in this castel,
the rule was nat kept ryght wel ;
for, sith the halt held this place,
al good rule gan difface.
of vertu ek she is so bare,
the edifices to repare ;
for the old fundaciourc,
She hath nat but derisiouw ;
She reccheth nat what-euere falle ;
thaugh the stooncs fallen allc,
[igretC., grete St.] 23452
23456
23460
[Stowe, leaf 366]
23464
The Pilgrim.
with a great
spoon in her
hand.
Her head was
set on back-
wards.
Grace Dieu.
[leaf 288, bk.]
The house
was founded
by St.
benedict,
23468
23472
23476
but its Rules
were not
faithfully
kept.
23480
[See 1. 23,441]
23484
23488
Its Head
cari-d nothing
if its Stones
of Virtue fell
out.
630 The Convent's Mortar of Prayer and Work didn't, last.
Grace Dleu.
The Pilgrim.
[leaf 289]
I said the
masonry of
the house wag
not perman-
ent,
Grace Dint.
and the
mortar was
not stable.
It was made
first of ori-
sons and
fasting,
singin? of
masses.
' of vertu, bilden in the place ;
for, save to play and to solace,
I dar sey she, in hir werkyng*,
Intendeth to noon other thyng 1 .' [st.&c.j 23492
The Pylgrym:
" Ma dame," quod I, " to my semyng,
this place first, in his bildyng,
(Who consydereth euerydel)
the masounry was nat maad wel, 23496
Was not duely maad, nor stable,
Sith it is not parmanable."
Grace Dien: 1 [ist^ow.c.]
' Touchyng the bildyng, tak good heed :
the masounry, (it is no dreed,) 23500
I dar ful wel thy-self assure,
it was maad for to endure,
and to haue last 2 for many yer, [ a lust c., last St.]
Save oonly the morter 23504
Was not iustly (as I ha sayd)
stably among the stoones layd,
ffounded vpon true entent
more stedfastly than is cyment. 23508
' It was first maad of orisouws,
of fastyng and afflicciiouws,
to holde the cloystre round about
by stablenesse, and not gon out 23512
into the world, vagabound, [Stowe, leaf see, back]
the edifices to confound ;
but in their cloystres stille abyde
in mekenesse, and not in pryde, 23516
Haue their frequentac'iouws
in prayer and in orisouws ;
erly on morwen to aryse,
in vertu to haue excercyse ; 23520
and at festes more and lasse,
ofte tyme's synge masse.
' this was whilom, (I you ensure,)
of their morler, the temprure, 23524
founded vppoii) chary te,
on concord and fraternyte,
Every Nun does as she likes, and the Pow are neglected. 631
'In love and in perfecci'ouw,
Voyde of al devisi'ouw, 23528
In parfit pes and vnyte
of high and lowe in their degre,
for love only of crist ihesu.
'And yef the morter, in his vertu, 23532
had abide in stabilnesse,
"VVithouten eny doubleuesse,
Lich the first fundac'iouw,
The werke 1 nad not falle a-douw, [' werk c., workest.] 23536
but stable stonde in his degre.
' and now, echon ha liberte,
at J?eir lust, to slepe and wake ;
and noon other hed 2 ne take [ heode St.] 23540
forto kepe their dbseruaunce :
and thus, for lak of gouernaunce,
Pes from hem, and vnyte,
Exiled is, and charyte. 23544
' that whilom gaff drynke and foode,
and vnto pore their lyveloode,
oonly of mercy and pyte,
and, held hospitalyte ; 23548
and, of euery manere age,
gaf to pore folk herbegage,
such as thei seyen, in distresse,
in myschif, and in Seknesse.' 23552
Pilgrim : 3 p st., om . c.]
"Ma dame (and ye list take hede,)
Who hath nought, (it is no drede,)
may not parten his Almesse
to folk that Leven in distresse." 23556
Grace Dieu: 4 [* st., . co
' Thow seyst soth, (as thynketh me,)
but wher thou leggest pouerte,
whiloui thei had suffisaunce,
plente ynowh, and habuudaunce, 23560
whan thei worsheped in special [Stowe, leaf 307]
The myglity kyng that gaf hem al
suffisaunce in eucry lond ; 5 [ 5 land . . . hami St.]
but now he hath withdrawe his bond 5 23564
Grace Dieu.
[leaf 289, bk.]
pence and
unity,
and love of
Christ.
But from lack
of observance
of rules, and
of govern-
ment, peace
and unity
are exiled,
and nothing
is given to
the poor.
The Pili/rim.
But, said I,
they that
have nothing
cannot give
alms.
True, an-
svyerd Grace
Dieu,
but there
was plenty
while they
worshipt
the i;ivat
King,
I leafed]
C32 Spiders are in the Convent ; Dogs 1 dung in the Cemetery.
but now they
are careless,
and the place
IB unclean :
spiders,
swallows,
dogs' dung,
nettles and
weeds are in
it and around
it.
Christ did
justice on
those who
defiled the
temple.
[leaf 290, bk.]
But this
negligent
Head would
not reform
abuses.
She cared
only for
worldly
vanity :
' for their offences ; this the fyn :
ther goodes drawen to declyn ;
for thei be Rekles of livyng
forto seme that noble kyng ; 23568
and, for slouth and necligence,
they doon in o thyng gret offence.
ffor wher the lord (in his degre)
Duely shuld honmmre'd 1 be, p honoryd shuid St.] 23572
the place is not, with diligence,
Clenly kept with reuerence ;
for beforn, and ek behynde,
Yraynes and webbes men may fynde ; 23576
and also ek, (yef thou take hede,)
Swalwes and othre bryddes brede;
and also ek (through al their boundes)
dong of dogge's and ek of houndes, 23580
nettles and wede's round aboute,
in cymyterys ful gret route,
lich a disert or places 2 wilde, ['place St.]
wher no man hath lust to bilde, 23584
Replevisshed of al ordure,
as it were withouten cure ;
and many oother dishonestes,
bestial in ther degres, 23588
inor than I can here devyse.
' and crist ihesus dede iustyse
on hem that in the temple solde :
because oonly thei were bolde 23592
to done dishonnour to his hous,
he was in party Regerous,
As the gospel kan you telle ;
he bett hem out with a flagelle, 23596
That noon of hem durst abyde.
* Wherfore this halte that here is guyde,
list nat, of hir frowardnesse,
suche 3 thynges to redresse, p suche St., such c.] 23600
nor do semyse in hir werkyng
for tentende vpon) the kyng :
her look, hir cher, (as ye may se,)
is vpon) worldly vanyte, 23604
God will avenge this. Abuses have crept in, & Gluttony.
' and al hir hertes besynesse, ora
633
[ ezechiell St.]
23620
[* St., om. CJ
' and al hir hertes besynesse,
rather than on holynesse ;
for which the kyng (iustly and wel,
that considereth euerydel) [stowe, leaf sev, back] 23608
hem to quyte wil not cesse,
maketh their goodes to discresse ;
and, for their pompe and their pryde,
Set her Kichesse out a-syde, 23612
amenusyng their substance,
their tresour and their habundance,
"Which made hem first their 1 lord forsake.
'therfore he can it fro hem take [ theyr St., the c.] 23616
Whan-euere he list, who loke wel ;
ffor the Prophete Ezechel 2
Writeth, (who so taketh hede)
Idelnesse, plente of bred,
caused (in conclusi'ouw)
of Sodom the distrucci'oun.'
Pilgrim : 3
" I pray yov, telle on a-noon ryght,
She that halteth iu my syght,
What is hir name, and hir offys,
of whom ye sette 4 so litel prys ] "
Grace Dieu: 5
' To make a playn discripciourc,
She is called ' Abus'iouw,'
because, the good that god hath sent,
by hir thei ben wrongly dispent, 6
And ageyn his wul 7 abused ;
Wherof she may nat ben excused.
' She halt a rule of a masouw,
only by fals collusiourc ;
for, to the rule that she is bounde,
(Whan the trouth is sough[t] 8 and f ouncle, [ 8 known st.]
Therto she haveth no reward,) 23637
Hir hed ytourned is bakward ;
Vnto the world she cast hir look,
Wich, vnder colour, she forsook. 23640
' hir spon also doth signefye
the foule vice of Glotonye,
23624
[* is set St.]
[5 St., om. C.]
23628
[ spent St.]
17 will St.]
Grace Dieu.
and the king
will not fail
to take
redress for
these evils.
As Ezekiel
said,
idleness was
the destruc-
tion of
Sodom.
The Pilgrim.
I ask who
this bad Head
of a Convent
is.
Grace Dieu.
This Head ia
' Abuse,"
23632 [leaf 291]
and has her
head turned
backward.
Her Spoon
signifies
Gluttony.
634 In Convents, the community of goods is gone.
.Grace Dieit.
She has for-
saken the
unity of
antiquity,
and dis-
covered the
viue of
Property,
using the
Spoon of In-
dividualism,
usurping the
fat, and leav-
ing the lean,
[leaf 291, bk.]
not like
shepherds,
but like
ravenous
wolves,
getting goods
with the
spoon of In-
dividualism,
and obtaining
Christ's,
curse.
' for, ageyn ryght and al Resouw,
by force and vsurpaci'ouw, 23644
she hath forsake the vnyte
of fraternal antiquyte,
by perfecciowi to centime
to haue hir goode's in comune. 23648
' but this fals Abus'iouw,
only by vsurpaciouw
In Religious (who list se),
fonde out the vice of propurte, 23652
Which is thyng most vicious,
rennyng among religious, [stowe,
Which causeth ofte discord and stryf,
contrary to Thapostles lyf.
' In p?*opurte (ye may ther rede)
thei ne dide nothyng possede ;
her good was comouw, in certeyn.
Wherfore the Spon that thou hast seyn] 23660
ys callede ' Syngularyte,'
thyng to possede in propurte ;
to gedre the fatte (thus I mene,)
vnto hir self, and leve the lene : 23664
As the Prophete Ezechiel,
to the sheperdes of Israel
Spak and wrot, f ul yore a-go :
' Sorwe be to you, and wo, 23668
that ne take to nothyng hede,
but your silven 1 forto fede ; [' seivs St.]
not lik sheperdes of cristus hous ;
but verray wolves Ravinous, 23672
liggyng awayt, bothe nyght and day,
forto devoure what thei may :
they take bothe mylk and wolle ;
and the fatte, away thei pulle 23676
with the spoon of cruelte
ycalled Syngularyte,
thei Robbe pantener and purs,
and gete hem ofte Cristes cours. 2 [ 2 curs St.] 23680
' ffor which cause, I, Abusiiouw,
am come of entenc'iouM
So the property they have misused is given to worthier folk. 635
' Such abusi'ouws to se,
and their superfluyte
to kutte away, which that thei vse,
and their goodes to amenuse.
' The Aungels han hem take away,
Which thou mettest this same day,
With grete some?*s in sothnesse,
ledyng away the gret Eichesse,
to parte it (of entenc'iouw)
to folk that in deuocioiw
lede her lives in comune,
and in deuociouw do contune ;
such as in god gretly delyte,
fro good to bet alway profyte.
' figure herof , ye may se,
how that by olde Antiquyte,
the bible ful wel can you tel,
how the childre of Israel
took of Egypt the Tresour
In recompense of her labour.
As for guerdouw, by dwete
Whan they passed the rede Se,
they tooke in thyng by Eobberye,
as clerkes list to specifye ;
they bare 1 with hem gret substaunce,
only by Godde's ordynaunce,
Egipciens (it is no drede)
Were not worthy it to possede.
' and som folk deme off Resoun,
that folk that haue possessi'ouw,
and ben cursed of livyng,
It is leful (by their demyng)
forto spoylle hem duely,
and yeve it hem that ben worthy.'
Pilgrim : 2
Touchyng that oppynyouw,
thus I answerd of Resouw :
" god ne doth nat thus alway,
who that conceyveth, day by day ;
for ther ys many an vsurer
Grace Dieu,
23684
But the
Angels
23688 have carried
off their
wealth,
to part it
among de-
voutfbik.
[Stowe, leaf 368, back]
_ _
23692
23696
23700 The Israelites
took the
treasure of
Egypt
23704 [leaf 292]
[i bare St., bar C.]
23708 by God's
decree ;
and some
folk hold
23712 that evil
men's goods
may be law-
fully taken
[ St., om. C.]
and given to
the worthy.
The Pi/prim.
Hut Ood let
many usurers
23720 exist,
636 Convents were endowd far Prayer and Worship.
The Pilgrim.
who possess
unworthily
and give not
to the poor.
Grace Dieu.
They shall
give account
to God;
[leaf 292, bk.]
but the pos-
sessions of
religious
houses
came by way
of alms,
that the
monks might
pray for the
louuders.
" in dyuers londes fer and ner,
that wynne gold ful cursedly,
and it possede ful 1 vnworthily, [ fai, om. St.] 23724=
how falsly that they come therto ;
and god suffreth that it be so ;
and yet, to pore they yeve no thyng,
though they be ryghtful of livyng." 23728
Grace Dieu: 2 pst.om.c.]
' As to thy conclusions,
ther is noon solucioun :
god gaf neuere (fer nor ner,)
licence to noon vsurer, 23732
that he shuld (I the ensure)
ben admytted to fals vsure.
god suffreth hem to ban tresour,
gold, Eichesse, and gret honour : 23736
of al the tresour that they weld,
To hym they shal acountes yeld. [c. & St.]
first, they it wan 3 by violence, pytwanst.]
of god hauyng no licence ; 23740
wherfor, to their Dampnaci'ouw,
hd suffreth their pocessi'ouw,
as he hadde 4 no reward ; [* had c., St.]
but he wil punysshe hem afterward, 23744
(though they for a while habound,)
the vice of Vsure to confound.
' but goode's of religious,
that was yeve in-to 5 her hous ['wntost.] 23748
In ther first foundac'iouw,
their tresour and possessions,
it was yove hem of almesse
for their grete perfitnesse, 23752
of entent that, day and nyght, [stowe, leaf 869]
that they shold, with al their myght,
Worshepe god with grete honours,
and truely pray for their foundours. 23756
' and iustly, this condiciouw
is worth an obligac'ioim.
that 6 whan it falleth their fooly, [then St.]
that thei not vse duely 23760
If these fail, the Goods are taken, as Israel spoilt Egypt. 637
' their offices as thei sholde do,
to kepe ther obseruaunces also
(lich to their profess'ioura)
in prayer and deuociouw, 23764
god wil, of his ryghtful lawe,
to chastice hem, his hond with-drawe,
suffre her goode's to vnthryve,
but if thei. amende hem blive ; 23768
yive it to hem that wil hym seme,
and his comandementes obserue.
' herof ye may sen a figure
fful wel rehersed in scripture : 23772
In Egipt whilom, how it fel,
Whan the childre of Israel
Wher 1 ther in subiecci'ouw p were St.]
al that ilke regiouw ; 23776
thorugh their travaiH and labour,
was maad ryche of gret tresour ;
but afterward (as ye may se)
Vij yeres of Sterylite 23780
folwed on, (as ye may red,)
wherof loseph took good hed
long a-forn, of high prudence ;
and faugh his noble providence, 23784
Ageyn the hunger, Eche syde, 2 l* eche syde St., ech a syde c.]
ful prudently gan to provide,
and shop ther-fore a remedye,
(as Genesis doth specifye ;) 23788
for, thorugh the myght of godde's hond,
he sustened al the lond
from hunger and aduersite,
The vij yer of Sterilite. 23792
' but of al this grete dede,
thei of Egipt took non hede,
to thank en (in especial)
the myghti lord that gaf hem al ; 23796
nor wolde suffre, in no wyse,
Israel do sacrifyse ;
but held in subiecciouw,
out of the lond of promyssiouw. 23800
Grace Dieu.
If they do not
so pray, God
will chastise
them.
See a type
iu Egypt.
[leaf 293]
After the
Israelites
had enricht
it,
came seven
years of
famine.
These were
provided for
by Joseph,
but the
Egyptians
did not thank
God.
They held
the Israelites
in bondage ;
638 Vicious folks' Riches shall be given to the Virtuous.
Grace Dieu.
[leaf 293, bk.]
as a reward
for their
virtue.
The PUgrirn.
Yet I have
eeen many
devout people
in poverty.
Why does
God Buffer
this?
Grace Difti.
23804
[Stowe, leaf 369, back]
23808
23812
[C. & St.]
' wherf ore, merveille neuere a del,
thaugh god suffred Israel,
oonly of his ryghtwesnesse,
to robben hem of their Bichesse,
and spoylen hem of their Tresour.
god gaf it hem for their labour,
And as for a mede in guerdouw,
Departyng from that Kegioim.
' They hadde disserued it of yore,
by gret labour that sat hem sore,
thorugh cdnstreynt of Kyng Pharao,
which wolde not suffren hem to go,
Xor to departe in rest and pes,
for no massage of MoyseS ; x C 1 message off mosese St.]
but put hem euere in delay,
1 and thus the lord can take a- way
Eichesse of folkes vicious,
and yive it hem that be vertuous ;
As he hath done here in this place :
thou mayst beholde it with thy face.'
Pilgrim : 2
" Certe,s-," qiiod I with hevy cher,
" In other places mo than her
(to telle shortly, and not tarye)
I ha beholde the contrary,
wher folk, by gret deuoc'iou?z,
han kept their religious
ful streytly, in gret honeste,
that han falle in poueHe,
bothe of liflood and vesture,
that thei myghte 3 nat endure, [ 3 myght c., St.]
Mischef hath hem brought so lowe.
and fayn I wold the cause knowe,
why god wil suffre their grevaunce,
forto lakke their suffisaunce."
Grace Dieu: 4
Qwod Grace Dieu a-noon to me,
' I wil herof answere the,
and make therof no gret delay ;
but her cometh oou nov in our way,
23816
23820
[ St., out. C.]
23824
23828
23832
[* St., om. C.]
23836
The Dwarf ' Sterility ' who dwelt seven years in Egypt. 639
4 and I wil first, of good resouw,
knowen his entencioiw ; 23840
or go thy self, by my biddyng 1 ,
And axe the cause of his comyng 1 .'
And sodeynly, good bede I took ;
and cast on syde on hym my look, 23844
which, lich a dwerf, (this the caas,)
of his fetures shapen was.
a pyk of Iren, sharp and longe,
he held, that was of makyng strong*. 23848
Pilgrim : l [Blank in MS. for an Illumination.']
And to me- ward his look he layde. [ St., <m. c.]
but first, to hym ryght thus I sayde.
" Telle on, thou dwerf, (ha no shame,)
To vs, thyn office and thy name." 23852
Sterelite: 2 cst.,o.c.]
' I called am (yef thou list se)
Of folkes alle, 'Sterility,' [stowe, leaf 370]
which ha this hous maad ful bareyn,
bothe of frut and ek of greyn. 23856
Ther good, their lond, (yef it be sought,)
I ha distruyed and brought to nought :
This my craft and myn offys ;
and therfor (by gret avys) 23860
to caste folk in pouerte,
I am called ' Sterilite ; '
foul and ougly of look and cher :
In Egypt I dwelled vij yer. 23864
wher I abyde, (be wel certeyn,)
I make the land to be bareyn.'
Grace Dieu : 3 p St., om. c.]
Qwod Grace Dieu, ' a litel space,
Go thy way out of this place ; 23868
and what-so-euere herafter falle,
whan me list, I shal the calle.'
And whan that tourned was his bak,
Grace dieu thus to me spak : 23872
' touchyng the goode's, day be day,
which that I ha take away
fro this place here present,
Grace Dieu.
[leaf 294]
The Pilgrim.
A Dwarf
approaches,
Sterility.
named
'Sterility,'
who dwelt
7 years in
Egypt,
Grace Dieu.
and is sent
away by
Grace Dieu.
[leaf 291, bk.]
640' Grace Dieu sends me to the Cellarer 'Purveyance.'
Grace Dieu
23876
bids me go to
the Cellarer,
' Purvey-
ance.'
She will never
return
to the Con-
vent till
Virtue again
reigns there.
[leaf 295]
The Pilgrim.
Grace Dieu
departs in
her chariot.
I sro to the
Cellarer,
' I dide [it] oonly of entent
that other folk shold it possede,
which (bothe in wark and ek in dede,)
lede her lyf in perfitnesse,
In vertu, and more holynesse
than thei which that her now be.
' and touchyng that thou askest me,
Thou shalt haue answere therof noon,
but first, I charge the to goon
to hir that is the Selerere
of this place that stondeth here ;
aske hir (that thou mayst conceyve)
touchyng the good she doth receyve,
to telle the playnly al the guyse,
how it is spent, and in what wyse.
and, hir to knowe among hem alle,
' Purveyaunce ' folk hir calle.
and whan she hath declared al,
thou shalt haue (in special)
of the demauwde (by good resouw)
a true Declarac'iouw,
as it accordeth and is dwe.
' and forth my Somera I wil swe ;
for, in this place, on no syde,
I caste me no longer to abyde ;
nor neuere (to speke in worde's playn)
hider 1 to retourne agayn,
til the tyme that I may se
that vertu and honeste
Kesorte by deuoci'ouw
Into thys Eeligiouw.'
And with that word, (as I was war,)
I saugh hir gon in-to hir char,
and in this while (of good entent,
lich to hir comandement)
I wente with a sobre chere,
forth vnto the celere[re],
and, my iourne to avaunce,
I knewe 2 hir by hir contenauncc ; [ s knew St., knowe c.j
for (the trouthe 3 to expresse) ptrouthcj
23880
23884
23888
23892
23896
23900
[i hethar St.]
[Stowe, leaf 370, back] 23904
23908
23912
Everything given to Convents is wasted and spent. 641
P playn troutli C., playn
truthe St.]
She was of gret sobrenesse, 23916
of gret reuerence and honeste,
and of gret matury te ;
saad of look, and ek of cher,
Egle-eye<J, bryght and cler. 23920
[The Pilgrim]:
" Ma dame," quod I, "of good entent,
Grace Dieu hath to you sent,
that ye sholde (in wordes fewe) 23923
the playne trouthe 1 to me shewe,
wher ye putte the rychesse
that ye receyve, in sothfastnesse."
Celerar : 2 p st., after i. 23928, om. c.]
And she that spak no word in vyyn,
to me answerd thus agayn ; 23928
' al that I haue in my depos,
from hir ther shal nothyng be clos.
Kome forth in hast, and folwe me,
and thou shalt the trouthe 3 se.' ptrouth c., truthe st.] 23932
and I cam after (for the best),
and she gan vnlokke a chest,
the whiche, 4 whan I dede se, [ 4 whiche St., which c.]
I gan gretly abasshe me, 23936
for the huchche (it is no doute)
was ful of holes round aboute ;
and at ech hole (as though te 5 me) [ 5 thought c., thowght st.]
an hand put out, I elide se, 23940
(who 6 -so euere slepe or wake) [ 6 wher c., who st.]
Kedy to receyve and 7 take. p and st., and to c.]
Pilgrim : 8 [Blank for Illumination.] [ 8 st., om. c.]
I prayed her, to specifye
what thyng it dede signefye. 23944
Celerar: 9 pst.,om.c.]
' To telle, and voiden al deceyt,
this the place of the receyt
of goodes, which that, day and nyght,
kome to this place of verray ryght, 23948
(forto speke in general,)
but this handes consumen al,
Spende and waste on euery syele, [stowe, leaf 371]
PILGRIMAGE. T T
and ask her
where she
puts the
goods given
her.
Providence,
the Cellarer.
She bids me
follow her
to a chest,
full of holes
with hands
stretching
out of em.
[leaf 295, bk.]
The Pilgrim.
The Cellarer.
This place is
the Receipt
of Goods.
Everything
that cornea in
is consumed
by the
Hands :
The three Hands that grab the G'lmrctis goods.
The Cellarer,
'Providence.
nothing is
left for the
poor.
The Pilgrim.
Providence,
the Cellarer.
The Hands
thut take
Cliurcli goods
are:
1. The hand
of Dimes, or
Tenths for
the king ;
[leaf 296]
2. that of the
Collector for
t rentals,
bulls, con-
tributions,
etc.
The Hands
waste the
goods of
holy church.
3. The Hand
with an Eye
in it
is that of the
Visitor,
' that ther may no thyng abyde, 23952
for to departe by almesse
to folk that liven in distressed
Pilgrim : l [ l st., om. c.]
" Ma dame," quod I, "as semeth me,
ye sholde, of ryght and equyte, 23956
The handes kerve, and kutte away,
and stoppe the holes nyght and day."
Provide[n]s Celerar : 2 p st., om. c.]
Qttod Providence anoon to me,
' Thes, ben the handes thre, [&-t v ii<a,ie line] 23960
which that theve's (by assent)
ar wont to vsen (of eutent),
I mene, pyratys of the Se,
Avhich brynge folk in pouerte. 23964
' The first hand of alle thre,
ys called (lerne this of me,)
' the hand of Dymes,' by gadryng,
To gadre vp dyme's for the kyng. 23968
' the to ther hand, ful sore pulles
gold for trentals and for bulles,
and dyuers subuenc'iou?zs
and grevous contribuci'ouws, 23972
graunted (in especial)
at Chipytres 3 general. p chapters st.]
the handes do no thyng, nor werche,
but waste the good of holy cherche.' 23976
Pilgrim : 4 [* st., om. c.]
"What hand is that (telle on, let Se,)
Which hath an Eye (as thynketh me,)
Sett in the mydde's of the hand ?
for I saugh neuere (on Se nor land) 23980
Such another hor-toforn,
Sith the tyme that I was born."
Providens : 5 p st., om. c.]
' Be nat astonyed, neue?'e a del !
this hand is (who so loke wel,) 23984
of our noble Visitour,
Which doth his peyne and his labour
to looke for lucre and fals guerdon??,
Church Visitors seek Money, not Right. I meet Apostasy. 643
Providence.
who always
j" oks for
menMn for
wroug -
So we are
very poor.
The Pilgrim.
[leaf 296, bk.]
and meet an
old woman,
' alvvay, for retribncfoun; 23988
they caste her eye for wynnyng,
and, ryght nought for amendyng ;
take (in their entenc'iovms,)
pans for 1 procuraciouns. [Undst.] 23992
ther entent, in no wyse, [6-iyiiabie ]
ys sett on ryght nor on iustice.
' ek other hande's, mo than thre,
han cast vs in gret pouerte.' 23996
[The Pilgrim:]
With that word, makyng no delay,
I took my leve and wente away. 2 [stowe, leaf 371, back]
I hadde no leve, (shortly to telle,) [* my way st.]
but shop me horn to my castel. 24000 i go away,
And on my waye, 3 me be-fel, [ 3 way c., st.]
[No gap in either MS.]
I mette an olde oon in that tyde,
that to me kam on the left syde, 24004
Of whos look I was affrayed! :
hir hande's partid, and displayed!
vpward to a castel wal,
resemblyng (as me thought in al) 24008
That hir entent was to ascende
vpon the wal, or to descende.
a blak Eavoun 4 (it is no doute,) [*ra\-yn st.]
took his ftyght ful round aboute, 24012
Wher-so-euere that she went,
and I knewh nothyng what it ment ;
[UlanJc in MS. for an Illumination.]
But I caste, withynne a throwe,
playnly that I wolde 5 knowej [ s wold c., would st.] 24016
of al thys thyng som evidence ;
and wente a-noon to hir p?*esence.
and first of al, I gan enquerc,
to telle me what she dido there ; 24020
of name and of condici'ouTi
Make a declaracioim.
Apostacye : c [" st., om. c.]
Quod she, ' yef thou konne espye,
I am called 'Apostacye,' 24024
witb a black
Haven flying
round her.
I ask who
Mir is.
Apottaty.
She is 'Apo-
stasy,'
044 Apostasy acts like Noah's Raven; she doesn't return.
Apoitatu.
who set her
hand to the
plough,
[leaf 297]
but turnd
back
to worldly
vanity.
She often
meant to turn
back to the
King,
but the Raven
itopt her,
with his cry
of Cras, eras !
As the raven
retijrnd not
again to
Noah,
[i best C., St.]
[done St.] 24028
P plughe St.]
P worldly St.]
24036
[ round St.]
24040
' which whilom, of entenci'ouw,
made my professi'ouw,
In al my beste 1 feythful wyse,
for to ha do 2 truely semyse
duryng my lif, vnto the kyng
that is most myghty of werkyng.
' I sette myn hand? vnto the plough ; 3 24031
But I haue hym falsed? ynough, 4 [* ynughe st., nough c.]
tourned the bak (as thou mayst se)
vnto wordly 5 vanyte,
left myn homage, trouth and al,
and am kome doun ouere the wal
for vayn glorie (out of doute) ;
In many countre ro&ne 6 aboute,
of entent, for to purchaas
prospmte and vayn solas.
' and yet ful ofte (in many caas,)
myn entent and purpos was,
fro worldly glorie, fals and vayn,
to haue tourned horn 7 agayn, [ 7 ?Ms.,hemc.,themst.] 24044
and amended my livyng
In the seruyse of the kyng ;
but truely (it is no nay) [stowe, leaf 372]
the Kavoun 8 was euere in my way.' p raven st] 24048
Pilgrim : 9
" Truely, and thou dedest wel,
thou sholdest lette neuere a del
for to delaye so thy paas.
thaugh that he crye on the", ' eras, eras,
thou sholdest 10 remembre the among 1 , [' shuist st.]
and take noon hede vnto his song 1 ."
Apostasie : u
' The trouthe 12 forto specifye,
I folwe, in 13 myn Apostasy e,
In my passage vp and dowi,
the Ravenes condiciouw,
that whilom was of Noe sent
out of the arkc, of entent
to beholden how it stood*,
of the deluge and the flood?
[9 St., om. C.I
24052
[ St., om. C.]
trouth C., truthe St.]
[ in, om. St.] 24056
24060
Noah's Raven calls ' Cras,' to-mwow : so Apostasy delays. C45
' boyllyng with many sturdy wawe ;
Wlier the water gan withdrawe. 24064
' but the Raven fond 1 a kareyn ;
therfore he cam not agayn.
and I stonde in the same caas,
abyde, and synge alway ' eras, eras,' [c.&st.] 24068
makyng many fals delayes,
and prolonge forth my dayes,
forto Resorten horn ageyn,
and spende 1 thus my tyme in veyn.' [ spend c.] 24072
Pilgrim : 2 p st., o. c.]
" Thy werkes (yef I shal not tarye)
ben vnhappy and contrarye ;
and thyn handes, bo the two,
ben yperced porugh also. 24076
greyn nor frut, vpon) no syde,
In no wyse wyl abyde ;
for shortly (who so list to sek)
al goth thorugh, and wasteth ek. 3 p seke . . eke st.j 24080
Who-so-eue/-e the trouthe atame,
thy tonge is dampned, and ek lame,
that it may seyn noon orisouw,
nor make no supplicaci'ouw, 24084
Which sholde ben acceptable
vnto that kyng most hon<wrable.
he is not plesed, (on nco syde,)
Whil in this staat thou dost abyde, 24088
and hast no purpos to Retourne, 4 [* for to toum st.]
but in the world dost ay soiowme."
Apostacie : 5 [ 5 st., om . c.]
' True'ly, to thy sentence
I may yeve ful credence; 24092
for Seynt Poule hym-silfe 6 saith, [seifest., sure.]
(to whom, men must yeve fayth,
and ful beleve to his word,) [stowe, leaf 372, back]
' who is not withynne shippes 7 bord, U syppes St.] 24096
stant in perail of Perysshyng,
and on the poynt of his drownyng,'
fel fer from his savaci'owi,
il'ur lakkyug of ditjcrdciouw. 24100
Apottaiy.
[leaf 297, bk.]
so Apostasy
returns not
again,
but always
sings Cras,
to-morrow.
The Pilgrim.
Her tongue
says no
prayer or
supplication
acceptable
to the King.
Apostasy.
As St. Paul
HHitll,
he who is
not within
the ship,
stands in
danger of
drowning.
[leaf 298]
C4G / tell Apostasy to return. Age and Sickness come to me.
Apoitaty.
She doubts
whether, if
she returnd
to God,
she would
find grace.
The Pilgrim.
I assure her
that she will
find grace,
if the will
devoutly fix
her heart on
God.
Then I go
home
and relate
all I have
seen.
[leaf 298, bk.]
Two Messen-
gers, ' Age '
and 'Sick-
ness,' come
to me,
' and I wot wel, for my partye,
I issed 1 out thorugh my folye ;
Wherfore I stonde in nonece/'teyn,
yef I retourned liom ageyn,
wher I sholde grace haue,
therby my soule for 2 to save.'
Pilgrim : 3
" ne doute the nat to tourne ageyn,
but be therof ryght wel certeyn,
That of grace thou shalt not faille,
So that thou make a 4 stoupaille
of the hoole's that open 5 be
in thyn handes (as thou maist se),
this to mene, in sentement,
that playn and hool be thyn enteut,
grounded on perfecciou?i ;
and that, by gret deuoci'ouw,
that thou make thyn herte stable,
and of entent not variable,
look her-to on eue?-y syde,
for I may no longer abyde,
for, I caste me a-noon,
horn to my castel forto goon,
and by the nexte' waye 6 wende,
and ther, vnto my lives ende,
abiden in the same place,
lik as god wil yeve me gmce."
and whan I was kome horn ageyn,
of al that euere I had seyn,
I made playn Eelaciou?i
to folk of that Religiou?z ;
and afterward (I you ensure,)
ther fel a wonder aventure,
the whiche, 7 whan I dede aduerte,
yt liked? nothyng 1 to myn herte :
I saw tweyne olde (by assent,)
Kome to me of oon entent,
Wonder dyuers of her cheres ;
and bothe two wer massageres : s
the toon of hem (I was wel war)
[' yswyd St.]
24104
[' for St., om. C.]
[3 St., om. C.]
24108
[*aom. St.]
[ 5 St., apon C.]
24112
24116
24120
[ 6 St., next way C.]
24124
24128
24132
[" which C., whiehe St.]
[St. & C.]
24136
[ 8 messengers St.,
manager C.]
Age and Sickness come from Death, to warn me.
047
ag c.]
24144
*g* *a
Stckne*i.
on the part
">*
Vpon hir bak, a bed she bar ; 24140 The pilgrim.
The totlier (if I sluil not feyne)
bar also, patentes tweyne ;
the toon also, in hir commyng,' [t ^
gird with a baudrek, for wrastelyng :
In their corayng I fonde gret lak,
aud evene thus to me they spak :
Age & Sicknes : 2 p st., <. c.]
( deth,' quod they, ' hath to the sent
bothe vs tweyne, of entent, 24148
pleynly to the to declare,
that hym self ne wil not spare
forto come to the anoon ;
and bad, aforn we sholdo 3 goon, p shoid c., shuid st.] 24152
and done our fulle besynesse,
with al our myghte, the to oppress, 4 c * tapTS^.?"
and not departe fro the at al,
til thou be cast, and haue a fal, 24156
that he may, at his commyiiir*.
(' J '
fynde the, by our workyng 1 ,
1 J J '
So awhape'J? and amat,
that he may seyn to the, ' chek mat.' ' 24160
Pilgrim : 5 [Blank for Illumination.] [ s st., om. c.]
Q^od I, "declareth vnto me,
ftirst of allc, what ye be.
I knowe not your gouernaunce ;
With deth I ha non unueynt:iunce : 24164
and yef that he be your maystresse,
I pray you, iirst, that ye expresse
your office, and your smiyse,
and your names doth devyse." 24168
Age & Sicklies : 6 [ B st., om. c.]
Quod, they, ' it wer not but in veyu,
With vs to stry ve, or wynse ageyn j
for, ther is noon 7 so hardy, C 7 none St.]
so wys, so Eiche, so myghty, 24172
that may, by force nor 8 allye, [" or st.]
J ' J
holden with vs Champartye.
' for deth hath had, ful yore agoon,
1 1 I-' i! P 11 1 .HIT
lordshipe of folkes euerychoon ; 2 i 1 < 6
and say that
he will soon
follow,
and check-
ma t me -
[leaf 2;w]
i have no
acqunintance
with Death.
i if who
They a >-
il is in vain
to strive with
onesomighiy
-ho is Ruler
oft ' Vel 'i r " C -
G48
Age and
Sick nett .
and is more
feard by lords
and kings
than the poor,
who often
wish to be
dead.
Death hag
ent to warn
me that I
shall not
escape him.
Siekneil.
The Messen-
gers are
Sickness*
and 'Old
[leaf 299, bk.]
Age.'
And tho'
Medicine,
with her
drinks
and apothe-
caries stuff,
saves folk for
a time,
yet Sickness
and Death
have the
mastery in
the end.
Death warns me that I cannot escape him.
' for, who considereth alle thynges,
Drad more of lordes and of kynges
than of folkes (who list se)
which that duellen in poue?'te. 24180
for pore folk that lakke l bred 1 , C 1 lak c., lake St.]
desire ful ofte 2 to ben dedf. [* desyr ofte for St.]
' and, yef thou aryght behold*,
vnto deth thou art yhold*, 24184
that he, toforn 3 hath to the sent ; l 3 to tofom c.]
for ofte, without avisement
he cometh to folkes vnwarly, .
and hem assailleth sodeynly, 24188
though the contrary had sworn,
but, he hath vs sent to-forn,
a<5 rrm <j-i <Tf>T-<s 4 fn war-Tip t.ViP [Stowe, leaf 273, back]
as massagers 10 warnt wie , ^ Ir , eggellger g st ]
from his power thou may st 5 not fle ; ['may st.] 24192
and ech of vs (withoute blame)
Shal declare the his name.'
[Sekenesse :]
The firste 6 to me dede exp?*esse : [ first c., St.]
quod she, 'my name is Sekenesse. 24196
helthe and I, but litel space [St. & c.]
May abiden in place,
we wrastlen ofte (as men may se) ;
som while she venquyssheth me, 24200
and, som tyme, 7 in c^rteyn,
I over-throwe hir ageyn,
make hir forto bowe hir chyne.
and, ne were 8 that medicyne
ys cause that she doth releve,
my sayllyng shold hir often greve.
but, maugre hir potaci'ouns
and dyuerse confecc'iouns,
and other sondry lettuaryes
Maked at the potycaryes,
bothe emplastres drye and moystes,
and oynementes put in boystes,
yet deth and I (who lyst espye)
Haue, at the laste, 9 the maystrye. p last c., St.]
' first I souke vp (for the nones)
[" some tym St.]
[8 ware St., wer C.] 24204
24208
24212
PyscallySt] 24220
24224
P St., om. C.]
[* messenger St.]
P shold C., shuld St.]
[St.,om.C.]
[7 this St.]
24228
24232
sycknwse St.] 24236
[Stowe, leaf 874]
Sickness
sucks up
folks' mar-
row
and vital
power;
The Pilgrim.
Sickne.
but she gives
sick folk
time for
repentance.
[leaf 300]
How Sickness troubles Folk, and makes them Repent. 649
' the mary closed in the bones, 24216 sickneu.
and (wher that it be bad or good,)
waste 1 the flessh, and drynke the blood; c 1 wast St., baste c.]
And thus my silf, I cdnsume al
the vertu that called is 2 ' vital' ;
and at the last (who list knowe,)
ley hym in a bed ful lowe,
That deth may (withouten stryf)
a-noon bereve hym of his lyf.'
Pilgrim : 3
" Sothly, thou art no massagere, 4
to whom men sholde 5 make chere."
Secnes : 6
1 ff or sothe, yis, 7 (who taketh hede,)
folk ar holde to me in dede ;
for, sike folkes to avaunce,
I make hem to ha repentaunce
Whan she was put out of mynde,
and therby, a mene fynde,
that folkes, by contricioun,
may come to their savac'iouw ;
for proudest folkes, (as I gesse,)
I chastyse with Seknesse. 8
' and first, I haue gret delit,
from hem to take their appetit ;
their .v. witte's and Resoun,
I be-reve hem, vp and doun,
make (as thou shalt vnderstonde,)
folk so feble, thei may not stoiide.
' and we be come to the bly ve,
with the to wrastlen and to stryve.'
Pilgrim : 9
" Or ye to me don eny shame,
let me first knowen the name
of the tother massager, 10
That loketh with so fel a cher."
Sicknes : n
' I graunte wel she shal the telle,
yef thou wilt a while 12 duelle.'
Age : 13
[ftvC]
24240
Their appe-
tite is lost
first;
then the 5
senses, then
reason.
24244
[ St., om. C.]
[ 10 messenger St.]
24248
[ St., om. C.]
[" whil C., whlll St.]
[" St., om. C.j
The Pilgrim.
I ask who the
2nd Messen-
ger is.
Sicknett.
Old Age.
650 Old Age, Death's Courier, brings me two Summonses.
pr<l Age.
She is 'Old
Age,'
who plucks
the fresh
feathers of
Youth,
and is the
Courier of
Death.
[leaf 800, bk.]
Her empty
skin
and shriveld
visage show
she m uld.
But she
excels in
knowledge.
The Pilgrim.
1 bid her tell
me what her
Patents are,
and then go.
she, ' of folkes that ben sage,
I am of custom called ' Age,'
Contraii'ous (as it is kouth)
to hir that is ycalled! Youth,
which whilom had (thou myghtest 1 se)
fresshfi fetheres forto fle.
but Age hath plukked! hem away,
that vnnethe 2 gon I may; "~ 'Tf vnneth c., vnnethe St.]
my fet be now (who taketh hede)
hevy as they were of lede ;
I may not gon, but with labour,
and yet of Deth I am corour,
knowe 3 in Couratres fer and ner.
'And 4 who that is a massager, 5
Wher he holdeth his passage,
mut do truely his massage, 6
and the trouthe 7 telle of ryght.
' I am vnweldy, and not lyght ;
and (to speke in worde's fewe,)
myn empty skyn doth wel shewe
what that I am ; and ouer more,
thou mayst se, by my lokke's hore,
and by ryvels of 8 my visage,
How that I am called ' Age,'
of whom, folkes that 9 discerne,
may ful many thynges lerne.
' though that wasted! be my blood?,
I ha seyn bothe evel and good ;
Preved? (if I shal not feyne)
ende and gywnyng of bothe tweyne.
age, in konnyng* doth excelle ;
who muche seth, can muche' telle :
no man in komiyng 1 (this, the chef,) 24283
withoute 10 syght may ha no pref.' [ 10 without c., withe out St.]
Pilgrim: 11 [nst., ,.c.]
" To here now, myn entent is, [stowe, leaf 37*. back]
what betokne thi pateutes ;
and after that, make no delay,
but take thy leve, and go thy way." 24288
Age : l - , L 12 st,, vm. c.]
24252
24256
24260
P knowne St.]
[*St.] [ s messenger St.] '
24265
[ message St.]
[" trouth C., truthe St.]
24268
24272
[ in St.]
[ folk that C., folke that St.]
24276
24280
Old Age will guide me to Death. Her two Patents. 651
P towardethc., toward
deatlie S>t.J
' wher-so it like the, or displese,
I wil abiden at myn eese,
And fro this place not retourne,
but eue? - e in on with the 1 soiourne. [ l the om. c., the st.]
I may not parte lyghtly a-way, 24293
as Youthe dede this other day.
She the 2 forsook (in verray dede) [ the om. St.]
whan thou haddest to hir most nede; 24296
she went hir way, and took hir flyght,
and fled a-noon out of thy syght ;
caste hir neuere to come ageyn :
to looken after, wer but veyn. 24300
but I, be leyser mut abyde,
toward dethe 3 to be thy guyde
J o J
for, til deth come, I vndertake
that I shal the not forsake. 24304
' I haue doon my besy peyne.
to brynge the patentes 4 tweyne, [* patents c., St.]
oonly of fauour, for 5 thy best ; [ 5 to St.]
ther-vp-on that thou mayst reste, 24308
and of noon entenci'ou?i
to take fro the thy bordouw :
to the, bothe may availle.
' and, for mor suer sowpewaille, 6 [Ssupewuyiest.] 24312
to the bordoim spiritual,
a staf is nedf ul, temporal :
Euevych of hem with-oute 7 wene, U out c., St.]
the tother must of ryght susteue ; 24316
for whan the t6 part cloim doth falle,
help of the tother he must calle,
yef hym list hym-self assure.
but thou ne shalt not 8 wel endure ["not, om.c., st.] 24320
the felle assautes of vs tweyne ;
for, we ne shal no longer feyne,
but (for short conclusion?*)
ber the to the Erthe a-douw.' 24324
Pilgrim : 9 E 9 st., om. c.]
And bothe tweyne, with a brayd*,
vpon a bed they ha me laydl,
for they wolde not of me faille,
Old Age.
She says
she'll stay
with me,
[leaf 301]
till Dentil
comus.
She has
brought me
2 Patents to
rest on,
as a temporal
stuff is
needed, as
well as a
spiritual one.
But she says
I shall nut
endure the
Assaults of
her and
Sickness.
The Pilffrim.
They lay me
on u hud.
C52
Lady Mercy will lead me to the Infirmary.
The Pilgrim.
[leaf 301, bk.]
Then the
lady Mercy,
Misericord,'
comes to me,
with one
breast bare,
to give me
milk, and a
Cord
to pull ine
up.
Mercy.
She bids me
rise and fol-
low her to
the Infir-
mary.
The Pilgrim.
Mercy.
[leaf 302]
She tells me
lier occupa-
tion.
AVhen Judges
give sentence,
ther tabyde, til deth assaille.
And 1 in distresse and gret affray,
vpon the bed whil I thus lay,
I myghte 2 tho no f either gou,
to ine a lady cam a-noon,
with ful many noble signe,
of cher and lok, ful benigne,
(I dar ryght wel record 1 ,)
Whos name was ' Myserycordf ;
oon of hir brestes opon was,
to yeve me mylk in such a caas.
And also (as I was war,)
me sempte that a corde she bar,
to bynden hay (so thoughte 3 me).
and, of mercy and pyte,
to me that lay, like a wrecche,
She gan hir corde abrood to strecche ;
[Blank in MS. for an Illumination.]
And ful goodly, with that sygne,
to me she sayd with cher benygne :
Mysericord: 4
' Eys a-noon, and sue me,
for by thy cher, I do wel se
that thou art feblydl 5 of thy myght,
and thou list not her a-ryght ;
Wherfore I wil the fostre and guye,
and lede the to the fermerye.'
Pilgrim : 6
Qziod I, " that were ful glad to me.
But, for I wot not what ye be,
I pray you with ful humble cher,
your name, that ye wil me lore."
Misericord : 7
' My name, yef it be conceyved,
I ought Avel to ben receyued,
for, whan luges, for offence
han yove'd? 8 hir sentence,
I do my peyne and my labour,
of Justice and of Rigour
f orto do rcmiss'iouw,
24328
[t St.]
[Stowe, leaf 375]
P myght St., C.] 24332
24336
24340
thought C., St.]
24344
[ St., om. C.]
24348
[ 5 feble St.]
24352
[ St., om. C.J
24356
[7 St., om. C.]
[ have gyven C.] 24360
Mercy made God set the Eainlow in the Sides, for Peace. 653
' and make a mittigac'iourc 24364
(as folkes may ful wel discerne).
' for whan the kyng that is eterne, 1 [' eterne St., sterne c.]
[* yove C., gyven St.]
24368
[ 3 and St., on C.]
24372
24376
had yoven 2 in sentement
a ful dredful lugement
of Adam and 3 the lynage,
forto deye for their outrage,
I cam to hym ful humblely,
and prayed hym ful benygnely,
the myghty kyng celestial,
not forto distruyen al ;
but that he wold, in his grevauwce,
modefyen his vengeaunce,
and to with-drawe his lugement.
' and his bo we that was bent,
I made hym drawe of the corde,
and, for sygnes 4 of concorde, [ sygns c., sygne St.] 24380
Sette it in the heven alof te ;
and (as men may se ful ofte)
In tookne of pes, and not of wrak,
from vs he tourned? hath his bak, [stowe, leaf 375, back]
that, of his mercyable lawe, 24385
he may not the bowe drawe,
whan of mercy (as it is knowe)
toward hyra-self he drough the bowe. 24388
' whan he, for our Inyquyte,
dyed vpon the rode tre,
he bought our gilt so sore,
and vnderstond, ouer more,
vp nor doun (who loke wel)
he may not drawe it neuer a del.
for, of the bowe the discord?,
vnderstonde by the cord 1 :
I made hem so forto acorde,
that called am ' Misericorde.'
for (yef thou dost 5 wel vnderstond!)
the stryng therof is in myn hond? :
thou mayst behold it wel, and se ;
for, of mercy and of pyte,
I drawe out wrecches from her charge,
Adam and
his children
to deatli,
she prayd
Him
to withdraw
His judg-
ment:
and she made
Him
set his rain-
bow in the
heaven, in
token of
peace.
[6-tylfable line]
[St. AC.] 24392
24396
[5 canst St.]
He drew the
bow against
Himself,
when He died
on the Cross.
[leaf 302, bk.]
She, Mercy,
made the
bow and cord
agree,
and so her
nume is
'Misericord.'
24400
She pulls
wretches out
from their
burden,
G54 Charity ivove Mercy's Rope. Mercy's Milk for Sinners.
Mercy.
mercy on
them.
The Cordeler
who wove the
Cord of Peace
and Unity .
was Charity ;
and without
it none may
ascend to
heaven, for
by it alone
can they
climb up
there.
The Pilgrim.
Why is one
of your
breasts bare ?
asktl.
[leaf 303]
ilerey.
Because you
have more
need of my
milk than of
gold or silver.
This milk is
Mercy and
Pity, to help
sinners.
' and make hem go loos at large. 24404
' therfore folke's alle .acorde
to calle me ' Miscricorde ' ;
of which (by declaraciouw)
to make an exposic'iouw, 24408
Misericorde, truely
ys, on wrecches to han mercy.
' thus my name l thou shalt knowe ; [' this nam St.]
I drawe hem vp, whan they ben lowe. 24412
the cordeler that waf 2 the corde ['wave St.]
of pes, vnyte, and concorde,
only on wrecches to han pyte,
hyr name was called ' Charyte.' 24416
' and yef the corde wer broke a-sondre,
ther is no man, (her nor yondre,)
though he euere dide his peyne,
that myghte 3 to the heveu atteyne; p myght c., st.] 24420
for, by this corde (as I the told!)
alle Synners must hem hold*,
and playnly clymben vp therby,
oonly of pyte and mercy.' 24424
Pilgrim : 4 [* st., om . c.]
" lady, put me out of doute,
why ha ye now drawen oute
Oon of your brest.es fayr and whyte
(which to behold, I me delyte,) 24428
like as ye wolde be my bote,
wasshe me with your mylk most sote 1 "
Misericord : 5 V st., <>. c.]
'Truely,' quod she ' (yef ye take hede,)
of my mylk thou hast mor nede 24432
(yef the trouthe be iustly told)
than outher of siluer, outlier 6 of gold, [orst.]
or of any precious ston,
forto rekne hem eue?ychon. 24436
for tin's mylk which thou dost se, [stowe, leaf 376]
ys called Mercy and Pyte,
alle Synners to sustene ;
and to releve hem in their tene, 24440
it" bryngeth hem in rest and 8 pees. [ & sl'"-om ' c ]
.This Milk of Mercy, Christ shed widely on the Cross. 655
' And, like as Aristotiles
ivritte, that mylk is nothyng elles
(as alle Philesophres telles) 24444
but blood, by tmnsmutacioim
thorugli hete and lent 1 decocci'ouw, [Mytest.]
tourned away from his rednesse
to pe/'fectioura of whytenesse ; 24448
and (to speke in wordes playn)
this nomore forto sayn,
that a man that ys irous,
froward and malencolious, 24452
hath but red blood : and that rednesse
may neuere tourne to whitenesse
(as clerkes sayn,) but yef so be
it be decoct by charyte, 24456
that his malicious appetit
be itourned! into whit,
thorugh perfect'iourc of hete
of charyte, that.ys most swete, 24460
Than the smoke of fals envye,
the fume eke of malencolye, [St.&c.]
fieth away, in rednesse, &tyiiabic line
chaunged clene into whitenesse. 24464
' and who that drynketh of this mylk
mor sote and softe than any 2 silk [' tim any c., than St.]
foryeveth (in a litel space)
ech offence and trespace 24468
that men ha gilt hym in his live ; [c. & st.]
hym list no more ageyn to stryve.
' of such mylk, most of vertu,
gret plente hadde crist ihesu ; 24472
Shewed his brestis of pyte
whan he was hanged! on a tre.
he sufficed? tho (it is no doute,)
the likour for to Renne aboute, 24476
and for to shede it out yffere
than he was stonken 3 with a spere, [' stongen St.]
the syde of his humanyte,
on alle synful to ha pyte, _' I ISO
for to wasshe away our vyce.
Mercy.
Milk i- blood
by transmu-
tation,
according to
Aristotle.
An angry
man's red
blood
can only be
turnd white
when decoct
by Charity.
[leaf 303, bk.]
Whoever
drinks of this
rnilk forgives
offences.
Christ Jesug
had plenty
of it
on the Cross,
and shed otit
more than
mother or
nurse ever
gave to child.
Red blood is
changed by
Chanty into
white milk.
[leaf 304]
[* mankynR C., "
miinky ml St.]
656 Mercy is pitiful, like her Father God. She does good works.
' was neuere moder nor noryce
that gaf such my Ike l her-to-f ore [' myike St., mylk c.]
to hir child, whan it was bore. 24484
his brestes, that be most fair and whyte,
most holy, and fresshest of delyte,
arn euere open to folke's alle.
his voyce, 2 synners doth ek calle, [* voyce St., voys c.] 24488
and bit hem in their herte thenke,
of his soote mylk to drynke : [stowe, leaf sre, back]
4 for blod of ire is noon in me,
but mylk of mercy and pyte,' 24492
which wassheth away al vengeauwce :
who hath this mylk, hath suffisaunce.
' The Rede blood (as folk 3 may se) Pmen St.]
y-chaunged is, by chary te, 24496
Into whyte mylk, hoolsom and good,
shaad for mankynd 4 vpon) the rood ;
with the which, I fostred and fede
alle folke's that ha nede, 5 p fedd . . nedde st.] 24500
such as list, by on acorde,
for to be 6 drawe with my corde, r* be St., om. c.]
to alle I am so mercyable,
to my fader, Resemblable, 24504
and to my moder Chary te.
' for whan that I may any se
In myschief , hunger, outlier thurst,
hem to fede, it is my lust. 24508
naked and nedy, that ben lothe,
I haue in custom hem to clothe ;
And, gretly I me delyte,
f oik in prisoun to visyte ; 24512
and lede, with a glad visage,
pore folk to their herbegage ;
And thei that deye in 7 pouerte, p en c., in st.j
to burye hem, I de"lite me : 24516
to suche' 8 labour I entende ; f 8 such c., suche St.]
al thyng amys, I do amende ;
folke's sike and vnweldy,
of pyte only and mercy, 24520
I serve hem in humylite.
Mercy
feeds the
hungry,
clothes the
naked,
visits folk in
prison,
buries the
poor,
and serves the
sick.
I cannot follow Mercy, as I grow feebler and feebler. 657
'And now I am y come to the,
In al my beste 1 feythful wyse, p best c., St.]
forto profre my serayse.' 24524
Pilgrim : 2 [ 2 st., O m. c.]
" Ma dame," ([uod I, " as it is due,
my lust is gretly you to sue ;
but, for my grete febilnesse,
which me restreyneth by distresse, 24528
And, fees massagers 3 also [ 3 messengers St.]
Causen that I may not go.
And if ye wold!, of your goodnesse,
Doon your grete besynesse 24532
Thes massagers 4 to putte away, [* thes messengers st.]
I wolde (withoute 5 mor delay) [ 5 without c., st.]
folwe, in al my best entent,
to gon at your comandement." 24536
Misericord : 6 [ st., om, c.]
' Truely (nouther nygh nor ferre)
I may not voyde nor differre
the massagers 7 from thy p? - esence; (7 messengers st.]
but I shal do my diligence, 24540
with my corde, the tenbrace,
and to lede the to the place [stowe, leaf 377]
which called is the Fermerye.
the massagers 8 her faste by, 24544
I ha no myght hem to coharte,
to maken hem fro the departe.
til that deth hym-silf assaille,
tab id en on the, they wil not faylle.' 24548
Pilgrim : 8 [ st., om . c.]
Than anoon Myserycorde
gan tenbrace me in hir corde.
and the olde, bothe tweyne,
Were present, and dide hc-r peync 24552
to brynge me to my bed? anoon,
and list, not from me fer 9 to goon. [ 9 for St.]
and therwith-al, auoon ryght
I gan to feblen of my myghf 2455G
mor and mor, erly and late,
til the porter at the gate
PILGRIMAGE. U U
Mrrr.u.
The Pilgrim,
I tell Mercy
that I'd fol-
low her if I
were not
feeble
anil kept back
by Sickness
and Age.
f leaf 304, bk.]
Jl/erejy.
She says I
must go to
the Infir-
mary ;
and the Mes-
M-nircrs must,
remain with
me.
The Pitt/rim.
I grow more
IVeble.
658 Prayer and Alms come to skmv me the way to Jerusalem.
The Porter
The Porter.
[leaf 305]
brings me
two messen-
gers
to show me
the way to
Jerusalem.
They are to
be sent be-
fore,
to prepare
my reception
I Ill-re.
These lies-
Rengers are
Prayer' and
Alms.'
The Pilfjrim.
But, said I,
I have no
possessions,
[leaf 305, bk.]
brOUgllte me two maSSagerS, 1 [ l brought C. & St., messengers St.]
benygne and goodly of her chers. 2 -15 GO
[The Porter :] [6 lines blan/t for an Illuminalion.]
Qwod the porter anoon to me :
' I ha the brought (yef thou lyst se)
two massagers 1 (it is no nay)
which shal the teche the ryghte 2 way [* ryght c., st.] 245G4
to Jerusalem the cite ;
for (bi tooknes that I se,)
I conceyve (on eue?-y syde)
thou mayst her, no while abyde. 24568
wherfore, to make thy passage,
Send? hem toforne, on thy massage, 3 [ 3 message St.]
that thou mayst, by thy sendyng,
be bet receyved! at thi comyng, 24572
withouten eny spot of blame,
and make to hem, in thi name,
a maner of commyss'iouw,
and ek a procuraciouw, 24576
that they may, thorugh their wcrkyng*,
be receyued! of the kyng 1
thorugh fauour of their langage,
to taken vp their herbergage 24580
In that cyte clestial,
wlier tlie kyng is eternal.
' thes ladyes names to expresse,
they ben Prayer and Almesse ; 24584
And they ben redy, bothe tweyne,
In this caas to done her peyne.'
[The Pilgrim:]
"Truely," quod I to the porter,
" I wolde, with al myn hert entier, 24588
don almes of entenc'iouw ;
but I ha noo pocess'iouw,
nor nothyng in propurte,
but al thyng in co?mnunyte. 24592
al propurte, I ha forsake,
And to pouerte me take,
Of myn 4 ordre, in sothfastnesse. [* st., c. burnt]
" Wherfore, touchyng such almesse, [stowe, leaf 377, back]
lam too poor to employ Messengers. The improvident King. 659
" I ha sothly no powere 24597 The
to make of hir a niassagere,
to take herbergage for me
In that hevenly, chef cyte. 24600
almes, and al such oother thynges,
mot ben of lorde's and of kynges
Sent to-forn to that cyte,
Yef they wil \vel receyved be, 24604
ther to make her purveaunce,
terberwe l hem to their plesaunce. [' to harbour, lodge]
" for (who-so list the trouthe lere)
alle estates in this world here 24608
kynges, prynces, bo the two,
Dukes, lorde's ek also,
Reekne hem alle, by and by,
and thei be pilgrymes as 1 : 24612
let hem toforn pourveye wel
forto take vp their hostel,
Sende her massagers 2 to se [* theyr mesengare st.]
their herbergage in that cyte, 24616
that, for lak of providence,
through slouth, or through necligence,
they be dispurveyed, at her comyng 1 ,
as Barlam telleth of a kyng 1 , 24620
which, of custom synguler,
Reyned? neuere but a 3 yer ponest.]
In a lond ; and this the ende,
than of force he must wende 24624
Into an Ilond! (in certeyn)
that was of vitaille ful bareyn ;
and thus this kyng cam to meschaunce,
for laak oonly of pourveyauuce, 24628
that he toforn, for his availle,
lyst to sende no vitaille.
Ther was noon other menc wey ; [c. & st.]
for hunger, he must nedc deye. 24632
"after whom, thus stood the cas,
that a-nother kyng ther was,
which shulde 4 for a yer succede ; [ simid c., st.]
but he was wys, and took good hede, 24G36
and therefore
cannot have
'Alms' as a
messenger.
Kings,
princes,
dukes and
lords may
have such
messengers.
Harlam's
story of a
King, who
reijjnd only
a yeur,
and then went
to a barren
island,
where he
came to grief
Ixvausf lie
hail made no
provision for
himself.
[iBHfSOC]
So he died.
660 Let us all prepare our places in Paradise, as St. Louis did.
The pilgrim. " whil he stood in haboundauwee,
forto make his purveyaunce,
to sende, in the same while,
vitaille into that bareyn He.
he was prudent, aforn to se,
to provide that Scarsete
sholde sodeynly hym not assaille :
wherfore, he sent his vitaille
Into that yle that bareyn was.
" wherfore, let ech man in such caas,
His successor
iuH.li> pro-
vision during
his reign,
and was all
right.
24G40
24644
So let each
man provide
for his entry
into Para-
dise,
as St. Louis
did,
and was re-
ceived into
the heavenly
Jerusalem,
[leaf 306, bk.]
for hi*
pruyers,
his alms,
[* messengers St.]
P vitilars St.] 24660
sen aforn, in his resouw, [.stowe,
while he stant in pocessi'ouw 246-18
of his Rewme, by good avys
to sende aforn to paradys,
to taken vp, in that cyte,
herbergage lik his degre ; 24652
as whilom dede 1 seynt Lowys, [Mydst.]
the holy kyng that was so wys :
Whil he hadde domynaciouw
thorugh-out al his Regions, 24656
he ne was not necligent,
but'sent aforn, of good entent,
his massagers 2 and his corrours,
his vitaillers, 3 his pourveyours,
only for his avauntage,
to taken vp his herbergage
In that ilke noble Rewm, 4 [ reme st.]
called hevenly leurusalem ; 24664
wher he was, for a memorye,
Receyved 1 forto regne in glorye,
that holy 5 kyng contemplatif, [ 5 St., c. burnt]
for the veHues of his lif, 24668
his pj'ayours and his orysouws,
his fastynges and deuoci'owjs,
his mercy meynt with ryghtwesnesse,
his compassiouws, his almesse, 24672
of cherches his foundaci'oims,
and other dyue?'s mansi'ouws
y-mad for folkes pore and blynde,
Which, neuere, shal 6 out of mynde : [ shall nevar st.] 24676
Prayer agrees to be my Messenger to Paradise. 661
" alle tlies vertues (in substaunce) Thejpuarim.
made aforn hyiu pourveyaunce ; Tirtue's" dry
took vp a paleys most Iloyal
In that cyte celestial, 24680
for kyng Lowys, that holy man,
as his lif reherce can,
wel bet than I can expresse.
" and for my part, fcouchync almesse, 24684 But l C!inlt
J r ' make Aim*
I may not make hir (fer nor ner)
forto be my massager : l [ l sessengeri!) St.] >y Me8 -
MfW,
She nys not pertyneut to me,
which ha no thyng in propurte, 24688
but by licence (in certeyn)
oonly of my souuereyn.
" \vherf ore (of entenci'ou?*)
I shal make a commyssiouM 24692 I've no
property.
to oon that is prudent ana sage,
to taken vp myn herbergage : So i must
. send Prayer
the name of whom is Jr raver, my mes-
senger,
to go toforn as massager." 2 p messenger st.] 24696
Prayer : 3 p st., om. cj
Prayer.
Quod Prayer, ' for thy best, Prayer
a^i'tt's.
I wil fulfille thy requeste
as forforth 4 as I ha myght, [* farfortiie st.]
and as toforn 5 I ha behyght.' [stowe, leaf 878, back] 24700
[The Pilgrim] : [ s reason St.] The Pilprim.
And with that word, anoon Siknesese
bad hir haste fast, and dresse, [leaf 307]
withouten eny mor delay,
forto spede hir on hir way ; 24704
and without eny longer space,
for tavoyden anoon the place.
[Siknesse] : sickn e $$
Quod she, ' it is now no sesoim nys H' too
late to muke
to maken a comyss'iou/^, 24708 acnni>iision
now.
at this tyme, to prayere ;
for, playnly (who list to lere,)
bothe at complyn and at pryme,
it hath be mad afore this tyme ; l' 1712
or elles, lu;rbergage to wynnc,
662 Death comes to me. Grace Dieu warns me of my end.
Sickneu.
The Pit u rim.
Death stops
on my bed,
and I am in
great dread.
[leaf 307. bk.]
(iraee Dieu
appears.
Death tells
her to make
baste,
as he has
much else
to do.
Grace Dieu
warns me
that
Death is
present,
' It were to late now to begynue.'
Pilgrim : 1 C l st., <>.. c.]
" God me 2 graunte grace and mynde, P me St., om. c.]
good herbergage forto fynde; 24716
for now I liaue ynowh to do,
of veyay constreynt and of wo,
to remembre on 3 my siknesse." [ 3 oon c., on St.]
and with that word, ther gan in dresse 24720
oon vpon my bed! anoon,
the cruelist of al my foon ;
of whom in soth, whan I took hede,
I loste speche, of veray drede : 24724
I myghte 4 make no questions [ myght c., St.]
to axen hir condici'ouw,
she was so dredful of hir chere :
a sithe she bar, and ek a bere ; 24728
sette hir foot vpon my brest,
for to maken on me arest.
[Blank in MS. for an Illumination.']
but than 5 a lady of gret ve/'tu, I s St., c. burnt.]
that was called Grace dieu, 24732
bad hir a wyle lete be,
whil that 6 she spak a word to me. [ that St., tim c.]
Deathe : 7 [See the French on p. 665.] u st., om. c.]
' Sey on, and tarye neue>- a del ;
for I may not abiden wel. 24736
I haate soothly al taryyng ;
and I ne love non abidyng.
the cause is this, (who taketh hede)
I ha mo thynges forto spede, 24740
In other places mo than oon ;
wherfore telle on, for I mot goon.'
[Grace Dieu] : 8 [" Pilgrim st., om.c.]
Grace' dieu, hir look she layde
Vp-on me, and thus she sayde : 24744
' thou stanst vpon) a streyt passage,
now as in thy pilgremage.
Deth is present, as thou maist se,
fro the which, no man may fle. 24748
she is of contynauwce odyble, [stowe, leaf 379]
Death will give me to the Worms, and part Soul & Body. 663
' and of thynges most terryble ;
she is the encle of euery thyng ;
and now she cast, at hir commyng, 24752
thy lif 1 playnly, as thou shalt knowe, [' seife St., ta vie DeG.]
with hir sithe vp to mowe :
And afterward, this the fyn,
to putte the in hir coffyn ; 24756
and after, of entencioim,
to yeve the in pocessioiw
to worm es (as thou shalt ek knowe,)
that liggen in the erthe lowe ; 24760
the which (as I wel telle can)
Is common to euery man.
' ther may no man, of no degre,
hygh nor lowh, his power fle. 24764
for, lych as herbes and as floures,
that spryngen with soote 2 shoures p oot c., St.]
bothe in ApriH and in May,
and afterward (it is no nay,) 24768
with a sythe (who list to knowe,)
they ben on erthe leyd ful lowe,
and far-wel then al their fresshnesse !
farwel her colour and grenesse ! 24772
It not appereth, her nor there,
the hoote Sonne maketh hem Sere ;
[Blank in MS. for an Illumination.]
Ther colours and their fressh aray,
al ys tourned into hay. 24776
' and, thou, that so longe be
Grene and lusty forto se,
Deth (his power for to kythe,)
wil abatyn with his sythe 24780
thy grenesse, and ek also
parten the on 3 peces two, [ 3 in st.j
The soule, the body, her and yonder,
and maken hem to parte assondre. 24784
for, playnly, as thou shalt lere,
they may, as now, not gon yfere ;
the soule muste 4 go tofore, [* must c., st.j
and the body shal be bore, 24788
Grace Dieu.
and means
to mow my
life down,
put me in a
coffin,
and give me
uu to worms.
This end is
common to
all men,
[leaf 308]
as tlie flowers
fall before the
scythe.
Death will
divide my
soul and body
asunder,
664 / must pray for mercy. Death swings his Scythe at me.
Grace pieu. ' In erthe to haue his mans'ioim,
and tourne to corrupc'iouw;
to i>e joined and afterward, be wel certeyn,
afterwards
etemaiiy. loynod with the soule ageyn, 24792
and ben to-gidre eternally.
i must be ' Now loke that thou be ful redy :
ready.
[leufsos.bk.] for yf 1 ther be no lak iu the, [' St., c. burnt]
thou shalt go streyht to the 2 cyte [wutst.] 24796
Of the kyngdom and the Rewm
that called ys Jerusalem,
to which thy pilgremage was sette.
i Have come ' thou art come to the wyket 24800
to the wicket. . . J
(Which is gynnyng* of thy labour,)
thpw 3 beheld in a myrrour, [ 3 thow st., c. burnt]
whan thow were ful tendre of age, [st. & c.]
at gynnyng of thy pilgrymage ; 24804
and therfor 4 noAV thou art sette [* St., c. burnt]
at the boundes of the wyket,
i must first I consaille the, first to crye
for mercy, Vnto my Fadre for me?'cye, 24808
promising beliotyng the lady dame Penaunce,
ance yef thou ha not in suffisauuce
Don to her, whil thou wer here,
lustly and truely thy devere; 24812
thou art in wil, at thy party ng*,
thorugh grace and mercy of the kyng 1 ,
that Kegneth eternally in glory e,
to make up It to fulfille in purgatorye : [st.&c.] 24816
my default i .
Purgatory, ther tabiden in that place,
tyll the lord 1 wil do the grace,
of his mercy, at the laste.'
ne pilgrim. And, for the tyme cam on faste, 24820
My speech and my speche gan to faille,
begins to fail.
I thoughte it j fooly for tasaille ['it st.,ac.]
Grace dieu with questi'ouws,
with demandes or 6 resouns. [fiandst.j 24824
And (as I coude ek wel discerne)
Death swings Deth abood! at the posterne,
his scythe at A
n; and gan to lete goon his sythe,
his cruel myght on me to kythe, 24828
I get so frightend that I wake out of my Sleep.
665
And gan so streytly me coharte,
That the soule mot departe.
And, such a feer anoon me took,
Out of my slep that I a-wook.
The Pityrim.
my Soul
must go.
[leaf 809]
24832 I awake.
The last sayings of Death, Grace Dieu, and the Pilgrim are, in De Guileville's French
(Petit's edition, Foeillets xcj. 4 xcij. 2) :
LA MORT. Que, se n'en as a souffisance
OR dictes tost done / ce dist elle, 24735 Fait / volentiers tu la feras
Car moult ie he longue vielle : 24737 En purgatoire, ou tu iras.
Prestement me vueil deliurer,
Car autre part me fault aler. 24741
LE PELERIN'.
^1 Adonc vint grace dieu a moy,
Et me dist doulcemeut, Or voy.
24810
24813
24816
LE PELERIN.
OR vous dy ie / que lors se i'eusse
GRACE DIEU.
IT Je voy bien, qu'a 1'estroit passaige
Tu es de ton peleriuaige.
Voicy la Mort, qui de pres t'est,
Qui, des choses terribles est
La fin / et le terminement.
J Ta vie, tantost faulcher entent,
Et la mectre du tout a fin ;
Et puis ton corps en vng cofin
Elle mectra, pour le bailler
Aux vers puans, pour le manger.
Ceste chose est toute commune
A tout chascun et a chascune :
Homme, en ce monde, est expose
A la mort, comme 1'herbe au pre
Est a la faulx / aussi est feyn,
Qui huy est verd / et sec demain ;
Or as este verd vng long temps,
Et si as receu pluyes et vens ;
Mais fault maintenaut te faulchier,
Et en deux pieces despiecer.
_ Peu bien parler / que ie luy eusse 24821
24743 Fait des demandes dont i'auoye 24824
24744 Grant doubte / et que pas ne sauoie,
1 Folie est d'actendre au besoing, 24822
Car souuent on cuide que loing [' Fo. xcij. 2]
24746 Soit la mort ; qu'elle est aux postis, 24826
24747 Bieu ie le seen / ie fuz soubzpris.
24750 La mort laissa sa faulx courir,
24751 Et me fist du corps departir.
24753 Ce me sembla en ce moment,
[> Fo. xcij] Si que, de 1'espouentement
24756 Esueille et desdormy fu,
24758 Et me trouuay si esperdu,
24759 Qu'auiser ie ne me pouoie
24761 Se ia mort ou en vie i'estoie,
24762 Jusqu'a tant que i'ouy sonner
L'orologe de nuyt, pour leuer ;
24765 Et aussi lors chantoient les cocqs ;
24769 Pour quoy, leuer me cuiday lors;
Mais ne pen / car fuz retenu
24772 De la grant pensee ou ie fu
24766 Pour le myen aduentureux songe,
24780 Ou qnel, se quelque vne mensonge
24782 Estoit meslee ou contenue,
24827
24830
24832
[not englisht}
L'huys est estroit/ 1'ame / et la cher 24783 Ou qui fust de peu de value.
Ne pourroient ense7iible passer.
L'anie premiere pasaera,
Et puis apres la chair yra.
Mais si tost ne sera ce mie ;
Auant sera la chair pourrie,
Et autre fois regeneree
En la grant commune assemblee.
Doncques regarde se apoinetey
Deuement tu es, et appareilley.
S'a toy ne tient, tantost verms
La grant cite ou tendu as.
Tu es au guichet et a 1'huys
Que ou inirouer pieca tu vis.
Se tu es despoille et nuz,
Dedans tantost seras receuz.
Celle entree tu auoies moult diier,
Lors quant tu la vis au premier ;
Et toutesfois, tant ie te dy,
Qu'a nion pere tu cryes mercy,
Eii prometant a penitence,
24786 Nul esmerueiller ne s'en doit,
24787 Car iamais froment on ne voit
24788 Croistre / qu'entour paille n'y aye,
Jusques que dehors on Ten traye ;
24790 Par quoy, s'en mon songe y a grain,
24792 Et aueeques paille ou estrain
y ait / ce qu'est bon / soit garde ;
24794 Ce que n'est bon, soit hors vonne.
Que ne dy pas tant seulement
24795 Pour ce premier liure present,
24796 Dont cy endroit ie feray fin,
24800 Pour me reposer en chemin,
24802 Mais aussi pour ce que s'eiisuit,
Ou tout le grain en paille gist,
Que recommande aux bons venneurs,
Qui sceuent hors venner erreurs.
24807 IT La fin du premier pelerinaige
24808 Do I'liomme dunuit
24809 En vie . Deo gratias."
-
PRATT
DEC 1 u i-
AU6 31984
