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THE ALDINE EDITION
OF THE BRITISH
POETS
THE POEMS OF GEOFFREY CHAUCER
IN SIX VOLUMES
VOL VI
THE POETICAL WORKS OF
GEOFFREY CHAUCER
EDITED BY RICHARD MORRIS
Editor rf " Specimens of Early English," Ham-pole's " Pricke of
Conscience," " Old English Homilies," etc.. Member of
the Council of the Philological Society.
WITH MEMOIR BY SIR HARRIS NICOLAS
NEW AND BE VISED EDITION
VOL VI
LONDON
BELL AND DALDY YORK STREET
COVENT GARDEN
CONTENTS.
VOL. VI.
HE llomaunt of the Rose
®)P The Complaynte of a Loveres Lyfe
\£^S The Complaynt of Mars anrl Venus
A Goodly Ballade of Chaucer
A Praise of Women .
FAGE
1
235
260
275
27*
Minor Poems.
The Compleynte of the Dethe of Pitc
Ballade de Vilage sauns Peynture
Ballade sent to King Richard
The Compleynte of Chaucer to his Purse
Good Counseil of Chaucer
Prosperity ....
A Ballade ....
L'Envoy De Chaucer a Scogan
L'Envoy De Chaucer a Button
^Etas Prima ....
Leaulte Vault Richesse .
Proverbes of Chaucer
Boundel ....
Virelai .....
Chaucer's Prophecy
Chaucer's Words unto his own Scrivene
Oratio Galfridi Chaucer .
285
289
202
21)4
295
296
296
297
299
300
302
303
304
305
307
307
308
Afpexdix.
Balades de Vilage Sanz Peinture
Good Couuseil of Chaucer
./Etas Prima ....
313
316
317
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE.
ANY men saycn that in sweven?/nges,
Ther nys but fables and lesynges ;
But men may some swevene sene,
Whiehe hardely that false ne bene,
But afterwarde ben apparaunt.
This maye I drawe to warraunt,
An authour that highte Macrobes,
That halte nat dremes false ne lees,
But undoth us the avysyoun,
That whylom mette kyng Cipioun. 10
And who-so sayth, or weneth it bo
A jape, or elZes nycetie
To wene that dremes after falk,
Lette who-so lyst a foole me calle.
For this trowe I, and saye for me,
That dremes signifiaunce be
Of good and harme to many wightes,
That dremen in her sleep a-nyghtcs
Ful many thynges covertly,
That fallen after al openly. 20
Within my twenty yere of age,
Whan that love taketh his corage
Of yonge folk, I wente soon
To bed, as I was wont to doon,
vol. vi. n
THE ROMAUXT OF THE ROSE.
And fast I slept ; and in slepyng,
Me mctte suche a Bwevenyng,
That lykede me wonderoi/s wele ;
But in that sweven is never a dele
That it nys afterwards befaUe,
Ryght as this drcme wol tel us alle. r.o
Now this dreme wol I ryme aryghti,
To make your hcrtcs gave and lyghte ;
For Love it. prayeth, and also
Commaundeth me that it be bo.
And yf there any aske me.
Whether that it be he or she.
How this boke which is hen
Shal hatte, that 1 rede you here ;
It is the Romaunce of the Rose,
In which all^ the art of love I close. <o
The mater fayre is of to make ;
God graunt me in grc that she it take
For whom that it begonnen is !
And that is she that hath, ywys.
So mochel pris ; and therto she
,So worthy is biloved to be,
That she wcl ought of pris and ryght
Be cleped Rose of every wight.
That it was May me thoughts tho,
It is .v. yere or more ago ;
That it was May, thus dremede me,
In tyme of love and jolite.
That al thing gynneth waxen gay,
For ther is neither busk nor hay
In May, that it nyl shrouded bene,
And it with newe leves wrene.
These wodes eek recoveren grene.
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 3
That drie in wynter ben to sene ;
And the erth wcxith proudo withalle,
For swote dewes that on it falle ; 60
And the pore estat forgette,
In which that wynter had it sette.
And than bycometh the ground so proude,
That it wole have a newe shroude,
And makith so queynt his robe and faire,
That it had hewes an hundred payre,
Of gras and flouris, ynde and pers,
And many hewes ful dy vers :
That is the robe Imene, iwis,
Through which the ground to preisen is. 70
The briddes, that haven lefte her song,
While thei han suffride cold so strong
In wedres gryl and derk to sighte,
Ben in May for the sonne brighte,
So glade, that they shewe in syngyng,
That in her hertis is sich lykyng,
That they mote syngen and be light.
Than doth the nyghtyngale hir myght,
To make noyse, and syngen blythe.
Than is blisful many sithe, so
The chelaundre, and the papyngay.
Than younge folk entenden ay,
For to ben gay and amorous,
The tyme is than so faverous.
Hard is the hert that loveth nought
In May, whan al this mirth is wrought ;
Whan he may on these braunches here
The smale briddes syngen clere
Her blesful swete song pitous,
And in this sesoun delytous : w
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE.
Whan love affraieth al/e thing.
Me thought a nyght, in my sloping,
Right in my bed fill redily,
That it was by the morowc vrJy,
And up I roos, and gan me clothe;
Anoon I wisshe myn hondis bothe;
A sylvro nedle forth Y droughe,
Out of an aguler queynt ynoughe.
And gan this nedle thrcde anon,
For out of toun me list to gon, 100
The song of briddes for to here
That in thise buskes syngen elere,
And in the sweto seson that leve is ;
With a threde bastyng my alevzs,
Alone I wente in my plaiyng,
The smale foulcs song harknyng,
They pcyned hem ful many peyre,
To synge on bowes blosmed feyre,
Joly and gay, ful of gladnesse,
Toward a ryver gan I me dressc, no
That I herd rennc faste by ;
For fairer plaiyng non saugh I
Than playen me by that ryvcre,
For from an hille that stood ther ncre.
Cam doun the streme ful stif and bold,
Cleer was the water, and as cold
As any welle is, sooth to seyn,
And somdele lasse it was than Seyn,
But it icas strayghter, wel-away !
And never saugh I er that day, y&
The watir that so wel lykcde me ;
And wondir glad was I to se
That lusty place, and that ryvere ;
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 5
And with that watir that ran so clere
My face I wysshe. Tho saugh I welle,
The botme paved everydelle
With gravel, ful of stones shene.
The medewe softe, swote, and grene,
Beet right up on the watir syde.
Ful clere was than the morow tyde, iao
And ful attempre, out of drede.
Tho gan I walkc thorough the mede,
Dounward ay in my pleiyng,
The ryver syde costeiyng.
And whan I had a while goon,
I saugh a gardyn right anoon,
Ful long and brood, and everydelle
Enclosed was, and walled welle,
With highe walles enbatailled,
Fortraied without, and wel entailled 110
With many riche portraitures ;
And bothe the ymages and the peyntures
Gan I biholde bysyly.
And I wole telle you redyly,
Of thilk ymages the semblaunce,
As fer as I have in remembraunce.
Amyd saugh I a Hate stonde,
That for hir wrathe, yre, and onde,
Scmede to ben an mcweresse,
An angry wight, a chidei-es.se. ir»o
And ful of gyle, and felle corage,
By semblaunt was that ilke ymagc.
And she was no thyng wcl arraied,
But l}-k a wode womman afraied,
Frounced foule was hir visage,
And grennyng for dispitous rage,
Till: ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE.
llir nose .snorted up for tenc.
Ful hidoue was she for to sene,
Ful foulc and rusty was she this.
Hir heed //writ hen was, y-wis, ir,o
Ful grymly with a greet towayle.
An ymage of another cntayle,
A lyft half, was hir by ;
Hir name above hir heed saugh I,
And she was called Felony.
Another ymage, that Vilany
Clepid was, saugh I and fonde
Upon the wal on hir right honde.
Vilany was lyk somdclle
That other ymagc ; and, trustith wel, L70
She semede a wikked creature.
By countcnaunce in portrayture,
She semede be ful dispitous,
And cek ful proude and outragious.
Wel coudc he peynte 1 undirtake,
That sich ymage coudo make.
Ful foule and cherlysshc semede she,
And cek vylayncus for to be,
And litel coude of norture,
To worshipe any creature. iso
And next was peynted Coveitise,
That eggith folk in many gisc,
To take and yeve right nought ageync,
And gret trcsouris up to lcyne.
And that is that for usure
Leneth to many a creature,
The lasse for the more wynnyng,
So coveitise is her brennyng.
And that is that penyes felc,
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 7
That techith for to robbe and stele 190
These theves, and these smale harlotes ;
And that is routh, for by her throtes,
Ful many oon hangith at the laste.
She makith folk compasse and caste
To taken other folkis thyng,
Thorough robbcric, or myscoveiting.
And that is she that makith trechoures.
And she makith false pleadoures,
That with hir termes and hir domes,
Doon maydens, children, and eek gromes, 200
Her heritage to forgo.
Ful croked were hir hondis two,
For coveitise is evere wode,
To gripen other folkis gode.
Coveityse for hir wynnyng,
Ful leef hath other mennes thing.
Another ymage set saugh I
Next coveitise faste by,
And she was clepid Avarice.
Ful foule in peyntyng was that vice; 210
Ful sade and caytif was she eek,
And also grene as ony leek.
So yvel hewed was hir colour,
Hir semede to have lyved in langour.
She was lyk thyng for hungre deed,
That ladde hir lyf oonly by breed
Knedcn with eisel strong and egre.
And therto she was lene and mcgre,
And she was clad ful porely,
Al in an old torn courtepy, 220
As she were al with doggis torne ;
And bothe bihynde and eke biforne
THE R0MAT7NT OF THE ROSE.
( louted was she beggarly.
A mantyl henge hir last," by,
Upon a perchc, weike ami smalle,
A burnet cote henge fcherwith alle,
Furred with no menyverc,
But with a furre rough of here,
Of lambe skynncs hevy and blakc ;
It was ful old I undirtake, 230
For Avarice to clothe hir wclle,
Nc hastith hir never a dellc;
For ccrteynly it were hir loth
To wercn oftc that ilk cloth ;
And if it were forwered, she
Wolde have ful gret necessite
Of elothyng, er she bought hir newe,
A I were it bad of wolle and hewe.
This Avarice hilde in hir hande
A purs, that henge by a bandc ; 210
And that she hiddc and bonde so strong,
Men must abydc wondir long.
Out of that purs cr thcr come ought,
For that ne cometh not in hir thought ;
It was not certein hir entente,
That fro that purs a peny wente.
And by that ymago nygh ynougn,
Was peynted Envye, that never lough,
Nor never wel in hir herte farede
But if she outlier saugh or herede 200
Sum gret myschaunce, or gret diseee.
No thyng may so moch hir plese
A.s myschef and mvsaventurc ;
Or whan she seeth discomfiture
Upon ony worthy man falle,
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 9
Than likith hir wel with-alle.
She is ful glade in hir corage,
If she se any grete lynage
Be brought to nought in shynful wise.
And if a man in honour rise 260
Or by his witte, or by his prowesse,
Of that hath she gret hevynesse,
For, trustith wel, she goth nygh wode,
Whan any chaunge happith gode.
Envie is of such crueltee,
That feith ne trouthe holdith she
To freend ne fclawe, bad or good.
Ne she hath kynne noon of hir blood,
That she nys ful her encmye.
She nolde, I dar scjti hardclye, 270
Hir owne fadir farede wclle.
And sore abieth she everydelle
Hir malice, and hir male-talent :
For she is in so gret turment
And hath such, whan folk doth good,
That nygh she meltith for pure wood.
Hir herte kervyth and so brekith
That God the pupko wel a-wrckith.
Envie, i-wis, shal nevere lette
Som blame upon the folk to sette. 280
I trowe that if Envie, i-wis,
Knewe the beste man that is,
On this side or biyonde the see,
Yit somwhat lakken hym wolde she.
And if he were so hende and wis,
That she ne myght al abate his pris,
Yit wolde she blame his worthynesse,
Or by hir wordis make it lesse.
10 THE ROMAUXT OF THE ROSE.
I saugh Envie in that pcyntyng,
Hadde a wondirful lokyng ; 290
For she no lokide but a-wric,
Or overthart, alle baggyngly.
And she haddo a foul usage ;
She myghte lokc in no visage
Of man or womman forth right pleyn,
But shettc hir eien for disdeyn ;
So for envie brennede she
Whan she myght any man ?/sc
That fairer, or worthier were, or wise,
Or elles stodc in folkis prysc. 300
Sorowc was peynted next Envie
Upon that Avalle of masonryc.
But wel was seyn in hir colour
That she hadde lyvcd in langour ;
Hir semede to have the jaunyce.
Nought half so pale was Avarice,
Nor no thyng lyk of lenesse ;
For sorowe, thought, and grct distresse,
That she hadde suffred day and nyght,
Made hir ful yolaro, and no thyng bright, sio
Ful fade, pale, and megre also.
Was never wight yit half so wo
As that hir semede for to be,
Nor so fulfilled of ire as she.
I trowe that no wight myght hir please
Nor do that thyng that myght hir ea
Nor she nc woldc hir sorowc slake.
Nor comfort noon unto hir take.
So depe was hir wo bigonnen,
And eek hir hert in angre ronnen, 320
A sorowful thyng wel semede she.
THE ROMATJNT OF THE ROSE. 11
Nor she hadde no thyng slowe be
For to forcracchen al hir face,
And for to rent in many place
Hir clothis, and for-to tere hir swire,
As she that was fulfilled of ire ;
And al to-torn lay eek hir here
Aboute hir shuldris, here and there,
As she that hadde it al to-rent
For angre and for maltalent. 330
And eek I telle you certeynly
Hough that she wepe ful tendirly.
[In worlde nys wyght so harde of herte
That hadde sene hir sorowes smertc,
That nolde have had of her pytye,
So wo-begonne a thyng was she.
She al to-dasht her-selfe for woo,
And smote togyder her hondes two.
To sorowe was she ful entent3<fe,
That woful rechelesse caytyfe ; 340
Her roughte lytel of playing,
Or of clyppynge or kyssynge ;
For who-so sorowful is in herte
Hym luste not to playe ne sterte,
Ne for to dauncen, ne to s)-nge,
Ne may his herte in tempre brynge
To make joye on even or morowe,
For joye is contrarie unto sorowe.
Elde was paynted after this,
That shorter was a fote, iwys, 3T.0
Than she was wont in her yonghede.
Unneth her-selfe she myghte fede ;
So feble and eke so olde was she
That faded was al her beaute.
12 THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE.
Ful salowc was waxen her coloure,
Her heed for hore was whyte as floure.
Iwys, great qualme ne were it none,
Ne synne, although her lyfe were gone.
Al woxen was her body nnwclde
And drye and dwyned al for clde. 3Go
A foulo forwelkcd thyngo was she
That whylom rounde and soft hadcle be.
Her ceres shoken fast withalle,
As from her heed they woldc falle.
Her face frounced and forpyned.
And both her hondes lornc for-dwined.
So oldc she was that she nc wente
A fote, but it were by potcnte.
The tymc, that passeth nyght and dayc,
And rcstelesse travaylcth aye,
And stolcth from us so prively,
That to us semeth sykerly
That it in one poynt dwelleth ever,
And certes it ne restcth never,
But goth so fast, and passeth aye,
That there nys man that thynke may
What tyme that nowo present is:
(Asketh at these clerkes this,
For men thynke it redily
Thro tymes ben ?/passcd by)] sso
The tyme, that may not sojourne,
But goth, and may never retourne,
As watir that doun renncth ay,
But never drope retourne may ;
Ther may np tiling as tyme endure,
Metalle, nor erthely creature,
For alio thing it frette and shalle :
THE BOMAUNT OF THE BOSE. 13
The tyme eke, that chaungith alle,
And alle doth waxe, and fostred be,
And alle thing distroieth he : 390
The tyme, that eldith our auncessours
And eldith kynges and emperours,
And that us alle shal overcomen
Er that deth us shal have nomen :
The tyme, that hath al in welde
To elden folk, had maad hir Elde
So ynly, that to my witing
She myghte hclpe hir-silf no thing,
But turned ageyn unto ehildhede ;
She hadcle no thing hir-silf to lede 400
Ne witte ne pithe in hir holde
More than a child of two yeer olde.
But natheles I trowe that she
Was faire sumtyme, and fresh to se,
Whan she was in hir rightful age :
But she was past al that passage
And was a doted thing bicomen.
A furred cope on hadc/e she nomen ;
Wei had'rfe she clad hir-silf and warme,
For colde myght elles don hir harme. no
These olde folk have alwey colde,
Her kynde is sich, whan they ben olde.
Another thing was don there write,
That semede lyk an ipocrite,
And it was clepid Poope-holy.
That ilk is she that pryvely
Ne spareth never a wikked dede,
Whan men of hir taken noon hede,
And maketh hir outward precious,
With pale visage and pitous, . 420
14 THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE.
And semeth a scmely creature ;
But ther nys no mysaventurc.
That she ne thenkith in hir corage.
Ful lyk to hir was that ymage,
That makid was lyk hir semblaunce.
She was fill symple of countenaunce,
And she was clothed and eke shod,
As she were for the love of God
Yolden to relygioun,
Sich semede hir devocioun. 4,10
A sauter helde she fast in honde.
And bisily she gan to fonde
To make many a feynt praiere,
To God, and to his seyntis dere.
Ne she was gay, no fresh, ne jolyf,
But semede to be ful ententyf
To godc werkis, and to faire ;
And therto she had on an haire.
Ne certis she was fatt no thing
But semede wery for fasting, .110
Of colour pale and deed was she.
From hir the gate ay werneel be
Of Paradys, that blisful place;
For sich folk maketh lene her grace,
As Crist seith in his Evangile,
To gete prys in toun a while ;
And for a litel glorie vcigne,
They lesen God and til his reigne.
And aldcrlast of everychon,
Was peynted Povert al aloon, .150
That not a peny haddc in wolde,
Alle-thougli she hir clothis solde,
And though she shulde an-honged be,
THE ROM AUNT OF THE ROSE. 15
For nakid as a worme was she.
And if the wedir stormy were,
For colde she shulde have deyd there.
She nadde on but a streit olde sak,
And many a cloute on it ther stak ;
This was hir cote, and hir mantelle,
No more was there never a delle 450
To clothe hir with ; I undirtake,
Grete leyser hadde she to quake.
And she was putt, that I of talke,
Fer fro these other, up in an halke ;
There lurked and there courede she,
For pover thing where so it be,
Is shamefast, and dispised ay.
Acursed may wel be that day,
That povere man conceyved is ;
For, God wote, al to selde, iwys, 470
Is ony povere man wel fedde,
Or wel araied or ?/-cledde,
Or wel-biloved, in sich wise,
In honour that he may arise.
Alle these thingis welle avised,
As I have you er this devysed,
With gold and asure over alle,
Depeynted newe upon the walle.
Square was the walle, and high sumdelle ;
Enclosed, and ?/-barred welle, 430
In stede of hegge, was that gardyne ;
Come nevere shepherde therynne.
Into that gardyn, wel y- wrought,
Who-so that me coude have brought,
By laddris or elles by degrc,
It wolde wel have liked me.
16 THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE.
For sich solace, sich ioie, and play,
I trowo that neverc man ne say,
As was in that place delytous.
The gardeyn was not daungeroua 490
To hcrberwe briddes many oon.
So richo a ycer was never noon
Of briddes songe, and braunches grene.
Therynne were briddes mo I wene,
Than ben in alle the rewmo of Fraunoe.
Ful blisful was the accordaunce,
Of swete and pitous songe thei made.
For alio this world it owghte glade
And I my-silf so mery ferde,
Whan I her blisful songes herde, 500
That for an hundreth pounde wolde I,
If that the passage opunly
Haddc be unto me fre,
That I nolde entren for-to so
Thassemble (God kepe it fro care !)
Of briddis, whicho therynne ware,
That songen thorugh her mery throtes,
Daunws of love, and mery notes.
Whan I thus herde foules synge,
I felle fast in a wcymentyng, 6io
By which art, or by what engyne,
I myghte come into that gardyne ;
But way I couthe fynde noon,
Into that gardyne for to goon.
Ne nought wist I if that ther were
Eyther hole or place where,
By which I myghte have entre,
Ne ther was noon to techo me,
For I was al aloone i-wys,
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 17
For wo and angwishis of this. 520
Til atte last bithought I me,
That by no weye ne myght it be,
That ther nas laddre or wey to passe,
Or hole, into so faire a place.
Tho gan I go a fulle grete pas,
E/ivyronyng evene in compas,
The closing of the square walle,
Tyl that I fonde a wiket smalle
So shett, that I ne myght in gon,
And other entre was ther noon. 5:jo
Uppon this dore I gan to smyte
That was so fetys, and so lite,
For other weye coude I not seke.
Ful long I shof, and knokkide eke,
And stood ful long and of herknyng
If that I herde ony wight comyng ;
Til thilke dore of that entre
A mayden curteys openyde me.
Hir heer was as yelowe of hewe
As ony basyn scoured newe. 540
Hir flesh tendre as is a chike,
With bent browis, smothe and slyke ;
And by mesure large were
The openyng of hir yen clere.
Hir nose of good proporcioun,
Hir yen grey, as is a faucoun,
With swete breth and wel savoured.
Hir face white and wel coloured,
With litel mouth, and rounde to see ;
A clove chynne eke hadde she. 550
Hir nekke was of good fasoun
In lengthe and gretnesse by rcsoun,
vol. vi. c
18 THE ROM AUNT OF THE ROSE.
Withoute bleyne, scabbe, or roync.
Fro Jerusalem unto Burgoyne
Ther nys a fairer nekke, iwys,
To fele how smothe and softe it is.
Hir throte also white of hewe,
As snawe on braunche snawcd newe.
Of body ful wel wrought was she ;
Men nedede not in no cuntre 500
A fairer body for to soke.
And of fyn orfrays hadde she eke
A chapelet ; so semly oon
Ne werede never mayde upon.
And faire above that chapelet
A rose gerland h&dde she sett.
She hadde a gay mirrour,
And with a riche gold tresour
Hir heed was tressed queyntely ;
Hir sieves sewid fetously. 570
And for to kepe hir hondis faire
Of gloves white she had a paire.
And she hadde on a cote of grene
Of cloth of Gaunt ; withouten wene,
Wel semyde by hir apparayle
She was not wont to gret travayle.
For whan she kempte was fetisly
And wel araycd and richely,
Thanne hadde she don al hir journe ;
For merye and wel bigoon was she.
She hadde a lusty lyf in May,
She hadde no thought, by nyght ne day
Of no thyng, but if it were oonly
To graythe hir wel and uncouthly.
Whan that this dore hadde opened me
THE ROM AUNT OF THE ROSE. 19
This may, semely for to see,
I thanked hir as I best myghte,
And axide hir how that she highte,
And what she was, I axide eke.
And she to me was nought unmeke, 690
Ne of hir answer daungerous,
But faire answcride, and seide thus : —
' Lo, sir, my name is Ydelnesse ;
So clepe men me, more and lesse.
Ful myghty and fid riche am I,
And that of oon thyng, namely,
For I entende to no thyng
But to my joye, and my pleyng,
And for to kembe and tresse me.
Aqueynted am I and pryve coo
With Myrthe, lord of this gardyne,
That fro the lande of Alexandryne
Made the trees hidre be fette,
That in this gardyne ben ?/-sette.
And whan the trees were woxcn on hight,
This walle, that stant heere in thi sight,
Dide Myrthe enclosen al aboutc ;
And these ymages al withoute
He dide hem bothe entaile and pcynte,
That ncithir ben jolyf ne queynte, 6io
But they ben ful of sorowe and woo,
As thou hast seen a while agoo.
' And ofte tyme hym to solace
Sir Myrthe cometh into this place,
And eke with hym cometh his mcynee,
That lvven in lust and jolite.
And now is Myrthe therynne to hero
The briddis how they syngen clcrc,
20 THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE.
The mavys and the nyghtyngalc,
And other joly briddis smale. 620
And thus he walketh to solace
Hym and his folk ; for swetter place
To pleyen ynnc he may not fyndc,
Al-though he sought oon in tyl Ynde.
The alther faireste folk to see
That in this world may founde be
Hathe Mirthe with hym in his route,
That folowen hym always aboutc.'
Whan Ydelnesse toldo had al this,
And I hadde herkned wel, ywys, c:;o
Thanne seide I to dame Ydelnesse,
' Now also wisly God me blessc,
Sith Myrthe, that is so faire and fre,
Is in this yerde with his meyne,
Fro thilk assemble, if I may,
Shal no man werne me to-day,
That I this nyght ne mote it see.
For wel wene I there with hym be
A faire and joly companye
Fulfilled of alle curtesie.' 640
And forth withoute wordis mo
In at the wiket went I tho,
That Ydelnesse hadde opened me,
Into that gardyne faire to see.
And whan 1 was ther-innv, iwys,
Myn herte was ful glad of this.
For wel wende I fid sikerly
Have ben in Paradys erthly ;
So faire it was, that trusteth wel,
It semede a place cspirituel.
For certys, as at my devys,
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 21
Ther is no place in Paradys
So good inne for to dwelle or be,
As in that gardyne, thoughts me.
For there was many a bridde syngyng,
Thorough-oute the yerde al thringyng.
In many places were nyghtyngales,
Alpes, fynches, and wodewales,
That in her swete song deliten
In thilke places as they habiten. 600
There myghte men see many flokkes
Of turtles and laverokkes.
Chalaundres fele sawe I there,
That wery nygh forsongen were.
And thrustles, terins, and ma\7S,
That songen for to wynne hem prys.
And eke to sormounte in her songe
That other briddes hem amonge,
By note made faire servyse.
These briddes, that I you devise, C70
They songe her songe as faire and wele,
As angels don espirituel.
And, trusteth wel, that I hem herd
Ful lustily, and wel I ferde ;
For never yitt sich melodye
Was herd of man that myghte dye.
Sich swete song was hem amonge,
That me thought it no briddis songe,
But it was wondir lyk to be
Song of meremaydens of the see ; 6S0
That, for her syngyng is so clere,
Though we mermaydens clepe hem here
In English, as is oure usaunce,
Men clepe hem sereyns in Fraunce.
22 THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE.
Ententif weren for to syngo
These briddis, that nought unkunnjng
Were of her craft, and apprentys,
For of song sotil and wys.
And oertis, whan I herde her songe,
And Bawe the grene place amonge, 690
In herte I wexe so wondir gay,
That I was never erst, er that day,
So jolyf, nor so wel bigoo,
Ne meryc in herte, as I was thoo.
And than wist I, and sawe ful welle,
That Ydelnesse me served,' welle,
That me putte in sich jolite.
Hir freend wel ought I for to be,
Sith she the dore of that gardyne,
Hadde opened, and me leten innc. too
From hem?es-forth, hou that I wrought^
I shal you tellen, as me thoughte.
First wherof Myrthe servede there,
And eke what folk there witli hym were,
Withoute fable I wol discryve.
And of that gardyne eke as blyve
I wole you tellen aftir this.
The faire fasoun alle, ywys,
That wel //-wrought was for the non- .
I may not telle you alle at ones; 710
But as I may and can, I shalle
By ordrc tellen you it alle.
Ful faire servise and eke ful swete
These briddis maden as they
Layes of love, ful wel aownyng
They songen in their yarkonyng ;
Surame high, and summe eke lowe songo
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 23
Upon the braunches grene spronge.
The swetnesse of her melodye
Made al myn herto in reverye. 720
And whan that I hadde herde I trowe
These briddis syngyng on a rowe,
Than myght I not withholde me
That I ne wente inne for to see
Sir Myrthe ; for my desiryng
Was hym to seen, over alle thyng,
His countenaunce and his manere :
That sight was tho to me ful dere.
Tho wente I forth on my right honde
Doun by a lytel path I fonde 730
Of mentes fulle, and fenelle grene ;
And faste by, withoute wene,
Sir Myrthe I fonde ; and right anoon
Unto sir Myrthe gan I goon,
There as he was hym to solace.
And with hym in that lusty place,
So faire folk and so fresh had he,
That whan I sawe, I wondrede me
Fro whenne siche folk myghte come,
So faire they weren alle and some ; 710
For they were lyk, as to my sighte,
To angels, that ben fethered brightc.
This folk, of which I telle you soo,
Upon a karole wenten thoo.
A lady karolede hem, that hyghte
Gladnesse, blisfullc, and the lighte,
Wei coude she synge and lustyly,
Noon half so wel and semely ;
And couthe make in song sich refreynynge,
It sat hir wondir wel to synge. 750
24 THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE.
Hir voice i'ul elere was and ful swete.
She was nought rude ne unmetc,
But coutho ynow of sieh doyng
As longeth unto karolyng :
For sho was wont in every place
To syngen first, folk to solace.
For syngyng moost she gaf hir to j
No craft hadde she so leef to do.
Tho myghtist thou karolcs senc,
And folke daunce and mery bene, 700
And made many a faire tournyng
Upon the grem- gras Bpringyng.
There myghtist thou see these flowtours,
Mynst rales, and eke jogclours,
That wcl to synge dide her peyne.
Somme songe songes of Loreyne;
For in Loreyn her notes bee
Fulle swettcr than in this eontiv.
There was many a tymbester,
And saillouris, that I dar wel swere 770
Couthe her craft ful parfitly.
The tymbres up ful sotilly
They casten, and hente fulle ofte
Upon a fyngcr faire and softe,
That they failidc never mo.
Ful fetys damyselcs two,
Ryght yonge, and fulle of semelyhede,
In kirtles, and noon other wede,
And faire tressed every tresse,
Hadde Myrthe doon, for his noblesse, 780
Amydde the karole for to daunce ;
But herof lieth no remembraunce,
Hon that they dauneede queyntely.
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 25
That oon wolde come alle pryvyly
Agayn that other; and whan they were
To-gidre almost, they threwe yfere
Her mouthis so, that thorough her play
It semed as they kiste alway ;
To dauncen welle koude they the gise ;
What shulde I more to you devyse ? ?s»o
Ne bode I never thennes go,
Whiles that I sawe hem daunce so.
Upon the karolle wonder faste,
I gan biholde ; til atte laste
A lady gan me for to espie,
And she was eleped Curtesie,
The worshipfulle, the debonaire ;
I pray to God evere falle hir faire !
Ful curteisly she callede me,
' What do ye there, beau sir ?' quod she, goo
' Come, and if it lyke yow
To dauncen, dauncith with us now.
And I without*? tariyng
Wente into the karolyng.
I was abasshed never a delle,
But it to me likede right welle,
That Curtesie me clepede so,
And bad me on the daunce go.
For if I hadde durst, certeyn
I wolde have karoled right fayn, sio
As man that was to daunce right blitshe.
Thanne gan I loken ofte sithe
The shape, the bodies, and the cheres,
The countenaunce and the maneres
Of alle the folk that dauncede there,
And I shal telle what thev were.
26 THE ROM AUNT OF THE ROSE.
Ful faire was Myrthe, fill longc and high,
A fairer man I novere sigh.
As roundc as appillc was hia face,
Ful rody ami white in every place. 820
Fetys ho was and wed beseye,
With metely mouth ami yen gr< ye ;
His nose by mesurc wrought fid right ;
Crispe was his heer, and eek ful bright.
Hise shuldris of a large brede,
And smalish in the girdilstede.
He semede lyke a portreiture,
So noble he was of his stature,
So faire, so joly, and so fetys.
With lymes wrought at pojnt devys, 830
Delyver, smert, and of grcte myght ;
Ne sawe thou nevere man so lyght.
Of bcrde unnethe haddo he no thyng,
For it was in the firste spryng.
Ful yonge he was. and mery of thought,
And in samette, with briddis wrought,
And with gold beten ful fetysly,
His body was clad ful richely.
Wrought was his robe in straunge gise,
And al to-slytered for queyntise sio
In many a place, lowe and hie.
And shode he was with grcte maistrie.
With shoon decoped, and with bias.
By druery, and by solas.
His leef a rosyn ehapelet
lladde made, and on his heed it sot.
And wite ye who was his leef?
Dame Gladnessc there was hym so leef,
That syngith so wel with glad courage,
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 27
That from she was xij. yeer of age, 850
She of hir love graunt hym made.
Sir Mirthe hir by the fynger hadde
Daunsyng, and she hym also ;
Grote love was atwixe hem two.
Bothe were they faire and bright of hewe ;
She semede lyke a rose newe
Of colour, and hir flesh so tendre,
That with a brere smale and slendre
Men m3Tght it cleve, I dar wel sey?&e.
Hir forheed frounceles al pleyne, 860
Bent were hir browis two,
Hir yen greye, and glad also,
That laugheden ay in hir semblaunt,
First or the mouth, by covenaunt.
I wot not what of hir nose I shal descry ve ;
So faire hath no womman alyve.
Hir heer was yelowe, and clere shynyng,
I wot no lady so likyng.
Of Or frays fresh was hir gerland,
I, which seyen have a thousand, 870
Saugh never, ywys, no gerlond yitt,
So wel y- wrought of silk as it.
And in an overgilt samet
Cladde she was, by grete delit,
Of which hir leef a robe werede,
The myrier she in hir herte ferede.
And next hir wente, in hir other side.
The God of Love, that can devyde
Love, and as hym likith it be.
But he can cherles daunten, he, 880
And maken folkis pride fallen.
And he can wel these lordis thrallcn,
28 THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE.
And ladyes putt at lowe dcgre,
Whan ho may hem to proude see.
This God of Love of his fasoun
Was lyke no knave, ne quystroun ;
His beaute gretly was to preyse.
But of his robe to devise
I drede encombred for to be.
For nought ?/-clad in silk was he, eoo
But allc in floures and in flourettes,
Ipcdnted alle with amorettes;
And with losynges and scochouns,
With briddes, lybardes, and lyouns,
And other beestis wrought fid welle.
His garnement was everydelle
Portreied and wrought with floures,
By dyvers medlyng of coloures.
Floures there were of many gise
/-sett by compas in assise ; 900
Ther lakkide no flour to my dome,
Ne nought so mych as flour of brome,
Ne violcte, no eke pervynke,
Ne flour noon, that man can on thynke,
And many a rose leef fid longe,
Was entermclled ther amonge :
And also on his heed was settc
Of roses reed a chapelett.
But nyghtyngalcs a fade grete route.
That flyen over his heed aboute, 910
The leeves fclden as they flyen,
And he was alle with briddes wryen ;
With popynjay, with nyghtyngale,
With chalaundre, and with wodewale.
With fynche. with lark, and with archaungellc.
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 29
He semede as he were an aungelle,
That doun were comen fro hevene clere.
Love haddc with hym a bachelere,
That he made alleweyes with hym be,
Swete-lokyng cleped was he. 920
This bacheler stode biholdyng
The daunce, and in his honde holdyng
Turke bowes two, fulle wel devysed had he.
That oon of hem was of a tree
That bereth a fruyt of savour wykke ;
Ful erokid was that foide stikke,
And knotty here and there also,
And blak as bery, or ony slo.
That other bowe was of a plant
Withoute wem, I dar warant, 930
Ful evene, and by proporcioun
Treitys and long, of ful good fasoun.
And it was peynted wel and twythen,
And over al diapred and writen
With ladyes and with bacheleris,
Fulle lyghtsom and glad of cheris.
These bowes two helde Swete-lokyng,
That semede lyk no gadelyng.
And ten brode arowis hilde he there,
Of which v. in his right hond were. 9io
But they were shaven wel and dight,
Nokked and fethered right ;
And alle they were with gold bygoon,
And stronge poynted everychoon,
And sharpc for to kerven welle.
But iren was ther noon ne stelle,
For al was golde, men myght it see,
Outake the fethercs and the tree.
',)0 THE ROM AUNT OF THE ROSE.
The swiftest of these arowis fyve
Out of a bowe for to dryve, mo
And best fcthercd for to flee,
And fairest eke, was clcpid Beaute.
That other arowe that hurtoth lass*
Was clepid (as I trowe) Symplessi .
The thriddc cleped was Fraunchise,
That fethred was in noble wise
With valour and with curtesye.
The fourthe was cleped Compaignye,
That hevy for to shoten ys ;
But who-so shetith right, y wys, 060
May therwith doon grete harrae and wo.
The fiftc of these, and laste also,
Faire-semblaunt men that arowe calle,
The leeste grevous of hem alio.
Yit can it make a fill grete wounde,
But he may hope his soris sounde,
That hurt is with that arowe, vwvs:
His wo the bette bistowed is.
For he may sonner have gladncsse,
Hir langour oughte be the lesse. 970
Five arowis were of other gise,
That ben ful foulc to devyse ;
For shaft and ende, soth for to telle,
Were also blak as fende in helle.
The first of hem is called Pride ;
That other arowe next hym biside,
It wras ycleped Vylanye ;
That arowe was as with felonye
Envenymed, and with spitous blame.
The thridde of hem was cleped Shame. oso
The fourthe, Wanhope cleped is,
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 31
The fifte, the Newe-thought, ywys.
These arowis that I speke of heere,
Were alle fyve on oon maneere,
And alle were they resemblable.
To hem was wel sittyng and able,
The foule croked bowe hidous,
That knotty was, and al roynous.
That bowe seraede wel to shete
These arowis fyve, that ben unmete 990
And contrarye to that other fyve.
But though I telle not as blyve
Of her power, ne of her myght,
Herafter shal I tellen right
The soothe, and eke signyfiaunce,
As fer as I have remembraunce :
Alle shal be seid, I undirtake,
Er of this book an ende I make.
Now come I to my tale ageyn.
But aldirfirst, I wole you seyn 1000
The fasoun and the countenaunees
Of alle the folk that on the daunce is.
The God of Love, jolyf and lyght,
Ladde on his honde a lady bright,
Of high prys, and of grete degrc.
This lady called was Beaute,
And an arowe, of which I tolde.
Ful wel thewed was she holde,
Ne she was derk ne broun, but bright,
And clere as the mone-lyght, 1010
Ageyn whom alle the sterres semen
But smale candels, as we demen.
Hir flesh was tcndre as dcwc of flour.
Hir chere was symple as byrde in bour ;
32 THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE.
As whyte as lylye or rose in rys,
Hir face gentyl and tretys.
Fetys she was, and smale to se,
No wyntred browis hadt/e she,
Ne popped hir, for it nedede nought
To wyndre hir, or to peynte hir ought. 1020
Hir tresses yelowe, and longe straughten,
Unto hir helys doun they raughten :
Hir nose, hir mouth, and eyhe and cheke
Wei wrought, and alle the remenaunt eke.
A ful grete savour and a swote,
Me thoughte in myn herte rote,
As helpe me God, whan I remembrc,
Of the fasoun of every membre !
In world is noon so fairc a wight;
Foryonge she was, and hewed bright 1030
Sore plesaunt, and fetys with alle,
Gente, and in hir myddille smalle.
Biside Beaute yede Richesse,
And hightc ' Lady ' of gret noblesse,
And gret of prys in every place.
But who so durste to hir trespace,
Or til hir folk, in werk or dede,
He were fullo hardy, out of drede,
For bothe she helpe and hyndrc may.
And that is nought of yisterday k>io
That riche folk have fulle gret myght
To helpe, and eke to grevc a wyght.
The beste and the grcttest of valour
Diden Kychesse ful gret honour,
And besy were hir to serve,
For that they wolde hir love deserve.
They eleped hir ' Lady,' gretc and smalle ;
THE ROM AUNT OF THE ROSE. 33
This wide world hir drcdith alle.
This world is alle in hir daungere.
Hir court hath many a losengere, 1050
And many a traytour envyous,
That ben ful besy and curyous
For to dispreisen, and to blame
That best deserven love and name.
Bifore the folk hem to bigilen,
These losengeris hem preyse and smylen,
And thus the world with word anoynten;
But aftirward they prile and poynten,
The folk right to the bare boon,
Bihynde her bak whan they ben goon, 1060
And foule abate the folkis prys,
Ful many a worthy man, ywys,
An hundrid, have they do to dye.
These losengers thorough flaterye,
Have maad folk ful straunge be,
There hem oughte be pryve.
Wei yvel mote they thryve and thee,
And yvel a-chyved mote they be
These losengers ful of envye !
No good man loveth her companyc. loro
Richesse a robe of purpur on hadde,
Ne trowe not that I lye or madde ;
For in this world is noon hir lyche,
Ne by a thousand deelle so riche,
Ne noon so faire ; for it ful wellc
With orfrays lcyd was everydeelle,
And portraied in the ribanynges
Of dukes storyes, and of kynges.
And with a bend of gold tasseled,
And knoppis fync of gold enameled, icso
VOL. VI. d
34 THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE.
Aboute hir nckke of gcntyl entayle
Was shete the riche chcvcsaile,
In which ther was fullc grot plcntc
Of stones clcrc and bright to see.
Ryehesso a girdelle hadde upon,
The bokele of it was of a stoon,
Of vertu gret, and mochel of myght
For who so bare the stoon so bright,
Of venym durst hym no thing doute,
While lie the stoon hadde hym abouto. iooo
That stoon was grctly for to love,
And tyl a riche man byhove
Worth alle the gold in Rome and Frise.
The mourdaunt, wrought in noble wise,
Was of a stoon fulle precious,
That was so fyne and vertuous,
That hole a man it koude make
Of palasie, and tothe akc.
And y it the stoon hadde such a grace,
That he was siker in every place noo
Alle thilke day not blynde to bene,
That fastyng myghte that stoon seene.
The barres were of gold ful fyne,
Upon a tyssu of satync,
Fulle bevy, gret, and no thyng lyght,
In everiche was a besaunt wight.
Upon the tresses of Richcsse
^ as sette a cercle for noblesse
< >f brend gold, that fullc lyghte shoon ;
o faire trowe I was never noon. 1110
But she were kunnyng for the nonys, -
'i hat koude devyse alle the stonys
Thai in that cercle shewen clere;
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 35
It is a wondir thing to here.
For no man koude preyse or gesse
Of hem that valewe or richesse.
Rubyes there were, saphires, 7'agounces,
And emeraudes, more than two ounces.
But alle byfore ful sotilly
A fyn charboncle sette saugh I. 1120
The stoon so clere was and so bright,
That, also soone as it was nyght,
Men myghte seen to go for nede
A myle or two, in lengthe and brede.
Sich lyght tho sprang oute of the stone,
That Richesse wondir brighte shone
Bothe hir heed, and alle hir face,
And eke aboute hir al the place.
Dame Richesse on hir honde gan lede
A yong man fulle of semelyhede, U30
That she best loved of ony thing ;
His lust was mych in housholding.
In clothyng was he ful fetys,
And lovede to have welle hors of prys.
He wende to have reproved be
Of theft or rnoordre, if that he
Hadde in his stable ony hakeney.
And therfore he desired ay
To be aqueynted with Richesse;
For alle his purpos, as I gesse, mo
Was for to make gret dispense,
Withoute wernyng or diffense.
And Richesse myght it wel sustene,
And hir dispence welle mayntene,
And hym alwey sich plente sende,
Of gold and silver forto dispende
36 THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE.
Withoute lakke or daunger,
As it were poured in a garner.
And after on the daunce wente
Largesse, that settith al hir entente liao
For to be honourable and free ;
Of Alexandres kyn was she.
Hir moste joye was, ywys,
Whan that she yaf, and seidc, 'Have this.'
Not Avarice, the foule caytyf,
Was half to gripe so ententyf,
As Largesse is to yeve and spende.
And God )-nough alwey hir sende,
So that the more she yaf awey,
The more, ywys, she hadde alwey. nco
Gret loos hath Largesse, and gret pris ;
For bothe xinjse folk and unwys
Were hool}r to hir baundon brought,
So wel with yiftcs hath she wrought.
And if she hadde an enemy,
I trowc that she coude tristely
Make hym fullc soone hir freend to be,
So large of yift, and free was she ;
Therfore she stode in Jove and grace
Of riche and pover in every place. 1170
A fulle gret fool is he, ywys,
That bothe riche and nygart is.
A lord may have no maner vice,
That greveth more than avarice.
For nygart never with strengthe of honde
May wynne gret lordship or londc.
For freendis alio to fewe hath he
To doon his wille perfourmed be.
And who-so wolc have freendis heerc,
THE ROHAUNT OF THE ROSE. 37
He may not holde his tresour deere. no
For by ensample I telle this,
Right as an adamaund, iwys,
Can drawen to hym sotylly
The yren, that is leid therby,
So drawith folkes hertis, ywis,
Silver and gold that yeven is.
Largesse hadde on a robe fresh
Of riche purpur sarlynysh.
Wei fourmed was hir face and cleere,
And opened hadde she hir eolere ; 1190
For she right there hadde in present
Unto a lady maad present
Of a gold broche, ful wel ?/-wrought.
And certys it myssatte hir nought ;
For thorough hir smokke wrought with silk,
The flesh was seen as white as mylk.
Largesse, that worthy was and wys,
Hilde by the honde a knyght of prys,
Was sibbe to Artour of Britaigne.
And that was he that bare the ensaigne 1200
Of worship, and the goimfaucoun.
And jit he is of sich renoun, .
That men of hym seye faire thynges
Byfore barouns, erles, and kynges.
This knyght was comen alle newely
Fro tournezyng faste. by ;
The?-e hadde he don gret chyvalrie
Thorough his vertu and his maistrie,
And for the love of his lemman
He caste doun many a doughty man. 1210
And next hym dauncede dame Fraunchise,
Arayed in fulle noble gyse.
38 TI1E IIOMAUNT OF THE ROSE.
She was not broune ne dunno of hewe,
But white as snowe falle newe.
Hir nose was wrought at poynt dcvys,
For it was gentyl and tretya ;
With eyen gladde, and browcs bente ;
Hir here doun to hir helis wente.
And she was symple as dowve of tree,
Fid debonaire of herte was she. 1220
She durste never seyn ne do,
But that that hir longed? to.
And if a man were in distresse,
And for hir love in hevynesse,
Hir herte wolde have fulle grct pite,
She was so amiable and free.
For were a man for hir bistadde,
She woldo ben right sore adradde,
That she dide over gret outrage,
But she hym holpe his harme to aswage ; 1230
Hir thought it elles a vylanye.
And she hadde on a sukkenye,
That not of hempe ne hecrdis was ;
So fair was noon in alle Arras.
Lord, it was r idled fetysly !
Ther nas a poynt, trewely,
That it nas in his right assise.
Fulle wel y-elothed was Fraunchise,
For ther is no cloth sittith bet
On damyselle, than doth roket. 1240
A womman wel more fetys is
In roket than in cote, ywis.
The whyte roket rydled faire,
Bitokeneth, that fulle debonaire
And swete was she that it here.
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 39
Bi hir daunced a bachelere ;
I can not telle you what he highte,
But faire he was, and of good highte
Alle hadde he be, I sey no more,
The lordis sone of Wyndesorc. 1250
And next that dauncede Curtesye,
That preised was of lowe and hye,
For neither proude ne foole was she.
She for to daunce callede me,
(I pray God yeve hir right good grace ! )
Whanne I come first into the place.
She was not nyce, ne outrageous,
But wys and ware, and vertuous,
Of faire speche, and of faire answere ;
Was never wight mysseid of hire ; 1260
She ne bar rancour to no wight.
Clere broune she was, and therto bright
Of face, of body ai>enaunt,
I wot no lady so plesaunt,
She were worthy for to bene
An emperesse or crowned quene.
And by hir wente a knyght dauncjng
That worthy was and wel spekyng,
And ful wel koude he don honour.
The knyght was faire and styf in steur, 1270
And in armure a semely man,
And wel-biloved of his lemman.
Faire Idilnesse thanne saugh I,
That alwey was me faste by.
Of hir have I, withoute fayle,
Told yow the shap and apparayle ;
For (as I seide) loo, that was she
That dide to me so gret bounte,
40 THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE.
That she the gate of the gardyn
Undide, and lete me passen in, r.'so
And after daunccd as I gesse.
And she fulfilled of lustynesse,
That nas not yit xij yeer of age,
With heite wylde, and thought volagc.
Xyce she was, but she ne mente
Noon harme ne slight in hir entente.
But oonly lust and jolyte.
For yonge folk wole, witen ye,
Have lytel thought but on her play.
Hir lemman was biside alway, 12.0
In sich a gise that he hir kyste
At alle tymes that hym lyste,
That alle the daunce myght it see ;
They make no force of pryvete.
For who spake of hem yvel or welle,
They were ashamed never adelle,
But men myghte seen hem kisse there,
As it two yonge dowves were.
For yong was thilke bachelere,
Of beaute wot I noon his pere ; 1300
And he was right of sich an age,
As youthe is leef, and sich corage.
The lusty folk that dauncede there,
And also other that with hem were
That weren alle of her meyne
Ful hende folk, and wys, and free,
And folk of faire port truely,
There were alle comunly.
Whanne I hadde seen the countenaunces
Of hem that ladden thus these daunces, 1310
Thanne hadde I willo to gon and see
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 41
The gardyne that so lykede me,
And loken on these faire loreyes,
On pyntrees, cedres, and oliveris.
The daunces thanne eended were ;
For many of hem that dauncede there,
Were with her loves went awey
Undir the trees to have her pley.
A, Lord ! they lyvede lustyly !
A gret fool were he sikirly, 1320
That nolde, his thankes, such lyf lede !
For this dar I seyn oute of drede,
That who-so myghte so wel fare,
For better lyf durst hym not care,
For ther nys so good paradys,
As to have a love at his devys.
Oute of that place wente I thoo,
And in that gardyn gun I goo,
Pleyyng a-longe fulle meryly.
The God of Love fulle hastely m.io
Unto hym Swete-lokyng clepte,
No lenger wolde he that she keptc
His bowe of gold, that shoon so bright.
He hadde hym bent anoon ryght;
And he fulle soone sette an ende,
And at a braid he gan it bende,
And toke hym of his arowes fyve,
Fulle sharp and redy forto dryve.
Now God that sittith in magestii
Fro deedly woundes he kepe me ! iruo
If so be that he hadde me shette,
For if I with his arowe mette,
It hadde me greved sore, iwys.
But I, that no thyng wist of this,
42 THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE.
Wcnte up and doun tulle many a wey,
And he me folwede fast alwey ;
But no-where wold I reste me,
Tille I hadde in alle the gardyn be.
The gardyn was by mcsuryng
Right evene and square in compassing; 1350
It as long was as it was large.
Of fruyt hadde every tree his charge,
But it were any hidous tree
Of which ther were two or three.
There were, and that wote I fulle welle,
Of pome-garnettys a fulle gret delle ;
That is a fruyt fulle welle to lyke,
Namely to folk whanne they ben sike.
And trees there were of gret foisoun,
That barcn notes in her sesoun, 1360
Such as men notcmygges calle,
That swote of savour ben with-alle.
And almandres gret plente,
Fyges, and many a date tree
There wexen, if men hadde nede,
Thorough the gardyn in length and brede.
Ther was eke wexyng many a spice,
As clowe-gelofro, and lycorice,
Gyngevre, and greyn do Parys,
Canelle, and sctewale of prys, 1370
And many a spice delitable,
To cten whan men rise fro table.
And many homly trees ther were,
That peches, coynes, and apples becre,
Medlers, plowmes, perys, chesteyns,
Chcrys, of which many oon fayne is,
Notes, aleys, and bolas,
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 43
That forto seen it was solas ;
With many high lorey and pyn,
Was renged clene alle that gardyn ; i3so
With cipres, and with olyvers,
Of which that nygh no plente heere is.
There were elmes grete and stronge,
Maples, asshe, oke, aspe, planes longe,
Fyne ew, popler, and lyndes faire,
And othere trees fulle many a payre.
What shulde I telle you more of it ?
There were so many trees yet,
That I shulde all encombred be,
Er I hadcZe rekened every tree. 1390
These trees were sette, that I devyse,
One from another in assyse
Five fadome or syxe, I trowe so,
But they were hye and great also :
And for to kepe oute well the sonne,
The croppes were so thycke yronne,
And every braunche in other knytte,
And full of grene leves sytte,
That sonne myghte there noon dyscende,
Lest the tender grasses shende. uoo
There myghte men does and roes yse,
A.nd of squyrels ful gret plente,
From bowe to bowe always lepynge.
Connies there were also playenge,
That comyn out of her clapers
Of sondry colours and maners,
And maden many a tourneynge
Upon the freshe grasse spryngynge.
In places sawe I welles there,
In whych there no frogges were, mo
44 THE ROM AUNT OF THE ROSE.
And fayro in shadowe was every welle ;
But I ne can the nombre telle
Of stremys smale, that by devyse
Myrthe hadde done come through condyse,
Of whych the water in rennynge
Gan make a noyse full lykynge.
Aboute the brynkes of these welles,
And by the stremes over al elles
Sprange up the grasse, as thycke yset
And softe as any velvet, 1420
On whych men myght hys lemman leye,
As on a fetherbed to pleye,
For the erthe was ful softe and swete.
Through moysture of the welle wete
Spronge up the sote grene gras,
As fayre, as thycke, as myster was.
But moche amended it the place,
That therth was of suche a grace
That it of floures hath plente,
That both in somer and wynter be. 1430
There sprange the vyolet al newe,
And fresshe pervynke ryche of hewe,
And floures yelowe, white, and rede ;
Suche plente grewo there never in mede.
Ful gaye was al the grounde, and queynt.
And pouclred, as men had it peynt,
With many a freshe and sondrye floure,
That casten up ful good savoure.
I wol not longe holde you in fable
Of al this garden delectable. h-io
I mote my tonge stynten nede,
For I ne maye withouten drede
Naught tellen you the beaute alle,
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 15
Ne halfe the bounte therewythalle.
I went on ryght hande and on lefte
Aboute the place ; it was not left,
Tyl I had al the garden bene
In the esters that men myghte sene.
And thus whyle I wente in my playe,
The God of Love me Mowed aye. uso
Ryght as an hunter can abyde
The beest, tyl he seeth hys tyde
To shoten, at goodnesse, to the dere,
When that hym nedeth go no nere.
And so beryl I restede me
Besydes a wel under a tree,
Whych tree in Fraunce men cal a pyne.
But, syth the tyme of kynge Pepyne,
Ne grewe there tree in mannes syght
So fayre, ne so wel woxe in hyght ; H60
In al that yarde so hygh was none.
And spryngynge in a marble stone
Hada'e nature set, the soth to telle,
Under that pyne tree a welle.
And on the border al withoute
Was wryten on the stone aboute,
Letteres smale, that sayden thus,
' Here starfe the fayre Narcisus.'
Narcisus was a bachelere,
That Love hadde caught in hys daungerc, 1170
And in hys nette gan hym so strayne,
And dyd hym so to wepe and playne,
That nede hym muste hys lyfe forgo,
For a fayre lady that hyght Echo,
Hym loved over any creature,
And gan for hym sucho payne endure,
4G THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE.
That on a tyrac she hym tolde,
That yf he her ?/-loven nolde,
That her behovedc ncdcs dye,
There layc none other remedye. uso
But nathelesse, for hys beaute
So fyers and daungerous was he,]
That he nolde graunte hir askyng,
For wcpyng, ne for faire praiyng.
And vvhanne she herd hym werne soo,
She hadde in herte so gret woo,
And took it in so gret dispite,
That she, withouto more respite,
Was deed anoon. But er she dide,
Fulle pitously to God she preide, uoo
That proude hertid Nareisus,
That was in love so daungerous,
Myght on a day ben hampred so
For love, and ben so hoot for woo,
That never he myght to joye atteygne ;
And that he shulde feele in eve?*y veync
What sorowc trcwe lovers maken,
That ben so velaynesly forsaken.
This prayer was but resonable,
Therfore God helde it forme and stable : 1500
For Nareisus shortly to telle,
By aventure come to that welle
To restcn hym in that shadowing
A day, whanne he come fro huntyng.
This Nareisus hadde suffred paynes
For rennyng alday in the playnes,
And was for thurst in grete distresse
Of heet, and of his werynesse,
That hadde his breth almost bynomen.
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 47
Whanne he was to that welZe comen, 1010
That shadowid was with braunches grene,
He thoughte of thilke water shene
To drynke and fresshe hym wcl withalle ;
And doun on knees he gan to falle,
And forth his heed and necke he straught
To drynken of that welle a draught.
And in the water anoon was seen
His nose, his mouth, his yen sheen,
And he therof was alle abasshed ;
His owne shadowe was hym bytrasshed. 1520
For welle wende he the forme see
Of a child of gret beaute.
Welle kouthe Love hym wreke thoo
Of daunger and of pride also,
That Narcisus somtyme hym beere.
He quytte hym welle his guerdoun there ;
For he musede so in the welle,
That, shortly alle the sothe to telle,
He lovede his owne shadowe soo,
That atte laste he starf for woo. 1530
For whanne he saugh that he his wille
Myght in no maner wey fulfille ;
And that he was so faste caught
That he hym kouthe comforte nought,
He loste his witte right in that place,
And diede withynne a lytel space.
And thus his warisoun he took
For the lady that he forsook.
Ladyes, I preye ensample takith,
Ye that ageyns youre love mistakith : 15 io
For if her deth be yow to wite,
God kan ful welle youre while quyte.
48 THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE.
Whanne that this lettre of which I telle,
lladde taught me that it was the welle
Of Narcisus in his beaute,
I gan anoon withdrawe me,
Whanne it fclle in my remembraunce,
That hym bitidde such myschaunce.
But at the laste thanne thought I,
That scathles, fulle sykerly, 1550
I myght unto the welle goo.
Wherof shulde 1 abaisshcn soo ?
Unto the icelle than ivente I me,
And doun I loutede for to see
The clere water in the stoon,
And eke the gravelle, which that shoon
Down in the botme, as silver fyn,
For of the welle, this is the fyn,
In world is noon so clere of hewe.
The water is evere fresh and newe lseo
That welmeth up with wawia brighte
The mountance of two fynger hightc.
Aboute it is gras spryngyng,
For moiste so thikkc and wcl likyng,
That it ne may in wynter dye,
Xo more than may the see be dryo.
Downe atte the botme sette sawe I
Two cristallc stonys craftely
In tliilke fresh andfaire welle.
But 0 thing sothly dar I telle, 1670
That yc wole holde a gret mervayle
Whanne it is toldc, withouten fayle.
For whanne the sonne, clere in sighte,
Cast in that welle his bemys brighte,
And that the heete descendid is,
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 49
Thanne taketh the cristalle stoon ywis,
Agayn the sonne an hundrid hewis,
Blewe, yelowe, and rede, that freshand newe 13.
Yitt hath the merveilous cristalle
Such strengthe, that the place overalle, 1530
Bothe foule and tree, and leves grene,
And alle the yerde in it is seene.
And for to don you to undirstonde,
To make ensample wole I fonde ;
Ryght as a myrrour openly
Shewith alle thing that stondith therby,
As welle the colour as the figure,
Withouten ony coverture;
Right so the cristalle stoon shynyng,
Withouten ony disseyvyng, 1590
The entrees of the yerde accusith
To hym that in the water musith.
For evere in which half that ye be,
Ye may wellc half the gardyne se.
And if he turne, he may right welle
Sene the remenaunt everydelle.
For ther is noon so litil thyng
So hidde ne closid with shittyng,
That it ne is sene, as though it were
Peyntid in the cristalle there. ieco
This is the mirrour perilous,
In which the proude Narcisus
Sawe alle his face faire and bright,
That made hym swithe to ligge upright.
For who-so loketh in that mirrour,
Ther may no thyng ben his socour
That he ne shalle there sene some thyng
That shal hym lede into laughyng.
VOL. VI. E
50 THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE.
Fulle many worthy man hath it
y-blent ; for folk of grcttist wit ieio
Ben soonc caught hcere and awayted ;
Withoutcn respite ben they baited.
Heero comth to folk of newe rage,
Heere chaungith many wight coragc ;
Heere lith no rede no witte therto ;
For Venus sone, daun Cupido,
Hath sowne there of lovo the seed,
That help ne lith there noon, ne rede,
So cerclith it the welle aboute.
His gynnes hath he sett withoute 1620
Ryght for to cacehe in his pantcrs
These damoysels and bachclers.
Lovo wille noon other briddo cacehe,
Though he sette oither nette or lacche.
And for the seed that heere was sowen,
This welle is clcpid, as welle is knowen,
The Welle of Love, of verray right,
Of which thcr hath ful many a wight
Spoke in bookis dyversely.
But they shulle never so verily 1630
Dcscripcioun of the welle heere,
Ne eke the sothe of this matere,
As ye shulle, whannc I have undo
The craft that hir bilongith too.
Alle way me likede for to dwelle.
To sene the cristalle in the welle,
That shewide me fulle openly
A thousand thinges faste by.
But I may say, in sory houre
Stode I to loken on to poure. i«o
For sithen I sore eighede,
THE ROM AUNT OF THE ROSE. 51
That mirrour hath me now entriked.
But hackle I first knowen in my wit
The vertues and strengthes of it,
I nolde not have mused there ;
Me hadde bette bene ellis where,
For in the snare I felle anoon,
That hath bitrisshed many oon.
In thilke mirrour sawe I tho,
Among a thousand thinges mo, icco
A roser chargid fulle of rosis,
That with an hegge aboute enclosid is.
Tho had I sich lust and envie,
That for Parys ne for Pavie,
Nolde I have left to goon att see
There grettist hepe of roses be.
Whanne I was with this rage hent,
That caught hath many a man and shcnt,
Toward the roser gan I go.
And whanne I was not fer therfro, I66d
The savour of the roses swote
Me smote right to the herte rote.
As I hadde allc cnbawmed be.
And if I ne hadde endoutcd me
To have ben hatid or assailed,
Me thankis, wole I not have failed
To pulle a rose of nlle that route
To bereft in myn honde aboute,
And smellen to it where I wente ;
But ever I dredde me to repente, ie:o
And leste it grevede or forthoughte
The lord that thilke gardyn wroughlc.
Of roses ther were grete wone,
So faire woxe never in Rone.
52 THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE.
Of knoppcs clos, some sawc I there,
And some wel betor woxen were.
And some ther ben of other moysoun,
That drowo nygh to her sesoun,
And spedde hem faste for to sprede ;
I love welle sich roses rede ; icso
For brode roses, and open also,
Ben passed in a day or two ;
But knoppes wille freshe be
Two dayes atte leest, or thre.
The knoppcs grctly likede me,
For fairer may ther no man se.
Who-so myghte have oon of alle,
It ought hym ben fulle lief withalle.
flight I oon gerlond of hem geten,
For no richesse I wolde it leten. 169c
Among the knoppes I chese oon
So faire, that of the remenaunt noon
Ne preise I half so welle as it,
Whanne I aviso it in my wit.
For it so Avelle was cnlomyned
With colour reed, as welle ifyncd
As nature couthe it make faire.
And it hath leves wcl foure paire,
That Kynde hath sett thorough his knowyng
Aboute the rede roses spryngyng. 1700
The stalke was as rish right, •
And theron stode the knoppe upright,
That it ne bowide upon no side.
The swote smelle spronge so wide,
That it dide alle the place aboute.
Whanne I hadde smelled the savour swote,
No wille hadde I fro thens yit goo,
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE 53
But somdelle neer it wente I thoo
To take it ; but myn hond for drede
Ne dorste I to the rose bede, 1710
For thesteles sharpe of many maners,
Netles, thornes, and hokede breres ;
For mycheZ they distourblede me,
For sore I dradde to harmed be.
The god of love, with bowe bent,
That alle day sette hadde his talent
To pursuen and to spien me,
Was stondyng by a fige tree.
And whanne he sawe hou that I
Hadde chosen so ententifly 1720
The botheum more unto my paie,
Than ony other that I say,
He toke an arowe fulle sharply whette,
And in his bowe whanne it was sette,
He streight up to his ere drough
The stronge bowe, that was so tough,
And shette att me so wondir smerte,
That thorough myn ye unto myn herte
The takel smote, and depe it wente.
And therwith alle such colde me hente, nso
That under clothes warme and softe,
Sithen that day I have chevered ofte.
Whanne I was hurt thus in a stounde,
I felle doun platte unto the grounde.
Myn herte failed and feynted ay,
And longe tyme a-swoone I lay.
But whanne I come out of swonyng,
And hadde witt, and my fclyng,
I was alle maate, and wende fulle welle
Of bloode have loren a fulle gret delle. 17-jo
54 THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE.
But certes the arowe that in me stode,
Of me nc drewe no drope of blode,
For-why I foundo my wounde alle drie.
Thanne toko I with myn hondis tweie
The arowe, and ful fast out it plighte,
And in the pullyng sore I sighte.
So at the last the shaft of tree
I drough out, with the fethers thrc.
But yit the hokede heed, y-wis,
The whiche Beaute callid is, 1750
Gan so dope in myn herte passe,
That I it myghte nought arace ;
But in myn herte stille it stode,
Al bledde I not a drope of blode.
I was bothe anguyssous and trouble.
For the perille that I sawe double,
I nyste what to 3eye or to do,
Nc gete a leche my woundis to ;
For neithir thurgh grasse nc rote,
Nc haddo I hope of helpe ne bote. i"60
But to the bothum evcrmo
Myn herte drewe ; for alio my wo,
My thought was in noon other thing.
For hadde it ben in my kepyng,
It wolde have brought my lyf agayn.
For certis evenly, I dar wel seyn,
The sight oonly, and the savour,
Aleggede mych of my langour.
Thanne gan I for to drawe me
Toward the bothom faire to se, 1770
And Love hadde gete hym in his throwe
Another arowe into his bowe,
And for to shcte gan hym dresse ;
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 55
The arowis name was Symplesse.
And whanne that love gan nyghe me nere,
He drowe it up, withouten were,
And shette at me with alle his myght,
So that this arowe anoon right
Thourgh-oute/j eigh, as it was founde,
Into myn herte hath maad a wounde. 1780
Thanne I anoon dide al my crafte
For to drawen oute the shafte,
And therwith alle I sighede efte.
But in myn herte the heed was lefte,
Which ay encreside my desire
Unto the bothom drawe nere ;
And evermo that me was woo
The more desir hadde I to goo
Unto the roser, -where that grewe
The freysshe bothum so bright of hewe. 1790
Betir me were to have leten be,
But it bihovede nedes me
To done right as myn herte badde.
For evere the body must be ladde
Aftir the herte ; in wele and woo,
Of force togidre they must goo.
But never this archer wolde feyne
To shete at me with alle his peyne,
And for to make me to hym mete.
The thridde arowe he gan to shete, isoo
Whanne best his tyme he myght espie,
The which was named Curtesie,
Into myn herte he dide avale.
A-swoone I felle, bothe deed and pale ;
Long tyme I lay, and stirede nought,
Tille I abraide out on my thought.
56 THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE.
And fastc thannc I avysede mc
To drawe oute the shaftc of tree ;
But everc the heed was left hihynde
For ought I couthe pullo or wynde. isio
So sore it stikith whannc I "was hit,
That by no craft I myght flit it ;
But anguyssous and fullc of thought
I lefte ; sich woo my wounde ay wrought,
That somonede mc al-way to goo
Toward the rose, that plesede mc soo ;
Bat I ne durste in no mancre
Bi-causc the archer was so nerc.
For evermore gladly, as I rede.
Brent child of fier hath mych dredc. 1820
And, certis, yit for al my peyne,
Though that I sigh, yit arwis rcyne,
And grounde quarcls sharpc of steelle,
Xe for no paync that I myghte feelle,
Yit myght I not my-silf witholdc
The faire roser to biholde ;
For Love mc yaf sich hardoment
For to fulfillc his comaundement.
Upon my fete I rose up thannc
Feble, as a forwoundid man ; 1830
And forth to gon my mj-ght I settc,
And for the archer noldc I lette.
Toward the roser fast I drowe ;
But thorncs sharpe mo than ynowc
Ther were, and also thisteles thikke,
And breres brymme for to prikke,
That I ne myghte gete grace
The rowe thornes for to passe
To sene the roses frcsshe of hewe.
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 57
I must abide, though it me rewe, . 1840
The hegge aboute so thikke was,
That closide the roses in compas.
But o thing lykede me right welle ;
I was so nygh, I myghte fele
Of the bothom the swoto odour,
And also se the fresshe colour ;
And that right gretly likede me,
That I so neer it myghtc se.
Sich joie anoon therof hadde I,
That I forgate my maladie. i860
To sene I hadde siche debt,
Of sorwe and angre I was al quyte,
And of my woundes that I hadde thorc ;
For no thing liken me myghte more,
Than dwellen by the roser ay,
And thennes never to passe away.
But whanne a while I hadde be thare,
The god of love, which al to-share
Myn herte with his arwis kene,
Castith hym to yeve me woundis grene. i860
He shette at me fulle hastily
An arwe named Company,
The whiche takelle is fulle able
To make these ladies merciable.
Thanne I anoon gan chaungen hewe
For grevaunce of my wounde newe,
That I agayn felle in swonyng,
And sighede sore in compleynyng.
Soore I compleynede that my sore
On me gan greven more and more. 1870
I hadde noon hope of allegeaunce ;
So nygh I drowe to desperaunce,
58 TIIE ROMAUNT OF TIIE ROSE.
I rought of dethe, ne of lyfe,
Wheder that love wolde me dryft'.
Yf me a martir wolde he make,
I myght his power nought forsake.
And while for anger thus I woke,
The God of Love an arowe toke ;
Ful sharpe it was and pugnaunt,
And it was callid Faire-semblaunt,
The which in no wise wole consente,
That ony lover hym repente,
To serve his love with herte and alle,
For ony periUe that may bifalle.
But though this arwe was kene grounde,
As ony rasour that is founde,
To kutte and kerve?i at the poynt,
The God of Love it hadde anoynt
With a precious oynement,
Somdellc to yeve a-leggcment isoo
Upon the woundes that he hadde
Thurgh the bod// in my herte m de,
To helpe her sores, and to cure,
And that they may the bette endure.
But yit this arwe, withoute more,
Made in myn herte a large sore,
That in fulle grete peyne I abode.
But ay the oynement wente abrode ;
Thourgh-oute my woundes large and wide,
It spredde aboute in every side ; 1000
Thorough whos vertu and whos myght,
Myn herte joyfullc was and light.
I hadde ben deed and al to-shent
But for the precious oynement.
The shaft I drowe out of the arwe,
THE ROMATJNT OF THE ROSE. 59
Rokyng for wo right wondir narwe ;
But the heed, which made me smerte,
Lefte bihynde in myn herte
With other foure, I dar wel saye, wio
That never wole be take aWaye,
But the oynement halpe mc wele.
And yit sich sorwe dide I fele,
That slle day I chaunged hewe,
Of my woundes fresshe and newe,
As men myghte se in my visage.
The arwis were so fulle of rage,
So variaunt of diversitee,
That men in everiche myghte se
Bothe gret anoy and eke swetnesse,
And joie ?/-meynt with bittirnesse. 1920
Now were they esy, now were they wode,
In hem I felte bothe harme and goode.
Now sore without aleggement,
Now softenyng with oynement ;
It softnede heere, & prikkith there,
Thus ese and anger to-gidre were.
The God of Love delyverly
Come lepande to me hastily,
And seide to me in gret rape,
< Yelde thee, for thou may not escape ! 1930
May no defence availe thee heere ;
Therfore I rede make no daungere.
If thou wolt yelde thee hastely,
Thou shalt rather have mercy.
He is a foole in sikernesse,
That with daunger or stoutenesse
Rebellith there that he shulde plese ;
In sich folye is lit el ese.
60
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE.
Be mekc, where thou must nedis bowc ;
To stryvc ageyn is nought thi prowe. 1940
Come at oones, and have y-doo,
For I wole that it be soo.
Thannc yelde thee heere debonairly.'
And I answeride fid hombly,
' Gladly, sir ; at youro biddyng
I wole me yelde in alle thyng.
To yourc servyse I wole me take ;
For God defende that I shulde make
Ageyn youre biddyng resistence ;
I wole not don so grete offence, 1950
For if I dide, it were no skilc.
Ye may do with me what ye wile,
.Save or spille, and also sloo ;
Fro you in no wise may I goo.
My lyf, my deth, is in youre honde,
I may not laste out of youre bonde.
Pleyn at youre lyst I yelde me,
Hopyng in herte, that sumtyme ye
Comfort and ese shulle me Bendej
Or ellis shortly, this is the eende/
Withouten helthe I mote ay dure,
But if ye take me to youre cure.
Comfort or helthe how shuld I have,
Sith ye me hurt, but ye me save ?
The helthe of love mut be founde,
Where as they token firste her woundc.
And if ye lyst of me to make
Youre prisoner, I wole it take
Of herte and wille fully at gree.
Hoolly and pleyn Y yelde me, ,,:0
Withoute feynyng or feyntise,
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 61
To be governed by youre emprise.
Of you I here so myehe pris,
I wole ben hool at youre devis
For to fulfille youre lykyng,
And to repente for no thyng,
Hopyng to have yit in some tide
Mercy, of that that I abide.'
And with that covenaunt yelde I me,
Anoon down knelyng upon my kne, 1980
Proferyng for to kisse his feete ;
But for no thyng he wolde lete,
And seide, ' I love thee bothe and preise,
Sen that thyn aunswar doth me ease,
For thou answeride so curteisly.
For now I wote wel uttirly,
That thou art gentylle by thi speche.
For though a man fer wolde seche,
He shulde not fyndcn, in certeyn,
No sich answer of no vileyn • 1990
For sich a word ne myghte nought
Issue out of a vilayns thought.
Thou shalt not lesen of thi speche,
For thy helpyng wole I eche,
And eke encresen that I may.
But first I wole that thou obaye,
Fully for thyn avauntage,
Anoon to do me heere homage.
And sith kisse thou shalt my mouthe,
Which to no vilayn was never couthe 2000
For to aproche it, ne for to touche ;
For sauff of cherlis I ne vouch©
That they shulle never neigh it nere.
For curteis, and of faire manere, .
62 THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE.
Welle taught, and fulle of gentilnessc
He muste ben, that shal me kysse,
And also of fulle of high fraunchise,
That shal atteyne to that emprise.
And first of o thing warne I thee,
That peync and gret adversite 2010
He mote endure, and eke travaile,
That shal mo serve, withoute failc.
But ther ageyns thee to comforte,
And with thi servise to desporte,
Thou mayst fulle glad and joyfulle be
So good a maister to have as me,
And lord of so highe renoun.
I bere of Love the gonfenoun,
Of curtesio the banere ;
For I am of the silf mancre, 2020
Gentil, curteys, meke and fre;
That who ever ententyf be
Me to honoure, doute, and serve,
And also that he hym observe
Fro trespasse and fro vilanyc,
And hym govcrne in curtcsie,
With wille and with entencioun ;
For whanne he first in my prisoim
Is caught, thanne must he uttirly,
Fro thense-forth fulle bisily, 2030
Caste hym gentylle for to bee,
If he desire helpe of me.'
Anoon withoute more delay,
Withouten daunger or affray,
I bicome tho his man anoon.
And gave hym thankes many a oon,
And kn elide doun with hondis joynt,
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 63
And made it in my port fulle queynt ;
The joye wente to myn herte rote.
Whanne I hadde kissed his mouth so swote,
I hadde sich myrthe and sich likyng, _ 2041
It curede me of langwisshing.
He askide of me thanne hostages : —
' I have/ he seide, ' taken fele homages
Of oon and other, where I have bene
Disteyned ofte, withouten wene.
These felouns fulle of falsite,
Have many sithes biguyled me,
And thorough her falshede her lust achieved,
Wherof I repente and am agreved. ' 2050
And I hem gete in my daungere,
Her falshede shulle they bie fulle dere.
But for I love thee, I seie thee pleyn,
I wole of thee be more certeyn ;
For thee so sore I wole now bynde,
That thou away ne shalt not wynde,
For to denyen the covenaunt,
Or don that is not avenaunt.
That thou were fals it were gret reuthe,
Sith thou semest so fulle of treuthe.' 2060
' Sire, if thee lyst to undirstande,
I merveile the askyng this demande.
For why or wherfore shulde ye
Ostages or borwis aske of me,
Or ony other sikirnesse, <
Sithe?J ye wote in sothfastnesse,
That ye have me susprised so,
And hole myn herte, taken me fro,
That it wole do for me no thing,
But if it be at youre biddyng ? 2070
6-4 THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE.
Myn herte is youres, and myn right nought
As it bihoveth, in dcde and thought,
Redy in alle to worche youro wille,
Whether so turne to good or ille.
So sore it lustith you to plese,
No man therof may you desese.
Ye have thcron sette sich justice,
That it is werreid in many wise.
And if ye doute it nolde obeye,
Ye may therof do make a kcye, 2080
And holdc it with you for ostage.'
' Now eertis thi.s is noon outrage,'
Quod Love, ' and fully I acorde ;
For of the body he is fulle lord,
That hath the herte in his tresour ;
Outrage it were to asken more.'
Thanne of his awmener he drough,
A litelle keye fetys ynowgh,
Which was of gold polisshcd clerc
And seide to me, ' with this keye heere 2090
Thyn herte to me now wole I shctte ;
For alle my jowelle loke and knette,
I bynde undir this litel keye,
That no wight may cane aweye ;
This keye is fulle of gret poeste.'
With which anoon he touchide me,
Undir the side fulle softely,
That he myn herte sodeynly,
Without anoye hadde spered,
That yit right nought it hath me dered. 2100
Whannc he hadde don his wille al oute,
And I hadde putte hym out of doute,
' Sire,' I seide, ' I have right gret wille,
THE ROMAUNT OF THE HOSE. Go
Youre lust and plesaunce to fulfille.
Loke ye my servise take atte gree,
By thilke feith ye owe to me.
I seye nought for recreaundise,
For I nought doute of youre servise.
But the servaunt traveileth in vayne,
That for to serven doth his payne 2110
Unto that lord, which in no wise,
Kan hym no thank for his servyse.
Love seide, ' Dismaie thee nought,
Syn thou for sokour hast me sought,
In thank thi servise wole I take,
And high of degre I wole thee make,
If wikkidnesse ne hyndre thee ;
But (as I hope) it shal nought be.
To worshipe no wight by aventure
May come, but if he peyne endure. 2120
Abide and suflre thy distresse,
That hurtith now ; it shal be lesse,
I wote my silf what may thee save.
What medicyne thou woldist have.
And if thi trouthe to me thou kepe,
I shal unto thyn helpyng eke,
To cure thy woundes and make hem clcnc,
Where-so they be olde or grene ;
Thou shalt be holpen at wordis fewe.
For certeynly thou shalt welle shewe, 2130
Where that thou servest with good willc,
For to compleysshen and fulfille
My comaundementis day and nyght,
Whiche I to lovers yeve of right.'
' A, sire, for Goddis love,' seide I,
' Er ye passe hens, ententyfly
VOL. TI. Y
<5G THE ROM AUNT OF THE ROSE,
Yourc comaundementig to me ye say,
And I shalle kepe hem it' I may.
For hem to kepen is allc my thought.
And if so be I wote hem nought, 2140
Thanne may I unwityngly.
Wherfore I pray you enterely,
With alio myn herte, me to lero,
That I trespasse in no mancre.'
The god of love thanne cliargide mc
Anoon, as yc shalle here and
Worde by wordc, by right emprise.
So as the Romance shalle devise.
The maister lesith his tyme to lere,
Whanne that the disciple wole not here. 2150
It is but veyn on hym to swynke,
That on his lernyng wole not thenke.
Who-so luste love, late hym entende,
For now the Romance bigynneth to amende.
Now is good to here in fay,
If ony be that can it say.
And poynte it as the resoun is
F-set ; for other gate, y wys,
It shalle nought welle in alio thyng
Be brought to good undirstondyng. 2160
For a reder that poyntith ille,
A good sentence may ofte spille.
The book is good at the eendyng,
F-maad of newe and lusty thyng;
For who-so wole the eendyng here,
The crafte of love he shalle mowe iere,
If that yc wole so long abide,
Tyl I this Romance may unhide
And undo the signifiancc
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 67
Of this dreme into Romance. 2170
The sothfastnesse that now is hidde,
Withoute coverture shalle be kidde.
Whanne I undon have this dremj-ng,
Wherynne no word is of lesyng.
'Velanyo, atte the bigynnyng,
I wole,' sayde Love ' over alio thyng
Thou leve, if thou ne wolt be
Fals, and trespasse ageynes me.
I curse and blame general)-
Alle hem that loven vilanye ; siso
For vilanye makith vilayn
And by his dedis a cherle is seyn.
Thise vilayns arn withouten pitee,
Frendship, love, and alle bounte.
I nyl resseyve unto my servise
Hem that ben vilayns of emprise.
' But undirstonde in thyn en tent.
That this not myn cntendement,
To clepe no wight in noo ages
Oonly gentille for his lynages. 2190
But who-so is vertuous,
And in his port nought outrageous,
'Whanne sich oon thou seest thee biforn.
Though he be not gentille born,
Thou maist welle seyn. this is in soth,
That he is gentil, by-cause he doth
As longeth to a gentilman ;
Of hem noon other deme I can.
For certeynly, withouten drcde,
A cherle is demed by his dede, 2200
Of hie or lowe, as ye may :-
Or of what kvnredc that he bee.
G8 Tin: ROMAUKT OF THE ROSE.
Ne say nought for noon yvel willc
Thyng that is for to holdcn stille ;
It is no worshipe to mysseye.
Thou maist ensample take of Keyc,
That was somtyme for mysseiyng,
Hated hothe of olde and yong.
As fer as Gaweyn the worthy,
Was preiscd for his curtesie, 221a
Kay was hated, for he was idle,
Of word dispitous and cruelle.
Wherfore be wise and aqueyntable,
Goodly of word, and resonable
Bothc to lesse and eke to more.
And whanne thou comest there men are,
Loke that thou have in custom e ay,
First to salue hym if thou may :
And if it falle, that of hem somme
Salue thee first, be not thou domnir. 2220
But quytc hym curteisly anoon
Without abidyng, er they goon.
' For no thyng eke thy tunge applye
To speke wordis of rebaudrye.
To vilayne speche in no dcgre
Late never thi lippe unbounden be.
For I nought holde hym, in good feith,
Curteys, that foule wordis seith.
And alb' wymmen serve and pivise,
And to thy power her honour reise. -jks..o
And if that ony myssaiere
Dispise wymmen, that thou maist here,
Blame hym, and bidde hym holde hym stille.
And set thy myght and alle thy willc
Wymmen and ladies for to please,
THE ROMATTNT OF THE ROSE. 09
And to do thyng that may hem ese,
That they ever speke good of thee,
For so thou maist best preised be.
' Loke fro pride thou kepe thee wele ;
For thou maist bothe perceyve and fclc, 2210
That pride is bothe foly and synne ;
And he that pride hath hym withynne,
Ne may his herte in no wise
Meken nc souplen to servyse.
For pride is foundc, in every part,
Contrarie unto Loves art.
And he that loveth trcwely,
Shulde hym contene jolily,
Withouto pride in sondry wise,
And hym disgysen in qucyntise. 2250
For queynte array, withoute drede,
Is no tliyng proude, who takith hede ;
For fresh array, as men may see,
Withoute pride may ofte be.
Mayntene thy-silf aftir thi rent,
Of robe and eke of garnement ;
For many sithe fairc elothyng
A man amendith in myeh thyng.
And loke alwey that they be shape,
(What garnement that thou shalt make) 22;o
Of hym that kan best do,
With alle that perteyneth therto.
Poyntis and sieves be welle sittande,
Right and streght on the hande.
Of shone and bootes, newe and faire,
Loke at the leest thou have a paire ;
And that they sitte so fetisly,
That these ruyde may uttirly
70 THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE.
Merveyle, sith that they sitto so pleyn,
How they come on or off agcyn. 2270
Were streite gloves, with awmere
( If silk. And alwey with good chere
Thou yeve, if thou have richi s le ;
And if thou have nought, Bpende the lesse.
Alwey be mery, if thou may,
Bui waste not thi good alway.
Have hatte of floures as fresh as May,
Chapelett of roses of Wissonday :
For sich array ne costneth but lite.
Thyn hondis wasshe, thy teeth make white,
And lete no filthe upon thee bi 2281
Thy nailes blak, if thou maist s< .
Voide it awey delyverly,
And kembe thyn heed right jolily.
Farce not thi visage in no wise,
For that of love is not themprise ;
For love doth hat en. as T fynde,
A beaute that cometh not of Kynde.
Alwey in herte I redo thi .
Glad and mery for to be, 2290
And be as joyfulle as thou can ;
Love hath no joye of sorowful man.
That yvelle is fulle of curtesie,
That knowith in his maladie ;
For ever of love the sijkne
Is meynde with swete and bit
The sore of love is mervcilous ;
For now the Liver is joyous,
Now can he pleyne, now can he grone,
Now can h en, now maken mone.
To day he pleyneth for hevyn<
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 71
To morowe he pleyneth for jolynesse.
The lyf of love is fulle contrarie,
Which stounde-mele can ofte varie.
But if thou canst mirthis make,
That men in gre wole gladly take,
Do it goodly, I comaunde thee ;
For men shulde, where-so-evere they be,
Do thing that hem most sittyng is,
For therof cometh good loos and pris. 2310
Whereof that thou be vertuous,
Ne be not straunge ne daungerous.
For if that thou good ridere be,
Prike gladly that men may se.
In armes also if thou konne,
Pursue to thou a name hast wonnc.
And if thi voice be faire and clere,
Thou shalt maken grete daungere.
Whanne to synge they goodly preye,
It is thi worship for tobcye.
Also to you it longith ay,
To harpe and gitterne, daunce and play,
For if he can wel foote and daunce,
It may hym greetly do avaunce.
Among eke, for thy lady sake,
Songes and complayntes that thou make;
For that wole meven in hir herte,
Whanne they reden of thy smcrte.
Loke that no man for scarce thee holdc,
For that may greve thee many-folde. 2330
Resoun wole that a lover be
In his yiftcs more large and fre,
Than cherles that ben not of lovyng.
For who therof can ony thyng,
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE.
Ho shal be lcef ay for to ycve,
In londes lore who-so wolde leve ;
For he that thorough a sodeyn sight,
Or for a kyssyng, anoon right
Yaff hoole his herte in wille and thought,
And to hym-silf kepith right nought, 2340
Aftir this swiffte, it is good rcsoun,
He yeve his good in a-boundoun.
' Now wole I shortly hecrc reherco,
Of that I have seid in verce,
Al thilke sentence by and by.
In wordis fewe compendiously,
That thou the better mayst on hem thenke,
Whether bo it bo thou wake or wynke;
For that the wordis litel greve,
A man to kepc, whanne it is breve. ccso
' Who-so with Love wole goon or ride
He mote be curti is, and voide of pride,
Mery and fulle of jolite,
And of largesse a-losed be.
' Firste I joync thee that hecrc in penaunce,
That cverc withoutc repentauncc,
Thou sette thy thought in thy lovyng
To lastc withoutc repcntyng ;
And thenke upon thi myrthis swete,
That shallc folowo ai'tir whan ye mete. 2300
' And for thou trewe to love ahalt be,
I wolc and comaunde thee,
That in 00 place thou sette, alle hoolc,
Thyn herte, withoute halfen doole,
Fro trccherie and Bikernesse ;
For I loved'' nevere doublenesse.
To many his herte that wole departc,
THE ROMAUXT OF THE ROSE. 73
Everiche shal have but litel parte.
But of hym drede I me right nought,
That in oo place settith his thought. 2370
Therfore in 00 place it sitte,
And lat it nevere thannys flittc.
For if thou yevcst it in lenyng,
I holde it but a wrecchid tliyng.
Therfore yeve it hoole and quyte,
And thou shalt have the more mcritc.
If it be lent than aftir soone,
The bounte and the thank is doone ;
But, in love, fre yeven thing
Requyrith a gret guerdonyng. 2380
Yeve it in yift al quyte fully,
And make thi yift debonairly ;
For men that yift holde more dcre
That yeven is with gladsome chcre.
That yift nought to preisen is
That man yeveth maugre his.
Whanne thou hast yeven thyn hertc, as I
Have seid thee heere openly,
Thanne aventures shulle thee falle,
Which harde and hevy ben with-alle. 'jcoo
For ofte whan thou bithenkist thee
Of thy lovyng, where-so thou be,
Fro folk thou must departe in hie,
That noon perceyve thi maladic,
[But hydc thyne harme thou must alone,
And go forth sole, and make thy mono.
Thou shalt no whyle be in 0 state,
But whylom colde and whylom hate ;
Nowe reed as rose, now yelowe and fade.
Such sorowe I trowc thou never hade. smco
71 THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE.
Cotidicn, ne quarteyne,
It is nut so ful of peyne.
For often tymes it shal falle
In love, amonge thy paynes alle,
That thou thy Belfe al holy,
Forycten shalt so utterly,
That many tymes thou shalt he
Sty] as an yinage of tree,
Dome as a stoon, without steryng
Of fote or hande, wythoute spekyng. 2410
Than sone after allc thy payne,
To memoryc shalt thou come agaync,
As man abashed wonder sore,
And after syghen more and more.
For wytte thou wele, withouten wene,
In such estate ful ofte have bene
That have the yvel of love assayde,
■\Yherthrough thou art so dismayde.
' After, a thought shal take the so,
That thy love is to ferre the fro : 2420
Thou shalt saye, ' God ! what maye thys be,
That I ne may my lady so ?
M vnc hert alone is to her go,
And I abyde al sole in wo,
Departed from myn owne thought,
And with myne eyen se ryght nought.
Alas, myne eyen scne I ne may,
My can t'ul hert* to convay !
Myne hertes gyde, but they be,
I prayse nothyng what ever they se. 21.30
SI u lie they abyde than ? nay ;
But gonne and visiten withoutc delay
That myne herte desyreth so.
THE ROMATJNT OF THE ROSE. 75
For eertaynly, but yf they go,
A foole my selfe I may wel holde,
Whan I no so what myne herte woldc.
Wherfore I wol gone her to sene,
Or eased shal I never bene,
But I have som tokenyng.'
Then gost thou forth withoute dwelling, luio
But oft thou faylest of thy desyre,
Er thou mayst come her any nere,]
And wastest in vayn thi passage.
Thanne fallcst thou in a newe rage ;
For want of sight thou gynnest morne,
And homewarde pensyf thou dost re torn e.
In gret myscheef thanne shalt thou bee,
For thanne agayne shalle come to thee
Sighes and pleyntes with newe woo,
That no ycchyng prikkcth soo. mso
Who wote it nought, he may go lerc,
Of hem that bien love so dere.
No thyng thyn herte appesen may,
That ofte thou wolt goon and assay,
If thou maist seen by aventure
Thi lyves joy, thine hertis cure,
So that bi grace, if thou myght
Atteyne of hire to have a sight.
Thanne shalt thou done noon other dede,
But with that sight thyne eyen fede.
That fairo freshe whanne thou maist see,
Thyne herte shalle so ravysshed be,
That nevere thou woldest, thi thankis, lete
Ne remove, for to see that swete.
The more thou seest in sothfastnesse,
The more thou coveytest of that swetnesM'.
3 THE ROM AUNT OF THE ROSE.
The more thine hcrtc brenneth in fier,
The more thine herte is in desire.
For who considreth every docile,
It may be likned wondir welle, 2170
The peync of love nnto a fere ;
For evermore thou neighest nerc
Thought, or whoo so that it bee,
For verray sothe I telle it thee,
The hatter evere shade thou brenne,
As experience shade thee kenne.
Where so comest in ony coost,
Who is next fuyre he brenneth moost.
And yitt forsothc for alle thine hcte,
Though thou for love swelte and swete, 8480
Ne for no thyng thou felcn may,
Thou shalt not widen to passen away.
And though thou go, yitt must thee, nede,
Thcnke alle day, on hir fairhede,
Whom thou biheelde with so good wille ;
And holde thi-silf biguyled ill©,
That thou ne haddest noon hardement,
To shewe hir ought of thync cntent.
Thyn herte fade sore thou wolt dispisc,
And eke repreve of cowardisc, 2190
That thou so dulle in every thing,
Were domme for drede, withoute spekyng.
Thou slialt eke thenkc thou didest folye,
That thou were hir so faste bye,
And durst not auntre thee to save
Som thyng er thou cam awayc ;
For thou haddist nomore wonne,
To speke of hir whannc thou bigonne :
But yitt she wolde for thy sake,
THE HOMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 77
In amies goodly thee have take, 2joo
It shulde have be more worth to thee,
Than of tresour gret plente.
' Thus shalt thou morne and eke compleyne,
And gete enehesoun to goone ageyne,
Unto thy walke, or to thi place,
Where thou biheelde her fleshly face.
And never for fals suspeccioun,
Thou woldest fyndo occasioun,
For to gone unto hire hous.
So art thou thanne desirous, 2510
A sight of hir for to have,
If thou thine honour myghtist save,
Or ony erande myghtist make
Thider, for thi loves sake,
Fulle fayn thou woldist, but for drede
Ihou gost not, lest that men take hede ;
Wherfore I rede in thi goyng,
And also in thyne ageyn-comyng,
Thou be welle ware that men ne wite ;
Feyne thee other cause than itte, 2520
To go that weye, or faste bye ;
To hele wel is no folye.
And if so be it happe thee,
That thou thi love there maist see,
In siker wise thou hir salewe,
Wherewith thy colour wole transmewe,
And eke thy blode shal al to quake,
Thyne hewe eke chaungen for hir sake.
But word and witte, with cherc fulle pale,
Shulle wante for to telle thy tale. 2530
And if thou maist so fer forth wynne,
That thou resoun derst bigynne,
3 THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE.
And woldisl Beyn thre thingis or mo,
Thou shalt fulle scarsly seyn the two.
Though thou bithenke thee never so wello,
Thou shalt foryete yit somdcllc.
But if thou dele with trecherie.
For false lovers mowe alio folye
Seyn what hem lust withouten drede,
They be so double in her falshe
For they in herte cunne thenke a thyng
And seyn another, in her spekyng.
And whanne thi speche is eendid alle,
Ryghl thus to thee it shalle byfallej
If ony word thannc come to mynde,
That thou to seye hast left bih ode,
Thanne thou shalt brenno in gret martire ;
For thou shalt brenno as ony fiere,
This is the stryf and eke the affray,
And the batelle that lastith ay.
This bargeyn cende may never take,
But if that she thi pees wille make.
'And whanne the nyght is comen, anoon
A thosande angres shalle come uppon.
To bedde as fast thou wolt thee dighte,
Where thou shalt have but smal delite;
For whanne thou wenest for to slepe,
So fulle of peyne shalt thou crepe,
Sicrte in thi bedde aboute fulle wide.
And turne fulle oftc on every side ;
Now dounward groff, and now upright,
And walowe in woo the longc nyght,
Thine armys shalt thou sprcde abrodc,
As man in werre were forweriede.
Thanne shalle thee come a rcmcmbrauncc
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 79
Of hir shappe and hir somblauncc,
Whereto none other may be pere.
And wite thou wel withoute were,
That thee shal seme somtyme that nyght,
That thou hast hir that is so bright, 2570
Naked bitwcne thync armcs there,
Alle sothfastnesse as though it were.
Thou shalt make castels thannc in Spayne,
And dreme of joye, alle but in vayne,
And thee delitcn of right nought,
While thou so slomrest in that thought,
That is so swete and delitable,
The which in soth nys but fable,
For it ne shalle no while laste.
Thanne shalt thou sighe and wepe faste, 2sso
And say, ' Dere God, what thing is this ?
My dreme is turned alle amys,
Which was fulle swete and apparent,
But now I wake it is al shent !
Now yede this mery thought away.
Twenty tymes upon a day
I wolde this thought wolde come agcyne,
For it aleggith welle my pcync.
It makith me fulle of joyfulle thought,
It sleth me that it lastith noght. 2590
A, Lord ! why nyl ye me socoure ?
The joye I trowe that I langoure,
The deth I wolde me shulde sloo,
While I lye in hir armes twoo.
Myne harme is harde withouten wcne.
My gret unease fulle ofte I meene.
But wolde Love do so I myghte
Have fully joye of hir so brighte,
80 THE ROM AUNT OF THE ROSE.
My peync were quytte me rychely.
Alias, to grete a thing aske I ! 2600
Hit is but foly. and wrong wenyng,
To aske so outrageous a thyng.
And who so askith folily,
He mote be warned hastily ;
And I ne wotc what I may saye,
I am so for out of the wave ;
For I wolde have fullc gret likyng,
And fulle gret joye of lasse thing.
For wolde she of hir gentylnesee,
Withoute more, me oonys kysse, 2Cio
It were to me a grete guerdoun,
Relees of alio my passioun.
But it is harde to come therto ;
Alio is but folye, that I do,
So high I have myne herte sette,
Where I may no comfort gette.
I wote not where I seye welle or nought ;
But this I wotc wel in my thought,
That it were better of hir alloone,
For to stynte my woo and moone, 2020
A loke on hir i-caste goodly,
That for to have al utterly,
Of an other alle hoole the pley.
A Ix>rd, where I shalle byde the day
That evere she shalle my lady be ?
He is fulle cured, that may hir sec.
A ! God ! whannc shal the dawnyng springe?
To liggen thus is an angry thyng ;
I have no joye thus heere to lye,
Whannc that my love is not me bye. 26?o
A man to lyen hath gret disese,
THE ROMAUNT OF THE HOSE. 81
Which may not slope ne reste in ese.
I woldc it clawed, and were now day,
And that the nyght were went away,
For were it day, I wolde uprise.
A ! slowe sonne, shewe thine enprise !
Spede thee to sprede thy beemys brighte,
And chace the derknesse of the nyghte,
To putte away the stoundes stronge,
Whiche in me lasten alle to longe.' 2640
' The nyght shalt thou contene soo,
Withoute rest, in peyne and woo ;
If evere thou knewe of love distresse,
Thou sha/t mowe lerne in that sijknesse.
And thus enduryng shalt thou lye
And ryse on morwe up erly,
Out of thy bedde, and harneyse thee
Er evere dawnyng thou maist see.
Alle pryvyly thanne shalt thou goon,
What whider it be, thy silf alloon, 2650
For reyne, or hayle, for snowe, for slete,
Thider she dwellith that is so swcte,
The which may falle a-slepe be,
And thenkith but lytel upon thee.
Thanne shalt thou goon, ful foule a-feerd,
Loke if the gate be unspered,
And waite without in woo and peyne,
Fulle yvel a-coolde in wynde and reyne.
Thanne shslt thou go the dore bifore,
If thou maist fynden ony score, 2C60
Or hoole, or reeft, what evere it were;
Thanne shalt thou stoupe, and lay to ere,
If they withynne a slepe be ;
I mene alle save the lady free,
VOL. vi, o
82 THE ROM AUNT OF THE ROSE.
Whom wakyng if thou maist aspie,
Go putto tlii will' in jupartie,
To aeke grace, and thee bimcne,
That she may wite, without* wcne,
That thou al nyght no rest hast hadde,
So sore for hir thou were byetadde. 2670
Wommen wel oughte pite to take
Of hem that sorwen for her sake.
And loke, lor love of that relyke,
That thou thenke noon other lyke.
For whanne thou hast so gret anno)-,
Shade kysse thee er thou go away,
And holde that in fulle gret deynte.
And for that no man slial thee see
Bifore the hous, ne in the way,
Loke thou be goonc ageyn er day. 2680
Such comyng, and such goyng,
Such hevynesse, and such walkyng,
Makith lovers, withoutcn ony wene,
Under her clothes pale and lone,
For Love leveth colour ne clecrnesse ;
Who loveth trcwe hath no fatnesse.
Thou shalt wel by thy silfe see
That thou must nedis assaid be.
For men that shape hem other weye
Falsly her ladyes for to bitraye, 2690
It is no wonder though they be fatty;
With false othes her loves they gatte;
For oftc I see suche losengours
Fatter than abbatis or priours.
' Yit with o thing I charge thee,
That is to seye, that thou large be
Unto the mayde, that hir doith serve,
THE ROM AUNT OF THE ROSE. 83
So best hir thanke thou shalt deserve.
Yeve hir yiftes, and gete hir g?*ace,
For so thou may thanke purchace, 2700
That she thee worthy holde and free.
Thi lady, and alle that may thee see,
Also hir servauntes worshipe ay,
And please as mycheZ as thou may ;
Grete good thorough hem may come to thee,
Bi-cause with hir they ben pryve.
They shal hir telle hou they thee fande
Curteis and wys, and welle doande,
And she shalle preise welle thee more.
Loke oute of londe thou be not fore ; 2710
And if such cause thou have, that thee
Bihoveth to gone out of contree,
Leve hoole thin herte in hostage,
Tille thou ageyn make thi passage.
Thenke longe to see the swete thyng
That hath thine herte in hir kepyng.
' Now have I tolde thee, in what wise
A lovere shalle do me servise.
Do it thanne, if thou wolt have
The meede that thou aftir crave.' 2720
Whanne Love alle this hadde boden me,
I seide hym : — ' Sire, how may it be
That lovers may in such manere,
Endure the peyne ye have seid heere ?
I merveyle me wonder faste,
How ony man may lyve or laste
In suche peyne, and suche brennyng,
In sorwe and thought, and such sighing,
Aye unrelesecl woo to make,
Whether so it be they slepe or wake. 2730
84 THE ROMAUXT OF THE ROSE,
In such annoy contynuely,
As helpe me God this merveilc I
How man, but he were maad of stele,
Myghte lyve a monthe, such peynes to fele.'
The God of Love thanne seide me,
' Frecnd, by the feith I owe to thee,
May no man have good, but he it bye.
A man loveth more tendirly
The thyng that he hath bought most dere,
For wite thou welle, withouten were, 2740
In thanke that thyng is taken more,
For which a man hath suffred sore.
Certis no wo ne may atteyne,
Uuto the sore of loves peyne.
Noon yvel thcr-to ne may amounte,
No more than a man may counte
The dropes that of the water be.
For dryc as welle the greete see
Thou myghtist, as the harmes telle
Of hem that with Love dwclle 2750
In servysc ; for peyne hem slecth,
And that ech man wolde ile the deeth,
And trowe thei shulde neverc escape,
Nere that Hope couthe hem make,
Glad as man in prisoun sett*?,
And may not getcn for to cte
But barly breed, and watir pure,
And lyeth in verniyn and in ordure;
With alio this yitt can he lyve,
Good-liope such comfort hath hym yeve, 2760
Which maketh wene that he shade bo
Dclyvered and come to liherte ;
In fortune is his fnllo trist.
THE ROM AUNT OF THE ROSE. 85
Though he lye in strawe or dust,
In Hoope is alle his susteynyng.
And so for lovers in her wenyng,
Whiche love hath shitto in his prisoun ;
Good-hope is her salvacioun.
Good-hope, how sore that they smerte,
Yeveth hem bothe willc and herte 2770
To profre her body to martire ;
For Hope so sore doith hem desire
To suffre ech harme that men devise.
For joye that aftinvard shalle arysc.
Hope in desire cacche victorie,
In hope of love is alle the glorie,
For Hope is alle that love may yeve ;
Nere Hope, ther shulde no lover lyve,
Blessid be Hope, which with desire,
Avaunceth lovers in such manere. 2790
Good-hope is curteis for to please,
To kepe lovers from alio disese.
Hope kepith his londe, and wole abide,
For ony perille that may be-tyde ;
For Hope to lovers, as most cheef,
Doth hem endure alle myscheef ;
Hope is her helpe whanne myster is.
And I shalle yeve thee eke iwys,
Three other thingis, that gret solas
Doith to hem that be in my las. £790
'The firste good that may be founde,
To hem that in my lace be bounde,
Is Swete-thought, for to recordo
Thing wherwith thou canst accorde
Best in thyne herte ; where she be,
Thenkyng in absence is good to thee.
86 THE ROM AUNT OF THE ROSE.
Whanne ony lover doth complcyne,
And lyveth in distrcssc and in peyne,
Thanne Swcte-thought shal come as blyve,
Awey his angre for to dryvo. 2soo
It raakith lovers to have remembraunce
Of comfort, and of high pleaaunce,
That Hope hath hight hym for to Wynne.
For Thought anoon thanne shallc bygynne,
As ferre, God wote, as he can fynde,
To make a mirrour of his mynde,
For to biholde he wole not lette.
Hir persone he shalle a-fore hym sette,
Hir laughing even, persaunt and clere,
Hir shappe, hir fourme, hir goodly chere,
Hir mouth that is so gracious,
So swete. and eke so saverous,
Of alle hir feturcs he shallc take heede,
His even with alle hir lymcs fede.
'Thus Swete-thenkyng shalle aswage
The peyne of lovers, and her rage.
Thi joye shalle double, without. • gesse,
Whanne thou thenkist on hir semlyne
Or of h.'r laughing, or of hir chere,
That to thee made thi lady dere. 2320
This comfort wole I that thou take.
And if the nexte thou wolt forsake
Whirl: is not lesse saverous.
Thou shuldist not ben to daungerous.
' The seeounde shal be Swete-spechc,
That hatli to many oon be leche,
To bringc hem out of woo and were,
And hclpe many a bachilere,
And many a lady sent socoure,
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 87
That have loved paramour, 2830
Thorough spekyng, whanne they myghte?i heere,
Of her lovers to hem so dere.
To me it voidith alio her smerte,
The which is closed in her herte.
In herte it makith hem glad and light,
Speche, whanne they mowe have sight.
And therfore now it cometh to mynde,
In olde dawes as I fynde,
That clerkis writen that hir knewe,
Ther was a lady fresh of hewe, ssio
Which of hir love made a songe
On hym, for to remembre amonge,
In which she seide, ' Whanne that I here
Speken of hym that is so dere,
To me it voidith alle smerte,
Iwys he sittith so nere myne herte.
To speke of hym at eve or morwe,
It cureth me of alle my sorwe.
To me is noon so high plesaunce
As of his persone dalyaunce.5 ssso
She wiste fulle welle that Swete-spekyng
Comfortith in fulle myche thyng.
Hir love she hadde fulle welle assaid,
Of hem she was fulle welle apaied ;
To speke of hym hir joye was sette.
Therfore I rede thee that thou gette
A felowc that can welle cone el e,
And kepc thi counsclle, and welle hele,
To whom go shewe hoolly thine herte,
Bothe welle and woo, joye and smerte : 23G0
To gete comfort to hym thou goo,
And pryvyly bitwenc yow twoo,
8S THE ROMAUNT Or THE ROSE.
Yce shallc spekc of that goodly thyng,
That hath tliyne herte in hir kepyng;
Of hir beaute and hir semblauncc,
And of liir goodly conntcnannce ;
Of alle thi state, thou shall hym seye,
And aske hym counseillc how thou may
Do ony thyng that may hir plese,
For it to thee shallc do grct esc, 2370
That he may wite thou trust, hym soo,
ltothe of thi welc and of thi woo.
And if his herte to love he sett,
His companye is myche the bett,
For rcsoun wole he shewc to thee
Alle uttirly his pryvyte,
And what she is he lovcth so
To thee pleynly he shal undo,
Withoute drede of ony shame.
Bothe telle hir renoun and hir name. 2S80
Thanne shalle he forther ferre and nere,
And namely to thi lady dere,
In syker wise, yce, every other
Shalle helpen as his owne brother,
In trouthe withoute doublenesse,
And kepen cloos in sikcrncsse.
For it is noble thing in faye,
To have a man thou darst saye
Thy pryve counselle every decile,
For that wole comforte thee right wcllr, 2soo
And thou shalt holdc thee welle apayed,
Whannc such a freend thou has; assayed.
' The thridde good of gret comforle
That yeveth to lovers most disporte,
Comyth of sight and of biholdyng,
THE HOMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 89
That clepid is Swete-lokyng,
The whiche may noon ese do.
Whannc thou art fer thy lady fro ;
Wherfore thou prese alwey to he
In place, where thou maist hir see. 21100
For it is thyng most amerous,
Most delytable and faverous,
For to a-swage a mannes sorowe,
To sene his lady by the morwe.
For it is a fulle noble thing
Whanne thyne eyen have metyng
With that relike precious,
Wherof they be so desirous.
But al day after, soth it is,
They have no drede to faren amysse, 0010
They dreden neither wynde ne reyne,
Ne noon other maner peyne.
For whanne thyne eyen were thus in blisse,
Yit of hir curtesie, ywysse,
Alloone they can not have her ioye,
But to the herte they conveye,
Parte of her blisse ; to hym thou sonde,
Of alle this harme to make an ende.
The eye is a good messangere,
Which can to the herte in such mancrc 2020
Tidyngis sende, that he hath sene
To voide hym of his peynes clone.
Wherof the herte rojoiseth soo
That a gret partye of his woo
Is voided, and putte awcy to flight.
Right as the derknesse of the 113-ght
Is chased with clerenesse of the mono,
Right so is al his woo fulle soone
90 THE ROM AUNT OF THE ROSE.
Devoided clone, whanne that the sight
Biholden may that frcshe wight 2930
That the hcrtc desireth soo,
That al his derknesse i^ a-goo ;
For thanne the herte is alle at cse,
Whanne they sene that may hem plese.
' X<i\v have I declared thee alle OUte,
Of that thou were in drede and doute ;
For I have tolde thee feithfully,
What thee may curcn utterly,
And alle lovers that wole be
Feithfulle, and fullc of stabilite. 2010
Good-hope ahvey kepe hi thi side.
And Swel 1 '-thought make eke abide,
Swete-lokyng and Swete-spi ehe,
Of alle thyno harmes.thei Bhalle be leche.
Of every thou shalt have grel plesaunce,
If thou canst bide in suffraun
And serve wel withoute feyntise,
Thou shalt be quyte of thyne emprise.
With more guerdoun, if thai thou lyve ;
But alle this tyme this 1 thee yeve.' 2950
The God of Love, whanne al the day,
Hadcfe taught me. as ye have herd say,
And enfourmed compendiously.
He vanyshide awey alle sodeynly,
And I alloone lefte alle soole,
So fulle of compleynt and of doole.
For T sawe no man there me by.
My woundes me grevede wondirly;
Me for to curen no thyng I knewe,
Save the bothom bright of hewe, 2960
Wheron was sett hoolly my thought ;
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 91
Of other comfort knewe I nought.
But it were thorugh the God of Love,
I knew not elles to my bihove
That myghte me ease or comfort gete,
But if he wolde hym entermete.
The roser was, withoute doute,
I-closed with an hegge withoute.
As ye toforn have herd me seyne ;
As fast I bisiede, and wolde fayne 2970
Have passed the hay, if I myghte
Have geten ynne by ony slighte
Unto the bothom so faire to see.
But evere I dradde blamed to be,
If men wolde have suspeccioun
That I wolde of entencioun
Have stole the roses that there were ;
Therfore to entre I was in fere.
But at the last, as I bithoughte
Whether I shulde passe or nought. 2980
I sawe come with a glade chere
To me, a lusty bachelere,
Of good stature, and of good highte,
And Bialacoil forsothe he highte.
Sone he was ?mto Curtesie,
And he me grauntide fulle gladly.
The passage of the outter haye,
And seide : — ' Sir, how that yee maye
Passe, if youre wille be,
The freshe roser for to see. 2990
And yee the swete savour fele.
Youre warrans may I be right wele,
So thou thee kepe fro folye,
Shalle no man do thee vylanye.
92 THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE.
If I may helpe you in ought,
I shalle not feyne. dredeth nought ;
For I am bounde to youre servise,
Fully devoide of feyntise.'
Thanne unto Bialacoil saide I,
' I thanke you, sir, full hertcly, 3000
And youre bihceste take at gre,
That ye so goodly profer me ;
To you it cometh of gret fraunchise,
That ye me profer youre servise.'
Thanne aftir fully delyverly,
Thorough the breres anoon wente I,
Wlierof encombrcd was the hayc.
I was wel plesed, the soth to Baye,
To se the bothom faire and swote,
So freshe sprange out of the 1 3010
And Bialaeoil me servede welle,
Whanne I so nygh me myghte fele
Of thilke bothom the swete odour,
And so lusty hewed of colour.
But thanne a cherle (foule hym bitydc !)
Biside the roses gan hym hyde,
To kepe the roses of that roser,
Of whom the name was Daunger.
This cherle was hid there in the greves,
Kovercd with gras and with levi 3, 3030
To spie and take whom that he fondo
Unto that roser putte an honde.
He was not soole, for ther was moo ;
For witli hym were other twoo
Of wikkid maners, and yvel fame.
That oon was clepid by his name,
Wykked-tonge, God yeve hym sonve !
THE ROMAUXT OF THE ROSE. 93
For neither at eve ne at morwe,
He can of no man goode speke ;
On many a just man doth he wrekc. 3030
Ther was a womman eke, that highte
Shame, that, -who can reken righte,
Trespace was hir fadir name,
Hir moder Resoun ; and thus was Shamo
Brought of these ilke twoo.
And yitt hadde Trespasse never adoo
With Resoun, ne never ley hir bye,
He was so hidous and so oughlye,
I mene this that Trespas highte ;
But Resoun conceyveth, of a sighte, 3040
Shame, of that I spake aforne.
And whanne that Shame was thus borne,
It was ordeyned, that Chastite
Shulde of the roser lady be,
Which, of the bothoms more and lasse,
With sondre folk assailed was,
That she ne wiste what to doo.
For Venus hir assailith soo,
That nyght and day from hir she stale
Bothoms and roses over alio.
To Resoun thanne praieth Chastite,
Whom Venus hath flemed over the see,
That she hir doughter wolde hir lene,
To kepe the roser fresh and grene.
Anoon Resoun to Chastite
Is fully assented that it be,
And grauntide hir, at hir request,
That Shame, by-cause she is honest,
Shallc keper of the roser be.
And thus to kepe it ther were three, scgo
84 THE KOM AUNT OP THE ROSE.
That noon shuldc hardy bo nc boldc,
Were he yong or were he olde
Ageyn hir wille awey to here
Bothoms ne roses, that there were.
I hadde wel spedde, hadde I not bene
Awayted with these three, and sene.
For Bialacoil, that was bo faire,
So gracious and so debonaire,
Quytt hym to me fulle curtcislye,
And me to please bade that I 3070
Shulde drawe me to the bothom nere;
Prese in to touche the rosere
Which bare the roses, he yaf me lcve ;
This graunte ne myghte but lytel greve.
And for he sawe it likede me,
Eyght nygh the bothom pullede he
A leef alle grcnc, and yatf me that,
The whiche fulle nygh the bothom sat;
I made of that leefe fulle queynte.
And wlianne I telle I was aqueyntc 3080
With Bialacoil, and so pryve,
I wende alle at my wille hadde be,
Thanne waxe I hardy for to telle
To Bialacoil hou me bifelle,
Of Love, that toke and wounded me ;
And seide : ' Sir, so mote I thee,
I may no joye have in no wise,
Uppon no side, but it rise ;
For sithe (if 1 shalle not feyne)
In herte I have hadde so gret pcyne 3000
So gret annoy, and such affray,
That I nc vote what I shalle say ;
I drede youre wrath to disserve.
THE ROMATJNT OF THE ROSE. 95
Lever me were, that knyves kerve
My body shulde in pecys smalle,
Than in any wise it shulde falle,
That ye wratthed shulde ben with me.'
' Sey boldely thi wille,' quod he,
' I nyl be wroth, if that I may,
For nought that thou shalt to me say.' 3100
Thanne seide I, ' Sir, not you displease,
To knowen of myn gret unnese,
In which oonly love hath me brought ;
For peynes gret, disese and thought,
Fro day to day he doth me drye ;
Supposeth not, sir, that I lye.
In me fyve woundes dide he make,
The soore of whiche shalle nevere slake,
But ye the bothom graunte me,
Which is moost passaunt of beaute, 3110
My lyf, my deth, and my martire,
And tresour that I moost desire.'
Thanne Bialacoil, afirayed alle,
Seyde, ' Sir, it may not falle ;
That ye desire it may not arise.
What ! wolde ye shende me in this wise?
A mochel foole thanne I were,
If I suffride you awey to bere
The freshe bothom, so faire of sight.
For it were neither skile ne right, 3120
Of the roser ye broke the rynde,
Or take the rose aforn his kynde ;
Ye are not curteys to askew it.
Late it stille on the roser sittc,
And late it growe til it amended be,
And perfytly come to beaute.
96 THE ROMATJNT OF THE ROSE.
I noldc not that it pulled were,
Fro thilke roscr that it here,
To me it is so leef and deere.'
With t hat sterte oute anoon Daungcrc, 3iso
Out of the place wAere he was hidde.
His malice in his chere was kidde ;
Fulle grete lie was and blak of hewe,
Sturdy, and hidous, who-so hym knewe,
Like sharp urchouns his here was growc,
His eyes rede sparkling as the fire glowe,
His nose frounced fulle kirked stoode,
He come criande as he were woode,
And seide, ' Bialacoil, telle me why
Thou bryngest hider so booldely 3uo
Hym that so nygh cam the roser?
Thou worchist in a wrong maner ;
He thenkith to dishonoure thee,
Thou art wel worthy to have maugree,
To late hym of the roscr wite;
Who Berveth a feloun is yvel quitte.
Thou woldist have doon grel bounte,
And he with shame wolde quyte thee.
Fie hennes felowe ! I rede thee goo !
It wanteth litel J wole thee sloo ; 3150
For Bialacoil nc knewe thee nought,
Whanne thee to serve he settc his thought j
For thou wolt shame hym if thou myght,
Botlic ageynes resonn and right.
I wole no more in thee affye,
That comest so alyghly for tespye;
For it preveth wonder welle,
Thy slight and tresoun every docile.'
I durste no more there make abode,
THE ROM AUNT OF THE ROSE. 97
For thilke cherl he was so wode ; 3163
So gan he threte and manace,
And thurgh the haye he dide me chace.
For feer of hym I tremblyde and quoke,
So cherlishly his heed it shoke ;
And seide, if eft he myghte me take,
I shidde not from his hondis scape.
Thanne Bialacoil is fledde and mate,
And I alle soole disconsolate,
Was left aloone in peyne and thought,
For shame to deth I was nygh brought, zno
Thanne thought I on myn highe foly,
How that my body, utterly,
Was yeve to peyne and to martire ;
And therto hadde I so gret ire,
That I nc durste the hayes passe ;
There was noon hope, there was no grace.
I trowe nevere man wiste of peyne,
But he were laced in Loves cheyne ;
Ne no man wiste, and sooth it is,
But if he love, what anger is. siso
Love holdith his heest to me right wele,
Whanne peyne he seide I shulde Me.
Noon herte may thenke, ne tunge seyne,
A quarter of my woo and peyne.
I myghte not with the anger lastc ;
Myn herte in poynt was for to barste,
Whanne I thought on the rose, that soo
That was thurgh Daunger cast me froo.
A longc while stode I in that state.
Til that me saugh so madde and mate 3vw
The lady of the highe warde,
Which from hir tour lokide thiderward.
VOL. VI. H
9S THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE.
Resoun men elepe that lady.
Which from hir tour delyverly,
Come doun to me withoute more.
But she was neither yong, ne hoore,
Ne high ne lowe, ne fat uc lene,
But best, as it were in a mene.
Hir even twoo were cleer and lighte
As ony eandelle that brenneth brightc ; r.200
And on hir heed she hadde a crowm.
Hir semede wel an high persoune;
For rounde enviroun hir crownet
Was fulle of riche stonys frett.
Hir goodly semblaunt, by devys,
I trowe were maad in paradys ;
For nature hadde nevere such a grace,
To forge a werk of such compace.
For ccrteyn. but-if the letter lye
God hym-silf. that is so high. r:io
'Made hir aftir liis ymi
And yaff hir sith sich avaunta
That she hath myght and seignurie
To kepe men from alio folye ;
Who-so wole trowe hir Ion'.
Ne may oii'enden nevermore.
And while I stode thus derk and pale,
Resoun bigan to me hir laic
Shi : • Alhayle, my swete freende!
Foly and childhoode wole thee sheende, 3:
Which ye have putt in grel affray ;
Thou hast bought deere the tyme of May.
That made thyn herte mery to be.
In yvelle tyme thou wentist to see
The gardyne, wherof Ydilnessc
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 99
Bare the keye, and was maistresse
Whanne thou yedest in the daunee
With hir, and hadde a-queyntaunce :
Hir aqueyntaunee is perilous,
First softe, and aftir noious ; S230
She hath the trasshed, withoute wcne ;
The God of Love hadde the not sene,
Ne hadde Ydilnesse thee conveyed
In the verger where Myrthe hym pleyed.
If Foly have supprised thee,
Do so that it recovered be ;
And be wel ware to take nomore
Counsel, that greveth aftir sore ;
He is wise that wole hym silf chastise.
And though a yong man in ony wise 3210
Trcspace amonge, and do foly,
Late hym not tarye, but hastily
Late hym amende what so be mys.
And eke I counseile thee, iwys,
The god of love hoolly foryete,
That hath thee in sich peyne sette,
And thee in herte tourmented soo.
I cannot sene how thou maist goo
Other weyes to garisoun ;
For Daunger, that is so feloun, 3250
Felly purposith thee to werye,
Which is fid cruel the soth to seyo.
'And yitt of Daunger cometh no blam<\
In rewarde of my doughter Shame,
Which hath the roses in hir wardo,
As she that may be no musarde.
And Wikked-tunge is witli these two,
That suffrith no man thider goo ;
100 THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE.
For cr a tiling be do lie simile,
Where that he cometh, over alle, 3260
In fourty places, if it be sought,
Seye thyng that nevere was don no wrought;
So moche tresoun is in his male,
Of falsnesse for to seyne a tale.
Thou delest with angry folk, ywis ;
Wherfore to thee bettir it is,
From thiOce folk awey to fare,
For they wole make thee lyve in care.
This is the yvelle that love they calle,
Wherynne thcr is but foly alle, 3270
For love is foly cverydelle ;
Who loveth. in no wise may do welle,
Ne sette his thought on no good work.
His scole he lesith, if he be a clerk ;
Or other craft eke, if he be,
He shal not thryvc therynnc ; for he
In love shal have more passioun,
Than monke, hermyte, or chanoun.
The peyne is hard out of mesure.
The joye may eke no while endure ; 3280
And in the posscssioun,
Is mychc tribulacioun ;
The joye it is so short lastyng,
And but in happe is the getyng ;
For I see there many in travaille,
That atte laste foule fayle.
I was no thyng thi counselor,
Whanne thou were maad the omager
Of God of Love to hastily ;
Ther was no wisdom but foly. 3200
Thyne hertc was joly, but not sage,
THE ROM AUNT OF THE ROSE. 101
Whanne thou were brought in sich arrage,
To yelde thee so redily,
And to Love of his grete maistrie.
' 1 rede thee Love awey to dryve,
That makith thee recche not of thi lyve.
The foly more fro day to day
Shal growe, but thou it putte away.
Take with thy teeth the bridel faste,
To daunte thyne herte ; and eke thee caste, 3300
If that thou maist, to gete thee defence
For to redresse thi first offence.
Who-so his herte alwey wole leve,
tShal fynde amonge that shal hym grevc.'
Whanne I hir herde thus me chastise,
I answerd in ful angry wise.
I prayed hir ceessen of hir speche,
Outher to chastise me or teche,
To bidde me my thought refreyne, 3309
Which Love hath caught in his demeyne : —
' What ! wrene ye love wolo consente,
That me assailith with bowe bente,
To drawe myne herte out of his honde,
Which is so qwikly in his bonde ?
That ye counseyle, may neverc be ;
For whanne he firste arestide me,
He took myne herte so hoole hym tille,
That it is no thyng at my wille ;
He thought it so hym for to obey,
That he it sparrede with a key. 3.-.20
I pray yow late me be alio stille,
For ye may wellc, if that ye wille,
Youre wordis waste in idilnessc ;
For utterly withouten gesae,
102 TI1E KOMAUNT OF THE ROSE.
Alle that ye seyn is but in veyno.
Mo were lever dye in the peyne,
Than Love to meward shulde arette
Falshecd, or trcsoun on me sette.
I wole me gete prys or blame,
And love trewe to save my name ; 3330
Who that me chastisith, I hym hate'
With that word Resoun wentc hir gate,
Whanne she saugh for no sermonynge
She myghte me fro my foly brynge.
Thannc dismaied, I, lefte alle sool,
Forwery, for-wandred as a fool,
For I ne knewe no cherisaunn ,
Thanne felle into my remembraunce,
How Love bade me to purveyc
A fulowc, to whom I myghte scye 3310
My counselle and my pryvete,
For that shiddc moche availe me.
With that bithought I me, that I
Hadde a felowe taste by,
Trewe and siker, eurteys, and hende,
And he was called by name a freende ;
A trewer felowe was no-wher noon.
In haste to hym I wentc anoon,
And to hym alle my woo I tolde,
Fro hym right nought I wolde witholde. 3350
I tolde hym alle withoute were.
And made my compleynt on Daungere.
How for to see he was hidous,
And to me-ward contrarious ;
The which e thurgh his cruelte,
Was in poynt to have meygned me ;
With Bialacoil whanne he me
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 103
Withynne the gardeyn walke and pley,
Fro me he made hym for to go,
And I bilefte aloone in woo ; 3360
I durste no lenger with hym speke,
For Daunger seide he wolde be wrekc,
Whanne than he sawc how I wente,
The freshe bothom for to hente,
If I were hardy to come neer,
Bitwene the hay and the roser.
This freend whanne he wiste of my thought,
He discomfortede me right nought,
But seide, ' FeloAve, be not so madde,
Ne so abaysshed nor bystadde. 3370
My silf I knowe fulle welle Daungere,
And how he is feers of his cheere,
At prime temps, Love to manace ;
Ful ofte I have ben in his caas.
A feloun firste though that he be,
Aftir thou shalt hym souple se.
Of longe passed I knewe hym welle ;
Ungoodly first though men hym feele,
He wole meke aftir in his beryng
Been, for service and obeyssyhng. 3380
I shal thee telle what thou shalt doo»: —
Mekely I rede thou go hym to,
Of herte pray hym specialy
Of thy trespace to have mercy,
And hote hym welle, here to plese,
That thou shalt nevermore hym displese.
Who can best serve of flaterie,
Shalle please Daunger most uttirly.'
Mi freend hath seid to me so wel,
That he me esid hath somdelle, 3390
104 THE IIOMAUXT OF THE ROSE.
And eke allegged of my torment;
For thurgh hym had 1 hardement
Agayn to Daunger for to go",
To preve if I myghte moke hym soo.
To Daunger came I alio ashamed,
The which aforn me hadde blamed,
Desiryng for to peso my woo ;
But over hegge durst I not goo,
For he forbede me the passage.
I fonde hym cruel in his rage, S400
And in his honde a grct burdoun.
To hym I knelide lowe a-doun,
Fid mekc of port, and symplc of ehere,
And seide, ' sir, I am comen hcere
Oonly to aske of you mercy.
That greveth mo fulle gretely
That evere my lyf I wratthede you.
Tint for to amenden I am come now;
With alle my myght, bothc loude and stille,
To doon right at youre owne wille ; 3110
For Love made me for to doo
That I have trespassed hidirto ;
Fro -whom I ne may withdrawe myne hcrte;
Yit shalle /never, for joy ne smerte,
What so bifalle good or ille,
Offende more ageyn youre willc.
Lever I have endure disese,
Tlian do that you shulde displese.
I you require, and pray that ye
Of me have mercy and pitee, :<420
To stynte your ire that greveth soo,
That I wole swore for ever mo
To be rcdressid at youre likvng,
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 105
If I trespasse in ony thyng ;
Save that, I pray thee, graunte me
A thyng that may not warned be ;
That I may love alio oonly,
Noon other thyng of you aske I.
I shalle doon elles welle iwys,
If of youre grace ye graunte me this. 3430
And ye ne may not letten me,
For wel wot ye that love is free,
And I shalle loven siehen that I wille,
Who evere like it welle or ille ;
And yit ne wold I for alio Fraunce
Do tlryng to do you displesaunee.'
Thanne Daunger fille in his entent
For to foryeve his male-talent ;
But alle his wratthe yit atte laste
He hath relesed, I preyde so fastc: 3440
' Shortly,' he seide, ' thy request
Is not to mochel dishonest ;
Ne I wole not wernc?^ it thee,
For yit no thyng engreveth me.
For though thou love thus evermore,
To me is neither softe ne soore.
Love where that the list ; what rccchith mo,
So tlwu fer fro my roses be ?
Trust not on me for noon assay,
In ony tyme to passe the hay.' gijo
Thus hath he graunted my praierc.
Thanne wente I forth withoutcn were
Unto my freend, and tolde hym alle,
Which was right joyfulle of my tallc.
He seide, ' Now goth wel thyn affere,
He shalle to thee be debonaire.
106 THE ROMATJNT OF THE ROSE.
Though he aforn was dispitous.
He shalle heere-aftir be gracious.
If he were touchid ou Bomme good veyne,
He shulde yit rewen on thi peyne. 3460
Suffre, I rede, and no boost make,
Tillo thou at goodies maist hym take.
By sufferauncc, and wordis suite,
A man may overcomen ofte
Hym that aforn lie hadde in drede,
In bookis sothly as I rede.'
Thus hath my freend with gret comfort
Avaunced me with high disport,
Which wolde me good as myeh as I.
And thanne anoon fulle sodeynly 3470
I toke my leve, and streight 1 wente
Unto the hay ; for gret talente
I hadde to sene the freshe bothom,
Wherynne lay my salvacioun;
And Daunger toke kepe, if that I
Kepe hym covenaunt trewcly.
So sore I dradde his manasyng,
I durste not broke his biddyng;
For lest that I were of hym shent,
I brake not his comaundement, 3480
For to purchase his good wille.
It was hard for to come thcr-tille,
His merry was to ferre bihynde ;
I wepte, for I ne myght it fynde.
I compleyned and sighede sore,
And langwisshed evermore,
For I durste not over goo,
Unto the rose I lovede soo,
Thurgh-out my demyng outerly,
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 107
That he hadde knowlege certeinly, 34eo
Thanne Love me ladde in sich a wise,
That in me ther was no feyntise,
Falsheed, ne no treeherie.
And yit he, fulle of vylanye,
Of disdeyne and of cruelte,
On me ne wolde have pite,
His cruel wille for to refreyne,
Though I wepe alwey, and me compleyne.
And while I was in this torment,
Were come of grace, by God sent, 3500
Frannehise, and with hir Pite,
Fulfild the bothom of bounte.
They go to Daunger anoon right
To forther me with alle her myght,
And helpe in worde and eh in dede,
For welle they saugh that it was m
First of hir grace dame Fraunchise
Hath taken of this emprise :
She seide, ' Daunger, gret wrong ye do
To worche this man so myche woo, 3510
Or pynen hym so angerly,
It is to you gret villanye.
I can not see why ne how
That he hath trespassed ageyn you,
Save that he loveth ; wherfore ye shulde
The more in cherete of hym holdc.
The force of love makith hym do this ;
Who wolde hym blame he dide amys ?
He leseth more than ye may do ;
His peyne is harde, ye may see, lo ! 3520
And Love in no wise wolde consentc
That he have power to repente ;
108 THE ROMATJNT OF THE ROSE.
For though that quyk yc wolde hym sloo,
Fro Love his herte may not goo.
Now, swete sir, is it youre esc
Hym forto angrc or discsc ?
Alias, what may it you avaunco
To done to hym so grct grevaunce ?
'What worship is it agavn hym take,
Or on youre man a werre make, 0530
Sith he so lowly every wise
Is redy, as ye luste devise ?
If Love hath caught hym in his lace,
You for to heyc in every eaas,
And hen youre suget at youre wide,
Shulde ye therforc widen hym ille?
Ye shuldc hym spare more alle outc,
Than hym that is bothe proude and stoute.
Curtesie wole that yc socour
Hem that ben meke undir j-ourc cure. 3540
His hcrtc is hard that wolc not meke,
Whanne men of mekenesse hym biseke.'
'That is ccrteyn,' seide Pite;
' We se ofto that humilite,
Bothe ire, and also felonye
Yenquyssheth, and also malencolye ;
To stonde forth in such duresse
Is cruelte and wikkidncs.se.
Wherfore I pray you, sir Haungcre,
For to mayntene no lengcr heere 3500
Such cruel werrc agayn youre man,
As hoolly youres as ever he can ;
Nor that ye worchen no more woo
Upon this caytif that langwisshith soo,
Which wole no more to you trcspasse,
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 100
But putte hym hoolly in youre grace.
His offense ne was but lite ;
The God of Love it was to wite,
That he youre thralle so gretly is,
And if ye harme hym, ye done amys ; 3.",go
For he hath hadde fulle hard penaunce,
Sith that ye refte hym thaqueyntaunce
Of Bialacoil, his moste joye,
Which alle hise peynes myght acoye.
He was biforn anoyed sore,
But thanne ye doubled hym welle more ;
For he of blis hath ben fulle bare,
Sith Bialacoil was fro hym fare.
Love hath to hym do gret distresse,
He hath no nede of more duresse. 3o;o
Voideth from hym your ire, I rede ;
Ye may not wynnen in this dede.
Makith Bialacoil repeire ageyn,
And haveth pite upon his peyne ;
For Fraunchise wole, and I Pite,
That mercyful to hym ye be ;
And sith that she and I accorde,
Have upon hym misericorde ;
For I you pray, and eke moneste,
Nought to refusen oure requeste ; s^so
For he is hard and felle of thought,
That for us twoo wole do right nought.'
Daunger ne myghte no more endure,
He mekede hym unto mesure.
' I wole in no wise,' seith Daungere,
• Denye that ye have asked heere ;
It were to gret uncurtesie.
I wole ye have the companye
110 THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE.
Of Bialacoil, as ye devise;
I wolc hym lette in no wise.' nooo
To Bialacoil llianne wente in high
Fraunchise, and seide fulle curteislye: —
' Ye have to longe be dcignous
Unto this lover, and daungerons,
[Fro hym to withdrawe your presence,
Whyehe hath do to hym great offence,
That ye not wolde upon hym se ;
Wherfore a soroueful man is he.
Shape ye to paye hym, and to pie;
Of my love yf ye wol have ease. 3600
Fulfyl his wyl, sythe that ye knowe
Daunger is daunted and brought lowe
Through helpe of me and of Pyte ;
You dare no more aferde be.'
'I shal do right as ye wylle,'
Saythe Bialacoil, 'for it is skylle,
Sythe Daunger wol that it so be.'
Than Fraunchyse hath hym Pent to me.
Byalacoil at the begynnyng
Saluede me in his eommyng. smo
No straungenesse was in him sene,
No more than he ne hadde wrathed bene.
As fayre semblaunt than shewed he mo,
And goodly, as aforne dyd he ;
And by the honde, withoute doute,
Wythin the haye ryght al aboute,
He ladde me, with right good chere,
Al envyron thUke vergere,
That Daunger hadde me chased fro.
Nowe have I leave overal to goo ; 8620
Now am I rayscd, at my devyse,
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. Ill
Fro helle unto paradyse.
Thus Bialacoil of gentylnesse
With al his payno and besynesse,
Hathc shewed me onely of grace
The estres of the swote place.
I sawe the rose whan I was nygh,
"Was greatter woxen, and more high,
Fresshe, roddy, and fayre of hewe,
Of coloure ever yliche newe. 3 !3o
And whan I hadde it longe sene,
I sawe that through the leves grcne
The rose spredde to spannyshinge ;
To sene it was a goodly thynge.
But it ne was so sprede on bredc,
That men withyn myghte knowe the sede •
For it covert was and close
Bothe with the leves and with the rose.
The stalke was even and grene upright,
It was theron a goodly syght ; 3640
And wel the better withoute wene,
For the seede was nat i-sene.
Ful fayre it spradde, the god of blcsse !
For suche another, as I gesse,
Aforne ne was, ne more vermayle.
I was abawed for marveyle,
For ever the fayrer that it was,
The more I am bounden in Loves laas.
Lon"-e I abode there, sothe to save,
Tyl Bialacoil I ganne to praye, 8650
Whan that I sawe him in no wyse
To me warnen his srr\ •
That he me wolde graunt a tliynge.
Whiche to remembre is wel syttynge ;
112 'HIE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE.
This is to sayne, that of his grace
He wolde me yeve leysar and space
To me that was so desyrous
To have a kyssynge precious
I If ihilke goodly freshc rose,
That so swetcly smelleth in my nose ; CG60
' For if it you displcasede nought,
I wolde gladly, as I have sought,
Have a cosse therof freely.
Of your yefte ; for certainly
I wol none have hut by your lcve,
So lothe me were you for to greve.'
He sayde, ' Frend, so God me spede,
Of Chastite I have such drede,
Thou shuldest nat warned be for me,
But I dare nat for Chastyte. cc;o
Agayne her dare I nat mysdo,
For alwaye byddeth she me so
To yeve no lover leave to kysse ;
For who therto maye wynnen, ywisse,
He of the surplus of the prayc
May lyve in lioopc to gettc some dayc.
For who-so kyssynge may attayne,
Of loves payne hath, sothe to sayne,
The best and most avenaunt.'
And erncst of the remenaunt.' 3680
Of hys answcre I sighede sore ;
I durst assaye him tho no more,
I hadde suche drede to greve hym aye.
A man shulde nat to moche assaye
To chafe hys frcnde out of measure,
Nor putte his lyfe in aventure ;
For no man at the fyrste stroke
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 113
Ne maye nat fele downe an oke ;
Nor of the reysyns have the wyne,
Tyl grapes be rype and wel afyne,] 3690
Be sore empressid, I you ensure,
And drawen out of the pressure.
But I forpeyned wonder stronge,
Though that I aboode right longe
Aftir the kis, in peyne and woo,
Sith I to kis desirede soo :
Tille that, rewyng on my distresse,
Ther come Venus the goddesse,
Which ay werieth Chastite,
Came of hir grace to socoure me, 3700
Whos myght is knowe ferre and wide,
For she is modir of Cupide,
The God of Love, blynde as stoon,
That helpith lovers many oon.
This lady brought in hir right honde
Of brennyng fyrc a blasyng bronde ;
Wherof the fiawme and hoote fire
Hath many a lady in desire
Of love brought, and sore hette,
And in hir servise her herte i-sette. 3710
This lady was of good entaile,
Right wondirfulle of apparayle ;
Bi hir atyre so bright and shene,
Men myghte perceyvc wellc, and sene,
She was not of religioun.
Nor I nolle make mcncioun
Nor of robe, nor of tresour,
Of broche, neithir of hir riche attour ;
Ne of hir girdille aboutc hir side,
For that I nylle not longe abide. 3720
VOL. VI. 1
11-1 THE R0MAT7N1 OF THE HOSE.
But knowith wel, that certeynly
Shu was araied richely.
Devoyde of pruyde oerteyn she was;
To Bialacoil she wente apas,
And to hym shortly in a clause
She seide : ' Sir, what is the cause
Ye ben of port so daungerous
Unto this lover, and deynous,
To graunte hym no thyng but a kisse ?
To worne it hym ye done amysse, 3730
Sith welle ye wote, how that ho
Is Loves servaunt, as ye may see,
And hath beaute*, wher-through he is
Worthy of love to have the blis.
How he is semely biholde and see,
How he is faire, how he is free,
How he is swoote and debonaire.
Of age yonge, lusty, and faire.
Thcr is no lady ho hawteyne,
Duchesse, ne countesse, ne chastcleytie, 3740
That I nolde holde hir ungoodly,
For to refuse hym outterly.
His breth is also good and swete,
And eke his lippis rody, and mete
Oonly to pleyne, and to kisse.
Graunte hym a kis, of gentilnysse !
His teth am also white and clene ;
Me thenkith wrong withouten wene,
If ye now worne hym, trustith me,
To graunte that a kis have he. 3750
The lasse ye helpe hym that ye haste.
The more tyme shul ye waste.'
Whanne the flawme of the verry bronde
THE E.OMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 115
That Venus brought in hir right honde,
Hadde Eialacoil with hete smete,
Anoon he bade me, withouten lettc,
Grauntede to me the rose kisse.
Thanne of my peyne I gan to lyssc,
And to the rose anoon wente I
And kisside it fulle feithfidly. 3750
Thar no man aske if I was blithe ;
Whanne the savour soft and lythe
Stroke to myn herte withoute more,
And me alegged of my sore,
So was I fulle of j'03-e and blisse.
It is faire sich a flour to kisse,
It was so swoote and faverous.
I myght not be so angwisshous,
That I mote glad and joly be,
Whanne that I remembre me. 3770
Yit ever among, sothly to seyne,
I suffre noye and moche peyne.
The see may never be so stille,
That with a litel wynde it wille
Overwhelme and turne also,
As it were woode, in wawis goo.
Aftir the ealme the trouble soune
Mote folowe, and chaunge as the moone.
Right so farith Love, that selde in oon
Holdith his anker ; for right anoon 37SO
Whanne they in ese wene beste to lyve,
They ben with tempest alle for-dryve.
Who serveth Love, can telle of woo,
The stoundemele joie mote overgoo.
Now he hurteth, and now he cureth,
For selde in 00 poynt Love endureth.
11G THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE.
Now is it right mo to proccdc,
How Shame gan medle and take hedo,
Thurgh whom fele angrea I have hadde;
And how the stronge walk; was maad, zw
And the castelle of brcdc and lengthe,
That God of Love wanne with his strengthe.
Alle this in romance wille I sette,
And for no thyng ne wille I lette,
So that it lykyng to hir be,
That is the flour of beaut e ;
For she may best my labour quyte,
That I for hir love shal endite.
Wikkid-tunge, that the covync
Of every lover can devyne
Worste, and addith more somdelle,
For Wikkid-tunge seith never welle,
To meward bare he right gret hate,
Espiyng me erly and late,
Tille he hath sene the gretc chcre
Of Bialacoil and me ifeerc.
lie myghte not his tunge withstondo
Worse to reporte than he fonde,
He was so fullc of cursed rage;
It satte hym welle of his lynaj ssio
For hym an Irish womman bare.
His tunge was fyled sharpe, and square,
Foignaunt and right, kervyng,
And wonder bitter in spekyng.
For whannc that he me gan espie,
He swoorc, affermyng sikirlye,
Bitwcnc Bialacoil and me
Was yvel aquayntaunce and pryve,
He spake therof so folilye,
THE ROM AUNT OF THE ROSE. 117
That he awakide Jelousye ; 3820
Which alle afrayed in his risyng,
Whanne that he herde janglyng,
He ran anoon as he were woode
To Bialacoil there that he stode ;
Which hadde lever in this caas
Have ben at Reynes or Amyas ;
For foot-hoot in his felon ye,
To hym thus seide Jelousie : — ■
' Why hast thou ben so necligent,
To kepen, whanne I was absent, 3S3o
This verger heere left in thi warde ?
To me thou haddist no rewarde,
To truste (to thy confusioun)
Hym this, to whom suspeccioun
I have right gret, for it is nede ;
It is welle shewed by the dede.
Grete faute in thee now have I founde ;
By God, anoon thou shalt be bounde,
And fast*? loken in a tour,
Withoute refuyt or socour. : 1 1
For Shame to longe hath be thee froo ;
Over soone she was a-goo.
Whanne thou hast lost bothe drede and feerc,
It semede wel she was not heere.
She ne was bisy in no wyse,
To kepe thee and chastise,
And for to helpen Chastite
To kepe the roser, as thenkith me.
For thannc this boy knave so booldely,
Ne shulde not have be hardy S850
In this verge hadde such game,
Which now me turneth to gret shame.'
118 THE ROMAUNT OF THE R<
Bialacoil nyste what to s<-
Fulle fayn he wolde hi
For feere han hidde, nere that ho
■ Bodeynly toko hym with me.
And whanne I saugh he hadde soo,
This Jelousie take us twoo,
I was a-stoned, and knewe no rede.
But fledde awey for verrey drede. ssco
Thanne Shame cam forth fulle symply ;
She w< nte have trespaced fulle gretly ;
Humble of hir port, and made it symple,
Weryng a fayle in-stide of wymple,
As nonnys don in her
By-cause hir herte was in affray,
She gan to speke withynne a throwe
To Jelousie, right wonder lowe.
First of his grace she bysoughte
And seide : — 'Sire, ne leveth noughte 3870
Wikkid-tunge, that fals espie,
Which is so glad to feyne and lye.
He hath you maad, thurgh flateryng,
On Bialacoil a fals Iesyng.
His falsnesse is not now a-newe,
It is to long that he hym knewe.
Tin's is not the firste day ;
For Wikkid-tunge hath custome ay,
Yonge folkis to be-wr< ye,
And fals lesynges on hem lye. 3sso
Yit nevertheles I see amonge,
That the loigne it is bo longe
Of Bialacoil. hertis to lure,
In Loves servyse for to endure,
Drawyng suche folk hym too,
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 119
That he hath no thyng with to doo ;
But in sothnesse I trowe nought,
That Bialaeoil hadde ever in thought
To do trespace or vylonye ;
But for his modir Curtesie 3890
Hath taught hym ever for to be
Good of aqueyntaunce and pryve,
For he loveth noon hevynesse,
But mirthe and pley, and alle gladnesse ;
He hateth alle treehorus,
Soleyn folk and envyous ;
For ye witen how that he
Wole ever glad and joyfulle be
Honestly with folk to pleye.
I have be negligent in good feye 3900
To chastise hym ; therfore now I
Of herte crye you heere mercy.
That I have been so recheles
To tamen hym, withouten lees.
Of my foly I me rcpente ;
Now wole I hoole sette myn entente
To kepe bothe lowe and stille,
Bialaeoil to do youre willc.'
' Shame, Shame,' seyde Jelousie,
' To be bytrasshed gret drede have I. 39io
Leccherie hath clombe so hye,
That almoost blered is myn yhe ;
No wonder is, if that drede have I.
Over-alle regnyth Lecchery,
Whos myght growith nyght and day.
Bothe in cloistre and in abbey,
Chastite is werried ovcr-alle.
Therfore I wole with siker walle
120 THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE.
Close bothc roses and roser.
I have to longe in this maner soso
Left hem nnclosid wilfully ;
Wherfore I am right inwardly
Sorowfulle and repente me.
But now they shallc no longer bo
Unclosid ; and yit I drede sore,
I shalle repente ferthermore,
For the game goth alle amys.
Counselle I must newo, ywya
I have to longe tristcd thee,
But now it shal no lengcr be ; 3930
For he may best, in every cost,
Disceyvc that men tristen most.
I see wel that I am nygh shent,
But-if I sette my fade entent
Remedye to purveye.
Therfore close I shalle the weye,
Fro hem that wole the rose espie,
And come to wayte me vilonye ;
For, in good feith and in trouthe,
I wole not lette for no slouthe, 3010
To lyve the more in sikirnesse,
Do make anoon a fortrcsse,
Thanne close the roses of good savour.
In myddis shalle I make a tour
To putte Bialacoil in prisoun.
For everc I drede me of tresoun.
I trowe I shal hym kepe soo,
That he shal have no myght to goo
Aboute to make companye
To hem that tbenkc of vylanye ; 0950
Nc to no such as hath ben heere
THE ROMAUXT OF THE ROSE. 121
Aforn, and founde in hym good chere,
Which han assailed hym to shende,
And with her trowandyse to blynde.
A foole is eythe to bigyle,
But may I lyve a litel while,
He shal forth enkc his fair semblaunt.'
And with that word came Drede avaunt,
Which was abasshed, and in gret fere,
Whanne he wiste Jelousie was there. s9«o
He was for drede in sich affray,
That not a word he durste say,
But quakyng stode fulle stille aloono,
Til Jelousie his weye was gone,
Save Shame, that him not forsoke ;
Bothe Drede and she ful sore quoke.
That atte laste Drede abrcyde,
And to his cosyn Shame seide:
' Shame,' he seide, ' in sothfastnesse,
To me it is gret hevynesse, 3970
That the noyse so ferre is go,
And thilke sclaundre of us twoo.
But sithe that it is byfalle,
We may it not ageyn ealle,
Whanne onys sprongen is a fame.
For many a veer withouten blame
We han ben, and many a day,
For many an Aprille and many a May
We ham-passed, not shamed,
Tille Jelousie hath us blamed 3J-80
Of mystrust and suspecioun
Causeles. withoute enchesoun,
Go we to Daunger hastily,
And late us shewe hym openly,
122 THE KOMAUNT OF THE ROSE.
That he hath not aright S-wrought,
Whanno that he Bette nought his thought
To kepe better the purprise ;
In his doyng he is not wise.
He hath to us i-do gret wronge,
That hath i-sufired now so longo 3990
Bialacoil to have his wille,
Alle his lustcs to fulfille.
He must amende it utterly,
Or cllys shallc he vilayncsly
Exiled be out of this londc ;
For he the werre may not withstonde
Of Jclousie, nor the greef,
Sith Bialacoil is at mj-scheef.'
To Daunger, Shame, -and Drede anoon
The right e weyes ben «goon. 4000
The cherle thei founden hem aforn
Liggyng undir an hawethorn.
Undir his heed no pilowe was.
But iu the stede a trusse of gras.
He slombred, and a nappe he toke,
Tylle Shame pitously hym shoke,
And grcte manace on hym gan make.
'Why slepist thou whanne thou shulde wake?'
Quod Shame ; ' thou doist us vylanye !
Who tristith thee, he doth folye, 4010
To kepe roses or bothoms,
Whanne thei hen faire in her sesouns.
Thou art woxe to familicre
Where thou shulde be straunge of chore,
Stoutc of thi portc. redy to greve.
Thou doist gret folye for to leve
Bialacoil herc-innc to calle
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 123
The yonder man to shenden us alio.
Though that thou slepe, we may here
Of Jelousie grete noj^se heere. 4020
Art thou now late? rise up an high,
And stoppe sone and delyverly
Alle the gappis of the hay ;
Do no favour I thee pray.
It fallith no thyng to thy name,
To make fairesemblaunt, where thou maist blame.
' Yf Bialaeoil be sweete and free,
Dogged and felle thou shuldist be ;
Froward and outerageous, ywis ;
A cherl chaungeth that curteis is. -uc.o
This have I herd ofte in seiyng,
That man ne may for no dauntyng
Make a sperhauke of a bosarde.
Alle men wole holde thee for musarde,
That debonair have founden thee,
It sittith thee nought curteis to be ;
To do men plesaunce or servise,
In thee it is recreaundise.
Lete thi werkis fer and nere
Bo like thi name, which is Daungere.'
Thanne alle abawid in shewing,
Anoon spake Drede, right thus seiyng,
And seide, ' Daunger, I drede me,
That thou ne wolt bisy be
To kepe that thou hast to kepe ;
Whanne thou shuldist wake, thou art a-slepe.
Thou shalt be grcved certeynly,
If the aspie Jelousie,
Or if he fynde thee in blame.
He hath to day assailed Shame, 4050
124 THE ROMATJNT OF THE ROSE.
And chased a-wey, with grel manace,
Bialacoil oute of this place.
And Bwereth shortly that he simile
Enclose hym in a sturdy walle;
And alle is for thi wikkednesse,
For that thee faileth Btraungenesse.
Thyne hcrte I trowe be failed alle ;
Thou shalt repente in specially,
If Jelousie the soothe knew e ;
Thou shalt forthenke. and sore rewe.' 4i>6o
With that the eherl his clubbe gan shake,
Frounyng his even gan to make.
And hidous chcre ; as man in rage
For ire lie brente in his visage,
Whanne that he herd hym blamed soo,
He seide, ' Oute of my witte I goo;
To be discomfyt I have gret wronge.
Certis, I have now lyved to longe,
Sith T may not this closer kepe ;
Alle quykke I wolde be dolven deepe, -io;o
If ony man shal more repeire
Into this gardyne for foule or faire.
Myne herte for ire goth a-ferc,
That I lete ony cntre hcere.
I have do folie now I see,
But now it shalle amended bee.
Who scttith foot heere ony more,
Truly he shalle repente it sore ;
For no man moo in to this place
Of me to cntre shal have grace. 4030
Lever I hadde with swerdis tweyne,
Thurgh-oute myne herte, in every veyno
Perced to be, with many a wounde,
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 125
Thanne slouthe shulde in mc be foundc.
From hennes-forth, by nyght or day,
I shalle defende it if I may
Withouten ony excepcioun
Of ech manor condicioun ;
And if I eny man it graunte,
Holdeth me for recreauntc' 4090
Thanne Daunger on his feet gan stonde,
And hente a burdoun in his honde.
^'roth in his ire ne lefte he nought,
But thurgh the verger he hath sought,
If he myghte fynde hole or trace,
Where thurgh that me mote forth-by pace,
Or ony gappe, he dide it close,
That no man myghte touchc a rose
Of ihilke roser alle aboute ;
He shitteth every man withoute. noo
Thus day by day Daunger is wers,
More wondirfulle and more dyvers,
And feller eke than evere he was ;
For hym fulle ofte I synge ' alias !'
For I ne may nought thurgh his ire
Recovere that I moost desire.
Myne herte, alias, wole brest a-twoo,
For Bialacoil I wratthede soo.
For certeynly in every membre
I quoke, whanne I me remembre 4110
Of the bothom, which I wolde
Fulle ofte a day sene and biholde.
And whanne I thcnke upon the kisse,
And how myche joye and blisse,
I hadde thurgh the savour swete,
For wa.nte of it I grone and grete.
12G THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE.
Me thenkith I fele yit in my nose
The swcti' savour of the rose.
And now I woot that I mote goo
So fer the freshe floures i'roo, 4120
To me fulle welcome were the deth ;
Absens therof, alias, me sleeth !
For whilom with this rose, all
I touchede nose, mouth, and face;
But now the deth I must abide.
But Love conscnte another tyde,
That onys I touche may and kisse,
I trowe my peyne shalle never lie
Theron is alle my coveitise,
Which brente myn hertc in many wise. 4130
Now shal repaire agayn sighinge,
Long wacche on nyghtis, and no slepinge ;
Thought in wisshing, torment and woo,
With many a turnyng to and froo,
That half my peyne I can not telle.
For I am fallen into helle,
From paradys and welthe, the more
My turment greveth ; more and more
Anoieth now the bittirnesse,
That I to-forn have felt swetnesse. 4M0
And Wikkid-tunge, thurgh his falshede,
Causeth alio my woo and drede.
On me he leieth a pitous char
Bi-cause his tunge was to large.
Now it is tyme shortly that I
Telle you som thyng of Jelousie,
That was in gret suspecioun.
Aboute hym lefte he no masoun,
That stoon coude leye, ne querrour,
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 127
He hirede hem to make a tour. 4150
And first, the roses for to kepe,
Aboute hem made he a diche deepe,
Right wondir large, and also broode ;
Upon the whiche also stode
Of squared stoon a sturdy walle,
Which on a cragge was founded alle,
And right grete thikkenesse eke it bare.
Aboute it was founded square
An hundred fademe on every side,
It was alle liche longe and wide. 4i60
Lest ony tyme it were assayled,
Ful wel aboute it was batayled ;
And rounde enviroun eke were settc
Fid many a riche and faire tourctte.
At every corner of this walle
Was sette a tour fulle pryncipalle ;
And everich hadde, withoute fable,
A porte-colys defensable
To kepe of enemyes, and to greve,
And there her force Avolde prove. 4170
And eke amydde this purprise
Was maad a tour of gret maistrise ;
A fairer saugh no man with sight, ,
Large and wide, and of gret myght.
They ne dredde noon assaut,
Of gynne, gunne, nor skaffaut.
The temprure of the mortere
Was maad of lycour wonder derc ;
Of quykke lyme pcrsant and cgre,
The which was tempred with vynegre. 4180
The stoon was hard of ademant,
Wherof they made the fuundement.
128 THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE.
The tour was rounde maad in compas ;
In alio this world no riccher was,
Ne better ordeigned therwith alle.
About e the lour was maad a walle,
So that bitwixt that and the tour,
Roses were sette of swete savour,
With many roses that thci berc.
And eke withynne the castelle were 4100
Spryngoldes, gunnes, and bows, archers ;
And eke above attc corners
.Men seyn over the walle stonde
Grete cngynes, who were nygh hondc;
And in the kernels hecrc and there,
Of arblasters grete plente were.
Noon armure myght her stroke withstonde,
It were foly to prcce to honde.
Withoute the diche were lystes maade,
With walle batayled large and brade, 4200
For men and hors shulde not atteyne
To neighe the dyche over the pleyne.
Thus Jelousie hath enviroun
Sette aboute his garnysoun
With walles rounde, and diche dope,
Oonlv the roser for to kepe.
And Daunger bothc erly and late
The keyea kqpte of the utter gate,
The which openeth toward the eest.
And he hadde with hym atte leest 4210
Thritty servauntes echon by name.
That other gate kepte Shame,
Which openede, as it was couth,
Toward the parte of the south.
Sergeauntcs assigned were hir too
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 129
Ful many, hir wille for to doo.
Thanne Drede hadde in hir baillic
The kepyng of the conestableryc,
Toward the north, I undirstondc,
That openyde upon the lyfte honde, 4220
The which for no thyng may be sure
But-if she do hir bisy cure
Erly on morowe and also late,
Strongly to shette and barre the gate.
Of every thing that she may see,
Drede is aferd, wher-so she be ;
For with a puff of litelle wynde,
Drede is a-stonyed in hir mynde.
Therfore, for stelyng of the rose,
I rede hir nought the yate unclose. 42:10
A foulis flight wole make hir flee,
And eke a shadowe if she it see.
Thanne Wikked-tunge fulle of envye,
With soudiours of Normandye,
As he that causeth alle the bate,
Was keper of the fourthe gate,
And also to the tother three,
He wente fulle ofte for to see.
Whanne his lotte was to wake a-nyghtc,
His instruments wolde he dighte, 4210
For to blowe and make sowne,
Ofter thanne he hath enchesoun ;
And walken oft upon the walle,
Corners and wikettis over alle
Fulle narwe serchen and cspie ;
Though he nought fonde, yit wohZe he lye.
Discordaunt ever fro armonye,
And distoncd from melodic,
VOL. VI. K
130 THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE.
Controve he wolde, and foulo fayle,
With horncpipcs of Cornewaile. 42so
In floytes made he discordaunce,
And in his nmsyk. with myschaunee,
He wolde seyn with notes newe,
That he ne i'onde no womman trewc,
Ne that he saugli never in his lyf,
Unto hir husbonde a trewe wyf ;
Ne noon so ful of honeste,
That she nyl laughc and mery be,
Whanne that she hereth, or may espie,
A man speken of leccherie. 4200
Everiche of liem hath somme vice;
Oon is dishonest, another is nyce ;
If oon be fulle of vylanye,
Another hath a likeroas ighe ;
If oon be fulle of wontonesse,
Another is a chideresse.
Thus Wikked-tunge, (God ycvc him shame !)
Can putt hem everychone in blame ;
Withoute dissert and causeles,
He lieth, though they ben gilteles. 4270
I have pite to sene the sorwe,
That walketh bothc eve and morwe,
To innocentis doith such grcvaunce ;
I pray God yeve him evel chaunce,
That he ever so bisic is,
Of ony womman to seyn amys !
Eke Jelousie God confounde !
That hath i-maad a tour so rounde,
And made aboutc a garisoun,
So sette Bealacoil in prisoun ; 4280
Tho which is shette there in the tour,
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 131
Ful longe to holde there sojour,
Tlicre for to lyvera in penaunce,
And for to do hym more grevaunce.
Which hath ordeyned Jelousie,
An olde vekke for to espye
The maner of his governaunce ;
The whiche devel, in hir enfaimco
Hadde lerned of Loves arte,
And of his pleyes toke hir parte ; 4290
She was except in his servise.
She knewe eche wrenche and every gise
Of love, and every wile,
It was harder hir to gile.
Of Bealacoil she toke ay hede,
That evere he lyveth in woo and drede.
He keptc hym koy and eke pryve,
Lest in hym she hadde see
Ony foly countenaunce,
For she knewe alle the olde dauncc. <isoo
And aftir this, whanne Jelousie
Hadde Bealacoil in his baillie,
An shette hym up that was so fre,
For seure of hym he wolde be,
He trusteth sore in his castelle ;
The stronge werk hym liketh welle.
He dradde not that no glotouns
Shulde stele his roses or bothoms.
The roses weren assured alle
Defenced with the stronge walle. hao
Now Jelousie fulle wel may be
Of drede devoide in liberte,
Whether that he slepe or wake,
For his roses may noon be take.
132 THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE.
But I, alias, now mornc shallo ;
Bi-cause I was withoute the walle,
Fullc mochc doolc and moonc I made.
Who hadde wist what woo I hadde,
1 trowe he woldc have had pite.
Love to deere hadde soolde to me
The good that of his love hadde I.
I wente aboutc it alle queyntely ;
But now thurgh doublyng of my peyne
I see he wolde it selle ageync,
And me a newe bargeyn lecrc,
The which alle oute the more is deere,
For the solace that I have lorn,
Thanne I hadde it never a-forn.
Certayn I am ful like in deedc
To hym that caste in erthe his seede ; 1 o
And hath joic of the newe spryng,
Whanne it greneth in the gynnyng,
And is also faire and fresh of flour,
Lusty to seen, swoote of odour.
But er he it in his Bheves shere,
May falle a weder that shal it dcrc,
And maken it to fade and falle,
The stalke, the greyne, and floures alle ;
That to the tylyers is fordone
The hope that he hadde to soone. 1340
I drede certeyn that so fare I ;
For hope and travaile eikerlye
Ben me byraft alle with a si urine ;
The floure nel seeden of my corne.
For Love hath so avaunced me,
Whanne I bigan my pryvite*
To Bialacoil alle for to telle,
THE ROM AUNT OF THE ROSE. 133
Whom I ne fonde ne froward ne folic,
But toke a-greo alle hool my play;
But Love is of so hard assay, 4350
That alle at oonys he revede me,
Whanne I wente best aboven to have be.
It is of Love, as of Fortune,
That chaungeth ofte, and nyl con tune ;
Which whilom wole on folkc smyle,
And glowmbe on hem another while ;
Now freend, now foo, thou shalt hir feele,
For a twynklyng turne hir wheele.
She can writhe hir heed a-wey,
This is the concours of hir pley; -i36o
She canne arise that doth morne,
And whirle adown, and over-turne
Who sittith hieghst, but as hir luste;
A foole is he that wole hir truste.
For it is I that am come down
Thurgh charge and revolucioun !
Sith Bealacoil mote fro me twynne,
Shette in the prisoun yondc withynnc,
His absence at myn herte I fele ;
For alle my joye and alio m}-ne hele 4370
Was in hym and in the rose,
That but thoue wole, which hym doth close,
Opene, that I may hym see,
Love nyl not that I cured be
Of the peynes that I endure,
Nor of my cruel aventure.
A, Bialacoil, myn owne dcere !
Though thou be now a prisoncre,
Kepe atte leste thync herte to me,
And suffre not that it daunted be, 4330
134 TIIE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE.
No late not Jelousic in his rage,
Put ten thine herte in no servage.
Al-though lie chastice thee withoute,
And make thy body unto hym loute,
J lav herte as hard as dyamaunt,
Stedefast, and nought pliaunt.
In prisoun though thi body be
At large kepe thyne herte free.
A trewe herte wole not plie
For no manaee that it may dry. 4390
If Jelousie doth thee payne,
Quyte hym his while thus agayne,
To venge thee attc leest in thought,
If other way thou maist nought;
And in this wise sotilly
Worche, and wynne the maistrie.
But yit I am in gret affray,
Lest thou do not as I say ;
F drede thou canst mc gret maugre,
That thou enprisoned art for me ; 4.100
But that not for my ttt spas,
For thurgh me never discovred was
Yit thyng thai oughte be secree.
Wei more anoy is in me,
Than is in thee of this myschaunce ;
For I endure more hanh^ penaunce
Than ony can seyn or thynke,
That for the sorwc almost I synke.
Whanne I remembre me of my woo,
Fulle nygh out of my witt I goo. 4110
Inward myn herte 1 feele blede,
For eomfortles the deth I drede.
Owe I not wel to have distresse,
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 135
Whanne false, thurgh hir wikkedncsse,
And traitours, that arn envyous,
To noyen me be so cora^rious ?
A, Bialacoil ! fulle wel I see,
That they hem shape to disceyve thee,
To make thee buxom to her lawe,
And with her corde thee to drawe 4420
Where so hem lust, right at her wille ;
I drede they have thee brought thertille.
Withoute comfort, thought me sleeth ;
This game wole brynge mc to my deeth.
For if youre good wille I leese,
I mote be deed ; I may not chese.
And if that thou foryete me,
Myne herte shal nevere in likyng be ;
Nor elles-where fynde solace,
If I be putt out of youre grace, 4430
As it shal never been, I hope ;
Thanne shulde I falle in wanhope.
Alias, in wanhope — nay, pardee !
For I wole never dispeircd be.
If Hope me faile, thanne am I
Ungracious and unworthy ;
In Hope I wole comforted be,
For Love, whanne he bitaught hir me,
Seide, that Hope, where-so I goo,
Shulde ay be reles to my woo. 4440
But what and she my baalis beete,
And be to me curteis and sweete ?
She is in no thyng fulle certeyne.
Lovers she putt in fulle gret peyne,
And makith hem that woo to deele.
Hir faire biheeste disceyveth feele,
13G THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE.
For she wole byhote sikirly,
And failen aft ir outrely.
A, that is a fulle noyous thyng !
For many a lover in lovyng 4450
Hangeth upon hir, and trnstcth fastc,
\Yhiche lcesc her travel at the lastc.
Of thyng to comen she woot right nought ;
Therfore, if it be wysely sought,
Hir counscille foly is to take.
For many tymes, whanne she wole make
A fulle good silogisme, I dreede
That aftirward thcr shal in deede
Folwc an evelle conclusioun ;
This putte me in confusioun. 4ieo
For many tymes I have it seen,
That many have bigyled been,
For trust that they have sette in hope,
Which felle hem aftirward a-slope.
But, nevertheles, yit gladly she wolde,
That he that wole hym with hir holdc,
Haddo alio tymes his purpos clcre,
Witlioute deceyte or ony were.
That she desireth sikirly ;
Whanne I hir blamed, I dide foly. 4170
But what avaylcth hir good willc,
Whanne she no may staunche my stounde ille?
That helpith litel that she may doo,
Outake biheest unto my woo.
And heeste certeyn in no wise,
Withoute rift, is not to preisc.
Whanne heesl and deede a-sundry varic,
They doon a grct contrarie.
Thus am T posscd up and doun
THE ROHAUNT OF THE ROSE. 137
With doole, thought, and confusioun ; 4480
Of my discse thcr is no noumbre.
Daunger and Shame me encumbre,
Drerfe also, and Jalousie,
And Wikked-tunge fulle of envie,
Of whiche the sharpe and cruel ire
Fulle ofte me putte in gret martire.
They han my joye fully letto,
Sith Bialacoil they have bishette
Fro me in prisoun wikkidly,
Whom I love so entierly, 4490
That it wole my bane bee,
But I the sonner may hym see.
And yit more-over wurst of alle,
Ther is sette to kepe, foule hir bi-falle,
A rympled vekke, ferre ronne in age,
Frownyng and yelowe in hir visage,
Which in a-wayte lyth day and nyght,
That noon of hem may have a sight.
Now mote my sorwe enforced be ;
Fulle soth it is, that Love yaf me 4500
Three wonder yiftes of his grace,
Whiche I have lorn, now in this place,
Sith they ne may withoute drede
Helpen but lytel, who taketh hecde.
For here availeth no Swetc-thought,
And Sweete-speche helpith right nought.
The thridde was called Swete-lokyng,
That now is lorn withoute lesyng.
Yiftes were faire, but not forthy
They helpe me but symply, 4510
But Bialacoil loosed be,
To gon at large and to be free.
138 THE ROHAUNT OF THE ROSE.
For hym my lyf lyth alle in doute,
But-if he come the rather outc.
Alias ! I trowe it wolc not bene !
For how shuh/ I evermore hym scne ?
He may not oute, and that is wronge,
By-cause the tour is so stronge.
How shulde he oute ? by whos prowesBe,
Outc of so stronge a forteressr '.' 1520
By me certeyn it nyl be doo ;
God woot I have no witte therto !
But wel I woot I was in rage,
Whonne I to Love dide homage.
Who was in cause, in sothfastnesse,
But hir-silf, dame Idelnesse,
Which me convciede thurgh fairc praiere
To entrc into that faire verger ?
She was to blame me to leve,
The which now doth me soore grcve, 45:jo
A foolis word is nought to trowe,
Nc worth an appel for to lowe ;
Men shulde hym snybbc bittirly,
At pryme temps of his foly.
I was a fool, and she me leevede,
Thurgh whom I am right nought rcleeved.
Shco accomplisshid alle my wille,
That now me greveth wondir ille ;
Resoun me seide what shulde fallc.
A fool my-silf I may wel callc, 4510
That love a-syde 1 hadde not leyde,
And trowede that dame Resoun seide.
Resoun hadde bothe skile and ryght,
Whanne she me blamede, with alle hir myght,
To medle of love, that hath me shent ;
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 139
But certeyn now I wole repente.
' And shulde I repente ? Nay, parde !
A fals traitour thanne shulde I be.
The develle engynnes wolde me take,
If I my Love wolde forsake, .1550
Or Bialacoil falsly bitraye.
Shulde I at myscheef hate hym ? nay,
Sith he now for his curtesie
Is in prisoun of Telousie.
Curtesie certeyn dide he me,
So myeh that may not yolden be,
Whanne he the hay passen me lete,
To kisse the rose, faire and swete ;
Shidde I therfore cunne hym mawgre '?
Nay, certeynly, it shal not be, 4560
For Love shalle nevere, yeve Good willc,
Here of me, thtirgh word or wille,
Offence or complaynt more or lesse,
Neither of Hope nor Idilnesse ;
For eertis, it were wrong that I
Hated hem for her curtesie.
Ther is not ellys, but suffre and thcnke,
And waken whanne I shulde wynkc ;
Abide in hope, til Love, thurgh chaunce,
Sende me socour or allegeaunce, 4-170
Expectant ay tille I may mete,
To geten mercy of that swete.
Whilom I thenke how Love to mc
Seide he wolde take atte gree
My servise, if unpaciencc
Causede me to done offence.
He seido, ' In thank I shal it take,
And high maister eke thee make,
1-JO THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE.
If wikkednesse nc rcvc it thee ;
Bat sone I trowe that shade not 1)''.' i.--
Thcse were his wordis by and by ;
It scmedc he lovede me trewely.
Now is ther not but serve hvm wcle,
If that I thenkc his thanke to fele.
My good, myno harme, lyth hool in me ;
In Love may no defaute be ;
For trewe Love ne failide never man.
Sothly the faute mote nedys than
(As God forbede !) be founde in me,
And how it cometh, I can not see. 4500
Now late it goon as it may goo ;
Whether Love wole socoure me or sloo,
He may do hool on mo his willc.
I am so sore bounde hym tille,
From his scrvise I may not flcen,
For lyf and dcth, withouten weno,
Is in his hande ; I may not chese ;
He may me doo bothc wynne and lecsc.
And sith so sore he doth me greve,
Yit, if my lust lie wolde acheve, -icm
To Bialacoil goodly to be,
I yeve no force what felle on me.
For though I dye, as I mote node,
I prayc Love, of his goodlyhede,
To Bialacoil do gentylncsse,
For whom I lyve in such distrcsse,
Tliat I mote deyen for pcnavince.
But first, withoutc repentaunce,
I wole me confessc in good cntcnt,
And make in haste my testament, 4cio
As lovers doon that feelen smerte : —
THE ROM AUNT OF THE ROSE. 141
To Bialacoil leve I myne hcrte
Alle hool, withoute departyng,
Or doublenesse of repentyng.
COMENT EAISOTJN VIENT A LAMAXT.
Thus as I made my passage
In compleynt, and in cruel rage,
And I not where to fynde a leche,
That couthe unto myne helpyng echo,
Sodeynly agayn comen doun
Out of hir tour I saugh Rcsoun, 4C20
Discrete and wijs, and fulle plesaunt,
And of hir porte fulle avenaunt.
The righte weye she tookc to me,
Which stode in gret perplexite,
That was posshed in every side,
That I nyste where I myght abide,
Tille she demurely sad of chere
Seide to me as she come nere : —
4 Myne owne freend, art thou yit greved?
How is this quarelle yit acheved 4030
Of Loves side ? Anoon me telle,
Hast thou not yit of love thi fille ?
Art thou not wery of thy servisc
That the hath in siche wise ?
What joye hast thou in thy lovyng?
Is it swete or bitter thyng ?
Canst thou yit chese, late me see,
What best thi socour myghte be ?
Thou scrvest a fulle noble lorde,
That maketh thee thrallc for thi rewardc,
Which ay rencwith thi turment, 4041
With foly so he hath thee blent ;
142 THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE.
Thou felle in myscheef tliilko day.
Whanne thou didist, the sothe to say,
Obeysaunce and eke homaj
Thou wroughtest no thyng as the sage.
Whanne thou bicam his liege man,
Thou didist a gret foly than ;
Thou wistest not what folic thcrto,
With what lord thou haddist to do.
If thou haddist hym wel knowe
Thou haddist noughl be brought so lowc;
For if thou wistest what it were.
Thou noldisl serve hym half a yeer,
Not a woke, nor half a day,
Ne yit an hour withoute delay,
Ne never ilovede paramours.
His lordshippe is so fullo of shourcs.
Knowest hym ought?'
Lamaunt. Yhe, dame, panic ! 46G0
Raisoun. Nay, nay.
Lamaunt. Yhis, I.
Raisoun. Wherof, late se?
Lamaunt. Of that he seidc I shulde bo
Glad to have sich lord as he,
And maister of sich soignorie.
Raisoun. Knowist hym no more ?
Lamauut. Nay, certis, I,
Save that he yaf mo rewles there,
And wente his wey. 1 nystc where,
And I aboode bounde in balaunce. 4070
Raisoun. Lo, there a noble conisaunce !
But I wille that thou knowe hym now
Gynnyng and eende, sith that thou
Art so anguisshous and mate,
Diffigured outc of a-state ;
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 143
Ther may no wrecche have more of woo,
Ne caityfe noon enduren soo.
It were to every man sittyng,
Of his lord have knowleching.
For if thou knewe hym oute of doute, 46S0
Lightly thou shulde escapen oute
Of the prisoun that marreth thee.
Lamcmnt. Yhe, dame ! sith my lord is he,
And I his man maad with myn honde,
I wolde right fayne undirstonde
To knowe of what kynde he by
If ony wolde inform e me.
Itaisonn. I wolde, seide Resoun, thee lerc,
Sith thou to lerne hast sich desire,
And shewe thee withouten fable 4G90
A thyng that is not demonstrable.
Thou shalt, withouten science,
And knowe, withouten experience,
The thyng that may not knowen be,
Ne wist ne shewid in no degre.
Thou maist the sothe of it not witen
Though in thee it were writen.
Thou shalt not knowe therof more,
While thou art reuled by his lore.
But unto hym that love wole flee, 47> o
The knotte may unclosed bee,
Which hath to thee, as it is founde,
So long be knette and not unbounde
Now sette wel thyne entencioun,
To here of love discripcioun.
Love it is an hatefulle pees,
A free acquitaunce withoute relees,
A trouthe frette fulle of falsheede,
144 THE ROM AUNT OF THE ROSE.
A sikcrncssc allc sette in drede,
In herte is a dispeiryng hope, 4710
And fullc of hope it is wanhope,
Wise woodnesse, and wode resoun,
A swete perelle in to droune,
An hevy birthen lyght to here,
A wikked wawe awey to were.
It is Karibdous perilous,
Disagrcable and gracious.
It is discordaunce that can accorde,
And accordauncc to discorde.
It is kunn)-ng withoutc science, 4720
Wisdome withoutc sapience,
Witte withoutc discrccioun,
Havoirc withoutc possessioun.
It is sike hele and hool sekencsse,
A tArust drowned in dronknesse,
And hclth fulle of maladie,
And charite fulle of envie,
And anger fulle of habundaunce,
And a gredy suffisaunce ;
Delite right fulle of hevyncssc, 4730
And drcriAed fullc of gladnesse ;
Bitter swetnesse and swete crrour,
Right evellc savoured good savour ;
Sin that pardoun hath withynne,
And pardoun spotted withoutc with synne ;
A peyne also it is joious,
And felonye right pitous ;
Also pley that selde is stable,
And stedefast right movable ;
A strcngthe weyked to stondc upright, 4740
And feblcnesse fulle of myght ;
THE ROM AUNT OF THE ROSE. 145
Witto unavised, sage folie,
And joie fulle of turmentrie ;
A laughter it is weping ay,
Reste that traveyleth nyght and day,
Also a swete helle it is,
And a soroufulle Paradj-s ;
A plesaunt gayl and esy prisoun,
And fulle of frostc somer sesoun ;
Pryme temps fulle of frostes white, 4750
And May devoide of al delite ;
With seer braunches, blossoms ungrcne,
And newe fruyt fillid with wynter tene.
It is a slowe may not for-bcre
Raggcs ribaned, with gold, to were ;
For also welle wole love be sette
Under ragges as riche rochette ;
And eke as wel be amourettes
In mournyng blak, as bright burnettes.
For noon is of so mochel pris, 4760
Ne no man founden is so wys,
Ne noon so high is of parage,
Ne no man founde of witt so sage ;
No man so hardy ne so wight,
Ne no man of so mychel myght;
Noon so fulfilled of bountc,
That he with love may daunted be.
Alle the world holdith this way ;
Love makith alle to goon myswey.
But it be they of yvel lyf, 4770
Whom genius cursith, man and wyf,
That wrongly werke ageyn nature.
Noon such I love, ne have no cure
Of sich as loves servauntes bene,
vol. vr. L
146 THE ROM AUNT OF THE ROSE.
And wolc not by my counsel fleno.
For I nc prcise that lovyng
Wherthurgh men, at the laste eendyng,
Shalle ealle hem wrecchis fulle of woo,
Love grcveth hem and shendith soo.
But if thou wolt wel love eschewe, 4730
For to escape out of his mewe,
And make al hool thi sorwe to slake,
No bettir counsel maist thou take,
Than thynke to tleen ; wel iwis,
May nought helpe elles ; for wite thou this : —
If thou fle it, it shal flee thee ;
Folowe it, and folowen shal it thee.'
Lamant. — Whanne I hadde herde alio Resoun
seyne,
Which hadde spilt hir speche in veync :
' Dame,' seide I, ' I dar wel sey 4790
Of this avaunt me wel I may
That from youre scole so devyaunt
I am, that never the more avaunt
Right nought am I thurgh youre doctrine ;
I dullc under youre discipline ;
I wotc no more than i" wist ever,
To me so contrarie and so fer
Is every thing that ye me lere ;
And yit I can it alle by pareucre.
Myne hertc foryetith therof right nought, 4?oo
It is so writen in my thought ;
And depe graven it is so tendir
That alio by herte I can it rendre,
And rede it over comunely ;
But to my silf lewedist am I.
' But sith ye love disefeven so,
And lak and preise it bothe twoo,
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 147
Defyneth it into this letter,
That I may thenke on it the better,
For I herde never diffyned heere, 4Sio
And wilfully I wolde it lere.'
Raisoun. — ' If love be serched wel and sought
It is a sykenesse of the thought
Annexed and kned bitwixt tweyne,
With male and female, with oo cheync,
So frely that byndith, that they nylle twynnc,
Whether so therof they leese or wynne.
The roote springith thurgh hoote brenny?jg
Into disordinat desiryng,
For to kissen and enbrace 4820
And at her lust hem to solace.
Of other thyng love recehith nought,
But setteth her herte and alle her thought
More for delectaeioun
Than ony procreacioun
Of other fruyt by engendrure ;
Which love, to God is not plesyng ;
For of her body fruyt to gete
They yeve no force, they are so sette
Upon delite to pley in feere. 4830
And somme have also this manere,
To feynen hem for love seke ;
Sich love I preise not at a leke.
For paramours they do but feyne ;
To love truly they disdeync.
They falsen ladies traitoursly,
And swerne hem othes utterly,
With many a lesyng, and many a fable,
And alle they fynden deccyvable.
And whanne they ban her lust getcn 4840
148 THE ROM AUNT OF THE ROSE.
The hootc ernes they al foryeten.
Wymmen the harme they bien fulle soro;
But men this thenken evermore,
That lassc harme is, so mote I the,
Deceyve hem, than deceyved be;
And namely where they ne may
Fynde none other mene wey.
For I wote wel, in sothfastnesse,
That -who doth now his bisynesse
With ony womman for to dele, 4350
For ony lust that he may fi Le,
But if it be for engendrurc,
He doth tn^passe, I you ensure.
For he shulde setten alio his wide
To geten a likly thyng hym tille,
And to sustene, if he myghte,
And kepe forth, by Kyndes rights,
His owne lyknesse and semblable.
Far becau e "He is corumpable,
And faile shulde successioun, 4860
Ne were their generacioun,
Oure sectis strcne for to save,
Whanne fader or moder arn in grave,
Her children shulde, whanne they ben decde,
Fulle diligent ben, in her steede,
To use that werke on such a wise,
That oon may thurgh another rise.
Therfore settc Kynde therynnc delite,
For men therynne shulde hem delite,
And of that deede be not erke, 4870
But oftc sithes haunte that werke.
For noon wolde drawe therof a draught
Ne were delite, which hath hym kaught.
THE ROHAUNT OF THE ROSE. 149
This hadde sotille damo Nature ;
For noon goth right, I thee ensure,
Ne hath entent hool ne parfight,
For hir desir is for delyte,
The which fortened crece and eke
The pley of love, for-ofte seke,
And thralle hem-silf they be so nyce 4880
Unto the prince of every vice.
For of ech synne it is the rote
Unlefulle lust, though it be sote,
And of alle yvelle the racyne,
As Tulius can determyne,
Which in his tyme was fulle sage,
In a boke he made of age,
Where that more he preyseth Eelde
Though he be croked and unweelde,
And more of commendacioun, 48D0
Than youthe in his discripcioun.
For youthe sette bothe man and wyf
In alle perelle of soule and lyf ;
And perelle is, but men have grace,
The perelle of yougth for to pace,
Withoute ony deth or distresse,
It is so fulle of wyldenesse ;
So ofte it doth shame or damage
To hym or to his l)rnage.
It ledith man now up now doun 4000
In mochel dissolucioun,
And makith hym love yvelle company©,
And lede his lyf disrewlilye,
And halt hym payed with noon estate.
Withynne hym-silf is such debate,
He chaungith purpos and entente,
150 THE ROM AUNT OF THE ROSE.
And yalte into somme covente,
To lyven aft i r her emprise,
And lesith fredom and fraunohise,
Tliat Nature in hym hadde sctte, 4<jio
The which ageyne he may not gette,
If he there make his mansioun,
For to abide professioun.
Though for a tyme his herte absent e,
It may not fayle, he shal repente,
And eke abide thilkc day,
To leve his abite, and gone his way,
And lesith his worshippe and his nnnie.
And dar not come ageyn for shame,
But al his lyf he doth so morne, *9?o
By-cause lie dar not horn retourne,
Fredom of kynde so lost hath he
That never may rccured be,
But if that God hym graunte grace
That he may, er he hennes pace,
Conteync undir obedience
Thurgh the vertu of pacience.
For youthe sett man in alle folye,
In unthrii't and ribaudie,
In lecchcrie, and in outrage, 4930
So ofte it chaungith of corage.
Youthe gynneth ofte sich bargeyne,
That may not eende wilhouten peyne.
In gret perclle is sett youthede,
Delitc so doth his bridil leede.
Delite thus hangith, drede thee nought,
Bothe mannys body and his thought,
Oonly thurgh youthes chamberere,
That to done yvelle is custommere,
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 151
And of nought elles taketh hede, 4940
But oonly folkes for to lede
Into disporte and wyldenesse,
So is he frowarde from sadnesse.
But eelde drawith hem therfro ;
Who wote it nought he may wel goo,
And moo of hem that now arn olde,
That whilom youthe hadde in holde,
Which yit remembreth of tendir age
Hou it hem brought in many a rage,
And many a foly therynne wrought. 4950
But now that Eelde hath hym thurgh sought
They repente hem of her folye,
That youthe hem putte in jupardye,
In perelle and in mychc woo,
And made hem ofte amys to do.
And suen yvelle companye
Riot and avoutrie.
' But Eelde gan ageyn restreyne
From siche foly, and refreyne,
And sette men, by her ordinaunce, 4960
In good reule and governaunce.
But yvelle she spendith hir servise,
For no man wole hir love, neither preise;
She is i-hated, this wote I welle.
Hir acqueyntaunce wolde no man fele,
Ne han of Elde companye,
Men hate to be of hir alye ;
For no man wolde bicomen olde,
Ne dye, whanne he is yong and bolde.
And Eelde merveilith right gretlye, 4970
Whanne thei remembrc hem inwardly
Of many a perelous emprise,
152 THE ROM AUNT OF THE ROSE.
Whichc that they wrought in sondry wise,
Hon evere they myght, withoute blumo,
Escape awey withoute shame,
Jn youthe withoute damage
( )r repreef of her lynage,
Lossc of membre, shedyng of blodo,
Perelle of doth, and losse of good.
' Woste thou nought where Youthe abit, 4930
That men so preisen in her wilt?
With Delite she halt sojour,
For bothc they dwellen in 00 lour.
As longe as Youthe is in Besoun,
They dwellen in oon mansioun.
Delite of Youthe wole have servise
To do what so he wole devise ;
And Youthe is redy evermore
For to obey, for smerte of sore,
Unto Delite, and hym to yeve wo
Hir servise, while that she may lyve.
' Where Elde abit, I wole thee telle
Shortely, and no while dwelle,
For thidir byhoveth thee to goo.
If Deth in youthe thee not sloo,
Of this journey thou maist not faile.
With hir Labour and Travaile
Logged ben with Sorwc and Woo,
That never out of hir court goo.
Peyne and Distresse, Syknesse, and Ire,
And Malencoly, that angry sire,
Ben of hir paleys senatours.
Gronyng and Grucehyng, hir hcrbejours,
The day and nyght, hir to turmente,
With cruellc Deth they hir presente.
THE ROMA.UNT OF THE ROSE. 153
And tellen hir, erliche and late,
That Deth stondith armed at hir gate.
Thanne brynge they to her remembraunce
The foly dedis of hir infaunce,
Whiche causen hir to mourne in woo 5010
That Youthe hath hir bigiled so,
Which sodeynly awey is hasted.
She wepetfi the tyme that she hath wasted,
Compleynyng of the preterit,
And the present, that not abit,
And of hir olde vsmite,
That but aforn hir she may see
In the future somme socour,
To leggen hir of hir dolour,
To graunte hir tyme of repentaunce, 5020
For her synnes to do penaunce,
And atte the laste so hir governe
To wynne the joy that is eterne,
Fro which go bakward Youthe he made
In vanite to droune and wade.
For present tyme abidith nought,
It is more swift than any thought ;
So litel while it doth endure
That ther nys compte ne mesure.
< But hou that evere the game go 5030
Who list to love joie and mirth also
Of love, be it he or she,
High or lowe who it be, ,
In fruyt they shulde hem delyte,
Her part they may not elles quytc,
To save hem-silf in honeste.
And yit fulle many one I se
Of wymmen, sothly for to seync,
154 THE ROMAUXT OF THE ROSE.
That desire and wolde fayne
The ploy of love, they be so wilde; 5040
And not coveite to go with childe.
And if with child they be perchaunce,
They wole it holdo a gret myschaunce,
But what-som-ever woo they fele,
They wole not plcyne, but concele ;
But if it be ony fool or nyce,
In whom that shame hath no justice.
For to delyte echone they drawe,
That haunte this werke, bothe high and lawe,
Save siche that arn worth right nought,
That for money wole be bought.
Such love I preise in no -wise.
"\\ hanne it is goven for coveitise.
I preise no womman. though s//o be wood.
That yeveth hir-silf for ony good.
For litel shulde a man telle
Of hir, that wole hir body selle,
Be she mayde, be she wyf,
That quyk wole selle hir bi hir lyf.
Hou faire chore that evere she make, 5060
He is a wrecche I undirtake
That lovede such one, for swete or soure.
Though she hym calle hir paramourc,
And laugheth on hym, and makith hym I
For certeynly no such beeste
To be loved is not worthy,
Or bere the name of drurie.
Noon shulde hir please, but he were woode,
That wole dispoilc hym of his goode.
Yit nevcrtheles I wolo not sey 5070
That she, for solace and for pley,
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 155
May a jewel or other thyng
Take of her loves fre yevyng ;
But that she askc it in no wise,
For drede of shame or coveitise.
And she of hirs may hym, certeyn,
Withoute sclaundre, yeven ageyn,
And joyne her hertes to-gidre so
In love, and take and yeve also.
Trowe not that I wolde hem twyune, 5080
Whanne in her love tlier is no synne ;
I wole that they to-gedre go,
And don al that they han ado,
As certeis shidde and debonaire,
And in her love beren hem faire,
Withoute vice, bothe he and she ;
So that al-wey in honeste,
Fro foly love to kepe hem clere
That brenneth hertis with his fere ;
And that her love, in ony wise, 5090
Be devoide of coveitise.
Good love shulde engendrid be
Of trewe herte, just, and secre,
And not of such as sette her thought
To have her lust, and ellis nought,
So are they caught in Loves lace,
Truly, for bodily solace.
Fleshly delite is so present
With thee, that sette alle thyne entent,
Withoute more what shulde I glose ? 5100
For to gete and have the rose,
Which makith thee so mate and woodc
That thou desirest noon other goode.
But thou art not an inche the nerre,
150 THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE.
But evere abidist in sorwc and werre,
As in thi face it is i-scne ;
It makith thee bothe pale and lene,
Thy myght, thi vertu goth away.
A sory geste in goode fay,
Thou herberest hem in thyne inne, 5110
The God of Love whannc thou let innc !
Wherfore I rede thou shctte hym oute,
Or he shallc greve thee, oute of doute ;
For to thi profit it wole turne,
Iff he nomore with thee sojourne.
In gret myschcef and sorwe sonken
Ben hertis, that of love are drunken,
As thou peraventure knowen shalle,
Whanne thou hast lost the tyme alle,
And spent thy thought in ydilnesse, 5120
In waste, and wofulle lustynesse ;
If thow maist lyvc the tyme to so
Of love for to del yvered be,
Thy tyme thou shalt biwepc sore
The whiche never thou maist restore.
(For tyme lost, as men may see,
For no thyng may reeured be)
And if thou scape, yit atte laste,
Fro Love that hath thee so fasto
J-knytt and bounden in his lace, sno
Certcyn I holde it but a grace.
For many oon, as it is seyne,
Have lost, and spent also in vcyne,
In his servise withoutc socour,
Body and soule, good, and trcsour,
Witte, and strengthe, and eke richesse,
Of which they hadde never redresse.'
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 157
Lamant. — Thus taught and preched hathResoun,
But Love spilte hir sermoun,
That was so ymped in my thought, 5140
That hir doctrine I sette at nought.
And yitt ne seide she never a dele,
That I ne undirstode it wele,
Word by word the mater alle.
But unto Love I was so thrallc,
Which callith over alle his pray,
And chasith so my thought ay,
And holdith myne herte undir his sele,
As trust and trew as ony stele ;
So that no devocioun 5150
Ne hadde I in the sermoun
Of dame Resoun ; ne of hir rede
I toke no sojour in myne hede.
For alle yede oute at oon ere
That in that other she dide lerc ;
Fully on me she lost hir lore.
Hir speche me grevede wondir sore,
That unto hir for ire I seide,
For anger, as I dide abraide : —
' Dame, and is it youre wille algate, 5160
That I not love, but that I hate
Alle men, as ye me teche ?
For if I do aftir youre speche,
Sith that ye seyne love is not good,
Thanne must I nedis say with mood
If I it leve, in hatrede ay
Lyven, and voide love away,
From mo a synfullo wrecche,
Hated of alle that tecche
I may not go noon other gate, 6n°
158 THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE.
For other must I love or hate.
And if I hate men of newe,
More than love it wole me rewe,
Afl by youre preching semeth me,
For Love no thing ne preisith thee.
Ye yeve good counsel, sikirly,
That prechith me al day, that I
Shulde not Loves lore alowe ;
He were a foole wolde you not trowc !
In spechc also ye han me taught, 5180
Another love that knowen is naught,
Which I have herd you not repreve,
To love ech other, by youre leve.
If ye wolde diffyne it me,
I wolde gladly here, to se,
Atte the leest, if I may lere
Of sondry loves the manere.'
Raisoun. — ' Certis, freend, a fool art thou
Whan that thou no thyng wolt allow e,
That I for thi profit say. 5190
Yit wole I sey thee more, in fay,
For I am redy, at the leste,
To accomplisshe thi requeste,
But I not where it wole avayle ;
In veyn perauntre I shal travayle.
Love ther is in sondry wise,
As I shal thee heere devise.
For somme love leful is and good ;
I mene not that which makith thee wood,
And bringith thee in many a fitte, woo
And ravysshith fro thee al thi witte,
It is so merveilousc and queynte ;
With such love be no more aqueynte.'
THE ROMATJNT OF THE ROSE. 159
COMMENT KAISOTHST DIFFINIST ATJNSF.TE.
' Love of frcendshippe also ther is,
Which makith no man done amys,
Of wille knytt bitwixe two,
That wole not breke for wele ne woo ;
Which long is likly to contune,
Whanne wille and goodis ben in comune,
Grounded by Goddis ordinaunce, si'io
Hoole withoute discordaunce ;
With hem holdyng comunte
Of alle her goode in charite,
That ther be noon excepcioun,
Thurgh chaungyng of entencioun,
That ech helpe other at her neede,
And wisely hele bothe word and dede,
Trewe of menyng, devoide of slouthe,
For witt is nought withoute trouthe ;
So that the ton dar alle his thought &220
Seyn to his freend, and spare nought,
As to hym-silf withoute dredyng
To be discovered by wreying.
For glad is that conjunccioun,
Whanne ther is noon susspecioun,
Whom they wolde prove
That trewe and parfit weren in love.
For no man may be amyable,
But-if he be so ferme and stable,
That fortune chaunge hym not, ne blynde, 5230
But that his freend alle wey hym fynde,
Bothe pore and riche, in 00 state.
For if his freend, thurgh ony gate,
Wole compleyne of his poverte,
1G0 TUE ROM AT XT OF THE ROSE.
He shuldc not bide so long, til ho
Of his helpyng hym requere ;
For goode dede done tburgh praiere
Is sold, and bought to deere iwys,
To hcrte that of grete valour is.
For herte fulfilled of gentilnesse, 5210
Can yvel dcmene his dist rose.
And man that worthy is of name,
To asken often hath gret shame.
A good man brenneth in his thought
For shame, whanne he axcth ought.
He hath gret thought, and dredeth ay
For his disese, whanne he shal pray
His freend, lest that he warned be,
Til that he prove his stabilte.
15ut whanne that he hath founden oon mjso
That trusty is and trewe as stone,
And assaied hym at alio,
And founde hym stedefast as a walle,
And of his freendshippe be certeyne,
He shal hym shewc bothc joyc and peyne,
And alle that he dar thynke or scy,
Withoute shame, as he wel may.
For how shulde he a-shamed be,
Of sich one as I tolde thee?
For whanne he woot his secre thought, 5260
The thriddc shal knowc therof right nought ;
For tweyne of noumbre is bet than thro,
In every counsclle and seere.
Kepreve he dredde never a deele,
Who that bisett his wordis wele ;
For every wise man, out of drede,
Can kepc his tunge til he se nede ;
THE ROM AUNT OF THE ROSE. 161
And fooles can not holde her tunge ;
A fooles belle is soone runge.
Yit shal a trewe freend do more 5270
To helpe his felowe of his sore,
And soeoure hym, whanne he hath neede,
In alio that he may done in deede ;
And gladder that he hym plesith
Than his felowe that he esith.
And if he do not his requeste,
He shal as mochel hym moleste
As his felow, for that he
May not fulfilie his volunte
Fully, as he hath requered. r.2so
If bothe the hertis Love hath fered,
Joy and woo they shulle departe,
And take evenly ech his parte.
Half his anoy he shal have ay,
And comfort, what that he may ;
And of this blisse parte shal he,
If love wole departed be.
And whilom of this unyte
Spake Tubus in a ditee ;
And shulde maken his requeste C200
Unto his freend, that is honcste ;
And he goodly shulde it fulfilie,
But it the more were out of skile,
And other-wise not graunte therto,
Except oonly in cause twoo.
If men his freend to deth wolde drifo
Late hym be bisy to save his lyve.
Also if men wolen hym assayle,
Of his wurshippe to make hym faile,
And hyndren hym of his renoun, csoo
VOL. VI. M
1G2 THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE.
Late hym, with fullc entencioun,
J I is dever done in eche degre
That his freend ne /-shamed be,
In this two caas with Ids myght,
Taking no kepe to skile nor right,
As ferre as love may hym excuse ;
Thia ought c no man to refuse.
This love that I have tolde to thee
Is no thing contrarie to mc ;
This wole 1 that thou folowe wide, 5310
And leve the tother everydele.
This love to vertu alle entendith,
The tothir fooles blent and shendith.
' Another love also there is,
That is contrarie unto this.
Which desire is so constreyned
That it is but wille feyned ;
Awey fro trouthe it dotli so varie
That to good love it is contrarie ;
For it maymeth, in many wise, 6820
Sikchertis with eoveitise;
Alle in wynnyng and in profit,
Sich love settith his delite.
This love so hangeth in halaunce
That if it Lese his hope, perchaum
Of lucre, that lie is sett upon,
It wole faile, and quenche anoon ;
For no man may be amerous,
Ne in his lyvyng vertuous,
But he love more, in moode, 5330
Men for hcm-silf than for her gbode.
For love that profit doth abide,
Is fals, and bit not in no tydc.
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 163
Love cometh of dame Fortune,
That litel while wole contune,
For it shal chaungen wonder soone,
And take eclips right as the moone,
Whanne he is from us i-lett
Thurgh erthe, that bitwixe is sett
The sonne and hir, as it may falle, 5340
Be it in partie, or in alle ;
The shadowe maketh her bemys merko,
And hir homes to shewe derkc,
That part where she hath lost hir lyght
Of Phebus fully, and the sight ;
Til whanne the shadowe is overpaste,
She is enlumyned ageyn as faste,
Thurgh the brightnesse of the sonne hemes
That yeveth to hir ageyne hir lemes.
That love is right of sich nature ; '
Now is faire, and now obscure,
Now bright, now clipsi of mancrc,
And whilom dymme, and whilom clere.
As soone as Poverte gynneth take,
With mantel and with wedis blake
Hidith of Love the light awey,
That into nyght it turneth day ;
It may not see Richesse shyne,
Tille the blake shadowes fync.
For, whanne Richesse shyneth brig'
Love recovereth ageyn his lightc ;
And whanne it failith, he wole ili: .
And as she greveth, so grevcth
Of this love here what I sey : —
The riche men arc loved ay,
And namely tho that sparand bene,
1G4 THE HOMAUNT OF THE HOSE.
That wolc not wasshe her hcrtcs clcnu
Of the filthc, nor of the vice
Of gredy brennyng avarice.
The richc man fulle fonued is, y-wys, 5370
That weneth that he loved is.
If that his herte it undirstode,
It is not he ; it is his goode.
He may wel witen in his thought,
His good is loved, and he right nought.
For if he be a nygard eke,
Men wolc not settc by liym a leke,
But haten hym ; this is the sothc.
Lo, what profit this eatell doth !
Of every man that may hym see, r.nso
It geteth hym nought hut enmyte.
But he amende hym-silf of that vice,
And knowe hym-silf, he is not wys.
Certys he shulde ay freendly be,
To gete hym love also ben free,
Or ellis he is not wise nc sage
No more than is a gote ramage.
That he not loveth his dede proveth,
Whan he his richesso so wel loveth,
That he wole hide it ay, and spare, .r,Mo
His pore freendis scne forfare,
To kepen ay his purpose,
Til for drede his iyen close,
And til a wikked deth hym take;
Hym hadde lever a-sondre shake,
And late alle hise lymes a-sondre ryve,
Than leve his richessc in his lyve.
He thenkith parte it with no man;
Certayn no love is in hym than.
THE ROHAUNT OF THE ROSE. 105
How shulde love withynne hym be, 5400
Whanne in his herte is -no pite?
That he trespasseth wel I wote,
For eeh man knowith his estate ;
for wel hym ought to be reproved
That loveth nought, ne is not loved.
' But se?i we arn to Fortune comen,
And hath oure sermoun of hir nomen,
A wondir wille Y telle thee nowe,
Thou herdist never sich oon, I trowe.
I note where thou me leven shalle, sno
Though sothfastnesse it be in alle,
As it is writen, and is soth,
That unto men more profit doth
The froward Fortune and eontraire,
Than the swote and debonaire :
And if thee thynke it is doutable,
It is thurgh argument provable.
For the debonaire and softe
Falsith and bigilith ofte ;
For lyche a moder she can cherishe 5420
And mylken as doth a norys,
And of hir goode to hym deles
And yeveth hym parte of her Iowelcs,
With grete richessc and dignite,
And hem she hoteth stabilite,
In a state that is not stable,
But chaungyngc ay and variable ;
And fedith hym with glorie and veyne,
And worldly blisse non certeyne.
Whanne she hym settith on hir whole, 5430
Thanne wene they to be right wele,
And in so stable state with-alle,
166 THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE.
That never tiny wene for to falle.
And whanne they sette so highe be,
They \\( lie to have in certeynte
Of her thy iivendis so grete noumbre,
That no thyng myght her state encornbre ;
They trust hem so on every side,
Wenyng with hym they wolde abide,
In every perelle and myschaunce, .-.t 10
Without e chaunge or variaunce,
Bothe of catclle and of goode ;
And also for to spende her bloode,
And alio her membris for to spille,
Oonly to fulfillc her wille.
They maken it hole in many wise,
And hoten hem her fulle servise,
How sore that it do hem smerte ;
Into her veray naked shertc,
Herte and alle, so hole they yeve, cicu
For the tyme -hat they may lyve.
So that with her flaterie,
They maken foolis glorifie
Of her wordis spekyng,
And han cheer of a rejirpyng,
And trowe hem as the evangile;
And it is alle falsheede and gile,
As they shal aftirwardes se,
Whanne they am falle in poverte,
And ben of good and catelle bare ; 5^60
Thanne Bhulde they seno who freendis ware.
For of an hundred certeynly,
Nor of a thousande fulle scarsly,
X.' shal they fynde unnethis oon,
Whanne poverte is comen upon.
THE ROMATJNT OF THE ROSE. 167
For thus Fortune that I of telle,
With men whanne hir lust to dwelle,
Makith men to leese her conisaunce,
And norishith hem in ignoraunce.
' But froward Fortune and perverse, 5470
Whanne high estatis she doth reverse,
And maketh hem to tumble doune
Of with hir whole, with sodeyn tourne,
And from her Riehesse doth hem fle,
And plongeth hem in poverte,
As a stepmoder envyous,
And leieth a piastre dolorous
Unto her hertis wounded egre,
Which is not tempred with vynegre,
But with poverte and indigence, 5190
For to shewe by experience,
That she is Fortune verelye
In whom no man shulde affye,
Nor in hir yeftis have fiaunce,
She is so fulle of variaunce.
Thus kan she maken high and lowc,
Whanne they from riehesse arn i-throwe,
Fully to knowen, withoute were,
Freend of affect, and freend of chore ;
And which in love weren trewe and stable, cisc
And whiche also weren variable,
After Fortune her goddesse,
In poverte, outher in riehesse ;
For alle that yeveth here out of drede,
Unhappe bereveth it in dede;
For In-fortune late not oon
Of freendis, whanne Fortune is gone ;
I mene tho freendis that wole fle
168 THE ROM AUNT OF THE ROSE.
Anoon as entrcth poverte.
And yit they wole not leve hem so, woo
lmt in ech place •where they go
They ealle hem ' wrecche,' scornc and blame,
And of her myshappc hem diffame,
And, namely, siche as in richesse,
Pretendith moost of stablenesse,
Whanne that they sawe hym sett on-loftc,
And weren of hym socoured ofte,
And -most i-hoZpc in alle her neede :
IJut now they take no maner lieede,
But seyn in voice of ilaterie, tr.io
That now apperith her folye,
Over-alle where so they fare,
And syngc, Go, fare wel feldfarc.
Alle suchc frcendis I beshrewe,
For of trewe ther be to fewe ;
But sothfaste freendis, what-so bitide,
In every fortune wolen abide ;
Thei han her hertis in suche noblesse
That they nyl love for no richesse,
Nor for that Fortune may hem sende C520
Thei wolen hem socoure and defende,
And chaunge for softe no for sore.
For who his freend loveth evermore
Though men drawe swerde his freend to slo,
He may not hewe her love a-two.
J i 1 1 1 in case that 1 shalle sey,
For pride and ire lesc it he may,
And for reprove by nycetc,
And discovering of privite,
With tongc woundyng, as feloun, C530
Thurgh venemous dctraccioun.
THE ROMAUNT OF THE HOSE. 1G9
Frende in this case wole gone his way,
For no thyng greve hym more ne may,
And for nought ellis wole he fle,
If that he love in stabilite.
And certeyn he is wel bigone
Among a thousand that fyndith oon.
For ther ne may be no richesse
Ageyns frendshipp of worthynesse,
For it ne may so high atteigne, cmo
As may the valoure, soth to seyne,
Of hym that loveth trew and welle ;
Frendshipp is more than is catellc.
For freend in court ay better is
Than peny in purs, certis ;
And Fortune myshappyng,
Whanne upon men she is fablyng,
Thurgh mysturnyng of hir chaunce,
And caste hem oute of balaunce,
She makith, thurgh hir adversite, 5550
Men fulle clerly for to se
Hym that is freend in existence
From hym that is by apparence.
^or yn-fortune makith anoon,
To knowe thy freendis fro thy foon,
By experience, right as it is.
The which is more to preise, ywis,
Than in myche richesse and trcsour,
For more depe profit and valour,
Poverte, and such adversite 5560
Bifore, than doth prospcrite ;
For the toon yeveth conysaunce,
And the tothcr ignoraunce.
' And thus in poverte is in dede
170 THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE.
Trout he declared fro falsehood,
For feynte frendis it wole declare,
And trewe also, what wey they fare
For whanne he was in his riehessc,
These freendis, fid of doublencsse,
Oftrid hym in many wise 6570
Heri and body, and Bervise.
What wolde he thanne ha yove to ha bought,
To knowen openly her thought,
That he now hath so clerly seen ?
The lasso bigiled she shulde have bene
And he hadde thanne perceyved it,
But richesse nolde not late hym witte.
Wei more avauntage doth hym thanne,
Sith that it makith hym a wise man.
The grete myscheef that ho perceyveth,
Than doth richesse that hym deceyveth.
Richesse riche ne makith nought
Hym that on trcsour settc his thought ;
For richesse stonte in suffisaunce,
And no thyng in habundaunce ;
For suffisaunce alio oonly
Makith men to lyvc richely.
i^or he that hath myeches tweyne,
No value in his demeigne,
Lyveth more at ese, and more is riche, 5590
Than doth he that is ehiche,
And in his bernc hath, soth to seyn,
An hundred mauis of whete groyne,
Though he be chapman or marchaunte,
And have of golde many bosaunte.
For in the getyng he hath such woo,
And in the ki pyng drede also,
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 171
And sette evermore his bisynesse
For to encrese, and not to lesse,
For to aument and multiplie. 5600
And though on hepis that lye hym bye,
Yit never shal make his riehesse,
Asseth unto his gredynesse.
But the povre that recchith nought,
Save of his lyflode, in his thought,
Which that he getith with his travaile,
He dredith nought that it shalle faile,
Though he have lytel worldis goode,
Mete and drynke, and esy foode,
Upon his travel and lyvyng, 56io
And also suffisaunt elothyng.
Or if in syknesse that he fallc,
And lothe mete and drynke withalle,
Though he have not his mete to bye,
He shal bithynke hym hastely,
To putte hym oute of alle daunger,
That he of mete hath no myster ;
Or that he may with lytel eke
Be foundcn, while that he is seke ;
Or that men shade hym berne in haste, 5620
To lyve, til his syknesse be paste,
To somme maysondewe biside;
He caste nought what shal hym bitide.
He thenkith nought that evere he shalle
Into ony syknesse falle.
' And though it falle, as it may be,
That alle be-tyme spare shalle he
As mochel as shal to hym suffice,
While he is sike in ony wise,
He doth for that he wole be 5630
172 THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE.
Contents with his poverte
Withoute node of ony man.
So myehe in litel have he can,
. He is apaied with his fortune ;
And for he nyl be importune
Unto no wiy/ate, ne honerous,
Nor of her goodes eoveitous ;
Therforc he spareth, it may wel bene,
His pore estate for to sustene.
'Or it'hyni lust not for to spare, sgio
But suffrith forth, as nol ne ware,
Atte last it hapneth, as it may,
Right unto his last day,
And take the world as it wolde be ;
For evere in hertc thenkith be
The sonncr thai Deth hym slo,
To paradys the sonner go
He shal, there for to lyve in blisse,
Where that be shal noo goode misse.
Thider be hopith God shal hym sendc, cggo
Aftir his wrecchid lyves ende.
Pictigoras bym-silf reherses,
In a book that the Golden Verses
Is clepid, for the nobilite
Of the honourable ditee : —
Thanne whanne thou goste thy body fro,
Pre in the cir thou shalt up go,
And leven al humanite,
And purely lyve in deite,
Ife is a foole witbouten were 5060
That trowith have bis countre hecre.
In erthe is not oure countre,
That may these clerkis seyn and see
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 173
In Boiee of Consolacioun,
Where it is maked raencioun
Of oure countre pleyn at the eye,
By teching of philosophie,
Where lewid men m)-ghte lerc witte,
Who-so that wolde translaten it.
If he be sich that can wel lyve 5670
Aftir his rente may hym yevc,
And not desireth more to have,
Than may fro poverte hym save.
A wise man seide, as we may seen,
Is no man wreeehed, but he it wene,
Be he kyng, knyght, or ribaude.
And many a ribaude is mery and baude,
That swynkith, and berith, bothe day and nyglit,
Many a burthen of grete myght,
The whiche doth hym lasse offense, wao
For he suffrith in pacience.
They laugh and daunce, trippe and syngc,
And leye not up for her lyvyng,
But in the taverne alle dispendith
The wynnyng that God hem sendith.
Thanne goth he fardeles for to berc,
With as good chere as he dide ere,
To swynke and traveile he not feynUth,
For for to robben he disdeyntith ;
But right anoon, aftir his swynke, 5690
He goth to taverne for to drynke.
Alle these ar richc in abundaunee,
That can thus have suffisaunce
Wel more than can an usurere,
As God wel knowith, withoute were.
For an usurer, so God me se,
174 THE UOMAUNT OF THE ROSE.
Bhal nevere for richesse riche be,
lint evermore pore and indigent, 5700
Scarce, and gredy in his entent.
' For soth it is, whom it displese,
Ther may no marchaunl lyve at esc,
His herte in sich a were is sett,
That it brenneth quyke to gete,
Ne never Bhal, though he hath geten,
Though he have gold in gerners yeten,
For to be nedy he dredith sore.
Wherfore to geten more and more
He sette his herte and his desire;
So hote he brennylh in the fire
Of coveitise, that makitli liym woodc 5710
To purchace other mennes goode.
He undirfongith a gret peyne,
That undirtakith to drynke up SeyBe;
For the more he drynkith, ay
The more he leveth, the soth to say.
Thus is thurst of fals getyng,
That laste ever in coveityng,
And the angwisshe and distrcsse
With the fire of gr< dynesse.
She fightith with hym ay, and stryvcth, 6720
That his herte a-sondre ryveth;
Such gredynesse hym assaylith,
That whanne he most hath, most he i'aililli.
'Phiciciens and advocates
Gone right by the same yatcs.
They selle her science for wynnyng,
And haunte her crafte for gret getyng.
Hi r wynnyng is of such swetnesse,
That if a man falle in sikenesse,
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 175
They are fulle glad, for ther encrese ; 5730
For by her wille, withoute lees,
Everiche man shulde be seke,
And though they die, they sette not a leke.
After whanne they the gold have take,
Fulle litel care for hem they make.
They wolde that fourty were seke atonys,
Yhe, .ij. hundred, in flesh and bonys,
And yit .ij. thousand, as I gesse,
For to encrecen her richesse.
They wole not worchen in no wise, C740
But for lucre and coveitise,
For fysic gynneth first by fy,
The phicicien also sothely;
And sithen it goth fro fy to sy ;
To truste on hem is foly ;
For they nyl in no maner gre,
Do right nought for charite.
' Eke in the same secte ar sette
Alle tho that prechen for to gete
Worshipes, honour, and richesse. st;o
Her hertis arn in grcte distresse,
That folk lyve not holily.
But aboven alle specialy,
Sicli as prechen veyngloric,
And toward God have no memorie,
But forth as ypocrites trace,
And to her soules deth purchace,
And outward shewing holynesse,
Though they be fulle of cursidnessc.
Not liche to the apostles twelve, 57G0
They deceyve other and hcm-selve ;
Bigiled is the giler thanne.
170 THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE.
For prechyng of a cursed man,
Though to other may profitc,
1 1 viiisiir it avaUeth not a myto ;
For of'tc goodo predicacioun
Cometh of evel entencioun.
To hym not vaileth his preching
Alio helpe ho other with his tcching ;
For where they good ensaumple take, 5770
There is he with veynglorie shake.
' But late us leven these prechoures,
And speke of hem that in her toures
Hope up her gold, and faste shcttr.
And sore theron her herte sette.
They neither love God, no drede ;
They kepe more than it is nede,
And in her hagges sore it bynde ;
Out of the sonnc, and of the wynde,
They putte up more than nede were, 57SQ
"Whanne they seen pore folk forfare,
For hunger die, and for cold quake ;
God can wel vengeaunce therof take.
Th?-e grete myscheves hem assailith,
And thus in gadring ay travaylith;
With mychc peync they Wynne riehessc,
And drede hem holdith in distressc,
To kepe that they gadre faste ;
With sorwe they leve it at the laste;
With sorwe they bothe dye and lyve, £790
That unto richesse her hcrtis yive,
And in defautc of love it is,
As it shewith fid wel, iwys ;
For if this gredy, the sothe to seyn,
Loveden, and were loved ageyn,
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 177
And goocle love regned over-alle,
Such wikkidnesse ne shulde falle ;
But he shulde yeve that most good hadde
To hem that weren in nede bistadde,
And lyve withoute false usure, 5800
For charite, fulle clene and pure.
If they hem yeve to goodnesse,
Defendyng hem from ydelnesse,
In alle this world thanne pore noon
We shulde fynde, I trowe not oon.
But chaunged is this world unstable,
For love is over-alle vendable.
We se that no man loveth nowe
But for wynnyng and for pro we ;
And love is thralled in servage 58io
Whanne it is sold for avauntage ;
Yit wommen wole her bodyes selle ;
Suehe soules goth to the dcvel of belle.'
*****
Whanne Love hadde told hem his entente,
The baronage to councel wente ;
In many sentences they fille,
And dyversely they seide hir tille :
But aftir discorde they accordede,
And her accord to Love recorded?.
' Sir,' seiden they, ' we ben atone, 5820
Bi evene accorde of everichone,
Outake Richesse al oonly,
That sworne hath fill hautcynly,
That she the eastelle nyl not assaile,
Ne smyte a stroke in this bataile,
With darte, ne mace, spere, ne knyf.
For man that spekith or berith the lyf,
VOL. VI. N
ITS THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE.
And blametfa youro emprise, iwyfl,
And from oure hoost departed is,
Attc leste wey, as in this plyte, 5630
So hath she this man in dispite ;
For she seith he tie loved hir never,
And therfore she wole hate hym evere.
For he wole gadre no tresonre,
Be hath hir wrath for evermore.
Ee agylte hir never in other caas,
Lo, lucre alio hoolly his trespi I
She seith vol. that this other day
Ee axide hir leve to gone the way
That is clepid To-moche-yevyng, 6840
And spak f'ulle faire in his praiyng ;
But whanne he praiede hir, pore was he,
Therlbrc sin- warned hym the entre.
Ne yit is he not thryven so
That he hath get< rj a piny or two,
That quytely is his owne in holde.
Thus hath Rich* sse us alle tolde ;
And whanne Riehesse us this recorded,
Withouten hir we hen accorded.
And we f'ynde in oure aceordaunce, 5850
That False-semblant and Abstinaunce,
With alle the folk of her bataille*
Shulle at the hyndre gate assayle,
That Wikkid-tunge hath in kepyng,
With his Normans f'ulle ofjanglyi
And with hem Curtesie and Largi
That shulle Bhewe her hardyni
In the olde wyf that kepte so harde
r-welcomyng withynne her warde.
rhanne shal Delite and Wel-heelynge 5860
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 179
Fonde Shame adowne to brynge,
With alle her oost erly and late ;
They shulle assailen that ilke gate.
Agaynes Drede shalle Hardynesse
Assayle, and also Sikernesse,
With alle the folk of her ledyng,
That never wiste what was fleyng.
Fraunchise shalle fight, and eke Pite,
With Daunger fulle of cruelte.
Thus is youre hoost ordeyned wele ; 5S70
Doune shalle the castelle every dele,
If everiche do his entent,
So that Venus be present,
Youre modir, fulle of vesselage,
That can ynough of such usage ;
Withouten hir may no wight spcdo
This werk, neithir for word ne deede.
Therfore is good ye for hir sende,
For thurgh hir may this werk amende.'
Amour. Lordynges, my modir, the goddesse, 5SS0
That is my lady, and my maistresse,
Nis not alle at my willyng,
Ne doth not alle my desiryng.
Yit can she some tyme done labour,
W'hanne that hir lust, in my socour,
As my nede is for to a-cheve,
But now I thenke hir not to greve.
My modir is she, and of childehede
I bothe worshipe hir, and eke drede ;
For who that dredith sire ne dame, 5890
Shal it abye in body or name.
And, netheles, yit kunne we
Sende aftir hir, if nede be,
180 THE ROM AUNT OF THE ROSE.
And were she nygh, she comen woldo,
I trowe that no thyng myght hir holde.
Mi modir is of gret prowessc ;
She hath tan many a fortresse,
That cost hath many a pounde er this,
There I nas not present, ywis ;
And yit men seide it was my dede ; 5fl 0
But I come never in that stedc;
Ne me ne likith, so mote I the,
That such toures ben take withoutc mc.
For-why me thenkitli that in no wise
It may bene clcpid but marchandise.
' Go bye a courser blak or white,
And pay therfore ; than art thou quyte.
The marchaunt owith thee right nought,
Ne thou hym whanne thou it hast bought.
I wole not sellyng elepe yevyng, siuo
For sellyng axeth no guerdonyng ;
Here lith no thank, ne no merite,
That oon goth from that other al quyte.
But this sellyng is not semblable ;
For, whanne his hors is in the stable,
He may it selle ageyn, parde,
And wynnen on it, such happo may bo;
Alle may the man not lcese, iwys,
For at the leest the skynne is his.
Or ellis, if it so bitide 5920
That he wole kepc his hors to ride,
Yit is he lord ay of his horse.
But thilke chaffarc is wel worse,
There Yenus entremetith ought;
For who-so such chaffarc hath bought,
He shal not worchen so wisely,
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 181
That he ne shal lccsc al outcrly
Bothe his money and his chaffare ;
But the seller of the ware,
The pr)rs and profit have shallc. C9jo
Certeyn the bier shal leese alle,
For he ne can so dere it bye
To have lordship and fulle maistrie,
Ne have power to make lettyng,
Neithir for yift ne for prechyng,
That of his chaffare maugre his,
Another shal have as mochc iwis,
If he wole yeve as myche as he,
Of what contrey so that he be ;
Or for right nought, so happe may, 5940
If he can flater hir to hir pay.
Ben thanne siche marchauntz wise ?
No, but fooles in every wise,
Whanne they bye sich thyng wilfully,
There as they leese her good folyly.
But natheles, this dar I say,
My modir is not wont to pay,
For she is neither so fool ne nycc,
To entremete hir of sich vice.
But truste wel, he shal pay alle, 0051
That repent of his bargeyn shalle,
Whanne Poverte putte hym in distresse,
Alle were he scoler to Richesse;
That is for me in grct yernyng,
Whanne she assentith to my willyng.
' But, ly my modir seint Venus,
And by hir fader Saturnus,
That hir engendride by his lyf,
But not upon his weddid wyf !
1S2 THE ROM AUNT OF THE ROSE
Yit wole I more unto you swerc, spoo
To make (his thyng the seurere
Now by thai feith, and that leaut^
That I owe to alio my britheren fre,
Of which ther nys wight undir heven
That kan her fadris names neven,
So dyvcrse and so many ther be,
That with my modir have be prive !
Yit wolde I swere, for .sikirncsse,
The pole of belle to my witnesse,
Now drynke I not thia yeere clarre, 5970
Tf that I lye, or forswornc be!
For of the goddes the usage is.
That who-so hym forswereth amys,
Shal thai yeer drynke no clarre.
Now have I sworne ynough, pardee;
If I forswere me, thanne am I lorne,
Rut I wole never be forswornc ;
Syth Riehesse hath me failed heere,
She shal abye that trespas ful dere,
Atte lecste wey, but site hir arme 5980
With Bwerd, or sparth, or gysarme.
For certis sith she lovcth not me,
Fro thilk tyme that she may se
The castelle and the tour to shake.
In sory tyme she shal a-wake.
If I may grepe a riche man
I shal so pulle hym, if I can,
That he shal, in a fewe stoundes,
Lese alle his markis and his poundis.
I shal hym make his pens outslynge, 5990
But they in his gcrncr sprynge ;
Oure maydens shal eke pluk hym so;
THE ROMATINT OF THE ROSE. 1S3
That hym shal neclen fetheres mo,
And make hym selle his londe to spendo,
But he the bet kunne hym defende.
' Pore men han maad her lord of me ;
Al-though they not so myghty be,
That they may fede me in delite,
I wole not have hem in despite.
No good man hateth hem, as I gesse, eooo
For chynche and feloun is Richesse,
That so can chase hem and dispise,
And hem defoule in sondry wise.
They loven fulle bet, so God me spedc,
Than doth the riche chynchy grede,
And ben in good feith, more stable
And trewer, and more serviable.
And therfore it suffisith me
Her goode herte and her beaute, coio
They han on me sette alle her though
And therfore I forgete hem nought.
I wole hem bringe in grete noblesse,
If that I were God of Richesse,
As I am God of Love sothely,
Sich routhe upon her pleynt have I.
Therfore I must his socour be,
That peyneth hym to serven me,
For if he deide for love of this,
Thanne semeth in me no love thcr is.'
< Sir,' seide they, ' soth is every deel 6020
That ye reherce, and we wote wel
T/iilk oth to holde is resonable ;
For it is good and covenable,
That ye on riche men han sworne.
For, sir, this wote we .wel biforne ;
13-1 THE ROMAUNT OF THE HOSE.
If riche men done you homage,
That is as foolcs done outrage ;
But ye simile not forsworne bo,
Nc lette therfore to drynke clarre,
Or pyment makid fresh and newe. 6030
Ladies shulle hem such pepir brewe,
If that they falle into her laas,
That they for woo mowe seyn ' Alias ! '
Ladyes shullen cverc so curteis be,
That they shal quyte youre oth allc free.
Ne si kith never othir vicaire,
For they shal spekc with hem so faire
That ye shal holde you paied fulle welo.
Though ye you mcdle never a dele,
Late ladies wortbe with her thyngis, 6040
They shal hem telle so fele tidynges,
And moeve hem eke so many requestis
Bi flateri, that not honest is,
And therto yeve hem such thankynges,
What with kissyng, and with talkynges,
That certis, if they trowed be,
Shal never leve hem londe ne fee
That it nyl as the mocble fare,
Of which they first delyverid are.
Now may ye telle lis allc youre wille, C050
And we youre hei Btes shal fulfillc.
' But Fals-scmblant dar not, for dredo
Of you, sir, medic hym of tin's dede,
For he seith that ye ben his foo ;
He note, if ye wole worchc hym woo.
Wherfore we pray you alle, beau sire,
That ye forgyvc hym now your ire,
And that he may dwelle, as your man,
THE ROHAUNT OF THE ROSE. 185
With Abstinence his dere lemman ;
This oure accord and oure wille nowc.' 6360
' Parfay,' seide Love, ' I graunte it yowe ;
I wole wel holde hyra for my man ;
Now late hym come:' and he forth ran.
' Fals-semblant,' quod Love, ' in this wise
I take thee heere to my servise,
That thou oure freendis helpe aZway,
And hyndreth hem neithir nj-ght ne day,
But do thy myght hem to releve,
And eke oure enemycs that thou greve.
Thync be this myght, I graunte it thee, goto
My kyng of haiiotes shalt thou be ;
We wole that thou have such honour.
Certeyne thou art a fals traitour,
And eke a theef ; sith thou were borne,
A thousand tyme thou art forsworne.
But, nctheles, in oure heryng,
To putte oure folk out of doutyng,
I bidde thee teche hem, wostowe howo ?
Bi somme general signe nowe,
In what place thou shalt founden be, g<so
If that men hadrfe myster of thee,
And how men shal thee best espye,
For thee to knowe is gret maistrie ;
Telle in what place is thyn hauntyng.'
F. Sem. — ' Sir I have fele dyvcrse wonyng,
That I kepe not rehersed be,
So that ye wolde respiten me.
For if that I telle you the sothe,
I may have harme and shame bothc.
If that my felowes wisten it, cc90
My talis shulden me be quylt ;
186 THE ROM AUNT OF THE ROSE.
For certeyne they wolde hate me,
If ever 1 knewe her cruelte ;
For they wolde overalls holde hem stillc
Of trouthe that is ageyne her willc ;
Suche talcs kepen they not here.
I myght eftsoone bye it fullc deerc,
If I seide of hem ony thing,
That ought displesith to her heryng.
For what word that hem prikke or biteth, 6100
In that word noon of hem deliteth,
Al were it gospel the evangile,
That wolde reprove hem of her gile,
For they are cruel and hauteyne.
And this thyng wote 1 welle certeyne,
If I speke ought to peire her loos,
Your court shal not so welle be cloos,
That they ne shalle wite it atte last.
Of goode men am I nought agast,
For they wole taken on them no thyng, cno
Whanne that they knowe al my menyng;
But he that wole it on hym take,
He wole hym-silf suspecious make,
That he his lyf let covertly,
In Gile and in Ipocrisie,
That me engendred and yaf fostryng.'
' They made a fulle good engendryng,'
Quod Love, ' for who-so sothly telle,
They engendrede the devel of hcllc.
But nedely, how-so-evere it be,' 6123
Quod Love, ' I wole and charge thee,
To telle anoon thy wonyng places,
Heryng ech wight that in this place is;
And what lyf that thou lyvest also,
THE ROM AUNT OF THE ROSE. 187
Hide it no longer now ; whcrto ?
Thou most discovere alle thi wurchyng,
How thou servest, and of what thyng,
Though that thou shuldist for thi sothc sawc
Ben al to-beten and to-drawe ;
And yit art thou not wont, pardee. 6iso
But natheles, though thou beten be,
Thou shalt not be the first, that so
Hath for soth sawe suffred woo.'
F. Sem. — ' Sir, sith that it may liken you,
Though that I shulde be slaj-ne right now,
I shal done youre comaundement,
For therto have I gret talent.'
Withouten wordis mo, right thanne,
Fals-semblant his sermon biganne,
And seide hem thus in audience : — ghc
' Barouns, take heede of my sentence !
That wight that list to have knowing
Of Fals-semblant fullo of flatering,
He must in worldly folk hym soke,
And, certes, in the cloistres eke ;
I wone no where but in hem twcy;
But not lyk even, soth to sey ;
Shortly, I wole herberwe me,
There I hope best to hulstred be ;
And certeynly, sikerest hidyng, 6iso
Is undirnethe humblest clothing.
' Religiouse folk ben fulle covert;
Seculer folk ben more appert.
But natheles, I wole not blame
Religious folk, ne hem diffame,
In what habit that ever they go :
Eeligioun umble, and trewe also,
188 THE ROM AUNT OF THE ROSE.
Wolc I not blame, ne dispise,
But I nyl love it, in no wise.
I mene offals religious, cico
That stoute ben, and malicious ;
That wolen in an abit goo,
And setten not her herte therto.
Religious folk ben al pitous;
Thou shalt not seen oon dispitous.
They loven no pride, ne no strif,
Bui humbtely they wolc lede her lyf,
With which folk wole I never be.
And if I dwclle, I feync me
I may wel in her abit go ; ciro
But me were lever my nekke a-two,
Than lettc a purpose that I take,
What covenaunt that ever I make.
I dwclle with hem that proudc be,
And fulle of wiles and subtiliti; ;
That worship of this world coveiten,
And grete nede kunnen espleiten ;
And gone and gadren gret pitaune^z,
And purchace hem the acqueyntauncez
Of men that myghty lyf may leden ; ciso
And feync hem pore, and hem-silf feden
With godc morcels delicious,
And drinken r/oodc wync precious,
And preche us povert and distresse,
And fisshen hem-silf gret richesse,
With wily nettis that they caste:
It wole come foule out at the laste.
They ben fro clcne riligioun went ;
They make the world an argument,
That hath a foule conclusioun. cioo
THE ROM AUNT OF THE ROSE. 189
' I have a robe of religioun,
Thanne am I alle religious ;'
This argument is alle roignous ;
It is not worth a eroked brere ;
Abit ne mukith neithir monk ne frere,
But clene lyf and devocioun,
Makith gode men of religioun.
Netheles, ther kan noon answere,
How high that evere his heed he shere
With rasour whetted never so kene, 0200
That Gile in braunches kut thrittene,
Ther can no wight distincte it so,
That he dare sey a word therto.
' But what herberwe that ever I take,
Or what semblant that evere I make,
I mcne but gile, and folowe that ;
For right no mo than Gibbe owe cat,
That awayteih mice and rattes to Jcyllen,
Ne entende I but to bigilyng ; 6210
Ne no wight may, by my clothing,
Wite with what folk is my dwcllyng
Ne by my wordis yit, parde,
So softe and so plesaunt they be.
Biholde the dedis that I do ;
But thou be blynde thou oughtest so ;
For varie her wordis fro her deede,
They thenke on gile, withoute dreedo,
What maner clothing that they were,
Or what estate that evere they bere, 6220
Lered or lewde, lord or lady,
Knyght, squyer, burgeis, or bayly.'
Right thus while Fals-semblant sermoneth;
Eftsones Love hym aresoneth,
190 THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE.
And brake his talc in his spekyng
As though he had hym tolde lesyng.
And seidc : 'What devel is that I here?
What folk hast thou us nempned hcere?
May men fynde rcligioun
In worldly habitacioun?'
F. Sem. — ' Yhe, sir ; it folowith not that they
Shulde lede a wikked lyf, parfey, 6:-3i
Ne not therfore her soules leese,
That hem to worldly clothes ehesc ;
For, ccrtis, it were gret pi tee.
Men may in seeuler clothes see,
Florishen hooly religioun.
Fulle many a scynt in feeld and toune,
With many a virginc glorious,
Devoute, and fulle religious,
Han deied, that comyn cloth ay beeren, 0240
Yit si.yntcs nevere-the-lesse they weren.
I cowde reken you many a ten ;
Yhe. wel nygh aUe these hooly wytameii,
That men in chirchis herie and sekc,
Bothc maydens, and these wyves eke,
That baren fulle many a faire child hcere,
Wered alwey clothis seculerc,
And in the same dieden they
That seyntes weren, and ben alwey.
The .xj. thousand maydens dcere, 6250
That buren in heven her ciergis clerc,
Of whiche men rede in chirchc, and syngc,
"\\ ere take in seeuler clothing,
Whanne they resseyved martirdomc,
And wonnen hevene unto her home.
Good hcrte makith the goode thought ;
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 191
The clothing yeveth ne reveth nought.
The goode thought and the worching,
That makith the religioun flowryng ;
Thcr lyth the goode religioun, 62go
Aftir the right enteneioun.
' Who-so took a wethers skynne,
And wrapped a gredy wolf therynne,
For he shulde go with lambis whyte,
Wenest thou not he wolde hem bite ?
Yhis ! neverthelasse, as he were woode,
He wolde hem wery, and drinke the bloode ;
And wel the rather hem disceyve,
For sith they cowde not perceyve
His treget, and his cruelte, 6270
They wolde hym folowe, al wolde he fle.
' If ther be wolves of siche hewe,
Amonges these apostlis newe,
Thou, hooly chirche, thou maist be wailed !
Sith that thy citee is assayled
Thourgh knyghtis of thyn owne table,
God wote thi lordship is doutable !
If thei enforce/* it to wynne,
That shulde defende it fro withynne,
Who myghte defense ayens hem make? 6280
^'ithoute stroke it mote be take,
Of trepeget or mangonel ;
Withoute displaiyng of pensel.
And if God nyl done it socour,
But lat renne in this colour,
Thou most thyn heestis laten be.
Thanne is ther nought, but yelde thee,
Or yeve hem tribute, doutlees,
And holde it of hem to have pees :
192 THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE.
Hut grettcr harmc bitidc thee, 0:00
That they al maistcr of it be.
Wei konnc they scorno theo withal ;
By day stuffen they the walle,
And al the nyght they myncn there.
Nay, thou planten most elles where
Thyn ympes, if thou wolt fruyt have.
Abide not there thi-silf to save.
' But now pees ! hecre I turne ageyne ;
I wole nomore of this thing seyne,
If I may passen me herby, 6300
For I myghte maken you wery.
But I wole heten you al-way,
To helpc youre freendis what I may,
So they wollen my company ;
For they be shent al outerly,
But if so falle, that I be
Oftc with hem, and they with me.
And eke my lemman mote they serve,
Or they shulle not my love deserve.
Forsothe I am a fals traitour ; G3io
God juggede me for a theef trichour ;
Forsworne I am, but wel nygh none
Wote of my gile, til it be done.
' Thourgh me hath many oon deth resseyved,
That my trcget nevere aperccyved ;
And yit reseyveth, and shal resseyve,
That my falsnessc shal nevere a-perceyvc :
But who-so doth, if he wise be,
Hym is right good be warre of me.
But so sligh is the a-perceyvyng &320
That al to late cometh hnowyng.
For Protheus that eowde hym chaunge,
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 193
In every shape homely and straunge,
Cowde nevere sich gile ne tresoune
As I ; for I come never in toune
There as I myghte knowen be,
Though men me bothe myght here and see.
Fulle wel I can my clothis chaunge,
Take oon, and make another straunge.
Now am I knyght, now chasteleyne ; 633o
Now prelat, and now chapeleyne ;
Now prest, now clerk, and now forstere ;
Now am I maister, now scolere ;
Now monkc, now chanoun, now baily ;
What ever myster man am I.
Now am I prince, now am I page,
And kan by herte every langage.
Somme tyme am I hore and olde ;
Now am I yonge, stoute, and bolde ;
Now am I Robert, now Robyn ; 6340
Now frere menour, now jacobyn ;
And with me folwith my loteby,
To done me solas and company,
That hight dame Abstinence, and reyned
In many a queynte array feyned.
Ryght as it cometh to hir lykyng,
I fulfille al hir desiryng.
Somtyme a wommans cloth take I ;
Now am I a mayde, now lady.
Somtyme I am religious ; eoso
Now lyk an anker in an hous.
Somtyme am I a prioresse,
And now a nonne, and now abbesse ;
And go thurgh alle regiouns,
Sekyng alle religiouns.
VOL. vi. o
194 THE ROM AUNT OF THE ROSE.
But to what ordre that I am sworne,
I take the strawe and bete the corne ;
To joly folk I cnhabite,
I axe- nomore but her abite.
What wole ye more ? in every wise gsgo
Right as me lyst I me disgise.
Wei ran 1 were tti'e undir wede :
Unlyk is my word to my dede.
Thus make / into my trappis fallc,
Thnrgh my pryveleges, alle
That ben in Cristendome alyve.
I may assoile, and I may shryve,
Tliat no prelat may lette me,
Alle folk, where cvere thei founde be :
I note no prelate may done so, gjto
But it the pope be, and no mo,
That made thilk establishing.
Now is not this a propre thing ?
But were my sleightis a-perceyved,
Ne shulde I more hen receyved
As I was wont; and wostow whye?
For I dide hem a trcgetrie ;
But therof yeve I a lytel tale,
1 have the silver and the male,
So have I prechid and eke shreven,
So have I take, so have I yeven, ajso
Thurgh her foly, husbonde and wyf,
That I lede right a joly lyf,
Thurgh symplesse of the prelacye ;
They knowe not al my tregettrie.
' But for asmoche as man and wyf
Shulde shewe her paroche prest her lyf
Onys a veer, as seith the book,
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 195
Er ony wight his housel took,
Thanne have I pryvylegis large,
That may of myche thing discharge, 6390
For he may seie right thus parde :
' Sir Preest, in shrift I telle it thee,
That he to whom that I am shryven
Hath me assoiled, and me yeven
For penaunce sothly for my synne,
Which that I fonde me gilty ynne ;
Ne I ne have nevere entencioun
To make double confessioun,
Ne reherce efte my shrift to thee ;
0 shrift is right ynough to me. 6400
This oughte thee suffice wele,
Ne be not rebel never a dele ;
For certis, though thou haddist it sworne,
1 wote no prest ne prelat borne
That may to shrift efte me constreyne.
And if they done I wole me pleyne ;
For I wote where to pleyne wele.
Thou shalt not streyne me a dele,
Ne enforce me, ne not me trouble,
To make my confessioun double. 64io
Ne I have none affeccioun
To have double absolucioun.
The firste is right ynough to me ;
This latter assoilyng quyte I thee.
I am unbounde ; what maist thou fynde
More of my synnes me to uhbynde ?
For he that myght hath in his honde,
Of alle my synnes me unbonde.
And if thou wolt me thus constreyne,
That me mote nedis on thee pleyne, 6420
L96 THE ROM AUNT OF THE ROSE.
There slialle no jugge imperial,
Ne bisshop, ne official,
Done jugemenl on me; for I
Shal gone and pleyno me openly
Unto my shriftefadir newe,
That highte Frere Wolf untrewe,
Ami he shal cheveys hym for me,
For I trowe he can hampre thee.
But, lord ! la' wolde be wrooth withalle,
If men hym wolde Frere Wolf callcj ! c-130
For he wolde have no pacience,
But done al cruel vengeaunee!
He wolde his myght done at the leeste,
No thing spare for Goddis hei
And, God bo wys be my socour.
But thou yeve me my savyour
At Ester, whanne it likith me,
Withoute prcsyng more on tin e,
I wole forth, and to hym gone.
And he shal housele me anoon, c-uo
For I am out of thi grucching ;
I kepe not dele with thee no thing.'
Thus may he shryve hym, that forsaketh
His paroche prest, and to me takith.
And if the prest wole hym refuse,
1 am fulle redy hym to accuse,
And hym punysshe and hampre so,
That he his chirchc shal forgo.
' But who-so hath in his felyng
The consequence of such shryvyng, 6450
Shal Bene that prest may never have myght
To knowe the conscience a-right
Of hym that is undir his cure.
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 107
And this ageyns holy scripture,
That biddith every heerde honeste
Have verry knowing of his beeste.
But pore folk that gone by strete,
That have no gold, ne sommes grete,
Hem wolde I lete to her prelates.
Or lete her prestis knowe her states, 6460
For to me right nought yeve they ;
' And why is it?' ' For they ne may.
They ben so bare, I take no kepe ;
But I wole have the fatte sheepe ;
Lat parish prestis have the lene,
I yeve not of her harme a bene !
And if that prelates grucche it,
That oughten w?-oth be in her witt,
To leese her f&tte beestes so,
I shal yeve hem a stroke or two, 6470
That they shal leesen with the force,
Yhe, bothe her mytre and her croce.
Thus jape I hem, and have do longe,
My pryveleges ben so stronge.'
Fals-semblant wolde have stynted heere,
But Love ne made hym no such cheere,
That he was wery of his sawe ;
But for to make hym glad and fawe,
He seide : — ' Telle on more special}-,
Hou that thou servest untrewely. 6iso
Telle forth, and shame thee never a dele
For, as thyn abit shewith wele,
Thou servest an hooly heremyte.'
' Sothe is ; but I am but an ypocrite.'
' Thou goste and prechest poverte ? '
' Yhe, sir ; but Richesse hath pouste.'
198 THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE.
• Thou prechest abstinence also?'
• Sir, I wole fillen, so mote 1 go,
My paunche of goode mete and wync,
\- shulde a maister of dyvyne ; «49c
For how that I me pover feyne,
Yit alio pore folk 1 disdeyne.
I love bettir that queyntaunce,
Ten tyme, of the kyng of Fraunce,
Than of a pore man of myldo mode,
Though that his soule be al-so gode.
For whanne I see beggers quakyng,
Naked on myxnes al stynkyng,
For hungre crie, and eke for care,
I entremete not of her fare.
They ben so pore, and ful of pyne.
They myghte not oonys yeve me a dyne,
For they have no thing but her lyf;
What shulde he yeve that likketh his knyf ?
It is but foly to entremete.
To soke in houndes nest fat mete.
Lete bere hem to the spitel anoon,
But, for me, comfort gete they noon.
Bui a riche sike usurere
Wolde I visite and drawe nere. esio
Hym wole I comforte and rehete,
For F hope of his gold to gete.
And if that wikkid Deth hym have,
I wole c_ro with hym to his grave.
And it' ther ony reprove me,
Why that T lete the pore be,
Wostow how T not a-seape?
I sey and -were hym ful rape.
That riche men han more tecches
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 199
Of synne, than han pore wrecches, 6.520
And han of counsel more mister ;
And therfore I wole drawe hem ner.
But as grete hurt, it may so be,
Hath a soule in right grete poverte,
As soule is grete richesse, forsothe,
Al be it that they hurten bothe.
For richesse and mendicitees
Ben clepid .ij. extremytees;
The mene is cleped suffisaunce,
Ther lyth of vertu the aboundaunce. 6530
For Salamon fulle wel I wote,
In his parablis us wrote,
As it is knowe to many a wight,
In his thrittene chapitre right ; —
God thou me kepe, for thi pouste,
Fro richesse and mendicite ;
For if a riche man hym dresse,
To thenke to myche on richesse,
His herte on that so fer is sett,
That he his creatour foryett ; 6.540
And hym that beggith. wole ay greve.
How shulde I bi his word hym leve ?
Unnethe that he nys a mycher,
Forsworns, or ellis Goddis Iyer.
Thus seith Salamones sawes.
Ne we fynde writen in no lawis,
And namely in oure Cristen lay,
Whoso seith, ' yhe,' I dar sey, ' nay '
That Crist, ne his apostlis dere,
While that they walkide in erthe heere, 6.550
Were never seen her bred beggyng,
For thev nolden beggen for no thing.
200 TH1 ROMAT7NT OF THE ROSE.
And righl thus was men wont to tcchc ;
And in this wise wolde it preche,
The maistres of divinite*
Somtyme in Parys the citee.
' And if men wolde ther geyn appose
The nakid text, and lete the glose,
It ruyghte soone assoiled be ;
For men may wel the sothe see, 6500
That, panic, they myght aske a thing
Pleynly forth without? begging.
For they weren Goddis herdis decrc,
And cure of soulcs hadden heere,
They nolde no thing begge her fodc ;
For aftir Crist was done on rode,
With her propre handis they wrought?,
And with travel, and ellis nought,
They wonnen alle her sustcnaunce,
And lyveden forth in her penaunce, 6570
And the remenaunt yaf awey
To other poor? folkis alwey.
They neither bilden lour ne halle,
But they in houses smalc with alle.
A myghty man that can and may,
Shulde with his honde and body alway,
Wynne hym his fode in laboring,
If he ne have rent or sich a tiling.
Al-though he be religious.
And God i" serven curious. bsso
Thus mote he done, or do trespas,
But if it be in certeyn cas,
That I can reherce, if myster 1"-.
[light wel, whanne I the tyme se.
• Seke the book of Seynt Austyne,
THE EOMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 201
Be it in papir or perchemyne,
There as he writ of these worchynges,
Thou shalt seen that noon excusynges
A parflt man ne shulde seke
Bi wordis, ne bi dedis eke, 6590
Al-though he be religious,
And God to serven curious,
That he ne shal, so mote I go,
With propre hondis and body also,
Gete his fode in laboryng,
If he ne have proprete of thing.
Yit shulde he selle alle his substaunce,
And with his swynk have sustenaunce,
If he be parfit in bounte.
Thus han tho bookes tolde me : 6600
For he that wole gone ydilly,
And usith it ay fresily
Go haunten other mennes table,
He is a trechour ful of fable,
Ne he ne may, by gode resoun,
Excuse hym by his orisoun.
For men bihoveth, in somme gise,
Ben somtyme in Goddis servise,
To gone and purchasen her nede.
Men mote eten, that is no drede, eeif
And slepe, and eh do other thing,
So longe may they leve praiyng.
So may they eke her praier blynne,
While that they werke her mete to wvnne
Seynt Austyn wole therto accorde,
In thilke book that I recorde.
Justinian eke, that made lawes,
Hath thus forboden by olde dawes :
202 THE BOMATTNT OF THE P>OSE.
• No man, up peyne to be dedc,
Mighty of body, to beggq bia brede. 6820
li' In may swynke it fur to gete ;
Men shulde hym rather mayme or bete,
Or done of hym aperte justice,
Than sufiren hym in such malice.'
■ They done not wel, so mote T go,
That taken such aim esse so,
But if they have spmme pryvelege,,
That of the peyne hem wole allege,
But how that is, can I not sec.
But if the prince disseyved be ; «fir,r>
Ne I ne wene not sikerly.
That they may have it rightfully.
But I wole not determine
I >f prj nces power, ne defyne,
N( by my word comprende. iwys.
If it so ferre may strecche in this.
I wole not entremete a dele ;
But I trowe that the book scith wole.
Who that takith almessis, that be
I >ewe to folk that men may se ewo
Lame, feble, wery, and bare,
Pore, or in such maner care,
That konne wynne hem never mo.
For they have no power therto,
He etith his owne dampnyng,
But if He lye thai oiade al thing.
And if ye such a truaunt fynde,
( ihastise hym wel, if ye be kynde.
Bui they wolde hate you, per cas,
And if ye fillen in her laas. 6650
They wolde eftsoonys do you scathe,
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 203
If that they myghte, late or rathe ;
For they he not fulle pacient,
That han the world thus foule blent,
And witeth wel, that as God bad
The good-man selle al that he hadde,
And folowe hym, and to pore it yeve,
He wolde not therfore that he lyve,
To serven hym in mendience,
For it was nevere his sentence ; 6660
But he bad wirken whanne that neede is,
And folwe hym in goode dedis.
Seynt Poule that loved al hooly chirche,
He bade thappostles for to wirche,
And wynnen her lyflode in that wise,
And hem defendede truaundise,
And seide, ' wirketh with youre honden ;'
Thus shulde the thing be undirstonden.
He nolde, iwys, have bidde hem begging,
Ne sellen gospel, ne prechyng, 6670
Lest they berafte, with her askyng,
Folk of her catel or of her thing.
For in this world is many a man
That yeveth his good, for he ne can
Werne it for shame, or ellis he
Wolde of the asker delyvered be ;
And for he hym encombrith so,
He yeveth hym good to late hym go :
But it can hym no thyng profite,
They lese the yift and the meryte. 6680
The goode folk that Poule to prechede,
Profred hym ofte, whan he hem techedc,
Somme of her good in charite ;
But therfore right no thing toke he ;
204 Tin: ROMAUNT OF the rose.
Bu1 of }iis hondwerk wolde ho getc
Clothes to wryne hym, and his mete.
' Telle mc thanne how a man may lyven,
That, al his good to pore hath yiven,
And wole but oonly bidde his bedis,
And never with hondes laboure his ncdis. ecoo
May he do so?' ' yhe, sir.' ' And how?'
■ Sir, 1 wole gladly telle vow: —
Seynt Austyn seith, a man may be
In houses that han proprete",
As templers and hospitelers,
And as these ohanouns regulers,
<»r white monkes, or these blake,
I wole no mo ensamplis make,
And take therof his sustenyng,
For therynne lyth no begging, 6700
But other weyes not, ywys ;
Yil Aiistvn gabbith not of this.
And yit tulle many a monke laboreth.
That God in hooly ehirche honoun th
For whanne her swynkyng is agone,
They rede and synge in ehirche anone.
• And for ther hath hen gret diseorde,
\s many a wight may bere recorde,
I pen the estate of mendieiens,
I wole shortly, in youre presence, g;io
Telle how a man may begge at nede,
That hath not wherwith hym to ferle,
Maugre his felones jangelyngis,
nesse wole none hidyngis ;
And yit percas I may abeye,
That I to vow sothly thus sew.
Lo heere the caas especial: —
THE ROMATJNT OF THE ROSE. 205
If a man be so bestial,
That he of no craft hath science,
And nought desircth ignorence, 6720
Thanne may he go a begging yerne,
Til he somme maner crafte kan lerne,
Thurgh which, withoute truaundyng,
He may in trouthe have his lyvyng.
Or if he may done no labour,
For elde, or sykenesse, or langour,
Or for his tendre age also,
Thanne may he yit a begging go.
Or if he have peraventure,
Thurgh usage of his norture, 6730
Lyved over deliciously,
Thanne oughten good folk comunly
Han of his myscheef somme pitee,
And suffren hym also, that he^
May gone aboute and begge his breed,
That he be not for hungur deed.
Or if he have of craft kunnyng,
And strengthe also, and desiryng
To wirken, as he hadde what,
But he fynde neithir this ne that, c;io
Thanne may he begge til that he
Have geten his necessite.
Or if his wynnyng be so lite,
That his labour wole not acquyte
Sufficiantly al his lyvyng,
Yit may he go his breed begging ;
Fro dore to dore, he may go trace.
Til he the remenaunt may purchace.
Or if a man wolde undirtake
Ony emprise for to make, 6?50
20G HIE ROM AUNT OF THE ROSE.
In the rescous of oure lay,
Ami it ill fenden as he may.
Be it with armes Or lettmre,
( »r other covenable cure,
[f it be so he pore be,
Thanne may he begge, til that he
May fynde in trouthe for to Bwynke
And gete hym clothe, mete, and drynkc.
Swynke he with his hondis corporelle,
And not with hondis espirituelle. i ; so
In al this caas, and in semblables,
If that ther ben mo resonables,
lie may begge, as 1 telle you heerie,
And ellis nought in no mannv.
As William Seynt Amour wolde preche,
And ofte wolde dispute and teche
Of this mater alio openly
At Parys fnlle solempnely.
And also God my soule bli
As he had in this stedfastnesse 6770
The accorde of the universite,
And of the puple, as semeth me.
" No good man oughtc it to refuse,
\ < ought hym therof to excuse,
Be wrothe or blithe, who-so be ;
For I wole Bpeke, and telle it thee,
Al shulde 1 dye. and be putt doun.
As was seynt Poule, in derke prisoun ;
< »r be exiled in this caas
With wrong, as maister William was. 6780
That my moder Ypoerysie
I oysshed for hir gret envye.
• Mi modir flemed hym, Seynt Amour:
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 207
The noble dide such labour
To susteyne evere the loyalte,
That he to rnoche agilte me.
He made a book, and lete it write,
Wherein his lif he did at write,
And wolde ich reneyede begging,
And lyvede by my traveylyng, 6790
If I ne hadcZe rent ne other goode.
What? wened he that I were woode ?
For labour myghte me never plese,
I have more wille to bene at ese ;
And have wel lever, soth to seye,
Bifore the puple patre and preye,
And wrie me in my foxerie
Under a cope of papelardie.'
Quod Love, 'What devel is this that I heere?
What wordis tellest thou me heere?' esoo
'What, sir? Falsnesse, that apert is.
'Thanne dredist thou not God?' ' No, certis:
For selde in grete thing shal he spede
In this worlde, that God wole drede ;
For folk that hem to vertu yeven,
And truely on her owne lyven,
And hem in goodnesse ay contene,
On hem is lytel thrift z-sene ;
Suche folk drinken gret mysese ;
That lyf ne may me never plese. csio
But se what gold han usurers,
And silver eke in her garners,
Taylagiers, and these monyours,
Bailifs, bedels, provost, countours ;
These lyven wel nygh by ravyne,
The smale puple hem mote enclyne,
208 THE KOM.VUNT OF THE ROSE.
And they as wolves wole hem eten.
Upon the pore folk they geten
Fulle moche of that they spende or kepe;
Nia none of hem that he nyl strepe, 6820
Ami wrine hcm-silfe wel at fulle ;
Without* scaldyng they hem pulle.
The strongc the fehle overgoth ;
But I, that were my symple cloth,
Robbe bothe robbyng and robbours,
Ami gile gihng, and gilours.
By my treget, I gadre and threste •
The grete tresour into my cheste,
That lyth with me so faste bounde.
Myn highe paleys do I founde, C330
And my dehtes 1 fulfille,
With wyne at feestea at my wille,
And tables fulle of entrcmoes ;
I wole no lyf, but ese and pees,
And wynne gold to spende also.
I'm- whanne the grete bagge is go,
It cometh right with my japes.
Make I not wrel tumble myn apes?
To wynnen is alwey myn entente;
My purchace is bettir than my rente;
For though I shulde beten be,
Over al 1 entremete me;
Without* me may no wight dure.
1 walke soules for to cure ;
< if al tin," world cure have I
In hrnle and lcngthe ; boldly
1 wole bothe preche and eke counceilen ;
With hondia wille I not traveilen,
For of the pope I have the bulle.
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 209
I nc holde not my wittes dulle ; esoo
I wole not stynten, in my lyve,
These emperours for to shryve,
Or kyngis, dukis, or lordis grete ;
But pore folk al quyte I lete.
I love no such shryvyng, parde,
But it for other cause be.
I rekke not of pore men,
Her astate is not worth an hen.
Where fyndest thou a swynker of labour
Have me unto his confessour? 6seo
But emperesses, and duchesses,
Thise queenes, and eke countesses,
Thise abbessis, and eke bygyns,
These grete ladyes palasyns,
These joly knyghtis, and baillyves,
Thise nonnes, and thise burgeis wyves,
That riche ben, and eke plesyng,
And thise maidens welfarvnsr,
Wher-so they clad or naked be,
Uncounceiled goth ther noon fro me. s8?o
And, for her soules savete,
At lord and lady, and her meyne,
I axe, whanne thei hem to me shryve,
The proprete of al her lyve,
And make hem trowe, bothe mccst and leest,
Hir paroche prest nys but a beest
Ayens me and my companyc.
That shrewis ben as gret as I ;
For whiche I wole not hide in holde,
No pryvete that me is tolde, 6880
That I by word or signe, y-wis,
Wole make hem knowe what it is,
"VOL. vi. p
210 THE ROMAT7NT OF THE ROSE.
\ml they wolen also tellcn me;
They hele fro me no pryvyte.
Ami for to make yow hem perceyyen,
Thai risen folk thus to disceyven,
] wole you seyn, withouten drede,
What men may in the Gospel rede,
( >t' Seynt Mathew, the gospelere,
That seith, as I shal you sey heere.
• Oppon the chaire of Moj
(Thus is it glosed douteles : —
That is the oLlf 1 est anient.
For ther by is the chaire ment)
■ Sitte scribes and pharisen ;'
(That is to seyn, the cursid men,
Whiche that we ypocritis calle)
' Doth that they preche, I rede you alle,
But doth not as they don a dele.
That ben not wery to seye weir, 6900
But to do wel, no wille have they ;
Ami they woldo bynde on folk al-wev.
That ben to be giled able,
Burdons that ben importable :
On folkes shuldris thinges they couchen.
That they nyl with hor fyngris touchen.'
• And whywole theynot touche it ?'— 'Why?'
For hem ne lyst not, sikirlv ;
For sadde burdons that men taken,
Make folkes shuldris aken. 6910
And if they do ought that good bo.
That is for folk it shulde se :
Her burdons larger maken they,
And make her hemmes wide alwey,
And loven setes at the table
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 211
The firste and most honourable ;
And for to han the firste chaieris
In synagogis, to hem fulle deere is ;
And willen that folk hem loute and grete,
Whanne that they passen thurgh the strete, 6^20
And wolen be cleped Maister also.'
But they ne shulde not willen so ;
The gospel is ther ageyns I gesse :
That shewith wel her wikkidnesse.
' Another custome use we : —
Of hem that wole ayens us be,
We hate hym deedly everichone,
And we wole werrey hym, as oon.
Hym that oon hatith, hate we alle,
And congecte hou to done hym falle. 6930
And if we seen hym wynne honour.
Richesse or preis, thurgh his valour,
Provende, rent, or dignyte,
Fulle fast, iwys, compassen we
Bi what ladder he is clomben so ;
And for to maken hym doun to go,
With traisoun we wole hym defame,
And done hym leese his goode name.
Thus from his ladder we hym take,
And thus his freendis foes we make ; cno
But word ne wite shal he noon,
Tille alle hise freendis ben his foon.
For if we elide it openly,
We myght have blame redily ;
For hadde he wist of oure malice,
He hadde hym kept, but he were nyce.
' Another is this, that if so falle,
That ther be oon amonge us alle
212 THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE.
That doth a good turne, out of ctredc,
We seyn it is oure alder deede. 0930
Yhe, sikerly, though he it feyncde,
Or that hym list, or that hym deynede
A man thurgh hym avaunced be,
Therof alle parseners, be we,
And tellen folk where-so we go,
That man thurgh us is sprongen so.
And for to have of men preysyng,
We purchace, thurgh ourc flateryng,
Of riche men of grel pouste,
Lettres, to witnesse oure bount(;. 6960
Sn that man weneth that may us
That alle vcrtu in us be.
And al-wey pore we us feyne ;
But how-so that we begge or pleyne,
We ben the folk, withoute lesyng,
That alle thing have without havyng ;
Thus be we dred of the puple, iwis.
And gladly my purpos is this : —
I dele with no wight, but he
Have gold and tresour gret plente ; 6970
Her acqueyntaunee wel love 1 ;
This is moche my desire shortly.
I entremete me of brokages,
T make pees and manages,
I am gladly executour,
And many tymes a procuratour ;
I am Bomtyme messager,
That f'allith not to my myster.
And many tymes 1 make enquestes;
Fur me that office not honest is; 6980
To dele with other mennes thing.
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 213
That is to me a gret lykyng.
And if that ye have ought to do
In place that I repeire to,
I shal it speden thurgh my witt,
As soone as ye have told me it.
So that ye serve me to pay.
My servyse shal be youre alway.
But who-so wole chastise me,
Anoon my love lost hath he ; 6990
For I love no man in no gise,
That wole me repreve or chastise ;
But I wolde al folk undirtake,
And of no wight no teching take ;
For I that other folk chastie,
Wole not be taught fro my folie.
* I love noon hermitage more ;
Alle desertes and holtes hore
And grete wodes everichon,
I lete hem to the Baptist John. 7000
I quethe hym quyte, and hym relese
Of Egipt alle the wildirnesse ;
To ferre were alle my mansiouns
Fro citees and goode tounes.
My paleis and myn hous make I
There men may renne ynne openly,
And sey that I the world forsake.
But al amydde I bilde and make
My hous, and swimme and pley therynne
Bet than a fish doth with his fyrine. 7010
Of Antecristes men am I,
Of whiche that Crist seith openly,
They have abit of hoolynesse,
And lvvcn in such wikkedncsse.
214 THE ROM AUNT OF THE ROSE.
Outward lambrea Semen we,
Ftllle of goodneSse and of pitee,
And inward we, withouten fable,
Ben gredy wolves ravysable.
We enviroune bothe londe and se ;
With alle the world werrien we ; 7020
We wole oi'deyne of al thing :
Of folkis good, and her lyvyng.
' If ther be castel or citee
Wherynne that ony begger be.
Al though that they of Milayne were.
For therof ben they blamed there ;
Or if a wight out of mesure,
Wolde lene his gold, and take usure,
For that he is so coveitous ;
Or if he be to leccherous, 7020
Or these that haunte symonye;
Or provost fulle of trecherie,
Or prelat lyvyng jolily,
Or prest that halt his quene hym by,
Or olde horis hostilers,
Or other bawdes or bordillers,
Or elles blamed of ony vice,
Of whiche men shulden done justice :
Bi alle the scyntcs that me pray,
But they defende hem with lamprey, 70-10
With luce, with elys, with samons,
With tendre gees, and with capons,
With tartes, or with chessis fatte,
With deynte flawnes, brode and flatte,
With ealeweis, or with pullaylle,
With cunynges, or with fyne vitaille,
That we undir our clothes wide,
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 215
Maken thurgh oure golet glide ;
Or but he wole do come in haste
Roo venysoun i-bake in paste, 7050
Whether so that he loure or groyne,
He shal have of a corde a loigne,
With whiche men shal hym bynde and lede,
To brenne hym for his synful deede,
That men shulle here hym crie and rore
A myle wey aboute and more.
Or ellis he shal in prisoun dye,
But if he wole oure frendship bye,
Or smerten that that he hath do,
More than his gilt amounteth to. 7060
But and he couthe thurgh his sleght
Do maken up a tour of hight,
Nought rought I whethir of stone or tree,
Or erthe, or turves though it be,
Though it were of no vounde stone,
Wrought with squyre and seantilone,
So that the tour were stuffed welle
With alle richesse temporelle ;
And thanne that he wolde updresse
Engyns, bothe more and lesse, 7070
To cast at us, by every side,
To bere his good<? name wide,
Suchfl sleghtes I shal yow nevene.
Barelles of wyne, by sixe or sevene,
Or gold in sakkis gret plente,
He shulde soone delyvered be.
And if he have noon sich pitaunces,
Late hym study in equipolences,
And late lyes and fallaces,
If that he wolde deserve oure graces, 70«o
216 THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE.
Or we sluil bere hyra such witnesse
Of synne, and of his wrecchidnesse,
And done his loos so wide nunc.
Thai al quyk we shulden hym brenne,
I >r cllis yeve hym suche penaunce,
That is wel wors than the pitaunee.
'For thou shalt never for no thing
Kon knowen a-right by her clothing
The traitours fulle of trecherie,
But thou her werkis can a-spie. 71 90
And ne haddc the good kepyng be
Whilom of the universite,
That kepith the key of Crist endome.
We hadde turmented al and some.
Suche ben the stynkyng prophetis ;
Nya none of hem, that good prophete is ;
For they thurgh wikked entencioun,
The yeer of the inearnaeioun
A thousand and two hundred yeer,
Fyve and fifty, ferther ne nere 710J
Broughten a book, with sory grace,
To yeven ensample in comune place,
That seide thus, though it were fable: —
' This is the gospel perdurable,
That fro the Holy Goost is sent.'
Wel were it worth to bene i-brent.
! titled was in such manere
This book, of which I telle heere.
Ther nas no wight in alle Parys,
Biforne oure lady at parvys, 7110
That they ne myghte buye the boolce,
To copy, it' hem talent toke ;
There myght he se, by gret tresoun,
THE ROMAUNT OF THE HOSE. 217
Fulle many fals eomparisoun : —
' As moche as thurgh his grete myght,
Be it of hete or of lyglit,
The sonno sourmounteth the mone,
That troublere is, and chaungith soone,
And the note kernelle the shelle,
(I scorne not that I yow telle) 7120
Right so withouten ony gile
Sourmounteth this noble evangile,
The word of ony evangelist.'
And to her title they token Crist ;
And many a such eomparisoun,
Of which I make no mencioun,
Mighte men in that booke fyhde,
Who-so coude of hem have mynde.
' The universite, that tho was a-slepe,
Gan for to braide, and taken kepe ; 7130
And at the noys tbe heed upcaste,
Ne never sithen slept it faste,
But up it stert, and armes toko
Ayens this false horrible boke,
Al redy bateil for to make,
And to the jugc the book to take.
But the)* that broughten the boke there,
Hent it anoon awcy for fere ;
They nolde shewe more a dele,
But thenne it kept, and kepen wille, 7U(
Til such a tyme that they ma)- see,
That they so stronge woxen be,
That no wyght may hem wel withstonde,
For by that book they durste not stonde.
Away they gonne it for to bere,
For they ne durste not answere
218 THE ROMATJNT OF THE KOSE.
By exposicioun ne glose
To thai that cleflris wole appose
Ayens the cursednesse, iwys,
That in that book z-writen is. 7i5"
Now wote I not, ne T can not see
What maner eende thai there shal be
Of alA this thai they may hyde ;
Bui yit algate they Bhal abide
Til that they may it bet defende ;
This trowe I best wole be her ende.
' Thus Anteorist abiden we,
For we ben alio of his meyne.
And what man that wide not be so,
Right soone he shal his lyf forgo'. tioo
We wole a puple upon hyrti areyse,
And thurgh oure gilc done hym seise,
And hym on Bharpe speris ryve,
Or other weyes bryilge hym fro lyve,
But if that he wole folowe, iwys,
That in oure book i-writen is.
Thus mych wole oure book signifie',
That while Petre hath maistrie
May never Iohn sheWe welle his myght.
• Now have I you declared right, tito
The menyng of the bark and rynde,
Thai makith the entenciouns blynde.
Bui now at erst I wole bigynne,
To expowne you the pith withynne: —
• * # #
And the senders comprehende,
That cristes lawe wole defende.
And shulde it kepen and mavntencn
Ayens hem that alle sustenen,
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 219
And falsly to the puple techen,
That Iohn bitokeneth hem to prechen, 7180
That ther nys lawe covenable,
But thilke gospel perdurable,
That fro the Holy Gost was sent
To turne folk that ben myswent,
The strengthe of Iohn they undirstonde,
The grace in whiche they seie they stonde,
That doth the synfulle folk converte,
And hem to Ihesu Crist reverte.
' Fulle many another orribilite,
May men in that booke se, 7190
That ben comaunded, douteles,
Ayens the lawe of Rome expres ;
And alle with Antecrist they holden,
As men may in the book biholden.
And thanne comaunden they to sleen,
Alle tho that with Petre been ;
But they shal nevere have that myghte.
And God to-forne, for strif to fighte,
That they ne shal ynough fynde,
That Petres lawe shal have in mynde, 7200
And evere holde, and so mayntene,
That at the last it shal be sene,
That they shal alle come therto,
For ought that they can speke or do.
And thilke lawe shal not stonde,
That they by Iohn have undirstonde,
But maugre hem it shal adowne,
And bene brought to confusioun.
But I wole stynt of this matere,
For it is wonder longe to here ; 7210
But hadde that ilke book endured,
220 Tin: ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE.
Of better estate I were ensured,
Ami freendis have I yit pardee,
That han me sett in gret degre.
• ( If alle this world is emperour
Gyle my fadir, the trechour,
And emperis my moder is,
Maugre the Holy Gost, iwis.
Oure myghty lynage and owre route
Regneth in every regne aboute, 7220
And welle is worthy we mynystres be,
For alle this world governe we,
And ran the folk so wel disceyve,
That noon oure gile can perceyve ;
And though they done, they dar not saye ;
The sothe dar no wight bywreye.
But he in Cristis wrath hym ledith,
That more than Crist my britheren dreditli.
He nys no fulle good champioun,
That dredith such similacioun, 7230
Nor that for peyne wole refusen,
Is to correete and aecusen.
He wole not entremete by right,
Ni' have God in his iye-sight,
And therfore God shal hym punyshe;
But me ne rekke of no vice,
Sit hen men us loven comunabl}',
And holden us for so worthy,
That we may folk rcpreve cchoon,
And we nyl have repref of noon. 724 j
Whom sludden folk worshipen so,
But us that stvnten never mo
To patren while that folk may us see,
I hough it nut so bihvnde be?
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 221
And where is more wode folye,
Than to enhaunce chyvalrie,
And love noble men and gay,
That ioly clothis weren alway?
If they be sich folk as they semen,
So clene, as men her clothis demen, 5350
And that her wordis folowe her dede,
It is gret pite, out of drede,
For they wole be noon ypocritis.
Of hym me thynkcth gret spite is ;
I can not love hym on no side.
But beggers with these hodes wide,
With st?'eight and pale faces lene,
And greye clothis not fulle clene,
But fretted fulle of tatarwagges,
And highe shoos knopped with dagges, 7260
That frouncen lyke a quaile pipe,
Or botis revelyng as a gype ;
To such folk as I you dyvyse,
Shulde princes and these lordis wise,
Take alle her londis and her thingis,
Bothe werre and pees, and governyngis ;
To such folk shulde a prince hym yive,
That wolde his lyf in honour lyve.
And if they be not as they seme,
That serven thus the world to queme, 7270
There wolde I dwelle to disceyve
The folk, for they shal not perceyve.
' But I ne speke in no such wise,
That men shulde humble abit dispise,
So that no pride ther undir be.
No man shulde hate, as thynkith me,
The pore man in sich elothyng.
222 THE ROM AUNT OF THE ROSE.
Bat God nc preisith hym no thing,
That seith he hath the world forsake,
And hath to worldly glorie hym take, 7280
And wole of siche delices use.
Who may that begger wel excuse?
That papelard, that hym yeldith so,
And wole to worldly cse go,
And seith that he the world hath lefte.
And gredily it. grypeth efte,
Ee is the hounde, shame is to seyn,
That to his castyng goth ageyn.
' Rut unto you dar I to lye.
But. myght I felen or aspie, 7290
That ye perceyved it no thyng,
Ye shulde have a stark lesyng,
Right in youre honde thus to bigynne ;
I nokle it lette for no synne.'
The god lough at the wondir tho,
And every wight gan laugh also,
And seide : — ' Lo, heere a man a-right ,
For to be trusty to every Avight ! '
' Fals-semblant,' quod Love, ' sey to me,
Si tli J thus have avaunced thee, 7300
That in my court is thi dwellyng,
And of ribawdis shalt be my kyng,
Wolt thou wel holden my forwordis?'
F. Sem. ' Yhe, sir, from hen?*es forewardis ;
Hadde never youre fadir heere biforne,
Sir vaunt so trewe, sith he was borne.
Amour. 'That is ayens alle nature."
F. Sem. ' Sir, putte you in that aventure ;
For though ye borowes take of me,
The sikerer shal ye never be 73io
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 223
For ostages, ne sikernesse,
Or chartres, for to bere witnesse.
I take youre silf to recorde heere,
That men ne may in no manere
Teren the wolf out of his hide,
Til he be slayn, bak and side,
Though men hym bete and al to-defile ;
What ? wene ye that I wole bigile ?
For I am clothed mekely,
Ther undir is alle my trechery ; 7320
Myn herte chaungith never the mo
For noon abit, in which I go.
Though I have chere of symplenesse,
I am not wery of shrewidnesse.
Myn lemman, streyneth Abstinence,
Ff ath myster of my purveaunce ;
She hadde ful longe a-go be deede,
Nere my councel and my rede ;
Lete hir allone, and you and me.'
And Love answerde, ' I trust thee 7330
Withoute borowe, for I wole noon.'
And Fals-semblant, the theef, anoon,
Ryght in that ilke same place,
That hadde of tresoun al his face
Ryght blak withynne, and white withoute,
Thankith hym, gan on his knees loute.
Thanne was there nought, but ' Every man
Now to assaut, that sailen can,'
Quod Love, ' and that fulle hardyly.'
Thanne armed they hem communly 7340
Of sich armour as to hem felle.
Whanne the?/ were armed fers and felle,
They wente hem forth alle in a route,
224 THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE.
Ami sot the castel :il aboute ;
I hi y wille nought away for no drcdc,
Tille it so be thai they ben dede,
Hr tille they have the castel take.
And foure batels they gan make,
And parted hem in fouro anoon,
And tokc her way, and forth they gone, 7350
The fourc gates for to assaile,
Of whiche the kepers wolc not faile ;
For they ben neithir sike ne dede,
Bui hardy folk, and stronge in dede.
Now wolc I seyn the countynaunce
Of Fals-semblant, and Abstynaunce,
That ben to Wikkid-tonge went.
But first they heelde her parlement,
Whether it to done were,
To maken hem be knowen there, 7360
Or elks walken forth disgised.
But at the lastf they devysed,
That they wolde gone in tapinage,
As it were in a pilgrimage,
Lykc good and hooly folk unfeyned.
And dame Abstinence-streyned
Toke on a robe of kamelyne,
And gan hir graithe as a bygynne.
A large coverechief of threde,
She wrapped alle aboute hir heede, 7370
But she forgate not hir sawter.
A peirc of bedis eke she bcre
I pon a lace, alle of white threde,
On which that she hir bedes bede ;
But she ne boughl hem never a dele,
For they were geven her, I wote wele,
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 225
God wote, of a fulle hooly frere.
That seide he was hir fadir dere,
To whom she hadde of tor went,
Than ony frere of his eovent. 7230
And he visited hir also,
And many a sermoun seide hir to ;
He nolde lctte for man on lj've,
That he ne wolde hir ofte shryve.
[And wyth so gret devotion
They made her confession,
That they had ofte, for the nones,
Two heedes in one hode at ones.
Of fayre shappe I devysed her the,
But pale of face sometyme was she ; 73«o
That false traytouresse untrewe,
Was lyke that salowe horse of hewe,
That in the Apocalips is shewed,
That signyfyeth tAo folke beshrewed,
That bene al ful of trecherye,
And pale, through hypocrisye ;
For on that horse no colour is,
But onely deed and pale, ywys.
Of such a colour enlangoured,
Was Abstinence, ywys, coloured ; 7wo
Of her estate she her repentede,
As her vysage represented^.
She had a burdowne al of thefte,
That Gyle had ycve her of hys yefte ;
And a skryppe of faynte distresse,
That ful was of elengenesse,
And forth she walkede sobrely :
And False-semblaunt saynt, je vous die,
And as it were for such mistere,
VOL. VI. Q
226 THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE.
Done on the cope of a frefe, 74i«
With chere symple, and ful pytous,
11 \> Lookyng was not disdeynous,
Ne proude, but ineke and ful pesyble.
About his necke he bare a Byble,
And Bquierly forth gan he gon;
And tor to reste hys lymflies upon,
J 1 1' had of Treason a potent ;
As he were feble, hys way he werite.
lint, in hys sieve he gan to thrynge
A rasoufe sharpe, and wel bytynge, 7420
That was ('-forged in a forge,
Which that men elepen Coupe-gorge.
So longe forth her waye they nomen,
Tyl they to Wyeked-tonge conun,
That at hys gate was syttyng,
And sawe folke in the way passyng.
The pylgrymes sawe lie taste by
Thai beren hem ful mekely,
And humblefy they wyth hym mette.
Dame Abstinence fyrst hym grette, 74:;u
And syth hym False-semblant saluede,
And he hem ; but he not remeuede,
For he ne dred hem not a dele.
For whan he sawe her laces wele,
Alwaye in herte hym thoughte so,
He shulde kndwe hem bothe two;
For wele he knewe dame Abstynaunce,
But he ne knewe not Constreynaunce.
He ne knewe nat that she was constreyned,
No of her theves lyfe fayned, TJ40
But wende she come of wyl al fie ;
But she come in another degre ;
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 227
And yf of good wyl she beganne,
That wyl i-fayled was her thanne.
And False-semblant had he sene alse,
But he knewe nat that he was false.
Yet false was he, but his falsenesse
Ne coude he not espye, nor gesse ;
For Semblant was so slye wrought,
That falsenesse he ne espyede nought. 7150
But haddest thou knowen hym beforne,
Thow woldest on a boke have sworne,
Whan thou hym saugh in thylke araye
That he, that Avhylome was so gaye,
And of the daunce Joly Robyn,
Was tho become a Jacobyn.
But sothly, what-so men hym calk,
Frere preachours bene goode men alle ;
Her order wyckedly they beren
Such Minstreles, yf they weren. 7460
So bene Augustyns, and Cordylers,
And Carmes, and eke sacked freers,
And alle freres shodde and bare
(Though some of hem bene great and square)
Ful holy men, as I hem deme;
Everyche of hem wolde good man seme.
But shalt thou never of apparence
Sene conclude good consequence
In none argument, ywys,
If existence al fayled is. 7470
For men may fynde alwaye sopheme
The consequence to e/iveneme,
Who-so that hath had the subtelte
The double sentence for to see.
Whan the pylgrymes comen wero
228 THE ROMAUNT OF THE HOSE.
To Wycked-tonge that dwelled there,
(Her harneys nygh hem was algate)
By Wycked-tonge adowne they sate
That bacldc hem nere hym for to come,
And of tidynges telle hym some, 7i«i
And sayde hem :— ' What case maketh yow
To come to this place now?"
' Sir,' sayde Strayned-abstinaunce,
' We, for to drye;t our penaunce,
With hertes pytous and devoutc,
Are commen, as pylgrimes gon about e ;
Wei nygh on fote alway we go ;
Pul donghty ben our heeles two ;
And thus bothe we ben i-sent
Throughoute this worlde that is myswent, 7490
To yevc ensample, and preche also.
To fyshen synful men wc go,
For other fyshynge no fyshe wc.
And, syr, for that charite,
As we be wont, herborowo we crave,
Your lyfe to amende, Christ it save !
And so it shulde you nat displease,
We wolden, yf it were your ease,
A shorte sermon unto you sayne.
And Wickcd-tonge answered agayne, 7500
' The house,5 quod lie, ' such as ye so,
Shal not be warned you for me,
Seyc what you lyst, and I wol here."
' Graunt mercy swete syr dere !'
Quod alderfirst, dame Abstynence,
And thus began she her sentence.
Const. Abstinence. ' Sir, the fyrste vertue,
certayne,
THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE. 229
The greatest, and mooste soverayne
That may be founde in any man,
For havyng, or for wytte he can, 7510
That is hys tonge to rcfrayne ;
Therto ought every wyght him payne.
For it is better styl/e be,
Than for to speken harme, parde !
And he that herkeneth it gladly,
He is no good man sykerly.
And, sir, aboven al other synne,
In that arte thou moost gylty inne.
Thou spake a jape not longe ago,
(And, sir, that was ryght yvel do) 7520
Of a yonge man that here repayrede,
And never yet thys place apayrede.
Thou saydest he awayted nothynge,
But to deceyve Fayre-welcomyng.
Ye sayde nothyng soth of that ;
But, sir, ye lye ; I tel you plat ;
He ne cometh no more, ne goth, parde !
I trowe ye shal hym never se.
Fayre-welcomynge in prison is,
That ofte hath played with you er thys 7530
The fayrest games that he coude,
Without c fylthe styl or loude ;
Nowe dare he not himselfe solace.
Ye han also the man do chase,
That he dare neyther come ne go.
What meveth you to hate hym so,
, But properly your wycked thought,
That many a false leasyng hath thought ?
That meveth youre foole eloquence,
That jangleth ever in audience. 7540
230 THE ROtfAUNT OF THE ROSE.
And "n the folke areyseth blame,
And 'lotli hem dishonour and shame.
For thyng that raaye have no preyyng,
But lykelynesse, and contryyyng.
For 1 dare sayne, that Reason demeth,
It is not al soth thynge that semeth,
And it is synne tP controve
Thynge thai is for to reprove ;
Thys wote ye wele. And, syr, therfore
Ye arne to blame the more. 7550
And, nathlesse, lie rccketh lyte ;
He yeveth nat nowe therof a myte ;
For yf he thoughts harme, parfaye,
Hi wolde come and gone al daye ;
He oourle not himselfe ahstenc.
Nowe eometh he not, and that is sene,
For he no taketh of it no cure,
But yf it be through aventure,
And lasso than other folke algate.
And thou her watchest at the gate, ^560
With Bpeare in thyne arest alwaye ;
Thi re muse, musard, al the daye;
Thou wakest nyght and daye for thought;
Iwvs thy traveyle is for nought.
And Jelosy, withouten fayle,
Shal never quytc the thy travayle.
And skath is that Fayre-wejcpmyng,
Wythoute any trespassyng,
Shal wrongfully in prison be,
There wepeth and languysheth he. 7570
And though thou never yet, ywys,
^gyltest man no more but thys.
(Take not a-greefe) it were worthy
THE ROMA fNT OF THE ROSE. 231
To puMe the out of thys bayly,
And afterwarde in prison lye,
And fettre the tyl that thou dye ;]
For thou shalt for this synne dwelle
Right in the devels ers of helle,
But- if that thou repente thee.'
' Mafay, thou liest falsly !' quod he. 7580
' What ? welcome, with myschaunce nowe !
Have I therfore i-herberd yowe
To seye me shame, and eke reprove ?
With sory happe to youre bihove,
Am I to day youre herbergere !
Go, herber yow elles-where than heere.
That han a Iyer callede me.
Two tregetours art thou and he,
That in myn hous do me this shame,
And for my sothe-saugh ye me blame. 7590
Is this the sermoun that ye make ?
To alle the develles I me take,
Or elles, God, thou me confounde,
But er men diden this castel founde,
It passith not ten daies or twelve,
But it was tolde right to my selve,
And as they seide, right so tolde I,
He kyste the rose pryvyly.
Thus seide I now, and have seid yore ;
I not where he dide ony more. 7600
Why shulde men sey me such a thyng,
If it ne hadde bene gabbyng ?
Ryght so seide I, and wole seye yit ;
I trowe I lied« not of it,
And with my. bemes I wole blowe
To alle neighboris a-rowe,
232 THE ROM A TNT OF THE ROSE.
How lie hath bothc comen and gone'
Tho spake Fals-semblant right anone,
• Alio is not gospel, outc of clout e,
Thai men seyn in the townc aboute ; ;rio
Ley no deef ere to my spekyng,
I swere yow, sir, it is gabbyng.
t trove ye wote vcl certeynly,
That no man loveth hym tenderly,
Thai seith hym harme, if he wote it,
Allc be he never so pore of wit.
And Both it is also sikerly,
This knowe ye, sir, as wcl as I
Thai lovers gladly wolc visiten
The places there her loves habiten. ;
This man yow loveth and eke honoureth ;
This man to serve you laboureth ;
And elepith you his fret nd so deere,
And this man makith you good chere,
And every where that you metcth,
He yow saloweth, and he you greteth.
He preseth not so ofte, that ye
< lught of his come encombred be ;
Ther presen other folk on yow,
Fulle ofter than he doth now. two
And if his herte hym streynede so
Unto the rose for to go,
Ye shulde hym sene so oft*' n< dc,
Thai ye shulde take hym with the dede;
He cowde his comyng not forbere,
Though ye hym thrilled with a spere ;
It nere nol thanne as it is now.
Bui trustith wel, I swere it yow.
That it is clene out of his 1 bought.
THE ROMAUXT OF THE ROSE. 233
Sir, certis, he ne thenkith it nought ; 7610
No more ne doth Faire-welcomyng,
That sore abieth al this thing.
And if they were of oon assent,
Fulle soone were the rose hent,
The maugre youres, wolde be.
And sir, of 0 thing herkeneth me : —
Sith ye this man, that loveth yow,
Han scid such harme and shame, now
Witcth wel, if he gessed it,
Yc may wel demen in youre wit, 7W0
He nolde no thyng love you so,
Ne callen you his freende also,
But nyght and day he wole wake,
The castelle to destroie and take
If it were soth, as ye devise ;
Or some man in some maner wise
Might it warne hym everydele,
Or by hym-silf perceyven wele.
For sith he myghte not eome and gone
As he was whilom wont to done, 7660
He myght it sone wite and see ;
But now alle other Avise wotc he.
Thanne have ye sir, al outerly
Deserved helle, and jolyly
The dcth of helle douteles,
That thrallen folk so gilteles.'
Fals-semblant proveth so this thing,
That he can noon answeryng,
And seth alwey such apparaunce,
That nygh he fel in repentaunce, 7670
And seide hym : — ' Sir, it may wel be.
Semblant, a good man semen ye ;
234 THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE.
And, Abstinence, fulle wise ye semej
Of o talenl you bothe I derae.
Whal counceil wole ye tp me yeven ?'
' Ryghl heere anoon thou Bhall be shryven
And aey thy synne withoute more;
( If this shalt thou repente sore ;
For I am prest, and have pouste*,
To shryve folk of most djgnyte 7680
That ben as wide as world may dure.
Of alle this world I have the cure,
And thai hadde never 3 il persoun,
Ne dearie of no maner toun.
And, God wote, 1 have of the-,
A thosand tvme more pitee,
Than hath thi preest parochial.
Though he thy freend be special.
I have avauntage, in 0 wise,
That yourc prelatis ben not so wise, 7690
Nfe half so lettred as am I.
I am licenced boldely,
[In divinitie for to rede,
And to confessen, out of drede.
[f ye wolle you nowe confess* ,
And leave your synnes more and lesse,
Without abode, knele downe anon,
And ye shal have absolueion.']
EXPLICIT.
COMPLAYNTE OF A LOYERES LYFE;
OR, THE COMPLAINT OF THE
BLACK KNIGHT.
■ N May, when Flora, the fresshe lusty
quene,
The soyle hath clad in grene, rede, and
white ;
And Phebus gan to shede his stremes shene
Amyd the Bole, wyth al the hemes bryghte ;
And Lucifer, to chace awey the nyghte,
Ayen the morowe our orysont hath take.
To hydde loveres oute of her slepe awake,
n.
And hertys hevy for to recomforte
From dreryhed of hevy nyghtis sorowe,
Nature bad hem ryse, and hem disporte, 10
Ageyn the goodly glade greye morowe ;
And Hope also, with seint Johan to borowe,
Bad in dispite of daunger and dispeyre,
For to take the holsome lusty eyre.
236 COMPLATNTE OF A LOYERES LIFE.
TIT.
And wyth a sygh I gan for to abreyde
(Mil of my slombre, and sodenly out stcrtc,
\> lie. alas ! that nygh for sorowc deyde,
My sekenes sat ay so nygh myn herte,
But for to fyndc socourc of my smerte,
Or atte lest summe release of my peyn, 20
That me so sore halt in every veyn,
IV.
I rose anon, ami thoghl 1 wolde goon
Into the wode, to here the briddes singe,
When that the mysty vapour was agoon,
And clere and feyre was the morownyng ;
Tin1 dewe also lyk sylver in shynynge
Upon the leves, as any baume swete,
Til firy Tytan with hys persaunt hete
v.
Ka&de dried up the lusty lycour nywc,
Upon the herbes in the grene mede, 00
And that the floures of many dyvers hywe,
Upon the stalkes gunne for to sprcde,
And for to splay out her leves on brede
Vgeyn the sunne, goldc-borned in hys spere,
That doun to hem caste hys hemes clere.
VI.
And by a ryver forth I gan costey,
< If water clere as berel or cristal,
Til at the last [ founde a lytil wey,
Towarde a parke, enclosed with a wal
In compas rounde, and by a gate smal, 40
Who-so that wolde frely myghte goon,
Into this parke. walled with grene stoon.
COMPLATNTE OF A LOVERES LYFE. 237
TTII.
And in I went to here the briddes songe,
Which on the braunches, bothe in pleyn and vale,
So loude songe that al the icocle ronge,
Lyke as hyt sholde shever in pesis smale ;
And as me thoghte, that the nyghtyngale
Wyth so grete myght her voyse gan out wreste
Ryght as her herte for love wolde breste.
VIII.
The soyle was pleyne, smothe, and wonder softe,
Al oversprad with tapites that Nature 51
Hadde made her selfe ; celured eke alofte
With bowys grene, the flcmres for to cure,
That in her beaute they may longe endure
Fro al assaute of Phebus fervent fere,
Which in his spere so hote shone and clere.
IX.
The eyre atempre, and the smothe wynde
Of Zepherus, amonge the blosmes whyte,
So holsomme was, and so nourysshing be kynde,
That smale buddes, and rounde blomes lyte, co
In maner gan of her brethe delyte,
To yif us hope her frute shal take
Ayens autumpne, redy for to shake.
x.
I sawe ther Daphene closed under rynde,
Grene laurer, and the holsomme pyne,
The myrre also that wepeth ever of kynde,
The cedres high, upryght as a lyne,
The philbert eke, that lowe dothe enclyne
Her bowes grene to the erthe doune,
Unto her knyght ycalled Demophoune. 70
238 COMPLAYNTE OF A LOVERES I.YFE.
XI.
There saw 1 eke the fressh hawthorne
In while motele, thai bo Boote doth smelle,
Asshe, firre, and oke, with many a yonge acorne,
And many a tfe mo then 1 can telle;
And me beforne I sawe a litel welle,
That had his course, as I gan tho behblde,
Under an hille, with quyke Btremes colde.
XII.
The gravel gold, the water pure as glas,
The bankys rounde, the welle environyng,
Ami Bofte as Velvet the yonge gr so
That thereupon fnl lustely gab sprynge,
The sute of trees aboute compassyng
Her shadowe caste, closyng the welfe rounde,
And al the herbes grouyng on the grbunde.
XIII.
The water was so holsom so vertuous,
Throgh myghte of herbes grouynge ther beside ;
lyche the welle wher as Narcissus
Yslayn was throgh rengeauftce of Cupide,
Wher bo covertely he did aftide
The greyn of cruel deth upon eche brynke, 90
That deth mot folowe, who that ever drvnke.
XIV.
N< lyche the pitte bf the Pegace,
Under Pernaso, wher poetys slepti;
Nor lyke the welle of pure chastite,
Whiche as Dyane with her nymphes kepte,
W hen she naked into the water lepte,
That alowe Acteon with his houndes felle,
Uonly for he cam so nygh the welle.
COMPLAYNTE OF A LO VERES LYFE. 239
XV.
But this welle that I her of reherse
So holsom was, that hyt wolde aswage 1C0
Bollyn hertis, and the venym perse
Of pensifhede, with al the cruel rage,
And evermore refresshe the visage
Of hem that were in eriy werynesse
Of gret labour, or fallen in distresse.-
XVI.
And I that throgh daungere and disdeyn,
So drye a-thruste, thoght I wolde assays
To tast a draght of this welle or tweyn,
My bitter langour yf hyt myght alaye,
And on the banke anon adoune I lay, no
And with myn hede unto the welle I raghte,
And of the water dranke I a good draghte.
XVII.
Wherof me thoght I was refresshed wel
Of the brynnyng that sate so nyghe my herte,
That verely anon I gan to fele
An huge part relesed of my smerte ;
And therewithalle anoon up I sterte,
And thoght I -\volde walkeft and se more,
Forth in the parke and in the holtys hore.
XVIII.
And thorgh a launde as I yede apace, 120
And gan aboute faste to beholde,
I fonde anon a delytable place,
That was beset with trees yong and olde,
Whos names her for me shal not be tolde,
Amyde of whiche stode an erber grene.
That benched was with turves nywe and clenc.
210 COMPLAYNTE OF A LOVERES LYFE.
XIX.
This hi rber was ful of flourea ofinde,
lulu tho whiche as I beholde g
rex an hulfere and a wodebynde,
As I was war. 1 sawe ther lye a man imj
In blake and white colour, pale and wan,
And wonder dedely also of his hiwe,
Of hurtes grene, and frcsshc woundes nywe.
XX.
And overmore destreyned with sekenesse
I'" syde al this he was ful grevously,
For upon him lie had a hote aecesse,
That day ho day him shoke ful petously,
So that I'm- constrcynyng of hys malady.
And hiTt.ly wo, thus lyinge al alone,
It was a deth lor to so here hym grone. no
XXI.
Wherof astonied my fotc I gan withdrawe,
Gretly wondring what, hit myghte be,
That he so lay and hadde no felowe,
v that F coude no wyght with him so;
Wherof 1 hadefe routhe, and eke pite,
And gan anon, so softly as I coude,
Amonge the busshes me prively to shroude ;
xxn.
If that I myght in eny wise aspye,
What Mas the cause of his dedely WO >,
< lr why that he so pitously gan crie iso
< In hys fortune, and on cure also,
With al my myght I leyde an ere to,
Every worde to marke what he sayede,
Out of his swogh among as he abreyde.
COMPLAYNTE OF A LOYERES LYFE. 241
XXI II.
But first, yf I shal make mensyoun
Of hys persone, and pleynly him discrive,
He was in sothe, without excepcioun,
To speke of manhod, oon the best on lyve ;
Ther may no man ayeines trouthe stryve,
For of hys tyme, and of his age also, 160
He proved was, ther men shuld have ado.
xxiv.
For oon the beste, ther of brede and lengthe
!So wel ymade by good proporsioun,
Yf he hadde be in his delyver strengthe ;
But thoght and sekenesse wer occasion
That he thus lay in lamcntacioun
Gruffe on the grounde, in place desolate,
Sole by hymself, awaped and amate.
xxv.
And for me semeth that hit ys fyttyng
His wordes alle to put in remembraunce, 170
To me that herde al his compleynyng
And alk the grounde of his woful chaunce,
Yf therwithal I may yow do plesaunce,
I wol to yow so as I can anone,
Lych as he seyde, rehersera everychone.
XXVI.
But who shal now helpe me for to compleyne ?
Or who shal now my stile guy or lede ?
0 Nyobe, let now thi teres reyne
Into my penne, and eke helpe in this nede !
Thou woful Mirre that felist my herte blede iso
Of pitouse wo, and my honde eke quake,
When that T write, for this mannys sake.
VOL. VI. k
242 COMPLAYNTE OF A LOVERES LTFE.
wvir.
For nnio wo acordeth compleynyng,
\nd delful chere unto hevynesae;
To si. row also, sighing and wepyng,
And pitouae morenyng unto drerynesso 5
\i)d whoso that shal miteno/diitresse,
In partye nedeth to knowe felyngly
Cause and rote of ail auche malady.
wvrn.
Bui I alaa! that am ofwytte but dulle, ioo
And have no knowyng of such matere,
For to diacryve, and wryten at the fulle
The woful compleynt, which that ye .shul here,
But. even-like as doth a skryvenere,
That can no more what that he shal write,
But as his maister beside dothe endyte ;
XXIX.
Ryght so fare I, that of no scntement
Sey ryght naught in eonclusioun,
But as I herde, when I was present,
This man eompleyne wyth a pytouse soun ; 200
For even-lych, wythout addisyoun,
( >r diaencrese, outher mor or lesse,
For to reherae anon I wol me dresse.
XXX.
And yf that any now be in tin's place,
That fele in love brennyng or ferv< nee.
Or hyndered were to his lady graee,
With false tonges, that with peetilence
Sle trewe men that never did offem te
In worde n< r dede, ne in here entcnt. —
If any such? be here now present. 210
COMPLAYNTE OF A LOVERES LYFE. 243
XXXI.
Let hym of routhe ley to audyence,
With deleful chere, and sobre countenaunce,
To here this man, be ful high sentence.
His mortal wo, and his grete perturbaunce
Compleynyng, now lying in a traunce,
With loke upcast, and with ful reuful chere
Theffcct of which*? was as ye shal here.
COMPLEYNT.
XXXII.
* The thought oppressed with' inward sighes sore,
The peynful lyve, the body langwysshing,
The woful gost, the herte rent and tore, 220
The pitouse chere pale in compleynyng,
The dedely face, lyke asshes in shynyng,
The salte teres that fro myn yen falle,
Parcel declared grounde of my peynes alio.
XXXIII.
' Whos hert ys Sounde to blede on hevynesse ;
The thoght resseyt of woo and of compleynt ;
The brest is chest of dule and drerynesse ;
The body eke so feble and so feynt,
With hote and colde my acces ys so meynt,
That now I shyver for defaute of hete, 230
And hote as glede now soaenly I suete.
XXXIT.
' Now hote as fire, now colde as asshes dede,
Now hote for colde, noio cold for hete ageyn,
Now cold as ise, now as coles rede
For hete I bren ; and thus betwexe tweyn
I possed am, and al forecast in peyn,
So that my hete pleynly as I fele
Of grevouse colde ys cause every dele.
244 COMPLATNTE OF A LOVERES LYFE.
xxxv.
'This ys the colde thai ofynwarde high dysdcyn,
Colde of dvspito, mill colde of cruel hate; 240
This is the colde thai evere doth his besy peyn,
Ayenes trouthe to fight and to debate;
This ys the colde that woldc the fire abate
( >f trewe menyng, alas, the harde while !
This ys the colde that wil me begile.
XXXYT.
' For evere the better thai in trouthe I mente,
With al my myghte feythfully to serve,
With In ri and al/e to be dilygente,
The lesse thanke, alas ! I can deserve :
Thus for my trouthe Daungcr doth me sterve ; 250
For oon that shulde my deth of mercie lette,
Hath made dispite new his swerde to wheMe
XXXVII.
' Ayens me, and his arowes to file.
To take vengeaunce of wilful cruelte;
And tonges false throgh her sleghtly wile,
Han gonnc a werre that wel not stynted be ;
And fals Envye, Wrathe, and Enemyte,
Have conspired ayens al ryght and lawe,
Of her malis. that Trouthe shal be slawe.
xxxvni.
• And Malebouche gan first the tale telle,
The sclaundre Trouthe of indignacioun.
And F;ils-r. port so loudc ronge the bellej
Thai M\ beleve and Fals-suspecioun
Have Trouthe brought to hys dampnacioun,
E ■ 1 hat. alas ! wrongfully he dyeth,
And Falsnes now his place occupieth,
COMPLAYNTE OF A LOVERES LIFE. 245
XXXIX.
' And entree! ys into Trouthes londe,
And hath therof the ful possessyoun.
0, ryghtful God ! that first the trouthe fonde,
How may thou suffre such oppressioun, 270
That Falshed shuld have jurysdixioun.
In Trouthes ryght, to sle him gilteles ?
In his fraunchise he may not lyve in pes.
XL.
' Falsly accused, and of his foon forjuged,
Without ansuere, while he was absent,
He damned was, and may not ben excused,
For Cruelte satte in jugement,
Of Hastynesse without avisement,
And bad Disdeyn do execute anoon
His jugement in presence of hys foon. 2S0
XLI.
' Atturney noon ne may admytted ben
To excuse Trouthe, ne a worde to speke ;
To Feyth or Othe the juge list not sen,
There ys no geyn but he wil be i-wreke.
0, Lorde of trouthe ! to the I calle and clepe,
How majr thou se thus in thy presence,
Withoute mercy, mordred Innocence ?
XLII.
' Now God that art of trouthe sovereyn,
And seest how I lye for trouthe bounde,
So sore knytte in loves firy cheyn, 2s>o
Even at the deth, throgh girt wyth mony a woundc,
That lykly are never for to sounde,
And for my trouth am damned to the dethe,
And noght abide, but drawe alonge the brethe :
246 COMPLArNTE OF A LOVKRK8 LITE.
XLIll.
• Consider and se in thyn eternal Bight,
How that niyn hertg professed whilom was,
For to be trewe with al my (vile myght,
i '-nly to oon the whiche now, alas!
Of volunte, withoute more trespas,
M\n accusurs hath taken unto grace, 300
And cherissheth hem my deth to purchace.
XI, I \ .
' What meneth this? what ys this wonder ure
Of purveyance, yf that i shal hit calle,
Of god of love, that fals hem so assure,
And trew, alas! doun of the whele be falle?
And yet in sothe this is the worst of alle,
That Falshed wrongfully of Trouthe hath the name.
And Troutheayenwarde of Falshedbereth the blame.
xxv.
'This blynde chaunce, this stormy avunture,
In love hath most his experience, ;no
For who that doth with trouthe most his cure,
Shal for his mede t'yndo most offence,
That serveth love with al his diligence :
For who can feyne under loulyhede,
Ne fayleth not u> fynde -rare and spede.
SLVI.
' For 1 loved oon lid longe sythe agoon,
With al my herte, body and Mle myght.
And to be ded my herte can not goon
From hi,. h. >;.. hut holde that lie hath hight ;
Thogh 1 be banysshed out of her syght, 320
And by her mouthe damned that I shal deye,
Unto my beheste yet 1 wil ever obeye.
COMPLAYNTE OF A LOVERES LYFE. 247
XLVII.
' For evere sithe that the worlde began,
Who-so lyste loke and in storie rede.
He shal ay fynde that the trewe man
Was put abake, whereas the falshede
Yfurthered was : for Love taketh non hede
To sle the trewe, and hath of hem no charge,
Wher as the false goth frely at her large.
xxvni.
' I take recorde of Palamides, 330
The trewe man, the noble worthy knyght.
That ever loved, and of hys peyne no relese ;
Notwithstondyng his manhode and his myght,
Love unto him dide ful grete unright,
For ay the bette he did in chevalrye,
The more he was i-hindred by envye.
XLIX.
' And aye the bette he dyd in every place,
Throgh his knyghthode and besy peyne,
The ferther was he fro his ladys grace,
For to her mercie myght he never ateyne, 340
And to his deth he coude hyt not refreyne
For no daunger, but ay obey and serve,
As he best coude, pleynly til he sterve.
L.
' What was the fyne also of Ercules,
For al his conquest and his worthynesse,
That was of strengthe alone pereles ?
For lyke as bokes of him list expresse,
He set pileres, throgh his highe prowesse,
Away at Cades, for to signifie,
That no man myght him passe in chevalrie. 350
248 COMPLATNTE OF A LOVERES LTFE
II.
' The whiche pilers ben ferre bvyonde Ynde
Beset of goldc. for a remembraunce :
Ami for ul that was hf sete behynde,
With hem that Love list febly to avaunce;
For he him set laste upon a daunce,
Ayens whom helpe may not stryve,
For al his trouthe yet he lost his lyve.
LII.
' Phebus also for his persaunt lyght,
When that he wenl her in erthe lowe,
Unto the herte vnthfresshe Venus sight aeo
Ywounded was. throgh Cupides bowe,
And yet his lady list him not to knowe ;
Thogh for her love his herte dide blede,
She let him go, and toke of him non hede.
Lin.
' What shal I say of yonge Piramus?
Of trewe Tristram, tor all his highc renoune?
< >!' Achilles, or of Antonyws?
Of Arcite, or of him Palemoune?
What was the ende of her passioune,
Bu1 after sorowe ilethe, and then her grave? 370
Lo, here the guerdon that thes lovers have !
LIV.
' But false Jasoun with his doublenesse,
That was untrewe at Colkos to Mede,
And Tercus, rote of unkyndenesse,
Ami with these two eke the fals Ene ;
Lo, thus the false, ay in oon degre,
Bad in love her lust and al her wille,
And save talshed, ther was non other skille.
COMPLAOTE OF A LOVERES LYFE. 249
LV.
' Of Thebes eke the fals Arcite,
And Demophon eke for his slouthe, sso
They had her lust and al that myghte delyte,
For al her falshede and grete untrouthe.
Thus ever Love, alas, and that is routhe !
His false legys furthereth what he may,
And sleeth the trewe, ungoocZly, day be day.
lvi.
' For trewe Adon i-slayn was with the bore
Amyde the forest in the grene shade,
For Venus love he felt al the sore ;
But Vulcanus with her no mercy made,
The foule chorle hadde many nyghtis glade, 390
Wher Mars, her worthy knyght, her trewe man.
To fynde mercy comfort noon he can.
XVII.
' Also the yongc fressh Ipomones,
So lusty fre as of his corage,
That for to serve with al his herte dies
Athalant, so feire of her visage ;
But Love alas quyte him so his wage
With cruel daunger pleynly at the laste,
That with the dethe guerdonlesse he paste.
LVIII.
' Lo, her the fyne of lovers servise ! 400
Lo, how that Love can his servantis quyte !
Lo, how he can his feythful men dispise,
To sle the trewe men, and false to respite !
Lo, how he doth the swerde of sorowe bvte
In hertis, suche as most his lust obeye.
To save the fals and do the trewe deye !
I COMPLATNTB 61 A LOVERES LYFE.
• For feythe nor othe, worde, ne assuraunee,
Trewe menyng, awayte, or besynesee.
Stil porte, ne feythful attendaunce,
Manhode ne myght, in armes worthinesse, 410
Pursute of wurship< nor high prouesse,
In Btraunge londe rydinge ne travayle,
Ful iyte, or noght, in love dothe avayle.
LX.
• Peril of dethe, nother in se ne londe,
Hungre ne thruBt, sorowe ne sekenesse.
Ne grete emprises for to take on honde.
Shedyng of blode, ne manful hardynesse,
Nor ofte woundynge at sawtes by distresse,
Nor in partyng of lyfe nor dethe also,
A I ys for noghte, Love taketh non hede therto. m
LXT.
'But lesyngea with her falsi Baterye,
Throgh her falshed, and with her doublenesse.
With talcs new. and mony f'eyned lye,
By false-semblaunce, and contrefet humblessci,
Under colour depeynl with Btedfastneaae,
With fraude covred under a pitouse face.
sept< ben now rathesl unto grace.
i.\n.
• Ami can hemselfe now besl magnifle
With feyned port and/afe presumpBioun ;
They haunce her cause with false surquedrie, 430
Under menyng of double entencioun,
To thenken oon in her opinyoun,
And Bey another, to Bel hemselve alofte,
And hynder trouthe, as hit ys seyn ful ofte.
COMPLAYInTE OF A LO VERES LYFE. 251
LXIII.
' The whiche thing I bye now al to dere,
Thanked be Venus, and the god Cupide !
As hit is seen by myn oppressed chere,
And by his arowes that stiken in my syde,
That safe the dethe I nothing abide
Fro day to day, alas, the harde while ! 440
Whan evere hys dart that hym list to fyle,
LXIV.
' My woful herte for to ryve atwo,
For faute of mercye, and lake of pite
Of her that causeth al my peyn and woo.
And list not ones of grace for to see
Unto my trouthe throgh her cruelte ;
And most of al if that I me compleyne,
Tha/i hath she joy to laughen at my peyne.
LXV.
' And wilfully hath she my dethe sworne,
Al gilteles, and wote no cause why, 45a
Safe for the trouthe that I have hade aforne
1
To her allone to serve feythfully.
0 God of Love ! unto the I crie,
And to thy blende double deyte
Of this grete wrong I compleyne me,
LXVI.
' And unto thy stormy wilful variaunce,
Ymeynt with chaunge and gret unstable«esse.
Now up, now down, so rennyng is thy chance,
That the to trust may be no sikernesse ;
1 wite hit nothinge but thi doublenesse, 4tiu
And who that is an archer, and ys blende,
Marketh nothing, but sheteth as he wend.
252 COMPLAYNTE OF A LOVERES LTFE.
LXVII.
• And for thai he hath no discrecioun,
Withoute avise he let his arowe goo,
For lak of syght, and also of resoun,
In his shetyng hit happeth ofte soo,
To hurt his frende rathir then his foo ;
S i doth this god with his sharpe flon,
The trewe Bleeth, and leteth the false gun.
l.wnr.
• And of his woundyng this is the worst ofalle, 470
Whan he hurteth he dothe so cruel wreche,
And maketh the seke for to erie and ealle
( oto his foo for to ben his leche,
And hard hit is for a man to seehe,
Upon the poynt of dethe in jepardie,
Unto Ins foo to fynde remedye.
LXIX.
' Thus fareth hit now even by me,
That to my foo that vat' my hert a wounde,
Mol axe grace, mercy, and pite,
And namely ther wher noon may be founde ; 430
For mnv my sore my leche wol confounde,
And god of kynde so hath set myn ure,
My lyves foo to have my wounde in cure.
LXX.
' Alas ilic while now that 1 was borne!
I ':• that 1 ever saugh the brightesonne !
For now I se that f'ul longe aforne,
Or 1 was borne, my destanye was sponnc
Bj Parcaa sustren, to sir me if they conne,
For th.v my dethe Bhopen or my sherte,
Oonly for trouthe, 1 may hit not asterte. 490
COMPLAYNTE OF A LOVERES LYFE. 253
LXXI.
' The myghty goddesse also of Nature,
That under God hath the governaunce
Of worldly thinges commytted to her cure,
Disposed hath, ihvor/h her wyse purveaunce,
To yive my lady so moche suffisaunce,
Of alle vertues, and therewithal purvyde
To mordre trouthe, hath taken Daunger to guydc.
LXXII.
' For bounte, bcautc, shappe, and semelyhed,
Prudence, witte, passyngly fairenesse,
Benigne port, glad chere, with loulyhed, 500
Of womanhede ryght plenteous largesse,
Nature in her fully did empresse,
Whan she her wroght, and altherlast Dysdeyne,
To hinder trouthe, she made her chambreleyne.
LXXIII.
'When Mystrust also, and Fals-suspecioun,
With Mysbeleve she made for to be
Chefe of counseyle, to this conclusioun.
For to exile Trouthe, and eke Pite.
Out of her court to make Mercie fle,
So that Dispite now holdeth forth her reyne, sio
Throgh hasty beleve of tales that men f eyne.
LXXTV.
' And thus I am for my trouthe, alas !
Mordred and slayn with wordis sharp and kene,
Gilteles, God wote, of alle trespas,
And lye and blede upon this colde grcne.
Now mercie, suete ! mercye, my lyves quene !
And to youre grace of mercie yet I preye,
In youre servise that your man may dove.
254 OOMPLATNTE OF A LOTERES LIFE.
r.xxv.
' But and so be that I shal deye algate,
And that I shal non other mercye have, 530
Yet of my dethe let this be the date,
That by youre wille 1 was broght to my grave,
Er haately, yf that yoio list me save,
My Bharpe woundcs that ake so and blede,
Of mereie charme, and also of womanhede.
I, XXVI.
' For other charme pleynly ys ther noon,
But only mereie, to helpe in this case ;
For thogh my wounde blede evere in oon,
My lyve, my deth, stont in your grace,
And thogh my gilte be nothing, alas ! 530
1 axe mereie in al my best entente,
Redy to dye. yf that ye assente.
LXXVII.
• For ther ayencs shal I never strive
In worde ne werke, pleynly I ne may,
For lever I have then to be alyve
To dye sothely. and hit be her to pay ;
Ye, thogh hit be this eche same clay.
( »r when that ever her luste to devysc,
Sufficeth me to dye in your servise.
LXXVIII.
• And ( Sod, that knowestthe thoght of every wyght
ht as hit is, in every thing thou maisl sc, . li
ere I dye, with al my ful/e myght,
Louly I preye to graunte unto me,
That ye, g lly, feire, fressh, and fre,
Which sle me oonly for defaut of routhe,
Kr th<n I die, may knowe my trouthe.
COMPLAYNTE OF A LOYERES LYFE. 255
LXXIX.
' For that in sothe sufficethe unto me,
If she hit know in every circumstaunce,
And after I am wel apayd that she
Yf that her lyst of deth to do vengeaunee 550
Unto me, that am under her legeaunce,
Hit sitte me not her doom to dysobeye ;
But at her luste wilfully to deye.
1XXX.
< Withoute gruching or rebellioun,
In wil or worde, holy I assent,
Or eny maner contradixioun,
Fully to be at her eommaundement ;
And yf I dyere, in my testament
My hert I send, and my spirit also,
What-so-ever she list with hem to do. 56i
LXXXI.
1 And alderlast wnto her womanhede.
And to her mercy me I recommaunde,
That lye now here betwexe hope and drede,
Abyding pleynly what she list eommaunde ;
For utterly this nys no demaunde
Welcome to me while me lasteth brethe,
Ryght at her chose, wher hit be lyf or dethe.
LXXXII.
1 In this mater more what myght I seyn,
Sith in her honde and in her wille ys alle,
Bothe lyf and dethe, my joy, and al my peyn 5 570
And fynally my heste holde I shal,
Til my spirit, be destanye fatol,
When that her liste fro my body wende,
Have here my troutbe, and thus I make an ende.'
256 COMPLATNTE OF A LOVERES LYFE.
LXXXIII.
And with that worde he gan siken as sore,
Lyke as his herte ryve woldc atweyne,
And holde his pese, and spake a worde no more;
lint for to se his woo and mortal peyng,
The teres uonne fro myn eyen reyne
l'ul pitously, for verry inwarde routhc, 530
Thai 1 hym sawe so languysshing for his trout lie.
I.W \1V
And al this while my self I kepte close
Amonge the bowes, and my self gan hide,
Til at the 1 ist the woful man arose,
And to a logge went e t her besyde,
Win r al the May his custom was to abyde,
Sole to complcym// of his peynes kene,
Fro yer to ycr, under the bowes grene.
I WXY.
And for because that hit drowe to the nyght,
And that the sunne his arke diurnal/e,
Ypassed was, so that his persaunt lyght,
His bryghte brines and his stremes alle
Were in the wawes of the water falle,
Under the bordure of our ocean,
His chare of golde his course so swyftly ran
LXXXVI.
And while the twilyght and the rowes rede
1 »f Phebus lyght were deaurat a lite,
A penne I toke, and gan me faste spede,
The woful pleynt of thi//v man to write
Worde be worde, as he dyd endyte ; e 0
Lyke as I herde, and coude hem tho reporte,
I have here si t, yoxir hertis to dysporte.
COMPLAYNTE OF A LOVEBES LYFE. 257
LXXXVII.
If oght be mys, leyth the wite on me,
For I am worthy for to bere the blame,
If eny thing i-mysreported be,
To make this ditie for to seme lame
Throgh myn unkunnyng, but for to seme the same.
Lyke as this man his compleynt did expresse,
I axe mercie and foryevenesse.
Lxxxvur.
And, as I wrote, me thoght I sawe aferre, eio
Fer in the weste lustely appere
Esperus, the goodly bryghte sterre,
So glad, so feire, so persaunt eke of chere,
I mene Venus with her bemys clere,
That hevy hertis oonly to releve
Is wont of custom for to shewe at eve.
LXXXIX.
And I as faste fel doun on my kne,
And even thus to her I gan to preie :
' 0 lady Venus ! so feire upon to se,
Let not this man for his trouthe deye, 620
For that joy thou haddest when thou leye
With Mars thi knyght, when Vulcanus yaw founde.
And with a cheyne unvisible yow bounde.
xc.
< Togedre bothe tweyne in the same while,
That al the court above celestial,
At youre shame gan laughe and smyle :
0, feire lady, wel willy founde at al !
Comfort to carefull, 0 goddesse immortal !
Be helpyng now, and do thy diligence,
To let the stremes of thin influence 630
vol. vi. s
258 COMPLAYNTE OF A LOVERES LIFE.
xci.
' Dcsccndc doune, in furtheryng of tho troutho,
Namely of hem that bo in sorowo bounde;
Shew now thy myght, and on her wo have routhe,
Er false Daunger ale horn and eonfounde:
And special; let thy myght be founde
For i" Bocoure, what-so thai thou may.
The trewe man that in the erber lay.
xcn.
• And al/c trewe further for his sake,
( > glade sterrc ! 0 lady Venus myn !
And c<n/.<e Ms lady Mm to grace take; 640
Her licit of stele to mercy so enclyne,
Er that thy bemes go up to dcclync,
And er that thou now go fro us adoune,
For that love thou haddest to Adoun.'
xcm.
And when thai she was goon unto her reste.
I rose anon, and home to bedrfe wentr.
For verry wery, me thoght hit for the best?.
Preying thus in alle my best entente,
That n\le trewe, that be with Daunger shent,
With mercie may, in reles of her peyn, 650
Recured be, er May come eft ayeyn.
XC'IV.
And for that I ne may noo longer wake,
Farewel, ye lovers alfe that be trewe!
Praying to God, and thus my leve I take,
That er the sunne to morowe bo rysc newo,
And er he have ayen his roscn hewe,
Thai eche of yow may have such a grace,
His oune lady in armes to embrace.
COMPLAINTE OF A LOVEJRES LYFE. 259
xcv.
I mene thus, that in al honeste,
Withoute more ye may togedie speke 660
What so yow liste at goode liberte,
That eche may to other her hertc breke,
On Jelosie oonly to be iwreke,
That hath so longe of malice and envie
J-werred trouthe with his tiranye.
LENYOYE.
XCTI.
Princes, pleseth hit your benignite
This litil dite to have in mynde !
Of womanhede also for to se,
Your trewe man may summe mercie fynde,
And Pite eke, that long hath be behynde, 670
Let then ayein be provoked to grace ;
For by my trouthe hit is ayenes kynde,
Pais Daunger for to occupie his place.
xcvir.
Go litel quayre, go unto my lyves qucne
And my verry hertis sovereigne,
And be ryght glad for she shal the sene ;
Such is thi grace ; but I alas in peyne
Am left behinde, and not to whom to pleyne ;
For Mercie, Routhe, Grace, and eke Pite
Exiled be, that I may not ateyne, eso
Recure to fynde of myn adversite.
EXPLICIT.
THE COMPLAYNT OF MARS AND VENUS.
LADETH,ye/o?<Zes, of the morowe gray !
Loo, Phebus rysen amonge yon rowis
rede !
And floures fresshe, honoured ye this
Mav,
For when the sunne uprist then wol ye sprede ;
But ye lovers that lye in eny drode,
Fleeth lest wikked tonges yow espye !
Loo, yondo the sunne, the eandel of jalosye !
II.
With teres blew, and with a wounded herte
Titketh your leve, and, with seynt Johan to borowe,
Apeseth sumwhat of your sorowes smerte, 10
Tyme cometh efte, cese shal 3-our sorowe ;
' The glade nyght ys worthe an hevy morowe,
Seynt Yalentyne ! ' a foule thus herd I synge,
Upon your day, er the sunne gan up sprynge.
in.
Yet sange this foule, ' I rede yow al awake ;
And ye that han not chosen in humble wyse,
Withoute repentynge cheseth youre make,
Yet at this fest renoveleth your servyse :
COMPLAYNT OF MARS AND VENUS. 261
And ye that han ful chosen as I devise,
Confermeth hyt perpetuely to dure, 20
And paciently taketh your aventure.'
IV.
And for the worshippe of this highe feste,
Yet wol I in my briddes wise synge,
The sentence of the compleynt, at the leste,
That woful Mars made atte departyng
Fro fressh Venus in a fair morwenynge,
Whan Phebus, with his firy torches rede,
Ransaked hath every lover in hys drede.
Whilom the thridcfo hevenes lord above,
As wel by hevenysh revolucioun, so
As by desert hath wonne Venus his love,
And she hath take him in subjecioun,
And as a maistresse taught him his lessoun,
Commaundynge him that nevere in her service,
He ner so bolde no lover to dispise.
VI.
For she forbad him jelosye at alle,
And cruelte, and bost, and tyrannye ;
She made him at her lust so humble and t&ralle,
That when her deynede to cast on hym her ye,
He toke in pacience to lyve or dye ; 40
And thus she brydeleth him, in her manere,
With nothing but with scornyng of her chere.
VII.
Who regneth now in blysse but Venus,
That hath thys worthy knyght in governaunce ?
262 THE COMPLATNT OF
Wlio syngeth now but Mars that serveth thus
The faire Venus, causer of plesaunce '?
He bynt him to perpetuel obeisauncc,
And she bynt her to love him for even?,
But so be that his trespace hyt desevere.
VIII.
Tims be they knyt, and regnen as in heven, so
Be lokyng moost ; til hyt hi on a tyde,
That by her bothe assent was set a Steven,
That Mars shal cntre as fast as he may glyde,
Into hir ncxtc paleys to abyde,
Walkyng hys cours til she had him atakc,
And he preyede her to haste her for his sake.
IX.
Than scyde he thus, ' Myn hertis lady sucte,
Ye knowc wcl my myschefe in that place,
For sikerly til that I with yow mete,
My lyfe stent ther in aventure and grace, 6)
But when I se the beaute of your face,
Ther ys no drcd of deth may do mc smerte,
For allc your lust is cse to myn herte.'
x.
She hath so gretc compassioun on her knyght,
That dwelleth in solitude til she come,
For hyt stode so, that ylke tyme no wight,
Counseyled hym, ne seyde to hym welcome,
That nyghc her wittc for sorowe was overcome ;
Wherfore she sped her as fast in her weye,
Almost in oon day as he dyd in tweyc. 70
MARS AND VENUS. 2G3
XI.
The grete joye that was betwex hem two,
When they be mette, ther may no timge telZc' ;
Ther is no more but unto bed thei go,
And thus in joy and blysse I let hem dueile ;
This worthi Mars that is of knyghthode welle,
The flour of feyrenesse lappeth in his armes,
And Venus kysseth Mars the god of armes.
XII.
Sojourned hath this Mars of which I rede
In chambrc amyd the paleys prively,
A certeyn tyme, til him fel a drede, so
Throgh Phebus, that was comen hastely
Within the paleys yates ful sturdely,
With torche in honde, of which the stremes bryghte
On Venus chambre gam hjthe ful grete lyghte.
XIII.
The chambre, ther as ley this fresshe quene,
Depeynted was with white boles grete,
And by the lyght she knew that shone so shene,
That Phebus cam to bren hem with his hete ;
This cely Venus, nygh dreynt in teres wete,
Enbraceth Mars, and seyde : — ' Alas, I dye ! po
The torch is come, that al this world wol wrie.'
XIV.
Up sterte Mars, hym luste not to slepe,
When that he his lady herde so compleyne ;
But, for his nature was not for to wepe,
Instide of teres, fro his eyen tweyno
264 THE COMPLATNT OF
The firy sparkes brosten out for peyne,
And hent his hauberke that ley hym besyde ;
lie wold he not, ne myght himselven hide.
xv.
He throwe//i on him his helme of huge wyghte,
And girt him with his swerdc ; and in his honde
His myghty sperc, as he was wont to fyghte, 101
He shaketh so, that almost it to-wonde ;
Fill hevy was he to walken over londc ;
He may not holde with Venus companye,
But bad her fieen lest Phebus her espye.
XVI.
0 wo ful Mars ! alas, what maist thou scyn,
Thai in the paleys of thy disturbaunce,
Art left byhynd in peril to be slcyn ?
And yet therto ys double thy penaunce,
For she that hath thyn hert in governance, no
Is passed halfe the stremes of thyn yen ;
That thou ner swift, wel maist thou wcpc and crien.
xv u.
Now lleeth Venus into Cicliniws toure,
With voide cours, for fere of Phebus lyght.
Alas ! and thcr ne hath she no socoure,
For she ne founde ne saugh no maner wyght;
And eke as ther she hadde but litel myght ;
Wherfor lier selven for to hyde and save,
Within the gate ahejlcdde into a cave.
XVIII.
Derke was this cave, and smokyng as the helle, 120
Nat but two pases within the yate it stodc ;
MARS AND VENUS. 265
A naturel day in derk I let her dwelle.
Now wol I speke of Mars furiouse and wode ;
For sorow he wold have sene his herte blode,
Sith that he myght have done her no companyc,
He ne roghte not a myte for to dye.
XIX.
So feble he wex for hete and for his wo,
That nygh he swelt, he myght unnethe endure ;
He passeth but a sterre in dayes two ;
But nertheles, for al his hevy armure, 1 o
He foloweth her that is his lyves cure ;
For whos departyng he toke gretter ire,
Then for his oune brenning in the fire.
xx.
After he walketh softely a paas,
Compleynyng that hyt pite was to here.
He seyde, ' 0 lady bryghte Venus ! alas,
That ever so wyde a compas ys my spere !
Alas ! when shal I mete yow, myn herte dere ?
Thys twelve dayes of Aprile I endure,
Throgh jelouse Phebi:s, this mysaventure.' no
XXI.
Now God helpe sely Venus allone !
But as God wolde hyt happede for to be,
That while that Venus weping made her mone
Ciclinius ryding in his chevache,
Fro Venus Valanus myghte his paleys se ;
And Venus he salueth, and maketh chere,
And her receyveth as his frende ful dere.
L'»)ii THE COMPLAYNT OF
XXII.
Mars dwelleth forth in his adversyte,
Compleynyng ever m oon her departynge ;
And what his compleynt was rcmembreth me, 150
And thcrfore, in this lusty morwenynge,
As I best can, I wol hit seyn and synge,
And after tliat I wol my leve take ;
And God yif every wyght joy of his make !
THE COJITLETXT OF MAES.
XXIII.
The ordrc of compleynt requireth skylfully,
That yf a wight shal plcyne pitously,
Ther mot be cause wherfore that men pleyne,
Other men may deme he pleyneth folcly,
And causeles. Alas, that do not I !
Wherfor the grounde and cause of al my peyne, nso
So a.s my troubled witte may hit atteyne,
1 wol rchcrsc ; not for to have redresse,
But to declare my grounde of hcvyncssc.
XXIV.
The firstc tyme, alas, that I was wroght,
And for certeyn effectes hidcr broght,
Be him that lordeth ech intelligence,
1 yaf my trcwe servisc and my thoght,
For evermore, how dere I have hit boght,
To her that is of so grete excellence,
That what wight that first sheweth his presence, 170
When she is wrothe and taketh of hym no cure,
He may not longc in joye of love endure.
MARS AND VENUS. 267
xxv.
This is no feyned mater that I telle ;
My lady is the verrey sours and welle
Of beaute, lust, fredam, and gentilnesse,
Of riche aray, how dere men hit selle,
Of al disport in which men frendely duelle.
Of love and pley, and of benigne humblessc.
Of soune of instrumentes of al swetnesse,
And therto so wcl fortuned and thewed, iso
That thorow the worlde her goodnesse is yshewed
XXVI.
What wonder ys then thogh that I besets
My servise on suche one that may me knette
To wele or wo, sith hit lythe in her myghte ?
Therfore myn herte for-ever I to her hightc,
Ne truely for my dethe shal I not lette,
To ben her truest servaunt and her knyght.
I flater noght, that may wete every wyght ;
For this day in her servise shal I dye,
But grace be, I se her never wyth ye. 190
XXVII.
T" whom shal I plenere of my distresse?
Who may me helpc, who maymyharme rcdresse?
Shal I compleyn unto my lady fre ?
Nay, certes, for she hath such hevynesse,
For fere and eke for wo, that as I gesse,
In lytil tymc hit wol her bane be ;
But were she safe, hit wer no fors of me.
Alas, that ever lovers mote endure,
For love, so many a perilouse aventure !
268 THE COMPLAYNTE OF
XXVIII.
For ihogh so be that lovers be as trewe 200
As any metal that is forged newe,
In many a case hem tydeth ofte sorowe.
Bom ///me hire ladies wil not on hem rewe ;
Somtyme, yf that jelosie hyt knewc,
They myghten lyghtly ley her hede to borowe ;
Somtyme envyous folke with tunges horowe
I >< parten hem, alas ! Whom may they plese ?
But he be fals, no lover hath his ese.
xxrx.
But what availcth suche a longe scrmoun
Of aventures of love up and doune ? 210
I wol returne and spoken of my peyne ;
The poynt is this of my distruccion,
My righte lady, my savacyoun,
Is in affray, and not to whom to plcyne.
0 herte suete ! 0 lady sovereyne !
For your discsc I oght wel swoune and swelte,
Thogh I none other harme nc drede felte.
xxx.
To what fyne made the God that sitte so hyc,
Benethen love other companyc,
And Btreyneth folke to love malgre her hede? 220
And than her joy, for oght I can espye,
Ne lasteth not the twynkelyng of an eye.
And somme have never joy til they be dede.
What meneth this? what is this mystihede ?
Wherto constreyneth he his folke so faste,
Thing to desyre but hit shuldc laste?
MARS AND VENUS. 269
XXXI.
And thogh he made a lover love a thing,
And maketh hit seme stedfast and during,
Yet putteth he in hyt such mysaventure,
That rest nys ther in his yevinge. 230
And that is wonder that so juste a kynge
Doth such hardnesse to his creature.
Thus whether love breke or elles dure,
Algates he that hath with love to done,
Hath ofter wo than changed ys the mone.
XXXIT.
Hit semeth he hath to lovers enemyte,
And lyke a fissher, as men al day may se,
Bateth hys angle-hoke with summe plesaunce,
Til mony a fissch ys wode to that he be
Sesed therwith ; and then at erst hath he 240
Al his desire, and therwith al myschaunce,
And thogh the lyne breke he hath penaunce ;
For with the hoke he wounded is so sore,
That he his wages hathe for evermore.
XXXIII.
The broche of Thebes was of such a kynde,
So ful of rubies and of stones of Ynde,
That every wight that set on hit an ye,
He wend anon to worthe out of his mynde ;
So sore the beaute wold his herte bynde,
Til he hit had, him thoght he muste dye ; : 50
And whan that it was his then shuld he drye
Such woo for drede ay while that he hit hadde,
That welnygh for the fere he shulde madde.
THE COMI'I.AYNT OF
xxxrv.
And whan hit was fro his possessioun,
Than liad he double wo and passioun,
That he so feir a tresore b&dde forgo;
But yet this broehe, as in eonclusioun,
Was not the cause of his eonfusioun ;
But he that wroght hit enfortuned hit so,
That every wight that had hit shuld have wo ; 200
And therfore in the worcher was the vice,
And in the covetour that was so nyce.
XXXV.
So fareth hyt by lovers, and by me ;
For thogh my lady have so gret beaut*'.
That I was mad til I hadr/e gete her grace.
She was not cause of myn adversite.
But he that wroghte her, as mot I the,
That putte suche beaute in her face,
That made me coveten and purchace
Myn oune dethe ; him wite I that I dye. :;.i
And niyne imwitte that ever I clombe so live.
XXXVI.
Hut to yow hardy knyghtts of renoun.
Syn that ye be of my devisioun,
Al be 1 not worthy to so grete a name,
Yet seyn these elerkea I am your patroun,
Therfore ye oght have sommo compas^oun
1 )t my disese, and take hit not a-gamc ;
The pruddest of yow may be made ful tame.
Wherfore I prey yow, of your gentilesse,
That ye compleyne for myn hevynesse. 280
MARS AND VENUS. 27
XXXVII.
And ye, my ladyes, that ben true and stable,
Be wey of kynde ye oghten to be able
To have pite of folke that ben in peyne,
Now have ye cause to clothe yow in sable ;
iSith that youre emperise, the honurable,
Is desolat, wel oghte ye to pleyne,
Now shuld your holy teres falle and reyne.
Alas ! your honour and your emperise,
Negh ded for drede, ne can her not chevise.
XXXVIII.
Compleyneth eke ye lovers al in fere 290
For her that, with unfeyned humble chore,
Was evere redy to do yow socoure ;
Comple'mcth her that evere hath had yow dere ;
Compleyneth beaute, fredom, and manere ;
Compleyneth her that endeth your labour,
Compleyneth thilke ensample of al honour.
That never dide but alwey gentilesse ;
Kytheth therfor in her summe kyndenesse.
THE COMPLEYNT OF VENUS.
XXXIX.
There nys so high comfort to my plesaunce,
Whan that I am in eny hevynesse, 300
As for to have leyser of remembraunce.
Upon the manhod and the worthynesse,
Upon the trouthe, and on the stedfastnesse.
Of him whos I am al whiles I may dure ;
Ther oghte blame me no creature,
For every wight preiseth his gentilesse.
272 THE COMPLATNT OF
XL.
In him ys bounty, wysdom, and governaunce,
\\M more then eny mannea witte can gesse ;
For grace hath wolde so ferforthe hym avaunce,
Thai of knyghthode he is parfite richesse ; an.
Honour honoureth him for his noblesse;
Therto so well hath formed him Nature.
That I am his for ever, I him assure,
For every wight preysith his gentilesse.
XII.
And not withstondyng al his suffisaunce,
His gentil hcrt ys of so grete humblesse
To me in worde, in werke, in contenaunce,
And me to serve is al his besynesse,«
That I am set in verrey sikirnesse.
Thus oght I blesse wel myn aventure, s^u
Sith that him list me serven and honoure,
For every wight preiseth his gentilesse.
XLII.
Now certis, Love, hit is right covenable.
That men ful dere bye the nobil thinge,
As wake, a-bed, and fasten at the table,
Wepinge to laugh and sing in compleynynge,
And doun to caste visage and lokynge,
i >ften to chaunge visage and contenaunce,
Pley in slepyng, and dremen at the daunce,
Al the reverse of eny glad felynge. 830
XLIII.
Jelosie bo hanged be a cable !
She wold al knowe tiaogh her espji ge.
MARS AND VENUS. 273
Ther dothe no wyght nothing so resonable,
That al nys harme in her ymagenynge.
Thus dere abought is Love in his yevynge,
Which ofte he yifeth withoute ordynaunce,
As sorow ynogh, and litil of plesaunce,
Al the reverse of any glad felynge.
XLIV.
A lytel tyme his yift ys agreable,
But ful encomberouse is the usynge ; oW
For subtil Jelosie, the dece3vable,
Ful often tyme causeth desturbynge.
Thus be we ever in drede.and suffrynge ;
In no certeyn we languisshen in penaunce,
And han ful often mony an harde rnyschaunce,
Al the reverse of any glad felynge.
XLV.
But certys, Love, I sey not in such wise.
That for tescape out of youre lace I mente,
For I so longe have be in your servise,
That for to let of wil I never assente. 350
No fors ! ye ! thogh Jelosye me turmentc,
Sufficeth me to se hym when I may ;
And therforc certys to myn endyng day,
To love hym best that shal I never repente.
XL VI.
And certis, Love, whan I me wel avise,
Of eny estate that man may represents,
Then have ye made me, thvogh your fraunchise,
Chese the bests that ever on erthe wente.
Now love wel, hert, and loke thou never stente,
VOL. VI. T
274 COMPLAINT OF MARS AND VENUS.
And lei the Jelousie put hit in assay, 300
That for no peyn, I wille not sey nay ;
To love yow best, that shall I never repente.
XLVII.
Herte, to the hit ought ynough suftise,
That Love so highe a grace to yow sente,
To chese the worthiest in a\le wise,
And most agrcable unto myn entente.
he no ferther, neythir wey ne wente,
Sithe / have sufflsaunce unto my pay,
Thus wol 1 ende this compleynt or this lay,
To love hym best ne shal I never repente. y;o
LENYOY.
xLvni.
Princes ! rcsseyveth this compleynt in gre,
Unto your excelent benignitc
Directe, aftir my litel suffisaunce;
For «-lde, that in my spirit dulleth me,
Hath of endyting al the subtilite
Welnyghe bereft out of my remembraunce :
And eke to me hit is a grete penaunce,
Syth ryme in Englissh hat A such skarsete,
To folowe worde by wordc the curiositc 370
Of ( itaunson, floure of hem that maken in Fraunce,
EXPLICIT.
A GOODLY BALLADE OF CHAUCER.
j OTHER of norture, best beloved of allc,
And fresshest flour, to whom good thrift
God sende !
Your childe, if it lust you. me so to tulle,
Al be I unable my selfe so to pretende,
To your discrecion I recommende
Myn herte and al, with every circumstance,
Al holy to be under your governaunce.
Mostc desire I, and have and ever shal,
Thyng whiche might your hertes ease amende ;
Have me excused, my power is but smal ; 10
Nathelesse, of right, ye oughte to commende
My goode wille, which fayne wolde entende
To do you servyce ; for al my suffysaunce
Is holy to be under your governaunce.
Meulx un in herte which never shal appalZe,
Aye fresshe and newe, and right glad to dispendc
My tyme in your servyce, what so befalle,
Besechyng your excellence to defende
My symplenesse, if ignoraunce offende
20
27G A GOODLY BALLADE OF CHATJCER.
In any wysc; sythe that myn affyauncc
Is holy to ben under your governauncc.
Daisy of lyght, very groundc of comfort o,
The Bonnes doughter ye hight, as I rede ;
For whan he westreth, farwel your disporte !
By your nature anon, right for pure dredo
Of the rude night that with his boystous wede
Of derkenesse shadoweth our emyspere,
Than closen ye, my lives lady dere !
Dawnyng the Day to his kynde resorte,
And Phebus your father with his stremes rede 39
Adorneth the morowe, consumyng the sorte
Of misty cloudes that wolden overlcdc
Trewe humble hertes with her mistyhede,
Nere com forte a-dayes, whan eyen clere
Disclose and sprede my lyves lady dere,
Je vouldray — but greate God disposeth
And maketh casuel, by his provydence,
Suche thyng as mannes frele wittc purposeth,
Al for the best, if that our conscience
Nat grutche it, but in humble paciencc *o
It receyve : for God saythe, withoutc fable,
A faythful herte ever is acceptable.
Cautels who so useth gladly, gloseth;
To eschewe suche it is right high prudence ;
What ye sayd ones myn herte opposeth,
That my writyng japes in your absence
Pleased you moche better than my presence.
Yi t can I more ; ye be nat excusable,
A faythful herte ever is acceptable.
A GOODLY BALLADE OF CHAUCER. 277
Quaketh my penne ; my spyrit supposeth so
That in my writyng ye fynde wol some oiFenee ;
Myn herte welkeneth thus sone ; anon it ryseth ;
Nowe hotte, nowe colde, and efte in fervence :
That mysse is, is caused of neglygence,
And not of malyce ; therfore bethe mercyable ;
A faythful herte ever is acceptable.
LENVOYE.
Forthe eomplaynt ! forthe lackyng eloquence !
Forthe lytle letter, of endytyng lame !
I have besought my ladyes sapyence
Of thy behalfe, to accept in game go
Thyn inabylite ; do thou the same :
Abyde ! have more yet ! — Je serve Jouesse.
Nowe forth I close the in holy Venus name !
The shal unclose my hertes governeresse.
A PRAISE OF WOMEN.
•Ltho that lyste of women evyl tospeke.
And sayn of hem worse than the}r de-
serve,
I praye to God that her neckes to-breke.
Or on some evyl dethe mote tho janglers sterve ;
For every man were holden hem to serve,
And do hem worship, honour, and servyce,
In every maner that they best eoude devyse.
For we oughte first to thinke on what manere
They bring ns forth, and what payn they endure
First in our byrth, and syth fro yere to yere 10
How busely they done hir busy cure,
To kepe us fro every misaventure
In our youthe, whan we have no might
Our selfe to kepe, neither by day nor nyght.
Alas ! howe may we say on hem but wele,
Of whom we were fostred and ybore.
And ben al our sucoure, and ever trewe as stele.
And for our sake ful ofte they suffre sore ?
Withoute women were al our joye lore ;
Wherfore we ought ulle women to obeye 20
In al goodnesse ; I can no more saye.
A PRAJSE OF WOMEN. 279
This is wel knowen, and hath ben or this,
That women ben cause of elle lightnesse,
Of knyghthode, norture, eschewyng al malis,
Encrease of worshyp, and of idle worthynesse ;
Therto curteys and meke, and ground of al good-
nesse,
Glad and mery, and trewe in every wyse
That any gentyl herte can thynke or devyse.
And though any wolde truste to your untruthe,
And to your fayre wordes wold aught assent?, 30
In goode fayth me thynketh it were gret ruthe.
That other women sholde for hir gylt be shent,
That never knew, ne wiste nought of hir entcnt,
Ne lyste not to here the fayre words ye write,
Which ye you payne fro day to day tendyte.
But who may beware of your tales untrewe,
That ye so busyly paynt and endite ?
For ye wyl swere that ye never knewe,
Ne sawe the woman, neyther moche ne lyte,
Save onely her to whom ye hadde delite, 40
As for to serve of al that ever ye seye,
And for her love must ye nedes deye.
Then wyl ye swere that ye knewe never before
What Love was, ne his dredful observaunce,
But nowe ye fele that he can wounde sore ;
Wherfore ye putte you into her governaunce,
Whom Love hath ordeyned you to serve and do
plesaunce
With al your might your lytel lyves space,
Whiche endeth sone but if she do you grace.
280 A PRAISE OF WOMEN.
Ami then to bedde wyl/e ye soone drawe, so
And Bone sicke ye wyUe you than fayne,
And swere (a&te your lady hath you slawe,
And brought you sudeynly so high a paync
That fro your dcth may no man you reslraync
With a daungerous loke of her eyen two,
That to your detho muste yo nodes go.
Thus wyl/e ye morne, thus wylZe ye sighe soro.
As though your herte anon in two wolde breste,
And swerc fast, that ye may live no more,
' Myne owne lady ! that might, if ye leste, co
Bringe myn herte somdele into reste,
As if you lyst mercy on me to have;'
Thus your untrouth wyl ever mercy crave.
Thus wnl ye playne, ihogh ye nothyng smerte,
These innocent creatures for to begyle,
And swere to hem, so wounded in your herte
For her love, that ye may lyve no whyle,
Scaraly so longe as one mighte go a mile,
So hyeth dethe to bringe you to an ende,
But if your soverayn lady lyst you to amende. 70
And if for routhe she comforte you in any wyso
For pyte of your false othes sere.
So that innocent weneth that it be as you devyse
And weneth your herte be as she may here,
Thus for to comfort and somwhat do you chere ;
Than wol these janglors deme of her ful ylZe,
And sayne that ye have her fully at your vrylle.
l.o. hnwe redy her tonges ben. and prcste
To speke harme of women causelesse!
A PRAISE OF WOMEN. 2S1
Alas ! why might ye not as wel saye the beste, so
As for to deme hem thus gyltelesse?
In your herte, ywis, there is no gentylnesse,
That of your owne gylt lyst thus women fame ;
Now, by my trouth, me thynke ye be to blame.
For of women cometh mis worldly wele,
Wherfore we oughte to worship hem evermore ;
And thou it mishap one, we oughte for to hele,
For it is al through our false lore,
That day and night we payne us evermore
With many an othe these women to begyle so
With false tales, and many a wicked wyle.
And if falshede shulde be reckened and toldo
In women, iwys ful trouthe were,
Not as in men, by a thousand fold ;
Fro alle vices, iwys they stande clere,
In any thing that ever I coude of here,
But if entysing of these men it make,
That hem to flatteren connen never slake.
I wolde fayne wete wher ever ye coude here,
Withoute menses tysing, what women dyd amis, 100
For ther ye may get hem ye lye fro yere to yerc,
And many a gabbing ye make to hem, iwys ;
For I could never here ne knowen ere this,
Where ever ye coude fynde in any place.
That ever women besoughte you of grace.
There ye you payne with al your fiuVe might,
With al your herte, and al your beysnesse,
To pleasen hem bothe by day and night,
282 A PRAISE OF WOMEN.
Brayeng hem of her grace and gentylnesse.
To have pyte* upon your greate distresse, no
And that they wolde on your payne have routhe,
And slee you not, sens ye meane but trouthe.
Tims may ye see that they ben fautelesse,
And innocent to alZe your werkes slie,
And al/fi your craftes that touche falsnesse,
They knowe hem not, ne may hem not espyc ;
So sweare ye that ye muste nedes die,
But if they wolde, of hir womanheed,
Upon you re we, er that ye be deed.
And than your ' lady ' and your ; hertes queue ' 120
Ye calle hem, and therewith ye syghe sore,
And say, ' My lady, I trowe that it be sene
In what plite that I have lyved ful yore ;
But nowe I hope that ye wol no more
In these peynea suffre me for to dwel/e,
For of al goodnesse, iwys, ye bo the wel/e.'
Lo, whiche a paynted processe can ye make,
These harmlesse creatures for to begyle !
And whan they slepe, ye payne you to wake,
And to bethinke you on many a wicked wyle ; iad
But ye shal se the day that ye shal curse the whyle
That ye so besyly dyde your entent
Hem to begyle, that falshede never mente.
For this ye knowe wel, though I wolde lie.
In women is al trouthe and stedfastnesse ;
For in good faythe I never of hem Bye
But moche worahyp, bounte, and gentylnesse.
A PRAISE OF WOMEN. 2So
Right comyng, fayre, and ful of mekenesse,
Good and glad, and lowly, I yon ensure,
Is this goodly angelyke creature. no
And if it happe a man be in disease,
She dothe her busynesse and her ful/e peyne
With al her might, him to comforte and please
If fro his disease she mighte him restreyne ;
In "word ne dede, iwys, she wol not fayne,
But with al her might she dothe her besynesse
To bringe him out of his hevynesse.
Lo, what gentyllesse these women have,
If we coude knowe it for our rudenesse !
How besy they be us to kepe and save, 150
Both in heale, and also in sieknesse !
And alway right soryfor our distresse,
In every maner; thus shewe thy routhe,
That in hem is al goodnesse and trouthe.
And syth we fynde in hem gentylnesse and trouth,
Worshyp, bounte, and kyndenesse evermore,
Let never this gentylesse through your slouth
In hir kynde trouthe be aught forlore
That in woman is, and hath yben ful yore,
For in reverence of the hevens Quene, ieo
We oughte to worshyp al/e women that bene.
For of a\le creatures that ever were get and borne,
This wote ye wel, a woman was the beste ;
By her was recovered theblysse that we hadde lorne,
And thruogh the woman shal we come to reste,
And ben ysaved, if that our selfe leste ;
284 A PRAISE OF WOMEN.
Wherfore, me thynketh, if that we hadde grace,
We oughten honour women in every place.
Therfore I rede that, to our lyvea ende,
Fro this tynie forth, while that we have space, 170
That we have trespaced, pursue to amende,
Prayeng our Lady, wel of* alle grace,
To bringe us unto that blysful place,
There as she and al/e goode women shal be infer-.'
In heven above, amonge the angels elere.
KXPLICIT.
MINOR POEMS.
THE COMPLEYNTE OF THE DETHE
OF PITE.
U0W PITE IS DEDE AND BCE1ED IN A GENTLE HERTE.
ITE, that I have sought so yore agoo
With herte soore, and ful of besy
peyne,
That in this worlde was never wight
so woo
Withoute the dethe ; and yf I shal not feyne,
My purpose was of Pitee for to pleyne,
And eke upon the crueltee and tirannye
Of Love, that for my trouthc doth me dye.
And when that I be lengthe of certeyne yeres
Had, evere in oon, soughte a tyme to speke,
To Pitee ran I, al bespreynte with teres, 10
To prayen hir on Cruelte me wreke ;
But er I myghte with any Avorde out breke,
Or tellen any of my peynes smerte,
I fonde hir dede and buried in an herte.
And doune I fel when that I saugh the herse
Dede as stone while that the swogh laste ;
MINOR POEMS.
Bul up I rooso with coloure wel dyverse,
And pitously on hir myn cyen I caste,
And ner the corps I came to pressen faste,
And for the soule I shope me for to preye ; 20
I was but lorne, ther was no more to seye.
Thus am I slayne sith that Pite is dede ;
Alias, the day that ever hyt shulde falle !
What maner man dar now hold up his hede ?
To whom shal now any sorwful herte calle ?
Now Crueltc hath caste to slee us alle
In ydcl hope we lyve redelesse of peyne ;
Sith she is dede, to whom shulde we compleync ?
But yet encreseth me this wonder newc,
That no wight woot that she is dede but I, yo
So mony men as in her tyme hir knewe ;
And yit she dyede not so sodeynly ;
For I have sought hir ever ful bescly,
Sith I hadde firste witte or marines mynde ;
But she was dede er that I koude hir fynde.
A In Mite hir licrsc there stoden lustely
Withouten any woo, as thoughts me,
Bounte, parfyte wel armed and richclv,
And fressh Beaute, Lust, and Jolyte',
Aaaured-maner, Youthe, and Honcste, 40
Wisdome, Estaat, Drede, and Governance
Confedred bothe by honde and alliance.
\ compleynl had I writen in myn honde,
To have put to Pittee, as a bille,
when I al this eompanye ther fonde,
That rather wolde al my cause spille
MINOR POEMS. 287
Then do me helpe, I helde my compleynt stille ;
For to that folke, withoutere ony fayle,
Withoute Pitee ther ne may no bille availe.
Then leve we alle vertues, save oonly Pite', so
Kepynge the corps as ye have herde me seyn,
Confedered by bonde and by Cruelte,
And ben assented when I shal be sleyn.
And I have put my complaynt up ageyn,
For to my foes my bille I dar not shewe,
Theffect of which seith thus in wordes fewe.
THE COMPLEYNT IN THE BILLE
1 Humblest of herte, higheste of reverence,
Benygne flour, coroune of vertues alle !
Sheweth unto youre rialle excellence
Youre servaunt, yf I durste me so calle, co
His mortal harme, in which he is i-falle,
And noght al oonly for his evel fare,
But for your renoun, as I shal declare.
' Hit stondcth thus : — your contrary Crueltee
Allyed is ayenst your regaltye
Under colour of womanly beaute,
(For men shulde not know hir tirannye)
With Bountee, Gentilesse, and Curtesye,
And hath depryved yow nowe of your place,
That is hygh beaute, appartenent to your grace. 70
' For kyndely, by youre herytagc and ryght
Yc be annexed ever unto Bounte,
And verrely ye oughte do youre myght
MINOR POEMS.
To helpe Trouthe in bis adversyte ;
Ye be also the corowne of beaute ;
And eertes, yf ye wanten in these tweyn
The worlde is lore, ther is no more to seyn.
' Eke what availeth maner or gcntilesse
Withoutc yow, benygne creature?
Shal Cruelte* be now youre govern er esse ? so
Alius, what hertc may hyt longe endure?
\Yherfore but ye the rather taken cure
To brcke that pcrilouse allyaunee,
Ye sleen hem that ben of your obeisaunce.
' And furthcrover, if ye suffre this,
Youre renoun is fordoo/* then in a throwe,
Ther shal no man wcte welle what pite is.
Alias, that ever your renoun is falle so lowe !
Ye be also fro youre heritage ythrowe
By Cruelte, that occupieth youre place, ;iu
And we despeyred that seken to youre grace.
' Have mercy on me, thow herenes queue,
That yow have sought so tendirly and yore,
Lei somme stremc of youre light on me be sene,
That love and drede yow ever lenger more ;
For sothely for to seync, I bere so sore,
And though I bee not kunnynge for to pleyne,
For Goddis love have mercy on my peyne.
* My peyne is this, that what so I desire,
That have I not, ne nothing lyke therto ; loo
V.nd ever setteth Desire myn hert on fyre
Eke on that other syde, where-so I goo.
MINOR POEMS. 289
That have I redy, unsoghte, every where ;
What maner thinge that may encrese my woo,
Me lakketh but my deth, and than my here.
' What nedeth to shewe parcel of my peyne,
Syth every woo, that herte may bethynke,
I suffre ; and yet I dar not to yow pleyne,
For wel I wote, although I wake or wynke,
Ye rekke not where I flete or synke. no
Yit natheles my trouthe I shal sustene
Unto my deth, and that shal wel be sene.
' This is to seyne, I wol be youres ever ;
Though ye me slee by Crueltee, your foo,
Algate my spirite shal never dissever
Fro youre servise, for eny peyne or woo.
Now Pite that I have sought so yore agoo !
Thus for your deth I may wel wepe and pleyne
With herte sore, al ful of besy peyne.
EXPLICIT.
BALLADE DE VILAGE SAUNS PEYNTURE.
"HIS wrechched worldes transmutacion.
As wele and woo, now poverte, and
now riche honour
Withouten ordre or wise discrecion,
Governed ys by Fortunes erroure ;
But natheles the lakke of hir favour
VOL. VI. TJ
290 MINOR POEMS.
Ne may not cloo mc synge, though I dye,
J'ai/ tout perdue, mem temps et man laboure,
For fynally Fortune I diffye.
Yet ys mo lefto the sight of my resoun,
To knowen trend fro foo in thy meroure, 10
So moche hath yet thy turnyng up and doun
Ytaught me to knowen in an houre ;
But truely noo fors of thy reddoure
To him that over himself hath the maistrye,
My suffisaunce shal be my socoure,
For fynaly Fortune I dyffye.
0 Socrates, thou stedfast champion,
She myghte never bo thy turmentoure,
Thow never dreddest hir oppression.
Ne in hir chcre fonde thou noo savoure ; so
Thow knewe wel the deceyt of hir coloure,
And that hir mooste worship is to lye :
1 knowe hir eke a fals dissymuloure,
For fynaly Fortune I diffye.
i.\ REBPONS l»r FOHTUNE AU PLEINTIF.
Xoo man is wrcchched but himself yt wene,
And lie that hath himselfe hath suffisaunce.
Why seysthow than I am to the so kene,
That havest thy self out of my governaunce ?
Sey thus : — ' Graunt mercy of thyn habundaunce
Thatthowhavestlentorthis;'thoushaltnotstrive. 30
What wooste thou yet how I thee wol avaunce?
And eke thou havest thy beste frend alyve.
I have the taught divisioun betwene
Frend of effect, and frend of countcnaunce.
MINOR POEMS. 291
The nedeth not the galle of noon hiene,
That cureth eyen derko fro her penaunce
Now seesthosv cleer that were in ignoraunce.
Yet halte thin ankre, and yet thow maist arrive
There bounte berith the keye of my substaunce,
And eke thow hast thy beste frend alyve. jo
How many have I refused to sustene,
Sith I the fostred have in thy plesaunee !
Wolthow than maken a statute on thy quene,
That I shal ben aye at thin ordinaunce ?
Thou borne art in my regne of variaunce,
Aboute the whele with other maisthow drive ;
My loor ys bet, than wikke is thy grevaunce.
And eke thow havest thy beste frend alyve.
LE PLEINTIF ENCOTTNTRE FORTUNE.
Thy loore I dampne ! hit is adversite !
My frend maisthow nat reve, blynde goddesse ! so
That I thy frende knowe, I thanke yt the ;
Take hem ageyn ! let hem goo lye a-presse !
The negardes in kepinge hir richesse,
Pronostik ys thow wolt hire toure assayle ;
Wikke appetite cometh aye before sekenesse,
In general this rule may nat fayle.
FORTUNE ENCOUNTRE LE PLEINTIF.
Thou pynchest at my mutabilite,
For I the lent a drope of my rychesse ;
And now me likith to withdrawe me,
Whi shuldest thow my royaltee oppresse ? 60
292 MINOR POEMS.
The see may ebbe and flowe more and lesse ;
Thewelkene hath myght to shine, reynno, andhayle;
Ryght so mote I kythe my brotelncsse,
In general this rule may nat fayle.
Loo, thexcucion of the Mageste
That alle purveyth of hys ryghtwisnesse,
That same thing Fortune clepen ye,
Ye blynde bcestes ful of lewdenesse !
The hevene hath proprety of sikernesse ;
This worlde hath ever restlesse travayle ; 70
The laste day ys ende of myne interesse,
In general this rule may nat fayle.
LENYOYE DU FORTUNE.
Princes ! I pray yow of your gentilesse
Lat not thys man on me thus crie and pleyne,
And I shal quyte yow this besynesse.
And but yow liste relevc him of his peyne,
Prayeth ye his beestc frende of his noblesse,
That to some beter estate he may attevne.
BALLADE SENT TO KING RICHARD.
I^OMETYME the worlde was so stedfast
and stable,
That mannes worde was holde obliga-
cioun ;
And now hyt is so fals and diseeyvable,
MINOR POEMS. 293
That worde and dede, as in conclusyoun,
Ys lyke noothyng ; for turned up-so-doun
Is alle this worlde, for mede and wilfulnesse,
That alle is loste for lakke of stedfastnesse.
What maketh this worlde to be so variable
But luste, that folke han in dissensioun ?
For amonges us nowe a man is holde unliable, 10
But yf he kan, by somme collusyoun,
Do his neghbour wronge or oppressioun.
What causeth this but wilfulle wrecchednesse,
That alle ys loste for lakke of stedfastnesse ?
Trouthe is put doun, resoun is holden fable ;
Vertu hathe now noo dominacioun ;
Pitee exiled, noo man ys merciable ;
Thurgh covytyse is blente discrecioun ;
The worlde hath made permutacioun
Fro ryght to wrong, fro trouthe to fikelenesse, 20
That alle ys lost for lakke of stedfastnesse.
LENVOYE.
0 Prince desire to be honourable ;
Cherysshe thy folke, and hate extorsioun ;
Suffre nothing that may be reprovable
To thyn estaate, doon in thy regioun ;
Shew forth the swerde of castigacioun ;
Drede God, do law, love trouthe and worthinesse,
And wedde thy folke ayeyne to stedfastnesse.
EXPLICIT.
294 MINOR POEMS.
THE COMPLEYNTE OF CHAUCER TO
HIS PURSE.
'0 yow my purse and to noon other wight
) Complayn I, for ye be my lady dere !
^ I am so sory now that ye been lyght,
For, ccrtes, but-yf ye make me hevy
chere,
Me were as lecf be layde upon my bere,
For whichc unto your mercy thus I crye,
Bceth hevy ugeyne, or elles mote I dye !
Now voucheth sauf this day, or hyt be nyghte,
That I of yow the blissful soune may here,
Or see your colour lyke the sunnc bryghtr, io
That of yelownesse hadde never pere.
Ye be my lyfe ! ye be myn hertys store !
Quene of comfort and goode companye !
Beth hevy ayeyne, or elles moote I dye !
Now, purse ! that ben to me my lyves lyght,
And saveour as doun in this worlde here,
Oute of this tonne lielpe me thurgh your myght,
Syn that ye wole nat bene my tresorere ;
For I am shave as nye as is a frere.
But 1 pray unto your courtesy e, 20
Bethe hevy ayeyn, or elles moote I dye !
l'emtoy de chattceb.
1 1 conquerour of Brutes Albyoun,
W niche that by lygne and free eleccioun,
Been verray Kynge, this song to yow I sende,
And ye that mowen alle myn harme amende,
Have mynde upon my supplicacioun.
MINOR POEMS. 295
GOOD COUNSEIL OF CHAUCER.
0| all LE fro the pres, and duelle with soth-
j0 fastnesse ;
fe| Suffice the thy good though hit besmale;
3 For horde hath hate, and clymbyng
tikelnesse,
Pres hath envye, and wele is blent over alle.
Savour no more then the behove shalle ;
Do wel thy self that other folkc canst rede,
And trouthe the shal delyver, hit ys no drede.
Peyne the not eche croked to redresse
In trust of hire that turneth as a balle,
Crete rest stant in lytil besynesse ; 10
Bewar also to spurn e ayein an nalle,
Stryve not as doth a croke with a walle ;
Daunte thy selfe that dauntest otheres dede,
And trouthe the shal delyver, hit is no drede.
That the ys sent receyve in buxumnesse,
The wrasteling of this world asketh a falle ;
Her is no home, her is but wyldyrnesse.
Forth pilgrime ! forth best out of thy stalle !
Loke up on hye, and thonke God of alle ;
Weyve thy lust, and let thy goste the lede, co
And trouthe shal the delyver, hit is no drede.
29 6 .mix on poems
PROSPERITY.
[GHT as povert causith sobirnesse.
And febilnesse cnforcith continence,
Right so prosperite and grete riches
The moder is of vice and negligence ;
And powre also causeth insolence,
And honour oftsise changith gude thewis ;
Thare is no more perilouse pestilence
Than hie astate gevin unto schrewis.
A BALLADE.
jHE firste fadir and fyndcr of gentilnesae,
What man desirith gentil for to be,
Moste folowe his trace, and alio his wittes
dn -
Vertu to shew, and vicis for to flee;
For unto vertu longith dignitee,
And nought the revere, savely dare I deme,
Al were he mitre, corone or diademe.
This firste stoke was ful of rightwisnesse,
Trewe of his worde, soboure, pitous and free,
1 ne of his gooste and lovid besynesse, 10
Ageynste the vice of slowthe in honeste;
And but his heire love vertu as did he,
He nis not gentille thouhe him riche seme,
Al were he mytre, corone or diademe.
Vvce may welle bee heyrc to olde richesse,
But there may no man, as ye may welle see,
MINOR POEMS. 297
Byquethe his sone his vertuous noblesse ;
That is approperid into noo degree,
But to the firste Fadir in Magestee,
Which maye His heires deemehem that Him queme,
Al were he mytre, corone or dyademe.
EXPLICIT.
L'ENVOY DE CHAUCER A SCOGAN.
*0-BROKEN been the statutes hye in
hevene,
That creat weren eternaly to dure,
Syth thatlseethe bryghte goddissevene
Mowe wepe and wayle, and passioun endure,
As may in erthe a mortale creature :
Alias ! fro whennes may thys thinge procede ?
Of whiche errour I deye almost for drede.
By worde eterne whilome was yshape,
That fro the fyfte sercle in no manere,
Ne myght a drope of teeres doun eschape ; 10
But now so wepith Venus in hir spere,
That with hir teeres she wol drenche us here.
Alias ! Scogan this is for thyn offence !
Thou causest this deluge of pestilence.
Havesthow not seyd in blaspheme of this goddis,
Thurgh pride, or thrugh thy grete rekelnesse,
Swich thing as in the lawe of love forbode is,
That for thy lady sawgh nat thy distresse,
098 MI Null POEMS.
Thcrforc thow yave hir up at Mighelmesse?
i, Scogan ! of olde folke nc yonge, 20
Was never erst Scogan blamed for his tonge.
Thow drowe in skorne Cupide eke to recorde
Of thilke rebel worde that thow hast spoken,
For which he wol no lenger be thy lorde ;
And. Scogan. thowgh his bowc be nat broken,
][■ wol nat with his arwes been ywroken
( )n the nc me, no noon of youre figure ;
We shul of him have neyther hurtc nor cure,
Now certes, frend, I dreed of thyn unhappe,
Leste for thy gilte the wreche of love procede 30
( )n allc hem that ben hoor and rounde of shappc,
That ben so lykly folke in love to spede,
Than shal we for ourc laboure have noo medo.
But wcl I wot thow wolt answere and saye,
' Loo, tholdc Grisel lyste to ryme and playc !
Nay, Scogan, Bay not soo, for I mexcuse,
God helpc me so, in no ryme dowteles ;
\V thynke I never of slope to wake my muse,
That rusteth in my shcthe stille in pees;
While I was yonge I put her forth in precs : 40
lint alio shal passe that men prose or ryme.
Take every man hys turne as for his tyme.
- gan, that knelest at the stremes hede
Of grace, of allc honour, and of worthynesse !
In thende of which streme I am dul as dede.
Forgi te in solytaric wildernesse ;
Vet, Scogan, thenke on Tullius kyndenesse ;
Mynde thy trend there it may fructyfye,
Farewel, and lokc thow never eft love dyffye.
KXL'LICIT.
minor poems. 2UJ
L'ENVOY DE CHAUCER A BUKTON.
}ft Y maister, Buktoun, whan of Crist our
kyng,
Was axed, what ys trouthe or sothe-
■& fastncsse ?
He nat a worde answerde to that axinge,
As who saith, noo man is al trew, I gesse ;
And therfore, though I highte to expresse
The sorwe and woo that is in mariage,
I dar not writen of hit no wikkednesse,
Leste I my-self falle eft in swich dotage.
I wol nat seyn how that hyt is the eheyne
Of Sathanas, on which he gnaweth evere ; 10
But I dar seyn, were he oute of his peyne,
As by his wille he wolde be bounde nevere.
But thilke doted foole that ofte hath levere
Ycheyned be than out of prison crepe
Cod lete him never fro his woo dissevere,
Ne no man him bewayle though he wepe !
But yet lest thow do worse, take a wyfe ;
Bet ys to wedde than brenne in worse wise,
But thow shalt have sorwe on thy flessh, thy lyfe,
And ben thy wyfes thral, as seyn these wise. 20
And yf that hooly writte may nat suffyse,
Experience shal the teche, so may happe,
That the were lever to be take in Frise,
Than eft falle of weddynge in the trappe.
This lytel written proverbes or figure
I sonde yow. take kepe of hyt I rede :
:«;o
MINOR POKMS.
Unwise is he that kan noo wele endure.
If thow be siker, put the nat in drede.
The wyfe of Bathe I pray yow that ye rede
Of this matere that we have on honde.
God graunte vow your lyfe frely to lede
In fredom, for ful harde is to be bonde.
30
EXPLICIT.
.ETAS PRIMA.
i.
BLISFUL lyfe a pescablc and a swete
Lcddyn the peplis in the former age ;
Thei held them paied with the frutes
that they ete,
Wii-h that the feldes gafe them by usage,
Thei ne were for-pamprid with owtrage.
\ aknowen was the qwerne and eke the mello ;
Thei etyn mast, hawys, and suclie pownage,
And dronken watyr of the colde welle.
II.
Vit was the ground not woundyd with the plowg//,
But oornc upsprange onsowe of mannys hand, 10
The which thei knoddyd and ete not half i-now ;
No man yit knew the forous of hys land;
No man yit fier owt of the flynt fand;
Vncarvyn and vngrobbyd lay the vyne ;
N i man in the mortcr yit spices grand.
J" clarre ne to sause of galantine.
MINOR POEMS. 301
in.
No madder wellyd or woode no lister,
Ne knew the flese was of hys former hewe ;
Ne flesche ne wyst offence of egge or spere ; lfl
Ne coyne ne knew man whiche was fals or trewe ;
No shyppe yit karfe the wawys grene and blewe;
Ne marchand yit no fet owtlandische ware ;
No batayllys trumpys for the warre folk ne knew
Ne towrys hight and wallys rownd and sqware.
IV.
What shuld it haf avaylyd to warrey ?
Ther lay no profite, ther was no richesse ;
But cursyd was the tyme, I dar well say,
That men dyd first hyr swety besinesse,
To grobbe up metall lurkyng in derknesse,
And in the ryuers first gemmys sowghte ; 30
Alas ! than sprang up all owre cursidnesse,
Of couetyse that first owre sorow browghte.
v.
Theys tirantes put hem gladly not in prese,
No place of wildnesse ne no busshys for to Wynne.
There povert is, as sayth Dyogenes,
There as vitall eke is so skars and thynne,
That nowt but mast or applys is ther-in ;
But ther as bagges ben and fatte vitayle
There wylle they gone and spare for no synne
With all hyr ost the cite for to asayle. 40
VI.
Yit were no palys chambris, ne no hallys
In cavys and wodes soft and swete ;
Sleptyn thys blessyd folk withowtc wallys,
On grasse or levys in parfito joy and quietc ;
302 MINOB POEMS.
No downe of fedrys ne no blcchyd schete
Was kyde to hem but in surte they slept<? ;
Hyr herte were alle oone without gallys,
Everyche of hem to odyr hys fayth kept*.
vn.
Vnforgyd was the hauberke and the plate ;
The lambisshe pepyl, voyd of alle vice, 50
Hadden noo fantasye to debate.
But eche of hem wold oder well cheriche
Xo pride, none envy, none avarice,
No lord, no taylage by no tyrannye,
Humblesse, and pease, good fayth the emprise.
VIII.
Yil was not Jupiter the likerous,
Thai tirst was i'adyr of delicacye
Come in thys world, ne Nembroth desirous
To raygne hadde not made hys towrys hyghe.
Alas ! alas ! now may men wepe and erye.
For in owre days is not but covetyse,
Uoublenesse, treson. and envye,
Poysonne, manslawtvr, mordre in sondri wyse.
FIXIT ETAS PEIMA CHAUCER.
LEAULTE VAULT RICHESSE.
£ARLDLYjoy is oncly fantasy.
Of cpdiich nane crdly wieht can be
content ;
Quho most lias wit leste suld in it afty,
Quho traistes it most sail him reppnt.
MINOR POEMS. 303
Quhat valis all this richesse and this rent,
Sen no man wate quho sail his tresour haue ?
Presume noght gevin that God has done but lent,
Within sehort tyme the quhiche he thinkes to crave.
PROYERBES OF CHAUCER.
<V71
JHAT shul these clothes thus manyfolde,
Loo, this hoote somers day ?
After greet hete cometh colde ;
No man caste his pilch away.
Of al this worlde the large compace
It wil not in myn armes tweyne ;
Whoo-so mochel wol embrace,
Litel thereof he shal distreyne.
ii.
The worlde so wide, thaire so remuable,
The sely man so litel of stature ; 10
The grove and grounde, and clothinge so mutable,
The fire so hoote and subtil of nature,
The water never in oon — what creature
That made is of these foure thus flyttynge,
May stedfast be, as here, in his lyvinge ?
in.
The more I goo the ferther I am behinde,
The ferther behinde the ner my wayes ende ;
The more I seche the worse can I fynde ;
The lighter leve, the lother for to wende ;
The bet Y serve, the more al out of mynde ; 20
Is thys fortune not I, or infortune ;
Though I go lowse, tyed am I wth a lune.
EXPLICIT.
304
TUIXOR POEMS.
ROUNDEL.
I.
1.
JOURE two eyn will sle me sodenly,
I may the beaute of them not sustcne,
Sowendethitthorow-outmyhertekene.
2,
And but your words will helen hastely
My hcrtis wound, while that it is grene,
Yon re two eyn will sle me sodenly.
3.
Upon my trouth I sey yow feithfully,
That ye ben of my liffe and deth the quene,
For with my deth the trouth shal be i-sene.
Youre two. &c. io
II.
So hath youre beauty fro your herte chased
Pitee, that me navaileth not to pleyne ;
For daungcr halt your mercy in his cheyne.
o
Giltleas my deth thus have ye purchased;
I sey yow soth, me nedeth not to fayne ;
So hath your beaute fro your herte chased. &c.
Alas, that nature hath in yow compassed
So grete beauts, that no man may atteyne
To mercy, though he stewe for the peyne.
So hath youre beaute, &c.
:: i
30a
MINOR POEMS.
III.
1.
Stn I fro love escaped am so fat,
I nere thinke to ben in his prison lene ;
Syn I am fre, I counte him not a bene.
2.
He may answere, and scye this and that,
I do no fors, I speak ryght as I mcne ;
Syn I fro love escaped am so fat.
3.
Love hath my i-strike out of his sclat,
And he is strike out of my bokes cleno
Fur ever mo, ther is non other mene.
Syn I fro love escaped, &c.
VIRELAI.
LONE walkyng,
In thought pleynyng,
And sore syghyng,
Al desolate,
Me remembryng
Of my lyvyng.
My deth wyshyng
Bothe erly and late.
Infortunate
Is soo my fate io
That, wote ye whate ?
Oute of mesurc
VOL. vi. £
MINOR l'OEMS.
My lyfe I hate:
Thus desperate,
In Buche pore estate.
Do I endure.
Of other cure
Am I nat sure ;
Thus to endure
Ys hard certayn ; 2)
Suche ys my urc,
I yow ensure ;
What creature
May have more payn ?
My trouth so pleyn
Ys take in veyn,
And gret disdeyn
In remembraunce ;
Yet I lull feyne
Wokta me compleyne, 30
Me to absteyne
From thys penaunce.
Bui in substaunce,
Uegeaunce
Of my grevauncc
Can I nat fynde ;
Ryght so my chaunce,
With displesaunce,
l'oth me avaunce ;
And thus an ende. 40
MIS OR POEMS. 307
CHAUCER'S PROPHECY.
IWAN prestis faylin in her sawes,
And Lordis turnin Goddis lawes
Ageynis ryght ;
And lecherie is holdin as privy solas.
And robberie as fre purchas,
Bewar than of illc !
Than schall the Lond of Albion
Turnin to confusion,
As sumtyme it befelle.
Ora pro Anglia Sancta Maria, quod Thomas
Caiituarie.
Sweete Jhesu heven-king
Fayr and beste of alle thyng
Thou bring us owt of this morning
To come to the at owre ending.
CHAUCER'S WORDS UNTO HIS OWN*
SCRIVENER.
^DAM Scrivener, if ever it thee befallc,
Boece or Troilus for to write newe,
Under thy longe lockes maist thou have
the scalle,
But after my making thou write more trcwe !
So oft a day I mote thy werke renew*?,
It to correct and eke to rubbe and scrape :
And all is thorow thy necligence and rape.
308 MINOR POEMS.
INCIPIT ORATIO GALFRIDI CHAUCER.
0BIS0UXE I" I II B TKir.Y VIBGIN.
'ODER of Cod. and virgyne undefoided,
0 blisfulZe queue, our quenys emperic< !
Preyethoufbrmethataminsynymouled,
To < rod thy sone, the punyschar of vice,
That of his merci, thogh that I be nyee
And negligent in keping of his lawe,
His hie mercy my soule unto him drawe.
• Thou moder of mercy, way of indulgence.
That of alle mercy art superlatyve!
Savour of saulis be thy benevolence ! 10
O humble lady, maide, moder. and wyfe !
Causar of pes, styntar of wo and stryfe !
My prayere to thy sone that thou present.
Syn of my gilt hooly 1 me repent.
■ Benynge confort of us WTeches alle-weye
Be at niyn ending quhen that 1 schall dcye.
< ) well of pitee, unto the I calle.
Fulfillit ofswetnesse, helpe me to weye
Agane the fende, that with his handis tweyi
And alle his mycht wille pluk at the balance 20
To wey us doune, kepe us from his mischance.
• And for thou art ensample of chastite,
And of alle virgynes, worschip, and honour,
Above all women blessed mote thou be !
Now speke, now preye, unto oure Salviour,
MINOR POEMS. 309
That he me send suych grace and favour
That alle the hete and brynnyng lecherye
He sloke in me, blissit maden Marye !
« Most blissit lady, clere licht of day !
Temple of oure lord, and voice of alle gudenes! so
That by thi prayer wipist clene away
The filth of oure soulis wikkitnesse !
Put furth thi hand ; help me in my distresse,
And fro temptacioun, lady, deliver me
Of wikkit thocht, for thi benignitee.
1 So that the wille fulfillid be of thi sone,
And that of the Holy Goste he me illumyne,
Preye thou for us, as ever hath been thy wone,
Al suich emprise hath sekirly been thyne;
For suich an advocate may no man devyne, 40
As thou, lady, oure greves to redres ;
In thi refute is all oure sekirnesse.
' Thou schapen art by Goddis ordynaunce.
To preye for us, flour of humilitee!
Quherefore of thyne office have remembraunce,
Lest that the fende, throu his subtilitee,
That in awayte lyith for to cacche me,
Me never ourcum with his trecherye ;
Unto my soule-helo, lady, thou me gyc.
' Thou art the way of our redemcioun, 50
For Crist of the dedeynyt not for to take
Bothe flesche and blood, to this enteneioun,
Upon a croce to deyen for oure sake ;
His preciouse deth maide the fendis quake,
And cristyn folk for to rejoisen ever ;
Help, from his mercy that we noght dissever !
310 MINOR POEMS.
• Remember eke upon the sorow and peync,
That thou Bufferit in to his passioun,
Quhan watir and hlood out of thyne eycn tweyne,
F<ir sorow of him, ran by thy chekes doune ; 60
And svn thou knowist mil the cnchcsoune
Of his deying was for to save mankynd;
Thou moder of mercy, have that in thy mynd.
' Wele aught en we the worsehip and honour,
Palace of Crist, flour of virginitee!
Being that upon the was laid the cure,
To here the Lord of hevin, and erth, and see,
And of all thinges that formyt ever myght be ;
Of hevynnis king thou was predestynate,
To hele oure saulis of thy sik hie estate. 70
• Thy maidnis wambc.in quhich that oure Lord lay ;
Thy pappis quhite, that gave him souk also
Unto our saving, blissit be thou ay!
The birth of Crist oure thraldome put us fro;
Joy and honour be now and ever mo
To him and the. that unto liberte*
Fro thraldomnie have us brocht ; blissit be ye !
' By the. lady, yinaked is the pes
Bitwix angelis and man, it is no dout;
blissit be God, that suich a moder chees ! so
Thy passing bountee spredith all about:
Though that our hertis sterne be and stout.
Thou canst to Crist for us be suich a mene,
That all oure gilt forgevin be us clenc.
• Paradise yettis all opin be throu the,
And brokyn been the yettis eke of helle ;
By the the world restorit is, pardee ;
MINOR POEMS. 311
Of al vertu thou art the spring and welle ;
By the all gudenes, schortly for to telle,
In hevin and erth by thyne ordynaunee go
Parformyt is oure saulis sustenaunce.
' Now, sen thou art of suich autorite,
Thou pitouse lady and virgyne wemlesse,
Preye thy dere sone my gilt forgeve it me,
Of thy request I knowe wele doutelesse :
Than spare noght to put the forth in presse,
To preye for us, Cristis moder so dere !
For thy prayere he will benignely here.
' Apostle and frend famuliar to Crist,
And virgyne, ychose of him, sanct Johne ! iou
Shynyng apostle and evaungelist,
And best beloved amongis thamme echone !
With our lady, I praye the, thou be one,
That unto Crist schall for us alle preye ;
Do this for us, Cristes derlyng, I seye !
' Mary and Johne, 0 hevynnis gemmys tweyne !
0 lightis two, shynyng in the presence
Of oure Lord God, now dooth your lusty peyne,
To wesche away oure cloud full of offence,
So that we myght maken resistence no
Agane the fende and make him to bewaille,
That your prayere may us so miche availle.
' Ye been the two, I knawe verily,
In quhiche the fadir God gan edifye,
By his Sone onely-gottyn, specialy
To him a hous ; quharfor to you I crye
Beeth lechis of oure synfull maladye,
312 MINOB POEM
Preyeth to God, Lord of misericord,
Our olde giltifi thai he noght recorde.
• Be ye oure hi lp and oure protectioune, ii:o
Sen for mercy of your virginiti
The previlege of his dilectiounc
In yow confermyt God upon the tree
Eanging; and unto one of you. said he
Ryghl in this veys, as I reherse can,
old and se, lo, here thy sonc. womman !'
• And to that othir, ' Here is thy moder lo !
Than preye I yow for the greteful swetnesse
Of the holy love that God betuix yow two
With his mouth maid, and of his hie noblesse ISO
Commaundit hath yow, throu his blissitnesse,
As moder and sone to helpe us in oure nede
And for our synnes make oure hertes blede.
• Unto yow tweyne now I my soule commende,
Mary and Jolinne, for my salvacioune,
Helpith me that I my lyf may mende,
Eelpi tii. now that the habitacioune
he Holy Goste, oure recreacioune,
Be in my hcrte now and evermore;
And of my saule wesche away the sore.
• EXPLICIT ORATIO U\LliaiU CHAUCER.'
APPENDIX.
BALADES DE VILAGE SANZ PEINTURE.
9 HIS wrecched worlde is transmutacioun,
As wele or wo, now poeere, and now
honour
"Withowten ordyr or wis descresyoun,
Governed is by fortunes errour ;
But natheles the lakke of hyr favowr
Ne may nat don me syngen, thowh I deye,
J 'ay tout perdu, moun temps et rnoun labour,
For fynaly fortune I the deffye.
Yit is me left the lyht of my resoun,
To knowen frend fro foo in thi merowr, 10
So mochel hath yit thy whirlynge up and down
Itawht me for to knowe in an howr ;
But trewely no fors of thi reddowr
To hym that over hymself hath the maystrye,
My suffysaunce shal be my socour,
For fynaly fortune I thee deffye.
0 Socrates, thou stidfast chaumpyoun,
She never myhte be thi tormentowr,
Thow never dreddest hyr oppressyoun,
31 I APPENDIX.
NY in hyr chore fownde thow no savoure; 20
Thow knewe wel the deseyte of hyr coloure,
And that hir moste worshipe is to lye;
1 knew hir ek a fala dissimuloure,
For fynaly fortune 1 the deffye.
LB BESPOTXNCK DK FORTUNE A PLEINT1F.
No man y.s wrechchyd but hymself yt wene,
Ami he that hath hymself hatTh] suffisaunce.
Wlii Beysthow thanne y am [to] the so kene,
Thai hast thyself owt of my governaunce?
Sey thus: — ' Graunt mercy of thyn habouudauncc
That thow hast lent or this;' why wolt thou
stryve. cc
What woost thow yit how y the wol avaunce?
Au>l ek thow hast thy beste frende alyvc.
I have the tawht devisyoun bytwene
Frend of effect, and frende of cowntenaunce.
The nedeth nat the galle of no hyene,
That cureth eyen derkyd for penaunce
Now se[st] thow cleer that weere in ignoraunce.
Yit halt thin ancre, and yit thow mayst aryve
Ther bownte berth the keye of my substaunce,
And ek thou hast thy beste frende alyve. -m
How manye have I refused to sustene,
Syn I the fostrcd have in thy plesaunce !
Wolthow tlianne make a statute on thy quyene,
That I shal ben ay at thy ordynaunce?
Thow born art in my regne of varyaunce,
Abowte tliu wheel with oother most thow dryve ;
My loore is bet, than wikke is thi grevaunee,
And ek thou hast thy beste frende alyvc.
APPENDIX. 315
IE RESPOUNCE DTJ PLEINTIF COUNTRE FORTUNE.
Thy loore y dempne ! it is adversyte !
Myfrend maysthow nat reven, blynde goddesse! 50
That I thy frendes knowe, I thanke to the ;
Tak hem agayn ! lat hem go lye on presse !
The negardye in kepynge hyr rychesse,
Prenostik is thow wolt hire towre asayle ;
Wikke appetyt comth ay before sykenesse,
In general this rewle may nat fayle.
LE RESPOT7NCE DE FORTUNE COUNTRE LE PLEINTIF.
Thow pynchest at my mutabylyte,
For I the lente a drope of my rychesse ;
And now me lykyth to withdrawe me,
Whi sholdysthow my realte apresse ? 60
The see may ebbe and flowen moore or lesse ;
The welkne hath myht to shyne, reyne. or haylc ;
Ryht so mot I kythen my brutelnesse,
In general this rewle may nat fayle.
IE PLEINTIF.
Lo, exeussyoun of the Majeste
That al purveyeth of his ryhtwysnesse,
That same thinge Fortune clepyn ye,
Ye blynde beestys ful of lewednesse !
The hevene hath proprete of sykyrnesse ;
This world hath ever resteles travayle ; 70
Thy laste day is ende of myn interesse,
In general this rewele may nat fayle.
EENVOY BE FORTUNE.
Prynses ! I prey yow of yowre gentilesses
Lat nat this man on me thus crye and pleyne,
APPENDIX.
And I slial quyte yow yowre bysyncsse.
At my requests as thre of vow or tweyno;
That but yow lest releve hym of hys peyne,
Preveth hvs bcste frond of his noblesse.
That to soni betere estat he mnv attayne.
GOOD COUNSEIL OF CHAUCER.
- "?*.
.."^LE fro the pros and dwelle with sothe-
.-. fastnesse;
Suffise thin owcn thin? thei it be
9 smal;
For horde bathe hate, and clymbyng tykelnessc :
Prees hathe envye, and wele blent oueral.
Sauoure no more tbannc the byhouc schal ;
Reule weel thi self that other folk canst reede,
And trouthe schal delyvere, it is no drede.
Tempest the nought al croked to redresse,
In trust of hire that tourneth as a bal ;
Myche wele stant in litel besynesse, 10
1'; war therfore to spurne ayeyns an al.
not as dothe the crokke with the wal.
ute thi self that dauntest otheres dede ;
And trouthe shal delyvere, it is no drede.
That the is sent, reoeyve in buxhumnesse ;
The wrestlyng for the worlde axcth a fal.
Here is non home, here nys but wyldernesse.
Forthe, pylgryme, forthe ! forthe, beste, out of thi
stal!
APPENDIX.
317
Knowe thi contre, loke vp, thonk God of al.
Holdc the heye weye and lat thi gost the lede 20
And trouthe shal delyvere, it is no drede.
l'envot.
Thertbre, thou vache, leve thine oldewrechedenesse ;
Unto the world leve now to be thral.
Crie hym mercy, that of his hye godnesse
Made the of noivjht ; and in especial
Drawe vnto hym, and pray in general
For the, and eke for other, heuenelyche mede ;
And trouthe schal delyvere, it is no drede.
^TAS PRIMA.
BLYSFUL lyf a paysyble and a swete
Ledden the poeples in the former age ;
They helde hem paied of the fructes
that they etc.
Whiche that the feldes yave hem by usage.
They ne weere nat forpampred with owtrage.
Onknowyn was the quyerne and ek the mellc ;
They eten mast, hawes, and swych pownage,
And dronken water of the colde welle.
11.
Yit nas the grownd nat wownded with the plowh.
But corn upsprong unsowe of mannes hond, 10
The which they gnodded and eete nat half i-nowh;
318 APPENDIX.
No man yit kneVe the forwes of his lond ;
No man the fyr owt of the flynt yit fonde ;
Unkorvcn and ungrobbed lay the vyne ;
No man yit in the morter spices grond
To ''larre nc to sawse of galentyne.
in.
No madyr, welde or wod no litestere
Ne knewh ; the lies was of is former hewe ;
No tlessh w wyste offence of egge or spere ; io
No coyn ne knewh man which is fals or trewc ;
No ship yit karf the wawes grene and blewe ;
No marchaunt yit ne fette owtlandisshe ware ;
No batails trompes for the werres folk ne knewc
Ne towres heye and wafles rownde or square.
IV.
What sholde it lian avayled to wen-eye?
Ther lay no profyt, ther was no rychessc;
I Iiit eorsed was the tyme, I dar wel seye,
That men fyrst dede liir swety bysynesse,
To grobbe up metal lurkynge in dirkenesse,
And in the ryvcrys fyrst gemmys sowhte ; so
Alias ! than sprong np ai the cursydnessc
1 If coveytyise that fyrst owr sorwe browhte.
v.
Thyse tyrauntz put hem gladly nat in pres,
No places wyldnesse ne no busshes for to wynne.
Thar poverte is, as seith Diogenes,
Ther as vitayle ek is so skars and thinne,
That nat but mast or apples is ther-inne ;
But ther as bagges ben and fat vitaile
Ther wol they icon and spare for no synne
With al hir ost the cyte forto asayle. 40
APPENDIX. 319
VI.
Yit was no paleis chaumbres, ne non halles ;
In kaves and wodes softe and swete,
Sleptin this blyssed folk withowte walles,
On gras or leves in parfyt joye reste and quiete ;
No down of fetheres ne no bleched shete
Was kyd to hem, but in surte they slepte ;
Hir hertes weere al on withowte galles,
Everych of hem his feith to oother kepte.
VII.
Unforged was the hawberke and the plate ;
The lambyssh poeple, voyded of alle vyse, oO
Hadden no fantesye to debate,
But eche of hem wolde oother wel cheryce
No pride, non envye, non avaryce,
No lord, no taylage by no tyranye,
• • • • • •
Umblesse, and pes, good feith the emperice.
Till.
Yit was nat Juppiter the lykerous,
That fyrst was fadyr of delicasie
Come in this world, nc Nembrot desyrous
To rcgne hadc7<? nat maad his towres hye.
Alias ! alias ! now may [men] wepe and crye, eo
For in owre dayes nis but covetyse,
Dowblenesse, and tresoun, and envye,
Poyson, and manslawhtre, and mordrc in sondry
wyse.
PINIT ETAS PBIMA CHAUCEE.
T1IE EXD.
CH1SWICK PRtSS: — PRINTED BY WUITTINGUa-JI AM .VIL'KINS,
100KS COURT, CHANCEIIY IANE.
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